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The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Tuesday that border officials do not need “clear and convincing evidence” that a lawful permanent resident committed a disqualifying crime before treating that person as an applicant for admission rather than someone already admitted to the United States. The decision was split along ideological lines.'Border officers did not have the burden to establish by clear and convincing evidence that Lau had committed a crime involving moral turpitude.'The case involved Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese national and green card holder who was charged in 2012 with selling counterfeit clothing. After briefly traveling to China while the charge was pending, Lau was paroled into the U.S. rather than admitted when he returned. He later pleaded guilty to trademark counterfeiting.During oral arguments in April, the government argued that the Immigration and Nationality Act does not require immigration officers at the border to possess clear and convincing evidence that a lawful permanent resident committed a crime involving moral turpitude — an act driven by dishonesty or immorality. Instead, government attorney Sopan Joshi argued that any burden is satisfied later during the individual's removal hearings.Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas agreed. The court held that the INA allows the government to regard a lawful permanent resident as seeking admission if he has committed a qualifying offense and that nothing in the statute imposes a requirement of clear and convincing evidence on border officers making "quick judgments on the spot."“Border officers did not have the burden to establish by clear and convincing evidence that Lau had committed a crime involving moral turpitude,” Thomas wrote.The ruling reverses the Second Circuit's decision, which had sided with Lau and held that immigration officials needed clear and convincing evidence that he had actually committed the crime before treating him as an applicant for entry rather than a person already admitted.RELATED: ‘Shall not be infringed’ — even if you're high, Supreme Court rules Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesJustice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented, arguing that the government must determine whether an exception applies under the INA before stripping a green card holder of admitted status. She warned that the majority's approach gives the government broad authority to parole lawful permanent residents and justify the decision later.“But today the Court allows the Government to deem an LPR to be ‘seeking an admission’ first and justify the applicability of an exception later — undermining the statutory scheme as well as the benefits and security that come with having a green card,” Jackson asserted.The court did not decide whether Lau's trademark counterfeiting conviction qualifies as a crime involving moral turpitude, sending the case back to the Second Circuit for further proceedings.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When Prime Minister Mark Carney recently accepted a civic scroll from the Mayo County Council in Ireland, he softened up the crowd with an anecdote about getting a gift from "another great leader."The impression that followed was accurate enough that he never needed to utter the leader's name — Donald Trump — to score big laughs.'It’s a cap,' Carney told Trump. 'A hard line. I thought you’d actually like that.'They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This lighthearted aside underscored a broader reality confronting the Canadian prime minister: Campaigning against Donald Trump is one thing; governing alongside him is another.That tension has become a recurring theme of Carney’s first year in office.Canada strongDuring the 2025 federal election, Carney embraced an “elbows up” message that portrayed resistance to Trump as both a political necessity and a point of national pride. In one speech, he argued that “many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become our weaknesses.”More recently, however, Carney struck a markedly different tone before the Economic Club of New York, declaring that “Canada Strong will help Make America Great Again” and emphasizing the importance of North American cooperation in energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.The shift has not gone unnoticed by the opposition. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre recently posted the two statements side by side on social media under the caption: “Elbows Up Carney or MAGA Carney? Which one will we get next?”The comparison makes for an effective political attack, but it may also reflect the realities of governing.RELATED: 'AMERICAN INVASION': Flailing Canada PM Mark Carney invokes historical grudge in latest lob at Trump George Rose/Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesGet along to go alongCanada sends roughly three-quarters of its exports to the United States, and the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement remains critical to the country's economy. Whatever slogans may have resonated on the campaign trail, any Canadian prime minister ultimately has strong incentives to maintain a productive working relationship with Washington.Carney has had to face this reality often since assuming office.Seven months after taking office, Carney visited the White House and described Trump as “a transformative president.” At the G7 summit, a hot microphone captured the two leaders discussing Canada's cap on Chinese electric vehicle imports in what appeared to be a friendly exchange.“It’s a cap,” Carney told Trump. “A hard line. ... I thought you’d actually like that.”“That’s good,” Trump replied. “I like it.”'Worth it'Carney’s response to the Iran conflict followed a similar pattern. While expressing concern that the initial military action appeared inconsistent with international law and noting that Canada had not been consulted, he later welcomed the resulting peace agreement and argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was "worth it."Yet Carney's more conciliatory approach has not always produced visible diplomatic dividends. At the G7 summit, he departed without securing a formal bilateral meeting with Trump, a notable omission given the stakes surrounding trade negotiations and the future of USMCA. Carney brushed aside suggestions that he had been snubbed, emphasizing that the two leaders had spoken several times during the gathering.Trump has also continued to revive his suggestion that Canada should become America’s “51st state” while maintaining pressure on trade and other bilateral issues.The Ireland impression, then, is less significant than the political evolution it symbolizes. Carney campaigned as Trump’s foil, but governing has required him to cultivate a functional relationship with the American president.Whether Canadians view that evolution as prudent statesmanship or an abandonment of the posture that helped elect him is ultimately a political judgment. But it illustrates a lesson many leaders discover after taking office: Running against a neighboring superpower is easier than running a country that depends on it.

Disneyland is facing a strict deadline set by a powerful California environmental regulatory agency to axe current gas-powered engines at a popular automobile-themed ride inside the amusement park, according to multiple reports. If Disneyland fails to overhaul the ride, the amusement park faces the risk of the iconic attraction being shut down. The California Air Resources Board — the state’s clean-air regulator – ordered the amusement park to retire the current gas‑powered engines used at the long-standing Autopia ride, which has been entertaining park guests for over 70 years. 'As the industry moves toward alternative fuel sources, we have developed a road map to electrify this attraction and are evaluating technology that will enable us to convert from gas engines in the next few years.'According to the official Disneyland website, thrill-seekers can "cruise the scenic winding roads of this classic attraction in a souped-up coupe" on the Autopia ride."Featuring a working gas pedal and steering wheel, each classy chassis seats 2 adults or 3 children and navigates curves and inclines just like the real thing," the site stated. Disney noted, "Autopia is the only existing Tomorrowland attraction dating back to Disneyland Park’s opening day in 1955. When the cars first took to the road, they captured America’s fascination with the latest transportation innovation, the 'freeway.'"Despite the iconic attraction being based on traditional combustion engines, Disneyland is being compelled to swap them out for an all-electric fleet.The California Air Resources Board is the state's regulatory agency with legal authority to set emissions rules.The Orange County Register reported that Disneyland disclosed to the California Air Resources Board that the gas-powered engines "had been modified in a way that violated state regulations for small off-road engines."In April 2024, Disneyland initially announced plans to convert Autopia's gas-powered engines to electric by fall 2026, according to the Orange County Register. Disneyland also agreed to a settlement with the California Air Resources Board.The California Air Resources Board released a statement regarding a $56,250 settlement with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. in August 2024 that read: To settle the case, Disney agreed to the penalty of $450 per unit of noncompliant SORE equipment for a total penalty of $56,250. Disney elected to provide $28,125 to a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) entitled Cleaner Air Greener Schools. The funds will be used to install indoor air quality sensors, air purifiers, and outdoor air quality sensors in 10 schools in Southern California.The civil penalty amount of $28,125 will be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality. Disney fully cooperated with CARB to resolve this matter and agrees to comply with all regulatory requirements.The engines in the go-karts are built by Honda, which has sponsored the Autopia ride since 2016. A corporate compliance plan from the California Air Resources Board stated that Honda "failed to certify the Disneyland-specific modified engines" because of an "administrative error," KTLA-TV reported. RELATED: New EV battery factory requires so much energy a coal power plant will be expanded and its closure delayed by years Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Climate-Colored Glasses, a climate Substack, reported that the Autopia attraction must be in compliance by Feb. 1, 2027, or be shut down.Disneyland spokesperson Jessica Good told the Los Angeles Times in April 2024:Since opening with Disneyland park in 1955, Autopia has remained a guest favorite, most popular with young kids experiencing driving for the first time. As the industry moves toward alternative fuel sources, we have developed a road map to electrify this attraction and are evaluating technology that will enable us to convert from gas engines in the next few years.This May, a spokesperson provided an update to People that the Autopia ride would retire combustion engines by early 2027."Work is under way on the design, engineering, and testing of a fully electric vehicle prototype, and we look forward to sharing more details soon," the spokesperson said. Disney fan website MousePlanet reported that Honda's corporate sponsorship of Autopia is slated to end at the end of 2026.D23, the self-described website for "daily home of the ultimate Disney fan," noted that Chevron was the sponsor before Honda between 2000 and 2012. The now-defunct Richfield Oil Corporation was Autopia's sponsor from 1955 until 1970, according to D23. According to Disney fan site WDW News Today, there are similar versions of the Autopia car ride at Florida's Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Paris.Disneyland did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Liberals hold the reins of the Democratic Party, but their grasp is slipping — and it appears that those radical leftists who've long been jockeying for control of the party may soon be in the coachman's seat.Earlier this year, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani took control of America's biggest city. Earlier this month, Democratic Socialists of America member Nithya Raman advanced in the Los Angeles mayoral race to a November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Last week, DSA candidate Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic nomination for mayor of Washington, D.C.'Capitalism has absolutely fallen through the floor.'On the heels of these and other signs of democratic socialists' ascendancy within the broader Democratic camp, CNN's chief data analyst, Harry Enten, noted, "The democratic socialists seem to be doing considerably better than they used to be — and they have the chance to knock off, in fact, Democratic incumbents in Congress."Enten suggested that part of what is driving the socialists' success is their growing favorability among Democrats."Net favorability among Dems, Democratic Socialists of America — look at that, a plus-17-point net favorability rating among Democrats," said Enten. "That is better than how congressional Democrats are viewed by Democrats. It just lost four points. So no wonder that democratic socialists have such a good chance, because simply put, they are a better brand at this point than Democrats in Congress."According to a national Marquette Law School poll conducted in April, 41% of Democrats have a favorable opinion of the DSA. Among those Democrats who view the DSA favorably, 43% described themselves as "very liberal" and 25% referred to themselves as "moderate."RELATED: Montreal shooter's alleged manifesto calls for far-left communist totalitarianism, 'revolutionary terror' Democratic Socialists of America-hosted rally in the Bronx. Jason Alpert-Wisnia/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images.Enten highlighted that democratic socialism's rise within the Democratic Party comes amid declining support for capitalism.Gallup polling showed in September that 54% of Americans had a positive image of capitalism, down from 61% in 2010. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said that they had a positive image of socialism, up from 36% in 2010.When broken down by party affiliation, the pollsters found that Republicans' perception of capitalism had improved — from 71% in 2010 to 74% last year. For Democrats, the positive perception of capitalism declined from 51% in 2010 to 42% in 2025.While only 14% of Republicans said they viewed socialism in a positive light last year, 66% of Democrats signaled a positive perception of the ruinous economic and political philosophy — up from 50% in 2010."Capitalism has absolutely fallen through the floor," Enten said in reference to this data. "Socialism, on the other hand, up like a rocket."Enten said of the Democratic Party's embrace of socialism, "This to me is one of the more stunning trends ... that I have seen in covering politics over the last 15, 16 years. And if you believe the prediction markets, it's not going to just stop suddenly."The Wall Street Journal's editorial board has similarly highlighted the DSA's ascendancy, concluding that regardless of whether socialist candidates succeed in New York's Democratic congressional primary on Tuesday, "the DSA agenda is gaining among Democrats."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!