A witness contacted me about a sighting of a huge 'prehistoric-looking' bird that literally blocked the sky in front of their car while driving near Round Lake Beach, Illinois (Lake County).I received the following account:Dear, Lon. After reading your recent post I wanted to share our encounter with you.Back in the Summer of 2002 during the late morning to early afternoon, we were driving south on Highway 83 leaving Round Lake Beach, Illinois (Lake County) going towards Grayslake when we were startled by something large and black crossing in front of the car and landing in a small open area of brush, to our left. One wing easily filled the entire view ahead of us.We saw that one huge black bird had landed next to another one and that they were devouring what looked like a small deer or a large dog. It was just for an instant but they were prehistoric-looking and larger than the local turkey buzzards. We watched the evening news thinking that some large vultures may have escaped the zoo but we saw no mention of any such creatures. We often wondered if anyone else had seen anything like these large black birds in northern Illinois.Thank you for posting the article and letting me know that I wasn't the only one who saw this." SNOTE: Pterosaur? Thunderbird? Your thoughts? Lon**********POLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!FERAL PEOPLE & WILD MEN - ISOLATED HOMININS | Join Us - LIVE CHAT | Q & A (REAL EYEWITNESS REPORTS!)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonJOIN AMAZON PRIME - Unlimited Movie/TV Streaming& FREE 2-Day ShippingRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTube'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINES----------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio member - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----CREEPY CAMPING ENCOUNTERS - ABOMINABLE CREATURES | LIVE CHAT | Q & A (REAL EYEWITNESS REPORTS!)I hear and read cryptid encounter reports daily. There are risks and dangers in the wilderness. Most campers, hikers, and hunters research and respect any wildlife or environmental pitfalls before heading to the location.But how can these people protect themselves from a creature they are told doesn't exist? An anomalous being that is so abominable that it's difficult for the human mind to comprehend.I'll examine several reports that I have received over the years so that you can develop your rationale for their existence.-----Project Threshold: Finale-----Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs,CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.This blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS & MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2024 Phantoms & Monsters - All Rights Reserved

MILWAUKEE—Former National Basketball Association star Enes Kanter Freedom spoke with former President Donald Trump’s family after a 20-year-old man attempted to assassinate the former president. “About the photo, first of all, that’s probably one of the most iconic photos I’ve ever seen in my life,” Freedom, a former basketball and wrestling pro, told The Daily Signal in an interview Thursday at the Republican National Convention. Several iconic photos emerged from the assassination attempt, including one in which Trump appears, with blood on his face, raising his fist in front of an American flag. Freedom said he met with Trump’s family in the days after Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire at a Trump rally, wounding the former president and fatally shooting Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former local fire chief who reportedly dove on family members to protect them. After sustaining the wound, Trump stood up, raised his fist in the air, and shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” before Secret Service escorted him offstage. “I actually had a meeting with his family, I just said, ‘God saved his life, literally,'” Freedom recalled. “I prayed for him, I prayed for his family, and we’ve got to do whatever we can to keep him safe because this is America, man, this is unacceptable.” Freedom, who was born to Turkish parents in Switzerland and who studied in Turkey for years before coming to America legally and becoming a U.S. citizen, warned that America has become “pretty much a laughingstock” under President Joe Biden. He highlighted the border and illegal immigration as key issues. “Is it too much to ask that we need to know who we’re letting in our country? We want to know,” Freedom said. He warned that some of the illegal immigrants might be supporters of the Chinese Communist Party or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. “I don’t know if they’re CCP supporters, if they are ISIS supporters, if they are whatever supporters. We want to know who’s coming into our country.” The Daily Signal asked Freedom whether he considers it an insult for illegal immigrants to come into this country and receive benefits while he went through the legal process. “Yes, it kind of is” an insult, he said. “There’s a process man, you get a green card, you’ve got to wait five years, then you’ve got to take the citizenship [test], and then you become a citizen. I literally waited almost 10 years to have my citizenship.” Freedom condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “the Hitler of our country,” and the government targeted him and his father in apparent reprisal. The Turkish government reportedly put a $26,000 bounty (roughly 500,000 Turkish lira) on his head and added his name to the country’s terrorist list in January 2023. In response, Freedom said, “The only thing I terrorize is the basketball rim.” “Turkey could have been a bridge of Islam and the West but just because of Erdogan’s policies, it’s impossible,” Freedom told The Daily Signal. Freedom, who has also condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s oppression and supported Israel, said that the “one strong message” he was looking for at the RNC is “unity.” “We only have one America, I don’t care what color you are, what religion or what ethnicity or your background,” he said. “We’ve only got one country to live in. We’ve got to make this country better together.” Freedom also said that Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, make a perfect match. “I believe Trump and JD Vance is like peanut butter and jelly,” he said. “They go perfect together, the best combination.” The post ‘GOD SAVED HIS LIFE’: Enes Kanter Freedom Opens Up About Speaking With Trump’s Family After Shooting appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Conservative pundit Michael Knowles says that President Joe Biden demolished his own plan to brand former President Donald Trump as a “threat to democracy” after the assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee.   “What the near-assassination of Trump did is, it took all the wind out of the sails of the Biden campaign,” Knowles said in an interview at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts.  Knowles, a Daily Wire host, pointed to the fact that Biden publicly said he was thankful Trump survived the shooting, which injured the former president and two rallygoers and killed a third.  Biden’s reelection bid “is premised entirely on the lie that Trump represents an existential threat to democracy, that Trump admires Hitler, that he is, in some way, the second coming of Hitler, and his political project is an existential threat to our sacred democracy and the Constitution and the country,” Knowles said mockingly on “The Kevin Roberts Show” podcast. “The moment Biden said, ‘I’m so grateful that Trump is OK,’ he admitted that was all a lie,” Knowles explained. “You wouldn’t be happy that Hitler was OK. You wouldn’t be happy that the existential threat to your country [was] OK. So, that campaign went away.” Watch the full episode of “The Kevin Roberts Show” to hear Knowles and Roberts discuss the future of Trump’s campaign ahead of the November elections. The post How Biden Undercut His Own ‘Threat to Democracy‘ Rhetoric About Trump appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Van Jones on GOP Convention: 'There's Something Happening' Not Seen Since 2008

Various sources have reported that Joe Biden has agreed to drop out of the race but will not resign before his term is up. Dave Rubin plays a clip from Newsweek of Mark Halperin discussing the leaked information. Leaks Confirm Biden About to Drop Out & What Happens Next www.youtube.com “According to my sources, President Biden has agreed to step down as a Democratic nominee; it will happen as early as this weekend; a speech has been drafted for him; he will continue on as president is his intention,” said Halperin, adding that Biden allegedly “will not endorse Vice President Harris as his successor.” “They’re hoping that he will endorse an open process, in which the convention will be open to Vice President Harris and a few other candidates in Chicago to pick the Democrat nominee for president,” he continued, noting that Harris “is already looking at potential running mates,” including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Halperin then explained how this voting process would go: “On the first ballot, the regular delegates would be allowed to vote under this agreement that's being talked about amongst the president and high level Democrat officials. The regular delegates would vote on the first ballot. If there is no winner in the first ballot, the so-called superdelegates would be allowed to vote on the subsequent ballot.” Halperin explained that the decision was made in haste “because of the high level pressure from Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama … and many of President Biden’s top aides.” “This is basically a coup within their own party,” says Dave. To hear more about the selection process of Biden’s replacement, watch the clip above. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Mark Zuckerberg said seeing former President Donald Trump with his fist in the air after getting shot during last weekend's assassination attempt was "one of the most bada** things I've ever seen in my life."Zuckerberg — CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook — revealed his reaction during an interview Thursday at his company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Bloomberg reported.'I think that that’s why a lot of people like the guy.'“Now look, I mean there's obviously a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world," Zuckerberg told Emily Chang of "The Circuit," which is part of Bloomberg Originals, before shifting to the attempt on Trump's life in Butler, Pennsylvania, last Saturday."And I mean, on a personal note ... seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag [in the background] is one of the most bada** things I’ve ever seen in my life," Zuckerberg said with an incredulous laugh. Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesZuckerberg added that "on some level, as an American, it’s ... hard to not get kind of emotional about that spirit and that fight, and I think that that’s why a lot of people like the guy.”The social media mogul also said in the interview that he's not going to endorse Trump or Democrat President Joe Biden. Check out a clip of the interview below: — (@) It would be a stretch to call Zuckerberg a Trump fan.The day after the Jan. 6, 2021, rioting at the U.S. Capitol, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram "indefinitely" banned Trump from using their social media platforms.Zuckerberg wrote in part on Jan. 7, "The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden."Meta, Facebook's parent company, lifted that ban against Trump last year, the Associated Press reported — but with “guardrails” such as “heightened suspension penalties” if Trump posts violate standards. The social media giant then did away with all social media restrictions against Trump a week ago, the AP reported. The announcement came the day before the assassination attempt against Trump.Zuckerberg in 2022 said Facebook restricted the spread of the Hunter Biden laptop story in the run-up to the 2020 election over an FBI warning against the spread of election disinformation. Earlier in 2022, former Attorney General Bill Barr said suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story by legacy media and Big Tech "definitely" had an effect on the 2020 presidential election.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A truly gut-wrenching video the Philadelphia Police Department released Friday revealed that a female suspect opened fire on a street in broad daylight, wounding a baby in a stroller.Just before 6 p.m. Thursday, a couple was walking along the 4000 block of Meridian Street in the Holmesburg section of the city, pushing their 7-month-old son in a stroller, WCAU-TV reported. Suddenly, a woman approached the couple and began firing a gun.'Black female, heavy build, long dreadlocks, black sweatshirt with large front graphic, light blue jeans, black shoes with white soles.'The video shows the suspect firing at least three shots — two at one parent, and one at the other. The suspect then walks away, and the parents flee.The video also captured yelling between the suspect and victims. The mother appears to cry out about her "baby," while the suspect responds by calling the woman a "b****." Otherwise, their other words are unintelligible.The mother was right to fear for her child because one shot struck the baby in the leg. He was taken to one hospital in a private vehicle before police transferred him to another. As of late Friday morning, the boy's condition is reported to be stable.Meanwhile, officers investigating the shooting had difficulty locating the other victims. When they arrived, the parents were nowhere to be found. After searching for an hour, cops finally located them a few blocks away from where the shooting took place, according to NBC Philadelphia.Police are also reaching out to the public for assistance in identifying the suspect. They released the following description: "Black female, heavy build, long dreadlocks, black sweatshirt with large front graphic, light blue jeans, black shoes with white soles."Anyone with information is asked to call or text (215) 686-TIPS (8477) or submit anonymous tips via an online police portal. Police advise against approaching the suspect.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The self-appointed "sheriff" who screened homeless people to determine who could live on his street in Portland, Oregon, has now apparently died at the hands of one of those he tried so hard to help.His name was Kenny Housman.Around 12:30 a.m. Monday, Housman reportedly was trying to referee an argument between two homeless people when suddenly one of them apparently stabbed Housman in the throat.'He does not have the authority to monitor the public street bordering his property.'Housman was raced to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was 73.Reports indicate that two other homeless campers apprehended a person described as a "suspect" in Housman's fatal stabbing and held that person down until police arrived. However, that individual later was released from custody without being charged. The person was said to be "cooperating" in the investigation.Blaze News reached out to detectives assigned to the case to see if the apprehended individual was ever considered a suspect, and Portland Police public information manager Mike Benner issued Blaze News the following statement:At this point there is not enough evidence to charge the detained individual with a crime, and that explains the release from custody. The individual is cooperating with authorities, and the investigation is ongoing. We have nothing further to add.Last September, KATU-TV featured a story on Housman, who owned the block that stretched the length of Clinton Street. Housman had dubbed himself "Sheriff of Clinton Street" and permitted homeless residents to set up camp along the street so long as they passed his inspection."You don't want those kinda people that steal catalytic converters and gas," he told the outlet at the time. "You don't want them on your street. If there are those kinda people, then you have to take steps to get them out."Though RVs and tents lined his street, Housman banned loud generators and late-night parties. He also provided some homeless residents with electricity. By all accounts, Housman — a Vietnam veteran — adamantly believed he could help at least some people. "They gotta live someplace. ... The good ones have to live someplace," he said. "The others? They can't live here."Neighbors complained about violent crime spikes in the area, and data supports their concerns. KATU independently verified that the neighborhood had an "above average number of assaults, stolen cars and weapons violations," though those numbers could not necessarily be directly tied to the homeless encampments.The Street Services Coordination Center for the City of Portland also was frustrated with Housman's autonomous zone. "Mr. Houseman [sic] has been known to contact city workers and attempt to enable people to stay on the block, though he does not have the authority to monitor the public street bordering his property," a 2023 statement from the agency read in part.Housman seemed to believe his naysayers overgeneralized about homeless people and perhaps had overlooked their good qualities. "They just see a motorhome. They think, 'Oh no, homeless, crime, drugs ...' They don't see Tim, who I think works, I'm not sure, but he won't steal from them or anything else. They don't see, I don't know Jim very well; old man Steve, living on Social Security, needs a place to stay," he explained.He also denied that his approved campers engaged in behaviors often associated with homelessness. "You don't find any car thieves here," he told KATU. "You don't find people laying around doing drugs ... You shouldn't find any needles; all of the trash is in one place for [waste removal] to pick up."Now, at least one of the Clinton Street campers is mourning the loss of Housman. "He did things to try and help them out," Michael Zamora, who lives in an RV, recalled."He didn’t have to die."(H/T: The Post Millennial)Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Bud Light-transgender debacle is apparently continuing to take a toll on the brand after a report found that it had slipped from second place to third place among beers. Bud Light was the focus of a national boycott after a transgender activist announced a partnership with the brand to celebrate the activist's "100 days of girlhood" campaign on social media. 'I'm not someone who holds a f**king grudge his whole life.'The brand had previously been at the top slot before the boycott eroded its market share. Last year, Modelo Especial eclipsed Bud Light and remains at the top, but second place has now been claimed by Michelob Ultra, according to the latest report. Both Bud Light and Michelob Ultra are brewed by Anheuser-Busch, whose stock has lost about 10% of market value since the transgender controversy. An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said only that “millions of consumers choose Bud Light every day” in response to the report and added that Bud Light “will always be a mainstay of our iconic portfolio.”Some of those who were most critical of Bud Light eventually abandoned the boycott. Kid Rock, who amplified the boycott by shooting cases of Budweiser with a gun, later said that he supported the brand after realizing how many American jobs were in the balance. "I'm not someone who holds a f***ing grudge his whole life," said the musician. Joe Rogan also defended Bud Light while drinking the beer with a guest on his popular podcast show in April 2023. In February, the brand hired comedian Shane Gillis as a spokesperson to help regain its consumer base. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Top Democrats Frustrated by Being Stuck in ‘Doom Loop’ Amid Doubts About Biden’s Future