A segment from “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Fox News is going viral after a reporter attempted to get a read on Fort Lauderdale Beach spring breakers’ level of political literacy — and the answers did not disappoint.

While some view the responses as concerning, BlazeTV host John Doyle believes their pre-woke-era answers mean “that normal patriots are doing kind of well.”

“What issue facing America is the most important to you?” the reporter asked some scantily clad young women.

One young woman responded, “What bikini I’m going to wear next.” Another responded, “Obesity is terrible,” and another claimed her Starbucks order was the only issue needing her attention.

A young man answered, “ICE,” before joking, “Not personally. I’m legal.”

“What have you heard that Donald Trump has been doing recently?” the reporter then asked.

“Gulf of America. That’s the last thing I kept up with,” one young woman responded.

“We’re going to war with Iraq. That’s been crazy,” another said.

“So, this is obviously, I think, a very positive development for the people, for the culture. I know that a lot of that language is going to be alarming to the viewers. I understand that,” Doyle comments.

“They were obviously not taking it seriously, and they thought it was basically funny. And so, that’s good because when young people, I think, feel as though they have to kind of cave to this sort of woke stuff like they did five, six, seven years ago, … that is a sign of a culture in steep decline,” he continues.

While some of the spring breakers also made it clear that they have “degenerate” intentions for their beach vacation, Doyle points out that this has been a tradition going back generations.

“I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but to degenerate literally means to be in a degenerated state. Have a conversation with your father. Ask him about your grandfather. Sort of what the men in your family were getting up to when they were young,” he says.

“They were probably acting like idiots and drinking with their friends, as has been the case historically since there have been men in camaraderie and alcohol. This is sort of what guys do normally. Again, natural behavior, normal behavior is not something to aspire to. The point of our civilization is to transcend that to cultivate virtuous behavior,” he explains.

And while stats that cite less drinkers and partiers among the youth might sound inspiring, Doyle notes that it’s “not because of some personal commitment to a higher calling, but rather because they’re inside doomscrolling and isolated and antisocial.”

“They’re asked, ‘Hey, what do you think about the Ayatollah?’” he continues. “‘I don’t know, I only care about my Starbucks order.’ That is the ideal answer for a young woman.”

“Attractive young women should not know what the Ayatollah is,” he says. “They should be chiefly concerned with their Starbucks order, with being tan, with not being fat. Like, this is good. This is actually what nature looks like when it is healing.”

Want more from John Doyle?

To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​The john doyle show, John doyle, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Spring breakers, Woke, Pre woke, President donald trump, Watters world, Fox news, Jesse watters, Gen z, Gen x 

The independence of the Federal Reserve System has become a major source of public controversy. As political leaders signal dissatisfaction with monetary policy, officials and commentators rush to defend the central bank’s insulation from democratic pressure. We are told, as if it were self-evident, that central bank independence is a pillar of sound economic governance.

But this confidence is misplaced. The economic case for central bank independence is far weaker than its defenders suggest. And the constitutional case is weaker still.

Officials entrusted with such consequential authority must ultimately answer to elected leadership.

Start with economics. The standard argument is that independent central banks deliver low and stable inflation because they are insulated from short-term political incentives. Elected officials, facing electoral pressures, might be tempted to juice the economy with artificially loose monetary policy. By contrast, independent technocrats can take the long view.

Early empirical studies did show that countries with independent central banks experienced lower inflation. Yet more recent research has cast doubt on this relationship. The correlation is sensitive to different samples and methods. In many cases, the supposed benefits of independence disappear entirely.

A more plausible explanation has emerged. Countries that enjoy low and stable inflation share deeper institutional characteristics: respect for the rule of law, stable political systems, and credible commitments to property rights. These are the real foundations of sound money. Central bank independence accompanies these basic governance norms, but its stand-alone effect is debatable.

This matters for a free-enterprise economy. Monetary policy is not a neutral technocratic exercise. Interest rates are prices: the price of time, risk, and capital. When insulated officials tinker with those prices at their discretion, the result is distorted market signals. Cheap credit can mislead investors, encourage unsustainable projects, and redistribute wealth in opaque ways. Independence does not eliminate politics. It simply hides politics behind a veil of expertise.

If the economic case for independence is overstated, the constitutional case is entirely bunk. The Constitution is clear: Congress holds the power “to coin Money” and “regulate the Value thereof.” Monetary authority, like all legislative power, originates with the people’s representatives. Congress may delegate certain functions to administrative bodies, including by creating a central bank. But delegation is not abdication.

Those who exercise delegated authority remain accountable to the laws Congress passes and, ultimately, to the chief executive charged with enforcing them.

Yet the modern Fed operates as if our constitutional framework were irrelevant. Its leaders enjoy significant protection from removal. Its decisions (targeting interest rates, allocating credit, regulating banks, etc.) have sweeping consequences for the entire economy. If this does not constitute the exercise of executive power, it is hard to say what does.

The Supreme Court has recently emphasized that administrative agencies cannot be insulated from presidential oversight simply because they possess technical expertise. The separation of powers does not yield to convenience, nor to the promise of better policy outcomes. Yet when it comes to the Federal Reserve, the court has signaled a willingness to tolerate precisely such insulation — a “special case” for the most powerful economic institution in the country.

This exception is indefensible. Appeals to history or prudence, however well grounded, are not constitutional arguments. An agency that wields executive power must answer to the chief executive. Concerns about how that works in practice does not justify ignoring the Constitution.

The truth is that central bank independence persists not because it is firmly grounded in law or economics, but because the alternative unsettles us. We worry, not without reason, that elected officials might misuse monetary policy for short-term gain.

But the Constitution does not permit us to resolve that fear by concentrating vast economic power in the hands of unaccountable experts. A free and self-governing people must confront the difficult task of designing institutions that combine competence with accountability.

RELATED: If Congress can’t oversee the FBI, who can?

Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg/Getty Images

That begins with Congress. There are several legislative reforms that can restore the rule of law to monetary policy. First, lawmakers should narrow the Federal Reserve’s mandate to a single, clear objective — price stability — rather than the vague and conflicting goals it currently pursues. A simpler mandate would make it easier to evaluate performance and hold policymakers responsible when they fail.

Second, Congress should revisit the legal protections that shield senior Fed officials from removal. Freedom of judgment is one thing; freedom from oversight is another. Officials entrusted with such consequential authority must ultimately answer to elected leadership. Legislators ought to make it easier to fire central bankers.

Finally, the president should take a more active role in ensuring that the Fed operates within its statutory and constitutional bounds. This does not mean dictating day-to-day interest rate decisions. Instead, it means recognizing that monetary policy, like all exercises of government power, must remain subject to democratic control.

President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chairman is a good start. The two must work together to restore the Fed’s ordinary day-to-day operations, something missing since the 2007-08 financial crisis.

Economic stability is obviously desirable. But we cannot purchase it at the cost of self-government. Republican principles require officials to be answerable to the people. If we are serious about preserving the constitutional order and free enterprise, we must abandon the comforting myths of central bank independence and restore accountability to the Federal Reserve.

Editor’s note: This article appeared originally at the American Mind.

​Federal reserve, Constitution, U.s. economy, Separation of powers, The fed, Supreme court, Congress, Opinion & analysis, Interest rates, Kevin warsh 

A former Ohio high school teacher who was caught sexually abusing a 15-year-old student in a car has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes. The teacher avoided a harsher sentencing with a plea deal.

Jamelah Daboubi — a former English teacher at Horizon Science Academy in Columbus — pleaded guilty to amended charges of gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in February, according to WBNS-TV.

‘As of now, the individual is no longer employed at Horizon Science Academy.’

The affidavit noted that the victim attends Horizon Science Academy and that he was a student in Daboubi’s class.

On April 2, 2025, officers with the Columbus Police Department responded to a report of a woman who claimed to have “caught her 15-year-old nephew and one of his 10th-grade teachers engaged in sexual contact in the teacher’s car,” the Franklin County Prosecuting Office said in a statement released in June 2025.

According to court records obtained by the Columbus Dispatch, the aunt of the teen approached the vehicle and saw her nephew in the passenger seat and Daboubi “jump off of” his lap.

Court documents revealed, “He stated while they were in the car, they kissed, Mrs. Daboubi grinded on him, and he had touched her breasts and buttocks over her clothing.”

The prosecutor’s office said, “The nephew, whom the woman has guardianship over, admitted to police that he and his teacher had been having a relationship that involved kissing and touching.”

The victim informed investigators that he and his 28-year-old teacher “had been texting for a couple of months and engaging in sexual activity for a period of time,” according to the statement.

Prosecutors said police discovered “hundreds of phone calls and thousands of texts between the two, including texts where the two professed their love for each other.”

The Columbus Dispatch reported that the Horizon Science Academy sent a letter to parents in May 2025 regarding the accusations against the teacher after her arrest on May 18, 2025.

“As of now, the individual is no longer employed at Horizon Science Academy,” the letter stated. “At this time, we have no indication of any other concerns involving this individual and any other students, either on or off campus.”

Thanks to her plea deal, Daboubi avoided a lengthy prison sentence. Daboubi was indicted on two counts of sexual battery in June, but the charges were amended.

The below news video ran when Daboubi was charged last year.

RELATED: Teacher who left claw marks on underage student’s back after sex romp gets sweetheart plea deal

WBNS reported that the amended charges of gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

The court’s sentencing recommendation is five years of community control, ongoing counseling, and community service, in addition to the surrender of her professional teaching credentials.

Daboubi must also register as a Tier II sex offender as part of her guilty plea.

Daboubi is awaiting a sentencing hearing.

The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to Blaze News‘ request for comment.

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​Child sex crimes, Child sex abuse, Teacher arrested, Bad teacher, Teacher sex scandal, Teacher student sex scandal, Jamelah daboubi, Crime, Ohio, Plea deal, Sexual battery charge, Charge amended 

You’ve probably heard, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” It’s catchy, but not new. Long before this became a mantra, Scripture was teaching this same truth, but with more spiritual weight.

Jesus modeled healthy, intentional friendships. He was deliberate about who he let into his inner circle. It wasn’t luck or happenstance. He chose with intention.

How often do we talk ourselves into friendships we shouldn’t have — with people we don’t even like?

Close friends can make or break you, and even more importantly, they can shape the trajectory of your life. Proverbs 13:20 goes beyond advice; it offers a clear strategy: Choose friends wisely, or risk being shaped by fools.

Science backs this up. Friendships influence career choices, health decisions, and spiritual well-being. Yet in modern society, close friendships are declining. Scholars now call it a “friendship recession.” Only 17% of Americans under 30 say they feel deeply connected to a community, according to a 2025 Harvard Kennedy School poll. In 1990, about 3% of Americans said they had no close friends; today, that number has reached double digits. Over the past three decades, meaningful, close friendships have sharply diminished.

If you want good friends who are truly in your corner, consider these key principles.

Pick friends like Jesus did: Quality over quantity

Jesus loved and ministered to countless people, but He invested deeply in only a few during his short but impactful life. He intentionally structured His relationships. The Gospels show Him teaching and healing crowds, sending out the 72 in ministry, and handpicking 12 disciples. Within that circle, He maintained an inner trio of Peter, James, and John, who witnessed pivotal historical events like the Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane.

It would have been easier for Him to rub shoulders with the “frat boys” of his time — the good ol’ Pharisees. After all, they weren’t poor, lowly fishermen. The Pharisees were admired, influential, and outwardly “holy.” People wanted their approval; they regarded them as “prestigious.” I’m sure they wore fancy clothes and had the best things money could buy. But Jesus had nothing to do with them. He avoided their rotten influence, interacting only when necessary to answer their relentless, pesky questions.

Jesus didn’t chase popularity or status. He didn’t measure influence by who was “in” or who had the loudest voice in the room. Instead, he focused on people who were teachable, loyal, and aligned with His mission. His friendships were rooted in character and purpose instead of appearance or social standing. As 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

He surrounded Himself with people who, while imperfect, were willing to be challenged, changed, and called higher. He didn’t just preach to the multitudes, He walked closely with 12, poured deeply into three, and entrusted the future of the church to them. Think of all the long walks Jesus took with His disciples. Walking on foot from places like Galilee to Jerusalem was roughly a three- to five-day commute. On these journeys, Jesus used them to teach and disciple and build meaningful relationships. Nothing went to waste.

His choice of who to do life with wasn’t random; it was strategic and spiritually essential. Jesus modeled a clear principle in both friendship and kingdom-building: quality over quantity. Following Jesus’ example, we can intentionally choose friends while also becoming the kind of friend others need.

RELATED: Love one another: What the first Christians can teach us about fellowship

Francis G. Mayer/Getty Images

Want great friends? Start by being one

Before we can choose good friends, we must first be one. Jesus modeled the qualities of a high-caliber friend: loyalty, integrity, truthfulness, and love.

Scripture also offers examples —both good and bad. David and Jonathan embody loyalty and sacrifice. Mary and Elizabeth show a friendship rooted in faith and mutual support. Daniel and his friends strengthen one another and stand firm in conviction, even in captivity.

By contrast, Job’s friends accuse rather than comfort. Judas betrays. King Rehoboam rejects wise counsel in favor of foolish peers, dividing a kingdom.

Jonathan, though heir to the throne, chose covenant over envy in his friendship with David. Elizabeth welcomed Mary with joy rather than jealousy, despite the circumstances. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained faithful under pressure, putting God above comfort, safety, and status.

These friendships share a common thread: character. They refused envy, ego, and compromise — even when justified by the world’s standards. Quality people attract quality friends.

We must cultivate these kinds of relationships, doing the inner work to become the kind of friend we hope to have.

Exercise the muscle of rejection

I’m a people person. Making friends has always come easily — but like most of us, I had to learn that not every friendship is worth keeping.

As a teenager, I desperately wanted to fit in with the “cool kids.” When I was invited to sit at their lunch table, I thought, “I’ve made it.” But after one regretful meal — filled with gossip, cruelty, and shallow conversation — I felt immediate buyer’s remorse. I didn’t go back.

Instead, I sat with my brothers and their friends — or alone. I realized that solitude is far better than compromising your character to belong. It may be lonelier, even uncomfortable, but it protects your integrity and spiritual health.

That’s what I mean by exercising the “muscle of rejection.”

How often do we talk ourselves into friendships we shouldn’t have — with people we don’t even like? Maybe they’re popular, well connected, professionally useful, or simply convenient.

But relationships built on convenience, obligation, or fear of confrontation dilute your inner circle. Over time, they shape your habits, attitudes, and decisions — often in ways you won’t notice until years later.

As my father-in-law likes to say (quoting Kenny Rogers): “Know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em.” Wisdom — and the discernment of the Holy Spirit — must guide these decisions. Not every connection is meant to last, and not every relationship deserves a front-row seat in your life.

For parents, this is even more critical. The friends we choose don’t just influence us — they shape our children’s worldview. Choosing wisely isn’t optional; it’s part of guiding the next generation.

Intentionality matters

Friends don’t show up on your doorstep; you have to put in the work. Gather people, host events, and create the opportunities you wish existed. Be the friend you wish you had. Seek relationships that are teachable, loyal, and mission-aligned. Choosing friends with discernment is not harshness; it’s stewardship. It’s about protecting your spiritual well-being, your family, and your calling. Jesus’ life shows us that strategic, purposeful friendships are not optional; they are foundational to living well and carrying out faithfulness.

Your inner circle will shape your mindset, your mission, and your life trajectory. Cultivate friendships with intention. Be ruthless. Reject the shallow and the convenient. Surround yourself with people who strengthen your faith, challenge your growth, and share your values. Exercise the muscle of rejection, and watch your life, and the lives of those around you, grow deeper and richer.

​Abide, Friendship, Jesus, Christian living, Fellowship, Lifestyle, Faith