A judge in Jefferson County, Kentucky, is receiving criticism after she drastically cut the sentence of a man who was was convicted of kidnapping, robbing, and sodomizing a woman.

Rather than following a jury’s recommendation of a 65-year sentence for 24-year-old Christopher Thompson, Judge Tracy Davis instead sentenced him to 30 years behind bars, WDRB-TV reported.

‘I don’t have sympathy for nobody. I don’t have sympathy for you, the victim, the victim’s family, I don’t care. Boo hoo.’

Thompson was convicted in December in connection with a 2023 attack in which prosecutors said he abducted a woman, robbed her, and sodomized her twice, the station said.

WDRB, citing court documents, reported that Thompson kidnapped the victim in her own vehicle and forced her to perform oral sex on him in a school parking lot. The station said Thompson then drove her to an ATM, robbed her, drove back to the school lot, and sodomized her at gunpoint again.

What’s more, the station said Thompson during his sentencing hearing earlier this month punctuated the proceedings with repeated disruptions, profanity, and direct insults directed toward Judge Davis.

“Before we even get appearances, Mr. Thompson, I’m going to need you to be respectful,” Davis said, according to WDRB.

“I ain’t doing nothing. Eat my d**k,” Thompson responded, according to the station.

WDRB said the intensity only became more extreme moments later.

“It’s fine. OK? It’s fine,” Davis said, according to the station.

“If I could spit on you, I would,” Thompson replied, according to WDRB.

“At the end of the day, I’m the one with the pen,” Davis added, the station said, after which Thompson replied, “I don’t care.”

The hearing continued into the sentencing phase despite Thompson’s outbursts, and WDRB said prosecutors urged Davis to impose the jury’s recommended 65-year sentence.

Thompson didn’t exactly support his own cause, as the station said he stated, “I don’t have sympathy for nobody. I don’t have sympathy for you, the victim, the victim’s family, I don’t care. Boo hoo.”

Davis soon imposed a 30-year sentence, WDRB said, citing Thompson’s age and the possibility of rehabilitation.

But Thompson apparently was unmoved. The station said he interrupted by saying, “I don’t care. I don’t care.”

RELATED: Trio jailed for rape of mostly unconscious 14-year-old girl — recorded on video because ‘it was funny’ — given probation

“Unfortunately, he fell through the cracks and ended up in this court as an 18- or 19-year-old,” Davis said, according to WDRB. “This court does not believe Mr. Thompson, if given the resources that he can get while incarcerated, is beyond being rehabilitated.”

The station said the reduced sentence has elicited criticism from Louisville Metro Council members, including Minority Caucus Chair Anthony Piagentini: “Where is the concern for the victim? Do we think she’s going to get over this in 30 years? Where is the concern for the safety of the public when he does get released from jail?”

WDRB said Piagentini also raised concerns about judicial transparency and pointed out Davis’ use of shock probation in dozens of cases since 2023: “My next step, in addition to condemning her decision, is to request for all of her shock probation cases to have the public learn about who she is releasing from the sentences that are given. That’s the minimum I can do for the electorate of this community, so that they can … understand the decisions that she’s making.”

According to the U.S. Justice Department, “shock probation” provides a short prison time — between 30 to 180 days — for a convicted felon after which the remainder of the sentence is served on probation “in the community.” The justice department notes that corrections and probation personnel view shock probation as having a future deterrent effect on criminal behavior, and lawyers view it as a level in plea bargaining.

Louisville’s Chief Prosecutor — Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers — said in a statement that her office is “disappointed” by the reduced sentence, WDRB noted.

RELATED: ‘Sex offender’ to be replaced by ‘adults who commit sexual offenses’ in Colorado since latter is less stigmatizing for sex offenders receiving treatment

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers. Image source: Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Jefferson County, Ky.

“Due to the defendant’s actions and inappropriate outbursts in court, the jury recommended a sentence of 65 years in prison. While we recognize that the court has discretion in the final sentence, we are disappointed that the court deviated from the sentence for less than half of what the jury of his peers determined was appropriate for this dangerous defendant,” Whethers said, according to the station. “The jury’s recommendation was the most appropriate outcome in this case.”

WDRB said Whethers added that “our pursuit of justice is unwavering. As prosecutors, our responsibility is to take to trial and present before the jury cases like these, where dangerous individuals pose a severe threat to the community and, as a result, need to be removed from it for as long as possible.”

The station noted that Judge Davis imposed an additional sentence of more than four years for Thompson’s statements in court and that he must serve that time before his 30-year sentence commences.

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​Judge, Hearing, Lenient sentence, Kentucky, Jefferson county, Christopher thompson, Robbery, Kidnapping, Sodomy, Sexual abuse, Female victim, Gun, Judge tracy davis, Outbursts in court, Profanities in court, Reduced sentence, Louisville, Court, Crime 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) touted big plans to go after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. However, the city’s top prosecutor is calling out Johnson’s anti-ICE executive order as a “wholly inappropriate” disaster, while alleging the mayor’s claims of collaboration are “not true.”

In late January, Johnson signed the “ICE on Notice” executive order, which directed the Chicago Police Department to investigate and document any alleged illegal activity by federal agents, then refer that evidence to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution.

‘Mayor Johnson’s statement is not true.’

Johnson claimed that Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office was “in complete support of this executive order.”

“Our office worked closely in collaboration with the state’s attorney’s office to ensure that this executive order will have the ability to do exactly what it is designed to do,” the mayor told reporters in January.

O’Neill Burke rebuked Johnson’s claims, writing in a post on X, “Mayor Johnson’s statement is not true. The CCSAO did not receive the Executive Order until it was released to the public. We do not provide legal approval of any matter until we’ve reviewed it. On such a critical issue, it’s important we get it right.”

Yvette Loizon, the CCSAO’s attorney for policy and external affairs, issued a two-page staff memo criticizing provisions listed in Johnson’s order, according to a Saturday report from CWB Chicago. Loizon reportedly called some aspects of the order “wholly inappropriate” and warned that it “jeopardizes our ability to effectively prosecute and secure convictions when federal agents have committed a crime.”

RELATED: ‘ICE on Notice’: Chicago Mayor Johnson threatens to prosecute federal agents enforcing immigration laws

Eileen O’Neill Burke. E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

The memo also allegedly stated that O’Neill Burke is “deeply concerned” about federal immigration agents “who have been wreaking havoc in communities across the country and in our own neighborhoods.”

“The Mayor’s recent Executive Order introduces additional hurdles,” it reportedly read.

Loizon criticized Johnson’s executive order for instructing police to refer matters for prosecution “at the direction of the Mayor’s Office,” arguing that it tainted a process that was intended to be non-political, CWB Chicago reported. Loizon also reportedly contended that defense attorneys may argue that any charges were politically motivated and illegitimate.

RELATED: Illinois governor signs law to counter Trump administration’s ‘depravity’ — DHS fires back immediately

Brandon Johnson. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Johnson’s office responded to the criticism, claiming that it had “reviewed the language with the State’s Attorney’s Chief of Policy and made edits based on their feedback.”

“The CCSAO’s public statements do indicate complete agreement with the objectives of the executive order,” the mayor’s office insisted.

The CCSAO did not respond to a request for comment.

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​News, Chicago, Brandon johnson, Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Eileen o’neill burke, Cook county, Cook county state’s attorney’s office, Ccsao, Immigration crisis, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration, Politics 

After almost a week’s delay, the Department of Labor released the highly anticipated January jobs report on Wednesday.

Originally scheduled for release on February 6, the January jobs report exceeded many experts’ expectations.

‘WOW! The Golden Age of America is upon us!!!’

The Department of Labor reported that 130,000 non-farm jobs and 172,000 total private jobs were added in January, nearly double the expectations set by one poll of economists, according to Fox News.

Furthermore, the unemployment rate was slightly lower than expected, sitting at 4.3% compared to the projected 4.4% rate.

RELATED: DOGE program is successfully shrinking the federal workforce, new jobs report suggests

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Fox noted that the Department of Labor revised the November and December jobs reports down by 17,000 jobs, taken together.

President Trump reacted to the latest jobs report with enthusiasm while also calling for other actions to improve the U.S. economy: “GREAT JOBS NUMBERS, FAR GREATER THAN EXPECTED! The United States of America should be paying MUCH LESS on its Borrowings (BONDS!). We are again the strongest Country in the World, and should therefore be paying the LOWEST INTEREST RATE, by far. This would be an INTEREST COST SAVINGS OF AT LEAST ONE TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR — BALANCED BUDGET, PLUS.”

“WOW! The Golden Age of America is upon us!!!” Trump added.

The White House’s Rapid Response X account reported some more job-related news on Wednesday morning: “Under President Trump, federal employment has declined to its lowest level since 1966 — and the lowest level in recorded history as a share of the total workforce.”

The post included a chart showing federal employment over the last five years, showcasing a precipitous decline since January 2025. According to the chart, there were more than three million federal employees in January 2025, but that number dropped below 2.7 million by January 2026.

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​Politics, Department of labor, Jobs report, Jobs, Economy, Golden age, President trump, Trump, Trump admin, Trump administration, White house, Interest rates 

David Gelernter, a professor of computer science at Yale University and chief scientist at Mirror Worlds Technologies, survived an explosive letter he received in 1993 from Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, the domestic terrorist known as the Unabomber.

It appears, however, that his reputation has taken a hit over letters he sent years later to Jeffrey Epstein — especially since he has emphasized he regrets “nothing” about his relationship with the child sex offender.

The package

Kaczynski targeted businessmen, scholars, and random civilians with homemade bombs from 1978 to 1995, injuring over 22 victims and ultimately killing three people. Among the Unabomber’s victims was Gelernter.

‘Gentlemen and ladies don’t read each other’s mail.’

On the morning of June 24, 1993, the Yale professor — who had just returned from a vacation in the national capital — sat down in his office in Arthur K. Watson Hall to catch up on his mail. Along with various envelopes, waiting for him was a package, which he reportedly thought was a Ph.D. dissertation.

Gelernter recalled that when he tore it open, he was greeted by smoke, a hiss, and a flash. Shocked, missing a few fingers, and under the impression that multiple bombs “must be going off all over campus,” the professor fled the building, bleeding profusely.

“I saw the bones sticking out in all directions and the skin crumpled like paper,” he later wrote.

According to the Yale Daily News, the computer professor suffered severe wounds to “his abdomen, chest, face and hand, and even today Gelernter does not have the use of his right hand.”

The Unabomber later sent the professor a letter in April 1995 providing some insight into his animus toward technologists, writing, “People with advanced degrees aren’t as smart as they think they are. If you’d had any brains you would have realized that there are a lot of people out there who resent bitterly the way techno-nerds like you are changing the world.”

RELATED: Dear Uncle Ted

Photo by Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

The threatening letters sent his way by the terrorist helped boost Gelernter’s profile. The letters Gelernter later sent to Epstein now threaten to tear it down.

The letters

David Gelernter’s name repeatedly shows up in the Epstein files released on Jan. 30 by the Department of Justice, specifically in emails sent from 2009 to 2015.

Blaze News has reached out to Gelernter for comment.

‘I have no idea who my successor will be.’

Some of Gelernter’s letters to and from Epstein — exchanged years after Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a child for prostitution — discuss meetups, a visit to Yale, architecture, business opportunities, and art shows.

The author of an especially questionable letter dated Oct. 11, 2011, and signed “David” — a letter Gelernter has reportedly defended writing — told Epstein about a female student he was recommending for a job in 2011, describing her as a “Yale sr, worked at Vogue last summ=r [sic], runs her own campus mag, art major, completely connected, v small goodl=oking [sic] blonde.”

RELATED: Massie drops bombshell after review of unredacted Epstein files, helps put name to alleged co-conspirator

Photo by James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images

Yale spokeswoman Karen Peart told CT Insider in an email last week that “the university does not condone the language used by the professor or the conduct he describes in his emails.”

Gelernter told the CT Insider that at the time of writing, he had no idea about Epstein’s status as a sex offender, that he was never exposed to Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, and that he only became aware of the sex offender’s criminal history around five years ago.

“From my standpoint, he was one of the two (maybe three) smartest men I’d ever met,” Gelernter told the publication. “He was fun to talk to.”

“Fondness for little girls is a perversion that runs way outside ordinary locker-room talk,” the professor noted further. “No one would ever introduce it into normal conversation.”

The professor subsequently stated in a Feb. 4, 2026, letter to Yale’s engineering school Dean Jeffrey Brock that was forwarded to the Yale Daily News, “I was recommending her for a job I thought she’d like. When you do that — when you actually care about a rec letter — you keep the potential boss’s habits in mind.”

“So long as I said nothing that dishonored her in any conceivable way, I’d have told him more or less what he wanted. She was smart, charming & gorgeous. Ought I to have suppressed that info? Never!” continued Gelernter. “I’m very glad I wrote the note.”

When asked the next day whether he regretted any part of his relationship with Epstein, Gelernter told the Yale Daily News, “Nothing.”

Gelernter’s latest statements defending his correspondence with Epstein have apparently already led to consequences.

In a message to his students obtained by the CT Insider, Gelernter reportedly indicated that he had been removed from the class.

“For now on I no longer teach CPSC 4500. I have no idea who my successor will be,” wrote the professor, who has tenure at the university.

In his letter to students, Gelernter again defended his October 2011 letter to Epstein, claiming that the student referred to wanted to be recommended for a job working on the financial side of Epstein’s private bank; stating that neither he nor the student were aware that Epstein was a sex trafficker; and condemning the university for taking issue with a personal email.

“The university’s Smoking Gun is a personal, private email, dug out of the dump of Epstein files. (If someone handed you a a stack of other people’s private correspondence, would you dive in and read them? Of course not. Gentlemen and ladies don’t read each other’s mail. (Courtesy 101.),” wrote Gelernter.

According to ratings from students on Yale’s internal professor evaluation system, Gelernter reportedly ranked dead last among the 82 professors who have taught computer science courses at the university since 2020 and in the bottom 2% of all professors across the university.

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​Jeffrey epstein, Esptein, Pedophile, Sex offender, Yale, David gelernter, Gelernter, Epstein files, Elite, Cabal, Uncle ted, Kaczynski, Unabomber, Politics 

Colony Ridge, one of the most controversial land developers in the nation, has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice and the state of Texas regarding accusations of predatory loan practices, poor living conditions, and incentivizing illegal immigration.

According to a DOJ press release issued Tuesday, the Colony Ridge developer has agreed to pay $68 million to settle the lawsuit. Of that sum, $48 million will be invested in shoring up local infrastructure: $30 million for general infrastructure, and $18 million for drainage systems “to address severe and costly flooding damage to homes.”

‘Colony Ridge endangered American citizens by allowing illegal aliens to run rampant on its streets, in its schools, and in its community.’

The other $20 million will be invested in improving law enforcement and public safety in the area, including the construction of a new law enforcement facility. The developer also pledged to work with law enforcement to prevent those on a terror watch list and those suspected of transnational gang membership from purchasing property there, the settlement agreement said.

RELATED: Water issues at Colony Ridge and the Texas officials who apparently did nothing about them

According to the DOJ, Colony Ridge also agreed to:

implement stricter underwriting standards that better assess borrowers’ ability to repay loans;avoid misleading advertisements and instead “truthfully and accurately describe the properties for sale and applicable loan terms”;work with homeowners to prevent loan default and foreclosure; andsuspend seeking final approval on plats for direct-to-consumer sales for three years.

As part of the settlement, the Colony Ridge defendants did not admit to any wrongdoing. In fact, the defendants “expressly” denied any wrongdoing and signed off on the agreement “solely for the purpose of facilitating a settlement” with Texas and the DOJ, the agreement noted.

“We’re happy to resolve these lawsuits and move forward serving our growing community. The settlement allows us to continue investing in our neighborhoods and supporting the thousands of families who have trusted us to provide a place for them to call home. We’re glad that funds from this agreement will be directed back into the community to benefit residents,” said a statement from Colony Ridge, according to KTRK.

A sprawling, 33,000-acre development just north of Houston once dubbed “the world’s largest trailer park,” Colony Ridge first made national headlines more than two years ago after the development was accused of luring mainly Spanish-speakers into loans with exorbitant interest rates, often leading to foreclosure. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton previously claimed that the foreclosure rate at Colony Ridge was 50 times greater than the 2023 national average.

In their respective statements about the settlement, both DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and Paxton drew attention to these disturbing allegations.

“Intentionally targeting vulnerable borrowers with the American dream of home ownership and then trapping them in a predatory scheme is not only wrong, it also violates our civil rights laws. This DOJ will go after all lenders, financiers, and land developers who participate in schemes which ultimately encourage illegal immigration,” said Dhillon of the DOJ Civil Rights Division.

RELATED: Colony Ridge will sell to illegal aliens for shockingly low down payment: Project Veritas video

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

“Under my watch, Texas will never be a sanctuary for illegals. Colony Ridge endangered American citizens by allowing illegal aliens to run rampant on its streets, in its schools, and in its community. Now, it’s time for those responsible to pay a steep cost for their unlawful actions,” said a statement from Paxton.

“My office will continue to bring the full force of the law against anyone who threatens the safety of our state or creates a safe harbor for illegals.”

A year ago, ICE made over 100 arrests in Colony Ridge as part of “phase one” of a larger area operation. According to an agency X post dated February 25, 2025, 118 people were arrested, including those with charges or convictions for “criminal sexual conduct, homicide, theft, negligent manslaughter, child sexual abuse, crimes of moral turpitude, weapons offenses and drug offenses.”

The Blaze Originals documentary “The Real Story of Colony Ridge” explores many of the problems at the development. You can access this and other original content by subscribing here.

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The Department of Homeland Security set the record straight after a Boston official accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement of abducting “a neighbor.”

Last week, Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén issued a statement concerning an “ICE abduction in Rozzie Square.”

‘ICE did not abduct anyone. We did arrest a criminal that this sanctuary politician and his policies released from their jails to terrorize more innocent Americans.’

“Earlier this morning, in broad daylight, ICE abducted a neighbor right out of their car in front of Family Dollar in Rozzie Square,” he wrote.

Pepén stated that “community members and business owners took immediate action” to notify a local organization providing services to immigrants, document ICE’s vehicles, and move the individual’s car to “a safer location.”

“We are working with our local partners to find out more about the individual taken and how to assist in bringing them back home,” Pepén continued. “To say that this is scary and not right is an understatement.”

Pepén insisted that “no one should be scared to do their daily errands regardless of their status — especially in our vibrant community.”

“Make no mistake, these abductions do not make anyone safe. Neighbors caring for neighbors do and I will continue to fight to get ICE out of our communities,” Pepén concluded.

He encouraged Boston residents to report any ICE sightings.

RELATED: ‘Do you think you’re going to hell?’ Democrat facing felony assault charges frets about God’s judgment to ICE director

Enrique Pepen. Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/Boston Globe/Getty Images

The DHS hit back, explaining that ICE officers arrested Jose Perez-Antonio, whom the agency described as “a serial criminal illegal alien” with several charges, including for alleged identity theft and trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

“Boston City Council member Enrique Pepén needs to stop with the smears,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Boston Herald. “ICE did not abduct anyone. We did arrest a criminal that this sanctuary politician and his policies released from their jails to terrorize more innocent Americans.”

McLaughlin stated that under President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, those who break the law “will face the consequences.”

“Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.,” she added.

RELATED: ‘Killers bringing terror to our streets’: Swalwell smears ICE agents in heated hearing

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

Pepén responded to the DHS’ statement in a video on social media.

“They claimed that I was smearing the situation and that I was smearing the agency. The only smearing that I see is the way that ICE is treating our people, the way that they come after our community and are able to continue to wear masks and create havoc and fear amongst our people. And yet we don’t know why, we don’t know what’s going on, we don’t know where people are being taken. That’s the only smearing that I see,” Pepén said.

“Regardless of whether or not this person has a record, ICE agents wreaked havoc in our neighborhood as they have been doing across the country and DHS has been found time and time of falsely reporting their objectives [sic],” he wrote.

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​News, Massachusetts, Boston, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Immigration and customs enforcement, Ice, Enrique pepen, Enrique pepén, Immigration crisis, Illegal immigration crisis, Illegal immigration, Immigration, Immigration enforcement, Politics 

This year’s Super Bowl halftime show was performed by six-time Grammy-winning artist Bad Bunny. Even though the majority of event spectators are English-speaking, the Puerto Rican artist sang almost entirely in Spanish — with the exception of a singular “God bless America” tacked on to the performance’s finale.

For years, the Super Bowl halftime show has reflected the “worst” aspects of American culture, says Glenn Beck, but Bad Bunny’s performance “went the extra mile” in all the wrong ways.

On this episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn breaks down Bad Bunny’s halftime performance, exposing its messaging.

“First of all, there was no English on American television at the biggest American sporting event for about 10 minutes,” he scoffs, speculating that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is perhaps letting us know that football is “not an American sport any more.”

“I mean, we know the NFL has already sold their soul to China,” he quips.

But it wasn’t just the language that Glenn says sent a message. Some of the lyrics Bad Bunny sang during his performance made strong statements of their own.

Some were sexually explicit — the most widely criticized being “so that your panties get wet” from the track “Safaera” — while others alluded heavily to sexual themes.

“Roger Goodell is saying, ‘That’s the American culture; that’s family entertainment,”’ Glenn says.

He compares Americans who watched the Super Bowl to a person being invited to a fancy party only to be “mocked and humiliated” by its “elitist host.”

“I think that’s the moment a lot of Americans experienced during the Super Bowl,” he says.

“The NFL should hear something: You’re not a preacher, okay? You’re not a church. … We didn’t come to you to hear lessons. You’re not a teacher, either. You’re not a cultural re-education program. You’re the host of a stupid game where people make millions of dollars based on my attendance and my watching you.”

Like the host of any party, the NFL’s job, Glenn says, is to “make space where wildly different people can sit at the same table without feeling targeted, diminished, or deliberately excluded.”

But Bad Bunny’s performance did precisely the opposite.

“When you as the host repeatedly signal contempt for me, my values, my friends’ values, I’m not going to riot. I don’t flip tables. I’ll just stop coming. … I’ll go find another room,” says Glenn, “which is what happened last night at halftime” when roughly 6 million people tuned into TPUSA’s alternative show, he says.

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

Want more from Glenn Beck?

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​The glenn beck program, Blazetv, Blaze media, Glenn beck, Bad bunny, Super bowl, Nfl, Roger goodell, Super bowl halftime show, Super bowl halftime 

Attorney General Pam Bondi went head-to-head with Democratic lawmakers Wednesday during a contentious House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. Lawmakers sparred with Bondi over the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files and broader allegations about the department’s political priorities, while Bondi shot back that Democrats were merely “grandstanding” and engaging in political “theatrics.”

In a heated exchange with Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who pressed her on alleged connections between President Donald Trump and Epstein, Bondi interrupted sharply.

‘I am not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics.’

“This isn’t a circus! This is a hearing!” Bondi said.

Tensions escalated further during an exchange with Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the committee’s ranking Democrat. Raskin attempted to interject, “I told you, Attorney General —,” before Bondi cut him off.

“Here we go with the theatrics!” she said. “You don’t tell me anything.”

RELATED: ‘I’m really proud’: American snowboarder refuses to take the bait on question about representing USA

Bondi also clashed with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who referenced Epstein victims present in the room and asked them to stand if they had been unable to meet with the Justice Department. Bondi declined to engage directly with that approach.

“Why didn’t she ask Merrick Garland this, twice, when he sat in my chair?” Bondi asked in response in Jayapal, referring to the attorney general under President Joe Biden.

“I am not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics,” Bondi continued.

RELATED: Olympic skier who wrote ‘F**k ICE’ in snow now says he is victim of ‘hate and vitriol’

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Throughout the hearing, Bondi defended the department’s priorities, citing prosecutions of violent crime and efforts to address what she described as prior politicization of federal law enforcement.

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​Politics, Pam bondi, Hearing, Democrat, Lawmakers, Epstein, Epstein files 

Months after President Trump called for the arrest of the “seditious” Democrats who called on military and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders” from the administration, federal prosecution efforts led by D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro have hit a roadblock.

On Tuesday, a grand jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers involved in the video, the Associated Press reported, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter.

‘Tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.’

The Justice Department reportedly opened an investigation into the six members of Congress who appeared in the November “Don’t Give Up the Ship” video. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) complained at the time that this was a form of “intimidation.”

RELATED: ‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR’: Trump demands arrest of ‘traitor’ Democrat congressmen for ‘dangerous’ video

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors were pursuing indictments against all six of the lawmakers or what charges they were attempting to bring. Prosecutors, however, could still attempt to secure an indictment against those involved, Fox News reported.

Slotkin was joined by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) in the video.

Slotkin, who claims to have organized the video, made a lengthy social media post on Tuesday.

“President Trump continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies,” Slotkin said in part. “It’s the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love. No matter what President Trump and Pirro continue to do with this case, tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.”

Kelly called the investigation an “outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies,” adding, “Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.”

Crow posted a minute-long video captioned in part, “We will continue to fight back against their rising tyranny.”

Deluzio chimed in: “They may want Americans to be afraid to speak out or to disagree — but patriotism demands courage in this moment. DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP!”

Houlahan called the entire investigation a “distraction”: “Today, as we celebrate the win for free speech, I’m putting this distraction behind us and getting back to the real work at hand.”

The D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department did not respond to the AP’s request for comment.

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​Politics, President trump, Elissa slotkin, Seditious six, Trump administration, Jeanine pirro, Don’t give up the ship, Mark kelly, Maggie goodlander, Chrissy houlahan, Jason crow, Chris deluzio, Military, Illegal orders, Refuse illegal orders 

The Canadians were beat every step of the way as Team USA delivered a historic beatdown on Tuesday.

A goal in each period saw the United States women’s hockey team not only triumph over Canada, but it is one the neighbors to the north may never forget.

‘Oh, you think you’ve done something, that’s when the mountain eats you up.’

The 5-0 trounce included two goals from 24-year-old Texan Hannah Bilka and marked the first time ever Team Canada has failed to score a goal in a women’s Olympic hockey game.

To add insult to injury, it was also the largest margin of defeat Canada has ever suffered at the hands of Team USA in both men and women’s Olympic hockey.

“It’s pretty special,” said 21-year-old American Kirsten Simms, per NBC. “This group has been unbelievable from the start of the tournament, and I think we displayed that going against our known rivals. It’s just good momentum for us going into the playoff rounds.”

Simms scored just over a minute into the second period.

RELATED: Skier Hunter Hess changes tune after saying he has ‘mixed emotions’ about representing USA: ‘I love my country’

“We’re playing a good brand of hockey, and we’re just sticking to it,” added Ohio native Laila Edwards, who scored in the third. “We’re sticking to the principles, and that benefits us. We’ve got a great group that just gels really well together.”

Coach John Wroblewski reminded his team not to get ahead of themselves, despite their record-setting victory. According to ESPN, the coach asked his team, “What’s the hardest part of climbing the mountain?”

Wroblewski provided the answer himself:

“Getting home,” he said. “If you ever feel good about climbing Mount Everest, it’s the way down. Oh, you think you’ve done something, that’s when the mountain eats you up.”

RELATED: Olympic skier who wrote ‘F**k ICE’ in snow now says he is victim of ‘hate and vitriol’

Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Team USA will play Italy in the quarterfinals on Friday, February 13, at 3:10 p.m. ET, in what should be an easy win. Italy has over-performed by some accounts, beating France and Japan, both of whom are ranked higher internationally. However, a loss to Germany and a pounding from Sweden have brought them back down to earth, and they likely will not be a problem for the Americans.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan called Team USA a deep and dynamic team with an “extremely balanced attack.”

With the Americans rolling all four offensive lines, the hockey insider wrote that the team’s mix of fresher faces may be what is giving them an edge. Kaplan noted that Canada has 16 players returning from their 2022 Olympic team.

The two teams could still meet again, but it may have to wait until the finals as Canada’s quarterfinal opponent is yet to be determined, and the bracket is not yet fleshed out; Canada still has to play Finland on Thursday.

If Team USA beats Italy, they would move on to the semifinals on February 16, with the bronze and gold medal games airing on February 19.

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​Fearless, Olympics, Italy, United states, Canada, Women’s sports, Ice hockey, Hockey, Winter olympics, Sports 

American snowboarder Chloe Kim was not looking to turn her Olympic event into a sideshow.

The two-time gold medalist from California was subject to the most popular — and divisive — question being asked of U.S. Olympians at the 2026 games in Italy.

‘The US has given my family and I so much opportunity.’

On Monday, a female reporter asked a panel of Americans how they “feel representing Team USA right now.”

The open-ended question has been a source of much controversy already, but when Kim spoke up, it was probably not what the reporter was hoping for.

“Obviously my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home,” Kim began. “I think in moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on.”

While her answer was not likely to please both sides of the political aisle, Kim continued.

“I’m really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family and I so much opportunity. But I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on,” the 25-year-old added. “And I think that we need to lead with love and compassion. And I would love to see some more of that.”

RELATED: Olympic skier who wrote ‘F**k ICE’ in snow now says he is victim of ‘hate and vitriol’

The question in Livigno, Italy, seemed to be deliberately politically divisive. The reporter prefaced it with a reminder that President Donald Trump had called Kim’s “teammate” Hunter Hess “a real loser.”

Hess is an American freestyle skier who told reporters that he had “mixed emotions” about representing the United States, which the president replied to by saying Hess should not have tried out for the team.

“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Hess later walked back his comments, stating on his social media that he loves the United States, while adding, “But there are always things that could be better.”

RELATED: Olympic boxer Imane Khelif admits to having male genes, but sends message to Trump: ‘I’m not trans’

Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Kim, born in Torrance, California, is defending her Olympic gold in women’s snowboard half-pipe, having won at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2022 games in Beijing.

Kim qualified for the finals on Wednesday, finishing first in the qualifier ahead of Japan’s Sara Shimuzu and American teammate Maddie Mastro, according to the Olympics.

The final takes place on Thursday, February 12, at 1:30 p.m. ET.

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​United states, News, Olympics, Italy, Snowboarding, Patriotism, Trump, Woke, Liberalism, Politics 

Universal Ostrich Farms has won a victory in its fight against the Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

On Friday, February 6, Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal member Patricia Farnese ruled that the CFIA’s violation notice and $10,000 fine issued against Universal Ostrich Farms must be set aside.

‘Our farm is leading a movement.’

The ruling was based solely on procedural grounds. Farnese found that the CFIA failed to personally deliver the quarantine notice to the farm, instead sending it by email on Dec. 31, 2024, a day after verbally informing the owners of the quarantine.

“The agency’s failure to personally deliver the quarantine notice as mandated by subsection 91.4 of the HA Regulations is fatal to its case,” Farnese wrote.

Ruefully noting that the CFIA refused to test the ostriches for avian influenza, farm spokeswoman Katie Pasitney told Align: “The true virus here was the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. … They were the virus.”

Blood-soaked hay

The dispute — which attracted global media attention and significant support for the farm from figures such as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz — began in September 2025, when the CFIA imposed a quarantine on UOF after alleging the presence of H5N1 avian influenza. The CFIA maintained that the farm posed a public health risk, despite refusing to test the animals for the virus.

The agency subsequently occupied the property for nearly seven weeks and issued an order to destroy the flock. The order was carried out overnight late on November 6 and into the early hours of November 7, resulting in the deaths of more than 300 ostriches.

Afterward, the agency left the farm in disarray, with hay bales contaminated with the blood of dead ostriches strewn across the property. Pasitney and her mother say they have been unable to clean up the mess because the property remains under quarantine, even as the federal government continues to insist that the birds carried H5N1 avian influenza.

RELATED: Aftermath of a slaughter: Universal Ostrich Farms vows to hold Canada accountable

Katie Pasitney

‘Off guard’

Pasitney said Monday that she and her mother, Karen Espersen, who owns the farm, were caught “off guard” by the tribunal’s decision — one they did not believe would go in their favor and did not expect to arrive until much later in the year.

“We read [the email from the tribunal] together,” said Pasitney, “and we both started crying, because it was just nice to hear from somebody on the federal level that they validated our concerns.”

Beyond nullifying the $10,000 fine, the decision raises broader legal implications. Does it undermine the legality of the CFIA’s entire operation against the farm — the initial invasion last September, the nearly seven-week occupation, and, most importantly, the killing of more than 300 ostriches?

“You know, those safeguards [against illegal quarantine] are put in place by Parliament for a very important reason, because quarantines carry such an excessive consequence for people with their livelihoods and their animals and their properties,” said Pasitney.

Leading a movement

So why did the tribunal rule in favor of UOF?

It assessed the CFIA’s negligence in its conduct at the farm, specifically finding that the quarantine notice relied upon by the agency was not properly served in accordance with federal law.

Pasitney shared the decision to her Facebook page on Monday, along with a statement from the farm. In the decision, the tribunal cited subsection 91.4(1) of the Health of Animals Regulations, which requires quarantine notices to be personally delivered — meaning physically handed to the affected party. The tribunal ruled that the CFIA failed to meet this requirement by relying on email.

As a result, the notice of violation and the accompanying $10,000 penalty were set aside.

The implications may extend beyond one farm, noted Pasitney. “How many other farmers were improperly served … and that resulted in unlawful enforcement?”

Pasitney said the decision has strengthened her resolve to keep pushing for accountability from the Canadian government — a crusade she said is now larger than Universal Ostrich Farms.

“Our farm is leading a movement. I’ve been blessed to be able to be the voice,” she said.

“And so I will continue to fight for my family and for everybody else out there.”

​Lifestyle, Mark carney, Universal ostrich farms, Quarantine, Canada, Government overreach, Letter from canada 

The Federal Aviation Administration briefly shut down El Paso flights after Mexican cartel drones “breached” American airspace on Tuesday.

The FAA lifted the flight restrictions Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours later, after initially establishing a 10-day closure due to “special security concerns.”

‘All flights will resume as normal.’

An official from President Donald Trump’s administration later clarified the security concern to Blaze News, noting the Department of War’s involvement.

“Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace,” the official told Blaze News. “The Department of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”

RELATED: ‘Impossible to deal with’: Pete Hegseth reveals the real culprit behind defense contractor delays

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The FAA reiterated that flights have resumed as normal in a statement posted on X.

“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted,” the statement reads. “There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal.”

RELATED: Exclusive: ICE busts pedophile, abuser, and fentanyl trafficker despite ongoing shutdown

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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​Pete hegseth, Department of war, Dow, El paso, Faa, Federal aviation administration, Mexican cartels, Mexican cartel drones, 911, American airpsace, Politics 

The House of Representatives failed to protect President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with three Republicans enabling any lawmaker to challenge his economic policy on the floor.

Republicans attempted to pass a rule to block Congress’ ability to challenge Trump’s tariff policies late Tuesday night. The GOP ultimately fell short, failing to pass the rule in a 214-217 vote after Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Kevin Kiley of California, and Don Bacon of Nebraska sided with Democrats.

‘It’s time for Congress to reclaim that responsibility.’

Massie fired back at accusations that he voted simply to buck Trump, arguing that the vote was an attempt to “subvert the Constitution.”

“My goal is to defend the Constitution and to represent the people,” Massie said in a post on X. “Taxing authority is vested in the House of Representatives, not the Executive. The vote tonight was to subvert the Constitution and the 1976 National Emergencies Act by literally saying a day is not a day.”

RELATED: Vance casts tiebreaking war powers vote after Republicans betray Trump

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Bacon, who has deviated from Trump in the past, also cited constitutional concerns with the vote.

“I don’t like putting the important work of the House on pause, but Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs,” Bacon said in a post on X. “Tariffs have been a ‘net negative’ for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying.”

“Article I of the Constitution places authority over taxes and tariffs with Congress for a reason, but for too long, we have handed that authority to the executive branch. It’s time for Congress to reclaim that responsibility. I also oppose using the rules votes to legislate. I want the debate and the right to vote on tariffs.”

RELATED: Exclusive: Republicans pen OMAR Act, targeting lawmakers who have ‘blurred’ ethical lines

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Although the vote failed, Trump allies like Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) continued to defend tariffs.

“This is life with a razor-thin majority as we have, and sometimes this happens,” Johnson said on Fox News Wednesday. “We had three defections. … I think it’s a big mistake.”

“I don’t think we need to go down the road of trying to limit the president’s power while he is in the midst of negotiating America First trade agreements with nations around the world.”

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​Thomas massie, Don bacon, Kevin kiley, Donald trump, Mike johnson, House republicans, House democrats, Tariffs, America first, Trump tariffs, Congress, Constitution, Constitutional authority, Politics