Asset management company BlackRock called Texas' decision to pull an $8.5 billion investment this week "reckless" and "irresponsible‚" Fox Business reported.On Tuesday‚ Aaron Kinsey with the Texas State Board of Education announced that the state's Permanent School Fund‚ which supports public schools‚ would withdraw billions of dollars of investments placed with BlackRock‚ citing the firm's commitments to environmental‚ social‚ and governance. In 2021‚ the state passed Senate Bill 13‚ prohibiting "investments in companies that boycott certain energy companies." Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reported last year that BlackRock was one of several investment firms "playing politics" with Americans' retirement money by boycotting fossil fuel energy companies."The Texas Permanent School Fund has a fiduciary duty to protect Texas schools by safeguarding and growing the approximately $1 billion in annual oil and gas royalties managed by the Texas General Land Office‚" Kinsey stated. "Terminating BlackRock's contract ensures PSF's full compliance with Texas law.""BlackRock's dominant and persistent leadership in the ESG movement immeasurably damages our state's oil and gas economy and the very companies that generate revenues for our PSF‚" Kinsey added.In response to Kinsey's announcement‚ BlackRock released a statement declaring that the asset management company is "helping millions of Texans invest and save for retirement." The firm denied the claims that it boycotts energy companies and called the decision to pull the funds "arbitrary."On Friday‚ Fox Business reported that BlackRock Vice Chairman Mark McCombe sent a letter to Kinsey stating he was "dismayed" by the announcement‚ which he claimed prioritized "short-term politics over your long-term fiduciary responsibilities.""We fully comply with Texas law and fundamentally disagree with your assessment based on BlackRock's performance for Texas PSF and our investments in Texas energy companies. Additionally‚ Senate Bill 13 makes clear divestment is not required when a government entity determines divestment is inconsistent with its fiduciary responsibilities‚" McCombe wrote. "The outperformance BlackRock has demonstrated shows divestment would not be in the best interest of Texas PSF."He urged Texas to reconsider and claimed that not all PSF board members were made aware of the decision to terminate the relationship."We learned of your decision to end Texas PSF and BlackRock's 18-year relationship through a press release. Ending a long‚ successful partnership that's been a positive force for thousands of Texas schools and families in such a reckless manner is irresponsible‚" McCombe continued. "How our clients invest and whom they entrust to manage their money is entirely their decision‚ but we feel an action of this magnitude warrants transparency and consensus — not political-driven decision making. Texas schools and families deserve that." Today‚ Texas Permanent School Fund leadership delivered an official notice to global asset manager BlackRock terminating its financial management of approximately $8.5 billion in Texas\u2019 assets.\n\nMy statement: — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Less than five months into his tenure‚ House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is already facing a motion to vacate. After the House passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill to avert a government shutdown on Friday‚ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion to vacate the speakership. She did not file the motion as privileged‚ which would have forced a vote on it within two legislative days. That means the House will not address the motion for at least two weeks because the House is scheduled to go on recess on Friday. "I filed a motion to vacate today‚ but it's more of a warning than a pink slip‚" Greene told reporters Friday afternoon. "I do not wish to inflict pain on our conference and throw the House in chaos‚ but this is basically a warning‚" she added. "It's time for us to go through the process‚ take our time and find a new speaker of the House that will stand with Republicans and our Republican majority‚ instead of standing with the Democrats."If the motion makes its way to the House floor‚ it would only require a majority vote to remove Johnson. However‚ that is unlikely. Several of the Republicans who voted to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last October have already said they would not support Greene's motion‚ and it also faces opposition from GOP leadership. At least one Democrat‚ Rep. Tom Suozzi (N.Y.)‚ has already voiced his opposition to the motion. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)‚ moreover‚ responded to the motion by calling Greene a "joke."Still‚ conservatives are increasingly voicing concern over Johnson's reliance on Democrats.Not only did the $1.2 trillion spending package require significant Democratic support to pass‚ but by Politico's count‚ Johnson has relied on Democrats to pass other key legislation: a $78 billion tax bill‚ three stopgap government funding bills‚ and legislation that could ban TikTok. That level of cooperation is giving some Democrats the allusion that they hold leverage over Johnson. In fact‚ Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) believes Democrats are outright "winning.""When we’re winning‚ why would we worry about [Republicans] flailing?" Pocan told Politico. Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.)‚ moreover‚ boasted that it is a "fact" that Johnson currently "has to depend" on Democrats to get anything accomplished. For his part‚ Johnson doesn't appear worried about Greene's motion."Speaker Johnson always listens to the concerns of members‚ but is focused on governing‚" said Johnson spokesman Raj Shah. "He will continue to push conservative legislation that secures our border‚ strengthens our national defense and demonstrates how we'll grow our majority."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The least important element of Trump derangement syndrome is Donald Trump. This is hard to accept as you watch Democratic prosecutors try to break his business‚ seize his property‚ and put him behind bars. But stop and imagine that Trump disappeared tomorrow morning‚ and the target of all this hate and rage just vanished from the cultural firing range. The failed U.S. Senate candidate Katie Porter just speculated about this on camera‚ ranting about the Orange Devil dropping dead or vanishing into prison. So imagine it really happened. What then? Peace and harmony? A brotherly return to warm cooperation across ideological lines? Jamie Raskin really likes us a lot‚ but he’s just mad at the one person? Scott Walker was a successful conservative governor in Wisconsin‚ and he beat a recall effort before winning another term. Wisconsin leftists responded to Walker by storming and occupying the state Capitol — not in an insurrection‚ of course — while Democratic prosecutors began to launch raids on the homes of the governor’s most prominent political supporters. The courts finally stopped the “John Doe” investigations‚ but the response of the left to the success of a political figure on the right was rage‚ vituperation‚ and lawfare. We’ve broken our conception of the open society‚ and a class of pompous idiots has its hands around the throat of the public sphere. Rick Perry was a successful four-term governor of Texas. He was indicted and arrested by the office of a Democratic district attorney‚ facing a pair of absurd felony charges that were thrown out by the courts. Look outside the United States‚ too‚ because the dynamic is the same everywhere. Canadian truckers‚ who were so awesome I still get misty-eyed thinking about them‚ protested COVID vaccine mandates by gathering around the parliamentary complex in Ottawa. They showed the world the perfect model of the happy warrior‚ protesting against an abusive government policy by putting up bouncy castles and improvising hot tubs in the street. If you missed it‚ go back and read the report from the independent journalist Rupa Subramanya‚ who walked around and asked Freedom Convoy participants why they were there. She found a joyful community of people‚ multigenerational and multiethnic‚ who could articulate their political cause with great clarity. The Canadian government responded with — I'm recycling a phrase here — rage‚ vituperation‚ and lawfare. Officials erected ludicrous straw men about white supremacy and swastikas‚ against a protest that included a bunch of Sikh truckers‚ and warned that the truckers were preparing to overthrow democracy with violent attacks. Overreacting so insanely that it looked like a psychotic break‚ the government ordered banks to begin freezing the bank accounts of protesters and launched into an astonishingly aggressive crackdown on a peaceful protest. A comparable exchange happened in Christchurch‚ where protesters gathered to express opposition to New Zealand’s vaccine mandates. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern snarled her response‚ warning that protest against the injections was “unacceptable.” Again‚ police crushed the protests‚ in an attack that turned into a fight with protesters who had been peaceful. Think about your own examples. There is an endless list from which to choose. How was the Tea Party movement greeted by “mainstream” politicians and the corporate news media? What we’re facing‚ all over the country and all over the world‚ is a global governing class offering an increasingly brittle rejection of any form of opposition. They repress speech‚ they criminalize disagreement‚ and they're extremely comfortable with the presumption that anyone who criticizes them is dangerous. In Canada now‚ the astonishing Online Harms Act proposes life imprisonment for some categories of hate tweets — and no‚ that's not a joke. Read the bill. Watch a congressional committee hearing. Really‚ just pick any hearing at random and watch it. You'll see — that phrase again — rage and vituperation‚ attacks on witnesses‚ snarling Democrats ranting at Republicans over minor points. A spirit of hate and rage permeates the air. Take Trump away‚ and does that spirit die? No. The World Economic Forum class‚ the Davos crowd‚ whatever you want to call them: Their rigidity and brittleness are apparent — and growing. At the moment‚ all of that entitled rage has a single target that feels especially important. But the moment that target goes away‚ the rage will shift and resettle. We’ve broken our conception of the open society‚ and a class of pompous idiots has its hands around the throat of the public sphere. Here’s an actual headline from a Canadian newspaper this week: “Excessive free speech is a breeding ground for more Trumps.” The author means both ends of that statement: free speech is excessive‚ and there can be more Trumps. The “more Trumps” are you‚ and me‚ and everyone who is even remotely like us. The actual Trump‚ if he suddenly gave way and left the stage‚ would just be replaced by “more Trumps.” The hate and the rage are the problem‚ not the single target that happens to currently be front and center. The January 6 defendants are experiencing this in a very personal way right now. And I promise you‚ there will be plenty more where they came from.

The idea of the “metaverse” is synonymous with Mark Zuckerberg. In 2021‚ Zuckerberg — half robot‚ half man — renamed his corporation from Facebook to Meta. Ever since‚ his primary goal has been to forge the “metaverse‚” a virtual reality environment in three dimensions. However‚ he’s not the only one exploring this brave new world. The World Economic Forum is also actively exploring the metaverse. Make no mistake about it: If the WEF has its way‚ your metaverse identity will be used to monitor‚ predict‚ mold‚ and mimic your behavior. The unelected globalists in Davis recently published a rather sobering report emphasizing the significance of digital IDs‚ biometric data capture‚ and behavior profiling and how all three will shape our identities in the metaverse. In a new 48-page report‚ eerily titled “Metaverse Identity: Defining the Self in a Blended Reality‚” the WEF suggests that‚ as people "spend more time exploring‚ playing and socializing in digital experiences‚ a person’s metaverse identity will be central to their day-to-day life as well as to the way they express their personal identity.” The concept of metaverse identity consists of three key elements: Representation: This involves personal‚ social‚ and role identity‚ which can be expressed through avatars‚ pseudonyms‚ or other digital forms. Data: This refers to the vast amount of information about individuals collected by the hardware and software supporting the metaverse. Identification: This includes various forms of identification such as driver's licenses‚ government-issued IDs‚ passports‚ birth certificates‚ attestations‚ labels‚ or usernames and passwords. The report highlights that metaverse identity expands the traditional notion of "identity" by integrating it with the digital infrastructure of the internet. In short‚ it's a complex framework that encompasses everything from representation to data and identification. Identity in the metaverse‚ we’re told‚ “connects and anchors a person to the physical and virtual world.” The concept of representation‚ meanwhile‚ involves how individuals present and express themselves‚ whether through a realistic portrayal or more abstract‚ creative interpretations. This includes visual representations and verbal expressions‚ actions‚ behaviors‚ and mannerisms. This aspect of representation also ties into behavior profiling‚ which is evident in biometric profiling‚ data capture‚ and various identification processes. If you are imagining communist China‚ then yes‚ you are on the right track. Furthermore — and this is a crucial point — introducing digital entities in the metaverse will redefine the notion of representation. These digital entities can embody humans‚ objects‚ systems‚ or abstract ideas and possess varying levels of interaction‚ autonomy‚ and behavior within digital environments. Worryingly‚ any issues with your digital replicas could impact your real-life existence. Today‚ the line between the physical and digital you is somewhat blurry. Tomorrow‚ that line will be nonexistent. The fact that the WEF‚ the international organization behind the Great Reset initiative (you will own nothing and be happy with owning nothing)‚ is so interested in shaping the metaverse should worry anyone who values his freedom — or what little remains of it‚ anyway. As mentioned in the comprehensive report‚ the metaverse identity data category focuses on collecting and examining data in order to draw conclusions about individuals — their likes‚ dislikes‚ political philosophies‚ etc. Using AI and machine learning‚ this data is used to anticipate and predict behavior patterns. Yes‚ like something out of "Minority Report." According to the WEF‚ when combined with AI and ML models‚ this data enables the analysis of a person's interactions‚ movements‚ and preferences‚ ultimately generating the person's identity. Bloomberg/Getty Whether these inferred data points capture current activities‚ predict future actions‚ or anticipate preferences‚ they offer insights into an individual's identity. Furthermore‚ these attributes can influence how the virtual environment responds to an individual and how outsiders perceive the individual. Imagine this technology in the hands of Klaus Schwab and his colleagues‚ all of whom are vested in manipulating human behavior and exerting control over people's thoughts and actions. This is not unfounded fearmongering. The report clearly states that lawmakers could easily “use aggregated inferred data for surveillance‚ monitoring dissidents or suppressing certain groups without their active consent.” Which means they probably will. But‚ some will say‚ “I want no part of the metaverse. I refuse to even entertain the idea of entering it.” Although I applaud your commitment‚ you and your loved ones may have little option but to participate‚ especially if the metaverse becomes the internet’s next chapter. If everything is online‚ then‚ I ask‚ how do you plan to remain offline? Also‚ your metaverse identity could be your passport‚ the golden ticket needed to participate in the online world. Make no mistake about it: If the WEF has its way‚ your metaverse identity will be used to monitor‚ predict‚ mold‚ and mimic your behavior. It will determine what information you can and cannot access and what information you can and cannot share. You have been warned.

Editor's note: We're facing an unprecedented moment in American history. Our government and multinational tech monopolies are making it clear that we‚ the people‚ are the target of the monstrous surveillance state they've constructed. The deep state is attempting to jail people who share memes‚ Blaze Media journalists‚ and even the leading presidential candidate. It's time we take back control over our privacy and digital communications‚ and this guide will provide you with the tools to do that. This is an excerpt from a larger guide.Practice what Cal Newport calls “digital minimalism.” Use only the technology and software you really need. And use it sparingly.Cal Newport is a professor at Georgetown‚ with a Ph.D. in computer science from MIT. He’s written several excellent books on technology use including "Deep Work" and "Digital Minimalism." "Deep Work" is superb‚ and I’ve recommended it to many people. "Digital Minimalism" presents a practical way to limit our use of technology to the most essential.The more time we spend online and on phones scrolling through social media‚ checking the news‚ using software‚ and playing games‚ the more we are being programmed by digital masters who shape our thoughts‚ ideas‚ desires‚ and view of the world. A key part of limiting our exposure to the internet and behavior modification is to use the internet in a minimalist manner. I spend too much time on Twitter and looking at the news. Those are hours I won’t get back. Reducing our time on the internet makes us more productive‚ gives us time to read and learn other things‚ helps us have longer attention spans‚ helps us be more present with our families and friends‚ helps us avoid being propagandized‚ and is better for our mental health.We live in a world with digital technology that shapes and forms us. Except for full opt-out‚ there is no avoiding it‚ so we need to be thoughtful about our use. To deny that digital tech affects us is like the teenager who says that music doesn’t affect him: “I don’t listen to the lyrics.” Sure‚ you don’t. But even if that were true‚ the lyrics are the least subversive part! Technology shapes the way we see the world more than we realize. Neil Postman and Jacques Ellul wrote about this in detail. Technology also has impacts just out of view on the horizon. As Amara’s law states‚ "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.”There’s much more to say about limiting our use of digital technology and social media: Stop or reduce your use of Facebook‚ Twitter‚ and Instagram. Avoid platforms like TikTok. We don’t need to post every experience‚ thought‚ or photo we have to the world. Facebook and Instagram are convenient and can help grow our business‚ but there are better ways to share photos with your friends. If we think about it‚ we don’t need network effects for most of what we do online. Social media platforms can be helpful for advertising‚ but in most of our lives‚ does it really matter that 3 billion people use Facebook?Computer science is not a purely technical‚ empirical field divorced from any philosophical or political concerns. Computer algorithms and programs are created by human beings with specific visions of the world. These visions influence their code whether they know it or not. And they are embedded into products and services that shape and form us‚ whether we know it or not. Google‚ Facebook‚ and other Big Tech leviathans have turned their philosophy into computer code. The more time we spend online and on phones scrolling through social media‚ checking the news‚ using software‚ and playing games‚ the more we are being programmed by digital masters who shape our thoughts‚ ideas‚ desires‚ and view of the world. To paraphrase René Girard: We don’t get our desires from ourselves but from others. The more we use the code of others‚ the more our lives are shaped by them. Do you want your desires and worldview shaped by Silicon Valley engineers? For more on Girard‚ listen to my podcast interview with Luke Burgis on his book "Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life" and my podcast interview with Gregory Thornbury‚ "An Introduction to René Girard and the Mimetic Cycle."One way to think about computer code is analogous to music‚ literature‚ and architecture. Philosophers since Plato have been keenly aware of how music and art shape our souls. Bach and Mozart do one thing to us. The Rolling Stones and Snoop Dogg do another. Literature and poetry shape our intellects and imagination. Beautiful architecture with harmony and proportion influences in one way; neo-Stalinist or Bauhaus architecture shapes us in another. Architecture is like code. Florence is beautiful code; Brasilia is not.Computer code and technology also shape us. We need to write better code that reflects a better philosophy of the person and society. Too often those of us with non-materialist worldviews have abdicated our responsibility in this area‚ which has led to distorted technology. The good news is people are working to break free from the current model. The developments in distributed ledger technology (blockchain) are very promising‚ and there is much work to be done here. But again‚ we don’t have to wait for the perfect option. We can start by using the current technology in a better way.

On the grim four-year anniversary of the lockdowns‚ it’s striking to realize that Republican legislatures were active in 2020 but did nothing to stop the overreach. Surprisingly‚ few states have changed their laws to prevent a repeat. What’s more‚ South Carolina is close to going a step farther by not advancing key medical freedom laws and instead may give a new health care czar the power essentially to declare martial law. Two bills — H. 4927 and S. 915 — have sailed through their respective chambers with no opposition beyond the South Carolina Freedom Caucus. The legislation would create the Executive Office of Health and Policy run by a Fauci-like health czar to replace the disparate powers of the current state public health system‚ directed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control‚ an agency that is not accountable to the governor. While it’s a good idea to have one agency responsible to the governor‚ the goal should be to reduce‚ not increase‚ its power. The South Carolina legislation actually worsens the current system. For example‚ section five of the House bill prescribes the following: All sheriffs and constables in the several counties of this State and police officers and health officers of cities and towns must aid and assist the Director of the Department of Public Health and Environmental Control and must carry out and obey his orders‚ or those of the Department of Public Health and Environmental Control‚ to enforce and carry out any and all restrictive measures and quarantine regulations that may be prescribed. The bill’s proponents would say the state can already compel sheriffs to enforce tyrannical measures. That’s exactly the problem! Any reorganization of these agencies should remove oppressive powers‚ not conform them to a shiny new system. We need more freedom‚ not less. The state health department should only advise‚ not have power over our lives‚ liberties‚ and property. H. 4927 passed the House with a vote of 91-18 on the last day of February. Attempts to take out the controversial powers over sheriffs didn't succeed‚ with a similar vote count. The Senate passed its version a week before‚ with only one dissenting vote. Now‚ the bills are moving to conference for reconciliation. Republican Governor Henry McMaster says he’ll sign the final bill. Despite voter backlash‚ it's uncertain whether the Senate will have the nerve to change the provision concerning sheriffs. But why would Republican legislators want to consider such legislation at all? The bill purports to consolidate several different state agencies — the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services‚ the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs‚ the Department of Public Health‚ the Department of Health and Human Services‚ the Department of Mental Health‚ and the Department on Aging‚ along with DHEC — under the new umbrella office. And it’s good that the governor would have greater authority over it. But focusing on structure rather than powers and policy of the state public health agency is like focusing on the finger of someone who points to the moon rather than the moon itself. South Carolina has barely nibbled around the edges of public health tyranny four sessions into the COVID travesty. Legislators have only banned the shutdown of houses of worship — nothing else. They have not prevented businesses from mandating dangerous shots. They have not prevented hospitals from violating human rights and mandating masks. They have refused to consider all the conservative legislation redressing these issues. That is not unique‚ unfortunately‚ to red states. What’s peculiar in South Carolina is that Republicans are making public health policy worse. This legislation doesn't actually cut the size of government. It keeps all existing roles in the Department of Health and Environmental Control and other agencies and even adds a new layer of bureaucracy. When asked about the cost‚ Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R)‚ the bill's sponsor‚ couldn't provide a number. The bill is so complex that its financial impact is still unknown. In a committee meeting‚ Herbkersman‚ who chairs the Healthcare Subcommittee on Ways and Means‚ confessed that the bill's touted streamlining wouldn't eliminate even one job.So if it doesn’t limit public health tyranny and doesn’t streamline or cut the health bureaucracy‚ then what is its purpose? Same as ever: cronyism and tyranny. Rather than installing the new secretary and his agency in the existing DHEC building‚ the legislation would move $352 million in funding to rent new expensive office space in Columbia‚ near the baseball stadium on Otarre Parkway. Why would they do this if the entire point is to consolidate resources? Well‚ the new building they will rent is owned by Bill Stern‚ a big donor to McMaster. Stern led the ceremony at the governor’s inauguration in 2023. If the only problem with the legislation was its cost‚ I’d be willing to pay off their cronies to buy my freedom. The reality is that South Carolina’s proposed “reforms” are part of a national effort to introduce health czars into every state‚ which may be why the bill is over 70 pages‚ which is long for state government. It turns out that House Republicans have paid $3.2 million to Boston Consulting Group‚ which does business with the CDC‚ the World Health Organization‚ and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation‚ to write the legislation. We wonder why most red states went along with COVID fascism for way too long‚ given that Republicans dominate the legislatures and governors’ offices. The fact that they refuse to recognize their mistakes and are‚ in fact‚ making those mistakes worse simply shows that unless we get active in primaries this year‚ we won’t have many red states in which to seek refuge during the next biomedical crackdown.

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Hardliners objected to $200 million in funding for the new FBI headquarters in Maryland and additional funding for LGBT centers.