Conservative Blogger
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Trump-Backed Feely, Lamb Dominate Ariz. Primaries
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely and former Sheriff Mark Lamb, both backed by President Donald Trump, won their Arizona Republican U.S. House primary races Tuesday night, delivering another round of victories for candidates endorsed by the president in one of the nation's top political battlegrounds. Feely easily captured the GOP nomination in Arizona's competitive 1st Congressional District, defeating former state Rep. Joseph Chaplik after running a campaign centered on his close ties to Trump and his commitment to advancing the president's "America First" agenda. The former Arizona Cardinals kicker repeatedly highlighted his personal relationship with Trump, arguing that he could provide direct access to the White House. Trump endorsed Feely after the former NFL Pro Bowler shifted from the 5th District race to the open 1st District race earlier this year, clearing the way for former Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda to pursue a statewide campaign. According to Politico, Feely will now face a difficult general election in November in the suburban Phoenix district, one of House Democrats' top pickup targets after Trump narrowly carried it in the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, former Pinal County Sheriff Lamb prevailed in the Republican primary for Arizona's deep-red 5th Congressional District despite months of attacks centered on allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power. Lamb defeated businessman Daniel Keenan, who spent nearly $2 million of his own money attempting to make the allegations the defining issue of the race. Lamb has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling them false and politically motivated. His campaign also rejected claims published by the Arizona Republic, while his wife publicly defended him amid what she described as a coordinated smear campaign. Trump stood firmly behind Lamb throughout the race, reaffirming his endorsement earlier this month after first backing the former sheriff last year. Turning Point USA also supported Lamb's candidacy. CBS News reported that Lamb's victory positions him as the overwhelming favorite to replace outgoing Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, who secured the GOP nomination for Arizona governor. USA Today said Tuesday's results underscored the continued strength of Trump's endorsements in Arizona, where Republican primary voters overwhelmingly sided with candidates aligned with the president's MAGA movement. The victories by Feely and Lamb also reinforced Trump's influence heading into the midterms as Republicans seek to defend their House majority while competing in one of the nation's most closely watched swing states.
Charlie McCarthy ✉Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved. |
Watch: Brandon Gill Shows Museum Director No Mercy During Hearing on Wokeification of the Smithsonian
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On Tuesday, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) held a hearing on "Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past," which followed a detailed 162-page PDF report issued by the White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4th that documented the wokeification of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (NMAH) on an epic scale. During the hearing, Republican Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26) grilled Dr. Anthea Hartig, the director of the museum, on issues including a "Mass Action Tool Kit" that had been promoted by the museum under her leadership. As my RedState colleague Bob Hoge might say, it wasn't even a fair fight, as Hartig froze at various points during the questioning, feigned ignorance at other points, and seemed more keen on writing down notes on a notepad instead of directly answering Gill's questions. DIVE DEEPER: Smithsonian Museum of History Has Become 'Prime Tool of Social Justice' at Taxpayer Expense Here's the highlight reel:
— Brandon Gill (@realBrandonGill) July 21, 2026
Here are four key findings from the report the Domestic Policy Council released:
They also accused the Smithsonian of “anti-white,” “illegal alien,” and “transgender activism,” and concluded there has been “ideological capture at the museum,” something Gill further exposed at the hearing. From the report:
The Rapid Response X account posted a thread full of examples, including images, of what the Council found here. All of this stems from actions President Donald Trump took in the first year of his second term in office. In March 2025, Trump signed an Executive Order on “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” where it was noted that “museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.” In the section on “Saving Our Smithsonian,” here is what was put in place:
A few months later, Trump ordered a comprehensive review of all Smithsonian museums ahead of America 250 festivities. After the report was released, there was much fretting about what else was to come from the Trump administration regarding their efforts to root out anti-Americanism in American institutions:
I can't wait. |
Non-Citizen Voting Scandal Gets Worse: Software Giant Blames Election Officials, CA Gets Dragged In
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New Jersey's non-citizen voting scandal has taken a major twist after the software company that Governor Mikie Sherrill (D) tried to blame is now firing back, pointing the finger squarely at state election officials who were supposed to verify who actually gets to vote. What began as Sherrill’s public admission that more than 6,600 non-citizens ended up on the voter rolls—with nearly 400 casting ballots between June 2023 and June 2024—has quickly devolved into classic bureaucratic finger-pointing. And now the controversy is rippling into California, where the same vendor at the center of New Jersey’s “glitch” has long handled DMV operations. Sherrill, who took office this year, blamed the error on the previous administration of Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and said a preliminary review showed that IDEMIA, the software company that provides driver’s license and voter registration systems in the Garden State, was responsible. READ MORE: That Thing Democrats Insist 'Never Happens' Just Happened 6,600 Times in New Jersey Harmeet Strikes Immediately: DOJ Probe Launched After NJ Admits Allowing 400 Non-Citizens to Vote “This entire situation is unacceptable,” Sherrill said. “It’s unacceptable that the vendor released software with such a glaring error, it’s unacceptable that the MVC (Motor Vehicle Commission) took a year to get this issue fixed, and it’s unacceptable that no one in the previous administration brought this to light, demanded accountability, or took action when it happened years ago.” The company, however, insisted its role was strictly limited to transmitting information from the MVC to the state’s Division of Elections. "IDEMIA’s role is to transmit information through the motor vehicle system. The voter registration information is transmitted to the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which is ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote,” the company said in a statement. “Information submitted by IDEMIA must still be validated and adjudicated by the Division of Elections."
Far from a simple “software error” on their end, the firm essentially argued that state officials dropped the ball by failing to properly check the citizenship status of thousands of applicants who had already identified themselves as non-citizens. Still, Sherrill says the state will be phasing out use of the IDEMIA software. The controversy, though, is now seeping into California, where the same vendor has a major contract with the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. California announced a partnership with IDEMIA in 2022 to modernize its DMV operations, including issuing all driver’s licenses and identification cards starting in late 2025. The contract was for 12 years, while a press release from the company indicated they had been providing physical ID cards and technology to the Golden State for more than 64 years. IDEMIA CEO Rob Gardner announced at the time that the partnership was "not just about aesthetics" but "about raising the bar on security and trust." While no identical software error has been confirmed, the New Jersey scandal has prompted fresh questions about whether California’s system could have similar vulnerabilities in its automatic voter registration process—especially as the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security have flagged tens of thousands of potential non-citizen registrations in California and demanded greater scrutiny of its voter rolls. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said states would have to follow provisions of the SAVE America Act to receive as much as $1 billion in federal funds going forward. “We are going to make our security enhancements mandatory, meaning that if these states want a grant and they want to be reimbursed to work or to run federal elections, they’re going to have to implement security issues,” Mullin said.
While the controversy now swirls in California, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber insisted following President Trump's primetime election integrity speech on Thursday that "non-citizen voting remains exceedingly rare." "In California, election officials work every day to maintain accurate voter rolls and ensure that only eligible voters are registered," Weber declared. Sherrill, meanwhile, also downplayed the severity of the scandal and accused the Trump administration of trying to "weaponize elections for political gain." White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson fired back, suggesting Democrats are, and have been, lying to the public. “Democrats and their media allies have repeatedly said it is impossible for noncitizens to register to vote, let alone cast a ballot. Time and again, they have been proven wrong," she asserted. "As President Trump has said, there is nothing more important than the integrity of our elections. And this latest incident underscores the absolute necessity of the SAVE America Act.” Officials in New Jersey and California can deflect all they want, but this story underscores what Republicans have warned about for years. Without real verification and accountability, non-citizen voting remains a tangible vulnerability. The American people deserve a real fix. The SAVE America Act would be a good place to start. |
Is This Exchange What Led to This ESPN Analyst Getting Fired?
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ESPN took the katana to its on-air talent pool. Most of the people were worthless. Sorry, I’m not upset that Bart Scott lost his job. Tom Pelissero losing his gig does suck, however. Former Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark was one of the first to know he was being let go, finding out, reportedly, during a commercial break on Monday. He was on a panel discussion via satellite and did not return to the program.
Besides cost-saving cuts, Clark’s bush-league reaction to colleague Peter Schrager’s point on Get Up months ago also played a role in his termination. Though he apologized for the on-air spat, the damage was done:
The Athletic had more on the cuts, where some people found out via social media:
Well, it’s what it is. Ryan Clark's firing was not exactly mourned by most.
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Vulnerable Dem Implodes When Pressed About Support for Socialism
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Yes, there’s a congressional race on the Left Coast that Republicans could wrest away from Democrats. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) from Washington’s 3rd District is underwater in her race, not well-liked, and trailing her primary challengers. Washington goes by a top-two primary system: everyone from all parties is on the ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. Perez is trying to lie low, keeping mum about the state income tax issue (via Oregon Public Radio):
Perez knows she’s vulnerable, walking a waffled line on some issues, like this interview with a local NPR outlet, where she couldn’t handle questions about her ties and support for socialist causes. The FEC reports don’t lie; she’s taken in over $2 million from the MGP Victory Fund, which has ties to the Washington Democratic Party. It’s no shock, but lady, admit that you're in with socialists, because that’s the state party platform. There’s a lot of Mamdani in these pages. “Fraud Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is too spineless to confront the socialist takeover of her party, too cowardly to even utter the word socialism, and too weak to condemn it, said NRCC Spokesman Christian Martinez. “Her carefully manufactured political brand is a pathetic lie. Perez is nothing more than a weak, obedient puppet who dances whenever her socialist masters tug the strings.” Tongue-tied by NPR, are we for real, lady? |
PA Democrat Paige Cognetti Isn't Being Transparent With Voters About Work With National Democrats
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Paige Cognetti is currently the Mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, she served on the Scranton School Board and during that time she voted for a city budget that cut 89 teachers and raised taxes on hardworking families while still resulting in a $4 million deficit. Cognetti herself admitted in 2024 that she only came to the city for political reasons. Elected Mayor in 2019, some Scranton residents were unhappy with Cognetti's work, calling her a "carpetbagger" who "doesn't reflect the region." Cognetti clearly doesn't want to remain Mayor of Scranton forever and sees her time as Mayor as a springboard to higher office. That's why she launched a challenge against incumbent Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan for his seat in the state's 8th Congressional District. As early as March, Townhall reported that Cognetti was already living the D.C. insider lifestyle and eager to put Scranton in her rearview mirror. Since then, we've learned more troubling things about Cognetti, including that she wanted to send police after Easter churchgoers and those celebrating Independence Day during the COVID pandemic, how her policies hurt Scranton families, and that her staffers are blocking questions from concerned citizens. Townhall also reported on an unearthed video from Cognetti in which she claimed the United States was founded on "stolen land" during a 2020 lecture for the University of Scranton. Cognetti likes to paint herself as a political outsider. When she announced her Congressional campaign last fall, Cognetti said, “I’m running for Congress because people here deserve a lot better than a rich kid disrespecting our hard work and proud legacy. We can stand tall against a Washington that takes advantage of working people and make it work for us.” That's odd, because Townhall can now exclusively report that Cognetti wasn't just hiding her radical views on America's founding. She also hid the fact that she was paid by the progressive D.C. consulting firm 270 Strategies during her time on the Scranton School Board. Cognetti also likes to brag that she is willing to buck her own party, even dubbing her campaign "Paige Against the Machine" and vowing to take on corruption and fight for government transparency. Yet, despite the fact that her LinkedIn profile shows more than two decades of work as a Democrat political operative, her time with 270 Strategies is conspicuously missing from LinkedIn as well as her bio on her website. Cognetti also avoids discussing the work she did with national Democrats prior to moving to Scranton and becoming mayor. That includes the Department of the Treasury under Obama and the Regional GOTV Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in 2016. Where is that transparency Cognetti promises, including in her first campaign ad of the cycle?
Perhaps that's because she doesn't want Pennsylvania voters to see who else was working with 270 Strategies. At the same time Cognetti was being paid by the consulting firm, their client list included the ACLU, Swing Left, End Citizens United, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and many other far-left progressive causes. It was founded by former Democrat staffers, including both Obama and Clinton alums, and describes itself as an organization that "often [pushes] beyond the comfort zone of the progressive movement." Swing Left paid 270 Strategies over half a million dollars in 2018 and 2019 and helped Democrats take back the House in 2018, as well as partnering with George Soros' investment firm and receiving $50,000 from Soros that same year. The ACLU repeatedly challenged President Trump's immigration policies in court, including his executive order banning immigration from certain countries. They also called for defunding the police and supported BLM and Antifa rioters during the summer of 2020. End Citizens United seeks to remove corporate money from politics. 270 Strategies was also pushing radical leftist policies while Cognetti was being paid by them including opposing mandatory minimums, renewable energy projects, promoting abortion, and opposing gender being defined by "genitalia at birth" in support of the trans community. Some of those groups, including Swing Left, End Citizens United, and the DCCC, are supporting Cognetti's Congressional campaign. Cognetti is endorsed by the radical pro-abortion group Emily's List, the gun control group Giffords, and WelcomePAC, which also omits any mention of Cognetti's past work with national Democrats. |
Hegseth, Gen. Caine and Rollins testify in support of $87.6B emergency funding request
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War Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to support the Trump administration’s $87.6 billion emergency supplemental funding request. The hearing brought political friction and vocal anti-war protests as lawmakers aggressively questioned cabinet officials over the military’s expanding campaign against Iran, long-term national security priorities and the growing financial burden of the conflict. Of the requested $87.6 billion package, approximately $67.1 billion is earmarked directly for defense imperatives, including $21 billion to restore military readiness, replenish depleted stockpiles of precision-guided munitions and stabilize fuel shortfalls. During Tuesday’s hearing, Gen. Caine opened his testimony by honoring the three U.S. service members killed over the weekend in the Middle East before delivering a direct pitch for the Pentagon’s defense funding request. Caine described the $67 billion military portion of the emergency package as an urgent operational necessity, emphasizing to senators that Congress needs to approve the funds while in a vital “window of opportunity” while time is still on the nation’s side. He highlighted a growing list of military challenges spanning the Middle East, Europe and Asia, stressing that the funding is crucial to immediately replenish depleted munitions stockpiles, maintain force readiness and sustain ongoing operations against Iran. When pressed by lawmakers on potential operational outcomes and hypothetical scenarios regarding the duration of the conflict, Caine maintained that he could not speculate on hypothetical operational timelines while focusing his answers on current military needs.
Meanwhile, the remaining funds are designated for non-defense emergency priorities, including $11.1 billion in agricultural assistance, which is notably why Rollins made an appearance to speak, in addition to emergency funding (over $1.4 billion) to address an international Ebola outbreak. The decision to include international Ebola outbreak response funds in federal emergency spending relies on three main arguments described by public health officials and the Trump administration.
Rollins later joined Hegseth in pitching the Trump administration’s unified argument: domestic food production directly impacts national stability.
Rollins also testified on the necessity of direct financial assistance for American farmers and ranchers struggling under recent economic pressures, disaster losses and rising operational costs. Hegseth echoed this during his testimony, praising her for driving the policy stance that protecting American farmland and agriculture is vital to geopolitical defense. During the hearing, Rollins highlighted certain programs funded under the emergency request.
Additionally, she touted ongoing administrative reforms within the Department of Agriculture, such as the “One Farmer, One File” IT modernization effort aimed at consolidating hundreds of legacy assistance tracking systems into a streamlined, single-application process to lower overhead costs and speed up emergency payments.
During his testimony, Hegseth disclosed that operational costs for the U.S. campaign against Iran have already reached an estimated $37.5 billion. He labeled the supplemental request as an urgent, non-negotiable step to prevent critical operational shortfalls and maintain strategic deterrence worldwide. He warned further that without the requested supplemental defense funding, the Pentagon faces critical budget shortfalls that would force the military to curtail routine troop training and readiness exercises. Nonetheless, the proceedings were repeatedly interrupted by protesters in the hearing room. Senate Democrats, led by top panel member Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), pressed the GOP officials on the “absence of a clear exit strategy” and questioned why Congress should approve tens of billions more while tens of billions from previous funding packages remain unspent. Murray then expressed skepticism over the war’s trajectory, warning against falling into “another forever war” while arguing that prolonged operations are “straining American forces and military readiness” rather than reinforcing global stability. In response, Hegseth and Gen. Caine insisted that the requested resources are essential for maintaining force lethality, protecting deployed service members and supporting broader global defense commitments across multiple avenues. Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) also chimed in to argue that regardless of political divisions surrounding foreign policy choices, Congress has a fundamental obligation to ensure American troops are fully equipped and funded.
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DOJ Opens Probe into Harvard China Gifts That May Exclude Americans
The Justice Department just opened a probe that should make every parent, taxpayer, and law‑abiding student sit up straight. The Civil Rights Division is conducting a compliance review of Harvard to determine whether China‑based gifts and scholarships that favor foreign nationals exclude American students in violation of Title VI. In plain English: federal money comes with rules, and Harvard may be letting foreign donors write the rules for who gets financial aid on an American campus.
DOJ’s Compliance Review: The New Development
The fresh development is simple and serious: the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has launched a compliance review focused on “China‑based” financial aid programs at Harvard. The audit grew out of Section 117 disclosures — the same required reporting that showed nearly $4.5 billion in foreign funding to Harvard, including more than $630 million from China. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon put it bluntly: every American student should have an equal shot at scholarships and grants, and schools that take federal dollars can’t accept foreign money that deliberately excludes U.S. citizens.
Why This Matters: National Origin, Influence, and Fairness
This is not just bureaucratic nitpicking. Title VI forbids national‑origin discrimination at recipients of federal aid. If donor agreements effectively earmark money only for students from specific countries, that raises real legal and moral problems. Beyond fairness to American kids, there’s a national‑security angle: extraordinary sums flowing into elite institutions can shape agendas, loyalties, and campus priorities. Harvard’s motto is “Veritas.” It would be a little awkward if truth turned out to be for sale by the pound.
Harvard’s Response and What Comes Next
Harvard says it follows the law and does not unlawfully discriminate. Fine — say that in public and then let the DOJ check the paperwork. The Section 117 entries the Department cited should be pulled into the light: donor language, scholarship terms, and any written restrictions need to be shown and explained. This is a compliance review, not a final judgment, but it can end in corrective orders, resolution agreements, or even enforcement litigation. Americans should want the DOJ to finish the job and be as transparent as the law allows.
Conclusion: Accountability Over Excuses
We should all root for clarity here. If Harvard’s donors have insisted on nationality‑based restrictions, that either needs to stop or the money needs to be reclassified — and American students who pay taxes and compete for federal help deserve that protection. If the university did nothing wrong, a swift, public clearing will restore trust. If it did, then talk of elite benignity won’t cut it. The DOJ has opened the door. Now comes the follow‑through. Let’s watch closely and demand answers.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Calls for Lethal, Bad Ass Cyber Warriors
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll shook the recruiting tree this week, and a few ripe apples fell where everyone could see them. On a national radio and podcast platform, he told would‑be tech recruits they can be “the most lethal and bad ass computer programmer in the entire world” while serving in the U.S. Army. That kind of talk is exactly what the military needs right now — blunt, bold, and aimed at a generation that thinks in code, not camo.
Driscoll’s pitch: cyber warriors equals combat warriors
During an interview on a widely heard conservative show, Secretary Driscoll put cyber roles on the same pedestal as Army Rangers. He didn’t use soft language or corporate-speak. He used the word “lethal” and even called cyber work “bad ass.” That’s a recruiting line meant to cut through the noise. Young people who can wipe out a botnet or harden a network deserve the same sense of purpose and pride we give to traditional troops.
Why blunt recruiting matters for Army cyber talent
The Army has been short on cyber experts for years. There aren’t enough skilled people to fill all the slots the nation needs. Messaging matters. If the Army says cyber is a back‑office job, applicants will look elsewhere. If the Army says cyber is mission critical and “lethal,” it attracts people who want to win and want to be part of something bigger. That’s the whole point of pipelines, direct commissions, and better pay. You don’t change a workforce with nice brochures — you change it by making the job sound important and by actually making it worth someone’s time.
Now, let’s be clear: words are not a blank check for operations. Public enthusiasm for “lethal cyber warriors” must match the law and established authorities. Offensive cyber missions are governed by rules, interagency clearance, and oversight. Saying cyber work is “lethal” is great for recruiting, but the Pentagon and Congress still set the legal boundaries. If Secretary Driscoll wants this effort to last, he should match tough talk with clear policy guidance and funding so commanders aren’t left improvising.
All told, Secretary Driscoll’s message was the right kind of blunt. The country needs more coders who think like warriors and more warriors who understand code. Now the hard work starts: turn the slogan into real pathways, better pay, clear authorities, and a culture that respects cyber specialists as frontline fighters. If Washington can do that, the “lethal cyber warrior” pitch will mean more than bravado — it will mean capability and deterrence. And if it all goes sideways, at least the marketing was entertaining.
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