When the Congressional Black Caucus and 260 left-leaning organizations sent letters trying to prevent me from testifying before Congress, they claimed to be opposing efforts to “undermine civil institutions” and to prevent the use of “government power to silence people.” This is deeply ironic because the House Judiciary Committee had invited me to testify on how the Southern Poverty Law Center, which demonizes conservatives and Christians in an effort to silence their opinions, influenced the Biden administration, leading to government attacks on nonprofits, such as the notorious FBI memo targeting “radical-traditional Catholics.” I testified alongside leaders of organizations that had been targeted for violence after the SPLC put them on a “hate map” with Ku Klux Klan chapters. The hearing, “Partisan and Profitable: The SPLC’s Influence on Federal Civil Rights Policy,” focused on a key aspect of my writing and reporting, work that has distinguished me as an expert on the SPLC’s tactics. When Roy’s subcommittee announced the hearing, Democrats and leftist groups sent at least three letters condemning it. The Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., sent a letter expressing “grave concern” about the hearing, claiming that it is “not a good-faith exercise of oversight” but rather a “deliberate effort to intimidate and discredit an institution that has spent decades defending civil rights, exposing hate, and advancing opportunity for all Americans.” (Note how her framing endorses the SPLC’s “hate” accusations.) Clarke claimed the hearing aimed “to chill and silence all who challenge this Administration’s efforts to roll back civil rights and normalize discrimination.” The Congressional Black Caucus leader said the hearing represented “our government being weaponized to perpetrate cycles of oppression,” a weaponization “rooted in anti-black racism, discrimination, fear, and control.” She said the hearing “undermines the very civil institutions that give everyday people voice, protection, and power,” and said a discussion of the SPLC’s negative influence is “dangerous, violates fundamental democratic norms, and must be rejected unequivocally.” Nowhere did she even suggest that the SPLC might also be undermining any “civil institution.” Congressional Black Caucus LetterDownload The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights organized 258 left-leaning groups to condemn the hearing, including unions like the AFL-CIO and activist groups like the Center for American Progress and the Human Rights Campaign. The letter claims that the hearing “is not about any single organization—it is about a broader effort to use government power to silence people.” “At stake is whether people—regardless of their viewpoint—can express themselves without fear of government retaliation,” the letter states. “If we don’t speak out against these attacks, it will clear the path for the dismantling of freedom of speech and civil rights and the repression of dissent.” National Council of Nonprofits Two more left-leaning organizations condemned the hearing. “While the title of today’s hearing may name only one organization, its potential to chill the speech of organizations throughout our sector is much greater,” wrote Akilah Watkins, president of Independent Sector, and Diane Yentel, president of the National Council of Nonprofits. “It is part of a pattern of actions to subject perceived political opponents to harassment in the name of oversight.” While Watkins and Yentel condemned political violence, they added, “We are equally opposed to hate in all its forms.” National Council of Nonprofits LetterDownload My Response If these Democrats and activist groups truly cared about “repression of dissent” and the chilling of free speech, they wouldn’t line up so readily to defend one of the worst offenders in American society. The SPLC isn’t some noble civil rights group that represents the little guy in court. It’s a massive behemoth—with a $786 million endowment—that routinely defames mainstream conservatives and Christians, comparing them to the Ku Klux Klan by putting them on a “hate map” with the worst hate groups in American history. A terrorist used this map to target the Family Research Council in 2012, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk came mere months after the SPLC added Turning Point USA to the “hate map” in May. Among its many ties to the Biden administration, the SPLC advised Justice Department prosecutors on the “anti-LGBTQ movement.” The SPLC brands as “anti-LGBTQ hate groups” a broad swath of peaceful, law-abiding nonprofits, such as the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom; nonpartisan groups of doctors like Do No Harm and the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine; and even lesbian and gay groups like Gays Against Groomers. To use Clarke’s words, these are “the very civil institutions that give everyday people voice, protection, and power.” They just happen to represent conservatives, Christians, and others who disagree with the SPLC. Therefore, these leftists seem not to consider them parts of “civil society.” During the hearing, the Democrats’ witness refused to say whether she stands by the SPLC’s accusations against these groups. Yet Clarke praised the SPLC’s record of “exposing hate,” suggesting she has no such compunction. ?REVEALING@RepBobOnder asks Democrat-invited witness Amanda Tyler whether she stands by the SPLC's "hate group" accusations against @ADFLegal, @TPUSA, @FRCdc, @FocusFamily, @prageru, and @CIS_org.Tellingly, she refuses to adopt or defend the accusations. pic.twitter.com/yNLiGzTVUM— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) December 17, 2025 By protecting the SPLC from scrutiny, the Congressional Black Caucus and its 260 allied leftist groups are abetting the chilling of speech, specifically conservative speech. Furthermore, none of these letters expressed an iota of concern about the Biden administration using the SPLC to target conservatives, suggesting they’re fine with government silencing people—just so long as it’s not their people. I’d like to thank Chairman Chip Roy, R-Texas, for refusing to buckle to these hypocritical attacks, and letting me expose how the SPLC undermines civil institutions and collaborated with the government to silence people. It seems some on the Left don’t want me to be able to share this message. The post The Orwellian Excuse the Congressional Black Caucus Gave for Trying to Block My Congressional Testimony appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Kamala: We Didn't Release the Epstein Files Because Our DoJ Was Soooo Independent

Minnesota's US Attorney Reveals New Fraud of $9 Billion or More

Three House Democrats voted Wednesday to protect children from transgender procedures, passing a bill that would otherwise have failed because four Republicans voted against it. The “Protect Children’s Innocence Act” (H.R. 3492) passed 216-to-211. Without the help of the three Democrats, the bill would’ve failed, 214-213.  Two of the three Democrats voting for the “Protect Children’s Innocence Act” represent districts in Texas: Reps. Don Davis of North Carolina. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas. Henry Cuellar of Texas. The four Republicans who bucked the rest of their party to oppose the measure protecting minors (under 18 years old) from being subjected to transgender procedures – such as castration, sterilization and genital mutilation – are: Reps. Mike Lawler of New York. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. Mike Kennedy of Utah. Gabe Evans of Colorado. And Republican House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who ultimately voted for the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, did not allow it to come up for a vote until after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who introduced it, agreed to vote in favor of a rule on a different, defense bill. “Children are not old enough to vote, drive, or get a tattoo and they are certainly not old enough to be chemically castrated or permanently mutilated!!!,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who introduced the bill. In a presentation on the House floor prior to the vote, Rep. Greene displayed images and examples of the harm done to minors by the types of transgender procedures the bill would outlaw. Minors who are not mature enough to vote, buy alcohol or get tattoos aren’t mature enough to receive such severe, life-changing and often irreversible procedures, Rep. Greene said. In a post on her congressional website, Rep. Green explains that the Protect Children’s Innocence Act: Criminalizes any attempt to perform or facilitate genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on a minor, with up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a significant fine. Bans all puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone treatments for children. Provides no exemption for mental health disorders as justification for these procedures. Defines “chemical castration” and “genital or bodily mutilation” with detailed legal clarity. Exempts children born with certain rare genetic conditions, or who are experiencing medical emergencies as certified by a physician. The Protect Children’s Innocence Act now faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority, but would need 60 votes to get past a Democrat filibuster and proceed to a vote to pass the bill. Protecting children is not optional, it’s our duty. Today on the House floor, I spoke for the voiceless: America’s kids. Children are not old enough to vote, drive, or get a tattoo and they are certainly not old enough to be chemically castrated or permanently mutilated!!!… pic.twitter.com/LGR1XE1Usa — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) December 17, 2025

While Democrats are hoping to seize control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections, approval ratings for congressional Democrats have absolutely imploded.An analysis from CNN's Harry Enten showed that Democrats got a boost during the government shutdown, but that has completely collapsed after President Donald Trump beat them to end the shutdown.'There are a lot of Democrats who might be thinking, "Hey we can spike that ball in the end zone!" but the numbers at this point say, "Hold on just a minute."'Congressional Democrats had a net approval rating of 22 percentage points among Democratic voters in October, but that has become a net negative rating of six points only two months later."Democrats, in the minds of the American public, are lower than the Dead Sea," said Enten."Overall they are 55 points underwater. Their approval rating is south of 20%. It's even worse when you look at independents, look at this — negative 61 points!" he added. "That means that their approval rating is 61 points lower than their disapproval rating."He added that Quinnipiac University has been polling the approval rating for Democratic members of Congress for 16 years, and it has never found them "in worse shape than they are right now."Enten said that the polling indicators showed Democrats could still gain many seats in the midterms, but when compared with recent history, they are in a weakened condition to do so. He compared the Democratic advantage in generic partisan polling during Republican presidential administrations and found that Democrats have had a 10% advantage twice since 2005, but that had slid to only 4% in 2015."I think that's why at this point there are a lot of Democrats who might be thinking, 'Hey we can spike that ball in the end zone!' but the numbers at this point say, 'Hold on just a minute,'" he added. "Yes, you're on your way to a congressional majority, but it's still a long time, and with numbers this considerably weaker, and historically speaking, it might be a tougher road to hoe."RELATED: CNN anchor visibly upset when analyst says outrage over Epstein files has not hurt Trump The polling analyst said that Democratic voters turned away from the party after the end of the government shutdown because they did not like how that debate turned out for them. Enten posted video of the segment to his social media account.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In a move anticipated by many in the medical industry, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would reclassify marijuana as a seemingly less dangerous drug. On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order that would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act. 'It's never safe to use powerful controlled substances in recreational manners.'"I'm pleased to announce that I will be signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance with legitimate medical uses," Trump announced from the Oval Office, surrounded by doctors, researchers, and others. RELATED: RFK Jr. moves to ban transgender procedures for children: 'This is not medicine; it is malpractice' Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty ImagesDuring the ceremony, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said that the executive order will allow "millions of Americans on Medicare to become eligible to receive CBD ... at no charge if their doctors recommend them."According to a White House fact sheet, the reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III status will open up more opportunities for research to test the uses of medical marijuana. Currently, marijuana is in the same classification as drugs like heroin, LSD, ecstasy, methaqualone, and peyote, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.The reclassification will place marijuana in the same schedule as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. However, this executive order will have no impact on the recreational use of marijuana, as Trump clarified at the signing. Trump added, "I want to emphasize that the order I am about to sign ... doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape, or form — and in no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug. ... It's never safe to use powerful controlled substances in recreational manners.""President Trump is committed to ensuring our seniors, our veterans, and all Americans have access to the best medical treatments and research infrastructure in the world," the White House fact sheet said. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

More than 300 residents in Colorado received federal housing benefits despite being ineligible, including over 200 deceased individuals, according to an audit.The New York Post reported on Thursday that an audit by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 221 deceased individuals and another 87 ineligible residents received taxpayer-funded housing benefits.'From deceased tenants to individuals receiving HUD housing benefits who were never supposed to, the Department has questions for HUD-supported housing providers in Colorado, and we expect prompt answers and enforcement action.'The department is requiring an additional 2,519 beneficiaries to undergo verification to confirm their eligibility. A source told the Post that HUD found that the fraud involved most of Colorado’s 59 public housing agencies and was “particularly pronounced in the Denver Housing Authority,” the news outlet wrote. HUD provides approximately $440 million in taxpayer funds to Colorado’s PHAs, which oversee 38,000 leased units. These units are either public housing or covered by housing choice vouchers. Beneficiaries are typically required to contribute roughly 30% of their income toward housing.HUD is expected to require PHAs to ramp up their beneficiary vetting efforts and remove ineligible recipients. Additionally, PHAs that provide benefits to ineligible beneficiaries will be required to reimburse the misused taxpayer funds. Those who fail to comply will face additional sanctions, the Post reported.RELATED: Americans priced out while foreigners pour in: Trump admin report slams Biden for spike in rental costs Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty ImagesThe department’s findings have reportedly prompted a federal investigation into Colorado’s housing providers.“From deceased tenants to individuals receiving HUD housing benefits who were never supposed to, the Department has questions for HUD-supported housing providers in Colorado, and we expect prompt answers and enforcement action,” a HUD spokesperson told the Post.RELATED: Democrat-led city's alleged ‘race-based’ housing strategy prompts federal investigation President Donald Trump, HUD Secretary Scott Turner. Photographer: Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesEarlier this week, the Washington Examiner reported that HUD sent federal investigators to Minnesota to look into potential housing fraud amid reports that $1 billion in taxpayer funds was funneled primarily to those of Somali descent.HUD launched an investigation last week into Boston’s alleged “race-based” housing program, claiming that the city’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices may “violate civil rights protections under the Fair Housing Act and Title VI.”President Donald Trump unveiled a budget plan in May that proposed drastically cutting HUD’s discretionary funding by over 40%.Denver Housing Authority did not respond to a request for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Border Patrol agents in Southern California arrested 49 illegal aliens who, despite their unlawful status, were in possession of commercial driver’s licenses, Blaze News has exclusively learned.El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested some of those individuals while conducting vehicle stops at immigration checkpoints between November 23 and December 12. Others were apprehended during a two-day interagency operation.'The individuals arrested should never have been operating these semitrucks, and the states issuing them commercial driver’s licenses are directly responsible for the fatal accidents we have tragically witnessed recently.'While stopping vehicles at checkpoints along Highway 86 and 111, Indio Station agents nabbed 42 illegal aliens who were operating semitrucks. Of these arrested individuals, 30 were from India, while the others were from El Salvador, China, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Turkey, and Ukraine.Customs and Border Patrol reported that 31 of the CDLs were issued by California. The other licenses were issued by Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.Indio Station agents also participated in Operation Highway Sentinel, an enforcement operation held on December 10 and 11, in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.The initiative aimed to enhance the safety of America's roadways following several recent fatal accidents involving illegal alien truck drivers. RELATED: Illegal alien bus driver who can't speak English allegedly kills American while 'distracted by a video on his phone' Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty ImagesThe joint operation specifically targeted commercial trucking operations in California and resulted in the arrests of 45 illegal aliens with CDLs. The seven individuals arrested by Indio Station were from India, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.RELATED: Trump’s DOT claims 53% of New York’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued illegally Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images“El Centro Sector personnel are stalwart defenders of our nation’s security, whether that occurs at the border or in the interior of the United States,” said El Centro Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Remenar. “Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026, El Centro Sector’s arrests of individuals in the interior have surpassed those at the border, directly illustrating what can be accomplished when a secure border is achieved.”“The success of this operation highlights the ongoing dangers posed by the unmitigated border crisis we experienced prior to 2025,” Remenar continued. “The individuals arrested should never have been operating these semitrucks, and the states issuing them commercial driver’s licenses are directly responsible for the fatal accidents we have tragically witnessed recently. Together, with our allied partners in Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies, El Centro Sector will continue to ensure that the safety of the American public is at the forefront of our efforts.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A star wide receiver on the Los Angeles Rams football team has apologized for agreeing to make an anti-Semitic gesture for a touchdown celebration. During a livestream, Puka Nacua was persuaded by personality Adin Ross to perform a gesture that refers to a trope and meme meant to smear Jewish people. He also agreed to repeat the dance at the next Rams game.'At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetrated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.'Nacua faced an immediate barrage of criticism that led to his posting an apology on social media Thursday."When I appeared the other day on a social media livestream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration," wrote Nacua on his Instagram account."At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetrated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people," he added. "I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people."The incident comes at a time when the Jewish community is reeling from a horrific terror attack in Australia that took the lives of more than a dozen people and is being investigated as motivated by anti-Semitism.Among those who condemned Nacua was Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California."The Los Angeles Jewish community is on edge after the Bondi Beach massacre," he wrote on social media. "And what does this asshole @AsapPuka do? He promises an antisemitic touchdown dance for his Thursday night game."Swalwell added, "He should apologize or be dropped."Others said if Nacua did the gesture during the game, he should be suspended by the NFL.RELATED: Christian NFL star apologizes after reference to kids' game that left LGBTQ crowd seething The NFL and the Los Angeles Rams also released statements condemning the offensive gesture.Nacua and the Rams will play on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Each team has a record of 11 victories and only three losses for the season.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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