Nostr notes by The Blaze

Nostr event nevent1qqsz40xhvaxtyc858te08gdd87geev3u6l30wlpqa4d9nc90u9fjdhszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjm44lf7

2026-04-22T16:36:22Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

President Donald Trump's pick to overhaul the Federal Reserve has enjoyed support from the commander in chief's allies in the Senate, but one lawmaker just might shut down the nominee's confirmation. Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve back in January after publicly feuding with current Chair Jerome Powell for failing to cut interest rates and for his multibillion-dollar renovation of the Fed building. Since then, Warsh took the first step of the confirmation process by going to Capitol Hill to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. 'Political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable.'Warsh received glowing reviews from the seven Senate Republicans after his hearing, including from GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has butted heads with Trump in the past. Despite Tillis' endorsement of Warsh, the retiring senator drew a bold red line for the administration that could cost the confirmation. "Kevin Warsh is a great nominee to be chairman of the Federal Reserve, and I look forward to supporting him out of committee once the DOJ drops their bogus investigation into Chairman Powell that threatens the independence of the Fed," Tillis said in a statement. RELATED: Federal Reserve makes key decision on interest rates — and Trump won't like it Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc./Getty ImagesTillis has repeatedly demanded that the administration suspend its investigation into Powell, even threatening to block nominees he supports, like Warsh. Notably, the Senate Banking Committee is composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats, meaning Tillis' vote is necessary to advance Warsh's nomination assuming the vote falls along party lines. "The Department of Justice continues to pursue a criminal investigation into Chairman Jerome Powell based on committee testimony that no reasonable person could construe as possessing criminal intent," Tillis said following Warsh's nomination in January. "Protecting the independence of the Federal Reserve from political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable.""My position has not changed: I will oppose the confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including for the position of Chairman, until the DOJ’s inquiry into Chairman Powell is fully and transparently resolved."One viable "off-ramp" that has been floated by Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the committee, is to create a subcommittee to investigate and oversee the Federal Reserve's over-budget construction. This would, in effect, replace the Department of Justice's criminal probe into Powell but still allow the administration and its allies to investigate the Fed.It's unclear whether the DOJ would drop the investigation, but Tillis expressed enthusiasm about the potential resolution. “I not only think it’s a good off-ramp, but I also think it’s good governance,” Tillis said.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/news/the-lone-republican-who-could-tank-trump-s-fed-pick

Nostr event nevent1qqst4wfta09wn8puedres0apm93quv448x4qsl3vt9knxau40qv53xgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjzvjgct

2026-04-22T15:25:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican candidate in California's gubernatorial race, invests in a new seven-figure television ad set to drop Wednesday, urging voters to cast their ballots for a strong leader.'I'm running for governor because California needs a leader tough enough to stand up for us.'"Typical politicians don't have the guts to tackle our big problems," Bianco said. - YouTube He pointed to his time as a sheriff, stating, "I've deported drug traffickers. I've locked up murderers and those who prey on our children and our seniors."Bianco pledged to eliminate California's income tax, protect girls' sports, and put child sexual predators behind bars for life without parole. "I'm Chad Bianco, and I'm running for governor because California needs a leader tough enough to stand up for us," he stated.Bianco's top priorities for securing a safer, stronger California include addressing public safety, affordability, education, immigration, homelessness, and housing, among other issues. "Chad Bianco is committed to restoring trust, protecting our communities, and creating opportunity for every Californian. From public safety to economic growth, his priorities put families first and focus on building a future where we can all thrive," Bianco's campaign website reads.RELATED: Democrats narrow field in California’s crowded gubernatorial race to avoid primary disaster Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesThe latest polling from the California Democratic Party showed Republicans Bianco and former Fox News host and small-business owner Steve Hilton beating their Democratic opponents in the race.Fourteen percent of those surveyed indicated they would vote for Bianco, while 16% said they would cast their ballot for Hilton.RELATED: Republicans shine in first poll since Eric Swalwell stumbled out of California governor's race Chad Bianco. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty ImagesDespite the withdrawal of two prominent candidates, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell and former State Controller Betty Yee, the Democratic Party still lacks a clear front-runner in the crowded race. However, former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) has shown improvement in the polls. He secured only 4% of the vote in an April 5 poll but increased his support to 13% in the latest poll on April 17. Becerra appears to be tied with climate advocate and businessman Tom Steyer (D). Many of those surveyed remain undecided. California's primary election will be held on June 2, with the first mail-in ballots being sent out on May 4. The top two vote-earners, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general election in November.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/news/chad-bianco-makes-major-play-as-californias-gubernatorial-primary-closes-in

Nostr event nevent1qqsgua82epknx5aaurfuaa03952l9v4pws6n6mchtx4r3q44phejqaqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjkh0zpa

2026-04-22T15:10:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A female shot a Maryland gas station store clerk amid an "incredibly brazen" attempted robbery Friday — and then strangely left the store empty-handed, police said.Howard County Police said officers were called to the Shell gas station in the 7200 block of Cradlerock Way in Columbia around 7:43 p.m. for a report of a shooting.'We don't see incidents like this very often. We have robberies and some thefts in gas stations where somebody may imply a weapon or show a weapon but not use it, and they usually leave with something.'An adult male gas station employee was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with serious injuries, police said, adding that the victim was listed in serious condition.Police released surveillance video Monday and offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the suspect.Police on Tuesday said Shantay Lashay O’Donnell, 46, of Virginia, was identified as the shooter in the attempted robbery.Police said she was in custody in another state on unrelated charges. O'Donnell will be served with multiple Howard County charges in the coming days, police said.RELATED: Thug pulls gun in convenience store, but clerk also is armed — and isn't having one bit of it "What we know is that this woman walked into the Shell store, walked around a little bit, and then as soon as she approached the counter, that's when she took out the gun and fired," Howard County police spokesman Seth Hoffman told WBAL-TV. "We know that she demanded the clerk to open the cash register, but as you can see, it all unfolded so quickly."Hoffman added to the station that the barely 20-second surveillance video shows nearly the entire incident.Police told WBAL they're investigating the incident as an attempted robbery and noted that the female in the clip didn't steal anything."We don't even think that [the clerk] had time [to open the register]. We don't believe he did," Hoffman also told the station. "She started shooting and then left without anything."Hoffman added to WBAL that "this is incredibly brazen; we don't see incidents like this very often. We have robberies and some thefts in gas stations where somebody may imply a weapon or show a weapon but not use it, and they usually leave with something. Here, we have somebody who just shot and left with nothing."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/news/female-shoots-gas-station-store-clerk-amid-incredibly-brazen-attempted-robbery-then-strangely-leaves-empty-handed-police

Nostr event nevent1qqsyvt6cyxz6gnxppm7qn6cn7y0vuupheg40sdemsy8rw33pfk8z4pczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjgjp30m

2026-04-22T14:30:22Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

For years, video games have largely neglected to feature families, and if they did, they were either background elements or marked by tragedy, like deceased or missing parents.But apparently that trend is beginning to shift.“They are making video games that are, for the first time in probably decades, depicting parenthood in a positive and endearing light,” says BlazeTV host John Doyle, “and the situation on the ground is suggesting that this could single-handedly psyop an entire generation of women into having children.”On this episode of “The John Doyle Show,” Doyle delves into a new video game that’s gaining attention for being so pro-family, it’s awakening the motherly instincts of female gamers everywhere. The game is called Pragmata. It’s Capcom's new 2026 sci-fi action-adventure game in which the gamer plays as astronaut Hugh and his young android companion Diana, working together to fight a rogue AI and escape a hostile lunar research station.“Essentially, what people are taking from this, aside from the gameplay, is there is, I guess, a recurring kind of environment throughout the game where it depicts ... raising children, fatherhood, being a girl dad in a very positive and endearing way rather than what is typically the case in all forms of media,” says Doyle.He then plays a clip from Pragmata depicting a sweet moment between Hugh and Diana, where Hugh protectively watches Diana play with a globe on a kid’s table scattered with crayons and ABC blocks. It’s one of many drawn-out scenes that focuses on building their relationship rather than advancing the plot.Pragmata, Doyle explains, captures “the beauty of a young life interacting with the world, exploring it” and the fulfillment parents/caretakers receive when they become “responsible for” another life.This is a huge divergence from the majority of media that tends to focus on the “less desirable” aspects of parenting — “sleepless nights and screaming children in public and changing diapers and things getting broken and your furniture that you care about having apple juice spilled on it,” says Doyle. But can Pragmata really make a dent in the fertility crisis?“While I don't think that this kind of media is going to, I don't know, wake up the masses and make them realize the virtue of parenthood and everything like that, I do think that this kind of media uniquely affects the fertility rates of people who you would want to be having kids,” says Doyle.Those people, he argues, are the ones who can “carry the torch of their civilization.”“Civilization is sustained by having people who are intelligent, people who are stable, people who possess a certain temperament for governing, for making the trains run on time. Those are the kinds of people you want to be having kids specifically,” says Doyle.While this game likely won’t be the catalyst that causes someone to have a child, it does feed the broader pronatalism movement.“You're not going to cute baby video your way into a higher total fertility rate,” says Doyle. “However, it is symptomatic of, like, an overall vibe that people are experiencing.”To hear more, watch the episode above.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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-john-doyle-show/meet-the-video-game-triggering-baby-fever-women-everywhere

Nostr event nevent1qqsy7sf08vzv7sp20n3d2je6ypkvkuxxnhaeq8neef77dnzzqjdsgvszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjzphlr4

2026-04-22T12:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Democrats have in recent years likened redistricting efforts to the Holocaust, called them "a threat to democracy," and characterized them as "authoritarian." However, in the lead-up to Virginia's gerrymandering referendum, Democrats adopted a disparate view.Presented with the opportunity to all but ensure that 10 out of the state's 11 congressional seats go to their comrades, Democrats reconstrued gerrymandering as a noble pursuit — an alleged means to "help level the playing field," a way to "restore fairness," and, in the words of Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a "response to what we're seeing in other states that have taken extreme measures to undermine democratic norms."'The result of a process that's unconstitutional and illegal.'With the help of out-of-state dark money and propagandizing by big-name liberals like former President Barack Obama, Democrats proved victorious on Tuesday in disenfranchising Republican voters in Old Dominion.The following loaded question appeared on the April 21 ballot: "Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia's standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?"With over 97% of the votes counted, the Associated Press reported that 51.5% of the ballots were cast in favor of the proposal and 48.6% were cast in opposition — a difference of just over 88,700 votes.Election Day votes, a majority of which were "no" votes, reportedly accounted for 55% of the total; early in-person votes accounted for 35% of the total; and mail-in votes accounted for 10% of the total, 72% of which were "yes" votes.RELATED: How Spanberger managed to hit record-low approval rating in 80 days Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesSpanberger stated, "Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they pushed back against a President who claims he is 'entitled' to more Republican seats in Congress.""As we watched other states go along with those demands without voter input, Virginians refused to let that stand," continued Spanberger, who claimed when running for governor last year that she had no plans to redistrict the state. "We responded the right way: at the ballot box."In a statement where he ironically criticized "unprecedented gerrymandering," Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D) said that "fairness won. Accountability won. And the Commonwealth that gave America its Constitution has once again reminded the nation what that Constitution is for."Obama congratulated Virginia, thanking voters "for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back."U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) excitedly announced that "House Democrats have crushed Donald Trump's national gerrymandering scheme." He added, "Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time."Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who previously emphasized that the new map was "the result of a process that's unconstitutional and illegal," said in a statement, "Thank you to all the voters who turned out to vote against this egregious power grab. The race was much closer than the left expected because Virginians know a 10-1 map is not Virginia.""I urge the Virginia Supreme Court to rule against this unconstitutional process that will disenfranchise millions of Virginians," added Youngkin.There are multiple lawsuits pending before the Virginia Supreme Court regarding the legality of the constitutional amendment. Oral arguments for the cases are tentatively scheduled for Monday.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/news/maximum-warfare-dems-celebrate-after-virginia-decides-to-disenfranchise-gop-voters

Nostr event nevent1qqsyr5r0gn4gw3yy9su3s0znwfv0mlh3xzp0pwvgvt3wma4xt6c7p4gzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjws4cd6

2026-04-22T12:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Economist Thomas Sowell once noted, “Immigration laws are the only laws that are discussed in terms of how to help people who break them.” The story of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank and his illegal alien wife, Annie Ramos, is a perfect example of Sowell’s assertion.According to CBS News, Ramos — who is now 22 — was illegally brought to the United States by her family in 2005. Staff Sergeant Blank married Ramos, knowing full well that she was an illegal alien. He stated to the New York Times, “I knew she didn’t have status. [But] we were doing everything the right way.” Ramos was eventually arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a few days after the couple was married, at the military base where Blank was stationed.If litigants are free to ignore court appearances without consequences, the whole system falls apart.Of course, despite Blank’s assertions to the contrary, nothing was done “the right way” in this case. After entering the United States unlawfully, the Ramos family was scheduled for an appearance before the U.S. Immigration Court. They failed to appear. When a respondent in immigration proceedings defaults, the immigration judge is required pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5) to enter an in absentia order of removal. This is clearly conveyed to all illegal aliens placed in immigration proceedings, both verbally by the immigration officers handling their cases and in all written notices issued by the court. In absentia removal notices may seem harsh to the casual observer, but they are not. Courts engage in serious business. And running legal tribunals costs taxpayers a significant amount of money. If litigants are free to ignore court appearances without consequences, the whole system falls apart. Accordingly, courts expect litigants to appear for scheduled hearings, on time, every time. That is why every court in the United States imposes penalties, ranging from monetary fines to additional criminal charges and extended sentences, when litigants fail to appear. Moreover, the above-mentioned statute governing in absentia removal orders provides an “out” for individuals who missed their hearings due to exigent circumstances. It specifically states that such an order may be rescinded “upon a motion to reopen filed within 180 days after the date of the order of removal if the alien demonstrates that the failure to appear was because of exceptional circumstances” or “upon a motion to reopen filed at any time if the alien demonstrates that the alien did not receive notice” of the hearing. There is no indication that Ms. Ramos or her family ever made any attempt to reopen immigration proceedings and seek rescission of the order of removal entered against them. That is likely because the Ramos clan was fully aware they were likely to be deported. Contrary to popular opinion, the vast majority of illegal aliens do not qualify for any form of relief from removal, with 79% to 80% being either ordered removed or granted voluntary departure. Instead, Ms. Ramos waited approximately 15 years and applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama administration’s ill-fated attempt to impose an immigration amnesty by executive fiat.And what of Staff Sergeant Blank’s status as a member of America’s armed forces? In 2022, the Biden administration unilaterally and arbitrarily directed the Department of Homeland Security “to generally refrain from seeking the deportation of U.S. military veterans or service members and their immediate family members.” Of course, that policy was unlawful. Neither the Uniform Code of Military Justice (the statute governing the actions of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force) nor the Immigration and Nationality Act has any provisions exempting either service members, or their families, from the laws governing the admission of foreign nationals into the United States. And only Congress has the authority to enact such exemptions, which it has never done. Accordingly, the Trump administration rescinded team Biden’s illegal policy. It began applying the provisions of the INA to service members in the same manner as to everyone else. This is as it should be. Pro forma leniency toward alien immigration violators merely because they are related to a military member is bad policy. It makes our service members targets for foreign intelligence agents. And the presence of illegal aliens on military installations undermines the security of those facilities.Recently, Annie Ramos was released from immigration detention. It remains to see how ICE will proceed with her case. But both our political leaders and the generals in charge of our armed forces should tread carefully. Every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and guardian commences his or her military career by taking an oath that begins, “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true allegiance to the same.” If military service becomes a free pass to violate the very laws that preserve our national sovereignty, then service members are not bearing true faith and allegiance to our Constitution — they are claiming to be exempt from it.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/uncle-sam-wants-you-to-obey-immigration-laws

Nostr event nevent1qqstsstp5ergjntvsgzaclz70eeuzc8qu7pnpnhpkslp8j7maf997dqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj3vxprp

2026-04-22T10:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Many people were alarmed by an appalling viral video posted over the weekend of an Israeli soldier desecrating a statue of Christ Crucified in Southern Lebanon. Others, however disgusted by the act, argued that he was simply a "bad apple" in the Israel Defense Forces.However, there may be more "bad apples" than originally thought, as footage of similar attacks on Christian holy sites have resurfaced in the wake of the alarming photograph. The monastery, which has roots dating back to the 15th century, was razed by Israeli forces during the 2006 Lebanon War.More recorded examples of IDF soldiers apparently acting inappropriately in and around holy sites have emerged online, lending credence to the idea that these incidents are not anomalous but rather represent a pattern of behavior. One notable example shows a group of Israeli soldiers apparently entering an Orthodox church, including the sanctuary — the restricted area behind the veil that only bishops, priests, and deacons are allowed to enter at specific times — mocking Christian saints, imagery, and rituals and pretending to have sex with each other after a mock wedding ceremony.RELATED: IDF soldier caught smashing Jesus statue with sledgehammer — officials and critics react COURTNEY BONNEAU/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty ImagesThe original video was posted by Younis Tirawi, the same journalist who over the weekend posted the photo of the IDF soldier smashing Christ's head with a sledgehammer. It should be noted that the IDF claims to have worked with locals in Debel, Lebanon, to replace the destroyed cross and said that it "expresses deep regret" over the recent incident.The older video, however, has not apparently received the same response from Israeli authorities. The video appears to have been first posted on November 25, 2024. Tirawi reported that the video was taken in a church in Deir Mimas, South Lebanon. Blaze News independently confirmed that the video matches the interior of the Monastery of St. Mamas in Deir Mimas. The video has a caption written in Hebrew, and the soldiers in the video are also speaking Hebrew. Tirawi described the soldiers as "Israeli soldiers from the Golani Special Operations Unit," more commonly referred to as the Golani Brigade, which has a history of operations in Southern Lebanon and the surrounding region. The caption also includes a translation, which reads, "First wedding in the team," followed by a cross emoji and an emoji of two raised hands. Multiple outlets covered the video at the time. These reports claimed that the Israeli soldiers themselves posted the video first, though this video appears to have been deleted. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also issued a condemnation of the actions in the video alongside its disavowal of an alleged "call by a top Israeli official for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza." On the same day the video of the soldiers in the church was posted, the Times of Israel reported that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, "It's possible to create a situation in which Gaza will have less than half its current population within two years."Cited by a detailed article of the incident by Public Orthodoxy, the Israel Defense Forces issued a vague statement seemingly regarding the incident at the Monastery of St. Mamas, though it did not acknowledge the specific actions shown in the video. The statement, dated November 26, 2024, reads: This is a serious incident that is not in line with the values of the IDF and its orders.The IDF respects all religions and condemns such behavior.The incident is under review, and those involved face disciplinary repercussions.Public Orthodoxy explained that the incident was not the first time the church has been harmed by Israeli forces. The monastery, which has roots dating back to the 15th century, was razed by Israeli forces during the 2006 Lebanon War. The article added that a pattern has emerged of Israeli soldiers filming and posting videos of themselves committing crimes, referring to a compilation of alleged examples by the Washington Post and Al Jazeera. The IDF and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News. 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/news/idf-under-fire-after-shocking-footage-of-lebanese-church-desecration-resurfaces

Nostr event nevent1qqsynnscftluhhsunfrshr9my50ftj7fwmx8xdpu6c48laypc69jkqgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjq8sk35

2026-04-22T10:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A few years ago, surgeries and medications helped heal my broken body after a terrible accident. I was grateful for the modern medical system’s capabilities as eight broken ribs, a clavicle that was in five pieces, and a collapsed lung were treated and healed. What would have been miracles of biblical proportions 50 years ago were a process that allowed me to go back to work within months.The pharmaceutical drugs that got my body on the road to healing were a big part of that success. As a chiropractor with almost two decades in the field, I have seen medications, drugs, and related treatments do wonders, especially after an accident, surgery, birth, or some other significant medical event. But I have also seen the true cost of Big Pharma’s greed, as many patients come to me with years of problems that have been patched over by marketing posing as pharmaceutical solutions.Big Pharma’s solution is to 'fix' the problem with even more drugs.Take the push to prescribe GLP-1s to kids as young as 13 — who are then told they should be taking these weight-loss drugs for life. Why bother with exercise and healthy diets when you can just take Wegovy every month indefinitely? For pharmaceutical shareholders, that must look like a great business model. To anyone who cares about the health of the nation, it’s a scandal.My wife and I founded our chiropractic practice on the principles of Eric Plasker’s 100-year lifestyle philosophy. We quickly learned that living a good life for more than a century is almost impossible when you are overmedicated, sedentary, miserable, and addicted to taking the “cures” peddled to so many Americans.RELATED: 'Hold Big Pharma accountable': Vaxx giants are sure to be nervous about Rand Paul's new bill Liudmila Chernetska/Getty ImagesI see the problems caused by modern lifestyles every day at my practice. Patients come to me with aches and pains, over-inflamed by the food they eat, the drugs they take, lack of movement, and mental overload. I treat the body as one connected system led by the nervous system, using chiropractic adjustments to restore brain-body communication so that pain eases and overall health improves.I tell patients that where possible, prevention is always better than a cure. There are also changes we can all make that will keep us healthier for longer. Focusing on eating right and leading an active lifestyle will help to keep the medications at bay.If you’re suffering from a major illness or recovering from a severe accident, you should use the very best medicines our society offers. However, too many people rely on drugs as a be-all, end-all solution to their problems, turning to them for minor illnesses, for non-severe pain, and as a substitute for exercise, eating healthily, and taking a positive mental outlook on life.As a society, we have forgotten how to listen to our bodies. We have replaced movement with sitting and staring at screens, filling our bodies with high-sugar, overprocessed food, substituting real social connections with electronic friends, and letting stress rule our lives. Our bodies are at maximum toxic overload. And we wonder why we don’t feel good and are labeled the sickest nation in the world.Standard medical thinking is that a drug can “fix” the problem with the body. However, the drugs often have a two-part negative impact: they mask the messages that our body is trying to tell us and create unwanted side effects.Of course, Big Pharma’s solution is to “fix” the problem with even more drugs. The cycle is endless.Today, Americans pay roughly three times more for medicines than people in any other country, accounting for about three-quarters of the pharmaceutical sector’s profits. Sure, modern medicine can work miracles. But the sheer expense is often unmanageable for too many families, forcing them into financial difficulties or making choices between food and medicine.Instead of spending years patching themselves up and paying for overpriced drugs, my patients watch their bodies follow their natural healing processes. We’d all like to live to 100, but no pill or jab will help you reach that milestone. True health and longevity can only be achieved when we say no to Big Pharma and take control of our own health.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/want-to-live-to-100-dont-expect-big-pharma-to-help

Nostr event nevent1qqsw9jrjwrxndm969krvuycxn7a88qv3cpq9kxuyu6gkj0vallmqc0qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjznrrke

2026-04-22T09:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A 6-year-old Florida girl thanked a police officer by giving her a heartwarming drawing after an investigation into alleged child abuse.The investigation began after the girl showed up at Enterprise Elementary School in Volusia County with bruises, swelling, and redness.The girl also allegedly told police that she was fed only once a week.When she was questioned by police, the girl said she had been slapped in the face 17 times because she was "acting up and destroyed her room" and spanked the next day by 29-year-old Jeffrey Morales.An arrest report said the girl's 35-year-old mother, Melissa Husk, had kept her out of school for two days afterward in order to cover up her injuries.Husk told the girl to tell people she fell and threatened that she would be taken away if she didn't, according to deputies.The girl also allegedly told police that she was fed only once a week and couldn't remember the last time she bathed or brushed her teeth. Morales was arrested for child abuse, while the mother was charged with child neglect.The girl was placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Families.WESH-TV obtained video of the man's arrest from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. RELATED: Child sex abuse material found on PE teacher's phone after he inappropriately touched students, police say The girl gave a drawing to one of the deputies involved in the case. The drawing appeared to be made on a kitchen paper towel and showed the girl next to the deputy officer."That's a keeper," reads a post with the drawing on the sheriff's office Facebook account.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/news/girl-abuse-photo-deputy-mother

Nostr event nevent1qqsz3stzppge55nymm2uyywwq3h7luv0u20x4clkv7qp0grclkedugszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjz9s9hq

2026-04-22T08:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

In September 1787, the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia came to a close. Delegates had spent months debating and negotiating the structure for a new American government. When the final document was presented for signatures, most of the delegates agreed to support it. But one of the most influential figures in the room refused.George Mason of Virginia would not sign the Constitution.Mason’s refusal did not stem from radical opposition to the new proposed government. In fact, he played a major role in shaping America’s early political philosophy. Yet when the convention concluded, Mason believed something essential was missing. The proposed Constitution created a powerful federal government, but it contained no explicit protections for individual liberty. Without a Bill of Rights, Mason warned, citizens would have little protection against abuses of power.If artificial intelligence is going to help shape the future of our society in profound ways, should it not also be built to respect the same freedoms that Americans have fought for since the founding of the republic?History ultimately proved his concerns justified. Mason’s refusal helped spark the debate that led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights a few years later. His message was simple. When a new, powerful institution is created, the protection of liberty cannot be an afterthought.A new power is emergingMore than two centuries later, we find the United States again standing at the edge of a transformative moment. Today, the institution taking shape is artificial intelligence. And this institution may end up being just as consequential to society as the shaping of the country in the late eighteenth century.The most advanced AI systems are already beginning to shape our culture and how people access information, businesses make decisions, institutions function, and public discourse unfolds. These systems are being integrated into everything from banking and education to media and health care. In many cases, AI models act as intermediaries between humans and the world of information around them.This development carries enormous promise. Artificial intelligence could accelerate medical research, improve productivity, and unlock scientific discoveries that once seemed impossible.At the same time, the growing influence of AI raises an important question. What values will guide the systems that increasingly shape our society?AI is not neutral by default. Every model reflects decisions made by its designers. The data used to train it, the rules used to filter its responses, and the priorities embedded in its algorithms all influence how it interacts with users. Beyond just answering questions and responding to prompts, these systems influence what information people encounter and how issues are understood.In other words, the institutions building AI today are quietly creating the informational infrastructure of the future.Where are the safeguards for freedom?George Mason understood that powerful institutions require clear limits. His concern centered on ensuring that a strong central government would respect the rights of the people it serves.Artificial intelligence deserves the same scrutiny.Recent controversies surrounding AI tools have revealed how easily political or ideological assumptions can shape technological systems. A growing body of studies has found that many leading AI models tend to reflect left-leaning political assumptions in their outputs, raising concerns about viewpoint bias. Major AI platforms have faced backlash for producing historically inaccurate outputs to satisfy modern ideological expectations, as seen in widely publicized image-generation failures.Social media platforms, powered by similar AI-driven algorithms, already curate what users see, amplifying certain viewpoints while quietly burying others. Even leaders within the AI industry have acknowledged the risk that these systems could influence public discourse in ways that are difficult for users to detect.More egregious examples can be seen with Chinese AI models, such as DeepSeek, which have been shown to avoid or redirect discussion on topics that conflict with official government positions, reflecting the priorities of the state rather than the pursuit of truth.Taken together, these examples demonstrate how AI can be shaped to filter reality itself, whether by governments, corporations, or the assumptions embedded by developers.These examples illustrate a basic reality. Artificial intelligence can either serve as a tool for expanding human freedom or as an instrument for shaping and controlling public discourse and, by extension, society. The outcome will depend on the values embedded in these systems today.A meaningful step forward would be the adoption of clear, principled guidelines for building and deploying these systems. At minimum, AI development should prioritize truth-seeking over narrative-shaping, ensuring that systems are designed to inform rather than steer users toward predetermined conclusions.Developers should also commit to transparency in training data sources, so the public has a clearer understanding of what informs these models.Just as important, developers should resist coercion from governments or corporations seeking to suppress lawful speech or manipulate outcomes. They should reject internal policies that seek to bury dissenting views under the vague banner of “safety,” a term that too often masks subjective judgment.These principles may not solve every problem, but they would begin to align AI with the values of a free society.George Mason’s warning for the AI ageGeorge Mason refused to sign the Constitution because he believed liberty needed stronger protection before a new federal government was enacted. His insistence on a Bill of Rights helped ensure that the American experiment would endure longer by providing explicit protections for individual freedom.The United States now faces a similar moment as artificial intelligence becomes woven into the fabric of modern life. AI will influence how people learn, communicate, and understand the world. The values guiding these systems will shape society in ways that are difficult to predict.Before this technological infrastructure becomes fully embedded in our daily lives, it is worth asking a question that George Mason would likely recognize.If artificial intelligence is going to help shape the future of our society in profound ways, should it not also be built to respect the same freedoms that Americans have fought for since the founding of the republic?The founders believed liberty required clear protections before a new, powerful structure was fully unleashed. As we enter the age of artificial intelligence, their lesson remains as relevant as ever.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-founders-demanded-the-bill-of-rights-ai-also-needs-one

Nostr event nevent1qqsysw4hssjv87vsgy59kdm8472v9ly8fh0fh0y0vw4waxz5l57sa8qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjl8q8ne

2026-04-22T01:38:23Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Former Capitol Police Officer Shauni Kerkhoff filed a defamation lawsuit on Tuesday against Blaze Media, former employees Steve Baker and Joseph Hanneman, and Baker and Hanneman's new online publication, Veritas Regnat, for their reporting on the Jan. 5 to Jan. 6, 2021, pipe-bomb incident in Washington, D.C.For nearly five years, federal authorities had been unable to identify the masked individual who placed one pipe bomb outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters and another outside the Republican National Committee headquarters the evening before the Jan. 6, 2021, protest at the U.S. Capitol. The devices did not detonate, and there were no injuries reported. The lawsuit cites a November 8, 2025, Blaze News article that named Kerkhoff as a "forensic match," based on gait analysis, to the bombing suspect. In December, the Department of Justice announced that the suspect had been identified as another person, Brian Cole Jr., from Woodbridge, Virginia. Blaze News retracted the article shortly after Cole's arrest. The complaint alleges that Kerkhoff, represented by the Alexandria-based defamation law firm Clare Locke, was "ultimately exonerated" and that the defendants' "false and defamatory accusations have irreparably changed her life." It further alleges that Blaze News' investigation "induced the FBI to open an investigation of Ms. Kerkhoff.""They then cited that investigation — which their own actions had caused — as independent corroboration of their accusation," according to the complaint. An April 1 motion filed by Cole's attorneys claimed that Kerkhoff was "interviewed by the FBI and took a polygraph examination" on Nov. 6, 2025, two days before Blaze News published the article naming Kerkhoff in connection to the pipe-bomb incident. In her lawsuit, Kerkhoff confirmed that two FBI agents confronted her on Nov. 6, claiming they were "investigating 'online chatter' that she was the pipe bomber." Kerkhoff’s complaint also alleges that her home was subjected to a search, and she participated in a polygraph interview that evening. While Kerkhoff's complaint does not mention the results of her polygraph, Cole's motion — which stated that she was asked two relevant questions, "Did you place those pipe bombs?" and "Did you place those pipe bombs that evening?" — asserted that she failed the examination. It also claimed that the polygraph examiner “noted” that Kerkhoff's answers seemed "rehearsed." Cole's attorneys stated that the FBI named Kerkhoff "as a person of interest" on Nov. 7, a day before Blaze News' article was released. “Blaze News initially reported, as confirmed by official intelligence sources, that based on a forensic gait analysis, Ms. Kerkhoff was a 94% match to the suspected pipe bomber. That report was retracted when the FBI arrested and DOJ charged another individual, who had reportedly confessed to the crime. According to recent court filings by that individual's legal counsel, Ms. Kerkhoff was a person of interest under surveillance by the FBI and failed a polygraph test administered two days before Blaze Media's article was published,” Michael Grygiel, attorney for Blaze Media, told Blaze News in a statement. “Blaze Media will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit challenging its valid news reporting on a matter of legitimate public concern, which is protected under the First Amendment and Virginia’s anti-SLAPP law.” Kerkhoff's complaint alleges six counts of defamation against the defendants, including four against Blaze Media. She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages to be determined at trial. 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/news/former-capitol-police-officer-shauni-kerkhoff-files-lawsuit-against-blaze-media

Nostr event nevent1qqsytq0j8n2rvpg7turlcynzjmqqh4f6g9y5v38utru34c7e9lre3mczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjs33lz8

2026-04-21T23:59:09Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has reportedly been tapped to participate in the next round of talks with Lebanon.The ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. appears to be on shaky ground after both sides accused each other of violating the terms they agreed to.The Times reported that Iran failed to respond to the latest negotiation positions from the US.Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to travel to Pakistan in order to further negotiate the peace deal with Iran, but that has been put on hold according to the New York Times.Also on Tuesday, the president said he would withhold resuming attacks on Iran to give the country's leaders time to come up with a "unified proposal" for a ceasefire to continue."I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other," he wrote on Truth Social.The Times reported that Iran failed to respond to the latest negotiation positions from the U.S.Iranian leaders also said they had no plans to attend the talks in Pakistan with the U.S. negotiators.CNN reported spotting Vance's motorcade at the White House early Tuesday afternoon.RELATED: Iran is plotting drone strike against the West Coast, FBI warns On a radio show Monday, the president warned Iran that the country was going to see "problems like they've never seen before" unless it agreed to a peace deal.He added that he believed the war on Iran was "very close to being over."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/news/mike-huckabee-iran-deal-talks

Nostr event nevent1qqsra7u4s89w30950sw2feumzkncw07j4s5dwcrw92skv6ncdd3c9kgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjh4y8sy

2026-04-21T23:14:32Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The Department of Justice announced Tuesday an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center for allegedly funneling money to extremist groups.The SPLC said earlier on Tuesday that the organization was being "targeted" by the Trump administration and speculated that the action was related to money paid to informants to gather information from hate groups.'We will not be intimidated into silence or contrition, and we will not abandon our mission or the communities we serve.'In a post on social media, the Department of Justice accused the SPLC of paying $1 million to a National Alliance affiliate, $300K to an Aryan Nations affiliate, and $73K to former members of the Ku Klux Klan, among others."As the indictment describes, the SPLC was not dismantling these groups; it was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a media briefing.The indictment includes six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering."As the indictment lays out, after SPLC paid members of these extremist groups, it created work product that reported on these activities that the members participated in or contributed to," Blanche added. "And to that end, it was doing the exact opposite of what it told its donors it was doing."SPLC interim president and CEO Bryan Fair pre-empted the announcement in a video posted to social media."The focus appears to be on the SPLC's prior use of paid confidential informants to gather credible intelligence on extremely violent groups," he explained. "This use of informants was necessary because we are no stranger to threats of violence."He said that the SPLC shared the information gained through informants with law enforcement agencies but protected the identities of the informants.RELATED: Southern Poverty Law Center attorney among 23 arrested for domestic terrorism "Today the federal government has been weaponized to dismantle the rights of our nation's most vulnerable people," Fair added."We will not be intimidated into silence or contrition, and we will not abandon our mission or the communities we serve," Fair concluded.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/news/splc-indicted-money-extremist-groups

Nostr event nevent1qqswdqyhl5vsq2kgqxa96c0sqehsfvwwyxrh2pu692axm2cjqk02hlgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj00zwvr

2026-04-21T23:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Last weekend during the Michigan Democratic Women's Caucus Legacy Luncheon, Democrat Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) quite literally shouted a speech, in which he implored Democrats to become "foot soldiers for democracy" and warned of "darkness and wind" facing the nation ahead of the midterms.At one point in his 25-minute fire-and-brimstone jeremiad, Booker, gesturing upward, bellowed, “What we need is not from on high!”On a recent episode of “Pat Gray Unleashed,” Pat played the clip of the speech and concluded that Booker is an “antichrist” among us. Pat translates Booker’s controversial line: “He is telling you we don't need God.”“Well, that's an antichrist. ... Maybe not the Antichrist, but he's an antichrist,” he argues, calling it “frightening.”The panel agrees that Booker and fellow Democrats’ wild antics are the result of Trump derangement syndrome.“The infection has really spread,” says Jeffy.“How do you come together with these people?” asks Pat. “There’s one way and it is from on high.”“We got to turn to God on high to come together on this, and if you're screaming that that's not what we need, what does that tell Americans?” he asks. “That tells you he's not the guy to follow, that's for sure. That's not the party to follow.”What is desperately needed, Pat explains, is for all politicians to “call for prayer for the nation to get together and have a common purpose and invoke the blessings of God.”He compares Booker’s comment to President Trump’s request for national prayer in preparation for the nation’s 250th birthday.“I'm serious about this being antichrist because [Booker] is telling people you don't need God,” Pat reiterates. “What we need are Democrats, I guess? So they're putting themselves in the position of God. ... It's despicable. It's anti-American. It's anti-Christian. It's anti-God.”Keith Malinak argues Booker is just a "Democrat telling the truth about Democrats."To see the clip of Booker’s speech and hear more of the panel’s commentary, watch the episode above.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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/pat-gray-unleashed/pat-gray-calls-cory-booker-antichrist-after-shocking-speech

Nostr event nevent1qqsfkpmqny83v94yt7upcmwajfj3ktfwynckpx65avtvlr6vwj6d95gzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjzhrg4w

2026-04-21T21:10:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A Democratic county court clerk is demanding accountability for a teenager who allegedly stuck a gun in her face and stole her car in Maryland.Mahasin El Amin said she was on the phone in her white 2014 Lexus when a young man approached her on Thursday and then pulled a gun on her.'I’m just so grateful — grateful to God — because I thought I was going to die.' The man drove off with her car and left her fearing for her life."It’s the scariest thing that ever happened to me in my life," El Amin said in an interview Friday. "It was so quick — and all the thoughts like, 'I’m literally going to die.'"El Amin is the elected clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County and is running for re-election. She is a Democrat.A day after the alleged carjacking, police spotted the vehicle and began a pursuit that ended with the driver crashing the Lexus and trying to get away on foot. He was caught and identified as 18-year-old Kairee Hicks of Bowie.El Amin said she was relieved when she heard of his arrest but was alarmed when she found out about his criminal past.Police recovered a gun during Hicks' arrest that they said was connected to a previous shooting and charged him with attempted first-degree murder."It shocked me to my core," said El Amin about the charges. "I’m just so grateful — grateful to God — because I thought I was going to die."El Amin said the incident served to remind others to be vigilant in order to stay safe from violent crime."I’m glad that this guy, this dangerous guy, is off the streets," she added. "That’s one less person that we have to worry about. The county is safer because he’s off the streets."RELATED: Former Biden staffer rips into Dem-controlled cities for spiraling into chaos: 'Is this a joke?' Despite this incident, carjacking crimes are dropping precipitously in the county. There have only been 18 carjacking reports so far in 2026, which represents an astounding 56% drop from the previous year. In 2023, there were 500 carjackings, according to a WJLA-TV report. Hicks was denied bond and remains in custody.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/news/carjack-past-maryland-county-clerk

Nostr event nevent1qqsykj8kq8ukwr99dgme3ps2fy7puqpcgsn6k7nxwsuxjp44q625cvszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj0zgygj

2026-04-21T20:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Famed civil liberties attorney Alan Dershowitz says he has abandoned the Democratic Party.Dershowitz wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that Democrats have become far too anti-Israel for him to continue voting for the party. As a result, he has switched his party registration.'I will ... urge pro-Israel Americans to change party affiliation or at least vote against Democrats.'"I am a lifelong Democrat. I started campaigning for the party's local candidates as a teenager in Brooklyn, N.Y., have been a registered Democrat for 67 years, made speeches for John F. Kennedy as a college student, and can count on one hand the number of Republicans I've ever supported for any office," he wrote. "Yet I've decided to bite the bullet and register as a Republican."The Harvard Law School professor emeritus said he opposes Republicans on policies of abortion, taxes, immigration, and health care, but he will throw his support to them because of Israel."I intend to work hard to prevent the Democrats from gaining control of the House and Senate," he continued."I will contribute money to Republican candidates, campaign for them, make speeches at Republican events, and urge pro-Israel Americans to change party affiliation or at least vote against Democrats," he added. "Until something changes, I will vote Republican for representative, senator, and president."Dershowitz left the Democrats and became an independent in 2024, but it appears he has gone further after the party became "the most anti-Israel party in U.S. history." RELATED: Judge allows Alan Dershowitz's $300 million lawsuit against CNN to proceed: 'CNN is quaking in its boots!' Dershowitz represented Jeffrey Epstein and was part of the team that obtained a controversial plea deal in 2008 for the convicted pedophile. He admitted to receiving a massage at Epstein's home but vehemently denied that it was a part of the pedophile's trafficking of young women.He also taught at Harvard University, represented President Donald Trump in his first impeachment, and was on the team representing Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.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/news/israel-alan-dershowitz-dems-gop

Nostr event nevent1qqswj830gnklh9d0r0h2e0rxayxlc5h0yj6vter8eczuq9ywcgeg4kgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj7ssxxp

2026-04-21T19:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliates throw around tens of millions of dollars in American elections to ensure that hardline supporters of Israel are elected to the U.S. Congress on both sides of the aisle.While the pro-Israel lobbying firm has long enjoyed success in America, it has encountered a number of setbacks in recent months.For instance, by recently pouring millions of dollars into the Democratic primary against former New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski over his criticism of the Israeli government, AIPAC unwittingly paved the way for a fiercer critic of Israel, Analilia Mejia, to succeed ex-Rep. Mikie Sherrill.'One Republican is standing in the way.'In Illinois, AIPAC also made a bad investment in Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who got crushed in the 7th District Democrat primary to replace retiring incumbent Rep. Danny Davis.Despite its recent missteps and growing unpopularity on the left, AIPAC still appears confident that it can help unseat Rep. Thomas Massie (R) in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District by characterizing him as a turncoat and Republican challenger Ed Gallrein as the optimal choice.The United Democracy Project, an AIPAC super PAC established in 2022, recently spent $790,000 for a week of broadcast and cable ads in the Cincinnati, Louisville, and Charleston media markets, reported the Jewish Insider.In the 30-second ad that AIPAC apparently hopes will hurt Massie, a narrator states, "What happened to Thomas Massie? He's flipped. Massie started out as a conservative Republican but now votes with liberal Democrats."RELATED: IDF soldier caught smashing Jesus statue with sledgehammer — officials and critics react Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesThe ad does not specify which votes the UDP perceives as blemishes on Massie's record. The congressman did, however, recently vote in favor of resolutions directing Trump to remove the U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, and voted last year against Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.In November 2023, he also ruffled feathers when casting the lone "no" vote in Congress against a resolution that: reaffirmed the State of Israel's right to exist, deemed denial of that right a form of anti-Semitism, rejected calls for Israel's destruction, and condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Massie stated at the time that he agreed with the "title 'Reaffirming the State of Israel's Right to Exist' and much of the language," but voted no "because it equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.""On Israel, Massie votes with AOC and Ilhan Omar again and again," says the narrator of the AIPAC ad. "Massie's a flippin' disaster. That's why President Trump supports Ed Gallrein for Congress."Blaze News reached out to Massie's office for comment.In October, Trump endorsed Gallrein, a farmer and Navy SEAL combat veteran whose website notes that he's "fighting for President Trump's and the Republican Party's America First Agenda."Last month, Trump reiterated his support for the GOP challenger, stating that Massie — a lawmaker with an 86.77% lifetime Turning Point Action score and a 91.25% score this Congress — is the "Worst 'Republican' Congressman we have had in many years," and that Gallrein is alternatively "the person that will help us do the job, and do it right."The UDP previously blew over $328,000 in 2024 on a television campaign attacking Massie, reported McClatchy DC."Republicans are trying to help Israel," said the 2024 ad. "But one Republican is standing in the way. It's Kentucky's Tom Massie."A spokesman for UDP said at the time that the AIPAC group wanted "to make sure every voter in the state knows how bad he is on Israel."Recent polling suggests that AIPAC might be throwing good money after bad as far as Massie's race goes.According to a Quantum Insights poll released on April 9, Massie led Gallrein 46.8% to 37.7% among likely Republican voters, with 14% undecided and 1.5% saying they wouldn't vote. The same poll found that 49.9% of respondents preferred a candidate who is independent-minded while 37.4% preferred a strong Trump supporter.On the prediction market platform Polymarket, Massie presently leads Gallrein 71% to 28.6%. The primary race will be held on May 19.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/news/aipac-shells-out-big-again-in-hopes-of-taking-down-thomas-massie

Nostr event nevent1qqsvhhswpym65xf83wavuh37jxj58c6dl74gfnt29tt9l22as55zg5czyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjvczygc

2026-04-21T19:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A former elementary school teacher from Louisiana has been hit with 25 child sex-crime charges after accusations of illicit relationships with two students, according to authorities. In addition, a second Louisiana woman recently was arrested in connection with the eyebrow-raising case.The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that its deputies started an investigation into 31-year-old Marisa Noel on Jan. 28.'We will continue to support our partners across the state and bring to justice anyone who exploits or sexually abuses the children of Louisiana.'Police said deputies launched the investigation after being tipped off about the teacher reportedly "having an inappropriate relationship with one of her former students."Police said at the time of the investigation, Noel was a fifth-grade teacher at Teche Elementary School in Breaux Bridge.Noel was arrested and booked into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center on April 13, according to jail records.Noel originally was charged with four counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and four counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor.However, law enforcement said an additional victim was identified, which resulted in 17 more charges just two days after her arrest.The sheriff's office said Noel additionally was charged with 10 counts of indecent behavior with juveniles, three counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor, two counts of child sexual abuse materials, one count of first-degree rape, and one count of unlawful communications.Louisiana law states that those convicted of first-degree rape can be sentenced to life in prison without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.However, if a victim is younger than 13 years old, the district attorney can seek the death penalty.Law enforcement did not reveal the ages of the alleged victims. However, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation said at least one of the alleged victims was younger than 13 years old.Police noted that Noel is no longer a teacher at Teche Elementary School.RELATED: Special-ed teacher accused of sexually assaulting students in her home, giving them alcohol; 1 victim said he 'felt trapped' The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation said in a press release that a second woman was arrested in connection with the case involving Noel.The news release said the Breaux Bridge woman was arrested as "part of an ongoing joint investigation with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office after a former fifth-grade teacher in the parish was arrested for first-degree rape and other crimes against children." Cortney Burleigh, 37, was arrested Thursday and charged with felony counts of cruelty to juveniles, obstruction of justice, and indecent behavior with juveniles/accessory after the fact.The news release did not specify Burleigh's role in the case but noted that she was not a teacher at the school.Attorney General Liz Murrill stated, "We will continue to support our partners across the state and bring to justice anyone who exploits or sexually abuses the children of Louisiana."The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations are conducting the ongoing joint investigation.The LBI, the sheriff's office, the elementary school, and St. Martin Parish School District didn't immediately respond to Blaze News' requests for comment.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/news/teacher-sex-assault-rape-student-lousiana

Nostr event nevent1qqsd9jleepz5q0cda0ulgrjcvzk6tqqhfv0wvnnsv644swlmuzz7q9szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjeu83j7

2026-04-21T19:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A report has found that many servers have no idea that the Trump administration's "no tax on tips" policy is the reason their tax refunds are larger this year.President Donald Trump touted the policy last week in Las Vegas after a DoorDash driver delivered McDonald's food to the White House.The majority of hospitality workers she interviewed in Washington, DC, had no clue about the policy.Despite such efforts, the Daily Wire found that many servers have no clue that the policy lowered their tax burden this year."Republicans have a messaging problem," reporter Brecca Stoll said.One waitress at Pearl Dive Oyster Bar said she had gotten a tax refund this year but did not receive one the year before. Stoll let her know that Trump was likely the reason she got a refund in taxes."Is that a good thing for us?" the woman asked skeptically."Well, if you got more money back!" Stoll replied."That’s one thing he's done good, I guess," she acknowledged reluctantly.Another had no clue at all about the change."Did you know your tips weren't taxed this year?" Stoll asked."I did not! Really? I did not know that. ... Maybe that's why we did good this year!" she responded while laughing.Stoll posted a video compilation of her conversations with servers who had no clue their taxes had been cut by Trump.A bartender told Stoll his reduced tax bill might have been from life changes."Because my son — I claim him — so, you know, it just boosted the profit," he said. "Other than that, I wouldn't have gotten too much at all." After Stoll informed him about the new no tax on tips policy, he laughed."Oh yes, I would definitely say that was it," he admitted.RELATED: Liberals SPEW hatred at DoorDash after marketing stunt with Trump at White House Stoll said the majority of hospitality workers she interviewed in Washington, D.C., had no clue about the policy that lowered their tax burden significantly.Some on social media responded that the culprit for the lack of awareness was the Democrat-aligned mainstream media and a lack of interest from the public.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/news/servers-unaware-tax-on-tips

Nostr event nevent1qqsyq7duzy052lzjwdlp26f6e0m48g5qdp266ajr42l80hhhnc7ak8szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj4k9vja

2026-04-21T18:43:57Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A Democrat resigned from Congress Tuesday as her colleagues ramped up efforts to expel the lawmaker over her corruption scandal. Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida avoided her imminent expulsion by simply resigning, claiming that the House Ethics Committee's investigation was a "witch hunt" that violated her "due process rights." The investigative subcommittee effectively found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of dozens of campaign finance violations after she was accused of laundering millions of dollars worth of COVID-era FEMA funds into her campaign account.'That is a dangerous path.'"This was not a fair process," Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement Tuesday. "The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney's reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the Committee prevented me from defending myself. I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt.""I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished. Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th district."RELATED: 'Mutually assured destruction': Another disgraced lawmaker to resign from Congress over sex scandal Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesCherfilus-McCormick argued that the committee was setting a "dangerous precedent," claiming she was not treated fairly during the investigation. "But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting," Cherfilus-McCormick said in the statement. "In this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete. We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people. That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party."Cherfilus-McCormick is the second Democrat and third lawmaker in recent weeks to resign from Congress. Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California dropped out of his gubernatorial race and later resigned from Congress after multiple women, including former staffers, accused him of sexual misconduct.Swalwell's resignation was accompanied by a resignation from former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who also got caught in a sex scandal with one of his former staffers who tragically took her own life by setting herself on fire. Gonzales later admitted to the affair and dropped out of his re-election race before eventually resigning from Congress altogether.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/news/disgraced-democrat-resigns-over-witch-hunt-investigation-to-evade-humiliating-expulsion

Nostr event nevent1qqsqtde23weeqzp6mt00qu7a7h95h2hghcuer5d3k2h0wlgpw3kn8rqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjgwgm86

2026-04-21T17:59:09Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has obtained new documents revealing that the Biden FBI's targeting of GOP lawmakers in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, protests was not limited to Operation Arctic Frost but was rather "part of a pattern of political weaponization."The documents obtained by Grassley and published by the Daily Caller provide insights into the nature and baselessness of the Biden FBI's "Rampart Twelve" investigation, which was initially pursued against Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), and Andy Biggs (Ariz.), as well as against former Rep. Mo Brooks (Ala.), by the bureau's Washington field office.'My Democrat colleagues want to ignore these facts and evidence and defend the fired officials who participated in Biden’s lawfare.'As with Arctic Frost, this Biden FBI lawfare campaign saw investigators obtain toll records, at least for Boebert and Gosar. Toll records provide investigators with identifying information of callers along with the date, time, location, and length of a call.The Rampart Twelve probe was launched on Jan. 22, 2021, two days after Biden took office, on the basis of bogus claims made by then-Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) as well as by Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen (Tenn.). These claims specifically alleged that the Republicans "may have assisted or conspired with persons, groups, or organizations who planned or organized the unlawful entry on January 6, 2021, of the United States Capitol Building."For instance, Sherrill, now the governor of New Jersey, alleged in a January 2021 video shared to Facebook that some lawmakers had brought groups of people into the Capitol ahead of Jan. 6 to conduct "reconnaissance for the next day."Text messages between prosecutors reveal a desire by elements at the Biden Justice Department to advance the case despite an awareness that proving the Republicans intended harm when supposedly bringing people to the Capitol "might be impossible" and that some of the imagery cited by the complainants "does not look suspicious."There was a clear desire to avoid additional levels of scrutiny when executing this lawfare campaign against the Biden administration's political opponents.After concern was apparently expressed about secretly investigating members of Congress, J.P. Cooney, a prosecutor who ultimately served as a top deputy to special counsel Jack Smith in two criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump, provided some reassurance to Timothy Thibault, an anti-Trump FBI agent then with the the bureau, that doing so was OK.RELATED: Kash Patel says 2020 election fraud arrests are 'coming soon' Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesCooney noted in a Feb. 3, 2021, letter to Thibault that Attorney General Bill Barr did issue a memorandum in February 2020 requiring prior written notification and consultation with the assistant attorney general and the U.S. attorney with jurisdiction before investigating "declared candidates" for Congress. However, Cooney claimed that the Republican targets were fair game as they were no longer candidates but rather newly sworn-in members of the House.The FBI appears to have kept Rampart Twelve alive until at least January 2022, when Thibault informed a Washington field office FBI agent who wanted to interview Boebert and Gosar that "direction from FBIHQ is to close the case.""Rampart Twelve appears to be a predecessor case to Arctic Frost," Grassley said in a statement read by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) during the hearing on Tuesday. "The evidence to support the investigation didn't exist. Even so, J.P. Cooney personally concurred with opening the investigation even though his text messages told a different tale."Schmitt told the Daily Caller, "These bombshell documents reveal that bad actors at the highest levels of our government and intelligence agencies targeted broad swaths of the America[n] right and sitting members of Congress with no evidence of wrongdoing.""This fishing expedition was nothing more than a political agenda. Finally under the leadership of Chairman Grassley and the work of this committee, we are shining a light on this corruption that the Democrats ignored under Biden, and we will not stop until there is full accountability for those involved," added Schmitt.As of midday Tuesday, no liberal media outfit appears to have touched the story of the Biden FBI's Rampart Twelve fishing expedition."If not for my investigative work and brave whistleblowers, we wouldn’t know about FBI agents’ and DOJ prosecutors’ disgraceful efforts to try and destroy Republicans," Grassley told the Caller. "My Democrat colleagues want to ignore these facts and evidence and defend the fired officials who participated in Biden’s lawfare. I’ll continue working to expose the widespread constitutional abuses that occurred under the Biden administration, because transparency brings accountability."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/news/liberal-media-silent-as-senate-proves-fbi-spied-on-gop-without-evidence-as-soon-as-biden-was-president

Nostr event nevent1qqs9zwe4cvp69r8fdkdw9js2p0khpwl36z5ut2xfnu2h2k37qwelragzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj6w0xu3

2026-04-21T17:25:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Seven females and two males are accused of physically attacking one train passenger in Chicago last week, police said.Police called the crime an aggravated battery.'If confronted by an assailant/offender, remain calm and never pursue. Press the emergency button and alert the transit attendant,' police said.The incident took place just after 9:30 p.m. last Tuesday in the 600 block of South State Street aboard a train in the Chicago Loop neighborhood, police said.Police provided photos of the suspects. (Note: One of the suspects is shown twice — in the bottom far-right photos of the composite image next to the headline.)Police also provided the following descriptions of each suspect:Black male wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering and denim shortsBlack male wearing a black long-sleeved shirtBlack female wearing a blue T-shirt and blue shortsBlack female with red hair wearing a white topBlack female wearing a purple sweaterBlack female wearing a black flower-print sweaterBlack female wearing a black zip-up sweater and black shortsBlack female wearing a black hooded sweater and black pantsBlack female wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering and black pantsPolice cautioned citizens to "be aware of your surroundings and remember your location, bus/train car number, route or train line, train car number, and direction of travel. If confronted by an assailant/offender, remain calm and never pursue. Press the emergency button and alert the transit attendant. Call 911 immediately, provide detailed description of location and assailant."Police added that those with any information about this incident should contact Public Transportation Detectives at 312-745-4447 or submit anonymous tips at CPDTIP.com and use reference RD #JK189284.Police said another transit-related aggravated battery took place just after 4 p.m. Friday — this time on a CTA Red Line platform in the 1200 block of North Clark Street.RELATED: Gang of juvenile males chase college student into dorm, physically attack victim, go on rampage. It all happens around 3 a.m. Image source: Chicago PolicePolice said the victim — a 23-year-old female — was waiting on the train platform when one of the individuals pictured above pulled her to the ground by her hair, struck her on her face with a closed fist, and kicked her head and body.Another one of the females pictured above assisted the other female by blocking bystander attempts to help the victim, police said.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/news/7-females-2-males-accused-of-physically-attacking-1-train-passenger-chicago-police-say

Nostr event nevent1qqs8wn0q6kznzrajetzfyvpfdjeh8zd2hywmyhley28g5fhnwjjw53szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjla3juh

2026-04-21T17:14:42Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

On April 1, when Artemis II launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center to embark on its historic 10-day lunar flyby, Glenn Beck was sitting in the audience section designated for people who work in the space program and journalists invited to attend the launch.As he chatted with various scientists and fellow journalists, he noticed a husband and wife sitting among the group who were clearly not part of either world. He soon struck up a conversation with them and inquired about how they received an invitation.“They started telling me a story that was as impressive as the rocket going off itself,” he says.The story was about their 15-year daughter Olivia "Liv" Perrotto, who died of a rare and aggressive childhood cancer in January this year.A bright, space-obsessed girl who dreamed of becoming an astronaut or fighter pilot, Liv’s illness didn’t quell her courage to pursue her passions.“That 15-year-old lived more of a life than most of us could ever dream of,” says Glenn.Elon Musk and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman are largely to thank for that.On this heart-wrenching episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn shares a little-known story he says will “break your heart and then heal it right back up.” “This is a story that neither [Musk nor Isaacman] ... would tell you. They didn't do it for the credit, and I didn't ask [them] for permission to tell,” says Glenn, noting that it was Liv’s mother who “wanted the world to know what they did and what it meant.”When Liv was just 10 years old, she was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma — a rare and malignant cancer. Overnight, her life went from normal childhood circumstances to “chemo, radiation, surgeries, [and] clinical trials.”“It was a really dark time until she heard about a SpaceX mission … called Inspiration 4. This one was commanded by a guy that most people didn't know at the time named Jared Isaacman,” says Glenn.“The crew of Inspiration 4 heard about this little girl with cancer, and Jared Isaacman paid to bring her and her family to the launch.""And this was the beginning of just a life-changing relationship,” he recounts.Isaacman’s involvement with Liv didn’t conclude with her attendance at the Inspiration 4 launch. “He became committed to her care and to her dreams,” says Glenn. “Without anyone knowing, without anyone asking, much to the family's surprise, this guy just threw himself in.”A few months after the Inspiration 4 launch, Isaacman asked Liv to design a “zero-gravity indicator” for his next mission. She quickly sent in a sketch of a Shiba Inu dog in an astronaut suit named Asteroid.The Polaris Dawn team, commanded by Isaacman, took Liv's hand-drawn sketch and turned it into an actual plush toy that they brought with them on the mission. A video taken by the team captured Asteroid floating in the cabin as the crew reached microgravity.“Nobody on that mission forgot about this little girl in Pennsylvania. They sent her a birthday cake on her birthday. They sent flowers to the hospital. They all got together on a Zoom call just days before she died,” says Glenn through tears.“Jared chartered his own plane to fly Liv cross-country so she could get treatments, personally called St. Jude to review her case,” he continues.But that was just the beginning.Isaacman also took Liv “up in a fighter jet, which he flew,” and introduced her to Charlie Duke, William Shatner, and many other big names from the broader space community.“The whole space world opened its arms to this little girl — somebody you’ve never heard of,” says Glenn, “and they didn't do it for the press; they just did it because her passion was contagious, so full of love.”Because of the kindness of Isaacman and others, “the space world was [Liv’s] world, not hospitals.”One of Liv’s other dreams was to speak to Elon Musk. At a town hall event he hosted in October 2024, she briefly got the chance. Liv had just learned earlier that day that her cancer had returned aggressively, but that didn’t deter her from standing in line all night just to ask Musk when he planned to send kids to space.After learning of her worsening condition, Musk planned a phone call with Liv in January 2026 so that she could ask him all her pressing questions. But the night he arranged to call her, Liv was too exhausted to carry on a conversation, so she requested that the call be moved to the next day. Musk agreed and immediately sent flowers and a kind note to the hospital.Tragically, Liv passed before the call came.“Both the notes and the flowers were put in this little girl's casket,” says Glenn.Liv’s legacy lives on through the courage she showed in the face of unimaginable pain, the Asteroid plush toy that now flies on SpaceX missions as the company’s official mascot, thanks to Elon Musk honoring her final wish, and the way her story continues to remind the world that acts of kindness and compassion are happening all around us — even when we can’t see them.Liv’s mother published her own article about the life of her courageous daughter. You can read it on glennbeck.com.To hear Glenn’s version of Liv’s beautiful story, grab your tissue box and 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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-glenn-beck-program/this-brave-15-year-old-fought-cancer-with-all-her-heart-what-elon-musk-and-jared-isaacman-did-will-leave-you-in-tears

Nostr event nevent1qqsg72u8rgqcak0pzclqle2c2u2jvx4cemtpwgvlhktrw3ntspf39lgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjp3p3yd

2026-04-21T17:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

In April 2026, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced that ground robots had completed more than 9,000 frontline missions in the previous month. The number was offered without fanfare, embedded in a press release alongside procurement timelines and delivery metrics, as though the figure were perfectly ordinary, which by then it was. Nearly 24,500 missions in the first quarter of the year; 167 units using uncrewed ground vehicles, up from 67 the previous November. The ministry did not dwell on what this meant.Ukrainian soldiers who complete verified missions using robots earn e-points through a digital platform that tracks, authenticates, and tallies their work. Those points can then be exchanged, through an online marketplace, for additional equipment. Orders reach frontline units in roughly 10 days. The whole apparatus, in its architecture and its assumptions about human motivation, looks less like a combat system and more like a loyalty program.The state understands its soldiers as participants in a platform, and it is engineering their behavior accordingly.The UGV itself is not a new idea. The Germans fielded the Goliath tracked mine in World War II, a remotely controlled demolition device that failed, in the end, because its control cable could be cut. The Soviets experimented with teletanks in the 1930s, aiming to spare soldiers from exposure that was otherwise certain to kill them. The problem of controlling a machine at distance through contested terrain, under fire, with limited bandwidth and imperfect video, is not a problem the 21st century invented. What the 21st century has done is make it cheap.The ultimate cannon fodderUkraine’s UGVs are designed, above all, to be expendable. The country operates under mass artillery and persistent drone surveillance, which creates a specific engineering pressure that earlier Western robotics programs never faced. American explosive ordnance disposal robots in Iraq were conserved, repaired, and mourned in a way that revealed something about how their operators understood them. Ukraine’s systems are produced in the thousands, iterated rapidly, accepted as losses, and replaced like ammunition.The substitution principle drives everything. The state’s explicit purpose, reiterated in every official channel, is to move the most dangerous tasks (ammunition resupply, casualty evacuation, mining and demining, certain forms of direct contact) away from human bodies and onto machines. The missions are logged. The ministry’s argument is that somewhere in those 9,000 March missions is a corresponding number of soldiers who did not die. The robot went; the human did not.RELATED: The US military needs to adapt to modern warfare The US military needs to adapt to modern warfareUSAF/Getty Images What makes Ukraine’s system interesting, and practically consequential, is the way it distributes agency. A UGV mission is not performed by a soldier or a robot, but by a network: the operator watching a video feed, the encoder compressing that feed under bandwidth constraints that determine whether the latency is tolerable or fatal, the repair crew, the procurement pipeline, the verification interface that converts the mission into a data object, the points system that converts the data object into future capability.The human is present throughout this chain and is, in some sense, responsible for it. However, responsibility, in this architecture, is not the same as when a soldier carries ammunition through a kill zone but is cast as clicking, uploading, or watching a screen.This practice is not unique to Ukraine. Mediated violence is familiar from drone programs and earlier remote weapons systems. What Ukraine has done is extend the logic farther into the supply chain, the metrics, and the incentive design, making explicit what other militaries have left tacit. The gamification is structural. The state is acknowledging, through the design of the e-points system, that it understands its soldiers as participants in a platform, and it is engineering their behavior accordingly.Us or themThe Ukrainian government is aware of the genuine tension in this design. Goodhart’s law holds that when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. If points are awarded for confirmed hits, soldiers will pursue confirmed hits. Ukraine’s system tries to counteract this by assigning points also for evacuation missions, for the lifesaving work that does not produce the bright flash of verification. Whether this framework works, whether the incentive categories actually reshape behavior or merely sit alongside it, is an empirical question.By early 2026, seven UGV models from six Ukrainian manufacturers were available for direct order through the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace. Foreign platforms have entered the ecosystem too: Estonian-built THeMIS vehicles, first delivered in 2022, were absorbed into Ukraine’s logistics environment alongside the domestically produced systems. NATO was also watching. Its UNITE initiative, announced in late 2025, proposed to scale prototyped battlefield innovations among alliance members, with unmanned ground systems explicitly named as a future focus.Ukraine’s particular answer to a particular problem — how to fight at scale under conditions of acute manpower constraint — is becoming a transmissible model. The rapid iteration, the platform-mediated procurement, the tight loop between battlefield data and design revision are not incidental features of Ukraine’s approach. Other militaries, in more comfortable circumstances, studying this from a distance, may conclude that they want something like it.What they would be acquiring is a way of knowing, a way of governing through metrics and incentives and interfaces, that treats war as a system to be optimized. The appeal is obvious. Systems can be improved. Metrics can be refined. Platforms can be updated. The facts that cannot be put into the system — the exhaustion, the fog — remain outside the data. They do not affect the point calculations. They do not appear in the quarterly mission totals, which continue to rise.In March 2026, the machines completed 9,000 missions. The ministry reported this statistic as progress. It was surely also something else, something that does not yet have a name.
https://www.theblaze.com/return/ukraine-s-robot-operators-now-kill-for-e-points-is-the-future-of-war-a-game

Nostr event nevent1qqsfl04yp8lyn3r6hvtgsnxqhlkme9j8pxt3mkkypjnnsps8l3rfq0qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjy9rhkg

2026-04-21T16:25:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, like other Democratic officials in the Constitution State, including Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, thinks that requiring individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections is intolerable.Lamont — flanked at a press conference late last month by Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, his Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and others — stated about the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, "I, for the life of me, can't figure out why we're doing this. What's the rush? Seems to me that the SAVE Act is a solution looking for a problem."'Diminishing faith in the system.'The governor, speaking just one month after one of the individuals accused in the 2023 Bridgeport absentee ballot fraud case was sentenced to prison, added, "I don't want to put up all these bureaucratic roadblocks that make it tougher."While loath to make it tougher for individuals to vote without valid identification, Lamont certainly does not oppose all "bureaucratic roadblocks" or legislation aimed at requiring photo ID to prevent fraud. Lamont signed a law last month requiring bottle redemption centers in the state to obtain from any individual hoping to turn in over 1,000 containers the "person's name, the license plate number of any vehicle used to transport the containers to such redemption center, a copy of such person's driver's license, the collection points of the empty containers, and the number of containers tendered.""In Connecticut, you have to show ID to recycle more than 1,000 bottles in one day," Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R) wrote in response to the passage of the legislation, "but not to cast a vote for the next leader of the free world."Libs of TikTok said, "Make it make sense."RELATED: How Republicans have failed to defund sanctuary cities for a generation Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty ImagesRepublican Connecticut state Rep. Craig Fishbein said in a statement to Blaze News, "The hypocrisy and overt priorities of the Majority Democrats here are staggering.""While just last summer, Connecticut saw criminal convictions for voter fraud; they brought us in under the guise of an emergency session to pass this bottle bill, while continuing to ignore, or perhaps support additional voter fraud — thereby disenfranchising those voters who properly vote, and further diminishing faith in the system itself," Fishbein added.The editorial board of Connecticut's Republican-American recently noted that "Connecticut Democrats’ solution to the bottle-deposit debacle reveals they agree that requiring ID is an effective anti-fraud measure. The question is why they pretend elections are the exception."The SAVE America Act, which would afford federal elections some semblance of a Connecticut bottle recycling standard of fraud protection, was passed in the House in a 218-213 vote on Feb. 11, then advanced to the U.S. Senate on April 10, but its fate is presently up in the air.On Sunday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) alleged that "after two weeks in recess, John Thune is no longer considering the SAVE America Act."A congressional insider familiar with the bill's process subsequently told the Federalist that the proposed legislation is "still the pending business in the Senate."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/news/connecticut-democrats-take-photo-id-really-seriously-just-not-for-voting

Nostr event nevent1qqsxfa3e6mpujarwmy4mty7pjmgqgkjmp50lq6uny9dtp4eg5s9gc7szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjrsq2me

2026-04-21T15:40:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

California's crowded gubernatorial race is beginning to narrow, with former State Controller Betty Yee becoming the latest prominent Democrat to drop out, a sign that the party may be coalescing around a leading candidate to avoid disaster in the upcoming primary.The California gubernatorial primary started with 61 official candidates in March, and approximately 20 have since dropped out.'I continue to believe there are too many Democrats in the field.'While two Republican front-runners have emerged, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host and small-business owner Steve Hilton, Democrats have not yet rallied unified support behind any leading contenders for the upcoming election on June 2.With Primary Election Day right around the corner, voters in the state will begin receiving mail-in ballots in two weeks.California's primary election operates on a nonpartisan basis, meaning all candidates are listed on the same ballot, and the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.The nonpartisan election rules could spell trouble for Democrats if they cannot rally enough support behind a candidate to beat at least one of the top two Republicans competing to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has reached his term limit.RELATED: Billionaire Tom Steyer admits embarrassing 'mistake' after saying ICE should be 'abolished' in California governor's race Chad Bianco. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images. Steve Hilton. Robin L Marshall/FilmMagicDemocrats began the race with eight high-profile candidates: former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, climate advocate and businessman Tom Steyer, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Controller Betty Yee.The Democratic field narrowed when Swalwell announced last week that he was suspending his campaign for governor and resigning from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations.On Monday, Yee became the latest Democrat to drop out of the race, citing low polling results. She told local CBS affiliate KOVR that the Democratic Party had "for whatever reason decided to put money into a poll that would narrow the field" and that the results showed that "experience and competence was not polling as high as we thought when I first started this race.""We're in this new era where it's kind of almost reality TV show mentality that people want," Yee told the news outlet. "And, frankly, conflict sells. That's what gets people's attention. I'm not a flashy person. I don't come with gimmicks. I even said and joked with my team one time, 'Maybe I just need to bring like a folding stool and throw it off the stage just to get some attention.' I mean, what's it gonna take, right?"Yee stated that she plans to endorse one of the remaining candidates soon.The California Democratic Party's poll showed voters leaning toward Republican candidates Hilton and Bianco. The highest-polling Democratic candidates were Becerra and Steyer. However, many of those surveyed stated they were still undecided.RELATED: Republicans shine in first poll since Eric Swalwell stumbled out of California governor's race Betty Yee. ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP/Getty Images Rusty Hicks, the chair of the California Democratic Party, compared the latest polling results to those from an April 7 poll. Hicks stated that it showed Becerra had moved from 4% to 13%, with him "now tied for third with Tom Steyer." He also noted that the undecided rate had fallen from 24% to 20%."All of these are positive signs for ensuring a strong Democrat moves into the General Election. But it is not enough and our work is not done," he said.Hicks addressed Yee's decision to drop out of the race."Earlier today, we saw Betty Yee suspend her campaign. I commend her leadership and commitment to California. And I hope other candidates will consider her example," Hicks added. "I continue to believe there are too many Democrats in the field."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/news/democrats-narrow-field-in-californias-crowded-gubernatorial-race-to-avoid-primary-disaster

Nostr event nevent1qqswefesdwnt9xpqzsvuyu8fu9j627h9fplqdxzgl0tvzrj4pcej65szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj5w2drk

2026-04-21T15:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Smart TVs operating on behalf of foreign entities have alarming capabilities.The TVs are capable of capturing screenshots of a user's TV display every 500 milliseconds and sending that data back to their home country.'The days of Chinese tech companies spying on Americans' televisions are over.'Consumer data is then allegedly sold, in the same way online browsing data is, so companies can bolster their ad targeting capabilities. This not only puts sensitive user information at risk, but serves as a massive profit generator for TV manufacturers.Until recently, there was no pushback against these major manufacturers, but in December, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton lined up lawsuits against Sony, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and TCL, directly accusing them of spying.Definitely not 'spying'Through its lawsuits, Texas secured an agreement from South Korean manufacturer Samsung in February to stop collecting "Automated Content Recognition" data without user consent.The settlement also compelled Samsung to implement disclosures and consent screens that are easy to understand by the user.RELATED: Texas sues five TV manufacturers for secretly 'spying' on owners Paxton commended Samsung for its changes and said the company "promptly implement[ed] important safeguards for consumers," while other smart TV companies have instead "chosen to illegally spy on Texans and act as digital invaders in their homes."Samsung rejected the idea that it was spying, however, and said the settlement "affirms what Samsung has said since this lawsuit was filed — Samsung TVs do not spy on consumers.""In fact, Samsung allows you to control your privacy — and change your privacy settings at any time," the company added, per BleepingComputer.The Texas AG also made some ground against Hisense, a Chinese manufacturer. A first of its kind temporary restraining order was granted against Hisense, which stopped the company from using its ACR technology to collect, use, sell, share, disclose, or transfer Texans' data.RELATED: States should work with AI, not against it Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Getty Images "The days of Chinese tech companies spying on Americans' televisions are over," Paxton declared. He has since vowed to bring the other companies, including Chinese brand TCL Technology, to court for "illegally spying on Texans," stating that legal actions will "move forward."Tech billionaire and defense contractor Palmer Luckey recently called the intrusions a "growing problem for American national security" with an unbelievable amount of "sensitive and classified" information getting collected by foreign nations."Users have no idea. Nobody expects that their TV or monitor is a surveillance tool," Luckey wrote on X. "When I have joked that Smart TVs should be illegal, I am only half-joking."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/return/yes-smart-tvs-are-spying

Nostr event nevent1qqsvtqtcepxl2qm9w23qv2c4z2qs9pl0r05enckm0rgwyhu5twzc0aczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj2fupuz

2026-04-21T15:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A gang of juvenile males chased a Temple University student into a dorm, physically attacked the victim, and went on a rampage that included property damage — and it all took place around 3 a.m. Sunday.The assault occurred inside the Morgan Hall South dorm at Broad and Oxford Streets in North Philadelphia, WPVI-TV reported.'We're here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it's concerning to us. We take it very seriously.'Temple University police released surveillance photos showing at least nine males in connection with the assault, the station said.Police told WPVI the victim suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment; officers are still looking into what led up to the attack.Investigators told the station in a separate story that cellphone video shows suspects damaging property inside the dorm lobby; one individual is seen smashing a monitor at a security desk.RELATED: 6 thugs just 12 to 14 years old accused of beating up, robbing mentally disabled man riding his bike on Easter night WPVI spoke with a student who said he used to live in the residence hall and received a campus alert about the attack."It puts the threat actually into perspective because, especially knowing as a college student your main priority is education, not really safety, but this happening is a little bit more in the forefront," sophomore Emanuel Turner told WPVI.Officials added to the station that they're working with Philadelphia police and school district safety officials to identify those involved in the attack.RELATED: Gang of teens caught on video beating up, robbing victim in shopping mall; similar attack happened at same mall last month Temple Police Deputy Chief Gaetano Sava told WPVI that the incident is "concerning. Whenever our residents, I mean, we're here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it's concerning to us. We take it very seriously."Campus police said Temple and Philadelphia Police are enhancing patrols, and officials urge those with information about the incident to contact the PPD tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or Central Detectives at 215-686-3093. You also can contact Temple’s Investigations Unit at 215-204-6200 or Temple Police at 215-204-1234.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/news/gang-of-juvenile-males-chase-college-student-into-dorm-physically-attack-victim-go-on-rampage-it-all-happens-around-3-am

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2026-04-21T14:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the United States will swiftly resume the bombing campaign if they fail to strike a deal. Talks are set to resume in Islamabad, Pakistan, between the Iranians and the American delegation led by Vice President JD Vance ahead of the ceasefire's expiration on Wednesday. Trump announced the ceasefire earlier in April after threatening to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran, infamously dubbing the operation "Power Plant Day" and "Bridge Day." 'They have to use common sense.'"Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with," Trump said in an interview Tuesday. "But we're ready to go. I mean the military is raring to go. They are absolutely incredible.""We have the most powerful military in the world, and everybody knows it." RELATED: IDF soldier caught smashing Jesus statue with sledgehammer — officials and critics react Elke Scholiers/Getty ImagesSince the ceasefire was put into place almost two weeks ago, Trump has ordered the military to take control of the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to constrain Iran even further. Despite the United States' many attempts to pressure Iran into making a deal, including the first round of negotiations that lasted 21 hours, a long-term agreement has not yet materialized."Iran can get themselves in a very good footing if they make a deal," Trump said. "They can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again. They have incredible people." "But they have to use reason, and they have to use common sense." 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/news/trump-gives-iran-a-final-warning-ahead-of-peace-talks

Nostr event nevent1qqsdxjrmy53wl97spukvs3f39q9ecflqk0dxp29g223z7rx9mq9w3jczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjs8fhwq

2026-04-21T14:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Democrats had a meltdown during a committee hearing while grilling Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on all of the programs he is attempting to shut down.And no one was ready for his answer. 'We found organizations that were receiving grants from Interior where 80 to 100% of the revenue of that NGO was a grant from the federal government.'In a Monday House Committee Hearing, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) asked for clarification on Burgum's proposed "complete elimination" of some programs in the Fish and Wildlife Service, including some state and tribal wildlife grants.Burgum replied with a shocking statistic about where some "nongovernmental organizations" get their money.RELATED: Revamped National Parks program prioritizes Americans and ensures foreigners 'contribute their fair share' Heather Diehl/Getty Images"There was a review done of the grants," he said. "And that is an area where there's been substantial review. We found organizations that were receiving grants from Interior where 80 to 100% of the revenue of that NGO was a grant from the federal government.""And yet those organizations, we were the sole source of their revenue, but they would have a CEO making $650,000 and four $400,000 lobbyists," Burgum continued. DeLauro stammered in reply: "It would be very interesting because we can't get any information. We may agree with you. Give us the reasons why all of these grants are cut, the organizations are cut. ... We just can't take your word."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/news/democrat-melts-down-after-secretary-doug-burgum-drops-bombshell-about-ngos-during-committee-hearing

Nostr event nevent1qqs9xl8py4jaj7vaqvfnetvq87nmzs63e0smrr3ekpq8586mxsasztqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj7qcasg

2026-04-21T12:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

With the Artemis II crew returning safely to Earth, Americans will celebrate the technological achievement. We should. Sending human beings beyond low Earth orbit and around the moon again is no small feat. It represents decades of engineering, discipline, and courage.But one astronaut in particular offers more than a technological triumph. He offers a picture of American excellence.Victor Glover did not arrive at that moment by accident.What he did required a different kind of courage: not the physical courage of launch and re-entry, but moral courage.He is not a symbol manufactured by a press office. He is not the product of a diversity initiative and a woke Marxist education. He is the result of something much older and much more demanding: hard work, discipline, intelligence, perseverance, and grit.Glover trained as an engineer. That alone requires precision, patience, and a mind trained to see reality clearly. He then became a naval aviator and test pilot, both fields where failure is not theoretical. In that world, mistakes are measured in lives, not opinions. Thousands of flight hours, high-stakes missions, constant evaluation.And still that was not the end.In 2013, he was selected by NASA. But selection is not arrival. It took years, seven long years, before he would fly his first mission. Many would have grown restless. Many would have settled. Glover did not.In 2020, he flew on SpaceX Crew-1 and spent six months aboard the International Space Station. Six months of isolation, pressure, and relentless responsibility. That mission alone would define a career for most. For Glover, it was preparation.Because what defines him is not a single accomplishment, but a pattern: He does not quit.In a culture obsessed with shortcuts, Glover represents something rare: grit. The kind of grit that shows up quietly, day after day, without applause. The kind that builds a character capable of flying beyond Earth and returning safely.Naturally, in our current climate, that kind of excellence cannot simply be recognized for what it is. It must be reframed.Glover is frequently asked about being “the first black astronaut” to achieve various milestones. But here again, he distinguishes himself. He refuses to reduce his work to categories imposed by modern DEI ideology. Instead, he consistently redirects the conversation to what unites us.RELATED: NASA's Victor Glover shares gospel as he circles dark side of the moon: 'Love God with all that you are' Danielle Villasana/Getty ImagesHumanity. Shared purpose. The wonder of exploration. That refusal pushes back, calmly and intelligently, against the narrowing of human achievement into demographic boxes. Glover does not deny history, but he does refuse to let it define the meaning of his work. And then there is something even more striking. He brings it all back to Christ.At a moment when humanity once again turns its attention to the moon, when millions listen, watch, and wait, Glover did something that many in his position would avoid: He spoke openly about his faith.Before losing radio contact on the far side of the moon, Glover quoted Jesus’ command to love God. In doing so, he joined a small but remarkable tradition of astronauts who understood that the greatest realities are not technological but theological.It is impossible to hear that moment without recalling Apollo 8.As that crew orbited the moon for the first time in 1968, one of the astronauts, Frank Borman, read from Genesis:In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.That reading was broadcast to the entire world. It remains one of the most watched moments in human history. But it also sparked controversy. The reaction was swift. Legal pressure followed. And by the time Apollo 11 reached the moon, the environment had changed.Buzz Aldrin, a Presbyterian elder, still took the Lord’s Supper, but he did so privately, inside the lunar module, before stepping onto the surface of the moon. His church had provided the elements. He didn’t bring public attention to it like Borman. It was not broadcast.That contrast tells a story. The early openness to public expressions of faith gave way to pressure to keep religion quiet, especially in scientific contexts.Victor Glover must have known that history. He knew the unspoken rule: faith belongs in private. And he rejected it.What he did required a different kind of courage: not the physical courage of launch and re-entry, but moral courage. This is the courage to clearly speak the gospel when silence would be easier and the courage to affirm what is true about Jesus when others prefer ambiguity.He did not rant. He did not posture. He simply spoke from his heart about his faith. He quoted the Bible. And in doing so, he reached millions.That clarifies something many have forgotten: Science and faith are not enemies. The attempt to separate them, to exile God from the public square — from education, from exploration — is not neutrality. It is a philosophical choice to show bigotry toward Christians.And it is one Glover quietly refused to accept. This is where his example extends beyond a single mission. Victor Glover represents a distinctly American synthesis: A man who works hard, who masters his craft, who pushes exploration to its limits.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/victor-glover-reminded-us-what-an-american-is

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2026-04-21T11:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Do you know how easy it is to bake your own bread?I didn't, and now I do. And I want to share this knowledge with you.Want homemade sandwich bread? Just replace the water with milk or half and half and add melted butter and a tablespoon of sugar.Once you know, it will be harder to go back to the chemical-infused grain product the big, industrialized food manufacturers tell us is "bread."Especially since the real thing — what everyone understood as "bread" for all of human history until about 100 years ago — is cheaper, more nutritious, and doesn't taste like Styrofoam.Sourdough ... for the rest of usAnd don't worry — we're not going to ruin the fun by approaching it like neurotic, fussy "homesteading" influencers obsessed with buying shiny new equipment to make old-fashioned techniques “authentic.”You’re not going to need a kitchen scale or a digital probe thermometer. You’re going to make something delicious and wholesome just the way your great-grandmother did, and she didn’t use any of these modern techno crutches.With that out of the way, let’s talk about sourdough. I didn’t want to use the word before clearing the conceptual brush, because it’s contaminated with “lifestyle” associations. People imagine a complex “artisan” process that can only be achieved by some irritating guy from Minneapolis who talks in upspeak on YouTube.A few months ago I wrote about cooking from scratch, by hand, without relying on gadgetry and GPS-style “turn by turn” directions. In that piece, I said I was going to learn to bake bread from a natural sourdough starter all by hand, with no scales, no metric-graduated beakers, and no obsessive feeding schedule.I’ve done it. And it turned out as I thought it would. My hands now know what the right dough consistency feels like. My eyes can tell if the loaf has risen for long enough that it can be baked. The only tools I have relied on were cup measures and a glance at the clock so I know about how long the dough has been fermenting (rising). I don’t need directions or scales or thermometers because I own the knowledge in my hands and mind through direct practice.The duds? Only about two or three loaves. My problem? Using a starter that was too weak; I hadn’t let it fully develop in the beginning culture stage before I started baking with it. Once I sorted that out, I ended up with this hearty specimen: Josh SlocumYou’re going to make a loaf that good, and you’ll have it down by memory in one month.Then you’ll branch out into other kinds of bread. Want homemade sandwich bread? Just replace the water with milk or half and half and add melted butter and a tablespoon of sugar. That’s all I did. Here’s the result from my first try: Then I wanted something fancier, something like the loaves I’ve been paying $9 for at a local bakery that does it the old-fashioned way with nothing but flour, water, culture, and salt. I just added olive oil and rosemary and put fancy salt on top: Want to do it yourself?As I mentioned, I'm not going to give you a recipe. At least, not in the modern-day sense of a set of precisely calibrated steps and measurements designed to produce the exact same outcome every time.Instead I'm going to give you a basic outline that forces you to absorb the process physically and by instinct, rather than just memorizing turn-by-turn directions. If you’re not afraid of plunging your hands directly into the dough and making practice loaves until you get it right, you’ll be baking like this in a few weeks.For the starterYou’re not going to buy a starter from any of those online marketplaces. You’re going to make your own. The yeast comes from the rye flour and from the air.IngredientsStone-ground whole rye flour. Yes, whole, and yes, rye, even if you don’t plan to make rye loaves. Rye is packed with natural yeast and bacteria that make starters get off the ground quicker than white flour.WaterA jarMethod:Take about a cup of whole rye flour and add enough room-temperature water to make a thick paste. And I do mean "paste" — something with the consistency of the stuff you remember using in school for papier-mâché volcanoes.But don’t get neurotic. If it’s thinner or thicker than my paste, it’s still going to work.Mix it well in the jar. Then take a rubber band and put it around the outside of the jar at the level where the starter is now. This is so you can see rise over time. Cover that jar loosely with a towel, cheesecloth, or a loose lid and put it in the oven with the light on. Leave it for 24 hours. Then discard half of it and add the same amount of rye flour and water back in, mix, and leave for another day.You’re going to do this for at least seven days. After the first few days, you’ll see some bubbles. It’s not ready yet. Keep discarding and feeding. You may even notice it smells a little off the first few days. That’s normal.By day seven (or a bit longer), you’ll notice that the starter smells sour, in a pleasant way, and yeasty. That’s what you want. At that point, you should also be seeing it double in size between feedings. If it’s not doing that, keep going with daily feedings.Now you’ve got a stable starter. Stick it in the fridge. You can keep using rye to feed it for baking, or you can feed it white flour and convert it. I just use whatever flour I have handy because I don’t mind my loaves having mixed grains.Your first loafSo far we have used rye flour and water. Now to add our two final ingredients: white bread flour and salt.Again, that's white bread flour, not all-purpose. Bread flour has a higher protein ratio, which you need for building structure and rise.First, take your starter out of the fridge and feed it flour and water. Put it in your oven with the light on. This gives it the perfect 80 degrees F temperature that it likes. Colder than that and it takes forever. Significantly hotter than that, and you may kill the yeast.Wait for it to double in size, three to four hours.Take it out and mix about a half-cup of starter into about a cup and a half of room-temperature water. Put the jar of starter back in the fridge. You only need to keep about a tablespoon of it — that will inoculate all the flour the next time you feed it for baking.In a large bowl, put in about four and a half cups of bread flour and two teaspoons of salt. Mix the salt through the flour. Now add your wet mixture of water and starter. Stir or use your hands to mix until it all comes together and there are no more dry flour spots. It will be rough and shaggy.RELATED: Cooking is easy; it's our modern anxiety that makes it hard The Print Collector/Getty ImagesKnead? No needGuess what? You’re not going to knead. The reason most people knead is because we have used commercial yeast since it became available in the 1860s. Commercial yeast rises in just hours, too short a time for the yeast to build the bread structure, so you have to do it by hand to develop the gluten.Not so with sourdough, using this method. Time is going to do everything kneading does and more.Cover the dough and put it in a cold room or cellar if you have one. Somewhere between 40 and 50 degrees F. Let it sit 18-24 hours.This is cold fermentation, which gives you the tang of sourdough, and it makes the bread more nutritious and long-lasting before it goes stale. If you don’t have a cold room, let your dough ferment for a few hours on the counter, then put it in the refrigerator overnight.At the end of fermentation, you are ready to bake. Preheat a Dutch oven in your oven at 450 degrees for 45 minutes. Shape your dough into a ball or loaf, and put it in the Dutch oven. Cover, put back in the oven, and bake for 30 minutes, still at 450.Remove the lid, turn the oven down to 400, then bake for about 10 to 15 more minutes to get a golden crust.You have made bread that is miles above the plastic grotesquerie sold at grocery stores, for almost no money and for very little effort. No scales; no precise measuring. This is how your ancestors and all humans made bread for thousands of years before the late 19th century.If your first few loaves aren’t great, keep going.Don’t forget to slather it in butter.
https://www.theblaze.com/align/how-to-bake-your-own-bread-no-gadgets-recipes-or-kneading-required

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2026-04-21T10:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The "Squad" is about to pick up a new member with Analilia Mejia, and it's because the media won't stop lying. Some politicians rise by appealing to voters' sympathetic nature, making lofty promises of an easier life with less struggle. In doing so, they deliberately ignore the root causes of society's problems and discredit any fixes that would diminish their own power.The modern-day Democratic Party embraced radical ideologies and extreme rhetoric that will ultimately harm the American people, all while disguising those policies as compassion. Just look at media darlings like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib. Politicians who thrive on deception need gatekeepers to keep inconvenient truths from the public.What's worse, their deception is amplified by the mainstream media. Information is presented in such a biased way that the ill-informed voter is left believing that if they don't vote the "correct" way, the United States will no longer exist.This pattern is now so prevalent that political candidates who would never have been considered a legitimate threat 10 to 20 years ago are beginning to fill important political seats. These deceptions have helped far-left candidates like New Jersey Democrat Analilia Mejia rise to power. Here are three key deceptions Mejia has exploited.Iran, taqiya, and the pro-Palestine blind spotNowhere is the media's selective blindness more dangerous than in its coverage of Iran. The regime is an Islamic theocracy that has never hidden its ambitions. It has pursued nuclear capability, funded terrorist proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and embraced an ideology openly hostile to both Israel and the United States.For years, Iran's rulers have negotiated in bad faith while enriching uranium, arming proxies, and extending their influence across the region. Under those conditions, military options were no longer theoretical. Strikes on nuclear sites, missile infrastructure, and naval assets became necessary to prevent a far greater disaster. Yet the same media that downplays Iran's "Death to America" chants and its direct funding of Hamas portrays the conflict as Israeli overreach or American aggression. Mejia, a vocal pro-Palestine activist who has worn the keffiyeh and accused Israel of genocide, has built her platform on this distorted framing. She either ignores or downplays the fact that Hamas is an Iranian proxy whose actions serve Tehran's larger campaign against both Israel and the West. When politicians demand a ceasefire on terms that leave Iran and its proxies room to regroup, they do not move the region closer to peace. They shield the aggressor while pretending to restrain the war. The press helps them do it by burying Iran's long record of deceit, terror sponsorship, and open threats beneath soft phrases like "regional tensions."Fraud, voter ID, and the 'rights' that protect the scamThe media's coverage of election integrity and government fraud follows the same dishonest script. When Republican-led investigations and the work of independent journalists exposed massive Medicare and Medicaid scams in deep-blue states (hospice fraud in California potentially costing billions and Minnesota providers suspended after hundreds of millions in questionable claims), the story barely registered. These schemes only came to light under renewed scrutiny from the current administration; Democratic states had little incentive to police their own. Yet the same outlets that yawn at taxpayer rip-offs scream that Republicans' push for voter ID and stricter verification are "voter suppression." New Jersey provides fresh proof that fraud is real and corrosive. In January 2026, two Bergen County non-citizens were federally indicted for illegally voting in a U.S. election and lying on citizenship applications. In August of 2024, an ex-Plainfield mayoral candidate was charged with attempting to submit nearly 1,00 fraudulent voter registrations. In 2025, county officials reported that homeless residents in Atlantic County were being solicited for fake messenger ballots. In 2024, James Devine pled guilty to submitting nearly 2,000 fake signatures on nominating petitions for the 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial primary. In 2022, Frederick Gattuso was convicted of tampering with public records when he voted twice using the registration of two people with similar names. These are not isolated "myths"; these are documented crimes that erode trust in the integrity of the electoral process.Censorship and the Elon Musk exceptionMejia's victory speech singled out Elon Musk as one of the "true radicals" subverting democracy. That line revealed a great deal. It showed exactly where she stands on speech, dissent, and who gets to control the public square.During COVID, Democrats and allied Big Tech openly coordinated to suppress dissenting voices. The Hunter Biden laptop story was buried as "Russian disinformation" by 51 former intelligence officials, the lab leak theory was censored as a conspiracy, the Great Barrington Declaration on lockdowns was throttled, and vaccine skeptics were deplatformed. Government pressure on social media, revealed in the Twitter files, showed a clear pattern of state-backed censorship of conservative viewpoints. Enter Elon Musk, who purchased Twitter (now X) precisely to restore free speech and end that collusion. Under his leadership, X became the only major platform where all sides could be heard. The media was complicit in the original censorship and now portrays Musk's commitment to open discourse as dangerous "chaos." Mejia's anti-Musk stance is no surprise; politicians who thrive on deception need gatekeepers to keep inconvenient truths from the public.Voters must see through the wolf in sheep's clothing. Politicians like Analilia Mejia promise an easier life, compassion for the marginalized, and protection from "extremists," all while leaning on a media echo chamber that distorts threats, buries successes, and censors dissent. They ignore root causes — Islamic terrorism sponsored by Iran, rampant fraud that wastes taxpayers' dollars, politicized institutions that target reformers, and the slow erosion of open debate — because confronting those realities would shrink their power. The result is not progress; it is a more divided, less secure, and less truthful America. New Jersey's newest congresswoman and her ideological allies offer lofty rhetoric wrapped in deception. Americans who value security, prosperity, and liberty must reject the easy promises and demand the harder truths. The future of the Republic depends on it.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/new-jersey-just-sent-a-media-manufactured-radical-to-congress

Nostr event nevent1qqsgt990h0rtnre5zkfnt7rnrcr3qtatl8k9zwuvzc4py02hqwrtsvgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjua8mzv

2026-04-21T09:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Rapper and singer Azealia Banks went on a rant against gay liberals and thanked God for the Republican Party.Banks posted the rant Sunday on her official X account, where it got a lot of attention. 'I don't care how many f**king dead gazan kids you try guilt tripping me with.... Liberalism is f**king dead.' "I honestly really much prefer a Republican Government. It's f**king refreshing to exist as a woman in America without gay men's retarded and completely irrelevant voices and opinions on anything at all being a factor. Literally thank God for the GOP," she began.She appeared to voice opposition to transgender-identifying people."Gay men don't do s**t but bamboozle women out of their place in society so they can siphon $ away from womens health to fund sex changes for themselves and convince you that your [sic] mentally ill for saying anything about it. F**k that. Defund the faggots," she added.She went on to claim that she had been called a b***h and a bigot by gays."We are simply not bringing the dnc back. I don't care how many f**king dead gazan kids you try guilt tripping me with.... Liberalism is f**king dead," Banks continued.Banks previously said on social media that no one was born gay or identifying as transgender, but that both were a result of mental illness stemming from trauma."I don't care HOW MANY fat black bitches, ashy black faggots or off brand african immigrants you try polluting black america's image with," she concluded. "LIBERALISM IS OVER."Banks is known for her outspoken, expletive-ridden rants.RELATED: Azealia Banks melts down over RFK Jr. proposal to restrict 'junk food' from food stamp program In 2025, she lambasted HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for suggesting that junk food should be restricted from federally funded food aid programs.In 2015, she said she hated "fat white Americans" and everything about the U.S."All the people who are crunched into the middle of America, the real fat and meat of America, are these racist conservative white people who live on their farms," the rapper said.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/news/azealia-banks-trans-gay-rant

Nostr event nevent1qqsrg9faesxreu4cx8602g4qcy5dtyya8q5gtudzrxv70ra7rpmkc0qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjmy4q6r

2026-04-21T09:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A “monster drought” is currently affecting more than 61% of the lower 48 U.S. states — the highest level for this time of year since 2000 — with nearly all of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West parched. Concerns over wildfires, water supplies, food prices, and even shortages are mounting quickly.Glenn Beck pulls no punches about the severity of this drought: “The South is baked. Sugar cane, rice, peanuts, fruit trees [are] choking under severe, extreme, and even exceptional drought. Out in the plains (that's our bread basket), winter wheat is sitting in dust; it can't germinate because it doesn't have the water. In the West, the mountain snow pack is vanishing before our eyes.”Our farmers, he warns, are “barely hanging on,” and that burden will soon impact us.“Food costs are going up and not a little — a lot. Beef, grains, produce, everything that comes from the fields all across our fruited plain. It's going to cost more at the grocery store, and it's coming sooner and faster than most people want to even admit,” says Glenn. He urges his audience to start by fasting and praying.“I'm asking you to fast and pray for rain all across the country. I'm asking you to fast and pray for our farmers because our farmers are under extreme stress. ... They are probably the most important cog in the chain of this machinery,” he says.The second thing Glenn implores his audience to do is “stop depending on this system.”“It is really important that you become as food independent as possible. If you don't have food storage, you should. If you have a scrap of yard, plant a garden this spring — tomatoes, beans, potatoes, greens, anything you can grow. Anything,” he pleads.Whether it’s starting a “neighborhood garden,” learning how to “preserve” different foods, or “[stocking] a little extra when you can,” the time to prepare is now.“This isn't just about rain or fertilizer prices, market prices. ... We are in a spiritual war, and I'm telling you, the very gates of hell will come against us in the days ahead,” Glenn warns.Our current state of disunity, he cautions, will only make matters worse.Glenn begs his audience to seek unity: “This too shall pass, but it will pass a whole lot easier if we stop pulling in different directions and start sticking together; if we stop hating one another and start helping one another; if we start to get to know our neighbors and say, ‘Look, I don't care how you vote, man, but have you seen the price of food?"’“Plant your seeds in the ground, and plant seeds of love in your heart and in your faith, and get ready because the storm is here.”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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-glenn-beck-program/the-storm-is-here-glenn-beck-delivers-urgent-plan-to-prepare

Nostr event nevent1qqsxwazkkdexvacpmsjjnvphl3xnkfnnas8l673j80ctpng0642pkhczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjmlf4ns

2026-04-21T08:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The Trump administration has made it clear since its pullout from Minneapolis that the era of mass deportation is over and the administration will instead focus on criminal aliens. But sanctuary cities, which defend the worst of the criminal aliens, remain fully funded and undeterred well into Trump’s second term, with zero strategy to harness the news of endless heinous crimes committed in these fugitive jurisdictions. How can it be that Republicans are planning one last party-line bill to fund ICE and aren’t even broaching the issue of sanctuary cities?Just 15 months into this administration, the central campaign promise is dead.According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, there were over 300 sanctuary jurisdictions in 2016. In response to Trump’s rise to power and his threat to enforce our sovereignty, this number rose to 564 by 2018 — an increase of roughly 88% in the first two years of the Trump administration. As of last year, FAIR identified at least 1,003 by May 2025.After failing to ignore the courts and cut off funding executively for over five years of Trump’s two administrations, the upcoming budget reconciliation bill is the last opportunity to accomplish this legislatively without Democrat support. Why is this not the single biggest focus of budget reconciliation?You will not find a more lopsided political issue than shutting down local policies that harbor dangerous criminals who invaded our country to begin with. We already know that Republicans have pulled the plug on mass deportations and have no plans to defund or strip sanctuary judges of jurisdiction or pass even minor cuts to legal immigration. Defunding sanctuary cities should be the bare minimum to achieve some of the election promises, yet as of now, they only plan to pass a simple $70 billion ICE funding bill with no policy provisions attached. To allow Democrats to shut down Department of Homeland Security appropriations and then go through the effort of passing a party-line reconciliation bill just to restore baseline ICE funding would represent the greatest failure of this trifecta on Trump's signature promise of dating back to 2016.Republicans seem incapable of making the cultural case against mass migration. But what is so hard about beating Democrats over the head every day with stories of heinous crimes committed by criminal aliens harbored by blue jurisdictions? Sadly, there is an unlimited supply of political ammo to use to force legislation that would finally end this subversion of American sovereignty.Nowhere is this more evident than in Fairfax County, Virginia. Three out of the four murderers caught in Fairfax this year have been illegal aliens who should have been removed.Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone, allegedly stabbed Stephanie Minter at a bus stop. It turned out this was completely avoidable. Jalloh had 30+ prior arrests, including rape, assault, and weapons violations, yet prosecutor Steve Descano’s office dropped multiple felony charges against him despite three written warnings from police that he was dangerous. The sheriff ignored ICE detainers and released him repeatedly.Anibal Chavarria Muy, an illegal alien from Guatemala, allegedly hacked a man to death with a machete on March 29. This was 100% avoidable because he had already been arrested on assault and firearms charges, but Descano declined prosecution and the sheriff’s office ignored an ICE detainer.Misael Lopez Gomez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was charged with beating his own baby to death on Mar 27, 2026. Just three weeks prior, he was arrested for driving without a license. Local officials clearly knew he was here illegally but released him to commit more crimes. Overall, nine illegal immigrants have been linked to 12 murders in Fairfax County since 2019. Of course, sanctuary policies have been responsible for other heinous crimes as well. Israel Flores Ortiz, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was charged last month with groping 13 girls over six days at Fairfax High School. Descano, of course, undercharged him with simple assault and then tried to release him on bail. ICE has this man on its radar, but Fairfax officials would easily release him without informing ICE if they could get away with it.RELATED: A birthright citizenship fix is more important than the SAVE Act Win McNamee/Getty ImagesNext door in Arlington, Virginia, Luzvin Garcia Moran allegedly nearly succeeded in abducting and raping a woman before he was arrested. It turns out he had prior drug, assault, and probation violations, yet Soros district attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti freed him each time.The rationale for mass deportations has never before been buttressed by this many dangerous aliens, given the number of people waved in by the Biden administration. In the tragic irony of all ironies, just last Monday — amid the DHS funding lapse — Lauren Bullis, a DHS employee, was brutally shot and stabbed, allegedly by Olaolukitan Adon Abel in DeKalb County, Georgia. Who is Adon Abel? Despite having prior convictions for sexual battery, battery against a police officer, obstruction, assault with a deadly weapon, and vandalism as an immigrant, the Biden administration's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted him full citizenship in 2022. This was, of course, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1427, which requires applicants to demonstrate "good moral character."How many Americans will even hear of Lauren Bullis? Republicans are incapable of publicizing all these heinous crimes facilitated by sanctuary cities to force a defund fight in middle of a DHS funding lapse, including when a DHS employee is murdered by one such recipient of Biden amnesty!Appallingly, rather than building the case for defunding sanctuary cities and prohibiting driver’s licenses for illegal aliens in budget reconciliation, Trump and Republicans are using their waning political capital to pass an extension of FISA Section 702, the very program used to spy upon the Trump campaign.Ironically, the Trump administration has already capitulated to Antifa by pulling the National Guard out of sanctuary cities and retreating from Minneapolis. According to new data published by ICE, the number of detainees plummeted by 12% since its peak in January. Just 15 months into this administration, the central campaign promise is dead.The entire rationale for this capitulation is that Republicans would rather focus on criminal aliens. Well, in that case, why have they not publicized the endless list of heinous crimes committed in sanctuary jurisdictions to defund those insurrectionist cities, in the last party-line bill designed to fund the DHS?
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/how-republicans-have-failed-to-defund-sanctuary-cities-for-a-generation

Nostr event nevent1qqs0v5ju6c62jzvyvvt92srluj0e5gp6txlxw2taye9ssm8uyfqz5hqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjfs6zhz

2026-04-20T23:09:23Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Another member of President Donald Trump's cabinet is stepping down after a turbulent 13-month term at the Department of Labor.The White House praised Lori Chavez-DeRemer's time as labor secretary in a statement Monday announcing that she would be leaving the administration to join private industry.'While my time serving in the Administration comes to a conclusion, it doesn't mean I will stop fighting for American workers.'"Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector," White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said on social media. "She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives."Cheung said Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling would become acting director of the agency.Chavez-DeRemer had been known as a pro-union Republican before she joined the Trump administration and would not have been confirmed without the help of three Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.The 58-year-old's husband was reportedly banned from the Labor Dept. offices over sexual harassment allegations, but a criminal investigation related to those claims was closed. In March, two of her aides were forced out of the department over allegations of misconduct that included drinking on the job and inappropriate vacation trips. Chavez-DeRemer issued a statement on social media as well."It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this historic Administration and work for the greatest President of my lifetime," she wrote.RELATED: Trump's Teamsters-backed labor pick pivots on pro-union position "At the Department of Labor, I am proud that we made significant progress in advancing President Trump's mission to bridge the gap between business and labor and always put the American worker first," she added. "While my time serving in the Administration comes to a conclusion, it doesn't mean I will stop fighting for American workers. I am looking forward to what the future has in store as I depart for the private sector," she concluded.Trump's cabinet has seen two other departures in the last few weeks: Kristi Noem as head of Homeland Security and Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general.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/news/chavez-deremer-labor-sec-resigns

Nostr event nevent1qqsrysj02wrhc32aedey2xk08clkmjq6jl89t0z8kd0mu9qaw6r7y5czyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj0jh7kk

2026-04-20T22:42:10Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Last week during a Pentagon worship service tied to the Iran conflict, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered what he called a “CSAR 25:17” prayer for rescue crews. In this prayer, he almost word-for-word quoted Samuel L. Jackson’s famous Ezekiel 25:17 monologue in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” which does not quote the actual verse but rather loosely blends parts of it with other Bible verses and additional fictional elements.Even though Hegseth never said the prayer was actual Scripture but rather “meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17,” the mainstream media framed it as an embarrassing misquoting of the Bible, ruthlessly mocking him for not knowing the difference between Scripture and a Hollywood monologue.Glenn Beck went searching for where this narrative originated, and what he found deeply disturbed him. Glenn brings in his executive producer, Rikki Ratliff-Fellman, who dug into the media controversy. According to her research, it’s “a Turkish psyop account and the Russian state media that are behind amplifying this noise about Pete Hegseth.”“This whole thing went viral on X, and it appears to have started around a Turkish account and then became mainstream news reported by Variety, Independent, [and] other outlets,” she says.Glenn immediately sees a pattern.“We started the week with a viral post about Donald Trump not really being a Christian because, of course, he blasphemed Jesus,” he says, referencing Trump’s now-deleted AI-generated meme depicting him in white and red robes healing a sick person, which many interpreted as him equating himself to Jesus.In response to this post, the Iranian Embassy in Tajikistan posted an AI-generated video showing a figure resembling Jesus Christ punching Donald Trump (depicted in the same flowing robes from his own recent AI “Jesus” image) and violently throwing him into a pit of lava/hell, complete with blood effects and dramatic narration. It went massively viral on social media, racking up millions of views.Further, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Trump’s post as the “desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood.”Putting all these things together, Glenn sees the big picture: “We are in a giant psyop right now.”“You have to understand, the only way that Iran can win this war is if we tear each other apart — and Russia knows it, and China knows it,” he says.These two nations, both of which are hurting from the Iran war, as well as the “Shia Muslim crazies — the Twelvers — who actually believe in chaos and think [America is] the great Satan,” have only one weapon, he explains: “the American people against themselves.”Glenn pleads with Americans to see these social media scandals for what they really are: a ploy to destroy America from within.“Please, America, wake the F up. You’re not this stupid. Understand, your social media is nothing but a weapon of mass destruction,” he warns.“Don’t believe anything on social media. Don’t jump to conclusions on anything. Please don’t get involved in tearing everyone apart.”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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-glenn-beck-program/glenn-beck-warns-trump-jesus-meme-scandal-and-hegseth-prayer-smear-are-part-of-the-same-foreign-psyop

Nostr event nevent1qqsdg9jqtx57v2nz6l0wuwwl69j4xhp59num4qmpf3len9rhuu2ca2qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj3p7sjq

2026-04-20T22:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota faced intense scrutiny after revising the personal wealth she amassed in her required financial disclosure as a member of Congress.Omar had previously reported that her wealth grew from $51K in one year to at least $6 million and up to $30 million. Members of Congress are not required to report exact sums but general valuations of their wealth.'While anyone can make a mistake on any type of form, the scope and scale of the mistake does not pass the smell test.'In February, Republicans demanded financial documents from Omar and her husband related to the suspicious report of a massive increase in wealth.Months later, Omar is saying mistakes were made."The amended disclosure confirms what we've said all along: The congresswoman is not a millionaire," said Jacklyn Rogers, a spokesperson for Omar.Rogers added that the form was amended "as soon as the discrepancy was identified."The new disclosure form says Omar and her husband's assets are worth between $18,004 and $95,000.Economic expert and Blaze Media contributor Carol Roth explained the dubious nature of the revision in a statement to Blaze News."Who among us hasn't made a $6 million to $30 million error in estimating our net worth for disclosure documents?" Roth replied."While anyone can make a mistake on any type of form, the scope and scale of the mistake does not pass the smell test. It seems appropriate for the appropriate governmental bodies to put forth extra scrutiny on Rep. Omar and her family's finances, given this 'mistake,'" she added.RELATED: GOP demands financial docs from Omar's husband: 'Who's funding this? Who's buying access?' Republican Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota sharply criticized Omar after the financial revision."Not only should her accountant be fired, but that girl should be fired and she does not deserve to be in Congress," Emmer said."Quite frankly, if she is discovered to be involved in any of this fraud personally, that she benefited from it, even by her actions of promoting it and trying to resist investigations, she should be held accountable to the fullest extent," he added.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/news/ilhan-omar-finance-revision-millions

Nostr event nevent1qqsrj99c53x4dwzxq2sjl9dqc6vda3wxf4dxga8wg4e4rssu8gyxjfqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj8z40p2

2026-04-20T20:48:21Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Nike promised it would "do better" after apparently getting complaints over a new ad in Boston.The ad was part of a marketing campaign centered on the Boston Marathon, an elite annual race that took place on Monday. The simple text ad apparently sparked enough controversy with Nike that the company pulled the graphic almost immediately after putting it up.'We'll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners.'The ad was featured in the window of Nike's Newbury Street store in Boston, reportedly just a few hundred feet from the marathon's finish line. It featured black text on a dark red background that read, "Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated."The ad was up for only about a day, according to multiple outlets like Marathon Handbook, which said it was put up on April 16 but was taken down by the following morning.Nike was quick to apologize for the joke, saying, "We want more people to feel welcome in running — no matter their pace, experience, or the distance.""During race week in Boston, we put up a series of signs to encourage runners," the company continued, according to Runner's World. "One of them missed the mark. We took it down, and we'll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners."RELATED: Nike ditches wokeness in family-friendly golf ad: 'More of this, please!' - YouTube Nike also released a statement to Boston.com that claimed, "We listen to the voice of the athlete."The media team also attached an image that appeared to be a replacement ad for the same store. The image reads, "Boston will always remind you, movement is what matters."Counternarratives have since emerged stating that Nike's original messaging was not out of place given the elite level of competition at the Boston Marathon.Jennifer Sey, a U.S. national champion in gymnastics and frequent Nike critic, said that when it comes to advertising, Nike has "one swing and a miss after another. For at least 5 years.""Nike can't get anything right at the moment," Sey wrote on X. She then called company leadership out-of-touch "egomaniacs.""It's always been a douchey culture," she added.RELATED: Thugs rob teen of his iPhone, Nike sneakers; but boy's family finds 1 suspect — and delivers painful payback: CopsNike can’t get anything right at the moment. It’s one swing and a miss after another. For at least 5 years. I think the leaders there are probably out of touch weekend warrior egomaniacs. It’s always been a douchey culture. pic.twitter.com/Slj2noftUY— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) April 20, 2026"This is the Boston Marathon. ... Obviously, they're going to encourage them to run," said runner and YouTuber Rob Tolo."Why are we getting offended by that, bro? This is for the elite of the elite," he added. "This is Boston, bro. I'd love to qualify for that one day."Commentator Jake Heyen said he disagreed with the backlash too and that Nike's objective was to celebrate ambition and performance."The messaging of this ad should not be controversial, and honestly, I would respect Nike much more if they brought the sign back today with even more hardcore messaging," he said.Nike stock dropped by a couple of dollars per share amid the controversy on Thursday but had recovered by Friday morning.However, shares have fallen by more than 27% in 2026, averaging out to a 17% drop since April 2025. Value peaked at nearly $80 per share last August before plummeting to just over $46 per share at the time of this writing.The company's all-time high was around $170 per share in 2021. Nike is currently back down to 2015 numbers.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/fearless/nike-apologizes-and-removes-boston-ad-that-joked-about-tolerance

Nostr event nevent1qqsxzpgwr7jdc8m39rz4yd26l60r5ht229jraujzxld3682ngu74jlgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjtwtyns

2026-04-20T20:28:09Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A "planned fight between two young" individuals on Monday led to a mass shooting where at least two people were killed, say North Carolina police.Winston-Salem police said on social media that the fight began at about 9:52 a.m. at Leinbach Park, which is only about 400 yards away from Jefferson Middle School on Sally Kirk Rd.'Several individuals — both victims and suspects — have been identified and located.' While police were on their way to the park to respond to the fight, a shooting broke out. Police said several people shot at each other, and later the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation confirmed that at least two people had died in the incident."Several individuals — both victims and suspects — have been identified and located. Due to the number of people involved, efforts are ongoing to account for everyone. At this time, some of those involved in the incident are juveniles," said police.The shooting led to lockdowns at several schools.WGHP-TV reported a massive police presence in the area, with many businesses and streets closed down as the investigation continues. Police called for the community not to use personal drones in the area to avoid interfering with police drones searching for other possible suspects and victims.RELATED: VIDEO: Heroic high school principal saves the day, stops shooter in his tracks Although police said schools were returning to their normal schedule, some parents showed up to pick up their children. This is a developing story. 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/news/salem-winston-shooting-lethal-fight

Nostr event nevent1qqs8zftl72a0vza9urs0nps7jst5pqw66n49xe02cvvzrkzsm5dydaczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjdgyfsh

2026-04-20T19:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The Supreme Court has agreed to weigh in on whether religious institutions must set aside their core beliefs in order to participate in a state-funded program.The St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy case, broadly speaking, is a challenge to the Archdiocese of Denver's requirement that families and staff support Catholic beliefs. The state takes issue with this requirement when considering whether to allow Catholic schools in the archdiocese to participate in the Universal Preschool Program.'Colorado promised free preschool for all, then slammed the door on families who chose a religious education for their children. After three losses in religious freedom cases at the Supreme Court, Colorado should know better.'The archdiocese requires staff and families to sign statements to "affirm that they will support the teachings of the Catholic Church" and that "all Catholic school families must understand and display a positive and supportive attitude toward the Catholic Church," according to Fox News.Colorado officials, however, argue that these requirements are not inclusive of all children.RELATED: Why the Supreme Court nuked Colorado’s 'Must Stay Gay' law (and what to expect next) Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post/Getty Images"All participating providers — whether religious or secular — must ensure that children have equal opportunity to enroll in and receive preschool services regardless of those children’s (or their families’) religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, lack of housing, income level, or disability," the state said.The state's universal preschool program covers all types of schools and offers 15 hours of free preschool each week in the year before the child enters kindergarten. Nicholas Reaves, senior counsel at Becket and attorney for the families and preschools, told Blaze News, “Colorado promised free preschool for all, then slammed the door on families who chose a religious education for their children. After three losses in religious freedom cases at the Supreme Court, Colorado should know better. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that states cannot exclude families from government benefits because of their faith. We’re confident the Court will say the same thing here and put a stop to Colorado’s no-Catholics-need-apply rules.”Families in the case remain hopeful that the Supreme Court will side with their appeal. “All we want is the freedom to choose the best preschool for our kids without being punished for our faith," Dan and Lisa Sheley, Catholic parents of seven and Becket clients in the case, said in a statement provided to Blaze News. "Colorado promised families a universal preschool program, then cut out families like ours because we chose a Catholic education. We pray the Supreme Court will remind Colorado that universal means everyone.”“Colorado is punishing young religious families. In a state that loudly preaches inclusion, it’s shocking to see Colorado go out of its way to exclude families like mine," Erika Navarrete Nagle, a Catholic mother of three whose children attend St. Mary’s, told Blaze News. "I hope the Supreme Court will make it clear that no family should be targeted for what they believe.”The Supreme Court will hear arguments for this case in the fall. Editor's note: The author attended St. Mary Catholic Parish and School. 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/news/scotus-agrees-to-hear-arguments-in-colorado-religious-freedom-case

Nostr event nevent1qqsqnqgc9jd3nqj6m6prprms7wtlnuwcwznntf093e5hn4nlwy4da4gzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjc7xqe8

2026-04-20T19:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Failed vice presidential candidate Tim Walz tried and failed to take a swipe at Vice President JD Vance during his announcement of a new political super PAC on Monday.The Minnesota governor said the Small Town PAC is intended to boost the campaigns of Democrats in rural areas of the country.'If Democrats want to win in more places, we’ve got to start showing up in more places.'"Republicans like JD Vance like to portray their small-town neighbors as petty, resentful, and small-minded. I disagree. I think the problem facing small towns are Republicans like JD Vance," said Walz to Politico.Vance was propelled into politics after the success of his memoir titled "Hillbilly Elegy," which documented his travails among poor, white communities in Kentucky and Ohio. He memorably paid homage to his mother and "mamaw" during his speech at the Republican National Convention in 2024.Walz had given up his hopes of re-election as governor after being accused of helping cover up the massive fraud committed by some members of the Somali community in Minnesota. He has denied the allegations."We’re going to show up in small towns, organize in places too many people have given up on, and build power with the folks who call these places home," said Walz on social media Monday. "If Democrats want to win in more places, we’ve got to start showing up in more places."He told Politico that he was going use the super PAC to seek "some teachers, some nurses, some laborers, vets, and young people in small towns across the country who can represent their communities better than Silicon Valley can." RELATED: Tim Walz says Democrats need to be 'meaner' and 'bully the s**t out of' Trump Walz was ridiculed by many in January after he warned that Minnesota was "at war" with the federal government after President Donald Trump ordered a surge of federal troops to enforce immigration law. "I've issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard," Walz added. "We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary. I remind you, a warning order is a heads-up for folks." That federal operation was ended after two anti-ICE protesters were killed during incidents with federal troops, and local leaders reached an agreement with the Trump administration to pull out the troops. 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/news/tim-walz-pac-vance-rural

Nostr event nevent1qqsypvnvycz2wtgxjk5vewkuegf25hx4jfg9u57tfsd4tt5qrlem0gczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj07nqp9

2026-04-20T19:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Five people were wounded, including three students, in a shooting near the University of Iowa early Sunday morning — and Iowa City Police have released photos showing persons of interest.Police said they responded at 1:46 a.m. to a report of a large fight in the 100 Block of East College Street — and that arriving officers heard gunfire.Police said no arrests have been made, but there is no known ongoing threat associated with the incident; the department is continuing to investigate.Police said in a separate post that the scene of the shooting was in downtown Iowa City.Police said they have identified five victims in the shooting: One is in critical condition, and the other four victims are in stable condition.NBC News said video circulating on social media appears to show a confrontation before the shooting that seemed to involve a large group of people. The news network added that several people could be seen punching and kicking others while bystanders urged them to stop.NBC News added that it's unclear when the gunfire commenced, but additional video on social media shows a large crowd fleeing.RELATED: Male, 31, fatally shoots 8 children execution style; 7 were his own kids: Report Police said no arrests have been made, but there is no known ongoing threat associated with the incident; the department is continuing to investigate.Police also posted photos on its Facebook page showing persons of interest associated with the shooting as part of the department's ongoing investigation.RELATED: Masked men open fire after storming into Chick-fil-A; 1 dead, 6 injured; manhunt under way Persons of interest. Image source: Iowa City Police, compositePolice said those with information about the individuals in the photos are asked to contact Detective Cade Burma at cburma@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5275.Police added that the persons of interest have been numbered to assist in the sharing of information.In addition, those with video also can contact Detective Burma, police said, adding that tips can also be submitted anonymously through Iowa City Crime Stoppers, which is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about this incident that leads to an arrest.Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted via the P3 Tips app online at iccrimestoppers.org or by phone at 319-358-TIPS (8477), police said, adding that all tips and calls are held in strict confidence and anonymity is guaranteed. Individuals providing information are not required to reveal their identity to collect a reward, police also said, noting that a CASE #2026003915 also was provided.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/news/5-wounded-including-3-students-in-shooting-near-university-of-iowa-police-release-photos-of-persons-of-interest

Nostr event nevent1qqsrq0235t7xtux9nxzkmcqevhttz35sdqdhyc5fxulmfp5zmrj3ghqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjxy4zc6

2026-04-20T18:35:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Another progressive, anti-Israel Democrat is set to be sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives after the pro-Israel lobbying firm AIPAC accidentally boosted her campaign. Democrat Analilia Mejia won the New Jersey special election last week to replace former Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who was elected governor in November 2025. Mejia is expected to be sworn in Monday afternoon, allowing Democrats to regain one seat after being down a vote following Sherrill's resignation last fall. This miscalculation was unprecedented for the lobbying group.In the lead-up to the race, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee dumped millions of dollars into the Democratic primary against former Rep. Tom Malinowski for criticizing the Israeli government. The campaign attempted to liken Malinowski's track record to President Donald Trump's immigration policy, successfully ousting the congressional hopeful. But in eliminating Malinowski's candidacy, AIPAC inadvertently boosted Mejia, whose criticisms of the Jewish state go much further. RELATED: Did AIPAC accidentally elect the next Squad member? Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesAIPAC likely calculated that its ad campaign would boost Democratic Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, a staunchly pro-Israel candidate in the overcrowded primary. Instead, the group elevated Mejia, who echoed the criticisms of Congress' most progressive members and accused the state of Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. "Congress must end the blank check for Trump and Netanyahu," Mejia said in a post on X on April 10. "The United States must include Lebanon in a real ceasefire and stop giving Israel a blank check to escalate. From Cuba to Venezuela to Lebanon, we must end wars of choice. This war must end now." This miscalculation was unprecedented for the lobbying group. AIPAC has enjoyed a string of successful primaries, booting candidates who did not sufficiently support Israel or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This includes several former "Squad" members like Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, who both lost their primaries to AIPAC-funded candidates. 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/news/meet-the-newest-potential-squad-member-aipac-accidentally-got-elected

Nostr event nevent1qqsvrp6zj43hevwgwjr349xzvlnktqvydes3rxrl9teuhudxw84vx8szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj458255

2026-04-20T18:20:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A veteran Washington, D.C., police officer was allegedly caught sending horrendous messages to a person he believed to be a 15-year-old male.Lt. Matthew Mahl was placed on administrative leave at the D.C. Metro Police Department after being arrested on Tuesday in Harford County, Maryland, on charges of sexual solicitation of a minor and two counts of child porn solicitation.'It really is a horrific tragedy when we think about the impact that this could have on young people.'Mahl, 47, had been the head of the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit of MPD before he was elected to head the union, officially called the Labor Committee of the Fraternal Order of Police, in 2016.He is accused of seeking to have sex with a person he believed to be a male teenager after meeting them on the Reddit online platform in a thread titled, "r/GayYoungOldDating."Mahl acknowledged that he believed the person's age to be 15 on multiple occasions in the online conversations, charging documents claimed.Mahl sent sexually explicit photos and messages to the person in an exchange that lasted about a month, according to prosecutors. He also allegedly acknowledged that he was an officer and could face serious consequences if caught."I have it all to lose," he allegedly wrote.He was arrested after police say he traveled to Harford County in hopes of meeting the teenager, who was actually an undercover officer.MPD said they were not aware of the initial investigation into Mahl. "The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of the Metropolitan Police Department," read a statement from the department. "MPD’s Internal Affairs Division will investigate violations of MPD policy once the criminal investigation concludes."On Wednesday, Mahl was ordered to remain in jail without bail.Prosecutors referred to him as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" during the bail hearing.RELATED: Video shows teens cut up Pride flags at bar during Pride Month — hate crime charges followed Turnaround rape crisis CEO Amanda Rodriguez called the allegations "awful" in a statement to CBS News."These are individuals that the kids should be able to put their trust in. So it's not just a tragedy, it really is a horrific tragedy when we think about the impact that this could have on young people trusting those that they really often need ... for their own safety."She added, "We need to hold folks in law enforcement and, again, in these other higher areas of authority to a level to ensure that that trust is always able to be there."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/news/dc-police-child-sex-solicitation

Nostr event nevent1qqs9h4zfegxc9ns8lsyrvmkzvtgjq52d6yh2qc3fdnvm23lhnwq9jmczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjs8ufuc

2026-04-20T18:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

This week, Yale gave a glimpse of the left's plan for celebrating America 250: by sulking through it.The Yale Political Union invited left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker to campus for a talk titled "End the American Empire." That tells you almost everything you need to know about elite culture in 2026. One of America's most storied universities now hands the microphone to a professional internet loudmouth so he can trash the country that made his whole career possible.In one booking, Yale managed to capture the reigning pathology of the elite leftist, grievance-peddling, globalist scolds: embarrassment about America and indulgence of countries with body counts in the tens of millions.America does not promise equality of outcome; it delivers equality of opportunity, whether your ancestors came on the Mayflower or landed at Ellis Island with just the clothes on their backs. In case you missed it, Piker's major takeaway at Yale was: "The fall of the USSR was one of the greatest catastrophes of the 20th century." Sadly, Piker isn't alone, and the intent of these hall monitors of American guilt couldn't be clearer: Stop with the fireworks, the parades, and the idolizing of Jefferson and Franklin. Put on your black, mourn communism, and pine for a return to Stalin.Before we turn off Twitch and tune out Yale, we must understand their rhetorical trick: The ideal of communism, they say, is just and righteous. That makes its downfall in the USSR (and everywhere else it's ever been tried) tragic. The reality is bleaker. Communism's supposed ideal is unattainable. People differ in ability, ambition, discipline, and desire. Any system that insists on equal results must override individuality, and that only happens at the tip of a spear. Today's champions treat the millions killed under communism as an inconvenient footnote, along with the predictable enrichment of a ruling elite and the familiar rise of tyranny.That's no ideal to which to strive. And its failure should be openly and widely celebrated — as it has been by its own repressed peoples as much as by those of us who are free and watching from afar.That is the rhetorical trick. When leftists discuss communism, they speak in the language of ideals. When they discuss America, they speak only in the language of failures.The ignorance is difficult to miss. America does not promise equality of outcome; it delivers equality of opportunity, whether your ancestors came on the Mayflower or landed at Ellis Island with just the clothes on their backs. Opportunity, even, for people getting paid to play video games on livestreams.Of course, America has experienced its failures. The Declaration of Independence said all men are created equal, but the Constitution constricted that promise. America's bloodiest days weren't akin to Stalin's great purge of political enemies; it was a civil war to see the promise of freedom all the way through. As communist regimes have been crushed under economic and cultural failure, America is on a never-ending, constant march closer to its stated ideals. Not perfectly. Not easily. But undeniably.So where did this American pessimism come from? There have always been socialists at the fringes — figures like Mr. Piker are just the most visible version of an old idea. The real danger is the left's rank and file, who have, over the last 50 years, made vilifying America a key cultural issue. There must be something in the water during anniversary years. As the 1976 bicentennial arrived with genuine patriotic fervor, it exited with a people divided by two sharply different visions. While tens of millions of Americans celebrated with fireworks and flag-waving, Jimmy Carter rode to the White House on a platform of regret. He and his followers decided that America could lead only by apologizing and expressing doubt about the moral legitimacy of our system. With Carter's election win, the American left transformed. Instead of reading this as a desire for calm after years of turmoil, the American left increasingly interpreted it as a rejection of patriotism itself.Yale's decision to engage Hasan Piker is the legacy of that 50-year shift. Yale has surrendered its right to proudly boast of 25 graduates who served in the Continental Congress and five who signed the Declaration of Independence. And Twitch? It's contributed less to society than the cheap plastic fork in your takeout order. As in 1776, patriots will prevail. So let the Yalies sneer and Twitchers scold. The rest of us will wave the flag, light the fireworks, and celebrate the country that gave those folks the freedom to complain in the first place.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/yale-invites-hasan-piker-to-trash-america-and-accidentally-exposes-the-lefts-2026-playbook

Nostr event nevent1qqsq08acvlrlhncsp483hth7re8nvjplrkhwm6g85t5tlrcrpmcdurqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjzyldna

2026-04-20T15:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A 31-year-old male fatally shot eight children execution style in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday morning — and seven of the victims were the shooter's own children, authorities told the New York Times.The gunman, Shamar Elkins — who was fatally shot following a police chase — had mental health problems and recently had expressed suicidal thoughts, the Times said, citing family members' statements in interviews.'My babies — my babies are gone.'The children ranged in age from 1 to 14, officials told the paper, and seven of the eight were Elkins' own children. A Shreveport Police Department spokesman said he shot them execution style, the Times reported.Elkins also shot two other people, including his wife, who was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, the paper said, citing officials and relatives.Following the shootings, authorities said Elkins took a car by force, and police pursued him, the Times said. Officers opened fire, and Elkins died, Cpl. Chris Bordelon of the Shreveport Police Department said in a news conference, according to the paper. It's unclear if officers killed Elkins, or if he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Times said.Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said it's “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had," according to the paper.RELATED: Masked men open fire after storming into Chick-fil-A; 1 dead, 6 injured; manhunt under way While police haven't offered a possible motive, the Times said relatives in interviews noted that Elkins recently struggled with mental health and was stressed about his relationship with his wife, Shaneiqua Pugh.More from the paper:Earlier this month, on Easter Sunday, he called his mother, Mahelia Elkins, and his stepfather, Marcus Jackson. Ms. Elkins and Mr. Jackson said in interviews that their son sounded despondent. They said they could hear his children playing in the background during the call.Mr. Elkins told them through tears that he wanted to take his own life. He told Mr. Jackson that his wife wanted a divorce, and that he was drowning in “dark thoughts.”“I told him, ‘You can beat stuff, man. I don’t care what you’re going through, you can beat it,’” Mr. Jackson said. “Then I remember him telling me: ‘Some people don’t come back from their demons.’”Elkins' mother told the Times she didn't know precisely what problems her son was having with his wife. The paper said records indicate they were married in 2024. Elkins' mother added to the Times that her son worked for UPS and had served in the Army.The Army told the paper in a Sunday statement that Elkins served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from August 2013 to August 2020 as a signal support system specialist and a fire support specialist. The Times added that Elkins had no deployment and left the Army as a private.Elkins' mother also told the paper she wasn't extremely close with her son; she had given birth to him when she was a teenager and struggling with a crack cocaine addiction. The Times added that she had a family friend — Betty Walker — raise Elkins, and he and his mother reconnected more than a decade ago.Walker spoke to authorities Sunday, the paper said. While she didn't witness the shootings, Walker said in an interview that Elkins shot his wife several times, including in the head and in the stomach, the Times reported.Walker told the paper she last saw Elkins last weekend when his family came over for dinner, and nothing appeared off with him at the time: “I was getting up this morning to make myself some coffee, and I got the call. My babies — my babies are gone.”The Times, citing records, reported that Elkins had at least two prior convictions, including driving while intoxicated in 2016 and illegal use of weapons in 2019.The paper said a police description of the March 2019 incident notes that Elkins pulled a 9-millimeter handgun from his waistband and shot at a vehicle five times after the driver of the car pulled a silver handgun on him. One of the bullets Elkins shot was found near a school where children were playing outside, the Times said.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/news/male-31-fatally-shoots-8-children-execution-style-7-were-his-own-kids-report

Nostr event nevent1qqsfrxpd3upy7fce3xjr2zqjcvwar3lkmqmffxprx3u3j8s26ftjnfqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjrrzvmw

2026-04-20T15:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A U.S. government-backed recruiting ad exploited what officials said was an obvious crossover in interests.This led to a rapid intake of job applications that will likely fulfill a key role that has been criticized over the past few years for being at the center of disastrous diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices.'We've leaned into that community.'On April 10, the Department of Transportation put out a call for applicants to consider transitioning to a career in one of the most prioritized roles the federal government has to offer: air traffic controllers.The one-minute ad targeted adult gamers by focusing on their attention to detail, multitasking, and simply put, their ability to take in a vast amount of data through a screen.U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed on Friday there was an obvious crossover in interest between gamers and air traffic controllers."We polled 250 random students at our academy, and only three of them were not gamers. Like, there must be a correlation between gaming and people wanting to become air traffic controllers," Duffy said at the Semafor World Economy event in Washington, D.C. "So we've leaned into that community."The recruitment push turned out to be shockingly successful, and after just seven hours, the recruitment portal was almost ready to be shut down."We went live last night at midnight — and as of 7:00 this morning, we had almost 6,000 applicants. We are going to shut down the application process at 8,000."RELATED: 'Make a lot of money': Trump administration has a job opportunity for adult video gamers Duffy told the audience, "If we're not there right now, for sure we'll be there by noon," at which point there will not be a need for any more applications.As Return previously reported, Duffy met his goal to recruit at least 2,000 new air traffic controllers last September by bringing in 2,026. This came from a group of 10,000 applications, with more than 8,300 being referred to aptitude testing.On Friday, Duffy spoke more about the correlation between the gamer mindset and what it takes to be an air traffic controller."If you think just what these gamers are doing on screens, and they're talking, and there's a lot of things going on. They're used to that, and that's actually what you're doing, in a tower, in a facility," Duffy continued. "They've become well-suited, from the games they've played, to actually have a great life [and] job that pays well and can support their families."RELATED: Trump can secure a big win for air travel John Moore/Getty Images The transportation secretary did stress that the applicants have to be qualified and will go through an assessment process. However, "We've had a flood of people, young people coming in that want to be air traffic controllers ... this has been wildly successful."The department will still endeavor for its ongoing goal of hiring at least 8,900 new air traffic controllers through 2028.An audit from 2025 by the Office of Inspector General stated that the FAA employs about 13,000 air traffic controllers in over 300 facilities across the U.S. Nearly 10,600 of those are "certified professional controllers."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/return/government-ad-wildly-successful-dot

Nostr event nevent1qqs0pnmupgu3jjjgm8cjnncj0eqz83yqcj2784maz6awr6gq584te7qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjhupe85

2026-04-20T14:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The future is here, and it seemingly includes CEOs using chatbots to create plans to avoid having to pay out hundreds of millions of dollars.That was a judge's conclusion after a smaller American studio sued a giant, publicly traded South Korean conglomerate that allegedly prevented it from putting out its product.'Lock down Steam/console publishing rights and access rights.'Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han handles nearly $2 billion of revenue across a multitude of companies, which includes PubG Studios, a massively popular online shooter game. Since 2021, Krafton has controlled Unknown Worlds, an American studio responsible for the game Subnautica, which sold over five million copies in two years.With so much success from the first game, Krafton agreed to a $250 million earnout if Subnautica 2 was able to meet specific sales targets. Krafton's CEO was not keen on letting that happen and subsequently plotted "Project X," a plan to prevent the payout.After internal reports projected Subnautica 2 was likely to hit its targets, things got hairy. According to court documents, when Krafton’s Head of Corporate Development Maria Park warned CEO Kim that removing Unknown Worlds' leadership via "dismissal with cause" opened them up to "lawsuit and reputational risk," he turned to ChatGPT for help.The chatbot told Kim that the earnout would be "difficult to cancel" but suggested forming an internal task force to either negotiate a "deal" or execute a "takeover" of the company; Kim obliged and allegedly continued to follow ChatGPT's suggestions.RELATED: Anthropic says its own new model is too dangerous for the public — but not these Big Tech companies Not only did Kim allegedly share his strategies from ChatGPT with colleagues, but the strategies included a "pressure and leverage package" against Unknown Worlds.Among its recommendations, ChatGPT suggested Krafton undermine any David versus Goliath narratives, while urging Kim to prepare for scenarios like buyouts and replacements.Most jarringly, it also suggested locking down Unknown Worlds' ability to post its new game for sale on Steam, the largest gaming distributor for PC games."Lock down Steam/console publishing rights and access rights over code/build pipeline through both legal and technical aspects," ChatGPT said, the lawsuit revealed. "For the earn-out freeze, keep room for negotiations through provision stating 'immediate removal if specific development results are achieved.'"Kim did as the chatbot recommended and locked down the publishing, and Subnautica 2 could not be released. When Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill asked for control to be returned, Kim allegedly ignored him and told a Krafton studio rep to relay to Gill that he had "no intention of transferring stuff back to you guys (like the Steam app)."RELATED: Does this stealthy startup hold the key to keeping data centers out of your neighborhood? Ina FASSBENDER/AFP/Getty Images While Gamesradar reported that Krafton leadership admitted to using ChatGPT for "faster answers," the company told Kotaku that some characterizations made about them have been false.In response to claims from Unknown Worlds that Krafton said its chat logs no longer exist, the company said the claim was "simply a distraction from their own efforts to destroy evidence."In the end, a Delaware judge ruled that Kim relied on ChatGPT to craft a strategy aimed at avoiding the $250 million payment."Fearing he had agreed to a 'pushover' contract, KRAFTON’s CEO consulted an artificial intelligence chatbot to contrive a corporate 'takeover' strategy," Vice Chancellor Lori Will said in her ruling, per Economic Times.The court maintained that Krafton was expected to exercise independent judgment and not outsource its decisions to AI systems.PC Gamer has since reported that Unknown Worlds will be given an extension to reach its earnout goals to mid-September, with the possibility of extending to March 2027.The game is set for early release in May 2026.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/return/ceo-uses-chatgpt-corporate-takeover

Nostr event nevent1qqsyugqecld9pryvfg20qulda52vd0vcu7ffsutdsuvrjutjkzu209czyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjcvnl34

2026-04-20T14:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

An illegal alien has been accused of intentionally starting a fire in New York City that left four people dead and seven others injured. Though an alleged mass murderer, he may yet dodge federal immigration authorities, thanks to NYC officials.Around 11:43 a.m. on March 16, Roman Amatitla, a 38-year-old Mexican in the U.S. illegally, allegedly set fire to a three-story building in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens and then, according to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, stood by and "watched as the building burned."'An act of mass murder.'Firefighters discovered three deceased victims in the building: 49-year-old male Chengri Cui, 61-year-old female Shin Chie Ming, and Sihan Yang, a 3-year-old little girl. All three died from smoke inhalation, Katz's office said.A fourth victim, 64-year-old male Hong Zhao, escaped the fire by jumping out of a window but sustained catastrophic injuries in the fall, including broken bones and head trauma. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to Katz's office.Seven others — including two firefighters, who endured a terrifying sudden fall to the basement when a stairway collapsed beneath them — were also injured on account of the fire.The steps that the suspect allegedly took just before setting the fire are bone-chilling. According to the report from Katz, Amatitla:entered and exited the targeted building multiple times that morning,urinated on the outside of it,crossed the street to the gas station and purchased one beer and stole another,asked the gas station clerk for a lighter, but since lighters were available only for purchase, settled for a book of matches, and thenreturned to the building, lit a piece of paper on fire, and placed the burning paper atop garbage near the stairwell.As smoke began to billow out onto the street, Amatitla allegedly "stayed in the immediate area and watched the fire consume the building," Katz's office said. The DA characterized the deadly fire as "an act of mass murder."Authorities believe that the suspect selected the building entirely at random, as he "had no known connection to the building or any of its occupants."RELATED: 'Monster' suspected of brutally murdering DHS employee walking her dog is an immigrant naturalized under Biden, DHS says Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Getty ImagesAmatitla has been charged with eight counts of murder in the second degree, arson in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, and petit larceny.Despite the severity of his alleged crimes, the Department of Homeland security claims that the NYC Department of Corrections has refused to honor a request to turn him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody."ICE ARREST DETAINER DENIED. On April 14, ICE requested the NYCDOC not release this monster from jail back into American communities. However, because of New York’s sanctuary politicians, the NYCDOC told ICE that they will REFUSE to cooperate," the DHS tweeted Friday afternoon along with an image of what appears to be the detainer request."This monster set fire to a building and watched as innocent people, including a three-year-old, burned to death. New York City sanctuary politicians REFUSE to cooperate with ICE and are choosing to RELEASE this MURDERER onto New York streets," DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement to Fox News Digital.In a response to Blaze News, the DA's office sidestepped questions about the city's cooperation with federal authorities and said only that "the defendant is remanded and is due back in court on May 12."An NYCDOC spokesperson told Blaze News: "The DOC processes ICE detainers consistent with local law, which defines the extent of our cooperation with federal immigration authorities."A source familiar with the matter indicated that the NYCDOC notifies ICE about a defendant's possible release only if certain ICE warrants have been issued or the defendant has been convicted of a serious and/or violent crime within the last five years.The DHS and the respective offices of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) did not respond to a request for comment.As of Monday morning, Amatitla remains in custody, NYCDOC records confirm. The jail records also note that an immigration detainer has been lodged against him.RELATED: Mamdani nailed with backlash over comments about shooting death of 7-month-old baby girl Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Getty ImagesLike 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/news/illegal-alien-allegedly-sets-fire-and-then-watches-as-people-die-in-agony-but-nyc-officials-don-t-want-ice-to-have-him

Nostr event nevent1qqsteunml30kmwe968t2axqy2vxgmmqu3wuk9p8f7qyl5s0jfg236tczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj5z3qsg

2026-04-19T10:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

This week, I sat down to pay a medical bill. It wasn’t the entire bill, but just my portion. It came to about $5,300.That’s the co-pay for my wife’s new prosthetic legs. And that’s after insurance did what insurance does, which is a separate conversation best handled with prayer, patience, and possibly a therapist (who also requires a deductible and co-pay).On top of that, I’ve had a few medical issues myself lately. A biopsy this week, an MRI last month. More bills trickling in. You don’t even wait for the mail any more. They find you online now.If what we believe is true, then suffering is not meaningless or random, and it is not final.So I did what I have done for 40 years of caregiving. I paid what I could and planned the rest while waiting for the insurance payments to sort out.In four decades, with nearly a hundred surgeries for my wife, every provider — and in a medical journey like hers, there have been many — has always worked with me. Particularly when I showed the initiative and talked with the provider first.But this week, I didn’t just plan a payment; I accidentally paid the whole thing. All of it. In one click.There’s a special kind of silence that fills the room when you realize what you have just done. It’s not panic or fear, but that slow, sinking realization that you have just made a very enthusiastic financial decision you did not intend to make.I immediately called the provider. The person I spoke with voided the payment, set me up on something more manageable, and reassured me that I was not the first person to make such a mistake. Since it was caught on the same day, everything would be fine.I thanked the reassuring person, hung up, sat there for a moment, and then laughed.I laughed because it brought to mind a PSA I helped put together years ago during National Caregiver Awareness Month. We riffed on the comic “you might be a redneck …” routine and did it about family caregivers.Caregiving gives you plenty of material for that sort of routine.If a hospital bed has ever hampered your love life … you might be a caregiver.If you’re the one asking for a price check on suppositories … you might be a caregiver.If you’ve ever hooked up your dog to your wife’s wheelchair just to see if it would work … you might be a caregiver. (It does work — but watch out for squirrels.)And after that phone call, I laughed because I could add another one: If you’ve ever financed your wife’s prosthetic legs … you might be a caregiver.This is how we have learned to shoulder the immensity of what we carry.We live in a culture where outrage is currency and perspective is in short supply. Outrage and victimhood are easy to perform. Caregiving isn’t. When someone you love is suffering, she doesn’t need a performance.RELATED: The most honest phrase you’ll hear all week Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty ImagesCaregiving chips away at those cultural indulgences. Bills still come, and bodies still break. Responsibilities don’t pause so that you can craft the perfect complaint. You either learn to carry it, or it crushes you.If you’re going to endure this, you also learn to laugh. Not because things are easy, but because this isn’t the end.Scripture tells us there is a time to weep and a time to laugh.We weep in hospital rooms. We weep in quiet moments when the weight of it all settles in. We weep while watching helplessly as someone we love struggles.But we also laugh because we are refusing to let the pain define us.And for the Christian, that refusal is not rooted in being naturally strong or optimistic, but in what we believe to be true. That truth requires something of us, especially in our darkest moments.If what we believe is true, then suffering is not meaningless or random, and it is not final.God is not absent from it. If He is Lord at all, then He is Lord of all. The promise of the gospel is not that we learn to cope better, but that Christ redeems completely.Right now, my wife uses prosthetic legs. Right now, we deal with bills, setbacks, and the daily logistics of a body that has endured more than most people can imagine. But a day is coming when all that will change. No prosthetics, pain, or co-pays. No fragile bodies that wear out under the strain of this world.Until then, we live here. So yes, we weep. But we also laugh — sometimes right after accidentally trying to pay $5,300 we don’t have. For now, we still crack a smile, even with tears on our cheeks.“Ten more payments … and you can walk anywhere you want, baby!”I reach for her hand and help her stand. She chuckles. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s not the end.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/life-can-be-hard-but-dont-forget-to-laugh

Nostr event nevent1qqsv2ytq2gzpw4qrdh5c4djfnqzx70r0zkxrv50xtaf3kxttmv9wm9qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj5rzuk0

2026-04-18T09:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A dog attack near a homeless camp led to the death of the dog owner, a dead dog, and the search for a suspect, according to Florida police.Lake County Sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting near a homeless camp in Leesburg on Friday at about 7:20 a.m. and found a man with gunshot wounds.The dog owner stepped in between the dog and Pasco and was struck by the gunfire instead. The man was transported to a hospital, where he later died.Police said they were searching for an armed person of interest identified as 43-year-old Matthew Lee Pasco, a homeless man believed to have shot the dog owner.The dogs were attacking a woman outside the homeless camp when Pasco intervened and fired at a dog, according to police. The dog owner stepped in between the dog and Pasco and was struck by the gunfire instead. The woman, who was bitten numerous times, was also transported to a hospital. Two dogs were shot, and one was killed. Police said Pasco fled the scene on foot, and they are searching the area to locate him. They said the homeless man has a distinctive scar on the right side of his face. The investigation into the shooting led to a lockdown at Carver Middle School.One person named Leilei told reporters that the shooting came about after her friend's girlfriend kicked one of Leilei's dogs. She said her boyfriend intervened and was shot. RELATED: Homeless man found tied up in vacant home was brutally beaten with signs of torture, police say Animal services took control of more than one dog, police said.Police asked for help locating Pasco but warned the public not to approach him and instead contact them. 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/news/dog-attack-killing-homeless-shooting

Nostr event nevent1qqsps8s23gtr742ftnle9gdwealuw3ytld6t8rpydlhj37m7886lq5szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjmdmyqu

2026-04-17T20:20:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A series of lawsuits seeking potentially billions of dollars from oil companies for environmental damage to Louisiana's coastal areas got a substantial setback from the U.S. Supreme Court.The court said 8-0 that one lawsuit would be moved out of the state's courthouses and instead considered in federal court, considered a more favorable judicial venue for the oil companies.'A jury in one of the most conservative, pro-oil and gas communities in the country found that Chevron was liable for billions of gallons of toxic waste dumped into the Louisiana marsh.' The ruling included only eight of the nine justices because Justice Samuel Alito recused himself over his stock holdings in ConocoPhillips.The companies argued that the case belongs in federal court based on their predecessors' production of aviation fuel supply at the behest of the federal government during World War II. All of the justices agreed with that argument."Chevron's case fits comfortably within the ordinary meaning of a suit 'relating to' the performance of federal duties," Clarence Thomas wrote in the court opinion.The ruling overturned a 2024 decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana.The ruling will likely be consequential for other cases of parishes suing oil companies for environmental damages.Republican Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a plaintiff in the case, ⁠said she was confident they would win against the oil companies, despite the setback."A jury in one of the most conservative, pro-oil and gas communities in the country found that Chevron was liable for billions of gallons of toxic waste dumped into the Louisiana marsh," Murrill said in a statement. "It doesn't matter whether this case is in state court or federal court — I am confident the outcome will be the same."Murrill referred to a jury ruling ordering Chevron USA Inc. to pay $740 million to the Plaquemines Parish. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has backed the lawsuits despite being a supporter of the oil industry in general."Simply changing where the case will be heard, as has happened, will not deter our efforts to have Big Oil held accountable for the damages they caused and the enormous restoration they owe the people of Louisiana," said John Carmouche, an attorney representing local state leaders.RELATED: A red-state lawfare shakedown heads to the Supreme Court In January, Oversight Project president and Blaze Media contributor Mike Howell argued that the Louisiana lawsuits were contrary to President Donald Trump's energy independence policies. "President Trump's agenda prioritizes American energy dominance. His actions abroad reinforce that priority. Yet Republicans in Louisiana are not merely opposing that objective — they are using the very lawfare tactics they claim to despise to undermine it," Howell wrote. "Lawfare does not become acceptable because Republicans use it," he concluded. "And environmental shakedowns do not become conservative simply because they originate in a red state. If the right intends to oppose lawfare, it needs to oppose it everywhere — especially when its own allies are the ones doing the shaking down."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/news/supreme-court-big-oil-louisiana

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2026-04-17T18:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

BlazeTV's Allie Beth Stuckey sat down with New York Times columnist David French in a rare, candid debate about the concept of "toxic empathy," which Stuckey wrote about in her book "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion."'You are using the title of my book, and you called me the foremost architect of this concept of toxic empathy.'Stuckey confronted French's mischaracterization of her views on empathy in his NYT op-eds, in which he argued that some Christians who align with President Donald Trump have waged a war on empathy."My issue is, really, we don't have enough empathy, that empathy needs to be more holistic," French said. "In my view, one of our big problems is not enough empathy and, particularly amongst very partisan people, very selective empathy, so that 'only my ally's experience really matters,'" he continued. French called it a "cultural phenomenon," particularly among parts of "MAGA Christianity," to dismiss empathy for human suffering as "toxic." He claimed instead that it is "incomplete" or "selective" empathy.Stuckey contended that "selective empathy" that leads to "immoral decisions is a form of toxic empathy." She continued to press French on his articles."I tell both sides of the story. ... I'm actually doing what you say needs to be done, which is expanding compassion, but I don't end there. Because I think you would agree, we don't get anywhere if both sides are just saying, 'Well, my story's sadder. No, my story's sadder,'" Stuckey stated.She argued that ending there "actually paralyzes you from making a good moral decision." She instead called for Christians to be thoughtful and consider both sides of the story, giving the example of illegal immigrants and victims like Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student who was murdered by a foreign national who was in the U.S. illegally. "We have to ask discerning questions: What is biblically true? What's morally true? What's politically true, logically true, historically true?" she added.RELATED: David French catches flak for claiming Talarico, a pro-abortion Democrat, 'acts like a Christian' David French. William B. Plowman/NBCDuring the exchange, Stuckey noted areas of apparent agreement, stating, "It doesn't really sound like you disagree with me here, but it did sound like you did in the articles.""In 2025, you said, for example, 'If people respond to the foreign aid shutdown and the stop-work orders by talking about how children might suffer and die, then they're exhibiting toxic empathy,'" Stuckey said. "That's not what I say toxic empathy is." "Well, it's absolutely what I see a lot in the public discussion," French responded. "You are using the title of my book, and you called me the foremost architect of this concept of toxic empathy. But I don't say that toxic empathy is someone caring about children dying, and that's how you describe it in the article," Stuckey remarked. "I'm not putting this all on you," French said. "One of the sad things that has occurred is this global, larger attack and talk about empathy has led to an immediate response when you talk about human suffering. I will see many Christians say, 'That's toxic empathy.'"RELATED: Pro-life support plummets among churchgoers despite faith resurgence Allie Beth Stuckey, David French. Image source: BlazeTVDuring the interview, the two also discussed gender, abortion, French's defense of voting for Vice President Kamala Harris (D) in the 2024 presidential election, and his support for Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the upcoming Texas Senate election against either incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R) or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).As part of his argument for voting for Harris over President Donald Trump, French cited the abortion rates under Trump's administration compared to those under former President Barack Obama.French, who considers himself pro-life, told Stuckey, "The largest drop in abortions actually occurred during the eight years of the Obama administration." While he admitted that the rise in abortion rates under Trump is the result of multiple factors, he argued that the Republican president perpetuates a problematic culture of "libertinism" that "is incompatible with a pro-life ethic.""Complex social phenomena typically don't have singular causes. ... We've been dealing with some culture changes that I think are really negative. ... America is a lot more libertine, and Donald Trump is a very libertine man. He does what he wants," French said.Megan Basham, a journalist for the Daily Wire, reacted to Stuckey's interview with French, criticizing the columnist for his abortion-rate argument."Oh my gosh, that is such a ridiculous response. French had said something similar about Obama. He said that the abortion rate went down under Obama because Obama gave people hope. Absolutely idiotic. The truth was, red states enacted more restrictions under Obama and that what was what was bringing the abortion rate down. And French is too smart not to know that," Basham wrote. "So what does that make him?"Kylee Griswold, the managing editor for the Federalist, added, "Additionally, abortion #s under Trump 2 can't be divorced from the Biden-Harris administration removing the in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone — which is how most abortions are performed. An egregious move that puts women at SERIOUS risk and also causes abortion in red states to SKYROCKET."In a separate post, Mollie Hemingway, the editor in chief of the Federalist, wrote, "David French struggles and faceplants with his attempt to justify to @conservmillen why he endorsed Kamala Harris, given her lengthy track record of persecuting prolife Christians and journalists."Not the Bee commended Stuckey for the debate."I love your way of confronting men like French. I'd say in this case, it would have made sense to bring up the fact that if you follow his logic, speaking to somebody about the Gospel could be equated to telling them an unkind truth. They are sinners. They are incapable of saving themselves, and they need Jesus. That's not 'kind.' But it's necessary. If you avoid unkind truths, you will never share the Gospel," Not the Bee wrote. 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/news/that-s-not-what-i-say-allie-beth-stuckey-takes-david-french-to-task-over-toxic-empathy-smear-in-rare-interview

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2026-04-17T18:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Tune in to any late-night talk show these days, and it's nothing but wall-to-wall clapter — the seal-like applause emitted by audiences in response to any variation of the phrase "orange man bad." As Robert Plant once queried, "Does anybody remember laughter?"Those of us old enough to have watched Carson, Letterman, or O'Brien do. Well, Jimmy Kimmel has news for you: He's not here to entertain you. In fact, he's offended you even expect it. The "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" host unloaded on entitled TV viewers while chatting with former first lady Michelle Obama on the failing podcast she co-hosts.And it was as cringe-inducing as you'd expect. Turns out, Kimmel takes it personally when critics say he should be funny."To say that, 'Well, your job is this,' it makes me — I bristle at that because, first of all, don't tell me what my job is. I don't tell you what your job is. My job is whatever I decide my job is, whatever my employer allows me to do. That's what my job is."His job, apparently, is to speed up the decline of late-night TV, and in his defense, he's doing a heckuva job ...French toastFirst, the French found Jerry Lewis irresistible. Now, the country's movie buffs have fallen for one of 2025's biggest box office busts."Ella McCay" arrived with plenty of hype last year, from its starry cast (Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks, Woody Harrelson) to a legendary writer/director (James L. Brooks) behind the camera. The film, focusing on a flustered young woman (Emma Mackey) thrust into the political scene, earned withering reviews. The box office tally? A shockingly low $4 million domestically.Yet the French are coming to the film's rescue. Disney+'s French edition debuted the film after its theatrical release got benched due to that chilly U.S. reception. The French goodwill, boosted by fawning media support, built up to the point where the studio agreed to a limited theatrical release in the country.Maybe AI can insert a digital Jerry Lewis into the Paris-set sequel ...Role reversalNick Offerman may be our generation's Laurence Olivier.The comic actor's turn as Ron Swanson on NBC's "Parks and Recreation" remains the libertarian gold standard. His character loathed the government, hoping to shrink it to the size of Jiminy Cricket's belt buckle.In real life, Offerman is a raging progressive, and he can't stop savaging both President Donald Trump and the right in general.This week, he popped up on the far-left "Daily Show" to trash Trump's plans for a glorious 250th birthday party for ole Uncle Sam. That includes a permanent arch to honor the historic moment."Can't he play with his model replicas in the basement like a normal demented grandpa. ... Can we stop with these self-aggrandizing celebrations, like you're some Roman emperor? What's next, gladiator fights?"Ron Swanson might blanch at the arch as an unnecessary expenditure, but he'd forever love Trump for his DOGE-style shrinkage ...RELATED: Welcome to WokeNut Grove: Sneak peek at Netflix's 'Little House on the Prairie' reboot NBC/UCG/Education Images/Getty Images'Focker' fatigueHaven't we suffered enough?Some movie franchises stumble after a glorious run. Think "John Wick," those "Fast & Furious" romps, and even the "Mission: Impossible" saga. It happens, and it's the rare series that maintains its level of excellence.We all agreed the 2000 comedy "Meet the Parents" was a hoot, giving stars Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller all the juicy lines they craved. But the sequel, "Meet the Fockers" was a star-studded stiff. And the less said about "Little Fockers," the better.But since no franchise is allowed to rest in peace, a fourth "Fockers" is coming this fall."Focker-in-Law" adds "Wicked" alum Ariana Grande to the saga. This time, she's about to marry Greg and Pam's son (Skyler Gisondo), causing tension in the Focker-verse. The trailer is hard to watch, with so many callouts from the first film and Stiller looking embarrassed to be back in the franchise.Unlike Offerman, he's not that good an actor.The worst part may be De Niro, who, back in 2000, was still regarded as one of our finest actors. Now, his chronic anti-Trump rants have poisoned his box office appeal and alienated plenty of potential moviegoers.Maybe the sequel will find his character strapped to a lie-detector machine, forced to answer if he actually believes his crazed, anti-Trump predictions.Now that we'd pay to watch.
https://www.theblaze.com/align/jimmy-kimmel-it-s-not-my-job-to-make-you-laugh

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2026-04-17T17:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Sugar has had a terrible few decades in public relations. Which is rich, considering sugar never hired a publicist or lobbied for its inclusion in 37 varieties of salad dressing. Sugar was simply sitting there, being a carbohydrate, when an entire industry decided it made a more convenient villain than portion size, impulse control, or the more uncomfortable question of why a gas station sells a beverage the size of a toddler.Fat was the villain in 1990. Americans loaded up on SnackWell's cookies and ate them by the sleeve.Somewhere between the obesity panic of the 2000s and the clean-eating obsession of the 2010s, sucrose transformed from a pantry staple into a health and wellness villain on par with cigarettes and sloth.Sugar, sugarThe human body runs on glucose. Your brain needs it. Your muscles prefer it. Sugarcane has been sweetening drinks in South Asia since roughly 350 A.D., and somehow humanity survived long enough to argue about it on social media.The problem was never the molecule but the amount — 22 teaspoons a day, the American average, poured mostly into beverages people didn’t even register as meals. A single large fountain soda contains 17. A flavored coffee drink from any chain you can name contains more than that and comes with a cheerful barista who will spell your name wrong on the cup while handing you what is essentially a dessert with a lid.That is a dosage problem. It got rebranded as a chemistry problem, and that rebranding sold a lot of diet soda.Gut checkI learned this the hard way, via my own stomach. For about two years I swapped sugar for artificial sweeteners with the confidence of someone who had done exactly one Google search. Sucralose (commonly sold as Splenda) in my coffee. Stevia in everything else. The occasional sugar-free chocolate that tasted like sweetened cardboard, which I ate anyway, because suffering voluntarily is how adults signal virtue.I was, by all the metrics I had invented for myself, being responsible. Then I started feeling bloated roughly 40 minutes after every meal — a persistent, uncomfortable fullness that no amount of walking around the block seemed to fix. And then came a specific, percussive kind of digestive discomfort that I will describe only as "audible." My fiancée noticed. I blamed the dog.I cut the sweeteners on a Friday. By Sunday, the situation had resolved itself completely. The bowel-induced thunder had passed, the barometric pressure had normalized, and my fiancée stopped sleeping with the window open.Metabolic mayhemIt turns out that I was ahead of the research for once in my life. A recent study examining the biological effects of common artificial sweeteners — sucralose and stevia, specifically — found that even quantities comparable to everyday human consumption altered gut microbiome composition in measurable ways.The gut houses roughly 39 trillion microorganisms, meaning it contains more bacterial cells than human cells, a fact that raises serious questions about who, exactly, is running things. It regulates metabolism, modulates immune response, produces neurotransmitters, and sends chemical signals to the brain, influencing mood and appetite. The body is less a person than a committee, and the committee has opinions about your sweetener choices.Disrupt the ecosystem, and you get disrupted systems downstream. The researchers found that beneficial compounds helping maintain metabolic health declined in subjects exposed to these sweeteners. In plain terms, the body became measurably worse at handling sugar, and it had not consumed any sugar to arrive there. The sweetener had taught the body a new dysfunction without any of the calories required to earn it.RELATED: Save your brain: Eat more meat Bettman/Getty ImagesSweet surrenderThe findings on sucralose were particularly persistent. Researchers observed that its effects on gut bacteria and gene activity carried across multiple generations in animal studies. Offspring who had never consumed sucralose showed early signs of impaired glucose regulation — their bodies struggling with sugar metabolism as an inherited consequence of a parent's diet.This is epigeneticism: the transmission of acquired biological traits through changes in gene expression rather than DNA sequence. Stevia's impacts were detectable but short-lived, fading rather than compounding. Neither result fits the marketing promise of a neutral, calorie-free pleasure. Both suggest that the quest to outsmart biology with chemistry has, predictably, run into biology itself.Americans consume artificial sweeteners at scale. They are in diet drinks, protein bars, flavored yogurts, chewing gum, children's vitamins, and roughly half the products shelved in the "healthy" aisle of any grocery store. Meanwhile, rates of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disorders remain stubbornly high — exactly the conditions these products were engineered to help prevent. The sweeteners are not the sole explanation. But the idea that they carry zero metabolic consequences is no longer a position the evidence supports, and it was probably never as solid as the packaging implied.The M-wordNone of this requires burning your Splenda packets in the back yard, but the broader pattern is familiar enough to be dispiriting. Fat was the villain in 1990. Americans loaded up on SnackWell's cookies — fat-free, proudly labeled, stuffed with sugar — and ate them by the sleeve because the math seemed to check out. Sugar became the villain in 2010. Americans loaded up on artificially sweetened alternatives and called it progress.The villain rotates on a roughly 20-year cycle. The processed food industry introduces the replacement, funds the science that endorses it, and collects the revenue while researchers spend the next decade figuring out what went wrong. Then a new villain is identified, a new replacement is launched, and somewhere a marketing team opens a bottle of champagne that probably contains aspartame.The answer to every panic in that cycle was always moderation, a word so aggressively boring that it apparently requires a global dietary crisis every 10 years to get anyone's attention. It also means reframing what sugar actually is: not a poison to be eliminated but a pleasure to be savored, like good whiskey or compliments from your father. Save it for a nice piece of cake, a well-made dessert, the occasional spoon of honey stirred into morning tea with the uncomplicated satisfaction of someone who has stopped reading the label.
https://www.theblaze.com/align/sugar-free-scam-how-scapegoating-a-pantry-staple-is-ruining-our-health

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2026-04-17T14:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Because Hollywood has been unable to create anything new for at least 20 years, Netflix is "rebooting" "Little House on the Prairie." That almost certainly means trouble.No stories have been more important to me than the fictionalized autobiographical series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a poor child in a single-mother broken home, we didn't have luxuries growing up. Some kind soul donated a boxed set of the "Little House" books to an "angel tree" Christmas drive where poor families could choose a gift for their children.The Ingalls family leave their cabin in Wisconsin to make way for an indigenous family violently displaced by pioneer gentrification.I opened my present to find this set of books. I read and re-read them so many times they were in tatters when I reluctantly threw them away a few years ago. I'm lucky to have a good friend who bought me a new hardback set for Christmas. 'House' away from homeThe values of independence, self-sufficiency, owning your mistakes, repentance, and forgiveness inside a loving family and community was everything I wanted life to be. It taught me values and gave me hope for something better than the frightening home in which I was raised.The long-running television series based on the books was my favorite show. We watched it when it was new, and we watched it in reruns. Viewing the original "Little House" series today, one is struck at first by how sentimental it seems. But on second thought, it probably reads that way not because the original was truly that sappy, but because our society and our selves have been so coarsened in the 40 years since the show aired.Look at where we are today as the release of the new Netflix version approaches. It used to be that when new movies or TV shows came out, prospective viewers would ask questions like: Will the cast be good? Will the premise hold up for more than one season? How are they going to pull off the special effects that the premise demands?'Middle' mangledWhat we weren’t talking about was whether the show was going to beat us over the head with painfully au courant political and social dogma. The thought didn't even occur to us before about 2014. Now, it's the only thing any aware adult can think about when they see yet another "reimagining" of a book or TV series.Reimagining? A better word is "profanation." These reboots often explicitly insult the original version in order to signal how superior the current show runners are to their "racist," "sexist," "homophobic," and otherwise unenlightened forbears. Look what Hulu has done to the 2000s-era sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle." The original show — that is to say, the real show — was about an “eccentric” family that drove middle child and IQ genius Malcolm nuts. The reboot, titled "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair," brings back most of the original cast with some 2020s-style mandatory identity insertions.Malcolm's best friend Stevie has gay-married a man and adopted a boy child. But wait, there's more! Malcolm and his brothers have a new "sibling" named Kelly who's not a girl. She ... sorry, they is ... sorry, are "non-binary."The piano-music-special-moment-interlude is like getting teeth drilled without anesthetic. The very obviously female Kelly tells her ... darn it, tells they’s parents, "I was like 5 when I started feeling wrong."Take an antacid before you watch the clip.RELATED: The 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot is so woke even Hollywood hates it Theo Wargo/Getty ImagesBack to the Future PrairieI know that I don't have to watch the new "Little House on the Prairie," but I do have to. Won't be able to stop myself, even though I know it's probably going to make me mad. I know the original books still exist, and I know that I can watch the original show. But irrational though it may be, just the possibility that Netflix is going to inject modern-day narcissistic depravity into something so pure — well, it feels like it's going to contaminate my memories of something wholesome.So let's rip the Band-Aid off and get the hard feelings out of the way before the show comes out. Here are my predictions for the first season of the new and undoubtedly to-be-improved "Little House on the Prairie."Episode 1: 'Decolonizing the Big Woods'The Ingalls family leave their cabin in Wisconsin to make way for an indigenous family violently displaced by pioneer gentrification. We see the covered wagon pull away from the cabin as Chief Whining Shrew refits the log house with dreamcatchers, essential oils, and a slot machine by the side of the road.They set out across the prairie headed for a town where they can make a new, sustainable life. In the closing scene, a sign ahead reads Welcome to WokeNut Grove. A young indigenous woman in traditional garb halts the wagon and warns Pa, "Bruh — do not EVEN call me squaw."Episode 2: 'School's Out'Mary and Laura's first day of school teaches them a lesson more valuable than the three Rs: empathy. The one-room schoolhouse is presided over by Mx. Beadle, a spinster — sorry, a non-binary educator — who keeps breast binders in her desk for the children who can't afford affirming clothing.When Laura wrinkles her nose at the proffered tube top, Mx. Beadle makes Laura write, "NON-MEN AND NON-WOMEN ARE VALID" 50 times on the blackboard.Episode 3: 'Farmer Boi'We're introduced to the spoiled rich kid bully, Nelson Oleson. Nelson was assigned female at birth, but with the help of his domineering mother, Harriet, Nelson discovers he was actually a boy inside all along. In a surprising twist, it turns out Nelson's little brother is also actually his little sister, Wilhelmina. Everyone accepts this statistical improbability, AND YOU'D BETTER TOO.With his golden ringlets peeking out from under a newsboy cap, Nelson taunts Laura on the way to school, shouting, "Sissy! Sissy! Sissy!" until Laura pushes him into Plum Creek. Nelson's binder pops off during the scuffle, revealing his gender assigned at birth. Laura has to work after school at the Oleson Mercantile sewing Nelson new binders by hand while Wilhelmina gets to make doll clothes on the newfangled sewing machine.Episode 4: 'No One Is Free Until We're All Free'With the crops failing, Pa goes to the town sawmill to look for work. He's about to join the crew when he notices that all the working hands are white men. Pa calls for the immediate shutdown of the mill until the diversity-in-work committee can get to the bottom of why so many white men have been allowed paying jobs.The mill stays shuttered throughout the summer under a banner proclaiming "NO JUSTICE, NO PIECE (OF LUMBER)." Meanwhile, the town's white men are conscripted into a chain gang to build a wheelchair hoist so that Hester Sue Terhune, the town's wise black paraplegic, can wheel over to the cutting blade and take her rightful place as foreman. Three white families in tents die from exposure that winter, and the town celebrates with an ice cream social.Episode 5: 'Horizontal Work Is Work'When a family of gypsies — sorry, travelers — rolls into town, they are met with prejudice and bigotry as they try to open an honest business for Roma sex workers. Realizing the violent oppression woven into WokeNut Grove's founding documents, the town council repeals the ban on bawdy houses. The Pekrul family opens the Galatea Galerie, where rooms are let by the half-hour.Mary goes to work at the Galerie but comes home with a severe case of harlot fever. Bedridden for weeks, when Mary tries to get up, she realizes something is terribly wrong. The camera zooms in on her vacant eyes as she cries, "Pa! Pa! I can't see my gender identity!" Ma, Laura, Pa, and Carrie take on extra jobs to save up so Mary can afford to go to the Iowa School for the Trans.The season ends with Ma applying homemade dye to Mary's hair made from crushed lavender. Credits roll as a train whistle approaches town.Stay tuned for Season 2.
https://www.theblaze.com/align/welcome-to-wokenut-grove-sneak-peek-at-netflix-s-little-house-on-the-prairie-reboot

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2026-04-17T00:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The wife of socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has apologized for various controversial tweets she posted on social media as a teenager. Rama Duwaji referred to the controversy in an interview with Hyperallergic magazine that was published Wednesday. 'I've read and seen a lot of what others have had to say in response, and I understand the hurt I caused and am truly sorry.' Duwaji was asked an unrelated question about the effect that becoming a public figure had on her as a person, and she included her apology for the past posts. "This experience has absolutely changed my life. I am still figuring out how it applies to me as an artist and as a person, both thinking of the future and the past," she said. "It has forced me to confront how much I've changed, even before this moment. When a tabloid recently published old tweets I wrote as a teenager, I felt a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others; being 15 doesn't excuse it," Duwaji added. "I've read and seen a lot of what others have had to say in response, and I understand the hurt I caused and am truly sorry," she concluded.The anti-Israel posts were documented by a Washington Free Beacon report in March. Among them were messages of support for Palestinian terrorism and criticism of U.S. soldiers fighting in "imperialist wars." Another message appeared to include a gay slur and another used the N-word as well. When the mayor was asked about the controversy, he responded that his wife was a "private person, who has held no position in my campaign or in my city hall." RELATED: Mamdani plan includes 5 city-run grocery markets — with massive price tag David Dee Delgado/Getty Images While Duwaji apologized for the teenage tweets, she did not mention a report that she allegedly "liked" posts in support of the Hamas terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. "My focus isn't on being a public figure, but continuing my work with care and responsibility, and allowing my art to speak for itself," Duwaji added. The mayor's wife is a Syrian-American artist who was born in Texas. She met Mamdani on the Hinge dating app in 2021, and they were married in 2025. 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/news/mamdani-wife-duwaji-apology-tweets

Nostr event nevent1qqs96rls0uy7dphvtgjht29wvnk7gxasw55rg00ghhkdxygwz33zyqqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjr9xrs0

2026-04-16T21:25:30Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth faced some criticism after reciting a prayer that closely resembled a fake biblical passage from the film "Pulp Fiction" during a worship service at the Pentagon.Hegseth was touting the successful combat search and rescue mission of a downed pilot in Iran when he asked the audience to join him in a prayer he said was given to him by the lead planner of the mission.'I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother.' "This prayer was recited by Sandy 1, which is one of the Sandies, to all Sandies, all those A-10 crews, prior to all CSAR missions, but especially this CSAR mission that happened in real time. ... They call it CSAR 25:17, which I think is meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17," Hegseth said.The prayer he recited seemingly paraphrased a line from "Pulp Fiction.""The path of the downed aviator is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men," Hegseth prayed. "Blessed is he who, in the name of camaraderie and duty, shepherd the lost through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother. And you will know my call sign is Sandy 1 when I lay my vengeance upon thee."The passage is very popular among movie aficionados and fans of director Quentin Tarantino. However, Tarantino also swiped the fake scripture verse from a Japanese martial arts movie from the 1970s.Video of Hegseth's prayer was posted to social media, where it garnered more than 16 million views after only several hours.Critics of Hegseth assumed that he was ignorantly portraying the fake verse as real scripture, but that is unclear from the video."Hegseth is mad because America caught him claiming he was quoting the Bible when in fact he was quoting the Quentin Tarantino script from Pulp Fiction," anti-Trump commentator Keith Olbermann responded.RELATED: MS Now host implodes over Pete Hegseth saying, 'We leave no man behind,' after pilot rescue Hegseth appeared to respond to the critics in a statement during a media briefing Thursday."I just can't help but notice the endless stream of garbage — the relentlessly negative coverage you cannot resist peddling, despite the historic and important success of this effort and the success of our troops," he said."Sometimes it's hard to figure out what side some of you are actually on. It's incredibly unpatriotic," Hegseth added.He went on to compare some of the press to the Pharisees who persecuted Jesus Christ.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/news/hegseth-prayer-pulp-fiction-viral

Nostr event nevent1qqs896plzymakhd78vswuxffkclj7ycqsn5r8plcj5a6gw6c4sagmlszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjv8sfv6

2026-04-16T19:26:31Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The race for the California governor's office has been reset after Eric Swalwell, the disgraced former congressman, made his embarrassing exit.Republicans have kept the top spot and tied for second in the newest Emerson poll, while a billionaire has seized the top spot among Democrats.'Our lead is growing, momentum is building...time for Republicans to UNITE.'Republican Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host, has the support of 17% of respondents, while Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco garnered 14% in the poll.Tom Steyer also received support from 14% of respondents, shooting him up to the top spot among Democrats.Tied for fourth place with 10% each are former Rep. Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, both Democrats.Becerra appeared to gain the most from Swalwell's exit. He increased in support by 7%, while others gained 4% or less.However, 23% of respondents continue to be undecided. If a sizeable portion of the undecideds choose one candidate, it could drastically change the race since the top two vote-getters in the June 2 primary, regardless of party, will advance to the general election.Hilton called on Republicans in California to coalesce behind his campaign."Our lead is growing, momentum is building...time for Republicans to UNITE so we stop the calamity of Steyer v Porter in the general," he posted on social media.Swalwell had been the front-runner among Democrats but was besieged by numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault by multiple women. He has denied the allegations but nevertheless dropped out of the gubernatorial campaign and resigned from his seat in the U.S. Congress.RELATED: USC makes drastic decision after being accused of racism in planned gubernatorial debate Also in the Emerson poll, Californians cited the economy as their top concern at 40%, with housing affordability their second-most important issue at 20%. Immigration tied for fourth place, with only 6% saying it's a top concern. Steyer has been battered by the revelation that a hedge fund he founded invested in several immigration detention centers before he made abolishing ICE one of his campaign pledges. He called the episode a "mistake." 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/news/poll-since-swalwell-left-governor

Nostr event nevent1qqsxvantjctzd95ak8unsm8gsxdc0qluq6jhxq4dmna0eqyxrp0fv7gzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjs6mhem

2026-04-16T18:55:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

American teachers' unions are notorious for political meddling, holding schools hostage, and transforming children into leftist foot soldiers.Idaho decided that not one more dollar of taxpayer funds should go toward supporting such radical organizations — then on April 10, it made that prohibition law.'That's just restoring neutrality.'House Bill 516a, which was introduced in January, prohibits school districts — including specially chartered districts — or their agents or representatives from using or authorizing the use of taxpayer funds to support teachers' unions.They may not, for instance,deduct dues, fees, fines, or contributions from the pay of a professional employee on behalf of a union; increase a teacher's compensation in order that the difference or some part of it could be used to pay toward teachers' union or affiliate dues;provide more personal or contact information of a teacher to a teachers' union than permitted under state law;require an employee to meet, communicate, or listen to a teachers' union or its affiliate;distribute union communications or membership solicitations; contribute funds or blow money on behalf of a union or its affiliate; andprovide, except in certain cases, any form of compensation or paid leave to a public employee so they can partake in union activities.RELATED: Radicals train for massive May Day protests at public schools, thanks to America's largest teachers' union Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service/Getty ImagesIndividuals who knowingly violate this law can be fined up to $1,500, unless he or she is a re-offender, in which case the fine is increased to $2,500.The bill was passed in a 59-10 vote in the state House, passed by the state Senate on April 1 in a 20-14 vote, and ratified by Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) on April 10. The law takes effect on July 1.Little noted, "While local and state teachers' associations do important work, they remain private organizations that currently receive taxpayer-funded support not extended to other private entities. House Bill 516a addresses that imbalance."The governor did, however, express some concern that the new law contains language that may "lead to increased scrutiny of a teacher's actions purely based on their affiliation with their local association" and have a "chilling effect on school districts' ability to collaborate with their local association on professional development and charitable work in the community."Layne McInelly, president of the Idaho Education Association, which endorsed Little ahead of the 2018 election, is less than thrilled about the new law.McInelly claimed that the governor "ignored his better angels, signed this terrible bill into law," and somehow left students and teachers "worse off."Maxford Nelsen, director of research at the Freedom Foundation, told Center Square, "By getting school districts out of this business of using taxpayer funds, collect union dues and prop up teachers' union activity — that's just restoring neutrality."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/news/idaho-derails-teachers-unions-taxpayer-funded-gravy-train

Nostr event nevent1qqsge0cz3t356ctd5xz7hzv4chnsq6v5gzk6q4yzacgcakgec6q95dczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj7mmvty

2026-04-16T18:03:58Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire agreement between two Middle East countries that have been at odds for decades.Israel launched renewed attacks targeting the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon in March. The strikes were a sticking point in the president's attempts to resolve the conflict in Iran.The president added that the peace deal between Israel and Lebanon would be the 10th solution to wars across the world that he has brokered.Trump said Thursday that Israel and Lebanon had reached a 10-day ceasefire deal."I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel," said Trump on Truth Social."These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST," he added. "On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio."In a second post, he said he would be inviting Aoun and Netanyahu to the White House for the first "meaningful" talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983.Also on Thursday, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations said he was optimistic about Iran reaching a peace deal with the U.S. RELATED: Israel ramps up attacks on Middle East target despite US-Iran ceasefire "Despite our deep mistrust of the United States," said Amir Saeid Iravani, "stemming from its repeated betrayal of diplomacy, we nevertheless entered the negotiations in good faith and remain cautiously optimistic."The president added that the peace deal between Israel and Lebanon would be the 10th solution to wars across the world that he has brokered. "So let's, GET IT DONE!" Trump wrote. 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/news/trump-ceasefire-lebanon-israel-iran

Nostr event nevent1qqs2h5dzgs7nr226s79xhpqvctveya7qq55a5tw637fjhg7sk3ysz5szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjpducwt

2026-04-16T16:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents on Monday revealing that hearsay and erroneous claims from bad actors served as the basis for President Donald Trump's impeachment over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy in July 2019, months before the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign began in earnest.At least two of those bad actors now face the possibility of criminal prosecution.'Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people.'An Obama holdover and CIA analyst credibly identified as Eric Ciaramella filed a complaint in August 2019 alleging Trump was "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. elections. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country — Ukraine — to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals, former Vice President Biden."Then-Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson ultimately spun the complaint as credible and rushed it to the congressional intelligence committees despite:Conducting only four interviews — one with the so-called whistleblower's Russia-hoaxer friend and two character references; Never once accessing the transcript of the call;Knowing that Ciaramella — whose political bias Atkinson testified to never considering — was a registered Democrat who worked closely with Vice President Biden, traveled with Biden to Ukraine, and complained about right-wing bloggers; and Knowing that Ciaramella had no firsthand evidence of what was being alleged.The complaint, likely from Ciaramella and afforded a veneer of legitimacy by Atkinson, led to the House of Representatives passing articles of impeachment against the president in December 2019.RELATED: Trump 2019 impeachment exposed: Gabbard provides damning insights into deep-state stitch-up Win McNamee/Getty Images (L); Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images (R)Gabbard stated, "Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States."Gabbard went beyond just exposing this frame-up this week, asking the Justice Department to investigate two former government officials.A spokeswoman for the director confirmed to CBS News that Gabbard had drafted criminal referrals for the so-called whistleblower and a "former intelligence community watchdog" but did not specify what crimes are alleged.The referrals reviewed by Fox News noted, however, that "the possible criminal activity concerns the circumstances described in the following congressional briefings: Discussion with Intelligence Community Inspector General, House Permanent Select Comm. on Intel., 116th Cong. (2019); Briefing by the Intelligence Community Inspector General, House Permanent Select Comm. on Intel., 116th Cong. (2019)."Blaze News has reached out to the DOJ for comment.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/news/tulsi-gabbard-has-bad-news-for-spook-whose-complaint-launched-trump-ukraine-call-impeachment

Nostr event nevent1qqsvffhqm7s3lvm8e95jxeldyqjver8plg2sd0g24l40rv9ns8hx2hgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjgamzq0

2026-04-16T15:56:52Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

On April 12, Riley Gaines responded to President Trump’s controversial AI-generated meme depicting him as Jesus with the following X post: After deleting his post, President Trump was asked by reporters if he removed the image because of the criticism from Gaines and other conservatives. He responded, “I didn't listen to Riley Gaines. I'm not a big fan of Riley, actually.”Gaines posted a video response on April 14, in which she stood by her original comments on Trump’s post but also expressed continued support for the president and his America First agenda.BlazeTV host Pat Gray admired Gaines’ response and thought she handled the tough situation with tact. On a recent episode of “Pat Gray Unleashed,” he and the panel played Gaines’ video response and reacted to it. “I love the president. I support the president. I'm always in his corner. I think he's like a master troll, if you will. But for the life of me, I just can't understand why he would post something like this,” said Gaines.She then addressed her original April 12 post. “I said, two things are true. Number one, a little humility would serve President Trump well. And second, God shall not be mocked. ... The comments were filled with people calling me a RINO and a grifter and a closeted liberal who's trying to destroy President Trump.”But Gaines doubled down on her support for the president despite the offensive image and his personal jab at her.“Following his comments, I have had a plethora of reporters from left-wing media reach out to me for comment, trying to bait me into saying something bad about President Trump because he doesn't like me,” said Gaines.“News flash: I don't do what I do or say what I say to be liked. If that were the case, I would stick behind the slogan of 'trans women are women.' I do what I do and say what I say because I have moral conviction.”She then delivered her official response to Trump’s dig:“To the reporters from CNN, ABC, CBS. I love the president, and I am so grateful and glad that he is in the Oval Office. I will continue to support him and the America First agenda. At the end of the day, I do nothing for the approval of man, no matter who that man is, including the president. Our main purpose on this earth is to glorify the Lord, our Creator, our Savior, in everything that we do.”Gaines concluded her video response by expressing desire for President Trump and others to know Jesus.“I just know that I want to spend eternity in a very real place called heaven, and I would love for the president to be there as well. ... I am going to keep doing my part by speaking the truth and doing my best to lead people to Christ and supporting the America First agenda.”Pat calls Gaines’ video “fantastic.”“Wow, what a great response,” he says, praising her for refusing to “ratchet up vitriol.”He and co-host Jeffy agree with Gaines that Trump should have shown more humility over his post.“Why not just come out and say, ‘Hey, you know, I posted it and then I thought, what am I doing? And I took it down.’ The end,” says Jeffy.Pat concurs, “Yeah, then you don’t have this week-long situation going on.”To see Gaines’ video and hear more of the “Unleashed” panel’s commentary, watch the video above.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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/pat-gray-unleashed/riley-gaines-delivers-masterclass-response-after-trump-jab

Nostr event nevent1qqsycz42xjlssaal0f077rtje892faglagqu3tmg03xz33aekyuk2hczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjv2660j

2026-04-16T15:25:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The question as to whether or not children like to use artificial intelligence chatbots has been answered, and now it's a question of what they are using it for.According to recent polling, the majority of teens are using it for homework or as a search engine.'People's children are being discipled by AI.'Generating summaries, creating images, or just generic "fun" are listed in 2025 polling as the next most frequent uses. Another 10% of children ages 13 to 17 say AI does most or all of their school work.At the same time, nearly 75% of U.S. teens said in a survey last year that they have tried out AI companions. It is that large number of American youth that Pastor Erik Reed was concerned about when he created Dominion, a theological chatbot."People's children are being discipled by AI," Reed told Baptist News. "Many young people seek out companionship or counseling from bots, and some models have been built to offer constant feedback loops of affirmation and love, giving users an addictive dopamine hit. They're going to flatter you at every turn."The solution, the Southern Baptist leader said, is a competitor at the same level, in terms of functionality, that has "Christian guardrails to safeguard what it's feeding back to people."The head of the Journey Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, said that AI should be brought under "the Lordship of Christ," and thus he built the chatbot to exist only within "the authority and sovereignty of God."RELATED: 'I wanted to thank God in public': Fighting tears, Victor Glover gives legendary speech on return to Earth Jon Cherry/Getty Images The chatbot was trained on selected theological texts, verses, catechisms, and traditional logic, Reed stated. It is protected by internal checks and balances that the user cannot influence, which is easier said than done.The chatbot reportedly prioritizes "first-tier issues," defined as things that all Christians find to be true, over second-tier issues that may differ per denomination. Third-tier issues were listed as almost all politics.A demo of the product says that everything discussed with the chatbot "happens inside an environment that filters out unbiblical counsel and keeps the focus on wisdom, holiness, and discipleship."RELATED: These Apple privacy perks won't hide you from the Feds JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images However, the demo did showcase that Dominion is capable of summarizing simple news aggregation from a 24-hour period, for example, but also that it is capable of giving advice on personal matters, which the AI presented from a religious point of view.Co-founder Brandon Maddick describes his work as a "Christian responsibility" to shape minds in truth to counteract them being shaped by AI."We believe faithfulness for the Christian is to redeem AI for the glory of God," he said.Notably, Maddick calls his congregation “the least SBC-looking church you’ll find," with female deacons and "Reformed-ish theology."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/return/southern-baptist-ai-chat-bot

Nostr event nevent1qqs2hsds7jverpcvwfncesum4cf6t74387ne6xew82872hc4dk5ulmszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj24ql58

2026-04-16T15:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Conservative legal scholar John Eastman, founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, was among the lawyers whose lives and livelihoods were targeted for ruination after they provided President Donald Trump with counsel on cases dealing with election illegalities and fraud following the 2020 election.Years later, Eastman is still fighting off attacks by liberals apparently keen to ensure that Trump's constitutionally guaranteed right to legal representation doesn't go unpunished.'This lawfare/barfare is metastasizing before our very eyes.'The California Supreme Court upheld a decision by a lower court's judges on Wednesday to permanently disbar Eastman in the Golden State.The state bar accused Eastman in 2023 of violating his obligations as an attorney in two ways when working "with Trump and others to promote the idea that the outcome of the election was in question and had been stolen from Trump as the result of fraud, disregard of state election law, and misconduct by election officials.""First, he provided legal advice, formulated legal strategies, and engaged in litigation based on, and made public statements propounding, allegations of election fraud he knew, or was grossly negligent in not knowing, were false," alleged the bar.RELATED: The left's absurd attack on Brooke Rollins Eric Thayer/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesEastman's second alleged violation, according to the bar, was:He provided, and proposed actions based on, legal advice regarding the unilateral authority of the Vice President to disregard or delay the counting of electoral votes that he knew, or was grossly negligent in not knowing, was contrary to and unsupported by the historical record and established legal authority and precedent, including the Electoral Count Act and the Twelfth Amendment, such that no reasonable attorney with expertise in constitutional or election law would have concluded that the Vice President was legally authorized to take the actions respondent proposed.Altogether, the bar alleged 11 counts of misconduct.Eastman, who initially began working with an election integrity effort requested by Trump in early September 2020, denied many of the bar's allegations including several of those above and the claim that there was no evidence of election fraud or illegality that could have affected the outcome.Judge Yvette Roland — appointed to the State Bar Court by former Gov. Jerry Brown (D) in 2018 — recommended in March 2024 that Eastman be disbarred for his alleged election subversion efforts, resulting in the revocation of his license."Eastman failed to uphold his primary duty of honesty and breached his ethical obligations by presenting falsehoods to bolster his legal arguments," wrote Roland.While waiting for the California Supreme Court to weigh in on her ruling, Eastman, a former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, asked Roland to reactivate his law license during the appeal process, noting that he needed to be able to represent clients and pay his own legal bills.The Democrat appointee denied his request, claiming that he had "failed to show that he poses no significant threat to the public."The California Supreme Court ultimately denied Eastman's petition for review on Wednesday, ordering his disbarment from the practice of law in California and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys. Adding insult to injury, the court ordered Eastman to pay $5,000 in sanctions to the State Bar of California Client Security Fund.Randall Miller, Eastman's attorney during his disciplinary proceedings, said the outcome "raises pivotal constitutional concerns regarding the limits of state regulation of attorney speech."Miller added that Eastman will ask the U.S. Supreme Court "to repudiate this threat to the rule of law and our nation’s adversarial system of justice."Eastman confirmed to Blaze News that he will be filing a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court and underscored that the significance of a possible win "goes well beyond my particular case.""As we have recently seen, leftist/activist bars are targeting current attorneys at the Department of Justice for simply doing their jobs in defending President Trump’s executive orders," said Eastman. "This lawfare/barfare is metastasizing before our very eyes and will only get worse if the Supreme Court does not take decisive action to put a stop to it."Jeff Clark, vice president of litigation at the Oversight Project, said that the California Supreme Court's decision "is a travesty.""John represented the President in litigation challenging an election. That’s all. He lied about nothing. Reasonable minds can disagree about the 2020 election," wrote Clark. "He did what lawyers are supposed to do — represent disfavored individuals. And make no mistake, the elites, especially in bar apparatuses, disfavor and hate President Trump and anyone associated with him with a burning passion.""No one representing Vice President Gore was disbarred for losing Bush v. Gore where the whole partial county-specific recount strategy Democrat lawyers devised there was ruled an unconstitutional violation of equal protection," continued Clark. "Two-tiered system of justice and of bar discipline."This is hardly the only front in Eastman's battle with Democrat-aligned lawfare. In addition to having his law license suspended in the District of Columbia, he was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, over the legal counsel he rendered to Trump following the 2020 election. The Georgia case was dropped in 2025.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/news/conservative-lawyer-john-eastman-punished-again-for-providing-trump-effective-legal-representation

Nostr event nevent1qqs98ezxxd545dtua26v87xvtqvd65p5kumfcdaprafeadj5kl8vpngzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj03cjta

2026-04-16T14:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Darrell Norman Williams told KTRK-TV he was riding his bike on Easter Sunday night in Wharton, Texas, when a group of boys approached him and began throwing objects at him."The dudes were just chucking bottles at me and rocks and stuff," Williams, who is mentally disabled, told the station.'They treated him like a piece of trash.'Williams told the station the group of boys soon knocked him to the ground.KTRK added that one of his attackers recorded video of the brutal assault, and it shows them kicking and punching Williams as he tries unsuccessfully to block the blows.RELATED: Gang of teens caught on video beating up, robbing victim in shopping mall; similar attack happened at same mall last month "They kicked him all in his head and all in his gut, all of that," Diondre Brown, who's cared for Williams for nearly 15 years, told the station. "They literally took the bottom half of his pants down and ripped them apart."Brown added to KTRK that "they took his bike, they took his shoes."Police told the station the video of the attack was sent to them four days later, and on Tuesday, police announced they had identified all six of Williams' attackers — and they're all 12 to 14 years old."They treated him like a piece of trash," Brown added to KTRKWilliams noted to the station that "I do nothing to them. I said nothing to them."Police told KTRK that four of the suspects are being held in juvenile detention while the other two were released to their parents.They're being charged with aggravated robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity, the station said, adding that their names aren't being released because of their ages."I feel so, so sorry," Brown told KTRK, adding that "I was sorry with myself as well because I wasn't there to protect him when he needed me most."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/news/6-thugs-just-12-to-14-years-old-accused-of-beating-up-robbing-mentally-disabled-man-riding-his-bike-on-easter-night

Nostr event nevent1qqspfm0jassrtaljx6rng0r8lthrtmmwcsnccwmwjvkx0hpnt02hcvczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjsxcdp5

2026-04-16T12:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Rail transportation is the backbone of the American economy, and a proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern threatens to overconcentrate market power in an already highly consolidated industry.The consequences will ripple across the economy, raising transportation costs, weakening service, and squeezing industries that depend on rail, from agriculture to energy.At a moment like this, regulators shouldn’t take merger parties at their word. They should demand evidence. That’s exactly what we have called for when it comes to evaluating this mega-merger, and we are pleased that the Department of Justice and the Surface Transportation Board have agreed.This merger could further entrench consolidation in freight rail, reducing competitive options for shippers and ultimately increasing costs for businesses and consumers.The Justice Department — in a notable recommendation consistent with its review of mergers outside the rail industry — urged the STB to require that Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern produce certain executive-level information regarding their internal assessments of the merger.The STB took an important step in that direction on March 18, requiring Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to turn over internal documents assessing how the deal would affect competition, pricing, and market dynamics.These are the kinds of materials the Justice Department has long relied on to evaluate mergers because they reveal how companies themselves expect a transaction to play out.Attorneys general across the country have warned that this merger could further entrench consolidation in freight rail, reducing competitive options for shippers and ultimately increasing costs for businesses and consumers.The merging companies point to a limited “open gateway” commitment as proof that competition will be preserved. But Union Pacific itself dismissed similar promises in the recent Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern rail merger in 2023. Now it asks regulators to accept vague assurances that it will maintain open gateways at “commercially reasonable” terms without enforceable guarantees.Union Pacific argues that the merger will drive growth, including taking 2 million trucks off the road by shifting their freight to rail. But this is an optimistic forecast that UP would face no repercussions for missing. Indeed, the recent CPKC rail merger has fallen well short of a much more modest target of 65,000 truck-to-railway conversions. The companies also promise efficiencies and new investments but offer little detail about their pre-merger plans or whether similar gains could be achieved through other means, such as partnerships or joint ventures — much less how any such efficiencies will benefit shippers, rather than shareholders and executives.RELATED: Digital trade corridors can fix our outdated supply chain JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty ImagesIn other words, regulators are being asked to accept sweeping claims with limited substantiation.The STB is right to push back on the “just trust us” approach. Internal company analyses can reveal whether executives expect service disruptions, pricing power, or integration challenges that could undermine supply chains.They can also test whether the merger’s benefits are actually realistic. This level of scrutiny is basic due diligence, particularly in an industry where reduced competition can have economy-wide consequences, and especially when the merging railroads claim that this transaction will change American railroading for the next hundred years.At a time when businesses and consumers are still grappling with inflation and the cost of goods, it is hard to overstate the risks of this mega-merger.As this review proceeds, the STB should ensure that all stakeholders have the information needed to assess the merger’s true impact and the time to be heard, resisting pressure to rubber-stamp a deal this consequential for the rail industry and American consumers. Anything less risks locking in higher costs and fewer choices for years to come.The American economy runs on rail. The STB should make sure it stays on track.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-potential-union-pacific-merger-risks-upsetting-america-s-rail-industry

Nostr event nevent1qqsgxrfg3x0dz2drfdzt7ywkqvwsqzrvlzrrepw82sq2rg8jreh4mwgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj20jxh5

2026-04-16T10:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

As the list of dead and missing individuals with ties to American space and nuclear programs grows, so too does the speculation about them.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about a possible trend on Wednesday, "If true, of course, that's definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into."MissingSteven Garcia, a 48-year-old Albuquerque resident, went missing on Aug. 28, 2025, according to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.The Daily Mail, citing an anonymous source, reported that Garcia — who was last seen leaving his home on foot, carrying only a handgun — was a government contractor working for the Kansas City National Security Campus.The KCNSC manufactures 80% of non-nuclear components that go into the nuclear stockpile.Blaze News reached out to KCNSC for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.RELATED: Burchett claims alien 'machinery' could destroy us in 'a blink of an eye' Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesFormer FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told the Mail, "I think we’ve even seen instances where nuclear scientists have been taken out. They've been assassinated."On Feb. 27, retired U.S. Air Force Major General William McCasland, 68, similarly left his Albuquerque home never to return.In their search, authorities found his shirt and hiking boots at his second home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, but said that his wallet, revolver, holster, and red backpack remain unaccounted for, reported CNN."There's no indication, and we are not putting forward that Mr. McCasland was disoriented or confused," said Lt. Kyle Woods of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. "Arguably, he would still be the most intelligent person in the room that any of us would be in. Highly intelligent, highly capable."'There's just too many of 'em disappearing.'Some have suggested that McCasland's disappearance might have something to do with his time commanding the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where the Pentagon conducted advanced aerospace research."If there was ever a center of gravity for research and development and for all the spooky things that the U.S. government works on, Wright-Patterson’s right there at the top of the list," former Pentagon intelligence officer Luis Elizondo told CNN.The general's wife cast doubt on "some of the misinformation" circulating about McCasland's disappearance."It is true that when Neil was in the Air Force, he had access to some highly classified programs and information. He retired from the AF almost 13 years ago and has had only very commonly held clearances since. It seems quite unlikely that he was taken to extract very dated secrets from him," Susan McCasland Wilkerson wrote in a March 6 post on Facebook.Wilkerson noted further that her husband had a "brief association with the UFO community" but that "this connection is not a reason for someone to abduct Neil.""Neil does not have any special knowledge about the ET bodies and debris from the Roswell crash stored at Wright-Patt," she wrote. "Though at this point with absolutely no sign of him, maybe the best hypothesis is that aliens beamed him up to the mothership."The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department asked the public for help in finding 60-year-old rocket scientist Monica Jacinto Reza, noting that she was last seen hiking on June 22, 2025, on Angeles Crest Highway.Reza worked at Aerojet Rocketdyne where she moved the ball forward on a family of superalloys for use in rockets across multiple NASA and Air Force contracts.She said in a 2017 interview with SpaceNews.com, "I worked with the Air Force to scale up production, look at different processing methods and get the material ready for insertion into a rocket engine. All of that positioned us very nicely to have the alloy [Mondaloy] at a maturity level that it could be used for the AR1 and the Hydrocarbon Boost and a few other programs."The Air Force noted in a 2016 release that an objective of the Hydrocarbon Boost program was to "help eliminate the United States' reliance on foreign rocket propulsion technology," adding that "this is key to ensuring our national security."McCasland reportedly oversaw funding for Reza's project.A staffer linked to the Los Alamos National Laboratory — a nuclear design and physics facility in New Mexico that is the lead agency for the B61, W76, and W88 warheads, helped develop the first atomic bomb, and produces plutonium pits — also recently went missing that month.On June 26, 2025, Melissa Casias, 54, dropped her husband off at the Los Alamos lab where they both worked. Casias, an active administrative assistant at the lab, told her husband that she was headed to a second location within LANL to complete a work-related task, reported Dateline. She returned, however, to their home in Ranchos de Taos.Around 12:30 p.m. that day, Casias grabbed lunch for her daughter and dropped it off at the cafe where she works. After a brief and normal encounter with her child, the mother departed.New Mexico State Police PIO Sergeant Ricardo Breceda said that a family acquaintance "observed Melissa walking eastbound on NM518 from the Talpa, New Mexico, area towards Pot Creek." This was her last known sighting.Breceda noted further that "all belongings, including Melissa’s purse and factory reset phones, were found inside Melissa’s home."DeadDeaths of individuals connected to American nuclear and space programs have also fueled speculation.Frank Maiwald died on July 4, 2024, at the age of 61. The German-born scientist worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and, according to his obituary, contributed "to various significant projects such as AMR/SWOT, COWVR, AMR/Jason 3, and HIFI." No cause of death was publicized.Michael David Hicks, another Jet Propulsion Laboratory alum, died the previous July at the age of 59. He worked on the science teams of the DART Project, the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking Project, the Dawn Mission, and the NASA Deep Space 1 Mission. Hicks specialized in the physical properties of comets and asteroids.While no cause of death for the divorcé was given publicly, his obituary noted that donations could be made to Alcoholics Anonymous.Carl Grillmair, a highly esteemed California Institute of Technology astrophysicist who spent over four decades researching galactic astronomy and distant planets, was gunned down on the front porch of his home in Antelope Valley, California, on Feb. 16.Grillmair — who the Los Angeles Times reported had worked at Caltech's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, which partners with NASA — previously had issues with his alleged killer, Freddy Snyder. On Dec. 20, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reportedly responded to a trespassing complaint from Grillmair and allegedly found Snyder carrying a loaded rifle not registered in his name.Nuno Loureiro, the director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was assassinated at his Brookline, Massachusetts, home on Dec. 15, 2025, while enjoying a quiet evening with his wife and kids. The gunman believed to have shot him — Claudio Manuel Neves Valente — is the same dead gunman alleged to have carried out the Brown University mass shooting two days later.Investigators said that Loureiro and Valente attended the same university program in Portugal between 1995 and 2000, reported CBS News.Among those who've expressed concerns about the deaths and disappearances is Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett (R), who said in a recent interview, "There's just too many of 'em disappearing.""Nothing happens by coincidence in this town," he added.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/news/speculation-mounts-over-mysterious-deaths-and-disappearances-tied-to-us-space-and-nuclear-program

Nostr event nevent1qqsru046hcmcup66efuc2wfrxrqjh2f4cqwdq70xn3rlvntcyy4qmgszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjv7fmjf

2026-04-16T09:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Georgia police tased and pepper-sprayed a nude man near an elementary school before shooting him and then tasing him again, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.Rockdale County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call of a man exposing himself near Peeks Chapel Elementary School in Conyers and found the nearly nude man on Benji Boulevard, a GBI press release reads.'He did everything possible not to use his firearm,' said a witness who did not wish to be publicly identified.The GBI says the man advanced on one of the officers, who responded by pepper-spraying him and employing a taser as well.When those methods proved ineffective and the man continued to disobey orders, the officer shot him.A second deputy arrived and used his taser on the man, who continued to refuse to comply with their demands.He was eventually taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment. He remains in stable condition.The man was later identified as 19-year-old Jason Marshall-Haynes.WAGA-TV obtained cellphone video of the man walking before the shooting incident as well as afterward."He did everything possible not to use his firearm," said a witness who did not wish to be publicly identified.RELATED: Home intruders use Taser on dog and threaten teenager with gun — so homeowner shoots one dead and injures the other The witness said the officer fired two shots, but the man continued to advance on the officer. He added that he believed his neighbor was having a mental illness episode. No deputies were injured in the incident. The officer who shot the man was placed on administrative leave, but Sheriff Eric J. Levett said it was a routine step to maintain investigative integrity. 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/news/nude-man-grade-school-shot

Nostr event nevent1qqs2pnt88l3lhl65yyuhaeehl0wkrjcf9qqdtfkrdw8a4ga5nzsjasgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjgtxp45

2026-04-15T23:20:31Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The woman who was rescued as a child from a well decades ago has grown up and was arrested on domestic charges in Texas, according to police.Jessica McClure Morales, who is now 40 years old and a mother of two, was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury involving family violence on Saturday.After her arrest and release, she posted a cryptic message on social media. Midland County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call at her home at about 10 p.m. and arrested her after an investigation. She was released after posting bond at the Midland County Detention Center.No other details about the accusation were available.McClure Morales gained worldwide fame when she accidentally fell into a narrow well in Oct. 1987 at her aunt's home in Midland. She was only 18 months old at the time.It took 60 hours for rescuers to figure out how to safely rescue her from 22 feet down the 8-inch-wide shaft. They were able to drill a horizontal tunnel through the rocks around the well.McClure Morales and her family visited then-President George H.W. Bush at the White House to celebrate the rescue that captured the nation's attention.After her arrest and release, she posted a cryptic message on social media. "Note to self: Happiness is letting go of what you assume your life is supposed to be like right now, and sincerely appreciating it for everything that it is," McClure Morales wrote. RELATED: 'Horrific choice': Utah Valley University nailed with backlash for choosing Charlie Kirk critic as commencement speaker McClure Morales recently experienced a family tragedy when her father's stepdaughter was brutally murdered in January. Gracey Adams, 25, was found shot dead in her home in Nashville, and her 29-year-old girlfriend, Sarah Stacey, was charged for her murder. Her parents said the couple had a tumultuous relationship because of addiction issues. 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/news/baby-jessica-domestic-violence-arrest

Nostr event nevent1qqszvcv5mt56z5ucq5vymp6alkr2klg49hqzrz54m99qpm7c0fzajpgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjz743ke

2026-04-15T21:20:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

On April 7, a heroic principal prevented a tragedy at an Oklahoma school by stepping in to disarm a gunman who entered the school near his office. Blaze News previously reported that Pauls Valley Principal Kirk Moore stopped an armed assailant from shooting up the school, risking his life for his students and taking a bullet to the leg in the process. Blaze News acquired surveillance video from the school showing the scene unfold. The video shows the suspect entering the building and pulling out a gun. Moore can be seen jumping into action without hesitation after he enters the hallway and identifies the threat.Moore was shot in the leg during the struggle. RELATED: Heroic Oklahoma principal praised for thwarting alleged 'Columbine'-inspired attack Video shows Moore managing to restrain the suspect and pinning the hand with the gun, preventing the suspect from using it, before another man intervenes and removes the firearm from the situation.No students or other faculty were harmed during the incident.A GoFundMe page was set up to support Principal Moore as a "token of appreciation for a man who gave everything for others." The page reads, "Principal Moore has spent his life protecting and guiding students. In a moment of crisis, he proved just how far he's willing to go for them."The fund has raised more than $10,000 at the time of writing. 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/news/video-heroic-high-school-principal-saves-the-day-stops-shooter-in-his-tracks

Nostr event nevent1qqs8ax6mmhw75384j7r88svzfqd6k6f2d7vlzlv8rn96h8gzfuyrp4qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjv9rz8u

2026-04-15T21:05:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A clip from the newest season of "Euphoria" sent commentator Megyn Kelly into fits after seeing actress Sydney Sweeney pose sexually while wearing an infantile costume.Sweeney portrays a woman who decides to open an OnlyFans account to fund her wedding but ends up dressing like a baby to satisfy some client's bizarre desires.'Most normal people are going to recoil ... in response to what’s essentially the sexualization of a child.'Kelly said she was shocked by the scene as well as the reaction to it."She’s dressed as a baby! She’s in a baby’s outfit. She’s sucking on a binky pacifier, and her legs are completely spread,” she said on her show."You can have a laugh, of course, because I was shocked, but the truth is, this is sexualizing infancy. That's what it is," Kelly added. "And some of the write-ups on this are like, 'It's a pretty common kink.' What? Getting turned on by a baby, like what?!""It seems to be wanting to bring down your defenses on the most disgusting crime imaginable on earth."Video of the scene was posted to social media."I can’t believe she agreed to this frankly and was in this," said Kelly of Sweeney."I think this is another example of Hollywood not understanding at all where the line is," the commentator added. "And how most normal people are going to recoil ... in response to what’s essentially the sexualization of a child, of a baby."Kelly went on to criticize Sam Levinson, the show's creator, for other needless scenes of nudity."He constantly wants women to take their clothes off for scenes that don’t require them to be nude at all," Kelly said.RELATED: HBO's 'Euphoria' pushes child exploitation as art — and America's sickest critics agree "All these women want to be stars, and few say no, but those that do, somehow it leaks because they’re clearly trying to tell us that this guy is, at a minimum, a jerk, and, more than likely, a problem," she added.Sweeney became a favorite for many on the right when her presence in an American Eagle jeans advertisement made leftist woke-scolds on TikTok implode with fury. The company was accused of pushing fascist and racist propaganda, but both the actress and American Eagle have laughed off the claims.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/news/megyn-kelly-euphoria-sydney-sweeney

Nostr event nevent1qqsg2tqugwyd6zg97lkmg69nxz7ya55j8eqf2f4mrt08qx405ju4rjczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjvyrnfk

2026-04-15T19:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Vice President JD Vance, who chairs the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, declared that “no amount of fraud is too big or too small” and stated that the task force plans to target bad actors regardless of the amount of money they have stolen from taxpayers.During a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, Vance highlighted the task force’s early victories.'If you’re defrauding the taxpayer, you ought to go to prison, and anybody who’s helping you ought to go to prison too.'President Donald Trump established the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud by executive order in mid-March. Since then, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has worked with the task force to close hundreds of allegedly fraudulent health care providers.On Tuesday, Vance discussed the issue of widespread fraud in the Minneapolis area, stating that the task force had turned off a government assistance program for autistic children that was being widely exploited. “We’ve completely stopped the funding to that program. And we basically told the state of Minnesota, ‘You don’t get any more of our money unless you’ve verified that you’re taking fraud seriously,’” he stated, and the crowd responded with applause. The federal government announced in February that it was withholding $259.5 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota.RELATED: Vance's task force shutters 221 hospices in 'fraud king' Gavin Newsom's California Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesDuring Tuesday’s event, Vance commended CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for his work on eliminating fraud.“We had our weekly fraud check-in call two weeks ago, and Dr. Oz called in, but he’s like, ‘Hey, I got to go because I’m about to hop on the bus, and we’re going to go arrest a bunch of fraudsters in Los Angeles.’ And I was like, ‘That’s exactly what I want you to do. By all means, get off the phone.’ So we’re doing a lot of that stuff.”Vance explained that under the Biden administration, the federal government overlooked fraudsters who stole smaller amounts of money from taxpayers. He stated that this approach has changed under the Trump administration.“No amount of fraud is too big or too small. If you’re defrauding the taxpayer, you ought to go to prison, and anybody who’s helping you ought to go to prison too,” Vance remarked.RELATED: How a California crook committed $178 million worth of health care fraud — in just one year Alex Wong/Getty ImagesAs of Wednesday, the task force has suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies in Los Angeles, with an estimated fraud total exceeding $600 million.“With @VP’s leadership, we’re crushing fraud faster than ever,” Oz stated.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/news/no-amount-of-fraud-is-too-big-or-too-small-vances-anti-fraud-task-force-targets-every-crook-stealing-from-taxpayers

Nostr event nevent1qqszkh03etwptv5fujv5fgl30cw8wggdp466wv5cjr7x79ks27mdgrszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjv4c5m0

2026-04-15T18:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A Florida woman who fraudulently posed as a nurse and treated nearly 4,500 patients without a license escaped going to jail, according to multiple reports.Autumn Bardisa of Palm Coast was arrested by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in August 2025 for posing as a nurse and treating over 4,400 patients without a license.'This is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we've ever investigated.'The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that the 29-year-old pleaded no contest last week to unlicensed practice of health care and fraudulent use of identification.A seven-month investigation originally led to 14 charges against Bardisa: seven counts of unlicensed health care practice and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification.However, Bardisa will not face jail time.The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that Bardisa was sentenced to 60 months of probation, which can be terminated after 30 months.Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols withheld adjudication, which means Bardisa will not be a convicted felon unless she violates the terms of her probation, according to the News-Journal.Bardisa also was sentenced to 50 hours of community service.WTVJ-TV reported that Bardisa is prohibited from practicing medicine during her probation.Bardisa is required to send an apology letter to the nurse whose license number she stole."Incredibly poor judgment. Her actions were wrong," Judge Nichols said, according to the News-Journal. "She will pay for those actions severely."The victim of the identity theft said during the hearing that Bardisa "chose to put countless lives on the line."However, the judge interrupted the victim and ordered her to "stop the personal attacks."Judge Nichols proclaimed, "There is absolutely zero evidence that countless lives were on the line. Zero evidence. As a matter of fact, the information that has been presented is that she was excellent in her job, and she excelled at her job."The News-Journal reported that Josh Davis, Bardisa's defense attorney, said he was able to convince prosecutors to waive the one-year minimum mandatory sentence for practicing nursing without a license.Davis argued, "The reason that we are in the courthouse is because she was really good at her job, and she makes people jealous.""Some co-workers go back and do the digging, and that’s the reason we are here," Davis claimed.According to the News-Journal, Bardisa maintained that there is "a lot more to the story" but did not offer further specifics."I'm just glad it ended up the way it did,” Bardisa stated. "And my daughter wasn’t harmed at all or didn’t have to face any of the backlash."Bardisa added, "I think a mistake shouldn’t ruin someone's life."RELATED: Florida nurse learns fate after husband caught her having sex with stepson; boy's mom blasts 'incestuous pedophile' The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said in an August statement that Bardisa was hired July 3, 2023, as an advanced nurse tech at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway and was working under the supervision of a registered nurse.Investigators said Bardisa applied for the position as an "education first" registered nurse — a designation for those who have completed their nursing program but have not yet passed the national licensing exam.Police stated, "During the hiring process, Bardisa then informed the hospital that she had passed the exam and provided a license number matching an individual with her first name, Autumn, but with a different last name."Bardisa initially brushed off the discrepancy by claiming a recent name change due to marriage.However, investigators said Bardisa never provided a marriage license to AdventHealth.In January 2025, Bardisa was offered a promotion.During the promotion process, a fellow employee checked the status of Bardisa's license and discovered that she had an expired certified nursing assistant license, which was then reported to health care administrators, according to police.Authorities said AdventHealth administrators launched an internal investigation, which revealed Bardisa never verified her identity or her supposed name change.On January 22, 2025, AdventHealth terminated Bardisa after she failed to confirm her identity, the press release said.Following her firing, AdventHealth alerted the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.FCSO detectives, as well as investigators with the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "reviewed documents and conducted interviews with AdventHealth employees" and determined that Bardisa stole the identity of another nurse, police said."The investigation determined that Bardisa shared a first name with the other nurse, who was employed by AdventHealth, but at a different hospital, and had attended school with her," the sheriff's office declared.Police said Bardisa participated in medical services administered to 4,486 people from June 2024 to January 2025, despite never possessing the required nursing license.Bardisa was arrested on August 5, 2025.Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly proclaimed, "This is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we've ever investigated.""This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth, and an entire medical community," Staly said.Sheriff Staly added, "Nursing is a noble profession about caring for those in need, but there is a right way and wrong way to go about it, and she chose the wrong way by using a real nurse's license.""Because she chose to circumvent the rules, she ruined her career, and she potentially endangered patients," Staly said.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/news/nurse-fraud-patients-florida-woman

Nostr event nevent1qqspq0c09ughpfncu05dsv3q34kqyattq9exrg4tgekmee0pq0hc7uqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjt6znl8

2026-04-15T17:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Apple can’t catch a break. With another week comes another major exploit capable of infecting millions of iPhones worldwide.The latest threat, dubbed DarkSword, leverages “multiple zero-day vulnerabilities to fully compromise devices,” according to the Google Threat Intelligence Group. Here’s how to know if your iPhone is at risk.Cyber threats are becoming quite common within Apple’s walled garden — a major shift from iOS’ “unhackable” reputation of yesteryear.Approximately 244 million iPhones are vulnerable right now to targeted hacking campaigns through DarkSword.The thing that makes this latest exploit so dangerous is that the code behind the vulnerability was leaked on GitHub, one of the largest developer social media websites on the planet.On one hand, having the code available to the public will make it easier for Apple to pinpoint the flaws in its software, leading to a faster solution. On the other hand, DarkSword is now broadly accessible to hackers and cybercriminals both foreign and domestic, giving bad actors the tools they need to hack into any iPhone that fits the criteria.Through GitHub, hackers essentially have a shortcut to attack iPhone users at scale.How does DarkSword work?DarkSword functions similarly to the Coruna exploit we covered last month in that it strings multiple zero-day vulnerabilities together into one exploit chain that can be used to breach the security of a targeted device. Based on findings from the Google Threat Intelligence Group, DarkSword has already been used on phones in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Ukraine as early as November 2025.Now that the code is available on GitHub, however, the exploit chain could be picked up and executed on devices anywhere in the world, including the United States.RELATED: New hack poses biggest iPhone threat in 19 years: What you can do Xaume Olleros/Bloomberg/Getty Images Is your iPhone at risk?The good news is that DarkSword can only breach a very specific subset of iOS-powered devices, namely iPhones on iOS 18.4 through 18.7. You are safe from this particular threat if you have already installed iOS 26 on your phone or if you run a version prior to iOS 18.The bad news is that 16.09% of active iPhones in the market still run on iOS 18. That means approximately 244 million iPhones are vulnerable right now to targeted hacking campaigns through DarkSword. Many millions still run their iPhones on vulnerable operating systems.Chart via iOS 18 Marketshare 2026/TelemetryDECKHow to protect your devices from DarkSwordThere are two ways to protect your phone from the DarkSword exploit:Update your phone to iOS 26 immediately. This will mitigate any threats from DarkSword. If your phone is still on iOS 18, Apple released an update on April 1 that effectively fixed the vulnerability. Download and install iOS 18.7.7 as soon as possible.Although DarkSword poses the biggest threat to iPhone users, iPads on iPadOS 18 are also at risk. Follow these same steps to patch the software on your iPad, as well.Due to the widespread nature of this threat, it’s a good idea to share this information with your family and friends. Let the people in your life know that their iPhone (or iPad) may be vulnerable to attacks unless they update accordingly.Add an extra layer of protection to your iPhoneDarkSword is part of a growing string of threats plaguing iPhone lately, including Coruna and CVE-2026-20700. As someone who has followed Apple closely since the dawn of iPhone, the state of iOS security is uncharacteristically fragile these days, with new vulnerabilities popping up practically every month. We’ll continue to watch this space for new developments leading into the summer season when Apple shows off the next generation of iOS. In the meantime, you can keep your devices safe by updating to the latest version of iOS the moment it’s available. Screenshots by Zach Laidlaw/iOS 26.4.1 on iPhone 17 Pro MaxIn addition to major operating system releases, Apple has started to issue smaller “Background Security Improvements” for its major mobile platforms. These updates are meant to provide faster solutions to potential threats between larger software versions. To ensure that your device receives Background Security Improvements, open the “Settings” app, tap “Privacy & Security,” select “Background Security Improvements” at the bottom, and check the toggle beside “Automatically Install.”But note: Background Security Improvements are only available for devices on iOS 26.1 or higher. If you’re still on iOS 18 or lower, you cannot take advantage of this extra security feature.
https://www.theblaze.com/return/catastrophic-new-iphone-threat-leaked-to-hackers-are-you-safe

Nostr event nevent1qqsye7c5cpy00uwsghgtlyekltmqyfjplknvxrltwl9epmgsv0dy7kgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj46fjag

2026-04-15T11:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A tough pressure campaign from high-profile Democrats has failed to persuade other members of their party in Maryland, where a new congressional map is now off the table.Democrats enjoy a super-majority in both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate, and Democrat Wes Moore has been governor since 2023. Nevertheless, a redistricting proposal that would have threatened the lone Republican congressional seat died in the Maryland Senate when the legislative session ended Monday night.'At some point, I am going to have to have a conversation with him if he continues to stand in the way of an up or down vote.'The Maryland House passed the map overwhelmingly in early February, 99-37.Gov. Moore pressed hard to pass the map through the state Senate and onto his desk as a way to combat Republican redistricting efforts in Texas and North Carolina, spearheaded by President Donald Trump."I think Donald Trump is actively trying to manipulate and change the rules around the November election and beyond because he knows he cannot win on his policies," Moore told the AP.Moore also told Rev. Al Sharpton last week: "If the rest of the country is going to have this conversation about mid-decade redistricting, then so should Maryland, and so should every other state. Because until it is done nationally, we have to make sure that this election is not stolen right before our face so this pain is made permanent."RELATED: Hakeem Jeffries pressures Maryland Democrat over one Republican-held congressional seat - YouTube Even U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) promised to pressure Democratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson to bring the map up for a vote."All we are asking Senate President Ferguson to do is allow democracy to prevail. What that means is an up or down vote," Jeffries said in February. "At some point, I am going to have to have a conversation with him if he continues to stand in the way of an up or down vote. But, hopefully, over the next few days, he will change his mind."But Ferguson did not change his mind. Ferguson has consistently resisted efforts to vote on the map, claiming that passing a new map could jeopardize the current map by prompting judicial review."Any redrawing of the current map could reopen the ability for someone to challenge the current map and give the court the opportunity to strike it down, or even worse, redraw the map itself," Ferguson wrote in a letter back in October."That means that Maryland's potential gain of one seat is immediately eliminated, and, in fact, worsens the national outlook."A judge already tossed a Maryland congressional map that passed in 2021, calling it "a product of extreme partisan gerrymandering." The current map was passed in 2022.Jeffries' office did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.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/news/democrat-tough-talk-fails-in-maryland-where-congressional-redistricting-plan-dies-on-the-vine

Nostr event nevent1qqs8gdn2qer739zr9c7vwlr6v79jq9gpeslhtle8yeqdg6vhwenr3mczyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjr38tak

2026-04-15T08:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Republicans are continuing their uninterrupted streak of woefully underperforming in elections. However, in the first of its kind referendum on Big Tech data centers, voters are showing that a party that embraces land sovereignty over Big Tech dystopian land grabs will win the day.Sadly, Republicans have chosen to be on the losing side of the issue.The public is being asked to shoulder a burden to facilitate a supposed technology whose benefits are very unclear and dubious.In a first of its kind local referendum, voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, voted by a margin of 2-1 for a referendum that will require all future data center projects in the area to be approved by a vote of the city’s residents.The referendum was sparked in the wake of Oracle and OpenAI’s Stargate facility setting up shop in the area. The proposed 1.3 gigawatt facility will consume the power equivalent of over one million households. The referendum does not undo the Stargate project but will prevent any future project worth more than $10 million from getting approval without the public input. Over 1,000 residents signed the petition that put this measure on the ballot. "We are not against development," added Michael Baester, founding member of Great Lakes Neighbors United, which spearheaded this campaign. "We are for development that the community understands, supports, and has chosen together. Tonight proves that when citizens organize and engage, their voices can be heard."What is so important nationally about this vote is that Port Washington was carried by Trump 52-48 in 2024. It is the quintessential swing city that sways the Wisconsin vote, and by proxy, the entire country’s electorate. Such an emphatic result from a swing town demonstrates the potency of the data center issue. According to Politico, other communities around the country are set to vote on similar ballot measures. Imagine if Republicans could get on the right side of the data center issue. What might that do for their failing election efforts?In Festus, Missouri, a solid conservative jurisdiction, voters ousted four GOP councilmen who recently approved rezoning for a $6 billion data center. Two of them were defeated by margins greater than 2-1.Thus the grassroots opposition to data centers is just as virulent in red America as it is in swing areas that have already soured on Trump because of the economy. Oklahoma is a state where Trump carried every county, yet voters there are firmly opposed to data centers.After Google tried to bribe the locals in Osage County to support a hyperscale data center, the Rock Volunteer Fire Department turned down a $250,000 donation from the company. This is a county Trump won by 41 points. The opposition is just as stiff in the cities. Last month, the Tulsa City Council voted unanimously to halt construction of new data centers for nine months. All 19 speakers at the meeting voiced support for the moratorium. Across the state in Oklahoma City, the city council recently voted to rezone over 800 acres of farmland for a Google data center. The council is now facing a recall petition. Portage County, Ohio, is a prototypical rust belt, blue-collar county that traditionally voted Democrat but migrated to the GOP under Trump. The president carried the county by 15 points in 2024. Last week, the Ravenna City Council moved forward with a 12-month moratorium on the centers after a crowd filled the city council chambers to speak against the proposed projects. In many respects, the ubiquitous opposition to data centers is a reflection of the sheer pervasiveness and magnitude of these projects, targeting nearly every county in states like Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Arizona and numerous places in the majority of other states. According to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the grid operator in most of the Midwest, by 2030, the proposed hyperscale data centers in Indiana will use an amount of electricity equivalent to twice that used by the entire state.None of this makes any sense nor is it sustainable, especially for a product that increasingly fails to produce a degree of profit that could come close to paying for all the capital expenditure and power. This is why red-state RINOs like those in drought-stricken Texas continue to shower these companies with lavish sales tax breaks.RELATED: Data centers are a hidden tax on your burger lchumpitaz/Getty ImagesWe don’t offer 30-year abatements like this to any other industry, but this is what data centers require to remain solvent because their hardware depreciates so quickly. According to the state comptroller, Lone Star voters will subsidize $3.2 billion in tax breaks to the largest companies on the planet over the next two years. Four of the largest states targeted for data centers — Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Georgia — are languishing through a severe and sustained drought. Industry apologists are trying to gaslight people into believing that their closed-loop systems will somehow not affect the water flow, but it’s inconceivable that it won’t have a short-term effect and also pose health concerns when recycled back into the water table.An application from Amazon to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management indicates that the sanitary system it is constructing for two of its hyperscales in New Carlisle is designed to use more than 1.6 million gallons per day on hot summer days. This is “only” the equivalent water use of about 5,000 households, which pales in comparison to some other facilities and to the magnitude of the power use. Keep in mind that the entire population of this town is just under 1,900. There’s a reason why 65% of voters oppose all data center construction, including a clear majority of all demographics, ideological groups, and income levels, despite all of the lobbying and electioneering by Big Tech. The public is being asked to shoulder a burden to facilitate a supposed technology whose benefits are very unclear and dubious. Republicans can continue ignoring this grassroots revolt, but they will do so at their own peril. Nothing motivates voters more than the preservation of their own communities. That is one thing that still unites a divided America.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/republicans-must-reject-big-tech-land-grabs-or-start-losing-elections

Nostr event nevent1qqsdzrk2xwgzk0q0twrjs3mdlqkmve3eddqr5xvzxlk9g324r92zqnqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjctzrdx

2026-04-14T23:49:50Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The DoorDash delivery app is getting some backlash from those angry about a publicity stunt it had with President Donald Trump at the White House Monday.The president smiled for the cameras after receiving a package from McDonald's delivered by a DoorDash worker. He tipped her $100, and she praised his "no taxes on tips" policy for saving her money.'Today, I deleted their app. There are other delivery services that don't pander to a pedophile. F**k DoorDash.'Almost immediately, liberals and other anti-Trump critics lambasted the company over the promotion."I'm ashamed to admit that I've spent a good deal of money using door dash. This lame s**t you pulled with trump made it super easy to delete my account. Get f**ked," one user responded on the X platform."I've been ordering @DoorDash for years. Years and years. Today, I deleted their app. There are other delivery services that don't pander to a pedophile. F**k DoorDash and that bulls**t PR scam with Trump," replied a user identifying as a Canadian."Despite yall making it exceedingly difficult to delete accounts, got that s**t done. Absolutely F**k Trump, ICE, MAGA, and doordash," one response reads."Just delete Doordash. F**k Trump," another user said."Just cancelled my DashPass and hopefully many more do the same. I'm not funding Trumpie propaganda," another detractor replied."You f**king clowns use the fake ass driver to f**king promote this f**king bulls**t for a f**king clown show pathetic f**king pathetic," another critic said.RELATED: Viral TikTok post leads to boycott of beloved SoCal taco shop chain — just because Latino CEO likes Trump "Deleting ur app! Been a long term volume customer for years. Recommend you firing the marketing genius who's gonna cost you millions of dollars for that performance at the White House! You have alienated millions of people," said another."Deleted my app and will never use you again. Trump is a FASCIST, who is killing people and sending children to torture camps to be raped. I'll be telling everyone I know to never use you again. I hope your company fails," reads another message to the company.Despite the outrage from many on the left, the company's stock price had its best session in eight weeks after the White House promotion. 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/news/liberals-doordash-marketing-trump-boycott

Nostr event nevent1qqst68w4h92wnjw7aejaczn6w3sumdyu46xmqlw6pqfq3krrf3tap4qzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj5gxe3u

2026-04-14T21:15:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

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 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 he had previously sexually assaulted her. Swalwell has denied the allegations.The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it would open an investigation into the allegations against Swalwell. That same day, Swalwell stated 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 Cory Mills. Drew Angerer/Getty Images. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesThe House Ethics Committee effectively found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty 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 into Mills in November regarding several 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 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 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. "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 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 Nancy Mace. Heather Diehl/Getty Images. Nydia Velazquez. Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesMace, who has been leading the charge to remove Mills, forced 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 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 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 Tuesday that he is “looking into” the House Ethics investigation into Mills.Mills' office did not respond to a request for comment.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/news/are-scandal-plagued-cory-mills-days-in-congress-finally-numbered

Nostr event nevent1qqs8sget3942lzjml4nztv309xmxcp6ntfjkpp3m7h6vu3hz5dqj2pqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjf3gez0

2026-04-14T20:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nabbed several criminal illegal aliens whom Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described as "truly sick individuals."A DHS press release, obtained exclusively by Blaze News, highlighted ICE's recent arrest of five illegal immigrants across the country who were taken into federal custody.'We will not allow criminal illegal aliens to roam free in our communities and terrorize innocent Americans.'These individuals have been "convicted of voluntary manslaughter, lewd battery on a child, attempted statutory rape of a child, and other horrific crimes," the press release read.The DHS stated that nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens with prior criminal charges or convictions. Immigration officers captured Rodolfo Sanchez, an illegal alien from Mexico who was previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter and burglary of a building in Houston, Texas. RELATED: Woman claims ICE wrongfully detained her for 30 hours — now a sheriff is suing her for defamation Rodolfo Sanchez. Image source: Department of Homeland SecurityICE agents nabbed Jose Rivera-Orta, a 56-year-old illegal alien from Cuba who was convicted of lewd/lascivious battery on a child 12 to 15 years old in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Jose Rivera-Orta. Image source: Department of Homeland SecurityFederal agents arrested Jacobo Pablo-Ramirez, an illegal alien from Guatemala. His rap sheet includes a conviction for attempted statutory rape of a child in Duplin County, North Carolina. Jacobo Pablo-Ramirez. Image source: Department of Homeland SecurityDaniel Garces-Flores, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was captured by ICE. He was previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Hidalgo County, Texas. Daniel Garces-Flores. Image source: Department of Homeland SecurityImmigration agents also arrested Derekson Lett, an illegal alien from Grenada who was convicted of robbery in Staten Island, New York. A local report from SILive.com stated that in 2015, Lett, who was 26 years old at the time, had tried to rob a prostitute who was allegedly fatally shot by Lett's accomplice in a motel. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.RELATED: Thug accused of killing woman in Florida hammer attack is Haitian illegal alien protected from deportation under Biden: DHS Derekson Lett. Image source: Department of Homeland Security"Yesterday, ICE arrested some truly sick individuals, including murderers, pedophiles, sexual predators, and violent thugs," Mullin stated. "Nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. We will not allow criminal illegal aliens to roam free in our communities and terrorize innocent Americans."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/news/truly-sick-individuals-ice-arrests-convicted-murderer-and-sexual-predators

Nostr event nevent1qqsg842vhqf0w3hqaz48hxjfqtzxla0gj6h8ewl3rewrt4627r3j7fszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj2jhrhu

2026-04-14T18:40:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The United States suffered a costly and deadly "invasion" at its southern border during the Biden administration.Over the course of Joe Biden's tenure as president, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded roughly 11 million border encounters with illegal aliens and other inadmissible migrants — encounters that in many cases ended with the release of border jumpers into the homeland.The Trump administration has, however, turned things around.'These bans affected half of all legal immigrants coming from abroad.'Whereas, for instance, in fiscal year 2024 there were over 2.9 million border encounters nationwide, last year there was a total of 691,906 encounters. If the pattern shaping up over the past several months continues until September, this year will see far fewer. After all, the number of border encounters from October through March was 531,301 in fiscal year 2025 but only 182,585 during the same stretch this fiscal year.More important than the decline in border apprehensions is the total drop in releases. On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security announced U.S. Border Patrol's 11th consecutive month of zero releases at the southern border.The Trump administration has, apparently, also succeeded in greatly reducing the number of legal migrants entering the nation.David Bier, the director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, endeavored in a new report to take the wind out of President Donald Trump's sails on the issue of immigration control, not only claiming that Trump's success in curbing illegal alien entries was a gift from the previous administration, but complaining that Trump has significantly reduced legal migration.RELATED: Oracle files for thousands of H-1B visas amid mass layoffs: 'Today is your last working day' John Moore/Getty ImagesWhile framing the reductions in legal immigration in negative terms, Bier — a libertarian who previously attempted to blame Trump for the immigration crisis and aided the effort to thwart the president's executive order requiring Border Patrol to immediately send any border crosser packing — has unwittingly provided strong indications that the president has delivered a result that 55% of Americans said they wanted the year he was re-elected.According to the Cato Institute report, the number of monthly southwest border legal entries by asylum seekers dropped 99.9% from December 2024 to February 2025, which Bier credited to the Trump administration's elimination of the CBP One scheduling app and restrictions on asylum.The leading countries of origin for refugees admitted in the final year of the Biden administration were Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Venezuela.The Trump administration also reduced the number of refugees admitted into the country. There were, for instance, 96,635 admissions from Feb. 2024 to Jan. 2025, but only 2,157 admissions from Feb. 2025 to Jan. 2026. The president has capped admissions in fiscal year 2026 at 7,500 refugees.Bier's frustration with what he has dubbed the "most anti-legal immigrant administration in American history" wasn't limited to the curbs on asylum seekers and refugees.In light of the administration's denial of immigrant visas and visa issuances to foreigners from scores of countries and the State Department's suspension of the Diversity Visa lottery, Bier projected — absent the relevant data on visa issuances since September 2025 — that immigrant visas for legal permanent residents have fallen by roughly half.RELATED: 'H-1B workers ONLY': DOJ punishes company Sara Gonzales exposed for illegal hiring practices SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images"These bans affected half of all legal immigrants coming from abroad, including half of all spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens, based on 2024 immigrant visa processing," Bier wrote. "However, it’s possible some of this flow could be replaced with immigrants from other countries, but that did not happen when President Trump enacted a narrower ban on certain categories of immigrants from 19 countries in June."In addition to sparing the taxpayer from shouldering the cost of more welfare dependents and American labor from foreign competition, Bier faulted the administration for bringing down the number of international student visas.A Pew Research Center poll conducted in September revealed sizable American support for restricting the number of foreign college students from various countries, particularly the countries that have historically sent the most students to U.S. universities.Fifty percent of respondents said they supported restricting the number of Chinese students; 44%, Indian students; 42%, Nigerian students; 41%, South Korean students; and 34%, Canadian students.Comparing issuances in summer 2024 versus in summer 2025 — the "peak months when students typically get visas" — Bier concluded that student visas had fallen by 40%. He projected that the number of issuances in 2026 will be a tiny fraction of 2025's anticipated total of international student visas.Bier also had some good news for critics of the much-abused H-1B visa program, which enables U.S.-based employers to temporarily hire foreign workers into specialized positions that American citizens supposedly can't do.The libertarian estimated that in the wake of Trump's September executive order adding a $100,000 fee to H-1B visa applications, H-1B visa issuances had likely dropped "by a quarter."After trying sympathy — "these cuts to legal immigration are harming U.S. citizens seeking to reunite with their spouses, fiancés, children, and other relatives" — Bier's libertarian reflexes kicked in, such that he emphasized that "they are also undermining U.S. prosperity and increasing the U.S. deficit."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/news/libertarian-elites-attack-trump-for-delivering-the-immigration-wins-americans-want

Nostr event nevent1qqsfqdp5mysmt3fr0exmr477pzzpy8utnrnsnsk0zv587gyzclag03szyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjsxz0y2

2026-04-14T17:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Investigative journalist Nick Shirley, made famous after his viral Minnesota day care fraud video that exposed the "Quality Learing Center" and millions of dollars of alleged fraud, appears to have ruffled the feathers of Democrats in California. A Republican lawmaker raised the alarm on a bill in California that would drastically clamp down on investigations like those conducted by Shirley. 'The enemy truly is within.'On Monday, Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio issued a press release warning about AB 2624, a bill he dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act.""California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-left-wing NGOs. AB 2624 can only be described as the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' — a bill designed to silence citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars," DeMaio said in the press release.RELATED: 'Minnesota was big but California is even bigger': Nick Shirley uncovers staggering alleged fraud right under Newsom's nose Justin Sullivan/Getty Images"AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties," DeMaio added. "That's not about public safety — it's about protecting powerful interests."AB 2624 was proposed by Democrat Assemblymember Mia Bonta earlier this year. Bonta's husband, Rob Bonta, is the Democrat attorney general of California. Attorney General Bonta has been targeting hospices and other facilities for possible fraud, overlapping with Shirley's investigations in many respects. On Monday, Bonta wrote on social media that "in California, we've been cracking down on fraud for years." AB 2624 is framed as a privacy and anti-doxxing measure specifically for immigration service providers, their associates, and their clients. The bill is written with the following context in mind, directly calling out President Trump and his "anti-immigration" policies: Persons working in the organizations that provide immigration support services have faced doxxing, courthouse targeting, online harassment, anti-immigrant vigilante threats, and coordinated campaigns and death threats. These acts have risen to alarming levels in 2025 and will continue due to the current federal administration’s anti-immigration attitude and policies.The bill prohibits the posting of the "personal information or image" of a "designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer, or other individuals residing at the same home address" "with the intent that another person imminently use that information to commit a crime involving violence or a threat of violence." Those found in violation of this section of the bill would face a fine of up to $10,000, one year of imprisonment, or both. Additionally, if bodily injury were to come to anyone protected by the bill as a result of an investigation, the person responsible for the post would have committed a felony punishable by up to $50,000, imprisonment, or both. The other key provision of the bill is more obscure:A program participant may request that state and local agencies use the address designated by the Secretary of State as the participant’s address. When creating a public record, state and local agencies shall accept the address designated by the Secretary of State as a program participant’s substitute address.In other words, the addresses of program participants and immigration service providers, which are presumably public, would be obscured with another address, thereby possibly blocking investigations into these programs. Interested journalists and opponents of the bill view the potential obscuring of addresses and the steep punishments for disseminating information about these services, even without the intent to cause harm, as impediments to investigation and accountability. Elon Musk weighed in on the news, and DeMaio reposted his comment: "California legislators are trying to make investigating fraud illegal."Nick Shirley, responding to DeMaio's press release, said in part, "The enemy truly is within. When our politicians would rather protect fraudsters and illegal migrants, it's time for us to stand up or face mass oppression from the traitors who 'rule' over us."Shirley added in a subsequent post that he was thinking of moving on to exposing fraud in another state, but the news of this bill changed his mind: "I've helped save America millions and billions of dollars by exposing fraud across the country. I was thinking about exposing another state but I think I will now go back to California[. N]ew exposé coming soon."Blaze News contacted California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Assemblymember Mia Bonta for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 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/news/lawmaker-blows-whistle-on-stop-nick-shirley-act-a-democrat-effort-to-halt-exposing-fraud-in-california

Nostr event nevent1qqsp22v5saa7p88w43qd3kaa8x7570ltldatzy0fqq368hlufalg2pgzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjqtnq5l

2026-04-14T16:04:24Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A Republican is following in California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell's footsteps by resigning from Congress after sex scandals imploded their respective political ambitions.Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) announced his imminent resignation Monday, shortly following Swalwell's statement after several lawmakers led a bipartisan effort to expel the two lawmakers from the House of Representatives. Rather than wait to be expelled, Gonzales vowed to resign from Congress, weeks after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who took her own life by self-immolating.'Everybody knows where one another's bodies are buried.'"There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all," Gonzales said in an X post on Monday. "When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas."Swalwell's resignation came just days after new bombshell reports revealed that several ex-staffers have accused the Democrat of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior, prompting him to drop out of the California governor's race and out of political life altogether.RELATED: Democrats dump Eric Swalwell after sexual assault allegations implode his career Win McNamee/Getty Images "I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past," Swalwell said in a statement. "I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members." "Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," Swalwell added. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."Both scandals were considered open secrets, and the timing of Gonzales' and Swalwell's statements suggests their resignations may have been part of a backroom deal. The next pair of scandal-ridden lawmakers rumored to be on the chopping block are both from Florida: Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who has a flurry of allegations against him ranging from stolen valor to blackmail, and Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was federally indicted for allegedly stealing millions in FEMA funds tied to COVID. "It's mutually assured destruction," Len Foxwell, a Maryland-based Democrat strategist, told Blaze News. "Eric Swalwell is just the latest guy who got caught. Tony Gonzales was the latest guy who got caught across the aisle."RELATED: 'The appropriate decision': Scandal-ridden Tony Gonzales ends re-election bid after admitting to affair Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc./Getty Images Although lawmakers were quick to throw Swalwell under the bus, Democrat strategist and pollster Dheeraj Chand suggested that the only reason they did so was because their open secret became a PR problem."I think it shows a seriousness on this side that we decided Swalwell could not continue," Chand told Blaze News. "It shows we do take it seriously when it becomes unavoidable. They do try to protect people sometimes, but very rarely.""For every person who gets caught, there are, in all likelihood, a few dozen more who are engaged in inappropriate behavior with their subordinates," Foxwell told Blaze News. "Everybody knows where one another's bodies are buried."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/news/mutually-assured-destruction-another-disgraced-lawmaker-to-resign-from-congress-over-sex-scandal

Nostr event nevent1qqsdlkh336h4sc52sh822wjyn988pxp0ghv3apatjd84yzs30k65d0czyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj0xs3ul

2026-04-14T09:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

An Atlanta neighborhood is shocked by the brutal killing of a woman simply walking her dog Monday morning, and a witness said she saw the suspect do something even more horrible.The DeKalb County Police Department said officers responded to a residence on Battle Forrest Drive at about 6:50 a.m. and found the victim with gunshot and stab wounds.'I heard 6 to 7 shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her.' A witness named Tiffany Williams told WXIA-TV that she made eye contact with the suspect after hearing the gunshots outside her home."I was getting up, getting my grandbaby ready for school, and I heard six to seven shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her," Williams said."I heard the shooting, but I'm not thinking because as a mother and I'm seeing her lying there, I'm like, 'Oh my God, I've got to help her,'" she added.Williams said the suspect was pulling the victim's pants down when they made eye contact."I saw he was wearing all black, and then he ran up the street," she added.Neighbors said the area is very quiet and that most of the residents are elderly people.Later at a media briefing that evening, the Brookhaven and DeKalb County police departments said a 26-year-old suspect named Olaolukitan Adon Abel was arrested after a traffic stop in Troup County.Police said he was a suspect in a deadly shooting at a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road and was tied to the lethal shooting of a homeless person at a Kroger grocery store in Brookhaven.RELATED: Convicted murderer and rapist killed by cop during parole warrant arrest allegedly refused to drop gun The victim near Kroger was sleeping at about 2 a.m. when someone shot him multiple times.The woman shot near Checkers had been shot at about 12:50 a.m. and died at a hospital.Police said the DeKalb County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death of the woman shot while walking her dog.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/news/atlanta-shooting-death-walking-dog

Nostr event nevent1qqs9fe28dq77qcur2mm6ee25j9qzlmevs8qgujefg07jkf2dhx0vhgszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj7akxrk

2026-04-13T15:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

One person is dead and six others were injured after masked men stormed into a New Jersey Chick-fil-A on Saturday night and opened fire, WNYW-TV reported.Police said the shooting began around 9 p.m. at the restaurant on Route 22 in Union Township, the station said.Democrat New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement posted to X that 'our hearts go out to the victim’s loved ones, and we are hoping for the full recovery of those who were injured.'Responding officers found seven victims at the scene, WNYW reported, citing the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.The six surviving victims all suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover, the station added.Investigators told WNYW the masked men went behind the restaurant's counter before opening fire.Dashcam video recorded what appeared to be a masked individual running from the restaurant with a gun.RELATED: 4 dead, at least 20 injured after shooting at South Carolina coastal bar: 'Screaming and panic and fear' Authorities believe the shooting was targeted and not a random act of violence, the station said, adding that officials have not released the identity of the person who was killed, and it remains unclear whether the victims were employees or customers.The suspects remain at large, and a manhunt is underway, WNYW said.One worker’s father described the scene as a “war zone," the New York Post reported.Democrat New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement posted to X that "our hearts go out to the victim’s loved ones, and we are hoping for the full recovery of those who were injured," WNYW noted.The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is asking the public to submit tips by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org — noting that tips resulting in an indictment and conviction can be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 via Union County Crime Stoppers, the Post reported.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/news/masked-men-open-fire-after-storming-into-chick-fil-a-1-dead-6-injured-manhunt-underway

Nostr event nevent1qqs274flt72veu4q2kxgxsjmxehgrma83mpjtr9j3aukc7rn05sud5gzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjvd5w4l

2026-04-13T14:45:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

After Iran and the United States failed to reach a resolution during the negotiations last week, President Trump has resorted to stricter measures against Iran. Trump announced late Sunday night his latest plan.'The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.'"The United States to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports on April 13 at 10:00 A.M. ET," Trump said on Truth Social. "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"On social media, U.S. Central Command confirmed that the blockade of Iran's ports would be enforced, pursuant to President Trump's post: "The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.""CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," CENTCOM added.RELATED: Pope responds after repeated attacks by Trump over war criticism: 'I have no fear' Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty ImagesLike 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/news/trump-eyes-iranian-ports-in-plan-set-to-unfold-after-peace-talks-fail

Nostr event nevent1qqsr5ylq4y0usttwxtyjn5qqfq0vv3pmdmda93s8frfa63jeuapqerszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjx5nhzy

2026-04-13T13:37:24Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Liberals around Europe are raising their glasses in celebration after seeing the results of the election in Hungary on Sunday.With nearly 99% of the votes counted, Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party had secured only 55 of the 199 seats in the Hungarian parliament, bringing Orbán's 16-year stint as prime minister to an end despite an endorsement last week from President Donald Trump.'Hungary has sent a very clear signal against right-wing populism.'"He is a true friend, fighter, and WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Hungary — VIKTOR ORBÁN WILL NEVER LET THE GREAT PEOPLE OF HUNGARY DOWN," Trump wrote Tuesday.Tisza, the party led by Orbán's former underling Peter Magyar, managed to secure 138 seats. Our Homeland Movement, a conservative nationalist party, won six seats.Tisza's supermajority — won in an election in which approximately 77.8% of eligible voters participated — will enable Magyar and his party to alter the country's constitution and possibly undo the Fidesz party's legacy.Tisza's manifesto reportedly advocates for a more pro-EU, pro-NATO approach and commits to expediting Hungary's embrace of the euro as its official currency.Liberal leaders in Europe were apparently ecstatic over the end of Orbán's rule and his Christian, nationalist, "migrant-free, pro-family" agenda — an agenda that delivered domestic results that prompted the European Union to deny Hungary billions of euros in funding.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whom a recent survey showed had the lowest approval rating among 24 democratically elected world leaders, characterized the result as a "heavy defeat" for "right-wing populism," reported Deutsche Welle.RELATED: Trump lashes out at crumbling NATO alliance following 'frank' closed-door meeting Sean Gallup/Getty Images"Hungary has sent a very clear signal against right-wing populism across the whole world. In that respect, yesterday was ... a good day," said Merz. "This demonstrates that our democratic societies are evidently much more resilient to Russian propaganda and further external interference in such elections."Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission, stated, "Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger."French President Emmanuel Macron said that "France welcomes the victory of democratic participation, the Hungarian people's commitment to the values of the European Union, and Hungary's commitment to Europe."Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who threatened Orbán on March 5, also celebrated Tisza's rise to power. "Ukraine has always strived for good-neighborly relations with every European country, and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary. Europe and every European nation must strengthen; millions of Europeans yearn for cooperation and stability."The Orbán government angered the European liberal establishment in part with its rejection of LGBT cultural imperialism, its refusal to implement the EU's radical migration policies, and its refusal to "fulfill Ukraine's demands."Magyar said on Facebook that he will "work for a free, European, functional and humane Hungary in the next four years."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/news/liberals-celebrate-election-results-for-trump-endorsed-fighter-viktor-orban-hungary-has-chosen-europe

Nostr event nevent1qqsg5g3tglu4z59cctvhqesgvgtkg97l7cjvluhnc8el2kw2cxl545gzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj4j66dg

2026-04-13T11:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

The proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline is a roughly 2,600-kilometer corridor designed to carry West Siberian gas through eastern Mongolia into northern China, at a capacity of up to 50 billion cubic meters per year. Negotiations between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation have produced binding memoranda, then further uncertainty, then more memoranda. The pipeline does not yet exist and may not for years. And yet, in Beijing’s 15th five-year plan, between provisions for new-energy bases and power transmission corridors, the state has authorized “preliminary work” on what officials dub the China-Russia Central Line. “Preliminary work,” in the language of Chinese planning, is a technology of commitment, authorizing feasibility studies, coordinating interagency expectations, and, critically, creating the anticipation of sunk costs.Cold War history provides an analogy. The pipeline has a connection with semiconductor fabrication, although its mechanism is diffuse and ecological. A chip is made inside a system that runs on electricity, nitrogen, hydrogen, ultra-pure water, and climate control so exacting that a brief power disruption can scrap in-process wafers worth millions of dollars. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company consumed 27,456 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, roughly the annual power consumption of Connecticut. Natural gas accounted for less than 7% of that total. Electricity was everything, and electricity in northern China is produced partly by gas-fired plants that require continuous fuel supply. The more interesting pathway runs through industrial gases. A modern fab consumes nitrogen and hydrogen at a scale that strains the imagination: tens of thousands of standard cubic meters of nitrogen per hour, used for inerting, purging, and deposition, and hundreds of standard cubic meters of hydrogen for annealing and epitaxial processes. Much of this hydrogen is produced from natural gas via steam methane reforming. Any shift in the economics or security of natural gas supply therefore propagates into the economics of hydrogen, and from there into the supply chains that sit beneath the clean-room floor. The pipeline is an upstream condition for chip-making, which explains what the official planning documents are actually doing. Beijing understands the relationship. The 15th five-year plan is notable for placing natural gas pipeline networks and integrated circuits in the same national blueprint. The plan calls for improvement of mature fabrication nodes, advanced process capability, key equipment, and what it describes as “full-chain breakthroughs” achieved through “unconventional measures.” The phrase “unconventional measures” has the quality of bureaucratic candor: it acknowledges that the ordinary levers are insufficient. The “full-chain” framing treats the chip problem as a system vulnerability, where weakness anywhere in the chain, including in the mundane substrate industries that supply gases and chemicals and ultra-pure water, becomes a strategic exposure. Back to the future Cold War history provides an analogy. A declassified CIA intelligence estimate from 1982 examined the Soviet Siberia-to-Western Europe pipeline with the dry alarm that characterized Cold War strategic assessment. It noted that large pipeline projects tie together technology transfer, credit, markets, and long-run dependence in ways that create political dilemmas for everyone involved. The buyer gains energy security and loses leverage. The seller gains hard currency and loses flexibility. The pipeline, once built, becomes what analysts call a frozen option: a capital commitment so large that it biases future policy — abandoning sunk costs is politically difficult, and constituencies form around infrastructure. RELATED: Russia's and China's superweapons are stunning the world. The US is struggling to catch up. GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images Nord Stream 2 carried 55 billion cubic meters per year when it was operating. Power of Siberia 2, at 50 billion cubic meters, is built to similar scale. The comparison is not reassuring to anyone, including China’s planners, who understand that a second large Russian pipeline would increase import concentration even as it reduces seaborne vulnerability. This is the paradox embedded in the corridor logic: The project that insulates itself from one chokepoint exposes itself to another. An extended energy shock around the Strait of Hormuz, of the kind that analysts are tracking in 2026, makes overland pipelines look like strategic wisdom. A geopolitical rupture or rivalry with Russia would make the same pipeline look like a trap. China’s negotiators have read this history. Their unusual patience in signing on, their expansion of LNG capacity in parallel, their insistence on pricing terms that Russia finds inadequate, all reflect the recognition that the pipeline’s value as an unbuilt corridor may exceed its value as a built one. China wants optionality as well as leverage. More energy, more chipsThe binding constraint on China’s most advanced semiconductor fabrication is not electricity or nitrogen or hydrogen but extreme ultraviolet lithography and the specialized manufacturing equipment and intellectual property that surrounds it, as well as the export controls that the United States has used since 2022 to restrict Chinese access to the frontier tooling. A stable gas supply does not yield an EUV machine. The pipeline’s effects are on the ecology of scaling, not on the cutting edge, where the competition is most intense and the gap remains most visible. What the pipeline can do is lower the infrastructure risk premium that makes certain chipmaking clusters too fragile to sustain. Imagine a provincial government courting a 28-nanometer foundry, a packaging campus, and several industrial-gas suppliers. The limiting questions in that negotiation are often quiet ones: Can the local grid guarantee continuous power? Can industrial gases be delivered without interruption? Can the region meet environmental compliance requirements without shutting down plants during winter pollution campaigns? A new trunkline does not answer these questions but shifts the feasible responses. It allows planners to make commitments that would otherwise require hedges, and hedges in industrial policy tend to become failures. The plan to advance “preliminary work” on the Central Line is a political commitment embedded in security thinking, industrial strategy, and the institutional planning routines of a state that treats external dependence as a vulnerability to be managed by building redundancy and domestic capacity simultaneously. Chips increase the value of energy security. Energy security increases the feasibility of chip scaling. The state that grasps this feedback loop before its competitors will have done something more durable than winning a trade dispute. It will have changed the conditions under which the next dispute is conducted. Such change may take decades to become visible, and “preliminary work” is how it begins.
https://www.theblaze.com/return/trumps-mideast-oil-mess-is-bringing-china-and-russia-even-closer-together

Nostr event nevent1qqs2a3mqtw2gue6c92c9y9cktmfnrf9t429lmsgkpx8xzrwlv7agucqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj59jwxj

2026-04-12T13:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

I’ve been fighting Duchenne muscular dystrophy for 40 years. My brothers Angelo and Antonio died from it at ages 20 and 22, respectively. Antonio died in 2015, when my son, Ryu, was barely a toddler and had already been diagnosed with the same terminal illness.My childhood memories are of praying for my brothers, caring for them with my mother, and Mom taking all five of her kids to church almost every day. I always asked God to heal my brothers, and — after Ryu was born — I added him to those prayers.I’ve been saying the same prayer for help and to be able to lend my voice for over 40 years. But I also went to God with another prayer — I asked that He would open the door that allowed me to share our family’s story. I didn’t know what that looked like, or when it would come, but I trusted in it. This year, that prayer was answered when I was asked to speak out not just on behalf of my brothers and son, but for every family that feels isolated because of a terminal rare disease. I visited Washington, D.C., to share my story with lawmakers from both parties as well as patient advocates and to ask them to push the Food and Drug Administration to stop standing in the way of drugs like Elevidys, the only gene therapy treatment for my son’s illness. The advocacy worked. I can’t say how much my own small voice, speaking up for the first time, helped, but so many people speaking out made a difference. The first indicator was when the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Dr. Vinay Prasad announced his resignation from the FDA just a week later — he leaves this month. Prasad blocked treatments, with the support of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, that could have helped kids like Ryu all across the country to live.RELATED: Trump is keeping his word on health care costs Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesI’m just a mom. But we recently celebrated Easter, where a carpenter saved the world. He overcame the establishment of His time, which was willing to throw the vulnerable and sick to the side. He fell, but He didn’t falter — I hope to follow His example. As we were approaching Holy Thursday this year, Ryu was having a hard evening. He needed his Bipap machine to help his lungs function, as he so often does. But he looked at me — my 14-year-old wheelchair-bound boy who is the happiest kid I know — and said, “Mom, this sucks. But what you’re doing makes it a lot easier.”My story may not matter to FDA Commissioner Makary, who seems to have forgotten about Ryu and thousands of other kids like him. But God sees every hair on our heads. He named us before our parents knew us. And sometimes, like Gabriel told the prophet Daniel, prayers are answered long before we see their fruition.I’ve been saying the same prayer for help and to be able to lend my voice for over 40 years. To the world, Antonio and Angelo may be long deceased, but they are the foundation for how my husband and I have cared for Ryu. And God has allowed me to carry their stories from my home in El Paso to our nation’s capital.Commissioner Makary and Dr. Prasad may have forgotten that their job is to save lives, but God seems to have different plans. He’s just getting started with me in spreading His good news, and so far it has been amazing. But I’m also not surprised, because I knew God would take care of it all.Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the Christian Post.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/my-son-is-fighting-for-his-life-the-fda-doesn-t-seem-to-care

Nostr event nevent1qqsfk4yg2tf9g9w0elqay8xkcwzpltj4960vd7jvdsdwlv8cft2xruszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjxaf8n5

2026-04-12T10:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

In 2018, I was a guest of Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) at the State of the Union. The place was electric — political theater at its finest. Members of Congress, guests, and press were packed into a room that felt more like a pressure cooker than a chamber. And whoever designed those gallery seats clearly had smaller people in mind.We had to be there early, which meant a lot of sitting. I struck up a conversation with the man seated just behind me to my left. It turned out to be Bill Nye. He was cordial. My kids had watched him on TV. We talked briefly, just two people passing time.A serious person is obligated to be even-handed, even when he doesn't like someone or disagrees with him.After the speech by Donald Trump, as the room began to empty, I stuck my hand out to Bill, and his only response was, “He didn’t talk about space.”It wasn’t a big comment. But it was revealing. We had just witnessed something few people ever experience in person. And that was his takeaway. A lot has happened with America’s space program since then. I looked and have yet to see where Bill Nye said, “I don’t agree with the man, but something good happened here.”I did see he was at a No Kings rally last month.Which raises a simple question: Are we willing to acknowledge what is true, even when we don’t like who it’s attached to?We hear a lot about following the science. Fine. Then follow it.Because if you start with the premise that a person is irredeemable, then everything he does must be dismissed. At that point, you’re not evaluating evidence. You’re protecting a conclusion you’ve already chosen.We’ve seen this before. A man once stood face to face with truth and asked, “What is truth?” Not because the answer wasn’t there, but because he had already decided what he was willing to accept and what it might cost him.Truth is not hard to find, but it’s hard to accept when it costs us something.Sometimes you see people model a better way.I encountered one of those moments when my wife, Gracie, sang at the inauguration of the governor of Tennessee.At the time, Harold Ford Jr. was a young congressman who was present at the event. After Gracie performed, there were a lot of people on that platform. Important people. People far more connected than we were.But Harold made a point to come straight to us.Not a quick handshake and move on. He engaged. Asked questions. Took genuine interest.A few days later, we found ourselves on the same flight to Washington. Gracie was headed to Walter Reed to sing for wounded warriors. Once again, Harold made a beeline for us.Same posture. Same curiosity. Same kindness.We’ve not crossed paths since, but I still watch him when he’s on "The Five." Not because I agree with everything he says. I don’t. I watch because he is measured. He gives credit where it’s due. He asks questions. He looks for common ground. He treats people as individuals, not categories.That stayed with me.I saw something recently that would have been unthinkable not long ago.Mark Levin had Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) on his show. If talk radio were music, I always considered Rush Limbaugh a virtuoso and Mark Levin heavy metal.Levin and Fetterman engaged. Asked real questions. Gave thoughtful answers. No rush to score points.Just two men doing something we used to call normal. And that’s when it hit me. Why does that feel unusual?RELATED: You don’t have to engage with crazy Mark Von Holden/WireImageFor 40 years, I’ve lived in a world where I don’t get to choose who walks into the room to care for my wife. Nurses. Surgeons. Specialists. People from every background and belief system.I’ve seen medical professionals wearing pronouns on their badges. While I inwardly sighed and questioned the scientific judgment of someone who touts that, Gracie still needed care.And in that moment, my irritation didn’t get a vote. So I did what caregivers learn to do.I stuck out my hand and engaged. I listened, observed, and learned to separate what I felt about a person from what I could clearly see in front of me. A serious person is obligated to be even-handed, even when he doesn't like someone or disagrees with him.The next time you hear something good about someone you can’t stand, ask yourself a simple question: Could this be objectively true, even though I don’t like this person?You don’t have to change your vote or your convictions, but you do have to decide whether you’re going to follow the facts or protect a script.In the real world, where people actually depend on you, clinging to a preferred script isn’t just lazy, it can be very costly.If you’re willing to set that script aside, even for a moment, you might find something better than being right.You might find clarity. And in a world this loud, that’s no small thing.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/follow-the-facts-not-the-script

Nostr event nevent1qqsxdxdz9qv3k6np5a59hh8haknl4ya9j7nyn6rsmx54nlnq669t8vszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjck2u0m

2026-04-12T08:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

One of the remarkable scientific discoveries of the past several decades is that the universe and Earth appear fine-tuned for life. Philosopher of science Stephen C. Meyer explains that fine-tuning “refers to the discovery that many properties of the universe fall within extremely narrow and improbable ranges that turn out to be absolutely necessary for complex forms of life ... to exist.” Earth’s position in the solar system is in what scientists call the Goldilocks Zone, where it’s not too hot and not too cold.It’s important to note that the term “fine-tuning” or “fine-tuned” is a neutral description that doesn’t imply the existence of God. It’s a designation routinely used by scientists and scholars of all stripes.Although scientific findings are always provisional, it seems difficult to avoid the conclusion that an incredibly powerful and intelligent being designed our universe to support life. In what follows, we’ll look at the scientific credibility of fine-tuning, specific examples, possible explanations for it, and some objections to it. Fine-tuning is not surprising if Christianity is true, since God intended to create human and animal life (Genesis 1), but it is surprising in the case of naturalism, where it appears to be an astounding coincidence.Believe the scienceOne will occasionally meet skeptics who believe fine-tuning is an idea invented by Christians but not taken seriously by scientists. This is a misconception, to say the least. Consider the following testimony:Agnostic physicist Sir Fred Hoyle: “A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super intellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.”Atheist physicist Stephen Hawking: “The remarkable fact is that the values of these numbers seem to have been very finely adjusted to make possible the development of life.”Agnostic physicist Paul Davies: “The entire universe is balanced on a knife-edge, and would be total chaos if any of the natural ‘constants’ were off even slightly.” “On the face of it, the universe does look as if it has been designed by an intelligent creator expressly for the purpose of spawning sentient beings.”Atheist physicist Steven Weinberg: “Life as we know it would be impossible if any one of several physical quantities had slightly different values.”It’s notable that cosmic fine-tuning was one of the reasons the distinguished atheist thinker Antony Flew changed his mind about God’s existence, as recounted in his 2007 book “There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind.”Against all odds?Philosopher Robin Collins points out, “If the initial explosion of the big bang had differed in strength by as little as one part in 1060 [i.e., 1 followed by 60 zeros], the universe would have either quickly collapsed back on itself, or expanded too rapidly for stars to form. In either case, life would be impossible.”This is a mind-boggling number. Collins likens this improbability to “firing a bullet at a one-inch target on the other side of the observable universe, twenty billion light years away, and hitting the target.”He also observes that “if gravity had been stronger or weaker by one part in 1040, then life-sustaining stars like the sun could not exist.” If gravity were slightly stronger, stars would burn out in millions, rather than billions, of years (our sun is about 4.6 billion years old). If gravity were slightly weaker, most stars would never form at all — or would be too small and cold.Oxford mathematician and philosopher John Lennox helps us understand this vast improbability as follows:Cover America with coins in a column reaching to the moon (380,000 km or 236,000 miles away), then do the same for a billion other continents of the same size. Paint one coin red and put it somewhere in one of the billion piles. Blindfold a friend and ask her to pick it out. The odds are about 1 in 1040 that she will.A little closer to home, Earth’s position in the solar system is in what scientists call the Goldilocks Zone, where it’s not too hot and not too cold, allowing for liquid water to exist on its surface. The size of Earth also ensures that it has the right gravity to retain an atmosphere suitable for life without being too strong to inhibit the mobility of organisms.Many other examples could be cited, but these illustrate the almost inconceivable odds against a life-permitting universe and Earth.By designThese numbers are so surprising that they call out for an explanation, and there seem to be only three options: physical necessity, chance, or design. Regarding physical necessity — that the universe had to have the properties that it does — there are no good reasons to believe this. As far as scientists can tell, the universe could have had a vast range of different laws, constants, and qualities. To cite Davies again, “There is not a shred of evidence that the [parameters of our] universe [are] logically necessary. Indeed, as a theoretical physicist I find it rather easy to imagine alternative universes that are logically consistent, and therefore equal contenders for reality.”Regarding chance, we saw earlier how incredibly unlikely it is that any possible universe would support life. When you combine the improbabilities of all the fine-tuned parameters together, the odds against life become overwhelming. The one remaining option is design. All our experience tells us that only rational agents design things, and thus a cosmic designer is the best explanation for the universe’s fine-tuning.Multiverse muddleSpace prohibits an extended discussion of objections to fine-tuning. I’ll briefly address two that are frequently mentioned. The first is known as the weak anthropic principle, raised by physicist Martin Rees, among others: “Some would argue that this fine-tuning of the universe, which seems so providential, is nothing to be surprised about, since we could not exist otherwise.” Thus, we should not be surprised that the universe is fine-tuned for life, since we are here observing that it is. But as philosopher Douglas Groothuis points out, this confuses two related but distinct ideas: 1) the truism that we couldn’t observe anything unless the universe was life-permitting and 2) an explanation of why the universe is so finely tuned. Acknowledging the first observation doesn’t negate the need to explain why, against all odds, our universe is life-permitting.Second, some thinkers appeal to the idea of a multiverse to explain fine-tuning. If billions, or even an infinite number, of other universes exist, one of those universes will inevitably permit life. We happen to be in the lucky universe that does. God is in the detailsThere is no experimental evidence, however, that a multiverse exists, and some see it as an ad hoc proposal to avoid the theistic implications of fine-tuning. As physicist John Polkinghorne writes, “Let us recognize these speculations for what they are. They are not physics, but in the strictest sense, metaphysics. There is no purely scientific reason to believe in an ensemble of universes.”While the multiverse hypothesis is complex, ad hoc, and lacks evidence, the design hypothesis is simple (one Creator) and, as noted earlier, draws on our universal experience that only minds design things. Thus, fine-tuning provides compelling evidence that God exists and intended to create living beings. And this sounds very much like the kind of God we find described in Genesis — one who, from the beginning, “created the heavens and the earth” and declared his creation “very good” (Genesis 1:1, 31).A version of this essay originally appeared on the Worldview Bulletin Newsletter.
https://www.theblaze.com/abide/fine-tuned-for-life-how-our-one-in-a-million-universe-points-to-god

Nostr event nevent1qqs90msk4nw5s6969mvhwtm3zszvjhtss6yfcm607rzjpj9n6lu0uuqzyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjl2q4ek

2026-04-11T20:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Kemi Badenoch — Conservative Party leader, survivor of the 2024 electoral rout, and arguably the sharpest political mind left in British conservatism — is considering a ban on the burqa as part of a broader review of Islamist extremism.She should stop considering and start legislating.'Freedom' that produces permanent public anonymity for one group, in spaces where no one else enjoys it, is not freedom’s finest hour.The case does not begin with Badenoch, and it does not end in Westminster. Across six European democracies — Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland — full or partial bans are already law.Their constitutions survive. Their Muslim populations remain. The predicted social cataclysm never arrived.What arrived instead was policy — enforced and producing measurable outcomes.Facing factsThe deeper question is why the rest of the Western world has been so slow, so squeamish, to reckon with what the burqa actually does in public space.Full facial concealment — not the hijab, not the headscarf, but the garment that renders a woman’s face entirely invisible — removes her from the basic grammar of human interaction. Faces carry trust, intention, fear, and consent. Humans have read them for a hundred thousand years, and no amount of progressive goodwill has updated the firmware.When you cannot see someone’s face, you cannot treat the person as a fully present participant in civic life. You can only treat the person as a shape moving through it.Free societies depend on legibility among their members. Not total transparency — nobody is proposing to ban sunglasses or launch inquiries into wide-brimmed hats — but the basic mutual visibility that public life requires.Courts require faces. Banks require faces. Polling stations, airports, and schools all require faces. Nobody marches on these institutions screaming tyranny.Anonymity in shared space has always carried costs, and open societies have never been shy about saying so.The burqa asks for a permanent exemption from an obligation everyone else accepts without drama.Enforced invisibilityThat exemption makes a certain grim sense in Afghanistan, where the Taliban reinstated the burqa as compulsory law in 2022 — a country where female faces are treated as a political problem requiring a legislative solution. In that context, the garment is a uniform of erasure, imposed top-down by men who find women’s faces inconvenient.Which makes its romantic defense in the West, as an expression of individual freedom, not just ironic but absurd. The symbol of enforced invisibility does not become an emblem of liberation simply by crossing a border.The First Amendment crowd — loudest in America, with philosophical cousins across the Atlantic — will say that mandating what a woman removes from her face differs not at all from mandating what she puts on it.The argument does not survive contact with consistency.Masks offMasks at protests are already banned in multiple jurisdictions. Religious exemptions from generally applicable laws have limits even under the most robust free-exercise jurisprudence. The Supreme Court has never held that faith confers a blanket right to opt out of civic norms that apply to everyone else.Employment Division v. Smith settled that much in 1990, and the decades since have not reversed the principle that neutral, generally applicable laws can coexist with religious freedom without apology.A ban on full facial concealment in public spaces would likely qualify.“Freedom” that produces permanent public anonymity for one group, in spaces where no one else enjoys it, is not freedom’s finest hour.Female agency is the argument’s most seductive register. She chooses this. She owns it. Perhaps. But agency exercised under doctrinal pressure, familial expectation, or community sanction has a habit of resembling choice from a distance.RELATED: Syria's Bloody Crescent Mike MercuryFeminist exceptionWestern feminism spent decades insisting that personal preference does not close the conversation when that preference is shaped by systems that constrain what preference can look like. That reasoning dismantled arguments about beauty standards and industries far less coercive than religious orthodoxy.Applied here — to a garment entire governments have made compulsory — the same movement suddenly finds the question too delicate to pursue.None of this requires hostility to Islam, to faith, or to religious expression broadly understood.The headscarf is not the burqa. Private devotion is not public concealment.People are entitled to their beliefs, entitled to wear almost anything behind their own doors, entitled to worship as conscience directs.But public space is shared space, and shared space carries shared obligations.Turning your face away from those obligations — permanently, behind fabric, as a matter of principle — is less religious liberty than a form of civic withdrawal.There is a meaningful distance between religious expression and civic withdrawal. The burqa travels the full length of it.Open society? Closed caseBritish polling puts support for a ban at 56%. For once, democratic instinct and reasoned argument are pulling in the same direction — not always a luxury policymakers enjoy.In America, a federal ban would face genuine First Amendment scrutiny. The constitutional architecture differs, the judicial culture differs, the politics differ enormously.But “legally complicated” and “morally unclear” are not synonyms.Many Americans who correctly distrust government overreach have no difficulty concluding that facial concealment in courtrooms, classrooms, and government offices warrants regulation.The legal pathway varies by country. The underlying social logic does not.The burqa is not compatible with open societies. The only remaining question is how long open societies intend to pretend otherwise.
https://www.theblaze.com/align/the-case-for-banning-the-burqa

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2026-04-11T16:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Public distrust of AI platforms has reached an all-time high, especially when it comes to users’ private data. Not only are people leery of the AI platforms themselves, but they’re also concerned over how the government can access and use this information. Until recently, AI development felt like the Wild West, with little regulation to get in the way of supposed innovation. That’s all about to change, however, with a brand-new federal bill based on the big national framework Trump rolled out in advance.The studyIn late March, cybersecurity software company Malwarebytes conducted a survey among its newsletter readers, asking them to share their thoughts on AI and user privacy. After collecting 1,200 responses, the results were clear: A staggering 90% of readers simply don’t trust AI with their data.There are a lot of good things in the bill, but it falls short in other key areas.One of the main distrust drivers stems from fears of “personal data being used inappropriately” by both corporations and the government. Recent large data breaches that put user credentials directly on the dark web, along with commercial surveillance campaigns, have further contributed to the problem.To combat the distrust, users have turned to privacy tools, such as VPNs, ad blockers, and identity theft protection services. However, these only go so far when AI platforms can circumvent the usual digital defense mechanisms to learn more about your online presence than it was ever meant to know.The only firm solution to assuage public distrust is to give the AI companies some legal guardrails to ensure that they don’t overstep the rights and security of the people, with the majority of respondents agreeing that they “support national laws regulating how companies can collect, store, share, or use our personal data.”The billA new federal bill proposed by Senator Marsha Blackburn aims to bridge the gap between AI’s fast-paced development and shielding the public from emerging dangers brought on by these rapidly evolving platforms. Dubbed the Trump America AI Act, the bill will codify President Trump’s previously touted National AI Legislative Framework by focusing on two major goals: protection and empowerment of the following:1. Protections for childrenAI developers are required to “prevent and mitigate foreseeable harm to users” with an emphasis on protecting the data, mental health, and safety of minors. AI developers can also be held legally accountable for any damage done by a failure to comply.Pro: AI providers would be immediately responsible for their chatbots encouraging and even coaching young and vulnerable people on how to take their own lives.Con: AI developers will need a way to verify the age of their users, potentially leading to the mass collection of user IDs, resulting in a digital database. Also, while the bill protects minors’ user data, adults are exempt, failing to solve the concerns expressed in Malwarebytes’ survey.2. Protections for communitiesU.S. companies across all industries, as well as federal agencies, must send quarterly reports to the Department of Labor that detail AI-related impacts on the workforce, including job layoffs and displacements. Data centers are also barred from siphoning energy resources from communities and driving up prices.Pro: As AI-driven layoffs have already begun, this is a good first step to highlight how AI realistically affects the unemployment rate.Con: Although companies must report AI-related job losses, the bill doesn’t prevent the displacement of employees outright. Companies can still fire employees en masse in a way that would cripple the workforce, impact the economy, and drive the U.S. toward forced universal basic income.RELATED: Elon Musk's Terafab is coming, and you're not ready onurdongel/Getty Images 3. Protections for intellectual propertyAI companies are prohibited from feeding their LLMs with copyrighted materials, including books, movies, music, and more. Under the bill, AI is excluded from fair use under the Copyright Act.Pro: Content creators no longer have to worry about their creative catalogs being stolen, uploaded, copied, and remixed into new bodies of work when prompted by users on any given platform. They retain full ownership of their content without threat of subjugation.Con: A lack of copyrighted information could lead to gaps in AI platforms’ knowledge graphs, potentially slowing or even stifling development.4. Protections for conservativesAI companies are banned from injecting woke ideologies into their large language models, and AI chatbots are no longer allowed to express biases against conservative ideas and values, all of which will be verified through third-party audits.Pro: Despite efforts to attract support on the right, many Big Tech giants are still dominated by left-wing elites. These safeguards will ensure that their personal and factional beliefs don’t poison the datasets behind their platforms, instead aiming to support truth and facts.Con: The bill isn’t specific enough in defining the woke ideas, political biases, and discrimination it aims to prevent. Unless the bill intends to leave a loophole for the left to exploit, these exact parameters need to be spelled out, lest they be left open to interpretation.5. Protections for innovationOne of President Trump’s biggest AI goals is to secure America’s place as the global leader in AI technology. As such, this bill encourages partnerships between the government, businesses, and education to accelerate research and development with limited barriers to the infrastructure needed for rapid growth.Pro: This piece of the bill ultimately centralizes the resources underpinning the United States’ AI development, including computing power, datasets, and advanced infrastructure. By combining the knowledge and experience of multiple groups across various expertise with the best technology available, our AI program will theoretically evolve even faster than it already has over the last several years.Con: Centralized AI development that happens too quickly could potentially lead to developmental mistakes with big consequences, such as launching untested models that underperform, building agents that aren’t fully capable of completing the jobs they’re designed to do, and even causing economic instability should an AI bot or agent run rogue within critical infrastructure, such as businesses, medical facilities, and even military applications.History in the makingThis is a unique time in history. Society has never witnessed a more disruptive technology than generative artificial intelligence, and it takes a lot of watching, waiting, debating, and legislating to get the regulations right for a piece of tech that will touch nearly every facet of modern life.The Trump America AI Act is merely a launch pad — a starting point — that will guide America’s future of AI research, development, and execution for decades to come. There are a lot of good things in the bill, but it falls short in other key areas:It doesn’t protect adult users’ privacy, especially in terms of user data and surveillance.It doesn’t protect human workers from mass layoffs and unemployment.It indirectly encourages a digital ID database for age verification with no clear guidelines on how IDs should be gathered, stored, or deleted.That said, AI regulation has to start somewhere, and the Trump America AI Act is still in its infancy. There will be opportunities to amend the bill as it moves through the legislative process. For now, this version offers a solid foundation for governing the AI tech of tomorrow.
https://www.theblaze.com/return/the-ai-backlash-is-going-viral-here-s-how-trump-wants-to-fix-that

Nostr event nevent1qqsqm8djysg5fgkaz0t6zt4k68dnmp3fe9vvx2vvvveqen9mlt5veqszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjkwqv0v

2026-04-11T13:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

For all the infighting over the current and future direction of the Trump coalition, one thing stands above all else as the biggest threat. It’s not the podcasters and corporate media talking heads arguing over foreign policy. It’s not tax rates or farm policies. It’s not even the social issues that have been flash points on the right in recent decades. It is the issue of immigration, specifically deportation.It’s shaping up to be a classic standoff between monied special interests and the liberal Republicans they sponsor versus everyday Americans.Representatives Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) have started what hopefully will be a short but politically violent war by once again raising the specter of mass amnesty for illegal aliens via their Spanish-language-titled Dignidad Act.There is nothing new under the sun, so much like every other failed Republican-led amnesty push, their chief sales pitch has been that the Dignidad Act is not amnesty, despite the plain language offering amnesty to more than ten million illegal aliens, by conservative estimates.Salazar’s sales pitch, which you can see in full, occurred at the deep state’s consensus manufacturing plant, the Brookings Institute.Rep. Salazar employed a rhetorical device of speaking to imaginary illegal alien friends and asking them if they would accept a new legal status of dignity that would allow them to remain in the United States and enjoy a litany of legal benefits.To no one's surprise, they would welcome this opportunity. Salazar also employed the classic trope of challenging the audience regarding who else would clean the toilets or pick the jalapenos, hopefully separate tasks.While the bill enjoys 20 other Republican co-sponsors, Rep. Mike Lawler leads the pack in hawking this awful amnesty bill. In a heated interview with Laura Ingraham, Lawler attempted to make the case that the amnesty bill is not amnesty, because the status quo is.While it is true that lack of enforcement of the current laws amounts to de facto amnesty, the solution is to actually enforce the law at scale with the money Congress gave President Trump to carry out his promise of mass deportation.Lawler stepped on the logical rake with Ingraham when he tried to pump up his enforcement credentials by focusing on criminals and on the ludicrous suggestion that the Department of Homeland Security is able to vet the entirety of the illegal population for amnesty.On the first point, he said that “if you have committed a crime, you should be removed from the country, period.” What that means in practical terms is that by his argument, only some 500,000 to 800,000, by estimates of the Trump administration, would be in that definitional category.What he ignores is that illegal presence in the United States is itself a crime, along with the variety of other identity and immigration-related crimes that illegal aliens routinely commit.As a legal matter, there is no such thing as his small category of “criminal illegal,” and even taking him at his intended policy point of focusing on successfully charged criminals, he is arguing that amnesty should be given to this category so long as an additional crime has not been committed.This is what I like to call the “one-murder” policy, where liberals argue that illegal immigrants should be allowed to violate our immigration laws until the point at which they create an angel family by killing someone. That is a suicidal immigration policy.RELATED: My friend survived the Global War on Terror. Leftist immigration policies got him killed. Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service/Getty ImagesLawler then goes on to argue that his amnesty wouldn’t apply to those who entered during the Biden administration. Ingraham challenges him on how the DHS would prove that, at a scale of over ten million, in addition to proving that illegal aliens have maintained continued presence in the United States during their period of being illegally present in the United States.To put it mildly, he had no answer when pressed by Ingraham multiple times on how the DHS would go about that.She pressed for a single consideration or qualification that an immigration official would use to determine continual presence. After a non-response, Lawler settled on “you have to be able to meet the qualifications.” Ingraham asked again, “What is the qualification?” Lawler said, “They are going to make the determination as they always have, based on the current structure and guidelines.”If your head is spinning because of this, it’s okay because it didn’t make any sense. I’ll make it simple: Some Republicans, particularly those who see the big dollar signs of special interest donors who can fund a tight race, are willing to sell an unpopular policy through a left-coded emotional argument.I would put Mike Lawler in that category. As for Maria Salazar, she is a true believer.You don’t go on stage at Brookings, put a foreign-language name on a piece of legislation, and deploy emotional arguments centered around the well-being of illegal aliens unless you’re a true believer and, to an extent, acting as an ethnic lobbyist trying to advance the interests of a foreign group in the United States.The good news is that the majority of the country still believes that people who are in the country illegally should be deported. Those numbers skyrocket for Trump voters and are a key plank of the playbook for the newly formed Mass Deportation Coalition, of which I am a partThe backlash on the Dignidad Act, Salazar, and Lawler has been swift and severe. It’s shaping up to be a classic standoff between monied special interests and the liberal Republicans they sponsor versus everyday Americans.RELATED: This Supreme Court case could decide the future of American citizenship Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty ImagesSocial media has been lit up with fury and ratios, and most elected Republicans have denounced the futile amnesty effort as a complete rejection of why Republicans are in power right now.Rising star Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) perhaps put it best when he said that the bill was “mass amnesty” and “a terrible betrayal of our voters” and that he “wanted dignity for Americans — the people whose interests we represent.”There remains one area of creeping concern: The White House hasn’t exactly made the administration's position clear, aside from Vice President Vance, who has been continually vocal about opposing amnesty in any form.Lawler and Salazar retain endorsements from President Trump, and recent confusion about the commitment to the mass deportation agenda can give rise to reasonable suspicion that this amnesty talk is allowed, if not tacitly approved.Now is the time for continued clarity from those who decide Republican elections: Republican voters. They have made their voices heard with this recent flash point of mass amnesty. The path ahead means not just playing defense against amnesty demands but raising the bar for what is required on the mass deportation front.These votes will need to see large increases in the deportation numbers, to at least 1 million in 2026, which would be an increase over last year of about three times. The numbers will ultimately tell the story above the politics.Getting commas in the deportation numbers will maintain the coalition, and it may turn out that it is far more important for keeping power in Washington than it is to keep Lawler and Salazar inside the coalition, even as they seek to tear it apart.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-dignidad-act-is-a-complete-betrayal-of-republican-voters

Nostr event nevent1qqsrk2qe5hvakgnsjwpw8dysxx0rkfzt95q8hy62vsdt9fy6fajxf6czyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wj8p6dl7

2026-04-11T09:30:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

An 18-year-old Indiana teenager was found with hundreds of illegal photos and videos on his devices, and prosecutors say he targeted children across the country.The investigation into the child sex abuse allegations began after the Hamilton County Internet Crime Against Children Task Force was tipped off about Carson Springer of Fishers allegedly recording himself having sex with another juvenile. Police found hundreds of videos and photos in Springer's possession and identified victims as far away as Texas and Kansas. Springer was 17 years old at the time the investigation began. Investigators obtained a search warrant and discovered more evidence of child abuse on Springer's Snapchat account.When they searched Springer's phone, investigators found evidence that he was requesting child sex abuse material through the Telegram app.Prosecutors say that Springer was creating child sex abuse material by recording himself having intercourse with other juveniles.Police found hundreds of videos and photos in Springer's possession and identified victims as far away as Texas and Kansas. Prosecutors said for three victims, Springer created AI-generated nude images.While the crimes were allegedly committed when Springer was a juvenile, prosecutors released details of the case because he has been charged as an adult.The suspect allegedly said he preferred children between 13 and 15 years old, but his devices also reportedly contained material with prepubescent children.He was arrested on Jan. 16 on charges of possession of child pornography and child exploitation, according to Fishers police.Emily Perry with Susie's Place Child Advocacy Centers told WTHR-TV that parents need to closely monitor their children's use of social media."More and more young people are becoming perpetrators of crimes against other children using online tools," Perry said. "We really need to also be teaching parents about how to have those conversations with their youth about how to use those applications responsibly so that they're not perpetrating those crimes on their peers."RELATED: 'Got to find a 5th or 6th grader': Son of Catholic school teacher arrested for alleged child porn had images of students Fishers Police Lt. Doug Baker said what steps parents should take if they find child sex abuse material on their children's devices."Don't be afraid to report it," he said. "Don't delete stuff off the child's phone. Block the suspect, block the other person who's making the problem with your child, that's fine, but keep everything on the device."Springer will face a jury trial in September.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/news/indiana-teen-child-sex-abuse

Nostr event nevent1qqsfh3tt97cp6cw706jf2ch7htlvjphhqkr9892ga2c2u647vpd62yszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjxw7rgf

2026-04-11T09:00:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Brittni De La Mora spent seven years in the adult film industry before walking away for good in December 2012. A profound encounter with Jesus on an airplane — while flying to film what would become her final scene — gave her the strength and conviction to leave permanently and fully embrace her Christian faith.Today, she and her husband, Pastor Richard De La Mora, co-lead Love Always Ministries and direct Jesus Loves Porn Stars, two outreach-focused ministries dedicated to helping people break free from pornography addiction and reaching those still working in the adult entertainment industry with the gospel.On a recent episode of “Relatable,” Allie Beth Stuckey invited Brittni to share her amazing story — including the first time she realized that the porn industry was so much darker than just producing adult films. Brittni was just 18 years old when she became an adult film star. Her success was immediate — but not necessarily because of talent. It was her age that made her so marketable.“When I first started off in the industry, the reason why I was getting booked so much is because I was 18 years old, and I looked like a little girl,” she says.“They would put me in pigtails and costume jewelry and schoolgirl outfits and have me say, ‘Oh, I'm barely 18.”’It wasn’t long before “a light flickered” on in Brittni’s mind.“I was like, ‘Do you guys realize this is encouraging pedophilia?"’ she recounts, noting that she immediately went to her agent and demanded that she not be booked for these kinds of shoots anymore.Now that Brittni is on the other side of the industry and helping others escape, she sees the full sinister picture.“Now that I'm out, I see that pornography really is a drug,” she says. “It releases so much dopamine in your brain, and eventually what you watch on porn does not fill you anymore, and so now you have to go re-enact those things in real life.”But there comes a day when even re-enactment fails to satisfy. The addiction then begins to demand novelty.“It starts off by hiring escorts, and then that's not enough. And then people are doing things to children,” says Brittni.“I truly blame pornography for [pedophilia] because what they're watching, they're feeding their soul — and then they start craving that because eventually it's just not enough anymore.”Brittni recounts watching a documentary of a man who was caught with “6,000 images of child pornography.”“He started off watching the ‘morally acceptable’ scenes — the husband and wife — and then started watching the young teenage 18- year-old with the old man. And eventually that wasn't enough,” she says.To hear Brittni’s full story — from her tumultuous childhood and her entrance into the adult film industry to her Christian conversion and eventual exit from pornography — watch the episode above.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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/relatable/ex-porn-star-moment-realized-industry-encourages-pedophilia

Nostr event nevent1qqs8tfnstxe6ec7qamwypuf43ej87mnq4ydxs788c405mhpkyvd2edszyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjyx3hxa

2026-04-10T20:55:00Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

Beloved actor Michael J. Fox was clearly confused to find out he was allegedly dead, according to CNN, a day after he was on stage at a television festival.Fox, 64, known for "Back to the Future" and "Teen Wolf," took to social media on Thursday to tell followers to relax, because people think he has died every single year.'I thought the world was ending, but apparently it's just me.'Fox had just appeared at PaleyFest on Wednesday, making a surprise cameo on stage in Los Angeles. His own surprise, however, would come the next day when CNN began circulating a web article and video package claiming that he had passed away."Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox," CNN wrote in an apparent screenshot of the piece, accompanied by a three-and-a-half minute tribute video.'Doing great'This prompted TMZ to reach out to Fox's team, who replied to confirm that he was in fact alive."Michael is doing great. He was at PaleyFest yesterday. He was on stage and was giving interviews," they reiterated.The real truth-telling was left to Fox though; he took to his Threads page (Meta's version of X) to ponder his options."How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN is reporting your death?" he asked, before taking a shot at the network formerly known as MSNBC.RELATED: CNN analyst delivers Democrats devastating news about base support Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images"Do you ... A) switch to MNSBC, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, (B) Pour [scalding] hot water on your lap, if it hurts [you're] fine, (C) Call your wife, hopefully she's concerned but reassuring, (D) Relax, they do this once every year, [or] (E) Ask yourself wtf?"All of the aboveFox apparently did not get the 2025 memo that MSNBC changed its name to MSNOW, which the Guardian described as a somewhat forced acronym that stands for "My Source for News, Opinion and the World."The original name identified a now-defunct partnership between Microsoft and NBC, which launched in 1996 as a combination of the Microsoft Network and NBC. MSN was also the colloquial name of a popular online messenger service released in 1999.Fox concluded his remarks by saying, "I thought the world was ending, but apparently it's just me and I'm ok. Love, Mike."RELATED: CNN’s ‘death spiral’: ‘Cringe’ selfie strategy deployed as network scrambles to stay relevant View on Threads Dead reckoningCNN later issued a statement through a spokesperson that said, "The package was published in error," NBC News reported. "We have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family."Fox's appearance in L.A. was to promote his TV show "Shrinking," which just finished filming its third season.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/align/michael-jfox-reacts-to-cnn

Nostr event nevent1qqsy89fgtqng2ulxcy6kduza5ug77hj9qeeuyhjp5whtrxxhsqgec5czyp5ph7hajgahduar3rvnkahttcqw5qucxu8g7vp6uun0hccsc63wjwuguz7

2026-04-10T20:41:02Z

The Blaze (nprofile…hfrz)

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives says he's filed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump for a post threatening Iran.Rep. John Larson of Connecticut cited a social media post that threatened to end the civilization in Iran if it did not agree to his demands after weeks of U.S.-Israeli strikes.'They have an obligation to put patriotism over politics.'"Donald Trump has blown past every requirement to be removed from office. And it's getting worse. His illegal war in Iran is not only driving up prices for American families — it has cost American lives," Larson said in the statement Tuesday."His profane and sacrilegious Easter Sunday and subsequent threats, including 'a whole civilization will die' and 'open the Strait ... or you'll be living in hell' not only foreshadow war crimes, but put our security at risk," Larson added.Larson said he filed for impeachment but that Trump's Cabinet should seek the speedier remedy of removing the president from the Oval Office through the 25th Amendment."Members of the Cabinet and those closest to the President can act immediately," Larson added. "They have an obligation to put patriotism over politics and invoke the 25th Amendment. Donald Trump is unable or unwilling to faithfully execute the responsibilities of the office and he is putting the nation's security and economy in jeopardy."Many others have called for the president to be removed via the 25th Amendment, though that effort may have been tempered by the announcement of a ceasefire an hour before the deadline Trump set for Iran.Among those calling for the president to be removed are former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.).Trump was already impeached twice in his first term. RELATED: Praise, prayers, and impeachment: Reactions pour in following US attack on Iran Others, like Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, defended the president's threat."We're talking about taking decisive action against Iran's energy and civilian infrastructure. That is what the president is talking about," Lawler told CNN. "He's not talking about obliterating innocent people."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/news/democrat-impeachment-trump-iran-post