When one considers Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections announced thus far, there are a few themes that emerge. One discernible theme, which has been the subject of constant teeth-gnashing all week, is the unorthodox or perhaps outright surprising nature of some of the picks. Tulsi Gabbard, tapped as our next director of national intelligence, is not a career spy. Pete Hegseth, Trump’s inspired choice to be our next secretary of defense, is not a company man who steadily worked his way up through the Pentagon’s labyrinthine bureaucracy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is a famously iconoclastic figure. And if you had consummate “Florida man” Matt Gaetz on your bingo card as Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general, then you’re quite a bit more prescient than I am. But there is at least one other clearly discernible theme that emerges when one considers all those who Trump has picked to surround himself with: Many of these people are young. Gabbard is 43. Hegseth 44. Gaetz is 42. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Trump’s pick for ambassador to the United Nations, is 40. Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick for Environmental Protection Agency administrator, is 44. Vivek Ramaswamy, who will manage the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk, is 39. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, isn’t exactly an old geezer at 53; ditto, his fellow Floridian Rep. Michael Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, who is 50. And lest we forget, Trump’s own running mate and soon-to-be vice president, JD Vance, just turned 40 a few months ago. That is a lot of high-ranking young—or at least comparatively young—people. And there are still many top positions in the second Trump administration that remain unannounced, raising the distinct possibility of even more young blood getting tapped for powerful leadership positions. What exactly is going on here? Trump, it seems, is not merely interested this time around in draining the swamp once and for all. He will not be content with just finishing the unfinished work of truly making America great again. Rather, he has a greater goal in mind: He is trying to foster an intergenerational legacy and solidify MAGA as America’s dominant early-to-mid-21st-century political movement. American history has often been defined by political movements that dominate not merely a singular eponymous presidency, but a broader epoch. There was the protectionist “American System” of Henry Clay. There was Jacksonian populism. There was the era of the welfare state, epitomized by Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. There was the laissez-faire “Washington consensus” of the late-20th-century Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton presidencies. Now, Trump wants MAGA to be the defining political movement of our own era. And why not? Trump has already secured the most racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse winning presidential coalition in modern Republican Party history. He has made historical inroads with Hispanic voters, black men, and voters under the age of 35—the very groups that formed the core of Barack Obama’s own twice-victorious presidential coalition. He has managed to maintain an economic appeal to everyone from billionaire entrepreneurs like Musk to Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters president who gave a prime-time speech at this summer’s Republican National Convention. There are already numerous high-profile former Democrats, such as Gabbard and RFK Jr., who have been tapped for Cabinet-level posts. Obama’s one-time “coalition of the ascendant” has, in fact, descended. It has crashed and burned, and the modern Democratic Party is nothing less than vanquished. And what has risen in its stead? That would be the movement that delivered Republicans their first national popular vote win in two decades: MAGA. The more pressing question is: What exactly will MAGA actually be in the years—and decades—ahead? Above all, MAGA means nothing more than pragmatism—good old-fashioned common sense. It means an immigration policy that prioritizes cultural preservation and wage earners’ bank accounts—not corporate fat cats. It means a trade policy that prioritizes rejuvenating American manufacturing and reshoring—or at least “ally-shoring”—critical supply chains. It means a greater push toward reforming America’s sclerotic labor system, perhaps even abandoning it outright for European-style sectoral bargaining. It means a foreign policy laser-focused on soberly securing America’s national interest—not romanticizing democracy promotion or the pursuit of liberal universalism. Call it the commonsense coalition. But whatever you want to call MAGA, it’s young. It’s a generational, legacy-defining play for Trump, and it’s here to stay. And that is a very good thing for the future of these once-and-future-great United States. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Trump Is Poised to Make MAGA the Country’s Defining Political Movement appeared first on The Daily Signal.

FAFO of the Week: I Didn't Mean I'd *Kill*-Kill Trump Voters!

Too much coffee or booze may be the culprit.

All you need is a blacklight and enthusiasm.

Sit back, relax, and let’s Break It Down in episode 40...

The red panda’s death has been linked to fireworks-related stress.

Many classrooms across Oklahoma will soon be furnished with a Bible, thanks to the work of state Superintendent Ryan Walters.In a video posted to X on Thursday, Walters announced that more than 500 Bibles had been purchased to be placed in Advanced Placement government classrooms across his state. "The Bible is back in Oklahomas [sic] classrooms," read the message attending the video. "We are getting our kids back on track."Walters also hopes to expand the program and eventually place a Bible in every classroom. "We will not stop until we've brought the Bible back to every classroom in the state," he averred. — (@) Ever since Walters mentioned this summer the idea of incorporating the Bible back into the classroom, liberals have been howling and stomping their feet, insisting that doing so would violate the so-called "separation of church and state" in America.Though opponents have denounced putting Bibles in schools as some kind of civil rights violation, the state of Oklahoma is overwhelmingly Christian."The separation of church and state guarantees that families and students – not politicians – get to decide if, when and how to engage with religion," said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United."As a Christian, I’m appalled by the use of the Bible — a sacred text — for Superintendent Walters’ political grandstanding," railed Rev. Mitch Randall, a Baptist pastor in Oklahoma."This Bible mandate is a blatant power grab that violates state law and tramples the separation of church and state," added Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.Last month, dozens of Oklahomans — backed by leftist groups like the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation — even filed a lawsuit against Walters for allegedly using "tax dollars for religious instruction" that "would violate the important constitutional principle of church–state separation."Not only is that phrase found nowhere in any of the country's founding documents, but Walters noted in his announcement Thursday that the Bible has had critical influence on American history and that keeping it out of classrooms on account of its religious content would deprive students of a well-rounded education.To demonstrate the Bible's place among other key documents, Walters' office promised to provide a Bible as well as a copy of "the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution for every classroom in Oklahoma" as part of an ongoing effort to give students a complete understanding of their nation's history, KOCO reported.Thus far, the 500 Bibles have cost the state about $25,000, according to Walters' spokesperson, Dan Isett. In all, Walters is willing to spend as much as $6 million to make sure that each classroom is outfitted with its own Bible, the Oklahoman reported.Though opponents have denounced putting Bibles in schools as some kind of civil rights violation, the state of Oklahoma is overwhelmingly Christian. According to the Pew Research Center, fully 79% of residents living there identify as Christian.The Oklahoman noted that Walters' call for Bibles in classrooms has been "legally-challenged" and repeatedly emphasized Walters' support for President-elect Donald Trump. Such support, however, is in keeping with the state he serves since every Oklahoma county voted for Trump in 2024.Walters' name has been mentioned as a possible education secretary in Trump's second term.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A former substitute teacher in Missouri is accused of paying students to engage in sex acts with her while urging them to keep their activities a secret. The ex-teacher also supplied children with alcohol and marijuana and sent illicit photos to kids, according to police.According to online court records, Carissa Smith began as a substitute teacher for Dixon Middle School in 2022 and 2023. Smith was hired as a paraprofessional for Dixon High School for the 2023-24 school year and was later hired as a long-term substitute teacher. However, Smith resigned from her position in August.One alleged victim told police he was in middle school when 'Smith asked him to have sex with her.'The Pulaski County Sheriff's Department said in a press release, "According to the probable cause statement submitted, information was obtained while interviewing victims that Mrs. Smith would offer money, marijuana and/or alcohol to students in return for sex or to allow her to perform oral sex."Investigators say the alleged incidents occurred from August 2023 to September 2024. According to the probable cause statement, Smith paid an alleged victim at least $100 to engage in sexual activities with her.The alleged victims told investigators that Smith would have sex with them at her home and "other various locations such as gravel roads or on the side of the road." Police said the alleged victims were able to describe Smith's house and her vehicle. One alleged victim told police he was in middle school when "Smith asked him to have sex with her."Citing authorities, the Kansas City Star reported that Smith urged an alleged victim multiple times to not tell anyone about their encounters and advised the boy that “she would get into trouble.”One alleged victim said Smith sent nude photos of herself on Snapchat and propositioned the child for sex, according to the court documents. The sheriff's department said Smith was arrested Nov. 12. Police said Smith was charged with eight counts of statutory rape, three counts of sexual contact with a student, two counts of sexual misconduct with a student, two counts of sexual trafficking of a child, two counts of hindering prosecution, one count of statutory sodomy, and one count of patronizing prostitution.The sheriff's department noted that more charges could be filed once all alleged victims have been interviewed. Smith is being detained at the Pulaski County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.In a letter to parents, Dixon R-1 School District Superintendent Travis Bohrer said the district learned of Smith’s alleged misconduct earlier in the school year."We were unable to share this information with you sooner due to the need to allow law enforcement officials to fully investigate without interference," Bohrer said, adding that "this is very disturbing and distressing information for everyone in our school community."Bohrer said the district has cooperated with the sheriff's department about the "serious matter." The Dixon R-1 School District released a statement to KYTV-TV that read in part, "Earlier this school year, the district received a report of possible misconduct by Ms. Smith towards at least one district student."The school district said it had been in contact with the impacted families. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

President-elect Donald Trump enraged elements of the administrative state, the military-industrial complex, and the liberal media with his announcement Tuesday that he will be appointing decorated Army veteran Pete Hegseth to run the Pentagon. Among those gnashing teeth and clutching pearls was unrepentant Iraq War advocate Bill Kristol. KFile, the investigative outfit at CNN that previously highlighted some of Kamala Harris' more radical views, preemptively outed Kristol as two-faced, linking to a video of his glowing 2012 endorsement of Hegseth for a Senate seat in Minnesota. Kristol now In the pages of his never-Trump blog, Kristol called Hegseth — a two-time Bronze Star recipient who fought in a war initiated on the false premise Kristol promoted — "the lightest of lightweights," suggesting further he was "unfit" and would degrade the government. After quoting Stephen K. Bannon, who allegedly told the financial journalist Michael Lewis that the way to deal with an oppositional media "is to flood the zone with s***," Kristol suggested that the same strategy is now in play and that Hegseth and Trump's other appointments are human waste. Kristol, who served in the George H.W. Bush administration as well as on the late Sen. John McCain's failed presidential campaign, subsequently cast doubt on whether the U.S. Senate would ultimately confirm Hegseth. "Even though the bulk of Trump’s embarrassing and unqualified appointments will get confirmed, his intention to nominate Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense gives defenders of good government and the rule of law a chance for a win," wrote Kristol. "Could Hegseth's nomination be defeated? Many Republican senators have dealt with Hegseth, and they know he's beyond unqualified for the position. Has there actually been a single statement from a Republican senator actually praising the choice? I'm not aware of one." 'There's so much he could do for this country.' Kristol also busied himself this week sharing other attacks on Hegseth from other writers on his blog, including the suggestion from Annika Brockschmidt and Thomas Lecaque that Trump's proposed secretary of defense sees himself as a potential leader in a holy war — as some kind of neo-crusader knight whose Jerusalem cross and "Deus vult" tattoos serve as "warnings all over his body." Kristol then Prior to Kristol's meltdown, KFile's Andy Kaczynski shared the neocon's 2012 endorsement of Hegseth, where he said, "I've known Pete Hegseth for six or seven years. He's one of the most impressive young men I've met in Washington." "Pete was 26, 27 years old, meeting with senators, meeting with senior administration officials. He was extremely impressive. He made his case like someone who had been around Washington for 20 years — but he also had served. He had served his country," continued Kristol. "I feel I know him well." "I respect Pete. I admire what he's done and I think there's an awful lot, there's so much he could do for this country," added Kristol. The neocon who wasted ink this week dehumanizing the secretary of defense nominee also noted in the endorsement video that Hegseth was an accomplished young man with vision and character. "He is someone who served his country in the military, obviously, and put himself at risk," said Kristol. "I'd be proud and enthusiastic to vote for Pete Hegseth." Kristol proved unwilling to change his mind about the disastrous and costly war in Iraq. It's unclear at what point he alternatively changed his mind about Hegseth, but Trump's success and non-interventionist foreign policy might have something to do with it. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Blaze News investigative reporter Steve Baker has been breaking down the January 6 trials of American citizens and exposing what he’s found for years now — and because of that, the hammer of the government came down on him as well. Now he’s pleading guilty to four charges related to January 6. “My decision was very easy after my sentencing hearing last Wednesday, which was of course the day after President Trump was confirmed to have won the election. I went through what I consider a brutal hearing in which the justice department, not only them but also the court itself, showed their inflexibility,” Baker explains to Jill Savage and Matthew Peterson of “Blaze News Tonight.” “They showed to me that they were going to not allow us to present my case as I've imagined in my mind for three years now, that I would ultimately present my case if I was charged. And then after being charged back in March of this year, I’ve had nine, 10 months now to build that case,” he continues, noting that the court denied him on every motion made. According to Baker, he had “behaved completely, 100% professionally as a journalist” and the prosecution is in “violation of the First Amendment.” Because the court denied Baker the right to present his case, he decided to plead guilty instead. “I told my attorneys in a Zoom call that we made immediately after my hearing last Wednesday that I was not going to do this. I was not going to allow the government to put me through nothing more than a shaming exercise and to be quite frank, a 100% losing record for January 6 defendants,” he explains. “There has not been a single exoneration, not a single acquittal, so I was going up against that buzzsaw if I did go to trial today,” he adds. While Baker was just doing his job, so were many other journalists in attendance on January 6 who are not facing the same fate. And seeing the same thing happen to others, he believes that no defendant was given a fair chance based on their political leaning. “Beginning with the Oath Keepers trial, which of course was the biggest, most publicized January 6 trial of all,” he says, “I saw how those defendants were denied the right to prevent evidence that was exculpatory evidence in their own trial, and yet, the government was allowed to present basically anything that they wished.” Want more from 'Blaze News Tonight'?To enjoy more provocative opinions, expert analysis, and breaking stories you won’t see anywhere else, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.