Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71: Reactions and What's Next

 In a sudden blow to South Carolina and Washington, longtime GOP Senator Lindsey Graham passed away Saturday evening at age 71 after a brief illness. His office confirmed the news, with the D.C. medical examiner citing aortic dissection due to heart disease.

Source: FOX News FB

Bill O’Reilly addressed the loss directly in his July 14 video, “Sen. Lindsey Graham Dies — Bill O'Reilly on the Political Aftermath.” O’Reilly recapped Graham’s long service: Air Force JAG, four Senate terms, and his evolution into a staunch Trump ally and foreign policy hawk.

The senator strongly backed hard power—supporting Ukraine (he had just returned from there), Israel, and confronting Iran, Russia, and terrorists. O’Reilly played clips from Graham’s final interview on deterrence and global threats, praising his consistent vision while noting past disagreements like Iraq intel. He dismissed conspiracy theories and highlighted their personal friendship, including golf outings and Middle East calls with Trump.

Check out O'Reilly's comments on Sen. Graham here [VIDEO]

Father Michael Pfleger and the Latest Allegation

Been a while since I’ve covered a local South Side story, but this one stands out.

Father Michael Pfleger, the longtime pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church at 79th and Racine on Chicago’s South Side, is facing renewed scrutiny. This weekend, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced a new allegation of sexual abuse of a minor dating back decades. Pfleger has stepped aside from ministry during the investigation and strongly denies the claim, calling it “an absolute lie.”

He was previously removed over similar accusations but was reinstated after church reviews cleared him. These repeated claims deserve full transparency and due process.

Here's a story from our local NBC affiliate [VIDEO]

Shades Down: Trump’s Tense Flight from Turkey

I had to write a far more timely news-based post regarding President Trump's new Air Force One (the one donated by Qatar in May 2025) and why he had to use the older Air Force One planes.

New Air Force One via Yahoo/USAToday

Glenn Beck recently highlighted a revealing moment from President Trump’s trip abroad. In his segment, Beck played clips from a gaggle aboard Air Force One where reporters were unusually asked to lower their window shades on the return flight from Turkey. Beck used the exchange to explore the serious security threats the president faces and how Trump appears to be mentally preparing for them.

Check out Beck's clip here [VIDEO]

Trump Targets "Woke" Smithsonian Museums

President Donald Trump continues pressing the Smithsonian Institution to shift away from what he calls divisive, overly negative portrayals of American history — even as the nation reflects on its 250th anniversary.

Key Trump Statement (Truth Social, August 2025):

Via Truth Social

In more recent coverage, The White House released a detailed report on July 4 criticizing the National Museum of American History for “extreme political activism.” It accuses leadership of ideological capture and undermining faith in American institutions. See full context in this Washington Post article.

The French Revolution’s Warning for Today’s Elites

 Gilded Age inequality or revolutionary risks?

The Storming of the Bastille (painting) - Wikipedia

People often compare our era to the Gilded Age—rapid growth, massive fortunes, and wealth gaps that eventually led to Progressive Era reforms inside America’s democratic system. Others point to the French Revolution and its mix of elite detachment, crisis, and radical spiral.

Both analogies speak to today’s tensions, but they point in different directions. The Gilded Age suggests we can fix disparities through adaptation and targeted policy. The French Revolution warns what happens when disconnected elites help unleash forces that spin out of control.

Watch the clip that sparked this post right here: [VIDEO]

The Red-Green Alliance Explained

Danny Burmawi is a Jordanian-born author, analyst, and founder of the Ideological Defense Institute. Raised in a Muslim family, he converted to Christianity in 2007, which led him to leave Jordan. He spent about 15 years in Lebanon leading Christian organizations before moving to the United States in 2023 for advanced theological studies. His books, including Islam, Israel and the West, draw on personal experience and deep study of comparative religion and Middle East affairs.

In a recent video from Jeremy Boreing (formerly of The Daily Wire), Burmawi breaks down the tactical partnership often called the Red-Green Alliance — the cooperation between Marxists/communists and Islamists. The discussion is direct and revealing.

Watch the 11-minute clip here: [VIDEO]

The Tactical Nature of the Alliance

Burmawi explains that the alliance is not based on shared long-term goals but on a shared desire to dismantle the current Western system. Marxists seek to tear it down to build their utopia. Islamists aim to replace it with a caliphate under Allah’s rule. For now, they work together and “kick the can down the road” on who will dominate afterward — much like temporary wartime alliances in history.

He applies this to New York politician Zohran Mamdani, noting Mamdani’s Shia roots and family background, including his father’s writings that framed America critically. While Mamdani publicly supports progressive causes like LGBTQ issues and abortion, Burmawi argues these serve as “bones thrown to useful idiots.” The real priority remains advancing Islamic influence, using leftist coalitions as a vehicle for greater political power.

Matt Walsh on Fading Regional Accents: Losing Our Voices

 If you've traveled across the U.S. lately, you've likely noticed people sounding more alike no matter where you go. A bus driver in Charlotte talks much like a guy in a Brooklyn beer hall, a Boston car salesman, or a Grand Rapids cashier. Regional flavor has faded into a homogenized American voice.

Matt Walsh's latest episode examines this shift. It wasn't always this way. Accents once marked both region and class. The old "Locust Valley Lockjaw"—that posh, clipped style from wealthy enclaves—defined mid-century intellectuals and TV personalities. Today, it's largely replaced by a generic newscaster tone few use in real conversation.

Watch Matt Walsh's podcast here: [VIDEO]

Nate Silver: U.S. Patriotism Falls Behind

Nate Silver posted some eye-opening polling data right before the July 4th holiday. The takeaway? American patriotism has declined sharply and now sits below the global average. As the fireworks fade and we move into the week after Independence Day, the numbers deserve a closer look — especially with the country’s 250th anniversary on the horizon.

The Global Picture

The United States used to stand out for its strong national pride. In the 1980s, about 95% of Americans described themselves as “very” or “quite” proud of their nationality — significantly higher than most other regions.

By 2022, that figure had dropped to 78%. Many parts of the world maintained higher levels: Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East generally stayed in the 85–90% range. In a ranking of large and OECD countries, the U.S. now ranks around 34th out of 45.

The first chart shared by Silver shows the U.S. line trending steadily downward while other regions held steady or improved.

Obviously, some of this is partisan, with the Democratic numbers having fallen far more. Though independents are actually closer to Democrats on this issue than the GOP. pic.twitter.com/lV9bjtidDc

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) July 3, 2026

h/t Newsalert

#America250 Declaration of Independence

No real point to this post, just sharing the reason we celebrate the 4th of July. This was publish on exactly this day in 1776.

Declaration of Independence

The text of what it says is below.

Key Moments: Trump’s Independence Eve Address & DC Celebration

 Trump’s July 3 Speech at Mount Rushmore:

President Trump spoke at the iconic South Dakota site on the eve of America’s 250th anniversary, praising American exceptionalism, the culture and character of the people who built and defended liberty, and the unmatched freedom and prosperity achieved over 250 years. He warned strongly that communism is a mortal threat to those principles — greater than past wars or 9/11 — and urged vigilance against its resurgence while celebrating the nation’s enduring strength. The address ended with fireworks, blending patriotism with pointed commentary.

Check out the President's remarks here.

July 4 Events and Livestream Connection:

You can catch Pres. Trump's remarks at Salute to America livestream here: [VIDEO]

On Independence Day itself, the focus shifted to Washington, DC, for the main “Salute to America” celebrations (as seen in the livestream you shared). These continued the 250th anniversary momentum with more remarks, tributes, and large-scale patriotic displays on the National Mall, reinforcing the themes of liberty and national renewal from the night before. The livestream helped tie the Mount Rushmore kickoff directly into the day’s events, giving viewers a continuous sense of momentum across the milestone weekend. It was a straightforward extension: reflection at the monument followed by nationwide commemoration in the capital.

Fourth of July - Independence Day Happy 250

 Today is the day America's 250th birthday. The day that our founding fathers drafted, published and signed the Declaration of Independence. I'm glad that we're celebrating this milestone properly this year.

Credit: The White House fb

I just barely missed the Bicentennial (200th Birthday of America), but I'm glad to be here for the Semiquincentennial the (250th Birthday of America).

Trump Returns to Mount Rushmore – Same Stage, Six Years Later

Trump is back at Mount Rushmore tonight for America’s 250th anniversary celebration, with remarks and fireworks on the schedule.

Watch it live here [VIDEO]

He did something very similar six years ago in 2020—headlining a Fourth of July event at the same iconic site with a big patriotic speech and the return of fireworks after more than a decade.

Here are a couple of contemporary reports from that visit:

• ABC News on the 2020 event, controversy, and Trump’s personal fascination with the site
• Full archived remarks from the White House

Some moments just have a way of repeating at places like this. Will check in with thoughts after the full event later.

O'Reilly Interviews Beck: Media, Cities, and the American Story

I haven't shared an edition of Bill O'Reilly's new podcast We'll Do It Live yet and that changed tonight. The latest podcast features of conversation with Glenn Beck. These two veterans of the media and commentary scene don't hold back. They dive deep into where our country stands—progressivism, communism's creep, the media's failures, and what it’ll take to steer America back on course. If you're concerned about the direction of cities like New York, Chicago, or the nation as a whole, this one's for you.

Check out Beck's interview will Bill O'Reilly here [VIDEO]

Immigration History Isn’t a Blank Check: Shapiro on America’s Pauses

Ben Shapiro went live on Tuesday (see my earlier post on the SCOTUS ruling) after the US Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship. On Wednesday on his latest podcast he further breaks down the immigration trends in American history. Let's look at what he said.

Watch the episode here: [VIDEO]

The episode reacts directly to the Supreme Court’s June 30, 2026 decision striking down President Trump’s executive order that sought to limit birthright citizenship. Shapiro calls the 6-3 ruling a “legal abomination” on constitutional grounds but refuses to treat it as the end of the story. Instead, he walks through the long arc of U.S. immigration policy to show that America has successfully adjusted course before — and can do so again.

Supreme Court Lifts Party Spending Caps: What It Means for 2026

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling that removes long-standing limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with their candidates. The decision in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission (No. 24-621) strikes down provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act that had capped “coordinated party expenditures.”

How this classic cartoon fits the story (credit: J. Keppler, Puck Magazine — historical/public domain political illustration): The image above is a Gilded Age political cartoon showing wealthy monopolies and big business interests literally overwhelming the U.S. Senate. It perfectly captures the long-running fear that unlimited money from powerful donors can distort democracy and turn elected officials into conduits for special interests. The current U.S. Supreme Court ruling loosens coordinated spending rules between parties and candidates—critics argue this could amplify similar dynamics in 2026 by making it easier for large donors to route influence through party committees, while supporters see it as restoring parties' free speech rights against overly restrictive rules.