If you expected ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC‚ PBS‚ and NPR would offer a sober and substantive story on James Biden testifying behind closed doors in the House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday night‚ you'd be deeply disappointed. These networks all aired a story‚ but the narrative was overwhelmingly focused on indicted FBI confidential informant Alexander Smirnov and his unproven claims that Joe and Hunter Biden were offered $5 million each in bribes. Overall‚ the networks offered 920 seconds of coverage focused on Smirnov‚ and 143 seconds on James Biden. So that's 86.5 percent for Smirnov‚ 13.5 percent for Uncle Jimmy.  -- ABC offered 44 seconds of James Biden‚ to 141 seconds on Smirnov. Anchor David Muir opened: “As our Pierre Thomas tonight asks Republicans in the House‚ how do you move forward if the main informant was lying?” PIERRE THOMAS: But Republicans‚ who have uncovered no evidence president Biden committed impeachable offenses‚ pressing anyway...Today‚ calling the president's brother James Biden to testify. No comment outside‚ but behind closed doors‚ James Biden telling lawmakers his brother has never had any involvement or any direct or indirect financial interest in his business dealings. Biden adding‚ I never asked my brother to take any official action on behalf of me‚ my business associates‚ or anyone else. -- CBS spent two minutes and five seconds on Smirnov and how he put the impeachment inquiry "in jeopardy‚" and just 18 seconds on James Biden‚ all preposterous denial: SCOTT MacFARLANE: The president`s younger brother James arrived ahead of his interview with congressional investigators as Republicans tried to salvage their impeachment inquiry into President Biden. REPORTER: You got any thoughts on this? REP. ANDY BIGGS (R-Arizona): No‚ no‚ because -- because there`s other corroborating evidence with other -- other links to -- to the president. MacFARLANE: James Biden told the panel the president had no role in his business ventures‚ saying: "I never asked my brother to take any official action on behalf of me or anyone else." -- NBC spent only 61 seconds on the House inquiry with reporter Ryan Nobles‚ who relayed James said "his brother did not have any direct or indirect involvement in any of his work‚ this despite Republicans making claims that James Biden was using his connections to his brother to drum up business.” 'NBC Nightly News' could only spend about a minute on the "Republican-controlled" House Oversight hearing‚ and in the 30 seconds on James Biden‚ Ryan Nobles just repeated the bunk that James said "his brother did not have any direct or indirect involvement in any of his work." pic.twitter.com/PdWzKZ6Jst — Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) February 22‚ 2024 -- PBS presented eight minutes and 22 seconds with a Democrat expert‚ but seven minutes was devoted to Smirnov‚ and the rest on Ukraine. The taxpayer-funded network story didn't even mention James Biden!    -- NPR interviewed their congressional reporter‚ and only 50 seconds was devoted to James Biden (mostly denials)‚ and the other 204 seconds focused on Smirnov. MARY LOUISE KELLY: Which brings us to President Biden's brother‚ James Biden. We said he was on Capitol Hill today - a closed-door deposition. Did we get any readout? RYAN LUCAS: Well‚ we know from a copy of his opening statement to lawmakers that James Biden told them that his brother‚ President Biden‚ has never had any involvement or financial interest in James' business dealings. He also said that he never asked his brother to take any official action on his behalf or anyone else's behalf. That said‚ we do not have a full picture‚ at this point‚ of everything that was said behind closed doors. PS CBS Mornings on Thursday spent two minutes and 18 seconds on an impeachment inquiry story‚ but James Biden was only mentioned for 17 seconds. ABC and NBC moved on.

The New York Times dared to publish an unflattering fact-check of President Joe Biden’s economic talking points on Wednesday and MSNBC contributor and former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill was infuriated about it. Reacting on Thursday’s Morning Joe‚ McCaskill did not care to rebut the substance of the article‚ but demanded that no newspaper fact-check Biden unless they first fact-check Donald Trump every single day on the front page. Ironically‚ this came immediately after co-host Joe Scarborough repeated some fake news of his own. Scarborough believes that a lie is anything that differs from his rants. He previously stated that the U.S. military is in a better position today than at any other time since 1945 and anyone who disagrees hates the military. On Thursday‚ he repeated himself: You look at every rating from around the world‚ rating militaries. The United States military: stronger than it's ever been relative to the rest of the world since 1945. There's not a close second. In fact‚ in the latest ranking I saw‚ Russia was second and Russia's military is collapsing. Russia was second to the U.S. military and yet‚ Donald Trump lies about America's greatness. Donald Trump lies about America's men and women in uniform.     As Scarborough was ranting‚ the chyron asked‚ “Do MAGA Republicans hate America?” but contrary to Scarborough’s hyper-partisan ramblings and uncritical happy talk‚ the idea that the U.S. military is losing its comparative edge is not simply a MAGA talking point. The 1945 part is worse than state-run propaganda because even the state doesn’t believe it. Scarborough also claimed that “Donald Trump lies about what small business owners and entrepreneurs and the geniuses of Silicon Valley‚ the geniuses on Main Street USA‚ what they're all doing‚ what they've done to rebuild our economy after COVID.” Finally getting to McCaskill‚ he wondered‚ “The lies. I don't understand it‚ Claire. Why do they bash America so much?”  McCaskill naturally agreed‚ “Yeah‚ and you know‚ the irony is‚ if you travel around the world‚ which I'm fortunate enough to have a chance to do several times a year‚ you know what the rest of the world sees right now? They see America with the strongest economy. They see America with the most advanced technology. America's universities still the brightest light on the horizon in terms of academics and research.” After claiming the only bad thing about America and its reputation abroad is Donald Trump‚ McCaskill homed in on the Times‚ “Can I make a suggestion? I move that every newspaper in America quits doing any fact-checks on Joe Biden until they fact-check Donald Trump every morning on the front page. It is ridiculous that the New York Times fact-checked Joe Biden on something. I mean‚ he vomits lies‚ Trump vomits lies.” She continued‚ “Every day‚ over and over and over again and it’s just ridiculous that the New York Times is doing a fact-check on Biden while they let Trump -- while they're numb to the torrent of lies coming out of Trump's mouth.” Not only is it malpractice to only fact-check one side‚ but apparently the New York Times needs to start fact-checking Morning Joe as well.  Here is a transcript for the February 22 show: MSNBC Morning Joe 2/22/2024 7:14 AM ET JOE SCARBOROUGH: You look at every rating from around the world‚ rating militaries. The United States military: stronger than it's ever been relative to the rest of the world since 1945. There's not a close second. In fact‚ in the latest ranking I saw‚ Russia was second and Russia's military is collapsing. Russia was second to the U.S. military and yet‚ Donald Trump lies about America's greatness. Donald Trump lies about America's men and women in uniform. Donald Trump lies about what small business owners and entrepreneurs and the geniuses of Silicon Valley‚ the geniuses on Main Street USA‚ what they're all doing‚ what they've done to rebuild our economy after COVID. The lies. I don't understand it‚ Claire. Why do they bash America so much?  CLAIRE MCCASKILL: Yeah‚ and you know‚ the irony is‚ if you travel around the world‚ which I'm fortunate enough to have a chance to do several times a year‚ you know what the rest of the world sees right now? They see America with the strongest economy. They see America with the most advanced technology. America's universities still the brightest light on the horizon in terms of academics and research.  They see American companies still exceeding in terms of their global reach. But you know what they look down their nose at? They look down their nose at Donald Trump being a leader. I mean‚ what everyone says when you travel‚ “well‚ you wouldn't elect him again‚ would you? Hasn't the country learned? You wouldn't ever give this guy power again‚ would you? Tell us that he's not going to be re-elected. Please‚ tell us you've learned your lesson.” So the only blemish on the great country of America worldwide is‚ in fact‚ Donald Trump and can I make a suggestion? I move that every newspaper in America quits doing any fact-checks on Joe Biden until they fact-check Donald Trump every morning on the front page. It is ridiculous-- MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. MCCASKILL: --that the New York Times fact-checked Joe Biden on something. I mean‚ he vomits lies‚ Trump vomits lies. Every day— MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Literally. MCCASKILL: over and over and over again and it’s just ridiculous that the New York Times is doing a fact-check on Biden while they let Trump -- while they're numb to the torrent of lies coming out of Trump's mouth. 

Writing Thursday morning for The Hill‚ Fox News contributor and George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley dropped a bombshell about this month’s layoffs at CBS News; that the network seized the files of Catherine Herridge‚ who was sadly one of the correspondents let go and one of the only actual reporters in network news. Turley noted that‚ while it was shocking enough that she no longer had a job‚ the questions surrounding the choice to let her go (as part of wider layoffs at parent company Paramount Global) have exacerbated “after CBS officials took the unusual step of seizing her files‚ computers and records‚ including information on privileged sources.” He further alleged CBS “informed her that it would decide what‚ if anything‚ would be turned over to her”‚ presumably including “confidential material from both her stints at Fox and CBS.” Our own Brent Bozell reacted in an X post to this crackdown on the free press: This cannot stand. If CBS wants to salvage a shred of its journalistic credibility‚ it will apologize to Ms. Herridge on-air today and return everything to her immediately. https://t.co/gb8xQexN5k — Brent Bozell (@BrentBozell) February 22‚ 2024 Calling this “shocking‚” Turley explained “[j]ournalists are generally allowed to leave with their files” as per “the standard contract‚ including the one at CBS” so long as they can be made “available to the network” in the event of “future litigation.” “When sources accept confidentiality assurances‚ it is an understanding that rests with the reporter. It is a matter of trust that can take a long time to establish on a personal level between a reporter and a source‚” he continued with it especially being the case with Herridge given her beats on intelligence and law enforcement. Thankfully‚ Turley said Herridge’s former colleagues haven’t scoffed at this move: “The position of CBS has alarmed many‚ including the union‚ as an attack on free press principles by one of the nation’s most esteemed press organizations. I have spoken confidentially with current and former CBS employees who have stated that they could not recall the company ever taking such a step before.” He cited “[o]ne former CBS journalist” as having heard “many employees are confused why” she was caught up in the layoffs since she “broke news regularly and did a lot of original reporting.” How cute. To anyone with a pulse and able to spot liberal media bias‚ it’s not at all surprising she got the ax given her decades of intrepid reporting that included staying on top of Biden family corruption twists and turns when it often felt like no one else at the “big three” of ABC‚ CBS‚ and NBC would. “She continued to pursue these stories despite reports of pushback from CBS executives‚ including CBS News President Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews‚” he added. Turley invoked another source who used to work at CBS to explain seizing her files (which would thus include stories she was working on at the time) wasn’t commonplace (click “expand”): A former CBS manager‚ who also spoke on condition of anonymity‚ said that he had “never heard of anything like this.” He attested to the fact that‚ in past departures‚ journalists took all of their files and office contents. Indeed‚ the company would box up everything from cups to post-its for departing reporters. He said the holding of the material was “outrageous” and clearly endangered confidential sources. (….) A source within the union‚ SAG-AFTRA‚ confirmed that it has raised this controversy with CBS and remains extremely concerned about the effect of this action on journalistic practices and source confidentiality. The union believes this is “very unusual” and goes far beyond this individual case. “It is a matter of principle‚” a union spokesperson added. “It is a matter of serious concern. We are considering all of our options.” Turley went on to lay out the implications of what seized files mean for the government’s ongoing court case against Herridge as well as CBS‚ Herridge herself‚ and journalists writ large (click “expand”): Reporters like Herridge have long served as the primary defenders of privileged sources. Indeed‚ Herridge is still in court defending confidentiality over a series of stories at Fox News in 2017‚ even at the risk of being held in contempt. CBS is suggesting that it will allow unnamed individuals to rifle through Herridge’s files to determine what will remain with the network and what will be returned to the reporter. That could fundamentally alter how reporters operate and how willing sources are to trust assurances that they will be protected. In criminal cases involving privileged information‚ the government has an elaborate “filter team” system to wall off access to information under review. In the court system‚ judges use in camera and ex parte reviews to protect such information. Ironically‚ the media itself seems to take a more ad hoc approach. Indeed‚ CBS seems to have adopted a “Trust us‚ we’re the media” approach. However‚ that could expose these files to the access of unnamed lawyers‚ tech staff and others who are conducting this inventory and analysis. (….) The union may have no choice but to go to court to force CBS to protect journalistic values‚ including a demand for an injunction to force the company to secure these files and bar review until a court has had a chance to consider these questions of confidential and proprietary claims to the files.

Soros Fund Management‚ an investment company controlled by left-wing billionaire George Soros‚ is reportedly on the verge of taking a controlling interest in Audacy‚ the second-largest radio broadcaster in America. Only iHeartMedia owns more radio stations. Audacy‚ which has amassed $1.9 billion in debt‚ filed for bankruptcy in January. Soros Management Fund has bought $400 million of that debt. SMF now controls about 40% of Audacy’s senior debt‚ which means Soros’ fund is now well positioned to be the radio giant’s largest shareholder once bankruptcy proceedings conclude. Why aren’t more conservative billionaires purchasing more high-profile media outlets? The move is a troubling sign that Soros is planning to exert substantial influence on important broadcast radio markets in the months before the 2024 election. Audacy owns more than 220 stations nationwide‚ including news and talk radio stations in major markets such as New York City‚ Chicago‚ and Los Angeles. Perhaps most importantly‚ Audacy owns talk radio stations in high-profile markets in election swing states‚ including KDWN-AM in Las Vegas‚ WPHT-AM in Philadelphia‚ and KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh. Many of America’s leading conservative voices currently have shows airing on Audacy-owned networks‚ including Mark Levin‚ Dana Loesch‚ Brian Kilmeade‚ and Sean Hannity. With Soros at the helm of Audacy‚ who knows how long that will last? For more than 30 years‚ Soros has had an immense impact on political and social causes in the United States. The Soros-funded Open Society Foundations has spent more than $21 billion over the past three decades. In 2022 alone‚ it spent $1.3 billion. Most of that cash went to left-wing causes and organizations‚ including Media Matters‚ Planned Parenthood‚ and the radical climate advocacy group Sunrise Movement. Through state-registered political action committees‚ Soros has helped radical‚ soft-on-crime district attorneys get elected in key local elections‚ contributing to rising urban crime rates. Now‚ the left-wing billionaire is turning his attention to radio markets‚ where conservatives and Christians have long had an outsized impact on politics and culture. The vast majority of the most-listened-to talk radio shows are still hosted by conservatives or right-leaning moderates‚ reaching tens of millions of people every week. If Soros manages to reduce the impact of conservative voices on radio‚ it could end up having a gigantic effect on the 2024 election‚ especially the presidential race and tightly contested congressional seats. Congressional and presidential races in numerous states were decided by fewer than 3 percentage points in 2020‚ including Michigan‚ Nevada‚ and Pennsylvania‚ all of which are the home to news or talk radio stations owned by Audacy. Had Biden lost in those three states alone‚ Trump would have won the 2020 election. The Soros Management Fund’s recent move to capture Audacy radio stations appears to be part of a long-term strategy. In 2022‚ the Latino Media Network‚ with the backing of Soros Fund Management‚ purchased 18 Spanish-language radio stations for $60 million. Among the stations included in the deal was Radio Mambi‚ a popular conservative‚ anti-communism talk radio station in Miami that has close ties to the Cuban exile community in South Florida. At this stage of the process‚ it seems unlikely anything will get in the way of Soros purchasing Audacy‚ especially with a left-wing president in control of federal regulatory agencies. But this vital situation raises serious questions about the conservative movement and the commitment of its biggest financiers. For decades‚ the left has taken increasingly more control of print‚ digital‚ and television media outlets. It managed to capture much of academia‚ Hollywood‚ and the music industry years earlier. Why aren’t more conservative billionaires purchasing more high-profile media outlets? I would think they are unaware of how important the media has become‚ if it weren’t also true that so many of the wealthiest conservatives complain endlessly about bias in journalism. Conservative policy solutions are better for all Americans and far more appealing‚ but it really doesn’t matter if most people never find out about them. If the wealthiest conservatives in America don’t care enough about their country to push back against the influences of people like George Soros‚ then it’s going to be incredibly difficult for conservatism to thrive in the coming decades. It’s well past time for conservative billionaires to put their money where their mouths are.

A noticeably muscular individual was caught on video waving a large transgender flag while running into students participating in the Virginia March for Life Wednesday.Video also shows police officers observing the whole thing.What are the details?The culprit — who donned a maroon camisole along with a light red bandana that covered the individual's dark hair pulled back into a bun — was seen on the clip bounding through the middle of the march and purposely running into students‚ knocking them off balance‚ and ripping at one of their flags: — (@) One wonders what might happen to someone behaving this way at a pro-abortion march. But anyway ...Kelsey McCormick — a Liberty University freshman active in conservative organizations such as Turning Point USA‚ Concerned Women for America‚ and Students for Life — told the Daily Signal what she observed.“We were nearing the end of the march and chanting‚ ‘We are the pro-life generation’ and ‘We will abolish abortion’ with our megaphones‚” McCormick told the Daily Signal. “Then I see the trans activist running and jumping‚ and waving the flag‚ come smash into the group and go after the big banner. The activist was also making a screaming/barking noise.”Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins posted video of the assault — which was originally posted by Savanna Deretich‚ Students for Life Action's government affairs coordinator — and asked in regard to the attacker‚ “Will he be held accountable?”A later video shows authorities walking the march disrupter down a sidewalk in handcuffs: — (@) The Daily Signal said Richmond police didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.Hawkins added that all the students were safe and uninjured‚ said a thank-you to "those who supported us‚" and noted that it was "an isolated incident and hasn’t happened often at the pro-life marches."How are folks reacting?As you might expect‚ a number of those who watched the video of the transgender flag-waving individual running into students weren't happy:"What a totally normal reaction to an actual peaceful protest in support of life‚" one commenter said."Almost like it’s just a violent‚ mentally ill man‚" another user noted."What does transgenderism even have to do with the March for Life?" another commenter wondered. "They're insane.""They are so peaceful and tolerant‚ aren’t they‚" another user asked‚ tongue fully in cheek."O Sacred Heart of Jesus‚ have mercy!" another commenter declared.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Christian high school in Vermont is suing state officials after it was "denied participation" in competitive athletic events as well as academic competitions. The school had been previously punished after its girls' basketball team refused to play against a team with a transgender individual.The Mid Vermont Christian School Eagles purposely forfeited a 2023 playoff game versus the Long Trail Mountain Lions after they learned that one player on the Long Trail team was a male.The Vermont Principals' Association subsequently banned MVCS from all "VPA sanctioned activities and tournaments going forward." This meant that the school could not participate in any athletic or interscholastic event that falls under the VPA's purview.In the school's lawsuit‚ Mid Vermont said it was "irreparably harmed by being denied participation" and "losing out on playing competitive sports as well as academic competitions."The school is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom‚ which filed the lawsuit‚ according to the New York Post. When the principals' association put out a statement regarding the school's disqualification in 2023‚ it stated that "VPA policies prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of students on school property or at school functions by students or employees." It added that the "prohibition against discrimination includes discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived sex and gender."The school refuted the claims in its lawsuit‚ however‚ and used the defense that it was acting in according with the religious beliefs that the school abides by. The VPA was "denying the Christian school and its students from participating in the state’s tuition program and sports league because of their religious beliefs‚" the school claimed."The State is entitled to its own views‚ but it is not entitled‚ nor is it constitutional‚ to force private‚ religious schools across the state to follow that orthodoxy as a condition to participating in Vermont’s tuitioning program and the State’s athletic association‚” the lawsuit also stated.The Vermont Principals' Association has previously stated that it believes "supporting transgender student-athletes" is a "core part of building an inclusive community for each student to grow and thrive.""The VPA is committed to providing all students with the opportunity to participate in VPA activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity‚" the state organization has also declared.MVCS Head of School Vicky Fogg defended MVCS' student-athletes‚ saying it was a matter of safety and fairness."We withdrew from the tournament because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players‚" Fogg told Fox News Digital in February 2023. "Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general‚" she added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Boeing recently ousted the head of its 737 Max program as part of a management reshuffling within the company after a door panel blew out during a flight last month.Ed Clark has been replaced after nearly 18 years with Boeing‚ according to the company's executive vice president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes‚ Stanley Deal‚ NBC News reported.On Wednesday‚ Deal announced‚ "Ed departs with my‚ and our‚ deepest gratitude for his many significant contributions over nearly 18 years of dedicated service to Boeing."Clark has led the program since 2021‚ overseeing the company's factory in Renton‚ Washington. The Renton facility managed the final assembly of the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 plane involved in last month's incident. The flight was forced to make an emergency landing when an exit door panel blew out mid-flight. All Boeing 737 9 Max planes were grounded for a few weeks for quality control inspections.According to the United States National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report‚ the plane may have left the Boeing factory without key bolts to secure it‚ Blaze News previously reported. The report noted that the panel should have been held in place by four bolts and 12 "stop fittings." All four of the bolts appeared to be missing‚ it claimed."Overall‚ the observed damage patterns and absence of contact damage or deformation around holes associated with the vertical movement arrestor bolts and upper guide track bolts in the upper guide fittings‚ hinge fittings‚ and recovered aft lower hinge guide fitting indicate that the four bolts that prevent upward movement of the [mid exit door] plug were missing before the MED plug moved upward off the stop pads‚" the report read.The incident damaged Boeing's reputation‚ cost it billions of dollars in value‚ and even resulted in a lawsuit from shareholders. The company's investors argued that its "serious safety lapses" and "poor quality control" measures were to blame for the incident and ultimately prompted a drop in stock prices.In 2018 and 2019‚ two 737 Max 8 planes crashed due to problems with the planes' flight stabilization feature. All those on board‚ 346 people‚ were killed. From March 2019 to November 2020‚ all Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded.Deal announced that the recent management shake-up is part of the manufacturer's "enhanced focus on ensuring that every airplane we deliver meets or exceeds all quality and safety requirements.""Our customers demand‚ and deserve‚ nothing less‚" Deal added.An email from Deal to employees revealed that Clark will be replaced by Katie Ringgold‚ the vice president in charge of delivering 737s. Ringgold will serve as the vice president and general manager for the 737 program and the Renton factory.In late January‚ Boeing CEO David Calhoun acknowledged that the company "caused the problem." He stated that Boeing "will work" to regain airlines' confidence. Calhoun also noted that Boeing has increased inspections at its factories and suppliers.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy blew apart on Wednesday the assertion that allegations of Biden family corruption collapsed when the FBI arrested Alexander Smirnov. Last week‚ a grand jury indicted Smirnov for allegedly lying to the FBI. Special counsel David Weiss accuses Smirnov — previously a confidential human source for the FBI — of falsely claiming Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid then-Vice President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each in 2015 and/or 2016. Democrats are using Smirnov's arrest to absolve the Bidens of wrongdoing. But Democrats aren't being honest‚ according to McCarthy‚ who explained on Wednesday an obvious fact: Smirnov's allegations were not the "lynchpin" of the corruption allegations. "[Investigators] had immense evidence that there was corrupt activity involved in that before hearing that there was an FBI informant who said that there was $10 million in bribes‚ and Smirnov information about that is not connected to what the House Republicans already had about Burisma‚" McCarthy said on Fox News. "I think the Democrats are trying to spread the idea that he's the key to the case because now that his testimony is obviously been knocked down by the false statements charges — that makes it looks like the case collapses‚" he continued. "But It doesn’t for example disappear the $24 million that went into the Biden’s coffers from agents of corrupt and anti-American governments." McCarthy‚ moreover‚ highlighted why he is "skeptical" about Weiss' conduct‚ especially over the timing of the Smirnov indictment. "I still think that Weiss' main job here is to protect President Biden‚" McCarthy accused. "He went a long time without charging Hunter‚ then tried to disappear the case on a sweetheart plea deal. He's only charged Hunter in the two cases because he didn't get away with that‚" he noted. "But when he pled the tax indictment against Hunter‚ he took pains to keep President Biden's name out of it even though the income that Hunter got was from exploiting his relationship with the president." Additionally‚ McCarthy pointed to unusual details in court documents alleging that Smirnov had contact with high-level Russian officials. "This whole business about whether Russian disinformation — I think this is a very peculiar complaint‚" he said. "There's stuff in there at the end [of the court document] that said Smirnov was told that Hunter stayed in a place in Kiev that the Russians had wired. There are no charges in the indictment or the complaint that relate to that information. It's like they just threw that in at the end." Normally‚ McCarthy said‚ the Justice Department would not include that type of information in unredacted court documents because information about Russian intelligence activities is "highly‚ highly classified." Indeed‚ some in the media are already using the Russian intelligence angle to claim that Hunter Biden was the victim of a Russian disinformation campaign. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A pastor in Alabama stopped a service to save a choking elderly woman who was worshipping when a piece of a mint sent her into a coughing fit.Mt. Zion church in Cottonwood‚ Alabama‚ had a visiting pastor named Brandon Stewart come into town to perform a revival service. A revival service is a "reawakening of spiritual fervor. It is to revitalize the spiritual ardor of oneself‚" according to Christianity.com.As the service was coming to an end‚ Pastor Stewart noticed that a church member named Lois Adams was coughing and thought that she might be sick."In the middle of the message and we were just kind of going‚ and we were getting ready to close‚ I heard coughing. I know it’s allergy season and colds were running around‚ so I was like it could be just that. And we were about to lay hands on her and heal her in the name of Jesus in a minute‚" Pastor Stewart explained‚ WTVY reported.Churchgoers went into a moment of panic‚ however‚ as other worshippers started to become fearful for the elderly woman's life."I was praising the Lord like everybody else‚ but I had a piece of mint in my mouth because I get a dry mouth. I got choked on it‚" Adams recalled. The woman said once she started choking‚ she immediately realized someone was lifting her off the floor."I went to coughing‚ and a little piece of it reckon went down my throat and I couldn’t breathe. Next thing I know‚ somebody has me in the air‚" she recalled.The person lifting her into the air was Pastor Stewart‚ who had rushed over to perform the Heimlich maneuver."I picked her up off the ground. She treats us like her kids‚ so‚ no‚ devil‚ you can't have my momma‚" Stewart said of the incident."We jump in and Pastor Derrick comes up because he is backup. He’s like 'here we go.' He’s a first responder also and a great pastor of this church. And doing that‚ once she was clear and could talk‚ we all made a joke." Pastor Stewart added.The pastor was adamant that once the woman's life was saved‚ it was time to get back to the church service. "We did the business‚ now it’s time to get back to business‚" he declared. "It could have been anybody else in that position‚ it had nothing to do with me‚ but I’m honored and humbled that [God] used me in this position to be able to spread his gospel and to be able to help Miss Lois‚” Pastor Stewart said.Both the pastor and Adams stressed the importance of knowing how to perform the lifesaving technique.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

People have been anxiously awaiting Donald Trump’s VP candidate list‚ and now they finally have their wish. “Donald Trump discussed a short list of potential VP candidates during [a recent] town hall meeting‚” says Sara Gonzales. “So it's‚ of course‚ Governor Ron DeSantis from Florida‚ Vivek Ramaswamy‚ South Carolina Senator Tim Scott‚ South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem‚ Florida Republican Byron Donalds … and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.” To gauge her followers’ feelings regarding the list of potential candidates‚ Sara posted the following poll on her Twitter page: Unfortunately‚ “they only allow you to pick four choices‚ so I couldn't include all of them‚” she says. “Vivek’s running away with it at 50%‚ but Tulsi Gabbard at 20%‚ more than DeSantis?” she asks in disbelief. “We are in such a cult-of-personality era in politics‚ where policy doesn't really matter‚” says Glenn Beck chief researcher Jason Buttrill‚ adding that “Tulsi Gabbard [getting] 20% over an actual conservative with a proven track record like Ron DeSantis is terrifying.” If you’re voting based on “the ability to destroy the left and track record‚ you vote 100% for Ron DeSantis; if you're voting for the smartest man in the room who’s got amazing ideas … you would vote for Vivek‚” he continues‚ noting that Tulsi Gabbard may work well in a Trump administration as a member of the “State Department” or the “[Department of Defense]” but as far as policy goes‚ she’d be a terrible choice. “She was a Bernie bro‚” says Sara in agreement. To hear more of the conversation‚ watch the video below. Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.