An adherent of the “religion of peace” drove a white van into Germany’s largest annual LGBT Pride event on Saturday, killing one and injuring at least 29 individuals before smashing into a tree nearby Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.

After plowing through the pro-diversity festivities, homegrown terrorist Abdul Ballout — a 21-year-old German citizen with foreign ties — attacked passersby with a knife, then fled the scene, according to German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt.

‘The rainbow has suffered a crack today.’

Yannicka Riebensahm, a Berlin-based performer and activist who performs under the name Nyya, spoke at the vigil held on Saturday evening for victims of the attack and complained about the identity of the suspect, noting that she had hoped it was not a foreigner “but a Christian white person” who had mowed down the non-straight revelers.

Other attendees at the vigil waved LGBT imperial colors, and one held a sign that said, “From grief, to anger, to resistance!”

Some Berlin LGBT organizers have demanded that the Islamic terrorist attack not be “instrumentalized for political ends.”

Ballout, who was born in Germany three years after his mother’s arrival from Lebanon in 2002, was previously known to police, having committed multiple crimes, including aggravated assault and predatory extortion, and belonging to the “Islamist scene,” said Dobrindt.

RELATED: Activists RAGE against Democrat who admits hiding LGBTQ+ support to appease Muslims

The LGBT event before a Muslim terrorist drove into it. RALF HIRSCHBERGER/AFP/Getty Images

Tawfik, the terrorist’s father who lives in Lebanon, told Der Spiegel that his son had been “brainwashed.”

According to German prosecutors, the suspect traveled to Lebanon last year with the aim of joining ISIS, reported PBS. Ballout successfully met up with what he figured for militants, but before he could wage jihad, he was arrested by Lebanese authorities and sentenced by a military court to three months in prison.

Ballout subsequently returned to Germany and was arrested at the airport, according to PBS. In May, he was convicted both of plotting a serious act of violence threatening national security and of publishing ISIS propaganda.

Dobrindt told reporters, however, that Ballout’s original sentence was suspended. Instead of serving one year and 10 months in youth custody, the terrorist was released from detention within days of his conviction pending an appeal of his sentence by prosecutors.

Following the attack, Andre Lehmann, a top official at Germany’s largest non-straight NGO, LSVD+, said in a statement, “The rainbow has suffered a crack today. This is a dark day for our community and our country. Our thoughts are with everyone directly affected.”

The City of Berlin said that the motto of this year’s Christopher Street Day parade was “Taking a stand is hot,” and that organizers were urging people “to take a stand for an open society, for democratic values, and for the equal rights of queer people.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated early on Sunday, “This is an attack on our society.”

“The act will be investigated and pursued with the utmost severity,” added Merz.

On Sunday, German special forces caught up with the suspect in the greater Berlin area. Ballout attacked police, then “suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.”

Following the attack, Alternative for Germany — or AFD, an ascendant rightist party that the German establishment has for years subjected to lawfare for sounding the alarm about the fallout of mass migration — blasted Merz’s ruling CDU Party for “once again shirking responsibility.”

AFD said that contrary to the suggestion by elements of the CDU, “the problem is not ‘hate and incitement on the net,’ but rather a far too lax approach to Islamist threats and all those who have been massively endangering the lives and security of citizens in Germany for eleven years now — let into the country by the CDU.”

AFD reiterated its demand for “the immediate detention of Islamist threats and consistent deportations.”

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​Islam, Germany, Lebanon, Berlin, Isis, Pride, Lgbt, Politics 

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky wrote in a statement Monday that he is still recovering from a fall in June and released a photo of himself in an apparent attempt to quell suspicion about his absence.

The photo shows a smiling McConnell alongside his wife, Elaine Chao. It was reportedly taken on Sunday from a rehabilitation facility. Unlike the previous photo released, he is not holding a newspaper or any other item that might help verify when it was taken.

‘He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office.’

McConnell released a statement in the press release lamenting that he would not be able to attend the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, a massive church fundraiser in Kentucky that has been running for more than 140 years.

“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” he wrote.

“As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon,” he added.

The Office of the Attending Physician, the specialized unit that provides health care to members of Congress, also released a statement on his condition.

“Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls,” the office said.

McConnell’s bout with childhood polio continues to affect his health, the office added.

“He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office,” it concluded.

Chao reportedly traveled to China days before McConnell’s fall, and three days after his hospitalization, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. shared a photo of Chao with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. She has since returned to Kentucky.

RELATED: Kentucky governor makes unusual request as mystery deepens over Mitch McConnell’s health

Mitch McConnell press release

McConnell has been heavily criticized by Democrats as well as some in his own party for being far too secretive about his condition.

“Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians,” reads a statement from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), “and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source.”

McConnell previously announced that he was not running for re-election. He is the longest-running senator for Kentucky and has the longest record of leading the U.S. Senate.

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​Mitch mcconnell, Kentucky, Us senate, Politics 

The cracker has finally crumbled for the executive at the forefront of Cracker Barrel’s infamous rebranding meltdown.

Just over 11 months ago, Julie Felss Masino was responsible for what could be considered the American story of the year when Cracker Barrel completely swapped out its iconic logo for a mascot-free reimagining.

‘I want to thank Julie for her leadership and commitment to Cracker Barrel.’

On Monday, Cracker Barrel announced that Masino would be stepping down after the company conducted a “comprehensive succession planning and search process.”

In a press release, the brand said that while Masino would stay on in advisory role until October 9, it would only be to “support a smooth transition” for her replacement, David Deno.

Deno will join the Cracker Barrel board of directors following his role as CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, which owns Outback Steakhouse. He also spent 15 years in senior-level operations at Yum! Brands, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.

Masino has been at the helm of Cracker Barrel since late 2023, but it wasn’t until 2025 that the business spiraled out of control.

After ensuring audiences last August that customers would love the new changes, Masino led Cracker Barrel down a winding, woke road that had customers putting the company on blast for all its progressive initiatives.

RELATED: Cracker Barrel CEO praises company’s ‘Google star rating’ while revealing huge financial losses

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Looking down the barrel

Cracker Barrel was knee deep in “culture and inclusion,” stating on its website that it wanted to promote “inclusive, ambitious, and diverse” team members.

This included the “Be Bold” program, which had a mission to develop “Black Leaders” through “allyship, mentorship, and education.”

The “Hola!” initiative promoted “Hispanic and Latino culture through hiring, developing, and retaining talent” within the company.

Cracker Barrel also had a program about “empowering” women and another regarding “strengthening Cracker Barrel’s relationship to the LGBTQ+ community.”

As the backlash peaked, Masino told Blaze co-founder Glenn Beck, “I feel like I’ve been fired by America.”

In March 2026, Masino had no choice but to reveal how bad the company had been doing financially. Total revenue decreased by 7.9% compared to the year before. Restaurant revenue dropped by 7.5%, and traffic had declined by more than 10%. At the same time though, Masino praised the restaurant’s Google rating as having its “highest quarterly score since Q2 in fiscal year 2020.”

A recent notable partnership with NASCAR featured Cracker Barrel hosting a women’s podcast and wine sampling on its stage at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 in late June.

RELATED: ‘I feel like I’ve been fired by America’: Cracker Barrel CEO nearly brought to tears over redesign backlash

Parting remarks

“We are confident David [Deno] is the right leader to continue building on the Cracker Barrel legacy, drive further positive momentum operationally and financially, and create sustainable value for our shareholders,” said independent chairman of the Cracker Barrel board Carl Berquist.

“On behalf of the board and the entire company, I want to thank Julie for her leadership and commitment to Cracker Barrel,” he added.

Deno described Cracker Barrel as “a truly iconic American brand, defined by its unique combination of warm country hospitality, timeless appeal, and deep connection with guests across generations.”

The new CEO said he was honored to lead the team while “unlocking the full potential” of the Cracker Barrel brand by focusing on food and experiences.

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​Cracker barrel, Julie felss masino, Lifestyle 

A former NFL linebacker has been removed from the United States by immigration enforcement, apparently after years of living in the country illegally.

Daniel Ogama Adongo played professional rugby union in South Africa before being recruited by the NFL in 2013.

‘Our communities are SAFER now that this criminal is OUT of our country.’

Adongo, now 37, was in his prime when the Indianapolis Colts brought him aboard, but the Kenyan played in a total of only five games over the course of two seasons, never recording a tackle.

After being waived by the Colts at the end of 2015, Adongo reportedly overstayed his visa in 2016, followed by a series of arrests over the last decade.

Fox News reported that the linebacker was arrested for crimes like criminal mischief with damage, felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. One of the arrests led to a one-year jail sentence in 2020.

According to the Daily Mail, another arrest stemmed from a 2017 incident when Adongo allegedly threatened his Uber driver with a hatchet.

A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Adongo’s removal in March, according to Fox News, and he was deported on June 20 after being detained in Chicago.

RELATED: Video shows Canadian ‘illegal alien’ slapping teen; assault suspect ‘has no business being in our country’: DHS

The Department of Homeland Security responded to a news story about Adongo, saying he was “DEPORTED after he broke our laws.”

“Our communities are SAFER now that this criminal is OUT of our country,” the department wrote on X.

ICE Chicago told Fox News that Adongo was “clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he’s been removed.”

The comments came from Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson, who added, “Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes.”

RELATED: Video: MLB player ruptures his testicle mid-game — then shocks his manager with what he does next

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Adongo was born in Nairobi in 1989 and was signed by the Colts without any football experience. His two games came in 2013 and 2015, as he bounced between the practice squad and the full-time roster starting in July 2013, until his eventual release in December 2015.

Police had been called to Adongo’s home multiple times throughout that season, the Daily Mail stated, but there were no charges filed at the time. He was later suspended by the NFL in 2016 following an investigation. Around 12 months later, he was arrested in Indianapolis for the alleged hatchet incident.

As noted by Pro Football Reference, Adongo had his suspension lifted by the NFL commissioner on October 4, 2016.

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​Nfl, Kenya, Ice, Indianapolis colts, Sports 

A knife-wielding male entered a Southern California restaurant “frightening customers and staff” earlier this month, according to law enforcement — that is, until a concealed-carrying patron stepped into the fray.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a report of a person armed with a knife at Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in the 11300 block of South Street in Cerritos just after 2 p.m. July 19, KABC-TV reported.

‘He pointed a gun at him, told him to put the knife down, [but] the guy kept walking toward him like Michael Myers.’

Deputies told the station that a preliminary investigation found that the armed male entered the restaurant and ran through the kitchen/service areas “frightening customers and staff.”

However, a customer who was “lawfully armed and possessed a valid concealed carry permit” confronted the male and ordered him to drop the knife, deputies told KABC.

But the male with the knife reportedly charged toward the customer, and the customer shot him, the station said.

In addition, a sheriff’s department source told KABC that the knife-wielding male apparently stabbed himself before walking into the restaurant.

A restaurant employee told the station that what went down resembled a horror movie.

“I just saw a guy run in the restaurant with his throat slit, and he had a knife. Once he went to the main dining area with all the guests, I guess there was another guest that was sitting down,” the employee recounted to KABC. “He pointed a gun at him, told him to put the knife down, [but] the guy kept walking toward him like Michael Myers. He shot him.”

Investigators told the station they believe the incident began prior to the male getting to the restaurant. The sheriff’s department source added to KABC that the male with the knife had been driving a stolen truck before abandoning it and stabbing himself at a nearby Starbucks on South Street.

Magaly Zacarias told the station she saw the driver before he ran toward Lucille’s: “I noticed a driver driving recklessly into the plaza. He just left the car there, ran off to Lucille’s, and it seemed like he had a knife in his hand, and he was also wounded. I got a closer look at the car, and it seems like there was already blood all over the steering wheel and inside of the car.”

RELATED: ‘Anyone who breaks into someone’s home should expect to get shot’: Gun-toting Florida homeowner takes care of business

Zacarias works nearby and added to KABC that the deadly incident was a shock to her and others who work in the area: “We were really anxious, especially because this plaza is safe, so it was a little shocking for us to hear what was happening.”

Daniela Reyes of Cerritos told the station that she and other frequent shoppers also were shaken.

“It’s just crazy to think about, because what if we were, well, knock on wood, but what if we were nearby and something like this happened?” Reyes noted to KABC. “And now it’s like, OK, we have to be careful with our surroundings.”

Javier Reyes added to the station that he hopes security is increased: “Hopefully there’s more security, because this is kind of unacceptable that this happened, and it makes me worried to go out for a nice Sunday dinner.”

More from KABC:

Homicide investigators and the sheriff’s department deputies had the restaurant blocked off as the investigation continued. Witnesses and employees were being questioned.

Investigators have not released the name of the man who was shot and killed. They also have not released a possible motive for why he hurt himself and then went to the restaurant.

Deputies said the customer who shot the armed man remained at the scene and is fully cooperating with investigators.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

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​Concealed carrier, Fatal shooting, Gun rights, Southern california, Crime, Second amendment 

AirDrop for iPhone and Quick Share for Android offer fun ways to quickly send photos, videos, and other files to other devices within a 30-foot radius via Bluetooth and WiFi.

Unfortunately, researchers claim that these services are compromised, and hackers can exploit them to make your life miserable.

Whether you use an iPhone or you have an Android phone, the fix is the same.

Not one, not two, but six vulnerabilities have been uncovered in both Apple’s AirDrop and Android’s Quick Share file-sharing systems. This revelation came directly from security researchers at the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security in Germany.

Here’s what you’re looking at in terms of risks and threats.

The vulnerabilities

Both AirDrop and Quick Share are designed to allow users to send various files wirelessly from one device to another, even if you don’t have the contact information of the other device saved to your phone. Up until recently, AirDrop only worked between devices in Apple’s ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Quick Share, on the other hand, primarily worked between Android devices, like the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. Thanks to some ingenuity from the Android team, now it’s possible for some Android phones to wirelessly send files to iPhones and back, finally bridging the gap between the two file-sharing services.

Unfortunately, while AirDrop and Quick Share are meant to be a helpful — if not a neat — file-sharing feature, they’re both left wide open for hackers to intervene. According to the report, “A proximity attacker needs a laptop with Wi-Fi and a spot within range, often 10 to 30 meters. No pairing, contact exchange, or shared network is required.”

RELATED: The latest iPhone security threat has a nasty fix

Moor Studio/Getty Images

On Apple devices set to receive from “Everyone,” the early protocol phases respond before any user prompt appears. Quick Share answers nearby devices by default once it is visible.”

Once a hacker attacks a device, both AirDrop and Quick Share can misbehave but in different ways. The AirDrop vulnerability will result in a system crash that affects AirDrop, AirPlay, Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and Continuity Camera. In other words, AirDrop hackers can’t access user data through this exploit, but they can remotely disable the target iPhone, essentially turning it into a brick. Meanwhile, the Quick Share vulnerability allows hackers to bypass security protocols, leaving the system open to intercept or modify the sent file, which can be leveraged for malicious purposes.

How to protect your device from file-sharing hackers

The good news is that whether you use an iPhone or you have an Android phone, the fix is the same. You can protect your device from unwanted file-sharing hackers by restricting your AirDrop or Quick Share access to your contacts only, or disable the feature entirely. The only thing you don’t want to do is make your AirDrop or Quick Share feature available to all nearby phones.

To customize AirDrop on iPhone, open the Settings app. Then tap “General,” followed by “AirDrop.” On the next page, check either “Receiving Off” or “Contacts Only” to protect your phone.

Zach Laidlaw/iPhone 17 Pro Max on iOS 26.5.2

To change the Quick Share settings on Samsung Galaxy, open the Settings app. Tap “Connected devices,” then “Quick Share,” and follow that with “Who can share with you.” From the popup menu, select either “No one,” “Your devices,” or “Contacts.”

Zach Laidlaw/Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 on One UI 8.5

Finally, to tweak your Google Pixel Quick Share capabilities, open the Settings app and hop into the “Connection devices” section, then “Connection preferences.” Tap “Quick Share” at the bottom, followed by “Who can share with you.” From there, either select “Your devices,” “Contacts,” or disable Quick Share entirely by toggling the “Visible to nearby devices” switch off.

Zach Laidlaw/Google Pixel 10 Pro XL on Android 17

Now your devices are protected from hackers who may wish to exploit AirDrop and Quick Share to either disable your device or install malicious code meant to do harm. You can now roam about public spaces without risk of file-sharing attacks.

​Tech, Hacking, Phone, Security 

One of the White House’s most recent social media posts has gained outsized attention — but likely not for the reasons the administration hoped for.

On Sunday night, the White House X account posted a spoof video with major themes of the administration in the style of “Rick and Morty,” a popular sci-fi cartoon for adults.

‘Your boos mean nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer.’

Captioned “Hop in … best dimension yet,” the video covers a broad sweep of increasingly fantastic scenes.

Reminiscent of the far-out opening credits of “Rick and Morty,” the White House’s version features some hallmark symbols of the MAGA movement, including but not limited to a MAGA hat, a Diet Coke can, and a floating “1+1+1=3 wins,” an apparent reference to the past three presidential “wins” of the Trump administration.

The cartoon video shows a number of different scenes, including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance running along the White House colonnade and Trump waving from a balcony of the White House.

Then, the scenes get more bizarre.

RELATED: Trump approval rating SOARS in new poll

The next scene shows an immigration agent with “Homan” on his name tag handcuffing a winged demon.

Before the final scene, there is a cut of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaking at a podium, surrounded by green portals to other dimensions. Schumer then removes his face to reveal that he is a robot underneath a mask.

Trump and Vance can then be seen flying through the air in a spaceship being chased by a large dragon with red, laser eyes. The scene cuts to black with a lightning strike, which then forms the word “MAGA” in red lettering.

The 36-second video, which is approaching nine million views on X but has gained only a little over 40,000 likes, clearly touched a nerve.

While some commenters were pleased with or were pleasantly surprised by the White House leaning into the referential crossovers with popular culture, others were not so impressed.

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) drew a sharp contrast between the fantasy of the video and the increasing costs burdening real families across the country: “People can’t afford gas, groceries, rent, and healthcare and this is the weird embarrassing crap the official White House account is putting out.”

Others questioned if there is an actual audience for this type of content from official government accounts. Scott Greer, for example, simply asked, “Who is the audience for this?”

Another account pointed out that this type of content could potentially be flooding out valuable content from other accounts online: “Babe wake up the White house is posting coal again.”

Despite some of the negative online comments, White House officials have seemingly held their ground. Kaelen Dorr, the head of digital strategy for the White House, referenced a line from “Rick and Morty” as a comeback: “Your boos mean nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer.”

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​Chuck schumer, Donald trump, Jd vance, Marjorie taylor greene, Politics 

While the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has sparked an outpouring of tributes from allies, there’s also been a disappointing wave of celebration from the left.

BlazeTV host Ron Simmons is disturbed by what he’s seeing, pointing out that Graham wasn’t even a “far -ight zealot.”

“The left will hate us no matter who is in charge,” he says, before pulling up a post on X from Ana Kasparian, who simply wrote: “Good riddance.”

“In follow-up comments, including on Instagram, she doubled down and said she was elated that he was dead and overjoyed,” Simmons explains.

“And Nick Fuentes … posted the same thing verbatim. Cenk Uygur, co-creator of ‘The Young Turks,’ posted, ‘Lindsey Graham has moved on to the next step of his journey, trying to convince Hades to attack Zeus and Poseidon,’” he continues.

“Comedian Elizabeth Booker Houston dropped off a ‘congratudolences’ cake at Graham’s office for his sister to receive. This is the worst one,” he adds.

“I just dropped this cake off at Lindsey Graham’s office. Congratuldolences, Darline! Your brother is burning in hell, and now, you’re working for the devil!” Houston wrote in a post on X.

Hasan Piker also chimed in on Graham’s passing, writing “lmao” in a quote tweet of a post remembering Graham.

“What I want you to understand is that don’t think when Donald Trump is out of office in 2029, he leaves office in early 2029, that … that’s going to be a big kumbaya moment. It’s not going to be,” Simmons says.

“Do not be fooled by that. We need to stick to our principles, stick to our policies. Do I wish that Trump wouldn’t say some of the things he says? Absolutely. Absolutely. 100% … but our policies is what we need to be the most concerned about,” he continues.

“We need to stay strong and move on from here,” he adds.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Ana kasparian, Cenk uygur, Donald trump, Elizabeth booker houston, Hasan piker, Lindsey graham, Nick fuentes, Ron simmons, Blazetv show 

Call up the old crew because split-screen is back in high definition.

This time, however, it comes transparent, glow-in-the-dark, and wireless.

‘A system so awesome it may blow your mind.’

Most news in video games these days is about woke injections, the loss of physical media, or another studio collapsing after telling gamers they should be happy with recycled titles about obese and progressive protagonists.

Eliminate all of that when opening the M64 box, which is likely the most retro-looking packaging you’ve seen since 1994. Imagine the best experience with a throwback system you could imagine: This is it.

With this ModRetro hardware, every little thing received special attention: the connecting light around the controller ports, the menu screens, even the eject button.

In fact, let’s start there.

Eject with power

The M64 is not just inspired by a translucent Nintendo 64 that kids (and adults) have clamored over in nostalgia pages for the last five years; it’s a monumental improvement in almost every way.

N64 games are known for their bulky cartridges that gamers often had to cram into the system and subsequently pry out with a crowbar. Not anymore. The M64 comes with a handy eject button that doesn’t just release the game; you can get some serious air with this thing. It’s probably the first thing you will show the boys.

RELATED: ‘You are killing ownership’: PlayStation goes digital-only as disc-loving gamers rage

M64. Andrew Chapados/Blaze Media

The system is illuminated with an LED light in front of the cartridge so you can see what you are playing when in the dark, a recurring theme for this unit. Each controller port (there are four) has a ring light around it when active.

On the back: power source, HDMI port, two USB-C ports, and a microSD slot.

Readers will also notice two buttons on top: the white power button and the red knob. The knob is also a button which brings up the system menu where users tinker with all its many settings.

Days of wireless past

The M64 can be updated through microSD or wirelessly, why? Firmware updates are common with retro consoles for upscaling fixes, bugs, and in this case, menu and calibration data.

The menus are delightfully 8-bit, giving the user options to play in full HD, use scan lines, and more. There are reportedly plans to adapt the M64 to work on CRT TVs in the future as well.

One menu is for connecting controllers; plug in an original N64, an updated remake, or the M64 Pro Controller.

The new piece of hardware came in its own box, with an original game (more on that below), and “a system so awesome it may blow your mind” written on it.

There are many ways to use this controller: the wired option uses a unique USB-C attachment with a traditional N64 cord that plugs in just like an older controller.

Wirelessly, users will need to pair with the console, indicated by a fancy LED ring light circling around the desired port when connecting. This can be done with a traditional battery pack that snaps into the rear of the controller or with a modern, rechargeable battery. All come in the box.

RELATED: Back to the future? Palmer Luckey’s Chromatic does nostalgia right

M64 controller. Andrew Chapados/Blaze Media

Physically, it’s significantly heavier than an N64 controller. The M64 Pro Controller feels like superior alloys made from a Terminator. It was cool to the touch, which sent an exhilarating jolt up the spine.

The start button lights up, keeping with the theme. It vibrates to let you know rumbling is native. The crisp buttons give the old clicking sound while the Z and shoulder buttons have a nice crease to rest your fingers on.

Everyone had a blister on their thumb at some point in their gaming career with the N64 controller, and everyone had that weird friend who used the palm of their hand too.

A padded, rubberized joystick avoids this with the M64 controller, which also adds grip for those tight, cardinal-direction turns on Super Mario 64.

You play to win the game

The M64’s native game is Xibalba 64, which will launch with Turbo Fusion, Xeno Crisis, and Buck Bumble. Think Doom/Duke Nukem/Quake controls and graphics, but it’s smoother and creepier.

Each level starts with a disturbing yet cleverly written Mayan poem, before you jump in and fight indigenous South American creatures which eventually morph into robots that look like refrigerators.

The game is more clever than 64-bit first-person shooters of the past because of the modern tech that went into it. The game feels like it could have been released at the time, just better, which is how the system feels overall — luxurious old tech.

M64 with Xibalba 64. Andrew Chapados/Blaze Media

Other games we tested were Killer Instinct Gold, Super Mario 64, Super Smash Bros, Bust-A-Move 2, and Mario Party 2. None of these games caused any issues framerate-wise, nor crashed or underperformed in any way.

Everything scaled fine onto our huge, 60-inch television while a friend maniacally laughed his way to a 6-star, 173-coin victory as Donkey Kong on Mario Party 2.

ModRetro has a game compatibility list that shows just 16 games having issues at the time of this writing. This has been cut down significantly since we last checked, showing that they are actively working on cutting down issues.

Verdict

Having played several different retro remakes before, such as Hyperkin’s, it is expected that retro gamers sort of have to get used to crashes and bugs, but not with the M64. There were honestly zero issues during hours and hours of gaming.

It’s an impressive machine, more impressive than what the company did with the Chromatic.

This is on top of the fact that it is an awesome excuse to round up the crew to rescue Elvis on Perfect Dark, fall off cliffs on Mario 64, and sweat playing Smash Bros.

One takeaway a fellow gamer had while playing some of the old games was, “Why do games today suck?”

“Why do these games scratch the itch” about as well as their 2026 counterparts, he further bemoaned.

While we may not be able to trust the major developers to bring the past to us in a responsible way, we certainly can for ModRetro.

The entire system gets a 9.4/10 — there were no glaring flaws or issues. The greatest struggle or hiccup during the entire process was connecting the wireless controller. It was plugged in, and in order to connect it wirelessly it seemingly needed to be turned off and then turned back on. That was it.

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​Modretro, Palmer luckey, M64, N64, Video games, Retro 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) tried repeatedly in recent years to get the Justice Department to nail former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci over apparent false testimony before Congress in 2021.

The statute of limitations on charging Fauci over the alleged perjury expired in May, and Fauci also has a “full and unconditional” autopen pardon from President Joe Biden that covers January 2014 until January 2025.

‘I am the most famous and talked about person in the country.’

However, Paul has secured for the 85-year-old another opportunity to potentially trip over his words and record, requiring Fauci to testify on Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Days prior to grilling Fauci in person, Paul released a treasure trove of damning documents — including a series of apparent diary entries from Fauci where the immunologist not only comes across as a megalomaniac but undermines the official narrative he publicly championed regarding COVID-19, its origin, and school closures.

The documents released by Paul show that in a diary entry dated May 21, 2020, Fauci apparently noted the number of COVID infections and deaths, both globally and in the United States, then proceeded to spend the remainder of the entry boasting about his newfound fame.

“Big front page article abut [sic] me appeared in the Washington Post,” says the entry. “Very flattering. The situation with my national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable. It is not hyoperbole [sic] to say that today I am the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable peson [sic] in the world.”

The author of the entry bragged that he couldn’t keep up with all the things written about him; that President Donald Trump “seems to be enamored of me even though I am taking the spotlight away from him”; and that U.S. Secret Service personnel “let me into the first gate without even checking ID.”

Days later, the author excitedly wrote that the press was simultaneously “going wild” with him while “crucifying the POTUS for not listening to me and making crazy statements about ‘game-changing’ therapies and praising me fot [sic] stivking [sic] to my guns.”

RELATED: Days after Biden inauguration, FBI shielded Wuhan lab collaborator from investigation after China trip

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images

Although he ultimately came around to admitting that there was a “steep cost” associated with school closures during the pandemic, Fauci told ABC News’ “This Week” that he “had nothing to do” with closing schools.

The diaries published by Paul suggest otherwise.

An entry dated March 15, 2020, states, “I spoke with Bill de Blasio (Mayor – NYC) and convinced him based on what I was saying publicly and my conversation tonight to close the NYC schools (he had already decided based on what I was saying on TV). I went on to tell him he should close the bars and restaurants in NYC. He said that he would base this on my recommendation.”

The same entry notes further that Fauci had a call with the chief of staff of Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who informed him that based on his televised commentary, “The Governor has decided to close the schools in California as well as the bars and restaurants.”

Sen. Paul also highlighted that in a Jan. 26, 2020, entry, Fauci appeared to admit that he knew COVID-19 did not originate in a Chinese wet market, which was the prevailing theory among some so-called experts.

“It now appears using epi data and genomic data that the first infection was in early December and was not connected to the market,” Fauci wrote, according to the documents published by Paul. “The infections spread among people weeks before the Chinese reported that they were dealing with a new infection and that gave the virus time to establish itself in multigenerational (sustained) spread.”

“Remember, early on the Chinese were saying that there is no human to human transmission and all the original 27 cases were from the market,” continued the Jan. 26 entry. “Now we know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier. Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans.”

While Fauci seems to have privately admitted that the Huanan wet market was where the pandemic started, he nevertheless publicly promoted the infamous paper published in Nature Medicine on March 17, 2020, “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2,” which stated, “As many early cases of COVID-19 were linked to the Huanan market in Wuhan, it is possible that an animal source was present at this location.”

Fauci used this paper on multiple occasions to suggest to the American public that COVID-19 was not a lab leak but rather an animal virus that jumped to a human.

Though Fauci apparently understood that the “market was not the source,” two studies published in the journal Science in July 2022 — “The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and “The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2” — hyped the wet market as the potential epicenter of the pandemic.

Jonathan Pekar of the University of California, San Diego, and several Fauci associates, including evolutionary biologist Kristian Andersen, virologist Edward Holmes, and virologist Robert Garry, were among the authors behind these papers.

Several days after the wet market admission, Fauci appears to acknowledge the suspicion among his in-group that a zoonotic leap was unlikely, the documents released by Paul show.

After dismissing the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 was a product of gain-of-function experimentation that was deliberately or accidentally released, Fauci had a conference call with Andersen and Jeremy Farrar, a biologist “who sounded very concerned,” the documents show.

“The people on the phone felt that the mutations around the furine [sic] cleavage site of the spike protein could not have occurred naturally since it would require an evolutionary ‘jump that they found nowhere in bat isolates,[‘]” said the entry. “They bring up the possibility that this could have been deliberately inserted and either accidentally released or deliberately released by a crazy person in the lab, the former being the most likely.”

Correspondence obtained in 2022 through a Freedom of Information lawsuit by Guardian reporter Jimmy Tobias shows that on Jan. 31, 2020, Andersen wrote to Fauci, “You have to look very closely at the genome to see features that are potentially engineered. … I should mention that after discussions earlier today, Eddie [Holmes], Bob [Garry], Mike [Farzan], and myself all find the genome to be inconsistent with expectations from evolutionary theory.”

According to an entry dated Feb. 1, 2020, Fauci and then-National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins had a conference call with 10 other scientists, and only two of all of the individuals on the call — not including Fauci — “felt that deliberate insertion was possible and given the fact that Dr. Zheng-Li Shi at the University of Wuhan has been working for years in [gain of function] in coronaviruses to allow adaptation of the spike protein to bind to the human ACE2 receptor, we could not let this go.”

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​Anthony fauci, Rand paul, Covid-19, Politics 

A hospital group in Chicago has quietly advanced a DEI agenda emphasizing transgenderism despite continuing to receive federal funds.

A new Consumers’ Research campaign has uncovered active DEI policies in the Rush University Medical Center hospital system. Rush CEO Omar Lateef previously said the hospital’s “commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a critical part of our DNA.”

‘Physical health can also be greatly affected from long-standing internalized stigma.’

Rush University President Robert Higgins, Rush University System for Health Chair Emeritus Susan Crown, and the Rush University Medical Center did not respond to a request for comment.

“Rush is betraying what should be every hospital’s core mission by using its time, energy, and taxpayer support to promote radical woke activism,” Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Hild said. “Not only does Rush have a history of prioritizing DEI, child sex-change procedures, and climate alarmism, the hospital also has a troubling history of questionable spending on nonmedical initiatives completely unrelated to patient care, like its partnership with the Chicago White Sox.”

The Rush University Children’s Hospital’s pediatrics department currently conducts “department-wide DEI retreats” as part of a broader anti-racism and LGBTQ curriculum, according to the department website.

Retreat topics included “Microaggression Workshops” and sessions on “Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQ People.”

RELATED: Oregon’s war on confused children, by the numbers

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Four thousand staff and students completed Rush’s “LGBTQ-affirming care” training in 2025. Affirm: The Rush Center for Gender, Sexuality, and Reproductive Health teaches program participants that “physical health can also be greatly affected from long-standing internalized stigma.”

Rush intends to offer the training to all employees, according to its program recap.

Although Affirm paused hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers to new patients in 2025, the hospital still offers some gender-related “services” to minors.

“Rush continues to provide mental health, behavioral health, and social services to gender care patients, regardless of age,” spokesperson Tobin Klinger told Block Club Chicago. “Rush will work to refer any patients to other programs for services we do not provide.”

Rush also propped up Pride parades in both 2025 and 2026.

“As Pride Month comes to a close, we continue to march forward, leading with love every step of the way. At Rush, we celebrate the vibrant diversity and unwavering resilience of our LGBTQ+ community, not just in June, but all year long,” the medical center wrote in a June 2023 Instagram post.

President Donald Trump’s “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” executive order in January 2025 restricted federal funds for hospitals that offer sex-rejecting interventions to minors.

Rush spent $194 million in federal funds for fiscal year 2025 while continuing its LGBTQ training programs, according to a June report by Save Our States.

The hospital system increased CEO Omar Lateef’s compensation by nearly $800,000 to $3.7 million between 2023 and 2024 while laying off an unknown number of employees due to “financial headwinds.” Rush began sponsoring the Chicago White Sox games in 2022.

Lateef also benefited from a personal housing allowance and subsidized membership dues for elite Chicago social clubs during this period.

Under Lateef’s leadership, Rush committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2030 and held “that climate change is fundamentally a human health issue.” As part of its environmental agenda, Rush participates in the Good Food Partnership Program to prioritize “suppliers who have experienced negative systemic social and/or economic impacts such as ‘people of color, across all supply chains and to the greatest extent possible.”

“This latest campaign by Consumers’ Research demonstrates that we will continue fighting for everyday consumers by holding woke hospitals like Rush accountable,” Hild told Blaze News.

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​Chicago, Politics, Dei, Lgbt 

Three were killed and four were wounded in a shooting at a Seattle food festival Sunday evening that police believe was between two people shooting at each other, police told CBS News.

Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said at a late-night press conference that one of the shooting suspects was arrested but the other one was still at large, the news network noted.

‘I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling.’

Davis told CBS News that officers working in the area confronted one shooter, which prevented more people from being shot, and that two guns were recovered.

Of the seven shooting victims, CPR wasn’t successful on two of them, and they were pronounced dead at the scene; a third victim, a 56-year-old woman, later died at Harborview Medical Center, the news network said.

A 2-year-old boy, 39-year-old woman, and 23-year-old man also were taken to Harborview and were in stable condition, Davis told CBS News, adding that a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries didn’t want to go to the hospital but later went to the University of Washington Medical Center.

CBS News said the shooting took place around 6 p.m. near the Seattle Center, a popular tourist spot that includes the Space Needle and the sports arena that’s the home of the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm. The news network said the area was filled with attendees of the annual Bite of Seattle food festival.

RELATED: Video: Suspect opens fire on Texas SWAT team serving arrest warrant; but cops shoot back — 1 right through his own windshield

Witnesses told KING-TV they heard sounds resembling firecrackers and people fleeing the area and diving for cover.

“I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling,” a witness noted in the KING interview.

Adya Sengupta told the station she took cover in the Seattle Armory and that Seattle Fudge brought dozens of bystanders into the storefront to shelter in the event center.

“Inside the Seattle Armory was crazy, within seconds maybe 60-plus people had flooded the doors inside, all running toward that back corner with Seattle Fudge,” Sengupta added to KING.

CBS News said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives indicated Sunday night that several of its agents were at the scene, and that Seattle police would lead the investigation. The news network added that Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) said the state SWAT team also responded at the request of Seattle police.

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​Fatal shooting, Seattle, Arrest, Crime