This is the first fossil bee species described from Zealandia.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D) tried scoring political points against Vice President JD Vance on Valentine's Day. It did not go well. Murphy centered his attack on an embarrassing error — an error that multitudes of critics and even the White House seized upon as possible evidence of an intellectual deficit on the part of the Democratic senator. Murphy was among the Democrats, liberal pundits, and foreign dignitaries who took issue with Vance's Friday speech where the vice president criticized various European nations over their brazen suppression of free speech, political movements, and religious liberties. The 51-year-old Democrat tweeted, "It takes some f***ing gall to have Vance lecturing Europe on 'free speech' when at the exact same time the Trump regime is threatening Democrats back home with arrest if they even explain people's rights to them." Murphy provided a screenshot of the supposed threat — a tweet that read, "If you support Border Czar Tom Homan arresting AOC for giving illegal aliens instructions on how to avoid deportation, post a [thumbs up] in the comments. Make your voice heard." The tweet was posted by a Lara Trump fan account, not by the president's daughter-in-law, who formerly co-chaired the Republican National Committee. 'We do, however, support your right to make such a statement.' Murphy was widely criticized over his error, which was quickly highlighted by community notes on X. The White House's rapid response account, which tasks itself with holding "the Fake News accountable," responded to Murphy, writing, "You are a moron, Chris. It is obvious this page is not affiliated with President Trump, his family, or to the administration." Had Murphy checked Lara Trump's official website, he would find that it links to her proper X account. "We do, however, support your right to make such a statement, no matter how imbecilic it makes you look," the White House account added. Rather than admit his error or apologize, Murphy doubled down in a series of responses to the White House. "Oh you're free speechers now?" wrote Murphy, suggesting the White House's denial of Oval Office access to the factually challenged Associated Press was evidence to the contrary. "Also don't pretend you didn't threaten AOC. you did." 'Maybe AOC is going to be in trouble now.' In a subsequent tweet further evidencing Murphy's loose relationship with the facts, the Democratic senator claimed that the White House was "gaslighting" and that Homan "announced on live TV that he was working with the Department of Justice to explore arresting Ocasio-Cortez for telling immigrants their rights." Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) hosted a Facebook webinar on Feb. 12 advising migrants not to open their doors when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents come looking for them. Contrary to Murphy's suggestion that Homan was working with the DOJ to explore arresting Ocasio-Cortez, Trump's border czar told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Thursday that he wrote to the Department of Justice asking whether Ocasio-Cortez's webinar qualified as "impeding our law enforcement efforts." "Maybe AOC is going to be in trouble now, but I need the AOG to opine on that, because there's an impediment — it's impediment in my opinion, I'm not a prosecutor, but we need some further guidance on that," said Homan, making no mention of possibly arresting the New York congresswoman. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After their mother abandoned them, three children wound up living alone for years in a Pontiac, Michigan, house that was found filled with human waste and garbage piled four-feet high, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said.Deputies were called Friday to the house in the 600 block of Lydia Lane for a welfare check, authorities said.The children were taken to a hospital for evaluation, authorities said, adding their clothing was soiled and their hair matted. Their toenails were several inches long, which made it difficult for them to walk, the sheriff's office said, adding that it appeared the children were unfamiliar with personal hygiene items and didn't know how to flush a toilet.The landlord contacted authorities after not hearing from the mother since December, figuring something must have happened, the sheriff's office said, adding that the rent hadn't been paid since October.Deputies found three siblings — a 15-year-old boy and two girls, ages 13 and 12 — living in squalor, the sheriff's office said.Garbage was piled as high as four feet in some rooms, authorities said, adding that mold and human waste were found throughout the home. What's more, a toilet was found overflowing, and feces were found in a bathtub, authorities said, adding that the scene was processed by an evidence technician dressed in a hazmat suit.The boy told deputies he and his sisters had been living alone since their mother abandoned them in 2020 or 2021. WJBK-TV reported that the children would have been just 11, 9, and 8 when they started living alone.The children lived on food their mother or a stranger left on the porch each week, authorities said, adding that the mother didn't leave toilet paper or personal hygiene items. The mother had contact with the boy, the sheriff's office said, but it appeared she had not seen the girls for years.The sheriff's office said the children had not attended school since the abandonment, and they passed time watching TV or playing games. It appeared the girls haven't been outside the home in several years, either, authorities said.The boy slept on a mattress on the floor while the girls slept on pizza boxes, the sheriff's office said.The children were taken to a hospital for evaluation, authorities said, adding their clothing was soiled and their hair matted. Their toenails were several inches long, which made it difficult for them to walk, the sheriff's office said, adding that it appeared the children were unfamiliar with personal hygiene items and didn't know how to flush a toilet. Neighbors said they weren't aware the children lived alone in the house and never saw them outside — but they did see the mother drop off things, authorities said.Child Protective Services placed the children in the custody of a relative, authorities said.The mother, 34, was found at another location and arrested without incident, the sheriff's office said, adding that she's not being identified because she shares the same name as one of the children. The mother, who told authorities the father is not involved in their lives, is being held at the Oakland County Jail.The sheriff's office didn't say why the mother abandoned the children or what she was doing when she was not at the home, WJBK reported.“Throughout my extensive career in this field, I have never encountered a scenario as dire and prolonged as this one, involving abandonment, neglect, and abuse of the highest order," Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard said. "This situation would be deemed deplorable and intolerable for an animal, and it is utterly unacceptable for your three children. The young girls have been deprived of any interaction with their mother and have not received an education for years. The far-reaching consequences of this abuse must be acknowledged. We look forward to presenting this case to the prosecutor and ensuring that she faces the consequences of her actions.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The network had a true banner weekend.

THIS! Black Woman Lights Jasmine Crockett UP for Attacking Elon Musk and Trying to HIDE Gov Fraud (Watch)

Learned NOTHING! Scott Jennings All But THANKS Tom Hanks for Ensuring Democrats NEVER Win Again and LOL

Working to "save" the United States supersedes following the law, President Donald Trump seemed to imply on social media.

President Donald Trump's border czar says he can't remember fewer illegal southern border crossings than what's occurring after nearly one month of the new administration. Tom Homan took to social media Monday to give a status update on the U.S.-Mexico border.

KEYSTONE, South Dakota – In a move that has left historians, geologists, and just about everyone else in utter disbelief, former President Donald Trump unveiled his likeness carved into the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial during a star-studded Presidents’ Day ceremony. The event, which Trump dubbed “Trumpmore Unveiling 2025,” was a spectacle of fireworks, MAGA hats, and an unexpected cameo by a CGI-ed Abraham Lincoln who appeared to give Trump a digital thumbs up. Trump’s face, now chiseled into the granite next to Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, was met with a mix of thunderous applause from his supporters and a collective facepalm from the rest of the nation. “It’s not just a monument anymore; it’s a living testament to my presidency,” Trump declared, standing in front of his newly carved visage, which some critics noted bore a striking resemblance to his expression when he learned what “covfefe” meant. The project, which Trump insisted was funded by “tremendous donations from the American people,” reportedly cost taxpayers an eye-watering $64 million, though this figure was quickly contested by the Trump administration, now claiming it was “only” $11 million in “artistic enhancements.” The carving was executed under the cover of night by a team of 25 designers, 30 trained stone workers, and 125 laborers who were sworn to secrecy under what was humorously termed the “Non-Disclosure Granite Pact.” Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, who has long been a vocal supporter of Trump, was on hand to cut the ceremonial ribbon—or in this case, a massive red tie. “This is a dream come true for President Trump,” Noem stated, holding back tears of either joy or the sheer absurdity of the situation. “He told me once it was his dream to be on Mount Rushmore, and I said, ‘Come pick out a mountain,’ and here we are.” The event drew a mix of reactions. Conservative pundits hailed it as a bold move to recognize Trump’s “legendary achievements,” with one Fox News host suggesting, “If you did the 250th anniversary of the country at Mount Rushmore with President Trump’s face, it would be epic.” Meanwhile, critics on social media and in the academic community decried the desecration of a national monument, with one X post humorously stating, “Roosevelt exits Mount Rushmore after Trump replaces Washington!” Environmental groups and Native American tribes, who have long contested the construction of Mount Rushmore on sacred land, were apoplectic. “This is the final insult to our land,” said a spokesperson for the Lakota Sioux, lamenting the further defacement of the Black Hills. Environmentalists pointed out that the rock surrounding the monument was deemed “unsuitable for additional carving” by experts, a fact Trump dismissed with a wave of his hand, calling it “fake news from the failing National Park Service.” In a bizarre twist, Trump’s administration has hinted at future plans to add more faces, including potentially Elon Musk, “for his contributions to space and digital currency,” and himself again “for his second term.” When asked about the feasibility of these plans, Trump retorted, “We’ll make it work. We’ll use the best technology, maybe even some of that fancy 3D scanning stuff. It’ll be huge.” The unveiling has sparked a flurry of legislative action, with Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna introducing a bill to officially sanction the addition of Trump’s face to Mount Rushmore, claiming, “His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition on this iconic national monument.” As the sun sets on this historic, if not controversial, day, the new “Trumpmore” stands as a testament to Trump’s enduring influence—or at least, his enduring ego. Whether this addition will be seen as a stroke of genius or an act of vanity will be debated for years to come, but one thing is certain: Mount Rushmore will never be the same. The post SUPRRISE: Trump unveils his face on Mount Rushmore for Presidents’ Day appeared first on Genesius Times.

The legalization of sports betting has fueled a nationwide addiction crisis. With billions wagered and online sportsbooks making betting effortless, help-seeking for gambling addiction has hit record highs. Yet, public health efforts remain dangerously inadequate. Without urgent reforms—stricter advertising, stronger betting safeguards, and expanded treatment services—the crisis will only worsen. Surge in Gambling Addiction Following [...]