Author: patriotsheart

A blast that reminds us that the war is not so far away.

Yesterday (13), a gigantic explosion shattered through a munitions factory near ​the town of Colleferro, southeast of Rome, with the blast heard for miles around.

The factory produces ammunition and weapons that are transferred to Ukraine through European partners.

Reuters Reported:

“The explosion occurred when firefighters and police were already at the ​site responding to a fire, local media ​reports said.”

So far, no injuries were reported.

The plant is operated ​by the Franco-German ⁠defense group KNDS via KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary ​of the group.

“’It would have been a tragedy’ if the blast had not happened during the summer holiday when the plant was closed, Colleferro mayor Giulio Calamita ​told reporters. He said efforts were underway to put out ‌the ⁠last fires.

‘The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently being investigated and assessed by the teams on site’, KNDS said in a statement.”

ESPLODE LA FABBRICA DI MUNIZIONI PER L’UCRAINA DI COLLEFERRO
L’esplosione, sentita a decine di chilometri di distanza, è stata da molti scambiata per un terremoto. Dicono che è stato il caldo del Cambiamento Climatico… . E se invece “avesse stato” Putin? pic.twitter.com/qAR4GiUCC2

— Massimo Montanari (@M25016096) August 13, 2026

The plant produces medium- and large-caliber ​ammunition for ​land and ⁠naval defense systems, as well as solid propellants for aerospace launch vehicles.

Euronews reported:

“Italian media reported that there were no casualties, with the AGI news agency saying employees sheltered in secure areas at the facility.

[…] Videos shared on social media showed a fire at the factory followed by a massive explosion.

‘The fright is great, but right now it is essential to keep calm and, above all, to avoid spreading untrue information, such as that relating to the 2007 accident which is once again circulating. We will update you as soon as possible with verified information’, [the mayor] wrote.”

Read more:

SHOCK VIDEO: Blaze at Fireworks Factory in Malta Causes MASSIVE Explosion

The post WATCH: Massive Explosion Shatters Italian Factory South of Rome That Supplies Munitions to Ukraine appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The Republican National Committee on Friday strongly condemned a 25-12 vote by the Democratic National Committee’s Resolutions Committee to advance a measure calling for the formal abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The vote took place at the party’s summer meeting in Austin, Texas. It essentially urges congressional Democrats to draft and support legislation that will result in the dismantling of the country’s ability to enforce its immigration laws.

The DNC Resolutions Committee voted 25-12 to advance a resolution calling for the abolishment of ICE

It will now go to the wider body for a vote

— Alex J. Rouhandeh (@AlexRouhandeh) August 13, 2026

In a Friday news release, the RNC condemned the vote and cautioned that Democrats are growing more extreme as they push to open up America’s borders permanently.

The RNC said:

“This is the latest signal that Democrats are being run over by the socialist wing of their party who want open borders, mass amnesty, and the complete and total abolishment of prisons and the police.”

In comments to The Western Journal, RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre reminded voters what is at stake in November if Democrats are successful at the polls and are allowed to advance an agenda that will put Americans in harm’s way.

“If Democrats formally adopt this resolution, it shows how far they’re willing to go to appease their socialist base and how little they care about public safety,” Baldassarre said.

She added:

“President Trump has secured our border, deported violent criminal aliens, and delivered the lowest murder rate in 125 years, and Republicans will always put American citizens first.”

Baldassarre also issued a broader statement on behalf of the RNC:

“Democrats are the open borders party. Their radical pro-criminal agenda puts law enforcement and the public at risk. President Trump secured our border, deported violent criminal aliens, and delivered the lowest murder rate in 125 years. If Democrats had any backbone they’d vote down this dangerous proposal and put American citizens first.”

The RNC said the DNC committee’s Friday vote was yet more evidence that the party has been hijacked by fringe radicals.

Since President Donald Trump took his oath last January, violent crime has collapsed at a historic pace nationwide, the RNC noted.

Homicides are down 51 percent, carjackings have plummeted 73 percent, home burglaries have dropped by 56 percent, and car thefts are down by more than half, Baldassarre said.

As Democrats have dug in on their opposition to immigration enforcement, ICE agents have simultaneously faced a 1,300 percent increase in assaults and an 8,000 percent increase in reported death threats.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Exclusive: RNC Condemns DNC Vote to Abolish ICE – Party Has Been Overtaken by Socialists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Friday evening canceled plans to install Islamic “Wudu” foot-washing stations.

As TGP reported this week, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the project “consists of adding Ablution stations to existing concourse level restrooms in Terminal D, one Men’s ablution station in existing men’s restroom and one Women’s ablution station in the existing women’s restroom,” and is privately funded.

The construction was set to begin in about a week and would have cost $300,000.

The Dallas airport is now installing dedicated Islamic “Wudu” foot-washing stations inside bathrooms. pic.twitter.com/2t5TLtcpBj

— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) August 12, 2026

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) earlier Friday evening announced he was working to block Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from installing Islamic wudu washing stations.

Governor Abbott ordered a review of all state grants to DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for possible revocation.

“These ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion. That is illegal,” said Governor Abbott in a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

“Both airports are government-owned facilities. The federal and state constitutions prohibit government from facilitating this sort of discrimination. Just as the government cannot favor the secular over the sacred, it also cannot favor one religious view over all others,” Abbott wrote.

Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others.

DFW plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities are illegal. I’ve directed a review of all state grants to both airports for possible revocation, and referred DFW & IAH to USDOT for investigation.

Texas… pic.twitter.com/XY58WAKJ8N

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 14, 2026

According to Fox News, DFW canceled plans to build the Wudu stations after Abbott launched a probe and threatened to revoke grants.

Fox News reported:

DFW told Fox News Digital on Friday that it had been evaluating a proposal to add ablution washing stations on the pre-security side of Terminal D, its international terminal, but accelerated that review following increased public attention.

“DFW was in the process of evaluating an internal proposal to add a set of ablution washing stations on the pre-security side of Terminal D, the international terminal.

Like all proposed projects, the airport ultimately considers the operational benefits, customer service impacts, operational risks and costs before approving them.

While that evaluation was planned, the airport accelerated its review due to elevated public interest this week and has determined not to proceed with the project as it would not deliver the originally anticipated operational benefits.”

The post BREAKING: Dallas Airport Cancels Plans to Install Islamic Foot Washing Stations After Governor Abbott Intervenes appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Another day, another corrupt Democrat.

Former Columbus, Mississippi, Vice Mayor Joseph Mickens was arrested on Thursday morning for money laundering and bid rigging.

According to court documents, Mickens and local businessman Marcus Dawson cooked up a taxpayer-funded contracting scheme.

Joseph Mickens, who served as the Ward 2 councilman for more than 15 years, along with Dawson, allegedly rigged the bidding process for community center flooring jobs to ensure Mickens’ flooring company would get the bid and finish the work.

The two men lied to the Columbus City Council, claiming that Dawson’s HVAC business had completed the work.

Mickens was booked at Lowndes County Adult Detention Center and was released on a $15,000 bond.

Mickens faces up to 30 years in prison and $500,000+ in fines. Dawson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

WLBT reported:

A former Columbus city councilman and vice mayor is facing felony charges after a Lowndes County grand jury returned an indictment accusing him of participating in a scheme involving city contracts and money laundering.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Joseph Mickens, who served as the Ward 2 councilman for more than 15 years.

Mickens is charged with laundering a monetary instrument and offering inducements to influence an award of contracts.

A second man, Marcus Dawson, owner of HVAC & Mechanical Co. LLC, was also indicted in connection with the case.

Mickens jumped into his attorney’s car after leaving court and his lawyer crashed into another car!

WATCH:

Rough ride home for newly indicted Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena after jumping into his attorney’s Dodge Challenger after appearing in federal court…his attorney not happy being peppered with questions from the media issues a threat then proceeds to bash into a parked car #7News pic.twitter.com/oFl4Bx1Qkd

— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) August 14, 2026

The post Another Democrat Busted! Former Columbus, Mississippi Vice Mayor Indicted For Money Laundering, Bid Rigging – Attorney Crashes Into Car After Leaving Court! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

According to a new poll, CNN’s Harry Enten says Michigan voters HATE far-left Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed will face off against Republican Mike Rogers.

El Sayed has been dodging scandal after scandal. The Gateway Pundit reported that El-Sayed mass deleted YouTube videos of him demanding a ban on guns and 4th of July fireworks.

“Fireworks suck,” El-Sayed said in a since-deleted YouTube video.

He also called for the Second Amendment to be replaced.

Last week, the White House shared a video compilation of some of his most radical stances, showing his Communist campaign for exactly what it is, despite his attempts to distance himself from the Democratic Socialists of America.

As seen in the clip, El-Sayed has called for defunding the police, equating it to “disinvesting in the means of incarcerating someone or killing them on the streets.”

He’s also called for term limits on Supreme Court justices, giving each President three appointments to the high court, and expanding the court.

He wants wealth taxes to “disincentivize the accumulation of wealth.” He wants to abolish ICE and open the border, give illegals drivers’ licenses and welfare, and, of course, impeach Trump.

Enten shared, “Michigan Senate Rogers versus El Sayed. Look at this, a new Fox News poll. Rogers is actually up by 4 points. He’s up by 4 points. It’s close, but a Republican is ahead in Michigan. And why? Why? What is going on?”

“Look among independents. Rogers actually leads by 5. This is extremely unusual because across the political map, as I was looking at these different Fox News polls, I couldn’t find another example where the Republican was actually leading among independents.”

“And it turns out that candidate quality may in fact matter, at least in terms of how voters see it, because in this same poll, the Democratic candidate for governor was ahead. So this is unique to the Senate race, and it is quite a troubling result for Democrats and quite a heartening one for Republicans.”

He was asked, “So do you have a sense then, Harry, of what it is that is contributing to this— the struggles, right, that Abdul El-Sayed is— is it that Rodgers is a stronger candidate, or is it that El-Sayed has more issues for voters to deal with?”

Enten responded, “It is all about Abdul El-Sayed. He is a weak candidate, at least by the metrics that we normally look at.”

“And you can just take a look here, okay, the net favorability rating of the Dem Senate candidates across these northern battlegrounds. You’ll notice there’s only one candidate in red, one who has an unfavorable rating higher than his favorable rating, and it is significantly higher.”

“Look how far underwater Abdul El-Sayed is. He is 13 points underwater, under there, Lake Michigan. My goodness gracious. Troy Jackson in Maine, he’s at +1. You got Sherrod Brown at +4 in Ohio, and Josh Turek in Iowa, way above there at +18 points. This is extremely unusual. Again, across the map, Democrats have done such a good job recruiting candidates who are well-liked by the voters. Again, I looked at all the Fox News polls. All the Democrats were above water except for Abdul El-Sayed, and he is 13 points underwater.”

“This is all about Abdul El-Sayed being a weak candidate, at least in the minds of the voters.”

He continued, “So you look at this first slide, right? You see that Mike Rogers is ahead. Right by 4 points. Well, I was interested because I couldn’t think of another example where you actually had a Democratic candidate who was down at least 4 points, 4 points in a Senate poll in Michigan.”

“And it turns out for this entire century, Abdul El-Sayed is the only one in a poll that meets CNN standards for publication. This is extremely, extremely, extremely unusual.”

“Abdul El-Sayed breaking records in the ways that you don’t want to.”

“In fact, he is the first Democrat down by this much, as I said, essentially since 1994.”

Watch:

WOW! CNN is stunned that Michigan voters HATE Abdulrahman Mohamed El Sayed, Trump-endorsed Mike Rogers is LEADING

“He’s the first [Michigan] Democrat down this much this CENTURY.”

“He is a weak candidate…look how far underwater he is! -13 points!”

“This is EXTREMELY… pic.twitter.com/RlgdC1DO1u

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 14, 2026

The post CNN’s Harry Enten Says Michigan Voters Not Impressed with Abdul Mohamed El Sayed: “He is a weak candidate” (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

In another example of the left-wing takeover of academia, according to Campus Reform, “The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing is accepting applicants for a fellowship carrying a $5,000 stipend that trains emergency department clinicians to provide so-called “reproductive healthcare,” including abortion-related procedures.”

Abortion is not healthcare or reproductive health; rather, it’s an evil act.

“The Reproductive Advocacy and Diversity in Advanced Nursing Training (RADIANT) ED fellowship combines online training and in-person simulations to teach “clinical skills to manage essential reproductive healthcare.”

This is just the latest woke evil ideology that has hijacked institutions of “higher learning.”

“Physicians and nurses working at an Illinois emergency department are eligible to secure the fellowship. The program has trained 60 Illinois clinicians and drew almost 200 “clinicians, students, academics and advocates” to its events.”

“As of 2024, Illinois’ Hospital Emergency Service Act requires emergency departments to provide abortions in cases of medical emergency.”

One has to wonder why taxpayer dollars are going to the abortion industry.

This fellowship is directly supported by Illinois taxpayers, as crazy as it sounds.

The taxpayer money directly went to Planned Parenthood to provide training in committing abortion in April 2024.

“The department’s press release cites the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, as one justification for the grant program.”

“Campus Reform contacted the UIC College of Nursing, asking how much money has been dedicated to the fellowship and how it justifies using taxpayer money for abortion-related training. ”

This program was even lauded by liberal JB Pritzker.

This whole program is a response to the Dobbs decision and is yet another immoral program funded by the taxpayers.

The post Horrific: University of Illinois Chicago Offers Monthly Stipend to Clinicians Who Complete Abortion Training appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A Huntsville, Alabama defense company gave an up-close demonstration this week of a powerful new anti-drone laser system designed to knock unmanned aerial threats out of the sky before they can endanger U.S. military personnel or American civilians.

KBR and its Huntsville-based subsidiary Kord demonstrated FIREFLY, a mobile high-energy laser weapon designed to detect, track, and destroy unmanned aircraft before they can reach American troops, civilian gatherings, or critical infrastructure.

Attendees were required to put on laser-protection goggles before the test began. On a live screen, observers watched as the system’s sensors and AI-assisted targeting technology identified and followed a drone.

Then FIREFLY took it down.

Axios reported that the truck-mounted 20-kilowatt system disabled the quadcopter in under four seconds. Kord officials said the onboard batteries provide roughly 15 minutes of total “laser-on time,” the unit can be deployed in about 30 minutes, and an operator can learn the controls in as little as five minutes.

“This is a homegrown product,” KBR’s David Zoller said, according to WAFF.

“I think often we can look at the work that happens in Huntsville, you see Redstone, you see all the traffic and everything, and you kinda have to wonder what’s going on over there,” Zoller continued. “Well, it’s protecting the people, and this is one of the methods that we’re doing it.”

WATCH:

 

Last month, Lockheed Martin also unveiled the MORFIUS X-Rotor, a reusable, ground-launched aircraft carrying a high-power microwave weapon that the company says can neutralize more than 50 enemy drones during a single flight.

Instead of launching expensive interceptors one-by-one at cheap enemy drones, MORFIUS flies into the swarm and blasts them with directed microwave energy, frying their electronics and knocking them out of the sky. Lockheed says the system can neutralize more than 50 enemy drones in a single flight.

MORFIUS is a ground-launched X-rotor unmanned aircraft carrying a high-power microwave payload. It is designed for field recovery and reuse.

After frying a swarm, it returns, gets recovered, and can launch again. That means a dramatically lower cost-per-kill compared to firing a missile at every single $20,000–$50,000 kamikaze drone.

The post Huntsville Defense Firm Unveils Homegrown “Firefly” Laser That Zaps Enemy Drones in Seconds appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Trump on Friday traveled to Long Island, New York, to tout his administration’s success in bringing down crime.

The President also rallied support from Bruce Blakeman, the Republican running for governor of New York.

Trump received a thunderous applause and chants of “USA! USA!” from New York police officers.

At one point, President Trump stopped his remarks to go comfort the grieving parents of a 12-year-old boy who was fatally shot last month.

12-year-old Jacob Freytes was killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx, New York, on July 25.

Jacob Freytes was the son of a retired NYPD sergeant detective.

He was riding his bike in the Mount Eden neighborhood last month when a fight broke out between a group of people on the sidewalk.

One of the men pulled out a gun and opened fire. Freytas was struck by a bullet and collapsed. He later died at the hospital.

President Trump comforted the grieving parents.

WATCH:

“Just left a Rally in Nassau County in honor of Bruce Blakeman, who is running for Governor of New York. The crowd went WILD,” Trump said.

“Something very interesting is happening in New York State! He is a great person, a great politician and, if elected, will be the best Governor in the History of New York!” Trump said later on Truth Social.

The post President Trump Personally Walks Off Stage to Comfort Grieving Parents of 12-Year-Old Bronx Shooting Victim (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, the official Joe Biden publicly threatened and forced out of office in 2016, claims in his book Biden’s Corruption and War: The True Story of the 1 Billion Dollar Prosecutor that hundreds of billions of American taxpayer dollars connected to Ukraine were recycled through political interests and “globalist networks.”

According to a Blaze Media column citing Shokin’s first-person account, massive sums of U.S. aid intended for Ukraine were recycled through political and globalist networks.

He alleges $350 billion in American taxpayer money was diverted into these opaque channels amid the chaos of war. Arms deals were tainted by corruption.

Wartime disorder allegedly facilitated trafficking of Ukrainian women and children. The book paints the conflict itself as a vehicle for enrichment and influence far beyond the battlefield.

Shokin was the prosecutor general investigating Mykola Zlochevsky and Burisma Holdings, the same corrupt energy company that put Hunter Biden on its board and paid him an eye-watering salary for “expertise” he didn’t have.

Shokin says his office was moving against the company, seizing assets, and getting uncomfortably close to the Biden family connections. That’s when the pressure campaign from Washington intensified.

Joe Biden later famously boasted about it on video: he told Ukrainian officials they weren’t getting the billion dollars unless the prosecutor was gone. “Well, son of a bitch, he got fired.”

Biden called himself the “Vice King” in Ukraine circles for a reason. Shokin’s book details the meetings, the influence over then-President Petro Poroshenko, and the coordinated effort that ended his tenure.

According to Blaze:

Shokin presents a stark thesis: He argues that the war in Ukraine became a vehicle for corruption and hidden agendas extending far beyond the battlefield.

Among his most explosive allegations are claims that $350 billion in U.S. taxpayer money was recycled through political and globalist networks, that arms arrangements were tainted by corruption, and that wartime chaos facilitated the trafficking of Ukrainian women and children.

Those are grave allegations. They come from a man who says he paid a personal price for getting too close to uncomfortable truths. But they remain allegations, and the book should be read as Shokin’s case — not as independent proof of every charge.

[…]

Shokin in the book gives his account of the pressure campaign that ended with his removal.

He writes that Joe Biden was known in Ukraine as the “Vice King” and portrays the vice president as wielding extraordinary influence over then-President Petro Poroshenko and the Ukrainian government.

The book lays out names, dates, meetings, and episodes that Shokin says connect the Burisma investigation to the effort to fire him.

The Gateway Pundit previously covered Shokin’s account in August 2023.

In that interview, Shokin said it was his “firm personal conviction” that his dismissal resulted from the Burisma investigation. He characterized the threatened withholding of the loan guarantee as corruption, although he also said he did not want to present unproven facts as established evidence.

We also reported in 2019 on allegations involving missing IMF and American funds connected to Ukraine and PrivatBank.

The post Ukrainian Prosecutor Joe Biden FIRED for Investigating Hunter’s Burisma Just Exposed $350 BILLION in U.S. Taxpayer Dollars Meant for Ukraine Going Straight to Globalist Networks appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

On Friday, US District Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, lifted her block on the termination for Somalia Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Burroughs’ administrative stay had been in place for 50 days! She dragged her feet on issuing a real order.

Earlier Friday, DHS General Counsel James Percival blasted Judge Burroughs for defying the US Supreme Court.

“For 50 days, Allison Burroughs has maintained her unreasoned “administrative stay” of our termination of Somalia TPS, notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s decision. This “administrative stay”—to the extent it is lawful at all—is supposed to be quickly followed by a real order. Failure to issue such an order is deliberate sabotage, designed to infringe on the executive branch but without issuing a clear and appealable order. After significant prodding, Judge Burroughs promised to issue that order by “EARLY” this week. It is now Friday. The only explanation for this is cynical gamesmanship by a politically motivated district judge,” James Percival said.

For 50 days, Allison Burroughs has maintained her unreasoned “administrative stay” of our termination of Somalia TPS, notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s decision. This “administrative stay”—to the extent it is lawful at all—is supposed to be quickly followed by a real order.…

— James Percival (@DHSGenCounsel) August 14, 2026

Later Friday, Judge Burroughs lifted her administrative stay. Termination for TPS for Somalis in now in effect.

Judge Burroughs just lifted her administrative stay, and the termination of Somalia TPS is now in effect. Congratulations, Judge! pic.twitter.com/4aF8tFnBFs

— James Percival (@DHSGenCounsel) August 14, 2026

Earlier this month, Judge Burroughs once again blocked the Trump Administration from terminating TPS for Somalis.

The termination was supposed to take effect on March 17, however, a federal judge previously halted the termination.

A couple of weeks ago, Burroughs issued a new administrative stay after the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint and an emergency motion.

There are more than 100,000 Somalis living in the US. An estimated 5,000 Somalis are eligible for Temporary Protected Status.

Judge Burroughs’ order came after the US Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration is allowed to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians.

The high court, in a 6-3 vote, ruled that the Temporary Protected Status is… temporary.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) recently introduced articles of impeachment against radical leftist Judge Allison Burroughs, who refused a Supreme Court ruling and decided to block the Trump Administration from ending the temporary protected status (TPS) for Somalis in the US.

“I have just introduced articles of impeachment against radical judicial activist Judge Allison Burroughs for ignoring the Supreme Court and attempting to force mass migration from Somalia into American communities,” Ogles said.

“America is not Africa’s dumping ground. We will end Temporary Protected Status, remove those who have no lawful right to remain, and put the sovereignty of the American people FIRST,” Ogles said.

The post Crazy Obama Judge Lifts Block on Termination of TPS For Somalis After Ogles Files Articles of Impeachment appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.