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Trump Administration Declares Armed Conflict With Cartels After Boat Strikes: ‘We Will Blow You Out of the Water’
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Trump Administration Declares Armed Conflict With Cartels After Boat Strikes: ‘We Will Blow You Out of the Water’

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The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that the United States is engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels following a series of military strikes on smuggling operations in the Caribbean, as reported by the New York Post.

According to a Pentagon notice sent Wednesday to congressional committees, the determination comes after “hostile acts” directed at American citizens and U.S. allies.

The notice, reported by The New York Times and the Associated Press, characterized the groups as “nonstate armed groups” and “unlawful combatants” engaged in attacks against the United States.

President Trump highlighted the operations during a speech Monday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, where he referenced the destruction of four Venezuelan boats allegedly used for drug smuggling.

“If you try to poison our people, we will blow you out of existence,” Trump said. “That’s the only language they really understand. That’s why you don’t see any more boats on the ocean.”

The strikes, conducted earlier this month, targeted vessels linked to cocaine and fentanyl trafficking. The first attack on September 2 focused on a Venezuelan prison gang accused of drug smuggling. Officials confirmed that at least 17 people were killed in the initial three strikes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that nearly 100,000 Americans die annually from drug overdoses. In 2024 alone, at least 70,000 fatalities were attributed to cocaine or synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voiced support for the military action during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. “We’re blowing boats out of the water in the Caribbean because they’re connected to international narco-terrorist groups,” Graham said.

He also suggested Venezuela could qualify as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law.

FBI Director Kash Patel, questioned during the hearing on the administration’s legal authority to strike the boats, deferred to the Pentagon. “We will provide the intelligence necessary for anyone who meets the threshold to be a state sponsor of terror,” Patel said.

National Harbor, MD US – Mar 3, 2023: Kash Patel, former Pentagon Chief of Staff at the 2023 Conservative Action Conference (CPAC). Credit: Ron Sachs – CNP

The State Department has already labeled several organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua prison gang, as foreign terrorist organizations.

The Pentagon notice to lawmakers cited intelligence assessments that one of the targeted vessels was “affiliated with a designated terrorist organization” and was actively trafficking drugs “which could ultimately be used to kill Americans.”

The notice stated that the strike destroyed the vessel, its illicit cargo, and killed approximately three individuals classified as unlawful combatants.

It added: “Based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the president determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.”

While Congress has not formally declared war since World War II, the U.S. has engaged in numerous conflicts abroad without a formal declaration. Lawmakers have not yet taken legislative action in response to the administration’s notice.

Kamala Harris Sought Clinton Guidance Before Naming Tim Walz Running Mate
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Kamala Harris Sought Clinton Guidance Before Naming Tim Walz Running Mate

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris disclosed in her new memoir that she sought guidance from Bill and Hillary Clinton on choosing a running mate during her short-lived 2024 presidential campaign, as reported by Fox News.

Harris’ book, 107 Days, released on September 23, recounts her experiences leading up to the 2024 election after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. With just over three months until Election Day, Harris wrote that she turned to the Clintons for advice on the critical choice.

“Very few people have ever made this decision. I called Hillary and Bill Clinton, because they knew what it was like and would give me candid and confidential advice,” Harris wrote.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks in support of the Democratic Harris/Walz presdiential campaign during a noon rally at Lavery Brewing Co. in Erie on Nov. 2, 2024.

According to her account, the Clintons warned her against what they described as a “political marriage of convenience.” Harris said they encouraged her to pick a running mate whose presence would complement her style.

“One of your strengths, they said, is that you bring a joyful energy to the campaign. You have to choose someone who won’t work against that,” she recalled.

Bill Clinton, reflecting on his partnership with former Vice President Al Gore, advised her to find someone with strengths that balanced her own. “‘You have to level with them and watch how they answer,’” Harris quoted him as saying, describing his approach to vetting candidates.

Harris wrote that both Clintons emphasized that the vice-presidential candidate should understand the weight of the opportunity.

“If they were someone dying for immediate public recognition, it might not be the job for them. They might have to swallow a lot of crap,” she noted from their conversation.

Harris ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, describing him as her “happy warrior” on the campaign trail. “I needed to know that my running mate was a person who valued the dignity of everyone and would take a moment to show it,” she wrote.

The decision to choose Walz over other potential running mates, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, was later criticized as a campaign misstep.

Walz faced controversy over allegations of “stolen valor,” his handling of pandemic restrictions in Minnesota, and a debate performance against then-Sen. JD Vance that analysts described as faltering.

Harris’ memoir mentions the Clintons more than a dozen times, highlighting what she called her close relationship with the couple. On September 24, during a book tour stop at The Town Hall in New York City, Harris praised Hillary Clinton for mentoring her.

“Hillary Clinton is one of those people that believes in lifting people up and supporting people,” Harris said.

Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State, speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday’s ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY

Harris also described reaching out to the Clintons on the day Biden ended his campaign in July 2024. She said the couple offered to campaign for her, with Hillary Clinton even suggesting she would travel by Amtrak to join the trail.

The book also includes Harris’ critiques of Biden’s failed campaign, including his debate against Donald Trump, which she described as damaging to his reelection bid.

Israeli Navy Intercepts Gaza-Bound Flotilla, Detains Greta Thunberg and 500 Activists
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Israeli Navy Intercepts Gaza-Bound Flotilla, Detains Greta Thunberg and 500 Activists

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Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla of boats attempting to break the blockade of Gaza on Wednesday, detaining hundreds of activists including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The interception took place in international waters less than 100 miles from Gaza after Israeli authorities said the vessels ignored repeated orders to change course. Organizers said the flotilla was carrying approximately 500 activists on 40 boats, along with shipments of food and medicine.

According to The Telegraph, Thunberg was aboard a vessel named Alma, one of the first to be boarded by Israeli forces. Video from the scene showed activists donning life vests and sitting in a circle on deck while waiting for the interception.

The flotilla originally departed from Barcelona in August with plans to reach Gaza. Organizers reported that as the ships approached their destination, they encountered jamming of their communication signals and warnings from the Israeli navy to divert to Ashdod, an Israeli port.

Officials told the group that delivering aid directly to Gaza violated an established naval blockade.

“The flotilla, which set sail from Barcelona in August, had hoped to deliver food and medicine to the enclave, which is under a naval blockade,” The Telegraph reported.

Israeli naval officials confirmed that the flotilla had been warned multiple times before the boarding. Activists were told they were attempting to enter an active combat zone and were violating international maritime restrictions.

The Israeli government offered to allow the delivery of the aid through Ashdod instead.

Reports indicate that nearly 20 Israeli warships surrounded the flotilla before the boarding operations began. Spanish and Italian navy ships that initially escorted the flotilla reportedly withdrew days earlier to avoid direct conflict with Israel.

Global protests erupted following news of the interception, with demonstrations taking place in several European capitals and in the Middle East.

Activists accused Israel of blocking humanitarian aid, while Israeli officials maintained that the blockade is a security measure against weapons smuggling into Gaza.

The detained activists, including Thunberg, are expected to be processed by Israeli authorities in the coming days. It is not yet clear how many of the 40 vessels were boarded or how many of the 500 participants will face charges.

The Israeli government has not yet released detailed statements on the detention procedures but confirmed that the aid shipments would be inspected and could be redirected through official humanitarian channels.

Ex-Girlfriend of NYC Mayor Eric Adams to Release Tell-All Book on Secret Romance
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Ex-Girlfriend of NYC Mayor Eric Adams to Release Tell-All Book on Secret Romance

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A former girlfriend of New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to publish a memoir revealing details of their past relationship, just days after resigning from a $160,000-a-year position within his administration, as reported by the New York Post.

Jasmine Ray, 42, who was appointed by Adams as the city’s first director of the Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness and Recreation, is releasing a book titled Political Humanity on Sunday.

The memoir describes her relationship with Adams, which she says began in 2014, years before he became mayor.

According to Ray, she met Adams at a Brooklyn Nets game in 2014, and they began dating the following year while Adams was serving as Brooklyn Borough President.

She claims the relationship ended abruptly in 2016, leaving her devastated, though the two attempted to rekindle it in 2021 after Adams won the Democratic primary.

“Their hidden relationship — marked by intimacy, sacrifice, and betrayal — mirrors the larger struggles of politics itself: the tension between personal humanity and public expectation,” the book’s description reads.

Ray told The New York Times that Adams contacted her after his 2021 primary victory, saying, “I’m going to be mayor of New York City, and I don’t want to do this without you.”

She recalled meeting him soon afterward on a Staten Island boardwalk, where Adams reportedly spoke at length about former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s influence on him. “He was like, Bloomberg, Bloomberg, Bloomberg,” she said. “And I was like, yes, Bloomberg is amazing.”

When Adams took office in 2022, he appointed Ray to the newly created post of sports czar. She resigned from that role last Friday, the same day Adams announced he was ending his re-election campaign.

The memoir also contains personal anecdotes, including Ray’s description of comforting Adams by rubbing a scar on the back of his head. “He could sit still for hours if I kept my hand there, as if my touch eased something no one else could reach,” she wrote.

Ray claims Adams spent years urging her not to publish the book, fearing it would damage his political career. Adams has not publicly acknowledged their past relationship. He has been in a long-term relationship with Tracey Collins, a Department of Education administrator.

Adams’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Woman Loses It Over Sauce Fee, Accused of Causing ,000 Damage at Little Caesars
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Woman Loses It Over $1 Sauce Fee, Accused of Causing $1,000 Damage at Little Caesars

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A Kentucky woman is facing criminal charges after police say she caused more than $1,000 in damage at a Little Caesars restaurant when told she would need to pay $1 for extra sauce, as reported by The Blaze.

According to court documents cited by WDRB-TV, Breanna Haynes placed a phone order with the Little Caesars location and went to pick it up earlier this year.

While at the store, Haynes requested extra sauce. When an employee informed her there would be an additional $1 charge, police said Haynes “created a disturbance in the store.”

Authorities reported that Haynes knocked items off the counter, including a custom-made computer stand and the store’s register system. The total cost of damages exceeded $1,000.

Surveillance footage was reviewed by Louisville police, who matched the suspect to a known photo, allowing employees to confirm her identity.

Haynes was charged with criminal mischief in connection with the January incident. She was not arrested until late September.

Court records show that Haynes was also accused of a separate act of vandalism on September 22. Police said she allegedly threw a brick at a vehicle belonging to the father of her child during a dispute over his desire to move back to Cincinnati.

That incident reportedly caused another $1,000 in damages. She was subsequently charged with both assault and criminal mischief in that case as well.

The incidents have drawn widespread public reaction. On Facebook, commenters expressed disbelief that the initial confrontation began over a $1 sauce charge.

“That must be some good sauce!” one commenter wrote. Another added, “I guess she’d rather pay $1,000 plus lawyers instead of just giving up the dollar. Smh, wish I had that kind of money.”

Other commenters were critical of Haynes’ behavior. “Stay home if you don’t know how to behave in public,” one person advised.

Another remarked, “Can’t afford a buck for sauce? Maybe you shouldn’t be buying pizza then.”

Haynes is scheduled to appear in court on the charges. The Louisville Metro Police Department has not released further details on the pending cases.

Maxine Waters Absolutely Loses It When Asked About Dems Forced Shutdown Over Health Care for Illegal Immigrants
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Maxine Waters Absolutely Loses It When Asked About Dems Forced Shutdown Over Health Care for Illegal Immigrants

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Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) confirmed this week that Democrats were willing to allow a government shutdown in order to secure taxpayer-funded health care coverage that includes illegal immigrants, as reported by The New York Post.

Waters, 87, was pressed outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday by reporter Alison Steinberg of LindellTV about whether her party’s stance against a Republican-backed stopgap funding bill was tied to health care demands. The measure would have kept the government funded until November 21.

Coral Springs, FL, USA
July 20, 2024
Congresswoman Maxine Waters speaks at public Democratic Party convention in Coral Springs, Florida.

“Democrats are demanding health care for everybody,” Waters said when asked if her party was pushing coverage for illegal aliens. “We want to save lives. We want to make sure that health care is available to those who would die not having the help of their government.”

When Steinberg followed up, asking if Waters supported a government shutdown to prioritize non-citizens, the congresswoman pushed back.

“That’s what you’re pushing on. You’re standing here, and you’re trying to make me say that somehow we’re going to put non-citizens over Americans. Quit it! Stop it!” Waters said.

Despite support from House Republicans, the “clean” continuing resolution failed in the Senate after Democratic leaders whipped their members to oppose it.

Only Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), independent Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) sided with Republicans to keep the government open.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) argued that the GOP bill did not adequately protect Affordable Care Act subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.

The Trump administration and Republican leaders highlighted that Democrats’ counterproposal included provisions expanding access to taxpayer-funded health care for non-citizens.

“Maxine Waters admitted that she is demanding Healthcare for Illegal Aliens, and it’s going to be Top of the Line, taking American Taxpayers’ Healthcare away from them!” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Vice President JD Vance also weighed in during a White House briefing.

“The Chuck Schumer, [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] wing of the Democratic Party shut down the government because they said to us ‘We will open the government but only if you give billions of dollars of funding for health care for illegal aliens,’” Vance said.

Democrats have publicly disputed the characterization. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told Fox Business Network that the portion of federal health care funding benefiting undocumented immigrants was “such a small portion of the Medicaid cuts or the ACA, if at all.”

Jeffries also denied the charge in a CNN interview, calling it “a lie” that Democrats are prioritizing illegal immigrants in negotiations.

CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Jeffries further, noting that Democrats’ plan would restore funding for emergency Medicaid to hospitals, which in practice provides coverage for undocumented immigrants.

The Congressional Budget Office reported that between 2017 and 2023, federal and state governments spent $27 billion on emergency Medicaid services for individuals ineligible for full Medicaid due to immigration status.

Provisions in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act are set to eliminate non-citizens’ access to these services beginning next year.

The Senate is expected to take another vote on the clean funding resolution Friday. At least five additional Democrats would need to break with party leadership to pass the measure.

ESPN Commentator Paul Finebaum Considers Senate Run in Alabama After Charlie Kirk Assassination
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ESPN Commentator Paul Finebaum Considers Senate Run in Alabama After Charlie Kirk Assassination

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Longtime ESPN and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum is weighing a possible run for the United States Senate, citing the September 10 assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk as his inspiration, as reported by The Blaze.

Finebaum, who has hosted The Paul Finebaum Show for decades, told OutKick’s Clay Travis that Kirk’s death deeply affected him and left him questioning his current role in sports media.

II.studio – Shutterstock.com

“I spent four hours numb, talking about things that didn’t matter to me. And it kept building throughout that weekend,” Finebaum said in the interview. “I felt very empty doing what I was doing that day.”

Finebaum added that the incident left him reflecting on his purpose. “It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics … how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country. And it was an awakening.”

For the first time publicly, Finebaum also disclosed his political affiliation. “I am a registered Republican in North Carolina as of this hour. And I was a registered Republican in Alabama before I moved,” he said.

The 68-year-old Tennessee native revealed that he voted for President Donald Trump, though he noted, “they also tell us not to discuss that.”

The potential Senate run would be for the seat soon to be vacated by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who is reportedly preparing a campaign for governor. Finebaum said discussions with individuals in Alabama and Washington persuaded him to consider the opportunity.

“One or two people in Washington had reached out to me about whether I would be interested in politics, something I’d never thought about before. Something I didn’t really think possible,” Finebaum said. He added that one particular conversation was “compelling and compassionate in the approach,” which helped push him toward seriously considering candidacy.

Initially, Finebaum dismissed the idea after hearing speculation that Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl might run for Tuberville’s seat. “I was hesitant and did not take the idea of running too seriously,” Finebaum admitted.

As the weekend after Kirk’s assassination unfolded, however, his perspective shifted. “I gave some thought to it … and got a little bit more interested,” he said.

Finebaum explained why Alabama would be the best fit for his entry into politics. “Alabama has always been the place I’ve felt the most welcome, that I’ve cared the most about the people. I’ve spoken to people from Alabama for 35 years, and I feel there is a connection that is hard to explain.”

BlazeTV host Steve Deace said Finebaum has the recognition to succeed in Alabama. “He absolutely has the name ID to win a primary, which means winning the election in Alabama,” Deace said.

He also remarked on the irony of ESPN producing a conservative Senate candidate: “I’m fine with people in sports getting involved in politics, as long as they agree with me and know what time it is. It would be delicious irony for woke ESPN to produce a senator inspired by my friend Charlie Kirk’s boldness.”

ESPN declined to comment, and Finebaum’s program did not respond to media inquiries.

New York City’s Financial Sector Is in Trouble as Jobs Flee to Red States
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New York City’s Financial Sector Is in Trouble as Jobs Flee to Red States

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New York City’s role as the nation’s leading financial center is showing signs of strain, according to new data and warnings from one of the city’s top business leaders.

Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, said in an interview Sunday on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats Roundtable” that the city faces a critical challenge in maintaining its status.

“Right now, the big challenge is are we going to remain competitive for jobs?” Wylde said.

She emphasized that the financial services industry, long a cornerstone of the city’s economy, is shrinking in New York.

“They’re our biggest taxpayers and major employers – and that industry is shrinking in New York,” she told host John Catsimatidis.

Figures compiled by the Partnership for New York City and shared with FOX Business show that Texas has now overtaken New York in the size of its financial services workforce.

In 2024, Texas recorded 519,000 financial sector employees compared to New York’s 507,000.

The data includes banking and finance roles but excludes insurance and real estate jobs.

Within New York City, the industry shed 8,400 jobs from January through August of this year.

That contrasts with the same period last year, when the sector added 6,400 jobs.

Since 2019, New York City’s financial services workforce has expanded by just 4 percent.

By comparison, Austin’s sector grew 27 percent, Charlotte rose 21 percent, and Dallas increased 11 percent over the same period.

Major employers have followed the broader migration trend. JPMorgan Chase now employs more workers in Texas than in New York.

The bank reported a workforce of about 31,500 in Texas last year, making it the state with the company’s largest employee base.

JPMorgan still has 24,000 employees in New York City, compared with 18,000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but the momentum is shifting.

Goldman Sachs employs 7,800 people in New York City, while its Dallas hub is expected to expand from 4,000 employees to more than 5,000.

“We are seeing an acceleration of financial services jobs relocating to states where the cost of living and doing business is far lower than New York,” Wylde told FOX Business.

She said headquarters are still based in New York, but the erosion of the workforce threatens the tax base.

“Low taxes are the biggest competitive advantage of other states, allowing financial professionals to go from giving 55% of their earnings to government in New York City to 38% in Texas or Florida,” she added.

Despite the declines, New York City remains the leader in overall banking employment, though competitors are narrowing the gap.

Wylde said stemming the losses will require significant changes.

“We have to stop the drain. The only way we can do that is we’ve got to manage our budget in a way that we control spending and control taxes and keep public safety and improve affordability,” she said during the interview.

Wylde also commented on the political climate in New York, where Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is considered a frontrunner in the city’s upcoming mayoral race.

“I’m trying to assure people that New York is bigger than one person,” Wylde said.

“We absolutely are going to save New York. New York is full of leaders… In the nonprofit sector, in the cultural sector, business… No one person, no one leader is a threat to New York as long as we all stick with the city.”

The data highlights a broader national trend of financial institutions expanding into lower-tax states, where the cost of doing business and living is considerably less than in New York.

For the city, the challenge remains whether it can adapt quickly enough to retain its role as the country’s economic center while facing growing competition from rising financial hubs across the nation.

Speaker Johnson Trolls Democrats Hard with Their Own Words on Government Shutdowns
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Speaker Johnson Trolls Democrats Hard with Their Own Words on Government Shutdowns

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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is spotlighting past statements from top Democrats as negotiations over a federal funding measure remain at a standstill.

With the government set to partially shut down at midnight Tuesday if no agreement is reached, Johnson has accused Democratic leaders of hypocrisy for refusing to compromise while previously condemning shutdowns under Republican leadership.

Johnson placed a television outside his Capitol office looping a video of prominent Democrats criticizing shutdowns in prior years.

Among those featured are Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.

In one clip from 2019, Ocasio-Cortez said on the House floor, “It is not normal to shut down the government when we don’t get what we want.”

The speaker’s office noted that Democrats are now opposing GOP-backed funding measures and risking a shutdown they once condemned.

Schumer is also shown warning in September 2024 that a government shutdown would cause widespread harm.

“If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. A government shutdown means seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos,” Schumer said during a floor speech in which he accused Republicans of being led by “MAGA radicals.”

Other Democrats highlighted in Johnson’s video include Jeffries, who argued in December 2024 that a shutdown would harm working-class families.

“Families will be hurt. Farmers will be hurt,” Jeffries said.

Clark, speaking in September 2023, added, “It’s the service members who will work without a paycheck. It’s the firefighters who will be furloughed.”

Pressley, in a video posted on social media in 2024, said, “This shutdown — you know who’s going to feel the pain? You know who it hurts? You. Every day people, and the most vulnerable. Seniors, veterans, working families, hungry kids, y’all.”

Despite those earlier warnings, Republicans argue that Democrats are unwilling to support a continuing resolution to keep the government open beyond October 1.

Breitbart News reported that Democrats have refused to advance the GOP-led measure.

President Donald Trump addressed the issue Tuesday during a press conference from the Oval Office, insisting that Republicans are not seeking a shutdown.

“They are shutting it down. We’re not shutting it down. We don’t want it to shut down because we have the greatest period of time ever. I tell you we have $17 trillion being invested, so the last person that wants it shut down is us,” Trump said.

Republican lawmakers have said they expect Democrats to bear the responsibility if the deadline passes without a deal.

Several have pointed specifically to Schumer’s role, warning that he will be blamed for the shutdown should it move forward.

The video outside Johnson’s office will continue playing as both chambers weigh options in the hours before the deadline.

With neither side showing signs of concession, the impasse leaves federal employees, service members, and contractors awaiting word on whether they will face furloughs or delayed paychecks starting Wednesday.

Fort Worth Councilwoman Confronted Over Her Post Mocking Charlie Kirk
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Fort Worth Councilwoman Confronted Over Her Post Mocking Charlie Kirk

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Fort Worth City Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck is facing backlash after posting an Instagram story that appeared to mock the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

The post, which was made shortly after Kirk’s death on September 10, referenced his support for the Second Amendment, sparking outrage among conservatives in Texas and across the country.

BlazeTV host Alex Stein responded by sending his girlfriend, Paige — known online as “Pre-Paid Wireless” — to a city council meeting to call out Beck directly. Paige joined other Texans in voicing their anger over Beck’s remarks.

“Hi, my name is Paige,” she said while addressing the council.

“Honestly, it feels like there’s no point in trying to reason with people who are so soulless and so far gone that they openly mock the tragic assassination of someone that they don’t agree with.”

She added that public officials who engage in such behavior should be held accountable.

“The two city council members who did just that need to be publicly shamed and know that this type of behavior will not be accepted in this country. But you know, one of the best parts of social media is that it shows you who people really are,” Paige continued.

Paige accused Beck of using Kirk’s death to make a political point.

“Councilwoman Beck quickly took to her Instagram after it was announced Charlie Kirk had been shot and posted ‘unfortunate’ with an out-of-context quote from Charlie Kirk about the Second Amendment on her story,” she said.

According to Paige, Beck’s post implied that individuals who support the right to bear arms deserve violence if they become victims.

“She made it clear that if you support the Second Amendment and are tragically killed by a mentally ill man with a transgender boyfriend, that you deserved what happened to you,” Paige told the council.

In addition to calling out Beck for her social media comments, Paige also raised past allegations about Beck’s conduct.

She said the councilwoman previously insulted a volleyball coach as “a white, skinny, dumb b*tch” after her daughter was not allowed to join the team due to missing tryouts.

“Are you starting to see how these people operate?” Paige asked during her remarks.

“They will call you names such as racist, bigot, white supremacist even if you don’t give them their way.”

The controversy surrounding Beck’s Instagram post comes as Texas officials and conservative activists continue to memorialize Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University.

Tributes and vigils have taken place nationwide, and his supporters have sharply criticized those who have used his death to score political points.

Beck has not issued a public statement in response to Paige’s comments at the council meeting.

It remains unclear whether the council will take any formal action related to the controversy.

The exchange highlights the sharp divisions in Fort Worth politics, where local officials have faced criticism for their public remarks and conduct.

For now, Beck’s Instagram post and Paige’s public rebuke have added a new layer to the ongoing debates surrounding free speech, political discourse, and the legacy of Charlie Kirk.


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