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by Blaze Media Oct 8, 2026

2 illegal aliens arrested after teenage girl is grabbed off the street and raped, police say

A 17-year-old girl told sheriff's deputies in Missouri she was walking down the street in Cadet just before midnight on Thursday when she was kidnapped by one man and assaulted by him and another man.The first man allegedly grabbed her and dragged her into a home, where he and another man raped the girl.Detectives said they found a blonde hair when processing his boxers.Deputies made a forced entry into the home at about 2 a.m. on Friday after the two men refused to follow orders in their native language.Oscar Antonio Baltodano Lopez locked himself in a bathroom and only complied after being threatened with a firearm, police said.Detectives noted that Lopez was wearing clothing that matched a description given by the victim. He also refused to hand over his boxers or allow a DNA swab. Detectives said they found a blonde hair when processing his boxers.Another man in the home identified as Benjamin Santez Lopez told police he was home all night and denied having any sexual contact with the girl.Police arrested the two men and booked them into the Washington County Jail without bail.KSDK-TV reported that the two men are illegal aliens, and police said they could face deportation after the criminal prosecution process was completed.Police believe a substance found at the home was methamphetamine. RELATED: Transient illegal alien equipped a 'rape dungeon on wheels' to attack women in mountains of California, police say Baltodano Lopez was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, kidnapping, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting arrest, while Santez Lopez was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy.A third illegal alien was taken into custody but was not charged. There was no indication of where the illegal aliens are from originally. Editor's note: This article has been corrected after publication to note that the incident took place in Missouri, not Mississippi.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 Oct 8, 2026

Police dog detects 'staggering' amount of meth smuggled in semitruck tank by Mexican national, CBP says

A Mexican national was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle a "staggering" amount of methamphetamine in at least one of the fuel tanks of a semitruck.U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Blaze News the incident unfolded on Sept. 29 at about 11 a.m. when U.S. Border Patrol agents of the San Diego sector stopped a northbound semitruck on Interstate 15 in California.'The vigilance of our agents, the reliability of our K-9 units, and our strong multi-agency partnerships are vital to dismantling these illicit smuggling operations and keeping deadly drugs off our streets.'A Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station agent and his K-9 partner detected characteristics of liquid methamphetamine and had the truck transported to the station. A hazardous response crew safely extracted the liquid from the tank. The 115 gallons of liquid was found to weigh about 962 pounds and tested positive for methamphetamine. CBP officials estimated the street value of the narcotics to be about $1 million. The semitruck was seized by Border Patrol, and the driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. "This massive seizure of liquid methamphetamine highlights the lengths these transnational criminal organizations will go to smuggle hard narcotics into our communities," said Justin M. De La Torre, chief patrol agent for the San Diego sector of the U.S. Border Patrol.Photographs from the investigation showed the barrels of methamphetamine that were seized as well as the tank that was cut open. RELATED: 6 people found dead in boxcar in Texas border town, police say U.S. Customs and Border Protection "The vigilance of our agents, the reliability of our K-9 units, and our strong multi-agency partnerships are vital to dismantling these illicit smuggling operations and keeping deadly drugs off our streets," he added.The K-9's name is Loki. 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 Oct 8, 2026

Glenn Beck warns France's debt crisis is a 'dress rehearsal' for what's coming here

The tea leaves are spelling doom for France. Roughly €3.6 trillion in public debt, rapidly approaching budget decisions, and political unrest in the streets indicate collapse is on the horizon.To calm the riots, politicians are pitching debt cancellations, but Glenn Beck sees the writing on the wall — the same writing that preceded Greece’s catastrophic crash in 2009. Roughly a year after the killing of a 15-year-old boy by a police officer that sparked mass riots, “The new government opens up the books and admits the old government lied: The deficit was not what they said; it was more than double that,” says Glenn.“All markets stopped lending to Greece. And on May 5, 2010, the day before Parliament voted on its first bailout, a general strike filled the streets. It was chaos,” he continues.Amid the unrest, a “neo-Nazi party called the Golden Dawn” and “a coalition of Marxists and Maoists and Trotskyists” rose to political prominence. From the latter emerged Alexis Tsipras, who became prime minister after promising to tear up the bailout. He called a referendum, and 61% voted no, but he signed a third bailout — one “with harsher terms than the ones the people had just rejected” — anyway.“That's how the story ends with Marxists every time,” says Glenn.“Three bailouts, 289 billion euros, the largest rescue of any country in history — and the Greek economy shrank by 25%; unemployment hit 27%; and for the young, it was over 40%. A whole generation got on planes and left,” he continues.The only reason Greece is even still standing today, he explains, is because “[Germany] could afford to save it.”But France, Glenn says, is in a predicament far worse than the one that nearly destroyed Greece. “Greece's whole debt was 300 billion euros. France is 3.6 trillion euros. That's more than 10 Greeces combined.”And even worse, this time, there’s no lifeguard to pull the drowning country out of the deep end of the swimming pool.America certainly can’t do it, Glenn argues. “We're $40 trillion in debt. For 80 years when the world got in trouble, it always looked at us ... but a lifeguard who can't swim is just another body in the water.”The truth, he says, is that all the lifeguards are gone.“What happens when the world can't bail everyone out — when it isn't one small country that lied about the books but three or four of the biggest ones that told the truth but kept spending anyway because they had absolutely no discipline?” he asks.“Here's what happens. The same thing that happened in Athens, except nobody comes to rescue.”France, Glenn argues, is a “dress rehearsal” for what could come to America. Between our own debt and the planted “seeds” of the Marxist-Islam coalition, he fears destruction is knocking on our door.“The good news is the seed is not a harvest,” he says. “Greece came back. 2019, the Greeks voted out the Marxists.”“The thing you have to remember is Greece had time and had somebody else's money to buy it. We only have ours.”To hear more, watch the video above.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 Oct 8, 2026

The real power of college has nothing to do with the classroom

In the wake of sexual assault allegations at Cornell University, the victimization of women on college campuses has returned to the public conversation.Cornell’s 2025 state-mandated sexual misconduct survey reported that 35% of undergraduate women said they had experienced sexual assault since arriving at the university. The undergraduate response rate, however, was only 13%. Cornell’s presidential task force itself warned that the low response rate limits estimates and makes the results difficult to interpret.People will sacrifice their daughters on the altar of the university for status. Imagine what else they will sacrifice.If you take the headline number at face value, though, sending your daughter to Cornell sounds insane.Conservative parents correctly tell a parallel story about the ideological and spiritual dangers of college. They complain that universities teach women to hate men, become atheists, sleep around, embrace progressive politics, and borrow enormous sums for degrees of dubious value. Everyone has seen the meme: a smart, pretty, well-adjusted high school graduate goes off to college and returns tattooed, purple-haired, pierced, and wearing a “down with the patriarchy” T-shirt.Yet both sides keep sending their daughters.The left describes campuses as rape factories. The right describes them as camps for progressive indoctrination. Still, liberal and conservative parents drill their daughters for the SAT, pack their schedules with extracurriculars, hire admissions consultants, and sweat over essays for the privilege of attending places like Cornell.And that privilege is expensive. At 2026-2027 rates, four years of tuition at Cornell’s endowed colleges would approach $296,000 before housing, dining, books, and other expenses. New York residents in Cornell’s state contract colleges get a discount, but four years of tuition still comes to roughly $199,000.Why would parents fight so hard for access to institutions they routinely describe as dangerous?The easy answer is that neither side believes its own rhetoric. That is too simple. Conservatives and progressives exaggerate, but many genuinely believe the dangers they describe.The better answer is status.For most of American history, college was attended by a small minority. It was a finishing school for elites, a pipeline into the learned professions, and an ivory tower for scholars. Most Americans did not need a bachelor’s degree to enter respectable middle-class work.The G.I. Bill dramatically expanded access after World War II. Federal aid and student lending expanded it further. As attendance grew, the degree increasingly became more than an education. It became a credential.The Supreme Court’s 1971 decision in Griggs v. Duke Power Co. accelerated that logic. Griggs did not ban aptitude tests, as is sometimes claimed. It held that employment practices with discriminatory effects had to be justified by business necessity and job relevance. Broad employment tests became legally riskier, while a college degree became a convenient screening tool.RELATED: The ‘Cornell 7’ case should terrify every father of boys Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesThat doesn’t mean Griggs single-handedly created credential inflation. It did not. But the larger phenomenon is real. Employers began requiring bachelor’s degrees for jobs that previously did not need them, turning the diploma into a proxy for intelligence, discipline, conformity, and class position.Eventually the credential became self-reinforcing. A degree was valuable because employers demanded one, and employers demanded one because so many desirable applicants had one.The result is familiar. Jobs once open to high school graduates now ask for bachelor’s degrees. Jobs once open to bachelor’s graduates increasingly prefer master’s degrees. The education itself may have little relationship to the work, but the credential still sorts applicants.The economic incentive is only part of it. College has become a rite of passage for the professional class. Parents want the sweatshirt, the move-in photos, the graduation pictures, and the reassuring sense that their children have entered the respectable world. The name on the diploma matters because other people recognize it. The campus experience matters because other high-status people shared it.A student who attends Cornell does not merely buy classes; she buys membership in a hierarchy that exists long after commencement. This is why attacks on higher education so often fail to change family behavior. Parents can hate the professors, mock the administrators, and denounce the politics while still fearing that opting out will leave their children below the people who stayed in.College also confers something money alone cannot buy: entry into a social network.Elite universities connect students with other ambitious, well-connected people. Fraternities, sororities, internships, fellowships, alumni networks, and campus organizations create relationships that can shape careers for decades. Even if every lecture were useless, the network would retain enormous value.That is why parents who despise universities still want their children admitted to them.The pressure is especially strong for daughters because women now dominate higher education. Women make up a clear majority of undergraduate enrollment and earn about 59% of bachelor’s degrees. Whatever conservatives may think about the culture of universities, telling a daughter to skip college can mean telling her to surrender access to the credentialed professional world in which many of her peers will compete.This is the trap.RELATED: The American dream now comes with upgrade fees Blaze Media Illustration.Progressives may believe campuses expose women to unacceptable rates of sexual assault. Conservatives may believe universities corrode faith, family, and femininity. Both groups understand that status institutions control access to other status institutions.That contradiction reveals something deeper than hypocrisy.Status is the one commodity that is always zero-sum. People are status-seeking creatures, and institutions that confer status therefore acquire enormous political power. If Cornell can make parents compete for the privilege of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars while those same parents describe the campus as dangerous, then Cornell has something more valuable than an educational product.It has the power to certify who belongs.Conservatives spend enormous energy winning arguments about college. They complain about ideology, debt, useless majors, campus sex, and administrative bloat. Then they celebrate when their daughter gets into an Ivy.That should tell them something.People will sacrifice their daughters on the altar of the university for status. Imagine what else they will sacrifice.If conservatives truly want to win the political battle, they should spend less time arguing with institutions that confer status and more time building institutions capable of conferring status themselves.

by Blaze Media Oct 7, 2026

50-year-old rock star tears up at MLB playoff game — only Millennials will understand

Watching. Waiting. Commiserating.That's what Blink-182 singer and guitarist Tom DeLonge was doing alongside thousands of his fellow San Diego Padres fans Tuesday night, as the team fought to keep its postseason hopes alive.'Can't imagine the feeling.'Some crying in baseballThe Padres were leading the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Having lost the first two games, San Diego needed a win to avoid elimination.That's when "All the Small Things," Blink-182's 1999 hit, came blasting through the speakers at Petco Park.It has become a tradition at Padres home games whenever the team leads heading into the bottom of the eighth. Thousands of fans sing along, and Tuesday night was no exception.But this time, the cameras found DeLonge himself in the stadium. The singer and guitarist appeared to tear up as the crowd sang his song. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought. Then he joined in, waving a rally towel and singing into the camera.RELATED: There's now a scary, powerful way to send a text if the internet and cell towers go out Hometown heroes"What a cool moment here in San Diego," one of the announcers remarked."Blink-182, especially for those of us of a certain age, we all know they have an extensive, very impressive catalog of late '90s and 2000s pop-punk music," he continued. "But to be in the ballpark when 43,000-plus are singing one of your biggest hits to you — can't imagine the feeling."DeLonge grew up in Poway, just outside San Diego, where Blink-182 formed in 1992. He's been a devoted Padres fan ever since, with the band's rise to fame coinciding with one of the most successful periods in the team's history.In 1998, the Padres won the National League pennant and reached the World Series for only the second time. Unfortunately, they ran into the New York Yankees, who swept them in four games.The following year, Blink-182 released its breakthrough album, "Enema of the State," featuring "What's My Age Again?," "Adam's Song," and "All the Small Things." The album sold millions of copies and helped make the band one of the biggest names in pop-punk.While Blink-182 went on to fill arenas around the world, the Padres struggled to repeat their 1998 success.They didn't return to the postseason until 2005 and then endured another drought after 2006, finally making the playoffs again in 2020. They reached the National League Championship Series in 2022, losing to Philadelphia, but haven't been back to the World Series since 1998.The team has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, reaching the playoffs five times in seven seasons, although that elusive first World Series championship remains out of reach.RELATED: 'They're going to steal it': Mark Ruffalo says GOP will rig midterms — then his 2020 remarks resurfacedLongtime fanDeLonge has been there for the ups and downs. He's a frequent visitor to Petco Park and has even recorded himself reacting in disbelief as the crowd sang his band's biggest hit.In a 2023 interview, DeLonge described what the tradition meant to him."It's magical," he told reporters. "It's an honor. ... I'm a massive Padres fan."DeLonge went so far as to suggest he was probably the team's number one fan, although he did have some "comments" about which Blink-182 songs should be played at sporting events.Tuesday night offered a pretty strong argument for sticking with this one. The Padres held on to beat Milwaukee 4-3, forcing a fourth game in the series tonight.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 Oct 7, 2026

Teen wannabe ISIS terrorist plotted to slaughter dozens of non-Muslims at Mall of America, FBI says

An 18-year-old man allegedly paid $600 in exchange for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition before getting arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud allegedly plotted a terrorist attack on non-Muslims at the Mall of America for two years, according to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen.'This was a radicalized young man who needed to be watched.'The suspect believed he was purchasing the items for his attack from a member of the ISIS terrorist group, but the person was in fact an undercover FBI agent.Among the evidence gathered by the FBI were messages Mohamud allegedly exchanged with an FBI informant about his terrorist mission.Mohamud was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly making the exchange, prosecutors revealed Wednesday. "The FBI rendered the AK-47 rifle inert prior to the transaction," the DOJ said."During the sale of the firearm and ammunition, Mohamud reaffirmed his plan to use the firearm and ammunition to shoot people at the Mall of America," it added.Mohamud allegedly indicated that he wanted to attack the Minneapolis mall on Oct. 24, the day of an arts celebration for the Hmong people, an ethnic group from China and Southeast Asia. He also allegedly claimed to have picked the site because it is owned by Jews, the DOJ press release said.Rosen described Mohamud as an American citizen of Somali descent.The messages obtained by the FBI allegedly showed that he wanted to go to Somalia to join ISIS but decided to attack the mall instead because he could not afford to travel. He intended to kill between 30 and 60 people at the mall, and he sought martyrdom, according to the FBI.He has been charged with one count of knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition in order to commit a federal crime of terrorism."This was a radicalized young man who needed to be watched," Rosen said.FBI Director Kash Patel posted a statement about the operation on social media. "ARRESTED before he could hurt a single American," he wrote. "This FBI doesn't wait for terrorists to attack. We find them, disrupt them, and put them in handcuffs. Outstanding work by our Minneapolis team. We are staying on offense. America First. ALWAYS."RELATED: Houston gang members allegedly rapped about their violent crimes on social media — until 'massive' FBI arrest The FBI said it began tracking Mohamud in Dec. 2024 and had spoken to his parents about his radicalization. "What I would say to parents all over Minnesota, and all over America: If you get any indication — especially if you hear from federal law enforcement — that your son or daughter is being radicalized, to the point where federal law enforcement wants to come and give you that warning, those are warnings that ought to be heeded," Rosen said.Booking records indicated that Mohamud is 5'11" tall and weighs 120 pounds.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 Oct 7, 2026

Steve Deace: Those who control the storytelling control the culture

What can America's most successful movies tell us about America itself? Steve Deace, Todd Erzen, and Aaron McIntire set out to answer that question by examining the 25 highest-grossing films in U.S. history — when adjusted for inflation of course. From "Gone with the Wind," "The Ten Commandments," and "The Sound of Music" to "Star Wars," "Titanic," and today's blockbuster franchises, the list offers a window into the stories that once united the culture. "The Graduate" made the end of the list, which Deace calls “the only intentionally subversive film on this list.” Erzen notes that it’s a “really well-crafted” film about “people living hollow, empty lives.” “They’re just, you know, going in any direction they can think of to find some level of meaning and purpose. That’s a conversation worth having,” he says. “That is the conversation that’s being buried by most people. Like there’s a lot of young white men who are struggling for meaning and purpose, and they’re choosing video games over a lot of other things,” he continues. “Today,” he adds, “it’s just about victim culture and whiny grievances and DEI, and you know, who wants to be a part of that?” McIntire points out that there’s “a gap there from 1999 to ... 2014, 2015.” “That was the era of 'Harry Potter,' 'Lord of the Rings,' 'Avatar.' ... Those were, I thought, cultural icons. They are cultural icons,” he says. “And then on top of that, once you get past that 14-, 15-year gap, the movies that are on this list, the entries that are on this list, what do they have in common?” he asks, answering himself, “They’re franchises.” “So nothing original,” Deace comments. “Everything’s a derivative.” “That’s not a good trend line in my estimation, but it kind of fits hand in glove with not only the big picture culturally that we’re seeing, but particularly in Hollywood,” McIntire adds. However, while the left has run Hollywood for quite some time, Deace points out that the right is gaining ground in this part of the culture war. “To our credit, if you look at films like 'Young Washington,' you’re seeing us, you know, beginning to seize the opportunity,” he explains. “It does show right now, the opportunity that exists to gain a serious beachhead within the most powerful pop culture medium in the history of this entire planet.” And this is important, he explains, because “who controls a culture's stories and myths controls a culture every single time.” “If we gain a serious beachhead in the storytelling realm, folks, then that’s worth five to ten Senate seats,” 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.

by Blaze Media Oct 7, 2026

Rubio celebrates Western exceptionalism, warns that civilization is at an 'inflection point'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that he has "no plans at this time" about a potential 2028 presidential run and doesn't know "what the future holds.""He is still young, and smart in both policy and politics, and is keeping his options open for the future," one person familiar with the matter recently told NBC News. "If you asked him if he’s interested in 2032 or 2036, he would probably say sure." 'We must win together.'While America's top diplomat — who recently polled third among potential candidates favored by Republicans for 2028 — is supposedly uncertain about what course he will personally chart in two years, he is confident about what direction America must take in the here and now.In a speech Wednesday at the Acropolis in Athens, Rubio emphasized the imperative for America and other Western nations to unapologetically pursue national power; prioritize their own people; cease feeling guilty for being exceptional; and reclaim the "classical understanding" that "power requires not only having the means to defend yourself; it requires the credibility that you are willing to use it."With the Parthenon as his backdrop, Rubio buttered up the Greeks by emphasizing the influence that their forebears had on America and, more broadly, on Western civilization."The history of America, the history of my country, is covered with the fingerprints of antiquity," said the secretary.After first alluding to the architectural, linguistic, narrative, philosophical, and political influence that the ancient Greeks had on America and its people, Rubio noted, "The civilization of Athens and Rome transformed an infant seaboard republic into a continental empire."RELATED: Keeping the West’s flame burning "The greatest Americans of every generation have carried the unmistakable features of their forefathers," he continued, "born in Athens, formed by Rome, baptized in Christendom, hardened in the furnace of medieval Europe, endowed with the English genius for liberty, and then carried across the Atlantic to be reborn on the shores of a new world."The secretary's speech was, however, about far more than tying former Greek excellence to continuing American excellence.Rubio underscored that America and the "whole of our civilization" are at an "inflection point" — that "national interests did not vanish in the face of international institutions"; that peace is not inevitable; that there is renewed competition between great powers and a "whole universe of new threats" that must be addressed; and that it is critical now, more than ever, to rebuild institutions and alliances.The secretary has been discussing various bilateral and multilateral alliances including NATO on a European tour that landed him in Athens on Wednesday.During a joint press conference with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis held just prior to his speech at the Acropolis, Rubio said that "the nations of Europe need to take on a greater share of the burden in defending their continent" and that Greece is on track to satisfy its minimum NATO obligation. He noted further that the U.S. and Greece have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a joint security program to bolster binational counterterrorism information-sharing and that Greece is joining the National Guard's Bureau of State Partnership Program.Rubio noted in his speech — which was reminiscent of his Feb.14 "civilizational erasure" speech in Munich — that the purpose of such alliances "is not to abolish the sovereignty of the nations that constitute them. It is to defend them. And nations need not abandon their distinct identities in order to recognize their common interests." "We want to win together," said Rubio. "We must win together."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 Oct 7, 2026

Mother accused of stabbing her young children — 1 of them just 10 months old — and her husband

A Texas mother is accused of stabbing her young children — ages 3 years and 10 months — and her husband early Tuesday morning, KXAS-TV reported.Northlake Police officers were dispatched to a home in the 1200 block of Daylily Drive around 4:20 a.m. regarding a stabbing in progress, the station said.'More of a stare — didn't really say a whole lot.'Police said a man called 911 and reported that his wife had a knife and was stabbing him, KXAS said.Northlake Police Chief Robert Crawford said he listened to the 911 calls and noted that the man was trying to get to the couple's children, who were in another room, the station noted."He was trying to get to the children, and the children were in another room, and she was actively trying to stab him, so he had to retreat outside," Crawford said, according to KXAS.Arriving officers detained a woman, the station said, adding that police said the 34-year-old man suffered a stab wound to the head and is expected to recover.Officers found the couple's 3-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son with stab wounds to the chest, police told KXAS, adding that they were taken to a Fort Worth hospital and are expected to survive.The detained woman, identified as 37-year-old Holly Leeann Flores, was taken to a Denton hospital for observation and possible injuries, the station said, adding that police said she was treated, released, then taken into custody and transported to the Denton County Jail.Flores is charged with two counts of attempted capital murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, KXAS reported. Flores' jail record lists no bond or court date for her.Crawford told the station that Flores did not say a lot to officers after she was detained: "More of a stare — didn't really say a whole lot."RELATED: Mother 'very invested' in Lindsay Clancy case accused of killing 2-year-old son, had chilling plans for husband: Prosecutors Police said officers had been called to the home five times since March for welfare checks, KXAS reported.Neighbor Brittany Flores noted to the station that she was troubled that police had previously been called to the home."I think it's awful that the police were here multiple times, and it sounds like something like this could have been prevented if there was some kind of intervention," she told KXAS. "I don't know all what was in place or her mental state or whatever. I'm just absolutely shocked."Neighbors added to the station that they knew the suspect through neighborhood gatherings and that she ran a balloon business.Brittany Flores told KXAS that she and the suspect previously spoke about their common parental experiences: "It was just camaraderie, and we related to what we were going through. But there was a lot more that was going on underneath the surface than what you talk about at a birthday party."Neighbor Ally Barfuss added to the station that the incident has shaken the neighborhood."It breaks my heart for both of them — the kids and the mom," Barfuss told KXAS. "I feel really sad for all of them. I hope everyone is OK, including her."Northlake Police told the station the investigation is ongoing.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 Oct 7, 2026

Is Newsom-AOC the Democrats’ best shot in 2028?

Donald Trump says Democrats don't have a "deep bench" of future leaders. BlazeTV host Pat Gray believes the party's 2028 speculation isn't exactly proving him wrong — especially one of the most likely contenders, Gavin Newsom.In a recent interview, Newsom attempted to sound reflective and statesmanlike when discussing his political future — but BlazeTV host Pat Gray and his panel aren’t buying it.“That moment will arrive when it arrives. You’ll know it,” Newsom said.“It, you know, sort of hits you, not just here,” he continued, pointing to his head, “it hits you here,” he added, pointing to his chest.Newsom went on with an incoherent sentence that included “congruency” and “there’s no such thing as a deadline.”“What did he say?” executive producer Keith Malinak asks, confused.“He’s trying to sound like he’s, you know, intelligent,” Gray says. “And, as usual, comes off the opposite.”Jeff Fisher notes that AOC is also attempting to “sound more presidential,” before rolling a clip of the congresswoman saying, “like, whatever.”“Newsom-AOC 2028,” Malinak says.“She wants to be president; she doesn’t want to be vice president,” Fisher says. “So Newsom isn’t going to be her vice president.”“She would ... take that spot on the ticket,” Malinak disagrees.Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media Oct 7, 2026

'Total destruction': Republican CRUSHES Democrat at Iowa gubernatorial debate

The gubernatorial debate in Davenport, Iowa, turned a corner when Republican Zach Lahn unleashed a torrent against State Auditor Rob Sand, his Democratic competitor.The Republican went on the attack Tuesday night against criticism from Sand about whether Lahn meets the residency requirements to qualify for the race.'I will spend whatever effort necessary to defend my children from people who'd like to exploit them like you. And my promise to the voters of Iowa is this: I will also defend your children from people who'd like to exploit them.'Lahn excoriated Sand for making the residency issue the "central lie" of his gubernatorial campaign."He's been spreading this lie using money that his family has given him to do that all over the airwaves. People see it all the time," said Lahn."But here's the deal. Rob, you're now encountering somebody who's not going to intimidated by how much money your family has. It just won't happen. I can't be intimidated like that. The truth is I'm a sixth-generation Iowan. I live in Iowa today. I have lived in Iowa. Rob has been lying about this, and the issue is I have a blended family, and my kids split time. That's the issue," he added."But Rob has chose to make this issue the primary focus of his campaign," said Lahn."And I'll tell you, yes, I travel. I travel for business, I travel for family. You know who else travels? Rob. Rob traveled to Aspen, Colorado, to their $77 million mansion there. Rob travels to their multimillion-dollar home in northwest Iowa," he added."Rob travels around the state in a Ford F-150 — when he gets home, he gets in the $200,000 Mercedes G-Wagon. Rob is not telling the truth about who he is," said Lahn."And he's definitely not telling the truth about who I am. But I'm going to tell you this right now. This issue is about one thing. It's about my children. That's it. I have a blended family, and they split time. And I'm going to tell you right now, I am not going to be intimidated on this," he added."I will spend whatever effort necessary to defend my children from people who'd like to exploit them like you," Lahn concluded. "And my promise to the voters of Iowa is this: I will also defend your children from people who'd like to exploit them, like Rob Sand."RELATED: Iowa Democratic Party corrects 'minor' mistake on partial vote tally — Bernie Sanders blames racism Lahn's campaign posted the video of the beatdown during the debate, and he received great praise online."My phone was blowing up with excitement last night from conservatives all over Iowa ecstatic to see [Zach Lahn] humiliate Rob Sand in the Iowa Governor's debate. This might be the most decisive feedback I’ve ever received in an Iowa debate," BlazeTV host Steve Deace wrote on Facebook."I will run through a wall for @ZachLahn right freaking now," he added on the X platform."A total destruction of the lies coming from leftist Rob Sand. We can not allow Iowa to be turned over to these leftwing frauds!!!" responded Donald Trump Jr. on social media. Sand also shared clips of the debate online Tuesday night. In one post, he wrote: "This race is between a change candidate, and a change of address candidate. 10 years of one-party control has given us a cancer crisis, a water quality crisis, and has left Iowa families strapped to afford gas & groceries. It's time to rotate the crops here in Iowa."The election will decide whether Democrats can pick up the governor's office in Iowa after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds retires. Iowa Governor polls 2026: Sand vs. Lahn Iowa Governor polls 2026: Sand vs. Lahn pollwatch.theblaze.com Every public poll of the 2026 Iowa governor race, Rob Sand (D) vs. Zach Lahn (R), and the Blaze polling average. From Blaze News. 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 Oct 7, 2026

The last knight of Europe rides again

History can tell you what happened at Lepanto. G.K. Chesterton can make you hear it.On October 7, 1571, a fleet of the Holy League met the Ottoman navy off western Greece in one of the largest galley battles ever fought. The Christian victory halted Ottoman naval momentum in the Mediterranean and became one of the defining military events of early modern Christendom.We are not observers of a glorious Christian past.Four hundred and fifty-five years later, the battle itself is rarely discussed outside history books and Catholic circles. Chesterton’s “Lepanto” helps explain why that is a loss.The poem does something a chronology cannot. It takes an old battle and makes it present.That distinction matters because we have largely forgotten how to teach history as inheritance. Too often, the past arrives as a clinical sequence of dates and events — or worse, as a catalog of embarrassments for which the living are expected to apologize. Our ancestors understood that memory had to be cultivated.I was fortunate enough to grow up partly outside that system. My homeschool education included memorizing and reciting some of the great poems of the Western canon.Memorization itself was useful. But those poems did more than exercise the mind. They taught me to love and remember the heroes, soldiers, saints, and scholars who built the civilization I inherited.A textbook can explain the Crimean War. Tennyson makes you hear the cavalry moving: “Half a league, half a league, half a league onward.” A history of Rome can tell you the legend of Horatius at the bridge. Thomas Babington Macaulay puts the choice in the mouth of the man himself:Then out spake brave Horatius The Captain of the gate: “To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods.”The same is true closer to home. A paragraph about the British march on Concord can explain what happened. Longfellow’s “Listen, my children, and you shall hear” makes a child want to remember it.RELATED: Remember the Battle of Lepanto Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty ImagesThese works are literary masterpieces, but that is not the whole of their value. They are meant to stir the imagination. They give history rhythm, voice, courage, tragedy, and glory.Chesterton’s “Lepanto” belongs in that company.He wrote it in 1911, before World War I and more than a decade before he formally entered the Catholic Church. Yet the poem’s religious imagination is already unmistakable. Chesterton does not treat Lepanto merely as a naval engagement. He presents it as civilizational and spiritual combat, with Don Juan of Austria riding into a struggle that reaches backward through Christian history.The poem’s movement is part of its power: drums, gongs, guns, trumpets, waves, banners, and cannon fire. Chesterton does not ask the reader to stand at a safe academic distance. He drags him onto the deck.At one point, the Ottoman side hears something older than the fleet approaching it:But a noise is in the mountains, in the mountains, and I know The voice that shook our palaces four hundred years ago: It is he that saith not "Kismet"; it is he that knows not Fate; It is Richard, it is Raymond, it is Godfrey in the gate!Chesterton uses “Kismet” to dramatize what he saw as a contrast between fatalism and the Christian refusal to surrender to supposedly inevitable defeat. Richard the Lionheart, Raymond of Saint-Gilles, and Godfrey of Bouillon appear not as museum pieces but as members of the same inheritance. Godfrey, leader of the First Crusade, became ruler of Jerusalem under the title Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre.The poetry lets the reader place himself in that line. Christian history ceases to be a collection of remote episodes and becomes a living inheritance — something received, loved, defended, and handed on.That spirit has become difficult for the modern West to summon.One line from the poem has always stayed with me. Describing a Europe divided by religious conflict while the Ottoman threat advanced, Chesterton writes: “And dead is all the innocence of anger and surprise.”He was writing about a particular historical moment, but the line captures something recognizable now: spiritual exhaustion disguised as sophistication. We have seen so much, mocked so much, qualified so much, that conviction itself begins to look embarrassing.Chesterton’s Europe is divided, distracted, and half-convinced that resistance is pointless. The pope calls for “swords about the Cross,” while other rulers hesitate or look elsewhere. Even the Christian captives below the Ottoman decks have nearly stopped expecting deliverance.Then comes Don Juan.Dim drums throbbing in the hills half heard, Where only on a nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred, Where, risen from a doubtful seat and half attainted stall, The last knight of Europe taketh weapons from the wall.That is the great appeal of the poem. Don Juan does not enter because victory is guaranteed. He enters because something must be defended.RELATED: After 800 years, why do we still treat St. Francis as a glorified garden gnome? Mondadori Portfolio/Getty ImagesChesterton reminds the reader that courage often arrives from an unexpected quarter. Don Juan, the illegitimate son of Charles V, was hardly born into the tidy life of a storybook hero. Yet he became the man who took command when command was needed.That is what the old poems can still teach us. We are not merely observers of a glorious Christian past, reading about better men in safer times. We inherit what they defended, and inheritance creates an obligation.We owe a debt to the saints and heroes who came before us. Honoring it does not require pretending we are Don Juan of Austria. It requires the willingness to take responsibility for what has been handed to us — and the courage to defend what is true when resignation would be easier.History can tell us that Lepanto happened.Chesterton reminds us why anyone should care.In that enormous silence, tiny and unafraid, Comes up along a winding road the noise of the Crusade.

by Blaze Media Oct 7, 2026

'The panic is palpable': El-Sayed facing opposition from key Michigan Democrat groups weeks before election

While polling suggests Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is leading the Senate race in Michigan, members of key Democrat-leaning demographics say he hasn't earned their votes, even as absentee ballots have already begun to trickle in.Like others in the Rust Belt, Michigan is a purple state. Michigan voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2024, but went for President Joe Biden in 2020. It also currently has a Democrat executive branch and state Senate but a Republican House.'The exodus of Jewish and black Democrats from Conman Abdul El-Sayed's camp exposes his crumbling coalition.'While Trump won Michigan in 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris carried Wayne County, which includes Detroit, and Oakland County, which has a high Jewish population. That same year, Democrat Elissa Slotkin barely squeaked by Republican Mike Rogers in the U.S. Senate race by just 0.34%.So it's no wonder that in 2026, El-Sayed and Rogers are in a tough battle for the open seat soon to be vacated by Democrat Sen. Gary Peters.As of Wednesday afternoon, Blaze News Poll Watch has El-Sayed with an edge of 2.6%, and, according to CNN, El-Sayed has already predicted he will win by seven points.Yet frank admissions by high-profile Michigan Democrats as well as black and Jewish voters suggest he may actually have some ground to make up in his own party.RELATED: ‘Not someone who can be trusted’: Anti-Trump Detroit newspaper rips El-Sayed in Rogers endorsement Democrat Rep. Hillary Scholten, who represents a district in Western Michigan, was caught on a video dated September 26 admitting that the El-Sayed campaign still has a lot of work to do "to connect with the black community."In an MS NOW clip that went viral this week, one black female said, "We don't know him," while another said: "He's taking advantage that we, as black people, are Democratic, and he think we're gonna vote for him anyway, and I'm like, 'No, sir.'"An MS NOW panel of pro-Israel Democrats similarly expressed skepticism of El-Sayed — with good reason. A former staffer for his campaign is under federal indictment in connection with anti-Semitic attacks, his family members have been linked to Islamic terrorist groups, and he infamously responded to the Hezbollah-inspired attack on Temple Israel in March by saying, "Hurt people hurt people.""I can't vote for Abdul El-Sayed because, once again, he's going against something that's innately me," said one Jewish mother."I might go to Mike Rogers," said another.Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, who is Jewish, indicated that the El-Sayed team has not made overtures for his support and that he may ultimately not vote for him. "If he doesn’t need me, he doesn’t need me," Schor stated, according to CNN.Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is also Jewish, initially distanced herself from El-Sayed but ultimately endorsed him.In the last week, Blaze News has received multiple text messages from Nonnegotiable Michigan, a group of Democrat-voting Jews in Michigan who launched a month ago in part to "call on El-Sayed and Democratic candidates to affirm baseline commitments to Jewish safety and identity.""We've always shown up overwhelmingly for Democrats — but our support requires us to feel safe and valued in the party that has been our political home," read a message delivered Sunday.Scholten and the El-Sayed campaign did not respond to requests for comment from Blaze News.RELATED: Obama rushes to rescue Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit — GOP issues scathing response Blaze News Greg Manz, senior communications director for the Michigan GOP, characterized El-Sayed as a "conman" who "has repeatedly brushed off concerns from black voters" even as he is being "bankrolled by elements tied to the Muslim Brotherhood.""The exodus of Jewish and black Democrats from Conman Abdul El-Sayed's camp exposes his crumbling coalition," Manz said in a statement to Blaze News."The panic is palpable."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 Oct 7, 2026

Trans radical who massacred kids in Canadian school allegedly had American support

An American may have helped facilitate a mass murder at a school in Canada earlier this year committed by a teenage adult man pretending to be a woman.On Feb. 10, Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old trans-identifying man, murdered his mother and half-brother, then traveled to a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where he proceeded to injure 25 people and murder a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls, and two boys, ages 12 and 13, before taking his own life.'I know I can like, save lives I guess but idk.'Now it seems Van Rootselaar plotted the massacre with the help of a radical from Washington state. James Cody Bryant, a 30-year-old Bellingham resident, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country."The Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting was a horrific tragedy for that small community and for all of Canada. Indeed, here in the Pacific Northwest we felt the pain of those families devastated by this violence," acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said in a statement. "It is even more profoundly disturbing to learn that a resident of Western Washington had a role in the attack and took steps — providing counsel, technical advice, and money to the shooter planning such a tragedy."The FBI noted that the duo first met online on the chat service Omegle before it was shut down in 2023.The criminal complaint alleges that Bryant began conspiring to murder innocents with the Canadian-based trans radical in August 2025; "agreed to record J.V.R.’s livestream of the planned murders and post it over the internet for the public to view"; ensured that the livestream "look[ed] solid"; and even provided the shooter with tactical advice on how best to execute the massacre.The FBI obtained Discord messages that allegedly show Bryant and Van Rootselaar discussing optimal ways of maximizing carnage.RELATED: 'Our results shocked us': HHS report confirms your darkest suspicions about trans ideology Blaze Media IllustrationIn early August 2025, the shooter allegedly discussed previous Canadian mass shootings, noting, "Getting 14 kills is a lot easier than getting 22, though if I got more than 22 it'd be simply the deadliest shooting in Canadian history period."After Van Rootselaar articulated his desire to best previous school shooting kill counts, Bryant allegedly responded, "Hallways also mean a lot of ways people can escape. Corners to turn. Wide open spaces mean numbers." Justice DepartmentIn addition to discussing places where the shooter could play "hide and seek" with the greatest number of potential victims, Bryant advised the trans radical on which weapons to use, prosecutors alleged in the complaint.Bryant allegedly told the shooter in an Aug. 26 message, "[You] should have a handgun if you can manage a print tbh," then allegedly added, "You've got solid plans."A modified handgun and a long gun were recovered at the scene of the massacre, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Justice DepartmentIn December, Bryant allegedly told Van Rootselaar that he "definitely would" have fans after committing the murders and suggested further that people would "probably" be mad if the shooter were romanticized after the planned massacre.Prosecutors further alleged that Bryant provided Van Rootselaar with financial support "to purchase items for use during the attack, including the shoes Van Rootselaar intended to wear, a lighter Van Rootselaar would use to ignite an explosive device, and stickers to decorate the firearms Van Rootselaar would use to commit the murders, and discussed possibly sending the shooter a 3D-printed firearm kit and related gear.The shooter shared an image on Discord in August 2025 showing a sticker depicting the trans flag superimposed on the planet Saturn that he had apparently put on the receiver of a shotgun. Bryant allegedly said of the picture, "Love the stickers. [] stickers would be so funny to be seen in photos of the incident."Bryant and Van Rootselaar also allegedly discussed whether the livestream of the attack should contain an audio feed.After the shooter expressed concern about about how his voice might sound while slaughtering innocents, Bryant allegedly suggested silence, stating, "No lasting evidence of your voice, just a pretty girl gunning ppl down."When the topic of alerting the relevant authorities to the murder plot came up, Bryant allegedly emphasized on multiple occasions that he would not "snitch," allegedly stating in one instance, "I could. I don’t want to honestly. I know I can like, save lives I guess but idk."Despite allegedly egging on Van Rootselaar for months and failing to alert authorities, Bryant apparently had a change of heart just weeks ahead of the shooting.On Jan. 4, the American allegedly told the shooter, "I truly hope you reconsider today. I wish there were any other path for you, you shouldn’t have to do something like this. I wish I knew what I could say or do to change your mind."Despite this alleged attempt to dissuade the shooter from acting on his bloodlust, Bryant allegedly made clear that he was ready to lend his support on the day of the massacre.According to prosecutors, Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Bryant photos of himself prepared for the attack. In one photo, the shooter is dressed in women's clothing and the boots that Bryant allegedly bought for him and armed with a rifle that appears to be equipped with a suppressor painted in the colors of the trans-radical flag.Van Rootselaar began masquerading as a woman roughly six years ago, and Wikipedia, the liberal media, and the Justice Department continue to falsely refer to him as a female. Justice DepartmentDuring the shooting, Bryant allegedly confirmed that he was watching the feed — which U.S. Attorney Floyd indicated had been terminated by Twitch after approximately 20 seconds — and even allegedly counseled Van Rootselaar on how to start the vehicle that Van Rootselaar drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.If convicted, Bryant could be thrown in prison for the rest of his life.When asked on Tuesday whether Bryant might be sent to Canada to face prosecution, Floyd noted that the alleged crimes were committed in the U.S. and that the "penalties may be higher" in America."On behalf of the FBI, I want to express heartfelt sympathy for the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones," said W. Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "No investigation can undo the fear and suffering caused by the horrific events of this February or bring these individuals back to their families, school, or community. We mourn with you."Elija Rain, acting commanding officer of the British Columbua RCMP, said in a statement, "Today’s arrest and charge announcement by the FBI reflects the months of investigative effort, cooperation, and coordination between our two agencies"The RCMP apparently contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after receiving information from one of the online platforms used by the shooter."I would like to thank the FBI Seattle and the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington for their partnership, professionalism, and commitment throughout this complex investigation," continued Rain. "Their cooperation and expertise have been invaluable in advancing the work across jurisdictions and ensuring that all available evidence could be thoroughly examined."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 Oct 7, 2026

Taxes, licenses, benefits: Here’s what the new America.gov can do — and can't

The U.S. government recently launched its first consumer-facing AI chatbot at America.gov. If you’re not sure exactly what it does or how it could be useful to you, Blaze News has you covered. I asked it a ton of questions, and here are the big things it can do so far.America.gov is the government’s attempt to streamline the various websites, forms, and information it offers to the people on the web. Before we dive deep into its capabilities though, you should know that the chatbot isn’t derived from a second-rate LLM or an open-weight model from China. America.gov is actually powered by a combination of Google Gemini and Grok by SpaceXAI. The service functions more like a massive data repository than an innovative chatbot.It’s also private. Conversations aren’t saved to train data, and your precise location is never logged, though depending on what you need, it might request your general position. Lastly, there aren’t any ads, and you don’t even have to sign up with an account. Still, you should know that AI chatbots — including this one offered by the federal government — don’t come with legal confidentiality agreements, so it’s best not to get too personal with America.gov, especially if you’re navigating legal troubles. Consult the bot responsibly.To see what America.gov can actually do, I looked at the top five reasons people usually need information from the government. These include:Filing taxes with the IRS.Obtaining a license (such as a driver’s license or marriage certificate) or a permit.Accessing public services and benefits, like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and more.Voting, both to register and to cast a ballot.Applying for a passport for international travel.Then I pelted it with questions designed to test the limits of America.gov. Here’s what I found.RELATED: Trump launches new AI-powered website to streamline access to the federal government Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesTaxesThe dream of any American, aside from paying as little in taxes as possible, is to have someone else do your taxes for you. Unfortunately, America.gov can’t fill out your documents or file on your behalf. It also can’t review your return for accuracy, make suggestions on what to include, or offer tax advice.It can, however, divulge some surface-level information. When prompted, America.gov can tell you the tax day deadline, offer a link to free filing options, and point you toward the website to file an extension if needed.That’s about it. Don’t count on America.gov offering much more help by tax season.LicensesAs expected, America.gov can’t issue a license on behalf of the government. It does, however, offer some interesting information to make the process a little easier.If you need to get a driver’s license for the first time or renew your current license, America.gov provides a neat checklist of all the items you’ll need before you head to the DMV, including proof of identity, proof of residency, and in some states, you’ll also need your Social Security number. Unfortunately, when I asked it which states require an SSN at the time of renewal, it couldn’t tell me for certain. America.gov is mostly geared toward answering federal questions instead of state-specific queries.As for a marriage license, it offered another handy checklist for items you’ll need, including a photo ID, proof of age, and a marriage license fee — information first-time spouses may not know before applying. Public services and benefitsIf you want to know all the public services that the U.S. government supplies to the people, America.gov can give you a whole list of options.Need to apply for unemployment? America.gov will tap into your general location and provide links to your state’s claims page, along with the basic requirements needed to qualify for benefits.Ready to apply for Medicare? America.gov can’t fill out your form, but it can show you the fastest way to sign up online, plus it can provide phone numbers for assistance and enrollment period information.Need welfare benefits? America.gov will tell you which benefits are available in your state and provide links and phone numbers to apply.Ultimately, America.gov was most helpful in the public services and benefits category. This is easily the place where it shines.RELATED: Blaze News Poll Watch: Your new home for tracking the 2026 midterms Blaze NewsVotingMidterms are coming up, and voters will want to find more information about the issues that impact them and their communities.While America.gov is largely a federal resource, it can still tell you the local deadlines to register to vote and cast your ballot, which offices are up for election in your state, and which candidates are running for each position. It can even provide some county information for specific issues on the ballot, though your mileage may vary.What it won’t do is tell you who to vote for. America.gov is strictly nonpartisan. It won’t pick sides or try to sway you toward one ideology. It’s virtually neutral, exactly what you want from a bot that will be operated by both sides of the political aisle as power changes over time.PassportLike the forms before, America.gov can’t fill out your passport documentation for you. However, it will show you where to go online to start the process, and it offers a list of all the items you’ll need, like proof of citizenship, a photo ID, and a 2x2 inch color photo for the passport itself.Most importantly, America.gov can remind you to print out your form and sign it only once you’re in front of a passport agent — something that first-time passport holders may not know.VerdictAmerica.gov is a brand-new chatbot service, and its young age shows. The service functions more like a massive data repository than an innovative chatbot. It has no agentic capabilities, and it can’t really do much more than point you toward another place on the web with more information.Furthermore, its instructions as a federal service limit the information it can provide, making it less useful than consulting a third-party frontier model on the same topics. This is even more obvious when you remember that America.gov is a mix of third-party LLMs, albeit with restrictions.That said, America.gov’s easy account-free accessibility and basic privacy features may be enough to convince you to choose it over ChatGPT, Grok, or Gemini.There’s also the promise of more features in the future.For anything that America.gov can’t do today, updates are coming in 2027. The site says that “for the first time you’ll be able to complete forms, applications, renewals all in one place. America.gov will integrate across agencies so you can safely, securely, and quickly get it done and get back to what matters most.”Several of the upcoming features include Medicare enrollment, passport forms, and job applications to work for the federal government.For this initial release, America.gov offers a sturdy foundation in what is easily one of the federal government’s most ambitious citizen resources to date. Personally, though, I’m more excited to see what comes in version two next year.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 Oct 7, 2026

Allegedly drunk female flips out on arresting officer with repeated violent physical attack, police say

An allegedly drunk female is accused of flipping out on an arresting police officer with a repeated violent physical attack over the weekend in Southeastern Pennsylvania.Hatboro Police said officers were dispatched Sunday to Hatters Court in the Woodwinds Condo Complex for a report of a domestic disturbance in progress. Hatboro is about 45 minutes north of Philadelphia.'$1,000? Seriously?? ... Seems like she should have been held to a higher bail.'While officers were responding, police said they received information about approximately seven individuals engaged in a fistfight in the parking lot.Arriving officers didn't encounter a large-scale fight, but police said 23-year-old Emily Abbruzzi was in violation of statutes regarding disorderly conduct as well as public drunkenness.When officers attempted to take Abbruzzi into custody, police said she purposefully kicked an officer in the leg.Police said after Abbruzzi was placed in handcuffs and was being placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, she attempted to kick the same officer in the chest. As she was being seat-belted into the patrol vehicle, police said Abbruzzi attempted to kick the same officer in the face.RELATED: Female college senior allegedly punches cop, interferes with arrest — and pays for it Image source: Hatboro (Pa.) Police DepartmentAbbruzzi was arrested and charged with:Aggravated assault on policeSimple assaultResisting arrestHarassment Public drunkennessDisorderly conductAbbruzzi was arraigned Monday; bail was set at $1,000, police said, adding that a preliminary hearing is pending.One commenter under a Facebook post from the Hatboro-Horsham Patch about the incident said, "$1,000? Seriously?? This woman kicks or attempts to kick a police officer three times? Seems like she should have been held to a higher bail."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 Oct 7, 2026

Sara Gonzales exposes a popular Texas university for paying a foreign firm to fill American seats

Whether she’s rooting out H-1B fraud or exposing the open-border flood, BlazeTV’s Sara Gonzales is adamant about fighting back against the “globalist plan to flood the zone and displace actual Americans who should be put first in their own country.”On this episode of “Come & Take It,” the Texas native shines the light on a local university that commissioned an overseas business to recruit foreign students. The school under Sara’s microscope is the University of North Texas in Denton. According to Texas Scorecard, “A third-party vendor received payments from the University of North Texas to ‘recruit’ international students from 2018 through at least 2023.”“All of the money that you guys are working hard to then sign over to UNT and all of these other public universities, this money went to that school only for them to turn around and pay a foreign recruiting firm up to $3,000 per foreign student that they recruited,” says Sara.“It is bad enough that they are paying to recruit foreigners at all ... but they aren't even paying an American company. ... They're siphoning money out of this country to bring in people to take spots that could be going to an American or a Texan,” she continues.Texas Scorecard identified the third-party recruiter as the Edwise Foundation — a student-placement agency based in Kathmandu, Nepal, focused on placing Nepalese students in higher education, specifically in the U.S.“Their entire existence is to empower foreigners to come have access to our colleges, and we are paying them real money to do that,” says Sara. “That's bonkers crazy to me.”On its website, the Edwise Foundation claims it has “placed thousands of students into a diverse range of [universities] in the United States — from small private liberal arts colleges to top-tier research Institutions — often with partial or full financial aid.”“I'm just wondering at this point, financial aid paid for by whom? Where is the financial aid money coming from? ... I certainly would like to know,” says Sara.“Then again, maybe I wouldn't like to know because maybe it's just going to be further black-pilling to hear that ... more of my money is somehow being siphoned into this financial aid fund that's then being given to foreigners who are taking spots that could be going to Texans or Americans.”She then pulls up a page from the Edwise Foundation’s website titled “Why Study in the USA from Nepal?” which identifies the U.S. as a top destination for Nepali students because it has “the world’s best universities,” “research and innovation” opportunities, “academic flexibility,” “work after graduation” opportunities, “scholarships and assistantships,” and degrees that promise “global” value.“So we're all on the same page that our system, that the American higher education system, is ... the best,” says Sara.“It sounds to me like this should be one of the most competitive areas ever, and you should be paying us for the opportunity to potentially come here and scout you out.”To hear more of Sara’s scathing exposé, watch the episode above.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.

by Blaze Media Oct 7, 2026

6 Modern Car Technologies That Make Driving Worse

There is a strange thing happening to modern cars.They keep getting more advanced. They also keep getting more annoying.There is a reason physical knobs and switches survived for so long. You can find them by touch. I’m not talking about technology in general. Modern safety systems have unquestionably prevented crashes and saved lives. Innovations like backup cameras and blind-spot monitoring are genuinely helpful. I’m not interested in going back to drum brakes and lap belts.But somewhere along the way, automakers started treating every new feature as an improvement simply because it was new.On a recent episode of “The Drive,” Karl Brauer and I were joined by the show’s former longtime host, Alan Taylor. We started going through some of the modern automotive technologies that sound impressive in a brochure but can make owning and driving a car less pleasant.The list got long pretty quickly.1. Cameras that watch youNew cars increasingly contain cameras aimed not at the road, but at you.They’re called driver monitoring systems, and manufacturers say they’re there to make sure you’re paying attention — especially when advanced driver-assistance systems are steering, accelerating, or braking for you.As Karl put it, “They’re watching you and your passengers.”And that raises a pretty obvious question: How much monitoring are we willing to accept just because the car is capable of doing more for us?The concern gets bigger once those cameras are part of a connected vehicle. Then the issue isn’t just what the car can see. It’s what information gets collected, where it goes, and who ultimately has access to it.The car used to be one of the few private spaces left in modern life.Now even the dashboard may be taking notes.2. Microphones that listenThe microphone makes sense too.Voice commands require one. Hands-free phone calls require one. Increasingly sophisticated digital assistants require one.But once a connected car has microphones and a cellular connection, the privacy question gets considerably more troubling.Voice assistants have to listen for a wake word. Sometimes they hear one when nobody actually said it. The Federal Trade Commission has warned that this can trigger unexpected recording and that voice recordings may be sent to company servers, stored, and, in some cases, reviewed by employees or contractors to improve the system. That’s a very different proposition from the old Bluetooth microphone that simply carried your side of a phone call.Karl described reading the Uconnect connected services agreement when he bought his Dodge Demon 170 and deciding he wanted no part of it because of the amount of vehicle and behavioral data that could potentially be collected. Uconnect’s terms also explicitly permit recording and monitoring of calls placed through certain connected services, including customer care, roadside assistance, and emergency calls.Most buyers do not read those agreements. Maybe we should.3. Touch screens for things that used to have buttonsThis one drives me crazy.Touch screens are terrific for maps, music, and information that genuinely benefits from a large visual display.They are terrible replacements for controls you need while driving.If I want to turn up the heat, adjust the fan, or open the glove box, I should not have to work through a menu system while traveling 70 miles per hour.Tesla is probably the most obvious example. Karl brought up having to use the screen just to open the glove box. That is not progress.There is a reason physical knobs and switches survived for so long. You can find them by touch. Your hand learns where they are. You do not have to take your eyes off the road and aim at a little square on a screen.Even automakers appear to be rediscovering this. GM’s new Silverado and Sierra interface, for example, was designed after customer research found drivers were tired of “hunting for controls,” and the company specifically retained physical controls for frequently used functions.Sometimes the old solution survives because it was already a pretty good solution.4. Automatic stop-startHere’s a typical 2026 driving experience that would have made no sense whatsoever to someone 20 years ago. You pull up to a red light. The engine shuts off. You take your foot off the brake. The engine starts again.Repeat dozens of times.Automatic stop-start became common because shutting off an idling engine saves fuel. The EPA has long said the technology can improve fuel economy by roughly 4% to 5%, with the biggest gains in stop-and-go city driving. Washington liked the idea enough to reward automakers with emissions credits for installing it. But under President Donald Trump, the EPA has changed its tune. In February, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin eliminated the credit for what the agency itself called the “almost universally hated start-stop feature,” arguing that it produced no significant environmental benefit and that the old credit overstated real-world emissions reductions.So yes, shutting off an idling engine saves some fuel. The question is how much that saving is really worth.Starting an engine over and over puts far more cycling demands on the starter and battery than a conventional system. That is why stop-start vehicles typically require heavier-duty starters, upgraded batteries, and additional control systems designed to survive the extra work.In other words, “they’re designed for it” is only half the story. They have to be designed differently precisely because stop-start creates a harsher duty cycle.AAA has noted that its fuel-savings estimates did not include the potentially higher replacement cost of those upgraded starters and batteries. AGM batteries, commonly used in stop-start vehicles because they tolerate repeated cycling better, also tend to cost more than conventional flooded batteries.And if most of your driving is on the highway, there isn’t much idling to eliminate in the first place.I have disliked stop-start from the beginning. Even when the restart is smooth, you can still feel and hear the car cycling on and off. And plenty of drivers seem to feel the way I do, judging by how many of them want to disable it. If I’m going to pay for heavier-duty components so my engine can shut itself off at every red light, I’d at least like the savings to be worth the trouble.RELATED: BRONCO BUSTED: I caught Ford sneaking my data — and uncovered an even bigger threat Anadolu/Getty Images5. Electric power steeringThis one matters more to people who actually enjoy driving.Hydraulic power steering used fluid pressure to provide assistance while retaining a relatively direct mechanical feel through the steering wheel. Electric power steering replaces much of that hardware with an electric motor.There are good reasons manufacturers prefer it. Electric systems can improve efficiency, reduce weight, and integrate more easily with modern driver-assistance technology.But something can be technically superior and still feel worse.Karl noted that electric steering has improved tremendously over the years, but for many enthusiasts it still does not provide the same feedback as a good hydraulic system.Most consumers will never care, but the people who do care really care.Steering is one of the primary ways a car communicates with its driver. Take too much information out of it, and you may wind up with a vehicle that handles beautifully while somehow feeling less alive.6. The connected car itselfThis is really the technology behind all the others.Your car is no longer merely a machine. Increasingly it is a computer with wheels, cameras, microphones, software, and an internet connection.That brings enormous benefits, but it also radically changes the relationship between the car company and the owner.Software can be updated remotely. New services can be added. Features can be sold by subscription. Data can flow back to the manufacturer. The relationship no longer necessarily ends when you drive off the dealer lot.During our discussion, Alan joked that modern cars seem to be “watching everything we do.” I pointed out the important next step: Once the car is connected, information can leave the vehicle too.And that is where consumers need to start asking questions beyond whether or not a feature works. Questions like: Who controls the feature?Who controls the data?Can you turn it off?When it stops working, can anyone other than the manufacturer fix it?New cars do extraordinary things. Sometimes I just wish they would do a little less.

by Blaze Media Oct 7, 2026

This government just launched a dating app — face scan and digital ID required

Want a date? Just let your government know everything about you.It's that simple in Singapore, where a federal agency is now looking to match singles on a government dating site.'Swipe fatigue ends here.'With fertility rates decreasing in countries all around the world, ruling parties have long looked to immigration to ensure their bottom line does not suffer, but that doesn't mean they have stopped looking inward as well, especially in Asia.Singapore's fertility rate has sunk to historic lows, dropping to 0.87 in 2025, down from 1.24 a decade ago, according to local outlet the Straights Times.In response, Singapore's Government Technology Agency has launched a dating website called FirstDate, which aims to match singles ages 21 to 35."Swipe fatigue ends here," the website reads.Users would receive just one match at a time based on a questionnaire they fill out regarding their interests, habits, values, and preferences in order to "curate matches based on compatibility.""Receive one match at a time, so you can focus on building a thoughtful connection," the government agency says.Users get one match per "cycle" — the length of which is unknown — based on a compatibility score, and then both parties have 72 hours to accept the match.Along with the detailed questionnaire, users submit their contact information and are required to use their government-issued digital ID called Singpass.Without the digital ID, citizens cannot file taxes or access public services, for example.Those who use the digital ID are required to submit a face scan in order to "protect your digital identity."RELATED: The last ethnic Halloween costume nobody apologizes for Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images According to Mashable, the use of the digital ID comes with the promise of there being no fake profiles on the website.At the same time, FirstDate says that user data and questionnaire responses are handled in accordance with government security standards and will not be monetized or shared with third parties "except where required or permitted by law."A Singapore government website explains that it works "extensively with Third Parties to deliver services to citizens" and therefore the government data is routinely shared.In January, the country announced it would allow data to be shared with "trusted external partners" as well, so long as it is for the purposes of public interest. This reportedly includes ethnic nonprofits like the Chinese Development Assistance Council and the Eurasian Association.RELATED: Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan shares Christian faith, claims music industry is afraid of God talk ERIC BARADAT/AFP/Getty Images Singapore isn't the first Asian country to have a government-run dating program.China, Iran, and Japan all have their own service aimed at matching singles.Do they work?A 2024 study looked at the validity of government dating services and determined that "there is good reason to believe that dating apps can be powerful tools for social engineering."Citing China, India, Iran, and Japan, the study said the dating apps address three distinct social problems: "sub-replacement fertility, social polarization, and the spread of genetic diseases," the latter referring to incest.Applications for FirstDate are closing fast, with the website giving applicants until October 5 to submit their information.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 Oct 7, 2026

Flock of Ravens swarm President Trump in Baltimore: 'Do yall know this guy?'

A day at the docks started with an unexpected meeting with some birds — Ravens, to be exact.When President Donald Trump arrived in Sparrows Point, Maryland, to announce a new shipyard, he was met by a group of professional athletes.'He claims that he's a billionaire!'Trump, who consistently flexes his football knowledge, was greeted by four Baltimore Ravens players before an event announcing a major government investment.Ryan Eckley, Marlon Humphrey, Tyler Loop, and Nick Moore all met with the president at Tradepoint Atlantic on Tuesday, as Trump was set to unveil plans for a gigantic logistics center in the Baltimore area, about 30 minutes from where the Ravens play.Humphrey is seemingly the most outspoken of the players, at least politically, and was the only one to post a video online about the interaction."Do yall know this guy? He claims that he's a billionaire!" Humphrey wrote as a video caption. The video showed the 30-year-old cornerback sitting behind the president inside a moving vehicle.Humphrey spoke in defense of the president when New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart received criticism for introducing Trump before a rally."The fake Trump hate funny to me," Humphrey wrote in May. "Majority voted for him but everybody seem to hate him lol ... Somebody lying."RELATED: Fans accuse Chicago Bears player of performing Muslim prayer during national anthem: 'Is this respectful?' Win McNamee/Getty Images The New York Post reported that Humphrey planned to meet with the president to discuss his charity work and the commander in chief's shared passion for football and golf."Marlon Humphrey is a great talent, player, and leader for the Ravens," Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz told the New York Post. "He is also widely respected in the locker room and the city of Baltimore."The new shipyard is being built with Anduril Industries, founded by tech and defense entrepreneur Palmer Luckey. It is expected to create 3,100 jobs and cost $6.6 billion. The money will come in part from the U.S. Navy ($2.9 billion) with the majority from private investment ($3.7 billion), According to the Guardian, the shipyard will be called "Arsenal Two" and will build torpedo tubes and other parts for Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.Taxpayers will reportedly have a "40% stake" in the facility, the president said. However, it will not be operational until 2030.RELATED: Replacement complete? After 74 years, Canada's state broadcaster replaces hockey with cricket Humphrey has a history of remarks in support of the president. In February 2025, he wrote on X, "I'm confused how everyone appears to 'hate' Trump but he won the presidency ... Some of yall lying."Following the assassination attempt against the president in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, Humphrey remarked: "Trump took a bullet for America."The Ravens are currently 3-1 and will play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!