You can watch the public hearing live here.

Tico the manatee was swept up in a fast flowing current before being rescued (again).

We are lucky enough that this hypothesis will get to be tested in the next few years.

Move over Benjamin Button, Mnemiopsis leidyi is in town.

We hear it all the time, but how does it actually work?

On Monday's Morning Joe, New Republic editor Michael Tomasky, as per his current New Republic column, said that the "real reason" for Kamala Harris' defeat is that the right-wing media is more influential than the liberal media! No doubt the conservative media is considerably stronger and more prevalent than it was in the pre-National Review days. But more influential than the liberal media? If only! Perhaps unwittingly, Tomasky gave the game away when he described the growth of conservative media as a "problem": TOMASKY: But what I was trying to draw readers' attention to with this column is a longer historical problem that I've watched develop over the last 30 years. Which is the growth, tremendous growth, in size and influence of the right-wing media in this country. When we talk about the media, usually in shorthand, we say "the media this, the media that," as if it's one thing. But actually in this country, we have two medias. And I think it's very important for people to understand this. There's a mainstream media, which is the networks and The New York Times and so forth. And then there's a right-wing media. And when we all think of right-wing media, we think first of Fox News. But it's much larger and vaster than that. There are other cable networks. There are — there's talk radio, right-wing talk radio, which is everywhere across this country. There's right-wing Christian radio. Right-wing networks have bought up local television, local radio, some local newspapers. And then, there's this whole world of social media and podcasters that is just absolutely vast. BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. TOMASKY: Add it all up, it's tremendously influential. And it really does, more than the mainstream media these days, I think, Mika — BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. TOMASKY: — set the terms of our political conversation. Tomasky claimed that "another thing that gives this right-wing media network such power is that it speaks with one voice." Ironic that Tomasky would say that during an appearance on MSNBC, where all hosts and guests parrot the same lib talking points o' the day. And on those rare occasions when a Republican voice is heard, it is only of the tame, Never Trumper variety. For some time now, Tomasky has been propounding his notion that the conservative media is more influential than the MSM. Over a year ago, our Tim Graham caught Tomasky claiming that that our media culture "has been shaped and defined by the political right, and it works almost entirely to their advantage."     Despite admitting the economy has been a struggle for many Americans, Tomasky couldn't leave it there and instead insisted "our debate about the economy is set in large part by this right-wing media and — and you know, they pick the facts that will support their interpretation of the world." There was an amusing moment at the end of the segment, with Joe Scarborough mentioning that over the weekend, wife and co-host Mika Brzezinski expressed the belief that Biden might have "done better" than Kamala. Here's the transcript. MSNBC's Morning Joe 11/11/24 7:17 a.m. MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I've been following a lot of the different aspects of what happened here. And I think a major part of it, and as we talk about the Democrats, I sometimes feel like we overtalk about that, and then it leaves out other reasons why this election was lost by the Democrats. And that would be disinformation. And Michael, you are writing about, you know, why doesn't anyone talk about the real reason Trump won, and you're talking about right-wing media in part. Can you explain? MICHAEL TOMASKY: Sure. Look, there were immediate reasons that had to do with inflation and the economy and so worth. But what I was trying to draw readers' attention to with this column is a longer historical problem that I've watched develop over the last 30 years. Which is the growth, tremendous growth, in size and influence of the right-wing media in this country. When we talk about the media, usually in shorthand, we say "the media this, the media that," as if it's one thing. But actually in this country, we have two medias. And I think it's very important for people to understand this. There's a mainstream media, which is the networks and The New York Times and so forth. And then there's a right-wing media. And when we all think of right-wing media, we think first of Fox News.  But it's much larger and vaster than that. There are other cable networks. There are — there's talk radio, right-wing talk radio, which is everywhere across this country. There's right-wing Christian radio. Right-wing networks have bought up local television, local radio, some local newspapers. And then, there's this whole world of social media and podcasters that is just absolutely vast. BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. TOMASKY: Add it all up, it's tremendously influential. And it really does, more than the mainstream media these days, I think, Mika — BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. TOMASKY: — set the terms of our political conversation. BRZEZINSKI: And do you think that — is — are we also talking about disinformation, or just a lean to the right in terms of how they — the point of view that is presented? TOMASKY: Well sure, there's both. You know, another thing that gives this right-wing media network such power is that it speaks with one voice. BRZEZINSKI: Right. TOMASKY: And that voice says to regular people that the Democrats hate you, and the Democrats want to turn your son into your daughter, and Donald Trump is your last line of defense against this madness. (....) 7:21 a.m. SCARBOROUGH: I do want to ask this question, and I — I found your — I found your piece fascinating. We do look at the misinformation all of the time — the disinformation that's coming from a lot of these sources, just deliberate disinformation that's coming from the sources. That said, that doesn't explain black voters not coming out in Detroit, black voters not coming out in Milwaukee, black voters not coming out in Philadelphia in the numbers they came out — BRZEZINSKI: Mmhmm. SCARBOROUGH: — in back in 2020. Reverend Al had told us earlier, about a month earlier, that he went to Detroit, and there just wasn't the interest there among a lot of black voters. They — they were not excited about this campaign. They were not excited about voting and he saw trouble coming a month ahead of time. So that's not because they've been watching Newsmax and are upset, right? TOMASKY: No, it's not.  It's not. I would still say, Joe, that, you know, look, People go to the grocery store and they experience what they experience. And the basket of groceries that used to be $80 is $115. SCARBOROUGH: Yes. BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. TOMASKY: I experience that myself. I'm not a rich guy, you know. I see it. I go to the grocery store. So all that is true. At the same time, I think our debate about the economy is set in large part by this right-wing media. And — and you know, they pick the facts that will support their interpretation of the world. And you just watch, come noon on January 20, these outlets? They're going to start picking the great facts about the economy. And within about two weeks, we're going to have a booming Trump economy, according to them. JOE SCARBOROUGH: [Laughs uproariously] Yes, exactly, exactly!  It's going to be turned around, and I'm sure on the other side, there will be people talking about the Great Depression that is coming from the far left. I mean, our economy — our economy is the envy of the world. There are people, though, right now who are struggling with housing prices. As we said on Friday, with the gas and grocery prices and that is a really big issue. (....) 7:24 a.m. SCARBOROUGH: Now, Mika and I have been having this debate over the weekend. Mika thinks that Joe Biden may have done better. I don't think so. I think that this was a Democratic party problem, and whoever was in that slot was going to have problems over peace, prosperity, and, yes, I will say it, with wokeness and the extreme stuff from the far left.

After three years with CNN, host Chris Wallace announced Monday evening that he will not renew his seven-figure contract with the network. Instead, he revealed his plans to step away from traditional broadcast television and pursue a new media venture.Before working for CNN, Wallace spent 18 years at Fox News.'Mainstays of old-fashioned outlets run for the exits.'Wallace told the Daily Beast about his interest in following the path of Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God by launching a podcast or aligning with an independent streaming platform, which he described as "where the action seems to be.""I don't flatter myself to think I will have that sort of reach," he added, referring to the two famous podcasters."This is the first time in 55 years I've been between jobs," Wallace said. "I am actually excited and liberated by that."He noted that he has yet to determine the best streaming format for him."Not knowing is part of the challenge. I'm waiting to see what comes over the transom. It might be something that I haven't thought of at all," he told the Daily Beast.Wallace's decision to leave CNN, announced just a week after the presidential election, appears to be yet another sign of the rapidly declining influence of corporate media outlets.Wallace stated that he had "nothing but positive things to say" about CNN, which had wanted to renew his contract. Mark Thompson, the network's CEO and chairman, called Wallace "one of the most respected political journalists."Many expressed skepticism about Wallace's ability to attract a sufficiently large audience for a successful podcasting career.Even the Daily Beast noted that "most successful streamers or independent broadcasters to emerge from traditional television have so far been almost exclusively on the right."The news outlet reported that former Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly have found success in podcasting, whereas CNN's Don Lemon has struggled to gain traction with his independent show.In response to Wallace's exit, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk said, "Legacy news outlets are losing viewers, but even more important, they're losing their power to set narratives. Trump's 2024 landslide could very well be the death knell for the MSM [mainstream media] as mainstays of old-fashioned outlets run for the exits."Conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck also echoed the sentiment."Chris Wallace greatly overestimates the public interest in what he has to say. The old media dynamic was that you could choose between a few news channels. The new media allows you to choose who you find interesting. He's gonna find out the hard way that it's not Chris Wallace," Starbuck wrote.Podcast host Shawn Farash also responded to Wallace's announcement."The issue is unlike Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson, Chris Wallace has the personality of stale bread and will not generate much of an audience or loyal following," Farash said.Army veteran and political commentator Rob Smith had a similar take."At 77, Chris Wallace Leaves Fading CNN To Become…A Podcaster? You're Boring! Nobody Cares!" Smith wrote on X.Smith said he thinks the move will end Wallace's career, noting that he should have stayed with CNN."New media does not work for everybody. You can see Don Lemon flailing in new media now because nobody really cares what he has to say, because he never really took the time to develop any kind of personality or worldview," Smith explained. "It just does not work in this era."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Keen observers noticed something amiss about a Biden-Harris Department of Defense social media post Monday commemorating Veterans Day. In a now-deleted post on Instagram and X, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office — whose very existence centers on the F-35 fighter jet — shared an image of an aircraft with the caption, "Today, and every day, we thank all Veterans and those currently serving for their service and sacrifice." The trouble with the F-35 JPO's post was not the wording but rather the image. Not only was the aircraft pictured not American, it belongs to an adversarial, communist nation that some living veterans commemorated on Monday fought against in Korea. Military.com noted that instead of the F-35's single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine, the vehicle depicted in the post had twin engines. On closer examination, it appears as though the F-35 JPO actually posted an image of communist China's J-35 stealth fighter aircraft, the People's Liberation Army Air Force's F-35 knockoff. 'You can't make this stuff up.' The backlash was immediate. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) wrote, "WTAF?" "Biden Administration: showcasing Chinese military equipment on Veterans Day," wrote Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). One commentator on Instagram noted, "'Mom I want an F-35 from the JPO!' 'no son, we have F-35s at home!' *the F-36s at home*" "Embarrassing," wrote another user. "Please take this down. We don't want a Chinese J-35 supported by our F-35 JPO office." Conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck tweeted, "You can't make this stuff up. Wow." Former Salomon Brothers and Citigroup investment banker John LeFevre wrote, "China stole the IP for the F-35 and then mocked us by naming theirs the J-35. Today, the Biden administration celebrated Veteran's Day by posting a picture of the Chinese knockoff." The F-35 JPO, which touts itself as the "DoD's focal point for defining next gen strike aircraft weapons systems," deleted the post, then shared images and video of real F-35 jets. Blaze News has reached out to the F-35 JPO for comment. While embarrassing, the F-35 JPO's blunder was not the first time the Biden-Harris DOD evidenced difficulty discerning friend from foe. Stars and Stripes reported that the U.S. Pacific Fleet tweeted then deleted a Fourth of July message last year depicting a service member saluting silhouettes of a Russian Kashin-class destroyer and Russian Sukhoi-27 fighter jets. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service similarly mistook an adversary's ship for its own, celebrating the U.S. Navy's 246th birthday in 2021 with an image of a Russian Kirov-class battle cruiser. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A United States Postal Service mail carrier in Colorado and one of her acquaintances have been accused of intercepting mail-in ballots in the lead-up to the 2024 election and then casting them fraudulently.In late October, officials in Mesa County in Western Colorado began receiving complaints from some Grand Valley residents who claimed they never received their mail-in ballots, yet these same ballots had apparently already been submitted and then rejected because of a signature mismatch.The 21st District Attorney’s Office formally opened an investigation into the complaints on October 21.Investigators then discovered that ballots were missing from mailbox clusters but that there had been no sign of forced entry, suggesting an inside job. They also learned that several complainants lived within a half-mile of one another and that on October 12, Vicki Lyn Stuart, a 64-year-old mail carrier, had substituted for the regular carrier on a mail route in the area.On October 24, Stuart allegedly told investigators that she had merely cross-referenced the names on the mail-in ballots with the names on the mailboxes. If they names did not match, she allegedly marked them "return to sender." She estimated she marked about 20 ballots in that way and assured investigators that "there was no chance her DNA would be on the inside of any of the envelopes," an affidavit said. She denied any involvement in a voter fraud scheme.The USPS later informed investigators that such cross-referencing goes against protocol and that mail carriers are required to deliver ballots regardless of name matches "as they may not know for certain if someone is living at a particular address or not," the affidavit said.'I am proud our security measures are effective.'It is unclear what led investigators to contact Sally Jane Maxedon, 59, about the incident, but they spoke with her on Election Day.Initially, Maxedon allegedly admitted that she "falsely completed voting ballots which did not belong to her," the affidavit said. She then reportedly spun a wild tale involving a male Colorado Bureau of Investigation agent, a truck, and a mall parking lot. She even drew investigators a map.Eventually though, Maxedon allegedly confessed that she and Stuart are friends and that they had recently concocted a scheme to "test" the signature verification of mail-in ballots. According to the affidavit, their goal was "to determine if the signature verification process would detect if the forged signatures were not those of the known voter signatures on file."Maxedon allegedly claimed that Stuart began stealing the ballots and handing them over to her to be completed.So far, officials have identified at least 16 victims but believe there could be 20 or more. Of the ballots the women allegedly submitted, at least nine were removed because of suspected fraud, while at least three were processed and counted."Once signatures are checked, the ballot is pulled independently from the envelope and it’s put into the (counting) process," Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said at a press conference.On the day after the election, both Maxedon and Stuart were arrested. They each face more than a dozen felony charges related to forgery, identity theft, and attempt to influence a public servant. USPS later confirmed to Rocky Mountain PBS that Stuart is an employee and that she has since been placed on "emergency, non-duty status."Whether the victims were ever able to cast a ballot in the election is unclear.Mesa County clerk and recorder Bobbie Gross indicated that the unearthed alleged scheme proves that the system works."I am deeply grateful for the diligence and thorough efforts of the District Attorney’s Office in addressing this matter. I am proud our security measures are effective, and we will remain vigilant to safeguard the integrity of our elections," Gross said in a statement, according to Rocky Mountain PBS.Oddly enough, the Colorado Sun used the incident of alleged voter fraud to slam those who dare to raise questions about election integrity, noting that Stuart is a registered Republican and that the allegedly fraudulent ballots represent only a tiny fraction of the vote totals in the county."Mesa County is a Republican-dominated part of the state" that has "been central to election conspiracies peddled by conservatives in recent years," the outlet wrote.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

You read that headline right, Fortnite OG is back for good. Epic Games just dropped a surprise announcement confirming that the once limited-time revival of the battle royale game's early days is making a return, and this time it's here to stay. It also sounds as though multiple OG seasons will be a part of the new permanent game mode, so I'd expect to see Epic rotate through early content on a loop. Either way, you don't have long to wait for Fortnite OG's return. Continue reading Fortnite OG is coming back, and this time it’s forever MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons