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by Blaze Media

April 16 2026
Cover image for Florida teacher accused of sexually abusing student after parents use app to track boy to mystery location: Police

Florida teacher accused of sexually abusing student after parents use app to track boy to mystery location: Police

A Florida teacher is accused of having an illicit relationship with an underage student after the boy's parents tracked him down by utilizing an app, police said.Kirsten Rose, 37, was arrested on Friday and charged with five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and one count of lewd and indecent exposure offenses against a student by an authority figure, police said. 'We are deeply troubled by these allegations.'Rose is a math teacher at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School, according to WFTV-TV.The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that an investigation was launched in March when the parents of a male student became worried when he was late coming home from work one evening. Police said the parents utilized a location-tracking app to trace the boy's phone to a residence they didn't recognize."The parents checked their son's location and noticed he was at a residence that was unknown to them and when questioned regarding his whereabouts, he stated he was at his girlfriend’s house, but refused to say who she was," police stated.But investigators said the teen later revealed he was in a relationship with a teacher.Tod Goodyear, a media relations spokesperson for the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, told WKMG-TV that the student "didn't come forth with much information" at first.However, Goodyear said the alleged victim later admitted to the relationship with the teacher in a subsequent interview with detectives.RELATED: Florida teacher arrested, hit with charges of indecent liberties with a minor from another state Police said the investigation by the special victims unit revealed that the teacher and the underage student began communicating outside of school via Instagram in November 2025.Investigators said the inappropriate relationship turned sexual "on multiple occasions during the months of February and March" of 2026.Rose was arrested on April 10 and booked into the Brevard County Jail.Rose's bond was set at $300,000, and she was released on April 11, according to jail records.Rose is scheduled for a May 5 arraignment before Judge Katie Jacobus at the Brevard County Courthouse, jail records state.School district officials said Rose was placed on administrative leave.Janet Murnaghan, chief strategic communications officer for Brevard Public Schools, told Florida Today, "We are deeply troubled by these allegations.""The district remains committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students," Murnaghan added.During a Brevard school board meeting Tuesday, there was no mention of the teacher's arrest, according to Florida Today.The policy guidelines for teachers set by the School Board of Brevard County state:An instructional staff member shall not inappropriately associate with students at any time in a manner which may give the appearance of impropriety, including, but not limited to, the creation or participation in any situation or activity which could be considered abusive or sexually suggestive or involve illegal substances such as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Any sexual or other inappropriate conduct with a student by any staff member will subject the offender to potential criminal liability and discipline up to and including termination of employment.When asked how "concerning a case like this is," Goodyear replied, "When you're an authority figure, particularly a teacher in a relationship like that, to go out of the boundaries and have this type of relationship is not something we want, not something we like to see."Police said the investigation is ongoing.The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information about this case or additional victims to contact Kimone Edwards of the Special Victims Unit of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at 321-633-8419.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 16 2026
Cover image for Tulsi Gabbard Has Bad News for Spy Whose Complaint Launched Trump Ukraine-Call Impeachment

Tulsi Gabbard Has Bad News for Spy Whose Complaint Launched Trump Ukraine-Call Impeachment

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents on Monday revealing that hearsay and erroneous claims from bad actors served as the basis for President Donald Trump's impeachment over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy in July 2019, months before the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign began in earnest.At least two of those bad actors now face the possibility of criminal prosecution.'Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people.'An Obama holdover and CIA analyst credibly identified as Eric Ciaramella filed a complaint in August 2019 alleging Trump was "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. elections. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country — Ukraine — to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals, former Vice President Biden."Then-Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson ultimately spun the complaint as credible and rushed it to the congressional intelligence committees despite:Conducting only four interviews — one with the so-called whistleblower's Russia-hoaxer friend and two character references; Never once accessing the transcript of the call;Knowing that Ciaramella — whose political bias Atkinson testified to never considering — was a registered Democrat who worked closely with Vice President Biden, traveled with Biden to Ukraine, and complained about right-wing bloggers; and Knowing that Ciaramella had no firsthand evidence of what was being alleged.The complaint, likely from Ciaramella and afforded a veneer of legitimacy by Atkinson, led to the House of Representatives passing articles of impeachment against the president in December 2019.RELATED: Trump 2019 impeachment exposed: Gabbard provides damning insights into deep-state stitch-up Win McNamee/Getty Images (L); Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images (R)Gabbard stated, "Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States."Gabbard went beyond just exposing this frame-up this week, asking the Justice Department to investigate two former government officials.A spokeswoman for the director confirmed to CBS News that Gabbard had drafted criminal referrals for the so-called whistleblower and a "former intelligence community watchdog" but did not specify what crimes are alleged.The referrals reviewed by Fox News noted, however, that "the possible criminal activity concerns the circumstances described in the following congressional briefings: Discussion with Intelligence Community Inspector General, House Permanent Select Comm. on Intel., 116th Cong. (2019); Briefing by the Intelligence Community Inspector General, House Permanent Select Comm. on Intel., 116th Cong. (2019)."Blaze News has reached out to the DOJ 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!

by Blaze Media

April 16 2026
Cover image for Former Virginia Democrat Leader Murders His Wife Before Committing Suicide Amid Divorce

Former Virginia Democrat Leader Murders His Wife Before Committing Suicide Amid Divorce

Local police are investigating a murder-suicide involving a Democrat who was once second in command in Virginia. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, Fairfax County police responded to a 911 call at a home in Annandale, Virginia, finding an adult male and female deceased. The victims were later identified by police as Democrat former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, 47, and his wife, Cerina, 49, who were reportedly going through a divorce. His campaign was heavily eclipsed by sexual assault allegations.The couple's son and daughter were at home at the time of the murder-suicide but were unharmed. "Shortly after midnight, officers responded to the 8100 block of Guinevere drive in Annandale, where they located an adult male and an adult female deceased inside of a residence," Captain Chris Cosgriff said in a video statement on the scene. "Preliminarily, it appears that the adult male shot the adult female before shooting himself in a domestic-related incident."RELATED: Speculation mounts over mysterious deaths and disappearances tied to US space and nuclear program Fairfax served as Virginia's lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022 under then-Gov. Ralph Northam (D). Fairfax launched his own bid for governor in 2021, but his campaign was heavily eclipsed by sexual assault allegations from two women. Fairfax vehemently denied the allegations and maintained that their relations were consensual. Despite his denials, Fairfax finished in fourth place in the Democratic primary. This is a developing story.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 15 2026
Cover image for WATCH: Glenn Beck’s savage open letter torches Swalwell’s hypocrisy after sexual misconduct scandal forces campaign suspension

WATCH: Glenn Beck’s savage open letter torches Swalwell’s hypocrisy after sexual misconduct scandal forces campaign suspension

Last Sunday, Eric Swalwell suspended his California gubernatorial campaign after reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailed multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, which he denies. He resigned from Congress the next day amid lost endorsements and staff departures.Now Glenn Beck reads the open letter he wrote to Swalwell to illustrate the timeless law of reciprocity. Glenn begins by rehashing Swalwell’s public opposition to Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2018. Tweeting #BelieveSurvivors, Swalwell argued that multiple accusers meant the allegations were likely true (or Kavanaugh was the “unluckiest person in the world”) and said victims “deserve to be heard” and their allegations investigated.“Congressman, do you feel the same way today?” Glenn asks. “Because now you have 50 women — 50 — from your office claiming the same thing. ... Should we bring them all in? Should we question them publicly, or is this time different?”“At the time, you even pushed back on applying strict legal standards in public judgment, noting, ‘The testimony of a single witness can prove any fact,’” he continues.“So perhaps we just bring in one woman out of the 50 and let her speak publicly and believe her because she, as you pointed out, is a survivor.”Glenn accuses Swalwell of showing “little to no patience for caution,” putting “little emphasis on presumption of innocence,” and lending “little concern for due process in the court of public opinion” in Kavanaugh’s 2018 hearings.“And what’s truly sad is, at the time — unlike today — you were not alone. But boy, I bet you feel alone today,” he sneers.“Isn’t it weird and a bitter symmetry that is happening here?” he asks. “You once argued that accusations carried its own moral force, that patterns of claims pointed towards truth no matter what, and that the accused should open themselves fully to prove their innocence.”But now, Swalwell asks for “time,” “fairness, and “restraint.”“The very principles you minimalized are the ones you now invoke,” Glenn says.Calling him a “destructive, dishonest, selfish, slimy ... force” who “never seemed to care about anything other than [his] own personal agenda,” Glenn grants Swalwell what he was unwilling to grant to others: “The allegations against you, however serious, however numerous, remain allegations.”However, Glenn isn’t the least bit sorry that Swalwell’s career, ambitions, and reputation have been destroyed.“There’s no one who deserves to feel that pain more than you,” he says.He then points out the irony of the progressive Marxist apparatus Swalwell has been instrumental in.“You were destroying the progressive enemies, and so they protected you. And in that, your arrogance grew. ... You were untouchable. You were invincible — until you become an inconvenience,” he says. “And then Marxists and progressives do what they always do. Ends justify the means. You are expendable.”The rise and fall of Swalwell, Glenn says, is a perfect example of God’s eternal law: “As you judge, so shall you be judged.”To hear more of Glenn’s savage open letter to Eric Swalwell, watch the video above.Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

April 15 2026
Cover image for ‘No amount of fraud is too big or too small’: Vance’s anti-fraud task force targets every crook stealing from taxpayers

‘No amount of fraud is too big or too small’: Vance’s anti-fraud task force targets every crook stealing from taxpayers

Vice President JD Vance, who chairs the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, declared that “no amount of fraud is too big or too small” and stated that the task force plans to target bad actors regardless of the amount of money they have stolen from taxpayers.During a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, Vance highlighted the task force’s early victories.'If you’re defrauding the taxpayer, you ought to go to prison, and anybody who’s helping you ought to go to prison too.'President Donald Trump established the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud by executive order in mid-March. Since then, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has worked with the task force to close hundreds of allegedly fraudulent health care providers.On Tuesday, Vance discussed the issue of widespread fraud in the Minneapolis area, stating that the task force had turned off a government assistance program for autistic children that was being widely exploited. “We’ve completely stopped the funding to that program. And we basically told the state of Minnesota, ‘You don’t get any more of our money unless you’ve verified that you’re taking fraud seriously,’” he stated, and the crowd responded with applause. The federal government announced in February that it was withholding $259.5 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota.RELATED: Vance's task force shutters 221 hospices in 'fraud king' Gavin Newsom's California Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesDuring Tuesday’s event, Vance commended CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for his work on eliminating fraud.“We had our weekly fraud check-in call two weeks ago, and Dr. Oz called in, but he’s like, ‘Hey, I got to go because I’m about to hop on the bus, and we’re going to go arrest a bunch of fraudsters in Los Angeles.’ And I was like, ‘That’s exactly what I want you to do. By all means, get off the phone.’ So we’re doing a lot of that stuff.”Vance explained that under the Biden administration, the federal government overlooked fraudsters who stole smaller amounts of money from taxpayers. He stated that this approach has changed under the Trump administration.“No amount of fraud is too big or too small. If you’re defrauding the taxpayer, you ought to go to prison, and anybody who’s helping you ought to go to prison too,” Vance remarked.RELATED: How a California crook committed $178 million worth of health care fraud — in just one year Alex Wong/Getty ImagesAs of Wednesday, the task force has suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies in Los Angeles, with an estimated fraud total exceeding $600 million.“With @VP’s leadership, we’re crushing fraud faster than ever,” Oz stated.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 15 2026
Cover image for 'Monster' suspected of brutally murdering DHS employee walking her dog is an immigrant naturalized under Biden, DHS says

'Monster' suspected of brutally murdering DHS employee walking her dog is an immigrant naturalized under Biden, DHS says

The suspect in a series of violent attacks that took the life of a woman simply out walking her dog is an immigrant who was naturalized under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.Neighbors of Lauren Bullis were shocked to find their quiet neighborhood violated by the sounds of gunfire early on Monday at about 6:50 a.m.'This monster was naturalized by the Biden administration.'Bullis was out walking her dog when a man shot her and stabbed her to death. Police later identified the suspect as 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel, who was arrested for her murder.Police then tied the suspect to the shooting death of a woman outside a Checkers restaurant as well as the shooting of a homeless man outside a Kroger grocery store.On Wednesday, DHS revealed the violent criminal past of Adon Abel, who immigrated to the U.S. from the United Kingdom and became a naturalized citizen under a previous president. "This monster was naturalized by the Biden administration," DHS said. "Adon Abel also possesses a prior criminal record that includes convictions for sexual battery, battery against a police officer, obstruction, and assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism. Our prayers are with the families of the victims during this tragic time."Bullis was also revealed to have been an exemplary employee at the DHS Office of Inspector General. "In every role she held, Lauren exemplified dedication to the OIG mission," DHS said. "Lauren approached her work with integrity, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to excellence that strengthened our organization and the communities we serve. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lauren was a bright spot for so many of the DHS community. She brought warmth, kindness, and a genuine sense of care to her colleagues each day."One witness indicated that she locked eyes with the assailant after he attacked Bullis and that he was in the act of pulling Bullis' pants off.RELATED: 'REVOLTING LIES!' DHS obliterates framing of gang-affiliated illegal aliens shot in Portland as 'married couple' DHS also documented the agency's efforts to weed out threats from the naturalization process:In an effort to remove murderers like this from our communities, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the creation of a new vetting center on December 5, 2025, to enhance screening and vetting of immigration applications, with a focus on identifying terrorists, criminal aliens, and other threats to public safety. The center will leverage advanced technologies and work closely with law enforcement and intelligence partners to strengthen national security and uphold the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 15 2026
Cover image for Mayor stands firm despite backlash after he mocked androgynous lesbian 'creature'

Mayor stands firm despite backlash after he mocked androgynous lesbian 'creature'

A Long Island mayor is standing firm despite calls for his resignation after he ridiculed a local activist online.The Sag Harbor Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday to formally request that Tom Gardella resign as mayor of his Long Island village. Gardella said he would participate in social media and anti-harassment training but that he wouldn't think of resigning.'Church man. He's a Christian.'"I will not resign from the office of mayor," said Gardella, reported the Sag Harbor Express. "That is not going to happen. You have me confused with somebody else. I’m not the guy that runs from a crisis. I’m the guy that runs into it."While the board members provided other justifications for Gardella's ouster, their ire centers on a comment the mayor left on an Instagram post last month.Animal rights activist Rebecca Chavez shared a video on March 6 in which she grooves to a song with a dog in her lap while her masculine lesbian lover dances in the background.Gardella — a Sag Harbor resident for over 30 years who runs a plumbing company, served as chief of the local fire department, and served in military intelligence during the Cold War — reportedly commented, "What's that thing in the background? A guy? A girl? Some creature?"RELATED: Woke Boise mayor tears up after city is forced to take down Pride flag on 'Transgender Day of Visibility' ENGIN GUNEYSU/AFP/Getty ImagesChavez wasted no time tracking down Gardella and making a stink, noting in a video, "Church man. He's a Christian. And a mayor?!"Chavez's characterization of Gardella as a "church man" may be the result of her superficial reading of an event posting advertising a talk the mayor gave at "The Church," a creative center on Long Island.The Texas-based lesbian, committed to giving a "Master Class in pettiness and accountability," stated, "I would expect an elected official and Christian man like yourself to behave better."Chavez then directed her followers to "send him a few emails to remind him that his behavior is unbecoming of a public servant."Deputy Mayor Edward Haye noted during a village board meeting last month, "We were made aware on March 9, yesterday, of a social media comment attributed to Mayor Gardella that disparaged members of the LGBT community.""Sag Harbor has long prided itself being a welcoming and a tolerant village, and those values deeply matter to us both as members of the village board and as residents," continued Haye. "While the comment appears to have been made on a personal social media account, it has understandably caused concern and hurt within our community."Gardella apologized, but that evidently wasn't enough for the activist."They always make an apology after the fact. So for me, his apology is not genuine," Chavez told News 12 Westchester, revealing an apparent confusion about how apologies work.The mayor's thin-skinned peers had the village launch an investigation into his comment.The investigation culminated in a report that accused the mayor of violating the village government's social media policy and anti-harassment policy and claimed that his 12-word comment was "disruptive to operations, negatively impacted members of the community, and created the false impression that village leadership does not support or tolerate diversity," reported the Express.On the basis of the report, the board voted to censure the mayor."I’m not going to resign as mayor of this village," Gardella, who was first elected in 2023, reiterated on Tuesday. "I would also say that I never sought to be mayor of this village. The residents of this village came to me and asked me to lead them. And I hope I can lead us out of this mess and at some point be able to work together with the board."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 15 2026
Cover image for Glenn Beck reveals what everyone is missing about the Trump Jesus meme

Glenn Beck reveals what everyone is missing about the Trump Jesus meme

Last Sunday, President Trump posted an AI-generated meme of himself dressed in white and red robes, his hand appearing to hold a glowing orb, while healing a sick person in a hospital bed. Many interpreted the image as Trump depicting himself as Jesus and were deeply offended by what they perceived as religious blasphemy. Others defended the post as an innocent joke.But Glenn Beck says all of these reactions are missing the bigger issue. Citing a Washington post article that framed the meme as the cause of rare, strong backlash and blasphemy accusations from Trump’s evangelical and Catholic supporters, Glenn begins by calling out the outlet for politically capitalizing on a tasteless joke in order to rile up and divide Trump’s supporters. “It's not like Jesus is Muhammad. You can do whatever you want to Jesus in this country and nobody cares, it seems,” he says. “Since when did the Washington Post care about something that could be looked upon as blasphemy for Christians?” “They only care because it's political,” he argues. Glenn explains that social media has become a powerful tool that enemies — domestic and foreign — use to push propaganda, stir up dissent, and manufacture outrage. Research has just shown that foreign powers are doing this in America right now. Glenn cites recent data showing that “60% of the most viral posts on X about Iran in the first weeks of the fighting came from accounts based outside of the US. Foreign accounts generated 155 million views compared to 93 million from real American viewers.” “That's not organic outrage, okay? That's Iran. That's Russia. That's China flooding the zone with deepfakes, doctored images of sunken ships, scripted narratives designed to make us fight one another,” he argues. These foreign powers “don’t care if you love Trump or hate Trump,” Glenn continues. “They just need everybody at each other's throats.” The biggest issue with Trump’s Jesus meme, says Glenn, isn’t what it might or might not have conveyed; the biggest issue is that it served as fuel for the social media outrage machine that keeps us fighting one another, which is exactly what our enemies want. “[Social media] is a .50-caliber machine gun aimed at your head and this civilization every single day. It's a nuclear weapon,” he warns. To hear more, watch the video above. Want more from Glenn Beck? To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

April 14 2026
Cover image for Video: Why is a Chinese robot chasing wild boars in Poland?

Video: Why is a Chinese robot chasing wild boars in Poland?

A popular Chinese robot is going viral for a video showing it chasing wild boars, but many aren't sure why that happened.The robot itself, nicknamed Edward Warchocki, is a Unitree G1 model available for public purchase that popped up in Poland.'Older ladies or gentlemen love talking with him.'The Chinese-made robots go for a whopping $23,809 for the basic model, all the way up to $58,365 for the "ultimate edition."Recently, this particular model was seen running through the streets of Warsaw, Poland, chasing wild boars. While hilarious, there is actual serious context behind the content.Major Polish cities like Krakow have endured a sprawling wild boar issue — even in city centers — for years, resulting in authorities urging their population to resist feeding the somewhat approachable beasts.Other cities have resorted to planting flowers with vivid colors and sweet scents in order to deter the pigs.Since at least 2019, there have been warnings of disease allegedly spread by the animals, resulting in calls for culls and elimination of thousands of them that have reportedly carried illnesses like African swine fever and Hepatitis E.Enter Edward the robot, who was recently seen shooing the animals away from downtown Warsaw.RELATED: Man vs. machine: Chinese robots will compete against humans in Beijing half-marathon - YouTube As reported by Interesting Engineering, Edward is a Chinese humanoid that operates mostly on its own. It is not controlled remotely and is described as unscripted. Therefore it reacts dynamically to its surroundings and engages in adaptive dialogue in Polish using AI.Edward is most popular with Polish Boomers, its owners say, as they are excited to interact with a robot for the first time.Radosław Grzelaczyk and business partner Bartosz Idzik started in cryptocurrency, but they now try to create viral videos with their robo-friend."Personally, the sight of this robot chasing boars does not surprise me anymore," Grzelaczyk told TVP World."Older ladies or gentlemen love talking with him," Grzelaczyk added. "These people are always delighted that they lived to see times in which robots move through the streets."RELATED: China debuts 'scary' martial arts robots capable of backflips and weapons training Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesIn China, the robots have been shown to be capable of advanced feats. Last year, they competed in a half-marathon and were showcased in February performing kung-fu, gymnastics, and weapons work.The focus during China's annual CCTV Spring Festival gala was innovation in multi-robot coordination and fault recovery, referring to a robot's ability to get up after tumbling down. China showed the robots in choreographed performances and dancing as well.Definitive warning signs of spying from Chinese robot manufacturers exist too. Axios reported on two security researchers who reported on Unitree Robotics allegedly pre-installing a backdoor on its Go1 robot dogs that allowed for customer surveillance.Other research warned about exploits that allowed for remote takeover of the humanoid bots, among other models.Neither Edward nor his owners responded to Return's 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!

by Blaze Media

April 14 2026
Cover image for Finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year withdraws after perverse photos unearthed

Finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year withdraws after perverse photos unearthed

One of 11 finalists for Teacher of the Year award in Minnesota withdrew after obscene videos and images were published by Alpha News.Former Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District 6th-grade teacher Thomas Rosengren is no longer a finalist after published images showed him simulating sex acts with two other men while dressed in bondage paraphernalia.'It’s feeding time on the farm. Cowboy Tommy is feeding the six piglets and bull.'Last week, Alpha News reached out to Education Minnesota, which ran the Teacher of the Year award, but did not receive a response. Days later, Education Minnesota updated its webpage to indicate that Rosengren had withdrawn.Rosengren worked as a social studies and earth science teacher in the Grove City district as well as a theater director and reportedly a coach.Although he has withdrawn from the Teacher of the Year contention, Rosengren won the title of Mr. Minneapolis Eagle in 2019, which celebrated his "bratty boy" status in the leather and gay community.An image of Rosengren in the "Mr. Minneapolis Eagle" leather sash can still be viewed on the social media account for the Twin Cities Gay Scene website.Alpha News published numerous images publicly available from the Eagle contest showing Rosengren wearing BDSM attire and posing sexually with two other males.In one image, Rosengren holds up a sign reading, "It’s feeding time on the farm. Cowboy Tommy is feeding the six piglets and bull."Other images showed him simulating oral and anal sex with the other leather-clad men.Alpha News published images published on his Facebook page showing him wearing a "cowboy hat, leather speedo, and bondage straps."RELATED: Dad says former math teacher and coach sent 15-year-old daughter nude selfie Initially district Superintendent Kip Lynk declined to answer questions posed by the news outlet and released a brief statement."Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Mr. Rosengren is entitled to data privacy protections, and without his consent, there is limited information I can share," he wrote.After Alpha News published the expose, Lynk said Rosengren was no longer employed at the district. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 14 2026
Cover image for Your bank can shut you down overnight — here’s how to protect yourself

Your bank can shut you down overnight — here’s how to protect yourself

Most Americans assume that if their deposits are insured, their banking relationship is stable. For decades, that assumption has been reasonable. Large national banks offer scale, convenience, and integration across checking, credit cards, mortgages, investments, and digital tools. For many households and businesses, they remain the default choice — for many good reasons.Regional and community banks typically face fewer reputational signaling incentives and fewer reasons to police customers’ lawful beliefs.But in recent years, some lawful customers have found accounts restricted or closed not for fraud or criminal conduct, but because the financial institution decided internally that the customer is a risk to the institution's reputation or political standing. In other words: They have been canceled.These cases are often hard to prove — and that difficulty is itself the problem. First lady Melania Trump revealed in her memoir that a bank decided to "terminate" her account. The reasoning was frustrating to pin down, since decisions on account restrictions are shielded from public verification by opaque risk explanations and confidentiality rules.Other cases were clearer. In 2023, internal documents revealed that U.K. private bank Coutts closed the account of British politician Nigel Farage after deciding his political views posed “reputational risk” — a disclosure that ultimately led to the resignation of National Westminster Bank's chief executive.“If they can do it to me, they can do it to you, too,” Farage proclaimed after the dispute.The riskYour money may be insured, but access to it is governed by institutional judgment. For some consumers, understanding where that judgment lies is now part of responsible financial planning.That’s where this guide comes in. It’s not a broadside against megabanks. It is a road map for readers who want to understand the trade-offs that come with scale — particularly when account access is governed by broad, centralized risk frameworks rather than personal relationships or clearly defined misconduct.Regulators have since moved to clarify standards governing account closures and risk assessments. But for consumers who watched large institutions end financial relationships under ambiguous or shifting rules, the question remains straightforward: Why assume that risk if alternatives exist?There are no guarantees. But there are differences — rooted in structure, incentives, and how close a branch is to customers — that can meaningfully affect how ideological risk is handled.Ideological risk is not evenly distributed. It tends to correlate with scale, distance, and discretion, rather than with partisan labels.This guide organizes banks into categories based on structure and incentives, not ideology.How this list was compiledAll banks listed below meet the following baseline criteria:FDIC-insured (or equivalent federal backing).No public record of ideologically motivated account closures.Standard modern banking services, including online and mobile access.Responses to Align's inquiries, where available.Institutional cultures or policies emphasizing lawful, viewpoint-neutral customer treatment.Banks to consider1. Regional and community banksThey are often safer. Regional and community banks typically operate on relationship-based models, with decision-making closer to customers and local markets. They face less national activist pressure, fewer reputational signaling incentives, and fewer reasons to police customers’ lawful beliefs.Here’s what to look for:FDIC insurance.Rigorous underwriting standards.Focus on local business, agriculture, manufacturing, or regional commerce.Long operating histories.Knowing exactly who to talk to next if your problem isn't fixed.Warning: Not all community banks are equal. Some rely heavily on third-party compliance vendors or adopt national risk frameworks wholesale. Size alone is not a guarantee.Here are some strong options.Woodforest National Bank FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.8 (32.2K reviews); Apple 4.8 (47K reviews) Region/States: 730+ branches in 17 states ATM: MoneyPass networkWoodforest National Bank is a privately owned, community-focused financial institution headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, that has provided banking services since 1980, operating hundreds of branches across multiple states and offering products for both personal and business customers. It offers a full range of financial services including checking and savings accounts, loans, debit cards, online and mobile banking, and other products designed for everyday banking needs. The bank emphasizes customer relationships, convenient access — including retail locations and digital tools — and a commitment to serving the communities where its customers live and work.First Premier Bank FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes (via Premier Bankcard) App: Yes — Google 4.5 (1.48K reviews); Apple 4.4 (1.4K reviews) Region/States: 13 branch locations in South Dakota ATM: Fee-free access to 37,000+ MoneyPass ATMs nationwideFirst Premier Bank is an independently owned, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It offers a full range of financial products and services, including personal, business, and agricultural checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, wealth management, and digital banking. The bank also operates Premier Bankcard, a nationally recognized issuer of Mastercard credit products. First Premier emphasizes strong capitalization, customer support, community investment, and accessible online and mobile banking tools for managing finances nationwide.American National Bank of Texas FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.7 (987 reviews); Apple 4.8 (9.7K reviews) Region/States: 24 locations in Dallas-Fort Worth ATM: ATMs at nearly all branchesAmerican National Bank of Texas is a long-established, independently owned, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Terrell, Texas, with more than 30 branches serving North Texas. It offers a full suite of financial products and services including personal and business checking and savings, loans and mortgages, digital banking, and wealth management. The bank emphasizes local relationship-driven service, community involvement, and comprehensive financial solutions tailored to individuals and businesses alike.Liberty National Bank (Midwest)FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.9 (15 reviews); Apple 4.6 (192 reviews) Region/States: 18 locations in Iowa, South Dakota, NebraskaLiberty National Bank (Midwest) is an independently owned, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa, founded in 2003. With approximately $600 million in assets, it serves customers across Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska, including Sioux City, Sioux Falls, and surrounding communities. The bank emphasizes local decision-making, relationship-based service, and support for families, businesses, and agricultural clients in the markets it serves.Liberty National Bank (Texas/Oklahoma)FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.5; Apple 4.9 Region/States: ~10 locations in Oklahoma and North Texas ATM: 20 local ATMsLiberty National Bank (Texas/Oklahoma) is an independently chartered, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma. Originally established in 1902 as the Bank of Elgin, it adopted the Liberty National name in 2002 and has since expanded across Oklahoma and into North Texas, with assets exceeding $1 billion. The bank remains under Green family ownership and emphasizes long-standing ties to local communities, regional growth, and personalized banking relationships.F&M Bank (Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California)FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.6 (322 reviews); Apple 4.8 (1.1K reviews) Region/States: 33 locations in California ATM: Pulse & Cirrus (400,000 ATMs)Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California offers personal and business banking services, including a variety of checking and savings accounts, loans, and agricultural financing tailored to individuals and companies across numerous California communities. The website emphasizes secure 24/7 online and mobile banking so that customers can manage accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, and access eStatements from anywhere. It also highlights local branch access, community roots dating back over a century, and a commitment to serving customers’ financial needs.New Peoples BankFDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 2.8 (82 reviews); Apple 4.6 (790 reviews) Region/States: 18 locations in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina ATM: Allpoint (55,000 locations)New Peoples Bank is a community-focused financial institution with multiple branches serving individuals and small to medium-size businesses across Southwestern Virginia, Southern West Virginia, Northeastern Tennessee, and Western North Carolina, offering a full suite of personal and business banking products including checking, savings, loans, and online services. Through its website, customers can open accounts, apply for mortgage or personal loans, manage finances with online and mobile banking tools, and access additional services like identity protection and ATM networks. The bank emphasizes local decision-making, Golden Rule customer service, and technology that supports secure, convenient banking experiences.First United Bank & TrustFDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 3.8 (51 reviews); Apple 4.8 (431 reviews) Region/States: 7 locations in Kentucky ATM: MoneyPassFirst United Bank and Trust Company is a community-oriented, FDIC-insured bank offering a full range of personal and business financial services, including checking and savings accounts, loans, digital banking, and trust solutions accessible online or at local branches. The bank emphasizes convenient 24/7 access to accounts, tools for managing finances, and solutions like credit cards and business services tailored to local needs. Its website highlights personal service, community engagement, and products designed to support customers’ financial goals with trusted relationships and modern banking technology.Arbor BankFDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.4 (132 reviews); Apple 4.8 (399 reviews) Region/States: 6 locations in Iowa and Nebraska ATM: MoneyPassArbor Bank is a community FDIC-insured bank offering a wide range of personal and business financial products, including checking and savings accounts, online/mobile banking, lending solutions, and mortgage services. It also provides business banking tools like treasury management, SBA loans, and positive pay fraud protection, along with card solutions and insurance options. The website emphasizes secure digital access, personalized service, and support for customers’ financial growth.First Command BankFDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google: 3.6 (82 reviews); Apple: 4.6 (1.5K reviews) Region/States: Over 750 First Command Bank advisers in over 175 offices in 45 states and Guam ATM: MoneyPass ATM network and NYCE network; reimburses non-FCB ATM surcharges up to $10 per statement cycleFirst Command’s banking section highlights personal banking products tailored for military personnel, veterans, and their families, including competitive checking and savings accounts, CDs, car loans, and debt consolidation options. These services come with convenient online and mobile access so that customers can manage funds, pay bills, and transfer money securely from anywhere, backed by the FDIC-insured protection First Command Bank offers. The emphasis throughout is on helping service members and their families manage everyday finances and build solid financial habits.Citizens First BankFDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: No (mobile app offers free credit report updates weekly) App: Yes — Google: 4.7 (1.24K reviews); Apple: 4.8 (3.1K reviews) Region/States: 19 locations in Florida (The Villages and surrounding counties) ATM: On-site ATMs at most branch locations; part of the Publix Presto! ATM Network (1,300+ surcharge-free ATMs across the Southeast); additional access through regional shared ATM arrangements (fees may vary depending on network)Citizens First Bank is an FDIC-insured community bank serving The Villages and surrounding counties in Florida. It offers personal and business checking and savings products, robust online and mobile tools including bill pay and eStatements, and an ATM network focused on surcharge-free access. The bank merged with Seacoast Bank in October 2025 following the acquisition of its parent company, with conversion of accounts tentatively scheduled for July 2026.Emigrant Bank FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: No App: No dedicated mobile app; online account management via EmigrantOnline® Region/States: 2 locations in New York; 1 location in Miami, Florida ATM: On-site ATMs at branch locations; The bank refers to participation in ATM networks, though specific network details and surcharge policies are not prominently disclosed on its website. Prospective customers should confirm ATM access and fee policies directly with the bank. Emigrant Bank is a privately owned U.S. financial institution offering high-yield savings, checking accounts, CDs, and mortgage lending. It emphasizes competitive deposit products and online/telephone banking access rather than a large retail branch footprint. Emigrant also provides mortgage lending through its direct lending division and support for account holders with tools to handle funds and financial needs securely.2. Credit unionsCredit unions are member-owned, less PR-sensitive, and historically focused on service rather than signaling. Because there are thousands of local credit unions with varying eligibility rules, this guide does not list specific institutions.How to find a good one:Confirm NCUA insurance.Look for long operating histories.Favor credit unions with business or agricultural lending.Ask directly about account-closure policies and escalation.3. Explicitly viewpoint-neutral banksThis is the smallest and most visible category — and the one that requires the most due diligence before joining.The claim here is not that these banks are “conservative,” but that they have made explicit commitments to viewpoint neutrality and have no public record of ideological account closures.What qualifies:Public neutrality policies.Leadership statements emphasizing lawful activity over belief.Clear articulation of when accounts would be restricted.No documented ideological de-banking cases.Old Glory BankFDIC-insured: YesCredit card: YesApp: Yes — Google 4.6 (940 reviews); Apple 4.8 (1.5K reviews)Region/States: Nationwide digital access; one physical branchATM: MoneyPass (40,000+ ATMs)Old Glory Bank is a full-service, FDIC-insured American bank headquartered in Elmore City, Oklahoma, offering personal and business checking and savings accounts, loans, certificates of deposit, and modern digital tools like mobile and online banking with nationwide access. It positions itself as a nationwide online bank built around traditional American values and strong commitments to privacy, security, and customer autonomy. Customers can bank digitally from all 50 states while also accessing features such as ATM networks, cash deposit options, and advanced debit card controls.Co-founded by John Rich, Dr. Ben Carson, Larry Elder, and former Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R), Old Glory is guided by what it calls the Banking Bill of Rights. A statement to Align from the founders makes the bank’s stand against de-banking central to its mission: “Not only does Old Glory Bank have a policy on de-banking, it is the very reason we exist! We were founded in direct response to the growing and troubling practice of de-banking Americans for their lawful, constitutionally protected beliefs. We saw the alarming trend in January 2021 and got to work years before it became newsworthy. We stand firm on the belief that this practice is morally, legally, and fundamentally incompatible with the freedom upon which our nation was built.”Regent BankFDIC-insured: YesCredit card: YesApp: Yes — Google 4.8 (21 reviews); Apple 4.9 (523 reviews)Region/States: 7 locations in Oklahoma, Texas, MissouriATM: 10 free out-of-network transactions monthlyRegent Bank is a regional, FDIC-insured, full-service bank headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with multiple branches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri, offering personal and business banking products including checking, savings, loans, digital banking, and treasury services. It emphasizes personalized, concierge-style service tailored to entrepreneurs, small and mid-market businesses, and specialized niches like health care, agriculture, and nonprofits. The bank combines traditional community banking values with modern tools and solutions, supporting clients’ financial needs through dedicated local relationships and digital access.A Regent Bank spokesperson told Align that the institution identifies as a “Christian, faith-based organization in terms of [its] mission and values” and that its “approach is grounded in relationship-driven banking and serving clients based on lawful activity — not political or religious beliefs.” Regent’s spokesperson added that de-banking is a frequently discussed issue at the executive level of the organization.4. Large regional and super-regional banksRegions BankFDIC-insured: YesCredit card: YesApp: Yes — Google: 4.5 (128K reviews); Apple: 4.9 (521K reviews)Region/States: 1,445 locations across 15 states spanning the South, Midwest, and TexasATM: No-fee access at Regions ATMsRegions Bank is a large, FDIC-insured, full-service financial institution and subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation, offering a broad range of personal banking products including checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, digital banking, and wealth management solutions. It serves millions of customers through an extensive branch and ATM network across the South, Midwest, and Texas, while also providing online and mobile tools for everyday account management The bank combines traditional community-oriented service with modern digital convenience to support a wide spectrum of consumer financial needs.Zions BankFDIC-insured: YesCredit card: YesApp: Yes — Google: 4.6 (6.8K reviews); Apple: 4.7 (29K reviews)Region/States: ~20 branches in Utah and other Western marketsATM: No-fee ATM network serving Western U.S.Zions Bank is a full-service, FDIC-insured regional bank operating as part of Zions Bancorporation, offering personal banking products such as checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, credit cards, and robust digital banking tools including online and mobile access. It serves individuals and small businesses through an extensive network of full-service branches across multiple Western states and emphasizes community-focused service with modern financial solutions. Founded in the 19th century and rooted in local market relationships, Zions Bank combines traditional banking values with convenient digital access for everyday financial management.Synovus BankFDIC-insured: YesCredit card: YesApp: Yes — Google: 4.7 (10.6K reviews); Apple: 4.8 (50K reviews)Region/States: 40+ locations in Alabama and GeorgiaATM: Unlimited fee-free Pinnacle Financial Partners ATMsSynovus is a large, FDIC-insured financial services company and bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, offering a full range of commercial and personal banking products including checking and savings, loans, mortgages, credit cards, and digital banking. It also provides specialized services such as wealth management, trust and investment solutions, treasury management, and mortgage and capital markets services through its subsidiaries. Synovus operates an extensive branch and ATM network across the Southeast and emphasizes personalized client relationships alongside modern digital tools. Arvest BankFDIC-insured: YesCredit card: YesApp: Yes — Google: 3.6 (12.5K reviews); Apple: 4.9 (252K reviews)Region/States: 310 locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and OklahomaATM: Offers ATMs with live teller drive-thru servicesArvest Bank is a regional full-service bank offering personal and business financial products including checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, credit cards, wealth and treasury management, and secure online and mobile banking tools. Through its extensive network of branches across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas, the bank emphasizes local community commitment while providing modern digital conveniences like 24/7 account access and mobile deposits. Its mission centers on partnering with customers to deliver tailored financial solutions that support everyday banking needs and long-term financial goals.PlainsCapital Bank FDIC-insured: Yes Credit card: Yes App: Yes — Google 4.5 (1.3K reviews); Apple 4.9 (8.7K reviews) Region/States: 55 branches across Texas, including Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley ATM: Branch and regional network ATM access (confirm surcharge policies directly with bank)Founded in 1988 in Lubbock, Texas, PlainsCapital Bank has grown into one of the largest independent banks in the state, with approximately $12.4 billion in assets and more than 1,000 employees. A subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings Inc., it operates a statewide branch network and offers commercial banking, treasury management, private banking, wealth management, and consumer banking services. While emphasizing relationship-based banking, PlainsCapital functions at the scale of a large regional institution with centralized infrastructure and enterprise-level risk management.What to approach with cautionNot every “alternative” bank actually reduces ideological risk.Fintech apps without their own bank charter: Many rely on sponsor banks and payment processors, meaning account access can be restricted upstream with little notice.Institutions with expansive “reputational risk” clauses: Banks that reserve broad discretion to sever relationships for social or political reasons introduce uncertainty.Ideological startups without federal backing: Branding is not a substitute for FDIC insurance, balance-sheet transparency, or regulatory oversight.Questions to ask your bankIf ideological or reputational risk is a concern, you don’t need to announce your politics or interrogate your bank. You’re simply trying to understand process, discretion, and escalation — the same way you would with fees, fraud protection, or data security.These are reasonable, neutral questions.1. Under what circumstances can my account be restricted or closed?Listen for clear references to fraud, illegality, or operational risk. Be cautious if you hear broad or undefined references to “reputational,” “social,” or “values-based” concerns.2. Will I receive notice before an account is restricted or closed?Ask:How much notice is typical? Are there circumstances under which notice is not provided?Advance notice reduces risk regardless of ideology.3. Is there an appeal or escalation process if a decision is made?Important follow-ups:Can decisions be reviewed by a human committee?Is there a relationship manager or ombudsman involved?The ability to appeal matters as much as the rule itself.4. Who ultimately makes account-closure decisions?You’re listening for local or relationship-based decision-making versus centralized compliance teams or third-party vendors. Distance often correlates with opacity.5. Do you rely on third-party compliance or risk vendors?This matters because:Upstream vendors can impose restrictions that the bank itself did not initiate.Vendor changes can alter outcomes without warning.6. How do you define “reputational risk”?A strong answer ties reputational risk to concrete financial, legal, or operational exposure.A weak answer uses vague or moralized language without boundaries.7. Are account decisions based on lawful activity, regardless of belief or affiliation?Banks that can say this plainly usually mean it.8. Is my account subject to special monitoring or enhanced review?This is especially relevant for nonprofits, small businesses, and public-facing individuals.How to use this checklistYou don’t need perfect answers. You’re looking for a bank that can explain its rules clearly — and show how decisions are reviewed.

by Blaze Media

April 14 2026
Cover image for Liz Wheeler Delivers ‘The Best Catholic Response’ to Trump’s Controversial Jesus Post

Liz Wheeler Delivers ‘The Best Catholic Response’ to Trump’s Controversial Jesus Post

On April 12 (Orthodox Easter Sunday), President Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself in a white tunic and red robe healing a sick person, which many interpreted to resemble a Christ-like figure. The post came shortly after a lengthy Truth Social post criticizing Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” over the pope’s opposition to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.The image sparked widespread outrage and accusations of blasphemy even from some evangelical and conservative Christian supporters, leading Trump to delete it the next day. He later claimed it was meant to show him as a doctor, not Jesus.Liz Wheeler, BlazeTV host of “The Liz Wheeler Show,” offers what she believes is “the best Catholic” response to the post. Liz, who labels herself “a Catholic Trump supporter,” says she does not think the post was “wise or prudent” from a spiritual or political perspective.“It's not prudent spiritually for himself, and I care about his eternal soul. I'm a Christian. And it's also obviously not a political winner of a post, as you can tell from the backlash,” she says.At the same time, Liz doesn’t buy into the idea that Trump is some evil spiritual figure trying to convince the world he’s powerful like Jesus.“Do I think that President Trump is some kind of Antichrist figure who actually views himself as a messiah, like so many people online are saying in outrage?” she asks.“No, I don't think that. I don't think Trump views himself as a messiah. I don't think that he is an antichrist figure.”“But do I think that our God should be mocked?” she asks. “No, I don't. Do I think that you should claim to be or portray yourself as the son of God when you are not? No, I don't.”Liz believes that the post was most likely a distasteful joke coined by someone on Trump’s social media team.“My guess is that some male Gen Z member of Trump's team, someone who is probably in one too many offensive meme group chats and got a little desensitized to offensive memes, suggested this to Trump as a post,” she speculates.“Perhaps this meme was a misguided attempt to remind people that President Trump ... is fighting evil on an institutional level,” she continues.And while Liz knows that Trump “is not perfect,” she does wholeheartedly agree that he is standing up against evil in a truly admirable way.“He's fighting against transgender ideology; he's fighting against critical race theory; he's fighting against radical Islam; he's fighting globalism; he's fighting socialist dictators. He is securing our border, our nation's sovereignty, to protect our country, our Christian nation. He's reducing crime in cities across the country to protect your family and mine. He is reordering the global financial system in order to better serve you,” she says.“Obviously, that meme he posted didn't land for obvious reasons, and it shouldn't have landed because of what it seemed to portray, and Trump did the right thing by deleting it because if it was intended to portray him as Jesus versus just reminding people that Trump's policies generally serve humanity, then it never should have been posted in the first place,” she concludes. “It's as simple as that.”To hear more, watch the episode above.Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

April 14 2026
Cover image for Trump 2019 impeachment exposed: Gabbard provides damning insights into deep-state stitch-up

Trump 2019 impeachment exposed: Gabbard provides damning insights into deep-state stitch-up

The House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in December 2019 over a phone call he had months earlier with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.While the U.S. Senate ultimately acquitted Trump by a vote of 57-43 in early 2020, the stitch-up had by that stage sufficiently muddied the waters and buoyed Democrats' false narrative in an especially heated election year.'It is always worse than we thought.'Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released documents on Monday revealing that hearsay and erroneous claims from a few politicized bad actors who lacked any firsthand knowledge of the phone call were used as the basis to impeach Trump and that elements of the intelligence community were not only aware but happy to advance the false narrative.The documents — investigative materials used by former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, who got the ball rolling on impeachment, and transcripts of his testimony released as the result of a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence vote last month — show that Atkinson skirted standard IG procedures and, embracing a kind of strategic myopia, leaned entirely on what the ODNI described as "politicized, manufactured narratives" without ever once bothering to access the transcript of Trump's call.A self-declared "Democrat" whistleblower who worked for the CIA filed a complaint in August 2019 alleging Trump was "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. elections. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country — Ukraine — to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals, former Vice President Biden."On the call, Trump reportedly made reference to how Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid to Ukraine unless the prosecutor investigating the corrupt and now-defunct Ukrainian company Burisma, where Hunter Biden was appointed director in 2014, was fired.The ODNI noted on the basis of the newly released documents that Atkinson — who spun the complaint as "credible" and rushed it to the congressional intelligence committees — had bothered to interview only four individuals whose credibility and political motives were clearly suspect.RELATED: Democrat says he's filed articles of impeachment against Trump over social media post House Judiciary Committee hearing on Dec. 12, 2019. Alex Edelman/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBesides the whistleblower — credibly identified as Eric Ciaramella, the Obama holdover and CIA analyst who reportedly partook in Obama White House discussions regarding Hunter Biden and Burisma — Atkinson interviewed the whistleblower's friend, "who was a co-author of the January 2017 Russia Hoax Intelligence Community Assessment and close colleague of former FBI Agent Peter Strzok," and two character references.Not only did Atkinson rely upon the testimonies of politicized actors, he determined that the complaint must be reported to Congress despite the Justice Department determining there was "no urgent concern" and the whistleblower confirming he had no "direct knowledge of private comments or communications by the President."It appears the hearsay-dependent allegations were buttressed by wild speculation.One of the "witnesses" had admitted after reading a transcript of the call that they "would not have been able to get from 'point A to Z' the way the Whistleblower did" and that they had to "read between the lines" in order to conclude Trump was discussing quid pro quo.The ODNI noted that the newly released "witness" interviews demonstrate that Atkinson's public assertion that "other information obtained during [his] preliminary review ... supports the complainant's allegation" was false and obfuscated the fact that there was no firsthand evidence of what was being alleged. The newly declassified documents confirm not only that the whistleblower lied to Atkinson about leaking to congressional Democrats prior to submitting his allegations to the inspector general but that he was, contrary to Atkinson's characterization, politically biased.Atkinson testified to Congress that he "never considered the whistleblower to be politically biased."He drew this conclusion despite the whistleblower stating in his interviews that he is a "registered Democrat"; had "worked closely with Vice President Biden" and had traveled with Biden to Ukraine; and was the "target of right-wing bloggers ... and conspiracy theorists.""Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States," stated Gabbard."Inspector General Atkinson failed to uphold his responsibility to the American people, putting political motivations over the truth. And this, along with the politicization of the whistleblower process by a former CIA employee who was working hand in glove with Democrats in Congress, are egregious examples of the deep state playbook on how to weaponize the Intelligence Community," continued Gabbard.In 2019, Gabbard was a Democratic congresswoman representing Hawaii and cast the only "present" vote on both articles of impeachment."It was a sham from the start," tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). "The only thing we got wrong is that it is always worse than we thought."Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, who worked to defend Trump at his impeachment trial, told Just the News that Trump could have grounds to expunge his impeachment in the House in light of the new revelations."It's never been done. I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done," said Dershowitz."These government officials will probably have to pay a political price, if not a legal price, for violating the Constitution, because that's what they've done. They violated the Constitution," said Dershowitz, adding that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to confront witnesses.In terms of seeking remedy, Dershowitz suggested Trump could always bring a civil lawsuit.Trump evidently liked Dershowitz's suggestions and said on Truth Social, "Alan, one of the greats, should do it!"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 13 2026
Cover image for Swalwell caves, will RESIGN from Congress

Swalwell caves, will RESIGN from Congress

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California says he will resign from Congress after the Ethics Committee said he would be under investigation for numerous sexual harassment accusations.Swalwell had already abandoned his hopes to become the governor of California, but on Monday he posted a statement saying he was also going to resign from office.'Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong.' "I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make," he posted on social media."I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties," he added."Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress," Swalwell wrote.He was referring to efforts to expel him along with Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who allegedly had an affair with a staffer who later killed herself; Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) over alleged fraud; and Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) for numerous allegations.RELATED: Brian Stelter is getting CRUSHED on social media for praising journalism about Swalwell sex allegations "I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district," Swalwell concluded.This is a developing story. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 13 2026
Cover image for Top Schumer aide joins Big Tech team whose CEO once called for Trump to deploy National Guard in San Francisco

Top Schumer aide joins Big Tech team whose CEO once called for Trump to deploy National Guard in San Francisco

A longtime communications director for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is leaving Capitol Hill for the tech world.Interestingly, the move comes six months after the CEO of the company he's joining apologized for suggesting President Trump should send troops into California.'My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution.'Alex Nguyen, Schumer's communications director for the past seven years, is headed for civilian life after nearly two decades working in the nation's capital.According to Capitol Hill outlet Punchbowl News, Nguyen will become director of corporate communications for Salesforce, a customer service and automation-software company. Ally Biasotti, a previous national press secretary for Schumer, will take over Nguyen's old role.In October 2025, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff apologized for saying he would welcome the deployment of National Guard troops to San Francisco — where the company is headquartered — stating, "We don't have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I'm all for it."According to CNBC, Benioff faced blowback, and his remarks even sparked a resignation from board member Ron Conway, who reportedly told Benioff in an email that their "values were no longer aligned."RELATED: 'Allows ICE to kick tens of billions' off voter rolls? Schumer’s SAVE Act claims keep getting worse. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images This prompted Benioff to walk back his comments in a post to his X page, stating that he no longer believed "the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco.""My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution," Benioff wrote, adding that he sincerely apologized for "the concern" his remarks caused.In a subsequent post, Benioff shared a graph purporting to show that San Francisco Police numbers had plummeted since 2019, while noting that Salesforce had pledged $1 million in sign-on bonuses to SFPD recruits.RELATED: CNN analyst delivers Democrats devastating news about base support Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images Nguyen's transition to the Salesforce C-suite comes amid a data breach and rumors of increased layoffs at the company.Salesforce has confirmed that thousands of customer records were breached, allegedly through a connected third-party app. The app provides a live-chat function that connects to Salesforce to convert customer leads.At the same time, Salesforce has disputed rumors that the breach also revealed the company was planning to cut approximately 4,000 customer support roles.According to Storyboard 18, Salesforce said the reported figure does not refer to new layoffs but rather a planned redeployment that was initiated in September 2025.Schumer's team did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 13 2026
Cover image for The return of Drag Queen Story Hour?

The return of Drag Queen Story Hour?

I was at my local library recently when I saw something odd on the bulletin board. It looked like a poster for a Drag Queen Story Hour.They can’t be doing that again? I thought to myself.Much of drag comedy focuses on the fact that as hard as they try, most men can’t actually pull off impersonating a woman.In case you don’t remember, Drag Queen Story Hour was one of the most bizarrely inappropriate events ever to appear at your local library.When these “story hours” first began to proliferate in the late 2010s, the idea of drag queens reading books to very small children set off one of the fiercest battles of the culture wars.Because it was so transgressive, outrageous, and effective as a way of infuriating the general populace, the proponents of DQSH doubled down on it. They kept pushing it. They founded an NGO. They rammed it down our throats. Blake NelsonQueen's gambitThe way DQSH worked: Libraries would hire a professional drag queen to read books to children ages 3 to 11. It was presented to the public as a “fun twist” on the idea of a kindly grandmother or librarian reading to the kids.The drag queens they hired were adult men from the local area, men who were otherwise employed performing “drag shows” at nightclubs, bars, and private events.These men dressed up like women — more specifically, super-sexualized women (prostitutes). Then they went on stage and told raunchy stories and sexually explicit jokes. Sometimes they sang songs and did pratfalls, all of which were of a sexual nature.The understanding was that a drag show would feature explicit sexual content. Which is why they were performed in 21-and-over establishments.That is, until Drag Queen Story Hour came along. And someone decided that drag queens belonged in libraries, reading to children.Live, love, laughPart of the appeal of drag queens is the humorous sight of a chubby, stubbly, middle-aged man wearing lipstick, mascara, and gigantic false eyelashes. Much of drag comedy focuses on the fact that as hard as they try, most men can’t actually pull off impersonating a woman. And the results of their clumsy failures are often very funny.Drag shows — or something like them — have appeared in many cultures throughout history. The humor of men pretending to be women is universal. Everyone finds those situations funny.Everyone, that is, except for 4-year-olds, who might not understand this style of humor just yet. And don’t need to.The fact is that it would be hard to predict how a small child would react to a professional drag queen in person.Oh, sure, a child who has been coached and prepped by a progressive parent might enjoy it. But your average child? Especially those under the age of 6? They might be traumatized.And then doubly so when the adults they usually trust (parents, teachers, librarians) tell them not to be afraid, that it is wrong to feel uncomfortable, that if they have any negative feelings whatsoever about “Miss Wiggles” — who is 6'2", wearing ghoulish makeup, and pretending to be a woman — they are committing a grave moral sin.Some small children are frightened by the sight of their own parents dressed up in Halloween costumes. Think of what an encounter with “Sashay D. Lite” might do to them.RELATED: My search for America's last decent public libraries Joe McNally/Getty ImagesProperly checked and vettedSome conservatives raised the issue that some of these performers might be predators of some kind.This was met with attacks and smears that conservatives were homophobic, transphobic bigots, hatemongers, etc. Besides, all the drag queens would, of course, be thoroughly screened and vetted.And yet at a Houston library in 2019, one of the drag queens reading stories to children was found to be a registered child sex offender.So except for that guy. Everyone else had been properly checked and vetted.Culture war, wins and lossesLooking back at the original battle over Drag Queen Story Hour ... who actually won?In my mind, the general public did. Obviously a large majority of people believed DQSH was a bad idea. And the libraries stopped doing it.But here I was, in my local library, staring at a poster with a Pride flag. And a drag queen. With the words Story Hour on it.Looking closer, I saw they had changed the name. Now it was called Family Pride Story Hour. It would be specifically for LGBTQ families. A drag queen would be reading the stories. And then there would be a dance.The suggested age for children attending? “Birth to six years old.”No rest for the wickedAhhh. Those sneaky leftists. They couldn’t let this go. Subjecting infant children to the most grotesque adults they could find was too good a strategy to abandon.What better way to divide and conquer? To confound and demoralize? They want us to fight over the drag queens again!My advice is: Don’t do it. Don’t give them what they want. Talk to your librarians ahead of time. Talk to your library’s supervisor.But be aware: If Family Pride Story Hour is coming to my town, it might well be coming to yours.

by Blaze Media

April 13 2026
Cover image for Ode to a 1984 Buick Skylark — and to all the other cars of my life

Ode to a 1984 Buick Skylark — and to all the other cars of my life

America is a nation of cars. Those hunks of metal on four rubber tires are our lifelines. They are how we go to work, go home, go out to eat, go on vacation, and go just about everywhere and anywhere. When we are just a few days old, we come home from the hospital in one, and on our way out, we head to the grave in a hearse.I bought it for $450 from a friend who was moving to New York City. It was cream with a plush, brown interior.From birth to death; we live in cars.We love our cars when they work for us, and we hate them when they don’t. We curse them when they break down, when they don’t start, and when they demand $2,750 for a new computer chip just to get running again. We even mourn them when they break down once and for all — no matter how much grief they've caused us. We become attached to our cars because of course we do. For Americans, they are an inextricable part of life.1978 Oldsmobile StarfireAnd of our history. Cars transport us through space, but also through time — to certain chapters in our lives. A car is a physical reminder of who we were behind that particular wheel. I remember my first car like we all remember our first car. It’s the first time you are free like an adult even though you are not an adult. You are still very much a stupid kid, but you don’t feel like one in the driver's seat. Mine was a 1978 Oldsmobile Starfire. It was light blue, and it was my grandpa’s before it was mine. He “sold” it to me for $1. I loved that car. I felt like I was in an old movie when I was driving down the road. I loved looking at it parked. I loved thinking about the fact it was mine. It was so cool, so retro, so rear-wheel drive, so bad in the rain. One morning on the way to school, I drove it off the road and into a ditch, and that was the end of the Starfire. 1993 Plymouth VoyagerMy next car was really my parents’ car, and it wasn’t a car; it was a van. They let me use it pretty much whenever I wanted to. It was a white 1993 Plymouth Voyager. The sliding door was full of sand and barely moved. The crank windows weren’t working so great. There was an MP3 player plugged into a tape adapter shoved into the tape deck on the dashboard. That van is my senior year of high school. I remember driving with my girlfriend to a crappy Chinese restaurant about 40 miles south just for something to do with a pretty girl I liked. We did that a lot. I got two tickets speeding back from her house late at night in that van.1984 Buick SkylarkAfter the Voyager, I drove a 1984 Buick Skylark. I bought it for $450 from a friend who was moving to New York City. It was cream with a plush, brown interior. I don’t even know how many miles it had on it, I just knew that it ran, and it ran good. I drove that thing all over. Up north, over to Detroit, down to Chicago, out to Wisconsin. It had a cigarette lighter and ashtrays. I remember smoking American Spirits in a yellow pack in that car. Driving with the windows down in the summer and slipping around the road in the winter. The Skylark was my college car. It was an "old" car then, but now it's ancient: 1984 was 42 years ago. I suppose that makes me ancient too. Four years after I bought the Skylark, I sold her to my brother for $300 and moved to Chicago. I didn’t have a car for almost a decade. I didn’t need one there, and I didn’t need one when I was overseas. 2007 Volvo XC90The next car I bought was with that old high school girlfriend, now my wife. Right after we got married, we left the city, and so we bought a 2007 Volvo XC90 with about 120,000 miles on it. It cost us $3,600, which we borrowed from my wife’s grandparents. We paid them back over the next year. We didn’t have the Volvo for too long; it broke down a couple years later. But it was a beast of a car and the first thing we owned together. Thinking about it now, the XC90 was kind of a symbolic introduction to married life. It wasn’t my car; it was our car.RELATED: My grandpa’s old desk Michael Brennan/Getty Images2009 Volvo S70After the XC90 was a 2009 Volvo S70. It was a fine car, and it was the car in which our son came home from the hospital. That car was us three. First-time parents, firstborn son. That first year with your first kid is special, and that car was where it happened. The S70 was a little weird. It wouldn’t start if it was colder than 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside. You would think a car from Sweden would be able to handle the cold, but it couldn't. I had to hook it up to a starter that plugged into the wall and juice the battery for 30 minutes if we needed to start it when it was cold. Our last trip in that car was our trip to the hospital when my wife was in labor and about to give birth to our daughter. In the middle of the night, I drove my wife and our son through a snowstorm to the hospital. We hit a massive piece of ice flying off a plow, the car eventually overheated, and the S70 died on the side of the road somewhere in Northern Michigan at about 4:30 a.m. My wife took an ambulance to the hospital, my son and I took a cop car behind her, and the Volvo took a tow truck to the scrapyard. 2017 Honda HR-VA few days later, we got a Honda HR-V from my wife’s then-92-year-old grandmother. She never drove it, and she didn’t need it, so she gave it to us, and it’s been our car ever since. I don’t know how much longer we will have the HR-V. Maybe 10 years, maybe one year. We’ve got three kids in there now, and it can’t take any more. One day, maybe we will be lucky enough to upgrade to an SUV with another row. We’ll see.I can already tell how we will remember the HR-V. I already know the chapter it will define for us. We will say it was our first real family car, our car when we added two kids and grew a lot in quite a few ways. Our lives have become much better in that car. We’ve experienced some bad stuff in it but much more good on the whole. We grew, that’s for sure. It’s a good car now, and someday we hope to remember it as a great car.It sounds funny to mark our time by our cars. But the more I think about it, the more I think it’s as good a way as any to divide up our time here. Cars: the things that take us wherever we go.

by Blaze Media

April 12 2026
Cover image for 'Gibberish' in the pew? Rick Burgess confronts the tongues controversy in Pentecostal churches

'Gibberish' in the pew? Rick Burgess confronts the tongues controversy in Pentecostal churches

On a recent episode of “Strange Encounters” — a podcast on spiritual warfare — BlazeTV host Rick Burgess received a message from a listener who was disturbed by what he had been seeing in the Pentecostal church.He wrote, “The Pentecostals seem to me to be mocking the Holy Spirit by running around the church speaking in gibberish, knocking people down, etc. Is this some sort of demonic type of behavior that is not honoring the Spirit of the Lord or just confused people who have twisted Scripture and clearly don't seem to follow it?”Rick addresses the controversial issue of speaking in tongues by first pointing out different denominations’ preferences for one specific part of the Holy Trinity. “Conservative Presbyterians, you see a more stoic, reverent representation and a lot — a lot — a lot of talk about the Father. … If you were to go to a traditional, say, Baptist church, you're going to hear a lot about the Son,” he says.“And then you get into the charismatics … your Pentecostals, your Church of God, and it's almost like the Holy Spirit is their favorite.”The issue of speaking in tongues, Rick explains, begins with “[taking] God as he is.”“We should be worshipping God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit,” he says.Rick points out that speaking in tongues is often treated by denominations that embrace it as something that makes them “superior” to other Christians.“Some go even further to say that to speak in tongues is to prove that you are truly redeemed. Scripture would not agree with that,” he says.So what does Scripture say about speaking in tongues?Rick refers to the apostle Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 14:Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.Rick unpacks Paul’s teaching: “Is speaking in tongues real? Yeah, it is. Is it some gift that … is beneficial to the church? Not really.”“If it's just a bunch of gibberish with no one to interpret and you're making a scene in the church and drawing attention to yourself and it has no benefit to the rest of the church, then Paul doesn't seem to think much of it at all,” he continues.However, Rick is conflicted about whether or not speaking in uninterpreted tongues in church is overtly demonic.“I don’t really know the answer to that. It feels to me that any time that we are singing praise songs that have bad theology, preaching messages that are not biblically sound, and, I guess I would say, and speaking in tongues in a way that is in conflict with Scripture, I think at the heart of all that is demonic activity,” he says.“Because let me tell you, [demons] would love to come inside the church if they have been invited.”To hear more, watch the episode above.Want more from Rick Burgess?To enjoy more bold talk and big laughs, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

by Blaze Media

April 12 2026
Cover image for Assistant DA Gets Slap on Wrist After Birthday Celebration Ends With Vomit and Field Sobriety Test: VIDEO

Assistant DA Gets Slap on Wrist After Birthday Celebration Ends With Vomit and Field Sobriety Test: VIDEO

A New Jersey woman tasked with prosecuting lawbreakers, including those driving under the influence, has received a slap on the wrist after her 30th birthday turned into a night she would probably like to forget. On March 8, 2025, Bryashia Atchison-Henderson, an assistant prosecutor in Essex County, apparently celebrated turning the big 3-0 a little too hard. A driver contacted police after allegedly witnessing Atchison-Henderson make a sharp turn and then fall out of her vehicle. 'She threw up in the car.' Edgewater police found Atchison-Henderson lying in a parking lot near her car, which was parked on a curb and still running, bodycam footage revealed. She also told the cops, 'I didn’t realize I was this drunk,' prompting a field sobriety test. 'You kinda just admitted to me that you were drunk,' one officer says on the video. She had difficulty standing and could not correctly identify her location, video showed. She also began to cry and repeatedly begged to call her son's father. RELATED: Tiger Woods arrested for DUI after another rollover incident, police say Atchison-Henderson was arrested around 8:30 p.m. and placed in the back of a police cruiser. One of the arresting officers later told a colleague, 'She threw up in the car.' While at the station, she allegedly refused a breathalyzer. She also vomited again, this time in the processing room, authorities said, according to NJ.com. For over a year, Atchison-Henderson continued working at the prosecutor's office with a DUI charge looming over her head. The office did not acknowledge her arrest until four months later, the New Jersey Globe reported. On April 2, 2026, she pled guilty to reckless driving. She will reportedly have to pay a $340 fine plus court costs. The Globe noted that the reckless driving conviction will also likely result in points on her record. A charge of refusing a breathalyzer had already been dropped. The Essex County prosecutor's office confirmed to NJ.com that Atchison-Henderson remains employed but declined to comment on any possible disciplinary action she may face. 'Administrative investigations are confidential,' the office said in a statement. 'As such, we are unable to comment on the matter.' Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

by Blaze Media

April 12 2026
Cover image for Why modern rejection of God goes back to ancient church heresy: The Robertsons break it down

Why modern rejection of God goes back to ancient church heresy: The Robertsons break it down

There was a time when God revealed himself in astonishing, tangible ways.In the Old Testament, he led the Israelites through the wilderness by appearing as a pillar of cloud and fire; he descended on Mount Sinai with thunder, lightning, thick smoke, and a loud trumpet blast to deliver the Ten Commandments; he took the prophet Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind with a chariot and horses of fire; and the list goes on.But since the coming of Jesus, God has been much more subtle in how he reveals himself. Many Christian testimonies include encounters with God, but they are usually experienced in quiet, personal moments.John Luke Robertson believes this is why so many people today refuse to believe in God. On this episode of "Unashamed," he joins Al Robertson, Zach Dasher, and Christian Huff to unpack exactly that. John Luke points out that Jesus’ own life and ministry were clearly marked by subtlety.“He could have said at 12 years old, ‘I'm the Messiah,’ and started it from there, but He waited till He was 30,” he explains.Even after his ministry began, Jesus often told people — including his disciples and those he healed — to keep his miracles secret. Multiple times in the Gospels, he is recorded saying “my time has not yet come” when people tried to force his hand or make him king too soon.When he finally faced the cross, Jesus still remained subtle in admitting his divinity, responding to direct questions like “Are you the Son of God?” or “Are you the King of the Jews?” with humble affirmations such as, “You have said so” or “you say that I am.”“All the way up till the very end, he didn't have this big reveal of who he was. … And I think we see that same thing with God now,” says John Luke.John Luke recalls hearing an atheist explain that he doesn’t believe in God because if he were real, “He would have revealed himself more openly.”But if you look back through history, this isn’t a modern issue. For centuries people have been demanding more obvious or dramatic power.“I was just reading this book talking about the same thing,” says Christian. “It was these two early historians … and they were saying they don't believe the gospel and Jesus because they're like, ‘After the resurrection, why would he appear to women and to peasants? ... Why would he not appear to Caesar and Pilate and all these powerful people?”’In the next segment of the show, the panel moves deeper into how this expectation of a more dramatic, public revelation of God has roots in ancient heresies that the early church had to confront — errors that still influence skeptical thinking today.To hear it, watch the episode above.Want more from the Robertsons?To enjoy more on God, guns, ducks, and inspiring stories of faith and family, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.