Cruz warns conservatives ‘will regret’ FCC censorship push against ABC, other media outlets
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in his podcast “Verdict with Ted Cruz” on Friday cautioned those advocating for Federal Communication Commission (FCC) action against adversaries, noting if a censorship precedent is set, “every conservative in America … will regret it.” ABC suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel “indefinitely” after he said the alleged assassin of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was a fellow MAGA supporter. Kimmel failed to set the record straight after the indictment against suspect Tyler Robinson was made public on Tuesday, prompting a response from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr, who told Fox News’ Sean Hannity the agency plans to reinvigorate enforcement of the public interest obligation. DAVID MARCUS: FCC ISN’T ‘GOING AFTER’ ABC, IT’S PROTECTING PUBLIC AIRWAVES The FCC grants broadcast licenses on the condition that stations serve the “public interest, convenience, and necessity.” Though the First Amendment protects free speech, the agency can revoke or deny license renewal if there is misrepresentation, fraud or lack of character or candor. In Cruz’s podcast on Friday, he questioned Carr’s decision to crack down on stations accused of misrepresentation or false statements, claiming “what he said there is dangerous as hell.” “What he is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying. That’s true, he was lying, and lying to the American people is not in the public interest,” Cruz said. “He threatens explicitly—we’re going to cancel ABC News’ license. We’re going to take him off the air, so ABC cannot broadcast anymore. … He threatens it.” ABC INSIDER HOPES LIBERALS TAKE THIS LESSON AWAY FROM JIMMY KIMMEL SAGA Cruz compared Carr’s wording to something “right out of Goodfellas.” “Jimmy Kimmel has mocked me so many times,” he said. “The corporate media—they are dishonest. They are liars. I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said. I am thrilled that he was fired. But let me tell you, if the government gets in the business of saying ‘we don’t like what you, the media, have said, we’re going to ban you from the airwaves’ … that will end up bad for conservatives.” He added it may be “attractive” to conservatives to feel that they have the governmental power to ban the media, but going down that road, would hurt them when a Democrat takes back the White House. “The next Democrat FCC—they will silence us,” Cruz said. “They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly, and that is dangerous. … They’ve defined anything counter to the leftist narrative as misinformation.” Cruz argued that if a station commits slander related to Kirk or his family, there is already a remedy. He suggested suing stations for defamation and “let[ting] the process play out.” “I think it is unbelievably dangerous for [the] government to put itself in the position of saying, ‘We’re going to decide what speech we like and what we don’t, and we’re going to threaten to take you off-air if we don’t like what you’re saying,” Cruz said. “It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. “So again, I like Brendan Carr, but we should not be in this business. We should denounce it. It’s fine to say what Jimmy Kimmel said was deplorable. It was disgraceful, and he should be off-air, but we shouldn’t be threatening government power to force him off-air. That’s a real mistake.” FCC CHAIR BRENDAN CARR DEFENDS ABC AFFILIATES PULLING JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW AFTER MONOLOGUE MOCKING CHARLIE KIRK During a news conference in the White House Oval Office on Friday, President Donald Trump said he did not agree with Cruz’s assertion, describing Carr as “courageous.” “I think Brendan Carr is an incredible American patriot with courage,” Trump said. “I remember in the old days, networks would want to get re-licensed, it was always a big deal. They had to show honesty and integrity. … I think Brendan Carr doesn’t like to see the airwaves be used illegally and incorrectly—and purposely, horribly. [He] doesn’t like to see a person that won the election in a landslide get 97% bad publicity before the election. I mean, it’s amazing that I won the election … The people have given the networks no credibility.” During the Biden administration, a nonprofit called the Media and Democracy Project filed a 2023 petition with the FCC asking that the license renewal of a Fox-owned local station in Philadelphia be denied, citing Fox’s election-related coverage. The FCC, under then-Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, rejected the petition on Jan. 16, four days before Trump assumed office for his second term, noting it would be “fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment” for the government to deny renewals based on protected speech and content, according to court documents. Cruz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
Ohio Teamsters union endorses Ramaswamy in gubernatorial race, breaking from typical support of Dem candidates
The Ohio Conference of Teamsters has endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, in a shift from past support of Democrats, his campaign confirmed to Fox News Digital. The biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 presidential candidate has already earned a handful of union endorsements for the 2026 gubernatorial election, according to the Ohio Dispatch. His campaign said he had already been endorsed by the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters, the Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council and the Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council. Interestingly, the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters have both endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown. RAMASWAMY PLEDGES ‘RULE OF LAW’ REVIVAL AFTER VIRAL CINCINNATI MOB ATTACK He has also been endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party. The Ohio Conference of Teamsters, which represents more than 50,000 workers in the state, had previously supported former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who has yet to decide if he’s entering the governor’s race. Ramaswamy’s campaign told Fox News Digital earlier this month that nearly $220,000 of the contributions raised in his first months as a candidate came from individuals who previously gave to Ryan. SCOOP: RAMASWAMY PLEDGES TO SPEND AT LEAST $30M OF HIS MONEY IN OHIO’S RACE FOR GOVERNOR “The Teamsters are proud to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor of Ohio. Our members want a leader who will fight for good-paying jobs and strengthen the future for Ohio’s working families,” Patrick J. Darrow, president of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, said. “Vivek has demonstrated a commitment to listening to labor and partnering with us to deliver real results, and we look forward to working with him.” Ramaswamy said he was “deeply grateful” for the endorsement. “This isn’t about left vs. right, it’s about up vs. down,” he continued. “We are building a movement that restores dignity to work, rewards those who keep our economy moving, and ensures every Ohioan has a fair shot at the American Dream. Together, we will make Ohio the best place in America to work, raise a family, and pursue a better life for the next generation.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is currently the leading Democrat in the governor’s race.
Man who attempted to assassinate Kavanaugh now identifies as a woman
A man who pleaded guilty to attempting to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022 is now using a female name and pronouns, according to a court document filed Friday. Nicholas Roske, who is scheduled to be sentenced next month, is using the name Sophie Roske and a “Ms.” title for the first time in a court filing in a case that has stretched for three years. The court filing was a routine request in anticipation of Roske’s sentencing, which is set for Oct. 3. But the filing referenced Roske by the name “Sophia,” while a footnote revealed that Nicholas remains Roske’s legal first name. “Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel’s in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns,” the footnote stated. FEDERAL JUDGE RELEASES WOMAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING TO KILL TRUMP It is unclear if Roske is undergoing any treatments to become transgender. Fox News Digital reached out to the defendant’s defense team for comment. Roske arrived at Kavanaugh’s house June 8, 2022, with a pistol, ammunition, a knife, a crowbar and tactical gear. Roske eventually called 9-1-1 and turned himself in after receiving a call from his sister and observing U.S. marshals in front of the justice’s house. The incident occurred just two weeks before the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade, an expected decision that had drawn protesters to the Supreme Court building and conservative justices’ houses for weeks leading up to it. The Department of Justice is seeking a 30-year sentence. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors referenced “mental health issues” the defendant has had for about a decade that included thoughts of violently murdering his sister. He has received treatment for the issues, specifics of which were not included in the memorandum. DOCTOR WHO BLEW WHISTLE ON TRANSGENDER MEDICINE MOCKS LIBERAL JUSTICES’ ‘INSANE’ DISSENT IN LANDMARK CASE “While the defendant has mental health issues, those issues do not detract from the gravity of the defendant’s crime: the defendant researched and targeted multiple members of the judiciary, and intended to alter the composition of the Supreme Court for ideological reasons,” prosecutors wrote. The revelation of the gender label switch comes as the DOJ has internally discussed concerns with transgender people owning guns and as conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, was discovered to have been in a romantic relationship with a transgender person. While the investigation remains open and authorities are still developing an understanding of the motive, authorities have said Robinson felt Kirk spread hate, which drove him to carry out the killing. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News the bureau could not confirm details about any gender-related treatments Roske may have received. “For privacy, safety and security reasons, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) does not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual, including health information status or treatments,” the spokesperson said.
Democratic congressional candidate thrown to ground during chaotic anti-ICE protest
A viral video showing an Illinois Democratic congressional candidate being shoved to the ground during an anti-ICE protest in suburban Chicago has sparked online debate, with people on the left expressing outrage toward ICE and conservatives placing blame squarely on the protesters disrupting law enforcement operations. Kat Abughazaleh, an activist, former reporter and Democratic candidate for Congress, posted the video to her X account on Friday, saying, “This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights.” The video showed armed, masked federal officials forcibly removing Abughazaleh, who is also wearing a mask, from the front of an ICE vehicle that she appeared to be blocking. Other agents can be seen directing Abughazaleh and a group of protesters to get out of the way of the vehicle. One agent pushes Abughazaleh, who, despite resisting, flops onto the street. ICE DEPLOYS TEAR GAS AS CHICAGO PROTESTERS BLOCK VEHICLES Another angle of the incident shows Abughazaleh immediately getting back up and charging the agents, who again push her back. Other protesters can be heard taunting the agents and shouting expletives. In another X post, Abughazaleh wrote, “What ICE just did to me was a violent abuse of power — and it’s still nothing compared to what they’re doing to immigrant communities.” Speaking with a reporter after the incident, Abughazaleh said, “We have no weapons. We have signs and chants and songs, and they are treating us like it’s a war zone.” She said the vehicle she was attempting to block contained another protester who was arrested earlier in the morning. “ICE came in and tried to drive the car through us. They almost ran someone over. We did not move, we stood strong and that’s when they brought out the pepper balls. That’s when they brought out the tear gas,” she said. PRITZKER CRITIC IN HOUSE INTRODUCES BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON SANCTUARY STATES ‘GAMBLING’ WITH LIVES In response, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Abughazaleh of seeking attention for her campaign by attempting to “obstruct justice.” McLaughlin told Fox News Digital, “This fame-hungry, cable TV candidate is so desperate for her 15 minutes of fame that she will go so far as to put our law enforcement at risk and obstruct justice.” Others on social media condemned Abughazaleh for attempting to interfere in a law enforcement operation. Conservative commentator Greg Price posted that it was Abughazaleh’s actions that resulted in her being “tossed to the ground.” “Impeding a federal ICE operation is a crime,” he wrote. ICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR BLAMES ‘DANGEROUS RHETORIC’ FROM DEMOCRATS AFTER PROTESTS AT MANHATTAN ICE FACILITY Another commentator, Paul Szypula, suggested that the government “arrest her immediately and prosecute her for her numerous federal crimes.” “Make a legal example out of this maniac,” he added. Local outlet ABC 7 reported that three protesters were arrested on Friday in Broadview, Illinois, after federal officials clashed with a group of protesters blocking ICE vehicles from entering and exiting the facility. The outlet reported that, at one point, federal officials deployed riot control smoke to push back the crowds. The outlet said protesters plan to continue the protests weekly as the Trump administration ramps up its “Operation Midway Blitz” to crack down on illegal immigrant crime in the Chicago area. A spokesperson for ICE also commented on the incident, telling Fox News Digital, “Once an activist, always an activist.” “Kat Abughazaleh’s irresponsible behavior inciting violence and encouraging lawlessness puts a selfish publicity stunt over the safety of officers, facility employees and detainees,” said the spokesperson. Fox News Digital reached out to Abughazaleh’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Far-left Dem says Charlie Kirk wanted to ‘roll back rights of women and Black people’ after House tribute
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., the far-left Democratic nominee for governor, called Charlie Kirk a Christian nationalist who wanted to roll back the rights of women and Black people after the passage of a House resolution honoring the conservative activist. The House adopted a resolution to honor Kirk’s “life and legacy” Friday, just over a week after he was shot and killed during a college campus speaking event in Utah. The measure got bipartisan support in a 310-58 vote, with both Democrats and Republicans condemning political violence after Kirk’s assassination. The vote divided Democrats, however, with 95 lawmakers, including Sherrill, voting to adopt the resolution, 58 voting against it and 22 not voting at all. LAWMAKER WHO TIED KIRK TO ‘DOMESTIC TERRORISM’ FACING EXPULSION CALLS AMID POLITICIAN BLOWBACK NATIONWIDE “I take my oath to the Constitution seriously. I believe in free speech and that the First Amendment wouldn’t be necessary if it were only meant to cover language we agreed with,” Sherrill said in a statement. “It is meant to protect people like Charlie Kirk who present vile dissenting views. But it is also meant to protect teachers, doctors and TV comedians who may express views the president doesn’t like. “Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people. This flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for,” she added. “But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose.” In addition, the lawmaker said President Donald Trump continues to “define hypocrisy.” “On one hand, he denounced Kirk’s politically motivated killing, while on the other hand, he is instigating a witch hunt worthy of Joseph McCarthy to shut down the free speech rights of anyone who disagrees with Kirk’s racist, anti-American views,” she said. 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK While condemning Kirk’s murder, she said she will continue to “condemn political violence, racism, attacks on women and the hypocrisy coming from Trump and his acolytes.” Sherrill has been criticized by Republicans for embracing Zohran Mamdani, a socialist who is the Democratic nominee for the 2025 New York City mayoral election. “It’s not that hard to disavow socialism, and Mikie Sherrill’s official comments saying she shares the goals of socialist Zohran Mamdani is not only absurd, but it is disqualifying. Period. Full stop,” Republican Governors Association Communications Director Courtney Alexander said in June. “It should alarm New Jerseyans that Mikie Sherrill, in her words, wants to ‘throw out the old playbook’ and ‘share his voters’ goal.’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Just a few of Mamdani’s top agenda items include defunding the police, ending cooperation with ICE and government-run grocery stores,” he added. “New York City’s failures have always become New Jersey’s problems, and Mikie Sherrill’s new embrace of socialist Zohran Mamdani is a terrifying risk New Jerseyans cannot afford.”
Trump credits Charlie Kirk for TikTok push as China divestment deal advances
President Donald Trump on Friday credited the late Charlie Kirk while announcing a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping to keep TikTok available in the U.S. Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office Friday, Trump shared that he had a successful phone call with Jinping on Friday morning in which he reached a deal to keep the social media platform available to American users by divesting some of its ownership to U.S. business leaders. He said that Chinese leaders, American youth and even conservative leaders wanted to keep the platform available in the U.S. “The TikTok deal is well on its way,” he said. CHARLIE KIRK CREDITED WITH HELPING TRUMP GAIN SIGNIFICANT GROUND WITH YOUNG VOTERS He noted the platform’s popularity among American youth and emphasized that Kirk encouraged its use to engage with young people. “Charlie was very much in favor of TikTok; he liked TikTok,” he added. “He said, you know, ‘You should use it.’” Trump credited Kirk with leveraging social media platforms like TikTok to get “massive numbers of youth” out to vote for him and Republicans in 2024. “If you take a look at my numbers, no Republican has ever done anything like it. We got massive numbers of youth, and, by the way, helped very much by Charlie Kirk,” he said. “It probably had a pretty big effect on the election because we won the election by a lot.” TPUSA INSIDER: ERIKA KIRK IS ‘ABSOLUTE FORCE’ READY TO GROW GROUP ’10X’ AFTER TRAGEDY This comes as Trump has repeatedly delayed implementing a law passed by Congress in 2024 to ban TikTok in the U.S. unless it divests its ownership of U.S. operations from China to America. Following his negotiations with Jinping, Trump said TikTok’s U.S. operations will be “controlled by very powerful and very substantial American people, all American.” “It’s a great deal for our country. It’s a great deal for all of the young people in the country and for people generally,” he said. Trump acknowledged his initial opposition to TikTok, saying, “I wasn’t a fan of TikTok, and then I got to use it. And I became a fan, and it helped me win the election in a landslide. WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK “I had a great call with President Xi and, as you know, we approved the TikTok deal, and we’re in the process. We have some great investors, some of the biggest in the world, American investors, great people, and we look forward to getting that deal closed,” he said. Pressed on whether the deal is fully approved, Trump answered, “I think so. And when you say fully approved, I don’t know what that means. We have to get it signed, I guess. I guess it could be a formality. I found his word to be very good. “They wanted to see it,” he said of China, “and I can tell you, the young people in our country wanted to see it stay open very badly.”
DHS names ‘worst of the worst’ detainees after Democratic lawmakers demand their release
The Department of Homeland Security on Friday released the names of some of the “worst of the worst” detainees being held at the Federal Plaza in New York City a day after security locked down the federal facility because of demonstrators. A group of Democratic lawmakers and protesters, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, staged a sit-in on the 10th floor of the facility on Thursday, demanding access to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices and holding cells. ICE sources claim officers had to secure doors with locks and zip ties after protesters pushed to enter, and additional security had to be added. In a statement to Fox News Digital, DHS called the detainees “some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including MS-13 gang members and criminals convicted of illegal possession of a weapon, drug trafficking and serial drunk drivers.” ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ARRESTED IN NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL-ALIEN CRACKDOWN: DHS “Another day with more politicians pulling a stunt in an attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering DHS personnel and detainees,” Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement. She said Lander showed up at the plaza “unannounced with agitators and media and proceeded to obstruct law enforcement and cause a scene. He yelled inside the building that he was ‘not leaving’ until detainees were ‘released’.” As a result, she said Federal Protective Service called the NYPD, and local police and federal law enforcement and 71 arrests were made, including Lander, two New York State senators and nine New York State Assembly members. DHS ARRESTS ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ MIGRANTS IN LA DESPITE RIOTERS, POLS PUSHING BACK “MS-13 Gang members, drug traffickers, serial drunk drivers and illegal possession of a weapon. These are the criminal illegal aliens these sanctuary politicians were fighting to be released back onto the streets of New York City,” McLaughlin said. “The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.” DHS identified six of the detainees, including Vladimir Kuca, an Albanian national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2023 after being convicted of drug trafficking in Switzerland. He was handed over to ICE by the FBI on Thursday. David Abrego Alvarado and Juan Hernandez Saravia, Salvadoran nationals, are confirmed MS-13 gang members, DHS said. Alvarado was removed from the U.S. in 2017 and illegally returned in 2023. He had a DWI conviction. Saravia has three DUIs and has two additional convictions for possession of a weapon. He was removed in 2007, eventually returning illegally at an unknown time. Juan Enrique Pena Soriano, a national from the Dominican Republic, came into the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and was arrested by the DEA for possession of a controlled substance and turned over to ICE. Asker Aslanovich Khutov, a Russian, overstayed his B-2 tourist visa and has a final order of removal from an immigration judge. He was convicted of criminal possession of stolen property. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Miguel Ramirez, a Mexican national, illegally entered the U.S. at an unknown date and was charged with restricted consumption and was previously convicted of resisting arrest.
AOC uses House floor speech to smear Charlie Kirk: ‘His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Friday opposed a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. In a speech on the House floor, Ocasio-Cortez claimed the resolution was introduced on a “purely partisan basis, instead of uniting Congress.” After condemning Kirk’s murder, she noted the resolution “brings great pain to the millions of Americans who endured segregation, Jim Crow and the legacy of bigotry today” and tore into the late 31-year-old’s ideology. “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was, a man who believed that the Civil Rights Act that granted Black Americans the right to vote was a mistake, who, after the violent attack on Paul Pelosi, claimed that ‘some amazing patriot’ should bail out his brutal assailant and accused Jews of controlling ‘not just the colleges – it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it,’” Ocasio-Cortez said. 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK “His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans — far from the ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as asserted by the majority in this resolution.” The resolution described Kirk as a “devoted Christian,” “dedicated husband” and a “loving father” of two, explaining his founding of Turning Point USA and commending his personification of the First Amendment. It resolved the House of Representatives to condemn Kirk’s assassination and all forms of political violence; commended law enforcement for catching Kirk’s alleged killer; extended condolences to Kirk’s family; honored Kirk’s life, leadership and legacy; and called upon all Americans — regardless of race, party affiliation or creed — to “reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.” ‘FEARLESS’ TOUR TAKES CHARLIE KIRK’S FREE SPEECH MISSION TO COLLEGES NATIONWIDE In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, 57 other Democrats voted against the resolution, including Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Maxine Waters of California. However, 95 Democrats voted to adopt the resolution, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. Here is a breakdown of public comments Kirk made regarding the topics Ocasio-Cortez mentioned in her dissent. During a Feb. 2, 2024, podcast episode with “Fearless” host Jason Whitlock, Kirk acknowledged his ideas about the Civil Rights Act and its role in American society were “provocative,” thanking Whitlock for the opportunity to further explain. “It’s an awful provocative conversation I started. I stand by it, and I appreciate the opportunity. I mean this sincerely, Jason — to explain it. There’s even some people on the right that have been just throwing insults, and they would never have me on the show to explain it.” Kirk went on to say he extensively researched what the Civil Rights Act was, what it tried to accomplish, how it was sold to the American people at the time and how it is perceived now by the modern academic consensus. “At the time, of course, there were legislative priorities that needed to be done by the federal government to stop bitter segregation — I’ve always held that,” Kirk said. “The American people thought they were getting minor legislative adjustments to say that segregation based on race is evil and wrong. In reality, what they got was the birthing of a permanent deep state of bureaucrats that were looking for racism where it didn’t exist, eventually with affirmative action, quotas and hiring practices expanded beyond race into LGBTQ-type issues. “What the Civil Rights era really birthed was this idea that it’s the federal government’s job not just to say that discrimination is wrong, but to actively go against any sort of disparate outcome and try to even the score under the guise of equity.” ANTI-TRUMP VOICES PRAISE CHARLIE KIRK’S LEGACY AFTER ASSASSINATION, SAY HE WAS DOING POLITICS ‘THE RIGHT WAY’ Kirk went on to discuss Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech, saying he “100% bought into” the need for equality, but adding he believed the Civil Rights Act was expanded further than the initial intention. “At the time, a majority of Americans wanted to see an end to desegregation,” he said. “They didn’t want to see new segregation put forward in eventually anti-White hiring practices, affirmative action or the entire federal bureaucracy having racial hiring quotas. “Eventually, you look around and you have the left defending Black-only dormitories at hundreds of universities across the country, Black-only graduation ceremonies. … You look back to the Civil Rights Act and you say maybe we overreached and built something we didn’t intend, a federal Leviathan in the form of anti-racism.” WATCH: CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL PODCAST EPISODE In an Oct. 31, 2022, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” titled “A Naked Smear of MAGA,” Kirk discussed the Oct. 28, 2022, attack against Nancy Pelosi’s husband, saying directly, “I’m not qualifying it, I think it’s awful.” David DePape, a Canadian citizen living in the U.S., was sentenced to life in prison in 2024 after attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, causing two head wounds and injuries to his right arm and hand. DePape, who Kirk described in the episode as someone who was “not sane,” admitted to devising a plot to hold then-Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she did not admit to allegedly telling “lies” about the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. She was not home at the time of the attack. Kirk’s comments about “bailing out” DePape were in relation to the concept of disparity within cashless bail policies. Under cashless bail policies, a suspect who is arrested for a crime is released before a trial without having to pay bail or bond. The fees were put in place to ensure suspects do not flee and incentivize them to make scheduled court appearances. While many liberal jurisdictions have enacted
Charlie Kirk credited with helping Trump gain significant ground with young voters
As conservatives reflect on the legacy of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk ahead of his celebration of life in Arizona on Sunday, some Republicans credit him with helping President Donald Trump win over young voters in 2024. Former TPUSA staffer Anthony DeWitt explained that the grassroots element of Kirk’s work likely played a “monumental” role in “energizing the youth to get out and vote in 2024.” “Charlie created something that finally lifted the voices and work of not only grassroots, but young people, people like myself who were just entering politics and gave us something that traditionally was only achieved by those who have had a lifetime in politics,” DeWitt stated. RED HATS AND CHANTS OF ‘USA’ MARK VIGIL HONORING SLAIN CONSERVATIVE LEADER CHARLIE KIRK: ‘ACT’ “Getting young people knocking doors, chasing ballots, getting signatures, signing up new voters, attending conferences — that was the key to winning the 2024 election.” A Fox News voter analysis had Trump wooing 47% of voters aged 18-29, with former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly winning the demographic with 51%. In the battleground state of Michigan, the analysis found that Trump won the age group with 50%, compared to 48% for Harris. He also came close with 48% in Arizona, where TPUSA is headquartered, with 51% of those surveyed backing Harris. FROM GRIEF TO GROWTH: TURNING POINT USA BECOMES A RALLYING FORCE FOR GEN Z IN BATTLEGROUND ARIZONA Trump ultimately ended up sweeping the battleground states, including Michigan and Arizona, winning 312 electoral votes and the popular vote. However, it is an 11% increase from the 36% of voters in the same age range in 2020, with former President Joe Biden carrying the demographic with 61%. Colin Reed, a Washington, D.C.-based Republican strategist, noted how Kirk plays a unique role in “expanding the tent” for the party. ‘SLEEPING GIANT’ LIKELY WOKE UP FOR TURNING POINT USA AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION “A generation ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Republican candidate to run nearly equal among younger voters against a Democratic standard-bearer who had every Hollywood and celebrity endorser under the sun, but that’s precisely what happened in 2024,” Reed wrote to Fox News Digital, alluding to Harris’ star-studded, but short campaign after Biden dropped out in July. “Charlie opened the doors for younger people to not only consider the conservative movement but embrace it and champion its principles as a ticket to prosperity and happiness.” Those close to Kirk, including Turning Point Action’s leader Tyler Bowyer, dubbed 2026 the “Charlie Kirk election” at a vigil at Arizona State University Monday. “2028 will be the Kirk-Vance election,” he said, and the organization is expected to rally around Vice President JD Vance to be Trump’s successor.
Byron Donalds rebukes ‘Squad’ member over ‘fascist’ slur: ‘Do I look like a member of the Third Reich?’
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., began shouting at Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds during a Thursday hearing, after he chastised the “Squad” lawmaker for referring to GOP efforts to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., as ‘fascist.’ Tlaib’s clash with Donalds came after she slammed Republicans for their “rhetoric” targeting the District of Columbia, where President Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard to help local law enforcement address crime in the capitol city. “We can’t be passive right now,” Tlaib said during the House Oversight hearing. “So don’t nobody over there should take anything we say serious – you know, like, so personally – as if we’re attacking them. No, we’re attacking a process. We’re not attacking people here. And I think it’s really important we need to stand up against this fascist takeover – that’s not a bad word, it’s a fact.” TRUMP’S DC CRIME CRACKDOWN OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFITS BLACK AMERICANS AS HOMICIDES HIT ZERO “Here in DC and across the country it is so incredibly important, Mr. Chair, that this committee does not allow rhetoric that defames, or paints Washington, D.C., in a way that you all really haven’t truly seen. You’re just reading it, or something off of some –,” Tlaib continued before Donalds stepped in, asking Tlaib if he could pose a question. Even though Tlaib did not pause to let Donalds speak, he eventually interjected anyways. “I think it’s insane that the gentlelady doesn’t have an argument, but she is going to refer to me and some of my colleagues like we’re from the Third Reich. This is insane. It’s insane,” Donalds said. TRUMP’S SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS SECRET SERVICE BRACES FOR KIRK MEMORIAL The pair began raising their voices and eventually got into a shouting match, with Donalds asking Tlaib, “Do I look like a member of the Third Reich to you, Ms. Tlaib? Is that what I look like to you? Is that what you think?” Donalds called Tlaib’s “fascist” label “out of line,” in a gaggle with reporters after the event. The GOP lawmaker from Florida is currently attempting to usher two bills through Congress to help tamp down on crime, including one that he said would lower the age for juvenile sentencing from 25 to 18-years-old. “I think it was important to set the record straight,” Donalds told reporters. “Congresswoman Tlaib tried to call me and my colleagues fascists. Obviously, in light of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, that’s even more of a sore subject now than it ever has been, and I just find it to be reprehensible. I don’t look like somebody who is in the Third Reich. None of my colleagues do. And I think if people want to start talking about people being responsible with their rhetoric, it should start with Congresswoman Tlaib.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In 2023, enough Democrats in Congress joined Republicans to formally censure Tlaib over her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war that erupted on Oct. 7. 2023. Tlaib defended her rhetoric and positions, saying she “will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” according to the Associated Press. Tlaib has also faced additional censure threats this month over recent comments she made at a pro-Palestinian conference in August. Fox News Digital reached out to Tlaib’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back.