The ride service group Lyft recently announced a new program called “Women + Connect.” The program is set up to help women and non binaries “increase their chances of matching with more women and nonbinary riders.” One of its employees is a transgender woman‚ so a man‚ who is looking forward to driving other “women” around. The new program‚ built in partnership with groups like the Human Rights Campaign‚ It’s on Us‚ National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives and the National Sheriffs Association‚ seeks to cultivate “good vibes” with queer drivers and queer passengers.  “Conversations that turn into friendships. Comfortable silence. A nod that says ‘I get it.’ Women+ Connect empowers women and nonbinary riders and drivers‚” the webpage said.  Lyft partnered with transgender influencer Davie Felton. Feltin‚ who lists his pronouns as “she/her” and wrote “magic‚ queer‚ purple” in his bio‚ has almost a million followers on TikTok.  Most of his videos talk about transgender rights and his experience being misgendered but there’s also a wide selection of him dancing‚ posing and singing to his camera. It’s weird.  Who better to represent “women” than a man?  At the end of last month‚ Feltin posted his paid partnership with Lyft announcing his excitement to be part of the Women + Connect group.   Feltin and his car‚ “Maxine‚” have been “driving with Lyft for over six years. “Women + Connect is a feature that matches women and nonbinary drivers with more women and nonbinary riders‚” Feltin said in the video. “I’m so excited! This feature offers more control over the driving experience for women and nonbinary people allowing them to feel more confident in the car.” I would be feeling the opposite of “confident” if Feltin was my driver. If I saw him in the driver seat I had scheduled to pick me up‚ I’d cancel the service. If you aren’t smart enough to know that you are a man or a woman and live a delusion‚ you aren’t smart enough to operate a vehicle. This program launched in September of last year but was only available in select cities. Now however‚ to Feltin’s delight‚ the service will be available nationwide.  In response‚ many people plan to boycott Lyft.  Leftism‚ a group who posts on X wrote‚ “There are many alternatives to Lyft. Use them. Don't give Lyft your business. Let's make them Bud Light 2.0‚” and later added the hashtag “#BoycottLyft.” “Lyft is begging to be the next Bud Light. Do they really think that women feel safer being driven by a biological man in womanface? #BoycottLyft‚” another user wrote. “#BoycottLyft  I'm so over this shit. Some women have real trauma at the hands of men and deserve a safe option‚” someone added. Many users pointed out the danger having Feltin as a “woman” driver could pose. “#BoycottLyft @lyft is calling this feature 'Women+' which means that women who don't know what they're signing up for may choose this service thinking they'll be safe with women‚ not knowing that this is actually a service that will allow predators to find us more easily‚” a user wrote. Unfortunately Lyft’s alternative‚ Uber‚ isn’t much better. That company has been vocal about its support for abortion and includes abortions (as well as travel expenses) for women on its healthcare plan. While I understand that Lyft wants to help bridge connections from one freak to another‚ it looks like Lyft is going to be the next victim of “get woke‚ go broke.”

The bar was so lowered for him that all Joe Biden had to do was finish his State of the Union address for the in-the-tank leftist media to declare it a successful launch to his 2024 campaign. But they went overboard as they celebrated Biden’s “fiery” and “feisty” speech and his “punch in the face” to the GOP.  In sharp contrast‚ the official Republican response by Senator Katie Britt was met with derision as the New York Times deemed it a speech full of “smiles and menace.”  The following are just a few of the over-the-top reactions to the State of the Unions address from Biden’s cheerleaders in the press:    A “Feisty” and “Fiery” Biden Had a “Fire in His Belly”      “This was a feisty speech that‚ at times‚ felt more like a rowdy campaign event than a traditional State of the Union address. The President‚ well aware of the stakes‚ pitted his message directly against Donald Trump’s‚ repeatedly sparring with Republicans in the room in a way we’ve never really seen before. The President trying to show voters he is ready for a fight and has what it takes to serve another four years….A fiery President Biden kicking off the general election.”— Chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce on ABC’s Good Morning America‚ March 8.      “President Biden delivering a mix of energy‚ humor‚ combativeness as well as plenty of ad-libs directed at his Republican critics. From President Biden a feisty State of the Union address...relishing the back and forth with Republicans.”— Correspondent Peter Alexander on NBC’s Today‚ March 8.     “This seemed to me to be a speech designed first and foremost to show that Joe Biden has the stamina and the fire in the belly to go another four years. It was designed to be delivered with high energy. He even broke into a call and response at one point and Democratic lawmakers played along. He told jokes.”— Correspondent Nancy Cordes on CBS’s live coverage of the State of the Union address‚ March 7.    Biden “Ready to Fight‚” “Punch In the Face” to GOP     “This was his ‘How ‘bout them apples?’ speech….. It was like a punch in the face to every Republican in the room….By the end‚ Lindsey Graham was slouched in his seat with his arm folded‚ chuckling like it was John McCain up there….Waving of the white flag by the [Republicans]....I mean Mike Johnson’s face‚ I think‚ told the whole story….Everybody knows that this was a great speech and everybody knows that if this is the message going into the next eight months‚ the polls will soon reflect that….A really remarkable State of the Union.— MSNBC Deadline:White House host Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC’s live coverage of the State of the Union address‚ March 7. “I thought the speech was very high caffeine. I think Joe Biden woke up this morning‚ had a cup of coffee and had his Wheaties — he was definitely there to fight….He came in there tonight ready to fight for the presidency. To fight for the White House in a way that I think I did not expect. The speech was incredibly aggressive. He opened….with World War II‚ Hitler‚ appeasement‚ and then he went right for the people in front of him. He said‚ ‘My predecessor and some of you- some of you‚ have sought to bury the truth about January 6’ and he accused a member sitting right in front of him of seeking to bury that‚ then he kept punching.”— MSNBC’s The ReidOut host Joy Reid during MSNBC’s live coverage of the State of the Union address‚ March 7.   Started the Speech in “Fifth Gear”      “If you are going to set the stakes for a political moment‚ you can’t set them any higher than 1941 fighting before World War II. So‚ he [Joe Biden] set them immediately‚ he started in fifth gear….The only other historical moment that you would pick that has equal weight is the Civil War and he name-checked that too and why? He’s calling on the ghosts of January 6‚ which aren’t even ghosts. There are people in that room there who helped that happen….and one of America’s leading political parties in a democracy has just nominated or is going to nominate in a democracy‚ to be their candidate‚ someone who has worked actively to undermine democracy.”— CBS chief political analyst John Dickerson on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‚ March 7.   Biden “Met the Moment‚” “Hit Hard”      CNN anchor Jake Tapper: “Dana Bash‚ what did you think? You’ve been to a lot of State of the Union addresses. Do you think that President Biden met the moment?”CNN anchor Dana Bash: “He certainly met the moment that his members of his party‚ those who are really upset and worried about this coming election year and frankly‚ what would happen if he didn’t win another time because of their concerns about who’s on the other side of the ticket. They wanted him to be a fighter and — boy — fight‚ did he deliver.”— CNN’s live coverage of State of the Union address‚ March 7. “A lot of Democrats over the past few weeks have been panicking. I’ll bet the vast majority of them feel better tonight. Because the President did hit hard….This was the old time religion‚ the middle-class‚ working-class‚ labor-Democrat agenda. And he reached for it again and again and again‚ both in terms of the values. That line‚ ‘you can’t love your country only when you win.’ The best line of the speech. Fair play and decency are bedrock values in the middle-class. No matter who people voted for‚ the notion that you don’t love your country if your guys lose doesn’t sit well with them. And then right across that economic agenda‚ hitting again and again and again‚ middle-class‚ middle-class values.”— Correspondent Terry Moran during ABC’s live coverage of the State of the Union address‚ March 7.   “Scranton Joe” Was “Impassioned‚” “Engaged” and “Pissed Off!”      “I have been saying for months and months and months that Joe Biden is old‚ yes‚ he’s slower of step‚ yes‚ but he is far from being incoherent‚ from having dementia‚ from not being in charge. Yesterday he showed he is engaged. He was impassioned. He was pissed off. Scranton Joe showed up and fought. He had his gloves on from moment one.”— Co-host Ana Navarro on ABC’s The View‚ March 8.   GOP Response = Full of “Smiles and Menace”  “With a sunny‚ inviting smile‚ Senator Katie Britt of Alabama welcomed Americans into her kitchen on Thursday night. Many soon backed away nervously….Britt delivered a jarring speech that toggled between an increasingly strained cheerfulness and a fierce glare as she gave ominous warnings about illegal immigration….She sat at her kitchen table and painted a dark picture of an America in decline.”— Reporters Michael C. Bender and Kayla Guo in March 7 New York Times article “Katie Britt‚ With a Smile and a Fierce Glare‚ Delivers G.O.P. Response to Biden.”

What’s the most upsetting thing about the sentence‚ “An illegal alien violently murdered a 22-year old nursing student?” If you work in the corporate news media‚ the answer is the word “illegal.” During his 2024 State of the Union address on Thursday‚ President Biden stoked the ire of left-wing journalists and talking heads alike when he (accurately) referred to Laken Riley’s alleged murderer as “an illegal [alien].” The news media rushed to the violent felon’s defense‚ bravely reminding the President that “no human being is illegal.” Watch the media response below:     During the March 9 edition of CNN’s The Chris Wallace Show‚ New York Times podcast host Lulu Garcia-Navarro scoffed that Biden had “used the word illegals to describe people‚” adding: “we normally don’t use that word because people are not illegal.” While filling in as a host for Ayman Mohyeldin’s MSNBC show‚ neoptism beneficiary Paola Ramos — the daughter of open borders advocate and Univision reporter Jorge Ramos — declared sternly: “To be clear‚ no human being is illegal.” She then assailed viewers with the sort of diatribe one might expect from a blue-haired millennial humanities professor: You may be wondering‚ “Why does this matter‚” right? “It’s just a word. Who cares?” Well‚ language matters. The words we use to describe each other matters [sic]. And unlike Trump‚ Biden understands that words can shape our reality‚ and that words can have real-world and dangerous consequences. Just to reiterate‚ Ramos was referring to Biden’s legally accurate description of a man who is accused of bashing in the skull of a 22-year old girl. One shudders to imagine the kind of mean words that produced such a dangerous consequence. After less than two days of being chastised by Democrats‚ the corporate press‚ and advocates for the murder of nursing students‚ Biden eventually apologized for his innocuous language during an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart. Capehart later remarked to Mohyeldin on March 9: “He understands‚ or understood‚ the damage that he caused‚ and he was very eager to make amends.” What an embarrassing time to be a journalist.

Like the rest of the liberal media‚ NBC News was a reliable ally over and over and over and over and over again for the pro-lockdown crowd during the coronavirus pandemic (and those links were a small sampling)‚ but as we saw on Monday’s Today‚ the network believes something entirely different when it comes to common sense law enforcement measures during spring break in South Florida to counter what had been years of chaos and violence. As per correspondent Sam Brock‚ it’s meant a lot of “pressure” on and “sacrifice for some businesses” to the point that it’s “devastating.”  Gee‚ where was this when the federal government under the last President and most governors (except for a few‚ such as Florida Republican Ron DeSantis) when they locked down Americans for months on end‚ causing devastating economic and mental ruin? The story on spring break was billed as merely a look into how a surge of law enforcement was panning out. Co-host Savannah Guthrie spoke in one of three teases of “[t]he unprecedented crackdown in Miami Beach” triggering “smaller crowds”. In the third tease‚ Brock raised concerns about the surge of law enforcement to ensure order was both “total transformation in Miami Beach” and “sacrifice for some business”.     The setup to Brock’s report had it right‚ though‚ with co-host Hoda Kotb expressing relief that “the headlines that surround” spring break in Miami “have definitely changed” and Guthrie noting “[w]e’re not hearing about the chaos and violence like recent years”. Brock started off by explaining one of the other changes “has been the barricades” that “were up and down Ocean Drive and the street over from that and the street over from that‚ keeping chaos‚ guys‚ to a minimum”. That said‚ he huffed‚ the law and order has placed “some pressure on businesses too”. Showing snippets of chaos from recent years with “unruly crowds” and “fatal shootings” that “darken[ed] the sun-soaked celebrations” and precipitated a change‚ Brock brought up the “DUI checkpoints and barricades to block parking” before pivoting to a narrative that this move by DeSantis and Florida law enforcement has harmed stores. Then‚ he even called it “devastating” with the lack of chaos merely an “upshot” (click “expand”): BROCK: Police making more than 140 arrests so far‚ utilizing DUI checkpoints and barricades to block parking‚ which you’ll see in front of Tracy Revell’s store‚ The Baked Bear‚ on nearby Washington Avenue. TRACY REVELL: To know that our sales are down from the previous week pre-spring break‚ that’s a huge impact for me. [TO CUSTOMER] This one is a pistachio. BROCK: Revell is grateful for the safety measures‚ but says the restrictions are eating         into her profit business at least 20 percent. [TO REVELL] Can you fault the city for taking these steps? REVELL: It’s kind of hard to fault them because‚ again‚ we want them to be safe. [SCREEN WIPE] But we don’t want Miami to shut down. We want people to want to come to South Beach. BROCK: Right down the street — [TO ARTEAGA] Under normal circumstance how crowded would this restaurant be right now? EDUARDO ARTEAGA: I would have at least half of the tables and maybe some people at the bar. BROCK: [TO ARTEAGA] So it would not be — [CUT TO VOICE OVER] Bolivar restaurant is empty at 6:00 on a Sunday. ARTEAGA: I don’t know. I mean‚ if you’re a customer and you want to — you see look‚ oh‚ Latin American restaurant and you have no place to — to park‚ what can you do? BROCK [TO ARTEAGA]: So‚ this right here is devastating for business? ARTEAGA: Yeah. This is devastation for us. BROCK: The upshot for the city and South Florida is that order is being restored. “In a place that’s traditionally been a spring break haven for rowdy college students‚ now as millions flock here to unwind‚ it’s partying with parameters‚” Brock added. Only in tossing back to the co-hosts did Brock share “a lot of businesses are in support of these measures‚ certainly for the safety components” even though “the enhanced parking restrictions like these barricades are going from Thursday through Sunday chunks for the next couple of weekends and then‚ also‚ we’re looking at a situation where all the parking garages in South Beach are closed for next weekend as well.” “[B]ut the breakup has been successful so far as we have not heard any reports of violence or shootings and‚ of course‚ that is the best news we could be delivering‚” added‚ finally deciding to play Captain Obvious. Guthrie did try to have it both ways‚ fretting how the parking restrictions and added police “kills [people] to lose that business‚ but drastic measures it had gotten to the point of no return.” “It’s why you can’t have nice things‚” Melvin replied. In reaction to blowback from his report on X‚ Brock claimed in a tweet to Florida Voice’s Brendon Leslie these criticisms are unwarranted: To see the relevant NBC transcript from March 11‚ click here.

In a survival situation‚ ensuring you get enough protein will make a big difference. But you can’t always depend on electricity to be there. The post How to Preserve Stock &; Meat ForLong-term Food Storage appeared first on Survivopedia.

The social commentary about the death of diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion programs across the country is so dramatic and hyperbolic you’d think it was written by Tyler Perry. It also proves that many people are just as vulnerable to racial propaganda as they were four years ago. At that time‚ everyone from politicians to pastors bought the lies that a Marxist‚ anti-God‚ anti-family‚ anti-capitalist‚ pro-abortion organization was fighting for racial uplift.Why?The black progressives having a meltdown about the death of DEI are either misinformed or spreading disinformation.Because progressives seem utterly powerless in the face of slick slogans and three-letter acronyms. The people who were duped by Black Lives Matter are proving they didn’t develop any natural immunity to the type of race-craft that has become the left’s specialty. The newest controversy is centered on the University of Florida’s decision to eliminate all of its DEI programs to comply with state regulations. Emmitt Smith‚ the NFL’s all-time leading rusher‚ released a statement criticizing the move. Smith played for the University of Florida before becoming a star running back with the Dallas Cowboys.I’m not surprised that he thinks the death of DEI is an attack on racial equality. Athletes get their information from the same sources as the average American‚ so anyone who tunes into CNN‚ MSNBC‚ or ESPN is bound to receive and repeat the progressive spin on these issues.The bigger problem is that the social commentators who control the flow of information and shape public opinion are just as clueless as the athletes. Stephen A. Smith talked about the issue and linked DEI to affirmative action‚ Jim Crow laws‚ slavery‚ and voting rights.Roland Martin and social commentator Lawrence Ross suggested that black athletes should leave schools that have eliminated DEI programs. Ross went so far as to say that the University of Florida doesn’t see black athletes as human.I think athletes‚ like all college students‚ should go to schools that serve their needs. No school has a right to a five-star running back or all-state small forward. But young black men shouldn’t be making those decisions because men who are old enough to be their fathers are poorly informed and easily spooked.The truth is that DEI programs are about ideological conformity‚ which is how the left defines “diversity.” But there is nothing “diverse” about people who look different being coerced to believe the same thing. That won’t stop progressives from trying.The associate dean of DEI at Stanford’s law school supported students who heckled and harassed a Trump-appointed judge last summer. That university official‚ Tirien Steinbach‚ didn’t affirm a commitment to hearing diverse points of view when Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan was interrupted. Instead‚ she said his speaking engagement was “tearing the fabric of the community” and that his past rulings “land as absolute disenfranchisement” of her students’ rights‚ all to audible finger-snaps from the audience.Princeton’s diversity office includes several people with “they” pronouns in addition to several positions focused on sexual orientation and gender identity. I doubt that people who believe there are only two sexes feel very welcomed on campus.The former DEI chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital sent out a New Year’s message in January with a list of “privileged” identity groups‚ which included white people‚ heterosexuals‚ “cisgender” people‚ and Christians. Progressives see this type of rhetoric as perfectly normal‚ but I’m not sure how many lives will be saved at a hospital just because doctors believe it’s a privilege to be white.A large part of what DEI administrators do is “protect” students from ideas they don’t want to hear and ensure progressive dogma is always obeyed.One of the other problems with DEI initiatives is how quickly they turn into massive‚ costly bureaucracies. A report released earlier this year found that the University of Michigan employs 241 DEI staff members for a cost of $30 million per year. In addition to cost‚ it’s important to note the decentralized nature of DEI programs‚ evidenced by the fact that even Michigan’s botanical garden and arboretum has a DEI strategic plan.The black progressives having a meltdown about the death of DEI are either misinformed or spreading disinformation — a repeat of their behavior surrounding BLM.In that case‚ an LGBT activist group used the deaths of black men at the hands of the police to market itself as a 21st-century racial justice organization. But the truth is that none of BLM’s 13 guiding principles mention the words “police‚” “violence‚” “brutality‚” or “black man.”This is why‚ in some ways‚ DEI should be understood as a second coming of BLM.What the organization did talk about at length was its sexual politics. This is why the co-founders proudly proclaimed to be “queer-affirming” and “trans-affirming.”The co-founders went even farther when it came to the family. Their “Black Villages'' principle starts with a commitment to dismantling the nuclear family. With all the media appearances BLM’s co-founders made in 2020‚ I don’t remember a single progressive journalist asking them why an organization that claims to be for black people is against the traditional family structure.The organization continued pushing its radical‚ self-destructive ideas until people found out that even Marxists like hosting parties at million-dollar mansions.The manufactured controversy about the death of DEI shows that the people who control the creation‚ collection‚ and dissemination of information have become increasingly partisan and ideological. Their transformation from experts to know-nothings has made them more effective political operatives but far less effective at informing the public.Hard-core leftists are far craftier than the journalists‚ pundits‚ and athletes they use to spread their message. Ideologues know how to string words together and construct phrases in ways that make opposition unthinkable for most people.The death of these programs is not something black students need to fear. The main reason the DEI bubble is bursting is that these programs have next to no value‚ aside from helping companies defend themselves against charges of racism‚ sexism‚ homophobia‚ and transphobia. More people are starting to realize that a large part of what DEI administrators on college campuses do is “protect” students from ideas they don’t want to hear and ensure progressive dogma is always obeyed.Universities have turned into expensive therapy centers for the most well-off young adults in the country. There is no need for black students to add to the anxiety and fear on college campuses. The old men on social media are doing enough of that for everyone.

Just as Texas reached its limit with Biden’s open border policies and proposed Texas Senate Bill 4‚ which would allow the state to arrest illegal immigrants‚ the Supreme Court stepped in and halted progression. Now‚ Texas once again has its hands tied with the invasion at the border — at least until March 13‚ when SCOTUS will make a final ruling. “We can't enforce our laws; we can't keep our border sovereign‚” sighs Sara Gonzales. To make matters worse‚ “We're finding out there was a FOIA lawsuit from the Center of Immigration Studies that revealed that the Biden administration has been coordinating flights for approximately 320‚000 illegal immigrants to 43 different cities across the country.” “You don't even have to walk these days‚” says Sara. “You can just get a free flight‚ free money‚ free debit card‚ free phone — free everything‚ but if you're an American citizen‚ no. If you’re a homeless veteran‚ stay on the streets.” “It's so blatant‚ and you may see the Supreme Court end up taking the position of the Federal Government because I do not think that they want freer states‚” adds Eric July of Rippaverse Comics. How Texas would respond to such an unfavorable ruling poses some serious implications. According to Eric‚ if SCOTUS blocks SB4 and prevents Texas from protecting its borders‚ the state must take the position of “we don’t care” and decide to protect the border anyway‚ regardless of what that means on a national level. Sara agrees — “What are they going to do? You already have Border Patrol who is calling out Joe Biden and saying he is doing a horrible job ... and they have already come out and said we respect the Texas National Guard.” “Maybe violence breaks out‚ but maybe that’s what it has to come to.” Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

A Chinese crane manufacturing company at the center of a congressional espionage investigation denied posing a threat to United States national security‚ Fox Business reported‚ citing a recent filing.The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party and the House Homeland Security Committee opened an investigation into Chinese-built ship-to-shore cargo cranes located at U.S. seaports after the Department of Justice warned last year that the equipment could be a Trojan horse‚ the Wall Street Journal reported. The probe found that several seaport cranes‚ made by Shanghai-based manufacturing company ZPMC‚ contained communication devices that were not requested‚ including over a dozen cellular modems. Engineering group ABB manufactured devices that were installed on the cranes‚ Fox Business reported.The Homeland Security Committee noted that the devices do not "contribute to the operation of the (ship-to-shore) cranes or maritime infrastructure and is not part of any existing contract between ZPMC and the receiving U.S. maritime port."One seaport where the devices were found told the committee that the modems were likely installed on the crane when they were built in China in 2017. The devices were later removed in 2023.When the DOJ initially expressed concerns about a potential national security threat‚ China responded by stating the accusations were "paranoia-driven.""The accusation that China uses ship-to-shore cranes to collect data is completely unfounded. The U.S. needs to respect the principles of market economy and fair competition‚ and provide a fair‚ just and non-discriminatory business environment‚" China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.The American Association of Port Authorities claimed the accusations were "sensational."In a recent filing review by Fox Business‚ ZPMC also denied the allegations."ZPMC takes the U.S. concerns seriously and believes that these reports can easily mislead the public without sufficient factual review‚" the company stated. "The cranes provided by ZPMC do not pose a cybersecurity risk to any ports.""Cranes supplied by ZPMC are used in ports around the world‚ including the United States. These cranes are designed‚ manufactured‚ transported‚ installed and commissioned‚ and delivered after acceptance in strict accordance with international standards‚ applicable laws and regulations‚ and technical specifications determined by customers‚" ZPMC announced‚ according to China Daily.The company added that it will continue to comply with laws and regulations.ABB told Fox Business‚ "Since July 2023‚ ABB has engaged with the U.S. House of Representative Committee on Homeland Security and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party as they research port security issues.""We take the Committees' requests seriously. We disagree with the characterization of ABB's work in the port sector‚" the company added.President Biden signed an executive order last year appropriating $20 billion for the production of seaport cranes to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

California Democrats on the state Assembly Judiciary Committee are poised to advance a radical piece of legislation that would use taxpayer funds to help illegal aliens who have been charged or convicted with violent felonies fight deportation. Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D) suggested in a statement last month that the One California Immigration Services Funding program "has failed to match California's commitment to equity‚ as the program prohibits funds from being used to assist certain individuals who had past interactions with the criminal legal system." In hopes of making life easier for criminal noncitizens‚ Jones-Sawyer introduced AB 2031‚ the so-called "Representation‚ Equity‚ and Protections for All Immigrants Act." The bill notes that existing law permits the State Department of Social Services to direct taxpayer funds to nonprofit outfits via contracts "in order to provide persons with certain immigration-related legal services." Presently‚ such grants are aimed at legal services for unaccompanied illegal aliens under the age of 18 who have been transferred to the care and custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and are present in the state. Under AB 2031‚ recipients of such legal services need no longer be current or former California residents. Now‚ they merely need to have "an intent" to reside in California. Additionally‚ the illegal alien-facing services would be expanded to include "legal representation and related services for removal defense." The most contentious part of the Democratic bill is its proposed removal of the current prohibition on the "use of the grant funds to provide legal services to an individual who has been convicted of‚ or who is currently appealing a conviction for‚ a violent or serious felony." Accordingly‚ California taxpayers would effectively fund legal efforts to help iIlegal aliens like those who allegedly murdered beloved Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley‚ 2-year-old Jeremy Poou-Caceres of Maryland‚ and Ruperto Mondragon Salgado of Dallas stay in the country and possibly even eliminate their sentences. "For as long as I have been in state office‚ I have worked towards ensuring people are given a second chance and have championed efforts to prevent people from being treated as second-class individuals‚" said Jones-Sawyer. "The REP for All Immigrants Act ensures racial justice and truly equitable access to crucial immigration services for all – not some." Assemblyman Bilal Essayli (R) noted on X‚ "These are the exact policies that led to the murder of a nursing student in Georgia‚ Laken Riley." Responding to the bill on X‚ South African billionaire Elon Musk wrote‚ "When is enough enough?" Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R) said "AB 2031 is completely UNACCEPTABLE. Why do they want to prioritize immigrant rapists &; murderers over everyone else?" — (@) Sanchez noted further that the Assembly Judiciary committee would be holding a hearing on the bill Tuesday and asked her followers to "call your legislators to let them know your opinion on it." Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D) is the chair of the Judiciary Committee. Diane Dixon (R) is its vice chair. The members of the committee are as follows: Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D); Isaac Bryan (D); Damon Connolly (D); Matt Haney (D); Brian Maienschein (D); Tina McKinnor (D); Blanca Pacheco (D); Kate A. Sanchez (R); Eloise Gomez Reyes (D); and Marie Waldron (R). While critics have noted that Jones-Sawyer's bill will help criminal noncitizens at the expense of American citizens‚ Shayna Kessler‚ associate director for advocacy with the New York-based Vera Institute of Justice‚ appeared to figure that to be the point‚ suggesting that the "current criminal exclusion exacerbates systemic racism in the criminal legal and immigration systems." "California must remain a leader in protecting its immigrant communities and pass the California REP4All Act to advance universal legal representation for all people facing deportation‚ regardless of their interaction with the criminal legal system‚" added Kessler. Mashih Fouladi‚ executive director at the California Immigrant Policy Center‚ intimated that having citizens bankroll the legal defense of convicted murderers and rapists is a matter of helping vulnerable families. "The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is proud to support and co-sponsor the REP4All bill that would ensure immigrant families have access to the legal services and resources they need to thrive with safety and stability – regardless of an individual's criminal history‚" said Fouladi. "Publicly funded immigration services protect the most vulnerable families in our state and improve the quality of life of all Californians." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

UFC fighter Sean Strickland elicited strong responses after posting a video in which he said that United States Navy SEALs would not be able to handle his training regimen.Strickland‚ a recent UFC middleweight champion‚ is no stranger to controversial rants. This includes his recent video post comparing his fitness to that of military special operations training."I don't think there's one f**king Navy SEAL who could survive a week training with me. I'm kind of sick of seeing it 'cause like you guys think you're bada**‚" Strickland said in a video from inside a car."Come train with me for a week‚ I'll show you what's up. I'll f**king break you‚" he added.Strickland's words garnered a response from actual Navy SEALs‚ both good and bad.Former SEAL Jimmy Watson posted a video in direct response to Strickland's‚ mocking the fighter for comparing the training. Watson stated that while Strickland's training could get people hurt‚ a SEAL training exercise could result in death."Sean‚ we get it‚ you're a bada**‚" Watson began. "Your training partners get millions of dollars‚ and they actually live. My swim buddies‚ they die every single year. Do you have any idea what that means? We've already proven that any kind of beatdown will not break us‚ but our training will simply just end your career‚ Sean.""I'm talking about skin grafts on the thigh‚ Sean. You talk about taking people's souls from their body? Well‚ me and my boys we've actually taken a lot of real souls from people‚ you know what I'm saying bro?" Watson continued.The former SEAL added that Strickland's training "doesn't kill dudes every single year‚" ending with "advice" for the UFC fighter: "Stay in the Octagon‚ keep fighting for that next purse and U.S. SEALs‚ we'll keep fighting for freedom‚ brother."Watson's video has been viewed on Instagram approximately 550‚000 times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jimmy Watson (@mightywarrior2023) Another former Navy SEAL‚ Andy Stumpf‚ had a different response‚ however. He said that he spoke directly with Strickland after the video and exchanged professional words. Stumpf said that Strickland even offered to have the former military member attend his training camp or a fight.Stumpf described that both Strickland and Watson were playing characters."He's playing a character. It's part of who he is and what he does inside of the UFC. If you think that the SEAL — or the guy who was a SEAL — that responds to him is also not playing a character‚ then I don't know what to tell you."Stumpf wasn't pleased with Watson's depiction of his trade either‚ calling it "one of the worst representations of the SEAL Community possible.""That guy ... yeah he needs to shut the f**k up‚" he added. Stumpf told Patrick Bet-David that the overall branding from Watson needed to be dialed down in terms of dramatization‚ and that presenting a Navy SEAL's role in such a manner involved far too much romanticizing."Stop being a clown on Instagram‚" he requested. "The only reason that he is responding in the manner that he is‚ trying to draw more attention from the video that Sean created."Stumpf also pointed toward a 2022 SEC ruling‚ which ordered Watson to pay a "disgorgement of $316‚401.48 and prejudgment interest of $59‚533.38."Watson was involved with the late anti-virus creator John McAfee and was accused of concocting a "scheme to profit from a crypto asset security by secretly accumulating a large position in McAfee's accounts‚ touting that security on Twitter while intending to sell it‚ and then selling McAfee's holdings as the price rose."Watson was therefore barred from "participating‚ directly or indirectly‚ in the issuance‚ purchase‚ offer‚ or sale of any digital asset security‚" except for in regard to his own personal assets.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!