News

Ohio Journalist Exposes Alleged Somalian EBT Scam Fueling Cash Businesses
News

Ohio Journalist Exposes Alleged Somalian EBT Scam Fueling Cash Businesses

/

An independent journalist in Ohio has released a video investigation alleging extensive fraud schemes involving the misuse of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits within parts of the state’s Somali community, adding to broader scrutiny of welfare programs and oversight failures.

The investigation, shared widely on social media and posted on X by the account @WallStreetApes, centers on neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio.

In the video, the journalist documents what he describes as a pattern in which Somali-owned restaurants are closely connected to grocery stores, allowing welfare benefits intended for household food purchases to be redirected into commercial operations.

The journalist is shown touring multiple areas of Columbus while explaining how the alleged scheme operates.

“Every single Somali restaurant has a grocery store right next door or within eye shot of the restaurant,” he said in the video.

“They can just order everything they need to their grocery store that’s right next or attached to the restaurant that they also own and never have to fill a single cart.”

According to the journalist, these grocery stores are able to process EBT transactions for bulk food purchases, which are then used to supply the adjacent restaurants.

He further alleged that the grocery stores often report significant annual losses, which can be used as tax write-offs, while the restaurants operate largely in cash.

The arrangement, he claimed, allows government-funded food supplies to subsidize private businesses while minimizing tax exposure.

The investigation also focused on family structures within the community, particularly polygamous marriages, which the journalist said can increase access to public assistance.

He alleged that multiple wives are able to claim benefits individually as single mothers, significantly expanding the total amount of welfare payments received by a single household.

“If you have two or three wives that don’t claim, these women can go work at Wal-Mart full time for $15 an hour and still qualify for food stamps as long as they have a couple kids,” the journalist said.

The journalist referenced Minnesota as a comparison point, stating that 88 percent of the Somali community there is reportedly on social services.

He suggested that similar patterns of fraud could be present in Ohio, particularly in Columbus, which is home to one of the largest Somali populations in the United States.

The video builds on earlier reporting by Columbus resident Nakia Deon, who previously drew attention to similar allegations in a video posted on X.

Deon described Somali men owning markets where their wives allegedly used EBT cards almost exclusively, raising questions about hidden polygamous marriages, welfare abuse, and money laundering.

In the new investigation, the journalist credited Deon for first highlighting the issue. “Nakia was absolutely right,” he said.

He expanded on her claims by visiting several locations, including the Walmart on Georgesville Road, where he observed Somali women working low-wage jobs while still qualifying for public assistance.

The allegations in Columbus come amid broader concerns about welfare fraud involving Ohio’s Somali community, which is the second-largest in the country.

Ohio attorney Mehek Cooke has separately raised alarms about Medicaid fraud in the state, alleging that millions of taxpayer dollars have been stolen through schemes involving fake medical conditions and coerced healthcare providers.

Cooke told Fox News that the Medicaid fraud in Ohio dates back more than a decade and is more extensive than similar cases in Minnesota.

She described Minnesota’s scandals as “just the tip of the spear.”

In Minnesota, federal prosecutors have charged dozens of individuals in connection with a $250 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, with funds allegedly funneled to Somali-linked organizations.

The journalist behind the Ohio video has not publicly confirmed his identity but described himself as an independent investigator.

He indicated that his work is ongoing and that additional reporting is planned.

“I’m changing tactics, going back up Monday and I have a couple ideas to see if I can’t sniff a few more,” he said.

As the video continues to circulate online, it has renewed debate over welfare oversight, enforcement, and the ability of state and federal agencies to detect and prevent fraud within public assistance programs.

JD Vance Says Nick Shirley Did More ‘Useful Journalism’ Than 2024 Pulitzer Winners
News

JD Vance Says Nick Shirley Did More ‘Useful Journalism’ Than 2024 Pulitzer Winners

/

Vice President J.D. Vance publicly praised YouTuber Nick Shirley’s reporting on alleged fraud in Minnesota, saying Shirley’s work surpassed that of recent Pulitzer Prize winners and drawing renewed attention to a series of investigations and official responses involving the state.

“This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes,” Vance wrote in a post on X.

Vance’s comment came in response to a video posted by Shirley on X in which Shirley and his team documented what they described as widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Shirley said the reporting effort resulted in the discovery of large sums of questionable spending in a single day.

“Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet,” Shirley wrote.

“We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable.”

The video and Vance’s endorsement quickly spread online, prompting additional commentary from conservative figures and renewed focus on Minnesota’s handling of public funds.

Conservative activist Benny Johnson also weighed in on X, stating that Shirley had “exposed over $100M in Minnesota Somali fraud, funneled through fake daycares and healthcare fronts.”

Shirley’s reporting includes on-the-ground visits to facilities receiving public funds.

According to reporting by Breitbart News contributor Lowell Cauffiel, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) demanded answers from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after a video circulated showing Shirley confronting employees at what was described as an alleged daycare center receiving millions in federal aid.

Cauffiel reported that Emmer’s request followed a viral video in which Shirley visited the “Quality Learing Center” in South Minneapolis.

Shirley reported that the facility’s signage misspelled the word “learning” as “learing,” raising questions about the operation.

The center was reportedly receiving funding for up to 99 children, despite showing no visible signs of activity at the time of Shirley’s visit.

As Shirley approached the building, an unidentified woman inside shouted, “Don’t open up,” while incorrectly claiming that Shirley and another man with him were Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The scrutiny surrounding Shirley’s reporting comes after City Journal published a report in November examining alleged fraud involving Minnesota’s Somali community and public funds.

The report stated that “federal counterterrorism sources” had confirmed that millions of dollars in stolen funds originating in Minnesota were being sent overseas.

“In many cases, the fraud has allegedly been perpetrated by members of Minnesota’s sizeable Somali community,” City Journal reported.

“Federal counterterrorism sources confirm that millions of dollars in stolen funds have been sent back to Somalia, where they ultimately landed in the hands of the terror group Al-Shabaab.”

The report included a statement from a confidential source describing the scale of the alleged activity.

“The largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer,” the source said.

Following the release of the City Journal report, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Treasury Department would investigate reports that Minnesota taxpayer funds were ending up in the hands of Al-Shabaab.

The announcement marked a federal response to concerns raised by both journalists and lawmakers about oversight of public funds in the state.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has also called on Gov. Walz to resign, citing reports of extensive fraud within Minnesota’s college system.

Her call added to mounting political pressure on the governor as multiple state and federal agencies face questions over oversight and enforcement.

Shirley’s work, shared widely online, has become a focal point in the broader debate over fraud, accountability, and the role of independent journalists in uncovering alleged misuse of taxpayer money.

As investigations continue, federal officials, members of Congress, and state leaders remain under increasing scrutiny over how public funds have been distributed and monitored in Minnesota.

Elon Musk Blasts Zohran Mamdani’s Lesbian FDNY Commissioner Pick
News

Elon Musk Blasts Zohran Mamdani’s Lesbian FDNY Commissioner Pick

/

Elon Musk criticized incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday over his decision to appoint a longtime emergency medical services official as the next commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York, prompting a public exchange that drew responses from both Mamdani and the appointee.

Musk, who previously served in President Donald Trump’s administration, reacted after Mamdani announced the selection of Lillian Bonsignore as FDNY commissioner.

Writing on X, Musk argued that the appointment could have serious consequences. “People will die because of this,” Musk wrote.

“Proven experience matters when lives are at stake.”

Mamdani, who is set to take office on Jan. 1, named Bonsignore earlier this week.

Bonsignore is a 31-year veteran of the FDNY who spent her career within the department’s emergency medical services division.

She led EMS Operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and retired from the department in 2022.

Announcing the appointment on X on Tuesday, Mamdani highlighted Bonsignore’s background and leadership record.

“The first woman to achieve a 4-star rank in FDNY history, she’s joining us as the FDNY Commissioner to bring her crisis leadership and operational expertise to this administration,” Mamdani wrote.

Bonsignore will be only the second woman to serve as FDNY commissioner and the first openly gay person to hold the position.

Following Musk’s criticism, Mamdani defended his choice in a post on X on Saturday, emphasizing Bonsignore’s experience within the department.

“Experience does matter, which is why I appointed the person who spent more than 30 years at EMS,” Mamdani wrote.

“You know, the workforce that addresses at least 70% of all calls coming into FDNY?”

Bonsignore addressed her appointment publicly during a news conference on Tuesday, where she acknowledged the responsibility of leading the nation’s largest municipal fire department.

“I am honored, so honored, and humbled to stand before you as the new fire commissioner,” Bonsignore said.

“This appointment represents a significant responsibility, one I accept with humility, dedication and a deep sense of commitment to the city and its people.”

The exchange between Musk and Mamdani came during a transitional period for New York City leadership, as outgoing Mayor Eric Adams also announced a separate FDNY-related appointment this week.

Adams named FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Mark Guerra to a senior leadership role within the department.

Adams defended his decision in a statement released Tuesday, emphasizing continuity and experience within city government.

“Under our administration, keeping New Yorkers safe and protected has always been our North Star, and having principled, qualified public servants in place to lead our critical public safety agencies is crucial to fulfilling that goal; there’s no person who meets those high standards (like) Commissioner Mark Guerra,” Adams said.

Mamdani responded to Adams’ announcement as well, signaling that the outgoing mayor retains authority until the end of his term.

“Lillian’s light is one that can’t be dimmed by anything else that takes place,” Mamdani said, according to FOX 5.

“The mayor is free to continue to be the mayor until the end of this year and make decisions as such.”

The FDNY commissioner oversees both fire suppression and emergency medical services operations across New York City, managing tens of thousands of personnel and responding to millions of calls each year.

Mamdani’s appointment of Bonsignore places a career EMS leader at the head of the department as the city prepares for a change in administration at the start of the new year.

Gavin Newsom’s California is Absolutely the Fraud Capital of America: Rep. Kevin Kiley
News

Gavin Newsom’s California is Absolutely the Fraud Capital of America: Rep. Kevin Kiley

/

An exchange between Rep. Kevin Kiley and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz focused on allegations of widespread fraud, waste, and mismanagement in California under Gov. Gavin Newsom, following the release of a nonpartisan state auditor’s report.

Kiley said the findings from the auditor sharply contradict claims that California’s finances are under control.

“Yeah. So this came from the nonpartisan state auditor, which essentially christened California the fraud capital of the United States,” Kiley said.

He explained that the report showed a significant increase in agencies flagged as high risk.

“With the number of agencies classified as high risk, meaning there’s rampant fraud, abuse, mismanagement. It has doubled during Gavin Newsom’s tenure from four agencies to eight agencies,” he said.

Kiley said the audit highlights problems across multiple government programs.

“So we’re talking about all kinds of fraud when it comes to Medicaid, when it comes to SNAP benefits, when it comes to uninsurance benefits,” he said.

He added that those findings come on top of other well-documented failures in state spending.

“And all of this, by the way, comes on top of the incredible fraud and waste and mismanagement that we already knew about the high speed train,” Kiley said.

He pointed to delays and escalating costs tied to the project.

“Where there’s been no track laid in 17 years, spending $18 billion.”

Kiley also referenced pandemic-era spending and canceled technology projects.

“The $32 billion during covid At a minimum of uninsured employment insurance fraud,” he said, along with “the $650 million on a canceled 911, next generation system that was canceled because the technology wasn’t there.”

Based on those figures, Kiley argued that California’s problems are systemic.

“And so California is absolutely under this governor, the fraud capital of the United States,” he said.

He warned that the state’s approach could extend beyond its borders.

“And this is exactly the model that Governor Newsom wants to take to the rest of the country.”

Chaffetz noted that Kiley’s comments drew a direct response from the governor.

“Well, you got the governor’s attention because he responded to you saying, quote, Kylie is wrong,” Chaffetz said.

He summarized Newsom’s statement disputing the claims.

“The auditor’s high risk list does not allege wrongdoing or billions in currency lost it. Lost it is a management tool used to target complex programs for heightened oversight in corrective action.”

Chaffetz continued quoting the response, which rejected Kiley’s interpretation.

“Representative Kylie’s claims are flat out false, and rippers misrepresent both the State Auditor’s report and the facts,” Chaffetz said, before asking, “Quick, your reaction to this?”

Kiley stood by his position and encouraged the public to examine the reports directly. “I’d invite anyone to read the audit,” he said.

He added that additional reviews have raised similar concerns.

“And by the way, there have been other audits, like the one that found that $24 billion was spent on homelessness, and they lost track of the money.”

Chaffetz closed by pointing to California’s broader fiscal condition.

“Yeah, and you know, you can look at the bottom line there, in the state of California, they’re billions of dollars in debt,” he said.

WATCH:

Minnesota Fraud: .2 Million from a PO Box, Unanimous Jury Decision Overturned
News

Minnesota Fraud: $7.2 Million from a PO Box, Unanimous Jury Decision Overturned

/

Dustin Grage accused Minnesota state government agencies of failing to carry out basic oversight requirements for years, arguing that the absence of site visits in high-risk programs has allowed large-scale fraud to go unchecked.

Grage said the issue dates back more than a decade and centers on the Child Care Assistance Program.

“This going back to 2013 with CCAP. This is where it started,” Grage said.

He explained that the programs were supposed to include routine verification.

“But you know, there’s at least an annual site visit in there, in these 14 high risk programs right now,” he said.

According to Grage, even those requirements are no longer being enforced.

“Jason, site visits aren’t even required in many cases,” he said.

Grage pointed to a recent criminal case in Minnesota as an example of how the lack of investigation has had legal consequences.

“We actually had a recent jury conviction get overturned by a judge here in Minnesota,” he said.

He said the reversal was tied directly to the state’s inability to verify basic facts.

“And in that case, a DHS investigator stated that, well, we couldn’t go investigate it to find out that this business was just simply run out of a PO Box and was legitimate.”

Grage said the justification given by investigators was a lack of resources.

“We can’t afford to do that,” he said.

He contrasted that explanation with the scale of alleged fraud he says has occurred.

“But for some reason, we can now afford anywhere from eight to $19 billion in fraud, but we can’t afford to do site visits.”

Grage also cited a recent example he said illustrates how little oversight is taking place.

He referenced video footage involving a Minnesota learning center.

“And one of the funny videos you’ll see out there recently is Nick Shirley coming to Minnesota a learning center,” Grage said.

He said the condition of the building itself raised questions about whether inspections had occurred at all.

“Except the problem in this case, and this is how you know these site visits aren’t actually occurring, because on the side of the building it says Learing Center,” he said.

“They couldn’t even spell Learning Center correctly.”

Grage said that detail reflected a broader failure to investigate. “And that just goes to show how deep the fraud is and how people are unwilling to investigate it at all,” he said.

“It’s absurd.”

WATCH:

FCC Taking Enforcement Steps Against Robocall Scam Providers After Years of Abuse
News

FCC Taking Enforcement Steps Against Robocall Scam Providers After Years of Abuse

/

Sen. Ted Budd questioned Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr about the growing problem of robocalls during a recent exchange, as both men addressed widespread public frustration and the increasing sophistication of phone-based scams affecting Americans nationwide.

Budd said robocalls are one of the most common complaints he hears from constituents across his state.

“At nearly every telephone town hall that I do, and including one last week, the folks always bring up robocalls,” Budd said.

“They feel overwhelmed by them. They feel that they perpetrate real harm. They give examples.”

He said concerns have intensified as new technology has made scams more convincing and easier to deploy.

“As I’m around the state, people talk about robocalls huge concerns, especially as we have things like aI generated personalized voices, and the scans become more and more sophisticated and easier to carry out,” Budd said.

He then asked Carr directly what actions the FCC can take.

“So chairman, again, thank you all for being here. Chairman, what can the FCC do to proactively protect folks, and how can you stay ahead of the curve with these changing criminal tactics?”

Carr responded that robocalls are the top consumer complaint received by the FCC and acknowledged that past enforcement efforts often struggled to keep pace with evolving tactics.

“This is the number one consumer complaint we get at the FCC,” Carr said.

“Historically, it felt like a game of whack, a mole. We put a technology solution in place. We’d go after a single bad actor, but this would just pop up in another way.”

Carr said the agency has shifted to a more comprehensive strategy designed to disrupt robocalls at multiple stages.

“What we’re doing right now is we’re taking an approach. We’re tackling illegal robocalls at every single portion of the call life cycle,” he said.

According to Carr, that includes restricting access to phone numbers and making it more difficult for foreign robocalls to reach U.S. consumers.

“We’re making it harder to get access to telephone numbers, we’re making it more difficult for foreign robocalls to enter the US,” he said.

Carr also described efforts to close regulatory gaps.

“We’re looking at potential loopholes, including ones for non IP networks,” he said.

One initiative under review involves how overseas call centers are identified on caller ID.

“And one issue we’ve recently teed up is taking a look at any robocall, legal or otherwise, that originates from a call center overseas,” Carr said.

He explained that foreign calls can currently appear to originate domestically, misleading consumers.

“Right now, when that comes to your phone, it can show up with a US area code to fool you into thinking the call center or the call is here in America,” Carr said.

He said the FCC is considering requiring accurate disclosure of foreign origins.

“And so we’re looking at changing that so it would accurately display that’s a foreign call center.”

Carr added that transparency could also have broader economic effects.

“If United or any of the business wants to put a call center abroad, then they should be able to disclose that to the consumer,” he said.

“And if this helps with onshoring, then that might be a good thing as well.”

He noted that enforcement actions are already underway.

“We’re taking a real new approach, including kicking out over 1200 providers from our robocall mitigation database, which effectively cuts them off from the systems,” Carr said.

“We’re trying to really tackle this at every portion of the call.”

Budd then asked whether there were limits preventing the FCC from going further.

“Is there any specific limitations that prevent your agency from doing more in this area?” he said.

Carr replied that the FCC already has broad authority but must continue identifying weaknesses exploited by scammers.

“As of right now, we have a fair amount of legal authority in this area,” Carr said. He emphasized cooperation with other enforcement bodies.

“We’re working increasingly with state AGs on this. We are deepening our partnership and collaboration with FTC, the nation’s premier consumer protection agency, and we’re going to keep at this issue.”

WATCH:

Trump Doctrine: Nigerian Government Now Sharing Intel to Take Out Muslim Extremists
News

Trump Doctrine: Nigerian Government Now Sharing Intel to Take Out Muslim Extremists

/

A Fox News segment featuring Griff Jenkins and former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback focused on ongoing terrorist violence against Christians in Nigeria and the role of cooperation between the Nigerian government and the United States.

During the exchange, Jenkins highlighted recent reporting indicating increased coordination between Nigerian officials and U.S. authorities.

“Important point, Sam, and that is that the Nigerian government is working with us,” Jenkins said

“As you heard from our reporting, Nigerian officials sharing Intel with the US. Where are these terrorists? Where do you see and we also reported from Secretary of War, hegseth that more to come. He wrote on social media, where do you see this heading?”

Brownback responded by stressing that any meaningful progress depends on achieving long-term stability rather than short-term military or diplomatic pressure.

“Where I see it heading is really us getting to some sort of stable situation long term,” Brownback said.

“And by that I mean where Christians are not attacked.”

He pointed to efforts made during the first Trump administration, noting that direct pressure was applied to Nigerian leadership at the time.

“The first Trump administration, he pushed on the president, then of Nigeria, to respond to these attacks,” Brownback said.

“They did. The attacks went down for a while, but it didn’t change the structure. The structure maintained itself.”

Brownback explained that the violence has remained persistent due to entrenched conditions in specific regions of the country.

“And this is Northwest Nigeria,” he said.

“We’re talking about in the center area. You’ve got the Fulani, radicalized pieces of the Fulani herdsmen that are attacking primarily Christians in that region.”

According to Brownback, those attacks represent a deeper, systemic problem that cannot be solved through temporary measures or outside intervention alone.

“That’s a longer term problem,” he said.

He argued that a sustainable solution must come from within Nigeria itself and involve ongoing protection for vulnerable communities.

“I just think we got to really get at this and provide localized protection that can be there, year in, year out,” Brownback said.

He emphasized that any such approach should not rely indefinitely on American involvement, adding it should be “not dependent upon the United States.”

WATCH:

Fraud Allegations Rock Minnesota as Paperwork Tells a Troubling Story
News

Fraud Allegations Rock Minnesota as Paperwork Tells a Troubling Story

/

An exchange between commentator Nick Shirley and a Minneapolis-area man identified as David laid out detailed allegations of widespread fraud involving childcare, transportation, and healthcare programs in Minnesota, raising questions about oversight of taxpayer-funded systems.

Shirley opened the discussion by asking, “How deep is this fraud here inside of Minnesota?”

David responded that the scope was extensive, saying, “It is far worse than anybody can imagine. You heard it’s seven to 10 billion, and maybe more. And now the numbers have been revised and put out there publicly that they think it’s more like 8 billion.”

David explained that his involvement began through personal observation.

He said his office is located in Minneapolis “in the heart of all of this fraud,” where he repeatedly noticed licensed childcare centers that appeared to have no children present during normal operating hours.

“I would see these childcare centers,” he said.

“I said, well, there aren’t any kids there. It’s the middle of the day, and all I see are a couple of guys standing out front smoking.”

According to David, similar observations continued as he passed additional daycare locations.

“Then I’d go buy another daycare, and I’d see the same thing,” he said.

“I said, Well, where do these kids play?” David said he began researching the facilities online and found that some were licensed for dozens of children while appearing to have none present.

“This place is licensed for 80 children. They had zero children. Every time I went by there, they never had a single child there.”

David also described noticing transportation companies operating without visible passengers.

“Then I started to see all these transportation companies going around, and it was always a Somali driver,” he said.

“They never had a passenger, never, ever, once.”

He said his research led him to Minnesota’s non-emergency medical transportation program.

“This is going to the dentist’s office, therapy, whatever it might be,” he said.

When David looked into the number of transportation companies involved, he said the findings were significant.

“The research came back that there are 1020 of them, and more than 800 of them are Somali owned,” he said.

David alleged that oversight was minimal, adding, “Nobody from the state of Minnesota ever cross checks to see if any rides were ever actually provided. All they did was write the check.”

As Shirley reviewed documents during the exchange, he asked, “All this paperwork right here. What are we looking at?”

David replied that much of the data he collected related to childcare.

“The areas of fraud that I have numbers for are mostly related to child care,” he said.

“This is massive fraud that is beyond anyone’s imagination the scope.”

David cited a specific example in Minneapolis involving two childcare operations listed at the same address.

“Together they’re licensed, supposedly for 120 children,” he said.

“I have never seen a single child there ever, and I’ve been by that place at least 100 times.”

Shirley summarized the allegation by asking, “These Somalians, these groups, are setting up these daycares, these childcare centers, getting money from the government, but there’s no kids?”

David answered, “No kids. Never had any of them.”

He added that despite violations, the facilities continued operating.

“They’re still getting money, and it’s millions of dollars for every one of them every year.”

When Shirley asked who was receiving the funds, David said the money came from a mix of state and federal sources.

“We have a thing called CCAP. It’s a blend of federal and state money,” he said.

“The bottom line is it’s taxpayer money.”

David alleged that the same individuals and addresses appeared across childcare, adult daycare, healthcare, and transportation businesses.

“There’s one building that has 14 Somali healthcare companies at the same address,” he said, adding that another building in Saint Paul had 22 similar businesses.

Shirley asked whether government officials were aware of the situation.

David replied, “The government knows they’re writing the checks.”

He went on to describe political dynamics he believes play a role, stating that the Somali community “will not speak to anyone outside the community” and “they vote as a block.”

According to David, this has influenced political decision-making in Minnesota, where, he said, officials are reluctant to intervene.

WATCH:

MORE:

Younger Voters Driving GOP Away From Old Foreign Policy Playbook: Posobiec and Baris
News

Younger Voters Driving GOP Away From Old Foreign Policy Playbook: Posobiec and Baris

/

An exchange between political pollster Rich Baris and commentator Jack Posobiec focused on the growing influence of younger right-wing voters and their strong alignment with the MAGA movement, highlighting how concerns over the American dream and domestic priorities continue to shape conservative politics.

Baris framed the discussion around the future direction of the Republican Party and the preferences of its younger base.

“In 28 who’s going to be the nominee, the direction the party is going to go in?” Baris asked, before arguing that age demographics are a critical factor.

“The fact of the matter is, I think some people have to understand that the age demographics of this younger voters, younger right wing voters, are more mad. They’re not isolationist, but they are more MAGA, and that’s because they feel so deeply the dire threat to their own future and their own ability to live the American dream.”

Baris said polling data shows a clear pattern among younger conservatives, particularly those under middle age.

“You do see this massive aid signal with under 45 under 50, whatever, however, you know, demographic bucket you want to put it in,” he said.

He added that the shift was inevitable.

“So it was bound to happen. Jack. It was going to happen well.”

Posobiec agreed, saying he regularly hears similar views from younger voters who are frustrated with political priorities they believe leave them behind.

“And I see this with younger voters all the time,” Posobiec said.

He pointed to age groups most vocal about these concerns.

“I think we said earlier, what did we say? Under 50? Under 40, crowd is when it comes to a lot of the foreign policy stuff, they’ll say, Yeah, okay, but what about me? What about us? What are you doing for us? What are we getting out of this?”

According to Posobiec, this perspective explains how younger voters interpret the “America First” message.

“And so when they say America first, they don’t necessarily mean that, like you say it does that,” he said.

“You know, we have to recede from the world and be isolation still this, but they would like to see more of a prioritization on issues of Americans, the issues of veterans and rather than this foreign policy push that they feel for so long had been the focus of the Republican Party.”

Posobiec concluded that these attitudes are not new and directly fueled recent political realignments.

“And oh, by the way, those are the same conditions that led to the rise of MAGA, of finalism, of Donald Trump in the first place in 2016.”

WATCH:

SWAT Standoff, Two-Day Release, Then Another Shooting in Texas
News

SWAT Standoff, Two-Day Release, Then Another Shooting in Texas

/

A 21-year-old Texas man is back in custody after authorities linked him to a series of alleged drive-by shootings in Hays County, including one incident that occurred after he was released from jail just days following a standoff with a SWAT team.

Abraham Herrera, 21, faces multiple charges tied to two drive-by shootings and a barricade incident involving Hays County SWAT officers last month.

The case spans several cities south of Austin, including Kyle, Buda, and Martindale, according to reporting from FOX 7 Austin.

The first shooting occurred on Nov. 3, when Hays County deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the 500 block of Santa Fe Run in Kyle.

Upon arrival, deputies found a homeowner who had been seriously injured after multiple rounds were fired into the residence. Investigators determined the shooting appeared to be a random act of violence, and authorities reported there was no known connection between the suspect and the victim.

Nine days later, on Nov. 12, Hays County SWAT was called to assist deputies responding to another report of shots fired, this time in Buda.

According to FOX 7, officers made contact with Herrera, who then allegedly fled into a wooded area near the scene and refused to surrender.

Authorities said the situation escalated into a standoff, prompting the deployment of the SWAT team. After negotiations, Herrera was taken into custody.

Law enforcement officers recovered an AR-15-style firearm and ammunition at the scene.

Following his arrest, Herrera was charged with evading arrest or detention, unlawful carrying of weapons, disorderly conduct, and tampering or fabricating with evidence, according to court records cited by FOX 7.

Despite the charges and the nature of the standoff, court documents show Herrera was released from jail just two days later.

On Dec. 1, investigators were notified of another drive-by shooting that occurred in Martindale over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Evidence gathered during the investigation allegedly connected Herrera to that incident as well.

After the second shooting was reported, authorities moved to take Herrera back into custody.

He is now facing additional charges related to the alleged shootings and remains jailed as the investigation continues.

Hays County is located roughly 15 miles south of Austin and has experienced rapid population growth in recent years.

The series of incidents has drawn attention due to the short time frame between the alleged shootings, the SWAT standoff, and Herrera’s initial release from custody.

Officials have not publicly detailed why Herrera was released so quickly following the Nov. 12 arrest, and court records do not indicate whether bail conditions were imposed at the time.

FOX 7 reported that the release occurred despite the recovery of a rifle and ammunition and the pending charges.

Law enforcement agencies involved in the case have emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities continue to review ballistic evidence, witness statements, and other materials related to the shootings in Kyle and Martindale.

The homeowner injured in the Nov. 3 shooting survived, and no fatalities have been reported in connection with the incidents.

Officials have not released details about the victim’s current condition.

The case highlights ongoing questions about pretrial release decisions, particularly in cases involving alleged violent offenses and repeat encounters with law enforcement.


Scroll to Top