Category: blaze media

President Donald Trump recently called out Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) for being “low-IQ” — and now she’s taken it upon herself to challenge the president to compare the results of their IQ tests.

“When you are literally supposed to be the leader of the free world, and you’re worried about a rising sophomore in the House,” Crockett told Jimmy Kimmel, talking about Donald Trump, on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“He also called you low-IQ; I’m sure you’re aware of that. Would you be willing to take an IQ test publicly, head to head, against the president of the United States?” Kimmel asks.

“Absolutely,” she responded to cheers, before confirming to Kimmel that she still believes Marjorie Taylor Greene is the “dumbest person in Congress.”

Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” doesn’t believe Crockett is dumb herself, but rather is playing dumb.

“Here’s the thing with Jasmine Crockett,” Gonzales says. “We’ve played videos of her before, where as she was running, the first time she was running for Congress, she was a completely different person. She was well spoken, she seemed to have a brain, whereas now, she doesn’t.”

“Part of it is like, how much of this is an act, and how much of it is real?” she continues, adding, “Before you get upset, I’m not saying she would win in an IQ test versus President Trump. I’m not saying that.”

“In terms of intelligence, you can tell that she can speak in a way that is not indicative of a genuinely low IQ,” BlazeTV contributor John Doyle comments. “She’s probably in that danger zone where it’s like somewhere between a 110 to 125 IQ, where you’re smart enough to realize that you’re smart, but you also hate people who are smarter than you.”

“We call these ‘midwits’ online,” he adds.

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​Video phone, Sharing, Free, Camera phone, Video, Upload, Youtube.com, Sara gonzales unfiltered, Sara gonzales, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Jasmine crockett, Jimmy kimmel, Donald trump, President donald trump, Midwits 

Easter is about the indignity of the cross being defeated by the only one who didn’t deserve to be on it so that we may be free to live forever in the Spirit. It was fitting, then, that in the shadow of Easter Sunday last week, full-throated indignity entered the U.S. Supreme Court to be challenged because people of faith have heard the call of their Lord to take up their own cross and follow.

A fan of the “Steve Deace Show,” Bryan Persak, informed me that his brother, Chris, is one of the plaintiffs in Mahmoud v. Taylor. The case involves parents from the Montgomery County, Maryland, school system fighting the porn-addicted educators who are cramming LGBT propaganda into their pupils’ hearts and minds.

You simply have no idea what God might ask you to do. But you must be ready to answer.

The court heard the case last Tuesday. Chris said that taking a stand came at a cost — threats against his kids and family — but he and his wife, Melissa, knew something needed to be done on behalf of the countless Montgomery County parents who feel helpless in the face of the evil they were being compelled not only to accept but to celebrate.

“By Tuesday, the nerves were gone and the Holy Spirit was with us,” Chris said. “There was an unbelievable peace and calmness. There are core things at stake for parents from many different backgrounds that are paramount. If we keep fighting about this, we aren’t going to have a country.”

Bryan stressed that with Muslim parents also plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the case displays true diversity — unifying around the common goal of rooting out the degrading sexualization of our children — in contrast to the woke version of diversity that demands its perversions be worshipped at every turn.

“Montgomery County found a way to unite parents whose religions have been at war for thousands of years,” he today. A ruling on the case is expected in June or July.

Bryan, who has also fought mask mandates in his own children’s school district, said he and his brother had good Christian parents who raised them to stand in the gap. Their mother, Michele, “raised heck” with politicians when he was stationed in Iraq and she discovered her son and his fellow soldiers didn’t have armor for their Humvees to protect them from IEDs.

Their father, Warren, when asked for advice about the wickedness being perpetrated by Montgomery County school officials, didn’t tell his son to play it safe. Instead, he insisted that “there are some hills worth dying on, that are worth the consequences.”

Well done, good and faithful servants! You raised actual men — a rare breed these days. Bryan admits, however, even that wasn’t enough to help him see his place in the world after coming back from war “mad at God.”

“I could have died four different times, and I don’t think I dealt with all that correctly,” Bryan told me. “Then I had my first child in 2017, and in 2020, I clearly saw the evil consuming the world with COVID and the trans stuff. I had to fight it, but I knew I couldn’t fight it by myself. It took me back to my faith. God told me that He sent me to be a soldier.”

Whether your calling is to be a soldier or something else, the big lesson from the Persaks’ story is this: “God told me” is the only certain place to start when figuring out your life mission. Yes, that’s going to mean having to get uncomfortable at times, like Bryan and Chris’ sister, Kathleen, who donated part of her liver two years ago to help an ailing family friend. You simply have no idea what God might ask you to do.

But you must be ready to answer.

In the name of Isaiah 8, Bryan said his family “has all stepped up when called” and that he hopes he is “teaching [his] children the same.” So those with ears to hear, let them hear:

You are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of armies whom you are to regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread. Then He will become a sanctuary.

Amen.

​Opinion & analysis, Supreme court, Mahmoud v taylor, First amendment, Woke agenda, Montgomery county public schools, Pornography, Lgbtq agenda, Parental rights in education, Steve deace show, Children, Libraries, Curriculum, Christianity 

President Donald Trump mocked a “radical left lunatic” protester who interrupted his rally in Michigan to celebrate the first 100 days of his second term in office.

The president was speaking at a rally at the Macomb Community College when the protester was escorted out of the rally. At least two protesters/disrupters were ejected from the speech.

‘And she now has to go home to her mother, who’s a big Trump fan! Her mother’s watching!’

Trump ridiculed the protester as she was escorted out of the arena.

“What’s her problem over there? What’s her problem? Is that a radical left lunatic?” he asked as his audience cheered.

“He’s just a child! All right, get him out. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, ma’am — I thought it was a guy!” he joked.

“Thank you. And she now has to go home to her mother, who’s a big Trump fan! Her mother’s watching!” he joked to loud applause. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I said he, and it’s a she! I’m sorry.”

Video of his comical response to the protester was widely circulated on social media.

While the president is touting some of his accomplishments, Trump’s agenda has hit many stumbling blocks on the road to his 100th day in office. Dozens of lawsuits have stymied the expansive intent of his executive orders.

Some of his popularity has dropped over the accusations of overreach in relation to his immigration enforcement policies, as well as the across-the-board tariffs he imposed. One promise he has fulfilled completely is the shutdown of the U.S. border with Mexico.

Signs at the event read “The Golden Age” and “100 Days of Greatness.”

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A 35-year-old was arrested for an arson attack on a Tesla dealership in Mesa on Monday morning, according to Arizona police.

Police were called to the dealership near Southern Avenue and Sossaman Road on Monday at about 2 a.m. over a report of an explosion. They found a Tesla Cybertruck on fire near a building of the dealership.

‘If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No negotiating.’

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to the building. Investigators found vandalism that read, “THEIF,” on one of the buildings.

Police said they were able to obtain nearby surveillance video showing a man on a bicycle near the dealership at about the time of the attack.

During the investigation, police said that they noticed a suspicious van near the corner of Southern and Rowan and then witnessed a man ride up to the van on a bicycle and open a door. He was identified as Ian Moses.

Moses was charged with arson on a structure and property and was booked into jail.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement about the arrest.

“Today we are pleased to announce federal charges against a Tesla attacker arrested in Arizona,” she wrote on social media. “If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No negotiating.”

No injuries were reported at the Mesa incident.

President Donald Trump has promised to prosecute vandalism and other acts of violence against Tesla vehicles and buildings as domestic terrorism, and Bondi has followed through on that threat.

The attacks on Tesla had led to a precipitous fall in the company’s value and forced billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to lessen his attention to the Department of Government Efficiency in order to focus on his companies.

Scenes from the dealership as well as the surveillance video of the bicyclist can be viewed on the news video from KNXV-TV on YouTube.

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A Wisconsin man who drove in the wrong direction toward the vice presidential motorcade in October was able to avoid jail time and only received probation as a punishment.

Wayne Wacker pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and disorderly conduct after he was arrested for driving onto Interstate 94 after leaving a bar. The motorcade for former Vice President Kamala Harris was driving in the normal direction at the time, which was just weeks before Election Day.

The motorcade was traveling down the interstate highway after Harris had left a campaign event in Brookfield.

The 55-year-old said he left a bar in Walker’s Point in Milwaukee and somehow ended up driving the wrong way, but he claimed he didn’t know Harris was visiting the city at the time.

The man was sentenced to a year in prison, but the sentence was stayed so he would be allowed to avoid prison if he successfully completed probation and other court requirements.

He was also fined $500.

Wacker had initially been charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, a felony that could have put him behind bars for 10 years and earned him a fine of $25,000.

The motorcade was traveling down the interstate highway after Harris had left a campaign event in Brookfield.

Wacker was pulled over by a Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy after his car narrowly missed the motorcade.

Prosecutors said he had been driving at “close to highway speeds.” Wacker was a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher and appears to be still employed there, according to his LinkedIn profile.

His attorney had unsuccessfully argued in court that the charge should have been dropped because Wacker was too drunk to recognize that he was putting others at risk, a requirement of the charge.

Video of the man driving the wrong way can be viewed on a news report from WISN-TV on YouTube.

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​Wayne wacker, Near crash harris motorcade, Drunken wrong way driver, Man almost kills kamala harris, Politics 

Bill Belichick has long been known as one of — if not the — greatest coach in NFL history. But during a recent interview with CBS, the UNC head coach appeared to be undermined by his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.

“Jordon was a constant presence during our interview,” CBS correspondent Tony Dokoupil commented in a voiceover of the interview — as she was sitting in the room with Belichick and Dokoupil the entire time.

“You have Jordon right over there,” Dokoupil commented, as the camera panned to her sitting slightly out of shot. “Everybody in the world seems to be following this relationship. They’ve got an opinion about your private life. It’s got nothing to do with them, but they’re invested in it. How do you deal with that?”

“I’ve never been too worried about what everybody else thinks. Just try to do what I feel like is best for me and what’s right.”

Hudson then shut down the conversation when Dokoupil asked how they met.

“We’re not talking about this,” Hudson said, despite not being the one interviewed.

“No?” Dokoupil asked, surprised, as the famous coach sat silent.

“No,” Hudson replied.

As many others do, Jason Whitlock of “Jason Whitlock Harmony” finds the entire situation incredibly strange.

“This whole thing, not a good look for Bill Belichick,” Whitlock says. “His 24-year-old girlfriend seems to have a lot of say so and a lot of control over a 73-year-old coaching legend. Bill Belichick is making himself a bit of a laughing stock in my opinion.”

“Belichick is throwing away a part of his legacy,” he adds.

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An Alabama middle school teacher has been hit with rape and sodomy charges in relation to accusations of years-long sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy that first began eight years ago, according to authorities.

On Thursday, 47-year-old Jill Brisendine Campbell was arrested by officers with the Opelika Police Department. She was charged with second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy. Campbell has since been released on a $35,000 bond.

‘Protecting our students is a priority and responsibility we all share.’

Campbell is a teacher at Opelika Middle School.

Campbell – who has reportedly taught at the middle school for more than 20 years – was placed on administrative leave after the eye-opening child sexual assault allegations surfaced.

Citing the Opelika Police Department, the New York Post reported that the alleged sexual abuse started in 2015, when the student was just 12 years old. However, the investigation did not begin until April 15, 2025, when police received a tip from a former student, according to AL.com.

“The victim reported that the acts occurred when they were in 7th and 8th grade and attending Opelika Middle School. An investigation revealed evidence that corroborated the victim’s statement,” the Opelika Police Department stated.

According to court documents obtained by WRBL-TV, Campbell is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse and oral sex with the student up until 2017.

Investigators claimed the alleged victim contacted Campbell via text messages, in which she reportedly confirmed the illicit relationship occurred while the student attended Opelika Middle School.

Citing court documents, People magazine reported that the complaint described the situation as an “inappropriate sexual relationship.”

Opelika City Schools is fully cooperating with the investigation by the Opelika Police Department.

“Protecting our students is a priority and responsibility we all share. If you have any information about this case or any other crime, we urge you to come forward,” Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey said.

Anyone with additional information on the child abuse case is urged to contact detectives at the Opelika Police Department at 334-705-5220.

Opelika City Schools declined to provide People magazine with further remarks on the investigation.

Campbell is scheduled to return to court on May 7.

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​Teacher arrested, Bad teacher, Alabama crime, Teacher sex scandal, Teacher student sex scandal, Crime 

Chuck Todd went on a rant about the “stupid” accusation against the media that they covered up the mental decline of former President Joe Biden and blamed Democrats instead.

The former NBC News host was speaking with journalist Chris Cillizza when he suddenly and angrily railed against critics who accused the media of colluding with Democrats to deceive the American public about Biden’s deterioration at the end of his term.

‘There are MSNBC and CNN and pundits that absolutely carried water for Joe Biden. But they’re not journalists! They’re former strategists!’

“This is not a media failure,” Todd said. “This was a failure of the Democratic party. And … the virtue signaling that some people have done to try to say that the media missed this story — they didn’t miss this story!

Todd cited one journalist’s critique of the party for choosing Biden and continued on his rant.

“The media’s got plenty of things to attack them for. And there are MSNBC and CNN and pundits that absolutely carried water for Joe Biden. But they’re not journalists! They’re former strategists that carried water for Joe Biden!” he yelled.

He went on to say that the incident did not compare to the media debacle that led to the invasion of Iraq under the Bush presidency, which he did admit was a media failure.

“That was a press failure! Massive press failure! This was not that failure!” he yelled.

“This is an attempt by some to virtue signal, and it’s this horrible sort of pitting different news organizations against each other,” Todd concluded, “when ultimately, the people at fault are Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, every elected member of Congress!”

Here’s the video of Todd’s tirade:

Democrats have enthusiastically formed a circular firing squad to blame each other for the devastating results of the election and to seize control of the direction of the party.

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On a recent episode of “60 Minutes,” anchor Scott Pelley gave a dramatic speech at the end championing his old boss — and openly complaining about the new one that gives the Trump administration a voice on his platform.

“In tonight’s last minute, a note on Bill Owens, who until this past week was executive producer of ’60 Minutes.’ He was our boss. Bill was with CBS News nearly 40 years — 26 years at ’60 Minutes.’ He covered the world, covered combat, the White House. His was a quest to open minds, not close them,” Pelley said.

“If you’ve ever worked hard for a boss because you admired him, then you understand what we’ve enjoyed here. Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us and you,” Pelley continued, noting that recent topics, like the Trump administration, have been “controversial.”

“Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories has been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires,” he added.

“All he wants to do is tell the damn truth,” Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” comments sarcastically. “And this merger is getting in the way of him telling the damn truth about the Trump administration.”

“The Biden administration, he didn’t want to tell the truth on,” she continues, before playing a clip of President Trump being interviewed on “60 Minutes” while trying to discuss the Hunter Biden laptop story, which the interviewer continues to shut down as, according to her, it could not be “verified.”

“There was a laptop, and those things existed, and Hunter Biden, and those around him, admitted it, sued over it,” Gonzales comments.

“If that was an Eric Trump laptop, what do you think they would have done?” BlazeTV contributor Matthew Marsden asks. “They would have done specials. They would have gone after it. They would have given Trump crap about it. I mean, it’s ridiculous.”

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California state lawmakers are proposing a law to decriminalize some cases of welfare fraud under $25,000 that were due to administrative errors.

The bill, proposed by Democrat state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, is meant to allow some cases of alleged welfare fraud to be investigated by officials rather than be handed over for criminal prosecution.

The bill does not help the needy but rather shields ‘those who intentionally steal from assistance programs and put the viability of those programs at risk.’

“California’s safety net should lift families up, not trap them in poverty,” the Democrat told Fox News Digital. “Right now, a missed deadline or paperwork mistake can lead to felony charges that tear families apart — even when there’s no intent to deceive.”

“This bill is about keeping families out of the criminal justice system from making administrative errors on raising the threshold for welfare fraud prosecutions,” she said on social media.

The Department of Social Services says between 15,000 and 20,000 cases of welfare fraud are referred just in Los Angeles County per year. Of those, fraud is found in about 5,000 to 8,000, but only 200 are sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office; 95% result in a conviction.

The legislation is supported by the SEIU union and a coalition of welfare rights organizations. It is opposed by the state’s district attorney’s association, an association of California welfare investigation, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The bill’s authors cited racial and gender disparities in the prosecution of welfare cases as justification for the proposal. One study said that 75% of welfare fraud convictions were of women and 50% of welfare fraud arrests were of black and Hispanic women.

Critics say that the bill would encourage more welfare fraud.

The California District Attorneys Association offered an argument in opposition to the bill, saying that it was premised on a false assumption that welfare fraud is occasioned by administrative errors.

“In truth, welfare fraud is a specific intent crime, meaning that in order to prosecute an offender for welfare fraud, prosecutors must be able to prove the offender intended to defraud the system to steal funds,” the argument read.

The group went on to say that the bill would lead to “unchecked welfare fraud” that would not only harm the taxpayers, but also harm the people the welfare system is intended to help.

The organization concluded by saying the bill does not help the needy but rather shields “those who intentionally steal from assistance programs and put the viability of those programs at risk.”

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​Decriminalize welfare fraud, Sen lola smallwood cuevas, Dems on welfare fraud, California welfare fraud, Politics 

President Donald Trump is officially 100 days into his second term, and many of his allies have celebrated the milestone as a roaring success.

Despite criticism from his political and media adversaries, Trump takes pride in his 100-day sprint, and Republican lawmakers are riding the momentum.

‘He took the bull by the horns.’

“Well, I think either we’ve done everything, or it’s in the process of being done,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.

House Republicans are messaging in lockstep with the administration, sharing the president’s enthusiasm in exclusive interviews with Blaze News.

“The first 100 days of President Trump can be summed up in one slogan: promises made and promises kept,” Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina told Blaze News. “It’s like a veil has been lifted from this country.”

“I think it’s been the best presidency that I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Republican Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri told Blaze News. “We’ve had four years to kind of plan and strategize what he would do when he returns, and we’re seeing the fruits of that.”

One frequently referenced victory has been the southern border, which has seen record-low encounters with illegal aliens under the Trump administration. Between the inauguration and April 1, only nine illegal aliens were released back into the country, compared to the 184,000 illegal aliens released under former President Joe Biden during the same time frame last year, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

‘President Trump is fulfilling his promises, but the accomplishment to me is the rate he’s doing it.’

“The border security is incredible,” Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia told Blaze News. “It’s historic. And we have a lot of thanks that goes to President Trump, as well as Tom Homan.”

“To do that in these first 100 days has been absolutely phenomenal,” Republican Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina told Blaze News. “He took the bull by the horns.”

The numbers paint a very clear, indisputable picture on immigration. However, other areas like the economy have been swirling with controversy in recent weeks with ongoing trade wars and market uncertainty. Many critics, particularly in the media, have rushed to call the economy a failure. Despite their doom and gloom, the Trump administration and his supporters on the Hill remain confident.

‘We have a long way to go, but he’s only been in office 100 days.’

“We were losing billions and billions of dollars a day with trade, and now I have that down to a very low level, and soon we’re going to be making a lot of money,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.

The consensus among Republicans was that Trump’s presidency was not only a success but also impressively efficient.

“President Trump is fulfilling his promises, but the accomplishment to me is the rate he’s doing it,” Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois told Blaze News. “He was working on his transition team before he was even elected so he could hit the ground running, and that’s what he’s done.”

“He came in with the best Cabinet that I think we’ve ever seen,” Burlison added. “He came in, and he got them appointed quickly, and he came in with a ton of executive orders.”

While Republicans enjoy the successes of the first 100 days, lawmakers are tasked with maintaining the winning streak. The House and Senate are officially back in session after a two-week recess, and reconciliation talks are resuming.

“We have a long way to go, but he’s only been in office 100 days,” Norman told Blaze News.

“I’m very excited about it,” Miller said. “I think we have momentum building to pass this one big, beautiful bill.”

While lawmakers in the House and Senate continue to iron out reconciliation talks, Republicans have maintained that Trump policies, such as no tax on tips, are a non-negotiable.

‘Congress is not on page with President Trump, and I think that’s a serious problem.’

“No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on social security,” Greene told Blaze News. “These were President Trump’s campaign promises that he said over and over again, promising the American people, and these are the promises that Congress has to deliver.”

Spending cuts have also remained a top priority despite the negative press from the legacy media surrounding Elon Musk and DOGE’s efforts.

“It’s not going to be easy, but it’s like the cancer patient who’s taking the medicine that’s bitter,” Norman told Blaze News. “I’m sorry, but if it will help you and cure the cancer, then we do it. And the cancer in this country has been overspending, and we’re going to fix it.”

“We’re at $37 trillion in debt,” Burlison added. “We have a $2-trillion-a-year annual deficit. If we grow that, I can’t live with myself.”

‘We’ve gotta make sure we do government differently.’

Although some Republicans say we are on track, others are not confident that Congress will stay on course.

“Congress is not on page with President Trump, and I think that’s a serious problem,” Greene told Blaze News.

“If Congress does not deliver on these important campaign promises of President Trump, we’re gonna lose the midterms,” Greene added. “It would be such a failure of a Republican-controlled Congress not to deliver on the mandate, the historic mandate, that was given in November.”

Although there are some concerns that Congress will return to old spending habits, Trump remains optimistic about reconciliation.

“If we get that done, that’s the biggest thing. … And I think we’re going to get it done,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “We have great Republican support.”

“We’ve gotta make sure we do government differently,” Harris said. “We’ve gotta stay the course that we’ve started.”

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​Donald trump, Trump administration, 100 days in office, House republicans, Karoline leavitt, Trade war, Economy, Stock market, Tariffs, Eric burlison, Marjorie taylor greene, Mtg, Ralph norman, Mark harris, Mary miller, Doge, Elon musk, Doge cuts, No tax on tips, Trump tax cuts, Federal deficit, Midterms, National debt, The mandate, Maga mandate, Politics 

LGBTQ Pride festivals across the United States are facing major shortfalls in corporate funding this year following several successful conservative boycotts in recent years.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, LGBTQ leaders noted that the withdrawal of several corporate sponsors from this year’s Pride Month festivities is “unprecedented.”

‘Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change.’

LGBTQ leaders have warned that Pride parades and festivals face severe funding gaps because corporate sponsorships are drying up.

San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford told Bloomberg, “Will we be able to keep the doors open? You know, that’s what I’m most concerned about now.”

Ford added, “We’ve all seen the culture wars playing out as far as how corporations respond, and I think this is part and parcel of that movement.”

The San Francisco Pride celebration, which is scheduled for late June, is facing a $200,000 funding shortfall following the withdrawal of sponsors including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, and liquor giant Diageo.

With about a month before Pride Month, Twin Cities Pride faces an approximate $200,000 shortfall. The LGBTQ organization noted that it would use crowdfunding to try to compensate for Target ceasing its sponsorship of the event.

Pride St. Louis, which lost Anheuser-Busch as a sponsor, is confronted by a $150,000 budget shortfall.

Denver Pride revealed that returning sponsors have cut contributions by an average of 62%, leaving a $230,000 funding deficit.

According to Bloomberg, Dollar General Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. decided not to sponsor the June Pride event in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are currently reviewing all marketing and sales spending,” a Nissan spokesperson told Bloomberg.

CNBC reported that Seattle Pride and New York City Pride both face $350,000 deficits.

Ryan Bos, Capital Pride Alliance’s executive director, told CNBC, “The sad thing is corporations have long been the first to step into our corner. The fact that some are questioning their commitment now during this uncertain time is very disheartening, hurtful, and frustrating for many.”

Home improvement retailer Lowe’s reportedly stopped sponsoring the Charlotte Pride festival after providing funding the previous nine years.

St. Pete Pride in Florida noted that it would focus more on community donations instead of corporate sponsors after only hitting 55% of its fundraising goal as of late March, compared with the typical 80% to 90% at this time of year.

“We are the people. This is about people power and being able to use your dollar to advocate,” said Byron Green-Calisch, president of St. Pete Pride.

Nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June.

Some LGBTQ activists are insisting that corporations continue to funnel money to Pride festivities.

“We spend our money as a community in these corporations, and I want them to give back,” demanded Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride. “They should give back.”

According to a recent survey of 49 executives from Fortune 1000 companies by Gravity Research, nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June. In last year’s survey, only 9% of companies told Gravity Research they would alter their Pride Month engagement plans.

Forbes reported, “Of the 39% of companies who said they would reduce Pride Month engagement this year, 43% said they would reduce external shows of support, which includes having a visual presence at or financially sponsoring Pride marches, offering a Pride merchandise line, updating social media branding, and partnering with influencers for Pride-themed sponsorships.”

Many of the executives who said they were scaling back Pride sponsorships noted they were retreating because of possible conservative boycotts, pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration, and the backlash against DEI initiatives.

“Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change,” said Luke Hartig, president of Gravity Research.

Hartig noted that some of the companies had already begun pulling back in LGBTQ support as early as 2023.

In April 2023, conservatives started to wage a successful brand boycott after Bud Light partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, lost millions in market share due to the conservative boycott.

In May 2023, Target lost billions in market value after conservatives boycotted the retail behemoth for rolling out eyebrow-raising LGBTQ Pride products.

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A 35-year-old was arrested for an arson attack on a Tesla dealership in Mesa on Monday morning, according to Arizona police.

Police were called to the dealership near Southern Avenue and Sossaman Road on Monday at about 2 a.m. over a report of an explosion. They found a Tesla Cybertruck on fire near a building of the dealership.

‘If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No negotiating.’

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to the building. Investigators found vandalism that read, “THEIF,” on one of the buildings.

Police said they were able to obtain nearby surveillance video showing a man on a bicycle near the dealership at about the time of the attack.

During the investigation, police said that they noticed a suspicious van near the corner of Southern and Rowan and then witnessed a man ride up to the van on a bicycle and open a door. He was identified as Ian Moses.

Moses was charged with arson on a structure and property and was booked into jail.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement about the arrest.

“Today we are pleased to announce federal charges against a Tesla attacker arrested in Arizona,” she wrote on social media. “If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No negotiating.”

No injuries were reported at the Mesa incident.

President Donald Trump has promised to prosecute vandalism and other acts of violence against Tesla vehicles and buildings as domestic terrorism, and Bondi has followed through on that threat.

The attacks on Tesla had led to a precipitous fall in the company’s value and forced billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to lessen his attention to the Department of Government Efficiency in order to focus on his companies.

Scenes from the dealership as well as the surveillance video of the bicyclist can be viewed on the news video from KNXV-TV on YouTube.

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Dozens of Carnival cruise ship passengers reportedly were placed on a “Do Not Sail” list after they engaged in a massive brawl while disembarking from the vessel in Galveston, Texas.

The fight erupted as passengers left the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship after it docked Saturday following a week-long Caribbean voyage with stops in Mexico and Honduras, according to CruiseMapper.

‘We will not tolerate such behavior.’

Video obtained by NBC News shows fists flying and pushing and shoving inside the cruise terminal.

“It went down this morning,” wrote Trelle Ray, who posted video of the fight on Facebook.

People are seen throwing punches and throwing fellow cruise passengers to the ground, who appear to get stomped.

Several security guards are seen on video running toward the melee, but they were not immediately able to stop the violence.

Multiple open suitcases could be seen on the video strewn around the terminal in the aftermath of the massive brawl.

In total, 24 people were placed on the “Do Not Sail” list and have been banned from Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival Cruise Line issued the following statement to KPRC-TV: “The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The matter was turned over to law enforcement. We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list.”

Authorities informed USA Today that the Port of Galveston Police Department responded to “an altercation” at Cruise Terminal 25.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents “detained several individuals,” and police arrested one person who allegedly played a role in the brouhaha.

Police did not specify charges against the arrested person.

It was unclear what sparked the brawl among the Carnival Cruise Line passengers following their vacation.

Authorities did not specify if there were serious injuries or if any travelers were hospitalized.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA Today.

This wasn’t the first time cruise ship passengers have engaged in fights:

As Blaze News reported in July 2022, a huge melee exploded on a Carnival cruise liner involving roughly 60 passengers. In December 2022, multiple fights broke out on the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship. During the cruise, a 36-year-old female passenger fell overboard and died off the coast of Florida.In June 2024, a fight erupted on board the Carnival Paradise cruise ship near the buffet section.

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When Christian speaker and writer Audrey Broggi first met her husband, her gut instinct was not that he was the one but that she had a deep respect and admiration for his walk with the Lord.

“I respected him before I loved him. And so then, when you see in Ephesians, when Paul gives that whole list about what husbands are supposed to do for their wives, and then very succinctly right at the end he says, ‘And you wives see to it that you respect your husbands,’” Broggi tells Allie Beth Stuckey of “Relatable.”

“How do you foster the respect that we’re commanded to have when it doesn’t come naturally like a feeling for some women?” Stuckey asks.

“I’ll speak to you when you’re single, because that’s an area that you really do need to commit to the Lord. You need to know God not only calls me to submit to this man, but he calls me to respect him,” Broggi explains. “If it’s a struggle for a young woman, when she’s single and she’s dating someone to have respect for him, it’s not going to go away when she gets married.”

“Sanctification is a process, so we all grow in those areas. But at the same time, if you really don’t respect them right now, you need to find out why, and then take that to the Lord,” she continues, adding, “You either cry now, or you cry later.”

However, when you are married, Broggi’s advice is different.

“Now, for a married woman, it’s a command of the Lord to respect your husband,” Broggi says. “Sometimes, if women are struggling with that, I always encourage women to list out some things that you do respect about him.”

“It’s not like you don’t respect anything about him, something drew you to him, something you admired about him. Make a list of those things and then camp on those,” she continues. “Then, you tell him the things you respect about him. You actually talk to him, say, ‘I really love it when you do this.’”

“There’s so many things that we crave and we want from our husbands. They want respect from us,” she adds.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

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

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President Donald Trump’s administration revoked roughly 4,000 visas for foreign students over the first 100 days of his second term.

A senior official with the Department of State told the New York Post that 90% of those who had their visas revoked had a “serious” criminal record.

‘We established an action working group, which has resulted in thousands of visas being revoked because these individuals broke our laws.’

The foreign students were accused of a list of illegal offenses, including arson, human trafficking, child endangerment, domestic abuse, robbery, and more.

The news outlet reported that 500 of the individuals were accused of assault.

The senior official told the Post, “They came and they were breaking the law with no consequences.”

The source noted that the administration formed “a special action team” to address the issue. The DOS partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to identify foreign students with criminal records.

The senior official noted that those accused of less serious crimes did not have their visas removed.

“There were cases like where it was not a serious thing, like littering, or somebody had charges that were dropped, where we didn’t revoke those. Because it should be a serious matter,” the official told the Post.

The news outlet reported that many of the foreign students have already left the United States. However, those who remain will soon be targeted by federal immigration officials for deportation.

“Perhaps in the future other visa categories, not just students, will be looked at,” the source added.

An analysis from Inside Higher Ed confirmed from local reports and universities that nearly 1,900 students had lost their legal status.

According to its ongoing tracker, more than 170 foreign students attending the University of Texas System had their visas revoked. Over 100 students attending Arizona State University also had their visas pulled.

The UT System’s vice chancellor of external relations, Randa Safady, stated, “As of Friday, April 11, the UT System learned that 176 students have been affected by the action.”

United Campus Workers of Arizona president Michael Kintscher said, “We’ve been able to confirm a little over 100 students have their visas revoked at ASU specifically, although we believe the number is much higher, that’s just what we’ve been able to confirm so far.”

A senior State Department official told Fox News Digital that Trump has “worked to fix a broken system.”

“Our visa system has lacked oversight and accountability,” the official said. “Secretary [Marco] Rubio has led the State Department to take a surgical vetting approach to ensure individuals in America as visitors are abiding by our laws.”

“We established an action working group, which has resulted in thousands of visas being revoked because these individuals broke our laws. This is what effective governance looks like,” the source added.

A State Department spokesperson told the news outlet that the agency “revokes visas every day in order to secure America’s borders and keep our communities safe – and will continue to do so.”

The spokesperson did not confirm the number of revoked student visas, noting that “the process is ongoing, the number of revocations is dynamic,” and that the agency “generally does not provide statistics on visa revocations.”

“The Trump Administration is focused on protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the spokesperson added. “Every prospective traveler to the United States undergoes interagency security vetting. Prohibiting entry to the United States by those who might pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety is key to protecting U.S. citizens at home. The Department of State will continue to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce zero tolerance for aliens in the United States who violate U.S. laws, threaten public safety, or in other situations where warranted. ”

The wave of visa revocations stems from Trump’s January executive order pledging to address anti-Semitism by “deport[ing] Hamas sympathizers,” including those holding disruptive and even sometimes violent university protests.

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IBM announced a massive investment in the United States just days after it was revealed the company would be committing to political neutrality.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative activist group, announced that as an IBM shareholder, it filed a proposal with the company to provide a report on what it described as discriminatory diversity-based hiring policies. The group told IBM that it should be recruiting employees without regard to race, gender, religious beliefs, or political affiliation and that it should encourage management and executives to be bias-free in its activities.

Following the foundation’s filing and alleged pressure on IBM, the computer company updated its corporate policies. On its website, IBM declared it does not have a political action committee, does not engage in independent or electioneering communications, and does not provide any financial support to political parties or candidates, directly or indirectly.

The company then stated its “media-buying and content policies are audience-centric,” are “aiming to reach all consumers authentically, and are viewpoint neutral with respect to political or religious status or views.”

‘Companies can see that America wants sanity back.’

In a statement obtained by Blaze News, the Heritage Foundation’s Andrew Olivastro called IBM’s move a “critical step” in restoring “equality, transparency, and commitment to merit in the marketplace.”

“The company now has a real opportunity to make good on this commitment and take the lead in setting the tone for the rest of corporate America,” Olivastro continued. “IBM needs to make it clear, to shareholders, employees, and customers — that there is no area of its corporate policy in which immutable characteristics like race and gender are prioritized over merit. Full stop.”

Activist and anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion proponent Robby Starbuck announced in mid-April that IBM had not only dropped its DEI department, but it would no longer have a diversity council, a diversity-centric podcast, and would not participate in the social credit scoring system of the progressive activist group the Human Rights Campaign.

Other initiatives that were dropped include IBM’s “I’m In Allyship” campaign, diversity-based supply chain operations, “Allyship” training, and diversity-based executive compensation.

“Companies can see that America wants sanity back,” Starbuck wrote. “The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality. We are the trend, not the anomaly.”

On Tuesday, IBM unveiled plans to invest $150 billion in the United States over five years in a plan that is intended to fuel the economy. More than $30 billion was dedicated to research and development, Yahoo reported, directed at the enhancement of quantum computing in the United States.

IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, a 62-year-old from India, claimed the company has been “focused on American jobs and manufacturing” for the last 114 years.

Krishna added, “With this investment and manufacturing commitment we are ensuring that IBM remains the epicentre of the world’s most advanced computing and AI capabilities.”

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The Department of Homeland Security released the number of illegal aliens who have been arrested within the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term.

DHS announced that, through a whole-of-government approach, over 158,000 illegal aliens have been arrested so far in 2025, including about 600 members of Tren de Aragua.

“Under President Trump, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) is targeting the worst of the worst. 75% of their arrests are criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges. To fulfill President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations, the administration is now detaining some of the most dangerous illegal aliens, including violent criminals and members of terrorist gangs, at Guantanamo Bay,” DHS stated.

‘President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue fighting every day to secure our border and keep American communities safe.’

ICE explained that of those 158,000 arrestees, around 65,600 have been deported so far. This has included 498 for murder, 1,329 for sex offenses, and 2,288 gang members.

Border czar Tom Homan reminded Americans on Monday that the reason why it appears the Biden-Harris administration deported so many illegal immigrants is that former officials counted removals at the northern and southern borders as a “deportation,” while interior deportations dropped to their lowest levels in ICE history. Now that the United States’ borders are no longer overwhelmed with thousands of illegal crossings per day, all the deportation numbers are from the actual interior of the country.

Currently, federal immigration law enforcement agencies are working within the parameters that the Biden-Harris administration set, including regarding funding. Trump officials have made it clear that in order to increase the number of arrests and deportations, Congress needs to provide much more funding to departments like ICE.

“The foundational budget that we’re all working under was written by Joe Biden’s team. And so we have to increase the resources and scale up that operation while we’re doing all the good things that are happening on the border,” said Ron Vitiello, senior adviser to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“President Trump campaigned on border security and immigration enforcement, the American people voted for it, and Secretary Noem and DHS are delivering beyond anyone’s expectations. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue fighting every day to secure our border and keep American communities safe. This is just the beginning of a new Golden Age of America,” DHS said.

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A 21-year-old male has been found guilty of severely beating an 80-year-old in a gym locker room in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Authorities said the attack took place on March 1, 2024, at the YMCA at 28100 Farmington Road near 12 Mile Road, the Detroit News reported.

‘And then I see the guy … he grabs the back of the victim’s head by the hair, and he was about to slam it down on the counter.’

Police received a call about the attack around 10:45 a.m. and found the victim unconscious with severe facial injuries in the men’s locker room, the paper said, adding that medics took the victim to a hospital.

An Oakland County Circuit Court jury on Friday convicted Malik Ali Smith of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, the county prosecutor’s office told the paper.

“The victim was left unconscious and bleeding, and he had to be hospitalized after this assault,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a Monday statement, the paper added. “When we first brought charges, I said this was a vicious, senseless attack, and clearly the jury agreed after looking at the evidence. Their verdict will hopefully provide the victim a measure of justice.”

Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for May 27, the News said, citing court records. Smith faces up to 10 years in prison, the paper also reported.

During Smith’s trial, witnesses and authorities testified that Smith and the victim exchanged words inside the locker room, the News said, citing the county prosecutor.

Former pro football player Braylon Edwards told WDIV-TV he heard the fight escalating.

“I walk into the locker room after work, and I hear some noise about four rows behind me; it was over … someone playing music too loud,” Edwards added to the station. “So I’m not paying attention; it’s none of my business.”

Edwards — a wide receiver who played eight seasons for four NFL teams as well as for the University of Michigan — noted to WDIV that “the noise escalates, and then you can hear some pushing and shoving — you know what fighting sounds like … but once I heard a thud, that’s when I got up and turned around. And then I see the guy … he grabs the back of the victim’s head by the hair, and he was about to slam it down on the counter.”

Edwards pulled Smith away from the 80-year-old, the station said.

Police said the assailant fled before they arrived, but they identified him from the YMCA’s membership records and soon made an arrest, the News reported.

Smith’s attorney, Mitchell Ribitwer, on Monday said he wasn’t willing to comment at this time, the paper added.

You can view WDIV’s 2024 interview with Edwards about the incident here.

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The Department of Education has opened an investigation into whether the University of California at Berkeley has properly disclosed its foreign funding.

In its
announcement Friday, the ED hinted that UC Berkeley’s significant receipt of funds from communist China was at issue, referring to “credible news media reports” from May 2023 and a June 6, 2023, department letter to the university concerning troubling funding allegations.

Allegations

The Daily Beast
reported in May 2023 that UC Berkeley failed to declare “a single cent” of the financial support it received from Chinese sources for its joint technology venture with the state-controlled Tsinghua University, including a $220 million investment from the municipal government of Shenzhen to construct a research campus in China.

Under
section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, postsecondary institutions receiving federal funding must disclose foreign source gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more to the Education Department.

In addition to failing to mention the $220 million investment, Berkeley acknowledged that it also failed to disclose to the American government a $19 million contract it was paid from Tsinghua University in 2016.

According to the Daily Beast, Berkeley researchers gave Chinese communist officials private tours of their “cutting-edge U.S. semiconductor facilities and gave ‘priority commercialization rights’ for intellectual properties they produced to Chinese government-backed funds.”

Just as there were various benefits to the investment on the Chinese side of the equation, Berkeley faculty members also reportedly took full advantage, “extending [their] research capabilities” and earning “consulting fees” for working as research advisers.

‘Responses revealed a fundamental misunderstanding.’

Lawmakers subsequently pressed Berkeley and its leadership in 2023 about its joint institute with Tsinghua University and the Shenzhen government in China, citing research security concerns.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party
noted that the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute provided the Chinese regime with “easy access to Berkeley research and expertise, which the [People’s Republic of China] can then use to its economic, technological, and military advantage.”

In addition to flagging security and competition issues with UC Berkeley’s arrangement with America’s pre-eminent rival, the committee took aim at the university’s apparent violation of section 117.

The ED wrote to UC Berkeley in early June 2023, asking that it address the allegations.

According to the department, Berkeley acknowledged in response “having failed to report millions of dollars in foreign government funding, as required by Section 117, and detailed its multiyear effort to cultivate a close relationship with and secure financial commitments from foreign government-controlled entities.”

The Department of Education noted that the university’s “responses revealed a fundamental misunderstanding regarding its Section 117 reporting obligations.”

Enforcement

A September report from the Select Committee on the CCP and the Committee on Education and the Workforce
noted that congressional investigators “uncovered significant failures in the reporting of foreign funding by UC Berkeley … under section 117.”

‘The Biden-Harris administration turned a blind eye to colleges and universities’ legal obligations.’

The problem, according to the report, was not just that certain schools were failing to meet lawful reporting obligations but that there was a lack of enforcement on the part of the relevant authorities.

“Enforcement of foreign gift and contract reporting requirements by the Biden-Harris Department of Education has been an abject failure,” said the report. “And the Biden-Harris Department of Education has failed to open a single enforcement action under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act in the last four years, despite widespread evidence of lack of reporting.”

President Donald Trump issued an
executive order last week directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to: reverse or undo actions taken by the Biden administration “that permit higher education institutions to maintain improper secrecy regarding their foreign funding”; “take appropriate steps to require universities to more specifically disclose details about foreign funding, including the true source and purpose of the funds”; and hold noncompliant institutions accountable.

Trump noted, “It is the policy of my administration to end the secrecy surrounding foreign funds in American educational institutions, protect the marketplace of ideas from propaganda sponsored by foreign governments, and safeguard America’s students and research from foreign exploitation.”

Following through on the president’s order, McMahon directed the Education Department’s Office of General Counsel to reassume the department’s section 117 enforcement functions, which were previously shifted to the ill-equipped Office of Federal Student Aid.

“The Biden-Harris administration turned a blind eye to colleges and universities’ legal obligations by deprioritizing oversight and allowing foreign gifts to pour onto American campuses,” McMahon said in a statement. “Despite widespread compliance failures, no new section 117 investigations were initiated for four years, and ongoing investigations were closed prematurely.”

‘We can go after the universities.’

“I have great confidence in my Office of General Counsel to investigate these matters fully, and they will begin by thoroughly examining UC Berkeley’s apparent failure to fully and accurately disclose significant funding received from foreign sources,” added McMahon.

Dan Mogulof, Berkeley’s assistant vice chancellor for executive communications, said in a statement
obtained by the New York Post, “Over the course of the last two years, UC Berkeley has been cooperating with federal inquiries regarding [Section] 117 reporting issues, and will continue to do so.”

A senior Education Department official told reporters that Berkeley will have “30 days to respond with the records that we requested, and so we hope to have quite a volume of records and we’ll be able to verify the degree to which UC-Berkeley is or is not compliant after our examination of those records.”

The Treasury Department will reportedly assist with the investigation.

“We’re going to have a lot more help this time, which is wonderful, and I think that that will enable us to we can actually under the law, we can go after the universities,” said the Education Department official.

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