State legislatures in Iowa‚ Utah‚ and Georgia have joined the movement to pass state laws protecting religious freedom. Commonly known as Religious Freedom Restoration Acts‚ these laws should be fairly uncontroversial. They simply ensure the free exercise of religion against government interference. Yet‚ the laws are being labeled by opponents as attempts to foster discrimination.Search the internet for news about “religious freedom restoration acts‚” also known as RFRAs‚ and the results might lead one to conclude that some far-right religious plot was afoot. Typical headlines include‚ “Human rights campaign strongly condemns the West Virginia legislature for hastily passing dangerous religious refusal bill‚ calls on gov justice to veto bill” and “Religious liberty steps too far‚ could destroy the common good if we let it.”To claim that protecting religious liberty is an attempt to foster discrimination against LGBT rights is to make that discriminatory claim about the First Amendment itself.What is going on here? What is a RFRA anyway? Is it a legitimate protection of religious liberty or a license to discriminate?Let’s begin with some history. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1990 held in Employment Division v. Smith that a law is constitutional under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment if it is “facially neutral and generally applied” — even if that law‚ in fact‚ burdens religious exercise. The decision effectively allows government actions to burden religious exercise‚ as long as the burden is applied to religious and nonreligious persons alike.Congress responded by passing a bipartisan bill in the 1993-1994 session — when Bill Clinton was president — prohibiting the government from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability. The government would need to demonstrate that its action advances a compelling state interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. This is the same standard the government must meet (called “strict scrutiny”) when burdening a fundamental right under the Constitution.When the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997 ruled in City of Boerne v. Flores that the federal RFRA cannot be applied to state laws‚ individual states responded by passing their own state RFRAs. Currently‚ 24 states have religious freedom laws on the books.So‚ let’s be clear about what a state RFRA is. The First Amendment was enacted in part to protect the people’s right to free exercise of religion. The Supreme Court in Smith held that “neutral” laws can burden the free exercise of religion‚ undermining the very purpose of the U.S. Constitution’s intent to protect that free exercise. A RFRA‚ then‚ is nothing more than a statute to ensure adequate protection of the fundamental right to free religious exercise.Accusations that the movement to pass state RFRAs is a radical shift in religious liberty law in America or that such laws attempt to discriminate against LGBT rights fall flat. The First Amendment is clearly meant to protect religious individuals and organizations‚ so that the free exercise of religion is not jeopardized by government action.Since the current Supreme Court precedent in Smith does not adequately protect the free exercise of religion‚ state RFRAs step in to fill in the gap. State RFRAs are not a novelty. They do not constitute any sort of revolutionary new protection for religious exercise. To claim that protecting religious liberty is an attempt to foster discrimination against LGBT rights is to make that discriminatory claim about the First Amendment itself.The movement to pass state RFRAs is not a legal revolution‚ but a modest restoration of the fundamental right to the free exercise of religion. To oppose this restoration is to stand against the foundational role of religion in society. It is not discriminatory to demand that religious exercise be free from burdensome government action. RFRAs are not about discrimination; this is a distraction. RFRAs are about protecting the fundamental right to religious exercise that stands at the heart of our American experiment. If state governments are free to burden religious exercise with hostile laws‚ Americans are not free to live out their faith in the public square. That is not “nondiscrimination.” That is un-American and threatens the liberties our nation was founded to protect.Frank DeVito is an attorney and counsel at the Napa Legal Institute.

Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs announced last week the nation's first "chief heat officer" as part of her administration's new "Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan."The governor explained that she released the new plan in response to last year's temperatures‚ noting that Arizona experienced the "hottest summer... ever recorded." Hobbs claimed that the state's "temperatures have been rising steadily from decade to decade‚ and each year brings an increase in heat-caused and heat-related deaths and illnesses from the year before."Hobbs' executive order created the "nation's first Chief Heat Officer position to coordinate the implementation of this Plan‚" including "heat-specific efforts between agencies on shelter‚ energy‚ health‚ and disaster response." The new position‚ which "will be instrumental in the Plans' implementation‚" will work alongside the Governor's Office of Resiliency.The OOR's director‚ Maren Mahoney‚ said‚ "It's critical that Arizona build a sustainable and resilient state.""I'm proud to lead this effort across state agencies and in partnership with various sectors‚ including health and human service providers‚ the business community‚ and scientific experts to protect everyday Arizonans and ensure we have the tools we need. Together‚ I know we can tackle the challenges that lay ahead of us and build a thriving state‚" Mahoney remarked.According to the Arizona Department of Health Services‚ Dr. Eugene Livar‚ who has been with the department since 2012‚ will fill the new chief heat officer position."As the state's Chief Heat Officer‚ Dr. Livar will oversee the implementation of the plan and work to coordinate partnerships between the state‚ county health departments‚ local municipalities‚ communities‚ the private sector‚ and community-based organizations. ADHS has also hired a heat relief coordinator that will serve as the statewide point-of-contact for county coordinators and will develop training for community navigators focused on improving access to human service providers‚" the department reported.The ADHS praised Livar for his "forward-thinking approach and commitment to public health preparedness.""I'm excited to take on this role and this important work to make sure Arizona is prepared as possible for this upcoming heat season and beyond‚" Livar stated.The governor's plan also includes creating "six new‚ solar-powered‚ cooling centers constructed with shipping containers." The cooling centers will be mobile‚ so they may be relocated to different areas of Arizona as needed.Hobbs stated‚ "What I heard time and again from everyday Arizonans was that our state's old approach was not enough.""As a social worker who has dedicated my life to protecting everyday people‚ I knew we had to take action. Arizona is no stranger to the heat‚ yet we have always risen to the challenge‚ protected our neighbors‚ and built a sustainable and thriving state. This time will be no different‚" she noted.Republican and former state Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita called the governor's announcement "an all-time level of absurdity — a 'chief heat officer.' It has to be a joke…we live in the DESERT."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.) shut down a CNN reporter on Thursday with a single question while defending his outburst at the State of the Union.Early in Biden's speech‚ Van Orden screamed "lies" when Biden attacked Donald Trump by saying the former president "failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to American people: the duty to care." That sin is "unforgivable‚" Biden added.After the speech‚ CNN correspondent Manu Raju confronted Van Orden for interrupting Biden."Why did you yell out the president was lying?" the CNN reporter asked.Van Orden explained that he took issue with Biden's refusal to take responsibility for the border crisis."The president should have started and ended his State of the Union address by apologizing to the American people. He's let 8 million illegal immigrants into the country‚ open[ed] the border. And you know he can close it. So what he said there in the State of the Union‚ tremendous amount of it was just flat-out fabrication‚" he responded. — (@) In a follow-up question‚ Raju suggested that it was inappropriate for Van Orden to engage in outbursts. But the interview quickly ended when Van Orden asked a revealing question of his own."You're obviously a member of the House. Is it appropriate for you to yell out 'lies' when the president is addressing you guys?" Raju asked."Is it appropriate to tell the truth?" Van Orden fired back.The simple question raises an important point: if outbursts break decorum rules‚ what about dishonesty and a lack of candor? For his part‚ Van Orden said Friday that he doesn't plan to apologize. In a radio interview‚ he condemned Biden for treating the State of the Union address‚ which should be a politically agnostic summary of the state of the union‚ as a "campaign speech" to attack his No. 1 political rival. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Current and former New York Police Department officials this week torched Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul for her decision to deploy 750 National Guardsmen to New York City subway systems amid a surge in violent crime‚ the New York Post reported.On Wednesday‚ Hochul announced a "five-point plan‚" which included sending 1‚000 New York National Guardsmen‚ New York State Police officers‚ and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police officers to assist the NYPD with conducting bag checks in the transit system‚ Blaze News previously reported.Hochul launched the plan in response to a series of "brazen‚ heinous attacks on our subway system.""You'll start seeing them at the tables‚ making sure that weapons are not being brought in‚ working in concert with our New York State Police‚" the governor said‚ referring to her plan to increase law enforcement presence.New York Chief of Patrol John Chell slammed Hochul's plan‚ stating that New Yorkers "want truth and solutions."Chell noted that transit crime has decreased by 12% over the last five weeks because additional NYPD officers were deployed as part of a plan he attributed to the department and New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. "Our transit system is not a 'war' zone!" Chell wrote on X. "Bag checks have been around since 2005."He blasted Hochul's soft-on-crime policies."Let's try this‚" Chell continued. "When we arrest recidivists we arraign‚ indict‚ prosecute and incarcerate. Let's fix 'Bail Reform' by eliminating discovery restraints so the DAs can incarcerate recidivists. Parolees‚ when they violate they go back to jail. 'Less is More' hurts our city. 'Harm against Harm' properly utilized for bail/remand of recidivist. Hold judges to account."Chell concluded his comments by writing‚ "If you want change‚ then vote for the change you seek. This is what NYers want and deserve. All STAKEHOLDERS do your job! Keep our city safe."NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry shared the chief of patrol's post and added‚ "Remember when we said recidivism is a problem? ... Crime is driven by a small group of people committing many crimes." Hey New York‚ Remember when we said recidivism is a problem? Take a look at this graphic. Crime is driven by a small group of people committing many crimes. \n\n@NYPDChiefPatrol \n@NYPDTransit \n@NYPDChiefOfDept — (@) During a recent interview with WPIX‚ Chell explained‚ "There are other stakeholders in the criminal justice system business.""Every arrest we make‚ we then hand off to other stakeholders — prosecutors‚ judges who are bound by laws passed by state legislators. And‚ somehow‚ we're arresting the same people over and over and over‚" he said. As I\u2019ve been repeatedly saying since day one‚ the lack of consequences for repeat offenders poses one of the biggest challenges towards the safe subway system New Yorkers deserve. I\u2019m glad to see this important topic is now getting the attention it so rightfully deserves. — (@) "As I've been repeatedly saying since day one‚ the lack of consequences for repeat offenders poses one of the biggest challenges towards the safe subway system New Yorkers deserve. I'm glad to see this important topic is now getting the attention it so rightfully deserves‚" Chell stated on X Friday.Former NYPD Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik had even more fiery remarks about Hochul's leadership‚ calling her plans to deploy troops "all a farce.""You're going to harass law abiding citizens‚ and the thugs carrying a 40 cal‚ or 9 mm‚ walk right by you because they're not carrying a bag!" Kerik shared in a post on X. "Stop the theater!""Repeal or eliminate bail reform‚ lock up the thugs and sentence to the max‚" he continued. "The NYPD knows their job! Give them the tools and laws they need to do the job and we wouldn't have this problem! This isn't brain surgery. We've done this before‚ and we did it better than anyone in the country. It can be done with the right leadership!" "Crime is up in New York‚ because the governor is scared to death to piss off the radical left‚ endangering communities and endangering our cops!" Kerik added.The former commissioner told Hochul to "do [her] job!"The governor responded to some of the criticism by defending her new plan and claiming that "the laws are there to go after repeat offenders."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Three escaped convicts have been charged with killing two American citizens after reportedly hijacking the couple's yacht in the Caribbean last month. The bodies of Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry have yet to be found‚ and authorities believe the fugitives threw them overboard. Ron Mitchell‚ 30; Trevon Robertson‚ 19; and Abita Stanislaus‚ 25; each were charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the presumed deaths of the couple. According to a statement from the Royal Grenada Police Force‚ the suspects also face charges of escaping lawful custody‚ housebreaking‚ robbery‚ and two counts of kidnapping.The prisoners a couple of months ago had been charged with one count of robbery with violence. Mitchell also was charged with one count of rape‚ three counts of attempted rape‚ and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm‚ according to Grenada police.The three suspects escaped their prison cells in Grenada on Feb. 18. The fugitives were recaptured in St. Vincent on Feb. 21.Hendry and Brandel had anchored their yacht in Grenada's capital of St. George's‚ and when authorities located the yacht in neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines‚ there were no signs of Brandel and Hendry. Family members said they had not heard from the couple since Feb. 18‚ according to People magazine.As Blaze News previously reported‚ investigators said there were signs of a violent struggle aboard the yacht with possessions strewn everywhere and blood throughout the boat."The entire interior of the vessel and its decks were ransacked‚" the Coast Guard’s commanding officer reportedly wrote in an internal memo.Authorities said the crime scene on the yacht was "consistent with signs of violence." Law enforcement believes the fugitives commandeered the yacht a day after their prison break. Their vessel was found abandoned Feb. 21‚ with the husband and wife nowhere to be found‚ the yacht club said.CNN reported‚ "Last‚ week‚ Grenada police commissioner Don McKenzie said in a news conference the couple was likely thrown overboard during the hijacking‚ and information suggests the escapees 'disposed of the occupants' while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent‚ about 80 miles away."The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said last week that the suspected killers committed "several criminal acts including bodily harm to the couple" while sailing.Hendry and Brandel — who are from Virginia — were on a dream sailing voyage on their yacht named Simplicity. The couple sold their home and bought Simplicity several years ago.Ralph was a 66-year-old financial advisor and Kathy was a retired real estate agent who would have turned 71 on Feb. 21.Brandel's son — Nick Buro — told WRC-TV‚ "This is something that is completely unexpected. And wrapping our brains around it and trying to understand a senseless act of violence against two people while they were just living their lives in their home‚ essentially‚ because Simplicity was their home. They didn't have another home.... And having that safety and security taken away from them abruptly and [having] them attacked ... where they live‚ it's just‚ it's unimaginable.""They were super careful to be safe all the time‚" Buro noted. "Everywhere they went everything they did‚ safety was their top‚ top concern. So this unfortunate accident‚ I think‚ it came out of nowhere for them."The suspects made their first court appearance in St. George's Magistrate’s Court in Grenada on Thursday. They are scheduled to return to court on March 27. American Couple Kidnapped On Yacht and Allegedly Thrown Overboard by Hijackers in Caribbean www.youtube.com Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

‘Putin [is] a war criminal‚ and his gang is other war criminals — they are very determined for very long confrontation.’

Protesters interrupted a press conference where four Cuban-American lawmakers discussed the recent trip Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar took to Cuba.

MIT is the latest addition to the list of colleges that the committee is investigating over campus antisemitism.

A report was generated based on intelligence and defense community records‚ open-source information‚ interviews and both classified and unclassified archives.

Davidai said the investigation will not deter him from speaking up about where he feels the university has fallen short in dealing with harassment of Jews.