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2026-10-29 15:25:00 UTC

British establishmentarians have notched another win in their long-standing effort to take Tommy Robinson off the board.
Government officials and woke clergymen [have](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/16/uk-faces-fight-of-our-times-after-far-right-march-says-keir-starmer ) [condemned](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/24/john-bercow-calls-tommy-robinson-repellent-ukip-lords-invite ) [him](https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/christians-must-reject-tommy-robinsons-movement-you-cant-be-just-a-bit-racist/20092.article )[;](https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/in-the-news/2025/09/20/church-leaders-condemn-tommy-robinson-march-coopting-and-corrupting-crosses ) Islamic terrorists have [allegedly threatened](https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/14/activist-tommy-robinson-flees-britain-after-alleged-isis-threat/ ) him; multiple social media platforms have [banned](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/26/tommy-robinson-banned-from-facebook-and-instagram ) him; he has been [subjected](https://www.theblaze.com/news/tommy-robinson-has-the-last-laugh-after-politically-motivated-arrest ) to at least one unlawful, politically motivated arrest; he has been [imprisoned](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stephen-yaxley-lennon-committed-to-prison-for-contempt-of-court ) for filming outside a court; and he was even [told](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c06k0m52p24o ) to stay clear of an entire city.
'The entire establishment is against him.'
While Robinson has endured these and other challenges, he may ultimately go down for doxxing a pair of journalists who doxxed his family.##
Tit for tatIn August 2024, the Daily Mail [published](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13725035/tommy-robinson-athens-police-cyprus-hotel.html ) [reports](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13709703/tommy-robinson-riots-protests-cyprus-pictured.html ) about Robinson's family trip to a resort on the outskirts of Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
Robinson was on the publication's radar because of his commentary about the July 29, 2024, butchery of three little girls and attempted murder of 10 others at a dance studio by the [teenage son](https://www.cps.gov.uk/mersey-cheshire/news/teenager-jailed-killing-three-children-dance-class-and-trying-kill-ten ) of Rwandan migrants.
In addition to sharing pictures of where Robinson was with his daughter and other family members, the Mail provided sufficient information to identify the location — including the general location of the resort, how many stars the resort had, as well as the name of a restaurant on the premises.
**RELATED: [UK admits rape almost guaranteed among inbound asylum-seekers — then cops lock down town to allow another shipload](https://www.theblaze.com/news/uk-admits-rape-is-guaranteed-among-inbound-asylum-seekers-then-locks-down-town-to-prevent-protests-over-another-shipload )**
Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu/Getty Images
Following the Mail's Aug. 4 report, Robinson [tweeted](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/1820163193777381803?a=ieFDBr9Wi_bXYjueAns&s=20 ), "My kids are crying, we come here so I could spend some quality time with them. Now they are scared people are coming here to get them. The daily Mail have purposely doxxed the exact location of my family. How can they be allowed to do this."
Robinson — who [allegedly received threats](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/1820167467387215924 ) after the Mail's reporting — retaliated by sharing images and information about freelance reporter Andrew Young and Daily Mail editor Jacob Dirnhuber.
In [an Aug. 6, 2024, post](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/1820923590155411605?a=YyJwt9TMW0mFCiebY20&s=20 ) featuring an apparent image of Dirnhuber, Robinson wrote, "This is Jacob, he likes to locate & endanger families. Jacob & the rest of the daily mail journalists who were involved in endangering my children have today been located. I look forward to hearing on camera your justification for doxxing my children’s location."
While content to share images of Young and Dirnhuber, Robinson [underscored](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/1820928555372494924?a=Yr-X-KRezpe5VWXAscY&s=20 ) at the time that he would not "show their families pictures or put out their address."
Police [confirmed](https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-convicted-of-harassment-of-journalists-514437 ) that while cropped photos shared online by Robinson showed members of one journalist's family, their faces were not visible.##
Prosecuted Robinson, 43, was convicted on Wednesday of two counts of harassment causing violence.
The anti-extremism activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon "weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment, which caused them serious fear of violence," [said](https://www.cps.gov.uk/national-news/news/cps-statement-following-guilty-verdicts-stephen-lennon-harassment-trial ) Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.
Ferguson said that evidence presented at trial "showed that he targeted the victims directly and indirectly through social media and by telephone. He also published images relating not only to them, but also their families."
"There are legitimate and established routes that can be pursued by people who have concerns or complaints about their treatment by the media," a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police [said](https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-convicted-of-harassment-of-journalists-514437 ) in a statement on Wednesday. "In this case, Lennon chose not to follow any of these and, instead, issued various threatening online posts in the knowledge that they would almost certainly lead to his followers to target and intimidate those journalists."
Robinson faces up to a decade in prison and will be sentenced on Dec. 16.
Robinson [noted](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/2115545515794509933?a=wOZHG3Ky_3w-z4qF1Gk&s=20 ) on X that he will "walk out of prison with my pride, dignity & morals," adding that he is still glad that he "never revealed any of the innocent people's images or addresses."
He also [called](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/2115464110221692989?a=I-C-HtclKHCSCuY2GtY&s=20 ) the "whole f**king thing insane" and [the Daily Mail](https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/2115488593925886156?a=vPtvJyzGNWCJysOuHzk&s=20 ) "f**king wankers."
A spokesman for the Daily Mail welcomed the conviction and [stated](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16240171/Tommy-Robinson-guilty-harassing-Daily-Mail-journalists-jurors-heard-used-bully-boy-tactics-intimidate-reporters-exposed-UK-riots-shame.html ), "Yaxley-Lennon's behaviour was reprehensible and had grave consequences for our reporters and their families."
"Through his actions, Yaxley-Lennon sought to undermine our right to hold him to account," continued the spokesman. "We stand by our journalists and their freedom to report legitimately in the public interest."
Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, [said](https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/2115456145808580793?a=0b9oMOFOAFaPj3oM02U&s=20 ) of the conviction, "It is my view that the system has, again, treated him unfairly. We live in dark times."
Lowe [further expressed](https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/2115506003735105726 ) his conviction that "the entire establishment is against him."
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-10-29 14:30:00 UTC

Cybersecurity threats are emerging left and right, with the most prominent event happening last week in what experts call Black October. However, while that web meltdown took most of the oxygen out of the room, Microsoft was tracking another event that affected hundreds of companies around the globe.
Days before the [php2shell threat](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown ) hit its peak of hysteria online, Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence team was focused on a major event that directly attacked enterprise systems. It found that a Chinese hacking group called Storm-0940 weaponized an agentic AI testing platform named ARTEX to launch automated attacks on hundreds of companies worldwide, intending to steal data.
ConnectWise admits that it doesn’t know which partners were hacked or if any data was moved.
Even worse, the attack led to bad actors accessing some companies’ cloud backup systems, which contained sensitive encrypted data locked behind privileged access. It only took three hours for the automated attacks to breach cybersecurity measures — far fewer than the [5-10 hours that security experts typically need to crack a system](https://www.securityweek.com/report-shows-how-long-it-takes-ethical-hackers-execute-attacks/ ).
The speed and efficiency of the attack further outlines how AI poses an existential risk to online infrastructure that is either outdated, unsecured with the latest software, or riddled with zero-day vulnerabilities that have yet to be discovered.
One of the groups affected by the attack was [ConnectWise](https://www.connectwise.com/ ), an IT management software company that provides a list of services, including remote monitoring and management for company servers, laptops, and desktops; remote access features to offer help-desk support; and cloud backup and recovery for critical business data. Some of the partners on its website include Swarovski, Bic, and Panasonic, though the [full client list includes more than 20,000](https://enlyft.com/tech/products/connectwise ).
In short, ConnectWise is directly integrated into the digital fabric of its partners with access to devices, data, and everything else hackers would love to take for themselves. That means that attackers who want to get to ConnectWise’s partners don’t have to go to each company and hack them individually. They can simply target ConnectWise itself to obtain a treasure trove of data.
**RELATED: **[**How to protect yourself and your data during the PHP web meltdown**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-user-protection-guide )
amgun/Getty Images
According to Microsoft, the Chinese-state hackers used AI to implement a supply chain attack on the OAuth app that protects ConnectWise Cloud Backup, the service that contains client cloud backup data. Once inside, hackers reportedly tried to change the system privileges to broaden data access. However, Microsoft notes that there’s currently no proof that client data was actually accessed or taken — just that hackers broke into the system.
ConnectWise was [quick to respond](https://status.connectwise.com/pages/incident/619cf82551fec9053d612f09/6ad263692dc48705ab3da2cb ). The company revoked the certificates connected to Cloud Backup to cut the hackers off. This rendered their supply chain attack null and void. ConnectWise also confirmed that its clients’ cloud backup archives are still securely encrypted, so if hackers *did* move data out of ConnectWise’s system, it should still be safe. The company has found no evidence so far that any of the archives were taken.
That said, a lack of evidence doesn’t necessarily mean a crime didn’t occur. ConnectWise admits that its systems aren’t built to track its clients’ saved data. As a result, it doesn’t know which partners were hacked or if any data was moved. Instead, ConnectWise customers are compelled to review their own data for signs of tampering.
The ConnectWise breach is just one piece of a broader emerging situation where AI bots scour every corner of the web, looking for unknown flaws to exploit. At this point, no one is safe — businesses, infrastructure, and private citizens. Still, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do. We surfed the web and compiled a [robust list of ways you can protect yourself, your accounts, and your private data](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-user-protection-guide ) from the PHP meltdown and any other major cybersecurity event that could unfold over the coming months and 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/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )*!*
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2026-10-29 14:08:25 UTC

Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, won a majority in Israel's election Tuesday.
As of Thursday morning, Benjamin Netanyahu's [Likud](https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-goes-to-the-polls-a-guide-to-the-election-and-the-battle-to-form-a-government/ ), alongside its religious and nationalist allies, are projected to secure [53 seats](https://votes26.com/?lang=en ). Former IDF chief [Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar](https://www.timesofisrael.com/everything-you-need-to-know-tois-guide-to-the-37-parties-that-israelis-can-finally-choose-from/ ), alongside its anti-Netanyahu allies, won 48 seats.
'If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so.'
With 61 seats needed to govern, neither leader can govern without convincing smaller parties to defect. Both blocs have sworn off cooperation with the Arab-led Ra'am and Joint List, which nabbed 19 seats total.
Arab turnout hit roughly 80%, about 25% higher than 2022, according to Israeli business publication [Globes](https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001561041 ).
Netanyahu released a statement [Wednesday](https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2115479434169868618 ) accusing the Arab parties of voter fraud.
"The elections in the State of Israel were stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the elimination of the Jewish state through serious criminal offenses of bribery, threats, violence, forgeries, and the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters," Netanyahu said.
Overall turnout reached a 27-year high of [77.7%](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/near-final-election-turnout-at-77-7-highest-since-1999/ ) as of Thursday, according to the Central Elections Committee.
"There hasn't been such a nationwide voter turnout since 1973," committee Director-General Dean Livne said, [according to the Times of Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-27-2026/ ).
Though active-duty soldiers' and diplomats' ballots are still being counted, it is unlikely that the few remaining ballots will move the needle.
**RELATED: ****[Feds arrest 6 alleged fraudsters in Maine health care scandal](https://www.theblaze.com/news/feds-arrest-6-alleged-fraudsters-in-maine-health-care-scandal )**[](https://www.theblaze.com/news/feds-arrest-6-alleged-fraudsters-in-maine-health-care-scandal )
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Anyone hoping to replace Netanyahu "will, in fact, need to turn to us," Arab Joint List Chairman Yousef Jabareen [told Israeli radio Oct. 13](https://www.jns.org/analysis/joint-list-chief-yousef-jabareen-hands-netanyahu-ammunition-in-bid-to-discredit-opposition ). His conditions include a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines, [JNS reported](https://www.jns.org/analysis/joint-list-chief-yousef-jabareen-hands-netanyahu-ammunition-in-bid-to-discredit-opposition ).
“An Eisenkot government is a government that is controlled in fact by Abbas and the Muslim Brotherhood," one Likud ad warned, according to JNS.
Netanyahu [posted advertisements](https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2115112987384303842?s=20 ) on election day warning that Arab and Muslim turnout could drown the right-wing vote.
Though Israel is the subject of [frequent global interest](https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-global-image-is-in-free-fall-why-isnt-it-a-bigger-issue-in-the-election/ ), especially with regard to the Gaza war and associated campaigns, these are not political fault lines in the country itself. Most major parties oppose a Palestinian state and believe the [anti-terrorism campaign](https://www.jns.org/analysis/what-do-israeli-voters-care-about-most-three-issues-emerge-as-top-of-mind ) should continue.
Other controversial subjects dominated campaign season in the Jewish state. Whether the military draft exemption should be continued for the Haredi, also known as Ultra-Orthodox, is a major question on the ballot this election.
More than anything, the election is seen by many Israelis as a [referendum on Netanyahu](https://www.timesofisrael.com/will-this-election-mark-the-end-of-the-road-for-netanyahu/ ) himself, who has served as [prime minister](https://www.jns.org/feature/israels-political-parties-explained-likud ) on and off for nearly two decades.
President Donald Trump gave Netanyahu his full endorsement leading up to Election Day.
Trump called Netanyahu a "[Great Warrior Prime Minister](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117462449149582042 )" on Truth Social Oct. 18 and tied future American action against Iran to his re-election.
"If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so," [Trump wrote](https://www.jns.org/analysis/how-trumps-endorsement-of-netanyahu-could-change-israels-electoral-map ).
**RELATED: **[**Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Miami amid fears of political persecution, declares victory in presidential election**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/flavio-bolsonaro-trump-lula-brazil )
DAN BALILTY/AFP/Getty Images
Trump promoted Netanyahu again just a week later and two days prior to polls opening.
"Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!" Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117504022227510179 ) Sunday. Netanyahu personally requested the second endorsement, [Axios reported](https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-have-to-finish-the-job-trump-doubles-down-on-netanyahu-support-after-pms-reported-request/ ).
Netanyahu pushed for a joint strike on Iran before the vote, but Trump "did not give a green light," [CNN reported](https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-pushed-for-iran-strike-before-election-but-trump-refused-cnn-says/ ), citing U.S. and Israeli sources. The prime minister's office called the report "fake news."
Ultimately, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is responsible for selecting a prime minister.
Once results are certified Tuesday, Herzog will choose the candidate he believes has the best chance of forming a government. The Herzog-tapped politico then has 28 days, plus a possible 14-day extension, to form a ruling coalition. If no coalition is formed, Israelis will return to the polls with Netanyahu presiding over a caretaker government.
"I don't think the president of the United States or anybody else can intervene in my discretion," Herzog told MS NOW when asked about Trump’s endorsement..
Netanyahu remains on trial on corruption charges. Herzog "would not currently grant" his pardon request and offered to mediate plea talks instead, [the Times of Israel reported in May](https://www.timesofisrael.com/herzog-calls-on-netanyahu-to-accept-his-proposal-for-plea-bargain-talks/ ).
Netanyahu, after 16 years in office, has a contingent of die-hard supporters.
"There's no one who can replace Bibi," said Zohar Hindi, a voter near Maale Levona, [according to the Times of Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-27-2026/ ).
*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/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-10-29 14:00:00 UTC

Much like the government, school boards can bury a lot in thousands of pages of agendas and budget documents — but artificial intelligence is changing that.
Moms for Liberty co-founder and CEO Tina Descovich introduces AWARE, a new AI-powered platform designed to stop schools from making changes that could not only harm their children, but their families.
“So you’re a parent. What if every time, you know, your school board tried to sneak in a gender policy or a DEI crap in their agenda because that’s what they do. They dump it in, they do it quickly, and then they bury it, and you don’t know about it,” Blaze Media co-founder Glenn explains.
“What would happen if every time they tried to do that,” he continues, “your phone pinged and alerted you?”###
And that’s exactly what Descovich has created.
“We have harnessed the power of AI to solve a problem,” Descovich tells Glenn, adding, “We have leveled the playing field.”
“For decades, the radical left educational institutions have really had the advantage. We launched five years ago, and I feel like we’ve been running like crazy to catch up to all the money and all the power and all the information that they have. We’ve been playing whack-a-mole all over the country,” she explains.
“And now, through M4L AWARE, we have a dashboard right here at our national headquarters where we can see everything. We can see the trends, we can see what’s going on, and we’ve built the infrastructure over the last five years to be able to deliver this locally to what’s happening at your most local district,” she continues.
Descovich tells Glenn that through this program, they’ve found “things as interesting and peculiar as a school district deciding the night before they’re going to have a school board meeting at 6:00 a.m. the next morning.”
“Our system, AWARE, scrapes the systems every 12 hours, all the school boards across the country, and it delivers it to our inbox. It’s incredible because it ranks them too,” she adds.
The system is only two weeks old, but they’ve already found “a million dollars buried in a $40 million budget for putting telehealth services in all the schools in a school district.”
“Schools are becoming almost mental health centers, you know this, with social emotional learning. They’re putting therapists in schools and then billing the parents' insurance. Kids have access to mental health services at schools without parental permission,” she explains.
“That is a gross violation of parental rights,” she says, noting that telehealth is even being put in elementary schools.
“That means your child can get on a phone at the school and talk to a therapist without the parent ever knowing what type of therapist, what the therapist is discussing with them,” she continues.
“It’s mind-blowing,” she adds.##
Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_glennbeck ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-29 13:25:00 UTC

Democrat Mary Peltola was trying to stay ahead of her Republican opponent in the U.S. Senate race in Alaska. Now she'll have to stay ahead of a corruption probe.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has ordered a criminal investigation into a scheme allegedly committed by Peltola's campaign against Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. President Donald Trump, too, has weighed in, calling for Peltola to be removed from the ballot.
'Ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process.'
The Peltola campaign has been credibly accused of engaging in a ballot-stacking campaign — allegedly seeking out individuals with the same name as the Republican senator and recruiting at least one, [Dan J. Sullivan](https://elections.alaska.gov/doc/oep/2026/SULLIVAN,%20DANIEL%20J.%20JR%20_US%20Sen_Eng_06.30.26-PWEB ) of Petersburg, to run for the Alaskan Senate seat.
The [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/us/politics/alaska-dan-sullivan-conspiracy-peltola.html ) blew up the campaign's long-standing denial of wrongdoing with a [bombshell report](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ny-times-exposes-alaska-democrats-alleged-hunt-for-another-dan-sullivan-to-run-against-republican ) on Wednesday that advanced damning allegations from Peltola's former campaign manager Elisa Rios.
Rios, who retroactively attempted to retract all of the statements she made to the Times, alleged that: Peltola's campaign spearheaded the ballot-stacking scheme; top campaign aides, lowly staffers, campaign lawyers, and aides from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were involved in the scheme; and Peltola was "definitely aware" of the scheme though not directly involved.
The DSCC has [denied involvement](https://abcnews.com/Politics/peltola-campaign-fire-after-report-recruited-dan-sullivan/story?id=137646458 ) with the other Dan Sullivan's campaign, and a spokesperson for the Peltola campaign told Blaze News that "the Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign."
When asked on Wednesday about the damning report from the Times, Peltola [suggested](https://x.com/theblaze/status/2115576257769619461 ) it was a "distraction, another diversion" from Sen. Sullivan's votes on the Iran conflict as well as an opportunity "to sell newspapers."
**RELATED: [NY Times exposes Alaska Democrat's alleged hunt for another Dan Sullivan to run against Republican](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ny-times-exposes-alaska-democrats-alleged-hunt-for-another-dan-sullivan-to-run-against-republican )**
President Donald Trump and Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan (R). Kent NISHIMURA/AFP/Getty Images
Sen. Sullivan isn't buying it.
Nate Adams, a spokesman for Sen. Sullivan, told Blaze News on Wednesday, "Mary Peltola and her campaign have spent months gaslighting Alaskans, denying a scheme they were running all along. We always knew this was a concerted effort to deceive voters, and Mary Peltola was hoping it would stay hidden until after the election."
Nick Puglia, National Republican Senatorial Committee regional press secretary, said in a statement to Blaze News, "As we have said from the start, Decoy Dan was recruited by Mary Peltola and her Lower 48 cronies to deceive Alaskans. Peltola must be held accountable for her scheme and will be rejected again."
The new revelations about the alleged scheme evidently captured the attention of the Alaskan governor.
Gov. Dunleavy [stated](https://x.com/GovDunleavy/status/2115669883149222169?a=MdeZVZMDBmXVHcXU90M&s=20 ), "Today’s New York Times reporting reveals disturbing new evidence of an organized effort to manipulate Alaska’s elections by recruiting candidates — including one with the same name as an incumbent U.S. Senator — to deliberately confuse voters and misdirect their votes."
"The Alaska Division of Elections investigated these very concerns in June of this year. The new reporting substantially supports the Division’s findings," said Dunleavy.
The Alaska Division of Elections ruled in June that Dan J. Sullivan was [ineligible](https://www.elections.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-Determination-6.15.2026-DOE.pdf ) as a candidate and would be removed from the ballot.
Carol Beecher, the elections division director, [said](https://www.elections.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-Determination-6.15.2026-DOE.pdf ) in a June 15 letter that J. Sullivan had not filed "an actual good-faith candidacy for the office of United States Senator," but instead intended "to confuse or mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot’s fairness or neutrality."
Beecher found J. Sullivan's candidacy particularly questionable because he allegedly:<li>had never before registered to vote or sought ballot access under the name "Dan Sullivan";</li><li>had never been affiliated with the Republican Party yet filed to run as a Republican;</li><li>had a campaign website using a similar format, color scheme, and overall theme to Sen. Sullivan's campaign website; and</li><li>worked with a political consultant who is "a known longtime supporter of Democratic candidates including the primary Democratic challenger to Senator Sullivan."</li>
Although J. Sullivan was removed from the ballot on June 15, a state Superior Court and finally the Alaska Supreme Court [reinstated](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/08/18/this-should-be-it-now-redacted-public-records-reveal-lead-up-petersburg-sullivan-party-removal-gov-dunleavy-involved/ ) him.
Gov. Dunleavy [said](https://x.com/GovDunleavy/status/2115669883149222169?a=MdeZVZMDBmXVHcXU90M&s=20 ) in his statement that he is "directing the Department of Public Safety to investigate whether this scheme violated Alaska’s laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted."
"Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections," he continued.
"Anyone or any organization found to have broken the law must be held accountable."
Blaze News has reached out to the Peltola, S. Sullivan, and J. Sullivan campaigns for comment. The DSCC did not immediately respond.
President Donald Trump sounded off on the alleged Democratic scheme and called for Peltola to be removed from the ballot.
"It was just determined that the Dumocrats in Alaska, despite their sworn statements to the contrary, put a man named Dan Sullivan on the Ballot in order to confuse the Public with respect to Highly Esteemed Senator Dan Sullivan," Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117520578001844805 ) in a Truth Social post Wednesday evening. "This is Voter Fraud at the Highest Level."
The president said that "the Dumocrat Candidate, who was involved in the scheme, Mary Peltola, should be removed from the Ballot and prosecuted — So should the FAKE Dan Sullivan. Nothing else will do! This behavior in our Elections cannot be allowed to continue."
Peltola is apparently now too radioactive even for anti-Trump Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R).
Murkowski, who [endorsed a Democratic candidate](https://www.theblaze.com/news/sen-murkowski-betrays-gop-once-again-this-time-endorsing-pro-abortion-democrat-in-alaska-governors-race ) in the Alaska gubernatorial race this week and has previously endorsed Peltola, [said](https://x.com/LisaForSenate/status/2115560592849408304?a=1xSMd0RDXDFRQ79eN9E&s=20 ) in a statement on Wednesday, "While some may try to write this off as just how politics works now, ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process."
"Recruiting candidates to manipulate the field and influence voting outcomes is simply wrong," said Murkowski. "Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign — what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials."
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2026-10-29 12:50:20 UTC

Is Amazon deliberately trying to destroy beloved franchises?
The latest evidence for the prosecution: "Blade Runner 2099," arriving November 25.
'I just had bottom surgery ... and I love it so much.'##
Bottoming outAmazon's tagline for the new series — the latest entry in the decades-old sci-fi franchise — is ["Humanity has fallen."](https://x.com/PrimeVideo/status/2114733831345365154?s=20 )
So has Hollywood, according to viewers outraged by the streamer's decision to cast transgender actor Hunter Schafer in a starring role.
The show serves as a sequel to Denis Villeneuve's 2017 "Blade Runner 2049," itself a follow-up to Ridley Scott's 1982 "Blade Runner." It taps actor [Hunter Schafer](https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Hunter_Schafer-64977_%28cropped%29.jpg/960px-Hunter_Schafer-64977_%28cropped%29.jpg ) for a lead role alongside [Michelle Yeoh](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000706/ ).
While the Malaysia-born Yeoh has an impressive résumé of action films and Hollywood blockbusters, she is also 64.
Schafer is a prominent transgender activist who achieved fame — and, eventually, a spot on HBO's debauched drama "Euphoria" — after helping repeal a [North Carolina bill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Facilities_Privacy_&_Security_Act ) that would have required people to use bathrooms corresponding with their sex.
Not exactly your father's "Blade Runner."
Just days before Amazon Prime started promoting the series, Elle magazine published an interview with Schafer where he revealed the joy and thrill of having his penis removed.
"I just had bottom surgery in December, which was amazing, and I love it so much," Schafer [told](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a74133846/hunter-schafer-blade-runner-2099-interview-2026/ ) the magazine.
**RELATED: [FALLING STARS: Hollywood woke-erati on the outs as Skydance soars](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/falling-stars-hollywood-woke-erati-on-the-outs-as-skydance-soars )**
Cindy Ord/Getty Images##
Repli-can'tSchafer said that he had previously thought there was something "cool" about posing as a woman, but eventually felt the desire to attempt to shape his body to his beliefs.
"For a long time I've embraced the gender-expansive part of myself, and I really wanted to try to make that previous body work, because I thought there was something really cool and badass about it," he continued.
However, living in a "theoretical queer utopia," as Elle described it, "didn't match up with the world [Schafer] encountered every day, and the way she personally wanted to show up in it."
Schafer went on to describe this change as the "magical thing about queerness."
"On an ideological level, it's about possibility and expansion and growth, and being on that journey and finding yourself," the actor added.
"I'm a woman. I'm a girl," he said.
In a 2019 interview, Schafer also credited the internet with helping him transition.
"The internet saved me — being able to go to YouTube and watch people's transition timelines and see myself on a screen," he told [Variety](https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/hunter-schafer-hbo-euphoria-1203248330/ ).
**RELATED: [50 Cent exposes Hollywood's dirty little secret about 'diversity'](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/50-cent-hollywood-diversity-push )**
##
Faulty franchisesFans online are already declaring the franchise [ruined](https://x.com/Mawam/status/2114813091762618428?a=QVQudlvZ007duqod6a0&s=20 ), with some dismissing the new series as a "[parody](https://x.com/ant_9k/status/2114796241624486184?a=3u4PhN9FQAfmeQCDpN0&s=20&utm_source=chatgpt.com )" or a "[DEI checklist](https://x.com/RecruitBoss/status/2114809821207867896?a=HAVABnOFKtTh4m8QUVA&s=20 )."
Viewers have long criticized Amazon for the way it handles popular franchises, often updating familiar characters and worlds to appeal to the dreaded "modern audience."
For example, in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," the studio introduced black elves and dwarves into Tolkien's Middle-earth and gave monstrous orcs surprisingly [human emotions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqyKZWP1BC4 ).
Amazon is hardly alone. Disney's "Star Wars: The Acolyte" took similar liberties with another beloved franchise, introducing a coven of witches whose supernatural powers allowed them to [conceive children without a father](https://www.theblaze.com/news/star-wars-acolyte-witch-conception ).
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2026-10-29 11:00:00 UTC

Artificial intelligence has quickly evolved from an interesting novelty to an [economic driver](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/trump-bets-big-on-ai-to-make-america-dominant-again ) and a [cybersecurity threat](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/big-ai-open-letter-warning ). But while the United States tries to rein in its domestic models, foreign-owned AI could pose an even bigger danger, which is why one of China’s most popular models is now banned from the U.S. government.
[DeepSeek](https://www.deepseek.com/en/ ), a Chinese-owned and operated artificial intelligence company, develops several popular AI models, both in the frontier and in open-weight categories. DeepSeek V4 and V4 Pro are the company’s flagship options that are [most comparable to GPT-5.5, Claude Opus 4.7, and Gemini 3.1](https://techjacksolutions.com/ai-tools/deepseek/deepseek-v4-vs-frontier-models/ ), while DeepSeek-R1 is the open-source alternative that can run on local hardware.
DeepSeek doesn’t belong anywhere near the American people, much less federal civilian executive branch agencies.
It’s no secret that China wants U.S. companies to [choose open-weight platforms like DeepSeek over American-made frontier models](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/trump-fumes-as-china-pilfers-top-us-tech-and-goes-unpunished ) from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.
After all, they’re cheaper with no recurring subscription fees, data is isolated to local hardware instead of sharing it with the Big AI companies in the cloud, and with enough support, it could supplant U.S. dominance in the AI sector.
Some companies took the bait, too, with [big names like Microsoft](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/microsoft-weighs-deepseek-models-lower-124905817.html ) looking into ways to integrate DeepSeek into a subset of its products. So far, the Redmond giant hasn’t actually followed through, though, so no harm, no foul.
Corporations aside, DeepSeek also apparently had some kind of unofficial integration with U.S. government agencies. This was made apparent when the Department of Homeland Security [issued a partial ban on the use of DeepSeek](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/20/2026-21447/notice-of-order-regarding-exclusion-and-removal-of-deepseek-products-from-federal-civilian-executive ) in [federal civilian executive branch agencies](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/federal-civilian-executive-branch-agencies-list ). These include groups like the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Energy, and many more.
As part of the ban, affected agencies must remove any trace of DeepSeek from their frontend and backend systems. Agencies must also remove any third-party software that utilizes or connects to DeepSeek in any way, including but not limited to products that use DeepSeek as part of their feature set or were developed by DeepSeek.
In the official order, DHS cited several clear reasons for the ban, all relating to national security:<li>Data access: User prompts and interactions with DeepSeek — including classified or sensitive data — can potentially be sent back to servers in the People’s Republic of China, where it can be accessed by the Chinese government. This would potentially reveal U.S. government secrets and other intelligence to China.</li><li>Cybersecurity: The DHS noted that DeepSeek’s “models themselves may contain malware or other security vulnerabilities.” Just as AI has been an effective ally in <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown" target="_self">uncovering software security holes that were previously unknown</a>, hackers have also used AI to spread viruses and commit crimes. So far, the <a href="https://www.nowsecure.com/blog/2025/02/06/nowsecure-uncovers-multiple-security-and-privacy-flaws-in-deepseek-ios-mobile-app/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DeepSeek app for iOS contains several critical flaws</a> dating back to 2025, making it a security risk.</li><li>Availability: Since DeepSeek hosts both frontier and open-source models, at least some version of the company’s AI is freely accessible, easy to implement, and virtually unregulated, presenting potential threats to the U.S. government.</li>
Following the DHS’ lead, the Department of Defense and the director of National Intelligence [issued their own DeepSeek bans](https://legis1.com/news/deepseek-ai-ban-dhs-orders-federal-agencies-to ) to kick the AI out of U.S. military agencies, ensuring that the platform can’t gobble up important information about our national security and foreign operations.
**RELATED: **[**How to protect yourself and your data during the PHP web meltdown**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-user-protection-guide )
amgun/Getty Images
It’s important to note that the ban only affects government agencies. DeepSeek is *not* blocked from public use by civilians or enterprise integrations via private businesses. These groups can still access DeepSeek without restrictions and, by affiliation, are still subject to DeepSeek’s influence.
That said, considering the platform’s deep ties to the People’s Republic of China, you may want to think twice before you install DeepSeek or use it on any of your devices.
So far, DeepSeek’s AI has been caught censoring itself regarding responses that paint China in a negative light. Back when the model made headlines in 2025, users noted that it would begin to respond to problematic questions involving controversial figures like Genghis Khan and Mao Zedong, [only for the answer to disappear in real time](https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-glenn-beck-program/ai-expert-tested-new-deepseek-ai-app-prompting-glenn-beck-to-beg-please-dont-download-it ).
In September 2026, [DeepSeek was caught routing queries through Anthropic’s Claude](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/americas-adversaries-are-using-top-american-tech-without-telling-their-customers ) in a large-scale distillation plot. Distillation is when an AI company uses query outputs provided by a larger, better AI model to train their smaller model to produce similar results for less. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then DeepSeek must love Claude for copying off of its models.
Lastly, DeepSeek has the power to [serve as a propaganda machine](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/chinas-tech-infiltration-poses-an-urgent-national-security-risk ) for the People’s Republic of China, swaying opinions on everything from U.S. politics to the overall perception of China and more. It doesn’t belong anywhere near the American people, much less federal civilian executive branch agencies. For now, though, the ban only covers the latter.
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. *[*Sign up here*](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )*!*
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2026-10-29 10:00:00 UTC

On November 3, California voters will find 37 candidates for local office on their ballots endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. That’s more than half of the 69 DSA-endorsed local candidates nationwide, [according to Ballotpedia](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/10/26/democratic-socialists-of-america-backs-131-candidates-in-30-states-ahead-of-nov-3-elections/ ). Minnesota, the distant runner-up, has six.
California, it seems, has become fertile ground for politicians promising to cure the failures of big government with still more government.
Californians have paid for big promises long enough. Before funding the next experiment, they should demand the receipts.
This is quite a reversal for the once Golden State. The Gold Rush, the transcontinental railroad, agriculture, manufacturing, and Silicon Valley transformed California into a magnet for Americans who wanted to build businesses and fortunes. Opportunity was its calling card.
Today, millions of Californians find it increasingly difficult even to afford the place.
The socialist candidates did not create all these problems. California's governing establishment spent decades laying the groundwork. Nor is every progressive regulation a socialist policy; California remains a powerhouse of private enterprise. But that only sharpens the question facing the newcomers: Why should voters trust a more expansive government to repair what government has helped break?
Consider housing. According to the [Public Policy Institute of California](https://www.ppic.org/publication/housing-in-california/ ), the typical home was worth roughly $776,000 in the first seven months of 2026. The national figure was $372,000. California has under-built for decades, leaving a housing shortage that estimates put at more than 1 million units.
Land and construction costs are high, and people still want to live in California. Those realities do not absolve lawmakers who imposed layers of local restrictions and cumbersome approval procedures. The obstacles became so obvious that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) [signed legislation](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/30/governor-newsom-signs-into-law-groundbreaking-reforms-to-build-more-housing-affordability/ ) in 2025 to streamline environmental reviews and speed construction. Sacramento finally acknowledged that its rules had become part of the problem.
A state that spends years making homes harder to build should not act astonished when workers cannot afford them.
Then there is electricity. In July, California's average residential price reached 33.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared with 18.3 cents nationally, according to [federal energy data](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a ). Families do not experience those figures as an abstract dispute over climate policy. They experience them when the utility bill arrives.
The nonpartisan [Legislative Analyst's Office](https://www.lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950 ) identified greenhouse-gas policies as one contributor to California's soaring rates. Wildfire costs and the utilities' operating structures also play a role. The explanation is complicated; the price is unmistakable. Politicians pursuing ambitious mandates owe residents an honest accounting of what those mandates cost.
And what has California received for its vast spending on homelessness?
**RELATED: **[**Gavin Newsom makes damning admission about socialist takeover on undercover camera**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/gavin-newsom-makes-damning-admission-about-socialist-takeover-on-undercover-camera )
JP Yim/Getty Images for Clinton Global Initiative
The state allocated nearly $24 billion for homelessness and housing programs during the five fiscal years ending in 2022-23. Yet in 2024, the [state auditor reported](https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2023-102-1/ ) that California lacked enough outcome data to assess the cost-effectiveness of three of the five programs examined. Two appeared cost-effective. The other three could not be properly judged because officials had failed to collect sufficient information.
That is not proof that every dollar was wasted. It is an indictment of a government that spends billions before establishing whether key programs deliver results. Taxpayers are entitled to more than another appropriation and another promise.
Yet California’s budget offers no reassurance. The [Legislative Analyst’s Office](https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5197 ) projects roughly $29 billion in outstanding budgetary borrowing by the end of the 2026-27 fiscal year. It also identifies a structural imbalance: The enacted budget is balanced, but ongoing expenses exceed ongoing revenues.
California is not bankrupt — yet. Its economy remains enormous and productive. Indeed, that makes the recurring fiscal trouble harder to excuse. A state blessed with extraordinary wealth should be able to account for its spending and live within its means.
Now consider what some of the socialists propose. On Election Day, voters will decide [Proposition 40](https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/40/ ), which would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of billionaires who were California residents on January 1. Naturally, [the DSA supports it](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/10/26/the-democratic-socialists-of-america-endorses-131-candidates-and-takes-sides-on-33-ballot-measures-in-the-nov-3-elections/ ). Most of the proceeds would go toward health care, with smaller shares for education and food assistance.
**RELATED: **[**California says ‘trust us’ on voter eligibility. Why?**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/california-says-trust-us-on-voter-eligibility-why )
John Tully/Getty Images
Supporters say the money would help protect health care from [largely overhyped](https://heartland.org/publications/new-analysis-shows-medicaid-cuts-will-have-smaller-impact-on-medicaid/ ) federal funding cuts. The [state projects](https://www.lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=40&year=2026 ) the tax could raise tens of billions of dollars. But a one-time windfall is no cure for permanent spending commitments. [California's Legislative Analyst](https://www.lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=40&year=2026 ) warns that wealthy taxpayers could respond in ways that reduce future income-tax revenue. Once the windfall is spent, what comes next?
This is the argument socialists should have to confront. California already taxes heavily, regulates extensively, and devotes staggering sums to public programs. Yet housing is scarce, electricity is expensive, homelessness persists, and Sacramento borrows against tomorrow to meet today's obligations. Expanding the government’s reach without repairing its failures offers no guarantee of better results.
Many Californians recognize this. There are also plenty who may conclude that the existing political establishment has failed them so badly that an avowed socialist deserves a chance. Their frustration is understandable if misplaced.
California once drew the ambitious from across America with a promise that hard work could pay off. Before voters give Sacramento and city halls still more power, they should demand evidence that the power already granted has been used wisely.
Californians have paid for big promises long enough. Before funding the next experiment, they should demand the receipts.
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2026-10-29 09:30:00 UTC

Stephanie Strock was in her seventh month of pregnancy when she was found dead, according to one of her friends.
The Heavener Police Department said officers [responded](https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-man-arrested-for-death-of-pregnant-girlfriend-unborn-child ) to a residence in the 500 block of West D. Ave. on Monday on a welfare check.
'I do believe that she may have been able to have a chance to be a mother to both her children if we would have paid attention sooner.'
They found the body belonging to 20-year-old Stephanie Strock.
Strock's body exhibited injuries consistent with homicide, according to investigators.
Police said they found her boyfriend, 28-year-old Austin Morrison, walking nearby.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said that evidence gathered at the scene indicated that Morrison had been with Strock that night and had assaulted her.
He was arrested for two counts of murder, one for the child and another for Strock.
Morrison was booked into the LeFlore County Jail.
Strock's friend Cathy Ritter [told KFSM-TV](https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/crime/man-arrested-heavener-womans-death-murder-unborn-baby/527-4102987f-67ab-4c88-b72f-3cd3379c64f3 ) that Strock was in an abusive relationship and led a hard life.
"I think Stephanie should have been somewhere before all this tragedy happened, and I think it would have been avoided, and I think her baby would still be alive," Ritter said.
**RELATED: **[**Police make gruesome discovery in freezer of abandoned home in Dallas**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/police-make-gruesome-discovery-in-freezer-of-abandoned-home-in-dallas )
"I do believe that she may have been able to have a chance to be a mother to both her children if we would have paid attention sooner," Ritter added.
She added that she was heartbroken that no one was there to help Strock.
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-10-29 09:00:00 UTC

Right now, the U.S. government is putting military pressure on Iran, but that pressure is likely to let up if Democrats sweep the midterm elections, as they are predicted to do, and cut the money for continued military operations.
BlazeTV host Nick Freitas and Hillsdale military historian Mark Moyar are concerned that Iran is just biding its time — waiting for American politics to shut down the military pressure.
Freitas wants to know how the administration can continue to thwart Iran even if that military pressure ends.
“So if we acknowledge that Iran does pose a threat, that they do have aggressive goals … what do you think would be a good long-term strategy for mitigating the threat?” Freitas asks Moyer.
Given that Democrats will almost certainly push to “defund the war,” Moyer believes America will have to “depend more on countries in the region.”
“For Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, the other Gulf states, this is really more of an existential threat for them than it is for us,” he says, recommending that we “[build] the conditions for allowing them to to take more of the kinetic action.”
Freitas proposes the idea of “coming up with some sort of alternative to the Strait of Hormuz with respect to the export of oil.”
“How viable a strategy do you think that is, and what do you think some alternatives could actually look like?” he asks Moyer.
Moyer looks favorably on this idea. “I think using the alternative roads, we're already getting back close to prewar levels of oil. So I think that's very important — certainly going to reduce the ability of Iran to try to blackmail us with the Strait of Hormuz, which seems to be their current method of operation,” he says.
As for alternatives, Moyer says “it's not that hard” to “circumvent Iran,” but doing so “is not going to make the Iranian threat go away.”
“Realistically speaking, we should assume that at some point the Democrats and the Europeans are going to ease up on them, and so, you know, [Iran] will get back to doing the things they want to be doing,” he explains.
“How much leverage do you think the United States has in offering a stick or a carrot to the Chinese in order to lean on the ayatollah?” Freitas asks.
“In theory it sounds good,” says Moyer. However, “the Chinese probably like what's going on because we are their main adversary and we're losing lots of money and having lots of trouble.”
“They want to surpass us as the world's most powerful country, and so for us to be bogged down in this mess, I think, serves their interest, so I don't see them probably wanting to change Iran too much," he theorizes.
Freitas then presents a third potential strategy: Instead of fighting Iran directly, the U.S. quietly helps groups inside Iran fight the Iranian government themselves.
“You see opposition to the ayatollah coming from the overwhelming majority, which is Persian, but you also see it from Arab populations. You see it from Kurdish populations, and you certainly see it from the Azerbaijani populations, all within Iran,” he says.
“Do you think investing in a long-term strategy, which essentially supports and uplifts dissident groups to be able to potentially mount an effective insurgency ... do you look at that as a viable strategy?” he asks.
Moyer says it’s “certainly one worth considering” but ultimately “a tough call.”
“We have as a country mixed experience with supporting insurgencies in other countries, and sometimes it works,” he says.
But sometimes it doesn’t work.
“If you recall when we supported the Syrian insurgency, I think we spent a hundred billion dollars to train five guys or something before we canceled the program,” he notes.
It’s also a deadly gamble.
“I also think of the Iraq experience where we try to encourage these people to rise up and then Saddam Hussein ends up slaughtering huge numbers of people,” Moyer says, “so I do think we have to kind of think about are we going to simply be consigning people to their death.”
“Making the Argument with Nick Freitas” is available on [BlazeTV+](http://blazetv.com/nick ), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Nickjfreitas ), and major podcast platforms. Start watching Nick Freitas NOW at [blazetv.com](http://blazetv.com/nick ), and use the promo code NICK for $20 off your BlazeTV+ subscription.
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2026-10-29 08:00:00 UTC

An Iranian strike in February destroyed an American [missile-defense radar](https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2026/04/01/iranian-strikes-target-the-infrastructure-behind-us-airpower/ ) worth about $300 million at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. In the war with Iran, the U.S. military has lost [at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/IN12692.html ). And intercepting relatively cheap Iranian drones can require [missiles costing millions of dollars](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/IN12668.html ).
That is the arithmetic Pete Hegseth must confront as he builds [FORTRESS America](https://media.defense.gov/2026/Sep/30/2004009303/-1/-1/1/ESTABLISHMENT-OF-FORTRESS-AMERICA-AS-A-DEPARTMENT-OF-WAR-PROGRAM-FOR-THE-DEFENSE-OF-THE-AMERICAN-HOMELAND.PDF ), the Department of War initiative to secure the capabilities and supply chains on which the military depends.
FORTRESS America should mean more than stockpiling. It should mean American resilience through American scale.
Hegseth is right to pursue resilience. But without a reality check, the initiative risks becoming another bumper sticker in a $1 trillion defense budget.
FORTRESS America identifies five pillars: energy independence; supply chain and defense industrial base resilience; a strategic defense reserve; installation hardening and cyber resilience; and resilience in space and spectrum. Each serves a genuine need. But resilience should not mean putting everything in a government silo. The Iran war offers a warning about how easily technological overmatch can become economic mismatch.
The Pentagon has long pursued technological overmatch: the most sophisticated aircraft, sensors, missiles, and networks. Yet expensive, highly specialized systems can be difficult to replace, while an adversary can keep sending cheaper weapons into the fight.
The losses in Iran do not erase America’s military superiority. They do expose a costly imbalance: A nation can possess superior technology and still face an economic contest in which its enemies impose disproportionate costs.##
Build for scaleThe same lesson applies to the broader FORTRESS America agenda. An energy strategy cannot depend on a single vulnerable source. Supply chains cannot hinge on components easily disrupted or cut off. Defense systems cannot be so bespoke, expensive, and difficult to manufacture that the United States struggles to produce them at scale.
Palmer Luckey’s Anduril offers a useful model. Its[ Arsenal-1 factory in Ohio](https://www.anduril.com/news/anduril-building-arsenal-1-hyperscale-manufacturing-facility-in-ohio ) is designed to manufacture autonomous military systems in volume for the United States and its allies. Commercial manufacturing methods and components help make that scale possible.
Space offers another example. American entrepreneurs have made rockets, satellites, and launches more efficient. The government should create conditions for American companies to compete, invest, and scale — rather than replicate the commercial industrial base inside the Pentagon.
**RELATED: **[**Can you hear him now? Elon Musk is on the brink of revolutionizing yet another global industry**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/spacex-mobile-carrier-service )
yucelyilmaz/Getty Images##
A spectrum arsenal, not a spectrum hoardThe logic extends to wireless spectrum. Federal agencies retain extensive access to frequencies that commercial providers want for wireless networks. Congress has protected the heavily used [3.1-3.45 GHz band](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R48862.html ) from commercial auction, reflecting the military’s radar and other defense requirements. But treating spectrum chiefly as a resource to hold can also foreclose commercial capacity and innovation.
The goal should not be to privilege one particular frequency, but to strike a balance: federal agencies currently control or share access to substantial portions of the most valuable spectrum, much of which could support commercial wireless networks if policy better balanced national security needs with the public benefits of commercial use.
The military does not necessarily need to control every frequency; it needs reliable access to the capabilities those frequencies enable. In Ukraine, commercial low-Earth-orbit satellite networks have supported the fight against Russia. Such networks can provide military utility at enormous scale without requiring the Pentagon to build all the underlying infrastructure itself.
Even if spectrum were weighted toward commercial use, U.S. law gives the president significant authority over communications in wartime and emergencies. Military-grade satellite services, such as those procured for Ukraine, operate under Pentagon contracts and negotiated terms designed for national security needs. Retail satellite internet, by contrast, operates under commercial licensing and ordinary terms of service.
**RELATED: **[**Most of the internet is suddenly melting down, and there’s only one fix**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown )
Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Pentagon already recognizes the value of commercial technology. Its [October acquisition guidance](https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/cp/guidebooks/acquiringcommercialfirst.html ) makes commercial products and services the default for procurement. Spectrum policy should draw on the same principle: Buy and secure the capability where commercial networks can deliver it.
America needs a [spectrum arsenal](https://roslynlayton.com/commercial-first-spectrum-strategy-for-national-security-and-defense/ ) that draws on the strength of its wireless and technology industries: competing network providers, satellite constellations, sensors, communications systems, and infrastructure built with American investment, technology, and workers. The military can buy or reserve capacity, with priority and assured-access arrangements for crises and war.##
The fortress is the industrial baseThe best fortress is not one in which the government owns everything behind the walls. It is one in which American companies have already built the networks, factories, and technologies Americans use every day — and the military can draw on that industrial strength when the nation needs it.
FORTRESS America should mean more than stockpiling. It should mean American resilience through American scale.
Iran is giving us the reality check now. We can use it to rethink spectrum policy, defense manufacturing, and military procurement — or discover the same mismatch in the next conflict, when the stakes may be much higher.
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2026-10-28 23:30:00 UTC

A Venezuelan illegal alien was shot and killed as he was firing a gun into a homeless encampment in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago, [according](https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/10/27/fbi-agent-fatally-shoots-man-27-in-pilsen-chicago-police?utm_campaign=mrf-twitter-Suntimes&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202610286ae1431ff30f4a612270dfbc ) to various law enforcement sources.
An off-duty Federal Bureau of Investigation agent happened to see 27-year-old Oscar Isaya-Corrales firing at crowds Monday evening and took him down.
He had a slew of previous arrests that included 'domestic violence, criminal damage to property, felony retail theft, driving with an expired license.'
The agent was driving home when he saw Isaya-Corrales "discharging a firearm into a group of innocent people" near 18th Street and Union Avenue, according to an FBI statement.
Chicago police rushed to the scene to find the 41-year-old agent aiming at the wounded gunman, who had been shot in both legs, his chest, and right flank, according to a police report.
Isaya-Corrales died at a hospital about an hour later.
The agent was unharmed.
"The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously," an FBI statement reads. "In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division."
The Department of Homeland Security [said](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2115426482117869659 ) that Isaya-Corrales had been caught at the border in 2023 but subsequently released "completely unvetted" by the Biden administration.
DHS added that he had a slew of previous arrests that included "domestic violence, criminal damage to property, felony retail theft, driving with an expired license, marijuana possession, and several traffic misdemeanors."
Isaya-Corrales got another chance after officials in Blue Island, Illinois, refused to honor a detainer request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Dec. 2025.
**RELATED: ****[DHS attorney DEMOLISHES '60 Minutes' reporter over 'law-abiding' illegal aliens narrative in full interview](https://www.theblaze.com/news/dhs-attorney-60-minutes-immigration ) **
Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez issued a [statement](https://abc7chicago.com/post/fbi-shooting-chicago-1-dead-pilsen-today-west-18th-street-south-union-avenue-officials-say/19984649/ ) skeptical of the account from the FBI.
"What may have happened is, there was a shooting earlier, maybe around the area of the expressway. Someone heard some shots, and then, when neighbors came out, they saw a vehicle that now we know is the FBI agent that came out of the vehicle and shot someone on an e-bike," he said.
Isaya-Corrales was homeless himself and had been staying at a shelter.
"What prompted the shooting?" Sigcho-Lopez added. "What transpired after the initial gunfire to justify the agent continuing to aim his gun at the victim while he apparently was already shot multiple times and laying on the ground? Was the agent acting alone or part of a taskforce operation? These are questions that only an independent, transparent investigation can answer."
DHS was far less skeptical.
"God bless this FBI agent for their heroic action," the agency concluded.
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2026-10-28 23:00:00 UTC

Election season has historically brought plenty of campaign ads, but these days it also brings a fresh crop of painful-to-listen-to liberal anthems penned by white women who are suffering from terminal TDS.
“I’m sure everyone has heard the old saying that ... there’s only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. And I agree, those two things are certain. However, I would like to just deposit a third one just into the atmosphere,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales says.
“Unhinged liberal white women are going to drop a new song to encourage you to vote as we approach an election,” she continues. “It is certain. It happens every time, and it always is terrible. That is always something that you can hang your hat on.”
“We won’t, we won’t ever let go of that hard-won freedom, freedom to vote,” the women sing in the now-viral video.###
“We the people are for the people,” they continue, clapping to the beat.
“The charisma of a doorknob is what they have,” Gonzales comments.
“I love, also, that the woman was holding a sign that said, ‘Make it too big to rig.’ Like, can you steal elections or not? I have been reliably informed that that’s not a thing,” she continues.
“Now, I will just say ... I’m not done, OK? Because there are other libs who heard this song, and they were like, ‘Yes, this is what we’re doing. It’s the only way to convince people to vote, is for us to just stand on a street corner like the goofy motherf**kers that we are,” she adds.
Gonzales plays another video of a group of white women performing the same song, but this time it’s on a stage with instruments and a little more upbeat.
“They at least have it. It’s faster. They got more energy,” she says, before playing a clip of yet another new liberal anthem.
“My persecution is your persecution, and your persecution is my persecution,” a woman sings in the video.
“I’ve fallen asleep five times since the clip started,” Gonzales says.
“Those people’s votes count just as much as yours does,” she points out.##
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2026-10-28 22:05:00 UTC

An estimated $20 million ad campaign from the Trump administration was blocked by a federal judge who sided with the Democratic National Committee.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan said Wednesday that the administration could not create or air advertisements using taxpayer funds.
'Administrations of both parties have used public service announcements to explain policy and make the case for the nation's direction.'
The ad campaign is being challenged in court in three separate lawsuits.
"Here, there is little doubt that Defendants' unlawful use of public funds makes it more difficult for the DNC to achieve its mission of 'electing Democratic candidates in federal, state, and local elections across the Country,'" AliKhan [wrote](https://www.washingtonsun.com/legal/judge-block-on-trump-taxpayer-funded-campaign-midterm-2026-election-ads?redirected=notus_org ) in the ruling.
She added that the administration's "use of public dollars to finance the challenged ads imposes competitive harm on the DNC, causing Democratic campaign prospects to suffer."
The judge ordered the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security to "take all necessary actions to cease distribution of the challenged ads, including through authorized third parties."
After facing pressure about the ads, the president said he would fund them himself and with money he raised for super PAC MAGA Inc.
But AliKhan noted that the ads kept running with a disclosure that read, "Paid for by the U.S. Government."
A White House official said the ruling was "moot" and explained why in a statement to the Washington Sun.
"The PSAs are being paid for by outside groups," the official said. "Administrations of both parties have used public service announcements to explain policy and make the case for the nation's direction."
**RELATED: **[**Pollster Frank Luntz CRUSHES Democrats' hopes over favorable polling**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/frank-luntz-polling-skepticism-democrats )
The Sun report noted that both former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden ran advertisements during their time in office, but those were meant to publicize specific initiatives.
AliKhan added in her ruling, "Every public dollar spent on airing the challenged ads allows MAGA Inc. — which has already spent $25,000,000 in the 2025-26 federal election cycle to support Republican candidates and oppose Democratic candidates — to conserve its resources for other political efforts adverse to the DNC."
One survey found that a vast majority of Americans, 86%, [thought](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6131379-donald-trump-taxpayer-tv-ads-disapproval-survey/ ) the campaign-style taxpayer-funded ads were inappropriate.
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2026-10-28 21:00:00 UTC

When 3-year-old Nevada Pierre scored 21 goals in two soccer games, the police were called — and his parents were furious.
However, upon further investigation, BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock explains that the arrival of the cops had nothing to do with the child dominating the game and everything to do with how his parents reacted.
“The parents of 3-year-old Nevada Pierre claimed their son was targeted because he was playing too well against kids older than him,” an ABC news report says.
“Nevada’s mother claims other parents had complained, wanting him taken out of the game to give other kids a chance to play, but she didn’t think that was fair."###
“The parents of the 3-year-old boy that were causing a bit of a scene,” Jason Whitlock explains. “And one of the workers on the soccer field in the soccer league felt annoyed, bothered, felt like this situation could escalate, and he called the police.”
“Police came, based off of everything I’ve seen so far, behaved really appropriately. This is a typical little league dispute between parents and coaches and organizers,” he adds.
Charles Baker is a coach and a father himself, and he also believes the child’s parents are to blame.
“When I first saw this story, I thought it was some kind of AI hoax. And I kept seeing it, and I thought it’s real,” he tells Whitlock. “And ... you look at the headline and you think it’s funny, but then a sensible person would say, ‘Well, let me read and find out the why.’”
“And then the why makes sense as to why the police were called. It had nothing to do with how good the little kid was. Everybody admits he’s good. He’s great. He’s way ahead of his time here,” he continues.
“The police were called because of comments that the mother was making,” he adds.
However, Dre Baldwin believes the first people responsible for this situation “are the organizers of the league.”
“This happens in organizations all the time. When you bring a bunch of people together, if the standards are not clearly outlined and clearly communicated, then the wires get crossed,” Baldwin says.
“The organizer of the league needs to tell the parents, ‘This is the type of league this is. This is who it’s for. This is our aim. This is our goal,’” he explains.
“So the parents show up with this kid who was obviously very good at soccer. He’s dominating the game, and his parents are telling him just go dominate the game, but the league is not designed for this, not a dominate-the-game type of soccer league,” he continues.
“It’s a get-used-to-playing-soccer type of league,” he says, adding, “That's on the organizers of the league.”##
Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/fearless/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_jasonwhitlock ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-28 21:00:00 UTC

President Donald Trump has teased the next person he would nominate to the highest court of the land, should a vacancy open up in the next two years.
The president made the stunning [announcement](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6176842-trump-jokes-ted-cruz-scotus/ ) to supporters during a rally in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday ahead of the pivotal midterm elections.
'They would like to get rid of him. So I’d get 100% of the vote, and he would be a Supreme Court justice, and he’d do a great job.'
Trump said nominating Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas would solve the problems he had trying to get Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in his first term.
"I shouldn't tell this. Should I tell the Supreme Court justice situation?" he asked Cruz at the rally.
"I said, 'Look, I have an answer to it.' Ted is a brilliant guy, brilliant lawyer, brilliant all that. Went to law school, top student, everything, top credentials. I said, 'I have an answer to not being able to get it past the Democrats or the Republicans together,'" Trump said.
"I would pick Ted Cruz to be the next Supreme Court justice," he added.
He said Democrats would "100%" vote to approve Cruz because "they hate the guy" and want to get rid of him in the Senate.
"And the Republicans would 100% vote for it because they can’t stand him," Trump added. "They would like to get rid of him. So I’d get 100 percent of the vote, and he would be a Supreme Court justice, and he’d do a great job."
Video showed Cruz laughing at the rally and nodding his head.
Justice Samuel Alito [has said](https://www.theblaze.com/alito-retire-political-violence-video ) that he might consider retiring next year but said the future political circumstances were hard to predict. Alito is 76 years old.
**RELATED: **[**Ketanji Brown Jackson melts down in scathing dissent after Supreme Court hands another win to Trump**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ketani-brown-supreme-court-trump )
Cruz, 55, has [indicated](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6176842-trump-jokes-ted-cruz-scotus/ ) that the president had already approached him about being on the Supreme Court during his first term, and Cruz had rejected the idea.
"In the first Trump term, the president spoke to me seriously about all three vacancies, and three times I said no because I don't want to be out of the arena of the political battle," Cruz said to the Wall Street Journal.
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2026-10-28 20:45:00 UTC

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — a nominal Republican up for re-election in 2028 — has made a habit out of sabotaging the MAGA agenda and undermining her fellow Republicans.
If she has demonstrated anything this week, it's consistency.
'You just don't get any worse!'
Rather than endorse one of the three Republican candidates in the running for Alaska governor, the 69-year-old has thrown her weight behind former Alaska state [Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins](https://elections.alaska.gov/doc/oep/2026/KREISS-TOMKINS,%20JONATHAN%20S.%20JKT_Gov_Eng_06.26.26-PWeb ).
Kreiss-Tomkins is a Democrat who has been [endorsed](https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-alliance-advocates/press-releases/planned-parenthood-alliance-advocates-alaska-endorses-jonathan-kriess-tomkins-for-governor ) by Planned Parenthood Alliance and celebrated for being "a [proven advocate](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/09/22/where-do-alaskas-four-governor-candidates-stand-on-abortion-and-birth-control/ ) for reproductive health and LGBTQ2S+ rights."
"Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions," Murkowski [said](https://www.jktforak.com/press/senator-lisa-murkowski-endorses-jkt-calls-for-bipartisan-leadership-to-move-alaska-forward ) in a statement published on Tuesday by the Kreiss-Tomkins campaign. "Jonathan understands that governing requires listening to people with different perspectives and finding common ground to solve the problems all of us face."
In addition to claiming that the Democrat is "committed to working toward solutions that serve all Alaskans," Murkowski claimed that he would "put our state first."
**RELATED: [Conservatives demand competition — except in their own primaries ](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/conservatives-demand-competition-except-in-their-own-primaries )**
Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Kreiss-Tomkins expressed gratitude to Murkowski for her endorsement and stated, "Alaskans deserve a government that can work through disagreements and make progress on the issues that matter."
The campaigns of Republican gubernatorial candidates Dave Bronson, Treg Taylor, and Bernadette Wilson did not respond to Blaze News' requests for comment.
Taylor [said](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02xN6GEzm9pTrzZhyM276oXwHNcTtq7Wfugmj1Q2XUFrvoWb1NyuTFL81XRo1EoCAPl&id=61579342770173 ) in a statement on Facebook, however, that Murkowski's decision was "particularly disappointing."
The Cook Political Report [said](https://www.cookpolitical.com/governor/race/479451 ) that the gubernatorial race was leaning Democrat as of Oct. 13.
Murkowksi has been critical of current Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, [telling](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/27/sen-murkowski-endorses-democrat-jkt-alaskas-governors-race/ ) KTUU-TV this week that she has "found fault" with him.
"I think that they have left federal money on the table," said Murkowski. "I think in certain areas, where we have worked hard to put opportunities from the federal side, here, into the state, the state has failed with it."
This isn't the first time that Murkowski has endorsed a radical Democrat.
In October 2024, the senator [endorsed](https://www.adn.com/politics/2024/10/21/murkowski-says-she-hopes-peltola-is-reelected-to-us-house/ ) the failed re-election bid of then-Rep. Mary Peltola — a pro-abortion Democrat who [voted](https://www.adn.com/politics/2023/04/20/alaska-rep-peltola-calls-us-house-transgender-sports-ban-bullying-and-federal-overreach/ ) against Republican legislation that would have barred males from girls' sports.
Peltola, who is now running for the U.S. Senate, also enjoyed [reinforcement](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/24/politics/a-republican-comes-to-alaska-senate-candidate-mary-peltolas-defense-after-reports-of-abusive-behavior ) from Murkowski earlier this year in the wake of [allegations](https://www.theblaze.com/news/democrat-accused-of-wishing-botched-abortion-on-woman-roughing-up-staffer-using-faggot-sees-campaign-spiral ) that the Democrat — who had the [second-highest staff turnover rate](https://www.ktoo.org/2024/02/23/rep-peltolas-staff-turnover-is-the-2nd-highest-in-the-u-s-house/ ) in the U.S. House during her final year in office — roughed up an aide, threw around the term "retarded," and wished death by "botched abortion" on the board of a Planned Parenthood chapter.
This also isn't the first time that Murkowski has thrown caltrops in Republicans' way.
In recent months, she [unsuccessfully fought](https://www.theblaze.com/news/anti-trump-republican-senator-vows-to-fight-todd-blanches-confirmation-because-of-course-she-will ) Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation; [repeatedly](https://www.theblaze.com/news/senate-pass-ice-funding-dems ) [voted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/2-gop-senators-side-with-democrats-to-block-ice-cbp-funding ) against funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection; [voted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/vance-casts-tiebreaking-war-powers-vote-after-republicans-betray-trump ) to rein in President Donald Trump's war powers; [voted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/here-are-the-four-republicans-who-betrayed-trump-again-joining-dems-to-undermine-the-maga-agenda ) to block Trump's tariffs; [voted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-moves-to-claw-back-billions-more-from-usaid-foreign-aid ) unsuccessfully to keep taxpayers on the hook for USAID and other foreign funding; [voted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/senate-narrowly-confirms-trump-lawyer-despite-republican-defectors ) against multiple Trump nominees, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao; [campaigned](https://electionlawblog.org/2026/senator-murkowski-in-the-wsj-why-im-voting-against-the-save-america-act/ ) against the SAVE America Act; and [complained](https://www.theblaze.com/news/murkowski-joins-dems-in-whining-about-comey-indictment-she-sang-a-different-tune-when-they-went-after-trump ) with Democrats about ex-FBI Director James Comey's indictment.
Murkowski's endorsement of Kreiss-Tomkins comes just days after Trump [called her](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117499362600085167 ) "Republicans' Worst Senator" and a "DISGRACE to Alaska and our Country."
"You just don't get any worse!"
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2026-10-28 20:25:00 UTC

Ex-presidential candidate in Brazil Flávio Bolsonaro has arrived in Miami amid fears left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would wage a lawfare campaign against him.
Bolsonaro, whose [whereabouts were unknown Tuesday](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-wonders-where-earth-is-flavio-bolsonaro-2026-10-27/ ), failed to [surrender his passports](https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2026/10/27/pf-apontou-risco-de-flavio-bolsonaro-fugir-do-brasil-e-suspeita-sobre-destino-de-dinheiro-de-vorcaro-ao-pedir-a-moraes-apreensao-de-passaporte.ghtml ) in Brazil as ordered by Brazilian Supreme Federal Court [Justice Alexandre de Moraes](https://www.jota.info/stf/do-supremo/flavio-bolsonaro-diz-que-foi-intimado-pela-pf-para-entregar-passaporte-por-ordem-de-moraes ). Bolsonaro’s alleged route took him through Argentina and Ecuador to reach Miami after refusing to concede the election to Lula amid [accusations of fraud](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brazil-flavio-bolsonaro-u-s-visa-presidential-election-loss/ ).
'The election was really strange, and I thought it was terrible.'
The son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio landed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport Wednesday morning with his wife and two daughters, [the Associated Press reported](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-election-flavio-bolsonaro-ecuador-argentina-9fc1f409ed993403736dbae07bd74bd8 ).
Bolsonaro refused to concede the election to [Lula](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-election-lula-bolsonaro-annul-contested-voting-0ef0b7b949fea74ff119c3f81453416b ), who won by about 4.4 million votes after a [Lula-appointed justice](https://www.estadao.com.br/politica/eleicoes/zanin-prorroga-votacao-ate-19-horas-em-todo-o-pais/ ), acting on a request from Lula's campaign, extended voting nationwide by two hours.
That same justice previously served as [Lula's personal defense attorney](https://exame.com/brasil/quem-e-cristiano-zanin-ex-advogado-de-lula-prorrogou-as-eleicoes-em-2-horas/ ). Justice Cristiano Zanin defended Lula beginning in 2013 and continued after corruption charges were filed against Lula three years later. Lula appointed him to the Supreme Federal Court in 2023.
The Bolsonaro family crossed into Argentina via land late Tuesday and later boarded a private plane, [according to Argentine immigration officials](https://www.eldiarioar.com/politica/migraciones-confirmo-flavio-bolsonaro-paso-argentina-viajar-vuelo-privado-rumbo-ee-uu_1_13621260.html ). The plane believed to be carrying Bolsonaro briefly stopped in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and departed for Miami thereafter, according to [CBS](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brazil-flavio-bolsonaro-u-s-visa-presidential-election-loss/ ).
On Monday, Bolsonaro was served with an order from Brazil's court system to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports by noon the following day, according to [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-international/ap-brazils-flavio-bolsonaro-misses-passport-handover-deadline-compliance-is-unclear/ ).
Though [his Brazilian passports have since been canceled](https://www.jota.info/stf/do-supremo/flavio-bolsonaro-diz-que-foi-intimado-pela-pf-para-entregar-passaporte-por-ordem-de-moraes ), Bolsonaro reportedly holds an Italian passport as well. Bolsonaro entered the U.S. on his canceled diplomatic passport, according to [Estadão](https://www.estadao.com.br/politica/flavio-bolsonaro-usou-passaporte-diplomatico-ao-qual-senadores-tem-direito-para-entrar-nos-eua/ ). He used his Italian passport to leave Argentina, the paper reported.
"This act of leaving Brazil is shameful," Lula said Tuesday.
**RELATED: **[**Where in the world is Flávio Bolsonaro?**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/flavio-bolsonaro-brazil-usa-elections )
>
> [](https://twitter.com/flaviobolsonaro/status/2115544562219315474 )>
The State Department pledged to grant Bolsonaro and his family [U.S. visas](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-flavio-bolsonaro-passport-lula-1f64bda20de066eeea04349e0319820a ) on [Tuesday](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/27/trump-flavio-bolsonaro-visa-brazil-election-01137440 ), according to the Associated Press.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Blaze News: "On October 28, 2026, Mr. Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in South Florida with his family and were met and inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in accordance with applicable immigration laws and procedures. At the conclusion of the inspection, Mr. Bolsonaro and his accompanying family members were released."
After arriving in the United States, Bolsonaro [released](https://x.com/FlavioBolsonaro/status/2115544562219315474?s=42 ) what he termed a "letter to the Brazilian nation" in Portuguese on X. In the letter, he outlines the steps that led to his exile and strongly declares according to a translation by Google Translate, "I watched in horror as electoral fraud occurred before my eyes."
Bolsonaro went on to say that he did not intend to leave Brazil, but the actions of a judge "implicated in a huge corruption scandal" resulted in the order to seize his passport. He called the actions a "classic playbook for any coup d'état."
In his strongest statement on the election results, Bolsonaro wrote, "I am the leader and the criminals who stole the Brazilian election are part of a criminal organization that implemented a tyranny. You who longed for change, and I will not abandon you, I will be the voice and the free leadership of our nation."
Bolsonaro also thanked President Donald Trump for allowing him to seek asylum in the United States.
For his part, President Trump isn't convinced Bolsonaro was beaten fair and square either.
"The election was really strange, and I thought it was terrible," Trump [told reporters](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-election-flavio-bolsonaro-ecuador-argentina-9fc1f409ed993403736dbae07bd74bd8 ) in Maryland on Tuesday.
Jair Bolsonaro [also briefly withdrew to Florida](https://apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-florida-state-government-brazil-099db80c6511119b534ca17747f871fe ) after losing to Lula in 2022. He returned three months later, only to be arrested in 2025 on what conservative Brazilians say are politically motivated charges.
Trump agreed.
"Brazilian officials are also persecuting former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro," reads Trump's [July 2025 executive order](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/05/2025-14896/addressing-threats-to-the-united-states-by-the-government-of-brazil ) slapping tariffs on Brazil, calling the case "drummed up prosecutions."
The Treasury Department [sanctioned de Moraes](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0211 ) that same month.
“Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies,” [said](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0211 ) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro.”
“If I had won the election, would the same thing have happened?” Flávio Bolsonaro said Monday, according to [JOTA](https://www.jota.info/stf/do-supremo/flavio-bolsonaro-diz-que-foi-intimado-pela-pf-para-entregar-passaporte-por-ordem-de-moraes ).
The elder Bolsonaro was sentenced to [27 years in prison](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brazil-flavio-bolsonaro-u-s-visa-presidential-election-loss/ ) after his 2022 loss to Lula, though he has been moved to house arrest following [a series of health issues](https://noticias.stf.jus.br/postsnoticias/stf-concede-prisao-domiciliar-temporaria-ao-ex-presidente-jair-bolsonaro/ ). Bolsonaro was also the subject of an assassination attempt in [2018](https://www.npr.org/2018/09/07/645445886/brazils-presidential-frontrunner-is-seriously-wounded-in-attack-at-campaign-rall ), where he was stabbed and critically injured.
The Brazilian Embassy directed Blaze News to Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs when reached for comment.
Bolsonaro's office and the White House did not respond to Blaze News' requests for comment.
*Editor's note: This article has been edited after publication to include portions of Flávio Bolsonaro's letter to the Brazilian people. *
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2026-10-28 19:55:00 UTC

45-year-old Latosha Ann Cooper was [shot multiple times](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/glenside-walmart-shooting-pennsylvania-destino-jean-louis/ ) by a man who approached her in the parking lot of a Pennsylvania Walmart last Wednesday.
Officers with the Cheltenham Township Police Department were called to the scene at about 11:30 p.m. and found her with gunshot injuries. She was declared dead at the scene.
Friends and co-workers told detectives that the marriage was only so that Jean Louis could obtain legal status.
Surveillance video captured a man waiting near a bush at the entrance of the store in Cheltenham.
Cooper, a Walmart employee, had walked out of the store with a co-worker after their shift and was having a conversation before the masked man shot her and fled.
After an investigation, police [arrested](https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/illegal-immigrant-shoots-kills-woman-in-ambush-style-murder-outside-walmart-authorities-immigration-status-homicide-death-investigation-shooting-shooter-guman-masked-suspect-department-of-homeland-security-dhs-cuba-haiti-nicaragua-venezuela-true-crime ) Cooper's ex-boyfriend Destino Jean Louis, who is also an illegal immigrant from Haiti.
The 23-year-old had worked at the Walmart with Cooper, and they began a romantic relationship, according to police. The two obtained a marriage license in March 2025, but friends and co-workers told detectives that the marriage was only so that Jean Louis could obtain legal status.
Cooper later cut ties with Jean Louis, which allegedly angered him. She revoked her application to let him remain in the country as her spouse in July 2026, according to official records.
Prosecutors say that cellphone records put the illegal alien near the Walmart on the night of the lethal shooting. He had also visited the store several times in the weeks before the shooting.
Jean Louis was [arrested](https://x.com/USMS_Philly/status/2114752590927822916 ) for immigration violations at a family member's residence in Philadelphia on Friday. Officials said they also found a sandwich bag containing .22 caliber ammunition.
He was then charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and other gun crimes. He is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
**RELATED: **[**2 illegal aliens arrested after teenage girl is grabbed off the street and raped, police say**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/illegal-aliens-rape-kidnap-teen )
The U.S. Marshals Service in Philadelphia said Jean Louis had overstayed his visa.
Homeland Security sources [told Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/haitian-illegal-immigrant-charged-walmart-killing-entered-us-via-biden-parole-program-dhs ) that the man had entered into the U.S. under a humanitarian program by the Biden administration in Nov. 2023 and that his status was revoked in June 2025.
Jean Louis told police he was at his family's residence during the shooting and had his cell phone with him. He also denied ever possessing a firearm.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
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2026-10-28 19:40:00 UTC

A Texas public school assistant principal and her husband are accused of pummeling a pair of men amid an argument at a 12-year-old girls' softball game over the weekend. One victim reportedly was knocked out flat on his back after being hit with a metal water bottle and suffered a fractured skull, three brain bleeds, and a broken jaw.
The incident occurred during a Saturday game involving two 12-year-old select softball teams at Imperial Park in Sugar Land — and the carnage was caught on video, [KTRK-TV reported](https://abc13.com/post/husband-wife-arrested-fight-imperial-park-following-youth-softball-game-court-records-say/19981929/ ).
'It's medieval times, like we're going to smash each other in the head with something.'
Kiarious Marshun Hall and his wife Jazmine Hall were at their daughter's game when the dispute began, the station said, citing charging documents.
Investigators said the dispute began over Kiarious Marshun Hall's behavior during the opposing team's at-bats, KTRK said, adding that Hall told officers a man supporting the opposing team approached him and said he "couldn't cheer before the players pitched the ball."
Investigators reviewed witness video that allegedly showed Hall striking a father in the face with a metal water bottle, after which the father fell to the ground unconscious, the station said.
Hall then swung the bottle at a second man — a grandfather — before the confrontation became a physical fight, KTRK reported, citing court records, adding that Jazmine Hall allegedly was seen running into the altercation and pushing the second man.
Gary Greaser, the grandfather in the video, told KTRK he was attending the game to watch his granddaughter play and took issue with Hall's behavior: "We're saying, 'Hey, why are you getting loud?' It's bad sportsmanship to do it right as the pitch comes up when our girls are batting, and that's all it took. He just flipped and said, 'I can do whatever I want, I can say whatever I want. And you can't stop me.'"
Greaser added to the station that he intervened after seeing the first man struck: "I said, 'You can't do this.' I took him, I wanted to disarm the guy, because he's going to do it to somebody else."
Investigators told KTRK that Hall claimed the men had "elbowed and poked his chest" and that he acted in self-defense — but the station said court documents state the video officers reviewed did not show such actions.
Jazmine Hall and her husband are seen wearing pink shirts in the video, the station said, adding that the father who fell to the ground unconscious is seen wearing a dark blue shirt, and the grandfather who intervened is seen wearing a light blue shirt.
**RELATED: **[**9 teen thugs brutally beat up lone male after victim defended bullied female at Florida high school, cops say**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/9-teen-thugs-brutally-beat-up-lone-male-after-he-defended-bullied-girl-at-florida-high-school-cops-say )
The father seen in the video getting knocked flat on his back was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, KTRK reported, adding that attorney Steve Shellist, who represents the injured man, said his client was hospitalized with a broken jaw, a fractured skull, and three brain bleeds.
As for Greaser, the station said he suffered a broken hip and needed seven stitches on his chin and was scraped extensively.
"It's medieval times," Greaser told KTRK in disbelief, "like we're going to smash each other in the head with something."
Sugar Land police arrested Kiarious Hall and Jazmine Hall following the incident, the station said, adding that both suspects were booked into the Fort Bend County Jail. However, neither appeared Wednesday in a list of inmates.
Jazmine Hall faces one count of assault causing bodily injury; Kiarious Hall faces two counts, [KRIV-TV reported](https://www.fox26houston.com/news/husband-wife-arrested-assault-during-sugar-land-softball-game-court-documents ).
KTRK added that Jazmine Hall resigned from her position as assistant principal at Lamar Junior High School.
Lamar CISD shared the following statement, the station said:
> *Lamar CISD is aware of the incident involving a Lamar Junior High School employee. The employee voluntarily reported the incident to the district's human resources department over the weekend.*
> *The incident occurred outside of school and was not associated with any Lamar CISD-sponsored event or activity.*
> *The employee resigned from her position with Lamar CISD effective Monday, October 26, 2026.*KTRK said Hall declined to comment when reached by the station.
Greaser's attorney Shellist told KTRK he is in discussions with the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office and wants prosecutors to consider upgrading the charges.
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2026-10-28 19:30:00 UTC

If Democrat Muslim Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed — who has been repeatedly questioned over his family’s alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties — wins in Michigan next week, the state can expect a senator who will push Medicare-for-all government health care, fight to codify nationwide abortion access, work to abolish ICE, and raise taxes on businesses and the wealthy.
But according to Article III Project senior counsel Josh Hammer, that’s not the worst of it.
“This guy will literally be a five-alarm fire national security threat if he is elected to the United States Senate,” he tells the “Steve Deace Show” panel.
"He's already making moves and making waves about trying to sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — maybe the Select Committee on Intelligence, so help us God,” he says. “I mean, this is a guy who it's not an exaggeration to say that he is a Muslim Brotherhood asset.”
Hammer argues that although there’s no “overt collusive conspiracy,” the support El-Sayed has received from the Muslim Brotherhood’s “very sophisticated network,” which includes the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Islamic Society of North America, is substantial, coordinated, and deeply concerning for a U.S. Senate candidate.
“CAIR has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Abdul El-Sayed. His father-in-law, a very wealthy doctor in Michigan, was one of the founding members of ISNA,” he says, noting that both CAIR and ISNA "were named brotherhood front groups in the infamous Holy Land Foundation terror financing case of 2008.”
Hammer also notes that El-Sayed refused to celebrate or even comment positively on the U.S./Israel killing of Ali Khamenei in early 2026. Leaked audio showed El-Sayed telling his staff he didn’t want to touch the topic because “a lot of people in Dearborn” were sad about it.
“You know, Mr. Senate-elect hopeful, the United States and Iran are, last I checked, at war. In fact, they've been at war, technically speaking, for 47 years. Whose side are you on, dude? I mean, like literally, whose side of this conflict are you on?” Hammer asks.
He then brings up another concern: From 1999 to 2004, El-Sayed’s mother worked for the Islamic American Relief Agency.
“They were designated a terror organization by the Treasury Department in 2004 for funding Al-Qaeda and bin Laden,” says Hammer. “The mother was funding Al-Qaeda and bin Laden on September 11, 2001.”
“If [El-Sayed] goes to the Senate, God help us. He will not act on behalf of the United States. He will act on behalf of the Brotherhood; he will act on behalf of Islamism. And Al-Qaeda and ISIS will have a friend inside the U.S. Senate.”
To hear more, watch the episode above.##
Want more from Steve Deace?To enjoy more of Steve's take on national politics, Christian worldview, and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/deace/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_stevedeace ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-28 00:00:37 UTC

A delegation of Cuban officials interrupted a speech by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, which led to a heated shouting match.
Waltz was defending the U.S. embargo against the communist regime on the island nation when the Cuban delegation began [pounding](https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/us-cuban-officials-engage-shouting-match-debate-economic-137613774 ) on their desks.
'Back up, ambassador! Back away! This isn't Havana! You're not going to intimidate me. Do you understand who you're dealing with?'
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called for a point of order from the U.N. presiding official before he furiously walked toward the podium where Waltz was speaking.
"You are a liar!" he yelled.
"Imagine what happens when someone asks these questions in Havana, not in a room full of ambassadors and cameras. Imagine what happens to those people if this is the intimidation and disruption that we see," Waltz [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PduJfJqe10g ).
Rodriguez continued to yell.
"Your excellency, I know you don't like to hear this. This is America, my friend!" Waltz chided. "This is the United Nations. This isn't your communist dictatorship!"
Rodriguez continued to yell.
"You cannot silence me, and you cannot silence my colleagues!" Waltz added.
The presiding official promised to allow Rodriguez to speak, but he continued to yell and interrupt.
"This individual needs to back away from this podium! He's not going to intimidate me," Waltz said.
"Back up, ambassador! Back away! This isn't Havana! You're not going to intimidate me. Do you understand who you're dealing with?" Waltz yelled.
At this point, the presiding officer suspended the meeting.
"This is America. Back up!" Waltz yelled back.
Cuba has been suffering from a [crippling](https://www.theblaze.com/news/jayapal-cuba-embargo-logan-act ) embargo that has tightened under the Trump administration. The United Nations has voted against the U.S. embargo for decades, though the motion is largely symbolic.
**RELATED: **[**Woke 'Squad' member appears to confess to undermining Trump embargo on Cuba**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/jayapal-cuba-embargo-logan-act )
Rodriguez accused Waltz of lying grossly and offending the dignity of the people of Cuba.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have heightened tensions with Cuba after he [posted](https://x.com/SecRubio/status/2113731069518434519 ) a message Friday many took as a provocation against the communist regime.
"To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba — now is the time," he wrote on social media. "The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA."
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2026-10-27 23:28:49 UTC

Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly fled to the United States after narrowly losing Brazil's presidential election under unusual circumstances and after Brazil's left-wing government demanded he surrender his passports.
Bolsonaro, son of convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro, has left Brazil for the U.S., two sources [told CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/27/americas/flavio-bolsonaro-brazil-passports-latam-intl ) Tuesday. A U.S. official then seemingly confirmed the report, telling the outlet that Bolsonaro was headed for Florida before stating that his destination was unclear, CNN said.
'Do not recognize these elections.'
[Reuters](https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/brazil-wonders-where-earth-flavio-154803613.html?guccounter=1 ), citing three sources, reported that he had left Brazil for the U.S. One source even said that the Trump administration had granted asylum to Bolsonaro and his immediate family, the outlet reported.
"After months of intense work that has been unfairly thwarted, I am not in the mood to speak to the press," [said](https://www.ksl.com/article/51641605/brazilsflavio-bolsonaro-headed-to-us-sources-say ) Paulo Figueiredo, an unofficial family spokesman.
Bolsonaro lost Sunday's runoff to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by about 3.6 [points](https://www.tse.jus.br/comunicacao/noticias/2026/Outubro/presidente-do-tse-anuncia-reeleicao-de-lula-e-faz-balanco-do-2o-turno-das-eleicoes-2026 ) after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin [extended voting by two hours](https://exame.com/brasil/vai-ter-terceiro-turno-entenda-os-desdobramentos-apos-decisao-do-stf-nas-eleicoes/ ), stirring fraud suspicions. Zanin was Lula's personal defense lawyer until Lula [put him on the court](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-senate-confirms-lulas-ex-lawyer-supreme-court-seat-2023-06-21/ ) in 2023.
Lula was previously found guilty of corruption and money-laundering charges. He spent over 550 days in prison before he was freed in 2019. The Supreme Court annulled his convictions in 2021 on jurisdictional grounds.
The elder Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for what some claim was a political hit job. Flávio Bolsonaro also faces allegations of money laundering and other crimes.
"It is impossible to accept the result of the elections under these conditions," Flávio Bolsonaro [said Sunday night](https://www12.senado.leg.br/tv/programas/noticias-1/2026/10/flavio-bolsonaro-cita-ministro-ao-aventar-possibilidade-de-anulacao-do-resultado-das-eleicoes ), vowing to seek annulment. **
****RELATED: ****[Feds arrest 6 alleged fraudsters in Maine health care scandal](https://www.theblaze.com/news/feds-arrest-6-alleged-fraudsters-in-maine-health-care-scandal )**[](https://www.theblaze.com/news/feds-arrest-6-alleged-fraudsters-in-maine-health-care-scandal )
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
"Do not recognize these elections," Eduardo Bolsonaro, Flávio's brother, said in an [X video](https://x.com/BolsonaroSP/status/2114584718788501945 ). On Tuesday, Eduardo called reports that his brother had absconded a "lie," CNN reported.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes signed a [sealed order](https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2026/10/27/pf-rastreia-fronteiras-e-aciona-argentina-para-saber-se-flavio-bolsonaro-deixou-o-pais-aliados-negam/ ) the night of the presidential election demanding that Bolsonaro surrender his passports. The order also prohibited Bolsonaro from leaving Brazil.
Federal Police canceled the passports Tuesday amid reports that Bolsonaro had fled the country, according to [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/27/americas/flavio-bolsonaro-brazil-passports-latam-intl ).
Argentina's [Infobae reported](https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/10/27/flavio-bolsonaro-habria-salido-de-brasil-y-viajaria-a-estados-unidos-en-un-vuelo-privado-desde-argentina/ ) that Bolsonaro crossed into the Misiones province to take a private jet, though this report remains unconfirmed. Argentina said it has "no record" of him entering.
“The process is confidential. We do not have any information,” Brazil's Supreme Court told Blaze News when asked about Moraes' passport confiscation order.
The State Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to Blaze News' requests for comment.
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2026-10-27 23:15:00 UTC

The president said anyone who reported voter fraud would be eligible for a million-dollar reward if it led to an arrest and conviction.
President Donald Trump announced the award on his Truth Social account on Monday, just days before the pivotal midterm election day.
'Only I can make this promise to you.'
"Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud!" [he wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117508870323063258 ).
"Thank you for your attention to this matter," he added.
It's unclear what the source of the award money would be.
The Trump administration is currently in a legal feud with California officials over a list of people identified as likely "noncitizen" voters registered to vote.
On Monday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals [refused](https://www.theblaze.com/news/9th-circuit-rejects-trump-dojs-emergency-motion-over-20000-questionable-voters-in-california ) an emergency request from the Department of Justice to force California to segregate mail-in ballots from those on the list.
In September, the president also [promised](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-dividend-5000-dollars-midterms ) to hand out $5,000 checks as a kind of dividend if Republicans won both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections.
"Very much like a successful company will do a cash distribution to its shareholders," he explained.
"Because we've done so well and because our country is making so much money, that only I can make this promise to you," he added.
**RELATED: **[**Pollster Frank Luntz CRUSHES Democrats' hopes over favorable polling**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/frank-luntz-polling-skepticism-democrats )
Most pundits believe the Republicans will lose control of the House and maybe even lose the Senate as well, though [some](https://www.theblaze.com/news/frank-luntz-polling-skepticism-democrats ) say that polling may not be capturing an accurate measure of voter sentiment.
The president has long maintained that he was cheated out of victory in the 2020 election by voter fraud.
**Generic Congressional Ballot polls 2026: Democrats vs. Republicans **
[pollwatch.theblaze.com](https://pollwatch.theblaze.com/race/2026-natl-generic )
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2026-10-27 22:50:00 UTC

The Department of Homeland Security has released the full video of an interview "60 Minutes" conducted with DHS general counsel James Percival.
The "60 Minutes" segment Sunday with reporter Gianna Toboni [documented](https://www.theblaze.com/news/60-minutes-sob-story-gay ) the plight of an illegal alien who had been deported to Ghana and claimed to have been sent to war-torn Mali, where he ended up homeless and hiding out of fear for his safety.
'I do really reject your characterization of someone who is in this country illegally and breaking our laws as quote, unquote, law-abiding.'
While the report had a few short clips quoting Percival in defense of the deportation process, the full interview video, which the DHS [shared](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2114889154345738266 ) on social media Monday night, showed him challenging Toboni's narrative overall.
"That's why I am going for the clarity here because I hear a lot about the violent offenders, point taken," Toboni said at one point, referring to deportees. "But what I don't hear about is the law-abiding folks, who, in our reporting, is more than half."
"You're suggesting that people who are in this country illegally are law-abiding?" Percival replied.
"Let's say [they] don't have a criminal record outside of an immigration offense, maybe overstaying a tourist visa," Toboni responded.
"If you are in this country illegally, it is virtually impossible for you to live in this country and not commit additional legal violations — working without authorization, identity theft. There’s a lot of illegality that goes on when you are breaking the law," he replied.
"But I do really reject your characterization of someone who is in this country illegally and breaking our laws as quote, unquote, law-abiding. I think that's fundamentally inaccurate and unfair," Percival added.
"OK, fair enough," she accepted.
The DHS posted a clip of that interaction [to social media](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2114890083652223133 ), where it quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
**RELATED: **[**ICE mocks deportation 'sob story' on '60 Minutes' — and dismantles its narrative with one inconvenient detail**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/60-minutes-sob-story-gay )
Percival pointed out in an X post Tuesday that the "60 Minutes" report shared a brief video from his interview where he admitted that he didn't know offhand what percentage of third-country removals involved illegal aliens convicted of violent crimes.
In the [extended clip,](https://x.com/DHSGenCounsel/status/2115159515520016610 ) he goes on to explain at length why third-country removals are necessary in difficult cases.
"What I can say is, there's a very specific reason why this population is disproportionately criminal. Well, it's really two reasons," Percival said.
"Number one, when countries refuse to accept their nationals back, they disproportionately do that for violent criminals. People don't really want to take their violent criminals back," he explained.
"Point two is, people will sometimes get what's called withholding of removal, that type of relief, because they are statutorily ineligible for asylum. And what creates that ineligibility in many cases is significant criminal conduct," he continued.
He said that prior to the Trump administration, many of these violent criminals would reoffend because prior administrations were not enforcing immigration laws.
"60 Minutes" posted a video of the full interview with Percival on YouTube on Monday.
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2026-10-27 21:20:00 UTC

As election season draws into its final week, many candidates and politicians are making their final rounds with voters across the country.
And Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came out swinging for the GOP in Michigan.
'The Christians have been expelled. They've gone from 20% of the population to 4% of the population. These were genocides.'
On Monday, RFK Jr. joined Michigan gubernatorial candidate John James and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers at a campaign event in Grand Rapids to make a final appeal to voters in what may be one of the highest-profile Senate races in the country.
And RFK Jr. spent a portion of his time dropping some lines about the Muslim Brotherhood.
He called the Muslim Brotherhood a "death cult" that embraces "murder and genocide," causing the nations it overtakes to become "atrophied and stagnant."
"There's 500 million Arabs in the world. And yet they don't produce science. They don't win the Nobel Prize. ... They don't produce literature. ... All of that tradition has been destroyed by the Muslim Brotherhood. They have created stagnant societies," he [said](https://x.com/theblaze/status/2114900724702409119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2114900724702409119%7Ctwgr%5Efbeda7bc58c31444c0aa7dd44fb686d0b4e01c8b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theblaze.com%2Fr%2Fentryeditor%2F2678153729publish ).
By contrast, he said, traditional Islam gave rise to "art and literature and science and engineering" and societies that for 1,000 years "were highly tolerant and pluralistic and cosmopolitan."
While many in the [corporate](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/10/27/rfk-jr-says-arab-muslims-no-longer-produce-prizeworthy-science-or-literature/ ) [media](https://apnews.com/article/trump-midterms-kennedy-arabs-michigan-2c91a731bb1b4dc5b7aeadf2fc6dff37 ) fired back with examples of Arabs winning prizes and participating in culture, it seems that they unintentionally — or intentionally — ignored the primary point he was making: The Muslim Brotherhood's "death cult" ideology has created a "stagnant society" — not that the Arab world does not have culture.
The HHS secretary went on to say that societies under the control of the Muslim Brotherhood are most effective at producing "hatred and war and victimization."
**RELATED: **[**Senior Michigan Democrats make announcement sure to give El-Sayed an ulcer: 'Party loyalty is not blind obedience'**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/senior-michigan-democrats-make-announcement-sure-to-give-el-sayed-an-ulcer-party-loyalty-is-not-blind-obedience )
He also reminded the event attendees that the Middle East has not always been Muslim.
"There were millions and millions of Christians. Those were all Christian countries," RFK Jr. [said](https://x.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2115071364541628902?a=-CL1jNnxO1rjviJrJpM&s=20 ). "Egypt was a Christian country, Libya was a Christian country, Algeria was a Christian country, Iraq was a Christian country, Syria, Lebanon was a Christian country in 1948. The Christians have been expelled. They've gone from 20% of the population to 4% of the population. These were genocides."
"The only people they tell that 'our objective is not genocide' are Western dupes and useful idiots," he went on.
Rogers' Democrat opponent, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, better known as Abdul El-Sayed, has repeatedly been accused of extremism, up to and including the [insinuation](https://www.theblaze.com/news/el-sayed-terror-ties-family ) that he and his family are tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.
El-Sayed has denied these allegations.
According to Blaze News' [Poll Watch](https://pollwatch.theblaze.com/race/2026-sen-mi ), El-Sayed is favored by 2.6 points over Mike Rogers with seven days left before the general election.
Vice President JD Vance appeared in [Howell, Michigan](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/27/michigan-senate-governor-campaign-rally-jd-vance-mike-rogers/92441232007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113926p115250c115250e009475v113926d--30--b--30--&gca-ft=145&gca-ds=sophi ), on Tuesday to support Rogers before a planned trip to Weatherford, Texas, to lend his voice to another of the most contentious Senate races in this election cycle.
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2026-10-27 21:00:00 UTC

Midterm elections are just days away, and it’s not looking good for the GOP. Prediction markets strongly favor Democrats, with both Kalshi and Polymarket pointing to a Democratic sweep of both chambers.
“If you happen to be a Republican or conservative, it's been kind of cloudy weather, right?” BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere acknowledges.
“You can say you don't believe prediction markets. You can say you don't believe the news. All that's totally up to you. One thing that is believable, though, is where Republicans are putting their money,” he continues, “and right now, Republicans are putting their money in states like Mississippi, South Carolina, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas.”
Based on where the funding is going, the GOP, Stu argues, has “given up on states like North Carolina and Georgia,” where both Senate races favor Democrats by over 90%.
But other states, he says, seem to be going from “horrible news to less bad news.”
Displaying recent [data](https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZyVtr/1/ ) from YouGov showing that the Democratic lead has narrowed from its September peak, Stu says that Republicans, who have been “not as passionate” as Democrats in this election, are starting to gain interest again.
“As you get closer to a race, as you come out of Labor Day, as you get out of the summer stuff, your kids go back to school, you start focusing on the election again. You start seeing a hundred million dollars of ads; all of a sudden you go from, ‘I don't really care about this election’ to, ‘You know what, I actually kind of do care about this election, and now I am going to make sure I get out and vote,”’ he explains.
Citing more YouGov [data](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/55802-are-republicans-catching-up-in-the-race-for-congress ), he continues, “85% of Democrats said they were sure to vote. That has risen to 87. ... Republicans have seen a much more dramatic gain there. They were at 70% and have risen all the way to 80%, so they have closed the gap from about 15 points to seven in that time period of about a month.”
“That is very good news for Republicans and Republican candidates, if this holds true.”
Even though trends are looking more positive for the GOP, Stu is by no means celebrating.
“What the truth here is that while there is a narrowing, the narrowing doesn't mean you're going to see massive gains for Republicans in the House and Senate. I don't think that's going to happen at all,” he says soberly.
To hear more of Stu’s prediction market breakdown, watch the episode above.##
Want more from Stu?To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/stu-does-america/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_stuburguiere ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-27 20:45:00 UTC

A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel has [denied](https://www.foxla.com/news/ninth-circuit-dismisses-trump-administrations-emergency-appeal-over-20000-california-mail-ballots ) an emergency request from the federal government to force California officials to set aside mail-in ballots from 20,000 people tagged as possible noncitizens.
Californian officials have resisted the request from the Dept. of Justice because they say there's not enough time to verify the legality of each voter before the election.
'It was determined that none of the individuals USCIS matched to the County's Sample List were born in the United States according to USCIS records.'
They have also accused the administration of trying to disenfranchise voters on vague and unreliable evidence that has not been provided to the state officials.
On Monday evening, the appeals court [ruled](https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/og-lookup/?file_path=recap/gov.uscourts.ca9.791f8ba7-6879-48a9-8485-c590765cece6/gov.uscourts.ca9.791f8ba7-6879-48a9-8485-c590765cece6.63.0.pdf ) 2-1 that it lacked the jurisdiction to grant the emergency request. The panel of judges did not rule on the eligibility of the 20,000 voters.
The court majority ruling pointed out that the federal government knew about the possibility of noncitizen voters for months and filed its demand only after processing of mail-in ballots had already begun:
> There is a material risk that defendants would be unable to complete the verification process for all voters on the October list by December 3. Thus, there is a real risk that granting plaintiff its requested relief would result in disenfranchisement, and worse, could jeopardize the county’s entire election. Justice Department attorney Matthew Donnelly had [argued](https://apnews.com/article/midterm-elections-immigration-voter-fraud-trump-15f4270b4c43b088a633c8fcc365d027 ) California's actions were causing irreparable harm "by allowing noncitizens to vote in violation of their own state laws. The damage is irreversible and irrevocable."
Seth Waxman, attorney for the Los Angeles County Clerk, argued that reviewing the millions of records against the government's list would take about 140,000 man hours, which is about 16 years of time.
He also cited a review of a sample of 200 records from the list, saying that staffers found many of them were canceled or inactive registrations or individuals with no voting history.
However, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official submitted a sworn [affidavit](https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/files/114088/California%20vote%20lawsuit%202026.pdf?rand=1793121366738 ) that review of the 200 names found none of them were born in the U.S., contrary to L.A. officials alleging that 38.9% had attested to being native born.
**RELATED: **[**Justice Department seeks to BLOCK ballots of 20,000 alleged noncitizen voters in California**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/doj-noncitizen-voters-california )
"After a thorough review of the immigration records of all the individuals on the County's Sample List, it was determined that none of the individuals USCIS matched to the County's Sample List were born in the United States according to USCIS records," said Nicolas Bartell, associate director of the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate at USCIS.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta praised the ruling from the appeals court.
"The U.S. Constitution gives states and Congress — not the president or the executive branch — the power to determine the time, place, and manner of elections," he said. "The court’s order serves as an important step in our efforts to protect Californians’ right to vote and our state’s authority to run fair and secure elections."
"Trump’s assault on democracy won’t slow down. Each and every one of us can do something: participate in democracy, don’t become disillusioned," said Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "California is fighting back. And we are calling on all Californians to do the same."
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2026-10-27 19:45:00 UTC

A [Florida mother](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/florida ) allegedly left her four children home alone for nearly a week so she could go on a trip to [Las Vegas](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/las-vegas ). However, police reportedly greeted the mom at the airport and arrested her after her youngest child was injured in her absence.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said in a [statement](https://www.facebook.com/reel/1649722920219767 ) that a child called 911 shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The juvenile informed the dispatcher that her 9-year-old brother had been injured when a dumbbell fell on his head, police said.
'The Osceola County Sheriff's Office will not tolerate child neglect.'
According to the statement, deputies responded to the residence and found four unsupervised children, ages 14, 12, 11, and 9.
Fire rescue personnel transported the 9-year-old boy to Celebration Hospital for treatment. The boy was later discharged.
A responding deputy contacted the children’s mother, 50-year-old Irene Miller, by phone.
"She told deputies that she had a babysitter coming from Tampa in the mornings to get the children ready for school and to check on them after school, but she did not require her to stay the night," the statement read.
**RELATED: [Florida mom blamed baby's death on co-sleeping — then detectives noticed her jewelry](https://www.theblaze.com/news/florida-mom-dead-baby-ring )**
Miller told the officer she was working in Las Vegas and would return Friday, Oct. 23.
The [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/10/26/us-news/florida-mom-arrested-for-leaving-four-children-home-alone-during-days-long-work-trip/ ) reported that Miller, citing her social media, is a professional photographer and appeared to be working with a client in Las Vegas who was involved with the real estate brokerage franchise network Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.
Police said Miller departed Florida for Nevada on Oct. 18.
[Police bodycam video](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/police-bodycam-video ) the sheriff's office released shows deputies confronting Miller on a jet bridge at the Orlando International Airport after she stepped off her flight from Las Vegas on Friday. Deputies escorted the mother through the airport before placing her in handcuffs.
Miller, of Kissimmee, was booked into the Orange County Jail and charged with four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.
Miller has since posted bond and has been released from jail, according to [Law&Crime](https://lawandcrime.com/crime/mom-ditched-her-4-kids-for-days-so-she-could-go-to-las-vegas-then-her-9-year-old-son-dropped-a-dumbbell-on-his-head-cops/? ).
Police contacted the children's father, and he took all of the kids to his home.
Osceola Sheriff Chris Blackmon stated, "The Osceola County Sheriff's Office will not tolerate child neglect. These cases will be investigated, and charges will be brought against the parents who are not properly supervising or caring for their children."
Miller's next court date was not immediately listed.
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2026-10-27 19:30:00 UTC

The craft store Michaels is under fire for an incident that happened at its Mayfield Heights, Ohio, location earlier this month. A conservative podcaster who posts under the name [Chaos Coordinator](https://x.com/idontexistTore ) said staff refused to custom-frame three items for her: a favorite image of President Trump, a religious watercolor painting of praying presidents by artist Jon McNaughton, and an original moon-landing newspaper.
She claimed an employee cited company policy and that the manager treated the items as sensitive or inappropriate.
BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales plays the [video](https://x.com/idontexistTore/status/2114475320195899456?referrer=grok-com ) that Chaos Coordinator took of the exchange.
“So this lady decided she didn't want to service me because she didn't like the pictures I brought for framing?” she said to the employee in reference to the manager. “Is this Michaels’ policy? Because I'm going to write to them and talk to them about that.”
“It’s not political; this is for my house,” she added.
The employee continued to claim, “We’re not allowed to do political pieces.”
In response to Chaos Coordinator’s video, Michaels [responded](https://x.com/MichaelsStores/status/2114761930787434770 ):
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Michaels does not have a policy prohibiting the framing of political items, and we strive to welcome every customer. We've reached out directly to discuss your experience and ensure your project needs are met.”
“I'm just wondering: What else are you going to be doing about this, Michaels?” asks Sara.
She notes that this isn’t the first time the chain has ignited controversy by refusing a customer who wanted a Trump picture framed.
According to a 2024 Seattle Red [article](https://seattlered.com/uncategorized/rantz-customer-livid-after-sequim-craft-store-refused-to-frame-iconic-trump-photo ), a Michaels customer claimed an employee refused to frame the photo of Donald Trump with his fist raised in the air after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, because it made her “uncomfortable.” She also claimed other employees would likely feel uncomfortable as well.
“It's very interesting. ... It seems to be only Trump material that these people are worried about framing,” says Sara.
She points out that in 2009, Michaels published a press release titled[ “Framing Presidential History”](https://www.michaelspressroom.com/news/detail/2367/framing-presidential-history ) promoting its $99.99 special to custom-frame Obama inauguration newspaper front pages.
“Wow. How historic. How special,” Sara mocks.
To hear more, watch the episode above.##
Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/sara/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_saragonzalesunfiltered ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-27 19:05:00 UTC

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday busted a Maine home health care agency that reportedly billed nearly $48 million from MaineCare.
A federal grand jury [indicted](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.med.71477/gov.uscourts.med.71477.3.0_1.pdf ) South Portland’s [Community Home Health Care LLC](https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_me/20164369DC ), owner Noora Abd, and five people who worked there. Authorities allege that at least $600,000 in billing was fraudulent, and all six involved individuals were [arrested](https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/multiple-individuals-arrested-health-care-fraud-conspiracy-following-homeland-security ).
'If, as alleged in the indictment returned last week, you steal from our health care system for your own financial gain, you too, will be shut down and brought to justice.'
Prosecutors allege that the defendants submitted fake Electronic Visit Verifications for a MaineCare member, listed as "Client 1." MaineCare paid Community Home Health more than $600,000 for that client's care since 2020, according to the indictment.
MaineCare later reversed about $35,000 of those payments, the indictment says.
Agents seized $116,854 in cash in Biddeford on or about June 23, most of it from a bedroom safe that also held jewelry, according to the indictment. Agents also confiscated $53,768.85 in Augusta.
Community seems to have billed more from MaineCare than any other home health care company in Maine. The company, [established in 2016](https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_me/20164369DC/filings ), received $47,986,855 from MaineCare from 2019 through 2025, according to [the Maine Wire](https://www.themainewire.com/2026/10/maines-highest-billing-home-healthcare-provider-indicted-for-fraud-following-a-visit-from-the-maine-wire/ ).
The state [suspended](https://www.themainewire.com/2026/08/mainecare-mega-biller-that-drew-over-47-million-has-payments-suspended-months-after-the-maine-wire-visited-their-office/ ) its billing on June 30, according to the Maine Wire.
**RELATED: [Fraud, fraud, and more fraud: How Maine became a Somali scammer's paradise](https://www.theblaze.com/news/fraud-maine-somalians-health-care )**
Blaze News
The Maine Wire [visited](https://x.com/TheMaineWire/status/2115098427037987267?s=20 ) Community’s office, located above a South Portland gym, in April. Staff insisted the business was legitimate.
Prosecutors allege the fraud was perpetrated in a straightforward manner. Mohammed Alkhalaf, a personal support specialist at Community, logged in to the Electronic Visit Verifications system with the usernames and passwords of co-defendants Adel Al Rashid, Sura Almohammed, and Ethar Alyaseen, plus an uncharged "Person 1," according to the [indictment](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.med.71477/gov.uscourts.med.71477.3.0_1.pdf ).
The defendants shared their Electronic Visit Verifications access with one another so that false visits could be recorded under their names, prosecutors allege.
Abd and Faysal Kalayaf Manahe learned that federal agents were investigating the company on or about June 23, according to the indictment. Prosecutors [allege](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.med.71477/gov.uscourts.med.71477.3.0_1.pdf ) the pair subsequently urged a witness, "Person 2," to refrain from communicating with law enforcement.
The duo also instructed Person 2 to give investigators misleading or inaccurate information if law enforcement officers questioned Person 2, according to [prosecutors](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.med.71477/gov.uscourts.med.71477.3.0_1.pdf ).
When questioned at his home in Augusta, Alkhalaf allegedly told an FBI agent that he had never filed care hours for anyone but himself.
All six individuals and the company itself are charged with health care fraud conspiracy, which carries up to 10 years in prison. Abd and Manahe also face an obstruction count, and Alkhalaf faces a false-statements count, according to the [court docket](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/75023619/united-states-v-community-home-health-care-llc/ ).
Manahe is no stranger to federal court.
He runs Decent Health Care in Augusta, which billed MaineCare $4,848,112 in 2025. The state suspended its billing on June 30 after uncovering credible evidence that it charged for services that were never actually provided, according to an August report from the [Maine Wire](https://www.themainewire.com/2026/08/decent-health-care-indecent-billing-practices/ ). The outlet identified Manahe as an Iraqi immigrant.
The Justice Department [charged Manahe and three other home-care managers](https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/four-individuals-indicted-wage-fixing-and-labor-market-allocation-charges ) with conspiring to fix the wages of personal support workers in 2022, though a jury [acquitted all four](https://businesslawtoday.org/2023/04/doj-fails-to-convict-no-poach-wage-fixing-case/ ) in 2023.
The case is part of the Trump administration's Homeland Security Task Force, created under an executive order titled "Protecting the American People Against Invasion." The FBI, HHS-OIG, HSI, and IRS-CI investigated alongside Maine's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
"Health care fraud — in all its forms — costs all of us, and today's arrests should make it clear that if, as alleged in the indictment returned last week, you steal from our health care system for your own financial gain, you too will be shut down and brought to justice,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson said.
Stephen Smith, an attorney for Alkhalaf, declined to comment.
Attorneys for Abd, Community Home Health Care, Al Rashid, Almohammed, and Alyaseen did not immediately respond to Blaze News' requests for comment.
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2026-10-26 23:17:52 UTC

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said he was being charged by the Justice Department for the third time.
Comey is accused of violating the Espionage Act by leaking national defense information to a journalist in Oct. 2016.
'I'm still lucky to have an amazing family and an incredible group of lawyers that will stand up in court and fight the latest and whatever comes after this.'
“Well, they’re back. Again. It would almost be funny if it weren't such an appalling abuse of the Department of Justice. One that we cannot become numb to," Comey [said](https://x.com/theblaze/status/2114836127798489317 ) in a video on social media.
"Nothing's changed with me. I’m still innocent, I'm still not afraid of these people, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary," he added. "And I'm still lucky to have an amazing family and an incredible group of lawyers that will stand up in court and fight the latest and whatever comes after this."
He is being charged with two counts, one related to releasing the information to an unauthorized person and another for conspiring to do so.
"The Department filed a waiverless criminal information to toll the statute of limitations as it relates to allegations concerning former FBI Director Comey," a spokesperson for the DOJ [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/james-comey-faces-new-doj-case-over-alleged-national-defense-disclosure ).
"Filing a criminal information to toll the statute of limitations is a widely recognized practice in federal court and has been approved by multiple Circuit Courts of Appeals," the spokesperson added.
**RELATED: **[**James Comey subpoenaed in 'grand conspiracy' against Trump: Report**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/james-comey-subpoenaed-in-grand-conspiracy-against-trump-report )
A previous charge against Comey of lying to Congress was dismissed, while a second charge related to an alleged threat to assassinate the president via a message formed by seashells is pending.
He has [denied](https://www.theblaze.com/news/comey-threat-shells-trump-probe ) threatening the president and said he didn't even know what the shells meant when he posted his photograph on social media.
"The next couple years are gonna be hard for all of us," he concluded in his video. "It's really important that we stand straight and keep the faith in America."
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2026-10-26 22:35:00 UTC

A Libertarian candidate for the North Carolina state Senate was [arrested](https://www.wral.com/news/local/state-senate-candidate-custody-after-hours-long-standoff-cary-police-october-2026/ ) after he said online that he wanted to committed suicide.
Jonathan D. Miller suggested he wanted to get into a gun battle with police in posts beginning on Sunday evening.
'The whole police department is chasing me with guns drawn. This should be fun.'
"I have decided I no longer wish to live and I will be killing myself tonight," he [wrote](https://x.com/JDM4NC/status/2114483289025134806 ). "I know this will upset some of you, but I can no longer continue this suffering. I hate my life and every moment is painful. Tonight I end that pain. Do not contact me. I do not want to talk."
"The whole police department is chasing me with guns drawn. This should be fun," he [posted](https://x.com/JDM4NC/status/2114713388311842851 ) on Monday.
"I f**ked up and talked to the negotiator on the phone long enough for them to box me in. They have dogs so I'm probably done for," his last post on Monday [reads](https://x.com/JDM4NC/status/2114779286099877952 ).
Hours later at about 3 p.m., the Cary Police Dept. indicated that he had been peacefully taken into custody.
They had performed a welfare check at his home on Glen Echo Lane at 8:26 a.m. after receiving numerous calls from concerned citizens who had read Miller's posts.
"He had a firearm and was ordered not to touch it, and he took off running," Cary Police Chief Terry Sult said during a media briefing.
That resulted in an hours-long standoff at his apartment complex, Sult said.
"He was in a dark place," he added. "Felt like he was on his last leg."
Miller also called in to WRAL-TV during the standoff.
"Last night I was pretty depressed and suicidal, and I sort of put a suicide note on X, and it has gone quite viral," Miller said on one of the calls. “Actually, millions of people have seen it. I usually get about 50 views on my post, but this one has gone super viral on me. I spent all night crying and angry and upset and depressed and all the emotions. And this morning I was tired, but I had things I needed to do. And I didn't kill myself."
**RELATED: **[**Police find Florida mom's 5-year-old twins dead at their home after she jumps off bridge to her death**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/murder-suicide-carlos-garcia )
He then explained why he was running from the police.
"Because I don't want them to take me into custody and then lock me up in a hospital," Miller said.
"If I go to the hospital, I'll spend approximately 15 to 30 seconds every day with a doctor, and that'll be my time to talk it out," he added. "He'll write me a [prescription] for a drug that doesn't help, and in a few days I'll be right back where I'm at now."
He also chided the police for not catching him.
"They have been chasing me since this morning," Miller said. "They're not very good at it. They really probably should get some more training on tracking somebody down."
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2026-10-26 22:10:00 UTC

On July 13, 2023, a "robbery crew" entered the Bucktown Food & Liquor in Chicago and robbed five people of their wallets. One robber accidentally opened fire and began the unraveling of a massive immigration fraud scheme.
The "fake" robbery was one of hundreds at restaurants, liquor stores, gas stations, and coffee shops orchestrated by 29-year-old Parth Nayi of Woodridge, according to a [press release](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/suburban-chicago-man-sentenced-two-years-federal-prison-staging-robberies-help-others ) from the Department of Justice.
Officials were able to identify more than 100 people, most of Latin and South American origin, who had obtained the fake robbery service from Nayi.
The DOJ said that Nayi was paid between $5,000 and $30,000 for each fake robbery by migrants hoping to fraudulently obtain a U visa, which is available to those who are victims of certain crimes and participate with law enforcement.
He would hire the fake robbers and coach the fake victims on how to report the incidents to police and then apply for the visa in order to obtain legal status, according to the press release. Recipients of the U visa could obtain special status and, in time, even permanent resident status.
Officials were able to identify more than 100 people, most of Latin and South American origin, who had obtained the fake robbery service from Nayi, according to [CWB Chicago](https://cwbchicago.com/2026/10/bucktown-clerk-was-shot-during-staged-robbery-tied-to-nationwide-visa-fraud-scheme.html ). However, the DOJ believes that "thousands of individuals who posed as victims" were involved in the scheme.
In the July 2023 robbery, one of the fake robbers shot a 26-year-old clerk in the abdomen. He survived his injuries, CWB Chicago reported.
Five others besides Nayi were convicted in connection with the investigation.
Nayi pleaded guilty to only one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Despite perhaps being involved in hundreds of immigration fraud incidents, on Thursday, Nayi was sentenced to only two years in federal prison and a fine of $50,000.
**RELATED: **[**'Staged armed robberies': 11 Indian nationals catch visa fraud charge amid conspiracy allegations**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/staged-armed-robberies-11-indian-nationals-catch-visa-fraud-charge-amid-conspiracy-allegations )
The abuse of the U visa system was [decried](https://www.theblaze.com/news/6-men-allegedly-staged-armed-robberies-to-obtain-crime-victim-visas ) by immigration attorney Xavier Borjas to WBBM-TV in May 2024.
"It's very disheartening, because there are so many people that unfortunately do qualify [for U visas] and have been victims of these crimes that you want to ensure hopefully get some sort of ... relief," he said.
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2026-10-26 21:37:10 UTC

Patricia Krentcil, the reality TV personality who became infamous for her dark, splotchy spray tan, is back in the spotlight with a startling claim: ICE agents allegedly stopped her outside a restaurant, questioned her citizenship, and nearly handcuffed her because of her skin color.
“Going back to the ICE issue, I was at a restaurant out with my girlfriends, and I walked out with my friends,” Krentcil said on the “Light. Tan. Up.” podcast.
“As we’re walking out, the ICE people stopped me, and they asked me, am I an American citizen? And I’m like, ‘Yes.’ You know, like, it blew my mind. And because I was so tan, they were about to handcuff me and take me away, God knows where,” she continued.
Krentcil claimed that though she was “scared,” she “held [her] own” and “got out of the situation.”###
“They’re very racist about color and nationalities and stuff like that, that I was in almost a pickle myself. And it was terrifying. And Trump supports all this nonsense,” Krentcil added.
“I constantly am told by the left that American citizens are getting hauled off and deported. And it sounds to me like they cleared it up rather quickly, if that even happened, which I think ... I’m going to need some receipts,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales comments.
“Who sprayed her like that? Where did she get that spray tan done? How often does she have to get it done to look like that? Why is this not blackface?” she continues.
“She goes around looking like this on purpose. This was not like an accident,” she adds.
Gonzales explains Krentcil is “actually a Republican” who “tried running for Senate once,” before playing her campaign ad.
“Hi, I’m Patricia. I’m a single working mom with five beautiful kids, and I love my family just like you. You might remember me being that tan mom from New Jersey, but that was a decade ago. Crazy tans, table-flipping, Snooki — it was an interesting time,” Krentcil said.
“But like the world we live in, I’ve changed greatly. I lost my husband last year to cancer. And I know what it’s like to deal with insurance companies. I was in a medically induced coma for two weeks, so I know what it’s like to deal with doctors and nurses and how very overwhelming health care can be,” she added.
Gonzales points out that in the ad, Krentcil shows a photo of her with Dr. Miami, a plastic surgeon, when she says she knows what it's like to “deal with doctors.”
“Knowing what it is like to be in a hospital as a patient does not qualify you to run the country,” Gonzales comments.
In another campaign ad, Krentcil said, “I was made a mockery of by the media for looking different.”
“I also believe that drag queens can be amazing role models for kids. ... Is that so crazy?” she continued.
“Yes,” Gonzales says, “everything that you just said there is crazy.”##
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2026-10-26 21:00:00 UTC

An Obama-appointed federal judge ruled on Monday that while Trump's attorney general and those with the delegated responsibility are "authorized by law" to fire a federal prosecutor, the way in which the daughter of disgraced ex-FBI Director James Comey was fired last year was unlawful.
Maurene Comey served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for nearly a decade and was [involved](https://www.theblaze.com/news/maurene-comey-fired-sdny-attorney ) in the prosecutions of Sean "Diddy" Combs, convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
'This decision reaffirms our bedrock system of checks and balances.'
Francey Hakes, the director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, [notified](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71348216/1/1/comey-v-united-states-department-of-justice/ ) Comey on July 16, 2025, that "pursuant to Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States," her employment with the Justice Department had been terminated.
In September 2025, Comey [sued](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71348216/1/comey-v-united-states-department-of-justice/ ) the Trump administration, alleging that her termination was "unlawful and unconstitutional" and "politically motivated" — the result of her connection to James Comey and/or "her perceived political affiliation and beliefs." According to her complaint, she was removable only for cause under the Civil Service Reform Act.
The government [argued](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.649409/gov.uscourts.nysd.649409.68.0.pdf ) that:<li>Comey was removable at-will under Article II by the attorney general "because plaintiff in her duties as an assistant United States attorney exercised the president’s conclusive and preclusive executive authority";</li><li>"Congress has by statute explicitly authorized the attorney general to remove assistant United States attorneys"; and</li><li>that statute "contains no restrictions on the attorney general's removal powers."</li>
**RELATED: [DOJ opens investigation into ex-Trump aide Corey Lewandowski ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/doj-opens-investigation-into-ex-trump-aide-corey-lewandowski )**
Win McNamee/Getty Images
U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, evidently was not swayed by the government's arguments. He [ruled](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.649409/gov.uscourts.nysd.649409.96.0.pdf ) on Monday that Comey's "removal was not authorized by any statute; to the contrary, it violated the CSRA."
While conceding that the attorney general can remove an AUSA, Furman wrote that "the attorney general (and anyone to whom the attorney general delegates that authority) is also limited by law, namely the CSRA, to do so only in a particular manner and only for certain reasons."
"The Court holds that Comey is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on her central claims that she was terminated in violation of the constitutional separation of powers and federal law," continued the Obama judge.
Furman ordered Comey's retroactive reinstatement and backpay effective from her termination in July through Dec. 20, 2025, when the ex-prosecutor apparently found a new job.
Comey's lawyers [said](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7520532591721132032/ ) in a joint statement, "This hard-earned victory belongs to Ms. Comey, to all civil servants, and to all fighting for the rule of law."
"As the Court correctly held, to accept the government’s argument about unlimited executive power 'would be to unsettle the very equilibrium established by this nation’s constitutional system,'" continued the lawyers. "This decision reaffirms our bedrock system of checks and balances: the president is not above the law."
The White House referred Blaze News to the [following statement](https://x.com/DOJRR47/status/2114806145550319802?s=20 ) from the Justice Department's rapid response account: "The Department disagrees with this decision, which obstructs President Trump’s constitutional authority to fire individuals who wield executive power on his behalf. We intend to appeal the decision in due course."
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2026-10-26 20:43:34 UTC

Viktor Orbán lost in Hungary. He may win at the United Nations.
Trump administration officials are urging the former Hungarian prime minister to run for U.N. secretary-general, according to the[ Wall Street Journal's editorial board](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/viktor-orban-u-n-secretary-general-china-russia-us-d968fcaf ) on Sunday. Orbán would run as a joint candidate of the United States, Russia, and China.
'When the US, Russia, and China all want the same thing at the UN Security Council, they usually get it.'
Russia and China are believed to be backing Orbán as well, according to the Journal. No final decision has been made, and Blaze News was unable to independently confirm the Journal’s reporting in the op-ed.
"As officials from the U.S. and a second country told us, when the U.S., Russia, and China all want the same thing at the U.N. Security Council, they usually get it," the editorial reads.
The White House, the Kremlin, and Beijing [have not confirmed the report](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/26/trump-officials-back-orban-bid-for-un-secretary-general-wsj-reports ) to other outlets.
Current Secretary-General António Guterres’[ second term ends Dec. 31](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/26/trump-officials-back-orban-bid-for-un-secretary-general-wsj-reports ). No viable contender has emerged as a replacement yet.
**RELATED: **[**Orbán emphasizes to Trump that Hungary survives today as Christian 'island of difference in a liberal ocean'**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/orban-emphasizes-to-trump-that-hungary-survives-today-as-christian-island-of-difference-in-a-liberal-ocean )
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
An Oct. 16 poll showed that none of the seven declared candidates had unanimous backing from permanent Security Council members the U.S., the U.K. China, Russia, and France, according to [the Associated Press](https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/latest-vote-shows-candidate-chief-required-support-key-137340089 ).
Each permanent Security Council member has wide-ranging veto powers over U.N. resolutions and actions.
The front-runners — U.N. trade chief Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica; U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi of Argentina; and Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett — each drew two "discourage" votes from veto-wielding powers, [according to two diplomats who spoke to the AP](https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/latest-vote-shows-candidate-chief-required-support-key-137340089 ). It is unclear which Security Council states oppose their candidacies.
"This institution, after 80 years, has tried to become everything to everyone," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz [told reporters](https://apnews.com/article/un-secretary-general-candidates-waltz-guterres-79845f29ae53eccdf9d5b4daf33402ba ).
Waltz rejected a DEI approach to choosing a new secretary-general.
“We understand there is a desire for regional rotation,” Waltz said, according to [the AP](https://apnews.com/article/un-secretary-general-candidates-waltz-guterres-79845f29ae53eccdf9d5b4daf33402ba ). “Of course, if the best candidate is a woman, we would welcome that — but we really just need the best candidate.”
[A nominee needs nine of the Security Council's 15 votes and no veto](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/23/un-chief-race-enters-decisive-phase-as-new-contender-arrives ). France and the United Kingdom, both holding veto powers, may present roadblocks for an Orbán candidacy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk mocked [the idea on Monday](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/26/donald-tusk-viktor-orban-united-nations-secretary-general ).
"Just a moment ago, he was a candidate for president of the European Commission. This seems to me just as funny as that first rumor," Tusk said, [according to Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/26/donald-tusk-viktor-orban-united-nations-secretary-general ).
The European Union was [glad](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/26/donald-tusk-viktor-orban-united-nations-secretary-general ) to see Péter Magyar's Tisza party win Hungary’s recent elections. Magyar, who ran an E.U.-friendly, center-right, and anti-corruption campaign, ended Orbán's 16-year rule in a landslide victory.
Trump previously [called](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/26/donald-tusk-viktor-orban-united-nations-secretary-general ) Orbán a "[true friend](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/26/donald-tusk-viktor-orban-united-nations-secretary-general )" and endorsed him. Vice President JD Vance also campaigned for him in Hungary.
Since Tisza took power, Hungarian authorities have launched fraud and corruption investigations into former Orbán officials. Two [former ministers](https://444.hu/2026/09/28/orizetbe-vettek-sesztak-miklost ) and the [former governor](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/21/former-hungarian-central-bank-chief-gyorgy-matolcsy-detained-in-financial-fraud-probe ) of Hungary's central bank were [detained](https://ugyeszseg.hu/az-ugyeszseg-orizetbe-vette-dr-hanko-balazs-orszaggyulesi-kepviselot/ ) as part of ongoing inquiries, according to [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/26/trump-officials-back-orban-bid-for-un-secretary-general-wsj-reports ).
Orbán himself has not been charged with any wrongdoing. If Orbán actually become U.N. secretary-general, he could enjoy diplomatic immunity from any potential investigations or prosecutions.
Orbán's spokesperson [previously dismissed reports](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/26/trump-officials-back-orban-bid-for-un-secretary-general-wsj-reports ) about the U.N. deputy secretary-general post as "fake news."
Orbán's press office, the White House, and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment from Blaze News.
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2026-10-26 20:00:00 UTC

Robert Reich is urging Democrats to "defund" Elon Musk and absorb his companies if Democrats gain control of the government.
At the same time, the former member of the Bill Clinton administration said Musk is bribing his way into politics.
'Musk represents the power of oligarchy in America over democracy.'
Reich, who served as President Clinton's secretary of labor from 1993 to 1997, recently explained his desire to see progressives eliminate Musk's government contracts while also taking ownership of his corporations entirely.
On his podcast "The Coffee Klatch," Reich called Musk an "emblem" for why there needs to be a wealth tax on billionaires; he described it as a "one-time 5% tax" across the country.
Reich quickly followed this policy recommendation with another suggestion: "We've got to defund Musk."
"He's dependent on government contracts. He is dependent on us. We taxpayers are subsidizing Elon Musk," Reich [stated](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa6gREciKa8 ), before revealing some of his gripes with the billionaire.
Reich's chief complaint was that Musk is "deciding by himself" whether or not the Ukrainian government should have access to his internet service, Starlink.
"How can one man make that kind of decision for all of us, for Ukraine, and we are subsidizing him?" Reich said.
Cutting to the chase, Reich repeated, "Defund Musk. I mean this," before adding that Democrats should start "laying the groundwork for nationalizing Starlink and SpaceX."
"Nationalize it," he reiterated. "It should be a public corporation. We should not ever have that kind of power in one person's hands, one private person's hands."
**RELATED: [Elon Musk just granted huge new perks to X subscribers — just don't give Grok your credit card](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/the-x-subscription-launch )**
After a clip of the podcast began circulating on X, Musk replied that "stealing companies is a serious crime."
"Prison for Reich," the X owner [added](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2114403623778037868?s=20 ).
The billionaire seemingly matched his rhetoric to that of the former government official, who called Musk "Exhibit A in terms of the billionaire takeover of America."
"This is the oligarchic problem," Reich went on. "Musk represents the power of oligarchy in America over democracy."
Reich then cited Musk's support for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton as example of him trying to "bribe his way into politics" like a baron from the late-1800s Gilded Age.
At the same time, pal Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse joined Reich in criticizing Musk for saying he would target anyone who picked a fight with him.
Lofthouse is the executive director for Inequality Media, Reich's "[nonpartisan media and civic action organization](https://www.inequalitymediacivicaction.org/about-1 )".
**RELATED: [Athletes are warning fans about the release of GTA VI — prepare for their performance to suffer](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/athlete-warning-grand-theft-auto6 )**
Following the calls for Musk's businesses to be taken over by the government, Lofthouse said Democrats were not trying to fight him, but rather were simply holding him accountable.
"It's not a fight. It is accountability. I mean, it is, holding him accountable is what people are talking about. And so he's getting ahead of it, threatening, threatening, threatening, threatening — with his money, with his power, with his reach."
Lofthouse pointed to Musk's estimated [$38 billion in government contracts](https://builtin.com/articles/elon-musk-government-contracts ) and his ending of USAID as just some of the "many things" Democrats need to "fix" if they regain power.
It is important to note that according to [government records](https://sam.gov/reports/awards/static ), Lockheed Martin received more than $70 billion in government contracts in 2023 under President Joe Biden. RTX was the second-biggest government contractor at $31.3 billion.
Lockheed Martin received over $52 billion under Biden in 2024, as well.
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2026-10-26 19:45:00 UTC

A 15-year-old male will be charged as an adult after a Tallahassee, Florida, mass shooting over the weekend in which 11 were wounded, authorities said.
The shooting took place Saturday outside Bragg Stadium after Florida A&M University's homecoming football game, according to the [Tallahassee Democrat](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/police-arrest-15-old-boy-112409358.html ).
'What should have been a weekend of celebration in our community instead became a night of fear and violence for the victims and their families.'
Tallahassee Police on Sunday arrested Anthony Rivers III in connection with the shooting, which the paper said was one of the worst in Tallahassee history.
Rivers, who has faced criminal charges in the past, made his first court appearance Monday, the paper said, adding that State Attorney Jack Campbell said the teen will be charged as an adult and transferred from the Juvenile Assessment Center to the Leon County Detention Facility.
The 15-year-old is facing 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent, police [said](https://www.facebook.com/TallyPD/posts/pfbid0ngeCQbeez6viNJ1N8FuiJYGPEfu7DK5p3zsRkkRSEMgdNqZPkPPe6MVtK14KbcbDl ).
The paper said it names minors when they are charged with violent offenses.
"Our investigation indicates that a physical altercation occurred before shots were fired," Police Chief Lawrence Revell said, according to the paper. "At this stage of the investigation, none of the victims appear to have been the intended targets."
Detectives believe the incident stemmed from a dispute between people who knew one another, the Democrat added.
Revell previously said detectives believed there was only one shooter, but police now say additional arrests are possible, the paper noted.
Leon Circuit Judge Andrew Sheeran during a Monday juvenile court hearing ordered Rivers held in "secure detention" while his case is pending, which the judge said is required by statute given the nature of the charges, the paper reported.
Sheeran also granted a motion he said police filed to seal the probable cause affidavit, which includes details of the crime and what led to the suspect's arrest, the paper said.
**RELATED: **[**Teenager fatally shoots 3 children, teacher at Oregon elementary school before parent shoots gunman dead, police say**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/teenager-fatally-shoots-3-children-teacher-at-oregon-elementary-school-before-parent-shoots-gunman-dead-police-say )
The paper said at least 12 people were injured, including 11 who were shot. Police said one individual injured an ankle while fleeing the gunfire.
Six of the victims were children, including the youngest victim, who is 11 years old, Revell told the Democrat.
The chief on Monday added to [Fox News](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8UeQTkPM8g ) that five of the 11 who were shot have been released from the hospital, while three of the six still hospitalized were in critical condition, with one listed as very critical.
Half of the victims were male, the other half female, the paper said.
More from the Democrat:
> Gunfire erupted shortly before 8 p.m. Oct. 24, at Perry and Manatee streets, an area usually packed with food trucks and vendors during FAMU home football games. It was packed with students, alumni, families, and Rattlers fans.
> "What should have been a weekend of celebration in our community instead became a night of fear and violence for the victims and their families," Revell said. "While this arrest marks a significant step forward, our work is far from over. We remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and getting answers for every family impacted by this tragedy."
> TPD said its officers and investigators worked "around the clock" to identify the alleged shooter.
> "In the moments immediately following the shooting, our officers rushed toward danger to render aid to victims even before the scene was fully secured," Revell said. "I could not be prouder of the men and women of this department."Police said a "significant influx" of information poured in from the community, the paper reported, adding that police before the arrest asked the public for any cellphone video or tips from witnesses.
The police "need our community's help. No detail is too small, and no piece of information should go unreported," Revell said, according to the paper. "If you know something, please share it with our detectives. Your information could be the key to holding those responsible accountable."
Police established a dedicated tip hotline (850-891-4610) and activated an evidence submission website ([tallahasseepd.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/perrystreetincident)](https://tallahasseepd.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/perrystreetincident ), the paper said.
Tipsters also can remain anonymous by calling Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS with tips and other information, the Democrat noted.
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2026-10-26 19:30:00 UTC

Between rising political unrest in the U.S. and the riots and protests across France, along with every other tragic, enraging, or fear-inducing headline, stories about hope and resilience are often lost.
But on a recent episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” the Blaze Media co-founder shared a story he says proves that our ultimate hope has never been politics but Jesus.
“God's working in ways that we might go, ‘Well, that doesn't help politically.’ I don't think God's in politics,” says Glenn.
“He's into changing people's hearts and that's what changes culture and that's what changes politics.”
He then shares the story of Ahmed Joktan — a Saudi-born medical doctor who converted from Islam to Christianity and is now an evangelist focused on reaching Muslims.
“He grew up in a house where God had rules. His father knew all of them because his father was a mufti, an Islamic legal scholar,” says Glenn. “So you know when somebody needed to be heard on Sharia law — *Do we cut his hand off? Do we not cut his hand off? Do we stone her or not?* — his father was the guy who made the decisions.”
By the age of 13, Glenn shares, Ahmed had “memorized the entire Quran — every word.”
After starting medical school in Saudi Arabia, Ahmed struggled because his earlier education hadn’t taught English, so he couldn’t read his textbooks. His father sent him to Auckland, New Zealand, for a short, intensive language course.
While there, a miracle happened.
“One night while he's there, he had a dream. And in the dream, the doors to his balcony in his room swung open. Light poured into the room — more light, he said, than the room could hold. ... In walks a figure of a man, and he hears a voice, ‘Come to me,”’ Glenn recounts.
He explains that in the dream, the light-surrounded man showed Ahmed “a building with white pillars in front of it.”
“And the voice said, ‘Go to the house of white pillars, and there you shall find the truth,”’ says Glenn.
Ahmed, he says, was so terrified he told his classroom about the dream. His teacher, who was a Christian, proposed that he might have encountered Jesus — a proposition the Muslim Ahmed was not open to.
“He leaves class. He's walking the streets of Auckland, and he finds it. ... He sees the building from his dream,” says Glenn.
The building was Auckland Baptist Tabernacle — a historic church founded through the missionary work of Thomas Spurgeon, son of world-renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon.
Inside, Ahmed met the pastor, Brian Johnson.
“They talked about sin. They talked about life. They talked about salvation. They talked about who Jesus is. The pastor even started with the places in the Quran that called Jesus the Word of God because he knew Ahmed was already grounded in that,” says Glenn.
“Well, Ahmed didn't want to read the Bible. He resisted it. But eventually he read one verse, and it was John 14:6: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ The truth — the same word the voice in the dream had used,” he continues.
Ahmed converted to Christianity, but his joy was immediately met with fear. He had to return to Saudi Arabia, where Islam is the official religion, and any public practice of any non-Muslim religion is illegal.
“He smuggles an Arabic New Testament into Saudi Arabia that's tucked in between all of his English textbooks,” says Glenn.
But it wasn’t long before his family caught him reading his Bible.
“The brothers come in, and they beat him within an inch of his life. Then dad comes home. ... He picks up an AK-47, points it at his own son, and says, ‘I will kill you unless you burn that book,”’ Glenn recounts.
Ahmed burned the book to stay alive, but the Word of God had already been burned into his heart.
Disowned by his family, Ahmed returned to New Zealand to begin a new life as a Christian.
To hear about his ministry, Mecca to Christ, watch the video above.##
Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_glennbeck ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-26 18:30:00 UTC

A transgender-identifying man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted for producing child pornography, [according](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/virginia-beach-man-sentenced-25-years-prison-sexually-exploiting-children-online ) to a Department of Justice press release.
Thirty-five-year-old Joseph Downing Barnes Jr. "exposed his breasts" to boys during online webcam chat sessions in order to get them to perform sexual acts that he could record, the DOJ said.
Investigators found 74 videos and four images of child pornography on his phone and found more on his online accounts.
Barnes is from Virginia and was arrested in August.
The boys were ages approximately 10 to 15 years old and were made to believe that Barnes was a biological female, the DOJ said in the press release.
Barnes saved the recorded webchats to his Google account, according to the [statement of facts](https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/files/114048/Joseph%20Downing%20Barnes%20-%20complaint.pdf?rand=1793035771944 ) signed by the defendant and his attorney.
This was not the first time he was arrested for crimes related to child sex abuse material. In 2016, he was [convicted](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/portsmouth-man-sentenced-9-years-distributing-child-pornography?ipid=promo-link-block1 ) in the Eastern District of Virginia for trading child sex abuse videos on the Kik application.
Investigators found 74 videos and four images of child pornography on his phone and found more on his online accounts, according to a DOJ press release from December 2016.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison in that case as well as 25 years of supervised release.
**RELATED: **[**DISTURBING details from child porn arrest of Pride group founder and school board member**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/disturbing-details-released-in-child-porn-arrest-of-pride-group-founder-and-school-board-member )
Barnes was identified by law enforcement in 2016 after a man named Justin Clark was found to be trading child porn online. Barnes was one of the people who traded the media with Clark.
Clark was sentenced to six years in prison at the time.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation [recommends](https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/jacksonville/news/staying-one-step-ahead-how-to-protect-kids-from-emerging-online-threats ) that parents of young children actively monitor their online activity or restrict their online use to avoid the threat from online predators.
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2026-10-26 18:15:00 UTC

The English Premier League says it has "no room for racism," but some players are refusing to fall in line with the league's cult-like practices.
For the 2026-2027 season, the top soccer league in England is still pumping out diversity, equity, and inclusion messaging reminiscent of years past and seems heavily entrenched in progressive ideology.
'No, I don't go down.'
The bizarre ritual of kneeling before games persists as well, with announcers routinely citing the league's tagline that there's no room for racism in soccer.
Even though George Floyd died more than six years ago — and more than a decade has passed since Colin Kaepernick began kneeling in the NFL — the Premier League is boasting bizarre DEI benchmarks, like its investigations into "[4,000+ cases](https://resources.premierleague.pulselive.com/photo-resources/2026/04/17/32ac58e7-2465-4193-a8a1-50ef8a4c04c2/PL_NRFR-Action-Plan-Slides_2026_v2_2.jpg?height=1080&width=1920 ) of online discriminatory abuse."
"Legal action [has been] brought against abusers across three continents," the league bragged on its anti-racism [page](https://www.premierleague.com/en/footballandcommunity/noroomforracism ).
There have been some players who have refused to participate in the pregame kneel, however, which is still noteworthy in a league with near 100% compliance.
As reported by Dissenter, multiple black English players garnered media attention for refusing to kneel, like Leeds United player Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who began defying the standard last season.
"Dom is more or less like, 'No, I don't go down. I show my respect by standing up,'" teammate Daniel Farke [explained](https://dissenter.com/opinion/six-premier-league-players-refuse-the-kneeand-nothing-breaks ).
**RELATED: [Comedian Chris D'Elia gives hilarious take on Israel/Palestine — and people can't handle it](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/chris-delia-israel-palestine-joke )**
Everton's Ainsley Maitland-Niles was the [only player on the field](https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/17/everton-star-ainsley-maitland-niles-refuses-take-knee-no-room-racism-29717357/ ) who refused to kneel before a game last week.
More black players like Brazil's Rayan Rocha and New York-born Tyler Adams, both of whom play for Bournemouth, [made headlines](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-16218639/fans-boo-footballers-knee-premier-league.html ) for their refusal recently, too.
Other [nonconformists](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-16216689/ainsley-maitland-niles-everton-knee-premier-league.html ) include Ivorian player Marc Guéhi and Morocco national team member Issa Diop, who play for Manchester City and Ipswich Town, respectively.
The league said in a statement that "players will be taking the knee before kick-off during the next two match rounds to show unity against all forms of discrimination."
"This is in line with the decision made by captains at the start of the season," the league added, per [Metro](https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/17/everton-star-ainsley-maitland-niles-refuses-take-knee-no-room-racism-29717357/ ).
**RELATED: ['Protests are not unusual': NFL insists game in Paris will be completely safe — then cancels fan event](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/nfl-paris-game-civil-unrest )**
Shaun Brooks - CameraSport/Getty Images
On top of showcasing workforce [diversity quotas](https://resources.premierleague.pulselive.com/photo-resources/2026/04/17/176a6204-984c-45a7-9bdb-c258776abf87/PL_NRFR-Action-Plan-Slides_2026_v2_4.jpg?height=1080&width=1920 ) and women in [hijabs](https://resources.premierleague.pulselive.com/photo-resources/2026/04/17/06a381db-bdf3-45b5-b35a-66e383974ed3/PL_NRFR-Action-Plan-Slides_2026_v2_5.jpg?height=1080&width=1920 ) coaching soccer, the league seems so deeply rooted in DEI that it could rival the most liberal university syllabus in terms of dedication to the progressive ideology.
For example, the Brentford Bees [note](https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/club-news-brentford-v-liverpool-premier-league-no-room-for-racism ) on their website that the team is "committed to tackling racism" while "ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do."
Brentford even had players Nathan Collins and Josh Dasilva [visit schoolchildren](https://www.premierleague.com/en/video/4744716/brentford-collins-dasilva-discuss-diversity-in-classroom-no-room-for-racism ) for a DEI indoctrination session. The athletes spoke to children from India and Kosovo on the importance of "challenging discrimination" and to "stand together against racism."
Another [event](https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/2026/october/12/premier-league-kicks-shines-a-spotlight-on-no-room-for-racism/ ) aimed at teaching children about DEI had an organizer saying it is "hugely important that we continue to educate young people" about the league's anti-racism action plan.
At this event, children got to play soccer in exchange for participating in "interactive educational workshops" that included "educating young people on the importance of acting against racism."
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2026-10-26 18:00:00 UTC

Black October will go down in history as the mass cybersecurity event that [put nearly 80% of the world wide web](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown ) at risk of attack. Although the official fix is available, you and your online data could be vulnerable for years or more. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself from the PHP meltdown and whatever comes next.
From the outside looking in, the web is an intricate and complex network that pulls data together into one giant assembly of information. It is robust, instantaneous, powerful. Behind the scenes, though, many of today’s websites are held together with code and protocols that have proven to be [stunningly fragile in the age of AI](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/big-ai-open-letter-warning ). One such element is PHP.
We’re in the thick of what may be the most arduous cybersecurity battle in human history.
PHP — or Hypertext Preprocessor — is an open-source scripting language for developers to build websites and apps. It is freely available and easy to use, making it an ideal choice for developers of any level. This is how PHP came to power almost 80% of all websites online today. So naturally, when not one but *two* critical PHP vulnerabilities leak out into the wild, there is reason to worry.
The pair of vulnerabilities, labeled PHP2Shell, were [discovered by Wiz Research](https://www.wiz.io/blog/php2shell-php-rce ), an AI security company acquired by Google. Seemingly, these vulnerabilities have always existed in PHP going back to 2004, and it took AI to uncover them. The worst part is that hackers don’t even need login credentials or special access to break into a vulnerable site. They can simply break in and take whatever they want.
There is some good news: A patch for PHP2Shell is available and rolling out on websites now. But there is also bad news: Your data may still be at risk.##
Three reasons why you’re still in danger<li>Implementation: Although the patch is available, it will take time for developers to implement the new versions of PHP 8 on their websites. Keep in mind that nearly 80% of the web needs an update. During this time, some websites may go down, some features may not work, and you may temporarily lose access to your data. Most of these updates will take place in the coming weeks, but some could stretch out even longer.</li><li>Upgradability: Many well-maintained websites will receive the PHP update without fault, but there are many others running on old versions of PHP that cannot or will not be updated. In fact, an <a href="https://www.wondermedia.co.uk/thinking/stuck-on-old-php/" target="_blank">estimated 34.7%</a> of websites still run on the outdated PHP 7 or lower. These sites will remain vulnerable to PHP2Shell and other security threats for the foreseeable future.</li><li>Future vulnerabilities: Humans didn’t know PHP2Shell existed. Without AI, we would still likely be none the wiser. Considering how quickly frontier AI models <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/tech/automated-cyberattacks-are-here-careless-techies-and-well-funded-foreigners-are-getting-the-blame" target="_blank">are being used</a> to find defects in online cybersecurity worldwide, the likelihood of future discoveries is high, bordering on certainty. </li>**RELATED: **[**Most of the internet is suddenly melting down, and there's only one fix**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown )
mediaphotos/Getty Images##
8 ways to protect yourself from PHP2ShellThe good news is that you’re not completely powerless in this. There are things you can do to protect yourself and your data. These require some work, though, so you’ll have to be an active participant in securing your digital footprint.
**Passwords:** First and foremost, you need to make sure that the passwords to your most important accounts — including your email and bank — are stored in a safe password manager. Also, make sure your passwords are all unique and complex. Do not reuse the same simple passwords! Most password managers will help you generate secure options for maximum protection.
**Authentication:** Enable two-factor authentication and passkeys on every account that offers it. This adds an extra layer between you and your accounts that a hacker can’t exploit without direct access to your phone. At the same time, avoid using SMS-based authentication; this is not as secure.
**Updates:** Make sure you update all of your devices — phones, tablets, computers, watches, activity trackers, appliances, everything — to the latest versions of their available software. This is the best way to get the latest security patches as soon as they are available. Set a reminder to do this monthly, or better yet, enable automatic updates so that your devices are always protected.
**Bank alerts:** Set up alerts for all purchases made on your debit cards and credit cards. With alerts, you’ll know exactly when any of your cards are used and how much was spent. Many banks offer this feature built directly into their apps on your phone, which you can enable through the in-app settings.
**Credit:** Freeze your credit at [Experian](https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request/ ), [Equifax](https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/identity-theft/articles/-/learn/freezing-your-childs-credit-report-faq/ ), and [TransUnion](https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/credit-freeze-faq#freeze-other-minor ). With a credit freeze, anyone who steals your identity is instantly blocked from taking out a loan or a credit card in your name. It also protects your credit score from any following damage. Just remember to unfreeze your credit if and when you *do* want to take out a new credit card or loan.
**Taxes:** Reach out to the IRS to get an [identity protection PIN](https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin ). This PIN blocks third parties from filing taxes with your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number. Note, however, that identity protection PINs only last for one year, and you will have to renew annually if you want to keep the PIN active in perpetuity.
**Carrier:** Reach out to your phone carrier to put a port-out PIN on your phone number. This PIN ensures that only you can move your phone number from your current carrier to a different carrier. Some carriers enable port-out PINs by default, while others will allow you to move your number without it, so you should check to see how easy it is for hackers to try to steal your phone number.
**Identity protection:** Invest in an online identity protection service. These groups actively monitor the dark web for signs of your information and can detect, stop, and mitigate both attempted and successful identity thefts. This way, you can know exactly if and when your data is floating around places you don’t want it to be.##
What comes next?The PHP2Shell outbreak was a wake-up call for anyone who spends time online. Your personal data is only as safe as the online security measures that defend it. Unfortunately, as AI continues to pore through websites and uncover new exploits, data breaches may become more common. For this reason, it’s a good idea to take extra steps to secure your identity, data, and accounts as much as possible.
The tips above are things you should always do, regardless of the latest cybersecurity headlines. But they are even more vital now that we’re in the thick of what may be the most arduous cybersecurity battle in human history. Do these, and you’ll be prepared for what comes next.
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. *[*Sign up here*](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )*!*
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2026-10-26 17:40:00 UTC

Anthropic, the maker of the AI program Claude, is on its way to the public market after taking a big step on Monday morning.
On Monday, [Anthropic's S-1 filing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2130357/000162828026067168/anthropicpbc-sx1.htm ) with the Securities and Exchange Commission was published, and the document revealed a number of highly anticipated facts about the frontier AI company's plans for the future.
The hope is to achieve something 'without historical precedent: what we refer to as a country of geniuses in a data center, available to every organization and sector of the economy.'
In a [statement](https://www.anthropic.com/news/s1-sec ) about the filing, Anthropic revealed that the company plans to list its public stock on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "ANT."
This step toward an initial public offering comes at a time when anxieties are rising about a potential AI bubble-burst.
And questions remain over whether Anthropic can meet its multi-billion-dollar, multiyear commitments in infrastructure and AI development.
Anthropic reported a net loss of over $80.7 billion in the first half of 2026, but the real numbers behind the accounting are less staggering.
**RELATED: **[**Top lab's financial data shows the AI bubble is about to pop, says controversial analyst**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/impending-ai-bubble-burst )
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
About $72.4 billion of Anthropic’s $80.7 billion net loss came from a noncash accounting charge tied to changes in the value of its financing instruments, representing roughly 90% of the reported losses.
The company's operating expenses dropped, and it generated $16.3 billion in revenue, but its expenses still exceeded revenue by $693 million. However, this operating loss is a significant improvement from the loss of over $2.1 billion in the first half of 2025.
Anthropic reported that large companies have adopted Claude as their go-to model, citing a concentration of 250 enterprises providing $10 million or more in revenue and an additional 1,900 companies providing $1 million or more.
While many people will gladly look past these negative figures for a time in anticipation of the company's promising future, Anthropic outlined a couple of noteworthy risks and developments associated with Claude, as well as an evocative vision for the company's future.
Anthropic attributed its recent success to the fact that its employees heavily use Claude in their work to develop the model, noting that 90% of the company's codebase was written by Claude in September 2026.
The filing notes that the volume of code produced is up 45 times per employee, compared to the end of 2024.
The filing also disclosed a recent development in its dealings with government regulations. According to the filing, the Federal Trade Commission issued a civil investigative demand to Anthropic "seeking information about our customer protection, data protection, and privacy practices, as well as the safety of our products."
Roughly halfway through the filing, Anthropic described the buildout of "millions" of "virtual collaborators," wherein Claude is capable of working independently and on the same level as that of a "brilliant colleague."
The hope is, according to the filing, to achieve something "without historical precedent: what we refer to as a country of geniuses in a data center, available to every organization and sector of the economy."
Blaze News reached out to Anthropic for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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2026-10-26 17:30:00 UTC

If socialists needed more evidence that their economic model is financially disastrous, they can look no farther than the [Modern Times Café in Minneapolis](https://www.theblaze.com/news/anti-ice-cafe-learns-the-hard-way-that-it-doesnt-pay-to-feed-the-revolution-for-free ).
The 15-year-old neighborhood restaurant, owned by anti-capitalist Dylan Alverson, announced it will be closing permanently at the end of the year. In January, following the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, Alverson eliminated all prices for a free/donation-based model open to everyone except ICE.
“Starting today, January 26th, and until the occupation of Minneapolis is over, we are a free restaurant,” he said on Instagram.
Alverson briefly closed in July and reopened with prices in August, but it wasn’t enough to save the business, which still collapsed under debt and unsustainable economics.
Stu Burguiere and Dave Landau, BlazeTV hosts of “Stu and Dave Do America,” think the demise of Modern Times is hilarious and predictable.
“You know, normally I'm not one to take joy in someone else's misfortune,” Dave says.
But given that this is the "inevitable outcome of someone's stupid choice, it's a little easier,” he says.
Stu reads Alverson’s [announcement](https://www.facebook.com/ModernTimesCafe/ ) that the cafe will be permanently closing:
> **For the last 6 years, I’ve been trying to prove that Modern Times can continue to exist. I’ve exhausted every option without compromising the core fundamentals that make Modern Times what it is.**
> **Because of this, we have made the choice to close at the end of the year. This has been an incredibly difficult decision and one that did not come lightly. I announce this decision now, with the hope that we can spend the next two plus months celebrating the nearly 16 years that Modern Times has stood for creativity over cost, kindness over profit, and uncompromising values as a business in this country.**
> **This coming week I’ll start to explain how we got to this point and what the next couple months will look like. The only way for places like Modern Times to exist in the future is to actively challenge the reasons why it can no longer exist.**
“[Alverson] doesn't believe in capitalism, but he does now believe in crippling debt,” Dave says.
But debt wasn’t Modern Times’ only issue. Stu reveals that “neighbors began to be crowded out of the restaurant by people who could not pay and who lingered around the restaurant all day.”
“Complaints mounted of open drug use, theft, discarded needles in the alley, and overdoses on the sidewalk,” he adds.
“That's strange. So they were stealing stuff even though it was already free,” Dave says.
Stu shares that Modern Times isn’t the only “pay what you can” restaurant to utterly fail. The EAT Café at Drexel University in Philadelphia closed in 2019 after just two and a half years for the same reasons that closed Alverson’s business.
“So in a country of people that are known … for taking advantage of every situation, including government programs that are there to help those that are in need — turned out to be awful? I can't believe it,” says Dave.
To hear more, watch the episode above.##
Want more from Stu and Dave?To enjoy more of Stu and Dave's lethal blend of wit, humor, and insightful commentary [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/stuanddavedoamerica/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_stuanddavedoamerica ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-26 17:15:00 UTC

What has remained fan theory up until this point is now being openly discussed: Major sports leagues are likely to suffer when a new video game comes out.
The idea has been floated by fans for years, but for the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, athletes are openly saying they're OK with missing work.
'Scouts are going to be horrendous.'
NBA center Steven Adams broke the fourth wall recently when he sent out a warning to fans and media that when GTA VI drops in November, the entire league is going to suffer performance-wise.
"I will say, you guys should anticipate November," the Houston Rockets player [told](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuBMs7YM5yw ) reporters. "The performance of the league, league-wide. GTA is dropping."
No matter if Adams is predicting his own temporary demise or recognizes the amount of gamers he plays ball against, either way, a reckoning is coming.
The New Zealand native went even further and suggested that coaching skill would drop and so would scouting efficiency.
"Scouts are going to be horrendous, mate," he warned. "Just for November. But it should bounce back in December hopefully."
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton sent out a similar warning during the summer, joking that he might not be seen on the racetrack when the game is released.
"I'm dying for the new Grand Theft Auto to come out. GTA 6," Hamilton [said](https://www.newsweek.com/sports/racing/lewis-hamilton-reveals-he-dying-highly-anticipated-gta-release-2106113 ) in front of fans in Belgium.
"Yeah, that's the one I'm waiting for. I have to cancel all my work when that game comes out," he added.
**RELATED: [US Army unit grants soldiers 4-day pass to play Grand Theft Auto VI — there's just one little catch](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/army-unit-in-ga-gta6 )**
GTA 6 comes out on November 19, the same day as the start of the F1 [Heineken Las Vegas GP](https://www.espn.com/f1/race/_/id/600057449 ). It should go without saying that fans will be checking in to see if Hamilton is absent that weekend or possibly the following week for the Qatar Airways Qatar GP ([Nov. 27-29](https://www.espn.com/f1/race/_/id/600057450 )).
While Hamilton appeared to be joking, athletes have seemed to be hinting at what has been suspected by fans for years; they are not immune to binge-playing their favorite games.
Circling back to Adams, the 33-year-old's warning extended to the NFL and other professional leagues.
"Look at NFL, look at all the leagues and watch them plummet, mate. Just for the month of November, performance is going to go down. It should come back up though. Most of the boys will get it done, but hopefully they finish the game."
Adams' warning about the NFL touches on a widely discussed theory that, in particular, NFL quarterback Kyler Murray has had performance dips when Call of Duty games have been released.
**RELATED: [This top video game company is betting its future on something gamers hate](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/epic-games-ai-mandate )**
Lewis Hamilton is so eager to play GTA VI that he is willing to cancel all his work to play it #f1
The "[Kyler Murray Call of Duty theory](https://www.dexerto.com/call-of-duty/what-is-the-kyler-murray-call-of-duty-theory-nfl-star-performances-dip-at-cod-launch-2921555/ )" claims that Murray's performance drops upon the release of new Call of Duty titles, which come out yearly, and continues to suffer in subsequent weeks.
The theory claims Murray's fantasy stats between 2019 and 2021 suffered in conjunction with Call of Duty releases, and there's even advanced analytics that claim Murray typically has slight dips in performance when the games have "double XP" weekends.
Fans are expecting the same from the quarterback when GTA 6 drops, and maybe he should take them up on that considering the aforementioned theory landed him a [sponsorship](https://x.com/K1/status/1843351187170673149?s=20 ) from the game in 2024.
Other athletes to toss out the idea of GTA 6 being a focus in their life were young soccer stars Tyler Fredricson and Lamine Yamal.
Fredricson, 21, [said](https://www.goal.com/en-ke/originals/tyler-fredricson-manchester-lausanne-life-professional-footballer-switzerland/blt5241806841b740fa ) he is "all ready for GTA 6," while Yamal, 19, inexplicably [posted](https://www.gtaboom.com/lamine-yamal-hyped-gta-6-and-rockstar-noticed-e64d ) a GTA VI logo to his social media after winning the 2026 World Cup.
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2026-10-26 17:00:00 UTC

The rising cost of diesel is punishing millions of Americans — especially rural households. Every time a farmer fills his combine, a small businessman tops off his box truck, or a family fuels up the pickup, they feel the cost.
Prices have stayed stubbornly elevated compared with the pre-pandemic baseline. Because trucks move roughly [70%](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-energy-tax-analysts-weigh-impact-of-surging-gasoline-prices-on-inflation-consumers-143027350.html ) of America's freight tonnage, every extra dime at the pump ripples outward to grocery bills, hardware stores, and the operating margins of the mom-and-pop businesses that keep small towns alive.
Plastic is increasingly displacing steel, iron, and other heavy metals that would otherwise add hundreds of pounds per vehicle.
There are many familiar culprits policymakers can and have identified. These range from refinery closures and global supply chain disruptions to international sanctions and domestic regulations.
However, there is a coming legislative and regulatory threat that will raise prices even more for Americans. Proposals such as the [Tracking Plastic Act of 2026](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5182 ) — introduced by Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) alongside Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) — would place tight reporting restrictions on plastics and make advanced recycling more difficult.
Few voters who will pay for it have any idea what is coming. That threat is the accelerating regulatory war on plastics.
At first glance, plastics and diesel seem unrelated. In reality, they are joined at the molecular hip. Both come out of the same barrel of crude, are refined in the same facilities, and are governed by the same interlocking economics.
Petrochemical feedstocks, such as the natural gas liquids that become polyethylene, are not simply landfill waste. They are co-products whose sale helps keep American refineries economically viable. Shrink that market through bans, caps, or mandates, and America won’t magically get more diesel. Refineries that lose their petrochemical outlet get older and dirtier, and eventually they get shuttered.
There is a second, more direct link that ought to alarm anyone who cares about affordability. According to the American Chemistry Council's 2026 report [Plastics and Chemistry in Automobiles](https://plasticmakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Plastics-and-Chemistry-in-Autos-Report-2026.pdf?utm_source=earned-media&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=press ), the average vehicle assembled in North America last year contained 428 pounds of plastics. This accounts for nearly 10%of vehicle weight, but around 50% of its total volume. That plastic content has grown 18% in a decade, even as trucks and SUVs have grown larger.
Plastic is increasingly displacing steel, iron, and other heavy metals that would otherwise add hundreds of pounds per vehicle.
**RELATED: **[**The Gulf is America’s energy shock absorber**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-gulf-is-americas-energy-shock-absorber )
RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
Decreasing vehicle weight is the single most cost-effective way to squeeze more miles out of every gallon of gas or diesel. The same report notes that real-world fuel economy has more than doubled since 1975. This gain has been enabled not only by better engines but by lighter materials. Every pound of plastic that regulators force back into steel is an extra pound the engine has to haul down the interstate.
Multiply that across the 15 million vehicles [produced](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/north-america-and-the-automotive-industry-looking-forward/ ) in North America each year and across a national fleet of [more than 280 million](https://roadgenius.com/statistics/ownership-us/ ), and the fuel penalty is enormous. For the diesel pickups, work vans, and tractors that already do the heavy lifting in fuel consumption, the impact is measured in billions of gallons annually. This also translates to billions of dollars extracted straight out of the pockets of hardworking Americans.
The activists driving anti-plastic legislation and regulatory measures ought to think deeply about this. Rather than punishing material that makes modern life lighter, safer, and cheaper, policymakers should shift their focus. Making innovative advanced recycling techniques easier would reduce plastic waste and lower diesel prices, a rare win-win in Washington.
The next time a Beltway coalition insists that phasing out plastics is a costless moral upgrade, policymakers should consider how it will impact the bills of Americans across the nation. Working Americans deserve a break from rising bills.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-war-on-plastic-is-a-hidden-tax-on-americans.jpg?id=68529370&width=980

2026-10-26 16:05:25 UTC

A [Florida police officer](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/florida-man ) who discovered a dead man during a welfare check is accused of exploiting the man's death to carry out an elaborate scheme that allegedly continued for years, according to authorities.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office said in a [statement](https://www.sheriff.org/pio/breaking-news/lauderhill-police-officer-arrested-after-bso-bcpa-joint-investigation/ ) that 35-year-old Brian Louis Sguros was arrested last Monday. Sguros — a Lauderhill Police Department officer — was booked on charges of official misconduct, criminal use of deceased personal identification, criminal use of personal identification information, offense against computer user, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
'Sguros represented himself to the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office as West's friend, although there is no indication he knew West, and stated that West had no living family, which was untrue.'
[WTVJ-TV](https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/lauderhill-officer-accused-of-taking-over-dead-residents-home-appears-in-court/3875409/ ) reported that Sguros appeared in court Wednesday, when a judge set his bond at $25,000.
Following his arrest, the Lauderhill Police Department placed Sguros on administrative leave without pay.
On July 11, 2022, Sguros responded as a backup officer to a welfare check at the home of 71-year-old Dennis West in Lauderhill, which is about five miles west of Fort Lauderdale.
Police said West was found dead inside the home.
Citing Sguros' arrest affidavit, [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officer-impersonates-dead-florida-man-moved-into-home-rcna604844?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&taid=6ad93cee1cd37f0001721a1b&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter ) reported that the medical examiner determined that West died of natural causes from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office said Sguros "became involved in West’s post-death affairs."
"For instance, Sguros represented himself to the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office as West's friend, although there is no indication he knew West, and stated that West had no living family, which was untrue," the police statement read.
[Bodycam footage](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/bodycam-footage ) from the 2022 welfare check showed no indication that Sguros knew West, police said.
According to authorities, Sguros paid the property taxes and utility bills from the home in West's name.
[USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/22/florida-officer-identity-theft-deceased-man-home/92372645007/ ) obtained property records showing Sguros had paid over $2,500 in taxes on the home, though it remained registered to West's estate.
Sguros also used West's identification to secure a home repair permit from the city of Lauderhill.
A detective said Sguros forged West's signature on the home repair permit.
An August 2024 permit application seeking approval to replace windows and doors at the home for $8,000 listed West as the owner, and the application included his driver's license information and contained a signature purportedly belonging to him, despite his death two years earlier, according to USA Today, which added that the phone number on the application belonged to Sguros.
Officials with the home remodeling company believed the homeowner was alive.
Court documents said the notary whose name and information appeared on the permit told investigators that the signature was not hers and added that she did not believe the notary stamp on the documents was hers, either.
**RELATED: [Former therapist intern accused of sex with patient during sessions, arranging 'alibis' for him to leave rehab for trysts](https://www.theblaze.com/news/florida-therapy-intern-sex-patient-michelle-luchau-rebora )**
Investigators also said Sguros utilized his access to law enforcement databases to obtain information about West.
Court records said Sguros launched seven database searches related to West, which were conducted from his work-issued computer between July 2022 and January 2023. Those searches disclosed West's Social Security number, date of birth, address, and other information, according to the court docs
The Broward County Sheriff's Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser began an investigation into Sguros after the Lauderhill Police Department provided information about a possible crime.
In February 2025, Sguros and his spouse filed paperwork with the Broward County Property Appraiser seeking to claim ownership of the home, according to the affidavit.
Months later, a real estate company bought the property from West's heirs, according to court documents.
USA Today reported that the real estate company raised concerns with authorities about Sguros' involvement with the property when one of its employees encountered Sguros when they attempted to take possession of the property in the fall of 2025.
The affidavit said Sguros surrendered the keys to the property to the real estate company, but he "demanded reimbursement for repairs and improvements he claimed to have made."
According to NBC News, Sguros filed a complaint against the real estate company in February, saying in filings that he found West in the home while he was on duty and adding that he subsequently began to clean, secure, and invest in the property.
NBC News reported that Sguros did not explain in his court filings how he obtained possession of the property.
Citing the arrest affidavit, USA Today reported that Sguros said in civil court that he spent at least $214,000 on repairs and improvements to the home, increasing its value to about $500,000.
Sguros claimed he paid for the work to prevent squatters and criminal activity, according to the affidavit.
Police noted that the investigation remains ongoing.
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https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/florida-cop-finds-dead-man-then-4-years-later-the-officer-is-arrested-after-police-uncover-elaborate-alleged-scheme.jpg?id=68516584&width=980

2026-10-26 15:45:00 UTC

Rapper Nicki Minaj became the topic of likely tongue-in-cheek speculation about a major White House vacancy after she took a ride on Air Force One.
Karoline Leavitt's [departure](https://www.theblaze.com/news/3-moments-thatll-might-make-you-miss-karoline-leavitt ) from the White House in August left the Trump administration in desperate need of a similarly talented press secretary. Given Katie Zacharia's trial run [lasted only five days](https://www.theblaze.com/news/hello-and-goodbye-katie-zacharias-is-out-as-white-house-press-secretary ), the role remains vacant.
'I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!'
Speculation abounds about whom the president might appoint to the role next, and several names have been [floated](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/21/trump-white-house-press-secretary-zacharia-replacement/92363521007/ ), including CNN contributor Scott Jennings; White House communications aide Danielle Alvarez; White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly; and Katie Miller, the wife of President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Stephen Miller.
On Sunday, White House communications director Steven Cheung teased another potential contender: Nicki Minaj.
Minaj — a native of Trinidad and an enthusiastic [supporter of](https://www.theblaze.com/news/nicki-minaj-tpusa-trump-vance ) [Trump and](https://www.theblaze.com/news/rapper-thanks-trump-for-defending-nigerian-christians-president-threatens-to-completely-wipe-out-their-jihadi-attackers ) [Vice President Vance](https://www.theblaze.com/news/send-in-the-next-guy-nicki-minaj-savages-newsom-over-his-desire-to-see-trans-kids ) whose [real name](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/nicki-minaj-music-satanic-cult ) is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty — [joined](https://youtu.be/RdtssL3L44I?t=6049 ) Trump onstage at his rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday.
After the rapper sang Trump's praises and denounced so-called "sex changes" for children, the president stated, "You see why everybody likes Nicki. Love, like. But she is a very, very special person. She gets it. Smart."
The rapper had flown to Michigan in style — [on Air Force One](https://x.com/NICKIMINAJ/status/2114390653824045420?s=20 ) — where she sat down for a conversation with Cheung, who later shared a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msFS3Tn6TcI ) of part of their exchange on social media with the [caption](https://x.com/StevenCheung47/status/2114388391429124121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2114388391429124121%7Ctwgr%5E9476d7df3e02a71c437a2d8771829cd169d00550%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theblaze.com%2Fr%2Fentryeditor%2F2678144301publish ), "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!"
**RELATED: [Hello and goodbye: Katie Zacharia is out as White House press secretary ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/hello-and-goodbye-katie-zacharias-is-out-as-white-house-press-secretary )**
Sarah Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The White House's X account [replied](https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2114390775446556712?s=20 ) with the eyeballs emoji, and the Trump War Room account [responded](https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2114398238119706683?s=20 ), "Press Secretary @NICKIMINAJ has a nice ring to it!"
These posts have prompted widespread speculation about whether Minaj is indeed a contender, and there is some [chatter](https://x.com/acnewsitics/status/2114490653925405018?s=20 ) about optics due in part to her husband's [rape conviction](https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-62077020 ), her brother's [child rape conviction](https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-51280576 ), and her [admitted arrival](https://www.facebook.com/nickiminaj/posts/i-came-to-this-country-as-an-illegal-immigrant-5-years-old-i-cant-imagine-the-ho/1897775920244049/ ) to the U.S. as an illegal alien child.
The White House did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment by deadline. However, one person familiar with the situation told Semafor last week that a new pick will "definitely not" be named before the midterms.
Cheung [told](https://www.semafor.com/article/10/22/2026/white-house-expects-press-briefing-soon-as-hiring-search-continues ) Semafor that the president and "his team are focused on the midterm elections."
Minaj, who [said](https://x.com/NICKIMINAJ/status/2016684658302329304 ) on Jan. 28 that she was finalizing "citizenship paperwork," did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.
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2026-10-26 14:45:00 UTC

The Trump administration is not impressed by a "sob story" put out by "60 Minutes" meant to undermine the mass deportation efforts undertaken in the president's second term.
The story that aired Sunday [highlights](https://x.com/60Minutes/status/2114496884786004327 ) the struggles of the family of Moussa Diawara, a 57-year-old man who was deported in July and claims he eventually ended up in his native country of Mali. During the segment, his wife, son, and daughter tearfully speak to him while they continue to reside in Texas.
'Just in case you’re wondering how bad the immigration fraud problem is.'
A judge ruled in 2012 that Diawara, who had overstayed a visa, could be deported, but not to Mali after he claimed that he would be persecuted there, CBS News [reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/moussa-diawara-third-country-deportation-ghana-mali-60-minutes/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7d&linkId=1027134581 ). Diawara was deported to Ghana, and soon after his arrival, Ghanaian officials sent him to Mali, he claims.
He indicated to "60 Minutes" that he feared persecution in Mali, a Muslim-majority country, because he had converted to Christianity. He eventually escaped to another African country but asked CBS not to identify it, the outlet reported.
The story was clearly intended to elicit sympathy from viewers, but the narrative did not survive a fact-check from James Percival, the general counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who appeared in the segment.
"This illegal alien is @60Minutes poster child for what it claims are wrongful deportations," [wrote](https://x.com/DHSGenCounsel/status/2114509782170378528 ) Percival in a statement on social media Sunday night. "I pulled his file. His claimed reason for fearing Mali was that he is 'gay,' just in case you’re wondering how bad the immigration fraud problem is."
Percival suggested the family's sob story contradicted the father's claim that he feared persecution as a gay man.
A post from Immigration and Customs Enforcement [reinforced](https://x.com/ICEgov/status/2114511781347397888 ) the point and mocked the news program.
"The 60 Minutes sob story tonight highlighted an illegal alien and his wife and two children. One problem. The illegal alien claimed he was a HOMOSEXUAL in order to try and dodge deportation to Mali," read the statement.
"You literally cannot make this up," ICE added.
"60 Minutes" [noted](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/moussa-diawara-third-country-deportation-ghana-mali-60-minutes/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7d&linkId=1027134581 ) on social media and in the segment that the DHS had "questioned the credibility of Diawara's arguments for fearing persecution in Mali," without providing further details.
**RELATED: **[**ICE is deporting Mexicans to nations beyond Mexico — and their government is not happy**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-mexicans-honduras-deport-guatemala )
"I absolutely believe with all of my heart that these third-country removals have stopped crimes from happening and kept Americans safer and that is our fundamental obligation at the Department of Homeland Security," Percival said on "60 Minutes."
The report said that about 25,000 people who had been [deported](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-mexicans-honduras-deport-guatemala ) from the U.S. had been sent to countries other than their country of origin.
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2026-10-26 14:30:00 UTC

I knew our mail-in ballots had been sent out because my friends were posting photos of their ballots on social media. This meant my mail-in ballot was probably waiting in my mailbox, as well.
But I didn’t retrieve it right away. I let it sit there. The truth is that I don’t like mail-in ballots. I don’t trust them. I experience a traumatic response just thinking about them.
In 2022, remembering what happened in 2020, I took my mail-in ballot directly from my mailbox to the dumpster.
Since mail-in voting [was implemented in Oregon](https://multco.us/info/brief-history-vote-mail-oregon ) back in 1987, nothing good has happened here. The state has gone straight into the toilet.
And when it was implemented nationwide, in 2020, well, then the rest of the country went straight into the toilet, too.
So yeah, I can barely stand the sight of a mail-in ballot. I am physically repulsed. I prefer not to have it in my house.##
Utopian fantasiesI didn’t always feel this way. I was happy to participate at first. In the early 1990s, this new way of voting seemed fresh, modern, and convenient.
The envelope shows up in your mailbox. You open the outer envelope and there’s another envelope inside, along with the official ballot, with its ovals and government scan codes.
You fill out the ovals, fold it up, seal it, and sign your name. And then cheerfully drop it in a mailbox.##
Safe and secureMail-in ballots are designed to look official, sanctioned, secure. They make you feel like the state is being extra careful with your personal ballot, your one precious vote.
But the reality is that your ballot is just beginning its journey. It gets driven here and there. It gets put into piles and bags and maybe gets dumped in one spot and then moved to another spot.
It ends up at the post office, or in a county warehouse space, or it gets fed into a counting machine. It might even get hand-checked by an election worker somehow trained to decide whether your signature looks enough like the one on file.
Really, who knows where your one precious vote goes? After it is opened, depending on who sees it first, it might go [straight into the trash](https://komonews.com/news/local/undelivered-ballots-dumpster-seattle-golden-gardens-park-midterm-election-discarded-mail-voting-security-king-county-elections-replacement-ballot-registered-voters )!##
A feeling of helplessnessIn Oregon, mail-in voting is the only way you can vote. The future of your state, your city, your business, your family — it all depends on a complex system of mailing and sorting and counting and verifying.
And then maybe more ballots show up later. And the [ballots of dead people](https://www.kqed.org/news/10976877/are-californians-casting-ballots-from-the-grave ) are floating around. Or the ballots of people who used to live in your building.
And then activists [“harvest” other people’s ballots](https://nypost.com/2026/06/09/us-news/how-socialist-activists-target-and-pressure-vulnerable-voters/ ). *“Here, Grandma, let me help you fill that out.”*
**RELATED: **[**California makes 'massive concession' in lawsuit over 20,000 'likely noncitizen' voters, DOJ says**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/likely-noncitizens-voters-california-election )
L-R: Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images; ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images##
The big nightAfter you have mailed in your ballot, a couple of weeks pass, and then election night rolls around. Often, one of the candidates will appear to have an insurmountable lead. The local news shows the tallies. The pollsters make predictions. Everybody gets excited. The projected winner might even dare to celebrate.
But after three decades of mail-in voting, we Oregonians know better. What matters is not who wins on election night. It is who wins in the weeks after, when those last bundles of wayward ballots finally make it in. Only then is the final count concluded.
In Oregon, the winner is always a Democrat. Maybe not for every minor local position. But if it’s important, the Democrat wins.
Since mail-in voting was first implemented in Oregon almost 30 years ago, all our governors [have been Democrats](https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/ ).
And for the last 12 years, they have been exclusively LGBTQ, far-left, DEI Democrats. This, in a state once known for its balanced, centrist political climate.##
Going nationalIn 2020, I used my mail-in ballot to vote for President Trump, who won handily on the night of the election, but then somehow lost by a late-arriving influx of mail-in ballots which — against all statistical probabilities — were almost all cast for his opponent.
In 2022, remembering what happened in 2020, I took my mail-in ballot directly from my mailbox to the dumpster.
This was partly out of disgust and partly because I had made an important discovery: While door-knocking for a local candidate, I was given an app that had remarkably specific information about the neighborhood I was canvassing. I could see which residents were Republicans, how often they voted, and whether any other voters lived in their house. Which meant that who you voted for was public knowledge, and not private and anonymous like you had been told.##
But if there’s a chance ...Fast-forward to now, and here I am, faced with another Oregon governor’s race. It is [between two women](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/10/us/elections/oregon-governor-republican-election.html ), of course. But one of the women is a reasonable and straightforward Republican. And people say she has a real chance. So now I have to vote. Just in case it will make a difference.
So out to the mailbox I go. To retrieve my mail-in-ballot. I hold my nose. Fill in the ovals. And get it out of my house and into the mailbox as fast as possible.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/mail-in-voting-is-a-humiliation-ritual-but-the-oregon-governor-s-race-has-forced-my-hand.jpg?id=68518615&width=980

2026-10-26 14:15:00 UTC

L[eftists](https://x.com/AlexanderSoros/status/2114508265643983067?s=20 ) and the [Western](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/lula-wins-brazil-election ) [liberal](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/25/lula-wins-reelection-in-historic-runoff-setting-up-tense-political-battle-01135148 ) [media](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-25/lula-wins-a-record-fourth-term-in-brazil-in-a-surprise-comeback ) rushed to congratulate radical socialist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday over his alleged victory in Brazil in the second round of the presidential election against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the right-leaning son of a convicted former Brazilian president now under house arrest.
Behind this mad rush to legitimize what could be Lula's fourth nonconsecutive term is not only [desperation](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/25/lula-wins-reelection-brazil-halting-latin-americas-rightward-shift-now/ ) [on the part of liberals](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/world/americas/lula-brazil-election-president.html ) to halt a rightward shift in South America but incredible uncertainty over whether the election was itself legitimate.
'What took place is simply inexplicable.'
After all, there was high-level meddling in the final hours of the election — meddling executed at the request of the Lula campaign and that may have had a profound impact on the outcome.##
His former boss' biddingCristiano Zanin [long served](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-senate-confirms-lulas-ex-lawyer-supreme-court-seat-2023-06-21/ ) as Lula's personal lawyer, defending the socialist against [corruption charges](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56326389 ) and even helping him get out of jail in 2019.
Zanin — whose wife is the daughter of a former Lula lawyer — was rewarded for his efforts. Lula [nominated](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-lula-appoint-zanin-supreme-court-says-senate-head-2023-06-01/ ) him to the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil, and Zanin was [sworn into office](https://portal.stf.jus.br/internacional/content.asp?id=511945&ori=1&idioma=en_us ) in August 2023.
**RELATED: ['Cold civil war' about to heat up? DataRepublican exposes evidence of color revolution plot](https://www.theblaze.com/news/cold-civil-war-about-to-heat-up-datarepublican-exposes-evidence-of-color-revolution-plot )**
Wagner Meier/Getty Images
Lula, a [Beijing-friendly leftist](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369636/brazils-lula-hails-bold-chinese-investors-rival-pitches-rare-earths-trump?module=inline&pgtype=article ), [lost](https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/brazil-votes-high-stakes-presidential-runoff-between-lula-and-bolsonaro ) to Bolsonaro in the first round on Oct. 4, 47.03% to 45.16%. And though he was apparently in the lead early on Sunday, Bolsonaro managed to [overtake him](https://archive.ph/29mHi ) — at least temporarily.
Bolsonaro was, however, kneecapped around the time polling stations around the country were set to close when Zanin ordered the polling stations to remain open for another two hours.
While Bolsonaro had asked the election court for more time in a handful of regions where voters were affected by nasty weather — including the swing state of Minas Gerais — the Lula campaign demanded extended voting times nationwide, including in Bahia, a pro-Lula stronghold, [reported](https://archive.ph/xo4Gb ) Bloomberg.
The Lula campaign [suggested](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/25/lula-wins-reelection-in-historic-runoff-setting-up-tense-political-battle-01135148 ) that an extension was needed in part because of alleged voter suppression by pro-Bolsonaro mayors.
Zanin obliged his former boss with a universal extension even though: results from 1,225 polling sections had [reportedly](https://www.riotimesonline.com/zanin-extends-brazil-runoff-voting-tse-pauses-count-2026/ ) already been published by the Superior Election Court, some polling stations were [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/10/25/world/brazil-election ) already closed, and some stations' voting machines had been irreversibly shut down.
[According](https://resultados.tse.jus.br/oficial/app/index.html#/eleicao/6258/uf/br/cargo/1/vis/nominal/resultados ) to the TSE, the Superior Election Court of Brazil, Lula secured over 4.4 million more votes than Bolsonaro and won the election 51.79%-48.21%.##
Illegitimate?Bolsonaro rejected the outcome of the election and indicated that he will pursue an annulment of it in light of the last-minute rule-change by one of "Lula's friends."
As [relayed](https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/politica/noticia/2026-10/flavio-nao-reconhece-vitoria-de-lula-e-tentara-anulacao-do-pleito ) by state media, Bolsonaro [told](https://x.com/rogeriosmarinho/status/2114549715203170349?s=20 ) reporters outside his campaign headquarters, "It is impossible to recognize the election results given the circumstances under which these events unfolded. We will engage our legal team and seek the annulment of this election. We are not here to play games. I will not accept the rules being changed in the middle of the game — once again, by Lula’s friends on the Supreme Federal Court," according to a translation.
The right-wing challenger emphasized that "what happened today was not normal. In fact, it was unacceptable."
Rogério Marinho, Bolsonaro's campaign chief, [said](https://x.com/rogeriosmarinho/status/2114469083039011287?s=20 ) that Zanin's decision was an "unfeasible action to disrupt the process of an election that they already lost at the ballot box," according to a translation.
Bolsonaro further said:
> For the first time in history, a Supreme Court justice — who is also a former lawyer for Lula — issued a unilateral ruling at the request of a former law partner, changing the rules of the game while the game was already underway. At 5:01 PM, Justice Zanin — who is not even a member of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) — bypassed the specialized electoral judiciary and issued a decision extending the voting period by two hours. This had never happened before in the history of Brazil. There was a complete breakdown of equal treatment among Brazilians in different cities and states. I will never know how many votes I might have received in a state where the polls were not reopened. What took place is simply inexplicable.The president of the Superior Electoral Court, Judge Kassio Nunes Marques, [reinforced](https://youtu.be/2w36c3x4bRU ) Bolsonaro's characterization, stating that Zanin's last-minute rule was legally groundless and unprecedented.
Nunes Marques said that there was "no regulation authorizing any extension" and that "never in the history of the TSE has there been any extension," according to a translation.
Despite these admissions, Nunes Marques defended the final result, stating, "There was no alteration resulting from the judicial decision. ... We have absolute security regarding the entire electoral process."
Raquel Machado, a professor at the Federal University of Ceará, [told](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/world/americas/brazil-election-lula-win-what-to-know.html ) the New York Times that Bolsonaro can push for either a technical audit to determine whether the outcome was affected by unequal voting conditions or an abuse-of-power case through the TSE's inspector general, which could result in Lula's disqualification.
After claiming victory, Lula [told](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/lula-wins-brazil-election ) supporters in Sao Paulo that "it was democracy that made this happen," according to the Guardian.
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2026-10-26 12:35:00 UTC

A [Massachusetts father](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/massachusetts ) has been convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a teen girl aboard a JetBlue flight — while he was on the plane with his wife and four kids, according to federal prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced in a [statement](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/massachusetts-man-convicted-abusive-sexual-contact-minor-aboard-flight-boston ) that 48-year-old Jonathan Alan Lefman, following a three-day jury trial, was convicted Oct. 16 of one count of abusive sexual contact within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
'The defendant repeatedly sexually abused a minor who was simply trying to travel safely aboard a commercial flight.'
The charge is punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and five years to life of supervised release.
On Aug. 30, 2024, Lefman was a passenger aboard a JetBlue flight — along with his wife and four children — that was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Boston, Massachusetts.
The [arrest affidavit](https://www.justice.gov/d9/2025-02/usa_v._lefman_-_complaint_affidavit.pdf ) says Lefman was sitting next to his 16-year-old son and directly behind the 17-year-old victim during the time of misconduct.
"On multiple occasions during the flight and while on the ground waiting to deplane in Boston, Lefman engaged in abusive sexual contact with the minor victim," the statement said.
"Specifically, Lefman worked his hand in between the area between the back and bottom of the seat directly in front of him, where the minor victim was seated, and touched the minor victim's buttocks without her permission," the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts stated.
The victim said she saw "Lefman's reflection leaning between the seats in the seatback monitor in front of her" when he attempted to touch her on one occasion, authorities said.
**RELATED: [Ex-mayor convicted of child sex crimes walks free after 90 days — judge admits key mistake he made in sentencing](https://www.theblaze.com/news/mayor-misty-roberts-sentence )**
Video screenshots showing Jonathan Lefman reaching between the seats of a JetBlue flight.Image source: U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts
The victim told investigators that "a man touched me without my permission," the affidavit stated.
The affidavit added that Lefman also touched the backs of the victim's feet with his feet, under the seat.
"At first I thought he was stretching because we all get tired," the victim said. But later she "started to realize that he was really touching" her and "kept moving forward and side to side" to avoid being touched, according to the affidavit.
The statement read, "On the last occasion when he touched or attempted to touch her buttocks, the minor victim was able to use her cellphone camera to take a video of Lefman’s fingers protruding between the back and bottom of the minor victim’s seat."
Authorities said the teenager took a video of Lefman exiting the aircraft.
An adult female family member of the victim, who was sitting in a different row of the airplane, confronted Lefman after the flight and reported his conduct to a JetBlue supervisor, according to the statement.
The female family member told authorities that Lefman apologized and claimed he was only stretching, the affidavit said.
The victim's family member also told Lefman's wife that "she should be concerned about the man’s behavior as she has children," according to the affidavit.
**RELATED: [Serial rapist, heir to cosmetics empire, once sentenced to 124 years for 'sadistic sexual abuse,' walks free after 20 years](https://www.theblaze.com/news/andrew-luster-glendora-update-release )**
FBI Special Agent Jason D. Costello wrote in the arrest affidavit that Lefman "did knowingly engage in unwanted sexual contact with 'Minor A' by intentionally touching, through the clothing, the buttocks of Minor A with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade Minor A or arouse or gratify his own sexual desire."
Lefman was arrested and charged in February 2025 and indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement:
> The defendant repeatedly sexually abused a minor who was simply trying to travel safely aboard a commercial flight. No one should have to fear being sexually assaulted, whether in the air or on the ground. Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for his disturbing conduct and sends a clear message that those who prey on vulnerable passengers will face justice.Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI, Boston Division, added:
> This verdict delivers justice for a young teen who showed remarkable courage following an appalling act. No one should ever be subjected to such harmful and predatory conduct— least of all in a confined, public space where she was entitled to feel safe. The FBI is fully committed to protecting children and ensuring those who exploit or abuse them, like Mr. Lefman, are brought to justice.Lefman is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 12, 2027.
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2026-10-26 11:00:00 UTC

The subscription options on X have evolved a lot since they [launched in late 2022](https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2022/12/12/elon-musk-relaunches-twitter-blue-the-subscription-that-includes-check-marks ), then under the Twitter Blue name. Originally, they gave users longer posts and boosted their algorithmic reach, among other perks. Today, however, X’s paid plans have way more features powered by AI, and you can upgrade today for the same price or better.
When paid subscriptions launched on X, they came in three different tiers:
These plans offer far more capabilities than the old plans for the same price, and you may even save money.
**Basic **let users write longer posts, edit their posts after they were published, and upload longer videos.
**Premium **included everything in Basic, plus the coveted check mark for verification, higher algorithmic priority, higher usage limits on Grok, and access to the creator program that let users earn money for their posts.
**Premium+** came with everything above, in addition to zero ads on X, reply priority boosts, and even higher limits on Grok.
A lot has changed, though, since Musk and company launched the first version of X’s paid subscriptions. Grok is a lot smarter, X is now part of SpaceXSI (formerly SpaceXAI and SpaceX before that), and Musk even acquired a hugely popular agentic AI coding platform called Cursor. With so much change, it only made sense that X’s paid options should change too, and they’re even better than they were before.
**RELATED: **[**Most of the internet is suddenly melting down, and there's only one fix**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown )
mediaphotos/Getty Images
Customers used to pay separately for X Premium, SuperGrok, and Cursor Pro, costing anywhere between $10 and $100 per month. Not anymore. As of mid-October, X brought X Premium, Grok, and Cursor together under one single subscription plan simply called [the X Subscription](https://x.ai/pricing ).
This new option features four simple tiers with scaling capabilities:
**Free **offers basic X features, like sending posts, replying to other users, and following friends, along with limited AI access.
**Plus **adds a premium check mark, reduces ads on X, and unlocks broader access to [Grok Chat](https://x.ai/grok ) for text-based AI queries, [Grok Voice](https://x.ai/news/grok-voice-3 ) for live speech conversations, [Grok Imagine](https://grok.com/subscription/imagine ) to generate images and videos, and [Grok Build](https://x.ai/build ) for agentic coding. This plan is available for $8 per month.
**Premium** adds [Grok Bot](https://x.ai/galaxy ), the new agentic AI service powered by Cursor, unlocks access to the latest frontier Grok models, and provides faster performance. With four times the available AI usage capacity found in Plus, this option is the most popular tier at $30 per month.
**Super** unlocks the maximum power of the X Subscription, adding in 15 times more AI usage capacity and premier access to the most powerful Grok models during peak usage times of the day. This plan is available for $100 per month.
X.ai
By comparison, these plans offer far more capabilities than the [old plans](https://help.x.com/en/premium-plus-price-update ) for the same price, and you may even save money if you previously subscribed to SuperGrok or Cursor. In this way, Grok’s more advanced features are easier to access, and you can do a lot more with the plan you pick than you could before the X Subscription rollout.
The brand-new Grok Bot is something that many will want to try. As a fully autonomous AI agent, it can do all sorts of things on your behalf, such as keep your calendar in order like a personal assistant, scan through emails to give you the latest updates on important matters, offer a daily brief with top news stories that you’ll appreciate, and tons more.
Musk even[ suggested you give Grok a photo of your credit card](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2109027407185277123?s=20 ) to let it shop for you online. I wouldn’t go that far, especially as the internet seemingly melts down over the [newly discovered PHP vulnerabilities](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/php-internet-meltdown ), but the fact that Grok Bot can do this is impressive.
New users can sign up for [the X Subscription](https://x.ai/pricing ) today. If you’re an existing X Premium or Cursor subscriber, your account will remain unchanged for now, unless you choose to upgrade to the X Subscription. Those who upgrade will have their old X Premium subscription canceled and may even receive a refund for unused time.
**Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[**Sign up here**](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!**
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2026-10-26 10:30:00 UTC

John Arnold has been busy since leaving Enron.
His money has fueled research into [probation](https://policyinstitute.iu.edu/research-analysis/research-findings/reducing-probation-revocations.html ) leniency decried as "[pro-criminal](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3180093/republicans-sound-alarm-next-george-soros-money-leftist-causes/ )." In other states, Arnold backs nominally [conservative energy groups](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/download-filing?path=IRS%2F813459199_202412_990_2026030223968840.pdf ) prioritizing green energy and [hostility to fossil fuels](https://www.ohcef.org/our-conservative-principles ).
'Billionaires like him should stop bastardizing our nonprofit laws foisting their leftist beliefs on the American people.'
"[The Arnold Pipeline](https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/files/113921/The%20Arnold%20Pipeline.pdf )," a new 28-page report from [Power the Future](https://www.powerthefuture.com/ptf-report-exposes-how-a-billionaires-network-smuggles-the-lefts-energy-agenda-into-red-states/ ), excavates the former trader's labyrinthine network.
Arnold, a former Enron natural gas trader turned billionaire philanthropist, has built a policy machine that funnels research and advocacy for progressive priorities into red-state capitals. Despite his background in fossil fuels, Arnold's money is aimed at [weeding out those energy sources](https://www.arnoldventures.org/resources/energy-overview ) in favor of renewables.
Tracking IRS filings, grant records, and policy proposals across Ohio, Oklahoma, and Indiana, the report finds that Arnold isn't looking to flip Republicans into Democrats. Instead, the billionaire trader just needs them to put a patriotic veneer on a liberal agenda.
Power the Future founder and executive director Dan Turner told Blaze News why his group looked into Arnold in the first place.
"Since our founding, Power the Future’s north star has been holding the environmental left to account," Turner said. "As our efforts continued, we were surprised to learn about the role that John Arnold plays, not only as someone who used to work in the industry, but also as someone who holds himself out as a champion of common sense."
**RELATED: ['Digger' is the canary in the climate change coal mine](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/digger-is-the-canary-in-the-climate-change-coal-mine )**
Eli Hartman/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Arnold Ventures calls itself evidence-based and bipartisan. Its stated mission is to ["maximize opportunity and minimize injustice."](https://www.arnoldventures.org/about )
The Laura and John Arnold Foundation ended 2024 with a whopping [$4.77 billion](https://assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/PDFs/LJAF-2024-FORM-990.pdf ) in assets, according to its tax filing. Arnold's charitable and advocacy arms gave out [over $190 million in grants](https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/our-2024-approach-to-giving ) that same year.
Arnold Ventures’ advocacy arm, Action Now Initiative, says Arnold Ventures gives it [“coordination, assistance, and support services.”](https://actionnowinitiative.org/ ) Action Now is a separate nonprofit from the Arnold Foundation, but John Arnold is on both groups’ boards. Action Now reported [nearly $10.9 million in grants](https://assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/2024-ANI-Form-990.pdf ) in 2024.
The portfolio doesn't stop with energy. Criminal justice was Arnold's largest named funding category in 2024, constituting [31% of grant-making](https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/our-2024-approach-to-giving ). Action Now spent [$2.8 million](https://www.ktoo.org/2022/09/17/why-alaska-uses-ranked-choice-voting/ ) on getting ranked-choice voting passed in Alaska, then [doubled down to defend the system from a repeal](https://www.adn.com/politics/2024/08/31/pro-ranked-choice-voting-group-raised-45-million-in-august-to-keep-voting-system-in-alaska/ ) effort.
Arnold Ventures' [November 2025 energy overview](https://www.arnoldventures.org/resources/energy-overview ) also calls for policies that "reduce emissions."
"Amid a surging data center and AI boom, America needs more forms of energy period," Turner told Blaze News. "It doesn't need the eco extremists who are obsessed with sacrificing oil, natural gas, and coal at the green altar."
**RELATED: ****[Fraud, fraud, and more fraud: How Maine became a Somali scammer's paradise](https://www.theblaze.com/news/fraud-maine-somalians-health-care )**[](https://www.theblaze.com/news/fraud-maine-somalians-health-care )
Grant records show more than $23.2 million going to environmental and clean-energy groups, according to Power the Future's report. They include the Environmental Defense Fund, the Niskanen Center, and the Climate Leadership Council's carbon-dividend campaign. In 2019, Arnold gave Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends [its first grant: $500,000](https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-11-3-in-the-climate-fight-whos-funding-the-eco-right-more-big-names-than-you-might-expect ).
Arnold's organization doesn't always deal directly with Republican states. It also pushes money and influence through aligned organizations.
In Ohio, the Arnold pipeline flows through the [Energy Foundation](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943126848 ), a national clean-energy grant-maker that [received roughly $4.2 million from Arnold between 2017 and 2020](https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/files/114011/The%20Arnold%20Pipeline.pdf ). Ohio is a pivotal state for energy production, situated atop the [Utica Shale oil and gas play](https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/geologic-survey/energy-resources/unconventional-shale-resources ). It also hosts the [Ohio Conservative Energy Forum](https://www.ohcef.org/our-conservative-principles ), which [benefited from a chain of grants](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/download-filing?path=IRS%2F813459199_202412_990_2026030223968840.pdf ) that starts with Arnold money.
The U.S. Energy Foundation gave the Conservative Energy Network [$2,027,500](https://www.ef.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-IRS-Form-990.pdf ) in 2024, according to its tax filing. CEN then paid $210,361 to the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum and funded conservative-branded clean-energy groups in eight other states, including Indiana.
The forum's executive director [testified](https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb15/committee ) for [House Bill 15](https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb15 ), the sweeping 2025 energy law [signed](https://www.ohiosenate.gov/news/on-the-record/governor-signs-new-plan-to-power-ohios-future ) into law by Gov. Mike DeWine. The law ended ratepayer subsidies for coal plants and backed solar projects at schools.
The Ohio Conservative Energy Forum called it a "[win](https://www.poweracleanfuture.org/newsandupdates/shayna-fritz-interview )."
**RELATED: ****[Why is deep-red Oklahoma paving the way for Biden's Green New Deal?](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-cox-immigration-work-visas )**[](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-cox-immigration-work-visas )
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In Oklahoma, there is no middleman.
Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) and Arnold Ventures [announced a formal partnership](https://www.arnoldventures.org/newsroom/governor-kevin-stitt-and-arnold-ventures-announces-20-million-initiative-to-bolster-opportunities-for-oklahomas-youth ) on March 26, 2025. Arnold Ventures agreed to match state spending dollar-for-dollar, up to $10 million over four years, for as much as $20 million combined. The first programs cover tutoring, youth services, and adoption.
Stitt has a record of breaking with the right.
[Blaze News reported](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-cox-immigration-work-visas ) in August that Stitt had established a National Governors Association immigration task force with Democratic governors and was pushing for state-issued work permits.
"Let's actually have the governors issue workforce permits," Stitt said.
Blaze News opinion columnist and podcast host Daniel Horowitz called Stitt's energy policies into question back in 2024.
"He’s [Stitt's]right. Oklahoma has enough oil and gas to fuel much of the world," Horowitz wrote.
"The trouble is the memorandum he signed does not promote reliable energy. Instead, it prioritizes inefficient and heavily subsidized forms of energy."
Under the Arnold deal, Oklahoma isn't the only one deciding which programs receive funding. **
**The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy helps identify applicable programs. Its president, Jon Baron, was [Arnold Ventures' vice president of evidence-based policy from 2015 to 2021](https://www.evidencebasedpolicy.org/our-team ).
"[The government needs help from the private sector](https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/top-4-takeaways-from-our-new-innovative-partnership-in-oklahoma )," Stitt said regarding the partnership in March.
In Indiana, the former head of an Arnold-funded group now runs the state's health policy.
The Arnold Foundation gave the Employers' Forum of Indiana [$474,222](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/download-filing?path=download990pdf_12_2023_prefixes_25-26%2F263241764_202212_990PF_2023122122151422.pdf ) in 2022 to build an online dashboard comparing what hospitals charge private insurers with Medicare rates. Arnold Ventures later called the group ["an AV grantee."](https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/hospital-consolidation-a-fight-worth-having )
Former Employers' Forum of Indiana CEO Gloria Sachdev is now Indiana's secretary of health and family services. Gov. Mike Braun's [December 2024 announcement](https://www.brauntransition.com/2024/12/12/governor-elect-braun-names-dr-gloria-sachdev-as-secretary-of-health-and-family-services/ ) of her appointment highlighted the same hospital-price work Arnold helped fund.
Her agency is now openly using Medicaid payments to throttle private hospitals.
"We're using our [financial authority](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/15/indiana-unveils-medicaid-overhaul-aimed-at-pressuring-hospitals-to-lower-prices/ ) in the Medicaid market to influence the commercial market," said Mitch Roob, secretary of the Family and Social Services Administration, Indiana's Medicaid agency.
**RELATED: **[Trump-hating Republican governors conspire with Democrats to smuggle in even more migrants](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-cox-immigration-work-visas )**[](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/why-is-deep-red-oklahoma-paving-the-way-for-bidens-green-new-deal )**
Natalie Behring/Getty Images
Republicans weighing proposals without knowing who bankrolled the research and the ultimate aims of those patrons are being deprived of crucial context, the report argues.
"Conservative officials and officeholders should know that most anything connected to Arnold's financial web runs counter to their ideological worldview and policy agenda," Turner told Blaze News.
Turner told Blaze News that Arnold keeps a low profile on purpose.
"The reason that Arnold disguises his motivations and intent is because he knows selling the priorities of extreme left-wing environmentalists in places like Indiana, Ohio, and Oklahoma would be an absolute nonstarter if the public knew," Turner said. "That's exactly what we're trying to do with this report: raise public awareness."
Asked what reform should look like, Turner pointed to Congress.
"Passing [H.R. 8330](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8330 ), the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026, would be a good place to start," he said.
Introduced April 16 by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), [the bill](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8330/text ) would ban climate lawfare against oil, gas, and coal companies in federal and state courts. It would also void pending cases.**
**"The climate change movement in America is a big business, and lawsuits are how they make money," Turner said. "The courts are weaponized against one industry, driving up costs for every American while enriching some and bankrolling the campaigns of others."
"Billionaires like him should stop bastardizing our nonprofit laws foisting their leftist beliefs on the American people," Turner told Blaze News.
Arnold Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.
Gov. Kevin Stitt's office, Gov. Mike Braun's office, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the Energy Foundation, the Conservative Energy Network, the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, and Sen. Jim Banks' office did not respond to Blaze News' requests for comment.
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2026-10-26 09:00:00 UTC

Is the goal of prosecuting political opponents to punish the people in power — or to scare everyone else away from serving them?
The latter is the disturbing implication in Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s comments about using lawfare to pursue members of the Trump administration — and BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre is surprised by how plainly she said it.
“Slotkin went out there and basically said that we need to just destroy all of these people in the Trump administration, sue them into the ground, put them all in jail, you know, put pressure on these cases so that no ... conservative, young conservative who’s thinking about going into the Trump administration will ever do so,” MacIntyre tells guest News Fist.
“They’ll be so terrified that entire generations of conservatives will refuse to actually serve in the executive branch,” he continues.###
“And of course, you know, this is what makes a presidential administration run,” he adds.
In the clip of Slotkin, she says, “I want to look at these signature cases and not just focus on the president, but on the people who enabled him. I want young people coming out of school to say, ‘Should I go work for the Trump administration? Like, that sounds fun. I might get an opportunity.’”
“I want them to be like, ‘Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that. I want that deterrence message sent,” she added.
“So, we can see right here, exactly the plan,” MacIntyre says. “If you can force all of these people out of the administration, you put them in jail, you can, you know, bankrupt them. Remember, the process is the punishment.”
While this might not end in their imprisonment, MacIntyre notes that they could spend “millions of dollars defending themselves in the court of public opinion.”
“And the whole purpose, what she’s saying out loud here is just, the only reason I want to do this is I want to intimidate future conservatives into not serving. And she’s perfectly aware — as you know, remember Slotkin was a CIA analyst,” he says.
“She’s saying, ‘I’m going to use this to make sure the deep state destroys any possibility of anyone ever serving in a Republican administration again,’” he adds.
News Fist is shocked that “these are the same people that promote things like enabling civil society and democracy.”
“Like, what is democracy? Well, democracy is when we undertake an intimidation and smearing campaign on the entire opposition to starve them of any talent,” he says, pointing out that this “would actually play into the Groyper infiltration” of the Republican Party.
“Because what kind of people would not really care about having their name blackened? It’s exactly the people that are already beyond the pale. This is always the limitation with these kinds of tactics,” he says.
“If you throw enough people out of, you know, polite society, if you put enough people beyond the pale, as it were, they wind up making their own counter-elite, their own alternative society,” he adds.##
Want more from Auron MacIntyre?To enjoy more of this YouTuber and recovering journalist's commentary on culture and politics, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/auron/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_auronmacintyre ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-25 19:00:00 UTC

A generation was promised a simple path to the American dream: Earn a four-year degree, get a good job, buy a house, start a family. For many Millennials, the diploma arrived. The rest of the bargain did not.
Now student loan payments compete with rent, mortgages, and the cost of raising children. Graduates work in jobs that never required the credentials they borrowed money to obtain. Meanwhile, socialism has reached its highest positive rating since Gallup began tracking it in 2010. Who sold Millennials the original promise?
You were lied to by leftist universities that gladly took your money and left you in ruin.
[Gallup’s September report](https://news.gallup.com/poll/714653/socialism-positive-rating-tops-first-time.aspx ) found that 43% of Americans viewed socialism positively, up from 39% in 2025. Among adults ages 18 to 34, the figure was 57%. It is an extraordinary development. If government-backed higher education helped saddle a generation with debt, why would more government look like the solution?
The financial burden is real. The [Federal Reserve Bank of New York](https://www.newyorkfed.org/newsevents/news/research/2026/20260811/ ) reported $1.65 trillion in outstanding student loans in the second quarter of 2026. In a separate [Federal Reserve survey](https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2026-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2025-executive-summary.htm ), 23% of adults with student loans reported recent difficulty making payments. Even a manageable loan bill is money a borrower cannot put toward a down payment or a family.
But why did so many people borrow so much for credentials whose value varies so widely? Because Americans were repeatedly told a four-year degree was the necessary ticket to adulthood.
Parents heard it. Guidance counselors repeated it. Politicians promised greater access. Universities gladly collected the tuition, helped along by a federal lending system that made borrowing easier today and paying the bill a problem for tomorrow.
And some of the professors who taught students to distrust capitalism were only too happy to work within this arrangement. Universities expanded administrative operations while students took on mounting obligations. The people selling degrees should have been the first to explain what those degrees could actually buy.
The gamble persists for younger graduates. [Federal Reserve research](https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2025/aug/jobs-degrees-underemployed-college-graduates-have ) using 2023 data on graduates ages 22 to 27 found an underemployment rate of 9.7% for nursing majors, compared with 56.5% for liberal arts and 67.2% for criminal justice. Underemployment here means holding a job that typically does not require a college degree. These graduates are working, but many are not using the expensive credential they were told they needed.
**RELATED:**[** ****CS Lewis knew how clever people teach themselves to be fools**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/cs-lewis-knew-how-clever-people-teach-themselves-to-be-fools )
John Chillingworth/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
What did the colleges tell their applicants about those odds? If an 18-year-old is asked to borrow tens of thousands of dollars, the institution ought to disclose the likely costs, earnings, and risks. A degree is an investment only if the buyer has a realistic picture of the return. Universities should face the same scrutiny over misleading promises that we expect of any business.
Students also deserved a serious account of the alternatives: trade schools, apprenticeships, community colleges, military service, and employment without a four-year degree. These are legitimate paths to adulthood, not consolation prizes for people supposedly unfit for college.
There is a cultural problem, too. On too many campuses, students are trained to interpret society through oppression, power, and inequality. Let them study those arguments. But also make them confront the best defenses of markets, private property, entrepreneurship, and the limits of government. A university should teach students to examine competing ideas, not recruit them to a fashionable orthodoxy.
**RELATED:**[** ****Warning: This college course may be bad for your brain**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/warning-this-college-course-may-be-bad-for-your-brain )
Andi Purnomo/Getty Images
Professors who preach against capitalist exploitation might begin by examining the financial incentives of their own institutions. Some feed students a steady diet of anti-market rhetoric while they borrow heavily for degrees with uncertain returns. That is champagne communism for the faculty and a monthly payment for the graduate.
The irony is hard to miss. A generation taught to question capitalism and burdened by debt from a government-supported lending system may now look to government for relief. But another subsidy does not require universities to tell the truth about what they sell. Nor does it hold anyone accountable for promises that proved empty.
Accountability begins with honest disclosures in university advertising and recruitment. I am working on that problem through the[ Intellectual Nutrition Label](https://www.intellectualnutritionlabel.com ) project. If a school makes demonstrably deceptive promises, lawyers and class-action lawsuits may have a role. Institutions that charge families so much should not be exempt from answering for what they represent.
The lesson for Millennials is all too clear. You were lied to by leftist universities that gladly took your money and left you in ruin. It isn’t too late to see the leftist worldview for what it is: the road to serfdom. It’s time to hold the universities that pushed these lies accountable.
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2026-10-25 18:00:00 UTC

When J.K. Rowling’s "Harry Potter" series became a film franchise in 2001, it intensified an existing controversy among some evangelical Christians, who argued that its positive portrayal of witchcraft could desensitize children to the occult, blur the line between fantasy and real spiritual practices, and serve as a gateway to interest in actual witchcraft or Wicca.
Others argued that the magic in the series was purely fictional rather than real occult practice, that the series promoted moral values such as courage, loyalty, and self-sacrifice, and that it could be read with discernment or even used to illustrate Christian themes.
While the "Harry Potter" dispute is largely a thing of the past, the debate over whether or not it is sinful for Christians to watch movies about magic and witchcraft remains.
On a recent episode of “Live Free with Josh Howerton,” co-hosts and pastors Carlos Erazo and Paul Cunningham dove into the debate.
While Erazo and Cunningham disagree on the issue of movies with magic and witchcraft themes, they do agree that such entertainment falls into the “matters of conscience” category, described by Paul in Romans 14 as disputable issues on which Christians should follow their own convictions without judging others for having different convictions.
Erazo, who is more restrictive with entertainment, says he asks himself four questions before deciding whether or not something is OK to engage with: <li>“What type of content am I consuming?”</li><li>“What is it glorifying?” </li><li>“Who is the author, and what's his intent or purpose?”</li><li>“Is it redeeming that which the Bible calls a sin?” </li>
When he applies these questions to the "Harry Potter" books and movies, for example, he walks away with a conviction to abstain from them.
“'Harry Potter' glorifies something the Bible explicitly condemns, and the specific things it glorifies, I believe, are spiritually dangerous,” he says, citing Deuteronomy 18’s forbiddance of practicing divination, fortune-telling, sorcery, charms, necromancy, and the like.
“'Harry Potter' portrays all of these elements as good, exciting, and heroic, and in many ways, we are invited to love these characters, see them as heroes, and love what they do. And so as a Christian, I reject that,” says Erazo, emphasizing that witchcraft is not fictional but a very real practice used by millions of people.
Cunningham sees the issue differently. He draws a distinction between committing a sin and watching a fictional character commit a sin.
He gives the example of the "John Wick" series, which Erazo says he enjoys watching. The film revolves around a retired assassin who goes on a sustained killing spree for revenge.
“If you use that train of logic,” Cunningham argues, “I think you have to land at the exact same place with 'Harry Potter' because both 'John Wick' and 'Harry Potter' … [have sins] that happen in the real world and can happen in the real world. In those movies, it glorifies them.”
To hear more of the debate, watch the episode above.
Join BlazeTV+ and start watching Josh today at [blazetv.com/JOSH](http://blazetv.com/JOSH ). Use promo code JOSH to get $20 off your subscription.
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2026-10-25 16:30:00 UTC

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Sometimes there's no grass at all, just burning buildings and people defecting on the sidewalk.
Many Americans packed their bags when Donald Trump was re-elected, announcing to anyone who would listen that they were moving to enlightened Europe, where the culture is considerably classier and the quality of life infinitely better.
Some American expatriates interviewed by Wired described coldness, condescension, and outright mockery of their American identities.
Now, according to a [new report in Wired](https://www.wired.com/story/they-fled-trumps-america-now-they-regret-it/ ), some of these political refugees are having second thoughts. Lower salaries, frustrating bureaucracies, disappointing health care, and the discovery that Europeans aren't necessarily thrilled to have them around have persuaded some to return to the country they were so desperate to escape.##
Reality checkThey treated fleeing America as a profound political statement, strutting toward passport control with the smug satisfaction of medieval monarchs dodging the plague. That smugness lasted until they received their first European paycheck and realized their homeland offered massive earning potential, dynamic job markets, and grocery stores open past eight o'clock.
Perhaps their biggest blunder involved confusing temporary dissatisfaction with the president for permanent hatred of a truly great nation. They emigrated to save their souls, only to discover that they couldn't even save a decent amount of money.
The Europe many Americans imagine — the Bernie Sanders-endorsed socialist paradise with free health care, happy families living in happy communities, and shorter working hours — looks considerably less appealing once the bills start arriving. The daily reality can involve crushing taxes, dismal customer service, tiny paychecks, and enough red tape to make Franz Kafka claw his way out of the grave and write a few more novels.
Americans fleeing Trump crossed the ocean to escape domestic dysfunction, only to discover that bureaucratic dysfunction translates perfectly into almost every European language.
These deluded liberals spent years enjoying the unmatched advantages of American life while loudly condemning the country providing them. They assumed those financial cushions and consumer comforts would automatically replicate overseas, minus the conservative voters they so openly and brazenly smeared. But respectable salaries, professional mobility, and a culture of getting things done aren't standard across the developed world.##
It's a riotThen there is the social instability, which might come as a shock to these Trump-fearing refugees.
Take [France](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frances-macron-declines-interior-ministers-offer-resign-2026-10-19/ ), for instance. The idyllic postcard of Parisian cafés and endless vineyards has lately given way to burning streets, smashed storefronts, and riot police struggling to contain violent unrest. Following nationwide riots on October 17 and 18 that resulted in thousands of arrests, authorities [imposed curfews](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2026/10/23/bans-on-protests-rain-down-across-france-raising-concerns-for-the-rule-of-law_6762142_5.html ) in several major cities. As of Friday, October 23, restrictions remain in place, with further demonstrations expected over the weekend.
Nor is the disorder confined to the occasional political demonstration. According to [France's Interior Ministry](https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/communiques-de-presse/insecurite-et-delinquance-en-2025-bilan-statistique-et-atlas-departemental ), recorded physical violence rose 5% in 2025. Sexual violence also increased. The sophisticated European culture these Americans sought comes with rather more tear gas and police sirens than the travel brochures generally advertise.
The situation across the border in Germany offers little reassurance. The myth of Teutonic efficiency is increasingly difficult to reconcile with the experience of navigating modern Berlin's bureaucracy, public transportation, and employment market. One American who moved to Berlin and subsequently returned home told Wired that finding work had been extraordinarily difficult and the bureaucracy seemingly endless.##
Knife to meet youThen there is crime. According to [German government figures released in October](https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/kurzmeldungen-1225542 ), federal police registered 14,049 violent offenses and 1,104 sexual offenses involving trains and railway stations during the first half of 2026. Among suspects in sexual offenses whose German or non-German nationality was known, non-Germans accounted for slightly more than half.
Knife attacks, sexual offenses, and violent confrontations in public transportation facilities are hardly advertisements for good old German law and order. The new arrivals banked on German efficiency to keep life running smoothly, only to discover that efficiency itself sometimes seems utterly out of stock.
Crossing the Channel to the United Kingdom offers no guarantee of sanctuary either. The belief that British manners, orderly queuing, and civilized teatimes still prevail everywhere is, at best, naive. The country recorded [48,615 knife-enabled offenses](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/latest ) in the year ending June 2026. Although that represented a decline from the previous year, it remains an appalling number for a country once celebrated for its orderly public life.##
Blighty in a burqaThe cultural transformation of Britain's major cities is equally difficult to ignore. Birmingham, the U.K.'s second-biggest city, has changed dramatically in recent decades. According to the [2021 census](https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E08000025/ ), nearly 30% of its residents identified as Muslim, up from roughly 22% a decade earlier, while the proportion identifying as Christian fell to 34%. The England of popular American imagination, with its village greens, parish churches, and reassuringly familiar customs, no longer provides a particularly reliable guide to the country as it exists today.
Even Americans who welcome these changes may find that British society is considerably less welcoming than expected. One American interviewed by Wired complained about colleagues mocking her accent and culture. She and her husband are now planning to return to the United States.
**RELATED: **[**How Europe turned illegal immigration into a 5-star vacation package**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/how-europe-turned-illegal-immigration-into-a-5-star-vacation-package )
Carlos Jasso/Getty Images##
They hate America tooCompounding this rude cultural awakening is a growing wave of [anti-American sentiment](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/06/23/european-views-of-trump-and-the-u-s-are-especially-negative/ ). A Pew Research Center survey published in June found that majorities in nine of the 10 European countries surveyed held unfavorable views of the United States. Europeans may disagree about their own politics, but disapproval of America is one subject on which many seem remarkably united.
The New Yorkers and Californians who left home expecting a hero's welcome may discover that sharing a European's dislike of Donald Trump doesn't automatically make them honorary Europeans. Some American expatriates interviewed by Wired described coldness, condescension, and outright mockery of their American identities. Apparently, denouncing one's homeland is no guarantee of acceptance in somebody else's.
Ireland remains, in my admittedly biased opinion, about the only country in Western Europe where genuine affection for Americans still comes naturally. Golf enthusiasts like [Bill Murray](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNNPMNxHanE ) can tour the Irish countryside and find real warmth and friendly conversations. As an Irishman, I understand if some readers say I'm biased. Perhaps, but I'm also right. You don't need to be a Hollywood legend to be warmly embraced. The Irish have a genuine, heartfelt appreciation for our transatlantic cousins, though calls to kick Rosie O'Donnell out are increasing by the day.
Elsewhere, the reception can be considerably frostier.
Social media feeds and shameless influencers convinced credulous Americans to abandon their lives and embrace a supposed utopian paradise. They mistook strangers' advice for a practical relocation strategy. They imagined a continent without America's political divisions, only to discover that Europe has plenty of its own, along with economic stagnation, immigration controversies, and governments that can make Washington's bureaucrats look positively energetic.
Some are now returning home with their tails firmly between their legs, embarrassed and, one hopes, slightly more grateful than before to be citizens of the United States. One American who returned from Berlin told Wired he had begun to wonder whether he had overreacted to the political situation back home.
It's an expensive way to discover that America has rather more going for it than the people who spend their lives complaining about it care to admit.
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2026-10-25 15:00:00 UTC

Since 9/11, Western leaders have repeatedly insisted that radical Islam has little to do with the religion’s mainstream teachings — and that Islam, as a whole, is good.
But historian and author Raymond Ibrahim argues that this comforting narrative ignores centuries of religious texts, legal traditions, and historical precedent.
“Unfortunately here in the West, it’s become so mangled and, you know, apparently an impossible question to answer,” Ibrahim tells Freitas.
Islam, Ibrahim says, is “actually very simple, and every Muslim knows what Islam teaches.”
Some of what people believe is simply “radical Islam” are beliefs like “killing the apostate or having slaves, having sex slaves, concubines, treating the non-Muslim inferior, as an inferior subject,” and “killing someone because he blasphemed against Muhammad.”
“All of these are 100% Islamic. There’s no question to this, and anyone who wants to argue otherwise, be he Muslim or non-Muslim, is either an idiot or a liar,” Ibrahim says.
“This is just not even open to debate, OK, it’s in the scriptures. It’s in the Quran. It’s in the Hadith. All the scholars and schools of law have agreed to it,” he explains.
“The Muslim who does not do those things … they do exist, OK, he’s good, but he’s not the representative of Islam. We want to convince ourselves that Islam is by nature the good guys. And then you have the few crazy guys,” he continues.
“It’s, like you said, the opposite. Islam by nature is radical because it teaches things that are inherently antithetical to Western norms,” he adds.
Radical Islam, he says, “is the mainstream way.”
“It’s always been understood. You want to know what Islam is? OK, stop listening to the American apologist who no Muslim even has heard of,” he tells Freitas.
“Go to the Muslim world and see what happens there. You will find Christians are subjugated. They’re being persecuted. They’re sometimes being killed. They are not allowed to have churches. They’re being thrown in jail because they shared a Facebook post that’s negative about Muhammad, OK, that’s real Islam. It’s happening now,” he continues. “So why on earth would I think it’s not the real thing?”
“Making the Argument with Nick Freitas” is available on [BlazeTV+](http://blazetv.com/nick ), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Nickjfreitas ), and major podcast platforms.
Start watching Nick Freitas NOW at [blazetv.com](http://blazetv.com/nick ) and use the promo code NICK for $20 off your BlazeTV+ subscription.
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2026-10-25 13:30:00 UTC

After several stops in pivotal cities, America’s most theory-fueled tech titan, Peter Thiel, came to Nashville to deliver his [four-part lecture series](https://luma.com/do6chah5 ) on the Antichrist. To make an extremely long story extremely short, Thiel portrays the Antichrist as a biblical figure we should take seriously — and think seriously about how to keep him off our timeline.
Thiel’s answer begins with America. In his telling, only the United States has the size and power to prevent the Antichrist's rise to global domination, thanks to our singular combination of relatively strong Christianity and relatively strong technology. It's the kind of counterintuitive position that has marked Thiel's second career as a public intellectual.
Obsessing over the Antichrist turns him into the perfect enemy, whose evil seems to justify monopolizing your attention. It's a hugely tempting way to forget all about Christ Himself.
For Thiel, the secret is that the Antichrist is not only anti-Christian — opposing Christ while seemingly usurping His role — but also **anti-technology**.
Herein lies the twist.
Reading St. Paul's warning about the promise of “[peace and safety](https://www.hoover.org/research/part-ii-apocalypse-now-peter-thiel-ancient-prophecies-and-modern-tech ),” Thiel imagines an Antichrist offering protection through immense technological power, then opposing [further technological progress](https://archive.ph/8oXvJ ) that might threaten his own authority.
One seems forced to conclude that keeping the Antichrist at bay requires an open-ended commitment to both more Christianity and more technology. But to make this line of argument compelling, certain countervailing dynamics must be left on the cutting-room floor.
Even on its own terms, the Antichrist — or the Anti-Christian impulse — would surely embrace whatever tools best empower the wielder to “prove” that anything Jesus could do, he can do better. Those tools are obviously technological, especially the forms of tech used to make other tools still more powerful, all-consuming, alluring, and seemingly salvific.
**RELATED:**[** ****Marco Rubio’s spicy Greece speech left out the most crucial ingredient**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/marco-rubios-spicy-greece-speech-left-out-the-most-crucial-ingredient )
Mark Schiefelbein/POOL/AFP/Getty Images
It's extremely difficult to mentally model the mysterious point at which the Antichrist or his forerunners would insist we halt technological progress. Why would another breakthrough necessarily expose their pretensions rather than increase their power? Why would the fiends suddenly fear the same machinery they used to make themselves seem rapturously godlike?
The problem is worsened by Thiel's related remark, in a [conversation with Joe Rogan](https://podscripts.co/podcasts/the-joe-rogan-experience/2190-peter-thiel ), that a civilization capable of faster-than-light travel would have to be a civilization of “angels or demons.” He was speculating about alien societies and the terrifying military power of hypothetical warp-drive weapons, not claiming that literal angels and demons pilot spacecraft.
Still, the comparison invites questions. If even a demonic civilization could command such technology, why would an Anti-Christian regime reject it? And if angelic power already dwarfs ours, why imagine our technological acceleration is the decisive defense?
**RELATED:**[** ****Now they’re saying the AIs built ‘secret civilizations’ — the truth is far worse**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/now-theyre-saying-the-ais-built-secret-civilizations-the-truth-is-far-worse )
Ole_CNX/Getty Images
These questions have a place in the holy tradition of the Christian church. But for most Americans, amid the insane intensity of today's accelerating technological transformation, they are enough to make your head spin. Paying close attention to what's going on, especially if you're not paid to do so, is an invitation to being, as techies and gamers say, “one-shotted” by the experience — knocked out at a single stroke.
It's important that some skilled people devote serious energy to discerning how to avoid a smothering global control system that persecutes and seeks to replace Christ and Christianity. But listening to Christ Himself, for starters, it's essential that many more people at every socioeconomic level not devote their lives to identifying and defeating the Antichrist.
The Christian focus is simple: judging yourself before others; combating your own sin rather than obsessing over external enemies; trusting that God is in control rather than trying to build an independent victory system.
And funnily enough, much as the Lord promises that your temporal needs will be met if you [seek first the eternally needful](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A33&version=ESV ), the difficult practice of your own spiritual purification and endurance may be the best way to steer your neighbors away from false gods and false Christs. Not by lecturing or controlling them, but by silently attracting them to God with the fruits of godliness, as a flower attracts a bee.
Obsessing over the Antichrist turns him into the perfect enemy, whose evil seems to justify monopolizing your attention. It's a hugely tempting way to forget all about Christ Himself. Those with important things to say about preserving American sovereignty in an idolatrous and totalizing world would be especially well served by remembering the deepest reasons why silence is so golden.
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2026-10-25 12:00:00 UTC

California Highway Patrol-Monterey officials shared photos of what they [said](https://www.facebook.com/CHPMontereyArea/posts/pfbid0LNs8diQjhKx3HsBm4SgJmxcjbPbvpiAz1zFiq3YUhS3avLRzBVTcmhth7aC1F9GBl ) came from a recent arrest of a 19-year-old driver for DUI.
The CHP said in their Facebook post that "if you’re under 21, the message is simple: Don’t drink, and always stay sober behind the wheel."
'That’s gonna be an expensive shirt!'
Officials added, "Driving under the influence puts your life and the lives of others at risk. One bad decision can have lasting consequences."
"Make responsible choices, stay sober, and never get behind the wheel impaired," the CHP also said.
It certainly was not an unusual arrest — but the driver's T-shirt choice is most definitely eye-catching ... for all the wrong reasons.
**RELATED: **[**Florida female, 24, allegedly plows into parked car, smacks car's owner — and her DUI arrest video is a hoot**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/florida-female-24-allegedly-plows-into-parked-car-smacks-car-s-owner-and-her-dui-arrest-video-is-a-hoot )
Image source: California Highway Patrol-Monterey
That's right. The T-shirt's message said, "This is no time to be sober."
One has to wonder what thoughts the CHP officer who made the arrest had going through his head when he got a gander at the driver's rather damning piece of clothing.
Some commenters who reacted to the CHP's post shared a few gems:<li>"That’s gonna be an expensive shirt!" one commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CHPMontereyArea/posts/pfbid0LgfeuDiChXAeE9BPqji9yr3Zr5D1dR6swUmZ7XWq1EXXGxgwtCZufHv9DpM4sUARl?comment_id=1858261142207378" target="_blank">wrote</a>.</li><li>"Wow, wear that shirt and drive impaired, underage? 'Don't blame others for the road you are on, that's your own asphalt!' Thanks CHP for teaching this young man a lesson and helping keep us safe," another user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CHPMontereyArea/posts/pfbid0LgfeuDiChXAeE9BPqji9yr3Zr5D1dR6swUmZ7XWq1EXXGxgwtCZufHv9DpM4sUARl?comment_id=1420666689613883" target="_blank">said</a>.</li><li>"This is why prison is needed for 1st time offenders," another commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CHPMontereyArea/posts/pfbid0LgfeuDiChXAeE9BPqji9yr3Zr5D1dR6swUmZ7XWq1EXXGxgwtCZufHv9DpM4sUARl?comment_id=1002233902905516" target="_blank">said</a>. "Make them think twice."</li>
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2026-10-25 10:00:00 UTC

Years ago, my wife and I walked into a Nashville restaurant and found every waiting bench occupied. Young men took up many of the seats.
Gracie was using two canes. Her prosthetic legs were clearly visible. The young men appeared oblivious.
If our manners depend on applause, we have more learning to do ourselves.
“Which of you is going to offer her your seat?” I asked pointedly. Embarrassed, they all jumped up. They recognized what the moment required once someone brought it to their attention. Embarrassment can be a good teacher.
But boys shouldn’t have to wait for a stranger in a restaurant to teach them consideration. Men can teach those lessons much earlier, often through gestures so ordinary that a boy absorbs them before he understands their meaning. Removing a hat is one of them.
In [1 Corinthians 11:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/1%20Corinthians%2011%3A4 ), Paul addresses men praying with their heads covered. For generations, Christian men removed their hats during prayer and in church. Women followed a different tradition, rooted in the same passage. A woman’s Sunday hat and her husband’s uncovered head could both express reverence.
Military and civilian customs also made uncovering a gesture of respect. In 1745, the [Coldstream Guards](https://qmmuseum.army.mil/research/vignettes/origin-of-the-hand-salute.html ) instructed soldiers to salute by bringing their hands to their hats and bowing rather than removing them, helping shape the modern hand salute. The [Emily Post Institute](https://emilypost.com/advice/hats-off-hat-etiquette-for-everyone ) still advises men to uncover during worship, meals, and the national anthem.
I learned the gesture before I learned the history. My father wore a Navy captain’s cap adorned with an eagle. When he entered a building, he removed it and cradled it in his hand. He didn’t announce that he was demonstrating respect. I just watched him do it.
I’ve seen men remove their hats as funeral processions passed, honoring people whose names they didn’t know. At gravesides, they stood bareheaded beside grieving families. They didn’t need an introduction to recognize someone else’s sorrow.
From my usual perch at the church piano, I’ve watched younger men arrive for worship or funerals with their hats still on. Some may dismiss the custom. Others may never have been taught.
In a country arguing over what a woman is, perhaps we ought to spend some time teaching boys what a man is. Particularly a gentleman.
**RELATED: **[**Before pride drives the tractor through the fence**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/before-pride-drives-the-tractor-through-the-fence )
Peter Rosenberger
Holding a door for a woman is another place to start. Any door. Most women respond graciously. Occasionally, one responds derisively or remains absorbed in her phone. Hold it anyway. Her response needn’t dictate your manners.
My father expected that courtesy of me. If our manners depend on applause, we have more learning to do ourselves.
I taught my sons to stand when a woman leaves or returns to the table and to help seat her. When I extend my hand for a handshake, I remove my glove. Even in a Montana winter, though I try to keep the introductions brief.
One of my sons told me how sad he finds it that so many in his generation, and the one following, struggle with basic introductions: shaking a hand, looking someone in the eye, and speaking clearly. Those moments can open a friendship, begin a job interview, or help someone feel welcome. Boys need men willing to practice with them.
Why do these things? Because consideration ought to require something of us. We rise from a comfortable chair. We pause to hold a door. We expose a hand to the cold to greet someone properly. We recognize that “Yeah” is a poor replacement for “Yes, sir” or “Yes, ma’am.”
Sometimes we surrender a restaurant bench to a woman standing on prosthetic legs.
**RELATED: **[**What Montana taught this Southern storyteller about shutting up**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/what-montana-taught-this-southern-storyteller-about-shutting-up )
Karla Ann Cote/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Some boys have no father at home. Some grown men never had one to teach them either. Grandfathers, uncles, pastors, coaches, and neighbors can pass along what someone once taught them. When necessary, a stranger can speak up too.
Keeping males out of women’s sports is only part of the work. Being male doesn’t automatically make someone a gentleman. We have to teach boys what mature manhood requires, and expect it of grown men: consideration, restraint, and a willingness to put someone else’s needs ahead of our own.
Those lessons take shape in small gestures, repeated until they become habits. A seat offered. A door held. A hat removed.
After moving to Montana, we attended our first rodeo in the community. The announcer asked the men to remove their hats. As I remember it, he called them “lids.”
The invocation echoed through the stands, and we remained standing for the national anthem. Beyond the grounds rose the purple, snowcapped Rockies. A woman on horseback carried the American flag as the crowd joined in singing. Cowboy hats and a few ball caps rested over hearts.
That rodeo reminded me these values are still being taught. A little boy stood in boots and jeans with his cowboy hat over his heart. Someone had taught him. Around him stood men modeling the same lesson.
Sometimes the way back is paying attention to the small things.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/we-argue-about-what-a-woman-is-what-about-a-gentleman.jpg?id=68516385&width=980

2026-10-25 09:00:00 UTC

Over the summer, an archeological team led by Turkish archaeologist Cenker Atila in partnership with the U.S. group Noah’s Ark Scans began drilling and scanning the long-known boat-shaped Durupınar mound near Mount Ararat in Turkey.
The hundreds of soil samples they collected are still being tested in labs. Thus far, however, there has been no proof it’s Noah’s ark, despite a wave of headlines and social media posts claiming the ark had been found.
Dr. Jeremiah Johnston — a New Testament scholar who has written extensively on biblical artifacts, including the Shroud of Turin, the James Ossuary, and Dead Sea Scrolls — joined BlazeTV host and pastor of Lakepointe Church Josh Howerton.
Howerton begins with a straightforward question: “Why haven't they just dug the thing up yet?”
“I wish they would. If you have a half-million dollars, I'll go there and start excavating today,” Johnston jokes.
One of the main reasons the ark hasn’t been excavated, he explains, is because the nation of Turkey is predominantly Muslim.
“They want you to go to Konya and see the whirling dervishes. They want you to go see Muhammad's beard and cry over that. …So there is a resistance from the government to anything that would confirm the biblical narrative for Christianity and Judaism,” he tells Howerton.
Johnston suspects that the archeological team likely had to resort to “bribery” just to conduct scans and collect samples. “I'm sure they've had to pay a few people off just to get the exceptions to do it,” he says.
But even without a proper excavation, there are several facts Howerton says have people believing that the ark is indeed Noah’s, most notably: The length and width of the Durupınar formation is consistent with biblical measurements for the ark; the location (near Mount Ararat) is consistent with the Bible’s description of where Noah’s ark landed; ancient pottery fragments were discovered near the formation; and the Arzap stones — large upright stones with holes drilled near the top — were found in villages near the Durupınar formation, which some believe to be drogue anchors (weights) from the ark.
Howerton points out that the evidence has been convincing enough for some outlets to report that the Durupınar formation has been [“100% confirmed”](https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16148499/noahs-ark-durupinar-mount-ararat.html ) to be Noah’s Ark.
The following day, the official Noah’s Ark Scans account [posted](https://x.com/noahsarkscans/status/2102753651517538486 ): “We are 100% sure that the Daily Mail will come under fire for this headline. But knowing what we know now, we are also 100% sure that they are not going to have to issue a retraction. We will be releasing more information soon.”
Johnson takes a cautiously hopeful approach.
“I want to see what **all** of the evidence actually has to say,” he says, “and so I'm all for digging. I'm all for finding it.”
“I hope that we find parts of Noah's ark someday in our lifetime. … I believe we're living in a time, thanks to technology, where there is a controlled revelation based on technology where God is using the stones to cry out that totally authenticate the Word of God. It's the most exciting time ever to be a Christian,” he continues.
However, there are still many questions to be answered.
“We got to have discernment,” says Johnston, citing 1 Thessalonians 5:20’s directive to "Prove all things."
“Durupınar is named after the captain that saw it. He went back in 1960 to Durupınar and studied it with geologists, who concluded that it is a freak of nature. It is a natural geological formation, not Noah's ark,” he says.
Further, the formation, he explains, is in a “valley” of the Ararat Mountains, not on the peaks, as scripture indicates, meaning “there’s an elevation issue.”
Thirdly, the reigning consensus among archeologists, both secular and Christian, is that the Durupınar formation is not Noah’s ark.
“Archaeology is a full-contact sport,” says Johnston.
“To get an archaeologist to agree with another archaeologist is a miracle. The one thing that 100% of credentialed archaeologists agree on is that Durupınar is not the site of Noah's ark.”
To hear all the reasons why the long-standing view among geologists and archaeologists who have studied the site is that the Durupınar formation is a natural geological feature, and not the remains of a wooden vessel or Noah’s ark, watch the episode above.
Join BlazeTV+ and start watching Josh Howerton today at [blazetv.com/JOSH](http://get.blazetv.com/josh?utm_campaign=2026-AUG-JOSH-LAUNCH&utm_medium=o_website_blaze-media_all-users_web-article ). Use promo code JOSH to get $20 off your subscription.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=68492818&width=980

2026-10-25 08:30:00 UTC

In May 2007, Kirk Cameron went on national television to do something 2,000 years of Christian theology had somehow failed to do: prove the existence of God "100%, absolutely, without the use of faith."
Cameron, long removed from "Growing Pains" and working as an evangelical apologist, was appearing with evangelist Ray Comfort on ABC's "Nightline." Facing them were Brian Sapient and a woman identified as Kelly from the Rational Response Squad, an atheist group best known for encouraging people to post videos denying the Holy Spirit.
An easier opponent might accept the task of defending moral relativism. Kagan didn't; he simply denied that atheism required him to do any such thing.
"Proving the existence of God is actually a lot easier than you think," Cameron [announced](https://abcnews.com/Nightline/Story?id=3148940 ), with the confidence of someone about to produce the Holy Grail from his carry-on luggage.
Christians have been arguing with unbelievers since Paul encountered the Epicureans and Stoics in Athens. And ever since Paul's preaching made a guy doze off and fall three stories from a window, the results have been mixed.
That doesn't make atheism true. It doesn't even necessarily mean the atheist had the better argument. A Christian can be defending something true and still lose badly — by promising too much, preparing for the wrong opponent, losing his temper, putting words in the other man's mouth, or asking evidence to prove more than it can.
Here are five examples worth studying.##
1. Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort: Don't overpromise
At least nobody could accuse Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort of hiding their lamps under a bushel — even if they could have used a little more oil.
After seeing an ABC report on the Rational Response Squad, Comfort contacted "Nightline" and proposed a public debate. "We cannot only prove that God exists," he wrote, "but we can prove that the atheist doesn't."
By the time Cameron delivered his opening statement, the undertaking had become even more ambitious. "We'd like to show you that the existence of God can be proven, 100%, absolutely, without the use of faith."
Cameron then promised to expose evolution as a "fairy tale for grownups."
Even if Cameron and Comfort had somehow demolished Darwinian evolution that night, God would not automatically follow. And even a successful argument for a creator still leaves some distance between "something caused the universe" and "Jesus Christ rose from the dead."
Comfort proceeded with arguments familiar to anyone who has encountered his evangelistic ministry: A painting implies a painter; a building implies a builder; creation implies a Creator.
Those arguments can be debated. What Comfort could not plausibly do in 90 minutes was deliver what Cameron had promised: absolute scientific proof of God without faith. Unless adding "100%, absolutely" to your assertions counts as science.
Christian reaction afterward was not uniformly charitable. Contemporary Christian reporting quoted believers who thought Cameron and Comfort had arrived badly underprepared. Pastor Marty Duren's verdict was especially concise: The duo had gotten ["completely shellacked."](https://www.christianpost.com/news/comfort-and-cameron-well-intentioned-but-unprepared-christians-say.html )
At least they didn't bring a banana.##
2. Dinesh D'Souza: Don't debate an opponent who isn't there
By the time Dinesh D'Souza faced New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman at the University of North Carolina in 2009, he had developed a solid playbook for sparring with "New Atheists" like Christopher Hitchens.
And that was the problem. Ehrman wasn't Hitchens or Richard Dawkins. He wasn't even, strictly speaking, an atheist. He was an agnostic who had once been an evangelical Christian and gradually lost his faith. The problem of suffering played an especially important role in that journey.
Jason Staples, a Christian biblical scholar who attended the debate, described what followed as [a "beatdown."](https://www.jasonstaples.com/religion-theology/a-brief-report-on-the-ehrman-dsouza-debate/ )
D'Souza, Staples wrote immediately afterward, seemed to be working from material meant for "an atheist such as Hitchens" and appeared "entirely unfamiliar with the perspective Ehrman would present." "After an adequate opening," Staples said, D'Souza struggled badly during the questions, while Ehrman remained comfortably within the case he had come to make.
The mismatch produced awkward moments. D'Souza attacked atheistic explanations of morality and treated Ehrman as though he were asserting that God did not exist.
"You keep referring to atheists, which I would consider myself to be an agnostic," Ehrman reminded him, as D'Souza's canned responses failed to engage with Ehrman's case about the sheer amount of apparently pointless suffering in the world.##
3. William Lane Craig: Don’t smuggle in a premise you still have to prove
William Lane Craig is no Kirk Cameron. The philosopher and Christian apologist has spent decades debating prominent atheists and is widely regarded — including by many opponents — as exceptionally good at it.
Which makes his 2009 encounter with Yale philosopher Shelly Kagan all the more interesting.
The subject was whether God is necessary for morality. Craig's argument begins with a proposition many Christians find intuitively powerful: If God does not exist, what makes moral values and duties objectively true? Why is torturing a child actually wrong rather than merely something human beings strongly dislike?
An easier opponent might accept the task of defending moral relativism. Kagan didn't; he simply denied that atheism required him to do any such thing. Maybe objective morality existed and could be understood in terms of principles perfectly rational agents would agree upon, Kagan suggested. Whatever the ultimate account, he wasn't willing to concede that removing God from the equation removed objective morality with him.
Craig could no longer spend much time showing that relativism produced unacceptable consequences.
Kagan also pressed Craig on another argument: that without God, our actions ultimately come to nothing. Humanity disappears; the universe dies; none of it lasts. Kagan's rebuttal was wonderfully ordinary. His relationship with his wife doesn't become meaningless because both of them will someday be dead. A thing needn't last forever to matter.
Even Catholic apologist Trent Horn has singled Kagan out as an unusually formidable opponent, praising how thoroughly he had prepared and how effectively he was able to pin Craig down.
Craig later qualified his loss [by explaining ](https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/contemporary-moral-arguments/ )that Veritas Forum organizers had specifically asked for a friendly dialogue rather than a "knock-down debate," and he continued to reject Kagan's proposed foundations for morality.[](https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/contemporary-moral-arguments/ )
Fair enough. But he still let Kagan expose a flaw common to many practiced debaters: becoming so good at defeating familiar positions that you stop noticing when the person across the table doesn't hold them.##
4. Jonathan McLatchie: Don’t let anger lose the debate
Christian apologist Jonathan McLatchie debated prominent atheist Matt Dillahunty in 2020 over the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. Unfortunately, he couldn't quite summon the Christ-like patience necessary to resist Dillahunty's Philistine-level baiting.
Dillahunty is an aggressive interlocutor who interrupts, challenges premises, and is not especially concerned with making his opponent comfortable. McLatchie became increasingly frustrated as Dillahunty rejected evidence McLatchie thought deserved serious consideration.
Finally, McLatchie had enough. "If you're just going to keep dismissing the evidence, then we're done," he said. Then he disappeared from the call.
Dillahunty looked momentarily surprised. "Oh, did he just leave?"
McLatchie eventually returned and apologized, explaining that he had become frustrated by Dillahunty's interruptions. Catholic apologist Trent Horn later [replayed the incident ](https://www.catholic.com/audio/cot/821-the-lesson-to-learn-from-matt-dillahuntys-rage-quit )as an object lesson for Christians considering public debate: With very few exceptions, quitting because you're angry makes you look bad.[](https://www.catholic.com/audio/cot/821-the-lesson-to-learn-from-matt-dillahuntys-rage-quit )
What's interesting is that McLatchie didn't necessarily need rescuing on the substance. Christian writer James Bishop, reviewing the exchange from McLatchie's side, thought Dillahunty had behaved badly and believed McLatchie had the stronger arguments.
Once McLatchie walked out, none of that mattered very much.##
5. William Lane Craig: Don’t ask evidence to prove too much
Craig's 2014 debate with Sean Carroll was a much more formidable affair.
The subject was "The Existence of God in Light of Contemporary Cosmology." Carroll wasn't a professional atheist who happened to have read some popular physics. He was a theoretical physicist and cosmologist at Caltech.
Craig knew this, of course. And unlike Cameron and Comfort, he was hardly wandering into unfamiliar intellectual territory. Craig had long appealed to evidence from modern physics in defense of the Kalam cosmological argument: Whatever begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore, the universe has a cause.
Among the evidence Craig invoked was the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem, which concerns the past incompleteness of certain expanding space-time models.
Carroll objected that Craig was making it carry too much weight. Where Craig treated BGV as important evidence that the universe had a beginning, Carroll emphasized that the theorem operates under particular assumptions and describes the limits of certain classical space-time models. It does not by itself establish that all physical reality came into existence at a first moment.
You don't have to take Carroll's word for it. Physicist Aron Wall later examined the debate in detail. Wall is a Christian, and Craig had invoked Wall's own work during the exchange. On BGV, however, Wall agreed with Carroll's crucial point.
The theorem's assumptions need not hold in every cosmological model, he wrote. There are models that contract and then expand. [His conclusion](https://www.wall.org/~aron/blog/2014/05/ ) was unusually clear: BGV "is not by itself particularly strong evidence for a beginning."
Craig didn't lose because Christians have no business discussing cosmology. The problem was simpler. A theorem can be correct and still establish less than the person citing it wants.
Christians believe truth is not merely useful but sacred. We therefore have less excuse than anyone for stretching an argument until it points in a direction we happen to like.
The atheist who catches us doing this hasn't disproved God — but he has done us a favor.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/5-times-christians-lost-debates-with-atheists-and-what-they-did-wrong.jpg?id=68513179&width=980

2026-10-24 19:00:00 UTC

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) did a better job explaining ideologically driven lawfare than I have managed in years. Speaking at the [University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics](https://politics.uchicago.edu/events/speaker-series/24147 ) on October 13, she said she wanted “signature cases” going after not just President Trump but “the people who enabled him.” Then she explained who the message was really for:
> I want young people coming out of school to say, "Should I go work for the Trump administration? Like, that sounds like fun. I might get an opportunity." I want them to be like, "Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that." I want that deterrence message sent. That is quite an admission from a sitting U.S. senator.
Slotkin just gave future targets reason to question what a congressional investigation is really for.
Her defenders now insist she meant only people who break the law. But nobody needs a “deterrence message” telling graduates not to commit crimes. We already have one. It’s called the criminal code. What Slotkin described was making the job itself radioactive. The people she wants to deter are prospective employees, not convicted criminals.
And an investigation can punish someone long before a court finds any wrongdoing. Subpoenas arrive. Lawyers start billing. Careers stall. A young staffer who did nothing wrong could emerge vindicated and still be bankrupt. Too often the only help on offer comes from a well-connected lawyer who says, “I’ll take your case once you raise a legal defense fund that covers my $1,500 an hour.”
Slotkin is a former CIA analyst, and I interpret her comments as part political bombast and part psychological preconditioning for what she hopes comes next. The latter is the CIA’s specialty. As [I have written here before](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-left-wants-to-put-maga-on-the-couch-then-on-trial ), many on the left treat MAGA as a cult. That framing widens the circle of culpability until it reaches rank-and-file staffers whose only offense was service and association. Slotkin is preparing the public for the prospect of going after those people. Now that she has drawn condemnation, she wants to explain away the implications of her own words.
**RELATED: **[**The right is building its own lawfare defense machine — finally**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-right-is-building-its-own-lawfare-defense-machine-finally )
Arturbo/Getty Images
This is where we come in.
The public-interest law firm we are building at the Oversight Project Foundation, with Jeff Clark leading the litigation effort, exists to meet that moment. This country cannot function when the legal system is used to harass innocent Americans out of serving their country or associating with whom they choose. Lawfare takes disputes that belong in politics and drags them into court. That’s wrong no matter who holds power.
Slotkin didn’t just hurt the public case for lawfare. She may have hurt the **legal** one, too.
In [**Watkins v. United States**](https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/354/178/ ), the Supreme Court said Congress has no power to “expose for the sake of exposure.” Congress is not a law enforcement or trial agency. Its investigative power serves a legislative purpose, not the punishment of political enemies. Those limits exist for a reason.
Slotkin just gave future targets reason to question what a congressional investigation is really for. She said she wants the threat of cases to frighten young people away from government service. If her allies later use subpoenas to harass people for association rather than investigate wrongdoing, every defense lawyer will have her own words to quote back to her. No press office clarification can make that admission disappear.
If her colleagues were wise, they’d ask her to walk it back. They won’t. I’m glad she said it.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/you-dont-have-to-convict-a-trump-aide-to-bankrupt-one.jpg?id=68516440&width=980

2026-10-24 18:00:00 UTC

France’s riots, looting, and destruction may look like a political crisis, but BlazeTV host Steve Deace believes the problem goes far deeper than that.
What’s happening, Deace argues, is the result of “social contagions the West unleashed upon itself” and are “all now assembling in France.”
While he notes that Islam is a reason, it’s not the reason. Rather, Deace says, “It’s a galvanizer here.”
“We’re a country founded, remember, on 12 vestiges of the Christian church. And the 13th was meant to be an ecumenical colony where all the vestiges of the Christian church could feel welcome at the same time,” he explains.###
“Christianity is literally the mother's milk. Who are the people that founded the country? The Puritans founded the country. Much of what you know of it today, founded by Puritans,” he explains, noting that Puritans “were a deeply devout Christian religious sect.”
“Now, what changed was the counterculture,” he says. “And what when we talk about a counterculture, what is it countering? Christianity. That’s what it’s countering. It’s countering Christianity. New gender ethics, new sexual ethics, new criminal ethics, new child rearing ethics,” he continues.
“We’re countering the Christian ethic. That’s the culture we’re countering,” he adds.
And France is currently the most up-to-date example of what happens when you counter the Christian ethic.
In data from 2023 to 2025, it’s revealed that the spiritual state of France is abysmal.
“Over 40% of France self-identifies as Catholic. Yet only 5% attends mass monthly or more. Since your particular sect of Christianity is heavily driven by liturgical practice,” Deace explains.
“So essentially 95% of the Catholics in France are not actually Catholic,” he says, noting that even “worse,” only “1.1% of the French population is evangelical.”
“This is a nation of nearly 70 million people. Some of the most beautiful sanctuaries ever built in the history of Christendom are from there in France. So what happened? They let go of the rope,” he says.
But it’s not just France, it’s all of Europe.
“Everything’s changed in Europe as well,” Deace says. “And why? Revelation 2:5. This is what happens when the lamp goes out. And this is what will happen here if the lamp goes out as well.”
“Revival or bust,” he adds.##
Want more from Steve Deace?To enjoy more of Steve's take on national politics, Christian worldview, and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/deace/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_stevedeace ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-24 16:30:00 UTC

Do you ever notice ... how people who insist words are violence can get awfully violent with their words?
And those self-righteous ones so eager to scream and shout about diversity? Some of them have a terrible time sitting next to it.
The WNBA cannot keep presenting itself as a model of inclusion while women who disagree with its prevailing politics are treated as intruders.
Not diversity of shirts. They’re fine with shirts.
Until you wear the wrong one.
Why is it that George Carlin’s NIMBY comes right to mind?##
Shirt shriftAt Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Jen Sey and three friends [wore XX-XY Athletics shirts](https://noticias.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/hostile-valkyries-fans-verbally-attacked-womens-sports-activists-wnba-finals-game-1-san-francisco ).
Sey, a former national gymnastics champion who [founded the company](https://www.xx-xyathletics.com/ ), believes women’s sports should be reserved for females.
Up front. So do I.
Now, I’ve sat near people wearing things I didn’t like. Most of them said, *Michigan Wolverines*.
We don’t say the “M-word” in our house.
But somehow, we made it through the afternoon. Even had a beer and some laughs.
But apparently, four women wearing XX-XY shirts presented a situation that could not be resolved by watching a basketball game.
Jen and her friends wore their shirts where other people could see them. On their body.
At a public event in a sports coliseum.
How dare they?
The audacity.
Apparently, they should have worn their shirts inside their purses.
As security escorted Sey’s group up the stairs, video captured the insults and obscene gestures from many tolerant fans.
Screamed at.
"You’re disgusting!"*
*Several flipped them off.##
Fashion fascistsSey says some spectators [told her to kill herself ](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jennifer-sey-claims-valkyries-fans-124951239.html )and said they hoped she would die. Real class.
In San Francisco.
The city of love and peace.
Security questioned the group about complaints that they were provoking other fans. How you might ask?
By wearing the shirts.
OutKick [reported](https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/group-fans-kicked-out-portland-thorns-nwsl-match-transphobic-pro-women-apparel ) that the guard affirmed the shirts did not violate the Fan Code of Conduct. Duh.
They were allowed back to their seats.
According to Sey, they also received a security escort out after the game for their protection.
Of course, the league and the Valkyries both declined to comment when USA Today reached out.
I remember when the difficult part of leaving a basketball game was finding your car.
Ah, the good old days.
Quite an evening celebrating women. At a women’s basketball game.
Buy a ticket. Wear a shirt.
Receive a complimentary demonstration of why more women are afraid to speak up.##
Flag foulingBefore that same game, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert [condemned ](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-issues-warning-fans-spewing-145453205.html )people using social media to “spew vitriol and hate and racism and misogyny at our players.”
She also discussed investments in player security.
Good.
Protect players.
But while you’re making your goodwill rounds, commissioner, there are a few women in the stands who could use some of that concern.
You won’t need to search their social media accounts.
Just follow the screaming to the section where women are being verbally assaulted over their clothing choice.
Meanwhile, both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the floor before the national anthem and returned after it ended.
By the way, both teams [walked off again](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-reportedly-changed-policy-national-102003174.html ) before Game 2 and before Game 3. So let me try to understand this.
Players can make a disgraceful public statement through their absence.
But paying customers make a statement with a shirt and suddenly we need to discuss whether they’re antagonizing people.##
Fine printThe league hadn’t answered questions about the teams walking out three games in a row. This column posts Saturday, just before [Game 4](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-finals-game-4-time-154200435.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall ). Will they continue their streak?
The league’s rulebook clearly directs players, coaches, and trainers how to conduct themselves during the national anthem.
But apparently, screw the rules.
Perhaps the commissioner is still looking for the page. Here, let me help you.
It can be found [on page 75](https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/2026-WNBA-Official-Rule-Book.pdf ) under the "Comments on Rules" section, specifically under Section H ("Player/Team Conduct and Dress"), subsection 2.
“Players, coaches, and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the national anthem."
Those are fairly specific locations.
I’ve looked at a basketball court. Neither one is in the locker room.
Which raises the question.
Why is the WNBA so hostile to America and patriotism? The teams can leave during the anthem.
The commissioner can leave the questions unanswered.
But four women in the wrong shirts require immediate attention. And by the way, this wasn’t the first shirt emergency.##
Storm warningEarlier this season, Seattle Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton berated two teenage fans supporting Sophie Cunningham.
The league [fined her and suspended her](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49488391/storm-fined-co-owner-attend-games-fan-confrontation ) from five home games. But consider how far things have gone off the rails.
An owner of a women’s professional sports team confronting teenage girls for supporting a female player.
There’s a youth outreach program that could use some work.
In Atlanta, a mother and daughter at an Atlanta game were told to cover their XX-XY shirts or leave.
Notice a pattern here?
The WNBA later acknowledged that the demand should not have happened. How many times do they have to keep saying that?
You’d think that would be a fairly easy instruction to pass along to employees. “Don’t do that again.”
Four words. Fits on a Post-it.
You could put it right next to the employee schedule.##
Mixed messageMeanwhile, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve [wore a shirt supporting trans kids](https://www.latimes.com/sports/sparks/story/2026-08-02/lynx-coach-wears-shirt-supporting-trans-kids-joining-protests ) while coaching against Indiana.
Her supporters celebrate that as advocacy. Sey’s shirt gets treated as provocation. Same method of expression.
Different politics.
Very different reception.
Apparently, the problem isn’t putting a message on cotton. It’s failing to get the message approved.
Then there’s Cunningham herself, booed and subjected to protests after speaking up for female sports.
She also [took a brutal foul](https://www.wane.com/top-stories/chicagos-dijonai-carrington-ejected-for-foul-on-sophie-cunningham-and-posts-white-privilege/ ) from DiJonai Carrington that resulted in Carrington’s ejection. While that doesn’t establish a political motive for the foul, it does belong in any honest discussion of player safety.
Where is all that celebrated room for strong, outspoken women when the outspoken woman is Sophie?
The WNBA cannot keep presenting itself as a model of inclusion while women who disagree with its prevailing politics are treated as intruders.
That is hypocrisy.
And a pregame statement condemning hate doesn’t fix it when paying customers encounter hate inside the building.
**RELATED: **[**WNBA sends shocking letter to Congress about men playing in the league — but leaves out one huge detail**](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/wnba-responds-to-congressional-letter )
Michael Reaves/Getty Images##
Stuck in the middleInstead, here we are again, at the Finals, discussing whether women supporting female sports have dressed appropriately to attend female sports.
Players, coaches, owners, and fans are entitled to political opinions. So is the woman sitting beside them.
Even if hers comes in a different font.
That’s what people do with shirts.
We’ve been putting opinions on cotton for decades.
Half the people at the airport seem to be delivering a statement from their stomach. Most of us manage to read it without summoning security.
But in the stands trying to watch an WNBA game, it’s agitating.
If your response to a shirt is to scream obscenities at the woman wearing it, I’m less interested in what’s printed on her chest than what’s coming out of your mouth.
To borrow from [Stealers Wheel](https://www.wane.com/top-stories/chicagos-dijonai-carrington-ejected-for-foul-on-sophie-cunningham-and-posts-white-privilege/ ) ... clowns to the left of me.
Jokers to the right. And here we are ... stuck in the middle.
With the baffling WNBA and women wondering why a league built around their sex has such trouble tolerating their opinions.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-wnba-has-a-tolerance-problem-and-its-not-coming-from-the-women-in-xx-xy-shirts.jpg?id=68518119&width=980

2026-10-24 16:30:00 UTC

Silicon Valley’s self-appointed gods have money and power. They also have an almost religious faith in their own genius. They want to hack human biology, outsmart aging, and, in ever-growing numbers, [cheat death](https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-3-how-to-not-die-silicon-valley/ ). They seem less interested in the possibility that human beings need more than fancy technology and an inflated sense of their own importance.
The average tech billionaire looks in the mirror and sees an immortal deity trapped in a temporary meat suit. Some of these guys are borderline insane, even pumping their [teenage son's](https://fortune.com/2023/05/23/bryan-johnson-tech-ceo-spends-2-million-year-young-swapping-blood-17-year-old-son-talmage-70-father/ ) blood into their veins. They pop 50 custom supplement pills before breakfast and drop $35,000 on rather questionable boutique longevity clinics. They treat the human body like a dodgy software update that they can fix with enough cash and constant hacking. They are terrified of the one thing their wealth simply cannot buy: death and departure from this earth.
Good health shouldn’t be a luxury status symbol.
Enter Mark Wahlberg, the Catholic actor and fitness fanatic. A self-made businessman, he offers a markedly different vision: faith, discipline, hard work, and the belief that ordinary citizens deserve access to better health without having to sell a kidney to afford it. While the tech elite indulge their deluded fantasies of human perfection, Wahlberg is [building a gym](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/16/mark-wahlberg-wants-to-take-on-the-longevity-startup-crowd-with-an-affordable-gym-concept/ ). Unlike fashionable cultural tastemakers who lecture people on how to think, speak, and live a “better” life, he forged a remarkable career doing things his own way and makes no apologies for it.
Wahlberg approaches the problem from a completely different angle. He wakes up at four in the morning to pray, hit the weights, and get a head start on an almost always hectic day. He credits his Catholic faith and a Boston priest who pulled him out of a tailspin for saving his life. The tech gurus believe they are their own creators. Wahlberg knows he answers to a higher power, which automatically makes him far more realistic about human limits. ##
Keeping health humanThat grounding shapes his whole business model. His Municipal Gym initiative aims to bring the high-end perks of elite wellness clubs — like detailed blood analysis and high-tech recovery treatments — to regular Americans at an affordable price. Today, the modern wellness industry operates like a country club where the initiation fee is a down payment on a house. Everyday working families are left with overpriced processed food and memberships for crowded, often unsanitary gyms. Wahlberg’s setup tries to bridge that gap. Good health shouldn’t be a luxury status symbol reserved exclusively for hedge fund managers and tech CEOs who drink green juice from a gold chalice.
This whole effort comes from a guy who actually knows what it means to start at the absolute bottom, with absolutely nothing to his name. Long before he starred in blockbuster movies or built multimillion-dollar business empires, Wahlberg was a troubled kid on the dangerous streets of Dorchester. He racked up criminal charges as a teen and easily could have ended up dead or behind bars for life. He didn't blame others for his problems, nor did he turn his life around through a government handout. Instead he took personal responsibility. He sought out mentors who refused to sugarcoat reality and set out to rewrite the entire narrative. He has been married for 17 years, has four children, and is worth about [$400 million](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/mark-wahlberg-net-worth/ ). Wahlberg embodies the American dream in every way imaginable.
**RELATED: [Seattle votes to ban grocery 'surveillance pricing'. Your data shouldn't set your food bill.](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/seattle-votes-to-ban-grocery-surveillance-pricing-your-data-shouldn-t-set-your-food-bill )**
urbazon/Getty Images
Modern culture loves to give people permanent excuses for truly terrible decisions. Wahlberg’s life story rejects the victim mindset entirely. He proves that past mistakes don't have to dictate a person's future destination. Instead of preaching to young kids from the back of a limousine, he designs physical spaces where at-risk youth can show up and build self-respect through real effort.
The brand's name might not be the catchiest, but it points back to the public basketball courts and golf courses of his youth. Those sacred spots were the original equalizers in American life. You showed up and played hard. Whether you won or lost, you shook hands and were thankful for the opportunity to socialize and meet like-minded people. Nobody cared who your daddy was or how much money sat in your bank account. The Silicon Valley crowd seems to have forgotten that basic principle, or deliberately rejected it. They prefer gated communities. They absolutely adore private islands and exclusive medical labs designed to keep the general public far from their impregnable bubble.
The contrast grows when you look at how both sides view basic biology. Tech moguls want to spend billions chasing a digital fountain of youth while ignoring the simplest daily habits. Wahlberg’s advice is far more practical. Get off the couch, put on pants, and start lifting heavy stuff regularly. Sure, his gym concept uses advanced testing and modern supplements, but he isn't selling miracles that ultimately end in misery. He is sensible and brutally honest. ##
No excusesThat lesson hits particularly hard for young men today. Society spends an inordinate amount of time telling young men what they shouldn’t be, while offering almost no positive outlets for their natural drive. A weight room is an unforgiving environment where excuse-making gets you nowhere. As someone who spends a lot of time in these training areas, I know how intense they can be. If a man doesn't do the work, the barbell stays on the floor, and everyone else takes note.
It helps that Wahlberg isn't presenting himself as some genius who has all the answers. He took a massive financial beating when his investment in the F45 fitness chain [went south](https://www.afr.com/technology/f45-to-delist-from-new-york-stock-exchange-20230817-p5dxcp ) and got delisted from the stock exchange in 2023. Most Hollywood celebrities would have buried the story under a mountain of PR spin and fake news. Wahlberg took the hit on the chin. He admitted he learned hard lessons about choosing the right business partners, and he immediately picked himself up to launch his next project. That is admirable, and it is very much the American way.
That willingness to dust off and try again is what makes his message resonate. It’s simple and effective: Go to bed early, wake up early, say your prayers, stay fit, and do your utmost to ensure your loved ones have the best life possible. While the self-anointed wizards of Silicon Valley spend billions trying to live forever, Wahlberg is giving regular people both the opportunity and a place to live better right now.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/this-christian-celebrity-s-new-gym-offers-health-for-normal-people-not-superhuman-biotech.jpg?id=68502524&width=980

2026-10-24 15:00:00 UTC

If the economy is as bad as everyone says, why are Americans preparing to spend nearly $1 billion on Halloween costumes for their dogs?
That’s the question BlazeTV hosts Stu Burguiere and Dave Landau are asking as headlines warn of financial strain while consumers continue to spend on nonessential purchases.
“I’m a bit confused about the economy overall,” Stu says.
“Because, you know, when you have an economy, you have millions and millions of people participating in it. Some people are going to be doing very well,” he continues.
“Some people are going to be doing very poorly. That is the situation with every economy,” he adds.###
And the attitude surrounding the economy “is very negative.”
“People are very upset about the economy, stuff costs too much. Now, I would argue when you look back at the data that almost all of this rise occurred during the Biden administration, like that’s when all the prices went up,” Stu says.
“At the same time, we’ve got stock market near all-time highs. We’ve got companies going through the roof. Obviously, AI being the main function there,” he continues.
“And we have weird measures of the economy,” he adds, before saying: “Dog parents.”
“Dog parents are going to spend nearly a billion dollars on Halloween costumes this year for their dogs. Now, I got to be honest with you, like there’s definitely pictures of my dogs in Halloween costumes,” Stu explains.
“I don’t care what anybody says,” he continues. “This isn’t the Fauci show where we kill the beagles. We dress them up.”
“Yes, it’s adorable,” Dave says.##
Want more from Stu and Dave?To enjoy more of Stu and Dave's lethal blend of wit, humor, and insightful commentary [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/stuanddavedoamerica/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_stuanddavedoamerica ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-24 13:30:00 UTC

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s thoughtful and inspiring [speech](https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/10/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks ) delivered at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, deserves to be remembered for a long time to come, especially in an age increasingly dominated by ideological slogans and short attention spans.
The speech combines impressive erudition and soaring rhetoric with an astute, if inevitably controversial, analysis of the contemporary international scene. More fundamentally, it seeks to come to terms with the foundational virtues and principles that have defined Western civilization since its origins in Greek antiquity.
His critics were not wrong to note what he largely presupposed — that spiritedness must be guided by practical reason.
The Athens speech only indirectly addresses the biblical pole that has also informed and shaped the Western heart, mind, and soul. Given the immediate purposes of Rubio’s speech, it is somewhat understandable that his remarks seemingly set aside the invigorating tensions — but not irreconcilable differences — between Athens and Jerusalem, and between magnanimity and humility, that have given life and purpose to the Western adventure.
But a careful reading of his October 7 address suggests that Rubio is fully aware that one foundational pole cannot thrive today without the other.
In any case, as William Galston [wrote](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-pagan-nationalism-of-marco-rubios-athens-speech-dc530f58 ) in the Wall Street Journal, Rubio’s was a serious speech that deserves a serious response, though Galston overshot in reducing it to unabashed “pagan nationalism.” He spends most of his time giving the secretary of state Thucydidean lessons in the folly of hubris.
Galston cites the disastrous Syracusan Expedition, in which 7,000 Athenian prisoners met their horrible fate in the underground pits of Sicily, and the arrogance displayed by the Athenian ambassadors during the Melian Dialogue as examples of the dangers inherent in the pagan nationalism Rubio supposedly extols.
There is indeed much of value to be discerned in contemplating those timeless Thucydidean lessons. But Galston, like a commentator in Spectator World, mistakes Rubio for the unscrupulous Alcibiades, whose flexibility of soul seemingly knew no limits. One needs to avoid polemics and take Rubio on his own terms.
As Paul Seaton points out in a particularly fine commentary on the speech in [the Catholic World Report](https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2026/10/12/speaking-to-greeks-in-athens-and-to-a-few-others/?utm ), Rubio’s remarks, however thoughtful, inspiring, and controversial, serve practical political purposes while also offering a serious analysis of the role of classical Greece in shaping Western civilization.
Speaking in Athens, Rubio understandably accentuated the Greek character of Western civilization. This one-sidedness is appropriate for the exercise of political rhetoric, though perhaps not in a more disinterested historical, political, and philosophical work of scholarly analysis. Still, political rhetoric must also be judged by its plausibility and verisimilitude.
**RELATED: **[**Marco Rubio’s spicy Greece speech left out the most crucial ingredient**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/marco-rubios-spicy-greece-speech-left-out-the-most-crucial-ingredient )
Mark Schiefelbein/POOL/AFP/Getty Images
We must then be attentive to what Seaton calls the “concentric circle of audiences” that Rubio presumably had in mind. These include contemporary Greeks, whose country is now governed by a conservative government with close ties to the United States. Rubio emphasizes, perhaps inordinately, the Greek origins of democracy without noting the serious reservations the authors of "The Federalist Papers" had about Greek democracies, which too often oscillated between anarchy and despotism.
On the other hand, Rubio is surely right that Plutarch’s “Lives of Noble Greeks and Romans” helped inspire the founders’ admiration for lives lived at the service of liberty and human excellence.
Rubio’s audience also includes Europeans more broadly, particularly Western Europeans who seem to have lost what the French political philosopher Pierre Manent has called “the instinct for political existence.” Perhaps this accounts for Rubio’s rather unilateral defense of power politics, since contemporary Europeans tend to think there can be right without might, liberty without national self-respect, and even self-assertion.
Rubio is right in these circumstances to remind Europeans of the indispensable role of *thumos* in the life of the soul and the life of a polity worth its salt. He also ably defends the moral legitimacy of the self-governing nation-state and forcefully warns against undue and utterly debilitating Western guilt and self-hatred. He takes pointed and well-deserved aim at “outsourcing more of our sovereignty” to “global bureaucracies far beyond the reach of our control.”
Our imaginations need to be stirred by Homeric heroes, but in our civilization shaped by Socrates and Jesus, we cannot simply imitate them.
So far, so good. But in articulating the excellences of Greek civilization and its contribution to civilization simply, Rubio goes somewhat astray. His account of Greek life rightly emphasizes its agonistic character, its “fierce individuality and relentless ambition,” its “daring exploration and invention,” its “yearning for discovery, for adventure, risk and glory.” These are genuine goods, but only up to a point.
When confronted by what Tocqueville called “democratic despotism,” in which weak and ineffectual human beings lose any sense of moral agency and active civic life, these Greek virtues seem like inestimable goods.
But an “impatience with the notion of impossibility, chafing at all boundaries and limits” cannot be the final word either. Political wisdom weaves together restraint and possibility, ambition and limits, moral and civic agency with a warning against self-defeating hubris.
The “common anthropology” of the West, rightly lauded on this occasion by Rubio, indeed invokes “the idea of a natural order,” “a distinctive understanding of virtue,” the nonsubjective character of “truth, goodness, and beauty,” and “the whole tradition of natural law” to which human beings must wisely defer. The best of the Greek and Roman philosophers — Plato, Aristotle, Cicero — and a Christian thinker of the rank of St. Augustine taught us how to get this balance right.
Moderation and magnanimity, greatness and an appreciation of limits, must ultimately go hand in hand.
**RELATED: **[**This is what existential politics looks like**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/this-is-what-existential-politics-looks-like )
Blaze Media Illustration
In our listless and dispirited age, the secretary of state was not wrong to evoke the indispensability of *thumos* — “the fire of passion, strength, courage, pride,” which Rubio calls “the heart of civilization.” But his critics were not wrong to note what he largely presupposed — that spiritedness must be guided by practical reason of the kind lauded by Aristotle in Book 6 of his "Ethics."
Our imaginations need to be stirred by Homeric heroes, but in our civilization shaped by Socrates and Jesus, we cannot simply imitate them.
In “On Duties,” Cicero insists that there can be no worthy human life or political community without a spirited defense of the precious goods at the heart of civilization itself. But in the end, the great Roman orator, statesman, and political philosopher insists that “arms” must “yield to the toga.”
What Cicero called a “spirit lofty and magnificent” values physical courage, but “domestic courage” above all. “Strength of body” must be guided by “strength of mind,” spiritedness by what Aristotle and Cicero called “right reason,” which has a place for the spirited defense of liberty and the full range of the human virtues.
Aristotle, too, amply recognizes a place for spiritedness guided and informed by practical reason. In Book 7 of his “Politics,” he presents the political liberty of the Greek cities as a judicious mean between northern peoples like the Celts, “filled with spiritedness” but “relatively lacking in thought and art,” and Asian peoples of his time who had souls “endowed with thought and art” but were “lacking in spiritedness.”
Aristotle could not be clearer: One needs to be both “spirited and endowed with thought” to be free and to govern oneself “in the best manner.” On a future occasion, this fuller account of the role of spiritedness — and its limits — might be explored by the secretary of state.
**RELATED: **[**Keeping the West’s flame burning**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/keeping-the-wests-flame-burning )
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
In the eloquent and penetrating defense of heroism and duty with which Rubio’s speech culminates, he firmly differentiates the nobility of those who are “willing to die for their cause” from those who “worship death.” The heroism lauded by an older West is, he rightly insists, “wholly different from what we see, even now, for example from fanatics like the radical Mullahs of Iran, whose cult of death hails child suicide bombers as national heroes, and portrays martyrdom as an end in itself.”
There is no heroism without decency, without respect for what Rubio elsewhere calls the “natural law.” He thus points, however indirectly, to the ultimate need to bring Greek and Judeo-Christian wisdom together to do justice to the noble inheritance passed on to us by Athens and Jerusalem (and Rome).
Rubio’s reference in his talk to the “unapologetic pursuit of national power” by the United States, however, risks confusing power as an indispensable means with power as an end in itself, the fatal flaw of *machtpolitik* or overwrought realism.
In Athens, Secretary of State Marco Rubio returned in a most serious and suggestive way to foundational questions about the meaning of Western civilization that thoughtful citizens and statesmen avoid at their peril. There was no more fitting place to do so than in Athens, with everything it represents. Let us take up his challenge and continue the civic dialogue that can only enrich a free — and spirited — people.
**Editor’s note: This article was originally published in [the American Mind](https://americanmind.org/ ).**
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2026-10-24 12:00:00 UTC

A 44-year-old female motorist opened a porn site on her phone just minutes before causing a deadly freeway crash in Utah, the [Los Angeles Times reported](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-22/socal-resident-fatal-crash-website ), citing authorities.
Christine Chao of Rosemead in Los Angeles County was driving a blue Toyota Matrix on Interstate 15 south of Salt Lake City around 2 p.m. June 12 when she opened a website “commonly used to view pornographic videos,” police discovered after searching her phone, the paper said, citing the charging document filed in Juab County (Utah) Justice Court.
'We will miss this dear, sweet, kind, friendly man. Everyone was a friend to him.'
Chao, 44, was charged Tuesday with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, [KSL-TV reported](https://www.ksl.com/article/51638707/driver-allegedly-looking-up-porn-charged-in-fatal-i-15-crash ).
Traffic was slowed down because of construction, and Chao hit a Mazda 3, which then hit a Buick Enclave in front of it, the Times said, citing prosecutors allegations.
A passenger in the car Chao hit was in critical condition when officers arrived and later died, the paper said, citing court records.
Police found no brake marks that would have indicated Chao tried to stop before crashing, and she admitted to officers that she caused the accident, the Times added, citing the records.
Police got a warrant to search her phone and found that she had opened a pornographic website less than two minutes before the crash, the paper said.
"An examination of the phone pursuant to the warrant showed that [Chao] had accessed the website xvideos.com less than two minutes before the crash occurred," KSL reported, citing charging documents. "This website is commonly used to view pornographic videos."
Chao was not arrested at the scene, Utah Highway Patrol spokesperson Zachary Randall said in an email, the Times noted.
Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 17, prosecutors told the paper.
The victim was Scott LaVar Lichfield, 66, the Times said, citing Randall. Litchfield lived in Fillmore, Utah, with his wife and “loved and adored” playing Santa Claus, the paper added, citing [his obituary](https://www.millardccp.com/articles/obituaries/scott-lavar-lichfield/ ).
“We will miss this dear, sweet, kind, friendly man,” the obituary read. “Everyone was a friend to him.”
**RELATED: **[**Pornhub flees Texas after SCOTUS ruling, citing free speech and costs — but it's hiding the malevolent truth**](https://www.theblaze.com/shows/sara-gonzales-unfiltered/pornhub-flees-tx-after-scotus-ruling-citing-free-speech-and-costs-but-theyre-hiding-the-malevolent-truth )
What's more, Litchfield's obituary said he and his wife celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary the day before he died; he is survived by five children.
"The very best thing he loved was just being with his children and grandchildren. He would see a grandchild and say to them, 'Come give me a hug.' He loved them so very much. He read to them, watched movies with them, played chess, and built legos. They all loved their Papa/Pop Pop," the obituary stated.
"He loved and adored playing Santa Claus. He even looked like him. He had so many little kids over the years come up to him wherever we were at and smile shyly or ask him if he was Santa. One time a little boy came up to him at a hotel and said to him, 'Santa, are you on vacation?' Oh, he loved that," his obituary added. "He even had a red winter jacket to keep the magic alive all winter."
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/female-motorist-44-opened-porn-site-on-her-phone-just-before-causing-deadly-freeway-crash-authorities-say.png?id=68516575&width=980

2026-10-24 10:30:00 UTC

It should be utterly embarrassing that the United States, a global leader in cutting-edge technology, still has election practices that are no better than those in many third-world nations. Election officials in Los Angeles recently [admitted](https://nypost.com/2026/10/20/us-news/socal-election-safeguards-questioned-over-voter-citizenship-verification/ ) in federal court that they possess no independent means of verifying whether the people on their voter rolls are U.S. citizens. They simply take the voter’s word for it.
The Justice Department this week [charged 28 noncitizens](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-28-foreign-nationals-california-election-crimes ) in the Golden State with election crimes, including voting. Eleven of the defendants were arrested.
The evidence that noncitizens appear on rolls and sometimes vote is no longer theoretical.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter’s [response](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-19/feds-arrest-alleged-noncitizen-voters-los-angeles-california-election ) was direct: “This Department of Justice will not look the other way while noncitizens vote in federal elections. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for California and L.A. County.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office replied that California follows the National Voter Registration Act’s 1990s self-attestation rules. That is precisely the problem. The law that currently governs federal registration treats citizenship as a matter of personal declaration rather than documentary fact. In a state with millions of noncitizens, that is an invitation for error at best and fraud at worst.
The [Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act](https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roys-save-america-act-passes-house-representatives ) was written to close the gap by requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register and photo identification to vote. Currently stalled in the Senate, the SAVE Act is not radical. It is the minimum standard most other developed democracies already enforce. Its failure to become law is not the result of technical mystery. It is the result of political choice.
The evidence that noncitizens appear on rolls and sometimes vote is no longer theoretical.
A reported [software glitch](https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/new-jersey-admits-6600-non-citizens-were-on-new-jersey-voter-rolls-after-motor-vehicles-software-error/ ) in New Jersey added roughly 6,600 self-declared noncitizens to the rolls. The state's later review found that about [340 cast ballots](https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/08/19/nj-voter-registration-gaffe/ ). Iowa’s secretary of state [identified](https://sos.iowa.gov/news-resources/iowa-secretary-states-audit-voter-registration-lists-finds-277-confirmed-noncitizens ) 277 noncitizens registered; 35 of them cast ballots counted in the 2024 election. Ohio [found](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/ohio-sec-of-state-moves-to-purge-alleged-noncitizens-from-voter-rolls/ ) 137 people who had twice confirmed noncitizenship to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and were on the rolls anyway. A grand jury indicted several for illegal voting across multiple cycles.
**RELATED: **[**Kamala’s voter-roll freakout hits blue states hard**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/kamalas-voter-roll-freakout-hits-blue-states-hard )
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Federal prosecutors continue to bring cases — 16 aliens charged in North Carolina, New York, and Idaho for illegal voting and false claims of citizenship, among others. These are not internet rumors. They are findings by secretaries of state and federal charging documents.
Critics respond that the numbers are small relative to total ballots and have never swung a statewide or national election. That is true in most races and irrelevant to the principle. Every illegal vote cancels a legal one. In close local contests — school boards, city councils, state legislative seats — a few dozen votes can decide outcomes.
When California is handed a list of 20,000 suspected cases and declines to sequester the ballots or conduct a prompt, transparent review, it is not protecting election integrity. It is prioritizing the administrative convenience of self-attestation over the statutory requirement that only citizens vote in federal elections.
Officials who minimize the issue are part of the problem. Newsom’s office [described](https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/211266 ) the 28 California charges as “0.0001% of California voters” and argued that raising the issue near an election “sows distrust.” Meanwhile, Los Angeles County attorneys have called the federal list “unreliable” and said there is “no basis” for the claim of widespread problems.
Election administrators in other states also try to muddy the waters, saying that noncitizen voting is “vanishingly rare,” “infinitesimal,” or so uncommon that aggressive verification is unnecessary. These statements treat any documented instance as a rounding error rather than a violation of law.
**RELATED: **[**Republicans cannot serve two masters on immigration**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/republicans-cannot-serve-two-masters-on-immigration )
Kent NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images
The remedy is straightforward and has been long available. Documentary proof of citizenship at registration closes the self-attestation loophole. Photo identification at the polls confirms that the person casting the ballot matches the registrant. Systematic comparison of voter rolls against federal immigration databases, followed by prompt removal of confirmed noncitizens, keeps the lists clean.
States that have implemented elements of this approach — Wyoming, Kansas, and others — have not collapsed into chaos. The extra administrative work is well worth the price of a system in which citizenship is a prerequisite rather than a suggestion.
Immigration enforcement does not stop at the border. It includes the recognition that the right to vote is reserved for citizens. When officials treat noncitizen registration and voting as an acceptable residual cost of motor-voter convenience, they are making a policy choice that dilutes the franchise of the people who live under the laws those votes enact.
Election integrity is not a mystery. It requires the political courage to require proof, to clean the rolls, and to pass the SAVE Act. The alternative is continued reliance on trust alone in a system that California’s own federal prosecutor has shown cannot verify the most basic eligibility requirement. Citizens are entitled to better.
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2026-10-24 09:30:00 UTC

A 47-year-old woman was arrested on murder and attempted murder charges after she intentionally caused a car accident, police say.
On Tuesday, the Pike County Sheriff's Office said in a [statement](https://www.facebook.com/PikeCoILSheriff/posts/october-20-2026on-07-24-26-the-pike-county-sheriffs-department-responded-to-a-tw/1634449518729260/ ) on Facebook that officers responded to a vehicle collision on U.S. route 54 near Atlas Hill in Illinois on July 24.
'Her plan was to kill all three of them. ... Her plan was to kill herself, and she was afraid of dying alone.'
Three occupants of a passenger vehicle crashed head-on into a semitruck pulling a trailer.
The occupants of the Toyota RAV4 were transported to different hospitals, where one passenger died from her injuries.
After an investigation, police determined that the driver, Jamie Rhode of Griggsville, had purposely steered into the semitruck in an attempt to kill the two passengers and herself.
The passenger who died was identified as 73-year-old Cherie K. Wells of Pittsfield, who was Rhode's mother.
The other passenger was identified as Rhode's teenage son, who was injured but survived.
Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood [told](https://people.com/ill-woman-intentionally-crashed-head-on-into-semi-tractor-sheriff-says-12188412 ) People magazine that Rhode had just picked up her mother from a nursing home before she drove into the truck.
"Her plan was to kill all three of them," Greenwood said. "Her plan was to kill herself, and she was afraid of dying alone."
**RELATED: **[**Video shows police PULLING 39 illegal aliens from trailer that caught FIRE while fleeing from police**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/video-tractor-trailor-migrants-burning )
The driver of the semitruck was not injured.
Rhode was booked into the Pike County Jail on Tuesday.
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2026-10-24 09:00:00 UTC

Muslims may be allowed to practice their religion in the United States, but Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck says that it can never go farther than that.
“[A] young accounting student in Iran has just been sentenced to death,” Glenn begins, explaining that she was put in solitary confinement for three months after being found protesting.
“Rights groups say they beat her during the arrest. Then they put her into solitary confinement for about three months, pressed her for a confession, and denied her the lawyer of her choosing,” he explains.
She was sentenced to 12 and a half years by the revolutionary court “for acting against national security.”
“Did she kill pregnant people? No. Was she acting violent? No. She was taking to the streets and protesting, and they’re going to execute her,” Glenn says.
And what was her crime?
“She insulted the prophet,” Glenn says, pointing out that the United States is also executing someone — though for a much different reason.
“We’re going to execute somebody who injured 32 and killed 13, including a pregnant woman, in the name of his prophet. So she didn’t murder. There’s no theft, no violence. Words,” he says.
“And by the way, this is not a rogue judge. Iran’s penal code says it plainly. Anyone who insults the prophet of Islam shall be sentenced to death,” he continues.
“The court didn’t break the law. The court is following the law. This is what Sharia law looks like when it holds the gavel,” he adds.
Which is why, Glenn says, Sharia can never hold court in America.
“The moment a religious rule is enforced by the state or by a mob that thinks it’s doing the state’s work, it stops being your faith and starts being my master,” he says. “That’s why Sharia law cannot exist in the Western world.”##
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2026-10-24 00:08:13 UTC

Former ESPN reporter Britt McHenry was reportedly [forced](https://www.tmz.com/2026/10/23/britt-mchenry-fired/ ) to resign from the State Department after a bizarre confrontation caught on video at an NBA game.
Videos [obtained](https://x.com/TMZ/status/2113358764078203012 ) by TMZ show McHenry at the Washington Wizards game on Wednesday tossing a drink at a fan and then blowing a kiss at the fan twice as she leaves the section.
'It was an unfortunate situation, and that's why drinks were thrown.'
A source familiar with the matter [told](https://pagesix.com/2026/10/23/society/trump-staffer-britt-mchenry-forced-to-resign-over-nba-scuffle-after-getting-promoted-the-same-day/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost ) Page Six that McHenry was asked to resign as press adviser for the U.S. State Department on Thursday and that she had just been promoted to another position earlier that day.
"She was promoted and fired within 24 hours," the source said to Page Six.
A spokesperson for the State Department told Page Six the department would not comment on internal personnel matters.
YouTuber Andrew Fenichel [posted](https://www.mensjournal.com/news/britt-mchenry-fight-man-identified-andrew-fenichel-wizards-bucks ) a video saying that he was with McHenry at the game and claimed that the other fan had been making misogynistic and inappropriate jokes about the players.
"It was an unfortunate situation, and that's why drinks were thrown," he said.
He said that McHenry ended up leaving and that he watched the rest of the game from another section.
Fenichel also felt the need to explain that he is "not MAGA" despite his friendship with McHenry.
Other witnesses told Page Six the rowdy fan tossed a drink at McHenry first and that fans then booed and chanted, "Get her out!"
**RELATED: **[**Fox Nation's Britt McHenry reveals that she has a brain tumor**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/brittmchenry-has-brain-cancer )
McHenry [claimed](https://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/06/28/ex-espn-reporter-suggests-she-was-fired-because-shes-conservative ) in 2017 that she was fired from ESPN over her conservative views and [later sued](https://www.theblaze.com/news/britt-mchenry-sues-fox-news-and-former-co-host-alleging-sexual-harassment-and-retaliation ) Fox News over alleged repeated sexual harassment from a co-host. They settled the case, and she left Fox Nation.
The Wizards won the home opening game 128 to 116.
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2026-10-23 22:20:24 UTC

Illegal aliens do not have due process rights that entitle them to bond hearings during deportation proceedings, according to a pivotal ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Trump administration has been fast-tracking removal proceedings in order to fulfill the president's promise of mass deportations.
'Big win in the Fifth Circuit on mandatory detention for illegal aliens, a principle codified in 1996 legislation but ignored by the deep state for decades.'
That effort got a significant boost from a split ruling Friday that found illegal immigrants are not due their Fifth Amendment rights because they have not been admitted into the United States.
The lawsuit arose out of the detentions of three illegal aliens in Texas who were refused a bond hearing. None had criminal histories, [according](https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/press-release/fifth-circuit-immigration-detention-ruling-major-setback-due-process/ ) to the American Immigration Council.
Judge Cory Wilson wrote the majority opinion in the 10 to 7 ruling.
"Because Petitioners have never been admitted to the United States, due process does not entitle them to additional proceedings beyond what Congress has provided before they may be detained pending removal," Wilson [wrote](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/23/appeals-court-ice-mass-detention-01134109 ).
"Big win in the Fifth Circuit on mandatory detention for illegal aliens, a principle codified in 1996 legislation but ignored by the deep state for decades," [responded](https://x.com/DHSGenCounsel/status/2113678052819599653 ) James Percival, the general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security.
Politico called it the "most consequential ruling yet" in support of the president's deportations plan.
The American Immigration Council called the decision an "affront" to the Constitution.
**RELATED: **[**Federal court SLAPS down New York and hands victory to Trump and ICE**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/hochul-ice-masks-trump-judge )
"The principle at stake here is simple: If the government wants to detain someone, it has to explain why depriving them of their liberty is necessary," said AIC litigation attorney Rebecca Cassler.
"And anyone who is detained has the right to ask a judge for review of that detention. Instead, this ruling allows the government to lock people up when detention plainly serves no purpose, and without any way to challenge it," she added.
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2026-10-23 21:00:00 UTC

From WNBA players leaving the court before the national anthem to LeBron James stretching through it — BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock sees a troubling pattern in professional basketball.
“This has been a bit of a tradition in the WNBA — teams not being on the court for the national anthem," Whitlock explains, noting that while they have a list of excuses as to why they skip it, he believes it doesn’t actually have anything to do with them.
“The predominant number of WNBA players and teams do not want to be on the court during the national anthem. That’s been going on since Colin Kaepernick, since it became a fad and a trend. I think it’s a mistake,” he says.
And LeBron James has been doing it as well.
“LeBron James has a little tradition of his own that is getting more attention at the beginning of this NBA season because Game 1, night one in Madison Square Garden, his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers, are playing at Madison Square Garden against the defending champions,” Whitlock explains.
"During the national anthem," LeBron has been “doing some sort of stretching routine, some sort of golf-swing routine, some sort of free-throw or jump-shot routine during the national anthem.”
While Whitlock notes that as an older man, LeBron likely does need more warm-up time, he also believes “there’s something bigger going on.”
“What we’re seeing from LeBron James, what we’ve seen and have seen from the WNBA, is a lack of gratitude,” he says, explaining that this points to a lack of wisdom.
“As you get wise, you understand the routine of the national anthem. And you understand the mentality of gratitude. The Bible is a story that should hammer home to people like, man, we got a lot to be grateful for. No matter what country we’re living in, we have a lot to be grateful for,” Whitlock says.
And you don’t have to agree with everything the country has done in order to be grateful for what it has given you.
“We have a lot to be grateful for,” Whitlock says, “but when you live in a secular society, people aren’t filled with gratitude.”
Rather, he says, “they’re filled with complaint.”
“And even someone like LeBron James, who was born to a single mother, who — the mother was 16 years old — born in the ghetto, born into poverty, not knowing his father, was able to rise up to be a billionaire with a wife, with three kids, live in mansions scattered all across America, all across the globe,” he explains.
And Whitlock believes they’re sending out a “smoke signal” in order to let "black people that have a complaint with America" know they’re “on their side.”
“And so,” he says, “instead of expressing gratitude of any kind during those two minutes, they got to let off a complaint.”##
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2026-10-23 20:35:00 UTC

Humanitarian aid will be arriving for the residents of a Ukrainian city thanks to the efforts of first lady Melania Trump.
The first lady said in a [press release](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/10/first-lady-melania-trump-secures-ceasefire-between-russia-and-ukraine-localized-to-oleshky/ ) Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to cease military action in the city of Oleshky and allow a civilian evacuation.
'What she wants to do is save children, and that’s her focus. ... She wants to see babies come back to their families.'
"The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster. Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water," she said in the press release.
"The people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks," she added. "It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible."
The limited ceasefire will begin Thursday.
President Donald Trump responded to the agreement during a question-and-answer period with reporters in Washington, D.C.
"What she wants to do is save children, and that’s her focus," he said. "Both sides are cooperating with her, so she's doing a very good job."
"She wants to see babies come back to their families. And that's between Russia and Ukraine," he [added.](https://x.com/andweknow/status/2113656196569931843 )
The first lady also said in her press release that the evacuation would allow people to leave for Russia as well as other parts of Ukraine.
"I have also secured an impartial American media organization to accompany and document Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground throughout the process," she added. "This will play a significant role in ensuring that the wishes of each family are faithfully respected."
**RELATED: **[**The cartels are learning drone warfare from Ukraine**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-cartels-are-learning-drone-warfare-from-ukraine )
The war has been ravaging Ukraine since Russia invaded in Feb. 2022.
Oleshky was [captured](https://www.courthousenews.com/melania-trump-helps-forge-a-ceasefire-deal-in-a-russian-occupied-ukrainian-city-white-house-says/ ) by Russia on its first day of the invasion and has been occupied since then. At one time it had about 24,000 residents.
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2026-10-23 19:30:00 UTC

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has faced several long-running allegations involving her immigration history, citizenship, and marriage to her former husband — who is believed by many to be her brother.
BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler breaks down the allegations that the Trump administration may be pursuing, starting with allegation number one.
The first allegation is that Ilhan Omar’s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, “lied on his asylum application — that he came to the United States through a refugee program intended to give safe passage to the people of Somalia who were being targeted by the Siad Barre regime in Somalia.”
“It was a violent Marxist genocidal regime. Nur Omar Mohamed claimed he was fleeing that regime. What he failed to disclose allegedly on his asylum application is he was actually part of that regime. He was a member of that regime,” Wheeler explains.
“He was a colonel in the regime’s army, likely specializing in propaganda, and he just failed to mention that,” she continues.
“That, of course, would have disqualified him from being granted asylum here in the United States,” she adds.
“Allegation number two,” Wheeler explains, “is that Ilhan Omar falsified her birth date on an official document.”
“Now, if this is true, this would be something that she did. This would not be a crime by her father. And the crime would be false statements or fraud on immigration paperwork,” she says.
Allegation number three is that “if Ilhan Omar’s father was not naturalized, then Ilhan Omar could not have derived naturalization from him, which she herself — this is a point worth making — she herself has been the one who has claimed that that’s how she obtained citizenship, is she derived it from her father.”
“Now, if he was not naturalized at all, if she just made that claim, then she would be lying. The crime there would be illegal procurement of citizenship or fraud misrepresentation in the naturalization process,” Wheeler says.
And the strangest allegation is number four, which is “that Ilhan Omar married her brother to get him a green card.”
“I think the feds are looking into this, because what other reason would there be for them to officially obtain her DNA?”
“Why else would they obtain it officially if not to compare it to Ahmed Elmi, her second husband, who is alleged to be her brother?”##
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2026-10-23 19:13:39 UTC

The Justice Department is reviewing allegations that Corey Lewandowski, a former top adviser to then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, used his power for personal financial gain.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General [referred its investigation of Lewandowski to the Justice Department](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/dhs-watchdog-corey-lewandowski-investigation-justice-department-rcna605049 ) after examining his role in the DHS' $220 million advertising campaign. The probe later widened to allegations that Lewandowski shook down a [company pursuing government contracts](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/dhs-watchdog-corey-lewandowski-investigation-justice-department-rcna605049 ) while he served as Noem's top adviser.
'If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted.'
Lewandowski has not been charged with a crime related to this investigation and denies wrongdoing.
The allegations involve personal financial profit tied to contracts established during Noem's tenure as DHS secretary, a source [told CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-corey-lewandowski-dhs-investigation/ ). The OIG shared its findings with the Justice Department in recent weeks. [Fox News described the referral](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-opens-investigation-trump-ally-corey-lewandowski ) as "criminal."
Lewandowski served at the DHS as a [special government employee](https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-investigates-whether-corey-lewandowski-cashed-in-on-homeland-security-role ) and acted as Noem's senior adviser and de facto chief of staff. He left the department in March after President Donald Trump [removed](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-removes-dhs-secretary-noem-and-announces-her-replacement ) Noem as secretary following questions about her lavish spending and Lewandowski's role in choosing contractors.
Current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified at his [March confirmation hearing](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-sen-markwayne-mullin-testifies-in-confirmation-hearing-for-dhs-secretary ) that the inspector general was reviewing the advertising contract.
**RELATED: [Slotkin's lawfare warning will outlast Trump](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/slotkins-lawfare-warning-will-outlast-trump )**
Getty Images
The probe is also examining allegations that Lewandowski demanded money from GEO Group, a company pursuing unrelated government contracts, in exchange for [lobbying for its interests](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/dhs-watchdog-corey-lewandowski-investigation-justice-department-rcna605049 ) in Washington.
A Lewandowski spokesperson [denied that account in March](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/dhs-watchdog-corey-lewandowski-investigation-justice-department-rcna605049 ).
"This is absolutely false and did not happen — Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the GEO Group, at any time," the spokesperson said.
Noem publicly acknowledged that she personally approved the ad contracts and said Trump was aware of her involvement. Trump said otherwise after her removal.
"I wasn't thrilled with it," [Trump](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/dhs-watchdog-corey-lewandowski-investigation-justice-department-rcna605049 ) told reporters at the time. "I spent less money than that to become president. I didn't know about it."
Under Noem, contracts, grants, and funding obligations above $100,000 required her personal written approval, [according to CBS](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-corey-lewandowski-dhs-investigation/ ). Some officials said the policy created significant backlogs, especially within the Federal Emergency Management Agency and disaster relief funding generally.
Trump addressed the investigation Thursday.
"I heard something about it, but I don't know exactly what it is," Trump told reporters. "All I know is I want my people to be honest, and if they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted."
"I will never do anything to stop the prosecution of someone who's dishonest," Trump said.
He went farther in [remarks reported by Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-opens-investigation-trump-ally-corey-lewandowski ).
"They are stealing from me," Trump said. "So I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do."
Lewandowski's attorney, Adam Trigg, responded in a [statement](https://x.com/CLewandowski_/status/2113448775502967044 ) posted to Lewandowski's X account.
"Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity," Trigg said.
Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone [weighed in on X](https://x.com/RogerJStoneJr/status/2113606690063134910?s=20 ).
"I hired him. Probably the biggest mistake I ever made. He's a talentless piece of human garbage."
Lewandowski managed Trump's 2016 presidential campaign until he was [fired that June](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-opens-investigation-trump-ally-corey-lewandowski ). He later advised Trump's 2020 and 2024 campaigns.
No inspector general report has been made public.
The Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and Lewandowski's lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.
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2026-10-23 18:19:11 UTC

Two former senior FBI officials have been indicted and surrendered to authorities on Friday in connection with Hunter Biden's infamous laptop, [according](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/two-former-fbi-officials-charged-lying-congress-about-hunter-biden-investigations ) to a U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
46-year-old Nikki Cole Floris of Alexandria, Virginia, and 56-year-old Bradley Benavides of Aiken, South Carolina, are alleged to have lied in congressional testimony in 2023.
'No one is above the law, and we will hold accountable all who obstruct the truth.'
The now-defunct Foreign Influence Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which Floris and Benavides had been a part of, led the FBI's mission to combat foreign influence on the 2020 election.
Both Floris and Benavides testified before Congress that the FITF was not involved in the investigation into Hunter Biden's laptop, the [criminal complaint](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/media/1468056/dl?inline ) claims.
FBI Director Kash Patel [said](https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2113639663118221696 ) on social media, "Documentary evidence, contemporaneous communications, and witness accounts contradict their testimony."
Benavides testified that he had learned about the Biden case from Wikipedia, but records allegedly showed that he had been regularly talking about the case with FBI officials up to the 2020 election.
Floris had also allegedly spoken with FBI officials in the FITF and others about Hunter routinely for more than a year.
Patel claimed that Floris had also texted that she was "basically running a shadow government" across the FBI. A screenshot of the text was [posted](https://x.com/JudiciaryGOP/status/2113672151442284633 ) to social media by House Republicans.
"Lying to Congress by anyone strikes at the heart of our democratic system, but when senior FBI agents lie to Congress believing they are above the law, it’s time to bring the hammer of justice down on them," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
“When senior officials entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s security choose deception over duty, they undermine the very institutions they swore to uphold," she added. "Today’s action makes clear that no one is above the law, and we will hold accountable all who obstruct the truth."
**RELATED: **[**Hunter Biden denies running 'rug pull' crypto-scam based on laptop — after it CRASHES **](https://www.theblaze.com/news/hunter-biden-crypto-memecoin-crash )
Both Floris and Benavides [appeared](https://abc7.com/story/2-ex-fbi-officials-charged-making-false-statements-hunter-bidens-laptop/19972560/?cb=1k5kkl9ml ) in a federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday.
Floris' attorney called her a "patriot" in court and implied that the government was bringing up the charges just ahead of the election in order to influence public opinion.
Benavides was a section chief with the FITF from 2019 through the 2020 election, and Floris was a deputy assistant director and "functional head" of the FITF from 2019 until 2022, the complaint said.
"Lying to Congress by senior FBI officials strikes at the heart of our system. No one is above the law," [said](https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2113639663118221696 ) Patel on social media.
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2026-10-23 18:15:00 UTC

President Donald Trump has made no secret of his contempt for the Minnesota Democrat who has long gone by the name "Ilhan Omar." He stated in November, for example, [that](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115474943732989523 ) "she should go back" to her native Somalia — an African nation Trump has [characterized](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115625429081411360 ) as "decadent, backward, and crime ridden."
In light of new revelations about the criminal investigations into the congresswoman, Trump [demanded](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117488067224261864 ) her immediate resignation late Thursday evening and announced, "She will not be legally allowed to be a Member of this August Body from this point forth."##
Some people found somethingHomeland Security Investigations agents searched the [Somali-born ethno-nationalist's](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ilhan-omar-unrepentant-after-video-of-her-ethno-nationalist-somalians-first-speech-goes-viral ) D.C.-area residence on Oct. 12 under a warrant signed by a federal judge, according to [U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro](https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406773980112 ).
'She used a fake name to be sworn in.'
As part of this search — which a DOJ spokesperson [confirmed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/ilhan-omar-home-searched.html?eafs_enabled=false ) to the New York Times was part of an "ongoing federal criminal investigation" and the congresswoman [characterized](https://x.com/Ilhan/status/2109700526518472859?s=20 ) as an "abuse of power" — officers [reportedly](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ilhan-omar-investigations-fraud-immigration ) seized her phone and potentially also [her personal passport](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ilhan-omar-emerges-dc-raid-video-pleading-cash-fight-trump ).
The DOJ generated additional waves on Wednesday with a [court filing](https://www.scribd.com/document/1089261370/Ilhan-Omar-search-warrant-pdf ) that appears to indicate that "Ilhan Abdullahi Omar" is an alias and that the congresswoman's real name is actually "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi."
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.
A source familiar with the investigation subsequently [confirmed](https://nypost.com/2026/10/22/us-news/ilhan-omar-isnt-squad-reps-real-name-feds-bombshell-docs/ ) to the New York Post that "Omar" is not the congresswoman's "real name."
**RELATED: [Ilhan Omar resurfaces for first time since federal raid in tearful cash grab](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ilhan-omar-investigations-fraud-immigration )**
This would suggest that her birth name may have been Elmi — the very same surname as [Ahmed Nur Said Elmi](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/HH9aE9rRqJg-eSVP3IbGqCDjRnM/appointments ), the British-Somali national [reportedly](https://nypost.com/2025/10/01/opinion/vast-fraud-of-somali-migrants-starting-with-ilhan-omar-finally-being-exposed/ ) identified by numerous Somalis as the Democrat's alleged brother.
It's universal practice — even in Somalia — for a sister to share a surname with her brother. The issue in the congresswoman's case is, however, that she was [legally married](https://www.theblaze.com/news/is-ilhan-omar-under-ice-investigation-trumps-post-raises-eyebrows ) to Elmi from 2009 until 2017.
Abdihakim Osman, a self-identified friend of the congresswoman, [claimed](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8013283/Ilhan-Omar-DID-marry-brother-reveals-Somali-community-leader.html ) to the Daily Mail in 2020 that the congresswoman had confirmed that Elmi was her brother and that she married him so he could remain in the United States.
The congresswoman previously [denied](https://archive.ph/NxlmP ) the allegation that she married her brother, calling it "absolutely false and ridiculous."
It is possible that Elmi may simply have been her married name. The New York Post has, however, [obtained](https://nypost.com/2026/10/23/us-news/all-the-clues-ilhan-omar-had-sham-marriage-to-brother-from-marriage-certificate-to-living-with-dirty-dandy/ ) a marriage certificate for Leila Nur Said — a Somali woman believed to be the congresswoman's sister — that lists "Nur Said Elmi" as her father.
A purported expert [claimed](https://nypost.com/2026/10/13/us-news/ilhan-omars-father-was-loyal-to-somali-dictator-misrepresented-himself-as-a-refugee-source/ ) to the Post that the congresswoman's late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, had "misrepresented himself as a refugee" to American authorities and was actually a military commander in "Siad Barre's military regime." He allegedly also went by the name of Nur Said Elmi.
The congresswoman's office said in a statement to Blaze News, "The congresswoman’s name has always been Ilhan Omar. Any claim suggesting otherwise is categorically false and has no basis in fact."##
Family mattersThough the Minnesota congresswoman has long dismissed the allegations about marrying her brother, when asked this week by MS NOW's Chris Hayes whether she is related to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, she responded with uncertainty, [stating](https://youtu.be/sRP9UaijdRA ), "Not to my knowledge."
**RELATED: [Hypocrisy-maxxing: Here's how the Democrats now melting down over Ilhan Omar raid reacted to Mar-a-Lago raid ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/hypocrisy-maxxing-heres-how-the-dems-now-melting-down-over-ilhan-omar-raid-reacted-to-mar-a-lago-raid )**
Trump said in a Truth Social [post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117488067224261864 ) on Thursday, "It was just revealed that Ilhan Omar's name is not Ilhan Omar, the one she used to get elected and sworn into Congress, but rather, it's an entirely different name, Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, and that her last name is, incredibly, also the exact name of her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, the person they said she married and had children with."
While the congresswoman married Elmi, she had multiple children with a man named Ahmed Hirsi, whom she married in a 2002 Muslim ceremony, [legally married](https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/news/15286/41285 ) in 2018, and divorced in 2019.
After suggesting that he didn't buy the congresswoman's "not to my knowledge" response to Hayes, Trump said, "Because she used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must IMMEDIATELY resign from Congress."
"Please inform the Speaker of the House of Representatives, James Michael Johnson, that the Dumocrat Party has just conceded her seat. Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, her real name, has openly admitted to FRAUD," added the president.
Omar [said](https://x.com/IlhanMN/status/2113678575601692766?s=20 ) in response to Trump's statement, "The pedophile protection party’s president is laundering right-wing conspiracy theories through the most corrupt DOJ in American history. Whenever the news turns bad, this creep reaches for one name: mine. So let’s make it crystal clear. My name has always been Ilhan Omar."
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2026-10-23 18:00:00 UTC

Generative AI development moves faster than other tech categories, with new major models coming out several times a year. Google was starting to fall behind, with its last frontier model launching in February, but not any more. The brand-new Gemini 4 Argon is finally here, and this is how it stacks up against the competition.
Google has been falling behind the other frontier AI platforms after it missed its own deadline to launch Gemini 3.5 Pro, which was teased at Google I/O for release in June. Instead, it has been riding on 3.8 Flash, a newer but lighter-weight version of Gemini, to serve as its flagship model. While this is fine for most people who use Gemini for general queries, the Pro version is meant to measure the cutting-edge capabilities of the latest AI models — something Google simply didn’t have.
Critics see Argon as a return to the frontier, with Google finally competing against the other leading AI giants again.
Analysts even started to [question whether Google Gemini was still a frontier model](https://newsletter.semianalysis.com/p/gemini-is-cooked-but-gcp-is-cooking ), since its capabilities were no longer on the leading edge of development. CEO Sundar Pichai disagreed in July, [reportedly claiming](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/sundar-pichai-just-said-something-163107796.html ) that Google is still at “the frontier level of where the frontier will be when Gemini 4 comes out.”
And now [Gemini 4 Argon is here](https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/gemini-4-argon/ ).
Taking cues from OpenAI and Anthropic, Google made Gemini 4 Argon available only to a limited number of “trusted cyber defenders” when it was released at the end of September. However, nearly a month later, Argon is available to the public, specifically for Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers.
Replacing Gemini 3.1 Pro from February 2026, Gemini 4 Argon is a high-end reasoning model built to handle complex tasks. On its website, Google lists several major real-world use cases for the new model. According to the company, ”teams at Google, across enterprises, and in the research community have already been using Argon to land significant impact across fields” including:<li>engineering, where Argon excels at solving complex problems and optimizing software code for better performance. Google used the new model to adjust the way Chrome handles live webpages when switching between tabs, panels, and floating windows, resulting in smoother performance with fewer crashes.</li><li>business and enterprise, where Argon is especially useful in refining workflows for those in the legal, finance, and science industries. Based on user testimonials, Argon is great at reasoning with complex research data and maintaining context across long projects.</li><li>cybersecurity, where Argon can discover and patch unknown bugs and vulnerabilities. According to Google, Argon identified and repaired gaps that exposed sensitive data in government and health care infrastructure.</li><li>high-tech industries, where Argon can make it possible to achieve novel discoveries in quantum computing, nuclear fusion, and life sciences. For example, it is already being used to research rare diseases and advance quantum computing development.</li>
**RELATED: **[**This team accidentally let AIs loose to attack companies — and won't share how bad the problem is**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/this-team-accidentally-let-ais-loose-to-attack-companies-and-won-t-share-how-bad-the-problem-is )
Jorm Sangsorn/Getty Images
Gemini 4 Argon competes directly with OpenAI ChatGPT-6 Astra, Anthropic Claude Opus 5.5, and the new [Meta Muse](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/meta-muse-ai-launch ). In a [head-to-head test](https://www.mindstudio.ai/blog/gemini-4-argon-vs-gpt-claude-benchmarks ), MindStudio claims that Argon:<li>placed slightly behind Muse at writing code.</li><li>fell behind Claude and Muse in terminal command-line tasks.</li><li>dropped behind the other newest models in general knowledge.</li><li>lagged behind Claude and ChatGPT in generating 3D graphics.</li><li>outperformed the rest when handling business, legal, and financial tasks.</li>
For added perks, Argon offers industry-leading tokens for longer responses, and it is much more affordable than the competition until December, when prices for output will double.
Perhaps the thing that normies like us will care about most, though, is that Gemini 4 Argon boasts a [much smaller 15% hallucination rate](https://thenextweb.com/news/gemini-4-argon-artificial-analysis-gpt-6-astra-hallucination ) than other platforms on the [AA-Omniscience test](https://arxiv.org/html/2511.13029v1 ). This knowledge gauntlet asks AI models 6,000 questions from various academic and industry sources to uncover data gaps. For comparison, GPT-6 Astra had a 51% hallucination rate on the same test. That’s not to say that Argon won’t hallucinate at all, but it is nice to see companies making progress in this contested area.
Ultimately, critics see Argon as a return to the frontier, with Google finally competing against the other leading AI giants again, pulling ahead in some areas and falling behind in others. But at the very least, Google’s frontier AI status is no longer in question.
Gemini 4 Argon is available now for paying Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers. It joins Google’s other Gemini models, including 3.5 Flash-Lite, 3.8 Flash, and 3.1 Pro. Unfortunately, if you’re a free Gemini user, you won’t have access to Argon any time soon. In fact, Google [recently reduced free access](https://9to5google.com/2026/10/03/gemini-model-limits-oct-26/ ) to include only 3.5 Flash-Lite, while paying customers on the lowest AI Plus tier only get access to 3.5 Flash-Lite and 3.8 Flash.
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2026-10-23 17:30:00 UTC

Political attack ads are nothing new, but Vivek Ramaswamy’s latest one in Ohio’s gubernatorial race takes things to a whole new level.
The ad features Amy Acton’s own mother urging voters not to elect her.
“My name is Donna Arthur, and I’m Amy Acton’s mother. I worked at Children and Family Service Association, building one of the first two sexual abuse programs in America. I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent, it’s not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem,” Arthur began in the ad.
“She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life. My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself,” she claimed.
“People can change, but first they have to tell the truth,” she continued. “And my daughter still isn’t doing that. Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor.” ###
“If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse,” she added.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen an ad like that before. It’s brutal,” BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere says.
“It’s very powerful,” co-host Dave Landau agrees.
“And you even listen to her, even though she comes off like a woman who you’d have at Christmas that you would ignore,” he adds.
Stu points out that despite the “powerful” ad, there are “complications” to the backstory.
“Reporters are very upset about this. Like they immediately have taken sides in this inter-family dispute. You can say we shouldn’t air these inter-family disputes in the middle of a campaign. That’s a plausible opinion if you want,” Stu says.
“But what’s interesting about what the media has done,” he adds, “is they’ve just immediately embraced Amy Acton’s side of the story, right?”
Stu plays a clip of Ramaswamy addressing the ad, admitting that it is “an ad from our campaign.”
“And the thing that I want to say is that I would love for this race and this election to be about the substantive issues that impact Ohioans. And unfortunately, Amy Acton has been hiding from those issues. She won’t debate me,” he explained.
“She doesn’t allow cameras at her events. And I think her record of continuously, certainly during this campaign, I would say spreading some defamatory, disparaging lies about me and my family that does deserve to be scrutinized,” he continued.
“I’ve never met Amy Acton, which is a regret. I wish I’d met at least my opponent. I’ve also never met her mother. She was not compensated. I asked my team that question because we’ve got the question,” he added.
“Now look, there is a complicating circumstance,” Stu comments. “I did want to bring this up because I think it’s an important part of the story. The reason why there’s all this outrage is the split between Amy Acton and her mom is a terrible, terrible story.”
“Including claims of abuse. The claim was that Amy Acton was abused by her stepfather, and basically the mom sided with the stepfather,” he adds.
“Well, there’s three sides to every story, Stu,” Dave says.
“There’s one side, another side, and then there’s the truth,” he adds.
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2026-10-22 23:15:00 UTC

President Donald Trump issued an unequivocal endorsement of the controversial [political](https://www.theblaze.com/news/democratic-candidates-mother-calls-her-a-liar-tells-ohioans-not-to-vote-for-her-in-damning-video ) video advertisement from Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
The ad features the mother of his opponent for the gubernatorial race in Ohio calling her a liar and asking Ohioans not to vote for her.
'That took a lot of courage to do but, essentially, what she was really doing was saving Ohio from making a truly horrible choice!'
Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate, excoriated Ramaswamy for using her mother in an ad after Acton suffered sexual abuse by her mother's partner when she was a child.
Various Republicans have called on Ramaswamy to take the ad down, but the president is not one of them.
"Vivek Ramaswamy put up a very powerful Ad about a mother saying that her daughter, Amy Acton, who is running for Governor of Ohio, is a liar, and much worse," Trump wrote in a [post on social media](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117486013862752010 ) Thursday.
"The Press, in a concerted and well coordinated attack, is trying to get Vivek Ramaswamy to 'take down the Ad.' Frankly, anybody whose mother spoke about a daughter in that way would normally lead to the daughter being precluded from serving in Office, let alone the Office of Governor," he added.
He went on to fully endorse Ramaswamy leaving the ad up.
"I only wish the mothers of my opponents would be so brave as to come forward and explain that their son or daughter is a liar, and much worse," he added. "That took a lot of courage to do but, essentially, what she was really doing was saving Ohio from making a truly horrible choice! The Press is trying to convince everyone that this Ad is bad, because it's so good!"
Among the more prominent Republicans calling for the ad to be taken down was Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R).
"The ad, on its face, is deeply, deeply troubling. But when you know the rest of the story, when you know the backstory, when you know that the husband of the mom was indicted by a grand jury after hearing testimony, and that he took off along with the mother," DeWine [said](https://x.com/HQNewsNow/status/2113289558058004613?s=20 ) to reporters.
"When you know that, it just, to me, makes it more serious. It makes it just more wrong. So it's wrong to run this ad ... I would just urge the Ramaswamy campaign to take this down," he added.
On the other hand, Vice President JD Vance [excoriated](https://www.theblaze.com/news/jc-vance-disgust-ramaswamy-ad ) Republicans for criticizing Ramaswamy.**
****RELATED: **[**JD Vance says he is 'DISGUSTED' with Republicans after controversial Ramaswamy ad**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/jc-vance-disgust-ramaswamy-ad )
Acton was 12 years old when her biological father [reported](https://people.com/amy-acton-stepfather-was-charged-with-raping-her-when-she-was-a-child-now-her-ohio-election-opponent-is-using-that-against-her-12188120 ) her stepfather to police over allegations that he had raped Acton for a period of time, beginning December 1976 and ending April 1978.
Acton's stepfather, Cledith Arthur, pleaded not guilty and then failed to appear in court before becoming a fugitive from the law. He died in 2004.
The Rooster political blog first [shared](https://www.kcra.com/article/ramaswamys-ohio-governor-ad-amy-actons-mom-facts/74208506 ) the ad, but the Ramaswamy campaign took [responsibility](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/amy-acton-attack-ad-ohio-governors-race-rcna604601 ) for the video Tuesday and indicated it had plans to spend $4 million to promote the ad.
**Ohio governor polls 2026: Acton vs. Ramaswamy**
[pollwatch.theblaze.com](https://pollwatch.theblaze.com/race/2026-gov-oh )
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2026-10-22 21:55:00 UTC

Washington state officials are facing criticism over their [handling](https://katu.com/news/local/camas-girls-cross-country-team-protests-after-transgender-athlete-joins-midseason ) of a protest related to a biological male trying to run on the girls' cross-country team.
About a dozen girls on the Camas High School cross-country team walked away when their race began at a district-level cross-country event on Tuesday.
'Students do not need to provide medical or legal documentation to participate in athletics matching their gender identity.'
They are opposed to the inclusion of a biological boy who decided to switch to the girls' team mid-season after initially joining the boys' team.
Protests and counter-protests have erupted over the issue, and sometimes they got physical.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association oversees high school sports and said only that students can compete in a sport consistent with their gender identity.
"School personnel responsible for student eligibility work collaboratively with the student athlete to determine eligibility under those rules," reads the policy from WIAA.
The WIAA handbook adds: "Students do not need to provide medical or legal documentation to participate in athletics matching their gender identity."
One student athlete [spoke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k_AkhV0WCY ) to KING-TV about her fellow students' decision to protest. She did not want to be publicly identified.
"A lot of the girls on my team decided that they felt it was unfair to their sport, like it could affect their times and their places," the girl said. "Besides that, it's not my issue. Live your life how you want. I am completely fine with trans kids."
A protester with a sign that read, "Let our trans kids play" offered the counter-opinion.
"They deserve to be included as representatives of their own identity. They are trans girls. They are girls," she claimed.
**RELATED: **[**Female wrestler alleging sexual assault by trans-identifying male during match sues high school to stop the policy**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/transgender-sports-carlos-garcia )
The biological male finished [second](https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/washington-high-school-girl-walks-off-starting-line-alone-protest-trans-runner-ending-her-season ) out of 26 runners on Wednesday and displaced a biological girl from competing in the regional race. He had placed 76th among boys just a few weeks prior.
Camas is a city of about 26,000 people in the southwest corner of the state.
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2026-10-22 21:40:00 UTC

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in New Jersey led to assault charges for an illegal alien from Honduras, [according](https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/illegal-alien-assaults-ice-deportation-officers-hammer ) to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The incident unfolded on Oct. 4 when ICE officers ran a license plate check on a truck in the area of another federal operation in Gibbsboro.
'Licona Amador will be held accountable under federal law for allegedly defying lawful commands from ICE officers and escalating the encounter by threatening violence.'
Officers discovered the truck was registered to 27-year-old Reinieri De Jesus Licona Amador, and the driver of the truck matched a photo of Licona Amador on file, the [complaint](https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/media/1467116/dl?inline ) claimed. Immigration records said he was illegally present in the U.S. and subject to removal.
The officers lit up their emergency lights, and Licona Amador pulled over. When they approached the truck, they were wearing badges and clothing that clearly identified them as "ICE" and "police," the press release said.
At that point, the officers saw Licona Amador reach back into a tool container in the back and pull out a hammer, the complaint claimed.
According to the allegations, the officers ordered him to stop moving, but he refused to follow their orders and moved to the passenger seat with the hammer. They tried to physically restrain him, but he was able to climb out of the truck and then allegedly "swung his hammer multiple times" at two officers, according to the press release.
The complaint indicated that the suspect did not manage to strike the officers, identified as Victim 1 and Victim 2.
"Victim 2 also stated that, had the hammer actually made physical contact with either Victim 1 or Victim 2, Victim 2 thought that the hammer would have caused serious, and potentially fatal, injuries to Victim 1 or Victim 2," Special Agent Javed Narain wrote in the complaint.
**RELATED: **[**Video shows brawl after high school walkout protester allegedly hit pro-ICE man — and the man is charged with child abuse**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/anti-ice-student-assault-arrest )
U.S. Attorney's Office of New Jersey press release
The U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey released images from body camera footage showing a man with a hammer.
Officers sprayed him with pepper spray and were able to subdue him after that. They also called for EMS, but Licona Amador refused treatment, the complaint said.
Another passenger in the vehicle at the time was identified as an illegal alien from Honduras who had been previously issued a final order of removal, the complaint noted.
"Threats, violence, and obstruction directed at federal law enforcement officers are unacceptable and jeopardize the safety of both our personnel and the public," reads a statement from Michael McCarthy, the special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Jersey.
"Licona Amador will be held accountable under federal law for allegedly defying lawful commands from ICE officers and escalating the encounter by threatening violence," he added.
"These acts of violence cannot be tolerated and must end," McCarthy concluded.
Licona Amador was arrested Monday. If convicted on the assault charge, he faces a possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
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2026-10-22 21:00:00 UTC

Midterm elections are just 12 days away, and a lot hangs in the balance for the GOP. The Texas U.S. Senate race is one of the biggest and most closely watched of the 2026 midterms, as Attorney General Ken Paxton faces off against Democrat James Talarico.
On a recent episode of “Predictable,” BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere highlighted Texas as a major warning sign for Republicans.
Even though polling margins have narrowed between Paxton and Talarico, Stu notes that prediction markets still favor the Democrat.
“A 62% chance for James Talarico to win that race, according to Kalshi right now,” he says.
But he still leaves the door open for Republicans: “Republicans could easily win Texas.”
He notes that one of the show’s recurring thesis points is that voters often “come home” closer to Election Day.
“If you’re a Republican voter, maybe you’re a little upset with Paxton, you get to that voting booth, you kind of say, ‘You know what, I don’t want a Democrat Senate,’ so you might come home,” he says.
The Texas governor’s race between Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa looks more promising for the GOP, but only moderately so, says Stu.
“Greg Abbott in my own state here in Texas [is the] 73% favorite over Gina Hinojosa, who’s running a lot of ads now,” he adds.
“Now it’s got to the point where every single ad is one of these candidates in Texas. They’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s amazing to watch in action.”
While Abbott currently holds a clear lead on the markets, Stu warns that “Democrats **do** have a chance to win” the gubernatorial race.
Watch the full episode of “Predictable” to see Stu’s complete Senate map breakdown, how the prediction markets are pricing other key races, and why he thinks some of the movement toward Democrats may be more about money flowing into the markets than actual polling shifts.##
Want more from Stu?To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/stu/?utm_campaign=na&utm_medium=o_website_blaze-media_all-users_inline&utm_content=article&utm_source=host-stu&utm_term=landing-page_stu ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-22 19:38:15 UTC

A pair of 15-year-old females are accused of conspiring to carry out a school shooting in Southern California — and they allegedly had a hit list.
Authorities said the investigation began Oct. 6 after the FBI alerted the Corona Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff's Office about social media threats targeting Corona High School, [KABC-TV reported](https://abc7.com/post/2-riverside-county-teens-arrested-alleged-plot-targeting-corona-high-school/19963323/ ).
'The average suspect that commits a crime like this is going to do it independently or by themselves, and it is not very common for them to be females.'
Detectives arrested a female who attends Corona High School, the station said, adding that detectives then identified and arrested another girl who attends Norco High School after a search of several homes in Riverside County and an examination of electronic devices and messages.
KABC, citing police, said search warrants uncovered evidence that the teenage females had spent several months researching school shootings and discussing how they could potentially carry out an attack at Corona High School.
The investigation also revealed the pair discussed how they could obtain weapons to carry out the attack, police told the station.
Authorities said no weapons were found during the home searches, KABC noted, adding that both teens remain in custody on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.
[KCBS-TV reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/teenage-girls-arrested-corona-high-school-shooting-plans-fbi-investigation/ ) that the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said it couldn't confirm the charges or the suspects' identities because of their ages.
"The average suspect that commits a crime like this is going to do it independently or by themselves, and it is not very common for them to be females," Corona Police Lt. Robert Montanez told KCBS, while adding that the suspects had a map of the high school campus and ways to get around the law and acquire guns, as well as "specifics how they would carry out the attack."
KCBS added that the teens allegedly had a list of targets that included both students and teachers — and potentially were planning some sort of revenge.
**RELATED: **[**Teenager fatally shoots 3 children, teacher at Oregon elementary school before parent shoots gunman dead, police say**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/teenager-fatally-shoots-3-children-teacher-at-oregon-elementary-school-before-parent-shoots-gunman-dead-police-say )
[Research cited by NPR](https://www.npr.org/2024/12/18/nx-s1-5231794/why-it-is-rare-for-a-girl-to-commit-a-mass-shooting-as-happened-this-week ) found that only about 3% of school shootings involve female perpetrators, KABC reported.
Those with information about this case are urged to call Corona Police Det. Edwards at 951-279-3656 or email george.edwards@coronaca.gov, KABC 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/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-10-22 19:30:00 UTC

The decline of mainstream media was supposed to create a better-informed public. Instead, the “red-pilling” of the masses — which BlazeTV host John Doyle calls “normies” — have caused them to trade one media bubble for another.
“It hasn’t made them better informed. It hasn’t made them better at critical thinking. They are looking at the reflexive impulse some people have to believe everything, and they have the same reflexive impulse to disbelieve everything, but they are not actually seeking truth independently,” Doyle argues.
He likens it to being in the “labyrinth.”
“I’m in the labyrinth. ... I’m seeking the truth. What happens if a bunch of r*****ed people are now in the labyrinth with me? Do you think they’re going to be better able to navigate?” he asks.###
“Do you think that they’re going to be able to arrive at the truth? No,” he answers. “They’re going to freak out and be anxious all the time and spur out, and they’re going to summon the Minotaur with their screaming and their crying and their complaining. This is not actually good.”
These people, he says, “would be better if they were just watching CNN because CNN will rack up all of the dubs from the Trump administration.”
“They will talk about the greatest effort to combat legal immigration in a century,” he explains, noting that while “everything is going so well,” no one wants to know it.
“People want the mythology. They want to be entertained. They want to think that guy that they trusted actually freaking betrayed them,” he says.
“When you’re arguing with a normie, when you are arguing with an Instagram-Reels American, guess what you’re arguing with? You’re arguing with Instagram Reels, and the reels cannot hear you,” he continues.
Doyle uses the Epstein files as an example, saying, “You still have people bringing this up.”
“They talk about the Epstein class,” he says. “Even leftist politicians, you know, people who like openly advocate for the mass importation of the demographics most likely to traffic children. Complete amnesty for the demographics most likely to engage in the abuse of children.”
“They literally want to pass laws to make this no longer illegal. Anyway, these people are now very concerned about the Epstein class,” he continues.
“They want to believe that all of these people, even if they’re evil, are in control and everything that’s going on is going, you know perfectly according to their plan. And that’s because they have these feelings, maybe because of their own incompetence or their own failures,” he adds.
These “red-pilled normies,” he says, “want to believe they don’t have agency in their own lives.”
“And so the solution is just to keep bitching on the internet and do nothing and wait for some kind of collapse,” he adds.##
Want more from John Doyle?To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/doyle/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_rufo-lomez ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=68503186&width=980

2026-10-22 19:00:00 UTC

Winston Churchill helped lead Britain through the Second World War, wrote millions of words, and won the Nobel Prize in literature. He also took a nap every afternoon.
And he didn't simply doze off in an armchair. He got undressed and climbed into bed, equipped with custom-fitted beeswax earplugs to shut out the bustle of wartime London. His naps were sacrosanct, even as the demands of running a country at war frequently kept him working well past midnight.
There's even a technique called the 'nappuccino': Drink a cup of coffee immediately before a short nap, so the caffeine starts working around the time you wake up.
"Nature has not intended mankind to work from eight in the morning until midnight without that refreshment of blessed oblivion," he wrote in his wartime memoir "[The Grand Alliance](https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-155/datelines-6/ )."
The British Bulldog would probably have had little patience for the latest headlines warning that daytime napping may be linked to dementia.##
Dementia danger?The warnings follow a [new study from Johns Hopkins researchers](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13580146/ ) involving 995 Americans ages 65 and older. Researchers examined their napping habits and tracked them for up to a decade. Those who napped most days or every day had a 48% higher relative hazard of developing dementia than those who rarely or never napped.
That's a sufficiently alarming figure to make anyone think twice about an afternoon snooze. But a closer look at the findings offers some reassurance to those of us who enjoy one.
People who fell asleep unintentionally had a 39% higher relative hazard of dementia. Those who deliberately chose to nap, however, showed no statistically significant association with dementia after the researchers adjusted for other factors.
The study also found an association for naps lasting 30 minutes or less, so the findings aren't an unqualified endorsement of the power nap. Nor can the researchers say whether napping contributes to dementia or whether the changes associated with developing dementia make people sleepier during the day.
For now, at least, the recliner can stay.##
Churchill's second dayChurchill regarded his afternoon nap as indispensable to getting through the day. And he had little patience for half measures.
As he [explained to Walter Graebner](https://winstonchurchill.org/the-life-of-churchill/senior-statesman/1946-1949/spring-1946-age-71/ ), a Time-Life executive who worked with him on his war memoirs, the proper way to nap was to take off your clothes, get into bed, and sleep. No dozing in a chair with your shoes on.
He also rejected the notion that an afternoon rest meant accomplishing less. He believed his routine effectively gave him a day and a half for every ordinary day.
Churchill's sleeping habits were unconventional even by the standards of men who worked late. He often conducted business from bed in the morning, took his afternoon nap, and returned to work deep into the night. The beeswax earplugs were no legend, either: The [International Churchill Society](https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-155/datelines-6/ ) reported that a pair, along with the plaster casts used to make them, were auctioned in 2012.
Of course, Churchill's habits don't prove that napping is healthy. His prodigious consumption of alcohol and cigars hardly makes him a model for preventive medicine. But nobody could accuse the man of being lazy.
**RELATED: **[**Apparently, we need experts to teach us how to walk now**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/apparently-we-need-experts-to-teach-us-how-to-walk-now )
Icon Sportswire/Getty Images##
Sleep like a soldierSoldiers have a reputation for being able to sleep almost anywhere, whenever the opportunity presents itself. It's a useful ability in a profession where a missed night's sleep can have rather more serious consequences than a sluggish afternoon at the office.
The U.S. Army even has a name for the practice: tactical napping.
According to [guidance from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research](https://wrair.health.mil/News-Media/Investigators-Dispatch-Fact-Sheets/Display-Factsheet/Article/3219016/tactical-naps/ ), tactical naps are brief periods of sleep intended to restore and sustain military readiness. Soldiers are encouraged to nap before anticipated sleep deprivation and during extended operations when circumstances permit.
The trick is to nap before you're exhausted, not just after. Walter Reed recommends finding somewhere dark, quiet, and comfortable and allowing yourself time to shake off the grogginess afterward. There's even a technique called the "nappuccino": Drink a cup of coffee immediately before a short nap, so the caffeine starts working around the time you wake up.
NASA has also studied the benefits of a well-timed snooze. In an [experiment involving long-haul airline pilots](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19950006379 ), those given the opportunity to rest slept for about 26 minutes on average and subsequently performed better and remained more alert than pilots who stayed awake.
Lead researcher Mark Rosekind [later put the improvements](https://www.envisialearning.com/system/resources/97/Sleep_0616_Feature_2_V1_Revised.pdf?1465426148= ) at 34% in performance and 54% in physiological alertness.
Twenty-six minutes of sleep and a measurable improvement in the ability to do your job. How's that for a productivity hack? No cold plunges, carefully timed sun exposure, or adaptogenic mushrooms required.##
Permission to napFrequent, unexplained daytime sleepiness can be a sign of inadequate nighttime rest, a sleep disorder, medication effects, or an underlying medical condition. Nor can a nap make up for consistently failing to get enough sleep at night.
But there's a considerable difference between repeatedly falling asleep when you don't intend to and deliberately setting aside a little time to rest.
For most healthy adults who find naps useful, [20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/napping/art-20048319 ) is a reasonable place to start. Nap too late and you may interfere with nighttime sleep. Sleep too long and you risk waking up groggy.
And if you need a more dignified justification than simply being tired, tell your colleagues you're following the example of Winston Churchill and the United States Army.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-scientists-are-coming-for-your-afternoon-nap.jpg?id=68508026&width=980

2026-10-22 18:45:00 UTC

Tech trillionaire Elon Musk issued a warning to Democrats after hearing their plans to investigate him over his time in the Trump administration.
Musk was responding to an article with a bevy of comments from Democrats saying they will hound him and his many companies if they win power in the midterm elections.
'Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets.'
Democrats have long accused Musk of having various conflicts of interest with the actions he took when he headed up the Department of Government Efficiency.
"Live by the sword, die by the sword. Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets …" he [wrote](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2112942522486202504 ) Wednesday on X, the social media platform he owns.
In another post, he responded to liberal talking head [Kara Swisher](https://x.com/alx/status/2112919176679756134 ) claiming Musk could have been in jail if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 presidential election.
"And that's not because she's some avenging fury. It's because there's a lot of questions around different companies of his," she said.
"If Donald Trump loses the House and the Senate ... I'd be worried if I were him! No matter how rich he is, there are all these agencies, some of which he put a knife in and killed in the DOGE, many of whom were investigating him," she claimed. "He stopped half a dozen investigations of his various companies."
Musk [responded](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2112964487917498728 ) simply, "Message received."
Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington pointed to recent allegations that Musk had [restricted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/zelenskyy-accuses-trump-of-taking-the-wrong-side-complains-of-betrayal ) Ukraine's use of Starlink internet ahead of a damaging Russian attack.
"What happens when one guy gets a giant contract from the government and then uses it to do something that shuts down communication in a war that has been extremely important to the United States to support Ukraine?” she [said](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/10/20/congress/dem-gavels-elon-musk-01127662 ).
**RELATED: **[**'False and misleading and nonsense': Elon Musk CRUSHES editor on 'far right' accusations**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/elon-musk-editor-far-right )
"Congress must demand a full accounting of the damage Mr. Musk and DOGE caused, and we will not let anyone obstruct our oversight," said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who is also a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Spokespeople for Musk did not respond to multiple requests from Politico 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/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**! *
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2026-10-22 18:30:00 UTC

Thousands if not millions of families in Texas recently received a [pamphlet](https://x.com/SaraGonzalesTX/status/2112002495723487605/photo/4 ) in the mail titled "Texas Trans and LGBTQ+ Student Resource Guide," seemingly providing information to trans-identifying minors seeking emancipation from their parents and/or sex-rejection procedures.
There was widespread [outrage](https://x.com/JonBonck/status/2111991623219302569 ) but also [skepticism](https://x.com/SarahisCensored/status/2112343101708611879 ) over the mailers, especially after the radical organization named and promoted in the pamphlet — the Transgender Education Network of Texas — denied responsibility for it.
'I think that their own materials ... like their "Back to School Toolkit" — I think they deserve scrutiny as well.'
TENT says it was not responsible, and evidence points to a possible election-time "op" by an out-of-state actor. However, critics have observed that the controversial messaging in the flyer greatly resembles what has been pushed by TENT and other trans activist outfits in the state.##
DisavowalThe pamphlet states, "You are not alone. There are people in Texas who will help you find support."
BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales, X
After discussing emancipation, "what to do if your parents don't support you," and "what to know about hormones or gender affirming care," the pamphlet devotes two pages to promoting TENT and its "Trans Texas Takeover Fall Tour," which is an [actual tour](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcmA8iqhytk/ ) with upcoming events scheduled across the state.
Earlier in the month, multiple phone numbers sent provocative texts to Texans also linking to TENT's newly scrubbed website and its ["Back to School Toolkit,"](https://transtexas.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Back-to-School-Toolkit-Digital.pdf ) [reported](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/14/texas-transgender-texts-cease-desist/ ) the Tribune.
One text allegedly [stated](https://x.com/thetexaswife/status/2109745845470220347?s=46&t=kM3kwI8hLAUfaUoAZR-Rsg ), "New school year? Here's your complete guide on bathrooms and beyond for trans kids at school," with a link to a TENT toolkit.
**RELATED: [Talarico slithered around the truth at his town hall. Here’s the gaslighting he tried to pull.](https://www.theblaze.com/news/talarico-slithered-around-the-truth-at-his-town-hall-heres-the-gaslighting-he-tried-to-pull )**
L-R: David Buono/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images; Luis Soto/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
These communications prompted outrage and an [investigation request](https://x.com/leachfortexas/status/2110180659671036269/photo/1 ) by Texas state Rep. Jeff Leach (R).
Leach has since supplemented his request, [asking](https://x.com/leachfortexas/status/2112990763340448177/photo/1 ) Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton to look into the "possibility that the communications and associated toolkit may not originate from the group whose name it was sent under."
Paxton's office did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.
TENT has disavowed the pamphlet and the text messages.
TENT [noted](https://transtexas.org/ ) in a statement on its website, "We are aware of text messages and now physical mailers that have been circulated concerning TENT that appear to have been issued by or on behalf of the organization. These text messages and mailers were not authored, authorized, approved, or distributed by TENT and are not affiliated with our organization. The texts do not represent the official position or communications of the organization."
Mimi Marziani, a lawyer at the law firm retained by TENT, [told](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/bogus-trans-youth-brochure-rattles-texas-voters-rcna604641 ) NBC News, "This was deliberately injected into public conversation right as early voting was taking place, and I do not think it was a coincidence."
While TENT has denied involvement, Jonathan Covey, the director of policy for Texas Values, told Blaze News, "I think that their own materials that they do have and that we have been able to see — like their '[Back to School Toolkit](https://transtexas.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Back-to-School-Toolkit-Digital.pdf )' — I think they deserve scrutiny as well. We think that some of the positions that they take undermine parents' roles in their children's lives."
Covey underscored the need to identify the individuals behind the mailer and how they "obtained all that mailing information."
"Families deserve answers about where that information came from," added Covey. ##
Origin[WFAA-TV](https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/texas-transgender-student-union-llc-pamphlets-investigation/287-5b128f52-ecfa-4cc4-85db-bfbac4b634e4 ), [KHOU-TV](https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/fake-transgender-rights-group-pamphlets-texas-families-llc-wyoming/285-66371b96-b2d5-48ca-a1da-3b39bc1de125 ), the [Texas Tribune](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/20/texas-transgender-pamphlets-tent-student-union/ ), and [sleuths online](https://x.com/stevanzetti/status/2112575272767684882 ) have connected the pamphlet back to a limited liability company that was registered in Wyoming last month, reinforcing suspicions that this mailing campaign may have been an election-time "op" all along.
The return sender listed on the mailer is "Texas Transgender Student Union," an outfit that does not appear to be an organization with a presence in the state. The return address in Meadows Place, Texas, isn't a valid address, referring instead to the middle of a street. It also appears to be a look-alike address modeled on Transgender Education Network of Texas' [address](https://archive.ph/MeqDn ).
Snopes [highlighted](https://mediaproxy.snopes.com/width/600/https://media.snopes.com/2026/10/usps_address_texas_transgender_student_union_2.png ), however, that a similar address turns up a nearby mailbox at a UPS store.
The Texas Observer's Steven Monacelli [discovered](https://x.com/stevanzetti/status/2112575272767684882?s=20 ) this week that the Texas Transgender Student Union "is a real organization — but it was only formed in September in Wyoming as an LLC and is entirely separate from TENT, the organization marketed in the fliers."
Wyoming Secretary of State Business Center
The LLC's [registered agent](https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/business/FilingDetails.aspx?eFNum=176212075125155087081154129209082103059088038033 ) is the popular corporate filing service Northwest Registered Agent LLC; its organizer is listed as Taylor Newman; and it is tied to an address in Sheridan, Wyoming, which has been [linked](https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/30-n-gould-st-businesses-blur-lines-of-what-it-means-to-be-a-sheridan/article_66d94fa4-ae8b-11ef-b606-7bad3d698a86.html ) [to various companies accused of scams](https://www.thesheridanpress.com/news/local/another-scam-recorded-from-business-related-to-30-n-gould-st-registered-agent/article_52b040ca-f622-11eb-a595-e7f2de685e62.html ).
Newman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Northwest Registered Agent [told](https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/texas-transgender-student-union-llc-pamphlets-investigation/287-5b128f52-ecfa-4cc4-85db-bfbac4b634e4 ) WFAA-TV:
> One of our main jobs is receiving state and legal notices for our clients and forwarding them promptly. This gives agencies a way to serve legal notices on companies, even if they don’t have a physical office location, and it keeps businesses reachable by law enforcement and regulators. That is where our involvement ends. We have no way of knowing someone’s intent when they’re forming a new company, and Northwest Registered Agent has no knowledge of, or involvement in, our clients’ business operations.TENT has [reportedly](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/bogus-trans-youth-brochure-rattles-texas-voters-rcna604641 ) sent a cease-and-desist notice to the Texas Transgender Student Union as well as to a pair of digital messaging companies that reportedly delivered the text messages on Oct. 12 and 13.
The Senate campaigns of state Rep. James Talarico (D) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News but [told](https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/transgender-mailers-flood-texas-2026-midterms/ ) CBS News Texas that they had nothing to do with the LGBT mailer.
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-10-22 18:15:00 UTC

Hollywood’s commitment to diversity is hollow, according to rapper and television producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The “Power” producer says the industry’s investment in black programming fails to match its rhetoric.
'They're not screaming for diversity. Are you crazy?'##
OG Hollywood“They’re not screaming for diversity. Are you crazy?” Jackson told Andrew Schulz on his podcast “[Flagrant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVJS2-iT7Dk ).”
“They don’t care to see you n*****s on the TV, bro,” he laughed.
Jackson appears alongside Schulz in the new “[Street Fighter](https://www.legendary.com/film/street-fighter/ )” adaptation, which opened October 16. Their conversation turned to the difficulty of building a television business and the kinds of projects Hollywood is willing to finance.
Jackson argued that “white Hollywood,” which he called “the original Hollywood,” remains the industry’s most commercially successful model.
Movies starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, he said, attracted audiences across racial and national lines because they were well made and properly financed. Viewers could see themselves in the characters regardless of their own backgrounds.
Jackson pointed to Tony Montana, the Cuban refugee played by Pacino in “Scarface,” as a character whose ambition resonated with audiences far beyond his own nationality.
But Jackson also sees a business opportunity in the industry’s funding priorities: He faces fewer well-financed competitors making programming for his audience.
“If you make diversity, I’m up against not so many fabulously financed projects,” he explained.
**RELATED: [SENIOR MOMENT: Veteran 'SNL' player breaks ranks to scold Shane Gillis for jokes](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/kenan-thompson-shane-gillis-snl )**
##
American streamJackson executive produces the “Power” franchise, which grew out of the Starz crime drama that aired from 2014 to 2020.
He said the rise of streaming services has helped create an opening for his work, with competing platforms needing shows that bring in subscribers.
“So when I come in, I’m able to to create s**t that is beyond ‘up to standard’ because of the landscape of the business. I’m coming at a time that you got streamers and apps and all of these different things.”
**RELATED: [Dana Carvey has just one word for Shane Gillis' controversial 'SNL' routine](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/dana-carve-david-spade-gillis )**
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
##
Where is the love?Jackson also questioned why the “Power” franchise’s popularity with black and Latino audiences had failed to translate into Emmy recognition.
“They don’t care about diversity. Trust me,” he said. “I’ve been No. 1 in African-American and Latino households for, and this s**t is crazy, like for 13 years.”
While none of the dramas he produced have won Emmys, Jackson [ took home a trophy for his 2022 performance](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/50-cent ) in the Super Bowl halftime show.
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/50-cent-exposes-hollywood-s-dirty-little-secret-about-diversity.png?id=68507419&width=980

2026-10-22 18:00:00 UTC

Android already has spam protection for [phone calls](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/finally-here-s-how-to-stop-smartphone-spam-calls ) and [text messages](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/spam-texts-are-surging-here-s-how-to-stop-them-on-your-phone ). But while these features can help curb unwanted communications from shady characters, it is not always obvious when you’re getting scammed on the calls or messages you accept in real time. For this, Android has a new scam detection solution powered by Gemini.
The advent of AI has made it easier for scammers to target individuals and trick them into handing over personal data or money. Thanks to voice cloning technology and deepfake videos that can impersonate real humans you may know in real life, some of these scams are sophisticated enough to deceive even the more suspicious among us.
You are essentially inviting it to scan through your personal information and analyze it in search of scammy behavior.
But just as AI has made the call and texting scam landscape more hazardous to tread, AI might also be the thing to save us — or at least that is what Google believes. The company recently announced [new scam protection features](https://blog.google/security/new-android-scam-protections/ ) for Google Messages on Android that are powered by Google Gemini.
Once enabled, the new enhanced AI-powered scam features offer three points of additional protection over Google’s existing scam prevention capabilities. They:<li>Use Google’s powerful cloud servers to analyze long conversation threads within the Google Messages app, searching for signs of scammer intent based on the context of the conversations. </li><li>Search for malicious links — both existing and newly generated — within messages and flags them as unsafe to keep users from clicking on them.</li><li>Offer a redesigned warning system that gives users more time to stop and consider the safety of links embedded within messages to prevent accidental clicks.</li>
The catch, of course, is that to use the new AI-powered scam protection features in Android, you have to trust Gemini to keep an eye on your text messages. You are essentially inviting it to scan through your personal information and analyze it in search of scammy behavior.
Google thought about this beforehand, which is why all conversations are routed through [Private AI Compute](https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/google-private-ai-compute/ ), a system Google introduced in late 2025 that isolates your data on Google’s servers with additional privacy, security, and encryption in place. According to Google, “This ensures sensitive data processed by Private AI Compute remains accessible only to you and no one else, not even Google.”
To further ease concerns, the enhanced scam protection features in Google Messages are entirely opt-in, so you can choose to disregard, if you don’t want Gemini snooping through your texts.
**RELATED: **[**Time to declare independence from phishing scams — here's how**](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/time-to-declare-independence-from-phishing-scams-here-s-how )
vchal/Getty Images
In addition to better scam prevention tools for Google Messages, Google also brought two meaningful upgrades to scam call protection:<li>Automatic screen-share privacy now hides private content, like passwords, credit card information, and banking details in Chrome and Android WebView while in screen-sharing mode with friends, family, or colleagues. These features are in addition to existing screen share protections available in native apps.</li><li>Proactive call-forwarding protection prevents incoming callers from forwarding your call to another number in an attempt to steal one-time passcodes that would give them access to one of your accounts.</li>
Enhanced protection mode for Google Messages is rolling out to users now, first on Google Pixel and “hundreds of millions of additional users later this year.” As for added protections for phone calls, these will be implemented automatically.
If you haven’t already enabled Android’s existing [spam text](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/spam-texts-are-surging-here-s-how-to-stop-them-on-your-phone ) and [call features](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/finally-here-s-how-to-stop-smartphone-spam-calls ), follow our detailed guides at the links. Both of these can help you reclaim a bit of peace from incessant scammers trying to trick you into turning over personal information.
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2026-10-22 17:30:00 UTC

The next major political crisis in America is not going to be a spontaneous one, according to [research](https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/2111963741072101456 ) by conservative analyst DataRepublican.
“At this very moment, a powerful group of quasi-government elites are quietly plotting to stage massive civil unrest in our nation. That means violence. And if not for one person, you might not have known about this at all until suddenly you came face to face with that violence,” BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler explains.
DataRepublican, who Wheeler notes “helped Elon Musk’s team dig up tangled webs of corruption in the belly of the swamp,” has now “unearthed a chilling plan concocted by the far left to stage a coup and topple the United States government.”
“And it’s about to take place,” she warns.
The plan, she says, works like this: “If Democrats take both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections here in a couple of weeks, if Democrats win both houses of Congress, then this plot will be activated. That’s its trigger.”
“DSA radicals will suddenly take to the streets, becoming foot soldiers, is what they’re calling themselves in this campaign. Their goal is to create constant clashes with the administration, particularly between these DSA foot soldiers and law enforcement — federal law enforcement — deliberately crossing what they’re calling the ‘red line,’” she explains.
“They will do this deliberately to provoke what they call a doomsday response from President Trump. Specifically, they intend by their violence to provoke President Trump into invoking the Insurrection Act,” she continues. “They plan for this in 2027.”
When Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, the DSA plot only thickens.
“The DSA will then attempt to delegitimize the entire federal government as a result, provoking Democrat governors in blue states across the country to openly rebel against President Trump in the name of quote-unquote democracy,” Wheeler says.
“The result will be a complete destabilization of our government with the express ultimate goal of annihilating our system of self-governance, which they hate. They will use their pseudo civil war as their battle cry for 2028,” she continues.
“And once they’ve seized power in 2028, they plan to impose their entire anti-American, anti-freedom, anti-God, anti-capitalism, anti-private-property, anti-nuclear-family, anti-Christian, demonic communist agenda on you,” she adds.##
Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/wheeler/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_lizwheeler ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-10-22 17:00:00 UTC

Albertans overwhelmingly rejected a move toward independence Monday, but supporters of separation insist the issue is far from settled.
In a provincial referendum, roughly 76% of voters chose Option 1 — for Alberta to “remain a province of Canada” — while about 24% backed Option 2, which would have begun the legal process required to hold a binding referendum on separation.
'Keep your nose out of American politics,' said Hoekstra.
The results remain unofficial until October 29.
The vote was quickly dubbed a “referendum on a referendum.” Even an Option 2 victory would not have meant Alberta was leaving Canada. It would have started the process toward another, binding vote on whether the province should separate.
Premier Danielle Smith campaigned for Option 1 alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.##
American interference?The federalist cause also received some enthusiastic help from the Canadian press. Days before the vote, the [Globe and Mail published a lengthy investigation](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-alberta-separatism-canada-united-states-republican/ ) connecting Alberta separatists to American Republican political operatives and alleging that independence leaders had offered Washington access to the province's natural resources, including fresh water and oil royalties, in exchange for assistance.
But the investigation's most explosive allegations were disputed by some of its own sources.
Dennis Modry, a co-founder of the Alberta Prosperity Project, acknowledged discussing possible resource arrangements with the United States. But fellow APP co-founder Jeff Rath, an Alberta lawyer who arranged the meetings with State Department officials, insisted none of those proposals had been discussed in Washington. The Globe also acknowledged that no agreements had been reached and quoted a White House official saying that no American support or commitments had been offered.
Writing in a [sharply critical response](https://substack.com/@cnm5000 ), Alberta commentator Colin MacLeod accused the newspaper of combining separate incidents and individuals into a misleading narrative of coordinated American interference.
The investigation also documented American Republican consultants promoting political software to Alberta separatists. But APP leader Mitch Sylvestre told the Globe he refused to give the consultants access to his organization's membership list, citing serious concerns about privacy.
In an exclusive interview with Blaze Lifestyle before the vote, Rath accused the Globe — which he characterized as one of the government's “propaganda arms” — of deliberately misleading readers.
“But what surprised me was, like, how blatantly they lied and how foolish the lies were,” he said, singling out the allegation about trading Alberta's water for American assistance.
“I mean, completely ludicrous. We have the St. Mary's River watershed, and we have the Milk River watersheds. They're the only rivers that flow from Alberta into the U.S. They're governed under an international agreement by an international commission. You know, there's not enough water in either one of those rivers to supply Las Vegas, let alone all of California.”
##
'A massive machine'On Tuesday, Rath told Blaze Lifestyle that the defeat would not end the independence movement.
He predicted support would grow as Carney's Liberal government made life more difficult for Albertans and said he was proud of the result his side achieved against a powerful political establishment.
“We fought a battle against a massive machine,” Rath said.
Smith, meanwhile, was ready to put the question behind her.
“So tonight I want to invite every Albertan who may still feel hopeless or frustrated with the past direction of our country, to believe and hope in Canada again,” [she said](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/analysis-danielle-smith-ucp-separatists-unity-party-9.7389404 ).
“Because although our country isn’t perfect and there is still much work to be done, I believe that Canada is on the rise again.”
**RELATED: **[**Exclusive: US ambassador says Canada walked away from 'the best trade deal' — twice**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/exclusive-us-ambassador-says-canada-walked-away-from-the-best-trade-deal-twice )
Bloomberg/Getty Images##
Who's interfering with whom?But the referendum produced an awkward bit of cross-border symmetry.
In the closing days of the campaign, Carney warned foreign governments — specifically including the United States — to stay out of Alberta's vote.
“Our expectation is, to be absolutely clear, on foreign governments, United States included, is we don't get ourselves involved in their elections, they don't get themselves in our elections,” Carney [said](https://globalnews.ca/news/12103641/mark-carney-alberta-referendum-foreign-interference/ ).
At almost exactly the same time, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra was accusing Canadian politicians of edging toward interference in America's November 3 midterm elections.
“We are closely watching Canadian activities because it appears that some of this, from our perspective, in the way that we view our elections, could be inferred to be election interference,” Hoekstra said in an interview with "[The Really Big Show](https://youtu.be/kXaGMLK0cx4?si=R52lkvWFE08Br7Qw )."
Among his examples were comments from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly about designing retaliatory tariffs to hit politically sensitive U.S. states.
Hoekstra's advice to Canadian politicians was considerably less diplomatic.
“Keep your nose out of American politics,” he said.
In July, Carney [appointed Maia Johnson](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-carney-appoints-chief-operating-officer-in-pmo/ ), an American citizen and former Hillary Clinton campaign aide, as chief operating officer of the Prime Minister's Office.
One wonders what the reaction would have been if Carney had appointed a former Trump campaign operative instead. Would the Globe and Mail have been so relaxed about American political influence in Ottawa?
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2026-10-22 16:30:26 UTC

A powerful Democrat state senator in Virginia faces multiple federal charges related to a years-long alleged conspiracy.
On Thursday morning, Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas and six other individuals, including a few of her relatives, were charged for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise that acquired and distributed large quantities of marijuana.
'I've got too old to not be greedy.'
While there are eight charges in the 45-page [indictment ](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.608205/gov.uscourts.vaed.608205.3.0_1.pdf )brought against the seven individuals, Lucas is charged with five, namely, racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel gave a [press conference](https://www.youtube.com/live/hc0vGY24Uuw?si=RrSZ73eXoq6CnVNc&t=3653 ) in the wake of the arrests, confirming that all seven individuals were in police custody.
In his explanation of the case, Blanche emphasized the alleged abuse of public trust by an elected official.
"Her first duty should have been looking out for her constituents before herself," Blanche said, referring to Lucas.
**RELATED: **[**Virginia Democrats trying to force through illegal power-grab make ANOTHER humiliating mistake**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/va-dems-trying-to-force-through-illegal-power-grab-make-another-humiliating-mistake )
Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot/Getty Images
Patel, likewise, called the findings evidence of the "epitome of hypocrisy for a public official," adding that the alleged conspiracy resulted in an estimated $5 million in ill-gotten gains.
Thursday's arrests come just months after the [FBI and SWAT teams raided Lucas' offices](https://www.theblaze.com/news/swat-defiant-statement-lucas-raids ) and her nearby dispensary, Cannabis Outlet.
At the time, Lucas painted the raid as a politically motivated attack, saying, "I am not backing down, and I will keep fighting for the people of Portsmouth and the Commonwealth of Virginia."
The allegations in the indictment stretch back at least to 2019 and extend to the present day. And some of the more recent evidence has caught many observers' attention.
On a recorded call with an unindicted co-conspirator back in February, Lucas allegedly discussed "the possibility of UCC #2 receiving a license and sharing the proceeds with her because 'this is our last chance at generational wealth. ...I've got too old to not be greedy.'"
Days before at the end of January 2026, according to the indictment, Lucas allegedly discussed marijuana and marijuana licensing as a way for her to "get generational wealth and this is my last chance."
Lucas has served since 1992 in the Virginia state Senate. She currently serves as the president pro tempore as well as the Senate Finance Committee, where she has reportedly used her position to shut down legislation she opposed.
“This is the circus we always expected it to be, and we will wait for further details to have a more specific response,” Brian Woolfolk, chief counsel for the L. Louise Lucas Legal Defense Fund, [told ](https://apnews.com/article/l-louise-lucas-virginia-corruption-investigation-767ed83f970ba6dec48048dcff2a28d0 )the Associated Press.
Lucas' X account posted a [message](https://x.com/SenLouiseLucas/status/2113278306992988568 ) Thursday morning that read in part: "I grew up under Jim Crow. I've seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up to them. I spent my life fighting back, and I'm not stopping now."
"I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied. And I will not back down," the message concluded.
Asked during the press conference about critics decrying the arrests as "political payback" and the "circus" comment from Lucas' lawyer, AG Blanche referred people to the indictment, emphasizing that the DOJ does not do "political paybacks" and, more importantly, that the investigation began many years before the current administration.
Blaze News previously [reported ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/swat-defiant-statement-lucas-raids )that the investigation was initiated by President Joe Biden, citing the AP.
In a twist of irony, some commentators resurfaced a March 30, 2023, [post](https://x.com/SenLouiseLucas/status/1641558020931964929?s=20 ) from Lucas in which she gloats about President Donald Trump's indictment that day: "Donald Trump just learned no one is above the law!"
Lucas and her alleged co-conspirators are expected to make an initial appearance in federal court on Thursday afternoon, per Blanche and Patel.
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2026-10-22 16:25:00 UTC

An anti-capitalist cafe in South Minneapolis [decided](https://www.instagram.com/p/DT-mkJZjWuW/?hl=en&img_index=1 ) [in January](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUBKVZeAmBc/ ) that it would not only deny service to federal agents but would "function as a free and donation based restaurant" until the end of the city's so-called "occupation" by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
It turns out that feeding leftists for free and antagonizing potential customers is an unworkable business model.
'We are done making money for the fascists that occupy our city.'
Dylan Alverson, the owner of Modern Times on 3200 Chicago Avenue, [announced](https://www.facebook.com/ModernTimesCafe/posts/1766743972120154 ) on Saturday that the cafe — which in desperation [resumed charging](https://www.moderntimesmpls.com/about ) for food in what Alverson dubbed "a fascist economy" — will soon be closing its doors for good.
"For the last 6 years, I’ve been trying to prove that Modern Times can continue to exist. I’ve exhausted every option without compromising the core fundamentals that make Modern Times what it is," Alverson [noted](https://www.facebook.com/ModernTimesCafe/posts/1766743972120154 ) in a post on Facebook. "Because of this, we have made the choice to close at the end of the year. This has been an incredibly difficult decision and one that did not come lightly."
In a [lengthy eulogy](https://www.moderntimesmpls.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawVG7RRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUREenFiWUVDSkx5YmRjUmNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe323QDb8SsNKKyfrESJeAPfAjlja26NSd38dhJKwbf5zCcs9rOGm8T7eGq44_aem_6dhd9MP9y76gj7tOCQUIPw ) for his dream, Alverson characterized the cafe — which underwent a rebrand as Post Modern Times — as a "glorious and radical experiment" that "put people over profit, quality over margins, and creativity at all costs."
After complaining about the cafe's struggles and blaming a world "that doesn't make sense," he acknowledged that the failing establishment "ran for over 6 months as a completely free restaurant" and "gave away 30,000 meals and spent through our original donations."
**RELATED: [Berkeley set out to defend DEI — and found no financial upside](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/berkeley-set-out-to-defend-dei-and-found-no-financial-upside )**
Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto/Getty Images
According to Alverson, the cafe has been losing $10,000 a week.
Though he [admitted elsewhere](https://www.instagram.com/p/DbQ5rppAxUd/ ) that he had implemented "the worst and most psychotic business structure," he also characterized giving meals away for free as an act of protest after the fatal shootings of anti-ICE radicals [Alex Pretti](https://www.theblaze.com/news/alex-pretti-broke-ribs-previous ) and [Renee Good](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ice-officer-suffered-internal-bleeding-following-renee-good-incident-report ).
"I am sick of generating money for the soldiers in our streets and for a government that won't protect us — a government who is actively inflicting daily harm on its citizens," he [wrote](https://archive.ph/tPnYM ) on Jan. 26. "Effective tomorrow we are done making money for the fascists that occupy our city. We refuse to generate taxes under the guise of a functioning for-profit capitalist business aligned with government strategy."
Alverson's decision to stick it to ICE by forgoing profits captured the attention of liberals farther afield.
In addition to [receiving donations from around the country](https://www.startribune.com/modern-times-cafe-in-minneapolis-makes-pay-what-you-can-permanent/601589329 ), the cafe garnered positive media attention including from the New York Times, which [presented](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/dining/post-modern-times-minneapolis-free-food.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur ) this "social experiment" largely as a success story and optimistically reported in June that "profits are up."
Two months after the Times' glow-up, Modern Times showed signs of strain, [announcing](https://www.facebook.com/ModernTimesCafe/posts/1704648408329711?ref=embed_post ) "PRICES ARE RETURNING TO THE CAFE."
The New York Times' podcast "The Daily" [revisited](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/podcasts/the-daily/the-restaurant-industry-is-broken-can-it-be-fixed.html?showTranscript=1 ) Alverson's doomed experiment this month, noting that while the cafe wasn't making money, its owner appeared keen that "this new model is something that other restaurants could adopt."
Alverson stated in his closure announcement, "The only way for places like Modern Times to exist in the future is to actively challenge the reasons why it can no longer exist."
This is not the first anti-capitalist establishment to go belly-up in recent years.
The Anarchist, a leftist establishment in Toronto, Canada, that touted itself as an "anti-capitalist, anti-colonial cafe, shop, and radical community space on stolen land," [permanently closed in 2023](https://www.theblaze.com/news/toronto-anti-capitalist-cafe-fails-miserably-after-just-one-year ).
Although the Anarchist charged money for its food, its anti-Catholic, anti-police owner stated that "the lack of generational wealth/seed capital from ethically bankrupt sources left [him] unable to weather the quiet winter season, or to grow in the ways needed to be sustainable longer-term."
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