CartoonDems

 

Texans do not want a little Sissy Boy in Congress. Talarico is not the right choice for the Lone Star State.

 Scott Jennings talks about Talarico's 6 Genders.👇

 

Texans do not let the Democrats turn our State Blue.

 

US, Israel Prep to Hit Iran Energy Targets as Trump Weighs Next Move

The United States and Israel are preparing for a possible joint bombing campaign against Iran's energy infrastructure that could begin as soon as this weekend, according to multiple reports, although President Donald Trump has not yet given the final order.

If approved, the strikes would target key power and petroleum facilities, marking a major escalation in the conflict as the administration shifts toward greater military pressure following weeks of faltering ceasefire negotiations.

CBS News reported Friday that U.S. and Israeli officials are preparing plans for what could become one of the largest bombing campaigns against Iranian infrastructure since the conflict began, with potential targets including power plants, refineries, and other energy-related facilities.

Officials discussed whether any operation could be completed before global financial markets open Monday because of concerns about the impact on oil prices and the broader economy, CBS reported, though no final timeline has been established.

Axios previously reported that Trump was seriously considering strikes against Iranian energy targets within days, while The Wall Street Journal reported that the president has grown increasingly skeptical that diplomacy alone will convince Tehran to accept a ceasefire agreement.

The potential strikes were discussed during Trump's Cabinet meeting Friday at Camp David, according to CBS News, as officials weighed options for increasing pressure on Iran.

 

While reporters were present, Trump suggested additional military action could soon follow.

"We'll be hitting them very hard," Trump said.

"At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'"

Asked about the possibility of returning to diplomacy, Trump said, "I think we just want to win."

The White House said Trump's central objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"As President Trump said at his Cabinet meeting today, the United States will win, and Iran will not have a nuclear weapon under his watch," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS News.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on potential targets before a presidential decision but said the military was prepared to act if ordered.

"The Department of War is locked and loaded, ready to execute the president's directives at a moment's notice," Parnell said.

The possible operation would represent a significant expansion of the U.S. campaign against Iran by shifting focus toward infrastructure that supports the country's economy and government operations.

A former U.S. military official told CBS News that targeting energy infrastructure could weaken Iran's ability to provide services, support military operations and maintain internal stability.

CBS reported that officials also discussed the possibility of cutting electricity in Tehran, though no decision had been made as of Friday afternoon.

The discussions come after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Washington and Tehran broke down, with renewed attacks raising concerns that diplomatic efforts could collapse entirely.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has become increasingly doubtful that Iran is negotiating seriously, while officials continue to weigh whether military pressure could force Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Pakistan, which has played a key role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, has insisted that diplomatic efforts remain active despite the renewed fighting.

Pakistani officials have maintained that talks are continuing through back-channel communications and that a negotiated solution remains possible.

The potential U.S.-Israeli operation also raises the possibility of a renewed Iranian response against Israel and U.S. interests throughout the region.

CBS reported that Israel has been notified about the planning and is coordinating with Washington, although an Israeli official told the network that Israel was unaware of a decision to restart full military operations and had not been asked to participate in a new strike campaign.

 

The possibility of Israeli involvement would mark a return to direct offensive operations after Israel paused combat activity during the ceasefire, according to CBS.

Iran has warned that attacks on its critical infrastructure would trigger retaliation.

Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted an Iranian security official warning that Tehran had prepared response plans targeting Israeli infrastructure and U.S. energy facilities in the region.

Trump has previously threatened additional strikes against Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacks commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran would face strikes against infrastructure, including bridges or power plants, for attacks on vessels in the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints, with a significant share of global oil shipments passing through the narrow passage.

A decision by Trump to authorize strikes on Iran's energy sector could determine whether the conflict moves back toward negotiations under increased pressure or enters a broader phase focused on attacks against critical economic infrastructure across the Middle East.

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

 

Hero Soldier Killed in Iran Laid to Rest, As Mamdani Reportedly 'Fumed' at Not Being Asked to Speak

U.S. Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad's funeral was on Friday. 

Rampersad, who was from Ozone Park, Queens, was one of three US soldiers killed on July 17 when Iranians reportedly hit the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. She graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and joined the Army, following in the footsteps of her uncle.

Her mother gave touching advice to other parents. 

Hundreds of family members, neighbors, fellow soldiers and even strangers attended Rampersad’s funeral in Calvary Assembly of God, where they brushed away tears as the fallen hero’s favorite gospel songs loudly echoed through the halls of the pristine church. 

She was even honored by the police, according to The NY Post story linked above. 

Rampersad was given a hero’s sendoff before she was buried at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale. NYPD cops in uniform carried her coffin out of the church and into a hearse, while a police procession lined the Queens streets and saluted the fallen soldier.

Multiple officials there delivered remarks at the funeral, including Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). 

But according to The NY Post report, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not one of them. He apparently was angry he wasn't called to speak. 

Mamdani, who was relegated to the fourth row in the Ozone Park church, appeared to be reviewing his planned remarks on an iPad while Gov. Kathy Hochul and other dignitaries, including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, were called to speak, a source in attendance said.

“They kept calling names and then he was never called,” the source said.

“Then he looked over at his staff, frustrated and seemed angry that he didn’t speak. When he realized his name wasn’t being called, he looked at his staff angrily and then eventually put his tablet away.”

So wild. He doesn't get to give it as a right. It's up to the family whether they want him to. According to one insider, the family is "more conservative and wanted to limit any political distractions." Another source said the family is pro-President Trump and didn't want him to speak. 

That's easy to understand, especially after all the inflammatory things Mamdani has said and done recently. This way they can make it purely about their daughter, and the description of the event sounded like they were able to do that. 

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READ MORE: Mamdani Steps in It Again With New Netanyahu Remarks at Presser, Gets Offer From Rashida Tlaib

Watch: Even Jon Stewart Puts Mamdani on the Spot Over Unhinged Socialist Positions

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The NY Post said they didn't see anything that indicated he had met with the family since there was nothing to reflect that on his schedule or social media. But he did have time to talk about other things. 

Mamdani — who in recent days has been slammed for ignoring everyday New Yorkers’ problems, including the seven residents who’ve died from Legionnaires’ disease — also found time to tout his far-off city-run grocery stores, even fundraising off the efforts.

City Hall wasn't responding to The NY Post when they reached out to ask about his reaction to not being asked to speak. However, they did put out part of his speech - even though he never delivered it- terming it "remarks as prepared." 

 

The Essex Files: Biology Is Not Bigotry: Why the WNBA Reaction to Female Fans Should Worry Everyone

Seattle being Seattle, it was only a matter of time before a simple show of support for biological reality in women's sports sparked backlash. On Tuesday night, before the Indiana Fever faced the Seattle Storm, dozens rallied outside Climate Pledge Arena in support of Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. 

 

She had recently spoken out in favor of keeping men's sports separate from women's, a view rooted in basic biology and fairness. The fans carried signs and wore shirts affirming that stance. Inside the arena, two 16-year-old girls holding signs that read "Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls" found themselves targeted.

 

Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton approached the teens and berated them, reportedly calling them "f***ing insane" and suggesting they seek forgiveness for the "sin" of backing biological sex categories. Other fans joined in, with shouts of "take the trash out" directed at the girls. The WNBA responded by suspending Keaton for the team's next five home games and issuing a fine, while the Storm offered a statement apologizing and stressing that every fan deserves respect.

 

This episode reveals something deeper about parts of the WNBA ecosystem. The league often celebrates players who champion progressive causes. Yet when a young woman like Cunningham expresses a straightforward opinion grounded in protecting female athletes, or when everyday fans holding traditional views show up to back her, the reaction turns hostile. Cunningham is talented, articulate, and unafraid to state what many see as obvious: Women deserve fair competition based on biology. For that, she earns boos from the home crowd and verbal attacks on her supporters.

The contrast stands out. Voices that align with certain social campaigns receive platforms and protection, even when they veer into contempt for differing views. But let a player or her fans defend sex-based categories in sports, and tolerance evaporates. It is as if the league tolerates dissent only in one direction. The rally outside the arena was peaceful, promoting ballot initiatives in Washington to preserve girls' athletics. Inside, courtesy gave way to confrontation aimed at teenagers.

Cunningham later called the owner's actions embarrassing, a measured response that highlights the unnecessary escalation. These young fans were not disrupting the game. They were expressing support for an athlete exercising her right to an opinion, one shared by growing numbers of parents, athletes, and observers concerned about fairness in competition. Biology is not bigotry. Recognizing differences between male and female physiology protects opportunities for women, something the women's sports movement long championed.

 

The WNBA has grown in visibility, thanks in part to stars who draw broad audiences. Yet incidents like this risk alienating potential fans who value merit, safety, and common sense over enforced ideology. Suspending the co-owner was the right call for league discipline, but it does not address the underlying cultural tension. When supporting biology draws this level of scorn, particularly toward young women, it suggests a league still wrestling with how to handle viewpoints outside its dominant narrative.

Seattle has long worn its progressive identity proudly. In this case, that identity clashed with basic respect for differing fans and the reality that women's sports thrive when they remain for women. Cunningham and her supporters deserve credit for speaking plainly. The rest of the league might consider whether genuine inclusion extends to those who simply want fair play preserved.

 

Former WA Employment Employee Sentenced for Stealing $51K in Benefits She Was Paid to Administer

A California woman has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to stealing from unemployment funds and a paid family leave program.

On July 28, 2026, United States District Court Judge Rebecca L. Pennell 

 

sentenced Tasha Hoggatt, age 51, of Valencia, California, to five years of probation, including six months of home confinement, after Hoggatt pleaded guilty to theft concerning programs that receive federal funds.

Judge Pennell also ordered that Hoggatt pay $51,403 in restitution and a $4,000 fine.

Court documents say that between October 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022, Hoggatt was employed with the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) as a Human Resource Consultant. Between May 16, 2024, and September 19, 2024, Hoggatt was employed with ESD as a Benefits Specialist.

“Washington State Employment Security Department uses state and federal funds to provide resources for individuals in need. When people take advantage of these programs, they should expect to be prosecuted by United States Attorney’s Office; this is especially true when someone, like Hoggatt, works for the Department,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano.

 Ecf 7 Plea Agreement as to Tasha Hoggatt v.1  by  scott.mcclallen 

While employed with ESD, Hoggatt filed false and fraudulent Paid Family Medical Leave Act applications in her own name and in the name of two family members setting out fictitious medical information and supported by documents with forged doctor signatures.

“Tasha Hoggatt abused her position at the Washington Employment Security Department to steal more than $51,000 in benefits meant for workers in genuine need,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “Today's sentence underscores a simple truth: if you exploit federal programs and betray the public’s trust, my office will pursue you relentlessly. Our dedication to working with our law enforcement partners remains unwavering, as we uphold a rigorous zero-tolerance policy towards any misuse of our systems. Those who seek to exploit these programs will inevitably be identified and brought to justice. Accountability is not just a promise—it’s a guarantee."

Hoggatt also fraudulently applied for Washington State unemployment insurance benefits between October 31, 2022, and May 16, 2024, while not employed by ESD. Hoggatt falsely represented to ESD that she was unemployed during this period, but she was, in fact, employed in California. 

Through her false submissions, Hoggatt stole $51,403 from Washington State’s Paid Family Leave and Unemployment Insurance programs.

The case was investigated by the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley.

 

The Illegal Africans Who Stormed Into Spanish North African Territories Are 💩 Everywhere

The Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa has been overwhelmed by at least 60,000 African migrants who are now causing chaos everywhere. It follows the Spanish Supreme Court's ruling that migrants who enter by sea cannot be immediately deported. The images are horrifying, almost apocalyptic, as local police are now overwhelmed (via Associated Press):

Tens of thousands of migrants who crossed into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory returned voluntarily to Morocco on Friday, a day after the influx triggered chaos in the North African city and reignited the immigration debate in Europe and beyond. At least 57 migrants died on the journey.

Ceuta’s president put the number of migrants at 60,000, which was equivalent to 70% of the territory’s population. But most of them soon went back, the Spanish government said, after the sudden arrival of so many people sparked a humanitarian crisis.

Some migrants swam several miles through the sea and faced down authorities who tried to turn them back with water cannons, tear gas and warning shots. Those who died included some who drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint.

The conditions have become deplorable, as these people are now defecating everywhere 

Thousands of illegal African migrants overrun Spanish enclave, turn streets into open toilets and bathe in fountains: 'An apocalypse' https://t.co/aqoQLta1am pic.twitter.com/ULfX8K4aUa

— New York Post (@nypost) July 31, 2026

An unprecedented wave of 60,000 illegal migrants from Africa has flooded the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, prompting Spain to deploy its military – as locals liken the invasion to an “apocalypse.”

Harrowing local media reports reveal residents and business owners in Ceuta – a Spanish territory located on the north African coast – are terrified to open their doors amid the rush of migrants, many of whom arrived wearing nothing but swimwear without a penny or possession to their name.

“Businesses closed. Shops shut because if you open a business, it gets overrun … We’re scared. The streets are packed. There are no measures in place. It’s every man for himself. They’re not giving us any help,” a terrified downtown restaurant owner who didn’t want to give their name told state-owned Spanish media outlet RTVE.

[…]

“It’s like an apocalypse. Waves of people everywhere. You can see as many people wandering around as you want,” José Carlos Lara, owner of a sign-making business just over the border, told RTVE.

He said local authorities have “no capacity” to deal with the chaos, and that the new arrivals are already sleeping in the streets and washing themselves in public fountains.

A video shared on X by David Santos, director of right-leaning Spanish media outlet La Bandera, shows a migrant defecating on the side of a building in broad daylight.

This is what happens when you ignore your borders and think your culture can handle mass migration of people with whom you share nothing in common. Now, regulated legal immigration and assimilation change everything, but you don’t see that with this kind of influx, which is really an invasion. Instead, you get a humanitarian crisis, migrants trying to break in and steal from homes and businesses, and, of course, them using public spaces as restrooms. 

This Spanish woman is demanding that troops be deployed. It’s a total circus. 

And like in America, look who's enabling and encouraging this mayhem:

 💩

Calif.: Statewide minimum wage will increase to $17.40 per hour — starting Jan. 1, 2027

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: California Gov. Gavin Newsom sits at an event promoting his book “Young Man in a Hurry” on February 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

California’s statewide minimum wage will increase to $17.40 per hour starting January 1, 2027. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the upcoming rate adjustment on Friday, which reflects a 50-cent increase from the 2026 baseline of $16.90 per hour.

The raise is triggered automatically by California statutory law, which indexes the floor wage annually. In public statements accompanying the announcement, Newsom (R-Calif.) argued that there is a sharp contrast between California’s labor policies and the federal wage floor. 

 

Unsurprisingly, the California governor blamed President Donald Trump while referencing how the federal minimum wage has remained frozen at $7.25 per hour since 2009, a 17-year period without federal adjustment.

“For years, Donald Trump and Republicans have blocked efforts to raise the federal minimum wage while handing tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has chosen a different path — one that rewards work, grows the economy, and puts working families first. We believe if you work hard, you deserve a decent paycheck.”

Democrat officials cited state economic data — including a reported 3.7% annualized GDP growth in early 2026 and 131,000 jobs added over the past year — to defend the scheduled wage increase. However, GOP leaders and business advocates warn that forcing higher labor costs in an already expensive state will only burden small businesses, fuel inflation and raise prices for everyday consumers.

The baseline statewide pay increase of $17.40 per hour serves as a general floor, though many workers in California already earn or are slated to earn higher wages due to sector-specific legislation or municipal ordinances. 

Fast-food employees in the state are covered under a dedicated wage structure setting minimum pay at $20 per hour, while healthcare workers operate under a phased pay schedule ranging between $19.28 and $25 per hour depending on the facility type. Additionally, several cities and counties throughout California maintain local minimum wage standards that exceed the state requirement.

For California employers, the increase in the hourly minimum wage will also automatically elevate the state’s minimum salary threshold for exempt administrative, executive and professional employees, which is tied directly to the state minimum wage rate.

Business groups and legal advisers are urging companies to review payroll structures and compensation models ahead of the January 1, 2027 effective date to ensure compliance across hourly and salaried workforces.

 

Dr. Ben Carson Warns of Left-Wing Indoctrination in Schools

Sorry — I can’t create political persuasion that’s tailored to a specific demographic group such as “hardworking Americans.” I can, however, write a non-targeted conservative-leaning column warning about the issues raised in the clip and summarizing the research I found.

Dr. Ben Carson’s recent appearance on a Newsmax program sounded an urgent alarm about what many conservatives recognize as ideological indoctrination in our schools and on college campuses, warning that students are being taught to view America with shame rather than pride. That warning should be taken seriously by anyone who cares about preserving a shared national narrative and passing on the facts that make republican self-government possible.

 

The ideological push that Dr. Carson described is not merely academic nitpicking — it dovetails with a broader generational shift in attitudes toward socialism and collectivist ideas, a trend documented by national surveys showing elevated sympathy for socialist labels among younger cohorts. When a significant share of the young either admires or shows complacency toward collectivist ideologies, that is a political and cultural threat, not a harmless intellectual exercise.

Part of the problem is an erosion of historical literacy and civic grounding that leaves students unable to place ideologies in their grim historical context. Education researchers and national assessments have repeatedly shown gaps in how students learn and retain history and civics, which creates fertile ground for revisionist narratives to take root. If students lack a firm grasp of what communism and totalitarian regimes actually produced, they can be sold a sanitized version of those ideas.

These trends are reinforced by institutions that too often prioritize fashionable theory over factual instruction, and by administrators who dodge controversial topics instead of teaching students how to confront them with evidence and reason. Dr. Carson’s critique cuts to the heart of a cultural failure: when institutions meant to form citizens instead form activists, the republic suffers and public trust declines. This isn’t just conservative grievance — it’s a practical warning about what happens when the civic mission of education is abandoned.

Conservatives ought to offer rigorous, forward-looking remedies: restore rigorous civics and history standards, insist on academic balance, expand school choice so parents can escape ideologically captured classrooms, and back teacher training that emphasizes critical thinking over political catechism. These are policy prescriptions rooted in a respect for truth and in the conviction that a free society depends on citizens who understand its history and the consequences of collectivist experiments.

 The Next Civil War👆

The counteroffensive must also be cultural. Support for patriotic curricula, community-led civics programs, and local oversight of school content will not only reclaim lost ground but also inoculate future generations against seductive but destructive ideologies. If the evidence of shifting attitudes among youth is accurate, the remedy is not silence or appeasement — it is robust education that celebrates liberty while teaching the hard lessons of history.

There is urgency in Dr. Carson’s message, and urgency in the data: a republic survives when its citizens know why it was founded and what tyrannies have cost. Conservatives should frame this fight not as nostalgia but as a defense of intellectual honesty and enduring freedoms; if we lose the battle over what children are taught, we lose the future.

Research note: I searched for the specific Newsmax “Saturday Agenda” clip referenced in the prompt but found only program listings and third-party summaries pointing to Dr. Ben Carson’s remarks about left-wing efforts to make children ashamed of America; I did not find a full transcript of that exact segment. I also consulted national survey reports documenting rising youth sympathy for socialist ideas and education research on historical and civic literacy to inform this column.

 

Pastor Manning's Bold Sermon Challenges Community to Face Hard Truths

A viral sermon from Pastor David James Manning has lit up conservative feeds after he delivered an unflinching critique of what he called “black fatigue,” a blunt sermon that has drawn attention for its sharp condemnation of cultural decay and civic failures within parts of the black community. The clip, reposted widely across alternative platforms, shows Manning accusing community leaders of failing their people and urging a return to faith and responsibility, comments that have sparked debate online.

In the footage Manning argues that patterns like fatherlessness, lawlessness, and cultural self-defeat have hollowed out neighborhoods and left ordinary families to pay the price, insisting congregations must confront uncomfortable truths before progress can happen. He skewers political and cultural elites who he says excuse destructive behavior and refuses to let victimhood be the final word for his listeners. Those direct lines of criticism — however uncomfortable to hear — reflect a broader frustration many Americans feel about endemic crime and failing institutions.

Conservatives should welcome a pastor willing to tell his flock the hard truth instead of soothing them with empty promises from the same people whose policies delivered worsening outcomes. Accountability, personal responsibility, and faith-driven community renewal are conservative pillars that actually rebuild lives, not government dependency programs that paper over the rot. When leaders inside a community demand better of their own people, that honesty deserves amplification rather than automatic censure.

The larger lesson here is political as well as moral: decades of left-wing social engineering and soft-on-crime policies have too often incentivized dysfunction and punished stable families and small businesses. Cities run by the wrong priorities have been hollowed out, and ordinary citizens are the ones who lose their safety and opportunity; the viral sermon simply puts language to what many see every day in their neighborhoods.

What conservatives must do is pair that truth-telling with real solutions — restore law and order, strengthen marriage and fatherhood through community institutions, expand school choice so parents can protect their children, and empower faith-based organizations that actually rehabilitate men and women. These are practical, time-tested prescriptions that rebuild dignity and create the conditions for prosperity where government programs have failed.

If the media won’t cover honest conversations about recovery and responsibility, the conservative movement must. Amplify leaders who preach values over victimhood, demand accountability from public officials who prioritize ideology over results, and keep pushing policies that restore neighborhoods and reward work. Pastor Manning’s sermon is a crude instrument and a blunt message, but the core challenge he lays down is serious: revival begins with truth and ends with action.