Last week, conservative leaders gathered in Dallas to debate the future of the movement at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But for many in the party’s populist wing, the more pressing concern wasn’t onstage — it was a future playing out just 50 miles down the road.

The debate over what’s being called “EPIC City” centers on a proposed master-planned community tied to the East Plano Islamic Center — envisioned to include housing, a mosque, a school, and community amenities — and its relationship to the existing mosque in Plano.

The project spans both that established religious hub and a separate development site farther out in Collin County, about an hour from CPAC’s Dallas venue.

In recent months, the controversy has come to encapsulate a cluster of hot-button concerns: immigration, fraud, government overreach, and the fear of unassimilated enclaves taking root within American communities.

RELATED: Sabo’s story: Guerrilla street artist opens up in career-spanning ‘Unsavory Agents’

Unsavoryagents.com

As usual, street artist Sabo didn’t wait for the panels to catch up and weigh in.

Instead, he took it to the walls — plastering the area near CPAC with a series of provocative posters styled as Islamic prayer rugs.

Unsavoryagents.com

Unsavoryagents.com

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Prints of the prayer rug posters may be purchased directly from Sabo here.

​Sabo, Trump, Culture, Lifestyle, Sabo strikes!, Epic city texas, Dallas, Cpac, Steve bannon, Islam, Sharia law, Ken paxton, John cornyn 

A member of Congress has been the victim of theft, and the thief was someone the House member trusted for years.

On Tuesday, Courtney Hruska, 40, of Alexandria, Va., pled guilty to felony wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison at her sentencing hearing on June 23, the DOJ said in a press release.

Hruska admitted that she knew the victim was ‘not tech savvy.’

Hruska stole a total of $22,865.07 from the victim, described in the DOJ press release only as “a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.” According to the statement of facts signed by Hruska, Hruska worked for this congressperson as office scheduler, office manager, and administrative director between 2015 and early 2022.

NBC News reported that Hruska worked for longtime Ohio Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur, 79, though whether Hruska ever worked for any other member of Congress is unclear. The statement of facts reported that the victim had “a personal bank account … at a financial institution in Brooklyn, Ohio.”

Between August 2023 and July 2024, at least 18 months after leaving Kaptur’s office, Hruska used the victim’s personal bank account information on at least 10 separate occasions to make payments on her own credit card bills, the statement of facts said.

RELATED: ICE leader goes for Congress: Sheahan dumps desk for battle against 43-year Democrat incumbent

Craig Hudson/Washington Post/Getty Images

Hruska had been given the victim’s personal banking and credit card information to make “specific purchases” under “limited” circumstances as part of her “official duties” in the victim’s employ, the statement of facts said. Prosecutors believe Hruska kept that information after leaving the victim’s office.

Furthermore, Hruska left that job after securing another government position with the victim’s help. The statement of facts claimed that the victim helped Hruska land a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

The victim kept track of personal finances by hand. Hruska admitted that she knew the victim was “not tech savvy” and likely would not get any alerts about the money transfers, the statement of facts said.

The victim discovered the missing funds after a check bounced in 2024. During the investigation, Hruska initially blamed “hackers from the dark web” for the money transfers from the victim’s bank account to Hruska’s credit card bills, the statement of facts said.

Because more than a year lapsed between the initial theft and the discovery of it, the victim was able to recover just 9% of the lost funds, or little more than $2,000.

Thus far, Kaptur’s office has been tight-lipped about her former staffer’s conviction. A spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News, NBC News, or the New York Post.

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​Courtney hruska, Congress, Marcy kaptur, Ohio, Democratic party, Democrats, Politics 

A bizarre man-on-the-street interview is making waves online after comedian Lionel Leede asked a protester whether America was neglecting the “gays of Hormuz” in a fake German accent — a play on words on the Strait of Hormuz — and received earnest agreement in response.

“Isn’t it a little bit homophobic that we’re so focused on the straights of Hormuz and not the gays of Hormuz?” Leede asked the No Kings protester.

“Yes, I agree. Yes, for sure,” the protester responded.

“Why do you think they’re willing to leave the gays of Hormuz behind?” Leede asked.

“I think it’s just, historically, like, you know, gays have always been very discriminated against, which is wrong on so many levels,” she responded before he interjected, “Even in war.”

“Yeah, even in war. It just takes more reform in government, obviously, and then also educating society,” she added.

“Just feel like if we’re going to go in there, we can’t leave the gay people behind. I don’t think we should go in there at all, but if we’re going to, the gays of Hormuz, we could turn it into Fire Island,” Leede responded, to which she said, “For sure.”

BlazeTV host Steve Deace watches the clip on the “Steve Deace Show” and, without speaking a word, gets up and leaves the set.

Co-host Todd Erzen laughs, saying, “And in a German accent.”

“And they’re going to win the next election,” he adds, laughing harder.

Deace walks back in, joking that when he heard Todd say, “They’re going to win the next election,” he “sat down over in the corner there in the break room and just started sucking my thumb.”

“I don’t even know what to say,” he adds.

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​Steve deace show, Steve deace, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Todd erzen, Lionel leede, No cap on god fr, Strait of hormuz, Iran, Iran war, No kings protest 

In a case with potential far-reaching consequences in states with similar laws, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting, that a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for minors was unconstitutional.

The case, Chiles v. Salazar, has gained a wide mix of reactions from think tanks, politicians, and media personalities alike.

‘They believe it is more natural for a man to be a woman than for a man to be a man.‘

Blaze News previously reported that the Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh ripped into Jackson’s dissent, saying that her opinion “just proves again that she is the most unfit, unqualified, unhinged lunatic to ever hold a seat on the Supreme Court.”

Others celebrated the positive aspects of the case, touting the decision as a win for all of the victims who have been caught in the crosshairs of gender ideology.

RELATED: SCOTUS rules on law banning ‘conversion therapy’ — and 2 liberal justices break rank

DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

Terry Schilling, the president of the American Principles Project, told Blaze News, “The Supreme Court delivered a landmark victory for religious believers, parents, and, most importantly, vulnerable children. Colorado Democrats have shown they will stomp on the rights of anyone who stands in the way of the well-heeled gay and transgender lobby whether it is bakers, doctors, or desperate families.”

“It should not take the lengthy legal battles or the Supreme Court to rein in the liberal war against reality. That is why fed-up Colorado families are appealing straight to voters to protect children from extremist Democrats,” Schilling continued.

Ashley McGuire, author, radio host, and senior fellow at the Catholic Association, likewise showered the Supreme Court’s decision with praise.

In a statement to Blaze News, McGuire said, “Efforts by left-wing ideologues to force health care professionals to violate their personal and religious beliefs have failed again. We applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to protect the religious liberty and free speech rights of therapists in today’s 8-1 ruling in the case of Chiles v. Salazar. This ruling also protects vulnerable children and upholds the rights of parents to seek care for their children in line with their personal beliefs.”

The ruling is primarily a First Amendment case, which, notably, does not issue any opinion or ruling on the efficacy, morality, or legality of so-called conversion therapy itself, defined in the ruling as any treatments or attempts “to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The issue, in simple terms, was that the law forced the plaintiff and other counselors who deal in the relevant field to adopt an affirming approach to minor patients who may have been confused about their sexual orientation or gender identity and were seeking to change it.

BlazeTV’s Daniel Horowitz summed up this issue in a statement shared with Blaze News:

It is shocking how it has taken years to affirm such a basic right as two adults contracting with each other to engage in verbal therapy to affirm natural sexuality. It is even more shocking how the left believes a doctor can pursue a physical action to unnaturally change gender with castration, but you are banned from merely speaking with someone in support of their existing natural sexuality. They believe it is more natural for a man to be a woman than for a man to be a man. Their understanding of authentic individual rights as it intersects with governmental powers is as perfectly corrupted as one can imagine.

Democratic leaders, on the other hand, expressed their disapproval of the decision. In a reply to the Associated Press’ report on X, California Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Conversion therapy is discredited junk science that inflicts harm on LGBTQ youth. The Supreme Court’s decision is disappointing and puts vulnerable kids at risk.”

On a lighter note, some social media users pointed out the humor of this decision being released on the so-called Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31.

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​Politics, Supreme court, Scotus, Colorado, Conversion therapy, Conversion therapy supreme court case, American principles project, The catholic association, Ashley mcguire, Terry schilling, Daniel horowitz 

An armed male recently entered a Florida home and refused to leave — and then threatened the homeowner while advancing toward him, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said.

But the homeowner had a gun on hand — and used it.

‘Stand your ground, baby!’

The sheriff’s office in a Tuesday news release said deputies responded to reports of shots fired in the 5400 block of Touraine Drive around 9:40 p.m. Feb. 6 and discovered a male suffering from a gunshot wound at the scene. The incident occurred in Tallahassee.

Detectives determined the male in question entered the home uninvited and refused to leave after the homeowner’s repeated requests, officials said.

What’s more, the male then threatened the homeowner with a weapon while advancing toward him, officials said.

With that, the homeowner used a semiautomatic handgun to fire a single shot at the male, which struck him, officials said.

The male was taken to a hospital in critical condition, officials said.

After an investigation, deputies identified and arrested 42-year-old Scott Scruggs on charges of burglary of a structure while armed and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, officials said.

RELATED: Male breaks window of home after midnight. Homeowner warns him he has a gun — then uses it when intruder keeps advancing.

Scott Scruggs. Image source: Leon County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office

Scruggs remained hospitalized following the incident and was taken into custody upon his release from the hospital, officials said, adding that Scruggs is now behind bars in the Leon County Detention Facility.

Jail records indicate there is no release date assigned to Scruggs; there is no bond for his burglary charge; his bond for his aggravated assault charge is $2,500.

Jail records also note Scruggs has a long criminal history dating back to 2008 filled with charges that include battery, trespassing, criminal mischief, burglary, resisting arrest, theft, reckless driving, and drug possession.

Commenters under the sheriff’s office Facebook post about the incident seemed to approve of the homeowner’s actions:

“Stand your ground, baby!” one commenter declared.”Good job homeowner!!” another user exclaimed.”FAFO,” another commenter stated.”Sounds to me like he should have left,” another user noted. “Good for the homeowner protecting their home.”

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​Crime thwarted, Florida, Leon county sheriff’s office, 2nd amend., Guns, Gun rights, Home invasion, Self-defense, Homeowner shoots intruder, Arrest, Burglary of a structure while armed, Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Jailed, Tallahassee, Crime 

German drivers who bought Lexus vehicles expecting full access to remote and climate features recently got a wake-up call.

Features they paid for were suddenly restricted — not because anything broke, but because of regulatory compliance, connectivity changes, and software control.

The Lexus situation shows how quickly functionality can change when regulations, infrastructure, or software support shifts.

The hardware still works; the car still runs. But the functionality changed anyway.

That’s the part American drivers should pay attention to.

Your vehicle may sit in your driveway; your name may be on the title — but increasingly, key features operate at the discretion of software systems, telecom networks, and regulatory rules.

Rolling computers

Modern vehicles are what the industry calls “software-defined.” Features like remote start, climate preconditioning, and app-based access all depend on telematics — your car communicating with external servers.

If that connection changes or no longer meets regulatory requirements, those features can stop working.

Not because the car can’t do it — but because access has been turned off.

Lexus parent company Toyota confirmed that certain connected services were modified due to compliance and infrastructure limitations. Automakers call this a technical adjustment. Drivers experience it as losing features they already paid for.

This is what happens when policy decisions ripple into everyday life. Governments tighten cybersecurity rules, telecom providers shut down older networks, and automakers update software to stay compliant. And the result shows up in your driveway.

RELATED: Blinded by modern headlights? A new visor aims to cut the glare

Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Resale risk

There’s also a financial impact that many buyers don’t consider. When features depend on connectivity, they may require subscriptions, stop working as networks change, or simply not be supported for the life of the vehicle. That affects resale value.

For decades, ownership was simple. If the hardware worked, the feature worked. Now, automakers control the software. Regulators control what is allowed. Telecom providers control connectivity. The owner depends on all three.

That shift helps explain why automakers are pushing subscription-based features. Remote start, heated seats, driver-assistance systems — even performance upgrades are increasingly tied to software instead of built-in hardware.

From the industry’s perspective, it creates flexibility and recurring revenue. From the driver’s perspective, it introduces uncertainty.

There are real benefits to all this connectivity. Software updates can fix problems without recalls. Safety systems can improve over time. Diagnostics can catch issues earlier.

But those benefits come with dependency.

The Lexus situation shows how quickly functionality can change when regulations, infrastructure, or software support shifts. Many buyers still assume their vehicle’s features are permanent.

That assumption no longer holds.

Coming to America

And this isn’t just happening overseas. American vehicles rely on the same telematics systems, the same cellular networks, and the same shift toward software-controlled features. Electric vehicles push this even farther, relying heavily on software for battery management, charging, and performance.

Connectivity isn’t optional any more. It’s built into how the vehicle operates.

The Lexus case isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a preview. Most drivers still assume ownership equals control. But increasingly ownership means access — access that depends on software, connectivity, and compliance.

Because in today’s vehicles, the most important component isn’t under the hood. It’s in the software.

What to check before you buy

Before you buy a vehicle with connected features, ask these questions:

How long are these features supported?
Don’t assume they last the life of the car. Ask for a timeline.

What happens if the network changes?
If the vehicle relies on cellular connectivity, what happens when that network is upgraded or shut down?

Are any features subscription-based?
Some features are included up front but require payment later to keep working.

Can features be removed or modified?
Check the fine print. Many automakers reserve the right to change connected services.

Will this affect resale value?
A car that loses key features over time may be harder to sell — or worth less.

Is there a non-connected fallback?
If connectivity fails, do basic functions still work?

​Lexus, Toyota, Lifestyle, Auto industry, Big tech, Advanced features, Align cars 

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has weighed in after Kid Rock received some special visitors at his Tennessee mansion overlooking Nashville over the weekend. The video Rock posted, which garnered millions of views on social media, sparked mixed reactions from supporters and detractors as well as the president himself.

Rock’s video showed him standing outside by his pool clapping and saluting as an AH-64 Apache helicopter hovered near the residence. A second helicopter can momentarily be seen flying in the background of the video as well.

‘Carry on, patriots.’

In a statement to Blaze News Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Army spokesman Maj. Montrell Russell reported that the pilots were suspended pending the investigation:

The Army has confirmed that on March 28, two Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell conducted a flight in the Nashville area that has attracted public and media attention. This incident is now under an Army Regulation 15-6 administrative investigation. The personnel involved have been suspended from flight duties while the Army reviews the circumstances surrounding the mission, including compliance with relevant FAA regulations, aviation safety protocol, and approval requirements.

However, Sec. Hegseth responded to Rock’s X post, reversing the threat of investigation as well as the pilots’ brief suspension.

RELATED: Kid Rock catches heat for viral Apache helicopter social media video — Army launches investigation

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

“Thank you @KidRock. @USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth wrote.

President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, seemed unsure whether the pilots should have done the flyover, the Daily Mail reported. He added, however, “I like Kid Rock, maybe they were trying to defend him, I don’t know.”

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​Politics, President trump, Kid rock, Tennessee, Apache helicopter, Ah-64, Fort campbell, Montrell russell, Pete hegseth, Us army, Secretary of war 

You’re the son of an immigrant. How could you support ICE?

Someone recently asked me this question. This same person also felt that I should be supporting the No Kings protest. It showed me how effective the Democratic Party has been at framing these issues to Democrats’ advantage.

It is naïve to think that those who are willing to skip the process to come here illegally will automatically follow the laws once they arrive.

I lovingly and jokingly say my mother is a fresh-off-the-boat immigrant. She met my father in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. They fell in love and got married in the United States.

She grew up in abject poverty and had an idealistic view of the United States while growing up. Her country, the Philippines, was liberated by the United States twice: once in the late 1800s from Spanish colonial rule, and again during World War II from imperial Japanese rule.

She has more pride in being American than almost any other American I know.

She understands that the United States offers more than any other country in the world. It is something that the children and grandchildren of immigrants often forget. Thankfully, her children didn’t. She supports ICE and President Trump, and I think I can explain why.

For legal immigrants, the rule of law is incredibly important. Many of them come here for the simple reason that the rule of law in their countries broke down. Money misspent, officials and law enforcement taking open bribes, and government tyranny are some of the many reasons an immigrant would decide to come here.

Others in her family followed my mother’s journey, but they followed the legal process. Some had to wait years before coming. To them, seeing someone skip the process, skip the interviews, and skip the sponsorship requirements to come here while others they know are still patiently waiting is an insult.

ICE prioritizes removing convicted criminals, gang members, and repeat offenders. This is common-sense protection for our communities and families. It is naïve to think that those who are willing to skip the process to come here illegally will automatically follow the laws once they arrive.

Not everyone in the world likes us. Some openly call for our death and destruction. Some are motivated to hate by their religion, some by strict adherence to an economic or social ideology.

Immigrants can understand the importance of examining those who wish to live here, for those may bring the evils they hoped to escape.

Illegal immigration places downward pressure on wages. Many legal immigrants take jobs in sectors such as construction, hospitality, and caregiving. Enforcement of immigration laws helps those who came here legally and comply with our laws to earn a fair wage.

What about the costs of housing and health? If you know the basic economics of supply and demand, you understand the negative impact illegal immigration can have.

Legal immigrants also understand that illegal immigration brings bad actors who can negatively taint the positives of immigration and turn a populace against those who followed our process.

RELATED: Memo to Trump: Stop negotiating and ramp up deportations

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Unfortunately, failing to enforce immigration laws leads to the bias of lumping all immigrants in the illegal category. Recent immigrants value the long-term viability of the American dream. Many feel a duty to support the laws that made their success possible. For them, supporting ICE is a natural and easy thing to do.

For the same reasons, supporting the No Kings protests is silly. Let’s start with the obvious: We don’t live under a king, and Trump was democratically elected. The executive branch is constitutional, and checks and balances still exist. Even though an immigrant and the son of an immigrant may disagree with these No Kings protests, we understand that people are allowed to protest, and the fact that protests are allowed is incredibly important. We did not see anyone stopping them from speaking out or deplatforming them on social media.

Perhaps we should be unhappy with the president’s foreign policy decisions? I think I’ll defer to the majority of the Venezuelans and Iranians living here. I can also not overlook the checkered and violent tyrannical past of a theocratic government that openly chants “Death to America.”

The United State has elections, and these protesters might be surprised at the results. Their protests reminded many immigrants of the importance of voting.

​Ice, Immigration, Legal immigration, Illegal immigration, Deportations, Border security, Trump, Dhs, Separation of powers, Opinion & analysis 

President Donald Trump has made history at a Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday about his executive order to end birthright citizenship, reports say.

On Wednesday morning, Fox News reported that Trump arrived at the Supreme Court and that Attorney General Pam Bondi was expected to join him. With this attendance, Trump has become the first sitting president to witness Supreme Court oral arguments.

‘One of the many Great Scams of our time!’

Trump’s Executive Order 14160, signed on Inauguration Day, could impact roughly 225,000 individuals born each year.

The executive action states that “citizenship does not automatically extend to persons born in the United States: (1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary … and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth.”

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that he plans to attend the Supreme Court hearing.

“Because I have listened to this argument for so long,” Trump stated.

He argued that birthright citizenship was not intended for “Chinese billionaires, or billionaires from other countries, who all of a sudden have 75 children … becoming American citizens.”

RELATED: SCOTUS gives Trump a unanimous victory on persecution claims in asylum cases

Al Drago/Getty Images

“This was about slaves,” Trump continued, adding that birthright citizenship was implemented at the end of the Civil War.

“The reason was, it had to do with the babies of slaves and the protection of the babies of slaves. It didn’t have to do with the protection of multimillionaires and billionaires wanting to have their children get an American citizenship,” he said. “It is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

When asked about the Supreme Court justices, Trump responded, “I love a few of them. I don’t like some others.”

RELATED: US Catholic bishops call on SCOTUS to shut down Trump birthright citizenship order and protect ‘human dignity’

Win McNamee/Getty Images

In a post on social media, Trump called birthright citizenship “one of the many Great Scams of our time!”

Around 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Trump’s motorcade was spotted leaving the White House en route to the Supreme Court.

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​News, Donald trump, Trump, Trump administration, Trump admin, Supreme court, Scotus, Birthright citizenship, Immigration crisis, Illegal immigration crisis, Immigration, Illegal immigration, Politics 

On the 41st day of the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, members of Congress decided it was time to fly home for their spring recess despite failing to reach a deal to reopen the agency.

And Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck couldn’t be more upset with our politicians — especially Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).

“He gets onto a plane, and he is out. Friday morning, he is gone. He makes a deal in the middle of the night knowing that the House is not going to accept this. So when the House gets it, they’re like, ‘No, we’re not doing this. We’re not doing this,’” Glenn explains, asking, “And what happened?”

“He’s on a two-week vacation now. They have stopped working in the Senate for two weeks,” he says.

Glenn points out that Trump can use his power to make a difference.

“The president has the ability to call back into special session and convene the Senate in the Constitution. It’s article 2, section 3. And he can do it on extraordinary occasions,” Glenn explains.

“Well, I don’t know how you define extraordinary, but let me try. Let’s see. We’re at war with the number one terrorist state in the world. Millions have come in from God only knows where, and we don’t know where they are. Fifteen-hundred terror cells came in from that terror state. We don’t know where they are,” he continues.

“Domestic terror is on the rise. The American people are shut up in airports, long, long lines. We have ICE doing that job, which means they can’t go out and do their other job. I don’t know what ‘extraordinary means’ is, but I think extraordinary, extraordinary occasions means like what we’re going through right now,” he adds.

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​The glenn beck program, Glenn beck, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, John thune, Dhs shutdown, Department of homeland security, Congress, Senate, President trump, Trump administration 

NASA is counting down to the launch of Artemis II on Wednesday, the first time in more than 50 years the space agency has sent a crewed mission to the moon.

After suffering a series of significant setbacks last year, NASA is ready to go with the crewed lunar orbit and prepping their systems for launch.

‘Engineers are powering up flight hardware … and preparing the rocket’s cryogenic systems.’

NASA has a targeted launch time of 6:24 p.m. ET, with a window that extends to 8:24 p.m. ET.

Online viewers can watch on NASA’s YouTube channel (below) and alternatively C-SPAN, which requires a registered account.

In person, Artemis II will launch from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39B platform in Merritt Island, Florida.

RELATED: ‘Near-impossible’: NASA reveals plans for moon and Mars landings

The Artemis II mission is a crewed lunar orbit that will test landing systems for future missions to the surface.

Artemis III is set for mid-2027, while Artemis IV is targeted for early 2028 and will include a lunar landing.

Artemis V is to include another lunar landing, aimed at launching by the end of 2028, which NASA previously said is when it expects to “begin building its moon base.”

The last lunar mission by NASA was Apollo 17 in December 1972.

RELATED: America’s historic return to the moon suffers ANOTHER setback

Miguel J. Rodriguez CARRILLO/AFP/Getty Images

The Artemis II crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

“Engineers are powering up flight hardware, checking communication links, and preparing the rocket’s cryogenic systems for the precise fueling sequence required to load hundreds of thousands of gallons of super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen,” NASA said in a countdown press release.

If any weather or technical issues arise that would delay the launch, NASA has a second launch window of 7:22 p.m. to 9:22 p.m. ET on Thursday, Today reported, with 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday serving as a final window.

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​Return, Nasa, Artemis ii, Lunar mission, Space launch, Nasa mission, Artermis, Lunar landing, Moon mission, Tech 

President Donald Trump says Iran’s “new regime” has asked the United States for a ceasefire just over a month into the conflict, but the commander in chief still has one major hang-up.

Trump said Wednesday he would consider the ceasefire only if the Strait of Hormuz, which controls about 20% of the world’s oil supply, is reopened. This announcement comes the morning of Trump’s highly anticipated address to the nation, which is slated to take place at 9:00 pm Eastern Time.

‘We will consider when …’

“Iran’s New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!” Trump said in a Truth Social post Wednesday. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear.”

“Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

RELATED: ‘Delayed courage’: Trump tells allies to fend for themselves amid oil crisis

Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

This development comes just a day after Trump urged American allies who have been impacted to fend for themselves and get their own oil. He also criticized countries like the United Kingdom and France for their inaction throughout this conflict, saying they will have to “start learning how to fight for [themselves].”

“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you,” Trump said in the Truth Social post Tuesday. “Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”

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​Donald trump, Iran, Iran war, Ceasefire, Oil, Strait of hormuz, Truth social, No new wars, Politics