Swimming pools pose serious risks to dogs, from drowning to chemical exposure. Many pet owners underestimate these dangers until it’s too late. We at DogingtonPost believe every dog owner needs proven dog pool safety tips to protect their furry friends. The right preparation can prevent tragic accidents and keep your dog safe around water. What Pool Hazards Threaten Your Dog Dogs face three major pool hazards that kill or injure thousands of pets annually. An estimated 5,000 family pets drown in backyard swimming pools each year, with most accidents happening in deeper water where dogs struggle to find the bottom. Dogs tire faster than humans in water, which makes fatigue a deadly risk even for strong swimmers. Emergency data shows that 18% of pool-related dog injuries stem from falls on slippery surfaces around pools, where dogs cannot grip smooth concrete or tile when they run on wet decks. Chemical Exposure Creates Hidden Dangers Chlorine concentrations above 3 parts per million cause skin irritation and eye damage in dogs within just 15 minutes of exposure. Salt water pools with sodium levels between 3,000-4,000 parts per million lead to dehydration and kidney stress when dogs drink the water. Dogs typically consume 2-3 times more water than humans while active (which increases their risk of chemical poisoning). Algae blooms produce toxins that cause liver damage and neurological symptoms within hours, while stagnant pool water harbors harmful bacteria like E. coli and Giardia. Surface Hazards Cause Serious Injuries Metal pool ladders reach temperatures of 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit on hot days, which burns dogs’ paw pads on contact. Wet pool decks become ice-rink slippery and lead to torn ligaments and broken bones when dogs run or jump. Pool covers present a false sense of security – they collapse under dogs’ weight and create dangerous trap situations. Dogs cannot see water beneath covers and may attempt to walk across them (only to fall through and become trapped underneath). The right safety equipment can prevent these hazards from harming your dog. What Equipment Protects Dogs From Pool Dangers Three pieces of safety equipment prevent most pool accidents and save your dog’s life. Neoprene dog life jackets offer better buoyancy than foam versions and work best for dogs under 25 pounds or breeds with short legs like Bulldogs and Pugs. These jackets help dogs conserve energy in water and keep their heads above the surface even when they tire. Pool alarms detect water disturbances instantly and alert you to potential emergencies within seconds (automatic safety pool covers outperform manual versions but should never replace active supervision since they can collapse under a dog’s weight). Motion Sensors and Entry Safety Systems Pool motion sensors trigger alerts when anything larger than a tennis ball enters the water and give you immediate warning if your dog falls in unexpectedly. Install these sensors 3 feet from pool edges to create a safety zone during practice sessions. Non-slip mats with drainage holes prevent bacterial growth while they reduce slip injuries by 80% on wet pool decks. Dog-specific ramps work better than ladders because most dogs struggle with ladder rungs – stairs provide the easiest exit method and prevent panic situations in deeper water. Metal surfaces reach 140-160 degrees on hot days, so choose materials that stay cool to protect paw pads from burns. Professional Installation Makes the Difference Secure pool fences prevent unsupervised access and reduce drowning risk by 73% when professionals install them properly. Gate alarms must close automatically and latch at least 54 inches high to prevent dogs from jumping over. Sensor alarms need professional calibration to avoid false alerts from wind or debris while they maintain sensitivity to detect a 10-pound dog that enters water. Replace pool alarm batteries every six months and test systems weekly to maintain reliable protection (this simple maintenance schedule keeps your safety equipment functional when you need it most). The right equipment protects your dog, but proper training teaches them how to stay safe around water on their own. How Do You Train Dogs for Pool Safety Start water training in shallow areas where your dog’s feet touch the bottom – never force them into deep water or throw them in. Dogs need gradual exposure to build confidence, and panic from forced entry creates water fear that makes future training nearly impossible. Use positive reinforcement with high-value treats when your dog voluntarily steps into shallow water, then slowly increase depth over multiple sessions. Most dogs require 8-12 training sessions to develop basic water confidence, according to canine behavior specialists. Support your dog’s chest and hindquarters during initial swim attempts to prevent them from developing poor form that wastes energy and increases drowning risk. Emergency Exit Skills Prevent Drowning Dogs must learn to find pool steps or ramps before they swim freely – this single skill prevents most drowning deaths. Walk your dog to the exit point repeatedly during each training session, and use the command “get out” while you guide them to the steps. Practice this drill 15-20 times per session until your dog automatically swims toward the exit when they enter water. Dogs panic and forget training when exhausted, so practice exit drills when your dog stays fresh and alert. Create a 3-foot safety zone around pool edges during training to prevent accidents when dogs run toward water. Boundary Commands Save Lives Train the “wait” command before you allow pool access – dogs must stop at pool edges until you give permission to enter. Practice this command daily and use treats and praise when your dog stops at the pool boundary. The “stay” command prevents dogs from jumping in when you’re not ready to supervise, while “come” immediately calls them away from dangerous areas. Dogs need consistent repetition of boundary commands before they become reliable around water distractions – this consistency builds muscle memory that works even when dogs get excited. Training methods range broadly with some using rewards and other non-invasive techniques. Test these commands with increasing distractions like thrown toys or other dogs playing nearby to simulate real-world situations where your dog might ignore training. Water Confidence Takes Time Never let your dog swim unsupervised until they demonstrate consistent exit skills for at least one month – even strong swimmers drown when they cannot find their way out. Monitor your dog for excessive panting or disorientation after swimming sessions, which indicates they need immediate intervention. Dogs tire 40% faster than humans in water, so limit initial swim sessions to 5-10 minutes and gradually increase duration as your dog builds stamina. Watch for signs that your dog’s rear end sinks in the water (this signals fatigue and means you should end the session immediately). Final Thoughts Pool safety requires multiple layers of protection that work together to prevent the 5,000 annual pet drowning deaths in backyard pools. Your dog needs proper safety equipment like neoprene life jackets, pool alarms, and non-slip mats combined with thorough water confidence and emergency exit skills. These dog pool safety tips work only when you maintain constant supervision – even strong swimmers drown when they panic or become exhausted in water. Prevention plans must include secure fences, weekly equipment tests, and emergency command practice until they become automatic responses. Dogs tire 40% faster than humans in water and cannot grip wet surfaces around pools (which makes your vigilance the final barrier against tragedy). Strong swimmers still face deadly risks when fatigue or panic strikes in deep water. We at DogingtonPost provide resources for responsible dog ownership, including expert advice on canine health, nutrition, and safety. Visit DogingtonPost for more practical care tips and the latest dog-related news to keep your furry friend safe and healthy year-round.

Bear of Little Brains' Head Tax Gets Trashed and Other Chi Town Tax Tales

Is there a good personal injury lawyer in the house? Because anyone listening to Maria Cardona this morning might have suffered a bad case of whiplash. In a neck-straining nanosecond on CNN This Morning, Cardona, a Democrat strategist who doubles as a CNN commentator, went from piously proclaiming that the Epstein matter "should be about the survivors, this shouldn't be political," and then straight to trying to pin all the blame on the Republicans. After saying that "the problem has become political not because of Democrats," Cardona proceeded to parrot the Democrat talking point that President Trump could have already released the files without the need for congressional action. Host Audie Cornish pitched in to second Cardona's notion: "Right: it's within his power." But Cornish and Cardona conveniently ignored the PSA put out by Epstein victims that the show aired just moments before. In addition to statements by several Epstein victims, the PSA displayed a screen with the stark message: "Five Administrations and We're Still in the Dark."    In other words, the entirety of the files has not been released over the course of five presidential administrations. The Trump administration has, in fact, already released tens of thousands of pages of Epstein files. That's tens of thousands more than President Biden released -- he didn't release any files. No one in the pro-Biden media expressed any alarm. It was within Biden's power too, Audie! Note: Although presidents have the ability to declassify as necessary and release files from federal agencies, they don't have the power to release grand jury testimony or files from criminal investigations. Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 11/18/25 6:08 am ET AUDIE CORNISH: The vote in the House today caps four months of political fighting on Capitol hill. But Epstein's accusers say their fight for justice has been going on for years. They just aired this PSA calling for the full release of the files. VICTIM #1: I was 14 years old. VICTIM #2: I was 16 years old.  VICTIM #3: 16. VICTIM #4: 17 VICTIM #5: 14 years old.  VARIOUS VICTIMS HOLDING UP PHOTOS: This is me. This was me. This is me. VICTIM: When I met Jeffrey Epstein. VOICEOVER: It's time to bring the secrets out of the shadows. It's time to shine a light into the darkness. [Screen displays "Five Administrations] CORNISH: You know, one person who's been leading the charge on this in the House, of course, Thomas Massie, Republican. And here was his reaction to this shift by the president, who went from actively lobbying against this discharge petition to saying, OK, fine, I'd sign it if it came to my desk.  THOMAS MASSIE: The Speaker, the Attorney General, the FBI director, the President and the Vice President could have saved us all this time and embarrassment, frankly, for our own party if they'd just done the right thing four months ago.  CORNISH: Rob, I wanted to ask you about this, because as much as Democrats have gleefully jumped onto it, he has held firm. And the four Republicans who looked Trump's folks in the eye and says, we don't care, we want this vote, it seemed like a sign of weakness on this particular topic. What's your response to his  idea that he's like, look, it didn't even have to go down this way.  ROB BLUEY: Yeah, I agree. And I think President Trump also realized what a huge distraction it was becoming to the other issues that he wants to focus on right now, namely the fact that he has this massive piece of legislation that passed over the summer, and they haven't really done an effective job of communicating that well to the American people, as you can see in the results of the recent elections.  And so President Trump, I think, recognizes that he was going to lose this vote. There was pressure building in the Senate for the Senate to take action on it. They obviously need 60 votes there. And so why stand in the way?  Now, I think it's a move that, yes, I agree with Massie. He should have made months ago. He talked about this administration being the most transparent in history. Having the release of the Epstein files would go help him make that claim.  CORNISH: Maria, is this a Pyrrhic victory? I mean, Democrats have the Epstein files, but no health care subsidies, and they're infighting about the government shutdown.  MARIA CARDONA: I mean, look, I think the bottom line is that this should be about the survivors. This shouldn't be political. I completely agree with Garrett and everyone who's been talking about how we can't lose sight of that. But the problem, it has become political not because of Democrats. This is not a Democrat hoax. This has become political because Republicans made it an issue during their campaign. During the 2024 campaign, they ran on it. And they said, let's remember, Pam Bondi said, it's on my desk. I'm about to release it, right?  Now, the reason why I think that Donald Trump's kind of faking is the fact that he wants this out is because he could put it out now if he wanted to. Why wait for this vote that will be incredibly embarrassing to him, when massive numbers of Republicans are going to vote for it, when we know that this is not something that he wants out there?  If he really wanted it out there, he could have done it four months ago -- CORNISH: Right. It's within his power. CARDONA: -- and he could do it right now.  CORNISH: Well, there's still going to be a vote, so let's look forward to the many speeches to come. 

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared on CNN News Central on Tuesday afternoon to hawk his latest book worshiping the Kennedys, but the appearance turned into an embarrassing outing as two of his broad proclamations about contemporary politics turned out to be wildly false. Between claiming the Senate was going to stymie the release of the Epstein files and suggesting the Washington Post never criticized the Saudi crown price visiting the White House, Matthews’ assertions were blown up in his face by CNN journalists. On the congressional momentum to release the Epstein files, Matthews bloviated about how “This presidency is as close to a monarchy as we've had in 250 years” and condemned how “these people [Republicans] are obeying him” and voting to release the files. Further, he predicted that “the Senate is going to do what it can to logjam this whole effort to get the truth out.” He added that his predicted Senate opposition would be part of an effort by President Trump at “hiding something. I don't know if its illegality or his pal of his; who knows what it is.” That claim spurred CNN co-host Boris Sanchez to interject and note: “To be clear, the President has not been directly accused of any wrongdoing by Virginia Giuffre or other Epstein survivors.” Apparently, the Senate doing everything they could to “logjam this whole effort” would only be for a handful of hours. Less than 10 minutes and a commercial break later, CNN chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju was live on the steps to the Capitol with breaking news: This is huge news. The Senate majority leader, John Thune, indicating that this bill just passed the United States House by a 427 to 1 vote, now could pass the Senate as soon as tonight. In fact, that is what he just told reporters just moments ago. He said that it could move fairly quickly in the United States Senate, and that there would not be any changes because of the fact that it was approved by such a large margin.     Elsewhere in his comments, Matthews lashed out at The Washington Post with wild claims that the paper didn’t offer any criticism or coverage of Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman visiting the White House despite allegedly ordering the murder of Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Matthews ridiculously added that the paper’s alleged silence was because owner Jeff Bezos was supposedly a Republican, which he wasn’t: Excuse me, the guy murdered somebody, a Washington Post reporter. And the Washington Post never mentioned today any problem with that. They never editorialized against it. 'The murderer of our reporter is meeting in the White House today, but we're not going to mention it today because it's owned by a Republican Trump guy.’ Later in the show, Sanchez called out Matthews by name as he gave Post columnist Jason Rezaian “the opportunity to correct the record” muddied by Matthew’s false claims: SANCHEZ: But, Jason, I actually wanted to give you the opportunity to correct the record on something that a previous guest said, Chris Matthews, when he was talking about the Washington Post that the paper didn't address the murder of Khashoggi today, with this visit of MBS to the White House. REZAIAN: We actually addressed it beginning yesterday when I wrote a column about the visit in advance of this. Obviously, this is something that I've been aware of for several weeks that the crown prince was coming. “But for the past seven-plus years that the Washington Post has been not only covering closely, but trying to get accountability around,” he added. “This is something that I take very personally. So, thank you for the opportunity to clear the record.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CNN News Central November 18, 2025 3:16:14 p.m. Eastern (…) CHRIS MATTHEWS: I think the idea – And the idea of MBS. Excuse me, the guy murdered somebody, a Washington Post reporter. And the Washington Post never mentioned today any problem with that. They never editorialized against it. 'The murderer of our reporter is meeting in the White House today, but we're not going to mention it today because it's owned by a Republican Trump guy.’ BORIS SANCHEZ: What did you make – MATTHEWS: The idea that you let a murderer into the White House? Then you say there was some controversy about him. What? You don't say controversy about a murderer? (…) 3:17:15 p.m. Eastern MATTHEWS: What did – Michael Johnson’s never been accused of being insubordinate. He's an obedient servant. This presidency is as close to a monarchy as we've had in 250 years. And now we're coming around to our Independence Day. I think it's awful that these people are obeying him. I don't – The Senate is going to do what it can to logjam this whole effort to get the truth out. And I think politicians – I don't know what Trump is hiding. He's hiding something. I don't know if its illegality or his pal of his; who knows what it is. I think the press shouldn't make the mistake it did during the Russian investigation last time around of assuming they know the bottom line. We don't know the bottom line. SANCHEZ: To be clear, the President has not been directly accused of any wrongdoing by Virginia Giuffre or other Epstein survivors. (…) 3:25:24 p.m. Eastern MANU RAJU: Yeah. This is huge news. The Senate majority leader, John Thune, indicating that this bill just passed the United States House by a 427 to 1 vote, now could pass the Senate as soon as tonight. In fact, that is what he just told reporters just moments ago. He said that it could move fairly quickly in the United States Senate, and that there would not be any changes because of the fact that it was approved by such a large margin. And remember, the Speaker of the House wanted changes to this bill. He resisted a vote in the House to begin with. The White House also resisted a vote for many months here. This president ultimately coming to the side of where his party was going to support this bill, and say that it should pass the United States House. And now, for the first time, we are getting a clear indication from John Thune himself that they indeed will try to quickly pass this bill. So, here are some of the mechanics in order to pass this bill tonight, he needs to have all 100 senators on board and essentially greenlight this process from advancing one. One senator, Republican or Democrat, if they were to object, he or she could go to the floor and say, ‘I object.’ And this bill would not pass. It seems unlikely that would happen, given the way the momentum has totally shifted here on this issue. (…) 3:35:23 p.m. Eastern SANCHEZ: But, Jason, I actually wanted to give you the opportunity to correct the record on something that a previous guest said, Chris Matthews, when he was talking about the Washington Post that the paper didn't address the murder of Khashoggi today, with this visit of MBS to the White House. JASON REZAIAN: We actually addressed it beginning yesterday when I wrote a column about the visit in advance of this. Obviously, this is something that I've been aware of for several weeks that the crown prince was coming. But for the past seven-plus years that the Washington Post has been not only covering closely, but trying to get accountability around. Josh and I worked very closely in the same section with Jamal Khashoggi. This is something that I take very personally. So, thank you for the opportunity to clear the record. SANCHEZ: Of course. (…)

An eight-inch-long steel pipe with end caps, a kitchen timer, nine-volt battery, and various wires — planted in plain sight under a bench at the Democratic National Committee building — somehow escaped the notice of two U.S. Capitol Police officers who walked right past it 15 minutes after a dispatcher warned of a pipe bomb at the nearby Republican National Committee building.The plainclothes counter-surveillance officers instead proceeded straight to the Congressional Black Caucus Institute building, a few hundred feet east of the DNC.‘Was it placed and picked back up and then put back out again?’One of them stopped at a large bush along the alley that led up to New Jersey Avenue. At 1:03 p.m., the officer backed up, ducked, and peered under the shrub. After a brief pause, he stood back up and continued on the return trek to the DNC. That’s where he discovered the second pipe bomb just two minutes later.These two bushes are the only ones the officers are seen looking under in the 11 minutes and 14 seconds they’re captured on available surveillance footage. What was significant enough about the bush next to the CBCI building to warrant specific attention? And why has the FBI never disclosed this detail?A new review of video footage shows that police officers stopped at the exact bush at which, 17 hours earlier, previously released footage shows the hoodie-wearing pipe bomber sitting. At 7:48 p.m. on Jan. 5, the suspect spent one minute 17 seconds near the bush — first bent over, then sitting down in front of the shrub — Capitol Police security video shows. The suspect rummaged through a backpack while sitting cross-legged, then leaned into the bush and appeared to place or attempt to place something underneath.The suspect stood up after 77 seconds and walked to the DNC building. There, the suspect sat on a park bench and, at 7:54 p.m., placed a pipe bomb under an adjacent bush, video released by the FBI showed. A January 2025 U.S. House investigative report said three teams were sent out to look for explosives after a pipe bomb was found behind the Capitol Hill Club at 12:43 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021.Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on OversightIn a matter of seven minutes early in the afternoon on Jan. 6, the USCP counter-surveillance team visited the same two venues as the pipe bomber did the night before. While their assigned task was to search for explosives at potential targets around Capitol Hill, the only locations they can be seen on camera searching are the CBCI bush and the bush by the DNC bench, where they found and reported the second pipe bomb.The significance of the CBCI bush could not have been known to police at midday on Jan. 6. U.S. Capitol Police counter-surveillance officers walk past the DNC building seven minutes before returning and discovering the pipe bomb. Once the bomb was discovered, the Secret Service acted as if it was not a threat. U.S. Capitol Police CCTV The bomber’s visit to the first bush and possible attempt to plant a bomb there are one of many details the FBI has never divulged — or even acknowledged.The discovery was made by an independent video investigator known only as Armitas, who spent more than a year examining details of the Jan. 6 pipe-bomb case. Blaze News has agreed not to print his legal name for security reasons. Armitas has assisted Blaze News in its ongoing Jan. 6 investigations. He has also spoken with congressional and FBI investigators concerning his findings.New case wrinklesArmitas alleges that the Biden FBI digitally manipulated the video of the alleged bomber released to the public. The bureau also left out major details in its public disclosures, such as the CBCI bush and the alleged bomber’s visit to the front garden of a congressional rooming house on C Street, near the Capitol Hill Club.The new wrinkles in the case only add intrigue to the long-unsolved Jan. 6 mystery.How could officers dispatched specifically to look for explosives around Capitol Hill miss the pipe bomb as they walked past the DNC building at 12:58 pm?’It was almost like a Keystone Kop comedy show.’After discovery of the first pipe bomb came across Capitol Police dispatch at 12:43 p.m., their unmarked vehicle sped from 3rd Street Southwest at E Street to the Capitol South Metro lot in under five minutes — with emergency lights on part of the way.Once parked in the Metro lot, the men spent about three minutes putting on jackets and backpacks and grabbing gear from the hatchback. They set off on foot down First Street to D Street, past New Jersey to South Capitol Street Southeast, then south to the DNC building. They walked seven-tenths of a mile — all the way from the Capitol South Metro Station near the Republican National Committee building. A two-man Capitol Police counter-surveillance team traveled by unmarked police vehicle and on foot to reach an undisclosed bush where the pipe bomber sat 17 hours earlier.Maps by Armitas/Graphic by Blaze NewsIt does not appear that the men conducted searches along the way. They stopped briefly near a dark SUV and other vehicles parked on the south side of D Street, directly across a patch of grass from the CBCI bush. Other than that, security video showed, the only locations they stopped to examine closely while on camera were the CBCI bush near the walking path and the DNC park bench.Some Capitol Police surveillance cameras that normally cover the back of the DNC building were turned away by a command from the control room during this time frame. Because of this, the two plainclothes officers were off camera for three minutes and 54 seconds while they walked from the DNC to the CBCI.When one of the counter-surveillance officers approached the DNC park bench after visiting the bush at the CBCI, this time he spotted something suspicious. He first reappeared on security video after his walk over from the CBCI at 1:05 p.m., walking to a Secret Service SUV and a Metropolitan Police Department vehicle assigned to the security detail of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. At 1:07 p.m., another Capitol Police officer on scene radioed Capitol Police dispatch:987Adam: “I’m going to declare a 10-100 [explosive] at the DNC as well, similar device as was found at the RNC as well. Advising the units on scene what’s going on.”Dispatch: “All right, where do you have your device?”987Adam: At the DNC.Dispatch: I copy. … Where at in the DNC, sir?987Adam: Right on the corner of Canal Street … and Washington Avenue.”Unknown Officer: “Sir, I need you to repeat. Do we have the same device at the DNC?”Dispatch: “A-firm sir. … The corner of Canal Street and Washington Avenue in the bushes. 987-A Adam has seen it.”Attempts by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) to conduct transcribed interviews of the two officers who discovered the DNC bomb have been blocked by the Capitol Police, Blaze News has learned.According to the FBI, the DNC bomb sat at the foot of the park bench for 17 hours, escaping the notice of U.S. Secret Service K-9 teams that swept the grounds hours earlier in anticipation of an 11:30 a.m. visit by Harris. Video shows at least two K-9 sweeps of the area after 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 6.“Why would the dog not hit on a pipe bomb that video shows was placed the night before?” Rep. Loudermilk, chairman of the House Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding Jan. 6, asked on Lindell TV. “To me, the only answer to that is the pipe bomb was not there when the dog came by.“Either it was inert, which, according to the FBI, it wasn't — it had explosives in it — or it wasn’t there,” Loudermilk said. “But we have video of it being placed. So now we need to know: Was it placed and picked back up and then put back out again? If so, why? Why did they go to that extent?”‘They were literally letting citizens walk within feet of the supposed pipe bomb.’Armitas said he believes the DNC bomb placed just before 8 p.m. Jan. 5 was retrieved overnight and replaced shortly before it was found on Jan. 6. The Biden FBI told a congressional investigator the footage on the DNC camera that would have shown any activity throughout the night after the initial bomb placement was overwritten.On Jan. 5, the suspect appeared to place the pipe bomb with the short end — where a 60-minute kitchen timer was attached — sticking out toward the sidewalk, Armitas said. When the pipe bomb was discovered on Jan. 6, the long end was sticking out, with the kitchen timer pointed into the bushes. Both observations would indicate that the device was removed and later replaced, he said. The camera that would have captured this activity was turned away from the bomb scene.Secret Service agents drove Harris within feet of the bomb location as her motorcade entered the DNC garage at 11:25 a.m. Why was placement of the DNC device not viewed as an assassination attempt? Harris has never spoken of it. The Secret Service took nearly 10 minutes to evacuate Harris after the bomb was discovered. Why the slow response?After being told there was a likely bomb just feet away, Secret Service agents sat in their vehicles for more than two minutes, finishing lunch, video shows.Even when they emerged, their nonchalant behavior was striking. Pedestrians continued to walk on the sidewalk just feet from the bomb. Commuter trains continued to run across the nearby train trestle for 15 minutes. Vehicles drove past unmolested.Experts have said police should have quickly established a blast perimeter, shut down vehicle and train traffic, and immediately evacuated the DNC building. Loudermilk compared the bomb response to the work of the Keystone Kops, the fictional, bumbling police officers of America’s silent-film era.“Once the pipe bombs were found, it was almost like a Keystone Kop comedy show,” Loudermilk told Lindell TV. “The police failed to put a perimeter around. They were literally letting citizens walk within feet of the supposed pipe bomb. There was no control. It didn’t seem anyone was in charge. It was really an embarrassment.” The Secret Service motorcade of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris pulls out of the Democratic National Committee garage at 1:14 p.m. Jan. 6, right past a pipe bomb sitting feet away.U.S. Capitol Police/Graphic by Blaze NewsSecret Service agents should never have stood at a doorway just feet from a weapon of mass destruction. One police officer tiptoed up to the park bench to snap a photo of the bomb. A sudden explosion could have killed them all.The mystery of when the pipe bomb was actually planted at the DNC building could be solved with video from the same DNC security camera that captured the alleged bomber’s movements the night before, except that the FBI didn’t seize it from the DNC when agents obtained Jan. 5 surveillance videos during the early hours of the investigation.“They encountered a couple of other detectives who had started investigating and said, ‘We have identified the person is this person in the hoodie,’” Loudermilk said in the Lindell TV interview. “‘You need to just look at the January 5 video. So no one obtained any of the video from the 6th. Then apparently all the videos have been overwritten.”The disappearance of the security video that would solve the case is another suspicious circumstance in a case loaded with them.Capitol Police security cameras with near-perfect views to the west side of the DNC building were turned by a command from the control room and so did not capture the scene at crucial times on Jan. 5 and also didn’t capture video of the bomb discovery. The FBI has never acknowledged nor commented publicly on the diverted cameras. Capitol Police security cameras were turned away from the Democratic National Committee building at key times on Jan. 6, preventing documentation of the possible re-planting of the bomb.U.S. Capitol Police/Graphic by Blaze NewsThe FBI has described the Jan. 6 pipe bombs as “viable,” though even that has since been called into question.The FBI Laboratory report on the devices said the pipe found at the Capitol Hill Club contained “low explosive black powder.” The DNC device “contained the chemical oxidizer and fuels that, when mixed in the proper proportions, can form the low explosive black powder.”The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive defines black powder as “a low explosive material comprised of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), sulfur and charcoal. While used as a propellant in fireworks and pyrotechnics, it is also used in some ammunition and muzzleloaders.”Inspector General reportWhile the Secret Service had bomb-sniffing dogs at the DNC in advance of Harris’ arrival, the K-9s were never taken into the direct vicinity of the park bench, according to a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report released to the public on Aug. 2, 2024.“The officer responsible for sweeping exterior areas said that the exterior sweep included the garage entrance ramp and some other areas near the garage entrance, including a storm drain, but did not include the bushes where the pipe bomb was located,” the report said.‘Apparently all the videos have been overwritten.’The Secret Service deleted thousands of its agents’ cellphone text messages from Jan. 5 and 6, despite being warned by congressional committees to preserve all Jan. 6-related records.The Secret Service denied any malicious intent and claimed the purge of text messages was “part of a pre-planned, three-month system migration.” However, the phone wipe began 11 days after the first records-preservation warning letter from Congress, the OIG report said.The highly critical OIG Jan. 6 report was delayed by Secret Service attempts to stifle its public release, Loudermilk said in August 2024.Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle “considered asking Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas to invoke his statutory authority to block the review in its entirety,” Loudermilk said.Like Blaze News? 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A Michigan man with the initials J.D. and the last name Vance was convicted and sentenced for making threats against Vice President JD Vance as well as President Donald Trump and one of Trump's children.The 67-year-old Grand Rapids resident was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts, according to a Monday statement from Timothy VerHey, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan.'When Vance said he planned to kill our president and the vice president simply because he disagreed with them, he crossed a line we all understand and so had to be punished.'According to the DOJ press release, the Michigan man's full name is James Donald Vance Jr., and he posted in March and April under the name "Diaperjdv" on BlueSky, a liberal harbor for refugees from the X platform. "If tRump, Vance, or Musk ever come to my city again, they will leave it in a body bag. I will either be shot by a secret service sniper or spend the rest of my life in prison. I’ve only got about 10 years of life left anyway so I don’t f**king care either way," he posted. He also wrote, "I will murder that stupid f**ker before he gets secret service protection."Vance the convict later pled guilty to one felony charge of threatening to kill or injure the president and vice president and another felony charge of interstate threatening communications.Each of the two charges carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sentenced him to a lesser term after he pleaded guilty. RELATED: Texas man allegedly threatened to shoot Trump on visit to flooding disaster: 'I won't miss' "The advent of the internet gives us all an opportunity to engage in the healthy exchange of ideas that are so important to a democracy. But some would rather use this tool to threaten and intimidate, conduct that causes fear and damages our democratic ideals," read a statement from VerHey. "When Vance said he planned to kill our president and the vice president simply because he disagreed with them, he crossed a line we all understand and so had to be punished," he added. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Volodymyr Zelenskyy — the Ukrainian leader who suspended elections, dissolved rival parties, sanctioned a political opponent on suspicion of "high treason," consolidated Ukraine's media outlets, banned a Christian denomination, and remains president despite his term officially ending 18 months ago — rose to power on a pledge to give Ukrainians "a life without corruption, without bribes."Zelenskyy's hold on power, however, now appears uncertain, as it is threatened by a historic corruption scandal that has swept up some of his closest allies.Zelenskyy, allies prove unable to hinder probeEarlier this year, the Ukrainian president and his closest aides attempted to neutralize the independent anti-corruption agencies that were scrutinizing Zelenskyy's inner circle.In July, Zelenskyy's party pushed through legislation stripping Ukraine's National Anticorruption Bureau of its independence and giving the prosecutor general, a Zelenskyy appointee, oversight. This took place the day after the State Bureau of Investigation — which is helmed by a Zelenskyy loyalist — arrested NABU officials and conducted numerous raids of corruption fighters' homes.'Zelensky faces a day of reckoning.'The director of the anti-corruption bureau, Semen Kryvonos, indicated at the time that "this pressure campaign is a direct response to the effectiveness of our investigations, including those targeting high-ranking officials and members of Parliament."RELATED: Orbán emphasizes to Trump that Hungary survives today as Christian 'island of difference in a liberal ocean' Photo by TETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Financial Times indicated that in the face of mass protests and outrage from Ukraine's Western partners, Zelenskyy and his allies ultimately had to abandon their efforts to torpedo the 15-month investigation.Zelenskyy desperately condemns his close alliesDespite the obstacles erected by the regime, the anti-corruption investigation conducted by NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office exposed an alleged $100 million kickback scheme in which Zelenskyy officials and business figures allegedly conspired to force suppliers to Ukraine's nuclear power company, Energoatom, to pay kickbacks valued at 10%-15% of each contract's value.In their searches of suspects' residences, law enforcement reportedly found duffel bags filled with cash and, in one case, a Kyiv apartment with a golden toilet.Kryvonos indicated the funds allegedly pilfered as part of the scheme have largely been dispersed through a number of foreign nations and used to purchase property and other assets, reported the Wall Street Journal.The Ukrainian president — who was "floored" by the scale of the charges made against members of his ruling clique, sources in the government told the Economist — has done his apparent best to distance himself from those named in the criminal corruption probe, which has been dubbed Operation Midas.For instance, Zelenskyy, who was not named in the corruption probe, imposed sanctions last week on one of his closest associates and former business partner, Timur Mindich.Mindich, who fled to Israel just prior to NABU's Nov. 10 raids, has been charged with allegedly managing a criminal organization that laundered millions of dollars.Mindich is reportedly a close business associate of Israeli-Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky, a backer of Zelenskyy's presidential campaign who was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine in 2023 on fraud and money-laundering charges, and a relative of Leonid Mindich, who was arrested by Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities earlier this year on charges of embezzling $16 million from an electric power company.Zelenskyy also asked his ministers of justice and energy — German Halushchenko and Svitlana Grynchuk — to resign last week, stating, "This is also a matter of trust. If there are accusations, they must be addressed. The decision to dismiss them from office is prompt and necessary."Grynchuk said in a Facebook post, "There have been no violations of the law in the course of my personal activities."Halushchenko, who served as energy minister until his dismissal in July and was removed as justice minister on Nov. 12, has indicated that he will defend himself against the accusations.According to Ukrainska Pravda, Timur Mindich allegedly built connections with Halushchenko through his relationship with Zelenskyy and then exerted influence over both the ex-justice minister and Rustem Umerov, secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council and ex-defense minister.Although Umerov is presently in the U.S., Ukraine's Center for Counter Disinformation indicated he is planning to return to Ukraine despite reports that he was hoping to stay abroad to avoid charges.Other suspects tied to the alleged kickback scheme reportedly include:Ihor Myroniuk, an ex-adviser to Halushchenko and former deputy head of the State Property Fund whose lawyer claims he was not a member of a criminal organization;former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, a close Zelenskyy ally who was removed from his position in July after being charged with bribery and abuse of office, then arrested on Tuesday on charges of illicit enrichment in connection with the alleged kickback scheme;Serhiy Pushkar, a current member of the National Energy Commission;Oleksandr Tsukerman, a Ukrainian businessman accused of running the money laundering back office in the scheme, who reportedly left Ukraine for Israel and denies wrongdoing; andDmytro Basov, former head of the Energoatom security department, who also denied any wrongdoing.Daria Kaleniuk, executive director at the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Kyiv, told France 24 on Monday that the investigation is far from over and that Zelenskyy has to look very closely into his closest inner circle, starting with his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who Kaleniuk claimed is wielding unconstitutional powers in the country and is at the heart of the problem."If there will be more attempts from Zelenskyy to attack anti-corruption bodies like there was attempt[ed] in summer, there would be also for me the clear signal that Volodomyr Zelenskyy didn't learn his lesson," added Kaleniuk.Sources close to the anti-corruption bodies made clear to the Economist that the investigation's next phase may focus on corruption in the defense sector, which may prompt greater demands for a full reset of the Ukrainian government."Zelenskyy faces a day of reckoning," a senior official told the Economist. "The choice isn’t great. Either he amputates a leg, or he gets an infection going through the whole body and dies.""I think that right now, both society and the political class understand that a political crisis would be too dangerous," Volodymyr Fesenko, a political scientist based in Kyiv, told the Financial Times. "A lot depends on the next steps of the investigation, if new information comes out that involves Zelenskyy or the office of the president ... then of course, it'll be a new round."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

With the launch of Operation Charlotte's Web in North Carolina over the weekend, some have speculated that law enforcement has stumbled upon a large number of illegal aliens in a major city. Social media was set ablaze on Monday and Tuesday as early reports were released about school attendance in one of the largest school districts in the country. 'President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.'On Monday night, WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno posted on X: "A spokesperson for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools says unofficial attendance data from today indicates that approximately 20,935 students were absent from school today. This accounts for approximately 15% of students enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools."RELATED: 'Climbing into the ceiling tiles': DHS immigration raids hit Charlotte, where 1 in 6 residents are foreign-born Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty ImagesStephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser, highlighted the report, saying, "So a conservative estimate is that one-seventh of a major southern public school district is here illegally."According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools attendance data obtained by Blaze News, attendance did indeed drop precipitously on the Monday following the commencement of Operation Charlotte's Web. Data from November 17 reveals that 30,399 students were absent, a number significantly higher than early reports suggested. Only 79.0% of the 145,030 students enrolled in the district attended school on Monday. The vast majority of those absences, moreover — 28,136 — were marked as unexcused. Blaze News also obtained data from the previous Monday. On Nov. 10, 132,043 of the 144,909 students enrolled, or 91.1%, were in attendance. Only 12,866 students were absent, most, again, unexcused. This constitutes a roughly 12% drop in attendance week over week, though there are likely other factors that contributed to this significant drop. Operation Charlotte's Web, one of the Trump administration's latest immigration enforcement operations, was launched on Saturday. The operation is set to target Charlotte, North Carolina, a well-known sanctuary city where one out of every six residents was born in a foreign country. "Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a press release Saturday. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed. There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

EPIC City was a massive Islamic compound being built in East Plano, Texas, but apparently the name was a little too much. And so the city is undergoing a rebrand.“It’s no longer EPIC City. They decided that’s causing a PR problem. Now we are going to rename this. We’re not going to stop. We’re just going to rename it something very seemingly innocuous and inviting called ‘The Meadow,’” BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey explains on "Relatable."“So this is not supposed to be a separate city, but it’s supposed to just be a neighborhood that happens to be extremely friendly to Muslims, but the same concerns exist. This would be a 402-acre community that includes over a thousand homes, a K-12 Islamic school, a mosque, senior and assisted living, apartments, clinics, shops, a community college, and sports fields,” she continues.In a 3D rendering of the Meadow, Stuckey notes that it looks “very beautiful” but that it’s not centered on a beautiful idea.“Legally, they wouldn’t be able to tell someone who is Jewish or who is Christian, ‘Hey, get out of here. You can’t move here.’ But that is essentially what it is for,” Stuckey says.“There would be a lot of controversy if any other religion besides Islam or besides one of those Eastern religions was doing this. And the reason why people are upset about it, at least people on the right, Christian conservatives, is simply because of the cultural change that it causes,” she continues.While many on the left see nothing wrong with a melting pot of religions, Stuckey points out that we “don’t believe in moral relativism.”“When you have a people who believe entirely in Sharia, who have an entirely different view of women and human worth and rights and right and wrong, it is totally fair to ask: Is that congruent with the Constitution? Is that congruent with the American community that we have created?” she asks.“The problem — Charlie Kirk talked about this a lot — is not individual Muslims. It’s Islam as an ideology. Islam as a collective belief system. And when you look throughout the world at the fruit of Islamic collectivism, the result has been chaos and violence and the degradation of the human person and human dignity. That is just true,” she continues.“Not all belief systems are the same,” she says. “Not all worldviews have the same fruit.”And they’re not the same.“When you know that about 99% of all worldwide designated terrorist groups are Islamic, you have a good reason to say, ‘Huh, do we want a high concentration of people who buy into that ideology to have their own basically independent system here in the United States or in the state of Texas?’” Stuckey says. “Completely justified.”Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

President Donald Trump called on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to investigate ABC News and consider pulling its license for its “fake” reporting.'I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong.'During Trump’s bilateral meeting with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, an ABC News reporter pressed the president about the delayed release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.“Why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?” the ABC reporter asked.“It’s not the question that I mind; it’s your attitude,” Trump replied. “It’s the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who’s highly respected, asking him a horrible, insubordinate, and just a terrible question. You could even ask that same exact question nicely.”“You’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter,” the president remarked. Trump reiterated that he had “nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” adding, “I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert.”RELATED: With Trump's blessing, House approves resolution to release the Epstein files: 'We have nothing to hide' President Donald Trump, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty ImagesHe slammed the legacy media outlet for ignoring the relationships liberal political figures had with the sex predator. “All these guys were friends of his. You don’t even talk about those people,” Trump said. “I just got a little report, and I put it in my pocket, of all the money [Epstein has] given to Democrats. He gave me none. Zero.”He called ABC a “crappy company.”RELATED: Epstein emails SHAME Obama/Clinton ally: Larry Summers quits public life amid calls for Harvard to cut ties Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images“I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong,” Trump declared, presumably referring to the news outlet’s broadcasting license obtained through the Federal Communications Commission.“We have a great … chairman, who should look at that,” he added. “I think when you come in and when you’re 97% negative to Trump and then Trump wins the election in a landslide, that means obviously your news is not credible and you’re not credible as a reporter.”Trump told the ABC News reporter that she could not ask any more questions during the bilateral meeting.ABC and the FCC did not respond to a 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!