blaze media

‘Why didn’t you tell the truth?’ Republicans grill Walz over Somali fraud and CDLs for illegal aliens

Lawmakers heavily pressed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) during a hearing on Wednesday regarding fraud taking place in his state.

The ‘Feeding Our Future’ scandal

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) questioned Walz about taxpayer payments to the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, an organization that has been at the center of a massive COVID-era fraud scandal involving Somali operators. The Minnesota Department of Education suspended those payments in March 2021 but “voluntarily” resumed making them weeks later, according to a 2022 press release from the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

‘He’s here illegally, he can’t read, and he got a license under your provisions!’

“Why didn’t you tell the truth about why you restarted the payments?” Jordan asked.

“The agency believed that the court had required them to make those payments,” Walz responded.

Jordan countered that the claim was false, stating that the judge never ordered the resumption of payments. “So the court’s lying?!” Jordan asked.

“I can’t tell you, Congressman!” Walz said.

“Could it be you were trying to hide behind the court, Governor?” Jordan asked.

After the interaction, Walz struggled to come up with a response.

The press release from the Minnesota courts stated that the judge “never ordered the Department of Education to resume payments to FOF in April 2021, or at any other time.”

RELATED: ‘LOADED with fraud’: Mamdani announces $425 million child-care handout — open to illegal aliens

Non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses

Later on in the hearing, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) ripped into Walz on commercial driver’s licenses.

“According to the secretary of transportation, one-third of Minnesota’s non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses were issued illegally,” Perry said.

Perry then presented a clip of a person driving a semi-truck the wrong way on a divided Missouri highway in late February. The video shows that the truck was eventually stopped by a trooper.

Perry claimed that the suspect driving the vehicle was given a Minnesota license despite being unable to pass the driving test because of a law Walz signed that allows applicants to obtain a CDL regardless of immigration status.

RELATED: Founder of Minneapolis autism center admits to paying kickbacks to Somali families in $6 million scam

Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Walz talked about the safety of Minnesota’s roads and claimed that he doesn’t “understand the connection” between driver’s licenses and immigration status.

“He’s here illegally, he can’t read, and he got a license under your provisions!” Perry said. “And he’s driving all across the country, imperiling everybody else! That’s the connection!” Perry concluded.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Sharing, Upload, Video phone, Camera phone, Video, Free, Youtube.com, Politics, Tim walz, Hearing, Fraud, Somali fraud, Investigation, Nick shirley 

blaze media

LA officials protest Trump administration rule — and inadvertently reveal how many illegal aliens use federal housing

Los Angeles officials joined protesters in a demonstration against new policies proposed by the Trump administration to ensure federal housing is used only by U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced an effort to root out illegal immigrants who have been using federally funded housing directly or indirectly though their citizen family members.

‘Your neighbor in public housing is not your enemy. The family using Section 8 is not your enemy. Mixed-status families are not your enemy.’

On Tuesday, activists in Los Angeles spoke out against the policies at a press conference in front of L.A. City Hall.

“This administration is seeking a rule change that would put 1,700 local families with children on the street immediately,” said Pastor Bridie Roberts with Unite Here Local 11.

L.A. City Council member Ysabel Jurado inadvertently indicated that there may be far more illegal immigrants using federal housing.

“Nearly one in five public housing households in our city is mixed status,” said Jurado.

According to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, as of 2023, there were more than 6,200 units of public housing in Los Angeles. If one in five of those include families with illegal aliens, then that comes to over 1,200 units and perhaps 3,400 families or more.

Council member Hugo Soto-Martinez, who admitted that he had lived in a “mixed status” household, said as many as 6,800 people were at risk of being “ripped” out of their homes.

Some of the members of “mixed families” showed up at the protest and spoke out against the policy change.

“It’s not just my family. It’s thousands of families who are at risk,” said Josefina Estrada in Spanish to KABC-TV.

L.A. City Council member Tim McOsker claimed the policy would decrease public safety, “put families out on the street,” and increase poverty.

“Immigrants are not your enemy. Your neighbor in public housing is not your enemy. The family using Section 8 is not your enemy. Mixed-status families are not your enemy,” said council member Eunisses Hernandez.

RELATED: ‘Quite literally insane’: DHS responds to LA activists scheme to warn illegal aliens about ICE

Hernandez also introduced a council resolution to oppose the HUD policy.

“No HUD, we are not going to allow you to break up families,” she added. “Here in L.A., thousands of people could face eviction.”

The illegal alien advocates asked for people to flood the HUD website with comments opposing the policy, but those who support the policy can also comment at this link.

Council member Jurado was mocked in February when she was photographed apparently napping during a council closed session. She said she may have dozed off while reading.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​La officials vs trump, How many illegal immigrants use public housing, Hud public housing illegal migrants, Illegal alien advocates, Politics 

blaze media

Liberals would rather stand with terrorists and dictators than Trump

President Trump carried out one of the most consequential military operations in recent history, killing 40 of Iran’s leaders along with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — but the media and liberals would rather stand with Iran.

“It’s very clear what side the Democrats and the mainstream media stand on. And it’s not America’s side, and it’s not on the side of freedom either,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales says.

“I unequivocally oppose this war of choice and everyone should. And the bottom line, when it comes down to it, is that if we want to stop Donald Trump with this random decision that he has arrived at, then Congress must act, and Congress must act immediately,” former Vice President Kamala Harris told Fox following the president’s actions.

“The American people do not want our sons and daughters to go into this unauthorized war of choice, and I unequivocally oppose it,” she added.

“It is so disingenuous from the woman who was the vice president in an administration that was perfectly fine continuing the Russia-Ukraine war. I mean, we funded it. We gave them weapons. We did everything we could to continue that war under her administration,” Gonzales says.

“In fact, remember, there were moments where there could have been a negotiation, and she and Joe Biden or whoever the hell was pulling his puppet strings said, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t negotiate. We will keep funding this forever.’ So I don’t want to hear it from her,” she continues.

But it’s not just Harris that Gonzales takes issue with.

“I don’t want to hear it from the Democrats. I mean, Barack Obama was the king of dropping bombs without getting authorization. So I’m just not going to be lectured to by the likes of Kamala Harris,” Gonzales says, pointing out that Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) also publicly sided with Iran.

“You cannot ‘free’ people by killing them and destroying their country,” Tlaib wrote in a post on X.

“A terrorist who is in our country actually serving in Congress sided with the Ayatollah?” Gonzales says, adding, “I’m so shocked.”

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

To enjoy more of Sara’s no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Camera phone, Free, Sharing, Upload, Video, Video phone, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Liberals, Terrorists, Ayatollah ali khamenei, President donald trump, Iran, President trump, Kamala harris, Rashida tlaib, Rashida tlaib anti israel 

blaze media

Tim Tebow shows disturbing map of the child sexual abuse material epidemic on US soil

Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow presented U.S. senators with a disturbing map, revealing 338,000 U.S. IP addresses allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material.

Tebow testified on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which held a hearing about confronting child trafficking.

‘This is a fight of good vs. evil, and we are losing.’

Tebow, the chairman and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, explained to lawmakers that he attended a meeting in Lyons, France, in 2023 alongside experts in victim identification, and they determined that there were more than 57,000 abused and unidentified children who appeared in multiple images.

Just two years later, that number has grown to over 89,000, Tebow stated, citing INTERPOL’s database.

Tebow’s map was blanketed with a sea of red pins, each marking the location of an alleged offender. Also indicated on the map were blue pins, showing the locations of open law enforcement investigations; however, those markings were few and far between.

“There’s a red dot map right over there over my right shoulder,” he told lawmakers. “That’s just a six-month screenshot of the U.S., and every red dot that is on there is someone that is downloading, sharing, or distributing child rape images, almost all under the age of 12.”

RELATED: Government-paid traffickers? Noem testifies Biden administration funded abuse of migrant kids

Tim Tebow. Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

He described the map as showing over 338,000 red pins, adding that an estimated 55% to 85% of those are also alleged “hands-on offenders.”

While pointing to the map, Tebow stated, “If you could also look, there’s blue dots on there. You can’t really see them, but the blue ones are the ones that are under investigation.”

Tebow’s written testimony noted that the map was based on Justice Department and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program data.

“We have to do a whole lot more, and we have to do it faster because every day we wait, they’re suffering. They’re crying. And I believe right now many of them are praying that we would respond,” Tebow told lawmakers. “The question is, will we actually accept the responsibility of caring for these boys and girls and truly protecting them, or are we just going to continue to talk about it?”

During the hearing, Tebow noted that it is nearly impossible to estimate how many children are being abused and have yet to be identified.

“That’s just one database,” he said. “So, one of the things that we would ask and plead this committee to work on is an international treaty of getting all of the different databases to work together to deconflict so we actually get a ground truth on what the number is.”

He stated that Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, Canada, Australia, and INTERPOL each maintain separate databases.

RELATED: After years infiltrating child exploitation rings, expert reveals an even DARKER American underworld

Josh Hawley. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) shared data from INTERPOL, which estimated that of the images of unidentified and exploited children, 60% were victims under 12, and 4.3% were infants.

Tebow advocated the passage of the bipartisan Renewed Hope Act of 2026, highlighting that it would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire 200 more victim identification specialists and child exploitation investigators. He pointed out that currently, there are only 10 such specialists.

“Law enforcement needs more resources, more support … a bigger rescue team,” Tebow wrote in a post on social media. “This is a fight of good vs. evil, and we are losing.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​News, Tim tebow, Josh hawley, Senate, Senate judiciary committee, Tim tebow foundation, Interpol, Child abuse, Child sexual abuse, Csam, Child trafficking, Renewed hope act of 2026, Politics 

blaze media

Bill Kristol criticizes US strikes on Iran — and gets mercilessly mocked over contradicting posts

Former Republican strategist Bill Kristol tried to mock the rationale for the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and was ridiculed by critics pointing out his past contradictory statements.

Kristol weighed in on a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio explaining to a reporter that the “intent” of the strike was separate from the “timing” of the attack.

‘Have some self awareness and sit down.’

“Incoherent walk back by Rubio, after he said yesterday the threat was imminent so no time to go to Congress,” responded Kristol. “But to the degree Rubio is now saying, no, the president all along intended a major assault on Iran, there’s no excuse for not having gone to Congress for authorization.”

But only two months prior, Kristol was calling for the administration to help “overthrow” the regime in Iran.

“The Trump administrations should be helping the brave people of Iran overthrow a cruel and terror-sponsoring dictatorship, rather than threatening our democracy ally Denmark,” he posted. “But that would require having an administration that supports American interests and principles.”

And in June 2025, Kristol referred to Iran as “our enemy” when criticizing the president’s statement, saying he was not “happy” with Israel.

“I assume all pro-Israel Trump idolators, supporters, and rationalizers will rush to denounce this horrifying moral equivalence an American president has drawn between our friend Israel and our enemy Iran,” he wrote.

Many demolished Kristol for the seeming contradiction.

“You just keep digging further and further making you the butt of so many jokes. We’re enjoying it though!! So keep it up!!” responded one account.

“Bill, you are rightfully getting crushed on X today. Have some self awareness and sit down,” said one account.

“If you told me 30 years ago that Bill Kristol would be coming to the Iranian Mullahs’ defense I’d have told you that you were crazy,” read another response.

RELATED: US ‘suicide drones’ deployed against Iran are based on Iranian tech from drones in Ukraine

“Why don’t you just sit this out Bill,” said another.

“You seem to have zero principles. You’re just a never Trumper grifter these days.”

Kristol addressed some of the criticism in a post at the Bulwark, where he noted his past support for regime change in Iran. He argued that the manner in which the administration proceeded without congressional authority is the issue and accused the government of having no transition plan after the strikes are completed.

The political commentator is known for defending the U.S. invasion of Iraq but has declared himself a Democrat after being a vehement opponent of President Donald Trump.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Bill kristol on iran, Us-israeli strike on iran, Bill kristol contradiction, Liberals on strike on iran, Politics 

blaze media

Whitlock: Michael Jordan is NASCAR’s ‘Race Jam’ comeback strategy

When a garage pull rope that was shaped like a noose was discovered in Bubba Wallace’s garage at the Talladega Superspeedway in 2020, the media had a field day.

Despite the FBI determining Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime, NASCAR’s reputation was tarnished.

Now, according to BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock, NASCAR is “fixing its popularity problem” with Michael Jordan.

Jordan joined NASCAR in 2020 and is making history in the sport after his 23XI Racing team won its third straight NASCAR race to start the 2026 season.

“There’s nothing that the media, mainstream media, loves more than a racial story, and Michael Jordan and Tyler Reddick are making a lot of history in a sport that has a lot of so-called racial baggage,” Whitlock says.

“Around 2006, 2007, NASCAR fell off a cliff in terms of popularity and visibility and just relevance and traction. Most people attributed that fall-off to the stock market crash in 2007 and that the hundreds of thousands of fans that would go from city to city to city with NASCAR, they lost their economic stability,” he explains.

“And that’s what most people believe gutted NASCAR. I’m going to posit a theory that, yes, the economic collapse played a role, but the economic collapse was about gutting all of the working class. And NASCAR built its reputation on southern rednecks, working-class people, you know, heart of America people,” he says.

“There was one path back, that NASCAR had to place the race card. They had to create ‘Race Jam.’ They tried to do it with Bubba Wallace. Bubba Wallace is a weak, inferior driver. He’s no good. And so, they couldn’t do it with Bubba,” he continues.

But Michael Jordan is different.

“The guy stepped away from basketball 25 years ago, hasn’t lost a bit of relevancy, and it’s Michael Jordan, and they’ve injected him into NASCAR, and they’ve injected that storyline into NASCAR,” Whitlock says. “And I think it’s going to produce results.”

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 — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Camera phone, Free, Video phone, Sharing, Upload, Video, Youtube.com, Fearless with jason whitlock, Fearless, Jason whitlock, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Michael jordan, Nascar, Tyler reddick, Bubba wallace, Bubba wallace noose, Race card 

blaze media

Unhinged females caught on video going absolutely ballistic at Wendy’s drive-thru window as employees take cover

Three females were caught on video going on a rampage at the drive-thru window of New Jersey Wendy’s fast-food restaurant recently — and now they’re facing criminal charges.

Police in Ewing Township said the incident occurred just before 3 a.m. Feb. 21 at the restaurant in the 1700 block of Olden Avenue. It is open 24 hours a day.

‘Insane.’

Police said they received a report about disorderly customers who broke a drive-thru window.

An investigation revealed that three females damaged property, attempted to assault employees with items, and fled the scene before officers arrived.

However, police said employees recorded video of the incident, and as a result, police were able to identify the suspects: 18-year-old Saniyah Brittingham, 19-year-old Leah Williford Stevens, and 23-year-old Honesty Harrison, all of whom hail from neighboring Trenton.

Police said Brittingham and Williford Stevens are facing charges of burglary, criminal mischief, and unlawful possession of a weapon, while Harrison is facing charges of criminal mischief and burglary.

Brittingham and Harrison turned themselves in Friday, but Williford Stevens was still at large, according to WPVI-TV.

In the station’s video report below, the females are seen chucking drinks and other items at employees as apparent food is splattered around the drive-thru window — as well on the suspects. It appears toward the end of one clip that the trio get a taste of their own medicine as a huge batch of liquid flies in their direction as they take off running.

RELATED: Wendy’s worker punches drive-thru customer through car window — then steals car, hits victim with car, bites 2 cops: Police

WPVI said police didn’t indicate what may have sparked the incident, and a handful of people the station interviewed seemed deflated by the whole thing.

“I kinda get depressed about seeing young people just do that,” Rupert Johnson of neighboring Lawrence, N.J., told WPVI.

“This is not something that should be happening,” Dawn Hemsey of Ewing Township told the station, adding that the actions caught on video are “insane.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​New jersey, Ewing township, Trenton, Wendy’s, Drive-thru window, Criminal mischief, Burglary, Unlawful possession of a weapon, Arrests, Crime 

blaze media

Charles Barkley defends Team USA White House visit — but says Trump needs to stop doing one thing

NBA legend Charles Barkley says “stupid” people “need something to trigger them.”

The Hall of Fame player was referring to the Team USA men’s Olympic hockey team visiting President Donald Trump at the State of the Union address and the White House last month. The event sparked controversy because of the way Trump delivered the invite.

‘I’m not a Trump guy. I want to make that clear.’

The president called the men’s locker room after the team defeated Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game on February 22, but his invite to the White House included a joke about the women’s gold medal team.

“We’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” the president told the team as they laughed. He added that he “probably would be impeached” if he didn’t.

While the call resulted in apologies, condemnations, and struggle sessions with the media, Barkley defended the team’s choice to visit the capital.

“Guys who didn’t want to go shouldn’t have to explain why they didn’t go. I’ve said this before. I’m not a Trump guy. But if I got invited to the White House, I would go,” Barkley told co-host Ernie Johnson on “The Steam Room.”

“I’m not a Trump guy. I want to make that clear,” Barkley reiterated. “But I respect the office. He’s the president of the United States. But if guys don’t want to go, I understand that too. It doesn’t have to be a talking point. It doesn’t have to be … ‘un-American.'”

Earlier in the discussion, the 63-year-old made a point of saying that while he did not agree with everything the government does, he understands that the general public can’t stop themselves from being triggered.

RELATED: Boston Bruins players cave over Trump phone call: ‘Certainly sorry’ — ‘we should have reacted differently’

“Yo, man, why do y’all have to mess up everything?” Barkley said about Trump’s phone call. He then told his fellow Americans to stop “falling for stupidity” like that, while also placing blame on the government for purposely saying things that trigger people.

“I know y’all say stuff to trigger them. Y’all say stuff, and y’all know they going to be fools,” Barkley told the administration.

When co-host Johnson tried to redirect Barkley’s blame to Trump’s call to the hockey team, the former athlete said that people should control themselves and not react to everything, but also that they often react anyway because they are “stupid.”

“We don’t have to fall for stupidity, Ernie,” Barkley argued. “But we do, [and] that’s my point. These people out here are stupid. They need something to trigger them.”

RELATED: Team USA players interrogated by woke Canadian media over Trump call — ‘Why would you laugh?’

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Barkley went on to say he did not like how divisive the phone call had become, and that such division has “screwed up” the United States.

“Everything is not Democrat, Republican, conservative, or liberal,” he argued. “That’s why we got this divided, screwed-up country.”

“Stop it, man,” Barkley soon pleaded, looking directly into the camera. The Alabaman then reinforced his reasoning one more time.

“The public — they’re idiots. They’re fools. They can’t think for themselves.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​News, Trump, Nba, Nhl, Hockey, Olympics, 2026 winter olympics, Team usa, Politics 

blaze media

Trump to intervene in Texas’ Senate race, anoint his preferred candidate

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s challenge to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn went unresolved in Tuesday’s heated Republican primary race, as neither candidate proved able to secure 50% of the total vote.

With over 95% of the votes in as of Wednesday afternoon, Cornyn leads Paxton 41.9% to 40.7%, reported the Associated Press.

‘We must win in November.’

Several hours after the Cornyn campaign stated on social media that “Judgement Day is coming for Ken Paxton,” President Donald Trump announced that he would be staging an intervention and handpicking which of the two candidates — each of whom netted the support of approximately 900,000 Texans — he wants to compete against Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the general election.

Trump stated that the GOP primary race in Texas “cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW!”

Claiming that his GOP endorsements have “been virtually insurmountable,” Trump said that he will be endorsing one of the two candidates imminently and asking the disfavored candidate “to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!”

“We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!” continued the president, referring to Talarico. “Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!”

RELATED: Chip Roy’s political future uncertain after nail-biting Texas AG race

Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images, Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

“We must win in November!” he concluded.

The runoff election will be held on May 26 in the event that both candidates remain in the race.

On Wednesday afternoon, Paxton tweeted, “Last night, in a historic failure for John Cornyn, he failed to get nearly 60% of the GOP vote after spending $100 million. It’s time to finish the job in the runoff.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Donald trump, Cornyn, Paxton, Texas, Senate, Politics, Favorites, Rino, Election, Primary, Elections 

blaze media

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

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling deciding how persecution claims can be handled in asylum cases.

The unanimous decision in Urias-Orellana v. Bondi found that federal courts must defer to immigration agencies about facts being claimed by asylum seekers.

The unanimous decision says courts must accept findings from the immigration agencies unless they meet a ‘substantial evidence’ standard.

Douglas Humberto Urias-Orellana is an immigrant from El Salvador who fled to the U.S. in 2021 with his wife and his minor child after allegedly facing death threats from a drug cartel. The family’s claims were deemed by an immigration judge not to meet the persecution standard and ordered them to be deported.

Urias-Orellana sued against the deportation and called on the Supreme Court to accept his persecution claims.

Instead, the unanimous decision says courts must accept findings from the immigration agencies unless they meet a “substantial evidence” standard.

The bottom line is that asylum seekers will find it harder to challenge orders of deportation if their persecution claims are denied.

The ruling was written by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

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

The Alliance for Justice issued a statement prior to the ruling supporting the asylum seeker’s cause.

“In Urias-Orellana vs. Bondi, the Court could raise the bar as to how much deference courts of appeals should give to a determination by the Board of Immigration Appeals on whether an asylum seeker has been persecuted in their home country,” their statement read. “A ruling that raises the bar could mean that individuals with credible fears for their safety may be denied refuge simply because they cannot meet a higher procedural threshold.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Supreme court unanimous decision, Persecution of asylum seekers, Asylum ruling for trump, Ketanji brown jackson immigration, Politics 

blaze media

‘Outstanding’: Harmeet Dhillon brings down the hammer on remainder of Minnesota church-storming suspects

Weeks after Don Lemon and dozens more agitators allegedly stormed a church service in Minnesota, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon made a much-anticipated announcement.

On Wednesday, Dhillon announced that all 39 individuals suspected of disrupting the church service had been arrested as of Monday, adding an intriguing detail about a couple of the arrests.

‘Outstanding work by DOJ. You don’t get to terrorize churchgoers in America.’

“As of Monday, all 39 individuals indicted in the attack on Cities Church in MN had been arrested, two of them while abroad,” Dhillon wrote on X.

“We @CivilRights look forward to bringing justice to the victims of this attack and demonstrating our commitment to justice for all!” she continued.

RELATED: Don Lemon enters plea following January arrest in connection with Minnesota church disruption

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Activists stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18.

Apparently among them was ex-CNN talking head Don Lemon, who previously pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to violate someone’s constitutional rights and violating the FACE Act.

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) praised the DOJ’s persistence in this case: “Outstanding work by DOJ. You don’t get to terrorize churchgoers in America.”

Likewise, BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre lauded the arrests, noting how easily the case could have disappeared in the news cycle.

“I appreciate the follow-through on this. Many people predicted that the administration would do nothing and with all of the other news it would have been easy to let this quietly drop out of the cycle. But they didn’t, they charged them all,” MacIntyre said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Politics, Harmeet dhillon, Doj, Department of justice, Civil rights, Cities church, Cities church minnesota, Don lemon, Cnn, Mike lee, Auron macintyre, St paul minnesota, Anti ice 

blaze media

Sam Altman says NSA can’t use OpenAI — then tells staff they don’t have a say in military actions

Before telling employees they do not get a say in how the government uses OpenAI services, CEO Sam Altman said intelligence agencies are no longer allowed to use OpenAI as they see fit.

On Monday, Altman cited the Fourth Amendment as a reason to change OpenAI’s contract with the federal government.

‘The Department also affirmed that our services will not be used by Department of War intelligence agencies.’

Altman said the company would amend its deal to include the following text: “Consistent with applicable laws, including the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution … the AI system shall not be intentionally used for domestic surveillance of U.S. persons and nationals.”

The text added, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Department understands this limitation to prohibit deliberate tracking, surveillance, or monitoring of U.S. persons or nationals, including through the procurement or use of commercially acquired personal or identifiable information.”

Altman expressed a desire for a “democratic process” that could protect the civil liberties of Americans, while adding that the Department of War agreed to the new terms that keep his product out of the hands of the intelligence community.

“The Department also affirmed that our services will not be used by Department of War intelligence agencies (for example, the NSA). Any services to those agencies would require a follow-on modification to our contract.”

Unfortunately for Altman, his post was hit with a hard community note that claimed this was “the opposite” of what he told employees the next day.

RELATED: Gamers REVOLT over age-verify scheme subjecting users to ‘suspicious entity detection’

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

As CNBC reported, Altman told staff at an internal meeting that the company does not get a say in how the government uses OpenAI for operations.

“So maybe you think the Iran strike was good and the Venezuela invasion was bad,” Altman reportedly said on Tuesday. “You don’t get to weigh in on that.”

OpenAI does not “get to make operational decisions” regarding how its AI is used by the Department of War, the CEO added.

Altman also reportedly told his team that while the Pentagon respects his company’s expertise, the agency made it clear that the final decisions rest solely with Secretary Pete Hegseth.

RELATED: Sam Altman slams ICE in message to OpenAI employees: ‘What’s happening … is going too far’

The about-face seems even more bizarre when considering Altman’s follow-up post on X from Monday evening. In it, he described “alignment, democratization, empowerment, and individual agency” as the principles he cares most about.

At the same time he explained how AI needs to be “democratized” for the world as an open product, he wondered how he would feel if his product could have prevented an attack on U.S. soil but was not used by the government.

“I think there are real dangers coming to the world, and maybe pretty soon; I tried to put myself in the mindset of how I’d feel the day after an attack on the US or a new bioweapon we could have helped prevent.”

This is more in tune with what he told his employees on Tuesday, which also included that he hoped the government would be “willing to work with us, even if our safety stack annoys them.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Return, Ai, Artificial intelligence, Dow, Department of war, Government ops, War, Sam altman, Openai, Microsoft, Tech 

blaze media

‘Heart of America’: Pentagon identifies 4 of the 6 US military members killed in Middle East

Since the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, six United States service members have been killed in the Middle East. Four of the six have now been identified.

On Tuesday, the Department of War released the identities of four Army Reserve soldiers who died on Sunday in support of the operation against Iran.

‘We will remember their names, their service, and their sacrifice.’

The soldiers died in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba during an unmanned aircraft system attack, according to the U.S. Army’s press release. All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa.

RELATED: US service member death toll continues to rise amid Operation Epic Fury

The deceased were identified as: Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Lakeland, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa.

“We honor our fallen Heroes, who served fearlessly and selflessly in defense of our nation. Their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families, will never be forgotten,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general U.S. Army Reserve Command.

“On behalf of the Army Reserve, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones. We remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring the legacy of our fallen and supporting their teammates and families during this difficult time,” said Harter.

“Our nation is kept safe by folks like these — brave men and women who put it all on the line every single day. They represent the heart of America. We will remember their names, their service, and their sacrifice,” said Maj. Gen. Todd Erskine, commanding general, 79th Theater Sustainment Command.

ABC News reported that the other two service members’ identities are being withheld until after next of kin have been notified. They were reportedly killed in the same strike. Eighteen others were reportedly injured in the strike as well.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Capt. Cody Khork, a resident of Lakeland, Fla., enlisted as a 13P, Multiple Launch Rocket System/fire direction specialist in the National Guard in 2009. He commissioned as a military police officer in the Army Reserve in 2014. He deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2021; and Poland in 2024. U.S. Army

Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, a resident of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, enlisted in the National Guard as a 92A, automated logistics specialist in 2005. She transferred to the Army Reserve in 2006 and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. U.S. Army

Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, a resident of Bellevue, Nebraska, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2006 as a 91B, wheeled vehicle mechanic. He had two deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019. U.S. Army

Sgt. Declan Coady, posthumously promoted from specialist, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as a 25B, Army information technology specialist. U.S. Army

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Politics, Us army, Us army reserve, Port of shuaiba, Kuwait, Iran, United states, Israel, Middle east, Cody khork, Nicole amor, Noah tietjens, Declan coady, Robert harter, Todd erskine 

blaze media

God of War creator dumps on first image from Amazon series: ‘Looks like he’s s***ting in the woods’

Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television are so confident in their upcoming “God of War” adaptation that they’ve already ordered two seasons.

But their initial marketing push has drawn sharp criticism from the man who created the video game franchise.

‘It’s just a dumb f**king image.’

Bathroom break

Last week, Amazon unveiled the first image of Kratos — the Spartan warrior at the center of the massively popular games. In it, Kratos crouches in the woods, leaning on his haunches as he watches his son Atreus draw an arrow.

The photo was meant to stoke excitement for the live-action take on one of gaming’s most iconic characters.

For God of War creator David Jaffe, however, it caused an entirely different reaction.

RELATED: Comic calls out Peter Dinklage: ‘You were in the most offensive movie to little people ever made’

“Could you find a picture that doesn’t look like he’s s***ting in the woods?” asked Jaffe. “Because that’s what the picture looks like.”

Potty mouth

Jaffe made the comments in a video posted to his YouTube channel. In the clip, he says he’s “a little worried” about the first impression the show was making. “What the f**k is this?” he said. “It’s just a dumb f**king image.”

While Jaffe stressed that he was still confident in the show’s creative team — saying he had “absolutely no doubt it is going to be a good show” — he refused to soften his stance on the squatting Spartan.

RELATED: Robert Duvall: Hollywood ‘Apostle’ who took Jesus seriously

“Two things can be true [at once],” he said. “This can be a terrible image — and it is. It’s so bad in so many ways.”

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Flush with success

God of War is not the first of Jaffe’s properties to make the jump to television. Paramount+ recently renewed its “Twisted Metal” adaptation for a third season. As co-creator of the game (with Scott Campbell), Jaffe directed four Twisted Metal games between 1995 and 2012.

Amazon has increasingly bet on video game adaptations in the streaming arms race. That strategy has delivered at least one breakout hit — “Fallout” — while several other high-profile projects remain in development.

​Prime, Align, Amazon, Prime video, Gaming, Video games, Flop, Rotten tomatoes, Television, Entertainment 

blaze media

HHS official sounds alarm on America’s chronic disease crisis: ‘The most drugged country in the world’

White House senior adviser Calley Means is on a mission — and he’s been leading this mission alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA movement.

“So you and RFK Jr. came in with this singular mission to make America healthy again, which — I don’t think, you know, it’s like it’s not a crazy mission. Overhauling the food system is the key tenet of this, and I think — you correct me if I’m wrong — kind of your key focus,” Gonzales says.

“We’re at HHS right now. This is the largest budget of any government department in human history. We have a $2 trillion budget, and you look at that — 90% of that is chronic diseases tied to food. We in America have the highest rates of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s,” Means tells Gonzales.

“This is what’s costing lives. It’s what’s shortening lives. It’s what’s causing issues for day-to-day Americans. And it’s bankrupting our budget. And it’s a multitude of factors, but these are external factors that are causing this increasing rate of chronic disease, which is devastating the country, particularly our kids,” he continues.

And he points out that this chronic disease epidemic has nothing to do with a lack of pharmaceuticals, as we are “the most drugged country in the world.”

Means also explains that this is why it’s so important that RFK Jr. has such an important role in the Trump administration.

“He’s the most important person. He’ll go down as the most important person in the history of modern public health, because he’s brought light to these simple things,” Means tells Gonzales.

“I don’t disagree with you. I mean, he is one of my own personal heroes,” Gonzales agrees.

However, while Gonzales and Means both see the importance of shining a light on the chronic disease epidemic in America and how it relates to our environment and food supply, others appear to be blinded by politics.

“Why do you think that we can’t be bipartisan about something as simple as keeping America healthy?” Gonzales asks Means.

“Trump derangement syndrome, I think, is the most pernicious and incurable condition impacting much of the American populace. It’s defining American politics,” Means answers.

“And the simple reality is Trump derangement syndrome has led Democrats to passionately defend artificial food dyes. It’s led Democrats to now be the party of ultra-processed food. It’s led Democrats to — I couldn’t believe this — passionately argue that we should maintain government funding for soda on food stamps,” he continues.

“My hope and our prayer here at HHS is this does become bipartisan,” he adds.

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

To enjoy more of Sara’s no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Video phone, Upload, Sharing, Camera phone, Video, Free, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Chronic disease epidemic, Maha, Make america healthy again, Health and human services, Calley means, Robert f kennedy jr 

blaze media

Republican senator melts down over Trump administration’s deportations

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) joined his Democrat colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee in castigating Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, not only for her past treatment of animals but for her treatment of illegal aliens.

After characterizing the Jan. 6 protesters whom President Donald Trump pardoned as “thugs” and stressing his support for law enforcement, Tillis suggested in his self-described “performance evaluation” that he is “disappointed” with Noem because she is allegedly “running numbers that Stephen Miller wants out of the White House.”

‘Those are bad decisions made in the heat of the moment, not unlike what happened up in Minneapolis.’

“We just want numbers! We want a thousand a day, 6,000 a day, 9,000 a day, because numbers matter, right? No, they don’t matter,” added Tillis, who is not running for re-election. “Quality matters, not quantity — quality.”

Although the senator did not afford Noem an opportunity to respond at length at any point during his tirade, the secretary later noted on X that “thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the dedicated work of DHS personnel, our department has achieved historic results and made communities safer.”

Noem indicated:

Nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the United States. [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] has arrested over 1,500 Known or Suspected Terrorists (KSTs) and more than 7,700 gang members. Fentanyl trafficking at the southern border has dropped by more than half compared to the same period in 2024. Of the more than 450,000 unaccompanied alien children lost under the Biden administration, 145,000 have been located under President Trump.

The DHS indicated in January that there were over 675,000 deportations and an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations in Trump’s first year back in office.

RELATED: Government-paid traffickers? Noem testifies Biden administration funded abuse of migrant kids

Kristi Noem. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Tillis, adopting a tone he did not previously employ when addressing Noem’s predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, suggested that the immigration crackdown overseen by the secretary — in which some American citizens have been detained — has been a “disaster” and that the way she has been “going about deporting [migrants] is wrong.”

The senator cast doubt on whether the fatal shootings of anti-ICE radicals Alex Pretti and Renee Good were justifiable, then turned his attention to Noem’s admissions in her memoir, “No Going Back,” specifically her decisions to kill an “untrainable” dog and an unruly goat.

“You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time and training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it’s a leadership lesson about tough choices!” said Tillis.

“At that same lunch hour, you killed a goat, and you killed the goat because you said it was behaving badly.”

“My point is those are bad decisions made in the heat of the moment, not unlike what happened up in Minneapolis,” said Tillis.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Kristi noem, Thom tillis, Tillis, Deportation, Us immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Immigration, Illegal aliens, Trump administration, Noem, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Politics 

blaze media

Former MLB star wins GOP primary to replace Chip Roy in Texas

A World Series champion looks primed to become a member a Congress from Texas.

With popular Republican Rep. Chip Roy running for state attorney general, Texas’ 21st Congressional District is open for a new candidate to take what could be a long and pivotal role within the Republican Party.

‘This is a huge victory.’

Generational talent and Maryland native Mark Teixeira on Tuesday took home the Republican bid for the district, which encompasses northwest San Antonio.

According to KTBC, Teixeira was the only candidate to receive more than 9,000 votes, collecting almost 58,000, or 61%, among a large field of GOP hopefuls.

The 45-year-old benefited from a massive endorsement last week, though, when President Trump called Teixeira a “TOTAL WINNER, on and off the field.”

“Mark has a great wife, Leigh, and three beautiful children,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, before promoting some of the former ballplayer’s platform.

“Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, [and] Stop Migrant Crime” were just some of the agenda items the president listed.

RELATED: Chip Roy’s political future uncertain after nail-biting Texas AG race

This is a huge victory, and I’m truly honored to have such strong support from the people of TX-21. Thank you!

I’m so grateful to everyone who voted, put in the work, donated, and especially prayed for us along the way.

My amazing family has been by my side every step of the… pic.twitter.com/HiQ5yXDavK
— Mark Teixeira (@teixeiramark25) March 4, 2026

“This is a huge victory, and I’m truly honored to have such strong support from the people of TX-21. Thank you!” Teixeira wrote on X after his win.

“My amazing family has been by my side every step of the way. … We’re going to run a strong race and win big in November, then hit the ground running to fight for Texas families.”

The Texas district has been run by Republicans since 1979, with only three different representatives over that 47-year span: Tom Loeffler (1979-1987), Lamar Smith (1987-2019), and Roy (2019-2026).

Republicans have historically dominated the vote, too, and while the gap narrowed between 2018 and 2020, Roy increased his margin of victory each time he ran.

After winning by about 3% of the vote in 2018, he expanded that gap to about seven points in 2020. In 2022, he won by more than 25 points (+84,000 votes) and by almost 26 points in 2024 (+110,000 votes).

RELATED: Former MLB All-Star calls out Disney Cruise Line for having a ‘man dressed as woman’

Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Teixeira, a first baseman, entered the major leagues with the Texas Rangers in 2003 and finished with the New York Yankees in 2016. Upon joining the Yankees in 2009, he signed a massive $180 million contract. His tenure with the team was plagued by injuries.

Teixeira was a three-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a World Series champion in 2009.

Rep. Roy is now in a runoff after coming in second place with 32% of the vote in the Republican primary for Texas attorney general. He will go head-to-head against Mayes Middleton — who had 39% of the vote — in May, since neither won a majority.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​News, Sports, Mlb, Baseball, Texas, Congress, Republicans, Gop, Primary, San antonio, Politics 

blaze media

‘LOADED with fraud’: Mamdani announces $425 million child-care handout — open to illegal aliens

On Tuesday at a press conference held at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) covered the advancement of the universal child care program 2-K.

The conference was opened by a lesbian mother and member of New Yorkers United for Childcare, who said, “We want to stay in New York City, and 2-K will make the difference. We want to raise our kids in a city that looks like us, that has the values that we share.” She emphasized, “We see diversity as the greatest strength of New York City”

‘We’re just getting started!’

Mamdani thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for her foundational role in the program’s progress.

The program will provide free child care for 2-year-olds in New York City to any family, regardless of “immigration status,” a press release from Mamdani’s office said.

RELATED: Founder of Minneapolis autism center admits to paying kickbacks to Somali families in $6 million scam

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Taxpayers will reportedly fork out more than $36,000 per tot for Mamdani’s free 2-K pilot program, which is around $13,000 more than the average cost of private child care, city officials acknowledged Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Hochul committed more than $1.2 billion to support early childhood care and education in New York City, including $73 million to fund the first set of free 2-K seats. That investment will grow to $425 million next year. By fall 2027, 2-K is expected to serve approximately 12,000 children across all five boroughs, with the goal of reaching every 2-year-old in the city at full implementation.

RELATED: Iranian state TV hijacked with Trump, Netanyahu message urging citizens to ‘seize control’

The governor evinced excitement about the advancement of 2-K.

“2-K is coming, NYC! Proud to work with @NYCMayor to make this a reality. And we’re just getting started!” Hochul said on X.

Critics warn of the gates that could be unlocked to fraud. Nick Sortor reposted a video on X criticizing Mamdani, which accumulated over 1 million views.

“This is going to be freaking LOADED with fraud,” Sortor said. “REFUSE TO SEND FEDERAL DOLLARS, 47! We do NOT want to fund Mamdani’s fraud!”.

However, Mamdani shows no signs of slowing down. “This is just the beginning. Universal child care is within reach — and we’re making it happen,” he said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Camera phone, Free, Video phone, Sharing, Upload, Video, Youtube.com, Politics, Mamdani, Nyc, Nyc mayor, Illegal immigration, Illegal immigrants 

blaze media

Machete-wielding females beat up homeowner in robbery try, cops say. But victim ends attack with single shotgun blast.

A pair of machete-wielding females beat up a Georgia homeowner in a robbery attempt late last month, but authorities said the victim grabbed a gun and shot both of the suspects with a single round.

Deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Grove Mobile Home Park in Douglas on Feb. 21 concerning individuals who were shot, authorities said.

But the homeowner ultimately grabbed a shotgun and fired a single round, which struck both suspects, officials said.

Arriving deputies found two adult females — 35-year-old Stephanie Ann Nicole Castillo and 27-year-old Elisabet Gaspar — in a home with apparent gunshot wounds, officials said.

Emergency Medical Services rendered aid at the scene, officials said.

Deputies determined the shooting occurred at a different home after Castillo and Gaspar — who were allegedly armed with a machete — attacked the homeowner.

The victim told deputies Castillo and Gaspar arrived at the residence with the intent to commit a robbery.

RELATED: Police shoot New Jersey man who allegedly charged them with machete — then find gruesome scene inside his home

Image source: Coffee County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office

A lengthy physical struggle ensued, officials said, adding that the homeowner was beaten and assaulted.

But the homeowner ultimately grabbed a shotgun and fired a single round, which struck both suspects, officials said.

After Castillo and Gaspar were taken to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment and medically cleared, officials said they were taken into custody and transported to the Coffee County Jail.

Castillo and Gaspar both were charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of armed robbery, and one count of home invasion in the first degree, authorities said.

The sheriff’s office said aggravated assault involves attacking someone with a deadly weapon or something capable of causing serious injury and carries a penalty of one to 20 years in prison per count.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Georgia, Coffee county sheriff’s office, Armed robbery charges, Aggravated assault charges, Home invasion, Self-defense, Beating, 2nd amend., Guns, Gun rights, Shooting, Douglas, Mobile home park, Crime 

blaze media

Hegseth just delivered a precision strike on the legacy media

They used to mock him as a talking head. They said he wasn’t “serious.” On Monday at the Pentagon podium, Pete Hegseth looked deadly serious — a war secretary in command, unapologetic and unbowed, taking the fight to Iran and to the Beltway class that never wanted him there in the first place.

For half a century, American wars have been fought on two fronts: the enemy overseas and the narrative at home. Presidents have lost the second front before they lost the first. Hegseth made clear that he has no intention of repeating that mistake.

Hegseth is treating the media as terrain, not as background. He understands how quickly a negative narrative can harden into conventional wisdom, and he intends to contest it.

Joined by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, he gave a comprehensive rundown of the opening days of Operation Epic Fury. The unprecedented multinational campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran has already removed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and much of the top layer of government and military leadership.

Hegseth delivered a no-nonsense overview in his pugnacious style, while Caine smoothly supplied operational detail. The language was blunt and steeped in the Pentagon’s effects-based, systems-focused lexicon of war: synchronized, focused, deliberate, precise, lethal.

The real show came during the Q&A. Hegseth demonstrated the value of national media experience. He understands that journalists don’t just observe war. They shape it. Reporters like to cast themselves as neutral, hovering above the battlefield rather than operating inside it. But they are players, whether they admit it or not.

That tendency showed up in the very first question: “What is our exit strategy here, and when will it be deployed?” “Exit strategy” carries baggage — Clinton after Mogadishu, then the quagmire in Iraq. Hegseth said he would “never hang a time frame” on U.S. operations and stressed that the commander in chief sets policy and timelines.

The administration’s priority is victory — not optics, not schedules, not narrative management. Victory.

Hegseth also dismantled what he called a “typical NBC sort of gotcha-type question” about expected troop levels. Preset troop limits, timetables, acceptable loss benchmarks — these become anchors for the press and handholds for the enemy.

Vietnam offers a cautionary tale. President Lyndon Johnson’s arbitrary troop “ceiling” boxed him in. Even when communist forces were shattered during Tet and opportunities opened, Johnson’s self-imposed limits narrowed his options. When the moment came, he could not move quickly enough.

RELATED: Trump’s Iran week: The hidden wins you didn’t hear about

Photo by Mandel NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

That history explains Hegseth’s refusal to get pinned down on numbers and metrics. Say too much publicly, and the enemy listens. Say too much, and the press locks you into a storyline you can’t escape.

President Trump has made the same point by refusing to rule out “boots on the ground,” preserving options if contingencies arise. Reporters hate ambiguity. In wartime, ambiguity keeps the enemy guessing.

Hegseth also grasps what some journalists rarely admit: Many in legacy media treat war coverage as opposition work. They question plans and policies as a default posture, amplify anonymous critics, hunt for classified information, and publish it.

This tension is as old as the republic. During the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman called reporters “gossips” and “paid spies” and court-martialed Thomas Knox of the Cincinnati Commercial. In Vietnam, the conflict was fought as much in headlines as in the field. Today, reporters chasing clicks can manufacture controversies — real or imagined — that distract from the mission.

Hegseth is treating the media as terrain, not as background. He understands how quickly a negative narrative can harden into conventional wisdom, and he intends to contest it. The battlefield stretches from Tehran to the briefing room — and Hegseth just signaled that he plans to dominate both.

​Pete hegseth, Iran, Israel, Boots on the ground, Legacy media, Us iran conflict, Operation epic fury, Opinion & analysis, Media bias, Iran war, Corporate media, Left-wing media bias, Donald trump