Category: blaze media

President Donald Trump extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to his “Board of Peace” charter for Gaza, according to a spokesperson for the Vatican, who said they are considering how to respond.

The charter is intended to seek to end the conflict in Gaza and currently has leaders from 17 countries, including Argentina, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

‘The pope has received an invitation, and we are considering what to do.’

On Wednesday, the Vatican’s diplomatic official Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that Trump had invited the pope.

“The pope has received an invitation, and we are considering what to do,” Parolin said to reporters. “I believe it will be something that requires a bit of time for consideration before giving a response.”

He added that nations joining the charter are asked to contribute financially but that the Vatican would not be able to do that.

“We are not even in a position to do that,” Parolin added. “However, evidently we find ourselves in a different situation with respect to other countries, so it will be a different consideration, but I think the request will not be to participate financially.”

On Thursday, many of the world leaders joined a signing ceremony for the peace charter on the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The president has also invited other countries into the compact, including Russia, Belarus, France, Germany, Vietnam, Finland, and Ukraine.

Trump is chairing the board, which will also include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The conflict in Gaza has raged on since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered more than 1,000 while taking hostage more than 200 people, including some Americans. Israel has responded with an extensive military campaign to wipe out the leaders of the terror group.

RELATED: Pope Leo calls out gambling addiction and ‘demographic crisis’ in Vatican meeting

Leo is the first pope from America in the church’s entire history. Some have praised him for his conservative stances, but others worry that he has displayed some sympathy for what many would consider “woke” attitudes.

Reuters reported that the pope “rarely” joins international boards.

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

​Trump board of peace in gaza, Trump and the pope, Pope leo xiv, Catholics and israel, Politics 

Too many Americans are “dead at the hands of illegals that were put on the streets by these radical Marxists,” and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is warning that it needs to end.

“They don’t care about Laken Riley. They don’t care about Kayla Hamilton. They don’t care about Jocelyn Nungaray. They don’t care about Rachel Morin. They don’t care about Officer Mendoza, who was killed in Arizona by a drunk driver. I could keep going down the list, Glenn,” Roy tells Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck.

Of the names Roy listed, Officer Brandon Mendoza was the only one killed accidentally. He was hit by a drunk-driving illegal immigrant and died of his injuries. All the women and girls he listed were brutally murdered by illegal immigrants — some sexually assaulted as well.

“You know, they’re also really quite delusional. I mean, these are people who think that they are standing up against the Nazis, like they would have done against the Nazis rounding up Jews, except these people would never stand up for Jews if they were being rounded up,” Glenn agrees.

“It’s not just that they are believing this about ICE or missing what ICE is actually doing. They are being used. They’re such useful idiots. They’re being used by the people in power in Minnesota to make sure nobody’s talking about the rampant corruption in Minnesota,” he continues.

“A hundred percent,” Roy agrees. “And I think this is the story. … We need to have a special select committee or certainly a supercharged Judiciary Committee and Oversight Committee to go follow the money, to go follow how those dollars are flowing.”

And Roy points out that it’s “obvious” that “taxpayer funds [are] going through NGOs or directly to people and through these fraudulent programs.”

“You’re funding fraud. You’re funding tyranny. You’re funding all of this stuff,” he adds.

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.

​Camera phone, Free, Sharing, Upload, Video, Video phone, Youtube.com, The glenn beck program 

President Donald Trump announced America’s withdrawal from the scandal-plagued World Health Organization late in his first term, citing the organization’s abysmal response to COVID-19, its willingness to help the communist Chinese regime cover up the spread of the virus, and its refusal to adopt urgently needed reforms.

Former President Joe Biden swooped in, however, to prevent the withdrawal, which was scheduled for July 6, 2021.

‘The United States will not be making any payments to the WHO before our withdrawal.’

On his first day back in office, Trump put the country back on track for withdrawal, giving the WHO a one-year notice period as required by U.S. law. In the months since, the Trump administration has cut off funding, withdrawn all personnel from the organization, and pivoted initiatives previously executed with the WHO to bilateral engagements with other countries and outfits.

Pursuant to the president’s order, the United States has — as of Thursday — officially finished its exit from the WHO.

In a joint release confirming the completion of the withdrawal, the U.S. State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services stated, “Going forward, the U.S. government will continue its global health leadership through existing and new engagements directly with other countries, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based entities.”

“U.S.-led efforts will prioritize emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation, including for noncommunicable diseases, to protect America first while delivering benefits to partners around the world,” added the departments.

RELATED: ‘We are not doing this any more’: Rubio to strip billions in foreign aid from ‘NGO industrial complex’

Photo by Robert Hradil/Getty Images

In a corresponding fact sheet, the departments indicated that in addition to terminating all funding to the WHO and recalling all U.S. personnel and contractors previously assigned to or embedded with the agency, the U.S. has “ceased official participation in WHO-sponsored committees, leadership, bodies, governance structures, and technical working groups.”

“Withdrawing from WHO restores long-overdue accountability and transparency for U.S. taxpayers,” says the fact sheet.

The WHO, a specialized agency of the United Nations that was founded in 1948, has long depended on the U.S. for financial and technical support. The U.S., a founding member, has historically been the organization’s single largest contributor, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the WHO yearly and regularly accounting for over 20% of all member-state assessed contributions.

While the Trump administration satisfied its statutory obligation to give a one-year notice, critics of the withdrawal and officials at the globalist organization claim the U.S. has not met its financial obligations under the provisions of the congressional resolution that first enabled the country to join the WHO.

The amount supposedly owing for the 2024-2025 period is reportedly $278 million.

“The United States will not be making any payments to the WHO before our withdrawal,” a State Department official told NPR earlier this week. “The cost borne by the U.S. taxpayer and U.S. economy after the WHO’s failure during the COVID pandemic — and since — has been too high as it is.”

Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO’s Center of National and Global Health Law, told NPR, “This is a very, very public and messy divorce.”

“The man says, ‘No, I’m not going to pay you any money, and we’re no longer married.’ And the woman says, ‘No, you can’t not be married unless you pay me,'” said Gostin.

Unlike in Gostin’s analogy, the man in this scenario is the world’s pre-eminent nuclear superpower.

Despite the apparent futility of the effort, the WHO’s principal legal officer, Steven Solomon, indicated earlier this month that the organization’s member states will discuss whether the U.S. has met the requirements for leaving, reported Stat News.

“It’s a lose for the U.S., and it’s also a lose for the rest of the world,” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week of America’s imminent departure. “I hope they will reconsider.”

Bill Gates, a funder of some of the WHO’s work, told Reuters, “I don’t think the U.S. will be coming back to WHO in the near future.”

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

​World health organization, Who, United nations, Globalist, Globalism, Nationalism, Taxpayers, Donald trump, Health and human services, State department, Winning, Politics 

Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona is proposing new legislation to crack down on illegal aliens obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.

Americans have witnessed many preventable deaths inflicted by illegal alien truck drivers who often obtained CDLs in blue states that seemingly ignore citizenship or work requirements. The tragic death toll was exacerbated by former President Joe Biden’s administration, which allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood the country within a span of just four years.

‘They gamble with American lives.’

Biggs believes the VERIFY CDL Act will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“American citizens should not have to worry that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ border failures are showing up on our highways,” Biggs told Blaze News. “When millions of unvetted, unknown illegal aliens were allowed into the country — which is exactly what the Biden regime turned a blind eye to — the federal government created serious public safety risks far beyond the border.”

“Until every illegal alien is deported by President Trump’s hard work, Congress has a responsibility to close dangerous loopholes. My VERIFY CDL Act ensures commercial driver’s licenses are issued only to individuals legally authorized to work in the United States.”

RELATED: Illegal alien truck driver walks out of jail after allegedly killing American — and sanctuary policies appear to be to blame

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Biggs’ legislation would look to change that. According to the bill text obtained exclusively by Blaze News, the VERIFY CDL Act would require applicants’ employment to be authorized through the E-Verify program before they can be issued a CDL, adding additional safeguards and closing a highly abused loophole.

“Operating a commercial vehicle is not a right — it is a serious responsibility,” Biggs told Blaze News. “When states issue CDLs without verifying work authorization, they gamble with American lives. My bill puts an end to that recklessness.”

“If you are legally authorized to work in the United States, E-Verify confirms it,” Biggs said. “If you are not, you do not get behind the wheel of a 40-ton vehicle.”

RELATED: Illegal alien truckers with California licenses accused of hauling $7M in cocaine across state lines

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Biggs noted that mass immigration is not limited to the border, but rather it needs to be addressed at every level, including CDLs.

“It’s not complicated,” Biggs said. “We have seen what happens when verification fails — preventable deaths, broken families, and a system that has lost its integrity.”

“One preventable death is one too many,” Biggs added. “Congress has a duty to act, and this bill does exactly that.”

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

​Andy biggs, Cdls, Commercial driver’s licenses, Arizona, Arizona governor, Illegal alien truck drivers, Joe biden, Kamala harris, Border crisis, Mass immigration, Illegal aliens, E-verify, Politics 

A 24-year-old professional tennis player reminded reporters that politics has nothing to do with her sport.

Amanda Anisimova, born in New Jersey to Russian immigrants, is the No.4-ranked player in the Women’s Tennis Association, just behind fellow American Coco Gauff.

‘I don’t think that’s relevant.’

After a straight-set victory in the second round of the Australian Open, the American spoke to members of the media in Melbourne, Australia.

Lodged between questions regarding her recent performance was an oddly political query about how it feels to be representing America.

“I’ve been asking a lot of the American players just how it feels to play under the American flag right now. And I’m curious how you feel,” a male reporter asked, using significant vocal fry.

Anisimova did not take the bait, replying, “I was born in America, so I’m always proud to represent my country. And yeah, a lot of us are doing really well, and it’s great to see a lot of, you know, great athletes on the women’s side, on the men’s side.”

Anisimova was likely referring to the current success her compatriots are having on the tour. Americans hold three of the top six positions in the women’s tennis rankings currently, with several more in the top 30.

“I feel like we’re all doing a great job representing ourselves,” Anisimova added.

However the reporter wasn’t ready to let the topic die just yet.

RELATED: ‘It’s not fair’: No. 1 women’s tennis player states obvious truth about transgender athletes in women’s sports

“Sorry. Um, just to clarify a little,” the man continued. “I mean, sort of in the context of the last year of everything that’s been happening in the U.S., does that complicate that feeling at all?”

Anisimova seemed to think the follow-up question was unworthy of an answer.

“I don’t think that’s relevant,” she said with a smirk.

Fans who watched the press conference on YouTube sided unanimously with the young star and pointed out that the press conference culminated with yet another political question. In fact, it was nearly identical to the first.

“America is a, you know, divided place at the moment, euphemistically,” another male reporter prefaced. “Do you ever find it difficult or distracting to play under the American flag at the moment?”

Anisimova again brushed the question off.

RELATED: Tennis player labeled ‘racist’ for scolding black opponent after match: ‘I was NEVER racist‘

Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I mean, I’m not planning to, you know, switch my nationality or represent a different country. I was born there, so it’s not something that comes to my mind.”

Women’s tennis can be strangely political at times.

In fact, the WTA does not showcase the flag of its ranked players if they are from Russia. This includes world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 7 Mirra Andreeva. Three more Russians in the top 50 do not have Russian flags on their official WTA profiles either.

The same does not apply to Ukrainian athletes, as No. 20 Marta Kostyuk and No. 28 Dayana Yastremska have their flag proudly next to their names.

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

​Sports, Russia, United states, Flag, Trump, Tennis, Women’s sports, Woke, Australia, Politics 

President Donald Trump is dropping more hints about the technology used to capture Venezuela’s former communist leader Nicolas Maduro.

During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president discussed his thoughts on Greenland as a strategic military location against China and Russia.

After saying how “stupid” the United States was to give the territory back to Denmark after World War II, Trump said the world is in greater danger with Greenland exposed.

‘They weren’t able to fire one shot at us.’

“Now our country and the world face much greater risks than it did ever before because of missiles, because of nuclear, because of weapons of warfare that I can’t even talk about,” Trump began. He then started discussing the weapons used in the capture of Maduro.

“Two weeks ago, they saw weapons that nobody ever heard of. They weren’t able to fire one shot at us. They said, ‘What happened?’ Everything was discombobulated. They said, ‘We’ve got them in our sights. Press the trigger.’ And nothing happened,” he told his fellow world leaders.

The president added that Venezuelan defense forces could not fire any anti-aircraft missiles, saying there was “one that went up about 30 feet and crashed down right next to the people that sent it.”

“They said, ‘What the hell is going on?'” the president added.

RELATED: Chinese women are spending thousands on virtual boyfriends: ‘Maybe because real-life marriage is just … dull’

Much speculation has been given to the types of advanced technology U.S. forces used in Operation Absolute Resolve, including directed-energy weapons.

One of Maduro’s security guards described American troops as shooting with “such precision and speed; it felt like each soldier was firing 300 rounds per minute.”

The security guard described the Americans launching a “sonic weapon or whatever it was,” which was like a “very intense sound wave,” and he “felt like” his head “was exploding from the inside.”

“We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood,” he recalled.

RELATED: Did Trump use the ‘Havana syndrome’ weapon on Venezuela?

— (@)

As for the unresponsive defense systems Trump described as “made by Russia and by China,” reports have claimed that telecommunications towers were among the first targets destroyed by American forces. A Russian-made surface-to-air missile system was also destroyed in airstrikes, others reported.

“So they’re going to go back to the drawing boards,” Trump remarked.

Much of what the United States has revealed about its weapons systems is already advanced, such as helmet technology that provides a sort of X-ray vision, supported by an interconnected drone and communications network, as well as anti-drone energy weapons.

Trump was eager to explain America’s need to acquire Greenland due to it being an “undefended” and “key strategic location” between the United States, Russia, and China.

“We need it for strategic national security and international security,” Trump said as the room remained dead silent.

The president also dismissed notions that the real reason to take Greenland was to acquire rare-earth minerals, saying the real rarity lies with processing and that Greenland’s minerals are buried deep under ice.

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

​Return, Sound cannon, Wef, World economic forum, Greenland, Davos, Weapons, Advanced weaponry, Tech 

Conservative journalist and co-founder of Surge Media Frank Scales was attacked and maced by a radical leftist on the bus — who justified her actions by claiming that he was a racist and a fascist who harasses people.

In a video of the attack, the woman continues to get in Scales’ face while he’s sitting down in his bus seat, before pulling out the mace.

He was able to dodge the mace, which got the back of his head, and when he pressed her on why she believed he was a racist, she said she has seen what he posts on the internet.

“You talk s**t about Islamic people, you talk s**t about black people, you talk s**t about Mexicans, and you post it on the internet,” she screamed, completely unhinged.

“I was looking out of the window, enjoying my ride on the bus, and this lady behind me started screaming at me. She essentially said, ‘You’re a fascist, you’re a racist, I seen you on the internet.’” And I said, ‘I disagree with that characterization you’re making about my work, but I hope you have a good day,’” Scales tells BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.”

“And when she saw she couldn’t bait me into an argument, she got more aggressive, and I immediately started recording. I’m very grateful that I started recording pretty quickly and captured the whole interaction on my phone, and we posted it. But it was out of nowhere,” he continues.

“What shocks me is how fast she went from trying to bait me to getting violent with me. It was very unnerving,” he adds.

“That seems to be the typical, Democrat, liberal MO is to bait you. … When that doesn’t work, they get very angry and they get very violent, as it turns out,” Gonzales says.

The even more interesting part of the attack is that Scales knew his attacker.

“You guys attended school together at the Community College of Philadelphia, and so you knew each other. You had a seemingly good relationship. She was interviewing you about being student body president. So what happened, Frank?” Gonzales asks.

“First, I was investigated for saying that the founding fathers of this country were good people. And then I endorsed President Trump, and I got impeached and removed from my position as student government president. At that point, everybody turned on me,” he explains.

“I think she actually wrote a hit piece on me,” he says of his attacker.

“I think the Community College of Philadelphia needs to come out and they need to denounce political violence for my own safety,” he 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.

​Upload, Camera phone, Sharing, Video phone, Free, Video, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Democrat vs republican, Conservative journalist attacked, Frank scales, Racist, Fascist, Leftist 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids strike fear into the immigrant population.

The newly inaugurated leader was given the celebrity treatment during a recent interview on “The View,” where the program’s left-wing hosts heralded him as a possible savior for not only NYC, but the entire United States.

‘We are being asked to not believe our own eyes.’

Looking for Mamdani’s direction on ICE raids, host Sunny Hostin (real name Asunción Cummings Hostin) asked the mayor if he thinks the federal government will “target New York” or him as well.

Mamdani started by reiterating his stance that Renee Good — the woman who was shot and killed by the ICE agent she was driving into — was actually murdered.

“People ask me, why did I say the word ‘murder’? I ask them to look at that video and tell me what they would call it. We are being asked to not believe our own eyes,” he argued.

Instead, Mamdani proposed, “It’s time to be truthful with people.”

This led to one of several instances in which the Ugandan-born politician claimed he stood his ground on his principles when he met with President Donald Trump in November.

“I’ve said this directly to the president: that these ICE raids, they are cruel. They are inhumane. They do nothing to deliver that public safety.”

RELATED: Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds

– YouTube

The 34-year-old then pivoted to his city, where he said such raids strike fear into his city’s immigrant population. He noted that 26 Federal Plaza, the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building that has a federal immigration court, was once an inspirational location that was associated with “the American dream.”

“Now it’s the sign of the American nightmare,” Mamdani decreed. “It’s where people go there for what should be a routine immigration check-in, [and] they don’t know if they’re going to get detained or deported.”

The New York location is where many illegal immigrants are given their final deportation orders and are routinely detained by immigration enforcement outside the courtroom.

RELATED: Protesters stand with Renee Good by repeating their bizarre ritual from Trump’s 2024 victory

Photo by Kerem YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images

Mamdani was pressed by Hostin about what he would do to stop ICE raids in NYC. The mayor said he would use “every tool” at the city’s disposal to “ensure that what we’re seeing elsewhere is not what we see in this city.”

Sanctuary cities “keep New Yorkers safe,” Mamdani said, specifically referring to people he described as committing only the crime of “being in New York City.”

Mamdani was able to sidestep responding to host Joy Behar’s remarks that legal battles against ICE raids have been unsuccessful in Minnesota, but only because another host brought up ICE agents wearing masks during operations. This gave the mayor a chance to discuss what he believes is another element of “fear” coming from 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!

​New york city, News, Mamdani, Nyc, Communist, Deportations, Ice, Ice raids, Illegal immigrants, Immigration, Politics 

An analysis of voter registration says WNBA players have the biggest share of Democrats of any professional sports league in the country.

The data comes from reporters Peter Lutz and Zachary Donnini, who gathered voter registration numbers from professional athletes across five major American sports organizations: the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and WNBA.

The MLB could be considered the most Republican of the leagues and is the only one that is majority Republican.

The data showed that not only is the WNBA the only league in which the majority of voter registration is Democrat, but it by far has the lowest percentage of registered Republicans.

More than two-thirds (67.5%) of registered voters in the WNBA are Democrats, according VoteHub, which showed that 30.2% were independents, while just 2.3% were Republican.

The NBA was the next-most Democratic-leaning, with 42.9% registered with the left-wing party and just 10% Republican.

The NFL also had more Democrats than Republicans, 34.3% to 20.2%.

Registered voters in the NHL had the lowest percentage of registered Democrats, 5.6% versus 43.9% registered as Republicans.

Meanwhile the MLB offered the highest share of registered Republicans at 53.7% against just 7.8% registered Democrats. This means that the MLB could be considered the most Republican of the leagues and is the only one that is majority Republican.

Independents represented the highest share of voters for the NBA, NFL, and NHL.

RELATED: WNBA star just admitted the truth about biology — and her fellow players won’t be happy

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

More of the data was reported by America First Post, which showcased voter registration by position in the NFL. Defensive backs were most Democrat-leaning — defensive back was also the only position that was majority Democrat (51%).

Six of the 11 positions shown were more Republican than Democrat, with Republicans representing 50% or more of registered voters in three of those positions.

For long snappers (61%) and punters (57%), the majority of registered voters were Republican; kickers were 50% Republican. According to the data, none of the NFL’s punters are registered as Democrats. Most teams carry just one punter, which means there are likely between 30 to 40 in the NFL.

For offensive linemen (26%), quarterbacks (33%), and tight ends (34%), more players were registered Republican than Democrat.

RELATED: NBA legend calls on Trump to implement mandatory military service

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The overall data tracks with exit polling from the 2024 presidential election, which shows that 53% of women voted for Democrats, although the women of the WNBA greatly exceed those numbers.

As of 2023, 70.4% of NBA players are black. In the 2024 presidential election, 77% of black men voted Democrat.

In the NFL, defensive backs are nearly entirely black, yet as mentioned, only 51% of those players are registered Democrat.

Outwardly conservative WNBA players are hard to find, given the league’s 2.3% Republican voters. However most fans point to Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham as a possibility.

The 29-year-old notably shared posts from Charlie Kirk’s memorial in 2025 and recently made a friendly post directed at Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe from her home state of Missouri.

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

​Fearless, Mlb, Nhl, Nfl, Football, Basketball, Women’s sports, Voting, Republican, Democrats, President, Primary, Party registration, Sports 

BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey will moderate the Texas attorney general Republican primary debate hosted by the Republican Attorneys General Association at the Granada Theater in Dallas on February 17.

‘Allie Beth is a key conservative stalwart who understands the issues and what’s at stake in 2026.’

Stuckey, the host of the “Relatable” podcast, will be moderating the debate between Joan Huffman, Mayes Middleton, Aaron Reitz, and Chip Roy.

Huffman and Middleton are currently members of the Texas state Senate. Reitz was previously the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy. Roy is presently serving as the U.S. representative for the 21st Congressional District of Texas.

“I’m honored to be asked to moderate this debate,” Stuckey stated. “As a native Texan, I care deeply about the future of our state and the leadership we choose. The Texas attorney general has long played a key role in national legal battles, making this primary especially important not just for Texas, but for the country.”

This is the only debate featuring all the Republican candidates before the March 3 primary.

RELATED: Paxton’s ‘offensive coordinator’ aims to take the helm as Texas AG

Mayes Middleton. Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

Three Democrats are also running for Texas attorney general: Tony Box, Joe Jaworski, and Nathan Johnson. Box is an Army veteran and a first-time political candidate. Jaworski was previously the mayor of Galveston. Johnson is a member of the Texas state Senate.

“RAGA is proud to partner with Blaze Media in producing this media event and are thrilled Allie Beth Stuckey has agreed to moderate the RAGA Texas AG Debate,” RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper said. “Allie Beth is a key conservative stalwart who understands the issues and what’s at stake in 2026. RAGA is thrilled Allie Beth agreed to lead the conversation, which will highlight why Republican attorneys general are the most effective elected officials in the country today.”

RELATED: Conservative firebrand Chip Roy bids Congress farewell, targets new political venture

Aaron Reitz. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Piper noted that the Texas AG primary is the “most expensive attorney general race in American history.”

“The next Texas attorney general will build upon an office shaped by Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott, and John Cornyn,” Piper continued. “The Texas attorney general plays a critical role locally and nationally, from protecting Texans to promoting the rule of law and preserving freedom for future generations. RAGA looks forward to providing Texans the opportunity to hear all four AG candidates answer questions offered by various Republican attorneys general.”

Paxton, the current Texas AG, officially announced in November that he will run for Senate against incumbent John Cornyn.

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

​News, Allie beth stuckey, Texas attorney general, Texas ag, Texas, Dallas, Republicans attorneys general association, Raga, Joan huffman, Mayes middleton, Aaron reitz, Chip roy, Tony box, Joe jaworski, Nathan johnson, Adam piper, Ken paxton, John cornyn, Greg abbott, Politics 

While the Department of Justice has filed charges against anti-ICE radicals linked to the disruption at a Saint Paul church service, Don Lemon is reportedly escaping charges.

Lemon claimed to have been acting as a journalist when he joined the group protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations by confronting a Saint Paul church whose pastor reportedly leads an ICE office.

‘Once the protest started in the church we did an act of journalism.’

According to CBS News sources, the Minnesota federal magistrate judge refused to sign a complaint against the former CNN anchor.

“The attorney general is enraged at the magistrate’s decision,” said a source said to be familiar with the matter to CBS.

However, another source said that the Justice Department had other avenues to seek charges against Lemon.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi had announced charges against three of the radicals who allegedly participated in the storming of the church on Sunday. CBS reported that a source confirmed a magistrate judge had approved charges.

The Associated Press also reported that the charges against Lemon were rejected.

“Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church, and members of the organization,” Lemon later said in defense of his actions. “That’s it. That’s called journalism.”

RELATED: Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds

The administration is likely to pursue charges under the FACE Act, which was passed during the Clinton administration chiefly to prosecute pro-life protesters outside abortion clinics.

Lemon was fired from CNN in 2023 and has since begun commenting on the news from his YouTube channel.

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

​Charges against don lemon, Face act for church, Radicals interrupt church service, Don lemon charges, Politics 

Anti-ICE activists’ attempts to frustrate federal immigration law enforcement in Minneapolis and elsewhere hit a snag on Wednesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and three Minnesota-based law firms filed a lawsuit on Dec. 17 against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging its agents violated the constitutional rights of several anti-ICE activists, including a Minnesota woman and a Somali-American who were both accused of attacking federal agents.

A federal judge who was nominated by former President Joe Biden ruled last week in favor of the radicals.

‘A liberal judge in Minnesota tried to handcuff ICE agents.’

U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez prohibited federal agents involved in Operation Metro Surge and related operations in the Gopher State from:

“retaliating against persons who are engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity”; arresting such persons; “using pepper-spray or similar nonlethal munitions and crowd dispersal tools against persons who are engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity”; and “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 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. On Wednesday, the appellate court granted the defendants an administrative stay of Menendez’s preliminary injunction.

Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared greatly pleased with the higher court’s ruling.

RELATED: Anti-ICE lunacy hits new low: Activist allegedly air-horns cops investigating school threat that had nothing to do with ICE

Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“A liberal judge in Minnesota tried to handcuff ICE agents who are enforcing the Nation’s immigration laws and responding to obstructive and violent interference from agitators,” Bondi said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The 8th Circuit just granted an administrative stay HALTING these restrictions, which were designed to undermine federal law enforcement,” continued the attorney general. “This DOJ will protect federal law enforcement agents from criminals in the streets AND activist judges in the courtroom.”

Federal agents didn’t waste any time taking advantage of their restored abilities.

Hours after the ruling, Greg Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol was caught on tape warning a hostile crowd of anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis that gas was coming, then tossing a gas canister their way.

The Department of Homeland Security indicated that “Border Patrol agents who were in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area as part of a targeted enforcement operation were repeatedly harassed and blocked by hostile crowds while simply trying to take bathroom breaks.”

“At each gas station where the agents stopped to use the restroom, groups of agitators appeared, yelled at them, stalked them, and even tried to prevent law enforcement vehicles from leaving, creating unsafe conditions,” said the DHS. “At one stop, individuals in the crowd threw food at the agents. At their final gas station stop, someone spit on an agent. When an agent moved to detain the person who spit on him, the crowed tackled and attacked the agents while surrounding them. To safely clear the area agents had to use crowd control measures to disperse the hostile crowd.”

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

​Pam bondi, Customs and border patrol, Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Anti-ice, Biden judge, Injunction, Nonlethal, Gas, Tear gas, Liberal, Democrat, Dhs, Department of homeland security, Winning, Politics 

President Donald Trump has recently intensified his push to acquire Greenland for U.S. national security reasons, refusing to rule out military force or economic coercion, including tariffs on Denmark and European allies. The U.S. will get control of Greenland “one way or the other,” he told reporters on Air Force One on January 11.

Yesterday at a White House news conference, when asked how far he would go to obtain the ice-covered island, he cryptically replied, “You’ll find out.”

His determination to acquire Greenland has sparked significant backlash, including strong rejections from Denmark’s and Greenland’s leaders. Many call it a power-grab that will strain NATO ties and potentially ignite a war.

But Glenn Beck says we have to be smart about the way we think about this. “If you know anything about Donald Trump, he’s been against war his whole life,” he says.

Trump’s latest moves, he argues, don’t indicate a desire for war; they indicate a desire to survive an inevitable one.

“What he’s acting like is a man who believes the world is dying anyway. The old world is dying and that it’s better to break it deliberately and … grab the wreckage than inherit it by surprise and have to be fighting for the scraps,” he explains, reminding that history repeatedly shows that “only the disruptors … have a chance of saving their nation.”

Glenn echoes Trump’s words that Denmark “cannot be responsible for the security of the northern hemisphere,” especially against the threat of Russia and China.

“The Danes and the EU are not going to be the ones that prevent war or protect the northern hemisphere. It must be the United States, so we must have control of Greenland,” he says, displaying a map of the country that highlights its strategic location in the Arctic.

Because it straddles the GIUK Gap (Greenland-Iceland-U.K.) between North America and Europe, Greenland is vital for monitoring Russian and Chinese submarines and missiles, providing early warning against attacks on the U.S., controlling access to emerging northern shipping routes, and securing the northern approaches to North America.

For these reasons, the United States has been expressing interest in controlling Greenland since the 1950s, says Glenn, but President Trump — in light of the swelling threat of China and Russia and the weakening of NATO — is actually trying to make it happen.

But this need for hemispheric control extends beyond Greenland.

Glenn suspects that Trump’s tariffs weren’t just economic tools but deliberate “stress tests” on allies and potential partners. By applying pressure equally, even on NATO members like Denmark or close neighbors like Canada, Trump forces the world to answer: Who stands with the West, and who is drifting toward adversaries like China?

Glenn plays recent clips of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney boasting about exporting massive LNG shipments to Asia — “By 2030, Canada will produce 50 million tons of LNG each year, all of which will be destined for Asian markets” — as an example of how tariffs have forced nations to show their true colors.

People might not like Trump’s tariffs or his push for Greenland, but they’re failing to see the big picture.

“The president sees war, and he’s preparing for it,” says Glenn.

To hear more of Glenn’s commentary and predictions, 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, Beck, Blazetv, Blaze media, Greenland, Trump greenland, Trump tariffs, Tariffs, Donald trump, War, Nato, China, Russia 

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson (R) were scheduled to appear at Dallas Baptist University this morning, but their event was abruptly canceled after the school received unverified threats.

Dallas Baptist University was evacuated on Thursday morning, the Dallas Morning News reported.

‘Out of an abundance of caution, the University has made the decision to cancel classes for Thursday, January 22.’

Turner was scheduled to give remarks at 9:30 a.m. as a part of the HUD Center for Faith’s Opportunity Zones Summit. Opportunity Zones are “economically distressed communities,” nominated by America’s governors.

Johnson was also slated to speak about “public-private partnerships and uplifting underserved communities,” according to the Dallas Morning News.

“Emergency response: Out of an abundance of caution, the University has made the decision to cancel classes for Thursday, January 22,” a news release from the university reads. “The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. Additional updates will be shared as appropriate as the situation continues to be monitored.”

RELATED: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem partners with HUD to end government-funded housing for illegal aliens: ‘The gravy train is over’

Eric Johnson. Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

“Dallas Baptist University has been made aware of several unverified threats involving the campus,” the university said in a statement to Blaze News.

“While there is no confirmed indication of immediate danger, University leadership is proactively assessing the situation and working closely with law enforcement officials to ensure the safety of our community,” the statement added.

The university stressed that the campus was evacuated “out of an extreme abundance of caution” so that it could “determine the legitimacy of these unverified threats.” Classes remain canceled for the remainder of the day.

No injuries have been reported.

RELATED: ‘Government is in the way’ of disaster recovery in North Carolina, California: HUD secretary to Glenn Beck

Scott Turner. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Dallas Baptist University was founded in 1898 and is home to over 4,000 students.

“This event has been canceled due to a security concern on campus,” a HUD spokesperson told Blaze News.

The Dallas mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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

​News, Scott turner, Housing and urban development, Hud, Eric johnson, Dallas, Texas, Dallas texas, Dallas baptist university, Opportunity zones, Politics 

As the Trump administration celebrates one year in office, the Department of Homeland Security made a big announcement for its CBP Home App program in a bid to keep the deportation numbers high.

In a Wednesday press release, DHS announced that it will be increasing the self-deportation stipend the American taxpayer has been paying illegal aliens to self-deport.

‘Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.’

The stipend will increase from $1,000 to $2,600. DHS’ offer also covers the airline ticket price and forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to leave the country.

“Since January 2025, 2.2 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program. To celebrate one year of this administration, the U.S. taxpayer is generously increasing the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally — offering a $2,600 exit bonus,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

RELATED: Anti-ICE lunacy hits new low: Activist allegedly air-horns cops investigating school threat that had nothing to do with ICE

Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

“Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” Noem continued.

DHS explained in the press release that an enforced deportation costs a little over $18,000. With the new offer, the burden on the U.S. taxpayer for a voluntary self-deportation is substantially lessened, dropping to just over $5,000.

The department also claimed that the Trump administration finished its first year with over 675,000 deportations, though more specific breakdowns of the data have been difficult to obtain.

“Those illegal aliens who don’t take advantage of this special offer today have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported, and they will never be able to return to the United States,” DHS said. “The smart and simple thing to do is to start planning your trip home through CBP Home today.”

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

​Politics, Dhs, Department of homeland security, Cbp home app, Deportation, Deportations, Illegal aliens, Kristi noem, Dhs secretary, Crimiinal illegal aliens 

House Republicans have opened an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) after reviewing recent financial disclosure filings that show a sharp increase in her household’s reported wealth, according to multiple media reports.

The inquiry is being led by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, who say they are examining whether Omar and her husband, Tim Mynett, properly disclosed income and business interests as required by federal ethics laws. The review is in its early stages, and no formal allegations of wrongdoing have been announced.

‘There are a lot of questions as to how her husband accumulated so much wealth over the past two years.’

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said the panel intends to pursue answers through congressional oversight channels.

“We’re going to get answers, whether it’s through the Ethics Committee or the Oversight Committee, one of the two,” Comer said.

RELATED: Ilhan Omar blurts out profanity to describe United States amid ICE mission in Minneapolis — and backlash is fierce

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Omar, a Democrat who represents much of Minneapolis, reported significantly higher asset valuations in her most recent annual disclosure compared with previous years. The filings list increased valuations tied largely to Mynett’s business holdings, including consulting and investment ventures.

Comer questioned the plausibility of the reported increase, saying it raised immediate red flags.

“There are a lot of questions as to how her husband accumulated so much wealth over the past two years,” Comer said. “It’s not possible. It’s not. I’m a money guy. It’s not possible.”

Republicans say the size and timing of the reported increase warrant closer scrutiny. Oversight Committee members have indicated they may seek additional documentation to better understand how the assets were valued and whether the disclosures complied with House ethics rules.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the House majority whip, said the issue goes beyond routine disclosure review and merits formal examination.

RELATED: First Muslim Texas lawmakers push Islamic values

Scott Heins/Getty Images

“The explosion of wealth, plus the fact that convicted fraudsters helped fund Omar’s campaign, is worth an investigation by the Ethics Committee at the very least,” Emmer said.

The investigation comes amid heightened political attention on financial transparency in Congress and broader scrutiny of fraud cases in Minnesota, though Omar has not been charged or accused of involvement in those cases.

Omar has dismissed the investigation as politically motivated and has denied any wrongdoing. She has previously said her financial disclosures are accurate and that her husband’s business activities are lawful.

A congressional investigation does not itself imply misconduct. Lawmakers frequently review disclosures and request clarifications as part of routine oversight. The House Oversight Committee has not released a timeline for potential hearings or subpoenas.

Democrats have criticized the probe as partisan, arguing that Republicans are targeting a prominent progressive lawmaker. Republicans counter that the inquiry is about transparency and accountability.

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

​Ilhan omar, Fraud, Investigation, Politics 

The House Oversight Committee issued deposition subpoenas on Aug. 5 to failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton requiring their testimony “related to horrific crimes perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein.”

Evidently the Clintons didn’t feel that they should be held to the same standard to which Democrats previously held President Donald Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon and current trade adviser Peter Navarro, who were both jailed for defying subpoenas issued by the Jan. 6 committee.

‘The Clintons were legally required to appear and instead responded to our good-faith negotiations with defiance.’

After repeated warnings that the Clintons risked criminal exposure by failing to comply with the subpoenas, the committee advanced two resolutions on Wednesday recommending that the House of Representatives find them in contempt of Congress.

The resolution finding Hillary Clinton in contempt passed in a 28-15 vote. The three Democratic lawmakers who joined Republicans in supporting the resolution were Reps. Summer Lee (Pa.), Melanie Stansbury (N.M.), and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.).

The resolution finding Bill Clinton in contempt passed in a 34-8 vote with the help of Lee, Stansbury, Tlaib, and six other Democrats: Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Emily Randall (Wash.), and Lateefah Simon (Calif.).

“By voting to hold the Clintons in contempt, the Committee sent a clear message: No one is above the law, and justice must be applied equally — regardless of position, pedigree, or prestige,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in the wake of the votes. “The Clintons were legally required to appear and instead responded to our good-faith negotiations with defiance, delay, and obstruction.”

RELATED: Ghislaine Maxwell scheduled to testify before House Oversight Committee

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Photo by Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images.

The Clintons’ lawyers, apparently aware that the other shoe was about to drop, proposed that Comer travel to New York for a conversation with Bill Clinton where “no official transcript would be recorded and other Members of Congress would be barred from participating,” Comer indicated on Tuesday.

Comer noted both that the “Clintons’ latest demands make clear they believe their last name entitles them to special treatment” and that the proposal for a transcript-free interview was unworkable because “Clinton has a documented history of parsing language to evade questions, responded falsely under oath, and was impeached and suspended from the practice of law as a result.”

Angel Urena, deputy chief of staff to Bill Clinton, denied Comer’s framing and stated hours ahead of the votes that “we have offered to help, we have helped, and to this very moment we are ready to help. But the Republicans REFUSE to say yes.”

Urena suggested that the dealbreaker was ultimately lawmakers’ alleged refusal to “keep their questions about the Epstein investigation to questions about Jeffrey Epstein.”

House GOP leaders are reportedly not expected to vote on whether to refer the contempt findings to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution until lawmakers return in February. The Washington Post suggested that the delay will afford the Clintons time to talk their way out of hot water and into an arrangement with the committee.

Democrats have a history of evading consequence for defying congressional subpoenas.

Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama’s attorney general, was held in contempt of Congress in a decisive 255-67 vote in 2012 for refusing to turn over documents related to the Fast and Furious scandal.

The Obama Justice Department rewarded Holder for keeping Obama’s documents from the American people’s elected representatives by refusing to prosecute.

In 2024, House Republicans voted to hold former Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas for audio recordings of former President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur.

The Biden Department of Justice revealed on June 14, 2024, that it would not bother prosecuting the Democratic official.

House Republicans talked a big game in early 2024 about possible repercussions after Hunter Biden defied a congressional subpoena. Biden managed to get out unscathed as lawmakers dropped their proposed contempt resolution to give the pardoned felon’s attorneys more time.

Republican allies have not been so lucky.

After the Democrat-controlled House voted 229-202 in 2021 to hold him in contempt of Congress, the Biden DOJ energetically prosecuted Steve Bannon, securing a conviction and recommending that he serve at least six months in prison and pay a $200,000 fine. He ultimately served four.

Navarro received a similar treatment and ended up serving a four-month prison sentence as well.

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

​Bill clinton, Hillary clinton, Clinton, Contempt of congress, Contempt, Jeffrey epstein, Epstein, Hillary, House oversight committee, James comer, Politics 

A felon who had spent time behind bars for kidnapping and other crimes tried to abduct a Florida woman who was walking her dog in the area of 18th Place East in Bradenton on New Year’s Day, WFLA-TV reported, citing the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman managed to run away from the suspect’s car and made it to her home — and then warned her husband about what happened, the station said.

‘Chalk one up for the good guys!’

Detectives said the husband went outside and confronted the suspect, who behaved “in a threatening manner” toward the couple, WFLA reported.

But when the suspect began approaching, the husband shot the suspect once in the driveway, the station said.

The sheriff’s office told WFLA the entire incident occurred in a matter of minutes.

Deputies responded to the shooting at 12:27 a.m., and the suspect — 36-year-old Nicholas Palomo — died at the scene despite efforts to save him, the station said.

RELATED: Crook forces way into home, stabs resident amid fight. But victim’s wife grabs gun, opens fire — and permanently ends threat.

Mugshot of Nicholas Palomo from 2023Image source: Manatee County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office

More from WFLA:

After collecting further evidence in the shooting, investigators determined that Palomo did not know the couple, classifying the shooting as a “random incident.”

Detectives also found that Palomo previously caused a disturbance at a Circle K before the shooting. It is believed he may have been under the influence of narcotics.

An autopsy found Palomo died of a single gunshot to the chest, and toxicology testing is being done to determine what drugs were in his system at the time.

The State Attorney’s Office classified the shooting as self-defense, justifying the homeowner’s actions, the station said.

As you can imagine, commenters under WFLA’s Facebook post about the incident gave the husband hearty kudos.

“Husband of the year!” one commenter declared.”I got his next beer,” another user promised.”Chalk one up for the good guys!” another commenter exclaimed.”Hero husband,” another user stated.”The south don’t play games,” another commenter wrote.

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

​2nd amend., Attempted kidnapping, Crime thwarted, Defending family, Fatal shooting, Florida, Gun rights, Guns, Husband and wife, Manatee county sheriff’s office, Self-defense, Crime 

Radicals from Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and BLM Twin Cities assembled on Sunday for a so-called “ICE Out Action,” then stormed a Christian church in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday morning that at her direction, Homeland Security Investigations and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, the founder of the Racial Justice Network and former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, who claimed responsibility for the disruption.

The AG indicated that Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a radical lesbian who has led BLM Twin Cities and worked for the Saint Paul School Board since 2020, was also arrested.

“Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” wrote Bondi.

‘President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.’

FBI Director Kash Patel indicated that both Armstrong and Allen were arrested for alleged violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrances Act.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon indicated in the immediate aftermath of the radicals’ incursion into Cities Church, which apparently has a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-affiliated pastor, that her office was looking into potential FACE Act violations “by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”

RELATED: ‘You are on notice!’ Don Lemon backs anti-ICE radicals who stormed Saint Paul church — but DOJ vows reckoning

Photo by Jason Alpert-Wisnia/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

“We don’t want to prejudge, but I think it is fair to say that I saw multiple federal criminal incidents yesterday, and there will be charges,” Dhillon told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck Monday. “It’s only a question of when we can get a judge to sign off on arrest warrants and exactly what the charges would be.”

The law prohibits the use of force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise their First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.

Violations can result in prison time and hefty fines as well as civil lawsuits.

Footage of the church-storming appears to show the mob led by Armstrong blocking the altar, yelling Renee Good’s name, and pressing parishioners individually to answer whether they support ICE. One pair of visibly upset churchgoers can be seen in the video comforting one another while the radicals angrily condemn members of law enforcement.

In one video of the mob action, Armstrong apparently yells, “Someone who claims to worship God, teaching people in this church about God, is out there overseeing ICE agents. Think about what we experienced. The murder of Renee Good at the hands of ICE. A Venezuelan national shot by ICE.”

Armstrong references a pair of individuals who were shot while allegedly attacking federal agents, then yells, “How dare you claim to be a pastor of God? … You are involved in evil in our community,” video appears to show.

“President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Sunday. “The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.”

Bondi suggested that there are more arrests to come.

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

​Cities church, Church, Storming, Pam bondi, Kash patel, Fbi, Doj, Justice department, Justice, Face act, Nekima levy armstrong, Politics 

Many Americans have watched Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy “The Lord of the Rings.” And many have read J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. Some can quote whole passages and trace Tolkien’s deliberate references to the life of Christ and the horror of modern war.

Maybe House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) live in that camp. If not, they should.

The Republicans’ plan cannot be ‘use federal power while we have it, then trust the next guys.’

A crucial scene comes early in the saga. The council debates what to do with the One Ring, the ultimate source of power. Boromir makes an understandable, dangerous suggestion — a perfect expression of fallen man’s temptation: “Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him.”

Aragorn stops him with two sentences rooted in humility and truth: “You cannot wield it. None of us can.”

That is the lesson Republicans must learn now, while they still hold majorities.

Dismantle the machine, don’t borrow it

Many supporters of President Trump want Congress to act boldly. They also want something more important: They want Republicans to roll back the reach and scope of the federal government while they can. If the GOP refuses, Democrats will inherit the same machinery and use it without restraint. Not someday. Soon.

If you think I exaggerate by calling Democrats the enemy or warning that we are doomed, consider a recent message from the second-highest-ranking elected congressional Democrat in the country, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Jeffries posted a video of White House adviser Stephen Miller on X.com and wrote: “Donald Trump will leave office long before the five-year statute of limitations expires. You are hereby put on notice.”

Jeffries did not allege a crime. He did not explain what Miller did wrong. He did not argue facts or law. He issued a threat: We will punish you later because we can.

That is what Republicans keep forgetting. The federal government’s power does not idle in neutral. It exists to be used. If it remains in place, someone will use it — and progressives have already shown what they want to do with it.

Which raises the central point: Nobody can safely wield that power. Not congressional Republicans. Not any administration. The correct move is not to grab the weapon and promise better behavior. The correct move is to destroy the weapon.

Fraud stories shine a bright light

Start with something as basic as fraud.

Look at the unraveling of the Somali day-care scandal in Minnesota and the billions of stolen tax dollars. That story grew so large that it helped end Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Walz’s re-election ambitions. Yet the government did not uncover it.

Not the Government Accountability Office. Not the Congressional Budget Office. Not the Office of Management and Budget. Not House or Senate oversight committees. Not the IRS. Not the Small Business Administration. Not the armies of full-time staffers inside federal agencies reporting up to inspectors general whose job description exists for this very purpose.

All that government power — and it did nothing.

RELATED: America now looks like a marriage headed for divorce — with no exit

mathisworks via iStock/Getty Images

The scandal came to light because of the tenacity of a 23-year-old guy with a camera. If the federal machine can miss fraud on that scale, imagine what else it misses.

Fraud saturates the system. Estimates run as high as $500 billion — roughly 7% of the $6.8 trillion federal budget. That budget still reflects COVID-era spending levels. In 2019, Washington spent $4.45 trillion. Why did we never return to pre-COVID levels?

Because money is power. And like Boromir, too many people convince themselves they can wield it.

Ethics are not enough

Energy policy shows the same temptation in real time.

My nonprofit organization, Power the Future, sent another letter to House and Senate oversight committees and to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging investigations into Biden’s energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm. In the final days of the Biden administration, Granholm awarded $100 billion in green-energy grants — more than the previous 15 years combined. Many recipients had previously supported her political campaigns.

Green money poured out of Washington through the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $60 billion for “environmental justice” — a phrase so deliberately amorphous that it has no fixed meaning. Team Biden spent $1 trillion “going green,” a statistic Vice President Kamala Harris bragged about during her lone 2024 debate with Donald Trump.

That entire structure still stands.

Nothing prevents the current energy secretary, Chris Wright, from spending billions on his favorite projects except his ethics. I believe Wright has ethics in abundance. We should feel grateful. But one man’s ethics do not qualify as a system of government.

The next secretary could be worse than Granholm. If the power remains, someone will use it.

RELATED: Nuke the filibuster or brace for the next impeachment campaign

Viktoriia Melnyk via iStock/Getty Images

Empty the arsenal

Just as in Tolkien’s masterpiece, our enemies do not wait quietly. They scheme. They train. They amass armies of lawyers, activists, operatives, and bureaucrats. They build institutional pipelines that outlast elections. They do not go home after losing once. They plan the return.

Republicans need to plan as well — and their plan cannot be “use federal power while we have it, then trust the next guys.”

One party will not hold Washington forever. When conservatives lose power, they should make sure the left inherits a reduced federal government: weaker, narrower, stripped of the patronage systems and enforcement tools that now function as political weapons.

That is why it is incumbent upon congressional Republicans to do everything in their power — everything — to destroy the Ring.

America’s founders envisioned a weak federal government for this reason. In America’s 250th year, Congress should act like it understands the danger of concentrated power. If Republicans keep the machinery intact, they will regret it. If the Ring finds its next master, it will not spare the people who once held it.

​Opinion & analysis, Politics, Corruption, Minnesota fraud, Somali fraud, Tim walz, Government accountability office, Jacob frey, Theft, Tolkien, Lord of the rings, Sauron, Aragorn, Boromir, Mike johnson, John thune, Congress, Day care, Scandal, Investigation, Hakeem jeffries, Donald trump, Stephen miller, Social media, Weaponized justice, Office of management and budget, Jennifer granholm, Energy, Climate change, Climate justice, Power