Ill Wind Update: Looks Like There's Been Some Serious Smoke Blowin' at the GE Blade Factory

DOJ and FBI Lawfare Officials Lawyering Up

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Take a close up look... at this year's shortlist.

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Jason Cohen at the Daily Caller reported that CNN weekend host Michael Smerconish appeared on the Mediaite podcast to discuss "How Trump Beat the Media and Won Re-election." Host Aiden McLaughlin presented Smerconish as a "champion of moderation," which would certainly make you stand out at screamy CNN. He said all the media bias had a "boomerang effect." SMERCONISH: I don’t want it all distilled into this one sound bite or conclusion, but at the top of my list, I’ll say it that way … It’s like a parenting lesson. The more that you tell people what they can’t do, what’s intolerable, you must not do this, you should not do this, the more they’re going to rebel. Maybe they would have ultimately come to their own conclusion and rejected Donald Trump. I don’t know. But I think that the constant browbeating and the combination of the media influence and the four indictments, one conviction, and showing that God-awful joke from Madison Square Garden a week in advance of the election on a loop — and I felt it, and I said it, I can’t sit here, Aiden, telling you, well, this is the way I called the election, but I definitely felt the potential for a boomerang effect, and I think that came true. I really do.   McLaughlin agreed it was a "major repudiation of the media." Smerconish broadened it out to the lawfare. He said the "hush money payment case should never have been brought," with its "legal gymnastics" to stretch out the statute of limitations, which "poisoned the water and fueled the perception that this really was largely political, and it diluted everything that came after it."  Smerconish also criticized all the "fascist" talk late in the campaign. "If he’s a fascist dictator, and somebody working-class is supportive of him, is voting for him, what are you telling them? Then when President Biden said they’re garbage, it just brought it all home...I think that electorate was so disrespected that there was no way they were going to be told for whom they were gonna vote, and they probably came out more so than they might have."

The Department of Defense failed its seventh consecutive annual audit on Friday, revealing that it cannot fully account for its over $824 billion budget.The nation's largest government agency has been required to run yearly audits since the 1990s but only began doing so in 2018. The Pentagon has failed every single one of these reviews, which are carried out by independent auditors and the department's Office of Inspector General.'I have zero tolerance for fraud, waste, and abuse.'The DOD's leadership has fully anticipated its repeated audit failures, stating that the agency aims to pass for the first time by 2028, as required by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.This year's audit resulted in a disclaimer of opinion, meaning the agency failed to provide auditors with sufficient information to form an accurate opinion. Of the DOD's 28 reporting entities, nine received an unmodified opinion, one received a qualified opinion, 15 received disclaimers, and three opinions remain pending, according to the agency.Despite the Pentagon's repeated failures, Michael McCord, under secretary of defense comptroller and chief financial officer, claimed that the agency "has turned a corner in its understanding of the depth and breadth of its challenges.""Momentum is on our side, and throughout the Department there is strong commitment — and belief in our ability — to achieve an unmodified audit opinion," he claimed.McCord said that the DOD anticipated receiving a disclaimer of opinion but rejected the notion that the agency "failed" yet another annual audit."I do not say we failed, as I said, we have about half clean opinions. We have half that are not clean opinions," McCord told reporters on Friday. "So if someone had a report card that is half good and half not good, I don't know that you call the student or the report card a failure. We have a lot of work to do, but I think we're making progress."McCord emphasized that to achieve a clean audit by 2028, the DOD must "make enormous progress," but he believes the goal is within reach."Is 2028 achievable? I believe so," he stated. "But we do have to keep getting faster and keep getting better."In response to the latest audit results, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated, "While we have made real progress in our annual audit, there are several areas where we need to work harder and achieve better results. I am deeply committed to transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds, both central to our mission to defend our country.""I have zero tolerance for fraud, waste, and abuse — in the Pentagon or elsewhere in the Department," Austin continued. "The Department is grateful to Congress for supporting our mission and strengthening America's defense. Yet, there is still much more to do. We must account for every taxpayer dollar and present a clean financial bill of health to the American people."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was swiftly fined by the NBA for making a joke during a postgame interview that the league deemed "derogatory." After a 115-114 nail-biting victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on November 16, Ball was asked for his comments on the final play of the game."What did you see right here when Giannis [Antetokounmpo] took that shot and everyone was underneath the basket for that rebound?" a reporter asked the 23-year-old.After confirming what the reporter said, Ball responded with his $100,000 answer."We loaded up — no homo — that's what we wanted. Put the hand up and then live with the results," the point guard replied.It didn't take long for NBA officials to push out a press release calling Ball's joke "offensive" and slapping him with the whopping fine."Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $100,000 for making an offensive and derogatory comment in a postgame interview, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations," the league wrote. — (@) '... I don't discriminate.'The next day, head coach Charles Lee said the organization "obviously" does not condone Ball's language."Our standards and what is required of our players in our environment that we create is really important to us," the coach claimed during a press conference. "I spoke to Melo and he's obviously very apologetic from what I've seen since I've been around him. He loves everyone and he's a joy to have around in the facility, and that's not typically how he operates." The coach added that his star player now knows "what's going to be expected of him" and claimed Ball wants to "be better" going forward.According to TMZ, Ball told journalists following Sunday's 128-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers that he "really didn't mean anything" by the remark and that he doesn't "want to offend anybody.""I've got love for everybody ... and I don't discriminate," Ball reportedly added.The fifth-year player is averaging 29.7 points per game in 2024-2025 and is in the first year of a five-year contract extension that has him averaging over $40 million per season.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

UFC legend and champion Jon Jones made it a point to make his faith and pride in America front and center after retaining his championship.On Saturday, Jones defended his heavyweight belt against former champion Stipe Miocic in a three-round TKO win at Madison Square Garden in New York.Following Jones' win, announcer Joe Rogan quickly asked about how his opponent stacked up against previous title challengers."It's very discouraging to hit somebody that's not reacting," Jones said of Miocic, praising his resilience and toughness.Rogan then got the crowd screaming when he asked about a possible fight between Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall. Jones took advantage of the crowd's enthusiasm."You know what? While I got the moment, while everybody's cheering and so happy, I want to acknowledge Jesus Christ," Jones said to a large roar."I tell you what, man. I cannot take credit for a gift like this, man. I really owe it all to him, and I know that there's millions of people around the world watching right now, and I just want to let you guys know that Jesus loves you so much! That's all I'll say about that," Jones added. UFC/YouTUbe 'I'm proud to be a great American champion.'Jones also praised President Donald Trump — who was ringside for the main card — and emulated the politician's famous dance moves both immediately after his victory and again during his interview with Rogan.Jones pointed to the president and said, "I also want to say a big, big thank-you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight.""I'm proud to be a great American champion; I'm proud to be a Christian American champion," he continued.Jones is likely the biggest UFC star ever to put such focus on his Christianity on such a big stage, and he did so multiple times.Along with starting a massive "U-S-A!" chant in the arena, the timing of Jones' comments seemed perfect given the energy of the crowd and the presence of the Trump family and entourage. Former Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and musician Kid Rock all surrounded Trump throughout the night.Jones later exited the cage to shake hands with Trump and Elon Musk, who was also in the audience.Another Christian and Trump supporter, lightweight Michael Chandler, fought in the stunning co-main event. However, his post-fight remarks were limited to calling out UFC legend Conor McGregor, asking him when he will return to the Octagon."Are you not entertained?!" Chandler yelled. "We're wondering where you've been, Conor, come back and beat me!"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!