'Animus towards the President'

LONG BEACH, Calif. — President Donald Trump’s Department of War is betting big on a “new-guard” of weapons manufacturers in his push to expand domestic defense production.  After decades of legacy suppliers dominating Pentagon contracts, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is declaring the market “wide open” for upstart weapons manufacturers. The Daily Caller News Foundation […]

By the author of Dear Diary: It’s Me, Jessica Here’s where the story left off last time. Dear Diary, It’s me, Jessica. “What are those,” I asked Jack as he handed me his monocular. We were lying on top of the bridge barrier, looking at four big, tan vehicles. “MRAPs.” “What are those?” I asked again as I looked through the monocular “Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.  Armored troop carriers.” “A guy got out, he is looking at us through binoculars.” “What do you see?” “Ummmm, tan uniform, helmet, chest rig thingy, tan boots, black rifle.  Military?” “Could be.  Could be National Guard.  Could be just a bunch of guys who stumbled on a National Guard armory, playing National Guard.  It is the Maw Duce on top of the MRAPs that has me concerned.” “Maw Duce?” “M2.  Fifty caliber, heavy machine gun.  Serious firepower.  If they got ammo for it, we could have a problem.” “Will they try to cross over to Four Corners?” “They cannot.  Those MRAPs are the MaxxPro variant.  Weighs about twenty-one tons.  The bridge is only rated for eight tons.  Also, the bridge was built in the early fifties.  It was due for maintenance and upgrading some twenty years ago.  Being in a rural area, it was a low priority.  The upside is, back then, they knew how to build them to last.  But there is no defying physics, time, and gravity.” The man put the binoculars down, unslung his rifle, and handed it to someone in the vehicle.  He put his hands up and started across the bridge at a slow walk.  “Come on,” Jack said as he got up.  “Let’s see what he has to say.” By the time we climbed down, and passed through the chute, he stopped just short of the chute entrance. “You can put your hands down, Captain,” Jack said. “Thank you, appreciate it.  Are you the leader here?” “Jack.  One of the militia leaders.” “And her?” “Jessica.  Think of her as a platoon sergeant.  I do.” I gave the Captain a smile.   He eyed me, my rifle, and said, “Right.”  He turned his attention back to Jack.  “I am Captain Marshal Barnet of the thirty second regiment National Guard.  We need food, supplies, fuel.” “Food we have if you have something to trade.  Supplies, not sure what we have that you could use.  Fuel?  Fuel ran out in the first few months after the power went out.” “Any farms about?” “They ran out last fall.  They are using oxen and other beasts of burden now.” Everything Jack said was true.   Captain Barnet sighed and looked down at the bridge’s metal grate and the river rushing below.   “Where were you heading, Captain?” Captain Barnet looked up at Jack. “We’re heading East to try to link up with other units or what remains of them at an airfield about one hundred miles from here.  We came this way as it was a shorter route than having to go all the way north to the interstate.” “And the map didn’t say this bridge was only rated for eight tons.  Your MRAPs are nearly twice over that limit.  This bridge was built in the early fifties and is long overdue for maintenance.”   “You know how much an MRAP weighs?” “I have been around.” “Right.  What will you take in trade for food?” “Antibiotics.  Cigarettes.  Ammunition.  Candy.  Alcohol.” “How about silver or gold coins?” Jack’s eyebrows actually shot up in surprise. “That would be a first.  Have to ask around, see if anyone is willing to trade for those.” “Okay.  I am going to go back and brief my men.  Be okay if some of us came over?” “Things would go a lot smoother if you came unarmed.” The Captain looked unsure. “I give you my word, nothing untoward will come to you or your men.” The Captain seemed to consider Jack’s words, then nodded.  “Deal.” As the Captain walked back across the bridge, quietly Jack said to me, “Pass the word they are coming, unarmed, to trade.  Pass the word they have silver and gold.  Everyone is to stand down, but keep an eye out.  Leave a few of the Four Corners militia up on the barrier.” “On it, Jack.”   Entry two Word was quickly passed through Four Corners, with the most excitement about the silver and gold.  Many people gathered in groups to discuss the value of silver and gold in a trade-and-barter economy.  Some seemed very open to it.  Others, not so much.  Sean was at East Gate when the Captain in his MRAPs arrived and did not get back to Four Corners proper till after Jack and I had gone through the chute.  I gave him a quick rundown of what was said.   “Jack trusts him?” “As much as Jack trusts any newcomer.  Keep an eye out.” “Aye.  Sounds like Jack, alright.” A few moments later, Jack came through the chute with Captain Barnet and three other men.  They all wore similar uniforms, but no helmets, chest rigs, or rifles.  Sean walked up to them and extended his hand, shaking each of theirs.  Jack and the Captain made introductions.   “I hear you are looking to trade precious metals for food, eh?” “If they are willing to trade.” “Aye.  I think there might be more than a few.  Let’s take a walk about and see.” Sean was right.  It was not long before one of Captain Barnet’s men mentioned they were loaded down and would need to come back for more food.  He also asked if they could bring the rest of the men and, “Our families, sir.” Captain Barnet considered it for a moment.  “Be nice to have a hot lunch, sit down and talk for a bit.  Send half of the men and their families.”   “I’d be interested in hearing how you fared after the power went out.  Buy you a drink to hear your tale.” “It is not a very good tale, but for a drink, you’re on.” About 1stMarineJarHead 1stMarineJarHead is not only a former Marine, but also a former EMT-B, Wilderness EMT (courtesy of NOLS), and volunteer firefighter. He currently resides in the great white (i.e. snowy) Northeast with his wife and dogs. He raises chickens, rabbits, goats, occasionally hogs, cows and sometimes ducks. He grows various veggies and has a weird fondness for rutabagas. He enjoys reading, writing, cooking from scratch, making charcuterie, target shooting, and is currently expanding his woodworking skills. The post Dear Diary: It’s Me, Jessica: Chapter 28 (Book 2) appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

On Friday’s installment of PBS News Hour, New York Times columnist David Brooks proved once again why PBS needs to find an actual conservative for their weekly news recap segment. While doing that rhetorical trick where someone calls for the lowering of tensions in Minneapolis while simultaneously hurling inflammatory accusations at ICE and the Trump administration, Brooks described the city as under “something like an armed occupation.” Host Amna Nawaz thought Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was doing his part to lower the temperature, “David, we’ve seen tensions only rising on the ground in Minneapolis. We saw Governor Walz publicly come out and call for a lowering of the temperature, telling the protesters, don't take the bait, don't be violent, even as the administration says it's going to surge more agents. Criminal subpoenas for the state and city leaders, does that lower the temperature?     Of course, that omits all of Walz’s previous “Gestapo” rhetoric and that Walz’s version of Frankenstein’s monster has led to rioting, vandalism, and assault of ICE agents. As it was, Brooks was happy to play along with Nawaz’s framing, “Not exactly. We're coming close to something like an armed occupation of an American state by the American federal government. There are 3,000 ICE officers in Minneapolis, which is like five times the number of police officers. And they are behaving with reckless and violent abandon.” The allegedly conservative half of Brooks and Capehart then lamented that Donald Trump is not like Barack Obama, “Barack Obama deported three million people during the course of his administration. He didn't do it this way. He did it with people who were just coming over the border or people who were criminals. He didn't go into homes and terrorize children, disallow moms whose sons are dying from cancer from seeing their kids, breaking up families, doing sort of ethnic investigations into people's neighbors, using these hand grenades, flash hand grenades.” After declaring that invoking the Insurrection Act without the request of the governor would be “unprecedented,” Brooks got in on the Walz praise and hoped “normal people” would get with his program: This is completely different. This is something that is turning up the pressure, and I think Governor Walz is right. I'm not a huge fan, but the protesters are turning up the tension on the ICE officers. And if—so long as they do it nonviolently, then Americans will see what is going on in their country. And I have long thought, if Americans see deportations of respectable families, they will finally rebel against this regime, and not just the progressives and not just Democrats, but normal people who are like, what the heck is going on here? And so that's where we're headed. Maybe so, but that’s partly because alleged news shows like News Hour keep giving their viewers only one perspective. Words have meanings. Minneapolis is not under martial law, and 3,000 ICE agents do not constitute an occupation. Here is a transcript for the January 16 show: PBS News Hour 1/16/2026 7:30 PM ET AMNA NAWAZ: David, we’ve seen tensions only rising on the ground in Minneapolis. We saw Governor Walz publicly come out and call for a lowering of the temperature, telling the protesters, don't take the bait, don't be violent, even as the administration says it's going to surge more agents. Criminal subpoenas for the state and city leaders, does that lower the temperature? DAVID BROOKS: Not exactly. We're coming close to something like an armed occupation of an American state by the American federal government. There are 3,000 ICE officers in Minneapolis, which is like five times the number of police officers. And they are behaving with reckless and violent abandon. Barack Obama deported three million people during the course of his administration. He didn't do it this way. He did it with people who were just coming over the border or people who were criminals. He didn't go into homes and terrorize children, disallow moms whose sons are dying from cancer from seeing their kids, breaking up families, doing sort of ethnic investigations into people's neighbors, using these hand grenades, flash hand grenades. It's just an -- it's an unprecedented -- and I don't know if unprecedented is the right word, but it could be. George H.W. Bush used the Insurrection Act in 1992 in California, but he did it with the presence of Pete Wilson, the governor there, with the local -- the cooperation of the local officials. This is completely different. This is something that is turning up the pressure, and I think Governor Walz is right. I'm not a huge fan, but the protesters are turning up the tension on the ICE officers. And if —so long as they do it nonviolently, then Americans will see what is going on in their country. And I have long thought, if Americans see deportations of respectable families, they will finally rebel against this regime, and not just the progressives and not just Democrats, but normal people who are like, what the heck is going on here? And so that's where we're headed.

The founder and board president of a new K-12 Montessori school in Illinois has been arrested on charges of grooming and exploiting a young child.On January 9, Effingham police officers moved quickly to arrest 32-year-old Dakota "Kody" Czerwonka of Montrose after receiving a report that a student at Crossroads Montessori School had received "inappropriate electronic messages." Czerwonka was "immediately identified" as the suspect, Effingham PD said in a statement.He even unsuccessfully ran for the Illinois House in 2020 on a platform of environmental, economic, social, LGBTQ+, and racial 'justice.'Details of the case are scarce, but court records show Czerwonka has been charged with grooming and exploiting a child under 13/exposing self, both Class 4 felonies. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 29.Prosecutors also filed to deny Czerwonka pretrial release from custody. At his initial court appearance on Monday, the court agreed with the petition, claiming that Czerwonka poses "a real and present threat to the community and ... the minor victim" that "no condition or combination of conditions can mitigate."Effingham police confirmed that they "support" his ongoing pretrial detention."After reviewing the content of the case after it was reported to our Department, Officers immediately identified a very real safety risk and promptly effected an arrest of the subject, thereby eliminating any further opportunities for this individual to be in contact with other students or children. I’m very pleased with their efforts. They showed dedication to ensuring the safety of our community through these actions," said a statement from Police Chief Kurt Davis.The office of an attorney who appeared with Czerwonka in court did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.RELATED: 'Experience your first orgasm': Rabid Trump-hater allegedly packs sex toys for 'date' with supposed 11-year-oldCzerwonka has a long history of far-left political activism. He even unsuccessfully ran for the Illinois House in 2020 on a platform of environmental, economic, social, LGBTQ+, and racial "justice," according to an X profile for his independent campaign.Posts from that account express support for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). One post calls to "tear ... down" the Electoral College.Another X account linked to Czerwonka includes sexually charged images as well as LGBTQ+ propaganda. In 2020, Czerwonka even bragged that he had been "pegged as a pedophile sympathizer" on another social media platform for praising "Cuties," a controversial movie previously available on Netflix that sexualizes young girls.Crossroads Montessori School just opened last fall. In a July Facebook post, the school gave a short introduction of Czerwonka, describing him as someone who "brings a deep passion for empowering students through authentic Montessori education.""Kody has worn many hats.. teacher, nonprofit leader, advocate.. and now leads Crossroads with a vision to build a student-centered learning environment grounded in curiosity, independence, and compassion. Outside the classroom, Kody enjoys hiking, film, kayaking, and learning something new every day," the post continued."He believes education is most powerful when it’s collaborative: not just teaching students, but growing alongside them."The school did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

He is best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for the Moody Blues, whose songs include "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Question," and more. The post Justin Hayward Sets 2026 ‘The Story in Your Eyes’ Tour Dates appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Jim Acosta Helps Dems Make the Pivot to 'JD Vance Is Worse Than Trump' (Plus: Get the TDS Straitjacket!)

Samsung foldables have been trying to narrow the gap between phones and tablets; however, the new Z TriFold takes this up a notch. Here's what the phone offers.

Stop letting your $300 headphones sit on a cluttered desk. We found a hack that uses a simple clothes hanger to build a padded, professional-grade stand.