Category: blaze media

The man caught on video throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald Trump’s anti-crime surge in Washington, D.C., was cleared of the charge against him.

Attorneys for Sean Charles Dunn argued that his sandwich attack was an act of protest protected by the First Amendment and a “harmless gesture.”

‘F**k you! You f**king fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!’

On Thursday, 12 jurors agreed with the defense. All of the jurors, including the foreperson, declined an interview request, according to the Associated Press.

The Department of Justice initially sought a felony assault indictment, but that was rejected by a grand jury. A lesser charge of misdemeanor assault was filed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

“F**k you! You f**king fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn yelled at the officers before the sandwich attack, according to charging documents.

He ran away from the officers but was later arrested.

Customs and Border Patrol Agent Gregory Lairmore testified in court that he felt the impact of the sandwich “through his ballistic vest” and it had “exploded all over” him. He added that he “could smell the onions and mustard” on his uniform and that the mustard stained his shirt.

Defense attorneys undermined the stain account and questioned Lairmore about jokes his fellow officers made about the attack.

Dunn had worked as an international affairs specialist in the criminal division of the U.S. Justice Department but was fired shortly after the arrest.

The man’s Subway sandwich toss was taken up by many on the left as a symbol of their opposition to Trump’s anti-crime policies.

RELATED: Pam Bondi reveals stunning new details about DC leftist suspected in sandwich attack

Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images

Dunn thanked everyone who supported his cause in a speech outside the courthouse with his attorneys standing behind him.

“I am so happy that justice prevails in spite of everything happening. And that night I believe that I was protecting the rights of immigrants,” Dunn said.

“Every life matters, no matter where you came from,” he added. “No matter how you got here, no matter how you identify. You have the right to live a life that is free!”

In August, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) admitted that the surge in federal law enforcement contributed to lowering the crime rate, but other Democrats assailed her for giving any credit to Trump’s policies.

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​Sandwich man, Sandwich assault, Sean charles dunn, Washington dc surge, Politics 

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a major lawsuit against Indianapolis Public Schools over their alleged effort to thwart the enforcement of federal immigration law and their corresponding violations of state immigration law, stating, “No public institution in Indiana has the right to pick and choose which laws to follow.”

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Marion County, requests an injunction against IPS’ “sanctuary” policies, citing a 2017 resolution passed by the school board that prohibits IPS employees from assisting immigration enforcement efforts “unless legally required and authorized to do so by the Superintendent”; from collecting any information regarding a student or parent’s immigration status; and from providing any information regarding a student’s immigration status.

‘Sanctuary policies are bad in any context, but they are especially troubling in our schools.’

“When a school district refuses to cooperate with ICE, it doesn’t just break the law — it endangers students, protects criminal aliens, and sends a dangerous message to every government body in this state: that compliance is optional,” Rokita said. “Not on my watch.”

Rokita told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck on Thursday that amid its apparent campaign to thwart federal law enforcement efforts, the school district had even frustrated the attempt by an illegal alien to self-deport.

An illegal alien from Honduras decided earlier this year to voluntarily deport so that he could one day apply to return to the U.S. legally, Rokita claimed. On Jan. 8, the day of his family’s planned departure, one of his children went to school against his wishes.

RELATED: Masked anti-ICE agitators are in for a rude awakening as new DHS policy goes into effect

Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

Rokita told Beck that when the father went to retrieve his son from school to ensure that his family could depart the U.S. together, “the school obstructed him and then obstructed ICE from assisting as well.”

“I can believe that there are schools this out of control, but not so out of control that they block a dad from picking up his own son,” Beck said.

The state AG indicated that in the time since, his office has uncovered a “whole string of policies” that the IPS has in place that serve to keep ICE agents from doing their jobs.

— (@)

The America First Policy Institute, which has worked with Rokita’s office in developing the legal strategy for tackling rogue institutions and agencies, noted that the lawsuit is filed under Indiana Code chapter 5-2-18.2, which bars state and local entities from interfering with the enforcement of federal immigration law.

Leigh Ann O’Neill, chief legal affairs officer at AFPI, told Beck that several of IPS’ policies directly violate the law, not only frustrating law enforcement efforts but putting vulnerable kids at risk of trafficking and exploitation by making them virtually invisible to the authorities.

“Sanctuary policies are bad in any context, but they are especially troubling in our schools. Schools across the country are vulnerable to infiltration by criminal illegal aliens — it’s happened in many other states — and it is essential that ICE be able to take action when that occurs to help keep our kids safe,” Rokita noted in a statement. “That’s why my office, with the assistance of AFPI, is suing IPS to enforce compliance with state law and protect Hoosier schoolchildren.”

— (@)

“Attorney General Rokita is showing exactly the kind of leadership America needs,” O’Neill said in a statement. “When state attorneys general act boldly to enforce cooperation with federal immigration law, they help protect families, uphold the rule of law, and stop the political gamesmanship that endangers our communities.”

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​Todd rokita, Rokita, Indiana, Illegal aliens, Illegal, Deportation, Immigration, School, Politics 

Sergeant Derek Rogers, a 22-year veteran of the Canadian military who played trombone for the Canadian Central Command Band, took his wife of 20 years on a trip to Maine in 2002. It was the last trip they would take together because a pair of siblings of Sioux descent savagely beat Rogers to death while he was taking a stroll on the beach near the cottage his family rented.

On Tuesday, radicals in Bangor, Maine, elected one of Rogers’ killers, Angela Walker, to city council.

‘That’s my past.’

The 2,231 voters who cast ballots for Walker and the leftist group that endorsed her, Food and Medicine, were evidently willing to give her a pass for her history of violence and deception.

After all, it’s public record that Walker killed Rogers — a soldier known for his charity and devotion to the Salvation Army — participating in his bludgeoning and lethal force-feeding by sand, according to investigators. It’s also a matter of public record that she attempted to blame the killing on an innocent woman named Aimee Pelletier, who investigators later determined had not been at the scene.

Walker and her brother, Benjamin Humphrey, were originally charged with murder following the discovery of Rogers’ body by a fisherman on July 31, 2002.

When Humphrey pleaded guilty to manslaughter the following year, the victim’s sister, Lorna Simard, said, “I don’t feel that any plea bargain is justice,” reported the Associated Press.

Simard was ultimately denied the full measure of justice twice as Walker also managed to strike a plea deal.

RELATED: Candidate arrested for allegedly breaking into GOP rival’s Ohio home — just days before Election Day

Staff photo by Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Walker pleaded guilty in 2003 to perjury as well as to killing Rogers in exchange for a reduced charge of manslaughter.

Robert Crowley, then-justice of the Maine Superior Court, reportedly sentenced Walker to 10 years in prison and gave her a five-year suspended sentence for committing perjury.

While Walker claimed that Rogers prompted her violent reaction by allegedly calling her a “squaw” — a claim Rogers’ family suggested was utter nonsense — Crowley emphasized the victim’s innocence, noting, “He didn’t do anything to contribute to his death, yet he lost his life.”

During her successful political campaign, Walker told the Bangor Daily News, “One of the big reasons that I want to run is because I feel like, with my lived experience and the work that I’ve done in a few different agencies in the area, that I can bring concerns of community members to City Council.”

The same perjurer who apparently helped stuff sand down a soldier’s throat until he died added that she hopes to “be the voice for people that can’t speak up or don’t speak up.”

As for Rogers’ horrific slaying, Walker said, “That’s my past. I don’t live there anymore, and I’m a different person.”

Former Bangor City Council chairwoman Sarah Nichols was among those who endorsed Walker, claiming “Angela has achieved positive results in her own recovery and has played a key role in projects that connect many people to crucial resources, supporting their recovery success.”

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​Bangor maine, Maine, Bangor, Politics, Squaw, Election, Murderer, Manslaughter, Killer, Criminal 

An effort to restrict drag shows from performing sexually in front of children on public property was upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday.

BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales praised the ruling as the vice president of the Texas Family Project, an organization that was involved in crafting the language of the bill.

‘To be clear, Texas children will not be sexually indoctrinated on our watch.’

“Texas Family Project has worked tirelessly to expose the ‘all-ages’ drag shows happening across the state because we knew no one would believe that scantily clad grown men were performing strip-club routines in front of young children unless we showed them directly,” she wrote in a statement to Blaze News.

“We worked with legislators to craft language that would hold up on appeal, and we are so thrilled with today’s long-awaited outcome,” she added. “To be clear, Texas children will not be sexually indoctrinated on our watch.

The ban had been blocked by a lower-court judge, but two of the three judges on the appeals panel ruled to restore the ban while the case proceeds through the court process.

The judges disagreed whether the performances were protected free speech under the First Amendment.

“We have genuine doubt … that pulsing prosthetic breasts in front of people, putting prosthetic breasts in people’s faces, and being spanked by audience members are actually constitutionally protected — especially in the presence of minors,” wrote Judge Kurt Engelhardt, joined by Judge Leslie Southwick.

Judge James Dennis partially dissented from the ruling.

“Drag — a costumed, choreographed, and frequently parodic performance that speaks in the idiom of gender — plainly participates in that protected tradition,” wrote Dennis. “The majority’s effort to collapse an entire art form into a few salacious acts turns these principles on their head.”

The ruling directs the lower court to review the case in light of a Supreme Court ruling on social media, but allows the ban to stay in place while the process plays out.

RELATED: Revolting discoveries from ‘all-ages’ Texas Pride festivals parents NEED to see

The Texas Family Project also released a statement about the ruling on social media.

“Texas law that prevents children from attending sexually explicit drag shows is now in effect!” read the statement. “We have worked for years exposing these events all over the state and the hard work has paid off! Thank you for your continued support of our mission.”

Judge Engelhardt was appointed by President Donald Trump, while Southwick was appointed by former President George W. Bush. Judge Dennis was appointed by former President Bill Clinton.

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​Drag shows in front of children, Family friendly drag show, Texas drag show ban, Politics, Sara gonzales 

The illegal alien whom a Wisconsin judge allegedly helped to evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement received his sentence for a criminal conviction following months in custody.

On Wednesday, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, was sentenced to time served and will be deported after being arrested by federal officials in Milwaukee in April.

Prosecutors claim Dugan escorted Eduardo and his lawyer out of the courtroom through a back door.

He pled guilty on September 4 to re-entering the United States, WTMJ reported.

U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper handed down the sentence at a hearing on Wednesday following a plea deal including a promise to never return to the United States.

RELATED: Masked anti-ICE agitators are in for a rude awakening as new DHS policy goes into effect

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

According to the AP, Judge Pepper told Flores-Ruiz: “I very much hope you can find a way to make a living back home rather than coming back here.”

Flores-Ruiz will remain in custody until his deportation.

Flores-Ruiz’s attorney, Martin Pruhs, told the AP that his client was awaiting deportation in “the near future” but declined to provide further comment.

The full story, however, started more than seven months ago.

In March, ICE agents were alerted that Flores-Ruiz was due in court for three counts of battery. At a court appearance the following month in connection with the battery charges, Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly interfered with federal ICE agents who were attempting to arrest Flores-Ruiz at the conclusion of his hearing.

Prosecutors claim Dugan escorted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out of the courtroom through a back door on April 18. Flores-Ruiz was able to flee the agents on foot before his apprehension.

The following week, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Dugan’s arrest for obstruction, saying, in part, “Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot, and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.”

Dugan was indicted in May, and U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman denied a motion to dismiss the charges against her in August.

“There is no basis for granting immunity simply because some of the allegations in the indictment describe conduct that could be considered ‘part of a judge’s job,’” Adelman wrote in the order, according to WTMJ.

Dugan’s trial is scheduled for December 15.

Flores-Ruiz pled no contest to one count of battery in October. He was sentenced to time served in that case as well.

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​Politics, Ice agents, Ice, Dhs, Eduardo flores ruiz, Hannah dugan, Pamela pepper, Kash patel, Fbi, Lynn adelman, Judge hannah dugan 

Democratic lawmakers in the Illinois legislature have passed a bill that would legalize doctor-assisted suicide across the state.

The bill now awaiting Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature, SB 1950, originally started out as a measure concerning sanitary food preparation. The bill was, however, hollowed out then repurposed. Instead of keeping consumers healthy, the language was changed to expedite death — authorizing a qualified patient with a terminal disease to demand that their doctor prescribe a lethal dose of medication, thereby ending “the patient’s life in a peaceful manner.”

Catholic leaders in the state are among the bill’s loudest critics.

‘Now, they can prescribe death.’

In May, Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, wrote, “I have to ask why, in a time when growing understanding of the deteriorating mental health of the U.S. population — and particularly among our youth — caused the country to create the 988 mental health crisis line, we would want to take this step to normalize suicide as a solution to life’s challenges.”

Cupich stressed that the Illinois legislature should explore options that instead “honor the dignity of human life and provide compassionate care to those experiencing life-ending illness.”

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield stated after legislators ignored Cupich’s counsel and passed the bill in a 30-27 vote on Friday, “It is quite fitting that the forces of the culture of death in the Illinois General Assembly passed physician-assisted suicide on October 31 — a day that, culturally, has become synonymous with glorifying death and evil.”

RELATED: The total state will kill you for being old

Blaze Media Illustration

“It’s also ironic that these pro-death legislators did it under the cloud of darkness at 2:54 a.m. Make no mistake: killing oneself is not dying with dignity. Doctors take an oath to do no harm. Now, they can prescribe death,” the bishop continued. “Physician assisted suicide undermines the value of each person, especially the vulnerable, the poor, and those with disabilities.”

The Illinois Catholic Conference warned on Wednesday that the legalization of assisted suicide in Illinois will put the “state on a slippery path that jeopardizes the well-being of the poor and marginalized, especially those in the disability community and have foreseeable tragic consequences.”

The dangers and fallout of legalized assisted suicide are hardly hypothetical.

North of the border, Canada is weeks away from publishing its sixth annual report on so-called medical assistance in dying. While the official numbers have yet to be released accounting for all MAID deaths in 2024 nationwide, provincial data appear to indicate another year-over-year increase in state-facilitated slayings.

The federal government under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau passed the Medical Assistance in Dying Act in 2016, legalizing euthanasia nationwide. Originally, applicants had to be 18 or older and suffering from a “grievous and irremediable medical condition” causing “enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable” to them.

The state-facilitated suicide program has since been grossly liberalized such that the country’s eugenicist-founded health care system can now effectively execute those struggling with anxiety, autism, depression, economic woes, PTSD, and other survivable issues.

In its first year, MAID offed 1,108 Canadians. That number tripled the following year, and by 2021, the number had climbed to over 10,000 assisted-suicide deaths in a single year.

The Canadian think tank Cardus revealed last year that “MAiD in Canada is no longer unusual or rare. Federal predictions about the expected frequency of MAiD have significantly underestimated the numbers of Canadians who are dying by this means.”

As of 2022, MAID was tied with cerebrovascular diseases as the fifth leading cause of death in the country. The following year, state-facilitated suicide claimed the lives of 15,343 individuals, accounting for 4.7% of all deaths in the country.

‘Feeling like a burden can play on a patient’s decision to request and receive a MAiD death.’

Authorities in Nova Scotia, a province of just over 1 million souls, indicated to Blaze News that it saw a drop in completed MAID slayings last year. Whereas there were 380 slayings in 2023, there were allegedly only 169 in 2024, with 286 active cases and 71 recorded natural deaths prior to MAID.

This appears to be the exception, not the rule.

The nation’s more populous provinces have alternatively seen continued increases in MAID slayings.

British Columbia’s 2024 euthanasia data, for instance, indicate that there were 3,000 state-facilitated suicides in the province last year. While most of the victims were over the age of 65, 1.5% of those slain were between the ages of 18 and 45 and individuals who were not dying. In fact, among the conditions cited as reasons and/or contributing reasons for MAID were “frailty,” dementia, mental disorders, and unstated neurological conditions.

The Euthanasia Prevent Coalition noted that MAID deaths in B.C. were up over 8% from the previous year and accounted for 6.7% of all deaths in the province last year.

Alberta, a province of just over 5 million souls, recorded 1,117 deaths in 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 14.3% and making its total MAID kill count 5,646 victims since 2016.

Data obtained by the MAiD in Canada Substack indicate that in 2024, Ontario had 4,957 deaths, representing an increase of 6.8% and making its grand total 23,333 victims since 2016.

Quebec reportedly had 6,058 MAID deaths last year, representing an increase of 6.4% and making its grand total over 26,000 victims since 2016. In addition to the growing number of deaths, there is apparently a growing cohort of doctors willing to dish out lethal doses in Quebec. A recent government report indicated that over 2,000 physicians were involved in the slayings, representing an 11% increase over the previous year.

Rebecca Vachon, health program director at Cardus, told Blaze News that “based on current reporting from the most populous provinces, we expect to see more than 16,500 ‘medical assistance in dying’ or euthanasia deaths in 2024, which is an increase from the 15,343 deaths reported in 2023. This will likely result in MAiD deaths constituting 5% of total deaths in Canada that year, which, as Cardus discussed in a report released last fall, is a far cry from the expectations set by the courts that MAiD would be for exceptional cases only.”

RELATED: ‘Stone-cold communism’: Canadian government seizes hospice center when staff refuses to allow euthanasia

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Canadian government released a report in 2020 indicating that the previous year, MAID resulted in a net cost reduction of over $86 million for provincial governments. The report additionally noted that further liberalization of the MAID program under Bill C-7, which was passed in March 2021, would result in an additional $62 million reduction in costs.

When asked whether MAID is being championed in part as a way to cut costs for Canada’s immigration-strained health care system, Vachon told Blaze News, “Regardless of intentions, the pressure that feeling like a burden can play on a patient’s decision to request and receive a MAiD death should not be understated.”

“For instance, Canadian MAiD providers report that almost 50% of the patients they helped die in 2023 reported feeling they were a burden on others — up 10% from the previous year,” Vachon said.

‘Illinois should be a state that offers compassion, care, and hope — not death — as the answer to human suffering.’

Polls conducted by Cardus in partnership with the Angus Reid Institute found that 62% of Canadians fear that those who are financially or socially vulnerable may consider state-facilitated suicide because of difficulties accessing adequate care, Vachon indicated.

The fear is justified given that 42% of all MAID deaths from 2019 to 2023 involved people who required disability supports. Of those victims, over 1,017 never received those supports.

“Canadians deserve care that alleviates their suffering and prevents it from becoming ‘unbearable,'” Vachon said.

Blaze News has reached out for comment to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office as well as to the leaders of the New Democratic Party and Conservative Party, Don Davies and Pierre Poilievre.

While the slope has been greased in Canada and in states such as California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Vermont, and Washington, there’s still hope that Pritzker may reconsider, especially after he noted on Monday, “It was something that I didn’t expect and didn’t know it was going to be voted on, so we’re examining it even now.”

Rather than sign the bill, the Illinois Catholic Conference has implored Pritzker to “expand and improve on palliative care programs that offer expert assessment and management of pain and other symptoms.”

Bishop Paprocki noted, “Pray for Gov. Pritzker to reject this legislation. Illinois should be a state that offers compassion, care, and hope — not death — as the answer to human suffering.”

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​Maid, Assisted suicide, Assisted dying, Death, Euthanasia, Health, Healthcare, Health care, State facilitated suicide, Statism, Culture of death, Illinois, Canada, Provincial, Chicago, Hospital, Politics 

Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes was supposed to be explosive. It wasn’t.

Far from normalizing Fuentes or advancing his strange brand of “right-wing” politics, the two-hour conversation exposed him as a shallow, aggrieved figure without the intellect or maturity to lead anything. Carlson didn’t destroy Fuentes with debate. He did something worse: He made him boring.

Fuentes built his notoriety as a young “influencer” who mixes nationalism with online provocation. He’s outspokenly racist, anti-Semitic, and obsessed with pushing the limits of shock. And he’s managed to attract a following among disaffected young men — the “Groypers.”

Fuentes’ interview marks his peak — and his decline. Once the outrage fades, he’ll return to obscurity.

In recent years, Fuentes has tried to rebrand himself as something somewhat more serious. He talks about immigration breaking working families, foreign wars enriching elites, and a culture that mocks masculinity. Those themes resonate because they tap real frustrations that many Americans share.

But Fuentes offers no coherent moral or political vision. Others — better read, more disciplined, and far less toxic — make similar arguments with insight and integrity. The late Charlie Kirk, for example, famously wanted nothing to do with Fuentes and his followers for precisely that reason.

The grudge-filled path

Carlson’s interview focused less on ideas than on Fuentes’ grievances. He recounted his early days as a libertarian campaigning for Ted Cruz in 2015, his shift to Trumpism, and his viral rise after a debate with a leftist opponent. Soon he was clashing with prominent conservatives, especially the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro.

According to Fuentes, Shapiro and his allies sabotaged his career and drove him into exile on the “dark web.” At no point does Fuentes wonder whether Shapiro recognized instability and immaturity in him — or simply concluded that he wasn’t worth the investment.

Like many in his Gen Z cohort, Fuentes mistakes online engagement for substance. Without outrage, he has nothing. He’s poorly educated, reads little, and shrugs off legitimate criticism. The result is a young man trapped in perpetual adolescence, angry that the world won’t take him seriously.

Carlson’s indulgence

Carlson tries to humanize Fuentes, appealing to Christian charity and the value of learning from failure. But Fuentes clings to his score-settling. His list of enemies includes not just Shapiro but Charlie Kirk, Joe Kent, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — and even Carlson himself, though he gets a temporary reprieve for offering the platform.

Carlson also attempts to rationalize Fuentes’ anti-Semitism, giving him space to “clarify.” Fuentes insists he doesn’t hate Jews personally — he just opposes Judaism as a “force against Western civilization.” He repeats conspiracy theories about Jewish control of institutions and denies the Holocaust.

Carlson pushes back, but only mildly. Both men protest that they “don’t hate Jews” and have Jewish friends, as if that were exculpatory. It isn’t. The exchange casts neither in a good light.

Empty provocateurs

The rest of the interview dissolves into incoherence. Fuentes casually praises Joseph Stalin, of all people, before the conversation fizzles. Carlson’s attempt to recast Fuentes as a misunderstood outsider backfires. The result is a portrait of a man whose only real claim to relevance is being disliked — and even that feels undeserved.

Carlson’s indulgence of fringe figures is becoming a pattern. Andrew Tate. Darryl Cooper. Now Fuentes. Each enjoys a sizeable online following built on provocation and grievance. And each, when pressed, collapses into self-pity and incoherence. These men are charlatans and grifters who don’t challenge the establishment; they merely rehearse falsehoods and conspiracy theories to raise their profiles among mostly lonely, disaffected young men.

RELATED: Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and the war for the conservative soul

Photo by NurPhoto via Getty Images

The decline of two brands

Fuentes’ interview marks his peak — and his decline. Once the outrage fades, he’ll return to obscurity, remembered mostly as a cautionary tale about what happens when empty charisma meets unearned confidence.

Carlson, meanwhile, risks following him down that path. His willingness to platform attention-seekers may boost short-term clicks, but it erodes long-term credibility. Each indulgence costs him a little more trust.

The tragedy isn’t just Fuentes’ wasted potential. It’s the spectacle of one of the right’s most talented communicators lending his megaphone to a man who long ago proved himself unworthy of it.

​Nick fuentes, Tucker carlson, Groypers, Charlie kirk, Opinion & analysis, Anti-semitism, First amendment, America first, Gen z, Loneliness, Young men, Andrew tate, Daryl cooper 

The mayor of a Kansas town who won re-election on Tuesday has been accused of election fraud for allegedly voting despite being a noncitizen.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) announced the charges against Jose “Joe” Ceballos, the mayor of Coldwater, on Wednesday. The 54-year-old is a permanent resident of the U.S. but not a citizen, according to Kobach, and is a citizen of Mexico.

‘In large part, our system right now is based on trust. … In this case, we allege that Mr. Ceballos violated that trust.’

“Joe Ceballos, who garnered nearly 83% of the vote Tuesday for a second term as Coldwater mayor, was charged with three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury,” Kobach said. “Both are felony offenses.”

“In Kansas, it is against the law to vote if you are not a U.S. citizen. We allege that Mr. Ceballos did it multiple times,” Kobach added.

If found guilty, Ceballos could face nearly five years in prison and a $200,000 fine.

“In large part, our system right now is based on trust,” Kobach said. “Trust that when the person signed the registration or signs the pollbooks saying that he’s a qualified elector or that he is a United States citizen, that the person is telling the truth. In this case, we allege that Mr. Ceballos violated that trust.”

The president of the Coldwater City Council released a statement before Kobach’s press conference on Facebook.

“While the recent allegations involving the mayor are understandably concerning, we will allow the proper legal process to take its course before making any further comments,” Britt Lenertz said. “It’s important that we respect both due process and the integrity of our local government.”

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said during the press conference that new resources provided by President Donald Trump allowed the administration to check voters’ citizenship status.

“They could be a legal resident, but they’re not a citizen, and we want to make sure that gets clarified,” said Schwab said. “If they voted, then it’s a crime. And we have run that system; we’re currently verifying. We don’t want any false positives, but, Attorney General, be prepared to be busy.”

RELATED: Online outrage erupts over video of illegal alien’s arrest in DC — then the horrific charges against him are revealed

The city attorney for Coldwater said that Ceballos raised some red flags after seeking citizenship status in February.

“He’s been a registered voter since 1990. He applied for citizenship in February of this year and, through that, raised the issue of whether he was a legal citizen,” said Skip Herd.

Ceballos was first elected mayor in 2021 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2025. The city attorney will determine whether he will be eligible to continue as mayor.

“As a mayor, he’s done a wonderful job,” continued Lenertz. “As a city councilmember, he’s done a wonderful job. He’s always put our community first in everything he does.”

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​Coldwater mayor, Jose joe ceballo, Illegal voting, Noncitizens voting, Politics 

Zohran Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City, and while BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock is not happy, he’s also not surprised.

“He gets to say whatever he believes. He gets to come off as authentic. He gets to describe in detail, ‘If I’m the mayor, here’s what I want to do; here’s how I want your lives to change; here are the things that I think will improve New York City,” Whitlock says.

“But if you’re on the conservative side, if you’re on the biblical conservative side, they have framed up the conversation that if you say what you think should happen, you’re racist. If you say, ‘Man, we’ve got too many Muslims over here. Man, how did 80,000 people from Somalia end up in Minnesota? How did Ilhan Omar rise to power? Why are there people, lawmakers of ours, that have dual citizenship? How come we can’t execute an America First agenda?’” he continues.

“If you ask those questions, you’re intolerant, you’re racist, you’re anti-Semitic, and most of these people don’t want to deal with the consequences,” he adds.

And because most on the right fear being called these names, they don’t stand behind their true beliefs — and they’re less likely to win elections.

“The left gets to proudly, boldly, speak their worldview. The right has been trained that if you speak your worldview too boldly, we’ll do you the same way we did Trump. Here’s Donald Trump. He’s friends with every black rapper and celebrity and athlete for years, but we framed him up as a racist,” Whitlock says.

“Here’s Charlie Kirk, a devout Christian. We framed him up as racist. We can do it to you. And there’s been bullets fired at Donald Trump. There’s been attempts to incarcerate the man. And Charlie Kirk was shot in broad daylight in front of basically all of America and all the world,” he continues.

“And most people don’t want to pay that price. They don’t. They want to carry the cross only so far,” he adds.

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Second-year defensive end Marshawn Kneeland scored the first touchdown of his career on Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals. The Dallas Cowboys player recovered a blocked punt in the end zone, and although his team lost 27-17, it was the biggest play of his career.

With one sack and 12 tackles this year, the former Western Michigan player was certainly performing better statistically in his sophomore season than last year, after the Cowboys drafted him 56th overall in second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

‘I still feel like she’s there watching over me.’

This made the Cowboys’ announcement Thursday that Kneeland is now deceased even more shocking.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said, per ESPN. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

Sadly, Kneeland’s mother also recently passed away.

RELATED: LA Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen puts Christian faith front and center during World Series: ‘Make heaven crowded’

After a successful college career, Kneeland was preparing for the NFL Draft when his mother passed away suddenly.

As reported by the Dallas Morning News, she passed from an undisclosed illness. Kneeland said at the time that he just found a way to manage the loss and said he always told her he would make it to the NFL.

“She’s still with me,” he said. “I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me.”

Kneeland subsequently carried the ashes in a necklace following the draft.

After the announcement of Kneeland’s sudden death, fans were understandably shocked.

“Bro scored a touchdown Monday night and 3 days later he’s gone. Life is crazy. I feel horrible for his family and friends,” one fan wrote on X.

“Rest in peace man, he had such an insanely bright future,” another fan replied.

Another noted that it was “hard to find the right words right now.”

The poster added, “Marshawn Kneeland wasn’t just an incredible athlete he was the kind of person who lifted everyone around him.”

‘… a pain I can hardly put into words.’

Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, released a much more personal statement on the loss of his “dearest friend”: “I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” Perzley said, according to TMZ.

“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream of being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” he added. “Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”

RELATED: Is Michael Jordan’s NBA halftime series a flop or a gold mine of insight?

— (@)

Frisco Police issued a subsequent press release saying that Kneeland’s death was being investigated as a suicide.

“A man was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following an outside agency vehicle pursuit that led to a multi-agency search in Frisco,” the department wrote on X.

The release said that reports indicated Kneeland had fled the scene of a car crash after evading troopers on the Dallas Parkway.

“During the course of the search, officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations,” Frisco PD wrote.

Kneeland was later located just after 1:30 a.m., dead by “what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

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​Fearless, Nfl, Football, Dallas cowboys, Died suddenly, Sports 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is working on identifying and tackling the root causes of America’s obesity epidemic. In the meantime, the Trump administration wants to make sure that Americans have access to affordable diabetes and weight-loss drugs, specifically glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, better known as GLP-1 drugs.

To this end and as part of his months-long campaign to bring most-favored-nation prescription drug pricing to Americans, President Donald Trump has struck a deal with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, to cut prices on their weight-loss drugs in exchange for Medicare coverage.

A senior administration official indicated on Thursday that since Trump issued his most-favored-nation pricing executive order in May, GLP-1 drugs “have been top of mind” — not just because of the pharmaceuticals’ apparent cardiometabolic benefits “but also because this is, again, an issue of fairness.”

RELATED: How MAHA can really save American lives

IM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Per the terms of Trump’s deal with the two companies, “starting oral doses of GLP-1s will cost just $149 for everyone on Medicare, Medicaid, or Trump Rx,” said an official. “That’s roughly 1/9th of today’s list price.”

For Medicare, the manufacturers have reportedly agreed to reduce prices on GLP-1 drugs that are currently used for diabetes and other covered conditions to $245 per month across all other doses, added the official.

Savings generated by these price reductions will apparently be used to provide new coverage for GLP-1 drugs to patients struggling with obesity who face high metabolic or cardiovascular risk at the same monthly cost of $245.

As of 2020, over 100 million American adults were obese, and more than 22 million adults suffered from severe obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the adult obesity rate reportedly declined from 39.9% in 2022 to 37% this year — representing roughly 7.6 million fewer obese adults — Gallup recently indicated that diagnoses of diabetes have reached an all-time high of 13.8%.

Amid the glut of diabetes cases, there has been a significant increase in the number of U.S. adults who report taking GLP-1 drugs — from 5.8% in February 2024 to 12.4% in the latest quarter of 2025. The three-year decline in obesity among most age groups appears to correspond with the embrace of the weight-loss drugs.

When asked roughly how many patients on Medicare and Medicaid would be impacted by these changes, another administration official noted that in Medicare, around 10% of the population will be eligible for the standard access. While the drugs are approved for a much broader population, access has been constrained for “patients that will benefit clinically from it.”

There will reportedly be three tiers of patients in Medicare who will have access to these drugs for the purposes of addressing obesity and driving “cardiometabolic improvement”: those with a body mass index greater than 27 kg/m² suffering from pre-diabetes or established cardiovascular disease; patients with a BMI greater than 30 who have uncontrolled hypertension, kidney disease, and/or heart failure; and individuals with a BMI exceeding 35.

‘We do not believe that GLP-1s or drugs alone are somehow some silver bullet.’

“This is about making America healthy again,” said the second official. “This is about preventing strokes, this is about preventing heart attacks, and this is about preventing end-stage renal disease.”

The officials acknowledged, however, that cheaper drugs do not amount to a long-term solution to the problem of obesity.

“Make no mistake: We’re in a war against obesity. We do not believe that GLP-1s or drugs alone are somehow some silver bullet to make the … country healthy again,” said one official. “They are an important jump-start.”

In exchange for their cooperation, the pharma giants are gaining additional access to beneficiaries who wouldn’t otherwise be covered by Medicare for obesity indications, certainty from the Trump administration on its approach to drug pricing moving forward, and a commitment to invest in American manufacturing.

One Trump administration official told reporters that this initiative is expected to ultimately be cost neutral, stating, “This is really a win-win on all sides — for taxpayers, for Medicare beneficiaries, as well as for the companies.”

Last month, Trump announced an agreement with AstraZeneca that would guarantee every state Medicaid program across the country most-favored-nation drug prices on the pharma giant’s products. The previous month, he announced a similar deal with Pfizer.

“In case after case, our citizens pay massively higher prices than other nations pay for the same exact pill, from the same factory, effectively subsidizing socialism [abroad] with skyrocketing prices at home,” Trump said in a statement. “So we would spend tremendous amounts of money in order to provide inexpensive drugs to another country. And when I say the price is different, you can see some examples where the price is beyond anything — four times, five times different.”

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​Donald trump, Obesity, Fat, Glp-1, Kennedy, Rfk, Health, Drugs, Most favored nation, Pharma, Pharmaceuticals, Eli lilly, Novo nordisk, Politics 

BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey’s Turning Point USA speech where she condemned pornography as “evil in every way” sparked a wave of attacks from men who claim to share her Christian and conservative values.

These men claimed that she was a “feminist” who should not be directly speaking to men. In fact, she was simply reciting a message that Charlie Kirk himself was very passionate about.

“There is a segment of males on the right, presumably the political right, who also profess to be Christians, who have been expressing their utter indignation that I gave a speech at a Turning Point USA campus stop and that in that speech, I talked about the dangers of pornography,” Stuckey explains on “Relatable.”

“I was called a feminist. I was called a bad mom, a negligent wife who was trying to act like a man. I was told that I should only talk to women or that I should not talk at all, that women have no place in the public square,” she continues.

Stuckey was asked by Kirk to join her on this campus tour before he was assassinated, so in order to honor him, her speech reflected the most controversial truths that he taught.

One of these truths is that porn has “weakened men,” which was the catalyst for all the outrage that followed.

“Charlie was so good at talking about this and so good at talking so courageously and sternly and clearly to the young men,” Stuckey said during her “controversial” speech, before explaining why it “is so detrimental not only to men” but also “objectifies women and children.”

“It commercializes sex, which is a gift from God for a married couple, between one man and one woman. And it glorifies violence. It creates addiction and shame. It destroys marriages. It ruins your perception of other people. It is the legal loophole for sex trafficking. It is evil in every way, and it will destroy your life,” she said.

“And this is what I would want to say to men, and I hope that you hear it from strong men in your life, that men, we need you. And we need your masculinity, and we need your strength, and we need your boldness, and we need your courage, and we need those things to be harnessed for good,” she continued.

“We need really strong men, and porn makes you weak,” she concluded.

Some “Christian conservative” men who heard this part of Allie’s speech took to X to mislabel her a “feminist” who should not be speaking to men.

“There is probably not another Christian woman in the conservative commentary space who has made more of an effort than I have to pull women away from progressivism, to try to change women’s minds and hearts when it comes to abortion, to try to change women’s minds and hearts when it comes to marriage,” Stuckey says in response.

“So, to say that I am a feminist who preaches to men really is just laughable. And it just goes to show you that people will just lie,” she adds.

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More Chinese scholars from the University of Michigan have allegedly been tied to a smuggling conspiracy.

The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party announced Wednesday charges against three UM scholars, bringing the total to seven Chinese nationals connected to the alleged smuggling plot.

‘It is part of a broader, coordinated campaign targeting universities across the country, driven by China’s efforts to acquire American technology.’

In June, the Department of Justice charged Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend, 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, with smuggling a fungus into the United States. Officials claimed that the Fusarium graminearum could potentially be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon.

Liu allegedly claimed the reason for smuggling the pathogen was to conduct research at UM’s laboratory, where Jian worked.

Chengxuan Han, another UM scholar, was also arrested in June after she allegedly mailed several packages containing “biological material related to roundworms” to UM’s laboratory.

Han, 28, was sentenced in September to time served and was expected to return to China.

RELATED: University of Michigan now under fire after Chinese scholars allegedly smuggle bio-weapon

Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Three additional Chinese nationals who were working at UM were terminated after the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan filed new charges, claiming the individuals were involved with a biological material smuggling plot, according to the Select Committee’s Wednesday press release.

The Detroit News reported that Xu Bai, 28, Fengfan Zhang, 27, and Zhiyong Zhang, 30, faced charges including smuggling biological material into the country and lying to federal agents.

Han allegedly sent one of the packages to Bai’s apartment in Ann Arbor. A complaint reviewed by the Detroit News stated that Bai became uncooperative, refusing to speak with investigators.

Han also allegedly sent several packages to Fengfan Zhang and Zhiyong Zhang.

“When asked if he had ever received any packages from Han, Zhiyong Zhang showed multiple signs of nervous behavior, including his right eye twitching only when discussing Han, and he was unable to fully explain whether he did or did not receive any packages,” a federal agent wrote.

UM reportedly fired the three scholars after they refused to cooperate with an internal investigation of the lab, operated by life sciences professor Shawn Xu.

“Professor Xu has been cooperative with the University of Michigan’s investigation into the laboratory,” Xu’s lawyer, David Nacht, told the Detroit News. “He has not been informed by any federal official that he is a target of any investigation.”

According to Nacht, the lab continues to operate, and Xu remains in good standing with UM.

“Professor Xu has lived in Michigan for decades, and he does basic biological research on worms,” Nacht claimed. “Those present no hazards, nor do they have any military or obvious commercial application.”

RELATED: From Wuhan to Michigan: Feds nab ANOTHER Chinese scholar in alleged bio-material smuggling plot

Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In 2019, Zhiyong Zhang allegedly sent a package to Xu that contained petri dishes with nematodes, or roundworms.

“Professor Xu’s laboratory routinely receives roundworms and other biological material through the normal mail and [FedEx] and UPS from a laboratory in Minnesota that produces them,” Nacht told the Detroit News.

UM’s termination of the three scholars means the Chinese nationals are no longer in compliance with their visa requirements and may be subject to deportation.

“These new charges reveal an organized network of scholars engaged in illegal activity on Michigan’s campus,” Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) stated. “It is part of a broader, coordinated campaign targeting universities across the country, driven by China’s efforts to acquire American technology. University leaders should launch internal reviews to safeguard their research from China’s adversarial actions. My colleagues and I appreciate the accountability we’ve seen from Michigan through our oversight efforts, and we will continue to use every tool we have to protect taxpayer-funded research and national security.”

Blaze News contacted the Select Committee and the University of Michigan for comment.

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​News, University of michigan, Michigan, Chinese communist party, Ccp, Chinese scholars, China, Biological material, Bio-material smuggling, Smuggling, Politics 

A typical UFC broadcast on ESPN is now shrouded in an alleged fight-fixing scandal.

The No. 1 broadcast for UFC “Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama” was going as typically as any other event at the UFC Apex until the fourth-to-last fight took place.

The outcome of that fight, however, had UFC President Dana White immediately on the phone with federal authorities.

‘Are you injured? Do you owe anybody money?’

It turns out that White already had his eye on the match between fighters Yadier del Valle and Isaac Dulgarian. Specifically, White and the UFC had already contacted Dulgarian after getting word of suspicious bets placed against the Kansas City, Missouri, native, who was a healthy favorite to win the fight.

“About one o’clock that day — we’re with a company called IC360, and they are the best bet-monitoring company in the business — and they reached out to us and they told us that there was some unusual action going on with that fight,” White told TMZ Sports.

White continued, “Do we know anything? We didn’t, so what we did was we called the fighter and his lawyer and said, ‘What’s going on? There’s some weird action going on in your [fight]. Are you injured? Do you owe anybody money? Has anybody approached you to, you know,’ and the kid said, ‘No, absolutely not. I’m going to kill this guy.'”

The UFC boss said he simply replied “OK” and let the fight happen. Dulgarian was a reported -250 favorite.

“The fight plays out, and first-round finish by rear-naked choke. Literally the first thing we did was call the FBI,” White said.

As it turns out, the bet-monitoring system may have pointed to that exact outcome after an usual amount of money was put on the line.

RELATED: NBA coach, former player arrested in Mafia-tied nationwide gambling bust

The fight is available online, and viewers can watch as Dulgarian struggles to grapple with his Cuban opponent before eventually tapping to a rear-naked choke with 1:19 left in the first round.

IC360’s co-founder, Scott Sadin, revealed that several factors pointed to a possible outcome in line with the unusual bets. Sadin said the company typically looks for “two strange things or more” that raise eyebrows in terms of fight betting. For this fight, Sadin said there was “significant [betting] line movement, not just on the outright winner of the fight but also when the fight would end in the first round.”

“Something that at least warranted further investigation,” Sadin told TMZ.

The betting expert explained that the total value of bets on the fight was higher than what was expected, as were the bets on Dulgarian to lose, as well as when and how he would lose. All of these factors likely pointed to a specific outcome that, if fulfilled, could signal that there was an agreement for the fight to end in that manner.

This is what caused White to “literally [walk] up from the octagon into my room in the back and [call] the FBI.”

Dulgarian has not been charged with a crime, nor has he been proven to have rigged the fight. In White’s Magic 8-Ball, though, the outlook is not so good.

RELATED: San Jose Sharks apologize for displaying pro-ICE message on scoreboard during Hispanic celebration

“Fight-fixing is absolutely insane,” White said. “… I’m not saying this kid’s guilty. … There’s no proof that he’s done this yet, but I can tell you this … it definitely doesn’t look good.”

He added, “[Dulgarian] and his lawyer denied … everything. … We asked them all the questions.”

Blaze News spoke to former UFC fighter T.J. Laramie, who was recently in Japan with his brother and fellow pro fighter, Tony Laramie.

T.J. revealed that before his brother won his fight on the Nov. 3 Rizin FF-Landmark Vol. 12 card, he was asked to rig the match.

“My brother actually got approached prior to his fight in Rizin this past weekend to throw the fight, essentially, and they were willing to compensate him minimum three times his fight purse,” T.J. told Blaze News. Tony openly mocked the offer on social media, having lost only once in the last six years.

Older brother T.J. said with how prevalent betting is now, even on regional promotions, it likely would not take much for a fighter to say “yes” to an offer like that.

“We put in so much and get paid very little, so I could see why it would be enticing for certain people. Especially in these smaller shows, where there’s less eyes on it and less on the line in general. I personally wouldn’t do that, but I could certainly see why someone would,” T.J. added.

Much as with recent NBA scandals, T.J. said the bets may not manifest in fight-fixing as much as they may come into play due to “insider information.”

“Maybe someone in the camp knows about an injury or something compromising a fighter that no one else would know — and definitely not the oddsmakers,” he said.

Tony is 11-3 overall. T.J. has a record of 16-3 and has won four fights in a row since he last fought in the UFC.

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​Fearless, Betting, Gambling, Betting scandal, Fight fixing, Nevada, Ufc, Mma, Sports 

Move over X! The public square has a new mayor. The latest user metrics show that, for the first time ever, Threads surpassed X in monthly active users worldwide, and it’s on track to rise even further. At the same time, X continues to decline, spelling disaster for the world’s free-speech platform. Will censorship run rampant on the global stage, or is there still hope that X can bounce back? Let’s find out …

Threads has more daily users than X, but it’s not what you think

In a graph compiled by Similarweb, September shows that Threads just barely eked ahead of X in monthly active users, coming in at 130.2 million daily users compared to X’s 130.1 million users. The difference between them is razor-thin, but it’s still significant for one big reason: September 2025 marks the very first time that Threads surpassed X since the platform launched on July 5, 2023.

Graphic by Zach Laidlaw

Another quick look at the graph outlines a second alarming stat — X, marked in orange, is on a clear downward slide, while Threads, highlighted in blue, is climbing upward. Now that both have intersected, it’s likely that they will trade places permanently, giving Threads the crown over X in active monthly users worldwide.

Threads stands to gain it all and shift the political narrative back in favor of the left.

But it’s not all bad news. Threads may be king around the globe, but X still leads on mobile in the U.S. market with 21.3 million daily users over Threads’ 16.2 million daily active mobile users. The disparity is even larger for website visits, with 140.7 million daily active users flocking to X.com versus a paltry 7.7 million daily users on Threads.com.

So why worry if X is still ahead of Threads in the United States? There are several causes for concern:

The great social media reset

Now that Threads is the new worldwide digital town square, it’s only a matter of time until the U.S. market takes a hit. The first major paradigm shift will come from brands as they pull advertising dollars from X and invest in Threads with its wider global reach. Advertisers have already dropped X in the past, and Elon Musk sued to reverse it, though there may not be much he can do if brands simply decide to prioritize a more active platform.

Next, users will continue to drop off in favor of Threads’ growing community. They’ll follow their friends and relatives to Meta’s platform, further hitting X’s bottom line. If X loses enough traction after that, it will either recede into obscurity or worse, it could dissolve entirely.

The end of online free speech

As a bastion of free speech, X is the premiere open platform with the least amount of political censorship. While Americans can exercise these rights on X, the rise of Threads opens the door for greater censorship around the world, especially in countries where X is already banned.

If X topples entirely, no U.S. citizen is safe from the next Democrat president reinstating the oppressive censorship tactics from the Biden administration. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg claims to be a proponent of free speech these days, but does anyone trust him to keep his word in the next administration? I’m not holding my breath.

The echo chamber wars

Just as pre-Musk Twitter was a left-leaning echo chamber for liberal ideas, X could become the same thing for the right. More left-leaning users will undoubtedly flee to Threads to shore up their online political stronghold, and X will morph into a right-wing haven primarily for conservative values.

It might sound like a good idea to give both sides their places to gather online in peace, but the truth is a little more grim. Echo chambers of any kind have consequences, and society is better off without them. We need an online space — like X — where the two sides engage in civil debate, a fact that the late Charlie Kirk knew well. In Charlie’s own words, “When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence … because you start to think the other side is so evil and they lose their humanity.”

X is more than its user metrics

Looking at raw data, the graph is clear: X has been on a steady decline for years dating back to Elon Musk’s acquisition. At the same time, Threads has continued to grow month over month, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. If the trend plays out, X is at real risk of losing its power in the social and political landscape, while Threads stands to gain it all and shift the political narrative back in favor of the left.

RELATED: Zuckerberg’s vision: US military AI and tech around the world

Photo by Alex Wong / Contributor via Getty Images

That said, X’s U.S. momentum is still going strong, providing enough engagement to keep the platform relevant, at least for the time being. X is also so much more than a social media app — it’s a hub for xAI and Grok, a PR machine for SpaceX, a launchpad for the new Vine, a budding financial platform, and more. Musk is betting big on X as a holistic lifestyle product that transcends its social roots. The new strategy provides multiple engagement points to grow the userbase outside of X alone, keep users locked in every day, and make sure they come back for more, Threads be damned.

​Tech, Threads, X, Free speech 

Police in Medford, Oregon, said officers responded to a report of a shooting at 18 Hawthorne Street just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

The investigation revealed that a neighbor heard and observed a loud commotion outside his apartment, police said.

‘Good job neighbor. That’s what it’s about!!’

Through his window, he saw an unknown male attempting to force entry into the front door of a nearby apartment, which he knew was occupied by an elderly resident, police said.

The neighbor grabbed his handgun and rushed over to assist, police said, adding that once he was in the unit, the neighbor saw the suspect assaulting the elderly resident.

During the confrontation, the neighbor shot the suspect, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, adding that multiple rounds were fired.

The deceased individual has been identified as 32-year-old Martin Uriel Jimenez of Medford, police said.

The neighbor who fired the shots was detained and is cooperating with investigators, police said.

While no arrests have been made, police noted that detectives are continuing to investigate.

Police added that “as is standard protocol in all investigations where deadly force was used and resulted in death, the case will be presented to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for review.”

RELATED: Man opens fire on armed suspected intruder — outside neighbor’s home: ‘We’ve always told people not to mess around down here’

Image source: Medford (Ore.) Police

It appears that many commenters under the police department’s Facebook post about the shooting are squarely behind the neighbor who rushed over to help. The following are but a few of them:

“I own the property where this occurred,” one commenter stated. “I know all the tenants well. They are all clean, gainfully employed, good citizens. The intruder was unknown to any of them. The intruder was violent, deranged, no pants on, kicked in an apartment door at 3:30am and attacked the tenant inside as he was calling 911. The younger man in the neighboring apartment heard the commotion and came to the aid of his neighbor resident to find the intruder beating the older gentleman/tenant and causing injuries. When the younger neighbor intervened, the random, pants-less, 6’2”, 280# intruder charged at him and was shot by the neighbor in an act of self defense. 100% justified.””That hero better not get charged!” another user declared. “I hope my neighbor would do the same.””The intruder received justice,” another commenter wrote. “I hope the neighbor is cleared as it should be.””Sounds like the neighbor saved the resident, don’t charge that man for anything,” another user said.”Good guy with a gun for the win!” another commenter exclaimed.”Good job neighbor,” another user said. “That’s what it’s about!!”

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​Crime thwarted, 2nd amend., Guns, Gun rights, Defending others, Intruder, Break-in, Physical attack, Elderly neighbor, Fatal shooting, Medford, Oregon, Police, Self-defense, Crime 

Federal officers have been met with a range of resistance from protesters, most notably in blue sanctuary cities like Portland and Chicago. Now, however, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the implementation of new rules that should give officers an advantage as they continue to do their already dangerous jobs.

Early this week, the Department of Homeland Security updated its list of prohibited and restricted conduct on federal property, and those wearing face-coverings should take note.

Those rules will be enforced ‘on federal property or in areas outside federal property, that affects, threatens, or endangers federal property or persons on the federal property.’

“Wearing a mask, hood, disguise, or device that conceals the identity of the wearer when attempting to avoid detection or identification while violating any federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation” is forbidden, the rules say.

Those rules will be enforced “on federal property or in areas outside federal property, that affects, threatens, or endangers federal property or persons on the federal property,” the rules state.

RELATED: ‘Unleashed’: Houston ICE agents complete another large-scale immigration raid

Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

Investigative journalist Katie Daviscourt reported that this rule change is a “game changer” because it will give federal agents greater jurisdiction in making arrests at and near the federal facility in Portland, where local police previously had jurisdiction.

DHS officers at the Portland facility announced Wednesday that they had begun enforcing the new policy, Daviscourt said, though it was originally supposed to go into effect in January 2026.

Violation of the rules “can be a federal criminal offense punishable by incarceration up to 30 days and a $5,000.00 fine,” DHS noted.

The greater latitude granted by this rule change may allow federal officers to operate more efficiently as they work to deport illegal aliens from America.

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​Politics, Department of homeland security, Katie daviscourt, Masks, Ice, Cbp, Dhs, Regulations, Portland, Portland oregon 

Elon Musk’s appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” last week should be required listening for anyone who still believes “one citizen, one vote” is the bedrock of our republic. For more than three hours, Musk — engineer, entrepreneur, and agent provocateur — peeled back the curtain on what he called Washington’s longest-running con: a taxpayer-funded pipeline that turns illegal immigrants into future Democrat voters.

Musk didn’t hedge. The ongoing government shutdown, he said, isn’t about continuing resolutions or fiscal cliffs. It’s about Democrats refusing to cut the hundreds of billions in welfare spending that draw migrants across the border. Turn off the cash, and the migrants leave. Cut the flow of migrants, and the left’s imported electorate vanishes.

When the rule of law returns to our borders, it returns to our ballot boxes. That’s a future worth shutting down the swamp to secure.

Joe Rogan was gobsmacked, for good reason. The former head of the Department of Government Efficiency described, in clear terms, what many Americans have long suspected but have been told was a conspiracy theory: The government’s own spending has become a political machine.

The welfare magnet

Musk’s argument is simple. Blue-state welfare programs — Medicaid expansions, housing vouchers, EBT cards, in-state tuition — advertise America as “free everything” for those who cross the border. When Rogan asked what would happen if those benefits stopped, Musk replied, “The Democratic Party will lose a lot of voters.”

Not some — a lot. California’s supermajority didn’t appear by chance, he noted; it was built city by city, sanctuary by sanctuary.

That blueprint is now spreading to Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and other battlegrounds with generous welfare systems. The U.S. Census already rewards high-immigrant states with extra congressional seats and Electoral College votes. Add motor-voter laws, same-day registration, and ballot harvesting, and you don’t need a single illegal ballot to tip the scale. The counting itself does it.

This is arithmetic, not a conspiracy theory. Since 2021, the Department of Homeland Security’s parole programs have admitted more than a million people under “humanitarian” pretexts. Federally funded NGOs meet them at the border, fly or bus them to swing districts, and sign them up for every benefit imaginable.

Musk argued that ending the handouts would prompt a voluntary exodus within weeks — no ICE raids or roundups required. Yet Democrats treat any effort to cut those programs as existential sabotage. Why? Because their own numbers show what happens when the inflow stops: Red states stay red, blue states fade to purple, and the Electoral College map becomes competitive again.

The real shutdown fight

That, Musk said, is why Democrats would rather grind Washington to a halt than surrender their demographic advantage. The “shutdown” isn’t a budget fight — it’s a fight to preserve a political machine.

Enter Donald Trump’s enforcement agenda: the program many voters thought they were getting after the 1986 amnesty deal that never delivered. Mass deportations. Mandatory E-Verify. The end of catch-and-release. A full audit of every federal dollar funneled to “new arrivals.”

Critics reflexively cry “xenophobia,” the same way they called a border wall “immoral.” But this isn’t about left versus right — it’s citizens versus cartels. A union welder in Pennsylvania, a black business owner in Atlanta, and a Latino pastor in Miami all lose when the voting power of citizens is diluted by noncitizens who bypass the legal system their grandparents followed.

Representative government dies when representation is determined by who sneaks across the border first. Real elections require verifiable citizens, not harvestable bodies. Ethical leaders don’t traffic in future ballots; they protect the franchise like nuclear codes.

The fix

The appeal of Trump’s immigration plan is that it’s universal. America First means American tax dollars for American citizens, not for an imported electorate. Require proof of citizenship to register to vote. End chain migration and the visa lottery. Finish the wall. Empower ICE and Customs and Border Protection to do their jobs. The crisis collapses the moment the incentives do.

RELATED: ‘Operation MRE’: Meals, reform, enforcement in a SNAP!

breakermaximus via iStock/Getty Images

No more midnight ballot drops in swing districts. No more census manipulation. Just the restoration of an old promise: play by the rules, and the rules will protect you.

A choice bigger than party

This fight transcends party and personality. It’s about whether your grandchild’s vote will still count in 2050. Support strong immigration enforcement. Demand audits of federal spending. Tune out media race-baiting and sentimental excuses. End the programs that siphon taxpayer money into the hands of those who broke the law to get here.

When the rule of law returns to our borders, it returns to our ballot boxes. That’s a future worth shutting down the swamp to secure.

​Opinion & analysis, Immigration, Mass deportations, Immigration and customs enforcement, Voting fraud, Illegal aliens, Illegal immigrants, Ice raids, Elon musk, Joe rogan, Joe rogan experience, Voter id, Elections, Democrats, Citizens, Voting rights, Welfare state, Benefits for illegal aliens, Government shutdown, The left 

The son of a longtime Michigan sheriff has officially tossed his hat in the ring for Congress.

On Thursday, Captain Mike Bouchard, son of Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, announced that he will be running as a Republican for the 10th District seat in Michigan currently occupied by Rep. John James (R), who is now running for governor.

“My family taught me that service isn’t a slogan; it’s a duty,” Captain Bouchard said in a press release. “I’ve worn the uniform of our nation and faced America’s enemies abroad. Now I’m ready to fight for our people here at home — to keep our families safe, our jobs local, and help make our country strong again.”

Captain Bouchard, a paratrooper and Bronze Star recipient who just returned home after serving a nine-month tour in Iraq with the Michigan Army National Guard, claims he wants to continue serving his state and his country.

‘Michigan built the tools that won wars. Now we’ll rebuild the economy that wins the future.’

“Warfighters don’t quit. We adapt, overcome, and keep moving toward the objective. That’s the mindset I’ll bring to Congress — mission focus, no excuses, and zero tolerance for failure. The people of Michigan deserve a warfighter in Washington who understands the mission and has the backbone to get the job done,” his statement continued.

In the press announcement about his candidacy, Captain Bouchard repeatedly referred to President Donald Trump, indicating that he intends to run on a MAGA-type platform. He has already identified public safety, caring for veterans, and the restoration of American manufacturing as his primary issues.

“Michigan built the tools that won wars. Now we’ll rebuild the economy that wins the future. President Trump is putting America First, and our economy will reap the rewards,” he said.

Captain Bouchard has long had the support of his father, Sheriff Bouchard, who spent nearly a decade in the Michigan legislature as a Republican before becoming sheriff of the state’s wealthiest and second-most populous county in 1999.

The sheriff told Blaze News back in September that his son is an “amazing person” who is “very qualified” to represent Michigan in Washington, D.C. “He feels very strongly about serving this country, and I think the next step in his mind would be to serve in a different capacity where his experience and knowledge could help.”

“He’s just wanting to make a difference.”

Other notable Michiganders besides his father who urged Captain Bouchard to run for the congressional seat include rock legend Ted Nugent; former Michigan Gov. John Engler (R) and his wife; former state Attorney General Bill Schuette; Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido; and Macomb County Treasurer Larry Rocca.

RELATED: ‘Defund the police’ dying out, but cop-hatred from Dems, media still going strong

Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

In response to a request for comment about Captain Bouchard, a spokesperson for Rep. James previously told Blaze News, “Given the current dynamics and potential candidates in Michigan’s 10th District, John’s confident [Republicans] will hold the seat.”

While James won the seat in a squeaker in 2022 and then won re-election with relative ease in 2024, the 10th District is by no means a Republican stronghold, spanning most of Macomb County, a blue-collar area often considered a bellwether in presidential elections.

Other Republicans who have expressed interest in running for the 10th Congressional District include state Rep. Joe Aragona and former Oakland County GOP Chairman Rocky Raczkowski, the Detroit News reported in July. Assistant prosecutor Robert Lulgjuraj of Sterling Heights announced his candidacy in August.

The Democrat primary race for the seat is full as well, as former special victims prosecutor Christina Hines, former state Rep. Tim Greimel, attorney Eric Chung, and U.S. Army veteran Alex Hawkins have all announced their candidacy.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Tuesday that if Democrats keep the government shut down, there could be serious repercussions for air travel as air traffic controllers — those directing over 44,000 flights and more than 3 million airline passengers daily — are being spread thin and overworked without pay.

“You will see mass chaos. You will see mass flight delays,” said Duffy. “You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it.”

‘Asking them to go without a full month’s pay or more is simply not sustainable.’

Duffy’s warning evidently fell on deaf ears. Democrats have, after all, made explicit their intention to use Americans’ pain and inconvenience as political “leverage.” A senior Democrat aide even indicated last month that the party will not concede short of “planes falling out of the sky.”

Citing air traffic control personnel issues and the need to keep American skies safe, Duffy announced on Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration will be reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets starting on Friday.

Despite his recent initiatives to recruit, train, and retain air traffic controllers, Duffy indicated that the fruits of such efforts take years to fully manifest and that at present, the FAA is still 2,000 controllers short. The government shutdown greatly compounds the impact of this underlying staffing problem as the existing workforce is spread thin, overworked, and paid nothing.

While air traffic controllers received a partial payment in early October, Duffy indicated that they haven’t been paid since, prompting some controllers to take second jobs.

RELATED: Trump uses tariff revenue to protect poor mothers and kids hurt by Democrats’ shutdown

Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“Our air traffic controllers, and a lot of those who work at DOT but throughout government, they haven’t received paychecks,” said Duffy. “Many of these employees, they’re the head of household. They have their spouse at home. They have a child or two or three, and when they lose income, they are confronted with real-world difficulties in how they pay their bills.”

Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in a statement on Friday, “For this nation’s air traffic controllers, missing just one paycheck can be a significant hardship, as it is for all working Americans. Asking them to go without a full month’s pay or more is simply not sustainable.”

‘We are not going to do anything that will compromise the safety of air transport in the United States.’

“During the shutdown, these professionals are required to oversee the movement of the nation’s passengers and cargo while many are working ten-hour days and six-day workweeks due to the ongoing staffing shortage, all without pay,” continued Daniels. “This situation creates substantial distractions for individuals who are already engaged in extremely stressful work. The financial and mental strain increases risks within the National Airspace System, making it less safe with each passing day of the shutdown.”

Bryan Bedford, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, noted that a recent deep dive into National Airspace System data revealed both “issues of fatigue” among controllers and pressures building in a way that if left unchecked could impact air safety.

“The data is telling us we need to do more, and we are going to do more,” said Bedford.

“We’re going to look for a ratable reduction across these 40 markets over the next 48 hours,” said the FAA administrator.

“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating.”

While the FAA has not released the final list of airports that will have their capacity cut, a source provided a proposed list to CBS News naming the following airports:

Anchorage International (ANC)Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)Boston Logan International (BOS)Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)Dallas Love (DAL)Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)Denver International (DEN)Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)Newark Liberty International (EWR)Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)Honolulu International (HNL)Houston Hobby (HOU)Washington Dulles International (IAD)George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)Indianapolis International (IND)New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)Los Angeles International (LAX)New York LaGuardia (LGA)Orlando International (MCO)Chicago Midway (MDW)Memphis International (MEM)Miami International (MIA)Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)Oakland International (OAK)Ontario International (ONT)Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)Portland International (PDX)Philadelphia International (PHL)Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)San Diego International (SAN)Louisville International (SDF)Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)San Francisco International (SFO)Salt Lake City International (SLC)Teterboro (TEB)Tampa International (TPA)

“If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures, we’ll come back and take additional measures,” continued the FAA administrator. “We’re trying to be prescriptive, surgical, put the relief where the relief will do the most good, but again, we are not going to do anything that will compromise the safety of air transport in the United States.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday, “We want to reopen the government so we can resume travel in the safest and most efficient way possible, especially as we head into the busiest travel season.”

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​Faa, Federal aviation administration, Sean duffy, Bryan bedford, Flying, Travel, Fly, Airlines, Safety, Donald trump, Shutdown, Politics