Republican representatives from California will have to fight for their survival in the 2026 midterms as Democrats redraw the Golden State’s congressional maps to increase their districts after passage of Proposition 50. Proposition 50, which California voters supported by about a 2 to 1 margin in this year’s election, will temporarily suspend the state’s’s independent redistricting commission so Democrats can increase their representation by about 5 seats.  California Gov. Gavin Newsom justified the redistricting effort by claiming it was in response to redistricting in Texas and other red states. The new congressional map is expected to flip several congressional districts blue, including the ones currently represented by California Republican Reps. Doug LaMalfa, Kevin Kiley, Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, and David Valadao. Issa, Valadao, and Kiley are expected to come under immense pressure come the 2026 midterms. California’s 52 congressional seats are currently occupied by 43 Democrats and just 9 Republicans. While President Donald Trump secured nearly 40% of the Golden State’s vote in 2024, less than 20% of the congressional seats are occupied by Republicans. California is already #1 in the nation for poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. So now Newsom has set his sights on a new distinction: #1 in gerrymandering.Princeton's Gerrymander Project called the Prop. 50 map one of the two worst gerrymanders in the last 50 years. pic.twitter.com/j25ZiMr6Es— Rep. Kevin Kiley (@RepKiley) November 1, 2025 Issa and Valadao have fighting chances to keep their seats, whereas Democrats are looking to district Kiley out of Congress entirely. Issa Prepares for a Fight Valadao and Issa both also supported the One Big Beautiful Bill, which enshrined much of President Donald Trump’s agenda into federal law. The bill provided about $100 billion for border enforcement, modernization of the U.S.’s air traffic control system, preserved and expanded Trump’s tax cuts, and increased the child tax credit, among other things. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll continue to represent the people of California — regardless of their party or where they live,” Issa said in a statement following Tuesday’s election results. Issa’s new district drawn by the state legislature has turned his seat from solid red to light blue.  Issa is serving his second stint in Congress. He first came to Washington in 2001 and held his seat until 2019. During his first stint, he chaired the House Oversight Committee from 2011 to 2015 and managed Congress’ response to the Obama-era IRS scandal. Issa returned to Washington in 2021 and has kept his seat with a strong, conservative voting record. The Southern Californian has robust conservative bona fides. He has earned an A+ rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America by voting for legislation like the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and a resolution condemning attacks on pro-life facilities and churches. Issa has also supported the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act that would make it against federal law for schools that receive federal funding to allow males to participate in athletic programs meant for girls and women. Valadao Looks to Hold On Like Issa, Valadao has served two separate stints in Congress. His first stint ran from 2013 to 2019, but he returned to Washington in 2021. Valadao has likewise received an A+ from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America scorecard. Valadao’s new district will still likely be red, with it reportedly going, according to Punchbowl News, “from a seat President Donald Trump won by six points to one he won by two points.” Valadao’s office was not immediately available for comment. Does Kiley Have a Chance? Meanwhile, Kiley, who currently represents California’s 3rd congressional district, will face a steeper uphill battle. His district’s new borders now encompass a region that went for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential bid by 10 points.  Kiley, a member of Congress since 2023, has yet to announce whether he will seek reelection, but the prospects of flipping the 3rd district are already enticting Democrat challengers, as Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., has declared his intention to run. Other Republicans find themselves in a similar situation to Kiley. Calvert is campaigning for California’s new 40th congressional district, which includes greater than 50% of the district he presently represents. But he’ll have to face off against Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., the current representative for the 40th district, who has said she will run for reelection in the solidly-red new district as well. The post California Republicans in Hot Water Thanks to Newsom Redistricting Effort appeared first on The Daily Signal.

About That Trillion Dollar Payday for Elon

When there’s crime, I blame the criminal. But Dallas politicians blamed a business. Dale Davenport owned Jim’s Car Wash. But five years ago, after a shooting at the property, the city ordered him to shut it down. Why did they target his car wash?    When I first investigated this story, Davenport told me he was a “model citizen,” doing everything local politicians asked of him: “They said build a 6-foot fence. I built an 8-foot fence. Then they said, put up signs. I already had signs up, so I put up more signs. Then they told me to put up lights. I already had lights up, so I put up more lights.” That didn’t stop the city from closing him down. “Murdered my business, is what the city of Dallas has done,” says Davenport. Many cities have policies that allow them to close a business if the owner conceals crime. But Davenport didn’t conceal anything. He did the opposite -- when he saw crime, he called 911. The politicians then used his 911 calls as evidence against him. “They said (I’m) a public nuisance ... this is absolutely crazy.” It is. By closing his car wash, the community lost a neighborhood hub. Local residents called it a “good place for the community.” People would visit local businesses while waiting for their cars to be washed. “Businesses next to my car wash, their business is down 40-50%,” says Davenport.     Why, in a high-crime neighborhood, did politicians go after just one business where the owner did everything politicians requested? Probably because some Dallas politicians are corrupt. After they told Davenport to hire security guards, “they told me, you’ve hired the wrong guard company,” says Davenport. “A city councilman had an armed guard company that they wanted me to tender my business to.” That councilman was James Fantroy. He was later convicted of stealing $20,000 from a college. “Look at the corruption,” says Davenport. “Look how many city councilmen have gone to jail.” My video replays local news reports: “Former Dallas city council and Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is just the latest now in a long list of public officials who have been jailed over the years ... Paul Fielding ... Dallas councilman convicted for conspiracy and fraud ... There’s Don Hill. His payments from a housing developer ... sent both of them to prison.”  If Dallas politicians want to reduce crime, it seems like they should shut down the city council. Instead, they shut Davenport’s business. Did it work? Has crime gone down? No. Today, five years later, the neighborhood has the highest violent crime rate in the city. Davenport showed us what his old neighborhood looks like now. There’s a homeless camp just across from where his car wash once was.  Surprisingly, just a couple miles away, a new car wash is opening. Why do they get to open, but Jim’s can’t? Because Dallas politicians don’t like him. “I know right from wrong,” says Davenport. “This is wrong.” Texas has now passed a law that says if cities do shut a business, they must pay the owner a sum equal to his losses. That would be good. Compensating owners is only fair. But here’s a better idea: Stop electing corrupt politicians, and don’t let them shut businesses in the first place. Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Government Gone Wild: Exposing the Truth Behind the Headlines.”

Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity. Glenn Beck. Charles Krauthammer.Stephen Colbert?Oscar-winner George Clooney says running Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket last year was a Democratic boo-boo.“The Late Show” host opened up in a new interview with GQ Magazine, the bible for liberal men who practice what Adam Carolla calls the “deep-crease” leg cross. Colbert talked on a range of issues, but one probably caught everyone by surprise.Turns out he’s pretty conservative. Just ask him.“People perceive me as this sort of lefty figure. ... I think I’m more conservative than people think. I just happen to be talking about a government in extremis.”One, that’s funnier than anything Colbert has said in ages. Two, it’s part of an age-old practice where progressives insist they’re more fair ’n’ balanced than conservative yokels even realize.Three? Show us the “Late Show” monologue that reflects a conservative viewpoint during his 10-year run on the program. We’ll wait ...Mr. Clooney regretsNow he tells us.Oscar winner George Clooney says running Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket last year was a Democratic boo-boo.Clooney, starring in the awards season drama “Jay Kelly,” told “CBS News Sunday Morning” that Democrats needed a rigorous primary process to pick a successor to the very healthy, not remotely unwell Joe Biden.That’s not all, though.“I think the mistake with it being Kamala is that she had to run against her own record. ... It’s very hard to do if the point of running is to say, ‘I’m not that person.’ It’s hard to do, and so she was given a very tough task. I think it was a mistake, quite honestly.”Wait ... what’s wrong with the Biden-Harris record? Weren’t we talking about adding a fifth head to Mt. Rushmore for a spell, that of the magnificent Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.? Didn’t Harris’ border czaring save the planet?It’s almost as if Clooney is lost without a script ...RELATED: Kamala Harris pushes to lower voting age to 16 — in honor of 'climate anxiety' Blaze MediaNo remorseKristin Chenoweth breaks easily, apparently.The film and Broadway star dared to share a human emotion following the assassination of Charlie Kirk."Didn’t always agree but appreciated some perspectives. ... What a heartbreak. His young family. I know where he is now. Heaven. But still."Right on cue, the far-far-left ghouls savaged her on social media. And instead of telling said ghouls to rhetorically “drop dead,” she quasi-retracted said human emotion on social media.Now, reflecting on the matter, she shared how close she came to “breaking.”“It was tough on me, but I’m not going to answer any questions about it because I dealt with it. It nearly broke me, and that’s all I’m going to say. You probably know my heart, so you probably know.”Handle with care? She deserves the same warning label as that “Christmas Story” leg lamp — fragile ...Spike’s spiteThis just in — Spike Lee is mad.The auteur has made being grumpy part of his brand. He’s a New York Knicks fan, so part of that crankiness comes naturally. He’s also constantly complaining about a certain president. And over the years, he’s whined about Hollywood robbing him early and often.The poor guy has only two golden statuettes.Now, he’s complaining that his latest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” got buried by Apple.The Denzel Washington film came and went in theaters (just 200 screens) in August, jumping quickly to Apple TV. He initially praised Team Apple for supporting the film, acknowledging how the industry was changing and he had to adjust along with it.He’s had a change of heart.“I am not happy,” he told the Wall Street Journal about the film’s blink-and-you-miss-it theatrical rollout.This critic saw “Highest 2 Lowest,” and he’s not happy to have lost two hours of his valuable time ...‘Predator’ prideYou can’t blame Hollywood for dragging our favorite Predator back in front of a camera. The industry just suffered a terrible, no-good month of box office woes, and audiences care more about existing properties than original stories.Sad, but true.So another “Predator” movie was, like Thanos, inevitable.“Predator: Badlands” hits theaters this weekend, but with a twist. The creature that hunted Ah-nold and killed all his military buddies back in 1987 (spoiler alert?) returns, but this time he’s the good guy.What?Yup. He and his robot sidekick (Elle Fanning) are the heroes in the new film. What’s next, a story making us care about Cruella de Vil and why she became the monster we saw in “101 Dalmatians”? Or a story sharing how the Wicked Witch of the West was actually just a misunderstood gal who suffered bullying in her peer group?Oh, wait.

Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced key legislation on Friday to ensure that military bases respect their commander in chief. Blackburn introduced the Respect the Chief Act in response to reports of military bases failing to display portraits of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. In response to the bases and military officials who may be motivated by ideology rather than tradition, Blackburn's legislation would formally require the portraits to be displayed, according to bill text obtained exclusively by Blaze News. Rather than allowing this tradition to be carried out at the discretion of commanders, who sometimes may be 'leftists,' Blackburn decided to take matters into her own hands.“The president of the United States is the Commander in Chief, and chain-of-command boards at America’s military bases should reflect current leadership,” Blackburn told Blaze News. “The Respect the Chief Act would ensure military bases continue this long-standing tradition and prevent leftists from disrespecting the chain of command.”RELATED: Exclusive: Republican senator introduces bill slashing funds to anti-American governments Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty ImagesBlackburn's legislation came in response to the suspension of Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez, a commander at Fort McCoy who failed to install photos of Trump, Vance, and Hegseth at the base back in April. Following the scandal, Blackburn recognized the lack of formal federal statutes and regulations that require these customs to be upheld. Rather than allowing this tradition to be carried out at the discretion of commanders, who sometimes may be "leftists," Blackburn decided to take matters into her own hands. RELATED: Democrat senator makes stunning admission about Obamacare failures Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesIn addition to mandating the display of the portraits of the president, vice president, and secretary of war, Blackburn's bill would require the separate military branches within the Department of War to submit reports to the executive branch confirming that all displays of leadership reflect the current chain of command. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Astonishing surveillance video from a Hollywood gas station shows the moment when a woman pulled a male intruder out of her car and threw him to the ground with ease.The woman, Star Carter, was sitting in the driver's seat of her red Alfa Romeo at the gas station Tuesday when a male stranger walked up and tried to open her passenger door, KCBS-TV reported.'It was just like that Kendrick Lamar verse [from "Peekaboo"] was playing in my head, you know like, "Bing bop boom bop boom bop bam!"'Her husband, Michael Carter, was pumping gas at the time and was on the other side of car."I stood up and was like 'Get outta here!' and then I walked around this way," Michael told KCBS, motioning toward the passenger side of the car.But after Michael got back in the passenger seat, the crook sneaked back and opened the driver-side rear door closest to the gas pump and actually got into the back seat, video shows."I'm wrestling with him inside the car," Michael told the station, "and I'm kinda pushing him and pushing him, and all I know is he just disappeared." With that, Star's husband smiled and told KCBS that "I'm looking over the back, and I said, 'Oh ... ohhh!'"Michael's, shall we say, starstruck reaction was due to the fact that his wife got out of her driver's seat, got to the back door, ripped the intruder right out the car, and tossed him to the ground."I don't condone violence, but I do condone self-defense," Star told KCBS in the aftermath.RELATED: Check out 14 times regular folks turned the tables on violent crooks over the last year: 'Thank God we had our guns' Star described what song was on her brain's playlist in that moment, telling the station that "it was just like that Kendrick Lamar verse [from 'Peekaboo'] was playing in my head, you know like, 'Bing bop boom bop boom bop bam!'"With a laugh, she added to KCBS, "That's all I remember. I'm so embarrassed."Wisely, the intruder ran off after Star introduced him to the concrete.But she also had some parting advice for him: "I just said, 'Don't you ever do no stupid [word redacted in KCBS video] like this again!'"The station said the Carters actually continued their night out, going to a comedy show at the Hollywood Improv.The couple's unsurprised daughter later told KCBS that "my mommy, she was in like fight or flight — but she definitely fought, and he definitely took flight."Star added to the station that she believes the intruder was on drugs at the time of the incident: "I don't know what this dude is capable of doing at all."In the end, her husband was grateful that Star stood up to the crook."She is indeed my hero," Michael noted to KCBS with a laugh in the aftermath. "Thank you, Star!"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A simple Google search stopped being simple a long time ago. With sports scores, flight costs, and news articles being integrated into the engine over the years, it seemed the search giant could not pack any more ways to push its verticals into the engine. But it's still trying.If 2024 was the year of the small modular nuclear reactor — which were approved en masse to power AI — 2025 may be the year of the gambling partnership.'Just ask something like "What will GDP growth be for 2025?"'Google and Disney's ESPN have both inked new deals with gambling websites that will further increase the visibility of betting into everyday life.Why not gamble?Google announced in a blog post on Thursday it will integrate both Kalshi and Polymarket into its engine "so you can ask questions about future market events and harness the wisdom of the crowds."The pleasant descriptors for the American trading websites can be further summarized by noting they are simply platforms for gambling on nearly anything.At the time of this writing, Kalshi's feature bet is who will be nominated for Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys. On Polymarket, users can bet on when the government shutdown will end, who will win the Super Bowl, or on the price of Bitcoin.Google says, "Just ask something like 'What will GDP growth be for 2025?' directly from the search box to see current probabilities in the market and how they've changed over time."RELATED: Trump DOJ ends battle with Polymarket after Biden's FBI raided CEO following 2024 election Photo by Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images Popular gaming (not for kids)ESPN decided to end its partnership with Penn Entertainment early, just two years into a supposed 10-year deal. ESPN provided a $38.1 million buyout, according to Sportico, and then turned around and linked up with DraftKings immediately.Where Penn operates casinos and slots in addition to its online sportsbook, DraftKings is not your father's gambling dynasty. Instead, the brand is fully immersed in the culture, consistently appearing as a sponsor on popular YouTube channels that target a younger demographic.What started as a company meant for fantasy drafts has evolved into a gambling empire that tends to skew younger and has a more lenient platform in terms of what types of sports bets are allowed.Interestingly, Penn Entertainment previously owned Barstool Sports before selling it back to founder Dave Portnoy, who would also later partner with DraftKings.RELATED: Alex Stein: A third dildo has hit the WNBA court — now sports fans are betting when the next will strike Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images No EscapeDraftKings has previously partnered with professional sports teams and leagues in the past, including those in the NFL, MLB, and NBA. Now, after also announcing a deal with NBCUniversal in September, the company's ads will appear across every major sports league's broadcasts.This includes NFL, PGA Tour, Ryder Cup, Premier League soccer, NCAA football, NBA, and the WNBA, as well as Super Bowl LX, NBA All-Star Weekend, and the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup.On ESPN, the integration will be more betting-based, with the network saying it will roll out DraftKings in ESPN's full "ecosystem" to offer at least three DraftKings products starting in December.With search engines, networks, sports leagues, and YouTubers all jumping on board with the gambling revolution, it seems a betting culture is being fully immersed into all facets of the economy ... and life itself.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

OpenAI is under the spotlight after seemingly asking for the federal government to provide guarantees and loans for its investments.Now, as the company is walking back its statements, a recent OpenAI letter has resurfaced that may prove it is talking in circles.'We're always being brought in by the White House ...'The artificial intelligence company is predominantly known for its free and paid versions of ChatGPT. Microsoft is its key investor, with over $13 billion sunk into the company, holding a 27% stake.The recent controversy stems from an interview OpenAI chief financial officer Sarah Friar gave to the Wall Street Journal. Friar said in the interview, published Wednesday, that OpenAI had goals of buying up the latest computer chips before its competition could, which would require sizeable investment."This is where we're looking for an ecosystem of banks, private equity, maybe even governmental ... the way governments can come to bear," Friar said, per Tom's Hardware.Reporter Sarah Krouse asked for clarification on the topic, which is when Friar expressed interest in federal guarantees."First of all, the backstop, the guarantee that allows the financing to happen, that can really drop the cost of the financing but also increase the loan to value, so the amount of debt you can take on top of an equity portion for —" Friar continued, before Krouse interrupted, seeking clarification."[A] federal backstop for chip investment?""Exactly," Friar said.Krouse further bored in on the point when she asked if Friar has been speaking to the White House about how to "formalize" the "backstop.""We're always being brought in by the White House, to give our point of view as an expert on what's happening in the sector," Friar replied.After these remarks were publicized, OpenAI immediately backtracked.RELATED: Stop feeding Big Tech and start feeding Americans again — (@) On Wednesday night, Friar posted on LinkedIn that "OpenAI is not seeking a government backstop" for its investments."I used the word 'backstop' and it muddied the point," she continued. She went on to claim that the full clip showcased her point that "American strength in technology will come from building real industrial capacity which requires the private sector and government playing their part."On Thursday morning, David Sacks, President Trump's special adviser on crypto and AI, stepped in to crush any of OpenAI's hopes of government guarantees, even if they were only alleged. "There will be no federal bailout for AI," Sacks wrote on X. "The U.S. has at least 5 major frontier model companies. If one fails, others will take its place."Sacks added that the White House does want to make power generation easier for AI companies, but without increasing residential electricity rates."Finally, to give benefit of the doubt, I don't think anyone was actually asking for a bailout. (That would be ridiculous.) But company executives can clarify their own comments," he concluded.The saga was far from over, though, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seemingly dug the hole even deeper.RELATED: Artificial intelligence is not your friend — (@) By Thursday afternoon, Altman had released a lengthy statement starting with his rejection of the idea of government guarantees."We do not have or want government guarantees for OpenAI datacenters. We believe that governments should not pick winners or losers, and that taxpayers should not bail out companies that make bad business decisions or otherwise lose in the market. If one company fails, other companies will do good work," he wrote on X.He went on to explain that it was an "unequivocal no" that the company should be bailed out. "If we screw up and can't fix it, we should fail."It wasn't long before the online community started claiming that OpenAI was indeed asking for government help as recently as a week prior.As originally noted by the X account hilariously titled "@IamGingerTrash," OpenAI has a letter posted on its own website that seems to directly ask for government guarantees. However, as Sacks noted, it does seem to relate to powering servers and providing electrical capacity.Dated October 27, 2025, the letter was directed to the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy from OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Christopher Lehane. It asked the OSTP to "double down" and work with Congress to "further extend eligibility to the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain; grid components like transformers and specialized steel for their production; AI server production; and AI data centers."The letter then said, "To provide manufacturers with the certainty and capital they need to scale production quickly, the federal government should also deploy grants, cost-sharing agreements, loans, or loan guarantees to expand industrial base capacity and resilience."Altman has yet to address the letter.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fired DOJ Staffer Says He Threw a Sandwich at an Officer to Protect the Rights of Immigrants

No Butts About It: Authorities Determine Cause of Massive Bronx Explosion