'Are you indeed an admiral in the navy?'

'How much longer you can survive the polling decline'

Tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year due to fentanyl, and China is complicit, warns author and China expert Gordon Chang. It’s now incumbent on President Donald Trump to hold China accountable, he says.    “The Chinese don’t respect us. So, they don’t respect friendship. They don’t reciprocate it. They press the advantage, and so we need to try something new,” Chang said of America’s approach to dealing with the China-fentanyl issue.   More than 48,000 Americans died from synthetic opioid—mainly, fentanyl—poisonings and overdoses in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl flow out of China to South and Central America before making their way into the U.S.   Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Trump has imposed a 20% tariff on China, specifically over Beijing’s failure to stop the flow of fentanyl-precursor chemicals flowing out of China, but the president indicated Wednesday he plans to lower the tariff following the meeting with Xi.   “I expect to be lowering them, because I believe that they can help us with the fentanyl situation. They’re going to be doing what they can do,” Trump said.   But Chang says he’s leery of China’s pledges to address the crisis: Remember, Xi Jinping promised to stop the flow of fentanyl in 2016. That was a promise to President [Barack] Obama. And in 2018, he promised that to Trump. And in 2023, he promised it to [President Joe] Biden.  The fentanyl deaths of American citizens “were not overdoses, these were murders,” Chang said.   It has become a common practice of drug cartels to lace other drugs with fentanyl. Because of the potency of fentanyl, even a small amount equivalent to a few crystals of salt can be lethal to an adult.   Chang said: Trump needs to, instead of reducing the fentanyl tariff … he should say, you know, anyone who kills an American is not trading with the United States. Fentanyl deaths have declined in the past year, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting a 24% year-over-year decline in drug overdose deaths at the end of fiscal year 2024.  But despite Xi’s pledge to crackdown on fentanyl chemicals, the drug continues to pose a major threat to the U.S. In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, drug overdose deaths, primarily driven by fentanyl, spiked to as high as 100,000 or more a year.   “The bar for progress from China on fentanyl is low, given that they actively subsidize the production and export of fentanyl precursors while shielding criminal networks and money launderers from U.S. investigations and sanctions,” Andres Martinez-Fernandez, a senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security, told Daily Signal.   “China has clearly evaded accountability for its role in the fentanyl crisis for far too long,” Martinez-Fernandez said.   “However, during President Trump’s first term and prior to the pandemic, the full extent of the fentanyl threat was certainly not as clear as it became under President Biden,” he added.  Synthetic opioid—primarily, fentanyl—deaths, reached a record high of just under 80,000 during the Biden administration in 2022.   “President Trump understands that the U.S. cannot base its counter-fentanyl strategy on hopes for concerted action by the [Chinese Communist Party],” Martinez-Fernandez said. “That’s why the U.S. is taking bold action against the narco-terrorists in our hemisphere while pressing Mexico to take similar action.”  The Trump administration has taken a strong position on enforcing border and immigration laws and is employing new and old technologies to secure the border. The U.S. has also now carried out more than a dozen strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels said to be carrying narcotics destined for the U.S.  The post China Experts Offer Advice to Trump on Fentanyl Fight Ahead of Meeting With Xi appeared first on The Daily Signal.

DEI Dies In Print: KJP Book and Tour Is 'Non-Stop Cringe,' Says ...

“The gold standard for ending a shutdown has been a clean continuing resolution,” Brit Hume told “Special Report” Monday - but, it’s actually been the only standard for ending shutdowns over the last 35 years. Hume, Fox News Channel’s senor political analyst, made the observation discussing the ongoing federal government shutdown with “Special Report” Host Bret Baier: “The gold standard for ending a shutdown has been a clean continuing resolution – that is to say with no new policy initiatives and or policy changes in it, just continuing funding at current levels. “That is what the Republicans have passed in the House, that is what they sent to the Senate, and that is what Senate Democrats have blocked using the filibuster.” Indeed, every government shutdown since 1990 has been ended by Congress passing a continuing resolution. The six shutdowns that occurred during that period ranged in length from two to 34 days. “I think we’re getting near to the end of this,” Hume predicted, noting that the American Federation of Government Employees is now calling for Democrats to vote for the continuing resolution. What’s more, “the situation with air traffic control could become serious soon,” Hume said: “And, when flights start getting delayed and canceled and so on, the pressure to end this is going to be pretty great. And, it seems to me the Republicans have a pretty good case here.” Ultimately, Democrats are defending a position that will quickly become politically untenable, forcing them to accept Republicans’ plan to temporarily keep funding unchanged, Hume said. “The gold standard for ending a shutdown has been a clean continuing resolution...That is what the Republicans have passed in the House, that is what they sent to the Senate, and that is what Senate Democrats have blocked using the filibuster.”@brithume weighs in on whether the… pic.twitter.com/YvHnHNkJsw — Special Report (@SpecialReport) October 27, 2025

Could someone ask Bari Weiss to take a look at CBS News Sunday Morning? The October 26th edition dedicated a portion of its program to Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) because he was given comfortable space to parade the supposed danger of Republican victories in 2026, immigration enforcement, and a non-existent third Trump term. CBS national correspondent Robert Costa interviewed Newsom about his triumphant optimism towards handicapping President Trump’s political power, to which the Governor responded with baffling semantics: COSTA: You really believe, Governor, if the Democrats take back power in the House, his presidency’s over? NEWSOM: De facto as we know it today. Fire and fury signifying maybe something. But finally, you have rebalanced this system. Co-equal branch of government begins to assert itself, it appears again. If you have a Speaker Johnson, we may have a third term of President Trump. I really believe that. Literally, how? The ratification of the 22nd Amendment bars anyone from serving a third presidential term. And if Republicans win the 2026 midterms, then Trump wouldn’t be a lame duck for... the second half of his second term, not an imaginary “third.”     Apparently Costa wanted to make Trump out as some sort of boogeyman, prompting Newsom with an emotionally-charged question concerning immigration enforcement and subsequently egging him into name-calling (Click “expand”): COSTA: What’s it like being the Governor of the state of California and not knowing day to day if the federal government’s going to be sending agents or not to your state? NEWSOM: Yeah, I mean, it’s a — it — hell of a way to govern. I mean, we’re just governing in just profound uncertainty. The sort of tectonic plates that we’re familiar with out here on the West Coast, but of our — the nature of our politics. Some may find this, you know, may not be a — a sort of prudent thing to say about — COSTA: Let’s hear it. NEWSOM: — the President of the United States. But, I mean, he’s an invasive species. COSTA: For California? NEWSOM: For the country. For the world. He’s a wrecking ball, not just the symbolism and substance of the East Wing. He’s wrecking alliances, truth, trust, tradition, institutions. Trump was the product of an impotent political establishment, which came at the cost of “wrecking” tradition. Boo hoo. Costa gave an inkling of perspective balance by mentioning Republican sentiments on immigration: COSTA: What do you say to Republicans, Governor, and critics of California who say California needs ICE? You’ve heard that refrain from all of them. NEWSOM: California cooperates as it relates to criminals. We continue to cooperate out of our state penitentiary system, hundreds of people every month that we coordinate with ICE to go after the worst of the worst. That’s not what this is about. And everybody knows it. You don’t just randomly show up at a car wash and tell me it’s about the worst of the worst. You don’t randomly show up at the showrooms or the parking lots of every Home Depot. Ignoring the disparate priorities amongst ICE and Border Patrol leadership, the ultimate end of the entire operation is mass-deportation. No alien had a right to be in the U.S., but Newsom gladly offered sanctuary. If the interview had any silver lining, it was Newsom not hiding his interest in running for national office. Honesty is refreshing, Gavin. The transcript is below. Click "expand" read: CBS News Sunday Morning October 26, 2025 9:18:42 a.m. Eastern JANE PAULEY: California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, has been serving in elective office for more than two decades now. But perhaps his most visible role these days is as one of the Trump administration’s most persistent critics. He’s talking with our Robert Costa. GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): Got hundreds and hundreds. ICE and Border Patrol. Don’t think for a second we’re not gonna be seeing more of that through Election Day. These guys are not screwing around. ROBERT COSTA: This past week, California Governor Gavin Newsom was on the campaign trail, not running for office but stumping for a state ballot measure that has attracted national attention, Proposition 50. NEWSOM: — the future’s inside of every single one of you. COSTA: If it succeeds next week, Democrats will change the boundaries of U.S. House districts in California and make it easier for their party to win more seats. NEWSOM [on “Yes on 50” advertisement]: We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across this country. We’re giving the power to the people. COSTA: Newsom says Prop 50 is a direct response to President Trump’s redistricting push in Republican-controlled states like Texas. WOMAN [on 08/04/25]: The new map would give the GOP an advantage and at least five more seats. COSTA: On one level, Proposition 50 is about Congressional maps. But you’re framing it as something bigger. NEWSOM: Yeah, I mean, I think it’s about our democracy. It’s about the future of this republic. I think it’s about, you know, what the founding fathers lived and died for, this notion of the rule of law, not the rule of Don, this notion of popular sovereignty, fundamentally, a co-equal branches of government, system of checks and balances. His Presidency de facto ends next November. If we’re successful, we the people are successful in taking back the House and making sure that we’re successful — COSTA: You really believe, Governor, if the Democrats take back power in the House, his Presidency’s over? NEWSOM: De facto as we know it today. Fire and fury signifying maybe something. But finally, you have rebalanced this system. Co-equal branch of government begins to assert itself, it appears again. If you have a Speaker Johnson, we may have a third term of President Trump. I really believe that. COSTA: Newsom, 58, has emerged as one of Trump’s leading antagonists at a time when the President is wielding executive power across the board and facing little pushback from Republicans in Congress. [Cuts to clip] NEWSOM [on 06/10/25]: We do not want our streets militarized by our own armed forces. Not in L.A., not in California, not anywhere. COSTA: Newsom has fought Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in California. And just minutes before we sat down on Thursday, the President had pulled back from a threat to send federal agents to the streets of San Francisco, where Newsom once served as mayor. COSTA: What’s it like being the Governor of the state of California and not knowing day to day if the federal government’s going to be sending agents or not to your state? NEWSOM: Yeah, I mean, it’s a — it — hell of a way to govern. I mean, we’re just governing in just profound uncertainty. The sort of tectonic plates that we’re familiar with out here on the West Coast, but of our — the nature of our politics. Some may find this, you know, may not be a — a sort of prudent thing to say about — COSTA: Let’s hear it. NEWSOM: — the President of the United States. But, I mean, he’s an invasive species. COSTA: For California? NEWSOM: For the country. For the world. He’s a wrecking ball, not just the symbolism and substance of the East Wing. He’s wrecking alliances, truth, trust, tradition, institutions. COSTA: What do you say to Republicans, Governor, and critics of California who say California needs ICE? You’ve heard that refrain from all of them. NEWSOM: California cooperates as it relates to criminals. We continue to cooperate out of our state penitentiary system, hundreds of people every month that we coordinate with ICE to go after the worst of the worst. That’s not what this is about. And everybody knows it. You don’t just randomly show up at a car wash and tell me it’s about the worst of the worst. You don’t randomly show up at the showrooms or the parking lots of every Home Depot. [Cuts to clip] PRES. DONALD TRUMP [on 06/09/25]: He’s destroying one of our great states and — COSTA: Newsom’s critique hasn’t stopped Trump from stepping in or hitting back. This past summer, Trump suggested Newsom should be arrested for how he’s led California. And this past week, the Justice Department said it would send election monitors to keep an eye on the Prop 50 vote. Newsom has called it intimidation. Yet Newsom isn’t only countering Trump. He’s also trying to understand his movement. That includes bringing the President’s allies onto his podcast, such as the late Charlie Kirk. [Cuts to clip] NEWSOM [on This is Gavin Newsom, 03/06/25]: Because I think people need to understand your success, your influence. COSTA: You’ve spoken about how your son has told you to pay attention to some of these voices out there. NEWSOM: Well, we didn’t pay attention. I mean, we — we’ve got a crisis in this country besides the crisis that we’ve discussed around the future of this republic. But we also have a crisis of — with masculinity and men. Men are struggling, and multi-ethnic. I mean, suicide rates are off the charts, dropout rates, suspension rates, loneliness, despair, deaths of despair. It’s a serious crisis that’s going on in this country. Democrats haven’t focused on that issue, and I’m very proud of the work or substantive work we’re doing in this. But I’ve also been using the podcast to highlight that. COSTA: Podcasts are just part of Newsom’s attempt to get some traction in our so-called attention economy. Another has been satire. Newsom’s team has parodied Trump’s use of social media, mocking the President’s use of capital letters and AI-generated art. NEWSOM: Thank you, guys. Thank you. COSTA: But Newsom has not abandoned old-fashioned politics. This past July, we spent a day following him across South Carolina, which just happens to be a key state in the 2028 Presidential race. NEWSOM: Donald Trump, if we do this right, within 18 months, de facto will no longer be President of the United States. He will be muted — COSTA: You’re not afraid to go into red states. NEWSOM: No. COSTA: When I saw you slinging shots behind the coffee bar, I thought, this guy might run for President. NEWSOM: I have no idea. The idea that a guy who got a 960 on his SAT, that still struggles to read scripts, that was always in the back of the classroom, the idea that you even throw that out is in and of itself extraordinary. Who the hell knows? I’m looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that’s the question for the American people. They’ll make that determination. COSTA: Is it fair to say, after the 2026 midterms, you’re going to give it serious thought? NEWSOM: Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise. I’d just be lying, and I can’t do that. COSTA: Governor, you have long said that if you ever run for the White House, you need a compelling why — NEWSOM: Yeah. COSTA: —a reason. Are you moving closer to figuring out your own why and your own decision? NEWSOM: Yeah. And Nietzsche said, “If you have a compelling why, you can endure any how.” And so I don’t think — you know, I think the biggest challenge for anyone who runs for any office is people see right through you if you don’t have that why. You’re doing it for the wrong reasons. And so, look, well, that will — that faith will determine that. COSTA: You certainly seem to like being on the ground in South Carolina. I have to say that. Seeing you up close, you were having a good time. NEWSOM: I happen to, and thank God I’m in the right business. I love people. I actually love people.

An 11-year-old Florida girl was arrested Monday after writing a "kill list" at her school desk, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said.Staff at Riverview Learning Center in Ormond Beach notified a deputy about the "kill list," which contained four names, officials said.'I was still playing with dolls at 11.'The suspect said she was just playing, officials said.RELATED: Florida sheriff's office under fire for posting 9-year-old male's mug shot on Facebook after his felony arrest Image source: Volusia County (Fla.) Sheriff's OfficeStill, the girl was charged with making a written threat to kill — a second-degree felony — as well as violating her probation.The sheriff's office posted video after the girl's arrest showing deputies perp-walking her into a jail cell. A deputy is heard asking her if she had been there before, and she replied in the affirmative.RELATED: Blaze News original: The disturbing trend of females as young as 12 who've been accused of brutal physical attacks Image source: Volusia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s OfficeCommenters on the sheriff's office Facebook page were taken aback not only by the arrest but also by the suspect's age — as well as the additional charge of a probation violation:"It's the probation at 11 that has me reading the post twice," one commenter wrote."Glad I wasn't the only one who had to re-read about the probation ... at 11!" another user added."Can we back up a minute," another commenter interjected. "Did I just read that an 11-year-old is already on probation???""I was still playing with dolls at 11," another user reacted."The parents have failed the child. Not the system," another commenter offered. "It is the parents who are responsible for getting the child the help she needs. There are plenty of services available — many at no cost. The school/system can't force therapy, stabilize home life, enforce curfew, and monitor friends. Stop blaming the system/community. Parents need to look in the mirror."Another user opined that "publicly shaming this child goes against what research shows us is more effective in preventing this behavior and ultimately protecting others. To not only release the name of a child, but to create a video of her arrest typically creates worse future outcomes."The aforementioned sentiment was a main issue in a Blaze News story published earlier this month about another Florida sheriff's office that was under fire after posting a 9-year-old male's mug shot on Facebook after his felony arrest.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is claiming that he has no interest in going on Joe Rogan's unbelievably popular podcast after demanding to be invited.The governor was being interviewed on CNN’s “The Story Is with Elex Michaelson” when he made the comments criticizing Rogan. Newsom is widely considered to be campaigning for president since he will soon be termed out of the governor's office.'With all due respect, if he has a big audience but he doesn't have big enough confidence — I didn't go there — to have me on.'"For years and years he's been attacking me, and it's one way, and he won't have me on. He's consistently not having me on," Newsom said. "By the way, I'm moving on. I have no interest. Joe Rogan is the Facebook of podcasting."Michaelson responded that Rogan has an enormous audience."With all due respect, if he has a big audience but he doesn't have big enough confidence — I didn't go there — to have me on," Newsom responded. "These guys, they all have something in common. It's one way. They attack, they belittle, they demean, they take things out of context, but this is a serious thing. And so often we just sit back and go, 'I really would love to go on.' 'Oh, if Kamala Harris just went on Joe Rogan, she would have won.' It's so much deeper than that," he added. "The unwillingness for a guy like that to even have the common courtesy to attack someone," Newsom continued, "and not have the decency to say, 'You know what? Why don't you have a chance to come on? Let's have a civil dialogue.'" Video of the exchange was posted to social media, where it went viral with millions of views. Rogan, who moved from Los Angeles to Texas over crime, the homeless crisis, and taxes, has used his platform to bash the liberal governor over his presidential ambitions."He's a good bulls**t artist. ... The things that he says when he gets confronted with anything — 'We have the highest this and the highest that!'" Rogan replied."Like, everybody's leaving! You have the highest unemployment," he added. "You have the highest homelessness. Money's missing. You killed Hollywood. Like, Hollywood doesn't exist anymore. It's literally gone!" he continued. "You mandated vaccines for kids that didn't need them. You guys, he did horrible s**t!"RELATED: DHS has a fiery message for Newsom after he bans masks for ICE: 'We will NOT comply!' Newsom previously accused Rogan of not being brave enough to have him on his show."Joe Rogan is too [chicken] to have me on his show and expose his listeners to the truth," he posted on social media earlier this month. "Invite me on any time," 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!

There have been calls from both sides of the aisle for NYC Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race, as he continues to lag far behind front-runner Zohran Mamdani.While the argument from many is that Curtis Sliwa’s base would then vote for Andrew Cuomo — who they view as the lesser of two evils — BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler doesn’t think they’re right.“While on paper, Andrew Cuomo is clearly less of a radical than Zohran Mamdani, might seem like he’s the lesser of two evils, that’s actually just hypothetical because Zohran Mamdani, even though he verbalizes these extremely radical, dangerous, anti-American viewpoints, he hasn’t been terribly effective in doing any of that stuff,” Wheeler explains.“He just says it, and he has a large platform, and words matter. But his policies haven’t yet hurt people. But Andrew Cuomo’s have,” she continues, noting that Cuomo “presided over the tyrannical disaster of COVID in New York City.”“Over 10,000 senior citizens in New York City were essentially sent to their deaths by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo because he forced them to go back to nursing homes, and they died of COVID there,” she says.“And his record, Andrew Cuomo’s record, even if his words are less radical than Zohran’s, is Andrew Cuomo’s record not more deadly? And so, when I hear this argument coming from some people on the right that Curtis Sliwa should drop out, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You’re thinking about this all wrong.’”Wheeler believes Andrew Cuomo should drop out, not Curtis Sliwa.“Andrew Cuomo’s voters obviously reject Zohran Mamdani. That’s why they’re choosing the independent Andrew Cuomo over the Democrat Zohran,” Wheeler says. “So, if Andrew Cuomo drops out, would his voters not migrate to Curtis Sliwa?"Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The Department of Justice has indicted Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive congressional candidate who previously worked for Media Matters of America, with forcibly impeding, intimidating, and interfering with a federal agent during a chaotic protest in Broadview, Illinois. Five other people involved in the incident were also indicted.Blaze News was present at one of the protests where Abughazaleh filmed herself appearing to be part of a mob that impeded a federal vehicle with a federal agent inside.Abughazaleh is a candidate for Congress in Illinois' 9th congressional district but has been consistently protesting at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility outside Chicago. Broadview is not located inside the 9th congressional district. Abughazaleh has been seen in multiple videos, including video she has posted herself, appearing to attempt to stop federal vehicles from leaving or entering the facility.Blaze News was present at one of the protests where Abughazaleh filmed herself appearing to be part of a mob that impeded a federal vehicle with a federal agent inside. The agent continued to drive at a slow pace, and the people did not get out of the way, video showed. ICE agents stationed by the perimeter fired pepper balls at the crowd to get them to stop their attacks. — (@) Abughazaleh posted on X her response to the charges, claiming the Trump administration is trying to stifle dissenting views.RELATED: 'Shoot the f**kers!' Anti-ICE agitators caught on video apparently calling for violence in wake of deadly Dallas shooting Photo by Blaze News "This case is a major push by the Trump administration to criminalize protests and punish anyone who speaks out against them. That's why I'm going to fight these unjust charges," she said, painting her and other protesters' actions as standing up to "masked men" who are "abducting our neighbors."The facility in Broadview has been a consistent target of anti-ICE agitators since the Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Midway Blitz. DHS had to install a temporary security fence to prevent rioters from having easy access to the building, but a judge later ordered the fence to be taken down.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!