Rick Burgess, BlazeTV host of the biblical spiritual warfare podcast “Strange Encounters,” recently received a deeply disturbing email from one of his listeners.

In the message, the man, now grown, reflects on a bone-chilling experience he had as an adolescent at a church youth camp. On the first night in his cabin, two fellow campers convinced him to play the “Bloody Mary” game — a children’s urban legend ritual where you stand in a darkened bathroom, face a mirror, and chant “bloody Mary” three times to supposedly summon a vengeful ghostly woman.

What he saw in the mirror haunts him to this day.

“After the second statement of bloody Mary, I chickened out. I stepped away from the mirror,” the email reads.

But one of the other campers, known as “Tim,” then attempted to grab him to force him to stay. As he reached out, Tim caught a glimpse of another mirror outside the bathroom where the trio were playing the game.

“He screamed in terror as we all dropped to the floor. Tim described a dark shadow in the shape of a person walking. The mirror was situated in a way that the reflection of anyone in the room would have been from the waist up. But Tim’s description was that of a full head-to-foot body walking and actually growing larger as if it were coming from a distance inside the mirror toward our room,” the writer continues, adding that he’s “never seen anyone as genuinely terrified as Tim.”

Right after this climactic moment, a youth pastor, making his evening rounds, knocked on the door to check on the campers. The boys told him about their horrifying experience, and he warned them: “Urban legends like these are not something to play around with. … These are often used by demons … as invitations to come in.”

“The youth pastor is correct,” says Rick.

“Playing around with some of this stuff may seem so innocent, just like this 6-7 thing,” but urban legends and viral internet memes are often darker than people realize, he warns.

He compares brushing off seeming trivialities like Bloody Mary games and the 6-7 slang phrase to parents shrugging their shoulders as their kid plays along the side of a busy road or messes around with knives or matches.

“These kinds of things we would never do, but sometimes when it comes to entertainment and the culture, it’s like we won’t take the same attitude,” he says.

“If we truly believe what the Bible says and that the spiritual realm is real and that we have a devil and we have Satan, the fallen angel Lucifer that is extremely powerful … and then the demons, which also operate with him … then why do we pretend that that is not dangerous?” he asks.

To hear more of Rick’s spiritual analysis and learn more about the dark trends our youth are entangled in, watch the full episode above.

Want more from Rick Burgess?

To enjoy more bold talk and big laughs, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Strange encounters, Blazetv, Blaze media, Rick burgess, Rick burgess strange encounters, Spiritual warfare, Bloody mary, 6 7, 6 7 trend 

The latest joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran have been met in America with bipartisan praise and condemnation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of America’s most vociferous advocates for regime change in Iran, rushed to celebrate the “historic operation,” noting that he is “in awe of President Trump’s determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evil’s worst nightmare.”

‘This is not “America First.”‘

Graham wrote in one of several emotion-laden commentaries, “My mind is racing with the thought that the murderous ayatollah’s regime in Iran will soon be no more. The biggest change in the Middle East in a thousand years is upon us.”

Graham was hardly alone in his celebration of the regime-change strikes on the Shiite nation.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (R) provided a laundry list of reasons why this is a “vital mission of vengeance, and justice, and safety,” noting, “Iran has waged war against the U.S. for 47 years: the hostage crisis, the Beirut Marine barracks, Khobar Towers, roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan that killed or maimed thousands of American soldiers, the attempted assassination of President Trump.”

RELATED: World leaders respond to regime-change strikes on Iran: ‘Peacekeeper is at it again’

Photo by Mahsa/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

“The butcher’s bill has finally come due for the ayatollahs,” added Cotton, who signaled appreciation in a separate post for Trump’s speech.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee with Cotton, thanked Trump for his “strong leadership,” and characterized Operation Epic Fury as both a demonstration of “peace through strength” and “AMERICA FIRST.”

Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) joined Graham and the other Republicans in lavishing praise on President Donald Trump for attacking Iran, stating, “President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.”

“God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel,” continued the Democrat.

Several of Fetterman’s Democrat colleagues condemned the attacks and the president’s perceived circumvention of Congress, which retains the authority to declare war.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) claimed that “single-handedly starting another war with Iran is dangerous and illegal” and expressed doubt about whether “America first” meant another foreign entanglement.

Democrat Sen. Mark Warner (Va.) raised concerns about the constitutionality of the strikes, noting, “The Constitution is clear: the decision to take this nation to war rests with Congress, and launching large-scale military operations — particularly in the absence of an imminent threat to the United States — raises serious legal and constitutional concerns.”

Warner demanded that the administration “come forward with a clear legal justification, a defined end state, and a plan that avoids dragging the United States into yet another costly and unnecessary war.”

While Congress was not formally briefed on the strikes, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with and briefed the Gang of Eight, which includes the Democrat and Republican leaders from both the Senate and the House.

A spokesperson for Johnson confirmed to NOTUS that Johnson was notified. Sources also told NOTUS that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) were notified along with Sen. Warner, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), and Republican Rep. Rick Crawford (Ark.).

RELATED: Iran sparks regional war after retaliating against US military assets over ‘massive’ US-Israel strike

Photo by Stringer/Getty Images

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) — who recently filed a Senate resolution with Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) that would block a war against Iran unless approved by Congress — was less restrained than Warner in his criticism of the president.

Kaine accused Trump of waging an “illegal war,” called the strikes a “colossal mistake,” and implored his colleagues to “go on the record about this dangerous, unnecessary, and idiotic action” and vote on his war powers resolution.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a critic of the president who has similarly attempted to prevent Trump from going to war with Iran without congressional approval, referred to the attacks as “acts of war unauthorized by Congress.”

In a subsequent post on social media, Massie stated, “I am opposed to this War. This is not ‘America First.'”

“When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran,” continued Massie. “The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Foreign entangelement, Intervention, Regime change, Iran, Tehran, Thomas massie, Massie, Tim kaine, Democrat, Republican, Fetterman, Iranian, Strikes, Missile, Military, War, Donald trump, Politics 

The joint American and Israeli military operation launched against Iran on Saturday — dubbed Operation Epic Fury — has prompted mixed responses abroad.

While Russian officials were among the most critical of the strikes, several European leaders similarly condemned the American-Israeli initiative.

Amid reports of massive explosions in numerous Iranian cities as well as retaliatory attacks on American bases in the region and Israel, a spokesman for the British government stated, “We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict.”

The British spokesman — whose government previously blocked a request from President Donald Trump to use U.K. air bases during a preemptive attack on Iran —added that “Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution.”

‘Take all firm measures necessary to confront Iranian violations.’

Whereas the U.K. government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared less than enthusiastic about the strikes, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed solidarity with the U.S. and Israel “as they take on the threat of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its vile regime.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke critically of “Iran’s murderous regime and the Revolutionary Guards,” but claimed that the “developments in Iran are greatly concerning” and urged “all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law.”

Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs noted that it “is deeply alarmed by today’s strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran,” and echoed von der Leyen’s request that warring parties “exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

RELATED: Iran sparks regional war after retaliating against US military assets over ‘massive’ US-Israel strike

Aftermath of an Iran strike on the main headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Manama. Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images.

Some European leaders similarly expressed concern about escalation while signaling their opposition to the Iran regime, the health of which is now in doubt.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that “the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security.”

Macron, presuming there is something left of Iran’s “Islamic regime,” suggested Tehran “now has no other option but to engage in good faith … negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs.”

Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s foreign affairs minister, did not similarly balance his critical remarks about the strikes with criticism of Iran, suggesting instead that the initial strikes were unlawful.

“The attack is described by Israel as a pre-emptive strike, but it is not in accordance with international law. A pre-emptive attack would require the existence of an imminent threat,” said Eide.

Spain’s leftist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, spoke scathingly of the strikes as well as of Iran’s retaliation, stating, “We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order.”

“We likewise reject the actions of the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard,” continued Sanchez. “We cannot afford another prolonged and devastating war in the Middle East.”

Russia, which recently held joint military exercises with Iran, went further in its condemnation of the strikes.

RELATED: U.S. and Israel launch ‘massive’ strikes against Iran: ‘We may have casualties’

Photo by Bedirhan Demirel/Anadolu via Getty Images

Mikhail Ulyanov, a Russian foreign services official, said in a statement shared by the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, “The new aggression of Israel and the US against Iran is fraught with the danger of significant deterioration and destabilisation in the Middle East.”

Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated, “The peacekeeper is at it again.”

“The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that. So who has more patience to wait for the enemy’s sorry end now?” continued Medvedev. “The US is just 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded over 2500 years ago. Let’s see what happens in 100 years or so.”

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, the foreign minister of Cuba, an Iranian ally, referred to the attacks as “treacherous aggression,” adding, “These irresponsible actions undermine international peace and security, and constitute a clear transgression of International Law and the UN Charter.”

Communist China, which has in recent years developed a strong strategic partnership with Iran, was relatively quiet about the latest joint U.S.-Israeli strikes in West Asia. As of early Saturday morning, Beijing appears to have limited its public communications on the matter to words of caution to Chinese nationals in the region.

Saudi Arabia and other American strategic partners in the Middle East focused their ire on Iran.

The Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry called “on the international community to condemn these blatant attacks and to take all firm measures necessary to confront Iranian violations that undermine the security and stability of the region.”

Qatar echoed Saudi Arabia, calling the Iranian strikes a “flagrant violation of its national sovereignty, a direct infringement on its security and territorial integrity, and an unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney avoided criticizing the attacks, noting instead, “Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Geopolitics, Russia, Regime change, Iran, Donald trump, Europe, Qatar, Dubai, Foreign entanglement, Israel, Iran strikes, Attacks, War, Politics 

Once you burn your credibility, it’s hard to get back.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) deceived voters and concealed her true leftist agenda to win the governor’s mansion last year. Now she and her fellow Democrats are lying to Virginians about a new gerrymandered congressional district map they placed on the April 21 ballot as a constitutional amendment.

The new map ensures that most rural voters will be represented by people who live in Fairfax and were elected by voters in the DC suburbs.

It’s a naked attempt to make it impossible for Republicans to win election to Congress in most places in Virginia, and it’s why she was rewarded with the plum assignment of responding to President Trump’s State of the Union address this week.

The Virginia Supreme Court has already had one chance to stop the gerrymandering by upholding a judge’s ruling that Democrats cut legal corners to get the measure on the ballot. The justices, however, inexplicably chose to wait until the vote takes place.

I filed another lawsuit to bring new challenges, along with my Republican House colleague Morgan Griffith (Va.-9), the Republican National Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee. We won in circuit court, blocking the referendum again, so our Supreme Court will have another chance to do the right thing.

As we wait for a ruling, it’s important that people have the facts.

Spanberger masqueraded as a moderate in her campaign and won ceaseless praise from the media for her focus on “affordability.” But she dropped that as soon as she was sworn in and went right back to what she truly believes.

She returned Virginia to the multistate, radical environmental scheme that artificially raises electricity rates by $500 million every year. She’s currently considering a variety of tax increases proposed by Democrats in the Virginia legislature, including bumps in the sales and income tax, as well as taxes on everyday services like dog-walking and gym memberships. She has yet to rule out raising taxes on anything.

All of this is the opposite of what she ran on.

Now Spanberger and her Democrats have turned to stealing congressional seats. Naturally, they’re lying about that as well.

It’s nothing complicated. They’re taking Virginia’s current congressional district map, which produced six Democrats and five Republican members, and redrawing the lines to twist it into a 10-to-1 map in favor of Democrats.

Kamala Harris won here in the 2024 presidential race with less than 52% of the vote, but this map would award her party 91% of our congressional seats.

They’re assigning new federal representation to Virginians who didn’t ask for it, and there’s every likelihood that some of the lines were drawn to benefit specific Democrat politicians. One thing that’s certain is that no one was thinking of the well-being of voters when they hatched this plot.

As an example, take Fairfax County, vote-rich and dominated by Democrats in Northern Virginia outside Washington, D.C.

The new map carves Fairfax into five pieces and attaches them to districts that reach deep into Virginia’s rural regions. Picture the county as an octopus that has tentacles running throughout the state, and you’ll have an idea.

The configuration ensures that most rural voters will be represented by people who live in Fairfax and were elected by voters in the D.C. suburbs. It’s difficult to imagine what these groups might have in common geographically, culturally, or economically.

To top it off, just a few days ago, Democrats in the General Assembly decided they hadn’t cheated enough and twisted the screws even more to guarantee total victory in 10 of the 11 districts.

States usually redistrict following a census, but Democrats claim they must act now to balance Republican activities in other states. This excuse falls apart because most observers agree that Virginia’s new map is a particularly egregious example of partisan gerrymandering.

And Democrats lie when they talk about it.

RELATED: Democrats made Trump’s case for him Tuesday night

Photo by Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images

The party that told us that Joe Biden was mentally sharp now wants us to think a 10-1 congressional map promotes “fair elections,” as the advertising claims.

Democrats were even dishonest in the ballot question they wrote, which says it will temporarily “restore fairness” — without explanation or context — to elections in Virginia until the regular redistricting occurs in 2030.

We shouldn’t let politicians select their own voters, and Virginians were wise enough to see this coming.

Just six years ago, a whopping 66% of voters approved a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission. Unable to resist the lure of unchecked power, Virginia Democrats are trying to trick voters into undoing that so they can burgle those congressional seats.

National Democrats are paying attention.

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has already sent $5 million to the campaign to support the new map and pledged to spend “whatever it takes” on top of that.

Democrats hilariously claim to be restoring fairness.

But a party powerful enough to ram this down everyone’s throat isn’t the victim of unfairness. It’s the cause of it.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.

​Virginia, Virginia democrats, Gerrymandering, Abigail spanberger, Democrats, Republicans, Gerrymander, Partisan, Opinion & analysis, 2026 midterms 

Afforded a trifecta in November and no longer kept in check by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes, Democratic lawmakers in Virginia are poised to greatly limit gun rights in the state.

They are working to advance, for instance, a ban on the sale, purchase, manufacture, transfer, or importation of so-called “assault firearms” and magazines capable of holding over 10 rounds; a bill that would establish a five-day waiting period for all firearm sales; legislation that would impose an 11% tax on the purchase of any firearm or ammunition in the state; and a bill that would further limit where law-abiding Virginians can carry a gun.

‘Someone feels that they have the right to infringe upon this.’

The Second Amendment’s would-be curtailers in the General Assembly of Virginia — a state with the official motto Sic Semper Tyrannis, “Thus always to tyrants” — have a champion in Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), who made clear on the campaign trail last year, “I will sign commonsense gun violence prevention bills.”

It turns out that Virginians are less than enthused about the Democratic regime’s gun agenda.

A survey conducted from Feb. 16 to 17 by Quantus Insights found that registered voters overwhelmingly oppose the legislative proposals now being considered in Richmond.

Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed that “the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental freedom protected by the U.S. Constitution,” and 65% agreed with the statement that “gun control laws mainly make it harder for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, while criminals ignore the laws anyway.”

RELATED: ‘Fake Moderate’ Democratic governor demands local police cut ties with ICE

Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

When asked about a ban “on commonly owned firearms labeled as ‘assault weapons,'” 60% of respondents signaled opposition. Only 33% said they would support such a ban.

Sixty percent of Democrats and 15% of Republicans said that they would support a ban.

When asked about a ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds — a prohibition built into the Democratic bill passed by the state House in a 58-34 vote earlier this month — 58% of respondents signaled opposition.

An even greater percentage of respondents, 65%, said they opposed the proposed 11% state tax on firearms and ammunition.

Law enforcement leaders are among the loudest critics of the gun-control laws proposed by Democrats.

Amherst County Sheriff LJ Ayers, for instance, said in a video statement on Wednesday, “The Second Amendment grants us the right to bear arms — to protect ourselves, our homes, our property; to go with our children, our family, our friends out hunting, to enjoy God’s given nature — and someone feels that they have the right to infringe upon this.”

Ayers stressed that such efforts were “appalling” and emphasized that the Democratic legislation will only impact law-abiding citizens, not the criminals who’ll inevitably find workarounds.

WSET-TV reported that sheriffs in Campbell, Henry, Appomattox, and Bedford Counties have similarly spoken out against the proposed gun-control laws.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

​Democrats, Spanberger, Virginia, Guns, Second amendment, Constitution, Firearms, Right to bear, Gun control, Gun grab, Gun, Freedom, Politics