Category: blaze media

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University puts an exclamation point on the degraded state of reasoned debate in America.

Like many in the last month or so, I’ve found myself doing a deep dive into Kirk’s YouTube channel, watching debate after debate. You learn something from watching them in full: Kirk was willing to talk to anybody, and he always brought liberals to the front of the line.

We must teach our students to be virtuous, both individually and politically.

He was pugnacious at times, but always civil. His interlocutors sometimes resorted to ad hominem attacks, and their arguments often collapsed under a steady stream of his questions and retorts. Time after time, these students lost the debate with Kirk because they simply didn’t know enough.

‘Action civics’

What causes a person to stake out a position with such confidence before mastering the evidence to support it? For many of the students who challenged Kirk, the answer is “action civics.” This pedagogical theory holds that the highest form of civic participation is protest rather than discussion. Its result is thoughtless grandstanding or worse. The antidote to this state of affairs is classical education rightly understood.

When it comes to civics, knowledge is necessary but not sufficient. Civic life requires more than a grasp of American history and government, as important as those things are. It requires us to be people formed by practice in the habit of reasoned deliberation — people who know how to disagree and be disagreed with and who are willing to change their opinions when they learn something.

Political speech — reasoned discussion about the good within a regime — allows us to improve our opinions by sharing them with others and refining them through conversation and disagreement. Civic education divorced from these practical virtues produces either performative activism or feckless intellectualizing.

These virtues can be cultivated within the classroom through classical education. Reading and discussing works from Aristotle to the Federalist allows students to wrestle with enduring questions about justice, rights, and the good life. They learn not only to discern what is right but also to pursue it amid the complexities of a changing world.

Yet the real formation comes in seminars and Socratic discussions, which are laboratories of civic practice.

After years outside of the classroom, this semester I began teaching a course on moral and political philosophy to 11th graders. These students are young, but after years in a classical school, they have some real learning under their belts. The task this year is to develop within them the habits necessary for a real seminar conversation, with Socratic discussion three days a week and a full-blown seminar on the other two.

Running a seminar

In a well-run seminar, teachers merely provide a question about a great work of literature, history, or philosophy, intervening to guide the discussion only rarely. As in life, no authority swoops in to give the right answer and make decisions for everyone else. It’s the students who lead and who learn to find their way together.

A properly run seminar allows students to disagree and be disagreed with. They are forced to humble themselves before an author and a text, to scrutinize their own opinions, and to discard error in favor of knowledge.

But it isn’t a lawless environment. Students in a well-run seminar know that they are to speak about the text and only the text. Every comment must respond to the previous speaker. Non sequiturs are not allowed, and the students don’t interrupt each other (we are still working on that last one).

If we want a citizenry capable of sustaining liberty, we cannot settle for activist training without understanding, nor abstract lectures without practice.

When they do speak, they have to ground their statements in an argument drawn from the text. If they don’t have an interpretation of the text to offer, they can ask a thoughtful question, which is often just as beneficial to the conversation as a well-reasoned argument.

Disagreement in the seminar room is an opportunity to learn that disputing someone’s argument doesn’t mean impugning their character. Most teenagers are terrified to disagree with someone their own age and even more terrified to be disagreed with. But after a few weeks, they develop thicker skin. They learn to think more about the substance of their argument and less about their social standing.

RELATED: How Charlie Kirk’s life shows the power of self-education

skynesher via iStock/Getty Images

When the arbiter of the debate is the text itself, everyone knows that success means advancing the clearest and most correct reading. And when the text is rich and deep, it takes time, conversation, and disagreement to interpret it well.

Disagreement is an opportunity for clarification. In a well-developed seminar, it’s welcomed. What matters is not superficial civility, but the willingness to examine and revise our opinions in light of reason and fact, to argue from truth rather than feeling, and to labor toward a common understanding.

Dare to disagree

In a way, these classroom discussions on Plato and Virgil, Swift and Shakespeare, are a crash course in practical civics. Not protest, not theory, but character formation through dialogue, study, and experience — all preparing students not only to understand their country but to participate in it responsibly. In a way, classical education creates more people like Charlie Kirk.

If we want a citizenry capable of sustaining liberty, we cannot settle for activist training without understanding, nor abstract lectures without practice. We must teach our students to be virtuous, both individually and politically. Only then will they be capable of self-government — not as activists or spectators, but as citizens.

Editor’s note: This article was published originally at the American Mind.

​Opinion & analysis, Civility, Civics, Civic education, Education, Hillsdale college, Charter schools, Action civics, Protests, Plato, Virgil, Swift, Shakespeare, Aristotle, Citizenship, Citizens, Seminar, Reason 

Early data indicates Democrats are currently enjoying a lead in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, but one notorious scandal might cost them the attorney general race.

Polling has consistently shown Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger with a comfortable advantage over her Republican challenger, Winsome Earle-Sears, who has served as Virginia’s lieutenant governor since 2022. Spanberger is averaging 7.4 points ahead of Earle-Sears, according to RealClearPolling, with some polls even putting the Democrat at a double-digit lead.

‘Do you really want to elect that person as a law enforcement officer in your state?’

However, this advantage has not translated to the Virginia attorney general race, where Democratic candidate Jay Jones has fallen behind Republican candidate Jason Miyares.

Miyares’ newfound momentum came at the beginning of October after Jones’ leaked texts revealed he was privately fantasizing about putting “two bullets” in the head of a political opponent and about the man’s kids dying in the arms of their mother.

RELATED: Exclusive: Steve Scalise was shot by a radical leftist — now he reacts to Jay Jones’ murderous fantasies

Photo by Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who himself survived a politically motivated shooting, warned that Jones’ rhetoric revealed skewed judgment.

“Do you really want to elect that person as a law enforcement officer in your state?” Scalise asked in response to the texts. “Should other elected officials be accepting and condoning and endorsing that, or should they denounce it, which I did? Everybody should denounce it, and yet some won’t for political reasons.”

“I think it’s a gut check for people’s integrity,” Scalise told Blaze News. “If you’re willing to accept a call to violence because you’re more worried about a political party advancing than you are worried about civility in this country, that’s a real big concern for alarm.”

RELATED: Earle-Sears’ campaign bus bursts into flames days before election for Virginia governor

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

It’s clear that extreme rhetoric is unpopular with Virginians. In the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican candidate John Reid has hammered Democratic candidate Ghazala Hashmi’s radical track record, including the time she boasted about teaching children books that were banned for containing explicit material.

“One of my concerns is violence. We seem to focus on sexually explicit material,” Hashmi said in a video obtained by Blaze News. “I don’t really care about that.”

“We teach the books that other people try to ban,” Hashmi said.

Even still, polling puts Reid and Hashmi within striking distance of each other. The latest polling shows Hashmi at a two-point advantage over Reid, although notably 7% of surveyed voters remain undecided.

“Ghazala Hashmi’s words speak for themselves,” Reid told Blaze News. “Any public official who says they ‘don’t really care’ if children are exposed to sexually explicit material in schools is completely out of touch with Virginia parents.”

“Parents deserve to know what’s in their kids’ classrooms — and when I’m lieutenant governor, they’ll have a voice and a seat at the table.”

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

​Winsome earle-sears, Abigail spanberger, Jay jones, Steve scalise, Jay jones texts, Jason miyares, Ghazala hashmi, Virginia race, Virginia governor, Virginia attorney general, Virginia lt. governor, Politics 

Democrats were expected to sail through the New Jersey gubernatorial race, but preliminary polls show the GOP candidate is narrowing the gap.

Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli was at a nine-point disadvantage behind Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill back in August, according to RealClearPolling. In a matter of weeks, Ciattarelli has managed to narrow Sherrill’s advantage from nearly double digits to just 3.6 points.

‘He is the right person to lead New Jersey in the right direction.’

Ciattarelli secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump, who called him “a terrific America First Candidate.” At the same time, the Republican has earned endorsements from local Democrats, which may have helped Ciattarelli close in on Sherrill’s lead.

“Why would anyone vote for New Jersey and Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates, Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, when they want transgender for everybody, men playing in women’s sports, High Crime, and the most expensive Energy prices almost anywhere in the World?” Trump asked in a recent Truth Social post. “VOTE REPUBLICAN for massive Energy Cost reductions, large scale Tax Cuts, and basic Common Sense!”

RELATED: Kelsey Grammer endorses Republican in dead-heat NJ governor race

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Although securing support from the MAGA base is key, New Jersey’s traditionally blue voting record makes bipartisan endorsements key in the gubernatorial race.

Ciattarelli recently received an endorsement from New Era Democrats President Celia Iervasi, who emphasized the issue of affordability and taxes.

“As life continues to become unaffordable for the working class, and New Jersey continues to be one of the highest-taxed states in the country, Jack is the right person that is needed to make life more affordable for the residents of the Garden State,” Iervasi said. “We look forward to joining a coalition of organizations that are supporting Jack in the upcoming election and know that he is the right person to lead New Jersey in the right direction.”

RELATED: NJ’s blue wall may be cracking in governor race, new poll shows — GOP hopeful racks up Democrat endorsements

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Iervasi is just one of several Democrats and Democrat supporters who have thrown their support behind Ciattarelli. Democrats like North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, North Bergen Commissioner Allen Pascual, Dover Mayor Jim Dodd, Branchville Mayor Anthony Frato, Branchville Councilman Jeff Lewis, and former Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Anthony Vainieri have all come out in support of the Republican candidate.

Garfield Mayor Everett Garnto also endorsed Ciattarelli as he announced that he was changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

“It’s not just Republicans who are crying out for change,” Ciattarelli told a crowd following Garnto’s endorsement. “It’s unaffiliated, independent voters and yes, even moderate Democrats who’ve come to the realization that this current administration has failed.”

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

​New jersey, New jersey governor race, Mikie sherrill, Jack ciattarelli, Donald trump, Politics 

For many, many years, most of us blindly trusted the pharmaceutical industry to develop drugs that were safe and effective. We didn’t question the food at the grocery store either. We just naively assumed that if it was approved for sale, it must be safe to consume.

But the ruse is up.

Now we know that Big Pharma and Big Food are in bed together – plotting how to ensure Americans stay sick and addicted.

On a recent episode of “The Glenn Beck Podcast,” Glenn interviewed fitness expert and “The Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels on the insidious ties between the “catastrophic quartet of Big Food, Big Ag, Big Pharma, and Big Insurance” that’s keeping us in chains.

Michaels isn’t convinced that all people who work in medicine or food are devilishly conspiring to harm Americans. The puppet masters at the top may be, but most individual workers had no intention of being pawns in a game.

“The machine has a bottom line, and the machine reports to Wall Street. And so they need profit. People are just cogs in that machine. And I don’t think these individuals are ill-intentioned, but they definitely get caught up in these industries,” she says, acknowledging that many of these individuals pursue careers in food and medicine because they want to help “save the world” and “feed the world.”

Unfortunately, what ends up happening is these well-intentioned people need to “pay [their] bills,” and the only way to do that is to “incentivize people to drink more soda and to eat more chips.”

Glenn agrees, noting that America “fed the world” because of developments in genetically modified organisms, which altered the DNA of various plants and animals so they could grow faster and be more pest resistance, drought tolerant, or nutritionally dense.

“At the beginning, it was a really good thing … but somewhere along the line, that changed,” he says.

“I’m actually writing a book about this right now,” Michaels says, “and it looks at the ways in which our food policy, our policy around Big Ag, Pharma, Big insurance … captured well-intentioned legislation and inverted them.”

“It is absolutely nefarious because everything that was passed with the best of intentions ended up getting in the wrong hands and subsequently manipulated to be weaponized against the American people,” she adds.

Now the food that was meant to nourish us is actually poisoning us, and the medicine that was meant to heal us is actually making us sicker.

Michaels gives the example of Howard Moskowitz, an American market researcher and psychophysicist specializing in food science, who coined the term “bliss point” in the 1970s.

The bliss point is “the perfect ratio of fat and sugar and salt” that makes our brains crave more. In other words, Moskowitz was a specialist in food addiction, which is responsible for America’s astronomical obesity rates and subsequent diseases.

“That is probably the least nefarious thing that has happened,” Michaels says.

Moskowitz’s research has since developed into a “multidisciplinary team of scientists and behavioralists and marketing experts that work around the clock trying to figure out how to make you not eat just one.”

“That’s not a slogan — you can’t eat just one. That’s a business model. Period,” Michaels says.

This creates a prime opportunity for the pharmaceutical companies to create expensive weight loss drugs, like Ozempic, which boost the body’s GLP-1 hormones that tell it to stop eating.

However, because these weight loss medicines are helping people break food additions, now “the food companies are trying to find a way to make these ultra-processed foods now bypass your GLP-1 hormone pathways,” Michaels says.

“That’s evil!” Glenn reacts.

“That is the kind of stuff that is happening and has been happening for decades,” Michaels says.

To hear more of the conversation, watch the full interview 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 podcast, Glenn beck, Jillian michaels, Food, Big pharma, Big food, Big ag, Blazetv, Blaze media, Blaze podcasts 

A man behind a popular YouTube crafting account for children was arrested for alleged possession of child sex abuse material, according to Kentucky police.

Michael David Booth, 39, garnered over 594K subscribers on his “Mr. Crafty Pants” account, but it was his alleged misconduct on the Kik messaging app that led to his arrest.

‘My heart dropped. Felt sick to my stomach. It was gut-wrenching and eye-opening.’

Law enforcement officials said they were tipped off that child sex abuse material was being allegedly sent from Booth’s account between Aug. 5 and Aug. 8.

An investigation found two photographs Booth took of himself on the account, indicating that he ran the account. The account sent files of children under 12 to other Kik users on at least 10 occasions, and it sent files of children between 12 and 18 years old to other users on at least 15 occasions, according to the arrest citation.

Neighbors noticed a sign at the man’s home that took on sinister tones after the arrest.

“I smell children,” the sign read.

On Oct. 22, Booth was arrested on 25 counts of distributing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor and four other similar counts.

A Jefferson County District Court judge set a bond of $100,000 full cash for Booth on Thursday and ordered that he have no access to social media, to the internet, or to minors.

RELATED: Famed crocodile expert pleads guilty to bestiality, possessing child abuse material, and animal abuse; had ‘torture room’

“You feel like you know your neighbors, but what goes on behind closed doors … I guess we never know,” said Lindsay Smart, a neighbor to Booth. “It’s sickening, it’s disgusting, and I’m glad he got caught.”

“So we walked out our front door on Wednesday to a very heavy police presence,” said Laura Nash, who lives across the street from Booth. “My heart dropped. Felt sick to my stomach. It was gut-wrenching and eye-opening.”

Some users noted that Booth was wearing the same sweatshirt in one of his last Instagram posts as he is in his booking photo.

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

​Mr crafty pants, Child sex abuse material, Youtube influencer arrest, Michael david booth, Crime 

President Donald Trump’s dropping another tariff on the auto industry.

Starting November 1, the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on all imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks, a dramatic escalation in the administration’s ongoing effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign-built vehicles.

The short-term effects could include delays in vehicle availability, higher fleet costs, and potential retaliation from trading partners.

This announcement sent shockwaves through global trade circles and Wall Street. According to Trump, the decision is rooted in national security and economic strength, not politics. But as with any sweeping trade action, there’s more under the hood than meets the eye.

Priced to move

While celebrating the immediate bump in automaker stock prices following the tariff announcement, Trump’s message was direct. “Mary Barra of General Motors and Bill Ford of Ford Motor Company just called to thank me. … Without tariffs, it would be a hard, long slog for truck and car manufacturers in the United States.”

The president framed the move as a matter of economic sovereignty, arguing that domestic production capacity in critical industries, like heavy vehicles used in logistics, defense, and infrastructure, is essential to national security.

That message resonates with many Americans frustrated by decades of outsourcing and the hollowing out of domestic manufacturing. But it’s also raising concerns among global partners and major U.S. companies with deep supply chain ties abroad.

Winners and losers

The new tariffs target a wide range of vehicles: delivery trucks, garbage trucks, utility vehicles, buses, semis, and vocational heavy trucks.

Manufacturers expected to benefit include Paccar, the parent company of Peterbilt and Kenworth, and Daimler Truck North America, which produces Freightliner vehicles in the U.S. These companies have much to gain from reduced import competition and potentially stronger domestic demand.

However, for companies like Stellantis, which manufactures Ram heavy-duty pickups and commercial vans in Mexico, the impact could be costly.

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, trucks assembled in North America can move tariff-free if at least 64% of their content originates within the region. But many manufacturers rely on imported parts and materials, putting them at risk of higher costs and tighter margins.

Mexico, the largest exporter of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to the U.S., will be hit hardest. Imports from Mexico have tripled since 2019, climbing from about 110,000 to 340,000 units annually. Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland also face new barriers under the 25% tariff.

Industry pushback

Not everyone is excited about the tariffs — especially considering that the import sources for these trucks (Mexico, Canada, and Japan) are long-standing American allies and trading partners.

Industry analysts warn of supply-chain disruptions, potential price increases, and reduced model availability for both commercial fleets and consumers. Tariffs could also pressure U.S. companies to adjust production strategies, increase domestic sourcing, or even pass higher costs on to customers.

RELATED: Hemi tough: Stellantis chooses power over tired EV mandate

Chicago Tribune/Getty Images

The politics of protectionism

This is not the first time a Trump administration has leaned on tariffs as an economic lever. During his previous term, tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and Chinese goods aimed to bring manufacturing back to U.S. soil. Supporters argue those policies helped revitalize key industries and encourage job growth. Critics countered that they raised costs for American companies and consumers alike.

Still, there’s no denying that tariffs remain one of Trump’s most powerful economic tools and one of his most politically effective messages. By positioning tariffs as a way to protect American jobs, the policy appeals to workers and manufacturers across the Rust Belt, a region that will play a pivotal role in the upcoming election.

Short-term pain

For the U.S. trucking and logistics sectors, the short-term effects could include delays in vehicle availability, higher fleet costs, and potential retaliation from trading partners.

Truck leasing and rental companies that rely on imported chassis and components may see their operating costs rise. Meanwhile, domestic truck makers could ramp up production, potentially benefiting U.S. suppliers and job growth in states like Ohio, Michigan, and Texas.

The challenge will be whether domestic manufacturers can meet demand quickly enough without triggering inflationary pressures in the commercial transportation market.

Long-term gain?

Trump’s framing of the tariffs as a “national security matter” echoes earlier policies aimed at reducing foreign dependence in critical sectors, from semiconductors to electric vehicles. Advocates say this approach ensures that America can produce what it needs in times of crisis.

But opponents warn that labeling economic measures as “security” issues can backfire, alienating allies and inviting retaliation. European officials and trade negotiators in Canada and Japan are already signaling possible countermeasures if talks with Washington fail to yield exemptions.

Mind the gap

The real question now is how manufacturers will adapt. Companies may accelerate plans to localize assembly and parts production inside the U.S., while foreign brands could seek joint ventures or partnerships with American firms to skirt tariffs.

Consumers and fleets will likely see higher sticker prices for imported trucks and commercial vehicles as tariffs ripple through supply chains. That may also shift more buyers toward U.S.-built models, at least in the short term.

Ultimately, Trump’s move puts America’s industrial policy back in the driver’s seat. Whether it strengthens the economy or creates new trade turbulence will depend on how quickly domestic production can fill the gap left by imports.

President Trump’s 25% truck tariff is a high-stakes bet on American manufacturing dominance. It could fuel a resurgence in U.S. production or ignite new rounds of trade retaliation.

Either way, one thing is certain: The decision has already reshaped the conversation about what it means to build, and buy, American.

​Lifestyle, Tariffs, Donald trump, Mexico, Auto industry, Trucks, Stellantis, Align cars 

Students and alumni of the University of Pennsylvania were surprised to receive a vulgar email from the university’s account after it was hacked Friday.

The university confirmed that the email came from a security breach and that its incident response team was investigating the incident.

‘This is obviously a fake, and nothing in the highly offensive, hurtful message reflects the mission or actions of Penn or of Penn GSE.’

“The University of Pennsylvania is a dogs**t elitist institution full of woke retards. We have terrible security practices and are completely unmeritocratic,” reads the hacked email, which was posted to social media.

“We hire and admit morons because we love legacies, donors, and unqualified affirmative action admits. We love breaking federal laws like FERPA (all your data will be leaked) and Supreme Court rulings like SFFA,” the email continues. “Please stop giving us money.”

The subject heading reads, “We got hacked (Action Required).”

The hackers referred to the Supreme Court decision in favor of the Students for Fair Admissions in 2023 that forbid race-based affirmative action in admissions to colleges. They also accused the college of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects students’ school records data.

RELATED: Cybersecurity expert says he accidentally discovered ‘disturbing’ data transfers from TikTok: ‘The app should be banned’

A university spokesperson released a statement decrying the email.

“A fraudulent email has been circulated that appears to come from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education,” the statement reads. “This is obviously a fake, and nothing in the highly offensive, hurtful message reflects the mission or actions of Penn or of Penn GSE.”

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

​University of pennsylvania, Email hacked, Vulgar email sent, Woke universities, Politics 

The threat to cut food aid benefits was ended by two court rulings that said the Trump administration would need to use contingency plans to keep the money flowing.

Democrats and Republicans have been blaming each other for the U.S. Department of Agriculture plan to cut off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on Nov. 1.

‘I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.’

On Friday, judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled that SNAP benefits could not be cut.

“There is no doubt and it is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur, if it hasn’t already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food, for their family,” said U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston similarly ruled that the “suspension of SNAP payments was based on the erroneous conclusion that the contingency funds could not be used to ensure continuation of SNAP payments.”

Both judges McConnell and Talwani were appointed by former President Joe Biden.

The president responded to the rulings in a post on Truth Social.

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” the president said.

“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” he added. “Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”

RELATED: California police increase patrols around grocery stores ahead of possible food stamp shutoff

He went on to blame Democrats for the shutdown and called on Americans to pressure Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to reopen the government.

“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” Trump added.

About 42 million Americans depend on the SNAP program for food aid. Polling shows that far more Americans blame Democrats for this shutdown than during the first government shutdown during Trump’s first term.

“If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW!” Trump concluded.

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

​Snap benefits to end, Government shutdown, Trump vs the courts, Food aid benefits, Politics 

People across the world may often look to artificial intelligence tools for answers, but they’re not always right — and sometimes, they’re so wrong that they get sued for defamation.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has taken up arms against Google and is suing the tech giant for defamation after its AI tools allegedly linked him to false accusations of sexual assault, child rape, and financial exploitation.

“How did you even find out that all of these lies were being made up, you know, through AI about you?” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales asks Starbuck.

“So, this actually started two years ago, right? And somebody reached out — somebody I don’t know — and said, ‘Hey, have you seen the stuff that Bard is saying about you?’ And so I go, and I check it out because what they said sounded crazy to me,” Starbuck explains.

“I was like, ‘There’s no way that’s actually happening.’ So, I go to Bard, and I check it out myself. And lo and behold, it’s saying that I was a part of January 6, that I was a supporter of the KKK, all this crazy stuff. … It even made an argument, by the way, for the death penalty for me because I offend some Democrats,” he continues.

When he asked the AI about Democrats like Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), the AI refused to speak ill of the politicians, calling it inappropriate.

“So, at that point, I notified Google. I notified their CEO, notified the people in AI there. And in fact, somebody … who worked at Google, they saw what was going on. They said, ‘Please email me. Tell me everything that’s going on,” Starbuck explains.

However, after emailing this person, he was told the employee was resigning.

“And then my lawyers at Dhillon Law have done multiple cease and desists in this year, in 2025, as they’ve rolled out Gemma and Gemini,” he says, noting that both have also defamed him.

Now, Google is claiming that “AI hallucinates.”

“Their AI didn’t just lie. It lied so meticulously and elaborately. It would create fake therapy records, fake police reports, fake court records. It would have full details on the allegations in first-person form with the, you know, sort of point of view of the, quote, ‘victims.’ And then it would impersonate major media outlets, create a fake link to their website and a fake headline so the person would then believe it,” Starbuck tells Gonzales.

And what has happened to Starbuck can have devastating consequences elsewhere.

“And we’ve already seen the data to see that Google and, you know, what they feed to users can flip votes in elections. This is a serious problem,” he says. “You could decide the next president with enough AI defamation.”

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.

​Video, Camera phone, Sharing, Upload, Free, Video phone, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Robby starbuck, Google gemini, Google ai, Robby starbuck lawsuit google, Defamation ai, Artificial intelligence, Dangers of ai 

The House Oversight Committee has released its report on Biden’s autopen use as a cover-up of the former president’s mental decline — and while it’s not good, BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales isn’t surprised.

“As you probably already guessed, because you have eyeballs and a working brain, there was a coordinated cover-up of his deterioration from the public … but more importantly, the senior Biden staff exercised presidential authority or facilitated executive actions without direct authorization from President Biden himself,” Gonzales says.

“And now that they’ve found all of this out through their report, they consider that any action that was signed with autopen is null and void if it is discovered that Joe Biden did not know about it, which, of course, is the right call,” she continues.

While hundreds of actions were signed with autopen, the question remains as to which ones he knew about.

“I mean, we had all of these pardons, all of these pre-emptive pardons on the way out the door in the 11th hour. … President Autopen was like, ‘Just to be sure, I’m going to sign pardons for all of my family and for Dr. Fauci and Mark Milley and the January 6th fake committee members, Liz Cheney, Adam Schiff, Adam Kinzinger, Jamie Raskin,’” Gonzales mocks.

BlazeTV contributor Breanna Morello points out that the “first big red flag” regarding the autopen scandal was Joe Biden allegedly giving “clemency to a convicted pedophile” who had “thousands of child pornographic images on his devices” and was a “Chinese national.”

“And then the media covered for it. They didn’t actually cover that story … I think I was the only reporter talking about it initially, and then everyone else caught wind of it afterwards,” Morello says.

“So it’s not surprising. I couldn’t imagine why any president would have wanted their legacy to be freeing a convicted pedophile with over 42,000 child pornographic images on their devices. … And the fact that he pardoned the whole J6 committee when they pretend everything was legitimate tells you everything you need to know about all this,” she adds.

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

To enjoy more of Sara’s no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Video phone, Video, Free, Upload, Camera phone, Sharing, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Joe biden, Autopen scandal, January 6th, Breanna morello, Chad prather, Dr fauci pardon, Joe biden pardons 

A Maryland state senator is denying allegations that she threatened to release highly compromising video of a former political consultant to keep her from making public comments about the senator.

Democratic state Sen. Dalya Attar was indicted on charges related to the alleged extortion plot that included her brother Joseph Attar as well as a Baltimore police officer named Kalman Finkelstein.

‘Stay out of this election, the delegate election, and make sure she doesn’t do anything against Dalya throughout this election … or I’ll share this video with everybody you know.’

The three defendants are accused of hiding audio and video recording equipment in the apartment of the consultant in order to gather evidence of her sexual relationship with a married man in 2022. Finkelstein’s family owned the apartment where the woman was living.

They then allegedly threatened to release the recorded evidence unless the two agreed to refrain from making negative statements about Dalya Attar in public. Attar was running for state House delegate at the time.

Prosecutors said that Joseph Attar said to the married man via messages on WhatsApp, “I have hours of footage of you in bed with (Victim 1). Here’s what I need you to do for this to go away permanently.”

Both Dalya Attar and the consultant are members of the Orthodox Jewish community.

“The only thing you need to do is very simple, is to go to (Victim 1) and say to her, ‘Listen, leave Dalya alone. Don’t bring her up anymore to anyone,'” Joseph Attar is accused of saying. “Stay out of this election, the delegate election, and make sure she doesn’t do anything against Dalya throughout this election … or I’ll share this video with everybody you know, everyone she knows, every rabbi in town, your kids, your wife, her daughters.”

RELATED: Congresswoman’s staffer indicted for spreading her intimate videos and photos online

Dalya Attar released a statement denying the allegations.

“I ran for public office because of my strong belief in serving my community that I love, and I would never do anything to knowingly jeopardize my constituents’ trust in me,” she said.

“The case centers on the allegations of my former disgruntled employee. We have yet to see any tangible evidence to support the claim that I knew of any illegal actions taken on my behalf,” Dalya Attar added. “I look forward to sharing my side of the story, and believe the truth will be the arbiter of justice.”

Dalya Attar was indicted on eight counts, including conspiracy, extortion via interstate communications, aiding and abetting, and interception and disclosure of a wire.

RELATED: Dem congresswoman who allegedly assaulted ICE officer is indicted on 3 counts, faces years in prison

Photo by Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Finkelstein has been suspended since 2022, according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

“He has not had police powers since 2022,” Worley added. “We’re going to cooperate completely with the indictment.”

Dalya Attar represents Baltimore City and was appointed to fill a vacancy in the state Senate in January.

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

​Democrat extortion, Sen dalya attar, Democrat indicted, Political sextortion, Politics 

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon’s new “Clip Farmers” podcast is off to a rocky start after he and his co-hosts were discussing the appearance of “MAGA women” — and Lemon took it a step too far.

As his Gen Z co-hosts were saying all MAGA women look the same, they also asked Lemon if Megyn Kelly was “chopped,” which they explain as meaning “not hot.”

“Yeah, she’s chopped,” Lemon replied, before adding, “I think she looks trans.”

“Let’s end on that note,” one of his co-hosts said in between nervous laughs.

But he couldn’t end it fast enough before Lemon added, “Looks clockable,” which means he thinks Kelly is not convincing as a woman — and thus would be easy to identify as transgender.

He went on to call her too skinny and said she wears too much makeup.

Now Lemon is in trouble with his base, as being “transphobic” is a direct assault on leftist values — and he used “trans” in a derogatory way despite speaking out numerous times about “transphobia.”

“So it’s OK for Don Lemon to use the word ‘trans’ as a derogatory statement about a woman? Oh, that’s interesting. I thought that was a lovely thing to be trans,” executive producer of “Pat Gray Unleashed” Keith Malinak says.

“This woman looks trans?” Pat Gray chimes in, shocked. “In what universe?”

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.

​Upload, Video phone, Camera phone, Free, Sharing, Video, Youtube.com, Pat gray unleashed, Pat gray, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Megyn kelly, Don lemon, Cnn, Cnn bias, Clockable, Transgender, Trans, Don lemon trans, Transphobia, Keith malinak, Transphobic 

Talk about a booby prize.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) recently declared war on the GOP on several fronts, and instead of a trophy or plaque, she’ll get the honor of matching wits with those doyennes of derangement on “The View” next week.

The ever-present smile. The blazing hypocrisy. The fact that ‘Escape from New York’ is getting an all-too real sequel starting ASAP.

Apparently, Taylor Greene’s recent ideological about-face makes her the perfect conservative foil on a show that tends to veer — if not careen — left.

Co-host Joy Behar recently griped that the show can’t book right-leaning guests because, “They’re scared of us.”

Sure, Joy. Just like I’m “scared” of the 8-year-old Minecraft zombies who’ll be knocking on my door for Kit-Kats tonight.

Here’s a trick to make “The View” more compelling — stop treating guests who don’t agree with you like fun-size Snickers bars. It’s OK to have more than one.

Pretty payday

Julia Roberts is a genius. Or at least, her agent is.

The Oscar winner isn’t as active in Hollywood as in her box office heyday, but she still convinced a movie studio to pay her $20 million for her to star in “After the Hunt.”

The Me Too-themed drama cast Roberts as a professor torn between a trusted colleague (Andrew Garfield) and a bright student (Ayo Edebiri), who claims said colleague sexually assaulted her.

The film has made just $9 million worldwide and is already fading after two weeks of release. The budget? A reported $80 million, including that hefty price tag for the erstwhile “Pretty Woman.”

Paying 1995 rates in 2025 — when even the most beloved Oscar-winner can’t guarantee butts in seats? Well, Hollywood is the land of make-believe.

Billion-dollar baby

You first, Billie.

Androgynous crooner Billie Eilish is taking a bold stand against billionaires. The “Bad Guy” singer addressed a room full of rich, powerful people to accept an “innovator” award from the Wall Street Journal Magazine. Said room included mega billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, apparently.

She used the moment to lecture the ultra rich.

“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here that have a lot more money than me. … If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties.”

Set aside the economic ignorance, the body shaming, and the fact that she’s a millionaire many times over. She just cut a gargantuan check to help defeat, check notes, “climate justice.” Why not just go full Joker and set a mountain of cash on fire? At least she could write a song about it …

RELATED: ‘The Naked Gun’ remake is laugh-out-loud funny? Surely, you can’t be serious

Don’t mess with the Zohran

There’s nothing funny about the rise of Zohran Mamdani.

The future New York City mayor is a terror apologist, an anti-Israel zealot, and an economic illiterate. There’s more, but you get the picture. Still, political satirists should have a field day with Mamdani on so many levels.

The ever-present smile. The blazing hypocrisy. The fact that “Escape from New York” is getting an all-too real sequel starting ASAP.

Instead, comedians are standing down. Anyone shocked? A new study by Newsbusters shows that late-night comics are targeting everyone else in the crowded New York mayoral race save Mamdani.

“Only three out of 63 jokes were about the socialist front-runner,” the site tallied. And that doesn’t count comedian turned shill Jon Stewart comparing Mamdani to Jackie Robinson …

Kim K’s moonshot

Reality stars say the darndest things.

It’s easy to poke fun at Kim Kardashian for her choice in suitors. That Kanye West pairing didn’t end well, did it?

Still, Ms. Kim is a savvy business person who transformed a sordid sex tape into a reality show empire. Just don’t ask her to teach a history class anytime soon.

Kardashian is co-starring with actress Sarah Paulson on the TV show “All’s Fair,” and apparently the two are quite chatty behind the scenes. Kardashian loves sharing her conspiracy theories with her co-star, including her belief that America never landed on the moon.

She pointed to a clip of Buzz Aldrin mishearing a question as part of her “proof.” In her defense, maybe she’s trying to recruit Candace Owens to her next reality show gig …

‘Fack’ all

Comedy is truly on the comeback trail.

The woke mind virus is fading. Roasts are back in vogue. The recent “Naked Gun” reboot was funnier than anyone expected. Now, a new trailer for a “Downton Abbey” spoof looks like the year’s brightest surprise.

“Fackham Hall,” hitting theaters December 5, packs more laughs in its two-minute running time than some mainstream comedies. The physical shtick is priceless, and the oh, so stuffy “Downton Abbey” vibe begs for a good satirical swatting.

At this rate, even Jimmy Kimmel might make us laugh before 2025 ends.

​The view, Zohran mamdani, Joy behar, Julia roberts, Culture, Entertainment, Hollywood, Toto recall 

A terrorist attack planned for Halloween weekend was prevented by arrests made in Michigan, said Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel.

Patel offered few details, but Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said in a statement on social media that the plot was “Jihadi” in nature.

‘The FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack.’

“This morning Federal agents, under the direction of @FBIDirectorKash and @AGPamBondi, successfully disrupted a Jihadi terror plot in Detroit timed for Halloween when innocent children should be enjoying themselves Trick or Treating,” Gorka wrote.

“The threat is real,” he added.

The Dearborn Police Dept. confirmed that there had been an FBI operation in the city Friday morning and that there was no longer any threat to the public.

A spokesperson for the Dept. of Justice said in a statement to Blaze News that the law enforcement operation also included the city of Inkster, another city near Detroit.

“This morning the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend,” reads the statement from Patel. “More details to come. Thanks to the men and women of FBI and law enforcement everywhere standing guard 24/7 and crushing our mission to defend the homeland.”

The FBI operation in Inkster was focused on a storage facility on Michigan Avenue, according to a WDIV-TV report. WDIV reported on two FBI operations at two other locations but could not confirm whether they were related to the alleged terror plot.

“This morning, I was briefed by Director Patel on the thwarted potential terrorist attack in our state,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) posted to social media on Friday. “As details continue to develop, I am grateful for the swift action of the FBI and MSP protecting Michiganders.”

RELATED: Outraged parents, many of whom are Muslim, shut down Michigan school board meeting over LGBTQ+ books: ‘Vote them out!’

Dearborn is known for becoming the first Arab-majority city in the U.S. in 2023.

In September, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a Democrat and Muslim, berated a Christian resident who objected to the city honoring a man who had made comments in support of Islamic terrorism.

“You are a bigot, and you are a racist, and you are an Islamophobe,” Hammoud said to the man. “Although you live here, I want you to know, as mayor, you are not welcome here. And the day you move out of this city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of the city.”

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

​Jihadi terror attack, Halloween attack plot, Dearborn islamic attack, Fbi thwarts attack, Politics 

Vice President JD Vance taught college students an important lesson on the problems associated with mass immigration at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday.

After delivering his prepared remarks with Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk — emphasizing the importance of avoiding pointless foreign entanglements, securing America’s borders, and altogether prioritizing citizens — Vance respectfully gave a few students much-needed reality checks.

One of the questioners prefaced by noting that his girlfriend was studying in the country on a student visa, then asked Vance about his views on legal immigration.

‘My job as vice president is not to look out for the interests of the whole world.’

“Thanks in part to the Biden border invasion but also thanks in part to a lot of bad immigration policy, right now, we have let in too many immigrants into the United States of America,” Vance responded.

The Pew Research Center recently indicated that as of January 2025, there were 53.3 million immigrants living in the U.S. — the largest number ever recorded. Over 15% of all U.S. residents and 19% of the U.S. labor force were immigrants.

The vice president suggested that “the evidence is pretty clear” that a great many of the over 1 million migrants who legally enter the U.S. every year “are actually undercutting the wages of American workers,” and suggested that such wage suppression is what prompted President Donald Trump and his administration to encourage H-1B reform.

Vance indicated further that while the intended function of the H-1B visa is to attract and retain top talent from around the world, “what it’s actually used to do is hire an accountant at a 50% discount to an American citizen. I don’t think that we should be hiring accountants from foreign countries when we’ve got accountants right here in the United States that would love to work for a good wage.”

RELATED: Camp of the H-1B Saints

Photo by Brad Vest/Getty Images

“We have got to get our overall numbers way, way down,” the vice president said, adding that the nation needs time to “build a sense of common identity” before admitting more people.

Vance’s remarks evidently vexed a young female student of apparent Indian origin in the crowd who used her time at the microphone to complain both about the vice president’s stated desire for his Hindu wife to one day join him in following Christ as well as his desire to taper the number of immigrants legally admitted into the United States.

“When you talk about too many immigrant [sic] here, what is — when did you guys decide that number? Why did you sell us a dream? You made us spend our youth, our wealth in this country and gave us a dream,” the woman said.

“How can you as a vice president stand there and say that ‘we have too many of them now, and we are going to take them out’ to people who are here, rightfully so?” she asked.

After clarifying that he was proposing greatly reducing the number of foreigner admissions in the future while honoring past promises to previous entrants, Vance stressed between interruptions from the woman that immigration policy should be adapted to the circumstances of the day.

“We cannot have an immigration policy where what was good for the country 50 or 60 years ago binds the country inevitably for the future,” the vice president said. “There’s too many people who want to come to the United States of America, and my job as vice president is not to look out for the interests of the whole world. It’s to look out for the people of the United States.”

While the questioner did not appear all too pleased with Vance’s America-first answer, the crowd burst into applause.

Before the conclusion of the event, the vice president told the crowd, “Despair is a sin. Do not give in to the sin of despair. Let’s keep fighting to save the United States of America.”

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

​Immigration, Jd vance, Vance, University of mississippi, Mississippi, Tpusa, Erika kirk, Charlie kirk, Vice president, Politics 

Trump’s administration is getting ready to order a military strike against targets in Venezuela, according to a Miami Herald report.

The reported goal of the strike would be to decapitate the leadership of the drug-trafficking organization headed by Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

‘What’s worse for him, there is now more than one general willing to capture and hand him over.’

The sources would not say if Maduro himself would be a target of the strike.

“Maduro is about to find himself trapped and might soon discover that he cannot flee the country even if he decided to,” the source is quoted as saying. “What’s worse for him, there is now more than one general willing to capture and hand him over, fully aware that one thing is to talk about death, and another to see it coming.”

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly released a statement seemingly rejecting the report.

“Unnamed sources don’t know what they’re talking about. Any announcements regarding Venezuela policy would come directly from the president,” she said.

The Trump administration had previously announced a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture in August. It has also destroyed various boats that were reportedly in use by traffickers to bring drugs to the U.S.

“Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!” said Trump at the time.

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California responded to the report and vehemently opposed the decision.

“Trump is getting ready to launch strikes inside Venezuela,” wrote Khanna on social media. “This is blatantly unconstitutional. Congress must speak up now to stop another endless, regime-change war.”

RELATED: Venezuelan freedom fighter wins Nobel Peace Prize — and she immediately dedicates it to Trump for his support

The Wall Street Journal also confirmed the report and that the strike would be a message to Maduro that it is time for him to step down.

Military expert Mark Cancian told the Herald that the military forces in the Caribbean were enough for a strike but not for an invasion.

“There isn’t enough combat power for an invasion,” he said, “but there is plenty for air or missile strikes against the cartels or the Maduro regime.”

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

​Venezuala, Us military strike, Nicolas maduro, Drug trafficking gangs, Politics 

Jennifer Welch is a left-wing co-host of the podcast “I’ve Had It,” which boasts over a million subscribers on Youtube — and in a recent episode of the podcast, she not only praised those celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk but called for more of it.

“If you think this Zohran thing is happening just in New York, and you think people are waking up only in New York City, you’re mistaken. Look at this clip of a ‘wine mom’ at the No Kings march,” Welch said, before playing a clip showing a No Kings protester saying she was “glad” Charlie Kirk was assassinated.

“Charlie Kirk is horrible,” the woman told right-wing influencer Kaitlin Bennett in a man-on-the-street style interview, adding, “Yes, I’m glad he’s not here.”

“You’re glad he’s dead?” Bennett asked, shocked.

“Yes,” the woman replied.

“Why would you say something like that, ma’am?” Bennett asked.

“Cause he was horrible on the campuses, the college campuses. Horrible person,” the woman answered.

“You know what? I do the exact same thing. Would you be glad if I would die?” Bennett asked.

“Maybe. I’d have to think about it,” the woman said firmly.

After watching the clip, Welch laughs, before saying: “So listen up, Democratic establishment. You can either jump on board with this, or we’re coming after you in the same way that we come after MAGA. Period.”

BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales is horrified.

“Now you may be thinking to yourself, who is this evil witch? Well, her name is Jennifer Welch. And you may then say, ‘Well, what do I care what this random woman has to say?’ She actually has 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube. So as it turns out, there are a lot of people who are subscribing to this type of rhetoric and this type of evil, ghoulish behavior,” Gonzales says.

“So while this may be your first introduction to her, Democrats are listening to this, and she’s literally saying the Democrat establishment needs to get on board with calling for the murder of conservatives,” she adds.

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

To enjoy more of Sara’s no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Video, Camera phone, Upload, Free, Sharing, Video phone, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Jennifer welch, Charlie kirk assassination, I’ve had it podcast, No kings protesters, Left wing violence 

As more than 40 million Americans prepare for a disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program handouts amid the Democrat-led government shutdown, a member of a fraud conspiracy related to SNAP has been brought to justice.

On October 15, an Italian illegal alien living in Oregon was sentenced to federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

‘By siphoning millions of dollars in government funds intended for food-insecure households, this illegal criminal alien proved to be one of the worst of the worst.’

Over the course of 14 months between August 2023 and October 2024, Giovanni Spirea, 29, and his co-conspirators purchased over 120,000 pounds of groceries using electronic skimming devices to steal SNAP benefits.

“Spirea shared stolen account information with other members of the organization, who, along with him, used the stolen benefits to purchase large quantities of infant formula, energy drinks, and other SNAP-eligible nonperishable food items from grocery stores … and through websites associated with grocery stores offering curb-side pickup,” the DOJ said in a press release.

The stolen items were then sold on the black market, the DOJ added.

RELATED: Democrats’ shutdown blame game backfires — even Jake Tapper calls them out on SNAP benefits

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Spirea and his co-conspirators operated in Oregon, Washington, and California. The estimated value of the stolen goods is $2.4 million.

“By siphoning millions of dollars in government funds intended for food-insecure households, this illegal criminal alien proved to be one of the worst of the worst,” said April Miller, Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting special agent in charge.

“Protecting government-funded programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program isn’t just about preserving funds — it’s about safeguarding trust in a vital lifeline that millions of families depend on to put food on the table,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford. “Today’s sentencing should deter perpetrators from defrauding American families and the federal government for personal gain.”

Spirea was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $61,874.32 in restitution. Sixteen others were charged in the conspiracy.

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

​Politics, Snap, Snap program, Giovanni spirea, Oregon, Doj, Government shutdown, Ebt, Government spending, Fraud 

The Department of Homeland Security released bodycam footage of Border Patrol agents operating in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago and having to face a hostile crowd, resulting in arrests and the deployment of tear gas.

The New York Post reported on video taken by a bystander showing the arrest of a man who did not move his car when ordered to, as it was blocking the narrow road. The arrestee’s running club said the man is a U.S. citizen and suffered six broken ribs during the arrest.

‘After spewing profanities at law enforcement, he proceeded to charge out of his car toward law enforcement and resisted arrest.’

In response to the report, DHS released the bodycam footage from one of the arresting agents showing the man not only refusing to move his vehicle, but also getting out of the car to physically confront the agents. The driver was not dragged out of the car, DHS video showed.

“After spewing profanities at law enforcement, he proceeded to charge out of his car toward law enforcement and resisted arrest. During the arrest another U.S. citizen assaulted the arresting agent, striking him in the head. Both were arrested,” DHS said.

DHS noted the reason for the operation in that neighborhood was to arrest an illegal alien from Mexico who had previously been arrested for assault.

“Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. DHS and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law,” DHS said.

In a press conference in neighboring Indiana on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested over 3,000 illegal aliens since Operation Midway Blitz started in September.

RELATED: Far-left congressional candidate hit with reality check after allegedly impeding ICE operations

Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

While the main focus has been on Chicago, the operation has successfully arrested 146 drivers who are in the United States illegally in Indiana by working with state law enforcement. This includes drivers of 18-wheelers, box trucks, buses, and moving vans.

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

​Politics 

Federal immigration agents executed a raid of a New Jersey container freight warehouse that resulted in the arrest of dozens of illegal aliens, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

‘DHS is committed to maintaining the highest levels of security and accountability within bonded facilities to protect both US commerce and the public.’

Activists arrived on the scene to protest as federal agents conducted the arrests, WCBS-TV reported. They claimed that most of those taken into custody were packers for the international shipping company.

Local reports indicated that DHS agents initiated the workplace inspection at a facility owned by Savino Del Bene, a logistics company headquartered in Italy.

The sweep resulted in the arrests of 46 illegal aliens, approximately 22% of the on-site workforce, a DHS spokesperson told Blaze News.

RELATED: Soros-linked protesters to host ‘rally/vigil’ at Home Depot over ICE raids

Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“The operation is part of DHS’ ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with customs and immigration regulations, safeguard the integrity of the supply chain, and verify that warehouse operators are adhering to all applicable security requirements,” the agency spokesperson said. “DHS is committed to maintaining the highest levels of security and accountability within bonded facilities to protect both U.S. commerce and the public.”

RELATED: ICE officer shoots at driver who tried to run over agent during vehicle stop in California, DHS says

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The spokesperson noted that the 46 illegal aliens will remain in DHS custody pending immigration proceedings.

Blaze News reached out to Savino Del Bene for comment.

This marks the third raid in Middlesex County in the past few months. Federal agents detained 15 employees from a wine and spirits warehouse in July and another 29 workers from a freight warehouse in August.

Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner stated that the town was not notified about the recent immigration enforcement actions.

“My police department had no idea that ICE was in our town at 6:30 in the morning last Sunday,” Hohenleitner stated, referring to the unrelated arrest of Ruperto Vicens Marquez, a longtime restaurant owner. Hohenleitner accused federal agents of wrongfully arresting Marquez, who, according to KABC-TV, has a valid and recently renewed work visa.

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

​News, Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Immigration crisis, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration, New jersey, Politics