Modern life isn't so bad (even if my furnace is out again)

Every year, at the coldest time of the year, our furnace goes out. I’ve written about it before, I’m writing about it now, and I’m sure I’ll write about it again. Benjamin Franklin said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” I say, “In this world, nothing is certain except winter — and our furnace breaking.”Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about modernity: not just as an era, but as a way of life, and as a particular relationship we have with technology and the natural world. Winter has a way of provoking those thoughts. It’s unforgiving outside and warm inside, and that contrast shapes not only our environment but our state of mind. Winter invites introspection whether we ask for it or not.You don’t actually want to go back to 1198 or 1598. At most, you want to go back to 1998 — before things took such a strange turn.It also reminds us of something more basic: Winter wants to kill us. Cold truthWithout insulated homes, reliable transportation, and warm clothing, many of us simply wouldn’t make it. Maybe that isn’t true everywhere. It’s not true in places with mild winters. But it is true here, where the temperature tonight is expected to dip to ten below zero. In places like this, modernity doesn’t just make life comfortable — it makes it possible.That’s easy to forget. I turn the thermostat up and the furnace obeys. I want it to be 67 degrees, and it becomes 67 degrees. No delay, no doubt. I can count on warmth in the same way I count on the sun rising tomorrow — until I can’t. Then the house turns cold, the basement office becomes unusable, space heaters migrate upstairs, and our seemingly invincible HVAC world collapses all at once. Annoyance quickly turns into perspective.The furnace, of course, is only one small example. This isn’t really about heating systems or cold weather; it’s about how easily we take the blessings of the modern world for granted.RELATED: Why does our furnace go out every winter? (and other burning questions) Heritage Images/Getty ImagesNo thanksWe all do it. Whatever we have now quickly becomes the baseline. We stop remembering what life was like without it. You see this with people who move to America from poorer parts of the world. After a decade, they are often just as accustomed to convenience as those born into it. You might expect memories of hardship to linger, but they rarely do. Perhaps death once sat closer to daily life, even in developed societies, and kept gratitude sharper. Perhaps something else has changed. Either way, ingratitude seems to come naturally to us now.Medicine is a clear example. How many of us would be dead without modern medical care? Many. Imagine surgery without anesthesia. Imagine life without optometry or dentistry. It’s not a romantic picture.The same goes for something as mundane as mail. People love to complain about the USPS, but in much of the world, a functioning postal system barely exists. I know someone who lived in Africa building embassies for the U.S. government, and he told me that local mail simply wasn’t usable. Here we send letters, order books, ship packages, and trust that they will arrive — and that if they don’t, someone will make it right. That trust is a modern miracle we barely notice.Horse powerOr consider transportation. We can wax poetic about the romance of horse-drawn travel, but the truth is, we would hate it. It might charm us for a day or two, but before long, we’d be desperate to return to cars, trains, ferries, and planes. Modern speed isn’t just convenient — it reshapes what a human life can contain.Lately I see a lot of anger directed at modernity itself. Some of it is understandable. There are technological and medical “advances” that drift away from the good and toward the destructive. That frustration is real, and I feel it too. But rejecting the modern world wholesale is neither wise nor serious. You don’t actually want to go back to 1198 or 1598. At most, you want to go back to 1998 — before things took such a strange turn.Our task, then, isn’t to flee modernity, but to refine it. We cannot escape it — and we shouldn’t want to. The better path is gratitude without naivety: thankful for the blessings, alert to the dangers, and willing to curb excess without denying reality. If we do that, we may yet manage to build not just a modern world, but a good one.

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Employee at disabled adult care facility accused of twerking near faces of helpless patients

A female employee at a disabled adult care facility in Florida was arrested last week after she allegedly twerked in the faces of patients in the Panama City facility, WMBB-TV reported.Panama City Police got a tip on Jan. 15 about possible abuse and exploitation of disabled adults, the station said, citing court documents.Authorities told the station that the patients in the video appear to be nonverbal, infirm, and incapable of providing consent.Authorities said a video they received showed four women dancing in a sexually explicit manner known as twerking in front of disabled patients, WMBB reported.One female in the video was seen making physical contact with a patient by "placing her breasts in the face and also one leg on the patient" while twerking, the station said, citing court documents.Josalynn Janeice Hart, 29 — a facility employee at the time of the incident — can be seen in the video dancing on a sink and twerking on a table where at least two disabled patients were sitting, WMBB said, citing authorities.RELATED: Females twerking atop police car caught in the act with cruiser's dashcam. Now all 3 are ID'd — with a little help from AI. The station said Hart was not seen in the video making direct physical contact with any of the patients, but she's allegedly seen witnessing the other females continuously making physical contact with a patient while Hart danced and twerked near the faces of two disabled patients.WMBB said it was alleged that Hart failed to report the physical contact with a patient.Authorities told the station that the patients in the video appear to be nonverbal, infirm, and incapable of providing consent.Hart was charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition of an elderly or disabled person, failure to report abuse, and neglect of a vulnerable adult, WMBB reported.The station said it's unknown if Hart still is employed at the facility or if the other females seen in the video are facing charges; the name of the facility wasn't reported.WMBB said Hart was arrested Tuesday and released Wednesday from Bay County Jail on her own recognizance.Some commenters on the station's Facebook post about the incident wondered why the other females in the video aren't also in trouble:"If you arrest one, why not all?" one commenter asked."Why is she the only one being prosecuted?!" another user inquired.One commenter simply wondered, "What happened to professionalism?"A year ago, a Georgia health care worker was accused of twerking on the head of a disabled patient and then posting video of the act on TikTok for social media likes. The arrested female smirked for her mugshot.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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When worship is interrupted, neutrality is no longer an option

Something important shifted in this country when a Sunday worship service in Minneapolis was interrupted by protesters. It was a deliberate, premeditated intrusion into a space set apart for worship.This was not spontaneous. There was planning, agreement, and coordinated action. This sort of strategy requires a different posture.Churches across the country are already alert. Security teams exist for a reason.For generations, houses of worship were understood to be off-limits.When that boundary is crossed, we are no longer debating policy. We are testing whether restraint still exists and whether consequences still matter.The line has been drawn. This is not an issue that can be treated casually or observed with indifference. Anyone who refuses to condemn the coordinated disruption of worship — or, worse, excuses it — has already chosen a side.Moments like this tempt Christians toward outrage or bravado. But Scripture does not train the church for theatrics. It trains the church for endurance, clarity, and readiness.This incident likely would not have unfolded the same way where I live in Montana. People here are not especially theatrical about conflict. Responsibility is assumed, and consequences are not abstract. Most folks are armed, and in many churches, that includes the pastors.The reality beneath that observation is sobering. Churches across the country are already alert. Security teams exist for a reason. In a culture shaped by real church shootings, sudden disruption inside a sanctuary is no longer interpreted as mere protest. Provocation introduced into an environment already conditioned for worst-case scenarios increases the risk of irreversible outcomes.Every police officer will attest that domestic calls are often the most unpredictable and volatile. Not because violence is inevitable, but because instability compresses time and judgment. When emotions are high and trust is thin, even small disruptions can escalate quickly.Families who live with addiction or severe mental illness understand this intuitively. They remain vigilant not because they want conflict, but because unpredictability makes it necessary. Boundaries are not set because change is guaranteed, but because safety is required.A space shaped for reverence, restraint, and peace cannot be treated as if it can absorb chaos without consequence.In such situations, vigilance and preparedness are not aggression. They are necessary parts of responsible stewardship.Intimidation rarely seeks hardened targets. Visibility, restraint, and hesitation make certain spaces attractive to disruption. Where ambiguity is denied, intimidation fails. It is difficult to imagine these kinds of coordinated disruptions taking place in historically black churches. Not because those congregations are hostile, but because intimidation has never been indulged there. Those churches were forged when intrusion and disruption were never theatrical.This is not a call to intimidation in return. It is a call to clarity.When tensions rise, someone must lower the temperature. If one side refuses, the other is obligated to establish boundaries for safety.Anyone who has dealt with addiction understands this principle. Change cannot be forced, but boundaries must still be set. Recovery, incarceration, or death often follow prolonged chaos. These are realities repeatedly observed when destructive behavior is indulged.RELATED: Don Lemon ARRESTED over apparent involvement in church invasion; Jim Acosta whines Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty ImagesThe people setting boundaries are not the cause of the crisis. They are responding to it.Scripture never promises that moments like this will not come. Jesus warned His followers that hostility would arrive. Paul urged believers not to avenge themselves, but to overcome evil with good.Scripture states that what can be shaken will be shaken, so that what cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:27).That truth is carried not only in Scripture, but in the church’s hymns.The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,I will not, I will not desert to his foes.That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.There is no clenched fist in that stanza. It shows a relief from strain because vigilance has been transferred to someone stronger. Calm is possible, not because the threat is small but because God is not.So when worship is interrupted and the lines are clearly drawn, the church does not respond with hysteria or silence. It responds with moral clarity, firm boundaries, and settled confidence grounded in an unshakable kingdom. The path for believers is steadiness shaped by truth, restraint, and trust in God rather than reaction to provocation.The church has never endured because it intimidated back. It has endured because God does not abandon His people.

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‘We’re not men’: Man pretending to be a woman loses it on camera

When the Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month regarding whether or not laws from Idaho and West Virginia banning transgender athletes from competing on teams aligning with their gender identity are constitutional, many interesting characters showed up outside to protest.And one of them crashed out while being interviewed by a conservative reporter.“I think the problem arises when we have females that don’t want to play sports against males, and after their objection, the males are still put on the team anyway,” the reporter said.“We’re not men. We’re not males,” the man, who calls himself a woman, responded.“You guys separate sex and gender, don’t you?” the reporter asked.“Yes, of course,” the man responded.“So, then you have to acknowledge that you’re male —” she began to answer, before he cut her off to yell, “No! I will never acknowledge that! Never put those words in my mouth!”“Never put it in my mouth,” he continued.“I’m putting it in my mouth,” she responded.“Take it out!” he yelled back, completely deranged. “I am not male.”“Can I ask you what makes you a woman?” the reporter asked.“My mind. Even implying that I’m male is an insult, and it spits in my face and that of every other trans person in this place,” the man continued.When the reporter then addressed the man’s wife, saying her husband was being aggressive and using the pronoun “he” to describe him, the man yelled, “She.”“You can’t just put lipstick on a pig,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales comments on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.”“No one’s fooled, sir. You’re still a dude. You’ll always be a dude. Deal with it, and get some therapy while you’re at it,” she adds.Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, 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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As legislative season begins, lawmakers should be careful about PBM 'reform'

As state lawmakers begin to return to office this week, a number of issues will be clamoring for their attention. One of the most important — but perhaps overlooked due to its technical and less attention-grabbing nature — is pharmacy benefit manager reform.Reform-minded leaders should work with PBMs, leveraging their market power to achieve lower costs for consumers.Last year, Arkansas became the first state in the nation to ban PBMs, and other states heavily regulated the industry. These efforts are expected to continue in 2026, even as courts raise constitutional questions about the Arkansas law and regulations in Iowa.I’m a health care broker, so I know PBMs pretty well. They’re easy targets because of the complex process by which they work, as well as the pharmaceutical industry’s years-long campaign to put blame for drug pricing on the industry.At its core, PBMs’ basic function is straightforward. Because they represent hundreds of thousands or even millions of patients who cannot negotiate with drugmakers on their own, PBMs are able to use their size as leverage to push for lower prices. When the big players reject a high price, a manufacturer has to decide whether it wants to lose access to those patients.That negotiating leverage also keeps drugmakers from unilaterally dictating the cost of medications, from commonly used drugs like insulin to newer medications like Zepbound and Wegovy. For example, companies gave consumers a New Year’s present of increasing prices for 350 products — but the final costs to patients won’t be known until PBMs have their say.U.S. health care pricing can be confusing, with even seasoned observers getting lost amid the jargon of rebates, formularies, and spread pricing. Critics often accuse PBMs of adding unnecessary layers of administrative cost or of exaggerating savings. Some of these concerns are legitimate, and the industry’s lack of transparency makes it easy for critics to portray PBMs as the villains keeping patients from being able to afford the medications they need.But this criticism is better leveled at the drugmakers. They often insist they cannot lower prices because of research costs or regulatory burdens. Yet when Eli Lilly, the first trillion-dollar drug company, found itself boxed out of the CVS network, it suddenly found a way to make its products available more cheaply.On December 1, drugmaker Eli Lilly cut the consumer cost of its popular weight-loss injection Zepbound, bringing its prices in line with competitor Novo Nordisk’s popular and recently reduced drug Wegovy.Lilly’s move should be instructive for state and federal lawmakers because it came after Novo Nordisk agreed to lower prices of Wegovy under pressure from pharmacy giant CVS. CVS — through its PBM division, CVS Caremark — had initially tried to negotiate with Lilly, but the drugmaker refused to budge on its pricing, leading CVS Caremark to stop offering Zepbound to clients. But once Novo Nordisk agreed to reduce the price of Wegovy, Eli Lilly suddenly changed its tune.RELATED: Taxpayers are funding California’s Medicaid shell game Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesLawmakers looking to reduce prescription drug prices should take note.Like all industries, PBMs have their flaws, but this case showed CVS forcing a needed price correction. And it should be front of mind for lawmakers who, yes, should insist on greater PBM transparency, but also must be aware of both the constitutional limitations on so-called “reforms” and how overregulating PBMs will impact constituents’ drug prices.As lawmakers look for solutions to Americans’ record-high health care costs, they should realize that any cost-reduction effort must include prescriptions — and that means working with PBMs. Reform-minded leaders should work with PBMs, leveraging their market power to achieve lower costs for consumers while insisting on price transparency and other reforms that reinforce how PBMs are using fundamental market principles to keep drug companies from causing even more harm to Americans’ finances.

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School counselor found dead at vacant school after being accused of sending indecent messages to 14-year-old

A Louisiana middle school counselor on leave for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a young girl was found dead at a vacant school Wednesday.Quinton Dixon, 44, was placed on leave Jan. 15 from Westdale Middle School in Baton Rouge over the messages allegedly sent to a 14-year-old who had previously been a student at the school.'The situation is just so unfortunate. We just got to pray for everybody.'Police sought to speak with Dixon after someone published screenshots of his alleged Instagram messages to the girl. The messages show him asking if the 14-year-old has a boyfriend, telling her she's attractive, and hinting at their having a romantic relationship.The girl told police the messages began after Dixon saw her walking home from school and pulled over his vehicle to talk to her. He obtained her information and sent the messages between November and January.On Tuesday, the Baton Rouge Police issued an arrest warrant for Dixon on four felony counts of indecent behavior with juveniles.The next day, his body was found at the Glen Oaks Middle School, which is a mostly demolished vacant school in the same school district.The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office found that Dixon died of a "self-inflicted gunshot wound," confirming he died by suicide.The parish school system released a statement on the incident."We extend our condolences to the school community, family, and loved ones as they process this information during this difficult time," the statement reads. "Out of respect for the privacy of students and the integrity of ongoing matters, we are unable to share additional details about the employee."RELATED: Parents of 11-year-old targeted in murder plot by 5th-graders break their silence: 'There was a mastermind' The district said Dixon had been an employee since 2022.A man named Redell Norman told WBRZ-TV that he coached with Dixon and had gone to Glen Oaks Middle School."It's unfortunate the circumstances of his untimely demise, but yes, I did know him, and the situation is just so unfortunate. We just got to pray for everybody," he said.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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'This isn't organic': Joe Rogan says Minnesota's anti-ICE protests are 'coordinated' to induce chaos

Podcast giant Joe Rogan is leaning on investigative reporting from independent journalists to find the truth about left-wing protests in Minnesota.Chats on the Signal messenger app that were "infiltrated" by reporter Cam Higby showed that a complex and coordinated network of left-wing groups have been working together to allegedly impede federal operations in Minnesota.'The idea that this is an organic protest — these riots are organic — is nonsense.'The chats, reviewed by Fox News, allegedly detailed socialist, communist, and Marxist-Leninist cells in the United States organizing protests after the death of Alex Pretti. In fact, the report said that agitators were already mobilized to the scene of the death before it happened.Color me shockedRogan explained on his podcast that the riots and anti-government protests in the state are akin to a color revolution, which he described as a "a coordinated effort to cause chaos.""This is a very coordinated thing," Rogan told commentator Andrew Wilson on episode No. 2444 of "The Joe Rogan Experience.""The idea that this is an organic protest — these riots are organic — is nonsense. It's provably nonsense because now they have access to the Signal chats," he continued.Rogan made it clear that he did not believe that Pretti should have been shot but said he understands that federal agents were operating under chaotic circumstances.RELATED: Klobuchar running for Minnesota governor on anti-ICE platform 'Coordinated effort'The Austin-based comic made the distinction that it was not Immigration and Customs Enforcement that shot Pretti, rather it was Customs and Border Protection that was brought in to assist ICE.These agents have been "harassed outside of any hotel they're at. People blow horns. They try to smash into the hotel. They doxx them," Rogan explained, which he said is the reason why so many agents are wearing masks. "It's a coordinated effort." Pretti was reported to have a gun with two magazines on him at the time of his death; Rogan, who has displayed intricate knowledge of weapons over the years, discussed the nuances of concealed carry licenses with Wilson, who said he had experience in teaching weapons training."If you know anything about concealed carry, if you are a concealed carry holder and you are carrying not just a pistol, but two full magazines as well, you do not ever physically engage with someone," Rogan explained. "You also are supposed to carry your license on you, and you're supposed to have ID on you."Pretti was reportedly not carrying ID on him at the time of his death.Rogan went on, "When you go to what's supposed to be a peaceful protest and you're fully armed like that with two magazines, it's kind of crazy, right? Like ... why do you need so many bullets?" RELATED: 'More arrests to come': Bondi shares photos of anti-ICE agitators now charged with crimes Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images Welcome diversionThe comedian was careful not to get himself into legal battles over the story but overall cited the riots in Minnesota as distractions that have been welcomed to draw attention away from billions in fraud abuse in the state."There would be a reason why you would want to distract from all that fraud," he added.Recently new footage of Pretti from 11 days before his death has surfaced. The video showed Pretti swearing at federal agents, spitting at them, and even kicking the taillight off of a vehicle containing federal agents as it was driving away.Outlets and witnesses had previously described Pretti as simply a "calm observer."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Klobuchar running for Minnesota governor on anti-ICE platform

After the withdrawal of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) formally declared her candidacy for governor of Minnesota in a polished campaign video released Thursday.Klobuchar emphasized unity during what she described as a period of deep division in the state but repeatedly invoked federal immigration enforcement as a core concern for voters.‘Get out of our state.’“I’m running for every Minnesotan who wants ICE and its abusive tactics out of the state we love,” Klobuchar said, echoing remarks she has made repeatedly on the Senate floor and in public appearances as Minnesota has grappled with a federal immigration enforcement surge. In recent speeches, she has urged Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave Minnesota and criticized congressional efforts that would fund expanded ICE operations.Klobuchar said the federal immigration surge in Minnesota was “making us less safe” and called on ICE to “get out of our state,” arguing that the deployment of thousands of agents inflamed tensions rather than improved public safety.RELATED: 'Organized obstruction': Leaked alleged Signal chats show anti-ICE radicals tracking ICE agents, chasing vehicles Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, Klobuchar also issued a statement through her Senate office criticizing the operation as being carried out “against the wishes of local leaders” and warning that federal enforcement actions were destabilizing Minnesota communities.Klobuchar further condemned congressional proposals that would increase ICE funding without additional restrictions, saying she would not support legislation that “doubles down on enforcement-first policies” while communities are already facing unrest tied to federal immigration operations.Her gubernatorial campaign video opens with Klobuchar addressing recent tragedies, saying, “Minnesota, we’ve been through a lot,” before referencing a string of violent incidents, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both of which occurred amid unrest tied to federal immigration enforcement activity.RELATED: 'You should f**king kill yourself': DHS releases terrifying audio of anti-ICE agitator threatening Minnesota agent Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) She also criticized the presence of roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents operating in Minnesota communities, criticizing an administration she said “relishes division.” Klobuchar has publicly said that immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis are “making us less safe” and has joined other Minnesota leaders in calling those federal actions a threat to community safety. Klobuchar said Minnesota needs leaders who can stand up to Donald Trump’s administration while still finding common ground to address problems at the state level.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Somali radical accused of sickening salivary assault on federal agents after bizarre 'bananas with rice' speech

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest on Wednesday of 16 anti-ICE rioters who allegedly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and/or interfered with federal agents while officers were engaged in official duties in Minneapolis.Among the radicals charged under 18 U.S. Code Section 111 was Nasra Ahmed, a 23-year-old "Somali-American" whose bizarre speech about Somalis' supposed affinity for bananas and rice recently went viral.'I will carry this on my shoulders.'Ahmed, who lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, held a press conference with Democrat state Rep. Samakab Hussein at the Minnesota Capitol last week, where she criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, accused federal agents of roughing her up, and did her apparent best to provide some insights into Somali identity."I got kidnapped by ICE," said Ahmed, wearing a bandage on a portion of her head not covered by her Islamic veil. "ICE came to my neighborhood, where — my neighborhood is a very Somali neighborhood. It's a predominantly Somali neighborhood. There's many Somalis that live here."Ahmed indicated that she saw a pair of Somali men running away from federal agents outside an apartment complex on Jan. 14 and decided to get involved. When asked for her ID, she allegedly complied.Footage appears to show a woman believed to be Ahmed spitting in the face of a federal agent.Following the apparent salivary attack, Ahmed was reportedly arrested, taken to the Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling, then briefly held on pending federal felony charges at Sherburne County jail in Elk River.Speaking at the press conference several days after she was released without charges, Ahmed claimed both that an ICE agent used a racial slur in reference to her and that she suffered a concussion during the arrest.RELATED: Somalia accused of stealing US-funded food aid, destroying warehouse — but caves when Trump admin cuts it off cold Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images"They arrested and detained me for two days, and I was put in county jail," continued the anti-ICE radical. "Then there was this ICE agent who called me a racial slur.""I am proud to say I have survived ICE," said Ahmed. "Many people are saying, including my family and friends, that I will go down in history, and I will carry this on my shoulders."While Ahmed's sob story resonated with Democrats such as Rep. Betty McCollum and other anti-ICE liberals, the part of her monologue that went viral online was her commentary on Somalis and "eating bananas with rice":I'm Somali. I'm proud to be Somali. To me, being Somali isn't just eating bananas with rice. It's a, it's a lot, it's like a, it's a, it's a, it's an interesting thing. It's a — it's very hard to describe what means to be Somali and what it means to be American, but it's like a cultural fusion. It's kind of like the bananas and rice, you know? People don't really see like — you know it's a, it's a, it's — you know, people don't think, "Oh, you can eat bananas with rice," but that's what it's like to be Somali and American. It's like that combination of banana and rice, but you're gonna get what I mean.Despite the supposed fusion of bananas and rice, the U.S. State Department has paused immigrant visa processing from Somalia, citing it as one of 75 countries "whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates."The Center for Immigration Studies indicated in a report last month that in Minnesota, approximately 54% of Somali-headed households received food stamps and 73% of Somali households had at least one member on Medicaid. By way of comparison, the figures for native households were 7% and 18%, respectively."Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars. Billions every year. Billions of dollars, and they contribute nothing. The welfare is like 88%. They contribute nothing," President Donald Trump said last month. "I don't want them in our country; I'll be honest with you. Some might say, 'Oh, that's not politically correct.' I don't care. I don't want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we don't want them in our country."Ahmed is now hitting up sympathizers for cash, requesting $20,000 on GoFundMe "to support her in this difficult moment." At the time of publication, she had raised nearly $2,000.Regarding the arrest of Ahmed and other anti-ICE radicals, Bondi noted, "I've said it before and I'll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Concealed carrier delivers swift justice when Chicago thugs allegedly approach him — and one pulls gun, demands his property

A concealed carrier wasted no time doling out justice when a pair of males allegedly attempted an armed robbery against him earlier this week.Chicago police said a 39-year-old man was exiting his vehicle around 2:40 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Montana Street and Laramie Avenue in the city's Cragin neighborhood, WFLD-TV reported.'So sick of thugs.'With that, two males — Robert Cooks Jr., 23, and Teryon Pittman, 24 — approached him, and one of them pulled out a gun and demanded the victim's belongings, the station said.Well, the victim wasn't having a bit of it.Police said the CCL holder drew his own gun and fired multiple shots, striking Cooks in the legs, WFLD reported.RELATED: Road rage suspect opens fire on fellow motorist in Chicago, cops say. But victim is a concealed carrier — and wins shootout. Cooks and Pittman both were charged with one felony count of armed robbery with a firearm, the station said.Paramedics treated Cooks, after which he was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition, WFLD said.The station added that Pittman has faced criminal charges in Chicago three times since 2020, including two cases of domestic battery.RELATED: 'I'll blow your head off': Carjacking victim threatened crook after turning the tables on him. Now carjacker learns his fate. Teryon PittmanImage source: Chicago PoliceBoth suspects have a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday, WFLD noted.A number of commenters under the station's Facebook post about the incident didn't hold back."Great job CCL holder," one commenter wrote."Too bad!!! Pew pew," another user exclaimed."So he faced 3 charges since 2020 and still roaming the streets?" another commenter asked. "The court system is sad.""That's awesome," another user noted."So sick of thugs," another commenter lamented.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Viral video: Toddler falls from mom's moving SUV, lands in Southern California city intersection, cops say. Mom out on bail.

A Southern California mother has been released from custody after her child endangerment arrest in connection with a viral video that police said shows her toddler falling from her moving SUV in a Fullerton intersection, KNBC-TV reported. Fullerton is just minutes north of Anaheim.The video shows a black SUV making an eastbound turn onto West Malvern Avenue from southbound North Euclid Street, police said, adding that as the SUV enters the intersection and completes the turn, the front passenger door opens, and a small child falls to the ground and into the roadway.'I felt a mixture of emotions anywhere from anger to worry to shock.' The SUV immediately stops, nearly causing a traffic collision with the vehicle behind it, police said.An adult female is then seen running from the driver’s side of the SUV, picking up the child, and returning to the vehicle before the video ends, police said.The incident occurred Jan. 20, but police said no one reported it until witness Natalie Quintanilla — a mother of four children — reached out to law enforcement over the weekend, KNBC said."I felt a mixture of emotions anywhere from anger to worry to shock because it’s something that could have easily been avoidable," Quintanilla added to the station Tuesday.Police said a witness came forward Saturday, reported observing the incident, and provided identifying information related to the vehicle involved. Police said officers conducted a follow-up investigation, which led them to a residence in the city of La Habra. Police said officers located the vehicle, the child, and the female involved in the incident seen in the video.RELATED: Toddler dies after being found submerged in container of water on front porch; mother accused of negligence: Cops The 19-month-old child suffered injuries consistent with the fall and was transported to an area hospital for treatment, police said, adding that the child is expected to make a full recovery.The female — identified as Jacqueline Hernandez, the 35-year-old mother of the child — was placed under arrest and booked at the Fullerton City Jail for felony child abuse, police said.Hernandez was soon transferred to the Orange County Jail; an Orange County Sheriff's Office official told Blaze News they aren't releasing Hernandez's mugshot "at this time."Orange County Jail data Blaze News accessed indicated Hernandez was set for release Tuesday.Indeed KNBC said Hernandez posted $100,000 bail at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.The station, citing police, added that Hernandez's 19-month-old boy was treated and released from the hospital, but it wasn't immediately clear if the toddler is back in the care of Hernandez.A neighbor of Hernandez, who declined to be identified for privacy, defended the mother, telling KNBC that "sometimes we do make mistakes.""I can almost guarantee you there’s no way that will happen again with her. No way," the neighbor noted to the station.KNBC said the Orange County district attorney's office hadn't yet officially charged Hernandez but is reviewing the case.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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FBI raids elections office in Fulton County after Trump vowed prosecutions for 'rigged' 2020 election

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that agents served a search warrant at the elections office in Fulton County on Wednesday, and sources say the action relates to the 2020 election.The Georgia county that includes Atlanta is at the center of claims from President Donald Trump that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.'People will soon be prosecuted for what they did. ... It was a rigged election. Can't have rigged elections.'Court filings indicated that the Justice Department is seeking ballots, ballots stubs, and absentee ballot signature envelopes from the election.The president referred to the claims in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and said the people responsible would be prosecuted soon."It was a rigged election. Everybody now knows that. They found out," said the president. "People will soon be prosecuted for what they did. It's probably breaking news, but it should be. It was a rigged election. Can't have rigged elections."The bureau would confirm only a "court-authorized law enforcement activity" at the Fulton County Election Hub but offered no other details.State Senator Josh McLaurin, a Democrat, excoriated the action in a statement to reporters. "Famously, Donald Trump has made Fulton County the object of his ire," said McLaurin. "Throughout the country it's made Fulton County national news for all the wrong reasons because he has pushed these baseless conspiracy theories that the election was somehow, quote, 'stolen' and that Georgia was the epicenter of this." RELATED: Georgia judge drops 3 charges in Trump election interference case The search warrant was signed by a Fulton County judge, according to WAGA-TV, which also confirmed that the search was related to the 2020 election. McLaurin went on to say that election officials had been threatened because of the president's claims. "This is extremely alarming," he added. This is a developing story.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Activist judge who downplayed Don Lemon's church antics, summoned ICE director donated to pro-illegal-alien group

The Minnesota-based federal judge who declined to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon and several of the radicals accused of storming into Cities Church on Jan. 18 demanded on Tuesday that acting ICE Director Todd Lyons "appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court."Despite U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz's portrayal in the liberal media as a conservative-minded and "mild-mannered George W. Bush appointee," it appears that Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's characterization of Schiltz as "just another activist judge" is more apt.'Another activist judge who is clearly more concerned about politics than the safety of the Minnesotans.'Bill Melugin of Fox News revealed this week that Schiltz is linked to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, a liberal activist outfit that provides free legal representation to illegal aliens, low-income migrants, and so-called refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.The ILCM routinely criticizes the men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, accusing them of occupation, racism, "Islamophobi[a]," and engaging in "execution-style murders."After Schiltz's name was found among the donors and volunteers listed in the ILCM's 2019 annual report, the judge — dubbed the "latest hero to the anti-Trump resistance" by Politico — admitted to Fox News Digital that he has "donated for many years to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.""I have also donated for many years to Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. I believe that poor people should be able to get legal representation," added Schiltz, who has served as a delegate at Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party conventions.The donor to the illegal alien support group noted in a Monday court filing that his "patience is at an end" and ordered Lyons to explain on Friday why he should not be held in contempt for supposedly violating an earlier order.RELATED: DOJ tries to put the squeeze on Don Lemon over church invasion — but judge says no, enraging Bondi: Report Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesSchiltz indicated that Juan Hugo Tobay Robles, an Ecuadorian national who illegally entered the U.S. in 1999 and was detained by immigration agents on Jan. 6, should have been provided with a bond hearing or released earlier this month.The Bush judge indicated in his Tuesday order that if Robles was released before the hearing, Lyons would not be required to appear. A lawyer for the Ecuadorian told the Associated Press that his client was released Tuesday afternoon."Judge Patrick J. Schiltz is just another activist judge who is clearly more concerned about politics than the safety of the Minnesotans," stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "Does this judge really think Director Lyons should take time out of his day leading ICE to target the worst of the worst criminal illegals including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and terrorists into our country to testify at a hearing for one illegal alien’s removal proceedings?"While Schiltz evidently figured that swift and decisive action was required in the case of Robles, he took an entirely different approach in the case of the radicals who assembled on Jan. 18 for a so-called "ICE Out Action," then stormed a Christian church in Saint Paul, Minnesota.After the church invasion, the Trump Justice Department promptly filed a criminal complaint in the District of Minnesota charging eight of the suspected invaders with violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrances Act.The DOJ's pursuit of accountability was frustrated at the outset when Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko — whose wife reportedly works for Minnesota's anti-ICE attorney general, Keith Ellison — declined to support all but three of the requested arrest affidavits.After Micko threw up additional roadblocks, the DOJ turned to Schiltz for a review of the magistrate's no-probable-cause finding in hopes that he might issue the warrants.In an angry and sarcastic Jan. 23 letter to the Eighth Circuit's chief judge, Steven Colloton, Schiltz downplayed the church invasion, glossed over the invaders' intimidation tactics, cast doubt on whether arresting them would deter copycats, emphasized that "there is no emergency," and noted that if the petition filed by the government seeks an immediate decision, "the petition is frivolous."In a separate letter, he suggested there was "no evidence that [Don Lemon and his producer] engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so."Sure enough, Schiltz indicated that he would not issue arrest warrants until conferring with his colleagues — a meeting that was supposed to happen last week but was delayed.Over the weekend, a three-judge Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals panel denied the government's petition to review the magistrate's refusal to sign the warrants.While U.S. Circuit Court Judge Steven Grasz, an appointee of President Donald Trump, recognized that the complaint and affidavit "clearly establish probably cause for all five arrest warrants" and that "there is no discretion to refuse to issue an arrest warrant once probable cause for its issuance has been shown," the government had "failed to establish that it has no other adequate means of obtaining the requested relief."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Babysitter reportedly said she fell on infant who suffered head trauma, lost part of skull. But doctor gives damning verdict.

Two weeks ago, Tori Nelson reportedly got a message from the babysitter of her 3-month-old boy, Braxton, that no parent ever wants to receive.Chris Musselman — Braxton's father — told YourCentralValley.com that the babysitter said she fell on Braxton and then woke up only to find the infant "unresponsive."'He cries, but his cry is different. You know your baby's cry, and like, what they want and need. And I just don’t know anymore.'With that, Braxton was rushed to emergency surgery for severe head trauma, the station said.“We barged into the emergency room where the ambulance goes," Musselman told the station regarding his and Nelson's response. "We get yelled at by security guards."After a six-hour surgery, a doctor shared more bad news, the station said.“He explained to us that his injuries weren’t consistent with a fall ... [they] were consistent with a baby that had been shaken," Musselman told the station. "And at that point, [the doctor] had no other choice as a mandatory reporter to involve [Child Protective Services] and involve the authorities."With that, 50-year-old Tonya Hamilton — a nonrelative caregiver of Braxton — was arrested and booked into the Madera County Jail in California on felony child abuse-related charges, the station said. The city of Madera is about 30 minutes northwest of Fresno.As you might imagine, Braxton’s parents said the days since they first got word about their son have been a nightmare.“He cries, but his cry is different," Nelson revealed to the station. "You know your baby's cry, and like, what they want and need. And I just don’t know anymore."Musselman added to the station that "it’s been absolutely tragic. No parent should ever have to go through this. No child should ever have to be treated this way."Naturally Braxton's mom and dad are constantly at Valley Children’s Hospital by Braxton's side, the station said.RELATED: Day-care worker confesses to 'intentionally suffocating' 11-month-old boy who died; it was 'an attention-seeking act': Cops “I was heartbroken to see my son that way with all the tubes. And just, like, in the state that he was in, like, he never asked for this,” Nelson added to the station.Musselman added to the station that "we haven’t held him for almost two weeks. It’ll be two weeks on Tuesday. And to not be able to console your child is heart-wrenching."One bit of good news is that Braxton is no longer in the Intensive Care Unit and no longer on a breathing tube, the station said, adding that his mom and dad finally got to hold him.But the battle is far from over.“He’s having heavy withdrawal symptoms just from the amounts of fentanyl and sedation that he was on," Musselman told the station. "So we’re just trying to navigate that."Nelson added to the station that Braxton "is missing the whole right side of his skull right now. So the day that he comes home, we don’t know if he will come home with a skull or without a skull."A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family pay for present and future medical costs and other expenses.The sheriff's office offered a public safety reminder: "Shaking a baby, even for a few seconds, can cause permanent brain injury or death. If you are feeling overwhelmed, place the baby in a safe location and step away. Ask for help. There is never an excuse for shaking a child. If you suspect child abuse, report it. Your call could save a life."The sheriff's office also said the photo of Hamilton on its news release is from a California driver's license photo and is not a booking photo.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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'Convicted and f**king dangles': NeverTrumper Rick Wilson calls for execution of top White House adviser

As uncertainty around the violence against law enforcement grows in Minneapolis, many people seemed to have missed the memo about cooling down the rhetoric after the events of the past weekend. And a co-founder of the Lincoln Project was among those apparently calling for capital punishment.'When this is done, I want Stephen Miller to be the first one who is tried and convicted and f**king dangles.'On the Saturday episode of his show, NeverTrumper Rick Wilson had a pointed message for leaders in Trump's administration, with special ire for deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser Stephen Miller. Wilson said he knew he would "get canceled for saying this. I know I'm going to get in trouble."He went on nonetheless: "I want Stephen Miller to be the number one in the Nuremburg trials when this is done. When this is done, I want Stephen Miller to be the first one who is tried and convicted and f**king dangles."RELATED: 'Repulsive': Critics blast Walz for invoking Anne Frank, comparing ICE enforcement to systematic genocide Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesHe continued, "I want him to be brought before a court of law, because he is the sole executive that runs all this DHS, ICE stuff — the 'ICEstapo.'"Wilson was apparently angry at Miller and his characterization of male nurse Alex Pretti, the man who interfered with United States Border Patrol in Minneapolis and was subsequently fatally shot. Wilson took issue with the fact that Miller called Pretti a "would-be assassin" on social media in more than one instance. Though the details of the incident are still debated, Pretti was carrying a gun at the time of his standoff with Border Patrol agents.Wilson, the DOJ, and the DHS did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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'I have a gun; don't move!' Concealed carrier protecting his wife and kids confronts burglar — and shocked crook wises up.

The date on the indoor surveillance video reads January 19, and the time reads 12:44 a.m.In that moment, the clip shows a break-in at a home in the affluent neighborhood of Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York. WABC-TV reported that the crew allegedly was looking to steal a luxury car's key fob.'If they want to come back, let them.'But the homeowner had a little surprise. He's a licensed concealed carrier — and was armed, the station said.One of the burglars came into the home through a window, using a phone flashlight to check items in the kitchen, WABC said."I'm like, 'I have a gun; don't move!'" the homeowner recounted to the station.Then the crook got lucky."I pull the trigger and the gun jams," the homeowner added to WABC. "By whatever divine intervention, the gun doesn't shoot."Not that the burglar knew. Surveillance video shows the culprit running through the window where entry was gained — and the other crew members followed suit.RELATED: Blaze News original: 10 times concealed carriers in Chicago stopped crooks in their tracks in the last year "Both of my cars are in the driveway. My lights turned on as soon as they approached the front gate. And so they knew somebody was home. But they didn't seem to care," the homeowner recalled to the station, adding that it was the one night he didn't activate the alarm system at his residence.The homeowner said his wife and kids also were home at the time of the break-in, and the targeted item apparently was a key fob for his luxury Bentley vehicle, WABC said."The detectives told me. There was a dispatch for three other burglaries. Two of them were successful; they stole another Porsche and a Range Rover," the homeowner noted to the station.The crime spike has put on alert Jewish residents who might be on vacation for Yeshiva, WABC said."If they want to come back, let them. This time the gun won't be jammed. Hopefully, it won't get there. But I don't feel like I have a target on my back, because everybody here is a target — it's a collective community," the homeowner added to the station.Police are looking for the three suspects involved in the incident, WABC added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Homan heads to Minnesota: ICE to continue making arrests amid 'violent organized protests,' $20B fraud, Trump says

As the situation in Minnesota continues to become more unruly, President Trump made several announcements in a Truth Social post in anticipation of the week ahead. Trump suggested in part that border czar Tom Homan will be heading north to assess the rapidly evolving situation. 'A major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota.'On Monday morning, Trump announced, "I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there.""Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me," Trump added.RELATED: Democrats threaten to shut down government over ICE funding: 'We are not powerless' Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty ImagesPress secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified Homan's role in Minnesota on social media shortly after the post from Trump: "Tom Homan will be managing ICE Operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. In addition, Tom will coordinate with those leading investigations into the massive, widespread fraud that has resulted in billions of taxpayer dollars being stolen from law-abiding citizens in Minnesota."Trump added that "a major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota."He suggested that the welfare fraud is "at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets."Trump also attacked Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) in the post. "Additionally, the DOJ and Congress are looking at 'Congresswoman' Illhan Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars. Time will tell all. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Trump’s economic agenda needs a Vegas test — and a Vegas win

Las Vegas is a mirror. When it works, America works. When it struggles, the problem isn’t local — it’s national.Vegas was built on a simple idea: value. Give people a reason to come, treat them fairly, and let them choose how much risk they want to take. No lectures. No stupid political games. No government hand in your pocket every five minutes.A great city doesn’t nickel-and-dime its customers. Value matters. People don’t expect cheap. They expect fair. That lesson applies nationally, too.That formula built the entertainment capital of the world. And right now, it’s under pressure.The neon lights have dimmedVegas is getting squeezed from both ends, and the pressure feels familiar because it’s the same pressure families across the country have felt.Under the Biden administration, inflation surged. Housing costs jumped. Groceries, energy, airfare, and insurance rose together. Families didn’t get richer. Their dollars just bought less.Reckless spending, energy restrictions, and regulatory overreach drove the damage. Washington acted like prices were somebody else’s problem.Southern Nevada also felt the economic whiplash. Tourism collapsed during the 2020 lockdowns, wiping out billions and driving unemployment as high as 33% at its peak. Visitor spending returned slowly, then softened again in 2025 — after wages, rents, and debt had already risen on the assumption that demand would keep growing.For locals trying to raise families, that meant higher baseline costs and less margin for error. Housing, rent, and transportation ate paychecks. Hospitality wages rose, but many workers still lost ground as commuting costs and rents climbed faster.A gamble on progressUnder President Trump, the trend has started to reverse — not overnight, but directionally. Energy production is up. Supply chains have stabilized. Regulatory pressure has eased. Inflation cooled. Costs didn’t snap back, but the bleeding slowed.That matters because affordability is competitiveness. Vegas shows what happens when value breaks.For decades, Vegas understood the middle-class customer: a weekend trip, a decent room, a good meal, a show, maybe a little gambling — and you left feeling like you got your money’s worth.That perception is cracking. Resort fees that feel like a second room rate. Paid parking where it never used to exist. Food and drink prices that make people stop and stare. Fees stacked on top of fees, revealed at checkout. The experience starts feeling less like entertainment and more like an airport terminal.Visitors notice. And when people feel squeezed, they don’t just complain — they change their behavior.RELATED: America tried to save the planet and forgot to save itself Photo by Timothy Fadek/Corbis via Getty ImagesVegas runs on volume. When fewer visitors come, fewer dollars circulate. The pain hits the dealer, the server, the bartender, the stagehand, the hotel staff, and the rideshare driver long before it reaches the executive suite.Zoom out, and you see America facing the same dynamic.The United States used to win because we offered the best value on earth. Not the cheapest — the best deal. A place where costs made sense and life felt attainable.That edge has been eroding, especially in housing. When home ownership becomes a fantasy, workers can’t relocate, young families delay building stable lives, and talent looks elsewhere.Meanwhile, competitors are building. Riyadh. Dubai. Macao. Singapore. They’re creating new tourism and entertainment hubs designed to pull dollars away from legacy markets like Las Vegas.They’re betting America forgets how competition works.Make Vegas Vegas againFederal policy matters here. Washington still treats Vegas like a cash register, with outdated rules such as taxing gambling winnings and forcing IRS reporting thresholds stuck in the 1970s. That doesn’t just annoy visitors. It tells the world America doesn’t understand modern consumer behavior.Ending the federal tax on gambling winnings isn’t radical. It’s strategic. Updating IRS reporting levels isn’t reckless. It’s realistic. Both would improve the visitor experience and help Vegas compete.The industry also has work to do. A great city doesn’t nickel-and-dime its customers. Transparency matters. Value matters. People don’t expect cheap. They expect fair.That lesson applies nationally, too.America doesn’t win by lecturing consumers or ignoring affordability. America wins by making this country the best place on earth to live, work, build, and spend money.Vegas is telling that story in real time. If Washington listens, the rest of the country benefits.

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Was the Minnesota AG's entire career a long con to funnel money to Somalia?

BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales is sounding the alarm on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), claiming his political career has been a decades-long scheme to facilitate financial transfers to Somalia.“It feels a whole lot like Keith Ellison may have been pulling off a long con. I mean, decades long, just to facilitate Somalian fraud. Like it seems like this has been his goal for a very long time,” Gonzales says, pointing out that before he was AG, he served in Congress from 2007 to 2019.“You would expect that in 12 years serving in Congress, there would be a lot to show for it, right? Like he will have had a bunch of bills that he sponsored that passed ... I mean he did turn into the Minnesota AG so like obviously he was successful,” she continues.“Except, it turns out, there’s only one single solitary bill that he sponsored that ended up becoming law. Just this one,” she says.The bill is titled Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014.“It made it easier for nonbank financial institutions like money-service businesses to provide remittance payments internationally, which of course, you know, is sending American money to foreigners across the world,” Gonzales explains.And in an interview with the Mogadishu Times, Ellison explained that the primary goal is to keep “the discussion focused on how we can keep money flowing to Somalia.”“Quite simply, one of the banks that helps to facilitate remittances from the United States to Somalia has now become worried about the degree of risk ... they’re worried that they could end up being prosecuted on a criminal basis,” Ellison continued.“It’s actually so incredible that all of this was out there. All the breadcrumbs were there this entire time. This has actually been in operation for a very long time for Keith Ellison,” Gonzales comments, shocked.Ellison has also publicly claimed that sending money to Somalia is mutually beneficial for U.S. taxpayers.“Please give me receipts on how it’s mutually beneficial. This is a third-world country with people who are inbred ... so I don’t understand,” Gonzales says.“On a serious note, lock him up. We need accountability for all of this corruption that has been happening for decades completely unchecked,” she adds.Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, 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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Trump ‘needs to be honest’: Tariffs, the court, and a housing market built on lies

The Supreme Court’s latest delay in its tariff case is fueling speculation that justices are trying to craft a behind-the-scenes compromise to avoid market shock — even if it means quietly curbing presidential trade authority.But Daniel Horowitz explains that the tariff ruling may be less important than the remedy itself, especially as another crisis tightens its grip on Americans: a frozen, inflated housing market that government policy continues to prop up instead of letting it reset.“I think what they’re trying to do is two things. ... One is, they want to do it with as little disruption as possible. So they’re trying to think how that remedy works. And number two, I think particularly maybe for Thomas and Alito, they’re trying to figure out how not to get involved in a political question,” Horowitz tells BlazeTV host Steve Deace on the “Steve Deace Show.”“And that’s really where I am. As you well know, I don’t believe the court should ever be the arbiter of a fundamental political disagreement. If it’s a problem, Congress should oppose and deal with it,” he continues.Trump has also announced his plan to go after residential homes being bought up by global corporations like BlackRock, which sounds great to everyday Americans, but Horowitz believes the solution is even simpler.“It was announced, no more, you know, BlackRock owning of homes, residential, you know, mass production of, or acquisition, I should say, of residential homes, things of that nature,” Deace says.“This is a primary thing that the young male demographic that voted our way in the last election cares about. It’s a primary driver of the current situation in the economy. Not to mention the fact it’s the greatest source for individual liquidation that exists right now to the average American,” he continues.“We’re sitting on all this liquid that could go back into the economy if we can get the housing market moving. What should they be doing, do you think?” Deace asks.“Very simple. Let the bubble pop. And I know it sounds very simplistic, but it’s something that they refuse to do, and everything that they’re proposing will further fuel it. Corporate ownership is a symptom of the problem, not the problem,” Horowitz responds.“The president needs to be honest with people. The biggest problem with the president economically is he doesn’t understand the mutual exclusivity of things. So, he wants insurance to cover everything, but he wants premiums to go down, right? He wants the welfare state, but he doesn’t want inflation. He wants seniors to have a checking account in the form of fake housing on unrealized gains, but he wants young people to be able to afford them,” he continues.“If you want to actually get the economy back to what we all said we did, which is a broad-based income economy rather than an asset bubble, you’ve got to pull the plugs on all the things doing this. And it’s the exact opposite of what the president is saying,” he adds.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.

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Karoline Leavitt announces pregnancy news: 'My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Friday that she is expecting another baby in May 2026.Leavitt told Fox News Digital that her baby will be a girl. She and her husband, Nick, had their first child, a son named Niko, in 2024.'I am beyond excited to become a girl mom.'"My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother," said Leavitt. "My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to heaven on Earth."She went on to say she was "extremely grateful to President Trump and our amazing chief of staff, Susie Wiles, for their support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House."Leavitt released a photo on her Instagram account showing the sonogram image of the new baby from a decoration on her Christmas tree. She also showed off her baby bump. "Nearly all of my West Wing colleagues have babies and young children," she continued. "So we all really support one another as we tackle raising our families while working for the greatest president ever."She will continue in her position as press secretary, according to a senior White House official.RELATED: Pregnant libs film themselves taking Tylenol in display of Trump derangement syndrome "2026 is going to be an amazing year for the president and our country, and personally, I am beyond excited to become a girl mom," she added.Leavitt will be the first pregnant press secretary in U.S. history, according to Fox News Digital.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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