A Michigan man with the initials J.D. and the last name Vance was convicted and sentenced for making threats against Vice President JD Vance as well as President Donald Trump and one of Trump’s children.

The 67-year-old Grand Rapids resident was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts, according to a Monday statement from Timothy VerHey, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

‘When Vance said he planned to kill our president and the vice president simply because he disagreed with them, he crossed a line we all understand and so had to be punished.’

According to the DOJ press release, the Michigan man’s full name is James Donald Vance Jr., and he posted in March and April under the name “Diaperjdv” on BlueSky, a liberal harbor for refugees from the X platform.

“If tRump, Vance, or Musk ever come to my city again, they will leave it in a body bag. I will either be shot by a secret service sniper or spend the rest of my life in prison. I’ve only got about 10 years of life left anyway so I don’t f**king care either way,” he posted.

He also wrote, “I will murder that stupid f**ker before he gets secret service protection.”

Vance the convict later pled guilty to one felony charge of threatening to kill or injure the president and vice president and another felony charge of interstate threatening communications.

Each of the two charges carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sentenced him to a lesser term after he pleaded guilty.

RELATED: Texas man allegedly threatened to shoot Trump on visit to flooding disaster: ‘I won’t miss’

“The advent of the internet gives us all an opportunity to engage in the healthy exchange of ideas that are so important to a democracy. But some would rather use this tool to threaten and intimidate, conduct that causes fear and damages our democratic ideals,” read a statement from VerHey.

“When Vance said he planned to kill our president and the vice president simply because he disagreed with them, he crossed a line we all understand and so had to be punished,” he added.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy — the Ukrainian leader who suspended elections, dissolved rival parties, sanctioned a political opponent on suspicion of “high treason,” consolidated Ukraine’s media outlets, banned a Christian denomination, and remains president despite his term officially ending 18 months ago — rose to power on a pledge to give Ukrainians “a life without corruption, without bribes.”

Zelenskyy’s hold on power, however, now appears uncertain, as it is threatened by a historic corruption scandal that has swept up some of his closest allies.

Zelenskyy, allies prove unable to hinder probe

Earlier this year, the Ukrainian president and his closest aides attempted to neutralize the independent anti-corruption agencies that were scrutinizing Zelenskyy’s inner circle.

In July, Zelenskyy’s party pushed through legislation stripping Ukraine’s National Anticorruption Bureau of its independence and giving the prosecutor general, a Zelenskyy appointee, oversight. This took place the day after the State Bureau of Investigation — which is helmed by a Zelenskyy loyalist — arrested NABU officials and conducted numerous raids of corruption fighters’ homes.

‘Zelensky faces a day of reckoning.’

The director of the anti-corruption bureau, Semen Kryvonos, indicated at the time that “this pressure campaign is a direct response to the effectiveness of our investigations, including those targeting high-ranking officials and members of Parliament.”

RELATED: Orbán emphasizes to Trump that Hungary survives today as Christian ‘island of difference in a liberal ocean’

Photo by TETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP via Getty Images

The Financial Times indicated that in the face of mass protests and outrage from Ukraine’s Western partners, Zelenskyy and his allies ultimately had to abandon their efforts to torpedo the 15-month investigation.

Zelenskyy desperately condemns his close allies

Despite the obstacles erected by the regime, the anti-corruption investigation conducted by NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office exposed an alleged $100 million kickback scheme in which Zelenskyy officials and business figures allegedly conspired to force suppliers to Ukraine’s nuclear power company, Energoatom, to pay kickbacks valued at 10%-15% of each contract’s value.

In their searches of suspects’ residences, law enforcement reportedly found duffel bags filled with cash and, in one case, a Kyiv apartment with a golden toilet.

Kryvonos indicated the funds allegedly pilfered as part of the scheme have largely been dispersed through a number of foreign nations and used to purchase property and other assets, reported the Wall Street Journal.

The Ukrainian president — who was “floored” by the scale of the charges made against members of his ruling clique, sources in the government told the Economist — has done his apparent best to distance himself from those named in the criminal corruption probe, which has been dubbed Operation Midas.

For instance, Zelenskyy, who was not named in the corruption probe, imposed sanctions last week on one of his closest associates and former business partner, Timur Mindich.

Mindich, who fled to Israel just prior to NABU’s Nov. 10 raids, has been charged with allegedly managing a criminal organization that laundered millions of dollars.

Mindich is reportedly a close business associate of Israeli-Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky, a backer of Zelenskyy’s presidential campaign who was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine in 2023 on fraud and money-laundering charges, and a relative of Leonid Mindich, who was arrested by Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities earlier this year on charges of embezzling $16 million from an electric power company.

Zelenskyy also asked his ministers of justice and energy — German Halushchenko and Svitlana Grynchuk — to resign last week, stating, “This is also a matter of trust. If there are accusations, they must be addressed. The decision to dismiss them from office is prompt and necessary.”

Grynchuk said in a Facebook post, “There have been no violations of the law in the course of my personal activities.”

Halushchenko, who served as energy minister until his dismissal in July and was removed as justice minister on Nov. 12, has indicated that he will defend himself against the accusations.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, Timur Mindich allegedly built connections with Halushchenko through his relationship with Zelenskyy and then exerted influence over both the ex-justice minister and Rustem Umerov, secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council and ex-defense minister.

Although Umerov is presently in the U.S., Ukraine’s Center for Counter Disinformation indicated he is planning to return to Ukraine despite reports that he was hoping to stay abroad to avoid charges.

Other suspects tied to the alleged kickback scheme reportedly include:

Ihor Myroniuk, an ex-adviser to Halushchenko and former deputy head of the State Property Fund whose lawyer claims he was not a member of a criminal organization;former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, a close Zelenskyy ally who was removed from his position in July after being charged with bribery and abuse of office, then arrested on Tuesday on charges of illicit enrichment in connection with the alleged kickback scheme;Serhiy Pushkar, a current member of the National Energy Commission;Oleksandr Tsukerman, a Ukrainian businessman accused of running the money laundering back office in the scheme, who reportedly left Ukraine for Israel and denies wrongdoing; andDmytro Basov, former head of the Energoatom security department, who also denied any wrongdoing.

Daria Kaleniuk, executive director at the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Kyiv, told France 24 on Monday that the investigation is far from over and that Zelenskyy has to look very closely into his closest inner circle, starting with his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who Kaleniuk claimed is wielding unconstitutional powers in the country and is at the heart of the problem.

“If there will be more attempts from Zelenskyy to attack anti-corruption bodies like there was attempt[ed] in summer, there would be also for me the clear signal that Volodomyr Zelenskyy didn’t learn his lesson,” added Kaleniuk.

Sources close to the anti-corruption bodies made clear to the Economist that the investigation’s next phase may focus on corruption in the defense sector, which may prompt greater demands for a full reset of the Ukrainian government.

“Zelenskyy faces a day of reckoning,” a senior official told the Economist. “The choice isn’t great. Either he amputates a leg, or he gets an infection going through the whole body and dies.”

“I think that right now, both society and the political class understand that a political crisis would be too dangerous,” Volodymyr Fesenko, a political scientist based in Kyiv, told the Financial Times. “A lot depends on the next steps of the investigation, if new information comes out that involves Zelenskyy or the office of the president … then of course, it’ll be a new round.”

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With the launch of Operation Charlotte’s Web in North Carolina over the weekend, some have speculated that law enforcement has stumbled upon a large number of illegal aliens in a major city.

Social media was set ablaze on Monday and Tuesday as early reports were released about school attendance in one of the largest school districts in the country.

‘President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.’

On Monday night, WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno posted on X: “A spokesperson for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools says unofficial attendance data from today indicates that approximately 20,935 students were absent from school today. This accounts for approximately 15% of students enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.”

RELATED: ‘Climbing into the ceiling tiles’: DHS immigration raids hit Charlotte, where 1 in 6 residents are foreign-born

Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser, highlighted the report, saying, “So a conservative estimate is that one-seventh of a major southern public school district is here illegally.”

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools attendance data obtained by Blaze News, attendance did indeed drop precipitously on the Monday following the commencement of Operation Charlotte’s Web.

Data from November 17 reveals that 30,399 students were absent, a number significantly higher than early reports suggested. Only 79.0% of the 145,030 students enrolled in the district attended school on Monday.

The vast majority of those absences, moreover — 28,136 — were marked as unexcused.

Blaze News also obtained data from the previous Monday.

On Nov. 10, 132,043 of the 144,909 students enrolled, or 91.1%, were in attendance. Only 12,866 students were absent, most, again, unexcused.

This constitutes a roughly 12% drop in attendance week over week, though there are likely other factors that contributed to this significant drop.

Operation Charlotte’s Web, one of the Trump administration’s latest immigration enforcement operations, was launched on Saturday. The operation is set to target Charlotte, North Carolina, a well-known sanctuary city where one out of every six residents was born in a foreign country.

“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a press release Saturday. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed. There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”

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Hendrick Motorsports Technical Solutions is under fire for its willingness to engage in commerce with the federal government.

The company, founded by former NASCAR driver Rick Hendrick, is related to Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s top teams. Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins in Cup Series, the most Cup Series championships at 14, and has consistently ranked among the most valuable teams, including being named most valuable by Forbes in 2020 at $315 million valuation.

‘We’re not going to support them.’

Originally reported by the Washington Post, Hendrick recently sold more than two dozen vehicles to the Trump administration for use with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Earlier this year, we sold 25 standard Chevrolet Tahoes to the federal government,” a Hendrick Companies spokesperson said, per WBTV-TV. “The vehicles were unmodified, and we fulfilled the commercial sale. We do not participate in or control how agencies equip, brand, or use vehicles after purchase.”

The federal government paid $2.25 million for the Tahoes from Hendrick in North Carolina and dished out another $174,000 to other companies for custom wrappings, the Post reported.

Due to the lack of an open-bidding process, ICE was required to submit their justification for skipping any competitive bargaining.

“The agency’s need for the services is so urgent and compelling that providing full and open competition would result in unacceptable delays and seriously hinder the government’s recruiting initiative,” the contract states.

It added, “Urgency is warranted as these vehicles must be deployed to the streets immediately to provide a visible law enforcement presence, support public safety operations, and reinforce recruitment efforts.”

The lack of bidding was not the point of focus for anti-ICE activists online. Rather, it was the simple fact that Hendrick was working with the federal agency.

RELATED: Court upholds school’s ban of ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ clothing in free speech dispute

AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 2: Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports (L) and NASCAR Hall of Famer and Hendrick Motorsport team owner. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

For example, a man from Georgia said that Hendrick “should be harassed” for being a “damned crook who needed to buy a pardon from Clinton.”

He added, “I don’t care who ICE buys vehicles from, but I would never put a dime in that crook’s pocket.”

Another X user seemingly called Hendrick an “Evil f**king man” for supplying ICE with vehicles.

In a video shared online, a woman addressing the people of Charlotte said, “You know how ICE is driving around those new SUVs? You can thank Rick Hendrick at Rick Hendrick Auto … just remember that the next time you’re in the market for a car!”

“We’re not going to support them,” another woman said about Hendrick Motorsports, using a filter that gave her devil horns. She then promoted a different Ford dealer in North Carolina, touting that the dealership has “Hispanic salesmen” who can speak Spanish.

“Go there, they’re amazing! They’re not doing all this mess,” she declared.

RELATED: ICE takes down alleged ‘wanted terrorist’ illegal alien trucker

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 04: Host Kim Coon speaks to NASCAR Hall of Famer and Hendrick Motorsport team owner, Rick Hendrick. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

A self-professed left-wing NASCAR fan, meanwhile, wrote on X, “i have very low expectations of people in nascar, but rick hendrick selling vehicles to f**king ICE is probably a new low.”

A senior official from the Department of Homeland Security told the Post last week that “ICE is a law enforcement agency, and like all other law enforcement agencies, has a fleet of vehicles that includes those with ICE branding.”

The official’s statement continued, “Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE finally has the resources to grow its workforce to support ICE’s mission, and that will include all types of additional vehicles.”

“These specific vehicles will supplement the existing ICE fleet and support operations across the country,” the DHS statement concluded.

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Boise Mayor Lauren McLean is facing criticism over her statement that avoided the immigration issue when commenting on the death of an 8-year-old at the hands of an illegal alien.

Mora Gerety was trying to cross Harrison Boulevard when she was hit by a pickup truck and was killed. The truck driver was identified as Elvin Ramos-Caballero, an illegal alien from Honduras according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

‘No mention of her name. No mention of her killer. No mention of working to improve immigration enforcement. Ridiculous.’

Ramos-Caballero was taken into ICE custody over an outstanding federal warrant. He allegedly crossed the Texas border as an accompanied minor in 2015 and was released a month later into the U.S. He was given a deportation order after failing to appear in court in 2016.

While McLean offered a statement about the incident, she did not mention the immigration status of the accused.

“Every child in Boise should be able to run out their front door, safely explore their neighborhood, and make it home for dinner. I’m committed to doing all we can to ensure our city is safe for every child to walk and bike in every neighborhood,” McLean said.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation slammed the mayor for her comments.

“Boise Mayor Lauren McLean’s response to Mora Gerety’s death is the most pathetic response imaginable. A little girl was killed at the hands of an illegal,” read a statement from the foundation. “No mention of her name. No mention of her killer. No mention of working to improve immigration enforcement. Ridiculous.”

McLean had also faced criticism when she refused to follow a state law and kept displaying an LGBTQ flag at the Boise Depot.

RELATED: ‘Cold-blooded’ illegal alien murdered 15-year-old who was trying to stop him from raping his mother, ICE says

Many in the community showed their support for the girl’s family at a vigil on Saturday.

“My son is actually the principal at Washington Elementary [where Mora attended], and it just broke my heart because his heart is broken for the family,” said a woman identified only as Maggie. “He said Mora was just adorable, she was shy, and she was very sweet.”

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A missing 14-year-old girl was found dead reportedly inside an RV behind her home, and an alleged family member with a history of violent crime has been accused of sexually assaulting and murdering the young girl described as an “angel.”

Citing Illinois State Police, KSDK-TV reported that Kylie Toberman was reported missing around 6:30 a.m. Friday. Police said the teen girl was found later that afternoon.

‘I WILL NOT SHUT UP OR STOP till my child gets justice!’

The girl’s biological mother, Megan Zeller, said Kylie was found dead inside an RV behind a house in Vandalia, where the teen lived with her adoptive mother and two sisters, according to a KSDK news video. Zeller said Kylie’s step-uncle — 43-year-old Arnold B. Rivera — lived in the RV behind that house, the video added. Vandalia is roughly 70 miles east of St. Louis

RELATED: Father accused of murdering 67-year-old alleged rapist of his 14-year-old daughter makes startling bid for public office

While KSDK’s news video indicates Keller identified Rivera as Kylie’s “step-uncle,” that isn’t the only claim regarding the relationship between the suspect and the victim.

KSDK’s news story — in contrast to its accompanying news video — said Rivera was Kylie’s “caretaker” and makes no step-uncle mention. Further, KMOV-TV reported that Kylie’s paternal grandmother said the teen was adopted over five years ago to the Toberman family — making Rivera legally the adoptive brother of Kylie.

It’s also unclear why Kylie was adopted in the first place — and particularly why she lived in close proximity to a man with a reported violent criminal past.

Fox News reported that Rivera has a criminal history dating back to 2000, including accusations of child sex abuse.

In 2000, prosecutors in Macon County, Illinois, dropped charges of criminal sexual abuse of a child between the ages of 9 and 16 — as well as burglary — against Rivera in exchange for a guilty plea to felony aggravated battery, per court records.

Rivera was sentenced to 30 months of probation for the 2000 case. In 2008, Rivera pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle and was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

The New York Post reported that Zeller wrote on Facebook, “I was young and dumb … I thought I could trust somebody and now my baby is an angel. I WILL NOT SHUT UP OR STOP till my child gets justice!”

KSDK reported that Kylie attended Vandalia Junior High School, which said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened to share that a student in our district has passed away far too soon. This is heartbreaking news for our school community.”

The school noted that a crisis response team and school counselors will be available this week to offer support to students.

Kylie also wrestled at the Vandal Wrestling Takedown Club, which said in a statement, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that we lost one of our wrestlers, Kylie Toberman, yesterday. Our team and community are grieving the loss of such a sweet and bright young girl.”

She recently had been named the most improved wrestler, according to KSDK.

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​Missing children, Child sex abuse, Kidnapping, Kylie toberman, True crime, True crime news, Kylie toberman murder, Crime, Illinois, Adoption, Step-uncle, Strangled, Repeat offender 

House Freedom Caucus member Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) filed a motion to censure Democratic House Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands after bombshell emails revealed she was “colluding” with Epstein during a congressional hearing.

The House Oversight Committee released tens of thousands of documents from Epstein’s estate last week that revealed Plaskett had been texting Epstein, a convicted sex offender, during a 2019 congressional hearing. In the documents, Plaskett appeared to be asking Epstein for advice on how to question Michael Cohen, then one of President Donald Trump’s lawyers.

‘The censure would formally condemn Plaskett and strip her of her committee assignments.’

Plaskett had been texting Epstein during the hearing, where he even complimented the Democrat’s outfit.

Plaskett’s office later released a statement confirming she had exchanged texts with Epstein, saying she welcomes information that “helps her get at the truth.”

RELATED: Mike Johnson changes course ahead of key Epstein vote

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

“During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents, and the public at large offering advice, support, and in some cases partisan vitriol, including from Epstein,” Plaskett’s office said in a statement to the Washington Post.

“As a former prosecutor she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth and took on the GOP that was trying to bury the truth. The congresswoman has previously made clear her long record combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her disgust over Epstein’s deviant behavior, and her support for his victims.”

RELATED: Democratic lawmaker texted Epstein during hearing — appeared to use his tips to grill Trump’s ex-lawyer

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

Following these revelations, the House Freedom Caucus is leading the charge on Plaskett’s censure. The censure would formally condemn Plaskett and strip her of her committee assignments, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

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As Trump’s Department of Homeland Security continues its deportation campaign across the country, violence against law enforcement has skyrocketed. On Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin joined Fox to discuss the increase in attacks and the resistance the DHS has faced from Democrat politicians.

Fox showed Tricia McLaughlin a montage of Democrat leadership, particularly from Chicago, seemingly advocating resistance against law enforcement.

‘It really is a shame that the Democrat Party has decided that violence against law enforcement is OK.’

“We need ICE out of our city,” Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, claiming in a separate clip that federal agents had “broken laws” and “acted with impunity.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said, “Don’t believe it when they tell you they’re busting the worst of the worst gang and gang members. They’re attacking peaceful neighborhoods.”

Other examples of Democrats using highly charged rhetoric include Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) challenging the Trump administration to a “street fight,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) comparing ICE to “slave patrols,” and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) calling efforts to resist ICE “inspiring.”

RELATED: Masked anti-ICE agitators are in for a rude awakening as new DHS policy goes into effect | Blaze Media

Photo by Abel Uribe/Getty Images

In response to these speeches, McLaughlin said, “It really is a shame that the Democrat Party has decided that violence against law enforcement is OK. We will continue to do our jobs each and every day and get these violent criminal illegal aliens out of Chicago’s streets and out of sanctuary cities all over the country.”

“There is going to be no safe haven for violent criminal illegal aliens,” she added.

Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin confirmed the meteoric rise in vehicular attacks on federal immigration officers.

On X, Melugin wrote, “There have been 71 vehicular attacks against Customs and Border Patrol since January 20, compared to 45 vehicle assaults during the same period in 2024 — a 58% increase.”

The most shocking statistic, however, is the increase in attacks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers: “There have been 28 vehicular attacks against ICE since January 20, compared to just 2 such incidents in the same period of 2024 — a 1,300% increase.”

Asked by Fox News about the mandate to hire 10,000 more ICE employees and the more than 200,000 applications for the positions, McLaughlin quipped, “We are looking for the best of the best to get the worst of the worst off our streets.”

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Delivery robots have been promoted in Moscow since around 2019, through Russia’s version of Uber Eats.

The Yandex.Eats app from tech giant and search engine company Yandex released a citywide fleet of 20 robots across the city that year.

‘Yandex plans to release around 1,300 robots per month by the end of 2027.’

By 2023, Yandex added another 50 robots from its third-generation production line, touting a delivery proficiency rating of 87% of orders delivered between eight and 12 minutes.

“About 15 delivery robots are enough to deliver food and groceries in a residential area with a population of 5,000 people,” Yandex said at the time, per RT.

However, what started as a few rectangular robots wheeling through the streets has seemingly spiraled into what will become thousands of bots, including both harmless-looking buggies and, perhaps more frightening, bipedal bots.

The news comes as sightings of humanoid robots in Russia are increasing.

RELATED: Cybernetics promised a merger of human and computer. Then why do we feel so out of the loop?

According to TAdvisor, Yandex plans to release around 1,300 robots per month by the end of 2027, for a whopping total of approximately 20,000 machines. The goal is to have a massive fleet of bots for deliveries, as well as supply couriers to other companies, while reducing the cost of shipping.

At the same time, Yandex also announced development of humanoid robots. Videos have recently popped up of a smaller bot walking alongside a delivery bot in 2024, but it is hard to tell if it was real or a human in costume.

RT recently shared a video of a seemingly real bipedal bot running through the streets of Moscow with a delivery on its back. The bot also took time to dance with an old man, for some reason.

However, it is hard to believe that any Russian autonomous bots are ready for mass production given the recent demo showcased at a technology event in Moscow.

RELATED: ‘You’re robbing me’: Morgan Freeman slams Tilly Norwood, AI voice clones

Aldol, a robot developed by a company of the same name, was described as Russia’s first anthropomorphic bot powered by AI.

Last week, the robot was brought on stage and took a few shaky steps while waving to the audience before tumbling robo-face-first onto the floor. Two presenters dragged the robot off stage as if they were rescuing a wounded comrade, while at the same time a third member of the team struggled to put a curtain back into place to hide the debacle.

Still, Yandex is hoping it can expand its robots into fields like medicine, while simultaneously perfecting the use of its delivery bots. The company plans to have a robot at each point of contact before a delivery gets to the human recipient.

The plan, to be showcased at the company’s own offices, is to have an automated process in which a humanoid robot picks up an order and packs it onto a wheeled delivery bot. Then, the wheeled bot takes the order to another humanoid bot on the receiving end, which then delivers it to the customer.

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Last weekend, Glenn Beck sat down with Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino to talk about the company’s infamous and disastrous attempt to modernize its brand. It was the first interview Masino has given since her widely criticized August 19 appearance on “Good Morning America,” where she defended the rebranding and new minimalist logo that triggered a massive customer revolt.

The company quietly began rolling out its shiny new vision in the summer of 2025, but it was the “GMA” segment that turned simmering discontent into a full-blown national firestorm, with CB regulars condemning the rebrand as “soulless” and vowing boycotts.

Even though Cracker Barrel swiftly caved to the pressure — ditching its glossy revamp, returning to kitschy, antique-filled walls, and reinstating the Old Timer in the logo — people are still angry about the whole going-woke betrayal.

People still want answers.

And that is exactly what Glenn got: “the real answer” behind Cracker Barrel’s decision to fix what clearly wasn’t broke.

This “all-telling” answer, says Glenn, came from his most brazen question to Masino: “Are you surprised you haven’t been fired yet?”

“Just wait until you hear her answer. … It was so powerful and so honest,” he says.

This Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on BlazeTV and YouTube, tune in for Glenn’s two-part exclusive interview with Julie Masino and Cracker Barrel’s new senior vice president of store operations, Doug Hisel, who told Glenn what really brought the country store chain to its knees.

Cracker Barrel nation — and everyone fed up with woke corporations — has waited long enough. Tomorrow: answers. We’ll see you there.

For a taste of what’s coming, check out the teaser below.

Want more from Glenn Beck?

To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

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After months of pushback, the House passed a resolution to release the highly anticipated Epstein files.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna of California co-authored the resolution to release the Epstein files and forced the House vote Tuesday using a discharge petition. Lawmakers forced the floor vote after the petition secured 218 signatories last week, including Republican Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Massie.

‘Of course we’re for maximum transparency.’

Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana was the lone no vote.

Although only four Republicans signed onto the petition, initially bucking their party, President Donald Trump changed course and encouraged rank-and-file GOP members to vote in favor of the resolution. Republican leadership later followed suit, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confirming Tuesday that he would vote in favor of the resolution.

RELATED: Mike Johnson changes course ahead of key Epstein vote

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

“As I said on Friday night aboard Air Force One to the Fake News Media, House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown,'” Trump said in a Truth Social Post Sunday.

Johnson echoed Trump’s message for transparency but mentioned several “dangers” in the current resolution he hopes will be amended in the Senate, including concerns for victims’ privacy and inadequate handling of child sexual abuse materials.

“There’s a handful of Republicans, Judiciary Committee members, and a few others who are really struggling, as I have been, about whether or not they can even vote yes today because of this,” Johnson said during a presser Tuesday. “Because we don’t have an absolute guarantee that this will be fixed in the Senate.”

RELATED: Democrat lawmaker faces censure for ‘colluding’ with Epstein during congressional hearing

Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Despite these concerns, Johnson urged the conference to “vote their conscience.”

“Having now forced the vote, none of us want to go on record and in any way be accused of not being for maximum transparency,” Johnson said. “So the only intellectually consistent position to have right now … is to allow for everyone to vote their conscience and to go on record to say, ‘Of course we’re for maximum transparency.'”

The resolution is now headed to the Senate. If it passes, Trump confirmed that he would sign the resolution into law.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Tuesday announced action against the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Abbott issued a proclamation that designated the two groups as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under the Texas Penal and Texas Property Codes.

‘The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s “mastership of the world.”‘

The proclamation explained that the Society of the Muslim Brothers is a transnational Islamist organization that was founded nearly 100 years ago. It noted that the group’s founder, Hassan al-Banna, once stated that “jihad is an obligation from Allah on every Muslim and cannot be ignored nor evaded,” adding that jihad means “the fighting of the unbelievers, and involves all possible efforts that are necessary to dismantle the power of the enemies of Islam including beating them, plundering their wealth, destroying their places of worship, and smashing their idols.”

Abbott’s proclamation also stated that the group’s Eighth Supreme Guide, Mohammed Badie, is serving a life sentence in prison for “plotting an armed insurrection in Egypt.”

Badie “has stated that the organization’s primary goal is to establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world’ and a total reform of all domains of life by resurrecting an Islamic state — or a Caliphate — empowered to forcibly impose Sharia law worldwide,” the declaration read.

It noted that CAIR, also an Islamist organization, was formed as a “front group” in the U.S. for Hamas, according to the FBI.

RELATED: How Islamic ‘charities’ fund terror with YOUR money

KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images

Abbott’s proclamation contended that CAIR is “a subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood,” and its members have been “repeatedly employed, affiliated with, and supported individuals promoting terrorism-related activities.”

By designating the two groups as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations, individuals who promote or aid their criminal activities could face heightened penalties, and their affiliates are prohibited from acquiring land in Texas.

RELATED: Exclusive: Chip Roy introduces bill to strip ‘absurd’ tax-exempt status from CAIR, other groups with terrorist ties

Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

“The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world,'” Abbott said. “The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable. Today, I designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.”

— (@)

Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) reacted to Abbott’s declaration, writing in a post on X, “I have long fought against CAIR and Islamists in North Texas who are waging civilizational warfare against our state and nation. Just as I did as Mayor of Irving, every level of government must do everything in their power to stop the expansion of Islamists in our country. They want one thing and that is to get rid of the rest of us.”

“No Sharia courts. No Islamist dominance of neighborhoods. Never let these people take root,” she added.

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A federal court sided with advocacy groups, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, challenging the redistricted map of Texas and ordered that the old map be used for the 2026 election.

The three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas found that challengers to the law would likely be able to prove that it was racially gerrymandered. Two judges ruled in favor, while one dissented.

‘Democrats claiming that redistricting is racist are lying. 4 of the 5 districts the Texas Legislature is drawing will be Hispanic districts.’

“The public perception of this case is that it’s about politics,” wrote U.S. Judge Jeffrey Brown in the ruling. “To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map. But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map.”

Brown was appointed to the court by President Donald Trump in 2019.

Democrats cheered the decision.

“A federal court just stopped one of the most brazen attempts to steal our democracy that Texas has ever seen,” said Texas state Rep. Gene Wu (D).

LULAC accused the Texas legislature of acting illegally in a previous statement about the case.

“Rather than remedying constitutional flaws in its previous map, lawmakers adopted a new plan that reduces opportunities for voters of color to have an equal voice,” the group said. “The map was pushed through in a rushed, opaque process that shut out meaningful public input and ignored widespread testimony about the harm it would cause.”

The case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court; however, candidates must file for their campaigns by a Dec. 9 deadline.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott previously denied the accusation that the redistricting was discriminatory.

“Democrats claiming that redistricting is racist are lying. 4 of the 5 districts the Texas Legislature is drawing will be Hispanic districts,” read a statement from his office on social media.

RELATED: CA Republicans sue to stop Newsom’s redistricting scheme — he responds: ‘Good luck, losers’

The other judge who agreed with Brown was appointed by former President Barack Obama, while the dissenting judge was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan.

Redistricting in Texas has been used by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to justify redistricting in California in order to counteract the seats that may be gained by Republicans in Congress. The Department of Justice has joined a lawsuit against California on the basis that its gerrymandering scheme is also racially discriminatory against non-Hispanics.

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