Putin orders planeloads of humanitarian aid to be sent to Egypt The Russian Ministry Emergency Situations said on Friday that it would send two aircraft [more…]
Category: blaze media
Tiger Woods arrested for DUI after another rollover incident, police say
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.
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
‘I can’t breathe’: ‘Trans’ attorney caught throwing tantrum in wild courtroom video
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
Allie Beth Stuckey defends viral testimony of man’s formerly ‘promiscuous’ wife — and the wife responds
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
Los Angeles area rallies around dad arrested for installing his own stop signs to make corner safer
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
LA school district ex-employee and vendor accused of $22 million taxpayer pay-to-play scheme
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.”
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
The Democrats unconditionally surrendered the shutdown — the GOP might screw it up anyway
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
Outrage erupts after San Francisco judge suspends sentence for black man who brutally killed elderly Asian man
The man convicted of a heinous lethal attack on an 84-year-old man got his prison sentence suspended by a San Francisco judge on Thursday.
The horrendous attack on Vicha Ratanapakdee in 2021 was captured on video and helped inspire the “Stop Asian Hate” movement. Antoine Watson was 19 years old when he ran violently into the victim and shoved him to the ground. Ratanapakdee died from his injuries.
‘Today’s sentence is deeply disappointing. An 84-year-old man was killed in a cruel, unprovoked attack, and our family will live with this loss every day.’
Watson was convicted of involuntary manslaughter but acquitted of the murder charge earlier this year. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, but the trial judge suspended the sentence and gave Watson credit for five years of time served while awaiting the conclusion of the trial.
The man’s family is outraged at the decision.
“Today’s sentence is deeply disappointing. An 84-year-old man was killed in a cruel, unprovoked attack, and our family will live with this loss every day,” reads a statement from the victim’s daughter. “This is not about revenge — it is about accountability. When consequences do not match the harm, it sends the wrong message about protecting our seniors and public safety. We are concerned about what this means for other families.”
The family has accused Watson, a black man, of having a racial motive for the attack, but he was not charged with a hate crime.
A defense attorney for Watson said he intentionally pushed the victim but did not intend to kill him, arguing that Watson had a mental health breakdown over a police encounter earlier that morning.
Watson was also ordered to undergo weekly therapy sessions and submit to searches of him and his property.
Critics see the “Grandpa Vicha” case as yet another terrible example of lax criminal prosecution that does nothing to discourage further crime and violence. Others decry the alleged racial component of the lethal attack.
However, if Watson does not follow the rules of probation, he could be forced to serve the rest of his sentence, which is three years.
Watson’s public defender, Anita Nabha, said he was remorseful about the incident.
“As a grandson, it is really hard for him to accept the conduct that he did and that he took two children’s grandfather away from them,” Nabha said.
The victim’s family says justice was not served by the suspended sentence.
“The bottom line is that he’s out in, like, five years on probation for killing our father-in-law, and it’s unacceptable,” said the man’s son-in-law, Eric Lawson.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Asian hate crime, Vicha ratanapakdee, Black murder of asian man, San francisco judge suspends sentence, Politics
Secret Service agent guarding Jill Biden shoots himself, police say
The U.S. Secret Service says an agent guarding former first lady Jill Biden had a “negligent discharge” and shot himself at an airport.
Police said the bizarre incident unfolded at the Philadelphia International Airport on Friday morning just before 8:45 a.m.
Biden was not in the vicinity of the negligent discharge.
A witness told KYW-TV it appeared that the agent was trying to get into the back of an SUV at the airport when the gun accidentally went off.
Police said the agent shot himself in the leg near an unmarked Chevrolet SUV at the Pennsylvania Tower outside Terminal C. The agent was transported to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in stable condition, according to police. No one else was injured, and the airport operations were not interrupted.
Biden was not in the vicinity of the negligent discharge.
Police remained at the scene to investigate the incident for hours, according to KYW.
“The Secret Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility will be reviewing the facts and circumstances of this incident,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
The former first lady also recently made headlines when her ex-husband was charged in the murder of his second wife in February.
William Stevenson, 77, was indicted for the murder of 64-year-old Linda Stevenson, who was found dead on Dec. 28 at their home. Stevenson had been friendly with Joe Biden but later became a supporter of President Donald Trump.
Stevenson was married to his second wife for nearly four decades.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Us secret service agent, Ss agent shoots himself, Jill biden, Negligent discharge, Politics
The SAVE America Act won’t be enough to save the GOP from a midterm bloodbath
Turn on Fox News, scroll social media, or listen to talk radio, and one message comes through loud and clear: Many Republicans think the SAVE America Act is the key to saving the GOP in the November midterms.
It is not.
The SAVE America Act is not a magic wand. It will not erase 14 months of drift, dysfunction, and broken promises.
Yes, requiring proof of citizenship to register and identification to vote is necessary. Yes, most Americans, regardless of party, support the idea. But Republicans are kidding themselves if they think that alone will persuade voters to reward them in November.
The rot runs much deeper, and no “one simple trick” will fix it.
Trump surged to victory in 2024 on promises to change the country’s direction in dramatic ways. Fourteen months later, too many of those promises remain unfulfilled. Some died at the hands of weak and ineffective congressional leadership. Others were thwarted by feckless Cabinet officials, such as the new czarina of the Shield of the Americas, Kristi Noem. Others fell victim to Trump’s own choices.
The core promises were clear: mass deportations, a stronger economy, lower inflation, and no new long-term foreign entanglements. Those themes helped Trump assemble a broad coalition, including a majority of young men, and deliver the biggest Republican Electoral College victory since George H.W. Bush in 1988.
Now, with just over seven months until the midterms, nearly all of those promises remain unmet or badly compromised. Facts aren’t partisan — they are just facts.
Start with immigration. For all the left’s hysteria over ICE raids, Trump has deported fewer people than Barack Obama did in the first year of his second term. That came after four years of unprecedented illegal immigration under Biden. The promise of mass deportation remains unfulfilled.
Congress hasn’t helped. Ineffective Republican leadership has let the Department of Homeland Security go without funding for over a month, slowing deportation efforts while creating chaos at airports as TSA employees go unpaid. The public sees dysfunction, not competence.
RELATED: Mullin inherits a mess at DHS. Here’s how he can still save Trump’s legacy.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Then comes the economy.
The cost of living has not gone down. Signs point the other way. Inflation could surge past 4% as energy prices rise because of the war with Iran. Food prices remain high and may climb higher as petroleum-based fertilizer gets more expensive just before planting season. Homes remain unaffordable to most Americans. The job market sits on the edge of an AI-fueled bust. The promised relief in the form of larger tax refund checks has not materialized.
The labor market struggles as rampant H-1B visa abuse keeps importing cheaper foreign labor into high-paying STEM jobs that Americans want and are trained to do. Trump and Republican leaders still talk about H-1B as though it were a strategic advantage rather than a direct threat to their own voters.
Guess what? Voters have noticed.
Recent polling shows Democrat James Talarico leading both Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn in Texas. Former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper holds a commanding lead in the race to replace Sen. Thom Tillis in North Carolina. Even in Maine, the Democrat challenger accused of sporting a Nazi tattoo leads Sen. Susan Collins.
RELATED: Texas Democrats just gave Republicans a gift-wrapped hypocrisy story
Bob Daemmrich/Texas Tribune/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The bad numbers do not stop there. A glance at RealClearPolitics tells the terrifying tale.
Special elections are just as ugly. In those races, including the district that encompasses Mar-a-Lago, Democrats have run strongly among independent voters, the very bloc that helped solidify Trump’s 2024 coalition.
That is the problem Republicans refuse to face. The SAVE America Act is a common-sense bill, and Congress should pass it. Elections should be protected from ineligible voters. But the bill is not a magic wand. It will not erase 14 months of drift, dysfunction, and broken promises. It will not lower prices, deport illegal aliens, fix the job market, or persuade disillusioned independents to come back home.
Republicans do not face a midterm problem because they have failed to pass one bill. They face a midterm problem because they have failed to deliver on the reasons voters put them back in power.
Opinion & analysis, Save america act, Congress, Republicans, 2026 midterms, Special elections, Democrats, Polls, James talarico, Ken paxton, John cornyn, Susan collins, Kristi noem, Promises, Ice raids, Mass deportations, Department of homeland security, H1-b, Fraud, Cheap labors
Gavin Newsom’s ‘Patrick Bateman’ post flops: ‘He accidentally trolls himself’
BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales is taking aim at Gavin Newsom after the California governor proudly compared himself to Patrick Bateman — the infamous fictional serial killer portrayed by Christian Bale.
“Gavin Newsom is not the king of trolling. In fact, Gavin Newsom is bad at it. He’s so bad at it that he accidentally trolls himself,” Gonzales says.
“For so many years people have been saying that Patrick Bateman and I look alike. Now this pic has been going all over the place. What do you think?” Newsom posted on X, alongside a photo of him next to Bale.
“Patrick Bateman is like the worst person in the world. Like, he is obsessed with his appearance … he’s a total narcissist. Also happens to be a psychotic serial killer, rapist, cannibal, torturer,” Gonzales comments.
“Everyone’s like, ‘Yeah, we agree. There’s a lot of similarities between you and Patrick Bateman, Gavin.’ Like, you’re just setting yourself up to be trolled, which he was,” she continues.
A post on X from Fox News reported on the humble comparison, writing, “Governor Gavin Newsom is sparking widespread mockery after ‘bizarrely’ comparing his own look to the fictional serial killer Patrick Bateman.”
Newsom quote-tweeted the article, writing, “They still don’t get it.”
“Gav, I think you’re the one who still doesn’t get it,” Gonzales comments. “Unless you’re trying to tell us that you are, in fact, a psychotic serial killer.”
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.
Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Blaze podcasts, Patrick bateman, Governor gavin newsom, California, American psycho, Gavin newsom patrick bateman, Troll, Trolling
Ukrainian officials plotted to direct massive sums of US taxpayer aid to Biden’s campaign: Intel report
Ukrainian government communications discussed a scheme to direct American taxpayer dollars to then-President Joe Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee to boost Biden’s 2024 re-election bid against President Donald Trump, according to an intelligence report obtained by Just the News.
The newly unclassified documents summarize raw intercepts from U.S. spy agencies in late 2022. Officials who reviewed the files stated that there was a lack of curiosity to investigate the allegations under the Biden administration, the news outlet reported.
‘In this manner, most of the US funding would be diverted to Joe Biden’s election campaign without the ability to track where exactly the funds came from.’
The American tax dollars were intended to fund a clean energy project in Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.
“The Ukrainian Government and unspecified U.S. Government personnel, through USAID in Kyiv, reportedly developed a plan that would provide hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund an infrastructure project for Ukraine that would be used as a cover to send approximately 90% of funds allocated to the DNC to fund Joe Biden’s re-election campaign,” the report read, according to Just the News.
“They were confident the project would be funded initially, even though at some time in the future the project would be disapproved as unnecessary. At this time, the money would already be allocated and impossible to return or use for a different purpose,” it added.
The report named two American subcontractors that could potentially receive the funds, officials told Just the News. However, those names were redacted in the report obtained by the news outlet.
Donald Trump, Joe Biden. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
“The plan included details of how subcontractors would be funded through U.S. companies so that how the funds were spent and allocated would be difficult to track,” the report continued. “Additionally, contracts would be executed that would be difficult to verify. In this manner, most of the U.S. funding would be diverted to Joe Biden’s election campaign without the ability to track where exactly the funds came from.”
Just the News reported that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently learned about the intelligence intercepts. She reportedly asked USAID officials to review their records to ascertain whether the alleged scheme was executed and whether a criminal referral should be made to the FBI.
RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard warns: Powerful foreign allies eager to pull US into war with Russia
Tulsi Gabbard. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
An official told the news outlet that Gabbard’s team has not found substantive evidence indicating that the allegations were thoroughly investigated under Biden’s leadership. The official noted that the communications are not believed to be linked to Russian disinformation efforts.
Trump shared the Just the News article in a post on social media.
In a statement to Blaze News, a spokesperson for Gabbard confirmed the existence of related intelligence, adding that the director’s team is “working to review USAID holdings.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
News, Tulsi gabbard, Odni, Office of the director of national intelligence, Ukraine, Ukraine war, Ukraine-russia war, Russia, Russia-ukraine war, Democratic national committee, Dnc, Joe biden, Biden, Biden administration, Biden admin, Donald trump, Trump, Trump administration, Trump admin, Usaid, United states agency for international development, U.s. agency for international development, Politics
SCORN IN THE USA: Bruce has no use for Trump-voting fans
Bruce Springsteen has a severe case of Kimmel-itis.
Former “Man Show” host Jimmy Kimmel once told a journo he wasn’t worried about losing Republican viewers due to his hard-left shift. “Not good riddance but riddance,” the lachrymose late-nighter quipped.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is furious about the Trump-Kennedy Center’s choice for the Mark Twain Prize for Humor.
Now, the 76-year-old Boss is singing a similar tune. He’s hitting the road for a new, anti-Trump tour, complete with official No Kings messaging and, hopefully, lots of fiber in his tour bus fridge. And he doesn’t care if he sheds fans along the way.
“I don’t worry about if you’re going to lose this part of your audience. I’ve always had a feeling about the position we play culturally, and I’m still deeply committed to that idea of the band. The blowback is just part of it. I’m ready for all that.”
His shrinking fan base might not be ready for those sky-high ticket prices …
Best Actor
Josh Duhamel isn’t an A-list star, but he’s got a mindset his peers might consider.
The “Shotgun Wedding” alum is taking them to task about their political posturing. Shut up and act, he suggested, although he phrased it in a more genteel manner. Why? They might stay employed if they do, which is a bigger issue in today’s shrinking Hollywood.
“I have real strong opinions about things, but I don’t really talk about them. … Why would I alienate half my audience? Because I respect their views on things, but I’m not going to preach to them. They can believe what they want.”
Somewhere, Johnny Carson is smiling …
RELATED: UNCANNY VAL: Val Kilmer makes creepy AI ‘comeback’ one year after death
Feature China/Michael Ochs Archives/CBS Photo Archives/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Next-Files
The truth is out there, but will anybody recognize it?
That “X-Files” reboot from Oscar winner Ryan Coogler is moving forward, and we know who the two main actors will be — Himesh Patel and Danielle Deadwyler. Are they the new Mulder and Scully?
No.
So if there’s no Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, and the new leads are playing fresh characters, what makes it an “X-Files” joint, to borrow Spike Lee’s phrase? The show’s original creator, Chris Carter, is an executive producer on the project, which often is a glorified credit given out of respect, not hands-on involvement.
To Hollywood, it really doesn’t matter. It’s all about brand recognition and familiar IPs. All we know is there better be a man smoking somewhere, or you’ll see riots in Nerdville …
I don’t CAIR; do you?
Oooh, CAIR is mad.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is furious about the Trump-Kennedy Center’s choice for the Mark Twain Prize for Humor. It’s Bill Maher, the HBO host and veteran stand-up comic who refuses to ignore Islam’s problematic headlines.
Maher is an equal-opportunity offender when it comes to religion. He even made a movie about it. Since most celebrities steer clear of Islam in general, his comments stand out. CAIR even shared a fiercely worded statement on the selection.
“Mr. Maher would have never received this recognition if he were an antisemitic comedian who supported terrorism against Jewish-Americans or Israelis, but his open bigotry against Muslims and support for the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza are somehow perfectly acceptable.”
CAIR didn’t point to any incendiary Maher riffs, according to the Hollywood Reporter, but the organization said he supports Israel and has attacked Hamas as “evil.” Evil? Now, where would Maher get that idea …
Sweeney’s salute
If you thought leftists hated Sydney Sweeney already, this will send them over the edge.
The “Euphoria” star enraged progressives last year by joking about the words “genes” and “jeans” in an American Eagle ad. White supremacist, they cried, revealing more about themselves than anything Sweeney actually did.
The starlet took the blowback in stride, as did American Eagle, which watched its stock prices soar thanks to the commercial.
Now, Sweeney is toasting her little brother, who is serving in the U.S. military overseas. And she’s extending her good wishes to the men and women doing the same.
“Thinking of all our boys and girls overseas and sending my love! Thank you for your service :).”
Meanwhile, late-night comedians are skewering the U.S. over its decision to topple Iranian despots, and stars like Javier Bardem want the war that stopped the mass slaughter of Iranian citizens stopped at all costs.
Clearly, Sweeney has gone too far.
Entertainment, Culture, Bruce springsteen, Jimmy kimmel, Music, Sydney sweeney, Toto recall
The pork chop diet (and other secrets of cooking for one)
I just finished “BLT week.” This was a week in which I ate one bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich every day. By doing so, I managed to consume one 16-ounce packet of bacon, most of two slicing tomatoes, and a ball of iceberg lettuce in eight days.
This is the price you pay when you’re single and live by yourself. When the extra fancy bacon goes on sale at your local supermarket, you can’t resist buying it. And then you hurriedly pick up a tomato and lettuce.
People have urged me to invest in a quality freezer. But I don’t want to live a freezer life. I watched my Boomer father give his best years to the freezer ethos.
And then it’s a race to eat all that bacon before it goes bad, or gets relegated to the back of the refrigerator, where it will eventually go really bad.
I know you can use bacon in a lot of different ways, but I’m not that creative. I stick with the BLTs. And maybe a couple of strips with breakfast.
But of course, familiarity breeds contempt. And so after a week of constant bacon, I’ve had enough.
Pork for dorks
Last month, I did a “pork chop week.” It was the same scenario as the bacon: I bought a packet of five pork chops on sale. But then I had to make sure to eat one a day, lest I forget about them and they end up in the back of my fridge, where I would rediscover them months later.
This is a standard practice for me. Since I’m rarely cooking for someone else, and I can’t resist a deal, I end up buying family-sized portions of different food products — which I then feel obligated to eat continuously until they’re gone.
I suppose I could buy a “grab-and-go,” single-person meal from the deli section of my supermarket. These meals are designed for chronically stressed-out single people, who have given up on life.
Typically, they consist of one sad pork chop, a pathetic glop of mashed potatoes, and three scrawny green beans, all encased in microwaveable plastic, for the outrageous price of $20.
No thank you on that. Instead I buy the pork chop family pack. Five pork chops for $5.
Those five pork chops are intended to be one meal for a family of five.
But for me, it’s a week’s worth of pork chops. At the end of which, I’d rather not see another pork chop for a while.
A friend in need
I have a friend who is also single. She lives alone in another state. She gets caught in the same trap, buying too much food, much of which is perishable.
But unlike me, she doesn’t force herself to eat it all. She throws the extra in the fridge and forgets about it.
This is where I come in. I go visit her and spend a week eating all the leftovers in her fridge. The fish sticks she didn’t eat. The remainder of a takeout pad thai order. Half of a tuna casserole she forgot about. Or part of a stale Sarah Lee cheesecake.
Recently, I found slices of cold pizza that had spent weeks in the back of her fridge. Fortunately, using my advanced single-guy microwave skills, I was able to bring these deceased pizza slices back to life and make a nice meal out of them.
Singles going steady
Some people refer to these food portion problems as a “singles tax.” It’s that extra bit you have to pay because you have not coupled up or don’t have a family.
You especially get gouged by the singles tax when you travel. I travel a lot, and the amount I spend on hotels … yikes! Or paying for gas on long driving trips when I’m the only person in the car. Such trips feel very wasteful.
But this is becoming the norm: Solo travelers, solo diners, solo apartment dwellers — more than ever, people are living by themselves.
According to Pew Research, “About 38% of adults aged 25 to 54 in the U.S. are unpartnered, which includes those living alone, a significant increase from 29% in 1990.”
Alone again, naturally
So where did this trend away from couples and toward singletons begin? For myself, it began in my 20s. I knew that I wanted to be a writer, which is, of course, a precarious profession.
In my case, that seemed to preclude a wife and kids. How would I support them over the inevitable lean years? I wouldn’t want to force my “starving artist” lifestyle on a family.
But nowadays, you don’t have to justify being single by your choice of jobs. People just prefer it.
Men and women no longer have a “yin and yang” relationship. They are no longer considered two different types of humans who complement each other and need each other’s different abilities.
No, men and women are increasingly the same. They both have jobs. They both own homes. They both have cars and gym memberships and credit cards and food preferences.
As they have become more isolated and less dependent on one another, men and women increasingly live alone, shop alone, dine alone.
Everyone can take care of themselves. Nobody needs anybody. It sounds good in terms of personal freedom. But you can’t help wonder about the long-term societal effects.
And really, how happy can you be when you’re forced to eat yet another BLT, after you just ate six of them?
RELATED: All downhill from here: An aging hot dog hangs up his skis
Pierre Lahalle/Getty Images
Cold, cold heart
And yes, people have urged me to invest in a quality freezer. But I don’t want to live a freezer life. I watched my Boomer father give his best years to the freezer ethos: putting stuff in there and then digging it out, five years later, covered in ice and snow, and not remembering what it is or why he bought it.
No, I want to live now. I want to eat now. I want to go to the supermarket and feel the thrill of finding a jumbo pack of gourmet chicken apple sausage at half price!
If that means I’ll be eating chicken apple sausage every day for the rest of the calendar year, that is a sacrifice I am willing to make.
Hope, always hope
In the meantime, I remain hopeful that change is possible. That men and women will come together, embrace their differences, and learn to live with each other again. (And increase the birthrate?)
Only then will we create the kind of families who can easily consume five pork chops in one sitting.
In the meantime, if you need any chicken apple sausage, I’ve got extra.
Lifestyle, Single life, Cooking, Men’s health, Pork chops, Blts, Blake’s progress
Catholic church sees huge surge in attendance — due to inclusivity?
Catholic churches across the United States are seeing increases in attendance, especially for Easter.
This comes just a few short months after Pope Leo XIV was interpreted as making a push for more inclusivity within the religion.
‘[There is] a thirst and hunger for God and stability that faith brings to people’s lives.’
An Italian academic who follows the Vatican said earlier this year that the new pope is likely to continue his predecessor’s “trajectories.”
Pope Francis famously said in 2013, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”
To that end, Pope Leo’s comments at the beginning of 2026 were determined by some to signal an increasing tolerance toward those who are typically considered at odds with the Catholic tradition.
“Only love is trustworthy; only love is credible,” the pope said in January. “While unity attracts, division scatters.”
However, the truth was somewhere in the details. Massimo Faggioli, the academic from Trinity College Dublin, told Reuters that the pope was “working to convince the cardinals that they need to work collectively together to do what the Catholic people want them to do.”
As the year has progressed, followers have learned that while the pope told his biographer the church’s beliefs about “gay and trans people” has not changed, he added, “but the Church invites everyone.”
Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
Truly progressive messaging was not clearly found in the pope’s Lent messaging soon thereafter. He asked parishes to listen to “the word of God, as well as to the cry of the poor and of the earth.”
He said Catholics must strive to make their communities places where “the cry of those who suffer finds welcome, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love.”
No matter how one interprets the pope’s call to religious arms in 2026, it has seemingly worked, with a recent survey of Catholic parishes showcasing a rather large uptick in attendance.
The New York Times reported at length about the surge in followers, starting with the Archdiocese of Detroit, which will see 1,428 new Catholics for Easter, its highest in 21 years.
Galveston-Houston will see a 15-year peak, while Des Moines has an increase of 51% this year, 265 to 400.
Washington Cardinal Robert McElroy said his congregation is up by nearly 200 — already at its highest in 15 years — while Philadelphia’s following has nearly doubled since 2017. Newark has gone from 1,000 Easter-goers in 2010 to 1,700 in 2026.
RELATED: Hollywood gossip king returns to Christ: Perez Hilton’s shocking conversion
Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
McElroy told the Times he thinks the Holy Spirit is behind the surge, while Archbishop Mitchell Thomas Rozanski of St. Louis says the increase could be due to a rise in uncertainty and anxiety.
There is “a thirst and hunger for God and stability that faith brings to people’s lives,” he said. The archbishop then blamed technology and COVID-19 for magnifying isolation.
The report also claimed that those between 18 and 35 years old were the noted age range that has seen the most growth among several dioceses.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Align, Religion, The pope, Pope leo, Pope francis, United states, Catholics, Catholic church, Vatican, Easter, Faith
Naturalized citizens flee to China days before bomb found at US Air Force base
A brother and sister pair in Florida are both facing decades in federal prison after a bomb was discovered at an Air Force base days after they had fled the country.
Alen Zheng, 20, and Ann Mary Zheng, 27, who lived together in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, are both under federal indictment in connection with the bomb.
Officials described the device as ‘viable’ and ‘potentially very deadly.’
On March 10, a person called 911 to report that an IED had been placed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, CENTCOM for the U.S. military. Investigators searched the base but did not find any suspicious device at that time.
However, on March 16, an IED was discovered at the base visitor center. At a press conference on Thursday, officials described the device as “viable” and “potentially very deadly.”
The 911 call about the bomb was eventually traced back to Alen Zheng, who, along with Ann Mary, had purchased plane tickets to China on March 11 and then flew there the following day, according to Gregory Kehoe, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of Florida.
Before they left, the siblings allegedly sold a black Mercedes SUV that investigators determined was at MacDill at the time the bomb was placed. IED “residue” was later discovered in the vehicle, Kehoe alleged.
For reasons unknown, Ann Mary Zheng returned to the U.S. on March 17. She and their mother spoke with investigators and “conceded” that they knew about the IED planted at MacDill and Alen’s involvement in it, Kehoe claimed.
RELATED: Another Chinese researcher busted for allegedly smuggling crop-harming biomaterial into America
Alen Zheng, who is believed to still be in China, has been charged with attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. If convicted, he could spend up to 40 years behind bars.
Ann Mary Zheng — who has been accused of “corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating, and concealing a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in the federal prosecution of Alen Zheng” — has been charged with evidence tampering and assisting after the fact. She faces up to 30 years if convicted.
A spokesperson from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Central District of Florida confirmed to Blaze News that the siblings are naturalized U.S. citizens and that their mother, whose name was not provided, is in federal custody regarding immigration.
“The mom’s in custody because she is an overstay, and … she’s in custody for deportation,” Kehoe said at the press conference. She has not been charged with any crime, but Kehoe indicated that the investigation is ongoing and that the possibility of future charges against her could not be precluded.
Of note, MacDill Air Force Base received a call on March 18 from someone who mentioned a bomb placed there. “How did you like the surprise at the MacDill Visitor Center?” the caller said, according to a DOJ press release. “Tick tick boom, it’s gonna be between your eyes.”
The suspected caller, 35-year-old Jonathan Elder, was arrested Monday.
The spokesperson from the U.S. attorney’s office told Blaze News that there is no known link between Elder and the Zhengs at this time.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Alen zheng, Ann mary zheng, Bomb, Centcom, Florida, Ied, Macdill air force base, Politic
This scandal-ridden Democrat just got one step closer to being expelled from Congress
Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida just got one step closer to being expelled from the House of Representatives.
The House Ethics investigative subcommittee effectively found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of nearly every campaign finance violation levied against her earlier this year. The bipartisan panel voted to start the process that could lead to Cherfilus-McCormick’s expulsion after she was accused of laundering millions of dollars worth of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds related to a COVID-era contract into her campaign account.
‘That raises serious concerns about due process.’
“After careful deliberation that lasted until well past midnight, the adjudicatory subcommittee found that Counts 1-15 and 17-26 of the [Statement of Alleged Violations] have been proven,” the committee said in a statement.
“Shortly after the House returns from April recess, the full Committee will hold a hearing to determine what, if any, sanction would be appropriate for the Committee to recommend.”
RELATED: Senate approves DHS funding — but there’s a catch
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
This verdict came after the committee’s six-hour hearing Thursday, which was the first public ethics hearing since 2010.
Cherfilus-McCormick is facing several accusations in addition to a federal criminal indictment ranging from filing false financial disclosures, seeking “special favors” with earmark funding requests, and improperly using funds to finance her campaign.
Ahead of the hearing, Cherfilus-McCormick criticized the committee, saying her legal team was denied “reasonable time to prepare” for the trial.
“That raises serious concerns about due process and the fundamental rights every American is entitled to under our Constitution,” Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement. “While I am limited in what I can address due to an ongoing federal matter, I have cooperated fully within those constraints.”
RELATED: Democrats’ latest victory in deep-red Mar-a-Lago district offers bleak midterm forecast
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
“I urge the Committee to follow its own precedents and uphold fairness and not allow this process to be driven by politics or numbers,” Cherfilus-McCormick added. “I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight and challenge these inaccuracies, when I am legally able to do so. Make no mistake: I am innocent and I am a fighter. My district is made up of fighters. I will continue to fight for the people I was elected to serve.”
In order for Cherfilus-McCormick to be expelled, two-thirds of representatives would have to vote in favor of expulsion, requiring some Democrats to agree to vote with Republicans.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
House ethics committee, Congress, House democrats, Sheila cherfilus-mccormick, Fraud, Covid relief, Covid, Fema, Politics
Police stop bicycle-riding male for traffic violation; turns out he has a gun and then runs from cop. It doesn’t end well.
Police in Dayton, Ohio, have released body camera video showing an officer stopping a male on a bicycle for a traffic violation — but it turns out he had a gun, ran from police, and was fatally shot amid a struggle for the weapon.
The male was identified as Reginald Thomas, 44, WHIO-TV reported, citing the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office and Dayton Police Department.
‘He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun!’
The incident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the area of N. St. Clair and E. Third Streets, the station said.
Police Chief Kamran Afzal on Wednesday said an officer was on routine patrol and saw Thomas, who was riding a bicycle, commit a traffic violation and stopped him, WHIO noted.
Thomas kept trying to show the officer his ID even though he wasn’t asked to show it, police told the station.
The officer then asked Thomas if he had a weapon, WHIO noted, adding that Thomas in the bodycam video can be heard denying he had a weapon.
Image source: Dayton (Ohio) Police bodycam screenshot
The bodycam video then shows Thomas jumping off his bike and running from the officer.
Image source: Dayton (Ohio) Police bodycam screenshot
The officer soon catches up to Thomas and takes him to the ground, the video shows.
The bodycam video shows that Thomas appears to have a gun in his hand, WHIO reported.
Image source: Dayton (Ohio) Police bodycam screenshot
Indeed, the officer begins yelling, “He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun!”
After a struggle, the officer points his gun at Thomas and orders him to drop his weapon, the station said, adding that Thomas complies, and the officer re-holsters his gun.
However, when the officer attempted to handcuff Thomas, he fought the officer — and in the new struggle, the officer and Thomas began moving toward the gun that Thomas had just dropped, WHIO said.
The station added that the bodycam video appeared to show Thomas again reaching for and gripping the weapon, the station said.
Image source: Dayton (Ohio) Police bodycam screenshot
With that, a second officer who arrived for backup fired one shot, which struck Thomas, WHIO reported.
Officers rendered aid to Thomas before he was taken to Miami Valley Hospital where he later died, the station said.
You can view bodycam video of the incident just below:
The officer who initiated the traffic stop and the officer who fired the shot both have three years of service with accommodations and no discipline, WHIO reported.
Police provided post-incident images showing the recovered gun and loaded magazine as well as a mugshot of Thomas indicating his previous convictions for resisting arrest, assault, and aggravated menacing.
Image source: Dayton (Ohio) Police
Image source: Dayton (Ohio) Police
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a criminal investigation and present the facts to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, the station said, adding that the Dayton Police Department’s Professional Standards Bureau will conduct an internal administrative investigation.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Dayton, Ohio, Police, Bodycam video, Traffic violation, Fatal shooting, Armed suspect, Gun, Footchase, Police involved shooting, Struggle for gun, Crime
Sara Gonzales reacts to the ‘craziest true crime story’ she’s ever heard
As someone who works in media, BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales has seen it all — or so she thought.
A couple of days ago, Sara stumbled across a story that genuinely baffled her: “Quadruple amputee cornhole champion facing murder charges in fatal shooting.”
To make matters even more confusing, the suspect — Dayton James Webber, 27, of La Plata, Maryland — was driving a car when he allegedly shot the victim in the head twice.
“This is the most curious thing I’ve ever heard,” says Sara.
“Obviously, I did a deep dive on this story.”
On this episode of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered,” Sara shares the details of a story unlike any she’s covered before.
While information regarding how Webber was able to drive a car or allegedly fire a weapon have not been officially disclosed by police, video footage appears to shed some light on how he was able to accomplish certain tasks.
Sara first plays a clip of Webber competing in a cornhole match. The video captures his unorthodox technique, in which he caterpillar-crawls his way to the pitcher’s box, grips the corner of the bag between his residual limbs, and uses a powerful whipping motion of his upper body and arms to release the bag with impressive accuracy.
Sara also shows video footage that appears to show Webber loading and firing a 9mm handgun using his residual limbs as well as footage of him appearing to handle a long rifle.
“Like, I know he has the right to bear arms, but that usually implies he has some arms of his own,” Sara quips.
“This is the weirdest story.”
To hear Sara go into more details of the case, watch the video above.
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.
Sara gonzales, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Blazetv, Blaze media, Quadruple amputee, Dayton james webber, Cornhole
Blinded by modern headlights? A new visor aims to cut the glare
Night driving used to be routine. Now for many drivers, it’s something they actively dread.
The reason is simple: Modern headlights are getting brighter — and for everyone outside the vehicle using them, that often means blinding glare. Drivers are dealing with harsh, white LED and laser lights that can overwhelm their vision in seconds. It’s not just uncomfortable. It’s a real safety issue.
Instead of flipping down a solid visor that blocks part of the windshield, the system uses a clear panel that darkens electronically.
Now Michigan-based auto tech company Gentex says it may have a solution.
Bright lights, big pity
Automakers have spent years pushing more powerful lighting systems in the name of safety. On paper, brighter headlights improve visibility for the driver behind the wheel.
But on real roads, the effect is more complicated.
For oncoming traffic, those same lights can reduce visibility, not improve it. Drivers report being dazzled, losing contrast, and struggling to see lane markings, pedestrians, or obstacles for several seconds after exposure.
That’s not a minor inconvenience. At highway speeds, even a brief loss of clear vision can have serious consequences.
And the data backs up what drivers already know.
A 2024 European survey found that 71% of drivers say headlight glare is intolerable or extremely annoying. More than half say they sometimes squint or briefly close their eyes to cope. A majority report difficulty seeing the road during those moments.
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says glare is now the number one lighting-related complaint from drivers.
Nightly trade-off
This is a classic example of a well-intentioned change creating a new problem.
Headlights have become more powerful due to advances in LED and laser technology, along with evolving safety standards. But there has been less focus on how those lights affect everyone else on the road.
The result is a trade-off drivers feel every night: One driver sees better; everyone else sees worse.
That imbalance is now drawing regulatory attention. European regulators are studying whether lighting rules need to change, and in the U.S., complaints continue to rise.
But regulatory fixes take time — and in the meantime, drivers still have to deal with the problem.
RELATED: Why are modern car headlights so blindingly bright?
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Dim some
That’s where companies like Gentex come in.
The proposed solution is a transparent, dimmable sun visor designed to reduce glare from oncoming headlights. Instead of flipping down a solid visor that blocks part of the windshield, the system uses a clear panel that darkens electronically. You can still see through it, but the harsh light is softened.
The technology builds on something many drivers already trust: auto-dimming rearview mirrors. Sensors detect bright light, and the glass adjusts instantly to reduce glare.
Bringing that same concept to the front of the vehicle is a logical next step — and in practice, it works.
In testing and demonstration, the effect is noticeable. The glare is reduced without blocking the road ahead, which is the key difference from a traditional visor. It doesn’t feel like a work-around so much as a natural extension of a feature drivers already rely on.
Eye spy
For drivers who regularly deal with bright, poorly aimed headlights, this kind of technology could make a meaningful difference.
It reduces eyestrain. It makes night driving less fatiguing. And importantly, it does so without requiring drivers to change how they drive or where they refuel — something that has been a sticking point with other new automotive technologies.
That’s part of what makes this approach compelling.
Rather than waiting for a full redesign of headlight standards — or expecting perfect compliance across millions of vehicles — this is a solution that works within the reality drivers already face.
In many ways, this is how the auto industry has always evolved.
A problem emerges. Regulations lag behind. And suppliers step in with technology that improves the driving experience in the meantime.
Made in the shade
Gentex has done this before with auto-dimming mirrors. This visor builds on that same idea — using relatively simple, proven technology to solve a very real problem.
And because it doesn’t require a complete redesign of the vehicle, it’s easier for automakers to adopt.
Like most new features, the dimmable visor will likely appear first in higher-end vehicles when it launches around 2027. Over time, as costs come down, it could move into more mainstream models.
That matters because the underlying issue isn’t going away. Headlights will likely continue getting brighter as automakers pursue better forward visibility and new lighting technologies. Which means glare will remain part of the driving experience.
Practical work-around
Gentex’s dimmable visor doesn’t solve the root issue of headlight glare — but it doesn’t need to. What it does is something more immediate: It gives drivers a way to manage a problem they already deal with every night.
And based on early impressions, it does that in a way that feels intuitive, effective, and easy to live with. In today’s automotive landscape, that kind of practical innovation can go a long way.
Because for many drivers, the challenge isn’t seeing the road. It’s seeing clearly when the road lights up in front of them.
For more on this, check out my interview with Gentex’s Craig Piersma.
Lifestyle, Auto industry, Automakers, Gentex, Headlights, Tech, Dimmable visor, Align cars
Senate approves DHS funding — but there’s a catch
The Senate has partially funded the Department of Homeland Security following a 42-day stalemate — but there’s a catch.
More than six weeks after DHS was first shut down in mid-February, the Senate agreed in the early morning hours on Friday to fund key agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and most notably, the Transportation Security Administration. Although the funding agreement was long overdue, the Senate continues to withhold funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
‘Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis.’
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) called the supplemental funding “unfortunate,” saying it is only prolonging policy disagreements Democrats continue to move their goal posts on.
“The Dems wanted reforms,” Thune said. “We tried to work with them on reforms. They ended up getting no reforms, but, you know, we’re going to have to fight some of those battles another day.”
The Senate greenlit this funding bill by a voice vote around 2:00 a.m. ET and is now headed into a two-week-long recess. The spending package is now on its way to the House.
RELATED: Heroic ICE agent miraculously saves unresponsive child in TSA line
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
This funding was put through just hours after President Donald Trump ordered his new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to “immediately pay our TSA Agents.”
“Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday evening. “Therefore, I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports.”
RELATED: Trump adds new condition to ICE airport plan in DHS shutdown fight
Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!” Trump added. “I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports. I will not allow the Radical Left Democrats to hold our Country hostage any longer.”
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, John thune, Senate republicans, Senate democrats, Department of homeland security, Markwayne mullin, Dhs, Tsa, Cisa, Fema, Cost guard, Ice, Cbp, Tsa lines, Democrat shutdown, Politics
