When government leaders and virtue-signaling billionaires make poor decisions‚ they never seem to suffer consequences. Only the victims of their arrogance and greed have to pay the price. In a news release Wednesday‚ the Amazon-backed electric-vehicle manufacturer Rivian announced poor fourth-quarter 2023 financial results and dismal 2024 expectations‚ which led...

Race-obsessed Google engineer's social media shows he has history of espousing anti-white racism, according to social media posts.

Last week MRCTV reported on the blasphemous display that took place at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York where a funeral was held for a transgender atheist prostitute. On Tuesday the group called CatholicVote‚ wrote a letter to the New York Attorney General demanding an investigation of the situation for the deception and lies cordnators used to get the Catholic church to agree to hold the service. On February 15‚ more than 1‚000 people gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral for Cecilia Gentili’s funeral. Gentili was a transgender woman‚ so a man‚ and was referred to as the “mother of all whores” during his funeral service. The whole event was blasphemous and was disrespectful not only to the church building but to Christian principles as a whole.  At one point in the service‚ a friend of Gentili prayed for trans people to have the chance to access gender affirming “care” and sang “Ave Maria” but changed the lyrics to “Ave Cecilia.” That same friend then danced and twirled through the isles of the church. How was this allowed? That’s a question I’ve been wondering the answer to for a week now.  Supposedly organizers lied and deceived church staff in order to get them to have Gentili’s funeral there. Cayenne Doroshow‚ who put together the event‚ said that she tried to keep it hidden that Gentili was trans. “I kind of kept it under wraps‚” Doroshow said‚ insisting that she wanted to have the funeral at a place that was an “icon‚ just like” Gentili. In response to this deception‚ the Catholic advocacy organization‚ CatholicVote released a letter on Wednesday requesting that New York AG Letitia James investigate the circumstances surrounding the use of the well known cathedral.  “The Archdiocese of New York has publicly affirmed that they ‘had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way‚’” the letter indicated before insisting that an investigation take place. CatholicVote cited New York state laws which recognize those who gain access to property through deception as a form of criminal trespass. The outrageous sacrilege perpetrated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral is indeed a hate crime. Video footage shows that transgender activists intentionally used deception to obtain permission to enter St. Patrick’s and the facts show that access was used to desecrate that sacred space and mock Catholic faith and morals. Again‚ the pastor of St. Patrick’s has confirmed that they were not told the nature and purpose of the offensive stunt that was planned. I urge you to defend the rights and dignity of Catholic New Yorkers and the tens of thousands of Catholics from throughout this great nation who visit St. Patrick’s to honor the saint and practice their faith each year. The deception and lies that took place to secure St. Patrick’s Cathedral‚ a sacred space‚ for something that so obviously denounces God’s principles and existence is not only disturbing but a heartbreaking reality of just how far the left will go to get what they want. Time will tell if the New York’s Attorney General will even care about CatholicVote’s letter but hopefully‚ if she has any morals at all‚ she will investigate the deception and hold accountable those who broke the law.

During questioning of Fulton County‚ Georgia prosecutor Nathan Wade about his “relationship” with District Attorney Fani Willis there was a moment that cut through all the euphemisms we have become accustomed to when it comes to human behavior. Scott Sadow‚ an attorney for Donald Trump‚ who is trying to get an indictment against Trump dismissed for Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election‚ received an answer to a question that appeared to surprise him. Asked about his “relationship” with Willis‚ Wade said‚ “do you mean intercourse?” Sadow said he wasn’t going to use that word‚ but since Wade brought it up‚ then yes‚ that’s what he meant. It was a classic example of how euphemisms are increasingly used to soften the meaning of questionable behavior. A forceful Willis tried to obfuscate her relationship with Wade‚ even calling him at one point a “Southern gentleman.” But in an earlier court filing‚ she admitted to an affair (meaning sex) with Wade‚ who she put on the payroll as part of her Trump prosecution team. Radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger receives calls from women who speak of living with their boyfriends. “In other words‚” she said‚ “you’re shacking up.” One woman replied‚ “I wouldn’t put it that way.” Schlessinger then asked‚ “How would you put it?” The woman had no answer. That was once called telling the truth. So many descriptions of human behavior have been modified or changed to gloss over their real meaning. In part‚ I think‚ it is to avoid judgment which can lead to a change in behavior that benefits individuals and the wider culture. Failing to identify certain behavior for what it is can have the effect of legitimizing that behavior in the eyes of people who are engaging in it and in the wider culture that refuses to accept a standard defining right and wrong. How many speak of cheating on one’s spouse‚ as Wade is alleged to have done‚ as “adultery”? Today’s preferred description is “a romantic relationship.” Going on “vacation” with a woman not your wife or a man not your husband is now considered as legitimate as a married couple enjoying a similar experience. Could we also stop saying “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” when speaking of adults? These are not dating teenagers. They are mature people who have presumably been exposed to what used to be called the right way to live‚ but who have chosen another way. Lying doesn’t always bring the consequences it once did‚ even when witnesses take an oath to tell the truth. It is more than fishy that Wade and Willis exchanged cash and have no receipts or other records to back up their claims of legal behavior and propriety. Wade refused to say where he keeps his cash‚ but suggested some of it might be under his pillow. Willis said she once paid Wade $2‚500 in cash that came from her pocketbook. Who carries around that kind of money? Wade even obfuscated on whether he used a credit card and how he was reimbursed for part of his expenditures when he and Willis traveled together. Who doesn’t keep receipts‚ especially for tax purposes? Will the IRS investigate? Two of the Ten Commandments prohibit adultery and bearing false witness. Those two forms of behavior are increasingly allowed in our “non-judgmental” culture. We see daily the corrosion violating these commands have caused. Using words that accurately describe behavior‚ instead of euphemisms‚ can have the effect of limiting that behavior. It once seemed to. Approving‚ or at least failing to reject such behavior‚ contributes to more of it. As one translation of Proverbs 29:18 puts it‚ “If a nation is not guided by God‚ the people will lose self-control (ERV). Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" (HumanixBooks).

The acting deputy chief of the United States Border Patrol‚ the second-highest-ranking position in the agency‚ recently opted to retire in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations lodged against him by female employees‚ two sources reportedly familiar with the situation told NBC News Tuesday.Joel Martinez‚ a 31-year veteran with the Border Patrol‚ was placed on administrative leave over the alleged misconduct. In addition to becoming the acting deputy chief in January‚ Martinez also served as the chief patrol agent for the Laredo Sector in Texas.The now-retired officer is under investigation by Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility just one month after he assumed the new role.According to the sources‚ multiple female coworkers accused Martinez of sexual misconduct while he was working in Laredo‚ NBC reported. The news outlet stated that the women alleged that Martinez made “aggressive comments” about his desire to have sex with them. The females reportedly felt threatened and pressured by Martinez.He was suspended last Thursday‚ three CBP officials told the Washington Post.Erin Waters‚ a spokesperson for CBP‚ told the news outlet that the agency does “not tolerate misconduct within our ranks.”“When we discover any alleged or potential misconduct‚ we immediately refer it for investigation and cooperate fully with any criminal or administrative investigations‚” Waters said. “Federal privacy laws prohibit discussion of individual cases.”NBC News reported that Martinez’s move to retire amid the ongoing investigation means he will not face professional repercussions even if the allegations are substantiated. Additionally‚ the agency’s findings are unlikely to be revealed unless it makes a criminal referral and the Department of Justice decides to prosecute the case. Tony Barker‚ the Border Patrol’s former acting chief of the law enforcement operations directorate for the agency‚ resigned last year after he was accused of pressuring a female employee to perform sexual favors. Barker denied the allegations.“The allegations that I pressured any woman for sexual favors or victimized them are entirely and unequivocally false. I am proud of my 21 years of service with the U.S. Border Patrol. I am now taking this time to focus on my family and seek other opportunities‚” Barker stated.The Washington Post reported that CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility completed over 800 investigations into alleged misconduct in fiscal year 2022. Those investigations resulted in 12 indictments‚ 18 arrests‚ 10 convictions‚ and 152 administrative sanctions.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A powerful county in New York has now banned all biological males from joining girls' and women's sports teams that use public facilities for competition.On Thursday‚ Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced that he had signed an executive order that makes protecting female sports the law of the county. "We are protecting girls’ right to compete against other girls. It makes no sense for biological boys who identify as transgender to compete against girls. It’s completely unfair‚" Blakeman told the New York Post. "Biological boys are faster‚ bigger‚ and stronger. They have a physical advantage against women."According to the Post‚ Blakeman's executive order could be the first of its kind in the nation. Nassau County is located on Long Island just outside New York City and is the home of many influential people. Such a groundbreaking executive order in an area like Nassau County could encourage other areas and leaders to follow suit‚ even in blue states.Blakeman said he came to the decision after speaking with his constituents‚ who were overwhelmingly opposed to allowing males to join female teams. "They voiced opposition‚" he explained to the Post. "They think it’s discrimination against girls."According to the order‚ the county will not issue "permits for the use and occupancy of Nassau County Park’s property for the purposes of organizing a sporting event or competition" to any female team that allows trans-identifying males to join it. To receive a permit‚ representatives of all female teams must state in writing that they will comply with the rule.There are more than 100 athletic facilities in Nassau County that accommodate a wide range of competitive sports‚ including softball‚ soccer‚ tennis‚ and swimming. The Eisenhower Aquatic Center in East Meadow also hosts the annual Big East college swimming championship‚ the Post reported. Presumably‚ the edict would apply to that competition as well.The ban applies only to teams and competitions designated for females only. It will not apply to coed teams or to females who actively choose to compete against male opponents. It also will not apply to male-centered teams‚ which will still be free to permit biological females to join if they wish."For the purpose of this Executive Order‚ an individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth‚" the policy states.Blakeman made a formal announcement about the new rule regarding women's sports on Thursday‚ flanked by hundreds of female athletes of all ages as well as Kim Russell‚ the former women's lacrosse coach who was reassigned at Oberlin College after she spoke out against men competing against women. While many are cheering this new executive order‚ as might be expected‚ LGBTQ-related organizations are not. David Kilmnick claimed that his group‚ the New York LGBT Network‚ is "profoundly disappointed" with it. "This discriminatory move not only undermines the principles of inclusivity and fairness but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and exclusion‚" Kilmnick added.WPIX also reached out to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association‚ which permits athletes to participate in teams according to their gender identity‚ 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!

A hulking transvestite butchered a beloved Portland taxi driver in an unprovoked Easter Sunday attack last year. Despite refusing to take respnsibility for the bloodletting and claiming victimhood‚ Moses Lopez managed to dodge a heftier sentence this week because Mike Schmidt‚ Multnomah County's leftist district attorney‚ approved a plea deal downgrading his murder charge to manslaughter. What's the background? Lopez went partying in downtown Portland on April 9‚ just days after being arrested and charged with menacing two employees of a Coos County Bi-Mart‚ trespassing‚ and weapons charges. When the fun came to an end‚ the LGBT activist called 911 and requested a ride home. The Oregonian reported that the operator told the transvestite to instead call a cab. Radio Cab driver Reese Lawhon‚ 43‚ obliged the transvestite‚ picking him up outside a donut shop. While there was initially some suggestion that the dispatcher had entered the wrong address‚ KGB-TV indicated Lopez had fouled up the instructions. Despite the miscommunication‚ Lawhon‚ a Texan with the company for 10 years‚ noticed the error‚ turned around under a highway overpass‚ and began to correct course. Blaze News previously reported that Darin Campbell‚ a spokesman for the cab company‚ noted on the basis of footage taken inside the cab that when Lawhon "went to put the new address in his GPS‚ the passenger stabbed him in the neck." KATU-TV reported that police were called at 6:41 p.m. to the scene of a cab stopped in the middle of traffic at the intersection of Southeast Washington Street and Southeast Water Avenue. Lawhon was found inside‚ slouched over the steering wheel with his neck cut open. Lopez was apprehended nearby shortly thereafter‚ covered in the victim's blood. First responders reportedly saw Lopez "drop a pair of brass knuckles with an attached blade on the ground." Ginger Lawhon‚ the victim's mother‚ was the last person to speak to him‚ reported KATU. "He returned the call saying he was working and would call later to visit. He never did‚" said Ginger Lawhon. "The world itself has been transformed and made deficient." Radio Cab noted in a statement upon learning of learning of the grisly slaying that Lawhon had been a "great person who came to work hoping to have a great Easter Sunday shift." An unrepentant killer Lopez was initially charged with second-degree murder and the unlawful use of a weapon. He also faced charges in a separate case for threatening two Bi-Mart employees‚ for which he skipped out on the first court date. Under the sweetheart plea deal Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt approved‚ Lopez pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree manslaughter and the unlawful use of a weapon. He also saw his other case dismissed altogether per the terms of the agreement. The victim's sisters noted in a statement that they accepted the plea deal only so that their elderly parents would be spared from reliving the horror of what Lopez subjected their son to‚ reported KATU. "When Moses gets out in 20 years‚ assuming she's still alive‚ and I hope she's not‚ I look forward to testifying against her‚ whatever senseless crime she commits next‚ because she will‚" said Claire Pearce‚ one of the victim's sisters. "We tell our kids so many times that monsters aren't under the bed or in the closet‚ but it's a lie‚" Pearce told the court Wednesday. "Moses Lopez is a monster and will always be one." Lopez grinned when Pearce characterized him as a monster‚ reported the Oregonian. Lopez attempted to cast himself in court as a victim‚ complaining that the evening he butchered Lawhon‚ he had lost his debit card‚ had to listen to static on the dispatcher's radio‚ and wasn't taken directly to his desired destination. Lopez further suggested that he feared for his safety on account of being a transvestite in a predominantly leftist city. "I ended up in a very scary part of town where I was genuinely afraid‚" said the killer who traveled around with bladed brass knuckles. "I refuse to apologize for the lack of help that I so desperately needed." After displacing blame‚ the killer told Lawhon's grieving family members‚ "I want you to know that I accept the way that you feel." "The excuses that were made in the courtroom today for [Lopez's] actions are disgraceful" said Campbell‚ who underscored that Lawhon would have helped the transvestite if simply asked as opposed to brutally stabbed to death. "Our opinion is she is a homicidal mentally ill individual who should never be set free ever again‚" continued Campbell. "The Radio Cab management team that unfortunately had to see the video of the murder of Reese Lawhon are traumatized‚ I being one of them." A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge ultimately sentenced Lopez Wednesday to 22 years in state prison. The DA's office said in a statement‚ "The DA’s Office thanks PPB Detective Shaye Samora and the officers who assisted with this case. DA's Office staff also acknowledge the victim's family‚ as well as his friends and colleagues at Radio Cab‚ and hope that today’s sentencing brings some closure that will allow the healing process to continue." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Parents who deny their children "gender-affirming services" and abortions would be called abusers if an Illinois Democrat bill passes.What are the details?Democrat State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray proposed House Bill 4876‚ which would amend the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to define an “abused child” as one whose parents deny the child abortions or “gender-affirming services‚" the Center Square reported.The outlet said Stava-Murray didn’t respond to requests for comment.However‚ the Center Square noted that Stava-Murray said in response to Facebook comments that “trans kids go through irreversible damage from a puberty that doesn’t match their gender identity every day in this country. To ignore that damage further harms trans children and puts them at risk for the mental health issues you purport to care about. Giving access to lifesaving gender affirming care should be the standard.”More from the outlet:The bill does not define “gender-affirming services‚” but refers to the definition in the Reproductive Health Act. A measure Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed last year amending the Reproductive Health Act doesn’t define “gender-affirming services‚” but does describe the treatment of gender dysphoria “or the affirmation of an individual’s gender identity or gender expression.”Treatment for gender dysphoria or “affirmation of an individual’s gender identity or gender expression” under the amended act says it includes “all supplies‚ care‚ and services of a medical‚ behavioral health‚ mental health‚ surgical‚ psychiatric‚ therapeutic‚ diagnostic‚ preventative‚ rehabilitative‚ or supportive nature that is not unlawful under the laws of this State.”PushbackAwake Illinois founder Shannon Adcock launched a campaign against the bill‚ the Center Square noted. “In Illinois‚ parents who are considered child abusers can lose custody of their children if in this case they do not affirm transgender drugs‚ surgical procedures such as penis and breast removal; this is incredibly radical‚” Adcock told the outlet.Adcock also explained to the Center Square that under Stava-Murray’s bill‚ denial of abortion‚ hormone therapy‚ or other gender surgeries aren't the only things that could trigger child abuse or neglect charges. She also told the outlet that denial of “primary medical care” such as drug prescriptions or vaccines would be catalysts for child abuse accusations. “And if a minor opts for this‚ and you as a parent deny that‚ that means that you are considered an abuser of a child‚” Adcock added to the Center Square. What's more‚ Adcock told the outlet that the bill would expand what mandated reporters of alleged child neglect and abuse must disclose.She added to Center Square that under the bill‚ "doctors that are performing these procedures against a parent’s [will] would not be sued." The bill was in the House Rules committee last week‚ the outlet said.Here's a news video focusing on another group's push for a ballot proposal protecting parents' rights in light of the Illinois bill: Conservative parents push for ballot question on child gender therapy consent youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Federal Trade Commission recently announced a new investigation of Google‚ Amazon‚ and Microsoft’s respective partnerships with artificial intelligence developers. “As companies race to develop and monetize AI‚ we must guard against tactics that foreclose this [economic and competitive] opportunity‚” said FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan said in a statement. Under Khan‚ the FTC has proved itself a poor judge of which business practices foreclose competition. To facilitate its categorical bias against big business and mergers‚ the agency has often deployed junk economic analysis to bring cases whose theories clearly contravene established antitrust precedent. Moreover‚ it has skirted inconvenient procedural and evidentiary barriers. Regulation by raised eyebrow rather than due process has cowed many litigation-averse firms into compliance. Bullying works. It remains unclear whether the FTC’s AI inquiry will morph into more serious legal action. But the agency‚ which has received embarrassing judicial rebukes each time it brought a case to trial‚ has managed to shape industry’s decision-making in another way. It has created a climate of fear‚ relying on hyperaggressive probes and inquiries over evidence and due process. It has also put forward heightened regulatory-compliance burdens and propagated vague new guidance that provides little certainty as to what conduct the commission might consider illegal. The agency’s message to the tech companies and their AI partners is clear: The Eye of Sauron is on you — tread carefully. The metaphor is not entirely apt. Sauron would never‚ presumably‚ have failed so spectacularly to win his court cases. In a November 2022 policy statement‚ the FTC declared it would act against “abusive‚” “exploitative‚” and “collusive” conduct. To attract scrutiny‚ conduct need not even qualify as “facially unfair‚” the agency said. What such broad terms might mean in practice‚ the agency declined to state. Moreover‚ a mere “tendency to generate negative consequences‚” the policy statement read‚ could draw regulatory ire. Enforcers need not “turn to whether the conduct directly caused actual harm in the specific instance at issue.” While this guidance governs only a part of the FTC’s regulatory portfolio‚ its principles illuminate the agency’s larger strategy. In effect‚ the agency has sought to maintain maximum flexibility to combat whatever business practices it — due to any given set of particulars‚ at any given moment — deems “anticompetitive.” Actual law and the welfare of consumers are tertiary considerations at best. This uproots the foundations of American due process‚ which requires the government to prove wrongdoing before confiscating a citizen’s life‚ liberty‚ or property. Under today’s FTC‚ the process itself serves as the punishment. Khan has admitted her willingness to pursue cases she likely cannot win. As the New York Times reports‚ Khan stated that if "there’s a law violation" and agencies "think that current law might make it difficult to reach‚ there’s huge benefit to still trying." Khan means she will bring lawsuits against mergers that she believes should be illegal‚ regardless of what the law says. This sort of regulation by raised eyebrow rather than due process has cowed many litigation-averse firms into compliance. Bullying works. “Companies have changed their behavior‚ structuring deals to avoid accusations that they break antitrust law‚” Reuters reported in October 2022. Khan has also argued for acting against business practices that current law does not prohibit as a means to lobby Congress. Because‚ she says‚ “even if you lose‚ that then creates the message for Congress to know … they [antitrust agencies] recognize there’s a problem here‚ the current law is not adequate for them to reach it‚ and so let’s change the law.” This statement’s profound injustice is startling. To influence lawmakers‚ Khan is willing to use her powers — powers predicated on the state’s monopoly on violence — to bully American firms. Even though‚ by her own admission‚ the firms have not violated existing law. If a police officer who favored driving slower were to begin ticketing drivers who drive 10 mph below the speed limit‚ he would likely lose his job. “Sorry‚ ma’am‚ the current law is not adequate to ticket you for driving 50 in a 60 zone‚ but I have to send a message to city hall‚” is not an acceptable excuse. Instead‚ Khan’s lawlessness has catapulted her to stardom among the progressive left. “If angels were to govern men‚ neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary‚” James Madison wrote in Federalist 51. All government officials require constitutional restraints on their exercise of power. The FTC hopes to erode all constraints on its operations — be they statutory‚ constitutional‚ political‚ or economic. Constitutional balance and the rule of law must be restored.