USA Today tried once again to smear Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark on Friday, and the outlet was humiliated once again.
The news outlet published an opinion piece suggesting that Clark's insistence on calling for a foul when she was assaulted on the court was placing lesbian black players in danger of getting lynched by white supremacists.
'What in the actual HELL? You utter, total, spite-filled brainless JERKS.'
An uproar followed, and the writer locked down her account and issued a bizarre statement admitting she had erred somewhat.
A day later, the outlet suggested that Clark had ignored a WNBA event for spurious and petty reasons.
"Caitlin Clark skipped the WNBA Orange Carpet on Thursday, opting to get her hair done in her hometown of Des Moines," the outlet's post on social media reads.
A community note on the X platform undermined the attempt to mischaracterize Clark's decision.
"Caitlin was hosting a charity dinner in her hometown," the note said.
The outlet was immediately excoriated by many on social media.
"How in the world is USA TODAY still existing with SEXIST headlines like this only aimed at Caitlin Clark?! They just keep doubling down on their ignorance and stupidity!" sportscaster Linda Cohn responded.
"For the love of god. What is the matter with you people. Maybe she needs the support of her family after all your bullying," Amy Siskind replied.
"What in the actual HELL? You utter, total, spite-filled brainless JERKS," another critic said.
The outlet issued a "clarification" about seven hours later.
"Caitlin Clark was attending an event for the Caitlin Clark Foundation, which is why she missed the WNBA All-Star Weekend Orange Carpet," the outlet posted.
Some did not think the correction was enough.
"Wait, so the day after you publish a column claiming her actions evoke Emmitt [sic] Till and will get people lynched, you rush and post an unverified slanderous headline that turns out to be a lie? Do you wonder why you're a joke?" one detractor responded.
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"It's insanity," James Lyons told Blaze News about the latest abortion bill making its way through the Massachusetts legislature. Lyons, a former state representative and past chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, added, "And it has to stop."
A long-standing line, one that most radical abortion legislation rarely crosses, is viability outside the womb. The rate of survival for a baby born during the 23rd week of pregnancy is 23%-27%, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. At 24 weeks the survival rate jumps dramatically to 42%-59%.
'The legislation promises that an already ominous shadow will grow even darker over the state.'
Democrats in the Massachusetts House overwhelmingly passed a bill in a 199-33 vote on Wednesday that would greatly expand abortion access past 24 weeks, effectively making it open season on viable human beings.
Advocates for the unborn have emphasized the extreme nature of this legislation and called for the state Senate to kill it outright.
Massachusetts law currently prohibits abortion past 24 weeks unless executed by a doctor who has determined it is necessary to preserve the life of the mother; necessary to preserve the mother's physical or mental health; warranted because of a lethal fetal anomaly or diagnosis; or warranted "because of a grave fetal diagnosis that indicates that the fetus is incompatible with sustained life outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical interventions."
The bill recently passed by the House, H. 5595, would scrap these requirements for late-term abortions, enabling an abortion to be committed against a preborn baby past 24 weeks solely "based upon the professional judgment of the physician."
H. 5595 would also change state law to bar any medical review process from overriding the decision by a doctor and patient to execute a late-term abortion, and would eliminate the requirement that except in an emergency situation, late-term abortions must be performed "in a hospital duly authorized to provide facilities for obstetrical services."
Lyons further told Blaze News, "It is absolutely unconscionable what these people are doing in Massachusetts."
He then noted that this is the latest in a sequence of radical pro-abortion maneuvers, including:
"The reason that they're getting away with it is because the Massachusetts legislature is dominated by radical leftists, and they unfortunately have done everything they can possibly do to silence any opposition," said Lyons, who changed parties from Democrat to Republican in 1983 in part because of President Ronald Reagan but also because "there was no question about it that the Democratic Party was being taken over ... by the radical left."
Democratic state Rep. Christine Barber, a radical leftist with endorsements by Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Equity Now, told the Boston Globe that the late-term abortion bill is aimed at sparing residents from the inconvenience of having to travel out of state to kill their preborn children.
"Patients have to leave to other states, leave their support network, and pay out of pocket," Barber said. "You should be able to get care that your doctors are recommending here in Massachusetts."
'The fight is not over.'
Barber cited as an example the trip that one resident, Kate Dineen, made to Maryland in 2022 to kill her 33-week-old baby. The boy suffered a stroke in utero and was reportedly given a 50% chance of dying before delivery. Dineen had a Maryland abortionist administer a lethal injection to the boy, whose remains she later delivered in Boston.
Reproductive Equity Now, an organization that has also used the out-of-state execution of Dineen's baby to promote this legislation, celebrated the passage of H. 5595.
Claire Teylouni, interim co-executive director of the pro-abortion group, stated, "We are thrilled to see the Massachusetts House of Representatives take this crucial step to expand abortion access across the Commonwealth."
Advocates for the unborn alternatively condemned Democrats' campaign against the preborn.
Fr. Daniel Pacholec, direct of the Respect Life Office for the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, noted, "Massachusetts already has one of the most progressive abortion laws in the country, and this goes even further. This should make everyone squeamish. This is not a partisan issue. This is about human decency."
Massachusetts Citizens for Life noted that "the bill passed despite the concerns of thousands of Massachusetts residents who contacted legislators and shared their opposition, and despite the fact that it would allow unborn children who are capable of feeling pain and surviving outside the womb to be killed."
"Women experiencing unimaginable, heart-wrenching pregnancy complications absolutely deserve all the support they need, but that support is not what this bill provides," said Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of MCFL, in a statement shared by the diocese. "Instead, this bill ensures increased abortion industry profits and taxpayer-funded late-term procedures. The legislation promises that an already ominous shadow will grow even darker over the state of Massachusetts."
The MCFL has stressed that "the fight is not over" and urged Bay Staters to urge their state senators to oppose the version before them now, S.1563.
The Massachusetts Family Institute has also condemned the bill, noting that it would "end virtually all abortion restrictions in Massachusetts, allowing abortion at full term with no medical justification or second opinion required — for any reason, or none at all."
When asked whether the goal of this and related legislation is to make the Bay State a national abortion destination, Lyons told Blaze News, "It certainly seems that way. And as a matter of fact, the Shield Act that was put in place was a direct result of the pressure that they were seeing outside of Massachusetts to let people know you can come here and we will protect you."
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The massive fraud scam in Minnesota's Feeding Our Future nonprofit continues to grow after one convicted fraudster has been sentenced to an additional decade in prison for bribing a juror.
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah pleaded guilty to participating in the attempted scheme to bribe a juror with $120,000 in order to secure an acquittal.
'Farah and his co-defendants participated in an unprecedented attack on the justice system.'
Four others were implicated in the bribery scheme that was revealed in June 2024.
A woman appearing to be Somali dropped off the money bag with a family member of the juror, as previously reported by Blaze News.
"This is for juror 52," an alleged note on the bag read. "Tell her there will be another bag for her if she votes to acquit."
The juror called the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the investigation led to seven defendants being arrested and jailed for the duration of their trial after they had been allowed to appear on their own recognizance. That juror was dismissed, and the others were questioned about whether they had been approached for bribery.
Farah had already pleaded guilty to numerous charges related to the multimillion-dollar scam and was sentenced in August to 28 years in prison.
On Wednesday, Farah was sentenced to an additional 10 years for the bribery charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Murphy emphasized during sentencing how jury bribery could have a "chilling effect" on jury selection.
"How creepy is it that a defendant in a case was stalking you, both online and in real life?" he asked. "Following you home, coming to your door?"
Prosecutors alleged that the defendants had targeted that juror because she was the youngest juror and a minority. They obtained evidence that showed they wanted her to persuade other jurors to vote for acquittal based on claims of racial bias.
Farah spoke before being sentenced and cried during an apology to the court, the juror, and the prosecutors.
"My biggest regret revolves around the negative impact my conduct has had on my community, our great state, and the judicial system," he said. "My conduct has cost me more than I ever imagined, and I am responsible for it."
RELATED: FBI RAIDS 'Quality Learing Center' and nearly 2 dozen more in Minnesota FRAUD investigation
He also said the time he has spent in jail has humbled him.
"Farah and his co-defendants participated in an unprecedented attack on the justice system," Murphy added.
All of the defendants charged in the bribery scheme pleaded guilty. Five of the seven defendants in the original case were convicted, while the other two were acquitted.
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Actor Alan Ritchson unleashed an irrational tirade against people supposedly keeping the Epstein files hidden and even makes accusations against President Donald Trump.
The star of "Reacher" suggested the president and others are hiding damaging information from the Epstein files during an interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast released Thursday.
'Move out of the way. Give me the f**king manila envelope. ... I will get you the Epstein files.'
"People, I think, are a little bit afraid of me because they’re like, 'He’s a loose cannon.' And I’m not. I’m just saying the s**t that everybody should say if they give a s**t about humanity," the actor said to Josh Horowitz.
He was especially incensed about the Epstein files.
"The Epstein files. The f**king Epstein files! Goddamn it! Where are they?! It’s a f**king law, bitch! Show it, you f**king pedophiles," Ritchson ranted.
He went on to say that he shouldn't drop F-bombs as a believing Christian — and then continued to drop F-bombs.
"I would f**king railroad these f**kers. I would get those Epstein files out in two seconds. Yeah dude, two seconds, f**king move out of the way. ... Give me the f***king manila envelope. I will get you the Epstein files," he added.
He finished up by referring to the president as a "bitch" and seemingly accused him of sexualizing young girls.
"Don’t you want to see what’s in there so that we can hold people accountable?! These f**king rapists! We’re just cool with it?” he added. "That bitch has the keys to the nuclear codes. He’s, like, all up into 13-year-olds. Like, dude, what? Go to jail. Go to jail."
Video of Ritchson's comments was circulated on social media. The entire episode can be viewed on YouTube.
He went on to say that he would give a "backhand" to members of Congress who support the low minimum wage for a mother working at Waffle House.
Blaze News reached out to the Dept. of Justice and the White House for comment about the actor's accusations.
Ritchson was promoting his new movie, "Motor City," but he should probably not count on MAGA supporters watching after that rant.
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Trouble likely awaits a budget resolution tied to the SAVE America Act as it heads to the stubborn upper chamber of Congress.
On Wednesday, the House passed a $95 billion budget resolution, 216-214, carrying with it important incentives for states to pass the SAVE America Act, alongside funding for Iran-related operations and farm aid.
'It's like the Senate is a place that you send things when you want them to die.'
The $95 billion package includes $73 billion for defense and intelligence funding, $12 billion for agricultural aid, and $10 billion in election-related funding for states, a key aspect of the SAVE America Act.
The bill itself is five primary issues: voter ID, proof of citizenship to register, an end to universal mail-in ballots, and bans on transgender athletes in women's sports and transgender surgery for minors.
The SAVE America Act is now sitting with a Republican-controlled Senate that is in apparently no rush to deal with it.
Trump ramped up his pressure campaign against Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) at a Georgia rally Wednesday, urging supporters to flood Thune's office with calls demanding action on passing the budget bill and, eventually, the SAVE America Act.
RELATED: House narrowly passes SAVE America Act as rider to trillion-dollar spending bill
He credited Johnson and the House for doing their part, but blamed the Senate for the holdup: "It's like the Senate is a place that you send things when you want them to die."
“We’re not going to take this any longer. … I’m trying to be nice; I’m trying to be really nice,” Trump added.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) also suggested on X that Thune should "step aside" if he won't act.
Politico's reporting from inside the GOP conference shows the resistance runs well past the three sitting holdouts — Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
A source familiar with the matter told Blaze News that Thune is prioritizing the continuing resolution to avoid another shutdown and that the budget resolution is in reserve.
Asked Wednesday how close he was to 50 votes, Thune said only, "Good question."
By Thursday, he was blunter: "I can't count to 50 right now on a budget resolution."
Per Politico, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters Wednesday he doesn't expect Thune to take it up at all; Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) isn't sure the votes exist in the first place; and newly named Budget Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said there has been no formal conversation yet.
Thune himself has asked colleagues, "Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
Reconciliation needs only a simple majority, as opposed to the 60-vote threshold for passing bills into law. Even so, the bill has failed twice — once in April and again in June — with Collins, Murkowski, Tillis, and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voting no alongside every Democrat both times.
RELATED: New Jersey's noncitizen voter blame game doesn't add up — literally
Earlier this month, Speaker Johnson called the package "our best shot" at 50 votes plus Vice President JD Vance as the tiebreaker. For now, McConnell's indefinite absence drops the vote count to 99, meaning Republicans need a plain majority. One holdout flipping to yes still passes it outright, while an abstention reopens a possible 49-49 tie, putting Vance's tiebreaker back in play.
Only if all three hold firm does the package fail.
Asked directly at Tuesday's weekly Senate GOP leadership press conference whether the House's reconciliation push is more than an academic exercise, Thune demurred: "We'll see ... what they get done this week and what it all consists of."
He confirmed the Senate would "hold" any budget resolution the House sends over — but specifically as a fallback to fund the government, not to advance the SAVE America Act.
"I hope that's not necessary," he said, noting he's already having "productive conversations" with Democrats on a separate funding deal to carry the government past the November election.
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President Donald Trump is bullish on American technology and keen to see America dominate the "global race for AI." He has, accordingly, become a champion of artificial intelligence data centers and has even tasked his administration with using federally owned land and resources to help develop them.
Trump emphasized during an event on Thursday at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in the national capital that opposition to the erection of data centers across the country is futile — but that consumers should not fear having to shoulder the burden of supporting such inevitable facilities.
'You have to go with it.'
In his State of the Union address in February, the president acknowledged that many Americans are "concerned that energy demand from AI data centers could unfairly drive up their electric utility bills."
Recent polls show that Americans largely oppose data centers. A Gallup poll conducted in March found that 71% of Americans somewhat or strongly oppose the construction of an AI data center in their area. A survey conducted this month by Public First found that 41% of respondents oppose building a data center within three miles of their homes, up from 28% in January, and only 24% of respondents support such an initiative, down from 37% at the beginning of the year.
To assuage such concerns, Trump announced in his SOTU speech that the negotiation of the "Rate Payer Protection Pledge," which has companies agree to: spare consumers from price hikes by building, bringing, or buying new power supply; paying for new power delivery infrastructure upgrades; paying special rates "whether they use the electricity or not"; and investing local job creation.
Within days of the announcement, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed the nonbinding pledge.
On Thursday, Trump revealed that the pledge now has among its signatories 23 governors, various state legislators, numerous electricity providers, and data center developers.
RELATED: The path to America-first AI
The three Republican governors who did not sign the pledge were Phil Scott of Vermont, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, and Ron DeSantis of Florida. DeSantis ratified legislation in May to ensure that "local governments maintain the authority to reject data center development in their communities" and to protect Florida's water resources from data center consumption.
According to the White House, the pledge "now covers 80% of all power delivered to U.S. homes and businesses and protects 263 million Americans when a data center is built nearby."
After suggesting that adherence to the pledge and the construction of additional infrastructure to support the incoming data centers would actually drive down utility rates, Trump stressed that "America's goal must be to dominate the future, and that includes being the number one superpower in artificial intelligence."
"Whoever wins that race is probably going to win, period," he added.
Trump suggested that foreign "propaganda" might be partly to blame for those "communists" and others now opposed to having data centers in their back yards. According to the president, communities desirous of data centers "are the smart communities because it means tremendous numbers of jobs, very little actual disruption."
"You have to convince your community how great these things — you can't fight it. You have to go with it," said Trump.
"If you don't have it, everybody else wants it."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!A Democratic state representative who pleaded guilty last year to refusing a breathalyzer during a DUI arrest has crashed out once again, this time over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's arrest of his "neighbor," an illegal alien identified by authorities as a "known member of MS-13."
Rhode Island state Rep. Enrique Sanchez (D) has even apparently threatened ICE for getting the dangerous foreigner off American streets.
'State Rep. Enrique Sanchez should be thanking our law enforcement for removing dangerous criminals.'
Ivan Rene Mendoza Meza, a 28-year-old also known as "El Negro," stole into the U.S. illegally at least twice. According to ICE, he is "a self-admitted member of MS-13 in Honduras and states he has committed crimes on behalf of the gang," which is a designated foreign terrorist organization.
ICE Boston issued an immigration detainer for Mendoza following his August 2023 arrest for allegedly trafficking fentanyl, a substance that killed an estimated 38,084 Americans just last year.
Mendoza was accused of being one of the "key members" of a drug-trafficking organization and linked to a residence where five bags of fentanyl pills along with a digital scale and an anti-GPS tracking device were allegedly discovered during a raid.
The 6th District Court of Rhode Island disregarded the detainer and cut the gangster loose on bond.
He spent two years as a free man, but after a brief chase that prompted the involvement of Providence Police and the evacuation of a multi-unit home, the gangster was finally captured by ICE on July 13, 2025.
The MS-13 terrorist's capture caused apoplexy among the usual suspects.
RELATED: ICE haters claim victory after 'major bank' shuts down deals with detention companies
The Rhode Island branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, for instance, condemned the presence of local police at the time of the gangster's capture, calling for the termination of Providence Police Department Chief Oscar Perez, and demanding the removal of ICE from city streets.
State Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a self-identified socialist, also melted down, calling ICE "the Nazi Gestapo," referring to the gangster as his "neighbor," and characterizing their successful operation as an "act of terror."
This week Sanchez — whose big mouth and radicalism previously got him in trouble during his time as a substitute Spanish teacher — suggested that he had mental problems and that ICE was the cause.
"Fighting and dealing with ICE since last year has f**ked me up in the head after trying to protect and defend hundreds and hundreds of our community members in Providence and across Rhode Island," wrote the radical.
Sanchez then issued an apparent threat to ICE, stating, "Your day of reckoning will come motherf**kers. I swear to god."
He shared a version of the same message on Instagram in a foreign tongue.
When asked for comment, ICE referred Blaze News to the Department of Homeland Security, which said of Sanchez's remarks, "Because of smears and attacks like this, our ICE officers are now facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists."
The DHS noted that "instead of vilifying law enforcement, state Rep. Enrique Sanchez should be thanking our law enforcement for removing dangerous criminals," then proceeded to list a number of criminal noncitizens whom ICE has captured, including Mariel Valdez Nunez, an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic convicted of human slavery; Phet Phommasinh, an illegal alien from Laos convicted of homicide, assault, and aggravated assault with a weapon; and Touthtou Sengsavang, an illegal alien from Laos convicted of failure to register as a sex offender, molestation of a minor, selling cocaine, and other crimes.
Sanchez, who has repeatedly vowed that ICE "will pay" for doing their jobs, responded, "Ok."
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