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A federal judge issued a sharp rebuke against the Trump administration over the settlement that was intended to establish the anti-weaponization fund.U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said Monday that President Donald Trump had committed self-dealing when he sued the Internal Revenue Service for leaking his tax files and reached a settlement with the agency.'The facts before this Court demonstrate there was never adverseness between the Parties; there was never a case or controversy.'Williams said the case "was brought for an improper purpose — to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a 'settlement' that had no viable basis in law or fact" in her 56-page ruling. That settlement was reached in May 2026 after the president agreed to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. It set up a $1.776 billion fund that critics said the president would use to benefit and enrich his supporters and political allies."In sum, the facts before this Court demonstrate there was never adverseness between the Parties; there was never a case or controversy; and there was never a question as to who would prevail," Williams continued.She accused Trump of "improperly" employing the lawsuit "to justify a particular award in this matter — access to taxpayer funds and exemption from audits and other investigations — which was accomplished by leveraging control over Defendants."Williams similarly excoriated the Department of Justice for "abdicating its responsibility to zealously defend the interests of the United States" by agreeing to the settlement.She also pointed to the $1.776 billion figure as evidence that the settlement amount had more to do with branding than it did a "deliberate and thoughtful" account of damages.A spokesperson for the president's legal team released a statement about the ruling."The IRS wrongly allowed a rogue, politically motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization to the New York Times, ProPublica, and other left-wing news outlets, which was then illegally released to millions of people," the statement reads. "President Trump continues to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable."RELATED: Clinton judge brazenly gives White House ultimatum over Trump's anti-weaponization fund The ruling is likely to worsen the chances of Attorney General Todd Blanche being approved by the U.S. Senate. He is scheduled to appear at the congressional hearing Thursday.Williams was appointed by former President Barack Obama.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Longtime GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) broke nearly a month of silence on Sunday, releasing a statement to update the public on his health after spending weeks in the hospital.McConnell, 84, said he was hospitalized after suffering “a fall” that left him “briefly unconscious.” He dismissed speculation that the incident was caused by a more serious condition, saying, “I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages.”'A short, unedited video of Senator McConnell speaking directly to the people he represents would answer far more questions than another written statement and a single still photograph.'“I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia,” McConnell added.The press release originally included a photo of the senator in a hospital bed alongside his wife, Elaine Chao. The image was later removed from the statement before being re-uploaded separately to McConnell’s website.Yet, rather than easing speculation surrounding McConnell’s health, this recent development has only seemed to fuel further uncertainty.Former Republican Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz shared his own skepticism, writing, “Let’s see you say it. A written statement is far different than saying it on camera.”In a lengthy X post, Kylie Jane Kremer, former producer for Fox’s Sean Hannity, expressed her frustration with the press release she claims ”still doesn’t answer the fundamental questions about Mitch McConnell’s health.”“Tax payers have paid McConnell’s salary and healthcare costs for over 49 years! A short, unedited video of Senator McConnell speaking directly to the people he represents would answer far more questions than another written statement and a single still photograph.”Kremer also addressed Scott Jennings’ unverified claim that he and McConnell “talked for just shy of 20 minutes ... about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history.” “Yet when those claims have been questioned, no independent evidence of those conversations has been made public,” Kremer said.RELATED: Mitch McConnell’s replacement might be chosen in court first Sen. Mitch McConnell's officeOn June 14 — the day McConnell was hospitalized — EMS dispatch audio published by an independent journalist suggests medics performed CPR on an “unconscious” individual in “cardiac arrest” at McConnell’s home address. The senator, however, is not mentioned by name in any recordings. The press release comes just one day after the unexpected passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The cause of death has been attributed to an aortic dissection. Graham was 71 years old.McConnell’s office did not respond to Blaze News’ request for comment regarding the removal and subsequent reposting of the photograph.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Another immigrant has been shot and killed during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation, according to Maine lawmakers.The circumstances of the shooting and the legal status of the victim are still being investigated, but the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition has identified him as 26 years old and from Colombia.'He was in a vehicle, pulled out in the vehicle — and the term the secretary used was "weaponized" the vehicle — and was shot.'The MIRC also claimed that he had received a Social Security card and was authorized to work in the U.S.Photos from the scene in Biddeford show a Kia sedan with several bullet holes in the windshield."I know that situations like these are alarming and frightening," said Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat. One witness said he saw officers with green ICE vests hop out of an unmarked Ford Explorer at about 7:20 a.m. on Monday and surround the white sedan with guns drawn. He heard four gunshots. Independent Maine Sen. Angus King told reporters he received a briefing from Markwayne Mullin, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, about the shooting. Mullin told him the man had a deportation order issued against him and also had an arrest warrant. "He was in a vehicle, pulled out in the vehicle — and the term the secretary used was 'weaponized' the vehicle — and was shot by an ICE agent," King said. "What I said to the secretary was, ‘We want a full, transparent, and open investigation of this matter,'” King added after noting that the agents did not have body cameras recording during the incident.A press release from the office of Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, a Democrat, said of the Biddeford shooting: "Initial statements indicate an Enforcement Removal Operations Officer was conducting an enforcement operation related to a final order of removal when the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot."Blaze News reached out to the DHS for comment.RELATED: President of Mexico VOWS to take action over lethal ICE shooting of illegal alien in Houston Dozens of protesters joined a demonstration at a park after the shooting. Dozens of activists also went to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins' office to protest."Vote her out!" they chanted.WMTW-TV news video from the scene shows agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigating the shooting. "Today, a 26-year-old member of our community is dead following an incident involving ICE," reads a statement from MIRC Executive Director Mufalo Chitam."We are grieving, we are furious, and we will not allow his death to be treated as routine or inevitable," he added. "How much more harm must our communities endure before those with the power to act acknowledge that this has gone too far?"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

For many health-conscious Americans, grocery shopping has never been more intimidating. Thanks to the MAHA movement, the curtain has been pulled back on the long list of toxins hiding in most common foods. Many wellness-focused shoppers experience pressure to scrutinize every ingredient label — but without knowing exactly what to look for and avoid, it can be completely overwhelming.Ashley and Patrick Sullivan, the creators behind the documentary “Breaking Big Food,” keenly understand this frustration. The husband-and-wife duo have spent years exposing the rampant corruption in Big Food, which keeps millions of Americans addicted and sick.To help struggling shoppers, they created a “Dirty Dozen” cheat sheet for avoiding questionable food additives and ingredients. On a recent episode of “Relatable,” they shared these tips with BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey. The Sullivans’ “Dirty Dozen” foods to avoid are as follows:Seed oilsHigh-fructose corn syrupArtificial sweetenersArtificial colorsArtificial flavorsNatural flavorsPreservativesCarrageenanGumsNon-organic coffeeNon-organic cropsNon-organic meats, eggs, and dairyThe cheat sheet explains the reasoning behind each of the ingredients.“You don't have to register for anything. You literally just click it, and it's made for you to keep on your fridge or save it on your phone so that as you are starting to shop down the grocery aisles, you at least have something to reference,” Ashley says.Many of the ingredients on the list, she explains, are “really disruptive to the gut and the microbiome.”“I've heard a lot of people talk about seed oils and different things, but what would you say is maybe one that doesn't get enough attention that people need to look out for?” Allie asks.“I think natural flavors can be tricky,” says Ashley. “Sometimes they can be from naturally derived sources, but specifically if they are used in savory foods, a lot of times it can be code for MSG.”To hear more, watch the episode above.Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.