Florida congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted for stealing millions from FEMA. She used some of it for her campaign for Congress in 2021. A federal grand jury in Miami found Cherfilus-McCormick and several co-defendants with stealing federal disaster funds, laundering the proceeds, and using the money to support her 2021 congressional campaign. Her tax preparer […] The post Democrat Congresswoman Indicted for Stealing $5M from FEMA appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Before Camelot, before the crown, one man’s conversion ignites a civilization’s rebirth. Tonight, the world gets its first full look.  The Daily Wire just dropped the official trailer for “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” the highly anticipated seven-part cinematic retelling of Stephen R. Lawhead’s epic that reimagines the dawn of Arthurian legend.  Like all great trailers, this one gives eager fans a glimpse into the world of Pendragon, a visual masterpiece about the birth of Britain itself.  As pagan gods fall silent and empires collapse, Merlin becomes the bridge between myth and history, the prophet who shapes the destiny of kings and the legend that will outlive them all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmT-kZIHNU This is not a fairy tale in the traditional sense, but is rather an origin story for a man who set in motion the rise of a civilization.  “What is it to be a man? To have a mission? To believe in God and in Christ in a world not receptive to that?” asked series creator and director Jeremy Boreing. “If God is real, He must be God of now and of then.” Boreing said this project has been a lifelong dream come true.  “The Pendragon Cycle is among the largest, most ambitious independent series ever produced,” Boreing said. “It represents the culmination of a ten-year vision to create culture, not just to criticize it. Lawhead’s novels present a visceral, masculine Christianity in a world of conflict and mystery. It isn’t saccharine or clean. In short, it is very much like our world. I’m so happy to share our adaptation, and the work of our remarkable cast and crew, with the Daily Wire audience.” Mark your calendars: the series premieres exclusively on DailyWire+ January 22, 2026, with new episodes arriving weekly. And best of all,  All Access members get an early gift: Episodes 1 & 2 drop December 25, 2025. That means DailyWire+ subscribers will be front-row for the first chapter of the legend this Christmas.  Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at dailywire.com/blackfriday. Every small detail of The Daily Wire’s first long-form, cinematic live-action series was planned to immerse viewers into the story, from the props to the sets to the music. Tonight, the first track from “The Pendragon Cycle” soundtrack is also available on YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and anywhere else you get your music. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgfo1MIaL54   Behind-the-scenes footage highlights the production quality that rivals the biggest fantasy shows put out by major networks. Multiple production diaries provided fans a glimpse of the endless challenges and the grand scope of the production, including the costumes, the stunning locations, and the epic battle scenes that take place during the series. Watch the trailer now and prepare for a journey like never before, then become a member to get early access by visiting: https://get.dailywire.com/pendragon-cycle/. The Pendragon Cycle arrives January 22, 2026. Be there when the legend begins.

'to be stabbed'

'No one is above the law'

No word in military lexicon evokes fear and dread like mutiny. Most often defined as the illegal transfer of a ship’s command from its lawful captain or master, mutiny can lead to the same punishment today as it did centuries ago when Fletcher Christian wrested command of HMAV Bounty from Capt. William Bligh: death.  This penalty is detailed in Article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the document that governs how military personnel are required to behave. It reads, in part, that anyone disobeying lawful orders shall be punished as follows: “If the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.” Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice further reminds service members they may face court martial for failure to obey lawful orders, calling such disobedience a dereliction of duty.   These severe penalties are what make the video by a half-dozen congressional Democrats suggesting service members disobey so stunning. Contrary to some media reports, they did not expressly call for mutiny among those in uniform, but they came about as close to it as the law allows.   “You must refuse illegal orders,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., in the 90-second video inciting servicemen and women to disobey. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Deluzio joined fellow former naval officer Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and former CIA analyst Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., in invoking illegal orders, though the elected officials merely said that “you can refuse illegal orders,” rather than requiring disobedience. This may be technically correct, but it’s abjectly corrupt.   We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.Don’t give up the ship. pic.twitter.com/N8lW0EpQ7r— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) November 18, 2025 The severity of punishment for disobeying orders might explain why nobody refused Barack Obama’s order to kill Anwar al-Awlaki. America was at war when Obama ordered the 2011 death of al-Awlaki, who was born in New Mexico, so anyone in the chain of command refusing to carry out the drone strike that killed him could be subject to the death penalty. Al-Awlaki was thought to be aligned with al-Qaeda, but there was no trial for this U.S. citizen, no judge, no jury, no verdict, just a Hellfire missile strike in the desert of Yemen.    Such vagaries make this ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ video very dangerous, not only for the nation but for ordinary military personnel. It repeatedly suggests that people in uniform, who are trained in everything from small boat handling and computer repair, to engineering and command, interpret law. Whether it’s the captain of an aircraft carrier or the teenage bosun’s mate, none of them are steeped in interpreting the law. That’s what judges are for.   Deluzio, Slotkin, Kelly and the other Democrats featured in the video won’t spark a military uprising against the government like the world saw in Russia’s 1917 February Revolution. But the infusion of woke ideology into the military in recent years means there are some people in the chain of command who may take this video to heart and just start saying ”no” when given an order. That includes admirals and generals possibly acting in defiance of the commander in chief.   Most military officers have at least a cursory understanding of law and its relationship with military action; that’s part of the command structure. The video isn’t telling them anything they don’t already know, but it is replete with finely-crafted misinterpretations of the truth. Among other things, it claims, “This administration is pitting our uniformed military, and intelligence community professionals, against American citizens.” It’s an incendiary statement but means nothing more than some liberals disagree with what those in uniform have been ordered to do, like the war in Vietnam; some people are ideologically pitted against others.   The video’s six Democrats don’t specify any particular military action or orders that demand disobedience, but it’s a good bet they’re referring to the National Guard deployments to crime-ridden cities and the escalating American attacks on suspected drug boats in international waters. They may also be trying to lay a groundwork for derailing any military intervention in Venezuela. We don’t know because they won’t say, which is typical of leftist rhetoric.   The risks promoted by these politicians are staggering. Attorney David Sheldon, whose law firm specializes in military justice, advises service members, “All military orders are presumed lawful. The burden falls on the service member to establish that an order is manifestly unlawful.” This counsel is much wiser than what these lawmakers are advocating. They are engaged in the worst kind of manipulation, hoping for one man or woman to face court martial for dereliction of duty in pursuit of the Left’s newest cause celebre, and that person, depending on circumstances, faces a penalty up to and including death.   This attempt to foment mutiny among the ranks may not be illegal, but it is despicable.   We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post None Dare Call It Mutiny appeared first on The Daily Signal.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Daily Wire is releasing a new trailer for its forthcoming series, “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin,” which producer Dallas Sonnier celebrates as representing “the intersection of great art and Christian values.” The trailer highlights the character of Merlin (played by Tom Sharp), who in the telling of Stephen R. Lawhead is the son of the druid Taliesin and a princess of Atlantis, Charis. The television show follows Lawhead’s books in presenting Merlin as a Christian hero, bridging Britain’s druidic past with its budding Christian heritage. “Our Merlin in these books and in this series represents a man who is deeply dedicated to his faith, he cares more about his country and the future of mankind than he does for his own safety and security,” Sonnier told The Daily Signal in an interview Wednesday. “He’s willing to risk his entire life in order to make sure that God reigns sovereign over the land.” Sonnier celebrated Merlin’s rise as “a wonderfully powerful journey,” but noted that the main character is also “human and deeply flawed.” The series represents a blending of the artistic style of Medieval fantasy such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones” with a complex Christian message. “In my opinion, this is the first major series from a conservative media company that is competitive with anything that is coming out of mainstream Hollywood,” Sonnier said. “We certainly had a nice budget, but we did not have the budget of ‘Game of Thrones.'” He also emphasized that The Daily Wire produced the series independently from Hollywood, casting actors who had not previously been discovered. “To discover Tom Sharp off of a casting tape that was self-submitted without an agent, direct to us, and to find a future movie star out of nowhere is such a cool thing,” Sonnier recalled. The trailer shows Merlin (Sharp) as a mystical magician and warrior, slaying foes while helping to forge a united Britain. The seven-episode series premieres Jan. 22, with news episodes released Thursdays, exclusively on DailyWire+. The Daily Wire’s “All Access” members will be able to watch the first two episodes early—on Christmas Day. Lawhead’s “Pendragon Cycle” portrays Merlin as the son of the British bard Taliesin. Taliesin marries Charis, an exile princess from the lost kingdom of Atlantis. Lawhead’s version of Atlantis takes inspiration from the Minoan civilization on Crete, and The Daily Wire version has taken great pains to capture the strengths of the book series, especially filming arresting scenes of Charis dancing with bulls in Atlantis. Sonnier highlighted the “authenticity” of the show, including live filming with live bulls. “Several characters jump over live bulls—there is no CGI involved in the jumping of the bulls,” he noted. “Those are real humans jumping over real bulls.” The book series places the story of Merlin and King Arthur in the 500s and 600s A.D., with Christianity rising in pagan Britain. The show will lean in on the Christian elements of Arthurian myth, elements that Hollywood often overlooks or ignores. “This show is going to be very true to the books, very true to the message of the books,” Sonnier explained. “We do not undermine any of the Christian principles, this is a family-friendly show. I think the audience is really going to get a kick out of this.” “We had to make sure it was the best cinematography, the best writing, the best directing, the best acting—this is the beauty of the intersection of great art and Christian values,” he added. The post EXCLUSIVE: New Pendragon Cycle Trailer Pulls Back the Curtain on ‘Intersection of Great Art and Christian Values’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Irony: Free Speech Documentary Canceled Because It Doesn't Align With Theatre's 'Values'

The owner of a Latino-themed ice cream shop in Charlotte says his workers are too scared to drive to the shop over the threat of being picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Javier Morales is the co-owner of Legends Ice Cream & Snacks, but his is not the only business shuttering over the threat from ICE operations in North Carolina.'We have shut down. We are an ice cream shop that 80%-90% of our customers are Latino, because we sell Latino ice cream flavors. We have mangonadas, we have Mexican street corn.'"Right now, I cannot take the risk to bring my employees to be profiled because a lot of them speak Spanish. They look like me. I look like the profile that they're looking for. So it is a risk that I am not willing to take. My customers — the same thing," Morales said. The Trump administration ordered a surge in federal immigration sweeps in Charlotte named Operation Charlotte's Web. The operation has led to a large drop in school attendance, which many say proves the immense size of the illegal immigration crisis."So right now there's a lot of uncertainty — we have shut down," Morales continued. "We are an ice cream shop that 80%-90% of our customers are Latino, because we sell Latino ice cream flavors. We have mangonadas, we have Mexican street corn, we have our Legends products, which are our big sellers that are just full of Latino flavor, and it's what we try to do."He said that on Sunday, he only had one customer during a two-hour period."Even in their face, you could tell that they were scared," he added. "They came in, got their things, and left right out. The weather in Charlotte was beautiful this weekend, and as an ice cream shop, we should have been packed. We should have been busy, and now we're dealing with our shutdown."RELATED: VIDEO: Leotarded liberals protest ICE facility with '80s-themed aerobics class Morales suggested that ICE was profiling people based on their ethnicity."It's just really unfortunate that by the look of your skin, you're being profiled and you're being stopped — you're being questioned," he added.WJZY-TV reported that a U.S. citizen claimed to have been stopped by ICE twice within 10 minutes on South Boulevard, and he was dragged out of his vehicle after his car window was busted out.One report from the operation indicated that 1 out of every 6 residents in Charlotte are foreign-born."We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed," read a statement from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "There have been too many victims of criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won't."A closed sign on the business blamed "icy conditions" for the interruption in service.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A federal grand jury in Miami indicted four people, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, for allegedly stealing millions in federal emergency funds.Federal prosecutors said in a press release Wednesday that Cherfilus-McCormick used some of the stolen funds to support her 2021 campaign to win election.'No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.'The 46-year-old congresswoman was indicted, along with her 51-year-old brother Edwin Cherfilus, for the scheme that involved overpayment to her family health care company.She is also accused of participating in a straw donor scheme with the funds through the help of 46-year-old Nadege Leblanc, and filing a false federal tax return in 2021 with the aid of her 41-year old tax preparer, David K. Spencer.If found guilty, Cherfilus-McCormick faces 53 years in prison. Her brother faces up to 35 years, Leblanc faces up to 10 years, and Spencer faces up to 33 years."Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime," read a statement from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. "No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice."The congresswoman's allegedly shady campaign practices were first reported by Inside Elections in 2022. The report noted that she had squeaked out a win in the heavily contested election through the use of expensive ads.RELATED: Newsom's former chief of staff arrested on corruption charges — the governor blames Trump Cherfilus-McCormick was the subject of an ethics investigation by the House Ethics Committee in January 2024, and that probe was reauthorized in July.The congresswoman denied any wrongdoing at the time."The Committee on Ethics has not yet concluded its review of the allegations, and no decision has been made at this time. As outlined in the Committee's public statement, the referral for further review does not imply that any violation has occurred," Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement to Florida Politics. "I fully respect the process and remain committed to cooperating with the Committee as it works to bring this inquiry to a close."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Israel Antiquities AuthorityThis ancient vessel was found during preparations for road construction in northern Israel. A ram-shaped Canaanite teapot, a dollhouse-sized temple figurine, and one of the oldest-known winepresses ever found were recently uncovered by archaeologists near Tel Megiddo in northern Israel. The artifacts were unearthed during an excavation undertaken by the Israel Antiquities Authority ahead of a road construction project in the area. Dating back thousands of years, these astounding relics provide insight into the life of the ancient Canaanites, the polytheistic pagans who lived in the region during the Bronze Age and are mentioned extensively in the Bible. Both the ram-shaped teapot and the model temple are about 3,300 years old, while the winepress dates back nearly 5,000 years. Meanwhile, archaeologists also found the remains of residential buildings surrounding the winepress, indicating that it may have been an important facet of life in Tel Megiddo — known in Greek as Armageddon. Bronze Age Artifacts Shed Light On Ancient Canaanite Rituals Israel Antiquities AuthorityArchaeologists believe that the vessel was eventually buried in a sacrificial pit as part of a ritual offering to the gods. The teapot, which dates back to the Late Bronze Age, was uncovered alongside a few small bowls. Most notably, the teapot is shaped like a ram, with its spout molded in the shape of the animal’s head. When tilted, the liquid — whether milk, oil, or wine — would pour out of the ram’s mouth and into the smaller bowls, which would then be left as votive offerings. “A small bowl, which was attached to the ram’s body, was designed to function as a funnel; and a similar bowl – with a handle – was probably held to pour the liquid into the funnel during a ceremony,” researchers explained in a statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Eventually, Canaanites may have buried the teapot and bowls as ritual offerings, given that animals such as sheep, donkeys, and goats were held in high esteem. This theory was further supported by the discovery of other objects found buried in small pits during the excavation, including ceramic jars from Cyprus. Researchers believe the objects were buried by locals as offerings at a rock outcrop that served as an outdoor altar. Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe temple figurine found at Tel Megiddo is about the size of a dollhouse. Archaeologists also found a temple figurine buried at the site that was about the size of a dollhouse. It’s possible that this mini-temple may reveal what actual Canaanite temples looked like during the Late Bronze Age. What The Winepress Found In Tel Megiddo Tells Us About Canaanite Society Alongside the temple figurine and teapot, archaeologists also found a winepress that dates back 5,000 years. While winepresses are not uncommon in the region, very few have been found that are this old. Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe 5,000-year-old winepress unearthed in Tel Megiddo may be the oldest in the world. “Until now, indirect evidence indicated that wine could have been produced 5,000 years ago, but we did not have conclusive proof of this – a ‘smoking gun’ that would clearly show when this happened in our area,” explained excavation directors Amir Golani and Barak Tzin. “This winepress finally provides new and clear evidence that early wine production actually took place here.” Archaeologists were also able to uncover several residential buildings that surrounded the winepress, indicating it may have served an important role in the community on the outskirts of Tel Megiddo. Tel Megiddo itself has undergone many archaeological excavations over the past century. Inhabited as far back as 7000 B.C.E., Tel Megiddo served as a key religious, commercial, and political center throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages. Furthermore, it’s believed to have inspired the eponymous site in the Bible’s Book of Revelation where the apocalyptic war between God and his enemies took place during the end times. However, little has been uncovered about the Canaanites who lived just outside Tel Megiddo. Now, discoveries like the teapot, temple figurine, and winepress are beginning to shed light on Canaanite life in this storied spot. After reading about this newly-uncovered teapot and winepress, see the ancient spout shaped like a lion’s head that was found in Turkey. Then, learn about the 5,500-year-old Canaanite blade workshop found in southern Israel. The post 3,300-Year-Old Canaanite Teapot Shaped Like A Ram Unearthed Near The Ruins Of The Ancient City Of Armageddon appeared first on All That's Interesting.