Stembridge News Digest

  • Pregnant woman found dead; now sordid family-affair accusations and mystery of her baby's grisly fate emerge: Court docs Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:20:30 +0000


    The mother of a slain pregnant woman found in a Michigan forest has confessed to committing grisly acts against her daughter and her unborn grandson, according to new court documents. The case also has taken a shocking twist as sordid accusations of illicit family affairs have emerged.

    As Blaze News reported earlier this month, 22-year-old Rebecca Park — who was approximately 38 weeks pregnant — was reported missing Nov. 4, according to the Wexford County Sheriff's Office.

    'Your baby is gonna die.'

    Following weeks of intense searches for the missing pregnant woman, Park's body was found in the Manistee National Forest on Nov. 25 — just three days after she was due to give birth. However, Park's child was no longer in her womb.

    The Michigan Department of Attorney General stated that 40-year-old Cortney Bartholomew and 47-year-old Bradly Bartholomew "lured" Park to their home in Wexford County. Cortney Bartholomew is Park's biological mother, who gave up her daughter for adoption as a young child; Bradly Bartholomew is her stepfather.

    "The couple then allegedly tortured Park in an attempt to remove the unborn infant, resulting in the death of both," the attorney general said.

    According to MLive, Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey said, "Mr. Bartholomew brought Rebecca to their home, forced her into another vehicle, and took her into the woods, where they stabbed her, forced her to lie on the ground while they cut her baby out, ultimately causing her death and the death of the baby."

    Cortney initially denied any involvement in the murder of her daughter, according to police.

    However, Cortney later confessed to cops that Park was still conscious when she cut the baby out of her daughter while Bradly held a knife to her throat, according to court documents.

    Cortney claimed she cut the baby out of Rebecca in an attempt to save the child so she could then take him to his father, court documents allege.

    According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by UpNorthLive, "When she cut the baby out, Cortney said that Rebecca was still conscious, and Bradly was holding the knife to her throat."

    Court docs added that Cortney told Rebecca to lie back and said, "Your baby is gonna die."

    The affidavit said Bradly told law enforcement that the baby was not alive when the child was cut out of the womb. Cortney informed investigators that the baby was not breathing or crying when the child was removed from the womb, court documents state.

    Court docs also indicate that Bradly told detectives that after Cortney couldn't revive the baby, she said, "The bitch killed my baby."

    According to the affidavit, Bradly accused Cortney of killing her daughter because she wanted another child, but the couple couldn't adopt because he's a convicted sex offender.

    "Bradly agreed that he believes that Cortney is capable of slicing open her own flesh and blood and taking a baby out," the affidavit reads. "He agreed that Cortney is obsessed with wanting another baby in her care and custody."

    When Cortney asked about her grandson, who had just been cut from his mother's womb, Bradly replied, "Oh, I stuck him in a cooler, stuck him in a trash bag, threw him in the trash," the affidavit states.

    RELATED: Stunned judge reveals fate of woman involved in deadly kidnapping of 2 young sisters found in a pit — 1 did not survive

    "I slit her f**king throat, bitch deserved it," Cortney claimed her husband told her, according to Law & Crime.

    In a strange twist, Cortney allegedly admitted to having a romantic relationship with her daughter Rebecca's fiancé — 43-year-old Richard Falor — who also is the father of Rebecca's unborn child.

    "Cortney then reports how Rebecca and Richard Falor were initially dating, and [when] they broke up, a relationship between herself and Richard then commences," the affidavit indicates.

    Court documents claim Cortney rejected Falor and that he then resumed his relationship with Rebecca.

    "Cortney also reported that Richard had returned to her residence and raped her, forcefully, causing her to have a miscarriage of the baby she was carrying," the affidavit states, adding that "a report of this incident was made with the sheriff's office, however, Cortney said Richard was not charged."

    Cortney claimed that Falor had been abusive and aggressive with Park, and she encouraged Rebecca to leave him.

    The affidavit reads, "[Cortney] again claimed that this was a revenge plot because she had a sexual relationship with Richard and because Richard got Bradly put in jail. She claimed that Bradly wanted to hurt Richard."

    The 18-page probable cause affidavit alleges that Falor turned in Bradly last year on a sex offender registration violation.

    Bradly received a 180-day jail sentence for an unspecified violation related to his being on the sex offender registry, according to court records obtained by People magazine.

    Court documents indicate that Cortney told authorities that Bradly said Falor also deserved what's coming to him, and it "just happened to be your daughter that's going to pay for it."

    Cortney claimed Bradly told her that he planned to cut the baby out of Rebecca right in front of Falor after doing an internet search about C-sections, court docs say.

    The stepfather asserted that Rebecca's sister — 21-year-old Kimberly Park — also had a "relationship" with Falor.

    "Bradly reported that Kimberly is jealous of Rebecca, and that he is aware that Kimberly has had a relationship with Richard in the past," the affidavit states.

    Over the last two weeks, Rebecca's mother, stepfather, sister, and fiancé have been arrested.

    People magazine reported that Kimberly has been charged with tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer, and filing a false report. She is on house arrest after her bail was reduced from $750,000 to $5,000.

    Falor was charged with distributing methamphetamine, according to the New York Post. He pleaded not guilty Dec. 2.

    Cortney and Bradly each were charged with one felony count of first-degree premeditated murder, one felony count of murder, one felony count of torture in a place of confinement, one felony count of conspiracy to commit torture, one felony count of assault of a pregnant woman with the intention to cause miscarriage or stillbirth, one felony count of conspiracy to commit assault on a pregnant woman with the intention to cause miscarriage or stillbirth, and one misdemeanor count of removal of a dead body.

    If convicted of any of the felonies, the pair faces up to life in prison.

    Court records identify Bradly Bartholomew as a habitual offender, which could result in harsher penalties.

    The Bartholomews were jailed without the possibility of bond.

    Court appearances by Cortney and Bradly have been postponed until Jan. 13, 2026, WWTV-TV and WWUP-TV reported.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up!

  • Gavin Newsom ridicules Elon Musk over his trans-identifying son — and Musk responds Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:05:00 +0000


    Elon Musk fired back at the governor of California after he ridiculed the billionaire entrepreneur for being estranged from his transgender-identifying son.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was defending his comments in support of transgender health care when he took a potshot at Musk and his son, which many found to be in poor taste.

    'I assume you're referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push.'

    "I want to see trans kids; I have a trans godson. There's no governor that's done more pro-trans legislation than I have, and nobody has been a stronger advocate," Newsom said in the video.

    Newsom posted a video of his comments, along with a snipe at Musk apparently comparing his relationship with his trans-identifying godson to that of Musk with his son.

    "Correct. We're sorry your daughter hates you, Elon," he wrote.

    Musk took the high road in his response.

    "I assume you're referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push on vulnerable children," Musk responded.

    "I love Xavier very much and hope he recovers," he added. "My daughters are Azure, Exa (she goes by Y) and Arcadia, and they do indeed love me very much."

    Others piled onto Newsom for the bizarre insult.

    "Sick bastard. Gavin, tell your henchmen to leave kids alone," Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas replied.

    "This is raw evil, from a government account. I will do anything I can to stop this cretin from gaining more political power," Palantir founder Jon Lonsdale responded.

    "One of the primary motivations of the Left in pushing gender ideology onto children is to divide them from their parents and undercut the family unit. They relish in it and will not stop no matter how many elections they lose," Kaylee White of Fox News replied.

    RELATED: Newsom gets nailed with online backlash over AI video with Trump in handcuffs

    "Most vile of vile," actor Dean Cain responded.

    Newsom is considered a front-runner in the possible candidates for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028. In one recent poll, he garners 24% of support from Democratic voters, just behind Pete Buttigieg, who has support from 28% of those polled.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • 'Stop that bulls**t': David Spade mocks tree-lighting ceremony that avoids use of the word 'Christmas' Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:15:00 +0000


    Comedian and actor David Spade offered an example of people deliberately avoiding even mentioning Christianity while trying to keep the faith's holiday traditions in place.

    Spade made the comments about a local mall ceremony to light a non-Christmas tree on his podcast with fellow "SNL" alum Dana Carvey, who agreed with his criticism. The "Fly on the Wall" episode was published on Sunday.

    'I've never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree.'

    "I will say that Christmas is taking a little bit of a beating lately," Spade said.

    "It is December, and I saw the other day there was a tree-lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree in some dopey mall, but it said 'tree-lighting ceremony,'" he added. "And they were careful not to say the word 'Christmas' during the whole ceremony."

    "No!" Carvey responded.

    Spade went on to mock the idea of lighting a tree for a non-Christmas holiday reason.

    "Why? So it's just a tree?" he asked.

    "To consciously avoid that, then what is the tree for?" Spade continued. "A December to remember? Is it a Lexus dealership? Why do we have — for the whole month? Isn’t it for Christmas?"

    Carvey pointed out that Christmas has come to include everyone because it has become somewhat secularized.

    "I've never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree," he added.

    "I'd say stop that bulls**t," Spade said.

    "Yeah, 'cause everyone loves Santa and the tree and all the trappings," Carvey replied.

    "They like all things about it," Spade said. "Don't say that word."

    RELATED: Nigerian Christians are being murdered by Islamic radicals. This congressman has had enough.

    Spade also made brief mention of the horrific persecution of Christians in Africa.

    "Like, is this where we get the hammer? You can't say that about anyone else. ... We're taking a beating down in Africa. It's like, this is not the year to be Christian. I will tell you that," he added.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • Christian NFL star apologizes after reference to kids' game that likely left LGBTQ crowd seething Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:40:00 +0000


    An NFL star running back who has been outspoken about his Christian faith is facing criticism for uttering what some call a gay slur while live on television.

    Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons was celebrating the team's upset victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday when he joked about playing "smear the queer," a common kids' game.

    'It was not reflective of my beliefs and I am so sorry to those I offended seriously!'

    Robinson was talking about a play during the game that appeared to be from backyard football and added, "Smear the queer, that’s what this is, smear the queer!”

    Someone on the set quickly tried to correct him by saying, "Kill the carrier," a more politically correct name for the game.

    On Friday, Robinson posted an apology on social media.

    "Hey everyone I want to apologize for the insensitive comment I made in the broadcast, it was a football game we used to play as a kid but that’s not an excuse," he wrote.

    "I recognize the mistake and make sure to do better in the future," he added. "It was not reflective of my beliefs and I am so sorry to those I offended seriously!"

    Video of his comments were posted to social media, where it garnered millions of views.

    Robinson has often talked about his Christian faith and established a foundation to give back to society in four areas: "Faith, Homelessness, Youth, and Literacy," according to his website.

    RELATED: Liberals spew hatred at NFL player for pointing at Trump and doing his dance: 'Yousa hoe a** n***a'

    Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

    "I do all the things that is necessary for me to continue my relationship with God. Even after games, in postgame interviews, I never go without saying ‘God’ first," he said after getting drafted for the NFL.

    "I play for Him. I play for God," he added. "I do everything in my life for God, so He’ll only continue to keep blessing you. My faith is my biggest thing.”

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • It’s time to ban foreign-born lawmakers — Ilhan Omar and Shri Thanedar prove why Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:29:39 +0000


    BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales believes it’s high time that we stop allowing foreign-born people to serve in Congress — because historically, their allegiance doesn’t seem to be with America.

    “The most obvious example is, of course, Ilhan Omar, who helped all these Somalians pull off all this fraud in Minnesota allegedly,” Gonzales says on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.”

    “The restaurants that are using your taxpayer money to go funnel to terror groups, she’s, like, hosting parties at,” she continues.

    Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has also been quite open about where her allegiance lies, which is reflected in a clip Gonzales has on hand of Omar speaking to her fellow Somalis in Somali.


    “Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system,” Omar said, adding, “I am as concerned about Somalia as you guys are.”

    “Now this is why I just can’t stop talking about this, because this goes against the oath that everyone has to take when they become naturalized. It literally says on the form, ‘I hereby declare on oath that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen,’” Gonzales comments.

    And Omar is hardly the only foreigner in the United States government raising a red flag. There's also Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar (D) — who made the trip from India to the United States in 1979.

    “So he had lived his entire life, growing into adulthood, in India, like tried and true Indian at the point that he came here,” Gonzales comments, before showing a video of Thanedar speaking about the articles of impeachment he introduced against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

    “Today I introduced articles to impeach Secretary Pete Hegseth for murder and conspiracy to murder since day one. Secretary Hegseth has disgraced that once-proud office that he holds, from issuing orders to kill everybody on board a small boat,” Thanedar said in a thick Indian accent.

    “He was struggling for some of those words,” Gonzales comments.

    “He’s been here this long, he still hasn’t bothered to brush up on his English. And on top of that, he seems to not be clear on like, ‘Hey, we’re America. When terrorists try to kill Americans, we kill them.’ That’s a thing. You don’t negotiate with terrorists,” she continues.

    “If you don’t like it, go home,” she adds.

    Want more from Sara Gonzales?

    To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

  • Democratic congressman is getting scorched over 'disgusting' description of attack on National Guard members Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:15:00 +0000


    A Democratic congressman is facing scathing criticism for his description of the horrific attack on two National Guard members that left one dead.

    Rep. Bennie Thompson (D) of Mississippi was trying to interrogate Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem when he appeared to severely minimize the terrible attack. Thompson is the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

    'Bennie Thompson should apologize and retract this disgusting remark.'

    "Madame Secretary, you and the gentleman from [National Counterterrorism Center] reference the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsmen being killed," said Thompson.

    "You think that was an unfortunate accident? That was a terrorist attack!" interjected Noem.

    "I mean, look, I'll get it straight," he replied in an annoyed tone.

    "He shot our National Guardsmen in the head!" she added.

    Thompson appealed to the committee chair to censure Noem for interrupting his questioning.

    "It was an unfortunate situation, but you blamed it solely on Joe Biden. I want you to know who approved the asylum application for this same person?" he continued.

    Noem responded that the suspect in the shooting had been allowed into the country during the evacuation of Afghanistan during the Biden administration, but Thompson continued to harangue her about the approval of his asylum under the Trump administration.

    Video of the exchange was widely circulated on social media, and the bizarre comments led to furious condemnation.

    "Note to Democrats: The killing of National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom was not an 'unfortunate accident.' It was a premeditated terrorist attack," replied Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on social media. "Bennie Thompson should apologize and retract this disgusting remark. Well done, @Sec_Noem for refusing to let Democrats downplay terrorism."

    National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard excoriated Thompson on Fox News and said the moment exemplified a common problem among political leaders.

    RELATED: National Guard shooting suspect is Afghan national who entered US under Biden program

    "It is absolutely infuriating," said Gabbard. "This is someone who is a very, very senior leader in Congress, who for a long time has led the Homeland Security Committee in Congress. The fact that he cannot and refuses to directly identify this attack for what it was, a terrorist attack on our own soil against our National Guard."

    "This exchange really points to the egregious and longstanding problem that we've seen," she added, "which is leaders, some on both sides of the aisle, who refused to identify this Islamist terrorist threat for exactly what it is, which is one of the reasons why we find ourselves in the position that we are in today."

    Thompson later said that he had misspoken when confronted by a CNN anchor about the comments.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • 'Send in the next guy': Nicki Minaj savages Newsom over his desire to 'see trans kids' Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:58:16 +0000


    California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who polling indicates is the 2028 Democratic front-runner for presidential nomination, emphasized his support for gender ideology in a recent interview with the New York Times' Ezra Klein.

    Newsom's radical remarks caught the attention not only of Republicans but of Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj, who suggested the governor's views would alienate even mentally ill "trans" adults.

    'The Vance > The Gav Nots.'

    In the interview published on Wednesday, Newsom told Klein that while he — like the supermajority of Americans — does not support male transvestites in women's sports, he nevertheless wants "to see trans kids."

    "I have a trans godson," Newsom said. "There's no governor that's signed more pro-trans legislation than I have, and no one has been a stronger advocate for the LGBTQ community."

    The "godson" whom the Democratic governor referenced in this and other defenses of his trans alliance is billionaire oil heir Natalia Williams, the 33-year-old great-granddaughter of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty who had her breasts removed and now calls herself Nats Getty.

    Newsom's goddaughter is "married" to male transvestite Giselle Getty, formerly Gregory Lazzarato.

    An X account managed by the Republican National Committee said in a response to the governor's comments subsequently shared by the GOP, "Gavin Newsom gushes about how he wants to see the gender mutilation of children."

    RELATED: 'Not medicine — it's malpractice': Trump HHS buries child sex-change regime with damning report

    Photo by Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images

    Minaj was evidently among the multitude of people sickened by Newsom's statement, writing, "Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids. Haha. Not even a trans ADULT would run on that. Normal adults wake up & think they want to see HEALTHY, SAFE, HAPPY kids."

    "GavOUT," Minaj continued. "Send in the next guy, I'm bored."

    Minaj followed up her tweet with a message suggesting that Newsom thinks he's Tom Cruise, but the difference is that "his next mission IS impossible."

    Normalcy advocate Robby Starbuck noted that if Minaj is going to troll Newsom "from now until 2028 then he has a big problem because Gavin's counting on the black vote and Nicki has a big enough megaphone to let them know how evil Gavin's policies are. Dude lets 13 yr old girls get their breasts cut off in his state."

    Newsom has ratified numerous bills pushing the radical trans agenda in his state, including:

    • SB-107, making California a so-called sanctuary for child sex-rejecting mutilations;
    • AB-1084, making it easier for transvestites to obtain inaccurate identification documents;
    • AB-223, requiring any petition for a change of sex identifier by a minor to be kept confidential by the court; and
    • AB-1955, banning school districts from requiring school officials to inform parents if a child begins to identify as "transgender."

    A Pew Research Center survey revealed earlier this year that 56% of Americans support a ban on sex-rejecting medical procedures for minors.

    Whereas Minaj is highly critical of Newsom, she's clearly sweet on the 2028 Republican front-runner, Vice President JD Vance.

    "Vance is an assassin," she wrote. "Don't debate him. On anything. Quick as a computer. Maybe quicker. He's the best blend I've ever seen of us&them."

    In a separate message, Minaj noted, "The Vance > The Gav Nots."

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • 'Bell'-buster: Joy Reid tries to cancel classic Christmas 'Jingle' Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:50:00 +0000


    “Truth. Justice. Whatever.”

    Hollywood’s disdain for America is official with the poster tagline for this summer’s “Supergirl.”

  • 'Blind allegiance': Thune lays into blue states passing up Trump tax relief Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:15:00 +0000


    With major tax breaks just around the corner, Senate Majority Leader John Thune reveals the real reason Democrats are skipping out on major tax breaks.

    Several blue states across the country are opting out of the major tax breaks promised in President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including provisions like deductions for seniors and no tax on tips. These tax breaks are set to go into effect on January 1, 2026.

    'They are doing it because of Trump derangement syndrome or a blind allegiance to high-tax policies.'

    These policies are popular across the political spectrum, yet Democrats are depriving their constituents of the opportunity to reap the benefits. Some of these states include Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Maine, as well as Washington, D.C.

    The Treasury Department called this a deliberate act of "partisan stonewalling," suggesting Democrats are denying their constituents crucial financial relief.

    RELATED: Blue-state ‘Grinches’ are stealing your tax relief, says Treasury Secretary Bessent

    Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

    "This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion," the department stated. "By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households."

    Thune echoed the department's concerns, saying Democrats are getting in the way of overdue tax relief for millions of hardworking Americans.

    "Affordability starts with more money in your pocket," Thune told Blaze News. "Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts so that every working family, regardless of where they live, can have more money and new opportunities to get ahead."

    "It is outrageous that Democrat politicians would try to stop seniors, tipped workers, and people who work overtime from receiving this historic tax relief," Thune added.

    RELATED: ‘Very low-IQ person’: Jasmine Crockett launches Senate campaign with funny video that may give the GOP the last laugh

    Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Thune speculated that the Democrats' refusal to embrace even Trump's most popular policies is rooted in an inexplicable "blind allegiance" to high taxes, or just plain old Trump derangement syndrome.

    "Whether they are doing it because of Trump derangement syndrome or a blind allegiance to high-tax policies, Democrat leaders like Governor Mills, Hochul, and Pritzker are making explicitly clear that Democrats prioritize high taxes and regulatory burdens over the financial well-being of the people they represent," Thune added, referring to Governors Janet Mills of Maine, Kathy Hochul of New York, and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • Trump’s DOT claims 53% of New York’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued illegally Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000


    President Donald Trump's Department of Transportation announced new action against another Democratic-led state that it claims has been illegally issuing non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses.

    On Friday morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that an audit from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that over half of New York state's non-domiciled CDLs were issued illegally. The audit sampled 200 records and discovered that 107, or 53%, were issued in violation of federal law.

    'What we uncovered in New York is not an administrative oversight.'

    There are reportedly 32,000 active non-domiciled CDLs that were issued by New York.

    According to the DOT, the New York Department of Motor Vehicles defaulted to issuing eight-year licenses to foreign drivers who applied for non-REAL ID licenses, regardless of when their legal status expired.

    "This systemic failure allows the state to blindly grant long-term commercial driving privileges to foreigners that expire long after the expiration of their lawful presence in the country," the DOT stated.

    Additionally, the department claimed that New York failed to provide any evidence that it had verified the lawful presence of foreign individuals before issuing them commercial driver's licenses. In some instances, New York allegedly relied on expired lawful presence documents to issue licenses.

    RELATED: Trump DOT threatens to pull millions from Tim Walz's state, boots 3,000 shady CDL trainers to clean up trucker licensing mess

    Sean Duffy. Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images

    As a result of the concerning findings, the DOT has demanded that New York immediately pause the issuance of new or renewed non-domiciled CDLs and commercial learner's permits.

    The state has also been asked to conduct an internal audit to identify licenses that were issued in violation of federal regulations. The DOT warned that the state risks losing $73 million in federal highway funding if it fails to revoke all illegally issued licenses held by foreign drivers immediately.

    "When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn't just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership. Gov. [Kathy] Hochul must immediately revoke these illegally issued licenses. If they refuse to follow the law, we will withhold federal highway funding," Duffy stated. "This administration will never stop fighting to keep you and your family safe on our roads."

    RELATED: Trump DOT hammers Gov. Shapiro, threatens to pull millions after state hands CDL to 'suspected terrorist' illegal alien trucker

    Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images

    During a Friday morning press conference announcing the findings, Duffy explained that states that illegally issue CDLs endanger American drivers nationwide, since the licenses allow interstate operations.

    Duffy described New York as the worst offender for issuing licenses in violation of federal law. The DOT has given New York 30 days to come into compliance.

    California and New York account for half of the non-domiciled CDLs issued in the nation, Duffy stated.

    "What we uncovered in New York is not an administrative oversight," FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs stated during the press conference. "It's a systematically, grossly unacceptable deviation from a federal safety regulation that has been on the books for a long period of time."

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • Trump’s DHS rolls back more of Biden’s immigration handouts for foreign nationals Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:40:17 +0000


    President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is continuing to roll back Temporary Protected Status, which was widely granted to numerous countries under the previous administration’s leadership.

    On Friday morning, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a press release announcing that the DHS will terminate TPS for Ethiopia.

    'Conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals.'

    The current TPS designation was set to expire on Friday. Ethiopian nationals without another lawful basis to remain in the U.S. have 60 days to leave the country.

    Those individuals are encouraged to use the Customs and Border Protection’s CBP Home mobile app to report their departure. They will receive a plane ticket and a $1,000 exit bonus.

    The DHS may begin making arrests and deportations after February 13 for those who fail to leave voluntarily. They will not be eligible to return to the U.S.

    “Temporary Protected Status designations are time-limited and were never meant to be a ticket to permanent residency,” a USCIS spokesperson stated. “Conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals. Since the situation no longer meets the statutory requirements for a TPS designation, [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem is terminating this designation to restore integrity in our immigration system.”

    RELATED: Trump DHS makes 'temporary' finally mean temporary again, revoking Biden's free pass for 4,000 foreign nationals

    Kristi Noem, Donald Trump. Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

    TPS was first extended to Ethiopia in December 2022 under former President Joe Biden, whose administration claimed the designation was necessary due to “ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions.”

    “Ethiopia faces armed conflict in multiple regions of the country resulting in large-scale displacement. In addition, Ethiopia has been experiencing severe climatic shocks exacerbating humanitarian concerns over access to food, water, and health care,” Biden’s DHS stated.

    RELATED: 25 years after a Central American hurricane, Noem's DHS to end associated immigration Temporary Protected Status

    Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas. Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images

    Former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extended the TPS designation in April 2024.

    “While some residual challenges in regions affected by the conflicts remain, there are signs of improvements in the country,” Trump’s DHS wrote in a Federal Register notice that will be published next week.

    “The Secretary has determined that, while some sporadic and episodic violence occurs in Ethiopia, the situation no longer meets the criteria for an ongoing armed conflict that poses a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals,” the DHS continued.

    Trump's DHS previously terminated TPS for Burma, Haiti, South Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela. Countries that continue to hold TPS designations into 2026 include El Salvador, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • Time names ‘Architects of AI’ as person of the year — and it sounds like a dystopian horror film Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000


    Time magazine named its 2025 “person of the year” — but it wasn’t just one person.

    Instead, the magazine celebrated the “Architects of AI” as its person of the year. This includes tech leaders like Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Fei-Fei Li.

  • 'Naked judicial activism': Judge issues restraining order on ICE in Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:45:00 +0000


    The high-profile deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is once again in the spotlight after an "activist" judge once again temporarily threw a wrench in the Department of Homeland Security's work.

    On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued an order barring immigration enforcement officials from detaining and deporting Garcia.

    'This order lacks any valid legal basis, and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts.'

    Judge Xinis, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, upheld requests from Garcia's lawyers for a temporary restraining order against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Newsweek reported.

    Garcia was freed from immigration detention on Thursday after months of being in limbo, the Associated Press reported.

    RELATED: Kilmar Abrego Garcia's days in the US may be numbered after court's latest ruling

    Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

    "For the public to have any faith in the orderly administration of justice, the Court's narrowly crafted remedy cannot be so quickly and easily upended without further briefing and consideration," Xinis wrote.

    Garcia's attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, celebrated the news of the restraining order and his client's release.

    "Yesterday's order from Judge Xinis and now the temporary restraining order this morning represent a victory of law over power," Sandoval-Moshenberg said.

    Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who allegedly faced death threats from twin brothers from New Jersey earlier this week, told Newsweek that the decision was "naked judicial activism."

    "This order lacks any valid legal basis, and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts," McLaughlin added.

    Garcia, an illegal alien and alleged MS-13 associate living in Maryland, was deported to an infamous Salvadoran prison earlier this year before being returned to the United States for continued processing of his case.

    Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

  • MAJOR WIN: Trump’s trans military ban upheld Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:15:00 +0000


    After a long battle, a D.C. Circuit panel froze a federal judge’s order blocking President Donald Trump’s effort to ban the use of hormones in the military — which would effectively disqualify all transgender people from military service.

    The court decided that this policy advances military interests, with two judges ruling in favor and one judge — who was appointed by Obama — dissented.

    BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales couldn’t be happier with the decision.


    “I definitely don’t think that a man who is mentally ill enough, who thinks that he’s a woman, should be in that realm at all ... luckily, this appeals court, well, two out of three of them agreed,” Gonzales says.

    BlazeTV host and columnist Auron MacIntyre is pleased with the decision as well, but he points out that it’s not exactly reassuring that the decision came down to several circuit judges.

    “It really is terrifying that the effectiveness of our military could come down to whether or not you got the right guy appointed to a particular circuit judgeship. It’s insane that anyone but the commander in chief determines who is or is not in the military,” Macintyre says.

    “Military is not a place for you to do your social science experiments or work out your feminist fantasies. Military is a place where we kill people who are trying to murder us. This is literally the most important type of decision you can make,” he continues.

    “You do not fool around and try to do some kind of DEI stuff with this,” he adds. “The idea that you would put mentally ill men in the military and put them anywhere near combat ... that’s just disgraceful.”

    Want more from Sara Gonzales?

    To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

  • Nativity hijacked by woke priest — archbishop sends thoughts and prayers Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000


    Instead of the usual Nativity scene this time of year, St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham, Massachusetts, featured something far less Christmasy: a sign reading “ICE was here.” Rather than celebrate the joy of the Incarnation, the pastor, Fr. Stephen Josoma, wanted to suggest that Jesus and His family had been abducted by federal agents and couldn’t make it to Bethlehem.

    To be fair, this year’s stunt was tame compared with the church’s 2018 display, when the infant Jesus appeared — in a cage. Back then, the leftist narrative insisted that Trump’s “goons” were snatching innocent immigrant families and throwing their kids in cages while deporting the parents.

    Fr. Josoma is at least forthright. The pro-immigration bishops, by contrast, wrap their open-borders stance in warm, fuzzy language about ‘compassion’ and ‘Christian charity.’

    When complaints poured in, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston offered mild disapproval and asked that the display be removed. One wonders what he would do if a priest used the Nativity to condemn transgenderism — perhaps a bubble of Mary saying, “It’s a boy!” and baby Jesus responding, “Of course I am.” Would the archbishop quietly distance himself again, or would he move to defrock the priest by morning?

    The bishops’ real position

    By now, it’s no secret that many Catholic bishops share Fr. Josoma’s immigration politics. Their public statements this year made that obvious: endless denunciations of border enforcement and deportations and near-total silence on the humanitarian crises created by Biden’s failed border policies — including the disappearance of some 400,000 migrant children, many of whom ended up in forced labor and sex trafficking.

    Pope Leo XIV has only magnified this confusion. Though he recently muttered a few words denying he supports open borders, his actions and rhetoric signal the opposite. He consistently encourages mass migration into the West, especially from the poorer regions of the Global South.

    Passive-aggressive rhetoric

    All this might be tolerable if it weren’t so passive-aggressive. Fr. Josoma is at least forthright. The pro-immigration bishops, by contrast, wrap their open-borders stance in warm, fuzzy language about “compassion” and “Christian charity.” They never explicitly endorse illegal mass migration, but every message they send clearly communicates support for it.

    Worse, they frame the debate as a false dilemma: either welcome millions from the Third World with open arms and open wallets, or turn everyone away and treat them like garbage. In their telling, unrestricted immigration is Christian charity; any attempt at regulation is moral failure. Like the Good Samaritan caring for the mugging victim, Americans are told to fund luxury-hotel stays and generous entitlements for ex-convicts from Haiti.

    Little is said about the profound cultural and social challenges posed by non-Christian mass migration. Western Europe’s experience with Muslim migration is well-documented: spikes in crime, poverty, and urban decay.

    In the United States, Muslim and Hindu migrants increasingly form self-segregated enclaves, complete with their own customs and sometimes their own informal legal norms — communities where Christian Americans are outsiders in their own towns.

    Some progressive Christians claim this is an opportunity for evangelization. Yet no one in the church seems interested in actually evangelizing. Instead the faithful are browbeaten to be more “accommodating,” while bishops host endless interfaith dialogues with leaders who preach backward belief systems fundamentally at odds with liberal democracy.

    Follow the money trail

    Why then have bishops embraced such a self-destructive position? Two reasons stand out.

    First, many bishops are simply committed leftists. Under Pope Francis — for most of the woke era — this meant preaching climate dogma and celebrating the LGBTQ agenda. Under Pope Leo, it means promoting open borders and a global welfare regime. The ideology changes, but the political alignment remains.

    Second, mass migration pays. State and federal governments funnel enormous sums to Catholic NGOs for immigrant resettlement. “Caring for the stranger” has become a lucrative business. Vice President JD Vance, himself a Catholic, was blunt when he said much of the bishops’ outrage at border enforcement comes down to the billions of dollars at stake.

    By shutting the border and deporting illegal migrants, the Trump administration is threatening a revenue stream.

    Lingering hypocrisy

    For conservative Catholics, the bishops’ partisan protests have become intolerable — especially after their submissiveness during COVID. Having failed as shepherds when it mattered most, they still presume they possess the moral authority to demand open borders forever.

    It feels reminiscent of the Catholic Church’s reaction to the Black Death. As Barbara Tuchman recounts in her excellent history of the 14th century, the Catholic Church ramped up the sale of indulgences to replenish its coffers after the plague. Revenue rose. Respect collapsed. The peasant uprisings that followed eventually swelled into a continent-wide revolt that split Christianity.

    RELATED: Viral video shows priest tossing ICE out of his church and mocking Trump — but it’s not what it seems

    Photo by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Today’s immigration racket is unlikely to cause that level of destruction, but it is still a serious problem. Younger Catholics — anyone not a Baby Boomer — now tune out the clergy’s homilies about “harsh treatment” of migrants. They know it isn’t true. The Catholic Church in America is already as diverse and welcoming as a religious institution can be.

    I was reminded of this recently at a Mass celebrating the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The only service I could attend was the evening Spanish Mass. Among Filipinos, Vietnamese, Latinos, Tejanos, and a handful of fellow gringos, I listened to our Indian priest celebrate the liturgy in Spanish, accompanied by a choir singing mariachi-styled hymns.

    Nothing about this scene matched the bishops’ narrative of a hostile, unwelcoming Catholic Church. Perhaps if more of them bothered to attend or celebrate such a Mass, they would drop the sanctimonious posturing and address real problems.

    That alone would be a welcome Christmas gift.

News Web Sites

Columnist/Blog Web Sites


This page has been visited 32 times today and 112,120 times since May 11, 2015.