Author name: Don Palladino

Fox’s Tarlov Calls Inflatable Animal Protests ‘Intellectual’ Amid Antifa ICE Chaos
News

Fox’s Tarlov Calls Inflatable Animal Protests ‘Intellectual’ Amid Antifa ICE Chaos

/

Democrat strategist and Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov sparked debate Friday after attempting to explain what she described as the “intellectual” value of anti-ICE protesters dressing in inflatable animal costumes during demonstrations in Portland, Oregon.

The comments came during Fox News’ The Five, where Tarlov addressed footage from ongoing protests outside Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

The demonstrations, part of the nationwide “No Kings” rallies, featured activists dressed as cartoon and inflatable animals, including a large green frog.

Clips of the costumed protests have circulated widely across social media, drawing both ridicule and support.

“Then why are they always dressed like a furry, screaming about boys and girls?” co-host Joey Jones asked during the exchange.

“They are ridiculous.”

Tarlov responded that the protests were meant to be peaceful and symbolic, arguing that dressing up was not meant to diminish their message.

“It is an intellectual argument to say, [DHS Secretary] Kristi [Noem], ‘You’re making it up about what’s going on here at that ICE facility, because I’m dressed as Pikachu and posing no threat.’ They arrested a guy who was singing,” Tarlov said, defending one protester’s recent arrest.

Jones countered that such displays undercut the seriousness of their cause, saying that if protesters wanted to make an “intellectual argument,” then “dressing up like a unicorn and running out there and screaming every time” was not an effective approach.

Co-host Jesse Watters added humor to the segment, remarking, “His voice was terrible, Jessica,” referring to the protester Tarlov mentioned.

The demonstrations outside Portland’s ICE facility have continued for months, often devolving into clashes between Antifa-linked activists and law enforcement.

President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops to assist local authorities earlier this year, citing ongoing assaults against federal agents and property.

Federal and local officials have reported that dozens of individuals connected to the protests have been arrested and charged with rioting, vandalism, and obstruction of justice.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that several incidents included attacks on ICE vehicles and attempts to breach the facility’s perimeter.

While Democratic leaders in Portland and across Oregon have downplayed the unrest, conservative reporters covering the events have described escalating violence from organized far-left activists.

Independent journalist Nick Sortor and Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt, both of whom have extensively covered protests across the Pacific Northwest, were recently targeted while reporting from the scene.

On October 2, Sortor was arrested for “disorderly conduct” after recording video of Antifa-affiliated protesters outside the ICE facility.

In footage shared on X, an Antifa member dressed in black confronted Sortor as he attempted to cross the street.

The individual appeared to throw a punch, leading to a brief scuffle before Sortor was tackled and detained by police.

Following his release, Sortor spoke with Fox News, condemning local authorities for what he described as selective enforcement.

He argued that police were failing to address violence from left-wing agitators while cracking down on journalists documenting the unrest.

Days before Sortor’s arrest, Daviscourt was assaulted by an Antifa member while filming in the same area, leaving her with a visible black eye.

Despite identifying her alleged attacker to the Portland Police Bureau, no arrests were made.

Daviscourt has continued to report on Antifa’s activities, posting videos showing masked individuals confronting journalists and disrupting demonstrations.

The protests have reignited debates over political accountability in Democrat-led cities, particularly concerning federal immigration enforcement and public safety.

President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard units earlier this year came after repeated attacks on ICE offices and personnel nationwide.

Tarlov’s comments Friday reflected a broader divide over how the demonstrations are perceived.

While she described the protests as peaceful expressions of dissent, her co-hosts questioned whether the movement’s theatrics and growing association with violence have undermined its message.

Jason Miyares Destroys Democrat Opponent in Debate for Threatening GOP Leader’s Kids
News

Jason Miyares Destroys Democrat Opponent in Debate for Threatening GOP Leader’s Kids

/

The Virginia attorney general debate Thursday night at the University of Richmond was dominated by controversy surrounding Democrat nominee Jay Jones and the resurfacing of violent text messages he sent in 2022 about Republican leaders.

Jones, a former delegate from Norfolk, has faced bipartisan criticism since the Richmond Times-Dispatch revealed text messages he sent to former Republican delegate Carrie Coyner in August 2022.

In the messages, Jones fantasized about killing then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican, and referenced the deaths of Gilbert’s children.

The messages, which circulated online last month, have shadowed his campaign and prompted widespread calls for him to withdraw from the race.

During the debate, Jones addressed the messages directly and repeated an apology. “I am ashamed, I am embarrassed, and I am sorry,” Jones said.

“I’m sorry to Speaker Gilbert. I’m sorry to his family. I’m sorry to my family. And I’m sorry to every single Virginian.”

Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, seeking reelection, responded sharply, saying Jones’s apology came only after public exposure of the texts.

“And right now you may say that you are sorry, but look at back at what happened,” Miyares said.

“You had three years to say you are sorry, Jay, and you didn’t. Three years to actually recognize what you did was horrific. You chose to stay silent.”

Miyares continued, “Carrie Coyner called you out then, you doubled down. It was after she called you out for these text messages that that is when you said you advocated for violence against children. And when this became public, we now know your first statement wasn’t saying ‘I’m sorry.’ The words ‘I’m sorry’ wasn’t even in your statement. It was to say we all send text messages we regret.”

He added that Jones’s comments were especially troubling given the position he is seeking.

“I find it a little bit stunning that today you say one of the pillars of your public safety platform is protecting children. Were you protecting Jennifer’s children when you said you wanted to see them die in their mother’s arms?” Miyares said, referring to Gilbert’s wife.

Miyares, who has served as Virginia’s attorney general since 2022, questioned how Jones could lead an office tasked with prosecuting crimes against children.

“How can anybody who’s ever worked in any of the crimes against children, all of the areas of federal and state local law department, how can they ever take you seriously, be the top prosecutor, knowing that you view that children should die to advance a political agenda?” he said.

“It’s unconscionable, and if you were truly ‘sorry,’ you would not be running for this office — because you disqualified yourself.”

In another exchange later in the debate, Miyares said Jones still failed to grasp the real-world impact of his words.

“He keeps saying that he is sorry. Jay, if you’re really sorry, you wouldn’t be running,” Miyares said.

“If you really understood the ramifications of what you said about an innocent mom and her children. You know Todd Gilbert. You served with him. Jennifer would come to the General Assembly. She would bring her children. We would see them run in the hallways. They were two and five years old at the time. This wasn’t a hypothetical. This wasn’t some figure that you know from far away. You actually know Todd. This is a flesh and blood, real husband. Jennifer is a real mom. These are real kids.”

Miyares told the audience that such comments disqualify Jones from serving as the state’s top law enforcement officer.

“How in the world could you ever show compassion and comfort a grieving mother that has ever lost a child of violence, because Virginians, there is no cry, like the cry of a mother that has lost her child. A prosecutor knows this because they’ve stood in that courtroom. Jay Jones had never understood this because he’s not a prosecutor, he’s a politician trying to save his career,” Miyares said.

The incumbent attorney general also criticized Jones’s legislative record, calling him “a criminal-first, victim-last politician.”

He cited multiple votes by Jones that he said favored leniency for offenders over justice for victims.

Jones, who served in the House of Delegates from 2018 to 2021, apologized again after the debate but maintained that he would not withdraw from the race.

He said he hoped voters would accept his apology and judge him by his “record of service.”

Miyares is seeking a second term as attorney general after being elected in 2021.

The general election is scheduled for November.

Zohran Mamdani Declares Victory Over Democratic Party’s Soul, Others Say Not So Fast
News

Zohran Mamdani Declares Victory Over Democratic Party’s Soul, Others Say Not So Fast

/

Zohran Mamdani, 33, the Democratic Party’s nominee in the New York City mayoral race, told supporters Monday that his campaign has placed progressives at the center of the party’s direction while national figures signal caution about embracing his message heading into the final weeks before Election Day.

Speaking at an evening rally of approximately 3,000 people, Mamdani said his proudly socialist bid had “won the battle over the soul of the Democratic Party.”

The Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) asked 11 Senate Democrats about Mamdani’s remarks; those lawmakers either distanced themselves from the candidate or declined to comment on how his movement fits within the party.

“I tend to focus on Michigan and not on Manhattan politics,” Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin told the DCNF when asked if she agreed that Mamdani’s campaign had won the party’s “soul.”

“I just think New York politics are different from Kansas politics, which are different than Michigan politics,” Slotkin added.

Her colleague from Michigan, Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, said, “It’s [New York City] not the rest of the country.”

National Democrats have been measured in their approach to Mamdani since his upset victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the June primary.

While additional endorsements have arrived in recent weeks as the election nears and public polling shows Mamdani with a strong lead, several lawmakers suggested the candidate’s impact should be viewed as specific to New York City’s five boroughs.

“I’m one of those persons that said we should bring him into the fold and all this kind of stuff,” Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego told the DCNF.

PHOENIX, AZ / USA – MARCH 24, 2018: U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), an outspoken activist for gun safety, addressed the crowd briefly at the March for Our Lives event at the state capitol.

“Mamdani represents the New York Democratic Party and their establishment, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t mean that his brand would carry somewhere else.” Democratic New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lújan said, “You talked to my colleagues from New York? I mean I don’t vote for that guy.”

New York’s senators, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who leads the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, have not endorsed in the mayoral contest.

U. S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer attend 2023 New York City Pride March on Fifth Avenue on Manhattan in New York on June 25, 2023.

Some Democrats have expressed unease with elements of Mamdani’s platform and public statements and have cited concerns about national implications for the party’s image.

Top Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have argued that Mamdani’s politics present a contrast they intend to use in next year’s midterm elections.

Mamdani previously called for defunding the police, describing the institution as “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety” during Black Lives Matter protests.

His current platform proposals include a rent freeze and ending a gifted program in schools that allows high-achieving students to advance beyond grade level.

Mamdani also faced questions about the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many view as a call to violence against Jews and the state of Israel.

He did not issue a condemnation until after he became the Democratic nominee for mayor.

He has not withdrawn an earlier statement that he would seek to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters Manhattan during his tenure as mayor.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has repeatedly declined to say why he has not endorsed Mamdani.

In an interview Tuesday with CNN’s Dana Bash, Jeffries was asked whether Mamdani and his movement represent the party’s soul.

“Well the Democratic Party, of course, is extremely diverse, and it’s represented by people like Mikie Sherrill—,” Jeffries said, referring to the party’s nominee for governor of New Jersey.

“But there’s only one soul,” Bash replied. Jeffries continued without addressing Mamdani’s place in the party and said he would meet with Mamdani again before early voting begins later in October.

Other Democrats chose not to directly assess Mamdani’s claim.

“The Democratic Party has a range of views, just like the Republican Party has a range of views,” Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly told the DCNF.

Democratic Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester said she had not seen Mamdani’s comments but added that she sees “some positive energy from New York.”

Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said they had not seen the remarks; Warren endorsed Mamdani after his primary win and campaigned for him in August, praising his focus on cost-of-living issues.

Supporters of Mamdani contend that his candidacy offers Democrats a route back to governing majorities.

“The Democratic Party has got to shed the influence of the billionaire class and corporations on it, and has got to speak to the needs of the working class,” Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders told the DCNF.

“And certainly, when Mamdani talks about affordability, he’s speaking the right language.”

As the campaign enters its final stretch, national Democrats have signaled they will continue to calibrate their responses to Mamdani’s rise, while the nominee’s team points to rally turnout, recent endorsements, and public polling as evidence of consolidation within New York City. Early voting is scheduled to begin later in October.

Illegal Aliens Ram Border Patrol SUV; Chicago Protest Turns Violent
News

Illegal Aliens Ram Border Patrol SUV; Chicago Protest Turns Violent

/

Federal authorities said two Venezuelan nationals were detained Tuesday morning in Chicago after a vehicle allegedly rammed a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle and fled, prompting a pursuit that ended with arrests and a confrontation between agents and protesters.

According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, the incident occurred near South Avenue N during an immigration enforcement operation.

“This morning while conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Chicago a vehicle, driven by an illegal alien, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle and attempted to flee the scene,” the spokesperson said.

“Border Patrol pursued the vehicle and was eventually able to stop it utilizing an authorized precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. Once the vehicle was stopped, the suspects, who are both illegal aliens, attempted to flee on foot. As Border Patrol arrested the subjects and attempted to secure the scene a crowd began to form and eventually turned hostile and eventually crowd control measures were used.”

A senior DHS source identified the two individuals as Luis Gerardo Pirela-Ramirez and Yonder Enrique Tenefe-Perez, both from Venezuela.

The source said both were detained following the PIT maneuver and foot pursuits.

Officials said video captured at the scene shows objects being thrown and a roadway blocked as agents sought to secure the area. Federal officers deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In a follow-up statement describing broader enforcement concerns, the DHS spokesperson said, “This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. The fact that this attack was carried out by two illegal immigrants, highlights the need for federal law enforcement to continue to do their job of enforcing the laws of our nation —all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

The events come amid recent tensions surrounding federal immigration operations in Chicago.

Federal officials previously reported that officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were confronted in an incident they described as a “coordinated assault” by a convoy of roughly ten vehicles.

Local authorities were notified during that episode. Chicago police were reported to have been directed not to intervene; federal officials characterized that directive as a stand-down order.

Last week, President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed that earlier episode, calling the stand-down order “illegal” and urging accountability for officials involved. Federal agencies have continued scheduled enforcement operations in the city.

Tuesday’s enforcement action began with mobile surveillance and vehicle interdiction procedures commonly used by Border Patrol tactical units in urban settings, according to officials familiar with the operation.

After the PIT maneuver brought the suspect vehicle to a stop, agents moved to detain the occupants.

The crowd formed shortly after the arrests began, officials said.

No injuries to agents were immediately reported.

Authorities did not release information about injuries among bystanders.

Homeland Security officials said both detainees would be processed according to federal immigration and criminal procedures.

Potential charges stemming from the vehicle-ramming allegation were referred to federal prosecutors.

The department said additional arrests related to the crowd confrontation were possible pending review of video evidence and agent reports.

The Chicago field offices for CBP and ICE have increased coordination with other federal partners during recent operations, according to officials, citing officer safety concerns and incident response planning.

Federal agencies said they are reviewing Tuesday’s use of crowd control measures under standard after-action protocols.

Local officials did not immediately release independent accounts of the incident near South Avenue N.

DHS said updates on charging decisions and custody status for the two detainees would be provided through standard public information channels once available.

Federal authorities reiterated that enforcement operations would continue in the Chicago area under existing priorities and guidelines.

DHS said it would evaluate security posture around field operations and adjust staffing as necessary in response to public safety conditions encountered during arrests and transport.

Trump Shuts Down ABC Reporter After Stephanopoulos Cuts Off JD Vance
News

Trump Shuts Down ABC Reporter After Stephanopoulos Cuts Off JD Vance

/

President Donald Trump refused to take questions from an ABC News reporter on Tuesday following a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, citing frustration over network host George Stephanopoulos’ treatment of Vice President J.D. Vance during a televised interview two days earlier.

The exchange occurred after a bilateral meeting between President Trump and President Milei, where the two leaders discussed trade, energy, and regional cooperation.

During the meeting, Trump formally endorsed Milei’s re-election campaign and praised Argentina’s recent economic reforms.

Milei presented the president with a framed copy of a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, joining other world leaders who have submitted similar nominations in recognition of Trump’s role in brokering international peace agreements.

As the press session concluded, an ABC News correspondent attempted to ask the president about the ongoing Israel–Gaza peace agreement.

Trump immediately declined to engage, responding sharply. “I don’t take questions from ABC fake news,” he said.

He continued, “After what you did with Stephanopoulos to the vice president of the United States, I don’t take questions from ABC fake news.”

The president then called on another reporter.

The comments referred to Vice President Vance’s contentious appearance on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, which ended abruptly when Stephanopoulos terminated the interview mid-conversation.

The exchange centered on a report published by the outlet ProPublica, which accused White House Border Czar Tom Homan of accepting a “bribe” as part of what the report described as a Biden Justice Department–approved sting operation conducted before President Trump’s 2024 election victory.

According to court filings and statements reviewed after the report, prosecutors found no evidence of bribery and never pursued a criminal investigation.

Despite this, Stephanopoulos pressed the vice president repeatedly on the subject.

During the exchange, Vance pushed back, questioning the network’s priorities.

“Here’s George why fewer and fewer people watch your program and why you’re losing credibility: because you’re talking for now, five minutes with the vice president of United States about this story regarding Tom Homan, a story that I’ve read about, but I don’t even know the video that you’re talking about,” Vance said.

Stephanopoulos responded by accusing the vice president of evading the question and abruptly ending the segment.

“It’s not a weird left-wing rabbit hole. I didn’t insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50,000, as was heard on an audiotape recorded by the FBI in September 2024. And you did not answer the question. Thank you for your time this morning,” Stephanopoulos said, cutting Vance off before he could respond.

The incident drew attention across major news outlets and social media platforms, where viewers debated whether the ABC host had acted prematurely in ending the discussion.

Administration officials have not commented further on the exchange, but sources familiar with the president’s remarks confirmed that Trump’s refusal to take ABC questions was a direct response to what he described as a pattern of bias.

The Tuesday meeting with Milei marked another step in the strengthening of U.S.–Argentina relations.

White House officials said both leaders plan to expand joint efforts on energy production, security cooperation, and market stability.

The event was held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and attended by senior administration and cabinet officials.

President Trump’s remarks to reporters concluded the session, which followed his endorsement of Milei’s re-election campaign and his commitment to continue bilateral cooperation with Argentina on economic and regional security matters.

Brandon Straka Goes on Epic Rant, Vows to Expose Zohran Mamdani’s Socialist Deception
News

Brandon Straka Goes on Epic Rant, Vows to Expose Zohran Mamdani’s Socialist Deception

/

Brandon Straka, founder of the WalkAway movement that encourages Americans to leave the Democratic Party, has officially entered the race for New York City mayor.

Straka announced his candidacy following the Democratic primary victory of Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist who represents parts of Queens in the state legislature.

Straka said he decided to return to New York City immediately after Mamdani’s win, describing his decision as a call to action against what he views as a growing threat of socialism in one of the nation’s most influential cities.

“If you think the future seems scary, you have no idea what a scary future looks like until you’ve lived under ‘democratic socialism,’” Straka said in a recent statement.

Speaking to supporters at a rally in August, Straka declared, “We are starting today a movement in New York City to stop democratic socialism dead in its tracks. I recognize that Zohran Mamdani has captured the interest and the attention of many people in Gen Z, many people in minority communities, and a lot of people think that he is the answer to their problems. Why? Because the pain points that he’s talking about are very, very real.”

Straka acknowledged that the city has become increasingly unaffordable but said that policies advanced by Democrats have made the situation worse.

“Democratic socialism takes vulnerable people and lies to them and tells them that the government will solve all of their problems,” he said.

“It tells them, oh, but if only you give the government more power, over your housing, over your electricity, over your groceries, over your transportation, over your education, over your healthcare, over your child care, we will fix all of your problems.”

During his speech, Straka challenged his audience directly: “When is the last time you woke up and thought to yourself, ‘Thank goodness for the government. They really fixed that problem.’ Never, it’s never happened. And you know why? Because democratic socialism — forget the democratic — it’s just a Trojan horse.”

He continued, “This is soft communism… just plain socialism, which is a fancy way of dressing up communism. And communism and socialism have never succeeded. They’ve always failed everywhere they’ve ever been attempted.”

Straka pushed back on common arguments from the left, such as pointing to government programs as examples of socialism.

“‘Look at Medicare, Brandon, look at the post office, Brandon. These are all versions of socialism, and they’re very, very successful.’ That is a lie,” he said.

He noted that both programs have struggled financially, citing Medicare fraud and the United States Postal Service’s $9.5 billion net loss during the last fiscal year.

“We do have government-run programs, and we do have government-funded safety nets in this country, but they are nothing more than that,” Straka said.

“Our safety nets were always intended to be systems to help people get back on their feet when they have hard times and continue to participate in a capitalist system.”

He emphasized that these programs were “never meant to be dependencies that people remain on for the rest of their lives and remain on generationally and pass on to their children and their grandchildren and create an environment where people become dependent on the government for everything.”

Straka warned that socialism ultimately erodes freedom and individual potential.

“When you put the government in charge of every aspect of people’s lives, it crushes their soul, it crushes their creativity, it crushes their will. It crushes their freedom. It crushes their drive to be everything that they were meant to be in this world,” he said.

He told the audience that he has spoken with college students across the city who feel hopeless about their financial futures.

“They say, I don’t believe I’m ever going to be able to own a home. I don’t believe I’m ever going to be able to get out of student loan debt. I don’t believe that the American Dream is attainable for me,” Straka said.

Straka argued that Mamdani and other socialist politicians exploit these concerns by promising government solutions that cannot deliver.

“The government’s going to give you that dream,” he said, quoting what he described as Mamdani’s message to young voters.

“And these kids are young, and they say, ‘Sounds good to me, because I feel like I did everything right, and I feel like I’m drowning in debt.’”

To counter that narrative, Straka said he plans to mobilize volunteers “all over Manhattan, in the Bronx, and Staten Island, and Brooklyn, and Queens.”

His campaign message centers on restoring the American dream through self-reliance, opportunity, and opposition to what he calls the “false promises” of socialism.

“We cannot allow this in New York City,” Straka said.

“These systems will fail and they will crush and kill the city that we love so much.”

WATCH:

Virginia Dem Candidate Can’t Answer Gender Locker Room Question During Debate
News

Virginia Dem Candidate Can’t Answer Gender Locker Room Question During Debate

/

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger faced off Thursday night in the Virginia gubernatorial debate, held just weeks before Election Day and days after the emergence of the Jay Jones texting scandal that has roiled the state’s Democratic Party.

The debate, broadcast statewide from Richmond, gave both candidates an opportunity to address key issues shaping the race — including ethics, education, and gender policies — though Spanberger faced sustained questioning over her continued endorsement of Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general.

Jones came under fire earlier this month when a series of text messages from 2022 surfaced in which he appeared to fantasize about murdering then-Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Todd Gilbert, a Republican, and about Gilbert’s children dying in his wife’s arms.

The texts were sent to a former GOP colleague and have prompted widespread condemnation.

Despite repeated questions from moderators and from Earle-Sears during the debate, Spanberger declined to say whether she still supports Jones or whether she believes he should withdraw from the race.

“We are all running our individual races,” Spanberger said.

“It is up to every person to make their own decision.”

When pressed again on whether she continues to endorse Jones following the revelations, Spanberger avoided a direct answer, instead reiterating that voters now “have the information” and can “make an individual choice based on this information.”

Her refusal to address the issue directly drew scrutiny from political observers, with some noting that the controversy has complicated Democratic efforts to regain ground in a state that has seen a political shift in recent election cycles.

The debate also turned tense over questions about education policy and gender identity — an issue that has been at the forefront of political debate in Virginia since 2021, when the state became a flashpoint for disputes over transgender policies in schools.

Spanberger was asked whether she supports allowing biological males to use girls’ locker rooms and restrooms, a question she has avoided throughout the campaign.

She again declined to give a direct answer, offering instead a response emphasizing local control.

“My answer is that each local community decision should be made between parents and educators and teachers in each community,” Spanberger said, referencing her background in law enforcement and her role as a mother.

“Nothing is more important to me than the safety of all children.”

However, Spanberger did not say whether she would repeal the policy signed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin that requires students to use restrooms corresponding to their biological sex.

Earle-Sears seized on Spanberger’s reluctance to take a clear position.

“Parents deserve to know exactly where their leaders stand,” Earle-Sears said during her response.

“This is not a time for ambiguity. It’s a time for leadership.”

The exchange became one of the most discussed moments of the evening, with political analysts comparing Spanberger’s performance to a “Dukakis moment” — referencing the 1988 presidential debate in which Democrat Michael Dukakis was criticized for giving a detached response to a question about crime.

Throughout the 90-minute debate, the two candidates also clashed on public safety, taxes, and Virginia’s economic outlook.

Earle-Sears emphasized her record on fiscal management and law enforcement, while Spanberger attempted to frame her campaign as focused on education and bipartisanship.

The fallout from the Jones scandal continues to hang over the Democratic ticket, with several state lawmakers calling his texts “disqualifying.”

Jones has not withdrawn from the race and has apologized publicly for his comments, calling them “deeply inappropriate.”

The Virginia gubernatorial election will take place in early November, with both campaigns now turning to their final round of rallies and media appearances.

Early voting began last week across the state.

JD Vance Hit Back So Hard On ABC’s Stephanopoulos, He Had to Cut to Commercial
News

JD Vance Hit Back So Hard On ABC’s Stephanopoulos, He Had to Cut to Commercial

/

Vice President J.D. Vance pushed back sharply against ABC News host George Stephanopoulos during a tense Sunday interview, accusing him of fixating on unproven allegations against Border Czar Tom Homan instead of discussing the government shutdown and its impact on Americans.

The exchange, which aired on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, centered on reports alleging that Homan had accepted a $50,000 bribe — claims that have not been substantiated.

Stephanopoulos cited an FBI audio tape from September 2024 that he said contained evidence of the alleged payment.

Vance immediately rejected the premise of the question.

“I don’t know what tape you’re referring to, George, I saw media reports that Tom Homan accepted a bribe. There’s no evidence of that,” Vance said.

“And here’s George why fewer and fewer people watch your program, and why you’re losing credibility because you’re talking for now five minutes with the Vice President United States about this story regarding Tom Homan, a story that I’ve read about, but I don’t even know the video that you’re talking about.”

The Vice President criticized Stephanopoulos for what he described as misplaced priorities during a time of national crisis.

“Meanwhile, low income women can’t get food because the Democrats and Chuck Schumer have shut down the government,” Vance said.

“Right now we’re trying to figure out how to pay our troops because Chuck Schumer has shut down the government. You are focused on a bogus story. You’re insinuating criminal wrongdoing against a guy who has done nothing wrong.”

Vance continued, urging the conversation to shift toward the government shutdown and its effect on working families.

“Instead of focusing on the fact that our country is struggling because our government shut down, let’s talk about the real issues,” he said.

“George I think the American people would benefit much more from that than from you going down some weird left wing rabbit hole where the facts clearly show that Tom Homan didn’t engage in any criminal wrongdoing.”

Stephanopoulos defended his line of questioning, insisting that it was legitimate to raise the issue.

“It’s not a weird left wing rabbit hole,” Stephanopoulos responded.

“I didn’t insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50,000 as was heard on an audio tape recorded by the FBI in September 2024, and you did not answer the question. Thank you for your time this morning.”

As Stephanopoulos moved to end the segment, Vance attempted to continue responding. “No. George, I said…” Vance began, before the host interjected.

“We’ll be right back,” Stephanopoulos said, cutting to commercial.

The exchange drew immediate attention online, with clips circulating widely on social media.

Supporters of the Vice President praised him for standing up to what they viewed as biased questioning, while critics argued that he evaded a direct answer.

Tom Homan, who serves as President Donald Trump’s Border Czar, has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and no official evidence has been released supporting the bribery allegations mentioned during the broadcast.

Dem Rep Goldman Gets Destroyed Live on CNN Over His Party’s Violent Rhetoric
News

Dem Rep Goldman Gets Destroyed Live on CNN Over His Party’s Violent Rhetoric

/

Federalist journalist Brianna Lyman clashed with Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York on Wednesday night during a live appearance on “CNN NewsNight,” accusing the congressman of twisting facts and using dangerous rhetoric after he labeled President Donald Trump a “fascist.”

The exchange occurred during a discussion about escalating tensions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, where multiple riots have taken place amid the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.

In response to the unrest, President Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard to protect federal property, a move that prompted criticism from several Democratic officials, including Goldman.

Goldman joined host Abby Phillip alongside Lyman and “Just Right” host Phil Williams to discuss the deployment.

The segment quickly grew tense when Goldman claimed Phillip had been “fact-checking” the two conservative guests, leading to a sharp response from Lyman.

“You’re not going to sit here and fact-check us when you spread the Russia collusion hoax, come on!” Lyman said.

Goldman replied, “I didn’t actually fact-check you. Abby did.”

Williams then turned the discussion to immigration policy, criticizing Democrats for what he described as the dismantling of Trump-era border control measures.

“You’re absolutely on the wrong side — you’re on the wrong side of history on all of this, and you know it,” Williams said. “You let 11 to 12 to 13 million people stream across the border. And now we’re dealing with it.”

Goldman responded by claiming that Trump’s leadership was authoritarian.

“I guarantee you, I can guarantee you, that you are on the wrong side of history because this President is authoritarian and he is a fascist,” he said.

Lyman immediately objected. “That is assassination prep language,” she said, accusing Goldman of using rhetoric that justifies violence against political opponents.

As Goldman attempted to clarify his statement, Phillip interjected and played a clip of Trump calling then-Vice President Kamala Harris a “Marxist” and a “fascist.”

Phillip then argued that political labels should be held to the same standard on both sides.

“If you’re going to apply that standard to Congressman Goldman, you got to apply it to Donald Trump,” she said.

Lyman pushed back, stating that her objection applied universally.

“Abby, I don’t know if maybe you weren’t listening to what I just said. I just said it’s unacceptable for no matter who it is to call someone else a fascist,” she said.

Lyman went on to explain why such language is dangerous.

“When people hear the word fascist, Nazi, Hitler, you rightfully think of people in the 1940s who had to be defeated by any means necessary because of what they were doing to this world,” she said.

The conversation grew more heated when Goldman attempted to cite the recent murders of Minnesota Democratic State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband as evidence of political violence.

Lyman interrupted to challenge his account.

“By a guy who had a flag that said, ‘No Kings,’ or flyers that said, ‘No Kings?’ Who was appointed by Tim Walz?” she asked.

According to a report by the New York Daily News, the accused killer had claimed in a letter to the FBI that he was acting on behalf of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat.

Lyman continued by connecting Goldman’s rhetoric to other recent acts of political violence.

“When you call someone like Charlie Kirk, when you call someone like Speaker Gilbert, like Jay Jones — who I don’t know if your viewers know this because it hasn’t been discussed on this show in four days — when the attorney general candidate in Virginia is calling for two bullets to the head for Speaker Gilbert and calling his little children fascists, you are implicitly justifying resistance by any means necessary,” she said.

WATCH:

Convicted Child Rapist’s Life Ends in Prison, Inmate Charged With Murder
News

Convicted Child Rapist’s Life Ends in Prison, Inmate Charged With Murder

/

A former North Carolina middle school gym teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl was found dead in his prison cell over the weekend, prompting a homicide investigation by state authorities.

According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, 60-year-old Ernest Nichols was discovered unresponsive inside his cell at Greene Correctional Institution in Maury at approximately 6:50 a.m. on Sunday.

Prison officials attempted lifesaving measures, but Nichols was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

The facility was placed on lockdown immediately following the discovery.

Nichols had been serving a 15-year sentence after his 2011 conviction on charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. He was scheduled for release in September 2027.

On Tuesday, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a murder warrant was issued for inmate Wilbert Baldwin, 41, who was already serving time for a 2010 second-degree murder conviction.

Baldwin remains in state custody as investigators from the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) and the Department of Adult Correction review the circumstances of Nichols’s death.

Nichols, a former gym teacher at Ransom Middle School, was first arrested in 2009 following allegations that he had repeatedly assaulted a teenage girl over a six-month period beginning in the fall of 2008.

According to court records, the assaults occurred at his home in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Investigators said Nichols used social media to contact the victim, posing as his teenage son on Facebook to send explicit and coercive messages.

A search of Nichols’s home revealed multiple items of evidence, including videotapes, a camera, and other materials linked to the investigation.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the victim was not a student at the school where Nichols worked.

Police reports from the time stated that the victim’s mother confronted Nichols before his arrest.

During that encounter, Nichols, who was married and had two children, reportedly admitted wrongdoing and called himself a “pig.”

Court documents show that Nichols resisted cooperating during his 2011 hearing.

According to reporting from WBTV, he argued with the presiding judge, claiming not to understand the charges and refusing to enter a plea agreement.

He eventually entered his pleas while being physically restrained by a bailiff.

Officials have not released details about how Nichols was killed, and no information has been made public regarding a possible motive.

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has confirmed that Baldwin was served with the murder warrant and will continue serving his existing sentence while awaiting further legal proceedings.

The Greene Correctional Institution has since resumed normal operations, but the investigation into Nichols’s death remains ongoing.

The Department of Adult Correction said all findings will be turned over to prosecutors once the inquiry is complete.


Scroll to Top