Category: blaze media

Shocking texts have sent the Virginia Attorney General election into chaos, after it was revealed that candidate Jay Jones wished harm on rival Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R).

“Three people, two bullets,” Jones wrote in a text to House Delegate Carrie Coyner (R).

“Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot,” Jones wrote. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”

“Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time,” he added.

In response, Coyner asked Jones to stop and said, “It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death upon them.”

And in a follow-up conversation with Coyner, she claimed that Jones suggested that if only Gilbert’s wife would be faced with her children dying, her husband might change his political views on gun violence.

“That’s really where it gets dark here, because again, as I said this before, you might have a friend in your group chat that makes inappropriate comments or makes comments that are kind of dark, not always well received by the group. Maybe they think they’re being edgy and funny, that’s one thing to double down on,” BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere says.

“It is another to keep going and talking about that anyway, but then to come up with a logical rationale as to why you think this would be good. When you say, ‘Hey, I want his children to die,’ and then you say, ‘Well, the reason I want that, it’s not just because I’m being mean. It’s because they won’t change their policies unless they feel real personal pain,’” he continues.

“That’s quite the tell. That tells me you’re just a horrible human being,” he adds.

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First lady Melania Trump posted evidence of her victory over a book publisher that apologized for “unverified claims” made in a recent book.

HarperCollins UK Publishers released a statement saying the publishing company removed passages from the book and removed copies of the book with the passages from circulation, according to a post on the first lady’s official social media account.

‘We have, in consultation with the author, removed several passages of the book that referenced unverified claims about the First Lady.’

“Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York” is a biography of Prince Andrew written by Andrew Lownie and was released on Aug. 14.

“We have, in consultation with the author, removed several passages of the book that referenced unverified claims about the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump,” the statement reads. “Copies of the book that include those references are being permanently removed from distribution. HarperCollins UK apologizes to the First Lady.”

The book appeared to make the claim that convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein had first introduced Donald Trump, then a private citizen, to Melania, his future wife.

The claim was repeated by Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, in a YouTube video and led to a threat of a lawsuit from the first lady.

“These false, disparaging, defamatory, and inflammatory statements are extremely salacious and have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums,” the letter from her attorney reads. “Indeed, the video has since been re-published by various media outlets, journalists, and political commentators with millions of social media followers that have disseminated the false and defamatory statements therein to tens of millions of people worldwide.”

RELATED: Bronze statue of Melania Trump stolen after being sawed off at the ankles

The letter gave Biden a deadline of Aug. 7 for him to meet their requests or face a $1 billion lawsuit. A source close to the matter told Fox News Digital that he did not meet the deadline.

He later offered a flippant response via an interview on a YouTube show.

“F**k that, that’s not going to happen!” he said.

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The city of Portland, Oregon, is allegedly being taken over again by blue-haired Antifa leftists — but of course, officials are claiming that everything is fine.

“Portland is not war-ravaged. There’s no insurrection. There’s no threat to national security, and there’s no need for military troops. Military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies,” Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (D) said in a promotional video.

“It’s like, this is the meme,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales jokes. “This is literally the ‘everything is fine’ meme. We’re seeing the fire, the fireworks, the Molotov cocktails, the tear gas dispersed, and governor of Oregon says, ‘Everything’s fine.’”

Meanwhile, Antifa has been leading the state through months of unrest — and tax-paying American citizens have had enough of the gaslighting from their local government.

“When you see that Democrat-run cities will not actually handle things, will not actually address things, patriots in this country decided, you know what, we’re going to show up instead,” Gonzales explains, referring to a clip of young men who tried to drown out Antifa by chanting “USA.”

“And you’ve got even more patriots showing up saying, ‘You know what? We’re going to challenge the city of Portland, but we’re going to do it in a respectful, constitutional way. You want to allow Antifa to take over the sidewalks with their medic tents? What happens when we do the same thing?’” she continues.

The host of the “Speak the Truth” podcast, Matt Tardio, is among the patriots standing up to the Oregon government — and he recorded a clip of himself pointing out the “medic tents” that Antifa has set up all over the streets.

“Here’s what we’re going to do, because the Portland police, I don’t think it matters if you want to walk down the street. Antifa is allowed to own this side of the street over here. These are alleged medic tents. So, this is what we’re going to do tomorrow,” Tardio said in the clip.

“This side of the street is going to belong to us because apparently you can just claim sidewalks in Portland as your own and prevent anybody from moving down them. So, my curiosity is simply whether or not we are going to be held to the same standard as Antifa,” he continued.

“Obviously, this should never happen in an American city,” Gonzales comments. “Unfortunately, that is Portland, Oregon, in 2025.”

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The conservative journalist who was arrested over a fight with Antifa protesters in Portland is threatening legal action against the police department and other local officials.

The portion of the scuffle that was recorded on video showed Antifa thugs attacking Sortor before he threw a punch in defense. Police arrested three people, including Sortor, but a district attorney later dropped the charge against the journalist.

‘The arrest was made without probable cause and was clearly in retaliation for his efforts to expose the truth.’

On Monday, Sortor released a letter sent to the police department demanding an investigation into his arrest and also an apology.

“The arrest was made without probable cause and was clearly in retaliation for his efforts to expose the truth about conditions and activity in Portland to the broader public,” reads the letter from Sortor’s attorney.

“The decision to make this arrest does not appear to have been made by a line officer, but rather by or at the direction of a member of the command staff and/or a supervising officer,” the letter continues. “Such an arrest is unconstitutional and deeply troubling.”

The letter goes on to demand an apology within seven days and also the initiation of an internal investigation into his arrest.

“Even more concerning, this incident appears to be part of a larger pattern and practice within the Portland Police Bureau of suppressing and silencing conservative media and political activity,” the letter reads.

The letter concludes by threatening that Sortor would “proceed accordingly” if the demands were not met.

He also posted a filing demanding “all records relating to selective enforcement and COORDINATION with Antifa.”

RELATED: Karoline Leavitt suggests cutting funds to Portland after arrest of conservative journalist during anti-ICE riot

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The district attorney indicated in a press release Monday that his office did not believe there was enough evidence to prove Sortor was guilty of disorderly conduct.

The district attorney did not drop the charges against the other two people arrested. They were identified as 49-year-old Angela Davis and 43-year-old Son Mi Yi.

“Free speech does not include the freedom to commit crimes. It does not matter if an individual is expressing ideology from the left, right, or center,” District Attorney Nathan Vasquez wrote in a statement provided to KOIN-TV.

A Blaze News request for comment to the city attorney’s office was not immediately answered.

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​Nick sortor arrest, Sortor threat, Portland antifa attack, Portland police bureau, Politics 

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) took a shot at a social media post by Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on Monday and implied that Donald Trump was at fault for any “shadiness” with the 2020 census data. However, U.S. Census Bureau data clearly shows that Newsom’s jab is misleading.

“The 2020 Census was a fraud. The Biden admin used a shady ‘privacy’ formula that scrambled the data and miscounted 14 states. It included illegal immigrants and handed Democrats extra seats. Americans deserve a fair count and I’m fighting to fix it,” Banks said in a post on X.

The delivery of apportionment data was ‘shifted 4 months’ from December 28, 2020, to April 26, 2021.

Newsom replied to Banks, saying, “Donald Trump was the President in 2020.”

While Newsom correctly pointed out that Trump was in office in 2020, he misled on who is to blame for faulty calculations in the 2020 census data.

RELATED: Counting on chaos: How census miscounts could decide 2024

— (@)

The census count began in Toksook Bay, Alaska, on January 21, 2020, and generally opened to the public on March 12, 2020. By April 1, 2020, the official Census Day, “most households had received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census,” according to a government website.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several steps for data collection and reporting to Congress were delayed by months, according to a U.S. Census Bureau schedule fact sheet. For example, the original self-response deadline, July 31, was delayed two and a half months to October 15.

The window for delivering redistricting data, originally scheduled for February 18 to March 31, 2021, was “shifted 6 months” to August 12 to September 16, 2021, the fact sheet said.

Most importantly, however, is the shift of the constitutionally mandated calculation and delivery of census data to Congress. The delivery of apportionment data was “shifted 4 months” from December 28, 2020, to April 26, 2021, the fact sheet noted. By that point, President Trump was no longer in office, and President Joe Biden had taken over.

The Brennan Center for Justice confirmed that then-“Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo delivered the population totals and congressional seat apportionments to President Biden on April 26,” 2021. Biden was then required to “transmit the population totals and seat apportionment to Congress, which will send the governors of each state certificates showing them how many seats their state will have going forward.”

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Attorney General Pam Bondi had a fiery exchange with several Democrats, including Sen. Alex Padilla (D) of California, during her congressional testimony on Tuesday.

Bondi and Padilla sparred when the attorney general called out the Democrat for hypocritically demanding “order” during Tuesday’s hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The two had a tense back-and-forth before Padilla called for order during the hearing despite repeatedly interrupting Bondi whenever she attempted to respond to questions.

‘You stormed the director of Homeland Security.’

Padilla initially asked Bondi whether she thought FBI Director Kash Patel is “doing a good job.”

“I believe Director Patel is doing a great job,” Bondi said.

Bondi then tried to turn the tables, asking, “You know where he is right now, Senator Padilla?” At that point, Padilla tried to interject, but Bondi continued with her thought.

“You asked me a question!” Bondi said after Padilla began talking over her. “Director Patel is in Chicago right now … fighting to keep Chicago safe.”

RELATED: Pam Bondi tears into Democratic senator: ‘I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump’

Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Padilla continued talking over the attorney general, yet repeatedly called for “order” before Bondi eventually unloaded on the Democratic senator.

“You know, you want ‘order’ here now, yet you stormed the Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem,” Bondi said. “You sure didn’t have order that day, did you, Senator?”

Padilla quietly attempted to dismiss Bondi’s claims, despite extensive video evidence depicting his disruptive confrontation with Noem and subsequent detainment back in June.

RELATED: Trump reportedly sends 300 National Guard members to Portland from California — and Democrats are seething

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Padilla originally confronted Noem during a Los Angeles press conference in June about the ongoing protests and riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Padilla burst into the conference and rushed toward the podium before he was forcefully removed.

Noem claimed she chatted with Padilla after the press conference and even exchanged phone numbers with him, Bill Melugin of Fox News reported at the time. According to Melugin, Noem characterized their conversation as “cordial and beneficial.”

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​Pam bondi, Senate democrats, Dick durbin, Alex padilla, Senate judiciary committee, Donald trump, Trump administration, Kristi noem, Ice raids, Ice, Ice protests, Chicago, Portland, National guard, Migrant crisis, Kash patel, Fbi, Dhs, Politics 

A man was arrested on the steps of St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., after allegedly refusing to leave when police say they found vials of liquid and possible fireworks in his tent.

Police were on alert because of the upcoming Red Mass, offered for members of the legal profession and where public officials and other prominent attendees receive heightened security. The annual service is scheduled just ahead of the beginning of the U.S. Supreme Court session.

‘The goal is to cause fear. And I’m not afraid. I’m not going to reward threats with their intended reaction.’

Forty-one-year-old Louis Geri of Vineland, New Jersey, was seen loitering outside of the church, so officers approached him at about 6 a.m. on Sunday. They found that he had set up a tent on the steps of the church before police determined that he had been previously banned from the church. When he allegedly refused to leave, he was arrested.

Police then searched the man’s tent and found what were described as vials of liquid and possible fireworks.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force responded to the incident as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The entrance to the cathedral was closed while the investigation continued.

Geri was charged with possession of a Molotov cocktail as well as unlawful entry and threats to kidnap or injure a person.

No Supreme Court justices appeared to have attended the Red Mass.

RELATED: Court rules in favor of Catholic school that fired gay drama teacher after he posted about his marriage

Police did not say why Geri had been previously banned from the church.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic, has said the threats made against the Supreme Court would not deter her from her duties.

“You can’t live your life in fear,” she stated. “And I think people who threaten — the goal is to cause fear. And I’m not afraid. I’m not going to reward threats with their intended reaction.”

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​St matthew’s cathedral in dc, Man arrested with explosives, Explosives threat, Violence against catholics, Politics 

PORTLAND, Ore. — “Do you have any weapons on you?” was the first question I was asked by the Federal Protective Service officer as I walked into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility Sunday.

“No, sir, just reporting equipment,” I replied.

We walked through the winding hallways that lead to the parking garage, giving me my first glimpse of the driveway from behind the fortified gate where Antifa and other anti-ICE protesters had gathered outside once again.

“Time to start your shift!” one protester yelled as we walked to the front office so my backpack could be scanned. In a way, the protester was right.

The ongoing violent protests at the facility in the southern portion of the city in response to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts have become a months-long problem. The focus on Portland was renewed after Trump said he wanted to deploy the National Guard there to help protect federal assets and personnel.

‘By all means, voice your opinion, but not to a point where you’re restricting the operation here.’

The day of my visit came after a federal judge put a temporary halt on the deployment of Oregon National Guardsmen. The facility had been prepared to receive the reinforcements, but now it was business as usual.

The previous day saw a large number of protesters attempt to block the movement of federal vehicles from the building, resulting in clashes with federal agents and officers who went outside to clear the roadway.

“No one respects you! You don’t even have authority any more!” one protester exclaimed.

The processing site has the look and feel of an outpost in hostile territory. Windows up to the second floor are boarded up, doors are reinforced, meeting rooms are turned into operation and storage centers, and supplies are brought in in bulk. One whiteboard featured a drawn layout of the street and surrounding buildings. Agents from Border Patrol, ICE, HSI, and the Bureau of Prisons come and go.

RELATED: Federal agents clash with mob of Antifa-fueled, anti-ICE protesters in Portland

Image source: Julio Rosas/Blaze Media

The Federal Protective Service is charged with safeguarding the government’s buildings and installations. A lesser-known agency compared to ICE or Border Patrol, FPS has been on the front lines daily since anti-ICE riots broke out over the summer. From Los Angeles to Portland, FPS officers have been working alongside their partner agencies to prevent rioters from damaging government property.

Chris Hayes, FPS assistant director for field operations, told Blaze News that what has stood out to him the most during the months-long protests and riots has been the resiliency of the officers who have been at the forefront of the taxing rotations.

“If I could say one thing [to the protesters]: ‘We’re here for the protection of the facility and to make sure that the operations can continue for the people here. … By all means, voice your opinion, but not to a point where you’re restricting the operation here. Across the street, protest, but allow this facility to do its day-to-day business,'” Hayes said.

Hayes explained that one of the biggest negative effects of the protests has been the public safety of motorists and protesters, since the crowds often spill out into the road while fighting with officers. Sometimes locals unknowingly drive into the chaotic scene, forcing them to hit their brakes or swerve to avoid collisions.

— (@)

The facility’s rooftop hosts agents armed with pepperballs for crowd control and rifles to counter any would-be copycat of the shooter who attacked the ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. The stakes are much higher, as the ICE building in Portland is surrounded by taller apartment buildings and homes up in the hills.

The crowd on Sunday was generally more peaceful compared to other days, until it was time to leave. Federal agents moved outside to clear a path for a vehicle leaving the premises, when some in the crowd instigated a fight. At least three people were arrested and brought inside the holding area to be processed.

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​Politics 

Over the last few months, Glenn Beck has heard many fed-up conservatives float the idea of a “national divorce.” After the slew of left-wing violence, including the murder of Charlie Kirk and the relentless attacks on ICE officers and facilities, he understands their frustration.

However, a national divorce or, more frankly, a civil war “must never be considered,” he says.

Before such talk gets picked up and circulated by the algorithmic powers that create trends by fueling rage, Glenn wants to ensure that his audience has it straight: A national divorce isn’t some new “season of television.” This is about “your life — your ordinary, miraculous, taken-for-granted life — ending.”

“Everything you grew up knowing, believing in, having, having the opportunity to have, be, do — over. It won’t change; it ends. That’s what civil war means,” Glenn warns.

Birthday parties, backyard barbecues, little league, school plays — all “gone,” he says.

“And it doesn’t come back with an election or a speech or a victory parade. It doesn’t come back at all,” he adds.

Our government is special, Glenn reminds: “A government of, for, and by the people has never been done before.”

The people carelessly throwing around the idea of civil war need to understand the reality of what they’re suggesting, he says. “It’s neighbors. It’s cul-de-sacs. It’s the grocery store and the gas station and the pharmacy. It’s the lights you never think about until they don’t turn on, the water you never worry about until it comes out brown, if it comes out at all.”

It means banks shut down, gas stations run dry, 911 call centers don’t answer, pharmacies board up, and grocery store shelves empty and aren’t restocked.

Too many people think their “side” will protect them, but “here’s the truth,” Glenn says: “Sides protect themselves, and both sides will ask you to prove your loyalty with things you promised yourself you would never, ever do. Good people, just like you, will do them because fear is a sculptor, and it carves away at conscience first.”

And then there are “the guests who arrive when a great house is on fire — the cartels, the opportunists, the foreign intelligence services, the war tourists with passports and GoPros.”

“They don’t choose sides. They just choose opportunities and openings,” Glenn warns. “And they open the opportunities you didn’t even know you had — your grid, your water plants, your data center, your port. And they don’t fly flags. They fly yours and then let you blame one another to fuel the fire.”

While “it is reasonable to ask, ‘What do we have in common anymore?’” our next questions should always be: “How can we find common ground? How can we understand each other?”

“Before you retweet bravado, count the cost of where we could be headed — and not in abstract numbers, but in faces: the old man on your street who needs oxygen, the single mom who works at night, the kid who just made the team, the clerk at the corner store,” Glenn urges.

“These are the times that try men’s souls. … Those who stand today and do the hard work — God’s work of love and peacemaking and uniting and speaking the truth — they will be owed a thanks for generations to come. Turn down the algorithm, and turn up the conversation.”

To hear more of Glenn’s passionate monologue, watch the video above.

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A former Biden administration official working on cyber policy says the United States military would have a problem controlling its soldiers’ use of artificial intelligence.

Mieke Eoyang, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy during the Joe Biden administration, said that current AI models are poorly suited for use in the U.S. military and would be dangerous if implemented.

‘There are any number of things that you might be worried about.’

With claims of “AI psychosis” and killer robots, Eoyang said the military cannot simply use an existing, public AI agent and morph it into use for the military. This would of course involve giving a chatbot leeway on suggesting the use of violence, or even killing a target.

Allowing for such capabilities is cause for alarm in the Department of Defense, now Department of War, Eoyang claimed.

“A lot of the conversations around AI guardrails have been, how do we ensure that the Pentagon’s use of AI does not result in overkill? There are concerns about ‘swarms of AI killer robots,’ and those worries are about the ways the military protects us,” she told Politico.

“But there are also concerns about the Pentagon’s use of AI that are about the protection of the Pentagon itself. Because in an organization as large as the military, there are going to be some people who engage in prohibited behavior. When an individual inside the system engages in that prohibited behavior, the consequences can be quite severe, and I’m not even talking about things that involve weapons, but things that might involve leaks.”

Perhaps unbeknownst to Eoyang, the Department of War is already working on the development of an internal AI system.

RELATED: War Department contractor warns China is way ahead, and ‘we don’t know how they’re doing it’

GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images

According to EdgeRunner CEO Tyler Saltsman, not only is the Department of War not afraid of AI, but it’s “all about it.”

Saltsman just wrapped up a test run with the Department of War during military exercises in Fort Carson, Colorado, and Fort Riley, Kansas. He recently told Blaze News about his offline chatbot, EdgeRunner AI, which is modernizing the delivery of information to on-the-ground troops.

“The Department of War is trying to fortify what their AI strategy looks like; they’re not afraid of it,” Saltsman told Blaze News in response to Eoyang’s claims.

He added, “It’s concerning that folks who are clueless on technology were put in such highly influential positions.”

In her interview, Eoyang — a former MSNBC contributor — also raised concerns about operational security and that “malicious actors” could get “their hands on” AI tools used by the U.S. military.

“There are any number of things that you might be worried about. There’s information loss; there’s compromise that could lead to other, more serious consequences,” she said.

RELATED: ‘They want to spy on you’: Military tech CEO explains why AI companies don’t want you going offline

Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images

These valid concerns were seemingly put to bed by Saltsman when he previously revealed to Blaze News that EdgeRunner AI would remain completely offline.

The entrepreneur even advocated for publicly available AI models to offer an offline version that users can pay for and keep. Alternatives, he explained, “want your data, they want your prompts, they want to learn more about you.”

“They want to spy on you,” he added.

Saltsman recently announced a partnership with Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta that will see the technology shared with military allies across the world.

“It’s important for the government to partner with industry and academia and have joint-force operations in this field,” he told Blaze News. “I’m thankful for Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and all he is doing to reshape the DOW and help it become more effective.”

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A former sixth-grade teacher in Ohio recently pleaded guilty to sex crimes against an underage female.

As Blaze News reported in August, 41-year-old Stefanie Erin Kellenberger pleaded guilty to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

‘I know that during this time, you were just a child, and I was an adult in a position of trust.’

Kellenberger on Monday was sentenced to 15 years in prison for having an illicit sexual relationship with a minor, the Richland Source reported. Kellenberger may be granted a judicial release after a decade if she doesn’t commit any other offenses.

Judge Brent Robinson delivered a stern warning to Kellenberger.

“Don’t let anybody be confused, this is a 15-year prison sentence with the hope that you come back in 10 years, and you’ve been a model inmate — you’ve done everything you were supposed to do, you haven’t got in any trouble at all,” Robinson stated during the sentencing hearing.

Kellenberger must register as a Tier-3 sex offender. She also was ordered to have no contact with the victim or any other minors. The former middle school teacher also must forever forfeit her teaching license.

During the sentencing hearing, Kellenberger apologized to her victim — who was her daughter’s underage babysitter.

“I know that during this time, you were just a child, and I was an adult in a position of trust,” Kellenberger said, according to the Source. “I’m responsible for everything that happened between us.”

Kellenberger continued, “I’m so sorry for all of the emotional pain and hurt that I’ve caused you.”

“I hope that my guilty pleas and this sentence will provide some degree of closure for you as you move on with your life,” Kellenberger stated. “I fully accept the consequences of my actions and the sentence that I will be receiving today.”

RELATED: Ex-teacher pleads guilty to sex with 11-year-old at ‘play dates,’ blamed boy for advances, sent him hundreds of dollars: Cops

Photo by halbergman via iStock / Getty Images

Kellenberger formerly was a sixth-grade English teacher at Shelby Middle School.

According to the Mansfield News Journal, Robinson told Kellenberger during her trial that “you had been a teacher. She had been a student. But at the time these occurred, you were not her teacher, and she was not your student.”

Bryan Dove, an assistant prosecutor for Richland County, alleged that Kellenberger began grooming the girl when she was just 13 years old and that the child sex abuse began when the victim turned 14.

“The relationship continued until the age of consent,” Dove told the judge.

Ohio law declares that 16 years old is the age of consent.

Prosecutors noted that there was “no use of force” by Kellenberger.

James Mayer III, Kellenberger’s defense attorney, stressed that “consent was never an issue in this case. It’s an age thing.”

The sexual abuse allegations surfaced in February 2024, and school officials placed Kellenberger on paid administrative leave.

Shelby City Schools Superintendent Michael Browning sent a letter to parents in October 2024 regarding the eye-opening allegations against Kellenberger.

“As a follow-up to the communication sent on March 4, 2024, I have been informed that the staff member placed on administrative leave following serious allegations has been arrested, and criminal charges have been brought against them,” Browning stated, according to a separate story by the Source. “This news may be unsettling, especially for families with children in our schools.”

The Mansfield News Journal reported that Kellenberger resigned in October 2024 “due to personal reasons.”

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​Ohio crime, Stefanie erin kellenberger, Teacher arrested, Teacher sex scandal, Child sex crimes, Female teacher arrested, Teacher was arrested, Grooming, Crime, Middle school teacher, Underage girl, Underage victim 

Daniel Keene did not expect a post on X to derail his life.

The small-business owner posted a video of an Indian block party taking over an entire street of his North Texas suburb and expressed his frustration at the rapid demographic and cultural changes sweeping through large swaths of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

“We have to cancel the H-1Bs. I want my kids to grow up in America. Not India,” he wrote in the since-deleted post.

‘We feel your public stance doesn’t align with our core values of inclusivity and respect.’

The post went viral on X, and all hell broke loose. As previously reported by Blaze News, Keene and his family were subjected to doxxing and threats, his business was review-bombed, and someone claiming to have access to millions of Indian-American contacts apparently tried to extort him for $20,000.

Keene’s business, Boundaries Coffee, continues to weather the storm, and Google has shut down reviews for the business, putting a stop to the lies, threats, and insults that had flooded in.

The backlash was not contained to Keene’s professional life. In the midst of dealing with the attacks on his business, the owner of his gym decided to weigh in on the issue by revoking his membership.

Keene received a text from Ken Williams, the owner of CrossFit Prosper, telling him, “We feel your public stance doesn’t align with our core values of inclusivity and respect,” and “We’ll be ending your membership effective immediately,” according to a screenshot reviewed by Blaze News.

The text took Keene by surprise since Williams did not raise the issue when he visited the gym. “He didn’t say anything to me in person,” Keene told Blaze News. “… Not even a peep of conflict.”

In canceling the membership, Williams explained that “a large part of our community is Indian and inclusivity is central to who we are, we can’t overlook how this impacts our members and staff, and the culture we work hard to protect,” the screenshot showed. CrossFit Prosper advertises itself as LGBTQ+-owned and LGBTQ+-friendly, according to its Google Maps profile.

The gym did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

Things continued to get worse when Keene’s church decided to interrogate him on his immigration stance. The elders at the Trails Church called him about his initial post, telling him to repent and that the post was “uncharitable.” Keene, who deleted the post shortly after it went viral due to the stress it was causing his family, did not disavow his position on immigration and the H-1B visa in particular.

He said that’s when problems with the church really escalated.

RELATED: Trump to impose $100K fee on H-1B visa applications

Photo by Andrew Harnik / Contributor via Getty Images

Keene and his wife — who was eight months pregnant at the time — were called in for a meeting with “all the elders and staff who could be there,” he recalled. This time, they weren’t just concerned about one post. “They just hammered me for … hours,” he said.

The elders had apparently gone through the last three years of Keene’s X account, looking for problematic posts. Keene said they brought up two posts that they found “concerning.”

Keene described the meeting as confusing. “The goalposts got shifted significantly,” he said.

Keene claimed he was unable to get a straight answer from the elders on the actual substance of his offense. “On one hand, they are saying that the issue is not the position itself; it’s how I expressed it,” he said. “… But then we’ve had three hours of phone calls, and they’re just hammering me on the position itself.”

Keene requested that the elders put his offenses in writing to eliminate uncertainty, but they refused, he said. Keene expressed his confusion to the elders about the nature of his supposed offense and what he was supposed to do about it.

He offered to post clarifying messages on X and talk to anyone at the church who had found his posts offensive. The elders apparently were not satisfied with an offer to clarify things.

According to Keene, they wanted him to apologize for his original post showing the Indian block party on his street and abandon his position on Indian immigration. While he respected their right to disagree with him, Keene told Blaze News he did not think apologizing for the post was appropriate.

“As far as the content, I stand behind it. That’s the policy position I stand behind.”

When asked how serious this offense was, the elders told Keene he was on “the path of discipline,” meaning he would be removed from membership if he continued on his present course, he explained. Keene described the removal process as a very serious step in a Baptist church.

They are “basically saying, ‘We don’t think you’re a Christian any more because you haven’t repented of a sin,’” he said.

‘Why would you need to meet with my wife? What does my wife have to do with this?’

Keene left the meeting still confused. Shortly after, a friend sent him an episode of “The King’s Hall” podcast discussing immigration and H-1B visas. Keene found the episode insightful and posted a clip of it along with the following questions: “What would get you in more trouble at your church? Significant doctrinal error on the Trinity? Or opposing immigration to the harm of your neighbor?”

Keen said he knew the post would “upset” the church elders. He did try to reach out privately at first just to say, “Hey, hear me out on this.” After he posted the clip, the elders asked him to come in with his wife for another meeting, he claimed.

Keene said declined to bring his wife. “Why would you need to meet with my wife? What does my wife have to do with this?” he wondered.

When he went into the meeting, the elders formally asked Keene to leave the church. Keene suspected he would be asked to leave and that posting the podcast clip almost guaranteed it. “I knew I was poking the bear a little bit,” he acknowledged.

Still, Keene said he does not regret posting the clip or maintaining his position on immigration. “I’ve been trying to draw out what the real issue is here,” he said. “… What are the values of your church? Are they doctrinal? Scriptural? Or is it public policy with regard to immigration?”

The Trails Church did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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​H-1b visas, Indian, Crossfit prosper, Trails church, Politics 

When a judge’s home in South Carolina caught fire on Saturday, those on the left were quick to claim arson, blaming President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, for fueling right-wing extremism and violence.

However, since those initial reports, the South Carolina governor and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division have largely debunked this assertion by stating that the fire does not appear to be a result of arson.

‘At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set.’

Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein was out on a walk with her dogs when her home went up in flames on Saturday afternoon. Her husband, former South Carolina Sen. Arnold Goodstein (D), was inside the house and was forced to escape out a first-story window, resulting in multiple injuries. Mr. Goodstein and two others were hospitalized.

Democrat politicians immediately started suggesting that the tragic incident may have been the result of arson and, if so, by right-wing extremists.

“Trump, @StephenM and MAGA-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein,” Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) wrote in a post on X. “Today, someone committed arson on the Judge’s home, severely injuring her husband and son. Will Trump speak out against the extreme right that did this??”

Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) made a similar connection between Miller and the fire.

“Just yesterday @StephenM called judges ‘terrorists.’ Now a judge’s home has burned after an explosion,” Ansari stated. “We need a full investigation, but it’s undeniable that this rhetoric is dangerous & it makes violence feel permissible. Is @realDonaldTrump going to say or do anything??”

RELATED: Judge’s family injured in devastating fire as Democrat slings right-wing arson claims despite unknown cause

Diane Goodstein. Image source: South Carolina Judicial Branch

Izzy Gardon, California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s director of communications, also appeared to blame Trump.

“A few weeks ago, one of Trump’s top DOJ officials publicly targeted this judge,” Gardon wrote. “Today, the judge’s home is on fire.”

On Monday, SLED provided an update on the ongoing investigation.

RELATED: Federal judges refuse to detain Rhode Island man indicted for alleged Trump assassination threats

Image source: St. Paul’s Fire District

“At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set. SLED agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion,” SLED Chief Mark Keel stated.

Gov. Henry McMaster (R) confirmed those preliminary findings.

“SLED Chief Mark Keel has announced that at this point in the investigation there is no evidence the horrific fire at Judge Goodstein’s Edisto home was intentionally set. I echo Chief Keel’s call for everyone to exercise good judgment and avoid sharing unverified information while the investigation continues,” McMaster said.

Blaze News contacted Goldman, Ansari, and Gardon to ask whether they plan to issue revised comments or clarification following SLED’s update.

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​News, Diane goodstein, Arnold goodstein, Stephen miller, Daniel goldman, Yassamin ansari, Izzy gardon, South carolina, South carolina law enforcement division, Sled, Fire, Politics 

A paraplegic man in Oklahoma City said he’s been robbed twice in the space of a month and fears for his safety, KWTV-DT reported.

Alan Prudhome noted to the station he believes those who stole from him did so believing that his disability makes him an easy target.

‘I wake up to somebody trying to take my bag off me that I keep everything in.’

“Someone had pried the door open, went in and stole my TVs, my laptop, my computer,” Prudhome told KWTV regarding what went down at this apartment. “Took a bunch of random things.”

Also stolen were cash and medicine — and even Prudhome’s wheelchair, as well as hand controls he used to help him drive it, the station said.

Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Prudhome filed a police report believing it was a one-time incident, KWTV reported — but just a week later, an even worse incident occurred.

“I wake up to somebody trying to take my bag off me that I keep everything in,” Prudhome recalled to the station. “I was like, ‘What are you doing?'”

Prudhome told KWTV a second individual later identified as Johnny Johnson walked out of his closet with a box of his belongings.

“I said, ‘Why are you doing this to me?'” Prudhome noted to the station. “He said, ‘It happened to me,’ and I said, ‘You’re not paraplegic; you can do for yourself.'”

After Prudhome called police, officers arrested Johnson in the area but never located the second suspect, KWTV reported.

Prudhome told the station the two suspects from the second burglary live in the same apartment complex as him, but he wasn’t sure if they were involved in the first break-in.

Johnson was charged with one count of first-degree burglary and remained in custody Tuesday at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, jail records show. His bond is $15,000, and his next court date is Oct. 23, jail records also indicate.

Prudhome set up a GoFundMe to help him make up for his losses, and it’s raised just over $11,000 of a $16,000 goal.

Then over the weekend, more good news came his way.

After hearing Prudhome’s story, Stacy Reddig — owner of Wheelchairs for Veterans — told KFOR-TV, “I just cannot believe that somebody would steal this man’s medical equipment, so we jumped all over it.”

Redding’s organization donated a brand-new manual wheelchair to Prudhome, which will help him get around easier, KFOR reported.

“I can go where I need to go, and I don’t have to worry about not being able to get to appointments,” Prudhome added to KFOR.

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​Oklahoma, Burglary charge, Oklahoma city, Arrest, Wheelchair, Paraplegic, Theft, Crime 

Democratic politicians are in lockstep in refusing to call on Virginia attorney general nominee Jay Jones to end his race despite the release of disturbing text messages advocating for violence against a Republican lawmaker and his children.

In the leaked text exchange with Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner from August 2022, Jones presented a hypothetical scenario in which he had two bullets and had to choose between shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, Adolf Hitler, and Pol Pot, the National Review reported on Friday. In this scenario, Jones declared he would shoot Gilbert twice.

Jones stated that, in the event his colleagues across the aisle died first, he would “go to their funerals to piss on their graves.” He also said that Gilbert and his wife should have to watch their children die, which he justified by claiming the couple was “breeding little fascists.”

‘I think it’s a test for Virginia.’

Coyner responded by asking Jones to “please stop,” stating that “it really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them.”

Jones did not deny writing the messages but issued an apology for his comments.

“Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry,” he stated in part. “I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children.”

RELATED: Democrat’s vile texts wish death on GOP lawmaker — even MSNBC host demands AG nominee drop out of race

Jay Jones. Photo by Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images

However, the controversy did not end there for the AG nominee. Coyner shared on Monday more alleged disturbing comments by Jones.

She told the Virginia Scope that during a “pretty heated conversation” with Jones about the removal of qualified immunity for police officers, he stated that “maybe if a few [cops] died” they would stop “shooting” and “killing people.”

“He firmly believed that if you removed qualified immunity, that police officers would act differently, and I firmly believe that it would not result in good public policy, and it would put police officers and the public’s lives at risk if they have to second-guess themselves on a decision they’re making in a moment where someone is doing something violent,” Coyner said.

Jones denied making those remarks.

“I did not say this,” Jones told the Virginia Scope. “I have never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement, period. Every single day, police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities, and I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice. As attorney general, I will work hand in hand with law enforcement to support their work.”

RELATED: Texas National Guard deployed to Chicago amid increasing left-wing violence

Trevor Metcalfe/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Jones’ controversial statements advocating for violence prompted many Republicans to call for him to withdraw from the race. While some of his Democratic colleagues have rebuked his comments, none have insisted he end his campaign.

“I think it’s a test for Virginia. It’s now no longer right versus left in Virginia. This election’s about, in my opinion, right versus wrong,” Jones’ opponent, Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck on Tuesday.

Miyares addressed Democrats’ silence.

“You had a few liberal columnists that have said this is beyond the pale, he shouldn’t be in the race. But, to right now, [Democrats are] either dead silent or this sense of, ‘We condemn the text messages. It’s not acceptable, and Jay Jones should be held accountable for this,'” Miyares continued. “But they don’t say what that means, and, by all accounts, they’re continuing to campaign.”

When asked whether he had any plans to call on Jones to withdraw from the race, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told Blaze News, “There is nothing that can justify these indefensible words, and they are contrary to all I’ve known about Jay Jones for decades. With hundreds of thousands of Virginians already having voted, it’s up to Virginians to decide.”

Blaze News asked the same question of Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, the Virginia Democratic Party, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D), U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Democratic Virginia U.S. Reps. Don Beyer, Jennifer McClellan, Bobby Scott, Suhas Subramanyam, Eugene Vindman, and James Walkinshaw.

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​News, Jay jones, Virginia, Carrie coyner, Todd gilbert, Political violence, Jason miyares, Tim kaine, Abigail spanberger, Virginia democratic party, Ghazala hashmi, Mark warner, Don beyer, Jennifer mcclellan, Bobby scott, Suhas subramanyam, Eugene vindman, James walkinshaw, Politics 

Tensions are escalating between Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), and the Trump administration.

With Trump’s White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller delivering strong remarks as of late and promising to rid American streets of crime, liberal cities have been put on notice that the federal government finally wants to put an end to the dangers of gang activity and criminality.

‘Being a welcoming city means being a city that embraces people equally with open arms.’

Chicago has been known as a dangerous city for decades, but now that the feds are stepping in, Democrats are getting in the way. Chicago has a detailed history of supporting illegal immigrants on the municipal level. Here’s how:

The beginning of sanctuary city policies

Chicago’s sanctuary city status dates all the way back to 1985, when Mayor Harold Washington (D) signed an executive order that stated city workers could not ask people about their immigration status.

The city joined other liberal strongholds like Cambridge, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Minnesota; as well as California cities Los Angeles, Hollywood, San Francisco, and Berkeley.

That year, an estimated 80,000 people from Guatemala and El Salvador lived in San Francisco.

The Welcoming City Ordinance

In 2012, Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) all but officially made Chicago a sanctuary city with the Welcoming City Ordinance. Using careful terms, the ordinance implemented protections for illegal aliens “who have not been convicted of a serious crime and are not wanted on a criminal warrant.”

Ironically, Emanuel said the city was “welcoming those who play by the rules,” but forced Chicago police to train with “immigrant advocacy groups to build trust within immigrant communities.”

The ordinance is still promoted today, with Chicago boasting that it prohibits city employees from assisting in the investigation of a person’s immigration status, absent a federal or court order.

RELATED: Texas National Guard deployed to Chicago amid increasing left-wing violence

People lock arms as residents of Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood confront ICE agents in 2025. Photo by OCTAVIO JONES/AFP via Getty Images

Lori Lightfoot blocks cops from helping ICE

In 2021, Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) updated the Welcoming City Ordinance to target police activity and even limit their ability to assist in federal investigations.

According to the Chicago Police Department, the update declared that police could no longer detain, arrest, or hold anyone based on their immigration status or civil immigration warrants. It also prevented police from transferring criminals into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for immigration enforcement.

The update even removed the use of the word “citizen” from official city forms, replacing it with “person” or “resident.”

“Being a welcoming city means being a city that embraces people equally with open arms, where no one has to fear being their authentic self, walking down the street, doing business, earning a living and taking care of their family,” the mayor said at the time, per ABC 7.

City council blocks effort to deport gang members and drug dealers

In January 2025, Chicago’s city council voted 39-11 to prevent a vote on allowing police to cooperate with federal authorities in apprehending individuals accused of certain crimes.

Police would have been allowed to work with ICE in relation to gang-related activities such as intimidation, loitering, and recruitment; drug dealing; prostitution; and sex crimes involving minors.

The measure was tabled, though, and Mayor Johnson supported the decision with the claim Chicago emphasizes community safety and trust.

Campaign to inform illegal aliens

That same month, Mayor Johnson launched an informational campaign for illegal immigrants to “Know Your Rights.”

Written in foreign languages like Spanish and Chinese, the city targeted public transit with ads to help illegal residents know their way around legal situations.

Mayor Johnson said he was rejecting intimidation tactics from the Trump administration and reaffirmed that Chicago would remain a “welcoming and sanctuary space.”

RELATED: Chicago mayor creates ‘ICE-free zones’ meant to impede federal agents — White House fires off brutal response

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at a news conference to address President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops into the city on August 25, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images.

Work permits for illegal aliens?

Mayor Johnson asked President Biden in 2024 to help him secure work permits for illegal aliens in Chicago.

This was one of Johnson’s priorities on the first anniversary of taking office. Johnson worked with activist groups to attempt to extend permits to those who the city claimed have paid taxes in the U.S. for decades, not new arrivals.

While it was unclear whether the taxes referred to sales taxes or income tax paid through fraudulent identities, Johnson said he wanted to “extend the same economic opportunities to our long-term undocumented brothers and sisters.”

Thankfully, his bid was unsuccessful.

Suing the Trump administration

Chicago and Illinois sued the Trump administration just this week over plans to deploy the National Guard to the city. The “deployment of federalized troops to Illinois is patently unlawful,” the lawsuit stated, per CNN.

The plaintiffs further asked the court to put a stop to the “illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional federalization of members of the National Guard of the United States, including both the Illinois and Texas National Guard.”

Trump deployed 400 troops from the Texas National Guard to Chicago recently, as ICE agents have been under attack during ongoing protests and riots outside ICE facilities. The lawsuit also asked the court to declare the federalization of National Guardsmen illegal.

President Trump, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth were all named as defendants.

‘ICE-free zones’

Stunningly, Mayor Johnson announced “ICE-free zones” in October 2025, allegedly aimed at “reining in” the Trump administration.

“The order establishes ICE-free zones. That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for [ICE] raids,” the mayor claimed.

Johnson said ICE agents would not be allowed to “rampage” through the city. The mayor also said he wished to strengthen Chicago’s role as a “welcoming city.”

The mayor claimed the move was in reaction to ICE using Chicago Public Schools’ parking lots as staging sites for enforcement operations, though whether federal immigration agents have used schools during operations is unclear.

In remarks to Blaze News, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that Mayor Johnson’s demonization of ICE agents has increased assaults against them by “1,000%.”

She added, “Mayor Johnson has shown time and time again he does not care about the safety of our federal law enforcement officers or Chicagoans. … His reckless policies not only endanger our law enforcement, but public safety.”

Blaze News has reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.

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​Chicago, News, Brandon johnson, Lori lightfoot, Illinois, Illegal aliens, Immigration, Ice, Illegal immigration, Sanctuary cities, Politics 

Amid rising tensions in Illinois as Operation Midway Blitz — ICE’s deportation initiative in and around Chicago — carries on, law enforcement arrested suspected Latin Kings “ranking member” Juan Espinoza Martinez on Monday and charged him with a single count of murder for hire after he allegedly put a hit out on a Border Patrol chief, according to Fox News.

According to the complaint obtained by Fox News, Martinez, 37, allegedly sent Snapchat messages that read, “2k on information when you get him,” and, “10k if you take him down.”

RELATED: ‘War from within’: ICE agents descend from helicopters to nab suspected TDA gangsters in Chicago apartment

Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

“Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is an attack on the rule of law,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said in a statement to Fox News. “The defendant’s actions in this case demonstrate a profound contempt for human life and public safety. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will hold defendants accountable for their grave criminal actions and ensure that no federal officer has to fear for their life for doing their job.”

The Department of Homeland Security identified the targeted official as the commander at large of the U.S. Border Patrol, Chief Gregory Bovino. Bovino was instrumental in the eye-catching operation in Chicago’s South Shore at the beginning of the month, during which agents rappelled down from Black Hawk helicopters to secure an apartment complex.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously warned on Sunday about these plots, saying, “These people are organized. They’re getting more and more people on their team as far as attacking officers, and they’re making plans to ambush them and to kill them. We have specific officers and agents that have bounties that have been put out on their heads. It’s been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them. They’ve released their pictures.”

“This is the rule of law vs. anarchy. We will win,” she added in the same social media post.

Martinez’s initial court appearance date has not yet been set.

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​Politics, Juan espinoza martinez, Andrew s boutros, Gregory bovino, Kristi noem, Operation midway blitz, Latin kings, Chicago, Murder for hire, Ice 

Filmmaker and mother Jessica Solce was frustrated by the difficulty of finding healthy, all-natural products for herself and her family. To make it easier, she created the Solarium, which curates trusted, third-party-tested foods, clothing, beauty products, and more — all free of seed oils, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and other harmful additives.

In this occasional column, she shares recommendations and research she’s picked up during her ongoing education in health and wellness.

Last year, I went to Palestra’s Age of Light conference in San Salvador intending to deepen my understanding of how light and health intersect. As I expected, I heard compelling speakers like Jack Kruse, Sol Brah, and Erwan Le Corre discuss red-light therapies, photobiology, and the urgency of restoring our relationship with natural light.

I did not expect someone to be announcing a new tablet.

Daylight’s LivePaper screen is gentle on young eyes, free of blue light and flicker. Kids can read, draw, and learn — even in bright sunlight — without glare.

Then Daylight Computer founder Anjan Katta did just that, boldly positioning his new DC-1 tablet as a radical rethinking of how tech, light, and human health might integrate. “The hope,” Katta told us, “is a healthier, more humane computer that can help you build a better foundation for your life.”

What does that even mean? Why take on the Goliaths of tech? We already have Apple, Android, and Kindle. Clearly, Katta’s motivation wasn’t just practical.

iPad kids

It might surprise you to learn that Apple founder Steve Jobs didn’t let his own kids use iPads because he feared they were too addictive. A wise move, considering that more than a decade after its release, “iPad kid” has become shorthand for children glued to screens and prone to meltdowns when deprived of them. Adults aren’t immune, either — after all, our kids only mirror what we model.

Research shows direct links between screen exposure and developmental delays. One study found that 1-year-olds who logged four or more hours of screen time per day showed delays in communication and problem-solving by ages 2 and 4. Missed milestones are not minor; they’re signs of neurological disruption.

Technology’s long-term effects on the brain and body are profound — and Katta knew this firsthand. The 2016 Stanford engineering grad had spent his life in front of computer screens and suffered from eye strain, disrupted sleep, migraines, ADHD-like symptoms, and mood swings.

Once he traced these issues back to light, the problem became clear. The cure, however — a truly healthy kind of screen, one that doesn’t overload our systems with blue light, flicker incessantly, and keep us indoors — did not yet exist.

Katta made it his mission to invent it. Six years later, the DC-1 was born.

Light as nutrient

If you follow health circles online, you’ve likely heard about light’s impact on well-being — from Andrew Huberman’s discussions of morning sunlight and circadian rhythm to the basic idea that blue light at night disrupts sleep. You probably also know that sunlight helps us produce vitamin D and that darker winters can bring on the blues.

Light should be considered alongside diet, exercise, and sleep as a fundamental pillar of health. It is our most constant environmental input — the very energy base of our ecosystems. It governs circadian rhythm, cellular function, and energy production. It influences how well we sleep, move, and even metabolize nutrients.

From infrared to ultraviolet, the full spectrum of sunlight benefits our health. But problems arise when we isolate parts of that spectrum — especially blue and UV light.

(For an in-depth look at the effects of light on the body and brain, especially in children, I encourage you to read my three-part series on blue light.)

Blue-light blues

Blue light dominates not just our phones, tablets, and computer screens but our indoor environments, too. Because blue light signals “daytime” to the brain, it suppresses melatonin and raises cortisol. Constant exposure disrupts circadian rhythm, contributing to insomnia, mood disorders, obesity, diabetes, and even certain cancers.

These aren’t minor issues — and they’re growing worse each year. We must confront our relationship with light itself. No amount of “biohacking” can replace a healthy light environment. Solutions like the DC-1 and better indoor lighting are essential stopgaps while we reorient our lives toward nature.

The DC-1’s display solves the blue-light problem by using ambient light — or gentle red light — as its backlight. The screen resembles E-Ink but refreshes far faster thanks to its patented LivePaper technology.

It also eliminates screen flicker. Unlike natural sunlight or incandescent bulbs, LEDs flash on and off imperceptibly fast, straining the eyes and nervous system. The result? Headaches, fatigue, and anxiety. Daylight restores stability.

RELATED: Hello, darkness, my old friend: How to get your body’s circadian rhythms back on the beat

Caroline Seidel/Getty Images

Screen saver

If we want to reverse the damage done by technology, we’ll need large-scale reform. But meaningful change begins with individuals. Light affects mitochondrial function — and mitochondrial DNA, passed through the maternal line, is heritable. We — and future generations — are shaped not just by what we eat, but by the light environments that feed our cells.

Simply stepping outside, away from screens, can do more for your health than any pill or supplement.

After six years of development, Katta built a device that acknowledges both science and nature — technology that harmonizes with our biology rather than fighting it.

Daylight’s LivePaper screen is gentle on young eyes, free of blue light and flicker. Kids can read, draw, and learn — even in bright sunlight — without glare. Stylus support makes it feel like pen and paper, encouraging creativity and handwriting. Its distraction-free interface promotes focus and calm. In short: technology without neurological mayhem.

Adults benefit too — less eye strain, fewer headaches, less fatigue. The paper-like display reduces the dopamine-driven scroll reflex that keeps us addicted to our devices.

Connection without addiction

The Daylight Computer mission statement offers a refreshing and much-needed change of priority. As Katta said, “The questions that motivate us are: What are the base defaults of an operating system that sets you up for better habits — for better health?”

When he introduced the DC-1, Katta hinted that the company would also be developing a phone. I can’t wait for that — especially for kids. They deserve communication tools that foster connection without addiction.

I’m excited for the continued growth of Daylight Computer and hope that it inspires other entrepreneurs to create technology built not just for productivity, but for human flourishing.

​Daylight computer, Dc-1, Blue light, Circadian rhythms, Andrew huberman, Red-light therapy, Tech, Lifestyle, Provisions, The solarium 

A Florida mother is up in arms with her son’s elementary school — Floral Avenue Elementary School in Polk County — after she claims a teacher’s approach to celebrating her son’s birthday was “offensive” and racist.

The mother, Desarae Prather, was sent a video of the birthday party by the teacher, where the teacher was singing a birthday song to the 6-year-old boy.

The song went: “Happy Birthday to you. You live in the zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one, too.”

While the song was meant to be funny and has long been sung to children of all races for the purpose of making them laugh, Prather did not find it funny.

“I automatically said that’s unacceptable and I don’t feel, I don’t think nothing’s funny about it,” the mother said.

“My skin is boiling. I don’t even like racism and to know where we come from and our ancestors and for us to be labeled like that because when they call us monkey, they basically saying that we’re ugly, we act like a monkey and all this and that. I don’t like that at all,” the mother added.

In a letter to the school board, Prather asked for an apology, immediate disciplinary action, and counseling for her son. After receiving no response, she decided to show up in person.

“You can’t make this up,” BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock says, laughing.

“Yes,” BlazeTV contributor Shemeka Michelle agrees. “I’m thinking, where is the dad? Is he just quiet? Does he not want to be on camera? Is he in the child’s life? Because if he isn’t in the child’s life, he would need counseling more for that than being sung a happy birthday song.”

“It’s crazy,” she continues. “It’s the usual suspects. Always offended, never ashamed.”

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Scrutiny over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case continues, and in the last couple of months, people have been increasingly worried that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted partner in crime, may have her case reconsidered.

However, the Supreme Court just shut down Maxwell’s appeal on Monday, the first day of the term.

Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 28, 2022, after being found guilty of multiple charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, on December 29, 2021.

Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for multiple charges, argued to no avail that some of her charges should be dropped on a technicality with regard to Epstein’s case.

Specifically, according to SCOTUSblog, Maxwell’s appeal requested that the Supreme Court review a decision regarding a 2007 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The agreement protected Epstein from future charges, presumably in that district, but it also mentioned “potential co-conspirators” in part of the deal.

“If Epstein successfully fulfills all the terms and conditions of this agreement, the United States also agrees that it will not institute any criminal charges against any potential co-conspirators of Epstein,” it said.

RELATED: DOJ reaches out to one major Epstein witness everyone’s been afraid to talk to

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.Photo by Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Because the deal specifically mentioned “the United States,” Maxwell argued that the clause was binding on all federal courts and therefore should have potentially protected her from some of the charges brought against her by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York that led to her conviction.

According to SCOTUSblog, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer called this clause “highly unusual” in the government’s response to Maxwell’s petition for certiorari.

Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 28, 2022, after being found guilty of multiple charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, on December 29, 2021.

At the beginning of August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved from a prison in Florida to the lower-security Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas. This transfer was arranged following a two-day interview session with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

She also previously offered to testify before Congress on several conditions, including immunity. Thus far, her offer has been rejected.

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