Category: Blaze Media
Maryland Democrats advance new congressional lines in state House
Maryland Democrats advanced a new set of congressional lines that would eliminate the state’s one remaining GOP-held House seat on Monday. The Maryland House of Delegates voted 99-37 to advance a new House map that would give Democrats an 8-0 edge in their congressional delegation. The state currently has a 7-1 Democratic edge. The legislation…
4 issues to watch as Homeland Security funding fight escalates
Congress is staring at a steep climb to finalizing a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as progressives and conservatives each try to throw their weight after the shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis. The House aims to send the five-bill minibus and a two-week DHS continuing resolution to President Trump’s desk…
Texas Democrat sworn in to House, shrinking GOP margin to 1 vote
Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas), a former Harris County, Texas, attorney, was sworn in as a member of the House on Monday after winning the special election runoff for the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D-Texas) seat last week. “It’s been more than 330 days since the people of the 18th Congressional District had representation, had a…
Biden judge sides with Democrats against ICE restricting surprise ‘oversight’ visits from Congress members
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb issued a temporary restraining order requested by 12 Democratic lawmakers to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from blocking surprise oversight visits by members of Congress.
Democrats have claimed the surprise visits are part of the oversight function granted to Congress, but the Trump administration has resisted the claims and tried to restrict their visits.
‘The decision is a victory for accountability, congressional oversight and for the American people.’
The Department of Homeland Security issued policy guidelines that required seven days’ notice before such a visit to detention facilities, but Cobb struck those down.
Cobb previously ordered that specific funds could not be used to shut out the oversight visits, but DHS issued a new policy that depended on funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress. They argued that this allowed them to circumvent the original finding.
The judge disagreed.
Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, who is one of the lawmakers who sued the government, praised the ruling on social media.
“The Court just granted a restraining order against the Trump administration in my lawsuit, Neguse et al. v. ICE et al.,” he wrote. “The decision is a victory for accountability, congressional oversight and for the American people. I’ll keep fighting to ensure the rule of law prevails.”
One such visit to the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, in May led to the arrest of a Democratic mayor who was charged with trespassing. That charge was later dropped, and the mayor is now suing the interim U.S. attorney in New Jersey.
However, federal interference charges against Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey in the same incident went forward after she was accused of shoving an ICE officer. She faces 17 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the charges against McIver on social media and denied allegations that they were politically motivated.
“Give me a break. Did you see her?” Trump wrote. “She was out of control! She was shoving federal agents. The days of that crap are over! We’re going to have law and order!”
Cobb was appointed to the court by former President Joe Biden.
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‘No one is illegal on stolen land’: Grammys audience goes wild over anti-ICE speeches
The 2026 Grammys seemed like a political rally at times as the audience screamed and cheered over anti-government sentiments.
Simple statements garnered standing ovations as some award winners specifically condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their remarks.
‘Um, f**k ICE is all I want to say. Sorry.’
After singer Billie Eilish won Song of the Year, she told the crowd that “no one is illegal on stolen land.”
This statement brought the house down, as attendees rose to their feet and nodded along with impassioned fervor.
ICE-capades
“It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now,” the 24-year-old continued. “I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
“Um, f**k ICE is all I want to say. Sorry,” she added as the crowd went wild.
The audience similarly cried out like victors of an intergalactic war when Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny accepted the award for Best Urban Album, which was called “Best Música Urbana Album” by the Grammys.
“ICE out,” he began, garnering huge applause. “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans. And we are Americans,” Bad Bunny strangely said, given that ICE works to enforce immigration law.
What did not receive as much raucous applause was when the singer asked the audience to “be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.”
“We don’t hate them. We love our people. We love our family. And that’s the way to do it, with love. Don’t forget that, please,” he said.
RELATED: ‘This isn’t organic’: Joe Rogan says Minnesota’s anti-ICE protests are ‘coordinated’ to induce chaos
Pop-star punditry
According to Variety, Eilish was joined by singers like Justin Vernon and Jack Antonoff in wearing “ICE Out” pins to the ceremony. Also included in that group were Justin and Hailey Bieber, although the singer looked incredibly unhappy to be at the event while on the red carpet.
Singer Jelly Roll was asked why he has been silent on political issues, to which he replied, “People shouldn’t care to hear my opinion, man. You know, I’m a dumb redneck. I haven’t watched enough. I didn’t have a phone for 18 months. I’ve had one for four months and don’t have social media.”
However, he went on to say that he is going to have “a lot to say” in the next week, and audiences will hear him “in the most loud and clear way I’ve ever spoke in my life.”
Shut up and sing
Comedian Ricky Gervais made a simple remark on Monday morning, mocking the celebrities for their political speeches.
“They’re still not listening,” he wrote on X, with an attached quote of his remarks from the 2020 Golden Globes, which reads: “If you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.”
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How to watch Turning Point USA Super Bowl halftime show — ‘American culture, freedom, and faith’
Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA will have its own performances that will air during the Super Bowl halftime show.
With artist Bad Bunny set to perform at the Super Bowl LX halftime show — where he may or may not wear a dress — conservative activist group TPUSA will ask viewers to change the channel for the break.
‘Experience a one-of-a-kind halftime event.’
Just a month after Kirk’s assassination, TPUSA announced it would host the All American Halftime Show on its channels. Now, the organization has revealed its musical lineup for February 8, 2026.
Rock, Barrett, Brice
Leading the charge is diamond-selling artist Kid Rock, who recently told Congress his ideas for keeping ticket prices down at concerts and sporting events.
Platinum country artist Brantley Gilbert will also perform. He has more than 10 million followers on social media.
Also featured is Lee Brice. The South Carolina native went platinum as recently as 2020 with his album “Hey World.”
Rounding out the performers is Gabby Barrett. The 25-year-old Pennsylvanian was just a teen when she finished third on the 16th season of “American Idol” in 2018. She went platinum in Canada and the United States with 2020’s “Goldmine.”
RELATED: Trump’s ‘number-one fan,’ Nicki Minaj, praises the president, shreds Gavin ‘Newscum’
Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville
How to Watch
With Super Bowl LX set for kickoff around 6:30 p.m. ET, halftime will likely be around 8-8:30.
At that point, viewers can escape network coverage by heading to any of Turning Point USA’s social media channels or video platforms. This includes TPUSA’s YouTube page, Rumble channel, and X page.
Charlie Kirk’s YouTube channel and Rumble channel will also feature the stream.
“Experience a one-of-a-kind halftime event celebrating American culture, freedom, and faith,” Turning Point wrote in its promotional materials.
RELATED: ‘All in’: TPUSA’s Andrew Kolvet sets sights on 2028 presidential candidate after AmFest
Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images
English speakers welcome
Super Bowl LX is shaping up to be one of the most controversial on record. Although Bad Bunny reportedly will not wear a dress (according to TMZ), he has told viewers to be sure to learn Spanish for his performance.
This has been followed by consistent warnings from the Trump administration to illegal immigrants in the Santa Clara, California, area — where the game is being hosted — that immigration enforcement will be present around Levi’s Stadium.
However, local police have said they will not be assisting federal agents with any immigration enforcement and warned residents that any masked agents would not be local law enforcement.
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‘Melania’ soars: Audiences love first lady’s documentary while the usual haters hate
Audiences rave and critics sneer as the documentary “Melania” exceeds industry expectations in its opening weekend.
The opening gross domestic ticket sales reached $7 million, placing the film third overall at the domestic box office behind two major studio releases.
‘To say that “Melania” is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies.’
The film, which chronicles first lady Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, debuted in 1,778 theaters nationwide, an unusually wide release for a documentary.
Prerelease projections published by entertainment outlets such as People magazine estimated the film would earn between $3 million and $5 million.
RELATED: New ‘Melania’ documentary blends unprecedented access with subtle, profound message
Brooks Kraft/Getty Images
While the film did not screen in advance for critics, reviews published after release were largely unfavorable.
Critics from the Guardian, Variety, and the Hollywood Reporter described the documentary as politically one-sided and overly sympathetic.
Xan Brooks of the Guardian compared the film to a “medieval tribute to placate the greedy king on his throne.” Owen Gleiberman of Variety described it as a “cheese ball infomercial of staggering inertia.” Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter wrote, “To say that ‘Melania’ is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies.”
Audiences reacted differently.
Opening-night viewers awarded the film an “A” at CinemaScore, a metric based on verified exit polling conducted at theaters nationwide.
Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images
The film was distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, which reportedly paid $40 million for distribution rights and spent an additional $35 million on marketing.
The total investment made the project the most expensive documentary release to date.
Despite the high cost, box-office analysts interviewed by AP noted that political documentaries are often evaluated based on visibility and audience engagement rather than traditional profitability.
The film premiered at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., with attendance from members of Congress, Cabinet officials, and business executives.
Following its theatrical run, “Melania” is scheduled to stream on Prime Video. International theatrical distribution is expected to be limited.
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