Category: blaze media

Swarms of sophisticated chatbots enabled by China are embedded in platforms like Reddit and Discord to radicalize America’s youth, foment political division, and encourage violence, according to intelligence experts.

The ability to create millions of online personas to invade chat groups and social media sites to, in essence, destabilize American society is one of the sinister uses of the Chinese-built SIM farms like the ones shut down around New York City in September, Blaze News has learned.

‘Our population is being literally divided and radicalized to destroy our nation.’

“They’re able to use this [SIM] network to initiate social media accounts by the millions,” said one intelligence analyst familiar with the ongoing SIM farm investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service, and other federal agencies.

“Social media accounts by the millions,” the analyst reiterated. “Because all of them have the ability to do multifactor authentication, they can create millions of digital personas that are real.”

So far, he said, the American government is “clueless.”

“Our biggest issue is that both the American political class and U.S. government officials are completely clueless on this threat,” he said. “Our population is being literally divided and radicalized to destroy our nation. This is provable, but I think it would require so much more investigation to be able to show people, even on our side, how bad the problem is.”

SIM farms pair with AI

The process is started manually in China. It can have a deep reach into American society.

“It appears they have thousands of people in China that set this up manually. And then they use really sophisticated AI like ChatGPT to spread certain themes and certain messages — all designed, obviously, to divide our country and to create division,” the analyst said.

Election-themed chat threads are often flooded with nefarious bots pushing anti-Trump propaganda. From the outside, these often look like U.S. voters engaged in simple political debate.

However, the threats are not limited to chatbots.

After a series of high-profile swatting incidents targeting senior Secret Service officials and Secret Service protectees last spring, an investigation discovered the presence of SIM farms that are likely spread across America to carry out cyber terrorism and threaten cellular networks and internet access.

RELATED: Patriots targeted by hoax SWATs react to China’s role in shocking SIM farm operations

A New York City SIM farm raided by federal officials in September is tied to China.Photos by U.S. Secret Service

Homeland Security Investigations and the Secret Service raided five SIM farms in the greater New York City area. They disabled and seized more than 300 SIM servers operating from nondescript corporate office locations.

The farms use hundreds of thousands of SIM cards to create online cell numbers that can send out mass texts and synchronized attacks to lay siege to America’s critical infrastructure.

Among the more chilling aspects of these SIM farms is the ability to mimic humans to carry out sophisticated propaganda campaigns to promote progressive causes and radicalize people against the government and each other, intelligence officials told Blaze News.

“They actually groom you. Believe it or not, there’s a chatbot that can pretend to be 27 personalities and is designed to groom you, to groom anybody that asks certain questions or that mentions certain topics,” one expert said. “It’s just a chatbot, and it has very little human supervision.”

Having a real mobile telephone number associated with the SIM cards gives the system flexibility and secrecy. Each server can have up to 512 SIM cards to send texts, make calls, and run apps. Millions of the SIM cards are likely engaged in this SIM farm network at any one time. Each farm location likely has racks and racks of servers and modems working in tandem.

’It allows you to assume someone else’s identity, their phone, their phone number.’

“Having a real phone number that can be associated to a social media account and having that avenue with multifactor authentication capability makes for a nearly undetectable bot account,” he said. “As long as your AI can avoid repetitive or ‘bot-like’ messaging, you will be undetectable.”

A real phone number that can continuously be associated with a particular social media account is a key, he said.

This activity has developed “under the radar,” he said, and the U.S. government is not aggressively seeking out and destroying this nefarious system. The need is urgent.

“Here’s the problem,” he said. “Despite the fact that foreign governments are radicalizing our sovereign nation’s citizens to destroy this country, they are not doing it in a way that the government employees can feel is so important that they would investigate it.”

Private companies that do social media and open-source intelligence can detect the bots, “but nobody is paying them to investigate or report it,” the analyst said.

RELATED: While the lights are off, let’s rewire the government

By adopting the $8 per month blue-checkmark authentication system, X has greatly limited the penetration of chatbots, experts say.Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images

The bots have dynamic and parallel capabilities that allow such subtle messaging. The War Department’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ran a “Defeat Disinfo” project that identified the best way to create a subtle social media messaging system “to brainwash an entire population in a completely undetectable way,” he said.

The bot technology is especially prevalent on platforms like Reddit and Discord, the analyst said. After Elon Musk purchased Twitter and rebranded it X, the prevalence of nefarious chatbots on that platform dropped precipitously, he said. By charging $8 a month for an authenticated blue checkmark, X limits the ability of fake accounts to penetrate its huge user base.

‘Our own telecoms are hosting a Chinese act of war against us.’

On Oct. 12, X announced it had purged 1.7 million bot accounts for engaging in reply spam.

“You should start experiencing improvement in the coming days,” Nikita Bier, head of product at X, wrote. “We will be focusing on [direct message] spam next.”

The analyst estimated that X is no more than 20%-30% bots. Reddit, however, “is like 80% bots,” the intelligence analyst told Blaze News. “It’s absolutely horrible.

Foment violent division

“The open-source intelligence community, who are mostly contractors that monitor and look for bots, estimate Reddit is about 80% bots. All designed to push a Democrat narrative or a very highly progressive narrative towards the left, but also to foment violent division. Violent division.”

The bots have built-in safeguards so as not to be flagged by the system for “bot-like behavior,” the analyst said. “So they usually don’t mention firearms. They’re normally very, very subtle. It’s so subtle. You would never know. You might be responding to the same dude that’s just hitting likes on your thing for three years.”

While the SIM farms create massive numbers of new identities, each with its own phone number, they can also co-opt existing accounts.

“A lot of these SIM farms allow you to clone an identity,” the analyst said. “So it allows you to assume someone else’s identity, their phone, their phone number.”

Homeland Security Investigations agents led September raids on five SIM farms tied to a secret nationwide network built by the Chinese communist government.Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The SIM farm networks are used by China, but also by criminal syndicates, drug cartels, and other malefactors, allegedly including Antifa. No matter who the user is, all of the data from the transactions is copied back to China, he said. The Chinese communist government requires all manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and computers to spy on behalf of the Ministry of State Security.

“Everything that’s happening on those devices is all going back to China,” he said, “even when the cartel uses them; or even when the United States government uses them; or even when the swatting people are using them; when the terrorists are using them; even when Antifa is using them.”

The SIM farms can be used to recruit radicals who are ready and willing to engage in violence outside immigration facilities — as is happening in Chicago and Portland.

‘We’re in a difficult position. It’s a catch-22.’

The analyst said there’s a good chance that China has been behind the establishment of Antifa chapters in the United States.

“It’s possible that they’re coordinating all of these chapters so that there’s a good chance that Antifa is actually a foreign terrorist organization,” he said. “In other words, it is a distributed terrorism network being unwittingly influenced by a Chinese sabotage network.”

Getting serious about stamping out these SIM farms will require the involvement of regulatory agencies including the Federal Communications Commission, he said.

A recent Reddit discussion on the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.Reddit

“The FCC should be engaged to fine $100 million or $200 million per telecom until they get rid of every single one of these [farms] they are hosting. Our own telecoms are hosting a Chinese act of war against us.”

The effort will also require action by Congress, he said, to make radicalizing American citizens by foreign actors a crime.

“The U.S. Secret Service subpoenaed Google to get the MFA short codes for the Google voice accounts that the bad guys were using,” he said. “But until we make ‘intentionally radicalizing U.S. citizens to destroy their own country’ something that is illegal and also important to prosecute, the U.S. government will never even look into it.”

Major resources are needed to analyze each SIM farm in hopes of finding more of the estimated 80-100 sites operating in the United States.

“You could start up a whole new government program office just to deal with the forensics and to find the rest of these sites,” he said.

“So we’re in a difficult position. It’s a catch-22,” the analyst said. “We won’t discover how urgent and destructive this problem is until we investigate it. We won’t investigate it until they discover how urgent and destructive it is.”

Blaze News reached out to Reddit, Discord, and the U.S. Secret Service for more comment.

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​National security 

Los Angeles County officials have declared a state of emergency over federal deportation raids, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement fired back immediately.

Four of the members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the declaration Tuesday, while only one voted against.

‘Perhaps the board should “supervise” funds to support law-abiding fire victims who still haven’t recovered instead of criminal illegal aliens.’

The resolution said that the raids have created a “climate of fear” for residents and caused them to be “fearful of leaving their homes to go to work, take public transportation, and access County services.”

The motion will allow officials to request state assistance as well as federal resources to protect the communities affected by the immigration operations.

“What’s happening in our communities is an emergency, and Los Angeles County is treating it like one,” said Supervisor Lindsay Horvath. “Declaring a local emergency ensures that the full weight of county government is aligned to support our immigrant communities who are being targeted by federal actions.”

Supervisor Janice Hahn called the raids a “man-made” disaster similar to an earthquake.

“I want our residents to know that we are in this crisis with them — and I want us to have every tool at our disposal in this effort,” she added. “For that reason, I think this emergency proclamation is not just symbolically important as a message to our residents, but critical to our response moving forward.”

ICE spokesperson Emily Covington released a statement criticizing the declaration and accusing the officials of insulting law enforcement officials.

“The only state of emergency is the one the residents of Los Angeles face after electing officials who give a middle finger to the law. Perhaps the board should ‘supervise’ funds to support law-abiding fire victims who still haven’t recovered instead of criminal illegal aliens seeking refuge in their sanctuary city.”

RELATED: Outrage ensues when 13-year-old is arrested by ICE — then DHS releases devastating accusations

The board said the state of emergency would continue until the board decides to terminate it.

The Trump administration’s increased focus on deporting illegal aliens has led to some violent attacks from anti-ICE protesters and rioters. At least one Democrat lawmaker has accused the administration of faking some of the violence in order to justify invoking the Insurrection Act.

Trump has mentioned invoking the Insurrection Act but as of Wednesday afternoon has not yet done so.

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President Trump has achieved a success previously unheard of. That is, he has simultaneously received praise from both Republicans and Democrats for negotiating the unprecedented Israel-Hamas ceasefire and bringing all the hostages home.

Even former president Joe Biden had something positive to say.

“I am deeply grateful and relieved that this day has come — for the last living 20 hostages who have been through unimaginable hell and are finally reunited with their families and loved ones, and for the civilians in Gaza who have experienced immeasurable loss and will finally get the chance to rebuild their lives,” Biden wrote in a post on social media.

“The road to this deal was not easy. My Administration worked relentlessly to bring hostages home, get relief to Palestinian civilians, and end the war. I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line,” he continued.

Former president Bill Clinton also chimed in to sing Trump’s praises, writing in a statement posted to X: “The horrors of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and the conflict they reignited, have resulted in unbearable human loss. It has been hard to watch and nearly impossible to rationalize.”

“I’m grateful that a ceasefire has taken hold, that the last 20 living hostages have been freed, and that desperately needed aid has begun to flow into Gaza. President Trump and his administration, Qatar, and other regional actors deserve great credit for keeping everyone engaged until the agreement was reached,” he added.

And comedian Jimmy Kimmel even had something nice to say about the president, though he laid the sarcasm on quite thick.

“What a day for Donald Trump. You know what? He finally did something positive today, and I want to give him credit for it, because I know he’s not the type to take credit for himself,” Kimmel said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“Trump was in Israel and Egypt today to celebrate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. All 20 Israeli hostages are home after 738 days. Almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released, and while we’re only in the first phase of what will undoubtedly be a long and tricky process, the fact is, the bombing has stopped,” he continued.

“The hostages have been released, and Trump deserves some of the praise for that. And so I know it sounds crazy to say, but good work on that one, President Trump. Now, maybe you can not invade Portland,” he added.

However, not all of Trump’s left-wing critics were quick to praise him.

“Bernie Sanders, as you might expect, a little bit more insane,” BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere says.

“Today, we welcome the long-overdue release of the 20 remaining Israelis held by Hamas and the freeing of almost 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons,” Sanders wrote in a statement posted to social media.

“But it must be the Palestinians themselves that guide this process and determine their future,” he added.

“Here’s some news for you,” Burguiere comments. “No. No, it must not be the Palestinians that determine their future. The last time the Palestinians got to determine their future, they elected Hamas. So no, they don’t get to determine their future.”

Want more from Stu?

To enjoy more of Stu’s lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, 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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An American beauty queen expressed relief after her request for a restraining order against a sitting U.S. congressman was granted Tuesday, and her attorney implied that more legal actions may be coming.

Lindsey Langston sought the order against Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida based on accusations that he had threatened to release compromising videos of her after she ended their romantic relationship.

‘There’s certainly the evidence there to pursue criminal charges. I would suspect that this isn’t the last time you’re going to hear about this.’

Langston and her attorney, Bobi Frank, answered questions from Blaze News and other outlets on Wednesday. When asked whether Mills would face criminal prosecution over the sextortion accusation, Frank implied there was a possibility he might.

“I am not a prosecutor, and I am not a law enforcement officer, but I can tell you I have a lot of experience in both the civil and criminal arenas in our justice system,” she responded.

“Certainly from my perspective, the allegations that Ms. Langston made have been absolutely substantiated in each of the elements of two particular crimes … through the findings of fact that the court issued,” Frank added. “So I will say this: There’s certainly the evidence there to pursue criminal charges. I would suspect that this isn’t the last time you’re going to hear about this.”

When asked if she knew whether anything had been filed or was in the works, she repeated only that the TRO ruling on Tuesday was unlikely to be the last time they would hear about the case.

“The Court, considering the totality of the testimony and circumstances, does not find the Respondent’s testimony concerning the intimate videos to be truthful,” Judge Fred Koberlein Jr. wrote in granting the restraining order against Mills.

The judge also wrote that the purpose of at least some of Mills’ messages to Langston “was to continue to harass and cause emotional distress” to her.

Frank went on to call on Republicans and Democrats to vote to purge Mills from Congress over the sextortion allegations as well as numerous other scandals and controversies.

“It’s clear as day that Cory Mills is synonymous with unethical behavior,” she added. “This is not an isolated incident. He leaves a trail of unethical behavior.”

Frank quoted from the order that forbids Mills from referring to Langston on any social media platform.

“If Mr. Mills chooses to take even one step, performs one act that is harassing, threatening, or intimidating in any fashion, we will react swiftly and severely.”

Langston’s attorney said they were thankful that the judge gave the TRO case proper consideration.

“He clearly took this case very seriously, and that is demonstrated in the 14-page injunction that he painstakingly wrote,” she said.

RELATED: Why did Cory Mills come to Ilhan Omar’s rescue?

Frank praised her client for speaking out about the accusations.

“She found the courage, the strength, the perseverance to hold Cory Mills responsible, primarily because of her fear,” she said. “That is amazing, astonishing. It’s to be commended.”

When asked if justice had been served, Langston described her emotional reaction to being told the restraining order had been granted.

“I do feel that justice was served, and I can’t even describe the relief that I felt once I got the phone call that I had been issued the injunction for protection. I felt like I’m able to live my life again,” she said.

“I hope that it serves as a clear message to victims, whether it be physical violence, intimidation, threats, coercion, anything like that,” Langston added.

“I hope that you come forward. I hope that you stick to your guns. Be thorough. Be truthful and have faith in the justice system because it is there to protect you. There are laws in place to protect you. Know your rights, and have courage,” she continued.

A representative for Mills did not respond to Blaze News’ request for comment.

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On Tuesday, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling that a Michigan school district did not violate two students’ rights when the administration forced them to remove clothing with the words “Let’s Go Brandon.”

The case involved two brothers who wore sweatshirts with the phrase to school in 2022. The students, both then of middle-school age, were asked to remove the clothing “since the phrase ‘means the F-word,'” the opinion related, quoting assistant principal of Tri County Middle School Andrew Buikema.

‘It contains no sexual content, no graphic imagery, and no actual profanity.’

Specifically, the opinion affirmed the district court’s understanding that the school “reasonably understood the slogan ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ to be vulgar.”

The court decision explained in detail the provenance of the well-known expression, which originates from a 2021 NASCAR event in Alabama.

RELATED: ‘Let’s go, lawsuit’: Students sue after school forces them to remove ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ sweatshirts

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

In a video of the NASCAR event, the crowd can be heard chanting, “F**k Joe Biden,” but a reporter misreports the chant during her interview with professional race car driver Brandon Brown. She says the crowd is chanting, “Let’s go, Brandon.”

The misreported phrase quickly became popular as an outlet for criticism of then-President Joe Biden.

The opinion from the appeals court stated that the reporter either misheard the chant or was “simply trying to put a fig leaf over the chant’s vulgarity.”

“The school administrators reasonably interpreted the ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ slogan as being vulgar speech that ‘a school may categorically prohibit’ despite its political message. Requesting that students remove clothing with that slogan didn’t violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments,” the opinion of the court concluded.

The court split two to one in the decision. Judge John Bush dissented from the opinion of Judges John Nalbandian and Karen Nelson Moore.

Bush wrote in his dissent that wearing clothing with political messaging is “the first point of entry to civic engagement.” The school’s intervention thus “quickly ended” the boys’ “civic engagement.”

Getting to the core of the issue, Bush added, “The phrase at issue here is a euphemism for political criticism. It contains no sexual content, no graphic imagery, and no actual profanity. To the extent that it implies an offensive phrase, it does so obliquely — by design.”

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An official from the Trump administration says the NFL has once again decided to go against its supporters.

Ever since Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, was named by the NFL as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer, the singer has been at the center of controversy about whether or not his beliefs are at odds with football fans.

‘So if you choose to come to the Super Bowl and you’re in this country illegally, there are repercussions to that.’

Ocasio appeared on “Saturday Night Live” at the beginning of October and told supporters to expect Spanish songs during the halftime show. After delivering those remarks in Spanish, he even joked that “if you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

Bad Bunny has previously said he avoided U.S. tour dates because he feared Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents may be waiting for illegal immigrants outside his concerts. Since then, the Trump administration has issued statements saying that any illegal aliens present at the Super Bowl in San Francisco are subject to deportation.

Some of those statements have come from Corey Lewandowski, a Trump official and special adviser to Homeland Security. Lewandowski appeared on Newsmax’s “National Report” on Tuesday to reiterate that not only is the NFL doing its fans a disservice, but everyone deserves to be safe from illegal alien criminals.

“It’s a poor decision by the NFL,” Lewandowski told the Newsmax hosts.

“Once again the NFL decides to go woke and bring someone who says they don’t want to perform on American soil because they’re afraid of the people who might be coming to his concerts.”

The official said the news around ICE’s presence at the Super Bowl is being greatly exaggerated, and that agents always planned to be present to help prevent instances of counterfeit merchandise and human trafficking.

“This is not news,” he said.

“If you are in this country illegally, you should self-deport, because if you don’t, we will find you.”

He added, “So if you choose to come to the Super Bowl and you’re in this country illegally, there are repercussions to that — just as there are if you are in any other neighborhood in this great country.”

RELATED: Bad Bunny: Learn Spanish if you want to understand my Super Bowl performance

Regarding Bad Bunny, Lewandowski denied any misunderstandings that the Trump administration was calling his U.S. citizenship into question as a resident of Puerto Rico. Still, he reinforced that every legal immigrant and American citizen “is going to be safe” attending the football game.

President Trump, meanwhile, recently blamed the NFL for passing the buck on booking the popular artist. In addition to saying he has “never heard of” Bad Bunny and does not “know who he is,” Trump revealed he did not know the NFL’s motivation for the halftime show.

“I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy,” the president said. “And then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Apple Music, the NFL, and Roc Nation are officially responsible for the musical event; Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music and international content, along with Roc Nation founder Jay-Z, are the most notable names attached to the booking. Jay-Z has been involved with Super Bowl halftime shows since 2019.

RELATED: Turning Point USA to offer ‘All American Halftime Show’ alternative to NFL’s woke Super Bowl spectacle

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

Ocasio has not shied away from political statements in his past, and he endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election because he was offended by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally.

Additionally, in his music video for the song “NUEVAYoL,” released on July 4, Bad Bunny draped a Puerto Rican flag over the Statue of Liberty and played a parody of the Trump’s voice in which he admits “this country is nothing without the immigrants.”

At the beginning of September, Bad Bunny said he avoided the United States for his world tour because he feared ICE raids at his concerts. Although there were “many reasons” he did not “show up in the U.S.,” Bad Bunny explained, “There was the issue of — like, f**king ICE could be outside.”

“And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he added.

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An Arkansas father accused of murdering the 67-year-old alleged rapist of his 14-year-old daughter is making a surprising bid for public office after he said the “system failed” him and his family.

Aaron Spencer, 37, announced last week that he’s is running for Lonoke County Sheriff. As it happens, the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office investigated last year’s headline-grabbing case involving Spencer.

‘Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court.’

The Facebook video from Spencer’s campaign is captioned: “It’s time to bring trust, accountability, and safety back to our community. Join us on this journey to build a sheriff’s office you can believe in!”

In the campaign video, Spencer notes that “many of you know my story.”

“I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,” Spencer says.

Spencer adds that he is a husband, a combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, a contractor, and a farmer.

“Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court,” Spencer states. “I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures.”

Spencer also stresses in the video, “This campaign isn’t about me. It’s about every parent, every neighbor, every family who deserves to feel safe in their homes and safe in their community. It’s about restoring trust, where neighbors know law enforcement is on their side and families know that they will not be left alone in a moment of need.”

RELATED: Thug allegedly recorded himself raping woman at gunpoint — before she shot him

As Blaze News reported last October, Spencer was arrested after authorities said he fatally shot 67-year-old Michael Fosler, who reportedly was in a vehicle with Spencer’s 14-year-old daughter.

Spencer reportedly went to his daughter’s bedroom to check on her. Citing an affidavit, CNN said the daughter was gone, but there was a stuffed animal wrapped in her hoodie under the blankets in her bed.

The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that deputies were dispatched regarding a missing teen at approximately 1:12 a.m. Oct. 8, 2024. However, while en route, deputies were notified that Spencer had located his daughter in a vehicle with Fosler.

The affidavit states that Spencer used his vehicle to rear-end Fosler’s Ford F-150 truck at an intersection, forcing it off the road.

“A confrontation between the two adult males ensued, which resulted in a shooting,” the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office stated.

According to the affidavit, Spencer told police that he “had no choice” but to shoot Fosler.

The New York Post, citing the affidavit, reported that Spencer told investigators that Fosler “lunged towards him” with something in his hand and shouted, “F**k you!”

The affidavit states Spencer fired at Fosler until his weapon was empty and then jumped on him and pistol-whipped him.

Police said Fosler was pronounced dead at the crime scene.

Citing court records, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported that Fosler was out on bond at the time of the shooting after being arrested and charged with two counts each of fourth-degree sexual assault, sexual indecency with a child, and internet stalking of a child. Fosler also faced one count of electronic facilitation of child sexual abuse and 35 counts of pandering or possessing depictions of sexual conduct involving a child.

CNN added that “the family had been on edge” and that “three months earlier the teen, then 13, revealed she’d been sexually abused by a 67-year-old man she met at the home of a family friend.”

Spencer was arrested and soon charged with second-degree murder. Spencer was released on a surety bond and has pleaded not guilty.

Spencer’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17.

RELATED: Couple allegedly tries to sell 2-month-old baby for cash, 6-pack of beer because it’s ‘not working having 3 dogs and a baby’

A Change.org petition titled “Absolve Aaron David Spencer of Charges Stemming from Saving his Daughter’s Life” was launched and has more than 361,000 signatures.

Spencer’s wife, Heather, said in a GiveSendGo fundraiser that her daughter had been “targeted, groomed, and ultimately raped by the boyfriend of a family friend,” the Post reported.

“We let the justice system do its job,” Heather Spencer said. “The monster who hurt our child was charged quickly, but released even faster on a $50k bond. He was awaiting court in December for several felonies in relation to what he did to our child.”

The mother called her husband a “hero” and said that her “child would have not come home if my husband hadn’t found her.”

Lonoke County Sheriff Jeff Staley told the Democrat Gazette that he couldn’t comment on the Spencer case because of the pending trial.

But Staley did say in an emailed statement, “I will be seeking re-election to continue being your Lonoke County sheriff. Since 2013, I have served as sheriff of Lonoke County with a clear mission — to protect our citizens and hold those who break the law accountable. From day one, our focus has been on three major threats to our communities: drug traffickers, sexual predators, and thieves.”

The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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This week, Blaze News reported on an H-1B visa rule change imposed by the Biden Department of Homeland Security, effectively allowing nonimmigrant workers to work remotely while in America. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case that would ostensibly challenge the rule-making authority of executive agencies regarding an adjacent program: the H-4 visa.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied a writ of certiorari for a case that would reconsider crucial aspects of the H-4 nonimmigrant program, which is more commonly known as the spousal or dependent complement of the H-1B nonimmigrant worker visa program.

‘Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.’

The petition was brought by Save Jobs USA, which, according to Reuters, “represents American tech workers who it says were displaced by foreign labor.” The Center for Immigration Studies says the group “is composed of computer professionals who worked at Southern California Edison until they were replaced by H-1B workers.”

RELATED: ‘Executive fiat’: Biden-era rule change quietly permits H-1B visa holders to work remotely

Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

More details on the group are sparse.

Save Jobs USA’s petition reads in part, “With the H-4 Rule, DHS reversed its earlier interpretation and began allowing certain spouses of H-1B nonimmigrant workers to be employed, despite no such directive in the statute.”

The petition continues with a surprising claim: “Following the H-4 Rule, there was an explosion in the number of noncitizens authorized to work in the United States entirely through regulations.”

The petition for a writ of certiorari presented two questions. The first question was “whether the Department of Homeland Security can grant work authorization for classes of nonimmigrants for whom Congress has refused to grant work authorization.”

The second question asks “whether the statutory terms defining nonimmigrant visas in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15) are mere threshold entry requirements that cease to apply once an alien is admitted or whether they persist and dictate the terms of a nonimmigrant’s stay in the United States.”

The 22-page order list from SCOTUS included a short explanation: “The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied. Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.”

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, the only eligibility requirement for H-4 visas is to be the spouse of a qualified and approved H-1B visa holder.

Blaze News contacted the Departments of Homeland Security and State for comment.

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​Politics, H-4 visas, H-1b visas, Supreme court, Scotus, Dhs, Save jobs usa, Kavanaugh, Uscis, United states, Immigration 

A new study from the University of Buckingham’s Centre for Heterodox Social Science suggests that gender ideology is falling out of favor and the sex-change regime’s supply of potential young victims might be drying up.

Citing data from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s annual campus surveys of undergraduate students — FIRE polled over 60,000 this year — and several institution-level surveys of young Americans, study author Dr. Eric Kaufmann indicated that “the share of young people not identifying as male or female (typically ticking the non-binary or questioning options) has declined substantially since its 2022-23 peak.”

‘The fall of trans and queer seems most similar to the fading of a fashion or trend.’

One of the institutional-level student surveys Kaufmann looked at, the survey conducted annually at the Boston-area Andover Phillips Academy, showed a drop from over 9% of all respondents identifying as “non-binary” in 2023 to 3% total this year.

FIRE survey data and Brown University student survey data similarly showed declines in the share of self-identified “non-binary” respondents — from 6.8% to 3.6% of the total in the first case, and a drop from roughly 5% to 2.6% in the second case.

While the homosexual cohort has remained relatively stable, in the 3-5% range, Andover Phillips data indicated that there has been a rebound in the share of students who identify as straight.

This rebound was similarly reflected in the FIRE data — which indicates that straightness dropped from 80% in 2020 to 68% in 2023, but now sits around 77% — as well as in the General Social Survey’s findings, which reportedly indicated that straightness fell from 95% in 2010 to 71% in 2022, then rose to 81% last year.

RELATED: Groomed for violence? The dark world of furries and transgenderism in America’s classrooms

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, the category of self-identified bisexuals, which increased from 10% to 17% between 2020 and 2023, has dropped to 12%, according to the Andover Phillips data.

The category for “queer and other” sexual identities, which had jumped from 7% in 2020 to 17% in 2023, has since fallen to 12% of the total.

FIRE data indicates that the “queer and other” sexuality category has fallen from 15% in 2023 to 8%.

Kaufmann suggested that “it appears that trans and queer are going out of fashion among young people, especially in elite settings,” and that the freshman 2028 cohort “was less likely than older students in 2025 to identify as BTQ+.”

“To the extent that the youngest represent the leading edge of new trends, this suggests that trans, bisexual and queer identities are declining in popularity with each new cohort,” Kaufmann added.

The professor indicated that the decline in non-straight identification “does not appear to be the result of a shift to the right, the return of religion, or a rejection of woke culture war attitudes.”

Kaufmann suggested on X that “the fall of trans and queer seems most similar to the fading of a fashion or trend. It happened largely independently of shifts in political beliefs and social media use, though improved mental health played a role.”

Gender ideologues appear to be everywhere losing their battle against common sense and the well-being of young Americans.

For instance, a recent Gallup poll indicated that 66% of American adults think people should be required to list their real sex on government documents and that 69% believe medical transvestites should play on sports teams with members of their own sex.

Pew Research Center polling shows that a majority of Americans now support bans on child sex-change procedures — bans of the kind now in effect in a majority of U.S. states.

This rebuke of the sex-change regime, which is also taking a beating from the Trump administration, appears to be pan-generational. Data published by the Public Religion Research Institute in May indicates that support for so-called “gender-affirming care” has also plummeted among younger Americans. For instance, 66% of young men ages 18-29 think that sex-change interventions, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, should be illegal in most or all cases.

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​Transgender, Transvestite, Trans, Lgbt, Homosexual, Straight, Heterosexual, Normalcy, Normal, Students, Schools, Social contagion, Politics 

Authorities responded to a call about a suspicious person just before 11 p.m. Monday in Grover, North Carolina, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said.

A homeowner in the 100 block of Mallard Drive went outside after noticing lights on in an adjacent home that was being remodeled, officials said.

‘We’ll do what we have to do to protect our homes.’

The homeowner knew that lights shouldn’t be on in the home and suspected a break-in, officials said.

Soon the homeowner saw a male wearing a yellow sweatshirt carrying something, officials said. The homeowner confronted the male, who responded by shooting at the homeowner, officials said.

The homeowner was not shot but called 911, officials said.

RELATED: Intruder allegedly breaks window in attempt to enter home, ignores verbal warnings — so homeowner lets his gun do the talking

Image source: Cleveland County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office

A second neighbor heard the gunshots and came outside to check on the commotion, officials said.

This neighbor also encountered the male subject, and the neighbor shot at him after it appeared that the male was about to open fire at the neighbor, officials said.

The male suspect ran away and fled in an Audi, officials said.

“We’ve always told people not to mess around down here because we’ll do what we have to do to protect our homes,” Clayton Campbell, who lives on Mallard Drive, told WBTV-TV. “And the people who came messing around last night realized we weren’t playing when we said that.”

The sheriff’s office said it didn’t have confirmation that anyone was injured in the incident, which is still under investigation.

“Last night could have went different,” Campbell added to WBTV. “Nobody was hurt from our end, so that’s all that matters.”

Officials said a search for those who were inside the Audi continues.

Those with information about this case can call the sheriff’s office at 704-484-4822 or Crime Stoppers at 704-481-8477, officials said, adding that all tip submissions through Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous.

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​Crime thwarted, Home invasion, Neighbor opens fire on intruder, North carolina, 2nd amend., Guns, Gun rights, Protecting others, Cleveland county sheriff’s office, Grover, Crime 

President Trump’s Department of State has drawn a line in the sand for foreign visitors: They are not permitted to openly celebrate the deaths of Americans.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned visa holders in September that the administration was not looking to host “foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens.”

‘Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed.’

On Tuesday evening — Charlie Kirk’s birthday — the State Department wrote a series of posts on X that condemned foreigners who “wish death on Americans,” seemingly following through on Rubio’s warnings.

“The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk,” the department wrote.

This was followed by a list of several examples of “aliens who are no longer welcome” in the United States after making horrific statements about Kirk, who was murdered on September 10.

First, the State Department said it had revoked the visa of an Argentine national who said Kirk can “rest in f***ing piss” and labeled him a purveyor of “racist, xenophobic, misogynistic rhetoric.”

This was just the tip of the iceberg, though.

RELATED: Rubio puts visa holders who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death on high alert

— (@)

Additional visa revocations included a South African who mocked those who were grieving over Kirk’s death and said the mourners were “hurt that the racist rally ended in attempted martyrdom.”

The person also called Kirk’s supporters members of a “white nationalist” movement.

Furthermore, a Mexican had his visa revoked for saying Kirk “died being a racist” and a “misogynist.”

Other revocations included a Brazilian who said Kirk had hosted a “Nazi rally” and “died too late,” while a Paraguayan national said Kirk had “died by his own rules” and was a “son of a b****.”

These were in addition to a German national who, according to the State Department, attempted to justify Kirk’s murder by writing, “When fascists die, democrats don’t complain.”

RELATED: Trump honors Charlie Kirk with highest civilian honor: ‘You have given him the best birthday gift’

— (@)

The administration concluded its thread by saying Secretary Rubio and President Trump will defend the United States’ borders, culture, and citizens by enforcing immigration laws.

“Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed,” the administration added.

Rubio had even written in September that the visa revocations were “under way” and that those in the U.S. on a visa who were found to be cheering on the public assassination of a political figure should “prepare to be deported.”

“You are not welcome in this country,” Rubio wrote on X.

In comments to CNN last month, Harold Hongju Koh, a legal adviser for the State Department under President Obama, claimed that revoking visas based on such statements is a “First Amendment violation.”

“It shouldn’t matter whether you agree with what they say or not, but the idea that they lose their visa over this is essentially violating the first premise of U.S. Supreme Court First Amendment law,” Koh told CNN.

Koh revealed that the standards for visa revocation are “incredibly vague” but at the same time said that during his time in the Obama administration it would have been unlikely that any lawyer would have signed off on these actions.

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​News, Charlie kirk, State department, Marco rubio, Trump, Obama, Foreigners, Visas, Foreign nationals, Politics 

In response to to a recent Supreme Court case, last week Fr. James Martin posted on X that so-called “conversion therapy” should be banned.

That’s not compassion. That’s censorship dressed up as virtue. And as a Catholic priest, he should know better.

When a young man says, ‘I want help living chastely,’ telling him his request is unrealistic and maybe even illegal — that’s cruelty.

This case, Chiles v. Salazar, isn’t forcing anyone to change. It’s about the freedom of young people, their parents, and counselors to even talk about faith, identity, and healing.

Refuting ‘born this way’

Early this summer, my Ruth Institute colleague Fr. Paul Sullins and I submitted an amicus brief to the court concerning the Chiles case. Fr. Sullins is a former sociology professor at Catholic University of America. I am a former economics professor at Yale University. In our brief, we summarized research on sexual orientation and on change therapy.

Fr. James Martin’s core argument actually comes at the end of his post, where he says:

“Like it or not, understand it or not, this is how God made them. Accepting the way God made them is part of the ‘respect, compassion and sensitivity’ that the Catechism calls for.”

Notice that he treats the “born this way” idea as something so obvious that it doesn’t even need to be defended. However, this is factually incorrect.

In 2019, a massive study of the human genome clearly showed there is no “gay gene.” The genetic contribution to self-identification as “gay” is roughly the same as a genetic contribution to other complex behavioral systems, such as the tendency to alcoholism or other kinds of addictions.

Even before 2019, studies of identical twins cast serious doubt on the claim that people are born gay. These studies examine the concordance between twins. If it were really true that “gay is the new black,” then concordance between twins should be 100%. The actual number is closer to 30%.

As a matter of fact, even the American Psychological Association admits:

There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.

Bad science, bad theology

The APA is correct when it says that many possible factors contribute to the development of persistent same-sex attraction or a gay identity. A set of contributing factors is not at all the same as one cause, as if one and only one thing were in play. The Ruth Institute’s report “Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths” explains this in more detail. You can obtain this report at no charge by subscribing to our newsletter.

For now, let us state plainly: The claim that “this is how God made them” is bad science. It is certainly bad theology, as Fr. Martin ought to know. God doesn’t make anybody gay.

And God certainly doesn’t put anybody in the “wrong body.” That idea is physical nonsense and metaphysical nonsense. Your body is you!

Fr. Martin says there’s “no evidence” that counseling like this helps. No evidence? Seriously? That’s simply false.

RELATED: ‘Must Stay Gay’ laws face their overdue reckoning

Photo by Dendron via Getty Images

Flawed ‘evidence’

Our own research at the Ruth Institute shows that talk therapy — not shock therapy or any other aversive techniques, but the talk therapy that is really at stake in this case — has helped many people find peace and stability in the face of unwanted same-sex attraction.

And the so-called “evidence” used to ban therapy that helps people reduce their feelings of unwanted same-sex attraction? There are a lot of problems with those studies, which we cover thoroughly in our amicus brief.

The most important objection is that these studies do not take account of pre-counseling distress. We found evidence that the people who are the most distressed and the most suicidal are also the most likely to seek therapy. If you correlate “lifetime suicide attempts” with “did you ever go for therapy,” some of the people were suicidal before they ever went to a counselor. It is not correct to blame the counseling for something that happened before the counseling took place!

Fr. Sullins found that taking account of the before and after basically obliterated the results of one of the most commonly cited studies that supposedly shows that “conversion therapy causes suicide.”

The truth will set you free

Besides, the claim that there is “no evidence” is a recklessly strong one. What about all the people who have Left Pride Behind, some with the help of therapy, some without? Each one of them counters the claim that “no one can change” and “therapy never works.” Even a single counter-example is enough to disprove these strong claims. And at the Ruth Institute, we’ve got a lot of cases! Don’t their stories deserve to be heard? These are real people whose stories are being systematically silenced in the public square.

I’ve listened to many of these stories. My friends who have Left Pride Behind consistently tell me that what they needed was people to walk with them, in genuine compassion.

Fr. Martin says, “It’s not a Christian value to do harm.” I agree.

But denying someone the freedom to live by his or her faith is harm.

When a young man says, “I want help living chastely,” telling him his request is unrealistic and maybe even illegal — that’s cruelty. My friends tell me how much they valued their friends and family members who stood by them as they struggled with temptation or with relapses or with discouragement. They cherish those friends as true brothers and sisters in Christ

Christian love always points to truth. The Ruth Institute stands for the freedom to heal — the freedom to live your faith fully, even when it’s unpopular or challenging.

The Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether the state can control what you’re allowed to say in the privacy of a counseling room. Let us hope the justices opt for freedom of speech and religion. That’s something every Catholic — including priests — should defend.

I invite Fr. Martin, and anyone who shares his views, to look again at the gospel and the science. Jesus never banned the truth — because truth sets us free.

​Lgbt, Leaving pride behind, Lifestyle, The supreme court, Scotus, Conversion therapy, James martin, Fr. paul sullins, The ruth institute, Born this way, Faith, Catholic church, Christianity, Chastity, Freedom of speech, Countering pride 

Last week, a Turning Point USA student at Arizona State University found an Antifa recruitment brochure on campus. It looked like a fourth-grader’s art project, leading some to suspect it might have been a class assignment — perhaps an attempt by a sympathetic professor to portray Antifa as “not all that bad.” But the flyer included a real Instagram handle, suggesting a more deliberate effort than a student prank.

So what exactly is Antifa, and why does it still find support among radical professors?

The name sounds noble — until you define it

At first glance, “Antifa,” short for “anti-fascism,” seems harmless or even virtuous. After all, who would oppose being against fascism? But the real question is: What does Antifa mean by “fascism”?

Fascism and communism are rival branches of the same ideological tree — the radical left.

Historically, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term “fascism,” defining it as the belief that “everything is in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.” Fascism was a form of totalitarian national socialism that made the state the highest authority in human life. Every other institution — church, family, business, education — was expected to exist only under state control. Far from being a right-wing ideology, as popular myth holds, fascism emerged from the revolutionary left.

Rival totalitarians

Fascists and communists share more than they admit. Both demand total control of society under the pretense of “fixing” human problems. The difference lies in scale. Fascists exalt the nation; communists exalt the world.

The easiest way to spot a communist is to find the professor shouting loudest about “fascism.” The two are rival branches of the same ideological tree — the radical left. Both trace their roots to the French Revolution and Marxism, in sharp contrast to the liberty-born ideals of the American Revolution.

The intellectual roots

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the philosophical father of modern revolution, claimed humans are born good but “everywhere in chains.” Evil, he said, began with private property. Those who own property define crime, allowing them to oppress everyone else. His cure was the “general will” — the supposed collective will of the people expressed through the state. Every new tyrant since has claimed to know exactly what that will demands.

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel built on Rousseau with his idea that history advances through conflict, a process he called the “dialectic.” Karl Marx stripped Hegel’s theory of its spiritual elements and turned it into the “materialist dialectic.” To Marx, all history is a struggle over material resources and capital. Religion, morality, and family were mere disguises for economic power.

This logic birthed the Marxist slogan “Workers of the world, unite!” and set the stage for revolutions in Russia and Germany. When fascists in Germany blocked the communist uprising, Antifaschistische Aktion — Antifa — was born.

A revolution against the West

Modern Antifa isn’t formally descended from the 1930s German movement, but its ideology hasn’t changed. The group still defines itself by opposition, not by principle.

Antifa claims to fight “oppression,” yet it chooses its targets selectively. Members denounce slavery from centuries past but ignore the slave markets that still operate in parts of Africa and the Middle East. Their real enemy isn’t tyranny — it’s the West, capitalism, and Christianity.

That’s why Antifa allies with any movement hostile to Western civilization, even those far more oppressive than what Antifa claims to resist. Members excuse such alliances by insisting those groups were “forced” into brutality by Western influence. In Antifa’s worldview, “oppression” means “whiteness,” “heteronormativity,” and Christianity. Belief in personal responsibility, hard work, or the rule of law — the very foundations of ordered liberty — become systems of oppression.

How Antifa operates

Antifa rejects reform in favor of perpetual revolution — viva la revolución! Its adherents champion “direct action,” not dialogue. Their tactics include doxxing, counter-rallies, vandalism, and physical intimidation — all designed to silence opponents by fear, not reason. Logic itself, they argue, is a “tool of oppression.” The result is an ideology that devours itself: incoherent, emotional, and rooted in will, not intellect.

Fascists and communists may fight each other, but they share one deeper hatred — the hatred of God.

A Hispanic Christian friend of mine pursuing a degree in Latin American studies once told me his professor said, “Ché su Cristo” — Ché as Christ. To this professor, revolutionary violence was redemptive. For many radicals, Ché Guevara is the true messiah; salvation comes not through grace but through destruction.

They don’t debate ideas — they annihilate opponents. That’s why they despise people like Charlie Kirk. He represented everything they can’t: clear reasoning, coherent argument, and defense of the American Revolution’s principles — limited government, ordered liberty, and faith in God.

RELATED: Trump praises Blaze News reporting during Antifa roundtable at White House — and slaps down MSNBC, CNN

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Antifa’s real enemy

The American Revolution recognized that the state is not supreme. It is one institution among others — family, church, and business, each with its own God-given role. The state’s proper duty is limited: to punish wrongdoing and protect the innocent. That vision of ordered liberty is written plainly into the Constitution’s preamble.

America’s founders built a republic — a government under law, lex rex — “the law is king.” They believed that God’s law, revealed in both nature and Scripture, provides the moral order that makes true freedom possible.

At its core, Antifa’s ultimate enemy isn’t any human institution — it is God Himself. Whether its adherents are atheists or occultists, they view God as the oppressor because He gives law. Their rebellion echoes Lucifer’s ancient creed: “Do what thou wilt.” Saul Alinsky, in “Rules for Radicals,” openly admired Lucifer as the arch-rebel. Antifa’s devotion to the sexual revolution and the LGBTQ+ movement flows from the same impulse: the rejection of divine order in favor of self-will.

Fascists and communists may fight each other, but they share one deeper hatred — the hatred of God. Both reject the idea that rights come from a Creator and that moral law defines justice.

America stands in opposition to both. Our republic rests on the conviction that God endows every person with rights and that government exists to protect — not replace — the moral order rooted in divine law. No state can perfect humanity. Salvation from sin and death comes only through Christ.

That makes Christianity, not Marxism or fascism, the true enemy of tyranny.

As we defend Christian truth in public life, we must do so with discernment, knowing that our opponents’ hatred runs deeper than politics. It is spiritual. And when they finally drop the mask of “tolerance” and “niceness,” they reveal exactly what they’ve always been.

When they tell you who they are and what they hate — believe them.

​Opinion & analysis, Opinion, Antifa, Anti fascist, Left wing violence, Leftism, Totalitarianism, Totalitarian, Totalitarian tactics, Marxism, Marxist, Hegel, Rousseau, Anarchism, Arizona state university, Materialism, Turning point usa, Charlie kirk, Direct action, Law and order, Rule of law, Mob rule 

A 58-year-old male registered sex offender may have claimed to identify as a woman in order to allegedly expose himself in locker rooms at public school facilities in Virginia.

Richard Kenneth Cox, who also goes by Riki Cox, is facing more than 20 charges — including indecent exposure, sex offender on school or day care property, and sex offender loiter near school/day care/park/playground — after he was accused of exposing his naked body in a female locker room at a Washington-Liberty High School pool on October 21, 2024.

‘This school board candidate, now a sitting school board member, without any apparent vetting or inquiry into who this individual was, touted her record as an ally to the LGBTQ community to really secure — Richard Cox, his vote.’

Arlington Public Schools’ policy allows individuals to use locker-room facilities that align with their so-called gender identity. Outside school hours, the pools at Washington-Liberty High School and Wakefield High School in the district are open to the public.

Emails obtained by Parents Defending Education via a Freedom of Information Act request and reviewed by Blaze News revealed that Cox had reached out to a current school board member to express his frustrations over the October 21 incident. He also asked how she planned to address the issue in order to secure his vote in the upcoming election.

“I am a member of the LGBT and specifically transgender community,” Cox wrote to current APS school board member Kathleen Clark on October 28. “The issue is that transgender people including minors are disproportionately homeless and use places like the County swimming pools to shower. But let me be clear that this is not only an opportunity to be clean but to be and feel part of the community.”

“However, solely because of complaints of a transgender person in the locker room, Washington Liberty Swimming Pool made a rule that people using the shower but not the pool must use the single, isolated locker room away from everyone else, like they are some kind of freak or something,” he stated.

RELATED: 2 boys were filmed by a girl in the boys’ school locker room. The school punished the BOYS.

Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/Denver Post via Getty Images

Cox contended that women who object to “transgender people” using their locker-room facilities should be the ones encouraged to separate themselves by using the single locker room.

“If they cannot, then they are the ones that should be isolated before casting off me or other transgender people trying to be part of our community and not be treated like freaks,” Cox added.

In a second email to Clark, Cox complained that pool staff had directed females to “use the individual changing room while I was in the full locker room.”

“This is again sending the message that a transgender person is a freak and I guess not normal and beautiful like everyone else,” he wrote. “There are anti-discrimination laws on both the Federal, State, and County levels including in the Schools to prevent this kind of animosity.”

Clark appeared sympathetic to Cox’s concerns.

“I hope that you did not experience transphobic statements from the staff. You should be able to use the showers and changing rooms that you are most comfortable using,” Clark responded.

In another email obtained by PDE, Clark seemed to indicate to Assistant Superintendent Catherine Ashby that she felt misled by Cox.

“It is concerning to me that 1) he appeared to come at this from the angle that he was or represented a minor hurt by the pool decision, 2) even after rereading the pool communication back in October, I find it particularly insensitive to actual minors that may have issues with secure housing, and 3) that there is such a disconnect in our processes between the HS safety protocols and that of the pool, at the same APS facility,” Clark wrote.

“I understand that has been remediated, but only after this type of situation occurred,” she added. “For the LBGTQIA+ community, this type of situation sets them back years. I hope that future APS/Media comms portrays this as an isolated incident with one known criminal and does not reflect the values of the greater LBGTQIA+ community.”

“You have school board members who are really running on being ‘allies’ for members of the community like this,” Kendall Tietz, an investigative reporter for PDE, told Blaze News. “I think it’s important to note that this school board candidate, now a sitting school board member, without any apparent vetting or inquiry into who this individual was, touted her record as an ally to the LGBTQ community to really secure — Richard Cox, his vote.”

RELATED: Trans lawmaker says conservatives are the ‘weird’ ones

Arlington County Police handout of Richard Cox. Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

PDE reported that in January 2025, APS and the Arlington County Board worked on “talking points” for the “pool incident.”

An email obtained by PDE bulleted the various talking points, including that “APS permits pool patrons access [to] restrooms and facilities that correspond to their gender identity.”

APS contended that it “responded to all patron concerns related to this matter in a timely manner,” which included confronting Cox and “tak[ing] appropriate and immediate action to investigate, notify law enforcement, and prevent the individual from returning to our pool facilities.”

Despite being a Tier III sex offender, Cox has “visited numerous women’s locker rooms in Fairfax County,” according to WJLA. Video footage also captured Cox at a children’s water park, though he is not allowed within 100 feet of children’s areas.

A January report from WJLA revealed that Cox was charged in 1992 with knowingly and intentionally exposing his genitals to a child under 14 years old. He was also convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child.

The news outlet obtained a letter Cox wrote to the judge in 1992, in which he admitted to having “sexual problems.” In a 1995 letter to a judge, he wrote, “I am aware that I suffer compulsions to expose myself in public places.”

In June 2024, just months before the incident at the APS facility, he was charged with indecent exposure for allegedly exposing himself to women in a gym locker room. The charge was later dismissed.

“This incident shows exactly why private spaces for women and girls are so important,” Alleigh Marré, executive director of the American Parents Coalition, told Blaze News. “Privacy and safety aren’t political; they’re basic rights. When public officials ignore biological sex and allow men into female spaces, it opens the door for abuse.”

“A registered sex offender exposed himself in a women’s space, and only after that became a public relations problem did the rules change,” Marré continued. “Separate spaces for men and women exist to protect everyone’s dignity and safety, and parents need to continue to their uncompromising fight to make sure these basic protections exist.”

The scandal reportedly prompted APS to begin conducting identification checks against the sex offender registry. Yet it still permits males to use female restrooms and locker rooms.

Blaze News contacted Clark and the APS superintendent for comment.

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​News, Arlington public schools, Virginia, Transgender, Trans, Richard cox, Washington-liberty high school, Wakefield high school, Parents defending education, Pde, Sex offender, Politics 

Vice President JD Vance emphasized the Democrats’ hypocrisy in feigning outrage over leaked group-chat texts while failing to condemn their own candidate who said far worse.

On Tuesday, Politico published a series of private messages between young Republican operatives that contained distasteful language and jokes. Although many Republican officials have condemned the profanities used in the leaked messages, Vance pointed out that they’ve buried the lede.

‘I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence.’

Jay Jones, a Democrat running for attorney general in Virginia, remains embroiled in his own scandal after leaked texts showed he fantasized about giving his Republican adversary “two bullets to the head.”

“Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy,” Jones said in another text after fantasizing about the deaths of the Republican’s children.

RELATED: Trump honors Charlie Kirk with highest civilian honor: ‘You have given him the best birthday gift’

Photo by ADAM GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

“This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia,” Vance said of Jones’ texts. “I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence.”

Several prominent Democrats jumped at the opportunity to condemn the leaked texts exchanged by young Republicans without condemning the violent rhetoric espoused by their own candidate.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the college students’ texts “sickening” and “vile,” saying, “This is the kind of garbage that the worst kind of people say when they think nobody is watching.” At the same time, Schumer has not made a single comment about Jones, who, unlike the young GOP activists, is running for public office.

RELATED: Dozens of ‘morally bankrupt’ Democrats vote against condemning Charlie Kirk’s assassination

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia took it even farther. Even after Jones’ texts were leaked, Kaine said he’s “still supporting” the candidate.

“He has apologized,” Kaine said. “I wish other people in public life would sincerely apologize for stuff. … I still am a supporter.”

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​Jd vance, Donald trump, Young republicans, Chuck schumer, Tim kaine, Democrats, Jay jones, Political violence, Leaked texts, Leaked group chat, Politico, Politics 

BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey put her debate chops to the test on the “Surrounded” show hosted by the YouTube channel Jubilee — where she sat down with 20 separate self-proclaimed liberal Christians to discuss a variety of faith-based topics.

Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck and BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere are incredibly impressed by her performance, with Stu confirming that “she did a great job.”

However, the debaters themselves were a different story, and one in particular rubbed Glenn and Stu the wrong way after he challenged Stuckey on the abortion issue.

“My concern about the way that you present the abortion issue is you have claimed in the past that the liberal pro-choice position is that we don’t give the whole truth about the abortion issue,” the man said.

“You liken it as violent. You’ve described it here as killing and painful,” he continued.

“My problem, my concern, is that you are doing the same thing by not telling women the truth: that when the majority of abortions happen, which is in the first six weeks of pregnancy, that fetus has not developed pain receptors. That doesn’t happen till maybe, at the earliest, 10 weeks,” he added.

“Is killing only wrong if someone can feel pain?” Stuckey asked.

“It’s wrong for you to characterize it as violent and painful when it’s not,” the man argued back.

“It is violent. Of course it’s violent. Even when you take the abortion pill, you are starving that human being. If you want to call him or her a zygote or a fetus, that’s all fine. Those are all stages of development that all of us went through, that all children go through,” Stuckey responded.

“It is still the killing of a human being,” she added.

As the debate went on, the man tried to talk down to Stuckey, even speaking in a condescending voice when she likened abortion to murder.

“No, we’re talking about abortion, Allie. We’re not talking about something else,” he said.

“But I’m trying to understand your logic. You are saying that abortion is okay because babies don’t feel it. So I’m asking you, is killing another innocent person when they don’t feel it — is that justified?” Stuckey countered.

“Abortion is health care for women who need it,” he said, ignoring her question.

“She’s so happy,” Glenn says, commenting on Allie’s demeanor throughout the debates.

“Yeah, that’s the right approach,” Stu agrees, noting that the pro-choice man “made a lot of bad points, and when he was called on the bad points just stopped answering them and went down other roads.”

“That’s what frustrates me about that show,” he 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.

​Camera phone, Upload, Video phone, Free, Sharing, Video, Youtube.com, The glenn beck program, Glenn beck, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Jubilee, Viral debate, Allie beth stuckey, Stu burguiere, Relatable with allie beth stuckey, Pro life, Christianity, Anti abortion, Abortion debate, Abortion activists 

Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is looking for a new mascot.

The private school’s Mascot Working Group page in September read that “our goal is to give it a form that is fun, gender-neutral, and full of personality …”

‘In a time where we are surrounded by so much racism and sexism, it makes sense why we would want a break from old white guys from the 18th century.’

The headline of a WHP-TV story published last week said as much: “Franklin & Marshall College embarks on search for gender-neutral mascot.”

As you might expect, Facebook users who commented on the WHP story — as well as the accompanying question, “What do you think Franklin & Marshall College’s new mascot should be?” — blasted the school’s woke criteria. To wit:

“The Franklin and Marshall Snowflakes has a nice ring to it,” one commenter opined.”How about a sheep,” another user offered.”That’s the least of their problems,” another commenter said. “Maybe The Cucks or The Laughables?”Good grief!!!!!!!” another user exclaimed.”A worm?” another commenter suggested.”Please explain why?” another user wondered. “This is what’s wrong with everything. What are they trying to prove by doing this?”

RELATED: ‘Inseminated person’: Wisconsin Gov. Evers tries to erase mothers with gender-neutral language overhaul

Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

As it happens, as of Tuesday the “gender-neutral” reference was no longer on F&M’s Mascot Working Group page.

Blaze News on Tuesday reached out to Franklin & Marshall College to inquire why “gender-neutral” was gone from the Mascot Working Group page, as well as why folks costumed as founding father Benjamin Franklin and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall — the school’s namesakes — no longer are appropriate or suitable mascots.

Franklin & Marshall sent the following reply to Blaze News on Tuesday afternoon:

Franklin & Marshall College regrets any misunderstanding or mischaracterization regarding criteria guidelines for mascot idea submissions, which has since been clarified on our website. The guidance shared with the F&M community, then and now, encourages mascot recommendations that take the form of creatures, animals, and figures, which is very typical of mascots for universities and sports teams.

The college’s prior mascots, “Ben” and “John,” were retired several years ago. A student-led initiative to develop a dynamic new mascot began during the 2024-25 academic year. At the same time, other campus constituents collectively expressed a desire for a new mascot that would bring renewed energy and enthusiasm to campus and athletic events.

Our intention has always been to identify a mascot that reflects the public leadership and spirit of Ben Franklin and John Marshall as our namesakes and to be inspired by our mascot, the Diplomat. The decision to create a new physical form for the mascot is an opportunity to represent our community spirit in a way that will champion F&M on campus, on the athletic field, and beyond.

Others at Franklin & Marshall have expressed rather pointed opinions about the “Ben” and “John” mascots.

Take an op-ed from F&M’s student newspaper penned by one of its editors just a year ago titled, “Ben and John, It’s Time to Say Goodbye.” In it, the author refers to the Ben Franklin and John Marshall mascots as “cartoonish, old white guys” who look “a little creepy.”

The author also acknowledges that after three years she’s never actually seen the “Ben and John [mascots] in the flesh. Why? It turns out, these mascots are taking some time off and have not been spotted in years. Rumor has it they might be replaced, too.”

The op-ed also states:

In a time where we are surrounded by so much racism and sexism, it makes sense why we would want a break from old white guys from the 18th century. John Marshall was racist and fought to keep slavery in the United States, and while Benjamin Franklin was well known for being an abolitionist, he once owned slaves and held racist views, too. As more people become aware of their racist histories, now seems like the right time for a mascot change. Franklin and Marshall founded our college, but our wonderful community can be represented by so much more than just their names. We are Diplomats, after all, and you don’t have to be the ghost of a white man to be a diplomat.

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​Education, Woke culture, Gender neutral, Racism allegation, College, Franklin & marshall college, Pennsylvania, Mascots, Benjamin franklin, John marshall, Us supreme court, Chief justice, Politics 

Debbie Brockman, a producer at WGN-TV, was detained by federal agents amid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in Chicago on Friday.

Brockman’s lawyers and the liberal media appear keen to characterize her as an unsuspecting victim of brutality on the part of Border Patrol agents. In the apparent attempt to insinuate a clampdown on the free press, some outlets have even falsely referred to Brockman as a “journalist.”

The Department of Homeland Security has suggested, however, that Brockman was not, as her lawyers have indicated, innocently “walking to the bus stop as part of her morning commute when she was attacked by Border Patrol agents.”

‘Officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening.’

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Blaze News that “as agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a U.S. citizen, threw objects at Border Patrol’s car, and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.”

Footage appears to show federal agents traveling west on Foster Avenue in a silver minivan after reportedly arresting an older male — an arrest that had prompted protest and condemnation from locals. Suddenly, an object can be seen hitting the vehicle, making a smashing sound. The agents immediately hit the brakes beside the alleged source of the projectile: Brockman.

RELATED: The city that chose crime and chaos over courage

Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Two agents leap out of the vehicle and attempt to handcuff Brockman, who can be seen doing her best to resist while a bystander lobs Nazi and fascist accusations at the arresting agents.

Josh Thomas, a witness who lives in the condo overlooking where the incident took place, told WGN that Brockman was “taking video” prior to her arrest.

After the agents squeeze the producer into the van, they realize that a woman in a black SUV has driven the wrong way down the road and blocked the lane ahead.

As a mob begins to congregate around the van, the agents order the driver of the obstructing vehicle to get out of the way. Closing her driver-side window, the woman in the SUV remains parked in the way, prompting the federal agents to ram ahead, clipping the SUV’s rear bumper.

“CBP agents were conducting immigration enforcement operations when several violent agitators used vehicles to block in agents to impede and assault federal officers,” said McLaughlin. “In fear of public and law enforcement safety, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening.”

Brockman was released several hours later without charges.

RELATED: DHS torpedoes narrative of pro-Antifa priest who ‘exploited’ holy sacrament to score points on ICE

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

The producer’s lawyers deny that Brockman assaulted anyone and suggested in a statement that “Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted.”

“If armed, masked, federal agents are snatching U.S. citizens off the street as they walk to work and throwing them in unmarked vehicles, you can only imagine what these agents must be willing to do to our immigrant neighbors and people who dare to speak out against them,” said Brad Thompson, one of Brockman’s lawyers. “No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country, or anywhere else in the world.”

Brockman’s lawyers have indicated that she will not be making a statement at this time.

‘We will not back down from these threats, and every criminal, terrorist, and illegal alien will face American justice.’

“This is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers,” said McLaughlin. “These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily — all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

The DHS revealed on Tuesday that extra to projectiles allegedly lobbed by liberal media producers, ICE and CBP officers in Chicago have allegedly been targeted by bounties.

“In neighborhoods like Chicago’s Pilsen and Little Village, gang members affiliated with groups such as the Latin Kings have deployed ‘spotters’ on rooftops equipped with firearms and radio communications,” said the DHS. “These individuals track ICE and CBP movements in real time, relaying coordinates. This surveillance has enabled ambushes and disruptions during routine enforcement actions, including recent raids under Operation Midway Blitz.”

According to the intelligence obtained by the agency, cartels have indicated they are willing to pay $2,000 for the doxxing of agents; $5,000 to $10,000 for kidnapping or non-lethal assaults on ICE and CBP agents; and up to $50,000 for the assassination of high-ranking officials.

“Our agents are facing ambushes, drone surveillance, and death threats, all because they dare to enforce the laws passed by Congress,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “We will not back down from these threats, and every criminal, terrorist, and illegal alien will face American justice.”

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​Deborah brockman, Debbie brockman, Chicago, Ice, Dhs, Department of homeland security, Kristi noem, Immigration and customs enforcement, Immigration, Deportation, Illegal alien, Leftist, Terrorism, Cartel, Wgn, Politics 

Under Joe Biden’s presidency, America’s once-great cities began to rot from the inside out. New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon, all followed the same script: defund police, excuse crime, and watch civic life collapse.

Portland, once a model of Pacific Northwest prosperity, has become the most vivid cautionary tale.

Trump’s push to restore order in Portland isn’t about partisanship. It’s about survival.

It started with the “defund the police” crusade that gutted local departments and drained morale. As funding vanished, crime surged. Car thefts and larceny skyrocketed. Homeless encampments spread through downtown streets. Affordable housing disappeared while drug addiction and lawlessness filled the gap.

Now, as the Trump administration reasserts control over immigration enforcement, Portland faces a new test — and its leaders are failing again.

Portland refuses to defend itself

President Donald Trump, working with border czar Tom Homan and ICE agents, has ordered the National Guard to assist in deporting violent illegal immigrants. Local officials should welcome the help. Instead, Portland’s leadership is digging in, treating federal officers as enemies rather than partners.

The result: chaos. Criminals have grown bolder, even trying to disarm police during encounters. Antifa radicals now stage nightly protests outside ICE facilities, and Portland police — undermanned and demoralized — stand by under orders not to arrest anyone.

It would almost be comical if it weren’t dangerous.

When ICE erected police tape around one facility to control the crowd, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson personally ordered it removed. His reasoning? It obstructed “public access.”

The message to violent agitators couldn’t be clearer: The city won’t stop you.

A hollowed-out police force

A recent video from the Portland Police Association confirmed what most residents already suspected. Staffing levels have cratered. Officers are stretched thin and forced to obey political directives instead of enforcing the law.

It raises a grim question: Are city leaders keeping arrest numbers low on purpose to make the situation look better than it is? If the statistics show fewer arrests, they can claim the city doesn’t need federal help — no matter how bad things actually get.

This charade mirrors what we’ve seen in other Democratic Party strongholds like Chicago: leaders protecting their image while citizens fend for themselves.

RELATED: Inside the Portland ICE facility under siege by Antifa extremists

Julio Rosas/Blaze Media

The lesson they refuse to learn

Trump’s push to restore order in Portland isn’t about partisanship. It’s about survival. Cities that refuse to defend their own citizens eventually lose them — to fear, flight, or despair.

Portland’s officials could start fixing this mess tomorrow. Hire more officers. Restore funding. Support police with proper gear and mental health resources (a must, in my eyes). Enforce the law equally and unapologetically.

But that would require courage — and courage is one thing the city’s leadership no longer has.

The bottom line is simple: Portland’s citizens and police deserve better than this political theater. The first duty of government is protection. The people of Portland are still waiting for their elected leaders to remember that.

​Opinion & analysis, Law and order, Portland, National guard, Donald trump, Mass deportations, Ice, Oregon, Antifa, Protests, Immigration and customs enforcement, Democrats, Leftists, Anarchy, Keith wilson, Crime, Defund the police 

Animal lovers beware: Some of the biggest charities in the biz are more than happy to bite the hand that feeds them.

At least, that’s the contention of one Washington, D.C.-based watchdog.

‘While these groups sit in Manhattan and Washington collecting a combined $550 million a year, they only throw scraps to local shelters.’

If you’ve ever worried about where your charitable dollars go, you’re not alone. The holidays are the busiest giving season of the year, with Americans donating roughly $3.1 billion in 2023. About 30% of all annual giving happens in December, with the Tuesday after Thanksgiving now known nationwide as “Giving Tuesday.”

Yet Americans’ growing distrust of institutions is starting to affect their willingness to give. A recent study found that 57% of Americans have high trust in nonprofit organizations — more than in government or the media. Still, that leaves nearly half at least somewhat skeptical about how their money is being spent.

And when it comes to some of the major animal charities, the Center for the Environment and Welfare argues that the skepticism is justified.

CEW calls out fat-cat charities

On September 25, the Center for the Environment and Welfare began airing a national television campaign targeting Humane World for Animals — the organization known as the Humane Society until a name change earlier this year.

The ad marks CEW’s latest effort in its ongoing criticism of the spending practices of both HWA and rival large-animal welfare charity the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

CEW claims that these organizations donate as little as 1% to 2% of their budgets to local shelters while paying hundreds of staff six-figure salaries. CEW also alleges that the CEOs of the two groups earn $650,000 and $1.2 million, respectively.

The ads, which will run throughout the holiday season, encourage viewers to donate directly to local shelters rather than national organizations. CEW says it’s considering expanding the campaign to other major television networks.

“The public donates hundreds of millions of dollars to these two groups because, when you see their ads and names, you assume they’re helping local shelters,” CEW executive director Jack Hubbard told Align. “The reality is the total opposite.”

He added that the response to the campaign has been strong.

“We’ve heard from people who are shocked and upset. But the most satisfying part is when donors say they’ve started doing their homework and are now supporting local shelters instead of national mega-charities.”

Hubbard argued that despite enormous revenues, hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs are still euthanized each year because local shelters remain underfunded.

Former ASPCA CEO Ed Sayres echoed that criticism.

“While these groups sit in Manhattan and Washington collecting a combined $550 million a year, they only throw scraps to local shelters,” Sayres told Align. “If you want to help homeless cats and dogs, donate to your local shelter or rescue.”

It’s a message that bears repeating, according to CEW. The group cites polling indicating that 81% of Americans don’t realize the ASPCA has little to no connection with local shelters.

HWA: Issue not so ‘black and white’

Representatives from both the HWA and the ASPCA strongly dispute CEW’s claims, denouncing CEW as a “Berman and Company-backed PR front” that manufactures controversies against advocacy groups.

As HWA media relations director Anna West argues, CEW’s vision for helping animals is too narrow.

Our mission is not to fund shelters. We provide a lot of support for shelters, not in the form of checks but in training and education. We’re teaching shelter employees the best way to do their job in the most effective [way], creating support systems to help each other, and mentorship programs. And our programs are reducing the number of animals going into those facilities through access to spaying and neutering in those communities.

Every time a dog or cat is spayed or neutered, that means less animals going into the shelter system. We also work on policies related to pets and housing, which means less people choose to rent an apartment or get rid of a dog. It’s misleading to boil it down into this black-and-white issue of supporting shelters.

HWA also collaborates with law enforcement to fight animal abuse, works to reduce the use of animals as lab-test subjects, campaigns to abolish puppy mills, operates sanctuaries for large animals such as tigers, and rescues animals beyond just cats and dogs.

According to HWA’s 2023 tax filings, the group reported $202.8 million in gross receipts, $174.9 million in revenue, and $454.7 million in assets. Its major spending categories included:

$58.5 million for “care for animals in crisis”;$53.6 million toward building an “animal protection movement”;$20.9 million combating “the cruelest practices.”

That amounts to a program-expense ratio of roughly 70% — a figure HWA says demonstrates a strong focus on lobbying, activism, and educational efforts that are intended to reduce the need for animal welfare activism.

But CEW argues that this number was achieved through “joint cost accounting,” in which fundraising campaign efforts are counted as program spending. CEW spokesperson Kate McDermott emailed Align a screenshot of a November 2024 CharityWatch report (behind a paywall) that claims the true number is closer to 56%:

CharityWatch

West disputed that characterization, arguing that CharityWatch’s spending metrics are idiosyncratic and outside the mainstream consensus of other watchdogs, such as Charity Navigator, that approve of HWA’s financials. She added that most major evaluators permit direct mail, telemarketing, and solicitation costs as legitimate program expenses.

As for having 157 staffers with six-figure incomes and a CEO with a $650,000 salary, HWA’s website publicly declares that it provides competitive salaries and benefits to “pay a living wage so our staff can focus on ending animal cruelty without unnecessary financial stress.” According to Ziprecruiter, it is not unusual for nonprofit CEOs to earn more than $100,000-$200,000, depending on the size of the organization.

ASPCA: We address ‘root causes’

ASPCA spokesperson Rebecca Goldrick also responded to CEW’s claims in a statement to Align, arguing that its larger mission is to address the “root causes” of animal suffering.

Based on our most recent tax filings, 75 cents of every dollar spent by the ASPCA goes toward programmatic services that directly advance our lifesaving mission, with the majority of that funding supporting shelters and rescues across the country, including our animal relocation program — the largest in the country — where we move tens of thousands of homeless pets each year from overcrowded shelters to areas of the country where they can be adopted into loving homes.

… Every year, our hands-on work — in addition to our partnerships with hundreds of local shelters and rescues — directly impacts hundreds of thousands of animals, with our lasting solutions benefiting millions more that we cannot serve through local partnerships and grant funding alone.

Who should you trust?

In a populist era, Americans are increasingly drawn to local over national institutions. Large organizations — whether in Washington, Wall Street, or Silicon Valley — can feel remote, bureaucratic, and unaccountable. That sentiment now extends to the nonprofit world.

“These charities make donors skeptical about giving, which is a shame,” says Hubbard. “The solution, like so many others in this country, is local support, local governance, and local charity.”

RELATED: ASPCA gives only 2% of its budget to pet shelters, while promoting ‘radical and elitist’ anti-farmer policies, bombshell report finds

JIMI CELESTE/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

It is worth considering, though, the role that large institutions play in a properly functioning society. Large-animal charities, like the ASPCA and HWA, have certainly faced scrutiny in the past (here, here, here, here), but they are complicated organizations that publicly share their mission statements, tax documents, and financial priorities. The dollar you donate to them may not entirely be devoted to an immediate priority, but it could still help if you’re aligned with their values.

CEW insists that even so, overhead-heavy spending is wasteful when so many shelters are struggling. And because many local shelters share similar names — often “SPCA” or “Humane Society” — donors can easily assume affiliation that doesn’t exist.

“Many donors are shocked to learn their money funds lobbying and PR campaigns,” Hubbard says. “That disconnect is why barely half of Americans say they trust nonprofits. Donors deserve transparency, and shelter pets deserve better.”

Caveat donor

For potential donors, the takeaway is clear: Do your homework.

Local organizations make a visible difference in their communities. National groups can drive lasting change through advocacy, research, and education. The key is to be informed about each organization’s priorities and financial practices.

As the Better Business Bureau argues, this means ignoring emotional appeals and vague mission statements in favor of verified financial data and independent accreditation.

HWA, says West, is all for such transparency. “We would encourage anyone who is considering supporting us to look at our Form 990s,” she says, adding:

We do a pretty extensive annual report that outlines what our supporters’ donations have made possible. We’re very active in communicating what we’re working on. Anyone who subscribes to our social media, emails, or blog will know. We have a robust volunteer program that allows people to work side by side and see where their donations support. Our YouTube channel shows our staffers in action. Those are good first steps for members of the public trying to make an informed decision about what organizations to support.

Both HWA and the ASPCA meet all 20 of the BBB’s accountability standards.

And while CharityWatch has given both HWA (see above screenshot) and the ASPCA low marks for financial efficiency, Charity Navigator currently awards both organizations four-star ratings, with scores of 99% for the ASPCA and 98% for HWA.

​Aspca, Humane society, Humane world for animals, Center for the environment and welfare, Charitywatch, Charity navigator, Lifestyle, Caveat emptor, Animal welfare, Investigation