https://zapier.com/This feed is powered by Zapier's handy RSS service.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:51:37 +0000https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/07/16/crockett-ice-officers-not-the-people-in-the-streets-are-making-us-unsafe/On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Laura Coates Live,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) discussed ICE operations and said that “It’s not the people in the streets that are making our neighborhoods unsafe, it is the officers that they have put into The post Crockett: ICE Officers, ‘Not the People in the Streets’ Are Making Us Unsafe appeared first on Breitbart. --- On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Laura Coates Live,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) discussed ICE operations and said that “It’s not the people in the streets that are making our neighborhoods unsafe, it is the officers that they have put into The post Crockett: ICE Officers, ‘Not the People in the Streets’ Are Making Us Unsafe appeared first on Breitbart.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:37:46 +0000RD8Tl4HzTZ6PqpuYhttps://nypost.com/2026/07/16/us-news/sen-john-fetterman-reveals-the-ultimate-dealbreaker-that-would-force-him-to-ditch-democrats/Sen. John Fetterman reveals the ultimate dealbreaker that would force him to ditch Democrats --- WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman has revealed how the Democratic Party could lose him as a member. The Pennsylvanian claimed that while he has “no plans” to abandon his party, his fellow Democrats fully turning against US support for Israel would mark a parting of the ways. “If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me,” Fetterman, 56, told the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday. “My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel.” Fetterman has frequently attacked the left flank of his party over its animosity toward the Jewish state as well as its growing affection for socialism. Sen. John Fetterman revealed that Democrats turning on Israel could be a breaking point for him with the party. Anadolu via Getty Images The Pennsylvania Democrat has emerged as one of the most vocal supporters of Israel within his party. G.N.Miller/NYPost The same day as Fetterman’s remarks, 103 House Democrats backed an amendment by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to cut off $3.3 billion in defense support for Israel. Among those to support the amendment were House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), the second-ranking conference member in the lower chamber. Fetterman also attacked members of his party for “trying to ingratiate ourselves with that segment of the base of our voters are intensely, intensely anti-Israel.” The Pennsylvania senator has a 69% disapproval rating among Democratic voters in his home state while just 19% approve, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll. But among Republicans, 77% approve of Fetterman’s job performance, compared to 12% who disapprove. Both political parties have seen support for Israel slip over recent years. Getty Images Fetterman has repeatedly rebuffed overtures from Republicans to jump ship. In May, he wrote a Washington Post op-ed tearing into the calls for him to switch parties. “My values have not changed, and I have always turned to those kinds of ideals that defined being a Democrat,” he wrote. “I remain strongly pro-choice, pro-weed, pro-LGBT, pro-SNAP, pro-labor … I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.” Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028 and has not said whether he will pursue a second term.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:11:40 +0000I26A5t9GmVc817vHhttps://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/07/16/rubio-far-left-attacks-now-reaching-levels-not-seen-in-decades-n2204385---Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:46:55 +0000EWjq0oOnpehfAdnrhttps://www.dailywire.com/news/medical-malpractice-the-glaring-red-flags-abortion-activists-ignoreDespite countless red flags, leftist activists continue to send out abortion pills indiscriminately all across the country.  An investigation shared with The Daily Wire by the American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs found that activist group Aid Access shipped pills to an investigator from the group posing as a 13-year-old girl who had three prior C-section ... --- Despite countless red flags, leftist activists continue to send out abortion pills indiscriminately all across the country.  An investigation shared with The Daily Wire by the American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs found that activist group Aid Access shipped pills to an investigator from the group posing as a 13-year-old girl who had three prior C-section births. The pills arrived in Indiana after investigator Dr. Christina Francis ordered the pills for a patient with a complicated medical history to see how the organization would respond.  “What this investigation uncovered is far from anything that could be called healthcare,” the American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs (AAPLOG) wrote in a letter obtained by The Daily Wire Thursday, sent to top Republican lawmakers. “In fact, it should be considered medical malpractice.” Restrictions around the mailing of the abortion pill mifepristone were loosened during the Biden administration, meaning pills can be sent out without an in-person appointment. That decision, still in place, occurred as abortion via pill cemented itself as the most common method to end the life of an unborn child. Pro-life activists have urged the Food and Drug Administration to reinstate those guidelines.  While filling out an Aid Access pill intake form, Francis listed several conditions, including being on blood thinners, having an intrauterine device, and a history of ectopic pregnancy. Those conditions did not deter Aid Access, and pills arrived four days after Francis ordered them.  Francis found that Aid Access sent her the pills with no identity verification, confirmation of pregnancy, or any medical consultation despite claims on its website that it would have a medical professional review a medical questionnaire answered by those looking for pills.  “To test the level of medical review and due diligence, we intentionally put red flags in our answers with several contraindications so ridiculous any one of them should have been a hard stop for a physician conducting an in-person screening and informed consent. However, we were shockingly allowed to complete the process,” AAPLOG told lawmakers.  Within minutes of filling out her form, Francis received a follow-up email with payment information and no indication that anyone had reviewed the medical information.  “The intake process did not include a live consultation with a medical professional (such as what would happen with a telehealth visit). Even an asynchronous review of the user’s health information did not occur as the payment link was emailed less than 2 minutes after request submitted,” the investigation found.  The pills were sent from a generic address in California to Indiana, where medication abortions are technically against the law. Aid Access, which says it ships abortion pills into all 50 states, did not respond to a request for comment.  AAPLOG warned that the process enabled young children to easily access the deadly pills as well as those who might want to secretly coerce abortions. Several men across the country have been charged with forced abortions via abortion pills they ordered online.  The investigation was sent Thursday to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, as well as Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Rep. James Comer (R-KY).  AAPLOG urged them to use their “power and purview to restore common sense and basic safeguards for abortion pill distribution as a first step to protect our maternal and fetal patients.”Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:51:37 +0000tRGholyxmYTUt5iYhttps://www.dailywire.com/news/ice-takes-action-after-canadian-lefty-accused-of-slapping-american-teen-over-trump-pantsA Canadian national learned the hard way that political rage can carry a hefty price tag — including a possible one-way ticket out of the country. Kaitlyn Tracey, a 33-year-old living in Asbury Park, allegedly lost her cool on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on Jersey Shore over the Fourth of July weekend and is ... --- A Canadian national learned the hard way that political rage can carry a hefty price tag — including a possible one-way ticket out of the country. Kaitlyn Tracey, a 33-year-old living in Asbury Park, allegedly lost her cool on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on Jersey Shore over the Fourth of July weekend and is accused of unleashing a physical assault on a teenager whose only crime was her wardrobe choice. According to authorities, Tracey filmed herself confronting a group of four young girls on July 3. The trigger? Two of the minors were wearing patriotic sweatpants emblazoned with the words “Trump” and “ICE.” Tempers flared, and Tracey allegedly smacked one of the young girls across the face and body. While the teenager escaped physical injury, Tracey couldn’t escape the law. Cops used security footage to track down the angry Canadian. She was hit with a laundry list of charges, including endangering the welfare of a child, assault, harassment, and obstruction. But her troubles didn’t stop there. On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents snatched Tracey up and threw her into the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark. Her husband, Matthew Geroni — who calls himself the “Clown of Asbury Park” and regularly mocks conservatives — scrambled to TikTok to beg his 140,000 followers for help, conveniently leaving out the part where his wife allegedly slapped a kid. A GoFundMe page he promoted for her legal fees was quickly yanked down after angry MAGA supporters reported it. The leftist’s boardwalk tantrum is just the latest flashpoint in a years-long wave of violent outbursts targeting everyday Americans for wearing red hats or flying conservative flags. Just two months ago, the hatred turned lethal. Kerry Sheron, a 69-year-old Army veteran known for his patriotic “Trump House” in Escondido, California, was brutally beaten in his own front yard. The elderly veteran died of his injuries days later. The rage extends to even the most mundane settings. Back in July 2018, a Texas teenager sitting in a San Antonio Whataburger had his MAGA hat ripped off and soda thrown in his face by an angry patron. In August 2019, a man was jumped outside a Portland, Oregon bar by two thugs simply because he was wearing the signature red hat. Even law enforcement has been caught in the middle of the madness. A federal appeals court previously ruled that Trump supporters attacked at a 2016 campaign rally in San Jose could sue local police. Officers allegedly funneled attendees right into a hostile mob of anti-Trump protesters and stood by while they were pummeled and pelted with garbage. For Tracey, her next date in court is on August 4 if Uncle Sam doesn’t deport her back to the Great White North first.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:26:19 +0000OzpfB9EMWgJvgua2https://pjmedia.com/aj-christopher/2026/07/15/the-insidious-motivation-underlying-trans-ideology-hint-it-isnt-concern-for-civil-rights-n4955056---Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:47:47 +0000rlVlrtT72AHiMJoPhttps://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/15/editorial-graham-platners-implosion-should-be-a-dire-warning-to-democrats-is-the-party-listening/Editorial: Graham Platner’s implosion should be a dire warning to Democrats. Is the party listening? --- Democratic socialists who have enjoyed a string of recent primary triumphs in New York City and Denver want to believe that the Graham Platner political disaster in Maine is a one-off and tells us nothing about whether far-left politics will play with Americans outside of gentrified urban areas. Senate candidate Platner’s rise in Maine, just such a place, was supposed to help answer that question. Incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate, has defied the state’s leftward drift for decades and is seeking her sixth term. In election cycle after cycle, Democrats have made her a priority target and have failed to unseat her. Any Democratic hope of retaking the GOP-led Senate in November rests on winning Maine. Platner rose from obscurity, a Marine combat veteran in Iraq turned oysterman, straight out of central casting. His mission: reverse Democrats’ lack of appeal to white working-class voters, once a loyal Democratic constituency but now a critical part of Donald Trump’s base. But here was the real trick: Platner would use his “I’m one of you” story to convince those voters to support policies like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 5% national tax on unrealized wealth over $1 billion, Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ending all military aid to Israel. Platner looked the part but his biography proved uncooperative. It turned out his oyster farming operation looked more like a hobby than a livelihood, and his principal customer was his mother’s restaurant. Far more problematic, several women who had dated Platner in the past disclosed a pattern of abuse that supporters for months dismissed as irrelevant and even mainstream media appeared to soft-pedal. The New York Times in early June published reporting topped by a headline that described Platner’s behavior with women as “unsettling,” a choice that looked to many like a liberal media double-standard when it came to believing women. Jenny Racicot, one of the women quoted in that story and who was unhappy with her treatment in The New York Times narrative, subsequently alleged to Politico in agonizing detail that Platner once had drunkenly raped her during their on-again, off-again relationship. Platner vehemently denied her account, but had to withdraw from the race as his political backers abandoned him one by one. The desperation to keep Platner’s storybook campaign on track was palpable in the repeated decisions by multiple parties, including Sanders himself whose endorsement late last year gave Platner’s campaign so much momentum, to ignore or play down the red flags. After the Politico story, even Sanders had to call on Platner to step aside; he was one of the last of the parade of supporters to do so. As Maine Democrats ponder who they will run against Collins in November, Platner’s downfall should serve as a warning to a Democratic Party that is at risk of fumbling its midterm advantages inherent in a disgruntled electorate and an unpopular president. And we don’t mean just in the obvious ways, which include failing to properly vet neophyte candidates who are appealing to younger, more liberal primary voters fed up with their graying lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Even before the final revelation that capsized Platner’s bid for office, there were no signs his regular-man appeal was breaking through with working-class Mainers. Recent polls showed voters without a college degree backed Collins over Platner by margins well into the double digits. College-educated respondents favored Platner by large margins. Where have we heard this story before? Third Way, a moderate think tank, put the situation well in a Tuesday analysis assessing what happened in Maine. Noting that more than half of voters without a college degree told pollsters for The New York Times and Siena College that Platner was too far left, Third Way wrote, “There’s a reason for that. As an advocate for Sanders-style politics, he was too far left, and no amount of blue-collar cosplay was going to fix it.” Democratic socialists keep believing that working-class voters will embrace a revolutionary, socialist reordering of America if only the right messenger can be found. And working-class voters keep offering the same answer: No. Not something we want. Scott Stantis editorial cartoon for Wed, July 15, 2026, on democratic socialists. (Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune) We wrote recently that centrist Democrats need to find their voice in the face of the challenge from the extreme left and in the interest of giving non-ideological Americans increasingly finding themselves politically homeless a reasonable option at the ballot box. If the country is going to tackle its many problems, MAGA versus socialism can’t be the binary choice. Democratic socialists want desperately to sweep the lessons of the failed Graham Platner experiment under the rug. Pragmatic Democrats shouldn’t let them. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:57:16 +00009NDX0oNPIZSJoGfnhttps://jacobin.com/2026/07/ai-sovereign-weath-fund-sanders-criticsThe Criticisms of Bernie’s AI Wealth Fund Idea Don’t Hold Up --- Earlier this month, the New York Times published a piece from Bernie Sanders about his proposal to require AI providers to hand over 50 percent of their stock to a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) administered by the government. In the piece, Sanders gives three main rationales for this policy: AI models are trained on the entire corpus of human content creation. The AI companies did not produce this content. Everyone else did. This input should be compensated in some way so as to avoid windfall gains for AI companies. Stock equity, with voting rights, would enable the government to more directly steer decision-making in a prosocial way. The gains from this ownership would be available to the public in the form of dividends or revenue for the welfare state. Sanders subsequently released legislation toward this end, which you can read here. I have some pedantic quibbles with the way this is described. Within the usual taxonomies of public ownership, what’s really being proposed here is to turn Anthropic, OpenAI, and a Gemini spin-off into partial state-owned enterprises (SOEs). These are common throughout the world. In Norway, they have the telecommunications company Telenor (53.97 percent state owned), the energy company Equinor (67 percent state owned), and the bank DNB (34 percent state owned) to name a few. But Norway describes those companies as being in its SOE portfolio (concentrated holdings of selected companies for strategic reasons), not its SWF portfolio (diversified holdings seeking financial returns). Of course, critics of the proposal did not tend to raise definitional problems. Instead, they offered more substantive complaints. I have tried over the last few weeks to collect these critiques so that I can respond to them here. Against AI Inference Itself Another set of criticisms was rooted in opposition to the production or consumption of AI inference in general. AI inference is produced with computers, and computers work by running electricity through transistors. Running electricity through transistors produces heat, which is typically dissipated with water cooling systems that are noisy. Computers take up space, which requires land. Computers are also scarce, and so using them for AI inference trades off with other sorts of computing like video games. For some, using these inputs — land, electricity, water, processors — is not worth the corresponding AI inference output. At times, this second argument can sound like a categorical rejection of computers altogether, especially dense clusters of computers. But I assume that this is not the intent of those who raise these objections. After all, any digital service — including this website — relies on these same sorts of computer clusters, which we used to call server farms but now call data centers. Instead, it seems like the point here is that this particular use of computers is not a good one. So this argument really collapses into an argument about the utility of AI inference itself. I suppose with any product, some people think it is useful and other people don’t. Often we try to assess these claims by seeing whether people actually are using the product. On that measure, it does appear to be useful: AI inference usage has grown at a rapid rate, whether measured by tokens or revenue. But this does not necessarily settle the question. After all, people buy and drink a lot of alcohol, but that doesn’t mean it is a particularly useful product that we should be dedicating hundreds of thousands of workers and tens of millions of acres of land to producing. If your view is that AI inference is so useless or so harmful that it should be banned outright, then obviously the question of whether it should be owned publicly or privately is beside the point. But if, like me, this is not your view, and you do not want the whole thing banned, then the question remains, and expressing dislike of the technology does not resolve it. Against Public Ownership Itself Another argument is that public ownership is bad because it gives the government too much power, including when the government is controlled by politicians you oppose. Dean Baker put it this way: First and foremost, Donald Trump is doing his best to show us why it is often a bad idea to have the federal government directly involved in running private businesses. He is using the power of the government to stuff his and his family’s pockets in every way imaginable. He also is using the government to force private businesses to suppress criticism as you’ll see on the [Stephen] Colbert show tonight. Why on earth would any progressive want to give this demented jerk more power? I have seen versions of this argument for a while now in a variety of contexts and I find it truly baffling. The example Baker gives here concerns a private sector business, CBS, that the government has no ownership stake in at all. If Trump has shown us anything, it’s that the prevailing wisdom about the private sector being insulated from the state is a fiction. As Baker points out, Trump has had no problem using regulatory power to force private companies to do what he wants. Virtually all of Trump’s corruption has occurred within the opaque private sector. In fact, even without any public ownership of Anthropic, President Trump seemingly had no difficulty completely shutting down its state-of-the-art Fable model with the flick of a pen. For the state-owned enterprises the United States already has — the United States Postal Service, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Amtrak — Trump’s power over them has not amounted to much. In his first term, Trump used his power over the TVA to halt the outsourcing of some IT jobs. That’s the most momentous thing he’s done with the existing SOE portfolio. More recently, Trump has quietly built a little SWF by acquiring debt and equity stakes in twenty-nine companies worth around $27 billion. The most significant thing he’s done with that ownership power has been to invoke the government’s “golden share” in U.S. Steel to prevent it from closing a steel plant in Illinois. If Trump is the worst possible scenario for the kind of person who might be at the helm of an SWF or SOE portfolio, then it doesn’t seem like something to worry about. Another argument is that if the government owns 50 percent of Anthropic, OpenAI, and a Gemini spin-off, then that means it will struggle to properly regulate the firms, fearing that such regulation will reduce the value of the government’s equity stake. Like the prior argument from Baker, this is basically an argument against state ownership itself. The difference is that while Baker believes state ownership gives the government too much power to control companies, this argument asserts that it introduces a conflict of interest that results in the government having too little power to control companies. This is one of the classic contradictions in discourse about state-owned enterprises. If an argument about too little regulation is what you want, you argue that the state-as-owner will necessarily chase financial returns over prudent regulation. If an argument about too much regulation is what you want, you argue that the state-as-owner will foolishly impose rules and constraints on a business because government officials have no personal stake in the financial returns of these businesses. The state-as-owner is thus sometimes a rapacious capitalist and at other times a doddering central planner. In reality, state ownership is not necessarily either one of these things. It depends on the goals and priorities of the relevant officials. Governments around the world, including in the United States, own all sorts of enterprises, including schools, hospitals, utilities, energy companies, mines, airlines, train companies, and so on. Some of these generate substantial profits, like the TVA in the United States or Equinor in Norway. Others break even or lose money in service of nonfinancial purposes like the Postal Service in the United States or Samhall in Sweden. What state ownership gives you that normal regulatory power does not is more fine-tuned control, such as we saw with Trump halting the outsourcing of specific TVA IT jobs or the closure of a specific U.S. Steel plant, and a greater ability to exercise that control quickly and in real time as things develop, without having to wait years for a statute or administrative rulemaking. A fast-developing frontier sector like AI that presents some significant social risks is precisely the kind of sector where you might want that kind of control.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:57:16 +0000v0f2dw6nWVsFgStwhttps://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/07/13/abdul-el-sayeds-cnn-interview-n2204292Michigan Democrat Senate Candidate Squirms After CNN Drops Receipts on His 'Defund the Police' Record --- Michigan Democrat Senate Candidate Squirms After CNN Drops Receipts on His 'Defund the Police' Record The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com. AP Photo/Jose Juarez The leading Democrat in the Michigan Senate primary race has a dishonesty problem. Now, I know this is a thing with pretty much every Democrat. But in the case of Abdul El-Sayed, he's so "extra" in this department that even Democrat-compliant media outlets are calling him out on it. For instance, during a recent interview with Zeteo media company founder and ex-MSDNC host Mehdi Hasan, the former Wayne County health department director was grilled on why he chose to call himself a "physician" when he wasn't one. As RedState reported, Hasan noted that "you don’t have a valid state medical license in New York or Michigan, which apparently is what you need legally to call yourself a physician."  El-Sayed, who does have a Doctor of Medicine degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, incredulously proclaimed that his words didn't matter. "At the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not I’m a physician or a doctor,"  he stated before diving into a canned response about healthcare and education. SEE ALSO: The Michigan Senate Race Is Heating Up - and So Is the Scrutiny of Abdul El-Sayed As we also reported, CNN, too, called out the Bernie Sanders-backed candidate for repeatedly claiming he had never advocated for defunding the police, something they found was wildly false after digging and finding interviews from 2020 where he talked extensively about it. El-Sayed had also posted tweets supporting the Defund the Police movement that he deleted before he declared his Senate candidacy. On Sunday, El-Sayed sat down for an interview with CNN, where he promptly got agitated when their network correspondent, Manu Raju, dropped receipts on him and asked him to explain why he was saying now that he never called for it even though it "sounded like you did in the past." El-Sayed  then went on a bizarre rant about how defund supposedly didn't mean what we know it means: "You know, what's interesting about that comment is I go as far as defining what I mean by that," El-Sayed said. "Do you disagree with investing in libraries and public services and social services? You fixate on the word 'defund,' but what I’m talking about is war material that we made too much of during the war in Iraq. And then, because we had too much of it, we had to find somewhere to sell it. So we sold it to a whole bunch to local police departments."  [...] "Now, if you want to keep talking about one particular word that was in vogue that I tried to define at the time, sure. But I think if we're having a serious conversation about public safety, you'll see that my perspective is in keeping with exactly what most people who are rational about this question are talking about, and what they want." Watch: What these Defund the Police proponents always leave out is the fact that when they call for more investment in social services and the like, what they usually want to do is fund it by yanking hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, from police department budgets. We've seen it happen in blue cities like Oakland and Los Angeles with disastrous results. DIVE DEEPER: Democrats Should Shut Up and Listen to Oakland Police Chief's Emotional Response to Devastating Budget Cuts The Defund the Police movement will always be toxic for Democrats, so some of the ones who still believe in it have had to try and come up with a way around it by playing word games and suggesting defunding does not mean what the American people know it means. I always go back to what Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), who has endorsed El-Sayed, once said about defunding the police after New York City fell short of fully doing so when Democrat Bill de Blasio was mayor: “Defunding police means defunding police,” the congresswoman said in a statement. “It does not mean budget tricks or funny math." I think that just about says it all. Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress. Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:36:11 +00007rtv1Vuhq53kiTzdhttps://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/07/14/the-odyssey-star-elliot-page-gender-is-a-quaint-myth-male-female-dynamic-is-absurd-because-animals-are-queer/Transgender actor and The Odyssey star Elliot Page came out against traditional gender roles, calling the male-female dynamic a "quaint myth" and insisting that if animals can engage in "queer" sex, why shouldn't humans. The post ‘The Odyssey’ Star Elliot Page: Gender Is a ‘Quaint Myth,’ Male-Female Dynamic Is ‘Absurd’ Because Animals Are ‘Queer’ appeared first on Breitbart. --- Transgender actor and The Odyssey star Elliot Page came out against traditional gender roles, calling the male-female dynamic a "quaint myth" and insisting that if animals can engage in "queer" sex, why shouldn't humans. The post ‘The Odyssey’ Star Elliot Page: Gender Is a ‘Quaint Myth,’ Male-Female Dynamic Is ‘Absurd’ Because Animals Are ‘Queer’ appeared first on Breitbart.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:25:22 +00000UqdvITjxfHOhC9Ihttps://redstate.com/terichristoph/2026/07/13/a-tale-of-two-grahams-n2204287One of These 'Grahams' Is Not Like the Other: One Went Out in Glory, the Other in Shame --- Within the space of about 36 hours, two men who couldn't be more opposite in almost every way – and both bearing the name "Graham" – exited the political stage. One, Graham Platner, had been exposed as a Nazi-loving sexual predator whose "everyman oyster farmer" persona was as phony as the left's "Joe Biden is as sharp as a tack" narrative. The other, Lindsey Graham, used his Southern charm and wit to disarm even his more hostile opponents. For example, he and Donald Trump started as the bitterest of political enemies when they both ran for president in 2016 and ended up such close allies that the president described the senator as "family" following his passing this past weekend. “He’s a tough one to lose. He was great — he was unique in every way… I just can’t believe it. He was like a member of the family to me. It’s very tough, actually. He was such an advocate.” It's one of life's weird coincidences that the two Grahams grabbed so many of the headlines over the course of a few days for such vastly different reasons – Platner finally brought down under the weight of his own degeneracy, and Lindsey departing this earthly plane having honorably just told President Trump, "We're all set for the SAVE America Act." "He called, and he said, 'We're all set for the SAVE America Act.' He was pushing the SAVE America Act like crazy. He got back, said he just landed from Ukraine. I said, 'That's a long trip to make.' He said he sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired," Trump said. Believe it or not, Graham and Graham actually had some similarities. Both were military veterans – Platner served around eight years in the Marines and the Army reserves, while Lindsey retired as a colonel after serving 33 years in that U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve – and both were candidates for the U.S. Senate in 2026.  And that's about it. The two men otherwise took vastly different paths in life. READ MORE: Breaking: Graham Platner Officially Ends Senate Run on Vulgar Note – 'F**k ICE. Free Palestine.' Best Way to Honor Lindsey Graham: Pass the SAVE America Act Now Graham Platner, of course, was a manufactured candidate whose thin veil of "everyman runs for office" was quickly pierced when stories started emerging last summer of Nazi tattoos, alcoholism, and inappropriate behavior towards women. And it only got worse from there – racist Reddit posts surfaced, as did increasingly serious accusations from past romantic partners that this Graham wasn't just a jerk, he was an out-and-out abuser and serial cheater.  The man who proclaimed he "had never been near wealth," as it turned out, spent time at ritzy private schools as a teen, was gifted $200,000 by his parents for the purchase of his first house, and operated an oyster farm whose scant customer base included his mother. His whole fabricated "man's man" biography was a sham. It was an obvious case of "fakery in the bakery" (credit to my friend Denise for that saying). Platner's fellow Democrats happily joined in the gaslighting of voters because they were that desperate to seem normal to male voters and strip away Susan Collins' Senate seat. Elizabeth Warren said he was her "kind of man" (gag), and Ro Khanna debased himself when he stood by Platner despite the mounting accusations that Platner was an abuser of women. By comparison, Lindsey Graham was born into a poor family and didn't have to create a fictional bio because his real one was that impressive. He adopted and raised his younger sister when both of his parents died, served as a JAG in the Air Force, was elected to the House, and then to Senate.  His resume was everything Graham Platner wasn't and could never be. Just listen to the short eulogy given by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster as he named Lindsey's sister to be his interim Senate replacement: "Lindsey Graham recognized the greatness of America, the seriousness of his work, and also the value of human and lighthearted spirit. He understood the hopes, dreams, and needs of his state and delivered for his state every time." A quick gander around the RedState website will tell you that we didn't always agree with the senior senator from South Carolina on these pages; he particularly frustrated conservatives on things like immigration and foreign involvement, but he also infuriated liberals and regularly bewildered nearly everyone paying attention. But, no serious person could argue that he lacked courage, conviction, patriotism, or a willingness to enter the arena – qualities far out of reach for the Graham Platners of the world. There are Grahams, and then there are Grahams. One Graham spent the past year being packaged by Democrats as the future of American politics, only to watch his carefully constructed image collapse beneath an avalanche of scandals and a deeply disturbing allegations. The other Graham spent more than three decades serving his country in uniform and another three decades representing the people of South Carolina in Washington, D.C. He died shortly after returning from yet another overseas mission on America’s behalf. Lindsey Graham went out in a blaze of glory, while Graham Platner takes his rightful place on the ash heap of history. As we bid a fond and hearty good riddance to Platner – may we never see his hirsute face again – we also wish Lindsey godspeed and a peaceful eternal rest.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:33:24 +0000Z98D72yYqjJ9NiwKhttps://www.notus.org/congress/this-was-a-black-eye-progressives-face-reckoning-over-graham-platner‘This Was a Black Eye’: Progressives Face Reckoning Over Graham Platner --- The collapse of Graham Platner’s Maine Senate campaign has sparked a painful reckoning for Democrats, raising questions about candidate vetting and the party’s embrace of unconventional outsiders. Top progressives defended Platner for months amid a series of controversies, from a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol to his online posts blaming survivors of sexual assault. Many of them initially dismissed allegations from Platner’s ex-girlfriends describing a pattern of emotional abuse, taking his word that no more incriminating information was coming. They finally pulled their support earlier this month after Platner was accused of sexual assault, an allegation he continues to deny. “I will say I got that call wrong,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California), a potential 2028 presidential contender who strongly backed Platner, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And if there’s some self-reflection, it is that we all need to see the signs earlier of people who may engage in domestic violence.” “Look, I wasn’t the only one,” Khanna added. “You had Planned Parenthood. You had Senator Warren. You had the entire Democratic Party. But I did get that call wrong.” Khanna is the only Platner endorser in Congress to publicly express regret over his decision, however. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Platner’s highest-profile backer, declined to comment when asked whether he has second thoughts about supporting his campaign. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), another top Platner endorser who said at an April rally that Platner is, “My kind of man,” dodged repeatedly this week when asked if she regretted her support for him. She wanted to look forward. “We need leaders in Washington who represent our values,” Warren said. “I asked Platner to withdraw from the race. He has withdrawn. Now it’s time for us to get a candidate in Maine and to take back the majority here in the Senate.” Platner captured the enthusiasm of many Democrats with his populist, working-class platform and his promise to shake up the status quo in Washington. He drew huge rallies across Maine, giving his party hope for unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins and helping flip control of the Senate in November. But holes quickly appeared in his oyster farmer narrative that masked a privileged upbringing, adding to questions about the lax vetting he received before he entered the race last summer, even before the assault allegations emerged. Asked if Platner ought to have received more rigorous vetting, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), who had earlier dismissed allegations against the candidate, told NOTUS, “Seems like it, doesn’t it?” He declined to answer further questions about his decision to endorse him. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), another Democrat who backed Platner, said that candidate vetting “is not my responsibility.” “Here’s the thing: Graham Platner was a compelling and really exciting candidate because he was talking about the issues that matter to people, and he was capturing how fed up people are with a system that is not working for them,” Smith told NOTUS. “And now he’s not the candidate anymore. And we have to figure out, Maine has to figure out who their next candidate is going to be.” Progressives now appear to be rallying behind former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson to replace Platner in the Senate race. Sanders said Monday he’s not supporting a new candidate yet. But progressive groups, including Our Revolution, which was founded by the Vermont senator, have endorsed Jackson, a logger from a rural area of the state who unsuccessfully ran for governor last month. Jackson said Platner had deceived him about his past. “Graham told me point-blank that there was nothing in his past that I had to worry about. And he lied to me. And he lied to a lot of us,” Jackson said in an interview with MS NOW. Democrats are aiming to replace Platner at a nominating convention later this month. They don’t have much time, facing a July 27 state deadline to replace him on the ballot and several candidates vying for the nomination. Some of Platner’s top critics aren’t so eager to move on, demanding introspection and a change in tactics by progressives across the country. “Bernie Sanders needs to apologize to the voters of Maine and to everyone that donated to that train wreck of a campaign,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) told Fox News. “More than anyone, he pushed Platner into the election … There’s plenty of those people that have to humble themselves — humble yourself, and stop pushing these kinds of people on people in my party.” Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pennsylvania), who faced criticism after she told CNN in June that Platner had “disqualified himself” following allegations of emotional abuse by his ex-girlfriends, said her party ought to speak with moral clarity and not fall into the same defensive crouch often exhibited by the Republican Party. “Not a tough call, and for folks to contort themselves around that makes no sense,” Dean told NOTUS in a phone interview. “ We stand for certain values. We should speak our mind and not hide behind ‘Oh gosh, we have to win this race.’” Shannon Watts, an author and political activist who opposed Platner’s campaign, told NOTUS that “there’s just no way to say you didn’t know that this guy lacked character.” “You can say you didn’t realize that he was going to be accused of sexual assault, but the writing was on the wall. I do think it’s Trumpian to not apologize and to not say that going forward you’re going to do things differently,” Watts added. Democratic groups that opposed Platner in the primary race piled on. “If there’s one lesson Democrats need to take from this, it’s to stop betting on vibe-based candidates with glaring red flags,” said Jessica Mackler, the president of EMILYs List, which endorsed Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Senate race. Some progressives argue that Platner’s faults as a candidate shouldn’t obscure the popularity of his populist message. Adam Carlson, a progressive strategist and pollster, admitted he ignored “an insane amount of obvious red flags for months on end.” “Graham tapped into some very real anger in the electorate. He did inspire people. That shouldn’t be lost on all of this,” Carlson said. “We need to figure out — as a party, not just a progressive-left anti-establishment faction — a way to harness that without compromising our values as human beings and Democrats.” Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said Platner was just one misfire among a crop of other promising progressive candidates, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Nebraska independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn. “The point is being proven across the country that bold economic populists can win, but certainly this was a black eye, and it’s very good that he got out of the race,” Green told CNN last week. Smith also argued that Platner’s collapse shouldn’t hold back the progressive movement. “What happened to him was a flaw in that campaign and in the candidate, but it is not a flaw in the progressive movement, and it’s not a flaw in the message that progressives are winning on all over the country,” the senator told NOTUS. “And I think it’s important to distinguish those two things.”Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:34:06 +0000VPPAUzIQ1kMKCQhRhttps://www.jta.org/2026/07/09/politics/possible-platner-replacements-and-their-divergent-stands-on-israelWhat have Graham Platner's possible replacements said about Israel, antisemitism and Gaza? --- Following the implosion of Graham Platner — a harsh critic of Israel who lobbed a parting shot about “genocide” in Gaza in his video Wednesday quitting the Maine Senate race — a number of possible replacements have emerged. And as their names have surfaced, interest and questions about their positions on issues of concern to the Jewish community also have arisen. There is a significant range of views among the possible candidates on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee pro-Israel lobby, arms sales to Israel and whether there was a genocide in Gaza, based on their past and recent comments.  In statements to JTA, pro-Israel groups Democratic Majority for Israel and the Jewish Democratic Council of America both urged the party to nominate a candidate aligned with their values; Platner had drawn concern from a number of Jewish groups because of his covered-up Nazi tattoo and stance on Israel.  DMFI’s president and CEO, Brian Romick, said he doesn’t understand why progressives had supported “a candidate with so many obvious red flags, including an allegation of sexual assault and a Nazi tattoo.” (Platner has denied the assault allegation and claimed to not know what the tattoo represented when he got it.) He added, “We urge Maine Democrats to nominate a viable candidate who reflects our Democratic values and can actually win.” The JDCA, meanwhile, wrote that it “never supported Graham Platner because he doesn’t share the values of our community,” and said it hopes to back “a Democratic candidate who reflects the priorities — and morals — of Jewish Americans, and will beat Susan Collins in November.” Some of Platner’s former volunteers have said they want his replacement to fit his mold as a progressive and Israel critic who is taking on establishment politics in the effort to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins. After Platner dropped out, the Maine Democratic Party announced on Wednesday that to fill the candidate vacancy it will hold a nominating convention made up of about 600 people selected by county-level Democratic committees. The timing of the convention is not yet clear; the deadline for naming a replacement is July 27.  “There is an unprecedented amount of energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats, driven in part by many of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who were inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign,” the party said in a statement. “We look forward to coming together and harnessing that energy around our new nominee as we work to defeat Susan Collins in November.” Here are some of the replacements being mentioned and what they’ve said about Jewish-related issues, Israel and AIPAC. None of the possible nominees responded to JTA’s requests for comment. Nirav Shah, epidemiologist and healthcare executive Nirav Shah, who ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in June, finishing second in ranked-choice voting, told Semafor reporter David Weigel on Tuesday that he supports an arms embargo on Israel, and he accuses the country of having committing genocide. Shah also said that in keeping with his policy he would not accept funds or an endorsement from AIPAC.  Shah has touted himself as a political outsider like Platner and said Tuesday that he had “no establishment support, and no major political endorsements” when he was running for governor. He has called on possible Platner replacement to participate in a televised debate and “multiple” town halls across the state to make the nomination process transparent. Troy Jackson, logger and union leader Troy Jackson, who has backing from the left, had a close political alliance with Platner until calling for him to step aside on Monday and officially launching his campaign for the nomination on Wednesday. A number of Platner’s supporters have called for the party to nominate Jackson, who finished third behind Shah in the gubernatorial primary. He’d said little publicly related to Israel until Thursday, when he responded to news that a Palestinian aid worker who organized World Cup watch parties in the Gaza Strip was killed in an Israeli missile strike. “This is unconscionable,” Jackson wrote. “Anybody with eyes and a heart knows the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza. It has to end, and we as Americans have the power to end it.” Jackson added that he will “never vote in favor of US taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel” as a senator. In his run for governor, Jackson had the backing of a number of left-wing, strongly pro-Palestinian politicians, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Rep. Ro Khanna, as well as Maine’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter.  Sanders’ group Our Revolution and left-wing streamer Hasan Piker — a staunch Israel critic who’s drawn accusations of antisemitism — are both backing Jackson to be the new Senate nominee. In 2024, at the Maine State Democratic Convention, Jackson, who served as convention chairman, reportedly attempted to quiet down a small group of protesters who called for a ceasefire in Gaza and called Maine Rep. Jared Golden a “war criminal” during a video celebrating the Jewish congressman. “I believe in the ability of people to demonstrate and protest,” Jackson said amid the outburst. “There is a time for that.” Jackson, who previously ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2014, is a former Maine state senator and Senate president; he is a member of the Painters and Allied Trades and the Machinists unions. Shenna Bellows, Maine secretary of state Before assuming her current role, a position that is appointed by state lawmakers every two years, Shenna Bellows served as the executive director of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.  In May, Bellows spoke at the Jewish-Asian Friendship Dinner, hosted by the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine. Bellows said she began working with the JCA during her time leading the Holocaust museum, and said she’d attended numerous events that discussed “many stories of Holocaust survivors and of genocide around the world, and how important it is that we stand up for all of each other, and for unity, and the love that we have for all of each other.” Bellows also commended the JCA for its response to the surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence over the winter, which included mutual aid to support people who felt unsafe leaving their homes. Bellows does not appear to have commented extensively on Israel, although she signed Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ 2023 proclamation recognizing the 75th anniversary of the founding of modern Israel that wished the country “a peaceful and prosperous future.” Jordan Wood, ex-congressional staffer A former staffer for former California Rep. Katie Porter, Jordan Wood spoke extensively about his views on Israel and AIPAC in an interview as a Senate candidate in Maine last fall. He was the first Democrat to enter the race for Collins’ Senate seat before being overshadowed by Platner and later suspending his campaign to run for the House. Wood told Democratic commentator Kaivan Shroff that he would support Sanders’ resolution to restrict offensive weapons sales to Israel but backs the continuation of aid to the Jewish state with conditions. Wood said he believes Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, but stopped short of accusing the country of genocide, pointing to a connection between that accusation and a rise in antisemitism. “I’ve hesitated on it because I’m also seeing a real rise in antisemitism in the United States,” Wood said. “My husband is Jewish, and the acts of violence toward Jewish Americans is very much connected to the language that we use.”  Wood added that it would be “a huge deal for the United States Congress to designate what’s going on in Gaza as a genocide officially.”  “There could be consequences to that of US citizens that have served in the IDF,” he said. “Do they get prosecuted?” Wood also said he would not take money from AIPAC, and added that there is a “huge amount of distrust” of the lobbying organization among Democratic voters. “I believe the only way to truly prove to a voter that you are voting and prioritizing policies in their best interest, and for our country’s best interest, is to remove any perception of corruption or misdealing,” Wood said. Dan Kleban, brewery owner  Dan Kleban, who announced on Wednesday that he is back in the race for Senate after having suspended his campaign in October and endorsing Gov. Janet Mills, who dropped out before the primary after trailing in the polls, has a very different approach from Platner to the U.S.-Israel relationship.  In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Kleban refrained from accusing Israel of committing genocide, instead calling the military campaign in Gaza an “absolute tragedy.” Kleban said he would condition arms sales to IsraeMon, 13 Jul 2026 13:23:12 +0000JOaF1QQxucIvyS6bhttps://ingstadmedia.com/senator-bernie-sanders-coming-to-minnesota-ahead-of-primary-election/Senator Bernie Sanders Coming to Minnesota Ahead of Primary Election --- Senator Bernie Sanders Coming to Minnesota Ahead of Primary Election Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is returning to Minnesota to campaign for Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan’s U.S. Senate bid. Sanders will headline a “Many Over the Money” get-out-the-vote rally in Minneapolis on July 20th (5 p.m.), ahead of the August 11 primary. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will join Flanagan. Sanders has endorsed Flanagan as part of his national effort to support progressive candidates running for office.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:23:12 +00006ec6AUFsNw6SU8Q3https://www.dailywire.com/news/leftist-comedian-celebrates-death-of-lindsey-graham-hopes-for-moreStand-up comedian Margaret Cho posted a video on her Instagram mocking the death of South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and expressing her hope that another prominent Republican will die next. The 57-year-old celeb said in the video, “Bye, Lindsey Graham … bye, Lindsey! From the closet to the coffin, real seamless,” referencing rumors that ... --- Stand-up comedian Margaret Cho posted a video on her Instagram mocking the death of South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and expressing her hope that another prominent Republican will die next. The 57-year-old celeb said in the video, “Bye, Lindsey Graham … bye, Lindsey! From the closet to the coffin, real seamless,” referencing rumors that the senator was secretly gay. “Um, also, yeah Mitch McConnell,” she went on. “So, it’s Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham … it does happen in threes. Hope!”    View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Margaret Cho (@margaret_cho) Cho is believed to be indicating that the third “death” would be President Trump. Senator McConnell (R-KY), however, is not actually dead. On the same day Cho’s video was shared, McConnell posted a proof of life photo and message from his hospital bed and promised that he “still has unfinished business to complete” following his recovery from a fall and a bout of pneumonia.  Even people who commented on Cho’s post took exception to her celebration of Graham’s death. “You can disagree with a politician and still act like a decent human being,” one Instagram commenter wrote. “Mocking someone’s death says more about you than it does about him. A real comedian creates laughter; they don’t confuse cruelty and outrage with humor.” “Man I’m not a fan of Lindsay Graham but I would never be happy for someone’s death. Yikes!” another person added. Graham, one of the Republican Party’s most influential voices on national security and a close ally of President Trump, unexpectedly died at 71 after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness,” as The Daily Wire previously reported. His death is being openly celebrated by far-Left agitators and Iranian media personalities, among others.  Cho certainly falls into the former category. Recently, the stand-up comedian went on record saying she had wanted to participate in the gay hockey drama “Heated Rivalry” but ultimately decided against it because she was afraid of being “detained at the border” after filming in Canada.  “Like, it kills me,” Cho said of turning down the role. “And it’s all because of Trump.” The actress/comedian also caused controversy in 2023 after saying she hoped Disney would incorporate more LGBT themes into children’s content.  “I would love to see them everywhere,” Cho said of “queer characters” in kids’ films. “I would love to see trans characters and different types of people in roles of, like, Disney princess, Disney prince, and Disney everything.” “I think this would be really important and it’s a move towards the future,” she added. “It’s a move towards who we are. I think it’s really admirable and really exciting.”Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:45:23 +0000CfxVvBoEPqEiV3HIhttps://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/07/13/zohran-mamdani-accused-of-sabotage-how-nycs-mayor-gutted-the-biggest-us-navy-parade-in-50-years-n2204264---Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:58:48 +0000QZXZ59OtTkBA99vOhttps://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/07/60378823/ken-griffin-tells-bernie-sanders-and-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-to-read-a-damn-history-book-while-warning-wall-street-is-leaving-new-yorkKen Griffin Tells Bernie Sanders and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to 'Read a Damn History Book' While Warning --- Griffin questioned the growing popularity of socialism among younger Americans, arguing that history shows free-market capitalism has delivered better economic outcomes. Citing China’s shift toward open markets, he said the country’s economic reforms lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. “It’s the greatest success story in the history of humanity,” Griffin said, before adding that “whether it’s Bernie Sanders, whether it’s Mamdani,” they should “read a damn history book for once and then tell us how to run our country.” Griffin Questions New York’s Business Climate Griffin also criticized New York’s tax burden, saying the gap between the taxes businesses pay and the services they receive is “breathtaking.” He questioned, “Where is all this money being wasted?” while pointing to Citadel’s expansion in Miami and Goldman Sachs’ growing presence in Dallas as examples of firms investing in lower-tax, business-friendly locations. Referring to Mamdani, Griffin said, “I believe Citadel will be a principal player in financial services for far longer than the mayor will be mayor. We intend to be here for decades. And he will be here for a few years.” He also revealed that he has not spoken with the New York City mayor. Griffin also reiterated that Citadel intends to remain in Miami, where the firm relocated its headquarters after the pandemic and is constructing a 1.7 million-square-foot office tower. Griffin also questioned the hype around artificial intelligence, saying many companies exaggerate its impact. Recalling a dinner with CEOs, he said he asked each to share how AI was transforming their business. “Not one involved AI,” he said, adding that AI is “a component of the story,” but only “a piece.” Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image via ShutterstockFri, 10 Jul 2026 13:10:46 +0000bjDAmYtlC9EGFgeWhttps://www.dailywire.com/news/deer-in-the-headlights-troy-jacksons-platner-excuses-fall-flat-as-maine-democrats-scrambleAppearing on MS NOW, progressive golden boy Troy Jackson froze like a deer in the headlights when host Katy Tur grilled him on why he stood by disgraced nominee Graham Platner for so long. Tur unloaded a laundry list of Platner’s baggage, including a literal Nazi tattoo, racist Reddit posts, and a history of aggressive ... --- Appearing on MS NOW, progressive golden boy Troy Jackson froze like a deer in the headlights when host Katy Tur grilled him on why he stood by disgraced nominee Graham Platner for so long. Tur unloaded a laundry list of Platner’s baggage, including a literal Nazi tattoo, racist Reddit posts, and a history of aggressive behavior toward women. Jackson’s defense? He claimed he is an internet novice. “I’ve never been on Reddit,” the former Maine state Senate president whimpered, offering a pathetic excuse that Platner merely told him those bigoted scandals were from a “dark” time and arguing that “people can change.” Katy Tur asks Troy Jackson why he supported Graham Platner even after he was exposed for having a Nazi tattoo, saying he would rape someone to show his "dominance," and his ex girlfriend came out claiming he abused her pic.twitter.com/954PPxh6TX — DSA Watch (@DSA_Watch) July 9, 2026 Yet, despite carrying water for a toxic candidate, Jackson immediately threw his hat into the ring to replace him, quickly securing the backing of left-wing California Rep. Ro Khanna. But Jackson is far from alone in this chaotic, fast-moving circus to take on incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. The Democratic field has instantly mutated into a crowded, free-for-all. Among the top contenders is Nirav Shah, the former Maine CDC director who gained a following during the pandemic. After losing a gubernatorial primary earlier this year, Shah is demanding a televised debate to keep the process transparent. He’s joined by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who famously lost to Collins by over 30 points back in 2014, and former congressional staffer Jordan Wood. Meanwhile, far-left activist Paige Loud is pitching herself as the “anti-imperialist, anti-billionaire” woman for the job. Rounding out the pack are Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban, who wants to pivot the focus back to bashing Collins, and perennial candidate David Costello. With only weeks for the party to pick its savior, Maine Democrats are handing Susan Collins an early Christmas present. If Jackson’s spineless television appearance is any indication of what’s to come, national Democrats should start kissing this Senate seat goodbye.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:03:05 +00004vYJGrRdGCyykokohttps://dailycaller.com/2026/07/10/tim-walz-illegal-criminal-pardon-deportation-rubio-ice/Repeated sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl --- Repeated sexual assault of a 10-year-old girlFri, 10 Jul 2026 15:31:09 +0000bZVHauoTr0FfxUwphttps://www.wctrib.com/opinion/columns/froma-harrop-democrats-need-to-take-the-car-keys-away-from-bernieFroma Harrop: Democrats need to take the car keys away from Bernie --- The Platner fiasco has unleashed something of a brawl in the Democratic Party over how the sexting candidate with a Nazi tattoo came to be their rival to Susan Collins, now in her 5th term as Republican senator from Maine. Bernie Sanders thought his socialists could pass off blue-collar impersonator Graham Platner — a product of the elite Hotchkiss prep school — as a hard-working "oysterman." Sanders had been waving off concerns about the guy. Then suddenly, he called on Platner to leave the campaign. Two problems with Bernie's new directive: One, Sanders is why Democrats got saddled with Platner to begin with. Two, the new revelations come on top of previous revelations about his piggish behavior. Froma Harrop Commentary Tribune graphic Sanders evidently thought he could ignore all this until more startling charges came to light. The dam holding back Democratic demands to Platner to withdraw finally gave way. If Sanders didn't jump in and pretend to have problems with the candidate he pushed onto the party, he wouldn't be in a strong position to choose his own left-fringe replacement with a colorful story. The road to socialist victories, Sanders knows, runs through infiltrating the Democratic Party, of which he's not a member. His objective is not to help Democrats take over Congress but for his socialists to take over the Democratic Party. Sanders, the "Independent " senator from Vermont, is not a Mainer. He's not much of a Vermonter, either. He's a New Yorker, spending large amounts of time back home in hardcore Democratic districts trying — and succeeding — to get his followers to knock off liberal Democrat incumbents in primaries. One of his winning primary offers called former President Joe Biden "a rapist." Thing is, the Democratic Socialists of America are heavily represented by college-educated voters who don't have to worry about losing their health coverage. They don't like the rents they have to pay to live in the neighborhoods they're busy gentrifying. They think socialists can fix that. Now listen to a Platner defender back in Maine. Joanie Monteith told AP, "I'm heartbroken for him and his wife." Rest assured that Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, is well practiced in the art of handling humiliation, with the world knowing her husband sent raunchy texts to assorted women before the couple reached their second anniversary. If finding plausible Democrats to represent the party requires a Democratic rumble, let's have it. So far, few prominent Democrats have spoken forcefully about the far-left's boutique nominees. The exception is Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. He let loose, calling Platner a "predator" and "Bona fide dirtbag," and referring to him as "P-Hustle," his old Reddit handle. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, more gentle in his rebuke, joins Fetterman as a Democrat who won office in a state that's been turning Republican. Democrats shouldn't need a lot of magic to get one of their own elected in Blue New England, and in a year favoring their party. Sanders, age 84, might consider retirement. But another leftist string-puller at the other end of the age spectrum, 27-year-old campaign adviser Morris Katz, should also look for another line of work. Katz won some fame as the mind behind New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's adorable internet storytelling campaign. Looking to repeat his act in Maine, Katz pushed the utterly unqualified Platner over the primary win line, despite Platner's "imperfections" being widely known. Katz then made the dumb mistake of personally threatening a woman who left the Platner campaign, demanding she refute the things she knew about his abuse of women. Democrats need to replace the internet-savvy fringe operatives with internet-savvy mainstream operatives of their own. Above all, they need to take the car keys away from Bernie Sanders. Froma Harrop is an American writer and author. She can be reached at fharrop@wctrib.com or on Twitter @FromaHarrop . ©2025 Creators Syndicate. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:54:53 +00008WxkYhvLEc5YKFEchttps://dailycaller.com/2026/07/09/graham-platner-maine-democratic-party-convention/The convention will include roughly 600 delegates --- The convention will include roughly 600 delegatesThu, 09 Jul 2026 15:24:57 +0000GQqmFX8vv8BGxDRYhttps://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-omar-backed-mayor-mocks-outrage-somalia-july-4th-trip-sarcastic-apologyWATCH: Omar-backed mayor mocks outrage over Somalia July 4th trip with sarcastic 'apology' --- St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed says critics are unfairly bullying her for visiting Mogadishu during America's 250th anniversary weekend. (Credit: @Nadia_Mohameds via X - July 8) NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, who made history as the first Somali American elected mayor of a U.S. city, fired back at critics who criticized her Fourth of July weekend trip to Somalia during the country's 250th anniversary weekend. The controversy began after local news outlet Alpha News reported that Mohamed, who has repeatedly been praised by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was in Somalia over the semi-quincentennial Fourth of July weekend, citing a Somali news outlet that reported on her visit she made alongside the country's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.  Video from the Somali president's X account highlighted the visit and, according to Alpha News, photos appeared to show the mayor’s arrival with "a large welcoming party waving American and Somali flags."  WALZ, MINNESOTA BOARD OF PARDONS CLEARS CONVICTED ILLEGAL ALIEN CHILD SEX OFFENDER FACING DEPORTATION Mayor-elect Nadia Mohamed of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, speaks to supporters following her electoral victory, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP) "Allow me to offer my sincerest apology for daring – for having the audacity – to take vacation time to see family members I have not seen in 10 years," Mohamed sarcastically said in a video posted to her social media accounts following criticism for not being stateside.  "Allow me to apologize for utilizing the federal holiday that we have, and the time off that we have to be able to go see my grandmothers – in which I have not seen in 10 years, in which six of those years I have worked diligently to serve the good people of St. Louis Park – I am so sorry. How inconsiderate of me! How treacherous – is it treacherous? Treacherous of me!" This is the Minnesota state flag that was replaced by one some critics say resembles the national flag of Somalia. (Mohamed Ibrahim/Report for America via AP, File) A LOOK AT WHAT'S INSIDE THE AMERICA 250TH TIME CAPSULE BURIED IN PHILADELPHIA "If you must know, I also met with the president of Switzerland, the then-president of Switzerland, but nobody asked me about that one," she continued.  "I would've loved to have told you about that. I would have loved to have had an entire news article written about that. I will do better next time. I will." Mohamed remains in Somalia, according to the city, which told Fox News Digital the trip is personal, privately funded and unrelated to city business. However, the city did not provide a return date when asked, saying only that Council Member Yolanda Farris is currently performing the mayor’s duties as designated mayor pro tem. Minnesota State Capitol building. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Mohamed concluded her "apology" video by calling the complaints about her trip "bullying." "Reading the comments on this post," she said, while trying to contain laughter. Honestly, it's the way that people do not fall for this s---. It's the way that people do not fall for this propaganda. It is the way that people do not fall for this bullying – because that's what this is." It's all about "clicks" off the backs of "hating" Somali people, Mohamed argued.  "The minute they mention Somali people, their clicks and views go up," she said before the video cut.  Alec Schemmel is a Politics Reporter for Fox News Digital who is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina but now resides in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:32:07 +0000cWBBqLBKcdschrFmhttps://www.foxnews.com/media/anti-trump-protestor-charged-after-viral-video-appears-show-journalist-shoved-maine-protestAnti-Trump protestor charged after viral video appears to show journalist shoved at Maine protest --- Laura Ingraham discusses reports of journalists being attacked by left-wing activists during protests in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. The Daily Caller News Foundation's Jorge Ventura weighs in after he fell victim to an attack. A Maine man is facing charges after a viral video captured him allegedly assaulting a local journalist at an apparent Democratic-led protest. The undated video posted Tuesday shows The Maine Wire’s Joe Sokol speaking to demonstrators at a protest challenging President Donald Trump — among other political flashpoints — in the city of Bangor. "When we find out that somebody is not a good person, we don’t vote for them," one woman can be heard telling Sokol, as she carries a sign depicting an upside-down American flag. TPUSA REPORTER SAVANAH HERNANDEZ ASSAULTED DURING MINNEAPOLIS ICE PROTEST An apparent anti-Donald Trump protestor is facing an assault charge after a viral video appeared to show him allegedly shoving a Maine Wire journalist at an undated event. (Getty Images) As Sokol walks away following a brief interview with the woman, a man wearing a white shirt and carrying a sign that reads "Healthcare 4 all" appears to shove the journalist and cameraman. "Whoa, whoa, that’s assault," Sokol is heard saying as the man walks away. As the man storms away from Sokol, a woman carrying an American flag can be seen following him with her hand on his shoulder and apologizing profusely. TPUSA REPORTER SAYS FAMILY CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HER IS NOW TRYING TO SILENCE HER WITH RESTRAINING ORDERS Protesters wave American flags and hold up signs during a 'No Kings' demonstration. (Fox News Digital) Sokol then confronts the man, asking, "Why would you just do that?" "I didn’t see you," the man replied while walking down a sparse line of fellow demonstrators, each carrying signs that appear to push anti-Trump rhetoric. "Excuse me, sir, would you like to tell me why you just assaulted me?" Sokol asked. "Would you like to tell me why you just assaulted me?" VIDEO SHOWS OFF-DUTY FLORIDA SHERIFF'S SERGEANT ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING ELDERLY COUPLE AT BAR U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein) The man appears to not respond to Sokol, as the unidentified woman offers a string of apologies to the journalist. "I’m sorry, we don’t do that," the woman can be heard telling Sokol. In another clip, Sokol can be seen attempting to interview another man at the protest when the same individual appears to back into Sokol before allegedly elbowing him. The man does not appear to exchange words with Sokol throughout the video and details surrounding any type of confrontation remain unclear. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE The incident was subsequently reported to the Bangor Police Department, who confirmed the man’s identity to Fox News Digital as 78-year-old Ronald Staples, of the nearby city of Holden. Staples is facing one charge of assault, according to police. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Authorities have not yet released details surrounding what led up to or transpired immediately after the alleged assault. Fox News Digital reached out to Staples and the Maine Wire for comment but did not receive a response. Julia Bonavita is a media and culture writer for Fox News Digital, and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:32:07 +0000qaGVPbHe3sgh693hhttps://pjmedia.com/chris-queen/2026/07/09/so-now-jon-ossoff-wants-to-denounce-graham-platner-kinda-sorta-n4954836---Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:38:22 +00000Pn6mx6EXqPyzRUHhttps://dailycaller.com/2026/07/08/illinois-group-shame-companies-firearms-industry/'NSSF has been pushing back on antigun activism' --- 'NSSF has been pushing back on antigun activism'Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:13:57 +0000oULDtb96WhvDYopqhttps://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2026/07/08/mamdani-crows-about-socialisms-success-but-its-capitalism-thats-keeping-his-city-afloat-n4954788---Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:00:45 +0000buZoP2BIavCmSMqQhttps://www.cbsnews.com/video/graham-platner-faces-another-abuse-allegation-as-bernie-sanders-john-fetterman-call-for-his-exit/Graham Platner faces another abuse allegation as Bernie Sanders, John Fetterman call for his exit --- Graham Platner faces another abuse allegation as Bernie Sanders, John Fetterman call for his exit Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing mounting pressure to drop his 2026 bid as more allegations of abuse emerge against him. CBS News' Jarred Hill reports, and Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, joins with more insight.Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:16:18 +00009gTolMTOB9c5YUP4https://www.ign.com/articles/it-never-trickles-down-bernie-sanders-hits-out-at-microsoft-over-xbox-layoffs-and-console-price-rises-says-they-prove-corporate-tax-breaks-do-not-create-jobs'It Never Trickles Down' — Bernie Sanders Hits Out at Microsoft Over Xbox Layoffs and Console Price Rises, Says They Prove Corporate Tax Breaks Do Not Create Jobs --- Sen. Bernie Sanders has hit out at Microsoft over the recent layoffs at Xbox as well as console price rises, insisting they’re evidence that corporate tax breaks do not create jobs. Pointing to the billions of dollars of profit Microsoft makes alongside the billions in tax breaks it has received and the tens of millions it pays CEO Satya Nadella, the 84-year-old senator from Vermont claimed that the layoffs were proof that corporate tax breaks do not lead to job creation. “Last year, Microsoft made $101 billion in profits, got a $12.5 billion tax break from Trump & paid its CEO $96 million,” Sanders tweeted. “This year, it’s raising the price of an Xbox by $150 & eliminating 3,200 jobs. Please don’t tell me corporate tax breaks create jobs. It never trickles down.” This week, Microsoft announced 3,200 staff at Xbox are set to lose their jobs this financial year, with 1,600 going now and the rest to follow — leaving thousands of employees with an anxious wait that could drag out for months. As part of the cuts, Microsoft has jettisoned four studios which were brought in to bolster Game Pass with new games under the Phil Spencer era, with another studio in negotiations to be sold or shut down. The news followed the announcement of a significant price hike for Xbox consoles, which Microsoft blamed on the ongoing “components crisis.” The price rises, which start from August 1, will see the Xbox Series increase by $100 for 512GB models and $150 for 1TB models. The 2TB model will be discontinued. In its 2025 financial year (ending June 30, 2025), Microsoft reported a record net income of $101.8 billion (a 16% increase year-over-year). This massive profit was generated on $281.7 billion in total revenue, driven by broad growth across Microsoft’s cloud, AI, and productivity segments. Don’t agree? Contribute to affect the community list. Xbox Games Series Tier List Xbox Games Series Tier List Halo The Elder Scrolls Fallout Forza Horizon Minecraft Doom Fable Gears of War Diablo Call of Duty Age of Empires Microsoft Flight Simulator Forza Motorsport Hellblade Psychonauts Ori State of Decay Fuzion Frenzy Viva Pinata Project Gotham Racing Crackdown Sharma has said the Xbox business, however, is struggling. Xbox ended the financial year with a 3% accountability margin (assumed to be profit margin), down year-over-year. Excluding Activision Blizzard King, over the past five years, Microsoft spent over $20 billion on ongoing investments in what Sharma called its content, platform, and hardware “subsidy,” but annual revenue has declined nearly half a billion during that time. “We are operating at margins that are 3-10x lower than comparable platform and publishing businesses,” Sharma said in a blog post announcing the layoffs. “We entered Gen 9 with a smaller install base and a higher cost structure. To grow, we bet on Game Pass, multi-platform, and a broader portfolio of content. While those businesses have created meaningful value, they did not grow at the pace we expected. As that happened, our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome. And now the industry is facing the most severe hardware crisis in its history. We must reset Xbox.” Of course, Sanders’ statement is less about Xbox specifically, and more about Microsoft and his views on corporate America. But it’s worth noting that this week’s layoffs at Xbox were a part of broader cuts across Microsoft. The company actually announced plans to cut 4,800 jobs — roughly 2.1% of its workforce — although clearly Xbox is bearing the brunt of the restructure. This isn’t the first time Sanders has spoken out about the goings on in the video game industry. In 2022, Sanders and three other U.S. senators raised concerns about Microsoft’s then proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. “We are deeply concerned about consolidation in the tech industry and its impact on workers," Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote. Microsoft eventually won out in its battle with the FTC over the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. That enormous buyout was meant to help Xbox grow its gaming business significantly. This week, Sharma admitted it had been a failure. Responding to the layoffs, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) said they would fight for the rights of affected Xbox staff. “When Microsoft sought to grow its video game division, corporate executives made an agreement with video game workers and their union, CWA, to respect their right to organize for a new day for workers across Microsoft’s video game studios,” Claude Cummings Jr., President of CWA, said. “Although our union signed neutrality agreements with Microsoft, we have been extremely disappointed by a company that has slow-walked our members at the bargaining table, making CWA members wait for the protections of a union contract. "But make no mistake — whether our members have a contract in hand, or are still at the bargaining table, CWA members at Xbox have the power and protection of union membership. When Microsoft decides to treat the workers who built Xbox as expendable, it should know who they’re dealing with. This is not just a fight with the thousands of workers across Xbox; it’s a fight with each and every member at CWA — hundreds of thousands of people strong.” Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:16:18 +0000CTy7PaHnH9Rb8LFwhttps://nypost.com/2026/07/07/us-news/mamdani-aide-goes-berserk-on-abc-execs-after-the-view-host-calls-socialist-candidate-antisemitic/Mamdani aide goes berserk on ABC execs after 'The View' host calls socialist candidate antisemitic --- A top aide to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly blasted ABC executives over “The View” co-host Sara Haines’ on-air criticism of a socialist congressional candidate as an antisemite. One of Mamdani’s aides privately expressed fury to network honchos after Haines said she would “full-blown call” Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier “an antisemite” during a recent episode of the program, according to Semafor. Mamdani’s aides went beserk on The View. The View / YouTube The Mamdani aide reportedly warned that Haines’ remarks could affect whether Mamdani and other democratic socialist candidates would agree to appear on the show in the future. The clash came as ABC reportedly declined a request from Mamdani’s team to feature two of the mayor’s congressional allies — Avila Chevalier and Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez — on “The View.” According to Semafor, producers told Mamdani’s representatives they were proceeding cautiously with candidate bookings while the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time inquiry into the program remains unresolved. The Post has sought comment from ABC and Mamdani.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:11:37 +0000sx76LV7SWQOdw9Rdhttps://www.dailywire.com/news/the-views-sunny-hostin-says-american-flags-make-her-feel-unsafe“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin returned to a well-worn theme on Monday: the sight of the Stars and Stripes fills her with dread. Discussing the viral image of masked Patriot Front marchers riding a Washington Metro train alongside a black woman who sat expressionless nearby, Hostin used the moment to revive her years-old claim that ... --- “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin returned to a well-worn theme on Monday: the sight of the Stars and Stripes fills her with dread. Discussing the viral image of masked Patriot Front marchers riding a Washington Metro train alongside a black woman who sat expressionless nearby, Hostin used the moment to revive her years-old claim that Old Glory has effectively become a white supremacist emblem in parts of the country. Hostin told viewers, “There are times when I walk into a community and I see American flags all over the community and I suddenly feel unsafe because there is a section of this country that has co-opted the American flag and they equate being an American, or an American flag, with white supremacy.” She made sure to note this wasn’t a new position — she’s held it for roughly a decade on the show. Naturally, the internet had questions, chief among them: doesn’t Hostin herself live in one of the whitest, wealthiest zip codes in America? Commentators were quick to point out that her Purchase, New York neighborhood boasts an average income around $800,000 and a population that’s overwhelmingly white — the kind of demographic makeup that, by her own logic, might warrant suspicion. Sunny Hostin lives in Purchase, NY, one of the wealthiest ZIP codes (10577) in the United States of America. The AVERAGE income in Purchase NY is $800,000/year. That's the AVERAGE. It's also, coincidentally, 80-85% White people… — Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) July 6, 2026 This isn’t Hostin’s first rodeo with flag-based fearmongering. Back in 2021, she made similar remarks defending an MSNBC analyst who had called American and Trump flags in Long Island “disturbing.” “When someone of color, a black woman, is telling you her feelings, people need to listen and not, you know, repudiate it and not say, ‘Well, that can’t be true,’” Hostin said at the time. “When I drive into a neighborhood, and it’s not July 4th, and I’m not in a predominantly military household neighborhood and there are flags, American flags, everywhere, alongside Trump flags, alongside flags with stars in a circle, I feel threatened.” “Because the message is very clear,” she had added. “It’s a message of white supremacy. It’s a message of racism, and it’s a message of their country, not my country. I don’t understand why that would receive backlash. People need to listen when I am saying this is how I feel. This is my experience in this country.” Co-host Michelle Buteau piled on, questioning what, exactly, the nation has to celebrate at 250 years and arguing that the viral Metro photo validated the experiences minorities face in their daily lives. Flag anxiety is just the latest entry in Hostin’s catalogue of grievances. She’s previously argued that Trump’s 2025 inauguration on Martin Luther King Day was hypocritical, called the assassination of a healthcare CEO a normal byproduct of a nation “built on violence,” and — despite learning her own ancestors owned slaves — maintained she’s still owed reparations. In Hostin’s America, a flag flying on a porch is a five-alarm threat.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:49:38 +0000o2I2Db4yMQwjP3Ovhttps://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-author-stephen-king-defends-graham-platner-amid-assault-allegations/71847957Author Stephen King defends Graham Platner amid sexual assault allegations --- Author Stephen King defends Graham Platner amid sexual assault allegations BANGOR, Maine —Author Stephen King appears to be standing behind Graham Platner, even as the Maine Democratic Senate candidate faces allegations of sexual assault and growing calls to end his campaign. Posting on social media shortly after POLITICO published testimony from a Maine woman who accused Platner of assaulting her in 2021, the prolific horror writer wrote "Graham Platner may drop out. I hope he doesn't, but." King then went on to reference President Donald Trump, and the numerous sexual misconduct allegations he has faced over the years, calling him the "Abuser in Chief." Trump has consistently denied several public allegations of sexual assault, including non-consensual touching and kissing. In 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. In a second post, King wrote: "Tell you what--if you knew the whole truth about everyone in the Senate and House of Reps, those chambers would be dead empty. Jesus said, 'Let him without sin cast the first stone,'" which provoked hundreds of comments criticizing King and accusing him of misunderstanding scripture and defending sexual assault. King's seeming endorsement of Platner comes as the candidate denies the allegations and is facing a flood of calls from Democratic leadership in Maine and D.C. to end his campaign. The Maine Democratic Party called for Platner to withdraw, as well as high-profile supporters such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ro Khanna, of California. Notably, Vermont's independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who campaigned alongside Platner in Portland in May, has not yet pulled his endorsement of Platner. In June, when Platner was under scrutiny for reports that he sent sexual text messages to women who were not his wife, Sanders defended his endorsement by saying, "Is he a saint? I guess not. I don't know too many saints here," while pointing to the U.S. Capitol building in D.C.Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:27:14 +0000SRUEkIXB8KQa7PmBhttps://nypost.com/2026/07/07/us-news/fetterman-demands-bernie-sanders-apologize-for-pushing-predator-graham-platner-on-dems/Fetterman demands Bernie Sanders apologize for pushing 'predator' Graham Platner on Dems --- WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman is not feeling the Bern. The Pennsylvania Democrat torched socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Monday night for promoting disgraced Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner despite clear signs that he was a “predator.” “I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone,” Fetterman told Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” hours after former Platner girlfriend Jenny Racicot claimed that he broke into her home and raped her in 2021. Fetterman specified that Sanders should “apologize to the victims, especially the woman that — she claimed that he raped her.” “I don’t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people,” he added of Sanders. “Maybe he should consider [sitting] a few out and stop pushing these kind of communists.” “I know Democrats that have, you know, back-to-back endorsed and got all in on [disgraced former Rep. Eric] Swalwell and were on the Platner train as well, too,” Fetterman went on. “So, maybe stop, you know, getting [in] bed with absolute dirt bags, someone like Platner.” Sanders had been among Platner’s earliest backers, endorsing him in August of last year, shortly after Platner launched what appeared to be a long shot campaign. Sen. John Fetterman had long warned the Democratic Party against backing Graham Platner in Maine. Getty Images Sen. Bernie Sanders had been among Graham Platner’s earliest backers. Anadolu via Getty Images As of Tuesday morning, Sanders had yet to join other Democrats — including his fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — in rescinding his endorsement. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post. “I’m sure he’s not a saint,” Sanders told CNN last month after another former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of physical abuse. “He went through some very bloody and horrible situations,” Sanders went on. “He has acknowledged that he came back with PTSD. He’s had his share of problems.” The Maine Senate hopeful had an account on Kik, an anonymous platform known for hookups. Obtained by NY Post By contrast, Fetterman denounced Platner early and often, mockingly referring to him as “P-Hustle,” the Reddit username under which Platner made a series of wild and offensive posts. Among those were suggestions that a Purple Heart veteran deserved to die, defenses of urinating on dead Taliban fighters, and assertions that sexual assault victims should “take some responsibility.” Platner has denied the allegations by Racicot, but said Monday he was considering the “best path forward” after canceling several events since Sunday. Graham Platner has faced a steady string of scandals throughout his campaign. Instagram / Graham for Maine “He’s a dead man walking. I don’t know why he’s trying to pretend that he’s not done,” Fetterman said of Planter’s candidacy Monday. When asked if he had a message for the candidate, Fetterman shot back: “I don’t have anything to say to that trash bag … But now for me, you know, my thoughts are with the poor women that have been brutalized by him. And I want to salute the courage [of] the woman to come forward and all the people that dismissed the women, you know … maybe look in the mirror.”Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:27:14 +0000ppMQMLa1qJy4yIU2https://nypost.com/2026/07/06/us-news/mamdani-misspells-name-of-nypd-officer-shot-in-the-back/Mamdani misspells name of NYPD officer shot in the back --- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani embarrassingly botched the spelling of the veteran NYPD officer who was shot in the back this weekend — despite announcing he had just visited the father-of-three in the hospital. Hizzoner misspelled Detective Robert Karroll’s last name three times in a social media post, wrongly spelling the veteran officer’s name as “Carroll.” Surveillance footage captured the teen gunman moments before the ambush on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Obtained by NY Post “Early this morning in Crown Heights, Detective Robert Carroll was shot in the line of duty. I visited Detective Carroll at the hospital today, and I’m grateful his bulletproof vest protected him from more serious injury. I’m keeping him and his loved ones in my thoughts as he recovers,” Mamdani posted on X Sunday afternoon. Mayor Mamdani misspelled the officer’s name three times in the post, even after the two met in person. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post “I’m thankful to Detective Carroll and every member of the NYPD working to keep New Yorkers safe through a busy holiday weekend,” Mamdani added. Mamdani, who has previously called for defunding the police, recently blindsided the department and city lawmakers with an 11th-hour move to ax some 600 planned new officer hires. Just weeks earlier, Mamdani had announced that he’d hire 580 more officers — which angered democratic socialist’s allies because it broke a campaign promise to freeze the NYPD’s headcount at 35,000 cops. NYPD detectivs examine an unmarked police vehicle struck by gunfire near Nostrand Avenue and St. Johns Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post The cut came as the already stretched-thin force faces a massive summer workload, with officers working 12-hour shifts due to World Cup tourism, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, and the Independence Day holiday. Karroll, a married dad of three who was due to retire in just 10 days, was shot in the back early Sunday morning by an 18-year-old gunman while he and other officers were sitting in an unmarked police car in Brooklyn. Karroll was shot in the upper back, but was wearing his ballistic vest and miraculously suffered only minor injuries, police said. The suspect fled on foot but was quickly nabbed several blocks away after a dramatic foot chase.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:14:54 +0000WNAOZV3eYXEGYSvjhttps://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/07/06/labour-party-looks-to-impose-election-restrictions-on-social-media/The ruling leftist Labour Party in Britain has suggested that social media sites should face new restrictions during elections, as the government claims it wants to confront the spread of so-called misinformation. The post UK Labour Party Looks to Impose Election Restrictions on Social Media to Combat ‘Misinformation’ appeared first on Breitbart. --- The ruling leftist Labour Party in Britain has suggested that social media sites should face new restrictions during elections, as the government claims it wants to confront the spread of so-called misinformation. The post UK Labour Party Looks to Impose Election Restrictions on Social Media to Combat ‘Misinformation’ appeared first on Breitbart.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:27:21 +0000GcQTUof1dnAqBb1ehttps://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/07/06/watch-alicia-keys-grieves-on-americas-250th-anniversary-women-dont-have-equal-rights-in-u-s/The multimillionaire pop superstar Alicia Keys bizarrely claimed that women in the United States do not have "equal rights" on the 250th anniversary of America's independence. The post Watch: Alicia Keys Grieves on America’s 250th Anniversary; Women Don’t Have ‘Equal Rights’ in U.S. appeared first on Breitbart. --- The multimillionaire pop superstar Alicia Keys bizarrely claimed that women in the United States do not have "equal rights" on the 250th anniversary of America's independence. The post Watch: Alicia Keys Grieves on America’s 250th Anniversary; Women Don’t Have ‘Equal Rights’ in U.S. appeared first on Breitbart.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:27:21 +00006xJK8nuLm7qe8PMthttps://www.dailywire.com/news/mosque-scare-turns-political-firestorm-after-dems-leave-out-one-key-detailA masked man holding a BB gun at a Queens mosque touched off a political controversy over the weekend after top New York Democrats rushed to frame the incident as an anti-Muslim hate crime — only for it to emerge that the suspect himself may be Muslim. Police say Sheikh Haque, 33, of Buffalo, burst ... --- A masked man holding a BB gun at a Queens mosque touched off a political controversy over the weekend after top New York Democrats rushed to frame the incident as an anti-Muslim hate crime — only for it to emerge that the suspect himself may be Muslim. Police say Sheikh Haque, 33, of Buffalo, burst into the Muslim Center of New York during Friday prayers on July 3, brandishing what looked like a real firearm in front of dozens of worshippers gathered for services around 1:30 p.m. A congregant quickly wrestled him to the ground, and he was held down with help from an off-duty MTA worker, a cab driver, and an NYPD officer until police arrived. The weapon turned out to be a BB pistol. No shots were fired and no one was hurt. Haque was charged with weapons possession and menacing. Police have not filed hate crime charges, and it remains unclear what prompted the disturbance. That didn’t stop a wave of elected officials from immediately casting the episode as an act of bigotry against Muslims. Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on X that a “terrifying situation” had unfolded for “Muslim New Yorkers,” thanking the bystanders who intervened and declaring that “every New Yorker should be able to observe their religion without fear or intimidation.” New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James went further, calling the incident “horrific under any circumstances” and urging New Yorkers, “We must stand united against Islamophobia.” Today, a masked individual reached into his pocket to pull out what appeared to be a deadly weapon during Friday Prayers at the Muslim Center. This is horrific under any circumstances, especially when a community is joining in prayer. We must stand united against Islamophobia. https://t.co/yGdC3XdcKs — NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) July 3, 2026 Rep. Grace Meng and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, echoed similar sentiments, with Schumer saying he was troubled by what he called another possible attack targeting a house of worship. Critics online slammed Mamdani once Haque’s background surfaced, accusing officials of jumping to conclusions and exploiting the incident for political messaging before basic facts — including the suspect’s own religious identity — were established. The backlash spread quickly across social media, with numerous commentators mocking the rush to label the episode a hate crime. The guy with the gun was also Muslim. Convenient fact to leave out. What a snake. — Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) July 5, 2026 Sunni on Shia or Shia on Sunni? — Katya Sedgwick (@KatyaSedgwick) July 5, 2026 Why didn't you share the name of the attackers, Zohran? pic.twitter.com/8qDGrIixfH — Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) July 4, 2026 Tell us about it. pic.twitter.com/dK4YUq8PfF — Sarah 🥨 (@cosmopterix) July 5, 2026 The flap comes months after Mamdani made fighting Islamophobia a signature issue, arguing in past remarks that anti-Muslim bigotry gets a pass in American politics that other forms of hate do not. Months after his ascension to the mayoral position, Mamdani said of Islamophobia, “I think there’s an unabashed nature to it, and it has been echoed from the highest offices in this country and they do so without any sense of shame. And what is remarkable about Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry is not that it is bigoted, for there is so much bigotry in this country, it is that there are very few who speak up in opposition to it, the manner in which it has become normalized.” In his race for the mayoralty, Mamdani said, “For as long as we have lived, we have known that no matter what anyone says, there are still certain forms of hate that are acceptable in this city. Islamophobia is not seen as inexcusable.” The incident also follows separate criticism of the mayor over his stance on Israel, after he compared the Jewish state to Saudi Arabia on religious freedom grounds — a comparison that drew accusations of ignoring Israel’s protections for religious minorities and its Arab citizens’ political rights, while sidestepping harsher criticism of Iran’s treatment of religious minorities. As of Sunday, Haque’s arraignment in Queens Criminal Court remained pending.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:30:53 +0000ByLEsaBJhcMC1p4hhttps://www.wired.com/video/watch/bernie-sanders-is-not-going-to-stop-talking-about-the-risks-of-aiWatch Bernie Sanders Is Not Going To Stop Talking About the Risks of AI --- US senator Bernie Sanders tells WIRED’s global editorial director Katie Drummond how a meeting with Geoffrey Hinton, the man known as the “Godfather of AI,” convinced him that AI was what he now describes as “the most consequential, transformational technology in the history of humanity.” Subscribe to or follow "Uncanny Valley" wherever you get your podcasts. Released on 07/01/2026Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:36:30 +0000qP8EjqzlxIdP6EZyhttps://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2026/06/30/colorado-democrats-choose-between-insurgent-progressives-and-veteran-incumbents/Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeats longtime US House incumbent in Colorado --- Democratic socialist Melat Kiros beat U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in a Colorado House primary Tuesday, a stunning victory for the first-time candidate against a nearly 30-year incumbent and another win for progressive challengers across the country. Kiros, a 29-year-old lawyer turned doctoral student, is the latest candidate to rise from the party's left flank and boot establishment-backed candidates. That includes two self-described democratic socialists and a progressive who won their Democratic primaries in New York last week. Kiros' victory adds to a nascent but clear uprising, stirred by frustration among some voters, that has vexed party leadership. Colorado's 1st Congressional District covers the dark blue city of Denver, and Kiros is expected to win in November and reach Congress in January. “We are winning from coast to coast," Kiros said to an ecstatic audience and the blast of air horns. "We are taking back our party and our country!” There were mixed results for progressives in Tuesday's other races. Sen. John Hickenlooper fended off a primary challenge from self-fashioned “insurgent progressive” state Sen. Julie Gonzales. And a smaller divide separated the two Democrats competing for U.S. House in the state’s lone swing district, where the candidate considered more progressive, state Rep. Manny Rutinel, won. Kiros says ‘we are just getting started’ Taking to a stage under a sign that read “Power to the People,” Kiros told her supporters that her win belonged to every one of them. “This is a movement,” Kiros said. “We are just getting started.” To an excited crowd, which had been singing and dancing moments before she got on stage, she laid out her plans: taking the fight to “Donald Trump and the oligarchy," abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, passing “Medicare for all” and ending the “genocide in Palestine.” Those she thanked included DeGette, for standing up for women’s rights, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who endorsed her. DeGette — a more progressive lawmaker herself — had comfortably controlled her House seat in Denver for nearly 30 years and was backed by Colorado’s established Democratic House delegation. The incumbent had argued that experience in Congress is needed right now to combat Trump, while Kiros, a former attorney, accused DeGette of ineffectiveness. DeGette did not speak or release a statement after the race was called Tuesday night. Hickenlooper fends off a challenge from the left His victory didn't come as a surprise to the political world, though it dampened a broader wave of progressive candidates beating establish-backed Democrats across the country. Gonzales, the state senator who challenged the more centrist Hickenlooper, had attacked him for being an “incrementalist” and had said she previously joined the Democratic Socialists of America but that her membership had lapsed. After his victory, Hickenlooper quickly turned his attention to Trump and said he'd never lost an election and didn't intend to in November. “Coloradoans have once again made their voices clear. We are not going to accept Trump’s broken promises and cost of living emergency, or his constant corruption,” he said in a video posted to YouTube. Rutinel to face GOP Rep. Gabe Evans in race key to House control Colorado's 8th Congressional District is relatively new, stretching from the northern suburbs of Denver up through farming country, and has flipped party control in recent elections. Evans now holds the seat, after beating the Democratic incumbent in 2024. Party leaders thought the more moderate Shannon Bird, a former state representative, was best equipped to challenge Evans. But Rutinel, who had the more progressive record, beat Bird Tuesday night. The district is heavily Hispanic and poorer than much of the rest of the state, and that's where Rutinel, who is Latino, planted a flag, arguing his personal story and more aggressive economic agenda would be more potent against Evans. “This is the moment for all the kids out there who had the deck stacked against them,” Rutinel said in his victory speech. “I’m going to work with everything I have so that those kids have the same opportunities to live out the American Dream that I did.” Progressives could find new ally in governor's mansion Phil Weiser, the state attorney general, won the Democratic primary Tuesday and will be favored to win come November. Term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis will depart after two-terms governing with a more moderate touch, at times stymieing progressive state lawmakers. Weiser, who formerly served in the presidential administrations of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, is considered to be more sympathetic to the party's left. Michael Bennet, the U.S. senator who Weiser beat Tuesday, would likely have brought a similar change. On the campaign trail, Weiser and Bennet struggled to show major differences in their political agendas, and instead often attacked each other over who could better stand up to Trump. Weiser hammered his point home in a victory speech to ecstatic, sign-waving supporters who crowded around the candidate. “In the face of a lawless bullying Trump administration trying to intimidate us, rip away our rights and freedoms," Weiser said, “you made it clear that we need a leader who will fight back and never bend the knee.” After his loss, Bennet spoke to supporters. “Sometimes the harder path is the right path, even when it doesn’t lead where you’d hoped," he said. The three candidates seeking the Republican nomination included state Rep. Scott Bottoms, a further right state lawmaker. State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer was considered the more conventional Republican, while Victor Marx was something of a wild card candidate with an eclectic past. Kirkmeyer and Marx were locked in a tight race that was too early to call Tuesday night. ___ Associated Press reporter Mead Gruver in Fort Collins, Colorado, contributed to this report. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:19:22 +0000UJDgenarBGvCPDXfhttps://letsdatascience.com/news/bernie-sanders-proposes-one-time-50-ai-share-tax-72ab71ddBernie Sanders Proposes One-Time 50% AI Share Tax --- For AI practitioners, a proposal that converts corporate equity into state-held shares would alter governance incentives, investor exits, and licensing dynamics. According to Reason summarizing a New York Times op-ed, Senator Bernie Sanders wrote that AI is "built on our collective intelligence" and proposed a one-time 50 percent tax on the largest AI companies, payable in shares to a government-run sovereign wealth fund that would hold voting shares, board representation, and the power to "block decisions". Reason's column criticizes the idea, calling it "the worst idea Bernie Sanders has ever had."Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:39:48 +0000ydaEdXOlGsxlOTIFhttps://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/07/02/feel-the-warmth-of-collectivism-mamdani-gets-flame-broiled-for-his-heat-wave-advice-n2203926Feel the Warmth of Collectivism: Mamdani Gets Flame-Broiled for His Heat Wave Advice --- Feel the Warmth of Collectivism: Mamdani Gets Flame-Broiled for His Heat Wave Advice The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com. Zohran Mamdani. (Credit: Dmitryshein) Ah, so this is what he meant by the "warmth of collectivism."  Who knew it was literal? New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (Communist) set social media ablaze on Wednesday after offering New Yorkers advice on how to cope with a dangerous, record-breaking heat wave. The Little Commie that Could stoked residents by urging them to set their air conditioners no lower than 78 degrees, turn off unused lights and electronics, and ease demand on the strained power grid “together.” "It's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool," he wrote on X. "Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can." "Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment." 78? Ya might as well just go out and sit in the sun. Or just leave your doors open and let the heat come a-strollin' on in. The perpetually grinning, empty-headed mayor added, "A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved. Let's ease demand — and get through the heat — together. READ MORE: Commie Mayor Cashes In: Mamdani’s Free Luxury World Cup Ride Exposed Mamdani’s ‘Happy Tax Day’ Video Backfires Big Time Thanks to His Family’s Massive Uganda Compound There it is. The shared struggle. Collective action over individual decisions. Such a good little Bolshevik. As you might have guessed, followers on social media weren't impressed with Mamdani's advice and fired back immediately and relentlessly. "All tyrants are petty. It’s in the nature of tyranny," replied political commentator Jordan Peterson. Barstool Sports co-founder Dave Portnoy quipped, "Welcome to communism, people! Hope you enjoy!" We don't enjoy. "Communism always goes the same way. They smile [and] promise you the world. Free this, free that, abundance for all! How? Don't ask!" Spencer Pratt fumed. "Then they get into power, and the rationing begins." "First, a smiley ask. Then a demand. Then a bullet. 'You used too much energy, comrade." Comedian Tim Young countered that scorching reality with a bit of humor: "Imagine how bad the apartments of cat ladies with nose rings are going to smell at that temperature." We'd rather not imagine that. At all. But thanks, Tim. The 'City that Never Sleeps' is enduring a historic and dangerous heat wave. Temperatures are forecast to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher on Thursday and Friday. Heat indices are expected to climb to 110–115 degrees due to high humidity. And Mamdani's solution is for everyone to set their ACs to a balmy 78 degrees and push his socialist fever dream. Editor’s Note: New York City is now facing the consequences of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist takeover. Help us continue to report on his radical policies and expose the Democrats who support him. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:54:25 +0000PhCXhe4RtQgVcR7Ahttps://whowhatwhy.org/politics/us-politics/progressives-extend-winning-streak-in-democratic-primaries/Progressives Extend Winning Streak in Democratic Primaries --- Left-wing Democrats on Tuesday racked up a couple more big wins in their party's primaries by unseating a 15-term incumbent and winning the race for who gets to face a vulnerable Republican in November. Listen To This Story A week after progressive candidates toppled a pair of Democratic lawmakers in New York’s primary, another incumbent fell on Tuesday night when Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros defeated incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), who had been in office since before her challenger was born. What’s particularly interesting is that DeGette is not a moderate at all. She was the vice-chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus when it was formed and also served as a co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. In addition, DeGette, a former civil rights lawyer, was an impeachment manager during Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, and she earned the endorsements of some of the most well-known progressives in the House. In the end, none of that mattered, and her experience became a liability. Whether in deep-blue New York or in Colorado, the left wing of the Democratic Party has made it quite clear that it wants to see fresh faces, new ideas, and more aggressive fighters in Washington, DC, where the defeat of a 15-term lawmaker is going to send shockwaves through the offices of incumbents. And it stands to reason that they also listened to Kiros’s victory speech. “This is a movement, and we are just getting started,” she told a raucous crowd. That was also the message that progressive icon Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who had endorsed Kiros, conveyed in a video he posted to social media before the polls closed. He called out DC Democrats for having squandered their opportunities to transform the country in a way that helps regular Americans and not the wealthy. “[Millions of working-class people] looked at the Democratic Party and said, ‘What the hell are you doing?’” Sanders stated. “‘You guys had power. Did you create healthcare for all? Did you raise my wages? Did you build affordable housing I need? Did you make schools better?’ And the answer is ‘No.’” The senator argued that progressives are therefore engaged in a struggle on two fronts. “Number one, we got to lead the effort against Trump and his disastrous policies,” he said. “But number two, we have to transform the Democratic Party completely from being a party dominated by the wealthy and the powerful to a party of the working class and young people in this country.” On Tuesday night, they took another step, including in a district that will tell whether progressives can only win in safe Democratic districts, like DeGette’s or those in New York City last week. In Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, progressive state Rep. Manny Rutinel won a primary against the more moderate former state Rep. Shannon Bird. He will now face freshman Rep. Gabe Evans (R) in what is expected to be a very competitive contest that Democrats believe is one of their best opportunities to unseat a Republican incumbent. In addition, in another sign that voters are ready for change and that incumbency is a drag rather than a boon for candidates, State Attorney General Phil Weiser upset Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado’s Democratic primary for governor.Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:38:47 +0000QY6MkD6a5PaoaODvhttps://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/07/01/ca-dems-kill-bill-to-keep-sex-predators-off-the-ballot-guess-who-led-the-charge-n2203884CA Dems Kill Bill to Keep Child Sex Predators Off the Ballot — And Guess Who Led the Charge --- CA Dems Kill Bill to Keep Child Sex Predators Off the Ballot — Guess Who Led the Charge The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli California Democrats on the state's Senate Elections Committee just made it a little easier for registered sex offenders to run for public office. A bill that would have blocked anyone on the state’s sex offender registry from seeking elected positions passed the Assembly without a single no vote, only to die in the upper chamber’s elections panel this week. At the same time, lawmakers tweaked another measure aimed at keeping felony sex offenders out of politics, adding carve-outs that could let some convicted of crimes against children still get on the ballot for everything from school boards to the Legislature.  READ MORE: The Democrats' Biggest Issue Is No Longer Republicans With Scott Wiener in the Lead, Nancy Pelosi's Long Held Seat Will See a Change, but Not for the Good To nobody's surprise, Committee Chair (and U.S. House candidate, not to mention uber-creepy dude) Scott Wiener played a leading role in pushing back against the broader ban. Assembly Bill 2753, authored by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D), would have barred anyone required to register as a sex offender under California law from running for or holding state or local elected office.  The measure aimed to close what supporters saw as a loophole that allowed registered offenders—including those convicted in cases involving children—to seek positions on school boards, city councils, and even the Legislature. Soria introduced the bill after a registered sex offender named Rene Campos tried to run for Fresno City Council. Campos had pleaded no contest back in 2018 to a misdemeanor for possessing child sex abuse material. The bill failed due to insufficient yes votes, with Wiener (D) casting the "no" and two other Democrats abstaining. Wiener opposed the broad version of the bill, according to KCRA, because he views California's sex offender registry as overly wide-ranging, covering a spectrum of offenses rather than just the most dangerous predators. He pushed for a narrower approach limited to Tier 3 (lifetime) registrants. Feel free to check out violations that get you on the other tiers in California here. Even as they blocked the broader registry ban, the same committee moved forward with a related bill from Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D), but not without watering it down significantly. Addis accepted amendments that carved out exemptions for certain felony sex crimes against children, including, according to the outlet, "rape and sodomy." It feels filthy just to write that. Democrats had no problem carving out the exception. "We didn't want to unintentionally wrap in what's known as Romeo and Juliet kinds of situations into this elections bill," Addis explained. "That's really about younger people. You're dating someone, you turn 18, you're still dating that person, and there are things that may happen in the criminal justice system. We didn't want to unintentionally wrap into this bill." Speaking to reporters outside the committee room right after the Senate Elections panel killed her bill, Soria looked visibly taken aback, but vowed to keep pressing forward. "I'm extremely disappointed, and I feel like I'm still trying to process what we just saw," she said. "I think the fight still continues. I made a promise to my community." Editor's Note: Do you enjoy RedState's conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:33:45 +000042gx1mTm2o7gmGLPhttps://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/01/progressives-inflict-big-defeats-incumbent-democrats-us-colorado-primaries/90765841007/Progressives inflict big defeats on incumbent Democrats in US Colorado primaries --- Progressives inflict big defeats on incumbent Democrats in US Colorado primaries Nolan D. McCaskill  |  Reuters Washington ― Progressive Democrats delivered big upsets in Colorado on Tuesday night, with democratic socialist Melat Kiros ousting U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in a Denver-area seat she has held for 29 years. Progressive state Representative Manny Rutinel defeated former state Representative Shannon Bird in the Democratic primary in Colorado's Latino-heavy 8th Congressional District, a battleground seat held by Republican Gabe Evans. And Attorney General Phil Weiser beat U.S. Senator Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination to succeed term-limited Governor Jared Polis. While Weiser outraised Bennet by more than $1 million, he overcame Bennet's higher name recognition and $11 million in outside spending that had favoured Bennet. Weiser ran on his track record of suing the Trump administration and had attacked Bennet as a Washington insider who supported some of President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. Bennet will remain in the U.S. Senate, where his seat is not up for reelection until 2028. Taken together, the June primary results in Colorado, New York and Maine suggest Democratic voters are seeking to disrupt the status quo with a new generation of candidates who reject corporate PAC money, stake out tougher positions on Israel and present themselves as anti-establishment fighters for the working class. "The energy in our party is with bold progressives willing to stand up against foreign wars, ICE and the billionaire class," said U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, a progressive California Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate. "The insurgent candidates are tapping into this sentiment, and win or lose, they are pointing the direction for our party." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been at the heart of Trump's crackdown on immigration. Evans wasted little time trying to capitalize on Rutinel's victory, likening him to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist. "Democrats have chosen a far-left, radical socialist, Mamdani-wanna-be extremist — someone who supports eliminating oil and gas, defunding law enforcement … and threatening the industries that power our economy," he said in a statement. Evans' seat is a top target for Democrats, who need to net three seats to win control of the House in November's midterm elections. Evans ousted Democrat Yadira Caraveo by less than 1 percentage point in 2024. Trump won the district by less than 2 percentage points in 2024, and Evans enters the general election phase of the campaign with a substantial cash advantage, reporting $3.4 million on hand to Rutinel's $910,000. Rutinel's victory may reignite questions within the Democratic Party about whether progressive candidates can win in competitive districts. The seat was rated a toss-up heading into Tuesday. DeGette defeated DeGette suffered the biggest defeat of the night. The 68-year-old member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus first elected in 1996 was ousted by Kiros, a 29-year-old Ethiopian-born former New York attorney and outspoken critic of Israel. Kiros, a doctoral student at the University of Denver who was endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, overcame DeGette's seniority and fundraising and spending advantage to lead by roughly 10 points with more than 90% of the vote counted. Both candidates support the Medicare for All public health proposal and abolishing ICE but espouse different views on Israel. Kiros has called for ending wars, including by stopping military aid to Israel, while DeGette has said she supports sending only defensive weapons to Israel. Hickenlooper survives, at a cost One incumbent did prevail on Tuesday night, but not without a fight. Senator John Hickenlooper, 74, fended off an unexpectedly robust challenge in the Senate primary from progressive state Senator Julie Gonzales, a labor organizer whose platform includes an arms embargo on Israel and reining in ICE. Hickenlooper raised nearly $10 million for his race compared with Gonzales' $870,000, although she received endorsements from labor unions and progressive organizations. He is expected to easily win reelection.Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:57:42 +0000kgl1fygKufzVB17dhttps://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/07/01/heres-how-fauci-can-still-be-prosecuted-n4954557---Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:05:00 +0000AXzkvzeJkbttdczXhttps://nypost.com/2026/06/30/us-news/mamdani-nyc-council-reach-handshake-deal-on-colossal-125b-budget-without-nypd-expansion/Exclusive | Mamdani, NYC Council reach handshake deal on colossal $125B budget -- without NYPD expansion --- Mayor Zohran Mamdani struck a last-minute handshake deal on Tuesday morning with City Council Speaker Julie Menin on the Big Apple’s colossal, roughly $125 billion budget for next year — but the agreement notably leaves out an expanded headcount for the NYPD. The final deal comes right before a July 1 deadline to pass a budget for the 2027 fiscal year — and after a protracted, tense negotiation that nearly fell apart at the 11th hour over Mamdani’s backtracking on a campaign promise to fund the expansion of a housing voucher program. Mayor Zohran Mamdani went down to the wire for his first city budget. Getty Images However, Mamdani and the Council came to a last-minute agreement Monday night to expand voucher access that will see the council voting to establish a new rental assistance program aimed at helping New Yorkers facing eviction or in the shelter system who aren’t eligible for the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program. Once the legislation passes, the Mamdani administration has agreed to drop its appeal of a lawsuit brought by the City Council after former Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of the expansion was overridden in 2024 and he refused to enact the approved reforms. “Every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable home, and this agreement will help more families avoid eviction and homelessness,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Our historic announcement includes the administration dropping their lawsuit against the Council and a new bill which addresses some of the fiscal concerns. Housing vouchers are a smart investment that save taxpayers money by preventing homelessness before it happens,” Menin added. The spending plan’s contours are expected to closely match Mamdani’s $124.7 billion executive budget unveiled in May, but with more spending earmarked for Council members — and without the promised NYPD headcount boost after the mayor caved to activists who protested the increase, sources said. Mamdani allies and activists slammed Hizzoner for proposing to swell the police department’s ranks by 580 officers after he made a campaign pledge to freeze the NYPD’s staffing levels. Around 50 elected officials and advocates, including the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter, gathered around City Hall last Thursday to protest his about-face. City Council leadership, however, has pushed to expand New York’s Finest. They were at first successful, getting Mamdani’s executive budget proposal to boost the ranks from the current 33,861 to 35,370 in the 2027 fiscal year. But ultimately, Mamdani sided with the protesters. City Council Speaker Julie Menin was expected to reach a handshake budget deal with Mamdani. REUTERS Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Education will likely draw the biggest portion of funding, with $37.9 billion outlined in the executive budget. Other anticipated outlays include $14.6 billion for the city’s Department of Social Services and $6.59 billion in NYPD funding. The young, untested socialist Mamdani quickly turned the focus to the budget after taking office by sounding the alarm about a supposed $12 billion upcoming shortfall, blaming his predecessor, Eric Adams, for the crunch. He has since revised the estimate to $5.4 billion — a still-dire gap that he argued could be bridged either by taxing the rich or hiking property taxes nearly 10% across the board. Critics argued that Mamdani’s ultimatum was a tactic to push a tax on the wealthy through the state legislature. Ultimately, Gov. Kathy Hochul helped serve up $4 billion in largely kick-the-can measures to delay massive spending. The governor also paved the way for a pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes that she and Mamdani claimed would raise $500 million a year, but city Comptroller Mark Levine argued was roughly $200 million too high. The Post has reached out to the mayor’s office and city council for comment.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:51:38 +0000ZmIydfAaDRHE4WDUhttps://bonginoreport.com/videos/parisian-politician-blames-usa-for-deadly-heat-wave-ep-329In this episode of Scrolling: It’s a deadly Euro summer without air conditioning, and Paris’ deputy mayor blames the USA’s carbon footprint. Then, A prominent TikTok Tarot card reader has closed up shop because she found Jesus & more --- In this episode of Scrolling: It’s a deadly Euro summer without air conditioning, and Paris’ deputy mayor blames the USA’s carbon footprint. Then, A prominent TikTok Tarot card reader has closed up shop because she found Jesus & moreTue, 30 Jun 2026 15:47:23 +0000jYJbxxYYKiysAaF6https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/30/jussie-smollett-gives-first-live-performance-eight-years-harlem-pride/Jussie Smollett, the actor whose conviction in the 2019 hate-crime hoax case was later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court, returned to the stage over the weekend for his first full performance in eight years and was promptly roasted online, including by rapper 50 Cent. --- Jussie Smollett, the actor whose conviction in the 2019 hate-crime hoax case was later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court, returned to the stage over the weekend for his first full performance in eight years and was promptly roasted online, including by rapper 50 Cent.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:41:17 +0000jehu9mYtVmOvyNrhhttps://dailycaller.com/2026/06/30/dave-portnoy-politics/'it's my duty' --- 'it's my duty'Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:52:13 +0000DMIsLSXHEvZmbv4Ohttps://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2026/06/29/california-dems-solve-a-fictional-water-crisis-by-taxing-wine-n4954475---Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:29:01 +0000MNhQeG3GamBUCBDRhttps://nypost.com/2026/06/27/us-news/republican-colorado-mayor-sleeps-on-a-homeless-shelter-cot-every-friday-night/Colorado mayor is ‘homeless’ every Friday night for a front-row seat to state’s $481M spending --- Every Friday night, the Republican mayor of Aurora, Colo. trades his office for a cot at the local homeless shelter — and he’s been doing it for months. Mike Coffman, 71, sleeps at the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus in his town that borders Denver — so he can better empathize with the challenges homeless people face — before helping serve breakfast on Saturday mornings. His overnight stays also give him a front-row seat to how the state spends $481 million a year on homelessness. “The experience has enabled me to better understand their unique and complex challenges and it has helped me to see them with compassion, as individuals, and not through a lens of condescension or contempt,” Coffman, a former Congressman and Marine who served in Iraq, wrote on Facebook. Mayor Mike Coffman sleeps at the Aurora Regional Navigation Center every Friday night. FaceBook / Mike Coffman “Consistency is important so that they know that I will be there every Friday . . . they have become more relaxed and open about talking to me about their challenges and expectations for their future.” The overnight stays began in February at the 600-bed transitional housing campus, which Coffman helped launch in November 2025 through the nonprofit Advanced Pathways after his earlier experiences with homelessness in the city. The program is designed as a three-step path toward independence, moving residents from an emergency shelter in to addiction recovery, mental health services and job training, before eventually reaching transitional housing for those working full-time. His overnight stays began in February at the 600-bed transitional housing campus. auroragov.org “I will continue to stay with those experiencing homelessness, every Friday night, until the program is everything that I believe that it can be and it is a model, not just for Colorado, but for the country,” Coffman wrote. The mayor’s latest hands-on approach follows a much more controversial experiment he conducted five years ago. During the winter of 2021, Coffman — who served in Congress from 2009 to 2019 and became mayor in December 2019 — disguised himself as a homeless veteran and spent seven days and nights living in shelters and encampments across Aurora and neighboring Denver, sleeping beneath a tarp as temperatures dropped into the teens. After the undercover stint, he told CBS4 News, “It wasn’t fun. It was really hard . . . but incredibly impactful.” Coffman, a Republican, was elected Aurora’s mayor in 2019 and then re-elected in 2023. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Homelessness, he concluded at the time, was largely a “lifestyle choice, and it is a very dangerous lifestyle choice,” reported the news station. He also attributed the problem to “drug culture.” The remarks sparked immediate backlash from homeless advocates. Aurora Council member Juan Marcano, a progressive who ran unsuccessfully against Coffman for mayor and left office in 2023, called the undercover effort “the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen an elected official do,” according to the Colorado Sentinel. Others defended Coffman’s intentions. Then-Mayor Pro Tem Francoise Bergan called the week on the streets “a brave thing to do.” Colorado’s homelessness crisis has continued to worsen since the pandemic. According to the Common Sense Institute, the state’s homeless population grew 90% between 2020 and 2024 — the fourth-largest increase in the nation — with nearly 18,700 people now experiencing homelessness statewide.Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:38:33 +0000SNRTp2VGR6UOYufE