United States Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) recently sent a letter to the commissioner of America250, a taxpayer-funded project, requesting information about its alleged attempts to "undermine" the nation's founding principles.America250, a "nonpartisan initiative," is tasked with orchestrating celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July 2026. The commission was established by Congress in 2016.'Finance projects that either distract from our founding or advance divisive ideologies.'According to its website, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission aims to "engage Americans across the country in designing the largest and most inclusive anniversary observance in our nation's history." Lee's letter, obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, stated that the commission has received $50 million in taxpayer dollars to fund its activities."It is no secret today that younger Americans are losing touch with the principles of our founding," Lee wrote. "This has been intentionally accomplished by the hands of those who wish to dismantle our great nation and diminish the moral legitimacy of our system of government.""As a member of the Congressional America250 Caucus, it has been brought to my attention that the Commission is serving as a taxpayer-funded vehicle to advance and promote radical ideologies that undermine the principles found in our Declaration," he continued.Lee listed a number of alleged actions by the commission, including staffing a "Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion," who received $140,000 a year. In 2022, the former president of America250 "announced a partnership with the 400 Years of African American History Commission, asserting that 'our national story begins long before 1776 ... from 1619 to the present,'" Lee noted in his letter. Additionally, the commission announced funding awards to organizations holding activities promoting and discussing "social justice" and "digital equity," Lee claimed."Having been given $50 million in taxpayer funds to finance your activities, it is concerning to think future appropriations will also be used to elevate anti-American figures and finance projects that either distract from our founding or advance divisive ideologies," Lee wrote to the commissioner.Lee requested information from America250, including "a full accounting of every organization" that has received funding or made financial contributions. Lee also demanded a "full accounting of how all taxpayer money has been used" and a "comprehensive report detailing the work performed by" its vice president of DEI.An America250 spokesperson denied the claims, telling Blaze News, "We reviewed Senator Lee’s letter and believe he was given inaccurate information. For example, we do not have a DEI officer, nor did we issue grants to the organizations he lists. We look forward to formally responding to Senator Lee's letter, including pointing out additional inaccuracies in the concerns raised. We hope to meaningfully collaborate with Senator Lee as we work with more than 170 members of the bipartisan Congressional America250 Caucus to build a 250th celebration that will make all Americans proud."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After all the mechanical malfunctioning in its Boeing 737 planes, you'd think United Airlines would be doing everything in its power to keep customers coming back. But apparently that's not the case. In fact, United Airlines is booting people off planes. Recently, a woman and her 16-month-old baby were kicked off a United Airlines flight when the mother accidentally misgendered a nonbinary flight attendant. In a video, which has since gone viral, the mother explains how she, her mother, and her baby were “denied boarding" because while “speaking to one of the flight attendants, [she] got their pronouns wrong.” Woman & Family Kicked Off This Airline for Saying This? youtu.be If that wasn’t bad enough, the plane crew “took [their] luggage,” which contained vital medications for both the woman and her mother. “I said ‘I'm really sorry ... I'm not very versed with pronouns,”’ she recounts in the video. “I was holding my son. He was having a temper tantrum. I had the car seat on my back. I wasn't really focusing on anything except getting my son's car seat on the flight and getting him comfortable and safe.” The United crew deemed the situation a “hate crime” and allegedly barred the woman from flying United ever again. “We don't even know how we're going to get back today,” she told the camera. “I don't know what to do ... I don't know what my rights are here.” While Dave Rubin “can't speak to the legitimacy of her claims,” he does think it’s highly probable the mother was “not causing a real problem on the plane" — not to mention it’s a scenario we’ve seen a hundred times before. “That is why these woke things are so dangerous,” he says. “They are breaking down the very fabric of society.” To see the footage of the mother recounting her nightmarish United Airlines experience, watch the clip above. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Players from the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds engaged in a lengthy patriotic standoff following the national anthem before an Independence Day game in the Bronx, New York.What started with at least five players participating in the standoff was whittled down to a final four as Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman finished warming up. Reds pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers, along with Yankees pitchers Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet, stood firmly with their hats over their hearts well after "The Star-Spangled Banner" had finished.'I don't have anything to do today. I'm staying until I win, get ejected, or both.'Bally Sports Cincinnati reporter Jim Day explained what was happening in front of the dugouts."We've got a good, old-fashioned baseball game and a good, old-fashioned standoff," Day said, reviewing recorded footage."You don't see these much in Major League Baseball any more, but Graham Ashcraft, Carson Spiers, three Yankees on the other side ... they've been at attention for a good five to 10 minutes at this point," Day added, throwing back to the live feed.With the four players remaining, none seemed willing to budge, even as umpires told the players to get off the field. First-base umpire Jonathan Parra was seen laughing as he attempted to reason with the Yankees players, who remained stone-faced and looking straight ahead while chewing gum."It wasn’t even planned," Ashcraft told MLB.com. "All of us, we're glancing over. We saw they weren't moving. One of the guys told Carson [Spiers] to stay. I was like, 'I'm staying with you because I'm not moving. I don't have anything to do today. I'm staying until I win, get ejected, or both," the pitcher recalled.Luckily for the participating players, home-plate umpire Alan Porter extended the standoff when he left to get more equipment. The players were then warned that if they kept up their antics once the first batter stepped in, they would all be ejected.Spiers was the first to leave, leaving Ashcraft to face the two Yankees. After at least 10-15 minutes, depending on the report, the Yankees decided to step down, leaving Ashcraft as the fist-pumping winner."If you're going to win, you've got to win, right?" Ashcraft told reporters. First baseman Spencer Steer added that he thought it was "pretty awesome" and gave the team "a little edge."Perhaps that edge worked, as the Reds won the game 8-4.The Fourth of July follies could have gone much worse, however, as history has shown that umpires are not always as accepting as they were at Yankee Stadium.An umpiring crew was not happy when a standoff caused a delay before a 2022 game between the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals.Mariner Robbie Ray and Royal Luke Weaver were both ejected after home-plate umpire Adrian Johnson tried to wave the players back into the dugout.What at first seemed like a victory for the Mariners when Weaver moved first turned out to be an ejection for both players. The game was already three minutes late when the players were thrown out of the game.It seems that some umpires have a better sense of humor than others.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

President Joe Biden released a lengthy statement reiterating his intent to push through the criticism and speculation about his ability to face former President Donald Trump in the presidential election. The development comes after a growing number of Democrats have urged the president to step down and let someone else take the reins.Biden's statement started by saying, "I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Trump." — (@) Following Biden's catastrophic debate performance against Trump late last month, many Democrats have become discouraged by the president's mental acuity. Rob Reiner recently took to X, saying that it was time for Democrats to "stop f***ing around," alluding to a much-needed presidential candidate who stands a better chance against the opposition. 'Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us.'Reiner's sentiment was echoed by Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Roy Disney, co-founder of Walt Disney Company, who said that she would not provide cash donations to the Democratic Party until Biden was removed from the presidential race."I intend to stop any contributions to the party unless and until they replace Biden at the top of the ticket. This is realism, not disrespect. Biden is a good man and has served his country admirably, but the stakes are far too high," she said."If Biden does not step down, the Democrats will lose. Of that I am absolutely certain," she added. "The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire."Despite these calls for the president to give the candidacy over to someone else, he stated in the letter that "I have heard the concerns that people have — their good-faith fears and worries about what is at stake. I also know these concerns come from a place of real respect for my lifetime of public service and my record as President, and I have been moved by the expressions of affection for me from so many who have known me well and supported me over the course of my public life.""I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn't be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024."The statement went on to reiterate that no one else within the Democratic Party received the same amount of support as Biden did, noting that "I have received over 14 million votes, 87% of the votes cast across the entire nominating process. I have nearly 3,900 delegates, making me the presumptive nominee of our party by a wide margin."It went on to state that while Trump is siding with "the wealthy and big corporations," the Biden administration is focused on "the working people of America."Instead of addressing the issues many Democrats have with Biden, the letter instead reiterated the president's policies, noting that "we are the ones lowering cost for families — from health care to prescription drugs to student debt to housing. We are the ones protecting Social Security and Medicare. Everything they're proposing raises costs for most Americans — except their tax cuts, which will go to the rich."The letter concluded by calling for unity among Democrats, saying that "any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Microsoft is banning Android phones from its workplace in China for privacy and security reasons. According to Bloomberg News, Microsoft staff will have to ditch their Android-powered devices in favor of iPhones starting in September. Special iPhone apps will be required for China-based employees to verify their identities when logging in to work computers or phones. The internal memo revealed by Bloomberg highlights Microsoft's global Secure Future Initiative to ensure all staff uses Microsoft Authenticator and Identity Pass apps. Microsoft decided to ban Android phones because the Google Play Store isn't available in mainland China. Instead, Android users must rely on app stores made by local smartphone vendors, such as Huawei and Xiaomi. Still, Redmond has chosen to block access to its corporate resources from those devices because "they lack Google's mobile service in the country." That said, Microsoft will provide an iPhone 15 for any staff with Android handsets as a one-time purchase. More interestingly, even Microsoft's Hong Kong offices, where Google's services are accessible, will also require the use of iPhone devices. Bloomberg notes that Microsoft started ramping up security worldwide after "incurring repeat attacks from state-sponsored hackers." A few months ago, the company's executive vice president, Charlie Bell, wrote: “We are making security our top priority at Microsoft, above all else—over all other features.” With a recent Russia-linked breach disclosed in January that affected dozens of US government agencies, including the State Department, Microsoft wants to ensure its employees and partners are safe. The company is even committed to moving faster to address cloud vulnerabilities and make it harder for hackers to steal credentials. While using an iPhone doesn't guarantee complete protection against possible attacks, Microsoft can at least ensure employees can have their own authentication apps without issues. In addition, Apple offers specific privacy features, such as Lockdown Mode, for those who think they might suffer from hacker attacks. Don't Miss: 10 billion stolen passwords shared online in record-breaking leak The post Microsoft China bans Android, forces staff to use iPhones instead appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $53 HP Chromebook, $850 M3 MacBook Air, 20% off LG C4 OLED TV, $28 Echo Dot, more Today’s deals: Early Prime Day sales, $50 Ring Doorbell, $80 Keurig coffee maker, $470 Dyson V11, more Best July 4th deals: Apple sale, $30 mosquito repellent, $50 Waterpik, $70 SodaStream, 36% off eero, more Best Apple deals for July 2024

Faced with much higher numbers of migrants arriving at the border, President Joe Biden has greatly increased deportations – including those of families – in federal fiscal year 2023 and the first five months of the 2024 fiscal year, outpacing Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden being defeated in November's election will end the Department of Justice's weaponization against former President Donald Trump and his supporters, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said.