She should stay in the Senate.

'Ready to commit'

In this episode of “The Tony Kinnett Cast,” Tony Kinnett speaks with Andres Martinez-Fernandez of The Heritage Foundation on what comes next for Venezuela after the greatest military strike in recent history. Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of a segment from today’s episode of “The Tony Kinnett Cast.” Subscribe to The Daily Signal’s YouTube page to watch past episodes. TONY KINNETT: Let’s get into some of what this actually means for the rest of the country here in the United States and abroad. So, you’re going to need someone a little bit more learned on this than I am. I know very, very hard to believe. So, we’re going to bring on the one and the only Andres Martinez-Fernandez. He’s the senior policy analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation. So, he reads this stuff all the time in English and in Spanish. Andres, busy weekend, huh? ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Definitely, quite an eventful start of the year. TONY KINNETT: So, let’s get right into it and not futz around anymore. There’s been the quibbling, the complaining from some isolated parts of the country that, “what does this have to do with America first?” Take it. ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Well, I think it has everything to do with America first. And that’s protecting the American people from live, active, and deadly threats in our own hemisphere. You know, people like to say that this is this is just like, you know, nation building in the Middle East and all the mistakes that we’ve made in the past with our foreign policy. TONY KINNETT: Right. Anyone I don’t like is a neo-con and other stories to tell yourself. ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Right, exactly, exactly. But you know what, the reality is that the Venezuelan narco-threats, and the narco-threats within our own hemisphere, which are by far the most dramatic and deadly for the American people. You know we’re talking about 100,000 overdose deaths a year from narcotics alone. TONY KINNETT: Right. ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: And that’s not even getting into the weaponization of migration and instability that the American people and American cities have lived with for years. All of this has really been ignored by the Washington establishment for decades. You’ve never really seen a serious attention, as far as the foreign policy priorities of the United States to these issues, until President Trump decided that he’s going to break with that. Really what’s a noxious practice of ignoring these core security threats to the United States. And again, this is what affects middle America far more than what happens in parts of the Middle East, in Europe. You know, this is our hemisphere. This is where we live. And ignoring that in a prioritization of issues that some of the establishment prefers to focus on has had deadly consequences for the American people. TONY KINNETT: And there’s definitely no denying that. I do want to ask, of course, we could talk about the ladies on “The View” and their opposition to this. Oh, it’s piracy. Oh, it’s kidnapping. But we are adults in the room. We’ll let the toddlers run off and yell at each other. So, in all seriousness, there was a lot of Russia outposting, a lot of Xi Jinping’s China outposting in Venezuela. This was a launching point for a lot of the precursor chemicals that we saw going sky high in a lot of those MQ-9 and naval strikes happening on those narco boats, something that I just can’t stop watching. It’s too enjoyable to watch narco and human traffickers going sky high! But with that particular foreign intervention in the region, China and Russia got out the sabers and they started shaking them. We’re talking shaking them like skeletons at a Spirit Halloween. So, what in the world does this actually mean for us? Are we actually going see any intervention at all or any diplomatic snub nosing that’s going to be worth anything? Or is the U.N. going to yell for 30 seconds and it’d be over? ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Yeah, I think there’s a lot of posturing that we’re seeing and going to continue to see from entities like the U.N. and certainly our adversaries. Russia and China, Iran, have used Venezuela as an outpost in our hemisphere to undermine our interests and undermine our security. So they’re very upset to lose that outpost, which which I think they’re very much on the way to doing. You know, Nicolas Maduro had opened up not only his oil industry and essentially handed that over to Havana, China, Russia, and Iran. But he’s also opened up Venezuela’s national territory, which again, the distance between Venezuela and the U.S. mainland is equivalent to the distance between New York and Texas. This is right in our neighborhood, and there’s nothing between us except for open waters. So that’s left us vulnerable. And it means we need to address that, when particularly when hostile foreign powers and like China and Russia are operating there. TONY KINNETT: One of the benefits about actually talking to someone who studies these things in detail, up close rather than just your broad 30,000-foot influence is you can tell me when someone says they’re manufacturing arm for foreign terrorist organizations or foreign powers have happened in Venezuela. What kind of things was Venezuela putting together? You know, not just, well, crude oil and jerry cans, because obviously they couldn’t refine it. What kind of weapons was Venezuela participating in manufacturing? ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Yeah. Well, there was a lot of weapons that were transferred, certainly to the narco-trafficking groups in our hemisphere. Venezuela and the Venezuelan regime made itself a proactive partner of these groups. And, as a result, saw a significant amount of Venezuelan military weaponry making its way into their hands. And they used that to ensure that they could produce and traffic drugs to the United States and elsewhere. So, that was, again, a key aspect of that relationship. And it’s not just the weapons. There was actually public resources, including institutions like the public oil utility, even state-owned aircraft, that were used in furtherance of narco-trafficking activity.So, it’s a been a broad cooperation that you saw there. TONY KINNETT: They did in manufacturing suicide drones and Hezbollah equipment, didn’t they? Or is that Columbia? ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Yeah, there was quite a bit of partnership, particularly with Iran, on the development of that capacity. Much of this was really looking at trying to pretend that Venezuela’s regime is still powerful enough to hold off the United States military, which it absolutely wasn’t, as we saw proven. TONY KINNETT: Oh, gotcha. ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: You know, this was this was a regime that was not even a paper tiger. It just folded immediately when faced with the strength of the U.S. military. And that’s, you know, that calls the bluff of what the Venezuelan regime has been doing for years, which is saying that they can thumb their nose and attack and undermine the United States and stability in our region. And we can’t do anything about it because they’re so powerful. That’s just not the case. TONY KINNETT: Sure. I mean, obviously, when you have you know the Cuba Praetorian Guard who’s walking you around and you have Chinese officials caught in the crossfire. I mean, it’s pathetic. I’ve seen subprime military contracting agencies on their last leg that were better suited than these goofballs. But that’s not a fair comparison. Maybe the French. I’ve seen better French troops than what’s been going on there. No, and in all seriousness, one of the core issues on a lot of Americans’ minds is how much this is going to cost the American over a period of time. Obviously, there are some who aren’t serious, who are suggesting this is going to cause a second migration wave to the United States, which I don’t necessarily see that. Maybe they’re seeing something that I’m not. But a lot of people also have the concern that we’re now going to be giving a bunch of aid to propping up a new regime in Venezuela. What does the future look like? As much as you can gaze into your crystal ball of studies here, what are we seeing in the next couple of months that we should be keeping an eye out for? ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ: Yeah, no, I definitely don’t think that that’s going to be the case as far as a massive bill to the American taxpayer for reconstructing Venezuela. First of all, you know, it’s important to note that right now we don’t have anything like an occupying force in Venezuela. What we have done is very specifically targeted the ringleader of a transnational narco-terrorist group, which was Nicolas Maduro, and taking him off the table. And now we can use the pressure tools that we have, including sanctions, including the threat of further action, and political pressure to make sure that the remnants of that regime don’t fall in back into that practice of undermining U.S. national security. And that instead they halt narco-trafficking, that they halt hosting the most dangerous adversaries of the United States with a base in our hemisphere. And that they go on a path to a transition, which is going to also restore stability and democracy in Venezuela. We can do those things through lower-cost tools than we saw in Iraq. And I think a lot of that is external pressure. But there’s also a lot of resources that can be brought to bear that don’t have to come directly from the American taxpayer. First of all, Venezuela is the country with the largest oil reserves in the world.Venezuela hasn’t been able to tap into that because this regime, socialist regime, is so incompetent and corrupt that they haven’t been able to even maintain an operating oil industry. “Cuba is Abou to COLLAPSE” – Andres Martinez-Fernandez on What’s Next After Trump’s Maduro Arrest – YouTube The post What’s Next After Trump’s Maduro Arrest appeared first on The Daily Signal.

German Shepherd Lab mix puppies combine intelligence, loyalty, and boundless energy into one remarkable companion. If you’re searching for a German Shepherd Lab mix puppy for adoption, you’re likely drawn to their friendly nature and trainable temperament. At DogingtonPost, we’ve put together everything you need to know about finding, preparing for, and welcoming one of these dogs into your home. From locating reputable sources to setting up your space, this guide covers the practical steps that matter most. What to Expect From a German Shepherd Lab Mix German Shepherd Lab mix puppies inherit traits from two of the most popular dog breeds in America, creating dogs that are intelligent, food-motivated, and genuinely eager to please. These puppies typically display the German Shepherd’s protective instincts combined with the Labrador’s outgoing friendliness, meaning you get a dog that bonds intensely with family while remaining approachable with strangers. The American Kennel Club ranks both parent breeds in the top five most popular breeds, and their offspring reflect this widespread appeal for good reason. Your puppy will learn commands quickly, respond well to positive reinforcement, and form strong attachments within weeks of arriving home. These dogs thrive on interaction and become destructive when bored or isolated, so mental stimulation matters as much as physical exercise. Size and Physical Development German Shepherd Lab mixes typically weigh between 55 and 80 pounds at full maturity, with males generally larger than females. These medium-to-large dogs reach their adult height around 12 to 18 months, though they continue filling out until age three. Coat colors vary widely, ranging from solid black to yellow, chocolate, or mixed patterns inherited from either parent. Their ears may stand upright like a German Shepherd’s or fold slightly like a Lab’s (and this variation appears even within the same litter). Plan for grooming commitment, as both parent breeds shed moderately year-round and heavily during spring and fall shedding seasons. Energy and Exercise Reality These puppies require a minimum of 90 minutes of structured exercise daily once fully grown, and this need appears early. A 12-week-old puppy already demands multiple play sessions and frequent outdoor time, not just bathroom breaks. Veterinarians recommend avoiding high-impact exercise like jumping or running on hard surfaces until growth plates close around 18 months, so swimming and controlled walks become your best options for young puppies. Without adequate outlets, these dogs develop behavioral problems including excessive barking, destructive chewing, and jumping on family members. Off-leash recall training becomes non-negotiable given their prey drive and tendency to chase, so start this training immediately and never assume your puppy will reliably return when called without consistent practice. Preparing for Training Success Your German Shepherd Lab mix puppy arrives with natural intelligence and food motivation that make training straightforward, but only if you establish structure from day one. These dogs respond exceptionally well to positive reinforcement methods (treats, praise, and play work best), and they learn faster than many other breeds. Consistency matters more than intensity-short, frequent training sessions of 5 to 10 minutes work better than longer sporadic efforts. Socialization during the critical window between 3 and 16 weeks shapes how your puppy interacts with people, other dogs, and new environments for life. This breed’s protective nature means early exposure to various situations prevents fear-based aggression later. Where to Find German Shepherd Lab Mix Puppies Local Animal Shelters Local animal shelters house thousands of mixed-breed puppies, and German Shepherd Lab mixes appear regularly in facilities across the country. The Petfinder database lists over 11,000 shelters and rescues, making it your fastest way to search by breed and location without manually calling dozens of organizations. Most shelters charge adoption fees between $75 and $300, which typically includes vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and microchipping. Contact your nearest shelter directly and ask staff to notify you when German Shepherd Lab mix puppies arrive, since the best dogs disappear within days of listing. Shelters rarely advertise puppies in advance, so building relationships with staff members gives you access to animals before they hit the website. This approach works better than online searches because shelter employees know which dogs match your lifestyle and can honestly discuss behavioral challenges that don’t appear in photos. Breed-Specific Rescue Organizations Breed-specific rescue organizations focus exclusively on German Shepherds or Labradors, and many accept mixed-breed dogs from either lineage. These groups employ volunteers with deep knowledge of breed temperament and health issues, so they provide far more detailed information than general shelters about what you’re adopting. Search online for German Shepherd rescue groups and Labrador rescue organizations in your state, then contact multiple groups since they often maintain waiting lists and share available puppies across their networks. Evaluating Breeders Carefully Reputable breeders exist but require serious scrutiny. If you choose a breeder, verify they conduct hip and elbow evaluations on both parents through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, request health guarantees in writing, and visit their facility in person. Never purchase from breeders who won’t let you meet the parents or who ship puppies before eight weeks of age (these are immediate red flags for puppy mills). Ask breeders for references from previous buyers and contact at least three of them about their experience and their dog’s health outcomes at three years old. A breeder who hesitates to provide references or limits your facility visits signals problems worth avoiding. Moving Forward With Your Search Your search strategy should combine multiple sources rather than relying on a single option. Start with local shelters and breed-specific rescues simultaneously, as this parallel approach increases your chances of finding the right puppy faster. Once you’ve identified potential puppies or breeders, the next step involves preparing your home to welcome your new family member. Setting Up Your Home for a German Shepherd Lab Mix Puppy Essential Supplies and Equipment Your German Shepherd Lab mix puppy needs specific equipment before arrival, and skipping items creates unnecessary stress for both dog and owner. Purchase a crate sized for adult weight (typically 42 to 48 inches long), food and water bowls, a collar and leash, grooming supplies including a slicker brush and nail clippers, and toys designed for medium-to-large dogs. These puppies destroy cheap toys within hours, so invest in Kong Extreme Black toys or similar durable options rated for power chewers. You’ll need enzymatic cleaner specifically formulated for pet urine since standard cleaners won’t eliminate scent markers that encourage repeat accidents. A baby gate system costs $40 to $80 but prevents your puppy from accessing stairs or unsupervised areas where injuries happen. Skip the fancy dog bed initially; puppies have weak bladder control until 16 weeks old, so use washable pee pads and accept that accidents will happen regardless of training effort. Food selection matters immediately-ask your adoption source what brand they feed, then maintain that diet for at least two weeks before transitioning to your preferred option, since sudden diet changes cause digestive upset. Creating a Safe Home Layout Your home layout determines training success more than any single tool. German Shepherd Lab mixes have high prey drive, so secure any small pet enclosures and remove toxic plants like lilies, sago palms, and chocolate from accessible areas. These puppies jump on furniture at eight weeks old, so establish boundaries immediately by preventing access to couches or beds rather than correcting the behavior after it starts. Set up a designated potty spot in your yard and take your puppy there immediately after waking, after meals, and after play sessions-most puppies need outdoor breaks every two to three hours until 16 weeks of age. Socialization and Early Training Socialization requires controlled exposure to different environments, sounds, and people during weeks 3 through 16, so plan weekly visits to pet-friendly stores, different neighborhoods, and quiet parks. These experiences prevent fear-based behavior that becomes difficult to reverse after 16 weeks. Enroll in a positive reinforcement puppy class within the first two weeks of adoption; instructors teach you how to prevent jumping, mouthing, and other behaviors that escalate without intervention. Your puppy learns commands faster in structured classes than from home study alone, and the investment typically costs $150 to $250 for six to eight weeks of instruction. Final Thoughts Adopting a German Shepherd/Lab mix puppy for adoption represents a significant commitment, but the rewards justify the effort. These dogs deliver intelligence, loyalty, and affection that strengthen family bonds over their 10 to 12-year lifespan. Success depends on three foundational elements: finding your puppy through shelters, rescues, or vetted breeders; preparing your home with proper supplies and safe spaces; and committing to consistent training and socialization from day one. The practical reality of German Shepherd Lab mixes means accepting their exercise demands and shedding patterns while appreciating their eagerness to learn and their genuine desire to be part of family activities. These puppies thrive when you provide structure, mental stimulation, and clear boundaries. Your investment in puppy classes, quality toys, and enzymatic cleaners pays dividends through faster training progress and fewer behavioral problems down the road. Contact shelters and rescues in your area, gather supplies, and set a timeline for bringing your puppy home. Prepare your household layout, arrange puppy training classes, and establish relationships with a veterinarian before arrival. Visit DogingtonPost for ongoing guidance on puppy care, training techniques, and health management as your German Shepherd Lab mix grows.

Rocks: A Clinical, Dispassionate Essay on the Progressive Brain

President Donald Trump urged Congress to loosen up on a key Republican amendment that prevents taxpayer-funded abortion. Trump said Republicans need "to be a little flexible on Hyde" in order to make health care a winning issue for the GOP. Notably the Hyde Amendment prevents tax dollars from funding abortion services but makes exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. 'I'm not flexible on the value of every child's life.'"You have to be a little flexible on Hyde. You know that. You got to be a little flexible," Trump said Tuesday. "You got to work something. You got to use ingenuity. You got to work."These remarks were quickly met with pushback from prominent pro-life groups as well as Republican lawmakers who called the amendment a nonnegotiable. RELATED: 'More corrupt than Minnesota': Trump mocks Newsom after launching California fraud investigation Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesRepublican Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Roger Marshall of Kansas both stood firmly against watering down or giving up on the Hyde Amendment despite the pressure from the president. "I'm not flexible on the value of every child's life," Lankford told Huffington Post. “I certainly understand where the president's coming from, but I'm unapologetically pro-life," Marshall added. RELATED: Trump’s agenda faces a midterm kill switch in 2026 Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesPro-life groups like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America pointed to Trump's past support for the amendment, calling it a "minimum standard" for the Republican Party. "The voters sent a GOP trifecta to Washington, and they expect it to govern like one," SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. "Giving in to Democrat demands that our tax dollars are used to fund plans that cover abortion on demand until birth would be a massive betrayal."“President Trump has consistently supported the Hyde Amendment. He pledged repeatedly to make it permanent law, including in health care coverage, and one of his first actions upon taking office last year was prioritizing the reversal of President Biden’s Hyde violations."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas lashed out at Vice President JD Vance over comments he made ridiculing her "street-girl persona" as fake.Crockett was asked by Joy Behar to respond to Vance's comments when she appeared on "The View" on Tuesday.'Let me be clear: I understand what happens in the streets, but I don't have to, quote, unquote, be a "street girl!"'"She wants to be a senator, though her street-girl persona is about as real as her nails!" Vance said to loud applause from a Turning Point USA audience."So, first of all, my nails are real!" Crockett replied to laughter from the studio crowd."But I will say, what a lot of people don't understand ... is that Republicans are a lot better at doing focus groups. Right?" she added. "And so Democrats, we rely on poll, poll, poll, but focus groups allow you to kind of get down to the nitty-gritty of why people feel a certain way about certain things."Crockett is running for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas after Republicans redrew their congressional district lines to increase their odds of winning the midterm elections."Well, I can tell you that right now, what disturbs them is that I am able to get at a demographic that Democrats have been losing. Consistently in third-party polls, as well as my internal polling, it shows that those that don't have a college degree, by over 70%, choose me," she continued."Well, that's a demographic that we've been losing — so now he's like, 'No no no, it's all fake. Don't believe that.' No, the reality is that I was a criminal defense attorney. I was a public defender. I am somebody who walked into plenty of jails and dealt with real killers," Crockett said."So let me be clear: I understand what happens in the streets, but I don't have to, quote, unquote, be a 'street girl,'" she concluded.RELATED: Jasmine Crockett stumbles when confronted with her past comments insulting Latino voters "Don't you think that that's racist? What is it?" Behar asked."Joy, you know it's racist!" Crockett replied. "We know that, right?"Video of Crockett's comments were posted to social media.Crockett is ahead of her competitor for the Democratic nomination, according to a recent poll. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Public DomainHerbert Mullin was a diagnosed schizophrenic who claimed that his victims were “human sacrifices.” In 1972, Herbert Mullin believed that there would soon be a massive earthquake near his home in northern California. A diagnosed schizophrenic who’d heard voices in his head warning him about the disaster, Mullin thought that he could stop the earthquake from happening if he murdered people — and that’s exactly what he did. In late 1972 and early 1973, Herbert Mullin brutally killed 13 people, sent the Santa Cruz area into a state of panic, and solidified his horrific and bizarre legacy as the “Earthquake Killer.” Herbert Mullin’s Life Before The Murders MurderpediaHerbert Mullin kept his true nature hidden for much of his early life. Born on April 18, 1947, in Salinas, California, Herbert Mullin started out leading a seemingly normal life with a caring family. By the time he graduated high school, he was named “most likely to succeed.” But just after high school, things took a turn for the worse. His best friend was killed in a car accident, a tragic event that some experts believe may have triggered the onset of schizophrenia for Mullin. Then, at age 19, Mullin tried cannabis and LSD for the first time, soon becoming a regular user. His drug use reportedly worsened the symptoms of his mental illness, and by the time he was 21, his family began to notice the signs of schizophrenia. Although he voluntarily entered a local hospital for treatment, he left after six weeks and was given a “poor” prognosis. Mullin entered several hospitals and programs in the following years, both voluntarily and involuntarily, but he didn’t stick to his recommended medication and group therapy sessions. His prognosis went from “poor” to “grave.” It was around that same time that Mullin began telling his coworkers that he was hearing voices. By the age of 23, he had been diagnosed as a schizophrenic by three different doctors. A Growing Obsession With Deadly Earthquakes Wikimedia CommonsThe aftermath of the horrific San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Herbert Mullin’s birthday was the anniversary of the devastating San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. And as his schizophrenia worsened, he became increasingly obsessed with his birthday. In 1972, a mathematician predicted that on Jan. 4, 1973, the San Andreas Fault would once again unleash a destructive earthquake on northern California. The voices in Mullin’s head, already connecting his birthday with earthquakes, told him that human sacrifice was the key to preventing another terrible disaster from unfolding. Mullin later said, “We human beings, through the history of the world, have protected our continents from cataclysmic earthquakes by murder. In other words, a minor natural disaster avoids a major natural disaster.” Herbert Mullin’s Murder Spree Begins California Department of CorrectionsHerbert Mullin’s mugshot from around 1973. With human sacrifice on his mind, Herbert Mullin started his killing spree by murdering a transient man named Lawrence White on Oct. 13, 1972. He beat White to death with a bat after seeing the man attempting to hitchhike on the side of a road. Mullin later claimed that he believed White to be Jonah from the Bible, and said that “Jonah” had telepathically asked Mullin to kill him so that other people would be saved. Mullin’s second victim was Mary Guilfoyle, a college student who had been hitchhiking on October 24th. Mullin stabbed and dismembered her, then scattered her remains along the side of a road. Disturbingly, he later said that he had hoped to find evidence that her blood was somehow “polluted.” The third murder occurred on November 2nd, when Mullin went to a Catholic church to confess his sins to Father Henri Tomei. Mullin then beat and stabbed the priest to death, purportedly believing that he had also “volunteered” as a human sacrifice. After the fatal attack, Mullin fled, and Tomei bled to death right there in the confessional. Then, on Jan. 25, 1973, Mullin killed five people all in one day. No earthquake had come, and he was only more sure that his killings were what was keeping the disaster at bay. During that especially violent day in January, he murdered an old friend and his wife, then a woman and her two children in the house that his friend had once lived in. With his body count now at eight, he went to a campsite and killed a group of four teenagers at once on February 6th. Mullin later said that he believed he had communicated telepathically with the victims and that they had given him permission to murder them. Mullin didn’t limit himself to a specific kind of murder. Some people he beat to death, others he stabbed with a knife, or shot with a gun. The times between his murders could also vary greatly. Sometimes, he’d kill multiple people per month or even per day, and other times, he’d go on a “hiatus.” Chillingly, he also didn’t seek out a specific type of victim. Mullin slaughtered men, women, and children, and his victims ranged in age from four to 72 years old. Herbert Mullin Gets His Day In Court Bettmann/Contributor/Getty ImagesHerbert Mullin at a courthouse in April 1973. Herbert Mullin was finally caught following his 13th and final murder, on February 13th. After Mullin shot and killed a man in his front yard in broad daylight, the victim’s neighbor noted Mullin’s license plate number and quickly called the police. When caught, Mullin didn’t resist arrest. Prosecutors in Santa Cruz were able to try Mullin for 10 of the 13 murders that he’d committed. Mullin tried to represent himself in court, but the judge decided that he was not mentally competent enough for that, and so he was assigned a public defender. Although Mullin attempted to fire the public defender, the judge refused to allow it. During the trial, Mullin talked about the voices he had been hearing, the ones that had been telling him to kill. He referred to the messages as “die songs.” Despite this, prosecutors produced evidence implying premeditation in some of the crimes, suggesting that Mullin was legally sane. He was convicted of 10 murders in Santa Cruz, and he was also convicted of an additional murder in Santa Clara County, which he was tried separately for. Mullin was sentenced to multiple life sentences for his crimes. He later tried to qualify for release on parole, but he was denied again and again. California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationHerbert Mullin in 2022, pictured shortly before his death from natural causes. At one point, another serial killer named Edmund Kemper was held in a neighboring cell next to Mullin’s cell. Kemper had killed eight women, also in the Santa Cruz area, during the early 1970s. Their overlap in serial killing sprees led Santa Cruz to be dubbed “Murdersville, U.S.A.” by District Attorney Peter Chang. The two murderers had something of a strange relationship, where Kemper sometimes fed Mullin peanuts when he was happy with him, and other times threw water on him when he was angry with him. Once Kemper was moved to a different facility, there’s no indication the two stayed in touch. But reportedly, Kemper thought it was “best for society to just kill Mullin.” Instead, Mullin spent the rest of his life in prison. He died at the age of 75 on August 18, 2022. At that time, he was serving out his life sentences in the California Health Care Facility, a place specifically designed for incarcerated people in need of long-term mental health treatment. After this look at Herbert Mullin, read up on Nikko Jenkins, the murderer who killed his victims in order to please an ancient Egyptian serpent god. Then, discover the stories of the worst serial killers in history. The post The Crimes Of Herbert Mullin, The Serial Killer Who Claimed That His Murders Could Stop Earthquakes appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Wikimedia CommonsA younger Klaus Barbie. The Nazis were infamous for their cruelty and cold efficiency, and Gestapo operative Klaus Barbie was no exception. Known as the “Butcher of Lyon” for his reign of terror in Nazi-occupied Lyon, France, Barbie not only sent Jews to concentration camps but also brutally tortured French Jews and Resistance fighters. Yet despite this, Barbie managed to escape conviction at the Nuremberg Trials as World War II ended. Instead, the U.S. and West German intelligence services recruited him as a spy. Barbie was consequently placed within the South American state of Bolivia under a new identity where he would go on to help right-wing paramilitary groups there overthrow their government, sell cocaine paste to narco-terrorists one of which may have been the King of Cocaine himself, Pablo Escobar, and, as it has been alleged, aid the CIA in tracking down and killing Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the infamous Argentine Marxist revolutionary. Barbie’s past would eventually catch up with him. In the end, it would be a pair of fearless French “Nazi hunters” who brought the escaped war criminal to justice. Klaus Barbie, The Butcher Of Lyon Wikimedia CommonsKlaus Barbie sent thousands of Jews to concentration camps like Auschwitz, pictured here. In 1942, 29-year-old Klaus Barbie received orders to become the newly-appointed head of the ruthless Gestapo, the Nazi secret police, in Lyon, France. There, Klaus was expected to eradicate the French Resistance. Klaus had a personal history with France, with his family having hailed from Merzig in the Saar region of Germany near the French border. He joined the Nazi party as a member of its security service on Sept. 26, 1935. He proved himself an exacting and merciless killer. The French Resistance mounted surprise attacks on German soldiers in occupied France. Skilled in guerilla tactics, they used explosives and sabotaged trains and bridges. Barbie brought a sense of calculated cruelty to deal with this threat. His torture rooms had tables with restraints, ovens, and implements for electrocution. He personally involved himself in the tortures using not only his fists but also whips and truncheons. “He always came with his thin smile like a knife blade. Then he smashed my face,” recalled Simone Lagrange, who was 13 at the time. Victims were bitten by dogs and often had their arms and legs broken. This brutality earned him the notorious epithet the “Butcher of Lyon.” Under Barbie’s command, numerous Resistance members were captured, tortured, and killed. His most famous victim was Jean Moulin, the head of the French Resistance. Despite having his fingernails ripped out, being injected with needles, and having his fingers broken in the hinge of a door, Moulin never revealed any information to Barbie. He died from repeated beatings and torture on July 8, 1943. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Barbie’s most vile act was having 44 Jewish schoolchildren rounded up and sent to Auschwitz. All of these children would go on to perish in Nazi gas chambers. A New Assignment In The Cold War Wikimedia CommonsKlaus Barbie in 1951. But Klaus Barbie managed to escape justice when Germany lost World War II. “The four youngsters I was with and myself changed our clothes, got some false papers from the police headquarters and headed off through the forests and pastures towards the Sauerland. It was very hard. From one day to the next, I’d become a beggar,” Barbie recalled, but his luck would change with the arrival of the Cold War. Although the Nuremberg Trials were intended to mete out appropriate justice to the Nazis, the United States — among other nations — saw Nazi operatives as potential assets against their new enemy: communism. In 1947, the U.S. prepared a dossier on Barbie’s character. He was given flying colors when Robert S. Taylor, an officer with the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) said he was “an honest man, both intellectually and personally, absolutely without fear. He is strongly anti-communist and a Nazi idealist who believes that he and his beliefs were betrayed by the Nazis in power.” From then on, the U.S. recruited Barbie as an agent against communism. But the French wanted Barbie and in 1949 and 1950, they formally requested that the U.S. arrest and extradite him back to France to face justice for his brutal crimes. The U.S. government responded that they had no knowledge of his location though this was mainly to avoid the embarrassing truth of Barbie’s involvement with them. American intelligence saw great value in Klaus Barbie’s expertise. Indeed, they feared the spread of communism in South America so much they were willing to protect and work with a former Nazi. So the CIC helped Barbie and his family to escape Europe via a “ratline” through the coastal Italian city of Genoa. From there, the Barbies would travel to Argentina and then Bolivia for a new life. Klaus Barbie Spies In Bolivia Wikimedia CommonsGeneral Rogelio Miranda, one of the dictators who ruled Bolivia from 1964-1982. In Bolivia, Barbie would capitalize on his brutal experience in the Gestapo by becoming involved in espionage, arms-dealing, and other covert operations on behalf of the United States and he maintained a connection with the newly-formed Central Intelligence Agency or CIA. To the CIA, Barbie was an asset they could use to provide support for right-wing governments and groups in South America. For Barbie himself, the fascist environment of ruling oligarchies and poverty-stricken masses was a pleasant reminder of his work in Nazi Germany. Soon enough, the brutal ex-Nazi operative began to thrive in his new role. Meanwhile, the French government sentenced Barbie to death in absentia. By this point, though, Barbie was well-distanced from his old identity having obtained Bolivian citizenship under the name Klaus Altmann in 1957. During his time in Bolivia, Barbie was involved in a string of CIA-sponsored military coups. According to author James Cockcroft, Barbie was even a Lieutenant Colonel of the Bolivian Army under a succession of Bolivian dictators from 1964 to 1982. Allegedly, he helped to establish new concentration camps for opponents of the Bolivian military where he resurrected his old torture techniques. He also helped form “The Fiancés of Death,” also known as Bolivia’s infamous death squads. According to undercover DEA agent Michael Levine, these “masked thieves were not Bolivian.” They were from Germany, Italy, and France, and many wore Nazi swastikas on their uniforms. Indeed, it seemed like Barbie was establishing a new Nazi regime in Bolivia with the help of the United States. Catching Che Guevara And Arms Dealing Wikimedia CommonsA famous photograph of Che Guevara. Recently, it has even been proposed that Barbie had helped the CIA eliminate Che Guevara — one of the most famous Marxist revolutionaries. The spy agency had been after Guevara ever since he helped Fidel Castro take power in Cuba but their operations reached a dead-end when it was thought that he had been murdered and buried in an unmarked grave in the Dominican Republic. In April 1967, the CIA was surprised to learn that the Bolivian government had tracked down Guevara in the Bolivian mountains. According to one theory, Barbie’s knowledge of guerrilla tactics from his days fighting the French partisans in Lyon may have been a critical asset in capturing him. Wikimedia CommonsBarbie’s is believed to have played a major role in the success of Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel. Far from only being a ruthless operative, Barbie was also a businessman. With CIA support, he ran a successful arms and cocaine-smuggling business with Friedrich Schwend, another ex-Nazi who had been Hitler’s master counterfeiter. The conditions were now perfect for Barbie to partner with South American drug cartels. Allegedly, one of Barbie’s clients was Pablo Escobar’s infamous Medellin cartel who he likely supplied with weapons. But his closest ally was billionaire drug trafficker Roberto Suarez Gomez. Barbie helped Gomez to install General Luis Garcia Meza Tejada as the puppet leader of Bolivia in 1980. Never before had an entire government been funded and controlled with cocaine money. It set a dangerous new precedent that Barbie played a key role in. Extradition And Death However, in 1982 Tejada’s military dictatorship collapsed. By this point, Klaus Barbie was vulnerable as he had already been tracked down in the 1970s by German journalist Beate Auguste Klarsfeld. Beate and her husband Serge acted as “Nazi hunters” or individuals who tracked down former Nazi operatives to bring them to justice. France had in fact been calling for Bolivia to extradite Barbie since 1973. But only now, with a liberal democratic government in power, was Barbie no longer protected. He was extradited back to France in 1983 and sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity. Finally, in September 1991, at the old age of 77, the “Butcher of Lyon” died of cancer. Next, learn more about the Nuremberg Trials, where the world tried to bring the Nazis to justice. Then, take a look at the brutal photos of the forgotten Nazi genocide in Poland. The post Torturer, Arms Trafficker, CIA Spy: The Story Of Nazi War Criminal Klaus Barbie appeared first on All That's Interesting.

UK National Trust Archaeologists who are helping restore a historic country home in Kent, England have discovered a 17th-century shopping list hidden under its floorboards. Written in 1633, the note was uncovered during a multimillion dollar renovation of the famed Knole House. Constructed in the late 15th century and surrounded by 1,000 acres of forest, it is one of England’s largest houses. Written by one Robert Draper to a Mr. Bilby, the shopping list includes pewter spoons, a frying pan, and “greenfish,” which is now known as unsalted cod. It also asks Mr. Bilby to send a “fireshovel” and “lights” to Copt Hall, which is 36 miles away on the other side of London. According to the UK’s National Trust, Draper must have been a high-ranking servant because the list was “beautifully written.” UK National TrustThe archaeology team working hard at Knole House. The renovators found two other similarly aged notes near to where they found the shopping list. One was similarly hidden away under the attic floorboards, while the team found another shoved into a ceiling cavity. “It’s extremely rare to uncover letters dating back to the 17th century, let alone those that give us an insight into the management of the households of the wealthy, and the movement of items from one place to another,” Nathalie Cohen, the regional archaeologist for the National Trust, told Kent Live. The Knole letters’ good condition “makes this a particularly exciting discovery,” she added. The full text of the shopping list reads: “Mr Bilby, I pray p[ro]vide to be sent too morrow in ye Cart some Greenfish, The Lights from my Lady Cranfeild[es] Cham[ber] 2 dozen of Pewter spoon[es]: one greate fireshovell for ye nursery; and ye o[t]hers which were sent to be exchanged for some of a better fashion, a new frying pan together with a note of ye prises of such Commoditie for ye rest. Your loving friend Robert Draper Octobre 1633 Copthall” Next, check out the new discoveries that have shed light on the lost kingdom of the Dark Ages. The post A Nearly 400-Year-Old Shopping List Was Discovered Under The Floorboards Of A Historic English Home appeared first on All That's Interesting.