#Blazin8: The 8 midterm races that could change the face of Congress

Glenn is not the only member of TheBlaze team who is looking to highlight up-and-coming talent in the conservative movement. Doc Thompson, host of The Morning Blaze with Doc Thompson on TheBlaze Radio Network, and his producer Skip LaCombe have been scouring the country looking for key races that could really have an impact this November.

Doc and Skip introduced Glenn to strong candidates like Matt Bevin in Kentucky and Greg Bannon in North Carolina. And as guest hosts of the Glenn Beck Radio Program this morning, Doc and Skip broke down their #Blazin8 – the eight candidates they believe can make the biggest impact.

“We decided leading up to the midterm elections we're going to use the term ‘Blazin8.’ And what I want is the eight good candidates that can get elected – not just by what the polls say – but based on them being good enough…the Ted Cruz and Mike Lee types,” Doc explained. “And if you could manage to pull off, by some miracle, all eight of them… the sum would be greater than the parts [and] they would be able to turn things around. I've got my eight.”

Doc laid out his top eight candidates and explained why they provide the best opportunity to change the status quo:

1. Greg Brannon, North Carolina

The first one I will give you is a guy who is going to get elected. Unless something happens, he is going to get elected. You heard him on the Glenn Beck Program. I was so happy that I met him along with Skip months ago. Glenn got him on. The guys love him: Greg Brannon, North Carolina. Dr. Greg Brannon is the guy, and he is likely going to get elected. He's a OB/GYN. He's rock solid. First of all, he's likely to win the primary… And he will defeat Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC). What you get there is a Republican who takes out a Democrat and someone who is not just a Republican but a solid one, a Mike Lee Ted Cruz type.

2. Tom Cotton, Arkansas

Second, this is going to come to no shock to anybody. Tom Cotton out of [Arkansas]. He's on my Blazin8 list. He has a very good shot of taking out Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR). Once you get there he’s a solid conservative who's going to vote the right way then you take out a Democrat who's been an extremist.

3. Sam Clovis, Iowa

The next one is the first person we interviewed when we were looking for non-establishment candidates. Sam Clovis from Iowa… Sam Clovis is going to be a rock star from Iowa. He's running for the seat being vacated by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). There's no reason for Tom Harkin to be representing Iowa for so long. Iowans don't believe what Tom Harkin believes in, but he continues to get elected because incumbents get elected. You put somebody like Sam Clovis in there, you really turn things around. You replace Tom Harkin, who has done the most despicable things… with his votes.

4. Shak Hill, Virginia

One more senator that is off the chart a little bit. I'm admitting his election is going to be more difficult. But it's really important for two reasons. And that is Shak Hill from Virginia. Shak Hill is running in the primary against Ed Gillespie. Remember that name? Worked for George W. Bush; is a lobbyist now. Is that really somebody you want to go to the Senate, to represent you in the commonwealth of Virginia? Somebody who worked for George W. Bush? Did you not get enough of that guy? He was an adviser and you want him to represent you? Check out Shak Hill.

Defeat him in the primary and consider Shak Hill because you know who they'll go against in the fall? In the general? Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). Mark Warner who has one of the richest members of Congress. That wouldn't dissuade me from voting for somebody. But when they're one of the richest members of Congress and telling you that you should give up more of your tax dollars in Congress to fund more food stamps for people who won't work, I find that little a bit more conflicting. You will see Mark Warner, that dirt bag, use this in his campaign because this is what the Democrats are going to use throughout the summer: Income inequality. Do you know who has an income inequality? Me and Mark Warner. The guy is worth $300 million and he's telling me about income inequality? Fine, make your money, Mark Warner. Get rich. Fine. But how about leaving me alone so I can as well.

5. Lee Bright, South Carolina

Going up against Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) in South Carolina, Lee Bright. Consider Lee Bright, please… It doesn't give you another Republican. It gives you a Republican upgrade. See, the first four were all people that will defeat Democrats. The next four are all people that would defeat progressive Republicans. Consider Lee Bright out of South Carolina to defeat Lindsay Graham.

6. Matt Bevin, Kentucky

Matt Bevin to take out Mitch McConnell. You've heard him on Glenn Beck’s show. You know about Matt Bevin. He also would be a substantial upgrade. Trust me, the Lindsay Grahams and the Mitch McConnells aren't any better than the Tom Harkins. They're not. They're not any better than the Mark Pryors. They're not any better than the Mark Warners. So Matt Bevin and Lee Bright. Kentucky and South Carolina for upgrades.

7. Chris McDaniel, Mississippi

Out of Mississippi, Chris McDaniel to defeat Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS). He's been there 400 years. Track his voting record over the years and you will see it's gotten progressively worse. Defeat Thad in Cochran in the primary. Put Chris McDaniel there. Both Chris McDaniel and Matt Bevin are in a similar situation. They will likely lose to the Democrat in the fall. Even though their states want conservative people. People are so sick of them. If you don't get Chris McDaniel or Matt Bevin in through the primary and have them win and go against the Democrat, you may be lost anyway.

8. Dave Brat, Virginia

Finally, the lone member of the House of Representatives that you must take out: Eric Cantor. He is in leadership, and as I told Glenn, if you think John Boehner is bad, when Eric Cantor gets in, you will pray for the days of John Boehner. You will beg to have John Boehner back. Eric Cantor has one of the worst records in Congress when you actually know about him… You must defeat Eric Cantor one way or another… Dave Brat is an economics professor at Old Dominion University.

“The candidates I've laid out, if people know about them, will likely get elected,” Doc concluded. “So vet them if you like them. Tell people about them. And then we can turn this thing around. Use that hashtag: #Blazin8. And tell me yours.”

How Trump is WINNING at the Panama Canal

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Despite the doubts of the nay-sayers, Trump's Panamanian plans have already borne fruit.

Shortly before his inauguration, President Trump drew national attention to the Panama Canal. He reminded Americans of just how important the canal is for the U.S. and highlighted the Chinese influence that has been slowly taking control of the vital passage ever since America handed it over to Panama.

President Trump was immediately mocked and ridiculed by the Left, who called him delusional and an imperialist. However, earlier this week, Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, made a trip to Panama and spoke with the Panamanian President, José Raúl Mulino, and Rubio made some serious headway. As Glenn has explained, Trump's boisterous talk is part of his strategy. Invading Panama was never the goal, just one of several options to get what America needed, and after Rubio's visit, it seems like America's needs will be met.

Here are the TOP THREE takeaways from Marco Rubio's visit to Panama:

1. Marco Rubio makes headway

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On February 2nd, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha and President José Raúl Mulino where they discussed critical regional and global challenges, including the canal. Rubio drew attention to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal in which the U.S. promised Panama ownership of the canal on the condition of its guaranteed neutrality. Rubio argued that China's growing influence qualified as a breach of the treaty and that it gives the U.S. the power to take necessary measures to rectify the faults, given Panama doesn't act. As of this week, reports say Panama agreed and promised to take immediate action to purge Chinese influence from canal operations.

2. Panama is ditching China's Belt Road

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After his meeting with Rubio, Panamanian President Mulino agreed that Panama would step away from China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). The BRI is a Chinese effort to establish China as the main economic power in developing nations across the world. In 2017, Panama signed on to this initiative, and China's influence in the small nation has exponentially grown. However, after Rubio's visit, President Mulino has not only stated that Panama will not renew its agreement with China, but moreover, the country will also look for ways to back out of the agreement early. This is a massive win for the Trump Administration and the American people.

3. The Chinese may lose their ports on the canal

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Shortly after Rubio left Panama City, two lawyers spearheaded the effort to kick out a Chinese company that controls two major ports on the Panama Canal. The Chinese company—CK Hutchison Holdings—has operated one port on both ends of the canal since 1997, which could potentially give China a massive degree of control over traffic. After analyzing the contract, the Panamanian lawyers argue that the contract is potentially in violation of the Panamanian constitution and should be revoked. It is unclear if the constitutional issues relate to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, but even on its own merit, this is a huge victory for America.

Top 15 jobs AI is TAKING OVER

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The AI takeover has begun.

Last week, Glenn delved into the World Economic Forum's 2025 summit in Davos, where our malevolent overlords focused especially on AI and how it can replace millions of workers worldwide. We are at the precipice of a monumental change in how the world is run—WEF founder Klaus Schwab called it "The Fourth Industrial Revolution"—and in time, AI will augment every one of our lives.

Already, AI is taking jobs. Thousands, if not millions, of tasks are slowly being delegated to it. The affected fields are largely data entry, admin tasks, and clerical work, along with graphic design and some customer support roles. However, as AI becomes more sophisticated, the scope of its abilities will only grow. The WEF is all for it, and last month they released a shocking chart

that revealed what jobs were already feeling the pain. Check out the top 15 jobs that are already disappearing:

1. Postal service clerks

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2. Bank tellers

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3. Data entry clerks

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4. Cashiers and ticket clerks

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5. Administrative assistants and executive secretaries

6. Printing workers

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7. Accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll clerks

8. Material-recording and stock-keeping clerks

9. Transportation attendants and conductors

10. Door-to-door salesmen

11. Graphic designers

12. Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators

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13. Legal officials

14. Legal secretaries

15. Telemarketers

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3 stories that prove USAID is a criminal organization

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Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has one mission—to eliminate government waste—and it's starting with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is a federal agency that, on paper, is responsible for distributing foreign aid to conflict-ridden zones across the world. However, for years, Glenn has revealed that the USAID acts more like a second CIA, but without the regulation or oversight under the State Department. Elon Musk concurred, describing the federal agency as not merely "an apple with a worm in it" but rather "just a ball of worms."

Don't fall for the left's narrative calling USAID a "humanitarian" organization. Here are the top three stories that reveal just how corrupt the USAID really is:

1. USAID has funded terrorist organizations and Osama bin Laden

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In 2023, USAID provided "assistance" to nearly 130 countries, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Yemen, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Syria (which is currently run by a terrorist that received aid from the Obama-era CIA). Under Obama, USAID gave funds to an organization known as the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA), which was known at the time to help finance Jihadist groups and had been labeled by the U.S. Treasury Department as a "terror-financing organization."

The ISRA also funded and gave shelter to the 9/11 mastermind, Osama bin Laden—U.S. taxpayer dollars sent straight to the perpetrator of the deadliest terrorist attack in history and the most lethal attack on U.S. soil.

2. USAID "loses" funds that happen to end up in individuals' pockets

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A recent investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) revealed that in 2016, Chemonics International colluded with a USAID subcontractor to massively overcharge a USAID project to pocket extra funds from the project's bottom line. Moreover, the USAID project used "self-reported" performance metrics, which made it impossible to verify the actual progress of the project and how the funds were being used.

Even the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic has USAID's sticky fingerprints all over it. In 2014, USAID provided $38 million to an EcoHealth Alliance project called "Predict-2." One of the subcontractors, Ben Hu, headed the Wuhan Institute of Virology's gain-of-function research and was one of the first three people infected with COVID-19 in late 2019. That means U.S. taxpayer dollars were likely used to fund the very research that gave rise to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. USAID operates as a second "CIA" with no accountability

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The CIA isn't the only agency that meddles in the political inner workings of foreign powers. USAID has conducted similar operations since the 1950s. USAID notoriously sowed dissent in Cuba to grow U.S. influence, and they even taught South American police forces Nazi torture methods. In the late 1990s, 300,000 Peruvian women were forcibly sterilized in a "poverty reduction strategy" that received $35 million in funding from USAID.

More recently, USAID's foreign influence has grown significantly under former Obama adviser, Samantha Power, called USAID America's "soft power arsenal." Under her leadership, the organization meddled in the political affairs of several nations, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, and, Bolivia. Several domestic, left-leaning influence groups, such as the Tides Center, received several grants and aid.

Top THREE reasons we NEED the Panama Canal

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Is Trump seriously planning a military conquest of the Panama Canal?

In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, Donald Trump launched the Panama Canal into the national spotlight. The canal is one of the most important passages in the world, and its continued operation has been critical for both the U.S. military and economy since its construction.

Since America relinquished sovereignty of the canal, China has asserted its authority in the region. The Chinese Communist Party has been growing its influence in Panama and neighboring Latin American countries, convincing them to join their "Belt and Road Initiative," an effort to poise China as the main economic power in developing nations across the world. Panama in particular is quickly becoming a Chinese puppet state. There are currently over 200,000 Chinese living in Panama, a Chinese company runs two of the canal's five major ports, and another Chinese company provides telecommunication service for a large portion of the canal. The government of Panama has even gone as far as cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

It's clear that the Panama Canal is under serious threat of falling into Chinese hands, but President Trump doesn't intend to let them move in. Here are the top three reasons we need the Panama Canal:

1. The canal was built by the U.S.

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Without the United States, neither Panama nor the Panama Canal would exist. In 1903, after Colombia refused to allow the U.S. to build a canal across the isthmus of Panama, President Teddy Roosevelt devised a controversial plan. He supported a Panamanian independence movement, which swiftly overthrew the local Colombian government. Meanwhile, he stationed a U.S. warship off the coast, preventing Colombia from sending military forces to retake Panama.

The moment Panama declared its independence, the U.S. recognized it and struck a deal with the new government: the U.S. would control the Canal Zone, while Panama would receive $10 million and an annual payment of $250,000. Construction of the canal took over a decade, cost $375 million, and resulted in thousands of American casualties, making it the most expensive U.S. construction project of its time.

Fast forward to 1964 when tensions between the U.S. and Panama over the canal erupted into a riot. President Lyndon B. Johnson decided it was time to transfer control of the canal to Panama. However, this proved more complicated than expected. In 1968, General Omar Torrijos, a known ally of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, seized control of Panama in a coup. Negotiations over the Canal stalled, as many Americans opposed giving such an important asset to a controversial figure. It wasn’t until 1999, following the deployment of 27,000 U.S. troops to facilitate yet another change in power, that the Canal was officially handed over to Panama.

2. The canal is vital for the U.S. economy

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The U.S. relies heavily on the Panama Canal for commercial shipping. Between 13 and 14 thousand ships use the Panama Canal every year, which is roughly 40 percent of the global cargo ship traffic. Additionally, 72 percent of ships traversing the canal are either heading toward or leaving a U.S. port.

The time ships save using the Panama Canal reduces shipping costs massively. For example, when the canal first opened in 1922, it was estimated that a ship’s journey from Oregon to the UK, was shortened by 42 percent, reducing costs by 31 percent. If the Panama Canal was blocked or destroyed, or if American merchant vessels were denied passage, the effects on the U.S. economy would be tremendous.

3. The canal is a key defense point for the U.S. military

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Similarly, the canal is key to the U.S. military and national security. The canal shaves off approximately 8,000 miles of the voyage between the Pacific and the Atlantic. If U.S. Navy ships were denied access in a time of crisis, the extra time required to bypass the canal would be disastrous. Conversely, if the U.S. can keep the Panama Canal from being used by foreign aggressors, it would provide a massive advantage in future conflicts.

A foreign enemy could easily exploit the canal's current vulnerability. This was proven in 2021 when a cargo ship accidentally blocked the Suez Canal for a week, paralyzing global trade. Imagine China intentionally sabotaging the Panama Canal, considering it controls ports on both ends, owns a bridge that spans the Canal, provides its telecom services, and has the second-largest fleet of ships using the route.