With his Wednesday confirmation hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin got one step closer to leading the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Mullin, R-Okla., engaged in a difficult balancing act in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, attempting to cool tensions with fellow senators while refusing to yield ground to Democrats’ demands. “I don’t get to choose the laws that I enforce. You guys pass the laws, I enforce the laws.” Mullin told Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., who pressed him on whether he would “give the green light to lawless behavior.”  Mullin had plenty of reason to avoid speaking on behalf of the administration. Current Secretary Kristi Noem’s upcoming departure was announced shortly after she was subjected to tough questioning in a Senate committee hearing on whether President Donald Trump was aware of a multi-million-dollar ad campaign for DHS that prominently featured her. Additionally, the White House is currently negotiating with Senate Democrats, who for 32 days have blocked a bill which would fully fund DHS. The agency is currently shut down. The Oklahoma senator promised a new leadership style while yielding to the authority of the president and Congress. “Eveybody has different leadership styles,” he said, adding: I want to protect the homeland, I want to bring peace of mind, and I want to bring confidence back to the agency. I’m not going to be the smartest guy in any room I walk into, but I know how to get talent and I know how to bring those people together. Mullin’s toughest interlocutor was Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the committee.  Paul grilled him on past statements about political violence, such as when he said he understood why Paul’s neighbor assaulted him in 2017, and remarks on the history of duels between lawmakers. Paul additionally played video of an intense 2023 confrontation between Mullin and teamsters union leader Sean O’Brien, in which Mullin told O’Brien to “stand [his] butt up” so they could resolve a dispute. "So, today, Markwayne Mullin, I’ll give you a chance. Tell it to my face. Tell the world why you believe I deserved to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken, and a damaged lung. Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it." pic.twitter.com/wodEs9Hc9O— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) March 18, 2026 “I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force,” Paul said.  He added, “If you just disliked me so much that you approved of violence against me, people could just write it off … maybe they hate each other, but really, there’s a pattern of this.” Mullin pushed back on Paul’s allegations while slamming him for his frequent votes against Republican-backed bills. “I’ve worked with many people in this room. It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us,” Mullin said to Paul. “And as far as … saying that I invoke violence … I don’t think anybody should be hit by surprise. I don’t like that.” Paul told reporters after the hearing he intended to vote against Mullin’s confirmation. Mullin got gentler treatment from some Democrats than he did from Paul. “My experience with you has been consistent kindness and professionalism,” said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who said he favored deporting criminals and maintaining a secure border. Paul has scheduled a vote on advancing Mullin’s nomination out of the committee for Thursday. Noem is set to leave DHS at the end of March. If Paul votes against advancing Mullin’s nomination, Mullin will need the vote of one Democrat to advance. BLUMENTHAL: Stephen Miller said Pretti was a 'domestic terrorist' who 'tried to assassinate federal law enforcement.' Don't you think it was irresponsible and reckless for Miller to make that claim without any evidence, just as retracted your statement?MARKWAYNE MULLIN: I think… pic.twitter.com/Vz6bjISyFF— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 18, 2026 Pressed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on immigration law enforcement’s use of administrative warrants, rather than ones issued by a judge, Mullin also remained diplomatic but refused to make concessions on behalf of the administration he intends to join. “I have made it very clear … that judicial warrants will be used to go into houses, into place of businesses, unless we’re pursuing someone that enters in that place,” Mullin said. Mullin also defended the actions of law enforcement in the confrontation which resulted in the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The post Markwayne Mullin a Step Closer to DHS Confirmation After Hearing appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Cuba's President Vows Resistance But Anti-Communist Graffiti Appears in Havana

Too Fun to Check: Iran 'President' Tells Counterparts, Don't Target Me, Bro!!

Sunday’s Academy Awards audience declined from the show’s 2025 count, losing viewership in an important advertiser-coveted demographic, Nielsen data released Tuesday show. The 2026 Oscars TV audience numbers reveal several low-lights, including: Viewership declined 9%, from 19.7 million to 17.9 million. The drop was the first decline in audience in five years. The audience total was the lowest annual number in four years. Among adults 18-49, 2026’s 3.92 rating (equivalent to about 5.34 million people in that age group), fell 14% from 4.54 in 2025. The show has not topped 20 million viewers since 2019. 2026’s annual decline in audience of 9% was larger than the drop of two other major entertainment awards shows, the Grammys (down 6%) and the Golden Globes (also down 6%). In 2025, Nielsen’s “TV” audience total for the Oscars began including viewers who watch the awards show streaming on Hulu, in addition to those who tune into ABC’s network broadcast. ABC initially reported that its Oscar audience fell 8% in 2025 – but, then it added in its Hulu audience and “revised” the count upward to claim a 1% increase in viewership. Both ABC and Hulu are owned by the Walt Disney Company, which featured the Oscars on its streaming service for the first time last year. Politics have had a negative impact on Oscars viewership, as both show hosts and awards recipients have used the show’s platform to voice political messages. The mean-spirited, blatant leftist propaganda has turned off many viewers by focusing on politics, instead of celebrating entertainment and production quality. After decades in the 40-50 million viewer range, annual Oscars viewership has been in steady decline beginning in 2000, taking a break from its losses during the Biden Administration (when viewers could count on being subjected to less political vitriol). Like late-night talk shows that have abandoned entertainment for hateful political rhetoric, today’s awards shows are losing viewers due to what Hollywood in Toto’s Christian Toto describes as the “Trump Effect”: “Audiences know the assembled artists can’t help themselves when Trump is in office. They must Resist™ at all costs. And, if that means lower ratings, so be it. “President Trump has had a similar effect on the modern award show. These celebrity galas often feast on anti-Trump lectures, be it those ‘ICE out’ pins or mocking the First Family. The messages may differ, but the target is typically the same. President Trump.” “And, as a result, Hollywood, Inc. watched awards show ratings slump,” Toto explains.

Note to the British socialists at The Guardian: Smashing up the windows of Jewish-linked establishments does not have a glorious history. Jonathan Liew’s offensive column in the often-offensive far-left U.K. newspaper The Guardian is introduced this way: “A corner of north London where food has become a battleground in the Israel-Gaza war -- A smashed window here, a provocative sticker there. In an age when protest feels increasingly meaningless, it’s no wonder that acts of petty symbolism are on the rise.” The “smashed window” subhead refers to the violent vandalism suffered by a newly opened branch of Gail's, an upscale bakery chain in the United Kingdom. Liew, who has a pattern of anti-Jewish columns, casually passed along why Gail's windows had been shattered in the name of Palestine. The column's timing makes it even nastier, in the wake of attacks on Jewish schools in Europe and a synagogue in the United States. But first came a self-conscious, densely detailed description of a meal at the nearby sainted Palestinian café, which comes off like a Pete Wells food review suffering indigestion. First comes the hummus: studded with chickpeas, anointed with a little reservoir of olive oil, greedily smeared up with hunks of pitta bread and messy fingers. Then the tabbouleh, then some homemade falafels, and then the lentil soup, and already the senses are overloaded, plates and bowls spilling off the edge of the table. But there shall be no reprieve, for the mains are coming. Liew painted a clash between sainted Palestinians vs sinister Israelis (the bakery chain has the most tenuous links to Israel, which apparently makes the new store target-worthy). ….Amid the chaotic bustle of north London, food is one of her links back, a marker of the Palestinian identity that Israel’s bombs and snipers are so intent on erasing. Liew is laying down big hints here, portraying Gail’s as a metaphor for mighty Israel (the restaurant was founded by an Israeli baker no longer connected with the company), and, most notoriously, of “heavy-handed high-street aggression” for the crime of existing next to a Palestinian-owned café. ....Critics accuse it of accelerating gentrification and squeezing out smaller outlets. Campaigners point out that its parent company, Bain Capital, invests heavily in military technology, including Israeli security companies. And so even though Gail’s describes itself as “a British business with no specific connections to any country or government outside the UK”, its very presence 20 metres away from a small independent Palestinian cafe feels quietly symbolic, an act of heavy-handed high-street aggression. Bain Capital also owns part of Burger King and the UK pizza chain Pizza Express, which aren’t being harassed. The night before it was due to open, Gail’s was daubed with red paint. Less than a week later, all its windows were smashed in. Slogans reading “reject corporate Zionism” and “fuck Bain Capital” were written on its walls.... One doesn’t have to be paranoid to think The Guardian is trafficking in anti-semitic tropes: And so somehow these two north London cafes, from two entirely separate worlds, with what we have to assume are two almost entirely separate clienteles, have found themselves on the frontline of a war. A deeply asymmetric war, defined by gross imbalances in power and resources and platforms... Meanwhile, the Palestinian café is sanctified as brave for even existing (though no one has tried to shut it down through violence). ....In the current oppressive climate, even to exist as a Palestinian in western society is to be the target of aggression and suspicion, to be tainted as a murderer and an antisemite.... Liew nervily portrayed the Palestinian cause (supported by elites in every country, the United Nations, and other international bodies) as “disenfranchised" while again rationalizing anti-Jewish violence. Does any of this move the dial in the occupied territories even one iota? Almost certainly not. But perhaps this is simply the nature of an increasingly disenfranchised age. Palestinian activism has arguably never been less capable of exerting a meaningful influence on global events, and so is increasingly defined by small acts of petty symbolism. A smashed window. A provocative sticker. You can’t lay a glove on the US-Israeli military-industrial complex, and you can’t get your local council to boycott Israeli goods, and you couldn’t stand with Palestine Action and the protest march on Sunday has been banned by the Metropolitan police. So some people then direct their ire at the bakery with distant links to Israeli security funding.

The governor of New York was reduced to begging the wealthy to move back to the high-tax state in order to help fund its social programs.Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul made the comments during a Politico forum in Albany on March 11 after the state legislature called for higher taxes.'They're not going there because they have a nicer governor. ... They're going there because of the tax rate.'"I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state," said Hochul."There are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up. OK! Cut me the checks. If you want to be supportive, then maybe the first step should be go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring back home, because our tax base has been eroded," she added."So I philosophically don't have a problem. It is, like, I have to look at the fact that we are in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden on their corporations and their individuals," Hochul concluded.Hochul is seeking to win re-election after she was elevated to the governor's office because of the fall of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).New York joins other states looking to tax the wealthy in order to fund their socialist schemes, including California, which is facing its own population exodus, and Washington state. Both states have experienced billionaires fleeing to other states with lower tax burdens."Wall Street businesses looking at Texas?" Hochul asked rhetorically. "They're not going there because they have a nicer governor! I know that for sure! But they're going there because of the tax rate. We have to be smart about this."RELATED: LA Times gets obliterated online for scolding people wanting to leave high-tax California Hochul's critics pointed out that she told conservative and Republican New Yorkers to leave the state in 2022 and go down to Florida, "where you belong."Ironically, just months later, she lamented that too many people were leaving the high-tax state to seek better opportunities elsewhere."We must and will make our state safe," she said at her inaugural speech. "And we must reverse the trend of people leaving our state in search of lower costs and opportunities elsewhere."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl appears to be stealing the show as an analyst for the NCAA men’s tournament — and BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock is already over it.“There’s no reason for Bruce Pearl to be the most interesting man in the NCAA Tournament,” Whitlock says on “Fearless.”“For him to be overshadowing the players and the coaches in this tournament — and he is — that’s a problem. You have legitimate stars in this NCAA Tournament, and everyone’s talking about Bruce Pearl,” he continues.“The former Auburn coach, the man that is still taking money, as we learned yesterday, from Auburn, while promoting Auburn, while taking a dump on Miami, while taking a dump on SMU. The former coach at Auburn and Tennessee should not be the most interesting man in any NCAA Tournament. He never won one,” he adds.“I want to walk you through why this is a problem,” Whitlock says, pointing out that there are incredible stories all over the NCAA Tournament that aren’t getting the attention they deserve — because it’s all on Pearl.“There’s more conversation about Bruce Pearl today than there is about Cameron Boozer at Duke. Cameron Boozer is a 6’9" post player — power forward — who’s led Duke to the number one overall seed. He’s a fascinating story,” he explains.“He has a twin brother on the Duke team that’s going to be starting. I believe his name is Cayden Boozer … the Boozer brothers and Duke. Fascinating story. Overshadowed by Bruce Pearl,” he says.“He’s sucking up all the oxygen in the room. He’s launching this television career, which I hope ends after this year. He’s done enough damage,” he adds.Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Brent crude, the primary global benchmark for oil prices, rose higher than $120 per barrel in early summer 2022, largely on account of the fallout from the war in Ukraine and increased demand in countries reopening after suffering through years of self-imposed COVID restrictions.At the time, this generated a great deal of excitement and consternation, especially when U.S. gas prices soared to a record high of roughly $5 a gallon.Americans may soon long for the days of $120 per barrel.'Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated.'Analysts at Citi said in a note on Wednesday that Brent crude — which recently saw an intraday high of nearly $120 a barrel and is presently trading over 65% above its level at the beginning of the year — could hit $200 a barrel if Tehran executes "broad energy infrastructure attacks" or keeps the Strait of Hormuz blocked until June, Investing.com reported.Iran appears keen to satisfy both of these conditions.Following the initial joint U.S. and Israel strikes on Feb. 28, Iran targeted energy facilities in its backyard, prompting various companies to wind down their production and shutter their facilities.RELATED: Trump blasts allies over reluctance to join Iran conflict: 'WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!' Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesQatar's state-run QatarEnergy, for instance, shut down its LNG production complex following Iranian drone strikes at two of its facilities. OilPrice.com recently noted that even if the hostilities in the region ended immediately, it could take several weeks to restart production.On Wednesday, Tehran issued a warning via state media to several Middle Eastern oil facilities — the Samref Refinery and Jubail Petrochemical Complex in Saudi Arabia; the Al Hosn Gas Field in the United Arab Emirates; and the Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex, Mesaieed Holding Company, and Ras Laffan Refinery in Qatar — notifying them of imminent strikes "in the coming hours," Reuters reported."These centers have become direct and legitimate targets and will be targeted ⁠in the coming hours," the warning said. "Therefore, all citizens, residents, and employees are requested to immediately leave these areas and move to a safe distance without ⁠any delay."The warning, which was followed by a jump in the per-barrel price of Brent crude, came in the wake of airstrikes against the South Pars gas field, the world's largest natural gas reserve which is shared by Iran and Qatar.A source confirmed to the Jerusalem Post that several energy facilities in South Pars and the Iranian city of Asaluyeh were struck by the Israeli Air Force on Wednesday. Two senior Israeli officials told Axios that the attack was coordinated with and approved by the Trump administration.Amid the attacks and threat of attacks on energy infrastructure, analysts at Citi wrote, "Brent prices will rally as the conflict continues over the coming days, to $110-120/bbl," adding that could be the "price or market event which drives the U.S. to end its military operation" or alternatively drives global powers to "forcefully reopen the Strait."President Donald Trump has implored the international community to aid the U.S. in reopening the strait, emphasizing that China and other nations are far more reliant than America on the supply flowing down the strait.According to Reuters, China received 1.6 billion barrels of crude oil over the past 14 months via the Strait of Hormuz; the rest of Asia collectively received 1.6 billion barrels; India received 1 billion barrels; Japan and South Korea each received 800 million barrels; the U.S. and Europe each received around 200 million barrels; and the rest of the world received a combined 300 million barrels.Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials plan to meet at the American Petroleum Institute on Thursday to meet with oil executives."We look forward to convening key officials — including Vice President Vance, Energy Secretary [Chris] Wright, bipartisan leaders in Congress, and governors — to discuss the role of American oil and natural gas in supporting reliable energy supply amid global volatility," Andrea Woods, a spokeswoman for the institute, told Bloomberg. "Our industry is focused on providing insight into market dynamics and strengthening American energy leadership and resilience for the long term."The price-tracking service GasBuddy noted that as of Monday, the national average price of gasoline was up 80 cents per gallon from a month ago and 66.1 cents higher than a year ago."Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years while diesel could soon approach the $5-per-gallon mark nationally," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy."Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist," De Haan continued. "At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The New York Post has uncovered a bizarre music video starring Bobby Pulido, an Emmy-winning musician who won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. congressional seat in Texas.In the video titled "Dias de Ayer," Pulido portrays several characters, including a gun-wielding gangster in the mold of "Scarface," a pervert who pleasures himself in public spaces, as well as a gay male who is attracted to the pervert.'This freak is who Democrats chose to run in Texas?'The embarrassing video from 2010 might complicate the campaign effort by the political neophyte.The Post noted that he had made somewhat derogatory comments to users on social media implying that he might be gay."I can swear on the Bible that I’m not," said Pulido in Spanish to questions about his portrayal of a homosexual in the video.Pulido is hoping to unseat Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz for the 14th congressional district in Texas. President Donald Trump won the district easily in 2024, and De La Cruz trounced Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo by more than 14 percentage points.Democratic polling found Pulido was trailing behind the incumbent by only three percentage points in September.His campaign did not respond to a Post request for comment.RELATED: Rep. Al Green forced into runoff with candidate half his age after failing to get 50% of Democratic primary vote The Republican National Committee did have a comment on its official account on the X social media platform."This freak is who Democrats chose to run in Texas?" said the account.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The performances collected here are somewhat less polished and forceful than the ones on their debut and sophomore LPs. The post Talking Heads’ Earliest Years Explored in ‘Tentative Decisions’: Review appeared first on Best Classic Bands.