Blaze Media can now reveal that the person who discovered the pipe bomb at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington‚ D.C.‚ on January 6‚ 2021‚ was a United States Capitol Police plainclothes officer. Multiple congressional staffers familiar with the investigation confirm to Blaze Media that despite months of the FBI stonewalling congressional committees’ inquiries‚ they now know the identity of that individual — previously only identified as a “passerby.” At 1:05 p.m. on January 6‚ the then-unidentified person casually approached a D.C. Metropolitan Police vehicle parked in the DNC’s parking ramp driveway near South Capitol St.‚ reportedly to inform police officers that he’d seen what appeared to be a pipe bomb. Wearing dark clothes and a backpack‚ the individual can be seen in a video posted on Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s YouTube channel‚ first speaking to an officer on the driver’s side of the patrol car. He then casually walks around to the car’s passenger side window‚ where he leans in to chat for several seconds. Again — in no apparent hurry — the person walks around to the driver’s side of an adjacently parked black Secret Service SUV for a conversation with that vehicle’s occupants. The SUV was parked only about 15-20 feet from the location of the alleged bomb. Jan. 6‚ 2021 DNC Pipe Bomb Discovery www.youtube.com The Secret Service vehicle was part of a motorcade that delivered Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to the DNC building only about 90 minutes earlier. Despite extensive media coverage of the two pipe bombs on January 6 — the first of which was found minutes earlier at the Republican National Committee headquarters on First Street — to this day‚ no one knows why Harris was delivered to the DNC that morning rather than to the Capitol to participate in the certification of the 2020 Electoral College votes. She was still a senator on January 6. Curiously‚ Harris’ presence at the DNC building and in proximity to the alleged pipe bomb was not revealed for a full year. Politico reported on the first anniversary of January 6: Uncertainty about Harris’ whereabouts as a mob breached the Capitol building briefly bubbled up in a handful of criminal cases connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection. In dozens of indictments‚ the Justice Department had erroneously described Harris as being present inside the Capitol during the attack and only recently discovered the error. DOJ has since issued numerous superseding indictments to correct the mistake. Even more curious is why Harris has never tried to milk public sympathy for having been at the DNC headquarters less than 10 yards away from what the FBI has described as a “viable” explosive device that “could have been detonated‚ resulting in serious injury or death.” The FBI on December 17 updated members of Congress on the status of the pipe bomb investigation. A staffer who sat in on the briefing said the FBI offered "nothing more than a regurgitation of old news" and that members were "quite aggravated" about the lack of new information. As Blaze Media has learned and continues to investigate‚ the FBI's description of the device as "viable" also appears to be untrue. Despite congressional aides having given this information to Blaze Media as part of our extensive Capitol CCTV video investigations into the DNC pipe bomb incident‚ they have not yet revealed the name of the USCP plainclothes officer and how they came to know his identity. Their investigations continue‚ as do ours. Blaze Media has much more soon to come on the DNC pipe bomb story. We are pursuing the answers to the following questions: How did the Secret Service fail to find a bomb prior to their protectee’s arrival — a bomb that was seemingly purposefully placed the night before in a manner in which it was meant to be discovered? Why did operators in the Capitol Police Command Center deliberately redirect CCTV cameras away from the DNC pipe bomb investigation and detonation? Why did a Secret Service agent and MPD officer feel safe enough to finish their lunch before investigating the information about a bomb located only 15 feet away after a law enforcement officer revealed its location to them? Was the DNC pipe bomb really a “viable” device‚ despite never-before-seen video evidence to the contrary? The answers to these questions will all be part of our continuing series on “The Truth About January 6.”

An executive from popular video game publisher Ubisoft Entertainment stated that consumers need to get used to not owning their video games in order to move the market in a direction that is focused on subscription-based access.Philippe Tremblay‚ director of subscriptions at Ubisoft‚ spoke to Games Industry about the company's rebrand of its subscription platform. Tremblay said the revamp was due to a positive response from gamers who enjoyed having digital access to their back catalogue of titles. While Tremblay stated that the point is not to "force users to go down one route or another‚" his comments eventually revealed a desire to push gamers toward a subscription-based model in which users do not own their own games."One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to‚ a little bit like DVD‚ having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]‚" Tremblay explained.The subscription executive rationalized the position by offering a surety that gaming progress would not be lost."As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect … you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time‚ your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game." \xe2\x80\x9cYou will not own the games you paid for‚ and you will be happy.\xe2\x80\x9d -Philippe Tremblay‚ director of subscriptions at Ubisoft — (@) The obvious pushback from proponents of physical media ownership has surrounded the publisher's ability to revoke access at any given time.This can happen if a user loses access to his account or if certain content is simply removed. In December 2023‚ users lost access to their already-purchased episodes of shows from the Discovery network. More than 1‚200 titles were removed from the PlayStation Network due to a change in licensing agreements."PlayStation will delete users’ purchased tv shows with no refunds" Nerdist wrote‚ while Forbes noted‚ "PlayStation store to lose more than 1‚200 purchasable titles - with no refunds."Director Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight‚" "Oppenheimer") also criticized digital media for this very reason in an interview with IGN. Nolan explained that access to digital products often relies on the status of a distributor's relationship with the platform providing access to the media."If you buy a [DVD]‚ you buy a Blu-Ray‚ it's on your shelf‚ it's yours. No company is going to break into your house and take it from you‚ repossess it; you know it's yours and and you own it‚" Nolan explained. "That's never really the case with any form of digital distribution. You're relying on the continued health of the supplier‚ the company who's supplying."Ubisoft's Tremblay attempted to quell such worries‚ saying he understood "the gamers' perspective with that." However‚ he did not address the realities expressed by critics like Nolan."As people embrace [subscriptions]‚ they will see that these games will exist‚ the service will continue‚ and you'll be able to access them when you feel like. That's reassuring‚" Tremblay added. "Streaming is also a thing that works really well with subscription. So you pay when you need it‚ as opposed to paying all the time."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Millions of student loan borrowers refuse to repay‚ hoping their boycott will pressure the Biden administration to cancel all debt‚ according to an Intelligent.com survey released Monday.The survey‚ which polled 1‚000 borrowers‚ found that one in 10 individuals with federal student loan debt is skipping out on payments. Many individuals are intentionally refusing to pay in order to pressure the federal government to zero out all federal student loan debt‚ it revealed. The federal government paused student loan repayments during the COVID lockdowns in 2020‚ which impacted 43 million borrowers with a total of $1.63 trillion in federal student loan debt. The payment pause ended in October‚ and many borrowers are struggling to pay back the loans.The Intelligent.com survey found that six in 10 borrowers have missed a payment since October‚ with 25% not making a single payment. Only 40% of borrowers have made all their monthly payments‚ and 35% have made some payments since the pause ended.“Of the one-fourth of borrowers who haven’t made any payments‚ 9% say they are intentionally boycotting repayment as a way of pressuring the federal government to cancel federal student loan debt‚” the online magazine reported.Nearly half of the borrowers surveyed stated that they “were aware of calls for a student loan repayment boycott when the payment pause ended‚” according to an August survey.“At that time‚ 62% of borrowers who knew about the boycott movement said they were ‘highly likely’ (26%) or ‘somewhat likely’ (36%) to participate‚” Intelligent.com found.Many participating in the boycott‚ 44%‚ believe their protest will pressure the federal government to cancel some of their debt. A smaller subset‚ 28%‚ believe the boycott will lead to a complete cancellation of their federal student loan debt. “The majority of boycotting borrowers‚ 86%‚ say it’s ‘very’ (45%) or ‘somewhat likely’ (41%) that their efforts will bring attention to the student loan debt conversation. Sixty-four percent say it’s ‘highly’ (32%) or ‘somewhat likely’ (18%) that a boycott will help elect political candidates that believe in loan forgiveness‚” the survey revealed.Financial experts‚ including DebtHammer founder and CEO Jake Hill‚ are warning borrowers of the negative repercussions of missing repayments.“Although the frustration behind the student loan boycott is understandable‚ it’s unlikely to lead to positive change‚” Hill told Intelligent.com. “Instead‚ it will destroy the credit scores of those who choose to participate. This may not seem like a major issue in the short term‚ but failing to pay your student loans can make it more difficult to obtain funding for future purchases. For example‚ if you default on your student loans‚ you’ll be unable to obtain most mortgages‚ which will derail any plans you have to purchase a home.”AdmissionsSight founder and CEO Eric Eng encouraged borrowers struggling to make the repayments to explore “income-driven plans‚ loan forgiveness programs‚ and loan consolidation” options to help tackle their debt.Sixty-nine percent of those who have not been paying back the loans said they cannot afford to make the payments.“Sixty-three percent of these borrowers earn less than $45‚000 annually. By comparison‚ 69% of borrowers who’ve made some or all of their student loan payments since October 2023 earn $45‚001 or more per year‚” the survey noted.Ninety-four percent of borrowers who made all or some of their payments said it has been “very” or “somewhat” financially difficult.The Biden administration attempted to cancel $10‚000 of federal student loan debt for individuals making less than $125‚000 annually and married couples making less than $250‚000 annually‚ but the plan was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. Since then‚ the administration has effectively rolled out smaller‚ similar plans that have canceled over $132 billion of federal student loan debt for 3.6 million borrowers. Last week‚ the White House announced that it would eliminate more debt through its Saving on a Valuable Education plan‚ Blaze News reported. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Health officials are warning airport travelers about a possible measles exposure that occurred early this month‚ WRC-TV reported Monday.Officials with the Virginia Department of Health cautioned Saturday that a person with measles‚ who was returning to the United States from international travel‚ was at Dulles International Airport and Reagan Washington National Airport in early January.On January 3‚ from 4 to 8 p.m. local time‚ the individual was in Dulles' main international arrivals terminal. The traveler was in Reagan Washington's terminal A on January 4‚ from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.‚ according to the news outlet.A press release from the VDH stated that the agency "was notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who traveled through Northern Virginia when returning from international travel."Individuals who were traveling through the two airports on those specified dates "may have been exposed‚" the VDH warned. The agency did not reveal which airline the person with measles was traveling."Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed‚ including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights‚" the agency noted. "Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes‚ coughs‚ or sneezes."Seven to 14 days after exposure to measles‚ individuals will typically experience a fever greater than 101 degrees‚ a runny nose‚ watery red eyes‚ and a cough. Approximately three to five days after initial symptoms‚ those who have contracted the disease will break out in a rash on their face that spreads to other parts of the body."People with measles are contagious from 4 days before the rash appears through 4 days after the rash appeared‚" the VDH explained.A DC Health statement said the "threat of transmission is low."Those who believe they may have been exposed to measles and have not received a vaccination are urged to watch for symptoms."If you notice symptoms of measles‚ immediately isolate yourself by staying home and away from others. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider's office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the health department. This will help protect other patients and staff‚" DC Health stated.Anything else?In an unrelated outbreak‚ Philadelphia officials confirmed a ninth case of measles Tuesday. The outbreak reportedly started at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia last month before spreading to a day-care center‚ according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Republicans still haven’t impeached Joe Biden or any other Biden administration official. But that hasn’t stopped AOC from complaining about the GOP “weaponizing” impeachment on CNN. “What they’re using and what they’re doing is taking impeachment and taking all of the most serious procedures that we have as a country‚” AOC told a somber Anderson Cooper. “They’re politically weaponizing it for an election purpose‚ for a political purpose.” “It’s a selfishness that really endangers this country‚ it endangers our electoral process‚ it endangers our legal process. It’s deeply cynical and it’s done to re-elect themselves and line their own pockets‚” she added. AOC didn’t mention that she voted to impeach President Donald Trump not once but twice. Pat Gray and Keith Malinak haven’t forgotten this fact. “How do you‚ as a Democrat who impeached Donald Trump twice‚ over what?” Gray laughs. “Compared to what Biden is doing‚ absolutely nothing at all‚” Malinak agrees. “You’re talking about no self-awareness‚” he adds. Senator Bob Menendez has yet to be removed as well — and his alleged crimes couldn’t offer a better reason. The Democrat senator had allegedly been working for foreign governments in exchange for cash and gold bars. “You should be able to get rid of him with that much against him‚” Malinak says. Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

The scandal of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's ICU hospitalization cover-up took another turn on Tuesday.Audio of the 911 call that one of Lloyd's aides made requesting an ambulance to the secretary's northern Virginia home suggests that aides intentionally tried to keep the hospitalization a secret. The Daily Beast first reported the audio‚ obtaining it through a Freedom of Information Act request.The call‚ made on Jan. 1‚ begins with the aide identifying himself before informing the dispatcher that he works for Secretary Austin. The aide then made an unusual request."Can I ask — can the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens? We're trying to remain a little subtle‚" the aide said.The dispatcher replied‚ "Usually‚ when they turn into a residential neighborhood they'll turn them off‚ but they're required by law to run with them [on] the main streets ... primary roads‚ they have to by law." — (@) The majority of the call is redacted to protect private and confidential information‚ such as the name of the aide‚ personal contact information‚ Austin's address‚ and the reason that Austin had requested to go to the hospital. At one point‚ the aide asked if it would be possible to transport Austin to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.The call ends with the dispatcher providing the aide with instructions to prepare for the arrival of medics.The hospitalization set off controversy because‚ as it was later discovered‚ not only did the Pentagon hide Austin's hospitalization from practically everyone — including President Joe Biden — for days while claiming he was working remotely‚ but the Pentagon did not disclose that Austin underwent surgery days before Christmas.It's still not clear who decided to cover up Austin's health problems or if anyone has been held responsible.Austin was finally released from the hospital on Monday."The secretary continues to recover well and‚ on the advice of doctors‚ will recuperate and perform his duties remotely for a period of time before returning full-time to the Pentagon‚" the Pentagon said in a statement. "He has full access to required secure communications capabilities." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

His guitar can be heard on recordings by Elvis Presley‚ the Box Tops‚ Dusty Springfield‚ Willie Nelson‚ Bob Dylan‚ Paul Simon‚ Ringo Starr and more. The post Reggie Young: The Prolific Guitarist You’ve Likely Never Heard Of appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

The Finals just got a new update‚ and it's a pretty big deal. The patch adds an entirely new game mode for a limited time only‚ shaking Bank It up a bit for the time being. Embark Studios' massive update also brings changes to abilities‚ gadgets‚ maps‚ weapons‚ and more‚ changing up the shooter's meta with tweaks affecting the game's three classes. Whether you've been itching for better balancing or a fresh solo mode to hop into‚ The Finals' update 1.5.0 may just pull you back in-game. Continue reading The Finals gets new limited time game mode‚ an “experimental twist” MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Finals settings‚ The Finals servers‚ The Finals classes

The drastic population was also driven by a surge in Covid-19 cases that emerged after authorities lifted harsh quarantine measures.

Haley barely mentioned DeSantis in her speech Monday night and said she won’t debate him again.