In the past year‚ I’ve traveled to our nation’s capital at least four times. I stay at the same hotel‚ go to the same Whole Foods‚ and traverse mostly the same routes. After talking to the people who make the city work — and I don’t mean the ones in the fancy buildings with important names on them; I’m talking about the bartenders‚ the Uber drivers‚ the front desk staff‚ the baristas who take my obnoxious order at Starbucks — I am convinced the people who have offices inside those buildings with important names are delusional. If they took some time to listen to the people they supposedly serve‚ they might understand why a good portion of the country hates them. If there’s one thing we agree on‚ it’s how idiotic our culture and its “gatekeepers” have become. We are the majority. During a trip this past December‚ I wore my “Make Women Female Again” cap as I was checking out of my hotel. It’s always a gamble when I wear that cap. I either get very dirty looks or a knowing grin and a nod. Some brave souls muster enough courage to approach me and whisper‚ “I love your hat.” I try to read the room‚ so to speak‚ before wearing it in places I frequent. I certainly don’t want the barista spitting in my latte (especially after I paid $7.50 for it!) or housekeeping to drop bedbugs into my bed. But as the insanity increases‚ so does my audacity. I almost can’t resist the urge to wear my cap in the most (il)liberal cities in the country‚ like Los Angeles‚ New York City‚ and Washington‚ D.C. It is the contrarian in me. Much to my surprise‚ the front desk staff at the hotel where I stay near the Capitol Building — all of whom are black — love my cap. Much more so than my fellow customers in Whole Foods. The cap has proven to be an icebreaker‚ a conversation starter‚ and a wonderful way to get to know people who treat me graciously every time I come to town. The color of our skin may be different‚ and we might have grown up in different neighborhoods‚ but if there’s one thing we agree on‚ it’s how idiotic our culture and its “gatekeepers” have become. We are the majority. Sometimes‚ I cross the river into Old Town Alexandria to stay with a friend. Needless to say‚ my cap does not get such a warm reception in those parts of town. On my most recent trip‚ I chatted with my bartender at a swanky establishment hotel in the Northwest area of the city‚ also a black man. He told me he spent the day trying to get his kid into a Christian school. He didn’t want his son learning what public schools in D.C. are teaching. I said God will make a path for him. I am praying for him and his boy. My Uber driver – another young black man – was from Baltimore. We tried to figure out the significance of Washington being a “district” and the push for statehood. I told him that‚ truly‚ I am the last person he should be asking about these kinds of technicalities and that he really should “Google that stuff” before he shares any of my insights with his friends. That made him laugh. He also said it’s crazy how Trump is “cruising through” and how‚ despite his monumental support from a good majority of the country‚ the government keeps “going after him.” “They’ll never let him win‚” he said. His brother works for JetBlue as a luggage handler and he was driving until he had to pick him up at the airport. He used to work at a beverage distribution company that forced him to get vaccinated against his better judgment. As we passed the Smithsonian‚ he remarked that he should bring his little girl to the museums. She would love it‚ he said. As I got out of the car‚ he said to me‚ “You have a great personality!” I think it was a compliment? Either way‚ he made my night. These are just a few of the conversations I’ve had over the past year with the hardworking people in Washington‚ D.C. They make my visits to the swamp not only tolerable but fun and memorable. These folks hustle to make a living. Many of them are faithful‚ God-loving people. And they are being ignored‚ even insulted by the policies the woke establishment pushes. The current administration is losing sight of the fact that‚ just like white liberal women in the suburbs‚ these people vote. I wouldn’t count on the votes of one of the Democrats’ most important constituencies going their way this year.

Since Super Bowl LVIII last Sunday‚ many on social media and elsewhere have focused on the "He Gets Us" commercial‚ which seemed to put social justice symbolism on full display. However‚ the other Jesus-related Super Bowl commercial‚ the one promoting the Hallow prayer app‚ appears to have had some key Catholic symbols scrubbed from it‚ leading at least one Catholic media outlet to cry foul.According to its website‚ Hallow claims to be the "#1 App for Christian &; Catholic" prayer‚ meditation‚ and the Bible. Since its founding in 2018‚ Hallow has exploded in popularity‚ becoming the first faith-based app to break into the App Store's Top 10. Several high-profile Catholic clerics like Fr. Mike Schmitz and Bishop Robert Barron have contributed to it‚ as have some Catholic celebrities like actors Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie‚ who portrays Jesus on the hit series "The Chosen."Wahlberg and Roumie teamed up to appear in Hallow's Super Bowl ad‚ and Hallow has shared its version of the commercial on several social media platforms. But that version differs from the ad that aired during the big game‚ and as the Catholic World Report noted‚ all of the major differences between the two versions relate to religious imagery.In the opening scene of the commercial‚ Wahlberg dips his finger in holy water and walks into a Catholic church rich with stained-glass windows and familiar Christian icons. Behind the altar is a large image of Christ with the message "I AM WHO AM‚" a reference to the name of God given to Moses in the book of Exodus. However‚ the commercial that aired on TV narrowed the scope of the camera to such an extent that the Christ image is almost entirely cut out‚ leaving viewers in the dark about the full beauty of the church and the reason it was built in the first place. Left: Original version | Right: Aired versionComposite screenshot of @amplifyunheard X video and Hallow: Prayer and Meditation YouTube videoIn the next scene‚ a family is gathered around a table‚ saying grace before dinner. In the original version‚ each family member makes the sign of the Cross‚ a fixture of Catholic prayer. Though the aired version zeroes in on a young boy as he does his best to make the sign of the Cross‚ the unified family gesture is absent. Instead‚ the family is shown simply bowing their heads. Main: Original version | Inset: Aired versionComposite screenshot of @amplifyunheard X video and Hallow: Prayer and Meditation YouTube videoOne other notable difference between the ads relates to a cross of ashes that a priest marks on Roumie's forehead in anticipation of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent‚ which kicked off just a few days after the Super Bowl. In the original version‚ the cross is pronounced and easily visible‚ while in the aired version‚ it is only faintly detectable. Left: Original version | Right: Aired versionComposite screenshot of @amplifyunheard X video and Hallow: Prayer and Meditation YouTube videoThe Catholic World Report blames Paramount and CBS for the changes‚ though when the changes were made and by whom are currently unclear. Neither CBS nor Hallow responded to Blaze News' request for comment.The two different versions can be seen below: Super Bowl commercial for the Hallow app‚ actor Mark Wahlberg promotes prayer as a beneficial practice.\n\n"For the first time ever‚ join over 100 million people in prayer during Super Bowl LVIII‚" a message said on the screen during the commercial. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A physical altercation between a student and teacher at a Tennessee elementary school left one man with symptoms of a concussion and a principal in handcuffs.On February 2‚ a fourth-grade girl attending Southwest Elementary School in Williston‚ Tennessee — about 45 miles east of Memphis — was sent to the classroom of fifth-grade social studies teacher Demetrious Bradley because she was "acting out‚" according to reports. While in his classroom‚ Bradley approached the girl‚ but she responded in violence‚ allegedly slapping Bradley's hands several times. She then reportedly grabbed a metal Stanley cup and struck Bradley several times in his face‚ striking his jaw and temple.Bradley later reported "seeing stars" and was sent home in accordance with concussion protocols. School Resource Officer Randy Collins noticed Bradley's absence and later asked him what happened. Bradley gave Collins his version of events and claimed he was feeling better‚ but didn't want to discuss the matter further.Bradley's comments shocked Collins‚ who had heard nothing about the incident even though Tennessee law requires officials to report all assaults resulting in injury or a threat to safety on school grounds. Collins then confronted Principal Fabre Ford‚ demanding to know why she had kept him in the dark. Ford allegedly replied that she had already "handled" the situation by reporting it to her supervisor and speaking to the child's parents. When Collins asked why she had not brought it to his attention‚ she claimed he was not at school at the time‚ a claim which Collins disputed.Still frustrated‚ Collins began to investigate the matter further. However‚ he said his investigation was stonewalled because Ford instructed potential witnesses not to cooperate.Collins then approached the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office about the incident. When Ford was brought in for questioning‚ she reportedly refused to talk or to hand over witness statements. She was subsequently arrested and charged with tampering with or fabricating evidence in the investigation of an aggravated assault in a school.She noticeably wept as officers snapped her booking photo. Whether she had ever been arrested before is unclear. Ford was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. She returned to work within days of her arrest.In a statement‚ Fayette County Public Schools called Ford a "valued employee" who is "extremely passionate about her staff and students." "We are disheartened by these allegations relating to an incident at Southwest Elementary School‚" the statement continued. "As a district‚ we will be transparent and cooperate fully with law enforcement. We ask for patience and respect as the investigation regarding the incident is conducted. We are fully committed to working with law enforcement to resolve this matter quickly."The sheriff's office also began looking into the fight between Bradley and the student and learned details which indicate Bradley may actually have instigated it. The nature of those details has not been disclosed.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Illegal immigrants are flooding across the Southern border‚ but they can’t do it without some help — and it’s not just from the cartels. Non-governmental organizations like OIM‚ Red Cross‚ UNICEF‚ HIAS‚ the European Union‚ Doctors Without Borders‚ UNHCR‚ and the Norwegian Refugee Council are offering migrants aid and instructions on how to get into the United States. The migrants have been receiving maps with specific routes that detail how to make it safely to the U.S.-Mexico border. “Why is Norway showing people how to sneak into the U.S. illegally?” Pat Gray asks‚ shocked. “They’re all working against us‚ that’s great.” While the Biden administration is doing close to nothing to secure the border and stop NGO’s from encouraging illegals to cross it‚ Texas Rep. Chip Roy is trying to cut off all federal funding to these NGOs. HR 2 is the bill that would accomplish this and is aptly titled the Secure the Border Act. The bill would also eliminate the controversial “catch and release” practice that releases undocumented immigrants in the U.S. while they await a hearing. Keith Malinak can’t believe it’s gotten to this point. “This is what is so pathetic about our country‚” he says. “The borders weren’t on lockdown before sunset on 9/11‚ 2001‚” he continues‚ “And so when you get attacked like we were‚ and you don’t take measures‚ it continues to be exploited to more and more organized degrees‚ and here we are.” 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.

A major device in storytelling is the use of “reveals.” They are key moments when previously hidden information is brought to light‚ either to the characters or to the audience. A good writer will scatter clues throughout a story that keep readers in suspense and the narrative moving until the time comes for the “ultimate reveal.” J.K. Rowling is a master of the ultimate reveal‚ as she proved over and over in her “Harry Potter” series. Lately‚ Americans have been the audience for a great number of reveals from the Democratic Party‚ which are telling quite a story — and foretell something bigger they are keeping concealed ahead of the ultimate reveal. It’s evident that the Democratic Party does not want any significant challenger to Joe Biden. Harry Potter fans will recall how the books’ lead hero navigated the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets and the myriad reveals and clues: warnings written in blood on Hogwarts’ walls‚ frozen cats and students‚ and the exodus of spiders. All of it led to the great epiphany of a hidden genius who was dancing in the dark of subterranean depths‚ shrouded in layers of secrets. But until the ultimate reveal‚ the audience was misled by ambivalent scenes composed of dreams‚ which seemed to point to another character’s guilt. We are the audience today‚ and our country is the stage. We are witnessing a political drama full of reveals‚ if we could just see them for what they are and what they tell us about the mystery in which we’re immersed. To understand where we’re headed‚ we must set out to rediscover some of the past. It is a little-known fact to those outside Illinois that when community activist turned state senator Barack Obama was running for the U.S. Senate in the summer of 2004‚ he was trailing his opponent‚ Jack Ryan‚ who held a double-digit lead. Suddenly‚ an incredible‚ unprecedented thing happened. A compliant‚ dedicated left-wing judge ordered Ryan’s divorce records to be unsealed‚ revealing sordid details of adultery and promiscuity that included trips to sex clubs. Ryan dropped out of the race‚ leaving no time for any opponent to run a real campaign against the genie who opened the seal — Obama. We might consider another sordid election campaign scandal‚ the emergence after the 2016 election of the “Steele dossier” that purported to show Donald Trump’s illicit ties to the Russians. All of the clues and “revelations” in the dossier claiming Trump colluded with the Kremlin to sway the election turned out to be a web of thinly sourced claims or outright fabrications that misled millions of Americans. Not unlike how Rowling misled her readers by producing a trail of clues pointing to Hagrid being guilty of opening the Chamber of Secrets. Who really chose Robert Mueller‚ with that face of a champion of justice‚ to lead the special counsel investigation into the Russian collusion hoax? Who staffed the investigation with vicious leftist careerists in hopes of unseating a president? It is a clue that when Mueller was finally brought to testify to his findings‚ he appeared to be a stumbling old dotard‚ with hardly the capacity to be questioned. But because Mueller did not clearly exonerate Donald Trump‚ he appeared as guilty as Hagrid did. Many voters who fell for the web of lies simply voted against Trump in 2020. Which brings us to the current election and several telling clues that point to a troubling future. Why exactly was a scion of one of the most prominent political families in the country‚ Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‚ prohibited by the Democratic Party from even debating Joe Biden? His uncle Ted Kennedy was allowed to challenge Jimmy Carter in 1980. Why was RFK Jr. forced to leave the Democratic primary or be further humiliated with exile within his party? It’s evident that the Democratic Party does not want to debate its policy failures over the past four years. It is equally evident that the party does not want any significant challenger to Joe Biden disrupting the nomination process and upending the Democratic National Convention this summer. If Biden‚ another stumbling old dotard‚ should be forced to drop out due to health reasons‚ who would succeed him? Ordinarily‚ it would be the second-place candidate in the primaries. What does that mean this year? It means that the candidate the Democrats will nominate by acclamation rather than by a vote of the people will be Michelle Obama‚ the wife of He Who Must Not Be Named‚ the dancer in the dark‚ the Tom Riddle of our national story. If any other person were nominated‚ such as RFK Jr.‚ his people would be in power‚ and our Tom Riddle would be out of power with the administrative state for the first time since 2008. Let’s imagine the production design at the Democratic convention‚ where a glittering Michelle Obama will proclaim she will save America’s democracy from the evil Donald Trump‚ about whom it’s been proven‚ like Hagrid‚ that he’s guilty of no crime except alarming the ruling class. Trump would henceforth be He Who Must Not Be Debated. So what‚ then‚ is the serpent hiding in the darkness‚ set to take our liberties and our lives? Socialism.

New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday that his administration filed a lawsuit against several social media giants‚ claiming the platforms are "fueling the nationwide youth mental health crisis‚" according to a press release from the mayor's office."Even as we have created jobs‚ opportunity‚ and prosperity with new technology‚ there have been unforeseen consequences and new dangers‚" Adams said during a Wednesday news conference. "Especially when it comes to social media's effect on the mental health of our young people.""Our most recent data found that young people in New York City are experiencing anxiety‚ hopelessness‚ and even attempting suicide at rates we have never seen before‚" the mayor continued. "And there is growing evidence the power of social media is a major cause."The city has reportedly spent more than $100 million yearly to provide mental health programs for youth.Adams' administration filed the lawsuit against the major social media companies Facebook‚ Instagram‚ TikTok‚ and YouTube‚ as well as their parent companies‚ Meta‚ ByteDance‚ and Google.The mayor claimed that the social media platforms are "designed with addictive and dangerous features" that manipulate and take advantage of children."The likes‚ the trophies‚ the streaks are designed to manipulate a dopamine release in the brain and children lack the maturity and impulse control to continually regulate their use‚" Adams stated. The complaint compared some of these features to gambling.The lawsuit also accused the platforms of using algorithms that intentionally generate feeds that keep children using the applications longer‚ encouraging "compulsive use."Adams also accused social media of contributing to an uptick in dangerous behavior‚ including subway surfing and car thefts.A Meta spokesperson told Reuters the company wants youth to have "safe‚ age-appropriate experiences online." TikTok affirmed its commitment to ensuring users are safe.A Google spokesperson‚ Jose Castaneda‚ told Reuters‚ "We've built services and policies to give young people age-appropriate experiences and parents robust controls. The allegations in this complaint are simply not true."Adams' lawsuit is the latest in a slew of complaints lodged against the social media companies.Late last month‚ Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) sued TikTok‚ Snapchat‚ Instagram‚ Facebook‚ and Messenger‚ claiming the platforms use "deliberately" addictive algorithms‚ Blaze News previously reported. The AG's complaint compared social media sites' "infinite" scrolling features to becoming trapped in "a bottomless pit."At the time‚ a Snap spokesperson told Fox Business‚ "Snapchat opens directly to a camera – rather than a feed of content that encourages passive scrolling – and has no traditional public likes or comments. While we will always have more work to do‚ we feel good about the role Snapchat plays in helping close friends feel connected‚ happy and prepared as they face the many challenges of adolescence."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The S.S. Arlington sank into Lake Superior on May 1‚ 1940‚ along with its captain — but it's unclear why the captain went down with his ship. The post An 80-Year-Old Shipwreck Was Just Discovered At The Bottom Of Lake Superior appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Hur‚ who released a more than 300-page report on his investigation last week‚ will testify before the committee on March 12.

Comer is seeking financial records for Hunter Biden‚ James Biden‚ Sara Biden‚ and their ex-business associates Eric Schwerin‚ Gongwen Dong‚ and Mervyn Yan.

What Constitution? See What National Security Advisor Sullivan Says About Warrants for FISA Searches