The Western Journal

Massachusetts Governor Signs New Law Blocking ICE Access to Several Locations

The Western Journal

Then-Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at a news conference in New York City on July 19, 2016. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

Massachusetts Governor Signs New Law Blocking ICE Access to Several Locations

By Michael Austin August 9, 2026 at 7:30am

Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed a new law on Aug. 5 attempting to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from accessing a variety of locations across the state.

Healey described the law, which names schools, daycares, hospitals, health centers, nursing homes, and courthouses as places ICE cannot access, as the strongest legislation in the country against ICE.

The official claimed that children in Chelsea, where she signed the legislation, have not been attending school for fear of ICE encounters, per a report from CBS News.

She also claimed that people have stopped going to the doctor’s office or testifying in court to avoid ICE.

NEW: Gov Healey says that “ICE is NOT a

Do Americans Have to Obey Laws That Will Destroy Us? Thomas Jefferson Said Absolutely Not

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Opinion

Premium

Rudulph Evans' statue of Thomas Jefferson, with excerpts of the Declaration of Independence seen behind, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C., in March 1985. (Barbara Alper / Getty Images)

Do Americans Have to Obey Laws That Will Destroy Us? Thomas Jefferson Said Absolutely Not

By Michael Schwarz August 7, 2026 at 2:04pm

Every now and then, an author must preface an article with a caveat or even an apology. This is one such instance.

After all, to treat the matter adequately, or at least to avoid misleading the reader, an author should devote chapters or volumes, not paragraphs, to the immense and multi-faceted subject of Thomas Jefferson, law, the Constitution, and natural rights such as religious liberty. Throw in nationhood and civil disobedience, and suddenly your subject consumes entire bookshelves.

Nonetheless, the great Founding Fathers left us the sort of wisdom that we ignore at our peril. Thus, if we hope to benefit from

Violent Criminal Who Was Set Free on Plea Deal Arrested After Horrific Attacks on Random Women

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News

Violent Criminal Who Was Set Free on Plea Deal Arrested After Horrific Attacks on Random Women

By Jack Davis August 7, 2026 at 2:56pm

A North Carolina man whose criminal record goes back 14 years has been arrested after he was linked to multiple assaults on women.

Diquan Hunt, who is currently in a medical facility, will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said, according to WSOC-TV.

Videos from an Instagram page police believe is linked to Hunt show several instances in which women were attacked.

🚨#BREAKING: I can confirm that the man arrested this week for violent street attacks on a woman in Charlotte was FREE BECAUSE OF A PLEA DEAL IN MARCH.

Diquan Shafar Hunt was arrested in December 2025 for Assault with a Deadly Weapon and three other charges.

On March 18, 2026,… pic.twitter.com/OPpCbxrUiP
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) August 7, 2026

In one, a woman walking with a balloon in her hand fell to the ground after being punched. Police said she suffered serious injuries.

Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Primary After Green Energy Group Spent Big to Unseat Him

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News

Rep. Andy Ogles speaks during a get out the vote event held in support of Republican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps on Dec. 1, 2025, in Franklin, Tennessee. (Brett Carlsen / Getty Images)

Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Primary After Green Energy Group Spent Big to Unseat Him

By Jack Davis August 7, 2026 at 3:06pm

Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, a Republican, was defeated in his primary campaign after a PAC devoted to green energy spent heavily against him.

Ogles, who had the backing of President Donald Trump, lost his primary to former state Agricultural Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, according to Fox News.

Trump quickly expressed his willingness to back Hatcher in the general election.

"Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump, who endorsed candidates in all nine of Tennessee's congressional districts, added that "the 1 was a

Fed-Up NYC Homeowners Take to Court to Fight Back Against Mamdani's New Tax 'Debacle'

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News

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference on Universal Child Care at Bedrock Preschool on Aug. 4, 2026, in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx borough in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images)

Fed-Up NYC Homeowners Take to Court to Fight Back Against Mamdani's New Tax 'Debacle'

By Randy DeSoto August 7, 2026 at 4:50pm

A group of New York City homeowners is suing Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city of New York over the pied-à-terre tax, which is a surcharge property tax on second homes.

The surcharge applies to individual homes valued at $5 million or more and co-ops and condominiums with a cost of $1 million or more that are “not a primary residence,” according to the 23-page complaint.

“Petitioners are not challenging the State statute itself,” the court document read.

Rather, plaintiffs Rachel

Man Arrested After Woman Decapitated in Boating Incident

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News

A close-up shot of police tape at a crime scene. (gorodenkoff / Getty Images)

Man Arrested After Woman Decapitated in Boating Incident

By Michael Austin August 8, 2026 at 3:00am

A man was arrested after allegedly decapitating a woman in a boating accident by catapulting over another boat at 80 miles per hour.

Richard Stevenson, 45, has been charged with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide, according to a report from ABC News.

The incident took place on Fox River near McHenry, Illinois.

Stevenson, who is being held without release, has a record of driving under the influence.

He had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2, which exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 in Illinois.

Judge Cynthia Lamb alleged in court documents that “the defendant, while intoxicated, drove his vessel at about 80 mph in a no-wake zone, even when warned by a passenger, the defendant continued to operate in that manner, the vessel went over the top of another vessel and crashed.”

She added that “when the defendant’s boat was

Conservatives Clash Over Caitlin Clark's Response to Question About Trans Athletes

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News

Sports

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark answers questions at a media conference in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 4, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Matthew Holst / Getty Images)

Conservatives Clash Over Caitlin Clark's Response to Question About Trans Athletes

By Isabelle Russell August 8, 2026 at 3:30am

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark has always stayed neutral when questioned about politics.

This time she's getting backlash from many for, in their view, refusing to protect women's sports.

During a recent press conference on Sunday, Clark was asked about the inclusion of men in women’s sports.

Clark's answer — or in this case non-answer — was, "I think it's for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions.”

Caitlin Clark dodges question on protecting women's sports.

"It's for the leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions." pic.twitter.com/LZSx91D4XX
— Jackson Thompson (@JackThompsonFOX) August 2, 2026

Conservatives were split

Outgoing Cracker Barrel CEO to Receive Millions in Severance Pay

The Western Journal

News

A Cracker Barrel logo displayed on a phone in front of a stock market chart. (Cheng Xin / Getty Images)

Outgoing Cracker Barrel CEO to Receive Millions in Severance Pay

By Michael Austin August 8, 2026 at 4:00am

Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino will receive a substantial amount of severance pay as she departs the company following a failed rebrand attempt last year.

Masino will receive $4.63 million over the two years that follow her departure, according to a report from Fox Business.

She is slated to officially step down on Aug. 10, and will advise the company until Oct. 9 as David Deno becomes its next chief executive.

Cracker Barrel will meanwhile fund security services to protect Masino for a “reasonable period of time” following her advisory role.

NEW: Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino to step down just one year after the company’s disastrous rebrand.

Masino oversaw the company’s axing of Uncle Herschel and

Are Women Who Choose Abortion Victims or Perpetrators?

The Western Journal

Op-Ed

A baby crib in a modern cozy bedroom. (Pekic / Getty Images)

Are Women Who Choose Abortion Victims or Perpetrators?

By Barbara Adamson August 8, 2026 at 4:30am

Recently on social media, a nurse shared her firsthand experience with a woman who had taken abortion pills she had obtained by mail.

The young woman, unaware of how far along she was, brought her 12–14-week-old baby into the emergency room screaming, "What have I done?" The young patient was not prepared to see a fully formed, but small, baby. She had been deceived by the "clump of cells" narrative.

Her story points to a question dividing the pro-life movement: Are women fully culpable moral agents in their abortion decisions, or are they "second victims" of abortion due to decades of cultural messaging that has fundamentally changed how they perceive pregnancy and abortion?

In the post-Dobbs era, how we ultimately answer this question will have a major impact on our approach to public policy.

The Divide

The danger lies in putting all women into

Major Airline Offers Free Flight Changes for Customers Who Refuse Travel Through Donald J. Trump Airport

The Western Journal

News

The welcome sign posted outside of the Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 9, 2026. (Chandan Khanna - AFP / Getty Images)

Major Airline Offers Free Flight Changes for Customers Who Refuse Travel Through Donald J. Trump Airport

By Michael Austin August 8, 2026 at 5:00am

After the Palm Beach airport was renamed the Donald J. Trump International Airport, United Airlines is offering their customers who now refuse to step foot in the thoroughfare a chance to switch their flights.

Fox Business reported that passengers who want to avoid the President Donald J. Trump International Airport — previously called the Palm Beach International Airport — can move their flights to Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

They will not even have to pay a fee for transferring their flight plans.

“If a customer does not want to fly to the airport, use your empowerment to offer acceptable alternatives such as Fort Lauderdale

Self-Proclaimed Queer Priest Blasts Trump in Award Reception Speech

The Western Journal

News

A Holy Bible sitting on top of a rainbow flag. (D-Keine / Getty Images)

Self-Proclaimed Queer Priest Blasts Trump in Award Reception Speech

By Michael Austin August 8, 2026 at 5:30am

After a self-described queer Roman Catholic theology professor received an award, he used his speech to bash the Trump administration and commend “gendered and sexual diversity.”

Fr. Bryan Massingale, a priest with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and a professor at Fordham University, received the John Courtney Murray Award from the Catholic Theological Society of America in June.

In his speech at the award ceremony, which was published on July 14 by the Jesuit site Outreach, Massingale noted that his book “Racial Justice and the Catholic Church” was removed from the U.S. Naval Academy.

“Why? Because that work is in direct opposition to the idolatrous ideology of white so-called ‘Christian’ nationalism that is the heart of the immoral projects being advanced by our nation's administration,” he proclaimed.

Blaze Media reported that the

Report: Muslim Brotherhood, US-Designated Terror Organization, Celebrates Abdul El-Sayed Primary Win Through Its Media Outlet

The Western Journal

Commentary

Michigan Democratic Senate primary winner Abdul El-Sayed claps during a news conference Wednesday after his victory over Rep. Haley Stevens. A designated terrorist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, was also cheering El-Sayed's win. (Finn Gomez / Getty Images)

Report: Muslim Brotherhood, US-Designated Terror Organization, Celebrates Abdul El-Sayed Primary Win Through Its Media Outlet

By C. Douglas Golden August 8, 2026 at 5:46am

It seems like Abdul El-Sayed is racking up a ton of endorsements after his win in the Michigan Democratic senatorial primary this week. Some of them, however, he might not be touting too loudly on his campaign page.

This includes a fawning write-up in Ikhwan Online, an official media outlet of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to a report from Michigan-based online conservative outlet The Midwesterner.

The move comes after numerous groups raised questions about ties between El-Sayed’s campaign and Brotherhood-linked organizations. The Muslim Brotherhood, which originated in

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