Morning Brief 2022-07-22

BOTTOM OF HOUR 1

GUEST: Eric Schmitt
TOPIC: Missouri Sheriff refuses to release gun owner info to the FBI, even at the risk of his career.

TOP OF HOUR 2
GUEST: Bill O'Reilly
TOPIC: Bill's top stories of the week!

BOTTOM OF HOUR 2
GUEST: Michael Malice
TOPIC: How self-defense continues to be criminalized.

TOP OF HOUR 3
GUEST: Steve Deace
TOPIC: WATCH OUT: The Left is going to turn monkeypox into the next pandemic. Plus, Steve gives a sneak peek at BlazeTV's explosive special on COVID-19 vaccines.

CB, RR, JB, SK, BM

Domestic News...

Is the Hunter Biden probe delay to protect Dems in the midterms?
DOJ memos warn of “election year sensitivities” in relation to indictments. Yet the probe has stretched out for years now; there’s been plenty of time to make announcements.

Hunter Biden investigation developments 'don't add up', former federal prosecutor says
"None of this adds up. None of it makes sense. Indictments should have been brought when you first started calling witnesses and close thereto, that's standard," former U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman said.

Officials Identify First Case Of Polio In United States In Years
The first case of polio in the United States in nearly a decade was identified in New York Thursday.

Townhall: 10-Year-Old Rape Victim's Mom Is in Domestic Relationship With Child's Alleged Rapist
As the heartbreaking rape case involving an impregnated 10-year-old child unfolds, Townhall has revealed additional details about the exploitative environment the little girl was—and might still be—subjected to.

Steve Deace: Underground training for 'abortion doulas' and DIY abortions in Iowa exposed
An organization calling itself the Iowa Jane Collective recently held "abortion doula" training and instructed participants on how to perform do-it-yourself abortions at home and support women seeking to terminate their pregnancies as states move to restrict the procedure.

Bodycam shows 4-year-old shooting at police while they were arresting his father at McDonald's
Police said the child told them, “I grabbed my dad’s gun and tried to shoot the police so he could be free and do what he wanted.”

Starbucks employees attacked in LA by the homeless
LA Starbucks barista reveals homeless people attacked staff with metal chairs in woke Democrat-led city where illicit drugs are being 'handed out like crack pipes' after firm said it'll shutter 16 stores in US due to violence

Massive brawl breaks out at Disney World between families on line
Two families got into an argument while waiting in line, sparking a fracas that landed at least one man in the hospital.

Politics...

Trump gave order to 'make sure' Jan. 6 rally was 'safe event,' Pentagon memo shows
Gen. Milley’s recollection undercuts months-long effort by Democrats to suggest Trump wanted to incite violence.

Voter confidence in elections has plummeted since Jan. 6: CNN poll
Republicans, the poll showed, saw a modest increase in electoral confidence

GOP Rep. Zeldin attacked at New York gubernatorial campaign event
“I’m OK,” Zeldin said in a statement. “Fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments until others tackled him.” The attacker climbed onto a low stage where the congressman spoke. A video shows the two falling to the ground as other people try to intervene.

Marjorie Taylor Greene rips Dems for 'incredibly hostile work environment' at 'dangerous' Capitol
Greene has had three security incidents near her office that required Capitol Police investigation, plus numerous death threats.

Biden’s pathetic anti-crime package is an empty press release
This is barely a press release, with the headline “$37 billion” and “100,000 new police” numbers meant to sound bold to those not paying attention, even as more than half the cash would go for stuff the left keeps pushing instead of actually getting tough on crime.

Florida Democrats paint DeSantis as 'dictator' and 'a disaster' in primary debate
"He is a disaster of a governor, he's the worst governor in modern Florida history," Crist, who trails DeSantis in the polls by 8-points, said.

In South Texas, Democrats go back to their party's racist roots
Democrats are rapidly losing their hold on the Hispanic vote. A genuine realignment is afoot. It's not enough anymore for Democrats to hurl ethnic insults such as "Tio Taco" and "Coconut" at the candidates in order to intimidate their peers out of voting Republican.

PA Democrat John Fetterman To End Absence From Campaign Trail Two Months After Stroke
Fetterman gave his first media interview since May to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday — emphasizing that although he may “miss a word” or “slur two together” from time to time, he’s “feeling really good” and has “nothing to hide.”

Paul Pelosi's trading demonstrates the need to toughen up the STOCK Act
Just days before the Senate was to vote on a bill benefiting the chip manufacturing industry, financial disclosures show that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, purchased up to $5 million of stock in a top semiconductor company.

Mike Pence to run for President in 2024: adviser
An adviser to Pence told CNN on that Pence has "aspirations" to run for President, stoking further speculation about a 2024 Presidential Election bid.

Lawsuit: Illinois Gov’s Office Made Secret Payments To Former Campaign Aide
Payments were made after she was caught stealing from taxpayers, the lawsuit claims.

Economy...

BlackRock, The King Of ESG, Lost $1.7 Trillion Of Clients’ Money In Just 6 Months
The massive sum is the largest amount of money lost by an individual investment firm over that time period.

Nearly half of small businesses are in hiring freeze, citing inflation and costs
The small business network Alignable released its July Hiring report which found that "45% of small businesses are halting their hiring, largely because they say they can’t afford to add staff.

Trucker strike in the Port of Oakland threatens supply chain disruptions
“The cargo won’t flow / until AB5 goes!” rhymed the protesters.

Tesla sells 75% of its bitcoin amid crypto collapse
“The reason we sold a bunch of our bitcoin holdings was that we were uncertain as to when the COVID lockdowns in China would alleviate, so it was important for us to maximize our cash position,” Musk said in an earnings call on Wednesday.

Central Park’s iconic Boathouse to close due to rising costs
He further cited increased labor and insurance costs as the predominant economic hardship the business faced. Recently, these proved too much to overcome, despite the eatery’s consistent popularity.

Border...

DC feels sting of Biden border policy
The flow of illegals, encouraged by Biden and supported by most Democrats, has taxed the resources of border states. What Abbott and Ducey have done, by sending illegals to Washington, which is, after all, a sanctuary city, is spread the burden around.

WAR News... 

Ukraine and Russia to sign grain export agreement, Turkey says
Will sign an agreement Friday to restart grain exports that had been blocked in the Black Sea, according to a Turkish government official.

NPR: Corruption concerns involving Ukraine are revived as the war with Russia drags on
Zelenskyy's dismissal of senior officials is casting an inconvenient light on an issue that the Biden administration has largely ignored since the outbreak of war with Russia: Ukraine's history of rampant corruption and shaky governance.

Ukraine pushes for debt freeze to dodge hard default
Ukraine has asked its creditors for a two year payment freeze on its international bonds in a bid to focus its dwindling financial resources on repelling Russia.

COVID-19...

Biden Takes Maskless Photo In West Wing After Testing Positive For COVID
President Biden took a maskless photo in the White House just hours after officials announced he has symptomatic COVID and would be isolating.

"No One Wants Kamala": Twitter Gets Fooled By Parody Trump Statement
"Doctors described my fight against the China virus as Herculean, and not meaning the woke Disney Hercules but rather the Kevin Sorbo one. The Lou Ferrigno one as well. Joe, I wish you a speedy recovery, even though you are taking America in the wrong direction. No one wants Kamala!”

NIH accidentally unmasks official who hid Chinese-submitted coronavirus data in March 2020
Agency asks court to seal records related to FOIA lawsuit that name NIH "curator" who approved removal request and Chinese researcher who submitted it. Whistleblower support activist says names were publicly available to researchers, not "classified information."

Entertainment...

Russell Brand Rants Against The ‘Great Reset,’ Green Energy ‘Agenda’ to European farmers
“The objective isn’t to get the farmers to behave in an organic, responsible ecologically apposite manner, no, far from it. It’s in order to bankrupt the farmers so that their land can be grabbed,” he said.

Meghan insisted Harry compare her plight to Diana’s, book claims
“Knauf suggested that over-dramatizing Meghan’s distress would backfire, but Harry was adamant. If Meghan’s wish to be equated with Diana was not satisfied, insisted Harry, he would probably lose her. Knauf acquiesced.”

Pat Benatar won't play “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” on tour because of gun violence
There's enough demand for Pat Benatar to go on tour?

Media...

Van Jones on Biden's economy being worse for Black Americans
Remember when the economy under Trump saw record employment for Black Americans?

NY Times columnist admits he was 'wrong' about Trump's supporters, says Russian collusion story was a 'hoax'
Despite this revelation, columnist Bret Stephens argued that he would not be "morally" wrong to "lambaste Trump’s current supporters"

CNN Boss Begs Lawmakers To Do Media Hits On His Network
Chris Licht reportedly met Tuesday with under a dozen lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill to enhance their relationships with the network.

Chris Cuomo Launches Podcast
Will it last longer than CNN+?

Europe...

Million-Dollar Wine Heist Ends With Mexican Beauty Queen Arrested in Europe
Priscila Lara Guevara, former Miss Earth 2016 for Mexico State, and her partner spent months on the run after stealing the bottles from an upscale restaurant hotel in Spain.

Middle East...

Biden’s Failures In The Middle East Are A Gift To American Adversaries
Putin teaches Biden an important lesson: America’s deterrence of adversaries around the world depends on its leadership in the Middle East.

US allies think Iran is playing Biden for time at risk of war
Iran is manipulating international nuclear talks to buy time for its weapons research, according to U.S. allies monitoring the need for a military strike against the regime.

Top Middle East Air Force official expects Iran to resume attacks on US
The top US Air Force general in the Middle East warned on Thursday that Iran-backed militias could resume attacks in the region against the United States and its allies as tensions rise - assaults that could lead to a new Mideast escalation.

As West ignores Iran protests, Iranian dissidents gather for major rally
As the U.S. and its Western allies remain largely silent about ongoing anti-government protests raging across Iran, the world's biggest Iranian resistance movement is set to hold its annual rally this weekend.

Environment...

A Biden Climate Emergency Would Unleash Unconstitutional Actions
The powers Biden is considering invoking are considerable, though none of them were intended by Congress to do what administration is preparing to do.

LGBTQIA2S+...

The Left’s Trans Agenda Is All About Erasing The Past To Control The Future
The left doesn’t just want you to deny biology in the present. They want you to ignore that it was ever valued as reality in the past.

Education...

LA schools implement 'Queer Theory into K-12 pedagogy': Christopher Rufo
"Los Angeles Unified has adopted a year-round program glamorizing transgender identity and promoting an uncritical, ‘trans-affirming’ culture in the classroom."

50 School Districts Granted $10,000 By LGBT-Group To Promote Ideology In Schools
An LGBT organization awarded 50 school districts nationwide a $10,000 grant to promote gender ideology and support “Gender Sexuality Alliance” clubs.

Student behavior among major reasons teachers are leaving their jobs: survey
Of those that said pay was a secondary reason though, 447 teachers said that student behavior was their primary reason for leaving, while 128 said their reason was progressive political activity.

Health...

Big Pharma May Have Made Billions Based On A Falsehood About Depression, New Research Shows
New research from the University College London is calling into question whether widespread prescription of antidepressants is truly an effective way of treating depression.

Technology...

YouTube to remove abortion ‘misinformation,’ add ‘context and information’ to related content
"We’re also launching an information panel that provides viewers with context and information from local and global health authorities under abortion-related videos and above relevant search results."

James Lindsay locked out of Twitter for saying 'ok, groomer'
Author and mathematician Dr. James Lindsay was locked out of Twitter on Thursday for responding to a Media Matters journalist's tweet with the words, "ok groomer."

Science...

Mysterious bundle of string on Mars' surface found by Perseverance rover
Officials at NASA said that they believe the object to be a string left over from Perseverance's landing.

Sports...

Woke NASCAR launching electric racing series in 2023
NASCAR hasn't hidden its intention to electrify stock car racing in the coming years, but it may happen sooner than expected.

Animals...

NY Fishing Restrictions May Have Played A Role In Recent Shark Attack Spike
“The reason why people are interacting with sharks more often this year and more than last year is because of conservation efforts over the years [that] has protected a food source known as the Atlantic Menhaden,” an expert told the NY Post.

July 22, 2008 - Glenn filled in for Larry King last night on CNN... The media will destroy its credibility pushing Obama... Glenn's new green programming... Americans could show up at the Capitol with pitchforks and torches at any moment...

July 22, 2013 - Trayvon Martin / George Zimmerman fallout... Glenn mocks Geraldo’s selfie in towel... Why don't progressives care about Chicago murders?...

Shocking spike in plane crashes: What’s really Going wrong?

STR / Contributor | Getty Images

Last week, two more serious air travel incidents occurred, adding to the mounting number of aviation disasters this year. Is flying safe?

Over the past year, the number of aviation disasters that have been blasted across the media has been steadily rising, with February alone having a half dozen incidents. It begs the question: Is air travel becoming more dangerous? Or has the media just increased its coverage of a "normal" amount of crashes?

If you look at the data, it suggests that flying has been—and remains—safe. The number of accidents and fatalities has been steadily decreasing year over year and remains a small percentage of total flights. In 2024, out of the approximate 16 million flights recorded by the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. every year, there were 1,150 accidents resulting in 304 fatalities, meaning that the average flight in America has a 0.007% chance of an accident. In addition, the National Transportation Safety Board records a decrease in both fatal and non-fatal aviation accidents when compared to 2024. By this time last year, there were already 399 crashes and accidents, while this year has only clocked in 271.

That being said, Sean Duffy, Trump's new transportation secretary, admitted that America's air traffic control system needs an overhaul. Duffy pointed toward dated air traffic control equipment, overregulation, and radical DEI as the culprits behind many recent aviation accidents.

But what do the crashes suggest? We've gathered details about the major aviation accidents this year so you can decide for yourself why planes keep crashing:

American Airlines Blackhawk collision over D.C.

Chip Somodevilla / Staff | Getty Images

In one of the deadliest U.S. aviation accidents in the last decade, an American Airlines plane collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The American Airlines flight was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport carrying 60 passengers and four crew when it collided midair with the Army helicopter, crewed by three, killing all 67 people involved.

The exact cause behind the mid-air collision is still under investigation, but it is believed that the Black Hawk was up too high and outside of its designated flight path. A report from the New York Times suggests that the air control tower at the Ronald Regan Washington Airport has suffered years of understaffing, which seems to be a result of DEI hiring practices. Investigators are piecing through the wreckage, and the exact cause of the crash is still unknown.

Medevac explosion in Philadelphia

Anadolu / Contributor | Getty Images

On the night of Friday, March 31st, a medevac plane with six people on board crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing everyone on board, along with one man on the ground. The small jet departed from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6 pm, and according to the FAA, it crashed less than a minute later after reaching an elevation of 1,650 feet. The ensuing explosion cast a massive fireball into the sky and wounded 19 people on the ground, killing one.

The six people on board the jet were Mexican nationals, including a mother and her sick daughter who was receiving treatment from Shriners Children’s Hospital in northeast Philadelphia. As of now, there is no official cause of the crash, but much of the plane has been recovered, and the incident is being investigated.

Alaskan flight disappearance outside of Nome

Anadolu / Contributor | Getty Images

At approximately 3:16 pm, on Thursday, February 6th, a small commuter plane working for Bering Air, carrying 10 passengers, took off from the town of Unalakeet, Alaska, destined for the nearby town of Nome. After a few hours, Nome lost contact with the small plane as weather conditions worsened. The following day, the Coast Guard discovered the remains of the plane, all 10 occupants were dead.

The wreckage of the aircraft, along with the remains of the passengers and crew, have been recovered and are under investigation. While there has been no official explanation given for the crash, the poor weather is believed to be a major contributing factor.

Small jet collision in Scottsdale

Gabe Ginsberg / Contributor | Getty Images

The pilot of a small jet died after the aircraft crashed into a larger plane in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday, February 10th. The owner of the jet that crashed was Vince Neil, the frontman of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, but Neil was not on board at the time of the accident. The jet had just landed in Scottsdale, where it appeared to veer out of control and smash into a parked Gulfstream at high speed. The plane was carrying four people: two pilots and two passengers. One of the pilots was killed, and the other three were seriously injured. There was only one person aboard the Gulfstream at the time of the crash, they suffered injuries but refused treatment.

It is believed that the landing gear failed upon landing, which caused the jet to skitter out of control and smash into the parked plane.

Delta crash in Toronto

Anadolu / Contributor | Getty Images

On Monday, February 17th, a Delta aircraft flipped while landing and slid upside down across the runway while ablaze at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Fortunately, all 80 people aboard survived, and only three people suffered critical (though not life-threatening) injuries. First responders were quickly on the scene, extinguishing the fires and assisting the grateful survivors out of the wreckage.

The crash is believed to have been caused in part by the extreme weather in Toronto, which included a powerful crosswind and potential ice on the runway. It is also suspected that the landing gear failed to deploy properly, causing the plane to flip in the severe wind.

Small plane collision north of Tucson

aviation-images.com / Contributor | Getty Images

On Wednesday, February 19th, yet another small plane crash occurred in the skies above Arizona. Two small aircraft collided midair near Tusosn, Arizona at Marana Regional Airport. There were two people in each of the small planes, two of which from the same aircraft died, while the other two managed to walk away with little injury.

Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field, which means there is no active air traffic control present on site. Instead, pilots rely on communication with each other through a "Common Traffic Advisory Frequency" (CTAF) to safely take off and land.

Hudson helicopter crash

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

A helicopter tour out of New York City took a tragic turn on Thursday, April 10th, when the Bell 206 broke apart mid-flight and plunged into the Hudson River. All six people aboard perished in the crash, which included the pilot and a tourist family of five.

New York Helicopter Tours, the operator of the flight, announced it would cease operations following the accident. The decision comes amid scrutiny of the company’s safety record, which includes a prior emergency water landing and another incident where a helicopter was forced to land shortly after takeoff due to mechanical issues. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Upstate New York family tragedy

Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox / Contributor | Getty Images

Days after the tragic Hudson crash, a small private plane carrying an NCAA athlete crashed in upstate New York, killing all six passengers. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and 2022 Woman of the Year, was aboard her father's Mitsubishi MU-2B with her parents, boyfriend, brother, and his partner when the plane went down in a muddy field in Copake, New York.

The aircraft was reportedly in good condition, and Michael Groff, Karenna's father, was an experienced pilot. While the official cause of the crash has not been determined, low visibility at the time of the incident is suspected to have been a contributing factor.

The recent string of aviation incidents underscores a troubling trend in air travel safety, raising urgent questions about the systems and policies governing the industry. While data suggests flying remains statistically safe, the alarming frequency of crashes, near misses, and systemic issues like outdated technology and questionable hiring practices cannot be ignored. BlazeTV's own Stu Burguiere did a deep dive into the recent crashes in the Blaze Originals documentary, Countdown to the Next Aviation Disaster, uncovering the truth behind the FAA’s shift toward DEI hiring and its impact on aviation safety. Featuring exclusive interviews with former air traffic controllers, lawyers, and Robert Poole—the inventor of TSA PreCheck—this documentary exposes how the Biden-Harris administration’s policies, under Pete Buttigieg’s leadership, have contributed to making air travel more dangerous than ever.

Did Democrats just betray fair elections? The SAVE Act controversy explained

DOMINIC GWINN / Contributor | Getty Images

One of President Trump’s key campaign promises, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, faces fierce opposition from Democrats in the Senate.

The SAVE Act recently passed Congress for the second time and is now headed to the Senate. This voter security bill mandates proof of U.S. citizenship for all federal elections. It garnered unanimous Republican support in Congress but was backed by only four Democrats, consistent with last year’s Senate rejection of the bill.

Glenn has repeatedly emphasized the urgency of securing our elections, warning that without reform in the next four years, free and fair elections may become a thing of the past. However, the SAVE Act faces significant hurdles. Republicans lack the Senate votes to overcome a filibuster, meaning the bill’s fate hinges on bipartisan support—something Democrats have been reluctant to offer.

So, what exactly does the SAVE Act do? Why are Democrats opposing it? And how can you help ensure its passage?

What the SAVE Act Entails

Stefan Zaklin / Stringer | Getty Images

The SAVE Act is straightforward: it requires voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship before casting a ballot in federal elections. This measure responds to reports of voter fraud, including allegations of noncitizens, such as illegal immigrants, voting in past presidential elections. Acceptable forms of identification include a REAL ID, U.S. passport, military ID, birth certificate, or other specified documents.

Additionally, the bill mandates that states remove noncitizens from voter rolls and lists of eligible voters. It also establishes criminal penalties for officials who fail to comply with these new guidelines.

Democrats’ Opposition to the SAVE Act

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

Democrats have strongly criticized the SAVE Act, arguing it discriminates against women, transgender individuals, and minorities. They claim that people who have changed their names—such as women after marriage or transgender individuals—may struggle to vote if their current ID doesn’t match their birth certificate. However, the bill allows multiple forms of identification beyond birth certificates, meaning affected individuals can use updated IDs like a REAL ID or passport.

The argument that minorities are disproportionately harmed is slightly more substantiated. A recent survey showed that 93 percent of voting-age Black Americans, 94 percent of voting-age Hispanics, and 95 percent of voting-age Native Americans have valid photo IDs, compared to 97% of voting-age whites and 98 percent of voting-age Asians. However, in 2024, only about 58 percent of the voting-age population cast ballots—a trend that has been consistent for decades. There’s little evidence that Americans are prevented from voting due to a lack of ID. Instead of opposing the bill, a more constructive approach would be to assist the small percentage of Americans without IDs in obtaining proper documentation.

How You Can Make a Difference

Melissa Sue Gerrits / Stringer | Getty Images

The stakes couldn’t be higher—free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. Conservatives must rally to ensure the SAVE Act becomes law. Contact your Senators to express your support for the bill and highlight its importance in safeguarding electoral integrity. Grassroots efforts, such as sharing accurate information about the SAVE Act on social media or discussing it with friends and family, can amplify its visibility. Local advocacy groups may also offer opportunities to organize or participate in campaigns that pressure lawmakers to act. Every voice counts, and collective action could tip the scales in favor of this critical legislation.

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."

-Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park

The monstrous Dire Wolf, extinct for 10,000 years, has returned. This larger, ancient wolf species—popularized by HBO’s Game of Thrones—was resurrected by Colossal Laboratories, a Dallas-based bioscience company. Colossal utilized both preserved ancient Dire Wolf DNA and modern gray wolf DNA combined with some clever gene-crafting and a healthy pinch of hubris to create three approximations of the ancient canine.

While the wolves posed for a photoshoot alongside Game of Thrones props and its creator, Colossal’s broader plans remain unclear. However, what Glenn recently uncovered about the company is far more monstrous than the wolves will ever be. Glenn revealed that the CIA, through a nonprofit group known as In-Q-Tel, is funding Colossal's endeavors to bring back all sorts of extinct beasts. With the recently released JFK Files exposing the CIA’s unchecked power, Glenn warns of the dangerous potential behind this genetic manipulation—and the rogue agency’s possible motives.

Here are the top three most horrifying uses the CIA could have for this technology:

Dual-Use Technology

Xinhua News Agency / Contributor | Getty Images

Colossal and other biotech firms advertise a variety of "civilian" uses for bioengineered beasts, including research subjects, exotic zoos, and even climate restoration. As dubious as those uses are, Glenn revealed that the CIA could be cooking up something much worse. Gene-editing tools like CRISPR are inherently dual-purpose and easily adaptable for military use. As one of Colossal’s major investors, the CIA gains prime access to cutting-edge biotech, likely eyeing its potential for warfare.

Frankenstein’s Spy Lab

Like AI, one can only guess at the maximum capabilities of this gene-editing technology. On air, Glenn speculated about bioengineered resilient organisms, animals with tweaked senses designed for espionage or combat in areas inaccessible to drones or humans. Playing God to create new weapons of war sounds right up the CIA's alley.

Even worse than man-made mutant mutts, Glenn pointed out that these augmentations are by no means limited to animals. We could see (or rather, hear unverified rumors of) the rise of the next generation of super soldier projects. Human experimentation is not outside of the CIA's scope (think MKUltra), and genetically or chemically augmented humans have been a pipe dream for many a clandestine organization for decades. Is there anything more horrifying than an agency with as little oversight as the CIA in control of something as powerful and potentially devastating as gene-augmentation?

Eco-Warfare Unleashed

MARCELO MANERA / Contributor | Getty Images

Why attack a single target when you could attack an entire ecosystem instead?

Anyone who has had to deal with the destructive effects of fire ants knows how dangerous an invasive species can be to the human, plant, and animal inhabitants of any given region. Now imagine genetically engineered Dire Wolves or Woolly Mammoths unleashed by the CIA to cripple an enemy’s agriculture or environment. Such a weapon could inflict irreparable damage from a distance. Even the mere threat of eco-warfare might serve as a deterrent, though its unpredictability could reshape the world in ways we can’t control or repair.

Trump’s Liberation day unveiled: 3 shocking takeaways you need to know

Andrew Harnik / Staff | Getty Images

President Trump’s new tariffs have sparked global outrage, and even conservatives are divided over the merits of his plan.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, President Trump declared "Liberation Day" to usher in a new era for the American economy. This bold initiative began with the introduction of sweeping tariffs on most—if not all—countries trading with the United States. These tariffs are reciprocal, meaning the percentage charged to each country mirrors the tariffs they impose on U.S. goods. The goal was to level the playing field between America and its trade partners.

As Glenn predicted, these tariffs have caused some immediate damage to the economy; the stock market has been hit hard, and China has already imposed a retaliatory tariff. While many fear that a recession is inbound, along with a global trade war, others are trusting in Trump's plan, keeping their head and preparing to ride out this rough patch.

So, what exactly are these "Liberation Day" tariffs, and what happened on April 2? Here are the top three takeaways:

Baseline Tariff

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

To kick off Liberation Day, the White House unveiled a baseline tariff affecting all imports to the U.S. Starting April 5, 2025, every good entering the United States will face a 10% tariff, regardless of its country of origin. While some nations face additional tariffs on top of this baseline, others—like the UK, Australia, and Argentina—only pay the 10% rate. These countries enjoy this leniency because they impose relatively low tariffs on American goods.

Reciprocal Tariffs

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

For the countries that levied heavy tariffs against America, Trump hit them back hard. Cambodia, for instance, now faces a steep 49% tariff, while China contends with 34%, the EU with 20%, and Iraq with 39%. While these tariff rates may seem steep, they are all a good bit lower than the rates they apply against the U.S (see the full chart here). Trump’s strategy is to make foreign goods prohibitively expensive, encouraging manufacturing and jobs to return to American soil. Whether this gamble succeeds remains to be seen.

Canada and Mexico

Aaron M. Sprecher / Contributor, Chris Jackson / Staff | Getty Images

Notably absent from the "Liberation Day" tariff list are Canada and Mexico, America’s closest neighbors. That’s because Trump already imposed tariffs on them earlier this year. In February 2025, he slapped a 25% tariff on most goods imported from both countries to pressure them into curbing the flow of fentanyl across U.S. borders. Exceptions include agricultural products, textiles, apparel, and other items protected under NAFTA.