Will today’s conservatives look to the fusionist founding father for how to fill the theory vacuum?
Why are U.S. The post BIG WIN IN N CAROLINA: Court Reaffirms “Never Residents” Cannot Vote – While Michigan SOS Benson Continues to Defy Constitution–Allows Individuals To Vote That Never Lived in State appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
On Wednesday, the musical lineup was announced for the Great American State Fair, an event that will be held at the National Mall to mark the country’s semiquincentennial, which President Donald Trump has promoted as something of a MAGA-patriot bash. By Friday, the concert series was in disarray as nearly all of the proclaimed performers had pulled out, asserting that they’d been misled by organizers. As Washingtonian explained, “They thought they were performing at a nonpartisan celebration of the nation’s birthday — and had not been informed that Freedom 250 was an organization closely tied to Donald Trump.”As a result, “the Great American State Fair seems to be melting down, in a bizarre situation that involves dueling semiquincentennial celebrations, a congressional probe into possibly shady fundraising practices, apparently empty concert stages, and one very weird rant recorded to Instagram from the toilet.”So far, 5 of 9 artists from the original lineup have dropped out, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day & the Time, and the Commodores. According to McBride, “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.” Said Michaels, the event “has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.” Young MC claimed that “the artists were never told about any political involvement.” “It’s a no for me,” posted Morris Day, while the Commodores declared, “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.” The remaining artists have delivered wide-ranging responses, from silence, to neutrality, to full-throated enthusiasm, to the just plain bizarre. Trump ally Vanilla Ice says he is “super honored to do this concert.” Fab Moran, the surviving member of the infamous 80s pop group Milli Vanilli, stated, “I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them.” Flo Rida hasn’t responded to the controversy, but he previously pulled out of a 2015 Miss USA pageant after Trump made racist remarks about Mexicans, so his participation may change.One artist, C+C Music Factory, hasn’t quit, but its frontman's unusual response to the controversy doesn’t bode well for the concert series.As Washington detailed, “In a strange, profanity-laden Instagram video that appears to have been recorded from the toilet, frontman Freedom Williams claims that his agent didn’t mention Trump when he booked the Great American State Fair concert; all Williams knew was that he’d agreed to do ‘a show in Washington,’ which seemed fine. ‘I don’t fuck with Trump,’ he said multiple times. But he also said he’d ‘vote for Genghis Khan, Hitler, or Ivan the Terrible’ or ‘do a show in North Korea pissing on an American flag’ before he let the public tell him what to do. Williams stressed that he is un-cancellable. ‘I just might do it,’ seems to be where he’s landed on the Great American State Fair.”While the United States’ 250th birthday is technically a nonpartisan event, Trump has gone out of his way to make the celebration a MAGA affair, right down to the organization putting it together. As Washingtonian notes, “The organization sponsoring the Great American State Fair is not America250, the nonpartisan entity created by Congress to administer the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations. It’s Freedom 250 (officially the ‘White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday’), an organization created by President Trump, and run by a Trump appointee.”Critics allege that Freedom 250 is really just another Trump grift that provides wealthy donors presidential access. According to Washingtonian, “For one million dollars or more…donors to Freedom 250 can secure an invitation to a private reception hosted by Trump himself. As the New York Times explained earlier this year, Freedom 250 allows ‘people and companies with interests before the Trump administration’ to make ‘tax-deductible donations to gain access to, and seek favor with, a president who has maintained a keen interest in fund-raising, and a willingness to use the levers of government power to reward financial supporters.’”In response, Democratic senators launched a probe into the organization’s fundraising, writing that “Government-sponsored civic commemorations should not serve as platforms for political messaging or partisan activity, nor should they create opportunities for donors to exert influence with federal decision-makers under the guise of patriotic celebration.”
President Donald Trump may already be a lame duck, thanks in large part to his unbroken primary endorsement successes. The Atlantic‘s Jonathan Lemire and Michael Scherer argue there are three main reasons Trump’s wins may hasten his “political decline.”Trump made 118 endorsements for the House, Senate, and governor’s races, and was undefeated in all. Many, however, were for uncontested races. And while Trump’s picks all won their respective races, at times edging out more reliable vote and campaign cash getters, they could be more expensive to get over the finish line. Take Trump’s 11th-hour endorsement of scandal-plagued Texas MAGA Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who won in the GOP primary runoff over four-term conservative incumbent Senator John Cornyn.Cornyn was a prolific fundraiser who less than two years ago was in the race to become Senate Majority Leader. Experts warn that the Republican Party now may have to sink $100 million into Texas for what some believe was a far-safer seat with Cornyn than with Paxton.Ultimately, Lemire and Scherer say, Trump’s choice of primary candidates benefits Trump, but perhaps not the GOP as much. He’s shooting for loyalty over electability.Trump’s slate of GOP candidates may be far less palatable to voters in November, especially voters who already put the president’s approval rating at an all-time low, thanks in part to his focus on the Iran war, rebuilding Washington, D.C., rebranding multiple structures — from the Kennedy Center to an airport in Florida, and his lack of focus on the cost of food and gas.Which means despite Trump’s endorsements, many of his picks could lose at the ballot box, accelerating his inevitable lame duck status.“He essentially has lame-ducked himself in pursuit of retribution, and either the staff has failed to make a reasonable argument against these actions, or they have told him this and he is no longer listening,” one GOP Senate advisor told Lemire and Scherer.Then there are the Republicans Trump unseated, namely Cornyn, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Add to the list Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who opted for retirement rather than face re-election. They are now free to deviate from supporting the president’s priorities, and have wasted no time in doing so, at times quite publicly. Lastly, there are their colleagues, Lemire and Scherer note. Many Republicans, especially in the Senate, are angered that Trump effectively ousted their fellow Republicans. With an already tenuous majority — including moderates Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (who some argue could declare as an independent and caucus with the Democrats), and Susan Collins of Maine, that 53-47 majority isn’t looking especially reliable for Trump.
Spencer Pratt is liberal Los Angeles’ favorite new villain.The former "The Hills" star became an unlikely political gadfly after his house burned down in the January 2025 Palisades Fire. Ever since he launched his increasingly high-profile mayoral campaign, Hollywood’s liberal elite and the prestige media can’t resist conflating the man with the heel he played on the MTV series.'That whole plot was scripted.'But just because it's called "reality TV" doesn't mean it's real.Apparently the smart set now needs a refresher in what it likes to call "media literacy."Rube tubeIn late April, Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" called Pratt "a candidate who makes white women over 40 go 'Oh yeah! That guy ... ew,'" while splicing together clips from the 2000s hit.Host Ronny Chieng described Pratt as exhibiting "TV villain behavior."Rolling Stone referred to Pratt as a villain several times in its piece on Pratt, quoting several lines from the show as evidence of his character.Same goes for "nonprofit & nonpartisan" outlet Cal Matters, which said that being "a villain on a reality TV show" and having one's house burn down are not qualifications to become mayor of Los Angeles.None of the 42-year-old candidate's detractors seem to have considered what most of us find obvious: "The Hills" was made up, and Pratt was playing a role. RELATED: Karen Bass roasted over plan for free dental care for homeless meth addicts Charley Gallay/Getty Images Curtain call-outFor those who require proof, the show — which drew in 6 million viewers at its height — exposed its own artifice in its 2010 finale, with star Brody Jenner watching as the backdrop literally pulled away to reveal a set, complete with producers and lighting. Jenner's co-star then came out of a car that was shown to have driven away just seconds before.So scripted was "The Hills" that producers even shot an alternate ending.Pratt's wife, Heidi, has also copped to the show's lack of reality. "That whole plot was scripted," she said about a storyline involving her job promotion. "I pretend-worked there, so it was obviously a pretend promotion," she noted.RELATED: Jimmy Kimmel's sister-in-law slammed with backlash for reportedly bullying local business — over Spencer Pratt cookies Cuba libreThose scorning Pratt for his fictional villainy might also be surprised by the truth about other well-known "Hills" plots. Spencer dating Audrina? Whitney becoming Lauren's boss at Teen Vogue? "Totally fake."In typical heel fashion, Pratt seems to relish the charges of villainy — even using them against his opponent, Mayor Karen Bass (D). When former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna suggested Pratt's reality TV background disqualified him for office, Pratt shot back, "Hey Lisa, if you're against me because I was on a TV show in my 20's, wait til you learn what Karen Bass was doing in her 20's."Pratt was referring to Bass’ involvement in the Venceremos Brigade, a far-left activist group tied to communist Cuba during the 1970s. The organization organized trips for young American radicals to work and train in Fidel Castro’s Cuba at the height of the Cold War, drawing everyone from Maoists to self-described revolutionaries into the orbit of the regime.Bass has acknowledged traveling to Cuba multiple times with the group as a young activist, though she has downplayed suggestions that she held any leadership role.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
President Donald Trump‘s endorsement has become the closest thing Republicans have to a political death sentence — or a golden ticket. This cycle, Trump has ousted Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), as well as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), after endorsing their primary challengers. So far, nearly all of the Republicans that Trump […]
A report from Groundwork Collaborative reveals how fossil fuel companies are not merely scoring windfall profits from President Donald Trump’s illegal war with Iran, but also using that money to reward shareholders rather than providing relief to consumers.The price of gas has soared since Trump attacked Iran without any congressional authorization in late February, going from an average of under $3 per gallon at the start of the war to $4.49 per gallon as of Tuesday. As US drivers have paid more at the pump, however, fossil fuel firms have been concerned with paying out dividends and conducting stock buybacks, expanding production to lower prices, Groundwork Collaborative’s report finds.Among other things, the report notes that ExxonMobil is on pace to deliver $20 billion worth of stock buybacks in 2026, even as CEO Darren Woods has insisted that the company’s decisions on production will be “grounded in value, not volume.”Additionally, the report documents how Shell recently announced “another 5% dividend increase and more than $3 billion in buybacks,” with CEO Wael Sawan describing the company’s commitment to paying shareholders as “sacrosanct.”Chevron has pledged roughly $3 billion in quarterly stock buybacks, while also saying increasing dividends for shareholders is its “first and foremost” priority.Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner, the report adds, recently revealed that the company has no plans to boost output in response to high energy prices, stating that “capital spending and production outlooks are consistent with previous guidance.”Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative, accused Big Oil of using Trump’s illegal war as cover to keep prices high without taking any steps to reduce pain at the pump.“These companies want Americans to believe price spikes are simply the unavoidable result of global events,” said Owens, “but their own executives are openly telling investors that volatility, conflict, and supply disruptions are good for business. They are choosing buybacks over production, shareholder payouts over affordability, and corporate profiteering over the economic security of working families.”The high fuel prices aren’t being felt just in the US, but across the world.Karthik Sankaran, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, explained in a Tuesday analysis how oil prices are hitting nations in the Global South particularly hard.“A recent story in The New York Times described how the price for transporting corn into refugee camps in Somalia had doubled or even tripled, as had the price of water at diesel-powered public tubewells,” Sankaran wrote. “Meanwhile, protests this week in Kenya against fuel price hikes have led to four deaths, and political and financial stresses are mounting across the continent.”Sankaran also pointed to problems in India, where “sharp jumps in the price of liquid petroleum gas have hit urban households hard, particularly those whose breadwinners work in small-scale industrial establishments.”Despite the actue global economic pain, energy experts who spoke with CNN on Tuesday expressed skepticism that the crisis would abate anytime soon, despite Trump’s regular hyping of a deal to end the conflict.Rory Johnston, an oil market researcher and founder of Commodity Context, told CNN that he wasn’t buying optimism from commodities futures markets after Trump claimed to have made significant progress on an agreement with Iran.“Nothing has fundamentally changed,” Johnston said. “The strait remains closed.”Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, said that a deal to end the war wouldn’t instantly bring energy prices back to where they were before the war began, estimating it could take months just to get 80% of the pre-war oil supply flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump on Wednesday congratulated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on his landslide victory over RINO Senator John Cornyn in last night's Texas Senate primary runoff election. "I will do some nice, big, beautiful rallies for Ken. The post JUST IN: Trump Congratulates Paxton on Epic Victory to Unseat RINO John Cornyn, Trashes James Talarico – Promises “Big Beautiful Rallies for Ken” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
