Category: blaze media

KinderCare Learning Companies is the largest private provider of early childhood education in the country, operating over 2,300 facilities and programs nationwide.

While KinderCare reportedly had the capacity to serve over 200,000 children when the Oregon-headquartered corporation went public in October, its CEO, Paul Thompson, told Yahoo Finance that there was a “lot of opportunity” to serve even more families beyond the 40 states and the District of Columbia where it presently operates.

When speaking with BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey on the Monday episode of “Relatable,” investigative journalist Edwin Dorsey cast doubt on whether families are best served by the growing day care giant, highlighting various complaints about KinderCare across the country, as well as a handful of troubling reports of alleged abuse and/or neglect — including a report of a Wisconsin baby’s alleged exposure to cocaine at a care facility last year and another report concerning a KinderCare worker’s alleged slashing of a toddler with a pizza cutter.

‘Kids were overdosing on drugs brought by the staff.’

Dorsey told Stuckey that he makes liberal use of Freedom of Information Act requests to get copies of the consumer complaints people send to regulators and to state attorneys general offices, and that when it came to KinderCare, he found a “high level of complaints.”

The complaints were primarily about “child safety issues — and not the type of stuff you normally expect where, you know, maybe a kid, like, fights with another kid or somebody has allergies,” said Dorsey. “There is, like, issues where kids were escaping from the KinderCare locations. Kids were getting locked in rooms, you know, with no supervision. Kids were overdosing on drugs brought by the staff.”

Blaze News reached out to KinderCare for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.

The investigative journalist concluded in a report last month that KinderCare, which apparently receives millions of dollars in government subsidies, “is a broken business that harms the children and families it claims to help.”

‘This seems like a pretty simple and basic issue for day care.’

One of the incidents that drove the reporter to that determination took place on May 15, 2024, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

After finding scratches and marks on her 11-month-old son when she picked him up from KinderCare, Kimberly Hopson took him to Children’s Wisconsin, where doctors informed her the baby had cocaine in his system, reported WISN-TV.

Investigators subsequently searched Hopson’s home but found no trace of the illicit substance. When they searched the day care, police indicated drug-sniffing dogs found a bag of cocaine in a worker’s backpack in the infant room.

Passion Watson, the KinderCare worker who owned the backpack, was slapped with a misdemeanor drug possession charge to which she later pleaded guilty.

At the time of Watson’s arrest, an attorney representing the drugged child and his family stated, “I would expect that a day care that has that many locations and that type of brand recognition to have appropriate protocols, standards and policies to ensure against what took place.”

A WTMJ-TV investigation revealed that the KinderCare Oak Creek location had over two dozen violations cited by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, including for staff being aggressive with infants, undocumented injuries, and kids having access to power tools and toxic chemicals. The location has since had its license revoked.

Dorsey referenced a 2021 incident where a motorist found a 3-year-old boy wandering near an off-ramp in Milford, Connecticut. When the passerby notified the staff at the Wellington Road KinderCare where his parents dropped him off, staff reportedly indicated they had no idea the boy was missing.

WTNH-TV noted at the time that two years prior, the same location had been cited for 10 violations during an unannounced visit by state licensing inspectors.

“I know of at least three cases where kids are escaping from KinderCare, and this is, like, way more than any other chain,” Dorsey told Stuckey. “This seems like a pretty simple and basic issue for day care — you gotta make sure that the kids can’t escape, and that’s going on repeatedly in KinderCare.”

‘It’s a complete, you know, abuse of taxpayer funds.’

Another example Dorsey identified was the June 13, 2024, incident that took place at the KinderCare center in Rochester, Minnesota.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Andrianna Newburn was initially charged with third-degree assault and making felony terroristic threats for allegedly going into the day care’s infant room and slashing a co-worker’s baby with a pizza cutter.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services cleared the KinderCare facility earlier this year, concluding that the employee was solely responsible for the incident of maltreatment.

Other incidents referenced in Dorsey’s report include the death of an Ohio infant after a stay at a KinderCare location that had multiple serious violations during inspections; a Florida mother’s February 2022 discovery that KinderCare workers had locked her 2-year-old daughter inside and left for the day; a KinderCare teacher’s alleged beating of a 4-year-old boy at a Dunedin, Florida, KinderCare location; and the threats caught on a hidden recording device allegedly issued by workers at a San Antonio KinderCare location.

Dorsey suggested to Stuckey that across the various examples of abuse and neglect, KinderCare appears to have also dropped the ball on transparency with parents, who learned of their kids’ maltreatment through secondary sources.

Dorsey noted further that KinderCare receives a substantial amount of money in federal funding “through the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which was started in 1990 under George H.W. Bush with the idea being that … having kids in, like, informative day cares is so beneficial to early childhood education and to kids’ development that the government should be subsidizing it.”

“The reality is that it’s kind of, like, the opposite,” continued Dorsey. “It doesn’t seem like it’s beneficial to your development to have 20 kids in a room supervised by someone earning $12 an hour in a corporate environment that just doesn’t care about these kids. So it’s a complete, you know, abuse of taxpayer funds. The government has huge ability to flex on these centers.”

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​Kindercare, Daycare, Abuse, Allie beth stuckey, Edwin dorsey, Politics 

CBS News has just released a report accusing Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, surgeon general nominee, of deliberately misrepresenting the truth regarding her academic career — but Liz Wheeler of “The Liz Wheeler Show” has other concerns about Nesheiwat.

Concerns that she believes should lead to the withdrawal of President Trump’s nomination.

“The most serious reason that senators must vote ‘no,’” Wheeler says, is that “Janette Nesheiwat called the COVID vax a ‘gift from God.’”

“She praised Facebook and other Big Tech companies for censoring what she called ‘anti-vax information,’” Wheeler continues. “And remember what these people, how these people, define ‘anti-vax information.’ Anything that discourages people from following their advice is what they consider to be anti-vax.”

“First of all, vaccines save lives, and I am so excited and I thank and I commend Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg for taking action because this affects everyone. This affects our children, it affects adults. I mean, just look at the recent measles outbreak, the biggest outbreak that we’ve had in decades with measles and that’s no joke,” Nesheiwat said in an interview on Fox Business.

“And that’s no joke,” she continued. “Measles can cause brain inflammation and pneumonia and ear infections and hearing loss and death. So it’s about time that they are taking action, and I hope and pray that other social media platforms will follow suit and do the same thing.”

“As if that’s not bad enough, maybe the most polarizing, maybe, maybe, the COVID vaccine is the most polarizing part of COVID. Maybe it was the lockdowns, maybe it was the social distancing, maybe it was the masking, maybe it was closing your businesses, maybe it was masking your children in school,” Wheeler comments.

“Guess who supported masking children in school? Dr. Janette Nesheiwat,” she continues.

In October 2021, Nesheiwat posted on social media that “masks have saved thousands of lives and prevented thousands of infections.”

“No scientific evidence of this, this is a stupid opinion. Not quite as harmful as masking children in school, but stupid,” Wheeler comments.

“There’s simply no question that President Trump should withdraw the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat from surgeon general, and the senators on the HELP committee in the United States Senate should vote no, should absolutely vote no,” she adds.

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​Camera phone, Video phone, Sharing, Free, Upload, Video, Youtube.com, The liz wheeler show, Liz wheeler, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Dr. janette nesheiwat, Trump, Donald trump, The trump administration, Covid vaccine, Censorship, Anti vax censorship 

President Donald Trump said that a two-month missile attack on the Houthi terrorist group will cease immediately after the group agreed to stop attacking U.S. ships.

The Iran-backed insurgents have been launching attacks on U.S. ships from Yemen for months, but the president said that he reached an agreement to stop the attacks in the Red Sea waterway.

‘They have capitulated. … They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore.’

“They said, ‘Please don’t bomb us anymore, and we’re not going to attack your ships,'” said Trump to reporters on Tuesday.

The Houthis faced a devastating military attack when Israel retaliated for the terror group’s ballistic missile strike against the Jerusalem airport on Sunday. The group has been allied with Hamas against Israel and the U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign.

“They have capitulated, but more importantly … we will take their word,” said Trump at the White House. “They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore.”

Trump told Secretary of State Marco Rubio to contact the Houthis about his decision.

“If it’s going to stop, then we can stop,” said Rubio to reporters.

The Trump administration labeled the Houthis a terror group in March, which had been previously identified as a rebel group under the Biden administration.

Human Rights Watch has criticized the Trump administration for the casualties among civilians in Yemen from the U.S. strikes.

“U.S. airstrikes are appearing to kill and injure civilians in Yemen at an alarming rate over the past month under a Trump administration that has loosened policy constraints on the use of force and is seeking to marginalize Pentagon offices charged with mitigating civilian harm,” said Niku Jafarnia, a researcher at HRW.

The president’s Houthi announcement can be viewed on the news video report from PBS News.

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​Houthi cave to trump, Houthi terror group, Trump vs houthis, Houthis capitulate, Politics 

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have reportedly unleashed chaos in China, with workers protesting over unpaid wages and layoffs.

A Radio Free Asia report claims that workers’ protests are spreading across China, prompted by Trump’s 145% tariff on the nation’s imports. It states that hundreds of employees have taken to the streets to demand back pay and challenge layoffs following the abrupt shutdown of some Chinese factories.

‘Their economy is collapsing.’

Workers from one electronic factory reportedly contend that the company has not paid their wages since the beginning of 2025 and that they have not received social security benefits since June 2023.

Those previously employed at other Chinese factories have reported similar issues regarding abrupt layoffs, as well as unpaid wages and benefits.

Shan Hui, chief China economist at Goldman Sachs, estimated that 16 million jobs are involved in producing goods sold in the U.S.

“Prices will need to fall for domestic and other foreign buyers to help absorb the excess supply left behind by U.S. importers,” Shan stated.

Before Trump’s tariffs took effect, China saw strong economic gains in the first few months of the year.

Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics, stated, “The national economy had a steady and good start, continuing the upward trend.”

“However, we must also see that the current external environment is becoming more complex and severe, and the effective domestic demand growth momentum is insufficient,” Sheng added.

Goldman Sachs predicted that Trump’s tariffs would “significantly weigh” on China’s economy.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) recently praised Trump for his actions against China to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.

Mullin told Fox News this week, “President Trump is the first president that we’ve had that actually has a backbone strong enough to stand up and say we’ve got to right this wrong, start manufacturing goods here.”

“China has got rich off our country,” he continued. “Forty percent of all their goods they manufacture are sold back here in the United States. And they rip us off all the time.”

In an NBC News interview released over the weekend, Trump confirmed his plans to keep the steep tariffs against China in place — for now.

When asked whether he would drop the tariffs, Trump responded, “Why would I do that?”

“Would you lower them?” he was asked.

“At some point, I’m going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them — and they want to do business very much,” Trump said. “Their economy is really doing badly. Their economy is collapsing.”

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​News, Donald trump, Trump, Trump administration, Trump admin, Tariffs, China, Economy, Protests, Trade, Politics 

Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order banning federal funding for gain-of-function research abroad, particularly in countries like China and Iran, deemed to have insufficient research oversight. The order also pauses certain domestic research involving infectious pathogens and toxins until a safer, more transparent policy is developed. It aims to reduce the risk of lab-related incidents, like those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, but doesn’t hinder U.S. innovation in biotechnology.

“This could be one of the most consequential things that Donald Trump will do in his entire presidency,” “Blaze News Tonight” host Jill Savage says.

“This is something that’s just pure justice that needed to be done to save this country from all the crap that we’ve been through in the last few years,” adds Blaze News editor in chief and co-host Matthew Peterson.

He notes that even President Obama, in response to concerns about biosafety risks following lab incidents, paused federal funding for certain gain-of-function research. Fauci, however, “thwarted Obama” and took his research abroad.

“Fauci was able to weasel his way out and continue this dangerous research throughout the world,” Peterson says. “This has to end,” and Trump’s executive order “is a great beginning.”

While it is certainly a good start, Jill points out the obvious next step: “We need people in Congress to step up to the plate.”

“In order to implement the mandate, you need Congress,” Peterson agrees, adding that sadly, “there isn’t a sense of urgency with a lot of these people.”

“Congress isn’t used to getting the job done,” he says. They like to “wait out the executive” and “slow roll things.”

That’s why it’s “vital that everyone out there start calling them and putting pressure on your congressmen.”

To hear more of the conversation, watch the episode above.

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​Blaze news tonight, Blaze media, Blazetv, Donald trump, Anthony fauci, Gain of function research, Wuhan, Covid lab leak, Covid-19 

A 22-year-old North Carolina woman was murdered in a tragic home invasion, according to police — and her shattered father honored his slain daughter with a heartbreaking tribute.

Logan Federico — a 22-year-old from Waxhaw — recently visited friends in Columbia, South Carolina.

‘You might be able to kill my body … but you cannot kill my love that my family and friends shared with me.’

On Saturday, Federico was found dead inside the house.

The young woman’s cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.

During a Monday press conference, officers with the Columbia Police Department said Federico was “randomly murdered by a career criminal” who was “on a spree of thefts, break-ins, and credit card fraud.”

Police named the suspect in Logan’s death as 30-year-old Alexander Dickey.

Investigators believe Dickey broke into a house near the property where Federico was staying. The suspect allegedly stole several items from the house, including a firearm, credit cards, and keys to a vehicle.

Dickey then committed a home invasion where Federico was staying around 3 a.m. Saturday, police said, after which the suspect reportedly fled the crime scene in the stolen vehicle.

Dickey made several purchases with the stolen credit cards across Lexington County before the vehicle he allegedly stole broke down, according to People magazine.

Law enforcement tracked down Dickey at a house in Lexington County, and the suspect allegedly set the home on fire.

Police officers reportedly extracted Dickey through a window and took him into custody.

Citing the Columbia Police Department, ABC News reported that Dickey was charged with murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, weapons possession, and larceny.

The Lexington County sheriff added that Dickey also was charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree arson.

Dickey reportedly was denied bail.

The Columbia Police Department said in a statement, “While Logan was visiting friends in Columbia, her life was senselessly taken. Our deepest condolences go out to the Federico family and all who knew and loved her. No words can ease the pain of their loss, but we stand with them in support and sorrow.”

The statement continued, “We remain committed to pursuing justice and supporting Logan’s family every step of the way.”

Logan’s father — Stephen Federico — made a touching tribute to his slain daughter during a press conference.

“I am Logan Haley Federico’s father, better known as ‘Dad,’ or her hero,” the distraught dad said. “Unfortunately, that day, I could not be her hero.”

He continued, “My daughter, I cherished. She was a strong, fun-loving individual who did what she wanted to do and was spicy.”

The father added, “My daughter was working hard at school, working two jobs to become a teacher. She loved and adored kids, children of all ages.”

Logan’s father delivered a powerful message to his daughter’s alleged killer.

“The message I want to send to Dickey, who took my daughter’s life — this is from her: ‘You can’t kill my spirit. You might be able to kill my body … but you cannot kill my love that my family and friends shared with me,'” Federico declared before breaking down in tears.

You can watch the father’s painful tribute to his slain daughter here.

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​South carolina, South carolina crime, True crime, True crime news, Murder, Home invasion, Crime 

Antifa and anti-Israel protesters temporarily took over a building on the University of Washington’s campus Monday afternoon and later apparently set small fires to express opposition to the college’s partnership with Boeing.

“The University of Washington is a direct partner in the genocide of the Palestinian people through its allegiance to its partnership with Boeing. RALLY NOW outside of the [Interdisciplinary Engineering Building] to take action with these students, alongside the people of Palestine and their brave resistance. Wear a mask, and cover identifiable features,” Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return UW said on Instagram.

‘The fire went on for 45 minutes before anything was done.’

Cam Higby with Today Is America was reporting on scene during the takeover and filmed a crowd dressed in black bloc blocking private security from getting close to the engineering building. The initial set of Seattle police officers was similarly pushed back by the mob.

— (@)

— (@)

“They took over the engineering building, blocked buses and fire trucks in the street, lit fires, and gathered rocks to throw at the police. They threw several Lime scooters and bikes into fire, and the lithium batteries exploded intermittently. The fire went on for 45 minutes before anything was done,” Higby told Blaze Media.

The fire that was set in the middle of the road grew so big that it came dangerously close to campus buildings.

— (@)

Additional officers from Seattle and state police then arrived and set up a perimeter to keep the crowd away as law enforcement moved into the building to arrest the occupiers who were still inside.

“Death to the police!” one masked man shouted at officers.

— (@)

A UW spokesman told ABC News that around 30 people were arrested for trespassing, property destruction, and disorderly conduct. Some of the arrestees were charged with conspiracy to commit all three of those charges and will be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

SUPER UW said on Tuesday that a few of those arrested were already being released from custody.

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​Politics 

A 20-year-old woman said a male athlete playing against women in rugby pulled her leg out of its socket with strength a woman would never possess.

Elena King plays in the top women’s rugby league in the Netherlands, the Dutch premiership, and recently suffered a devastating injury involving two severed ligaments. King said the injury will likely cause lifelong knee pain, after a man with strength she had not seen from a woman in her sport caused the injury.

“I felt the strength being used against me: It’s nothing that I can explain because I don’t have that strength myself,” she said in an interview with the Times. “A cis woman could not have pulled my leg out of its socket … I heard a really loud pop. That’s when I started screaming. My leg was on fire.”

King spoke out, confused as to why a male is allowed in a women’s professional league, and said she did not want other women to face such painful injuries.

“I do not want it to ever happen to anyone again because I don’t want it to happen to me. It could have been prevented,” she claimed.

In 2020, World Rugby instituted a rule that banned men from playing women’s rugby unless they “transitioned pre-puberty and have not experienced the biological effects of testosterone during puberty and adolescence.”

The governing body has made several statements on the increased risk of injury with males playing in women’s rugby and concluded through their own analysis that there is a 20-30% increase in head and neck strength in male players and 50-100% more upper body strength in men than women.

‘We have women’s spaces for a reason.’

Following the injury, the unnamed male player was suspended indefinitely and forced to participate in a training program.

“A playing ban was imposed to allow the situation to be further investigated in consultation with the parties involved,” said Simone de Bruin, a board member for high performance at Rugby Nederland.

She continued, “Then a development plan focusing on game training was agreed for the player in question. After completing this mandatory training and lifting of the ban, the player will be monitored.”

The governing official then stated that “inclusion, fairness, and player safety are extremely important principles” in rugby due to the higher risk of injury in the sport. The official did not appear to make mention of the increased risk of male athletes injuring women but said the organization will issue advice on transgender policy sometime this year.

The injured King said she believes women are intimidated and are afraid to speak out because they will be labeled as bigoted toward men who believe they are women.

“I think it’s got to do with — a friend of mine calls it — transphobia phobia. Not wanting to be seen as a transphobe, so then not saying anything because, you know, inclusion is important. That’s also not what I’m on about. It’s to do with safety,” the athlete said.

She added, “Women want the best for everyone. We want everyone to feel included, so of course people are like, ‘Why not?’ But then you actually see the reasons why it’s not possible. We have women’s spaces for a reason.”

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​Fearless, Women’s sports, Transgenderism, Rugby, Woke, Sports 

A systematic review published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics concluded with moderate confidence on the basis of 51 studies with over 21.1 million participants that cannabis use during pregnancy can result in early births, low birth weights, and unusually small babies. The review also indicated significantly increased odds of miscarriages.

The study’s authors, all but one of whom are based out of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, noted at the outset that the self-reported use of medical and nonmedical marijuana among pregnant women in the U.S. has more than doubled over the past two decades and continues to increase, despite warnings from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology.

According to the ACOG’s Committee on Obstetric Practice, “self-reported prevalence of marijuana use during pregnancy ranges from 2% to 5% in most studies but increases to 15–28% among young, urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged women.”

The OHSU researchers behind the new study noted further that marijuana is now reportedly the most commonly used federally illicit drug in pregnancy.

“This is cause for concern,” wrote the researchers, because the main psychoactive component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, can cross the placenta and bind to endocannabinoid receptors on preborn babies’ major organs.

The existing scientific literature already associates maternal marijuana use with numerous dire consequences, including stillbirth and fetal growth restriction as well as impaired cognition, decreased attention span, behavioral problems, and compromised visual-motor coordination in prenatally exposed children.

The researchers noted, however, that “clinicians are not consistently counseling patients regarding prenatal cannabis use, partly because of the limited and mixed available evidence.”

‘Ideally, it’s best not to be exposed to THC.’

“Patients are coming to me in their prenatal visits saying, ‘I quit smoking and drinking, but is it safe to still use cannabis?'” said lead author Jamie Lo, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine. “Until direct harms have been proven, they perceive it to be safe to use.”

“As the prevalence of prenatal cannabis use is rising, there is an urgent need for evidence-driven recommendations on the safety of use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding,” Lo said in March.

Keen to furnish clinicians with a better understanding of the associated risks so that they can confidently counsel mothers regarding prenatal cannabis use, the researchers analyzed 51 observational studies including eight new studies, and raised the certainty of evidence for various potential adverse effects.

The researchers found that prenatal cannabis was linked to a 52% higher risk of premature birth and a 75% higher risk of low birth weight. They also found a 29% higher risk of infant death associated with the use of cannabis during pregnancy.

OHSU researchers revealed in another study recently published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology that a mother’s use of cannabis while pregnant could adversely impact her baby’s lung development and function, potentially resulting in asthma and other chronic respiratory health conditions.

In addition to jeopardizing the health of babies, marijuana has also been linked to various medical problems in adults, including cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cannabis use can lead to increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and other vascular diseases; can harm lung tissues and cause scarring and damage to small blood vessels; and has been linked to depression, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses.

Lo told CNN, “Ideally, it’s best not to be exposed to THC, which is the psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, no matter what form you’re using.”

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​Science, Health, Marijuana, Cancer, Mental illness, Thc, Weed, Cannabis, Babies, Miscarriage, Mothers, Prenatal, Womb, Pregnancy, Politics 

Venezuela’s regime has been enabling Tren de Aragua’s U.S. border invasion and criminal activity, according to a National Intelligence Council memo released Monday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The memo explained that when the Venezuelan government booted TDA from the Tocoran Prison in 2023, some of the gang’s leaders were allowed to escape because they were “possibly assisted by low-level Venezuelan military and political leaders.”

‘FBI analysts … assess some Venezuelan government officials facilitate TDA members’ migration from Venezuela to the United States and use members as proxies in … the United States to advance what they see as the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing governments and undermining public safety …’

According to Department of Homeland Security findings, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro may have removed them from the prison “to undercut regional press” that alleged his ties to TDA.

However, the NIC’s memo stopped short of confirming President Donald Trump’s allegations that Maduro directs TDA’s activities. Trump has argued that his regime intentionally allowed TDA to invade the U.S. in an effort to destabilize the country.

While the memo disputed such claims, it admitted that some regime officials “may cooperate with TDA for financial gain,” stating that such instances are “ad hoc” and not an organized effort. Still, the findings supported claims that Maduro’s leadership has enabled TDA and other criminal groups to operate.

According to the memo, Maduro’s regime “generally does not impede” illegal groups, adding that Venezuela’s “permissive environment enables TDA to operate.”

“Some mid- to low-level Venezuelan officials probably profit from TDA’s illicit activities,” the memo added. However, the Venezuelan government “probably does not have a policy of cooperating with TDA and is not directing TDA movement to and operations in the United States.”

“Some regime officials are probably willing to capitalize on migration flows for personal financial or other benefits, even though the Maduro regime probably is not systematically directing Venezuelan outflows, such as to sow chaos in receiving countries,” it said.

Maduro’s “illegitimate and autocratic grip on power” has enabled “widespread corruption and for regime officials to benefit from a variety of illicit activities,” the memo continued.

The intelligence community argued that Maduro is probably not directing TDA because it would require “extensive” coordination.

“While FBI analysts agree with the above assessment, they assess some Venezuelan government officials facilitate TDA members’ migration from Venezuela to the United States and use members as proxies in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and the United States to advance what they see as the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing governments and undermining public safety in these countries, based on DHS and FBI reporting as of February 2024,” it read.

The migration of Venezuelan nationals was attributed to “a variety of push and pull factors including socioeconomic conditions, family ties to the United States, and migrants’ perceptions of U.S. and regional enforcement.”

The NIC findings noted that Maduro’s inaction toward TDA’s criminal activity has benefited his regime, allowing him to “retain power” while dissidents flee Venezuela.

An estimated 7.8 million Venezuelans have fled since 2024.

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​News, Tren de aragua, Tda, Nicolas maduro, Maduro, Donald trump, Trump, Trump administration, Trump admin, Border, Illegal immigration, Illegal immigration crisis, Immigration, Immigration crisis, Venezuela, Politics 

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary victory for the Trump administration on Tuesday on the president’s policy of banning transgender members of the military.

The court found that a lower court was likely wrong in its finding against the Trump administration and blocking the ban on transgender members. The one-page order from SCOTUS said that the three liberal justices dissented against the majority.

The lawsuit claimed that the ban violated the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection of the law for all persons.

Neither the majority nor the dissent provided their reasoning for their opinions.

The ruling is not a final opinion on the issue but allows the administration to implement the ban as litigation continues.

The president had issued a ban on transgender members of the military in his previous term as well, but former President Joe Biden had rescinded that order when he won office. The ban depends on a report from the Pentagon that found transgender members were a threat to “military effectiveness and lethality.”

The seven plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the ban include current members of the military as well as aspiring members who identify as transgender.

Lambda Legal and Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which represent the plaintiffs, issued a joint statement decrying the ruling.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a devastating blow to transgender service members who have demonstrated their capabilities and commitment to our nation’s defense,” the statement read.

They added that the lawsuit “has nothing to do with military readiness and everything to do with prejudice.”

The lawsuit claimed that the ban violated the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection of the law for all persons.

Attorneys also accused the administration of claiming transgender people do not exist.

“An unprecedented degree of animus towards transgender people animates and permeates the ban: it is based on the shocking proposition that transgender people do not exist,” lawyers wrote.

The ban has also been blocked by a judge in Washington, D.C., but that has been appealed and is being considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

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​Supreme court trans ban, Transgender military ban, Trump ban on transgender, Transgender in the military, Politics 

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) suggested that instead of providing $1,000 to illegal aliens who decide to self-deport through the CBP Home app, they can pay a fine and be given work visas while their cases are handled in immigration courts.

Gallego said there would be background checks and that the work visas would be renewable with good behavior.

‘If we have to go through the process of formally deporting you, there are mandatory bars against you for up to 20 years — sometimes forever.’

— (@)

When faced with criticism of his idea, Gallego insisted this would not be a pathway to citizenship because work visas do not mean someone is able to become a citizen.

Gallego made the offer in response to the Department of Homeland Security announcing the new stipend on Monday. The DHS says the incentive to have illegal aliens leave before being arrested by agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will save taxpayers money in the long run because “the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121.”

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home app,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is the safest option for our law enforcement [and] aliens and is a 70% savings for U.S. taxpayers. Download the CBP Home app TODAY and self-deport.”

The DHS reported that a Honduran national who went back to the Central American country from Chicago was one of the first people to take advantage of the program, and plane tickets for other interested illegal immigrants have already been booked for this week and next week.

Border czar Tom Homan said illegal immigrants should self-deport because doing so gives them a chance to come back to the United States legally. However, he warned that “if we have to go through the process of formally deporting you, there are mandatory bars against you for up to 20 years — sometimes forever.”

It remains to be seen whether the new monetary incentive will boost the number of illegal aliens using CBP Home app to leave the United States, as only a few thousand people have registered their intent to leave since the redesign of the app was rolled out in March.

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​Politics 

Leftist leaders in Boise are considering an extreme measure to circumvent a new Idaho law and keep a sex- and race-themed flag flying at city hall.

On Tuesday evening, the Boise City Council will consider a measure that would make the Progress Pride flag — emblazoned with colors paying homage to non-heterosexual identities and non-white racial groups — as well as the Donate Life flag official city flags.

The measure comes in response to H.B. 96, a new state law that severely restricts the flags local governments can fly. Should the city declare the Pride and organ-donation flags to be “official” city flags, flying them would no longer run afoul of H.B. 96.

McLean basically admitted … she can continue to fly the flag without serious consequence since ‘the legislature knowingly failed to include any civil or criminal penalties’ in H.B. 96.

Thus far, Mayor Lauren McLean has had no compunction about flying the flags despite the new Idaho law and a warning from Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador (R). On Easter Sunday, she and an assistant even went so far as to tear down an Appeal to Heaven flag and toss it aside like trash in their efforts to restore the Pride flag on the flagpole outside city hall, as Blaze News previously reported.

In fact, McLean basically admitted in a letter to Labrador that she can continue to fly the flag without serious consequence since “the legislature knowingly failed to include any civil or criminal penalties” in H.B. 96. She also made herself out to be the victim of a supposedly dangerous pressure campaign simply because Labrador encouraged people to voice their opposition to McLean’s legally dubious stunts regarding the LGBTQ+ flag.

“As leaders, our actions — and our words — matter. They have weight for our constituents. Praising outrage and encouraging people to come directly to me is taken by some … as encouragement — even approval — of actions that put city employees, City Council members, and even me and my family at risk,” she scolded in true schoolmarm fashion.

However, if the city council vote goes her way, McLean won’t have to worry about pulling anymore such stunts. At least one council member seems inclined to make the gay flag an official representative of the city of Boise.

“The flags the city flies are an expression of our values and responsibilities, which include a commitment to equality, inclusion, and civic pride,” said a statement from Council President Colin Nash. “This is our lawful expression of our dedication to ensuring all members of our community feel seen, respected, and welcome.”

McLean’s office also indicated that local attorneys have volunteered to represent Boise pro bono in the event “any legal action is taken” about the Pride and Donate Life flags.

The meeting to vote on the measure will begin on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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​Lauren mclean, Boise, Pride, Progressive pride, Donate life, Hb 96, Raul labrador, Politics 

Dr. Umar Johnson — a black activist, psychologist, and motivational speaker widely known as the “Prince of Pan-Africanism” — has weighed in on the “Karmelo Anthony grift.”

On a recent episode of “The Art of Dialogue,” Johnson painted Anthony as the sole victim. Jason Whitlock plays the clip.

“Hunter is a 225-pound football player. Hunter is nearly 60 to 70 pounds heavier than Karmelo by himself, but he was not by himself. Hunter was with his brother Austin. Austin is around Hunter’s size as well,” Johnson said.

He argued that as a “160-pound black boy” facing “two white boys in racist Texas, both of whom are 60 to 70 pounds heavier,” with intentions to “accost [him] physically,” Karmelo had every right to defend himself.

“I have received text messages from eyewitnesses, and you know what they told me? They said both brothers tried to jump Karmelo. In the state of Texas, you have the right to stand your ground,” Johnson snapped. “If you feel that your life or safety is in imminent danger, you have a right to defend yourself to include using deadly force.”

As for the knife Anthony was allegedly carrying at a school-sponsored event, Johnson justified it by saying, “He’s a black man in Texas. Why wouldn’t he have a knife?”

From the get-go, Jason’s take on the Karmelo Anthony/Austin Metcalf incident has been that “this is cold-blooded murder … a simple case of someone overreacting to a verbal conflict.” However, watching the fallout as groups rally to support both boys has led him to believe that the incident is being used as a “stick of dynamite … to spark violent racial conflict.”

“Umar Johnson is part of lighting the fuse,” he says. “Maybe his inside information is right. … I don’t believe that’s the actual narrative.”

Granted “we live in a cell phone society,” there’s a good possibility that a video recording will soon reveal the truth.

“Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network said that he was told there’s video evidence of what transpired,” says Jason.

“At some point, they’re going to release the video of what happened to Austin Metcalf. … When that video is released, it’s going to be so one-sided and look so bad for Karmelo Anthony and the people that supported Karmelo Anthony,” he predicts, adding that its aim is to be “as triggering as the George Floyd video was in 2020.”

“I believe this video is intended to trigger white people and to so repulse them that they just say, ‘Man, all these black people that supported Karmelo Anthony, this media that wouldn’t tell us the truth … this media that has imposed this racist double standard — this is the line in the sand.”’

“What we just heard from Dr. Umar Johnson was just another piece to the puzzle of stirring this Karmelo Anthony/Austin Metcalf pot to a point that it bubbles over and explodes and there’s some sort of racial conflict that happens in the Dallas and the Frisco, Texas, area,” Jason hypothesizes. “They’re hoping that it spreads and that it so hardens the hearts of white America that the entire desire to achieve any type of racial harmony in America disappears.”

To hear Whitlock’s take on the dark, racially divided future the radical left is conspiring to facilitate, watch the episode above.

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​Fearless, Fearless with jason whitlock, Jason whitlock, Blazetv, Blaze media, Karmelo anthony, Austin metcalf, Umar johnson, Race war 

The woke public school district in Loudoun County, Virginia, has for years been a key battleground in the war over gender ideology, the primary victims of which have been children. For instance, a skirt-wearing male who identified as “non-binary” took advantage of Loudoun County Public Schools’ ideological capture in 2021, entered the girls’ restroom, and
raped a 15-year-old female student.

While
students and parents have spoken out against the invasion of female spaces by opportunistic boys, gender-bending incursions in the district are not unidirectional.

A female transvestite has reportedly been using the boys’ locker room at Stone Bridge High. Following a gym class in March, she allegedly videotaped three boys in the locker room who were discussing their discomfort over her presence.

In a bizarre twist, LCPS has launched a Title IX investigation into the boys for supposed sexual harassment,
reported WJLA-TV.

‘They’re expressing their opinions, and now they’re being targeted for expressing those opinions.’

“We’re concerned,” a father of one of the boys under investigation for supposed sexual harassment told WJLA. “He was questioning why there was a female in the males’ locker room.”

“And other boys were uncomfortable [with a female in the boys’ locker room],” continued the father. “There were other boys asking the same question. They [LCPS] created a very uncomfortable situation. They’re young; they’re 15 years old. They’re expressing their opinions, and now they’re being targeted for expressing those opinions.”

According to the father, the boys weren’t directly interacting with the female student but were rather “having a conversation with their peer group.”

“I don’t think my son should be punished for expressing his First Amendment right and being able to ask questions,” said the father. “If you were to get a sexual harassment charge on your record, even at a young age, I’m sure that’s going to follow you around.”

The father also questioned why the transvestic student isn’t facing serious consequences for allegedly filming minors in a locker room, especially when
LCPS policy explicitly prohibits photography, audio, or video recording in bathrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, and clinics.

“I have a daughter that’s in high school as well, and if there was a male in there videotaping her in the locker room, I would have issues,” the father told WJLA. “If it’s my son and there’s a female in the locker room videotaping, I have issues. Even if it was somebody of the same sex, I believe that this is an invasion of their privacy.”

The father wants the woke district to drop its Title IX complaint against the boys and suggested it should also axe “Policy 8040: Rights of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students,” which the Loudoun County School Board approved on Aug. 11, 2021.

‘Their policies run afoul of President Trump’s January 29, 2025, executive order.’

“I think the policy itself creates an unsafe environment for all kids at all levels, from the elementary schools and middle school to the high school,” said the father. “I think it creates an unsafe and unclear message for them. I think by not having clear policies in line with the presidential mandates that it has actually created these hostile environments and environments that these young boys and young girls do not feel comfortable in.”

The district’s
policy not only requires schools to allow “gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns that reflect their consistently asserted gender identity without any substantiating evidence,” but to also allow students to “use the facility that corresponds to their consistently asserted gender identity.”

LCPS may not ultimately have a choice in whether it drops the policy.

On Feb. 3, America First Legal submitted a
Title IX complaint to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights alleging that the “transgender” policies embraced by LCPS and other districts in Virginia “provide greater rights to students whose ‘gender identity’ does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose ‘gender identity’ matches their biological sex.'”

Ian Prior, senior adviser at AFL, added, “The policies of the five Northern Virginia public school systems have eliminated the protections that Title IX requires of K-12 institutions that accept federal funding, and their policies run afoul of President Trump’s January 29, 2025, executive order.”

The OCR
responded a week later, indicating it would investigate the schools for possible Title IX violations.

This is not the only fight with the federal government the district has on its hands.

Loudoun County Superintendent Aaron Spence
notified the Trump administration last month that LCPS would not submit a certification affirming that the district follows federal anti-discrimination law and regulations prohibiting discrimination based on race.

WJLA indicated that neither Spence nor any of the school board members have responded to its requests for comment regarding the investigation into the boys’ apparent discomfort over the transvestite in their locker room.

‘So open-minded their brain falls out.’

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R)
said in response to the woke district’s investigation, “This is exactly why these schools should be adopting Governor Youngkin’s model policies.”

In July 2023, the Virginia Department of Education released its final
Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools, which not only emphasize parents’ rights “to make decisions with respect to their children,” but require schools to use students’ real names; refer to students with the pronouns in accordance with the sex indicated on their official record unless given a formal written request by parents; and require that students use sex-segregated school facilities that correspond with their biological sex.

“What you reported I find to be outrageous — that these young boys presumably felt uncomfortable,” Miyares told WJLA. “They’re 15 years old. We all were teenagers at one point. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have a member of the opposite sex in the locker room where people were obviously changing clothes and then later, on top of that, recording it.”

“Even though they’re the victims in this, somehow, they’re being treated as perpetrators. I think this is an example, yet again, [of] a school district that tries to be so open-minded their brain falls out,” added the state AG, borrowing a quote from the English author G.K. Chesterton.

“If this was 20 years ago, nobody in their right mind would think this was a smart policy. Yet here we are today,” added Miyares.

The Virginia AG hinted there was little that either his or Governor Glenn Youngkin’s offices presently could do about the matter — especially given the Virginia Human Rights Act’s carve-out for educational institutions — and stressed that the Trump administration’s investigation will be “critically important.”

Miyares noted further that the
new Loudoun County School Board should take a vote on Policy 8040 so that parents know where members stand when it comes to letting transvestites slip into the opposite sex’s locker rooms and bathrooms.

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​Loudon county, Loudon county public schools, Policy 8040, Leftism, Transgender, Trans, Transvestite, Bizarre, Miyares, Youngkin, Schools, Education, Bathrooms, Title ix, Aaron spence, Politics 

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said he will not be supporting Ed Martin, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., which could lead to some unintended consequences.

After meeting with Martin Monday night, Tillis told reporters that he opposed Martin’s nomination due to “concerns related to January 6.” Notably, Martin was a defense attorney for January 6 protesters and has long advocated for those who he says were wrongly prosecuted in the aftermath of the riot for political purposes.

With Tillis acting as a roadblock to Trump’s agenda, it’s possible that Boasberg will be able to tilt the scales in his favor.

“I met with Mr. Martin; he seems like a good man,” Tillis said. “Most of my concerns related to January 6, and he built a compelling case on some of the 15 or 12 prosecutions that were probably ‘heat of the moment’ bad decisions. But where we probably have a difference is I think anybody that breached the perimeter should have been in prison for some period of time. Whether it’s 30 days or three years is debatable, but I have no tolerance for anybody who entered the building on January 6.”

“If Mr. Martin were being put forth as a U.S. attorney for any district except the district where January 6 happened, the protest happened, I’d probably support him,” Tillis added. “But not in this district.”

Martin has been serving as interim U.S. attorney for the district since Trump’s inauguration, but his interim term is set to expire on May 19. If the Senate fails to confirm Martin before then, his replacement will be chosen by activist judge and MAGA combatant Judge James Boasberg.

Boasberg has been a thorn in Trump’s side for several weeks now, primarily for issuing rulings that have halted and disrupted the administration’s efforts to carry out mass deportations.

With Tillis acting as a roadblock to Trump’s agenda, it’s possible that Boasberg will be able to tilt the scales in his favor.

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​Thom tillis, Donald trump, Ed martin, James boasberg, Us attorney, January 6, January 6 prisoners, January 6 pardons, Senate, Senate confirmation, Trump nominee, Senate republicans, Activist judges, Politics 

For the first time in five years, federal student loan repayments resumed on May 5 — and the media is calling it “tragic” for borrowers.

“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. “The Biden administration misled borrowers: The executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear.”

McMahon also noted that “hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers” and “for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook,” borrowers will now be forced to return to paying their student loans.

“We all know that this justification for a student loan pause is a drawn out relic that should not be around anymore. The problem is, when you’re trying to win a presidential election, it’s really difficult to say to people, ‘Hey, we’re going to start turning on your payments again.’ Joe Biden didn’t want to say that, so he didn’t say it,” Stu Burguiere of “Stu Does America” says.

“Now, the media treatment of this, of course, has been exactly what you’d expect. It has been the typical situation where they try to scare everyone and say that Donald Trump is mean,” he continues.

On ABC News’ the “Start Here Podcast,” Brad Mielke made the case against student loan borrowers repaying their loans.

“It’s important to note that student loan borrowers who couldn’t pay their debts typically don’t pay them not because they don’t want to, but it’s because they simply can’t. So this has been a hardship on them over the last five years, and now for the first, they’re going to have to repay the government in which the Department of Education says they willingly took these loans,” Mielke said on the podcast.

“I love the spin here,” Stu says. “They entered into loans that they agreed to go into, number one. Number two, they received the money and utilized that to get a college education.”

“It’s not a hardship when everyone’s telling you you don’t have to pay,” he adds.

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​Video phone, Upload, Camera phone, Sharing, Free, Video, Youtube.com, Stu does america, Stu burgiere, Student loans, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, President donald trump, President joe biden, Student loan pause, Student debt forgiveness 

President Donald Trump said sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith would be one of the better candidates the Democrats could run if he were to enter the primaries.

Trump called in to a live town hall show on NewsNation hosted by former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who was joined by legendary host Bill O’Reilly as well as Smith.

During the segment, the president was asked about dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, funding historically black colleges and universities, trade deals, and more. After Smith finished asking the president about HBCUs, O’Reilly decided to sneak in a question about Trump’s thoughts on Smith as a presidential candidate.

“Stephen A. Smith may run for president, as you know,” O’Reilly said, as the panel groaned. “Do you have any advice for Stephen A., you know, if he launches the run?”

“No. Stephen A., he’s a good guy,” Trump replied.

Rather than give the broadcaster advice, the president decided to praise Smith as a captivating entertainer.

“He’s a smart guy. I love watching him. He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him,” Trump continued.

Perhaps handing him the biggest compliment of all, in Trump-esque fashion, the president said Smith was likely the Democrats’ best chance because their other candidates are so poor.

“You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say they have no chance. I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you, I’d love to see him run.”

Host Cuomo then joked that he did not want Smith to run because he liked him too much.

‘What I have to do is save the country.’

The segment closed with Cuomo telling the president he tried to reach out to him following the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania. Cuomo said he wanted to tell the president he was embarrassed by news coverage that alleged he never actually got shot.

Cuomo then asked Trump how he planned to unify the country.

The president stated that the number of votes he garnered from the Hispanic population along border states was evidence that he had unifying support, but overall he explained that he needed to simply make America great again.

“What I have to do is save the country,” Trump explained.

As for Smith, his endorsements are often equaled by condemnations, even from assumed allies like fellow NBA broadcaster Charles Barkley.

In April, Barkley said on a podcast that at first he thought the idea of Smith running for president was a joke. As the idea gained more traction, he felt his friend Smith needed to “knock it off.”

“Come on, man. Stop it. Come on,” Barkley said about Smith. “It had to start out as a joke, and he started taking it serious. Come on, man. All I would say is, ‘Knock it off.’ And that’s the best way to phrase it.”

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​Fearless, Stephen a. smith, Trump, President, Democrats, Endorsement, Sports 

Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy clashed with an ABC affiliate during an interview about an incident at his bar in Philadelphia.

A video from inside Barstool Sansom Street went viral and showed employees displaying a sign that read “F**k the Jews,” which was brought out for customers who had purchased bottle service. This means the sign was requested by a customer and fulfilled by members of the bar staff.

Portnoy responded to the incident in disgust, which should have been expected by employees given that he himself is Jewish. After contemplating whether or not to expose his employees and others involved publicly, Portnoy decided to fire two waitresses and send the customers on a paid trip to Auschwitz in exchange for not condemning them by name.

On Monday morning, Portnoy said he decided to speak with an ABC affiliate from Philadelphia, WPVI, after the outlet allegedly “begged” him to do an interview on the incident. Portnoy said he agreed and, among other claims, alleged that the outlet switched reporters on him and subsequently tried to blame Barstool Sports, and white men in general, for the anti-Jewish sign.

“The reporter tried to say Barstool and I and white men were responsible for the incident,” Portnoy wrote on X, alongside a video.

The entrepreneur then included a portion of the interview from his side of the camera, which seemingly picked up after the alleged accusation.

‘I’m the journalist. I’m asking you.’

“Here’s what I would say is causing that type of environment,” Portnoy told the reporter. “All these colleges would let Jewish kids get harassed on campus 24/7. I’ve been speaking out about this since it started.”

Portnoy then asked the ABC reporter where her claim came from.

“First of all, that sounds like a made-up thing. I don’t know what that quote is. The society of school. Where are the professors from?”

“I [could] go back and see, if you want to waste time,” the unnamed reported replied.

The reporter soon revealed that her claim came from a source at the University of Virginia.

“I totally disagree for what you just said,” Portnoy replied. “Who’s creating more hate right now in in the world? Would you say Barstool Sports and white men or college campuses?” he asked.

The journalist, seemingly not happy with the role reversal, refused to answer any questions.

“I’m the journalist. I’m asking you,” she said.

Portnoy retorted, “Well, I don’t play by those rules. What does that mean? You’re a journalist? I’m a journalist. I run a big media organization. I just asked you a question. Answer the question.”

“You’re not running this interview,” the ABC reporter replied.

Portnoy then declared the interview was over and closed his laptop.

The video clip then went back to Portnoy in present time, who then said, “F**k ABC. It makes me mad. I forgot how much I hate f**king journalists, this f**king piece of shit.”

It is unclear where the journalist’s claim originated, exactly.

In 2022, a University of Virginia publication called Iris published an article titled, “5 Things You Should Know About Barstool Sports if You Care About Being a Good Person.”

The article referred to Portnoy as sexist and racist and said Barstool Sports published “repugnant” articles.

The post was written by Eryn Rhodes, a student who described herself as “she/her/hers” while studying “History and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.”

In the piece, Rhodes referred to a book called “Sidelined.” A Kirkus review of the book stated, “[The author] aims much of her anger at Barstool Sports, the online media company that ‘definitely engages in advanced-level trolling.’ Some may assume the author is just settling scores, but Barstool has a long reputation of harassment.”

Furthermore, an NBC News article from 2019 included quotes from a professor named Lisa Nakamura, who said that Barstool Sports related to young, white men because it casts them as “persecuted ones” who feel disadvantaged and therefore see the platform as a safe space to voice offensive opinions.

However, Nakamura was a professor at the University of Michigan, Portnoy’s alma mater, not the University of Virginia.

As well, a student from Temple University was reportedly suspended as a result of the sign incident at the bar.

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​Fearless, Dave portnoy, Anti-semitism, Jewish, Philadelphia, Barstool sports, Woke, Abc news, Gender studies, Sports 

Attendees at the National Action Network rally in Harlem on Saturday may have left holding their ears after New York Attorney General Letitia James went on a rant about the Trump administration that reached a shrill pitch.

In her speech, James mainly took aim at efforts by the Trump administration to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the Department of Health and Human Services, a department James referred to on at least one occasion as the “Health and Hospitals Association.” She claimed that the Trump team wants to starve essential programs like Head Start, Meals on Wheels, and the World Trade Center Healthcare Program for 9/11 first responders.

“And you want me to sit in my seat and stand idly by and allow this craziness to happen?” she screeched, pointing strangely with her thumb and index finger about an inch apart.

James said she instead would sue the federal government — including HHS Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr., whom she called “the guy with a worm in his head” — over these cuts and that other Democrat attorneys general would join her.

‘You elected me to continue fighting on, AND I WILL FIGHT ON!’

James did not provide further details about the lawsuit, the New York Post said, presumably including the names of other interested AGs. Fox News host Aishah Hasnie noted that, considering the accusations against James swirling about, “I’m not sure who’s going to want to jump in on that.”

Hasnie was alluding to allegations from the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency that James repeatedly committed mortgage fraud. According to FHFA Director William Pulte, James:

falsely claimed in August 2023 she would make a home in Norfolk, Virginia, her “principal residence,” even though she never lived there full-time and New York law requires statewide officeholders to reside in New York.misrepresented the number of units at her Brooklyn property to secure a conforming loan from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.even listed her father as her husband on a real estate purchase in 1983 to obtain a better mortgage rate. Other documents from May 2000 listed James, who has never been married, as “husband and wife,” though whether her father was likewise mentioned in those documents is unclear.

Last month, Pulte referred James to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation into possible wire, mail, and bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. James has since claimed the allegations are “baseless.”

Nevertheless, James made veiled reference to those allegations in her speech to the National Action Network on Saturday, railing, “You can come after me if you want,” as she pounded her chest.

“But you elected me to stand up! You elected me to use the law! You elected me to go to court! You elected me to continue to challenge this administration,” she continued, her voice growing increasingly louder.

Others on stage, including race activist Al Sharpton and NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, whom James supports in the upcoming NYC mayoral election, rose to their feet as James’ rant reached a piercing crescendo.

“You elected me to stand up for the least of God’s children. You elected me to continue fighting on, AND I WILL FIGHT ON!” she yelled.

You can hear a 30-second clip of her speech here. Gothamist described the speech as “fiery.” The Post claimed James “barked.”

The White House and HHS did not respond to a request for comment from the Post.

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​Letitia james, Trump, Hhs, Politics