Category: blaze media

CNN analyst Harry Enten delivered Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other members of his party some bad news on Thursday, revealing that President Donald Trump’s approval rating is under water but that Democrats’ approval rating is nearly scraping bottom.

Talking head John Berman noted that the new CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that while Trump had an approval rating of 35%, “bad news for Republicans hasn’t really been good news for Democrats.”

‘They don’t like their own party.’

“No, no, not at all,” said Enten.

“These numbers are just atrociously awful. A double A for the Democrats here.”

Seventy-four percent of respondents said that congressional Democrats did not have the right priorities. Even more damning was the response from Democrat respondents, 55% of whom said as much of their party’s representatives in Congress.

“This, to me, just jumps out of the screen because it screams ‘primary challenges’ all over the map, and it says that even if Democrats don’t like Donald Trump, they don’t like their own party either when it comes to Congress,” said Enten.

Whereas 32% of Americans hold a favorable view of the GOP, the poll found that only 28% of Americans hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party.

RELATED: Democrats’ gerrymandering campaign in Virginia hits a snag: Obama

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Berman characterized the damning responses as “Democrat-on-Democrat crime,” then asked about American support for the Democrat leadership.

“The bottom has fallen out,” said Enten.

“Even Democrats don’t like their own leaders when it comes to Congress. And overall, of course, the numbers are just absolutely awful.”

Enten cast doubt on whether Schumer will be able to remain the Senate leader for the Democrats, suggesting that it’s a “coin toss when it comes to Schumer actually winning the next Dem Senate leader selection.”

An Economist/YouGov poll published this week found that a plurality of Democratic voters — 41% — disapprove of the job Schumer is doing as minority leader of the U.S. Senate, and 37% signaled approval. Schumer’s overall approval rating was 20%.

David Axelrod, who served as a political strategist for former President Barack Obama, recently told PBS that Schumer “has been under fire for some time, particularly from progressives in the party,” and that his political fate may be linked to the midterm elections.

“There’s questions as to whether he’ll run in 2028. There’s even questions as to whether he might be challenged as leader,” said Axelrod. “I think the results of this election may impact that.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), whose overall approval rating was 24%, fared slightly better with Democrats than Schumer, with 43% signaling approval and 32% signaling disapproval of his job performance.

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​Poll, Polling, Chuck schumer, Hakeem jeffries, Congress, Senate, Midterms, Cnn, Harry enten, Democratic, Democrat, Approval, Favorability, Politics 

In a massive win for those against transitioning minors, the Supreme Court ruled this week that Colorado is not allowed to enforce its “conversion therapy” ban — which aimed to shut down conversations between therapists who do not believe in affirming sin and minors.

The 8-1 decision by the high court pointed out that it was wrong for the law to allow for therapists to affirm minors’ gender identities or sexual orientations but not allow them to help them change if they want to.

The initial lawsuit was brought by Kaley Chiles, a licensed Christian therapist, who argued that the conversations she had with her clients were a form of protected speech, while Colorado claimed the state was allowed to regulate her speech.

BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey is thrilled by the news.

“What this means is that Christian counselors, Christian mental health professionals are allowed to say what is true. Not only say what they believe biblically, which they should have a right to do, but also say what is true biologically. They were being punished by acknowledging and affirming biological reality,” Stuckey says.

“And people, including minors, should be free to have access to biblical counselors, counselors who will tell them the truth,” she continues, pointing out that the real “conversion therapists” are on the left.

“What is actual quote unquote ‘conversion therapy’ is the psychiatrist who tells the young, autistic, schizophrenic woman who is coming from an abusive household that, yeah, those feelings of distress that you feel about your body, it’s because you’re the opposite gender,” Stuckey explains.

“That is conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is when you tell a young boy, ‘Yeah, sure, you’re actually a girl. Let’s get you on those hormones. I’ll sign the waiver for you. I’ll sign the form telling the endocrinologist and telling the surgeon that you’re good to go,’” she continues.

“That is actually harmful, real conversion therapy that absolutely should be banned because it’s a lie,” she adds.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Relatable with allie beth stuckey, Relatable, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Allie beth stuckey, Supreme court, Minor transition, Colorado, Conversion therapy colorado, Conversion therapy, Gender affirming care for minors 

Military members will be allowed to carry their personal firearms on military bases, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday.

The previous policy against personal firearms has been heavily criticized each time a shooting at a military base takes the lives of unarmed military personnel.

‘Confirming your God-given right to self-protection is what I am signing into action today, and I’m proud to do so.’

In a video posted to the X platform, Hegseth said the decades-old policy would be lifted and troops will be allowed to request to carry privately owned firearms “with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection.”

“Effectively, our bases across the country were gun-free zones,” Hegseth said. “Unless you’re training or unless you are a military policeman, you couldn’t carry. You couldn’t bring your own firearm for your own personal protection onto post.”

He cited the Dec. 2019 attack at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, which took the lives of three men and injured eight others, as well as other lethal shootings.

“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime. And our service members have the courage and training to make those precious, short minutes count,” he explained.

“Before today, it was virtually impossible — most people probably don’t know this — it was virtually impossible for War Department personnel to get permission to carry and store their own personal weapons aligned with the state laws where we operate our installations,” he added.

“Well, that’s no longer.”

He said that in those instances where firearm possession is denied, the refusal must be in writing and fully explained.

“The War Department’s uniformed service members are trained at the highest and unwavering standards. These warfighters — entrusted with the safety of our nation — are no less entitled to exercise their God-given right to keep and bear arms than any other American,” Hegseth added.

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

“Confirming your God-given right to self-protection is what I am signing into action today, and I’m proud to do so,” he added before signing the memo in the video.

The previous policy against guns on bases can be traced back to rules signed under former President George H.W. Bush.

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​Secretary of war pete hegseth, Gun free zones at military bases, Firearms at military bases, Hegseth on troop firearms, Politics 

Oracle employees have been laid off as part of a “broader organizational change,” with data revealing that the company has looked to hire thousands of foreign workers.

The software company, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is going through a huge transition as it prepares to back its infrastructural push toward artificial intelligence — reportedly at the cost of thousands of jobs.

‘We are grateful for your dedication.’

Oracle cut thousands of jobs this week, a number that has not been narrowed since CNBC confirmed with insiders on Tuesday. The company may have already been looking ahead, however, as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows that Oracle has already filed thousands of petitions for H-1B visas in the past two years.

According to immigration services, the H-1B program allows employers to “temporarily employ foreign workers” for specialized skills. The federal data hub shows that Oracle America Inc. filed for 2,690 visas for fiscal year 2025, which covers Oct. 1, 2024 to Sep. 30, 2025.

At the same time, for fiscal year 2026, the company appears to have made 436 requests. If that number holds, the total through September 2026 will be 3,126.

Immigration services says petitioners can file for H-1B visas “no more than six months before the employment start date.”

RELATED: Texas first: Gov. Abbott freezes H-1B visas after damning report from BlazeTV’s Sara Gonzales

Oracle reportedly began layoffs on Tuesday, sending out a letter that stated the company was eliminating roles as part of a broader company shift.

“As a result, today is your last working day,” the letter read, per Business Insider. “We are grateful for your dedication, hard work, and the impact you have made during your time with us,” it added.

Employees were also offered a severance package in line with their “severance plan.”

RELATED: When the AI bubble bursts, guess who pays

CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images

Reports from March suggested that the company was allegedly preparing to lay off between 20,000 and 30,000 employees, which would have represented upwards of 18% of its workforce, Yahoo reported.

Blaze News did not receive an immediate response from Oracle regarding its H-1B numbers, the jobs the visas are to replace, and how many would replace American workers.

Oracle has not provided public comment on the matter either.

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​News, Oracle, H-1b, Visas, Tech sector, American jobs, Job market, Foreign workers, Politics 

Yet again, public officials have failed to mention a Christian holiday by name. In this case, the City of Houston has avoided referring to one of the most important Christian holidays of all, opting for a strange replacement in its stead.

On Thursday, the City of Houston account posted a graphic on social media, now seemingly deleted, explaining an office closure ahead of the Triduum.

The graphic seemed to emphasize the words ‘Spring Holiday,’ since they were both capitalized and written in a different color.

In an otherwise unremarkable announcement, the city said, “Due to the Spring Holiday, City of Houston offices will be closed on Friday, April 3.”

RELATED: Mamdani claims NYC is broke as his office reportedly plans to blow $10 million to hire woke activists

Source image of City of Houston X post

The graphic seemed to emphasize the words “Spring Holiday,” since they were both capitalized and written in a different color.

This vague messaging, however, stood out all the more in contrast to another post on Thursday from an associated account.

On the page for the office of Mayor John Whitmire (D), the most recent post, containing a detailed message, wished everyone a happy Passover, one of Judaism’s important holidays.

The lengthy post read: “On this second night of Passover, Mayor Whitmire wishes a meaningful and peaceful Passover to all those who celebrate. May this season of reflection and renewal bring strength, gratitude, and time well spent with family and friends.”

The City of Houston has likewise celebrated Muslim holidays like Eid Mubarak and Eid al-Adha stretching back several years, a review of the page’s timeline revealed.

After facing some scrutiny online, the city appears to have deleted the “Spring Holiday” message. No replacement message has been posted.

Whitmire’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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​Politics, Easter, Houston, City of houston, Triduum, Mayor john whitmire, Christianity, Catholic, Holy week, Christian 

How much would you pay for a TED Talk interrupted by classic rock tracks?

Bruce Springsteen fans are answering that question in real time. The Boss’ current tour is No Kings on steroids, letting the rocker rage at President Donald Trump at every step of his 20-date slate.

The left’s attempt to cancel JK Rowling suffered yet another humiliating defeat. Two, actually.

He’s calling it the “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour.” Sure — if by “dreams” you mean the kind of overheated persecution fantasies that regularly drive the ladies of “The View” into a frenzy.

Boss-aholics are shelling out thousands to hear Springsteen crank it up to 11 on the orange man bad meter. Normal folks can simply go on Bluesky or watch “Morning Joe.” The true-blue Springsteen fans get lectures, plus songs honoring Renee Good, the woman who allegedly steered a car into an ICE agent.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for songs honoring Laken Riley or Sheridan Gorman, though …

‘Cannes’-do attitude

It can’t be worse than “Battlefield Earth,” right?

John Travolta shocked Hollywood this week by getting his directorial debut into next month’s Cannes Film Festival.

Travolta, whose career has sunk to direct-to-VOD titles in recent years, will screen “Propeller One-Way Night Coach” at the august film festival.

The film is based on his 1997 book about the glories of aviation. Travolta, a pilot himself since his early 20s, drew upon his own memories of flight for both projects.

Travolta’s film will touch down May 29, not in theaters, but on Apple TV+.

RELATED: Netflix ‘Manosphere’ doc: Virtuous voyeurism and dull TV

Netflix

‘Steeled’ for success?

If at first you don’t succeed, fail, fail again.

Milly Alcock, taking a page from the Rachel Zegler playbook, just put Geek Nation on notice. Watch “Supergirl” at your own peril.

The rising star plays the Girl of Steel in the June release, a project hot on the heels of last year’s “Superman” reboot.

And she’s making sure to attack potential fans weeks before the film’s debut. Here, she tells Vanity Fair why working on “House of the Dragon” made her a target for the very people who consume her content.

“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on. … We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies. I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself.”

Worst sales pitch ever? Maybe not. We’ve already seen Zegler mock anyone who actually liked the iconic Disney film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and look how that turned out. Bombs away!

Before that, those Lady “Ghostbusters” made the 2016 reboot a culture war battle, and that movie dramatically underperformed.

More recently, the creator behind “The Acolyte” attacked fans for not loving the show’s uber-woke storytelling.

Keep it up, Hollywood. At some point, putting the consumer on blast will no doubt pay off …

Wake up, Streeple!

Stephen Colbert isn’t content personally twisting the truth from his “Late Show” perch. This week, he teed up Oscar winner Meryl Streep to do the honors.

The “Devil Wears Prada 2” star visited the soon-to-be-history show, and at the end of the chat Colbert asked her if there was anything else she wanted to share.

Late-night shows routinely do “pre-interviews” where the guest sketches out the stories and anecdotes he or she will share when the cameras click on.

So Streep launched into a fake news scare tactic, saying the GOP’s SAVE America Act would disenfranchise female voters.

If that passes, all the married women that have changed their names are going to have to go to the registrar and prove that they are who they are. In other words, to your voting registrar. This is what I understand.

Streep, needless to say, understands incorrectly. That final “Late Show” broadcast can’t come soon enough, can it?

Rowling canceled? JK!

The left’s attempt to cancel J.K. Rowling suffered yet another humiliating defeat. Two, actually. Last month, the first trailer for the upcoming “Harry Potter” series shattered records for the streaming giant.

Now, we’re getting a “behind-the-scenes” peek at the December release coming April 5. “Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic” will air at 3 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

It’s a brilliant way to build anticipation for the series and get some serious eyeballs. It also points to the utter failure of the left’s smear campaign against all Rowling-related projects.

Progressives have been raging against the British author since she defied the trans movement’s agenda on select issues. She’s all for the trans community but not a fan of trans women competing against biological women, for example.

For that, she’s faced a six-year cancellation attempt, often hyped by the legacy media. Will somebody tell them it’s not 2020 anymore?

To paraphrase 1982’s “First Blood” … “It’s over, wokies. It’s over.”

​Entertainment, Lifestyle, Culture, Movies, Supergirl, Stephen colbert, Music, Bruce springsteen, John travolta, Hollywood, Toto recall 

A 40-year-old Florida male is accused of hitting a woman in the head with a hammer and killing her in a horrific attack recorded on surveillance video outside a Fort Myers gas station convenience store Thursday morning.

Rolbert Joachin is charged with homicide and criminal mischief for damaging property in the 8 a.m. incident, WINK-TV reported.

‘Very gut-wrenching … very sad. That’s someone’s mom, daughter, sister.’

Several gas station employees told Gulf Coast News the victim was a clerk at the business.

Store surveillance video shows the suspect smashing a car windshield, Gulf Coast News said, adding that store employees said the vehicle belonged to the victim.

Video then shows the woman coming outside — and the suspect approaching her and hitting her in the head with the hammer, Gulf Coast News said.

The below video report from Gulf Coast News shows the surveillance video but blocks out the hammer attack on the victim.

RELATED: Concealed-carrying motorcyclist fatally shoots alleged road-rage driver who charged at him with hammer, police say

The suspect then ran from the scene, after which three nearby schools were placed on brief lockdown, WINK said.

After a multi-hour search, police captured Joachin about a mile from the convenience store, the station said, adding that an arrest photo shows two officers detaining him in a neighborhood.

Arrest video also shows officers walking Joachin in handcuffs and placing him in the back of a police cruiser, WINK said. Joachin was taken to the Lee County Jail where he remained Friday morning. His jail record lists no bond and refers to Joachin as a transient.

Joachin’s court appearance was set for 8:30 a.m. Friday but was postponed to Monday after Joachin’s public defender requested a date change, which the judge granted, WINK reported.

The Gulf Coast News video report said the victim was the mother of two teenagers.

Andre Harris, a gas station regular, told Gulf Coast News the incident was “very gut-wrenching … very sad. That’s someone’s mom, daughter, sister.”

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​Convenience store, Criminal mischief, Florida, Fort myers, Hammer, Homicide, Killing, Lee county sheriff’s office, Physical attack, Property damage, Rolbert joachin, Woman killed, Crime 

There is a particular pleasure in watching a film that understands its own premise so completely that it never needs to raise its voice.

“Project Hail Mary” is that kind of film. It is about the end of the world, or rather the quiet prevention of it, and it proceeds not with spectacle but with curiosity. You lean in. It also shows that Hollywood can still make films that put storytelling first.

Clarity is one of the rarest virtues in modern filmmaking, too often filled with giant robot explosions and woke speechifying.

The story, based on Andy Weir’s novel, follows Ryland Grace, played with a careful, disarming humanity by Ryan Gosling. He wakes alone on a spacecraft, far from Earth, with no memory of who he is or why he is there. The film reveals its answers slowly, trusting the audience to keep up. It is a confidence rarely seen in big studio science fiction, which tends to mistake noise for intelligence.

Quiet wonder

Grace is not a hero in the usual sense. He is a schoolteacher, a man more comfortable explaining than commanding. The film is built on problem-solving, on the steady accumulation of knowledge, on the small victories of understanding how things work. It recalls the best passages of Weir’s “The Martian,” where survival depends on smart people overcoming impossible odds.

What distinguishes “Project Hail Mary” from “The Martian” is companionship. Without giving too much away, Grace does not remain alone. The relationship that develops is one of the most unusual and affecting in recent science fiction.

It is built not on corny sentiment but on shared necessity. Two radically different minds find a way to communicate. The scenes have a kind of quiet wonder that science fiction used to trade in more often, before it became preoccupied with destruction. It’s not really a spoiler because it’s in the trailer, but Grace befriends a spider-like rock alien who is also trying to save his planet. They must learn to communicate and work together.

Hail competence

Gosling understands the tone. He avoids the temptation to play the material for easy laughs or grand emotion. Instead, he lets the humor arise from confusion and discovery. There are moments of genuine comedy, but they grow out of character rather than being cheap jokes. You believe him as a man who is scared, then curious, then determined.

The direction, handled with precision and restraint by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, resists the urge to turn every crisis into a set piece. Space here is not a battlefield; it’s a problem to be solved. The visuals are clean and intelligible. You always know where you are, what is happening, and why it matters. This may sound like faint praise, but it is not. Clarity is one of the rarest virtues in modern filmmaking, too often filled with giant robot explosions and woke speechifying.

There is also an undercurrent in the film that feels old-fashioned. It takes seriously the idea that competence is a moral good. That cooperation, even across impossible boundaries, is preferable to conflict. These are not fashionable ideas, but the film does not argue for them. It simply demonstrates them.

If the film has a weakness, it lies in its structure. The gradual revelation of Grace’s past, while effective, occasionally interrupts the forward motion of the central story. Some of the Earthbound sequences feel less vivid than the material in space. They serve the plot, but they lack the same sense of discovery.

RELATED: Commentary: ‘Barbie’ is for the boys

Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Rare success

Still, the film succeeds where it matters most. It creates a world, poses a question, and then answers it honestly. It respects its audience. It believes that people will follow an idea if it is presented clearly enough.

I left the theater thinking not about explosions or villains, but about communication. About the fragile, stubborn act of trying to understand something that does not speak your language. That is a rare thing for a film to leave you with. It is rarer still for a film of this scale to have a competent, straight white male who is the hero and isn’t lectured about leftist ideology. What a novel idea. And the fact that this movie has been a runaway success at the box office and with audiences proves there’s been a longing for movies like this.

“Project Hail Mary” is not loud. It does not need to be. It knows what it is about, and it trusts that to be enough. In the end, saving the world with heroism and smarts will resonate more than bloated CGI.

​Project hail mary, Movies, Film, Ryan gosling, Science fiction, Entertainment, Culture, Andy weir, The martian, Books, Review 

As the Iran war nears its sixth week, reports emerged Friday morning of a developing situation with a U.S. fighter jet having allegedly been shot down by Iranian forces.

Axios reported Friday morning that a U.S. fighter jet was shot down by Iran, citing two sources familiar with the incident.

The aircraft reportedly appears to be an F-15.

Iranian state media published videos and photos allegedly showing parts of the downed plane and an ejection seat, according to Axios.

The aircraft reportedly appears to be an F-15.

RELATED: Iran outright rejects Trump’s peace plan, calling it ‘excessive’ and a ‘ploy’

AFP/Getty Images

A search and rescue mission for the crew is reportedly under way. An F-15 is designed for two crew members.

Blaze News has reached out to the White House and Department of War for comment.

This is a developing story.

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​Politics, Iran, United states, F-15, Axios, Us fighter jet, Iranian state media, War in iran 

Radicals in Alabama appear to have found a gray-haired figure around which to rally to oppose the broader conservative effort to shield American children from mature and perverse content.

The Rutherford County Library Board removed Luanne James from her position as director of the library system after she refused to fulfill her duties and move hundreds of titles containing inappropriate content — ranging from a book targeting adolescents about sexual activity to books about “genderfluidity” and transgenderism — from the kids’ section to the adult section.

‘I stand by my decision.’

The usual suspects have characterized the bespectacled obstructionist as a free-speech champion and her termination as unlawful.

How it started

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) repeatedly expressed concern in 2023 over children’s exposure to “inappropriate, sexually suggestive materials without adequate means of parental supervision” in her state’s taxpayer-funded libraries.

Ivey noted in a Sept. 1, 2023, letter to the director of the Alabama Public Library Service that the growing parental concern underpinning her own would not be remedied by removing books containing inappropriate content, including radical “gender transition” propaganda, but rather by “ensuring that these books are placed in an appropriate location.”

In the same spirit, the Alabama Legislative Services Agency proposed rule changes to the APLS in 2024 that would make libraries’ state funding conditional on moving content “inappropriate” for kids to an adult section.

Last month, the APLS board of trustees said that the Legislative Services Agency approved the change, reported AL.com.

RELATED: Reactions to SCOTUS ruling on conversion therapy come pouring in

Luis Soto/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Rutherford County Library board meeting documents reveal that Luanne James expressed a willingness to relocate some thematically and graphically mature titles but dug in her heels to keep numerous provocative works of LGBT agitprop in the juvenile sections of her county’s libraries.

The Murfreesboro Daily News Journal reported that among the over 130 titles that James refused to move are:

“Pride in Sports,” an LGBT activist book by a lesbian couple that apparently attempts to normalize non-straight sexual preferences and sex-rejection procedures; “Welcome to Your Period,” a book about menstruation that contains illustrations of female body parts and claims that doctors can administer drugs to “try to block or stop periods and other physical changes” for “transgender children,” which the authors claim “have existed for as long as time”; “The Every Body Book,” a book that discusses and illustrates various body parts while pushing gender ideology on kids; and “Lily and Dunkin,” a story about a romance involving an 8th-grade boy deluded into thinking he’s really a girl.

To James’ chagrin, the board decided in an 8-3 vote on March 16 to move over 100 of the inappropriate LGBT titles to the adult section.

James noted in a letter to the board two days later that “restricting access to these materials through subjective relocation or removal constitutes a violation of the community’s right to information and a direct infringement on the principles of free speech.”

“I will not comply with the Board’s decision to relocate these books,” wrote James. “Doing so would violate the First Amendment right of all citizens of Rutherford County and myself.”

How it’s going

Having proven unwilling to do her job, James was relieved of it on March 30.

The board’s 8-3 vote to kick James to the curb was met by a mix of applause by detractors and furious booing by supporters at the packed Rutherford County Courthouse. James later said, “I stand by my decision,” reported the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal.

Cody York said in a statement obtained by the Daily News Journal that James’ “refusal to implement a lawful directive of the Rutherford County Library Board constitutes insubordination.”

Nashville attorney Chuck Mangelsdorf said, “Her termination we believe is completely unlawful,” and said James is “a guardian of the First Amendment.”

PEN America said in a statement that it “stands with Rutherford County Library System Director Luanne James in her refusal to banish LGBTQ+ children’s books from access by relocating them to the adult section. Children and teens deserve access to diverse books that represent their identities and stories and books that introduce young people to new ideas and perspectives.”

Kasey Meehan, the director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program, claimed that James’ “story will echo from the courthouse in Murfreesboro, Tenn., across the country as emblematic of the fight against censorship and suppression,” reported the Advocate.

Supporters have already crowdfunded over $72,000 on GoFundMe for James.

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​Propaganda, Lgbt, Trans, Transgender, Books, Library, Alabama, Rutherford, Luanna james, Pen america, Infowars, Info wars, Ivey, Politics 

Concerns about free speech in the United Kingdom are growing as new laws surrounding speech, public protest, and religious criticism threaten to change the future of civil liberties — and activist Tommy Robinson, who has been on the wrong side of these laws already — is prepared to fight back.

“Their problem always has been that I always speak facts,” Robinson tells Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck on “The Glenn Beck Program.”

While there are strict laws against “incitement to hatred,” which Robinson has often been accused of, he points out that he’s just telling the truth.

“That’s what this law they’re now bringing in is about. They don’t want the public to be aware of facts or truth if you speak the truth about Islam. They want to limit what you can say, and that’s now what their new law intends to do,” he explains.

And Robinson doesn’t plan to stop speaking out about Islam anytime soon.

“This law won’t change anything I say. So if I’m honest, I will continue. I won’t limit my speech if I’m telling the truth. If that means I’ll end up in prosecutions, it means I will end up in prosecutions,” Robinson tells Glenn.

“Most of these laws are about instilling fear,” he continues, noting that the Labour government also intends to remove the jury service.

“What does that mean?” Glenn asks.

“You can be taken to court in the U.K., and if they drop it to a low charge, you do not get a jury,” Robinson explains.

“And that means they can only give you … 12 or 24 months,” he continues, noting that they’re now changing that.

“They’re changing it so you can get four years,” he says.

“So not only are they bringing in a law that prohibits you from telling the truth, they’re also … taking away your ability to be tried by 12 members of the public. You’ll just be tried by a judge,” he explains.

Robinson’s last prison sentence, he tells Glenn, was 18 months in jail for making a film called “Silence.”

“That film was 100% factual. No one has argued with any of the facts I’ve presented in that film, or the judge didn’t have a problem with the facts I presented in the film. Just the fact that I showed the public the film,” he says.

“If I was able to have a jury to let the jury decide, I believe I’d never have gone to jail once. But I’ve never been given the opportunity to have a jury,” he adds.

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​The glenn beck program, Glenn beck, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Blaze media, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Tommy robinson, Blasphemy laws, Hate speech, Orwellian 

President Donald Trump politely kicked Pam Bondi to the curb on Thursday, touting her as a “Great American Patriot” and crediting her with “overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country” during her nearly 14 months on the job.

Hours after Trump publicized the ouster and named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the acting attorney general, Bondi took a page out of ex-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s book, expressing her gratitude to the president and framing her time at the Justice Department in positive terms.

“Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history,” Bondi wrote on X.

‘She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files.’

Bondi — criticized in recent months over her DOJ’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, her bizarre Epstein testimony, her suggestion that “hate speech” should be policed, and her perceived inefficacy and failure to prosecute the individuals who waged potentially illegal lawfare against Trump — echoed Trump’s remark about the precipitous drop in crime over the past year.

A report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association comparing crime stats in 2025 to stats from the previous year found that homicides dropped nationally by 19.3%; rapes dropped by nearly 9%; robberies dropped by 19.8%; and aggravated assault dropped by 9.7%.

RELATED: If the Justice Department won’t execute Trump’s orders, who’s in charge?

Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

“Since February 2025, we have secured the lowest murder rate in 125 years, secured first-ever terrorism convictions against members of Antifa, shattered domestic and transnational gangs across the country, taken custody of more than 90 key cartel figures, and won 24 favorable rulings at the Supreme Court,” wrote Bondi.

Bondi added, “I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again.”

Although Bondi noted that she is “moving to an important private sector role,” she still may have to answer for actions taken while serving as attorney general.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted last month to subpoena Bondi on the release of the Epstein files.

Democrats on the committee emphasized in a joint statement on Thursday that Bondi “will not escape accountability and remains legally obligated to appear before our Committee under oath. She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given Ghislaine Maxwell.”

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), tweeted, “Pam Bondi and Donald Trump may think her firing gets her out of testifying to the Oversight Committee. They are wrong — and we look forward to hearing from her under oath.”

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) wrote, “My subpoena still stands. When the Oversight Committee moved to subpoena Bondi, I did it by name, not by or not as the sitting Attorney General of the U.S.”

Around the time the subpoena was issued, Mace stated, “AG Bondi claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not. The Epstein case is one of the greatest cover-ups in American history. His global sex trafficking network is larger than what is being revealed. Three million documents have been released, and we still don’t have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there. We want to know why the DOJ is more focused on shielding the powerful than delivering justice.”

Citing people familiar with the discussions between Bondi and the committee, the New York Times reported that Bondi has not yet committed to appearing for her scheduled April 14 deposition.

Todd Blanche said in a statement that Bondi “led this Department with strength and conviction” and that the DOJ will “continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”

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​Termination, Firing, Pam bondi, Bondi, Jeffrey epstein, Epstein, Deposition, Oversight committee, Donald trump, Department of justice, Justice department, Doj, Politics 

There is something seriously wrong with American health care. Rising costs mean that Americans now pay nearly twice as much as people in similar countries, without getting better outcomes. “It’s complicated,” say those who want to keep prices high and rising. But some of it is simple, as my organization is showing with research on hospital systems like Cleveland Clinic.

Hospital executives are leading luxurious lifestyles while claiming that every dollar spent — on television commercials, Abu Dhabi real estate, or modern art — is ‘health care.’

A longtime household name, Cleveland Clinic presents itself as an altruistic institution focused on health and patients. As a tax-exempt corporation, everything Cleveland Clinic does is subsidized by taxpayers, and it receives many other direct and indirect benefits in the interest of public health. Yet it pays executives millions, has massive holdings overseas, and maintains a collection of fine art.

Why are your health care bills and insurance premiums going up? Why is government spending and borrowing more and more to subsidize care? Look no farther than the misplaced priorities of profit-maximizing “nonprofit” hospitals like Cleveland Clinic.

Recent news has exposed massive waste and fraud against taxpayers in places like Minnesota, California, and Washington state. Yet the problem is deeper and more systemic. Rooting out actual theft is essential. So is confronting waste and abuse, especially within large health care institutions.

Last month, Save Our States launched a campaign calling out a massive hospital system run by the University of Miami. While its transplant center was failing, hospital executives were focused on building a lavish new lobby and expanding into Abu Dhabi.

Our new exposé on Cleveland Clinic found surprisingly similar luxury expenses. It has an in-house art museum, for example, boasting a “world-renowned collection” of nearly 7,000 pieces of contemporary art. Like many hospitals, it spares no expense on public relations and advertising — Cleveland Clinic even ran its own Super Bowl ad.

The clinic pays millions in executive salaries. Those executives are planning a massive new sports center with the Cleveland Cavaliers, to go along with their fancy foreign facilities in places like London, Toronto, and — once again — Abu Dhabi.

How do these expenses benefit American patients? And why should taxpayers subsidize any of it?

Some medical providers do pay taxes. A doctor with an independent practice gets taxed like any other business. But sell that practice to a tax-exempt hospital, even one with billions in revenue, and suddenly it becomes tax-exempt. At the same time, hospital-owned practices often start adding “hospital facility fees” on top of regular bills.

They charge patients more for the same services, then pay less in taxes. No wonder massive hospital systems buy up smaller practices and facilities. These are policy choices, not market forces, driving consolidation in health care. The result is lower quality, higher prices, and misplaced priorities.

RELATED: America has a spending problem Congress refuses to fix

DNY59/Getty Images

For many Americans, the rising prices go first to their insurance, later showing up in rising premiums and lower take-home pay. And all Americans see the cost in taxes. Everyone pays somehow, in higher costs, less access to care, or both.

Meanwhile, hospital executives are leading luxurious lifestyles while claiming that every dollar spent — on television commercials, Abu Dhabi real estate, or modern art — is “health care.”

During its spending spree, Cleveland Clinic has faced allegations of deceptive billing, accusations of overcharging patients, reports of underpaying nurses, and stories of medical debt lawsuits brought against its own patients.

Our new site, ClevelandClinicBetrayedPatients.com, documents the misplaced priorities of this massive, taxpayer-supported hospital system.

Given that Cleveland Clinic is in Vice President JD Vance’s home state of Ohio, hopefully he can make it a focus of his new appointment by President Trump to lead the “war on fraud.” The vice president and congressional leaders need to scrutinize spending at all subsidized hospitals — starting with the biggest.

The question is not: “Does it do some good somewhere?” One good program does not justify waste elsewhere. The question is: “Are any taxpayer dollars subsidizing waste, abuse, or unnecessary extravagance?”

Americans need health systems that respect taxpayers and put patients first. More than anything, we need the kind of competition that creates accountability, demands transparency, fosters innovation, and produces better services at lower prices.

​Tax exempt, Cleveland clinic, American healthcare, Healthcare costs, Affordability, Save our states, War on fraud, Jd vance, Opinion & analysis 

New York City’s democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is reportedly preparing to hire a slew of additional staffers who could cost taxpayers $10 million, after previously claiming the city was facing a critical budget deficit.

The New York Post reported Wednesday that Mamdani plans to hire at least 79 more workers to support his “pet projects.”

‘Taxpayers who are already struggling should not be bankrolling useless woke jobs for socialists who can’t get real jobs in the real world.’

One of those positions includes a senior adviser for enforcement in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice. This individual would be responsible for “establishing policy vision and direction related to Enforcement” and is expected to “manage and coordinate across the assigned agencies, offices, and boards.” The job posting describes the department as advancing “policies that promote a more equitable and vibrant New York City.” The candidate could earn up to $200,000 annually.

Mamdani is also seeking to hire two temporary World Cup managers to help “lead the planning and delivery of inclusive, community-based public programming.” The salaries listed for both positions, a director of NYC World Cup Activations and a project manager for NYC World Cup programming, are over $100,000.

Additionally, the mayor’s office is seeking an adviser for legislative advocacy, with a salary of up to $155,000.

Mamdani has pledged to work toward rolling out so-called free universal child care to New York City parents. The city is currently hiring a senior project manager who could earn up to $150,000 a year to lead that initiative.

RELATED: Socialist Mamdani rolls out costly ‘free’ child care program to NYC workers — after crying financial crisis

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

A senior adviser for fast and free buses, who could earn $180,000 a year, will have “latitude to exercise a wide degree of authority” for the “coordination, implementation, and successful completion of any projects related to the Fast and Free Buses.”

Last month, the Post reported that Mamdani’s Office of Mass Engagement was seeking to fill over a dozen positions the news outlet described as “catered to activists.” Those positions would reportedly cost taxpayers approximately $2 million.

The Post estimated that if Mamdani’s office filled all positions, the city’s payroll would increase by 20% compared to the former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.

RELATED: Mamdani made big promises to cut the budget — here’s the embarrassing result so far

Zohran Mamdani. Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

“At best, he’s hypocritically spending money we don’t have on his supporters,” a Democratic operative told the Post. “At worst, he is breaking the law by using taxpayer dollars for political benefit.”

“City Hall now needs to be super clear about why these hires are needed and how they’re chosen,” the individual added.

A second Democratic insider told the Post, “Someone should remind the mayor that the city’s budget is not like his daddy’s credit card.”

“Taxpayers who are already struggling should not be bankrolling useless woke jobs for socialists who can’t get real jobs in the real world,” the second operative said.

Mamdani previously claimed the city faced a $12 billion budget deficit after Adams left office. He has since stated that the deficit has been reduced to $5.4 billion. Adams has denied Mamdani’s claims, insisting that he left over $8 billion in reserves.

Mamdani’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

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​News, Zohran mamdani, Mamdani, Eric adams, New york city, New york, Nyc, Democratic socialist, Socialist, Politics 

AI is completely decimating computer component supply chains, causing mass RAM shortages and increasing prices for new products. While most premium consumer electronics are feeling the heat from these constraints, the gaming industry is getting hit particularly hard. Along with new consoles from Valve’s Steam hardware division, Nvidia’s gaming GPU road map is floundering, and no reprieve is in sight.

Nvidia’s stunted GPU road map

Nvidia is one of the hottest companies on the planet right now, rising up the valuation charts to fifth place after spending years below the top 10. Most of this growth was driven by its GPUs tuned for AI, but although the company has taken a liking to its spot atop the AI hierarchy, its humble beginnings took root in the gaming industry.

Buy your new gear now. Right now. If you can find it.

Nvidia makes some of the best gaming GPUs money can buy, and its products are the gold standard that most game developers use when crafting their games. Unfortunately, gaming hardware just isn’t as lucrative as an entire roster of Big Tech giants willing to spend billions on the best gear to train their large language models.

RAM shortages have caused Nvidia to make a hard decision — keep printing money on the backs of Big Tech or pinch pennies with gamers who want the best graphics. It chose the former.

Latest reports revealed a bleak outlook for Nvidia’s gaming GPU lineup. The first red flag was when it skipped out on unveiling new GPUs at CES in January, a move that is very unlike Nvidia. We’ve since learned that the RTX 50 Super series refresh that was on the way is now delayed. Adding insult to injury, the next-generation RTX 60 series was pushed back even further, rolling to 2027 or maybe even 2028.

That means Nvidia’s gaming GPUs are virtually stuck in limbo, forcing gamers to purchase the same equipment that’s already a year old and aging quickly. Now, that doesn’t mean the 50 series is lacking in terms of performance; they’re still very capable cards. But it does mean that innovation in the industry will stall until Nvidia remembers that it used to be a gaming company before its ostentatious affair with AI.

Steam Machine delays

Valve, meanwhile, has been on a roll lately, with its first-ever handheld gaming computer, the Steam Deck, reaching critical acclaim among gamers everywhere. The launch went so well that Valve decided to take a second stab at a full TV console, once again dubbed Steam Machine.

RELATED: 10 years ago, hundreds of millions played a new video game. It was secretly built to harvest their data.

JianGang Wang/Getty Images

The device is said to be a PC/console hybrid powered by SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based gaming platform that, in many ways, offers better gaming performance than Windows. Without a crystal ball, it’s impossible to predict whether the Steam Machine sequel will be received better than the original, but if the Steam Deck’s success is any indication, Valve could have a breakout hit on its hands.

The only problem is that the Steam Machine, which was set to release in the first half of 2026, has now been delayed, thanks to — you guessed it — RAM shortages. Some estimates suspect that the console will now arrive mid-year, but Valve hasn’t confirmed this timeline yet. The company has also refrained from announcing an official price, citing that fluctuating RAM costs could drive the final MSRP higher.

Making matters even worse, the Steam Deck has also curiously disappeared from shelves in recent weeks, sparking concerns over Valve’s entire console business.

OEMs fight back

Some OEMs are trying to find ways around the RAM shortages in order to keep their product road maps alive, but the results could be detrimental to their brands. PC manufacturers like Dell, ASUS, and HP are reportedly looking to lesser-known Chinese companies outside their usual supply chains to provide RAM for their laptops.

While this could cut down on RAM costs and boost availability, the memory from these Chinese suppliers are untested in name-brand computers at scale. That means performance could suffer, and it could even open these laptops to security risks.

What are gamers to do?

Needless to say, all of this puts gamers in a tough position. With new hardware delays, market scarcity, potential shoddy RAM options, and rising prices, it’s growing more difficult for gamers to upgrade their existing hardware or make repairs as old components start to break.

The worst part is that RAM shortages are expected to last into 2028. As they drag on, fewer products will be available, and prices on current hardware will jump to even more unreasonable levels. There’s just not enough supply to meet demand, and that could make it impossible for gamers to get the gear they need.

Now you have three options:

Pray that your current rig holds out until the end of the decade when, hopefully, these issues are resolved.Try cloud gaming. It might be easier to rent a rig until this all gets sorted out. But in doing that, you own less of your gaming experience, leaving yourself open to the dictates of companies that could eventually require biometric authentication for access, as is the case with Discord’s new ID-enforced age restrictions.Buy your new gear now. Right now. If you can find it.

Why you should buy now, if you can

If you want a 50 series GPU or a brand-new Steam Deck, you might be out of luck. But if a gaming laptop is what you’re after, there’s hope.

Because Nvidia didn’t release new GPUs for 2026, most of the “new” gaming laptops launching this year are minor refreshes. Instead of waiting for these models to drop, last year’s models with the same GPUs are still available and ripe for the picking.

I took advantage of this loophole myself, snatching up a 2025 ROG Zephyrus G14 with a stellar 5070 Ti that was made with premium parts from a time before the RAM shortages. It’s the smarter option than springing for the marginally better 2026 version with an inflated price tag, internals from a third-rate Chinese supplier, and more than likely, a delayed release date. Given the way the market has shaken out, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

Gamers have to choose what’s best for them, but one thing is clear: If you don’t buy new hardware now, you might be waiting until the turn of the decade for better upgrades to come along, and in the fast-paced world of video games, that’s a long time to wait indeed.

​Tech, Nvidia, Ai, Artificial intelligence, Gpu 

For decades, Americans have been conditioned to fear AI. From big-budget blockbusters portraying apocalyptic scenarios to TV shows and books that show AI in a negative light, AI has been shown negatively ever since HAL refused to open the bay doors.

This Hollywood-driven fear has affected real policy change on the state level. The problem is that many of these policies are overly restrictive and come from a place of fear rather than objectivity.

AI innovators should have one set of rules to follow nationwide, rather than being forced to tailor products and services according to a patchwork of laws.

They come from an understandable place, of course. AI has been known to hallucinate legal cases and run roughshod over privacy law, and it can be used in abusive and hurtful ways. It is imperative that humans remain involved in decision-making and implement strong safeguards against misuse. The White House recently called for such policies in the National AI Legislative Framework.

But the Trump administration has also recognized that regulations can be a hindrance.

This is why President Trump issued an executive order to establish a federal framework for AI regulation last December. “My Administration must act with the Congress to ensure that there is a minimally burdensome national standard — not 50 discordant State ones,” he wrote in the order. “The resulting framework must forbid State laws that conflict with the policy set forth in this order. … A carefully crafted national framework can ensure that the United States wins the AI race, as we must.”

The order also directed the secretary of commerce to publish a report examining AI regulations from coast to coast. It will identify state AI laws the administration considers “onerous” to create a targeting map that will inform the priorities of the Justice Department’s AI Litigation Task Force.

Colorado — which is already in the administration’s crosshairs, according to the executive order — and other states whose laws make the list (such as California, New York, and Illinois) could lose significant federal dollars.

Although President Trump’s order targets states, cities aren’t in the clear. The DOJ recently created a new Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch within the Civil Division that is tasked with “filing lawsuits against states, municipalities, and private entities that interfere with or obstruct federal policies,” underscoring the administration’s intent to challenge local laws that appear to violate the Supremacy Clause.

RELATED: California’s next dumb tech idea: Show your papers to scroll

Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Centralizing AI oversight makes sense. Without a deep understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning, city and state leaders can inadvertently hinder progress in the field of technology (such as restricting the use of aged, anonymized data for algorithm training).

Regardless of the federal funding at stake, city and state statutes governing AI should be reviewed for conflicts with federal policy, which is being carefully designed to allow growth across industries where, today, progress is often powered by AI.

For the good of America’s economic engine, AI innovators should have one set of rules to follow nationwide, rather than being forced to tailor products and services according to a patchwork of laws.

The future is here, and we should not be afraid of it. AI is a powerful driver for progress in business, science, medicine, and a variety of other fields. Efficiency, accuracy, productivity, creativity, and analysis are magnified and elevated by this technology.

Cities and states should seek to harness this tool and use it for their people. The way forward is smart, federally driven guardrails that allow innovation to flourish, not a giant stop sign.

​Ai, Artificial intelligence, Donald trump, Trump administration, State ai laws, Ai regulation, Ai litigation task force, Opinion & analysis 

A New York City Police Dept. officer shot and killed a man during a parole warrant arrest in the man’s Bronx apartment.

A friend and neighbor of 44-year-old Lucien Colon accused police of killing him for no reason, but police say he would not put down a gun during the arrest.

Colon’s girlfriend said the convicted murderer and rapist was her ‘ride-and-die partner’ before his death.

Colon also had a long history of criminal violence, including a murder conviction from 2013, a rape conviction from 1997, and an attempted murder arrest in 1995.

Police said he had failed to meet his requirements as a sex offender and had an outstanding arrest warrant.

Warrant Squad officers said they were allowed inside the apartment on Willis Avenue between Bruckner Boulevard and East 132nd Street at about 6:45 a.m. by Colon’s girlfriend, Marivel Antoinette.

But when they encountered Colon, they asked him to show his hands, and he allegedly responded that he had a gun.

When officers told him to step out of the room he was in, he refused and added, “It’s not going to happen.”

“During this verbal interaction, which lasted for approximately a minute and a half, the officers showed extreme restraint and truly attempted to de-escalate the situation,” NYPD Deputy Chief John Wilson said.

Colon refused to comply with several orders before one officer shot him.

He was transported to Lincoln Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“We can’t confirm that yet, whether it’s a real gun or not. It’s potentially a BB gun, but we’re not sure,” Wilson added.

They released a photo of the gun via CrimeStoppers.

Colon’s girlfriend said the convicted murderer and rapist was her “ride-and-die partner” before his death. She said they had been together for two years and accused the police of damaging their door to gain entry and failing to identify themselves as police.

“I’m angry. It’s like, I should’ve stood in the room because he was my ride-and-die partner. He was my king; I was his queen,” Antoinette said.

A spokesperson for the NYPD said bodycam footage shows otherwise.

“The entire incident was depicted on the officers’ body-worn cameras, and that footage shows the officers were given permission to enter the residence,” the spokesperson said.

RELATED: Thug who brutally raped 94-year-old in broad daylight had just been released after other rape charge was dropped, police say

“The gun was hidden in the bedroom, and they just killed him for no reason,” Colon’s friend said.

No officers were injured.

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​Lucien colon killed by nypd, Rapist and murderer killed by cops, Man killed by police, Bronx apartment nypd killing, Crime 

This April Fools’ Day wasn’t just for jokes — but rather an incredible show of American ingenuity as astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission took flight on the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

“Exploration is what we do,” BlazeTV host Pat Gray says on “Pat Gray Unleashed.”

“It’s deeply embedded in us. It unites us with a common goal. It creates a sense of national pride, excitement, focus, and the technology advances that we accomplish in overcoming all the obstacles to get there. That’s a tangible, practical reason for doing this,” Gray continues.

However, Gray also points out that there’s some “nonsense” that will come with the historic launch.

“People always ask, ‘Why don’t we go back there? Why did we stop? ‘Cause we don’t really have the technology,’” Gray mocks. “No, it’s because liberals, the whiny, stinking liberals who hated any kind of advancement by the United States of America, put a stop to it.”

“You like your cell phone? OK, that came from this technology. You like advanced cameras? OK, that came from NASA technology. Wireless communication of all kinds. You like the bed you sleep on, the memory foam probably came from NASA,” he continues.

“Things you don’t even expect like scratch-resistant glass and glasses and sunglasses and computer technology, the laptop,” he says, before calling himself a “NASA apologist.”

“I wish I was on their payroll,” he laughs. “That would be great.”

Want more from Pat Gray?

To enjoy more of Pat’s biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Pat gray unleashed, Pat gray, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Return the moon, Artemis ii, The moon landing, Space exploration, The final frontier, Nasa 

There’s a familiar drumbeat in Washington, and it rhymes with something that sounds a lot like “war in the Middle East.” Another conflict, another justification, another moment where the American people are told that war abroad is necessary, urgent, and somehow in our national interest.

The economic consequences of war abroad are making it even harder to build stability at home.

This time, it’s Iran. But before we rush headlong into yet another foreign entanglement, we need to ask a simple question: What about here at home? Because if America First means anything at all, it should mean putting Americans first.

A nation in debt, funding another war

Right now, the United States is staring down a national debt approaching $39 trillion, yet despite that staggering reality, Washington has no hesitation about opening the checkbook for another war.

In just the first week of the conflict with Iran, U.S. taxpayers were already on the hook for more than $11 billion, according to reports from Time. Estimates now suggest the war is costing anywhere from $1 billion to as much as $2 billion per day depending on the intensity of operations, as reported by Al Jazeera.

This misplaced priority becomes even more glaring when you look at how we treat our veterans. Every year, thousands of men and women who served this country come home and fall through the cracks. In 2023 alone, 6,398 veterans died by suicide — nearly 18 lives lost every single day according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual suicide prevention report.

These are individuals who carried the burden of war only to return to a system that is too often underfunded, overwhelmed, and slow to respond. When a government struggles to meet its obligations to those who have already served but is more than happy to fund another conflict, it raises serious questions about whether our priorities are aligned with our values.

The hidden tax

War doesn’t just show up in a Pentagon budget; it shows up in everyday life.

It shows up at the gas pump, in grocery bills, and in the monthly budgets of families already stretched thin. Since the conflict with Iran began, gas prices have surged to around $3.90 to $4 per gallon nationally, with projections that they could climb toward $5 if the conflict continues.

In some regions, prices are already pushing beyond that threshold, and the increase has been sharp, with jumps of nearly $1 per gallon in a matter of weeks.

For young families, this is more than an inconvenience; it’s a compounding financial strain layered on top of an already difficult economic environment. Mortgage rates remain elevated, and inflation has eroded savings, making homeownership increasingly out of reach.

Higher fuel costs ripple through the economy, driving up the price of goods, services, and utilities, which means families are paying more to maintain their standard of living.

At a time when many Americans are struggling to get ahead, the economic consequences of war abroad are making it even harder to build stability at home.

RELATED: America First can’t survive an Iran quagmire

Blaze Media Illustration

You can’t be pro-troop and pro-neglect

We cannot claim to support our troops while ignoring them the moment they take off the uniform. Public displays of patriotism are meaningless when thousands of veterans are left to navigate broken systems, inadequate care, and, in too many cases, homelessness and despair.

It is difficult to justify pouring billions into another war when we have not fully honored the commitments we owe to those who have already served.

This is not a question of isolationism but of responsibility. National strength is not defined solely by military capability or willingness to engage abroad; it is grounded in the health, stability, and cohesion of the nation itself.

President Trump and Republicans campaigned on this, won in 2024 because of this, and now risk losing everything because they are turning their backs on the people who gave them an unprecedented mandate.

Every new conflict inevitably creates more veterans scarred by war, and if we are unable or unwilling to properly support the ones we already have, it is fair to ask what exactly we are preparing for.

Washington often speaks about defending democracy overseas, but what about our people, our prosperity, our future? Right now, those priorities appear inverted. We have veterans sleeping on the streets, families struggling under rising costs, and a debt crisis that threatens long-term economic stability, yet the focus in Washington remains on another war.

That is not America First. It is America distracted.

If we want to restore strength and stability, it begins by rebuilding at home, honoring our commitments, and ensuring that the people who have already sacrificed for this country are not forgotten.

​America first, Iran war, Operation epic fury, Veterans, National debt, Cost of living, Affordability, Opinion & analysis 

A 30-year-old woman is accused of fatally shooting the father of her two children amid a surprise massage — and then turning the gun on the victim’s parents late last month in suburban Chicago.

Jenna Strouble of St. John, Indiana, is charged with first-degree murder of 32-year-old Jacob Lambert, his 54-year-old mother, Stacy Forde, and his 55-year-old stepfather, Patrick Forde, the Chicago Tribune reported. Strouble faces nine murder counts in connection with the killings, WFLD-TV reported.

‘[Strouble] didn’t provide much of a motive for the killings other than not liking the way Jake speaks to the children or that she feels his parents are overbearing.’

Strouble and Lambert began dating in 2020 and lived together for a short time, the Tribune said, citing prosecutors.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office described the pair as having had an “on/off relationship,” the paper said, adding that they have two children — a 4-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.

Court documents indicate Strouble asked Lambert to “hang out” on March 22, WFLD said, adding that Strouble told investigators she planned the get-together “with an intention” to harm Lambert.

Strouble picked up Lambert around 11 to 11:30 p.m., WFLD said, adding that prosecutors said she pulled over along Burnham Road in Sauk Village, Illinois. The location is about 20 minutes across the border from her Indiana home.

Strouble then told Lambert she had a surprise for him — a back massage, the station said, adding that the pair still had an occasional intimate relationship.

The Tribune, citing prosecutors, reported that the massage was with a massage gun.

Strouble asked Lambert to recline the seat, remove his shirt and hat, and lie on his abdomen, prosecutors said, according to WBBM-TV, adding that she straddled him and gave him a massage for 20 minutes.

During that time, Strouble allegedly retrieved a Glock handgun she hid under the passenger seat, WFLD said.

The Tribune, citing prosecutors, said Strouble aimed the gun at Lambert for what she estimated was several minutes before shooting him in the head.

Prosecutors said Strouble then lit a cigarette, WMAQ-TV reported.

Strouble said she wasn’t left with much blood on her shirt after killing Lambert because “this was like a movie, and there wasn’t much blood,” prosecutors said, according to WBBM, which added that Strouble said her shirt was the “God Inspires” brand.

The Tribune, citing prosecutors, said Strouble soon drove back to the house in the 3400 block of East Norway Trail in unincorporated Crete where Lambert lived with his parents and tried to unlock the door. WFLD said she used Lambert’s keys to attempt the unlocking; WBBM, citing prosecutors, said Strouble smoked another cigarette at the time.

More from WBBM:

Pat Forde heard the noise and asked who was there. Strouble said it was she, and he asked her why she was there, to which she replied, “I don’t know,” prosecutors said. Pat Forde also asked Strouble if Lambert was with her, and she indicated that he was, prosecutors said.

Pat Forde opened the door, and Strouble told prosecutors at that point that she began shooting him right away — firing the gun from the front porch and continuing into the house, prosecutors said. Stacy Forde heard her husband scream and came downstairs, and Strouble shot her too, prosecutors said.

WFLD said Strouble shot Pat Forde 17 times in the chest and abdomen and Stacy Forde three times, also in the chest and abdomen.

RELATED: Adulterous woman who wrote kids’ book about grief CONVICTED of fatally poisoning her husband and father of her 3 sons

After the shootings, prosecutors said Strouble returned to her home in Indiana and called her sister to tell her what happened, WFLD said, adding that her sister then called police.

Deputies around 2 a.m. March 23 found the front door open at the Forde’s home, WFLD said, adding that Patrick Forde was lying in the dining room area and Stacy Forde was on the stairs near the front door. WFLD said spent shell casings were scattered near both victims and the entryway.

Lambert was found in a 2014 Ford Fusion Titanium in a nearby cul-de-sac, still in the passenger seat, face down with the seat reclined, WFLD reported.

Prosecutors said when officers in St. John, Indiana, went to Strouble’s home, she came out and handed them a bag with a loaded Glock 19 with a silencer, WBBM noted, adding that a vehicle registered to Lambert was found nearby, and Strouble’s two children and her own parents were in the home with her.

More from WFLD:

She later told investigators she bought the gun in December 2025 in Crown Point and purchased the suppressor online for about $589, according to prosecutors.

According to court documents, Strouble wrote a note the night before the killings asking others to care for her children. She provided three names. She also told her sister over the phone that she wanted her to look after the kids.

“[Strouble] didn’t provide much of a motive for the killings other than not liking the way Jake speaks to the children or that she feels his parents are overbearing,” court documents read, according to WMAQ. “She didn’t like the fact that Jacob showered with a toddler, that people took naps with children, that Stacy was snarky, or that rules seemed to change in their home.”

Prosecutors added that Strouble also told investigators she had considered killing her own parents, as she didn’t feel her children were safe with them or Lambert, WFLD reported.

When asked if killing Lambert’s parents was part of a plan because she didn’t want them to have custody of the children, Strouble allegedly said, “That’s some of the reasons,” WFLD added.

Strouble also allegedly told investigators she didn’t have a connection with her children and didn’t spend time with them, even though she doesn’t work and voluntarily turned them over to Lambert and his family, only recently getting them back, WFLD noted.

What’s more, investigators learned of an incident in which Strouble reportedly took her father’s rifle, which he later found under her bed, WFLD said, adding that she allegedly told her father she thought about killing Lambert but didn’t have a plan.

Prosecutors also said Strouble admitted having past suicidal tendencies, and investigators learned about one prior incident in which she allegedly wanted to commit suicide by jumping out of a window with her children, WFLD said, adding that she also took medications for depression.

Strouble initially was expected to appear in the Will County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Tuesday, but her court date was pushed back, officials told WLS-TV Monday evening.

If convicted, Strouble faces natural life in prison, WFLD reported.

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​Arrest, Illinois, Jenna strouble, Triple homicide, Will county sheriff’s office, Indiana, Chicago area, Jacob lambert, Murder charges, Stacy forde, Patrick forde, Crime