Category: blaze media

California Democrats are seeking to replace missing revenue after they passed an electric car mandate that undermined inflows from a gasoline tax.

While some are pushing a tax-by-the-mile to reclaim the revenue, a backlash from Californians has led to Democrats backing off from the proposal.

‘We already pay the highest gas taxes in the nation. Now Sacramento is talking about adding a new tax for every mile people drive.’

Democrats have known the state would be hit with lower tax revenue since 2023 when an independent legislative analyst released a report saying the mandate would lead to a loss of $5 billion per year by 2035. The gas tax is also affected by increased vehicle gas efficiency.

However, when Republicans in the state raised the alarm about the possibility of a mileage tax, legislative staffers in Sacramento said they were hit with angry calls from voters against it.

The outrage was so strong that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was forced to address the controversy.

“Studying a concept is not enacting it,” his press office wrote on social media Wednesday. “Despite national support from prominent *conservatives* like the Cato Institute, there is no mileage tax proposal in California — and the Governor would not sign one.”

Democrats were also hit with angry messages on social media.

RELATED: LA Times gets obliterated online for scolding people wanting to leave high-tax California

“Californians are already getting crushed by the cost of food, housing, power, and gas,” Republican Assembly Leader Heath Flora said. “We already pay the highest gas taxes in the nation. Now Sacramento is talking about adding a new tax for every mile people drive.”

Newsom is widely considered to be trying to expand his national brand recognition in preparation for a possible presidential campaign in 2028.

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​California democrats, Electric car mandate, Mileage tax in california, Gavin newsom backlash, Politics 

While the previous Epstein file dumps have proven to offer little information for the general public to work with, the latest Epstein files release has revealed just how evil some of the most powerful people really are — and naturally, BlazeTV contributor William Wolfe from the Center for Baptist Leadership is among those incredibly disturbed.

“What stood out to you the most about what is, you know, the most revealing Epstein file dump yet?” Deace asks Wolfe.

“I would say two things. One is that the conspiracy theorists are proven right yet again,” Wolfe says. “There is this cabal of truly horrific, disgusting, pedophilic people running things in our country and globally. And, you know, Alex Jones just stays winning and vindicated on this overall theme of, the worst people you could ever imagine are in charge.”

“The second thing that really stood out to me is just the total banality of evil. I mean, they’re just kind of dumb, evil, disgusting people. You know, they just happen to also have power. These are the same kind of evil people you could run into any day on the street. Yet somehow this cadre of individuals managed to take this evil to the highest levels of power and influence across our government,” he continues.

“And so, I mean, really in some ways it’s not that surprising. But it’s shocking, it’s revealing, it’s disgusting. But this is just, like, what we’re up against. It is a fight of good versus evil from the top to the bottom, from your everyday life at your city council to the highest levels of government,” he adds.

Wolfe believes that this is definitive proof that we’re in a “spiritual battle of good versus evil.”

“I don’t know how you look at these files and come away from that with any other conclusion,” he says.

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A nonprofit organization linked to the wife of the mayor of Baltimore is facing intense scrutiny after it ended operations despite taking in hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to WBFF-TV.

The mission of the Bmore Empowered nonprofit was to encourage black women and girls to excel in entrepreneurship and “holistic wellness,” according to its website. It was first founded in 2017 and came to be led by Hana Scott in Sept. 2021 until Sept. 2025.

‘This is not a pause. It is the end of a beautiful chapter.’

Her tenure as director of operations ended the same day that Bmore Empowered announced an “organizational pause.”

The organization is reportedly behind on tax filings, has been sued for unpaid rent, and is listed as “delinquent” on the state’s charity database.

In July 2022, Hana Scott went public about her relationship with Baltimore’s mayor, and Bmore Empowered got a surge of new funding.

The taxpayer-funded Downtown Partnership of Baltimore granted the group $80,000 at an event attended by the Scotts. The Baltimore City government gave the group taxpayer-funded payments that added up to $34,950 by 2024. And the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, also paid for by taxpayer money, sent the organization $62,500.

Despite this, Bmore Empowered failed to report a tax form for the 2024 fiscal year, which was due to the IRS in May 2025.

WBFF reported that the organization did not respond to questions about how it intends to spend the taxpayer money. Hana Scott did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment, and the mayor’s office did not respond to questions about a possible conflict of interest, among others.

The report said that Bmore Empowered paused operations in September, but a post on its Facebook page Monday said the organization was coming to a close, adding, “This is not a pause. It is the end of a beautiful chapter.”

In addition to all of the taxpayer funds that Bmore Empowered received, the group obtained $175,000 from Open Society in 2022, which is funded by left-wing billionaire George Soros. The donation was part of a campaign by the Alliance for Open Society International to provide millions in funding for organizations in the Baltimore area.

RELATED: Nonprofit claimed to provide daily brown-bag meals to thousands of students — schools say they got nothing

WBFF also documented how Bmore Empowered received tens of thousands of dollars from the BOOST program of the Downtown Partnership to open a storefront and failed to do so. Instead, it opened offices at a separate location and then was sued for not paying rent at that location. The landlord won a financial judgment against the group when no one showed in court.

A Blaze News request for comment from the Bmore Empowered organization was not answered.

Despite pausing operations, Bmore Empowered continues to sell T-shirts on its website.

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During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday regarding the oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, Democratic lawmakers took turns giving their usual sanctimonious speeches.

When her opportunity came to pose questions to acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons, New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver (D) launched into a roughly 3.5-minute diatribe replete with not only dubious murder accusations but her trademark insinuations of racism.

‘Aggressively attacking those witnesses personally is inappropriate.’

McIver, a Democrat facing nearly 20 years in prison for allegedly assaulting ICE officers last year, then decided to present her attacks as spiritual reflections about eternal consequence.

After prompting Lyons to confirm that he was indeed a “religious man,” McIver — a staunch supporter of abortion — asked the acting ICE director, “How do you think Judgment Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?”

“I’m not going to entertain that question,” Lyons responded.

“Of course not,” said McIver. “Do you think you’re going to hell, Mr. Lyons?”

RELATED: Understanding hell — Part I

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Once more, the acting ICE director, whose agents had to repel an apparent incursion by McIver’s fellow travelers into a Newark detention facility last year, indicated he wouldn’t entertain such a question.

Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) intervened to remind McIver both that members “must adhere to established standards of decorum and debate” and that “witnesses are here voluntarily.”

Garbarino added, “Aggressively attacking those witnesses personally is inappropriate and not in keeping with the traditions of our committee.”

“I’m just asking a question,” McIver said. “You all, you guys are always talking about religion here and the Bible. I mean, it’s OK for me to ask a question, right?”

Having evidently disregarded Garbarino’s reminder and the corresponding committee traditions, McIver immediately went back to the attack, asking Lyons, “How many government agencies, Mr. Lyons, are you aware of that routinely kill American citizens and still get funding?”

Before yielding her time, McIver called for the abolition of ICE.

The congresswoman was charged in June with multiple counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with federal law enforcement agents. She could face a maximum of 17 years in prison if convicted.

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Sports used to be one of the only places you could turn to without being beaten over the head by the political opinions of others — but now it’s hard to get through a game without it.

“‘Just shut up and play.’ I thought that that was a very poignant thing that Ann Coulter said,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales says, pointing out that while most people are talking about the political spectacle that was the Super Bowl — the Olympics have been no better.

“Wouldn’t you know, you have all of these people, all of these Americans over there in Milan to represent our country on a world stage, and they take that opportunity to just trash their own county in press conferences as if that makes them morally superior,” she continues, before playing a clip of one Olympian bashing his own country.

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.,” Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess said.

“I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here,” he added.

“What an absolute loser,” Gonzales says. “If you don’t want to be there, don’t. You don’t have to represent our country. Like I don’t understand why you would be there representing our country if you’re not proud to represent our country.”

And Gonzales isn’t the only one taking issue with Hess’ statement.

“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” President Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Why are we sending America-haters to represent our country?” Gonzales asks.

“And by the way, I would love to hear from Hunter which country is better,” she adds.

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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.

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Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) unveiled the TruckSafe Tipline on Tuesday, which allows those who work in the trucking industry to report carriers that may be breaking federal laws.

“If you’re a trucker or work in the industry and see something unsafe or know of shady carriers hiring illegals, I want to hear from you,” Banks wrote in a post on social media.

‘The TruckSafe Tipline gives people on the ground a way to speak up when they see carriers cutting corners and putting lives at risk.’

The reporting system encourages truckers to submit a form if they believe a carrier has employed or contracted drivers who are illegally in the U.S., who are not authorized to drive, or who do not meet the English-language proficiency requirements.

Banks’ office will share the submitted tips with the Department of Transportation and its Office of Inspector General.

“Indiana is the Crossroads of America and Hoosiers are getting killed because drivers who shouldn’t be here in the first place are behind the wheel. If you’re driving a truck on our roads, you need to be legal, you need to be able to read traffic signs, and you need to follow the law. The TruckSafe Tipline gives people on the ground a way to speak up when they see carriers cutting corners and putting lives at risk,” Banks stated.

The tip line was launched following a semi-truck crash in Indiana last week that resulted in the deaths of four Amish men, including a father and two sons.

RELATED: Trucker accused of killing 4 Amish men — and DHS claims he’s an ‘illegal alien’

Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The driver of the truck, Bekzhan Beishekeev, a 30-year-old Kyrgyzstani national who obtained his commercial driver’s license in Pennsylvania despite allegedly residing in the U.S. illegally, was accused of swerving into oncoming traffic and striking a 15-passenger van head-on.

Beishekeev is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

RELATED: ‘Do it NATIONWIDE!’ Florida mandates English-only driver’s tests, following Trump’s lead

Jim Banks. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Banks’ office noted that the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is investigating the carrier that employed Beishekeev as well as several other companies.

“These interconnected carriers have all the markings of FRAUD and are accused of being CHAMELEON CARRIERS. This is when companies swap names and DOT numbers to avoid enforcement,” DOT Secretary Sean Duffy stated. “The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is working AROUND THE CLOCK to hold anyone involved in this horrific crime accountable.”

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​News, American trucking industry, Trucking industry, Commercial driver’s license, Cdl, Cdls, Commercial driver’s licenses, Bekzhan beishekeev, Indiana, Jim banks, Road safety, Department of transportation, Dot, Trucksafe tipline, Politics 

Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for trying to enforce a statute that the lawmaker opposes.

The DHS faced pushback from Duckworth after the agency requested a list of the Office of Inspector General’s ongoing investigations, accusing the OIG of illegally withholding such information.

In late January, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) met with DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to demand that the watchdog open a probe into the “egregious public execution of Alex Pretti and pattern of brutality from Trump’s lawless agents.”

‘It is unfortunate that you are trying to score cheap political points rather than focus on the Inspector General’s illegal conduct.’

Duckworth speculated that the OIG denied her request because the DHS had sent the OIG “repeated tacit threats” to “sabotage” its investigations by invoking 5 U.S.C. § 417, a provision of the law that gives the DHS secretary the authority to terminate investigations that could harm national security or present a significant impairment to U.S. interests.

“I learned Kristi Noem repeatedly reminded DHS’s IG that she can unilaterally kill any investigation,” Duckworth wrote. “Why would she do that? Feels like a threat to me.”

If Secretary Noem chooses to invoke the statute to terminate an OIG investigation, the OIG must report the decision to Congress within 30 days, providing an explanation of its rationale and whether the watchdog supported the decision.

RELATED: ‘Vindication’ for Trump administration: Appeals court greenlights end of deportation protections for 90,000

DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

In a Friday letter to the DHS, Duckworth described seeking to enforce the statute as an “obscure authority” that has “never been invoked in the history of DHS,” adding that it is “contrary to the letter and spirit of the Inspector General Act of 1978.”

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Senator Duckworth is arguing that a Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretary shouldn’t use an existing section of federal law because she doesn’t think it should exist. If Senator Duckworth and her fellow Democrats do not like the law that Congress already passed, they — as members of Congress — have full constitutional authority under Article I to change the law and assuage their own concerns. As it stands, 5 U.S.C. 417 is federal law, and it applies to Secretary Noem just the same as it applied to previous homeland security secretaries for decades without controversy.”

DHS General Counsel James Percival responded to Duckworth’s letter on Monday.

“I want to express my surprise at your suggestion that DHS should only enforce the laws that you personally agree with,” Percival told the lawmaker in his response letter, obtained by Blaze News.

“I am puzzled that you would ask me, the Senate-confirmed General Counsel who swore an oath to uphold federal law, to become a law unto myself and pick and choose which laws to enforce. As you surely know, it is Congress’s purview to make laws, and it is the Executive Branch’s purview to ‘take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,’” Percival told Duckworth. “I decline your request to ignore the separation of powers and intrude into your own branch’s functions.”

Percival confirmed that the DHS had requested a list of ongoing investigations from the OIG, but that Noem had not sought to invoke her authority to terminate any of those probes.

“Rather, I requested on her behalf a list of all investigations to ensure she can evaluate whether it might ever be appropriate to exercise that power,” he continued.

Percival accused the OIG of “illegal conduct” by stonewalling such information.

“The real problem is that for years the Inspector General has been violating an implied requirement of the statute by withholding this information from prior secretaries and thereby making it impossible for them to faithfully execute § 417,” Percival wrote. “The fact that previous secretaries have ignored this law only demonstrates the incomparable leadership of Secretary Noem.”

“It is unfortunate that you are trying to score cheap political points rather than focus on the Inspector General’s illegal conduct,” he added.

RELATED: Democrat fires staffer accused of posing as immigration attorney at ICE facility

Tammy Duckworth. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Duckworth called Percival’s response “truly bizarre and deeply troubling.”

“I am frankly shocked that instead of simply denying that the Secretary is seeking to intimidate an independent government watchdog out of investigating potential crimes committed by DHS agents, it appears her brown-nosing General Counsel is proud of his efforts to sabotage IG independence on behalf Secretary Noem [sic] and is baselessly accusing Donald Trump’s own hand-picked IG of engaging in ‘illegal conduct,’” she stated.

The OIG did not respond to a request for comment.

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​News, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Kristi noem, James percival, Tammy duckworth, Alex pretty, Joseph cuffari, Dhs office of inspector general, Office of inspector general, Oig, Dhs oig, Politics 

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee sharply criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement during an oversight hearing Tuesday, accusing the agency of systemic abuse and misconduct — claims ICE leadership rejected as misleading or false.

The hearing on Capitol Hill erupted into a heated showdown, as Democratic lawmakers repeatedly clashed with immigration officials in exchanges that rapidly spread across social media.

Democratic members described ICE as operating as a ‘fascist’ or ‘secret police’ force.

One of the most widely shared exchanges involved Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) pressing acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to resign, claiming that by staying in his leadership position, Lyons is siding with “killers bringing terror to our streets.”

“Will you resign from ICE?” Swalwell asked.

“No, sir, I won’t,” Lyons responded.

RELATED: LAPD defies Newsom: Chief refuses to enforce mask ban on ICE

Other Democratic lawmakers used more pointed rhetoric. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) compared ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents to slave patrols and Ku Klux Klan members, describing federal officers as “white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color.”

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) railed at Lyons, claiming he had “blood on [his] hands” and asking whether he feared God’s judgment. “Do you think you’re going to hell?” she asked.

Throughout the hearing, Democratic members described ICE as operating as a “fascist” or “secret police” force, while agency officials defended their mission, saying enforcement priorities focus on violent offenders, human traffickers, and repeat immigration violators.

RELATED: ‘We do not support ICE’: Speedway gas station sparks backlash after booting Border Patrol boss

The hearing came as Congress continues negotiations over Department of Homeland Security funding, with Republicans warning that partisan disputes could lead to a partial government shutdown affecting border security and enforcement operations.

By the hearing’s conclusion, immigration officials had rejected calls to resign or concede wrongdoing, characterizing the accusations as distorted narratives rather than evidence-based critiques. No resignations or formal actions resulted from the exchanges.

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Waymo’s chief safety officer was not exactly clear when it came to questions about the company using overseas operators.

Mauricio Pena faced tough questions from U.S. senators last week when he was asked if Waymo employs humans who remotely assist its driverless taxis through difficult driving scenarios.

‘It’s one thing when a taxi is replaced by an Uber or a Lyft. It’s another thing when the jobs just go completely overseas.’

The question came from Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) during a hearing on commerce, science, and transportation. Pena submitted testimony titled “Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars,” which promoted his company as an “American innovation success story” while urging lawmakers to advance legislation for self-driving cars.

However, it was the grilling from Senator Markey that got the most attention online.

“Senator, they provide guidance. They do not remotely drive the vehicles,” Pena told Markey. “As you stated, Waymo asks for guidance in certain situations and gets an input, but the Waymo vehicle is always in charge of the dynamic driving tasks, so that is just one additional input.”

Seeking more clarification, Markey asked, “But the human being helps the vehicle to navigate those difficult driving scenarios. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Pena replied.

The safety executive went on to admit that at least some of these agents operate remotely from the Philippines, but he was unable to state a percentage or figure as to how many overseas agents Waymo employs.

“I just don’t have that number,” Pena told the committee.

RELATED: Self-driving cars that break traffic laws won’t receive tickets in California: Report

Senator Markey called the admission “fairly shocking” and said it was “completely unacceptable” to have people overseas influencing American vehicles. He then listed a string of possible safety issues, such as out-of-date information, lack of roadway knowledge, or not having a U.S. driver’s license.

“Let’s not forget,” Markey added, “Waymo is trying to replace the jobs of hardworking taxi and rideshare drivers. And now you’re saying that of the human beings, the human jobs that remain in the system, you’re shipping those jobs overseas. It’s one thing when a taxi is replaced by an Uber or a Lyft. It’s another thing when the jobs just go completely overseas.”

Across multiple outlets, Waymo sought to clarify what exactly its remote operators do and do not control.

In an interview with Decrypt, a Waymo spokesperson said the company does not consider its remote operators to be drivers. Furthermore, Waymo rejected the idea that humans control its taxis in real time.

“Their role is not to drive the vehicle remotely. They’re not remote drivers,” the spokesperson explained. “They answer, generally speaking, multiple-choice questions posed to them by the vehicle.”

The representative maintained that “all of the driving happens on board” the vehicle and does not happen remotely.

Addressing the safety concerns, the spokesperson said that both U.S.-based and foreign response agents are licensed and trained for the regions they support.

RELATED: Anti-ICE rioters destroy fleet of autonomous cars during Los Angeles riot

Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

All the agents have a “vehicle or van driver’s license,” the spokesperson went on, stating that human input is contextual and not direct commands.

“The human offers a suggestion in a challenging scenario, and the Waymo Driver will take that suggestion into account when making its next decision.”

In regard to its foreign hiring, the company told People that its reason for outsourcing to the Philippines was an effort to scale the company globally.

These “fleet response” agents allegedly undergo regular driving history checks, People reported. However, the outlet also said that Waymo did not provide any information on how many remote operators are located in the U.S. or abroad.

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A new report in the New York Times finds that the Republican Party is overwhelmingly beating Democrats in the fundraising race and that Democrats are panicking ahead of the midterm elections.

Democrats have about $137 million for their campaigns, while Republicans have more than twice that amount, about $320 million, when their debts are taken into account.

‘Donald Trump has 99 problems going into the midterms. But money ain’t one.’

That is making Democrat political strategists sound the alarm.

“Any Democrat who isn’t concerned isn’t serious,” said Democrat super PAC founder Bradley Beychok. “Yes, Democrats have momentum on our side and a wide opportunity map, but we have a glaring disadvantage in overall money.”

“Donald Trump has 99 problems going into the midterms,” said Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson. “But money ain’t one.”

Worst still, some are pointing out that the Kamala Harris presidential campaign had a historic advantage in campaign donations in 2024 and still lost to Trump.

The report does note some bright spots in individual campaigns for Democrats. For instance, the top five fundraising Senate candidates are all Democrats, only two of whom are incumbents. But even those advantages are threatened by a pending Supreme Court decision that could hamstring how much they can spend on television ads.

Republicans have already planned how to use the ruling in their favor, if it goes the way they believe it will.

“He’s sitting on a huge war chest to help these people — and he’ll use it,” said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles of the president during a podcast interview.

On top of Republicans’ clear advantage, they also have future hopes of raising even more money from pro-Republican sources. Among these are tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has come back to the party after a public split over the summer, as well as leaders in the cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence industries.

RELATED: California GOP sues to stop Newsom’s redistricting scheme — he responds: ‘Good luck, losers’

Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Democrats hope that mixed polling results for Trump will help them regain the Senate and possibly the House in the midterm elections.

The high stakes of the election have led to dueling redistricting efforts in states controlled by Republicans against those controlled by Democrats. On Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court said that California could keep its redistricting map active for the midterm elections, which gives Democrats an opportunity to pick up five seats.

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The Super Bowl halftime show featured Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, and according to BlazeTV host John Doyle, the spectacle Americans love couldn’t have been any further from being American.

“I’m suspecting that a lot of this was done simply because of what he represents as this kind of ethnically ambiguous, flamboyant thing that can be cast into the living rooms of America, the Anglosphere,” Doyle explains, pointing out that the changing demographics mean worse entertainment.

“What we’re seeing now is this kind of stuck culture where we’re just rehashing the same things over and over again for nostalgia, or we’re just making really bad stuff that people will still turn out to see because it’s something, right? A lot of that has to do literally with the changing demographics, not only of America but of the market itself,” he says.

“I mean, because of the internet, because of open borders, practically speaking, companies which are producing that kind of media no longer have to cater to the expectations or standards of a normal American audience,” he continues.

“They can put some s***ty thing in front of people who have never seen a movie before, and it’s going to blow their minds, and they’re going to get one-shotted by it, so to speak, and they’ll make a ton of money,” he adds.

Doyle believes that this is why the quality of entertainment has declined so much.

“CGI, all of that, all of this stuff, why everything sucks now, whether it’s music, movies, it is literally because it no longer has to appeal to the standards that you’ve come to expect as an American, wanting something a little bit better,” Doyle says.

“And I’m not saying that, you know, peak American culture, the best stuff we’ve ever done are, like, your old blockbusters. … I’m just saying, if everything seems like it’s just kind of getting stupider and more stale, it is because it is not made for you anymore,” he continues.

“It is made for the lower common denominators, and you’re just going to kind of have to put up with it, I suppose,” he adds.

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When it became clear in December that the complete release of the Jeffrey Epstein files would be delayed, various Democrats suggested that President Donald Trump might be trying to conceal damning and previously unknown details about his relationship with the child sex offender.

For example, Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), a recipient of contributions from Epstein, suggested that “this is nothing more than a cover-up to protect Donald Trump from his ugly past.”

Unfortunately for Schumer and other Democrats apparently desperate for dirt on the president, one of the newly released files reveals that Trump was anything but an ally to Epstein — that he reportedly thanked law enforcement for going after the pervert and stressed the importance of also focusing on Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former lover and co-conspirator.

‘She is evil.’

A document dated April 23, 2020, details an interview conducted by FBI agents the previous year with a law enforcement official regarding his department’s investigation into Epstein in the 2000s and his personal conversation on the topic at the time with Trump.

Although his name is redacted, the document appears to indicate that the interviewee became chief of the Palm Beach Police Department in 2001.

Michael Reiter — the man who served as chief of the PBPD from 2001 to 2009 and launched the first investigation into Epstein — confirmed to the Miami Herald that he was interviewed by FBI agents in 2019 and spoke with Trump in July 2006.

RELATED: Massie drops bombshell after review of unredacted Epstein files, helps put name to alleged co-conspirator

Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

According to the FBI’s 302 summary of its interview, the interviewee told the feds that “TRUMP was one of the very first people to call when people found out that they were investigating EPSTEIN.”

In addition to noting that he kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago and that people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting, Trump told the chief that he was “around EPSTEIN once when teenagers were present and … ‘got the hell out of there.'”

Trump expressed gratitude to the interviewee for doing something about the sex offender, stating, “Thank goodness you’re stopping him; everyone has known he’s been doing this,” the FBI said in the 302 document.

Trump also mentioned Epstein’s “operative” Ghislaine Maxwell in his conversation with the chief, noting that “she is evil and to focus on her,” said the document.

Maxwell, 64, was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls as young as 14 with Epstein, going all the way back to the early 1990s.

An FBI official told the Herald, “We are not aware of any corroborating evidence that the president contacted law enforcement 20 years ago.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said in response to the newly released document, “Trump didn’t play their game, he helped expose it. And when they couldn’t blackmail him they tried to smear him.”

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​Jeffrey epstein, Esptein, Justice department, Doj, Donald trump, Pedophile, Sex offender, Palm beach, Investigation, Chuck schumer, Elites, Cabal, Pbpd, Police, Reiter, Ghislaine, Maxwell, Politics 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation sought help from the public to identify an individual they say was armed when he tampered with the cameras at Nancy Guthrie’s home before her disappearance.

The mother of NBC News journalist Savannah Guthrie went missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, weeks ago. According to the FBI, she was last seen at the residence on Jan. 31.

‘The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.’

On Tuesday, the FBI released video and images from a security camera from the missing woman’s front door. An FBI press release said the man was armed.

A post from FBI Director Kash Patel said the video had been recently recovered.

“Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors — including the removal of recording devices,” he wrote on the X platform. “The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.”

The 84-year-old woman is considered a vulnerable adult because she has a heart condition that requires daily medication, she has a pacemaker, and she has difficulty walking.

RELATED: Delaware man allegedly kidnapped 11-year-old girl he met on Roblox and drove her 135 miles away, police say

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s return, as well as the arrest and conviction of anyone “involved” in her disappearance.

This is a developing story.

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​Nancy guthrie disappearance, Nancy guthrie update, Video from guthrie disappearance, Suspect in guthrie kidnapping, Crime 

For nearly three decades, Washington has insisted that America’s immigration chaos stems from outdated laws, insufficient authority, or humanitarian necessity.

Last week, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals shattered that narrative.

For the first time in decades, a federal court treated immigration law as law, not a suggestion.

In Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi, a divided panel did something radical by modern standards: It enforced immigration law as Congress wrote it. The result ranks as one of the most consequential immigration rulings in a generation — and a direct rebuke to the legal fiction that has shielded millions of illegal aliens from mandatory detention for decades.

What the court actually said

The case turned on a simple question with enormous consequences: Do illegal aliens who entered the United States unlawfully — often years ago, without inspection or lawful admission — get discretionary bond hearings while in removal proceedings?

The Fifth Circuit answered no.

Writing for the majority, Judge Edith H. Jones, joined by Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, held that any alien present in the United States who has not been lawfully admitted is, by statute, an “applicant for admission.” Congress supplied that definition in 1996.

Under the law, applicants for admission who cannot show they are “clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to be admitted” shall be detained pending removal proceedings.

“Shall” means mandatory. It leaves no room for discretionary bond hearings. It applies regardless of how long the alien has remained unlawfully in the country.

Physical presence does not confer the legal status or constitutional entitlements that accompany lawful admission, much less citizenship.

This ruling rejects the long-standing practice of treating interior illegal aliens as governed by the bond statute. As the Fifth Circuit panel made clear, that statute applies after lawful admission. It does not override Congress’ command for those who were never admitted at all.

No other federal appellate court has squarely held that mandatory detention applies not only to recent border crossers but also to long-term illegal aliens living in the interior who entered without inspection years — even decades — ago.

Long-delayed enforcement

Nothing in the Fifth Circuit’s decision turns on novel statutory interpretation. Congress enacted this framework in 1996 to eliminate incentives for evading inspection and remaining unlawfully in the United States.

What changed was not the law but the willingness to enforce it.

After the Board of Immigration Appeals acknowledged the plain meaning of the disputed section in Matter of Yajure Hurtado, DHS implemented a policy treating illegal entrants as Congress defined them: applicants for admission subject to mandatory detention.

The response was immediate and predictable. District courts across the country rushed to block the policy, issuing a wave of rulings restoring bond eligibility.

The Fifth Circuit is the first appellate court to say what should have been obvious all along: Courts do not get to rewrite immigration statutes because enforcement is politically uncomfortable.

RELATED: We escaped King George. Why do we bow to King Judge?

Photo by Pierce Archive LLC/Buyenlarge via Getty Images

Asylum is not a loophole

One of the most persistent myths in immigration discourse claims that filing for asylum legalizes illegal entry. It does not.

Congress made illegal entry a federal misdemeanor. The statute contains no asylum exception. Illegal entry remains a crime even for those who later request asylum.

Asylum also does not create a “right to remain.” It is discretionary relief from removal.

Federal law allows an alien to apply for asylum after illegal entry. That provision does not cure inadmissibility, erase criminal violations, or entitle the applicant to release from custody.

When an alien crosses the border illegally — between ports of entry — the alien violates federal law and becomes inadmissible for lack of valid entry documents. That inadmissibility triggers expedited removal.

The law allows an alien to request asylum after unlawful entry, but it does not legalize the entry, erase inadmissibility, or prevent removal. In this posture, asylum is defensive. The alien raises it after DHS initiates removal proceedings, and the alien receives it, if at all, as discretionary relief — not as a right to remain.

Aliens who enter without valid documents remain inadmissible and subject to detention or removal.

Mandatory detention applies to many asylum seekers. Under the statute:

Illegal entrants go into expedited removal unless they establish a credible fear.When an alien claims credible fear, the alien remains detained pending final adjudication.Release runs through limited DHS parole authority, not judicial bond hearings.

The Supreme Court confirmed this framework in Jennings v. Rodriguez (2018), holding that the statute mandates detention and does not allow courts to invent bond hearings where Congress declined to authorize them.

Law on the books vs. law in practice

The detention statute does not suffer from ambiguity. The conflict lies elsewhere.

Congress criminalized unlawful entry without exception. Congress also enacted the asylum provision through the Refugee Act of 1980, permitting any alien “physically present” in the United States or arriving at the border to apply for asylum regardless of manner of entry. That provision does not exempt such individuals from prosecution, detention, or removal. It does not repeal the detention mandate.

The Refugee Act incorporated aspects of the U.N. Refugee Convention and Protocol, including Article 31’s discouragement of “penalization” for unlawful entry in limited circumstances. Article 31 does not prohibit detention, prosecution, or removal. It confers no right to unlawful entry or release pending adjudication. Nothing in the treaty framework — or U.S. law — displaces Congress’ mandatory detention commands.

RELATED: Federalism cannot be a shield for sanctuary defiance

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

Over time, however, executive agencies — and sometimes courts — expanded a limited non-penalization principle into a broader immunity regime. Officials treated asylum eligibility as a basis to avoid detention, delay removal, and suspend enforcement mandates Congress never repealed.

That is not discretion. It is dereliction. It nullifies the statute Congress enacted.

Until Congress revisits asylum law or alters treaty commitments, that structural tension will invite exploitation — regardless of what the detention statute requires.

Why this ruling matters

By enforcing the law as written, the Fifth Circuit restored a foundational principle of sovereignty: Illegal entry does not generate superior legal rights.

The dissent warns that enforcing the statute could produce large-scale detention. That warning is not a legal argument. It is a policy objection rooted in disagreement with the statute Congress enacted.

This ruling binds only Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi — for now. Other circuits have signaled resistance. A split is coming. Supreme Court review seems likely.

When that moment arrives, the court will face a question it has avoided for years: Does immigration law mean what it says — or only what politics permits?

The Fifth Circuit has answered.

For the first time in decades, a federal court treated immigration law as law, not a suggestion.

​Fifth circuit, Immigration, Border security, Asylum, Court of appeals, Trump administration, Asylum seekers, Us border, Opinion & analysis, Immigration and customs enforcement, Deportation 

Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy is shocked by the amount of backlash he is receiving.

Kenworthy, a silver medalist for the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, made a post last week showing his followers how to contact the Senate in order to complain about Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

‘Maybe that’s the price you pay for speaking up and using your platform.’

Kenworthy provided a sample script that his followers could use, which included, “Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough. We can’t wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities.”

The hyperbolic narrative was just one part of Kenworthy’s post, however, as the attached photo read, “F**k ICE,” written in the snow. While it is not clear how it was written, or if it was a digital edit, the positioning of skis around the yellow text implied that it was made with urine.

On Monday, Kenworthy made a follow-up video explaining that while he now competes for Great Britain — stating he does so to honor his mother — he is still half American and loves the United States.

“I care about the U.S., and I care about what’s happening there,” the 34-year-old stated.

What followed, though, was the skier saying that the intense backlash he has faced from the post was likely a product of him “speaking up.”

“A lot of the messages have been awful; people telling me to kill myself, threatening me, wishing that they’ll get to see me blow my knee or break my neck during my event, calling me slurs. Like, it’s insane,” he continued. “And maybe that’s the price you pay for speaking up and using your platform. And so maybe this video is just going to invite more hate and vitriol, but I think it’s important to say what we feel and stand up for what we believe in and stand up to injustice.”

RELATED: Olympic ski jumpers may be injecting their penises with acid to jump farther

At the same time, the Olympian said that everyone has the freedom to “love the U.S. and be proud to be an American” while still thinking “it can be better” and “improve.”

Without ever mentioning the nature of his anti-ICE photo, Kenworthy went on to say that he does not support ICE and believes the agency is “absolutely evil and awful and terrifying.”

This was followed by a bevy of claims, such as American citizens “have been murdered in the street, executed in the street, and the officers are essentially acting with, like, impunity because their identities are covered.”

“There’s no accountability. It’s really scary,” he continued, claiming ICE is “racially profiling people, rounding up black and brown folks, and kidnapping them, putting them in unmarked vehicles with no arrest warrant, no probable cause.”

Kenworthy added, “They’re being held without any sort of due process. It’s crazy. It’s scary.”

RELATED: Skier Hunter Hess changes tune after saying he has ‘mixed emotions’ about representing USA: ‘I love my country’

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The skier, born in Essex, England, concluded that the “majority” of those being apprehended by the federal agency are “good” and “hardworking people” who are “nonviolent and have no criminal history and just came to the U.S. seeking a better life.”

Kenworthy described this as “literally the foundation story of the U.S.”

The British-American will compete in the Men’s Freeski Halfpipe qualification at the Winter Olympics on February 19, which begins at 4:30 a.m. ET.

The finals will air February 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

This is the same event as Hunter Hess, the American skier who recently walked back his comments regarding disagreements he has with U.S. policy. Hess said that “it’s a little hard” to be representing the United States and that he had “mixed emotions” about it.

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​News, Sports, Sking, Olympics, 2026 winter olympics, Italy, United states, Great britain, Ice, Dhs, Immigration, Politics 

A Mississippi woman fatally shot a 15-year-old home invader over the weekend — and police later arrested his alleged accomplice.

Jackson police told WAPT-TV that two males wearing ski masks broke into a unit at the Park at Inverness apartment complex on Ridgewood Road around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

‘To be honest, they got what they deserved.’

Police told the station that the woman in the unit, fearing for her safety, grabbed a handgun and fired multiple rounds, hitting one of the masked males.

The masked male fell to the floor and later died, and his body was partially inside the apartment when police and investigators arrived. The coroner confirmed that he had been shot several times, WAPT said.

The second suspect who fled the scene — identified as 18-year-old Quintavion Myles — was located and arrested the same day, WLBT-TV reported.

The fatally shot suspect was identified on Sunday afternoon as 15-year-old Kaden Young, WLBT added.

The woman involved in the shooting was taken to police headquarters for questioning and later released, WAPT reported, adding that authorities said the shooting might be justifiable under the state’s Castle Doctrine law.

RELATED: Top 5 of 2025: Women who fought back when coming face-to-face with crooks

Myles was booked into the city holding facility, WLBT reported.

Myles appeared in court Monday, WLBT said in follow-up story, and while he was granted a $150,000 bond for burglary of an occupied dwelling, he was denied bond on a murder charge.

Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones told the station why Myles also was charged with murder: “As a result of their conspiracy to allegedly take this crime on their hands or to be involved in this crime, there’s a result of a loss of life. And by them acting in concert together, they’re both being, or they could both be held responsible for whatever happens.”

The police department plans on sending its findings to the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office to consider whether they can be presented to a grand jury, WLBT said.

Jones added to the station that this crime should serve as a warning to young people.

“These things have to be considered when our youth are making decisions,” he told WLBT. “You would hate to use this as a story to tell our youth about, but here we are. We’re having to use this as a story to our youth to show them … this is what can potentially happen if you make the wrong decisions.”

Tre Ingram, a resident of the Park at Inverness, told WAPT he has little if any sympathy for Myles or Young.

“To be honest, they got what they deserved,” Ingram told the station. “They broke into her house. She had the right to defend herself.”

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​2nd amend., Crime thwarted, Fatal shooting, Gun rights, Guns, Home invasion, Jackson, Mississippi, Murder charge, Self-defense, Crime 

Password leaks are nothing new in the digital age, where hackers constantly look for ways to steal personal data, but this latest bombshell is the worst since the massive data breach in 2024 that exposed up to 26 billion login credentials worldwide. Here are the details and what you can do to keep your accounts safe.

Millions of login credentials exposed

In late January, a cybersecurity researcher at ExpressVPN stumbled upon a database containing 149,404,754 unique logins and passwords for a wide range of accounts, including Google, X, iCloud, Outlook, and more. The cloud repository was publicly available and unprotected, giving clever internet sleuths unbridled access, as long as they knew where to look. While most of the login data consisted of average consumer accounts, there were also some credentials that belonged to undisclosed government officials, signaling a potential national security risk if any of those accounts led to confidential information. Lastly, the researcher found some data pointing to banks, crypto wallets, and other financial services.

You’ll need to set up a system to protect your identity.

It’s important to note that the uncovered database is not a new data breach in itself. However, the compiled information is likely the result of a breach in the past.

Was your information included in the database?

The dark web is bursting with stolen information, and thanks to the great data leak of 2024, chances that at least one of your accounts is out there for bad actors to find is probable. They called it “the mother of all breaches” — a digital mass exposure event containing 26 billion records around the globe, including login credentials, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, email addresses, and tons more. Virtually everyone on the planet was wrapped up in the chaos.

Fast-forward to 2026. Whether or not your data was nestled in this newly discovered database is irrelevant, because at some point in time, your data was exposed, and it’s probably still out there, waiting to be exploited.

How to protect yourself and your stolen data

The good news is that there are several things you can do to shore up the security on your accounts and keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious activity.

RELATED: How to stop Microsoft from letting the government see everything on your computer

Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Tips to keep your passwords safe, no matter what

The first thing you’ll want to do is take back control of your login credentials and passwords. To be safe, follow these quick tips:

Always use a complex password composed of a string of numbers, letters, and characters. Avoid common words or phrases. The more nonsensical the password is, the better. This makes your passwords more difficult to guess or hack with brute-force tactics.Keep your passwords in a trusted password manager. Apple and Google both include native password managers in iOS and Android. If you’re not using these already, now is a great time to start.Change your passwords regularly (every three to six months), especially for your most important accounts, like your bank and email addresses.Always enable 2FA when available. This ensures that the person logging into your account needs your password and your phone to get through.Enable passkeys on every account that supports them. Passkeys are more secure than typical passwords, nullifying phishing scams, brute-force access, and server breaches.

Ways to protect your identity

Second, you’ll need to set up a system to protect your identity. While it’s a little trickier to interrupt an active identity theft attempt, there are some things you can do to detect a problem as soon as it strikes.

Monitor your credit score with a free credit score app. Some apps, like Credit Karma, give you regular score updates and will tell you when a new line of credit has been opened in your name, a telltale sign of bad actors trying to leverage your good credit.Enlist the help of an identity theft protection service. These companies monitor the web for you, scanning every nook and cranny for fraudulent activity carried out with your information.While you’re at it, a home title fraud protection service may also be a good idea to make sure that bad actors don’t try to steal the deed to your property. It’s crazy, but it happens, and homeowners usually don’t know about it until it’s too late.

Never assume you’re safe

There have been so many private information breaches in recent history that you should never assume you’re safe or exempt. Your personal and private data is out there, it is accessible, and it could be exploited at any moment. Instead of waiting for the shoe to drop, take the steps above to ensure that you, your accounts, and your credentials are always up to date and protected. After all, it’s easier to thwart cyber criminals up front than it is to undo the damage done after a successful hack.

​Tech 

A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that the Department of Homeland Security can end Temporary Protected Status for three countries, marking a significant immigration enforcement victory for the Trump administration.

The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously determined that the DHS can end deportation protections for roughly 90,000 immigrants from Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

‘TPS was never designed to be permanent, yet previous administrations have used it as a de facto amnesty program for decades.’

The decision overturned a December order from District Judge Trina Thompson of San Francisco.

“The rule of law demands that when executive officials exceed their authority, they must be held to account,” Thompson wrote, claiming that DHS’ termination of TPS for Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua was “unlawful.”

The appellate court found that the lower court erred, stating that the Trump administration is likely to succeed in its argument regarding DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision-making process, adding that the decision was neither “arbitrary nor capricious.”

“Specifically, the government can likely show that the administrative record adequately supports the Secretary’s action, that the TPS statute does not require the Secretary to consider intervening country conditions arising after the events that led to the initial TPS designation, and that the Secretary’s decision not to consider intervening conditions does not amount to an unexplained change in policy,” the appellate court wrote.

RELATED: ‘Temporary means temporary’: 1,000+ Somalis face deportation after DHS nixes TPS amid massive fraud scandal

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Honduras and Nicaragua joined the TPS program in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch, and Nepal joined in 2015 following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem responded to the court’s decision in a post on social media, calling it “a win for the rule of law and vindication for the U.S. Constitution.”

RELATED: Trump’s DHS rolls back more of Biden’s immigration handouts for foreign nationals

Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

“Under the previous administration, Temporary Protected Status was abused to allow violent terrorists, criminals, and national security threats into our nation,” Noem continued. “TPS was never designed to be permanent, yet previous administrations have used it as a de facto amnesty program for decades. Given the improved situation in each of these countries, we are wisely concluding what was intended to be a temporary designation.”

The Trump administration has moved to terminate TPS for numerous countries as part of its immigration enforcement efforts. TPS protects foreign nationals from deportation when temporary conditions in their home countries, such as ongoing armed conflicts and environmental disasters, prevent their safe return. TPS beneficiaries can obtain employment authorization to work in the U.S. during their stay. There are currently 15 countries designated for TPS.

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​News, Kristi noem, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Trump administration, Trump admin, Temporary protected status, Tps, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Immigration, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Politics 

American skier Hunter Hess now says the United States is a great country.

Hess, from Bend, Oregon, has seemingly responded to intense backlash he received for saying that “it’s a little hard” to represented the United States at the Olympics.

‘There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better.’

On Friday, Hess told reporters that he had “mixed emotions” about wearing the red, white, and blue, saying, “Right now, I think, um, it’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t.”

Hess said that instead he felt he was representing his friends, family, and things in the United States that “align with my moral values.”

“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.,” he added.

These comments sparked huge backlash across the country; even the president took to his social media platform to call Hess a “real loser.”

“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

On Monday, Hess appeared to walk back his remarks in a post to his Instagram page.

RELATED: Italy minimizes politics during Olympics opening ceremony: ‘No woke garbage’

“I love my country,” the 27-year-old wrote alongside an American flag emoji.

“There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out,” he continued.

Along with a picture of himself smiling, Hess also wrote in the caption that “the best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”

“Thanks to everyone for their support,” he finished.

The skier’s response has already fallen flat for some.

“Wow pls shut the f**k up,” boxer Jake Paul wrote on X. “From all true Americans[:] If you don’t want to represent this country go live somewhere else.”

RELATED: Olympic boxer Imane Khelif admits to having male genes, but sends message to Trump: ‘I’m not trans’

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brett Favre shared a statement from actor and writer David Kano that read, “If you don’t want to rep the USA, then give up your spot to someone who does.”

Hess will compete in the men’s freeski half-pipe qualification at the Winter Olympics on February 19, which begins at 4:30 a.m. ET.

The finals will air February 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

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​Sports, Usa, Skiing, Olympics, United states, Patriotism, Woke, Italy, Winter sports, Trump, Politics 

A former teacher at a New Orleans all-girls Catholic school has been accused of having a months-long sexual relationship with a student, according to police. The mother of the alleged victim reportedly discovered the purported illicit relationship after her daughter’s behavior changed, authorities said.

Teddi Page, 29, had been a biology teacher at the Academy of the Sacred Heart until being terminated after scandalous accusations surfaced.

‘When our school became aware of a recent concern about one of our employees, we took the matter very seriously and immediately followed our safety protocols.’

Page was arrested and charged with prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student, which is a misdemeanor under Louisiana law.

According to jail records, Page was booked Thursday morning and was out of custody Friday on a $15,000 bond.

WWL-TV reported, “Prosecutors requested a restraining order against Page, but the magistrate judge denied the request, noting the student is 18 years old, and the relationship was described as consensual.”

In court documents, the student said she and the teacher had sex multiple times, according to WWL.

The alleged victim told investigators the sexual encounters occurred at several locations, including Page’s home and inside a vehicle parked behind a restaurant, according to court documents.

The alleged illicit relationship was discovered through social media, according to authorities.

Citing the arrest warrant, WVUE-TV reported that the alleged victim’s mother “discovered the relationship when she looked at an old phone that was still logged into her daughter’s social media accounts.”

The police affidavit stated that the mother noticed changes in her daughter’s behavior, including a short temper and locking herself away on a family vacation so she could make a video call to Page, according to NOLA.com.

The mother discovered texts between Page and the alleged victim and images of them nude and kissing, the affidavit read.

RELATED: 5th-grade teacher — accused of having ‘sexual conversation’ with child under 12 — now slapped with far more shocking charges

The alleged illicit relationship began last August, according to police.

The police affidavit stated that during classroom introductions that month, the then-17-year-old student told investigators she felt a “spark” between herself and Page, NOLA.com reported.

The teacher and student then engaged in “personal and intimate” conversations for the next two months, police stated.

In November, when the student was 18, Page kissed and had sex with the alleged victim at her apartment and in the victim’s vehicle, according to the police affidavit.

WDSU-TV obtained a statement from the Academy of the Sacred Heart that states: “When our school became aware of a recent concern about one of our employees, we took the matter very seriously and immediately followed our safety protocols.”

Page was terminated, escorted off the campus, and a formal criminal report was filed with the New Orleans Police Department, according to WDSU.

The school told WDSU that Page’s references and background check were “favorable,” and there were no red flags when she was hired.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart issued the following statement regarding Page’s arrest:

Student safety is fundamental to our school. Faculty, staff, and students receive safety training, including maintaining healthy boundaries, and are urged to report safety concerns to the administration. When our school became aware of a recent concern about one of our employees, we took the matter very seriously and immediately followed our safety protocols. The employee was escorted off campus, and her employment was terminated. We then referred the matter to the New Orleans Police Department. We continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement. Any employee must undergo a thorough background check and provide references before being hired at our school. The references and background check for this former employee were favorable, and there was no indication of any problematic issues in her past. We are supporting the student and her family who have come forward and are providing resources and counseling for our students who may be upset about these developments.

The New Orleans Police Department did not immediately respond to Blaze News‘ request for comment.

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​Teddi page, Teacher arrested, Teacher sex scandal, Teacher student sex scandal, Louisiana crime, Louisiana, Crime, New orleans