Huskies are a bundle of joy and energy‚ well-known for their vibrant spirit that lights up any room. Imagine a fluffy‚ four-legged tornado‚ always in motion and ready for whatever adventure comes next. This zest for life isn’t just for show — it’s a trait deeply embedded in their DNA‚ harking back to their days... The post Baby sneaks up on unsuspecting husky and he has hilarious ‘comeback’ appeared first on Animal Channel.

After White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spewed Bidenomics propaganda on the radio‚ she was smart enough to leave immediately.  Jean-Pierre abruptly left a March 26 interview with 99.3 WBT’s The Brett Winterble Show after fielding questions on President Joe Biden’s age and the high prices Americans face under his administration.  During the interview host and News Director Mark Garrison mentioned high gas and grocery prices‚ asking Jean-Pierre‚ “How does Mr. Biden win votes when people don’t have as much disposable income?” Jean-Pierre proceeded to hypocritically blame a pandemic that began in early 2020 for Biden’s struggles before directly proceeding to criticize former President Donald Trump for “leaving the economy in a tailspin” for Biden to handle in 2021. Jean-Pierre said‚ “You have to remember when the president walked into this administration‚ there were multiple crises happening. There was COVID...the economy was in a tailspin because of the last administration‚ because of what President Trump left us with.”  Yes‚ Jean-Pierre‚ it is completely fitting to ignore the impact of the pandemic and the lockdowns of 2020 to denigrate Trump’s economic performance‚ but still insist that the Biden economy be graded on a curve because he took office in 2021 after millions of people were vaccinated.  From this wildly unsound logic‚ Jean-Pierre then proceeded to paint a favorable comparison between the economy under Biden in 2024 and that of 2023. “Now you’re asking me about gas prices. The president took action on gas prices‚” Jean-Pierre said‚ before adding‚ “Let’s not forget Russia’s invasion on Ukraine skyrocketed prices of gas and because the president took action‚ we see we are in a different place than we were a year ago on gas prices‚ eggs‚ milk‚ seafood products‚ all the important groceries. Those costs have gone down because of what this president has been able to do.”  Sensing danger‚ Jean-Pierre quickly added‚ “And with that thank you so much‚ Mark‚ have an amazing‚ amazing day.” The White House press secretary then proceeded to hang up on the radio program.  It’s no wonder Biden’s proud propagandist ended the interview there. Biden did drain 180 million barrels from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2022‚ which is intended for emergencies. Nevertheless‚ gas prices are still higher under Biden than under Trump‚ rising from $2.42 a gallon in Jan. 2021 to $3.33 a gallon in Feb. 2024. Should Americans really be grateful because they remember that things were even worse at another point in the Biden administration? After all‚ Americans already had to fork over the money. Americans’ average personal savings rate has dropped from 12.8% on Feb. 1‚ 2021‚ to 3.8% on Jan. 1‚ 2024.  Jean-Pierre also avoided any challenge to her claim about Americans spending less at the grocery store. If Jean-Pierre had stayed‚ she may have faced further unflattering comparisons. Prices have risen 18.5% on Biden’s watch and Americans have been buffeted by 5.6% average monthly inflation under Biden.  Hanging up may save the embattled press secretary some embarrassment‚ but it’s not going to make Americans any more grateful.  Conservatives are under attack. Contact ABC News at (818) 460-7477‚ CBS News at (212) 975-3247 and NBC News at (212) 664-6192 and demand they tell the truth about the Bidenomics disaster.

Amidst all the liberal outrage over NBC's hiring of Ronna McDaniel‚ CNN offered an example this morning of what passes for a perfectly acceptable revolving-door hire. CNN commentator Ashley Allison was on a CNN This Morning panel to discuss Trump's hawking of a God Bless America Bible. Allison was the National Coalitions Director for Biden-Harris 2020 and deputy director and senior policy advisor for the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement‚ where she strategized on running campaigns during "the Resistance." Her bio features her commitment to "equity."  Hunt played an old clip of Trump talking about "Two Corinthians" and pressed David Frum and Jonah Goldberg to mock Trump's marketing push. When it came her turn to comment‚ Allison displayed a combination of fearmongering and ignorance about America's founding. Allison claimed that the U.S. was "founded on the separation of church and state." Hunt echoed that misstatement of the First Amendment‚ which‚ of course‚ says nothing about "separation‚" prohibiting only the "establishment" of a state religion. Allison went on to claim that if elected‚ Trump will try to impose a theocracy. As she put it‚ "This is a preview again of how Trump sees the way he wants to rule the world‚ through an authoritative theology‚ which is one way‚ which is. I'm a Christian‚ but Trump's governing approach will be‚ "The Bible is the route in which we are going to govern this country." Then‚ in what might or might not have been an attempt at humor—though she seemed rather serious—Allison claimed that Trump will take credit for having written the Bible. She predicted that if the Bible sales don't go well‚ he will say: "Why aren't people buying it? You know‚ they asked me what to put in the Bible . . . 'I helped write this thing.' That's the kind of fraudulent behavior that this‚ this exhibits to me. And he's just willing to say whatever he can to seem like he's the center of the story‚ even when we know it's so extreme." This is CNN‚ which claims it's devoted to facts‚ but traffics in wild speculation about the future to scare its viewers to stay glued to the screen. Jonah Goldberg expressed some disagreement with Allison‚ suggesting Trump doesn't want to impose a theocracy....but a lot of his allies do:  GOLDBERG: I don't think at all‚ truly that Donald Trump wants to impose a theocracy. I think there are a bunch of people in his orbit who do‚ right? There are people who‚ really -- Donald Trump‚ we talked about going to Communion‚ he says‚ and when they give me my little cracker. I mean‚ like this is a guy who's not religiously literate in the slightest. But the people who are most invested in him‚ surrounding him‚ and want to fill the federal bureaucracy‚ they actually take this theocracy stuff very seriously. Note: This wasn't the first time that Allison's less-than-encyclopedic command of the facts has been exposed. Earlier this month‚ our Nicholas Fondacaro caught Allison absurdly suggesting that before the latest proposed legislation‚ there were no laws governing immigration on the books! Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 3/27/24 6:45 am EDT KASIE HUNT: All right‚ now there's this‚ which is really the one that everyone at this table is talking about this morning. Former president turned Bible salesman?  DONALD TRUMP: All Americans need a Bible in their home‚ and I have many. It's my favorite book. I'm proud to endorse and encourage you to get this Bible. We must make America pray again. HUNT: Make America pray again. After launching sneaker and cologne lines last month‚ the former president‚ okay‚ so he's selling this is‚ get this‚ the God Bless the USA Bible. That's in partnership with country singer Lee Greenwood. He takes the stage to Greenwood's music. It's only $59.99. And just for that‚ you get a copy of the Constitution‚ a copy of the Bill of Rights‚ a copy of the Pledge of Allegiance‚ and the Declaration of Independence. As well as the Bible‚ I guess. . . .  Ashley‚ do you want to weigh in here [chuckles]? ASHLEY ALLISON: Not particularly [laughter]‚ but I guess‚ you know‚ to take a slightly more serious tone on this‚ is‚ this is a preview again of how Trump sees the way he wants to rule the world‚ through an authoritative theology‚ which is one way‚ which is. I'm a Christian‚ but the Bible is the route in which we are going to govern this country‚ even though this country was founded on the separation of church and state.  And so‚ it's funny‚ and yet it's not‚ because it is a tell that if he wins in November and becomes president‚ he could not just say like I'm selling Bibles‚ but I'm mandating that in our schools‚ everyone has a Bible‚ in these institutions everyone has a Bible. And that's not what America is about. There are people from all different faiths. And that's the beauty of this patchwork cloth that we have that Donald Trump doesn'treally seem to appreciate.  HUNT: And Jonah‚ pulling together to Ashley's excellent point‚ the founding documents of the country into the‚ I mean‚ they're the separation of church and state was a founding ideal for a country that was breaking away from Britain. And those documents that the founders wrote. To kind of put them together and then hawk‚ it does‚ I mean -- JONAH GOLDBERG: Yeah‚ but it's a great value in a bundle [laughter.] And they're all public domain now‚ so they can get them really cheap for printing purposes. But no‚ look‚ I mean‚ like I don't think at all‚ truly that Donald Trump wants to impose a theocracy. I think there are a bunch of people in his orbit who do‚ right? There are people who‚ really -- Donald Trump‚ we talked about going to Communion‚ he says‚ and when they give me my little cracker. I mean‚ like this is a guy who's not religiously literate in the slightest. But the people who are most invested in him‚ surrounding him‚ and want to fill the federal bureaucracy‚ they actually take this theocracy stuff very seriously‚ and I do think that this mixing -- it really is an interesting mix of God and Mammon isn't it that we're seeing? And I think‚ to your point‚ I think that's where the real threat is if you're concerned about that kind of thing. . . .  ALLISON: You know‚ I will‚ I think one thing that I could‚ two things I bet that Donald Trump will say if the Bible sales don't go: "Why aren't people buying it? You know‚ they asked me what to put in the Bible." That will be one claim that he makes. "And I helped write this thing." That's the kind of fraudulent behavior that this‚ this exhibits to me. And he's just willing to say whatever he can to seem like he's the center of the story‚ even when we know it's so extreme.  

On Wednesday’s installment of MSNBC’s Jose Diaz-Balart Reports‚ the eponymous host and contributor Paola Ramos focused on the rapes and sexual assaults committed by drug cartels against women who seek to make their way to the U.S. border. Instead of using this as an opportunity to warn against making a dangerous journey that will only end with a longshot asylum claim‚ they used it as an opportunity to dunk on pro-life states such as Texas. Diaz-Balart introduced the segment by referencing current arguments at the Supreme Court about mifepristone‚ “The ruling will have consequences nationwide‚ including at the Southern Border‚ where a growing number of women and girls have been sexually abused and raped in Mexico on their way to the U.S. Once they cross into Texas‚ a new country‚ a new language‚ they have to navigate the many immigration and abortion laws there.”     After being introduced‚ Ramos previewed her report‚ which also aired on Tuesday’s Alex Wagner Tonight‚ by declaring that “this is a reflection of a larger problem that we're seeing‚ right? Where there are migrant women that are stepping into the United States with rape-related pregnancies and as they’re then trying to navigate this complicated legal anti-abortion landscape and so the question that we had is: what does that look like‚ right?” No‚ the problem is that those rapes could have been avoided if it was made clear that the journey is extremely dangerous and that your chances of being granted asylum are not high‚ so do not come to the border. That should be the message‚ whether one supports or opposes abortion. Instead‚ Ramos’s report featured multiple women‚ including one who lives in Mexico‚ running an underground abortion pill trafficking operation. After the report‚ Ramos‚ who is the daughter of Univision's Jorge Ramos and a former Hillary Clinton staffer‚ added‚ “Jose‚ that is the unintended consequences of these anti-abortion laws‚ right‚ that it drives people to take matters into their own hands. You know‚ to rely on the underground networks to ensure that women‚ at the end of the day‚ get the help that they need.” Diaz-Balart followed up‚ “And Paola‚ just the numbers of people‚ the doctor in Mexico telling you she’s got about 15‚000 people. This is something that is a crisis‚ and that continues to increase‚ women being sexually abused‚ being raped‚ consistently in Mexico‚ on their way to the United States‚ Paola. Ramos agreed‚ “When we talk about the humanitarian crisis‚ Jose‚ that's exactly what we're talking about. You're right.” Usually‚ people like Diaz-Balart and Ramos say the humanitarian crisis is why people are heading to the border‚ not the journey itself. If they really believe the journey is the crisis‚ they should be using their platforms to encourage people to stay home‚ not try to dunk on pro-lifers. Here is a transcript for the March 27 show: MSNBC Jose Diaz-Balart Reports 3/27/2024 11:30 AM ET JOSE DIAZ-BALART: The ruling will have consequences nationwide including at the Southern Border where a growing number of women and girls have been sexually abused and raped in Mexico on their way to the U.S. Once they cross into Texas‚ a new country‚ a new language‚ they have to navigate the many immigration and abortion laws there.  MSNBC contributor Paola Ramos just came back from the border with a special report and she is with us this morning. I know‚ Paola‚ you spoke to migrant women who have been sexually assaulted during their journeys to the U.S. and you've spoken to them over the years. What did you learn and how are things different?  PAOLA RAMOS: Well‚ Jose‚ as you can imagine‚ they are horrified. They're traumatized. I spoke to women that had been held by the cartels‚ some for a week‚ some for over a month‚ as they were being sexually abused‚ but I think‚ Jose‚ this is a reflection of a larger problem that we're seeing‚ right? Where there are migrant women that are stepping into the United States with rape-related pregnancies and as they’re then trying to navigate this complicated legal anti-abortion landscape and so the question that we had is: what does that look like‚ right? What does post-Roe look like through the eyes of one of those migrants and here's what we found.  … RAMOS: But on the other side of the border‚ activists are working day and night to fill the void.  [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH ON SCREEN SUBTITLES]: Hi. How are you? This is Paola Ramos speaking. ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Hi‚ Pao. RAMOS: This is Elowyn‚ a young doctor from Mexico City‚ who's part of an international network helping women obtain both mifepristone and misoprostol. Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022‚ much of that help is being routed to Texas. She asked for her identity to be concealed in order to protect the operation. Approximately‚ how big is this network? How many people are part of it?  ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Right now‚ we’re about 15‚000 strong RAMOS [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Wow‚ 15‚000 people. [IN ENGLISH] And who are they‚ where are they contacting you from? ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: They are mostly‚ the majority‚ migrant women and due to different situations‚ they find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. RAMOS [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Meaning‚ they are women who are right here‚ on the border‚ where I am? ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Yes. Exactly. RAMOS: How many packs of pills are you sending each week?  ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Every week? Like around four or six. RAMOS: How do you hide these pills? How do you make sure that no one knows what you're mailing?  ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: The way we usually send it‚ which goes very unnoticed‚ is in sanitary pads inside an envelope. That’s how we send it. RAMOS: I think many people would ask what is in it for you‚ right‚ obviously‚ you're not doing it for economic reasons. So‚ why do you do it?  ELOWYN [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Well‚ because I understand the reality of being a woman and I believe that being able to help them‚ being that support at this critical moment‚ is essential. RAMOS: Back in Texas‚ Valentina feels the same way.  You risk your life and your status. Why?  VALENTINA [SPEAKING SPANISH WITH SUBTITLES]: Because I know what it feels like to be there and not have help. RAMOS: Jose‚ that is the unintended consequences of these anti-abortion laws‚ right‚ that it drives people to take matters into their own hands. You know‚ to rely on the underground networks to ensure that women‚ at the end of the day‚ get the help that they need.  DIAZ-BALART: And Paola‚ just the numbers of people‚ the doctor in Mexico telling you she’s got about 15‚000 people.  RAMOS: Huge. DIAZ-BALART: This is something that is a crisis‚ and that continues to increase‚ women being sexually abused‚ being raped‚ consistently in Mexico‚ on their way to the United States‚ Paola. RAMOS: When we talk about the humanitarian crisis‚ Jose‚ that's exactly what we're talking about. You're right.  

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) said Tuesday that "raising penalties" is not a "deterrent" for criminals‚ the New York Post reported.Heastie rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul's (D) plan to curb shoplifting and assaults against retail workers by increasing sentences. Hochul called for stricter penalties for violent shoplifters as part of the state's budget proposal unveiled earlier this year."I can't predict a handshake deal‚" Heastie said Tuesday‚ referring to budget negotiations between state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Hochul. "I guess I use the analogy that when the government does a budget and resolutions that we're in the same galaxy. I think where the budget negotiations are now‚ it feels like we're on the same planet. I don't think we're in the same country or in the same state yet‚ but we're at least on the same planet on what has to happen on all of the big items‚" Heastie explained.According to the assembly speaker‚ the biggest issue regarding the budget concerns housing‚ the Daily Gazette reported. Additional topics up for negotiation include Medicaid spending and increased sentencing and penalties for assaults against retail workers."All the other times that we've raised penalties on different classes of people‚ that hasn't stopped assaults. We still need to get to the root issues of what's going on. We'd be open to talking about the organized crime rings that people have‚ but I just don't believe raising penalties is ever a deterrent on crime‚" Heastie argued. "You can stop anybody in the street and ask them what is the penalty for assaulting anybody and they probably won't be able to give you an answer."He added that New York lawmakers are concerned about the uptick in assaults on retail workers."I don't want to make it sound like we're not concerned about stemming what's happened to retail workers‚" he continued. "We care very deeply about that. We just have other ideas of how to get there."Heastie noted that this year's budget negotiations are moving along more quickly because "it's not loaded with policy" like last year's proposal."I've always told you that one of the reasons why budgets take a lot of time is when you get bogged down on policy. At the end‚ the numbers are the numbers‚ money is money. You can only spend what you have‚" Heastie told reporters. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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!