Category: blaze media

A growing number of Republican lawmakers are calling for Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales (R) to resign after damning text messages he apparently exchanged with a now-deceased staffer have come to light.

Gonzales first came under scrutiny in September after one of his district staffers, Regina Santos-Aviles, set herself on fire outside her Uvalde home, passing away from her injuries the following day. The Daily Mail later published an expose alleging an affair between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles, which he repeatedly brushed off as “personal smears.”

‘I am so sick of people not calling this crap out.’

The scandal recently resurfaced after news broke that back in April, several months before her death, Santos-Aviles apparently messaged a co-worker claiming to have had an “affair” with their “boss.”

Despite Gonzales’ attempts to shut down the story, another flurry of explicit texts that appear to be from the congressman to Santos-Aviles have only exacerbated the scandal.

RELATED: ‘Desperate rage’: Republican accuses lawyer of ‘blackmail’ amid affair rumors linked to staffer’s suicide

The newly released text messages appear to show Gonzales pressuring Santos-Aviles to “send [him] a sexy pic” and asking her to name her “favorite position.” Santos-Aviles seemed to push back on his advances, saying she didn’t “like taking pictures” of herself and that his line of questioning was “going too far boss.”

Attorney Robert Barrera — who is representing Santos-Aviles’ widower, Adrian Aviles — told Blaze News that these messages “appear valid.” Blaze News also reached out to Aviles to confirm the validity of the messages.

Gonzales’ office did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

RELATED: Texas Republican’s staffer fatally set herself on fire last year — text now seems to confirm their alleged affair

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

As the scandal reaches a fever pitch, more and more Republicans are pressuring the Texas congressman to resign and bow out of his primary race against Brendon Herrera, a gun YouTuber who nearly unseated Gonzales in 2024.

“The entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff,” Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida said in a post on X. “As a woman, this is really disgusting to see. Not to mention, it brings dishonor on the House of Representatives.”

“I am so sick of people not calling this crap out,” Luna added. “Again, like I’ve said before, this is not the only case of this crap up here. [Tony Gonzales], shame on you.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) offered a succinct response to the apparent messages: “RESIGN!”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) fell short of calling for Gonzales’ resignation but rather said he would need to address the allegations. Notably President Donald Trump endorsed Gonzales in December following the initial scandal and has not yet rescinded his endorsement.

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​Tony gonzales, Regina santos-aviles, Brandon herrera, Bobby harrera, Adrian aviles, Texas primary, 2026 primary, Donald trump, Anna paulina luna, Lauren boebert, Mike johnson, Affair, Politics 

Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is still on the defensive after a humiliating performance at the Munich Security Conference.

The far-left firebrand was thoroughly ridiculed over a rambling non-response she made to an important question about current events and U.S. foreign policy.

‘I could give — whatever about that, to be honest.’

She offered a bizarre justification in a video on her Instagram account and tried to blame President Donald Trump in response to the criticism.

“If you think that I don’t understand foreign policy because out of hours of discourse about international affairs, I pause to think about one of the most sensitive geopolitical issues that currently exist on Earth,” Ocasio-Cortez said, “I’m afraid the issue’s not my understanding, but rather the problem is perhaps you’ve gotten adjusted to a president that never thinks before he speaks and doesn’t care about the implications of his words before he speaks on matters like these.”

Both the president and Vice President JD Vance have mocked Ocasio-Cortez over the gaffe.

“After the president said that I was so smart,” Vance said Thursday, “and that I didn’t want to repeat our congresswoman who froze for 20 seconds over in Munich — now I’m tempted, sir, just to freeze for 20 seconds and just stare at the cameras. And maybe they’ll say nice things about me like they do about Congresswoman Cortez!”

Ocasio-Cortez was asked at the global conference to explain what the U.S. should do if China invaded Taiwan, a contentious possibility that many believe could become reality soon.

“Um, you know, I think that this is such a, you know, I think that this is a, um, this is of course a very long-standing policy of the United States,” she stammered while pausing numerous times. “And I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point.”

RELATED: JD Vance mocks Ocasio-Cortez on her humiliating response to foreign policy query — and she lashes out at him

Many outlets noted that Ocasio-Cortez is widely considered to be trying to expand her name recognition in order to run for even higher office, including the presidency. She denied the suspicion after her embarrassing gaffe.

“Everyone’s got this story wrong, that this is about me running for president,” she said to the New York Times.

“I could give — whatever about that, to be honest,” she added.

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​Ocasio-cortez munich mistake, Ocasio-cortez blames trump, Aoc for president, Politics, Aoc foreign policy gaffe 

CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed last year that there were “multiple procedural anomalies” in the production of the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment — a document created at former President Barack Obama’s urging that served as the cornerstone of the Russia collusion hoax.

Ratcliffe emphasized that ex-CIA Director John Brennan sacrificed “analytical soundness” for “narrative consistency.”

The CIA evidently did not limit its prioritization of political agenda over fact to just the one document.

After the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board determined that dozens of analytical CIA assessments were similarly infected with political bias, Ratcliffe announced on Friday that he had ordered retractions or substantial revisions of 19 intelligence products.

“The intelligence products we released to the American people today — produced before my tenure as DCIA — fall short of the high standards of impartiality that CIA must uphold and do not reflect the expertise for which our analysts are renowned,” the CIA director said in a statement.

To provide some insight into the extent of the political perversion and suboptimal quality of past CIA products, Ratcliffe published three redacted versions of reports that the agency indicated “exhibit substantial deviations from the President’s expectations that CIA’s workforce remains independent from a particular audience, agenda, or policy viewpoint.”

‘We owe it to the American people to correct the record.’

One of the reports, published in October 2021, is titled “Women Advancing White Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremist Radicalization and Recruitment.”

The report:

Concern-mongers about white women who “may not openly advocate violence but amplify white [racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist] narratives regarding their perceptions of racial and ethnic hierarchy, as well as perceived threats from those they see as advocating multiculturalism and globalization”;Complains that some white women “have produced blogs, videos, or other online content under the guise of cooking tutorials, which feature discussions about the importance of organic food alongside subtle narratives about racial purity and the defense of white European heritage”; Haphazardly blurs the lines between bona fide white supremacists and individuals who’ve amplified the so-called conspiracy theory that “the white population is decreasing because of increasing immigration and birthrates among non-white groups”;Notes that supposed radicals have dared to celebrate “motherhood and homemaking as women’s most important responsibility”;Leans heavily on left-wing media reports; andAdvocates modeling future messaging on the best practices from the Expert Center on Gender and Right-Wing Extremism, part of a leftist German NGO led by anti-white former Stasi collaborator Anetta Kahane.

One of the other redacted reports released last week, an assessment published in July 2020 titled “Worldwide: Pandemic-Related Contraceptive Shortfalls Threaten Economic Development,” similarly evinced an unmistakably leftist worldview.

RELATED: Where in the Constitution is ‘the interagency’ anyway?

Photographer: Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images

As its title suggests, the report concern-mongered about the impact of pandemic-era supply chain disruptions on the third world’s access to abortions and contraceptives.

It warned that an uptick in babies “in African and other developing countries would perpetuate poverty, strain household budgets, and limit disposable income for consumer goods, including U.S. exports.”

The document relied heavily on propaganda from the International Planned Parenthood Federation as well as the Guttmacher Institute, an NGO that advocates expanding abortion practices around the world.

“There is absolutely no room for bias in our work and when we identify instances where analytic rigor has been compromised, we have a responsibility to correct the record,” Ratcliffe said. “These actions underscore our commitment to transparency, accountability, and objective intelligence analysis.”

CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis, whose internal review confirmed that the documents “did not meet the high standards the American people expect from the CIA’s elite analytic workforce,” tweeted, “When we fall short of our standards, we owe it to the American people to correct the record.”

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) commended Ratcliffe “for correcting the record and ensuring that the CIA’s analysis is free of any political bias,” adding, “I’ve been sending these kind of reports back to the CIA for years and observing that they contain no intelligence.”

“Our intelligence agencies have too often missed critical national-security developments to waste time on, for instance, how ‘pandemic-related contraceptive shortfalls threaten economic development,'” Cotton continued. “Honestly.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) noted that Ratcliffe “has done a tone [sic] of work behind the scenes. Well done director!”

Not all were pleased with the attempt to remedy the agency’s ideological capture.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) suggested that the retractions and revisions were “part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern in this administration: sidelining career experts, undermining inconvenient intelligence assessments, and allowing political considerations to override professional judgment.”

“When political appointees appear to dictate what analysis is valid, it threatens the credibility, reliability, and independence of the Intelligence Community itself,” Warner added.

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The online response to a Huffington Post article whining that Olympics patriotism feels “yucky” is decidedly negative.

While most Americans are swelling with pride over the victories racked up by U.S. Olympians in the Winter Games, some on the left are crippled by conflicting emotions.

‘Being a left-wing extremist sounds utterly exhausting, miserable, and empty.’

The article by Monica Torres proclaimed, “If waving the American flag or chanting ‘USA!’ turns you off right now, you’re not alone.”

Right out of the gate, Torres assailed the Trump administration for killing unarmed civilians and detaining 2-year-olds, then went on to cite therapists treating the “cognitive dissonance.” One expert said the angst could even manifest itself physically in the forms of “tightness in the neck, shoulder or jaw areas, as well as digestive issues and trouble sleeping.”

The progressive news outlet and Torres were pummeled online.

“Who is this self-loathing cringe actually for? Who is the intended consumer?” asked one user on the X platform.

“Imagine being so corrupted that you can’t even root for your nation’s exceptional young athletes. Pathetic!” read another reply.

“If you hate America because you lost a free and fair election, you’re not alone. You’re a moron, and at least a fair bit anti-American, but that’s HuffPo’s audience, and their schtick,” said another detractor.

“Just fire everyone and close. Activism is not journalism,” responded one critic.

“Patriotic Americans cheer while Liberals struggle with cognitive dissonance over 3 words — USA.
Grow up,” replied another user.

“Delete this account, fire all of your editors…and rebrand,” read another reply.

RELATED: HuffPo calls to cancel Thanksgiving over global warming, and the online ridicule is brutal

Photo by Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

“Being a left-wing extremist sounds utterly exhausting, miserable, and empty,” responded Mollie Hemingway.

The post of the article garnered more than 10 million views.

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A married employee of an Indiana high school was arrested after allegedly sexually abusing a student, according to police. Authorities were tipped off to the damning child sex crime accusations after her husband found his wife with a second student, police said.

The Union City Police Department — located in Western Ohio near the border of neighboring Indiana — announced in a statement the arrest of Alicia Hughes “following an investigation into allegations involving inappropriate conduct with a minor.”

‘It will be interesting to see the school’s policies, how this individual was screened and trained, and what “red flags” were overlooked or ignored.’

Hughes — a 31-year-old employee of the Randolph Eastern School Corporation in Indiana — was caught with a student by her husband on Feb. 14, police said.

“During the course of the investigation, officers learned that Hughes’ husband had discovered her with an 18-year-old student of Randolph Eastern School Corporation and confronted the individuals,” police stated.

The press release revealed, “It is alleged that Hughes was battered during that altercation. The alleged battery is being investigated by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department.”

Police did not reveal the husband’s name.

Investigators said they “uncovered evidence that Alicia Hughes had also engaged in a sexual relationship with a separate high school student who was 17 years old at the time.”

The Union City Police Department noted that Hughes and the student “engaged in sexual intercourse on at least five occasions.”

Hughes was arrested and charged with five counts of child seduction related to the sexual relationship with the minor student, according to police.

Police said Hughes was being detained at the Randolph County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

According to Indiana law, child seduction is when a “person used or exerted the person’s professional relationship with the child to engage in sexual intercourse, other sexual conduct, or any fondling or touching with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of the child or the person under this section.”

Those in a position of power include employees of a school corporation.

RELATED: Teacher of the year arrested for alleged child sex crimes — then she’s arrested on similar charges just days later

Cleveland.com reported that Randolph Eastern School Corporation Superintendent Neal Adams said that Hughes “has been removed from all duties with students pending the outcome of the legal process.” The outlet added that Hughes is a high school secretary.

The staff directory for the Union City Jr/Sr High School does not show the name of the suspect; however, an archived version of the school’s website shows an attendance secretary named “Alicia Hughes.”

Adams did not specify if Hughes had been terminated.

“We recognize that situations of this nature are deeply concerning for our families, staff, and the broader community,” Adams added. “Please know that we share those concerns and are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness, care, and urgency.”

Tom Blessing, an attorney for survivors of sexual abuse, said of the accusations, “Usually, we see abuse claims involving teachers and coaches, but any school staff with access to children could use their position of authority and trust to take advantage of them: custodial and maintenance staff, counselors, office staff, even administrators.”

Blessing continued, “It will be interesting to see the school’s policies, how this individual was screened and trained, and what ‘red flags’ were overlooked or ignored.”

Blessing noted that many times “institutional failures enabled the abuse” in sexual misconduct cases by school employees.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Blaze News‘ request for comment. The Union City Police Department did not have any updates on the case.

Those with information about the case are urged to contact the Union City Police Department at 937-968-7744.

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​Alicia hughes, Child sex abuse, Crime, Ohio, School secretary, School staff member arrested, School staffer sex scandal, School secretary student sex scandal, High school, Students, Indiana 

The Department of Homeland Security set the record straight on Immigration and Customs Enforcement training, debunking claims from the media that agents are receiving less training.

A DHS press release exclusively obtained by Blaze News counters falsehoods about ICE’s training programs amid a significant increase in new hires.

‘Despite false claims from the media and sanctuary politicians, no training hours have been cut.’

Leftist outlets have claimed that the Trump administration reduced the length of its training course from roughly five months to just 42 days, as reported by the Atlantic in January.

The DHS released further details on Monday about ICE’s training program, discrediting those claims.

The agency explained that ICE recruits receive 56 days of training and an average of 28 days of on-the-job training. Under the prior administration, agents trained eight hours a day, five days a week. Under President Donald Trump, new hires are being trained 12 hours a day, six days a week.

“No training requirements have been removed,” DHS stated, adding that it is the “same hours of training officers have always received.”

RELATED: ‘Quite literally insane’: DHS responds to new scheme from LA activists to warn illegal aliens about ICE

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers are prepared to accommodate 12,000 new hires in 2026, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act providing these centers with $750 million to boost the training and readiness of ICE agents, as well as Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection officers.

“DHS has streamlined training to cut redundancy and incorporate technology advancements, without sacrificing basic subject matter content. Under these new improvements, candidates still learn the same elements and meet the same high standards ICE has always required. No subject matter has been cut,” the press release read.

Further, the DHS noted that most new ICE hires are experienced law enforcement officers who have previously completed a law enforcement academy.

Leftist outlets have accused the Trump administration of eliminating Spanish-language courses for ICE personnel.

The DHS responded to this claim as well, explaining that the agency terminated the language classes, which covered only one dialect of Spanish, to instead provide officers with robust translation and interpretation services for multiple languages.

The agency stated that ICE training courses focus on enhancing several skills, including arrest techniques, defensive tactics, conflict management and de-escalation, firearms and marksmanship, and proper use of force.

According to the DHS, new hires who join ICE’s Special Response Teams undergo more intensive training, including 30 hours of tryouts, an SRT Basic Operator Course, ongoing marksmanship training for all issued firearms, and continuous training for specialized skills, such as breaching techniques, perimeter control, hostage rescue, and more.

Further, the DHS described education on the Fourth and Fifth Amendments as an “integral component” of ICE officers’ basic training at FLETC.

“The overarching objective is to ensure that, prior to assuming field duties, every ICE officer has been repeatedly trained, tested, and held to clear standards that require consistent respect for constitutional rights in all enforcement activities,” the DHS said.

RELATED: ‘Large human smuggling operation’ uncovered in Texas? ICE makes alarming claim about ‘alien from India.’

Photo by Jim Watson – Pool/Getty Images

DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “We have ensured our law enforcement officers get the best of the best training to arrest and remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from our communities.”

“Despite false claims from the media and sanctuary politicians, no training hours have been cut,” Bis continued. “Our officers receive extensive firearm training, are taught de-escalation tactics, and receive Fourth and Fifth Amendment comprehensive instruction. The training does not stop after graduation from the academy — recruits are put on a rigorous on-the-job training program that is tracked and monitored.”

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​Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Lauren bis, Trump administration, Trump admin, Immigration, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Federal law enforcement training centers, Fletc, Politics 

Ring unveiled its controversial AI-powered Search Party feature in a multimillion-dollar ad that aired during the Super Bowl, sparking blowback from privacy advocates from left to right and dead center. Although the feature was positioned as a helpful way to track down lost pets and bring them home safely, a leaked email from Ring’s founder reveals a much more sinister purpose: Ring intended to spy on people all along.

Ring’s founder revealed the truth about Search Party

From the moment we heard about Search Party, one thing was clear — tracking down lost pets was only the tip of the iceberg. The obvious next step was clearly human surveillance. After all, Ring can already scan and identify designated humans with a feature called Familiar Faces. Once enabled, users can add the faces of friends and family to their Ring app so that their Ring camera can recognize these individuals when they stop by.

Ring can tap into the live feeds of every Ring camera in a town block and analyze the footage with AI.

Helpful? Maybe. Creepy? When you consider the way Ring wants to secretly turn Search Party into a mass surveillance tool, most definitely.

We know this for a fact now, thanks to a leaked email written by Ring’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, himself. “I believe that the foundation we created with Search Party, first for finding dogs, will end up becoming one of the most important pieces of tech and innovation to truly unlock the impact of our mission,” he begins, pivoting immediately to a grander picture. “You can now see a future where we are able to zero out crime in neighborhoods. So many things to do to get there, but for the first time ever, we have the chance to fully complete what we started.”

Of course, Siminoff hides “the impact” of Ring’s “mission” under the guise of preventing crime in neighborhoods equipped with Ring cameras. Reading between the lines, though, the truth looks more like Ring actively moving toward creating a mass surveillance state with its network.

For what it’s worth, Siminoff denies that Ring will tap into users’ feeds without their consent, assuring, “Across these features, sharing has always been the camera owner’s choice. Ring provides relevant context about when sharing may be helpful — but the decision remains firmly in the customer’s hands, not ours.”

The Nancy Guthrie factor

This story is especially unique in the context of the Nancy Guthrie case, where the FBI obtained footage from a Google Nest doorbell camera that was believed to be inaccessible. While social media was quick to pounce on how this could’ve happened, we later discovered that the loophole responsible for saving the footage is covered in Nest’s terms of service.

That didn’t stop Ring’s founder from commenting, though. Amid the hype over the case, Siminoff spoke with Fox Business to denounce that Ring would ever hold footage that was believed to be deleted or inaccessible. “I do know with Ring, specifically, if you delete a recording or if you don’t want a recording, you don’t have a subscription,” he said. “We do not have it stored. I know that because I built the systems with my team.”

RELATED: Amazon’s Ring is running a spy ring from your home. Here’s how to turn it off.

But just because Ring doesn’t keep video files doesn’t mean the footage goes to waste. With Search Party, Ring can tap into the live feeds of every Ring camera in a town block and analyze the footage with AI, essentially scanning them for whatever Ring is looking for. Right now, that’s lost pets. In a year or so, that could be real people — first criminals, then private citizens in general.

So the fact that Ring doesn’t save footage like Nest isn’t really any consolation when the company simply leverages live feeds to achieve its goals instead.

The only ways to opt out of Search Party

This Search Party revelation comes shortly after Ring canceled its partnership with Flock, a third-party service that would’ve allowed police officers to request user footage to help solve criminal cases. Without a law enforcement connection, Search Party is virtually useless in stopping crimes. That only leaves mass surveillance, which again, Siminoff refutes.

Wherever the truth lies, the leaked email is further proof that you should either disable Search Party or remove your Ring camera from your front door entirely. Unfortunately, as we mentioned last time, your camera is only part of the problem. As long as your neighbors keep their Ring cameras up and running, Amazon can still spy on your block whenever it pleases.

​Tech, Ring camera, Ai, Surveillance 

An off-duty detective thwarted what had all the makings of a potential church massacre last week in Sacramento.

Brian Girardot Jr., 20, dropped off a younger relative at St. Mary Parish School on Wednesday morning, then allegedly returned around 9:30 a.m. when St. Mary Catholic Church was in the process of holding an all-school Ash Wednesday Mass next door.

Amy Hale, the principal of the school, indicated that “all church doors were locked per our standard procedure” and “parent observers were positioned outside and inside the church.”

‘F**k you die!’

One of the parent observers, an off-duty detective, intercepted a suspicious man who approached the front of the church and claimed that he wanted to enter and attend the Mass.

According to Hale, the parent observer “located and removed a loaded firearm, concealed on the man’s person.” The observer then detained the suspect until officers from the Sacramento Police Department arrived on the scene.

Principal Hale assured parents that their children remained in the church throughout the Mass and that “no students came into contact with the man.”

RELATED: ‘Pure bigotry’: CNN fearmongers about ‘Christian nationalism’ in election-narrative tease

Photo by ANDRI TAMBUNAN/AFP via Getty

Girardot, a former student at St. Mary Parish School, was arrested without incident and slapped with felony charges for allegedly having a concealed firearm on his person and bringing a firearm into a school zone.

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced on Thursday that the former student has also been federally charged for allegedly possessing a firearm within a school zone.

The Justice Department alleged that additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket were recovered from Girardot’s vehicle, which was parked nearby.

In their search of the suspect’s home, law enforcement agents also found a series of handwritten notes that allegedly contained references to suicide and threats.

According to court documents reviewed by KTXL-TV, one of the notes listed three family members and stated, “All of you are the reason I’ve done this.”

Another note reportedly said, “Suicide Note f**k you,” on one side, and the reverse stated, “Rest of y’all … f**k you die!!!”

The gun allegedly taken from Girardot outside the church was a Taurus Tracker .44 Magnum. Prosecutors claimed that police found four more firearms in Girardot’s garage including a 12-gauge shotgun and a Winchester Model 670 .30-06 rifle.

Girardot, who is apparently ineligible for bail, is presently being held at the Sacramento County Main Jail.

The Diocese of Sacramento joined Bishop Jaime Soto and the Department of Catholic Schools in expressing gratitude both for the parent observer’s “vigilance” and that the incident was “resolved safely and that no students, teachers, or staff were harmed.”

The diocese added, “May the Lord Jesus, our rock and our refuge, watch over the schools and bless our children with peace and security.”

Girardot’s arrest comes several months after a hate-filled 23-year-old trans-identifying man opened fire on a full Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring 29.

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​Crime, Anti-christian, Christian, Catholic, Sacramento, California, Church shooting, Shooting, Fbi, Doj, Brian girardot, Politics 

During a sermon at the First Congregational Church in South Portland, Maine, retired Presbyterian minister Marvin Ellison attempted to claim that abortion can be an act of love — and that the women seeking them are often religious themselves.

“This morning, I speak from my experience as a volunteer chaplain for Planned Parenthood. Without naming names or breaking confidences, I want to just speak about a few things I’ve learned from women who’ve received abortions and candidly shared their story with me,” the pastor explained.

The pastor went on to claim that “most women electing to terminate a pregnancy are religiously affiliated.”

“So I’ve listened to and prayed with Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish women. With Muslim and Buddhist women. And with conservative evangelical women. And some confided in me that they had never expected to find a Christian minister inside Planned Parenthood. Maybe outside the clinic protesting, but they hadn’t imagined that they would meet a Christian minister inside the clinic,” he said.

BlazeTV host Pat Gray is in disbelief.

“How do you make that case, that yeah, Jesus is fine with you ending the life of your child?” Gray asks.

“He wants to send you a child and then have you terminate that child. Wait, what? … It doesn’t even make sense,” he adds.

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.

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Chatbot-user selfies are reportedly being analyzed and not only checked for suspiciousness, but to see if they match the faces of any public figures.

Video gamers staged a collective rebellion when they discovered that Discord, the dominant gamer chat platform, had slipped a pilot program into the U.K. user experience that could route personal information to the government via a company called Persona, linked to OpenAI. Discord quickly backtracked, frustrated that new age verification laws in the Anglosphere have made it difficult to find partners that pass user muster. But the controversy rages on.

A group of researchers say they stumbled upon publicly available code in OpenAI that shows an in-depth system meant for analyzing user facial data while also checking to see if the user has hijacked a dead person’s identity.

‘269 checks. for wanting to use a chatbot in 2026.’

Researchers from website Vmfunc recently revealed they came across 53 megabytes of “unprotected source maps” that are set up for government use. The researchers also stated that any suspicious user activity would be filed with federal authorities, while user selfies are analyzed and screened using facial recognition.

The data being collected is reportedly through Persona’s Know Your Customer service. Simply put, it is an identity verification program.

Not only does OpenAI publicly state that it uses Persona as a “trusted third-party company” to “help verify age,” but Persona itself announced it is authorized to “serve federal agencies where the loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of processed data could result in limited adverse effects.”

It was Persona that the researchers poked fun at, revealing a complex verification system that checks user selfie data.

RELATED: Sam Altman slams ICE in message to OpenAI employees: ‘What’s happening … is going too far’

“So you uploaded a selfie to use a chatbot. Congratulations!!!” the report joked. “It’s now being compared against a database of every politician, head of state, and their extended family tree on Earth. Similarity scored. Low, medium, high. The machine looked at your face and asked itself: ‘Does this person resemble the deputy finance minister of Moldova?’ And it answered. And it wrote the answer down.”

The report then described 269 verification checks that perform acts like comparing a user’s selfie to their ID or other existing accounts.

Other checks like “public figure detection” allegedly seek to check if the user looks like someone famous, while “suspicious entity detection” reportedly is checking to see if the user looks “suspicious.”

In total, there are an alleged 43 government ID checks and 27 database checks that cross-reference social security numbers, phone carriers, and death databases.

“269 checks. For wanting to use a chatbot in 2026,” researchers wrote.

RELATED: ChatGPT says it is not sharing your conversations with advertisers, but there’s a catch

Photo by David Burnett/Newsmakers via Getty Images

Neither OpenAI nor Persona responded to Return’s request for comment. However, Persona founder Rick Song has publicly stated he would cooperate with the researchers and answer their questions.

After stating he had an “online crashout” in response to misinformation, Song said his dialogue with Vmfunc is ongoing and shared several emails he has exchanged with the company. One of the emails stated that OpenAI does not use Persona’s “biometrics for Watchlists” or products related to identifying politically exposed persons.

He also noted that Persona’s max retention for data is three years, while OpenAI’s policy is just one year.

For additional information on how OpenAI treats user data, please visit its website.

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​Return, Ai, Chatgpt, Openai, Federal government, Face scan, Digital id, Tech 

Last week, Apple issued an important software update for iPhones on iOS 26. While the latest version included the usual vague “bug fixes and updates,” it also contained a critical patch for a zero-day vulnerability that has already been exploited by hackers on targeted devices. To put it mildly, you need to update your iPhone now, or your device and private data are all at risk.

What is a zero-day vulnerability?

In case you’ve never heard the phrase before, zero-day vulnerabilities are unknown security threats within a device’s software that exist outside of the developer’s purview. These can pop for a variety of reasons, including flaws in the source code, improper input validation that processes malicious data, and simple developer oversight.

An extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.

What’s worse, these exploits are often found first by hackers and used to inject malicious code into targeted devices to bypass security protocols and gain access to either steal private data or install malware to spy on users.

The thing that makes zero-day vulnerabilities so dangerous is that hackers can use them to access devices for weeks or even months before developers isolate the problem and issue a fix.

iOS 26.3 patches iPhone’s latest major security hole

Apple sent an over-the-air update to iPhones on iOS 26 last week. Bringing the version number to 26.3, the latest release includes a fix for CVE-2026-20700, a zero-day threat that was identified by Google’s Threat Analysis Group.

In case you’re wondering how Google found a security flaw in an Apple product, TAG is a team of researchers who regularly scour first-party and third-party products in search of security flaws and cyber threats. They specialize in thwarting “government-backed attacks,” suggesting that CVE-2026-20700 likely has government ties — either foreign or domestic — though neither Apple nor Google assigned blame to a particular group.

Once discovered, TAG informed Apple of the vulnerability, giving the company valuable time to patch the hole before informing the public and letting hackers know that the loophole was closed.

RELATED: Your car can get hacked — here’s how to protect yourself

JIRAROJ PRADITCHAROENKUL

As part of the change log that was released alongside iOS 26.3, Apple admitted, “An attacker with memory write capability may be able to execute arbitrary code. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26.”

In other words, the exploit exists and it has already been leveraged against a small subset of users.

How to upgrade to iOS 26.3

To patch this zero-day vulnerability on your devices, you should update to iOS 26.3 immediately. You can download the update by following these directions:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.Tap “General.”Select the second option called “Software Update.”At the bottom of the next screen, choose “Update Now.”

Screenshots by Zach Laidlaw

Note that iPhones aren’t the only Apple devices at risk. You should also update your iPad to iPadOS 26.3, if it’s available.

For those who are still on an older version of iOS, Apple has not indicated a fix for the zero-day issue at this time. That either means the zero-day threat isn’t as invasive on older software, or a fix hasn’t been implemented yet. Either way, users on older iOS versions should update to iOS 18.7.5 for the latest security fixes.

More features in iOS 26.3

In addition to a major security patch, iOS 26.3 includes several additional features, such as the ability to prevent carrier networks from seeing the precise location of select iPhones with an Apple C-series modem (right now, that only includes iPhone Air and iPhone 16e), new switch-to-Android tools, and a snazzy live weather wallpaper. This update is free and available now to iPhones 11 and up.

​Tech 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani built part of his campaign around a bold promise: a $30 minimum wage by 2030.

His plan called for phased increases: $20 per hour in 2027, $23.50 in 2028, $27 in 2029, and $30 in 2030. After that, wages would automatically adjust each year based on cost of living or productivity growth.

‘You just can’t make this stuff up.’

As of January 1, 2026, New York City’s minimum wage is $17 per hour under state law.

But as a major winter storm approached the city this month, the Department of Sanitation activated an emergency snow-shoveling program paying $19.14 per hour. Overtime is set at $28.71 after 40 hours.

The temporary workers are tasked with clearing snow and ice from bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and step streets.

RELATED: Mamdani goes full ‘Batman villain’ and holds New York City hostage

Photographer: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The pay rate quickly drew criticism online. Several users on X pointed to the gap between the mayor’s long-term wage proposal and the city’s current emergency pay scale.

Conservative commentator and former ESPN anchor Sage Steele weighed in: “Let me get this straight: Zohran Mamdani campaigned (ignorantly) on raising NYC’s min wage to $30/hour, but is now begging residents to shovel snow for $19/hour??”

Steele, like others, also focused on the documentation requirements tied to the job, contrasting them with New York’s voting rules, which generally do not require voters to present photo identification.

“This … from someone who believes requiring ONE form of ID to vote is racist?? You just can’t make this stuff up,” she continued.

RELATED: Mamdani threatens massive property tax hike if Albany blocks wealth tax plan

Photo by Stephani Spindel/VIEWpress via Getty Images

Mamdani has defended the employment documentation rules, stating that federal I-9 verification laws require all employers, including municipal governments, to confirm identity and work authorization before issuing pay.

A few critics labeled the rules “Jim Snow 2.0,” framing the documentation requirement as an unnecessary barrier.

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

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​Politics, Mamdani, Nyc, Snow 

Shortly after Team USA’s historic Olympic gold-medal victory in men’s hockey on Sunday, the team had a special guest join them in the locker room — and an even more special guest phone in his congratulations.

Following USA’s first gold-medal victory since 1980, the hockey team was joined by noted hockey fan FBI Director Kash Patel, who enthusiastically joined in the celebration.

‘We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I can send a military plane.’

After pounding a beer and banging his fist on a table in the locker room, Patel called President Donald Trump, who spoke with the team for a few minutes and offered them the opportunity of a lifetime.

On the call, President Trump joked that the goalie “played not bad.”

“How you doing, Don?” said goalie Connor Hellebuyck in reply.

RELATED: ‘LOTS OF WINNING!!!’ Trump praises America’s historic hockey victory at Winter Olympics

Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Then came Trump’s offer: “We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I can send a military plane. … If you would like to, it’s the coolest night.”

The whole hockey team said they were in to attend.

Trump continued: “The nice thing about being president is, I can tell you, you don’t have to worry about the weather or landing. We don’t care if it’s snowing or if it’s the worst blizzard.”

Trump then joked, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” adding that he “probably would be impeached” if he neglected to invite the U.S. women’s team since they also won the gold medal.

The president then offered the men’s team his congratulations once more, saying: “You’re going to be proud of that game for 50 years. … I’m going to shake hands with everybody, but I got to shake hands with that goalie.”

Patel received some criticism for joining the team in the locker room, but he defended his actions in a response on social media that has since gone viral: “For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys — Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”

President Trump also took to Truth Social to congratulate the team: “Congratulations to our great U.S.A. Ice Hockey team. THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW!”

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​Politics, Olympics, Trump, President trump, Gold medal, State of the union, Sotu, United states, America, Hockey, Womens hockey 

In a stunning attempt to appeal to an audience in a majority-black city, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) revealed what he really thinks about the voters.

Newsom embarked on a book tour for his new memoir, making stops in swing states like Georgia, leading people to speculate that he is soft-launching a 2028 presidential bid. However, his aspirations for higher office may have taken a hit after he made some tone-deaf remarks in Atlanta, unknowingly disparaging his audience in an attempt to relate to them.

‘He REALLY BELIEVES they’re slow.’

“I’m not trying to impress you,” Newsom said, noticeably tense. “I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m no better than you. You know, I’m a 960 SAT guy. I’m not trying to offend anyone, you know, trying to act all there if you got a 940.”

“You never see me read a speech because I cannot read a speech,” Newsom added.

RELATED: Clinton judge strikes down Newsom’s edict banning masks for ICE agents

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Newsom’s remarks sparked outrage from all sides of the aisle, most notably from a new force on the political scene.

The Queen of Rap, Nicki Minaj, took to X to dismantle Newsom’s tone-deaf statements, shredding him for speaking to black voters “as if they’re children.”

“His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” Minaj said. “This means my first read on him was correct. He’s been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved.”

“Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that will haunt him forever? He’s literally slowing his speech down & talking in a sporadic cadence.”

RELATED: Trump’s ‘number-one fan,’ Nicki Minaj, praises the president, shreds Gavin ‘Newscum’

Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images

“He’s not just TELLING them that they’re all probably stupid & probably can’t read, he’s LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!!” Minaj added. “As if they’re children!!!! That means he REALLY BELIEVES they’re slow. He’s not just saying it — he didn’t misspeak!!!! He BELIEVES it!!!!”

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​Donald trump, Gavin newsom, Nicki minaj, Black voters, 2028 presidential race, Swing state, Politics 

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee this week regarding their ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Clintons, who had previously defied the committee’s subpoenas, agreed in early February to appear before lawmakers after months of back-and-forth and a vote that found the two in contempt of Congress.

‘Our goal for this investigation is straightforward: We seek to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors.’

Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify under oath on Feb. 26 and Bill Clinton on Feb. 27. Both hearings will be closed-door.

Committee lawmakers have agreed to hold the depositions in the Clintons’ place of residence rather than in Washington, D.C.

“The Clintons’ depositions will be held in Chappaqua, New York, on February 26 and 27 as an accommodation for their schedules. The depositions are in accordance with House and Committee rules,” a House Oversight Committee spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has called the Clintons’ testimony “critical” to understanding Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s “sex trafficking network and the ways they sought to curry favor and influence to shield themselves from scrutiny.”

“Their testimony may also inform how Congress can strengthen laws to better combat human trafficking. Our goal for this investigation is straightforward: We seek to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors,” Comer told Fox News Digital.

RELATED: Bill and Hillary Clinton agree to testify about Jeffrey Epstein after contempt of Congress threat from Republicans

Photo by the US Justice Department/Handout/Anadolu/Getty Images

After initially defying congressional subpoenas, the Clintons have since pressured the committee to hold public hearings.

“I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee,” Bill Clinton wrote on social media of Feb. 6. “Now, Chairman Comer says he wants cameras, but only behind closed doors. Who benefits from this arrangement? It’s not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth. It serves only partisan interests. This is not fact-finding, it’s pure politics.”

“I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about,” the former president added.

RELATED: Bill Clinton accuses GOP of setting up ‘kangaroo court’ over Epstein testimony — and demands public hearing

James Comer. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Comer has not ruled out public hearings, but has insisted on first holding depositions behind closed doors.

“The subpoena and the contempt was on a deposition. If we get to the deposition and there’s something meaningful to have a hearing, if they still want some more oversight, then I think the members of my committee would love to have them in for a public hearing,” Comer told reporters in early February.

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​News, Bill clinton, Hillary clinton, The clintons, Clinton, Clintons, James comer, House oversight committee, Jeffrey epstein, Epstein, Trafficking, Sex trafficking, Politics 

From render farm to red carpet?

No sooner had the lights come up on Utah’s final year hosting the Sundance Film Festival than state officials announced a very different cinematic bet: artificial intelligence.

‘Nuovo has presented a forward-thinking approach.’

According to Variety, Utah has approved a $2 million grant for a new initiative called the Nuovo Film Festival, described by the state as a “film ecosystem” built around AI-driven production. Plans reportedly include a filmmaking lab, an AI-powered soundstage, and expanded incentive programs aimed at attracting filmmakers to the state.

Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, Sundance grew into one of the premier cultural and commercial forces in American film, launching independent directors, shaping awards seasons, and helping define modern indie cinema. As its contract expired and Boulder offered both financial incentives and a cultural climate seen as more aligned with the festival’s direction, Sundance chose to leave Utah after more than four decades.

Nuovo organizers outlined five “pillars” in presentation materials cited by Variety.

The first proposes a lab to “teach new filmmakers how to tell their story using technology and AI.” The second centers on incentive programs. The third focuses on constructing an AI soundstage — one that may require its own dedicated power source.

RELATED: ‘Shut the f**k up!’ Actor Jamie Kennedy slams Hollywood’s hypocrisy over ICE

Your browser does not support the video tag. Footage by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

The cost-saving claims are ambitious. Organizers suggested a $200 million film that traditionally takes three years to complete could be produced in nine months for roughly $10 million using AI-assisted workflows. Those figures remain projections, not proven results.

The fourth pillar involves collaboration with Harbor Fund, a Utah-based nonprofit. Founded in 2018, Harbor Fund describes its mission as pairing filmmakers with philanthropic capital to support “films that matter.” It’s website prominently features a quote from movie critic Roger Ebert: “The movies are like a machine that generates empathy.”

In effect, Utah’s proposed AI film hub would not only streamline production but also align itself with what organizers describe as “impact-driven filmmaking.”

The fifth pillar calls for certificate programs at high schools and colleges to train students in makeup, set design, sound, staging, and editing — building a workforce tailored to AI-enabled production.

“Utah would have the dedicated and trained workforce to allow filmmakers to come here and use the local workforce instead of bringing them here,” the presentation reportedly stated.

RELATED: ‘They can’t take us all down’: Actor Giancarlo Esposito declares it’s ‘time for a revolution’ in unhinged rant

Photo by: Visions of America/Joe Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Lance Soffe, director of targeted industries for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, framed the move as forward-looking.

“Traditional festivals are not generating the same impact they once did,” Soffe said. “Instead of trying to recreate an aging model, Nuovo has presented a forward-thinking approach that builds on Utah’s legacy while embracing where the industry is going.”

The new Utah festival will be led by a board comprised of former MGM Television chief Mark Burnett, advertising moguls, and venture capitalists.The announcement comes as the broader film industry remains unsettled over AI.

On the same day the Utah investment drew attention, AMC Theatres faced backlash over reports it would screen an AI-generated short film before previews. The short “Thanksgiving Day” won the Frame Forward AI Film Festival and was reportedly slated for wide theatrical exposure. After criticism mounted, AMC said its locations would not participate.

While policymakers and investors see efficiency and reduced costs, audiences appear less certain about replacing human-driven filmmaking with algorithmic production.

​Lifestyle, Align, Tech, Ai, Artificial intelligence, Movies, Sundance, Film festival, Woke, Entertainment 

A trio of 14-year-old car thieves slammed a stolen vehicle into a Baltimore police officer who opened fire as he was hit — and while the teens managed to get away from the scene, police said they arrested them days later.

Officer William Cole responded around 12:05 a.m. Sunday to an attempted break-in call, WBAL-TV reported.

‘I need a medic!’

Police released Cole’s body-worn camera video, which showed the officer arriving at the location on West Lombard Street; he soon encountered multiple people in a Kia sedan that backed up and struck a parked vehicle, the station said.

When Cole ordered the driver to stop, the driver backed up again and struck the officer, WBAL said, citing the video.

Police said Cole fired his gun once at the car as he fell, the station said, adding that the driver fled the scene and hit another vehicle as well as the officer’s patrol car in the process.

Video then shows an injured man approaching the officer from across the street and collapsing.

The officer is heard saying on the bodycam video, “I need a medic! You good, bro? I got you. What’s wrong, bro, you OK?”

RELATED: 3 males — ages 8, 11, 12 — steal car, crash into house; driver, 11, says he learned how to steal cars from YouTube: Cops

Police said the officer rendered aid to the 21-year-old injured man who was assaulted by multiple people before the officer’s arrival at the scene, WBAL reported; the victim wasn’t taken to a hospital.

However, the officer at the scene injured his ankle and was treated and released from a hospital, the station said.

Police told WBAL that officers found the Kia in question abandoned on South Arlington Avenue and that the vehicle was reported stolen Saturday from East Chase Street.

More from WBAL:

Police said detectives were able to identify two of the Kia’s occupants as two 14-year-old boys who have prior charges of robbery and auto theft and were on electronic monitoring as a result. Detectives arrested the boys Monday on aggravated assault and auto theft charges. They remain detained at Juvenile Booking.

Police said detectives later identified the driver of the Kia as a 14-year-old girl. During her arrest on Tuesday, police said officers learned the girl had been treated at a hospital on Sunday for a wound to her right wrist. The girl’s mother told detectives that the injury may be a gunshot graze wound; police said further investigation is needed to determine the cause of the injury. The girl was taken to Juvenile Booking, where she was charged with aggravated assault and stolen auto. She was later released on electronic monitoring.

Teen crime in Baltimore despite electronic monitoring is not a new phenomenon. Last summer, a 13-year-old with a GPS ankle monitor who had been arrested 18 times for felonies was charged in connection with a violent city crime spree.

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​Baltimore police, Teenagers, 14-year-old kids, Police officer shoots, Arrests, Injuries, Car theft, Crime 

Before a call from President Donald Trump and a few drinks with FBI Director Kash Patel, Team USA men’s hockey made a heartfelt tribute to one of their compatriots.

After the players received their gold medals for a stunning 2-1 win over Team Canada on Sunday, viewers may have noticed a couple of youngsters on the ice posing for the team picture, along with a loose hockey jersey.

‘When we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe he did make the team.’

No, those were not captain Auston Matthews’ children. Nor were they superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s children. They were Noa and Johnny Jr., children of the late Johnny Gaudreau.

In 2023, Gaudreau, 31, and his younger brother Matthew, 29, were tragically killed by a drunk driver while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Gaudreau was one of the star players for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, while Matthew was a former professional hockey player who last played in the ECHL.

In yet another wonderful gesture, Team USA invited Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, to join the team in Italy on Saturday, along with the Gaudreau brothers’ parents, Guy and Jane. The whole family was in the audience for the gold-medal game.

“To be able to get it done like that, to win, to have his jersey out there in the team photo, have his kids come out and be with us, we’re obviously thinking of him,” Auston Matthews said, per ESPN. “Just felt like the impact that he’s had on so many guys in this room is special. He was with us in spirit the whole tournament,” Matthews added.

RELATED: ‘LOTS OF WINNING!!!’ Trump praises America’s historic hockey victory at Winter Olympics

“It’s fun to be a part of this,” Meredith said before the game.

“When we got the call to come out, it felt like maybe he did make the team. So it’s fun. Here to represent him and support everyone that’s honoring him, as well.”

Meredith revealed to a reporter that she only had two days’ notice before making the trip overseas to join the squad, but she said it was something she simply could not pass up.

“Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids. So that was the main reason that drove me out here,” the mother continued, before delivering some truly heartbreaking remarks.

“I feel like I have two roles in life now: It’s honor John, my husband, and make sure these kids know how special their dad is and give them some special opportunities.”

RELATED: NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau and brother killed by suspected drunk driver on eve of sister’s wedding: ‘Unimaginable tragedy’

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

USA forward Dylan Larkin firmly stated that “Johnny and Matty should be here.”

“That is the biggest loss that all of us at USA Hockey, their family, our family, has gone through,” Larkin continued. “And to have Johnny Jr. and Noa out there, it just felt right.”

Larkin added that he thought the Gaudreau brothers may have had a hand in stopping some pucks from going into the USA net.

“And I think part of those, the puck not going in our net, was somehow him standing there doing something, laughing with Matty. Just somehow they put a spell around our net where that puck didn’t go in.”

Larkin then joked around, reportedly smiling while saying, “Ironic, on the defensive side; he would’ve never been back there,” he said about Johnny.

These comments nearly mirrored what was said about the late brothers by their sister, Katie.

Katie jokingly told Fox News that while her brothers were “never quite defensive,” she thought a couple of saves had some assistance from above.

“Up there, they were definitely helping out.”

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​Fearless, Gaudreau, Usa hockey, Olympics, Italy, 2026 winter olympics, Nhl, Gold medal, United states, New jersey, Sports 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has unveiled his new budget — and it’s every bit as ridiculous as BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales anticipated.

“On another episode of ‘I told you so,’ it took less than two months for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to turn, I think, into a Batman villain,” Gonzales jokes.

“You guys are going to be shocked to hear this. You’re going to be shocked to hear all of these promises of free everything, free child schools, free child care, free schools, free buses, all the free s**t, doesn’t have enough money to pay for all of the free,” she explains.

“So he’s announced that he’s basically taking the entire city hostage, and if the state government doesn’t give into his demands and implement his billionaire tax, he’s going to make you pay,” she continues.

“For those who have watched budget after budget, it is tempting to assume that we are engaging in the same dance as our predecessors. Let me assure you, nothing about this is typical. That’s why our solutions won’t be either. There are two paths to bridge this gap. The first is the most sustainable and the fairest path,” Mamdani explained at New York City Hall.

“This is the path of ending the drain on our city and raising taxes on the richest New Yorkers and the most profitable corporations. The onus for resolving this crisis should not be placed on the backs of working and middle-class New Yorkers. If we do not fix this structural imbalance and do not heed the calls of New Yorkers to raise taxes on the wealthy, this crisis will not disappear,” he continued.

“It will simply return year after year, forcing harder and harsher choices each time. And if we do not go down the first path, the city will be forced down a second, more harmful path. Faced with no other choice, the city would have to exercise the only revenue lever fully within our own control. We would have to raise property taxes,” he added.

“Oh, wow. I for one am super shocked,” Gonzales says. “Like, who could have ever predicted that a Muslim commie would go on TV and lay out a list of terroristic demands?”

“Where’s the money going to come from?” she asks, before answering herself, “I know. We’re just going to tax hardworking Americans more.”

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.

​Sharing, Upload, Video, Video phone, Free, Camera phone, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Mamdani, Zohran mamdani, Batman, Villain, Communism, Socialism, New york city, New york city mayoral race 

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory on Sunday instructing Americans in Jalisco State as well as in several other Mexican states to “shelter in place until further notice” following the elimination of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, Mexico’s most-wanted cartel boss.

With firefights breaking out across the country, radicals blocking key roads, and flights being canceled, many tourists really had no other option than to hunker down.

Mexican Army special forces, aided by the nation’s air force and national guard, launched a military operation on Sunday aimed at capturing Oseguera Cervantes in Tapalpa, Jalisco.

‘The United States will ensure narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to our homeland are forced to face the wrath of justice.’

Under Oseguera Cervantes, 59, the Jalisco New Generation cartel became one of the most formidable criminal enterprises south of the border.

The State Department noted that the CJNG, which the Trump administration designated a terrorist organization last February, “has been assessed to have the highest cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking capacity in Mexico, and over the past few years, includes the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States.”

In addition to trafficking deadly drugs, the savage and allegedly cannibalistic CJNG developed a reputation for murdering Mexican police and rival drug traffickers. The cartel was also allegedly involved in several assassination attempts against Mexican government officials.

Mexican National Guard outside Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime on Feb. 22. Photo by Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu/Getty Images

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the U.S. provided intelligence support to ensure the success of Sunday’s operation. Mexican officials confirmed that “complementary information was provided by U.S. authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States.”

“‘El Mencho’ was a was a top target for the Mexican and United States government [sic] as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland. Last year, President Trump rightfully designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization — because that’s exactly what it is,” Leavitt said in a statement.

“President Trump has been very clear — the United States will ensure narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to our homeland are forced to face the wrath of justice they have long deserved,” added Leavitt.

RELATED: What will replace the old world order?

Photo by Yilmaz Yucel/Anadolu/Getty Images

Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense indicated that while attacked during the operation, Mexican military personnel “repelled the aggression,” resulting in “four members of the ‘CJNG’ criminal group dying at the scene and three others being severely wounded, who lost their lives during their airlift to Mexico City.”

Oseguera Cervantes was among those wounded in the operation who apparently perished in transit.

Although Mexican and U.S. officials reported that Oseguera Cervantes was eliminated during the operation, the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense said that a forensic evaluation will nevertheless be undertaken to confirm that the cartel terrorist is dead.

In the wake of the operation, in which officials seized numerous armored cartel vehicles and rocket launchers, Mexican Army and National Guard troops mobilized to Jalisco and neighboring states to maintain a modicum of order.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — whose party has numerous members accused of being in bed with the cartels — underscored that “we must remain informed and calm.”

‘The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.’

Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guanajuato indicated that seven Mexican National Guard troops were killed on Sunday along with seven others, reported the Associated Press.

Just before midnight on Sunday, the U.S. Dept. of State Bureau of Consular Affairs reiterated the need for American citizens to shelter in place, noting that “while no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations — most domestic & int’l flights are cancelled in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.”

Consular Affairs noted further that all rideshares are suspended in Puerto Vallarta and toll roads in various parts of the country are temporarily suspended.

One tourist claiming to be in Puerto Vallarta captured footage of thick columns of smoke billowing up on either side of his resort. Footage reportedly taken by a Canadian tourist stranded in Puerto Vallarta shows smoke-filled streets caused in one instance by a flaming bus.

David Miranda, a Chicagoan whose vacation in Puerto Vallarta has evidently gone off the rails, told WSB-TV, “There’s blockages, there’s cars on fires, there’s buses blocking the roads. So nobody can take an Uber, can take a taxi, can take a bus. Everything is blocked.”

“We don’t know how we’re going to get food, because it’s Airbnbs,” said Miranda. “So everything is closed, the corner stores — everything is closed.”

Lefty Karkazis of San Francisco also found himself trapped in Puerto Vallarta.

“We were supposed to fly out of here at 2 p.m. So local time, at approximately 10 o’clock, we came downstairs, trying to get a taxi to go to the airport,” Karkazis told KPIX-TV. “And [the hotel staff] told us that nothing is moving, all the roads are blocked because there’s apparently a cartel operation that is affecting all the flights in and out.”

His United Airlines flight was reportedly canceled.

“The next flight out for San Francisco from United is on Thursday. So we might end up staying until Thursday. I don’t know,” continued Karkazis. “We’re just going to go from there. And the worst-case scenario, like I told my wife, we’re just going to rent a car and start driving north.”

The Trump administration commended the Mexican military on a job well done.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said that the slaying of “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins” is a “great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world.”

“The good guys are stronger than the bad guys,” added Landau.

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​Mexico, Cartel, Crime, El mencho, Nemesio oseguera cervantes, Jalisco, Violence, Tourism, State department, Kalisco, State, Landau, Donald trump, Politics