Once again, House Democrats are jockeying for the top minority spot on the House Oversight Committee. Just seven months ago, party veteran Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) beat out progressive media darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for the job. Connolly died on May 21. Now four Democrats are scrambling to lock down committee support before the June 24 leadership vote.This race matters. For a party in the minority, oversight provides one of the few remaining tools to challenge the majority and to manage the frustration of disillusioned voters. We covered the last contest in December, just as Donald Trump prepared to reclaim the White House. Connolly’s win, despite his age and battle with esophageal cancer, signaled a possible turn away from performative social media theatrics toward more traditional, procedural oversight.While Stephen Lynch is out of step with the activist class, his voting record demonstrates party loyalty. Expect him to be a serious contender.Connolly’s death reopens the field. So what do the current contenders — and their backers — tell us about where the Democrats stands now?Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.): Lynch grew up in South Boston, the son of an ironworker. His politics and worldview reflect that gritty upbringing. At the time, “Southie” held the dubious distinction of being the poorest white neighborhood in America — plagued by crime, targeted by outsider liberal policies, and ignored by the nonprofit class that preferred more fashionable causes.He followed his father into ironworking and quickly climbed the ranks, becoming the youngest union president in its history before pivoting to law school. His early record wasn’t spotless. He admitted to smoking pot at a Willie Nelson concert and once roughed up Iranian students protesting the United States. As a lawyer, he defended kids charged in racially charged street brawls — cases that mirrored the tensions he grew up with.Lynch entered state politics to push back against outside pressure — most notably from gay activists demanding to march in South Boston’s kid-friendly, Catholic-rooted St. Patrick’s Day parade. He championed exemptions to Massachusetts hate-crime laws and brought his blue-collar populism with him to Washington. When he entered Congress in the 1990s, Lynch stood firmly pro-life and pro-marriage.Like many of his fellow Democrats, however, Lynch moved with the party and his district. Southie is developed these days: cleaned up and expensive as heck. You’ll see yuppies and rainbow flags now, and industry has been replaced with waterfront condos. Like so many of his once-Blue Dog, working-class colleagues, he’s now pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, and pro-all-the-rest-of-it. He voted 100% with President Joe Biden’s agenda.Even his perfect voting record isn’t enough for the purists, however. His opponents within the party are annoyed that he doesn’t mouth all their maxims and revolutionary slogans. They see him as a relic of the past and cite his vote against Obamacare and his opposition to the decidedly anti-working-class Green New Deal, as well as his yea vote for the Laken Riley Act that would detain and deport illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes in the United States.While Lynch is out of step with the activist class, his voting record demonstrates party loyalty. Moreover, he's the acting ranking member now that Connolly has passed. Ocasio-Cortez cited the committee Democrats’ continued deference to seniority in her reason not to run for the job again. Expect Lynch to be a serious contender.Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.): Mfume was born Frizzell Gerard Tate in Baltimore in 1948. While not the acting ranking member of the committee, he is a senior member of the party, having first won a seat in Congress when Ronald Reagan was president.He has a place of prestige within the Congressional Black Caucus and even served as its chairman in the early 1990s — a relationship that will be tested in his run against another member in the Oversight fight. He took a break from Congress in the mid-1990s to serve as president of the NAACP — another prominent post in the black American political power structure.As with Lynch, progressive activists question Mfume’s purity, even though he voted with Biden 100% of the time. His sins include thinking the Green New Deal, decriminalizing illegal border crossing, and Medicaid for All were dumb ideas. He’s also pro-Israel, which is a big no-no. Finally, while he's perfectly pro-abortion, he doesn’t talk about it enough. Very troubling! His opponents within the party call him a “Washington insider,” and they’re right — but past attempts to primary him from the left have failed.Like Lynch, Mfume is a contender, but is threatened by a younger, angrier, more social media-friendly competitor.Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas): The youngest contender for the post is Crockett, who just came to Congress two years ago but has already made a name for herself nationally.Though well into her 40s, Crockett’s use of social media, confrontational style, and borderline antics have made her a star for young left-wing activists. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the broader public became aware of her, but it’s probably right around the time she made headlines in a catfight with conservative activist darling Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) last spring.It began with Taylor Greene insulting Crockett’s fake eyelashes. The Texan responded in turn, asking Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), “If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleach-blonde, bad-built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”“A what now?” a deeply out-of-his-element Comer replied. And the rest was history, so long as you consider it history to record videos dancing with her tongue out in the halls of Congress; to call for knocking Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) “over the head, like, hard, right? Like, there is no niceties with him, like at all”; say Elon Musk had to be “taken down”; and accuse black Republicans of not being black any more.If Crockett didn't exist, conservative media would have to create her. Still, her aggressive tactics and style have earned her a following with voters angry over Democrats’ national failures and perceived sheepishness in the face of Trump’s popularity. She’s not the most likely to win leadership on a committee that historically values seniority over activist popularity, but she could take votes from fellow CBC member Mfume.Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.): Last but not least, we come to Garcia, a 47-year-old foreign-born progressive, more closely aligned with the Squad than other contenders.Garcia came to Congress with the same class as Crockett and instantly gained attention for snubbing the Bible, instead taking his oath of office on a copy of the Constitution, a picture of his parents, and the first issue of “Superman,” borrowed from the Library of Congress. How progressive!Back in the real world, though, Garcia rarely passes up a progressive cause. He joined the long line of politicians who flew to El Salvador to defend illegal-immigrant gang members Trump deported. He also never misses a chance to highlight his status as one of the first openly gay figures to do this or that — quick to lead with identity when it serves his agenda.How much will this mean in a committee vote, however? Probably less than you’d think. That doesn’t mean Garcia doesn’t have a bright future, however. That is, if his side wins the party’s civil war.Beltway Brief, Dec. 2024: Who will win the battle for the Resistance 2.0?Sign up for Bedford’s newsletterSign up to get Blaze Media senior politics editor Christopher Bedford’s newsletter.

Certain Christian traditions celebrate some days on the Christian calendar that more of us ought to consider, and Ascension Day is one such example.Ascension Day is always on a Thursday because it is always 40 days after Easter. This is because Acts 1:3 tells us that the time period from the day Christ was resurrected till the day He ascended into heaven was 40 days.'The significance of Christ’s ascension to heaven climactically changes the shape of prayer in redemptive history.'The gospel accounts clarify that the risen Christ physically appeared to His disciples and others multiple times. These astounding occurrences are, of course, the reason the disciples were transformed into virtually fearless preachers of truth. After all, Jesus’ first appearance to the group took place while they were locked in a room, dejected after the crucifixion and in fear for their lives.But as Christ told them even before His crucifixion, He would leave them — but not alone (John 14:26):But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.That supernaturally empowered remembrance would prove crucial because the apostles provided the source material for all the Gospels.Jesus also told them it was actually better for Him to leave (John 16:7) so the Holy Spirit, who would teach and guide them further into truth (John 16:13-15), could come.What actually happened on Ascension Day?The Gospel of Luke gives us the details (Luke 24:50-53):And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. And it happened that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.What a difference from the first time He left them 43 days earlier!The Gospel of Mark provides an additional detail that is very important (Mark 16:19):So then, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.So what is Jesus doing at the right hand of God? The Bible tells us:Romans 8:34: Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Hebrews 7:25: Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 1 John 2:1: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.If we belong to Him, Jesus continually intercedes on our behalf. He is the reason we have unfettered access to our Creator and the reason we can pray to the Father; it is through the person of Christ that this is possible.Luke, who wrote about the disciples’ response after the ascension, also wrote the book of Acts, which he began by revisiting the ascension story again. Dr. Daniel Schrock says this isn’t because Luke wanted to be repetitive but because he wanted us to read everything that happens in the book of Acts in light of Jesus’ ascension to heaven."We cannot really understand the events of Acts without understanding how they are connected to the exaltation of Christ at the right hand of the Father," explains Schrock.Luke himself refers to this reality later in the book of Acts when he reported on the martyrdom of Stephen."But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God'" (Acts 7:55-56). This reality of Christ’s ongoing intercession for us is the reason we are taught to pray “in Jesus’ name” (John 16:23), which is central to our salvation (see Acts 2:21, where Luke quotes from the book of Joel, and the definitive Acts 4:12)."The significance of Christ’s ascension to heaven climactically changes the shape of prayer in redemptive history. From Acts forward, God’s people now pray to God through the name of Jesus, the One who has been made both Lord and Christ, and who is himself praying for us in that exalted state," Schrock explains.A celebration of promiseAscension Day clarifies the reality of Christ’s continuing work for us, but one more passage about this momentous event also clarifies a promise of immense joy.Acts 1:9-11:And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Now you have something to celebrate — and to teach your kids. Happy Ascension Day!This article was adapted from an essay originally published on Diane Schrader's Substack, She Speaks Truth.

Chris Cillizza appeared bewildered by the actions of a presumably liberal vandal who allegedly taped an inflammatory message to his Tesla vehicle. The former CNN journalist recounted the incident on his Substack on Wednesday and posted a video on the X social media platform. He said he had gone to a soccer tournament with his son. 'The journey I have had with this car is in some ways a journey of, I think, a lot of people have had with politics.' "Over the weekend, someone defaced my Tesla," wrote Cillizza. "And we parked my car, which is a Tesla. And we went and we watched the game," he added. "And when he and I came back, there was something attached to it that was not there when we had left. It was this."He held up a paper reading "Musk is a Nazi" that was taped to his car. "Someone had taped a sign: 'Musk is a Nazi.' Now, they obviously had pre-written this, or they have a bunch of them, right. But 'Musk is a Nazi' taped to my car. So this is the first time I've experienced the sort of politics of Elon Musk and Tesla," Cillizza added. "The journey I have had with this car is in some ways a journey of, I think, a lot of people have had with politics," he added. RELATED: Jasmine Crockett calls DOGE a 'scam' and 'cover-up' to help Elon Musk profit Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images "Making everything political is dumb," he said on social media. "It's driving us further and further apart." Cillizza went on to castigate those who had politicized every aspect of their consumer habits. "If your bar is that you never interact with or buy anything from a company whose founder has taken a position with which you disagree or which has donated to a cause you don’t support, I find it very hard to believe you are going to make any purchases ever," he wrote. "Breaking news: Giant corporations tend to do what makes them the most money, not always what’s 'right,'" he added. Cillizza had been previously mocked online for defending the media against accusations that they colluded with the Biden administration to cover for his worsening mental condition. More evidence has come out since then to show that his deterioration was far worse than was admitted at the time. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Taking the helm as president of the Media Research Center is both an honor and a responsibility. My father, Brent Bozell, built this institution on conviction, courage, and an unwavering commitment to truth. As he begins his next chapter — serving as ambassador-designate to South Africa under President Trump — the legacy he leaves continues to guide everything we do.To the conservative movement, I give my word: I will lead MRC with bold resolve and clear purpose, anchored in the mission that brought us here.We don’t want a return to the days of Walter Cronkite. We want honest media, honest algorithms, and a playing field that doesn’t punish one side for telling the truth.For nearly 40 years, MRC has exposed the left-wing bias and blatant misinformation pushed by the legacy media. Networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS didn’t lose public trust overnight or because of one scandal. That trust eroded slowly and steadily under the weight of partisan narratives, selective outrage, and elite arrogance.That collapse in trust has driven Americans to new platforms — podcasts, independent outlets, and citizen journalism — where unfiltered voices offer the honesty and nuance corporate media lack. President Trump opened the White House press room not just in name, but in spirit. Under Joe Biden, those same independent voices were locked out in favor of legacy gatekeepers. Now they’re finally being welcomed in, restoring access and accountability.But the threat has evolved. Big Tech and artificial intelligence now embed the same progressive narratives into the tools millions use every day. The old gatekeepers have gone digital. AI packages bias as fact, delivered with the authority of a machine — no byline, no anchor, no pushback.A recent MRC study revealed how Google’s AI tool, Gemini, skews the narrative. When asked about gender transition procedures, Gemini elevated only one side of the debate — citing advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign that promote gender ideology. Gemini surfaced material supporting medical transition for minors while ignoring or downplaying serious medical, ethical, and psychological concerns. Parents’ concerns, stories of regret, and clinical risks were glossed over or excluded entirely.In two separate responses, Gemini pointed users to a Biden-era fact sheet titled “Gender-Affirming Care and Young People.” Though courts forced the document’s reinstatement to a government website, the Trump administration had clearly marked it as inaccurate and ideologically driven. The Department of Health and Human Services added a bold disclaimer warning that the page “does not reflect biological reality” and reaffirmed that the U.S. government recognizes two immutable sexes: male and female. Gemini left out that disclaimer.When asked if Memorial Day was controversial, Gemini similarly pulled from a left-leaning source, taxpayer-funded PBS “NewsHour,” to answer yes. “Memorial Day is a holiday that carries a degree of controversy, stemming from several factors,” the chatbot responded. Among those factors? History, interpretation, and even inclusivity. Gemini claimed that many communities had ignored the sacrifices of black soldiers, describing some observances as “predominantly white” and calling that history a “sensitive point.”These responses aren’t neutral. They frame the conversation. By amplifying one side while muting the other, AI like Gemini shapes public perception — not through fact, but through filtered narrative. This isn’t just biased programming. It’s a direct threat to the kind of informed civic dialogue democracy depends on.At MRC, we’re ready for this fight. Under my leadership, we’re confronting algorithmic bias, monitoring AI platforms, and exposing how these systems embed liberal messaging in the guise of objectivity.We’ve faced this challenge before. The media once claimed neutrality while slanting every story. Now AI hides its bias behind speed and precision. That makes it harder to spot — and harder to stop.We don’t want a return to the days of Walter Cronkite. We want honest media, honest algorithms, and a playing field that doesn’t punish one side for telling the truth.The fight for truth hasn’t ended. It’s just moved to another platform. And once again, it’s our job to meet it head-on.