Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) doesn't believe taxpayers should finance the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.After a massive cargo ship obliterated the bridge‚ President Joe Biden promised to "move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible."His plan? To force taxpayers to fund the project."It's my intention that federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge‚ and I expect the Congress to support my effort‚" Biden explained on Tuesday.But Meuser thinks the government must explore other options instead of rushing to spend more taxpayer money."It was kind of outrageous immediately for Biden to express in this tragedy the idea that he’s going to use federal funds to pay for it in the entirety‚" he said Thursday on Fox Business. "You know‚ he doesn’t refer to it as the American taxpayers' dollars on anything. You know‚ the first reaction‚ in fact the only reaction‚ tends to be to spend."He added‚ "We just can't take the easy route all of the time and just spend the taxpayers' money." — (@) Instead‚ Meuser suggested three alternative ways to pay for the rebuilding project.First‚ Meuser said Singapore‚ where the company that owns the ship is located‚ could play a role in helping finance the project. Second‚ he pointed to insurance companies‚ something Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also suggested. Third‚ he said that money from Biden's massive infrastructure bill that isn't being used can be reappropriated to pay for the project.The exact cost of the rebuilding project is not yet known. It is expected to cost several billion dollars.Still‚ it would not be totally unprecedented for taxpayers to foot the bill.After the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapsed on August 1‚ 2007‚ Congress unanimously approved a bill allotting $250 million in emergency money to rebuild the bridge. Then-President George W. Bush signed that bill on August 6‚ 2007.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former ESPN host Sage Steele momentarily mistook UFC President Dana White for a different "white bald guy" on her very first day of her return to the spotlight.Steele‚ who announced her departure from ESPN in August 2023‚ left the company after a lawsuit that reportedly accused Disney and ESPN of retaliating against her for public statements she had made. Steele reportedly voiced opinions about Barack Obama and her employer's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. "Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney‚ I have decided to leave so I can exercise my first amendment rights more freely‚" she announced on X at the time.Steele has since returned with a new podcast‚ "The Sage Steele Show‚" promising high-profile guests that included fight promoter White for the very first episode.After discussing mainstream media‚ energy drinks‚ cancel culture‚ and more‚ Steele and White had a viral moment over mistaken identities. "What's Joe Rogan's dream?" Steele asked."What's Joe Rogan's dream?" a confused White replied."Joe Rogan...Dana White. What's Dana White's dream?" Steele jokingly corrected. "Did you just think I was Joe Rogan?" White‚ sipping an energy drink‚ suddenly realized. "I totally did‚" Steele confessed."You just called me f**king Joe Rogan?! You thought I was f**king Joe Rogan!" White continued as he feigned outrage. "I was bald before Joe was ever bald!" So what had happened was........ \ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83d\ude02 Love you @danawhite!!\n\n#sagesteele #sagesteeleshow #danawhite — (@) Steele‚ attempting to explain her mistake‚ said that she got Rogan and White confused because they are "literally the only two I have the respect for because of how you freaking stood up and supported others."The two then exchanged stories of mistaken identities‚ with White stating that he often gets confused for Rogan when fans approach him for pictures."Do you correct them?" Steele asked."No‚ I just let them go show everybody their Joe Rogan photo ... I just did a two-hour f**kin podcast I flew here from from [Las] Vegas and she thought she was interviewing Joe Rogan!" White jokingly reasserted.White explained that he has even been confused for comedian Howie Mandel. The pair also recently had a viral moment of their own when White walked off the set of Mandel's podcast after just 30 seconds."All us white‚ bald guys look alike‚ so it makes sense‚" White sarcastically explained."I mean‚ listen‚ you know I've been called Candace Owens lately‚" Sage noted. Adding that "black conservative girls" tend to get mixed up by fans‚ as well.Steele's new podcast may surprise some viewers as it is being hosted by the Club Random Network‚ which is under comedian and fellow podcast host Bill Maher's umbrella.According to Hollywood in Toto‚ other talents joining the network are Billy Corgan‚ singer from the Smashing Pumpkins‚ former NBA player Kevin Garnett‚ and Limp Bizkit's rap-metal front man Fred Durst. FINALLY!! Not sure how I was able to keep the secret for so long...but I'm THRILLED to announce my new show! Genuine convos with fearless people who are unafraid to tell their stories &; speak their truths in this crazy world! Huge thx to @billmaher and his @ClubRandom_ team\u2026 — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A high-profile graduate of Princeton University who has involved himself in various arts and entertainment organizations and banking enterprises around the globe has been arrested in connection with alleged possession of child pornography.In January‚ the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contacted prosecutors in Mercer County‚ New Jersey‚ to report that someone in the county had uploaded an image of child sexual abuse. An investigation into the report led authorities to a condo belonging to 53-year-old Roy "Trey" Farmer‚ located near the main entrance of Princeton University.Last Friday‚ police arrested Farmer and charged him with one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. They also collected several items from his condo that may have "evidentiary value‚" the Daily Voice reported‚ citing prosecutors.Farmer was booked into Mercer County jail‚ and prosecutors have requested that he be held without bond pending trial. A hearing to consider that motion is scheduled for next week.Though he graduated from Princeton more than 30 years ago‚ Farmer has remained deeply involved with the school. A Princeton University Alumni profile piece on Farmer from February 2022 — an article that is no longer available on the PUA website — referred to him a "piano prodigy" and claimed he was involved with Princeton Internships in Civic Service‚ the Princeton Club of Southwest Florida‚ the Princeton University Glee Club Foundation‚ and the Princeton Bisexual‚ Transgender‚ Gay and Lesbian Alumni organization‚ now known as Queer Princeton Alumni.According to the New York Post‚ Farmer became the president of Queer Princeton Alumni just a few months ago. QPA and the Princeton University Glee Club Foundation did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment.Farmer also joined a number of other prestigious organizations‚ including the New York Philharmonic‚ the London Symphony Orchestra‚ Naples Music Club‚ Opera Naples‚ and the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. Though he studied philosophy at Princeton and did further graduate study in philosophy at Yale and in education at Harvard‚ he also became involved in international banking. According to the alumni profile piece‚ Farmer spent "more than 15 years in Eastern Europe and the Middle East where he founded a boutique investment bank."Even with his international experience‚ Farmer seems to have always remained a Princetonian at heart. "Princeton has always been about the people for me‚" he told PUA. "Alumni and students are constantly challenging me and inspiring me in new ways. The things I’ve done in my life and career all stem from the things I was exposed to at Princeton."NJ.com noted that Farmer participated in these Princeton-affiliated alumni organizations as a volunteer‚ not as an employee of Princeton. The school directed all requests for comment to the prosecutor's office‚ the outlet said.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

"I was literally just walking and a man came up and punched me in the face‚" influencer Halley Mcgookin said through tears in a now-viral Monday video describing an attack against her that had just taken place on a New York City street‚ Today reported. "Oh my God‚ it hurts so bad. I can't even talk." Mcgookin added in the clip — which Today said has received over 35 million views — that she fell to the ground after the punch; she then pointed to a bump on the upper right side of her head‚ the outlet noted. @halleykate♬ original sound - halley She's not alone. A number of horrified women are saying that men have punched them this month in unprovoked‚ broad-daylight attacks on Manhattan streets. Mcgookin — known online as Halley Kate — said in a follow-up video that she was walking on a sidewalk looking down at her phone to send an email when a man who was walking his dog punched her‚ Today reported: “There was so much room on the sidewalk‚ literally nobody was around‚ and I guess this man — I don’t know if he punched me or elbowed me. I literally passed out‚ so I don’t really remember." She added that when she tried to get up‚ the man was “screaming” at her before she ran away‚ the outlet reported. NBC News noted that videos of women reporting similar attacks have picked up in the last week: One woman said she was attacked walking home from class; another while on her way to work; still another while she was walking her dog. The news network added that a police spokesperson declined to answer whether the attacks reflect an uptick in violent crime against women in the city or whether the police department is taking any additional measures to ensure their safety. NBC News reported that a 25-year-old woman said she was walking out of the Times Square subway station on 7th Avenue and West 42nd Street Saturday when a man punched her in the head. The victim told the news network that she captured video of the man as he was walking away‚ and police publicized in a poster that the suspect was wanted for assault. The woman said on TikTok the "traumatic" experience will stick with her the "rest of [her] life‚" NBC News added: "We are always cautious about walking at night‚ now we have to be cautious about walking in broad daylight." 'Out of nowhere' The news network also said Mikayla Toninato — a Parsons fashion design student — also shared a TikTok video saying she was punched in the face while leaving class in Manhattan as she was looking down at her phone and texting. “Out of nowhere this man just came up and hit me in the face‚" she said in the clip with a bruise visible under one of her eyes‚ according to NBC News. “He hit me right on my cheekbone‚" Toninato told the "Today" show Thursday‚ according to NBC News. "This doesn’t hurt as bad as the concussion does." She added that emotionally "it's been really really hard. I think it hits me in waves. A lot of crying because it’s been really scary." Another woman reported getting punched by a man who apologized before he hit her‚ the news network said. “I literally just got punched by some man on the sidewalk‚” she said in a TikTok video‚ NBC News reported. “He goes ‘sorry’ and then punches me in the head.” Police told the news network the attack took place around 11:48 a.m. March 17 while a woman was walking her dog in the area of Kenmare and Mulberry Streets and that "no injuries were reported as a result of this incident." NBC News said the woman in an update posted to her TikTok account added: “I wasn’t looking down at my phone. I was just literally across the street from my building walking my dog to the dog park. I had seen the man. He was‚ like‚ slightly walking toward me‚ and I didn’t think anything of it. And then he says‚ ‘sorry‚’ and hits me and was immediately gone.” 'I got attacked from behind' The news network added that Sarah Harvard‚ 30‚ posted Tuesday on X that she was walking near the Delancey Street and Essex Street station on the Lower East Side when she was punched in the back of the head March 19. “I was not on my phone. I was walking somewhere‚ and I got attacked from behind‚” she told NBC News. “So it’s really violating that I didn’t see it coming‚ and there was nothing I could’ve done‚ really‚ to prevent it from happening.” Harvard added to the news network that since the attack‚ she's felt a “spiky pain‚ throbbing feeling” in her head and experienced nausea‚ headaches‚ dizziness‚ and blurred vision. More from NBC News: Harvard said she initially didn’t go to the police because she thought that it was an isolated incident‚ and that officials might brush it off. Since she learned that more women have come forward online to say they’ve been assaulted‚ she said‚ she plans to file a police report. Since the attack‚ Harvard said‚ she is struggling with feeling unsafe in the city she calls home. “What’s really unbearable is that general‚ never-ending feeling now of feeling unsafe and feeling constantly alert‚ constantly looking over my shoulder‚” she told the news network. “This anxiety is manifesting physically‚ too. I slept last night for two hours; the night before‚ I slept for four hours. I’m having trouble breathing‚ and my chest is getting really tight.” An arrest NBC News‚ citing police‚ said 40-year-old Skiboky Stora of Brooklyn was arrested Wednesday on an assault charge. The attack for which the news outlet said Stora was arrested is the same attack Today reported in reference to Mcgookin. Image source: YouTube screenshot Image source: YouTube screenshot More from NBC News: Stora has sought public office in New York since 2021‚ public records show. He participated in a New York City mayoral debate in 2021. In 2022‚ he filed a handwritten petition to get on the ballot for New York governor. Last year‚ records show‚ Stora ran for the District 9 seat on the New York City Council. However‚ the news network added Stora and the suspect wanted in connection with the Saturday assault outside the Times Square subway station do not appear to be the same person. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When wokeness entered the entertainment industry chat‚ it began trolling anything and everything it deemed unsuitable for the new progressive narrative — including comedy. How long has it been since you’ve seen a genuinely good comedy film — one that had you laughing until your sides hurt?For us at Blaze Media‚ it’s been too long. So‚ we’re doing something about it. Last year‚ we brought you “Re-Opening‚” a sidesplitting mockumentary about a theater company trying to reopen amid the pandemic. And this year‚ we’re proud to present “Agua Donkeys‚” the tale of two pool bros spending the summer chasing good vibes and the girl of their dreams — all at the expense of actually cleaning pools. It’s a “Napoleon Dynamite” meets “Dumb and Dumber” kind of experience and one you don’t want to miss. Here’s what people are saying about “Agua Donkeys”:Subscribe to BlazeTV+ to watch MP Cunningham and Jer Jackson as they try to get abs‚ get calves‚ and most importantly‚ get the untouchable Jackie to fall for one of them in the silkiest‚ sickest‚ and most buttery comedy film of the year.Unlock everything BlazeTV+ has to offerGet unlimited access to some of the most original and insightful commentary around. Start streaming exclusive content from top talent like Glenn Beck‚ Mark Levin‚ Jason Whitlock and more. Your subscription will also unlock access to our weekly invite-only live chats with all of your favorite BlazeTV hosts.

A judge has ordered that Jan. 6 defendant Kevin Seefried be released from prison pending the appeal of his conviction. Last year‚ Seefried was sentenced to serve three years in federal prison for his role in Jan. 6 after being found guilty on five criminal charges‚ one felony and four misdemeanors. Then‚ last December‚ the Supreme Court agreed to hear Fischer v. United States‚ a case concerning the proper application of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)‚ a felony statute that federal prosecutors are using against Jan. 6 for "obstruction of an official proceeding." If the Supreme Court rules the statute cannot be applied to Jan. 6 defendants‚ then Seefried and hundreds of others would have their felony convictions vacated‚ resulting in substantially lighter sentences. In light of the Supreme Court agreeing to hear the case‚ Seefried asked a judge to release him from prison pending appeal. On Jan. 8‚ U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves asked a judge not to release Seefried. Graves argued: Seefried cannot establish by clear and convincing evidence that he does not pose a danger to the community/is not a flight risk; nor can he show that ... it is likely that the outcome in Fischer will result in a reduced sentence to a term of imprisonment less than the total of the time already served plus the expected duration of the appeal process. But U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden strongly disagrees with the government. "The riot on January 6th was the culmination of a unique — indeed‚ never-before-seen — confluence of events. The Government provides the Court no evidence suggesting that any of the events that led to that riot are reasonably likely to recur. Nor does it point to any evidence that Seefried would participate in another riot if they did‚" the judge wrote in his order on Tuesday."Instead‚ the Government invokes general atmospherics about a 'fiercely contested presidential election' and a 'political maelstrom.' It then leaves the Court to speculate that this 'maelstrom' will ultimately result in Seefried reoffending‚" he explained.McFadden described the government's argument a "fact-free approach.""Ultimately‚ none of the Government’s arguments involve any facts specific to Seefried. Instead‚ they are purely class-based‚" he condemned. "People who have already gone to prison‚ as a class‚ cannot be released. January 6th defendants‚ as a class‚ cannot be released during an election year.""In the end‚ if specific facts about Seefried lead the Government to believe that he is imminently likely to engage in criminal conduct‚ options remain open to the Government. But without those facts‚ the Court cannot deprive a citizen of his liberty based on guesswork alone‚" McFadden explained. "Because the Government has presented no reason to believe that its previous concession about Seefried’s flight risk is no longer valid‚ the Court reaffirms its previous finding.""By clear and convincing evidence‚ Seefried is not likely to flee the jurisdiction or pose a harm to the community during his release‚" McFadden declared.McFadden ordered Seefried released from prison one year to the date of his surrender‚ which was May 31‚ 2023. That means he will be released in two months.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Eleven states‚ led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R)‚ filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the Biden administration after the White House announced last week yet another round of federal student loan debt “forgiveness‚” Fox Business reported.The lawsuit reads‚ “A coalition of States sues Defendant Biden‚ as well as co-defendants the Department of Education and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona‚ to stop a second attempt to avoid Congress and pass an illegal student debt forgiveness. Last time Defendants tried this the Supreme Court said that this action was illegal. Nothing since then has changed.”Since the Supreme Court’s June decision to strike down the Biden administration’s plan to enact sweeping‚ unilateral debt cancellations‚ the White House has ultimately ignored the court’s ruling and unveiled numerous smaller programs that meet the same ends. Biden’s original failed cancellation program would have eliminated $10‚000 of federal student loan debt for borrowers earning less than $125‚000 per year and married couples earning less than $250‚000 per year. If the program had been allowed to move forward‚ the administration would have laid approximately $430 billion of unpaid student loan debt at the feet of American taxpayers.The Biden administration has bragged about his new plan to cancel debt for 4 million Americans totaling at least $143.6 billion.“In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on my Administration’s original student debt relief plan‚ we are continuing to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible‚” Biden stated.Last week‚ the White House announced that student loan borrowers working in the public service sector‚ including teachers‚ nurses‚ and firefighters‚ will see $6 billion of student loan debt canceled.Kansas AG Kobach‚ along with Alabama‚ Alaska‚ Idaho‚ Iowa‚ Louisiana‚ Montana‚ Nebraska‚ South Carolina‚ Texas‚ and Utah‚ sued Biden for rolling out the so-called debt forgiveness programs.Kobach told Fox News Digital‚ “Not since the Civil War has a president told the Supreme Court‚ ‘Yeah you blocked me‚ but I’m gonna do it anyway.’”“Biden is trying to twist federal law once again‚ and his new plan is just as illegal as the old plan‚” he declared.Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said that the state also intends to sue the administration for the debt cancellations‚ noting that Arkansas would join as well.“Between our two coalitions of states‚ we will get this matter in front of a judge even more quickly to deliver a win for the American people. The Supreme Court sided with Missouri on this matter the first time. I look forward to bringing home yet another win for the Constitution and the rule of law‚” Bailey stated.The White House did not respond to Fox Business' request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After following the tumultuous path that led from Cyberpunk 2077's initial launch to its current‚ much improved state‚ many players eager to see what's next from creator CD Projekt Red may be more interested in seeing the company return to the world of The Witcher than Cyberpunk's dystopian future. That segment of the audience seems to be in luck‚ as new information from CDPR detailing how it's allocating its resources across multiple projects show that The Witcher 4 has ten times the number of people working on it than the next Cyberpunk. Continue reading CDPR has ten times more devs on The Witcher 4 than Cyberpunk’s sequel MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 4 release date‚ The Witcher 4 Unreal 5‚ The Witcher 4 School of the Lynx

If you’re a conservative being courted by the mainstream media‚ get yourself a prenup before taking the plunge.

When American journalism faces existential threats‚ the McDaniel controversy risks making this important institution even more irrelevant for much of the country.