Retired Super Bowl champ & Army Ranger vet says THESE two skills are needed for our day

February 05, 2021

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The nation is currently facing some of the most challenging times in history. Pandemics, corruption, rising socialism and an implosion of trust on all levels, just to name a few.

While it's true tyranny is creeping over our country, it doesn't have to be an inevitability. But what can anyone do? The odds seem so daunting and the trials so trying, it may be hard to feel like you have anything to offer to the fight. But there are a couple of things you can work on to be able to join the cause and contribute in meaningful ways.

These lessons are often learned on the sporting field in our youth and the skills learned and character traits built, often pop up later in life. For one American hero, the lessons learned on the sporting field were only the beginning.

Jake Bequette was fortunate enough to have his hard work pay off and played football collegiately at the University of Arkansas and even went on to win a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Bequette retired at the age of 26 but not to a retirement community in Del Boca Vista. No, Jake felt the call to join the Army Rangers and the 101st Airborne Division and the lessons he learned are lessons everyone should learn for the times we are now facing.

Bequette shared a few things he learned on the field of competition and the field of battle that will benefit anyone greatly as we fight to stave off the reeducation camps and poverty that will surely ensue.

Accountability

You won't catch Jake passing mask mandates and then having a fancy dinner at French Laundry. He believes accountability for our actions is truly transformational.

"One of the foundations of a strong sports team or a strong platoon in the Army is accountability at all levels," Bequette said. "That's from the leaders of the organization down to the lowest private. You have to take ownership of your actions, you can't make excuses. If something's wrong in your profession, in your life, in your circumstances, you have to take ownership of that. You can't shift the blame to someone else, you can't look for someone else to bail you out... you have to take the reins and ask yourself; 'How am I going to take control and improve my situation, my life — TODAY.'"

One of the foundations of a strong sports team or a strong platoon in the Army is accountability at all levels.

When you feel those promptings to make changes, listen and follow through. Holding yourself accountable is just as important as holding our public officials accountable.

Intellectual Courage

Cancel culture has even the toughest talkers checking their Twitter feeds to make sure they haven't done or said anything to anyone that could ever be considered even slightly hateful or offensive. But silence in the face of this evil really is evil itself.

"So many people today are rightfully afraid to speak their mind. It's a tragedy of our national discourse that in a country like America that has always prided itself on free speech, that people feel like they can't speak their mind for fear of retribution. A true leader is someone who stands up for people who can't always speak for themselves," Bequette said.

"We have too many people today who are too afraid to stand up. We need people to stand up and lead and show people it's ok to speak your mind but we also need people all over to realize your not going to receive laurels for speaking the truth. But that doesn't mean the truth should be hidden or shouldn't be said."

If this seems like a big ask, start small. Share your thoughts and feelings and solutions to a spouse or close friend and don't be afraid to have difficult conversations.

Tough Times Bring Blessings

It's easy to complain and think the world is crashing down when the world actually is crashing down. But even with the monumental challenges we are facing, there have been and will continue to be blessings we could never have received without facing this opposition.

"When I went into the Army, the goal from the beginning was always to graduate from US Army Ranger School. It's a 62-day course if you go straight through and I had a really strong group of young lieutenants who I went through the Infantry Officers course with before Ranger School and we all share that common goal, that common purpose. And we entered Ranger School with 350 people and by the end, there were only 75 that made it straight through," Bequette said.

"To go through it with those young men who I had trained with for months before Ranger School and we all set that goal individually and collectively and we all had the attitude of you either return with your field or on it. To graduate on that rainy October day with all my good friends and comrades, we all cleared that goal together — that was one of the proudest moments of my life. In my company, in my platoon, we're going to set high goals and set them publically and we're going to do everything in our power to achieve them."

Standing up at this time is not easy. There will be throngs of people ready to pronounce you finished with even the slightest misstep. But if we tackle the challenge together, America can achieve the same type of comradery and unity and a sense of a fight well fought.

But it doesn't take becoming an Army Ranger or playing in the NFL to develop the skills needed to meet the task at hand.

"Not everyone is going to be able to be on a football team or go to US Army Ranger School but that doesn't mean you can't set high goals for your family, for your career, your spiritual life. We can all have that same mentality whatever our circumstances might be," Bequette said.

Super Bowl Prediction

Any guesses on who he's picking to win the Big Game Sunday? If you know anything about the two teams playing, you know exactly who he's going with.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rooting for Tom Brady. He was such a great teammate, obviously an amazingly talented football player, the greatest quarterback of all-time but I think he's a very underrated leader. If that's even possible," Bequette said.

"He leads by example. He's one of the hardest working guys day in and day out and Tom has tremendous courage. Tom Brady is totally unafraid of holding his teammates accountable. It struck me immediately when I first saw him on the practice field. He is an encourager, he's naturally a very friendly teammate but if you're not meeting his expectations or the expectations of the team, he is totally unafraid to let you hear about it publically. To me, that is the hallmark of a good leader."

It's no surprise but Jake puts into practice what he preaches. He just picked the oldest quarterback to ever play in the Super Bowl over the top rising star and league MVP as well as Glenn's neighbor, Patrick Mahomes. Kudos on the courage but will they be celebrating with Metamucil instead of Champagne if the Buccaneers pull of the upset?

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4 ways Biden is SABOTAGING Trump on his way out of office

ROBERTO SCHMIDT / Contributor | Getty Images

President Biden has less than a week left in the White House, but that doesn't mean he's down for the count quite yet.

Next Monday, January 20th, President-elect Trump will be officially sworn into office, marking the beginning of his second term. But after such a bitter and contentious election, the Democrats aren't ready to roll over. Instead, they have been working around the clock to ensure that Trump will face as many obstacles and challenges as possible the minute he is sworn in. These political landmines are designed to sabotage his presidency—at the cost of the well-being of the American people.

Biden's job approval rating currently sits around 38.7 percent, one of the lowest approval ratings of any president, he has nothing to lose from these reckless ploys. Here are four ways Biden and the Left are trying to sabotage Trump:

Pardoning criminals

Andrew Harnik / Staff | Getty Images

In November, President Biden customarily pardoned the Thanksgiving turkey ... along with his son Hunter and dozens of other controversial criminals, including 37 felons on death row. Hunter's 11-year-long blanket immunity sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents, and we may never know the full extent of the Biden family's crimes and corruption.

Destroying U.S. energy

J. David Ake / Contributor | Getty Images

Biden has made several moves that have damaged America's ability to produce its energy independently, including canceling the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office. Earlier this month, Biden signed another order that has dire consequences for the energy sector, effectively blocking any new drilling off the U.S. coast indefinitely. This not only further kneecaps the U.S. oil industry during a time when gas and energy prices are on the rise, but moreover, the way the executive order was written means Trump will have a much harder time undoing it. Thanks, Biden.

Escalating overseas wars

Global Images Ukraine / Contributor | Getty Images

America's involvement with the ongoing war in Ukraine has been tenuous from the beginning, but under Biden, it has escalated to a Cold War-like proxy war. Neither pleas from Americans in need nor threats from Russia have deterred Biden. He has approved countless aid packages sent to Ukraine, totaling billions of dollars. Recently, Biden has decided to up the ante by supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles, despite Putin's warnings that Russia would consider this an act of war. It's almost like Biden wants to start WWIII before handing the reigns over to Trump.

Installing a "shadow cabinet"

It's time we borrow an idea from our British friends. My proposal for a shadow cabinet isn’t just about holding our political leaders accountable - it strengthens and protects our democracy.

Learn more from my speech today on the House floor.⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cjP8pP7fxw
— ARCHIVE Rep. Wiley Nickel (@RepWileyNickel) November 14, 2024

For years Glenn has warned of the dangers of the deep state, and its very existence has been denied ... until recently. Shortly after the election Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel made a disturbing speech on the House floor where he proposed the creation of a "Shadow Cabinet" designed to hamper the Trump administration and to step in if Trump were removed from office. This "Shadow Cabinet" would be composed of Democrat counter-picks to Trump presidential cabinet members, and they would scrutinize every act made by the Trump administration and propose alternative actions. This just proves that the deep state will do anything to stop President Trump.

How California leadership is to blame for HORRIFIC wildfires

PATRICK T. FALLON / Contributor | Getty Images

California's progressive policies emphasize ideology over lifesaving solutions. The destruction will persist until voters hold their elected officials accountable.

America is no stranger to natural disasters. But it’s not the fires, floods, or earthquakes that are the most devastating — it’s the repeated failures to learn from them, prevent them, and take responsibility for the damage.

My heart goes out to the families who have lost homes, cherished memories, and livelihoods. But if we’re going to help California rebuild and prevent future disasters, we need to confront some uncomfortable truths about leadership, responsibility, and priorities.

California — ironically, in the name of environmentalism — continues to ignore solutions that would protect both the environment and its residents.

While Californians continue to face heart-wrenching losses, those who have the power to enact change are mired in bureaucracy, regulation, and ideologies that do nothing to protect lives or preserve the land. The result? A state that keeps burning, year after year.

Where did all the water go?

We all know that water is essential to life. When NASA searches for signs of life on other planets, it looks for water. Yet, California has spent decades neglecting its water infrastructure. The state hasn’t built a new major reservoir since 1979 — over 40 years ago. Back then, California’s population was roughly half what it is today. Despite massive population growth, the state’s water storage capacity has remained frozen in time, woefully inadequate for current needs.

Moreover, billions of gallons of rainwater flow straight into the ocean every year because no infrastructure exists to capture and store it. Imagine how different things could be if California had built reservoirs, aqueducts, and desalination plants to secure water for its dry seasons.

Water is life, but the state’s failure to prioritize this essential resource has put lives and ecosystems at risk.

Misplaced priorities and critical leadership failure

This neglect of critical infrastructure is part of a larger failure of vision, and in California, the consequences of that failure are on full display.

Consider the progressive leadership in Los Angeles, where the mayor cut the fire department’s budget to fund programs for the homeless, funneling money to NGOs with little oversight. While helping the homeless is a worthy cause, it cannot come at the expense of protecting lives and property from catastrophic fires. Leadership must put safety and well-being over political agendas, and that’s not happening in Los Angeles.

The same misplaced priorities extend to environmental policies. Progressive leaders have blocked sensible forest management practices, prioritizing dead trees over living creatures. They reject controlled burns, forest thinning, and other commonsense measures, bowing to the demands of activists rather than considering real solutions that would protect those they govern.

California’s wildfire crisis is, in many ways, a man-made disaster. Yes, factors like Southern California’s dry climate, strong Santa Ana winds, and little rain play a role, but the biggest contributing factor is poor land management.

The forests are choked with dry brush, dead trees, and vegetation that turn every spark into a potential inferno. The crisis could have been mitigated — if only the state had made forest management and fire prevention a higher priority.

Finland and Sweden, for example, understand the importance of maintaining healthy forests. These countries have perfected the art of clearing underbrush and thinning trees sustainably, turning potential fire fuel into biomass energy. This approach not only reduces the risk of wildfires, but it also creates jobs, boosts the economy, and improves the ecosystem. And yet, California — ironically, in the name of environmentalism — continues to ignore these solutions that would protect both the environment and its residents.

We need to stop pretending that something as devastating as the Palisades and Eaton fires are just “part of life” and hold leaders accountable.

Insurance rules put California residents at risk

California faces another major and often overlooked liability when it comes to natural disasters: insurance.

California’s ongoing disasters make the state an uninsurable risk. Insurance companies are pulling out because the odds of widespread devastation are just too high. This creates a vicious cycle: With private insurers gone, the government steps in to subsidize high-risk areas. This enables people to rebuild in fire-prone zones, perpetuating the destruction. The solution isn’t more government intervention; it’s better decision-making.

This doesn’t mean abandoning people to their fate, but we must address the root of the problem: California’s inadequate disaster preparedness and poor land management. If the state continues to resist commonsense solutions like forest thinning, controlled burns, and better zoning laws, no amount of insurance or government assistance will ever be enough to mitigate the losses. The cycle will repeat until the costs — financial and human — become unbearable. It’s time to stop pretending the risk isn’t real and start making decisions that reflect the reality of California’s landscape.

What’s the solution? California’s government needs to put its people over harmful political agendas that put its residents at risk. Start by managing your forests. Implement controlled burns, remove dead trees, and clear underbrush.

But how you vote matters. California’s progressive policies have focused on political correctness and ideology instead of practical, lifesaving solutions. Until voters hold leaders accountable, the cycle of destruction will persist.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Crazy enough to be true? The connection between the Cybertruck bomber and cryptic drones

WADE VANDERVORT / Contributor | Getty Images

Not knowing — and not being told — fuels distrust and speculation.

A chilling story has emerged: A whistleblower, claiming to possess knowledge of advanced military technologies and covert operations, took his own life in a shocking explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. He left behind a manifesto filled with claims so extraordinary they sound like science fiction. Yet if even a fraction of them prove true, the implications are staggering and demand immediate attention.

This whistleblower alleges that the United States and China developed “gravitic propulsion systems,” technologies that manipulate gravity itself to enable silent, undetectable flight at unimaginable speeds. According to his claims, these systems are not theoretical — they are operational, deployed both in the United States and China. If true, this would render conventional defense systems obsolete, fundamentally altering the global balance of power.

America’s founders warned us about unchecked government power. Today, their warnings feel more relevant than ever.

Imagine aircraft that defy radar, heat signatures, and missile defense systems. They carry massive payloads, conduct surveillance, and operate without a sound. If such technologies exist, they pose a national security threat unlike any we’ve faced.

But why haven’t we been told? If these claims are false, they must be debunked transparently. If true, the public has a right to know how such technologies are being used and safeguarded.

The whistleblower’s manifesto goes farther, claiming that with this technology, the United States and China developed and deployed the infamous drones that were seen across the United States starting late last year. He alleged that China launched them from submarines along the U.S. East Coast, calling them “the most dangerous threat to national security” because of their stealth, ability to evade detection, and unlimited payload capacity. He ties this advanced technology to other surveillance systems, creating a network so advanced it makes our current intelligence capabilities look primitive.

These claims may sound far-fetched, but they highlight a deeper issue: the cost of government secrecy. Not knowing — and not being told — fuels distrust and speculation. Without transparency, these incidents dangerously erode public confidence in our leaders and institutions.

The cost of secrecy

Beyond technology, the manifesto also alleges moral failures, including war crimes and deliberate cover-ups during U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan. In one particularly harrowing claim, the whistleblower describes attacks in Afghanistan’s Nimroz Province in 2019. He alleges that 125 buildings were targeted, with 65 struck, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths in a single day. Even after civilians were spotted, he claims, the strikes continued knowingly and deliberately.

The United Nations investigated similar incidents and confirmed civilian casualties during these operations. However, the whistleblower’s accusations go farther, implicating high-ranking officials, the Department of Defense, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Central Intelligence Agency, and even top military generals in a broader pattern of deceit, eroding the moral integrity of our military and government.

Whether these specific claims hold up, they underscore a larger issue: Secrecy breeds corruption. When people in power hide their actions and evade accountability, they break trust — and everyone pays the price, not just those at the top but also the citizens and soldiers they serve.

Transparency is an imperative

America’s founders warned us about unchecked government power. Today, their warnings feel more relevant than ever. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the Capitol riot on January 6 to the potential misuse of advanced technologies, the American people have been kept in the dark for too long.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and sunlight is coming. Transparency must become our rallying cry. As we look to the future, we must demand accountability — not just from those we oppose politically but from all leaders entrusted with power. This isn’t about partisanship; it’s about preserving our nation from self-destruction.

As we enter a new chapter in our nation’s history, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Whether it’s uncovering the truth about advanced technology, holding perpetrators of corruption accountable, or seeking justice for war crimes, we must act. This isn’t just a call to action — it’s a moral imperative.

Our strength lies in our unity and our resolve. The powerful fear an informed and vocal citizenry. Let’s prove them right. By demanding transparency and accountability, we can restore trust and ensure that the government serves the people — not the other way around.