News

Iowa Woman Accused of Executing Man From Behind During Remote Target Practice
News

Iowa Woman Accused of Executing Man From Behind During Remote Target Practice

/

An Iowa woman has been charged with first-degree murder after authorities alleged she fatally shot a man while the two were target shooting on a remote property in Plymouth County, according to law enforcement and court records, as reported by The New York Post.

Ashley Ruhland, 35, of Sioux City, is accused of killing 49-year-old Justin Emmick at his approximately 30-acre property in rural Plymouth County. The land, according to authorities, is located in a wooded area that is accessible only by all-terrain vehicles.

The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office said Ruhland was arrested following the shooting and is being held without bond at the Plymouth County Jail while the investigation continues.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by KCAU, Ruhland had been temporarily staying on Emmick’s property before the shooting occurred. The complaint also states that Ruhland had previously obtained a protection order against Emmick, although officials have not disclosed additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding that order.

Investigators allege the shooting happened while Ruhland and Emmick were using a section of the property for target practice.

According to the complaint, Ruhland allegedly fired two shots at Emmick, striking him once in the back and once in the head.

After the shooting, Ruhland called 911 and reported what had happened. Authorities said she told responding officers that she had acted in self-defense.

According to investigators, Ruhland made several statements explaining why she believed she had no alternative.

The complaint states she told law enforcement words to the effect of:

 “It was either him or me,” and “I didn’t want him to suffer.”

Investigators, however, said evidence collected at the scene did not support Ruhland’s claim that she faced an immediate threat at the time of the shooting.

“During the investigation, there was no evidence indicating [Ruhland] was in danger from [Emmick],” the complaint states, according to KTIV.

“The bullet wounds show [Emmick] was shot from behind while [Ruhland] was uninjured.”

Authorities said a deputy responding to the remote property located Emmick, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators have not publicly identified a motive beyond the statements included in the criminal complaint. Officials also have not released additional details regarding what occurred immediately before the shooting.

Court documents further allege that Ruhland had previously told family members she wanted to obtain a firearm for protection and that Emmick had planned to teach her how to use it.

Authorities have not clarified the nature of the relationship between Ruhland and Emmick, and court records reviewed in the case do not provide additional information regarding how long Ruhland had been staying at the property.

The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Prosecutors have charged Ruhland with first-degree murder, and the case is expected to proceed through the Iowa court system.

As with all criminal cases, the charge represents an allegation, and Ruhland is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Law enforcement officials have not announced when additional evidence or court filings related to the investigation may be released.

Astor Place Train Fire Sends MTA Workers and Firefighters to Hospitals [WATCH]
News

Astor Place Train Fire Sends MTA Workers and Firefighters to Hospitals [WATCH]

/

At least 11 people were taken to area hospitals after a work train caught fire inside the Astor Place subway station in Manhattan early Tuesday morning, prompting a large emergency response and temporary disruptions to multiple subway lines, as reported by The New York Post.

The Fire Department of New York said the incident began shortly before 2:15 a.m. when a vacuum train used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to remove debris from subway tracks caught fire at the Astor Place station in the NoHo neighborhood.

Firefighters responded to what officials classified as a second-alarm fire. According to the FDNY, 46 firefighting units were dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze and assist with evacuation efforts.

Emergency crews remained at the station for several hours as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and ensure the area was safe.

The FDNY said six MTA employees and five firefighters were transported to nearby hospitals following the incident. Officials did not immediately release information regarding the extent of their injuries or their conditions.

In addition to those hospitalized, one MTA employee was evaluated by emergency medical personnel at the scene but declined further medical treatment.

Authorities have not announced what caused the vacuum train to catch fire, and the incident remains under investigation. No additional information regarding the origin of the fire was immediately available Tuesday morning.

The fire also affected subway service during the morning commute. The MTA confirmed that portions of the No. 4 and No. 6 subway lines were temporarily suspended while firefighters continued operations inside the station.

According to the transit agency, there was no train service in either direction between Grand Central–42 Street and Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall while emergency personnel responded to the incident.

Transit officials advised commuters to expect delays and seek alternate transportation until service could be restored.

The MTA recommended that riders use the M15, M102 or M103 bus routes as alternatives during the disruption. Passengers were also advised that the N, Q and R subway lines remained available for travel through the area.

Astor Place is a major subway station serving Lower Manhattan, and interruptions along the Lexington Avenue Line can affect thousands of riders during the morning rush. Transit officials did not immediately provide an estimate for when full service on the affected portions of the 4 and 6 lines would resume.

Firefighters and transit personnel continued working at the station after the flames were extinguished to assess equipment, inspect the tracks and determine whether any infrastructure had been damaged by the fire.

As of Tuesday morning, officials had not reported any injuries involving passengers, and no evacuation figures had been released.

The FDNY and MTA are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire, including what caused the maintenance train to ignite. Officials had not announced whether the work train sustained significant damage or whether the incident would affect future maintenance operations.

The situation remained an active investigation Tuesday morning, and officials indicated that additional information would be released as it becomes available.

Armed Civilian Says Idaho Gunman’s Bravado Crumbled the Moment He Fired Back [WATCH]
News

Armed Civilian Says Idaho Gunman’s Bravado Crumbled the Moment He Fired Back [WATCH]

/

An armed civilian who confronted the gunman during the deadly shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, said the suspect’s demeanor changed immediately after facing return fire from bystanders attempting to stop the attack, as reported by The New York Post.

Jordan Salinas, 35, described the encounter during interviews after Saturday’s shooting, which left two people dead and seven others injured before the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to Salinas, he first noticed 24-year-old Chad Williams standing outside the restaurant with a rifle pointed toward passing vehicles.

“I peeked around the right-hand side of that sign closest to the road, and that’s when I saw the individual with his rifle pointed at the vehicles,” Salinas told ABC News during an interview conducted alongside his girlfriend, Emily Cohelo.

Salinas, who works in healthcare and serves as the full-time caregiver for his brother, said Williams initially appeared calm while aiming his rifle.

“He seemed unusually comfortable aiming that rifle at those cars,” Salinas said. “As soon as some rounds started coming at him, everything changed immediately. All that bravado he had immediately crumbled.”

After observing the suspect, Salinas drew his FN Five-Seven semiautomatic pistol, which was equipped with a suppressor, and fired toward Williams.

He later told the Idaho Statesman that it was the first time he had ever pointed his firearm at another person.

Salinas said he had previously prepared for the possibility of an active shooter after witnessing the 2021 shooting at Boise Towne Square mall, where two people were killed, and several others were wounded.

Authorities said Salinas was not the only person who confronted the suspect. An off-duty police officer also engaged Williams during the attack.

Investigators believe those actions caused the gunman to leave the immediate area surrounding the restaurant before he entered an open parking lot at the Twin Falls Visitor Center.

Police said Williams later died there from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Twin Falls Police Chief Hicks credited those who confronted the suspect with helping limit the scope of the attack.

“We believe these actions drove the suspect from the scene and prevented further casualties,” Hicks said during a Sunday press conference.

Authorities identified two people who died in the shooting as Christopher Claunch, 59, and 23-year-old In-N-Out employee Ashley Garibay, according to family members.

In addition to the two fatalities, seven people were injured during the incident. Police said five victims remained hospitalized as of Sunday, including two who were listed in critical condition.

Investigators have not announced a motive for the shooting.

Williams previously attended the College of Southern Idaho but later left school. Authorities also noted that he had posted messages on X discussing crime before the attack. Investigators have not said whether those posts were connected to the shooting.

Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the incident, including the suspect’s activities before arriving at the restaurant.

The shooting prompted a large emergency response as officers secured the area, assisted victims and searched for additional threats before determining that the suspect had acted alone.

Police have not released additional information regarding what may have motivated Williams, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses.

Authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information or video from the scene to contact investigators as they continue to examine the events surrounding the shooting.

Navy Reclassifies 19 Virginia Class Submarines to Showcase Bigger Strike Punch
News

Navy Reclassifies 19 Virginia Class Submarines to Showcase Bigger Strike Punch

/

The U.S. Navy is putting a more accurate name on 19 planned Virginia class submarines, and for once the label actually matches the lethality taxpayers are buying.

The service announced Monday that submarines equipped with the Virginia Payload Module will be reclassified from fast attack submarines to guided missile submarines, a shift that reflects a major jump in strike capacity.

That means these boats will carry the SSGN designation, signaling that they are not merely hunters lurking beneath the waves, but heavily armed strike platforms built to hit targets far inland without much warning.

In plain English, the Navy is acknowledging that the next wave of Virginia class boats will bring a much larger missile punch than earlier versions with a smaller munitions package.

“Reclassifying Virginia Payload Module-equipped submarines as SSGNs accurately reflects the extraordinary strike capacity, operational flexibility, and global reach these platforms bring to the fleet,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle. “These submarines will provide our nation with a powerful and persistent deterrent, expand options for our combatant commanders, and ensure the Navy remains ready to fight and win whenever and wherever called upon.”

The Virginia Payload Module adds four large diameter payload tubes to each submarine. Each tube can carry seven Tomahawk cruise missiles, giving every equipped boat 28 additional missiles.

That is not a minor paperwork adjustment. It is the difference between a stealthy attack boat and a submerged arsenal that can deliver serious consequences before an adversary even knows it is in range.

The first submarine slated to receive the added Virginia Payload Module capability is the USS Arizona, the second Block V Virginia class submarine. The Navy expects delivery of that boat in fiscal year 2029.

The reclassification applies to planned Block V and Block VI submarines, with deliveries expected to continue through 2038. That timeline matters because the undersea fight is becoming more central as China expands its navy and hostile regimes keep testing American patience.

The announcement also comes right after the Navy awarded $42.1 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding. That massive contract covers construction of nine Virginia class Block VI submarines.

Navy Reclassifies 19 Virginia Class Submarines to Showcase Bigger Strike Punch
A rendered image of the Virginia Block V attack submarine. (Image courtesy of General Dynamics)

On top of those boats, 10 Block V Virginia class submarines will also incorporate the Virginia Payload Module, according to the Navy. Together, that accounts for the 19 submarines being moved into the guided missile submarine category.

There are currently 26 active Virginia class submarines in the fleet, with 23 more planned for construction. The class is organized by blocks, with each block bringing upgrades in technology, design, weapons capacity, and overall combat value.

“The submarine force is defined by our ability to operate undetected and strike without warning,” said Vice Adm. Rick Seif, Commander, Submarine Forces. “By integrating high-volume precision strike capabilities into these stealth platforms, these SSGNs serve as the ultimate enabler for Distributed Maritime Operations, giving our warfighters the overwhelming, flexible firepower required to win decisively in any theater.”

That is the kind of sentence that should make America’s enemies sit up straight. It also happens to be the kind of hard power signal that fits the moment, especially as President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth push a military posture built around winning wars instead of winning approval from think tank cocktail hours.

The value of these boats is not just the number of missiles they carry. It is the fact that they can move quietly, remain hidden, and give commanders options without putting a surface fleet in plain view.

Tomahawk missiles launched from submarines give the United States the ability to strike command centers, air defenses, logistics hubs, and other high value targets from the shadows. For combatant commanders, that means more flexibility and less begging for permission from fragile foreign basing arrangements.

The Navy’s move also sends a message about deterrence. A guided missile submarine that can disappear into the ocean and carry a heavier load of precision weapons forces adversaries to plan around a threat they cannot easily track.

That is exactly why undersea warfare remains one of America’s strongest advantages. While politicians in Washington often find ways to waste money on pet projects and bureaucratic nonsense, investments in stealth, firepower, and survivability are the real business of national security.

The reclassification may sound administrative, but it reflects a bigger strategic reality. The Virginia class fleet is evolving from a premier attack submarine force into a deeper strike arm for the nation, and that is good news for commanders who may one day need to bring overwhelming force to bear quickly.

For the sailors who will operate these submarines, the mission remains brutally simple. Stay hidden, stay ready, and if ordered, hit hard enough that the enemy never forgets who owns the deep.

On CNN: Biden COVID Response Coordinator Finally Admits What ‘Conspiracy Theorists’ Knew for Years [WATCH]
News

On CNN: Biden COVID Response Coordinator Finally Admits What ‘Conspiracy Theorists’ Knew for Years [WATCH]

/

Dr. Ashish Jha, who served as the Biden White House COVID response coordinator, has now said out loud what plenty of Americans were mocked for considering years ago.

In a Sunday interview on CNN, Jha acknowledged that he believes COVID most likely began with a lab leak.

That is quite a turn from the early pandemic script, when media outlets, public health officials, and social media censors treated the lab leak theory like forbidden thought.

Funny how yesterday’s conspiracy theory keeps becoming today’s reluctant admission.

WATCH:

CNN anchor Dana Bash raised Jha’s recent social media activity, including his agreement with a long post from commentator Jamie Metzl arguing that COVID originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Jha did not run from it.

“This is going to surprise some people. You know, when I went into the White House, my view was, ‘This was almost surely a natural outbreak, maybe a lab leak,’” he said.

“Based on information I learned and based on information I‘ve seen, I have come to conclude that it is more likely to have been a lab leak.”

That was not some random internet commentator speaking from a basement.

That was a former senior Biden pandemic official admitting that the evidence shifted him toward the theory many elites worked overtime to bury.

Jha made clear that American officials still do not have full certainty, largely because China has never exactly been famous for transparency.

He added, “I‘m not suggesting I know for sure, but I‘m saying my best assessment is that it probably was a lab leak.”

Bash seemed to recognize the significance of the moment.

“That is definitely news to hear that from you for sure,” she replied.

“And shows that we‘re just, we‘re still learning, which is really important.”

Jha later posted a clip of the exchange on X and tried to clarify his view.

He wrote, “no one in America knows for sure,” while adding, “Based on strong circumstantial evidence I’ve seen, I think lab leak is much more likely.”

He also stressed that he was not claiming the virus was engineered or released on purpose.

His view, as he framed it, is that an accidental lab leak is the most likely explanation based on what he has seen.

WATCH:

The admission lands years after major media outlets dismissed the lab leak theory as fringe, debunked, or politically motivated.

CNN, MS NOW, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and others spent the early pandemic period treating skepticism about China and Wuhan as if it were a moral failing.

NPR offered one of the cleaner examples of institutional overconfidence.

In April 2020, the taxpayer funded outlet published pieces on consecutive days dismissing the possibility of a lab accident, including one headline that told readers scientists had debunked the idea.

That was never journalism’s finest hour. It was a herd of credentialed hall monitors confusing consensus management with fact finding.

The wider COVID era produced a credibility disaster that still hangs over public health, media, and government.

Americans watched officials demand trust while changing guidance, shutting down debate, and treating ordinary questions as dangerous misinformation.

Social media companies also restricted discussion of some COVID claims under misinformation policies, while the Biden administration later faced a major First Amendment fight over pressure placed on platforms.

Under a settlement, the Office of the Surgeon General, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are barred for ten years from threatening or coercing platforms to suppress protected speech.

That part matters because the lab leak debate was never just about science.

It was about who gets to ask questions in America when the political class has already decided what the approved answer must be.

Jon Stewart captured the absurdity during a now famous exchange with Stephen Colbert, mocking the refusal to see the obvious coincidence in Wuhan.

“Oh my God, there’s a novel respiratory coronavirus overtaking Wuhan, China. What do we do? Oh, you know who we could ask, the Wuhan novel respiratory coronavirus lab. The disease is the same name as the lab! That’s just a little too weird, don’t you think?”

Stewart went on, “Then they ask the scientists, ‘Wait a minute, you work at the Wuhan respiratory coronavirus lab, how did this happen?’ And they’re like, ‘A penguin kissed a turtle?’”

“‘Oh my God, there’s been an outbreak of chocolaty goodness near Hershey, Penn. What do you think happened?’ I don’t know, maybe a steam shovel mated with a cocoa bean. Or it’s the f**ing chocolate factory! Maybe that’s it!”

WATCH:

New Airman Crushes Elite Air Force Intel School with Unprecedented Perfect Score
News

New Airman Crushes Elite Air Force Intel School with Unprecedented Perfect Score

/

An Arkansas Air National Guard airman just did something rare enough to make the intelligence community sit up straight and check the math twice.

Airman First Class Ty Bishop, 21, completed one of the Air Force’s most demanding intelligence training pipelines in July with a 100 percent academic average, setting a record at the Apprentice Electronic Signals Intelligence Analyst Course at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas.

School officials confirmed to Task and Purpose that Bishop’s flawless average across 16 tests and progress checks is unprecedented since the course was revamped in 2019. In a field built on precision, pattern recognition, and the kind of attention span Washington bureaucrats can only dream about, that is no small achievement.

“Getting a 100 percent on the curriculum is highly commendable, requiring a mastery of the subject matter through dedicated focus and an exceptionally keen attention to detail,” said Capt. Dennis Tyukayev, flight commander at the 316th Training Squadron.

The course prepares signals intelligence analysts, better known as SIGINT specialists, to collect and interpret radio, radar, and other emitted signals. That means students must absorb dense material on the electromagnetic spectrum, radar theory, and the technical underpinnings of modern battlefield intelligence.

This is not a soft skills seminar or another government training box to check. It is one of the Air Force’s toughest academic programs, and the service’s own recruiting standards make that clear.

To even qualify for SIGINT training, a recruit must score a 72 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. That is the second highest required score for any Air Force specialty and seven points above many other intelligence roles.

Just under 300 students from the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force completed the course in 2025, with 339 expected to graduate this year. Bishop did not merely graduate with that crowd, he separated himself from it.

Bishop told Task and Purpose that his interest in military intelligence began before he put on the uniform. After basic training, he spent eight months back home at Ebbing Air National Guard Base before heading to Goodfellow, using that time to drill with the 123rd Intelligence Squadron and get an early look at the mission.

The 123rd supports the Arkansas wing’s MQ 9 Reaper drone squadron, a serious mission set where intelligence is not academic trivia. It is the difference between finding a target, protecting Americans, and keeping pressure on enemies who prefer to hide in the shadows.

“Alongside that, I have an interest in current affairs and defense affairs, so I already had an interest in how military and intelligence systems worked before joining,” Bishop said in an email. “I did lots of open-source research on radar concepts, the [National Security Agency], and SIGINT/Intel.”

That kind of preparation shows. Bishop graduated from high school in Batesville, Arkansas, in 2023, where he helped win two straight state quiz bowl championships, and he finished a pre engineering associate degree that same summer.

Officials said it remains unclear whether Bishop’s 100 percent was truly a perfect score with zero wrong answers across three months of training, because final course scores are rounded to the nearest half point. Even with that caveat, the comparison is impressive.

Squadron officials reviewed the previous 12 months of classes and found only two students who finished with a 99 percent and six who finished with a 98. In other words, this was not grade inflation dressed up as excellence.

Adding a twist, officials noted that another student finished the course with a 100 percent just one week after Bishop graduated. Still, Bishop’s achievement stands as the first confirmed perfect academic average since the school’s 2019 overhaul.

For the Department of War and the intelligence community, young airmen like Bishop are exactly the type of talent needed as adversaries pour resources into electronic warfare, cyber operations, drones, missiles, and space based systems. The battlefield is increasingly driven by signals, sensors, and speed, and America needs operators who can understand all three.

President Trump has long argued that military strength begins with competence, toughness, and winning rather than fashionable political distractions. Bishop’s performance is a reminder that the ranks still produce serious Americans ready to master hard missions while the chattering class obsesses over everything else.

The Air Force and National Guard now have a young SIGINT analyst with a rare academic record and a head start in one of the most technically demanding fields in uniform. That is good news for the country, bad news for America’s enemies, and a well earned point of pride for Arkansas.

California Democrats Rally Behind Controversial Billionaire Tax as 2026 Ballot Fight Explodes [WATCH]
News

California Democrats Rally Behind Controversial Billionaire Tax as 2026 Ballot Fight Explodes [WATCH]

/

California Democrats have officially lined up behind a proposed one time wealth tax that would take up to 5 percent from billionaires, giving voters another front row seat to Sacramento’s favorite pastime, chasing money that has not fled the state yet.

The proposal will appear before Californians during the 2026 midterm election, where voters will decide whether the state should slap a special levy on its wealthiest residents.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the California Democratic Party executive board voted Sunday to support the measure.

That backing gives the proposal a major political boost from the party that already dominates the statehouse and rarely meets a tax it does not want to invite over for dinner.

The San Francisco Standard reported that Jane Natoli, a member of the party’s resolutions committee, said the first vote came up just short of the 60 percent threshold needed for ratification. It reportedly earned 59.2 percent support.

Then came a second vote, and this time the measure squeaked through with about 61.7 percent support.

Nothing says overwhelming mandate quite like trying again until the math finally cooperates.

The tight vote exposed a real split among California Democrats.

Even in one of the bluest political machines in America, not everyone is eager to put another warning sign in front of entrepreneurs, investors, and high earners.

The proposal is being promoted by the Billionaire Tax Now coalition, which has pushed the idea as a way to raise revenue from the extremely wealthy.

WATCH:

Supporters frame it as fairness, while critics see the familiar California formula of spending first, taxing later, and acting shocked when productive people pack up and leave.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California supports the plan. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term limited and cannot run for another term as governor, has said he will vote against it.

Newsom’s opposition is not exactly a conversion to supply side economics.

His complaint is not that the state is targeting wealth, but that the measure directs almost all of the money into one category of state spending.

“But I’m voting no because this measure dedicates almost all of the revenue it raises to a single category of state spending,” he wrote in a June Substack post.

“So here is what I support: A national billionaires’ tax. A true minimum tax on billionaires, a modern Buffett Rule, that ensures the people at the very top pay at least the tax rate their own workers pay.”

In other words, Newsom is not rejecting the tax grab as much as shopping for a bigger one.

If California cannot keep its billionaires in place, the preferred progressive solution is apparently to nationalize the chase.

The debate comes as California continues to face scrutiny over wealth flight and taxpayer migration.

Billions in taxpayer income have already been leaving high tax states, and California remains one of the biggest examples of what happens when politicians treat success like a public utility.

Fox Business has also highlighted concerns that wealthy Californians may be shifting assets, giving away cash, or moving to blunt the impact of the proposed tax.

Altman Brothers Real Estate owner Josh Altman discussed the possibility of figures such as LeBron James facing California’s wealth tax despite moving to Philadelphia during an appearance on “Varney & Co.”

That possibility gets to the heart of the controversy. If the state can reach beyond current residency or punish accumulated wealth after people make life changes, taxpayers may decide it is safer to cut ties earlier and more completely.

California Democrats are betting that resentment politics will sell in 2026.

They know that putting the word billionaire on a ballot measure can make voters forget how often taxes aimed at the rich eventually ripple through jobs, investment, housing, and small businesses.

For conservatives, the lesson is familiar.

The left starts with a narrow target, wraps it in moral language, and insists only a tiny group will feel the hit.

Then the money is spent, the promises grow, the economy reacts, and Sacramento comes back asking for more.

California voters will now decide whether they want to reward that cycle again or send the tax collectors back to the drawing board.

Army Legends Salute the Crew Behind the Abrams Named ‘Big Man Blastoise’
News

Army Legends Salute the Crew Behind the Abrams Named ‘Big Man Blastoise’

/

Add another glorious entry to the long and proud list of American tank names that make you stop, laugh, and remember that soldiers remain undefeated at naming things.

This time, the honor goes to an M1A2 Abrams carrying the name “Big Man Blastoise,” a title that sounds ridiculous right up until you remember it is painted on one of the most fearsome armored vehicles on earth.

The tank belongs to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and it was spotted in a military photo while training near Boleslawiec, Poland late last month.

Across the barrel, the crew stenciled a name pulled straight from a 2023 meme rap about Blastoise, the large water type Pokémon with two water cannons on its back. Naturally, the Abrams also has a main gun, which makes the whole thing oddly perfect.

Nobody has publicly explained why this crew chose “Big Man Blastoise,” but frankly, some military traditions do not need a committee hearing. Sometimes a crew sees a giant armored beast with serious firepower and decides the Pokémon reference writes itself.

The name comes from a short rap song by Genwunner that celebrates Blastoise in the most internet age way possible. The lyrics do not exactly wander through a complex narrative, since beyond one verse, the hook of “Big Man Blastoise” repeats at the beginning and end.

That may not earn a literary prize, but it has now earned something far better, a place on the barrel of an American Abrams overseas. Somewhere, a PowerPoint warrior is probably trying to understand the cultural significance, and good luck to him.

Army Legends Salute the Crew Behind the Abrams Named Big Man Blastoise
A tank from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division fires its main cannon near Boleslawiec, Poland. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Logan Ubaldo Lechuga

The soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment are currently in Poland on a nine month rotation supporting the ongoing American mission with NATO partners in central and eastern Europe. They deployed shortly after the start of the year after a rotation through the National Training Center in California in late 2025.

Poland has remained a major hub for American forces since 2022, when the United States increased troop rotations into central and eastern Europe under Operation Atlantic Resolve. The country is also home to a U.S. Garrison and has hosted extensive training between American soldiers and NATO allies.

“Big Man Blastoise” now joins a proud lineup of Army tank names that includes “Divine Intervention,” “ASVAP Waiver” and “Bye Felicia.” Those names all carry their own flavor, but this newest one leans hard into meme culture and somehow fits the Abrams just fine.

It is easy to make jokes about a Pokémon themed tank, and everyone should, because it is funny. But there is also something very American about young soldiers putting humor, personality, and a little swagger onto a machine built to dominate a battlefield.

The broader mission in Europe has been shifting this year, with the number of U.S. forces tied to Operation Atlantic Resolve reportedly reduced from earlier levels. In May, some planned rotations were canceled as the Trump administration clashed with European leaders over the war with Iran.

Two deployments were reportedly called off, including one involving nearly 4,000 soldiers from 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Some personnel were already on the ground when the changes occurred, and in July, Poland’s defense minister said the “paused” deployments were resuming.

Last week, the Department of War launched a planned six month review of the American military presence in Europe. War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that review in June during a meeting with NATO counterparts, and it could affect how many troops are sent to the continent and where they are positioned.

That kind of review is exactly the sort of thing Washington should be doing, because taxpayers deserve strategy, not autopilot. America can support allies without pretending every foreign deployment must continue forever just because the bureaucracy likes familiar maps.

For now, though, Bravo Company has given the Army another name worth remembering. “Big Man Blastoise” may have started as an internet joke, but on an Abrams barrel in Poland, it looks like morale, firepower, and American soldier creativity rolled into one very large package.

Mamdani Tax Roll Fiasco Could Hammer New Yorkers as Buyers Flee South
News

Mamdani Tax Roll Fiasco Could Hammer New Yorkers as Buyers Flee South

/

New York City homeowners have been given an additional month to establish their primary residency status following widespread confusion surrounding the city’s rollout of a new pied-à-terre tax and the publication of a public real estate database tied to the measure, as reported by Fox Business.

The extension comes after the New York City Department of Finance (DOF) released a public tax roll listing the names and addresses associated with more than 960,000 properties across the city’s five boroughs. The database was published as part of the implementation of New York state’s new tax on certain non-primary residences.

The pied-à-terre tax was approved by state lawmakers in May and signed under Gov. Kathy Hochul. The measure applies to non-primary residences valued at more than $5 million, along with condominiums and cooperative apartments valued at $1 million or more. Initial state estimates projected that between 13,000 and 31,000 properties would ultimately be subject to the tax.

The significantly larger public property list prompted questions from homeowners about whether they would be affected, leading city officials to extend the deadline for residents to verify their primary residence status.

David Arditi, founding partner of Aria Development Group, said the city needs to provide greater certainty as implementation continues.

“Policymakers need to be honest about the trade-offs and what drives the local economy,” Arditi told Fox News Digital. He warned that if higher-income taxpayers relocate, “it doesn’t just hit the people who left, it shows up much more prominently in the budget of those who will stay behind.”

Arditi added, “Every city that leans this heavily on a small group of high earners has to reckon eventually with this possibility. New York still continues to have real staying power, but we’re clearly in a moment where that’s being tested.”

The Department of Finance’s published property roll also included numerous well-known public figures, drawing additional attention to the rollout.

Individuals appearing on the list included U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump’s niece Mary L. Trump, filmmaker Woody Allen, longtime Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, actress Cynthia Nixon, New York City Councilwoman Gale Brewer and Staten Island City Councilman Joe Carr.

Arditi said large municipal initiatives often experience implementation challenges but argued that officials should provide homeowners with a clearer explanation of who is actually affected by the tax.

“That’s the difference between precision and accuracy. I would expect some inefficiency rolling out any municipal initiative at this scale,” Arditi said. “But when your list comes in 30 times bigger than what was estimated, city officials need to give homeowners real clarity on who’s actually impacted and why.”

Beyond the immediate confusion, Arditi said uncertainty surrounding the tax has become part of broader conversations with prospective buyers evaluating whether to invest in New York real estate.

“I’ll leave the security implications to the experts, but I can tell you, since talk of this tax started earlier this year, I’ve had no shortage of conversations with people who were seriously reconsidering New York as a place to invest,” he said.

Hundreds of Rabbis Slam NYC Mayor Mamdani Over Anti Jewish AIPAC Remarks

He also pointed to continued migration to Florida among some buyers considering leaving New York.

“The great thing about New York is there’s never a shortage of buyers. Having said that, given the current political and socio-economic climate in New York City, I expect the exodus to Florida to keep gaining traction,” Arditi said.

“I saw it play out myself this summer. Plenty of soccer fans from the Northeast were down here for the World Cup, and some of them were, in between matches, scouting what’s available in case they decided to make the move — and that was before this list came out.”

According to Arditi, recent headlines have painted mixed pictures of Manhattan’s luxury housing market. While some reports have suggested weakness at the top end of the market, others have indicated continued strength in high-end sales.

He said South Florida has shown particularly strong momentum during 2026.

“The headlines from the last few months have been mixed. One story says Manhattan’s top end is cratering, while another report shows it’s very resilient and continues to perform well. In South Florida, though, the numbers are pretty clear. Miami has already outsold New York in ultra-luxury deals this year, something that would’ve been unthinkable not long ago,” Arditi said.

“And what we’re hearing on the ground matches that, as our sales teams have been fielding calls from more motivated New York buyers.”

The residency extension gives homeowners additional time to demonstrate that their properties qualify as primary residences while city officials continue implementing the new tax program.

Teen Says Xavier Becerra Migrant Machine Led to Sexual Abuse and Slave Labor [WATCH]
News

Teen Says Xavier Becerra Migrant Machine Led to Sexual Abuse and Slave Labor [WATCH]

/

A new video released Monday is putting former Biden Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra back under a very ugly spotlight, this time through the testimony of a young migrant woman who says the child migrant system he oversaw delivered her into abuse.

The testimony comes from Juana Rebecca Pérez Santay, who says she was only 17 when she crossed the southern border in May 2021 and entered the federal system for unaccompanied minors.

Becerra, now running against Republican Steve Hilton in the California governor race, has previously bragged about the operation and described the flow of minors through the system as an “assembly line.”

That description looks even colder in light of Santay’s account, which alleges that the very system meant to protect children instead pushed her into the hands of dangerous people.

Santay said plainly, “Xavier Becerra failed to protect us. He failed me because he didn’t protect me.”

According to her testimony, she was placed with a supposedly vetted sponsor through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the HHS program responsible for handling unaccompanied migrant minors.

Santay, who speaks Spanish, said a social worker accompanied her onto a resettlement flight, but then abandoned her at the airport instead of making sure she safely reached the sponsor.

She said she called the number she had been given and was picked up by three men, who took her to a house where her situation quickly turned into a nightmare.

Santay said the woman running the house told her she would be working 20 hours a week making food, but the reality was far worse.

She said she was forced to work seven days a week, nearly around the clock, while being forbidden to touch the food she was preparing.

According to Santay, she was deprived of water and threatened with deportation if she dared to complain, which is exactly the kind of abuse government vetting is supposed to prevent.

“I have been sexually abused. I slept on a ceramic floor, in a room with four men who were sleeping there,” Santay said.

She also described a terrifying incident involving a drunken man who came into the house, focused on her, and attempted to sleep beside her.

Santay said the woman sponsor told her to allow it because, “he’s a drunk and he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

Santay’s full conclusion was devastating.

“Xavier Becerra failed me because he never cared about my safety. I ended up in the hands of child traffickers, and I was almost raped. They kept me like a slave; they didn’t let me talk to my family. If he were to become governor of California, it would be horrible, because I would not want what happened to me to happen to other children.”

WATCH:

Hilton has been releasing testimony from whistleblowers and alleged victims tied to the ORR program, arguing that Becerra’s policies weakened protections and helped fuel exploitation under the respectable sounding banner of refugee resettlement.

WATCH:

One public summary of the new testimony stated, “I was sexually abused because of Xavier Becerra.”

Another line from the testimony cut through the bureaucratic fog: “They kept me like a slave. Becerra failed to protect me.”

The allegations fit into a broader conservative concern that the Biden administration treated the border crisis like a political management problem instead of a human catastrophe.

While Democrats wrapped themselves in compassion talk, real children were allegedly moved through federal channels with astonishing speed and then handed over to people who should never have been trusted with them.

That is the part Washington would rather bury under paperwork, acronyms, and the usual polished excuses from the administrative class.

But a teenage girl sleeping on a ceramic floor in a room with men is not a paperwork issue.

It is a moral failure, and if Santay’s account is accurate, it happened under the leadership of a man now asking Californians to give him even more power.

The House may be focused on removing sexual predators from its own ranks, which is a worthy mission, but accountability cannot stop at Capitol Hill.

Anyone who built or supervised a system that allegedly allowed trafficking, forced labor, and sexual abuse of minors should face hard questions before being rewarded with higher office.

Becerra wants voters to trust him with the nation’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies.

Before California even thinks about handing him the keys, voters deserve real answers about the children who passed through his “assembly line” and the ones who say they were broken by it.


Scroll to Top