Organizers of the main fundraising portal for the Democratic Party have been subpoenaed by Republicans in Congress over accusations that they aided illegal foreign donations. 'The Committee’s investigation uncovered that foreign actors might be taking advantage of ActBlue’s inadequate security protocols.' Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, who is also the chair of the Committee on House Administration, said the committee had requested documents from ActBlue related to its donor verification policies. The platform's lax policies might be allowing foreign actors to "launder illicit money" into political campaigns, the letter claimed. "We cannot allow foreign actors to influence our elections through campaign financing," said Steil in a statement Wednesday. "The Committee’s investigation uncovered that foreign actors might be taking advantage of ActBlue’s inadequate security protocols," he added. "To ensure that foreign money is not being laundered through ActBlue, we are requesting a series of documents and communications related to their donor security and verification policies." ActBlue has collected over $1.5 billion in donations from about 7 million donors. The portal's organizers issued a brief response to the subpoena Thursday. "ActBlue has received Chairman Steil’s latest inquiry and will respond to address the continued inaccuracies and misrepresentations about our platform, as we have done previously," the statement read. "We rigorously protect donors' security and maintain strict anti-fraud compliance practices. We have zero tolerance for fraud on our platform."Critics of the platform have documented suspicious irregularities in donor records that have led some to accuse ActBlue of illegal money laundering. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has called on the Federal Election Commission to investigate the donor portal over the accusations. Earlier in October the portal said it had dumped several political action committees that had been accused of being "scam PACs" inappropriately spending donation money meant for campaigns. "Preventing foreign interference in U.S. elections has been my top priority as Chairman, and this next step in our investigation is crucial to achieving that goal," Steil concluded. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Sony and PlayStation have shut the doors on Firewalk Studios after the developers lost more than $200 million for their parent company in about two weeks. Sony purchased the studio in 2023.Before its release, Concord — a space-aged first-person shooter game — was criticized for its excessive and forced diversity themes, including multiple characters who were morbidly obese and even robots with preferred pronouns.It took just 14 days after its August 23 release date for Sony to shut down operations and pull the game from both physical and digital shelves.At the time, Sony said certain "aspects of the game" didn't "land the way [they were] intended" and that Concord would be pulled from the market immediately. It also offered refunds to all customers.Sony also said it was still determining the "best path ahead" for the game.'We took the game offline.'Fast forward six weeks, and Sony has announced it will close the studio, marking one of the most monetarily-damaging mistakes in recent gaming history."Certain aspects of Concord were exceptional," Sony generously wrote on its blog. "But others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline. We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options.""After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio," Sony added.The gaming giant noted that the studio "did not hit" its "targets."While the game was a massive failure that took approximately eight years to develop, Sony's financial implications were even bigger than initially expected.Initial reports estimated a $100 million loss for the studio, given the cost of similar projects. However, insider testimony has since revealed that the game's initial development deal was over $200 million, not counting the rest of the studio's agreement with Sony.Citing sources familiar with the agreement, Kotaku reported that the $200 million was not even enough to cover the game's development and did not include the purchase of Concord's intellectual property rights or the purchase of Firewalk Studios itself.'Putting new things into the world is critical.'Firewalk has since issued a lengthy final statement on X, disregarding the financial losses and the real reasons its game was widely rejected."Firewalk is signing off one last time," it wrote.The company stated that the project "landed much more narrowly than hoped," but qualified its statement with a claim that the market is "heavily consolidated."The studio then justified its project by saying that while "other aspects of the IP didn't land," the idea of "putting new things into the world is critical to pushing the medium forward."Firewalk is signing off one last time.Firewalk began with the idea of bringing the joy of multiplayer to a larger audience. Along the way we assembled an incredible team who were able to:- Navigate growing a new startup into a team during a global pandemic: Firewalk was…— Firewalk (@FirewalkStudios) October 29, 2024 The studio closes out the post with "end transmission," as if it were written in the fantasy world it had created. This odd disconnect, which largely ignores the reality of a monumental ideological failure, echoes similar sentiments that DEI-laden games have pushed out recently.Many studios have acted as if they are playing with Monopoly money, which has cost big studios hundreds of millions while often hiring ideological allies to push their viewpoints through their games (see Unknown 9 and Dustborn).A recent Suicide Squad game cost Warner Bros. $200 million. Unknown 9: Awakening is estimated at a loss between $80-$120 million.Other games like Dustborn simply blew through $1.56 million in grants.Only time will tell whether other studios seemingly come to their senses the way Sony has and cut their losses before it's too late.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Two Kansas mothers were found dead inside a chest freezer in a cow pasture in rural Oklahoma in April.Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, went on a road trip to Oklahoma earlier this year. However, they went missing March 30 after driving to the Oklahoma panhandle to pick up Butler's children — ages 6 and 8. They didn't make it that far.The group's initial plan was to 'throw an anvil through Butler's windshield while driving, making it look like an accident because anvils regularly fall off work vehicles.'Authorities found their car abandoned near the Oklahoma-Kansas border.Law enforcement suspected foul play after allegedly finding "evidence of a severe injury" and several puddles of blood near the abandoned vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle.On April 13, investigators discovered Butler and Kelley's remains inside a chest freezer that had been buried in a cow pasture, according to affidavits. The freezer reportedly was inside a hole filled with dirt and concrete.The Daily Mail reported that the mothers were found dead in "pools of blood" inside the freezer.Investigators discovered that the farming property had ties to the grandmother of one of the women's children, court documents say. The property owner told authorities that 43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum — who reportedly rented time on the cow pasture for cattle grazing — asked him on March 28 "if he could cut a tree down, remove a stump, [and] bury some concrete" in an area below the dam where a concrete pile had been sitting above ground. The property owner said Cullum completed the project in the next day or two. Cullum was the boyfriend of 54-year-old Tifany Adams — the paternal grandmother of Butler's children.Court records revealed that Adams' son — Wrangler Rickman — had been in a custody battle with Butler over their children. The couple also allegedly were going through a divorce. At the time, Rickman reportedly was in an Oklahoma rehabilitation center. The Daily Mail reported that Butler had court-mandated, supervised visits every Saturday with her children, and Kelley was one of four people listed to supervise the visits. The outlet added that Butler filed a petition in court March 20 that would grant her more time with her children, with her goal being receiving full custody.“Adams hated and despised Butler and wanted her dead,” court documents said. In April, Callum, Adams, 31-year-old Paul Grice, 44-year-old Cora Twombly, and 50-year-old Cole Twombly were arrested in connection with the deaths of the two mothers. All five suspects are facing two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree.The filing said Adams allegedly purchased three burner phones, stun devices, yellow straps found around the freezer, and the pants that Cullum wore and buried with the victims.CNN reported that Cora Twombly told her 16-year-old daughter that she was going on a “mission" with Cole Twombly, the girl's stepfather. The teen said her mother and stepfather told her they would "not have to worry about [Butler] again," according to Fox News.The group's initial plan was to "throw an anvil through Butler's windshield while driving, making it look like an accident because anvils regularly fall off work vehicles," Cora Twombly allegedly told her daughter.'God’s Misfits is about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, not about hate and murder.'Citing court documents, KSNT-TV reported that the Twomblys "served as lookouts on the day of the murder."Court documents accuse Grice of stabbing Butler to death while Cullum allegedly killed Kelley — the wife of a pastor.Grice severely cut his hand in the process of killing Butler, the documents state. Grice reportedly tossed a stun device and the murder weapon into the grave, along with the clothing he was wearing when he killed Butler. Investigators said the clothing recovered from the grave contained DNA evidence from Grice and Butler. A preliminary autopsy report was released this week that revealed the cause of death of the two mothers. The report from the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Butler and Kelley were killed from multiple sharp-force trauma, which could be caused by a knife, glass, or anything with a cutting edge. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to release the full report on Nov. 15.The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said the five suspects were members of a group called God’s Misfits — reportedly a self-proclaimed anti-government group with a religious affiliation. In April, the supposed founder of God's Misfits distanced himself from the suspects. “Someway, people think they are part of us. Nothing could be more wrong,” the founder posted on Facebook. “God’s Misfits is about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, not about hate and murder.”The preliminary hearings are scheduled to begin Dec. 17.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The thing I was most worried about in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election was that the left clearly had a comprehensive plan and the right didn’t appear to. It was a strategy to control, manipulate, and dominate every aspect of the electoral process — and it worked. Now, leftists are doing it again in 2024, and their playbook hasn’t changed.Their plan was spearheaded primarily by Michael Podhorzer from the AFL-CIO and a massive conglomeration of more than 200 progressive groups called the Democracy Defense Coalition. The coalition created a five-step election strategy that covered everything from the voting process to street-level demonstrations. Their goal was clear: ensure victory by any means necessary. These were their "Five Steps to Victory," which are still being used in 2024.Step 1: Winning the voteThis is a seemingly obvious goal, right? But in 2020, voting looked very different. Pandemic-era rule changes opened the floodgates to mass mail-in voting, drop boxes, and ballot harvesting. With the support of armies of activists and lawyers, the left made sure those new systems worked to their advantage.This time, it’s ramped up. Kamala Harris herself has promised “teams” of lawyers to attack challenges to pandemic-era voting changes, while Democrat lawyer Marc Elias, who stopped over 60 election-related lawsuits last time, is poised for another round. He’s calling 2024 “the most litigious election in American history,” with 179 lawsuits already filed across 38 states.The left’s strategies to disrupt, delay, and discredit the electoral process will likely create chaos, making us question our institutions, our rights, and even each other.But it’s not just people like Elias. This year, the Biden administration's Department of Justice has sued states like Virginia, Alabama, and Wisconsin for simple measures like removing noncitizens from voter rolls or switching to paper ballots.Ensuring that every vote is legitimate? Apparently, that’s not part of the agenda for “winning the vote.”Step 2: Winning the countWhy should this even be an issue? If the votes are valid, counting should be straightforward. But for the left, it’s critical. Their mindset hinges on shady elections, where election laws are “flexible” and the public is unsure about what’s legitimate. Disputes will arise, and you can bet they’ll have battalions of lawyers ready to jump in.In 2020, their war-game simulations involved calling for recounts in swing states. It’s a safe bet we’ll see a similar strategy this time. Disruptions and doubt will dominate the days after the election, with Democrats and their allies questioning every inch of the counting process.Step 3: Winning the certificationSpeaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently stated that he expects Democrats to object to the electoral count if Trump wins. Not “maybe” or “probably” — he expects it. Democrats like Jamie Raskin (D-Calif.) have already hinted that they’ll object to Trump’s “interference with the process.” But what’s considered “interference” these days? Standing up for election integrity seems to qualify.Certification, a simple step in a functioning democracy, will likely become yet another battleground. The left’s playbook has no tolerance for a result the left doesn’t control. If the results go against the left, objections and accusations of "shady" electoral practices will fill the headlines.Step 4: Winning the Electoral CollegeThis step could be explosive. Left-wing media are already priming the public with headlines like Politico's recent article, “The Very Real Scenario Where Trump Loses and Takes Power Anyway.” Their theory? Trump will rely on Republican support to endorse alternate electors or, if the electoral votes fall short, send the election to the House, where Republicans could select him as president.Democrats accuse Trump of plotting a plan they have mapped out themselves. They’ll claim manipulation and try to delegitimize the Electoral College process, even though it’s been a constitutional safeguard since our nation’s founding.Step 5: Winning the transitionTraditionally, the transition of power is a formality. But the left’s strategy suggests otherwise. According to the left's 2020 playbook, this final step offers opportunities for “disruption” — whatever they can manufacture. If Trump wins, expect the usual suspects to re-emerge with protests and accusations, all under the banner of “defending democracy.”Preparing for unrestIf 2020 was any indication, the weeks following the election may be a powder keg. In 2020, the Democracy Defense Coalition went so far as to organize bail funds in anticipation of mass arrests, with a separate fund ready for families of those “killed in violence” on Election Day. The American public remembers the chaos of that year.Since then, however, progressive groups have been eerily quiet. Are they planning a quieter assault this time — or just waiting for the right moment to pounce?Either way, if Trump wins, expect that their playbook has a contingency plan for unrest. The left’s strategies to disrupt, delay, and discredit the electoral process will likely create chaos, making us question our institutions, our rights, and even each other.This time, however, conservatives have a chance to prepare. It’s essential that the GOP and Trump’s team are ready for every twist and turn, from vote-counting controversies to the transition itself.The only way to counter the left’s plan is with transparency, vigilance, and a firm commitment to our constitutional processes. If we don’t, the chaos of 2020 may feel like a dress rehearsal compared to what lies ahead.Want more from Glenn Beck? Get Glenn's FREE email newsletter with his latest insights, top stories, show prep, and more delivered to your inbox.

Socialist Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York reposted a bizarre liberal outreach technique meant to encourage red-state women in relationships with pro-Trump males to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket. Democrats have been captivated by a theory that married women in red states secretly want to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris but are frightened that their pro-Trump husbands might find out somehow. Female voters are decidedly siding with Harris while more men are voting for Trump than in previous elections.Ocasio-Cortez grimly subjected her followers on X to the narrative and encouraged them to leave post-it notes in bathrooms for these fearful women in red states. "This is real. Your vote is anonymous and confidential," wrote Ocasio-Cortez. "Who you voted for is YOUR secret. No one can know unless you tell them," she added. "When I do instagram Q&As (where people can ask me questions privately and have them publicly answered), this comes up a lot more than you’d think."She was referring to a comment from NBC reporter Sahil Kapur. A woman at Obama’s Pittsburgh rally told me she and her friends, when they go to rural PA, “leave post-it notes in the bathroom saying: NOBODY WILL KNOW WHO YOU VOTED FOR.” Why? She said women in red areas feel stigmatized if they oppose him & don’t all know their vote is privateKapur went on to report an anecdote from a Democratic volunteer who encountered a man who didn't know his wife was a registered Democrat and said, "There are no Democrats here," at the door. Whether or not red state wives are afraid of their husbands, pollsters have indeed noted a massive gender gap among voters ahead of the 2024 election. Female voters are decidedly siding with Harris while more men are voting for Trump than in previous elections. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

BANG, ZOOM! Right to the Ratio! David Axelrod Flops With Claim That Donald Trump Is Ralph Kramden

Reminder: Dem Rep. Jamie Raskin Already Outlined the Insurrection Dems Have Planned If Trump Wins

Hang It in the Louvre: NYT's Reporter Gets BRUTAL Community Note for Lies About NV Abortion Laws

Shock Poll in PA and More Intriguing News on Toss-Up States

Image: The Verge The music streaming app Tidal is laying off more workers. In a statement to Fortune, an unnamed Tidal spokesperson confirmed “the elimination of some roles across our business and design teams.” On Wednesday, Fortune published a leaked memo from Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Tidal parent company Block Block Head, who said that the company is going to “part ways with a number of folks” on the team. “We’re reducing the size of our design team and foundational roles supporting TIDAL, and we will consider reducing engineering over the next few weeks as we have more clarity around leadership going forward,” Dorsey wrote, according to Fortune. Though Dorsey’s message didn’t specify how many employees would be laid off, sources told Fortune that it... Continue reading…