Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mocked blue-state leaders as "the Grinches Who Stole Christmas" for blocking tax relief for Americans. On Wednesday, Bessent posted an AI-generated image of Democrat Governors Kathy Hochul of New York, Jared Polis of Colorado, and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois as grinches.'This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion.'"Thanks to @POTUS, 'tis the season to be jolly — unless you're a taxpayer in New York, Colorado, Illinois, or the District of Columbia," Bessent wrote. "For millions of hardworking Americans, @GovKathyHochul, @GovofCO @jaredpolis, and @GovPritzker are The Grinches Who Stole Christmas.""Courtesy of their Scrooge-like tendencies, America's seniors, along with all workers who would benefit from No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime, will be robbed of the tax relief they deserve," Bessent continued. "The Christmas season should be a time of great cheer. But due to the Trump Derangement Syndrome of these Governors and other radical leftists, too many low- and middle-income households will receive nothing but coal in their state tax stockings."President Donald Trump's July 4 bill eliminates taxes on tips for service-industry workers and on overtime for linemen and factory workers. It also provides a tax deduction for seniors receiving Social Security. A Wednesday press release from the Treasury Department accused the Democrat leaders of "political obstructionism" for "deliberately blocking their own residents from receiving these historic benefits at the state level."RELATED: Trump gives American farmers $12 billion boost to overcome inflation, trade wars J.B. Pritzker, Kathy Hochul. Photo: Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images"This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion. By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households," the department's press release read.States are not required to adhere to all federal tax provisions. New York is introducing new codes to its tax form, requiring residents to pay taxes on tips and overtime. Colorado plans to require residents to report the amount of overtime pay that was deducted federally and then add it back for state tax purposes. Illinois is expected to adopt similar updates to its tax form to add pay deducted federally.New York has been ranked the worst state in the country for taxes. The state's overall tax burden is estimated at 12.02%, while Illinois' is 9.67% and Colorado's is 8.42%.RELATED: Trump Accounts: Newborns get a $1,000 tax-free nest egg that grows until age 18 — American dream revival or debt nightmare? Jared Polis. Photo by Hyoung Chang/Denver Post/Getty ImagesPolis responded to Bessent's comments in a post on X, claiming that Colorado has reduced taxes."Colorado has cut our income tax three times, and unlike these measures in Trump's law, those cuts are permanent," Polis wrote. "While the Secretary is supporting Trump's tariff taxes, we are delivering real relief through the most generous child tax credit in the nation and cutting poverty. Spend less time talking about tips, which Colorado conforms to and won't be subject to state or federal income tax up to the level designated in HR1 and instead focus on lowering interest rates, costs and bringing down the price of goods ahead of Christmas by eliminating these draconian tariffs. Happy holidays, Secretary — may your stockings be full of facts, not coal."In response to Bessent's post, Hochul wrote, "Remarkable that an office once held by Alexander Hamilton is now tweeting Grinch fanfic at governors."Pritzker's office did not respond to a request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Jonathan Franklin, a former race and identity correspondent for National Public Radio who now apparently serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, recently went into panic-mode after realizing he had made a series of damning remarks to investigative journalist James O'Keefe on hidden camera.In the footage published on Wednesday by the O'Keefe Media Group, Franklin — whose personal website is now password-protected, Instagram profile has been set to private, and page on the Georgetown University was largely scrubbed — appears to call various black conservatives a "coon," including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Candace Owens, and U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Herschel Walker.'Well, the thing is that I actually am James O'Keefe.'When pressed by O'Keefe on why he hasn't shared such views publicly, Franklin, who is set to teach a journalism course on sourcing and interviews, appears to say, "I'd have to stop being a journalist for me to say what I really want to say."At one point in his conversation with O'Keefe — whom he evidently did not recognize on account of a pair of glasses — Franklin appears to say, "I work with a bunch of stupid white people."Franklin declined to comment on the situation involving the video published by O'Keefe, a representative told Blaze News.RELATED: University of Minnesota faces backlash over project that seeks to cure the 'Whiteness Pandemic' Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images Georgetown University did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.After hearing enough racially charged rhetoric, O'Keefe asks Franklin in the video what he thinks about James O'Keefe.Franklin answers, "I've heard from people he's an a**h**e.""Well, he does, like, the undercover stuff and, like, exposes people, you know?" says O'Keefe. "He exposes people, you know, telling people, like, what they really think.""There's a way to do that sort of watchdog, gotcha, ambush journalism but doing in a way that doesn't disrespect the person that you're trying to catch or yourself as a reporter," says Franklin. O'Keefe then takes off his glasses, points to the hidden camera, and announces to Franklin, "Well, the thing is that I actually am James O'Keefe.""No, you're not," responds Franklin.Upon realizing the man he'd been talking to is in fact James O'Keefe, Franklin gets up and begins to run away. Outside the building, Franklin can be seen falling to the ground. After asking whether the adjunct was all right, O'Keefe tries asking him clarifying questions about his apparent "coon" comments, to which Franklin responds, "I will sue."O'Keefe and his team subsequently took Franklin to a pharmacy to get him Band-Aids for the cuts he sustained in his tumble. After cooling off, Franklin appeared to confirm to O'Keefe on camera that while he did work for NPR, he had lied during their earlier conversation about working for CBS News.When later discussing the encounter, O'Keefe questioned whether an individual who allegedly harbors racist views and would share them with a stranger should be teaching journalism classes at an institution like Georgetown University."That type of racism is not just his personal opinion," said O'Keefe. "It is a bias about a group of people that directly affects fairness, credibility and judgment. Why? Because he's a professor who is using these slurs. He is revealing a framework that shapes how he interprets information."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Las Vegas Raiders played the Denver Broncos this past weekend, and no one was angrier about the results than Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who took to social media to rant about the end of the game.“We need this entire segment investigated by the NFL. Third and three, 24 seconds. The spread is Denver minus eight and a half. They were up 24-7 by the way, with like two minutes to go. He spikes the ball. Why are you spiking the ball with 16 seconds in a 10-point game is beyond me,” Portnoy complained.“The game is over. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a spike in that situation. But we’re just starting, boys and girls,” he continued, before angrily breaking down another absurd play.“Game’s over. And then Pete Carroll runs out the field goal unit and kicks a field goal to end the game with no time. This guy, prison. This ref, prison. Pete Carroll, prison. NFL, prison. This is the most rigged game I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Disgusting. Prison,” he added.“I agree with Dave,” BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock tells BlazeTV contributor Steve Kim on “Fearless.” “I mean, that is absolutely disgusting, and it makes no sense. Can you defend any of this?”Portnoy, whose anger was due to how the potential rigging of the game would affect those gambling on it, is not the one who Whitlock and Kim feel bad for.“Portnoy is doing pretty well. I get the sense whatever money he lost, he’s going to be good. We don’t have to send him a GoFundMe campaign,” Kim comments. “But there’s a reason why I don’t gamble.”Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Inmates at the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina, will have to settle for their normal cafeteria fare this week, as officials intercepted a drone drop carrying ingredients for an "early holiday Old Bay crab boil and steak dinner," according to an X post from the state Department of Corrections.Indeed, the illicit delivery included steak, crab legs, and even a container of Old Bay Seasoning. Also added to the package were cigarettes and two large bags of marijuana.'I’m guessing the inmates who were expecting this package are a bit crabby.'Fox News reported that the contraband was captured early Sunday morning."Seems some folks were planning an early holiday Old Bay crab boil and steak dinner along with their marijuana and cigarettes — all dropped by a drone at Lee [Correctional Institution]," the X post said. — (@) Officials at the maximum security prison recovered the drone along with the package, WLTX-TV reported, adding that no arrests have been made."As you likely know, we often see odd items included in contraband packages, but this was a bit unusual, even for us," SCDC spokeswoman Chrysti Shain told Fox News. "I’m guessing the inmates who were expecting this package are a bit crabby." The cable news network added that the SCDC and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office actually have spent years combatting ongoing drone drops at the Lee Correctional Institution."Contraband is a real threat to prisons across the country, and we fight nightly attacks from drones dropping dangerous drugs — often fentanyl and meth — onto prison yards," Shain added to Fox News. "We go to extraordinary lengths to combat drones."More from Fox News:In 2022, an eight-month investigation at Lee Correctional led to 20 arrests and the seizure of 12 drones, as well as 100 pounds of contraband, authorities reported.Additionally, officers discovered three abandoned drones in the woods near the prison fences.Law enforcement reported that the drones involved have grown larger and are capable of carrying heavier loads."These large drones can carry heavier and heavier packages," Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon said in a 2022 statement, according to the cable news network. "We are working hard to stop them from getting in the wrong hands."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Days after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk's assassination, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) did her apparent best on "The Breakfast Club" radio show to downplay the link between Democrats' incendiary rhetoric and political violence.Crockett said, "Me disagreeing with you, me calling you 'wannabe Hitler,' all those things are not necessarily saying, 'Go out and hurt somebody.'""I literally have never said anything to invoke violence," claimed Crockett. "I challenge somebody to go and find a clip of a Democrat invoking violence."'Not only are we gonna punch back, but we about to beat you down.'The Republican Party has finally obliged Crockett, providing her with a compilation of various instances where Democrats made remarks that could be construed as calls for or rationalizations of political violence.The video, released in the wake of Crockett's announcement on Monday that she is running for a U.S. Senate seat, includes 20 provocative statements from Democrats including:former Biden Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's September 2024 remark to liberal talking head Mika Brzezinski, "Let's extinguish him for good," referring to President Donald Trump. Brzezinski pressed Raimondo for clarification, asking, "And 'extinguish,' you mean vote him out?" to which Raimondo said, "Yes, absolutely. Vote him out. Banish him from American politics."California Rep. Maxine Waters' suggestion to a mob in June 2018, "Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up, and if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out, and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere."House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (N.Y.) suggestion to fellow travelers in January that when it comes to the Trump agenda, "We are going to fight it legislatively, we are going to fight it in the courts, and we're going to fight it in the streets."California Rep. Eric Swalwell's suggestion to CNN in August that "when they go low, we are going to bury them below the Capitol."U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's assertion in August that when it comes to "Trump and his ghouls," "when they go low, we don't go high. We take them to the mud and choke them out."The August 2020 suggestion by Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who is one of the 58 Democrats who voted against a resolution condemning Charlie Kirk's assassination, that "there needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there’s unrest in our lives."California Gov. Gavin Newsom's suggestion on a podcast in August that "we're fighting fire with fire, and we're going to punch these sons of bitches in the mouth." Newsom was referring to Republicans whom he suggested moments earlier were radicals working to rig the 2026 midterm elections.California Rep. Derek Tran's suggestion in August, "It's time for us as a party to get together and fight back, punch back, and make sure that they stay down. And you know what? Kick them when they're down because they deserve it."RELATED: Liberals' twisted views on Charlie Kirk assassination, censorship captured by a damning poll Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty ImagesThe Republican compilation also included some of Crockett's own best hits.One of the excerpts in the compilation was taken from Crockett's March interview with KXAS-TV's Phil Prazan where she said that in order to win an election in Texas, "You punch. I think you punch. I think you're OK with — you OK with punching."In the same interview, Crockett referenced former Rep. Colin Allred's electoral defeat last year by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and suggested the Democrat should have been more combative with his Republican opponent, saying, "I mean, like, this dude [Cruz] has to be knocked over the head, like, hard, right. Like, there is no niceties with him — like, at all. Like, you go clean off on him."Crockett — who has rooted for foreign nations engaged in trade disputes with the U.S.; told radicals that Elon Musk must be "taken down" amid firebombs; characterized Republican voters as stupid; issued racist remarks; mocked the handicapped; and dubbed the commander in chief "an enemy to the United States" — had another instance of violent rhetoric featured in the GOP's compilation.The second excerpt, taken from a press conference in August, shows Crockett say, "I am here to tell you: Not only are we gonna punch back, but we about to beat you down."NOTUS reported this week that the National Republican Senatorial Committee "has actively worked behind the scenes to encourage Rep. Jasmine Crockett to jump into the Senate Democratic primary in Texas, believing she will be the easiest opponent to beat."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!