The magazine they don’t want you to read



Frontier isn’t just another flimsy, kitschy magazine like the ones lining the checkout aisle of your local grocery store. It is a premium, handcrafted publication, telling you stories that actually matter — about people blazing new trails in technology, reviving forgotten architectural wonders, and forging new pathways for meaningful cultural change, just to name a few highlights from past and upcoming issues. Every page is curated with intention, offering a level of depth and substance that’s increasingly rare in today’s media landscape.

For the second issue, I welcomed Frontier’s team to my Idaho ranch for its feature, “The Architecture of Memory and Meaning.” My ranch is more than a home — it’s a testament to faith, family, and legacy. Every detail was designed with intention, and every artifact inside has a purpose. This piece shows how you too can turn your home into a space for legacy, beauty, and a testimony to things that really matter to you.

Frontier will set you apart from everyone else who doomscrolls through the same routine stories in the mainstream news cycle.

Frontier’s team also sat down with Michael Malice for an in-depth profile, “The Miseducation of Michael Malice.” Whether you love him, hate him, or are just trying to figure him out, Malice is one of the most fascinating voices in our culture today. This piece goes beyond the snark and the tweets, diving deep into what makes Malice tick.

For the late-night radio junkies, “Live From the High Desert” is a must-read. This piece is a tribute to Art Bell and the millions of late-night listeners who faithfully tuned in to his masterful storytelling as he unraveled the mysteries of the universe, inspiring an entire generation of truth-seekers. From government conspiracies and UFOs to the unexplained, Bell’s legacy is alive and well in these pages.

Readers of Frontier’s first issue are already familiar with the magazine’s caliber and quality. If you haven’t grabbed your copy, it’s not too late. The first 500 subscribers to Frontier’s second issue will also get a copy of the premiere issue.

Frontier is only available through Blaze Unlimited, which, in addition to Frontier’s trailblazing stories, includes VIP access to exclusive events, exclusive member-only content, and top-tier customer support. This membership will set you apart from everyone else who doomscrolls through the same routine stories in the mainstream news cycle. Blaze Unlimited gives you access to the stories that matter most — and the people and events who will challenge you to think bigger, probe deeper, and push the limits into new frontiers. Using promo code GLENN500 will give you $40 off your new Blaze Unlimited subscription.

This isn’t just about reading Frontier— it’s about living it. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.

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The untold story of LA’s underground COVID-era speakeasies



“It’s closed. Let’s get out of here.”

My Israeli friend had picked me up from Woodland Hills and parked in the dimly lit back lot of a seedy hookah lounge in Canoga Park, a Los Angeles neighborhood where one doesn’t want to be caught on the wrong street at the wrong time.

These moments of frustration shattered trust in government and reignited a core American belief: Those in power should not live by a different set of rules than the people they govern.

It was June 2020. “Two weeks to flatten the curve” had overstayed its welcome by three months, and my friend was one of many Angelenos who refused to accept that empty streets, boarded-up businesses, and “parking lot hangouts” were the “new normal.” We were both in need of a hit of normalcy, and he said he knew a place.

“Just wait,” he assured me.

I was skeptical. Restaurants didn’t have the luxury of attempting to accommodate California’s stringent social distancing standards like Target, Walmart, and other big-name “essential” businesses. Opening their doors was illegal — and had been for months.

After we knocked on the side door, an enormous Lebanese bouncer poked his furrowed brow over the threshold.

“Welcome,” he said quickly, ushering us in.

Lockdown speakeasies

Lebanese, Israelis, and Jordanians packed the place front to back as menthol- and mango-scented smoke curled toward the dimly lit ceiling. Who knew a shared frustration over California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lockdowns could forge such peaceful relations?

“My gosh,” I thought. “This is a legit speakeasy” — and it wasn’t the only one.

Newsom’s draconian lockdown orders forged a slew of COVID-era speakeasies, welcoming customers through word of mouth, usually via Signal groups created by other Angelenos who craved a return to routine.

This evening of blissful familiarity — albeit with a Middle Eastern twist — was interrupted by a visit from the police. Their visit lasted all of 30 seconds. “Hey, guys. Someone reported you, so we had to show up. You all have a wonderful evening.”

The degree to which law enforcement enforced Newsom’s COVID restrictions varied from county to county, even within the same departments. Thankfully, the police in Canoga Park refused to force small-business owners to choose between putting food on their families’ tables and obeying Newsom’s dictates.

The price of defiance

Other neighborhoods weren’t so lucky. Novo, an Italian restaurant just 10 minutes north in Westlake Village, had to choose between remaining closed under Newsom’s indefinite restrictions or shutting down permanently due to lack of revenue. The owners risked defying the former to avoid the latter. Every day they remained open, Los Angeles County slapped them with a hefty fine — but the community rallied around them. Every night, the restaurant was packed with locals risking fines themselves to keep the business afloat — refusing to watch another small business in their community go under.

Five miles up the road from the Italian restaurant, a local pastor, Rob McCoy, was held in contempt and fined for illegally holding a church service with fewer congregants than people frequenting the Target across the freeway.

Within this context, I got my first gig as a writer — five years ago this very week — interviewing small businesses in the service industry for a local newspaper in the months following their government’s broken promise that they needed to close their doors for only “two weeks to flatten the curve.”

Some, like the owners of a small deli in Dos Vientos, tried to toe the line by serving burritos to customers in their parking lot. Others, like a cigar lounge in Thousand Oaks, became a hub for police officers who refused to enforce Newsom’s restrictions.

Regardless of their posturing during lockdown, one-third of all restaurants in Los Angeles County met the same fate: permanently closing their doors.

A double standard

Business owners — from both sides of the political aisle — already felt cheated by their government. But government officials' partisan double standard for themselves rubbed salt in the wound.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined thousands of protesters against the death of George Floyd, marching through the streets of downtown during the height of lockdown — while his administration issued crippling fines for small businesses serving their clientele.

The protests turned violent during the infamous “Summer of Love.” National Guard troops patrolled the streets at night while the rest of Los Angeles County was under strict curfew. A family-owned Indian food store in Thousand Oaks boarded up the business with plywood ahead of an imminent Black Lives Matter protest, which had been the catalyst for mass looting and millions of dollars in damages in neighboring Los Angeles suburbs. A gym in Agoura Hills reopened after BLM-affiliated rioters stormed and looted stores across Santa Monica en masse.

“Does the virus skip over the rioters?” the gym owner asked, tongue in cheek.

Despite the chaos erupting out of California’s major city centers, the most scathing image to emerge during lockdown was Gavin Newsom and California’s Democratic elite dining — maskless — at the French Laundry, one of America’s most acclaimed restaurants.

“Let them eat cake” didn’t work for the French, and it certainly didn’t work for California’s small-business owners, even longtime Democratic loyalists.

Turning point in American politics

“Two weeks to flatten the curve” became arguably the most transformative cultural moment in modern American history. Partisan lines blurred — even in deep-blue Los Angeles County — uniting people around the definitively American sentiment: What gives you the right to tell me what to do?

These moments of frustration weren’t just passing irritations. They fundamentally shattered trust in government and reignited a core American belief: Those in power should not live by a different set of rules than the people they govern.

And now, five years later, Newsom wants the country to forget he was the man behind the lockdowns. Embarking on a desperate campaign to depict himself as a moderate — likely with eyes on the White House — Newsom has never once fessed up to his failed leadership during the pandemic.

But small-business owners haven’t forgotten. The families who lost everything haven’t forgotten. And voters shouldn’t either.

If history tells us anything, it’s that those who trample on freedom once will do it again — especially if they think no one is paying attention.

Covid Tyrants Were Perpetrators, Not Victims

The Covid 'experts' chose the unscientific tyranny of lockdowns, mandates, and petty, ineffective, legalistic rules, and they didn’t have to.

This Yale professor warns of Elon Musk’s ‘fascism’ — and misses the real threat



Timothy Snyder may not be well known in American conservative circles, but his European influence is substantial. I hadn’t heard of the Yale historian until I moved to Vienna, Austria, where he enjoys a kind of celebrity status. European leaders frequently refer to his ideas, whether they are criticizing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency or comparing JD Vance’s criticism of censorship at the Munich Security Conference last month to the Holocaust. These talking points have crossed the Atlantic, reaching U.S. media through figures like CBS News moderator Margaret Brennan. Snyder’s influence among the American left continues to grow.

I recently attended Snyder’s “Making Sense of an Unsettling World” lecture at Vienna’s Institute for Human Sciences. His casual demeanor, paired with a Zelenskyy-style quarter-zip — a nod to the Ukrainian leader he has met and advised — reinforces his “rebel professor” image. This blend of defiance and intellect captivates and galvanizes college students, making Snyder both a compelling and polarizing figure.

Snyder’s call to 'defend institutions' fails to recognize that institutions can be corrupt, bloated, and unaccountable.

After the predictable barrage of ad hominem attacks on Trump — of which there were many — Snyder shifted his focus to the most controversial figure in the administration: Elon Musk. As Snyder spoke, I couldn’t help but notice the vast ideological divide between the left and the right. This gap felt particularly sobering, not just because of its seemingly unbridgeable nature but also because Snyder's perspective undermines the very foundation necessary to bridge such divides: dissent and dialogue enabled by free speech.

Snyder accuses Musk of building a privatized, fascistic government by dismantling America's institutions. According to Snyder, we common folk are mere pawns in Musk’s algorithmic “system,” which he claims is designed to predict and manipulate human behavior. The goal, Snyder argues, is clear: to destroy institutions, privatize government functions, and siphon taxpayer dollars into Musk’s pockets.

Negative vs. positive freedom

Snyder’s argument centers on a critique of the conservative notion of “negative freedom” — the idea that freedom is best preserved by minimizing external restraints on the individual. He dismisses this concept as “freedom against,” portraying it as a tool ripe for exploitation by figures like Elon Musk. In Snyder's view, Musk uses this version of freedom to turn the masses “against” institutions, only to privatize them for personal gain later.

In contrast, Snyder champions the left-leaning principle of “positive freedom,” or “freedom for.”This approach suggests that freedom is only legitimate when exercised in service of ideals codified and enforced through institutions. According to Snyder's 2016 manifesto, which evolved into his New York Times best-selling pamphlet "On Tyranny," institutions “preserve human decency” and serve as the greatest barriers to tyranny. In this framework, Musk emerges as Snyder’s villain, a modern-day figure following in the footsteps of 20th-century fascists who dismantled institutions to consolidate power.

Institutions need accountability

Snyder’s alarmism about Musk exposes the deep divide between the left and right on the nature of freedom and the role of institutions. While critiques of corporate and political power are valid, Snyder’s perspective assumes that institutions should be defended without question, a stance that conflicts with conservatives’ healthy skepticism of concentrated power — a skepticism the left once shared.

Positive freedom, as Snyder envisions it, relies on the belief that government can act as a benevolent force. This assumption contradicts James Madison’s warning that “if angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” But angels don’t govern us. Washington bureaucrats are subject to the same ills and vices that make government over the masses necessary. Defending institutional authority without scrutiny undermines the conservative commitment to negative freedom — the principle that individual liberties should be checks against excessive power.

Snyder’s solution, then, is not just to oppose authoritarian figures but to resist decentralization itself. He cites Aristotle and Plato to argue that inequality leads to instability and that demagogues exploit free speech to seize power. In Snyder’s world, speech is only “free” when it supports institutional interests rather than challenges them. Yet his call to “defend institutions” fails to recognize that institutions can be corrupt, bloated, and unaccountable. Snyder assumes institutions are inherently legitimate, ignoring the need for them to be accountable to the people they serve.

Where Snyder falls short

Snyder’s argument falls apart here. The left's crusade against so-called oligarchs like Musk isn’t about returning power to the people — it’s about re-centralizing it under authorities leftists consider ideologically acceptable.

Negative freedom is dangerous to them because it allows individuals to dissent, challenge state-sanctioned narratives, and question institutional orthodoxy. Yet it is precisely this freedom that has protected human decency from the imposition of top-down tyranny.

Snyder is right that institutions should be defended when they uphold the people's dignity, rights, and liberties. But just as institutions act as a check on the whims of the populace, the dissent of the people serves as a vital check on the inherent corruptibility of institutions. As Madison argued, both safeguards are essential.

When Snyder and his growing following on the global left seek to suppress dissent for the sake of institutional authority, they don’t prevent tyranny — they empower it.

Self-Government Requires Governing Ourselves

Brad Littlejohn’s smart and provocative book, 'Called to Freedom,' examines the tension between Christian teaching and the secular ideal of political freedom.

Thin-skinned German minister melts down over Vance's speech: 'Not acceptable'



Vice President JD Vance minced no words in his Friday address at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, putting various European nations on blast for their heavy-handed suppression of political movements and ideas unfavorable to their respective ruling classes; for their dismissal of citizens' concerns and common sense; for their routine attacks on religious liberties; and for their ruinous mass migration policies.

"The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia. It's not China. It's not any other external actor," said Vance. "What I worry about is the threat from within."

Vance's speech clearly struck a chord, prompting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a member of the Social Democratic Party, to spend some of his time onstage refuting the suggestion that democracy and free speech are on the decline in his and other European nations.

"I had a speech I prepared today," said the German socialist. "It was supposed to be about security in Europe. But I cannot start in the way I originally intended."

"This democracy was called into question by the U.S. vice president," continued Pistorius. "He speaks of the annulment of democracy, and, if I understood him correctly, he compares the condition of Europe with the condition that prevails in some authoritarian regimes. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not acceptable."

Pistorius staked his claim on shaky ground.

Alternative for Germany is a right-leaning populist party founded in 2013 by free-market economists keen to strengthen German sovereignty and enraged by the European Union's bailout of Greece and other debtor nations. It has since also taken aim at mass migration, open borders, climate alarmism, Islamization, and gender ideology.

The AFD has enjoyed considerable success in recent elections, placing second in the European Parliament election in June and enjoying representation in 14 of the country's 16 state legislatures. Recent polls indicate that where the upcoming German election is concerned, AFD has a lock on second place.

'In our democracy, every opinion has a voice.'

While Pistorius suggested that democracy is strong in Germany and the country's political establishment protects the rights of those who disagree with it, German authorities have worked feverishly to ban, vilify, disarm, de-bank, and criminalize the party. In certain German states, such as Saxony and Thuringia, the AFD has been classified as a "right-wing extremist" group.

Not only has the German establishment taken aim at the AFD, it has also clamped down on members' factual assertions deemed hateful by the powers that be.

Blaze News previously reported that Marie-Thérèse Kaiser, a member of the popular Alternative for Germany party, was convicted of a "hate crime" in May for sharing statistics about the disproportionate number of gang rapes committed by immigrants.

Pistorius suggested that the Europe described by Vance — where establishmentarians dismiss citizens, shut down elections, and run in fear of their own voters — "is not the Europe, not the democracy where I live and where I conduct my election campaign right now, and this is not the democracy that I witness every day in our parliament. In our democracy, every opinion has a voice."

Germany's Bundestag was just weeks ago debating banning the AFD. Evidently panicked over the alliance of the AFD and the Christian Democratic Union party on immigration, 124 parliamentarians introduced a motion urging an investigation into whether the platforming of certain voices in the German democracy is unconstitutional.

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While other sports bow to wokeism, NASCAR keeps it patriotic



For many drivers in NASCAR, it turns out that the only things that lean left are their steering wheels.

Last weekend, I had the joy of taking my son to the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction to watch our good friend Carl Edwards take his place among the sport’s legends. His name is now forever cemented in racing history.

Unlike the bureaucratic diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that permeate other industries, NASCAR thrives on true merit. Skill and guts determine success.

Admittedly, we were both a little giddy at the thought of mingling with NASCAR superstars. But that’s not who we met — at least, not at first. Seated at our dinner table were three men and their wives, engaged in conversation about fatherhood, education models for our kids, and the churches we attend. Long after dinner ended, I finally learned the identities of our tablemates — David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, and Michael McDowell.

Collectively, they have 103 top-10 finishes and two Daytona 500 victories. Bayne, in fact, remains the youngest driver ever to win the race, taking the checkered flag just one day after his 20th birthday. But for these men, success isn’t measured by trophies or Victory Lane celebrations — it’s defined by their faith, families, and the values they uphold.

Faith, family, and country — values often associated with the conservative movement — take the pole position in NASCAR. Every major American sport plays the national anthem before competition, but NASCAR goes farther, opening each race with a pre-race prayer.

While the NBA cozies up to China and the NFL tries to “end racism” with end-zone slogans, NASCAR proudly embraces conservative values. The sport has a long history of welcoming Republican presidents — Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump are the only presidents to serve as grand marshal for the Daytona 500. NASCAR also gave rise to the infamous “Let’s Go Brandon” chant, and in 2016, then-Chairman and CEO Brian France publicly endorsed Trump for president. He stood alongside my dinner companion, David Ragan, and other top drivers.

This Sunday, Michael McDowell will return to Daytona, aiming to win NASCAR’s most prestigious race a second time. But victory on the track isn’t what he promotes most. On his personal website, under his career stats — next to achievements like two-time playoff contender, Brickyard winner, and Daytona champion — McDowell proudly lists himself as a “follower of Jesus and outspoken Christian athlete.” He also highlights his role as a “family man (father of five) and strong advocate for adoption.” He might as well add “All-American.”

NASCAR deserves credit for allowing its drivers to be so open about their values. Unlike the NFL, which fines players for showing public support for a presidential candidate, or Major League Baseball, which honored a group of queer and drag performers dressed as nuns with a Community Hero award, NASCAR encourages its athletes to stand by their beliefs.

As McDowell put it, “NASCAR has always allowed me to organically live out my faith on and off the racetrack. We are a patriotic sport that unapologetically celebrates faith, family, and country.” Hallelujah.

Faith, family, and country were also central themes in Carl Edwards’ Hall of Fame induction speech. Reflecting on his decision to retire at the peak of his career, he said, “Every prize has its price … and the prize of my family was worth that price.” He ended his speech with a powerful statement: “I realized that all these miracles — I wasn’t alone. God is real. God was beside me.”

This week on my podcast, “We the People,” Edwards shared another perspective that speaks to his character and beliefs: “One of the things I’m most grateful for, the older I get, is the United States of America … the idea of individual freedom and liberty.” Carl Edwards isn’t just a Hall of Famer — he’s a Hall of Fame human being.

While faith, family, and country reflect a set of values, openly standing for them requires a specific character trait — one that is also essential for success in racing: courage. It takes extraordinary bravery to drive at speeds exceeding 200 mph, inches away from competitors, knowing that one wrong move could end in disaster.

Unlike the bureaucratic diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that permeate other industries, NASCAR thrives on true merit. Skill and guts determine success. On a racetrack, the only DEI that matters is don’t ever ignore the rules — or you could die.

Nothing defines America more than courage. We would not have a country without the courage of George Washington, and all men would not be free without the courage of Abraham Lincoln. This freedom doesn’t endure without the courage of our servicemen and women defending it. The examples are endless, and it is now “courageous” for athletes and entertainers to promote their traditionally conservative values.

Edwards said his speech was “all about gratitude.” If you are grateful for America and are looking for a sport that celebrates it, tune in this Sunday and cheer for NASCAR’s finest to carry our values across the finish line at Daytona. My son and I will do the same, but we will be a little particular to our new favorite racer, Michael McDowell.

What Trump’s presidency means for America



Monday marked a new chapter in our nation’s history. This moment is not just about a new administration — it is about a new commitment to the founding principles that built this great republic. It is about restoring power to where it rightly belongs: with the American people.

For too long, our government has drifted from its purpose. Too often, it has overreached, overtaxed, overspent, and overwhelmed the very citizens it was created to serve. Today, that era of excess ends.

Our country’s future is in our hands. It is not the government, but us — the workers, the dreamers, the parents, and the patriots — who are the engine of this great nation.

The time has come to reaffirm the truth that our rights come not from government but from God. Government does not create. It cannot invent or inspire. Its proper role is not to command but to protect — to preserve the freedoms that allow you to build your dreams, raise your families, and live your lives without interference.

A government that works for the people

For decades, a bloated federal bureaucracy has grown unchecked, sapping the vitality of our economy and the strength of our communities. Departments that were meant to help have become barriers to progress. Agencies designed to protect have too often punished the very people they exist to serve.

Trump has pledged to put an end to the administrative state. He will begin by closing the Department of Education, returning the power of teaching our children to parents, local communities, and state governments where it belongs. Washington, D.C., has no business deciding what our children learn or how they are taught.

But he won’t stop there. Any department or agency that is ineffective, inefficient, or that usurps the rights of the states or the people should face the same scrutiny. The balance of power has shifted too far from the people to unelected officials who believe they answer to no one.

The national debt is a silent thief, robbing future generations of prosperity. Overspending has put us on a perilous path, and no responsible leader can allow it to continue.

Trump has promised to balance the federal budget by making government smaller, smarter, and more focused. Fraud, waste, and abuse will be rooted out. When the size of the government is reduced, the economy will unleash the potential of the private sector to drive innovation, create jobs, and build wealth.

Justice and the rule of law

No American who abides by our laws should ever live in fear of their government. Yet today, far too many do. Whether through political persecution, administrative overreach, or an unbalanced justice system, many have been silenced or crushed by the weight of a government that was supposed to serve them.

Trump should ensure justice is blind, fair, and free from political influence. Those who broke our laws — on whatever side of the aisle — must be held accountable. Political persecution will end on Trump’s watch. It has no place in a free society.

Securing our borders, protecting our communities

A nation without borders is no nation at all. For too long, America’s borders have been porous, leaving us vulnerable to the trafficking of drugs, children, and human lives. This is not compassion; it is chaos, and it should end now.

Trump will secure our borders, enforce our laws, and deport those who have entered illegally. To the cartels that profit from this evil, consider this your notice: Comply with our laws or we will destroy your operations with the full might of the United States.

Americans have the right to feel safe in their homes, their neighborhoods, and their communities. Law enforcement should have the tools and support they need to do their jobs.

A nation at peace

Trump will end the endless wars abroad that have drained our resources and diverted our focus from our people. He will bring our troops home from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He will stand firm against tyranny but will not waste American lives and treasure on wars that do not serve our national interest.

We will confront evil where it exists, but we will do so with clarity, strength, and purpose. We will no longer coexist with those who traffic in human misery or seek to destroy the innocent. America will lead the world by example, not by endless entanglements.

And to all those despots, terrorists, and simple opportunists: The blue American passport means something. It means the holder is an American citizen. Citizens should know that this government works for them. If they enter a foreign country, they should know they must abide by that nation's laws.

But to those countries, individuals, and groups that do not care about international law, understand that if you kidnap, hurt, or kill an American citizen, count your life in days and hours, because that blue passport means American protection and power.

An era of renewal

This is a moment of healing. The wounds of division have scarred our nation, but they have not broken us. To those who have felt forgotten, to those who have felt silenced, and to those who have lost faith in the promise of America, let’s begin to restore our country.

We are not defined by the bitterness of the past but by the possibilities of the future. Together, we will renew the spirit of our nation. Together, we will rekindle the flame of freedom that has always guided us.

Let’s remember who we are. We are the heirs of pioneers, builders, and dreamers. We are a nation of liberty and opportunity, of faith and courage.

Our country’s future is in our hands. It is not the government, but us — the workers, the dreamers, the parents, and the patriots — who are the engine of this great nation.

Let us heal the wounds of division with the balm of unity. Let us speak to one another with respect, debate with civility, and strive together for the common good.

The challenges before us are great, but so is our resolve. The promise of America is alive, and her best days are yet to come. Together, we will build a nation stronger, freer, and more prosperous than ever before.

Let us rise above our differences and unite in common purpose. Let us be a government that works for the people, not against them. Let us be a nation that inspires the world, not through dominance but through our example.

The work ahead will not be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. Together, we will reclaim the promise of America, not just for ourselves but for our children and their children.

May Trump’s return to the White House mark the beginning of a new golden age for our nation.

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Virginia Democrat seeks to restrict reasons Americans can give for homeschooling their children



Virginia state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, a former Fairfax County Public Schools teacher and school board representative, introduced a bill earlier this month that critics claim would undermine the rights of parents and transmogrify the religious exemption for homeschooling families in the state.

State law presently requires that parents seeking to homeschool their children must notify the division superintendent ahead of the school year, provide a description of their planned curriculum, and demonstrate satisfaction of one of several criteria, such as the completion of a high school diploma.

Pekarsky's SB 1031 would amend the law such that a simple notice of intent would no longer be enough. The Democratic bill states that parens hoping to homeschool their child would now have to notify the division superintendent "of the intention to receive an exemption from school attendance by reason of bona fide religious training or belief."

The legislation clarifies that "'bona fide religious training or belief' does not include essentially political, sociological or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code."

Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, the Fairfax chapter leader of the Independent Women's Network, noted in the Federalist that the legislation would not only limit the reasons parents can give for homeschooling their children but empower state officials to make judgments about the authenticity of Virginians' beliefs.

"Is it appropriate for the state government to be assessing citizens' religions as 'bona fide' or otherwise?" wrote Lundquist-Arora.

The Home School Legal Defense Association indicated in a recent message to members that the roots of Pekarsky's bill "are in a worldview that distrusts parents, fears the freedoms parents currently enjoy, and thinks that the government can do a better job."

'I find this legislation particularly abhorrent.'

The parental rights group Virginia Education Opportunity Alliance suggested that the bill "threatens the religious exemption for homeschooling families in Virginia, potentially undermining the right to educate children based on faith-based convictions."

The Home Educators Association of Virginia implored Virginians to contact Pekarsky's office as well as the members on the state Senate Public Education subcommittee, state Sens. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D), Mamie Locke (D), Mark Peake (R), and Christie New Craig (R), and implore the lawmakers to kill the bill.

Lundquist-Arora noted that the present breakdown of the students homeschooled in the state reveals precisely why the Democratic legislation qualifies as an attack on the freedom of families who have opted out of the scandal-plagued mainstream systems for reasons other than religion.

Virginia Department of Education data shows that among the 56,008 students currently in home instruction, only 6,755 students are enjoying home instruction because of religious exemptions.

"As a mother who homeschooled my three children for the 2020-21 academic year when Pekarsky and the other 11 Democratic-endorsed members of the Fairfax County School Board closed the district’s schools, I find this legislation particularly abhorrent," said Lundquist-Arora.

The Washington Post indicated in a late 2023 report that homeschooling was America's fastest-growing form of education. The Post indicated the number of homeschooled students jumped 51% over the previous six years, while private school enrollment increased by 7% and public school enrollment dropped by 4%.

Last year, Forbes noted that whereas in 2019, there were roughly 2.5 million students homeschooled in the nation, that number has shot up to 4 million or higher.

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Tulsi Gabbard flip-flops on Section 702 — Trump's DNI pick now supports much-abused surveillance authority



Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard has changed her position on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the warrantless surveillance authority that was used to spy on the 2016 Trump campaign and was exploited by the FBI hundreds of thousands of times to spy on American citizens.

Gabbard told Punchbowl News last week that she will support the controversial act if confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's director of national intelligence.

Section 702 allows the government to spy on foreign nationals outside the U.S. with the compelled aid of electronic communication service providers. While supposedly outward-facing, if an American contacts or is contacted by a foreign national over email, social media, or the phone, the American's communications could potentially be tapped, searched, and stored without a warrant.

Blaze News previously reported that the FBI has admitted that there were at least 278,000 "unintentional" backdoor search queries of the 702 database for the private communications of Americans between 2020 and 2021 alone. Among those citizens swept up into the warrantless 702 searches were Jan. 6 protesters, congressional campaign donors, and BLM protesters.

'Politicians talk a good game about civil liberties.'

In her final days as congresswoman for Hawaii, Gabbard joined Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in advancing a bill that would have repealed the Patriot Act and killed nearly all provisions of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.

Gabbard said in a video at the time:

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution very specifically prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures without a warrant based on probable cause. But over the last two decades, in part because of information revealed by Edward Snowden, we now know that there have been ongoing breaches of our civil liberties through programs that were instituted through the Patriot Act and the FISA Amendments Act, which basically allowed agencies within our government to conduct mass illegal surveillance on Americans without a warrant or probable cause.

Years later, Gabbard, still apparently a critic of Section 702, noted in a speech at CPAC, "Too many politicians talk a good game about civil liberties, but when it comes time to cast that vote on things like getting rid of secret FISA courts and protecting our Fourth Amendment rights to privacy, they vote on the side of the power elite and against liberty."

In an apparent effort to win over elements of the power elite in the U.S. Senate, Gabbard has adopted a new view on the spying authority.

Gabbard confirmed her flip-flop in a statement to CNN on Friday, noting, "Section 702, unlike other FISA authorities, is crucial for gathering foreign intelligence on non-U.S. persons abroad. This unique capability cannot be replicated and must be safeguarded to protect our nation while ensuring the civil liberties of Americans."

"My prior concerns about FISA were based on insufficient protections for civil liberties, particularly regarding the FBI's misuse of warrantless search powers on American citizens," continued Gabbard, who Trump previously indicated would champion Americans' constitutional rights in the role. "Significant FISA reforms have been enacted since my time in Congress to address these issues. If confirmed as DNI, I will uphold Americans' Fourth Amendment rights while maintaining vital national security tools like Section 702 to ensure the safety and freedom of the American people."

'IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS.'

This consequential about-face may improve Gabbard's chances of confirmation in the U.S. Senate. Her embrace of Section 702 has already won over Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford (R), a longtime supporter of the controversial spying power, who told NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday that Gabbard's flip-flop "was a very important piece."

"She voted against that in the House when she was a member of the House of Representatives and had said she wanted changes," said Lankford. "She's now coming and saying, 'Those changes have been done,' because even since she was in Congress, there have been quite a few changes that we've made in Congress to make sure we're protecting the civil rights of Americans."

Lankford previously suggested in a Wall Street Journal podcast on Wednesday that Gabbard should abandon her opposition to the 702 program.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, similarly appears pleased by Gabbard's change of heart, telling Punchbowl News on Thursday, "Tulsi Gabbard has assured me in our conversations that she supports Section 702 as recently amended and that she will follow the law and support its reauthorization as DNI."

Trump implored Republicans to "KILL FISA" as it was nearing its expiration date last year, noting, "IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN."

To the great satisfaction of the Biden White House, the Republican-controlled House voted 273-147 in favor of reauthorizing the surveillance bill on April 12, 2024.

Despite the rejection of multiple proposed amendments that might have protected American citizens' privacy from the spying authority Gabbard now supports, Republican Sens. Lankford, John Barrasso (Wyo.), John Boozman (Ark.), Katie Britt (Ala.), Ted Budd (N.C.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), John Cornyn (Texas), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (Miss.), John Kennedy (La.), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Pete Ricketts (Neb.), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), John Thune (S.D.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), and Todd Young (Ind.) and former Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) joined forces with Democrats to ensure its reauthorization.

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