As for the estimated $8 billion in government (taxpayer) money stolen by crooks in Minnesota, people demand answers to many questions. But the 800-pound elephant/question goes unasked: Why is government in the business of welfare in the first place? Where in the Constitution does it permit the federal government to extract money from taxpayers for charity? Years ago, I worked full time one summer as a “loaned executive” for the United Way of Cleveland. My job was to meet with CEOs of companies, tell them the story of the United Way and hopefully arrange for me to make a presentation to the company’s employees, take questions and then ask for donations. Through this process, the United Way raised and donated money to other nonprofits involved in community activities such as preschooling, counseling “at-risk” youths, after-school academic programs, care for the sick and elderly and youth sports programs, among other local initiatives. There was a rigorous application process before the nonprofit could receive any money. There was regular and rigorous follow-up to make sure the money was spent properly and efficiently based on previously agreed-on criteria. If, after receiving funds, the nonprofit did not meet these goals, it lost its funding. The reason for the rigorous review and follow-up was simple. Donors are more likely to give if they feel their money is being spent effectively to achieve the promised result. In fact, “How do I know my money will be spent properly?” was my most frequently asked question. Because so many worked for the United Way as volunteers, as I did, nearly 90 percent to 95 percent of each dollar donated reached the intended beneficiaries. Government welfare programs, riddled with waste, fraud and abuse, do not come close to this level of efficiency. Government welfare represents what economist Milton Friedman called the least efficient, least effective and most wasteful spending: somebody else’s money on somebody else. Through most of our country’s history, charity was people to people -- house of worship to people, nonprofit to people -- not government to people. James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, opposed a 1794 bill that would appropriate $15,000 for French refugees. “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents,” Madison said. In 1831, Madison said: “With respect to the words ‘general welfare,’ I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers (enumerated in the Constitution) connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.” Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, who traveled to America in the 1830s, marveled at the large number of volunteer “mutual aid societies.” Tocqueville wrote: “Americans of all ages, all conditions, all minds constantly unite. ... Americans use associations to give fetes, to found seminaries, to build inns, to raise churches, to distribute books, to send missionaries to the antipodes; in this manner they create hospitals, prisons, schools. Finally, if it is a question of bringing to light a truth or developing a sentiment with the support of a great example, they associate.” There is a question of whether no-questions-asked public welfare induces dependency and negatively affects the work ethic. A Center for Immigration Studies profile of Somalis in Minnesota found nearly half of working-age Somali adults who have lived in America more than 10 years cannot speak English “very well.” You cannot watch television without seeing a pitch for money for wounded soldiers, for police officers and firefighters wounded in the line of duty, for a children’s hospital that does not charge patients, for cats and dogs in need of rescue and so on. Imagine the solicitations in a world where government got out of the business of welfare and allowed its citizens, the most generous in the world, to step in and step up. Private welfare, compared to public welfare, is less likely to create a sense of entitlement, will get a bigger bang for a buck and is less dependency-inducing than no-questions-asked public welfare. Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an “Elderado,” visit www.LarryElder.com. Follow Larry on X @larryelder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM

On Sunday morning's edition of The Weekend, MS NOW's double standard on the shooting of Renee Good was on dazzling display. The hosts and guest Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat congresswoman from Massachusetts and a Squad member, were highly critical of the Trump administration for characterizing Good. They singled out Tom Homan for saying that Good had committed a "crime." But when Pressley -- three times -- accused ICE of Good's "murder," tossing in a "brazen killing" for bad measure -- the silence from The Weekend hosts was deafening. And venturing into Alice in Wonderland territory, Pressley called for a congressional investigation of the shooting. Murder verdict first, investigation to follow! Pressley apparently believed she was bolstering her case by repeatedly mentioning that the incident occurred on a "residential street," in "broad daylight," and that Good was a mother and a poet. Think Pressley would have been appeased if the shooting had occurred at night, in a warehouse district, and Good had been childless and illiterate? Good was there to not simply protest, but to obstruct ICE law-enforcement efforts. Pressley repeated her long-standing call to abolish ICE, sidestepping co-host Jackie Alemany's gingerly posed suggestion that Pressley's position could be hurting the Democrats at the polls, that Democrats feel Biden was "too permissive," leading to this "extreme moment." Nothing knocked Pressley off her "rogue agency/brazen murder/abolish them" talking points.  The liberal media has argued that Good was simply exercising her constitutional right of protest. But the respect for others' rights by Pressley and her husband was sorely lacking in an incident last week.  As seen in the video at the linked article, a reporter politely attempted to ask Pressley whether she supported President Trump's call for an investigation into Somali childcare fraud in Minnesota. But before he could complete his question, Pressley's husband, Conan Harris, slapped the phone out of the reporter's hand. Harris spent 10 years in prison on felony drug trafficking charges. Per the linked article [emphasis added]: "[Pressley] said she draws from his experience of reintegrating into regular society after leaving prison to help inform how she advocates for incarcerated, or previously incarcerated, individuals." Looks like Conan's having some serious problems of his own in "reintegrating into regular society." Here's the transcript. MS NOW The Weekend 1/11/26 9:03 am ET AYANNA PRESSLEY: You know, ICE's murder of Renee Good in broad daylight is horrific and unacceptable. She was an unarmed citizen, driving on a residential street, and she was shot in her car three times.  So whatever Jedi mind tricks Republicans try to use on the American people, they try to talk us out of what our eyes see, what our bodies experience, and the, the trauma that our communities are experiencing throughout this country. And of course, the horrific actions of [sic] Renee Good, who was a wife and a mother and a poet and a concerned community member, which is why she was out there protesting in the first place.  Her brutal murder, these things do not happen in a vacuum, they're not in isolation. This is why for many years, I've been calling for the abolishing  of ICE.  . . .  JONATHAN CAPEHART: You tried to put forth a motion to have the shooting investigated. And the Republican members of the House Oversight Committee voted against it. Why do you think they voted against it? I mean, shouldn't they, shouldn't we all, want transparency into what happened on that Minneapolis street?  PRESSLEY: Jonathan, they are so unserious about the work of oversight, about the need for truth, transparency, and accountability. They have made a practice of making fiction more compelling than the facts. So they don't want the truth. And yes, in real time, in that committee hearing, that oversight hearing, which was a hearing about Minnesota, I did file a motion for a subpoena so that we could see all footage, all documents, anything related to the murder in broad daylight of an unarmed citizen on a residential street, shot three times into her car. . . .  EUGENE DANIELS: Congresswoman Tom Homan, the border czar for the administration, is on Meet the Press. And our producer just told us that he said what Renee Good did was a crime.  And I'm curious, when you think about the fact that there is supposed to be an investigation into what we're seeing, the administration has already called her domestic terrorist. They have sort of released video that probably would be helpful for investigators to look at in the privacy of the investigation. And now, Tom Homan predetermining that what she did was an actual crime.  What do you think they are trying to signal? And can the American people trust the investigation that we are going to see?  PRESSLEY: Well, first of all, just saying a thing over and over again doesn't make it true. And we absolutely believe what all of our eyes have observed, which was a brazen killing in broad daylight of an unarmed American citizen on a residential street. A mother, a poet, a community activist, who was there because she cares about her neighbors.  What they want is for us to go quietly into the night to believe that their dark, violent, dystopian view of this country is an inevitability. And I'm so grateful for everyday citizens that continue to join with Democrats in vigorous condemnation of these actions.  And I will continue to demand an independent and thorough investigation, continue to call on Congress in this moment to use appropriations and the power of the purse to rein in ICE. Again, I believe it should be abolished. 

A former Washington state college professor and rabidly anti-Trump podcaster is now in custody after he allegedly groomed and attempted to meet up with someone he believed to be an 11-year-old girl.On December 17, members of various law enforcement agencies arrested 44-year-old Houston Wade in Bremerton, Washington, located on Puget Sound.When cops searched a hotel room where the suspect made a brief stop, they found condoms, bondage supplies, and 'adult novelty toys.'According to a Facebook post from the Bremerton Police Department, the suspect from Bainbridge Island "arrived in Bremerton intending to pick up an 11-year-old child." The post further states that the suspect had been "using a social media application" to chat with the presumed child."The chat turned graphic in nature and over the course of numerous chats, the man agreed to meet the child in Bremerton so they could act upon the graphic actions discussed in the chats," the statement continued.When cops searched a hotel room where the suspect made a brief stop, they found condoms, bondage supplies, and "adult novelty toys," the statement added. "Adult novelty toys" are better known as sex toys.Though the Bremerton police statement claimed that the suspect is 41 years old, the Lynnwood Times identified the suspect as Wade, who is 44, according to jail records.Citing court documents, the Lynnwood Times gave further disturbing details about the case.Wade allegedly began corresponding with a "decoy" claiming to be an 11-year-old girl back in August. Over the course of the next few months, Wade and the decoy had frequent contact, during which time he allegedly began slowly grooming the decoy and suggesting they go on a "date of sorts," the Times reported.The following is a list of messages the suspect sent the decoy."Be as lewd as you want. You don’t have to choose to send me anything if you don’t want to.""Well, I’ll be the little devil on your shoulder: give in to it," with a devil emoji."We’ll go as far as you want. Making out and heavy petting for sure. There’s no need to do anything more than what you feel comfortable with. If you want to experience your first orgasm or more, you’ll let me know. If you don’t, then you’ll tell me.""I personally get all my pleasure from seeing you lose all control because of how good you feel and most women go their entire lives not knowing it’s possible to feel that good."Kitsap County jail records reveal that Wade has been in custody since December 17 for multiple offenses, including child molestation, commercial sex abuse of a minor, and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. He has also been booked for communicating with a minor for immoral purpose with a prior conviction. Kitsap County court records show that Wade has been involved in multiple cases since 2018, including as a defendant, though the nature of those cases is unclear.Despite the apparent previous conviction, Wade has been formally charged with only first-degree attempted child molestation (VWade is scheduled to appear in court on January 27.RELATED: Former volleyball coach used artificial intelligence to groom teenage girl for sex, police say Wade is known locally for his podcast, "Houston, We Have a Problem," where he has frequently attacked Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and others. Some of his video titles include: "Elon is a Nazi stop twisting yourself into a pretzel defending him," "Can Trump Commit Crime and Get Away With It? Find Out Now!" and "Epstein emails released. Trump lied again."His X feed also suggests a strong preoccupation with pedophiles, calling everyone from Trump to the late Michael Jackson to actor James Woods a "pedo."Wade was a professor of physics and astronomy at Edmonds Community College. However, the school clarified to the Times that his "part-time" employment there began in 2019 and ended in 2022."We are deeply concerned and disturbed by these allegations," Karen Magarelli, public information officer of Edmonds College, told the Times in a statement. "... The safety and well-being of our campus community remain our highest priority. Edmonds College is committed to maintaining an environment that upholds the values of integrity, respect, and security for all students, faculty, and staff."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska is setting her sights on higher office after a failed 2024 re-election bid. Peltola lost to Republican Rep. Nicholas Begich in 2024 despite having the advantage as the incumbent. In the aftermath of this political blunder, Peltola has now launched a senatorial campaign to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska. 'A defeated career politician turned lobbyist.'Peltola has branded herself a moderate Democrat working against the D.C. establishment to fight for "fish, family, and freedom." Peltola has also caught onto the political trend of the times, focusing her campaign message on affordability, housing, and grocery prices. "D.C. people will be pissed that I'm focusing on their self-dealing and sharing what I've seen firsthand," Peltola said in her launch video. RELATED: Republicans take back Alaska's House seat, solidifying the GOP's slim majority Photo by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesOne thing her campaign video omitted was her far-left voting record during her brief stint in the House. Peltola voted in lock-step with the Democrats against protecting women from transgender athletes in sports, even voting against an amendment to prevent taxpayers from funding sex-altering surgeries. Along with nearly every Democrat in the House, Peltola voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would mandate medical care for babies who survive abortion. Although her campaign claims to make cost of living a priority, Peltola reportedly "liked the concepts" of the Green New Deal, which would hike up energy prices and cost taxpayers trillions.RELATED: America First energy policy is paying off at the pump Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for ELLE"Mary Peltola represents everything that is broken in Washington: a defeated career politician turned lobbyist who repeatedly voted against American energy independence, secure borders, and the Alaskan way of life," Senate Leadership Fund Executive Director Alex Latcham said in a statement. "Democrats are desperately trying to revive a far-left politician, but Alaskans know why they fired Mary Peltola in the first place."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Apple has landed on a custom model of Google's Gemini to serve as the foundation for its AI-powered Siri update coming later this year.

Seeking to avoid another crippling government shutdown and moving closer to the goal of passing 12 separate appropriations bills, the House Appropriations Committee has released text of proposed legislation combining roughly $75 billion to $80 billion in discretionary spending.