Category: blaze media

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas reposted an outdated endorsement from President Donald Trump on Monday as the 2026 Senate primary race ramps up.

Cornyn’s campaign account posted the Trump endorsement despite it being from 2020, claiming that Cornyn votes with the president “99% of the time” and vows to “fight for Texas with the President.” At the same time, early polling shows Cornyn trailing primary challenger Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

A representative for Cornyn did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

Even still, Cornyn may not be able to survive on Trump’s coattails.

Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ever since Paxton entered the primary race, Cornyn’s campaign has focused on tethering the senator to Trump. As of this writing, the last dozen posts on his campaign account have mentioned Trump, despite the fact that the president has yet to make an endorsement in the primary.

Even still, Cornyn may not be able to survive on Trump’s coattails. Paxton is currently polling 16 points ahead of Cornyn, according to a new poll from the Senate Leadership Fund published Monday. The same poll shows Paxton 10 points ahead in a three-way race with Cornyn and Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas, who is reportedly considering a 2026 Senate run.

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

That being said, the same poll showed that Cornyn may be a more viable candidate than Paxton in the general election against former Democratic Rep. Colin Allred of Texas, who is considering another Senate run.

Cornyn is polling just one point ahead of Allred, according to the SLF poll, while Paxton is polling six points behind the former Democratic lawmaker. Allred previously attempted to unseat Republican Rep. Ted Cruz of Texas in 2024, although he lost by nearly nine points.

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​John cornyn, Ken paxton, Donald trump, Ted cruz, Colin allred, Texas, Senate republicans, Senate race, Senate primary, Republican primary, Trump endorsement, Politics 

Warren Hern, a founding member of the National Abortion Federation, is infamous for performing late-term abortions in Colorado on
viable human beings at the bulletproof Boulder Abortion Clinic, which he founded in 1973.

Hern, who literally
wrote the book on the grisly practice, recently announced that he was hanging up his surgical gloves and closing the clinic, despite the “great satisfaction” he obtained from his bloody work.

Critics celebrated the clinic’s closure, while abortion activists and the liberal media clutched pearls, suggesting someone needs to “pick up the mantle.”

“Although I love my work, I have wanted for years to be free from the operating room and the daily cares of a private medical practice,” said the late-term abortionist. “When I have a patient, I can’t do anything else. Her safety and well-being is my priority. Nothing else matters while her life is at stake. I must now leave this sacred commitment to others.”

‘What is viability, exactly?’

The Atlantic
said of Hern in 2023, “He takes the woman’s-choice argument to its logical conclusion, in much the same way that, at this moment, anti-abortion activists are pressing their case to its extreme. Hern considers his religious adversaries to be zealots, and many of them are. But he is, in his own way, no less an absolutist.”

Hern, who previously made clear that he disliked the supposedly demeaning word “abortionist,” indicated to the liberal publication that “at least half, and sometimes more, of the women who come to the clinic” are carrying children who do not have “devastating medical diagnoses.”

In at least two cases, he reportedly killed an unborn child simply because of the child’s sex.

“The reason doesn’t really matter to Hern. Medical viability for a fetus — or its ability to survive outside the uterus — is generally considered to be somewhere from 24 to 28 weeks. Hern, though, believes that the viability of a fetus is determined not by gestational age but by a woman’s willingness to carry it,” said the Atlantic.

Despite
telling the New Yorker in September that there were some lines he would not cross, Hern provided a strong indication that line could be blurred, stating, “What is viability, exactly? What is the definition of viability? If the woman’s life is at risk, the viability of the fetus is irrelevant.”

Live Action News
estimated that Hern killed 42,000 unborn babies over the course of his career.

The Charlotte Lozier Institute
noted that “Hern’s own research admits he performed over 1,000 late-term abortions on unborn babies 18 to 38 weeks’ gestation between 1999 and 2004.”

“Remember, the youngest premature baby to survive was born at 21 weeks and 1 day,” added the institute.

In its Sunday eulogy for the Colorado clinic wherein it admitted late-term abortions are likely more common than federal data indicates, the Associated Press
told the story of Sarah Watkins — a Georgia woman who traveled to the BAC in 2019 to have her baby killed just before 25 weeks because the baby had a genetic condition called trisomy 18 or Edwards syndrome.

“I did not want her to feel a single moment of hurt or suffering or pain or discomfort,” said Watkins. “That’s why I made the decision.”

Contrary to the AP’s suggestion that Watkins’ baby was doomed, the majority of babies with trisomy 18 survive childbirth and roughly 10% survive past the first year, as in the case of former Republican Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s daughter
Isabella, who will celebrate her 17th birthday on Tuesday.

Hern’s days of aborting children like Watkins’ appear to be at an end — and the decision was reportedly driven by financial issues.

Even in the Democratic-controlled state of Colorado, insurance did not always cover the abortions, for which Hern charged more than $25,000. Personal donors were similarly dropping off the map.

While the late-term abortionist worked with various other abortionists, none of them apparently were interested in taking over the clinic.

“I had to make a decision, really, you know, sort of on the basis of the situation at the moment that we couldn’t continue,” he said. “It was very, very painful. I see this as my personal failure.”

Financial concerns helped shut Hern down, but he attributed the broader wind-down of “abortion access” to President Donald Trump,
telling Axios, “As far as abortion rights, the fate of Roe v. Wade was sealed when Donald Trump was elected in 2016.”

‘This is a step forward.’

The closure of Hern’s abattoir leaves only a handful left nationwide.
According to the Later Abortion Initiative, an offshoot of the abortion advocacy outfit Ibis Reproductive Health, there are three clinics — in New Mexico, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. — that will generally kill unborn babies after 28 weeks and a handful of other facilities that will provide abortion beyond 24 weeks.

“Every time a clinic closes, it does impact everybody and what kinds of care they give,” Anna Rupani, executive director of Fund Texas Choice, told the AP.

Jane Armstrong, a Texas-based therapist who had her baby aborted at 21 weeks, said, “I think Dr. Hern has been the torchbearer for abortion leaders in pregnancy.”

“Who will pick up the mantle?” asked Armstrong. “We really do need a new torchbearer right now.”

Diane Horvath, medical director at Partners in Abortion Care, told the AP, “This type of care is still available,” referring to late-term abortions, but “it’s more rare than it was a couple weeks ago.”

“This is a step forward in protecting unborn babies and their mothers from the violence of abortion,” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
said in a statement.

While some anti-abortion groups were celebratory, others hinted that the closure was at best a symbolic victory.

Bradley Pierce, president of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion, told Blaze News, “Whether or not they are forced to close by the laws in any particular state, we can expect more surgical abortion facilities to shut their doors in the coming years. That is largely because of the increasing popularity of abortion pills and other methods of self-induced abortion.”

While the number of such facilities is dwindling, Pierce noted that since Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortions have gone up “generally due to the increasing popularity of abortion pills, which have become the primary method of abortion in the United States. Even in conservative states where clinics have closed, women are still ordering and taking abortion pills.”

“Late-term abortion often pulls at consciences more strongly because those babies are more developed. But intentionally destroying a preborn child in the earliest stages of development is just as murderous as destroying a preborn child when he or she is more fully grown. If the late-term abortion facilities close, more people will murder their babies sooner,” added Pierce. “The reality is that we need laws establishing equal protection for preborn children, regardless of size or level of development, because all preborn children are human persons made in the image of God.”

Blaze News reached out the National Abortion Federation for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.

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​Warren hern, Abortion, Murder, Eugenics, Late-term abortion, Pro-life, Colorado, Boulder abortion clinic, Politics 

President Donald Trump berated a reporter for implying that the president had agreed to receive an improper gift from the country of Qatar.

Trump was signing an executive order at the Oval Office on Monday when an ABC News reporter asked him about the announcement that the ruling family of Qatar planned on gifting a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to use as his presidential airplane.

‘You should know better, because you’ve been embarrassed enough and so has your network!’

“What do you say to people who view that luxury jet as a personal gift to you?” asked Rachel Scott.

“You’re ABC Fake News, right? … You should be embarrassed asking that question!” said the president defiantly.

Trump then indicated that paying Qatar for the gift would be stupid. “They’re giving us a free jet,” he explained. “I could say, ‘No, I want to pay you $1 billion,’ or I could say, ‘Thank you.'”

Scott pressed on, and the president denied the allegations more forcefully.

“It’s not a gift to me. It’s a gift to the Department of Defense, and you should know better, because you’ve been embarrassed enough and so has your network,” he added. “Your network is a disaster. ABC is a disaster.”

Critics of the president have said the gift could be seen as a bribe, but the White House claimed it sought legal advice that said there was nothing improper about the gift. The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution bars anyone holding public office from receiving a gift from foreign states without congressional consent.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a statement criticizing the present.

“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” he wrote. “It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”

The president had a previous run-in with Rachel Scott when she moderated an interview of Trump with a panel of the National Association of Black Journalists in 2024.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner. The first question. You don’t even say, ‘Hello, how are you?'” he said to Scott over a contentious question she asked him. “Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network. A terrible network.”

Here’s the video of the exchange:

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens denied claims that he called the organization cheap and unwilling to build its roster.

Pickens was traded from the Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys last week and was accused by fans of lashing out at the organization on Instagram.

In a comment allegedly made on a sports page, Pickens said the Steelers were the cheapest organization in the league.

“They the cheapest organization. Ain’t no stacking year after year [they’re going to] let them n****s go too soon as it’s time[.] Lmaoo.”

The comment was reportedly made on a post by Prospect Media, with Pickens allegedly replying to his own comments with a meme that said, “you thought wrong!”

George Pickens claimed he could not have made the comments about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

‘Stop with AI trying to make a story.’

In a subsequent temporary Instagram story, Pickens denied making the comments and claimed he was airborne and had no cellular service.

“Literally on a plane. No service. Just landed and seen straight Lies from [Pittsburgh] fans,” Pickens wrote.

The wide receiver then seemingly blamed artificial intelligence for the viral comments.

“Stop with AI trying to make a story [.] I’m happy for everything the steel city did for me. Happy Mother’s Day to all.”

Whether the comments can be attributed to Pickens or not, his relationship with his former team certainly seemed like it had become a tumultuous one. A 2026 third-round pick and a swap of late-round picks seemed more like an offloading for the Steelers, especially considering Pickens led the team in receiving yards in 2024 (900) and was second in receptions (59.)

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin had referred to Pickens as “a pebble in my shoe” and remarked that he needed to “grow up” after drawing two personal fouls in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

After the team’s wild card playoff game loss to the Baltimore Ravens in January, Steelers fans let Pickens hear it following comments he made immediately after the game.

At a postgame press conference, Pickens was asked if he was “optimistic going forward.”

Pickens replied, “Uh, nah.”

While several fans agreed with the coach and said Pickens needed to grow up and improve significantly, others insulted the player’s intelligence and suggested he did not know what “optimistic” meant.

Pickens will make the bulk of his remaining contract earnings in Dallas in the final year of a four-year deal. The 24-year-old will earn $3.66 million, nearly triple what he has made the previous three years.

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President Donald Trump confirmed reports that Hamas was releasing an American held in the Gaza Strip as a hostage since 2023 and said the terror group freed him in order to seek a ceasefire.

Twenty-one-year-old Edan Alexander was raised in New Jersey and is believed to be the last living American hostage held by the terror group. The bodies of four other Americans are believed to be in the terror group’s possession.

‘Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict.’

“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family. I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,” wrote Trump on Sunday.

Hamas says that it is seeking a ceasefire in order to open border crossings into the Gaza Strip and allow aid to flow in. Human rights groups have criticized Israel for shutting down aid to pressure Hamas to release more hostages.

“This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones,” Trump continued.

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that Alexander had arrived at one of its facilities and would receive a physical and mental checkup before meeting with his family. He had been held captive for 584 days.

A Hamas official told PBS that the group expected some concessions from the U.S. in return for the hostage release.

“The ball is now in the American and Israeli court. We gave the Americans what they asked for. They need to get the other side to give things too,” the official said.

However, Israel said that nothing was promised in return for the release of Alexander. There are about 58 hostages remaining in captivity.

“Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict,” the president concluded.

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NBA commentator Charles Barkley said he will not have his free speech impeded in any way when he joins ESPN next fall.

Barkley hosts “Inside the NBA” on TNT alongside former NBA greats Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, as well as broadcaster Ernie Johnson. With the group, especially Barkley and O’Neal, known for their uncensored rants, Barkley was asked if he feared having his freedom stifled as the crew prepares to move to ESPN for the 2025-2026 NBA season.

“I’m not gonna change. I’mma do what I wanna do,” Barkley firmly stated. “Nobody’s gonna tell me what to say or what to do.”

Barkley then recalled a recent rant about fellow analyst and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins and referred to him as a guy who “don’t know his a** from a hole in the wall.”

Using that as a base example of how he would not be coerced into changing his tone, Barkley said his personality will not be dulled for ESPN, nor did he think the network would be in a position to fire him if he was too controversial.

“I’m not gonna change my personality,” Barkley continued in an interview with Dan Dakich. “They can’t fire me. I make too much money to get fired.”

(L-R) Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley in 2017. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TNT

The hit show’s move to ESPN coincides with the NBA’s new TV deal with Disney Networks, NBC, and Amazon. The 11-year, $76 billion agreement will see “Inside the NBA” be independently produce by TNT Sports in Atlanta, but it will air on ESPN, the network announced, per the El Paso Times.

Sports reporter Alejandro Avila told Blaze News that he expects clashes between the network and its soon-to-be star anchors.

“ESPN hasn’t changed its model to stray from its progressive programming. To uphold their identity, they’ll need to crack a whip on anyone who doesn’t get in line,” Avila said.

Barkley and O’Neal offer far more “common sense” than the network is used to, the reporter continued. He added, “The mother ship would prefer that didn’t happen.”

Barkley explained that while he will likely opt out of his contract after two years, it includes the option to extend it to seven years. Therefore, If ESPN did choose to fire him, the network would owe him seven years of salary.

“So they can’t fire me. First of all, if they fired me, they gotta pay me for seven years, and I’mma quit way before then. But if they want to fire me, I would love for them to do that,” Barkley laughed.

After insisting his paycheck was too powerful, Barkley reaffirmed, “Nobody at ESPN is gonna tell me what to say or do. Period.”

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​Fearless, Nba, Free speech, Charles barkley, Disney, Espn, Sports 

As reconciliation talks continue, House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith revealed that the Republican-led tax bill will hike up Harvard University’s endowment tax, in addition to codifying many of President Donald Trump’s campaign promises.

During a members-only GOP conference on Capitol Hill, Smith told members that Harvard’s current 1.4% endowment tax under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will be bumped up to 21%, according to a source on the call. Harvard continues to be in the hot seat after the Trump administration announced they would be canceling millions of dollars in federal grants, noting that taxpayer funds are a “privilege.”

‘We’re delivering on no tax on tips, no tax on overtime pay for the 80 million workers affected, and achieve tax relief for seniors.’

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

In addition to the increased endowment tax on Harvard, the GOP tax bill is also aiming to codify Trump’s incredibly popular policies like no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, according to a source on the call. Other line items are focused on boosting pro-family policies, like indexing the child tax credit for inflation and improving adoption tax credits.

“We’re delivering on no tax on tips, no tax on overtime pay for the 80 million workers affected, and achieve tax relief for seniors,” Smith said during the call.

The legislation is also focused on reinvesting in Americans and includes 100% immediate expensing for new factories in the United States, according to a source on the call. The bill further bolsters American manufacturing by including deductibility of auto loan interest for American-made cars.

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

These provisions mirror Trump’s directives to incentivize American manufacturing while renegotiating international trade deals to benefit the United States. In just the last week, Trump has finalized major trade deals with both the United Kingdom and China.

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​Jason smith, Ways and means committee, Capitol hill, Congress, House republicans, Tax bill, Reconciliation, Big beautiful bill, Donald trump, Harvard, Linda mcmahon, Scott bessent, Trade war, Tariffs, China, United kingdom, Trade deal, Howard lutnick, Pro-family, No tax on tips, Child tax credit, American manufacturing, Adoption, Politics 

President Donald Trump’s first pick for surgeon general, Janette Nesheiwat, proved to be a disaster when his supporters began to point out that Nesheiwat publicly supported COVID vaccinations, boosters, and masking — and never spoke out against them.

“It was a very strange pick, in my opinion, for him to bring on RFK Jr., who was sounding the alarm about all of these crazy things that were happening. He was, like, leading the charge. And then to pick someone like Dr. Janette just did not seem to align,” Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” comments.

In response, Trump has withdrawn his support of Nesheiwat and nominated Dr. Casey Means instead. Though still, Trump’s supporters can’t seem to agree on the nomination.

“The MAHA community is very divided right now, which is not what we need. It’s very frustrating to see. We’ve finally gotten our big moment on the big stage, and what are we doing? Arguing,” Gonzales says.

RFK Jr. has responded to the main arguments against Means’ nomination, telling Fox News, “Casey Means we felt was the best person to really bring the vision of MAHA to the American public.”

“She has this unique capacity to articulate it. She’s written a book that really mobilized, galvanized the movement. She is excellent in everything she’s ever done,” RFK continued, before the interviewer, Brett Baier, pressed Kennedy on Means’ qualifications. Namely, Baier pointed out that Means never finished her residency and doesn’t have an active medical license.

“She was the top of her medical class at Stanford. In her residency, she won every award that she could’ve won. She walked away from traditional medicine because she was not curing patients. She couldn’t get anybody within her profession to look at the nutrition contributions to illness,” RFK explained, noting that Means wants to find “new approaches to medicine.”

Gonzales is behind RFK on this one.

“I just don’t know how much of a qualification being licensed to practice medicine really is. Like what good is that? Because all of the doctors who were telling people to mask up, who were requiring masks in their offices, who were telling their patients to abide by 6 feet social distancing markers, even though there was absolutely no scientific evidence to show that 6 feet was the magical number,” she comments.

“America is sicker than ever. We have more chronic disease than ever. Our kids are sicker than ever. And so, you know, sometimes it just makes you think like, I don’t know, maybe I do want the person who isn’t technically licensed to practice medicine right now but went through all of the same schooling,” Gonzales continues.

“And instead of regurgitating it like a sheep, she said, ‘Hey, I’m going to think critically about this,’” she adds.

Want more from Sara Gonzales?

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

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President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice issued a confusing press release after a Louisiana man who pretends to be a woman pled guilty in a COVID fraud case.

On Thursday, Brandon Jarrow, 33, pled guilty to theft of government funds and making false statements, the press release said.

According to the DOJ, the conviction stems from two separate incidents involving COVID-related funds designated to assist small businesses. In June 2020, Jarrow filed a false application for a loan from the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program that resulted in a “theft” of $95,000 from the government. Then in February 2021, Jarrow made “false statements” to an approved lender about a “sham business,” resulting in a $20,833 Paycheck Protection Program loan.

Jarrow now faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13.

RELATED: Damning new episode of BlazeTV’s ‘The Coverup’ blows lid off Biden’s 10-year pardon for Fauci

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The press release also described the defendant as a “New Orleans Woman” who sometimes goes by the name Brandi Jarrow. The press release even uses a female pronoun in reference to Jarrow, though Jarrow’s legal name is apparently still Brandon and a quick scroll through Brandi Jarrow’s Facebook photos reveals that Jarrow looked decidedly more masculine in his early 20s.

On various posts on the Facebook account, Jarrow claimed to be “transgender,” a “trans woman,” and a New Orleans “queen.”

The gender confusion in the DOJ press release about Jarrow’s conviction is particularly notable now that President Trump has issued an executive order demanding that the federal government adhere to fixed biological definitions of sex and gender.

Jarrow even starred in a March 2021 PBS documentary entitled “A Fine Girl,” which described Jarrow as a “trans woman of color” who opened an “inclusive luxury salon.” The “Fine Girl” episode purported to be “a joyful, optimistic portrait of what’s possible when we include and uplift trans people as essential contributors to our community.” According to the PBS website, video of “A Fine Girl” expired in April 2024.

The gender confusion in the DOJ press release about Jarrow’s conviction is particularly notable now that President Trump has issued an executive order demanding that the federal government adhere to fixed definitions of sex and gender that are directly tied to biological reality.

“‘Women’ or ‘woman’ and ‘girls’ or ‘girl’ shall mean adult and juvenile human females, respectively,” said the EO issued on Inauguration Day. “‘Men’ or ‘man’ and ‘boys’ or ‘boy’ shall mean adult and juvenile human males, respectively.”

Those definitions “shall govern all Executive interpretation of and application of Federal law and administration policy,” the EO claimed.

RELATED: Hegseth gives multitudes of trans-identifying service members the boot

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

In response to a request for comment, Shane Jones, the public information officer for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, sent Blaze News a “corrected” press release that describes Jarrow as a “New Orleans resident” rather than a “woman” but nevertheless still refers to Jarrow as a “she.”

In addition to federal law enforcement, Jarrow also appears to be a familiar face to local cops. In November, the New Orleans Police Department issued a “be on the lookout” request for Jarrow, whom the department characterized as a “Black Female.” Police claimed Jarrow was suspected in two separate identity theft cases that occurred a week apart in September.

“In both cases the victims reported their cellphones and wallets were stolen. Through investigation, detectives positively identified Jarrow as the subject who used the victim’s information to make online charges at businesses registered to Jarrow,” the BOLO request stated.

H/T: The Post Millennial

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the “corrected” press release from Shane Jones of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

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​Brandon jarrow, Brandi jarrow, Transgender, Drag queen, New orleans, Doj, Donald trump, Sex, Gender, Politics 

Newly released video shows two young boys engaging New Mexico deputies in an armed standoff.

The boys, ages 7 and 9, both handled a loaded handgun — and one of them even pointed it at Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Feb. 16

‘We know where the children learned the behavior from, and that is being addressed as well.’

The two young boys, seen in the video dressed in “Minecraft” and “Star Wars”-themed pajamas, are standing next to an air-conditioning unit while handling a loaded handgun.

During the nearly seven-minute video, the boys are seen struggling with each other to take control of the gun.

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

A female voice is heard saying in the drone video, “Put it down, baby. Put it down, babe.”

A deputy tells the children, “Just throw it on the ground, bud. Come talk to us. You’re not in trouble.”

After more than five minutes into the standoff, police fired a warning shot — a non-lethal projectile — near the children, and the boy holding the gun immediately pointed it at officers.

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

Deputies scream in unison, “Drop it! Drop it!”

The boy who was not holding the gun put his hand up and hid behind the air-conditioning unit.

Police fired another warning shot.

As both boys took cover between the air conditioning unit and a house, a deputy rushed toward the children and wrestled the gun away from the boy, after which other deputies converged on the scene and took the pair into custody.

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office said in a statement, “Utilizing BCSO’s drone program, deputies were able to monitor the situation in real-time, providing critical updates and enhancing situational awareness. This technology allowed deputies to secure the area swiftly and safely, ultimately preventing a potential deadly force encounter with the juveniles.”

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen stated, “I will tell, if it was not for our drone program, we would have probably went in there a little bit more blind and been into a deadly force confrontation pretty quick, and as you can imagine, it would have not gone well with us killing and shooting a 7- and 9-year-old.”

Police said the drone program has been “instrumental in providing deputies with additional tools to manage diverse and high-risk situations.”

Sheriff Allen said, “This case illustrates the complex intersection of juvenile crime, mental health, and public safety. We are taking important steps to close service gaps and expand our ability to work with juveniles involved in firearms or violent crimes.”

Allen added that his department previously had been called to the home at least 50 times due to issues with the boys and their family, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Allen did note that if the boys were several years older, the department would ‘probably be speaking differently and doing it the reverse route.’

BCSO Behavioral Health Unit Clinical Manager Michael Lucero said members of the unit immediately went to the boys’ home to assist the family with “numerous issues they’re experiencing” and conducted psychiatric evaluations of the children.

Lucero said the unit is working on getting help for the children and the parent who reportedly has an extensive history of trauma.

The family’s case agent, Danielle Smith, told KRQE-TV, “I don’t know how much I’m able to say, so I’m just gonna leave it very vague, but we know where the children learned the behavior from, and that is being addressed as well.”

BCSO Deputy Deanna Aragon said the boys were not arrested, and no charges were filed against the children. She noted that the children have not been removed from the home.

Law enforcement did not divulge where the boys got the gun but said the firearm was seized after the standoff.

Sheriff Allen said the boys “were taught how to use the firearm.”

Police said the case is still under investigation, and the parents could face charges.

“We’re dealing with a 7- and 9-year-old, so now we’re looking at the adult side, how they had the firearm, are they gonna be charged with the Bennie Hargrove law, we’re looking into all of that,” Allen stated.

The Bennie Hargrove law holds adults criminally liable for negligently allowing minors access to firearms.

Allen also pushed back against critics who called for the arrest of the young boys.

“Children are our future, and we know one side is going to say, ‘Lock them in jail.’ They’re 7 and 9 years old. I told you before, numerous times in numerous interviews, that I understand the frontal lobe,” Allen said, referring to children’s incomplete brain development.

Allen added, “Arresting people isn’t the only way out of this crisis of juvenile crime. … You have to look at it from a bunch of different avenues and use the resources you have, and then criminal elements can come later.”

Allen did note that if the boys were several years older, the department would “probably be speaking differently and doing it the reverse route.”

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​Guns, New mexico, New mexico crime, Police bodycam footage, Standoff, Armed standoff, Police bodycam video, Crime, Children, Boys 

Actress Millie Gibson praised the woke narratives of the “Doctor Who” franchise and said fans need to simply ignore the overt LGBT tones and watch the show.

Gibson, whose real name is Amelia Eve Gibson, said in a recent interview that she was not concerned with how woke the show was, despite hordes of backlash and criticism over its extremely sexual and liberal storylines.

Last year, the show pushed rampant progressive politics right from the onset of its reboot, ushering in actor Ncuti Gatwa as their new “queer black” lead. Writer and executive producer Russell T. Davies also expressed that he had looked at other “nonbinary” actors for lead roles.

After The Standard’s Martin Robinson framed the series as a critique of society that fights fascistic thinking, he asked Gibson about fan reactions to the show’s strange direction that has included a drag queen and gay dance scenes.

“I’d just watch the show for what it is,” Gibson said, excusing the content as nonpolitical. “I remember watching an episode where David Tennant goes back — I think it’s with Martha — and they meet Shakespeare. And he’s like, ‘Oh yeah, Shakespeare’s quite hot.’ [This is] literally what Who does.”

Gibson further excused the stories as “the way the world is” and said critics have been “making jabs” anywhere they could over the content.

“The show is so pure and beautiful and is literally about two best friends traveling the universe, so just watch it and get over it somewhat!” the 20-year-old requested.

The young actress then praised the aforementioned drag queen, “Jinkx Monsoon,” and referred to the male entertainer as a woman.

“I’m her biggest fan. I don’t think it’s a problem at all.”

Gibson’s suggestion for fans to remain blissfully unaware of the show’s politics strays from the methods her co-star has implemented to deal with the show’s record-low ratings.

After critics took issue with dialogue from Gatwa’s character like, “I spent a long, hot summer with Harry Houdini,” the actor told the audience not to watch if they were not in support of “queer rights.”

“Don’t watch. Turn off the TV. Go and touch grass, please, for God’s sake,” he told Variety last year. “As the world darkens — and I do think the world is darkening around queer rights — there is a joy and a celebration, and there’s a community,” Gatwa claimed.

Millie Gibson (left) and Ncuti Gatwa (right) have delivered record lows in ratings with extreme progressive storylines in ‘Doctor Who.’ Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images

Executive producer Davies has taken things a step further, however, and admitted in a 2023 interview that he believes it is important for children to learn about transgender themes at a young age.

“Visibility” is important, Davies said, adding that bigotry can be avoided “if you grow up seeing this stuff.”

Davies also claimed that “homophobia and transphobia happens when it’s something you’ve never seen before.”

‘People are having negative reactions to their beloved series forcing cultural and political narratives on them.’

English reporter Lewis Brackpool told Blaze News that there has long been evidence of government collaboration with U.K. television production companies. He said certain institutions have been “pushing forth certain narratives knowing millions will see them on-screen.”

“Topics surrounding public health, climate policy, migration, and extremism have all been pushed,” Brackpool added. “While the consumer has the right to turn the program off, people are having negative reactions to their beloved series forcing cultural and political narratives on them.”

— (@)

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​Doctor who, Bbc, United kingdom, Woke, Progressive, Indoctrination, Lgbt, Entertainment, Drag queen 

If you’ve already spread one massive hoax across a cable news network for years, you’d think you’d think twice about spreading another.

Not Rachel “Russia Collusion” Maddow.

The Corn Pop Chronicles? Shaking hands with the air? Trailing off into gobbledygook? Please, let us know the legacy of which you speak.

The MSNBC superstar joined Stephen Colbert this week to push another Trump-related conspiracy theory. “The Late Show” host and Maddow teamed up to predict President Donald Trump and his minions won’t allow elections in 2026, let alone 2028.

Their proof? They don’t have it. Just wild speculation, a dash of TDS, and corporate overlords who don’t seem to care what their star players shriek. Remember, this is a comedy show at the end of the day.

Either Maddow wants to trash what remains of her credibility, or she’s auditioning for “The View …”

Long ‘Law’

Dum-dummmm!

They say the only constants are death and taxes. Add “Law & Order” TV shows to that short list. The long-running NBC procedural just got greenlit for another season. That’ll make 25 years of the cop drama, going all the way back to 1990. The show took a knee in 2010 but returned in 2021.

Need more? “Law & Order: SVU” also got extended for another year, making it 27 straight years of that crime drama.

Good thing George Soros prosecutors have spread across the fruited plain. A show known for its “ripped from the headlines” plots needs all fodder it can get …

Marvel’s ‘Fantastic’ foul-up

Here we go again.

The MCU’s “Captain America: Brave New World” endured highly publicized reshoots before its February release date. And boy, did it show. Those reshoots also added to the project’s bad buzz prior to its debut, one reason it made far less than the most successful franchise films in the saga.

Now, we’re learning “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is similarly getting the reshoot treatment. This time, the news arrives mere weeks before the film’s July 25 release date.

This comes after three of the “Fantastic Four” cast members made all the wrong kind of buzz for the film. First, co-stars Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman) and Joseph Quinn (the Human Torch) mocked the source material in a viral interview. Did they learn nothing from Rachel Zegler, the princess of foot-in-mouth disease?

Later, Pedro Pascal (Mr. Fantastic) attacked J.K. Rowling for daring to support women playing women’s sports. Pascal also donned a combative “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt to show his support for the trans movement.

We’ve already endured two not-so-successful attempts to bring the Marvel Comics group to the big screen. Three strikes and you’re out, and the cast members are playing like the Colorado Rockies …

Bargatze uses B-word

Nate Bargatze wouldn’t hurt a fly … with his comedy.

The squeaky-clean stand-up made his fortune by telling jokes suitable for all ages. No politics. No R-rated gags. Just wry observations on modern life. And he’s selling out arenas for his trouble.

He still felt compelled to throw some shade at the Mouse House for its corporate tomfoolery. The comic, asked by Esquire magazine about his creative influences, name-checked several stars, including Walt Disney. He meant the company’s founder, not the current iteration.

“Now Disney is run by a guy that’s just a businessman … well, that guy doesn’t care about the audience.”

You kiss your mother with that mouth, Nate?

Biden his time

When you’ve lost Variety …

President Joe Biden continued his, “no, really, I’m fine” tour on “The View” this week. Said tour comes as new books promise to unveil just how cognitively compromised Biden was during his presidency.

Awkward! And even “The View’s” softball-lobbers couldn’t protect Biden from himself. Enter Variety, which bemoaned that Biden’s “View” appearance did little to restore his legacy.

The Corn Pop Chronicles? Shaking hands with the air? Trailing off into gobbledygook? Please, let us know the legacy of which you speak.

While Biden was sharper than he was at, say, the cataclysmic June 2024 debate that led to his dropping out, he did himself no favors by allowing Jill Biden to jump in and finish the answer to a question about his cognitive abilities. As she spoke, Biden cast his gaze downward and allowed his expression to go blank.

It’s enough to make a journalist wonder if Biden is suffering from some sort of cognitive decline. But that’s just the cheap fakes talking, right?

​Christian toto, Hollywood, Rachel maddow, Stephen colbert, Culture, Marvel, Donald trump, Toto recall 

The U.S. and China have temporarily paused their trade war, which has
significantly disrupted global trade and supply chains. The Dow Jones industrial average and the broader S&P 500 index leaped at the news.

President Donald Trump
told reporters Monday morning, “Yesterday, we achieved a total reset with China after productive talks in Geneva.”

“I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” continued Trump. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.”

Governments for the two superpowers noted in a
joint statement Monday that recognizing both “the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship” and the “importance of a sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship,” the U.S. and China will each roll back their tariffs on each other’s goods 115% for a 90-day period.

The White House noted in a release, “This trade deal is a win for the United States, demonstrating President Trump’s unparalleled expertise in securing deals that benefit the American people.”

‘China will realize that the days of ripping off the USA, and other Countries, is no longer sustainable.’

On April 2, Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all U.S. imports and also announced “reciprocal” tariffs targeting countries with the largest U.S. trade deficits. China was a prime target, as it had a record $295.4 billion trade deficit with the U.S. last year — the largest America had with any trading partner.

Trump
issued a 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariffs just days later but made an exception for China, which had by that time imposed retaliatory tariffs against the United States.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately,” Trump
stated on April 9. “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”

‘Many things discussed, much agreed to.’

The tariffs shook up global markets and applied intense pressure on China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
suggested last month that the high tariff rates between the U.S. and China — 145% against China, 125% against the U.S. — had effectively embargoed trade between the world’s two biggest economies.

Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met on Saturday with their Chinese counterparts in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the trade war.

Trump
noted Saturday on Truth Social that the talks were going well.

“Many things discussed, much agreed to,” wrote Trump. “A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner.”

‘Stocks are surging, safe havens are rapidly declining, and expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts have been dramatically scaled back.’

China agreed to suspend the retaliatory tariffs it has imposed on American goods since April 4, but will retain a 10% tariff during the truce. The U.S. agreed that it would suspend the tariffs it imposed on China on April 8 and 9 but will similarly retain a 10% tariff, which the White House noted in a release “continues to set a fair baseline that encourages domestic production, strengthens our supply chains, and ensures that American trade policy supports American workers first, instead of undercutting them.”

The U.S. will also retain tariffs imposed on China before April 2, including the tariffs imposed in response to the fentanyl national emergency — which Trump indicated has prompted meaningful action from Beijing.

When announcing the tariff reductions in Geneva, Bessent said, “The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling,” reported the Associated Press.

“And what had occurred with these very high tariffs … was an embargo, the equivalent of an embargo. And neither side wants that. We do want trade,” added Bessent. “We want more balanced trade.”

Trump noted Monday that the government in Beijing has “agreed to open China, fully open China,” but indicated that “it’s going to take a while to paper that.”

The markets were receptive to the news.

“Stocks are surging, safe havens are rapidly declining, and expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts have been dramatically scaled back,” Kathleen Brooks, research director at the investment group XTB
told the Guardian. “The driver is the suspension of tariffs between China and the U.S. The U.S. has reduced tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, and China has reduced tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%.”

“The U.S. treasury secretary has said that tariffs won’t decline from this level, but he said that the deal brokered this weekend will bring an end to the trade embargo between the world’s two largest economies and is the end of de-escalation,” added Brooks.

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​Tariff, Tariffs, China, Beijing, Reciprocal, Bessent, Donald trump, Trade, Trade deal, Markets, Politics 

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he would be signing an executive order to cut prescription prices “almost immediately, by 30% to 80%.”

The vehicle for these price reductions will be a new “MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY” mandating that the U.S. pays the same price for drugs as whichever country pays the lowest price globally.

Trump has long discussed using an index of international drug prices — in countries such as Canada, Britain, and Japan — to set the price that Medicare would ultimately pay for drugs administered stateside by doctors. The plan, and related legislative initiatives, faced significant opposition by the pharmaceutical industry and its bipartisan allies in Congress.

After signing a slew of executive orders in 2020 aimed at controlling and lowering drug prices, Trump issued an order on Sept. 13, 2020, seeking to establish most favored nation pricing for Medicare drug payments and to ensure that “Americans [do] not bear extra burdens to compensate for the shortfalls that result from the nationalized public healthcare systems of wealthy countries abroad.”

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services subsequently issued an interim final rule implementing the executive order, which multiple pharmaceutical industry trade groups sued to kill.

Not long after courts blocked the most favored nation rule, the Biden administration rescinded it.

Trump evidently figures he has a better shot this time around, even though many of the price reduction plan’s opponents are still in office.

‘We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years.’

“For many years the World has wondered why Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the United States of America were SO MUCH HIGHER IN PRICE THAN THEY WERE IN ANY OTHER NATION, SOMETIMES BEING FIVE TO TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SAME DRUG, MANUFACTURED IN THE EXACT SAME LABORATORY OR PLANT, BY THE SAME COMPANY?” the president wrote on Truth Social. “It was always difficult to explain and very embarrassing because, in fact, there was no correct or rightful answer.”

According to recent analysis conducted by RAND Health Care on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. drug prices for both brands and generics were nearly 2.78 times as high as prices in comparison countries. Even after adjustments for American rebates, U.S. prices for brand drugs were apparently at least 3.22 times as high as in other countries.

“The Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the ‘suckers’ of America, ALONE,” continued Trump. “Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party. We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years.”

‘It jeopardizes the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America.’

Trump noted that while relative costs will come down for American buyers, they will “rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA!”

Big Pharma lobbyists began complaining in advance of Trump signing the executive order, which the president indicated last week would be “one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject.”

“This Foreign First Pricing scheme is a bad deal for American patients. Importing foreign prices will cut billions of dollars from Medicare with no guarantee that it helps patients or improves their access to medicines,” Stephen Ubl, the CEO of the lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said in a statement obtained by The Hill.

“It jeopardizes the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America, making us more reliant on China for innovative medicines,” added Ubl.

Trump has already taken action on the drug pricing front this year, directing his administration in February to increase enforcement of drug price transparency requirements and to promote “universal access to clear and accurate healthcare prices.”

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​Most favored nation, Drug, Drugs, Prescription, Healthcare, Health, Medicine, Big pharma, Pharmaceutical, Donald trump, Politics 

We’ve all done it: You’re driving down the highway, observing the speed limit, but also making adjustments based on traffic, weather, or how late you’re running.

Now imagine your car automatically slowing you down, capping your speed regardless of what you direct. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the next move in the government’s campaign to control more of our lives, with the help of intelligent speed assistance, advanced cruise control, and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems.

The 12,000 annual deaths associated with speeding demand attention, but so does your right to choose how you drive.

With speeding linked to over 12,000 U.S. traffic deaths annually, regulators, automakers, and safety advocates argue that mandating this technology in all vehicles could save lives.

But the technology raises questions about cost, privacy, and how much control drivers should have.

Road fatalities on the rise

Here’s a look at what’s coming, the trade-offs, and what it means for your choices on the road. Based on what was passed in the last infrastructure bill, it’s not looking good.

In 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that speeding contributed to 12,151 traffic deaths — about one in three fatal crashes. While other developed nations’ road fatalities have been going down, U.S. deaths have risen, with some calling it a national outlier.

Speed by itself is not dangerous, but combine that with distracted driving, inconsistent road conditions, and weather, and it can be a contributing factor to a major crash.

Regulators and safety groups are pushing technologies to address this, arguing that universal speed controls could prevent tragedies. However, drivers value the freedom to make their own decisions, and any solution must balance safety with choice.

Wouldn’t it be smarter to find out what other countries are doing to reduce their traffic deaths? The Autobahn in Germany has unlimited speeds. Is it possible that German drivers have better training than just teaching new drivers to pass the test? I think so.

Unwelcome ‘assistance’?

Let’s look at the specific technology.

Intelligent speed assistance uses GPS, digital maps, or cameras to detect speed limits and enforce them. It can warn drivers with beeps, resist accelerator pressure, or cap speed entirely.

A U.K. study associated a 37% drop in traffic deaths with ISA, and New York City’s pilot program reported 99% compliance among equipped vehicles. Europe has required ISA in all new cars since 2022, ranging from advisory alerts to mandatory caps.

In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board is eyeing ISA for all new cars by 2030, but no federal mandate exists yet. However, it is currently is being implemented by some states, including Virginia and New York State.

Some manufacturers are acting independently. Volvo has capped its vehicles at 112 mph since 2020, prioritizing safety over high-speed performance. Systems like Ford’s BlueCruise adjust speeds based on road signs, and similar features are appearing in premium models from GM and BMW.

California considered requiring speed alerts in new cars by 2030, but the proposal was vetoed amid concerns about driver pushback.

Bad communication

Vehicle-to-Infrastructure technology allows cars to communicate with road infrastructure, like traffic signals or school zone sensors, to adjust speeds automatically. Tests in Seattle and Orlando showed 25% less speeding in school zones, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This technology could reduce risks in high-traffic areas but requires significant investment in smart roads.

Adaptive cruise control is evolving to read speed limit signs and adjust speeds dynamically. A 2023 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found drivers using speed-aware ACC were 20% less likely to speed in urban areas. While common in luxury vehicles, this tech is expected to reach mainstream models, influencing driving habits across the board.

Advocates argue that speeding isn’t just a problem for reckless drivers — many exceed limits to keep up with traffic or save time. Safety groups like the National Safety Council compare speed controls to seatbelt mandates, which slashed deaths decades ago. Widespread controls could save 1,700 lives annually, reduce traffic congestion, and lower insurance costs, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Other nations have embraced speed controls with measurable results. Europe’s ISA mandate since 2022 has cut fatalities, with Sweden and the Netherlands reporting double-digit declines. Australia is testing mandatory limiters in government fleets, and Japan’s V2I trials have calmed urban traffic.

Unique challenges

These examples suggest speed controls can work, but the U.S. faces unique challenges, including a culture of independent driving and diverse road systems.

There is also doubt that the technology is ready for prime time. ISA depends on accurate speed limit data, and errors from bad weather or outdated maps can disrupt driving.

Privacy is another concern — systems that monitor speed will share data with insurers and likely law enforcement too, raising premiums and issuing tickets. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety warns that insurers might penalize drivers who override speed controls.

Cost is a significant hurdle too. Retrofitting older cars with ISA could cost hundreds per vehicle, and while new cars would have the cost built in, not all drivers can afford recent models.

V2I requires billions in infrastructure upgrades, a tough sell for budget-strapped cities. Without federal standards, states are experimenting independently — New York runs ISA pilots, while California’s proposed law failed.

A patchwork approach

This patchwork approach creates inconsistency. Some also fear that speed-capped vehicles could frustrate aggressive drivers, potentially increasing road rage or tailgating.

Speed controls can affect every driver, regardless of habits. For those who value flexibility, technologies like ISA or V2I might feel restrictive, limiting the ability to adjust speed to conditions. Low-income drivers could face challenges if retrofitting becomes mandatory or if new cars with speed controls carry higher prices. But safer roads could lower insurance rates and ease traffic, benefiting everyone. The debate hinges on balancing safety with the freedom to drive as you choose.

Public perception is critical. Anecdotes highlight the human cost of speeding, but convincing drivers to accept less control requires clear benefits, and even then, good luck selling the idea to the public.

Federal incentives, such as tax breaks for vehicles with speed controls or funding for smart infrastructure, could encourage adoption. Pilot programs like New York’s ISA trial reduced hard braking by 36%, and Seattle’s V2I tests curbed school zone speeding.

But scaling up demands time and investment. The tech is not ready for the level of adoption regulators are talking about yet.

Other strategies

If universal speed controls raise too many concerns, other strategies could address speeding. Enhanced enforcement, like more speed cameras, could target high-risk areas without vehicle modifications, though it’s less comprehensive — and also a big violation of privacy and freedom.

Speed cameras are already in place in many cities, and they’re completely funded by the federal government. That means you’re paying your taxes to put in these cameras so that you can be fined if you speed.

Public education campaigns, similar to those against drunk driving, might shift attitudes toward speed compliance. Infrastructure improvements, such as clearer signage or traffic-calming designs, could naturally reduce speeding.

We’ve talked about road diets before; they reduce speeds but restrict traffic. These options preserve driver choice but may not match the impact of technology-driven solutions. All road diets actually do is frustrate drivers as they get to a point where they will either not use those roads or will pass across the center median.

A hybrid approach could work: voluntary ISA adoption with incentives, paired with targeted enforcement and better road designs. This balances safety with autonomy, letting drivers opt in while addressing high-risk behaviors. However, any solution must tackle funding, public support, and technical reliability to succeed.

Your right to choose

The 12,000 annual deaths associated with speeding demand attention, but so does your right to choose how you drive. Technologies like ISA, V2I, and advanced cruise control could save lives, but they come with costs, privacy risks, and limits on freedom.

Other countries have reduced fatalities with these tools, but the U.S. must navigate its own path, considering diverse drivers and budgets. Whether you prefer the open road or prioritize safety, these changes will shape your experience behind the wheel.

The push for speed controls is gaining momentum, with proposals like the National Transportation Safety Board’s 2030 ISA target. To stay informed, follow us and share your views with policymakers. What’s the right balance — safer roads or driver choice? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s keep this discussion moving forward.

​Speed limiters, Infrastructure bill, Lifestyle, Highway deaths, Lauren fix, Align cars 

One of the foremost thought leaders in AI and transhumanism is Joe Allen, who now serves as the transhumanism editor for “Bannon’s War Room” — and he warns that transhumanism isn’t exactly a thing of the future, but rather it’s happening right now.

Transhumanism is the merging of humans with machines, and in the present moment, that consists of billions of people obsessively checking their iPhones. That addiction does not bode well for mankind.

While Allen believes “the power is in the transhumanists’ court,” Shanahan, who was deeply embedded in Silicon Valley for a long enough time to really immerse herself in it — believes there is still power in the natural.

“I’ve been surrounded by this world for 15 years now and was always kind of beloved,” Shanahan tells Allen. “Beloved because I was very organic, not augmented in any way. Maybe I used Botox for a few years to try it out, but I stopped all of that.”

“I really love natural human biology. I think it is incredibly beautiful. I think it actually makes an individual beautiful and desirable because there’s something innate in every living being. And I think that this is the piece of the future where there will be mass desire, and this is talked about in ‘Mad Max 2,’ but for fully organic earthly women,” she continues.

“That never goes away, and I’ve seen a preview of that, having lived in Silicon Valley for as long as I have. I’ve seen that preview. I’ve seen these very powerful men seek out the most organic female, a female that almost reminds them of Greek oracles. So, brilliant, connected to God, channeling information, visionary, but also physically pure,” she adds.

She’s noticed that these tech elites “spiral” and become “greedy” in search of these kinds of women, which Allen chimes in to call “crunchy harems.”

An example of this, Shanahan says, is the Burning Man festival.

“Burning Man is a simulation of that world, of that future, of these very powerful elite men going to Burning Man, and all of these young beautiful women going to Burning Man, and creating these miniature harems around these men. I mean, that’s what Burning Man has become, unfortunately,” she tells Allen.

“You’ve been around a lot of these guys,” Allen says. “I know every person’s different, but by and large, is it misguided goodwill at the heart of the tech elite transhuman dream, or is there a touch of malevolence, or is there deep malevolence?”

“A bit of their humanity is possessed by something very anti-human,” Shanahan answers, adding, “They’re so manipulative; they’re trained in humanity.”

While Shanahan admits she doesn’t “understand it all,” she does “see where the humanity is and what is interfering with that humanity.”

“And I don’t know precisely what that thing is. I know Christians have a word for it,” she continues.

“Demon sounds about right to me,” Allen adds.

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​Back to the people, Back to the people with nicole shanahan, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Joe allen, Steve bannon’s war room, Steve bannon, Transhumanism, Silicon valley, Harems, Botox, Organic, Possession, Demonic possession, Tech bros, Technological slavery, Artificial intelligence, Ai 

On Tuesday, April 29, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for mass mobilization against President Donald Trump, marking 100 days of the 47th administration with a clarion call that “these Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.”

And no one listened. Except for maybe the single-looking white woman walking a dog
who spit on acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin during a Newsmax interview Thursday.

The faithful roared and stomped their feet so powerfully you could feel it in the rumbling floor.

Democrats are confronting a terrible reality in 2025: That mass movement of the past nine years that saw masked Democrats attacking old men and young women, vandalizing minivans at Trump rallies, blocking bridges and defunding police departments?
They didn’t lead that movement. Those people led them.

Politicians like to fancy themselves leaders, but virtually all of them are followers. They don’t make the waves — they do the best they can to ride them. That’s the reason so many recently self-styled “moderate” Democrats are stained by the incredible excesses of the eight-year moral panic that dominated and animated their politics. They followed.

The Democratic Party used to have real leaders. Then-Sen. Barack Obama electrified America’s youth with the promise of forgiveness for slavery and segregation. He invited environmentalists and illegal immigrants, university professors and college activists, peaceniks and aging hippies, the working class and liberal technocrats alike to embrace a radical vision for a new America. Propped up by a reporter class that claimed Michelle Obama was the new Jackie Onassis and her husband was the embodiment of cool, he introduced America to “Hamilton” and hosted famous artists at his White House.

Obama failed to live up to an impossible promise and left the country more divided, embittered, and racially charged than it had been for half a century, but he built a movement.

And then he left it. He retreated to mansions on an island off of Cape Cod and in the center of the Pacific, wore floral silk shirts, and partied with Hollywood actors. He worked on a Netflix series we’ve already forgotten. He helped guide the rudderless Biden administration through hard policy calls but was unable to mobilize voters to support any politicians but himself.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was a leader once, too. It’s impossible to forget what he was like on the campaign trail in ’16. That Bernie refused to be bogged down in the Ivy League politics of race and gender: His call was for no war but class war. The capitalists and warmongers were the enemy; chief among them was the former first lady, senator, and secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

When Sanders spoke at a high school gymnasium outside Manchester, New Hampshire, the crowd was more electrified than any I have ever witnessed. As his condemnations of America’s rulers built, the energy built with him. He pointed his finger in the air and, in his distinctive Brooklyn accent, finished the speech naming Clinton guilty in voting for the war in Iraq. The faithful roared and stomped their feet so powerfully you could feel it in the rumbling floor. He built a movement.

And then he left it, too. Four years later, Sanders was a sock puppet of himself, mouthing critical race theory and mumbling about gender ideology. The man who almost took down Hillary was beaten by Joe Biden.

Who does that leave? Pritzker? Mayor Pete Buttigieg? Podcaster Gavin Newsom? That congresswoman who twerks against Trump?

No one.

Democrats need a leader — someone who won’t grovel before activists and who can rise to meet the moment. Despite their constant griping about Republican loyalty to Trump, they’ve failed to produce anyone untainted and willing to lead with conviction.

It’s difficult to not to be reminded of the Children’s Crusade of the 13th century. That expedition to retake Jerusalem was never even able to muster the resources needed to sail south of Europe, and many died. Eight centuries later, we still remember their fervor, their zeal — and their terrible failure.

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​Opinion & analysis, Politics 

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced last month that she would seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Shortly after, Bondi reported receiving death threats.

A recent California ballot initiative seeking to penalize insurers that delay or deny lifesaving care has been introduced as the “Luigi Mangione Access to Healthcare Act.” And last week in San Francisco, the Taylor Street Theater reportedly sold out its upcoming run of “Luigi: The Musical,” described as “a wildly irreverent, razor-sharp comedy” in which Mangione becomes “an accidental folk hero.” The show’s website insists the play is “not a celebration of violence” — only a satire probing why Mangione “struck such a chord with the public.”

Mangione’s story raises broader questions about how justice is defined and how quickly society applauds those who take it into their own hands.

How has a man who allegedly executed a business executive come to be hailed as a hero, packaged as entertainment, and nearly canonized?

On the morning of Dec. 4, Thompson stepped out of his Midtown Manhattan hotel, less than a block from the Museum of Modern Art, en route to a meeting on West 54th Street. Around 6:45 a.m., Mangione allegedly emerged from between two parked cars and allegedly shot Thompson multiple times in the back. Investigators say each round was etched with the words “deny, defend, depose.” Prosecutors say Mangione had tracked Thompson’s routine for weeks, crossed state lines with a silenced pistol, and carried out a carefully calculated assassination.

Social media reacted within minutes. TikTok users anointed Mangione a “Healthcare Hero.” A legal defense fund is approaching $1 million, and online vendors now sell “Saint Luigi” prayer candles. Meanwhile, Thompson’s widow and two children have watched strangers celebrate the man who took their husband and father.

A deeper sickness

The public response reveals a broader frustration with the health care system, where delayed treatments, inflated procedure costs, and unaffordable medications have become disturbingly common. It looks for someone to blame.

But beneath the outrage and helplessness lies something deeper: a longing for rescue. A savior. Someone to step in and make it right. And when no one does, society crowns those who take justice into their own hands. Or inspires others to try.

Many supporters online justified Thompson’s murder. One TikTok user put it bluntly: “Insurance companies have killed thousands by refusing care. Mangione just gave them what they deserve.”

Genuine pain meets cultural drift. Emotions now outrank principles. And spectacle outranks substance. Turning a homicide into a musical is not clever, thoughtful critique — it signals moral exhaustion. Cheering a vigilante says, in effect, “I’ll decide what justice looks like.” And when a society lights prayer candles in honor of an accused murderer, it has confused vengeance for virtue.

True justice, by contrast, is anchored in truth, aims at restoration, and moves through lawful process. The crime bypassed every safeguard — reducing a human being, an image-bearer of God, to collateral damage. Scripture is clear: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

Publicly available evidence doesn’t indicate that Mangione ever filed a lawsuit, sat down with Thompson, or met with anyone from a health insurance company. He never organized a peaceful protest. Instead, he allegedly opened fire — and people cheered.

A different way

History, though, offers a different blueprint for confronting deep injustice — one that Martin Luther King Jr. understood. Writing from a Birmingham, Alabama, jail, King outlined four steps for confronting it: gather facts, negotiate, undergo self-purification, and only then take direct, nonviolent action.

King’s patient, God-honoring approach didn’t just reshape laws — it reshaped hearts. The assassin, by contrast, strategized with rage and gunfire, appointing himself judge and jury. The applause he receives now threatens to silence the very lesson King labored to impart.

Two forces appear to be fueling the public response. First, widespread frustration with systemic failures exposes real suffering in this fallen world. For many Americans, the health care maze of insurers, drug companies, hospitals, and policymakers feels predatory. Second, cultural norms have shifted. Outrage has replaced deliberation, and peaceful restoration is no longer the goal. The value of human life feels negotiable.

Applauding an alleged gunman reveals that self-justified anger, not discernment, is now steering the ship. But vengeance disguised as justice is still evil. Right and wrong don’t bend to hashtags, personal versions of truth, or societal trends. True justice is steady, ordered, and restorative. It requires humility to acknowledge that human beings are not its author.

Micah 6:8 presents a higher standard of justice rooted in mercy and humility: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The verse binds justice to mercy — and both to humility. Mangione’s story raises broader questions about how justice is defined and how quickly society applauds those who take it into their own hands. It also invites a quieter kind of reflection: Where do those same vigilante instincts surface in everyday life — not in violence, but in subtler forms of retaliation, exposure, or punishment that feel justified in the moment?

Maybe it’s blasting a business online for poor service instead of speaking to the owner face-to-face. Perhaps it’s joining a social media pile-on, canceling someone over a single misstep, or cutting someone off in traffic to “teach them a lesson.” Different scale, same instinct: to occupy the judge’s seat and declare justice on personal terms.

These actions may feel justified — even redemptive. In the face of valid grievances, whether rooted in exploitative workplaces or overpriced services, the way they are addressed still matters. When individuals act as their own law, the result is often greater injustice, not less. In such conditions, human flourishing gives way to division, fear, and moral confusion.

Lasting justice, changed hearts

The assassin’s bullets didn’t reform health care or restore human flourishing. They killed a father, traumatized a nation, and tempted a society to pursue a counterfeit justice. They sowed fear, chaos, and the potential for copycats. Proposals such as the Luigi Mangione Access to Healthcare Act may bring change, but it’s born of fear and opportunism, not transformed hearts. It seeks control, proclaiming, “I am the judge.”

Lasting justice doesn’t begin in systems but rather in the moral character of individuals. A just society is built by people who embody justice before they demand it — whose hearts, habits, and relationships reflect a higher moral order. When justice is rooted in truth and shaped by mercy and humility, it becomes self-sustaining. In such a society, the need to seek justice is diminished because it is already present in people’s lives.

God has shown you what is good. And what does he require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. It’s justice with mercy, mercy with humility — humility that recognizes no individual is the hero or the god of the story.

The assassin did not just kill a man. He redefined, for some, what it means to be just. It is the kind of distortion that ought to provoke moral outrage, not because it shocks, but because it substitutes true justice with a dangerous imitation. Resisting it demands more than words; it calls for lives shaped by prayer, grounded in truth, and anchored in humility and mercy.

Brian Thompson is gone. Luigi Mangione still faces trial. What remains is a choice: Buy a ticket to the musical or pursue a justice marked by mercy and truth. One path longs for a savior. The other already knows who the savior is.

​Opinion & analysis, United healthcare, Luigi mangione, California, Health insurance, Pam bondi, Brian thompson, Murder, Assassination, Leftists, Folk hero, Luigi the musical, Manhattan, Depravity, Vengeance, Bible, Martin luther king jr., Nonviolence, Mercy 

It’s official: Protein has entered the culture war.

We would die if we did not eat protein. But apparently the macronutrient is now “right-coded.”

Eating protein is now a political act — a meat-powered microaggression. Of course, this is absurd.

In a
Vanity Fair article on America’s “obsession” with protein — a think piece that reads like a political manifesto from a gender studies seminar — the growing interest in protein-maxing has nothing to do with health or science.

No, it’s the fault of the “manosphere,” podcast bros like Joe Rogan and Dr. Peter Attia, and apparently the ghost of Donald Trump lurking in your protein powder.

Who’s to blame for this “obsession”? MAGA, of course.

Feminism strikes again

Tackling every serious topic from 19th-century meat supplements to Rogan’s tequila-fueled pizza fantasies, the article strings together a bizarre thesis: that American men are obsessed with protein at the expense of women.

The article quotes Harvard Medical School professor Peter Cohen, who asserts that the obsession with protein is about the “manosphere,” “manomania,” and testosterone. The writer, Keziah Weir, even claims that the “intertwinement of masculinity and red meat … is strong and deep-seated,” arguing that red meat consumption is associated with perceptions of masculinity. The obsession, she claims, “affords a masculine-coded cover on the feminine-coded world of body image and dieting.”

Somehow, Weir even connects protein consumption to eating disorders — and the rise of Donald Trump.

“By 2015,” Weir writes, “psychologists were finding that the overconsumption of protein among men could constitute an eating disorder. Was it correlation, coincidence, or some lean-meat canary in the proverbial coal mine that it was into this proteinous landscape that Donald Trump — burger loving, locker room talking, and all — announced his bid for the presidency?”

It’s not bro science

If you waste five minutes of your life reading Weir’s article (like I did), you would conclude that eating protein is now a political act — a meat-powered microaggression.

Of course, this is absurd.

In an act of defiant journalistic malpractice, Weir never seriously considers
why people are “obsessed” with protein-maxing, but the answer is obvious: because they want to be healthy.

Protein is not only essential for life, but we need to eat a lot of it to optimize our health and vitality. Protein is critical for immune function, hormone production, and building and repairing lean body tissue. High protein consumption aids in burning fat and preserving lean muscle mass, which is especially important for older people.

That’s not “bro science” — it’s just science.

The rise of MAHA

Weir, moreover, doesn’t ask or answer a key question: Why are more Americans concerned about their health, as the protein craze suggests?

The United States is, after all, undergoing a renaissance of health consciousness, which the Make America Healthy Again movement underscores. I believe this is happening for two reasons.

First, despite being the wealthiest nation in the existence of creation, Americans are fatter and sicker than ever before, increasing our dependence on Big Pharma and the health care industrial complex. We
spend more on health care than other developed nations, we have the best quality of care of any country, and yet our health outcomes are worse. Second, the failures of the “experts” during the COVID-19 pandemic woke up millions of Americans to the importance of becoming healthy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and not depending on the “experts” to ensure their health.

Protein-maxing, then, is about Americans finally taking their health into their own hands. Good.

In my own life, I entered my 20s
extremely unhealthy. I didn’t exercise and I ate the standard American diet. I was 60-70 pounds overweight and taking medication for high blood pressure at age 22.

But then I took my health into my own hands.

I’m now 29 and not overweight. I maintain a strict training regime that includes resistance and cardiovascular training. I try to eat as much protein as possible: 170-200 grams from high-quality sources every day. I don’t do this because of my political views, but because I know from experience that it’s critical to my health, both in keeping off fat and maintaining the lean muscle mass that I have worked hard to accumulate.

Millions of other Americans could recite this same story about their lives, and it’s telling that Weir doesn’t interact with this perspective or, for that matter, any idea that contradicts her thesis.

What’s really going on

The goal of Vanity Fair’s absurd article is not to promote health. Its real aim is to pathologize men who prioritize their health, listen to podcasts, and — God forbid — lift weights.

But here’s the truth: Eating protein isn’t a political statement, nor is protein the idol of toxic masculinity, nor is it a gateway drug to the “manosphere.” Protein is food, and it helps everyone — men
and women — build stronger, healthier bodies.

Don’t be like Vanity Fair. Eat more protein.

​Vanity fair, Protein, Make america healthy again, Legacy media, Joe rogan, Maha 

The election of a new pope is always a time of excitement, anxiety, and anticipation. People ask a million questions. Is he conservative or liberal? Is he pro- or anti-migrants? What are his opinions on global warming? The Latin Mass? Capitalism? Gay marriage? Women’s ordination?

But the election of Chicago native Pope Leo XIV on Thursday raised a question that has never before been asked about a pope: Which baseball team does he support?

‘Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields.’

The first-ever American pontiff, the man born Robert F. Prevost spent decades of his life in service to the Order of St. Augustine, in addition to his work in Peru and Rome. He was made a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis and was chosen by the College of Cardinals to become the next Holy Father for 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

Leo XIV certainly won’t be the first sports-loving pope; Pope Francis was well known as an Argentine soccer fan. But never before has a baseball fan occupied the throne of St. Peter.

Which raises the question: Cubs or White Sox?

Well, it depends who you ask. ABC News allegedly declared that he’s Cubs fan. Meanwhile, the pope’s brother went on local WGN News to claim Leo for the Sox. WLS-TV claims that he is a fan of both Chicago teams.

Neither of the Windy City rivals seems ready to settle for a tie.

“Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV! Hey Chicago! He’s a Cubs Fan!” the Cubs proclaimed on their official social media.

The White Sox later tweeted, “Well, would you look at that… Congratulations to Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV” and “Hey Chicago, He’s a Sox Fan!”

The Sox later made their case in an official statement:

Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields. Some things are bigger than baseball, but in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican. A pinstripes White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat are already on the way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark.

Fr. Burke Masters, the official chaplain for the Chicago Cubs, celebrated the initial news by asking the pope to celebrate Mass at Wrigley Field and saying, “I’ve had the opportunity to meet him; [what an] incredible human being.” Numerous commentators have even suggested that the Holy Father ought to be invited to throw out the first pitch at a game.

Fellow Chicago native, Cubs fan, and apologist extraordinaire Bishop Robert Barron described Pope Leo as quietly competent, prayerful, and experienced and hopes that the unlikely selection of an American pope will revivify the American church. Unfortunately, he did not mention baseball.

The story also comes amid one of the Chicago Cubs’ best seasons in years. The north-side team currently has the best offense of any team in Major League Baseball, marking the Cubs’ best performance since the season after they won the 2016 World Series. They currently have a 22-16 record and are placed first in the NL Central Division.

Maybe if they’re lucky, a papal blessing could net the Cubs their second World Series win this century! Similarly, one could help the White Sox break their current slump of 10-28.

Given the new pope’s quiet temperament and reputation for unity and being conciliatory, he’ll simply say that he loves all of his sports teams equally as a good father does to all his children (except the Brewers …).

​Chicago, Baseball, Chicago white sox, Chicago cubs, Sports, Lifestyle, Pope leo xiv, Catholicism, Christianity