Elected officials in California are carrying on with business as usual, even after their constituents voted overwhelmingly to send them packing.

An election was held on April 28 in the California city of Avenal in Kings County, where the mayor, Alvaro Preciado, and three city council members — Leticia Gamez, David Reynosa, and Pablo Hernandez — were recalled with at least 76% of voters backing the ouster in each case. The Kings County Registrar of Voters certified the recall election.

‘I’ve never seen a city so deflated.’

The driving force behind this electoral housecleaning — which the council members unsuccessfully attempted to stop with a lawsuit in April — was principally voter concerns about transparency and the council’s previous decision to cease contracting with the county fire department.

Preciado, Gamez, and Hernandez voted on June 11 to reject the will of the electorate and remain in office. They even approved a new city budget despite recall advocates producing a restraining order, reported the SF Chronicle.

Those officials clinging to power, including Reynosa, maintain that the recall election was conducted unlawfully by Kings County and without the council’s authorization.

Preciado told the SF Chronicle last month that he was staying in office until a judge decides on the recall’s legality.

California Democrat Attorney General Robert Bonta cleared the way for legal action against the recalled officials on June 11.

RELATED: Gov. Pritzker says he’s one of the good billionaires, not the ones vilified by socialists

In his opinion, Bonta noted that “if the Relators are correct on the merits, then the Defendants are not lawfully occupying office. It would not be in the public interest to permit elected officials to disregard election results.”

Days after Bonta granted the recall campaigners’ application for leave to sue in quo warranto, residents served Preciado and the other recalled officials a lawsuit and an earful at an Avenal city council meeting.

Dalila Barajas, a resident of Avenal who is one of the recall proponents, told KGPE-TV, “It just seems that the more meetings they have, the more money that they’re spending illegally, the more our citizens are getting frustrated and the more we’re asking for them to step down.”

While Bonta cleared lawsuits against the recall officials, King County District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle criticized the state attorney general for his apparent disinterest in the scandal, telling KMPH-TV on Wednesday, “I believe that if these were MAGA republicans who were refusing to leave office, someone in California would have done something about that.”

“We were hoping he would take some action,” added Valle.

“I’ve never seen a city so deflated in my time of being around in public service. The people feel like nobody’s coming to help,” added the King County supervisor. “Why is it being allowed to take place here in the state of California, in the county of Kings, in the city of Avenal? It’s embarrassing.”

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​California, Robert bonta, Recall, Election, Politics 

Pro-lifer warrior Seth Gruber has a chilling message for Americans celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday: “To celebrate America, this 250th, while simultaneously doing nothing to tear down the high places of weird, gay sex stuff and baby killing would merely be the decoration of a coffin.”

On this enlightening episode of “Relatable” with Allie Beth Stuckey, Gruber warns that America has “37 years left” before she fails — unless Christians are willing to rise up and be “the last stand.”

Gruber begins by sharing two facts that should alarm anyone who cares about America’s longevity:

In a 2025 interview with Noema Magazine, celebrated historian Niall Ferguson said, “My sense is that history has always been against any republic lasting 250 years.” J.D. Unwin’s 1934 book “Sex and Culture” — a massive study of 80 primitive societies and six major civilizations across 5,000 years of history — found strong positive correlation between a society’s level of sexual restraint (especially premarital chastity and monogamy) and its cultural energy, creative flourishing, and societal achievement in art, science, architecture, literature, etc.

Given America’s age and modern culture’s celebration of all things sexually depraved, Gruber believes the nation is a ticking time bomb.

According to Unwin’s research, “Societies that adopted and … codified total sexual freedom collapsed within 90 to 100 years,” he explains.

He pinpoints 1973 as the year America embraced “total sexual freedom” thanks to three landmark events: Roe v. Wade that made abortion a constitutional right, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Miller v. California that effectively opened the floodgates for widespread, legal pornography distribution, and the passing of the Endangered Species Act that gave more legal protections to animals than unborn children.

These developments put a “demonic trinity” on America’s throne, says Gruber: Molech, the god of child sacrifice, Ashtoreth, the goddess of sexual immorality, and Baal, the god of animal worship.

“That should be a little bit of an Old Testament alarm bell for the church in America that maybe we came into something of a demonic trinity and agreement in ‘73 that codified total sexual freedom,” he tells Allie.

“That’s why I think America began its 90- to 100-year clock in ‘73, which means we could be approaching the third and final chapter of Western civilization in this republic as we understand it today,” he warns. “That should be a sobering wake-up call.”

To hear the full interview, watch the episode above.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​250th us anniversary, Relatable, Allie beth stuckey 

A machete-wielding male who dragged a woman down a Texas street Sunday night went after a man who told him to stop — but the Good Samaritan also had a gun on hand.

Fort Worth Police said officers were called to the 2900 block of Ross Avenue around 10:20 p.m. regarding a male with a weapon, KXAS-TV reported.

‘If you see a lady that’s in danger, I mean, what would you do in that situation?’

When officers arrived, they found a male with an apparent gunshot wound, the station said, adding that officers and Fort Worth firefighters provided medical care before the wounded male was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Witnesses told investigators that before the shooting, the male in question had been involved in a verbal argument with a woman that turned physical — specifically, he was “dragging the female down the street with a machete in his hand,” KXAS reported.

A neighbor who heard the woman screaming came outside and saw the male dragging the woman and told him to stop, the station said.

Police were told the male with the machete approached the man confronting him, KXAS said, adding that the intervening man shot the machete-wielding male at least once.

Police said witnesses called 911, the station said.

The man who shot the machete-wielding male remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, KXAS reported, adding that homicide detectives interviewed him.

RELATED: Machete-wielding females beat up homeowner in robbery try, cops say. But victim ends attack with single shotgun blast.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the man’s identity, as well as the official cause and manner of death, the station said.

Officials did not say if the woman had been injured, KXAS said.

No arrests have been made in the case, the station added.

Nicole Flores told KXAS that the male with the machete has caused issues in the neighborhood before.

KXAS interviewed another witness who said, “If you see a lady that’s in danger, I mean, what would you do in that situation?”

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​Fatal shooting, Defending others, Texas, Fort worth, Machete, Armed male drags woman, 2nd amendment, Gun rights, Good samaritan, Crime 

A transgender-identifying former volunteer for a transgender-identifying democratic socialist congressional candidate in Wisconsin allegedly made numerous extremist calls for violence against Republicans.

Teha Delaruelle allegedly posted the videos and messages on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media accounts, and they were reposted on social media by outraged conservatives.

‘We’re gonna make it so that they will be the ones that have to walk down the streets in fear, anxiety, and worry.’

In one post, Delaruelle appears to speak in front of a dry-erase board that seems to read, “Kill your local Republican,” and points at the message.

“We’re going to make this the moderate position for the state of Wisconsin,” Delaruelle says, according to one video. “But I need your help, because we have one month do to this, so let’s do it.”

Delaruelle, who identifies as a female, appears to call for a “trans jihad” to fight against “the oppressor, the bigots, the animals that make up MAGA” in another post.

“For decades, everyone else, all of the marginalized in-house minorities, we’ve had to be the ones that walk down the streets with anxiety, with fear, but no, no more,” the activist says, according to the video.

“No more, folks. We’re gonna do the reverse. We’re gonna make it so that they will be the ones that have to walk down the streets in fear, anxiety, and worry. And we’re not gonna make this, like, oh, they gotta do this for like a week or something where they get really scared. No, this is their new reality,” Delaruelle continues, according to the video.

In a response to a request for comment, Delaruelle told Blaze News: “No, I don’t wish violence, and I post satire of what the right posts. I was too edgy, and it hurt people, and I’m sorry. I just want to be left alone.”

The bio in Delaruelle’s TikTok account says, “I never advocated for anything hurtful.”

Katrina deVille, the candidate that Delaruelle volunteered for, responded to a request from the New York Post and said Delaruelle was only a volunteer for a brief period of time and was removed after it became clear that Delaruelle was “deeply troubled.”

DeVille added that Delaruelle was later blocked from the campaign’s social media pages and accounts because “they were actively creating a dangerous situation around my campaign.”

The deVille campaign platform includes a $22 minimum wage and the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

RELATED: Teen transgender-identifying substitute teacher allegedly made online threats to Loudoun County school

Messages posted last month on an X account linked to Delaruelle say, “I’m trans,” and, “I’m trans fem.”

The Republican Party of Brown County condemned the violent messages in a post on Facebook.

“This kind of violent rhetoric is unacceptable and dangerous,” the statement reads.

“The Republican Party of Brown County rejects all political violence and threats. We will continue working for a safer, more civil Wisconsin.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Delaruelle still has social media posts endorsing deVille for Congress.

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​Political violence, Socialist democrat, Tiktok, Transgender activist, Politics 

A congressional hearing about the fallout of sanctuary cities went sideways this week when a Republican elaborated on the failures that led to an American teen’s murder, allegedly by an illegal alien, setting off Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing on Tuesday regarding victims’ perspectives on the fallout of Democrats’ sanctuary policies in states such as California and Illinois.

‘You should get the hell out of here!’

Though not a member of the subcommittee, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) was permitted to participate for the purpose of introducing one of his constituents, witness Jessica Gorman.

Gorman’s daughter, a Loyola University freshman named Sheridan, was murdered while walking with friends in Chicago on the morning of March 19. The man suspected of walking up to the 18-year-old American, pulling out a gun, and shooting her in the neck is Jose Medina-Medina.

The Justice Department stated that 25-year-old Medina-Medina — who was charged with murder, attempted murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon — is an illegal alien from Venezuela.

According to the criminal complaint, Border Patrol encountered Medina-Medina in the El Paso Border Sector area in May 2023, and he was set loose on America the following May.

“Jessica should not be here today. She should not be testifying before Congress. She should be back in New York with her daughters Madeline and Sheridan, enjoying a quiet Tuesday afternoon in the summer,” Lawler said in his introduction.

RELATED: The Supreme Court puts border judges back in their lane

After Lawler suggested that a failure to enforce America’s immigration laws set the stage for the teen’s death and that Congress owes the bereaved mother an apology, he was asked to confine his remarks to the introduction.

The Republican proceeded to highlight instances when Medina-Medina could have been deported before allegedly murdering Sheridan, at which point Raskin interrupted.

“This is not an introduction. It’s a speech,” said the Democrat.

“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Lawler responded. “It is disgraceful. Her mother is here precisely because you have failed to do your jobs. You wonder why we had four hearings? It’s because you don’t understand the consequence of sanctuary policy.”

A fleeting calm fell on the room following this initial exchange; then Lawler turned things up a notch, laying into Raskin and the subcommittee’s other Democrat members.

“While some of my colleagues may not want to hear the truth, the same outrage you feel about Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you should feel about Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley and every angel family in this country,” said Lawler.

Raskin bellowed, “I do feel that outrage!”

“If you did, you would not support sanctuary jurisdictions!” Lawler yelled back.

“You don’t belong in this committee! You should get the hell out of here!” said Raskin. “… You’re full of it!”

Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) condemned Lawler’s “outrageous outburst,” claiming it violated an agreement Republicans made with Democrats to allow Lawler to speak.

Gorman stated in her written testimony, “My Sheridan would be alive if the man accused of killing her had not been allowed to come into this country by the previous administration and if Chicago’s sanctuary city policies hadn’t allowed him to remain on our streets to kill. Congress needs to act.”

In closing, she wrote, “If the people who failed her would rather look away, then I am asking the rest of you to look right at her. Say her name. Tell her story. Demand better.”

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​Jamie raskin, Mike lawler, Sanctuary cities, Murder, Sheridan gorman, Angel families, Chicago, Jose medina-medina, Immigration, Politics 

It finally happened. We’ve grown tired of those mush-mouthed Minions.

At least a little.

Walz just pardoned an illegal immigrant who previously sexually assaulted a 10-year-old. It appears he did so to prevent the man’s deportation.

“Minions and Monsters” opens wide this weekend, and the early box office results are good … not monstrous. The film should pull in $75 million or so over the five-day holiday weekend.

Great numbers, no doubt. Yet “Minions: The Rise of Gru” brought in $107 million over three days in 2022. These silly supporting creatures have milked their yellow-powered shtick for longer than anyone expected.

Now, at last, the gravy train may be slowing. That means we’ll only get three to five more sequels before Hollywood calls it a day …

Minion minimum

You can’t say Bill Maher didn’t warn his fellow Democrats.

No liberal comedian has been tougher on his own side than Maher, the newest Mark Twain Prize winner. He’s blasted his fellow progressives over the woke mind virus, campus anti-Semitism, and more.

Now, after telling Vice President JD Vance his vote might be in play for 2028, he’s warning his fellow Democrats. Again. Maher said the election of three far-far-left Democrats in New York signals a party shift that could cost them the White House.

“So, how are they going to blow [retaking the White House in 2028]? I don’t know, but they seem to be well on their way.”

The left hasn’t listened to Maher yet, even though he’s trying to save them from themselves. Here’s betting they’ll tune him out anew …

Charity case

What do you get the couple that has it all? How about the address of the nearest charity?

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are tying the knot soon, and the happy couple just cut checks totaling $26 million to various charities to honor the moment.

The 20 charities include nine food banks, an animal cruelty organization, seven educational programs, and three children’s hospitals.

In lieu of gifts, please don’t judge us for our opulent bank accounts …

RELATED: VEEP TV: JD slays in ‘View’ ratings coup

Andrew Harnik/Al Drago/Getty Images

The doctor is in

Deadline is furious that President Donald Trump has a sense of humor.

The president just shared a “deepfake” AI video where he plays a doctor addressing the celebrity rise of “Trump derangement syndrome.” It’s a farcical clip featuring TDS victims like Robert De Niro, Rosie O’Donnell, and Whoopi Goldberg.

The visuals are inconsistent. The De Niro imitation is all but perfect, while the others are clearly not the real deal.

It’s instantly fake and funny, and it’s not intended to convince anyone it’s real. Yet Deadline calls it a “deepfake” and suggests it could be banned under new legislation. Except in the next breath, it admits those rules wouldn’t likely apply to the clip.

The No Fakes Act … gives individuals the right to authorize the use of their voice and likeness in digital replication. It’s unlikely, though, that the type of video that Trump posted would be restricted, as there are exclusions for news, documentary, and sports, as well as biographical works, or for purposes of comment, criticism, or parody.

So, never mind, we suppose …

Last Walz?

Justine Bateman is the celebrity activist we didn’t know we needed.

The former “Family Ties” star has raged against AI, supported free speech, and defied her industry’s rigid groupthink.

Now, she’s taking on Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) in a way none of her higher profile peers might. Walz just pardoned an illegal immigrant who previously sexually assaulted a 10-year-old. It appears he did so to prevent the man’s deportation.

She dubbed Walz “grotesque” on social media for his actions. It’s even worse than “knucklehead,” the moniker he gave himself in his disastrous VP debate two years ago. It’s a perfect coda to the new documentary “Minnesota Mao,” the Alpha News production that skewered Walz and his inept leadership.

The better Walz nickname is coming soon: ex-governor …

Turn on the dark

You don’t say no to Spidey.

Actress Sadie Sink is part of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” but we have no clue about her role mere weeks before its July 31 release. Turns out she was mostly in the dark too.

The actress admits she didn’t even get her hands on the film’s script until she was en route to the set for the first time.

“I knew that Marvel was a big deal and had a big brand, especially Spider-Man.”

At least she knew Supergirl was nowhere to be found on the set. Phew!

​Toto recall, Bill maher, Justine bateman, Sadie sink, Tim walz, Taylor swift, Travis kelce, Minions 

A Florida family was completely devastated by the tragedy that unfolded on Monday after a father went to pick up a child at day care in Plantation.

The man, who was not identified publicly, believed he had dropped off the child in the morning and went to work. At the end of the day, he went to the day care and let out a scream after finding his horrific mistake.

‘He opened the door, then slammed it shut. … And he let out this scream.’

The child was found dead in the back seat of the car.

Leslie Novoa, the owner and director of A World of Discovery Academy, explained to the South Florida Sun Sentinel why the staff didn’t react when the child wasn’t dropped off that morning.

Novoa said the man and his wife would alternate dropping off two kids at the day care. On that day, they called to inform them that they would not be dropping off the older child.

When they didn’t drop off any child, Novoa said no one found it suspect.

“This is a tragedy that happened to them and to all of us,” said Novoa, who said the family had been very caring and very loving in their interactions.

Novoa said the man had expected to pick up the child and only realized what happened when he opened the back door of the car.

“He opened the door, then slammed it shut,” Novoa said. “And he let out this scream.”

Plantation Police said they were called to the day care on a report of “a deceased child in a vehicle.”

Firefighters responded to the emergency and confirmed the child had died.

RELATED: Michigan parents charged with murder and torture after their 7-year-old boy dies with disturbing weight

The National Safety Council said about 37 children under the age of 15 die each year on average after being left in a vehicle.

“Nearly every state has experienced at least one death since 1998,” the group added. “In both 2018 and 2019, a record number of 53 children died after being left in a hot vehicle.”

About half of the hot-car deaths result in charges against a parent, and of those, about 80% result in convictions.

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​Child death, Daycare death, Florida, Hot car deaths, Crime, Hyperthermia 

Every Fourth of July, I think about the country where I was born — a nation built on faith, courage, and the belief that every person is created in the image of God.

Independence Day is about fireworks, parades, and time with family. But it is also a reminder of the miracle of America and the values that have shaped this nation for 250 years.

From Jerusalem to every corner of the United States, may this Independence Day be a celebration of gratitude, unity, and hope.

As an American-Israeli, this holiday carries special meaning for me.

I grew up in the United States, where freedom is woven into daily life. Today, I raise my children in Israel, a country whose very existence is a miracle of biblical proportions. Each year on July 4, I am reminded how blessed I am to belong to two nations rooted in faith, resilience, and hope.

America and Israel are different in many ways, but their foundations are strikingly similar.

Both nations were built by people who believed in something greater than themselves. They trusted God, longed for freedom, and sacrificed for a better future.

America’s founders risked everything to establish a nation where liberty could flourish. Israel’s founders rebuilt a homeland after 2,000 years of exile, guided by ancient promises and unshakable faith.

Both nations understand that freedom is never guaranteed. It must be protected, nurtured, and passed to the next generation.

And both nations know that a country’s greatest strength lies not in its power, but in its values.

On Independence Day, I often think about the men and women who have served in the U.S. military — those who fought in World War II to defeat evil, those who stood against tyranny in the decades that followed, and those who continue to defend freedom around the world.

As a Jewish woman, I will never forget that American soldiers helped liberate the concentration camps. They brought hope to a world drowning in darkness. They saved lives — not only the lives of Jews in Europe, but the lives of my own family members.

Both my grandfather and my father-in-law survived the Holocaust, thanks in no small part to the sacrifice of American service members. Their courage is part of the reason the Jewish people are alive today.

As an Israeli, I see that same spirit of courage in the young men and women who serve in the Israel Defense Forces.

America and Israel both understand the cost of freedom. Both nations honor those who protect it. And both nations know that not every hero comes home.

Living as both an American and an Israeli has taught me that miracles are not only ancient. They are happening right now.

RELATED: America turns 250 with a broken heart

Erik McGregor/LightRocket/Getty Images

America is a miracle: a nation founded on biblical values, where people of every background can pursue their God-given purpose.

Israel is a miracle: a nation reborn from ashes, thriving against all odds, and standing as a beacon of hope in a troubled region.

To belong to both is a privilege I thank God for every day.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this Independence Day feels especially meaningful. It is a moment to reflect on the values that built this nation — faith, freedom, courage, unity — and to rededicate ourselves to living them.

These are the same values that sustain Israel. The same values that bind Christians and Jews together. The same values that light the way forward in uncertain times.

This Fourth of July, my prayer is simple:

May God bless America with peace and protection. May He strengthen the families who build this nation every day. May He guide its leaders with wisdom and humility. And may He remind all of us that freedom is both a gift and a responsibility.

From Jerusalem to every corner of the United States, may this Independence Day be a celebration of gratitude, unity, and hope.

Happy Fourth, America.

​America, America 250, Christians, Faith, Gratitude, Independence day, Israel, Jews, Liberty, Opinion & analysis, Prayer, Unity