A beloved Christian actor is showing possible signs of recovery while in hospital on life support.Quinton Aaron starred in "The Blind Side," a movie with Sandra Bullock about Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who is taken in by a Christian family and becomes a first-round NFL draft pick.'I grew up in the church. I was raised in the church.'In real life, Aaron's wife, Margarita, said she rushed the 41-year-old to the hospital after he lost feeling in his legs. The issues were initially thought to be from a bad sleep, but pain persisted in Aaron's neck and back until he became numb.His wife is a registered nurse, and she helped him lie down before calling 911. The big man — reportedly around 6'6" — was in and out of consciousness on the way to hospital.Doctors allegedly determined after several tests that he had a blood infection and recommended he be put on life support, according to TMZ.A 'fighter'After initial reports looked grim, the outlet explained that Aaron was partially breathing on his own until Monday, when he "opened his eyes today and gave a thumbs-up," his wife said.RELATED: The Blind Side' Actor's Adherence to God, Refusal to Compromise His Values in Hollywood — and a New Role in 'Left Behind' Describing her husband as "a fighter," Margarita had previously said, "He's showing a lot of improvement. We all have faith in God that he will walk out of here fully recovered."Aaron had been dealing with health issues last March, according to E News. He was hospitalized after experiencing a bloody cough coupled with a fever and was told he was likely dealing with Type A flu and pneumonia.In 2019, he was also admitted to a hospital for an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis.Man of faithThe man of faith was interviewed by Blaze News in 2013 when he said, "I grew up in the church. I was raised in the church." "I do believe in showing more so than having to say. I feel like if I live the Christian life, then the people should be able to see it in my everyday actions."RELATED: Matthew McConaughey: Choose God and family, not 'participation trophies' Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images Outspoken ChristianAaron has been outspoken about being a Christian in Hollywood. In a 2017 interview, he noted that many people in the film industry are "not very charitable" unless it benefits them."I've noticed that, especially with friends in Hollywood, if you want to keep a friend, don't ask them for anything. I tell people all the time, I say, 'The moment you ask for a favor, you're probably never going to hear from them again,'" he explained."They may grant that favor, but don't plan on asking for another one," the actor added.Oher, whom Aaron portrayed in the 2009 film, had eight seasons in the NFL, five of which were with the Baltimore Ravens.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Democrats' manipulation of the truth is truly unmatched, and the latest example of this is one of the most egregious BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales has seen yet.In a post on X, the Democratic Party’s official account posted a photo of a young boy whose father was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement alongside the caption, “In Minneapolis, ICE arrested a 5-year-old coming home from preschool and tried to use him as human bait. His teacher describes him as ‘a bright young student.’ These monsters are sick.”“The claim then got repeated, over and over and over again,” Gonzales says.Even Kamala Harris bought and sold the lie, writing in her own post on X, “Liam Ramos is just a baby. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE and held in a Texas detention center. I am outraged, and you should be too.”Ilhan Omar joined in, writing in another X post, “ICE just detained a 5-year-old. Don’t tell us this is about ‘the worst of the worst.’ That’s a lie. Absolutely vile.”The mainstream media also picked up the claim, with a headline from ABC News reading, “5-year-old asylum seeker detained as ICE expands enforcement in Minnesota.”Vice President JD Vance also chimed in, but instead of repeating the lie, he told the truth.“I see this story, and I’m a father of a 5-year-old ... and I think to myself, ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. How did we arrest a 5-year-old?’ Well I do a little bit more follow-up research, and what I find is that the 5-year-old was not arrested, that his dad was an illegal alien, and then when they went to arrest his illegal alien father, the father ran,” Vance said.“So the story is that ICE detained a 5-year-old. Well what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a 5-year-old child freeze to death?” he asked.“And now the story becomes much different because it transformed from ICE just arrested a 5-year-old to wait a second, this loving father just literally abandoned his kid,” Gonzales comments.“They’re just trying to save themselves from ICE. And ICE ends up being the true heroes of the story. Ironically enough, ICE were the ones who heroically swooped in to help this poor child who was abandoned by his awful father,” she adds.Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

As the Trump administration continues its fight to fix the Democrat-caused problems in Minnesota, an activist judge is seeking to impede Immigration and Custom Enforcement's operations in a move even he acknowledges will likely escalate the conflict. In a self-admittedly "extraordinary step," Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of the U.S. District of Minnesota has ordered the personal appearance of acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in court later this week. 'This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens.'In an order dated Monday, Schiltz threatened to hold Lyons in contempt for failing to comply with a court order earlier this month in a case involving an alien.The order also names Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and St. Paul ICE field office acting Director David Easterwood as respondents to the case.RELATED: 'Convicted and f**king dangles': NeverTrumper Rick Wilson calls for execution of top White House adviser Photo by Al Drago/Getty ImagesThe specific case in question involves petitioner Juan T.R., who was owed a bond hearing within seven days of a January 14 habeas petition, the judge indicated. Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, noted that by January 23, the petitioner had not received a bond hearing and "remains detained."The order stated that federal immigration law enforcement had not complied with other similar court orders, resulting in "significant hardship to aliens." The judge further claimed that "many of" these aliens "have lawfully lived and worked in the United States for years and done absolutely nothing wrong.""This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result," the order continued. The court wrote that the "violations continue" in many cases. As a result, the order added: The Court’s patience is at an end. Accordingly, the Court will order Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to appear personally before the Court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of Court. The Court acknowledges that ordering the head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step, but the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed.The order concludes, however, that if the petitioner is released from custody, Lyons will not be required to appear before the court.The hearing is currently scheduled for Friday. Blaze News reached out to ICE for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Does Apple’s new deal mean you have to dump your iPhone if you don’t like Google?Apple struggled for years to turn Apple Intelligence into a viable AI product, and up until now, the company has largely failed. After missed launch deadlines, feature delays, and even lawsuits alleging false advertisement, it was starting to look like Apple Intelligence would be a total dud. Apple thought so too, so the company is officially partnering with Google to make Siri great again, but mounting issues around user privacy and data collection might just be enough to make you want to ditch your iPhone.This isn’t the first time Apple has enlisted the help of its Big Tech friends.Siri will be powered by GoogleAccording to a story published in mid-January, Apple has put a hold on building its own in-house models of an AI-powered Siri, at least for now. Instead, the company has partnered with Google on a total refresh that runs on a custom version of Gemini 3 in a deal that’s worth an estimated $5 billion.The partnership is a huge admission of failure from Apple, as the team has worked on Apple Intelligence for years with little to show for it. Although the team made internal progress, the upgraded Siri was nearly scrapped and rebuilt from scratch at least once since it was unveiled at WWDC 2024. As time rolled on and whispers of development issues plagued the Siri team, rumors started to float around that Apple might tap Google for some much-needed help, and now those rumors have come true.While Gemini will provide the AI backbone for the new version of Siri that is set to launch this spring, Apple is reportedly not giving up on building its own large language models. This partnership is simply a stopgap option while the company sorts out its internal services for a future release down the road.Apple trades user privacy for a smarter SiriThis isn’t the first time Apple has enlisted the help of its Big Tech friends on AI. Parts of Apple Intelligence today leverage ChatGPT for bigger queries that are too complex to be processed on device. Instead, these broader queries are sent to OpenAI through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, an AI server stack powered by Apple hardware that provides a bridge between Apple users and ChatGPT’s servers to anonymize data and protect user privacy.RELATED: Google’s new motto: Don’t be Christian At first, it was believed that the new Siri powered by Gemini would use this same structure; however, emerging reports suggest otherwise. Gemini 3 requires more powerful hardware than Apple’s Private Cloud Compute offers today. To ensure that the new Siri runs well on Apple products, queries for the rebooted version on iOS 27, coming later this fall, will run directly on Google’s servers instead. That means Google can access, save, and track any data you feed to Siri once the new version is available, all so Apple can finally turn Apple Intelligence into something people might want to use.Even worse, while Google claims not to leverage personal data to train AI, recent support documents on Gemini Personal Intelligence state otherwise. The article explicitly highlights that your data can be “used to do things for you, like look up your info or add items to your grocery list, and to improve Google services, including training generative AI.”Google also has its own version of Private Cloud Compute called Private AI Compute that is meant to protect user data and privacy, so the information you feed into the Googlified Siri should be safe, right? Only if you trust the fox to guard the henhouse. It’s no secret that Google’s entire business model revolves around gobbling up consumer data to sell ads, improve its services, and more. Even if your queries are anonymized, they can still be used to grow the big Google machine.How to disable Apple IntelligenceIf you hate the idea of Google gathering, tracking, and monetizing your data through the new Siri, you might be wondering if it’s time to dump your iPhone for something else.The short answer is “no.” Aside from an iPhone, the only other smartphone alternatives all run Android, which is even more closely tied to Google, Gemini, and their suite of data-gobbling apps. What you can do, though, is opt out of Apple Intelligence entirely.To disable Apple Intelligence:Open up the Settings app on your iPhone.Tap on “Apple Intelligence & Siri.”Uncheck the “Apple Intelligence” toggle at the top of the page, and you’re done. Screenshots by Zach LaidlawNote that this will leave you with a dumber version of Siri, but at least you can be certain that none of your data is shipped off to a Google server somewhere for reasons unknown.While Siri is said to be getting its first refresh this March or April with Apple Private Cloud Compute in tow, the even more advanced version that runs directly on Google’s servers is coming later this fall. Blaze Media will likely have more coverage on the rollout when iOS 27 launches in September or October. Until then, your Siri queries are safe from Google’s prying eyes, at least for a little while longer.

A Hollywood star's job is never easy. And it's especially hard in today's political climate, when "gestapo"-like law enforcement arrests people whose only crime is being in our country illegally. Such is the grim report from this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.'An illegal army is being mounted against US citizens.''What are we gonna do?'Take actor Ed Norton. What was supposed to be a lighthearted chat about his new polyamory sex comedy, "The Invite," with co-stars Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde soon turned decidedly dark as the specter of Trump's immigration policy loomed."These days it's, like, 'What are we gonna do about masked gestapo shooting American citizens?'" Norton said."Have you found an answer?" actor Seth Rogen laughed."We are sitting here talking about movies while an illegal army is being mounted against U.S. citizens," Norton responded."Yep," Wilde agreed.RELATED: 'The American Revolution' keeps founders at arm's length ICE to meet youThe harrowing discussion petered out after about 30 seconds, with the celebrities gamely returning to the discussion of their craft. However, Wilde's "ICE OUT" lapel button, paired with a laid-back prep ensemble of striped button-down, gray sweatshirt and white barrel-cut jeans — and finished off with a baggy denim jacket in a playful nod to the "Canadian tuxedo" — remained a haunting reminder of what was at stake.The previous day, Wilde sported the same button on her very on-trend red-carpet ensemble of black "naked dress" — its sheer lace bodice featuring a sweetheart neckline, visible bra cups, and thin straps. The button was pinned high on the bodice, ensuring it remained visible above the neckline.RELATED: Actresses Olivia Munn and Olivia Wilde mock all-female trip to space: 'Is it historic that you guys are going on a ride?' Actress 'horrified'Wilde, whose floor-length dress flared slightly before giving way to a thigh-high slit trimmed in matching lace, elaborated on her message to the Associated Press."I'm horrified by this string of murders that we are somehow legitimizing and normalizing," Wilde said. "And I think Americans are all horrified. I think it's insane and hideous.""It's really difficult to be here and to be celebrating something so joyous and beautiful and positive when we know what's happening on the streets," she added."Americans are out on the streets marching and demanding justice, and we're there with them. And if we can do anything with our platforms, you know, we can speak out and demand that ICE get out," she said, echoing the two-word phrase emblazoned on her button.Boots on the groundElsewhere at the festival, Natalie Portman turned heads with her Luna black zip boots from Moon Boot ($250), the perfect complement to her cozy sweater-and-jeans look. But as with Wilde, all eyes were on her "ICE OUT" button.The "Star Wars" star minced no words when criticizing the Trump administration's policies, suggesting that it was the "worst" approach to the problem of illegal immigration, instead of the "best.""What they're doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity," she told Deadline. "And then we have the best of humanity for the way people are showing up for each other."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Kirk Bangstad, the Wisconsin owner of Minocqua Brewing Company and the treasurer of a federal super PAC of the same name, has made no secret of his hatred for President Donald Trump, conservatives, and virtually anyone who doesn't share his leftist worldview.For instance, Bangstad — who was ordered to pay a six-figure sum for defamation in 2023 and was charged with harassment last year — stated, "F**k Charlie Kirk," in a diatribe the day after the Turning Point USA founder's assassination and wrote weeks later, "May his soul never find peace."'Free beer, all day long, the day he dies. Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise.'Although the leftist brewer has long engaged in this variety of incendiary commentary, which dovetails with his Ben & Jerry-styled progressive marketing, Bangstad recently raised eyebrows and a potential red flag with a post insinuating the president's death was forthcoming.Days after circulating a wanted poster for a federal agent, calling for a "regime change" in the U.S., and stating that "it's just a matter of time" before "every ICE agent will face justice," Bangstad said in a Jan. 22 post on the brewery's Facebook page, "Free beer, all day long, the day he dies. Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we’ll make good on that promise."When asked by Fox News for comment, Bangstad appeared to confirm that he was referring to Trump and indicated the brewery would be throwing a "party celebrating the impending death of a twice-impeached convicted felon."Bangstad, who unsuccessfully attempted to block President Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot in Wisconsin, did not respond directly to Blaze News' questions. Instead he accused Blaze News of engaging in "'gotcha' state-sponsored propaganda" and shared the contact information of a Blaze News reporter, inviting his followers to email the reporter with their own comments.RELATED: Anti-ICE lunacy hits new low: Activist allegedly air-horns cops investigating school threat that had nothing to do with ICE Photo by Win McNamee/Getty ImagesThe U.S. Secret Service told Blaze News, "The U.S. Secret Service is aware of the social media post by the Minocqua Brewing Company. Out of concern for operational security, we do not discuss matters of protective intelligence."Bangstad's post also caught the attention of various critics, including Libs of TikTok, who noted, "How are we supposed to share a country with these people? Democrats want us dead."The American left appears to have a strong appetite for political violence.'That's kind of shady.'A survey conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University's Social Perception Lab revealed in April 2025 that 55% of respondents who identified as left of center said that assassinating Trump would be at least somewhat justified.When asked by pollsters about the September 2024 attempt on the president's life at his golf course in Florida, 28% of Democrats told RMG Research it would have been better if Trump had been gunned down.While the brewer's apparent eagerness to see the president die has attracted attention, his super PAC's expenditures have also prompted scrutiny in recent months.Some of Bangstad's former employees alleged to WISC-TV that some of the over $2 million raised by the brewer's super PAC has gone toward paying regular brewery staff rather than political activities."At first, I was paid by a regular direct deposit, and then he said he's going to pay me from the Super PAC and from the business. And I started to do some research," said one former employee who spoke to WISC on the condition of anonymity. "I spoke with a couple attorneys and an accountant, and they said, that's kind of shady, not a good idea."The former employee showed the outlet documentation apparently indicating that he received checks from the Minocqua Brewing Super PAC with "organizing" written in the memo line — something he had reportedly not done for the PAC.Bangstad admitted that some employees receive PAC funds and suggested to WISC that the payments were aboveboard. A civil lawsuit filed in early 2025 suggested otherwise, accusing the leftist of fraud and misuse of donated funds, reported Wisconsin Public Radio.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The man who was shot and killed during a scuffle with federal agents last weekend had suffered a broken rib in a previous altercation with federal agents, sources claim.Alex Pretti tried to intervene in another federal immigration operation and got tackled by federal agents about a week before his death, according to the CNN report.'That day, he thought he was going to die.'The report was based on a person who spoke to Pretti about the previous incident but asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution.That source said the incident began when Pretti saw federal agents chasing a family, and he reacted by blowing his whistle and shouting at them. The agents tackled Pretti, and one leaned on his back, which led to a rib being broken, according to Pretti's alleged comments to the source.Pretti was released at the scene."That day, he thought he was going to die," the source said to CNN.Records reviewed by CNN showed that Pretti was given medication consistent with treatment for a broken rib.It was unclear whether federal agents recognized Pretti in the second and lethal encounter, CNN reported.RELATED: Ilhan Omar accuses Trump of ulterior motive for ICE raids — and JD Vance shuts her down The CNN report suggested that Pretti could have been known to federal agents because of efforts to collect information about protesters. "One thing I'm pushing for right now … we're going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding, and assault — we're going to make them famous," said Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, earlier in the month. "We're going to put their face on TV. We're going to let their employers, in their neighborhoods, in their schools, know who these people are." President Donald Trump sent Homan to oversee the operation in Minneapolis, and Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino is reportedly set to leave the city. Homan will report directly to Trump and is meeting with Tim Walz, the state's governor, and Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis mayor, to negotiate their cooperation with the federal government. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The iconic voice of Foreigner will also be touring to support the LP. The post Lou Gramm Sets New Studio Album, ‘Released’ appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

A new book by author Julian Sancton explores the lengthy quest to find the Spanish galleon—and the political firestorm that has engulfed the wreck ever since

It’s unclear if Adam Rainer, whose height was less than five feet when he was 21, ever wished that he’d grow taller. But if he did, his story would epitomize the expression “be careful what you wish for.” Public DomainA man believed to be Adam Rainer next to someone of average height. Not much is known about the personal details of the life Adam Rainer led, as it was his curious and unprecedented medical condition that dominated what’s known about it. What is known has often become the stuff of legend, inadvertently exaggerated over the years. But Adam Rainer’s story needs no embellishment. Adam Rainer was the only known person in history to have been recorded as both a dwarf and a giant, a medical marvel brought about by a combination of dwarfism and a tumor inside his pituitary gland that left doctors in shocked amazement. Unfortunately, this was also accompanied by several other serious health issues. Adam Rainer’s Early Life Adam Rainer was born in Graz, Austria, in 1899 to parents who were both of average height. However, it became clear early on that their son’s growth was drastically stunted. Even into adulthood, Adam Rainer still stood at roughly the size of a child. When World War I broke out, he enlisted in the army, but his “conspicuously small” stature led doctors to conduct a series of tests to determine his eligibility. Standing at just 4 feet, 6 inches tall, doctors ultimately classified Rainer as a dwarf and deemed him unfit to be an effective soldier. The cutoff, according to IFL Science, was four-foot-ten. The most striking and particularly unusual thing about Rainer’s dwarfism, compared to others, was the size of his hands and feet — they were far too large for his overall size. Despite his short height, he wore a size 10 shoe (or a 43, in European sizes). Public DomainA photo of a young Adam Rainer in Austria. Just one year later, Adam Rainer had grown another two inches and tried once again to enlist with the army, but he was, once again, denied. Despite the growth spurt, he was still two inches too short. As fate would have it, however, this would soon change. Even in 1920, Rainer was still well below average height. Health records show that he was also relatively thin and underweight. At 21 years old, when a person typically stops growing, most doctors and people in his life assumed that Rainer was also done growing and would remain a dwarf. But then something happened. Rainer didn’t just grow another two inches — he started to grow at an alarmingly accelerated rate without any sign of slowing down. Within a decade, as Rainer entered his early 30s, he was well above that four-foot-ten cutoff; he now towered over those around him at more than seven feet tall. And he became one of the tallest people ever. Adam Rainer’s Sudden Growth Doctors were baffled. Two men, Dr. A. Mandl and Dr. F. Windholz, started examining Rainer in 1930. They began to suspect that Rainer may have developed a specific kind of tumor that caused an extreme case of acromegaly: a condition, in this case, caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, that causes abnormal growth of the face, hands, and feet due to an overproduction of growth hormones. The condition may be known to most through individuals like iconic wrestler Andre the Giant or “The Munsters” star Fred Gwynne. Symptoms of acromegaly include enlarged hands and feet, which doctors noticed in Rainer. Additionally, over time, Rainer’s face became more square in shape, as his jaw and eyebrows protruded more and more due to the condition. Rainer was also exceedingly tired a significant portion of the time, another common symptom of acromegaly. In a 1961 report by Oscar Hirsch, another doctor who studied Rainer, it was remarked that the man was unable to perform a “normal” bite due to the immense size of his tongue. The now-giant Rainer had also begun to lose his hearing at around 26 years old. As a result of his rapid growth, Adam Rainer also experienced issues with his spine, which had begun to curve sideways as each massive growth spurt made him taller and taller. Soon, the doctors discovered that their hypothesis was correct. A Bold Operation On The Tumor Oscar HirschAdam Rainer photographed for a study about his unexpected growth. The tumor in Rainer’s pituitary gland had been growing for more than a decade, but Mandl and Windholz opted to remove it via surgery anyway. At the time, such a surgery was incredibly risky, as it would necessitate working closely with vital areas of the brain. On Dec. 2, 1930, Rainer underwent the dangerous operation. Thankfully, the surgery, performed by Oscar Hirsch, was a success. Several months passed, and Rainer returned to visit Mandl and Windholz once more for a checkup. They were glad to see that his height had remained the same — no more sudden growth spurts. However, his spinal curvature was even worse, which indicated that although it was occurring at a much slower rate, he was in fact still growing. And it showed no signs of stopping. Unfortunately, Adam Rainer’s health problems only got worse. He started to lose vision in his right eye. As he approached middle age, Rainer’s spine curvature grew worse, and his vision continued to deteriorate. Some accounts would later claim that he was often confined to bed and incapable of taking care of himself because of the pain, as he spent the last years of his life in a “home of the aged” in Austria. He did live in such a home, but according to Hirsch’s report, Rainer was able to take care of himself and was never confined to bed. “He was clumsy, but kind to his roommates,” Hirsch wrote of what he was relayed to him by Adam Rainer’s doctor at the home. Adam Rainer eventually died at the age of 51 years old after undergoing surgery for “perforation of the large intestine and peritonitis.” No autopsy was performed. At the time of his death, Adam Rainer stood, by most estimates, at a massive 7 feet, 8 inches tall (though some estimates put him at seven-foot-ten). He is still the only man in history classified as both a dwarf and a giant in the same lifetime. If you found this story about Adam Rainer interesting, you may also want to check out 21 pictures of Andre the Giant that it’s hard to believe aren’t photoshopped. Then read the tale of the Eddie Gaedel, the smallest player in Major League baseball history. The post The Tragic Story Of Adam Rainer, The Man Who Went From Dwarf To Giant appeared first on All That's Interesting.