Trump to UNRWA: Sod Off, Hamas Symps

Are We About to See Ramp Up of Trans Violence?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is taking his ongoing battle with GOP leadership in the state Capitol to the rest of Florida to explain that the legislature's immigration bill is not only "weak" but "destructive."DeSantis said during a roundtable on Thursday that one of the main problems with the legislature's bill is making the commissioner of agriculture, not the governor, the sole person who would coordinate with the federal government to address illegal immigration in the state. DeSantis said not only that he believes the bill is unconstitutional, but also that there was a Democrat commissioner of agriculture during his first term.House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) told Florida's Voice on Wednesday that he has not spoken to DeSantis during this ongoing controversy."If the governor were to call me today ... I'd pick it up. He's the governor of the state of Florida; he's a co-equal branch of government. That hasn't happened, and if he would've called after the special session, I've made it known I would have answered," Perez said.'Our office has not declined any effort to discuss policy.'When Blaze Media asked DeSantis during Thursday's roundtable to confirm that his office had reached out to Perez's office, he said his office reached out to the speaker's office before the special session was convened but did not hear back."These are small, petty things. I had reached out prior to the session, especially, and didn't get a response. I don't need [Perez] to show up to my office. ... I just need to get the job done for the people, right? I don't need to get any attention. I don't need to get any fanfare. I don't need to get any credit for this," DeSantis explained. "I hope that the legislature would listen to the [constituency]."DeSantis added that he thinks there has been too much attention on who does or does not call or talk to whom during the debate over the bills."Honestly, who cares about any of that? What you care about is we've got a mission; voters charged us with it. Are we putting their issues and interests first, or are you worried about other diversions? We are laser-focused on this," he said, reminding the audience that the legislature did not want to have the special session in the first place."We sent proposals to all members of the Florida Legislature and even published them on our website to invite discussion and feedback. Our office has not declined any effort to discuss policy. Indeed, we have been and are open to any legislative member that would like to sit down and talk policy," DeSantis chief of staff and soon-to-be state Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a statement.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Authorities in New York announced the arrest of eight people allegedly involved with the kidnapping and sex trafficking of a Long Island teen girl who went missing for 25 days. On Dec. 9, a 14-year-old girl went missing from her home in East Patchogue.'It was a gift from God. I can't describe the feeling I had when I grabbed her.'The girl's father allegedly found his daughter on a boat docked in Islip on Jan. 3. Suffolk County police confirmed to People magazine that the teenager was found on that date but did not reveal the details of where and how she was discovered. The New York Post reported that 52-year-old Jacquelyn Comiskey is accused of transporting the girl to the home of Bunice Knight in exchange for crack cocaine. Another suspect, 34-year-old Elizabeth Hunter, is linked to the allegations of abuse of the teen, according to court documents. Newsday reported that "Hunter is accused of spending a week in December with the teen on the boat, where she is alleged to have taken nude and sexually explicit photographs of the girl that she used to advertise the teen for sex in exchange for drugs and money, prosecutors said at her arraignment."Comiskey and Hunter both were charged Tuesday with sex trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child. Both women have pleaded not guilty.Hunter also was charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child and endangering the welfare of a child. She pleaded not guilty. District Court Judge Evan Tanenbaum set bond for Hunter and Comiskey at $1.5 million. They remain in custody at the Suffolk County Jail.The missing teen allegedly was found aboard Francis Buckheit's 56-foot boat, which reportedly was docked at an Islip marina.Buckheit was arrested Jan. 3 and hit with charges of kidnapping, rape, and endangering the welfare of a child.Just 10 days later, Bunice Knight was arrested and charged with a count of rape and three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance.Three other men were arrested and charged in the case: 63-year-old Alton Harrell, who was arrested Jan. 17, and 63-year-old Daniel Burke and 63-year-old Robert Eccleston, both of whom were arrested Jan. 24.Harrell, Burke, and Eccleston all were charged with kidnapping, rape, and endangering the welfare of a child. All three have pleaded not guilty. On Wednesday, an eighth suspect was arrested in connection with the missing Long Island teen.Kevin McDonald, a 20-year-old man from Medford, has been charged with second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.Prosecutors accused McDonald of raping the teen inside a car on Dec. 10, then dropping her off at a hotel in Bohemia.McDonald pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Suffolk County District Court.Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said, "I thank God that this child is now safe, but we’re going to certainly look into the circumstances behind how she went missing and the responsible parties." The girl's father told News 12 Long Island that "it was 25 days of hell" before his daughter was "alive in my arms. It was a gift from God. I can't describe the feeling I had when I grabbed her."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Senate Republicans unanimously voted to advance Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Office of Management and Budget, through the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday. Despite Senate Democrats' efforts to boycott the vote altogether, Vought's nomination will now be considered by the whole Senate. 'They chose not to be here. It's their right not to be here.'Vought's advancement comes just days after the Trump administration implemented a federal funding freeze on billions of dollars of loans and grants. The OMB announced the freeze in a memo Monday night, citing the need for a thorough ideological review of existing programs. "The use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and Green New Deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve," the memo reads. "This memorandum requires federal agencies to identify and review all federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the president's policies and requirements.""Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing American priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending 'wokeness' and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again," the memo reads.The freeze caused a frenzy among Democrats, prompting senators on the left side of the aisle to boycott the procedural vote for Vought's nomination altogether. Notably, Vought has not yet held a role or served in the OMB during Trump's current administration. "They're not here," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Thursday, referring to the Democrats. "They chose not to be here. It's their right not to be here." The administration later rescinded the memo in order to "end any confusion created by the court's injunction." Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified Wednesday that the president's executive orders on "federal funding remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Seriously? Texas Authorities Investigating Dad for Some Snow Day Fun (WATCH)

After Phoning It in As Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg Dares Lecture Trump on Leadership

'You've Got Two Minutes': Kash Patel's EPIC Clapback at Amy Klobuchar Wins the ENTIRE Hearing

Buttigieg Furious After Trump Calls Him a ‘Disaster’ With a ‘Line of Bull’ During Crash Press Conference

Unconstitutional: Appeals Court Tosses Ban on Handgun Sales to Adults Under Age 21