Category: blaze media

A Republican is following in California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell’s footsteps by resigning from Congress after sex scandals imploded their respective political ambitions.

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) announced his imminent resignation Monday, shortly following Swalwell’s statement after several lawmakers led a bipartisan effort to expel the two lawmakers from the House of Representatives. Rather than wait to be expelled, Gonzales vowed to resign from Congress, weeks after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who took her own life by self-immolating.

‘Everybody knows where one another’s bodies are buried.’

“There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all,” Gonzales said in an X post on Monday. “When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.”

Swalwell’s resignation came just days after new bombshell reports revealed that several ex-staffers have accused the Democrat of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior, prompting him to drop out of the California governor’s race and out of political life altogether.

RELATED: Democrats dump Eric Swalwell after sexual assault allegations implode his career

Win McNamee/Getty Images

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in a statement. “I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members.”

“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” Swalwell added. “But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

Both scandals were considered open secrets, and the timing of Gonzales’ and Swalwell’s statements suggests their resignations may have been part of a backroom deal. The next pair of scandal-ridden lawmakers rumored to be on the chopping block are both from Florida: Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who has a flurry of allegations against him ranging from stolen valor to blackmail, and Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was federally indicted for allegedly stealing millions in FEMA funds tied to COVID.

“It’s mutually assured destruction,” Len Foxwell, a Maryland-based Democrat strategist, told Blaze News. “Eric Swalwell is just the latest guy who got caught. Tony Gonzales was the latest guy who got caught across the aisle.”

RELATED: ‘The appropriate decision’: Scandal-ridden Tony Gonzales ends re-election bid after admitting to affair

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

Although lawmakers were quick to throw Swalwell under the bus, Democrat strategist and pollster Dheeraj Chand suggested that the only reason they did so was because their open secret became a PR problem.

“I think it shows a seriousness on this side that we decided Swalwell could not continue,” Chand told Blaze News. “It shows we do take it seriously when it becomes unavoidable. They do try to protect people sometimes, but very rarely.”

“For every person who gets caught, there are, in all likelihood, a few dozen more who are engaged in inappropriate behavior with their subordinates,” Foxwell told Blaze News. “Everybody knows where one another’s bodies are buried.”

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​Congress, Cory mills, Covid relief funds, Eric swalwell, House democrats, House of representatives, House republicans, Sex scandal, Sexual assault, Sheila cherfilus-mccormick, Tony gonzales, Expulsion, Politics 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert managed to steal the focus away from her league on draft night.

The WNBA received premium treatment by airing on ESPN’s flagship channel in prime time on Monday night, but it was actually the pre-draft press conference that has made a lasting impression with viewers online.

‘As women, we get asked different questions than men do.’

With just one simple question from New York Post reporter Madeline Kenney, Engelbert went viral for her odd response.

“How much longer do you anticipate to be in this role?” Kenney asked.

Engelbert immediately attacked the premise:

“I do crack up how everybody’s focused on me,” the commissioner began. “And you should be focused on the hundreds of amazing women and thousands of women who run this league outside of myself … my whole team of, you know, diverse women and men who are working hard every day to get the 30th season tipped off by May 8,” she went on.

Bizarrely, Engelbert then asked if the reporter would dare question a male commissioner the same way.

“I wonder whether you would ask that of a man, by the way. But I realize, as women, we get asked different questions than men do.”

“I would,” the reporter quickly affirmed.

However, those siding with Engelbert were few and far between online, with fans and reporters alike pointing out how often major sports commissioners do receive questions about their tenure and even face calls for resignation.

RELATED: Angel Reese TRADED — but Chicago Sky isn’t being honest about why, Jason Whitlock says

– YouTube

“Its [sic] always asked of men. Like, all the time,” one fan responded on X.

“Has she not seen people calling for the heads of every commissioner of every sport?” a Brooklyn Nets fan wrote.

A New York Yankees fan replied, “There is literally nothing wrong with asking that. Give me a break.”

Sports journalists did not offer much solace for the commissioner either. Even Jemele Hill, a reporter from the Athletic known for her frequent political commentary from the left, chimed in:

“If a man had her track record, absolutely” he would be asked, Hill wrote.

There was really no shortage of sports reporters who disagreed with the WNBA boss, including female reporters.

“This would be asked of a man and has,” wrote Front Row Sports’ Annie Costabile. “Her response was a failed attempt at diverting from the discussions about her job security.”

As well, NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach noted that “male pro sports commissioners get asked questions about their future all the time.” Auerbach called it a “totally valid question” that garnered a “fascinating, super-defensive response.”

RELATED: UConn star Tarris Reed praises Jesus ahead of national championship: ‘He changed everything about me’

Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer at ESPN, wrote on X that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman “gets asked this question so often that he’s taken to preemptively answering it before it’s asked.”

Less than a month ago, Bettman was asked directly whether he had plans to step down.

“Absolutely not,” Bettman said, per Sports Illustrated. “You keep trying to get rid of me. No such luck.”

In February, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver faced calls to be fired, while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is routinely asked if he will step down, typically following an embarrassing incident in his league.

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​Adam silver, Basketball, Cathy engelbert, Espn, Fearless, Gender politics, Jemele hill, New york post, Nfl commissioner, Politics, Viral response, Wnba, Wnba commissioner, Woke, Womens questions, Sports 

On April 12 (Orthodox Easter Sunday), President Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself in a white tunic and red robe healing a sick person, which many interpreted to resemble a Christ-like figure. The post came shortly after a lengthy Truth Social post criticizing Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” over the pope’s opposition to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

The image sparked widespread outrage and accusations of blasphemy even from some evangelical and conservative Christian supporters, leading Trump to delete it the next day. He later claimed it was meant to show him as a doctor, not Jesus.

Liz Wheeler, BlazeTV host of “The Liz Wheeler Show,” offers what she believes is “the best Catholic” response to the post.

Liz, who labels herself “a Catholic Trump supporter,” says she does not think the post was “wise or prudent” from a spiritual or political perspective.

“It’s not prudent spiritually for himself, and I care about his eternal soul. I’m a Christian. And it’s also obviously not a political winner of a post, as you can tell from the backlash,” she says.

At the same time, Liz doesn’t buy into the idea that Trump is some evil spiritual figure trying to convince the world he’s powerful like Jesus.

“Do I think that President Trump is some kind of Antichrist figure who actually views himself as a messiah, like so many people online are saying in outrage?” she asks.

“No, I don’t think that. I don’t think Trump views himself as a messiah. I don’t think that he is an antichrist figure.”

“But do I think that our God should be mocked?” she asks. “No, I don’t. Do I think that you should claim to be or portray yourself as the son of God when you are not? No, I don’t.”

Liz believes that the post was most likely a distasteful joke coined by someone on Trump’s social media team.

“My guess is that some male Gen Z member of Trump’s team, someone who is probably in one too many offensive meme group chats and got a little desensitized to offensive memes, suggested this to Trump as a post,” she speculates.

“Perhaps this meme was a misguided attempt to remind people that President Trump … is fighting evil on an institutional level,” she continues.

And while Liz knows that Trump “is not perfect,” she does wholeheartedly agree that he is standing up against evil in a truly admirable way.

“He’s fighting against transgender ideology; he’s fighting against critical race theory; he’s fighting against radical Islam; he’s fighting globalism; he’s fighting socialist dictators. He is securing our border, our nation’s sovereignty, to protect our country, our Christian nation. He’s reducing crime in cities across the country to protect your family and mine. He is reordering the global financial system in order to better serve you,” she says.

“Obviously, that meme he posted didn’t land for obvious reasons, and it shouldn’t have landed because of what it seemed to portray, and Trump did the right thing by deleting it because if it was intended to portray him as Jesus versus just reminding people that Trump’s policies generally serve humanity, then it never should have been posted in the first place,” she concludes. “It’s as simple as that.”

To hear more, watch the episode above.

Want more from Liz Wheeler?

To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Aigenerated image, Antichrist figure, Blasphemy accusations, Catholic trump supporter, Christlike figure, Controversial jesus post, Evil spiritual figure, Gen z member, Liz wheeler, Offensive memes, Orthodox easter sunday, Pope leo xiv, President trump, Spiritual perspective, Truth social, Usisrael war, The liz wheeler show 

Most Americans assume that if their deposits are insured, their banking relationship is stable.

For decades, that assumption has been reasonable. Large national banks offer scale, convenience, and integration across checking, credit cards, mortgages, investments, and digital tools. For many households and businesses, they remain the default choice — for many good reasons.

Regional and community banks typically face fewer reputational signaling incentives and fewer reasons to police customers’ lawful beliefs.

But in recent years, some lawful customers have found accounts restricted or closed not for fraud or criminal conduct, but because the financial institution decided internally that the customer is a risk to the institution’s reputation or political standing. In other words: They have been canceled.

These cases are often hard to prove — and that difficulty is itself the problem. First lady Melania Trump revealed in her memoir that a bank decided to “terminate” her account. The reasoning was frustrating to pin down, since decisions on account restrictions are shielded from public verification by opaque risk explanations and confidentiality rules.

Other cases were clearer. In 2023, internal documents revealed that U.K. private bank Coutts closed the account of British politician Nigel Farage after deciding his political views posed “reputational risk” — a disclosure that ultimately led to the resignation of National Westminster Bank’s chief executive.

“If they can do it to me, they can do it to you, too,” Farage proclaimed after the dispute.

The risk

Your money may be insured, but access to it is governed by institutional judgment. For some consumers, understanding where that judgment lies is now part of responsible financial planning.

That’s where this guide comes in. It’s not a broadside against megabanks. It is a road map for readers who want to understand the trade-offs that come with scale — particularly when account access is governed by broad, centralized risk frameworks rather than personal relationships or clearly defined misconduct.

Regulators have since moved to clarify standards governing account closures and risk assessments. But for consumers who watched large institutions end financial relationships under ambiguous or shifting rules, the question remains straightforward: Why assume that risk if alternatives exist?

There are no guarantees. But there are differences — rooted in structure, incentives, and how close a branch is to customers — that can meaningfully affect how ideological risk is handled.

Ideological risk is not evenly distributed. It tends to correlate with scale, distance, and discretion, rather than with partisan labels.

This guide organizes banks into categories based on structure and incentives, not ideology.

How this list was compiled

All banks listed below meet the following baseline criteria:

FDIC-insured (or equivalent federal backing).No public record of ideologically motivated account closures.Standard modern banking services, including online and mobile access.Responses to Align’s inquiries, where available.Institutional cultures or policies emphasizing lawful, viewpoint-neutral customer treatment.

Banks to consider

1. Regional and community banks

They are often safer. Regional and community banks typically operate on relationship-based models, with decision-making closer to customers and local markets. They face less national activist pressure, fewer reputational signaling incentives, and fewer reasons to police customers’ lawful beliefs.

Here’s what to look for:

FDIC insurance.Rigorous underwriting standards.Focus on local business, agriculture, manufacturing, or regional commerce.Long operating histories.Knowing exactly who to talk to next if your problem isn’t fixed.

Warning: Not all community banks are equal. Some rely heavily on third-party compliance vendors or adopt national risk frameworks wholesale. Size alone is not a guarantee.

Here are some strong options.

Woodforest National Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.8 (32.2K reviews); Apple 4.8 (47K reviews)
Region/States: 730+ branches in 17 states
ATM: MoneyPass network

Woodforest National Bank is a privately owned, community-focused financial institution headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, that has provided banking services since 1980, operating hundreds of branches across multiple states and offering products for both personal and business customers. It offers a full range of financial services including checking and savings accounts, loans, debit cards, online and mobile banking, and other products designed for everyday banking needs. The bank emphasizes customer relationships, convenient access — including retail locations and digital tools — and a commitment to serving the communities where its customers live and work.

First Premier Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes (via Premier Bankcard)
App: Yes — Google 4.5 (1.48K reviews); Apple 4.4 (1.4K reviews)
Region/States: 13 branch locations in South Dakota
ATM: Fee-free access to 37,000+ MoneyPass ATMs nationwide

First Premier Bank is an independently owned, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It offers a full range of financial products and services, including personal, business, and agricultural checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, wealth management, and digital banking. The bank also operates Premier Bankcard, a nationally recognized issuer of Mastercard credit products. First Premier emphasizes strong capitalization, customer support, community investment, and accessible online and mobile banking tools for managing finances nationwide.

American National Bank of Texas

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.7 (987 reviews); Apple 4.8 (9.7K reviews)
Region/States: 24 locations in Dallas-Fort Worth
ATM: ATMs at nearly all branches

American National Bank of Texas is a long-established, independently owned, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Terrell, Texas, with more than 30 branches serving North Texas. It offers a full suite of financial products and services including personal and business checking and savings, loans and mortgages, digital banking, and wealth management. The bank emphasizes local relationship-driven service, community involvement, and comprehensive financial solutions tailored to individuals and businesses alike.

Liberty National Bank (Midwest)

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.9 (15 reviews); Apple 4.6 (192 reviews)
Region/States: 18 locations in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska

Liberty National Bank (Midwest) is an independently owned, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa, founded in 2003. With approximately $600 million in assets, it serves customers across Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska, including Sioux City, Sioux Falls, and surrounding communities. The bank emphasizes local decision-making, relationship-based service, and support for families, businesses, and agricultural clients in the markets it serves.

Liberty National Bank (Texas/Oklahoma)

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.5; Apple 4.9
Region/States: ~10 locations in Oklahoma and North Texas
ATM: 20 local ATMs

Liberty National Bank (Texas/Oklahoma) is an independently chartered, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma. Originally established in 1902 as the Bank of Elgin, it adopted the Liberty National name in 2002 and has since expanded across Oklahoma and into North Texas, with assets exceeding $1 billion. The bank remains under Green family ownership and emphasizes long-standing ties to local communities, regional growth, and personalized banking relationships.

F&M Bank (Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California)

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.6 (322 reviews); Apple 4.8 (1.1K reviews)
Region/States: 33 locations in California
ATM: Pulse & Cirrus (400,000 ATMs)

Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California offers personal and business banking services, including a variety of checking and savings accounts, loans, and agricultural financing tailored to individuals and companies across numerous California communities. The website emphasizes secure 24/7 online and mobile banking so that customers can manage accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, and access eStatements from anywhere. It also highlights local branch access, community roots dating back over a century, and a commitment to serving customers’ financial needs.

New Peoples Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 2.8 (82 reviews); Apple 4.6 (790 reviews)
Region/States: 18 locations in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina
ATM: Allpoint (55,000 locations)

New Peoples Bank is a community-focused financial institution with multiple branches serving individuals and small to medium-size businesses across Southwestern Virginia, Southern West Virginia, Northeastern Tennessee, and Western North Carolina, offering a full suite of personal and business banking products including checking, savings, loans, and online services. Through its website, customers can open accounts, apply for mortgage or personal loans, manage finances with online and mobile banking tools, and access additional services like identity protection and ATM networks. The bank emphasizes local decision-making, Golden Rule customer service, and technology that supports secure, convenient banking experiences.

First United Bank & Trust

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 3.8 (51 reviews); Apple 4.8 (431 reviews)
Region/States: 7 locations in Kentucky
ATM: MoneyPass

First United Bank and Trust Company is a community-oriented, FDIC-insured bank offering a full range of personal and business financial services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, digital banking, and trust solutions accessible online or at local branches. The bank emphasizes convenient 24/7 access to accounts, tools for managing finances, and solutions like credit cards and business services tailored to local needs. Its website highlights personal service, community engagement, and products designed to support customers’ financial goals with trusted relationships and modern banking technology.

Arbor Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.4 (132 reviews); Apple 4.8 (399 reviews)
Region/States: 6 locations in Iowa and Nebraska
ATM: MoneyPass

Arbor Bank is a community FDIC-insured bank offering a wide range of personal and business financial products, including checking and savings accounts, online/mobile banking, lending solutions, and mortgage services. It also provides business banking tools like treasury management, SBA loans, and positive pay fraud protection, along with card solutions and insurance options. The website emphasizes secure digital access, personalized service, and support for customers’ financial growth.

First Command Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google: 3.6 (82 reviews); Apple: 4.6 (1.5K reviews)
Region/States: Over 750 First Command Bank advisers in over 175 offices in 45 states and Guam
ATM: MoneyPass ATM network and NYCE network; reimburses non-FCB ATM surcharges up to $10 per statement cycle

First Command’s banking section highlights personal banking products tailored for military personnel, veterans, and their families, including competitive checking and savings accounts, CDs, car loans, and debt consolidation options. These services come with convenient online and mobile access so that customers can manage funds, pay bills, and transfer money securely from anywhere, backed by the FDIC-insured protection First Command Bank offers. The emphasis throughout is on helping service members and their families manage everyday finances and build solid financial habits.

Citizens First Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: No (mobile app offers free credit report updates weekly)
App: Yes — Google: 4.7 (1.24K reviews); Apple: 4.8 (3.1K reviews)
Region/States: 19 locations in Florida (The Villages and surrounding counties)
ATM: On-site ATMs at most branch locations; part of the Publix Presto! ATM Network (1,300+ surcharge-free ATMs across the Southeast); additional access through regional shared ATM arrangements (fees may vary depending on network)

Citizens First Bank is an FDIC-insured community bank serving The Villages and surrounding counties in Florida. It offers personal and business checking and savings products, robust online and mobile tools including bill pay and eStatements, and an ATM network focused on surcharge-free access. The bank merged with Seacoast Bank in October 2025 following the acquisition of its parent company, with conversion of accounts tentatively scheduled for July 2026.

Emigrant Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: No
App: No dedicated mobile app; online account management via EmigrantOnline®
Region/States: 2 locations in New York; 1 location in Miami, Florida
ATM: On-site ATMs at branch locations; The bank refers to participation in ATM networks, though specific network details and surcharge policies are not prominently disclosed on its website. Prospective customers should confirm ATM access and fee policies directly with the bank.

Emigrant Bank is a privately owned U.S. financial institution offering high-yield savings, checking accounts, CDs, and mortgage lending. It emphasizes competitive deposit products and online/telephone banking access rather than a large retail branch footprint. Emigrant also provides mortgage lending through its direct lending division and support for account holders with tools to handle funds and financial needs securely.

2. Credit unions

Credit unions are member-owned, less PR-sensitive, and historically focused on service rather than signaling. Because there are thousands of local credit unions with varying eligibility rules, this guide does not list specific institutions.

How to find a good one:

Confirm NCUA insurance.Look for long operating histories.Favor credit unions with business or agricultural lending.Ask directly about account-closure policies and escalation.

3. Explicitly viewpoint-neutral banks

This is the smallest and most visible category — and the one that requires the most due diligence before joining.

The claim here is not that these banks are “conservative,” but that they have made explicit commitments to viewpoint neutrality and have no public record of ideological account closures.

What qualifies:

Public neutrality policies.Leadership statements emphasizing lawful activity over belief.Clear articulation of when accounts would be restricted.No documented ideological de-banking cases.

Old Glory Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.6 (940 reviews); Apple 4.8 (1.5K reviews)
Region/States: Nationwide digital access; one physical branch
ATM: MoneyPass (40,000+ ATMs)

Old Glory Bank is a full-service, FDIC-insured American bank headquartered in Elmore City, Oklahoma, offering personal and business checking and savings accounts, loans, certificates of deposit, and modern digital tools like mobile and online banking with nationwide access. It positions itself as a nationwide online bank built around traditional American values and strong commitments to privacy, security, and customer autonomy. Customers can bank digitally from all 50 states while also accessing features such as ATM networks, cash deposit options, and advanced debit card controls.

Co-founded by John Rich, Dr. Ben Carson, Larry Elder, and former Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R), Old Glory is guided by what it calls the Banking Bill of Rights. A statement to Align from the founders makes the bank’s stand against de-banking central to its mission: “Not only does Old Glory Bank have a policy on de-banking, it is the very reason we exist! We were founded in direct response to the growing and troubling practice of de-banking Americans for their lawful, constitutionally protected beliefs. We saw the alarming trend in January 2021 and got to work years before it became newsworthy. We stand firm on the belief that this practice is morally, legally, and fundamentally incompatible with the freedom upon which our nation was built.”

Regent Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.8 (21 reviews); Apple 4.9 (523 reviews)
Region/States: 7 locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri
ATM: 10 free out-of-network transactions monthly

Regent Bank is a regional, FDIC-insured, full-service bank headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with multiple branches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri, offering personal and business banking products including checking, savings, loans, digital banking, and treasury services. It emphasizes personalized, concierge-style service tailored to entrepreneurs, small and mid-market businesses, and specialized niches like health care, agriculture, and nonprofits. The bank combines traditional community banking values with modern tools and solutions, supporting clients’ financial needs through dedicated local relationships and digital access.

A Regent Bank spokesperson told Align that the institution identifies as a “Christian, faith-based organization in terms of [its] mission and values” and that its “approach is grounded in relationship-driven banking and serving clients based on lawful activity — not political or religious beliefs.” Regent’s spokesperson added that de-banking is a frequently discussed issue at the executive level of the organization.

4. Large regional and super-regional banks

Regions Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google: 4.5 (128K reviews); Apple: 4.9 (521K reviews)
Region/States: 1,445 locations across 15 states spanning the South, Midwest, and Texas
ATM: No-fee access at Regions ATMs

Regions Bank is a large, FDIC-insured, full-service financial institution and subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation, offering a broad range of personal banking products including checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, digital banking, and wealth management solutions. It serves millions of customers through an extensive branch and ATM network across the South, Midwest, and Texas, while also providing online and mobile tools for everyday account management The bank combines traditional community-oriented service with modern digital convenience to support a wide spectrum of consumer financial needs.

Zions Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google: 4.6 (6.8K reviews); Apple: 4.7 (29K reviews)
Region/States: ~20 branches in Utah and other Western markets
ATM: No-fee ATM network serving Western U.S.

Zions Bank is a full-service, FDIC-insured regional bank operating as part of Zions Bancorporation, offering personal banking products such as checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, credit cards, and robust digital banking tools including online and mobile access. It serves individuals and small businesses through an extensive network of full-service branches across multiple Western states and emphasizes community-focused service with modern financial solutions. Founded in the 19th century and rooted in local market relationships, Zions Bank combines traditional banking values with convenient digital access for everyday financial management.

Synovus Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google: 4.7 (10.6K reviews); Apple: 4.8 (50K reviews)
Region/States: 40+ locations in Alabama and Georgia
ATM: Unlimited fee-free Pinnacle Financial Partners ATMs

Synovus is a large, FDIC-insured financial services company and bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, offering a full range of commercial and personal banking products including checking and savings, loans, mortgages, credit cards, and digital banking. It also provides specialized services such as wealth management, trust and investment solutions, treasury management, and mortgage and capital markets services through its subsidiaries. Synovus operates an extensive branch and ATM network across the Southeast and emphasizes personalized client relationships alongside modern digital tools.

Arvest Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google: 3.6 (12.5K reviews); Apple: 4.9 (252K reviews)
Region/States: 310 locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma
ATM: Offers ATMs with live teller drive-thru services

Arvest Bank is a regional full-service bank offering personal and business financial products including checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, credit cards, wealth and treasury management, and secure online and mobile banking tools. Through its extensive network of branches across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas, the bank emphasizes local community commitment while providing modern digital conveniences like 24/7 account access and mobile deposits. Its mission centers on partnering with customers to deliver tailored financial solutions that support everyday banking needs and long-term financial goals.

PlainsCapital Bank

FDIC-insured: Yes
Credit card: Yes
App: Yes — Google 4.5 (1.3K reviews); Apple 4.9 (8.7K reviews)
Region/States: 55 branches across Texas, including Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley
ATM: Branch and regional network ATM access (confirm surcharge policies directly with bank)

Founded in 1988 in Lubbock, Texas, PlainsCapital Bank has grown into one of the largest independent banks in the state, with approximately $12.4 billion in assets and more than 1,000 employees. A subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings Inc., it operates a statewide branch network and offers commercial banking, treasury management, private banking, wealth management, and consumer banking services. While emphasizing relationship-based banking, PlainsCapital functions at the scale of a large regional institution with centralized infrastructure and enterprise-level risk management.

What to approach with caution

Not every “alternative” bank actually reduces ideological risk.

Fintech apps without their own bank charter: Many rely on sponsor banks and payment processors, meaning account access can be restricted upstream with little notice.Institutions with expansive “reputational risk” clauses: Banks that reserve broad discretion to sever relationships for social or political reasons introduce uncertainty.Ideological startups without federal backing: Branding is not a substitute for FDIC insurance, balance-sheet transparency, or regulatory oversight.

Questions to ask your bank

If ideological or reputational risk is a concern, you don’t need to announce your politics or interrogate your bank. You’re simply trying to understand process, discretion, and escalation — the same way you would with fees, fraud protection, or data security.

These are reasonable, neutral questions.

1. Under what circumstances can my account be restricted or closed?

Listen for clear references to fraud, illegality, or operational risk. Be cautious if you hear broad or undefined references to “reputational,” “social,” or “values-based” concerns.

2. Will I receive notice before an account is restricted or closed?

Ask:

How much notice is typical? Are there circumstances under which notice is not provided?

Advance notice reduces risk regardless of ideology.

3. Is there an appeal or escalation process if a decision is made?

Important follow-ups:

Can decisions be reviewed by a human committee?Is there a relationship manager or ombudsman involved?

The ability to appeal matters as much as the rule itself.

4. Who ultimately makes account-closure decisions?

You’re listening for local or relationship-based decision-making versus centralized compliance teams or third-party vendors. Distance often correlates with opacity.

5. Do you rely on third-party compliance or risk vendors?

This matters because:

Upstream vendors can impose restrictions that the bank itself did not initiate.Vendor changes can alter outcomes without warning.

6. How do you define “reputational risk”?

A strong answer ties reputational risk to concrete financial, legal, or operational exposure.

A weak answer uses vague or moralized language without boundaries.

7. Are account decisions based on lawful activity, regardless of belief or affiliation?

Banks that can say this plainly usually mean it.

8. Is my account subject to special monitoring or enhanced review?

This is especially relevant for nonprofits, small businesses, and public-facing individuals.

How to use this checklist

You don’t need perfect answers. You’re looking for a bank that can explain its rules clearly — and show how decisions are reviewed.

​Lifestyle, Consumer, Banking, Debanking, Ideology, Woke, Align guide 

A Florida teen is being prosecuted as an adult in connection with the murder and sexual assault of his stepsister, Anna Kepner, aboard a Carnival cruise ship last year, authorities announced.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said a federal grand jury leveled the indictment against the 16-year-old suspect identified as “T.H., 16, of Titusville.”

‘I couldn’t fathom why anyone would hurt my baby.’

T.H. has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.

The suspect faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, according to the statement.

The press release revealed that the defendant was charged as a juvenile on February 2.

U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered the suspect to face adult prosecution, according to the news release.

As Blaze News previously reported, 18-year-old Anna Kepner took a family vacation aboard a Carnival Horizon cruise ship that departed from Miami for a six-day Caribbean trip last November.

Kepner was traveling on the ship with her father, grandparents, stepmother, and her stepmother’s two children, including Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother accused of killing her.

A cruise ship crew member on November 7 discovered Kepner’s body under a bed in the cabin the siblings shared on the cruise ship.

At the time of her death, the cruise ship was in international waters and on its way back to port in Miami.

Kepner’s death was ruled a homicide.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated, “T.H. allegedly sexually assaulted and intentionally killed Kepner.”

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office determined Kepner’s cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation.

In November, a source informed ABC News that Kepner’s death may have been caused by asphyxiation from a bar hold — a chokehold maneuver in which the arm is pressed across the neck. The source also noted that there were two bruises on the side of Kepner’s neck.

The FBI is investigating the case because the alleged crimes occurred on the “high seas,” or international waters, and involve the purported victim as a U.S. national.

RELATED: Cheerleading trip to Las Vegas ends in ‘unimaginable loss’ as court docs reveal Utah mom’s dark past before murder-suicide

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement:

Our hearts go out to the victim’s family during this unimaginable loss. A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging serious offenses that allegedly occurred aboard a vessel in international waters. We will present the evidence in court and pursue this case with professionalism and care.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra L. López is prosecuting the case against the teen defendant.

On February 6, the suspect made his first appearance in federal court in Miami and was then released into the custody of a family member, a law enforcement official informed People magazine.

Christopher Kepner, Anna’s biological father, on Monday told WTVJ-TV, “He needs to be arrested at this time. He is now an adult, and he needs to be arrested. That is where the family stands. Justice needs to be served.”

The grieving father previously told NBC News, “Our daughter’s life matters, and we will continue to speak out to honor her, to seek accountability, and to ensure that her case is not forgotten.”

As Blaze News reported in February, court documents show that “social media from the Kepner family has indicated that they want the ‘nails in the coffin’ of [the minor], and that both the Kepner family and the respondent ‘want him buried.'”

Anna’s grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News in November, “I couldn’t fathom why anyone would hurt my baby.”

“We were looking forward to see her grow,” said Anna’s grandfather Jeffrey Kepner. “The cruise itself wasn’t what made me excited. It was the fact that I was gonna get to spend another week with my youngest son and his family and all the grandkids.”

Kepner was described as a “bubbly, funny, outgoing” high school cheerleader who “loved her siblings deeply,” according to her obituary.

Kepner’s obituary describes her as a Christian whose “faith blossomed as beautifully as her smile.”

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​Anna kepner, Anna kepner murder, Anna kepner stepbrother, Florida, Florida man, Florida woman, Murder, Sexual abuse, Crime 

The House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in December 2019 over a phone call he had months earlier with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

While the U.S. Senate ultimately acquitted Trump by a vote of 57-43 in early 2020, the stitch-up had by that stage sufficiently muddied the waters and buoyed Democrats’ false narrative in an especially heated election year.

‘It is always worse than we thought.’

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents on Monday revealing that hearsay and erroneous claims from a few politicized bad actors who lacked any firsthand knowledge of the phone call were used as the basis to impeach Trump and that elements of the intelligence community were not only aware but happy to advance the false narrative.

The documents — investigative materials used by former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who got the ball rolling on impeachment, and transcripts of his testimony released as the result of a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence vote last month — show that Atkinson skirted standard IG procedures and, embracing a kind of strategic myopia, leaned entirely on what the ODNI described as “politicized, manufactured narratives” without ever once bothering to access the transcript of Trump’s call.

A self-declared “Democrat” whistleblower who worked for the CIA filed a complaint in August 2019 alleging Trump was “using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. elections. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country — Ukraine — to investigate one of the President’s main domestic political rivals, former Vice President Biden.”

On the call, Trump reportedly made reference to how Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid to Ukraine unless the prosecutor investigating the corrupt and now-defunct Ukrainian company Burisma, where Hunter Biden was appointed director in 2014, was fired.

The ODNI noted on the basis of the newly released documents that Atkinson — who spun the complaint as “credible” and rushed it to the congressional intelligence committees — had bothered to interview only four individuals whose credibility and political motives were clearly suspect.

RELATED: Democrat says he’s filed articles of impeachment against Trump over social media post

House Judiciary Committee hearing on Dec. 12, 2019. Alex Edelman/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Besides the whistleblower — credibly identified as Eric Ciaramella, the Obama holdover and CIA analyst who reportedly partook in Obama White House discussions regarding Hunter Biden and Burisma — Atkinson interviewed the whistleblower’s friend, “who was a co-author of the January 2017 Russia Hoax Intelligence Community Assessment and close colleague of former FBI Agent Peter Strzok,” and two character references.

Not only did Atkinson rely upon the testimonies of politicized actors, he determined that the complaint must be reported to Congress despite the Justice Department determining there was “no urgent concern” and the whistleblower confirming he had no “direct knowledge of private comments or communications by the President.”

It appears the hearsay-dependent allegations were buttressed by wild speculation.

One of the “witnesses” had admitted after reading a transcript of the call that they “would not have been able to get from ‘point A to Z’ the way the Whistleblower did” and that they had to “read between the lines” in order to conclude Trump was discussing quid pro quo.

The ODNI noted that the newly released “witness” interviews demonstrate that Atkinson’s public assertion that “other information obtained during [his] preliminary review … supports the complainant’s allegation” was false and obfuscated the fact that there was no firsthand evidence of what was being alleged.

The newly declassified documents confirm not only that the whistleblower lied to Atkinson about leaking to congressional Democrats prior to submitting his allegations to the inspector general but that he was, contrary to Atkinson’s characterization, politically biased.

Atkinson testified to Congress that he “never considered the whistleblower to be politically biased.”

He drew this conclusion despite the whistleblower stating in his interviews that he is a “registered Democrat”; had “worked closely with Vice President Biden” and had traveled with Biden to Ukraine; and was the “target of right-wing bloggers … and conspiracy theorists.”

“Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States,” stated Gabbard.

“Inspector General Atkinson failed to uphold his responsibility to the American people, putting political motivations over the truth. And this, along with the politicization of the whistleblower process by a former CIA employee who was working hand in glove with Democrats in Congress, are egregious examples of the deep state playbook on how to weaponize the Intelligence Community,” continued Gabbard.

In 2019, Gabbard was a Democratic congresswoman representing Hawaii and cast the only “present” vote on both articles of impeachment.

“It was a sham from the start,” tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “The only thing we got wrong is that it is always worse than we thought.”

Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, who worked to defend Trump at his impeachment trial, told Just the News that Trump could have grounds to expunge his impeachment in the House in light of the new revelations.

“It’s never been done. I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be done,” said Dershowitz.

“These government officials will probably have to pay a political price, if not a legal price, for violating the Constitution, because that’s what they’ve done. They violated the Constitution,” said Dershowitz, adding that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to confront witnesses.

In terms of seeking remedy, Dershowitz suggested Trump could always bring a civil lawsuit.

Trump evidently liked Dershowitz’s suggestions and said on Truth Social, “Alan, one of the greats, should do it!”

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​Abuse of power, Alan dershowitz, Articles of impeachment, Director of national intelligence, Donald trump, Eric ciaramella, Hunter biden, Impeachment, Inspector general, Intelligence community, Justice department, Phone call, President donald trump, Trump, Tulsi gabbard, Ukrainian president, Volodymyr zelenskyy, Whistleblower complaint, Politics 

Whatever hopes Kevin Cichowski had of launching a political career are now likely over after he was arrested in connection with an attack on two elderly individuals in Florida last week.

On Friday morning, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a 911 call from a residence in Palm Coast about what the office described as “a domestic disturbance with a weapon.” According to the 911 caller, the allegedly armed suspect “had battered two elderly victims in the home — hitting one with a cane and throwing a cellphone at the other.”

‘This is insane.’

The 911 caller, who was one of the two victims, claimed the suspect “had threatened to kill them multiple times and stated he would kill law enforcement if they were called,” the sheriff’s office said.

What’s worse, the two victims were holed up in a bedroom of the residence, unable to escape because one of the victims was “bedridden,” the sheriff’s office added. Deputies at the scene managed to help the victims evacuate the residence safely.

The suspect was identified as 46-year-old Kevin Cichowski.

Bodycam footage, obtained and shared by the New York Post, reveals Cichowski rambling about his mother and father during his arrest. The outlet noted that though the sheriff’s office did not verify any relation between the parties involved, the two victims are believed to be Cichowski’s parents.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Cichowski says as a deputy escorts him out of the residence in handcuffs, video shows.

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” he adds. “This is insane.”

RELATED: ‘Die from masturbation’: Days before murdering his parents, Utah ‘trans’ man made eerie complaints about ‘lunatic’ housemate

– YouTube

Cichowski has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of battery on a person over 65, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with a witness, and two counts of robbery by sudden snatching.

During his trip to jail, Cichowski expressed suicidal ideation, the sheriff’s office said, prompting detention under the Florida Baker Act, which involves detaining those experiencing a mental health episode and who may pose a threat to personal or public safety.

Jail records indicate he remains in custody as of Monday evening. Cichowski was also arrested in 2024 for domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment.

The Facebook post from the sheriff’s office noted Cichowski’s attempted forays into Floridian politics: “Cichowski is running for election for Governor of Florida. Cichowski previously ran for Palm Coast mayor in 2021.”

Cichowski did indeed file for the Florida gubernatorial race as a Democrat on March 24, according to Florida State Department records.

Even before his arrest, however, his prospects were rather dim. The Democratic field is already crowded with former Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dominating the race. One poll released following Cichowski’s entry has him registering nominal support.

Cichowski’s campaign and the Florida Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment from Blaze News.

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​Democratic party, Florida, Flagler county, Palm coast, Kevin cichowski, Politics 

Recently, a simple note from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins wishing staff a meaningful Easter and reminding them that it was a day to celebrate the “foundations of our faith” has caused those in the secular-state industrial complex to rhetorically crucify the secretary.

The right of a U.S. secretary of agriculture — or any public official — to send a pro-Easter message to staff is not only constitutionally permissible, it is deeply consistent with the text, history, and tradition of the First Amendment.

There’s a difference between hearing something and being made to say it yourself.

The First Amendment safeguards the free exercise of religious practice in public while ensuring that there will be no state-mandated religion. Critics often interpret the Establishment Clause as requiring a strict secular silence from public officials, but that interpretation is historically incomplete.

The Constitution does not demand a religion-free public square; rather, it prevents coercion or official establishment of a national church.

This kind of message is not new. It echoes in older scenes: a president bowing his head at the end of a proclamation, members of Congress listening to a morning prayer before debate begins, a phrase stamped quietly onto a coin that passes through countless hands.

Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that government may acknowledge religion as part of the nation’s heritage. From legislative prayers upheld in Marsh v. Chambers to holiday displays permitted in Lynch v. Donnelly, the court affirmed that ceremonial and traditional expressions of faith are compatible with constitutional principles.

A secretary of agriculture sending a goodwill Easter message fits squarely within this tradition.

Religious references have been woven into American governance since the founding. Presidents from George Washington onward have issued proclamations referring to God and religious observances.

Congress employs chaplains. The national motto, “In God We Trust,” appears on currency. These practices demonstrate that the framers did not intend to purge religious expression from public office, but to prevent its abuse.

Easter, specifically, has long been recognized both culturally and institutionally in the United States. Federal employees often receive time off for Easter-related observances, and presidents frequently release Easter messages reflecting on themes of renewal and hope.

A pro-Easter message that is inclusive in tone — perhaps acknowledging the holiday’s themes or extending goodwill to those who celebrate — does not coerce belief or participation. Employees remain free to disregard the message, just as they are free to observe or not observe the holiday.

RELATED: The trial lawyers come for online free speech

Skodonnell/Getty Images

There’s a difference between hearing something and being made to say it yourself. The First Amendment lives in that space. It protects the employee who quietly appreciates the message and the one who deletes it without a second thought.

Suppressing such expressions, on the other hand, risks creating a different constitutional problem: hostility toward religion. The Supreme Court has cautioned against interpretations of the Establishment Clause that demonstrate animus toward faith.

Neutrality does not mean erasure; it means equal treatment. Allowing a pro-Easter message does not privilege Christianity so long as the government does not exclude or penalize other beliefs.

In a religiously pluralistic society, the goal should not be to eliminate religious references from public life, but to ensure that they are expressed in a way that respects freedom for all.

The secretary of agriculture sending an Easter message — grounded in tradition, delivered without coercion, and consistent with historical practice — falls well within those constitutional boundaries.

​Brooke rollins, Radical left, Supreme court, First amendment, Free speech, Religious liberty, Easter, Easter message, Christianity, Opinion & analysis 

We are living in a highly re-mystified world. Today, more people believe in the supernatural than don’t. Major surveys consistently show that belief in God, spirits, souls, life after death, or related concepts far outnumbers strict naturalism or atheism across the globe.

And our entertainment landscape is reflecting that shift. In his new docuseries “Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons,” investigative journalist Billy Hallowell explores the reality of angels, demons, spiritual warfare, and the unseen realm through evidence, testimonies, and biblical perspectives.

Now he joins Glenn Beck to discuss why — in light of the evidence presented in his docuseries — believing in the supernatural is not only understandable, but very reasonable

Even though he’s a “Christian” who “[believes] in the Bible,” Hallowell admits that he can be quite skeptical about supernatural testimonies because “we can make claims all day,” but producing this series has virtually crushed that skepticism.

“I was shocked by the staggering amount of evidence that is there,” he tells Glenn.

The evidence is so convincing and so abundant, in fact, that it’s actually becoming an effective evangelical tool — especially when it comes to younger generations, Hallowell says.

“This supernatural evidence is the thing that could bring [young people] over the line into faith because they’ve been so lied to for so long, so forced into this weird secular worldview that when you see something crazy that has evidence, it brings you into the faith,” he explains.

But sometimes, it doesn’t even take hard evidence for people to cross the line into belief in the supernatural. Glenn argues that many people are becoming believers simply because of the objective darkness they’re witnessing.

“We’re watching good and evil — angels and demons — duke it out all around us right now. And we’re just feeling the aftereffects,” he says.

Hallowell says Glenn’s words reflect Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

“I actually don’t think … that we can really understand fully what is happening in the world around us and in our individual lives if we don’t understand that battle,” he says.

Hallowell’s docuseries is “a quest” to do just that — understand the world around us by examining it through a spiritual lens. And that includes aliens.

To hear how Hallowell’s documentary explores extraterrestrial life from a spiritual perspective, 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, Billy hallowell, Angels and demons, Spiritual warfare, Christianity, Aliens, Ufos, Blazetv, Blaze media 

An Atlanta neighborhood is shocked by the brutal killing of a woman simply walking her dog Monday morning, and a witness said she saw the suspect do something even more horrible.

The DeKalb County Police Department said officers responded to a residence on Battle Forrest Drive at about 6:50 a.m. and found the victim with gunshot and stab wounds.

‘I heard 6 to 7 shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her.’

A witness named Tiffany Williams told WXIA-TV that she made eye contact with the suspect after hearing the gunshots outside her home.

“I was getting up, getting my grandbaby ready for school, and I heard six to seven shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her,” Williams said.

“I heard the shooting, but I’m not thinking because as a mother and I’m seeing her lying there, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to help her,'” she added.

Williams said the suspect was pulling the victim’s pants down when they made eye contact.

“I saw he was wearing all black, and then he ran up the street,” she added.

Neighbors said the area is very quiet and that most of the residents are elderly people.

Later at a media briefing that evening, the Brookhaven and DeKalb County police departments said a 26-year-old suspect named Olaolukitan Adon Abel was arrested after a traffic stop in Troup County.

Police said he was a suspect in a deadly shooting at a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road and was tied to the lethal shooting of a homeless person at a Kroger grocery store in Brookhaven.

RELATED: Convicted murderer and rapist killed by cop during parole warrant arrest allegedly refused to drop gun

The victim near Kroger was sleeping at about 2 a.m. when someone shot him multiple times.

The woman shot near Checkers had been shot at about 12:50 a.m. and died at a hospital.

Police said the DeKalb County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death of the woman shot while walking her dog.

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​Atlanta woman shot and stabbed, Brutal killing, Woman walking dog, Shooting spree atlanta, Crime 

On the biggest diplomatic night of his second term, Donald Trump mentioned Nigeria.

In a Truth Social post seen by millions — at the precise moment the entire world was watching his Iran ceasefire announcement — he linked a disputed Iranian statement to “a Fake News site (from Nigeria).”

It was only one sentence, but that is how Trump softens the ground.

Two hundred US troops have been at Bauchi Airfield since February. MQ-9 Reaper drones were deployed in March.

Most Americans can’t find Nigeria on a map, but it is the sixth largest nation on earth, on track to be the third by 2050 — a quarter of Africa’s entire population. Nigeria is also a top-five oil producer in OPEC and has more than a trillion dollars in untapped minerals.

Whoever shapes Nigeria shapes Africa’s future — and increasingly, the world’s. The radical Islamists understand this. They’ve been actively working in the country for 30 years.

More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria every year than in the rest of the world combined — more than 125,000 since 2009.

I’ve made 16 trips to the country since 2010, several under State Department Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories. I documented what I found in my book “Epicenter: Nigeria, Radical Islam, and the War for Global Order.”

Don’t believe the spin: This isn’t a tribal conflict or a climate dispute. It is coordinated, religiously motivated extermination — killers shouting “Allahu Akbar” as they slaughter Christians by the thousands — while elements within the Nigerian government enable the terror.

In congressional testimony in 2025, U.S. Gen. Michael Langley, AFRICOM commander, declared that the region is now “the epicenter of terrorism on the globe” — and that terror networks are actively pushing toward Nigeria’s coastline, building the capacity to strike the American homeland.

The stated agenda of the terrorists, after bringing all of Nigeria under Sharia submission, is to use it as a launchpad for global jihad.

It’s already happening. On March 12, an ISIS operative radicalized in Nigeria walked into an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University in Virginia, killed Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, and shouted “Allahu Akbar.” Nigeria’s jihad already has an American address.

RELATED: My friend survived the Global War on Terror. Leftist immigration policies got him killed.

Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

Every Nigeria observer has watched in frustration as the Iran war consumed Washington for six weeks. Because Trump had been moving — and the clock was running.

On October 31 of last year, the Trump administration designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern — the most serious religious freedom label the U.S. government issues. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.V.) was tasked to investigate.

Congress introduced HR 7457 with sanctions language targeting complicit Nigerian officials by name. Christmas night: The USS Paul Ignatius struck jihadist camps in Sokoto State with Tomahawk missiles — the first U.S. strike on Nigerian soil.

The Nigerian government provided the coordinates — in the far north, nowhere near where the genocide is actually happening. Make of that what you will. Then Iran took Trump’s attention. And the killing in Nigeria accelerated.

From November through Palm Sunday, the body count was relentless — more than 400 kidnapped in November, miners slaughtered near Jos in December after specific advance warnings were publicly dismissed.

A New Year’s Eve massacre. Forty-two men tied up and killed at a market in January. More than 160 dead in Kwara State in February. More than 100 dead at Ngoshe in March — Nigerian soldiers retreated without firing a shot.

Then Palm Sunday: 53 Christians murdered across three attacks. Easter Sunday: 17 more killed before dawn in Benue State.

In response, Rep. Moore quoted his boss: “President Trump has been very clear that if the Nigerian government will not address this genocide, we will address it for them.”

The same week, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced the U.S. is actively tracking Nigerian officials suspected of sponsoring terrorism.

Meanwhile Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s government has spent more than $10 million on Washington lobbyists — including Trump’s own former State Department adviser, now a registered foreign agent for Nigeria — to manage the narrative.

Tinubu seems to have concluded Washington is manageable and decided to wait out Trump’s term. He may have badly miscalculated.

Two hundred U.S. troops have been at Bauchi Airfield since February. MQ-9 Reaper drones were deployed in March. The USS Paul Ignatius is still in the Gulf of Guinea.

For two months, American eyes have been over northern Nigeria. We know where the terrorists are. Sen. Cruz says we know who funds them, and an Iran ceasefire could free up a president who doesn’t like to lose.

I’ve been saying for years that Nigeria is the epicenter of anti-American global forces — radical Islamists, Chinese mineral extraction, and deep-state protection rackets that have run cover for the killing from Washington for decades.

Trump’s recent mention of Nigeria tells me he already knows it too.

​Nigeria, Trump, Iran war, Nigerian christians, Radical islam, Jihadists, Terrorist attack, Uss paul ignatius, Bola tinubu, Opinion & analysis 

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California says he will resign from Congress after the Ethics Committee said he would be under investigation for numerous sexual harassment accusations.

Swalwell had already abandoned his hopes to become the governor of California, but on Monday he posted a statement saying he was also going to resign from office.

‘Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong.’

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” he posted on social media.

“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties,” he added.

“Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress,” Swalwell wrote.

He was referring to efforts to expel him along with Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who allegedly had an affair with a staffer who later killed herself; Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) over alleged fraud; and Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) for numerous allegations.

RELATED: Brian Stelter is getting CRUSHED on social media for praising journalism about Swalwell sex allegations

“I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district,” Swalwell concluded.

This is a developing story.

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​Swalwell for governor, Swalwell resigns from congress, Swalwell sexual harassment, Swalwell sexual assault, Politics 

President Donald Trump said he will refile his “powerful case” against the Wall Street Journal over a report related to Jeffrey Epstein after a judge tossed out the first filing Monday.

The report claimed that the president sent a “bawdy” greeting card to Epstein in 2003 for his 50th birthday and published an image of what it said was the handwritten message in July 2024.

‘Our powerful case against The Wall Street Journal, and other defendants, was asked to be re-filed by the Judge.’

Trump has vehemently denied that he wrote the greeting and sued the Journal for $10 billion over the story.

Federal Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the lawsuit because the president had “not plausibly alleged that the Defendants published the Article with actual malice.” However, he allowed for Trump to refile the case and gave a deadline for the end of the month.

Gayles noted that the Journal had contacted Trump, officials from the Justice Dept., and the FBI for comment prior to publishing and had included a statement from the president.

The president said he would refile in a statement on Truth Social.

“Our powerful case against The Wall Street Journal, and other defendants, was asked to be re-filed by the Judge,” he wrote. “It is not a termination, it is a suggested re-filing, and we will be, as per the Order, re-filing an updated lawsuit on or before April 27th.”

A spokesperson for the Journal’s publisher, Dow Jones & Co., said in a statement that the publisher was “pleased” with the decision to dismiss.

“We stand behind the reliability, rigor, and accuracy of the Wall Street Journal’s reporting,” the spokesperson said.

RELATED: Trump denies report of letter and drawing sent to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, threatens to sue Wall Street Journal

A spokesperson for the president’s legal team also released a statement.

“President Trump will follow Judge Gayles’ ruling and guidance to refile this powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other Defendants,” the spokesman said.

“The President will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in Fake News to mislead the American people,” the spokesman added.

If Trump indeed sent the card, it would have been before Epstein was officially investigated on charges of sexual assault against minors in 2006 and his 2008 conviction.

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​Trump lawsuit against wsj, Trump letter to epstein for 50th, Wsj trump epstein report, Trump and jeffrey epstein, Politics 

A woman’s serious accusations against federal and local law enforcement officials have allegedly turned out to be a hoax, and a sheriff is suing her for defamation over the claims.

Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi said in March that she and some co-workers had been held for over 30 hours despite being U.S. citizens and got nationwide coverage from sympathetic news outlets.

‘They have not been supported by any — any — verified evidence at all.’

Twenty-eight-year-old Naqvi claimed she arrived at O’Hare airport in Chicago from Turkey on a work trip and was transported to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview and also taken to the Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin.

Her story was amplified by Democratic Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, who is a friend of the family and a critic of the president’s immigration policies.

“I don’t think they want to own up to the fact that once again they have illegally detained American citizens without due process,” said Morrison days after the alleged detention.

Her story seemed to begin falling apart after the multinational software company she claimed to work for reportedly said she was not an employee and that none of its workers had been detained at O’Hare.

Weeks after the accusations, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt filed a defamation lawsuit against Naqvi as well as Morrison and explained the evidence that contradicted her claims.

“They have not been supported by any — any — verified evidence at all,” Schmidt said at a media briefing on Friday. “At no point was Sundas Naqvi in the custody of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.”

He released video and text messages that he claimed undermined her account and showed that she was able to leave the O’Hare airport less than 90 minutes after landing. He also cited statements made by her boyfriend to the sheriff’s office.

“I don’t have any charges here in Dodge County to bring against her. My only recourse is to make sure that the public knows that she can’t do this,” Schmidt added.

The lawsuit also includes 10 “John Doe” people accused of publication or republication of the false claims against the sheriff. Their names will be added to the suit once they are identified.

The Chicago Sun Times has also documented numerous prior alleged incidents of false accusations made by Naqvi, including a conviction related to lying about sexual assault and a stabbing.

RELATED: GOP ex-aide found with wounds and ‘Trump whore’ written on her — feds say it’s a hoax

Schmidt is seeking $1 million in the lawsuit.

Morrison, meanwhile, has changed his previously strident tone about the case.

“It is my understanding that a lawsuit has been filed. I have not seen it. And if a suit has in fact been filed, I cannot comment on pending litigation,” he said in a statement.

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​Sundas sunny naqvi ice detention, Us citizen detained by ice, Hoax naqvi claims, Dodge county vs naqvi, Politics 

President Donald Trump deleted a post that angered many Christians and explained his rationale to reporters on Monday.

The image seemingly showed the president depicted as Jesus Christ healing a sick man with angels behind him. Trump admitted that he personally posted it but said the image had been misunderstood.

‘It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better.’

Trump addressed the issue after receiving a DoorDash driver who had brought a McDonald’s order to the White House.

“It was me. I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with the Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker there, which we support, and only the fake news could come up with that one,” said the president.

The post was deleted Monday after getting criticism online.

“I just heard about it, and I said, ‘How did they come up with that?'” he added. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

The White House posted video of his response to the Rapid Response account on the X platform.

RELATED: Vatican finally responds to Trump’s invitation for Pope Leo to join Board of Peace

The biblical brouhaha came at a time when the president is also taking aim at the pope over his statements against the war in Iran.

Sharon Simmons of Arkansas was identified as the first DoorDash driver to deliver to the White House, and she said in an interview afterward that she had saved $3,000 to $4,000 in taxes because of the president’s policies. She also said her husband is undergoing cancer treatment.

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Pop songstress Sabrina Carpenter dared to express discontent with a different culture, and now she’s apologizing for it.

In fact, the young singer had no idea what she was making fun of at the time, but she has been properly re-educated since the incident.

‘I don’t like it.’

Swiss miss

It was Friday night at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, when Carpenter heard what she thought was “yodeling” from a member of the crowd.

“I think I heard someone yodel,” Carpenter said while seated at a piano. “Is that what you’re doing?” she asked.

“It’s Arab! It’s an Arab call!” an audience member can be heard yelling back.

“I don’t like it,” Carpenter firmly replied.

The 26-year-old offered an awkward smile as the audience member provided further explanation.

“It’s my culture!” they offered.

“That’s your culture, is yodeling?” the puzzled singer asked back.

Still the fan tried to culturally enrich the Quakertown, Pennsylvania, singer.

“It’s Arab, it’s a call. It’s a call of celebration,” they went on, according to 7News Australia.

Seemingly ready to end the exchange, Carpenter jumped in, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”

RELATED: Sabrina Carpenter condemns White House’s ‘evil and disgusting’ use of her song — it responds with ridicule

Trilling tales

Fortunately, the internet stepped in to educate Carpenter, noting that the ululation she heard is called a zaghrouta.

A helpful community note on X described the screams as a “pre-Islamic cultural expression of joy used by Arabs across religions, including Christians, at celebrations.”

It added, “It is not an Islamic practice, so Sabrina Carpenter’s reaction to the sound does not indicate islamophobia.”

OK, but what about … Arabaphobia? A few cultural commissars tried to make the charge stick, but for the most part, fans were happy to chalk it all up to a misunderstanding.

Carpenter offered a playful apology on her X page, saying that she would welcome any further cultural cries, or yodels, in the future:

“My apologies i didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly,” she wrote. “My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now i know what a Zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”

RELATED: Satan struts at Paris Fashion Week — here are the 3 most demonic designers

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images/The Recording Academy

ICE-capades

Carpenter has not shied away from controversial interactions, especially of the political nature.

In December, she demanded the White House cease using her music in a video that showed people getting arrested, presumably illegal immigrants.

“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” Carpenter replied,

The singer also offered voter registration during her 2024 tour, registering more than 35,000 voters and officially engaging with more than 260,000, according to Variety.

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“The View” is back in the headlines for spewing more ignorant nonsense.

During a discussion reacting to conservative activist Isabel Brown’s comments at CPAC, where she encouraged young women to have more children, Sunny Hostin said it was “reckless” to encourage people to have kids during the current economic climate.

“I think it’s just really reckless to be suggesting that people should have children when you now know in this country there’s this affordability crisis,” Hostin began.

BlazeTV host Pat Gray says just this statement alone is “outrageous.”

“It’s reckless to suggest people have children? Are you kidding me?” he asks in shock. “We’re already below replacement level right now … so do you want America to just disappear eventually?”

But Hostin wasn’t done.

“For a two-person household, a married household, you need over $400,000 for child care — over $400,000. Most people don’t make over $400,000,” she continued, accusing Brown of “advocating for people to be born into poverty, people not being able to feed those children, people not being able to educate those children, and people not being able to house those children at the same time when this government is cutting all of the services that would allow people to have families.”

Co-host Ana Navarro then asked a clarifying question: “$400,000 over the lifetime of the child?”

“No, it’s a year! It’s an annual income exceeding $400,000 to afford child care,” Hostin doubled down.

Pat can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of Hostin’s claim. “It’s not $400,000 a year to have a baby!” he howls.

“They are so butt stupid. It’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed for them, and I can’t stand them.”

Pat is shocked that “The View” wasn’t forced to address Hostin’s fallacious numbers. “Is that something that the lawyer or somebody could fact-check somewhere along the lines so they come back and correct that garbage?” he asks.

But thus far, no such correction has been made.

Pat wonders how the audience of “The View” is stomaching Hostin’s lie about childrearing — “How many of their viewers have children and understand the fact that it’s not $400,000 a year to clothe them, feed them, house them?” he asks.

“They have to,” says Jeffy, arguing that “anyone with any kind of brain, even a numbskull … knows that it doesn’t take $400,000 a year for a child.”

To hear more of the conversation, watch the episode above.

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Democrats and Republicans alike are eyeing the home stretch before the 2026 primaries, but the latest forecast suggests the GOP is facing a major disadvantage.

Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority following the 2024 election after Americans elected President Donald Trump back to the White House and the GOP took back the Senate and maintained its narrow House majority. The electoral forecast is now indicating that the pendulum will swing back in favor of Democrats, with four key races shifting away from Republicans.

None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican.

The Cook Political Report was initially tracking Senate races for Georgia, which is held by incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff, and North Carolina, which is held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis, as toss-ups that could go either way. The same report also had the Ohio Senate race leaning Republican and the Nebraska Senate race as a solid Republican rating.

As of Monday, all of these races have shifted in favor of Democrats.

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

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican. Michigan’s Senate seat, which is held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, is rated as a toss-up. Maine’s Senate seat, held by Republican Susan Collins, is also notably rated a toss-up.

Republicans currently hold 53 seats and can afford to lose a maximum of just two Senate seats in order to maintain their majority, though Vice President JD Vance could always break any tie votes.

​Senate republicans, Senate democrats, John thune, Chuck schumer, 2026 midterms, Georgia, Ohio, North carolina, Nebraska, Maine, Thom tillis, Jon ossoff, Jon husted, Susan collins, Gary peters, Pete ricketts, Politics 

A longtime communications director for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is leaving Capitol Hill for the tech world.

Interestingly, the move comes six months after the CEO of the company he’s joining apologized for suggesting President Trump should send troops into California.

‘My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution.’

Alex Nguyen, Schumer’s communications director for the past seven years, is headed for civilian life after nearly two decades working in the nation’s capital.

According to Capitol Hill outlet Punchbowl News, Nguyen will become director of corporate communications for Salesforce, a customer service and automation-software company. Ally Biasotti, a previous national press secretary for Schumer, will take over Nguyen’s old role.

In October 2025, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff apologized for saying he would welcome the deployment of National Guard troops to San Francisco — where the company is headquartered — stating, “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it.”

According to CNBC, Benioff faced blowback, and his remarks even sparked a resignation from board member Ron Conway, who reportedly told Benioff in an email that their “values were no longer aligned.”

RELATED: ‘Allows ICE to kick tens of billions’ off voter rolls? Schumer’s SAVE Act claims keep getting worse.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

This prompted Benioff to walk back his comments in a post to his X page, stating that he no longer believed “the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco.”

“My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution,” Benioff wrote, adding that he sincerely apologized for “the concern” his remarks caused.

In a subsequent post, Benioff shared a graph purporting to show that San Francisco Police numbers had plummeted since 2019, while noting that Salesforce had pledged $1 million in sign-on bonuses to SFPD recruits.

RELATED: CNN analyst delivers Democrats devastating news about base support

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images

Nguyen’s transition to the Salesforce C-suite comes amid a data breach and rumors of increased layoffs at the company.

Salesforce has confirmed that thousands of customer records were breached, allegedly through a connected third-party app. The app provides a live-chat function that connects to Salesforce to convert customer leads.

At the same time, Salesforce has disputed rumors that the breach also revealed the company was planning to cut approximately 4,000 customer support roles.

According to Storyboard 18, Salesforce said the reported figure does not refer to new layoffs but rather a planned redeployment that was initiated in September 2025.

Schumer’s team did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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CNN’s chief media analyst is applauding the mainstream media for exposing sexual misconduct allegations against the top Democratic candidate for California governor, including an alleged rape, and now faces the wrath of online critics.

California Rep. Eric Swalwell had a tenuous lead above the other Democrats, but he has suspended his campaign in the wake of allegations of sexual assault from a former staffer and accusations from others about sexual misconduct. He has denied the claims.

‘Rumors were abound for years on the hill. … You just shills for political parties.’

On Monday, Brian Stelter of CNN said the report was a victory for journalism while ignoring that many had looked the other way for a decade about rumors of the allegations.

Stelter said it was a “testament to the power of investigative reporting” and credited CNN and the Chronicle for ending Swalwell’s gubernatorial hopes.

He was immediately assailed by critics pointing out the problems with his characterization of the reporting.

“Is there an Emmy/Oscar/Tony we can create for @brianstelter for this bit of comedic genius? Testament to investigative reporting??? @TheDemocrats knew. You knew,” replied Roxanne Hoge, the chair of the Los Angeles County Republican Party.

“10 years late. Imagine how many people might have been saved from Swalwell had the media done its job at the start, rather than covering for a fellow Democrat,” responded former California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

“And all it took was seven terms in Congress and about a half-dozen victims for investigative journalists to break the news of behavior apparently everyone knew about,” said columnist Becket Adams.

“Investigative reporting? People have been sitting on this knowledge for years and it only came out because they needed him to drop out of the governor‘s race so he didn’t split the vote,” said another critic.

“Rumors were abound for years on the hill. If you truly were investigative reporters you would have looked into this years ago. You just shills for political parties,” read another online response.

On Friday, several staffers left the campaign, and Swalwell lost the endorsements of former supporters.

RELATED: Eric Swalwell lawsuit against Trump administration meets embarrassing end

Swalwell said he was suspending his campaign in order to fight the allegations, but because of California election law, his name will stay on the ballot. That may give Republicans an opening if support for Swalwell splits among the other Democrats in the race.

The top two vote-getters in the June 2 primary, regardless of party, will face off in the general election in November.

“To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” said Swalwell in a statement Sunday.

Others are calling for Swalwell to resign from his office in the U.S. Congress.

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