The ramifications of NBC News' decision to cave to internal outrage and cut ties with Ronna McDaniel are already taking shape.As Semafor reported‚ the "backlash to the backlash" has begun‚ and rank-and-file journalists — those NBC News employees not upset about McDaniel joining their network — are feeling the heat."Political reporters here didn't take part in the backlash [against McDaniel]‚ nor did they get to give input on the hire‚" one NBC reporter told Semafor. "But they'll be the ones who have to pick up the pieces with sources who are now dismayed with the organization."More from Semafor:Four NBC News staffers expressed concern that instead of fixing the problem‚ hiring and then firing McDaniel had only alienated liberal viewers while confirming Republican fears. Two Republican aides told Semafor they’d texted their NBC News contacts to express their anger with the decision.The truth is that a small minority of prominent voices at NBC News and MSNBC — Chuck Todd‚ Rachel Maddow‚ Joe Scarborough‚ etc. — led the outrage against McDaniel's hire‚ which NBC News executives unanimously approved‚ according to multiple reports.But the hasty decision to appease the small minority of loud voices will reverse inroads the network has made to appeal to Republican viewers‚ solidifying perceptions that NBC News is not a fair media source‚ Semafor noted. Ultimately‚ the long-term impact on NBC News' credibility of hiring then firing McDaniel could be a net negative.That's why Republicans are declaring victory.Stephen Moore‚ a Republican economist‚ said it's a "good day for our team‚ because it makes [Democrats] look ridiculous." Mick Mulvaney‚ moreover‚ said the incident "allows [NBC News] to completely shed their image as a legitimate news outlet‚ once and for all."In a memo to NBC News staff‚ Cesar Conde‚ chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group‚ said that "no organization‚ particularly a newsroom‚ can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned" and that "it has become clear that [McDaniel's] appointment undermines that goal."It's true that any successful company needs to be aligned behind a central mission. But it appears the decision to fire McDaniel days after hiring her had nothing to do with NBC News' company mission. If that were the case‚ executives would never have hired McDaniel‚ let alone unanimously.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Add together Joe Biden’s glaringly obvious cognitive decline and the abysmal decision-making taking place at the White House‚ and you get a clear picture: Joe Biden isn’t really in charge. So‚ who is? As the country continues to catapult toward what looks to be imminent disaster‚ more and more people are asking this question – one of those people being Tucker Carlson. In a recent interview‚ Tucker asked Tulsi Gabbard who she thought was puppeteering Biden. “Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are not in office right now‚ but they still continue to wield immense power in influencing the decisions that are being made‚” Gabbard said. “Are you answering the question that everyone watching has‚ which is‚ 'Who is running the government?'” Tucker asked‚ adding that “it’s obviously not Joe Biden.” “It’s not a leap of imagination to know that that’s true‚” she said‚ referencing Obama and Hillary’s ongoing influence. “When you look at the people who are in Joe Biden's administration‚ they are the people who were the right hands for the Obama administration ... and for Hillary Clinton.” “Hillary Clinton said herself the other day‚ ‘Oh yeah‚ I talk to the White House every day‚’” Gabbard recalled. “There's no shock or surprise who the influences are behind the policies that are coming out of this White House that many people say is the most radical and woke White House that our country has ever seen.” Dave Rubin is impressed. “Tulsi could actually be someone who’s a game changer‚” he says. Considering Trump has already declared that he’s considering her for VP‚ she may just get the chance. 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.

The legal partner of Democrat Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has announced that she is in recovery for addiction and mental illness amid questions about her growing influence in the governor's office.On Tuesday‚ Oregon first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson‚ 47‚ admitted her struggles with alcoholism. "I share this information about myself now‚ and have in the past‚ in the hopes it will make a difference and reduce stigma‚" Wilson said in a statement. "Far too often‚ individuals have remained silent about their experience because of shame‚ pain‚ and fear. ... And‚ that is why it is so important for me to do my part to reduce the stigma around addiction and mental health."Wilson has not indicated the nature of her mental illness or how long she has been in addiction recovery‚ Oregon Live reported.Her announcement also comes in the wake of heavy criticism about her newly expanded role in the governor's office. Though technically working as an unpaid volunteer‚ Wilson was recently given a private office in what Willamette Week described as "the governor’s crowded suite of offices." Wilson likewise accompanied Kotek on a recent international tour and spoke with mental-health practitioners. As part of her work‚ Wilson has been issued extra security detail as well‚ paid for out of Kotek's existing budget. Gov. Kotek is even exploring the possibility of opening an official Office of the First Spouse and onboarded Meliah Masiba‚ previously of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services‚ earlier this week to serve as a short-term adviser in connection with it. Masiba will "also assist and support the current first spouse in her official capacity in support of the administration‚" according to a statement from governor spokesperson Elisabeth Shepard.Masiba will remain as an adviser for six months and receive $72‚000 for her work during that time. After the six months have expired‚ another individual will rotate into the position.Though other states‚ including California and Maryland‚ already have an Office of the First Spouse‚ Oregonians may be leery of opening one in their state after a governor in recent memory was forced to resign at least in part because of his fiancée's influence-peddling. In February 2015‚ just one month into his fourth term‚ Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) resigned after his fiancée‚ Cylvia Hayes‚ who attended official meetings and helped promote environmental policies‚ allegedly earned $118‚000 in fellowships from environmental groups that had significant interest in the policies Hayes was promoting. There are also indications that Hayes failed to report that money on her tax filings. She eventually agreed to pay $44‚000 in ethics violations. No such allegations of financial impropriety have been made against Wilson‚ but three executive advisers will leave the governor's office in the next week or so‚ all reportedly on account of their strained relationships with Wilson. Jeff Barker‚ a former Democratic lawmaker from Washington County‚ claimed he was "surprised" that Kotek would allow Wilson to wield so much influence in light of the Hayes scandal that plagued Kitzhaber's final years in office. "It looks too much like nepotism‚" Barker said."I can’t believe they are opening this can of worms‚" said another Democrat former lawmaker. "Very little upside and lots of downside."On Monday‚ the Oregon Government Ethics Commission confirmed it had received a complaint about Kotek regarding Wilson's role as first lady. Details about the complaint have not been released."We will review and respond to any complaint upon receipt‚ consistent with Oregon state ethics laws‚" said Shepard‚ Kotek's spokesperson. "We have no further comment‚ as this is a pending complaint."In a separate statement‚ Shepard claimed‚ "The governor makes all policy decisions on behalf of the office."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Biden administration has worked hard to hinder the Lone Star State's efforts to fend off invading waves of foreign nationals. In recent weeks‚ the Democratic administration has fought in the courts to prevent Texas from enforcing Senate Bill 4‚ which makes illegal entry into Texas a misdemeanor offense and enables state law enforcement officials to send illegal aliens packing. Fortunately‚ Texas has other arrows in its quiver — some of which appear to have been thinning the waves of migrants encountered at the border. Early Wednesday morning‚ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott highlighted recent indications that "Operation Lone Star is working." The governor cited a recent Media Research Center report indicating that the number of encounters of illegal aliens at the border dropped by 28% between October 2023 and last month — from 560‚920 to 406‚458. The report was referencing U.S. Customs and Border Protection data‚ indicating that there were steep declines in four of the Lone Star State's five Border Patrol sectors between the last five months and the same period in fiscal year 2023. El Paso saw a 46.8% decline; Big Bend‚ a 65.1% decline; Laredo‚ a 38.1% decline; and the Rio Grande Valley‚ a 22.6% decline. The Del Rio sector saw less significant year-over-year decline in encounters of 5.7%. However‚ that number is likely to improve since the state took control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass‚ where the Biden administration previously failed to prevent multitudes of illegal aliens stealing into the country. Texas has since installed razor wire‚ fencing‚ and shoreline barriers in the area‚ reducing the number of unlawful entries by 41.2% in January and by 38.5% as compared with the same months in the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile‚ sectors in Democrat-run states saw massive spikes. For instance‚ the San Diego sector saw a 76.1% increase in encounters. Tucson‚ Arizona‚ saw a 167.2% spike in illegal alien encounters at its southern border. Newsweek noted that Kari Lake‚ presently running in Arizona for the U.S. Senate‚ previously attributed the surge at Arizona's border to the success of Texas' border control efforts. "Because Greg Abbott is now working to secure the border in Texas‚ we're seeing an influx of people pouring across our border even more so than we had in previous months‚" Lake said in January. "The Tucson sector is being overrun with people from 168 different countries." Abbott is evidently pleased with this turn of events‚ at least as it pertains to the well-being of his state and its inhabitants. "Illegal crossings are going down in TX while at the same time they are skyrocketing in CA &; AZ‚" wrote Abbott. "It's b/c of the border wall‚ razor wire barriers‚ the National Guard &; arrests by DPS." Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021. Abbott said at the time‚ "Texas supports legal immigration but will not be an accomplice to the open-border policies that cause‚ rather than prevent‚ a humanitarian crisis in our state and endanger the lives of Texans. We will surge the resources and law enforcement personnel needed to confront this crisis." The governor's office indicated on the third anniversary of Operation Lone Star earlier this month that the multi-agency effort has resulted in over 503‚000 illegal alien apprehensions; 40‚400 criminal arrests; 36‚100 felony charges; and the seizure of 469 million lethal doses of fentanyl. While Texas cannot presently lawfully eject illegal aliens from the U.S.‚ under Operation Lone Star‚ it has sent them packing to Democrat-run sanctuary cities around the country‚ including over 12‚500 to Washington‚ D.C.; 39‚100 to New York City; 32‚200 to Chicago; 3‚400 to Philadelphia; 16‚600 to Denver; and 1‚500 to Los Angeles. Several hours after celebrating the apparent success of Texas' efforts to secure the border‚ Abbott announced that 200 soldiers in the Texas Tactical Border Force had been deployed to El Paso to "bolster Texas' ability to hold the line." Nearly 200 soldiers in the Texas Tactical Border Force arrived in El Paso yesterday.\n\nThese soldiers will bolster Texas\u2019 ability to hold the line.\n\nTexas will continue to utilize all available resources and personnel to secure our border. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

NASCAR traces its roots to the days of moonshine runners‚ who used souped-up cars to escape authorities on rural roads in the southern United States.Last week‚ that storied history inserted itself into the 21st century.Speedway Motorsports announced on Tuesday that officials at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in the foothills of North Carolina recently discovered what they believe could be a "moonshine cave" unearthed by a sinkhole underneath the racetrack’s grandstands.Ahead of NASCAR’s All-Star race at the track in May‚ track employees were cleaning and inspecting the grandstands when they noticed cracks in the original concrete in one section of the grandstands. Upon further inspection‚ officials discovered a sinkhole under the concrete‚ approximately 700 square feet in size. — (@) The discovery revived rumors about the speedway once being the site of a “secret moonshine still‚” said Steve Swift‚ an executive of Speedway Motorsports‚ the company that owns North Wilksboro Speedway.“When we began renovating and restoring North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022‚ we’d often hear stories of how an old moonshine still was operated here on the property under the grandstands‚” Swift said. “Well‚ we haven’t found find a still yet‚ but we’ve found a small cave and an interior wall that would have been the perfect location to not only make illegal liquor but to hide from the law as well. We don’t know how people would have gotten in and out‚ but as we uncover more‚ there’s no telling what we might find‚” he explained. Driver Kyle Larson‚ winner of the 2023 NASCAR Cup All-Star race‚ lifting the All-Star Moonshine Still trophy. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)North Wilkesboro Speedway first opened in 1947 and became one of NASCAR's original tracks in 1949. The speedway remained a staple of NASCAR's premier schedule until the track closed after the 1996 season‚ at a time when NASCAR was exploding in popularity and expanding to larger TV markets.But the track regained life in 2021 when Gov. Roy Cooper (D) injected $40 million into three historic NASCAR racetracks in the state: Rockingham Speedway‚ Charlotte Motor Speedway‚ and North Wilkesboro Speedway.NASCAR's premier series returned to the track in 2023 when it hosted the All-Star race‚ won by star driver Kyle Larson.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The latest recall effort against California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will begin gathering signatures. On Tuesday‚ the California Secretary of State's Elections Division approved the campaign's petition for circulation‚ KGTV reported.A recent memo to Rescue California read‚ "Today‚ March 26‚ 2024‚ the Secretary of State's office approved petitions for circulation for the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom."The citizen-led group‚ which launched in February‚ has until September 3‚ 2024‚ to collect a minimum of 1‚311‚963 valid signatures. The number of signatures required to get a recall vote on the ballot is equal to 12% of the votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election."Valid signatures must be obtained from at least five counties and in each of those counties must equal at least 1% of the last vote for Governor‚" the memo explained.Rescue California argues that Newsom "has abandoned the state to advance his Presidential ambitions." The group slammed the governor for "leaving behind a $68 Billion budget deficit and a public safety‚ immigration and education crisis."Newsom "granted 700‚000 illegal immigrants free health care at a cost to taxpayers of $3 billion annually‚ while cutting vital programs for veterans‚ school children‚ the disabled and the homeless‚" Rescue California's website stated. The governor also "kept schools closed during Covid longer than other states allowing California students to fall further behind in basic skills such as language and mathematics‚" the group claimed.The latest recall effort marks at least the fifth attempt to remove the governor from office‚ The Hill previously reported.Rescue California led a recall to oust Newsom in 2021. While the group successfully gathered enough signatures to make it on the ballot‚ the governor ultimately won the election by 23 points.Anne Hyde Dunsmore with Rescue California stated in February‚ "He's exhibited [an ability] ... to take care of problems very quickly when he feels like it. He cleaned up a city in three days‚ he fixed a freeway in less than two weeks‚" KEYE reported.Rescue California blamed Newsom for the state's homelessness crisis."In the last two years‚ the homeless population has exploded‚ crime rates have increased‚ learning loss for students is off the charts‚ and a multi-billion dollar surplus is now a $70 billion deficit. The blame is on the Governor's shoulders while he is campaigning nationally‚" the group stated in a post on Facebook.Residents also recently launched a separate recall effort against George Soros-backed‚ leftist Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. The group submitted 123‚000 signatures for validation earlier this month‚ but only 73‚000 must be validated to get a recall vote on the ballot.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Monday marked the bond deadline for Trump’s $454 million civil business fraud judgment‚ but right before the sand in the hourglass ran out‚ Trump won an appeal to have the bond reduced to $175 million‚ which he said he’d gladly pay in cash. While this is certainly good news for the former president‚ he’s still entangled in numerous other lawsuits. “I feel like I need a flowchart at this point of all of the different cases against Donald Trump‚” sighs Sara Gonzales. “They have literally weaponized every single judicial branch system that they can to try to throw their political opponent in jail.” According to Kyle Rittenhouse‚ the reason for the never-ending list of Trump trials is because “they’re scared.” “They're just like‚ ‘No‚ no‚ no – we don't need Trump to come in and fix what we messed up already‚” he tells Sara. Sara agrees‚ adding‚ “That's what you have to do when you can't run on your own policy.” “What is there? Higher gas prices‚ higher grocery bills – higher everything; botched withdrawal in Afghanistan‚ allowing over ten million unvetted strangers into the interior of the country. What do you run on other than ‘orange man bad’ at this point?” she asks. “It's not only designed to break him ... but also‚ it’s an intimidation tactic to stop anyone else from running for office‚” says Blaze contributor Matthew Marsden. But there’s yet another reason they’re targeting him – and it’s perhaps the most sinister of all. Nobody has articulated it better than Trump himself. “In the end‚ they're not coming after me. They're coming after you — and I'm just standing in their way‚" he said last year‚ following the announcement of the seven indictments related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. “I’m sure you can speak to that‚ Kyle‚” says Sara. “Absolutely ... If they're willing to make up all these lies and put a former sitting president on trial‚ what are these Soros-funded DAs going to do to everyday people like me or you? They're going to come after us‚” says Kyle. To hear more of the conversation‚ watch the clip below. 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.

BBC TV show "Garden Secrets" was censored by North Korean authorities on their airwaves in an attempt to prevent the influence of U.S. imperialism in the communist country.The gardening show‚ starring 74-year-old Alan Titchmarsh‚ received a pixelated overlay during a recent episode set in the gardens of the 17th-century Hatfield House in Hertfordshire‚ England.The episodes of the British show are truncated down to 15 minutes from their hour-long originals‚ which first aired in the United Kingdom in 2010. The episode uses North Korean narrators and an added soundtrack of music.The jeans themselves have been forbidden since the early 1990s in the interestingly named Democratic People's Republic of North Korea‚ the Guardian reported.The ban has been part of ongoing efforts to plug a leak of U.S. imperialism that has allegedly been "seeping" into the country for some time.In 2021‚ Australian outlet 9News reported on the North Korean state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmum. The paper reportedly ran a warning to its citizenry on why capitalistic views should be prevented.North Korea argued that an "invasion of capitalistic culture" could cause the country to fall "like a damp wall." The warning was targeted at North Korean youth especially‚ to prevent the "exotic and decadent lifestyle" of capitalism from influencing children."We must be wary of even the slightest sign of the capitalistic lifestyle and fight to get rid of them‚" the paper allegedly said. north korea blurring jeans for being a symbol of american imperialism\n\nwould be hilarious if it wasn\u2019t serious — (@) This was supplemented by a ban of all but 15 "non-socialist" haircuts. This included bans on spiky or dyed hair‚ along with mullets. Skinny jeans‚ nose or lip piercings‚ and branded T-shirts were also said to be prohibited.Citizens were ordered by the Socialist Patriotic Youth League to consult a preapproved list of "proper" hairstyles to avoid punishment.Kim Jong Un reportedly called on the aforementioned youth league to crack down on "unsavoury‚ individualistic‚ anti-socialist behaviour" among the young citizens. The crackdown involved stopping foreign speech‚ certain hairstyles‚ and western clothing that were all described as "dangerous poisons."The BBC gave more depth to the types of punishments fashion detractors may receive and the justification for said punishments.The outlet reported that South Korean publication Daily NK — which allegedly has sources inside North Korea — noted that three teenagers were sent to reeducation camp for hemming their pants and getting haircuts that resemble South Korean pop stars.The crackdowns on western media‚ or even media from other Asian countries‚ reportedly comes with harsh penalties. Possessing large amounts of media from Japan‚ South Korea‚ or the United States is punished by the death penalty. This is also the punishment for smuggling illegal videos into the country.Simply watching such videos allegedly comes with a 15-year term in a prison camp."I never imagined that my programs would reach North Korea‚ but hopefully the calming nature of British gardening will be well received there‚" Titchmarsh said in 2022.It seems the truth of the matter is more of a mixed bag than it perhaps should be.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Things ended painfully for a male who allegedly robbed a woman at gunpoint for a pair of shoes Saturday night in Oklahoma City‚ as he crashed his car into a pole amid a police chase.What are the details?Police said the victim was trying to sell her red and silver Balenciaga shoes on Offer Up‚ and an individual with the username "Turbo" — later identified as 21-year-old Taber Carter — contacted her‚ KOKH-TV reported.According to the New York Post‚ the shoes usually cost more than $1‚000 new: — (@) The victim reported that she and Carter agreed to meet at a 7-Eleven‚ but Carter never showed up‚ the station said. The victim and her mother then went to a T-Mobile store on Northwest Expressway when Carter messaged the victim asking where she was‚ KOKH said. Police said Carter met the victim at T-Mobile‚ and when the victim walked up to Carter's vehicle‚ he pulled out a black "Glock-like" pistol‚ pointed it at the victim's head‚ and demanded the shoes‚ the station said.The victim said she gave him the shoes but was able to reach into the car and take one shoe back as Carter was driving away‚ KOKH reported. Carter turned back to demand the other shoe‚ but the victim told him she'd already locked it inside her car‚ the station said‚ citing the police report‚ and Carter drove off.What happened next?Two hours later‚ police were called to perform a welfare check‚ KOTV-TV reported. Turns out Carter was passed out in a car that matched the description of the shoe robbery suspect's vehicle‚ KOTV said.When officers awakened Carter‚ they said he drove away‚ which triggered a police pursuit‚ KOTV reported.Alas‚ Carter crashed into a pole near Northwest 36th Street and Meridian Avenue‚ KOTV noted‚ which caused a power outage in the area as well as a small grass fire that was quickly extinguished.Carter was taken into custody and booked into jail‚ KOTV said.Jail records indicate he was charged with endangering others while eluding police as well as robbery or attempted with a dangerous weapon. Carter remained in jail Wednesday afternoon.The Post‚ citing police‚ said Carter also was injured — with his mugshot showing his right eye swollen shut as well as numerous scrapes on his right forehead and nose. The paper said Carter is being held with no bail.Police warned those who meet others in person for transactions to do so in public places with lots of cameras‚ such as police stations. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Cooler Master has just unveiled the Cooler Master TD500 MAX‚ a unique PC case that includes a 360mm AIO CPU cooler built into its front panel‚ and it has a preinstalled power supply too. This not only saves you from having to buy a separate cooler and PSU‚ but means you don't have the hassle of fitting them either. As this product has only just been announced‚ we're yet to determine whether Cooler Master's latest chassis is worthy of a spot on our best PC case list‚ but it certainly has some noteworthy features. Continue reading Cooler Master’s new PC case doesn’t need a CPU cooler or PSU