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Illegal immigrant arrested after shooting off his own finger in botched attempted murder

An illegal immigrant from Honduras was arrested in Haines City, Florida on Sunday after he allegedly attempted to kill his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend and instead accidentally shot off his own finger.

According to WFLA-TV, the attack occurred around 5:45pm on Sunday. Police say that the suspect, Jervin Omar Mendieta Romero, had been going through a “difficult separation” from his girlfriend of 20 years, who apparently broke up with him around four months ago. Police say that since the breakup, Romero had been sending his ex a series of increasingly violent and threatening text messages, including at least one in which he included a picture of himself holding a firearm.

Romero reportedly drove to his girlfriend’s house on Sunday, demanding entry. When his ex and her new boyfriend refused to admit him, Romero removed a screen window from the rear of the house and entered the house forcibly, whereupon he confronted the new boyfriend angrily and opened fire, hitting him in the hand, chest, shoulder, and head. According to police, the new boyfriend miraculously survived, but Romero somehow “blasted off” his own ring finger during the fusillade, whereupon he dropped the gun and fled from the scene on foot.

According to WFLA, police found Romero after a “multi-agency search” that involved Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. He was reportedly found by a Polk County K9 while hiding in the trees some miles from the scene of the crime.

WFLA also reported that Romero was not legally permitted to be in the country, and it is presently unclear how long he has been living in the United States. Police were reportedly involved in another trespassing incident earlier in 2024 involving Romero and his ex-girlfriend, but for reasons that are not clear, Romero was not deported following that incident.

Romero has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, burglary with assault and battery, and numerous other crimes in connection with the incident.

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At least 10 killed, dozens more injured in potential ‘terrorist attack’ in New Orleans

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a man plowed a pickup truck into a large crowd of partygoers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, causing terror and sending at least 30 others to the hospital with serious injuries. The attacker then reportedly exited the vehicle and began firing a weapon. New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell declared the incident a “terrorist attack” in a Wednesday morning briefing; however, the FBI disputed that characterization, saying that their agency has not yet confirmed this.

The attack reportedly occurred around 3:15 am local time at the intersection of Bourbon Street and Iberville.

In a Wednesday morning update to the media, New Orleans police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said, “It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace, and it was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could… It was not a DUI situation. This was more complex and more serious based on the information we have right now.”

Kirkpatrick also indicated that the FBI has taken over the investigation into this incident.

Police have not yet released any information regarding the attacker, including whether he is in custody, deceased, or still at large. Witnesses at the scene did tell local television station WWL-TV that they witnessed officers returning fire after the suspect exited the vehicle and began firing into the crowd. New Orleans police did confirm that two officers were injured in the attack, but it was not immediately clear if they were injured by the truck, gunfire, or both. The extent and seriousness of their injuries were also not clear.

This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant.

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What does the 2024 Bible ‘verse of the year’ reveal about our culture?

As the presidential election, economic instability, and foreign wars dominated headlines this year, a significant number of people appear to have turned to the Bible to comfort their anxiety.

YouVersion — the most popular Bible app in the world — named Philippians 4:6 the Bible “verse of the year” after users highlighted, bookmarked, and shared it more than any other verse in the Bible.

The promises of progressivism only produce chaos, destruction, and death.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” the verse, written by the apostle Paul, says.

The words “prayer” and “peace” were the most searched terms in the app this year, reflecting the themes in the app’s top 10 most popular Bible verses. At Bible Gateway — a popular Bible website — the most popular New Testament chapter of 2024 was Philippians 4, yet more evidence that people are searching for comfort in a chaotic and disordered world.

At the same time, Bible sales are booming.

Through October 2024, Bible sales had increased 22% compared to the same period in 2023. In the first 10 months of the year, Americans had purchased 13.7 million Bibles. At that pace, total sales for the entire year will far surpass 2023, when Americans purchased 14.2 million Bibles.

Importantly, many of those who purchased Bibles in 2024 were first-time buyers, the Wall Street Journal reported.

It’s easy to explain away the Bible sales boom as Americans looking to the word of God for hope and answers to their anxiety. I believe, however, that it reflects a growing realization that postmodern liberalism is a failed cultural experiment.

Progressive culture promises the good life, where every individual gets to be, essentially, his or her own God. But the promises of progressivism only produce chaos, destruction, and death.

Americans are searching for the true source of life — and they know where to find it: in the word of God.

YouVersion’s top 10 Bible verses of 2024:

Philippians 4:6 — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
2 Timothy 1:7 — “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Isaiah 41:10 — “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 — “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Ephesians 4:29 — “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
James 1:12 — “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Joshua 1:9 — “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 27:14 — “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

​Bible, Christianity, Anxiety, Philippians, Apostle paul, Faith 

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Chinese state-sponsored hackers compromise Treasury Department computers in ‘major’ incident

On Monday, Treasury Department officials admitted to lawmakers that state-sponsored Chinese hackers had compromised their computers and stolen documents in what they called a “major incident,” according to Reuters.

In a letter sent to members of Congress, Treasury Department officials said that the hackers “gained access to a key used by [a third-party] vendor to secure a cloud-based service used to remotely provide technical support for Treasury Departmental Offices (DO) end users. With access to the stolen key, the threat actor was able to override the service’s security, remotely access certain Treasury DO user workstations, and access certain unclassified documents maintained by those users.”

The vendor in question was Georgia-based BeyondTrust, which notified Treasury Department officials of the leak on December 8th. The letter further went on to claim that “Based on available indicators, the incident has been attributed to a China state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor.”

The Chinese government implausibly denied responsibility for the hack, saying, “China has always opposed all forms of hacker attacks.”

This is not even the first time this year that a major Chinese state-sponsored espionage/hacking operation has been revealed. Earlier this year, the CCP-sponsored Salt Typhoon campaign successfully gained access to the wireless networks of Verizon, AT&T, and others. This hack allowed the Chinese government to read the text messages of an unknown number of Americans.

Disturbingly, although the breach was revealed in October, the FBI said earlier this month that they still have not been able to evict the Chinese hackers from these networks and further said that it is “impossible to predict a time frame on when we’ll have full eviction.”

The Treasury Department letter claimed that the affected service has been taken offline and that the hackers no longer have access to the Treasury Department documents. It also promised that an investigation is underway.

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The DEFINITIVE top 10 stories of 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, Steve Deace, Todd Erzen, and Aaron McIntire are doing some reflecting on all that’s occurred over the past 366 days of this wild and unprecedented leap year.

“What a strange trip it has been,” says Deace.

The team takes on the challenging task of narrowing down the craziest events and happenings of 2024 into the top 10 stories of the year.

10. Adventures in ‘Scamdemia’

On January 2, 2024, Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned after journalist Christopher Rufo exposed her as a plagiarist. His investigation revealed that Gay used a number of uncited sources in her doctoral thesis.

“That was the beginning of a year on college and university campuses that was marked with intimidation and, in some cases, violence against Jewish students from pro-Hamas orcs as Israel continued its war against Hamas,” says McIntire, noting that it was “always unclear what, if anything, the protesters were demanding.”

9. America still likes baby-killing, but …

While 2023 saw some “extremely disappointing developments … for the cause of life,” 2024 was “more of a mixed bag,” says McIntire.

“Florida’s ‘kill them all’ amendment was defeated along with similar amendments in Nebraska and South Dakota,” but unfortunately, “pro-baby-killing amendments in places like Arizona, Montana, and Missouri all passed.”

On top of that, “the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in
Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine that physicians and medical associations lack the legal right to challenge the FDA’s approval of the abortifacient mifepristone” and “preserved access” to this drug, even in states where abortion is restricted.

8. Real America: Forgotten, abused, and gaslit

2024 was a year of lying and gaslighting. McIntire gives two prime examples of this.

One: Every time an economic report was released this year, it was “not exactly good but maybe passable with the correct spin,” he explains. However, in a month’s time, “the revised numbers [were] published, showing the economy was not nearly as rosy as previous numbers indicated.”

Two: When Hurricane Helene hit Florida and ravaged its way up the coast through six states, FEMA and other federal emergency organizations “were — and are — seemingly nowhere to be found,” especially in the deep-red area of Western North Carolina.

However, when speculation that the absence of aid was politically motivated ignited, we were told repeatedly that the notion was “hogwash,” says McIntire. That is, until a report from the Daily Wire revealed that a FEMA official ordered workers to skip houses with Trump signs. Then the truth became apparent.

This cycle of lying and gaslighting “was on wash, rinse, and repeat all year with various figures within the Biden administration,” he says.

7. Trans ain’t going away

Although Caitlin Clark “[set] new heights for female athletics and [became] an icon,” the realm of women’s sports was still tainted by the fact that several biological men posing as women were permitted to compete in women’s athletic leagues this year.

One of those individuals is San Jose State volleyball player Blaire Fleming, who “played all season for the Spartans, prompting several of their opponents to forfeit their matches in protest,” says McIntire.

He is one of several examples.

6. ‘I’m putting together a team’

Unlike his Cabinet picks from 2016, which included “John Backstabbing Kelly” and “James Tranny-loving Mattis,” this time around, an older and wiser Trump has tapped a number of excellent people to fill his Cabinet. From Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel to Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others, Trump’s second term is bound to look different.

5. So long, Joe

A month after special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s alleged improper retention of classified records concluded with no recommendation of criminal charges, as Biden was “a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory,” Biden dropped out of the presidential race following his disastrous debate against President-elect Donald Trump.

“Two days before that debate — June 25 — CNN runs a headline saying it’s a right-wing conspiracy with fake videos that Biden’s mentally unfit,” Deace recalls.

Then when Biden’s debate performance proved this “conspiracy” correct, then “the media that covered for him all the time suddenly does a pivot and now retcons themselves as the gatekeepers of democracy with great concern about the president’s faculty.”

4. Illegal immigration and the murder of Laken Riley

“The most conservative estimates from our government’s own data put the number of illegals who have come into this country during the Biden administration at over 7.2 million,” says McIntire. “The real number? Significantly higher, probably.”

Among those millions were many violent criminals, drug lords, and gang members — perhaps the most notable being Jose Ibarra, who murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Riley then became a kind of face for the movement of people who support mass deportations.

3. Lawfare

In 2024, “Donald Trump faced an extensive array of unfair legal challenges,” says McIntire.

Those include the New York hush-money case, during which he was convicted on 34 felony accounts for falsifying business records; the classified documents case, during which he was indicted on 37 counts; the election interference case, during which he faced numerous federal charges for actions related to the 2020 election; and the Fulton County, Georgia, case, in which Trump and others were charged under the RICO Act for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the state’s 2020 election results.

On top of that, “he faced a bevy of civil lawsuits, including a significant fraud case by New York Attorney General Letitia James, where he was fined a substantial amount,” adds McIntire.

Further, “there were various efforts to disqualify him from the ballot — like in Colorado, which removed him from the ballot before they were smacked down by the Supreme Court — and there were other sundry efforts to label him as an insurrectionist.”

“These cases collectively — all of them ranging in validity from specious to malicious — added up for a year of lawfare, but there’s a reason why he’s called Teflon Don, as many of those suits fell apart,” adds McIntire.

2. They tried to kill him

“In a shocking but not surprising turn of events, at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, an assassination attempt rocked the nation on July 13 of this year. Just minutes into his speech at the Butler Farm Show grounds, gunshots rang out, grazing Trump’s ear and leading to immediate chaos,” McIntire recalls.

But “Trump in this iconic moment rose to his feet after being shot in the head and yelled to his supporters, ‘Fight, fight, fight!'” which resulted in one of the most iconic photographs of all time.

The attempt on Trump’s life, McIntire points out, was largely the result of the legacy media that perpetuated the narrative that Trump is Hilter.

1. Trump wins, again

Not only did he win the Electoral College, he also won the popular vote.

“That’s really all that needs to be said,” says McIntire.

To hear more on each event, as well as the crew’s list of honorable mentions, watch the episode above.

Want more from Steve Deace?

To enjoy more of Steve’s take on national politics, Christian worldview, and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Steve deace show, Steve deace, Aron mcintire, Todd erzen, 2024, Donald trump, Blazetv, Blaze media, Trump victory, Trump assassination attempt 

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A New Year’s resolution for every American man: Learn to fight

The New Year is here, a time for people to make vague resolutions about being better, healthier, and more respectable. Yet few follow through because these goals lack clarity and purpose.

For the men reading this, let me suggest something tangible, transformative, and essential: Learn to fight.

Growing up in Ireland, I was all talk and no action — a sharp tongue but very little ability to back it up. After a string of schoolyard beatings, my father enrolled me in boxing lessons.

Not because it’s trendy or because you’re gearing up for a postapocalyptic scenario (though that’s not entirely out of the question). It’s because fighting is one of the few skills that strengthens both mind and body while reconnecting you with the essence of being a man.

A sorry state

American men today are in crisis — statistically, socially, and spiritually. They are 3.6 times more likely to die by suicide than women, with nearly a third of men under 30 having no long-term partner or relationship. Many feel lost and alienated, unsure of their role in a world that increasingly sidelines traditional masculinity.

Adding to this crisis, physical fitness has plummeted. Obesity rates among men are soaring. Forget about throwing a punch — many can barely bend over to tie their laces without throwing up. This physical decline mirrors the emotional and social malaise, leaving countless men feeling powerless and disconnected from their own bodies.

The traits that once defined manhood — resilience, physical strength, and the ability to protect — have faded into the background. This disconnect has resulted in a generation of men who feel adrift, living lives devoid of purpose.

If our forefathers could see us now, they’d be horrified — perhaps even repulsed. The men who built civilizations with their hands, defended their communities, and carried themselves with pride would struggle to recognize the soft, aimless slobs that many have become today.

Why fight?

Historically, fighting was integral to being a man — not just for survival but as a core part of identity. It symbolized strength, courage, and the ability to protect and provide. Kings didn’t simply inherit their crowns; they earned them on the battlefield, leading their warriors and defending their realms.

To rule was to fight, to endure, and to stand tall in the face of danger. The Greeks understood this better than most, immortalizing combat in the Olympic Games with wrestling, boxing, and pankration — a brutal mix of wrestling and striking. These sports weren’t just entertainment; they were sacred, embodying the ideal of physical and mental excellence. In short, they separated the men from the boys.

Even Aeschylus, one of the greatest tragedians in history, was more celebrated in his lifetime for his valor as a soldier than for his literary masterpieces. To the Greeks, martial prowess was a defining virtue. It spoke to discipline, honor, and the ability to confront adversity with both strength and grace.

In today’s world, the need for these skills has been buried under Netflix queues, Uber Eats orders, and endless scrolling. The warriors of today aren’t found on battlefields; they’re keyboard crusaders, firing off Twitter tirades, wearing nothing but a scowl (or a smirk) and a pair of sweatpants.

Yet behind the online bravado lies a glaring void — a lack of real-world readiness. The ability to defend yourself, your loved ones, or even a stranger on the subway equips you to face life’s challenges with clarity and grit.

Learning to fight isn’t about chasing conflict; it’s about being ready for the battles life will inevitably throw at you. Because life, for all its beauty, is also a relentless war of attrition — chipping away at your friends, family, and freedoms one small piece at a time.

What fighting taught me

I speak from experience. Growing up in Ireland, I was all talk and no action — a sharp tongue but very little ability to back it up. After a string of schoolyard beatings, my father enrolled me in boxing lessons.

At first, I resisted. After all, who wants to endure bloody noses, black eyes, and aching muscles? But over time, the training reshaped me. I didn’t just grow stronger physically; I became more confident. Fighting taught me control and gave me a sense of self-worth I hadn’t known before.

But boxing was just the beginning. Years later, I traveled to Thailand to train in Muay Thai, the “Art of Eight Limbs.” Unlike boxing, which relies on fists, Muay Thai turns your entire body into a weapon. Elbows, knees, shins, and fists all come into play.

Originating as a battlefield technique, Muay Thai evolved into a sport deeply rooted in respect and ritual. Fighters begin their training young, often as boys, and learn to honor their coaches, their opponents, and the history of the art. They begin as students, then rise to become masters.

Raise your fists

But as I have discussed before, you don’t need to travel halfway across the world to find your strength. America is full of boxing gyms, MMA schools, and self-defense classes. The problem isn’t access — it’s a lack of drive and ambition. It’s laziness, fueled by too much comfort and too little challenge.

So, gentlemen, let 2025 be the year you break free from the confines of your comfort zone and dare to reclaim your manhood. Train. Fight. Raise those fists and awaken the warrior within.

​Men, Lifestyle, John mac ghlionn, Boxing, Muay thai, New year’s resolution 

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NYPD condemns ‘Cowardly’ would-be NYC shooting victims who used mother as human shield

Lately, numerous potential victims of violent crimes have resorted to self-defense, often with remarkable bravery, to protect themselves from harm. On the other hand, the intended targets of a brazen public shooting in a Bronx convenience store are being condemned for seeking their safety behind a 40-year-old mother who was present with her 12-year-old daughter.

According to WCBS-TV, the shooting occurred just before 5 p.m. Monday afternoon. According to police, the shooters were two males who have not yet been identified or apprehended. They were apparently shooting at a group of people who were standing outside the G&W Grocery. When the shooting began, the intended victims ran inside the store for safety, whereupon one of them grabbed a 40-year-old mother who was present in the store and used her as a human shield.

The mother was shot once in the stomach, and her 12-year-old daughter was also shot in the leg.

Thankfully, there were no fatalities in the incident, but six people were injured, including the mother and her daughter.

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell condemned the shooting but also condemned the “cowardly” response from the would-be victims. According to the NY Post, Chell said, “[It’s] a brazen and heartless attack on innocent New Yorkers and cowardly intended victims who used a mother as a shield.”

Chell also indicated that the motive for the shooting is yet unknown. The suspects are still at large, and no description has been released other than what clothes they were wearing at the time of the shooting. Presumably, those suspects have by now changed those clothes, making this information less than useful.

Several area residents indicated that the incident has shaken their faith in the safety of their neighborhood.

Area resident Darnell Smith told WCBS, “I can’t walk in my own neighborhood with people shooting and carrying on like that. It’s crazy.”

​ 

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Blaze News original: These aging athletes are putting off retirement for reasons bigger than themselves

Athletes were once deemed on their way out of professional sports when they hit their early 30s. By 35, they were supposed to be ready for the retirement home.

This has changed in the last decade; there are more 40-year-old professional athletes than there ever have been, by a long shot. Those who remain in their respective leagues are among the most accomplished in their sports and have one thing in common: unfinished business.

It’s easy to criticize a flailing athlete who is putting off retirement for money or who wants to complain about an alleged grave injustice facing the millionaire class. However, players like Aaron Rodgers are putting their reputations on the line.

While it seemed ridiculous at age 41 for Rodgers to have any aspirations beyond recovering from a 2023 Achilles tendon blowout, the quarterback has made no indication that he wants to retire and has shown no sign that he’s going to stop voicing his opinions.

With at least one year left on his contract, Rodgers’ frequent podcast appearances have allowed him to continue his fight for honesty and truth in the media and government.

His appearances on “The Joe Rogan Experience” have been used as launching pads to support political candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the pursuit of national health, while simultaneously condemning the abuse of pharmaceuticals.

During appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers has battled the media machine that has attempted to label him as wacky. Rodgers fended off attacks of being a conspiracy theorist by late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and was criticized for his race by commentators like Stephen A. Smith.

It is unlikely that Rodgers’ words would be as effective in retirement as they are while he is an NFL star, and he seems to know that. As long as he is on the field, Rodgers is willing and able to use his notoriety to call out mainstream media, and for that we should be thankful.

Aaron Rodgers carries the American flag onto the field on September 11, 2023, at MetLife Stadium.Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

When Tom Brady retired at 45, it seemed most thought him the oldest professional athlete in major sports; most would have been wrong.

Enter NHL legend Jaromir Jagr, who, at age 50, came out of retirement seemingly to play one more game.

Jagr is majority owner of the Rytiri Kladno in the Czech Republic’s Extraliga, one of the top hockey leagues in the world behind the NHL.

In late 2022, more than half of Jagr’s team became ill, whittling their lineup down to 12 men. Unwilling to let his team suffer a forfeit, Jagr put on his skates and came out of retirement to ensure that his team didn’t incur the loss.

The act was doubly unselfish given that it was later revealed that Jagr’s participation in the game meant forgoing his eligibility for the Hockey Hall of Fame, which he likely would have been inducted into just a few months later.

This selflessness sparked something in Jagr, who is still playing at 52 years old for his club. Jagr has used his notoriety and the fanfare around his storied career to bring added attention to the Czech Extraliga and take a retirement tour that included his first NHL team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In March, the veteran player was at the center of a DHS/FBI investigation after a truckload of bobbleheads with his likeness was hijacked from a warehouse.

Along with promoting a new charitable cause or event on his Instagram page seemingly every day, Jagr is followed by stories whereever he goes. In September, he even won an Emmy.

Jagr is also an adversary to cancel culture and should be credited as an early adopter of the current counterculture, too.

In 2018, an 18-year-old model tried to blackmail Jagr by demanding 50,000 Czech koruna using the threat of publishing a picture of him in bed following an encounter. Jagr reportedly responded by saying, “I don’t care,” and the sleeping photo of the athlete was published without any money changing hands.

Jaromir Jagr, during his jersey retirement in Pittsburgh.Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

‘I’m proud to be a great American champion; I’m proud to be a Christian American champion.’

UFC heavyweight champion and 37-year-old Jon Jones has had several stints away from the sport, which has made his career seem even longer than it already has been.

With multiple public arrests over the years resulting in four-year and one-year layoffs, Jones seemingly has had no reason to continue fighting and instead might focus on his well-being.

However, despite calls from fans for him to retire while he is still considered undefeated, Jones has fought twice at heavyweight to win, then defend his title.

Following his November win, Jones explained that he’s still not done.

Typically, Jones would call out another fighter or egg on the crowd, but this time he took an entirely different approach. The New Mexico fighter said that not only is he going to keep fighting for the fans, but he explicitly said he wants to represent Christianity and American patriotism moving forward.

“You know what? While I got the moment, while everybody’s cheering and so happy, I want to acknowledge Jesus Christ,” Jones said in the Octagon.

“I’m proud to be a great American champion; I’m proud to be a Christian American champion,” he continued. “I also want to say a big, big thank-you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight.”

Jones started the U-S-A chant, handed his belt to President Trump, and affirmed that he wasn’t going anywhere.

Along with several NFL and MLB players who are doing the same, Jones is pushing a new wave of proud, American, and often Christian conservative athletes who have been unapologetic in their belief in conserving the republic.

Sports fans not only should be thankful for this shift in energy, but they should be proudly supporting these rare instances when an athlete has more to say than vague claims of oppression and hate.

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​Fearless, Thanksgiving, Football, Nfl, Retired, Jagr, Jon jones, Aaron rodgers, Sports, T3 

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Blaze News original: ‘Defund the police’ dying out, but cop-hatred from Dems, media still going strong

Anti-police sentiment remains a major problem in America, several past and present members of law enforcement told Blaze News, despite waning support for the “defund the police” movement and the impending second term of President-elect Donald Trump, who has long been seen as a friend to law enforcement.

While the number of officers killed in the line of duty has dipped in the last couple years, the number skyrocketed in the aftermath of the May 2020 death of George Floyd, the re-emergence of Black Lives Matter, and the calls from Democrats and activists across the country to defund police departments.

According to the
Officer Down Memorial Page, a police nonprofit, an alarming 722 officers died in connection with their professional responsibilities in 2020, though that number includes 285 officers who died from COVID-19.

Thankfully, the total number of duty-related blue deaths dwindled to just 137 in 2024, the lowest number recorded at ODMP in the last 10 years.

‘They ambushed him’: Deputy Bradley Reckling

Though police fatalities are down overall, verbal and physical attacks on police continue in earnest. In fact, the number of gun-related officer deaths has remained fairly consistent over the last decade, averaging about 57 per year and reaching a high of 63 in 2021 and 2022.

And that number includes only those who lost their lives on account of their injuries. It notably does not include those who were wounded but survived, according to Officer Dave Goitia, a 23-year veteran who recently made the switch to full-time labor work as president of the Fraternal Order of Police in Glendale and the second vice president of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police.

“The numbers of police officers who are shot in the line of duty, for example … has been rising pretty significantly over the past four years,” Goitia told Blaze News. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that they were killed, but just the number of shots has been on the rise.”

While abstract numbers can at times obscure the painful reality of officers wounded or killed in the line of duty, Sheriff Michael Bouchard (R) and the rest of his office in Oakland County, Michigan, learned firsthand the devastating effects of losing one of their own at the hands of a violent suspect.

On June 22, 2024, Oakland County Deputy Bradley Reckling, 30, was shot and killed while conducting an investigation into a possible auto theft in Detroit in neighboring Wayne County.

Sheriff Bouchard told Blaze News that the auto-theft investigation began, like thousands of others do, with several detectives arriving separately on the scene “in the middle of the night.”

“[Reckling] just came across the car first,” Bouchard explained, “then they ambushed him.”

Deputy Reckling, a nine-year veteran, left behind a pregnant wife and three children. Three
18-year-olds were later arrested and charged in connection with his death.

Bouchard described the murder of Deputy Reckling as a “crushing blow” to everyone at the department.

‘This stuff affects us.’

Officer-deaths are also personal for Angel Maysonet, a retired NYPD detective who after 22 and a half years on the force now provides security for the executives of a utility company in a private capacity. In his conversation with Blaze News, Maysonet was able to rattle off the names of five colleagues who died violently while on duty during his tenure with the NYPD and provide minute details regarding the circumstances of their deaths — not to mention, he added, his brother officers who died on September 11, 2001.

“Officers are human,” he said. “We’re human beings. We have hopes. We have dreams. We have families. We have tragedies. We suffer losses. We celebrate our victories.”

“We see officers suffering from PTSD,” he continued. “We see officers, especially now that we’re in the holidays, taking their own lives. It’s happening at an alarming rate right now. We’re humans.

“This stuff affects us.”

‘Unfairly targeted’: Politicians fan the flames of outrage

Sheriff Bouchard blames the public’s relatively low regard for law enforcement on high-profile politicians who have continuously bad-mouthed officers for using force in cases involving troubled and potentially dangerous individuals, like George Floyd in May 2020.

Maysonet and Goitia, however, believe the problem began much earlier. In their separate conversations with Blaze News, each mentioned President Barack Obama infamously accusing Sgt. James Crowley of acting “stupidly” when responding to an alleged break-in at the home of Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2009. Obama and his vice president, Joe Biden, later hosted a Beer Summit with Crowley and Gates at the White House to discuss their differences.

“[Obama] had no information about what happened at all, no details,” Goitia explained. “[He] said that officer ‘acted stupidly’ and then realized later on what a bad statement that was. So he had to have the Beer Summit.”

Maysonet, a one-time Obama voter, also noted that in July 2016, several years after the Cambridge incident, Obama even implicitly aligned himself with some BLM grievances during
remarks at a wake honoring five Dallas police officers slain at a BLM rally.

“Faced with this violence, we wonder if the divides of race in America can ever be bridged,” Obama said. “
We wonder if an African-American community that feels unfairly targeted by police, and police departments that feel unfairly maligned for doing their jobs, can ever understand each other’s experience.”

In that speech, Obama also took time to recognize Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men who had died just days earlier during encounters with police. “Today, in this audience, I see people who have protested on behalf of criminal justice reform grieving alongside police officers. I see people who mourn for the five officers we lost but also weep for the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile,” Obama said.

Sterling, who served five years for tussling with a police officer while armed, was shot and killed by a cop in Baton Rouge on July 5, 2016, after reportedly threatening someone with a gun.

While Castile had no known history of violence, he pled guilty to several traffic violations after having been pulled over more than 50 times. He was shot and killed during a
traffic stop for an alleged broken tail light near Minneapolis a day after Sterling died.

‘The controversy is what sells.’

Four years later, George Floyd — who served several years behind bars after
pointing a firearm at the abdomen of a pregnant woman — died during an encounter with police. At that point, Black Lives Matter stormed back onto the national stage, demanding not only police accountability but a reallocation of resources to starve departments and promote social justice instead.

Many leftist politicians happily trumpeted BLM’s call to “defund the police.” In October 2021, the Republican National Committee released a nearly
seven-minute video of various big-name Democrats — including Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, and Reps. Nancy Pelosi of California, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota — embracing the “defund the police” sentiment.

Omar, in fact, went so far as to demand that local governments “dismantle” their police departments and “reimagine” law enforcement and public safety.

In the years since, support for defunding police has plummeted as violent and property
crime spiked across America. In fact, some Democrats, such as Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri, may have even lost their respective seats in part because of their association with the “defund the police” movement.

Other Democrats such as Mayor London Breed of San Francisco and former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, who actually implemented policies to defund police, later walked those policies back and restored police funding. Despite the about-face on defunding San Francisco police, Breed still lost her bid for re-election in November.

“They see that it doesn’t work,” Maysonet said.

Dave Goitia, who was decorated with the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor by then-President George W. Bush, noted that federal lawmakers, state governors, and local mayors are not the only ones who have contributed to anti-police fervor. Far-left district attorneys, many of them funded by George Soros, have likewise exploited their prosecutorial discretion to wreak havoc on public safety to the detriment of local police.

Goitia described these DAs as “soft-on-crime” activists who advocate for “the elimination of certain bail standards” rather than “keeping … bad actors behind bars.”

News reports about officers from around the country who were allegedly shot in 2024 by suspects with a criminal history seem to support his point. Headlines regarding those cases reveal an alarming pattern:

NYPD cop, 31, fatally shot by career criminal during Queens traffic stop ID’d as husband, dad of young child,”
Chicago officer shot and killed by 23-year-old convicted felon, police say,”
Illegal migrant shoots Texas police officer with rifle after domestic violence call, sources say,” and
Illegal immigrant accused in Missouri police officer’s death has prior rap sheet.”

Black Lives Matter did not respond to Blaze News’ request for comment.

In addition to pushing local policies that sometimes benefit defendants at the expense of police, the Democratic Biden-Harris administration has also implemented open-border policies that have caused cities to swell with a new population of people who do not understand local laws and customs and who likely already committed a crime when crossing into the U.S.

Moreover, members of violent international criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua have likewise stolen into the country and terrorized local residents. Not only do these violent gangs add considerably to the workload of local police departments, but
reports indicate that gang leaders have even put a hit out on cops, making an already dangerous situation even more dangerous for police and residents alike.

“Credible human sources from Colorado provided information on TdA giving a ‘green light’ to fire on or attack law enforcement,” read a memo reportedly released by the Homeland Security Investigations office in Chicago this summer.

Goitia attributes at least some of the violent attacks on police to unfettered immigration. “I think that the border has been a big problem for law enforcement,” he said. “We definitely have seen some bad actors coming across this border.”

Maysonet agreed. “Gang members … are coming from Venezuela and being essentially just let loose to commit crimes,” he said.

“The big mouths and the anti-police crowd are going to … continue to place the lives of police officers in this country in danger.”

‘It’s clickbait’: Media outlets pile on

The media has also played an important role in creating anti-police animus, Goitia, Bouchard, and Maysonet all told Blaze News.

Maysonet said that the media relentlessly harps on the rare cases of black men who die during encounters with police to stoke racial tensions. “They make it into always a racial issue,” he said.

Evidence supports Maysonet’s claim.

In 2015, the Washington Post began tracking “fatal police shootings” and providing an updated tally of yearly totals. In describing its
methodology, the outlet listed “the race of the deceased” first among the “details” it considers in each incident.

A 2020 episode of “
Hidden Brain” on NPR entitled “The Air We Breathe” explored alleged “implicit bias and police shootings.” During the episode, panelists noted that protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death sparked “a global conversation on the issue of racism and police brutality — especially in communities of color.”

In 2021,
the BBC published a list of all the “major incidents” of black people dying during an encounter with police in the past decade. The article featured pictures of police in full tactical gear while seemingly unarmed protestors peacefully stand, march, or raise their fists, further promoting the idea of an adversarial relationship between police and their communities.

Goitia argued that the media may even have a vested interest in pushing this narrative. “The controversy is what sells,” he told Blaze News.

“It’s clickbait, and it garners viewership,” he said. “That’s what the media is about. They want to have a large audience. They want people looking at their content.”

To illustrate his point, Goitia pointed to an article published just this month in
U.S. News & World Report that claimed that “black youth with autism” face “special dangers” during “encounters with police.”

“If you look into the story, there’s zero statistical evidence of this at all,” Goitia said. “They spoke with caregivers for black youth with autism, and these caregivers, they had concerns. They had feelings about how those interactions might go based on what we know about people with autism.”

He’s right. The article is based on a study in which researchers consulted “43 Black caregivers of Black children with autism.” The article does not discuss any particular police incidents involving an autistic black child or include the perspective of “a single cop.”

Sheriff Bouchard, who is also the vice president of government affairs at the
Major County Sheriffs of America organization, similarly called out the “demonization” of cops by “some media outlets.”

“It’s constant ‘police reform,’ ‘police reform,’ ‘police reform,’ and that rhetoric makes it sound like we’re broken, that all cops are doing something that’s inappropriate,” Bouchard said, “and that’s absolutely false.”

This mischaracterization of law enforcement has led to poor recruitment and retention as well as public mistreatment of law enforcement officers, he said.

“The degree of danger, the unpredictability of what you might face on any given day certainly are factors that people consider whether it’s something they want to do,” Bouchard said.

“They are the Vietnam veterans of today,” the sheriff further said about law enforcement agents. “When the veterans came home from Vietnam, they were demonized, even though they went to do a very tough job on behalf of the American people. They didn’t make the policy decisions to be there, but they stood up and did what was asked of them.”

‘Without prejudice’: Cops doing their duty despite circumstances

Sheriff Bouchard, Officer Dave Goitia, and retired Det. Angel Maysonet all admitted that, as with all professions, there are some bad apples in law enforcement, and they all advocated for holding bad officers accountable. However, they also expressed hope that public opinion of law enforcement will improve under a second Trump administration.

Bouchard told Blaze News that once Trump resumes office, “support of law enforcement will go up dramatically.”

Goitia seemed to agree. “President Trump has always been very supportive of law enforcement,” he said. “Anytime he’s in the public, just about, he will praise law enforcement. He will thank law enforcement. He makes it clear that law enforcement is not the problem in this country and that law enforcement need to be supported.”

While Maysonet, who voted for Trump in 2024, is similarly optimistic about a second Trump term, he is concerned that the media and some lawmakers will continue to vilify law enforcement agents, especially those charged with conducting mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

“It’s gonna come down to, again, people trying to portray the police as being brown coats and just doing what the government wants,” he said. “The anti-police crowd are going to twist [Trump’s] words and continue to place the lives of police officers in this country in danger.”

‘They’re just going to work through it.’

Regardless of how the public perceives them or the media and politicians portray them, officers will continue to do their jobs, they said.

“When somebody calls 911 for service, the dispatcher and the police officer don’t say, ‘What God does this person worship? What’s their skin color? Who do they sleep with? How do they identify?’ We go without prejudice, and we respond, and we lay our lives on the line for everyone without prejudice,” Maysonet said.

“We don’t ask those questions,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter to us.”

Goitia expressed a similar sentiment to Blaze News, claiming that, while members of law enforcement have a “foxhole mentality” and will fiercely defend their own, they often set aside personal issues and emotions to serve the public.

“[Officers] show up on Christmas, show up on New Year’s Eve and still do their do their duties,” he said. “They’re really not going to be able to take to take time off.”

“They’re just going to work through it.”

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Male, 36, allegedly grabs 3-year-old boy by the arm in broad-daylight kidnapping attempt — but family dog isn’t having it

A 36-year-old male allegedly grabbed a 3-year-old boy by the arm in a broad-daylight kidnapping attempt in Florida over the weekend — but a dog put a stop to it.

Ron Lee Klein Jr. entered a family’s fenced-in back yard through a gate at the back of their home around noon Saturday, WFLA-TV reported, citing a St. Petersburg Police Department affidavit.

‘How terrifying. So glad the dog was there with him.’

When Klein allegedly grabbed the 3-year-old by the arm and tried to pick him up, a barking dog confronted Klein, the station said, citing the affidavit.

The barking alerted someone near the child, who began running after Klein and yelling at him, WFLA reported, citing the affidavit.

Klein let go of the toddler and fled the area, the station said, citing investigators — and St. Petersburg police in the area located and arrested Klein.

Klein is facing charges of attempted kidnapping and trespassing to an enclosed area of a dwelling, WFLA said, citing the affidavit. The station said he’s being held without bond.

How are people reacting?

As you might guess, commenters under WTVT-TV’s Facebook post about the incident are praising the dog.

“So thankful the child has been saved! Thanks to the family dog. The family must be praising God! I hope this guy, doesn’t get to see the light of day!” one commenter declared.”How terrifying,” another user said. “So glad the dog was there with him.””Get that dog a steak!” another commenter exclaimed.”That’s incredible!” another user stated. “Dogs can be such loyal protectors. It’s amazing how instinctual their behavior can be in dangerous situations.””Keep him off the streets! Good dog!!!” another commenter declared.”Dogs are absolutely the best!!” another user noted.

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Houston police say dead man found in back of patrol vehicle may have been there for days

Houston police are investigating the death of a man who was found in the back seat of a patrol vehicle by a police officer.

The man was found on Dec. 21 after an officer with the Mental Health Division went to begin his shift and found the remains in the marked HPD Ford Explorer, according to a police statement on social media.

The back seat is designed to keep people in custody from escaping.

Police said that the man might have crawled into the vehicle to seek shelter from the cold weather, and he could be homeless.

The man’s identity was not released before it could be confirmed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, along with the cause of death. Police said only that he was in his 40s.

KHOU-TV said police indicated there was no alarm in the car to indicate the presence of a person. Police also told the station they were reviewing surveillance video to determine how the man got into the vehicle.

The man was not in custody, according to police, who said that the man probably crawled through the rear of the cage into the cargo area and became trapped. The back seat is designed to keep people in custody from escaping.

Police said that the officer had parked the vehicle about three days before the man was found, so he could have been trapped inside the car for as many as three days.

Police are seeking help from the public to investigate the incident.

Images from the scene can be viewed on KHOU’s news video report on YouTube.

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