In George Strait’s hit song “The Best Day,” a son sings to his father:Dad this could be the best day of my life. Been dreamin’ day and night about the fun we’ll have. Just me and you doing what I’ve always wanted to. I’m the luckiest boy alive. This is the best day of my life. Last weekend, that song came to life for me. On a flight to Virginia, my 8-year-old son looked at me, grinning ear to ear, and said, “Dad, this is my favorite three days of the year.” Not Christmas. Not his birthday. Not even our family vacations. His favorite three days are spent with me, out in the hills of Virginia, at a small father-son retreat where 25 dads and their school-age sons come together to strengthen a sacred bond.Being a father isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about showing up, time and again.For the third consecutive year, we packed up and made the trip. It’s become a tradition — canoeing down rivers, building bonfires, swapping stories, touring Civil War battlefields, and wandering through museums that tell the story of America. There’s something about being shoulder to shoulder with your son, not staring at a screen, not rushing from one practice to another, but instead living deliberately in fellowship with other fathers and sons. These moments don’t just happen. They’re carved out, preserved, and passed down.Building generational bondsThe retreat is as much for the dads as it is for the boys. While the kids disappear into the woods for laser tag or trampoline wars, the men gather by the fire. We sip whiskey, light cigars, and talk openly — about marriage, business, faith, and the challenges of raising children in a culture that increasingly dismisses the role of good men. Some conversations are heavy. Others are hilarious. But all of them are honest. It is, in every sense of the word, fellowship.This is what it means to be present. And presence matters.The statistics back it up. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised without their father in the home are four times more likely to live in poverty, twice as likely to suffer from obesity, and significantly more likely to end up in prison. Moreover, boys with highly involved fathers are less likely to use drugs, get suspended from school, or commit crimes. And when it comes to faith, the father’s role is critical: If a father practices his faith regularly, his children will have a much higher probability of remaining active in that faith as adults than if only the mother practices.These facts don’t diminish the role of mothers. Rather, they recognize that fathers have a unique and irreplaceable role in shaping the lives of their sons. In a society that often paints men as disposable, retreats like the one my son and I attend remind us that masculinity, rightly ordered, is indispensable.Boys will be menWhat struck me most this year wasn’t the canoe trips or the campfire stories. It was watching my son interact with other boys — kids he doesn’t see often, but with whom he instantly bonded. They ran free, like boys are supposed to. Sticks became swords, forts were built, dirt was rubbed into grass-stained jeans. It was chaotic, loud, and glorious. And while they played, they also absorbed something deeper: the example of a band of men who were present, engaged, and invested in them.We live in a culture that is quick to say, “Boys will be boys,” when excusing bad behavior, but slow to recognize that boys will be men one day — and the kind of men they become depends heavily on the kind of men they see. At this retreat, they saw dads who love their wives, work hard, and take their faith seriously. They saw that masculinity is not toxic, but life-giving.Our founding fathers placed such importance on virtue for a reason. President George Washington himself said, “Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” And where do boys learn virtue if not first at the knee of their fathers? Visiting Civil War battlefields with my son, I couldn’t help but think of the boys who became men on those very grounds, some no older than he is now, who sacrificed everything because their fathers taught them what was worth fighting for.Presence over perfectionBeing a father isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about showing up, time and again, so that one day your 8-year-old son looks at you and says, “This is my favorite three days of the year.”I left Virginia with a grateful heart and a renewed conviction. Our culture may tell men to step aside, to silence themselves, to apologize for who they are. But weekends like this one remind me that America doesn’t just need strong fathers — it depends on them. A nation that undermines fatherhood is a nation in decline. A nation that honors fatherhood is a nation with hope.RELATED: This is true fatherhood: My dad's final act defined love and manhood Photo by O2O Creative via Getty ImagesWhen Alexis de Tocqueville traveled through America in the 1830s, he marveled not at our government or our military, but at our families. He saw that the strength of American democracy was tied directly to the strength of American homes. Nearly two centuries later, that remains true.A lifetime investmentSo yes, this retreat was just three days in the hills of Virginia. But in reality, it was much more. It was proof that faith, family, and freedom are not abstract slogans — they are lived out one campfire, one canoe ride, one father-son conversation at a time. And if America is to endure, it will be because fathers step back into the role God gave them, raising sons who know both where they came from and where they are called to go.When you tally it all up, the weekend’s scorecard looked something like this: one bloody nose, one trip to the hospital for X-rays on an arm, several Coors Lights, and memories no dad could count.And maybe, just maybe, because an 8-year-old boy knew his dad was right there beside him.

Peter Strzok, the former FBI agent who launched the bureau's Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the Trump campaign, was fired in 2018.This termination took place several months after his removal from special counsel Robert Mueller's team over Strzok's damning text messages to then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page, which denigrated the very people the bureau was investigating, including President Donald Trump.'The Court finds that there is no genuine dispute of material fact that would preclude the entry of summary judgment in the defendants' favor.'When Page texted Strzok ahead of the 2016 election for assurance that Trump was "not ever going to become president," the FBI agent replied, "No. No he's not. We'll stop it."The bureau noted at the time of his termination that Strzok, whom President Donald Trump has labeled a "fraud" and a "sick loser," "was subject to the standard FBI review and disciplinary process after conduct highlighted in the IG report was referred to the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility."While his firing appeared to be justly deserved, Strzok nevertheless filed a lawsuit in August 2019, challenging his dismissal and claiming that the Department of Justice and FBI violated his rights to free speech and privacy — even though his damning messages were exchanged on his FBI-issued device.An Obama judge just delivered Strzok some bad news.U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said in a ruling Tuesday that after a review of years-worth of evidence and testimony, "The Court finds that there is no genuine dispute of material fact that would preclude the entry of summary judgment in the defendants' favor and that [Strzok's] motion for summary judgment should be denied."RELATED: Durham annex proves Russiagate was a coordinated smear Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Jackson noted that it was not up to her to decide "whether it was unnecessarily harsh to end plaintiff's career after a long, unblemished record of outstanding service to the agency, or whether a severe sanction was necessary to address the lack of professionalism and appearance of bias in the messages."The question before her was instead whether the bureau's firing of Strzok "comported with the Constitution."When considering Strzok's First Amendment claim, Jackson noted that the Russiagate hoaxer's "interest in expressing his opinions about political candidates on his FBI phone at that time was outweighed by the FBI’s interest in avoiding the appearance of bias in its ongoing investigations of those very people, and in protecting against the disruption of its law enforcement operations under then-Director Wray's leadership."Jackson noted further that Strzok proved unable to point to evidence that the DOJ and FBI treated him any "more harshly than they would have treated employees in similar circumstances because the viewpoint expressed in the texts was critical of President Trump."Apparently, there was no point of comparison as the FBI officials deposed said the situation was unprecedented.Jackson's full opinion was filed under seal "because it contains references to materials, such as deposition transcripts, that were filed under seal in an abundance of caution at the request of at least one of the parties at the time."While Strzok lost this battle, the DOJ under former Attorney General Merrick Garland entered into a $1.2 million agreement with the Russiagate hoaxer in the final months of the Biden administration to settle his privacy-invasion claims.FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed earlier this month that Garland and former FBI Director Christopher Wray decided to give Strzok the money.Politico indicated that Strzok's attorney did not respond to its 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!

A Tennessee man who has fostered approximately 20 children was arrested in Florida after authorities discovered child pornography on his phone while he was returning from a cruise with his family, according to court documents.Jason Alan Miller, 48, was arrested and charged with transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to an arrest affidavit.The affidavit states that a Homeland Security Investigations agent observed a screenshot of a folder titled '6yo_rare' containing multiple images of child sexual abuse material.The Broward County Sheriff's Office told Blaze News that the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Miller on Sept. 13 and booked him into the Broward County Main Jail.Following an eight-day cruise in the Caribbean, the Carnival Horizon ship returned Saturday to the Port of Miami, according to Cruisemapper, a cruise information app and website.According to the affidavit obtained by WJHL-TV, Miller disembarked from the ship along with his pregnant wife and eight children, all ages 5 through 12 — seven of whom he adopted after fostering them.After arriving at the port, officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection selected Miller for secondary inspection, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.The affidavit said CBP officers inspected Miller’s personal property, including a Samsung Galaxy cell phone.Miller provided the passcode to unlock the cell phone, according to the affidavit.WJHL reported, "While searching the device 'pursuant to border search authority,' officers found several photos of suspected child sexual abuse material in the device's saved Google Photos application in a folder named 'telegram,' according to the affidavit."The affidavit states that a Homeland Security Investigations agent observed a screenshot of a folder titled “6yo_rare” containing multiple images of child sexual abuse material.Citing the affidavit, the Daily Mail reported that the folder contained 45 illicit images.According to the affidavit, Miller admitted to knowing there was child porn on his cell phone. Miller had fostered approximately 20 children at his home over the last seven years, according to the affidavit.If Miller is convicted of both charges, he faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.RELATED: How cops lured a pastor to city hall to arrest him on charges of unnatural intercourse, statutory rape, and child pornography The CBP has the authority to inspect personal belongings at U.S. ports of entry:All persons, baggage, and merchandise arriving in the Customs territory of the United States from places outside thereof are liable to inspection and search by a Customs officer. Port directors and special agents in charge are authorized to cause inspection, examination, and search to be made under section 467, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1467), of persons, baggage, or merchandise, even though such persons, baggage, or merchandise were inspected, examined, searched, or taken on board the vessel at another port or place in the United States or the Virgin Islands, if such action is deemed necessary or appropriate.USA Today reported, "Travelers' rights against warrantless searches are weakened within 100 miles of any port of entry, so any person is subject to being questioned and their electronic devices — including phones, tablets, and laptops — searched by border agents regardless of immigration status."The outlet said U.S. citizens technically don't have to provide their cell phone's unlock passcode to CBP agents.The ACLU noted that U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry into the United States for "refusing to produce passwords, provide device access, or submit electronic devices for a search."However, the ACLU added that those who refuse could be detained, or their device "could be seized and not returned for weeks or months."The ACLU also said, "Noncitizen visa holders and visitors: You run the risk of being denied entry if you refuse to provide a password, and you should consider that risk before deciding how to proceed."Carnival Cruise Line, the U.S. Marshals, and the DHS did not immediately 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!

Jimmy Kimmel returned to the studio on Tuesday after missing just four episodes following a suspension over remarks about Charlie Kirk's murderer."Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air last Wednesday after the host claimed that Kirk's alleged assassin was part of "the MAGA gang" that was desperately trying to disassociate the shooter from its political ideology."The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel remarked.'This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn't, ever.'Following those comments, Kimmel and other liberals claimed he was the victim of a government plot to silence him. However, the host returned to the airwaves on Tuesday and prefaced his monologue with a compilation of news stories surrounding his suspension. This included left-wing networks calling his return a "huge" and "pivotal" moment in history.Kimmel took the stage to multiple standing ovations from his audience, immediately tearing up. He mentioned all the love he had received over the weekend, including from other hosts like Howard Stern and Stephen Colbert, and even a former employer who fired him from a radio station.But when Kimmel addressed the remarks that led to his suspension, he said he was not trying to pin any ideology to the shooter."I have no illusions about changing anyone's mind," Kimmel said. "But I do want to make something clear because it's important to me as a human. And that is you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it."Kimmel noted he made a social media post about Kirk in support of his family, before adding, "Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what ... was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.""I don't think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn't, ever," Kimmel explained.RELATED: Nexstar stands its ground, keeps blocking Kimmel's show Kimmel made time to thank those who "don't support" his show or what he believes in but support his "right to share those beliefs."This included "Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, Candace Owens, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, even my old pal Ted Cruz."After playing a clip of Senator Cruz's remarks, Kimmel still chose to make fun of the Republican by saying, "If Ted Cruz can't speak freely, then he can't cast spells on the Smurfs."The rest of Kimmel's monologue focused on his apparent battle with the government over his right to speech, with the 57-year-old stating that Americans cannot allow their government to "control what we do and do not say on television."FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had said of Kimmel's network, ABC, last week, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," in reference to Kimmel's false statements linking the suspected assassin with MAGA. This became the predominant source of liberal claims that the government was censoring speech.RELATED: I experienced Jimmy Kimmel’s lies firsthand. His suspension is justice. Photo by Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images ABC affiliate station owners Nexstar and Sinclair still chose not to broadcast Kimmel's show upon his return, with Nexstar telling Blaze News, "We made a decision last week to pre-empt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s 'ill-timed and insensitive' comments at a critical time in our national discourse. We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve."Nexstar owns 32 of 200 ABC affiliate stations.Carr doubled down before Kimmel's return on Tuesday and said Democrats "simply can't stand that local TV stations—for the first time in years—stood up to a national programmer & chose to exercise their lawful right to preempt programming.""We need to keep empowering local TV stations to serve their communities of license," he wrote on X.Kimmel also claimed in his monologue that the powers that be, simply using the word "they," tried to "coerce the affiliates who run our show in the cities that you live in to take my show off the air.""That's not legal," the host declared. "That's not American. That is un-American, and it is so dangerous."In the end, Kimmel admitted his show is not important, but said rather that what is important is living in a country that allows a show like his to remain on the air.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The album was their first following the departure of Mick Taylor who was eventually replaced by Ronnie Wood, one of several guitarists who auditioned for the band. The post Rolling Stones Announce Super Deluxe Edition of 1976’s ‘Black and Blue’ appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

TPUSA's Andrew Kolvet Sounds Off on Jimmy Kimmel's Return Monologue: 'He's an Unrepentant Liar'

The Trump administration will not bail out New York City in any financial crisis if Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani follows through with his plans, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday.

Vice President JD Vance will promote President Donald Trump's agenda, focusing on public safety after a recent infamous fatal stabbing in North Carolina, on Wednesday during his first official visit to the state since taking office

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned two Indian nationals and an online pharmacy for flooding America with counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and other deadly drugs. The Office of Foreign Assets Control...

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday said he was "extremely sad" to hear that Andrew Kraus, the son of Mission BBQ co-founder Bill Kraus, was one of the four Army service members who died during a training accident earlier this month.