Category: blaze media

The vegetable lobby has had a good run. For decades, the conventional wisdom on brain health has been some variation of the same tired sermon: eat less meat, eat more plants, and maybe your aging mind will hold together long enough to remember where you parked the car.

A new study out of Sweden suggests that for roughly a quarter of the American population, that advice has been wrong — measurably, consistently, damagingly wrong.

Life is exhausting. Depletion is something else. And only one of them is fixed by a rib-eye.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study tracked more than 2,000 Swedish adults over 60 for 15 years. Among carriers of the APOE4 gene — the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease — those who ate the most meat showed slower cognitive decline and lower dementia risk than those who ate the least.

Among the those who ate the most meat, the elevated dementia risk associated with carrying APOE4 disappeared entirely.

The most feared dementia gene in medicine — at least in this cohort — effectively disarmed by the food that built the brain carrying it.

Brain drain

One in four Americans carries at least one copy of APOE4. Two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s carry it. This is a massive slice of the country.

Tens of millions of Americans have been dutifully following brain-health guidelines that may be contributing to the very decline those guidelines promised to prevent.

This is what happens when nutritional science gets hijacked by ideology and the bill comes due 30 years later.

APOE4 appears to influence how efficiently the body absorbs and uses certain nutrients, particularly vitamin B12 — essential for nerve function and found almost exclusively in animal products. APOE4 carriers who ate more meat showed measurably higher B12 levels in their blood.

The gene also affects how the body processes fats and cholesterol — the building blocks brain cells require for fuel and structure. APOE4 is the oldest variant of the gene, one that likely predates agriculture entirely. Some bodies, it turns out, never got the memo about kale smoothies and the moral purity of eating like a rabbit.

Steakholders

None of this will surprise anyone who has eaten a quality steak and felt, within the hour, unreasonably capable.

That sudden clarity. The alertness. The faint, irrational optimism about existence — that’s iron talking. Heme iron, specifically, found in red meat and absorbed at rates far higher than the iron in spinach and lentils, which the body processes with all the urgency of a man skimming terms and conditions.

Roughly 40% of American women are iron-deficient. A significant portion of the population moves through daily life in a low-grade fog of fatigue and poor concentration they have simply come to accept.

Life is exhausting. Depletion is something else. And only one of them is fixed by a rib-eye.

Iron dome

The dietary culture most likely to produce iron deficiency is the same one celebrated as virtuous. Plant-based iron comes pre-sabotaged. Phytic acid in grains and legumes — the foods canonized by clean eating — actively blocks absorption before it reaches the bloodstream.

The demonization of red meat has been so thorough, so relentless, and so institutionally backed that an entire generation grew up believing a burger was more dangerous than a cigarette.

This was not an accident.

Decades of dietary guidelines, food pyramid revisions, and industry-funded nutrition research pushed animal products to the margins of the respectable plate, while carbohydrates and seed oils quietly took the center.

Early-onset dementia is rising in people who should be nowhere near it — men and women in their 30s and 40s, the first generations raised under the full weight of anti-meat orthodoxy.

RELATED: Bugs for thee, beef for me: How big business monopolizes meat

Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images

Nipped in the bud

Meanwhile, more parents are raising children on exclusively plant-based diets, motivated by love and a sincere belief that they are doing right by their kids. The research on what chronic iron deficiency, B12 absence, and inadequate animal protein does to a developing brain is not something the wellness industry tends to advertise. In several studies, it reads less like a dietary choice and more like an uncontrolled experiment conducted on people too young to consent.

Meat consumption has been falling for years. Alzheimer’s rates have been climbing for years.

No one in an official capacity has connected those dots — which is itself worth noting.

The Swedish study does draw one important line. Processed meats showed no protective benefit and were linked to higher dementia risk regardless of genetics.

Bacon, sausages, deli meats, the sweating cylinders of mystery protein rotating slowly at the gas-station counter — these are not the argument.

Fresh red meat and poultry, unprocessed and cooked with basic competence, are what drove the cognitive benefit.

Carnivores settled continents, built civilizations, and mapped the known world. Every civilization that ever amounted to anything ate meat.

The ones that didn’t aren’t around to argue the point.

​Meat, Lifestyle, Alzheimer’s disease, Iron deficiency, Vegetarianism, Health, Diet, Make america healthy again 

A 19-year-old Texas male reportedly violated bond at least a half dozen times before being accused of murder — while he was out on probation.

In June 2024, Johnnie Lillie was sentenced to probation for burglary of a motor vehicle, KRIV-TV reported.

‘All you had to do on one occasion was either revoke his probation or revoke his bond. That would’ve taken him out of being in the community.’

“While he’s on probation, he picks up a possession of a prohibited weapon [charge], a machine gun. That’s pretty serious,” Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers told the station.

KRIV reported that instead of revoking Lillie’s probation and sending him to jail, he was granted bond.

Then while free on that bond, Lillie was charged with another burglary of a motor vehicle, the station said.

“Now he’s out on not one, but two bonds, and is still on probation,” Kahan explained to KRIV.

Citing court documents, the station said Lillie violated his bond at least half a dozen times.

RELATED: Repeat offenders charged with murdering elderly woman; one suspect was on bond and skipped court days before fatal shooting

Then came Sept. 22, 2025 — the date when Lillie allegedly shot and killed 29-year-old Jermarkus Johnson, KRIV reported.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on that date deputies learned a gunshot victim had been transported to a hospital by private vehicle.

The victim, identified as Johnson, was pronounced dead at the hospital, the sheriff said.

Detectives learned the shooting stemmed from an altercation during a dice game, Gonzalez said, adding that homicide detectives identified and charged Lillie for allegedly shooting Johnson.

Lillie was arrested on Oct. 1 at the courthouse when he appeared for an unrelated charge, the sheriff said, adding that Lillie was booked into the Harris County Jail.

According to Harris County Jail records, Lillie is charged with murder and unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond for the murder charge is $250,000; his bond for the unlawful possession of a weapon charge is $60,000. His next court date is scheduled for April 23. Blaze News on Friday confirmed with the jail that Lillie remains incarcerated.

KRIV said Lillie was under the supervision of both the probation department and pretrial services “but that didn’t stop him from allegedly committing murder.”

Kahan added to the station that “pretrial services says we cannot monitor him, he’s not abiding by any of his conditions. And again, he’s allowed to remain on probation and multiple bonds.”

KRIV concluded that “Lillie is one of many defendants who violate conditions of probation and bond, but nothing happens to them. Still taxpayers fork over money for two entities to supervise and report violations.”

Kahan added to the station that “all you had to do on one occasion was either revoke his probation or revoke his bond. That would’ve taken him out of being in the community. It would have had him locked up, and Jermarkus Johnson would be alive today.”

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

​Repeat offender, Harris county sheriff’s office, Texas, Jermarkus johnson, Johnnie lillie, Burglary of a motor vehicle, Probation, Bond violations, Murder charge, Unlawful possession of a weapon charge, Crime 

For decades, one version of conservatism dominated the Republican Party, especially on foreign policy, says BlazeTV host John Doyle: neoconservatism — the “moralistic crusade to spread liberal democracy all around the world,” originating from ex-leftist, anti-Stalinist intellectuals.

But did Donald Trump disrupt that system and revive an older, better form of conservatism?

According to Doyle, yes — that is exactly what Trump has done.

On a recent episode of “The John Doyle Show,” the BlazeTV firebrand delivered a scathing history of how neoconservatism hijacked the Republican Party.

The “old right,” Doyle explains, was focused on the country itself, emphasizing limited government and avoiding unnecessary foreign conflict.

“They were against things like the welfare state … foreign intervention … socialism,” he says, describing a worldview rooted in restraint.

Neoconservatism, on the other hand, came from a different origin. Doyle says its roots “lie not on the right but on the left,” pointing to figures like Irving Kristol — the “godfather of neoconservatism” — who helped reshape conservative thought after moving right from the left.

Over time, he argues, that influence shifted what counted as mainstream conservatism, pulling it closer to the center and redefining its priorities.

That change was most visible in foreign policy.

“The neocons viewed America’s role in foreign policy to be, like, essentially messianic,” Doyle says, framing it as a belief that the U.S. should actively spread its values abroad.

That mindset, he argues, led to decisions like the Iraq War, where the U.S. “spent trillions of dollars” and lost “thousands of American lives.”

For years, that approach defined the party — until Trump entered the picture and set the nation on a new course.

“He really did shatter the sort of uniparty consensus on foreign policy,” Doyle says, pointing to Trump’s blunt criticism that “the Iraq War was a big fat mistake.”

That moment, he argues, exposed a fracture inside the GOP and forced a shift back toward older conservative instincts.

Donald Trump, “contrary to what a lot of his less intelligent critics claim, is not actually a neocon,” says Doyle.

To hear more of his analysis and commentary, watch the full episode.

Want more from John Doyle?

To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​The john doyle show, John doyle, Blazetv, Blaze media, Neoconservatives, Neoconservatism, Old right, Donald trump, Republican party 

An Italian researcher believes he has found the location of a second Sphinx, with clues providing a glimpse of more impressive capabilities of a past civilization.

Researcher Filippo Biondi is confident in the discovery, which was actually hinted at in ancient texts more than 3,000 years ago.

‘There is a great chance that there was, or is, another sphinx parallel to the one which exists today.’

Biondi appeared on Thursday’s episode of the “Matt Beall Podcast,” giving a presentation that is sure to blow the minds of fellow researchers and history buffs.

The researcher referred to the ancient Dream Stele, also called the Sphinx Stele, an inscribed slab between the paws of the Great Sphinx of Giza that is believed to have been built around 1401 B.C. The stele explicitly mentions and depicts two sphinxes; this acts as the pretext for the research.

As the Great Sphinx of Giza is positioned guarding the Pyramid of Khafre, researchers looked in the same parallel position in front the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and they think they have found something.

Biondi and his team believe that hidden underneath a 180-foot mound of sand, “there is something very huge that we are measuring.”

There is an “underground megastructure” that includes shafts that appear to be an “entrance,” he told the host. In fact, all the subsequent measurements his team has made around the proposed location of a second sphinx match the distance and angles of the first sphinx to the existing structures in the area.

RELATED: What if DC’s iconic monuments are actually demonic portals?

For example, the distance between the alleged megastructure and the second pyramid is the same as the distance between the Sphinx and the first pyramid.

“We are finding precise … geometrical correlation, 100% of correlation, in this symmetry,” Biondi said.

“We are very confident to announce this. … We have a confidence [of] about 80%.”

Biondi is not the first researcher to propose this claim, either. Egyptologist Bassam el-Shammaa has a published theory that dates back to at least 1999.

“There is a great chance that there was, or is, another sphinx parallel to the one which exists today, only in very poor condition due to air pollution and underground water erosion,” the researcher wrote.

“The remains of the second sphinx are still there buried under the sand, its suffocating dilapidated remains may not rival the state of preservation of the existing one, but I believe it does exist,” Shammaa claimed.

RELATED: Aristotle’s ancient guide to tyranny reads like a modern manual

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Biondi said there is still work to be done with measuring and comparing the elevation between the existing sphinx and the theoretical one.

The team has also conducted scans of the area that allegedly reveal the aforementioned network of shafts and chambers beneath the structure, which Biondi believes mirror that of the Great Sphinx.

The team must look underneath what is commonly believed to be a mountain, but Biondi says he is confident that it is simply solidified sand and other sediment.

“In our personal opinion, it’s very simple to remove all that mountain, and probably inside there is the second sphinx.”

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

​Return, Egypt, Egyptologist, Pyramid, Giza, Sphinx, Tech 

A man named Bera Shivakrishna was arrested after he allegedly groped a woman dressed in an Easter Bunny costume at a mall near Pittsburgh.

The woman was taking photos with children at the South Hills Village Mall in Upper St. Clair on Monday when the man approached her and started asking her questions, according to a criminal complaint obtained by KDKA-TV.

‘It’s a doll, right?’

The woman referred him to an assistant, but he allegedly refused and then groped the victim, according to Upper St. Clair police.

Shivakrishna allegedly touched her arm, then the top of her chest, and finally grabbed her breasts.

The assistant said he was asking, “Is it a boy or a girl?”

He also put his fingers in the nose and mouth of the bunny costume.

Police identified a suspect after reviewing the mall’s security video and speaking to the alleged victim as well as the assistant.

Shivakrishna was found sleeping in the top row of seats at a movie theater near the mall later that afternoon.

Police said he asked them, “Is it on the close to Five Below, the merchandise thing, the bunny?”

After being read his Miranda rights, he allegedly asked, “It’s a doll, right?”

When told the victim was not a doll, he allegedly responded, “By mistake, my hand touched her, if it’s a lady.”

Shivakrishna was identified through his New Jersey driver’s identification and charged with indecent assault. He is being held on a $10,000 bond at the Allegheny County Jail.

RELATED: ‘I guess he doesn’t want us here’: Police called after Goofy says grandmother groped him at Disney World

Shoppers at the mall told WPXI-TV that the man should definitely face a stiff sentence for the incident.

“This is horrible. I can’t believe this would happen at our local mall. It’s the Easter Bunny,” local resident Jenn Herrig said.

“All kinds of people would have seen this. If I would have been there with my son, I would have just been appalled. We would have gotten out of line and had to leave,” she added.

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

​Easter bunny groped, Man gropes woman in bunny costume, Easter bunny at mall, Groping arrest pittsburgh, Crime 

Veterans are speaking out against Democrat congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar for using his military career to amplify his campaign.

Campa-Najjar allegedly referred to himself as a “Navy Officer” in his campaign materials, differing from his actual title of Navy Reserve officer. Because of this alleged discrepancy, Campa-Najjar’s campaign has raised eyebrows, since Navy policy requires reservists running for office to accurately disclose their military status.

‘Shame on Campa-Najjar and anyone who supported these cynical political stunts.’

The Navy later said officials will be “looking into” Campa-Najjar’s campaign in light of the alleged violation of Pentagon policy.

“I supported Ammar in the past, but won’t again,” Elizabeth Perez-Rodriguez, a Navy combat veteran, told the New York Post.

RELATED: This scandal-ridden Democrat just got one step closer to being expelled from Congress

Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

Campa-Najjar, who is notably dating billionaire heiress Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), also caused uproar after staging photo opportunities for his campaign website. The photo that caught the most attention was from the Massachusetts National Cemetery, depicting Campa-Najjar near the grave of a Korean War veteran whom he reportedly had no connection to.

“As a combat veteran,” Perez-Rodriguez continued, “I can’t stand when political candidates exploit the uniform for politics, and using a veteran’s grave site in your campaign is toxic and disrespectful.”

“Our national cemeteries are sacred ground — not political backdrops,” Marine Corps combat veteran Brian Van Riper told the Post. “Using a service member’s grave site at a VA cemetery for political campaign photos is among the most disrespectful, distasteful, and cynical political ploys I’ve ever seen.”

“All these allegations are damning and show a complete disregard for what military service and wearing the uniform should mean,” Michael Malach, an Army combat veteran, told the Post. “Shame on Campa-Najjar and anyone who supported these cynical political stunts, especially using posed portraits at a deceased veteran’s grave to try and boost his campaign.”

Campa-Najjar’s campaign website does list him as a U.S. Navy Reserve officer alongside a disclaimer saying, “Any references to his military rank, service, or photographs in uniform are for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the Department of War or the Department of the Navy.”

RELATED: Democrats’ latest victory in deep-red Mar-a-Lago district offers bleak midterm forecast

Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

Campa-Najjar’s campaign manager, Andi McNew, pushed back against the allegations, saying the cemetery photo was taken while “participating in an official Memorial Day event where he, alongside his unit, honored fallen service members.”

“At no point did the campaign engage in political activity at a VA cemetery, and any suggestion otherwise is a misrepresentation of both the facts and the applicable rules,” Andi McNew told the Post.

This is Campa-Najjar’s third congressional campaign. He is now running for California’s newly redrawn 48th District against incumbent Republican Rep. Darrell Issa.

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

​House democrats, California, Prop 40, Darrell issa, Sara jacobs, Ammar campa-najjar, Navy, Pentagon, Department of war, Department of navy, Combat veteran, Politics 

A video out of China is grabbing the world by the heartstrings. Published less than two weeks ago, it has already racked up over 270 million views.

The footage, taken by a citizen in China’s Jilin province, captures a pack of seven dogs walking down the highway, led by a corgi.

The pack had allegedly been stolen and put in a moving truck, destined for the illegal dog meat market. But they miraculously escaped and walked together for over 10 miles through freezing conditions, with the pack protecting an injured German shepherd.

All seven dogs made it safely back home to their families.

This “should be a movie,” says Glenn Beck.

But the heartwarming footage everyone is swooning over is only half the story, he says.

“This story has captured 270 million people because it’s what we’re missing,” says Glenn. “We’re living in a time where everything is breaking into pieces — our communities, our families, our nations, truth, everything.”

To compensate for this widespread fracturing, many of us, he says, are being told, “Look out for yourself. Protect your own. … Don’t get dragged down by somebody else’s weakness.”

“And yet, here on a highway in China — a frozen highway — seven dogs reject all of that crap. … The strongest slowed down, the smallest led, the injured was protected, and the group endured,” says Glenn, noting that unlike many humans, there was no agenda behind their unity — “just loyalty; just love.”

The “covenant” kind of unity shown by this pack of dogs leads Glenn to ask a blunt question: “What the hell is wrong with us?”

He points to the push in Canada and the United States to both implement and expand assisted-suicide programs, many of which target vulnerable groups like veterans, the mentally ill, and even children.

“We’re supposed to be the most loving … and we’re building systems where the most vulnerable are just discarded, where the innocent can just be exterminated,” he says.

“These seven dogs are there to remind us of something ancient, something simple, something really, really true: You don’t leave your own behind. … We all get home together.”

To hear more and see the sweet footage of the pack on its trek home, watch the video above.

Want more from Glenn Beck?

To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​The glenn beck program, Blazetv, Blaze media, Glenn beck, Dog meat market, China dog meat market, 7 dogs china 

Steve Hilton, the leading candidate for governor of California despite his status as an unapologetic Republican, called it a perfect metaphor for the state’s spate of recent failures.

After the University of Southern California abruptly canceled its televised gubernatorial debate less than 24 hours before it was set to take place, Democrats scrambled to come up with an alternative forum. Despite the frantic reaction, the crowded field of Democratic candidates couldn’t agree to the proposed ground rules.

As candidates scrambled to regroup after USC canceled the debate, the large field of Democrats still couldn’t agree on a commitment to continue including all the candidates in future debates.

The debate implosion and the subsequent failure to quickly reorganize played right into the leading GOP contender’s hands.

“This is just so symptomatic of everything that’s wrong with California,” Hilton told RealClearPolitics on Tuesday in the aftermath of the debate’s cancellation. “Everything is broken, from the high-speed rail, where they haven’t laid any tracks. Then last week we saw that $100 million butterfly bridge to nowhere. Nothing works. Everything’s broken. It’s all a shambles. They can’t even organize a debate.”

Decades ago, USC was considered a conservative alternative to public academic institutions across the state. More recently, the private university has become indistinguishable from the rest — at least when it comes to cancel culture.

All of the candidates the university had decided to invite to participate in the planned debate, hosted by Univision and KABC, are white. All of the candidates left out are minorities who also happened to be polling in the single digits: California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond (D), former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D), and former California State Controller Betty Yee (D) were not invited after the university said they had not met their debate criteria.

Those invited included former Fox News host Steve Hilton (R), Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D), former Rep. Katie Porter (D), businessman Tom Steyer (D), and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (D).

“We recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrow’s gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters,” the university said in a statement. “Unfortunately, USC and [debate co-sponsor] KABC have not been able to reach an agreement on expanding the number of candidates. … As a result, USC has made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s debate and will look for other opportunities to educate voters on the candidates and issues.”

The university would not commit to a new date for the debate.

Hilton and Bianco have been leading the crowded pack of candidates for months, stirring up panic amid veteran Democratic Party operatives that they could both emerge from the June 2 primary to run against one another and shut out Democrats entirely. Swalwell and Porter have been polling around 10%, with Steyer, despite spending tens of millions of dollars, a few points behind.

Under California’s “top-two” primary system, only the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. Democrats are concerned that Hilton and Bianco are poised to do so if the field of Democratic candidates doesn’t narrow down quickly.

It was Mahan’s invitation, however, that really stung among those sidelined from the stage. A white Democratic centrist candidate, Mahan had only recently entered the race and was polling in the single digits along with those excluded from the debate.

Still USC explained his inclusion by citing a new debate-inclusion criteria that valued intensive fundraising. The Democrats complaining about being left out didn’t buy the rationale and instead cited Mahan’s USC ties as evidence of special treatment.

RELATED: ‘Things will return to normal’ is not a serious policy

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images

Mike Murphy, co-director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, which was hosting the debate, had been, on a voluntary basis, advising an independent expenditure committee supporting Mahan. Yet Murphy claimed to have nothing to do with organizing the debate and pledged to temporarily step down from his university role if he decided to accept a paid position from any entity backing Mahan.

Over the weekend when Xavier Becerra (D), Thurmond, and others started complaining about Mahan’s inclusion, top Democratic legislators decided to weigh in.

The speaker of California’s Assembly, Robert Rivas, and the leader of the state Senate, Monique Limon, joined the leaders of the legislative Latino, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, LGBTQ, Jewish, and women’s caucuses in writing a letter to USC President Beong-Soo Kim demanding that they change their “biased criteria.”

“The outcry over this debate is deafening and includes legal demands from the excluded candidates’ attorneys, public calls by elected leaders across the state, concerns from the included candidates’ own campaigns, and growing alarm from California voters,” the legislators wrote. “Instead of responding to these valid concerns by expanding the debate, USC has doubled down.”

The debate was supposed to take place at a critical time — with two Republican candidates consistently running ahead of their Democratic counterparts, none of whom has broken out of a crowded field. It also was set to occur less than two months before the state planned to send ballots to every registered voter.

In early March, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks published an open letter urging Democratic contenders to consider dropping out if they didn’t see a realistic path to a primary victory.

“If you do not have a viable path to make it to the general election, do not file to place your name on the ballot for the primary election,” Hicks wrote just days before the March 6 filing deadline. But no candidate decided to heed Hicks’ call, and the letter drew a scathing response from Thurmond, who asserted that it was aimed at pressuring “candidates of color” to end their gubernatorial bids.

“Our political system is rigged,” Thurmond said. “The California Democratic Party is essentially telling every candidate of color in the race for governor to drop out.”

Hicks rejected that criticism, noting the letter did not name any specific candidate.

As candidates scrambled to regroup after USC canceled the debate, the large field of Democrats still couldn’t agree on a commitment to continue including all the candidates in future debates.

Part of the group wanted all parties to abide by a pledge to participate in future debates only if all Democratic candidates are invited. But that idea fell apart when they couldn’t get a commitment from fellow Democratic candidates.

Still Becerra, one of the candidates who was not invited to the USC debate, celebrated the decision to quash it entirely in a post on X:

We fought. We won! We stood up against an unfair candidate debate set-up that prematurely chose winners and losers. Tonight USC made the right decision to cancel their March 24 gubernatorial forum … so hopefully next time it’s done right. Thank you to everyone who stood up, raised hell and demanded justice. Never give up when you’re fighting for fairness!

The Democratic disarray on rescheduling handed an opportunity to Hilton and Bianco. Instead of taking the night off, Hilton held an X.com space with more than 300 people participating. Meanwhile Bianco spoke to supporters at an event in Los Angeles.

A Bianco campaign social media post crossed out the words “debate watch party” and blamed Democrats for the abrupt change.

“The Ds got the debate canceled, but we’re showing up anyway!” the post said. “See you tonight @sheriffbianco will be there.”

Hilton, who has been campaigning for roughly a year and has led in the polls for months, shared an X space forum with Elaine Culotti, an independent candidate for governor who is running under “NPP” — no party preference.

Culotti, a California real estate developer and interior designer who starred in the Discovery+ reality series “Undercover Billionaire,” appears poised to throw her support to Hilton if he wins the primary, even though she argues that her current participation in the race takes votes away from Swalwell.

The two more ideologically aligned candidates continued to criticize Democrats for blowing up the debate while laying out their own visions for reforming California, by not only stopping the U-Haul exodus of those moving out to find more affordable places to live but attracting more businesses to the state. Culotti said she would do so by reducing taxes to attract more than 100,000 businesses, leading to more jobs and more tax revenue.

Hilton said he would address affordability and businesses’ exodus from the state by opening up more oil and gas exploration, something he said could be done by executive order and by “kicking out all the climate fanatics” that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) placed in key positions in the government.

“Right now, they are denying the industry permits for every aspect of [oil and gas] operating in California, whether that’s maintaining existing wells or expanding them, or drilling new ones — all of that,” Hilton said.

RELATED: California’s next dumb tech idea: Show your papers to scroll

Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Hilton and Culotti also discussed the positive aspects of having a governor in Sacramento who could work with the Trump administration to implement a forest management plan that would help prevent devastating wildfires while providing billions more in federal funds to help the Palisades and Eaton wildfire victims rebuild.

“Whatever happens in the 2028 presidential election, we know we’re going to have two years where the next governor will overlap with the Trump administration,” Hilton said. “And that’s one of the things I’m most excited about. I’ve got good, good relationships with, you know, half the Cabinet.”

No one asked Hilton how he will contend with deep animosity toward Trump in a state where the number of registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans nearly two to one.

Instead Hilton said he would prefer that Bianco drop out so he could consolidate the Republican support while working to turn out independents and Republicans in November in an election that includes ballot initiatives to institute voter ID and to maintain Proposition 13, a state constitutional amendment that imposes strict limits on property tax increases.

“You’ve got people in charge now who just don’t think like this, and as we saw with the debate nonsense and raising the race card … they’re just on a different planet,” Hilton said. “But the underlying answer to how you deliver all of these things is just to take a sledgehammer to the massive, bloated nanny-state bureaucracy that is making everything so expensive and so difficult.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.

​California, Gop, Democrats, Governor race, Primary, Steve hilton, University of southern california, Candidates, California democrats, Trump, Midterms, Opinion & analysis, Chad bianco, Xavier becerra, Eric swalwell, Elaine culotti, Rusty hicks, Debate, Tony thurmond, Racism accusation 

One of the most scandal-ridden former mayors in America is attempting to resurrect her political career, moving to a new state and a new party.

On March 11, Tiffany Henyard — the former Democratic mayor of Dolton, Illinois, and former supervisor of nearby Thornton Township — announced in a Facebook video that she had moved to Fulton County, Georgia.

‘You can’t expect change without making a change.’

“Y’all ain’t ready,” she says confidently in the video, claiming her political opponents and members of the media are “obsessed” with her and that “corruption” was rampant in Dolton and Thornton Township.

In the video, she also teases a “big announcement” that she would be making a couple of days later.

RELATED: Chicago-area village credit cards frozen, deputy chief laid off as Lightfoot concludes investigation into controversial mayor

To the surprise of very few, news soon broke that Henyard is running for political office yet again. This time, she is running to be a Fulton County commissioner — as a Republican, according to the Georgia secretary of state website.

The records indicate Henyard qualified to run on March 5. They also list her occupation as “business owner.”

Four other candidates qualified to run for the District 5 commissioner’s seat that same week, all as Democrats. The seat is currently held by Democrat Marvin Arrington Jr., who is running to be chair of the Board of Commissioners.

The 2026 Georgia primary election is scheduled for May 19.

Henyard claims in the video that change is needed in Fulton County. “The residents are tired,” she says. “They’re looking for a new leader. They’re looking for new leadership.”

Henyard also said she has a responsibility “to reach across the aisle, let alone walk across the aisle.”

“You can’t expect change without making a change,” she notes in the video.

The Fulton County Republican Party did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

Henyard, whose official X handle is @tif4president, leaves a trail of scandals in her wake. Her tenure as Dolton mayor was plagued with slashed budgets, accusations of lavish spending and other misconduct, an FBI investigation, and even an all-out brawl at a public meeting.

She subsequently lost the Democratic mayoral primary in February 2025, receiving just 536 votes out of the 4,446 ballots cast.

Many of her constituents celebrated her loss:

“The Wicked Witch of the West is dead! It’s over,” said one.”I praise God. That’s all I have to say. Ding, dong, the witch is gone!” said another.”If I can do a backwards hand flip right now — and I’m 67 years old next month — I would definitely do it,” added yet another resident.

Earlier this month, a judge ordered Henyard to pay a former landlord $10,000 in connection with a rental dispute in Illinois after she failed to appear in court. Her attorney indicated to WGN that she missed the hearing because she was out of state and that she denies wrongdoing.

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

​Dolton, Fulton county, Georgia, Illinois, Tiffany henyard, Politics 

The son of a teacher at a private Catholic grade school in Ohio was arrested for allegedly possessing a massive trove of disgusting child sex abuse material.

Parents of the St. Susanna Parish School in Mason grew suspicious after receiving messages from the administration in February about a teacher stepping away from instruction.

‘Because I’m a pedophile x3. … I wanna rape them.’

The March arrest of 24-year-old Rain Phoenix-Brown at his mother’s house in Evendale led to parents contacting WKRC-TV about the possible connection to the teacher. WKRC confirmed through county records that Phoenix-Brown was her son.

The school then sent a message to parents admitting the suspect had images of their students in his possession.

“Evendale police have brought to our attention that an individual recently arrested on child pornography charges was in possession of images of St. Susanna students,” the email read. “While this is troubling, police have informed us that none of the St. Susanna children in these images are believed to be victims of any crimes, including child pornography.”

Police said the investigation found 15,000 videos and several hundred thousand electronic images, some of which were generated by artificial intelligence. One of the videos involved bestiality and an underage child.

Investigators also documented alarming online messages Phoenix-Brown allegedly sent to another individual.

“You got to find a 5th or 6th grader,” one alleged message read.

“Because I’m a pedophile x3;” another read. “I wanna rape them.”

Phoenix-Brown was charged with three counts related to the child porn possession:

Pandering obscenity involving a minor;Pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor; andIllegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

RELATED: Elementary school teacher allegedly possessed thousands of files of child sex abuse material

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati released a statement to WKRC stating that the school was not actively involved in the investigation into the child porn possession case and that all questions should be forwarded to the Evendale Police Dept.

Brown is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $300,000 bond, according to online records.

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

​Rain phoenix-brown child porn, Child sex abuse material, St susanna elementary school in mason, Son of catholic school teacher, Crime 

Two weeks ago, I was caught in Dubai for a layover when the war suddenly became very real. While driving back from a pleasant sunset walk along Dubai Creek, my Uber driver suddenly yelled, “Brother, look at the sky!” Peering through the windshield, we watched as the UAE air defense system lit up the sky orange as it intercepted multiple drones, one of which we would later learn struck near the U.S. consulate in Dubai, causing a fire; fortunately, it was quickly extinguished, and there were no fatalities.

To say that war in the Middle East has become a state of normality would be a profound and unfortunate understatement. As drones and missiles fly overhead, the majority of which are intercepted, people go about their day as if nothing has changed. In Dubai, I had the privilege of witnessing an exceptional demonstration of resilience, an unwillingness to give in to fear as the very clear and present danger grows with each passing day.

The resilience I saw in Dubai, where life continued amid ongoing attacks, now faces an even greater test as the global energy supply chain is under strain.

Operation Epic Fury is ongoing and will have long-lasting impacts that will reverberate not only across the region but also worldwide. Iran is one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil and has some of the largest known reserves. Decades of sanctions have left the country with a very limited customer base for its oil, with the majority of it going to China at heavily discounted prices.

For this reason, with the possibility of regime change in Iran, China stands to lose a significant portion of its discounted oil supply, especially when combined with the shift in political direction in Venezuela, another vital source of heavily discounted seaborne imports for the Chinese Communist Party.

Additionally, as the Strait of Hormuz is not effectively closed, a halt of up to a fifth of the global oil and liquified natural gas supply, which comes from the other major regional suppliers like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, is now beginning to take its toll on energy prices across the world.

Dire Strait

Serving as the bridge between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important strategic chokepoints in the world. With an astounding 20% of global petroleum liquid products flowing through the Strait, it plays a vital role in both the global economy and the economies of the Gulf states.

For example, of the total oil that moves through the Strait, 38% is sourced from Saudi Arabia, a nation where 53.4% of the government’s revenue came from oil in 2025. Furthermore Qatar exports all of its 9.3 billion cubic feet per day of liquid natural gas through the Strait, accounting for most of the LNG transiting through it.

These nations are heavily dependent on revenues earned from oil and gas exports, which is why Iran is targeting both the Strait and the Gulf nations’ energy supply chains. Unable to strike the U.S. mainland, Iran is attacking the Gulf states that support the ongoing U.S. military presence in the region.

The impact from closing the Strait will not be limited to the region. With a substantial amount of exports destined for Asia, upwards of 83% in 2024, including China, South Korea, Japan, India, and Taiwan, the cost of energy in these countries is at risk of rising, which, given the sizable amount of manufacturing that takes place there, could lead to price rises for multiple sectors.

For this reason, China is pressuring Iran to allow for tankers to pass through and to continue shipments, given that China has not yet fully diversified its seaborne oil supply chain away from Iran. Closure of the Strait of Hormuz, even if not by blockade but simply by shippers unwilling to take the risk of asset loss and rising insurance costs, will remain a global market issue rather than a regional challenge.

The lack of transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility that the Houthis in Yemen begin impeding transit through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea in solidarity with Iran will lead to higher costs for everything shipped from the region and manufactured in East Asia.

Attacking energy infrastructure

Part of Iran’s strategy involves a willingness to openly attack any Gulf state with a connection to the U.S., with new attacks expanding to include Azerbaijan and reaching as far as Cyprus. Iran is doing so with a particular focus on energy infrastructure, recognizing the importance of the energy sector to the regional economy.

Multiple attacks have taken place targeting infrastructure in Qatar — impacting up to 17% of its LNG export capacity, the UAE, whose Shah gas field was struck, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia — which is putting pressure on a vital part of these countries’ economies.

If Iran is allowed to continue to inflict severe damage on the energy infrastructure of the Gulf states, while depleting their defensive stockpiles with a steady flow of drones and ballistic missile attacks, they will be placed into an even more vulnerable position both economically and militarily.

China’s reliance on Iranian oil

RELATED: The only Iran plan that doesn’t end with a 20-year hangover

Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

China imports almost all of the oil Iran exports, over 80% of it. The strategy is simple: Purchase oil from a heavily sanctioned country with few or no other customers, and enjoy a significant discount. The same strategy was implemented with Venezuela, though not to the same extent as with Iran, in terms of the volume of oil purchased.

The combination of Iranian and Venezuelan seaborne oil imports regularly accounts for 17% of China’s seaborne imports; 13.4% from Iran and 4% to 4.5%. If the war continues to escalate, or perhaps if Kharg Island’s energy infrastructure, which processes 90% of Iran’s oil for export, is attacked or occupied, China could potentially lose close to 20% of its seaborne imports. If the war leads to a regime change in Iran more favorable toward the West, or Iran’s ability to export discounted oil to China is impacted by either military action or the lifting of sanctions, it will be forced to aggressively diversify its seaborne oil imports.

What it means

I am fortunate to be concluding this piece from the comfort of my home in Arizona after an evacuation flight to San Francisco, a commuter flight to Los Angeles, and a final long drive home. Operation Epic Fury has effectively disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, unleashed waves of attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, and driven sharp increases in worldwide energy prices.

China stands to lose up to 20% of its discounted seaborne oil imports from Iran and Venezuela, while Asian economies face higher manufacturing costs that will be passed on to global consumers. The resilience I saw in Dubai, where life continued amid ongoing attacks, now faces an even greater test as the global energy supply chain is under strain. With escalation showing no signs of abating, volatility in oil, LNG, and gasoline prices has become the new normal, underscoring how deeply interconnected our world’s energy security truly is.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and made available via RealClearWire.

​Dubai, Iran war, Missile attacks, Drone strikes, Uae, Middle east, Operation epic fury, Strait of hormuz, Gulf of oman, Houthis, Gulf states, Supply chains, China, Opinion & analysis 

Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying program, which is projected to surpass 100,000 total assisted deaths before its 10th anniversary in June 2026, is growing more dystopian every year.

“Children, babies with special needs, the poor, veterans, the elderly, the sick, those struggling with mental health conditions — these are just some of the groups being targeted by Canada’s taxpayer-funded assisted suicide program,” says BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey.

On this episode of “Relatable,” Allie interviews Canadian combat veteran and anti-MAID activist Kelsi Sheren about Canada’s sinister plot to target the most vulnerable populations.

Sheren’s opposition to Canada’s MAID program stems from a very personal place. When she was just 19 years old, she was deployed to Afghanistan, where she experienced front-line combat exposure. Two years into her tour, she was badly injured and medically discharged.

“I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and hearing loss,” Sheren tells Allie.

“They put me on a lot of drugs, and I wanted to kill myself for a really, really long time,” she adds, noting that her “staff in the military” told her it would’ve been “easier if [she] died.”

Fortunately, Sheren was introduced to art therapy, which not only saved her life but also culminated in a booming business called Brass & Unity.

Today, in addition to authoring books and hosting a podcast, Sheren advocates for vulnerable people who are being targeted not only by Canada’s MAID program but by the “ideology” that positions suicide as the best solution to suffering.

“They target the vulnerable first. They target the people who think they don’t have a voice, who can’t speak up, or who will take the options because they’re so low,” says Sheren.

She tells the heartbreaking story of one of her friends and fellow Canadian combat veterans, Christine Gauthier, who despite serving her country through military service and excelling as a Paralympic paracanoeist and Invictus Games athlete representing Canada, was encouraged to consider MAID when bureaucratic delays prevented the installation of a wheelchair stairlift in her home.

“When Canada needed her to step up, she stepped up every time … and she just wanted a wheelchair ramp, and they asked her if she wanted to die instead,” says Sheren.

What happened to Gauthier, as well as several other Canadian veterans, is “illegal,” she argues, but when they testify, the Canadian government “[keeps] calling [them] liars.”

But alleged coercion is just the tip of the MAID iceberg.

Under current Canadian law, there are two “tracks” to accessing the program: Track 1 is for people whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable (like terminal illness), while Track 2 is for those whose death isn’t reasonably foreseeable but who have a serious, incurable physical condition (like paraplegia or rheumatoid arthritis).

Track 2, says Sheren, has become a giant loophole. People wanting to die due to mental health issues are using physical maladies — even something as manageable as type 1 diabetes — to qualify for MAID.

Some funeral homes are even capitalizing on these patients by offering their facilities as spaces where approved killings can take place. “They also handle the whole funeral and the crematory right there,” says Sheren.

Allie’s radar immediately goes off. “I always have to wonder about the financial incentives going on here. Like, who’s making all of this money off of people being murdered by the medical system?” she asks.

Sheren lays out the shocking math.

Citing the Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, which covers 2024 data, she says, “An average of 2,200 doctors in Canada … perform MAID assessments and MAID kills.” To determine MAID eligibility, “two assessors” must evaluate a patient. Sometimes numerous assessments are performed on a single patient.

“Each assessment can be billed for up to 105 hours. They charge $50 every 15 minutes. … You do the math on that. It’s pretty substantial,” says Sheren.

But it’s not just the doctors and funeral homes who are raking in substantial wealth from the MAID program, she says; the entire system from top to bottom is a taxpayer-funded death industry built on perverse incentives.

The charity Dying with Dignity, which Sheren calls “the largest pro-death cult in the country,” is “worth right now around $9 million.”

And finally, Health Canada – Canada’s federal health care ministry – saves massive amounts by having less people to financially support.

The vulnerable, Sheren explains, “are a burden on the system.”

“I got injured when I was 19 years old. Well, they’re responsible to me until I’m 60, right? That’s an expensive ticket there,” she says.

Even though the MAID program is already deeply dystopian, Canada is considering expanding it. In 2027, the parliamentary committee will determine if mental illness alone should qualify an individual for the MAID program.

Additionally, “the College of Physicians is suggesting that we should be able to euthanize babies 0 to 1 who are born with what they consider a disorder that will make their quality of life low,” says Sheren.

There is also discussion and advocacy around adding terminally ill “mature minors” (12- to 17-year-olds) to the MAID program.

“They’re discussing how if you have a child down to the age of 12 and they have a terminal illness and they decide they want to die with MAID, the parents will be consulted, but ultimately the child’s decision will be the one that is taken,” says Sheren.

“Canada has removed the parental rights of medical care of children up to the age of 12. So once your child turns 12, you no longer have access to their medical records or their decision-making … and at the same time, we’re talking about expanding [MAID] to children down to the age of 12. Are we all seeing the correlation here?” she asks.

To hear more about the shocking realities of Canada’s MAID program and how the same ideology is poisoning the U.S., watch the full interview above.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

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

​Relatable, Relatable with allie beth stuckey, Allie beth stuckey, Kelsi sheren, Canada, Maid, Canada maid, Assissted suicide, Blazetv, Blaze media 

A mugger reportedly slashed a male teenager in the face and stole his cell phone aboard a New York City subway train Thursday evening — but the victim grabbed the knife from the mugger and fought back in a brutal way.

The 18-year-old victim and his friend were on the Bronx No. 2 train as it approached the Pelham Parkway station near White Plains Road in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx around 7 p.m. when the suspect and seven others walked through the train car, stopped the victim, and asked to see his cell phone, the New York Daily News reported.

‘Case of beer for that young person!’

The victim pulled out his phone, and the mugger grabbed the phone and started to walk off with it, which sparked a brawl, police told the Daily News.

Amid the dustup, a knife fell upon the subway car’s floor, police told the paper.

The mugger grabbed the knife and slashed his victim in the face, which left a deep gash on the teen’s face, the Daily News said.

But as the fight continued, the victim grabbed the knife from the mugger and stabbed him five times, police told the paper.

Emergency medical services arrived and rushed the mugger to Jacobi Hospital, where he was expected to survive, the Daily News said, adding that he remained in the hospital Friday and was awaiting charges related to the incident.

The teen was taken to Montefiore Medical Center, where his slash wound was treated, the paper said, adding that the victim’s friend was punched in the face during the brawl.

A police source with knowledge of the case told the Daily News that detectives said the mugger’s pals — who ran off — are responsible for several similar robberies in the Bronx and on borough subway trains.

Charges against the mugger and his victim were not immediately filed, the paper said.

As you might expect, observers commenting under the Daily News’ Facebook post about the incident gave many kudos to the teen who fought back:

“Case of beer for that young person!” one commenter wrote.”He took care of bizness!” another user exclaimed.”Great job from the victim,” another commenter noted.”That’s how it’s supposed to be,” another user declared.”Given it’s NYC, has the teen been charged yet?” another commenter quipped.”People need to fight back, glad this happened!” another user said.

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

​Crime thwarted, Fighting back, Bronx, New york city, Mugging, Teen victim, Mugging victim stabs mugger, Train, Face slashed, Self-defense, Crime 

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said he might run for president again in 2028 and provide an alternative for the populist wing of the Republican Party.

Paul said he would make a decision after the midterm elections in an interview with CBS News journalist Robert Costa.

‘On many days, it’s me in the Senate, the only one left for free trade. But I think there still is a desire among business for it.’

“There’s used to be a free market/Libertarian wing of the party, and now there’s not much left. In fact, on many days, it’s me in the Senate, the only one left for free trade. But I think there still is a desire among business for it,” the senator said in a snippet posted to Instagram.

“And it may make the so-called Libertarian vote, which might not be big enough to ever win anything,” he added, “if you combine that with the Chamber of Commerce and the traditional business community that doesn’t like protectionism, there may be a force out there for a different direction from the party other than being continued to be led by populism.”

Costa directly asked him about a news headline opining that it appeared already that he was running for president.

“I don’t know yet. So maybe they know something that I don’t know,” he joked.

“We’re thinking about it,” he added. “I would say 50-50.”

Paul had a dramatic break with the Republican Party when he berated Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, the president’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

RELATED: Watch Rand Paul bulldoze through each global warming talking point

Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The senator objected to Mullin’s quip that Paul’s neighbor was justified when he assaulted him over a lawn dispute and broke several of his ribs in 2017. Paul was the lone Republican vote against Mullin, but Mullin was confirmed after Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (Penn.) crossed the aisle.

He has also been very critical of the administration’s justification for the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The entire interview airs on “CBS News Sunday Morning” on Sunday.

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

​Rand paul running for president, Alternatives to populism, Libertarians and business community, 2028 presidential election, Politics 

Florida police said Tiger Woods was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence after yet another rollover incident.

Police initially reported the rollover with scant details but later said in a press conference that the golf legend exhibited signs of impairment.

The 50-year-old faces misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

The rollover happened in the Jupiter Island area at about 2 p.m. and involved Wood’s Range Rover vehicle. The incident occurred at 281 Beach Road, which is near Woods’ home.

Officials said that Woods was transported to the Martin County Jail, where he allegedly refused to give them a urine sample, although he did submit to a breathalyzer test.

The 50-year-old faces misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He will be held for eight hours and then released on bail.

Photos from the incident showed the Range Rover on its side.

There were no significant injuries from the incident, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.

RELATED: Trump shocks supporters by fitting in a round of golf with Tiger Woods before the Super Bowl: ‘He never rests’

Woods had golfed in a match Tuesday at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens.

The golf legend was charged with a DUI in 2017 and later pleaded guilty to reckless driving and paid a $250 fine. He also had a rollover accident in 2021 where he was seriously injured.

This is a developing story.

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

​Tiger woods dui, Tiger woods rollover accident, Jupiter island rollover, Celebrity dui, Crime 

An Oklahoma City attorney, who identifies as “transgender,” was arrested for contempt of court during an early February hearing after repeatedly interrupting the judge and resisting arrest, according to a video circulating on social media.

A clip of the video shared on X showed Hopkins Law and Associates attorney Rob Hopkins, a female who claims to identify as a man, shouting at the judge overseeing the hearing and another attorney involved in the case before being arrested by multiple officers.

‘Wanted to be a “tough guy” and then started screaming for a female officer when officers treated him like a guy.’

Despite the judge instructing Hopkins to stop, the attorney continued to interrupt her.

“You interrupt me one more time, you are being held in direct contempt of court,” the judge remarked. “And you can wipe that smirk off your face.”

After the judge again accused Hopkins of interrupting her, the lawyer appeared to toss a phone on the ground in frustration.

When the judge scolded Hopkins for throwing the phone, the attorney responded, “I did not throw. It fell off the bench. Please stop stating things that are not true, ma’am.”

RELATED: NHL team to have ‘Cowgays’ sing national anthem on LGBTQ+ night — and the backlash is brutal

Spencer Weiner-Pool/Getty Images

The judge instructed Hopkins to “settle down,” claiming the lawyer was “red in the face.”

Hopkins blamed the judge’s alleged targeting on the idea that it was “maybe because I’m a transgender attorney practicing all over the state.”

Hopkins began shouting at another attorney, claiming he was lying about the client Hopkins was representing in the case.

“Get out of my face, sir,” Hopkins yelled several times at the other attorney.

The chaos reached a fever pitch when two officers approached Hopkins and attempted to initiate the lawyer’s arrest for contempt of court. However, Hopkins resisted.

“Stop resisting,” one officer instructed.

“I’m not resisting,” Hopkins claimed, while refusing to be handcuffed by the officers.

After several failed attempts to put handcuffs on Hopkins, the officers began to wrestle the attorney to the ground before the incident devolved into a chaotic struggle.

“I can’t breathe,” Hopkins yelled multiple times. “Help! Somebody call 911.”

Two more officers entered the courtroom to assist in Hopkins’ arrest.

“Get a female officer, now!” Hopkins demanded.

RELATED: Olympic Committee adopts new policy on ‘trans’ athletes

Heather Diehl/Getty Images

Online commentators criticized Hopkins for demanding to be identified as male and then requesting a female police officer during the arrest.

“Totally unprofessional,” Collin Rugg wrote. “Wanted to be a ‘tough guy’ and then started screaming for a female officer when officers treated him like a guy.”

“How shallow the delusion is even for them. Their identity is constantly evolving depending on the victimhood quotient in any given moment,” one individual stated.

Hopkins shared a video on Facebook after the incident, announcing that Hopkins Law and Associates would be closed.

“We are closing our doors, but we would like to thank you all for your kindness, support, and most of all loyalty for the last 13 years! If your matter remains open no worries we will be wrapping it up with a nice bow before then! And if for any reason it remains outstanding we will get it to the end zone!” the firm wrote in a separate post.

Hopkins Law and Associates did not respond to a request for comment.

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

​News, Rob hopkins, Hopkins law and associates, Oklahoma, Oklahoma city, Transgender, Trans, Trans-identifying, Politics 

When Trevor Sheatz shared part of his wife’s testimony on X, it immediately began to trend. The post, which discusses his formerly “promiscuous” wife, Ashley Sheatz, regaining sexual purity through Christ, racked up millions of views — and unfortunately also opened the floor to intense criticism.

Even criticism from respected conservative Christian commentators.

“I saw my friends at Daily Wire also disagree with how this person worded his testimony,” BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey says on “Relatable,” before playing a clip of Daily Wire host Michael Knowles.

“I agree with so many of the points he’s making, and yet, there’s something wrong with this post, right? You shouldn’t call your wife a ‘whore’ on social media, I think? … You don’t need to talk about your past sins all the time,” Knowles said.

“He did not call his wife that. You called his wife that. You called another man’s wife that. You called a new creation that. Like, you called a person who has been redeemed by Christ, who has been sanctified and made new and as pure as the driven snow because of Christ, a ‘whore,’” Stuckey responds.

“That is on you. That is not on her husband, OK?” she says, pointing out that it’s largely the “hyper-patriarchy bros who call themselves Christians” who are taking “any opportunity not only to denigrate women but to denigrate the work of the gospel.”

“And then of course, you do have people, which OK, who say, ‘Yeah, all that’s well and good, but still like, we shouldn’t be promoting this kind of thing, virginity matters, and all of that.’ Again I would say Trevor said that. Trevor didn’t say anything against virginity,” she adds.

Stuckey points out that Trevor’s main point was that his wife has been made anew, not that virginity does not matter.

“That’s going to seem scandalous to the world because most people can’t understand that level of honesty and transparency and the lack of shame that you have once you are in Christ,” she says.

“I think Ashley’s testimony points to the grace and redemption and the opportunity that each and every one of us has in Christ. And I’m so thankful for her courage,” she adds, before reading Ashley’s response to the backlash.

“Becoming a Christian in general opens you up to ridicule, slander, and shame, but it is worth it for the sake of the gospel. Jesus is worthy. ‘Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.’ (Matthew 5:11),” Sheatz wrote.

And Sheatz even tells Stuckey that she “wasn’t embarrassed at all” by the response.

“Praise God that my testimony is being seen by millions of people, millions of unsaved people, and the gospel is being magnified in that. Zero shame. And my husband knows I do not mind him at all sharing any aspects of my testimony,” she explains.

“I always praise God when I’m reviled and persecuted for righteousness’ sake as Jesus talks about in the Beatitudes. It is a blessing. It’s hard. But it’s still a blessing,” she 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.

​Relatable with allie beth stuckey, Relatable, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Promiscuity, Redemption, Michael knowles, Ben shapiro, Trevor sheatz, Ashley sheatz, Testimony, Christianity, The bible, The gospel 

A Los Angeles-area father fed up with his city’s inaction apparently painted “stop” on a street and installed 30-inch reflective stop signs at his own cost. He has been arrested.

Joseph Brandlin said he had seen numerous near-crashes at the intersection outside his home in El Segundo, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The neighbors immediately organized and wrote 74 letters of support for Brandlin, who handed the letters over to city officials shortly after his arrest.

The 44-year-old has lived at the location for nearly four decades and said the city was ignoring complaints about the intersection of Loma Vista Street and Acacia Avenue.

“I care deeply about the safety of our neighborhood and the families that live here,” Brandlin told the Times.

He got together with other residents and presented a petition with about 50 signatures asking the city to install additional stop signs. The city said its traffic analysis found insufficient reason to merit the signs, but residents said they saw no evidence of the survey.

“There’s a park right there, and it’s a magnet for children,” said Gary Sanders, a 62-year-old resident of the neighborhood.

“A tragedy could occur,” he added. “I wonder if a tragedy does have to occur for the city to do something about it.”

Brandlin said the last straw was when his son was nearly hit by a car at the intersection because of low visibility.

He began installing the stop signs on the early morning of March 14, according to the El Segundo Police Department.

While the city may not have made the requested safety changes at the intersection, the city rushed to prosecute Brandlin when he took matters into his own hands.

He was arrested at about 1:30 a.m.

Brandlin said the arrest was excessive, as he was charged with multiple felonies. Among the charges were interfering with a traffic control device, grand theft, and vandalism exceeding $400. He was released later that day and is scheduled for a court hearing in June.

The neighbors immediately organized and wrote 74 letters of support for Brandlin, who handed the letters over to city officials shortly after his arrest.

“I’m asking the council for a straightforward action to install stop signs on intersection of Loma Vista Street and Acacia Avenue or complete and transparent evaluation with the community,” said Brandlin at a city council meeting days after his arrest.

The Times report noted that there have been other incidents in which residents have been arrested for their vigilante improvements to street safety.

RELATED: ‘I am mortified’: Video shows ‘serial defecator’ nabbed by police drone in city park

Brandlin says the city council has not responded to his requests.

The Times said the city council did not respond to request for comment.

“The city just wasn’t listening,” Brandlin said.

The single dad told KCBS-TV that he would do it again to keep kids and families safe.

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

​Single dad joseph brandlin, Dad installs own stop signs, El segundo neighborhood defends dad, City ignores street safety, Crime, Politics 

A former Los Angeles Unified School District employee and the owner of a technology vendor were charged Thursday for their alleged involvement in a $22 million kickback scheme that funneled taxpayer funds away from classrooms and into their own pockets.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Hong “Grace” Peng, 53, of Pasadena, and Gautham Sampath, 53, of Flower Mound, Texas.

‘This case involves a blatant abuse of public trust — funneling taxpayer dollars intended for students into personal coffers.’

Peng previously worked as a technical project manager for LAUSD between 2018 and 2022. She was accused of illegally participating in the awarding of contracts. Peng allegedly unlawfully issued contracts totaling over $22 million to a company owned by Sampath.

Sampath was accused of laundering over $3 million to Peng.

Peng resigned from her position with LAUSD following a late-2022 search warrant related to an investigation into alleged illegal activity. Peng was charged with money laundering and one felony count of having a financial interest in a contract or purchase made in an official capacity.

Sampath was charged with money laundering, having a financial interest in a contract or purchase made in an official capacity, and aiding and abetting a government official to have a financial interest in a contract or purchase made in an official capacity.

RELATED: FBI raids home and office of Los Angeles school superintendent, outspoken critic of ICE raids

Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

If convicted on all charges, they each face up to seven years in jail.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Peng and an extradition warrant for Sampath.

“Between 2018 and 2022, Peng was involved in signing, approving, or recommending over $22 million in funding from LAUSD to Innive through Change Orders, Work Orders, Invoices, and Contract recommendations,” the felony complaint read. “Between 2017 and 2023, Innive received over $39 million in payments from LAUSD. Between 2018 and 2022, Peng received over $3 million in payments from Sampath, Sampath controlled companies, or Sampath connected third parties.”

The complaint claimed that Sampath sent texts to Peng in February 2018 instructing her to “delete all” of their messages.

“If anyone sees the text about these internal things it will be a prb,” Sampath allegedly wrote.

In June 2018, he allegedly wrote to Peng, “What r the other opportunities in Lausd. That we can exploit. Any other area.”

According to the complaint, Peng responded by telling Sampath that there were “a lot” of proposal requests from the district.

“This case involves a blatant abuse of public trust — funneling taxpayer dollars intended for students into personal coffers,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated. “This vendor, working with an LAUSD project manager, allegedly carried out a multi-year, multi-contract pay-to-play arrangement that siphoned millions of dollars from our schools. We will not tolerate public officials who sell out their responsibilities or contractors who line their pockets by gaming the system. Both will be held fully accountable.”

RELATED: Thousands of students drop out of Los Angeles schools over ‘climate of fear’ from deportations, superintendent says

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

LAUSD released a statement in response to the charges.

“Los Angeles Unified is aware of the charges filed by the District Attorney’s office against an individual who worked for LAUSD as an information technology employee from 2018 to 2022. As recounted in the District Attorney’s Felony Complaint, this former employee was referred to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation in April 2022, as soon as an LAUSD supervisor learned of a potential conflict of interest. LAUSD Office of the Inspector General then notified the District Attorney’s office,” the district wrote.

“LAUSD is committed to full compliance with all applicable laws, and we expect our employees and business partners to comply with the highest standards of ethics and integrity. The District will continue to cooperate fully with relevant authorities,” the district continued. “We will not comment further on the specifics of the case while legal proceedings are ongoing.”

Sampath, Innive, and Peng did not respond to a request for comment.

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

​News, Hong grace peng, Grace peng, Hong peng, Los angeles, Los angeles unified school district, Lausd, Los angeles county district attorney, Money laundering, Innive, Politics 

Democrats unconditionally surrendered early Friday morning, passing funding for the Department of Homeland Security after their five-week shutdown ground airport security lines to a halt, stopped paychecks for TSA agents and other employees, and crippled the department’s ability to prepare security for the World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) promptly tried to claim victory anyway, posting on X: “After weeks of negotiations, Republicans caved to our demands to fund DHS without a blank check for ICE and CBP.”

House Republicans should not panic because Democrats staged a little theater for their own base. They should take the win.

That is false.

Republicans did not accept any Democrat demands, though they came close as recently as last weekend, had Democrats been willing to negotiate in good faith. And both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection already have billions in funding, with much more easily available by June through reconciliation, which requires only 51 votes in the Senate.

So what exactly were Democrats demanding?

The minority party wanted judicial warrants, against court precedent, that would have crippled enforcement. Democrats also wanted to ban the face coverings agents use to protect their families from violent activists. They wanted to end patrols, stop enforcement at courthouses and other key locations, bar agents from relying on observations such as accent, occupation, or appearance, and place use-of-force investigations under the jurisdiction of often politicized local police departments.

They got none of it.

The remarkable part is that they could have walked away with something. As recently as last weekend, Republicans were still trying to bring Democrats to the table.

“We got on our front foot by negotiating in good faith last week and through the weekend and offering low-hanging concessions,” a senior White House official told the Beltway Brief. But Democrats wanted more and kept moving the goalposts.

As for ICE and CBP funding, the panic on the right is misplaced. Both agencies already have billions. Neither gave up a single enforcement tool. And now that the shutdown is over, both can be funded again through reconciliation.

That is the same process that already delivered more than $100 billion in funding to begin with and insulated both agencies from the Democrats’ theatrical shutdown. Reconciliation requires only a simple majority, though it can address only spending matters that directly affect the budget.

That is also why reconciliation cannot be used to pass new policy such as the SAVE America Act. The Senate parliamentarian enforces those rules. But she has already allowed ICE and CBP funding through reconciliation, and nothing suggests she would rule differently this time.

Democrats had an opening here. President Trump had no interest in handing the minority party concessions, but Senate Republicans were more open to it. Democrats refused because they wanted to tell their base they shut the government down and would not budge. Now that face-saving fiction is all they have left while funding resumes and ICE and CBP money likely arrives within the next two months, according to White House projections.

Then came the frustrating part.

Friday afternoon, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) found a way to snatch defeat from victory, issuing a forceful statement that the House would not accept this outcome. His hand is being forced by conservatives furious that the Senate stripped the funding from this measure and worried about the precedent. But that reaction misses the strategic reality.

They’re making a mistake.

House Republicans should not panic because Democrats staged a little theater for their own base. They should take the win. Democrats shut down the DHS, inflicted weeks of pain, gained nothing, and then surrendered.

Call it what it is: a Republican victory.

Sign up for Bedford’s newsletter
Sign up to get Blaze News editor in chief Christopher Bedford’s newsletter.

​Opinion & analysis