Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said that he would potentially deploy the Minnesota National Guard to protect the people of his state from “rogue” federal agents, following the shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by federal law enforcement. Walz held a press conference on Wednesday after news broke that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent shot and killed a protester in her vehicle. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the woman was attempting to run over ICE agents “in an attempt to kill them,” and an ICE officer fired shots in self-defense at the vehicle, killing the driver.However, witnesses appeared to dispute that account of the incident to local news, telling FOX 9 that ICE agents were attempting to enter the woman’s vehicle when one of them opened fire. A video posted to social media by ABC 5 Eyewitness News Minneapolis appears to show the incident, with an ICE agent standing in front of the vehicle as it began moving up the street before shots were fired. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (@kstptv) During the news conference, Walz discussed deploying the National Guard and said, “My primary responsibility as governor is the protection of the people of the people of Minnesota and you can be assured whether it’s the state patrol or whether it’s the National Guard, there deployment is there to protect Minnesotans from whatever it is, if it’s an act of nature, if it’s a global pandemic, or in this case if it’s a rogue federal agent.” ?YIKES: Tim Walz says his job is to protect Minnesotans from a "rogue federal agent.""I want to be very careful…" pic.twitter.com/8FrRRj2aRd— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 7, 2026 Walz, the once vice presidential candidate who announced he would not be running for another term as governor, said at the news conference that he would wait to see what the facts are in this case, but that his job was about “public safety.” He then called the incident “preventable,” while saying “if you’re in Portland, or you’re in LA, or you’re in Chicago, or you’re wherever they’re coming next, stand with us. Stand with us against this.” He said that the Trump administration has no “decency” and that the person who was killed died “for no reason whatsoever.” Walz noted that “the desire to get out and protest and to speak up to this administration of how wrong this is, that is a patriotic duty at this point in time.” Tim Walz says it’s a patriotic duty to protest ICE. This is insane. ICE is arresting people illegally in our country. How did it become Democrat party orthodoxy to protest people enforcing the law? Minnesota is broken: pic.twitter.com/rGCzo4xmo8— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 7, 2026 Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., also addressed the incident on X, saying that the Trump administration is lying about the incident. You’re lying. There was no attempt to run the officer over and no ICE agents appear to be hurt. Get out of our city. https://t.co/Pehycaaeei https://t.co/fMnubawQiD— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 7, 2026 The post Tim Walz Says State Could Deploy National Guard After ICE-Involved Shooting appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Come learn how to make homemade elderberry tincture for natural immune support! This easy recipe only requires two ingredients: elderberries and alcohol…plus a little patience while it steeps. For safety and potency, it’s best to use dried berries but I’ve also included tips on how to safely use frozen or fresh elderberries. It requires an extra step or two, but is still quite simple to do! I’ve also included a few optional ingredients I like to add to our elderberry tincture recipe to enhance the flavor and medicinal benefits. We try to start a batch every fall (along with homemade fire cider) to have ready for the cold and flu season ahead! Elderberry Tincture Benefits Elderberry tincture is made by steeping elderberries (usually dried) in an alcohol base* for several weeks or longer. As it soaks, the alcohol extracts valuable nutritional compounds from the berries including antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. After straining away the berries, you’re left with a highly concentrated tincture that offers amazing natural immune system support! Studies show that elderberries have antiviral and antimicrobial properties that can help prevent illness, fight inflammation, support gut health, as well as shorten and alleviate cold and flu symptoms.  *NOTE: We prefer to make our elderberry tincture recipe with alcohol since it’s the most efficient and effective for extraction, resulting in the most potent tincture possible. However, you can also make tincture using a glycerine or vinegar base – though they aren’t as strong and have a shorter shelf life. Elderberry Tincture vs Elderberry Syrup We’ve also been making homemade elderberry syrup for many years and love it too! If you’re debating which one is the best for you, here are some pros/cons and differences between the two: Elderberry tincture is easier to make, but does require patience since it needs to steep for at least a month. Making elderberry syrup is a bit more involved but is ready to use the same day. Elderberry tincture is more concentrated (so you don’t need to take as much per serving) and has a significantly longer shelf life (several years) compared to syrup (a few months). Made with honey, elderberry syrup is thick and sweet. In contrast, elderberry tincture is made with alcohol, has a more sharp flavor, and is naturally sugar-free. (This is a big perk for me since I have Type 1 diabetes.) RELATED: If you like this elderberry tincture recipe, don’t miss our easy homemade cough drops, fermented honey garlic, or adorable elderberry gummies recipe! Supplies Needed Glass jar or container with a tight leak-proof lid. You can use any size jar to make as much or little as you desire. In my experience, I’ve found you’ll get about half the volume of finished tincture as the size jar you start with (e.g. I get about 8 ounces of tincture when using a pint jar). Fine mesh strainer and/or organic cheesecloth. I like to use both so I can squeeze out every last drop! Final storage containers such as one or two-ounce amber dropper bottles Ingredients Dried elderberries (preferred for potency, safety, and shelf life) though you can also use frozen or fresh elderberries if they’re cooked or dried first. See cooking and safety tips below. You’ll need enough berries to fill your chosen jar about halfway to two-thirds full. We love these organic dried elderberries and use about 1 cup for a pint-sized batch of tincture. Alcohol – it’s best to use a neutral, unflavored spirit (such as vodka or grain alcohol) that’s at least 80-proof or 40% alcohol minimum, up to 100 proof like Everclear or this 200-proof food grade organic ethyl alcohol for even better extraction (what we use to make homemade hemp tincture too!). You may find other elderberry tincture recipes online that say you can use raw fresh berries, but I say proceed with caution! You know me (a retired health inspector and science/research nerd) and I couldn’t find a credible source or study to confirm that is safe. Most experts advise on cooking raw elderberries before consumption. Optional Ingredients Ginger is a welcome addition to homemade elderberry tincture, offering delicious flavor as well as anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits. I like to add a few slices of fresh ginger to the jar, though you could also use 1/2 to 1 tsp of ground ginger powder per pint jar. Cinnamon is also rich in antioxidants and can help fight inflammation, infections, and support heart health. It also makes the tincture taste better (IMHO – I love cinnamon). Add 1 to 2 whole cinnamon sticks or up to 1 tsp ground powder per pint jar. Echinacea and elderberry are a powerful dynamic duo for cold and flu prevention, so feel free to add dried echinacea root to your tincture too! Simply swap a portion of the elderberries with echinacea, still only filling the jar about halfway full in total (or just over). I like to add one or two whole star anise to the jar, which also helps support the immune system with antiviral and antibacterial benefits. (I don’t mind the flavor of black licorice, though some folks don’t love this addition.) Free free to get creative and add any combination of dried, edible, medicinal herbs that you desire. Dried rose hips, astragalus, and reishi mushroom are excellent tincture additions for immune support. Safely Using Fresh Elderberries The most simple and safe way to make this elderberry tincture recipe is using dried berries. Raw elderberries, stems, and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides that release toxic cyanide and can cause severe gastrointestinal issues when consumed – or worse. Therefore, it’s best to fully cook fresh berries (raw or frozen) before making tincture. I suggest to dry or bake them in the oven or in a food dehydrator, which neutralizes the toxins and is best for making tincture since it doesn’t add extra moisture. Food safety experts recommend drying elderberries at 135 to 140°F or greater until completely dry. OR cook fresh elderberries on the stovetop in a saucepan with a tiny splash of water (just enough to prevent scorching) and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes over medium heat. However, the added moisture can dilute your tincture and reduce the shelf life. Once they’re dried or cooked, you can follow the rest of the steps in this recipe. Instructions 1) Fill The Jar Fill a clean jar about halfway to two-thirds full of dried elderberries. If you’re using fresh berries, I highly recommend cooking or drying them first (see notes above) and ensure you remove all stems and leaves. If you chose to cook fresh berries on the stovetop, only fill the jar halfway or just under. Add other optional ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, ginger, or other dried edible herbs or spices of choice. Pour the alcohol over the elderberries until the jar is nearly full, leaving about 1/2 to 1 inch of headspace on top. 2) Infuse Add a tight-fitting lid and shake the jar to combine the ingredients. If you’re using a standard metal mason jar lid, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper or wax paper below the lid to prevent corrosion. Set the jar in a dark location such as kitchen cupboard or pantry to infuse (macerate) for at least 4 to 6 weeks, up to several months. I usually let elderberry tinctures soak for at least two months. If possible, try to remember to gently shake the jar every few days to help it mix and infuse – especially during the first week or two. 3) Strain and Bottle After the steeping period is up, it’s time to separate and strain the elderberries and spices from the finished tincture! Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or large measuring cup. I like to line the strainer with organic cheesecloth for extra filtration, and so I can better squeeze all of the liquid out of the elderberries. Dump the contents of the jar into the strainer and/or cheesecloth, and allow it to drip drain for a couple minutes. Then firmly press and squeeze the elderberries to extract as much liquid as possible. (Based on personal experience, I recommend wearing gloves here – unless you want your hands stained purple for a couple days!) Finally, use a small funnel to help transfer the finished elderberry tincture into final storage containers. I like to fill at least one amber glass dropper bottle for easy use, and store leftovers in a separate jar to refill the dropper bottle as needed. Don’t forget to add a label and date! Storage and Shelf Life Store homemade elderberry tincture in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. A properly made alcohol-based tincture should stay good for several years – especially one made with baked or dried berries – though we always use it up before then! A tincture made with cooked elderberries (stovetop) will contain more fruit juice, which dilutes the alcohol and will likely shorten the shelf life. Watch for signs of spoilage including mold or off flavor/odors. Refrigeration can help extend the shelf life. How to Take Elderberry Tincture According to WebMD, there is no standard dose for elderberry products – especially since the strength can vary so much between brands or formulas, and even more so when homemade. However, a common recommended serving size for adults is about 10 drops of elderberry tincture (1/2 mL or 1/2 a dropper full) for maintenance or preventative measures, and up to 20 drops or 1 dropper full (1 mL) when experiencing cold or flu symptoms. Repeat up to four times per day as needed. Children over 5 years old should take half the adult serving. Alcohol-based tincture is not recommended for babies or toddlers. Consider our homemade elderberry gummies or elderberry syrup recipe for younger kids (over 1 year old). I recommend diluting the tincture with a little water or juice to make it more palatable if needed. (I usually just fill my mouth with water, and then carefully squirt some tincture in and swallow.) DISCLAIMER: This information is for general knowledge and should not be considered medical advice; consult with your doctor or naturopath as needed. Frequently Asked Questions Is elderberry tincture made with alcohol safe for kids? Given the very small amount of alcohol in a child-size serving of tincture (5-10 drops), many sources consider alcohol-based elderberry tincture generally safe for children over 5 years old, particularly when diluted and only taken for a short duration (e.g. a few days). However, that decision is ultimately up to the parents and/or advising pediatrician. Can I make elderberry tincture without alcohol? Yes, you can also make elderberry tincture by soaking the berries in food-grade vegetable glycerin or edible vinegar, resulting in an alcohol-free tincture that is suitable for kids or those avoiding alcohol. However, vinegar and glycerine are not nearly as effective at extracting herbal constituents (e.g. alkaloids, flavonoids, resins, and essential oils) so the final tincture is considered less potent or therapeutic, and usually has a shorter shelf-life than traditional alcohol-based tinctures. In closing, I hope you enjoy this easy elderberry tincture recipe as much we do – and that it can help you stay strong and healthy! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, and please leave a review once you give it a try. You may also enjoy: Easy Fire Cider Recipe: How to Make Homemade Fire Cider How to Make Elderberry Syrup with Fresh or Dried Berries Homemade Cough Drops with Honey, Lemon and Ginger Fermented Garlic Honey Recipe + Benefits and Uses Elderberry Gummies Recipe (How to Make Elderberry Gummies) Did you enjoy this article? Want to hear more? Stay in touch! Sign up below to receive weekly updates on new posts from Homestead and Chill. Print Homemade Elderberry Tincture Recipe (Dried or Fresh Berries) An easy homemade elderberry tincture recipe for natural immune support. For potency and safety, it's best to use dried berries but I've also included tips on how to safely use fresh elderberries (including frozen raw) as well as optional ingredients to enhance the flavor or medicinal benefits. Keyword elderberry tincture recipe, homemade elderberry tincture Prep Time 10 minutes minutesInfusion Time 30 days days Servings 8 ounces Equipment1 Glass jar with a tight leak-proof lid. You can use any size jar to make as little or as much as you desire. The yield of finished tincture will be about about half the volume of the jar (e.g. I get about 8 ounces of tincture when using a 16-oz pint jar)Fine mesh strainer and/or organic cheesecloth. I like to use cheesecloth so I can squeeze out every last drop!Final storage containers such as one or two-ounce amber dropper bottles IngredientsKey IngredientsDried elderberries (preferred for potency, safety, and shelf life) though you can also use frozen or fresh elderberries if they’re cooked or dried first. See cooking and safety tips below. You’ll need enough berries to fill your chosen jar about halfway to two-thirds full. We love these organic dried elderberries and use about 1 cup for a pint-sized batch of tincture.Alcohol – neutral, unflavored spirit (such as vodka or grain alcohol) that’s at least 80-proof or 40% alcohol minimum, up to 100 proof like Everclear or 200-proof food grade organic ethyl alcohol for even better extraction.Optional ingredientsGinger – I like to add a few slices of fresh ginger to the jar, though you could also use 1/2 to 1 tsp of ground ginger powder per pint jar.Cinnamon – 1 to 2 whole cinnamon sticks or up to 1 tsp ground powder per pint jar.Echinacea – simply swap a portion of the elderberries with dried echinacea root, still only filling the jar about halfway full in total (or just over).Whole star anise – one or two per pint jar. Keep in mind it tastes like black licorice!You can add any combination of dried, edible, medicinal herbs such as dried rose hips, astragalus, reishi mushroom and more. InstructionsFill JarFill a clean jar about halfway to two-thirds full of dried elderberries.If you’re using fresh berries, I highly recommend cooking or drying them first (see instructions below) and ensure you remove all stems and leaves. If you chose to cook your fresh berries on the stovetop, only fill the jar halfway or just under.Add other optional ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, ginger, or other dried edible herbs or spices of choice. Pour the alcohol over the elderberries until the jar is nearly full, leaving about 1/2 to 1 inch of headspace on top. InfuseAdd a tight-fitting lid and shake to mix the contents of the jar. If you’re using a standard metal mason jar lid, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper or wax paper below the lid to prevent corrosion. Set the jar in a dark location such as kitchen cupboard or pantry to infuse for at least 4 to 6 weeks, up to several months.If possible, try to remember to gently shake the jar every few days to help it mix and infuse – especially during the first week or two.Strain and BottlePlace a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or large measuring cup. I like to line the strainer with organic cheesecloth for extra filtration, and so I can better squeeze all of the liquid out of the elderberries. Dump the contents of the jar into the strainer and/or cheesecloth, and allow it to drip drain for a couple minutes. Then firmly press and squeeze the elderberries to extract as much liquid as possible. (You may want to wear gloves as elderberries can stain your hands) Finally, use a small funnel to help transfer the finished elderberry tincture into final storage bottles (I fill at least one dropper bottle and then store extras in a glass jar) Add a date and label Storage and Shelf LifeStore your homemade elderberry tincture in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. A properly made alcohol-based tincture will stay good for several years .A tincture made with cooked elderberries (stovetop) will contain more fruit juice, which dilutes the alcohol and will likely shorten the shelf life.Watch for signs of spoilage including mold or off flavor/odors. Refrigeration can help extend the shelf life.Dosing and UseA common recommended serving size for adults is about 10 drops of elderberry tincture (1/2 mL or 1/2 a dropper full) for maintenance or preventative measures, and up to 20 drops or 1 dropper full (1 mL) when experiencing cold or flu symptoms. Repeat up to four times per day as needed.Children over 5 years old should take half the adult serving. Alcohol-based elderberry tincture is not recommended for babies or toddlers.I recommend diluting the tincture with a little water or juice to make the taste more palatable if needed. To Use Fresh Berries (Cook or Dry First)Raw elderberries, stems, and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides that release toxic cyanide and can cause severe gastrointestinal issues – so it's best to fully dehydrate or cook fresh berries (raw or frozen) first. On the stovetop: place fresh elderberries in a saucepan with a tiny splash of water (just enough to prevent scorching) and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes over medium heat. However, the added moisture can dilute your tincture and reduce the shelf life.Recommended: dry or bake them in the oven or in a food dehydrator at 135 to 140F or greater until completely dry. This neutralizes the toxins and is better for making tincture since it doesn’t add extra moisture.Once they’re dried or cooked, you can follow the steps above. The post Homemade Elderberry Tincture Recipe with Dried or Fresh Berries appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

Cleaning House: Scrapping Regulations, Corporate Ownership of Single Family Homes, Defense Buy Backs

On Wednesday’s edition of The View, their inciting rhetoric reached a new dangerous level when moderator Whoopi Goldberg seemingly called on NATO to save America from President Trump and “GET HIM OUT!” She claimed America no longer had a government and demanded to know “where is everybody,” particularly NATO since they’ve helped us out before after 9/11. She also claimed Trump’s new foreign policy goal was “global domination.” Goldberg actually kicked off the show by claiming Trump was seeking to conquer the globe. “So, for a guy who campaigned on a promise of no new wars, it sure seems like you-know-who shifted his view to global domination,” she proclaimed. They decried Trump standing up to Russia, clutching their pearls over the U.S. seizing an oil tanker that was part of Russia’s ghost fleet. “Yesterday he announced he's taking control of the oil and the oil money in Venezuela, and just this morning U.S. troops seized two ships in the North Atlantic, one was flying a Russian flag,” Goldberg warned.   The View falsely claims Trump's new foreign policy goal is "global domination" and whines the U.S. has seized an oil tanker with the Russian ghost fleet. pic.twitter.com/Aju8P1ov5U — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 7, 2026   Of course, they failed to mention it was part of the Russian ghost fleet and that it has sapped through multiple flags. Later in the same segment, Whoopi shouted and demanded to know “Where is everybody?!” and recalled how NATO once came to our aid in a time of need, as if were in such a time again: GOLDBERG: Let me just say this, here's my question! Where is everybody?! Where is everybody else?! We come to everybody's aid. SUNNY HOSTIN: Yeah. GOLDBERG: We help everybody. NATO, they came and helped us after 9/11. Where is everybody? Because we're all -- SARA HAINES: They're worrying about Greenland right now! This wasn’t the first time, Goldberg had called for foreign countries to invade the United States and take over our affairs. In 2023, she demanded, “I want outside countries to step in” and manage the U.S.-Mexico border.   Whoopi Goldberg claims America doesn't have a government and wants NATO to intervene to save America from Trump and "get him out": "Where is everybody? Where is everybody else? We come to everybody's aid. We help everybody. NATO, they came and helped us after 9/11. Where is… pic.twitter.com/SR1xmL2lU6 — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 7, 2026   Goldberg seemed to go completely insane, screaming about America supposedly not having a government: “Where is the government?! Do you realize we don't have a government?!” Adding: “And this is a huge and should be our biggest bitch right now.” She also falsely claimed, again, that Trump was going to cancel the midterm elections. “And let me tell you, I feel like, you know, he hinted yesterday, he says he was joking, but he hinted yesterday that maybe there won't be midterms,” she continued to ramble. The View used to LOVE people just joking that way. Back in 2023, they claimed Jane Fonda was “just kidding” when she went on the show and told people “murder” was the way to win against pro-lifers. After claiming America had no government and pining for NATO intervention, Goldberg looked into the camera and demanded the people take action against Trump to get him out of office right now: So, we really need to be paying attention to who we’ve given power to and if the people we've given power to, whoever you vote for, if the person you’ve given power to doesn't give a damn about you, GET HIM OUT! ABC News was playing a dangerous game by letting their hosts make insane and incendiary comments like Goldberg’s. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: ABC’s The View January 7, 2026 11:02:02 a.m. Eastern WHOOPI GOLDBERG: So, for a guy who campaigned on a promise of no new wars, it sure seems like you-know-who shifted his view to global domination. Yesterday he announced he's taking control of the oil and the oil money in Venezuela, and just this morning U.S. troops seized two ships in the North Atlantic, one was flying a Russian flag. The White House also said that sending military to Greenland is always an option, which prompted several European countries to release a joint statement reminding him that Greenland belongs to its people, so hands off. So why this sudden 180-degree turn to global policies? I ask you all. What is happening? JOY BEHAR: Can't we make a deal and just send him to Greenland? [Cheers and applause] He wants to go. Let him go. Bye! (…) 11:07:10 a.m. Eastern GOLDBERG: Let me just say this, here's my question! Where is everybody?! Where is everybody else?! We come to everybody's aid. SUNNY HOSTIN: Yeah. GOLDBERG: We help everybody. NATO, they came and helped us after 9/11. Where is everybody? Because we're all -- SARA HAINES: They're worrying about Greenland right now! [Crosstalk] GOLDBERG: Where is the government?! Do you realize we don't have a government?! BEHAR: Oh, you mean our -- HAINES: Cause Congress has given all their power away. They do nothing. [Crosstalk] GOLDBERG: And this is a huge and should be our biggest bitch right now. BEHAR: It is. It is. [Applause] GOLDBERG: That should be because all of this is happening because there is no one doing checks and balances. HOSTIN: There's no system. GOLDBERG: Where is the government? Why aren't they doing their job? And let me tell you, I feel like, you know, he hinted yesterday, he says he was joking, but he hinted yesterday that maybe there won't be midterms. [Crosstalk] GOLDBERG: Now, you, you know, this is – We’re in it already. Okay. We're not heading into it. We’re in dule right now. We're in it. So, we really need to be paying attention to who we’ve given power to and if the people we've given power to, whoever you vote for, if the person you’ve given power to doesn't give a damn about you, GET HIM OUT! (…)

A congressman from Texas crushed a Democratic witness in congressional testimony about the effect of large-scale Somali immigration on Minnesota.Republican Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas questioned former Justice Dept. prosecutor Brendan Ballou during Wednesday's House Oversight Committee hearing on fraud in Minnesota. Ballou was a witness for Democrats on the committee. 'It doesn't sound like something that makes our country stronger to me, and I think most Americans would agree with me on that.' "Does large-scale Somali immigration make Minnesota stronger or weaker?" asked Gill."Certainly stronger," Ballou responded."Certainly stronger," Gill repeated. "Do you know what percentage of Somali-headed households in Minnesota are on food stamps?" "No," Ballou replied."Fifty-four percent. Do you know what that number is for native Minnesota-headed households?" Gill asked. Ballou disputed the term "native households," which led to Gill interrupting to say that only 7% of non-Somali Minnesotan households were on food stamps. "What percentage of Somali-headed households in Minnesota are on Medicaid?" Gill asked. "I don't know," Ballou said. Gill told him the figure was 73% and compared it to the number of non-Somalis on Medicaid. "The number is 18%. That's quite an astounding difference, I think we would agree," Gill said. Gill went on to say that 81% of Somali-headed households were on welfare in general, a figure Ballou did not know. "Let me just ask you, after 10 years of being in the United States, what percentage of Somali-immigrant households continue to be on welfare?" Gill asked. "I don't know," Ballou said. "The number is 78%," he replied. Gill said that about half of working-age Somalis who have been in the U.S. for 10 years or more speak English "very well.""That seems pretty low, doesn't it?" Gill asked rhetorically. "It doesn't sound like something that makes our country stronger to me, and I think most Americans would agree with me on that."Video of the exchange was posted to social media by the Oversight Committee.RELATED: Minnesota news outlet gets wrecked for story on Somali migrants' economic impactBRUTAL! Rep. Brandon Gill just destroyed the Democrats' witness on Minnesota fraud.@RepBrandonGill: "Does large-scale Somali immigration make Minnesota stronger or weaker?"Democrat Witness: "Certainly stronger."Rep. Gill: "Do you know what percentage of Somali-headed… pic.twitter.com/olhYGxPAL9— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) January 7, 2026Ballou asserted in his testimony when questioned by Democrats that the incidents of Somali fraud were low compared to their population in Minnesota. While 82 Somalis have been indicted thus far, Ballou said that this represents about 0.07% of the 108,000 estimated Somalis in Minnesota. "When you compare that to one-third of all Americans [who] have a criminal record, and I think it's 40% approximately of white men under the age of 23 have been arrested, I don't think the statistics really compare," Ballou said. Gill also posted the video of the interaction to his social media timeline. "This Democrat witness claims large-scale Somali immigration makes Minnesota stronger. The numbers tell a different story," he wrote. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Department of Health and Human Services cut off five Democrat-run states' access to over $10 billion in federal child care and family assistance funds on Tuesday, citing "serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs."The New York Times joined Democrats in criticizing the Trump administration's anti-fraud campaign — but bungled its execution.The Times' Minho Kim opened his Tuesday piece with the following sentence:The Trump administration plans to freeze $10 billion in funding for child care subsidies, social services and cash support for low-income families in five states controlled by Democrats, claiming widespread fraud throughout those states, without citing evidence, after a major welfare fraud scheme in one of them.The sentence was later rearranged without an editor's note but without any significant alterations.'The first response of Democrats to instances like the Minnesota fraud findings should not be to criticize the other side.'It was not lost on critics that immediately after asserting that the administration claimed widespread fraud "without citing evidence," Kim himself proceeded to allude to the damning evidence of widespread fraud in one of the states facing the funding pause — fraud that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged on Monday when giving up on his ambition of re-election.Drew Holden, the managing editor at American Compass, suggested that the New York Times perhaps "got so used to saying that the Trump admin did something 'without citing evidence' that they didn't realize they mention the 'evidence' in the same sentence."RELATED: Trump administration sends Democrats into hysterics by freezing funding to 5 blue states over fraud concerns Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Later in the Times article, Kim acknowledged that the funding freeze builds on the HHS' pause of $185 million in annual childcare funds in the wake of credible allegations of massive fraud in taxpayer-subsidized day care facilities in the Gopher State.Minnesota has been home to historic fraud committed by members of the Somali community in relation to coronavirus relief funding and allegedly in relation to taxpayer-subsidized day care facilities. The COVID scams in Minnesota have resulted in dozens of criminal convictions and scores of indictments in recent years. Government officials are working to ensure similar graft is not impacting other jurisdictions.Following the publication of Kim's piece, American Enterprise Institute fellow Ruy Teixeira stressed that "the first response of Democrats to instances like the Minnesota fraud findings should not be to criticize the other side for attacking them and wave the bloody shirt of racism against President Trump but rather to stress the seriousness of the problem and how it will not be tolerated."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Wikimedia CommonsCharlie Brandt Charlie Brandt always seemed like a normal guy — until one bloody night in September 2004. At the time, Hurricane Ivan was barreling toward the Florida Keys, where the 47-year-old Brandt lived with his wife, Teri. They evacuated their home on Big Pine Key on September 2 to stay with their niece, 37-year-old Michelle Jones, in Orlando. Michelle was close to Teri, her maternal aunt, and was excited to welcome her and her husband as houseguests. Michelle was likewise close with her mother, Mary Lou, with whom she spoke on the phone almost every day. When Michelle stopped answering her phone after the night of September 13, Mary Lou grew concerned and asked Michelle’s friend, Debbie Knight, to go to the house and check on things. When Knight arrived, the front door was locked and there was no answer, so she made her way to the garage. “There was a garage door with almost all glass. So you could see in,” Knight recalled. “I was in shock.” There inside the garage, Charlie Brandt was hanging from the rafters. But Charlie Brandt’s death was just one of the horrible deaths that had happened inside that house. The Disturbing Crime Scene When authorities arrived at the house, they found a scene that looked like something out of a slasher movie. Charlie Brandt had hung himself with a bedsheet. Teri’s lifeless body was on the couch inside, stabbed seven times in the chest. Michelle’s body was in her bedroom. She had been decapitated, her head placed next to her body, and someone had removed her heart. “It was just a nice home,” lead investigator Rob Hemmert recalled. “All of those nice decorations and the aroma of her home was masked by death. The smell of death.” Yet, with all this bloodshed, there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry and the house was locked from the inside. Thus, with two people killed and one having killed himself, authorities quickly determined that Charlie Brandt had killed his wife and niece before committing suicide. But no one seemed to expect anything like this from Charlie Brandt. Mary Lou said of her brother-in-law whom she’d known for 17 years, “When they described what had happened to Michelle, it was even beyond description.” Likewise, Lisa Emmons, one of Michelle’s best friends, couldn’t believe it. “He was just very quiet and reserved,” she said of Charlie. “He would just sit back and observe. Michelle and I used to call him eccentric.” Not only did everyone find Charlie Brandt nice and agreeable, they all felt like he and Teri had the perfect marriage. The inseparable pair did everything together, fishing and boating near their home, traveling, and enjoying life in Florida. Charlie Brandt’s Dark Secret No one had any explanation for Charlie Brandt’s behavior. Then, his older sister came forward. Angela Brandt was two years older than Charlie and she harbored a dark secret from their Indiana childhood that no one knew about until she told her story. In an interrogation with Rob Hemmert, Angela cried before steeling her nerves and telling her story: “It was January 3, 1971… [at] 9 or 10 p.m,” Angela said. “We had just gotten a color TV. We were all sitting around watching The F.B.I. with Efrem Zimbalist Jr. After [the TV show] was over, I went and got in bed to read my book like I always did before I went to sleep.” Meanwhile, Angela and Charlie’s pregnant mom, Ilse, was drawing a bath and their dad, Herbert, was shaving. Then, Angela heard loud noises, so loud that she thought they were firecrackers. “Then I heard my father yell, ‘Charlie don’t.’ or ‘Charlie stop.’ And my mom was just screaming. The last thing I heard my mom say was, ‘Angela call the police.'” Charlie, 13 at the time, then came into Angela’s room holding a gun. He aimed the gun at her and pulled the trigger, but all they heard was a click. The gun was out of bullets. Charlie and Angela then began to fight and he started to strangle his sister, which was when she noticed the glazed look in his eyes. That terrifying look disappeared after a moment, and Charlie, as if emerging from a trance, asked, “What am I doing?” What he had just done was walk into parents’ bathroom, shoot his father once in the back and then shoot his mother several times, leaving him wounded and killing her. At the hospital in Fort Wayne just after the incident, Herbert said he had no idea why his son would do this. The Aftermath At the time he shot his parents, Charlie Brandt seemed like a normal kid. He did well in school and showed no signs of underlying psychological stress. The courts — which couldn’t charge him with any criminal offense, given his age — ordered that he undergo many psychiatric evaluations and even spend more than a year in a psychiatric hospital (before his father secured his release). But none of the psychiatrists found any mental illness or any explanation at all as to why he’d shot his family. The records were sealed because of Charlie’s young age and Herbert told his other children to keep things quiet and moved the family to Florida. They buried the incident and put it behind them. Anyone who knew the secret never told and Charlie seemed fine afterward. But it seems he had been harboring dark urges all along. After he killed his wife and niece in 2004, authorities investigated Charlie’s house on Big Pine Key. Inside, they found a medical poster displaying the female anatomy. There were also medical books and anatomy books, as well as a newspaper clipping that showed a human heart — all of which recalled some of the ways in which Charlie had mutilated Michelle’s body. Searches of his internet history revealed websites focused on necrophilia and violence against women. They also found lots of Victoria’s Secret catalogues, which proved especially troubling after they learned that “Victoria’s Secret” is the nickname Charlie had given to Michelle. “Knowing what he did to Michelle and then finding those things,” Hemmert said. “It all started to make sense.” Investigators believe that Charlie had become infatuated with Michelle and that his desires had taken a murderous turn. Hemmert, for one, believes that Charlie Brandt had always had these kinds of deadly desires and that he was probably a serial killer — it’s just that his other crimes never came to light. For example, authorities believe that he may have been responsible for at least two other murders, including one in 1989 and 1995. Both murders involved mutilations of women in a similar method to Michelle’s murder. After this look at Charlie Brandt, read up on serial killer Ed Kemper. Then, discover some of the most haunting serial killer quotes of all time. Finally, read up on Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s plot to kill her own mother. The post Charlie Brandt Killed His Mom At 13 — Then Walked Free To Butcher His Wife As An Adult appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Beach AcademyIn total, 437 boots have been found along the shore at Ogmore-by-Sea. Residents of a seaside village in southern Wales have recently been left baffled after hundreds of Victorian-era black leather boots mysteriously washed up on the beach. The boots indeed seem to date back to the 19th century, but why they are washing ashore now remains shrouded in mystery. The leading theory, however, is that they came from the wreckage of an Italian ship that crashed into Tusker Rock just off shore, though that has yet to be confirmed. The Discovery Of More Than 400 Victorian Boots On The Beach At Ogmore-by-Sea In a single week in December 2025 alone, volunteers with Beach Academy, which is working to restore rockpool habitats along the Vale of Glamorgan’s coastline, picked up nearly 300 boots in just one small area of the beach at Ogmore-by-Sea. To date, more than 400 boots in total have been found since September 2025. “Some of the boots are in pretty good condition and with some you can very clearly see they are a men’s boot,” Beach Academy founder Emma Lamport told the BBC. Beach AcademyBeach Academy’s Emma Lamport hauling boots from the shore. While the sheer abundance of the boots found along the beach is certainly abnormal, it is not the first time that local residents have found washed-up footwear. Social media posts from years past show that people have found the occasional odd boot from time to time, but nothing like the phenomenon that is now being seen. “We found one patch which was just strewn with shoes. To find so many in such a small area – I mean, we didn’t even do the entire beach – was a real surprise,” Lamport told The Telegraph. “We were a little bit unnerved because we didn’t know where they’d come from in such large numbers. With something so old and historic, the story is a real mystery.” Naturally, people began to wonder where all these boots were coming from. Possible Links To The 19th-Century Wreck Of The Frolic Beach AcademySome of the black leather boots, still in fairly good condition, given their age. One theory, Lamport explained to Bristol Live, is that the boots were originally being transported on a ship carrying cargo from Italy during the Victorian period. “The strongest theory is that the shoes come from a shipwreck called the Frolic, that hit Tusker Rock about 150 years ago,” she said. “It was carrying shoes and cargo from Italy. They were washed up the Ogmore River and every now and then they appear, especially when there has been erosion of the river bank.” Historical records show that the Frolic indeed wrecked on Tusker Rock on March 17, 1831, on its way to Bristol, leaving approximately 80 dead and no survivors. For months afterward, the bodies of its crewmembers washed ashore. Still, why would the boots it was carrying – if indeed it was carrying boots – just be washing ashore now? Dr. Michael Roberts of the Bangor University School of Ocean Sciences, who studies shipwrecks around the Welsh coast, told the BBC that he was unfamiliar with the Frolic, but it was possible that Victorian-era shipwrecks could now be starting to degrade, thus dispensing their cargos into the open sea. Tusker Rock, known as a “ship graveyard,” is just two miles southeast of Ogmore-by-Sea, so it could very well be the boots’ origin point. This is still just a theory, however. Beach AcademyExperts have stated that the boots are “clearly Victorian” in design. While this particular mystery has garnered worldwide attention for its strangeness, it also highlights a much larger issue plaguing beaches in the Vale of Glamorgan. To date, Beach Academy has removed more than 12,000 items of litter from the beaches. And according to Lamport, the company hasn’t “even started to scratch the surface” of their cleanup efforts. “We wish to restore rockpool habitats back to their original natural state by removing marine litter that has been there for some time, either embedded in sediment or trapped in the rocks,” Lamport said. If nothing else, the abundance of boots in Ogmore-by-Sea is indicative of just how much work lies ahead for the volunteers of Beach Academy. After reading about the mystery of the boots that washed up in Wales, discover the eerie reason why ships of dead bodies keep washing ashore in Japan. Then, learn about the dozens of shoes – with feet still in them – that washed ashore in Vancouver and Seattle. The post ‘We Were A Little Bit Unnerved’: Hundreds Of Victorian-Era Shoes Have Mysteriously Washed Up On A Beach In Wales appeared first on All That's Interesting.

General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and MuseumsThe Hermes head is believed to be roughly 1,900 years old. During excavations in the ancient Greek city of Laodicea, located in present-day Turkey, archaeologists found themselves face-to-face with a familiar figure: the head of Hermes, a god worshipped by both the Greeks and Romans. The Hermes statue head, expertly carved and believed to be roughly 1,900 years old, likely once adorned an important civic building in Laodicea. The discovery of the artifact underlines the regional power of Laodicea, which is believed to have been one of the most important ancient cities in Turkey’s Lycus Valley. The 1,900-Year-Old Hermes Head Found In Laodicea According to a social media post from Turkey’s General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, the Hermes statue head was found during excavations overseen by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism as part of the country’s “Heritage for the Future” initiative. Archaeologists located the artifact in the entrance corridor of the Laodicea’s bouleuterion, a public building where a civilian council met to discuss the issues of the day. General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and MuseumsThe Hermes head was found near the city’s bouleuterion, suggesting that it once adorned this important civic building. Based on the style of the Hermes head, a “Hermes Andros” depiction, experts believe that it dates to the second century C.E. It was expertly carved out of white marble from the ancient city of Dokimeion (present-day İscehisar), and archaeologists marveled at the fine details of its eyes, curls, and facial features. But the statue is more than an astounding piece of art. Its placement, outside an important civic center in Laodicea, is also a nod to the city’s prominence in the ancient world. The Importance Of Laodicea In Antiquity A. Savin/Wikimedia CommonsRuins in the ancient city of Laodicea, once a bustling metropolis in present-day Turkey. Founded in the third century B.C.E. as a Hellenistic city, Laodicea reached its heyday during the Roman period. During that time, its population soared to an estimated 80,000, and its citizens enjoyed the amenities that came with living in a powerful Roman city. Wealthy from trade, banking, and textiles, Laodicea had baths, stadiums, theaters, and administrative complexes, like the bouleuterion. And its citizens, flush with wealth, were enamored with Greek art. As such, monuments with Greek influence were built in the city. The Hermes statue seems to be one example of this admiration. Hermes, the herald god of Greeks and Romans who represented messengers, travelers, thieves, and merchants, was also linked to ideas of communication and diplomacy. Thus, the placement of his statue near the entrance of the bouleuterion, a place of civic discussion and decision-making, was apt. It’s also indicative of Laodicea’s wealth, embrace of contemporary artistic trends, and cultural importance in the Lycus Valley. Basak/Wikimedia CommonsAn impressive ancient theater in Laodicea, another indication of the city’s wealth and power in antiquity. Indeed, the city was so wealthy that it minted its own coins, which depicted Zeus, Asclepius, Apollo, and, later, Roman emperors. After a devastating earthquake in 60 C.E., which virtually destroyed the city, its citizens even rejected financial aid from the Roman emperor Nero, seemingly preferring to pay for the reconstruction out of their own pockets. Laodicea was also important during the rise of Christianity, and St. John cited the city as the location of one of the “Seven Churches of Asia.” However, the city’s good fortunes did not last forever. During the late Byzantine period, it was frequently sacked by Turks and Mongols, and the city was abandoned in the 13th century. Since then, only the bone-white ruins that dot the landscape hint at its former greatness. But excavations of the city are revealing more and more about its culture and history. The Hermes statue is thus an important and exciting find, a clear indication of Laodicea’s former might. During its heyday in the Roman period, the Hermes head would have greeted all those who passed into the bouleuterion, civilians tasked with forging the city’s golden future. After reading about the 1,900-year-old Hermes head that was found in the ancient city of Laodicea in Turkey, discover the incredible stories behind some of ancient Greece’s most powerful gods, from Zeus to Hades. Or, look through these surprising facts about life in ancient Greece. The post Archaeologists In Turkey Just Discovered The Head Of A Marble Hermes Statue Among The Ruins Of Ancient Laodicea appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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