It is Tunisia’s duty to stand with the Palestinians, its president has said The Tunisian parliament on Thursday began discussing a bill that would define [more…]
Category: blaze media
Alex Pretti broke a rib in a previous altercation with feds a week before he died: CNN
The man who was shot and killed during a scuffle with federal agents last weekend had suffered a broken rib in a previous altercation with federal agents, sources claim.
Alex Pretti tried to intervene in another federal immigration operation and got tackled by federal agents about a week before his death, according to the CNN report.
‘That day, he thought he was going to die.’
The report was based on a person who spoke to Pretti about the previous incident but asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution.
That source said the incident began when Pretti saw federal agents chasing a family, and he reacted by blowing his whistle and shouting at them. The agents tackled Pretti, and one leaned on his back, which led to a rib being broken, according to Pretti’s alleged comments to the source.
Pretti was released at the scene.
“That day, he thought he was going to die,” the source said to CNN.
Records reviewed by CNN showed that Pretti was given medication consistent with treatment for a broken rib.
It was unclear whether federal agents recognized Pretti in the second and lethal encounter, CNN reported.
RELATED: Ilhan Omar accuses Trump of ulterior motive for ICE raids — and JD Vance shuts her down
The CNN report suggested that Pretti could have been known to federal agents because of efforts to collect information about protesters.
“One thing I’m pushing for right now … we’re going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding, and assault — we’re going to make them famous,” said Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, earlier in the month. “We’re going to put their face on TV. We’re going to let their employers, in their neighborhoods, in their schools, know who these people are.”
President Donald Trump sent Homan to oversee the operation in Minneapolis, and Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino is reportedly set to leave the city. Homan will report directly to Trump and is meeting with Tim Walz, the state’s governor, and Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis mayor, to negotiate their cooperation with the federal government.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Alex pretti death, Pretti broken ribs, Lethal fed shooting, Cnn pretti report, Politics
Trump’s Greenland talk sparks media panic — but what’s really happening?
As the media continues to speculate on Trump’s negotiations with NATO, Greenland, and Denmark — BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere and Glenn Beck’s head writer Jason Buttrill unpack what they believe is actually happening.
“I find myself in a weird position on the Greenland thing. Which is like, I do see its strategic value. It would be great. I don’t necessarily love the way that we went about all of this, frankly. But I will say I really don’t understand what’s happening,” Stu says.
“I don’t necessarily listen to everything that Donald Trump says, because a lot of times what Donald Trump is saying is not directed at me. It’s not directed at you. It’s directed to some official in some other country. He’s saying it to the world, but he means it so that they react to it,” he explains.
“And then later on, his plan may have been the entire time to, like, make this big claim and kind of pull it back afterward. The art of the deal, if you will,” he adds.
He then asks Buttrill, “Was there ever a plan to try to take over Greenland?”
“No. I never believed that for a second. Although, I mean, going back to the 1800s, that’s been a thing that a lot of U.S. presidents have tried to do,” Buttrill answers.
“I assume that it’s like these back channel discussions. And again a lot of this framework could be more posturing,” Buttrill tells Stu.
“It might not eventually get there, but you can tell where the Trump administration is going. They don’t want to negotiate this in the future because we don’t know if our interests will align in the future,” he continues.
“But it still signals to where Donald Trump is going. So right now it says in this framework, if any of this is true, is that we will have bases, potentially multiple bases, and we will, like the area around our bases, be sovereign. So we’ll never have to negotiate these treaties again. We will just be there indefinitely. That’s what they want,” he explains.
“What was the reasoning for us giving it up in the ’90s? Like we’re like ‘Oh, communism fell. I guess we don’t need this anymore.’ Like we didn’t think there could possibly be a threat? It just seems insane that we would mothball all these bases that we had access to,” Stu chimes in.
While neither Buttrill nor Stu are 100% sure as to what the future holds, Buttrill does know one thing for sure.
“Anytime you see a lot of the stuff that President Trump is talking about, the collective freakout, it’s all directed and the media plays right along with it,” he tells Stu, adding, “And the Trump administration knows the media is going to take it in the most extreme.”
Want more from Stu?
To enjoy more of Stu’s lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
Camera phone, Sharing, Free, Video, Video phone, Upload, Youtube.com, Stu does america, Stu burguiere, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Trump administration, Donald trump, Jason buttrill, Greenland, Greenland talks, Nato, President trump
Brave Hollywood stars hit Sundance red carpet in defiance of ICE ‘gestapo’ terror
A Hollywood star’s job is never easy. And it’s especially hard in today’s political climate, when “gestapo”-like law enforcement arrests people whose only crime is being in our country illegally.
Such is the grim report from this year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
‘An illegal army is being mounted against US citizens.’
‘What are we gonna do?’
Take actor Ed Norton. What was supposed to be a lighthearted chat about his new polyamory sex comedy, “The Invite,” with co-stars Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde soon turned decidedly dark as the specter of Trump’s immigration policy loomed.
“These days it’s, like, ‘What are we gonna do about masked gestapo shooting American citizens?'” Norton said.
“Have you found an answer?” actor Seth Rogen laughed.
“We are sitting here talking about movies while an illegal army is being mounted against U.S. citizens,” Norton responded.
“Yep,” Wilde agreed.
RELATED: ‘The American Revolution’ keeps founders at arm’s length
ICE to meet you
The harrowing discussion petered out after about 30 seconds, with the celebrities gamely returning to the discussion of their craft.
However, Wilde’s “ICE OUT” lapel button, paired with a laid-back prep ensemble of striped button-down, gray sweatshirt and white barrel-cut jeans — and finished off with a baggy denim jacket in a playful nod to the “Canadian tuxedo” — remained a haunting reminder of what was at stake.
The previous day, Wilde sported the same button on her very on-trend red-carpet ensemble of black “naked dress” — its sheer lace bodice featuring a sweetheart neckline, visible bra cups, and thin straps. The button was pinned high on the bodice, ensuring it remained visible above the neckline.
Actress ‘horrified’
Wilde, whose floor-length dress flared slightly before giving way to a thigh-high slit trimmed in matching lace, elaborated on her message to the Associated Press.
“I’m horrified by this string of murders that we are somehow legitimizing and normalizing,” Wilde said. “And I think Americans are all horrified. I think it’s insane and hideous.”
“It’s really difficult to be here and to be celebrating something so joyous and beautiful and positive when we know what’s happening on the streets,” she added.
“Americans are out on the streets marching and demanding justice, and we’re there with them. And if we can do anything with our platforms, you know, we can speak out and demand that ICE get out,” she said, echoing the two-word phrase emblazoned on her button.
Boots on the ground
Elsewhere at the festival, Natalie Portman turned heads with her Luna black zip boots from Moon Boot ($250), the perfect complement to her cozy sweater-and-jeans look. But as with Wilde, all eyes were on her “ICE OUT” button.
The “Star Wars” star minced no words when criticizing the Trump administration’s policies, suggesting that it was the “worst” approach to the problem of illegal immigration, instead of the “best.”
“What they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity,” she told Deadline. “And then we have the best of humanity for the way people are showing up for each other.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Align, Politics, Actors, Sundance, Film festival, Ice, Entertainment
Here’s how to opt out of Google gobbling your iPhone data
Does Apple’s new deal mean you have to dump your iPhone if you don’t like Google?
Apple struggled for years to turn Apple Intelligence into a viable AI product, and up until now, the company has largely failed. After missed launch deadlines, feature delays, and even lawsuits alleging false advertisement, it was starting to look like Apple Intelligence would be a total dud. Apple thought so too, so the company is officially partnering with Google to make Siri great again, but mounting issues around user privacy and data collection might just be enough to make you want to ditch your iPhone.
This isn’t the first time Apple has enlisted the help of its Big Tech friends.
Siri will be powered by Google
According to a story published in mid-January, Apple has put a hold on building its own in-house models of an AI-powered Siri, at least for now. Instead, the company has partnered with Google on a total refresh that runs on a custom version of Gemini 3 in a deal that’s worth an estimated $5 billion.
The partnership is a huge admission of failure from Apple, as the team has worked on Apple Intelligence for years with little to show for it. Although the team made internal progress, the upgraded Siri was nearly scrapped and rebuilt from scratch at least once since it was unveiled at WWDC 2024. As time rolled on and whispers of development issues plagued the Siri team, rumors started to float around that Apple might tap Google for some much-needed help, and now those rumors have come true.
While Gemini will provide the AI backbone for the new version of Siri that is set to launch this spring, Apple is reportedly not giving up on building its own large language models. This partnership is simply a stopgap option while the company sorts out its internal services for a future release down the road.
Apple trades user privacy for a smarter Siri
This isn’t the first time Apple has enlisted the help of its Big Tech friends on AI. Parts of Apple Intelligence today leverage ChatGPT for bigger queries that are too complex to be processed on device. Instead, these broader queries are sent to OpenAI through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, an AI server stack powered by Apple hardware that provides a bridge between Apple users and ChatGPT’s servers to anonymize data and protect user privacy.
RELATED: Google’s new motto: Don’t be Christian
At first, it was believed that the new Siri powered by Gemini would use this same structure; however, emerging reports suggest otherwise. Gemini 3 requires more powerful hardware than Apple’s Private Cloud Compute offers today. To ensure that the new Siri runs well on Apple products, queries for the rebooted version on iOS 27, coming later this fall, will run directly on Google’s servers instead. That means Google can access, save, and track any data you feed to Siri once the new version is available, all so Apple can finally turn Apple Intelligence into something people might want to use.
Even worse, while Google claims not to leverage personal data to train AI, recent support documents on Gemini Personal Intelligence state otherwise. The article explicitly highlights that your data can be “used to do things for you, like look up your info or add items to your grocery list, and to improve Google services, including training generative AI.”
Google also has its own version of Private Cloud Compute called Private AI Compute that is meant to protect user data and privacy, so the information you feed into the Googlified Siri should be safe, right? Only if you trust the fox to guard the henhouse. It’s no secret that Google’s entire business model revolves around gobbling up consumer data to sell ads, improve its services, and more. Even if your queries are anonymized, they can still be used to grow the big Google machine.
How to disable Apple Intelligence
If you hate the idea of Google gathering, tracking, and monetizing your data through the new Siri, you might be wondering if it’s time to dump your iPhone for something else.
The short answer is “no.” Aside from an iPhone, the only other smartphone alternatives all run Android, which is even more closely tied to Google, Gemini, and their suite of data-gobbling apps. What you can do, though, is opt out of Apple Intelligence entirely.
To disable Apple Intelligence:
Open up the Settings app on your iPhone.Tap on “Apple Intelligence & Siri.”Uncheck the “Apple Intelligence” toggle at the top of the page, and you’re done.
Screenshots by Zach Laidlaw
Note that this will leave you with a dumber version of Siri, but at least you can be certain that none of your data is shipped off to a Google server somewhere for reasons unknown.
While Siri is said to be getting its first refresh this March or April with Apple Private Cloud Compute in tow, the even more advanced version that runs directly on Google’s servers is coming later this fall. Blaze Media will likely have more coverage on the rollout when iOS 27 launches in September or October. Until then, your Siri queries are safe from Google’s prying eyes, at least for a little while longer.
Tech
Anti-ICE brewer’s death wish: Leftist promises free beer when Trump dies ‘in a few months’ — and the Secret Service takes notice
Kirk Bangstad, the Wisconsin owner of Minocqua Brewing Company and the treasurer of a federal super PAC of the same name, has made no secret of his hatred for President Donald Trump, conservatives, and virtually anyone who doesn’t share his leftist worldview.
For instance, Bangstad — who was ordered to pay a six-figure sum for defamation in 2023 and was charged with harassment last year — stated, “F**k Charlie Kirk,” in a diatribe the day after the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination and wrote weeks later, “May his soul never find peace.”
‘Free beer, all day long, the day he dies. Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise.’
Although the leftist brewer has long engaged in this variety of incendiary commentary, which dovetails with his Ben & Jerry-styled progressive marketing, Bangstad recently raised eyebrows and a potential red flag with a post insinuating the president’s death was forthcoming.
Days after circulating a wanted poster for a federal agent, calling for a “regime change” in the U.S., and stating that “it’s just a matter of time” before “every ICE agent will face justice,” Bangstad said in a Jan. 22 post on the brewery’s Facebook page, “Free beer, all day long, the day he dies. Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise.”
When asked by Fox News for comment, Bangstad appeared to confirm that he was referring to Trump and indicated the brewery would be throwing a “party celebrating the impending death of a twice-impeached convicted felon.”
Bangstad, who unsuccessfully attempted to block President Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot in Wisconsin, did not respond directly to Blaze News’ questions. Instead he accused Blaze News of engaging in “‘gotcha’ state-sponsored propaganda” and shared the contact information of a Blaze News reporter, inviting his followers to email the reporter with their own comments.
Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images
The U.S. Secret Service told Blaze News, “The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the social media post by the Minocqua Brewing Company. Out of concern for operational security, we do not discuss matters of protective intelligence.”
Bangstad’s post also caught the attention of various critics, including Libs of TikTok, who noted, “How are we supposed to share a country with these people? Democrats want us dead.”
The American left appears to have a strong appetite for political violence.
‘That’s kind of shady.’
A survey conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab revealed in April 2025 that 55% of respondents who identified as left of center said that assassinating Trump would be at least somewhat justified.
When asked by pollsters about the September 2024 attempt on the president’s life at his golf course in Florida, 28% of Democrats told RMG Research it would have been better if Trump had been gunned down.
While the brewer’s apparent eagerness to see the president die has attracted attention, his super PAC’s expenditures have also prompted scrutiny in recent months.
Some of Bangstad’s former employees alleged to WISC-TV that some of the over $2 million raised by the brewer’s super PAC has gone toward paying regular brewery staff rather than political activities.
“At first, I was paid by a regular direct deposit, and then he said he’s going to pay me from the Super PAC and from the business. And I started to do some research,” said one former employee who spoke to WISC on the condition of anonymity. “I spoke with a couple attorneys and an accountant, and they said, that’s kind of shady, not a good idea.”
The former employee showed the outlet documentation apparently indicating that he received checks from the Minocqua Brewing Super PAC with “organizing” written in the memo line — something he had reportedly not done for the PAC.
Bangstad admitted that some employees receive PAC funds and suggested to WISC that the payments were aboveboard. A civil lawsuit filed in early 2025 suggested otherwise, accusing the leftist of fraud and misuse of donated funds, reported Wisconsin Public Radio.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Minocqua brewing company, Minocqua, Assassination, Secret service, Democrat, Leftist, Wisconsin, Kirk bangstad, Brewery, Donald trump, Politics
88-year-old Democrat brings campaign to a screeching halt
The congressional representative for Washington, D.C., has filed to end her re-election campaign after 18 consecutive terms in the House.
Democrat Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has served as D.C.’s representative since 1991 and is now retiring at 88 years old. Norton’s career was commended by her Democrat allies, but several colleagues have privately expressed concerns about cognitive decline leading up to the suspension of her re-election campaign.
‘I will retire at the end of this term.’
“With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I’ve raised hell about the injustice of denying 700K taxpaying Americans in DC the same rights given to residents of the states for 33 years,” Norton said in a post on X.
“Now, with pride in our accomplishments, gratitude to DC, and confidence in the next generation, I announced I’ll retire at the end of this term.”
RELATED: ‘Fixing the mess’: Retired Navy SEAL aims to flip Connecticut congressional district red
Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Notably, Norton officially filed paperwork to suspend her campaign on Sunday and didn’t release her official statement until Tuesday.
“The privilege of public service is inseparable from the responsibility to recognize when it’s time to lift up the next generation of leaders,” Norton said in the statement. “For D.C., that time has come. With pride in all we have accomplished together, with the deepest gratitude to the people of D.C., and with great confidence in the next generation, I announced today that I will retire at the end of this term.”
RELATED: Case against man who threw Subway sandwich at federal agent during DC surge goes awry
Photo by Tom Brenner for the Washington Post via Getty Images
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) congratulated Norton on her career, which spanned over three decades, calling her “our Warrior on the Hill.”
“From securing shutdown protection for the city and the creation of DCTAG, to defeating continued attacks on Home Rule and leading historic votes in the House for DC Statehood,” Bowser said in a statement. “Her work embodies the unwavering resolve of a city that refuses to yield in its fight for equal representation.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Congress, House democrats, Muriel bowser, Washington dc, Eleanor holmes norton, 2026 primaries, 2026 elections, Politics
Critically ill ‘The Blind Side’ star shows signs of recovery; family credits power of prayer
A beloved Christian actor is showing possible signs of recovery while in hospital on life support.
Quinton Aaron starred in “The Blind Side,” a movie with Sandra Bullock about Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who is taken in by a Christian family and becomes a first-round NFL draft pick.
‘I grew up in the church. I was raised in the church.’
In real life, Aaron’s wife, Margarita, said she rushed the 41-year-old to the hospital after he lost feeling in his legs. The issues were initially thought to be from a bad sleep, but pain persisted in Aaron’s neck and back until he became numb.
His wife is a registered nurse, and she helped him lie down before calling 911. The big man — reportedly around 6’6″ — was in and out of consciousness on the way to hospital.
Doctors allegedly determined after several tests that he had a blood infection and recommended he be put on life support, according to TMZ.
A ‘fighter’
After initial reports looked grim, the outlet explained that Aaron was partially breathing on his own until Monday, when he “opened his eyes today and gave a thumbs-up,” his wife said.
Describing her husband as “a fighter,” Margarita had previously said, “He’s showing a lot of improvement. We all have faith in God that he will walk out of here fully recovered.”
Aaron had been dealing with health issues last March, according to E News. He was hospitalized after experiencing a bloody cough coupled with a fever and was told he was likely dealing with Type A flu and pneumonia.
In 2019, he was also admitted to a hospital for an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis.
Man of faith
The man of faith was interviewed by Blaze News in 2013 when he said, “I grew up in the church. I was raised in the church.”
“I do believe in showing more so than having to say. I feel like if I live the Christian life, then the people should be able to see it in my everyday actions.”
RELATED: Matthew McConaughey: Choose God and family, not ‘participation trophies’
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Outspoken Christian
Aaron has been outspoken about being a Christian in Hollywood. In a 2017 interview, he noted that many people in the film industry are “not very charitable” unless it benefits them.
“I’ve noticed that, especially with friends in Hollywood, if you want to keep a friend, don’t ask them for anything. I tell people all the time, I say, ‘The moment you ask for a favor, you’re probably never going to hear from them again,'” he explained.
“They may grant that favor, but don’t plan on asking for another one,” the actor added.
Oher, whom Aaron portrayed in the 2009 film, had eight seasons in the NFL, five of which were with the Baltimore Ravens.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Religion, Sports, Football, Christianity, Hollywood, Faith
The truth behind the ‘5-year-old detained by ICE’ story — that the Democrats don’t want you to know
The Democrats’ manipulation of the truth is truly unmatched, and the latest example of this is one of the most egregious BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales has seen yet.
In a post on X, the Democratic Party’s official account posted a photo of a young boy whose father was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement alongside the caption, “In Minneapolis, ICE arrested a 5-year-old coming home from preschool and tried to use him as human bait. His teacher describes him as ‘a bright young student.’ These monsters are sick.”
“The claim then got repeated, over and over and over again,” Gonzales says.
Even Kamala Harris bought and sold the lie, writing in her own post on X, “Liam Ramos is just a baby. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE and held in a Texas detention center. I am outraged, and you should be too.”
Ilhan Omar joined in, writing in another X post, “ICE just detained a 5-year-old. Don’t tell us this is about ‘the worst of the worst.’ That’s a lie. Absolutely vile.”
The mainstream media also picked up the claim, with a headline from ABC News reading, “5-year-old asylum seeker detained as ICE expands enforcement in Minnesota.”
Vice President JD Vance also chimed in, but instead of repeating the lie, he told the truth.
“I see this story, and I’m a father of a 5-year-old … and I think to myself, ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. How did we arrest a 5-year-old?’ Well I do a little bit more follow-up research, and what I find is that the 5-year-old was not arrested, that his dad was an illegal alien, and then when they went to arrest his illegal alien father, the father ran,” Vance said.
“So the story is that ICE detained a 5-year-old. Well what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a 5-year-old child freeze to death?” he asked.
“And now the story becomes much different because it transformed from ICE just arrested a 5-year-old to wait a second, this loving father just literally abandoned his kid,” Gonzales comments.
“They’re just trying to save themselves from ICE. And ICE ends up being the true heroes of the story. Ironically enough, ICE were the ones who heroically swooped in to help this poor child who was abandoned by his awful father,” 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.
Camera phone, Free, Sharing, Upload, Video, Video phone, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Democrats, Liam ramos, Ice, Ice detained 5-year-old, The leftist media, Leftist lies, Ilhan omar, Kamala harris, Jd vance
Activist judge orders ICE boss Todd Lyons: Either release alien or appear in court
As the Trump administration continues its fight to fix the Democrat-caused problems in Minnesota, an activist judge is seeking to impede Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s operations in a move even he acknowledges will likely escalate the conflict.
In a self-admittedly “extraordinary step,” Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the U.S. District of Minnesota has ordered the personal appearance of acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in court later this week.
‘This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens.’
In an order dated Monday, Schiltz threatened to hold Lyons in contempt for failing to comply with a court order earlier this month in a case involving an alien.
The order also names Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and St. Paul ICE field office acting Director David Easterwood as respondents to the case.
Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images
The specific case in question involves petitioner Juan T.R., who was owed a bond hearing within seven days of a January 14 habeas petition, the judge indicated. Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, noted that by January 23, the petitioner had not received a bond hearing and “remains detained.”
The order stated that federal immigration law enforcement had not complied with other similar court orders, resulting in “significant hardship to aliens.” The judge further claimed that “many of” these aliens “have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years and done absolutely nothing wrong.”
“This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result,” the order continued.
The court wrote that the “violations continue” in many cases. As a result, the order added:
The Court’s patience is at an end. Accordingly, the Court will order Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court. The Court acknowledges that ordering the head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step, but the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed.
The order concludes, however, that if the petitioner is released from custody, Lyons will not be required to appear before the court.
The hearing is currently scheduled for Friday. Blaze News reached out to ICE 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!
Politics, Ice, Dhs, Minnesota, Democrats, Kristi noem, David easterwood, Us district court, Immigration and customs enforcement, Activist judge, Us district judge patrick schlitz
‘You should f**king kill yourself’: DHS releases terrifying audio of anti-ICE agitator threatening Minnesota agent
The Department of Homeland Security shared a disturbing phone call on social media that gives the public a glimpse of the terrors faced daily by members of law enforcement and their families.
The expletive-laced audio, posted on Monday, contains what appears to be a call from an agitator spewing sexually violent and suicidal language at an officer working in Minnesota, Fox News reported.
The DHS also pledged to ‘hunt these sickos down and put them behind bars.’
“You should f**king kill yourself. I hope your wife dies, I hope your mom and dad die. I hope everything wrong that could go [on] in your life happens,” the caller says in the audio clip.
“You are a traitor to the American people, to the values that made our very country,”
Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images
The caller also wishes that the ICE agent would be hit by a bus, become “paralyzed,” and have his wife cheat on him.
The caller then doubles down, describing the officer as “f**king disgusting” and a “f**king murderer” and claiming that “everyone hates” the agent as much as the caller does. The caller closes by reiterating: “Kill yourself.”
According to DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are facing a more than 8,000% increase in death threats and a 1,300% increase in assaults during the second Trump administration, despite conducting operations to remove “terrorists, rapists, and gang members from American neighborhoods.”
RELATED: Liberal media spins ‘homicide’ narrative after ICE detainee death — but DHS sets the record straight–
Julio Rosas/Blaze Media
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated ICE has faced an “unprecedented increase in violence against law enforcement,” citing a 3,200% rise in vehicular attacks. She attributed the increase to rhetoric from sanctuary politicians and the media.
“The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters,” DHS said in the post. “They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. The violence and dehumanization MUST END.”
The DHS also pledged to “hunt these sickos down and put them behind bars.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Politics, Ice, Anti-ice, Obscene, Horrific, Suicide, Threat, Threatened, Threatening, Protest, Agitator
Exclusive: SAVE Act hangs in the balance as Republican Study Committee pushes for Senate passage
While the Senate continues stalling the commonsense SAVE Act, the Republican Study Committee members are pressuring their colleagues to send the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The House passed the SAVE Act for the second time in April, but the Senate has yet to schedule a vote to pass the bill. Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas originally spearheaded the legislation, which would simply require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.
‘American elections should be fair and free, not subject to foreign influence.’
Since then, dozens of RSC members have been pressuring the Senate to hold a vote, telling Blaze News that “the Senate must do their job.”
“Voting in American elections is a right reserved for American citizens, and the House did our job by passing the SAVE Act months ago to secure it,” RSC Chairman August Pfluger (Texas) told Blaze News. “We’re already a full year into the 119th Congress, and the American people are still waiting for the Senate to deliver what we promised them in 2024. They sent us here to get things done, not to make excuses.”
RELATED: Democrats vote overwhelmingly against GOP bill aiming to bar illegal aliens from voting
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images
“This is a commonsense reform with broad public support from Americans who want elections that are free, fair, and secure,” Roy told Blaze News. “Now it’s time for the Senate to act. All it takes is 51 Republicans willing to demand a vote. And if Democrats choose to filibuster, they can explain to the American people why they believe noncitizens should be allowed to vote. That is a debate we will win every time.”
Roy and Pfluger secured the backing of dozens of colleagues, including RSC Vice Chair Ben Cline of Virginia and Republican Reps. Mark Alford of Missouri; Riley Moore of West Virginia; Kat Cammack of Florida; Andy Harris of Maryland; Andy Ogles of Tennessee; Claudia Tenney of New York; Burgess Owens of Utah; Abe Hamadeh of Arizona; Anna Paulina Luna of Florida; Brandon Gill of Texas; John McGuire of Virginia; Robert Aderholt of Alabama; Mike Collins of Georgia; Eric Burlison of Missouri; Ralph Norman of South Carolina; Marlin Stutzman of Indiana; Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania; Mike Ezell of Mississippi; Russell Fry of South Carolina; Mark Harris of North Carolina; Buddy Carter of Georgia; Mike Kennedy of Utah; and Lance Gooden of Texas.
As Luna of Florida noted to Blaze News, “House Republicans are aligned.”
“American elections should be fair and free, not subject to foreign influence,” Gill told Blaze News. “Illegal aliens have no right to be in America, and they certainly shouldn’t be voting.”
RELATED: ‘Horrifying situation’: Some Republicans retreat following Minneapolis shooting of anti-ICE agitator
Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images
“We hear from the other side that voter ID is somehow racist,” Owens told Blaze News, referring to common talking points peddled by Democrats. “That is nonsense. What is racist is assuming minorities can’t get an ID. That’s called the soft bigotry of low expectations, and it is wildly insulting. I’ve been a proud day-one co-sponsor of the SAVE Act.”
“The longer the Senate waits, the longer this commonsense protection sits on the shelf,” Pfluger told Blaze News. “Seven Democrat Senators must decide: Do they stand with Republicans in affirming that our elections are legal, fair, and only for American citizens, or don’t they? The answer should be obvious. Pass this bill and get it to President Trump’s desk.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Republican study committee, Rsc, August pfluger, Chip roy, House republicans, Save act, Senate republicans, Ben cline, Mark alford, Riley moore, Kat cammack, Andy harris, Andy ogles, Claudia tenney, Burgess owens, Abe hamadeh, Anna paulina luna, Brandon gill, John mcguire, Robert aderholt, Mike collins, Eric burlison, Ralph norman, Marlin stutzman, Dan meuser, Mike ezell, Russell fry, Mark harris, Buddy carter, Mike kennedy, Lance gooden, Voter fraud, Voder id, Rigged election, Politics
ICE unleashed: Agents can once again fend off agitators after court torpedoes Biden judge’s injunction
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered anti-ICE activists a crushing blow on Monday, granting a full stay of an activist judge’s ruling that had threatened to greatly restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ ability to fend off agitators and obstructionists in the Gopher State.
Quick background
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and three Minnesota-based law firms filed a lawsuit on Dec. 17 against ICE, alleging its agents violated the First and Fourth Amendment rights of several anti-ICE activists, including a Minnesota woman and a Somali-American who were both accused of attacking federal agents.
‘Liberal judges tried to handcuff our federal law enforcement officers.’
Kate Menendez, a U.S. district judge nominated by former President Joe Biden, ruled in favor of the radicals on Jan. 16, prohibiting federal agents from arresting, retaliating against, and using nonlethal munitions or crowd dispersal tools against “all persons who do or will in the future record, observe, and/or protest against” Operation Metro Surge and related operations in Minnesota.
The Biden judge also barred ICE from “stopping or detaining drivers and passengers in vehicles where there is no reasonable articulable suspicion that they are forcibly obstructing or interfering with Covered Federal Agents.”
The ACLU of Minnesota welcomed the ruling and expressed relief that they’d gotten their way — but the liberal group’s celebration was premature.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security promptly appealed the Biden judge’s ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Last week, the appellate court granted the defendants an administrative stay of Menendez’s preliminary injunction.
The ACLU of Minnesota rushed to reassure fellow travelers that the “entry of an administrative stay is not a judgment by the Eighth Circuit on the merits or strength of the government’s motion to stay the injunction.”
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The liberal outfit filed its opposition to the government’s stay request and asked that “the court rule quickly so that protesters and observers can again be protected by the district court’s injunction immediately.”
Tear gas back on the menu
To the likely chagrin of anti-ICE activists in Minnesota, an Eighth Circuit panel comprising two judges nominated by former President George W. Bush and one judge appointed by President Donald Trump granted the DHS a full stay of Menendez’s injunction, claiming that it “is unlikely to survive the government’s interlocutory appeal.”
The court highlighted two reasons why the “government has made ‘a strong showing’ that its challenge to the injunction ‘is likely to succeed on the merits,'” the first of which is that the “grant of relief to such a broad uncertified class is just a universal injunction by another name.”
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court determined in Trump v. CASA Inc. that the nationwide injunctions weaponized against the Trump administration by district court judges “likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts.”
“Even if ‘courts may issue temporary relief to a putative class,’ this one has no chance of getting certified,” wrote the appellate court.
The Eighth Circuit panel noted further that the radicals whom the ACLU of Minnesota want to shield from consequence aren’t exactly the “peaceful and unobstructive” protesters imagined by the lesser court.
“We accessed and viewed the same videos the district court did,” said the appellate court. “What they show is observers and protesters engaging in a wide range of conduct, some of it peaceful but much of it not.”
In addition to the radicals engaging in a variety of behaviors, federal agents also respond in a variety of ways such that “there are no ‘questions of law or fact common to the class’ … that would allow the court to decide all their claims in ‘one stroke.'”
The second reason cited by the panel for why the Trump administration’s challenge is likely to succeed is that the “injunction is too vague” and requires a fair bit of mind-reading on the part of federal agents.
“Even the provision that singles out the use of ‘pepper-spray or similar nonlethal munitions and crowd dispersal tools’ requires federal agents to predict what the district court would consider ‘peaceful and unobstructive protest activity,'” wrote the court. “The videos underscore how difficult it would be for them to decide who has crossed the line: They show a fast-changing mix of peaceful and obstructive conduct, with many protesters getting in officers’ faces and blocking their vehicles as they conduct their activities, only for some of them to then rejoin the crowd and intermix with others who were merely recording and observing the scene.”
The injunction’s breadth and vagueness also threatens to undermine the public interest as federal agents might begin hesitating in the execution of their lawful duties, said the court.
Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the ruling as a “WIN AGAINST JUDICIAL ACTIVISM IN MINNESOTA.”
“Liberal judges tried to handcuff our federal law enforcement officers, restrict their actions, and put their safety at risk when responding to violent agitators,” wrote Bondi. “The DOJ went to court. We got a temporary stay. NOW, the 8th Circuit has fully agreed that this reckless attempt to undermine law enforcement cannot stand.”
Blaze News has reached out to the ACLU of Minnesota 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!
Immigration and customs enforcement, Aclu, Department of homeland security, Ice, Dhs, Pam bondi, Justice department, Aclu of minnesota, Minnesota, Riot, Anti-ice, Protest, Rioter, Leftist, Minneapolis, Metro surge, Politics
‘Convicted and f**king dangles’: NeverTrumper Rick Wilson calls for execution of top White House adviser
As uncertainty around the violence against law enforcement grows in Minneapolis, many people seemed to have missed the memo about cooling down the rhetoric after the events of the past weekend.
And a co-founder of the Lincoln Project was among those apparently calling for capital punishment.
‘When this is done, I want Stephen Miller to be the first one who is tried and convicted and f**king dangles.’
On the Saturday episode of his show, NeverTrumper Rick Wilson had a pointed message for leaders in Trump’s administration, with special ire for deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser Stephen Miller.
Wilson said he knew he would “get canceled for saying this. I know I’m going to get in trouble.”
He went on nonetheless: “I want Stephen Miller to be the number one in the Nuremburg trials when this is done. When this is done, I want Stephen Miller to be the first one who is tried and convicted and f**king dangles.”
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
He continued, “I want him to be brought before a court of law, because he is the sole executive that runs all this DHS, ICE stuff — the ‘ICEstapo.'”
Wilson was apparently angry at Miller and his characterization of male nurse Alex Pretti, the man who interfered with United States Border Patrol in Minneapolis and was subsequently fatally shot.
Wilson took issue with the fact that Miller called Pretti a “would-be assassin” on social media in more than one instance. Though the details of the incident are still debated, Pretti was carrying a gun at the time of his standoff with Border Patrol agents.
Wilson, the DOJ, and the DHS did not 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!
Politics, Lincoln project, Rick wilson, Icestapo, White house, Doj, Dhs, Stephen miller, Ice, Alex pretti
Conflicting narratives, one dead American: Glenn Beck cuts through the media spin on Alex Pretti shooting
Minneapolis’ anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests have continued to intensify. Over the weekend, several clashes between protesters and ICE agents occurred, one that resulted in 37-year-old Minnesota local Alex Pretti, who was carrying a legally concealed handgun, being shot and killed by several ICE agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation on January 24.
The reporting on the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death has been conflicting. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as other Trump administration officials, have framed the ICE officers’ actions as justified.
In her official statement, Noem said, “An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently. Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.”
She further described the incident as “a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement,” labeling it “domestic terrorism.”
Multiple bystander videos, forensic audio analyses, and video analyses and reporting from major outlets including the New York Times, BBC, and NPR, however, directly contradict these claims. This evidence indicates Pretti was already pinned to the ground, disarmed (his concealed handgun removed from his waistband during the scuffle), and no longer posing a threat when agents fired numerous rounds.
As of now, many American citizens appear genuinely confused and divided about what really happened in Alex Pretti’s shooting due to the sharply conflicting narratives.
On this episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn offers some insight to the truth behind Alex Pretti’s shooting — examining the conflicting claims, the chaotic scuffle, and why rushing to judgment or prosecution could miss the bigger picture of escalating unrest.
“First of all, what Noem said is not true,” says Glenn frankly.
“If you want to say technically he approached carrying a 9mm, he did, but it was holstered and in his back. And you have a right to carry a gun at a protest. … It is perfectly legal and constitutionally protected,” he adds.
While it was unwise for Pretti to carry a gun and get involved with federal officers, it was not technically illegal because he never actually pulled the gun, Glenn explains.
On the other hand, the officers who shot Pretti were in an extremely “chaotic situation,” Glenn pivots, noting that these men are on edge after enduring ceaseless violence, doxxing, and threats from protesters.
Video footage captures a tangle of people — officers in tactical gear, one in plainclothes, Pretti, and other protesters — in a wrestling match on the ground. The officer who discovered Pretti’s handgun and removed it from his waistband was wearing plainclothes, meaning bystanders — including the ones who yelled “gun” — could have easily mistaken him for an armed protester.
Further there’s a good chance agents in the scuffle with Pretti didn’t see the plainclothes officer remove the handgun and could have assumed that the people yelling “gun” were referring to Pretti.
Glenn says that the civil rights protests spearheaded by Martin Luther King Jr. were only successful because they were peaceful. Protesters didn’t bring guns to demonstrations; they didn’t escalate confrontations with police; and they didn’t intentionally create chaos.
“King would have let [Pretti] rot in prison and wouldn’t have marched for that guy because he had a gun, because he made the rest of the movement look dangerous. Even though he had a right to have a gun, Martin Luther King would have said, ‘You don’t bring a gun. You don’t push back. You don’t do it because that’s the way peaceful protests win,’” says Glenn, “and everybody who knows anything about protesting knows this.”
“The left, they’ve been preaching Martin Luther King forever. They know this is not the tactic of Martin Luther King. This is the tactic that escalates, not de-escalates, things.”
All evidence considered, Glenn falls somewhere in the middle on Pretti’s death.
“We have to be very careful with our words and speak the truth at all times, even if it hurts our side,” he says.
“I don’t think he should have been shot, but I also don’t think they should prosecute [the officers who shot him] because it’s a chaotic situation. … It’s just a really nasty, bad situation.”
To hear more of Glenn’s analysis, watch the video above.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
The glenn beck program, Glenn beck, Minneapolis protests, Minnesota, Anti ice protests, Anti ice, Alex pretti, Renee good, Blazetv, Blaze media, Mlk, Civil rights protests
‘Fixing the mess’: Retired Navy SEAL aims to flip Connecticut congressional district red
A retired U.S. Navy SEAL with more than 30 years of service announced Tuesday that he is running for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th District, seeking the Republican nomination.
Christopher Shea enters a competitive race against incumbent Democrat Rep. Jahana Hayes, who won re-election in 2024 with 53.4% of the vote. She squeaked through the 2022 general election by just 0.8%.
‘This campaign is about restoring trust, normalcy, and accountability.’
“I’ve spent my entire adult life serving this country — overseas in uniform and here at home protecting our communities,” Shea said in a statement given to Blaze News. “That sense of duty doesn’t end at retirement. I’m running for Congress to put people over politics, restore common sense in Washington, and make sure families in Connecticut’s 5th District can get ahead again.”
In an ad to launch his campaign, Shea, founder of the nonprofit Hero to Hero and a North Haven firefighter, indicates he is dedicated to “protecting the vulnerable,” “restoring hope,” and “fixing the mess.”
Shea said his campaign will focus on economic growth, public safety, affordability for families, veterans’ issues, and protecting America.
“Connecticut’s 5th District is hardworking and grounded in common sense. Our current representative has chosen a different path — consistently siding with the most extreme voices in Washington and backing policies that drive up energy costs, undermine public safety, and leave working families like mine paying the price,” Shea said. “That’s exactly why we need new leadership. This campaign is about restoring trust, normalcy, and accountability. And most of all, it’s about service to the people of Connecticut’s 5th District. I’m ready for this mission, and I’m honored to stand up for the people of this district.”
RELATED: ‘Warfighter’ son of a popular Michigan sheriff is now gunning for Congress
Photo given to Blaze News. Used with permission.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Connecticut, Congressional race, Politics
‘I have a gun; don’t move!’ Concealed carrier protecting his wife and kids confronts burglar — and shocked crook wises up.
The date on the indoor surveillance video reads January 19, and the time reads 12:44 a.m.
In that moment, the clip shows a break-in at a home in the affluent neighborhood of Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York. WABC-TV reported that the crew allegedly was looking to steal a luxury car’s key fob.
‘If they want to come back, let them.’
But the homeowner had a little surprise. He’s a licensed concealed carrier — and was armed, the station said.
One of the burglars came into the home through a window, using a phone flashlight to check items in the kitchen, WABC said.
“I’m like, ‘I have a gun; don’t move!'” the homeowner recounted to the station.
Then the crook got lucky.
“I pull the trigger and the gun jams,” the homeowner added to WABC. “By whatever divine intervention, the gun doesn’t shoot.”
Not that the burglar knew. Surveillance video shows the culprit running through the window where entry was gained — and the other crew members followed suit.
“Both of my cars are in the driveway. My lights turned on as soon as they approached the front gate. And so they knew somebody was home. But they didn’t seem to care,” the homeowner recalled to the station, adding that it was the one night he didn’t activate the alarm system at his residence.
The homeowner said his wife and kids also were home at the time of the break-in, and the targeted item apparently was a key fob for his luxury Bentley vehicle, WABC said.
“The detectives told me. There was a dispatch for three other burglaries. Two of them were successful; they stole another Porsche and a Range Rover,” the homeowner noted to the station.
The crime spike has put on alert Jewish residents who might be on vacation for Yeshiva, WABC said.
“If they want to come back, let them. This time the gun won’t be jammed. Hopefully, it won’t get there. But I don’t feel like I have a target on my back, because everybody here is a target — it’s a collective community,” the homeowner added to the station.
Police are looking for the three suspects involved in the incident, WABC added.
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, New york city, Jamaica estates, Queens, Home invasion, 2nd amend., Guns, Gun rights, Self-defense, Protecting family, Fighting back, Concealed carrier, Crime
Minnesota police FINALLY fight back: Cops hit violent anti-ICE mob with tear gas, arrests outside hotel supposedly housing feds
Radicals swarmed a hotel in Maple Grove, Minnesota, on Monday night, working under the presumption that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was inside. While some in the mob appeared keen at the outset to simply scream, bang their pans, and impotently blow whistles in protest of CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, others decided to get violent.
The Maple Grove Police Department, which responded around 8 p.m. to reports of a protest at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, demonstrated that it has a lower tolerance for attacks on law enforcement than their local counterparts in Minneapolis — and the proof manifested in tear gas and arrests.
‘These violent anarchists will not deter ICE from carrying out the American people’s mandate.’
“The situation escalated when individuals in the crowd engaged in unlawful behavior,” the MGPD said in a statement. “Property damage occurred, and objects were thrown at officers. At that point, the activity was no longer considered peaceful.”
After declaring the mob action an unlawful assembly, police issued a dispersal order. Footage shows police securing the area around the hotel, standing off with radicals, then systematically driving away the mob.
In addition to using pepper balls, Maple Grove police — who were assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office hours after President Donald Trump had positive calls with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) — apparently utilized tear gas to drive away rioters.
RELATED: Democrats threaten to shut down government over ICE funding: ‘We are not powerless’
Law enforcement stands ready outside the Spring Hill Suites on Jan. 26. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images.
Police told CNN that approximately 26 people were arrested outside the hotel.
Radicals advertised the anti-Border Patrol rally as a “Goodbye Bovino Noise Demo.”
Blaze News has reached out to the hotel and Marriott for comment.
The evening before the riot in Maple Grove, leftists stormed a hotel in Minneapolis where they believed federal immigration agents were staying. Radicals vandalized the Home2 Suites by Hilton Hotel late Sunday, smashing windows and throwing debris into the lobby.
Footage shows a solitary, bloody federal agent holding his ground at one stage in the evening while radicals assembled in front of the hotel. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, federal agents successfully cleared that group with the help of chemical irritants.
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that the Sunday hotel attack was “part of a coordinated campaign of violence against law enforcement.”
“These violent anarchists will not deter ICE from carrying out the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport the worst of the worst,” added the DHS.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Protest, Riot, Bovino, Customs and border patrol, Border patrol, Anti-ice, Ice, Immigration and customs enforcement, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Maple grove, Tear gas, Politics
Activists ask for compassion for mother who allegedly drowned her baby in bathtub: ‘She is loved. She is valued.’
A woman called police to tell them that she had drowned her 7-month-old baby in a bathtub, and police confirmed the horrific claim when they went to her home.
Tierra Scott-Franklin, 23, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by Gainesville police at her residence in the Sweetwater Square Apartments.
‘She did what she did, but we stand behind her. She is loved. She is valued.’
Police found the baby unresponsive and transported the child to UF Health Shands Pediatrics Hospital, where the child was declared deceased.
Scott-Franklin was charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
When the woman appeared in court, activists argued for compassion on her behalf.
“She did what she did, but we stand behind her. She is loved. She is valued. She is cared for,” Saudia Bradley said. “We’re asking that you please do what you do to help her to get the help she needs.”
Scott-Franklin was previously arrested for allegedly assaulting a 67-year-old woman and is also facing a charge for battery of a person 65 years or older.
Another activist said that Scott-Franklin sought help before the incident.
“She’s not well. She let people know she was not well and asked them to take the baby,” Chanae Jackson said.
A neighbor of the woman said the shocking incident should bring awareness for struggling people.
“I was inside my apartment, and I just kept hearing, like, people around the neighborhood kept yelling, like, ‘No, not a child, not a child, not a child,'” Aarion Hamilton said.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Tierra scott-franklin arrest, Mother kills baby, Florida mom drowns baby, Drowned in a bathtub, Crime
Detransitioner was only 12 years old when doctors began her medical transition
Detransitioner Chloe Cole joined BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales at AMFEST to expose what she calls the medical abuse behind youth gender transitions — and why the damage is permanent.
“I speak on behalf of this community of people who have been harmed and then ignored by our own doctors who harmed us. The detransitioners, people who have been through the gender transition process and gone through the medical parts and then came back out of it embracing the way that God has beautifully created us,” Cole told Gonzales.
“I was only 12 when they started putting me down this route … they put me on cross-sex hormones. They put me on chemical castration agents to stop my puberty, and before I was even old enough to drive a car, they surgically removed my breasts. And obviously with that came a lot of harm to my body,” she continued, adding.
“And I’m not alone.”
Cole discovered that there were thousands of young people who were just like her and had been duped by their doctors into damaging their bodies.
“I think this is one of the biggest issues of our time for that reason. My generation has been completely disrupted by this. And I think that children deserve to be fought for, that their parents deserve to be able to raise their children the way that they see fit, the way that goes with their instincts in raising them,” she told Gonzales.
And Cole’s parents, like many parents of “transgender” youth, were also duped.
“When I read your story, I had such empathy for your parents who were told by the doctors, ‘If you don’t do this, if you do not allow your daughter to go through with this, to take these cross-sex hormones, to take these puberty blockers, she’s going to kill herself,’” Gonzales commented.
“That was the exact lie that they fed my mom and dad,” Cole responded, adding, “And that’s the standard. My story is not just a one-off. It wasn’t just a mistake or an accident. That is the standard that they use that doctors have in order to coerce parents into saying yes to things that in any other world, they never would have.”
Want more from Sara Gonzales?
To enjoy more of Sara’s no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
Camera phone, Upload, Video, Free, Sharing, Video phone, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Chloe cole, Detransitioner, Transgender youth, Medical lies, Western medicine, Transgenderism, Trans drugs, Trans children
America should eliminate the H-1B and replace it with THIS
Every time immigration comes up, it’s painted as a choice of extremes. Compassion or common sense? No immigration or no rules?
That’s a false choice — and it’s one that benefits only the politicians who’d rather argue than govern.
Preferring immigration that strengthens our economy instead of undercutting it is just common sense.
The recent controversy over H-1B visas is a perfect example. Americans are waking up to the reality that this program, sold as a way to fill “critical skills gaps,” too often does the opposite. It replaces U.S. workers, suppresses wages, and gives leverage to corporations that have every incentive to choose cheaper foreign labor over American talent. That’s not America First. That’s America Last — with a diversity slogan slapped on top.
But here’s what the media and the political class won’t tell you: Not all immigration programs are created equal. And if we’re serious about prioritizing American workers, jobs, and communities, we should be talking a lot more about the policies that actually deliver.
Programs like the EB-5 investor visa system.
Unlike H-1B, EB-5 doesn’t take jobs from Americans. Instead, it creates them. It doesn’t offer handouts. It requires real skin in the game from applicants. And with a strict cap of 10,650 visas, it maintains a controlled influx of immigrants, keeping America stable and secure.
Here’s how it works: A foreign applicant invests at least $1.05 million — or $800,000 if the investment is in a targeted employment area, such as a rural community or a region with high unemployment. Returns are not guaranteed. If the investment fails, the investor loses his money.
In exchange, he gets a chance at a green card — only if he meets strict requirements and proves his investment generated American jobs.
That’s the key: EB-5 doesn’t promise success; it requires it.
RELATED: ‘A direct path to Citizenship’: Trump announces official launch of Trump Gold Card visa program
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
EB-5 aligns incentives the way immigration policy should. Investors succeed only if American communities succeed. Jobs must be created here, projects must be built here, and money must stay here. That’s a far cry from visa programs that reward outsourcing, encourage dependency, and leave taxpayers holding the bag. EB-5 treats U.S. residency as something to be earned.
The results speak for themselves. Between 2008 and 2021, the program generated $43.9 billion in foreign direct investment. That money translates to real American improvement through projects like hotels, infrastructure, commercial developments, and housing. From 2010 to 2013 alone, EB-5 investments were responsible for creating over 100,000 American jobs.
Contrast that with H-1B, where companies can import foreign workers, often at lower wages, to the detriment of American citizens.
Critics love to point to early reports of fraud in the EB-5 program. What they conveniently leave out is that those cases were tied to bad actors running projects — not the investors themselves. The perpetrators were prosecuted. Reforms followed.
In fact, the program has been significantly strengthened over time. Investment thresholds were raised in 2019 to ensure only serious investors qualify. Then came the 2022 reforms, which added even more transparency, oversight, and accountability.
That’s how a healthy immigration system is supposed to work. When abuse was identified, Congress stepped in. Oversight increased. Standards tightened. Transparency improved. Instead of scrapping a productive program, lawmakers fixed it — proving that enforcement, not abandonment, is the answer when a policy shows real promise.
The compliance data doesn’t lie. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported a 94% decrease in I-829 petition denials by 2015 — meaning the overwhelming majority of participants were meeting the program’s requirements.
That’s what responsible immigration looks like: high standards, strict enforcement, and real benefits for America.
RELATED: Chip Roy’s immigration blitz hits the lawless left and the squish right
Photo by Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
And let’s address another elephant in the room. EB-5 doesn’t fast-track voters. It doesn’t hand out political favors or rely on emotional blackmail about being “anti-immigrant.” It’s transactional, transparent, and limited by design.
You invest. You create jobs. You follow the rules. Or you don’t qualify.
That’s it.
For years, Americans have been told that questioning immigration policy makes them heartless. But there’s nothing heartless about asking whether a program actually helps this country. Preferring immigration that strengthens our economy instead of undercutting it is just common sense.
If Washington insists on talking about immigration, let’s at least talk honestly. Programs like H-1B deserve scrutiny — and reform — because they too often put corporations ahead of citizens. Programs like EB-5, when properly enforced, do the opposite.
America doesn’t need more slogans. We need smarter policy. And that starts with rewarding systems that put Americans first.
Opinion & analysis, Immigration reform, H-1b visas, Eb-5 visa program, Investment, Jobs, Employment, Green cards, America first, Sara gonzales
