This story originally was published by Real Clear Wire

By Kevin Mooney

Massachusetts could pivot in the direction of affordable and reliable energy by expanding on existing natural gas capacity, according to a new study that says ratepayers could save $367 million per winter. Since many of those same ratepayers are also voters, that’s a figure that should pique their interest.

The Fiscal Alliance Foundation, a nonprofit headquartered in Boston, highlights the benefits of “Project Beacon” in its study released just ahead of the state’s gubernatorial election. The projected savings for homeowners and businesses are enormous. But Massachusetts ratepayers, in particular those who can vote, must pressure political figures to make a clean break with current policies.

What better time than the upcoming elections to do exactly that? The foundation’s study makes a compelling case that Massachusetts could get out in front of some nasty winters if it moves now to address its lack of energy infrastructure. As it is, Bay Staters already pay the fifth-highest electricity prices in the United States at 25 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) with natural gas supplying more than 65 percent of their state’s electricity in a typical year.

Massachusetts residents can’t change their geology, but they can tap into their neighbors; Project Beacon could make nearby resources readily available at greater capacity.

Enbridge, a Canadian-owned gas pipeline company, announced its intention to launch Project Beacon back in May. If approved, the project would upgrade the existing Algonquin pipeline system, which carries natural gas from New Jersey into Massachusetts. Always on Energy Research, which performed the analysis for the foundation’s study, examined seven winters from 2019–20 through 2025–26 and found that Project Beacon could have saved Massachusetts ratepayers an average of $367 million per winter during those periods. Moreover, the findings break down how Project Beacon would benefit households and businesses. Individual ratepayers would save about $95 per winter, commercial customers about $792 per winter, and industrial customers nearly $4,600 per winter.

Pipeline Policy Stance a Key Test in Governor’s Race

So, the question becomes: Will the political class in Massachusetts listen? There are reasons to be hopeful and reasons to be cynical.  Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat running for a second term, appears to have had an epiphany. She suddenly favors an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy that would theoretically include natural gas pipelines. But voters need to remember that during her time as attorney general, Healey was all in with opposing natural gas pipelines. So where is she now?

Project Beacon clearly puts her all-of-the-above pledge to the test, and so far, she remains noncommittal. The same is not true of Mike Minogue, her Republican gubernatorial opponent. The businessman and military veteran expresses support for natural gas pipelines on his campaign website.

Yet, Paul Diego Craney, the executive director of the foundation, insists both candidates fully explain their respective takes on Project Beacon ahead of the election.

“The people of Massachusetts deserve to know where both candidates stand on a project that will have a direct impact on what families and businesses pay to keep the lights and heat on,” Craney said in a press statement. “Governor Healey and Mike Minogue should each tell voters whether they will commit to moving Project Beacon forward. Whoever takes the oath in January will inherit the same pipeline constraints and the same affordability problem. This study gives the next administration a concrete opportunity to do something about both.”

Expensive Double-Whammy

Embracing Project Beacon would also mean making a clean break with anti-energy policies that have held sway in Massachusetts up until now. Always on Energy Research is part of another study titled “Blue States, High Rates” that delves into how blue state policies overloaded with renewable mandates and expensive regulations drive up energy costs. Massachusetts, for example, is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multistate climate initiative based on “cap and trade” regulations and carbon taxes. The study, done in partnership with the Institute for Energy Research, points out that Massachusetts is the only New England state operating a state-only emissions cap on electric-generator emissions, in addition to being a founding member of RGGI. That’s an expensive double-whammy and a warning to other states.

Pennsylvania would be one that comes to mind.

That’s where Gov. Josh Shapiro, another Democrat up for re-election this November, withdrew his state from RGGI after encountering stiff opposition from industry and labor groups. But as an alternative, Shapiro has proposed his own state-level cap and trade plan known as the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act, or PACER. If the elections were to go south for the Republicans in the Keystone State, Shapiro could possibly push PACER through the state legislature and rejoin RGGI. That’s a worst-case scenario for the cause of affordable and reliable energy.

Conversely, if Massachusetts were to suddenly embrace a natural gas pipeline plan that lowers energy prices it could set an example that reverberates with other RGGI participants. The concept of “blue states, high rates” is a catchy phrase that could catch on.

Hello Bay State voters and ratepayers. Are you all paying attention?!

Kevin Mooney is a senior investigative researcher with Restoration News and author of Climate Porn: How and Why Anti-Population Zealots Fabricate Science, while Targeting American Capitalism, Freedom, and Independence

The post Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Forecast to Lower Energy Bills in Massachusetts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This article originally appeared on WND.com.

Guest post by Bob Unruh

Meanwhile, North Dakota rated best with ‘$21 billion more than it needed to pay its bills’

A new report confirms that Democrats are in “total control” in five U.S. states with the biggest debts, while North Dakota ended up on the other end of the scale, with Republicans in control there, and the state’s $21 billion more than it needed to pay bills.

According to an analysis by the Washington Stand, the Truth in Accounting organization gave the GOP-run North Dakota an “A” grade for having a surplus of $72,300 … per taxpayer.

“While oil, gas, and coal tax revenues declined due to lower energy prices, the decrease was offset by strong investment earnings and federal grant revenue,” the TIA report said.

The report, the 17th annual version of the “Financial State of the States,” assesses the 50 state governments in terms of assets and liabilities.

In North Dakota, Republicans hold the offices of governor, attorney general and secretary of state, and have majorities in both the state House and Senate.

The other end of the scale was occupied by New Jersey, with just $56.8 billion to fund $219.1 billion in outstanding debt, the report said.

“Every New Jersey resident would have to pay $45,800 in taxes to eliminate the deficit. The biggest share of the outstanding debt is in unfunded pension and retiree health care benefits. The former debt is more than $79 billion, while the latter exceeds $91 billion,” the Washington Stand documented.

There are Democrats in all the state’s biggest executive branch jobs, and Democrats in majorities in both legislative chambers.

The Stand confirmed, “Connecticut is the second least healthy state government, according to the TIA report, with every resident having to pay an additional $41,400 in taxes to restore the Nutmeg State’s financial health. Third is Illinois, with a deficit per resident of $36,900, followed by Massachusetts, where $24,100 would have to be paid by each resident, and California at $16,000.”

Democrats are in control of all branches of those governments.

The healthy part of the state population is seconded by Alaska, with a surplus valued at $64,200 per resident. Alaska Republicans occupy the three highest executive branch positions, and the GOP controls the state Senate, but Democrats hold the lower chamber, the report said.

Wyoming is No. 3, with a surplus valued at $30,300, followed by Utah at $14,900 and Tennessee at $11,400. Republicans hold all of the top executive branch positions, as well as control of both chambers of these states’ legislatures.

The residents were voting with their feet, the Washington Stand said.

“Together, the top five states gained nearly 48,000 new residents, while the bottom five lost almost 350,000, with California the biggest loser at 229,000.

“Twenty-four states still carry significant debt burdens, driven by rising costs, inflation, and ongoing pressure to fund promised pension benefits. The investment markets have also significantly affected how government debt is reported. When markets perform well, the value of investments held by public pension systems often increases. These higher valuations offset the estimated cost of promised pension benefits, making a state’s pension debt appear lower. However, these are unrealized, or ‘paper,’ gains, not actual profits. In volatile markets, these gains can quickly evaporate, causing pension debt to rise and increasing the overall reported debt burden,” the report said.

The great State of New York leads the nation in several categories:

*Population loss
*Income loss
*Migrant spending
*Healthcare spending per capita
*Public welfare per capita
*National guard members in public transit per capita
*National guard members in state prisons per capita
*Medicaid spending per capita
*Education spending per capita
*State-Local Tax Burden per Capita
*Taxes Paid to Own State per Capita
*Debt per Capita
*Public transit fare evasion per capita
*Congestion taxes and subsequent increases in cost of living per capita

— Reza Chowdhury (@RezaC1) October 15, 2026

Copyright 2026 WND News Center

The post Report confirms: Democrats in ‘total control’ of 5 states with the biggest debts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

As the Gateway Pundit reported, last night Maine Democrat Troy Jackson told Republican Senator Susan Collins to ‘shut up’ during a debate when she suggested that a debate heckler was one of his supporters. Was Collins really wrong?

Tonight, Collins appeared on the Sean Hannity show and talked about the moment and her initial reaction to it.

Collins says that it started to make sense to her when she thought about Troy Jackson’s record for dealing with women with whom he disagrees.

Jackson allegedly threw a bottle at a female colleague in 2021 during an argument. There are other allegations as well.

Via Sean Hannity:

Sen. Susan Collins blasts Troy Jackson over his “shut up” remark, saying his response was “very telling” given his reputation for how he treats women who disagree with him:

“I was struck by how reflexive the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was. But then I thought about the reputation that Troy Jackson has in Augusta, particularly when he’s dealing with women with whom he disagrees. So, in some ways, it didn’t surprise me. And the fact that it seemed like such an automatic, quick reply was very telling.”

Watch the video below:

Sen. Susan Collins blasts Troy Jackson over his “shut up” remark, saying his response was “very telling” given his reputation for how he treats women who disagree with him:

“I was struck by how reflexive the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was. But then I thought about the reputation… pic.twitter.com/pRxF6sLWNL

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 17, 2026

Collins also spoke about how the far left is doing everything they can to get Jackson elected, bringing Bernie Sanders, AOC, Elizabeth Warren and others to the state to campaign for him:

“Well, it’s interesting to me that Bernie Sanders has been to Maine to campaign with him. Elizabeth Warren is coming this week. AOC is coming next week. I think that tells you a lot about where Troy Jackson stands on the issues. Although, to be fair to him, he started out with some extreme positions on the right, particularly when it comes to abortion rights. And then he’s totally flipped and gone far left on a lot of issues. He actually touted the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America that he received during his campaign to try to be chosen as the Democratic candidate for governor.”

Watch:

Sen. Susan Collins blasts Troy Jackson over his “shut up” remark, saying his response was “very telling” given his reputation for how he treats women who disagree with him:

“I was struck by how reflexive the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was. But then I thought about the reputation… pic.twitter.com/pRxF6sLWNL

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 17, 2026

The radical left thinks their moment has come.

They will stop at nothing in their bid to take over. They really think this is their big chance.

The post Susan Collins Talks About Being Told to ‘Shut Up’ by Troy Jackson in Debate – Brings Up His Record of Dealing With Women He Disagrees With (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Katie Zacharia released a statement on Friday evening saying it was an “honor to work for” President Trump after her departure as White House Press Secretary earlier. 

This comes after Trump told reporters that he had asked her to reconsider accepting the job after the relentless abuse from the mainstream media following her first press briefing on Tuesday.

The attacks were even coming from within the administration, with officials trashing her to the press and reported controversy over her appointment to the role.

Zacharia told The Gateway Pundit that she had not been fired.

As The Gateway Pundit reported earlier, Trump weighed in on the media’s attacks on Zacharia over the week, telling reporters that she did not deserve to be treated so “nastily” by the hostile press, including Fox News.

Trump said Fox’s Sean Hannity and the Fox and Friends panel this morning were “tough” on her after Fox News grilled Zacharia in interviews.

BREAKING: Trump Weighs in on Media Attacks Against Katie Zacharia, Says Fox Was Tough on Her Amid Revelation She’s “Transitioning Out” of Role (VIDEO)

“Katie’s been treated very badly by the media, very, very badly, very unfairly, I think, and I just spoke to her about it,” Trump said.

WATCH:

Almost immediately after, Fox News reported that Zacharia had told Peter Doocy that she was “transitioning out” of her role in the press office.

“President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to,” Zacharia wrote on X.

“It was an honor to work for him.”

President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to.

It was an honor to work for him. https://t.co/Tp4NizrhE2

— Katie Zacharia (@KatieZacharia) October 17, 2026

Zacharia reportedly joined Vice President JD Vance and his family for dinner tonight at his residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC.

The post JUST IN: Katie Zacharia Puts Out Statement Confirming Departure as Press Sec appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York recently spoke to a reporter for TMZ in DC – an outlet that is obviously becoming one of her favorites – and explained that talking about Abdul El-Sayed’s alleged family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood is (drumroll please) racist.

To hear AOC explain it, Abdul El-Sayed is a victim here, because his family had some struggles when he was a little boy. Oh and also, if you examine anyone’s life hard enough, won’t you find some questionable connections? She actually tries to make this point.

For the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), this is probably the mot important race in this election cycle. They think that if they can drag El-Sayed over the finish line in Michigan, they can do it anywhere in the country. For them, this is an important test case.

From TMZ:

AOC on Abdul El-Sayed – Racist Muslim Brotherhood Claims Are Dirty Politics!!!

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is coming out swinging for Abdul El-Sayed … calling claims linking the Michigan senatorial candidate to the Muslim Brotherhood flat-out racist.

Charlie got AOC on Friday at a Culver’s in Michigan, where she’s been campaigning for El-Sayed … and he asked whether the Muslim Brotherhood controversy was rooted in reality or racism.

AOC didn’t mince words … saying the allegations fall “into racist very clearly” and blasting critics for dragging El-Sayed’s painful family history into politics…

AOC points out El-Sayed’s parents split shortly after he was born, and he grew up without his mother … arguing just about everyone has relatives who’ve made questionable choices, but that doesn’t mean those choices define them.

And AOC isn’t budging on her support … calling El-Sayed “one of the most patriotic people” she’s ever met.

AOC isn’t fooling anyone with this:

AOC dismisses concerns about Abdul El-Sayed’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood: “It’s very clearly racist. He’s one of the most patriotic people I’ve ever met.” pic.twitter.com/wiMLnB3P8R

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 16, 2026

If a Republican was running in this cycle and had family ties to a questionable organization and it was being reported in the news, do you think AOC would be out here defending him or her? Not a chance.

Everyone can see what is going on here.

The post AOC Says Discussing Abdul El-Sayed’s Reported Ties to the Muslim Brotherhood is… RACIST! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This is amazing.

An American flag was still flying on top of Patriots Hill in Orange County after a massive fired torched the hillside in San Juan Capistrano.

A massive vegetation fire erupted in South Orange County, California, on Friday afternoon amid gusty Santa Ana winds.

The blaze, dubbed the Norte Fire, has exploded to more than 570 acres in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Several homes in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano are engulfed in flames.

More than 500 firefighters are currently battling the Norte Fire, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

At the time of this publication, the Norte Fire is 14% contained.

The fire is currently at 465 acres.
#NorteFire

— OCFA (@OCFireAuthority) October 16, 2026

Evacuation orders have been issued for San Juan zones 4,5 and 10. OC Fire also issued evacuation orders for San Clemente zones 12 and 13.

Evacuation shelters are available at:

• San Juan Capistrano Community Center
25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano.

• San Clemente Community Center
100 Calle Seville, San Clemente.

#NorteFire evacuation shelters are available at:

• San Juan Capistrano Community Center
25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano.

• San Clemente Community Center
100 Calle Seville, San Clemente.

If you are under an evacuation order, leave now. https://t.co/Sh9tE1GpNj

— OCFA (@OCFireAuthority) October 16, 2026

The American flag at the top of Patriots Hill, a scenic point on a hiking trail in San Juan Capistrano, was untouched by the blaze.

“You can see that the fire really tore through these hills, but the flag is still flying on the top of the Patriots Hill there,” ABC 7 reporter said.

“So pretty amazing that that area kind of held up,” she said.

WATCH:

The post Amazing! American Flag Still Flying on Top of Patriots Hill in Orange County After Fire Torches Hillside (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.