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Democrats are raging at Joe Manchin, the former Democrat U.S. senator, after he endorsed Susan Collins, the incumbent Republican in the race for one of two Senate seats in Maine.Manchin had represented West Virginia but was heavily criticized by Democrats for his moderate voting patterns. He left the Democratic Party in 2024 and became an independent.'Susan is always in there, always in the trenches.'Rather than endorse the progressive candidate of his former party, Manchin told voters 73-year-old Collins needed to stay in the Senate."You lose the Susan Collinses of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate — basically, a person you can talk to, who wants to do the right thing all of the time," he said on CNBC Monday."Now, everybody says, 'Oh, she doesn’t do this, doesn’t speak up.' Susan is always in there, always in the trenches," he added.Collins released a statement about his endorsement."Joe is a dear friend and trusted colleague with whom I have always worked closely to solve problems and deliver results for the people of Maine and America," she said."From helping end government shutdowns and negotiating the Electoral Count Act to delivering COVID relief and historic investments in our nation’s infrastructure, we have shown what is possible when Republicans and Democrats work together to find common ground and get things done. I am honored to have his support," she added.Keeping Collins in the Senate is pivotal for Republicans' hopes to maintain their control of at least one house of Congress.RELATED: Graham Platner officially WITHDRAWS from pivotal Senate race While Collins' progressive challenger, Troy Jackson, is not a democratic socialist, he has been endorsed by the organization.Manchin has previously said he could not support a socialist for office."How could you support some of the crazy stuff they’re for? Have you seen their platform?” Manchin said to CBS’ Margaret Brennan in an interview last month.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned to the Senate on Monday after a long absence due to his health issues.The former leader of the Senate had been absent from Congress for three months before the newest session began Monday.The slim Republican majority in the Senate meant his vote was pivotal toward passing any legislation opposed by the Democrats in the minority.McConnell said in a statement that his recovery had been "a long and often frustrating process," according to Axios."Today, I'll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June," he added. "I'm really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues."He added that his recovery had been stymied by the "lingering effects" of his bout with polio in childhood.The slim Republican majority in the Senate meant his vote was pivotal toward passing any legislation opposed by the Democrats in the minority. "I'm still not quite back to 100%, but I've assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors," McConnell added, "I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me."Reporters posted at McConnell's residence recorded video as the 84-year-old senator left his residence in a wheelchair on his way to the Senate.In a brief statement at the Capitol, he said he was determined to vote on a farm bill and to punish Russia. RELATED: Mitch McConnell’s replacement might be chosen in court first McConnell is also expected to vote on the nomination of Matthew Byrne to be a district judge in Ohio. "Elaine and I are very grateful for all the continued well wishes from our fellow Kentuckians, and I’m glad to get back to more of business as usual on their behalf this month," he added. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Gen Z was told casual sex was no big deal while being promised a future with a loving partner through dating apps.Dr. Debra Soh says young people, especially young women, are now dealing with the consequences.“I don’t think casual sex is good for either sex, but especially for women,” Soh tells BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey, explaining that it’s “slightly different” for men.“Women do tend to become more attached after sex. Whereas for men, hormonally it’s different,” she says.While women release bonding hormones during sexual activity, Soh tells Stuckey that men’s hormones “go back to baseline.”“So they actually disengage after sex and lose interest in their partner,” she says.This is why Soh believes it’s “very irresponsible” that so many “feminist influencers and podcasters tell their young fans that they should be promiscuous or that they should have sex on the first date.”“They’re telling their young fans to engage in behavior that is ultimately going to be self-destructive. And I do think this is an example of intrasexual competition in that women compete with other women and men compete with other men for sexual partners,” she explains.“So I find that really sad, because I see it, especially with Gen Z women. I say Millennials, probably, too, really bought into this idea that having sex on the first date is not a big deal. That casual sex, if men can do it, women should do it,” she adds.But it’s not just casual sex that’s killing modern love.“You can kind of see some of the obvious issues with being able to swipe left or right,” Stuckey says. “It’s superficial. It’s based on aesthetics. But one thing that you said that I hadn’t thought about is that having more options is ... a historical anomaly.”“So our ancestors before us did not have this roster of people within a 200-mile radius that they were judging based on a self-assessment and pictures,” she continues.“The paradox of choice speaks to this,” Soh explains. “So there have been studies showing that ... when people are given fewer options, they’re more likely to actually make a choice and to be satisfied with that choice.”“So when you’re on a dating app, it feels as though there is an unlimited number of potential partners. And so people are constantly seeking the next best thing,” she continues.“I think there are very many of us who are just not present in terms of the dating process. … That’s a side effect of being online and just how so much of romantic interest or courtship is based through online connections or lack thereof, I suppose, nowadays,” she adds.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.

Over the past decade, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has continuously dodged allegations that she married her brother to help him obtain legal immigration status in the United States. Last week the controversy exploded anew as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Benny Johnson an investigation into the claim is under way. On Sunday, another Trump administration official, border czar Tom Homan, confirmed the existence of an “ongoing criminal investigation” of Omar by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division. 'We're gonna take a look at it. If we think that there's a crime, we're gonna prosecute that crime.'Homan’s admission came during a segment on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing.”Homan told Fox News that “if someone committed immigration violation, if someone committed marriage fraud or anything like that, regardless if they're a congressman or not, no one's above the law.” When pressed he further, confirmed the existence of a current criminal investigation into Omar. Homan and Mullin are not the only Trump administration officials to claim that investigations into Omar and the validity of her citizenship are under way. In May, Vice President JD Vance told a reporter, “We're gonna take a look at it. If we think that there's a crime, we're gonna prosecute that crime. And that's something the Department of Justice is looking at right now.”For her part, Omar has consistently denied the allegations. In March, after an earlier claim of fraud by Vance, her chief of staff released a statement to Fox News: “This is a ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract from the pedophile protection party’s unpopular war of choice, increasing gas prices, and rapidly dropping polling numbers.”RELATED: DHS secretary: Ilhan Omar married her brother, and consequences are coming The allegations have dogged Omar since she won her primary for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016. In August of that year, Scott Johnson reported at Power Line blog that a since-deleted post on Somalispot claimed that “Omar married her brother Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2009, implying that the latter marriage assisted his entry into the United States.” Power Line’s Johnson further looked into marriage records and reached out to those involved. He received a response from attorney Jean Brandl, which was the first in a long line of Omar denials regarding the allegations, “There are people who do not want an East African, Muslim woman elected to office and who will follow Donald Trump’s playbook to prevent it."Brandl continued, “Ilhan Omar’s campaign sees your superfluous contentions as one more in a series of attempts to discredit her candidacy.”RELATED: JD Vance reveals Ilhan Omar is under federal investigation — and it may be about her marriage Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesIn 2020 after the allegations again surfaced, Omar unequivocally denied the allegations via a statement. She wrote, “A number of baseless rumors have been made recently about my personal life and family. I will say it again here: they are absolutely false and ridiculous.”Omar went on to detail her side of the marriage timeline. The Department of Homeland Security and Rep. Omar have not responded to Blaze News’ requests for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!