Concerns about free speech in the United Kingdom are growing as new laws surrounding speech, public protest, and religious criticism threaten to change the future of civil liberties — and activist Tommy Robinson, who has been on the wrong side of these laws already — is prepared to fight back.

“Their problem always has been that I always speak facts,” Robinson tells Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck on “The Glenn Beck Program.”

While there are strict laws against “incitement to hatred,” which Robinson has often been accused of, he points out that he’s just telling the truth.

“That’s what this law they’re now bringing in is about. They don’t want the public to be aware of facts or truth if you speak the truth about Islam. They want to limit what you can say, and that’s now what their new law intends to do,” he explains.

And Robinson doesn’t plan to stop speaking out about Islam anytime soon.

“This law won’t change anything I say. So if I’m honest, I will continue. I won’t limit my speech if I’m telling the truth. If that means I’ll end up in prosecutions, it means I will end up in prosecutions,” Robinson tells Glenn.

“Most of these laws are about instilling fear,” he continues, noting that the Labour government also intends to remove the jury service.

“What does that mean?” Glenn asks.

“You can be taken to court in the U.K., and if they drop it to a low charge, you do not get a jury,” Robinson explains.

“And that means they can only give you … 12 or 24 months,” he continues, noting that they’re now changing that.

“They’re changing it so you can get four years,” he says.

“So not only are they bringing in a law that prohibits you from telling the truth, they’re also … taking away your ability to be tried by 12 members of the public. You’ll just be tried by a judge,” he explains.

Robinson’s last prison sentence, he tells Glenn, was 18 months in jail for making a film called “Silence.”

“That film was 100% factual. No one has argued with any of the facts I’ve presented in that film, or the judge didn’t have a problem with the facts I presented in the film. Just the fact that I showed the public the film,” he says.

“If I was able to have a jury to let the jury decide, I believe I’d never have gone to jail once. But I’ve never been given the opportunity to have a jury,” he adds.

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​The glenn beck program, Glenn beck, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Blaze media, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Tommy robinson, Blasphemy laws, Hate speech, Orwellian 

President Donald Trump politely kicked Pam Bondi to the curb on Thursday, touting her as a “Great American Patriot” and crediting her with “overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country” during her nearly 14 months on the job.

Hours after Trump publicized the ouster and named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the acting attorney general, Bondi took a page out of ex-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s book, expressing her gratitude to the president and framing her time at the Justice Department in positive terms.

“Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history,” Bondi wrote on X.

‘She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files.’

Bondi — criticized in recent months over her DOJ’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, her bizarre Epstein testimony, her suggestion that “hate speech” should be policed, and her perceived inefficacy and failure to prosecute the individuals who waged potentially illegal lawfare against Trump — echoed Trump’s remark about the precipitous drop in crime over the past year.

A report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association comparing crime stats in 2025 to stats from the previous year found that homicides dropped nationally by 19.3%; rapes dropped by nearly 9%; robberies dropped by 19.8%; and aggravated assault dropped by 9.7%.

RELATED: If the Justice Department won’t execute Trump’s orders, who’s in charge?

Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

“Since February 2025, we have secured the lowest murder rate in 125 years, secured first-ever terrorism convictions against members of Antifa, shattered domestic and transnational gangs across the country, taken custody of more than 90 key cartel figures, and won 24 favorable rulings at the Supreme Court,” wrote Bondi.

Bondi added, “I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again.”

Although Bondi noted that she is “moving to an important private sector role,” she still may have to answer for actions taken while serving as attorney general.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted last month to subpoena Bondi on the release of the Epstein files.

Democrats on the committee emphasized in a joint statement on Thursday that Bondi “will not escape accountability and remains legally obligated to appear before our Committee under oath. She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given Ghislaine Maxwell.”

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), tweeted, “Pam Bondi and Donald Trump may think her firing gets her out of testifying to the Oversight Committee. They are wrong — and we look forward to hearing from her under oath.”

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) wrote, “My subpoena still stands. When the Oversight Committee moved to subpoena Bondi, I did it by name, not by or not as the sitting Attorney General of the U.S.”

Around the time the subpoena was issued, Mace stated, “AG Bondi claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not. The Epstein case is one of the greatest cover-ups in American history. His global sex trafficking network is larger than what is being revealed. Three million documents have been released, and we still don’t have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there. We want to know why the DOJ is more focused on shielding the powerful than delivering justice.”

Citing people familiar with the discussions between Bondi and the committee, the New York Times reported that Bondi has not yet committed to appearing for her scheduled April 14 deposition.

Todd Blanche said in a statement that Bondi “led this Department with strength and conviction” and that the DOJ will “continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”

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​Termination, Firing, Pam bondi, Bondi, Jeffrey epstein, Epstein, Deposition, Oversight committee, Donald trump, Department of justice, Justice department, Doj, Politics 

There is something seriously wrong with American health care. Rising costs mean that Americans now pay nearly twice as much as people in similar countries, without getting better outcomes. “It’s complicated,” say those who want to keep prices high and rising. But some of it is simple, as my organization is showing with research on hospital systems like Cleveland Clinic.

Hospital executives are leading luxurious lifestyles while claiming that every dollar spent — on television commercials, Abu Dhabi real estate, or modern art — is ‘health care.’

A longtime household name, Cleveland Clinic presents itself as an altruistic institution focused on health and patients. As a tax-exempt corporation, everything Cleveland Clinic does is subsidized by taxpayers, and it receives many other direct and indirect benefits in the interest of public health. Yet it pays executives millions, has massive holdings overseas, and maintains a collection of fine art.

Why are your health care bills and insurance premiums going up? Why is government spending and borrowing more and more to subsidize care? Look no farther than the misplaced priorities of profit-maximizing “nonprofit” hospitals like Cleveland Clinic.

Recent news has exposed massive waste and fraud against taxpayers in places like Minnesota, California, and Washington state. Yet the problem is deeper and more systemic. Rooting out actual theft is essential. So is confronting waste and abuse, especially within large health care institutions.

Last month, Save Our States launched a campaign calling out a massive hospital system run by the University of Miami. While its transplant center was failing, hospital executives were focused on building a lavish new lobby and expanding into Abu Dhabi.

Our new exposé on Cleveland Clinic found surprisingly similar luxury expenses. It has an in-house art museum, for example, boasting a “world-renowned collection” of nearly 7,000 pieces of contemporary art. Like many hospitals, it spares no expense on public relations and advertising — Cleveland Clinic even ran its own Super Bowl ad.

The clinic pays millions in executive salaries. Those executives are planning a massive new sports center with the Cleveland Cavaliers, to go along with their fancy foreign facilities in places like London, Toronto, and — once again — Abu Dhabi.

How do these expenses benefit American patients? And why should taxpayers subsidize any of it?

Some medical providers do pay taxes. A doctor with an independent practice gets taxed like any other business. But sell that practice to a tax-exempt hospital, even one with billions in revenue, and suddenly it becomes tax-exempt. At the same time, hospital-owned practices often start adding “hospital facility fees” on top of regular bills.

They charge patients more for the same services, then pay less in taxes. No wonder massive hospital systems buy up smaller practices and facilities. These are policy choices, not market forces, driving consolidation in health care. The result is lower quality, higher prices, and misplaced priorities.

RELATED: America has a spending problem Congress refuses to fix

DNY59/Getty Images

For many Americans, the rising prices go first to their insurance, later showing up in rising premiums and lower take-home pay. And all Americans see the cost in taxes. Everyone pays somehow, in higher costs, less access to care, or both.

Meanwhile, hospital executives are leading luxurious lifestyles while claiming that every dollar spent — on television commercials, Abu Dhabi real estate, or modern art — is “health care.”

During its spending spree, Cleveland Clinic has faced allegations of deceptive billing, accusations of overcharging patients, reports of underpaying nurses, and stories of medical debt lawsuits brought against its own patients.

Our new site, ClevelandClinicBetrayedPatients.com, documents the misplaced priorities of this massive, taxpayer-supported hospital system.

Given that Cleveland Clinic is in Vice President JD Vance’s home state of Ohio, hopefully he can make it a focus of his new appointment by President Trump to lead the “war on fraud.” The vice president and congressional leaders need to scrutinize spending at all subsidized hospitals — starting with the biggest.

The question is not: “Does it do some good somewhere?” One good program does not justify waste elsewhere. The question is: “Are any taxpayer dollars subsidizing waste, abuse, or unnecessary extravagance?”

Americans need health systems that respect taxpayers and put patients first. More than anything, we need the kind of competition that creates accountability, demands transparency, fosters innovation, and produces better services at lower prices.

​Tax exempt, Cleveland clinic, American healthcare, Healthcare costs, Affordability, Save our states, War on fraud, Jd vance, Opinion & analysis 

New York City’s democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is reportedly preparing to hire a slew of additional staffers who could cost taxpayers $10 million, after previously claiming the city was facing a critical budget deficit.

The New York Post reported Wednesday that Mamdani plans to hire at least 79 more workers to support his “pet projects.”

‘Taxpayers who are already struggling should not be bankrolling useless woke jobs for socialists who can’t get real jobs in the real world.’

One of those positions includes a senior adviser for enforcement in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice. This individual would be responsible for “establishing policy vision and direction related to Enforcement” and is expected to “manage and coordinate across the assigned agencies, offices, and boards.” The job posting describes the department as advancing “policies that promote a more equitable and vibrant New York City.” The candidate could earn up to $200,000 annually.

Mamdani is also seeking to hire two temporary World Cup managers to help “lead the planning and delivery of inclusive, community-based public programming.” The salaries listed for both positions, a director of NYC World Cup Activations and a project manager for NYC World Cup programming, are over $100,000.

Additionally, the mayor’s office is seeking an adviser for legislative advocacy, with a salary of up to $155,000.

Mamdani has pledged to work toward rolling out so-called free universal child care to New York City parents. The city is currently hiring a senior project manager who could earn up to $150,000 a year to lead that initiative.

RELATED: Socialist Mamdani rolls out costly ‘free’ child care program to NYC workers — after crying financial crisis

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

A senior adviser for fast and free buses, who could earn $180,000 a year, will have “latitude to exercise a wide degree of authority” for the “coordination, implementation, and successful completion of any projects related to the Fast and Free Buses.”

Last month, the Post reported that Mamdani’s Office of Mass Engagement was seeking to fill over a dozen positions the news outlet described as “catered to activists.” Those positions would reportedly cost taxpayers approximately $2 million.

The Post estimated that if Mamdani’s office filled all positions, the city’s payroll would increase by 20% compared to the former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.

RELATED: Mamdani made big promises to cut the budget — here’s the embarrassing result so far

Zohran Mamdani. Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

“At best, he’s hypocritically spending money we don’t have on his supporters,” a Democratic operative told the Post. “At worst, he is breaking the law by using taxpayer dollars for political benefit.”

“City Hall now needs to be super clear about why these hires are needed and how they’re chosen,” the individual added.

A second Democratic insider told the Post, “Someone should remind the mayor that the city’s budget is not like his daddy’s credit card.”

“Taxpayers who are already struggling should not be bankrolling useless woke jobs for socialists who can’t get real jobs in the real world,” the second operative said.

Mamdani previously claimed the city faced a $12 billion budget deficit after Adams left office. He has since stated that the deficit has been reduced to $5.4 billion. Adams has denied Mamdani’s claims, insisting that he left over $8 billion in reserves.

Mamdani’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

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​News, Zohran mamdani, Mamdani, Eric adams, New york city, New york, Nyc, Democratic socialist, Socialist, Politics 

For decades, Americans have been conditioned to fear AI. From big-budget blockbusters portraying apocalyptic scenarios to TV shows and books that show AI in a negative light, AI has been shown negatively ever since HAL refused to open the bay doors.

This Hollywood-driven fear has affected real policy change on the state level. The problem is that many of these policies are overly restrictive and come from a place of fear rather than objectivity.

AI innovators should have one set of rules to follow nationwide, rather than being forced to tailor products and services according to a patchwork of laws.

They come from an understandable place, of course. AI has been known to hallucinate legal cases and run roughshod over privacy law, and it can be used in abusive and hurtful ways. It is imperative that humans remain involved in decision-making and implement strong safeguards against misuse. The White House recently called for such policies in the National AI Legislative Framework.

But the Trump administration has also recognized that regulations can be a hindrance.

This is why President Trump issued an executive order to establish a federal framework for AI regulation last December. “My Administration must act with the Congress to ensure that there is a minimally burdensome national standard — not 50 discordant State ones,” he wrote in the order. “The resulting framework must forbid State laws that conflict with the policy set forth in this order. … A carefully crafted national framework can ensure that the United States wins the AI race, as we must.”

The order also directed the secretary of commerce to publish a report examining AI regulations from coast to coast. It will identify state AI laws the administration considers “onerous” to create a targeting map that will inform the priorities of the Justice Department’s AI Litigation Task Force.

Colorado — which is already in the administration’s crosshairs, according to the executive order — and other states whose laws make the list (such as California, New York, and Illinois) could lose significant federal dollars.

Although President Trump’s order targets states, cities aren’t in the clear. The DOJ recently created a new Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch within the Civil Division that is tasked with “filing lawsuits against states, municipalities, and private entities that interfere with or obstruct federal policies,” underscoring the administration’s intent to challenge local laws that appear to violate the Supremacy Clause.

RELATED: California’s next dumb tech idea: Show your papers to scroll

Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Centralizing AI oversight makes sense. Without a deep understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning, city and state leaders can inadvertently hinder progress in the field of technology (such as restricting the use of aged, anonymized data for algorithm training).

Regardless of the federal funding at stake, city and state statutes governing AI should be reviewed for conflicts with federal policy, which is being carefully designed to allow growth across industries where, today, progress is often powered by AI.

For the good of America’s economic engine, AI innovators should have one set of rules to follow nationwide, rather than being forced to tailor products and services according to a patchwork of laws.

The future is here, and we should not be afraid of it. AI is a powerful driver for progress in business, science, medicine, and a variety of other fields. Efficiency, accuracy, productivity, creativity, and analysis are magnified and elevated by this technology.

Cities and states should seek to harness this tool and use it for their people. The way forward is smart, federally driven guardrails that allow innovation to flourish, not a giant stop sign.

​Ai, Artificial intelligence, Donald trump, Trump administration, State ai laws, Ai regulation, Ai litigation task force, Opinion & analysis 

AI is completely decimating computer component supply chains, causing mass RAM shortages and increasing prices for new products. While most premium consumer electronics are feeling the heat from these constraints, the gaming industry is getting hit particularly hard. Along with new consoles from Valve’s Steam hardware division, Nvidia’s gaming GPU road map is floundering, and no reprieve is in sight.

Nvidia’s stunted GPU road map

Nvidia is one of the hottest companies on the planet right now, rising up the valuation charts to fifth place after spending years below the top 10. Most of this growth was driven by its GPUs tuned for AI, but although the company has taken a liking to its spot atop the AI hierarchy, its humble beginnings took root in the gaming industry.

Buy your new gear now. Right now. If you can find it.

Nvidia makes some of the best gaming GPUs money can buy, and its products are the gold standard that most game developers use when crafting their games. Unfortunately, gaming hardware just isn’t as lucrative as an entire roster of Big Tech giants willing to spend billions on the best gear to train their large language models.

RAM shortages have caused Nvidia to make a hard decision — keep printing money on the backs of Big Tech or pinch pennies with gamers who want the best graphics. It chose the former.

Latest reports revealed a bleak outlook for Nvidia’s gaming GPU lineup. The first red flag was when it skipped out on unveiling new GPUs at CES in January, a move that is very unlike Nvidia. We’ve since learned that the RTX 50 Super series refresh that was on the way is now delayed. Adding insult to injury, the next-generation RTX 60 series was pushed back even further, rolling to 2027 or maybe even 2028.

That means Nvidia’s gaming GPUs are virtually stuck in limbo, forcing gamers to purchase the same equipment that’s already a year old and aging quickly. Now, that doesn’t mean the 50 series is lacking in terms of performance; they’re still very capable cards. But it does mean that innovation in the industry will stall until Nvidia remembers that it used to be a gaming company before its ostentatious affair with AI.

Steam Machine delays

Valve, meanwhile, has been on a roll lately, with its first-ever handheld gaming computer, the Steam Deck, reaching critical acclaim among gamers everywhere. The launch went so well that Valve decided to take a second stab at a full TV console, once again dubbed Steam Machine.

RELATED: 10 years ago, hundreds of millions played a new video game. It was secretly built to harvest their data.

JianGang Wang/Getty Images

The device is said to be a PC/console hybrid powered by SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based gaming platform that, in many ways, offers better gaming performance than Windows. Without a crystal ball, it’s impossible to predict whether the Steam Machine sequel will be received better than the original, but if the Steam Deck’s success is any indication, Valve could have a breakout hit on its hands.

The only problem is that the Steam Machine, which was set to release in the first half of 2026, has now been delayed, thanks to — you guessed it — RAM shortages. Some estimates suspect that the console will now arrive mid-year, but Valve hasn’t confirmed this timeline yet. The company has also refrained from announcing an official price, citing that fluctuating RAM costs could drive the final MSRP higher.

Making matters even worse, the Steam Deck has also curiously disappeared from shelves in recent weeks, sparking concerns over Valve’s entire console business.

OEMs fight back

Some OEMs are trying to find ways around the RAM shortages in order to keep their product road maps alive, but the results could be detrimental to their brands. PC manufacturers like Dell, ASUS, and HP are reportedly looking to lesser-known Chinese companies outside their usual supply chains to provide RAM for their laptops.

While this could cut down on RAM costs and boost availability, the memory from these Chinese suppliers are untested in name-brand computers at scale. That means performance could suffer, and it could even open these laptops to security risks.

What are gamers to do?

Needless to say, all of this puts gamers in a tough position. With new hardware delays, market scarcity, potential shoddy RAM options, and rising prices, it’s growing more difficult for gamers to upgrade their existing hardware or make repairs as old components start to break.

The worst part is that RAM shortages are expected to last into 2028. As they drag on, fewer products will be available, and prices on current hardware will jump to even more unreasonable levels. There’s just not enough supply to meet demand, and that could make it impossible for gamers to get the gear they need.

Now you have three options:

Pray that your current rig holds out until the end of the decade when, hopefully, these issues are resolved.Try cloud gaming. It might be easier to rent a rig until this all gets sorted out. But in doing that, you own less of your gaming experience, leaving yourself open to the dictates of companies that could eventually require biometric authentication for access, as is the case with Discord’s new ID-enforced age restrictions.Buy your new gear now. Right now. If you can find it.

Why you should buy now, if you can

If you want a 50 series GPU or a brand-new Steam Deck, you might be out of luck. But if a gaming laptop is what you’re after, there’s hope.

Because Nvidia didn’t release new GPUs for 2026, most of the “new” gaming laptops launching this year are minor refreshes. Instead of waiting for these models to drop, last year’s models with the same GPUs are still available and ripe for the picking.

I took advantage of this loophole myself, snatching up a 2025 ROG Zephyrus G14 with a stellar 5070 Ti that was made with premium parts from a time before the RAM shortages. It’s the smarter option than springing for the marginally better 2026 version with an inflated price tag, internals from a third-rate Chinese supplier, and more than likely, a delayed release date. Given the way the market has shaken out, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

Gamers have to choose what’s best for them, but one thing is clear: If you don’t buy new hardware now, you might be waiting until the turn of the decade for better upgrades to come along, and in the fast-paced world of video games, that’s a long time to wait indeed.

​Tech, Nvidia, Ai, Artificial intelligence, Gpu 

A New York City Police Dept. officer shot and killed a man during a parole warrant arrest in the man’s Bronx apartment.

A friend and neighbor of 44-year-old Lucien Colon accused police of killing him for no reason, but police say he would not put down a gun during the arrest.

Colon’s girlfriend said the convicted murderer and rapist was her ‘ride-and-die partner’ before his death.

Colon also had a long history of criminal violence, including a murder conviction from 2013, a rape conviction from 1997, and an attempted murder arrest in 1995.

Police said he had failed to meet his requirements as a sex offender and had an outstanding arrest warrant.

Warrant Squad officers said they were allowed inside the apartment on Willis Avenue between Bruckner Boulevard and East 132nd Street at about 6:45 a.m. by Colon’s girlfriend, Marivel Antoinette.

But when they encountered Colon, they asked him to show his hands, and he allegedly responded that he had a gun.

When officers told him to step out of the room he was in, he refused and added, “It’s not going to happen.”

“During this verbal interaction, which lasted for approximately a minute and a half, the officers showed extreme restraint and truly attempted to de-escalate the situation,” NYPD Deputy Chief John Wilson said.

Colon refused to comply with several orders before one officer shot him.

He was transported to Lincoln Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“We can’t confirm that yet, whether it’s a real gun or not. It’s potentially a BB gun, but we’re not sure,” Wilson added.

They released a photo of the gun via CrimeStoppers.

Colon’s girlfriend said the convicted murderer and rapist was her “ride-and-die partner” before his death. She said they had been together for two years and accused the police of damaging their door to gain entry and failing to identify themselves as police.

“I’m angry. It’s like, I should’ve stood in the room because he was my ride-and-die partner. He was my king; I was his queen,” Antoinette said.

A spokesperson for the NYPD said bodycam footage shows otherwise.

“The entire incident was depicted on the officers’ body-worn cameras, and that footage shows the officers were given permission to enter the residence,” the spokesperson said.

RELATED: Thug who brutally raped 94-year-old in broad daylight had just been released after other rape charge was dropped, police say

“The gun was hidden in the bedroom, and they just killed him for no reason,” Colon’s friend said.

No officers were injured.

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​Lucien colon killed by nypd, Rapist and murderer killed by cops, Man killed by police, Bronx apartment nypd killing, Crime 

This April Fools’ Day wasn’t just for jokes — but rather an incredible show of American ingenuity as astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission took flight on the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

“Exploration is what we do,” BlazeTV host Pat Gray says on “Pat Gray Unleashed.”

“It’s deeply embedded in us. It unites us with a common goal. It creates a sense of national pride, excitement, focus, and the technology advances that we accomplish in overcoming all the obstacles to get there. That’s a tangible, practical reason for doing this,” Gray continues.

However, Gray also points out that there’s some “nonsense” that will come with the historic launch.

“People always ask, ‘Why don’t we go back there? Why did we stop? ‘Cause we don’t really have the technology,’” Gray mocks. “No, it’s because liberals, the whiny, stinking liberals who hated any kind of advancement by the United States of America, put a stop to it.”

“You like your cell phone? OK, that came from this technology. You like advanced cameras? OK, that came from NASA technology. Wireless communication of all kinds. You like the bed you sleep on, the memory foam probably came from NASA,” he continues.

“Things you don’t even expect like scratch-resistant glass and glasses and sunglasses and computer technology, the laptop,” he says, before calling himself a “NASA apologist.”

“I wish I was on their payroll,” he laughs. “That would be great.”

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​Pat gray unleashed, Pat gray, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Return the moon, Artemis ii, The moon landing, Space exploration, The final frontier, Nasa 

There’s a familiar drumbeat in Washington, and it rhymes with something that sounds a lot like “war in the Middle East.” Another conflict, another justification, another moment where the American people are told that war abroad is necessary, urgent, and somehow in our national interest.

The economic consequences of war abroad are making it even harder to build stability at home.

This time, it’s Iran. But before we rush headlong into yet another foreign entanglement, we need to ask a simple question: What about here at home? Because if America First means anything at all, it should mean putting Americans first.

A nation in debt, funding another war

Right now, the United States is staring down a national debt approaching $39 trillion, yet despite that staggering reality, Washington has no hesitation about opening the checkbook for another war.

In just the first week of the conflict with Iran, U.S. taxpayers were already on the hook for more than $11 billion, according to reports from Time. Estimates now suggest the war is costing anywhere from $1 billion to as much as $2 billion per day depending on the intensity of operations, as reported by Al Jazeera.

This misplaced priority becomes even more glaring when you look at how we treat our veterans. Every year, thousands of men and women who served this country come home and fall through the cracks. In 2023 alone, 6,398 veterans died by suicide — nearly 18 lives lost every single day according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual suicide prevention report.

These are individuals who carried the burden of war only to return to a system that is too often underfunded, overwhelmed, and slow to respond. When a government struggles to meet its obligations to those who have already served but is more than happy to fund another conflict, it raises serious questions about whether our priorities are aligned with our values.

The hidden tax

War doesn’t just show up in a Pentagon budget; it shows up in everyday life.

It shows up at the gas pump, in grocery bills, and in the monthly budgets of families already stretched thin. Since the conflict with Iran began, gas prices have surged to around $3.90 to $4 per gallon nationally, with projections that they could climb toward $5 if the conflict continues.

In some regions, prices are already pushing beyond that threshold, and the increase has been sharp, with jumps of nearly $1 per gallon in a matter of weeks.

For young families, this is more than an inconvenience; it’s a compounding financial strain layered on top of an already difficult economic environment. Mortgage rates remain elevated, and inflation has eroded savings, making homeownership increasingly out of reach.

Higher fuel costs ripple through the economy, driving up the price of goods, services, and utilities, which means families are paying more to maintain their standard of living.

At a time when many Americans are struggling to get ahead, the economic consequences of war abroad are making it even harder to build stability at home.

RELATED: America First can’t survive an Iran quagmire

Blaze Media Illustration

You can’t be pro-troop and pro-neglect

We cannot claim to support our troops while ignoring them the moment they take off the uniform. Public displays of patriotism are meaningless when thousands of veterans are left to navigate broken systems, inadequate care, and, in too many cases, homelessness and despair.

It is difficult to justify pouring billions into another war when we have not fully honored the commitments we owe to those who have already served.

This is not a question of isolationism but of responsibility. National strength is not defined solely by military capability or willingness to engage abroad; it is grounded in the health, stability, and cohesion of the nation itself.

President Trump and Republicans campaigned on this, won in 2024 because of this, and now risk losing everything because they are turning their backs on the people who gave them an unprecedented mandate.

Every new conflict inevitably creates more veterans scarred by war, and if we are unable or unwilling to properly support the ones we already have, it is fair to ask what exactly we are preparing for.

Washington often speaks about defending democracy overseas, but what about our people, our prosperity, our future? Right now, those priorities appear inverted. We have veterans sleeping on the streets, families struggling under rising costs, and a debt crisis that threatens long-term economic stability, yet the focus in Washington remains on another war.

That is not America First. It is America distracted.

If we want to restore strength and stability, it begins by rebuilding at home, honoring our commitments, and ensuring that the people who have already sacrificed for this country are not forgotten.

​America first, Iran war, Operation epic fury, Veterans, National debt, Cost of living, Affordability, Opinion & analysis