Category: blaze media

Obamacare was supposed to solve the problem of a small minority of people who couldn’t afford health insurance but weren’t eligible for Medicaid. Fifteen years later, Democrats now admit their plans are so expensive that unless taxpayers cover nearly the entire cost, they remain unaffordable.

Instead of regulating and subsidizing the market into insolvency, Republicans should finally offer a bold alternative to the largest sector of the economy and the most expensive line in a household budget.

$40 billion a year goes to insurers to pad numbers and keep insolvent plans alive.

News of a possible government shutdown dominates headlines, but few understand what triggered the standoff over fiscal year 2026 funding. Democrats insist that Biden’s COVID-era expansion of Obamacare subsidies be extended or made permanent. In other words: more debt to prop up a broken system. Just what we need.

Subsidizing greed, debt, and inflation

Through the 2021 COVID bill and the Orwellian-named 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats raised the income cutoff for subsidies from 400% of the federal poverty line to 800%. That’s roughly $300,000 for a family of five. The change placed nearly everyone outside employer coverage under government subsidies. Millions now pay nothing for premiums. The bill goes straight to the national debt.

Insurers responded as any vendor feeding at a public trough would: They raised prices. Family premiums have jumped 20%-25% since 2021, with another 6.5% hike expected next year — the largest increase in 15 years. Because government, not consumers, is now the customer, companies treat subsidies as free money. The result: Health care drives the deficit spending that makes everyday living more expensive.

Small businesses suffer most. Employer plans aren’t subsidized, so workers lose potential wage increases to soaring premium costs. Since 2014, family premiums have climbed 52%, the worker’s share 31%. Deductibles for individual plans have surged 53%, reaching $1,787 in 2024.

The grift goes farther. Paragon Institute data shows that nearly 12 million enrollees never used their coverage. Before Biden’s credits, only 4 million filed no claims. Today, 45% of the 24.3 million exchange “enrollees” are phantom accounts — people auto-re-enrolled, some without even knowing it.

Free money fuels fraud

Once Biden pushed full subsidies for those earning up to 150% of poverty — 55% of 2025’s enrollees — brokers saw a jackpot. With clients paying nothing, brokers collected thousands in commissions per sign-up. Some pocketed $6,000 per plan. Insurers happily billed the government while HHS looked the other way. Paragon estimates that 6 million people received full subsidies despite earning above the threshold.

That means $40 billion a year goes to insurers to pad numbers and keep insolvent plans alive.

RELATED: Medicaid for millions, misery for the middle class

MCCAIG via iStock/Getty Images

Breaking the cartel

The real fix is simple: Stop inflating prices with subsidies and break the insurance cartel.

With more than 70 million already pushed onto Medicaid, why not put everyone else into one competitive market where consumers choose freely and insurers compete with unregulated plans?

Trump and congressional Republicans should counter Democrats’ proposal with a market-based plan that:

Allows insurers, employers, trade associations, and states to offer unregulated alternatives — including expanded “short-term” three-year plans revived from Trump’s first term.Expands HSAs by raising contribution caps to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for joint filers and allows tax-free use for premiums, concierge fees, and health-sharing ministries. Employers should get equal tax treatment for these alternatives.Demands price transparency by prohibiting contracts that block providers from offering discounts to self-pay patients. Repeal the HMO Act and subject managed-care giants to antitrust law.Lifts the ban on physician-owned hospitals to restore competition and shore up rural care.

Federal health spending has ballooned from $85 billion in 1987 to nearly $1.5 trillion today — double since Obamacare. Employer-based insurance, warped by government tax policy, adds another $1.1 trillion. More subsidies will only deepen the hole.

Republicans should seize the chance to present a real alternative: consumer choice, price transparency, and competition. That’s the only way to bring health care costs down without bankrupting families or the nation.

​Opinion & analysis, Obamacare, Health insurance, Healthcare, Subsidies, Donald trump, Congress, Medicaid, Entitlements, Inflation reduction act, Covid-19, Republicans, Democrats, Insurance companies, Cartel, Premiums, Hmo act, Health savings account, Debt 

The pro-life activist who was violently attacked while arguing with a woman about abortion says she will file a civil lawsuit after a liberal district attorney accidentally forgot to file charges before a deadline.

Savannah Craven Antao was filming interviews with random people in April for the Live Action pro-life group when a woman punched her in the face without warning. The exchange was caught on video by Antao’s husband and published online, as previously reported by Blaze News.

‘Failing to prosecute these clear-cut charges sets a dangerous standard for how our society responds to violence against those engaging in democratic dialogue.’

“The woman became aggressive and violent upon learning Savannah’s pro-life stance,” Antao’s husband said. “I intervened to protect my wife, and we immediately called 911. The police arrived, and we provided them with the assailant’s photo and description. We hope justice will be served soon.”

The suspect was arrested and identified as Brianna Rivers, but the charges against her were dropped when Democrat District Attorney Alvin Bragg claimed that his office had accidentally missed a filing deadline.

Antao said she wasn’t even contacted about the development and learned about it from Rivers’ social media.

Bragg’s office released a statement of apology.

“Every victim deserves their day in court, and our office has reached out to apologize to Ms. Craven for the unacceptable error of missing the discovery deadline. We are taking immediate internal steps in light of this case,” the statement reads.

Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel at the Thomas More Society, is representing Antao and excoriated Bragg’s actions.

“District Attorney Bragg’s shocking refusal to uphold justice only works to undermine confidence in the system, especially when our political climate has become as fraught as it is now,” Ferrara explained. “Failing to prosecute these clear-cut charges sets a dangerous standard for how our society responds to violence against those engaging in democratic dialogue.”

RELATED: Woman who punched pro-life activist during street interview claims she was antagonized

Antao says she will file a civil lawsuit against Rivers. The assault led to Antao needing stitches and racking up $3,000 in medical bills.

“It just goes to show, right now in our country, we are experiencing leftist violence, political violence, at an all-time high. And it has to be shown,” Antao said. “The left always loves to say it’s the conservatives that are all violent, and they’re hurting people because they have different beliefs — but I am proving that it’s the complete opposite.”

Rivers claimed that she was antagonized by Antao and points to the edits in the video released as evidence for her claim.

“She needs to release the unedited footage with her relentless antagonization on a subject that is very touchy,” she wrote. “I will not allow my image to be defamed by this woman’s actions. Anyone who knows me knows how respectful I am, I don’t even litter, there’s no way you believe I’m punching people for disagreeing with my POV.”

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In the middle of conducting man-on-the-street-style interviews for her YouTube channel, “Her Patriot Voice,” pro-life advocate Savannah Craven Antao was attacked by a woman named Brianna Rivers — and New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg just dropped all charges against her.

“She’s out there on the streets. This woman walks up and the interview — I don’t know, I’m going to say it escalated very quickly,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales comments.

Antao asked basic questions about Rivers’ beliefs surrounding abortion, to which the woman answered that if a woman doesn’t want a baby, she should “just get rid of it.”

“What happens in an abortion?” Antao asked.

“They literally suck the life out of you. They’re going to take the whole baby out. And as they should, because I shouldn’t be a taxpayer paying child support and food stamps,” Rivers replied, audibly yelling.

“You should be a taxpayer paying for abortions?” Antao asked again.

“Exactly. For a woman who didn’t want the baby in the first place, that doesn’t make sense to me. Don’t ever sit here and lock yourself down with a man who already told you he doesn’t want to be with you,” Rivers said.

“But you don’t get to kill the baby just because their dad didn’t want that,” Antao replied.

“You can,” Rivers said, to which Antao replied, “Should we kill the kids in foster care?”

“Why not!” Rivers screamed.

When Antao brought up that the woman appeared to be okay with killing not only unborn babies but babies in foster care, Rivers punched her in the face.

Antao was faced with stitches and $3,000 in medical bills, and Rivers was charged with second-degree assault.

“But it was dropped because Alvin Bragg’s office apparently is full of DEI hires, I guess. I don’t know. They missed a key filing deadline, and they didn’t even turn over evidence to the court in time,” Gonzales says. “Imagine letting the real criminals, the violent criminals, run free because you can’t be bothered to hit your deadlines.”

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

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

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A New York Times report published on Monday claimed that at least 15 American citizens have been “arrested or detained and questioned” by law enforcement officials as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The Department of Homeland Security rejected the Times’ accusations in a press release obtained exclusively by Blaze News.

The Times claimed that the DHS has “roamed the streets, courthouses and workplaces demanding proof of citizenship from residents,” particularly in Southern California communities.

‘Any US citizens arrested are because of obstructing or assaulting law enforcement.’

The DHS rejected the Times’ accusation, emphasizing that its operations are “highly targeted” and do not result in the arrest of U.S. citizens.

“We do our due diligence,” the department explained. “We know who we are targeting ahead of time. If and when we do encounter individuals subject to arrest, our law enforcement is trained to ask a series of well-determined questions to determine status and removability. ICE does not arrest or detain U.S. citizens.”

The Times further reported that Americans had been detained overnight in immigration facilities without access to a lawyer or a phone call.

The DHS stated this was not true, noting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers have higher standards “than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”

RELATED: Pam Bondi issues zero-tolerance order on violence against federal officers

Photo by BENJAMIN HANSON/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

“Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false,” the DHS said.

“All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members,” the DHS continued.

The Times highlighted several cases, including those involving Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio, Jason Brian Gavidia, Javier Ramirez, George Retes, and Leonardo Garcia Venegas. The outlet reported that all the individuals were American citizens who were unjustly targeted by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.

According to the news outlet, Laynez-Ambrosio, 18, was riding in his employer’s truck with his co-workers in May when the Florida Highway Patrol pulled them over. After Laynez-Ambrosio and the other vehicle occupants refused to exit the vehicle, troopers forcibly removed them, the Times reported. Laynez-Ambrosio was allegedly held at a nearby Border Patrol facility for roughly six hours, despite repeatedly telling officials he was a U.S. citizen.

The DHS argued that Laynez-Ambrosio, who was in the vehicle with “several adult male illegal aliens from Guatemala,” resisted arrest during the traffic stop. Border Patrol agents, who were responding to a request for assistance from the FHP, arrested the illegal aliens.

Law enforcement officials detained Gavidia, 29, and Ramirez, 32, after conducting an operation at their place of business in East Los Angeles in June. The Times claimed that both were American citizens who were improperly targeted.

“Gavidia was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer and interfering with agents performing their duties,” the DHS stated. “Javier Ramirez was detained on the street for investigation for interference and released after being confirmed to be a U.S. citizen with no outstanding warrants.”

RELATED: Pot farm raid update: Trump’s DHS found convicted rapists and kidnappers working near migrant kids

Glass House Farms protest. Photo by BLAKE FAGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Times reported that law enforcement agents unjustly detained Retes, a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, in July. During the detainment, officers allegedly broke his windshield and pepper-sprayed him after mistakenly identifying him as an unruly protester. Retes was on his way to work as a security guard for Glass House Farms, a marijuana farm in California. At the time of the incident, the farm was the site of a federal law enforcement operation, which sparked an anti-ICE demonstration.

The DHS claimed that Retes “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement” while they were executing criminal search warrants at the farm.

“He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault,” the department said.

The Times reported that authorities wrongfully targeted Venegas while he was working at a construction site. He began recording the officers after witnessing them push his brother, who is an illegal immigrant, to the ground, according to the news outlet. An officer allegedly tackled Venegas and kept him handcuffed for hours.

“During a targeted worksite operation, Garcia Venegas attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien,” the DHS wrote. “He physically got in between agents and the subject they were attempting to arrest and refused to comply with numerous verbal commands. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest.”

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “We have said it a million times: ICE does NOT arrest or deport U.S. citizens. Not even a week after the terrorist attack targeting ICE in Dallas, the media is once again shamefully peddling a false narrative, attempting to demonize our DHS law enforcement agents, who are already facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them.”

“Any U.S. citizens arrested are because of obstructing or assaulting law enforcement,” McLaughlin declared.

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An evacuation was ordered at Utah State University after a suspicious package was reported just ahead of a scheduled event for Turning Point USA.

Witnesses watched as police officers detonated the package and state police later said the university was cleared of any threat.

‘Out of an abundance of caution, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device.’

Video on social media from journalism professor and reporter Erin Cox showed students being evacuated from the Old Main building of the university. She added that police were bringing K-9 crews into the building as well.

An alert was sent to students telling them to evacuate the building.

An evacuation has been ordered for the Old Main building on Logan campus. Leave immediately using the nearest exit. Use stairs, not elevators. Take only essential items. Go to your department’s evacuation area if applicable. Follow instructions from emergency personnel. Updates will follow.

After hearing officers yelling, “Fire in the hole,” an explosion was heard from inside the building.

“A suspicious device was found near the exterior of Old Main. University and Local law enforcement were dispatched to the scene. A device was located and deemed to be a non-explosive device,” reads a statement from the Utah State police.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device,” they added. “Old Main building is now clear and safe. All scheduled events may resume as normal.”

RELATED: Man arrested for alleged threats against Pride parade in revenge for Charlie Kirk: ‘We can send a clear message’

Cox noted that Charlie Kirk, the founder of TPUSA, had been scheduled to speak at the event before he was assassinated. There had been plans for day events preceding the evening event, but those were canceled.

Prior to Kirk being killed, some students organized a petition to prevent him from speaking at Utah State University, and they garnered all of 34 signatures. After his death, some students organized a petition to prevent TPUSA from its presentation at the university. That endeavor garnered all of 31 signatures.

Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while debating students on his national campus tour at Utah Valley University.

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Law enforcement in Florida went into overdrive mode late last week when it was reported that 17-year-old Caden Speight was missing.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office issued an Amber Alert Thursday night stating that Speight was last seen around 4 p.m. Thursday in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon, which is about an hour south of Gainesville.

‘Oh, dear Jesus, please bring this young man back to his family safe and unharmed.’

The alert also stated that “law enforcement believes he may be with four unknown men, possibly Hispanic, who are driving a light-colored van. If you have any information about his whereabouts, or if you see him, please do NOT approach and call 911 immediately.”

RELATED: Racist signs found above water fountains in Georgia high school. Turns out student of color is behind hate hoax.

Image source: Marion County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office

As time wore on and the crisis heightened, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods noted that he had dedicated all of his available resources in an effort to find the teen, and his personnel worked through Thursday night and into Friday on the case. In fact, Woods later said “federal agencies” as well as reinforcements “from around the state” turned out to help.

It was a big operation, indeed.

Many observers also were worried; one replied to the alert on Facebook with the following: “Oh, dear Jesus, please bring this young man back to his family safe and unharmed.”

But the original story soon got a bit hinky.

In an updated alert Friday, the sheriff’s office said that “detectives obtained information and collected evidence that are unsupportive of the initially reported facts” and that “there is no evidence to indicate that he was taken by four Hispanic men in a light-colored van.”

Officials added that they arrived at this determination after an initial investigation of the teen’s disappearance as well as a shooting reported in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484 around 4:10 p.m. Thursday. It was the same time when — and place where — the teen was last seen.

The updated alert added that it was possible the teen “left the incident location on a black bicycle with a red and grey tent, which he purchased at Walmart on SW 19th Avenue Road in Ocala just prior to this incident being reported.” Ocala is about 40 minutes northeast of Dunnellon.

“Since Caden is still a missing endangered juvenile, MSCO is asking anyone who may have seen a male matching his description with a dark-colored mountain bike and a tent to call 911,” the sheriff’s office added.

RELATED: ‘Noose’ found at Obama Presidential Center building site in Chicago — but some conservatives are skeptical: ‘I’ll take ‘hate crime hoaxes’ for $3,500, Alex’

WESH-TV reported that when deputies arrived at the scene of the reported shooting, they found a car belonging to Speight, but he was not there. A separate WESH video report indicated that a bullet hole was found in that vehicle.

But a witness named Jackson McClure also spoke to the station Friday morning, and WESH reported he had the following to say: “I passed by here around 4 o’clock, and there was a boy, young man, believed to be the guy they’re looking for, getting something out of the truck and shoving it into a book bag, and then about 10 to 15 [minutes] later, I believe he drove by my house on a bicycle. I called [the] Marion County non-emergency line and told them what I had seen, and they said, ‘Thank you very much, that’s very helpful.'”

WESH noted that McClure also said police “did ask me if he was bleeding as he went by, and I told them no, he looked normal, and he wasn’t struggling to ride his bicycle.”

Finally, by late Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said Speight “has been located safe in Williston,” which is about 35 minutes northwest of Ocala.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave

Sheriff Woods soon announced in a video some major developments in the case — but they cast a decidedly negative light on the teen whom law enforcement worked so hard to find.

First off, the sheriff’s office on Tuesday told Blaze News that Speight was the one who made the claim about the four Hispanic men. In fact, the sheriff’s office added to Blaze News that Speight in a text message “claimed that four Hispanic men in a white van were following him, and that he was shot.”

Woods addressed this issue and didn’t hold back, revealing that “the initial details that Caden texted to his family were proven to be false. Completely made up.”

Woods added that evidence indeed was found “of a single gunshot where Caden left his truck. However, his claims that he had been shot and abducted were quickly disproven. We then learned that he had purchased a bicycle, tent, and camping supplies just prior to him reporting this.”

The sheriff’s office on Tuesday added to Blaze News that “based on the information he provided to his family and the evidence located on scene, MCSO was working his disappearance as a possible shooting and abduction. It was clear that Caden made an effort to leave the scene in such a state that, in the context of his last text, it would appear he was shot and kidnapped.”

Woods added that “we had witnesses that contradicted the initial information. Caden simply rode away toward Williston while the rest of us were left to think the worst, and my team was working in overdrive to solve this case.”

Then came the kid’s outrageous coup de grace, which Woods detailed: “Now, content to continue the ruse, Caden — who had a handgun with him since the beginning of all of this — chose to shoot himself in the leg, causing a non-life-threatening injury just prior to walking out to the roadway where he would be located by citizens in Williston. There is zero chance that Caden’s gunshot wound came from any type of an assailant.”

RELATED: Facebook user threatens to kill black people at Alabama fair, adds ‘white power’ message and Confederate flag. Cops say black man is behind post.

Woods added in his video update that many people have wondered if Speight will face any charges and what the cost to taxpayers will be after this “large-scale investigation and search.”

“Trust me,” the sheriff said. “It is on my mind. I can tell you those items are not off the table at this point. Right now, we are still processing all of the evidence in this case. I don’t want to make any statements on that until we have fully examined it all.”

However, despite detectives having “a lot of questions for Caden,” the sheriff added that “his parents refuse to allow my detectives to speak with him so that we could come to a true, final conclusion in all this.”

“Again, thank you citizens for your tips and information that you sent in,” Woods concluded, “and when we do have any updated information on this case, I promise you, we will provide it to you.”

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When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth first announced the unorthodox step that he would gather all generals and admirals at Marine Base Quantico on short notice, many speculated that this could be a sign that we might be heading toward another war. Hegseth did declare war, but not in the way many pundits expected. He’s going to war against declining standards in the military.

In every respect, this was a historic speech. The convening itself was historic, but more significantly, Hegseth’s speech carried the weight of history. Hegseth’s purpose was to align all of the flag officers around one mission, as he put it, “The only mission of the newly restored War Department is this: warfighting.”

For too long, side quests have taken the military’s focus off lethality. Military standards were changed to accomplish partisan distractions.

By contrast, Hegseth’s predecessor, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, oriented the military around climate change, social justice, and other side quests. For example, in 2021, Austin declared, “We face all kinds of threats, but few of them truly deserve to be called existential. The climate crisis does.”

War on wokeness

The Pentagon’s mission under the Biden administration was to fight a war on the weather, even going so far as to prioritize climate plans over the duty to build warships. These side quests weakened our military and our nation.

Even worse, Austin’s leadership ushered in an era of politically motivated promotions that prioritized sex and skin color characteristics over merit. To this end, retired Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, who served as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Biden administration’s final years, famously wrote a memo mandating racial and sex quotas. This firmly committed our military away from promotions based on wars won and lives saved toward a process infused with the radical agenda of the left.

Warrior ethos restored

This was the context of Hegseth’s speech. Within the Pentagon, competing priorities eclipsed the primal imperative of being prepared to kill the enemy before they kill us. The woke agenda pushed by the radical left caused a slow rot that shifted focus from warfighting to social engineering, greatly frustrating many senior military officials.

Hegseth vowed to excise this type of decay inflicted by “foolish and reckless politicians.” He outlined several concrete steps to do just that, including restored grooming standards, stricter enforcement of physical training requirements, leadership and accountability reforms, and changes to training to focus on core warfighting elements.

But if the meeting was only about outlining these seemingly mundane reforms, why gather these high-ranking generals and admirals in one place? Couldn’t the content of his speech have been sent in an email? No, it could not. This was far more important than updating senior leaders on reforms; this was a cultural moment for military leadership. The era of hiding behind systemic racism and sexism to undermine the mission of the military while projecting woke platitudes as a defense of those actions is officially over.

Hegseth understood the mission, which was tough talk to tough people to prepare them for tough times. Some will whine that it’s uncouth for a secretary of sar to say, “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. … We are done with that s**t.”

The whiners need to realize that many warfighters have prayed that someone would say this to their senior leaders. Hegseth did exactly that. This can’t be captured by a mere email.

Symbolically and practically, it’s meaningful that the secretary of war said this directly to their faces, immediately reinforced by a speech from the commander in chief. Saying this face-to-face is not hostile; it’s a sign of respect among tough people.

Hegseth’s admonitions, from calling out fat generals to reminding them that personnel is policy, are best summed up in this statement: “It’s like the broken windows theory of policing. It’s like when you let the small stuff go, the big stuff eventually goes. So you have to address the small stuff.” This principle should be understood by our military leadership, but it became a vestigial sentiment that was no longer actively practiced.

Aligned for lethality

For too long, side quests have taken the military’s focus off lethality. Military standards were changed to accomplish partisan distractions. Whether it was diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or the climate agenda, the leaders in the Quantico audience accomplished these side missions ruthlessly and effectively — to the detriment of their primary purpose.

RELATED: Pete Hegseth just ended the era of woke brass in the military

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Going forward, this speech empowered the military to fight against the entropy of distractions and declining standards. Whether they wear five stars or one, all of our star-ranked officers have been aligned to a new standard: lethality. This means effectively and ruthlessly accomplishing the only mission that matters: warfighting.

History, which favors winners, will view this as the moment the U.S. military was made great again. This will be remembered as the day the Trump administration aligned the stars, one in which our senior military officials were liberated to align their leadership with basic common sense.

​Opinion & analysis, Opinion, Pete hegseth, Hegseth, Pete hegseth speech, Pentagon, Wokeness in military, Woke military, End wokeness, Military, Army, Navy, Air force, National guard, Coast guard 

After anti-ICE protests broke out in Portland, Oregon, President Donald Trump has announced plans to send troops to combat the lawlessness rampant in the liberal stronghold.

“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump posted to Truth Social.

“I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

However, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) wasn’t happy with President Trump’s announcement.

“Me and the group of elected leaders and community leaders behind me, we are in the central city of Portland, Oregon. And it is a beautiful day. Beautiful day, and we are very happy to be here speaking with you today,” Kotek began.

“In my conversations directly with President Trump and Secretary Noem, I have been abundantly clear with them that Portland and the state of Oregon believe in the rule of law, and we can manage our own local public safety needs,” she added.

“Wow. OK. So they got everything under control,” BlazeTV host Pat Gray jokes on “Pat Gray Unleashed.”

“I mean, there were some protesters that were armed, they had an explosive device there. I mean, that’s just Portland,” executive producer Keith Malinak chimes in, adding, “We haven’t even talked about the Illinois Broadview Facility yet or what’s happening in Los Angeles. I mean, it’s chaos everywhere, and it’s by design.”

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with pro-Israel American social media influencers at the Israeli consulate in New York City on Friday following his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

At the meeting, Debra Lea Schwartzben, a New York-based influencer who founded a Turning Point USA college chapter and has worked as a marketing coordinator at Fox News, asked Netanyahu what is to be done in the event that evangelical support for Israel begins to wane.

There appears to be a generational shift under way in the evangelical community. A 2024 report from Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of the United States revealed that whereas in 2018, 68.9% of American evangelicals under 30 said they supported Israel, that number plummeted to 33.6% in 2021. Despite that significant drop, support reportedly stabilized from 2021 to 2024.

According to the findings of a new survey released by the Quinnipiac University Poll, 47% of all American voters think that supporting Israel is in the national interest; 41% disagree; and 12% declined to opine.

‘We’re going to have to use the tools of battle.’

“Evangelicals are the reason that Israel has been supported in public sphere outside of just Jews,” said Schwartzben. “With Charlie’s assassination and with the … trajectory that we see with, like, Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, I guess I’m curious about what’s another game plan if we lose evangelical support for the state of Israel. What’s our backup plan to be strong, like, outside of the diaspora?”

In his reply, Netanyahu apparently referred to Owens, Carlson, and other such “Christian influencers” using the terms “woke right” and “Woke Reich,” noting that “these people, they’re not any different from the woke left. I mean, they’re insane. They’re loonies. But they’re actually meeting on some of the things.”

“We have to secure that part of our — the base of our support in the United States,” continued Netanyahu. “That is being challenged systematically.”

Blaze News has reached out to Netanyahu’s office for clarification about his meaning of “woke right” as well as to Owens and Carlson for comment.

RELATED: ‘Woke right’ smear weaponized by liberal interlopers against MAGA conservatives, populists — and Arby’s?

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Israeli officials and advocates for the Jewish state appear to be growing increasingly concerned over the so-called “woke right,” a flexible term that has been used by liberals as a smear against various conservatives but appears in the context of Netanyahu’s Friday remarks to specifically denote isolationists on the right and those critical of Israel and/or Middle Eastern military interventions.

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, for instance, cautioned Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in an open July 13 letter — shortly after Kirk and Megyn Kelly raised the question of whether Jeffrey Epstein may have been a Mossad asset — about platforming Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and other so-called “conspiracy theorists,” claiming that the named Americans “are not conservatives; they are full-blown wokists just wearing different costumes.”

“I’m asking you: please stay true to your strong moral compass and speak out against antisemitism, whether it comes from the woke left or the woke right,” added Chikli.

Karys Rhea, a former associate producer at the Epoch Times and delegate for Israel365 Action, told the Tel Aviv-based “ILTV News Podcast” in December that members of the so-called “woke right” say that “they are part of the America First movement. They’re very clear about that. They consider themselves patriots, usually proud Christians, people who are anti-censorship, pro-faith, pro-family, anti-globalism, anti-Marxism, anti-elitism. But people have observed that it seems like both their beliefs and their actions say otherwise”

The beliefs that Rhea insinuated were disqualifying for an American conservative and qualifying for the “woke right” label appear to largely center on criticism of Israel.

Rhea added that Tucker Carlson is the “godhead” of the “woke right.”

Author Danny Burmawi recently suggested in the pages of the Times of Israel that “while the left vilifies Israel in the name of anti-imperialism and social justice, the woke right attacks Israel through the language of nationalism and religious betrayal. They see in Israel a foreign parasite, an ethnostate hijacking U.S. resources, dragging America into endless wars, and manipulating domestic institutions. They accuse the ‘Zionist lobby’ of corrupting Christian values, spreading cultural degeneracy, and controlling the media.”

After suggesting that the so-called “woke right” is both state- and NGO-backed, Netanyahu said on Friday, “We have to fight back. How do we fight back? Our influencers.”

Netanyahu further told the influencers, “We’re going to have to use the tools of battle.”

The prime minister clarified that the weapons he had in mind were not swords or drones but social media, emphasizing the importance of TikTok and Elon Musk’s X.

“We have to fight the fight, okay? To give direction to the Jewish people and give direction to our non-Jewish friends or those who could be … our friends,” added Netanyahu.

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​Benjamin netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Woke, Woke right, Foreign policy, Leftism, Leftist, Politics 

Democrat lawmakers have rejected Republican attempts to keep the government open amid a looming shutdown, demanding an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller slammed Democrats for refusing to support a “clean, routine government funding bill because it doesn’t give free healthcare to illegals.”

‘The approximately $66.4 billion in federal expenditures attributable to illegal aliens is staggering, and constitutes an increase of 45 percent since 2017.’

Neera Tanden, the former domestic policy adviser under the Biden administration, accused Miller of pushing a “total and complete fabrication.”

“This is a lie. It is a violation of law for the ACA premium tax credits to go to illegal aliens,” Tanden wrote in a post on X.

ACA’s eligibility standards require an individual to be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present noncitizen, which can include asylum-seekers, refugees, and those granted employment authorization. The Biden administration relaxed criteria for various categories of immigration status, allowing more foreign nationals who were previously considered unlawfully present to qualify for status that may be eligible for ACA tax credits.

Additionally, multiple studies have uncovered that federal tax dollars do reach illegal aliens through the health care system.

RELATED: Democratic governor hands tax dollars to illegal aliens for college tuition while state drowns in debt

Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Congressional Budget Office found in October 2024 that the Biden administration had cost state and federal taxpayers $16.2 billion to cover Medicaid emergency services for illegal aliens since taking office.

Paul Winfree, president and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center, told Fox News Digital in March that California has been “exploiting an existing loophole within law” to use billions of dollars in reimbursements from the federal government to provide illegal immigrants with Medicaid.

“Medicaid spending is supposed to be jointly financed by the federal government and states. However, states are increasingly designing Medicaid money-laundering schemes that result in massive federal expenditures without any state financial obligation,” an EPIC report claimed. “The state of California, colluding with insurance companies who cover Medicaid beneficiaries, has created one of the most outrageous ones yet, a money-laundering scheme that results in California obtaining more than $19 billion in federal money without any state contribution over the period from April 2023 through December 2026.”

California’s Department of Healthcare Services claimed EPIC’s report was “misleading.”

RELATED: Did your state just sue the Trump administration to keep benefits flowing to illegal aliens? Here’s the list.

Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A 2023 study from the Federation for American Immigration Reform found $66.4 billion in federal expenditures on illegal aliens, including $23.1 billion in medical spending.

“The approximately $66.4 billion in federal expenditures attributable to illegal aliens is staggering and constitutes an increase of 45 percent since 2017. This amounts to roughly $3,187 per illegal alien, per year,” FAIR reported.

“Illegal aliens do qualify for many benefits,” Ira Mehlman with FAIR told Blaze News. “Illegal aliens who have been granted parole, [Temporary Protected Status], or DACA qualify for these benefits because — while they remain illegal aliens — they are lawfully present. Under the Biden administration, millions of illegal aliens were paroled into the country or granted TPS and have been able to access these benefits.”

Editor’s note: This article has been edited after publication to include a statement from Ira Mehlman with Federation for American Immigration Reform.

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​News, Medicaid, Affordable care act, Aca, Stephen miller, Neera tanden, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration crisis, Immigration, Health care, Politics 

In a highly anticipated in-person speech to nearly every general and admiral in the U.S. military, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laid down his marker: the warrior ethos must once again define America’s armed forces. A great nation needs a great military. That is his aim.

The audience mattered. Senior officers have lived for decades under politicized leadership that drained readiness and morale. Many of them became complicit in the decay. Hegseth addressed that reality head-on.

Restoring standards

No issue exposes the compromise of standards more clearly than the push to force women into combat roles. In 2015, President Barack Obama ended the combat-exclusion policy that had kept certain military professions male-exclusive. Alongside that change came the promise of a “neutral” fitness test that would evaluate service members without sex-based bias.

Hegseth did not dismiss the service of women or minorities. He rejected the falsehood that readiness and lethality can coexist with preferential treatment.

Reality quickly destroyed the illusion. The Army never implemented a sex-neutral test. Women could apply for the same jobs as men but received higher fitness scores for weaker performances. In 2021, under political pressure, Army generals dropped the “leg tuck” exercise — the only event that measured upper-body pulling strength — because women performed comparatively worse. Senior officers defended these changes as if they were sacred doctrine.

Even special operations forces were not spared. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, then commander of Army Special Operations Command, produced the “Women in ARSOF” report. He had solicited candid feedback from Green Berets, Rangers, and operators. The report dismissed their concerns as bigotry, portraying combat veterans as sexists in need of re-education.

The 83-page document dwelled on alleged discrimination in schools like Jumpmaster and agonized over access to contraception. It devoted not a single paragraph to whether integrating women made America’s most lethal units more lethal. It didn’t — so the report pretended not to notice.

Research ignored, ideology embraced

Serious studies on women in combat confirm what soldiers already know: Sex-integrated units fight with less effectiveness than male-only ones.

Commanders in 2015 knew this, yet they embraced an ideology that put politics above victory. They proved willing to compromise the standards that safeguard success on the battlefield.

Hegseth’s speech on Tuesday declared that era over and done. The administration will close the door on identity politics in uniform and restore a culture rooted in the warrior ethos, not fashionable slogans.

RELATED: Hegseth declares war on woke military policies: ‘We are done with that s**t’

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Consequences of compromise

The consequences are not abstract. Every diluted standard, every political accommodation, every double standard based on sex or race weakens the institution charged with defending the nation. A military that bends to ideology loses sight of its sole purpose: to fight and win wars.

Hegseth did not dismiss the service of women or minorities. He rejected the falsehood that readiness and lethality can coexist with preferential treatment. He rejected the belief that temporary political fashions should rewrite timeless military traditions. And he reminded the brass that generals and admirals who pushed progressive experiments cannot be trusted to restore strength.

The way forward requires courage. Leaders must speak truth over ambition, defend standards without apology, and recommit to preparing soldiers for combat. The pride and strength of the American military depend on it.

​Opinion & analysis, Opinion, Pete hegseth, Hegseth, Defense secretary, Secretary of war, Military readiness, Military, Military meeting, End wokeness, Wokeness, Wokeness in the military, Transgenderism 

Netflix is facing renewed boycott threats after Elon Musk said he canceled his subscription over transgender indoctrination and incendiary comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

The tech entrepreneur posted on X, the social media platform he owns, in response to the controversies springing up about the entertainment streaming service.

‘A random nazi gets shot and its a public statement. You’re such a f**king evil s**t.’

The popular Libs of TikTok account posted a video clip from a show on Netflix, which is sold as being appropriate for children as young as 7 years old. The video from “Dead End: Paranormal Park” shows a main character coming out as transgender to a friend.

The show is based on a comic book series created by Hamish Steele, who lists his pronouns as “he/they” on his website and is proud of receiving an award from the LGBTQ group GLAAD.

Steele also allegedly posted extremely harsh statements on the BlueSky platform about Kirk after his death in response to someone else’s post.

“Why the f**k are you even commenting on this, d**khead? You sympathy [sic] for any of the families being slaughtered by your weapons but a random nazi gets shot and its a public statement,” Steele wrote. “You’re such a f**king evil s**t.”

“He’s a groomer,” Musk replied to the post from Libs of TikTok.

Musk then said he canceled his Netflix account.

Libs of TikTok reported that Steele locked up his account on BlueSky after the backlash.

RELATED: LGBTQ activists complain companies are caving to backlash against Pride Month: ‘They’re scared to death’

Others jumped on the bandwagon to post screenshots of their cancellation notices from Netflix.

“JUST CANCELLED MY @netflix ACCOUNT. We will not support a company who pushes transgenderism on kids and employs someone who celebrates m*rder,” one post reads.

The show originally debuted in 2022 and lasted only two seasons before Netflix cut the show.

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​Elon musk, Netflix boycott, Charlie kirk mockery, Transgender indoctrination, Politics 

A new poll found that a majority of Americans continue to support deportation of illegal aliens despite a campaign in the mainstream media to criticize enforcement.

The Siena/New York Times poll found that 54% of respondents supported deportation, while only 43% opposed it, for a net approval rating of 11%.

‘Sanctuary cities knowingly release illegal alien public safety threats to the streets every day. That’s where the problem is.’

Men overwhelmingly favored deportation, 65% to 33%, while far more women opposed the policy, 45% to 51%. White Americans also overwhelming favored deportation, 62% to 37%. Black Americans opposed the policy by a margin of -25%, and Hispanic Americans were the most against deportation, with a margin of -38%.

As compared to previous results from the same poll before the election in 2024, support for deportations dropped slightly from 56% to 54%, while opposition to deportation increased from 37% to 43%.

The Siena poll also found Democrats to be slightly favored over Republicans in the generic ballot for the midterm election among registered voters.

“Probably enough for Democrats to retake the House in 2026 — even with GOP gerrymanders in Texas and elsewhere — but far from the blue wave environments of 2006 and 2018,” wrote Fox News Radio analyst Josh Kraushaar.

As compared to the same poll in April, Democrats had not improved or declined in the general ballot, while Republicans had gained slightly by one percentage point.

RELATED: Activists blame Trump for bounty hunter ‘kidnapping’ of mom of 3 for deportation — feds say it was a hoax for cash

The poll found that President Donald Trump’s approval rating had slightly improved since April by one percentage point to 43%.

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan has said that the Trump administration will be increasing deportation operations in sanctuary cities like Chicago, Illinois.

“You can expect action in most sanctuary cities across the country,” he said. “President Trump’s prioritized sanctuary cities because sanctuary cities knowingly release illegal alien public safety threats to the streets every day. That’s where the problem is.”

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​Support for deportation, Nyt siena poll, Trump approval ratings, Immigration enforcement, Politics 

The Washington Free Beacon reported that Bob Harvie, one of two Democrat commissioners of Bucks County and a Democrat congressional candidate, has reallocated funds intended for opioid relief toward transportation for children to an “LGBTQ youth” center.

According to the Bucks County website, the Democratic House candidate oversees a multimillion-dollar settlement fund from opioid manufacturers “whose misleading business practices helped create the addiction crisis gripping American communities.”

‘The Rainbow Room and its Roy G Biv program have hosted disturbing activities such as a “Drag Queen story time,” “Queer Tarot Night,” “Queer Prom.”‘

According to the terms laid out on the website, Bucks County expects to receive close to $70 million over the next 18 years. Further, the terms “require that these funds be used to remediate the ongoing opioid epidemic.”

RELATED: Republican dashes Democrat hopes, secures contested Georgia Senate special election

Photo of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

However, the board that Harvie oversees apparently siphoned money from this fund to facilitate the transportation of children to an LGBTQ clinic called the Rainbow Room, which is open to children as young as 14.

A grant sheet available on the Bucks County website shows a grant award from Bucks County to the “Planned Parenthood Keystone Development Team” for the allocation of $13,500 for “Expanding Services and Transportation to Lower Bucks Rainbow Room.” The Rainbow Room is open to children ages 14 to 21, according to its website.

The Free Beacon reported that the Rainbow Room and its Roy G. Biv program have hosted disturbing activities such as “Drag Queen story time,” “Queer Tarot Night,” “Queer Prom,” and just last week hosted a seminar titled “Translating Transition,” open to “LGBTQ+ Youth & Friends Ages 14-21.” Roy G. Biv, dubbed “Rainbow Room Junior” on the Planned Parenthood website and deriving its name from the colors of the rainbow, reportedly hosts children between the ages of 10 and 14.

The addition of the transportation fund to the LGBTQ facility for minors came with the December 20, 2024, updated list of recipients. The Planned Parenthood Keystone Development Team is not listed as a mini-grant recipient in an October 4, 2023, list.

“The opioid crisis is devastating communities across the nation, including Bucks County,” NRCC spokesperson Reilly Richardson told Blaze News. “It is unconscionable that Bob Harvie would reallocate funds meant to address addiction to pay for his ideological pet projects. Bucks County deserves better.”

Bob Harvie, who has been on the board since January 6, 2020, and has been the chair for two consecutive terms since January 5, 2022, is running for Congress in 2026 against Republican incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has represented Pennsylvania’s first district since 2017.

Fitzpatrick himself also appears to support “LGBTQ youth.” His website details his recent leadership role in a “bipartisan push to safeguard LGBTQ+ youth crisis services with 988 Access Act.”

Blaze News contacted Harvie, Bucks County Vice Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia, the Rainbow Room, and Fitzpatrick for comment but did not receive a response.

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​Politics, Bob harvie, Brian fitzpatrick, Lgbtq, Bucks county, Opioid crisis, Rainbow room 

Despite his radical policy ideas, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani seems to be the front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, according to several polls. His remaining opponents include former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, following the recent withdrawal of current NYC Mayor Eric Adams from the race over the weekend.

Mamdani’s platform includes a slew of controversial far-left programs for the city, including investing tens of millions of dollars in so-called “gender-affirming care” for adults and children.

‘New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people, but private institutions in our own city have already started capitulating to Trump’s assault on trans rights.’

During a June interview with actor Laverne Cox, who identifies as transgender, Mamdani declared he would ensure that New York City is a “sanctuary city” for the “LGBTQIA+” community.

If elected mayor, he vowed to establish an office for “LGBTQIA+ affairs” and invest $65 million in “gender-affirming care.” Mamdani told Cox that to fight the Trump administration, New York City must fully fund its own services, which he plans to accomplish by “taxing the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations.”

Mamdani’s “LGBTQIA+ Protections” sheet offered a breakdown of the $65 million, revealing that $57 million would be provided directly to hospitals and clinics offering these services to “both transgender youth and adults.” He also plans to take action against facilities that refuse to provide such services, claiming that they are violating the New York Constitution and other state and city laws.

“The Mamdani administration will coordinate with the NYS Attorney General and District Attorneys to investigate and hold public hearings on hospitals that deny trans youth their rightful healthcare and hold them accountable to the law,” the policy sheet read.

RELATED: NYC mayor race shake-up: Adams drops out, boosting Cuomo’s fight against Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Mamdani intends to allocate $87 million for various LGBTQIA+ “support and services,” including $30 million for housing programs, $20 million for mental health services, and $10 million for organizations providing “transgender” services.

“Queer and trans people across the United States are facing an increasingly hostile political environment. New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people, but private institutions in our own city have already started capitulating to Trump’s assault on trans rights,” Mamdani’s website states.

RELATED: Trump slams Hochul’s endorsement of ‘communist’ Mamdani: ‘No reason to be sending good money’

Photographer: Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images

His plans appear to directly violate the Trump administration’s January executive order, “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which states that the federal government will withhold funding from institutions that support the use of puberty blockers or surgical procedures for children.

Mamdani has run on the platform of “Trump-proofing NYC,” which involves a greater reliance on local funding rather than federal support. To achieve his goals, he would implement an 11.5% tax on corporate profits, increase income taxes by 2% for households earning over $1 million per year, and hire additional staff for the Department of Finance. These workers would be responsible for enforcing tax laws, including collecting $2.1 billion in unpaid fines.

“Only out-of-touch, radical Democrats could misread public opinion so poorly as to think that a new transgender-for-everybody policy agenda is a good idea,” White House spokesman Kush Desai told Blaze News.

Blaze News contacted Mamdani for comment.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited after publishing to include a statement from White House spokesman Kush Desai.

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​News, New york city, Nyc, New york, Zohran mamdani, Mamdani, Andrew cuomo, Curtis sliwa, New york city mayoral race, Donald trump, Trump, Lbgt, Transgender, Trans, Trans ideology, Transgender ideology, Politics 

President Donald Trump unveiled a new deal to drastically reform the pharmaceutical industry and reduce drug prices for consumers.

Trump announced that Pfizer would be heavily discounting some of its “most popular medications” and that all new medications introduced in the U.S. markets would be sold at the “reduced Most Favored Nation cost.” Trump also revealed that these discounted drugs will be available for purchase on a federally operated “TrumpRx” direct-to-consumer website.

‘The big winner of this deal clearly will be the American patient.’

“It’s going to have a huge impact on bringing Medicaid costs down, like nothing else. … Especially, low-income Americans will be helped so greatly,” Trump said in the Oval Office Tuesday.

“This is a consequential moment for our country,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X. “Drug prices WILL be lower for everyday Americans, thanks to the negotiating prowess and determination of President Donald J. Trump. Democrats have been wanting to do this for decades. The Trump Administration has delivered.”

RELATED: Health organizations attacking Trump’s Tylenol-autism claims are cozied up with Big Pharma

Trump initially issued an executive order in May that directed drug companies to offer the “most-favored-nation” price for American patients. If they failed to do so, the Department of Health and Human Services would make a rule to implement the policy, and the Food and Drug Administration would revoke approvals for drugs that may be “unsafe, ineffective, or improperly marketed.”

Trump also wrote to over a dozen major pharmaceutical CEOs in July demanding that the manufacturers voluntarily extend the “most-favored-nation” pricing to all medicines provided to Medicaid recipients. Trump gave these companies until Monday to formally respond.

“If you refuse to step up, we will deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices,” Trump wrote.

So far, Eli Lilly pledged to raise prices in Europe in order to lower costs in the United States. Bristol-Myers Squibb similarly plans to charge the same list price for a new schizophrenia treatment in both the United States and United Kingdom.

RELATED: Who is bankrolling the anti-MAHA movement?

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

“The big winner of this deal clearly will be the American patient. There’s no doubt about it,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said during the press conference. “They are the ones that will see significant impact in their ability to buy medicines.”

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​Donald trump, Big pharma, Pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, Trump administration, Drug prices, Medicaid, Medicare, Hhs, Department of health and human services, Rfk, Robert f. kennedy jr., Albert bourla, Most favored nation, Fda, Politics 

A Christian baker believes she should not have to design a cake that celebrates an ideology that goes against her faith.

In 2017, Cathy Miller was reportedly approached by a lesbian couple, Eileen and Mireya Rodriguez-Del Rio, at her business, the Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, California.

‘A three-tiered, plain white cake with no writing, engravings, adornments, symbols, or images is not pure speech.’

Miller explained that same-sex couples were not part of her belief system and that she did not wish to design their cake. Miller did, however, recommend another cake decorator in town.

Later that year, California’s Civil Rights Department sued Miller and said she violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

In 2023, a five-day trial ended with a ruling in favor of Miller, finding that she “serve[d] and employ[ed]” people of all sexual orientations and that her “only intent, her only motivation, was fidelity to her sincere Christian beliefs.”

However, an appellate court reversed the decision and said in February that Miller’s refusal was “not protected expression under the federal Constitution’s free speech guarantee.”

“A three-tiered, plain white cake with no writing, engravings, adornments, symbols, or images is not pure speech,” wrote associate Justice Kathleen Meehan of the California 5th District Court of Appeal, Yahoo reported.

After the California Supreme Court refused to hear her argument, Miller is now asking the SCOTUS to hear her case.

RELATED: Bakery owners found guilty of harboring illegal aliens after immigration raid

Photo by Becket

Miller has allegedly always safeguarded her business with the declaration that her custom creations are all carefully designed and will not “celebrate ideals that violate the Christian sacrament of marriage.”

Her written standards also state that Tastries will not design custom bakery items that depict gore or pornographic images, demean others, or celebrate drug use.

While Miller has faced near limitless threats over the years, she said she has been humbled by the “outpouring of support for my freedom to serve my community with joy, compassion, and faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

A total of 16 states — along with other legal and faith groups — have asked the Supreme Court to articulate a clear rule regarding the expressive nature of the wedding cakes, so that lower courts can resolve cases on their own. These states are:

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.

RELATED: Buc-ee’s gets rich by doing everything Wall Street hates

Photo by Becket

Similar cases have been heard by the Supreme Court in recent history.

The Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case was decided in 2018, in which a Colorado baker told a same-sex couple that he would not create a cake for their wedding due to his religious opposition to same-sex marriage. Colorado did not recognize same-sex marriage at the time of the event, and the baker said he would still sell them other baked goods.

The Supreme Court sided with baker Jack Phillips, but not because it believed he should be allowed to refuse the service. Rather, the high court ruled in a 7-2 decision that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed religious bias toward Phillips in the case.

In the 2023 ruling for 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing a web designer to create “expressive designs for same-sex marriages” and to speak “messages with which the designer disagrees.”

Justice Neil Gorsuch’s opinion for the case focused on “expressive conduct” and content.

“No government … may affect a ‘speaker’s message’ by ‘forc[ing]’ her to ‘accommodate’ other views,” Gorsuch wrote.

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​News, Cake maker, Baking, California, Supreme court, Gay marriage, Christianity, Christian bakery, Christians, Politics 

Former Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris said the quiet part out loud when she wrote in her new book, “107 Days,” that her first choice for a vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election was not Tim Walz — but Pete Buttigieg.

And not only did she admit that Walz was not her first choice, but that she didn’t pick Buttigieg as her running mate because he is gay.

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, who is gay, sat down with Harris for an interview and put her in the hot seat over her decision.

“I guess I’d ask you to just elaborate on that a little bit. It’s hard to hear with you running, as you know, you’re the first woman elected vice president, you’re a black woman and a South Asian woman elected to high office, very nearly elected president. To say that he couldn’t be on the ticket effectively because he was gay is hard to hear,” Maddow said, disappointed.

“No, no, no, that’s not what I said, that he couldn’t be on the ticket because he is gay,” Harris responded, before trying to explain herself.

“To be a black woman running for president of the United States and as a vice presidential running mate, a gay man, with the stakes being so high, it made me very sad, but I also realized it would be a real risk, no matter how, you know, I’ve been an advocate and an ally of the LGBT community my entire life,” she said.

BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler is floored.

“Imagine if this were a Republican saying what Kamala Harris just said. Imagine if a Republican went on cable news after having lost the presidential election,” Wheeler says.

“Imagine if a Republican said, ‘Actually, my first choice for vice presidential running mate, I decided against because he was gay.’ The left’s heads would explode. They would be screeching and screaming melting down like the wicked witch of the West, calling that Republican a bigot, a hateful homophobic bigot,” she continues.

And instead of admitting that she didn’t choose Buttigieg because he’s gay, she laid the blame at the feet of Americans who wouldn’t vote for him.

“Kamala Harris, her answer, she said she didn’t disqualify Pete Buttigieg because he’s gay, because she’s personally prejudiced. She disqualified — she decided not to choose him because he’s gay because you’re prejudiced,” Wheeler says.

“She didn’t have time to contend with the homophobic masses. She didn’t have time to re-educate the Christians, the terrible, hateful Christians who hate Pete Buttigieg because he’s gay,” she continues, adding, “She’s dripping with disdain for you, but she’s above board.”

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​Video phone, Sharing, Video, Free, Camera phone, Upload, Youtube.com, The liz wheeler show, Liz wheeler, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Rachel maddow, Msnbc, Kamala harris, Tim walz, Pete buttigieg, 107 days, Kamala harris new book, Kamala harris interview, Homophobic, Lgbtq agenda 

President Donald Trump delivered a bold message to United States military leaders in a landmark address at Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.

Trump emphasized the importance of military excellence to hundreds of American generals and admirals during his historic speech. Although Trump acknowledged the foreign adversaries America is actively up against, the president also pointed to the “invasion from within.”

‘Defending the homeland is the military’s first and most important priority.’

“As leaders, our commitment to every patriot who put on the uniform is to ensure that the American military remains the most lethal and dominant on the planet,” Trump said during his address. “Not merely for a few years, but for the decades and generations to come. For centuries.”

“We must be so strong that no nation will dare challenge us, so powerful that no enemy will dare threaten us, and so capable that no adversary can even think about beating us.”

RELATED: Hegseth declares war on woke military policies: ‘We are done with that s**t’

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Trump went on to discuss the importance of morale and culture in the military. Following former President Joe Biden’s term in office, both Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are course-correcting by weeding out bad actors, reversing woke military policies, and reinvigorating the rank and file.

“From Sparta, to Rome, to the British Empire, to the United States of America, history has shown that military supremacy has never been simply a matter of money or manpower,” Trump said. “At the end of the day, it is the culture and spirit of our military that truly sets us apart from any other nation.”

“Our ultimate strength will always come from the fierce people … the unbending will, and the traditions of excellence that have made us the most unstoppable force ever to walk the face of the earth.”

RELATED: Netanyahu signals support for Trump’s latest peace proposal: ‘It has to be done’

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump also pointed to the importance of defending the American homeland before entertaining other political projects or military ambitions abroad.

“We’ve brought back the fundamental principle that defending the homeland is the military’s first and most important priority,” Trump said. “Only in recent decades did politicians somehow come to believe that our job is to police the far reaches of Kenya and Somalia, while America is under invasion from within.”

“Not only are we rebuilding our great strength, but for the first time in years, my administration is actually using that strength to defend the core and vital interests of America,” Trump added. “Very simply, we are putting America first.”

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Reality is hard for many people across the political spectrum to accept, especially when it comes to children being raised by their married, biological mother and father.

“Before you post your caveats and your kind of exceptions to that, that is the ideal. That is in general true. That is in principle true. Every data set we have — and we’ll get into some specific numbers — shows that kids are best suited to live with their married biological mom and dad,” BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey says.

While sometimes the scenarios that lead to a child being separated from both or one of his biological parents are tragic, sometimes they’re also simply because of the “sexual revolution that has occurred over the past 20 years and especially the past 10 since Obergefell.”

“We are talking about intentionally creating motherless and fatherless children, intentionally taking children out of the ideal and putting them in — in the most charitable terms — a less than ideal situation, knowing that the data shows us that this is not best for their well-being,” Stuckey explains.

And it’s no longer just two men or two women ensuring that children grow up in these less than ideal, fatherless or motherless situations.

In Canada, three men who are in a “polycule” adopted a three-year-old girl through Quebec’s youth protection services. The “polycule” had to be approved first as foster parents, which they say required “a lot of work and openness to their relationship.”

“It’s through that process that they learned that we are a little different because we’re three, but we’re not different from any other family,” one of the men said in an interview.

“You actually are, though, because you’re three dudes, which tells me you have no moral limits. Like if you’re willing to not only defy nature, and you are willing to defy even liberal definitions of marriage, and you live in some kind of inherently unstable polycule situation, then you do not have the correct components to raise a child,” Stuckey says.

“Even if we take religion out of it, let’s just look at this scientifically,” she continues. “Two men or two women who want to be in a relationship have to acknowledge that they do not have the parts that are needed to create a child. And therefore, because biology, not bigotry, has set limitations on your reproductive abilities, then there should be limits and restrictions and regulations around your ability to obtain and raise a child.”

“I’m very sad for this little girl. … This little girl would be better off in foster care until she is 18 years old than living with three men who are living in a polycule situation. One hundred percent. Because there is no end to the confusion and instability and chaos that a situation like this can cause,” she adds.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

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

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