Category: blaze media

Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) was sentenced to 87 months in prison on Friday for federal charges of aggravated identity theft and wire fraud related to his 2022 campaign.

The prison sentence of more than seven years was the maximum that was sought by prosecutors, who presented evidence that the 36-year-old had stolen money as well as committed identity theft while spending lavishly on vacations and designer clothing.

‘I allowed ambition to cloud my judgement, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and guilty.’

Santos appeared remorseful in court and wept as he apologized for his actions, according to a CNN report.

“I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead. I have tried my best,” he said.

Attorneys for Santos had asked for a two-year prison sentence for their client, whom they described as a gay man who had come from a broken home and had “built an alter ego that he showed the world.”

The Republican was expelled from the House of Representatives in late 2023 after the release of a congressional report documenting “uncharged and unlawful conduct” by the New York representative. He disdainfully accused the other members of Congress of getting drunk and sleeping with lobbyists at the time.

Santos initially mocked the case against him and claimed that he would beat the charges easily, but later agreed to a plea deal and tearfully apologized at a media briefing outside the courthouse in Islip, New York.

“It’s clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and guilty,” he said. “Pleading guilty is a step I never imagined I’d take, but it is a necessary one because it is the right thing to do. It’s not only a recognition of my misrepresentations to others, but more profoundly, it is my recognition of the lies I told myself over these past years.”

In his plea agreement, he admitted that he had filed fraudulent reports with the Federal Election Commission in order to obtain significant financial support from the national party committee for his campaign. He also admitted to fraudulently charging credit cards of people who contributed his campaign in order to obtain unauthorized funds for his personal gain, as well as for the campaign.

At one point Santos bragged after earning hundreds of thousands of dollars on Cameo, where celebrities record videos for fans and charge them a fee. That admission might have backfired, as U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert excoriated him for not setting up an account to pay the $373,749.97 in restitution he had agreed to pay.

In addition to the restitution, he was ordered to forfeit $205,002.97.

“He rose to one of the highest offices in the land on a wave of lies,” said Assistant U.S Attorney Ryan Harris.

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​George santos sentence, Santos 23 felony charges, Santos guilty, Gay republican fraud charges, Politics 

Jaw-dropping cellphone video caught the moments when a group of females physically attacked two uniformed police officers outside a Southern California high school Thursday afternoon.

Turns out the San Bernardino school officers — a man and a woman — were there to break up a fight in the parking lot of Entrepreneur High School in Highland around 3 p.m. when they came under attack themselves, KABC-TV reported.

‘Am I the only one that finds the name “Entrepreneur [High] School” ironic?’

You can view cellphone video of the attack here.

It shows about four females taking turns arguing and shoving and striking the two officers. The male officer at the start of the clip continually yells at the females to “back up” and “get off” as the female cop tries to subdue one of the combatants on the ground.

Soon the male cop has enough and grabs one of the females — who’s wearing a red bandanna — and forces her to the ground, attempting to handcuff her after she had punched him in the chest.

Arguably the worst moment occurred when another female — wearing a Nike sweatshirt — actually pulled the female officer by her hair and moved her several feet backward.

Several people were eventually handcuffed, KABC said.

How are people reacting to the video?

As you might expect, observers were not thrilled by what they saw:

“Oh, the parents must be so proud,” one commenter wrote.”Am I the only one that finds the name ‘Entrepreneur [High] School’ ironic?” another user asked.”They have NO FEAR of consequences,” another commenter offered.”I counted at least 5 different times that a body slam was warranted,” another user declared.”This is what happens when politicians and command staffs constantly scrutinize and implement asinine laws and policies,” another commenter said.

Anything else?

The station said it reached out to the San Bernardino school police and the district superintendent for more information on what started the fight.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

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​Fight, Police officers attacked, Physical attack, California, Entrepreneur high school, Highland, Females attack cops, Video, Crime, San bernardino school officers 

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson told a wrestling host it was not healthy for him to be so animated over the sport and explained the whole business is not real.

Johnson’s comments stemmed from complaints about WWE’s WrestleMania 41, which aired April 19-20, and included disappointment over the fact that Johnson did not make an appearance. What made the no-show even worse was the fact that Johnson was heavily involved in the storyline leading up to the event that featured John Cena returning to the top of the promotion.

SiriusXM host and wrestling reporter Dave LaGreca was one of the most vocal critics of Johnson and heavily criticized the star for even going on talk shows after the event to say he would have done WrestleMania differently.

“Nice to hear from you now, pal. It’s over,” LaGreca said on his show “Busted Open.” “Now that everybody’s bitching and complaining. ‘Yeah. I would’ve done it differently.’ Oh, really? You talk about a Monday morning quarterback? That’s a Tuesday morning quarterback. Thanks, pal. Didn’t make yourself available. Didn’t show up at WrestleMania. But now I’m gonna say, ‘Yeah. I would have done things differently.’ You talk about completely throwing [WWE] under the bus. That’s exactly what the Rock did.”

‘Stop ranting; it’s not healthy, my friend. Enjoy the show.’

Johnson responded to the remarks on an Instagram post, which was shared by the show. In his reply, the 52-year-old immediately explained that everything in the wrestling business is for show.

“Hi Dave, the business is a complete work. Always has been, always will be,” Johnson wrote. “Every aspect of it. Every match. Every interview. Please join me, [other former wrestlers], and the rest of us for our creative discussions so you can expand your perspective.”

Johnson then told the host to “stop ranting; it’s not healthy, my friend. Enjoy the show.”

In the wrestling world, a “work” essentially means an act or a bit, and given that nearly everyone in the world knows professional wrestling comes with predetermined victors, Johnson’s reaction was taken by some as an unnecessary jab at someone who is passionate about the business.

— (@)

At the same time, Johnson’s reaction could certainly be taken as a work in itself, as the return of Cena has come with a new bit that included purposely destroying the business. The criticism here would be that Johnson is hiding behind the fact that wrestling is predetermined to escape responsibility for a poorly received product.

The WWE has certainly found new ways to blur the lines of its business in recent years, however, speaking openly about the product and its past on shows and podcasts. Even the company’s head of creative, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, has made appearances that would have made previous generations of wrestlers incredibly upset given the depth at which he has exposed the inner workings of the company.

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​Fearless, Wrestling, Wwe, The rock, John cena, Sports 

Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg is continuing to battle his own party, as it appears the DNC will be making a rule that bars DNC officials from being involved in primaries.

The drama within the Democratic Party started after Hogg announced that his personal organization, Leaders We Deserve, will spend $20 million to support primary challengers against incumbents he believes are not doing enough to resist President Donald Trump. The announcement set off a firestorm within the DNC and Capitol Hill.

Shortly thereafter, DNC Chairman Ken Martin indicated that a proposal to prevent DNC officers from involving themselves in primaries, even in a personal capacity, will be introduced at their annual meeting in the summer.

‘Nothing I’m doing is at odds with any of that.’

“As I’ve said to [Hogg], if you want to challenge incumbents, you’re more than free to do that, but just not as an officer of the DNC, because our job is to be neutral arbiters,” Martin said on a media call, according to Politico. “This is not about shielding incumbents or boosting challengers. It’s about voters’ trust in the party.”

Hogg took to social media to say he is not going to change his plans since he is currently not violating any rules. Hogg says the DNC changing its rules to stop him proves his point about needing new Democrats.

“They’re trying to change the rules because I’m not currently breaking them. As we’re seeing law firms, tech companies, and so many others bowing to Trump, we all must use whatever position of power we have to fight back. And that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Hogg said on X.

“The role of the DNC is to set the presidential primary calendar, set the presidential debate schedule, to help strengthen our state parties, play a key role in building our data infrastructure for the party, and to be the campaign in waiting for whoever the next Democratic nominee is. Nothing I’m doing is at odds with any of that,” he maintained.

Hogg pointed to the Democrats’ historically low approval rating, 27%, and said that number cannot improve by “just changing our words. We need to change who we are.”

The gun control activist has indicated that he is willing to lose his position as vice chairman in order to carry out his primary plans.

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​Politics, David hogg, Dnc 

Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, reportedly made an abrupt exit from the agency on Friday.

Kasper was previously expected to leave his position for another opportunity within the DOD. However, a senior official told Newsweek he would return to a government relations and consulting position for the Trump administration.

‘You make changes over time, and we’re grateful for everything Joe’s done.’

The official told the news outlet, “Joe Kasper will continue to serve President Trump as a Special Government Employee (SGE) handling special projects at the Department of Defense. Secretary Hegseth is thankful for his continued leadership and work to advance the America First agenda.”

Kasper is the fifth official to exit the agency over the past week amid a Pentagon shake-up as a result of an investigation into internal leaks.

Former Senior Adviser Dan Caldwell, former Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, and former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary Colin Carroll were previously removed and escorted out of the Pentagon.

The three released a joint statement following their removal.

“Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All three of us served our country honorably in uniform—for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” the statement read. “And, based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it.”

A source previously told Politico that Kasper was involved with the officials’ removal, claiming he was attempting to consolidate power.

“Kasper did not like that those guys had the secretary’s ear,” the source stated. “He did not like that they had walk-in and hanging-out privileges in the office. He wanted them out. It was a knife fight.”

During a Tuesday interview with Fox News, Hegseth stood behind Kasper, calling him “a great guy” and “a great American.”

“He has done a fantastic job for us at the Defense Department,” he continued. “He’s staying with us, going to be in a slightly different role, but he’s not going anywhere, certainly not fired. You make changes over time, and we’re grateful for everything Joe’s done.”

Regarding the removal of the three Pentagon officials, Hegseth stated, “When we had leaks, which we have had here, we did a serious leak investigation. And through that leak investigation, unfortunately, we found some folks that we believe that were not holding to the protocols that we hold dear here at the Defense Department. Through that investigation, they have been moved on and that investigation continues.”

The DOD did not respond to a request for comment from Politico.

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​New, Pete hegseth, Joe kasper, Department of defense, Dod, Defense department, Trump administration, Trump admin, Pentagon, Pentagon leak, Politics 

A trans-identifying man who was convicted of strangling a baby to death has filed a lawsuit accusing President Donald Trump of inciting sexual assault against him in prison.

Autumn Cordellionè, who was born Jonathan C. Richardson, claimed that he was raped by other male prisoners at the Westville Correctional Facility in Indiana and that his claims were ignored by guards.

‘We’re patriots and even if you tell on us, Trump will pardon us and probably give us a medal.’

Cordellionè claimed in the handwritten lawsuit that he had suffered numerous assaults by other prisoners who specifically cited the president being elected as the reason they could harm Cordellionè without penalty.

Richardson chose to transition in 2020 after 19 years in prison, but the state refused to pay for the surgery. The American Civil Liberties Union jumped on the case and won in court in 2023, forcing Indiana taxpayers to foot the bill for Richardson’s transgender surgery.

Cordellionè was convicted in 2011 of strangling to death the 11-month-old daughter of his girlfriend at the time. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison.

He said that he was assaulted after being moved from the New Castle Correctional Facility, where he was in special custody, to the male prison in Indiana.

“Trump’s president now, and we won’t even get in trouble for f**king you trannies up,” one assailant allegedly told Cordellionè.

“We’re patriots and even if you tell on us, Trump will pardon us and probably give us a medal,” another assailant allegedly said.

Cordellionè is seeking $3.5 million in damages from the president. The lawsuit says that Trump’s rhetoric contributed to the violation of the prisoner’s Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment.

He claims that Trump’s rhetoric also fueled discrimination among the prison guards and officials.

“I’ve seen your case on the news, and I personally don’t think us taxpayers should have to pay for your surgery,” one allegedly said. “God doesn’t approve of transgenders and gays, so what do you expect to happen when you dress like a woman and have t*** in a male facility?”

The Daily Mail reported that a White House spokesperson released a brief statement about the lawsuit.

“President Trump has vowed to defend biological women from gender ideology extremism and restore biological truth to the federal government,” read the statement.

Cordellionè had also sued after a prison chaplain allegedly restricted him from wearing a hijab. He argued in that lawsuit that he was a member of the Theosophical Society of America.

A spokesperson for ACLU praised the ruling in 2023 as a victory for civil rights.

“Today marks a significant victory for transgender individuals in Indiana’s prisons,” said Ken Falk at the time. “Denying evidence-based medical care to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender is unconstitutional. We are pleased that the court agreed.”

The 13-page lawsuit was filed on April 1.

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​Transgender prisoner, Trans woman sues trump, Trans prison rape, Autumn cordellione, Politics 

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest Friday of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstruction for her alleged role in helping an illegal alien escape detention last week.

Democratic lawmakers took a break from championing MS-13 associate Kilmar Abrego Garcia to condemn the Trump administration over Dugan’s arrest.

Fresh off threatening foreign nations that cooperate with President Donald Trump, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) told Axios, “It is remarkable that the Administration would dare to start arresting state court judges.”

Raskin’s use of the plural “judges” suggests he may have also been referring to the Thursday arrest of Jose Cano, a former judge of the Dona Ana County Magistrate Court in New Mexico, who was found allegedly harboring a suspected Tren de Aragua terrorist.

“It’s a whole new descent into government chaos,” added Raskin.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) also found fault — not with those individuals allegedly breaking the law but with the administration enforcing the law.

“The Trump administration again is breaking norms in how it’s dealing with immigration, the legal system, and normalcy,” said Pocan. “This is stuff I expect from Third World countries.”

‘If enough of us act similarly, and strategically, we can stand with our neighbors.’

Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman (Ohio) told Axios, “They arrested a judge?! They can no longer claim to be a party of law and order. This will have to be a red line for congressional Republicans. Unbelievable.”

Ahead of Dugan’s arrest, Wisconsin state Rep. Ryan Clancy stated, “I commend Judge Hannah Dugan’s defense of due process by preventing ICE from shamefully using her courtroom as an ad hoc holding area for deportations.”

“She used her position of power and privilege to protect someone from an agency that has repeatedly, flagrantly abused its own power,” continued Clancy. “If enough of us act similarly, and strategically, we can stand with our neighbors and build a better world.”

‘The Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.’

Patel indicated that Judge Dugan helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz get away from immigration officials following his pre-trial April 18 appearance in her courtroom.

Flores-Ruiz, an illegal alien from Mexico who was previously deported in 2013, faces three misdemeanor counts of battery. The battery charges reportedly include modifiers for domestic violence and reflect that he allegedly punched one individual 30 times, then brutalized the woman who attempted to intervene.

Bondi noted in an interview Friday that both of Flores-Ruiz’s alleged victims had to be hospitalized.

“We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest,” said Patel. “Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.”

Flores-Ruiz is now listed as being in ICE custody at Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Brady McCarron, spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, reportedly indicated that Dugan is being charged with two federal felony counts: obstruction and concealing an individual.

‘No one is above the law.’

Chief Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Carl Ashley noted in an email to judges that ICE agents came to the courthouse on April 18 with an arrest warrant and identified themselves to security. They went to the sixth floor, where Dugan’s courtroom is located, and “presented the warrant as well as their identification,” reported the Sentinel.

Bondi told Fox News that when Dugan found out ICE was outside her court room, “She goes out in the hallway, screams at the immigration officers — she’s furious, visibly shaken, upset — sends them off to talk to the chief judge.”

Sources told the Sentinel that while ICE officials went to talk to a chief judge on the sixth floor, Dugan took the illegal alien and his attorney to a side door in the court room, directed them down a private hallway, and into a public area, reported the Sentinel.

Judge Dugan reportedly went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries during a brief hearing Friday afternoon and made no public comments. Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, told the court, “Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi noted on X, “No one is above the law.”

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​Accessory, Illegal alien, Illegal immigration, Ice, Deportation, Hannah dugan, Democrats, Leftism, Immigration and customs enforcement, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Politics 

The NFL draft opened with a lot more fanfare than usual in 2025, but received backlash just for mentioning the sitting president.

As soon-to-play athletes in the NFL showed up in fancier suits and bigger chains than ever before due to name, image, and likeness deals, the pageantry of the 2025 NFL Draft was unlike any other, as seemingly the entire city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, showed up to an outdoor rendition of the night that looked more like a music festival than a sporting event.

The night began, for some reason, with Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Green Bay Packers star Clay Matthews, and rapper Lil Wayne riding bicycles onto the stage.

Matthews then stepped up to the podium to begin the night and revealed he had a message from the president.

“I just got off the phone with the president, Donald Trump,” Matthews began, as the crowd reacted with a huge cheer. “He asked me to pass a message along to all 32 NFL franchises.”

Matthews then slowly opened an envelope before saying, “So let me tell you what it reads here, all right? It says, ‘My fellow Americans, the Bears still suck!'”

Matthews later posted a picture of his alleged presidential letter online. However, even just a passing mention of President Trump during the draft was enough to rattle a few cages.

One fan called the instance “s***ty,” while another who had “Trump for prison” in their X profile said to Matthews, “Another reason to hate you.”

One viewer even took the chance to call Matthews a “MAGA fascist.”

— (@)

It was a unique draft night for many reasons, but no more awkward moment was felt than one involving Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders.

Sanders had an entire set erected and a draft party set up in anticipation of his first-round selection. The set was complete with a shelf of prospective teams’ hats, an interview area, and more. Unfortunately for Sanders, he was not drafted and had to address fans and media members after his name went uncalled.

“We all didn’t expect this, of course,” Sanders told fans. “But I feel like with God, anything is possible, everything is possible. I don’t feel like this happened for no reason.”

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

As for the first overall selection, the Tennessee Titans chose Cam Ward from Miami with their No. 1 pick. The young quarterback thanked God for his selection as he fought back tears.

“The hard work that I put myself through, and just the unbelievable work ethic that I have — I just always had faith.”

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​Fearless, Nfl, Draft, Football, Clay matthews, President trump, Green bay, Sports 

Senior policy strategist May Mailman revealed her proudest achievement during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office during an exclusive sit-down interview with Blaze News editor in chief Matthew Peterson.

Mailman told Peterson that in addition to the secure border, which she says is Trump’s most obvious accomplishment, she has sensed a real “culture shift” with the new administration in office.

“I think there really is a culture shift,” Mailman told Peterson. “I almost hate the word ‘DEI,’ because nobody knows what it means, but I would say you’ve seen companies change their policies to no longer discriminate. In the government, every single office that is responsible for discriminating is closed. It’s gone. Those people have been let go.”

‘I think that that cultural change is something that we’ve really seen shifted from the government and externally.’

The culture war was a central focus of Trump’s campaign and now of his second term in office. The president signed several DEI-related executive orders in the first 100 days. These directives have also had a trickle-down effect across federal agencies that have worked to uproot discriminatory policies that valued one’s identity over merit.

“If we can have the equality in our country that is sort of the root basis of our nation’s promise, that you should be treated as an individual, that you should be given opportunity based on who you are, that change, what more could you ask for?” Mailman said. “I think that that cultural change is something that we’ve really seen shifted from the government and externally.”

“To do business with the government, to be a contractor, you can’t discriminate against people,” Mailman added. “You’re going to start seeing that more and more and more, and I think it will be a legacy item.”

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​Matthew peterson, May mailman, Donald trump, Trump administration, Border, Immigration, Dei, Diversity equity inclusion, Discrimination, Meritocracy, Maga mandate, Politics 

A group of Good Samaritans were seen in a video saving a mother and her two young children from an attempted kidnapping in Florida.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office this week released video of the scary incident, which took place March 12.

‘More than a dozen Jacksonville Good Samaritans stepped in during a dangerous situation, potentially saving a mother and two children from serious injury or worse.’

The clip shows a woman desperately trying to rescue her 2-year-old and 6-month-old children from an SUV in the parking lot of a Department of Motor Vehicles office near Jacksonville.

Citing the arrest affidavit, Mediaite reported that the suspect “struck the woman in the face and then attempted to drive off with the children as she was unbuckling one of them.”

Onlookers noticed that the woman was being dragged from the moving vehicle as she attempted to save her children in the back seat from the apparent kidnapping.

Several Good Samaritans jumped into action to swarm the SUV.

Surveillance video shows the vehicle coming to a stop, and the crowd is able to help the mother remove the two young children from the vehicle.

The SUV then speeds away from the crime scene.

However, witnesses provided the SUV’s license plate number to authorities, and police were able to track down the alleged kidnapper.

Police bodycam footage shows deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office apprehending the suspect at gunpoint later that day at a nearby shopping center.

In the police bodycam video, the suspect continually asks the officers: “What did I do?”

Police identified the kidnapping suspect as 26-year-old Yanni Human.

Human is facing felony charges of false imprisonment, child abuse, battery, marijuana possession, and resisting arrest.

“More than a dozen Jacksonville Good Samaritans stepped in during a dangerous situation, potentially saving a mother and two children from serious injury or worse,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated.

The sheriff’s office added, “This situation could have ended in tragedy. Your JSO is grateful for the quick action and bravery of the Good Samaritans who stepped up and helped bring the suspect to justice.”

You can watch video of the attempted kidnapping here.

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​Crime thwarted, Florida, Good samaritans, Attempted kidnapping, Video, Jacksonville, Jacksonville sheriff’s office, Bodycam video, Arrest, Mother and children, Rescue, Crime 

The MS-13 deportation case in Maryland surrounding illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia has reignited the debate over immigration law — and in the meantime, the media are doing what they do best.

That is, painting the suspected MS-13 gang member as a victim.

Abrego Garcia, 29, was initially deported by the Trump administration, which claimed that he was an MS-13 gang member — and also allegedly violently beat his wife in the past. As President Trump has declared MS-13 a terrorist organization, he’s made it no secret that he plans to deport all members of the gang.

However, the media has been focusing on the positive details in Abrego Garcia’s life, such as being a father.

“As you know, he’s a married father of three,” Pat Gray of “Pat Gray Unleashed” comments sarcastically, noting that the media is portraying him as “a saint.”

“Being a vicious MS-13 gang member, that’s just his night job,” he adds.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Albrego Garcia’s wife, even filed a protection order against her husband in 2021. In the filing, Sura alleged that Abrego Garcia repeatedly beat her, saying, “At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he left me.”

When questioned on the protective order by Michael Strahan of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Sura deflected and refused to answer.

But Strahan didn’t press her on it.

“He runs an orphanage for dyslexic, handicapped orphans with ADHD,” Gray jokes. “That’s what I learned from the mainstream media.”

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​Video, Free, Camera phone, Sharing, Video phone, Upload, Youtube.com, Pat gray unleashed, Pat gray, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Kilmar abrego garcia, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Immigration, Illegal aliens, Ms-13, Ms-13 gang, Terrorists 

If a nuclear missile were fired at the United States right now, would we have the power to stop it? Mark Levin says the answer is a chilling no.

“We do have the technology to knock [missiles] out of the sky, but are we literally set in place to knock them out of the sky? The answer is no,” he says.

Given Iran’s relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, America’s alarming lack of a robust defense system like Israel’s Iron Dome, and rising tensions in the Middle East, Levin argues that the United States ought to have a much stronger opinion about preventing Iran from building nuclear muscle.

He explains how currently Iran lacks a strong air force, navy, and robust ground-to-air missile systems. The country’s resources are stretched thanks to funding groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

The weak state of Iran’s government, which lacks popular support and relies on a “very powerful police state” to stay in power, makes Iran even more unstable but also more dangerous, as it pushes for nuclear weapons to gain power and prestige. Iran’s Persian people are often educated and pro-America, yet their regime’s iron fist drives this reckless nuclear ambition.

“Can you imagine if these Islamo-Nazis have nuclear weapons, and once they get one, they’ll have 101; they’ll have 1,001. There’s no stopping them at that point. Then you cannot pre-emptively attack them,” Levin warns.

Despite recent claims that he and Israel are warmongers, Levin insists that war is what everyone hopes to avoid. He argues that Israel, being in the region, would use its own troops in any conflict, not drag U.S. soldiers into war.

“I’ve got grandkids and kids. You think I want to drag anybody into a war?” he asks.

Levin doubts Iran’s leaders, after years of investment, would abandon their nuclear program through negotiations, making the need to act now even more urgent. To hear more of his commentary, watch the clip above.

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​Levintv, Mark levin, Blazetv, Blaze media, Iran, Nuclear weapons, Sanctions, Israel 

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday morning that the agency recently arrested a Wisconsin judge, claiming that she helped an illegal alien “evade arrest.”

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested on obstruction charges, according to Patel.

‘They were asked whether they had a warrant, and the agents presented the warrant as well as their identification.’

The FBI director wrote in an X post that Dugan attempted to obstruct an “immigration arrest operation last week.”

“We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest,” he stated.

“Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public,” Patel wrote.

He noted that the agency would have “more to share soon” on Dugan’s arrest and thanked the FBI Milwaukee for its “excellent work.”

— (@)

Federal sources confirmed Dugan’s arrest to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, stating that she is scheduled to appear in court on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries.

Dugan’s arrest occurred at the courthouse, according to multiple Milwaukee County judges, the news outlet reported.

Dugan declined the Journal Sentinel’s request for comment regarding the investigation on Thursday. On Tuesday, she told the news outlet, “Nearly every fact regarding the ‘tips’ in your email is inaccurate.”

Flores-Ruiz, whom Dugan is accused of assisting in evading authorities, is reportedly a 30-year-old Mexican national facing three misdemeanor battery counts. His pretrial conference was scheduled for April 18 in Dugan’s courtroom.

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrived in Dugan’s courtroom, the judge allegedly instructed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to escape out a side door leading to a private hallway with an exit into a public area, sources told the Journal Sentinel.

According to an email from Chief Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Carl Ashley to judges, the ICE agents had an arrest warrant.

“They were asked whether they had a warrant, and the agents presented the warrant as well as their identification,” the email reads. “They were asked to go to Chief Judge’s office. They complied. … They presented a warrant, which we copied.”

Dugan responded to Ashley’s email on April 21, stating, “As a point of clarification below, a warrant was not presented in the hallway on the sixth floor.”

ICE previously arrested two individuals at the same courthouse in March and April.

The FBI did not respond to requests for comment from the Journal Sentinel.

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​News, Kash patel, Federal bureau of investigation, Fbi, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Milwaukee wisconsin, Hannah dugan, Immigration, Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Illegal immigration crisis, Judicial overreach, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Politics 

University of Louisville officials have agreed to pay nearly $1.6 million to settle their case with Dr. Allan Josephson, the professor whom the university demoted, then canned for speaking out against child sex changes, after 15 years of distinguished service.

“I’m glad to finally receive vindication for voicing what I know is true,” Josephson said in a statement Monday.

Gender ideology and the sex-change regime it gave rise to in the West have suffered a series of mortal blows in recent years.

The practice of so-called gender-affirming care has been outed as ruinous pseudo-science; practitioners have been damned by their own words as freewheeling mutilators; and LGBT activists’ narrative in support of sex changes has collapsed in the face of mounting contradictory evidence. Meanwhile, across the country and beyond, lawmakers have passed legislation and policy affirming the meaningful and immutable distinction between men and women, preventing the invasion by men of women’s spaces, and protecting children from sex-change procedures.

While popular opinion is now unmistakably against gender ideology and the corresponding medicalization of children, those who stood their ground against the sex-change regime in recent years often did so at great reputational and professional risk. Dr. Allan Josephson found this out the hard way.

‘Runs counter to the messages of inclusion and welcome that we have been sending.’

Josephson, a psychiatrist, joined the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2003, where he led the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology without incident until Josephson spoke on a Heritage Foundation panel in October 2017 titled “Gender Dysphoria in Children: Understanding the Science and the Medicine.”

Josephson — who previously expressed concerns over the medical procedures to which children experiencing so-called gender dysphoria were being subjected — explained:

Gender dysphoria is a socio-cultural, psychological phenomenon that cannot be fully addressed with drugs and surgery. Thus, doctors and others should explore what causes this confusion and help the child learn how to meet this developmental challenge.

According to court documents, the psychiatrist’s opinion apparently did not sit well with Brian Buford, the director of the university’s LGBT executive center, who contacted the medical school’s then-dean Toni Ganzel, suggesting that Josephson “might be violating the ethical standards for psychiatry” and drawing unwanted national attention for an opinion that “puts our reputation at risk and runs counter to the messages of inclusion and welcome that we have been sending.”

Ganzel, in turn, noted that Josephson’s remarks did not “reflect the culture” that the school was “trying so hard to promote,” said court documents.

The concern-mongering over Josephson’s perceived “highly conservative position” quickly snowballed. The doctor’s colleagues began hectoring him about his remarks, and by the end of the November 2017, they were pressuring him to resign as division chief for daring to express an opinion out of line with the new orthodoxy.

Under mounting pressure, Josephson agreed to resign as division head effective early December 2017. This did not, however, satisfy the ideologues in his midst who were apparently keen on institutional uniformity of vision on this issue.

Court documents indicate that officials in the school’s LGBT executive center as well as Josephson’s division colleagues plotted to undermine him, partly by challenging his “inductive reasoning as unscientific and ask how much he’s earned as an expert witness over the last two years on sexuality issues.”

‘Public universities have no business punishing professors simply because they hold different views.’

Josephson was told not to treat non-straight patients and apparently surveilled, with his conduct detailed on what one division official dubbed an “Allan tracking document.” Those colleagues who took issue with his remarks also criticized Josephson’s work performance and productivity.

By February 2019, it became clear that the school had decided not to renew the doctor’s contract. Shortly thereafter, Josephson filed suit against several university officials, alleging First Amendment retaliation.

The university fought the case all the way up to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which ruled in September that:

Josephson’s speech was constitutionally protected, as it addressed a matter of public concern; the university officials failed to demonstrate that Josephson’s “remarks had a significant disruptive effect on the Medical School’s operations”; and a reasonable jury could find that each of the defendants “retaliated against Josephson because he engaged in speech protected by the First Amendment.”

Apparently aware they were fighting a losing battle, university officials apparently agreed to pay nearly $1.6 million in damages and attorney fee to settle the lawsuit.

“After several years, free speech and common sense have scored a major victory on college campuses,” said Travis Barham, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, the group that represented Josephson.

“As early as 2014, Dr. Josephson saw the truth behind dangerous procedures that activists were pushing on children struggling with their sex,” continued Barham. “He risked his livelihood and reputation to speak the truth boldly, and the university punished him for expressing his opinion — ultimately by dismissing him. But public universities have no business punishing professors simply because they hold different views.”

“Hopefully, other public universities will learn from this that if they violate the First Amendment, they can be held accountable, and it can be very expensive,” added Barham.

Josephson stated, “Children deserve better than life-altering procedures that mutilate their bodies and destroy their ability to lead fulfilling lives. In spite of the circumstances I suffered through with my university, I’m overwhelmed to see that my case helped lead the way for other medical practitioners to see the universal truth that altering biological sex is impossibly dangerous, while acceptance of one’s sex leads to flourishing.”

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​University of louisville, Louisville, Gender, Transgender, Lgbt, Gender identity, Trans, Sex change, Leftism, Psychiatry, Science, Lawsuit, Allan josephson, Politics 

An attacker covered from head to toe in dark clothing, shoes, and a ski mask brutally attacked a screaming woman in suburban Philadelphia early Thursday morning, as surveillance video shows the suspect flattening the victim with a flying kick from behind in a parking lot outside her apartment and then stomping and punching her before running off.

Hatfield Township police said the attack — which took place as the woman was leaving her apartment around 4:30 a.m. — appears targeted, but they’re investigating all possibilities, WPVI-TV reported.

‘I couldn’t believe someone would actually do that, and it’s coming from behind … a shallow man.’

One resident in the Hatfield Village Apartments told the station his neighbor’s screams woke him up.

“I opened my blinds, and I saw my neighbor getting up,” Christopher Stevens told WPVI. “It looked like she had just been attacked.”

Stevens called 911 and showed officers his Ring video, the station added.

“It looked like he waited for her for about 10 minutes, and then when she came out to go to work, he jumped on her,” Stevens noted to WPVI, adding that “it was pretty traumatizing to see that happen to somebody. I really hope she’s okay.”

You can view a video report here; it includes the surveillance clip of the attack.

Scully Company, which manages the property, issued a statement, WPVI said: “Our thoughts and concern are with our resident, and we are hopeful for a quick recovery. Out of respect for their privacy and due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”

An unnamed neighbor told the station she’s “disgusted” over the attack and that “I couldn’t believe someone would actually do that, and it’s coming from behind … a shallow man.”

Kevin Finn, who has lived in the apartment complex for the last six years, told the station that the powers that be should install “camera systems, and a security patrol would probably be good.”

Police are warning residents to remain vigilant but said there’s no reason to feel at risk due to this incident, WPVI reported.

Those with information about the attack should call 215-855-0903, the station noted.

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Stephen A. Smith has distanced himself from Shannon Sharpe after Sharpe was hit with a $50 million lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, battery, and emotional abuse.

Smart move on Smith’s part, says Jason Whitlock.

“Stephen A. Smith is a little bit scared. This is a bad look for him, and Stephen A. Smith has already admitted he went to Diddy parties, and Stephen A. Smith is probably cutting checks,” he says.

In a recent video, Smith responded to the allegations against Sharpe with the following:

“I also spoke to co-chairman of Disney — the boss, Jimmy Pitaro — who made it very, very clear we are taking this matter very seriously, and we are looking into this very, very closely, and once we gather as many facts as we possibly can, we will go from there. And that is all he said, and I can mention his name because I received his permission to say that. I don’t know what that means.”

Jason says Smith knows exactly what it means, which is why he’s “backpedaling.”

“A doo-doo storm is about to erupt and sweep Shannon Sharpe out,” he says, adding that he’s been looped in by certain journalists about “little leaks and other stories” that are coming down the pipeline.

“I think Stephen A. Smith knows what’s about to happen, and now he’s in full rear end kiss mode,” Jason predicts.

Not only does he think Smith is pandering to the boss, but he also thinks he might actually be happy about the lawsuit.

“Sharpe was building a YouTube channel and a career that was going to surpass Stephen A. Smith,” says Jason. “Smith wants to be a late-night talk show host. Shannon Sharpe was positioning himself to be a late-night talk show host. He’s more talented than Stephen A. Smith. Stephen A. Smith is very happy with what’s happening to Shannon Sharpe.”

That’s why he didn’t believe Smith when, in the same video, he expressed his hopes for Sharpe’s exoneration.

“In my perfect world, this equates to Jay-Z, where the case is ultimately dropped, and Shannon is allowed to continue on ‘First Take’ and continue to thrive and shine. … In my perfect world, he moves on and somehow, some way, we find this all to be false,” Smith said, adding, “But it doesn’t seem like that’s the way things are about to go down, considering who Mr. Buzbee is.”

“Stephen A. has let it slip that unless these charges are dropped, ain’t no more Shannon Sharpe on ‘First Take.’ That’s how I heard that,” says Jason.

To hear more of his analysis, watch the clip above.

Want more from Jason Whitlock?

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​Fearless, Fearless with jason whitlock, Jason whitlock, Shannon sharpe, Shannon sharpe lawsuit, Stephen a smith, Espn, Disney, Blazetv, Blaze media 

The Trump administration is working to eliminate the monetary incentive for foreign nationals to steal into the country and to pressure noncitizens presently exploiting citizen supports to wean off or get packing.

Pursuant to President Donald Trump’s Feb. 19 executive order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture is now taking steps to ensure that illegal aliens cannot get their hands on food stamps.

“President Trump has made it clear that American taxpayers will no longer subsidize illegal aliens,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a Thursday statement.

“We are stewards of taxpayer dollars, and it is our duty to ensure states confirm the identity and verify the immigration status of SNAP applicants,” continued Rollins. “USDA’s nutrition programs are intended to support the most vulnerable Americans. To allow those who broke our laws by entering the United States illegally to receive these benefits is outrageous.”

The USDA issued guidance on Thursday to state SNAP agencies nationwide setting out the minimum expectations for eligibility verification to prevent “ineligible aliens” from participating in the program.

Only American citizens and certain lawfully present noncitizens, including individuals granted asylum, are eligible for SNAP benefits. However, the U.S Government Accountability Office noted in a September 2024 report that an estimated 11.7% or $10.5 billion of SNAP benefits paid out by the USDA in fiscal year 2023 “were the wrong amount or otherwise should not have been made.”

The report indicated that “states made improper payments related to SNAP mainly because they did not verify recipients’ eligibility for program benefits.” States apparently often failed to verify whether recipients were citizens or lawfully present noncitizens.

The Center for Immigration Studies revealed in a December 2023 report that 48% of “illegal-headed households” used food welfare programs.

‘Taxpayer-funded benefits should be only for eligible taxpayers.’

As of 2022, American taxpayers were on the hook for at least $182 billion annually to provide services and benefits to illegal aliens and their dependents, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

The new USDA guidance requires state agencies to:

verify the identity of the applicant, ideally before confirming their immigration status; collect and verify Social Security numbers for all household members applying for SNAP benefits; compare SSNs to the Social Security Agency’s Death Master File database and ensure the SSN belongs to the applicant; andcheck alien applications against the Department of Homeland Security Systematic Alien Verification System for Entitlements — which DHS Secretary Kristi Noem advised governors last week is now available to states for free — to ensure eligibility.

The guidance provided other recommendations and advised state agencies that the Food and Nutrition Service “will assess the effectiveness of identity and immigration status verification practices in regular management evaluations for program compliance.”

The USDA issued the new guidance just a week after Trump issued a memo directing his administration to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving taxpayer funds from Social Security Act programs, including Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Blaze News previously reported that the memo directed the Social Security Administration to expand its fraud prosecutor programs, investigate earning reports of individuals supposedly 100 years or older with mismatched records, consider reinstating its civil monetary penalty program, and reinforce program integrity measures so only eligible foreign nationals can receive benefits.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on April 15, “These taxpayer-funded benefits should be only for eligible taxpayers.”

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​Ebt, Food stamps, Snap, Supplemental nutrition assistance program, Usda, U.s. department of agriculture, Identity theft, Illegal aliens, Immigration, Non-citizen, Benefits, Welfare, Illegal alien, Politics 

A former judge in New Mexico and his wife were taken into custody Thursday night in connection with a suspected Tren de Aragua gangster who had apparently been living at their residence.

In fact, three young male illegal aliens from Venezuela had apparently been living in the casita behind the Las Cruces home shared by Nancy and Jose “Joel” Cano. All three Venezuelans, including 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, have been described by federal agents as well-known members of the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

On February 28, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a search warrant on the Canos’ home in connection with the suspected gangsters, who were all arrested. Three days later Joel Cano, a former cop, announced his resignation as magistrate judge in Doña Ana County, an elected position he first won in 2010 as a Democrat, Blaze News previously reported.

‘There is no way in the world that I would have allowed my grandkids to have any contact with the boys if I had sensed danger.’

The New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission soon opened an investigation into Cano for possible “willful misconduct,” and Cano submitted a 23-page letter responding to the allegations. In the letter, Cano repeatedly referred to the suspected gang members as “the boys” and denied having any idea that they could be bad news.

“Let me be as crystal clear as possible,” he wrote, according to KOAT. “The very first time I ever heard that the boys could possibly have any association with Tren de Aragua was when I was informed of that by [the] agents on the day of the raid.”

Cano further insisted that if he had known, he would never have allowed “the boys” to interact with his grandchildren: “I have three grandkids that I love dearly. … There is no way in the world that I would have allowed my grandkids to have any contact with the boys if I had sensed danger.”

Cano also claimed that official documents indicated that “the boys” were not at risk of deportation. He said he repeatedly saw “this person is not subject to removal” noted on their forms and that they had asylum hearings scheduled.

Finally, the ex-judge denied other accusations related to photo and video evidence revealing that on at least one occasion, the Canos and the alleged gangbangers took a trip to the local gun range. “I did not take a single firearm to the range. I took no ammunition to the range either. [My wife] and I went only as spectators,” Cano claimed.

Nancy Cano’s daughter, April Cano, has been accused of allowing Ortega-Lopez “to hold and sometimes shoot various firearms” she owns. Prosecutors reportedly submitted photo and video evidence of Ortega-Lopez holding her weapons. Ortega-Lopez’s TDA-related tattoos are likewise allegedly visible in the photos and video.

According to reports, Nancy Cano first met Ortega-Lopez when he was living in El Paso, working construction and other odd jobs after he was released from an immigration detention facility in South Laredo because of overcrowding in December 2023. Ortega-Lopez reportedly told agents that Mrs. Cano invited him and his friends to move into the guest home on her property in Las Cruces after they had done some work for the couple.

‘Initially we came back here to arrest his wife, and as we started obviously conducting our interviews and started looking at evidence, we subsequently arrested Mr. Cano as well.’

Ortega-Lopez currently sits in the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond, facing charges related to illegal border crossing and federal weapons violations.

And now, he and the Canos are together again. Mr. and Mrs. Cano are both likewise locked up at the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond, facing charges of tampering with evidence, jail records show.

Jason Stevens, the Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge of the El Paso office, gave further insights into their apprehension. “Initially we came back here to arrest his wife, and as we started obviously conducting our interviews and started looking at evidence, we subsequently arrested Mr. Cano as well,” he said, according to Newsweek.

John Fabbricatore, former ICE field office director, spoke for many when told a local news outlet: “To see that a judge would allow this to happen, it’s very concerning. It’s concerning. What else has the judge been doing?”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded to the news of the Canos’ arrest on social media:

Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens — including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang.

If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and lock you up.

That’s a promise.

The New Mexico Supreme Court has permanently barred Joel Cano from ever serving on the bench again.

The Canos did not respond to a request for comment from KOAT, which presumably reached out to the couple prior to their arrest.

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​Joel cano, Cano, Cristhian ortega-lopez, Tren de aragua, Tda, Doña ana county, Ice, Raid, Weapons, Venezuela, Illegal alien, Illegal immigrant, Politics 

President Donald Trump’s Department of Transportation replaced federal prosecutors who leaked damaging information regarding the administration’s plan to terminate New York City’s congestion toll.

On Wednesday evening, the Department of Justice lawyers accidentally — they claimed — filed in federal court a confidential memo that undermined the administration’s case.

‘It’s sad to see a premier legal organization continue to fall into such disgrace.’

The 11-page letter, dated April 11, was written by the lawyers and addressed to Sean Duffy, informing the DOT secretary that they believed their case was “exceedingly likely” to fail.

“We have been unable to identify a compelling legal argument to support this position,” they wrote.

The prosecutors recommended Duffy form a stronger argument against the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s DOT in February for attempting to put a stop to the congestion toll.

“As discussed below, there is considerable litigation risk in defending the Secretary’s February 19, 2025 decision against plaintiffs’ claims under the Administrative Procedure Act, that the decision was contrary to law, pretextual, procedurally arbitrary and capricious, and violated due process,” the attorneys told Duffy.

The prosecutors suggested that Duffy use Office of Management and Budget regulations to argue the congestion toll should be terminated “as a matter of changed agency priorities.” They also stated that the administration could claim that the pricing was based on MTA’s funding level needs and not a goal to reduce traffic.

However, the lawyers concluded that both of these arguments were unlikely to convince the court.

Nicholas Biase, a Southern District of New York spokesperson, stated that the filing of the confidential memo “was a completely honest error and was not intentional in any way.”

Yet, the DOT questioned whether the leak was deliberate.

Halee Dobbins, a DOT spokesperson, stated, “Are SDNY lawyers on this case incompetent or was this their attempt to RESIST? At the very least, it’s legal malpractice.”

“It’s sad to see a premier legal organization continue to fall into such disgrace,” she said. “SDNY’s memo doesn’t represent reality. [New York Governor] Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing war against the working class was hastily approved by the Biden Administration after Donald Trump was elected.”

“Taxpayers already financed the highways that Hochul is now shutting down to the driving public and there is no free alternative. This is unprecedented and illegal. If New York doesn’t shut it down, the Department of Transportation is considering halting projects and funding for the state,” Dobbins added.

The DOT replaced the attorneys with others in the DOJ’s Civil Division.

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​News, Donald trump, Trump, Department of transportation, Dot, New york city, New york, Kathy hochul, Congestion toll, Sean duffy, Department of justice, Doj, Southern district of new york, Sdny, Politics 

There is a battle under way over the ownership and identity of the iconic ice cream brand Ben and Jerry’s — and its radical leftist founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, appear to be losing badly.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal indicated that Cohen was trying to gather investors to buy back the brand that he and Greenfield sold to Unilever 25 years ago.

This buyback initiative came just weeks after Unilever removed the company’s anti-Trump CEO Dave Stever, allegedly on account of his commitment to Ben and Jerry’s leftist activism and despite a letter of support from Cohen and Greenfield; after years of clashes over how the ice cream company communicates its politics; and amid Unilever’s preparations to spin off its ice cream assets.

“In the year 2000, Unilever loved us for who we were,” Cohen told the Journal. “Now we’ve gone separate ways in our relationship. We just need them to set us free.”

Unilever crushed Cohen’s dream this week, indicating that Ben and Jerry’s is “not for sale,” reported Bloomberg.

“The separation and listing of ice cream is the option that we consider maximizes shareholder value; that has not changed,” Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez said on a media call.

As of July 1, Unilever ice cream will reportedly become the Magnum Ice Cream Company and be listed in the Netherlands as a separate entity.

After tolerating decades of radioactive politics, Unilever appears keen to decontaminate Ben and Jerry’s.

‘Many states found Unilever to be in violation of their anti-boycott, divestment, and sanctions laws.’

The ice cream company has long appeared less focused on selling its sugary dessert and more focused on selling a woke political worldview. For instance, under its previous radical leadership, the company:

told Americans celebrating the Fourth of July that “it’s high time we recognize that the US exists on stolen Indigenous land and commit to returning it”;
called for the defunding of police;
opposed legislation banning men from women’s sports, preventing teachers from grooming students behind parents’ backs, keeping boys out of girls’ locker rooms, and protecting children from drag shows;
issued misleading commentary about Kyle Rittenhouse;
bemoaned the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and advocated for looser abortion laws;
took hard anti-Israel stances;
rolled out “Pecan Resist” in 2018 — a flavor that the company said “supports groups creating a more just and equitable nation for us all, and who are fighting President Trump’s regressive agenda”; and
promoted Democratic candidates in concert with the leftist organizing outfit MoveOn Civic Action.

Ben and Jerry’s still appears to be a sugary leftist front, complaining about “white people occupy[ing] a disproportionate number of positions of power in our society,” championing non-straight activism, pushing climate alarmism, creating a coconut-flavored Kamala Harris ice cream, and pouring boatloads of money into radical causes. However, Unilever has apparently begun to suffer the effects of the ice cream company’s activism.

Unilever noted in a March legal filing that as a result of the 2021 decision by Ben and Jerry’s to halt sales of its ice cream in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, “many states found Unilever to be in violation of their anti-boycott, divestment, and sanctions laws leading to multiple lawsuits in the United States and Israel, accusations of antisemitism, severe sanctions, and the divestment of hundreds of millions of dollars in Unilever’s stock.”

Unilever subsequently sold the company’s ice cream business in Israel to its Israeli distributor, ensuring continued sales throughout the Jewish state.

‘Business is the most powerful force in our society.’

The Journal noted that this resulted in a lawsuit as well as Unilever’s assertion that after two decades of supporting the brand’s activism, the advocacy by Ben and Jerry’s for “one-sided, highly controversial, and polarizing topics” put it, the ice cream company, and their employees at risk.

Two years after the first lawsuit, Ben and Jerry’s sued Unilever again in November, alleging its parent company tried to suppress the ice cream company’s efforts to publicly support Palestinians and criticize Israel’s war on Hamas terrorists.

“Ben & Jerry’s is a company with a soul,” Cohen told the Journal. “Business is the most powerful force in our society, and for that, it has responsibility to the society.”

With the legal battle still ongoing, Unilever — perhaps recognizing that businesses actually just have a responsibility to their shareholders — recently threatened to pull funding from the Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, reported Reuters.

Sources said to be familiar with the matter told Reuters that Unilever has conditioned continued funding — roughly $5 million a year — on the foundation agreeing to an expedited audit of its donations.

The foundation said in a statement Tuesday, “Unilever has funded the work of the foundation as a social justice organization throughout the years since the merger without any issues being raised. We are hopeful we will have the same cooperative relationship with the Magnum Ice Cream Company, the new spin-off company for Unilever’s ice cream business.”

The foundation added, “We have reached out to Unilever for clarification of news reports about the Foundation’s ongoing financial support.”

Fernandez said of the proposed foundation audit, “We have not made any threat,” reported Bloomberg.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that these funds are used properly,” said the Unilever CEO. “It has to be allocated to areas or institutions that are absolutely in line with the ones that are part of the acquisition agreement.”

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​Business, Unilever, Icecream, Ice cream, Magnum ice cream company, Ben & jerry’s, Ben and jerrys, Ben cohen, Jerry greenfield, Politics