While you’re probably not pouring your morning cup for the long-term health benefits, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risk of mortality. But, in a new observational study, researchers from Tufts University found that the association between coffee consumption and mortality risk changes with the amount of sweeteners and saturated fat added to the […] The post Black Coffee is Linked to Lower Risk of Death – So Hold the Cream and Sugar appeared first on Good News Network.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Tuesday he thinks Israel’s conduct in Iran is a pathway to peace, and that he isn’t interested in supporting attempts to restrain President Donald Trump’s war powers. Asked by The Daily Signal if he feared an escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict into a full-blown war, he rejected the premise of the question. “That’s not escalation,” he said. “Building a nuclear bomb, that’s an escalation. You know, funding and creating proxies, that’s escalation. And now, what’s happening now, it’s peace. It’s about peace and destroying the Iranian nuclear project.” Fetterman’s favorable view of actions targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities and high-ranking officials is not shared by everyone in Congress, though. I just introduced an Iran War Powers Resolution with @RepRoKhanna to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war.This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/LuIl59lt45— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 17, 2025 Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have introduced a bill to restrict the president from using U.S. forces against Iran without Congress’ consent. Asked by The Daily Signal what he thought of that bill, Fetterman said, “I have no interest in that. I’m aware of that. I would never sign [onto] something like that.”   The Pennsylvania Democrat has emerged as one of the most vocally pro-Israel members of Congress since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and advocated a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities even before Israel’s recent operations. Of course, it’s not likely that many Republicans will support a resolution to restrict Trump’s powers with regard to Iran. “I think we’re getting the cart ahead of the horse here,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters when asked about the bill Tuesday. “This is something that’s happened the last few days. I think the president is perfectly within his authority in the steps that he has taken. Clearly, if this thing were to extend for some period of time, there could be a more fulsome discussion about what the role of Congress should be and whether or not we need to take action,” Thune said. The post Fetterman Opposes Bill to Curb Trump’s War Powers Relating to Iran appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. Recently we have had two contrasting phenomena. One is that President Donald Trump had issued an executive order suggesting or maybe threatening K-12 sports programs—and indeed, college and higher education as well—that if they allowed biological men to compete in women’s sports, then he was going to consider cutting off federal funds for that. But at the same time he did it, the number of transgendered women—that is biological men who have transitioned to supposedly women—has increased and soared in women’s sports. So, here on the West Coast, a trans athlete dominated the state high school track and field competitions, winning three or four main events. The same thing happened in Oregon. The same thing had happened in Washington. The same thing is happening in Minneapolis with girls baseball in the finals. The point is it’s usually a phenomenon in blue states and in particular, blue cities. And Donald Trump’s executive orders are going the way of sanctuary cities. People are just ignoring them because they feel that he wouldn’t dare cut off federal funds because it would shut down the whole school. But let’s get some background on this whole transgendered sports phenomenon. And maybe there’s five or six things we should keep in mind. No. 1: We know a lot about gender dysphoria. There’s a long history of sex research about people whose psychological or hormonal makeup does not match their physical characteristics. But here’s the key: They’re very rare. Until the transgendered—I don’t know what we would call it—phenomenon in the last 10 years, we accepted classical epidemiological studies that showed there were about five people who suffered from genuine transgendered phenomenon per 100,000 people: 0.005%. If you do the math, in a country of about 340 million people, we’re talking maybe 20,000, maybe 0.005%, or five per 100,000, maybe 10. But you see the Pew poll and other polling ask students on campus, they ask the general public and they say there may be 20 million people. But there has been no history of that once the science of epidemiology started, which suggests it might be more of a trendy phenomenon than actual biological or scientific matter. The second thing to remember is this is not new. As a classicist, I can tell you that there are documented fables, myths, poems, histories about people who feel they were in the wrong bodies. The most famous is Catullus Poem 63, about a young man who performs transsexual surgery on himself in a fit of mania in honor of the god—the sexually ambivalent god—Cybele and castrates himself and is very unhappy when he wakes up out of the frenzy. We have this novelist Petronius’ “Satyricon,” where a lot of men are cross-dressers—which is a different phenomenon—but transvestism. And we have—I think there’s a fable in “Phaedrus” about men who change into women. And we got to remember the god Hermaphroditus that comes from Hermes and Aphrodite—the combination of a male and female god. And there’s many fables about that. So, it’s an ancient phenomenon. Here’s another thing to remember. Does anybody know—and I’m asking a genuine question—does anybody know of a female athlete who decided that she was in the wrong body and she transitioned to maleness, manliness, and she won a major event? I know of none. So, when we talk about transgendered sports, we’re talking about one phenomenon. We’re talking about men. And if anybody—let me ask a corollary question as I pause here. Does anybody know a famous, well-known, but especially spectacular male athlete that transitioned? I don’t. It’s usually men that were not very successful, at least in the elite of their division or their field, who transition to feminism. And then they become very, very successful. And this is very important because we are told that once you transition, you are a genuine new sex. That your prior muscular skeleton frame doesn’t really matter, given your hormonal treatment. But it does. Because when we’re talking about transgenderism in sports, we’re not talking about women who become men. And because they don’t succeed in that sport, that reminds us that they’re not fully men. Or if they were, they could just declare their new gender and compete competitively. And by the same token, 100% of what the controversy is about are men who have bigger frames, more muscles who transition and dominate women’s sports in a way they did not dominate male sports. In other words, they’re taking. Final thoughts: It has so many political ramifications. One is the party of the left, the Democratic Party, has embraced this 20-80 political issue—20% to 30% tops support this, of the American people. And yet, they’re going down the road of a very unpopular development and supporting transgendered women who are decimating and destroying female sports. The second thing is it’s counterintuitive. The Left was supposed to be for gender parity. And that meant—that was defined by giving money and attention and resources to women so that their sports would be equivalent to male sports. And now we’re kind of reactionary. We flipped it upside down, where males go around the back, take over women’s sports, and essentially, destroy it. And yet that is popular among many on the left. And then there’s a final political corollary. We were also told by some radical feminists—especially as it applies to women in combat units—that women could do anything that men could do. A small percentage can, physically. But the vast majority—in terms of muscularity, size, frame, endurance, lung capacity—cannot. So it kind of, in a weird way, also affects that issue that women cannot really compete with men on the battlefield—at least in tasks that require physicality and muscularity. Let’s just end the discussion with a brief summation. Transgenderism is an old phenomenon. It was very, very rare, a very small percentage of the population. Sometime around 2005 to 2015, it exploded as a civil rights issue. And the numbers have been vastly inflated. It’s been trendy among young people on campus. But it has almost destroyed female sports in a way that’s ironic, tragically ironic, because the Left once was a protector and the champion of female sports and now it’s de facto, it’s destroyer. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post How the Transgender Movement Turned the Left Against Women appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Balikatan 2025, the 40th iteration of the largest annual joint military exercise between the U.S. and the Philippines, commenced on April 21 at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila. The opening ceremony featured the symbolic “crossing of hands” between U.S. and Philippines military officials, signaling the deep-rooted alliance between the two countries. This year’s iteration marked the largest in the history of the exercise, with over 14,000 personnel participating, including 9,000 U.S. forces and 5,000 Philippine troops. This unprecedented scale reflects the growing emphasis on joint readiness to emerging security challenges. Beyond the core U.S.-Philippines partnership, Balikatan 2025 saw significant expansions in multilateral participation. For the first time, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces actively joined the drills alongside Australian, Philippine and U.S. forces Additionally, observers came from 16 allied nations including South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and others. NATO allies such as Canada, France, and Germany were also in attendance. The presence of these nations displays the broader geopolitical shift—the Indo-Pacific is no longer viewed as a regional issue but a global security concern. For the first time, Balikatan featured a “Full Battle Test”, integrating elements across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. This comprehensive simulation tested the combined capabilities of U.S. and Philippine forces in realistic scenarios, enhancing interoperability and readiness. Previous iterations of Balikatan have included cyber components, but Balikatan 2025 marks a significant expansion in this domain. For example, this year showcased the Cyber Defense Exercise (CYDEX) where U.S. and Philippine forces worked together to defend critical infrastructure systems against simulated cyberattacks. Additionally, Balikatan 2025 incorporated cyber readiness drills, reinforcing the importance of digital security alongside traditional military operations. Balikatan 2024 introduced a Combined Coordination Center, which facilitated airspace management and coordination. While this laid the groundwork for space-based operations, this year’s exercise takes it further by fully integrating satellite surveillance and intelligence gathering into joint maneuvers. This is best shown with the feature of the Maritime Strike Exercise (MARSTRIKE), which integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets with ground, maritime, and air sensors to create a combined joint fires network. The full-scale battle simulations mark a crucial step in advancing joint force capabilities. These exercises focused on defending Philippine territory against potential threats, honing rapid response strategies to amphibious assaults, and securing vital maritime corridors essential for regional stability. Focus on defending Philippine territory reflects ongoing concerns about territorial integrity, especially in contested areas where Chinese maritime activity has raised alarms. The emphasis on amphibious assault response ensures that Philippine and U.S. forces can mount a coordinated defense if China were to launch an assault on Taiwan. Protecting maritime corridors is also critical, given the region’s reliance on open sea lanes for economic trade and strategic movement. The U.S. Marine Corps deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), a ground-based anti-ship missile system, and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles.These systems were tested in live fire exercises, bolstering coastal defense capabilities. The NMESIS enhances coastal defense by employing precision-strike capabilities against maritime threats. With its land based anti-ship missiles, it provides expeditionary forces with the ability to deter naval adversaries without relying solely on traditional fleet assets. MADIS addresses the growing challenge of UAVs, most notably seen with operation spiderweb. With drone warfare emerging as a defining factor in contemporary conflicts, MADIS enhances airspace security, countering potential threats posed by hostile UAVs. Complementing the military drills, Balikatan incorporated humanitarian civic assistance activities. Joint teams conducted infrastructure projects programs across the Philippines, including a two classroom school building and a community health center, strengthening community ties and showcasing the U.S. commitment to the welfare of the local population. The military exercise underscores the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, serving as a tangible demonstration of deterrence amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. The deployment of advanced systems like NMESIS and MADIS, along with the integration of multilateral forces, sends a clear message of collective defense readiness. The post The U.S. and Philippine Alliance on Display: Balikatan 2025 appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Senate on Tuesday afternoon passed the GENIUS Act, which would standardize regulations for a growing cryptocurrency market, stablecoins. The bill passed on a bipartisan 68-30 vote. GENIUS Act proponents say it will save money for American businesses and boost the dollar’s value, but opponents call it a “weak bill” that would risk financial stability and Americans’ privacy. Here’s what the bill would mean for you if it’s passed by the House and signed into law by President Donald Trump. What Is a Stablecoin? Proponents of the GENIUS (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins) Act claim that standardizing treatment of stablecoins could revolutionize the economy. But what exactly is a stablecoin? A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency that is pegged to another store of value—meaning, in theory, one could exchange the stablecoin for that other commodity. The reserve that the value is pegged to could be anything—gold, another cryptocurrency, or the U.S. dollar.  What is important is that holders of the stablecoin are supposed to be able to turn in their cryptocurrency for a set amount of this other asset.  One purported benefit of this setup is that the value of the dollar-pegged stablecoin will be more stable than other cryptocurrencies. In practice, the great weakness of stablecoins has been that these reserves don’t always actually exist, despite the claims of sellers.  For example, Tether and Bitfinex, both popular stablecoins, were fined a total of $42.5 million in 2021, partly “for making untrue or misleading statements” about the reserves behind their currencies. Now, crypto supporters in Congress are trying to push through nationalized regulations to set standards for stablecoin reserves and further integrate them into the financial system. A Dollar-Strengthener? As mentioned, one of the main issues with stablecoins in the past was that vendors had misrepresented the dollar reserves behind them.  The bill’s sponsors say they will fix this by setting market standards for reserves—making sure that stablecoins actually do have dollar-backing. “At its core, the GENIUS Act is a consumer protection bill,” reads a fact sheet from the Senate Banking Committee. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., who introduced the legislation, contends that legally requiring adequate reserves for U.S. stablecoins will drive up purchases of Treasury bills, thus protecting the value of the dollar during turbulent times. “Because the stablecoin is dollar-denominated, that will perpetuate the dollar’s position, the dollar’s dominance as the reserve currency of the world,” Hagerty said in a May interview. “It will also increase demand for Treasury bills here in America.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. (left), chats with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Hagerty further explained that this demand would be increased due to the GENIUS Act’s requirement for stablecoins to be backed up by the dollar. “The stablecoin legislation requires that each dollar stablecoin be backed fully by either a dollar in cash or short-term treasuries. To do that, the stablecoin issuer has to go and purchase short-term treasuries,” the Tennessee senator said. With the Federal Reserve already taking historically high losses on a balance sheet that is much larger than it was before the 2008 recession, it is vital for the U.S. dollar to remain a good store of value to prevent a debt spiral and keep debt interest payments down. The bill, in theory, could also drive further use of stablecoins by exempting those currencies from current regulations on securities. It restricts regulating agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission from classifying stablecoins as securities, ensuring that stablecoins do not have to follow SEC rules requiring them to be listed as liabilities. Almost instantaneous payments The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Walmart and Amazon “have recently explored whether to issue their own stablecoins in the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter.”  The Wall Street Journal additionally reported that their final decisions would depend on the GENIUS Act’s passage, which would favor stablecoin usage. Stablecoin transactions have the benefit of being nearly instantaneous, unlike credit and debit cards, which cost retailers billions due to transaction delays and fees. By encouraging their customers to use a company-issued dollar substitute as opposed to cash, these companies might hope to recoup some of those losses. Walmart location in Rosemead, Calif. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)  That could mean that companies would provide incentives for consumers to use their dollar substitute, such as through a rewards program or discounts. Hagerty celebrates the idea of modernizing the banking system to make payments almost instantaneous and taking “a lot of friction out of an old, clunky system.” It will “bring a lot of working capital back to the companies that need it and back into the economy,” he said Tuesday. Does Bill Ensure Stablecoins Are Backed by Dollars? The GENIUS Act does increase standards for reserves to back stablecoins. However, that does not necessarily mean that there would always be a dollar on hand to back each stablecoin that represents a dollar. It requires one-to-one backing for stablecoins with cash, short-term Treasury securities, or repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury securities. “It’s not going to be equities [that back up the stablecoins],” Hagerty reassured reporters in an interview, adding: “It’s going to be high-quality, short-term assets—either short-term U.S. treasuries, or cash. I think the majority of it will be U.S. treasuries.” This means stablecoins would have reserves behind them, but not necessarily an actual dollar on hand for each stablecoin worth a dollar.  How more widespread use of dollar stand-ins in the U.S. economy would affect the value of the dollar remains to be seen. The Naysayers Despite the optimism of lawmakers such as Hagerty, the bill has harsh critics in the Senate. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., for example has called it a “huge giveaway to Big Tech,” who could monitor users’ payments. “It allows these tech companies to issue stablecoins without any kind of controls,” the Missouri lawmaker said in June. “I don’t see why we would do that.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who calls it a “weak bill,” feels much the same way. “If this bill becomes law, Congress will be responsible if a handful of giants take control of our money and then access and abuse troves of valuable consumer spending data,” she said during a floor speech in May. Leader Thune is blocking critical amendments that would fix the GENIUS Act – including stopping Donald Trump from lining his pockets with shady crypto deals. Democrats have the power to push for fixes to this bill. We should use it. pic.twitter.com/YrcVhOjDuK— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 11, 2025 Warren—who before her time in the Senate gained public prominence as an advocate of stronger banking regulations to avert future crises like the 2008 recession—also contended that the bill would introduce instability into the marketplace. “I am deeply concerned that this bill will directly lead to the next financial meltdown,” she said, hearkening back to Congress’ weak regulation of the derivatives market in the early 2000s, which she partly blames for the 2008 financial crash. “The GENIUS Act folds stablecoins directly into the traditional financial system, while applying weaker safeguards than banks or investment companies must adhere to,” Warren said, adding:  Make no mistake: We are likely to see another financial crisis in the coming years. And we are virtually certain to see another set of wild swings in cryptocurrency values. Warren further contended that the bill lacks protections for consumers who might lose money if there were a run on the stablecoins that left them uncompensated. But for Hagerty, those disagreements come down to a basic divide over how the economy ought to work. Those who oppose the bill are “the people who like centralized currencies,” he said in May. “This is a decentralized concept.” The post Senate OKs Major Cryptocurrency Law. What Does That Mean for You? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

NYC Dem Mayoral Candidates Ain't All They're Cracked Up to Be...or Just Cracked?

During ABC’s Good Morning America Pride Month segment Tuesday, LGBT reporters Becky Worley, Robin Roberts, and Sam Champion spoke on the phenomenon that was “guncles.” Gay uncles. Everybody’s got one. You know that one uncle with the skin-tight white pants and the “roommate” that your mom told you not to ask any questions about at the family reunion? These days, people are celebrating him. This new term, popularized by the internet in the last few years, was gaining traction as a way of shouting out gay uncles who played a positive role in their families’ lives. “If you are lucky enough to have a brother who wants to be in his niece or nephew's lives,” Worley said, “there's a good chance all of you will be fabulously enriched by this multigenerational relationship.”     If the criteria for being a “guncle” was just being a brother who wanted to be in his niece or nephew’s lives, it would seem there was no difference between him and his straight counterpart.  Luckily, one “guncle” interviewed during the segment clarified what it meant to be a gay uncle: “Being a “guncle” means being a protector, being a guy, guiding my nieces and nephews to being better human beings.” Interestingly enough, these were all things that every uncle, regardless of orientation, does. So, since this also failed to clear anything up, you may be asking yourself what exactly makes a “guncle” special apart from his sexuality. Interviews with the nieces and nephews of different “guncles” revealed that the fact that their uncles were gay meant nothing to the kids or in any way affected their relationship with their uncles. Their uncles played with them, took them on outings, and loved them as if they were their own kids. But the media made sure to play up the “guncle” side of the story, even when it seemed irrelevant. Later in the segment, Worley spoke with Steven Rowley, author of The Guncle, a children’s book series following a “reluctant uncle whose fabulous lifestyle is surprisingly enriched when his niece and nephew come live with him.” When asked, Rowley defined what it took to be a good “guncle” as such: Oh my goodness. I think just leading by example. We are very much in touch with the difficulties, particularly through teenage years, you know, that we all experienced. And so we have the opportunity to be there with love and great compassion. Of course, not only “guncles” but all uncles have experienced hardships and can show love and compassion to their nieces and nephews. There really was not a single defining feature of the “guncle” aside from the fact that he’s gay.  Both the media coverage and the children’s novel showed what’s really going on with “guncles.” This was just another excuse to push an agenda through a group tied to the LGBT movement. Much like PBS unnecessarily raising concern over low homosexuality percentages in skilled nursing homes, ABC was essentially creating a new group for the sake of making their point. “Guncles” are no different than all other uncles. Their sexuality should not and does not define them. What matters is maintaining a healthy, positive relationship with their families, and being gay has nothing to do with that. So instead of pushing an ideology through families, the media should encourage and highlight relationships with family members without attaching them to any movements. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read. ABC’s Good Morning America June 17, 2025 8:39 a.m. EST ROBIN ROBERTS: We are back now with our Pride Month series, GMA Out Loud!, and this morning, an important member of many families, the “guncles,” who are getting a lot of love on social media.  [ON SCREEN HEADLINE: Getting to Know the “Guncle”] Becky joins us more with that. You gotta explain what that is. BECKY WORLEY: “Guncles.” Gay uncles. If you are lucky enough to have a brother who wants to be in his niece or nephew's lives, there's a good chance all of you will be fabulously enriched by this multigenerational relationship. (Cuts to video) UNIDENTIFIED MAN: No hug for your guncle? WORLEY: The “guncle.” UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2: Look how strong you are, girl! WORLEY: Short for gay uncle, the distinguished title is popular across social media, and for many gay men who decided to not have children or don't have children quite yet, being a guncle is something many take pride in. DEON MIMS: Being a “guncle” means being a protector, being a guy, guiding my nieces and nephews to being better human beings. RYAN GREENFIELD: To me, being a “guncle” is allowing your nieces and nephews to truly showcase who they want to be each and every day in life. WORLEY: For Deon Mims and Ryan Greenfield, the love for their nieces and nephews is larger than life. MIMS: I don't think I have ever felt a love that I felt now. MIMS’ NIECE: Some of my favorite things I do with him is to sit in the car, and sing songs. GREENFIELD: Getting to watch them grow up, seeing their personalities, like, each one of them is so beyond different. GREENFIELD’S NIECE: Uncle Ryan shakes his booty when – when we dance party. WORLEY: Ryan is a ”guncle” to Emma, Olivia, and Michael. WORLEY: Uncle Ryan, is he funny? GREENFIELD’S NIECES: Yeah! GREENFIELD: As soon as the sun's out, we’re like, boop, right in the pool. GREENFIELD’S NIECES: I love Uncle Ry Ry! WORLEY: Deon is a “guncle” to Soriah, Jacob Jr., Isaac, Isaiah, and Caleb. MIMS’ NEPHEW: I love him so much because we walk together, he does nice things. MIMS: I like to put on my favorite movies, I like to bring out my old Goosebumps books that I still have from when I was, like, a kid. I come home, like, the phones are down. WORLEY: There's even a book series called The Guncle about a reluctant uncle whose fabulous lifestyle is surprisingly enriched when his niece and nephew come live with him. It was written by Steven Rowley, who understands the power of “guncles.” STEVEN ROWLEY: It really truly has been a magical way to sort of connect with the next generation. I think that's true for a lot of gay men. WORLEY: What does it take to be a fantastic “guncle”? ROWLEY: Oh my goodness. I think just leading by example. We are very much in touch with the difficulties, particularly through teenage years, you know, that we all experienced. And so we have the opportunity to be there with love and great compassion. GREENFIELD: I always have said I think my primary purpose of being on this planet is to one day be a dad. This is kind of my trial run. MIMS: I'm really, really adamant on molding them into being good people. I want them to be honest. I want them to have empathy for other people and to just really stand up for what's right. MIM’S NEPHEWS: We love you. GREENFIELD’S NIECE 2: I love Uncle Ry Ry every day. GREENFIELD’S NIECE: I love uncle Ryan with all my heart. (Cuts to live) WORLEY: Aw, that is really just a cute tribute. I do want to give a shoutout to all of the gay aunties, the “gaunts.” SAM CHAMPION: The “gaunts?” WORLEY: The “gaunts.” “Lesbiaunties?” I don't know. I can’t speak for all queer women, but I think it’s really important to honor the guys because women have more choices around becoming parents and it's more challenging for guys. ROBERTS: True.  WORLEY: And so, I think it's great that they jump into their niece and nephews' lives and we've got a great “guncle” right here in Sam. CHAMPION: I'm a decent one. I don’t know that I'm a really, really good one, but to Sydney, look, Rubem and I knew, a lot of people have families, but we knew that was not the direction we were going to go. So, on his side of the family and on my side of the family. We're happy to be “guncles.” I really tried, Syd, I'm sorry, I'm not fabulous enough but, it is our way to connect, you know, with them at the stages as they grow up. ROBERTS: I have seen you many, many times with Sydney and the way she looks at you so lovingly. You've done well. WORLEY: “Guncle” Sam. (...)

A Florida sheriff issued a fiery statement against singer Lizzo over accusations on social media that he threatened to kill peaceful protesters. Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, posted the accusations and said she was appalled that law enforcement officials would threaten to stamp out the constitutional right to free speech in the U.S. 'Until earlier tonight, I had never heard of her.' "I just watched a video of law enforcement saying they would kill — kill anyone who exercises their First Amendment rights to protest. And I’ve never seen anything more unconstitutional in my life. It was actually appalling," she said in the video on Instagram. She said that people have to get louder to combat officials acting illegally. "I want to encourage everybody to remember their constitutional rights," she added. "I want to encourage everybody to also protect each other. Because the people that we put in position to protect us are not doing that. Know your rights and stand on 'em."Jefferson was likely referring to a viral video of Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who warned protesters ahead of the No Kings demonstrations to avoid criminal behavior or face the consequences. "If you spit on us, you’re going to the hospital and then jail. If you hit one of us, you’re going to the hospital and then jail and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs that we have here," said Ivey in the viral video. Ivey did threaten to use lethal force against protesters, but he specifically said that about anyone who uses extreme violence during a protest. "Throw a brick, firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at," he added. "Because we will kill you graveyard dead. We’re not going to play."After hearing about her post, Ivey responded to Jefferson's post and excoriated her for misconstruing his comments while confirming that he's not a fan of her music. "Lizzo who?" he said to Fox News Digital. "Until earlier tonight, I had never heard of her. So what she thinks matters exactly zero to me! She clearly didn’t listen to what was actually said during the press conference, as is evidenced by how inaccurate her quote is."The post from Lizzo to her 11 million followers on Instagram had garnered nearly 75,000 likes. "At no time were people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights [ever] threatened, as what was actually said was that peaceful protests are part of our democracy, and we will provide a safe environment for peaceful protest to take place!" Ivey added. "My warnings were directed at violent protesters whose actions would put citizens and law enforcement officers' lives at risk!" he concluded.RELATED: Video captures the moment SUV driver barrels through No Kings protesters after getting surrounded in California Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images Fox News Digital said it reached out to Lizzo's management company but did not get a response. Millions of people participated in the No Kings protests, and some violence was reported at a number of demonstrations. Statistically, between 1% and 1.5% of the total population joined the protests against the Trump administration. Lizzo also made headlines when some fat-positivity activists expressed outrage that she had betrayed the movement by seeking to lose weight after initially pushing for more fat acceptance. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Democrats are up in arms after President Donald Trump has threatened to send ICE into sanctuary cities and start deporting illegal aliens en masse — which he explained on Truth Social in signature Trump fashion.“Our Nation’s ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History …” Trump began in a post on Truth Social.“ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” he continued.“In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside,” he added, before calling these cities the “core of the Democrat Power Center.”While Republicans are on board, Democrats continue to push the idea that illegal immigrants are at the heart of America, which they say would not be what it is without them.“It seems like we have this big lie that’s being told in our country that our economy cannot function without the participation of these people in it,” Texas Rep. Mitch Little (R) tells BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.”“And to that, I just say, let’s find out,” he adds.But it’s not just the illegal immigrants whom Little takes issue with.“I’m also very concerned about the ongoing participation of China in our higher education,” he explains. “This is not really a place for us to be making exceptions.”Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Will the US Be Taking in Refugees From the Middle East? The Consensus Is No