Category: blaze media

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is urging Dallas County to honor a detainer request lodged against an illegal alien accused of possessing child pornography, according to a press release exclusively obtained by Blaze News.

Orvin Bayardo Fuentes Borjas, 24, was arrested by the Irving Police Department and booked into the Dallas County jail system on March 6 after he was charged with possession of child pornography — over 50 visual depictions, a first-degree felony.

‘Every single day, ICE is working to remove criminal illegal aliens like this sicko arrested for possession of 50 child pornography images.’

Fuentes Borjas’ bond was set at $100,000.

The Irving Journal, a local news outlet, reported that a tip about Fuentes Borjas’ alleged online activity led to his arrest.

A press release from the Department of Homeland Security revealed that ICE issued an arrest detainer against Fuentes Borjas. ICE is urging Dallas County not to release the suspect from local custody to allow agents time to transfer him to federal custody.

RELATED: Heroic ICE agent miraculously saves unresponsive child in TSA line

Orvin Bayardo Fuentes Borjas. Image source: Dallas County

The DHS described Fuentes Borjas as an illegal alien from Honduras.

“He was booked into Dallas County Jail, where he will remain until ICE takes him into custody,” the agency wrote.

The DHS claimed that the suspect previously failed to show up for his immigration hearing and was issued a final order of removal on February 3, 2020.

RELATED: Why I support ICE as the son of an immigrant

Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg/Getty Images

“Every single day, ICE is working to remove criminal illegal aliens like this sicko arrested for possession of 50 child pornography images. ICE asked Dallas to not release this pedophile from jail back into Texas communities,” DHS acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.

Bis stated that under President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s leadership, “ICE law enforcement will not allow criminal illegal aliens to prey on innocent children.”

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office does not participate in ICE’s 287(g) partnership program, according to ICE’s website. However, Texas law requires law enforcement agencies to comply with ICE detainer requests.

“To keep predators like these out of our communities, it is imperative that local law enforcement works with ICE — Irving did its job here, but more must be done to ramp up removals. Municipalities across the board participating in the 287(g) Task Force program would be the surest way to make that a reality,” Irving City Council member Luis Canosa told Blaze News.

The Irving Police Department declined to comment. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office 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, Dallas county jail, Dallas county, Dallas county sheriff’s office, 287(g), 287(g) program, Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Immigration enforcement, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Irving texas, Texas, Irving, Irving police department, Politics 

A woman tasked with the mission to defend human rights in San Francisco was stealing funds from a nonprofit for her personal enrichment, according to prosecutors.

Sheryl Davis. 57, was charged with 17 felony counts that included conflict of interest in a government contract, perjury, and misappropriating public funds.

Prosecutors said she misappropriated funds from a charity meant to benefit homeless children that received $3.5 million of city funds.

Authorities were tipped off by a whistleblower to Davis’ alleged illegal activities, according to a press release from San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.

Davis was in charge of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars from the Dream Keeper Initiative but allegedly funneled the cash to companies where she could personally benefit. The program was meant to invest in the African-American community after the rioting over the death of George Floyd.

Prosecutors said she misappropriated funds from a charity meant to benefit homeless children that received $3.5 million of city funds. The organization paid Davis’ son about $140,000, which was “deposited into a bank account Ms. Davis jointly owned and controlled.”

Other numerous schemes were outlined by prosecutors in which Davis and 65-year-old James Spingola, a co-conspirator who ran a San Francisco nonprofit, allegedly misappropriated funds for their own benefit.

Spingola was charged with four felony counts of aiding and abetting Davis’ conflict of interest in four contracts with the city.

Both Davis and Spingola were arrested on Monday and were booked into the San Francisco County Jail and given a $50,000 bond each.

Davis was fired in 2024 after it was discovered that she was living with Spingola without disclosing the relationship with the grant recipient. She was also accused of misusing funds at that time. The job paid $350,000 a year when she was fired.

RELATED: BLM activist named ‘Bostonian of the Year’ ordered to repay money she embezzled from taxpayers and nonprofit

“These are not routine charges,” Jenkins said. “But I want to be clear: These are allegations that will ultimately be proven or disproven in court.”

Prosecutors say Davis may face additional charges. The investigation into her alleged misconduct involved more than 50 search warrants and spanned over 18 months.

“We have charged what we believe we had the evidence to prove,” Jenkins added.

Davis posted an odd message after the arrest on her social media account.

“Where are my encouraging and supportive sisters?” she asked.

Her attorney denied that she was guilty of any felonious conduct.

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

​Human rights leader sheryl davis, San francisco blm activist fraud, Black activist fraud, Black lives matter fraud, Politics 

Democrat Rep. Susie Lee of Nevada took to social media earlier this week to post an ill-tempered tirade filled with profanity.

Lee let out a flurry of F-words in response to an article detailing President Donald Trump’s plans to attend the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on a landmark birthright citizenship case. Notably, Lee’s profile banner on X brands her as “America’ #1 Most Bipartisan Member of Congress.”

‘Clearly my language touched a nerve.’

“So f**king f**ked up,” Lee said in a now-deleted post with a timestamp of 1:03 a.m. Wednesday. “I’ll pray they f**k him to his face. Sorry, I say f**k a lot these days.”

Rather than apologizing for her low impulse control, Lee doubled down and defended her incoherent rant, claiming Trump has violated the Constitution and its separation of powers.

RELATED: SCOTUS asks pointed questions as fate of Trump’s birthright citizenship order hangs in the balance

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc./Getty Images

“Clearly my language touched a nerve — my nerve was touched by the attacks on our Constitution and its separation of powers,” Lee said in a post later that morning. “I took an oath to protect and defend it.”

Administration officials and allies of the president mocked Lee’s lack of professionalism, insinuating she has a drinking problem that contributed to her lack of online inhibition.

Brandon Herrera, a Republican congressional candidate from Texas, piled on to the ratio on Lee’s childish follow-up post.

“I’m gonna need you to take an oath to stop swearing until you get good at it,” Herrera said in a post on X. “Currently you sound like a 9 year old trying to impress the older kids.”

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

​Susie lee, Donald trump, Supreme court, Scotus, Birthright citizenship, Oral arguments, Brandon herrera, Trump adminstration, Constitution, Separation of powers, James blair, White house, Politics 

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham may not be able to find the time to vote for the SAVE America Act, but according to newly circulating viral photos, he’s apparently more than happy to rush off to Disney World.

The photos show him hanging out at the Magic Kingdom — holding a bubble wand — during the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

“Why are you there? Lindsey Graham, why are you there? You hate us, it seems, actually,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales comments on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered,” disturbed.

“Senator Lindsey Graham has not been able to find the time to just stay and vote on the SAVE America Act … we allegedly have a majority, so it shouldn’t be hard to get it through. And by the way, 80% of Americans will thank you because this is a very bipartisan agreement that we all say you should have to prove that you are who you say you are before you vote,” she continues.

While Graham being at Disney World during this shutdown would seem bad enough even if he had a family and children, the truth is that he doesn’t.

“I just have to tell you guys, for those who are following at home, in case you’re not familiar with this weirdo, he doesn’t have a wife, he doesn’t have kids, he doesn’t have grandkids. Which, by the way, is probably why he wants us to go to war so much. It’s not his family who has to die,” Gonzales says.

“You’re by yourself, you’re buying bubble wands, you’re walking around. What are you doing?” she asks. “Are you using the bubble wand to try to entice the children? Is this like the f**ked up Lindsey Graham version of the man in the van with the candy?”

“And by the way, I did also read that he skipped the line. He skipped the Space Mountain line. Everyone else was waiting, and apparently nobody was important enough as Lady Graham,” she adds.

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

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

​Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Lindsey graham, Government shutdown, Disney world, Magic kingdom, Lindsey graham bubble wand, Save act, Save america act 

Multiple sources have claimed that the Chinese government is suspiciously repositioning its military assets, signaling possible future activity around Taiwan.

The reports come from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, which tracks Chinese military might and defense systems.

‘We are concerned by the increased pressure from Beijing, including military activity around Taiwan.’

The China Airpower Tracker reportedly showed lines of typically retired Chinese fighter jets, which have drawn suspicion from experts. The J-6 fighter (also known as the Shenyang J-6) was first developed in the late 1950s.

China retired the line of jets in the late 1990s, but now, experts say, China is retrofitting the old fighters to serve as unmanned craft and staging them at six air bases close to the Taiwan Strait. Mitchell Institute senior fellow J. Michael Dahm told Reuters that approximately 200 obsolete fighters were being converted to drones.

The drones could be used to “attack Taiwan, U.S., or allied targets in large numbers, effectively overwhelming air defenses,” Dahm claimed.

At the same time, the Mitchell Institute is not the only source noticing some of China’s militaristic anomalies.

RELATED: I saw the sky light up over Dubai. The real shock came next.

MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

In a March 17 report, Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies noticed “small swept-wing aircraft parked on the same apron” as the newer J-16 multi-role fighter at Zhangzhou’s Longtian Airport, “presumed to be a J-6 fighter (equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks).”

The NIDS concluded that “there is no immediately apparent rational explanation for the presence of J-6s at forward airfields. The co-existence of state-of-the-art multi-role fighters and obsolete fighters cannot be explained simply by a fleet modernization program,” the report continued. “Rather, it suggests that they may be assigned different missions.”

Noting that the J-6 is no longer capable of enduring modern air-to-air battles, the report said it is “not technically implausible” that it could be recommissioned into service following a conversion to an “unmanned configuration.”

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

Photo DigitalGlobe/Getty Images

“We are concerned by the increased pressure from Beijing, including military activity around Taiwan that raises the risk of miscalculation,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a recent Taiwan briefing.

Taiwanese Deputy Minister Hsu Szu-chien said he hoped the United States would soon expedite a process for arm sales to his country.

“This would greatly facilitate our efforts to secure funding for the special defense budget,” said Szu-chien.

Reuters also reported that the U.S. is preparing an arm sales package to Taiwan worth $14 billion.

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

​Return, China, Taiwan, Fighter jets, Drones, America, United states, Military, Taiwan strait, Tech 

President Donald Trump has taken action to implement new policies to shut down mail-in voting fraud, and Democrats have wasted no time in announcing efforts to oppose it.

Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that directs the secretary of Homeland Security, with the aid of the Social Security Administration, to compile a list of U.S. citizens in each state who are eligible to vote.

‘The American people sent him back to the White House because they overwhelmingly supported his commonsense election integrity agenda.’

The order further asks the U.S. Postal Service to adjust its rules and send ballots only to people on the voter list for each state and that all mail-in ballots be sent in secure envelopes that include a unique tracking barcode.

Each state will receive a list of the eligible voters no fewer than 60 days prior to each regularly scheduled federal election. The order also directs the U.S. attorney general to prioritize investigating and possibly prosecuting anyone — including state and local officials, public and private entities, and individuals — involved in sending ballots to ineligible voters.

Democrats immediately accused the president of infringing on Americans’ right to vote with the order as well as the right of states to run their elections.

“This is another desperate, illegal power grab that shows a total lack of respect for the American people and our Constitution,” read a statement from Oregon State Secretary Tobias Read.

“The Constitution is clear: states run elections. Oregon’s gold standard vote-by-mail elections are secure, fair, and accurate,” he added. “We don’t need decrees from Washington, D.C. My message to the president: We’ll see you in court.”

“This Executive Order is a disgusting overreach from the federal government and shows how little the Trump administration understands about election administration,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D). Fontes likewise pledged to take Trump to court over the EO.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson released a statement to the Daily Caller about the order.

“Election integrity has always been a top priority for President Trump, and the American people sent him back to the White House because they overwhelmingly supported his commonsense election integrity agenda,” she said.

Congress is currently debating the SAVE Act, also called the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Democrats have promised to vehemently oppose the bill’s passage.

“The president will do everything in his power to defend the safety and security of American elections and to ensure that only American citizens are voting in them,” Jackson added. “Congress should also expeditiously pass President Trump’s SAVE America Act to protect elections for generations to come.”

RELATED: ‘Dead on arrival’: Chuck Schumer says Dems will ‘go all out’ to defeat voter ID bill

The president has threatened to veto any other bill the Congress passes until the SAVE Act is passed.

“It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else,” he wrote on social media earlier this month.

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

​Trump against mail in voting, Mail in voting executive order, Trump executive orders, Voter fraud, Politics 

For a brief moment, X stopped reading like a machine built to aggravate, divide, and degrade the people using it. Instead of the usual sludge of foreign bots and demoralizing propaganda, American users found themselves, thanks to a new auto-translation feature, staring at something unexpected: a flood of posts from Japan celebrating the United States. Monster trucks, backyard barbecue, Old West revolvers, bluegrass music, country songs, and all the rowdy symbols of American life that our own elites often treat as embarrassing were suddenly being admired from abroad.

It reminded Americans that our culture is not only real, but vivid enough that another people can see its beauty even when we have been taught to sneer at it ourselves. If Americans and Japanese are to continue to enjoy our distinct cultures, we must fight to maintain the true diversity that makes a civilization worth preserving.

Status in the U.S. and many other Western nations is acquired by looking down on the folkways of the average American.

Most Americans know that there is a strong current of appreciation for Japanese culture in the U.S. Americans eat Japanese food, watch anime, read manga, practice karate, and revere samurai movies. While we were once in a brutal war, Americans have come to respect the noble and beautiful traditions of the Japanese. What many Americans did not know is that the Japanese also have a robust subculture of appreciation for American culture.

Americans are constantly told that they have no culture, or that what they do have is shallow, vulgar, and unworthy of defense. In much of elite life, status comes from mocking the tastes and traditions of ordinary Americans. Status in the U.S. and many other Western nations is acquired by looking down on the folkways of the average American.

It is not just that the Japanese love American culture, but that they seem to focus specifically on rural Southern and Western archetypes. Banjos playing “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” barbeques grilling comically large steaks, monster trucks crushing everything below them. The Japanese love and celebrate everything that American elites have trained the population at large to sneer at.

Recently, many people have been asking the question “What is an American?” But the Japanese seem to know right away. There is no confusion, no debate. The answer is obvious and plays itself out in the memes, re-enactments, and celebrations the Japanese enjoy while honoring American culture. Sometimes another people can identify your defining traits more clearly than you can, especially after your own institutions have spent years trying to dissolve them.

In a period when many people in the United States feel estranged from their own inheritance, it was oddly heartening to see ourselves reflected in a nation we admire. If the Japanese know who Americans are, then the least we can do is be proud to act like the Americans the Japanese love.

This sudden outburst of cultural appreciation also puts to bed the idea that Americans are xenophobes who hate other countries. Japan’s love for the U.S. is reciprocated with great fervor by Americans. But why are Americans so willing to appreciate and embrace the Japanese while being dismissive of so many other countries? The answer is simple: The Japanese are worthy of admiration. Not all cultures are equal, and the Japanese have emerged from the devastation of war to rebuild a high-trust society on a foundation of rich history and honorable conduct. It turns out that Americans don’t hate other cultures; they simply save their appreciation for those that deserve it.

The social media cultural exchange also highlighted the importance of real diversity and the need to protect distinct cultures. Both the Americans and Japanese hold reciprocal appreciation for each other’s civilizations and want to see them continue into the future. Americans want our grandchildren to be able to visit Japan in 100 years and experience what we celebrate now, and the Japanese feel the same about the U.S. An island called Japan that had the same borders and topography but was filled with Indians, Palestinians, and Somalians would not be the same. If the island chain of Japan were full of Haitians, it would not be Japan; it would be Haiti with some cherry blossoms.

RELATED: Disney’s ‘Gay Days’ are canceled. Don’t pop the champagne just yet.

Blaze Media Illustration

That is the point that modern ideology cannot admit. A nation is not just a market, a legal zone, or a patch of land inside a set of borders. It is the Japanese people, their way of life, and the culture they create that define the nation. Japan has been better than most modern nations in protecting its identity, but the country is under immense pressure to open its borders. Like much of the modern world, Japan is experiencing a massive decline in birth rates and is struggling to care for its elderly population while replacing its workforce. After dabbling in increased immigration to bolster its workforce, the nation has elected a right-wing government to reimpose restrictions. A civilization can survive low birth rates for a time; it cannot survive replacement.

Americans are beginning to understand the same truth about themselves. If Japan would cease to be Japan after demographic replacement, then the United States would cease to be the United States under the same conditions. America is a real, distinct culture with traditions, folkways, and history that are worthy of pride. America is not just an economy or an administrative zone attached to a flag. We need to stop being shamed into rejecting our culture or treating it as the banal background for a global empire. Japan is beautiful because the Japanese have built a civilization worth preserving. America is beautiful because Americans built a distinct culture worth preserving. That culture deserves more than ironic detachment or ritual embarrassment. It deserves loyalty. The Japanese, in their odd and affectionate way, reminded Americans of something many had forgotten: This country is real, its inheritance is beautiful, and it is worth preserving.

​Japan, Maga, Auron macintyre, Auron, Japanese, Opinion & analysis 

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in the case challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship.

Trump made history by being the first sitting president to attend a SCOTUS hearing. He attended for over an hour, departing shortly after the solicitor general, John Sauer, concluded his arguments.

‘Why put it in if it’s irrelevant?’

Shortly after noon on Wednesday, Trump wrote in a post on social media, “We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!”

Sauer previously claimed that lower-court rulings finding Trump’s executive order unconstitutional were overly broad and incorrectly held that “birth on U.S. territory confers citizenship on anyone subject to the regulatory reach of U.S. law.”

During Wednesday’s arguments, Sauer contended that the 14th Amendment phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” requires parents of a child to be domiciled in the U.S. and have allegiance to it.

He explained that the citizenship clause was enacted after the Civil War to grant citizenship to freed slaves and their children whose allegiance to the U.S. “had been established by generations of domicile here.”

RELATED: Trump makes history at SCOTUS birthright citizenship hearing

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

“It did not grant citizenship to the children of temporary visitors or illegal aliens who have no such allegiance. This conclusion reflects the original public meaning of the clause,” he stated.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts called Sauer’s argument “very quirky.”

“Well, starting with that theory, you obviously put a lot of weight on ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof,'” Roberts stated. “But the examples you give to support that strike me as very quirky.”

“Children of ambassadors, children of enemies during a hostile invasion, children on warships,” Roberts continued. “And then you expand it to a whole class of, illegal aliens are here in the country. I’m not quite sure how you can get to that big group from such tiny and sort of idiosyncratic examples.”

Sauer argued that birthright citizenship has generated “a sprawling industry of birth tourism,” adding that “uncounted thousands of foreigners from potentially hostile nations have flocked to give birth in the United States.”

American Civil Liberties Union legal director Cecillia Wang argued before SCOTUS against Trump’s executive order.

Wang was pressed about U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, an 1898 Supreme Court case in which the court ruled that a child born in the U.S. to Chinese citizen parents was an American citizen. While the ruling set the precedent for anyone born in the U.S., Ark’s parents were both legally domiciled in the U.S.

“Thirty years after ratification, this court held that the 14th Amendment embodies the English common law rule,” Wang stated during Wednesday’s hearing. “Virtually everyone born on U.S. soil is subject to its jurisdiction and is a citizen.”

“The majority tells us six times in the opinion that domicile is irrelevant under common law,” Wang added.

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

Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

Justice Samuel Alito pushed back on Wang’s arguments, stating that he “might agree” with her “if ‘domicile’ had simply been sprinkled in the opinion,” though it appeared 20 times.

“Why put it in if it’s irrelevant?” Alito asked Wang.

“The first is that, again, it was a stipulated fact,” Wang responded. “The second is that regardless of what the judgment in the case was … the rule of decision in Wong Kim Ark has binding precedential effect. Even if you think that Wong Kim Ark decided the case based on the stipulated facts, you have to follow that controlling rule of decision. And if you follow that rule, you get to the same result.”

Justice Elena Kagan appeared to share Alito’s concern, stating, “What are those 20 ‘domicile’ words doing there? You can take some of them and say, ‘I don’t know; they were just summarizing the facts of the case,’ but not all of them.”

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

​News, American civil liberties union, Aclu, Cecilia wang, Scotus, Supreme court, Birthright citizenship, John sauer, Donald trump, Trump, Trump administration, Trump admin, Wong kim ark, Elena kagan, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Immigration, Politics 

Jaden Ivey, a former No. 5 overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2022 who was traded to the Chicago Bulls in early February 2026, faced backlash after he went live multiple times on Instagram, sharing extended discussions about his Christian faith, including criticism that the NBA’s Pride Month promotions celebrate “unrighteousness.”

On March 30, the Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Despite this being “the biggest story going on in sports,” ESPN has largely turned a blind eye to it, says “Fearless” host Jason Whitlock.

“I had my guys … give me a full report on how ESPN covered Jaden Ivey getting waived by the Chicago Bulls for speaking against the LGBTQ alphabet mafia, and ESPN bent over backwards ignoring this story,” Whitlock says.

He calls out the glaring double standards.

“If some lesbian woman had been kicked out of the WNBA for any reason, … ESPN would have endless segments and shows talking about it,” he says.

As a Christian with conservative views on gender and marriage, Ivey, Whitlock argues, “is poison for [ESPN].”

Despite claiming to be sports journalism, ESPN, he explains, “is not interested in the truth” but rather is dedicated to pushing the progressive LGBTQ+ agenda.

Stephen A. Smith, Whitlock argues, is a key component in this agenda-driven network.

“There’s a reason why they installed Stephen A. Smith — a pathological liar — at the top of ESPN. That’s what you do when you have no interest in exploring the truth,” he says.

ESPN is “supposed to be the ‘worldwide [leader] in sports,”’ he continues, and yet it’s intentionally ignoring “the biggest story going on in sports” because it doesn’t align with the pro-LGBTQ+ agenda.

Smith did “a small little one-on-one thing where he said nothing,” and “‘NBA Today’ with Malika Andrews — they didn’t have a full-blown discussion on it; they read a little news clip and just tried to move on,” Whitlock criticizes.

“They don’t want to have this discussion [about Jaden Ivey] because this discussion leads someplace ESPN, Disney, and Bob Iger don’t want this discussion to go.”

To hear more, watch the full episode above.

Want more from Jason Whitlock?

To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Fearless, Fearless with jason whitlock, Jason whitlock, Espn, Stephen a smith, Jaden ivey, Chicago bulls, Wnba, Lgbtq agenda, Blazetv, Blaze media 

A finalist for Colorado’s teacher of the year learned her fate after being found guilty of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old student.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a March 19 statement that 45-year-old Tera Johnson-Swartz was sentenced to 14 years in state prison.

‘She threw away her entire life for me.’

In addition to her prison sentence, Johnson-Swartz was ordered to complete six years of sex offender probation and register as a convicted sex offender upon her release.

Johnson-Swartz previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of cybercrime.

Johnson-Swartz previously had been a teacher at STEM School Highlands Ranch.

The 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Johnson-Swartz “initiated contact by sending music and text messages to her student.”

The DA said the teacher communicated with the teen student for weeks until “she convinced the student to meet up with her outside of school, provided him with cigarettes, and sexually assaulted him” in January 2025.

The district attorney said there were “additional sexual assaults” in subsequent meetings with the boy.

According to KCNC-TV, the illicit teacher-student relationship was “discovered in January 2025 by therapists who reported it to Douglas County Human Services.”

“Johnson-Swartz was suspended from teaching at STEM School Highlands Ranch after the allegations emerged,” KCNC reported. “Shortly after, she was fired and banned from the campus.”

However, school security cameras captured the teen leaving the school and getting into a vehicle resembling the one driven by Johnson-Swartz on Feb. 18, 2025, according to the affidavit.

The minor later admitted to investigators that his former teacher picked him up from school and drove him to a nearby neighborhood, court documents said.

On Feb. 20, 2025, detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Johnson-Swartz. She was initially charged with kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with an inappropriate relationship involving an underage student, police said.

KCNC reported, “Because she was not permitted on school grounds and not authorized to take the student off school property, she was charged with felony kidnapping.”

Johnson-Swartz posted a $100,000 bond and was released the day after her arrest, according to online court records obtained by KCNC.

RELATED: Teacher of the year arrested for alleged child sex crimes — then she’s arrested on similar charges just days later

KCNC said there were two cases filed against Johnson-Swartz — one after a grand jury investigation into the relationship and another after detectives learned she kept trying to maintain contact with the student.

The New York Post obtained the arrest affidavit, which said the teen said Johnson-Swartz walked up to him at a concert during the Fourth of July weekend last year and said, “Just say you don’t love me.”

KCNC cited the affidavit in which the boy told investigators, “Yeah … it was really weird. I was going there expecting to have a really great time. And then I just see her in front of the line, like 30 feet up. Yeah, it was weird.”

The affidavit claims the victim’s parents alerted authorities, and police determined that the teen and Johnson-Swartz were still communicating after the meeting at the concert.

KCNC reported that the teen said he was not surprised that his former English teacher didn’t stay away from him.

“No, she is an unstable woman,” the student told investigators, according to the affidavit.

“She threw away her entire life for me,” the student stated, according to the affidavit. “And I’m not entirely surprised by the fact that she then would have trouble letting go. … But no, I never told her I loved her, and she never said that to me.”

The teen noted, “She is pretty stupid, I’m not gonna lie. Already ruined her life, and she keeps just making it worse.”

Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnson-Swartz a second time in July 2025 “outside a fast food restaurant where she was working as a cashier,” KCNC reported.

Douglas County District Attorney George Brauchler warned that any teacher exploiting children for “their own lascivious desires” will face life-changing punishments.

“We will work to make them a convicted felon, and we will try to take away their freedom,” Brauchler proclaimed.

Brauchler said the ex-teacher is a “predator” who is “now a convicted sex offender and will live with that label for decades.”

Brauchler noted that Johnson-Swartz is the fourth teacher convicted of a felony sex offense by his office since last year.

Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonprofit news organization covering education, reported in September 2024 that Johnson-Swartz was one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2025 teacher of the year.

The Colorado Department of Education said of Johnson-Swartz at the time, “She specializes in building meaningful relationships with her students while also providing lessons remembered beyond her classroom.”

The STEM School Highlands Ranch and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Blaze News‘ 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!

​Teacher arrested, Bad teacher, Teacher sex scandal, Teacher student sex scandal, Child sex crimes, Child sex abuse, Child sex assault, Crime, Colorado, Teacher of the year finalist 

The NFL’s third-ever female referee has filed a lawsuit against the league, citing gender-based scrutiny and multiple “humiliating” instances.

Robin DeLorenzo of New Jersey was hired by the NFL in 2022 after working in college football’s Big Ten Conference. After three years on the job, DeLorenzo now says her tenure with the league included “unchecked harassment” and gender bias.

‘A male power play that served its purpose of humiliating plaintiff, shattering her confidence.’

DeLorenzo’s lawsuit signaled that her experience in the NFL was immediately non-satisfactory upon receiving male-sized clothing before she reported for duty.

According to the Associated Press, one of DeLorenzo’s worst experiences allegedly came during a Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. Teams routinely bring in officials to referee their practice games.

The lawsuit claims that an NFL officials’ crew chief allegedly told then-Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin that DeLorenzo should have to sing in front of everyone at the training camp. The alleged reason was that because she was a new referee, she should be treated like a rookie football player.

DeLorenzo reportedly obliged and sang in front of the Steelers players, the male officiating crew, and her boss. This was described by the female ex-ref as having to “put on an utterly humiliating singing performance.”

To make matters worse, DeLorenzo claims her boss promised he would not record her but did so anyway.

RELATED: ‘It’s gonna sting’: NFL manager says liberal state tax proposal will hurt team’s prospects

Chris Gardner/Getty Images

Other claims made in the lawsuit include repeated shaming, harassment, and trash-talk by her crew chief, who one year allegedly refused to speak to DeLorenzo by the end of the season.

The lawsuit also reportedly takes issue with the fact that DeLorenzo was forced to attend “an alleged training opportunity” that turned out to involve lower-level college officials.

The legal filing called the instance “a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating plaintiff, shattering her confidence, and significantly hindering her NFL career.”

The NFL sees it differently, however. Spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Associated Press that DeLorenzo’s firing was due to documented underperformance.

“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” McCarthy said.

Not only does DeLorenzo’s lawsuit include statements that she endured “systemic inequality,” it also claimed the NFL “exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, manipulated her training and grading opportunities, and ultimately ended her career” through “tainted” evaluations by people who “discriminated against her.”

RELATED: Florida AG threatens legal action against NFL over controversial racial preference rule

DeLorenzo was fired from the NFL in February 2025 and reassigned to college football along with two male referees. All three of the officials had three or fewer years in the NFL.

The NFL describes its officiating review process as including one or two in-person reviews of an NFL game, each week, by officiating supervisors. These reviews are coupled with weekly training videos, conference calls, and an end-of-season evaluation that determines which referees will officiate in the playoffs.

“A subpar season-long performance could mean remediation, or even a demotion,” the league writes. “NFL officials serve on a year-to-year contract, and they have to prove their mettle every year. There is no guarantee that they will return the next season.”

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

​Fearless, Nfl, Football, Ncaa, Lawsuit, Feminism, Gender, Female referee, Discrimination, Sexism, Sports 

A Massachusetts man was arrested for allegedly making threats to kill President Donald Trump and “hang him” from the Statue of Liberty.

The alleged messages from May 2025 to July 2025 were posted to the Facebook account of Andrew D. Emerald of Great Barrington, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

‘We’re gonna hang him from the Statue of Liberty until his pathetic bloated corpse rots off falls in the ocean.’

Emerald was arrested Wednesday morning and is scheduled to appear in court later in the day.

The press release included the eight posts that he allegedly made.

“When I see to it that Trump is put to death. It will be the the day the purpose creation put me here for beyond creating. My daughter is fulfilled. (because what she is destined to do for the world is far greater than mine, taking out the orange menace!)” read an alleged post on May 3.

“Cause and effect. Trump being a monster to humanity caused this family suffering, and they might never choose to have children because of him Affect we’re going to f****** kill Trump on public television so the world sees what we do to f****** monsters and then we’re gonna hang him from the Statue of Liberty until his pathetic bloated corpse rots off falls in the ocean,” read an alleged post from May 15.

In other alleged posts, he threatened to burn down Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and claimed to have burned down a home previously.

RELATED: Man served time for threatening to kill Trump — then gets arrested for more alleged threats

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Emerald was charged with eight counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications, which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, if convicted.

The charge also carries a possible sentence of three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

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

​Threats against trump, Trump death threats, Andrew emerald arrested, Political violence, Politics 

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

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

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

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

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

Unsavoryagents.com

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

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

Unsavoryagents.com

Unsavoryagents.com

Unsavoryagents.com

Unsavoryagents.com

Unsavoryagents.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craig Hudson/Washington Post/Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want more from Steve Deace?

To enjoy more of Steve’s take on national politics, Christian worldview, and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Stand your ground, baby!’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rolling computers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Resale risk

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

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

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

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

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

But those benefits come with dependency.

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

That assumption no longer holds.

Coming to America

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

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

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

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

What to check before you buy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Carry on, patriots.’

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

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

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

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

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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