Blaze Media

News, opinion, and entertainment for people who love the American way of life.

theblaze.com
Editorial Articles Media Highlights

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for Foreign 'Fauci acolyte' and his African crony charged with smuggling monkeypox onto American soil

Foreign 'Fauci acolyte' and his African crony charged with smuggling monkeypox onto American soil

A pair of foreigners employed at a controversial U.S. biolab were charged on Tuesday with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox onto American soil and giving false statements to federal law enforcement.Vincent Munster — a 53-year-old Dutch citizen who is the chief of the virus ecology section at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a National Institutes of Health Biosafety Level 4 research facility in Hamilton, Montana — and one of his underlings, a 38-year-old Cameroonian national named Claude Kwe, were caught by Customs and Border Patrol officials with a black case allegedly full of viral materials at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Jan. 25.'This is bigger than a customs charge.'The duo allegedly told CBP agents that the case — which they had traveled with from the Congo, where a major monkeypox outbreak was underway — contained diagnostics and testing equipment. Federal agents discovered, however, that the case actually contained 113 vials in Styrofoam containers, the Justice Department said in a release.According to the DOJ, an FBI analysis of 20 of the 113 vials showed that 17 contained deactivated monkeypox virus, one contained the chickenpox virus, and two contained human DNA.Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus in the same genus as the virus that causes smallpox. While endemic in various African regions, monkeypox made a global play in early 2022. In nearly all Western cases, the disease affects and is spread by homosexuals.A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that of the 528 infections diagnosed between April 27 and June 24, 2022, 98% of those infected were homosexuals and that "transmission was suspected to have occurred through sexual activity in 95% of the persons with infection."Individuals infected with monkeypox often experience a painful rash that can look like pimples or blisters, respiratory problems, exhaustion, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and chills. The disease can be spread via respiratory droplets, through "direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus," and through "contact with clothing, bedding, and other items used by a person" with the virus.RELATED: Gain-of-function experiments on hantaviruses? Yes, but virus threat is still MASSIVELY overblown. Vincent Munster. NIAID.Emily Hilliard, a senior Health and Human Services press secretary, told Blaze News that the NIH, which owns Rocky Mountain Laboratories, is cooperating fully with law enforcement and the relevant authorities regarding the case against Munster and Kwe.Hilliard noted further that the NIH was made aware of the incident at the Detroit airport in January, and agency leaders "immediately activated established agency protocols to safeguard related laboratory facilities, research materials, and biological samples."These measures apparently included "securing relevant laboratory spaces, restricting access to affected areas, and conducting a comprehensive audit and inventory assessment to verify that all materials were appropriately accounted for, documented, and maintained in accordance with all relevant biosafety policies, requirements, and procedures."U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. of the Eastern District of Michigan said of the alleged monkeypox smuggling attempt, "These NIH experts apparently broke our laws by smuggling viral pathogens on a packed commercial airplane from an outbreak in the Republic of Congo. Let that sink in.""Any deliberate effort to conceal and smuggle biological materials into the United States without proper authorization is a breach of the public’s trust and could have placed the public at risk," stated Marcus Sykes, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.Munster and Kwe each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.Neither the researchers nor the HHS responded to a request for comment from Blaze News.Dr. Richard H. Ebright of Rutgers University alleged of the suspect, "Munster exemplifies the dishonesty, the disregard for biosafety, the disdain for law, and the contempt for the public interest that — after four decades of Anthony Fauci having treated virology as his personal fief and power base — have become pervasive in virology."Dr. Robert Malone, a biochemist who recently served on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, emphasized that "this is bigger than a customs charge.""Why does Munster's name matter? In April 2024, Sen. Rand Paul released documents showing Rocky Mountain Laboratories — Munster's facility — was listed as a participant in EcoHealth Alliance's DEFUSE proposal. The same proposal DARPA rejected for posing unacceptable biosafety risks," wrote Malone. "DEFUSE contemplated experiments on novel bat coronaviruses, spike protein manipulation, and insertion of furin cleavage sites. DARPA said no. But NIAID kept funding the same research ecosystem — EcoHealth, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the same scientific objectives. Then COVID emerged in Wuhan."Munster is currently listed as a senior investigator with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' virus ecology section. In recent years, he has worked on and researched numerous viruses, including SARS-COV-2, the virus behind COVID-19.Kwe is a research fellow with the NIH's intramural research program.The two of them have worked together on monkeypox research and are listed as co-authors of a February 2026 study assessing "the risk of clade Ib mpox and our preparedness."RELATED: 'NIAID cannot be trusted': Fauci's agency planned to make monkeypox more deadly, says congressional report Monkeypox. NIH-NIAID/Image Point FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images.They concluded in their study that "the emergence and current co-circulation of clade Ia, Ib, and clade IIb in Africa, and recent spread of clade Ib mpox in the U.S, Europe, and Asia is a reminder that emerging infectious diseases are global issues that require timely coordinated response."The foreign researchers noted further that "the global spread of clade IIb and Ib should also be recognized as sentinel events, highlighting essential gaps in pandemic preparedness."The criminal charges against Munster and Kwe come just weeks after White Coat Waste Project — a watchdog that helped expose EcoHealth Alliance's and former NIAID Director Anthony Fauci's ties to the gain-of-function experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology — obtained and published a damning whistleblower report detailing Munster and Kwe's alleged attempt to smuggle foreign viruses onto American soil.The whistleblower characterized Munster as a "Fauci acolyte and all around egotistical, arrogant foreigner that joined his research project (to aerosolize covid virus) to Ralph Baric's project (to weaponize it)."Baric, a professor in the departments of epidemiology and microbiology at the University of North Carolina, is a leading proponent of gain-of-function research who successfully fought for an exemption from the Obama administration's moratorium on the dangerous practice in order to keep manufacturing artificial SARS-like viruses.In response to a request for comment, Baric directed Blaze News to UNC, which did not immediately respond.The whistleblower went on to claim that after Detroit authorities "found dozens of vials" in Munster's baggage in January, the NIH "went into full cover-up mode."Rocky Mountain Laboratories has also been home to additional scandals in recent months.The NIH recently confirmed to the Ravalli Republic that in November 2025, the facility was exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, which has a fatality rate of 30% or higher."At no time was there any evidence of disease transmission or infection, nor was there ever any risk to staff, caregivers, or the public," said the NIH.According to the whistleblower, that "exposure" was the result of an infected monkey "that was being tortured (infected and sickened with no pain mitigation) as an experiment for Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever."The NIH did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment about the whistleblower's allegations.On Feb. 18, RML also filed a federal "release/loss/theft" form. An NIH spokesman said it was done "in response to a potential exposure to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus due to a hole in a glove that occurred while changing cages of laboratory mice.""There was no release outside of the lab and at no time was there any risk to the public," said the spokesman.Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana, citing the whistleblower complaint, asked HHS Inspector General March Bell in a May 26 letter to launch a formal investigation "into the safety, security, and personnel practices at RML" and raised alarm about Munster's souvenirs from the Congo.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for Minnesota fraudsters fined millions of dollars — but report finds many don't pay and get released anyway

Minnesota fraudsters fined millions of dollars — but report finds many don't pay and get released anyway

A man who was fined nearly $2 million for scamming the Medicare system was released from probation despite paying nearly none of the fine, and he's not the only one.An investigative report found that many Minnesota fraudsters who are fined millions of dollars fail to pay back any significant amount but are allowed to get off probation.'For the person who just doesn't care and is trying to get away with wrongdoing, I think we need stronger medicine.'In 2023, a man named Tommie Johnson Sr. pleaded guilty to stealing health care funds through a personal care assistance scheme.Prosecutors wanted to put Johnson in prison for 45 months, but a judge put him on probation instead so he could work to pay off the $1.7 million restitution.For three years, Johnson paid the bare minimum of monthly payments, often $25 to $50 a month. Despite paying a tiny fraction of what he owed, Johnson was allowed to get off probation by Hennepin County District Court Judge Emily Froehle."The record at the time of sentencing reflects that it was unrealistic and not anticipated that [Johnson] would pay the full amount of the joint and some restitution," Froehle wrote in the order.The case is not unusual, according to investigators with KMSP-TV.The investigation found that convicted fraudsters paid only about $2.4 million out of $13.3 million in combined restitution ordered through the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (DFL). That comes to only about 18.8%.Many of the fraudsters had their probation discharged despite paying little or nothing toward their restitution.A spokesperson for the attorney general's office said the office is seeking to strengthen laws to make the fines stick.RELATED: Top scammer of 'Feeding Our Future' fraud in Minnesota NAILED with painful sentence "We will continue to urge courts to use all the tools at their disposal to ensure the fraudsters we convict pay back as much of the money they stole as possible," the spokesperson claimed."For the person who just doesn't care and is trying to get away with wrongdoing, I think we need stronger medicine for people like that," Ellison said.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for They're stealing survivor benefits from ORPHANS in 29 states — and Alex Adams just exposed it

They're stealing survivor benefits from ORPHANS in 29 states — and Alex Adams just exposed it

America’s foster care system is facing a serious crisis, and the government has not only been making it worse — but stealing from orphans who need help the most.It’s called the “orphan tax,” and Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Alex Adams has been dedicated to exposing it.“Essentially, a child's parents died, that child's parents had worked, so they were entitled to some social security through earned benefits through work,” Adams tells Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck.“Traditionally the child would be eligible for the survivor's benefit, but in 29 states, when that child entered foster care, the state was saying ‘we are now the parent of that child. We’re going to take that survivor’s benefit from them,'” he explains.“These states were essentially stealing from orphans and using it to cover government bureaucratic overhead. So we sent a letter to 29 states asking them to end that practice, which I find morally objectionable, and luckily 10 states changed the laws this year,” he adds.Of those 10 states, the governors of Nebraska, Louisiana, and Indiana signed executive orders immediately ending the practice.“We still have a long way to go, and we’re going to continue pushing on states to try to end the orphan taxation,” Adams says.Glenn worries that this can be reversed under new leadership, so the thing to do is “encourage our houses of worship to get more involved.”“One of my big phrases that I use at my charity is if we want the government to do less then we have to do more. If we want our government to not be involved on all of these levels because they usually will screw things up, we need to have our churches do more,” Glenn tells Adams.“I agree with you wholeheartedly,” Adams says. “The message that we send to the faith-based community will make or break our success in child welfare long-term.”“And families of faith are the most likely to raise their hands and volunteer and run towards the foster care system, get licensed as foster families, provide preventative services that will prevent kids from entering into foster care in the first place,” he adds.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.

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for Male Brandishes Gun Amid Spat With Victim at Florida Park, Opens Fire After Victim Grabs Own Gun. But Victim Is Better Shot.

Male Brandishes Gun Amid Spat With Victim at Florida Park, Opens Fire After Victim Grabs Own Gun. But Victim Is Better Shot.

Police in Daytona Beach, Florida, said they're actively investigating a shooting that occurred early Sunday at Derbyshire Park. Officers initially responded to a local hospital after receiving reports of a patient suffering from a gunshot wound, police said, adding that officers during the investigation determined the shooting occurred at Derbyshire Park. At this time, the motive for the encounter remains unclear, and there is no ongoing threat to the public, police said. Preliminary findings indicate an adult male and an adult female met and parked together at the park when a male they did not know approached them, police said. When a disagreement occurred between the individuals, the male who approached the couple allegedly brandished a firearm, police said. The male victim then grabbed his own gun and demanded the unknown male leave the area, police said. The unknown male began walking away but soon turned and fired multiple rounds, striking the male victim, police said. But the male victim returned fire, striking the unknown male, police said. Following the exchange of gunfire, the male victim as well as the female he was with drove themselves to a local hospital for treatment, police said. Responding officers found the other male dead in the park, police said. Officials said investigators have identified all parties involved. At this time, the motive for the encounter remains unclear, and there is no ongoing threat to the public, police said. RELATED: Vietnam vet says he had to 'get aggressive' and grab his gun when his female tenant started screaming Police said the investigation remains active and ongoing. The identities of the involved parties are being withheld while detectives continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the incident, police said. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for California vote-counting continues: Who’s advancing in the governor and LA mayor races?

California vote-counting continues: Who’s advancing in the governor and LA mayor races?

California polls closed at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, but the state continues to count ballots as the spotlight remains on the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races.Former Fox News host and small business owner Steve Hilton (R) and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) remain neck and neck in the race to become the next California governor. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general election.With only 58% of the votes counted as of Wednesday morning, the Associated Press has not announced that either candidate has secured enough votes to guarantee a place in November. 'We are still leading. It’s looking good.'However, Hilton holds a slight lead, securing over 1,386,000 votes. Becerra is more than two points behind with 1,267,000 votes. Democratic challenger Tom Steyer sits in third place, over eight points behind Hilton, with 979,000 votes.Hilton called it a “a very, very good night,” stating that “it does look like change really is coming to California.”“We are still leading. It’s looking good,” he added.Since no candidate earned at least 50% of the vote in the L.A. mayoral race, the top two finishers will face off again in November. With roughly 63% of the ballots counted as of Wednesday morning, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has secured enough votes to move on to the general election, according to the Associated Press.RELATED: 'Doomsday scenario': California governor race turns into high-stakes scramble as vote split may keep Republican out Steve Hilton. Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty ImagesApproximately 12 hours after the polls closed, Bass held onto a more than four-point lead over former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, while L.A. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman sat in third place, over 12 points behind Bass.Pratt appeared positioned to defeat Raman, already securing over 151,000 votes compared to the councilwoman’s 110,000 votes. If Pratt holds onto his lead, he will advance to the runoff against Bass in November.RELATED: Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman shrink Karen Bass’ lead in tight race for LA mayor: Poll Karen Bass. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesDecision Desk HQ projected that Bass would advance and reported that Pratt “looks most likely” to join her, although it is too soon to be certain.“Well, obviously God wanted five more months of me exposing all the failures of our mayor,” Pratt told reporters on Tuesday evening. “So, it’s gonna be a fun ride. I hope she’s ready.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for Democratic Virginia AG to take over case against trans-identifying sex offender accused of exposing himself at school

Democratic Virginia AG to take over case against trans-identifying sex offender accused of exposing himself at school

Jay Jones, the radical Democratic attorney general of Virginia, will take over the case against a registered, repeat sex offender accused of exposing himself to girls and women in a school locker room.Richard Kenneth Cox, 59, was initially registered as a sex offender in 1998 after he was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child. The Tier III sex offender was convicted of possessing obscene material with a minor in 2007. Cox was also convicted for failing to register as a sex offender, once in 2007 and again in 2021.'The statute is therefore void for vagueness.'Cox admitted in a letter written to a judge in 1992 that he had “sexual problems.” A few years later, in a separate letter, he stated that he was aware that he experienced “compulsions to expose myself in public places,” WJLA previously reported.He is facing over 20 charges related to allegations that he exposed his naked body in a female locker room at a Washington-Liberty High School pool on Oct. 21, 2024. The charges include indecent exposure, sex offender on school or day-care property, and sex offender loitering near school/day care/park/playground.Outside of regular school hours, the Washington-Liberty High School pool is open to the public.Cox, who goes by the name Riki Cox, has claimed to identify as a female. The school district's policy allows individuals to use the locker room that they believe aligns with their so-called gender identity. RELATED: 'Like they are some kind of freak': Sex offender posing as woman allegedly exposes himself in school locker rooms Celal Gunes/Anadolu/Getty Images“My civil rights as a transgender person allow me to use a public facility, including restrooms and changing rooms that identify as my gender,” Cox told law enforcement authorities in Nov. 2024.On March 12, Arlington County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Lopez granted Cox’s request to dismiss his case. The judge agreed with Cox’s claim that the Virginia law under which he was charged is vague under the 14th Amendment.The judge was referring to Virginia Code § 18.2-370.2(B), which states, “Every adult who is convicted of an offense prohibiting proximity to children when the offense occurred on or after July 1, 2000, shall as part of his sentence be forever prohibited from loitering within 100 feet of the premises of any place he knows or has reason to know is a primary, secondary or high school.”Lopez concluded that “loitering” was not clearly defined and that the statute lacks standards to guide enforcement.“The statute is therefore void for vagueness,” Lopez wrote.RELATED: 2 boys were filmed by a girl in the boys' school locker room. The school punished the BOYS. Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket/Getty ImagesArlington Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti’s office appealed the judge’s decision, and the Court of Appeals accepted the case. Now, AG Jones, who previously fantasized about the death of a Republican and his children, will represent the commonwealth in the case.Separately, Cox was convicted in February for possessing child pornography, which police said they found on his phone and on a memory device when he was arrested in Dec. 2024 for charges related to the exposure case.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 3 2026
Cover image for University of Chicago decides to stop raising LGBTQ+ flag for Pride Month — and activists are OUTRAGED

University of Chicago decides to stop raising LGBTQ+ flag for Pride Month — and activists are OUTRAGED

The University of Chicago announced that it would no longer be flying the LGBTQ+ Pride flag for Pride Month at the UC Laboratory Schools after three years.Activists expressed their outrage over the decision in favor of institutional neutrality. The LGBTQ+ flag had been raised at the flagpole in Blaine Courtyard for Pride Month every year since 2022.'You see the display of even basic symbols expressing the dignity of our students would be an unacceptable political stance and violation of neutrality.'Interim Director Ethan Bueno de Mesquita announced the decision in an email Monday that made clear it only applied to the flagpole."To be clear, the full membership of LGBTQ+ people in the Lab community is not a contested issue. It is a core value," he wrote.The UC Laboratory High School is a program for gifted high schoolers to experience the University of Chicago.Bueno de Mesquita said the flag would violate the school's new policy on viewpoint-neutral teaching."I think the university saying that an observer who sees something flying from a flagpole and understands that to be a statement of the institution is a reasonable interpretation of how flagpoles operate, and so that doesn't strike me as an unreasonable rule," he said to U-High Midway, the student newspaper for the UC Lab.The decision drew sharp criticism from the university’s American Association of University Professors."You see the display of even basic symbols expressing the dignity of our students would be an unacceptable political stance and violation of neutrality," the chapter account wrote in a sarcastic tone."The KKK is alive and well at UChicago," another response reads.RELATED: Florida lesbians say $250-per-day fine against rainbow fence violates their constitutional rights However, the College Fix news site noted that a student life office run by the school's Center for Identity + Inclusion continued to offer support for "LGBTQ students, questioning students, and allies in the college and graduate and professional schools." New laws and regulations against the LGBTQ+ agenda have reportedly led to an exodus of gender-confused people fleeing to Seattle, Washington, to seek gender refuge. Activists have called on the mayor to declare a civil emergency to provide support for community aid organizations. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Mamdani-endorsed candidate deleted extremist posts about seizing private property and abolishing police, prisons

Mamdani-endorsed candidate deleted extremist posts about seizing private property and abolishing police, prisons

Yet another left-wing extremist with ties to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) has been unearthed through a CNN investigation. Mamdani endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier in her campaign to replace Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a longtime Democrat, in New York’s 13th Congressional District. 'I have grown considerably since in the years since these tweets.' The report found that Chevalier deleted a social media account that advocated the abolition of police, prisons, and borders. She also advocated the seizure of private property and nationalizing major industries, policies popular in communist countries like Venezuela and Cuba. "We're gonna defund and abolish. You don't get to water down our movements," one deleted post reads. "It means ending policing full stop. Period. No more police at all ever," another reads, with several clapping emojis added. "In New York they don't say 'I love you,' they say 'NYPD suck my d**k' and I think that's beautiful," she posted. She also called the Democratic National Committee a "big fraudulent white nasty status quo bitch" and added in another tweet, "I have no nuance to add. F**k Kamala Harris." Chevalier is a 32-year-old doctoral student and investigator from the public defender's office in New York City. The contest between her and Espaillat is considered another proxy battle in the war between the establishment, centrist Democrats and the upstart, far-left, socialist extremists. The CNN report noted that the New York Post and Politico previously reported on extremist posts from Chevalier, but CNN's report unearthed new deleted tweets from a review of hundreds of messages. Chevalier released a statement to CNN that did not deny the authenticity of the posts. "My opponent wants to live in the past. He is re-litigating social media posts from half a decade ago and continuing to champion an outdated politics that fails to serve our people," Chevalier said. "I have grown considerably since in the years since these tweets, and I am focused on our community and our community’s future." Mamdani, meanwhile, reiterated his support for Chevalier. "In Congress, she'll take on corporate greed, bad landlords, and D.C.'s broken political system," he said. RELATED: Mayor Mamdani's wife apologizes for insulting Israel, using N-word and gay slur in past tweets "At a time when power is concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, Darializa will fight in Congress for New York City's working families," Mamdani added. "She's the champion we need for a city New Yorkers can actually afford." The Democratic primary election between Chevalier and Espaillat will be held June 23. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Jason Whitlock: Is gay 'Pride Month' dead? And should 'black pride' be the next target?

Jason Whitlock: Is gay 'Pride Month' dead? And should 'black pride' be the next target?

As Pride Month begins, BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock has noticed the usual Pride celebrations are much quieter — and Shemeka Michelle and Bryson Gray agree that America’s cultural landscape may be shifting.But while it’s less prominent, “Pride” is still alive and well.“I saw that it was trending ‘Pride Month’ over X. And I went and I saw so many sports organizations just saying happy Pride Month. And I’m thinking this is where men are supposed to be dominant, or straight men are supposed to be dominant. Yet, they’re giving all of this praise to gay sex. And it is very frustrating,” Michelle says.“But I did look to see Target hasn’t said anything as of yet. Walmart hasn’t said anything as of yet. So some of these big corporations that had these huge displays in 2023 ... they aren’t doing that now,” she continues.Bryson Gray also thinks we’ve made “progress.”“I can just tell you that from my own career, I think culturally it’s more acceptable to criticize and call out the LGBT. So progress, yes. Have we killed it? No, sir,” Gray says.While the obsession with Pride Month appears to be fading, Whitlock asks if Black History Month and black pride should be tackled next.“I think black history is just simply a part of American history wherever it fits. So I get the separation because of the history of this country. So I’m not going to say I’m against Black History Month, but I do think it should just be a part of American history,” Gray answers.“And I think racial idolatry is a problem and that does stem from pride obviously,” he adds.“Yeah, I hope that we can get rid of black pride,” Michelle chimes in. “I’m sick of seeing it. I was just saying I hate the term ‘black love.’ I don’t like ‘black girl magic,’ ‘black boy joy,’ ‘black excellence.’ I don’t want any of those things.”“I don’t want to have ‘black love.’ I just want to have love. I want to cultivate it and learn how to love like God told us what love is,” she adds.Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for 'We cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life': Trump makes big announcement about WHCD

'We cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life': Trump makes big announcement about WHCD

The president said Tuesday that he has agreed to reschedule the White House Correspondents' Dinner in order to defy the wishes of the man who allegedly tried to assassinate him.The ritzy event on April 25 ended abruptly after Cole Allen allegedly rushed through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun, prompting the Secret Service to usher President Donald Trump away.'This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling.'Two months later, the president says the event has been rescheduled."In a sign of Strength and Fortitude, it was just announced that The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which violently ended rather abruptly on April 25th, will be rescheduled to July 24th," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account Tuesday. "This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling."He went on to say that White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang asked him to speak at the rescheduled dinner and he accepted."I don't know whether or not I will give the same rather nasty statements, at least as it concerns certain people, but we will soon find out," he continued. "In any event, it will be a 'HOT' ticket!"The suspect was captured in the Washington Hilton lobby and charged with a slew of crimes, including the attempted assassination of a president and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon. He has pleaded not guilty.Along with the surveillance video appearing to show Allen rushing into the event with a gun, investigators also discovered a manifesto where the suspect allegedly confessed to planning to kill the president.RELATED: DOJ releases new video of WHCD shooting to dispel 'friendly fire' rumor The new location of the dinner will be the Waldorf Astoria on Pennsylvania Avenue, a ballroom that the president renovated during his private career before entering office and sold in 2021.Allen faces life in prison if convicted of the charges.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for New York schools banned smartphones a year ago — and it seems to be a smart idea

New York schools banned smartphones a year ago — and it seems to be a smart idea

Speaking from a classroom at Schuyler Middle School in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Monday detailed the results of a statewide end-of-year survey on the state's school smartphone ban.Now in place for a full academic year, the ban has yielded encouraging results for students, educators, and parents alike.The state law prohibits “unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day,” including lunch, recess, homeroom, study halls, and open periods.'Social interaction between students, especially in the hallways and at lunch, has increased significantly.'Individual schools are given discretion over how to enforce the policy. Methods of device storage range from students' lockers to large lockboxes to the increasingly popular Yondr pouches specifically designed for phones.The ban applies to public school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative services.RELATED: Gavin Newsom signs bill to ban cell phone use in California public schools Two students hold the Yondr pouches that lock their smartphones and prevent them from being used.Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesHochul’s office received 585 responses to the survey from teachers and school administrators, representing a mix of all grade levels. Forty-seven percent of the responses came from New York City, while 53% came from the rest of the state.“Eighty percent reported that the students are behaving better in a more engaged way. They’re collaborating more. They’re talking to each other. … They’re acting like kids again, feeling that burden lifted from their shoulders. And they’re participating in class discussions. And teachers are feeling they can finally teach,” Hochul said.Specifically, 311 respondents reported more active participation in discussions, 282 reported improved peer collaboration, and 273 reported better focus on assignments.Bullying has also decreased as a result, with 60% of respondents reporting a decline in bullying and cyberbullying incidents.“Young people could just go through the day without being harassed,” Hochul stated.Ziad Attia, a senior at Blind Brook High School in Westchester County, shared with Blaze News his experience with the smartphone ban: “Social interaction between students, especially in the hallways and at lunch, has increased significantly.”Attia explained that while the students are meant to store their phones in their lockers, “as long as they’re out of sight, they’re fine with it.”However, Blind Brook junior Guy Golan took a more critical stance: “Students will find ways to use their phones regardless of who is telling them not to.”Golan went on to say that "administrators rather than teachers" are the ones doing most of the enforcing, adding that he has witnessed students using their phones secretly in the bathrooms or in corners.“Students are still able to use their phones when they feel it is necessary since faculty members cannot monitor them everywhere in the building,” Golan said, highlighting potential challenges in schools with more lenient storage policies.As of this spring, at least 38 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to ban or restrict students’ use of cell phones in schools, according to an Education Week tally.“I successfully fought for New York schools to go phone-free because our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and these survey results show our nation-leading policy is working,” proclaimed Hochul.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for ‘The View’ Melts Down Over NFL Quarterback at Trump Rally

‘The View’ Melts Down Over NFL Quarterback at Trump Rally

Athletes and celebrities have long appeared alongside political candidates — especially if they’re on the left — so it was a welcome change when New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a recent rally.“President Trump was at a rally, and he had, which is pretty common for presidents to do, had a celebrity slash athlete introduce him,” BlazeTV host Ron Simmons explains on “Relatable.”“What an honor, what a privilege it is to be here. And without further ado, I’m grateful, I’m honored, I’m pleasured to introduce the 45th and 47th president of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump,” Dart announced.“Athletes and celebrities do this all the time. They do it all the time,” Simmons comments.However, the women of “The View” do not see it the same way.“For somebody to back a guy like Trump, whose history in discrimination and racism goes back to housing discrimination in the '70s; DEI attacks and posting pictures of the Obamas as apes when he’s on a team that’s 55% to 60%, the NFL, is that many people, that much percentage of black people,” Joy Behar commented.“That is just the definition of stupidity and racist in my opinion,” she added.“I don’t think Joy Behar has any joy. She might want to change her first name,” Simmons jokes, asking, “Do they believe every person of color hates Trump? Do they believe that? Is that what they really believe?”Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for ‘They’re not homeless; they’re drug addicts’: Spencer Pratt has Democrats ‘scared’ as no-nonsense message gains support

‘They’re not homeless; they’re drug addicts’: Spencer Pratt has Democrats ‘scared’ as no-nonsense message gains support

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has something that professional politicians can’t manufacture: authenticity.And BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler explains this powerful trait has left his opponents terrified.“If we had a video camera on the faces of the Democrat political strategists and on Spencer Pratt’s opponents, you can bet your bottom dollar that they are just shell-shocked by this. They don’t know how to deal with this. They are so scared,” Wheeler says.The reason why the Democrats are “scared,” she explains, is because while Pratt is all about no-nonsense policy, they have no policy to run on at all.“They can't run on Karen Bass’ record. They can’t run on Nithya Raman’s ideology. So what they do instead as their sort of final move — this is one week before the election; people are already casting early votes — is they try to use famous people to invoke groupthink among voters,” she continues.And unlike past elections, this strategy isn’t working — as Pratt’s “X factor,” which Wheeler explains as “political savvy that can’t be taught” — is winning over voters left and right.“It allows him or it enables him to speak in a way to voters that is not only relatable, but completely without the fear of offending the politically correct police,” she says, before playing a clip of Pratt demonstrating this “political savvy.”“What are your plans for the over 40,000 homeless in Los Angeles?” a reporter asked Pratt.“Well, they’re not homeless. They’re drug addicts. Most of these people are addicted to fentanyl and meth. This isn’t Spencer making it up,” Pratt responded.“No matter what anybody tells you, we have housing and shelter for everyone that’s living on the street. They are choosing to be on the street because they want to do drugs. They don’t want rules. They don’t want to listen. They want to have animals to abuse. This idea that they are forced on the street right now is a lie that our city is perpetuating,” he continued.“We’ve paid $24 billion to house these 40,000 people. There’s spots for all of these people. They are choosing, because they’re an addict, and you can do fentanyl and sewer meth on the sidewalk with no repercussions,” he added.When the reporter pressed him on how he plans to address the “homeless” issue, Pratt explained that he plans to use federal land to build facilities for them in just 90 days — but only for the true Los Angeles homeless who want to change their lives for the better.“These 40,000 people, 60% of them, City Watch just announced this week, are not from Los Angeles. They’re not from California. These people have been bussed in by scam rehabs, scam NGOs, scam homeless nonprofits. These people, when I unplug them and say, ‘You're not taking our tax money any more,’” they’re all going to go to Seattle, where the mayor will welcome them,” Pratt said.“So the people that want to keep doing drugs and live on the sidewalk — a lot of these people are going to leave. The other ones, there’s a lot of criminals, there’s people that are getting naked in front of kids. They’re going to jail,” he continued.“Not everyone goes in the same box. So we have the money, we have the resources, and we have the facility,” he added.“The reason that this is so effective,” Wheeler says, “the reason that the political savvy, the X factor that Spencer Pratt possesses, is so effective is because voters recognize authenticity when they see it.”“Spencer Pratt is giving it to them straight,” she adds.Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for 'Should be nowhere near Congress': Even 'The View' thinks Graham Platner is a TERRIBLE candidate

'Should be nowhere near Congress': Even 'The View' thinks Graham Platner is a TERRIBLE candidate

The hits keep coming for Graham Platner, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the race for one of Maine's U.S. Senate seats.On Monday the women of "The View" trashed Platner's campaign and said he has no business being anywhere near Congress after grappling with so many scandals.'You’ve shown me who you are, and I heard you. This man should be nowhere near Congress.'The most recent revelation that Platner, who is married, sent sexually explicit messages to at least half a dozen women in recent years is just the latest sting for his campaign."On the heels of apologizing for a tattoo associated with Nazis, the offensive posts about a wounded U.S. soldier. Now his wife, Amy Gertner, is responding to reports that she gave his campaign a heads-up about her husband sending sexually explicit texts to several different women," said Whoopi Goldberg."Horrible. There is no doubt that this guy, Platner, is flawed, flawed, flawed in many ways," added Ana Navarro. "It is disturbing, and it is horrible. And why can't we do better? Why can't we have better candidates?""This guy just seems like a guy of not very good character," said former Trump staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin. "Don't die on the hill of a guy who's going to be a headache for you for years to come."Sara Haines took special offense to Platner previously saying a U.S. soldier should have died on the battlefield."If you are capable of saying that at any time in your life, you’ve shown me who you are, and I heard you. This man should be nowhere near Congress. We’ve already got a wealth of people we need out. We’re not sending one like this in.""So he's a cheater," added Sunny Hostin. "He's an anti-Semite — because the fact that he had that tattoo for 20 years and didn't know what it was is a lie. So he's a liar, a racist, an anti-Semite; he's a homophobe. So he's all the things. And character does matter."Hostin also did not accept Platner's excuse that his racist comments were caused by post-traumatic stress disorder from his experiences in combat as a Marine."I know a lot of soldiers that have PTSD that aren't racist," she said.However, despite all of the problems they cited with Platner, Hostin went on to say they needed the victory in Maine to take control of the Senate away from Republicans. The Republican Party in Maine posted clips of the most critical comments in a video that was widely circulated on social media. RELATED: Trans-identifying 15-year-old plotted to kill classmate in order to resurrect Newtown shooter In response to the sexting scandal, Platner's wife put out a video calling the story "gossip" and trying to downplay it. Many described her video as uncomfortable to watch.Platner is presumed to be the Democratic nominee to run against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has been criticized by many in her own party for being moderate and centrist. Platner's main Democratic rival, Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her campaign in late April.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Trump names new director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard

Trump names new director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard

President Donald Trump has announced who will replace Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Gabbard announced her resignation as DNI last month after serving in the office for a year and a half. She cited her husband's "extremely rare form of bone cancer" diagnosis as the main reason. 'Bill is a great guy who recognizes that the bureaucracy of the intel community must respond to the elected leadership.' Now, Trump has appointed William Pulte to take her place as acting director. Pulte was the head of Pulte Homes, the third-largest homebuilder in the U.S., with billions in revenue, before he was picked by Trump to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. "I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Tuesday. "William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago," Trump added. Pulte used the resources of the FHFA to find evidence of alleged mortgage fraud committed by some of Trump's most vehement political enemies, including Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James and former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). Some Democrats cited those investigations as evidence that Pulte will do the same as DNI. "I will be a hard NO on FISA Section 702 reauthorization," wrote Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California in a statement on social media. "Whether or not the totally unqualified and corrupt Bill Pulte gets confirmed, trump’s nomination of Pulte has already shown trump would have no problem with weaponizing intelligence against Americans he doesn’t like." RELATED: Pulte calls for investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell — and for his removal Vice President JD Vance praised the decision. "Bill is a great guy who recognizes that the bureaucracy of the intel community must respond to the elected leadership (rather than the other way around). He'll do great!" he wrote on social media. For the time being, Pulte will serve as acting director. He will need Senate confirmation to become the official director. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Exclusive: CBP stops 300+ hatching eggs at the border — possibly preventing bird flu outbreak

Exclusive: CBP stops 300+ hatching eggs at the border — possibly preventing bird flu outbreak

Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists have discovered hundreds of hatching eggs that could be carrying infectious diseases packed in layers of foam, according to a press release obtained exclusively by Blaze News.The 337 eggs, incorrectly manifested as “winter jackets,” were shipped from Germany and headed to Alaska. CBP revealed that the items, seized on May 27, lacked proper documentation.‘These interceptions highlight the vigilance and dedication our CBP agriculture specialists demonstrate daily.’“Hatching eggs include all avian species, including poultry, game birds, racing pigeons, and other birds,” the CBP reported.“These live eggs are shipped to the United States for hatching or reproductive purposes. Upon arrival, the eggs would be incubated, hatched, and raised,” the CBP continued. “For agricultural purposes, hatching eggs fall under regulations for live animals and are highly regulated because they can carry Newcastle disease and avian influenza.”The eggs were seized and turned over to the local U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The CBP noted that the USDA does not allow the importation of hatching eggs from countries that have highly pathogenic avian influenza.RELATED: Exclusive: Elderly American allegedly tries to traffic $455K worth of cocaine and ketamine across US border Ian Waldie/Getty ImagesThe department warned that such unauthorized shipments risk spreading diseases that could impact the U.S. food supply. Since the start of an avian influenza outbreak in Feb. 2022, nearly 207 million birds in the U.S. have been affected, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Outbreaks have occurred in over 2,000 flocks in all 50 states and one territory.RELATED: PAYBACK: No $10K fine for owners of slain ostriches Image source: Customs and Border Protection“Our nation’s food supply is constantly at risk from diseases not known to occur in the United States,” stated Eric Zizelman, the port director for the Port of Cincinnati. “These interceptions highlight the vigilance and dedication our CBP agriculture specialists demonstrate daily. Our specialists mitigate the threat of non-native pests, diseases, and contaminants entering the United States. They ensure the United States is safe from harmful diseases that could affect our food supply.”CBP encouraged international travelers to declare all items acquired abroad and advised those who wish to bring plant and animal materials or other agricultural items to first consult the CBP Information Center section on the agency’s website. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Hackers easily fool Instagram's new AI identity verification, humiliating Meta once again

Hackers easily fool Instagram's new AI identity verification, humiliating Meta once again

There’s plenty of talk about how AI chatbots will take everyone’s jobs by the end of the decade, but so far, few companies have gone all in on the supposed wave of the future. One such company that did take the plunge, however, is Meta. After recently laying off 8,000 employees in favor of an AI workforce, Zuckerberg is already reaping the repercussions of little-to-no human oversight as AI just caused one of the most devastating Instagram account breaches in its history.The Instagram bungle of the decadeOver the weekend, news broke that Instagram accounts were being hacked en masse with no clear reason why. Many of the targeted accounts included rare handles of high value, well-established accounts with more than a decade of ownership, and high-profile accounts belonging to elite users. Some of the most notable victims included the Obama White House and the Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Space Force John Bentivegna. Stranger still, account owners claimed that their passwords were changed without their knowledge or consent.Platforms and apps will eventually require Real IDs for both age and identity verification.At least in the case of Obama’s account, the hackers posted propaganda depicting former Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani holding hands with former Iraqi Deputy Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, both eliminated at the hands of the U.S. military in 2020. The images included Arabic messages claiming that the White House is under Shiite control.The exploit wasn’t due to a Meta system breach or password leak posted to the internet. As internet sleuths started to pore through the information, they discovered that Meta’s AI-powered identity verification system was easily duped into transferring ownership to thieves.How hackers secretly stole Instagram accounts overnightAn X account that goes by Dark Web Informer published a video to their feed detailing exactly how hackers gained access to these high-profile Instagram accounts. The process was so simple that practically anyone could pull it off.The hacker enabled a VPN on his device and set it to the location of the account owner to trick Instagram into believing that he currently resided in the area.The hacker went to the “forgot password” section of Instagram and typed in the target account handle.On the next page, instead of choosing to send a recovery email that would alert the owner of the hacker, they selected “Get Support,” which opened a chatbox with the Meta AI support assistant. Note that this is an AI-powered chatbot, not a real person.From here, the hacker could tell the chatbot that the recovery email addresses on file were no longer valid and that any security codes should be sent to a new inbox, which pointed directly to an email address owned by the hacker.Meta AI support assistant sent an email to the new inbox with no additional verification, prompting the hacker to paste that code into the Meta AI chat to prove he was the person submitting the request.The Meta AI support assistant accepted the verification code and allowed the hacker to proceed with changing the password on the account.The hacker confirmed the new passcode, taking ownership of the handle and essentially locking the original owner out of the account entirely.Other reports claim that the Meta AI support assistant may also prompt users to submit a selfie or video of themselves to verify their identity before proceeding with the password change. However, these safety measures were also easily thwarted by creating an AI-generated photo or video of the owner’s face that was good enough to trick the Meta AI support assistant into permitting access.RELATED: Companies are tracking you based on the ads you see. Here's how to stop them. BestForBest/Getty Images As you can see, this exploit could be used on any account, anywhere, anytime, and the Meta AI support assistant gave up the ghost every time. The exploit has since been patched.Zuckerberg made a mistake, but users lose in the endIf there were ever a way to prove that AI chatbots weren’t ready to replace humans in the workplace — especially in high-profile positions like account security — this is it. Meta has abused its workforce over the last several months, tracking their keystrokes to train AI and even sending 10% of its staff to the unemployment line, all to usher in the AI revolution where bots do all the work and humans are left to muddle through the mediocrity of degrading technology, fewer employment opportunities, and AI overload.Unfortunately, these types of security breaches are just another reason that platforms and apps will eventually require Real IDs for both age and identity verification, and we’ll have no choice but to play along or lose access to the apps and services we use every day.In the end, the only way for executives like Zuckerberg to learn that it’s better to keep real people on the payroll in lieu of AI is for the consequences to hit fast and hard. Unfortunately, this time, users were hit the hardest, but at least Zuckerberg’s decision to turn account security over to AI is a mistake he gets to own and atone for in whatever litigation is sure to come his way for his careless decisions.

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Knife-wielding ex-con gets tables turned on him lethally — courtesy of victim he robbed, fought, bit, and stabbed: Report

Knife-wielding ex-con gets tables turned on him lethally — courtesy of victim he robbed, fought, bit, and stabbed: Report

A knife-wielding ex-con got a deadly taste of his own medicine late last week courtesy of the victim he robbed, fought, bit, and stabbed in Brooklyn, the New York Daily News reported.Dan Costume, 34 — who was released from prison in 2024 — entered a stranger's apartment in Flatbush through an unlocked door late Friday night, law enforcement sources and the victim told the paper.'He was acting in self-defense.'The 45-year-old tenant spoke to the Daily News in Spanish, telling the paper that he had just come home from playing soccer. But the tenant's wife had departed their apartment on Avenue D near East 31st Street to run an errand — and left the door unlocked, the Daily News said.When the tenant emerged from the bathroom, he caught Costume stealing two cell phones, a laptop, and other belongings, the tenant told the paper.“He was in shock that there was a random person in his house,” a relative of the tenant told the Daily News in English as she listened to the tenant's account in Spanish.The tenant wrapped his arms around the intruder from behind to try to get him to drop the stolen goods, the relative told the paper.“They started battling between each other,” the relative added to the Daily News.Costume bit the tenant’s hands and cheek, then pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed the tenant in the back of the neck, the tenant told the paper.Then the victim reportedly turned the tables on the robber.Sources told the Daily News that the tenant was able to disarm Costume and use the robber's own knife to stab Costume in his thigh and lower back.The tenant then shoved Costume out of the apartment and into the hallway, the paper said, adding that the burglar fled down a stairwell and out of the building, dripping blood as he dropped the stolen property.Costume collapsed outside the building, the Daily News said, and medics rushed him to Kings County Hospital where he died.The tenant was treated at the same hospital and released, the paper added.RELATED: Axe-wielding thug allegedly threatens Florida car-wash employees — then 1 victim violently turns the tables on him Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty ImagesA bruise and teeth marks were still visible on the tenant’s cheek days later, the Daily News reported, adding that the victim needed medical staples to close two gashes in his neck and on the back of his head.“He was acting in self-defense,” the tenant's relative told the paper. “Everything happened so fast.”The Daily News, citing sources, said prosecutors decided not to charge the tenant after reviewing the case because he acted in self-defense.Costume’s father and sister told the paper they haven’t seen much of him since he left home at age 18, noting that he was in and out of the criminal justice system.Costume's family members added to the Daily News that police had come looking for him several times before they knocked on their door Saturday to notify them of his death.Costume was conditionally released from prison on parole in October 2024 after serving a one-and-a-half to three-year sentence for a Brooklyn attempted burglary conviction, the paper said, citing public records.The tenant who killed Costume viewed surveillance video showing Costume getting into the apartment building through a back door near where garbage is kept, the Daily News reported.The tenant also is in "a lot of pain," a relative told the paper, as he recovers from the wounds he suffered during the fight with Costume.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for Just 1 MLB team opts out of Pride Night as league shifts toward LGBT 'package'

Just 1 MLB team opts out of Pride Night as league shifts toward LGBT 'package'

Gay pride is still the norm for Major League Baseball, but the way teams are going about it is slowly changing.Throughout June, pro baseball teams will once again put their marketing budgets toward recognizing lesser-held sexual orientations, with 97% of teams participating in the festivities.'46% of MLB fans claim "Pride Nights make them ‘less likely’ to attend MLB games."'At the same time, though, these promotions have become increasingly unpopular among sports fans. Several recent studies have pointed to a near-even split between supporters and detractors; for example, Forbes noted a study that found "48-55% rated the Pride promotions negatively or neutral."Civic Science's own research found that 46% of MLB fans claim "Pride Nights make them ‘less likely’ to attend MLB games."Furthermore, a Morning Consult study stated that "almost half of U.S. adults (47%) said they support leagues hosting Pride Nights."To that end, the only MLB team that has refrained from hosting Pride Night is the Texas Rangers, which have never hosted such an event. They do sell Pride-themed merchandise online, however.Blaze News reached out to other MLB teams to find out whether they have changed their approach to Pride Nights for 2026 given the growing division it has sown among fans.RELATED: Here are all the NFL teams that haven't virtue-signaled for Pride Month Jeremy Chen/Getty Images Teams that responded mostly followed a new Pride Night trend being adopted by many MLB franchises: Instead of having a grand celebration and handing out gay-themed merchandise to all ticket-holders, fans have the option to purchase a special Pride package that includes tickets and memorabilia.The St. Louis Cardinals organization is focused on making sure all fans "feel welcome at the ballpark, are respectful towards others, and can freely share in the commonality of our love for the Cardinals and the game of baseball," a Cardinals spokesperson told Blaze News.The Cards are offering a Pride-themed team cap for fans who buy a "theme ticket."The Cincinnati Reds commented that they have partnered with "Cincinnati Pride" and honored a recipient with a Pride Community Advocate Award. As part of their special ticket package, the Reds have included a cross-body bag that features the transgender flag on the strap.A representative of the Detroit Tigers asked Blaze News for further context about the Pride-related questions but did not provide a response to any of the queries. Among many other promotions like "Juneteenth" jerseys, the Tigers are offering a Pride package that includes a rainbow-strapped belt bag.RELATED: 5 pro athletes who boldly take a knee — for Jesus Christ Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos/Getty Images The New York Yankees told Blaze News that they would continue to work with organizations to celebrate the Legacy of Pride, which has included donations to the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative. "Stonewall" refers to a riot at a gay bar in New York City that was raided by police in 1969.The Yankees organization noted that they have partnered with groups like Jewish Queer Youth, an organization that allegedly "empowers Jewish queer teens."The Yankees will also offer limited-edition Yankees Pride caps that are sold with specific tickets.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

June 2 2026
Cover image for ‘It was a trick’: Sara Gonzales torches E. Jean Carroll’s 'revenge' admission as DOJ launches criminal probe

‘It was a trick’: Sara Gonzales torches E. Jean Carroll’s 'revenge' admission as DOJ launches criminal probe

The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll over her testimony in Trump’s sexual abuse lawsuit — and her past incriminating podcast appearances may be coming back to haunt her. “I know my own pleasures, and that doesn’t involve buying things. Where my pleasure comes is making him so pissed off he can’t think. We need to prick his little balloon constantly. And one of the ways to do that is to give his money to women’s reproductive rights,” Carroll said in an interview on MeidasTouch. “Can you imagine how angry?” she asked happily. “It’s just so delicious thinking about how pissed off he’ll be.” “Heaven, heaven. It’s the revenge that we all love,” she added. “Hell yeah to killing babies at the womb,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales says, mocking Carroll and her interviewer on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.” “She’s just saying, ‘I just wanted to be a thorn in his side. I just want to piss him off.’ That’s all this is about,” she adds. In another interview on “The Bulwark” podcast, Carroll revealed to the host that she needed to be “f**kable” to win her case against the president. “I had a talk show, a TV talk show in 1996. I went through that, some of the shows, took screenshots of my hair cut in a bob, and then I found the hairdresser and the makeup person who made me look like that in 1996. She came every day to trial, did my hair and makeup exactly like it was in 1996. I wore the exact same clothes I wore in 1996,” she explained. “And it was enough. It was enough,” she continued, adding, “It was a trick.” “A lot of thought went into, as she says, making sure that she looked f**kable, because I guess judges only rule in your favor if you are,” Gonzales says. “This is the woman we’re supposed to believe?” 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.