Conservative Blogger
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Administration Tying Anti-Terrorism Grants to Election Overhauls
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States must overhaul how they conduct their elections, or risk losing tens of millions of dollars in federal terrorism-prevention funding, according to new Trump administration requirements. The effort would force states to transition to paper ballots, verify voters' citizenship and make other changes to election procedures, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency documents, The New York Times reported Tuesday. FEMA, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, has told states it will withhold 20% of some terrorism-preparedness grants unless they provide "proof of compliance" with the new election security measures, the documents show. The grants, which total $1 billion annually, help pay for physical security barriers, planning and drill exercises, and cybersecurity protections. Courts have already blocked similar administration efforts to mandate changes to voting procedures, ruling that the Constitution grants authority over elections to the states, not the executive branch. Since returning to office last year, President Donald Trump has pushed new election policies through Cabinet agencies, including the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security, and signed two executive orders seeking sweeping changes to election administration. Courts have largely blocked both orders. Homeland Security officials said in an unsigned statement that election security and integrity are top administration priorities and that grant recipients should be held accountable, the Times reported. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research in Washington, said he expects the rules to be struck down if challenged in court and argued they would not make elections more secure. "They will actually harm election security," Becker said. "These are radical changes to election processes." FEMA announced the annual grants on June 24, stating that funded projects should align with priorities including "protecting the integrity of American elections" and "supporting border security efforts." A notice warned recipients that 20% of any award could be withheld until Homeland Security verifies compliance with the new rules. The rules do not apply to federal disaster aid, which FEMA also administers. The grants go largely to populous states with major urban areas, including New York, California, and Texas. New York is set to receive about $204 million in fiscal year 2026, according to the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"After denying disaster relief funding and stripping millions from counterterrorism programs, the Trump administration is once again putting New Yorkers' lives at risk to forward their political agenda," Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. "Unlike the President, my number one priority is New Yorkers' safety, and I will fight to ensure our state has every resource available to keep us secure," she added. Last month, a judge blocked a separate administration effort to force states to use a centralized national database built for checking immigration status, known as the SAVE system, to verify voters on state rolls, ruling that the move violated at least three laws. Two provisions in the FEMA grant requirements would mandate the same process, according to internal FEMA documents. The documents also show states would be required to submit plans and timelines to transition away from systems that use bar codes or QR codes and rely solely on hand-marked paper ballots. Another provision requires grant recipients to prove they are conducting manual post-election audits of 5% of ballots to ensure electronic systems are accurately counting votes. Manual audits of 5% of ballots would likely delay vote counting, cost millions of dollars and, in some cases, fall short of what would be considered an adequate audit for races with narrow margins, Becker said. He noted that close races are common in some congressional districts and local elections. Every state currently has a post-election audit process to check for accuracy, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. © 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved. |
'They're Scum'—Furious Trump Explodes, Declares Iran Ceasefire Over
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President Trump on Wednesday declared the ceasefire with Iran over, saying he’s done negotiating with its leaders, who he described as “scum,” “liars,” “cheats,” and “sick people” he no longer wants to negotiate with. Trump's acrimonious comments come after the U.S. carried out airstrikes on more than 80 Iranian targets in retaliation for attacks on commercial ships in the region. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Turkey, the President made little effort to hold back his thoughts on the people he has been dealing with in the rogue nation. He was prompted by a reporter who asked, "Is the ceasefire done? Is the MOU dead?" "To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore, but they’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum, they’re sick people, they’re led by sick people, and they’re vicious, violent people," he responded. "And if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it." "As far as I’m concerned, it’s over." READ MORE: CENTCOM Now Imposing Heavy Costs on Iran for Targeting Ships Iran Reneges Again, Strikes 2 Ships in Strait of Hormuz — US Responds by Hitting Them Where It Hurts The comments come just weeks after a preliminary agreement aimed at easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump made it clear he now views the entire effort as a waste. The President said he would discuss further plans with his team of negotiators but expressed skepticism that any movement would be made in dealing with "a bunch of lying guys." "I don't like them at all," he fumed. "And, frankly, I think we waste a lot of time with them. I think we should just do our business. Can you imagine they start shooting bombs, actually missiles at ships yesterday, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, couple of others?" "They’re liars," he continued, before explaining the negotiating process with a mendacious regime. "We make a deal. Everyone’s agreed, no nuclear weapons. We make a deal. They go outside, talk to the press, they say, 'We never even talked about it.'" "They're liars, they're cheats, they're sick people, they've hurt their people," Trump added. "They killed 54,000 people as of now that were protesting."
Iran violated a fragile ceasefire by firing missiles at three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, prompting swift U.S. retaliation. In response, the Trump administration revoked a key license allowing Iran to sell its oil on the global market, with CENTCOM launching powerful strikes on over 80 Iranian targets to impose “heavy costs” for attacking civilian shipping. President Trump and U.S. officials described the Iranian actions as a clear breach of the agreement, declaring they will no longer tolerate such aggression. These incidents have made the shaky nature of any deal with the mullahs crystal clear. With the regime once again proving it cannot be trusted, President Trump appears ready to abandon negotiations entirely in favor of decisive American military strength. Iran’s lead negotiator, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a statement Wednesday declaring: "The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold." Neither do we. |
LA SNAP Raid Exposes the Welfare Mess Newsom Doesn’t Want to Own
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While California officials keep fighting the Trump administration over federal funding, federal agents in Los Angeles were working an alleged food-stamp kickback case out of a Skid Row storefront. Agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations, backed by LAPD, raided Escamex Party Supplies on Towne Avenue last Thursday. Jesse Cervantes-Gomez, 30, a cashier at the store, was arrested and accused of paying cash kickbacks on fake SNAP transactions. Investigators said Escamex processed $732,608.26 in SNAP purchases from April 2025 to April 2026. That was nearly twice as much as its closest nearby competitor, even though the store was described as a low-volume grocery business. Court papers cited in the report also pointed to unusually large average purchases and more than $1 million in suspected fraud tied to the location. Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, put the responsibility on the state.
Essayli also warned that welfare fraud defendants are now looking at federal prison exposure. On May 18, an undercover agent allegedly asked Cervantes-Gomez for cash back on SNAP benefits. Cervantes-Gomez allegedly had a clerk run $2,900 in SNAP sales and then handed the agent $1,450 in cash, along with his cell number for future deals. Investigators say the agent returned a month later. That time, the alleged fake purchases totaled $3,240, and the cash kickback allegedly came to $1,740. On July 2, officers showed up instead of another buyer.
The Skid Row arrest was part of a broader federal action in Los Angeles. USDA issued violation notices to 33 SNAP-authorized retailers after the raids. Six stores were accused of exchanging benefits for cash. Twenty-seven were accused of exchanging benefits for prohibited items, including alcohol, tobacco, and vapes. Read More: Report Shows CA Took 81 Percent of Welfare Spending in the US Tied to Illegal Immigrant Households Feds Investigating Los Angeles Homeless Industrial Complex Spending - Here's How We Got Here California’s SNAP program totals $12.5 billion and serves roughly 5.5 million people, making it the largest in the country. About 11 percent of payments go out in error, often because of false or incomplete household information or administrative mistakes, California’s nonpartisan fiscal adviser found. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have spent months suing the Trump administration over federal funding fights. That same state government oversaw an Employment Development Department that acknowledged $31 billion in unemployment benefits may have been stolen during COVID-era claims. The Justice Department also announced a guilty plea in a separate case involving nearly $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims. The Administration for Children and Families (TANF) released numbers on immigration-related child-only welfare cases. The report found that roughly $617.5 million in cash assistance went to California households through those cases in fiscal year 2024. That was more than 81 percent of nationwide spending under the program’s immigration-related, child-only category. The report states:
Nearly 60,000 California households fell into this category in fiscal year 2024. Nationwide, there were about 85,000 such households. California accounted for roughly seven out of every 10 immigration-related child-only TANF cases in America. The Los Angeles raid leaves California with the largest SNAP program in the country, dozens of retailer violations in one city, and a Skid Row store accused of turning food-stamp benefits into cash. |
Scott Jennings Points Out Dems Are Doing That Thing That They Did to Joe Biden in Maine
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Democrats are scrambling to find a candidate. Reportedly, Graham Platner won’t drop out of Maine’s Senate race unless he can choose his successor after his campaign seemed to fall apart over the latest rape allegation. It’s a chaotic situation, and July 13 is the deadline. After that, the ballot will be finalized, and the Democrats will be stuck. That’s why the timing of the Politico article has angered Platner’s supporters. This is a Democratic circus, and yes, this party is once again doing that thing they did to Joe Biden: dropping a man from the ticket who had won his primary and replacing him with someone no one voted for. In 2024, that was Kamala Harris. In Maine this year, it could be anyone. This isn’t the SAT, guys. You can’t erase an answer and start anew here. Platner won the Maine primary overwhelmingly. But alas, with power in mind, banana republicanism is being exhibited by the Democrats, and Scott Jennings called them out for it:
Yeah, that’s something a communist party would do. |
About That Black Woman Photographed With a Bunch of Supposed White Nationalists in DC...
The fact that this didn’t get any traction says a lot. Dear members of the media, no one cares or fears the Patriotic Front, a supposed white nationalist group, which many online have mocked as an FBI stunt. They appear periodically. There was one stop in Idaho where I believe the number of these supposed white supremacists outmatched the town’s population. It’s a clown show.
A few of these folks used the DC Metro to get around for the Independence Day holiday, and this image of a Black woman surrounded by these people sparked reactions from the online lefty community. Again, no one paid it much mind. We were all just enjoying hot dogs, beer, hanging out with friends, and waiting for the fireworks show. Still, of course, The Washington Post had to write about this.
The image, captured by photographer Cheney Orr for Reuters, hit the news wires and then social media, drawing millions of views and provoking widespread commentary.
When the woman’s brother, Paul Bowlding, saw it on Instagram that day, he recognized the woman as his older sister: Bernita Bowlding, a 33-year-old mother of two.
Bernita Bowlding had told a family member earlier Saturday that she was taking the train to Silver Spring. As the photo of her circulated, hours passed without family members hearing from her. Paul Bowlding said he grew worried because his sister has struggled for years with mental illnesses. He considered going out to look for her, but he didn’t know where she could be.
“That’s basically like hounds surrounding her,” Paul Bowlding said of the photo.
Paul Bowlding said he was worried about his sister becoming a target. He said her past struggles, including that previous arrest, happened when she was in a mental health crisis.
It is not clear what occurred in the moments before and after the photo was taken. A Reuters editor said Orr was not available to comment.
The Washington Post has been unable to reach Bernita Bowlding. Her mother told The Post on Monday that her daughter lost her phone, and that the family usually has to wait until she calls or stops by to communicate with her.
The mental illness part seems to check out:
You cannot make this up lmfao. https://t.co/PrifwanwfI pic.twitter.com/QwqSeDd8mW
— Cal (@Cal_III) July 6, 2026
The "tough lady" in question: https://t.co/Wn43DxqAgp pic.twitter.com/OhqV4EOOsC
— Ryan Sánchez 🏴☠️ (@ryanasanchez) July 6, 2026
Amy noted the coincidence of it all.
— Amy Curtis (@RantyAmyCurtis) July 5, 2026They want you to believe this is organic, but a black woman, the Patriot Front, and a Reuters photographer happened to be on this train.
Sure. https://t.co/PIPAhUdPjH
Utah forensic investigator and FBI analyst: DNA from Tyler Robinson's partner Lance Twiggs found on weapons in Charlie Kirk murder case
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| Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, appears during
a hearing in Fourth District Court on December 11, 2025 in Provo, Utah.
Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and plan
to seek the death penalty. The DNA of Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as well as his transgender-identifying roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs,
was found on two items recovered near Utah Valley University, including the towel that was wrapped around the potential murder weapon, according to a Utah forensic examiner and FBI analyst Amanda Bakker. During day two of the preliminary hearing, Utah Department of Public Safety Sergeant Jennifer Faumuina took the stand to lay out the physical evidence trail and initial forensic tracking. Her testimony focused primarily on the collection of evidence, the chain of custody, and the preliminary identification of the DNA mixture. Specifically, Sgt. Faumuina testified to the following:
Her testimony effectively bridged the gap between the physical crime scene collection and the highly specific laboratory data later delivered by FBI DNA analyst Amanda Bakker. Bakker noted that Twiggs’ DNA was used solely for an elimination sample. Twiggs is still not accused or charged with any crime, according to Fox News. Along with the towel, Bakker confirmed that Robinson’s DNA was found on a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop of the University’s Losee Center, where he purportedly fired the fatal shot. Under cross-examination, Robinson’s defense attorney, Michael Burt, prodded the FBI analyst on the accuracy of the tests and the degradation of the samples. Nonetheless, Bakker highlighted that the results from the two male DNA samples indicated a high degree of probability. On Monday, the first day of the five-day preliminary hearing, prosecutors had showed several videos of the September 10, 2025 shooting, including graphic footage that was not revealed to the public. Sitting Judge Tony Graf appeared to flinch while viewing footage of the alleged assassination. Prosecutors alleged that Robinson wrapped his grandfather’s rifle in a towel after the shooting and then discarded it in a wooded area near the campus. As the hearing continues this week, prosecutors are expected to examine video testimony from Twiggs. Robinson purportedly confessed to the crime in a handwritten note left for Twiggs after the shooting. While Twiggs remains a non-suspect who has cooperated fully with authorities, the revelation of his DNA on the evidence is notable because it forms the absolute cornerstone of the defense’s strategy to create reasonable doubt. By seizing on the lopsided percentages — with Twiggs’ DNA making up 89% of the profile on the towel and 95% on the screwdriver — the defense is aggressively arguing that his presence is central to the crime, using cross-examinations to highlight that DNA alone cannot prove when an item was touched or who used it last. This forensic twist has also sparked an intense procedural battle in court, as defense attorneys unsuccessfully fought to force Twiggs to testify in person, while prosecutors counter that the shared living space easily explains the casual DNA transfer. The alleged killer, Robinson, has not entered a plea and faces the death penalty if convicted. |
DNI Tulsi Gabbard Releases ODNI Files, GOP Moves to Subpoena Dr. Fauci
Something just shifted in the COVID story that the media pretended was closed. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has published a package of declassified ODNI documents that put Dr. Anthony Fauci back at the center of the origin fight. This isn’t a rumor or a tweet — it’s a curated release from inside the intelligence community — and Republican lawmakers are already moving to turn questions into subpoenas, hearings and, yes, a proper COVID reckoning.
Gabbard’s declassification: what was released and why it matters
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a tranche of ODNI documents that she says show Fauci influenced intelligence assessments, steered U.S. funding to risky coronavirus research, and offered misleading testimony to Congress. The packet includes internal emails, briefings and whistleblower referrals. In plain English: a top intelligence official is saying there’s more evidence than we were previously allowed to see — and that evidence points back to decisions made by federal health officials during the pandemic.
Political fallout: subpoenas, senators and the press blackout
The reaction was immediate. Senator Rand Paul announced a subpoena to compel Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify after he declined to appear voluntarily, and Sen. Ron Johnson publicly demanded a “COVID reckoning,” blasting the so‑called legacy media for near‑silence. If you were hoping the mainstream press would treat this like news, don’t hold your breath — their radio silence on the ODNI packet has been, as Johnson put it, deafening. Meanwhile, conservative outlets and Capitol Hill investigators are treating these files as a game‑changer that demands public hearings.
What the documents actually claim
The ODNI release boils the new materials down to three core allegations: that Fauci directed U.S. funds to coronavirus work tied to the Wuhan lab, that he used relationships inside the intelligence community to shape or suppress rival assessments, and that some of his sworn statements to Congress are contradicted by the newly released records. There’s also a linked legal thread: separate DOJ action against a former NIAID advisor has already shown the government is looking at pandemic‑era record handling. Taken together, these developments change the oversight landscape and demand serious answers.
Skepticism, next steps and why Americans deserve the truth
To be clear, a careful review by scientists and intelligence experts is still needed — the documents are partial and in places redacted, and independent analysts caution against leaping to headline conclusions. Fair point. But caution is not the same as cover‑up. Republicans are right to press for public testimony, expert line‑by‑line reviews, inspector‑general followups and transparent hearings. If evidence shows leaders misled Congress or the public, accountability is the remedy. If the documents don’t prove as much as Gabbard claims, put that on the record too. Either way, America deserves a full accounting so we never repeat the same mistakes — and so the press can stop pretending everything is settled when it plainly is not.
Turkey Blocks Scarlet Lady LGBTQ Cruise, Passengers Rerouted
America needs to follow Turkey and put these filthy people back into the closet.
Turkey just sent a clear message to the summer cruise crowd: don’t assume every foreign port will roll out a welcome mat for an American LGBTQ+ charter. Local authorities in Aydın province and Istanbul canceled planned calls for the Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady — a charter organized by Atlantis Events — citing “moral standards” and “family values.” The ship’s itinerary was changed, leaving many passengers and pundits scrambling for answers.
What happened: Scarlet Lady denied entry to Kuşadası and Istanbul
Provincial officials in Aydın published a blunt notice saying the visit was “cancelled” because the cruise was an “event of this nature” and “incompatible with the fabric of our society.” That wording comes straight from the Aydın Valiliği statement. Atlantis Events — which has run gay and lesbian cruises for decades — called the move “stunning” and said it was the first time in 36 years the company was told it could not berth somewhere “because of who we are.” The ship will no longer call in Kuşadası or Istanbul and instead altered course to other ports such as Cairo and Crete.
Reactions: anger, surprise, and diplomatic awkwardness
Performers and passengers reacted with shock. Patti LuPone said she was “furious” that a ship of “well-heeled gay men” was denied entry. California State Senator Scott Wiener and other progressive voices blasted Turkey as intolerant. On the other side, Turkish local officials defended the move as protecting local morals. Reports also say Istanbul authorities took action against venues that advertised welcome events for cruise guests. The episode is now a small but loud diplomatic headache: Turkey is a NATO member, and Americans expect safe passage and port service when traveling abroad.
Why this matters: culture, safety, and reality-checks for activists
This isn’t just a travel hiccup. It highlights a bigger clash between Western LGBTQ+ activism and conservative-majority countries where public celebrations of sexual identity are often restricted. Turkey does not criminalize same-sex activity nationwide the way some countries do, but its government has grown more hostile toward public LGBTQ expression, banning Pride marches and cracking down on events for years. Organizers who assume universal acceptance are learning a hard lesson: culture and local laws still matter when you cross borders.
Bottom line: plan smarter, not louder
Travel companies, performers, and activists should plan with local realities in mind. That means checking provincial rules, securing clear permits, and having contingency plans for itinerary changes. It also means acknowledging that political rhetoric and local values shape what’s allowed in a foreign port. For progressives who thought gestures and hashtags could erase culture, this is an inconvenient but predictable outcome. For travelers, the practical takeaway is simple: do your homework before you book — and don’t be surprised when the world outside your bubble has different rules.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
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