CRM 5
ESTB 2 26 SOME 4 NOT PROCESSED
merri ok
see WH influencer video fodder
SEE VOTER SUPPRESS --> GOP STEAL
RACISM PENDING
see NEWSMAX
SEE HOMOPHOBE
SEE AMY ACTION NEG AD DIRTY TRICK 10 26
---
ESTB 1 25
FOUR HEADERS:
NO MERRI
SEE TARGET TRAITOR 2 HILLARY SOROS PWL SPICER
SEE LEGACY MEDIA ~
SEE Earth2 mis- disinfo ESCHO ESCA FEVER SWAMP
FROM TXT? 1 25
THREE 2 24 ESTB
FOUR 1 25
three headers:
see big lie trump coup 2 --> SAVE ACT VOTER SUPPRESS
see tariff poll BS
SEE SNAP // CRUEL STRICT FR?
officially racist on haiti eat cats
SEE ANTI-COMMIE BS ON HARRIS ECON PLAN
SEE DEMONIZATION DEFUND LEFT RADICAL TERRORIST ON KIRK 9 25
SEE RETALIATE
SEE MARTIAL LAW// FASCISM
SEE PRESS SUPPRESS 5 ~ DON LEMON 1 26
see fox 9 newsmax fox 10 for mma daily BS
SEE DENIAL ENDANGERMENT ZELDIN 2 26 FOX BIZ
SEE WEBODEC 4
see solidarity on DEI LA wildfires 1 25
see echo esca fever swamp
SEE BIG LIE CHAVEZ GHOST VOTING MACH CONSPIR
SEE CONSPIR --> RW POLITICAL VIOLENCE VAXX}:
see podcast rogan 2024 election parasocial manosphere alienated
aha note how some fever swamp BS sets of AG jihad eg 10 yo rape victim
BAK 1 25
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lost format?
Media Matters weekly newsletter, October 23
mma
What election deniers are planning for the midterms
Also: The right-wing media split on that ad in Ohio
Written by Jason Campbell
Published 10/23/26
Election deniers haves been setting the stage for chaos during this year’s midterm elections.
One right-wing influencer is taking on Halloween ... and Law & Order: SVU.
Fox News figures' grand predictions for Trump’s economy turned out to be utterly wrong.
This was one of the craziest right-wing media conspiracy theories we've seen recently.
We take a close look at the bitter right-wing media split concerning a “despicable” ad in Ohio.
If you want this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.
This week's infighting
Peter Navarro railed against Fox News personalities, saying, “Turn Fox off.”
Newsmax’s Greg Kelly called former President George W. Bush “borderline treasonous” for not helping Ken Paxton in his Texas Senate race.
What election deniers are saying about Election Day and its aftermath
Election deniers_Trump administration
The election denial movement has spent months trying and largely failing to subvert the midterms, and now some of its major figures are articulating their plans to attempt to disrupt the vote on Election Day and sow chaos in the weeks and months that follow. Their proposals include calling for President Donald Trump to declare martial law, sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the military to polling places, forcing officials to count ballots by hand, demanding the federal government seize voting machines, and working to stop the certification of some elections.
These developments follow months of activity from right-wing media operatives who have pushed for the implementation of various anti-voting rights measures, many of which have been thwarted, have stalled, or never came to fruition. A MAGA media effort to convince Trump to declare a national emergency seems dead in the water.
And yet, even as many of these pre-Election Day efforts have faltered, new conspiracy theories continue to emerge. As the election draws near, some figures have set their sights on the day itself and what comes after.
Media Matters’ John Knefel and Sophie Lawton prepared this piece if you’d like to read more.
Excuse me?
Donald Trump has shared links to Just the News, the right-wing agitprop site helmed by White House staffer John Solomon, in at least 367 Truth Social posts or reposts since he returned to the White House last January — more than any other news outlet over that time period.
From Saturday through Wednesday, Fox News devoted at least 5 hours and 18 minutes of airtime to riots in France that the network’s propagandists claimed are a harbinger for what will happen in the U.S. if Democrats triumph in the midterm elections.
One right-wing influencer is coming for Halloween, scary films, true crime podcasts, and Law & Order: SVU.
As the search for (another) new White House press secretary continues, right-wing media personalities have been floating various names for the position, including CNN commentator Scott Jennings, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, and White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly.
Fox’s Laura Ingraham made a bizarre claim that there’s a leftist “plan” to “overthrow” the government based on a conspiracy theory aligned with a right-wing influencer who briefly worked for the Department of Defense. Media Matters’ Matt Gertz explains what’s going on. The conspiracy theory was so wild that Newt Gingrich — yes, that Newt Gingrich — told Ingraham the next day that it was a “total fantasy.”
Tim Pool: “If you are right-wing and the left wins, you’re dead.”
Jesse Watters on the race in Michigan between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed: “It's kind of silly that you have an FBI agent running against a Muslim.”
Fox News figures' grand predictions for Trump’s economy turned out to be utterly wrong.
A Fox & Friends graphic showing Trump's face next to the words "Trump's economy"
During the 2024 presidential campaign cycle, Fox repeatedly assured viewers that a Trump victory would result in low inflation and decreasing prices. As the end of 2025 approached with economic indicators like monthly job creation, economic growth, and inflation faltering, Fox pivoted, predicting that “next year looks like it's going to be amazing.” It hasn’t been.
We’re two weeks out from the 2026 midterm election and the president’s policies have driven inflation levels higher than they’ve been in years. Fox's promised prosperity has, once again, failed to materialize.
You can read more about Fox’s failed economic predictions here.
The bitter right-wing media split on a “despicable” ad in Ohio
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign released an ad this week targeting his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The ad featured Acton’s mother calling her daughter a liar. Acton has been estranged from her parent since 1978 when her mother defended the candidate’s stepfather against accusations he had sexually assaulted Acton for two years, then fled the state with him as he became a fugitive from charges of child sexual abuse.
Multiple right-wing media personalities praised the ad. You can read all about the right-wing media personalities supporting it here.
Some right-wing media figures, however, condemned the ad. Candace Owens, for example, said Republican messaging since the Epstein files “went from tough on crime to soft on rape” and Steven Crowder called it a “really messed up ad.” Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump both attacked Republicans who condemned the ad.
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mma 10 0 26 iou
French riots are the new Hunter’s laptop which was the new migrant caravan which was the new Ebola
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Who does right-wing media want as the next press secretary?
Written by Helena Hind
Published 10/21/26
After Katie Zacharia’s turbulent five-day stint as White House press secretary ended in her unceremonious firing, right-wing media figures have been discussing potential candidates for the job, floating the names of CNN commentator Scott Jennings, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, and White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, among others.
Why is Trump looking for a new press secretary?
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt left her post in August to reportedly spend more time with her family. Leavitt, who had served as press secretary since President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration, had recently given birth to her second child and wanted to spend more time with her family. Trump reportedly expressed little urgency to hire a replacement immediately following her departure. [The Independent, 8/18/26]
Trump announced political commentator Katie Zacharia as Leavitt’s successor on October 9 and then fired her a week later. Zacharia faced scrutiny about her legal credentials, and White House officials reportedly described her debut press conference as “unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.” The Trump administration reportedly spent less than a week vetting Zacharia for the position because Trump nixed other candidates who had previously criticized him. [CNN, 10/16/26, 10/13/26]
What names have right-wing media figures been discussing for the role?
OutKick founder Clay Travis: “I think Scott Jennings would do a really good job as White House press secretary.” Travis continued, “We know that he communicates on a daily basis on issues of the day, and we know that he has been vetted.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, 10/16/26]
Podcaster and Blaze Media host Stu Burguiere said, “Jennings would do a great job with it, but I don’t know why he’d take it.” Burguiere said, “There was a rumor he was pushing for the job. If that was true and he was not hired, that’s insanity. Jennings would be really, really good at that job. Much, much better than certainly Katie Zacharia turned out to be.” [YouTube, Predictable with Stu Burguiere, 10/19/26]
PBD Podcast panelist Vincent Oshana said Jennings would be “perfect.” The panelists also discussed popular candidates from the prediction market Kalshi, which included principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and former GOP spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko. [Valuetainment Media, PBD Podcast, 10/19/26]
Host Buck Sexton: “I would assume probably somebody internal to the White House now, would be my guess. So maybe Anna Kelly from the comms shop.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, 10/16/26]
Streamer David “Viva Frei” Freiheit reacted to a livestream chat, saying, “Stephen Miller would make a very good press secretary.” He qualified, “But I don’t know if he would say that that’s, you know, beneath him at this point.” [Rumble, Viva Frei, 10/16/26]
Timcast IRL co-host Phil Labonte suggested Miller, even though “he's not particularly easy on the eyes, especially when compared to the people that Trump has had as press secretary.” Labonte: “But Stephen Miller is definitely the guy that seems to have Trump's ear and has — he's a very smart guy.” Host Tim Pool said that “Trump should’ve just said, ‘Stephen Miller, you’re in charge, do whatever you want.’” [YouTube, Timcast IRL, 10/16/26]
Newsmax’s Christina Bobb nominated her guest Hogan Gidley, who served as White House principal deputy press secretary in Trump’s first administration. Gidley replied, “If he called me, it's always difficult to say no to the man behind the Resolute Desk.” [Newsmax, Finnerty, 10/16/26]
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mma
10/21/26 1:56 PM EDT
Who does right-wing media want as the next press secretary?
10/21/26 1:54 PM EDT
10/21/26
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mma
“Excellent, excellent pick”: Here are the right-wing media figures who praised the now-ousted White House press secretary Katie Zacharia
Written by Gideon Taaffe, Helena Hind & Sage Hodil
Published 10/16/26
President Donald Trump has fired Katie Zacharia from her position as White House press secretary after a five-day tenure that included a press briefing widely seen as disastrous and a series of damning reports undermining her purported legal credentials.
Before her termination, right-wing media figures praised her as “a terrific pick,” testified to her supposed legal skills, and told their audiences “she would absolutely crush” the role. Following her first and only press conference, right-wing media personalities acknowledged “a bit of nerves” from Zacharia, but said she did “a great job” and praised her “extremely direct” answers and the brevity of the press conference.
Zacharia was fired five days into the job as White House press secretary after her “brutal” performance
President Donald Trump fired Katie Zacharia as press secretary after only five days on the job. On October 16, Trump reportedly asked Zacharia to “reconsider” her role and told reporters outside the White House, “Maybe it’s not for her.” Trump had announced her appointment on October 9, and she held her first press conference on October 13. Trump reportedly hired Zacharia after he “had grown somewhat infatuated with Zacharia’s appearances on Fox News.” [CNN, 10/16/26, 10/13/26; The New York Times, 10/9/26]
White House staffers described Zacharia’s debut press conference as “unusual, awkward, stilted” and “uncomfortable.” CNN reported: “Several advisers and officials offered negative reviews of the briefing to CNN, with one characterizing it as ‘brutal.’ Others described it as unusual, awkward, stilted and, at times, uncomfortable.” [CNN, 10/13/26]
Zacharia also received scrutiny about her legal career after Trump referred to her as an “attorney,” even though she reportedly never passed the bar exam. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Zacharia sat for the California bar exam after graduating from law school at Pepperdine University in 2011, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, but she didn’t pass. She took the exam around the time she was planning a wedding and preparing to move to China with her future husband, the person said.” Responding to reporters who asked on October 13 where she had passed the bar exam, Zacharia said, “When I moved to China.” [The Wall Street Journal, 10/15/26]
Who in right-wing media praised Zacharia and claimed she would do a great job after her appointment?
Host Buck Sexton suggested he was “maneuvering for months behind the scenes” to get Zacharia appointed and predicted she would be “a phenomenal asset to the Trump administration.” Sexton: “I have been maneuvering for months behind the scenes telling everybody that I know in D.C. and in this Trump White House who will listen that she is the absolute best option here. She will be a phenomenal asset to the Trump administration.” [Media Matters, 10/15/26]
Fox News contributor Hugh Hewitt said, “I like this pick for one particular reason: Katie is a Pepperdine-trained lawyer” who has “lots of on-camera time, a lot of experience.” Hewitt then said if Democrats take control of Congress, “it will be useful to have a lawyer's precision in responding to questions from the White House press room about various articles of impeachment or allegations. I think that will be very, very useful for President Trump.” [Fox News, Fox News Live, 10/10/26]
In an interview with Zacharia, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy said, “I think you’re going to do a fantastic job.” Campos-Duffy: “The president doesn't get enough credit for how he has found some of the most talented mothers in America to work for him. I just want to say congratulations. I think you're going to do a fantastic job. And I know you personally, I think you're a great person, and you're a wonderful mother, and I'm really — just really proud of you.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends Weekend, 10/10/26]
America’s Newsroom co-anchor Dana Perino said, “The fact that she is a lawyer is a great skill.” Perino continued, “I do think that that could come in very handy for her because almost every story that you all cover in the briefing room does have a legal component.” [Fox News, The Sunday Briefing, 10/11/26]
Fox News contributor Joe Concha said that “she has four children, and when you take questions from your kids on a daily basis, it makes the press corps look like cuddly kittens.” Concha went on to say, “She worked in broadcasting as well and has done many many interviews, many many hits. So it’s not like she’s not been in front of a camera before and knows how to answer questions.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends First, 10/13/26]
Daily Wire host Michael Knowles said Zacharia was an “excellent, excellent pick” and said she “looks the part, you know, very, very, good looking blonde.” Knowles continued, saying Zacharia “totally looks the part of the great press secretaries under President Trump. And, anyway, I think this is a terrific pick. Someone who's very loyal to the president, very smart, very articulate.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 10/12/26]
Human Events Daily host Jack Posobiec: “There’s no question in my mind that she would absolutely crush it.” Posobiec: “She’s absolutely someone who’s got the chops. She’s got the know-how. She’s someone who understands this completely and I couldn’t be more thrilled to hear this news.” Posobiec added later, “I’m looking out across the conservative landscape and really Katie Zacharia — she is the woman for the job. There’s no question in my mind that she would absolutely crush it. There’s no question in my mind that she would absolutely perform to beyond expectations and certainly excel any of what anyone’s thinking.” [Rumble, Human Events Daily, 10/9/26]
Who in right-wing media continued to defend Zacharia after her press conference?
Podcaster Benny Johnson on Zacharia’s first press conference: “I like it.”
Johnson called her “style” “extremely direct,” saying, “They were very short answers. And I don’t interpret that as nervousness at all. I don’t interpret that as a bad thing. You know, ‘brevity is the soul of wit’ is a Shakespearean line. And I like, I like it. So she just gets right to the point, like, here’s the news.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 10/13/26]
Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany offered “kudos” to Zacharia “for coming out and just saying, I’m going to do a briefing, I’m going to do it within 24 hours, and I’m going to drop the news” of Kimberly Guilfoyle being asked to resign. Guest Melissa DeRosa commented, “I thought that she presented well. She didn’t come off as combative like we have seen some of President Trump’s prior press secretaries.” [Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 10/13/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty defended Zacharia from criticism, saying CNN attacked her because she is “young, attractive, blonde, a Pepperdine law graduate, Christian, a married mother of four, meaning she represents everything they hate.” Finnerty invoked media coverage of former President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: “KJP is historic because of her race and her sexual orientation. Ironically, they hate Katie Zacharia for the same reasons: her race and her sexual orientation.” [Newsmax, Finnerty, 10/14/26]
Right-wing podcaster Vince Coglianese said Zacharia was “going to find her sea legs very quickly,” adding that she had “first day nerves” that were “deeply humanizing.” He commented: “I would say the thing that she needs right now is just reps. She just needs more reps. Just put these people in front of her. Let them act like psychopaths, and let her get the reps in smacking them down. And then each successive time that she appears in front of the camera, she'll be able to dominate them even more, which is going to be great. So, again, I think she’s going to find her sea legs very quickly.” [Rumble, Vince, 10/14/26]
Right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino: “Kate Zacharia just did a great job. It was a short press conference, which is the way to go.” He continued, “She gave an intro, gave the president’s travel schedule, talked about how he’s going to advance the agenda, which I think he’s going to do well for candidates where he visits. You see a bump in polling, draws attention to local races. But I thought she did great. I think it was smart. Keep it short, the first one. There’s always going to be a bit of nerves, folks. I don't care who you are. You could have nerves of steel. You go up there in front of an international audience that’s watching you on day one. But I thought she did fantastic.” [Rumble, The Dan Bongino Show, 10/13/26]
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MAGA media figures demanded and even teased immigration action against Rep. Ilhan Omar — and then DHS raided her home
Written by Reed McMaster & Ben Van Bloem
Published 10/14/26 11:03 AM EDT
Updated 10/14/26
Right-wing media figures have long spread conspiracy theories against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). During the second Trump administration, this has manifested in calls to deport Omar, an American citizen, citing as supposed evidence the conspiracy theories that have spread for years. In September, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson that Omar was under investigation, months after Vice President JD Vance told Johnson a similar story. When Mullin made his comments, right-wing media erupted in objection, demanding action instead of investigations.
Roughly a month later, DHS raided the congresswoman’s home. Right-wing media figures celebrated the raid, with podcast host Katie Miller reportedly even posting “promises made, promises kept” — the exact line Fox host Tomi Lahren had used to concerning Mullin’s remarks earlier to demand federal government action against Omar — while Johnson took credit: “This will be our crowning achievement for life.”
Federal agents searched the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar
Right-wing figures have long spread conspiracy theories about Omar, including one “based on some of the least credible evidence ever put forward in right-wing media” that she married her brother. According to The Bulwark, the claims “certainly wouldn’t stand up in court. The whole thing, in fact, boils down to a single anonymous post on a Somali-American web forum.” Furthermore, an investigation into Omar’s financial disclosures was dismissed earlier this year, and previous federal investigations into these topics have also ended without any charges. [Media Matters, 7/25/19; CBS News, 9/9/26; The Bulwark, 9/14/26]
On October 12, agents with Homeland Security Investigations, a subsection of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, executed a warrant on Omar’s D.C. home. The New York Times reported, “The search warrant, executed 22 days before Election Day, lists a series of potential immigration crimes under investigation, including false statements and fraud in immigration paperwork, as well as a general conspiracy charge, according to a person familiar with the document.”
The search by DHS agents broke with longstanding Justice Department policy to avoid similar investigative steps against candidates within 60 days of an election that could affect the results. Donald Trump cited this policy during the 2024 elections to claim that the DOJ was acting improperly in investigating him. Omar denies the allegations and has criticized the raid on her home by DHS agents as an attempt by the Trump administration “to target political enemies and weaponize law enforcement.” [The Guardian, 10/12/26; The New York Times, 10/12/26]
In March, Vice President JD Vance told MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson, “We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.” Vance said, “That’s the thing that we’re trying to figure out is what are the legal remedies now that we know that she’s committed immigration fraud — how do you go after her, how do you investigate her, how do you actually do the thing, how do you build a case necessary to get some justice for the American people?” Discussing Omar again during a White House press conference in May, Vance reiterated that “it certainly seems like something fishy is there.” [Fox News, 3/29/26; CBS News, 5/19/26]
In September, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Johnson that there is an “ongoing investigation” into Omar and raised the possibility of deportation. Around the same time, White House “border czar” Tom Homan also said that “things are going on” with Omar but refused to give details about the “ongoing criminal investigation.” Homan told Fox News, “If someone committed an immigration violation, if someone committed marriage fraud or anything like that, regardless if they're a congressman or not, no one's above the law. So, I'll leave it at that. We'll let HSI, Homeland Security Investigations, continue the investigation.” [The Associated Press, 10/12/26; Fox News, 9/13/26]
Mullin’s remarks sparked backlash to the administration in right-wing media for taking insufficient action against Omar. According to The Bulwark, “Like many of the pledges that people in Trump world make to prosecute and deport the president’s political enemies, this pledge has also run into legal hurdles and an actual reality that is not very accommodating to their goals. And it appears that Mullin is now set to take the blame for the absence of any action. Right-wing media influencer Laura Loomer, who once traveled to Minneapolis in her own fruitless attempt to prove Omar married her brother, fumed after the Mullin interview that Omar was somehow being protected from deportation. … Perhaps no one was angrier with Mullin than Fox News host Tomi Lahren. On Saturday, Lahren devoted much of her show to claiming the DHS secretary was using Omar’s case as a sideshow to distract from the perceived lack of larger-scale deportations. ‘If they want to do an investigation, do an investigation,’ she said. But whether Omar married her brother wouldn’t ‘get people out to vote,’ Lahren said. ‘What’s going to get people out to vote for Republicans is promises made, promises kept.’” [The Bulwark, 9/14/26]
Right-wing media figures have cryptically referred to “something happening” to Omar for months
On September 1, Johnson said that he had been hearing “rumblings” about Omar and said, “The vice president has told me on the record that something’s about to happen.” Johnson said, “I'm hearing a lot of rumblings about Ilhan Omar. She's grown suspiciously silent on social media. The vice president has told me on the record that something's about to happen. So has Tom Homan. … And we've been sort of, like, asking around and doing our best to use our sources, and we are assured that something is about to happen with Ilhan Omar and her family.” He also asked his guest, Sean Davis of The Federalist, “What would that mean to the political zeitgeist — the Third World parasitic ecosystem that lives on the underbelly of America — what kind of message would that send to denaturalize, deport, or even just criminally charge Ilhan Omar?” Davis responded that “she needs to be sent back” and added, “That whole community needs to go back — Somalianism is incompatible with America.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 9/1/26]
In May, The Charlie Kirk Show co-host Andrew Kolvet argued there are “bad things” in Omar's future and claimed she “probably engaged in immigration fraud.” He said, “She's got no good answers for it because Ilhan Omar is legitimately a scourge on our Congress. That's exactly right. She is a disgrace to the city of Washington, D.C., and to the American people. She probably engaged in immigration fraud. She's engaged in some other issues that are causing her complaints with the ethics complaints within the House. So Ilhan Omar has got, I think, some bad things in her future.” [Rumble, The Charlie Kirk Show, 5/21/26]
In August, host of conspiracy theory podcast X22 Report David Marc Fishman insisted there's an investigation into Omar and said, “I do believe” they will have enough evidence to indict her. He said, “They're investigating Ilhan Omar. They're collecting the evidence. And if they have enough evidence, which I do believe they will, they will then forward this on and there'll be an investigation into Ilhan Omar. There'll be a grand jury that will be looking at this and there will be an indictment as time goes on, just like with everybody else.” [Rumble, X22 Report, 8/13/26]
On his radio show, Fox host Sean Hannity told a caller that an investigation into Omar was underway in July, months before the September announcement. He said, “I can tell you this: There is an investigation going on. I don’t know why it’s being slow-walked. You're raising a fair and good question, and it’s irritating to me too.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 7/23/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool suggested “something is happening” regarding an investigation into Omar weeks before Mullin admitted to it. He said, “They are not going to release information which will compromise any investigation. And this, my friends, is the disappointing part for so many that want there to be some kind of enforcement action against Ilhan Omar. This does not confirm it. Something is happening, which I would say is good, but we don't know for sure.” [YouTube, Timcast, 8/24/26]
After the DHS raid on Omar’s home, right-wing media celebrated and Benny Johnson took credit
Podcaster Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, reportedly wrote “promises made, promises kept” above an article on the DHS raid of Omar's home before reportedly deleting the post. [Bluesky, 10/12/26]
Benny Johnson opened a show after the raid by asking his audience “Are you excited? To send Ilhan Omar back to her indigenous peoples? That is what's about to happen. We were right. Forgive us. We're going to gloat just a bit today. It's going to be insufferable, I’m so sorry, but we’ve been waiting for this.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 10/12/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie opened his October 12 show by celebrating the DHS raid on Omar's home, saying, “I hope they were blasting Creed while they did it.” He later added that it “couldn't happen to a better person.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 10/12/26]
The Charlie Kirk Show co-host Blake Neff said it would “be tremendous” if the government could “strip the citizenship from Ilhan Omar,” while co-host Andrew Kolvet referred to the raid as “Christmas in October” and said her denaturalization would be “great for the whole country.” Neff said, “If you could actually denaturalize, strip the citizenship from Ilhan Omar because her arrival here was fraudulent from the start. … It would be tremendous.” Kolvet followed up, “It was like Christmas in October, or was it Halloween? You know, with Ilhan Omar, let's go with Halloween. … Anyways, that's the breaking news. She's getting raided. We think it's about a paperwork issue, which could lead to a denaturalization process being pursued with her, which I think would be great for the whole country.” [Rumble, The Charlie Kirk Show, 10/12/26, 10/12/26]
Reacting to a Fox News report on the search of Omar’s home, conservative podcaster Dave Rubin said, “This is not a woman who loves America. This is not a woman who should be in America. … This is a bad lady, and finally it appears that we’re going to do something about it.” Holding a box with Omar’s picture on his desk, he said, “You know, it's funny, we have this as the Ilhan Omar puke bucket, but this story is — I may put tequila in it and just drink out of this thing.” [YouTube, The Rubin Report, 10/12/26]
Johnson called the administration's actions against Omar his “crowning achievement for life.” He said, “Today is Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Are you celebrating with us? Are you going to celebrate, Omar-mas? I will. Ilhan Omar scandal breaks wide open, and we were part of it, and that's exciting for us. This is our — we tried — we did get Jimmy Kimmel ripped off air. We view that as a massive success for this program. This will be our crowning achievement for life. We may hang it up. We may have to hang it up after this. You're not going to get better than this.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 10/14/26]
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MMA
Podcast Wars: “Traitor” Tucker Carlson, “evil” Candace Owens, and “pathetic” Nick Fuentes
This week's right-wing podcaster infighting
Written by Noah VanDowe & Ben Van Bloem
Published 10/09/26
Welcome to Media Matters’ regular debrief on the Podcast Wars. This week, many figures directed their ire toward Tucker Carlson following his contentious and controversial interview with former member of British parliament Jacob Rees-Mogg on the Russia-Ukraine war and “Britain’s decision to fight against Adolf Hitler.”
Tucker Carlson is either a “useful idiot” or a “traitor”
Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro called Carlson’s claims during the Rees-Mogg interview “so disgusting and also stupid,” accusing him of “saying it would be better if Hitler had won World War II.” Shapiro also mocked Carlson for suggesting “that nuclear weapons were created by demons” and argued Carlson “hates the West as currently constituted. … This is why I’ve said many, many times that Tucker is the horseshoe right, and he joins hands with the left in hatred for the West.”
Fox host Mark Levin on Carlson: “He's an out of the closet antisemite. I think he hates his own country, our country. And I think in many ways he's a traitor.” Levin grouped Carlson among “a cabal” of “flawed perverts, criminals and crooks and propagandists.”
Reacting to the Rees-Mogg interview, podcaster Konstantin Kisin told his audience to “never go full Tucker,” adding, “Carlson isn't a secret Nazi, he's just ideologically captured and not very bright. A typical podcaster, in other words.”
Right-wing host Steven Crowder said “people like” Carlson and Theo Von “who didn't condemn [Zohran] Mamdani's actions enough” are “either useful idiots or they are acting malevolently themselves.”
Ahead of midterms, a party divided
YouTube host Benny Johnson lashed out at Karl Rove and the “Lincoln Project guys,” calling them “a bunch of retards.” Johnson said they “couldn’t run a Somali daycare in Minneapolis” and concluded his rant by labeling them “left-wing activists.”
On the podcast of David Freiheit, known online as Viva Frei, failed Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback complained that his “real competitor” in the Republican primary election was Fox News. Fishback argued Fox spent “every single day attacking our campaign, but also attacking the arguments, undermining the arguments about affordability when life has gotten less affordable in my state — Fox News of course saying that it hasn’t.”
Nick Fuentes feuds with other extremists
White nationalist Nick Fuentes released a broadside of sexism against “every single female in the conservative movement,” specifically naming Candace Owens and Kim Iversen. Fuentes bemoaned that “every single one of them are closeted feminists.”
White nationalist Stew Peters and conspiracy theorist Jake Shields mocked Fuentes and a variety of other right-wing media figures. Referencing alleged leaked messages, Shields called Fuentes “pathetic” for wanting to earn Tim Pool’s approval, saying, “It's weird how these guys like Nick want to be liked so bad by the people that hate him.” Peters responded by arguing many figures in the media space are “self-serving” or “masochists, like somebody like Andrew Wilson who just has a fetish for being embarrassed and he just loves pain.”
Candace Owens: “Conspiracy theorist, nut, and evil”
Appearing on Theo Von’s podcast, Candace Owens said it was “hard for me to imagine a scenario where no one” involved with Turning Point USA knew Charlie Kirk would be killed, agreeing with the host that “you’d have to have an insider.”
Ben Shapiro ridiculed Owens for the “somewhat substantiated internet rumor about her sexual proclivities,” adding that “the way that she decided that she was going to redeem herself was by appearing with chief mascot of the retardosphere Theo Von, one of the dumbest people to walk planet Earth.” Shapiro further called Owens a "conspiracy theorist, nut, and evil human being,” adding that Von is “going along with” her attacks on Turning Point USA and Erika Kirk “because either he is legitimately a retard or because he's a bad person or both.”
//
09/11/26 10:43 AM EDT
Podcast Wars: A “Jeffrey Dahmer character,” a “twisted harpy,” and a “thug bastard”
09/25/26 2:41 PM EDT
10/02/26
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Anti-Indian racism has been surging in right-wing media
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John Knefel is a senior writer at Media Matters for America, a progressive research center that monitors the U.S. media.
Right-wing media’s coverage of this June’s Los Angeles mayoral primary election unsurprisingly went heavy on voter fraud conspiracy theories and presented essentially zero real evidence. Their reactions offer a warning of how MAGA is likely to respond if Republicans suffer significant losses in November’s midterms, considering that the Trump administration and its outside allies spent the summer laying groundwork to undermine voting rights using flimsy claims of foreign election interference.
After lining up behind Spencer Pratt for L.A. mayor, conservative pundits began crying foul in June as the votes were still being counted. Challenger and L.A. councilmember Nithya Raman overtook Pratt after an early “red mirage,” triggering outbursts from the right.
On his radio show, Fox’s Sean Hannity said: “President Trump rightly is calling out Democrats, saying they’re probably cheating, trying to steal” the race. MAGA media influencer Benny Johnson said, “You can already see that they’re stealing and they’re cheating.” YouTube streamer Tim Pool alleged that “it appears, with new information coming in, we can now say the Democrats are cheating in the California race.”
As is so often the case, these figures were operating symbiotically with President Donald Trump, who wrote that it was “not possible for Spencer Pratt to have lost the L.A. runoffs after the big lead he had,” decrying “Rigged Elections!”
There was no evidence of voter fraud in the L.A. mayoral primary, and it isn’t surprising in the least that Pratt would lose in a city where former Vice President Kamala Harris won 70% of the vote in 2024. But it is now a matter of faith on the right that, in the words of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, “if Democrats can’t steal elections, they can’t win.”
My Media Matters colleague Matt Gertz has characterized MAGA’s reaction as a signal that right-wing media are entering a period of “post-proof election denial.” Whereas in the aftermath of 2020, an entire cottage industry arose on the right to produce a simulacra of evidence to allege that allies of former President Joe Biden had rigged the outcome, no similar effort emerged on Pratt’s behalf.
Instead, these figures relied on nothing but vibes, especially olfactory metaphors. “It smells to high heaven,” said radio show host Megyn Kelly. “I don’t like the way any of this smells,” said Fox News co-host Lisa Kennedy Montgomery. “I can tell you it stinks to high heaven when you have a drop of 24,000 votes and Spencer Pratt gets zero,” said Hannity.
These pundits opened up a permission structure for others to make similarly outlandish accusations. Case in point: Two recent guests on Bannon’s “War Room” podcast claimed that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s victory last November was rife with fraud. (It was not.)
A segment of Real America’s Voice’s War Room on Aug. 6, 2026. Screenshot via MediaMatters for America
Ubiquitous, reflexive election denial in conservative media presages the MAGA strategy for 2026 and beyond. In early July, I laid out the broad strokes of an emerging plot to subvert the midterms that was hidden in plain view if you knew where to look.
The basics: First, a White House task force that included right-wing media figure John Solomon — who spread misinformation related to Trump’s first impeachment — would declassify documents that purportedly showed China interfered in the 2020 election. Trump undertook this step in a primetime address on July 16, although the released files provided more evidence that Russia — not China — attempted to influence the election to weaken Biden’s campaign, not Trump’s.
The second step would be for the Trump administration to issue a “national emergency” declaration based on the supposed threat posed by China, thereby unlocking “king-like powers” over election systems.
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Who's calling for the Trump administration to send federal agents to polling places?
Right-wing media personalities have pushed for the Trump administration to send federal agents and the military to polling places and interfere with vote counting, but voting rights groups are pushing back
Written by Jack Winstanley & Reed McMaster
Published 10/02/26
Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, right-wing media figures have called for President Donald Trump to deploy federal law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, or the military to polling stations across the country to “surround the polls” as votes are cast or to interfere with vote counting after the election.
While administration officials have offered mixed messaging on whether they'd actually send law enforcement agents or military to polling places, the law directly prohibits any potential effort to station armed federal agents at polls, and experts say this policy could potentially disenfranchise voters who feel intimidated by their presence. In order to prevent this kind of interference by federal agents at the polls, civil rights, labor, and voting rights groups have filed lawsuits ahead of the midterms.
The proposal to deploy ICE officers to polling stations is just one of several election-related policies floated by right-wing media and the Trump administration ahead of the 2026 midterms. Right-wing media figures have also suggested the president could declare a national emergency over alleged voter fraud in order to increase federal control over the midterms, and have pushed for restrictive voting requirements such as those included in the SAVE America Act. The courts have blocked many of the administration's actions to implement parts of these policies.
Is it even legal for law enforcement or the military to be at polling places?
As the Brennan Center for Justice's Sean Morales-Doyle has written, “The law is crystal clear: It is illegal to deploy federal troops or armed federal law enforcement to any polling place.” Dale Ho, then-director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Voting Rights Project, similarly stated, “There's no law that I'm aware of that permits, or that would authorize, the president to deploy federal law enforcement or military or anything like that for domestic use in … or around polling places.”
Experts explain that stationing federal law enforcement at polling sites risks intimidating voters out of casting their ballots. The ACLU noted that the mere presence of federal immigration agents at polling places could qualify as illegal voter intimidation, with its report listing “the deployment of federal immigration agents or federalized National Guard in or around polling places in targeted communities during early voting or on Election Day to try to suppress voting” as an example of “illegal voter intimidation.” The ACLU also specifically cites “aggressively questioning voters about their citizenship, criminal record, or other qualifications to vote” as another example of illegal voter intimidation.
Ahead of the midterm elections, several lawsuits have already been filed to block federal agents from interfering at the polls, including one from a coalition of civil rights groups and unions. The Brennan Center also noted that any individual can sue under the Voting Rights Act if they are “intimidated from voting by the presence of ICE agents or soldiers.”
Who has been among the biggest proponents of having federal agents at polling places? Steve Bannon.
For months, former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon has been a prominent voice supporting the deployment of federal agents to polling stations, regularly advocating on his show for ICE to be present at polling stations.
Bannon said ICE officers will be near polling places: “If you don't have an ID — if you're not a citizen — you're not voting.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 8/19/25]
While interviewing former Trump Department of Homeland Security adviser Todd Bensman, Bannon stated, “I think ICE agents belong at polling places.”
Bannon dismissed fears of voter intimidation, stating, “It's intimidation. It should be intimidating to noncitizens. Yes, we want it to be intimidating to noncitizens. You should not go to a polling place.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 8/13/26]
Bannon called it a “minimum requirement” for ICE to be present at polling stations. [Real America's Voice, War Room, 7/17/26]
Bannon said that stationing ICE at airports can be “a test case … to really perfect ICE's involvement in the 2026 midterm elections.” Bannon added, “They can’t work the machines, you know what they’ll do? Just walk up and down, hey, we're going to speed things through — can we check your IDs? That’s what’s going to happen in the fall of ’26 because, folks, we’re tired of having elections stolen.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 3/23/26]
Bannon stated, “And I'm saying you're going to have ICE agents around the polls to make sure you can't have illegal aliens in there voting.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 2/19/26]
Bannon also said in February, “You’re damn right we’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 2/3/26]
Who else in right-wing media has promoted federal agents at polling places?
Article III Project founder Mike Davis: “I would have ICE agents and other federal law enforcement at every polling place across America. And that should only scare away noncitizens.” [Real America's Voice, War Room, 9/1/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool stated that, “at the bare minimum,” he expects federal law enforcement to be present at polling locations in states that do not cooperate with DHS. He said, “This press conference had me expecting, OK, Trump made the announcement. Markwayne Mullin, DHS, they're going to come out and they're going to say, here's what we intend to do. I mean, at the bare minimum, we expect something like we will have federal law enforcement agency at polling locations in states that do not cooperate.” [Rumble, Tim Pool Daily Show, 7/17/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro: “Making sure illegal immigrants do not show up at polling sites is not a horrible use of ICE.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 3/24/26]
Podcaster Benny Johnson: “Can we deploy ICE to every voting booth in America? Would that fix the fraud? Of course, it would.” Johnson continued, “Why are we even talking about the SAVE Act? You don't need the SAVE Act if you don't have a nation overrun with criminal aliens.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 3/24/26]
On X22 Report, the host declared that ICE and the National Guard can “absolutely” “assist with helping in the elections.” [Rumble, X22 Report, 3/24/26; X22 Report, accessed 9/24/26]
Fox’s Jesse Watters argued for ICE to be at polling locations. Watters said, “Well, one of the demands, they say no ICE agents can be at a polling station. What's the trouble with that, Jessica? What's the problem? If illegals aren't voting, why can't ICE agents be at a polling station?” [Fox News, The Five, 3/23/26]
X22 Report’s host also argued that “if you pre-position ICE in certain areas around the country, maybe with the National Guard, that makes it a lot more difficult for the illegals to actually vote in the election.” He added that lawsuits preemptively filed over potential ICE deployments to polling locations were an attempt “to find out if ICE is going to be at the voting centers.” [Rumble, X22 Report, 3/3/26]
During an appearance on Newsmax, radio host Tony Katz questioned, “Why aren’t ICE agents at polling places? Why aren't we ensuring that Americans vote?” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 3/3/26]
The Gateway Pundit wrote in a blog that any concern from Democrats about voter intimidation because of ICE presence “only makes sense if illegal aliens are, in fact, showing up to vote.” The blog, which also shares Bannon’s call for ICE to “surround the polls,” states, “Democrats will inevitably argue that ICE’s presence at the polls constitutes voter intimidation, but that concern only makes sense if illegal aliens are, in fact, showing up to vote.” [The Gateway Pundit, 2/4/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie said, “ICE at polling places shouldn’t be a problem because illegals shouldn’t be voting in our elections.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 2/2/26]
Who has suggested deploying the military to interfere with vote counting after the election?
In response to host Alex Jones asking what “martial law after the election” would look like, attorney Peter Ticktin said “it would be the FBI probably going out and seizing the machines where there’s a good reason to suspect that the vote was not a real vote.” He further explained, “Let the machines do the count, but before the count — but then let us commandeer and get the ballots. If we have the ballots, we can count them ourselves. You know, there’s ways we can do it, and it would be done after the election, but before certification.” Earlier in the episode, Ticktin claimed Trump's “going to seize the machines. … If it’s stolen from us because of their machines, we’ll be — then he’s going to have to declare martial law.” [Alex Jones Live, The Alex Jones Show, 9/29/26, 9/29/26]
Mark Cook, described by Colorado Newsline as one “of the most influential election deniers in Colorado,” said during an interview with podcaster David Nino Rodriguez that “if the military shows up to ensure that the people can run their own election unfettered, I’m all for that.” He stated, “What really needs to happen is the people that have been manipulating elections, that have stolen the elections from the people and have blocked the people away from having oversight in their own elections, we need someone to hold them back so citizens can have the oversight necessary to conduct their own elections and ensure and verify the integrity of the vote. So if the military shows up to ensure that the people can run their own election unfettered, I'm all for that. Bring them.” [Rumble, 2/19/26; Colorado Newsline, 6/18/24]
On Brighteon Broadcast News, host Mike Adams argued, “We need the military to count the votes, especially in the blue cities, because you can’t trust Democrats.” While speculating about a potential “armed uprising” from the left, Adams added, “I think Trump actually sort of tactically needs that to happen in order to declare the emergency and deploy the troops before Election Day.” [Natural News, Brighteon Broadcast News, 1/14/26; Media Matters, 4/2/18]
On Health Ranger Report two days later, Adams repeated his call to “have the military count the votes.” He argued, “You have to have a national emergency to where you deploy the military, especially in blue cities,” in order to count the votes. [Natural News, Health Ranger Report, 1/16/26]
What has the Trump administration said about deploying federal law enforcement or the military to the polls?
The Department of Homeland Security has offered mixed messaging on the potential for sending ICE officers to polling locations. In February, DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Election Integrity Heather Honey — whom ProPublica has described as “a protege of Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who tried to help Trump overturn the 2020 election results” — reportedly told a group of secretaries of state that “any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true.” But Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has refused to rule out the possibility; during his confirmation hearing, Mullin said that if ICE is sent to polling places, “there will be a reason for us to be there, and it’ll be known why we’re there.” Mullin added in September that agents could make arrests at polling places if needed, noting that the “only reason” agents “would be at polling places is if there is a threat to that polling place or we’re serving a warrant on someone.”
White House border czar Tom Homan, meanwhile, downplayed concerns about federal law enforcement presence at polling stations, noting, “Part of DHS' job is secure elections, and I’m not going to say … what our plan is going forward, but if only U.S. citizens can vote, I don’t see the issue of what they’re concerned about.” And earlier this year, Trump expressed his own willingness to send federal agents to the polls when a reporter asked whether he would “send the National Guard or ICE to voting locations in November” and Trump responded that he would do “anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.”
What do voting rights groups advise voters to do in response to threats of law enforcement or the military at polling places?
Voting rights groups have resources to prepare voters for the possibility of federal agents or the military intimidating voters at polling stations. Democracy Security Project Action Fund suggests voters “go to vote.gov and check your eligibility; be sure that you’re registered” and know “the most convenient polling place for you, whether that’s in person or vote-by-mail. Keep track of deadlines.”
Additional recommendations from the ACLU include:
What to do if there are reports of ICE, National Guard, or other federal agents in your community during early voting or Election Day
Make your plan now, and consider voting by mail if there is sufficient time and you can under state law.
Consider voting as early as possible during the early voting period, if available in your state.
While a voter can be accompanied by family members regardless of whether those family members are citizens, in an abundance of caution, non-citizens may choose not to travel to polling places.
Remember:
You have the right to vote free from intimidation.
You do not need to speak English to vote, in any state.
You do not need to pass a test to vote, in any state.
Some states do not require voters to present photo identification.
Report intimidation to the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español/English), 888-API-VOTE (Asian languages/English), 844-YALLA-US (Arabic/English).
Report intimidation to your local election officials. Their offices will be open on Election Day.
The Southern Poverty Law Center also has additional guidance.
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Right-wing media have been arguing for decades that fewer Americans should have the right to vote
08/10/26 10:25 AM EDT
Right-wing media are calling for ICE to “surround the polls” in midterms
03/27/26 9:50 AM EDT
Right-wing media use the SAVE America Act to undermine the upcoming midterm elections
03/20/26
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The Navy disclosed 8 suicide attempts after right-wing media dismissed reporting about conditions on the USS Lincoln as “Persian propaganda”
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Helena Hind
Published 09/29/26
As reporting emerged in August that the servicemembers on the USS Abraham Lincoln faced poor conditions and declining mental health — evidenced by at least one servicemember overboard incident — right-wing media dismissed the stories as a “misrepresentation in the media,” “an information op,” and “Persian propaganda.” The carrier was deployed in the Middle East for nine months during the Trump administration’s Operation Epic Fury.
On September 22, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed that eight personnel across the Lincoln strike group attempted suicide.
Earlier reporting on deteriorating conditions and apparent suicide attempts across the Lincoln strike group now confirmed by Navy
In August, there were reports about poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including stories “of deteriorating conditions — and of deteriorating mental health, including apparent attempts by crewmembers to jump overboard.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at the time that the reports were “overstated” and President Donald Trump said the nine-month deployment was not long enough. Dr. Philip Hunt, a former Navy physician deployed on multiple submarine missions, told NPR: “Denial of this unit's deteriorating operational conditions is highly detrimental to the crew's morale,” adding, “The result can include anger, anxiety, or eventually mental exhaustion and depression.” According to NPR, “Hunt says he blames leadership at the highest levels for the lack of recognition of this hardship.” [NPR, 8/21/26]
In late September, after the USS Lincoln started its journey back home, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Congress that eight personnel across the Lincoln strike group attempted suicide. According to CNN, “‘Eight attempted suicides is incredibly high,’ one US military official told CNN, noting recent carrier strike group deployments have had one or two per year. ‘The strain of combat ops is much higher than normal deployments. No port calls, constant alerts, etc.’” CNN also noted, “The rate of suicide attempts among the Lincoln strike group’s sailors was roughly consistent with that of the entire active duty Navy in 2024.” [The New York Times, 8/20/26; CNN, 9/23/26]
“Persian propaganda” and an “information op”: Right-wing media dismissed reports about the Lincoln and its crew’s mental health
Steve Bannon, host of War Room, suggested low morale is “just the reality of life at sea” and accused media outlets of spreading “Persian propaganda.” Bannon: “If you go on board a ship, a 5,000-man ship, personnel ship, you're clearly going to have some sailors that are not happy. And there's a saying in the Navy, If they ain't bitching, they're not happy, right. It’s just the reality of life at sea. And, look, these sailors are the best in the world. In fact, sometimes when they’re bitching is when they’re doing their best work. … It’s heroic what they've done. I think the media here jumped on the Persian propaganda.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 8/14/26]
Fox News senior strategic analyst retired Gen. Jack Keane dismissed reports of attempted suicide aboard the USS Lincoln, saying, “I’ve never seen such misrepresentation in the media of the actual facts that took place.” Keane continued, “A soldier fell overboard and was rescued. They were claiming that multiple soldiers were committing suicide. … But the reality is the misrepresentation has really been quite significant.” [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 8/17/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie attacked the reporters covering the story as “a bunch of reporters who have never sacrificed anything in their lives” and said reports of low morale were an “invented narrative.” He also dismissed CNN’s reporting about conditions aboard the USS Lincoln, saying, “CNN has led the absolute charge in painting conditions as dismal, but I just remember when they were reporting from that ship, I don’t know, a month ago, they were there eating ice cream and playing cards with the sailors. And when they spoke to the ship’s commander, he made it clear that the deployment’s never been, you know, that tough, but it is what you sign up for.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 8/18/26]
On Fox’s The Big Weekend Show, Fox News host Johnny “Joey” Jones attacked a sailor who spoke about the conditions aboard the USS Lincoln, asking “How weak are you?” Jones said: “How weak are you on TV complaining about tuna and noodles? I’m sorry, you volunteered to serve your country, you can come back and get out of the military and do like all the Democrat veterans and complain about it and make commercials and be a sellout.” [Fox News, The Big Weekend Show, 8/15/26]
After celebrating the achievements of the Lincoln’s crew, Salem News host Scott Jennings undercut concerns about their mental health, saying, “What’s going on here is another attempt by media and by Democrats to take a story where there are some facts, to spin it into a narrative where there are less facts, and to grind a political axe against President Donald J. Trump.” Jennings also said, “The narrative is that all the sailors are unhappy and that the ship is breaking down. But the stats tell you that 84% of the crew, well, they are reenlisting to continue to serve on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The ship also currently has among the lowest mental health cases reported across the Navy’s 11 aircraft carriers.” [Salem Radio Channel, The Scott Jennings Show, 8/18/26]
Jennings also claimed, “It’s an information op wrapped up in our military service people, and it’s designed to create a narrative that just isn’t real. And, again, it’s all in service of politics.” He continued later: “I assume this must rankle Secretary Hegseth and the other people over at the Pentagon, the use of our military and, frankly, the lying about, you know, what condition they’re in. Not only is it for politics, but they must believe it gives aid and comfort to the enemy.” [Salem Radio Network, The Scott Jennings Show, 8/19/26]
Former Trump lawyer and podcast host Rudy Giuliani on the length of USS Lincoln’s deployment: “It's terrible what's happened to them and their families, but that’s a lot less than in the Revolutionary War.” Giuliani added, “My uncle was in a combat zone four times that number, I don’t remember him ever complaining or crying about it. I don’t see anybody on the ship complaining or crying about it.” [YouTube, America’s Mayor Live, 8/19/26]
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Right-wing content creators are peddling anti-Muslim hate
Right-wing content creators are peddling anti-Muslim hate
Nick Friedman fearmongered about an “Islamic takeover” while filming Muslims, warning, “This could be your street next”
Written by Gideon Taaffe
Published 09/24/26
A rising group of right-wing content creators — who often describe themselves as independent or investigative journalists and have established influence among right-wing media and the Trump administration — are pushing out anti-Muslim content, including on-the-ground footage warning of a supposed “invasion" or "Islamic takeover” and provocative videos of debates, rallies, and other stunts.
Right-wing content creators have used on-the-ground footage to fearmonger about a supposed “invasion” or “Islamic takeover”
Self-described “investigative journalist” Nate Friedman posted a video titled “I Exposed New York’s Biggest Mosque” that shows him confronting people at a mosque after they deny him entry. The video shows Friedman complaining about public calls to prayer and arguing that “residents deserve a say in the noise that reaches their windows.” While filming street vendors, Friedman questioned, “How long is it before the sidewalks on the Upper East Side stop looking like Manhattan and more like a street market in a Muslim country?” He also accused a police officer of ticketing non-Muslims’ cars while not ticketing the cars of Muslims who had come to pray. [Instagram, accessed 9/14/26; YouTube, Nate Friedman, 9/9/26, accessed 9/14/26; YouTube, Arutz Sheva, 11/7/24]
Friedman also posted a video about the “Islamic takeover” of Manhattan that featured Muslims in an area of the Lower East Side while fearmongering that “this could be your street next.” He also filmed people leaving a mosque, saying, “Watching the Islamic migrants filter out of the mosque and onto the street, creating a total takeover of the area, you see what could be you walking through here: a U.S. citizen on a trip with your family that you paid for with your hard-earned money running into a no-go zone in the middle of the Lower East Side.” [YouTube, Nate Friedman, 8/29/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Friedman made a video titled “I Exposed a Secret Mosque in NYC” focused on an alleged mosque in a warehouse for halal cart vendors. Introducing the video, Friedman said, “I'm going to take you through a secret mosque and uncover its role in assisting illegal Islamic migrants,” adding, “The West must know the hidden tactics being used against it to destroy our civilization from within.” [YouTube, Nate Friedman, 8/17/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Friedman also posted a video titled “I Exposed the Islamic Takeover of Michigan.” Friedman spends much of the video filming Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan, and asking who they’d support in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Of women wearing head coverings at a grocery store, Friedman said, “You can see that you'd be a fish out of water here, a guest in your own country. You probably also noticed how almost every mother had at least three young children with them. So, you'd be naive to think that this stops at Dearborn.” [YouTube, Nate Friedman 8/2/26, accessed 9/15/26]
In a video about migrants crossing from Morocco to Ceuta, Spain, self-described “independent journalist” Nick Shirley highlighted claims that only men were crossing the border because of Islamic law. The video is titled “Inside the Migrant Invasion of Ceuta Spain.” [YouTube, Nick Shirley, 8/3/26, accessed 9/15/26; Anti Fraud Club, accessed 4/6/26; Reuters, 6/13/24]
Jake Lang, whom The New York Times has described as a “far-right agitator” and “Islamophobic provocateur,” posted a video about Muslims in rural New Jersey, calling it a “complete invasion!!!” In the video’s accompanying caption, Lang also complained about “young White American girls dating a Somali MEN.” [Instagram, 8/4/26, accessed 9/15/26; The New York Times, 8/20/26]
Right-wing content creators have distributed provocative videos of anti-Muslim rallies, debates about Islam, and other stunts to fearmonger about the Muslim community
Jake Lang staged a demonstration outside a mosque in Nashville, Tennessee, with a sign reading, “Deport all Muslims.” The electronic sign also read, “Deport 100 million, save America,” and Lang handed out pulled pork sandwiches. [Instagram, 8/7/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Lang promoted an anti-Muslim protest in Dearborn, Michigan, by claiming Muslims have “usurped” Detroit and are “siphoning your wealth” and “stealing the land from you” while speaking at a local church. [Instagram, 8/16/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Lang posted a video in which he burned a Quran and a miniature replica of Kaaba while claiming churches are being burned by Muslims. He then promoted his “March on Mamdani” 9/11 rally in New York City. [Instagram, 9/9/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Self-described “independent journalist” Jonathan Choe worked with Turning Point USA’s Frontlines to document Lang’s 9/11 rally and described a counter protester as an “Islamist” for yelling “Allahu Akbar.” [Instagram, 9/11/26, 9/11/26, 9/11/26, 9/11/26, accessed 9/15/26, 9/15/26, 9/15/26, 9/15/26, 4/6/26]
Lang held a rally, which he framed as a “crusade,” protesting Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan. Lang posted videos in which he offered baptisms to Muslims and marched through the streets of Dearborn yelling, “We know the Muslims have a plan to replace us.” [Instagram, 8/19/26, 8/20/26, 8/19/26,8/18/26, accessed 9/15/26, 9/15/26, 9/15/26, 9/15/26]
Lang posted a video in which he protested against “Muslim Day” at Cedar Point in Ohio and called for U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to be deported. Lang held up a banner that read “WhiteReplacement.org” and “Stop Muslim takeover of Democrat Party!!! Deport Abdul El-Sayed.” [Instagram, 8/2/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Cam Higby, who describes himself as an “America-First independent journalist,” has posted several debate videos in which he has attempted to tie Islam to pedophilia and defended the claim that “Islam is evil and incompatible with America.” [YouTube, Cam Higby, 8/5/26, 8/10/26, 8/12/26, accessed 9/15/26, 9/15/26, 9/15/26; Instagram, 8/31/26, accessed 9/15/26; Cam Higby USA, accessed 9/22/26]
Higby also released a video for subscribers titled “I Wore Burqa To EXPOSE Election FRAUD In Minneapolis.” [YouTube, Cam Higby, 8/13/26, accessed 9/15/26]
Project Veritas founder and former CEO James O’Keefe also released a video in which he and Higby disguised themselves in “full traditional Muslim attire” and put on accents in order to trick poll workers and attack Minnesota’s voter voucher system, saying, “We vote. They say no problem. We can vouch for up to eight people.” O’Keefe recently launched a self-described “network of citizen journalists” called the Citizen Justice League. [YouTube, O’Keefe Media Group, 8/13/26, accessed 9/15/26; The Associated Press, 8/18/23]
Self-described “guerrilla journalist” Anthony Rubin also posted a similar video in which he attempted to vouch for two people at a polling location who claimed to be Hamas members from the Gaza Strip. Rubin co-founded Muckraker, which the Brennan Center for Justice describes as “an online media website with ‘very, very powerful’ ties to Heritage [Foundation].” [Instagram, 8/17/26, accessed 9/14/26, 9/15/26, 6/18/26; The Associated Press, 8/18/23; Brennan Center for Justice, 9/10/24]
Online content creators have established influence within right-wing media and the Trump administration as right-wing media embrace anti-Muslim hate
Right-wing content creators’ targets have repeatedly become targets of the Trump administration. After Nick Shirley posted videos alleging fraud at Somali daycare centers in Minnesota, the Trump administration paused Medicaid payments to the state. After James O’Keefe and Cam Higby alleged a voter registration fraud scheme on Skid Row in Los Angeles, multiple organizers were arrested; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli directly credited “undercover videos that took place at Skid Row” for at least one of the arrests. Both Shirley and O’Keefe have also testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. [Media Matters, 1/13/26, 6/18/26; Reuters, 7/21/26; The Guardian, 9/11/26; The National Desk, 5/19/26, 7/15/26; U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, 7/15/26]
Right-wing media have expanded these content creators’ reach by interviewing them and spreading their videos. Fox News interviewed several right-wing content creators ahead of an October 2025 White House roundtable on antifa, Nate Friedman’s coverage of a No Kings protest in April was featured on several right-wing shows, and James O’Keefe’s and Cam Higby’s Minnesota election videos were spread by right-wing personalities arguing for stricter voter ID laws. [Media Matters, 10/24/25, 4/8/26, 9/1/26]
Recently, right-wing media have also been using anti-Muslim hate more broadly to push anti-immigrant sentiment and criticize prominent left-wing Muslim politicians. Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson claimed, “Islam is here to kill us and convert us,” a Newsmax guest said, “Where Islam grows, freedom dies,” and self-proclaimed “proud Islamophobe” Laura Loomer claimed, “You're going to be at war with Muslims in America within the next five years.” Right-wing commentators have also claimed prominent left-leaning Muslim politicians like Abdul El-Sayed and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are jihadists. [YouTube, The Benny Show, 8/17/26; Newsmax, Finnerty, 8/11/26; Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, 8/4/26; Media Matters, 8/6/26, 10/23/25, 8/14/24]
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Right-wing media ramp up Islamophobic campaign against Abdul El-Sayed
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MMA
Inside the right-wing media split on AI regulation
Fox News and other pro-Trump media have insisted that the US should keep developing AI without regulation, but some big names in MAGA media have advocated “executive action" and “restraints”
Written by Torri Lonergan & Jack Wheatley
Published 09/22/26
As warnings about exponential AI development, autonomous digital agents, and apocalyptic scenarios proliferate, right-wing media remain split about whether or not AI could “kill us all.”
Fox News has hewn close to President Donald Trump’s stance on the technology, questioning calls to slow down the development of AI and fretting that regulation could benefit China in the “AI arms race.” However, a handful of Trump allies and right-wing media figures — like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Roger Stone — have expressed concern over AI's capabilities and the potential for a future in which “machines are running the country,” with some calling for regulatory action.
Trump pushed back on calls to slow AI development from tech CEOs and others
In a viral post, Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned, citing fears that AI “could kill us all by the end of the decade.” Coxon is not the first insider to raise serious concerns about AI. As The Guardian noted, “Every few months for the past several years, an AI researcher has resigned in a moment of crisis, proclaiming the impending apocalypse.” However, recent events have heightened fears about the technology, including an incident in which rogue OpenAI agents conducted an autonomous cybersecurity attack on the tech company Hugging Face. [The Guardian, 9/15/26; PBS, 9/2/26]
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published a letter calling for government regulation in order to “slow the pace” of AI development and received support from other AI leaders. He warned that AI could cause “catastrophic damage” if left unchecked, writing, “It’s my worry that in 6–12 months such a swarm could be capable of taking over the entire internet with a persistent botnet (potentially causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage), and that the scale of damage would continue to increase from there if AI becomes more powerful without the necessary guardrails.” Other industry leaders echoed Amodei’s safety concerns and his call for a slowdown. [Dario Amodei, accessed 9/21/26; NPR, 9/13/26]
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon joined forces with other attendees for the Pro-Human Assembly, a conference that NBC News said was “aimed at pressing for new policies to place some curbs on” AI development. The conference followed the release of “The Pro-Human AI Declaration” in March, which called for “independent oversight,” “pre-deployment safety testing,” and “independent safety standards.” [NBC News, 9/15/26; Pro-Human AI Declaration, March 2026]
In a series of Truth Social posts, Trump lashed out at those calling for a more cautious approach to AI development, dismissing their concerns as a “hoax” and a “SICK conspiracy.” He insisted that “AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX, no different from RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA — UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE — IMPEACHMENT HOAX #1 — IMPEACHMENT HOAX #2” and “‘Climate Change.’” Trump accused those raising the alarm of “working for people that do not have the best interests of the United States in mind,” asking, “When, in the History of Business, did anyone see the Leaders of an Industry call for Regulation that, if strongly implemented, will drive them into oblivion and bankruptcy?” He claimed that “there is a SICK conspiracy going on against AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China,” because, “WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!” He added, “China will be doing absolutely nothing to stand in the way of AI.” [Truth Social, 9/14/26, 9/14/26, 9/14/26]
Fox News has toed the Trump line on AI
Fox News largely echoed Trump’s arguments against regulating the AI industry. Fox hosts insisted that “President Trump’s right,” with some dismissing concerns about AI as a Democratic ploy to swing the midterms. Fox contributors and hosts described the AI race as “an existential threat to Western civilization” and speculated that China is “secretly funding” campaigns for AI regulation in the U.S.
Fox host Brian Kilmeade suggested that those calling for a slowdown may be trying to “tank” the economy ahead of the midterms. He asked, “What is really driving our economy right now? AI. If you all of a sudden tell all the AI companies, Shut it down or slow down, our whole economy could tank. And with 50 days until the midterms, believe it or not, I think that might be the objective of some.” He added, “The last thing I will say about Anthropic to point out, Mike Morell, John Brennan, David Cohen — who used to be the understudy at the CIA — all Biden guys are at the top of this.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/14/26]
Fox & Friends host Lawrence Jones warned against “sudden campaigns against AI data centers,” because, “It's all connected and it's being used for midterms.” He explained, “The Dems, because they know there is a portion of the right that has become anti-data centers as well, anti-AI as well, and they are latching on this issue, not from a righteous standpoint, but to use in this midterm election.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/14/26]
Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen said that China winning the “AI arms race” is an “existential threat to Western civilization.” He argued that “Democrats are so desperate to take power” and that “they've decided that this is an issue that they can harness to beat Trump.” He insisted, “AI is going to cure diseases. It's going to increase productivity. It's going to unleash human creativity.” [Fox News, America Reports, 9/14/26]
Fox’s Greg Gutfeld said China “would love for us to regulate AI to a standstill as they leap forward, and they have been secretly funding this kind of nonsense all along.” He also said the claim that AI “could kill all humans” is “a thoroughly manufactured and irresponsible statement to make and it was done for a reason.” [Fox News, The Five, 9/9/26]
Fox host Kayleigh McEnany argued that Trump “is not wrong. He said don't kill the golden goose, meaning let's not end our progress in AI. Whoever wins AI, he said, wins. He is right about that.” She warned, “We can’t lose in that race” against China, insisting, “President Trump’s right.” [Fox News, Outnumbered, 9/14/26]
America Reports anchor John Roberts: “The only thing scarier than our AI going haywire is China's going haywire.” [Fox News, America Reports, 9/14/26]
Fox anchor Dana Perino stated, “I'm a little bit of a skeptic on the need for the slowdown.” She then compared AI to “railroads in the past,” saying, “They get so big they tell Washington, this is what Washington needs to do and they want to be at the table writing the regulation.” [Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 9/14/26]
Fox News contributor Dan Hoffman: “I'm not sure we want to pause on AI. I think it’s important for us to carry on.” He argued that ”our adversaries won't pause,” which means that “stopping it, halting it, slowing it down, probably not the right call." [Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 9/14/26]
Many other right-wing media figures have also agreed with Trump
Unsurprisingly, pro-Trump media figures have largely aligned with Trump’s position on AI. Podcaster Tim Pool argued that anti-AI sentiment “helps China,” while others have mocked concerns about the threats posed by the technology. On Fox News, podcaster Anthony Cumia compared warnings that AI is an existential threat to similar warnings about climate change and Iran, and joked that AI is not a serious threat because it’s currently used for things like putting “Sydney Sweeney's body with Donald Trump's head holding a machine gun.”
Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro said, “It is worth noting that people who tend to panic about everything are very panicked right now,” comparing Jacob Coxon’s warning to fearmongering about climate change. He later said, “It does feel as though there is a coordinated effort to scare the living daylight out of everyone with regard to AI so that all of the major voices can then control the outcome here,” arguing, “If we are to allow regulatory capture, collusion, quasi-monopoly to take place, one of the biggest beneficiaries will be undoubtedly be China.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 9/14/26, 9/17/26]
Newsmax host Greg Kelly criticized tech CEOs, saying, “Suddenly they are crying for government regulation. The government can’t fix this problem. They could fix the problem.” He added, “I’m a ChatGPT guy, and Grok. Very interesting, and it’s manageable. This doesn’t want to take over. I don’t have a problem with it.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Reports, 9/14/26]
Podcast host Anthony Cumia mocked concern over AI, remarking: “AI, what is that? The latest existential threat? What do we have? Climate change, MAGA, Trump, Iran. This is just the latest in the existential threat. I don't think so.” He added: “Look at what we're using it for now, to put Sydney Sweeney's body with Donald Trump's head holding a machine gun. I think we're okay for a while. I think we can relax.” [Fox News, Gutfeld!, 9/11/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool acknowledged that “AI is an extinction level threat. It really is,” but argued, “The question is, if this guy [Jacob Coxon] worked with a political group that was pro-Democrat, pro-Hillary Clinton, in fact, what's the motivation against being against artificial intelligence? There's actually a really simple theory. It helps China.” He explained, “They decided to start sending our manufacturing and effectively our wealth generation to China for the purpose of causing the decline of the United States so that when China takes over, we don't get World War III. I don't know that that's actually what they're doing, but it is one theory. Then when you see this story, it's very interesting.” [YouTube, TimcastIRL, 9/10/26, 9/10/26]
Some figures have broken with Trump and others in right-wing media, calling AI “extraordinarily dangerous” and advocating for regulation
In spite of this chorus of supporters, some of Trump’s current and former media allies have diverged with Trump on the issue, expressing serious concerns about AI and endorsing regulatory action. War Room host and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon called for “executive action” over AI, and claimed AI agents’ capability to act autonomously is “a bigger threat to the vital national security interests of the people of the United States than anything that’s happened in Tehran.” Trump ally Roger Stone called AI a “great research tool,” but said: “I do have to wonder whether we're going to wake up one day and find out that the machines are running the country and that humanity has simply become outdated.”
Speaking at the Pro-Human Assembly in mid-September, podcaster Steve Bannon called for “executive action" to regulate AI. On his War Room podcast back in July, Bannon described AI as “a bigger threat to the vital national security interests of the people of the United States than anything that’s happened in Tehran.” He also criticized the government for allowing tech companies to “continue to go on with very little accountability, no accountability, really no restraints whatsoever,” and complained, “Peter Thiel says that even having a discussion on some sort of apparatus or framework makes you part of the Antichrist.” [Rumble, The Pro-Human Assembly, 9/15/26; Real America’s Voice, War Room, 7/22/26, 7/22/26]
Right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson: “You'd think at some point, like, if our richest sector of our economy is, like, building crematoria for the rest of us, someone would say, no. We're not doing that.” He added, “If you're actively working toward the extinction of people, then I think we can say that's evil, can't we?” Carlson advocated for guardrails, saying, “With great power comes, like, of course, great obligation, but also it doesn't work unless there are internal restraints.” He warned, “I still don't see how any of our most basic institutions survive this. Education, markets, our process of democracy.” [YouTube, The Tucker Carlson Show, 9/11/26, 9/11/26]
Conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck, who signed the Pro-Human AI Declaration: “The president called the warnings a sick conspiracy benefiting China. I don't think so." He said, “It does benefit China,” but insisted, “It's not a conspiracy. There is real danger here." Beck argued that “America has to build data centers” because “we have to beat China to the frontier,” but he warned that AI is “extraordinarily dangerous” and we have to “find a way to control it.” He continued, “If an independent inspector is going to walk in with a badge, I'm for that,” but, “I don't want the tech bros writing the fix” because “big companies want rules to kill the open source.” [NBC News, 3/4/26; Blaze Media, The Glenn Beck Program, 9/15/26]
Podcaster Tim Dillon applauded New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for “banning generative AI for students, kindergarten through eighth grade,” and called it “a smart move.” He argued that “they should do more than that,” and then said, “Trump is obviously here to just destroy Earth.” [YouTube, The Tim Dillon Show, 9/5/26]
Radio host Roger Stone raised concerns about “the dangers of AI,” saying, “AI is a great research tool, but I do have to wonder whether we're going to wake up one day and find out that the machines are running the country and that humanity has simply become outdated.” He added, “The danger is that they can, as they've done to me, make a video of you saying something you never said. They can make an audio of you saying something you never said, make it entirely plausible, entirely credible. That, to me, should be illegal.” [77 WABC, The Roger Stone Show, 9/13/26]
At a recent debate, former War Room editor Joe Allen referred to data centers as an “incubator for algorithmic immigrants,” saying, “They’ve already broken out and invaded other companies. These immigrants are out of control.” [Semafor, 9/10/26]
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mma
Right-wing media are using the Lindsay Clancy case to spread misogynistic attacks on women’s rights
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh: “Why would we ever entrust a woman to do anything — run a business, lead a country, treat patients?”
*Special* ProgramsAbortion Rights & Reproductive Health
Written by Isabella Sherk
Published 09/16/26
Right-wing media are using the Lindsay Clancy case to advance a misogynistic agenda arguing that women deserve fewer rights.
In a highly publicized case in Massachusetts, Clancy admitted to killing her three young children and then attempting to kill herself in 2023. The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty, with her defense arguing she should not be held criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings. Clancy’s trial sparked fierce debate in the court of public opinion, on social media, and within the jury; the case resulted in a mistrial on September 4.
Right-wing media have seized on the public attention garnered by Clancy’s case to argue that women in general are unstable and shouldn't have the right to vote, hold office, or sit on a jury. Some figures on the right have also blamed “abortion culture” for Clancy's actions, saying abortion supports women “murdering their own children” and “now the kids are out of the body, they're also killing them.”
Journalist Moira Donegan explained this dynamic in The Guardian:
Some mothers have expressed deep sympathy for Clancy’s postpartum mental health crises, citing resonances with their own experiences and a hope that the case can bring greater attention to the rare but acute and debilitating kind of postpartum mental suffering that Clancy seems to have experienced; others say that medical neglect of the condition, and of the experiences of postpartum women more broadly, create the conditions for tragedies like that of the Clancy family.
Some on the misogynist right, meanwhile, have seized upon Clancy’s actions and the support she has received as evidence that women are congenitally evil, disposed to violence, untrustworthy and unfit for public life.
The Washington Examiner went so far as to say the case is “becoming a touchpoint in the debate surrounding the dangers of feminism.” Attacks on the jury in Clancy’s trial have also proliferated, with MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson calling the women jurors “absolute psychotic bird lady wine mom true crime demons.”
Right-wing media claimed the case highlights that women “cannot control themselves” and questioned whether women should have the right to vote or hold positions of power
Christian nationalist pastor Dale Partridge, who has long argued that women should not vote, wrote, “If it takes a Clancy mistrial for the world to see that women are not fit to: Rule, lead, judge, or vote then so be it.” He continued, “Feminism must be revealed for the evil that it is, and this is powerful evidence.” [Instagram, 9/3/36; People For the American Way, 1/12/26; The New York Times, 4/2/26]
Discussing Clancy’s case on The Benny Show, Daily Wire podcaster Matt Walsh said that the “obvious conclusion is well these are people that can't be in power and probably shouldn't have the right to vote.” Host Benny Johnson asked if any violation of law is “excusable because of hormones they can't control, what does that mean when it comes to women holding power in our society? Why would you ever give women the nuclear codes if a bad afternoon or intrusive thoughts could mean nuclear winter?” Walsh responded, “Yeah, well, that would seem to be the obvious conclusion. … And if it is true that any woman can be that volatile and that unstable and murderous then, yeah, I mean, the obvious conclusion is, well, these are people that can't be in power, probably shouldn't have the right to vote.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 9/8/26]
On his own show, Walsh argued that if women “simply cannot control themselves and therefore should suffer no consequences whatsoever,” then “why would we ever entrust a woman to do anything — run a business, lead a country, treat patients?” He continued, “What's to stop the first female president from launching all of our nuclear warheads in a moment of postpartum psychosis? If something like that happens, who are we to judge? She couldn't control herself. She was struggling. Men wouldn't understand. So the feminists defending Lindsay Clancy are, by their own arguments — these are their arguments — they're making the strongest case for the patriarchy that anyone could ever make.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 9/1/26]
Discussing Clancy’s supporters, white nationalist Nick Fuentes said, “Women should not be on juries. They shouldn't be on courts.” He also encouraged “all men” to “give your woman the Lindsay Clancy test.” He continued, “And if she is in any way sympathetic to Lindsay Clancy, like, we’ve got to put these people on notice. Honestly, I don't even distinguish — it's like, if half the female population is going to fail the test, I don't want a woman on the jury. I don't want – women should not be on juries. Women should not be on juries. They shouldn't be on courts. That’s how it’s going to be.” [Rumble, America First With Nick Fuentes, 9/1/26]
Host of the Reformation Red Pill podcast Joshua Haymes asked, “Do you see why maybe our Founding Fathers wanted to limit suffrage to people who were qualified,” while talking about the Clancy case. He said, “Increasingly, I just — I understand the Founding Fathers, how they were very, very skeptical and pessimistic toward the idea of raw democracy, the idea of universal suffrage. They didn't think it was a good idea. And they were right. They were obviously right. When you've got women who are deciding who's guilty and not guilty, not on the evidence, but on Zodiac signs — that person is allowed to help determine the future of our country. Do you see the problem here? Do you see why maybe our Founding Fathers wanted to limit suffrage to people who were qualified, right? People who had proven themself responsible enough to at least acquire land and be heads of their household.” [YouTube, Reformation Red Pill, 8/25/26]
On Timcast IRL, conservative podcaster Nick Freitas said “women don't understand what a catalyst moment” the Clancy case is because “you could look back in 20 years and be like, oh, this is where we lost the right to vote.” He continued, “Because the bottom line is as women become more tribal, men are becoming more tribal. And bad news — our tribe doesn't need you to secure our rights. You need us to help you secure yours. And people are like, oh, Nick Freitas is advocating — no, I'm not advocating it. I'm telling you: You get tribal to this degree, where not only can you kill our kids in the womb through all nine months of pregnancy, but now you can strangle them on the outside and you're the one that gets sympathy and the husband is to blame? That's where you move men into the screw you phase of the exercise.” [YouTube, Timcast IRL, 8/24/26]
Right-wing podcaster Emily Wilson said “there is legitimately going to be movement” to “repeal the 19th [Amendment]” because “women have demonstrated they are not capable of controlling themselves or emotions, and they are a danger to themself and others.” Wilson added that repealing the constitutional amendment recognizing women’s right to vote “will never happen,” but “I wish it would.” She then doubled down, saying that “a woman president is a fucking joke,” and suggesting Clancy’s case proves “we should not have women in positions of power anymore.” [Instagram, 9/3/26; Instagram, 9/3/26]
The Federalist published an op-ed titled “Lindsay Clancy Truthers Are The Best Argument For Repealing The 19th Amendment,” which claimed the case “has become a more convincing PR campaign against women’s suffrage than anything you could find in the most obscure corners of the manosphere.” Author Rebeka Zeljko wrote, “As reductive as the argument stating that ‘women are just too emotional’ may be, hysterical Lindsay Clancy fangirls are making that exact case. By insisting that Clancy represents all women, they’re arguing that it’s not just Clancy who is unable to regulate her emotions, but all of us. It’s not just Clancy who is capable of killing her children; it’s all women.” [The Federalist, 8/31/26]
SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly said mothers who are “struggling” have “added” Clancy’s killings “to the menu of coping.” Discussing another case in which a woman allegedly killed her child, Kelly said this “new idea of how to manage a challenging child has been introduced by this sick case of Lindsay Clancy. And mothers out there who are struggling, who before wouldn't have even considered this, have now added it to the menu of coping. It's just very, very dark, and we're going down a dark path.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Show, 9/8/26]
Right-wing media blamed “abortion culture” for normalizing “a mother killing her own child”
The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles said that “half of American women overtly defend infanticide.” He said, “Half of women in this country go to the ballot box, go on television, go to political rallies holding signs specifically to defend murdering their own children. You remember that? We called it abortion. Now that we use euphemisms like women's rights. The fact that women's rights is now a euphemism that refers exclusively to killing your own kids should mean that we are not surprised by this.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 8/18/26]
Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins wrote, “When a nation decides for fifty+ years that a mother killing her own child can be reframed as a difficult choice, a health care decision, a matter between her and her doctor…that logic does not politely stay inside the clinic walls.” Hawkins argued, “If you can’t get a conviction here, you cannot get one for abortion.” [Substack, The Pro-Life War Room, 9/2/26]
White nationalist Nick Fuentes said, “Hey, this is the feminist society that everybody wanted. Abortion up until nine months.” He continued, “Hey, you're feeling you're feeling broken up about your pregnancy? Yeah. Kill the kids. Whatever. It's — that's as bad as it gets. So this is a call to action for the men. Wake the fuck up.” [Rumble, America First With Nick Fuentes, 9/1/26]
While comparing the Clancy case to abortion, conservative Christian podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey said, “Actually, we are basically back to the pagan justifications for murder.” Her guest, Charlie Kirk's mentor Frank Turek, said that some women on the jury probably have had abortions, “And they may have felt this idea that how can I judge this woman for killing her children when I killed my own? I want to acquit her because of extenuating circumstances — after all, I had extenuating circumstances in my pregnancy, and I felt it was justified to kill my children, so — I mean, that could be part of this, the psychology of this.” [Blaze Media, Relatable With Allie Beth Stuckey, 9/11/26; Fox News, 9/6/26]
Discussing support for Clancy, right-wing podcaster Emily Wilson said, “Like we've got to the point where women are having abortions and murdering millions of babies and then they're having abortions up to eight or nine months. And now the kids are out of the body, they're also killing them.” She continued, “And we're also just not holding them to the same standards — hey, equal rights, you guys want to be treated like men in society? OK, so give the death penalty. I don’t even like — I want these women tortured to death, if it was up to me.” [Instagram, 9/3/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty said, “Killing your baby into the ninth month is now legal in Massachusetts, which is interesting because Lindsay Clancy killed her baby who was just eight months older than that.” He continued, “The same women standing behind [Massachusetts Gov.] Maura Healey are standing behind Lindsay Clancy tonight.” [Newsmax, Finnerty, 9/2/26]
Discussing a recent Massachusetts abortion law, SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly asked if there is “such a difference between killing … basically in the birth canal versus killing when you have an eight-month[-old] there, like little Callan Clancy?” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Show, 9/8/26]
Benny Johnson said women are supporting Clancy because they have “blood guilt” for the abortions they have had. He said, “A bee hive, true crime, wine mom mass formation psychosis that I personally believe is entirely predicated on these women wishing to cast their guilt … for murdering their own children. How many of these women have had abortions? Well, a fourth of American women have had abortions. That's innocent blood that you don't get to wash off. And I think that the projection that is happening right now with the Lindsay Clancy trial is exactly that, blood guilt for women that wish to make Lindsay Clancy innocent because that means they will be innocent — not in the eyes of God, but in the eyes of the law.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 9/8/26]
Live Action President Lila Rose said Clancy’s children aren't being remembered because we are a “pro-abortion society” where “a million children are killed in the name of women’s rights every single year.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 8/26/26]
The Daily Wire's Isabel Brown said the support for Clancy is “a spillover from abortion culture in our society.” She continued, “We have normalized the destruction of innocent babies' lives by the tune of millions upon millions of them every year, that it's obvious that eventually that's going to extend beyond a baby that you can't physically see with your own two eyes in the womb to a baby that's in front of you.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 8/19/26]
Spanish-language YouTuber Agustin Laje: “The feminist movement of this century has been a militancy whose main objective is enabling the murder of women’s children.” He said, “Those of us who have dedicated years of our lives to deeply studying feminism know perfectly well that it was never anything more than an excuse for women to kill their own children. That is why there is no ideological contradiction here. Nobody who truly knows the nature and essence of the feminist movement should be surprised by this. The feminist movement of this century has been a militancy whose main objective is enabling the murder of women’s children. That’s it.” [YouTube, Agustín Laje Arrigoni, 8/22/26]
Right-wing coverage of Clancy’s case is a “political trial balloon” for attacks on women’s rights
These misogynistic attacks are not new — right-wing media have repeatedly backed proposals over the years to strip women of their vote and to restrict birth control and abortion access. Instead, the Lindsay Clancy case has become the latest effort by conservatives to reframe coverage of an attention-grabbing news story as part of a larger campaign to roll back women’s rights.
As feminist author Jessica Valenti writes, “I’ve been truly frightened at how quickly empathy for one very sick mother has become a referendum on whether women deserve rights at all.”
What started as ‘reasoned’ op-eds and online forums advising men to treat Clancy’s case as a relationship test for their girlfriends and wives has further curdled into viral videos of men vowing they’ll never vote for a woman again, calls to institutionalize any woman who supports Clancy, and thousands of comments on social media posts and articles simply stating “repeal the 19th.” As in: end women’s right to vote.
This isn’t run-of-the-mill conservative outrage or harmless thought exercises. It’s a political trial balloon. Conservatives are looking for any reason at all to broadly subjugate women, and they see the furor around Clancy’s case as their best opportunity in years.
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mma
Right-wing media are using the Lindsay Clancy case to spread misogynistic attacks on women’s rights
09/16/26
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mma
Gas and diesel prices are soaring. Right-wing media figures promised that wouldn't happen.
9 26
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MMA
Right-wing media downplay AI safety concerns as a hoax by comparing them to climate change and “COVID hysteria”
Written by Helena Hind, Jane Lee & Evlondo Cooper
Published 09/15/26
Right-wing media are following President Donald Trump in dismissing calls to slow down AI development in the wake of multiple hacking incidents as a “hoax,” comparing concerns over AI to “climate change apocalyptic talk” and “COVID hysteria” including support for vaccines.
Reports have surfaced in recent months that rogue AI agents from OpenAI anonymously hacked into AI startup Hugging Face servers and into software service RubyGems. As Reuters explained: “Many incidents where AI agents from developers such as OpenAI and rival Anthropic have hacked or attempted to access external systems have heightened concerns over the increasing capacity of AI models and developers' ability to contain them.” On September 12, both Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly called for a slowdown in AI development, with Altman announcing that his company would be delaying its initial public offering until 2027.
Trump vehemently rejected the idea of an AI slowdown in a series of Truth Social posts on September 14, calling the push for caution a “hoax,” “scam,” and a “SICK conspiracy.” Trump wrote: “The people that say AI is going to destroy the World, and that Data Centers are bad for your neighborhood, are the same people that said, just a short time ago, that the World would be extinguished by ‘Climate Change.’”
The claim that climate scientists’ predictions have failed is not borne out by the evidence — warnings about greenhouse gases causing more warming have now come to pass, with over a decade of record-breaking heat and thousands of excess deaths across Europe in climate-driven heat waves this year alone.
Nonetheless right-wing media followed Trump’s lead, comparing concerns about unregulated AI development with supposedly fabricated climate change warnings and COVID-19 pandemic safety measures like vaccines. (In reality, researchers have repeatedly proven that vaccines limited the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic, reduced the rate of severe complications and death, and continue to be a safe, effective treatment.)
On his September 14 radio show, Fox host Sean Hannity accused former President Barack Obama of “urging Democrats to fearmonger AI just like Democrats fearmongered and flat-out lied about global warming,” claiming those concerns “turned out to be bunk.” Hannity then reassured his listeners that Trump said that “the U.S. has already put guardrails in place to regulate and prosecute AI companies.”
Dismissing AI warnings on his Daily Wire podcast, Ben Shapiro stated, “This is pretty redolent of the climate change apocalyptic talk. Like all the ice caps were going to be gone, the polar bears were all going to drown, all the rest of it.”
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From the September 14, 2026, edition of the Daily Wire's The Ben Shapiro Show.
Fox host Will Cain referenced climate change while discussing AI warnings: “Vested interests did stop nuclear [power] and set it back half a century. And that same playbook of fears played out with climate change and COVID. So now, what is so scary about AI?”
Downplaying the “AI apocalypse alarm” during Fox’s The Five, co-host Jesse Watters referenced both climate change and the COVID vaccine, asking, “If I told you the world was going to end if you didn't take this vax, what would you do? Or if the world was going to end because of global warming, what would you do? Same thing's happening here — some people get rich and we all still survive.” B/C OF LIE/HYPE?
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From the September 14, 2026, edition of Fox News' The Five
Fox’s Laura Ingraham echoed Watters’ comments later that evening, saying AI concerns reminded her of “the first several months of COVID hysteria.” She later evoked “fearmongering about climate change, same thing. Al Gore's film, Inconvenient Truth, oh my God. That still echoes in politics today.”
Hannity rounded out Fox's evening coverage with yet another comparison of AI fears to climate change and the pandemic.
Decrying “the climate alarmist cult religion,” Hannity said, “Al Gore was preaching from the pulpit of climate alarmism. … All these predictions have come and gone and the time frame he said it would happen, none of it came true.”
“We were lied to about COVID at a high level,” he added. “I just don't trust the government at all in that sense. But I trust America enough that we would use this for good.”
However, the over-the-top comparisons are not limited to Trump and right-wing media dismissing AI concerns. Joe Allen, previously the “transhumanism editor” on former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, opposed AI at a debate held in Dallas during last week's GOP midterm convention by bizarrely referencing “algorithmic immigrants.” Semafor reported:
“You look at the data center, this incubator for algorithmic immigrants,” he said. “They’ve already broken out and invaded other companies. These immigrants are out of control.”
Allen was speaking at Forum, a policy discussion staged at a stylish venue fifteen minutes from the convention center to give the new American right an opportunity to debate some of the policy issues currently dividing it— in particular, the tension between populism’s activist promises and traditional small government, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
(Allen’s opponent at the debate, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, reportedly “compared complaints about AI to the ‘Black Lives Matter hysteria,’ and suggested they were driven by ‘psyops from China.’”)
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Why are some right-wing media figures pouring cold water on Trump's sudden call to send Americans $5,000?
While some call it “bold,” others in right-wing media are saying that Trump's $5,000 midterm idea is “flagrant bribery” that “would simply be inflationary”
Written by Sage Hodil, Hanne MacDonald & Reed McMaster
Published 09/10/26
Right-wing figures are divided on President Donald Trump’s claim during his September 9 speech at the GOP midterm convention that the government will send $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans maintain control of Congress, with some arguing “we can’t afford” the “inflationary” payments and equating them to “flagrant bribery,” while others claimed Trump's plan is “creative” and “a bet on the future."
Trump’s dubious midterm pledge follows similar payment proposals that “never panned out”
On September 9, Trump promised to give every American adult $5,000 — costing more than $1 trillion — if Republicans keep the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. In a speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, the president claimed, “If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000." However, The Associated Press pointed out, “The dubious promise would most likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval, and would further exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit and concerns about inflation.” [The Associated Press, 9/10/26]
Throughout his second term, Trump has repeatedly failed to deliver on multiple promised payments, including checks related to cuts made to the federal budget and a “tariff refund.” As The New York Times wrote, “First, at the start of his second term, President Trump promised a DOGE dividend, a pledge to take the money that Elon Musk’s team would cut from the federal budget and send it to the American people. Then Mr. Trump moved on to a ‘tariff refund,’ a plan to use the money the government was collecting in import taxes to fund payments for the public. Those ideas never panned out.” [The New York Times, 9/10/26]
Right-wing media figures said the dubious promise is “flagrant bribery” and warned it would “simply be inflationary”
Fox Business anchor Dagen McDowell: “You don't fix” inflation “by giving people more money. It exacerbates the problem.” McDowell also stated, “Giving people money, sending them checks … was the trigger for this inflation that started during COVID.” McDowell continued, “It’s unthinkable to borrow $1.2, $1.3 trillion which is 60% more of the deficit that we’re currently running this fiscal year.” [Fox Business, The Big Money Show, 9/10/26]
Discussing Trump’s promised payment on Fox Business, former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said: “It would simply be inflationary. … All it’s going to do is increase inflation.” Mulvaney went on to say, “The good news is I don’t think anyone really believes it. … We’ve heard about these Trump dividend checks since he came in office in the second term and I'm not sure what the administration is doing, I'm not sure what the campaign is doing. In fairness, I think it shows weakness that they don't have issues to talk about.” [Fox Business, Varney & Co, 9/10/26]
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh suggested the payments would make “inflation worse,” equated the plan to “welfare,” and called it “idiotic” and “flagrant bribery.” Walsh posted: “Spending over a trillion dollars to randomly send everyone in the country a check for five grand, including people who are not even net taxpayers -- which makes this, yes, welfare -- is idiotic. Sorry. We did that during covid and it didn't help anything. Only made inflation worse. This is flagrant bribery. Which I could maybe stomach if the plan itself was at least sensible and coherent, but it isn't.” [Instagram, 9/10/26]
Podcaster Nick Fuentes suggested we are in “the death of the republic if the president is trying to bribe the voters.” He said, “I didn't even believe it. I thought that that was an exaggeration or maybe they're misrepresenting what he really said. Nope. It's real. Trump said that if Republicans win the election, he's just going to give everybody $5,000. How are you going to do that? How does that even make any sense? You're going to give everybody $5,000? With what money? We're spending a trillion dollars a year on interest. … That's just the opposite of what it is to have a democracy, isn't it?” Fuentes concluded, “Is this not now just the death of the republic if the president is trying to bribe the voters?” [Rumble, America First, 9/9/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool said Trump's plan “is in no way different from a Democrat or democratic socialist offering free healthcare.” Pool added, “Many moderates, libertarians, people on the left, people on the right” are saying “there's no way Trump is going to be able to give everyone $5,000.” [YouTube, Timcast, 9/10/26]
Asked about Trump’s promise on Fox Business, guest and finance CEO Mark Tepper said, “We can't afford that.” Tepper explained, “You’ve got to show me the math — where is that money going to come from? If we're just going to borrow and essentially jeopardize our kids and grandkids to give adults a $5,000 check today, I'm out. I've got to call balls and strikes on that. I'm not a big fan." [Fox Business, Mornings with Fox Business, 9/10/26]
Newsmax co-host E.D. Hill was skeptical of the cost of Trump’s promise, saying, “If you just take the adults in America, that’s over $1.3 trillion, and we are already paying $22 billion every week just for the interest on the debt we already have.” Hill continued, “I love the idea for everybody getting money, but that to me just rings of giving away free stuff. Nothing’s free.” [Newsmax, National Report, 9/10/26]
Fox News anchor Bret Baier: “I raised my eyebrows — $5,000 for each adult American citizen. If you do the math … 245 million citizens, that’s $1.25 trillion.” Fox News host Sean Hannity then mentioned that “Sen. [Ted] Cruz has it at 1.3” trillion dollars. [Fox News, Hannity, 9/9/26]
Others in right-wing media praised Trump’s dubious promise as “bold,” “creative,” and “outside the box” thinking
Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy said the midterm payment plan “shows just how creative and rule-breaking and out of the box President Trump is,” adding, “I'm surprised no one has thought of this before.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/10/26]
On Newsmax, former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) said Trump is “thinking outside the box and coming up with new and bold ideas.” [Newsmax, Wake Up America Early, 9/10/26]
On Fox, former Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus called Trump's pledge “a bet on the future.” Priebus said, “Obviously they're going to have to make sure that they've got congressional support but I think what it is is a bet on the future. … I think everyone's hoping that the issues in Iran come to an end, and oil goes down, and the economy will tick up like a rocket ship. But in the meantime, you know, that is the one thing that is slowing down the economy. I think the president is going to take care of that. I think he gets it completely, and he’s just making a bet on the future.” [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 9/10/26]
On Newsmax, podcaster Alec Lace said the payments “would be a blessing” and “help hard-working American families.” Lace stated, “This is going to help hard-working American families that can use the money right now, because we've all had a tough year with the Iran war going on and stuff. We’ve all suffered at the gas pump, we’ve suffered in the purse a little bit. A little rebate would be a blessing for President Donald Trump. We’d love to see it.” [Newsmax, National Report, 9/10/26]
On Fox, former California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said Trump’s promise is “pretty exciting.” Patterson went on to say that Trump “understands what excites people, he understands what turns people out, and this is something that he is doing for the American people. Let me help you get ahead.” [Fox News, Fox News @ Night, 9/9/26]
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09/10/26 10:04 AM EDT
Right-wing media are divided over Flock surveillance cameras
08/26/26 3:06 PM EDT
08/27/2
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Podcast Wars: Benny Johnson on the “traitors,” Nick Fuentes on the “freaks,” and Ben Shapiro tells us who “dips his head in lard every morning”
This week's right-wing podcaster infighting
Written by Noah VanDowe & Ben Van Bloem
Published 09/11/26
Welcome to Media Matters’ regular debrief on the Podcast Wars. This week, online hosts in the right-wing podcast universe continued to launch vicious personal attacks at their contemporaries, with Tucker Carlson taking heat from a wide range of commentators on the right.
Tucker Carlson vs. ... everyone
Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro criticized JD Vance for refusing to condemn Tucker Carlson over ties to antisemitism, warning the vice president that their relationship “is going to come along with a political and yes, a moral cost.” Shapiro also mocked Carlson’s recent interview with artist Jeff Elofson in which the two decried the existence of algebra, which Elofson called “fake math with letters” used by “good little goy slaves.” Shapiro commented, “Every day, new levels of retardation are reached.”
Carlson attacked Shapiro during his interview with Elofson last week, declaring, “The meritocracy as practiced in the United States is not a meritocracy. … That's how you wind up with a system where Ben Shapiro gets into Harvard.” Shapiro responded, “It’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and it will only be uncovered by a man who dips his head in lard every morning.”
Right-wing host Tim Pool responded to Carlson’s interview with Elofson, asking, “I wonder if the goal of Tucker is to demoralize. And I mean that seriously.”
The influencers who are “too stupid” for Nick Fuentes
White nationalist Nick Fuentes took swipes at Carlson and his “idiot brother” Buckley, calling them “scum.” He encouraged his viewers to “decouple” from the “retard right,” condemning “these freaks, the Ian Carrolls, the Jake Shields, the Dan Bilzerians, the Candace Owens, the Tucker Carlsons. ... They're too weird, they're too stupid, they're not even right-wing.”
Laura Loomer takes a victory lap on Milo Yiannopoulos' deportation
After taking credit for the arrest and deportation of right-wing influencer Milo Yiannopoulos in August, right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer launched into an invective-filled rant last Friday calling him a “complete tweaker” and a “loudmouth, homosexual freak of nature.” Loomer then slammed “Mr. America First, Tucker Qatarlson” for speaking with Yiannopoulos — an “illegal alien amplifying divisive rhetoric against the president” — on his podcast.
Benny Johnson on Shapiro: “We should never forget these traitors”
Right-wing YouTuber Benny Johnson declared he would “never forgive Ben Shapiro” for defending Jimmy Kimmel from pressure by the Federal Communications Commission last year. “We had people that betrayed us, traitors on our own side that betrayed us on behalf of Jimmy Kimmel,” Johnson complained, adding, “We should never forget these traitors, and we should come up with an actual — a list — a full list of exactly who these people are.”
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09/08/26 12:10 PM EDT
09/02/26 2:39 PM EDT
Rudy Giuliani calls Fox News a “bad station”
08/20/2
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The delusional right-wing media figures declaring victory in Iran
The Trump administration’s war of aggression against Iran has failed to achieve its stated objectives. Just don’t tell that to its most die-hard sycophants.
Written by John Knefel
Published 08/28/26
By any objective metric, the Trump administration has failed in its war of aggression against Iran. Once maximalist goals of destroying Iran’s nonexistent nuclear weapons program have been tabled. In the United States, energy costs — especially diesel fuel — are skyrocketing, while missile stockpiles are dwindling. Iran has exerted control over the Strait of Hormuz, an outcome U.S. war planners had long predicted in the event of an extended conflict. Reports that the U.S. military has wrested control of the waterway should be taken with a shipping-freighter-sized grain of salt, as recent data shows that traffic through the strait dwindled on Thursday, and even days with the most activity only reached to about half of pre-war levels.
But what if all of that wasn’t the case? What if President Donald Trump had already won the war, and the only thing that was missing, geopolitically speaking, was the recognition of that fact? That would really be something. And, thanks to a set of especially sycophantic pundits aligned with the White House, that alternate reality is just one livestream or TV show away.
Fox News’ Sean Hannity, as reliable a hack for the Trump administration as you can find on cable news, argued on August 19 that the president hadn’t gotten enough “credit” for stopping Iran’s ability to build a nuclear bomb. (Of course, an obvious consequence of bombing a country, assassinating its leadership, and threatening to destroy its entire civilization is that the new government, entirely rationally, is more interested than ever in developing a nuclear deterrent to avoid such attacks being repeated.)
Hannity also claimed that Iran was “breaking financially,” though close observers believe it is well-positioned to withstand even escalated U.S. sanctions.
The next day, CNN contributor Scott Jennings — currently auditioning for the role of White House press secretary — was even more obsequious.
“It may be time for the president to declare victory in this war because it's obvious that we've won,” Jennings said on his YouTube show.
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From the August 19, 2026, edition of The Scott Jennings Show, streamed on YouTube
MAGA media influencer Benny Johnson was similarly shameless, titling an August 21 segment: “Iran's President SURRENDERS | Calls To 'End The War' With America Immediately As US CONQUERS Hormuz.” Then, on August 22: “Iran Thought They Won…Now It’s All OVER | How Trump Secretly DESTROYED Them Without a Single Bomb.”
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From BennyJohnson.com, posted on August 21, 2026.
On August 24, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a series of punishing sanctions on Iran — a so-called “economic D-Day” — and much of the right-wing media coverage framed it as the latest sign of victory.
That morning, Fox News’ Lawrence Jones, echoing a recurring theme in right-wing media, argued, “You know what’s worse that no new wars — and this is not a new war, this has been going on 47-plus years — is losing. And we're winning right now."
The chyron referenced a New York Post editorial headlined: “Trump is winning the Iran war— stay the course.”
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From the official website of the New York Post, published August 23, 2026.
Citing Bessent’s comments, Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty claimed, “Despite what they’re saying about this war on CNN or MS NOW or in The New York Times, this war's about to end and America is about to win.”
Back on his YouTube show, Jennings offered a list of accomplishments the United States had not in fact accomplished.
“The United States has won the war against Iran,” Jennings said, arguing that “many in our political class refuse to acknowledge” this fact.
“Iran entered this war with four great pillars of strength: its nuclear program, its missiles and drones, its regional terror network, and its ability to hold the world economy hostage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Jennings said. “Every one of those pillars has been severely damaged or outright destroyed.”
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From the August 24, 2026, edition of The Scott Jennings Show, streamed on YouTube
On August 26, Trump posted an image on Truth Social reading, in part, “Mission Accomplished 2026.”
Like with Bessent’s announcement, the administration’s media allies ran with it.
Johnson once again painted a rosy picture of the conflict. “Iran is effectively admitting defeat,” he said. “The Iranian leadership is saying what we all know to be true, which is that you cannot fight a war if you cannot feed your army.”
Hannity boasted that “we have a nuclear-free Iran” among a list of Trump’s supposed successes — a thin accomplishment given that Iran has never had a nuclear weapon and U.S. intelligence agencies determined as recently as last summer it was not pursuing one.
Within the first few days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February, right-wing media figures were eager to declare victory. Half a year later, that outcome remains easier said than done.
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Right-wing media are divided over Flock surveillance cameras
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Right-wing media repeated Trump administration claims that over 250,000 noncitizens registered to vote — now that “inflated” number is falling apart
Right-wing media personalities used unsubstantiated figures from DHS to push for the SAVE America Act and to cast further doubt on election security
Written by Hanne MacDonald & Reed McMaster
Research contributions from Jack Wheatley
Published 08/27/26
Right-wing media ran with unsubstantiated claims from the Trump administration that the Department of Homeland Security found hundreds of thousands of noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections, often using the figures to cast doubt on state election systems and to push for voting restrictions like the SAVE America Act. However, new reporting shows the administration’s numbers are falling apart.
The Trump administration promoted “inflated” DHS claims that hundreds of thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote
In a July 16 primetime speech, President Donald Trump claimed DHS had “identified approximately 278,000 noncitizens who are registered to vote in federal elections.” Afterward, FactCheck.org reported “the White House linked to a DHS document claiming that a ‘review’ of ‘public data files’ in four states — California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada — found over 250,000 noncitizens illegally registered to vote. The document provided no information about how that estimate was derived, or the methodology used.” At a July 17 press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin repeated the 250,000 figure and “said an additional 28,000 noncitizens were registered to vote” in at least 23 other states. But recent reporting undermines the counts the administration provided.
On August 20, The New York Times reported, “The Department of Homeland Security told Nevada election officials that it identified 185 ‘potential’ noncitizens on the state’s voter rolls, not the nearly 16,000 it claimed last month.” The paper explained that “during a meeting last week with state election administrators, Homeland Security officials said they had identified just 185 potential noncitizens in the state so far, according to emails as well as recordings of the meeting obtained by The New York Times.”
The federal officials said they were still considering 14,000 names for further review, according to one of the emails. In the virtual meeting, federal officials told Nevada that the nearly 16,000 they had originally identified represented “the ceiling” of potential noncitizens.
NPR added on to the Times’ reporting on the Nevada call with an August 25 article headlined “DHS acknowledges the noncitizen numbers it touted on voter rolls were inflated.”
NPR has confirmed that officials in Pennsylvania had a similar call with DHS after Trump's allegations in July, but the state has not received a smaller list of potential noncitizens from the federal government.
“It was clear that DHS did not have confidence that the numbers they have stated publicly were accurate,” said an official with knowledge of the meeting in Pennsylvania, who did not have permission to speak publicly. Should DHS provide credible proof, the official said the state would notify law enforcement and work to remove unlawful voters from the voter list.
In response to questions from NPR, DHS provided a statement but did not address why the agency touted numbers its own employees acknowledged were inflated.
…
California, another state mentioned in Trump's announcement, echoed that concern in a statement to NPR.
“The real threat is that eligible voters—your friends, family, and neighbors—are recklessly and mistakenly removed from the voter rolls as a result of the administration's fishing expedition for purported non-citizens,” the statement reads. The state said DHS has not provided a response to its questions about the allegations.
Right-wing media figures amplified the Trump administration's unsubstantiated claims, frequently pushing for the SAVE America Act and fearmongering about noncitizen voting
On his radio show, Fox host Sean Hannity said Trump's claim that there are “250,000 illegals registered to vote in this country” should “shock every American.” Hannity went on to claim that there could “only be nefarious reasons” why Democrats are opposing election “integrity measures” like the SAVE America Act. In a later episode, Hannity repeated the claim, arguing he does not know why “anybody would ever be against” voter ID mandates. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 7/17/26, 7/20/26]
Podcaster and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon promoted the claim that 278,000 noncitizens were registered to vote before asking, “Where's [former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory] Bovino when you need him?” He stated, “The 278,000 that are voting. In just four states. There's millions and millions of illegal aliens voting. And Markwayne Mullins, the passive voice. Somebody that's a speechwriter, use the active voice. Stop using the passive voice. It's a passive organization. Where's Bovino when you need him?” [Real America's Voice, War Room, 7/17/26; NBC 5 Chicago, 1/27/26]
Former FBI deputy director and podcaster Dan Bongino said we “need the SAVE America Act” after playing clips of Markwayne Mullin claiming to have identified “250,000 noncitizens registered to vote.” Bongino asked, “How is this not a story?” and explained that the “goal” of the “media” is “destroying the election system and faith in our republic.” [Silverloch, The Dan Bongino Show, 7/20/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro played a clip of Trump claiming there are “278,000 noncitizens registered to vote” before stressing the need for the SAVE Act. After explaining what it means for alleged noncitizens to appear on the voter rolls and noting that “the notion that you have widespread noncitizen voting” has “yet to be substantiated,” Shapiro concluded, “Bottom line is this, though: When the president says that Congress should pass the SAVE Act, obviously that's true. The SAVE Act is significantly more prophylactic than it is corrective." [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 7/17/26]
OutKick founder Clay Travis argued that we need to “find out how many more tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people are currently on voter rolls that shouldn't be there,” after reiterating Trump's claim that there are 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote “just based on four states.” [Fox News, The Faulkner Focus, 7/22/26]
On The Dan Bongino Show, Scott Presler stated that there are “at least 250,000 noncitizens on the voter rolls alone in Cali, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.” Presler, whom The Washington Post has described as “an online influencer with a following built around the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump,” claimed, “The American people demand proof of citizenship, and we demand photo voter ID in order to secure our elections.” [Silverloch, The Dan Bongino Show, 8/18/26; The Washington Post, 11/3/24]
Hannity argued the 250,000 number is “probably a real number” because Trump said it. He said, “Now, this is a guess, but I would imagine, you know, if the president says that there was information within our intelligence committee — I'm sorry, within our intelligence community — of 250,000 illegals that are illegally registered to vote, that's probably a real number.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 7/22/26]
Podcaster Dave Rubin claimed “there's a problem here” after repeating the 250,000 number. He said, “250,000 non-registered people, noncitizens are registered to vote. There's a problem here.” [YouTube, The Rubin Report, 7/20/26]
Days later, Rubin admitted he didn't “have any more evidence” to understand the discrepancy between numbers provided by the Trump administration and election officials, but asserted that Trump is “probably going to be right about this.” Rubin explained, “Now they're slowly admitting there's something, and Trump's giving more specific numbers. I tend to think, as Donald Trump has been directionally right about basically everything for the last 10 years, he's going to probably be right about this too.” [YouTube, The Rubin Report, 7/22/26; ABC News, 7/22/26]
Turning Point USA's Andrew Kolvet promoted the numbers from DHS and claimed Democrats “don't care.” Kolvet said, “President Trump did that whole press conference, a primetime address, where we found out there's over a quarter of a million in just a handful of states that are on the voter rolls.” Kolvet claimed Democrats “don't care” and “they say nobody's going to do this. Well, actually, we have proof that people do it.” [Real America's Voice, The Charlie Kirk Show, 7/23/26]
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Right-wing media liken Massachusetts law expanding abortion access to Satanism, murder, and “human sacrifice”
Women attending the signing of the law, which will allow more patients to receive care in the Bay State, were called “witches” and “shrieking harpies”
Written by Ben Van Bloem
Research contributions from Monica Rodriguez
Published 08/21/26
Right-wing media figures are melting down over a new Massachusetts law that will widen access to abortion in the state, claiming the law paves the way for “human sacrifice” and comparing the signing ceremony to “a coven of witches celebrating depravity."
In passing the law, Massachusetts joins Washington, D.C., and several other states that have moved to prioritize the judgment of medical professionals about pregnancy and abortion care rather than setting limits based on the length of the pregnancy. Right-wing figures, however, claim without evidence that this will legalize “post-birth abortion,” and that the law was enacted to make it easier to “sell the body parts” of aborted fetuses.
The law prioritizes the judgment of medical professionals, allowing more patients to receive care in-state
Massachusetts removed gestation-based restrictions on abortions in order to “[give] doctors the final word” on abortions after 24 weeks. The law changed language restricting abortions on a specific timeline to read “an abortion may be performed by a physician based upon the professional judgment of the physician.” While most abortions are performed in the first trimester, abortions in the later stages “often involve situations in which doctors discovered a fetal anomaly late in pregnancy.” One supporter of the law was Kate Dineen, an abortion rights activist who could not receive care in Massachusetts and was forced to travel to Maryland for an abortion after her “son died in utero at 33 weeks.” [The 19th, 8/10/26; NBC Boston, 8/10/26; AP News, 7/31/26; Mass.gov, 8/10/26]
Several major medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, championed the law, which Gov. Maura Healey’s office says will allow patients facing serious complications to “get medically appropriate care close to home.” A press release from the Massachusetts government noted that under the previous law “some Massachusetts patients were forced to leave the state to receive care” and that doctors had been limited to “a narrow list of statutory exceptions” when determining late-term pregnancy care options. The new framework allows doctors to “exercise their professional medical judgment in accordance with accepted standards of care.” This allows “greater clarity” for doctors who are caring for “patients with complex medical needs.” Lynn M. Yee, who is the vice chair of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, argued that past laws “interfered” with the ability of providers to give “evidence-based care” to their patients. [The 19th, 8/10/26, Mass.gov, 8/10/26]
A study looking at deaths during or within one year of pregnancy after Roe v. Wade was overturned “found a possible 9.2% increase in pregnancy-associated deaths in states with abortion bans.” One author of the study said that the findings “suggest many preventable deaths have occurred in states that banned abortion” and highlights that efforts to address the “maternal mortality crisis could be undermined by policies that restrict reproductive health care, including abortion.” [Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 4/27/26]
Figures in right-wing media have linked the new law to Satan, “human sacrifice,” or otherwise evil influences
The host of Mucho Que Decir Jorge Diaz Diaz argued that the Massachusetts abortion law is “intrinsically something diabolical” and suggested that Healey made a “pact with the devil.” He also suggested the law allowed for “human sacrifice” and that it was “satanic.” [La Nueva Poderosa, Mucho Que Decir, 8/14/26]
Former Infowars host David Knight suggested that Democrats who support the bill would be yelling, “Hail Satan.” Knight said, “I imagine they've got some Democrats out there in the courtyard yelling, Hail Satan, like they did in Texas when there was the pushback by the protest by the abortionists there.” [Rumble, The David Knight Show, 8/12/26]
Conservative podcaster Steven Crowder called the law “the evil of human sacrifice.” Crowder said, “I see the practice openly of evil, of human sacrifice, which is what we're seeing as far as abortion law in Massachusetts. … It's an entire room full of women celebrating the evil of human sacrifice and they know it.” [Rumble, Louder with Crowder, 8/12/26]
Right-wing media attacked the women and providers who championed the legislation
On Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt Tonight, guest Abby Johnson said the signing ceremony looked “like a coven of witches celebrating depravity.” She went on to say that they were “celebrating the right to kill babies.” [Newsmax, Rob Schmitt Tonight, 8/12/26]
Radio and podcast host Megyn Kelly called the video of the bill signing “disturbing” because “all these women are so grateful for the chance to kill their own unborn child.” [YouTube, The Megyn Kelly Show, 8/12/26]
Steven Crowder said that the group of women at the signing was “a gaggle of evil women.” [Rumble, Louder with Crowder, 8/12/26]
Host of the War Room podcast, Harrison Smith, called the women at the signing “shrieking harpies” who want to “murder babies.” Smith said, “Here's the governor signing the law, the lesbian governor signing it into law, surrounded by a bunch of shrieking harpies clapping and giggling at the fact that they can now literally murder babies.” [Rumble, War Room, 8/12/26]
Daily Wire host Michael Knowles speculated that Healey’s Catholic faith was “fake” and called the women at the signing “witches.” Knowles said, “Big signing, this ghastly woman signing the bill, surrounded by all sorts of witches.” He went on to say that Healey’s “Catholicism is fake” and she “is in a state of grave mortal sin” before calling her an “infanticidal lesbian.” [YouTube, The Michael Knowles Show, 8/11/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty attacked the women at the signing as “truly sick” for “clapping for murder, clapping for killing babies.” [Newsmax, Finnerty, 8/11/26]
Other figures attacked the law by comparing abortion to infanticide and downplaying potential pregnancy risks
Harrison Smith also claimed that the bill is not designed to care for “women's health” but instead is for people to “sell the body parts” of aborted fetuses. Smith said, “So, there are a couple things that are motivating this. None of them have to do with women's health. None of them have to do with freedom of association or freedom of choice or women's empowerment. They're as sickeningly evil as you can possibly imagine. The only one you could ever possibly justify in any way, however of a stretch it is, and like I'm saying this to make a point, is you can sell the body parts. You can sell the body parts. So a liver or an arm or a leg or an eyeball from a baby that's nine months is going to be a lot more valuable than a fetus that's six months. So, if you let them gestate until they're basically human, then you've sort of found a workaround of the fact that it's illegal to sell human body parts from human beings.” [Rumble, War Room, 8/12/26]
Megyn Kelly claimed that for “late term abortion … there are very few things that actually pose a threat to the life of the mother.” Kelly said, “Late term abortion in this country is actually not even controversial. Virtually everyone is against it. I mean it’s just only these loons would favor such a thing. And honestly, at that point in your pregnancy, there are very few things that actually pose a threat to the life of the mother. I mean, I think Lila Rose would tell you at that point, whatever happens, you would just give birth to the baby, they would do what they could to keep the baby alive. But the answer that far along in the pregnancy is not to kill the baby.” [YouTube, The Megyn Kelly Show, 8/12/26]
While discussing the bill, Fox host Will Cain called abortion “infanticide” and asked what the difference was between a late term abortion and “killing a baby four weeks outside the womb?” His guest, executive director of Catholic Pro-Life Community Cynthia Schmidt, responded that “there is no difference.” [Fox News, The Will Cain Show, 8/11/26; Catholic Pro-Life Community, accessed 8/13/26]
Conservative media personality and Univista TV host Sanchez Grass claimed Massachusetts is “ready to kill as many babies as necessary.” He said in full that Healey “wants to ensure that women can continue to have abortions freely, no matter how far along they are in their pregnancies. In other words, come to Massachusetts, here, by law, we’re ready to kill as many babies as necessary.” [Univista TV, Sanchez Grass En America, 8/13/26]
Voz News panelist Alfonso Aguilar claimed abortion is “murder.” He also suggested such legislation “does justify considering whether some effort should be made at the federal level to at least ban abortion after 15 or 20 weeks.” [VOZ Media, Voz News, 8/11/26]
Scott Jennings said that Democrats had “pushed abortion extremism to its logical and horrifying conclusion.” He added that this “opens the door to ending the life of a healthy, viable baby right up until the moment of birth.” [YouTube, The Scott Jennings Show, 8/11/26]
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MMA
Right-wing media's affordability burrito brawl
After a post complaining about a $20 burrito went viral, some right-wing figures accused those dismissing concerns about affordability of “giving the finger to voters” and driving them “into the arms of the socialists”
Written by Jack Winstanley, Gideon Taaffe & Hanne MacDonald
Research contributions from Isabella Corrao & Jane Lee
Published 08/11/26
Last week, Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet's post about a college student noting the high price of a burrito sparked a debate among conservative commentators over whether food affordability is a real issue for voters.
While some dismissed concerns over an expensive burrito, advising those complaining to “cry me a river” and cook food at home, other right-wing personalities noted such responses were equivalent to “giving the finger to voters” and accused those commentators of “trying to gaslight us into being happy that it's unaffordable.”
In reality, food and grocery prices have risen under President Donald Trump, with beef prices spiking by 11.8% from June 2025 to June 2026 and the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service estimating that grocery prices will increase by 2.7% along with a 3.5% increase in restaurant prices for the remainder of 2026. In comparing food prices in June 2025 to food prices in June 2026, the ERS also noted that pork prices have increased by 2.4%, vegetable prices have increased by 9.9%, and fruit prices have increased by 2%. (Only eggs have decreased in price following historic 2025 price spikes due to avian flu outbreaks.)
After a post about $20 burrito went viral, some right-wing media figures dismissed concerns of rising food prices under Trump
Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet posted about a college student who works for TPUSA complaining that “a burrito shouldn’t cost $20.” Kolvet wrote: “Yeah, a lot of this is a hangover from Covid and Biden-era inflation, but the lived experience is the same: It just feels like basic things cost too much.” [Forbes, 8/9/26]
Some conservative personalities immediately downplayed the idea that the price of a burrito reflects an affordability crisis. Fox News contributor Marc Theissen wrote, “Cry me a river. The burritos in the college cafeteria are included in your meal plan,” while Fox News host Tomi Lahren dismissed people complaining who “all also get a daily iced coffee.” [Forbes, 8/9/26]
PBD Podcast co-host Adam Sosnick argued, “Things cost money. You decide where you’re going to go shop. Go get the best burrito you can afford, but don't cry poor because you want extra guac.” Earlier, guest Antonio Sabato Jr. said, “Learn how to make that and then you won’t have a problem — I mean, anybody can make a burrito, even a blind person.” [Valuetainment Media, PBD Podcast, 8/7/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro argued that “a lot of young people have a completely broken set of expectations about life right now,” adding, “Unfortunately, this has become the mode for a lot of young people — why can't I afford what my parents could afford when they were my age? Spoiler alert. When it comes to groceries, you can.” He also instructed viewers to “head on down to the supermarket” and purchase ingredients themselves if they want a burrito. [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 8/5/26]
On his radio show, Fox host Mark Levin dismissed the cost of burritos by arguing, “It was only $20 because he used Doordash. … You can make a taco or burrito for a whole lot less than $20. You can go to Taco Bell and get it for a whole lot less.” Levin later complained, “I don’t understand why conservatives are sounding like socialists or leftists — and by the way, undermining the president and undermining our own elections.” [Westwood One, The Mark Levin Show, 8/7/26]
Several right-wing media figures acknowledged that affordability is a real issue amid rising food prices
The Manhattan Institute’s Chris Rufo wrote about the debate and acknowledged rising prices, saying, “The burrito is a useful stand-in for all the other ways in which prices for basic items have risen dramatically in recent years, far outpacing wage growth in many cases.” Rufo also wrote: “It’s true that burritos’ prices have skyrocketed in recent years. Inflation’s effects on grocery prices have caused the cost of a Chipotle beef burrito to climb 50 percent since 2020, and people are feeling that.” [ChristopherRufo.com, 8/10/26]
Podcaster Candace Owens said, “Obviously groceries have gotten incredibly expensive and they are continuing to get expensive. So whatever Trump promised has not been delivered.” She also read Daily Wire host Matt Walsh's post claiming that “no matter how thrifty your family might be and no matter how cheap your homemade burritos, the significant rise in grocery prices over the past six years and the fact that the rise is continuing, not stopping, and certainly not reversing, is just a mathematical reality. It can’t be denied. It is a fact. … And conservatives better come up with an answer that isn’t just, quote, ‘learn how to make cheap burritos,’ or we are going to get absolutely crushed. That’s another reality.” [YouTube, Candace, 8/6/26]
Andrew Kolvet explained “We could tell people they have to cook their own burritos and they need to cook from home all they want, but at the end of the day, things are expensive.” He argued that it is “not necessarily Trump’s fault. I think he deserves a lot of credit for bringing inflation back down, especially when you’re navigating the complexities of the Iran war. But the felt situation for many young people especially is that we just are not getting what we hoped we would get. And maybe those expectations were unrealistic, but that is a lived experience. and that has political ramifications.” [Rumble, The Charlie Kirk Show, 8/5/26]
Right-wing media personality Mike Cernovich responded, “It used to be vulgar to mock people who are struggling financially. Now it’s almost all of conservative media.” [Forbes, 8/9/26]
Some right-wing media figures criticized the GOP or other conservatives for downplaying concerns over affordability
On the PBD Podcast, co-host Tom Ellsworth stated, “To have everybody is getting their quote up there — stop whining, get a job, eat ramen noodles? Wow. You know, giving the finger to voters verbally like that and just kind of the dust-off, that is not the winning play.” He added, “You have to not only acknowledge the affordability, but we need to be talking about what to do about it.” [Valuetainment Media, PBD Podcast, 8/7/26]
Podcaster Benny Johnson explained that, “This is why I'm going so hard on this whole burrito thing and this whole affordability thing, because life is unaffordable. And I'm sick of people — I'm disgusted by people saying it's not or trying to gaslight us into being happy that it's unaffordable.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 8/6/26]
Right-wing talk show host Tucker Carlson pushed back on people arguing to “just make cheaper burritos” by saying, “You're defending something indefensible and ugly, and I'm not for it anymore.” Carlson also said: “So anyone who says it doesn't matter [is] probably my enemy actually. And I don't care what you call yourself. ‘Well, I'm a free market capitalist.’ OK. I'm Santa Claus. It doesn’t matter.” [YouTube, Jim Webb Podcast, 8/7/26]
Daily Wire host Michael Knowles said, “When your constituents tell you they are having a problem, you need to show them the respect of taking that seriously, even when it comes down to burritos.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 8/6/26]
Knowles later argued if conservatives don’t engage with rising prices, “you are just going to drive those people into the arms of the socialists.” Knowles: “If you don't engage with that, and you just have this kind of snooty attitude toward your fellow Americans, and you say oh, shut up about the burritos. Stop eating your avocado toast or whatever. If you do that, you are just going to drive those people into the arms of the socialists.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 8/6/26]
Andrew Kolvet criticized those dismissing concerns on the cost of a burrito, saying, “If everybody just tells Gen Z that they're a bunch of entitled little brats and they need to, like, eat crap, you know, horse meat passed off as burrito meat, then that's not going to work.” [Rumble, Thoughtcrime, 8/6/26]
Alex Jones ranted that “inflation is off the chain” and “high-level White House officials” are “making jokes” about college students facing unaffordability while the officials are “doing insider trading hand over fist, making billions of dollars individually a month. People complain about the cost of living and it’s just like oh, shut up.” [The Alex Jones Network, The Alex Jones Show, 8/7/26]
Tim Pool criticized the GOP’s messaging around rising food prices: “And what are we getting right now with the Republicans? You got these neocons, you got these conservatives being like just don't eat a $20 burrito, blah, blah, blah. Oh my God.” He added, “You can get cheaper burritos. But the point is this: We don’t want to eat garbage fast food. We want to eat better fast food.” [Rumble, The Culture War, 8/6/26]
Matt Walsh wrote in a social media post: “The conservatives on here denying the affordability crisis are engaged in what I can only describe as an act of political suicide.” [Forbes, 8/9/26]
RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway argued that dismissing affordability concerns “could prove toxic to the GOP,” adding, “Eating a burrito once in a while should not be an aspirational lifestyle, for crying out loud.” Hemingway also stated that “pundits deflecting because you can cook at home cheaper are not helping.” [FoxNews.com, 8/6/26]
-===-
SEE VOTE SUPPRES FOR ANNO
Right-wing media have been arguing for decades that fewer Americans should have the right to vote
Repealing the 19th Amendment, disenfranchising welfare recipients, and requiring a civics test — right-wing media are full of ideas about how to restrict voting
Written by Jack Winstanley
Research contributions from Jack Wheatley & Zachary Pleat
Published 08/10/26 10:25 AM EDT
With the midterms approaching, the Trump administration and its allies seem desperate to suppress the vote. The president has pressed Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a package of legislation that experts say would create new barriers for voters and potentially disenfranchise millions. He has signed executive orders restricting mail voting and pushing for proof of citizenship in voter registration, and there has been significant chatter about sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations, which analysts say would be illegal.
The executive orders have been struck down, and the SAVE America Act faces an uphill battle in Congress.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to suppress the vote have a significant ideological precedent. For decades, right-wing media have advocated restrictions on voter eligibility, laying the groundwork for Trump and his allies to undermine the upcoming midterms and push for policies that would make it harder for some Americans to vote. In a review of our archives, Media Matters found that primetime hosts, podcasters, columnists, and the like have attacked women’s right to vote, encouraged limiting the vote to property owners or heads of household, and advocated civics tests as a voting eligibility requirement. Some have outright stated that they only want people who share their political beliefs to be eligible to vote, or suggested kicking recipients of government assistance off the voter rolls.
More recently, right-wing media figures and online influencers have claimed that opponents of the SAVE America Act “want to steal elections” and “want the illegals to be able to vote,” continuing a years-long campaign of misinformation about mass election interference and widespread fraud. In light of this supposed fraud and interference, some commentators and election deniers have advocated more policies that could suppress voter turnout: restrictions on mail-in voting, getting “rid of” voting machines, or sending ICE agents to “surround” polling places. Others have called on Trump to sign an executive order declaring a “national emergency” to give himself “king-like powers” over the midterms.
Below we’ve compiled a survey of right-wing media arguing that fewer Americans should vote, going back to 2004.
Jump to section...
Right-wing media figures have criticized individual voting, called for a single household vote, or argued that only property owners should be allowed to vote
Streamer Asmongold, whose real name is Zack Hoyt, argued in favor of “mass disenfranchisement,” adding that land ownership should be a requirement for voting “because you have a direct, immediate, observable, tangible buy-in to the American future.” He continued: “Ask George Washington. Ask Thomas Jefferson. That's why. You got skin in the game.” [YouTube, Asmongold, 6/1/26; Media Matters, 7/10/26]
In a clip uploaded to Instagram, Christian influencer Savanna Stone said: “My ideal voting system would be a one family vote, so my husband and I would vote together.” She went on, adding: “Traditionally, like, the husband would ultimately decide but again, like, I believe that a wife and husband should have the same political views, the same religious views. That’s how the marriage works.” According to CBC, “Stone is a rising star in the online conservative community, with some 800,000 followers across her platforms. She mainly posts Christian relationship advice, but is also highly critical of feminism, advocating for traditional gender roles.” [Instagram, The Pocket Podcast, 3/10/26; CBC, 6/12/26]
On The Dinesh D’Souza Podcast, Calvin Robinson, a conservative British commentator and cleric, stated, “This is why universal suffrage has harmed us as a society, because it's meant that there's no longer a vote for the household, for the family.” He added, “The husband votes, and then the wife goes out and undermines his vote. And so, they're literally canceling each other out now — the man and the wife.” [YouTube, The Dinesh D’Souza Show, 12/5/25; Prospect Magazine, 3/29/24]
Nick Fuentes argued that “people that own property” were one of the groups of people he “would entrust” with voting. He stated, “An 18-year-old that is renting an apartment and never had a real job and is basically, their parents are paying for everything. They don't have a car. They really have no way of knowing how the world works, and they also have no skin in the game.” [YouTube, Jack Neel Podcast, 11/24/25]
Evangelical author Nancy Pearcey told Alex Clark on The Spillover that “it's been a net negative to go from the household vote to the individual vote.” [YouTube, The Spillover, 2/2/24]
Josie Glabach, known online as The Red Headed Libertarian, said: “The founders felt like it was more like one family, one vote.” [OAN, In Focus with Addison Smith, 3/17/23]
Former Pittsburgh radio host Jim Quinn: “Originally, if you didn't own land, you didn't vote, and there was a good reason for it: because those without property will always vote away the property of other people unto themselves, and that's the beginning of the end.” He argued, “If I don't own anything, what kind of a problem do I have with voting for a measure — a tax, a law — that takes somebody else's property and gives it to me? I have no stake in personal property ownership because I don't have any.” [Clear Channel, The War Room with Quinn and Rose, 10/21/08]
Right-wing media figures have called for a repeal of the 19th Amendment or otherwise attacked women's right to vote
During a panel debate on The Michael Knowles Show, conservative influencer Priya Patel argued that repealing the 19th Amendment “would be better for the country overall.” She added that, short of repealing the 19th Amendment, “We could go back to something in terms of, I don't know exactly how you'd structure this, but something of a single family vote.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 4/18/26; Yahoo News, 3/28/26]
Michael Knowles argued that “only married women living in rural and maybe suburban areas [should] get to vote.” He added, “They actually get two votes,” arguing that “they get the right to vote of the women who are single and in the urban areas.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 12/19/25]
When asked what he'd do as president, Nick Fuentes stated that he'd “for sure” take away women’s right to vote. Later, while describing who he believes should be “eligible to vote,” Fuentes stated that only “people with children, people that own property, people that are of a certain age, people that have had military service, people that speak English” should vote. [YouTube, The Jack Neel Podcast, 11/24/25]
Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld, replying to co-host Harold Ford Jr.’s comments about women’s suffrage, said that we “shouldn't have given them the right to vote.” He added, “Everything went downhill a hundred years ago.” [Fox News, The Five, 11/17/26]
On Timcast IRL, Fresh and Fit host Myron Gaines stated, “I think we need to repeal the 19th Amendment.” He argued, “If we had to rely on the female vote, Kamala Harris would be in office right now. … Because women are single-issue voters. And that's a big problem.” [Rumble, Tim Pool IRL, 10/9/25]
Guest Terry Schilling on The Charlie Kirk Show claimed: “Every goal of the feminist movement — ever since they got, you know, the right to vote — after that, it all went downhill.” He also argued that the movement for women's equality has “always just been about tearing down men and removing them from society.” [Rumble, The Charlie Kirk Show, 8/2/24]
On LFA TV’s America First Live, host Alan Jacoby stated, “My wife literally thinks women should not vote. I tend to agree with her a lot.” [LFA TV, America First Live, 12/19/23]
On BlazeTV, Todd Erzen replied to a post criticizing the 19th Amendment: “Yes, it should be repealed.” [Blaze TV, The Steve Deace Show, 11/15/23]
Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens stated, after asking her audience if society had improved since the passage of the 19th Amendment, “I’ve realized that right now, women in this society are allowing very bad things to take place because we’re too nice.” She went on: “We are willing to allow evil to take place over and over again. We’re allowing evil to go as far as it possibly can simply because we don’t want to upset anybody. We don’t want to make people feel bad." [The Daily Wire, Candace, 7/14/23]
On OAN, above the chyron “Josie makes case for abolishing 19th amendment,” Josie Glabach claimed the “19th Amendment itself, it’s an infringement on the 10th Amendment.” [One America News, In Focus with Addison Smith, 3/17/23]
Steven Crowder questioned when the military “had to become inclusive,” adding, “I think that this went wrong with women getting the right to vote.” He went on to claim, “Men didn't have the right to vote unless they were a part of mandatory draft, they had to pay taxes, mandatory bucket duty, you had to show up if there was a fire. If you didn't do these things, you weren't allowed to vote. Voting was a privilege for men, and then women said well, we want the right to vote, and they said OK, so part of the draft, and they said no.” [Rumble, Louder with Crowder, 9/20/21]
Right-wing author Ann Coulter: “I used to think women just shouldn’t be able to vote, now I think at least liberal women should not be able to hold office.” [Media Matters, 10/23/14]
Former Fox host Tucker Carlson: “You want your government run by people whose favorite show is Say Yes [To The Dress]?” On Fox News' Outnumbered, Carlson criticized a Republican ad encouraging young women to vote by casting doubt on whether or not the people targeted by the ad should vote, adding, “I don't think as a general matter you should be encouraging people who don't know anything about what they're voting for to vote. That's what the Democrats do, giving Newports to the homeless to get them to the polls. That's literally true. Republicans shouldn't follow suit on that. You shouldn't pander to people.” [Media Matters, 10/2/14]
Radio host Rush Limbaugh stated that “when women got the right to vote is when it all went downhill.” He added, “That’s when votes started being cast with emotion and maternal instincts that government ought to reflect.” [Media Matters, 7/5/12]
Coulter: “If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president.” As quoted by the New York Observer, Coulter added: “It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.” [Media Matters, 10/4/07]
Right-wing media figures have argued that voters should have a “minimum level of knowledge” of civics or political issues, with some suggesting a test requirement or barring people they disagree with from voting
After Fox Business host Jackie DeAngelis claimed young voters supporting the Democratic Socialists of America are “brainwashed,” guest Steve Milloy suggested “we need to raise the voting age back to 21,” adding, “They have votes that are as good as mine and I'm sorry, that's just not right.” [Fox Business, The Bottom Line, 8/6/26]
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh argued that “we should drastically curtail the right to vote, across the board” and advocated for passing a “fifth grade civics exam” in order to vote. He said: “immigrants should not be allowed to vote in our elections until they've been legal citizens in this country for, say, 10 years. … Voting is not or shouldn't be a universal right granted to everyone. … I also think all voters should be required to complete and pass a fifth grade civics exam, which will be administered in English, by the way. … And we should disenfranchise everyone on welfare, even if they're American citizens.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 4/29/26]
Right-leaning streamer Asmongold endorsed “as many barriers to voting as possible,” including a “regular citizenship test” or a “logic test.” He stated: “I think that having just the masses of uneducated retards voting causes a lot of problems.” He added, “If you can’t finish the logic test you can’t vote.” [YouTube, Asmongold, 11/5/25]
After reading results of a survey measuring Americans' civics knowledge, Walsh argued that people lacking civics knowledge “should not be allowed to vote.” Walsh continued: “And when it comes to voting, they have the same power that you do. Their vote counts equal to yours.” He added: “These people should not be allowed to vote. I mean, you hear people say that in a half-joking way, I can't believe these people can vote. But really, they shouldn't be able to. Like, actually, they should not be able to vote.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 9/21/23]
Fox host Jesse Watters endorsed a civics test requirement for voting. After guest and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy spoke about his idea for a constitutional amendment for younger Americans to pass a civics test in order to vote, Watters said: “I agree with you 1,000 percent, Vivek.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 8/10/23]
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld argued that people who move from Democratic-run states to Republican-run states “shouldn’t be allowed to vote.” [Fox News, The Five, 7/6/23]
Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro argued that the right to vote should require “some sort of minimum level of knowledge” of U.S. civics. Shapiro added: “The basic idea that you should be able to have basic, not, as you say, fake poll test, literacy test designed to exclude Black people or something — the idea that you would have to have, like, a basic knowledge of America's Constitution, for example, to vote, I don't see that as a horrible idea. I really don't.” He continued: “I mean, I think that you should actually have to jump through the hoop of having to take the time and effort to vote, because if you're not willing to do that, then why should I take your vote as seriously as somebody who is willing to take voting seriously?” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 2/3/20]
Former Des Moines radio host Jan Mickelson, who stated he is in the “voter repression business,” said, “I want people not to vote unless they agree with me.” He also said being uninformed “should exclude you from being part of the process,” and suggested a “civics test” should be implemented “in order to qualify to vote.” [Media Matters, 6/8/15]
On Fox & Friends, Ann Coulter argued that “there is nothing unconstitutional about literacy tests” during a Fox & Friends segment that ran with a chyron reading, “Should citizens pass a civics test to vote?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/15/15]
Talking about civics tests, then-Fox host Elisabeth Hasselbeck said: “What about if we took it one step further … into voting?” She added: “When you look at how many people get those answers wrong, how concerning is it to you that those very people are voting?” [Media Matters, 10/23/14]
After airing a montage of man on the street interviews asking people what the debt limit is, former Fox Business anchor John Stossel stated that “people who don’t know what the debt is shouldn’t vote.” He added: “Why should dummies vote?” O’Reilly joked that Stossel should “have a little bumper sticker:‘If you’re dumb, stay home on election day.’” [Fox News, The O’Reilly Factor, 7/26/11]
In National Review, Jonah Goldberg argued, “It’s about time we toughened up the requirements for voting.” He added, “Indeed, I would be more comfortable having newly naturalized immigrants decide the future of this country at the ballot box than leaving it up to, say, typical white 18-22 year-olds. I know that the immigrants can pass a civics test. I have no such confidence in the kids at my local malls.” [National Review, 1/13/04]
Right-wing media claim Americans receiving government assistance shouldn’t have the right to vote
Matt Walsh stated: “If you're living off of taxpayer money, you shouldn't get to vote.” He said: “We could transform our country overnight with a few tweaks. … Disenfranchise, take the vote away from anybody on welfare, number one.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 10/21/25]
Former Washington Times columnist Ted Nugent: “Let's also stop the insanity by suspending the right to vote of any American who is on welfare.” He continued: “Once they get off welfare and are self-sustaining, they get their right to vote restored. No American on welfare should have the right to vote for tax increases on those Americans who are working and paying taxes to support them. That's insane.” [The Washington Times, 12/3/12]
Talk radio host Michael Savage: “Do you think a person on welfare has the right to vote? I don't.” He added: “Why should a welfare recipient have the right to vote? They're only gonna vote themselves a raise.” [Talk Radio Network, The Savage Nation, 10/22/08]
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Right-wing media's unhinged response to Fauci's diary and congressional testimony
Right-wing media obsessed over Fauci, mentioning him relentlessly on cable news and podcasts
Written by Helena Hind, Reed McMaster, Jane Lee & Isabella Corrao
Research contributions from Rob Savillo
Published 07/30/26
Right-wing media have gone into overdrive to denigrate Dr. Anthony Fauci following the release of his private diary by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), accusing him of being a “mass murderer” whose “body count is higher than Hitler” and claiming he “deserves to be in prison.”
Right-wing media revived their anti-Fauci coverage after Republicans published pages from Fauci's journal
On July 25, Rand Paul published over 1,100 pages of COVID-19-era journal entries from former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci in an attempt to claim that he had covered up the origin of the virus. Paul also released records ranging from 2001 to 2015, which he dubbed the “prequel” to Fauci’s diary. These releases are Paul’s latest effort in his yearslong investigation into claims that COVID-19 leaked from a lab. Despite Paul's claims, the diary does not provide any “smoking gun”; rather, as New York Times notes, “It echoes past disclosures showing Dr. Fauci wrestling with a fast-moving crisis as scientists’ views evolved.” [NPR, 7/27/26, 7/29/26; New York Times, 7/27/26]
On July 29, Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to the committee’s questions. With Fauci making it clear he was going to plead the Fifth, Paul used the hearing to repeatedly accuse him of lying, suggesting “that while Fauci said publicly that Covid originated naturally, he privately believed the virus originated in a medical lab.” [NPR, 7/29/26; AP, 7/29/26; BBC, 7/29/26]
Right-wing media have long used Fauci as a pandemic scapegoat. Conservative media personalities started attacking Fauci in 2020, with Fox News programs portraying him as power-mad and using his influence to “favor what the Democrats want.” In 2022, then-Fox host Tucker Carlson called Fauci a “dangerous fraud, a man who has done things that in most countries, at most times in history, would be understood perfectly clearly to be very serious crimes.” [Media Matters, 8/23/22, 3/24/20]
Following the diary release, right-wing media devoted significant coverage to Fauci
Right-wing media went all-in on covering the Fauci story. From Monday through noon on Thursday, Fox News mentioned Fauci 687 times, while on Newsmax, Fauci was mentioned 740 times (this includes mentions when the networks aired live coverage or clips of the hearing). In the online media space, Megyn Kelly said Fauci at least 75 times on her podcast across 3 episodes; The Charlie Kirk Show mentioned Fauci at least 87 times across 3 episodes, and Steve Bannon devoted significant attention during the July 29 edition of War Room to airing live portions of the hearing, with Bannon himself saying Fauci at least 26 times.
Right-wing media accused Fauci of being a “mass murderer” and called for his imprisonment
Podcaster Benny Johnson claimed Fauci's “body count” is higher than Adolf Hitler’s. He said Fauci is the “single greatest mass murderer in modern history, who has a body count much higher than Hitler.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 7/30/26]
Radio show host Megyn Kelly claimed “Fauci hurt a lot more people than Epstein did.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Show, 7/27/26]
TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet claimed Fauci “deserves to be in prison.” [Rumble, The Charlie Kirk Show, 7/29/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool suggested that the Trump administration should attempt to charge and jail Fauci in El Salvador. He said, “Go to El Salvador, calculate what was their — how many deaths. Criminally charge Fauci under Salvadoran law; El Salvador can then file for extradition and we can send him on his way.” [Youtube, Timcast, 7/29/26]
Pool also claimed, “If Fauci doesn’t go to prison, you have no country.” He added, ”The American people come to realize you can murder millions of people. You can massacre en masse at the institutional international level and you will never face accountability. And then what happens? Confidence in the system breaks down and you get chaos." [YouTube, Timcast, 7/29/26]
Fox News contributor Clay Travis claimed that “Fauci belongs in prison for the rest of his life.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 7/28/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie argued that “Anthony Fauci should just be in jail, full stop.” He later added, ”I hope they find the deepest prison on earth to bury this guy in." [Newsmax, Carl Higbie: Frontline, 7/29/26]
Article III Founder Mike Davis called Fauci “one of the worst criminals in our history.” Davis claimed Fauci “got this pardon from Biden because he's a monster and he needed a pardon because he's one of the worst criminals in our history, a mass murderer.” Host Megyn Kelly agreed with him, saying, “You state your opinion that he's a mass murderer. Maybe some who are thinking that's too harsh. I'm not one of them.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Show, 7/29/26]
Podcaster Steve Bannon claimed, “Fauci's a mass murderer. A mass murderer.” [Real America's Voice, War Room, 7/29/26]
PBD Podcast panelist Vincent Oshana called Fauci “a freaking mass murderer.” He added, “If you think about it, Pat, he's been killing people for how long?” [PBD Podcast, 7/27/26]
Fox News @ Night guest and Moms for Liberty chapter leader Becky Grosskreutz said she hoped Fauci would experience “consequences both here on Earth, and beyond.” Talking about Fauci's testimony, she said, “I saw his smug face today and all the times that he pleaded the Fifth, and I honestly just want, you know, something to happen, and I want to have him to have consequences both here on Earth, and beyond.” [Fox News, Fox News @ Night, 7/29/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty claimed Fauci is a “sociopath” who deserves to be alone. [Newsmax, Finnerty, 7/29/26]
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Right-wing media's crusade against diverse judges: racist attacks, calls for banning, and even calls for deportation
Right-wing media have accused naturalized judges of having “obvious loyalties outside of this country,” Muslim judges of having “terrorist buddies,” and Black judges of being “dumb” “DEI judges”
Written by Torri Lonergan
Published 07/29/26
Right-wing media figures have spent years lobbing racist insults at judges who are naturalized U.S. citizens or people of color — mocking their names, questioning their loyalties, and falsely identifying American-born judges as immigrants. Some have gone so far as to demand that immigrants and Muslim Americans be barred from serving as judges, while others have pushed for naturalized and even some American-born judges to be stripped of their citizenship and deported.
Right-wing media’s yearslong campaign has now gained support from some congressional Republicans, who recently introduced both a bill and a constitutional amendment that would require all American judges “to be natural-born citizens.”
Republican elected officials are supporting efforts to prohibit naturalized US citizens from serving as judges
In May, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a constitutional amendment that would require “members of Congress, federal judges and Senate-confirmed officers to be natural-born citizens of the United States.” In a July 4 Newsweek op-ed attacking D.C. District Court Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, Mace fearmongered about “foreign-born officials holding power in this government who have proven time and again their loyalty is not to America.” Mace asked, “How did we get here? To a place where foreign-born officials get to decide the laws Americans live under?” [U.S. House of Representatives, office of Rep. Nancy Mace, 5/20/26; Newsweek, 7/4/26]
In February, Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) introduced a bill that would “require all American judges to be natural-born citizens.” He argued that the legislation would safeguard the United States “against potential foreign influence in judicial decisions.” [U.S. House of Representatives, office of Rep. Pete Stauber, 2/20/26]
In April, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) called to “put more teeth in the denaturalization process” and said he would “absolutely” support banning immigrants from serving as judges or members of Congress. Appearing on The Benny Show, he said, “I don’t think our Founding Fathers ever intended for individuals from hostile nations serving and leading the nation.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 4/13/26]
Criticizing a ruling by Sooknanan in June, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) posted, “If judges can stop Presidents, they should not also be citizens of foreign nations.” [Democracy Docket, 6/23/26]
Right-wing media figures have called to bar naturalized citizens and Muslims from serving as judges, and even pushed to deport judges who are immigrants or American-born people of color
MAGA podcaster Laura Loomer called for President Donald Trump to sign an executive order “banning judges who were not born in this country,” saying, “If you want to be a judge in this country, you should come from the blood and soil of this country.” She asked, “Isn't it crazy too how we have so many foreign judges?” and insisted, “It's an abomination. I just think it's a total disgrace on our country.” [Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, 5/27/25]
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From the May 27, 2025, edition of Loomer Unleashed, streamed on Rumble
Loomer also insisted that “Muslims need to be prohibited from holding positions of power” and demanded that an American-born Muslim judge be deported. Referring to D.C. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui — who was born in the United States — Loomer said, “We don't need to be having debates about whether this judge is right or whether he's wrong. He's a Muslim. He shouldn't be a judge in America. He's from Pakistan.” She added, “Denaturalize him, denaturalize his family members, and send him back to the sharia shithole.” [Media Matters, 5/8/26]
Right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson said the Founding Fathers should have specified that “you have to be a native-born American in order to hold a judgeship or be in Congress or serve in a federal capacity.” He said “it would’ve been smart” to apply to the judiciary the same “rules that were put upon our president, meaning you had to be born rightwise in the United States of America to rule over us as Americans.” Johnson added, “Nine out of the 13 colonies said you must be a Bible-believing, Christ-professing Christian to serve in any office anywhere, including, of course, being a judge.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 6/23/26, 6/23/26]
On The Benny Show, Article III Project founder Mike Davis said of New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan: “I want to throw his Third World, Marxist trash ass in prison and then revoke his citizenship and send him back” to Colombia. Laura Loomer also called on Trump to “strip Juan Merchan of his citizenship and deport him back to the Third World hellhole he came from.” Merchan has lived in the United States since he was 6 years old. [YouTube, The Benny Show, 1/10/25; Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, 6/4/24; CNN, 4/15/24]
The Millstone Report host Paul Harrell insisted that “foreign-born” judges “need to recuse themselves” from cases related to immigration and the U.S. military “at the bare minimum, if not step down altogether.” [Rumble, The Millstone Report with Paul Harrell, 3/26/25]
Right-wing media figures have long hurled racist insults at judges they think are immigrants, Muslim, or people of color
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Fox host Tomi Lahren said Jackson “may be the worst DEI hire of all time.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 7/8/25]
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh claimed that Jackson is the “perfect illustration of the Black woman privilege,” because “Black women who can barely read or speak — like Ketanji Brown Jackson — are elevated to the most prestigious positions solely because they are Black women.” He argued, “There's really no group in the country more privileged now than Black women” and insisted, “Ketanji Brown Jackson is not qualified to be, like, a high school principal, let alone a Supreme Court justice.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 1/14/26]
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From the January 14, 2026, edition of The Daily Wire's The Matt Walsh Show
Benny Johnson accused Jackson of “getting totally nominated because of your skin color” and “proving again and again that you're too dumb to be on the Supreme Court, that you're too dumb to probably navigate the subway, to parallel park, to get Uber Eats.” He also claimed Jackson's “not a real Supreme Court justice — I don’t believe that she is actually lawfully on the Supreme Court.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 4/2/26]
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From the April 2, 2026, edition of The Benny Show, uploaded to YouTube
Johnson later claimed Jackson “has most likely a functionally retarded, like, 70 IQ,” calling her “the single dumbest person to ever hold any office anywhere at any time.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 5/28/26]
US District Judge Amir Ali
On War Room, Mike Davis claimed that “Judge Ali apparently wants the president to fund Ali’s Hamas buddies, his terrorist buddies, so they can kill Americans.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 3/19/25]
On Infowars, attorney Andrew Branca described Ali as “culturally Egyptian” and insisted that “he's barely an American citizen — he’s certainly not culturally an American citizen,” saying, “There's a difference between a cultural American citizen and a technical, naturalized American citizen who's still culturally a member of his own, you know, foreign nationality.” Branca complained, “He wasn’t born in America. He was born in Canada. He was born in Canada to Egyptian migrant parents.” [Infowars, War Room, 12/16/25]
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan
Laura Loomer complained that Chutkan “is an immigrant. She's an immigrant! Here we have an immigrant imposing a gag order. She's not even from this country!” She continued, “This is how backward things are in our country. You have immigrants who are now imposing gag orders on presidents of the United States of America, OK? She is the poster child for why we need an immigration moratorium.” [Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, 10/26/23]
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From the October 26, 2023, edition of Loomer Unleashed, streamed on Rumble
US District Judge Melissa DuBose
Fox host Laura Ingraham described DuBose as “a classic far-left pick who satisfied the racial bean counters.” Ingraham called DuBose an “unmitigated disaster” and dismissed her qualifications as “total hogwash.” [Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 5/1/26]
Conservative radio host Howie Carr repeatedly described DuBose as “a lesbian, Black judge,” saying, “She’s one of the last judges that Biden slithered in. He wanted to get one more Black lesbian in.” He reiterated, “She’s a lesbian. She’s Black. She’s written about her Marxist phase — sounds like the Marxist phase never ended.” He added, “She made it on a 51-48 vote. Fifty-one — all these terrible, atrocious DEI judges and U.S. attorneys under Biden, they were all approved narrowly like that.” [Rumble, The Howie Carr Show, 5/1/26]
US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong
Criticizing Frimpong — who was born in Los Angeles — Matt Walsh claimed, “Watching all this domestic terrorism, judges with foreign names are of course taking the side of the terrorists.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 7/15/25; CA.gov, 11/17/25]
Former Infowars host David Knight mocked Frimpong’s name, saying, “Oh, yes, a good classic American name. Just the type of person who I would want sitting as a judge. I'm sure they can be trusted.” [Rumble, The David Knight Show, 7/15/25]
US District Judge Myong J. Joun
Laura Loomer mocked Joun’s name, saying, “Can't have a normal name, right? Got to be a foreigner.” Loomer said the judge’s name “sounds like some kind of an electrical technical glitch” or “maybe like a noise my dog would make if she was super hyperactive.” She complained, “Where do they come up with these names? I'm sure Media Matters is going to clip this and say that I'm being racist toward Asians. Whatever. I don't care.” [Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, 5/27/25]
US District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai
While criticizing Kasubhai’s ruling on gender-affirming care for minors, X22 Report host David Marc Fishman noted the judge’s Muslim background and claimed that “very strict Muslim countries” are “very much in line with the trans groups,” saying, “The trans groups go after children to have sex, and when you look at a lot of the Muslim nations, they allow sex with children.” Fishman read a Libs of TikTok post complaining that “Biden-appointed Muslim Judge Mustafa D. Kasubhai struck down HHS Secretary RFK Jr.'s directive to stop taxpayer-funded sex change surgeries for kids.” [YouTube, X22 Report, 4/22/26; Media Matters, 6/25/24]
US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan
Speaking to The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, Newsmax host Rob Schmitt accused Sooknanan of having “obvious loyalties outside of this country.” He complained that judges like Sooknanan “see this as just a wealthy land that should be pillaged by the rest of the world. That's how they feel about the United States, because I don't think they have America's best interests at heart.” [Newsmax, Rob Schmitt Tonight, 9/3/25]
War Room host Harrison Smith said Sooknanan “shouldn't even be in this country.” Smith complained that “we have foreign judges named Sparkle deciding that the law is whatever she feels like it should be, not what is actually the law,” arguing, “That’s obviously a major problem we have in our country.” He added, “These are people that do not love America. They don't even like America. They constantly organize against America. They do not renounce their old countries. They do not drop their loyalty to their former countries. So why do we take them in? Why are we obligated to give them any benefit of the doubt? Because the likes of Ben Shapiro don't give a damn about the browning of our country.” [Infowars, War Room, 6/24/26]
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From the June 24, 2026, edition of Infowars' War Room
The Charlie Kirk Show co-host Andrew Kolvet complained that Sooknanan is a “foreigner” from “Trinidad, a country known to be the most wonderful representative of democracy in the world.” [Rumble, The Charlie Kirk Show, 6/23/26]
US District Judge Indira Talwani
Rob Schmitt said Talwani “is the daughter of two immigrants, which is a very American story, but in this case it’s very obvious this judge’s loyalties do not lie here.” He complained that one-third of district court judges in Washington, D.C., “were born outside of this country” and claimed, “They all have the same politics — disciples of the left-wing crusade to open up the United States for global looting.” [Newsmax, Rob Schmitt Tonight, 4/15/25]
Referring to Talwani, former Infowars host Owen Shroyer asked, “You think she was born here?” then told his viewers, “Place your bets now where she was born.” After looking it up, Shroyer read that Talwani was born in New Jersey but specified: “Well, her parents are from Punjab, India.” [WIN Network, Owen Report, 10/31/25]
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Haaris Syed
Newsmax host Carl Higbie reacted to Syed’s appointment by saying, “Islam — I’m always warning people that it could take a hold, especially in our legal system.” He continued, “We have seen some stuff from guys like this. What happens when you start seeing, I don’t know, a sharia-style viewpoint incorporate itself into U.S. law that is not in favor of our Constitution?” Former Assistant Attorney General Theo Wold agreed with Higbie and claimed that in Great Britain, “One of the reasons why the rape gangs were able to do what they did and proliferate like that [is] because a lot of Islamic judges control the local family courts in that country.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 7/6/26]
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The growing MAGA media despondency over the Iran war quagmire
Benny Johnson once called to rebrand the Strait of Hormuz in the US’s image, but now he has acquiesced to Iranian control over the crucial waterway
Written by John Knefel
Published 07/29/26
As President Donald Trump’s war on Iran extends into its sixth month, some figures on the right are recalibrating their messaging from an original demand for maximalist victory to something much more modest.
Although the war has created some fractures in right-wing media, at the outset of the conflict it had no shortage of boosters — either Iran hawks or MAGA hacks. Now, as the Iranian government has survived months of bombing and operationalized its previously unrealized control of the Strait of Hormuz, some of those pundits are scaling back their ambitions.
MAGA influencer and right-wing media weathervane Benny Johnson provides the clearest example of this trend. On March 12, Johnson, who initially was both skeptical of the war and giddy with the promise of U.S. world domination, offered a particularly Trump-ian rebranding proposal.
“Can we rename the Straits of Hormuz the Straits of America, please?” Johnson said. “Are we there yet? We should be there.”
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From the March 12, 2026, edition of The Benny Show, streamed on YouTube
Fast forward to July 26, with the public turning against the war and any endgame seemingly a distant prospect, and Johnson sounded quite different.
“If Iran oversees boats in the Strait of Hormuz, that doesn’t bother me one bit,” Johnson said. “I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. I didn’t care about it ahead of time, and that’s where we were before the war, and I don’t care about it now really. I want — oil was less than $2 a gallon in January of 2026, so that’s kind of where my head’s at.”
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From the July 26, 2026, edition of The Benny Show, streamed on YouTube
Johnson’s about-face may be the most dramatic rhetorical retreat, but he’s not alone. Newsmax host Carl Higbie, who endorsed bombing Iran “back to the stone age” in late February, spent months praising the Trump administration’s plan for the war only to recently change his tune.
“Now, the bulk of the people in that press briefing room are so high on their own farts that they stick their nose in the air and [say] well, if I don’t know the plan, that means Trump doesn’t have a plan,” Higbie said on April 6.
“You know what?” Higbie added. “The Pentagon and Trump and the State [Department] — they owe us no explanation on what they plan to do.”
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From the April 6, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Carl Higbie: Frontline
A chyron on his April 23 show read: “Legacy media falsely claims Trump has no plan w/ Iran.”
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From the April 23, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Carl Higbie: Frontline
“This is the highest — not to sound crass again — return on investment in military history,” Higbie said on June 17, while discussing the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.
But in the last few days, Higbie has started to express some doubts about the Trump administration’s larger strategy even as he continued to push for dangerous escalations.
“This is now a war — this is a turn of events in timeline,” Higbie said on July 23 in response to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth asking Congress for additional military funds after four more U.S. service members were killed.
“You said you need this much more money,” Higbie continued. “So tell us what it buys us.”
“I will pay my taxes twice this year to help with that nut if you tell Congress that this is what we want to do and this is how we’re going to achieve it,” he added. “Like the first mission in Iran, Midnight Hammer — there was [an] objective, it was planned, there was action, and completion. And then you go get Congress to buy in and they declare war. … For God’s sakes, give those families on the tarmac today a reason their children died.”
The chyron read: “Define the mission.”
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From the July 22, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Carl Higbie: Frontline
Like Johnson, The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles has alternately expressed hesitancy about the war while also defending the Trump administration from accusations of “hypocrisy.” Still, on March 10 he was willing to dismiss the concerns of right-wing critics of the campaign to that point.
“As I’ve said from the beginning of the Iran war — very, very high stakes for President Trump,” Knowles said. “But as of now, all the ‘panicans’ predictions have been wrong. Like, all of them.”
But more recently, Knowles acknowledged the war’s deep and growing unpopularity in a monologue about the House of Representatives passing a war powers resolution in opposition to the conflict.
“It’s a leading indicator that the appetite for this war is waning, not just with the broader public but even among the legislators,” he said on July 24. “So I agree in principle it would be good to wrap-up the war, but this is the problem with war. … These situations can really spiral out of control.”
“It should be wrapped up, but there’s no end in sight,” Knowles concluded. “Because in war, your opponent gets a say.”
This shifting rhetoric shows the delicate balancing act right-wing media are engaged in: The hawks want to escalate and the hacks want to continue to ingratiate themselves with the administration, while even Trump voters are growing more opposed to another forever war.
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Fox News spent only 15 minutes covering gas prices hitting the $4 mark
07/24/26
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As the Iran war teeters on the brink, let's revisit the numerous “Mission Accomplished” moments from right-wing media in early March
MAGA media’s Iran war hawks promised a cakewalk. The conflict is about to enter its sixth month.
Written by John Knefel
Research contributions from Helena Hind, Isabella Corrao & Jane Lee
Published 07/21/26
Within days of President Donald Trump’s unprovoked attack on Iran in late February, right-wing media figures began predicting a short, easy conflict that would be over quickly. Major conservative pundits unilaterally declared in early March that the war was a “wrap-up mission at this point,” a “done deal,” and “winding down.” Instead, the war is about to enter its sixth month with no clear end in sight, with the potential for escalation seemingly everywhere.
Where right-wing media promised a cakewalk, the Trump administration has delivered a quagmire, as recent developments make clear.
The U.S. military resumed striking targets in Iran in the middle of July, following the breakdown of a largely illusory ceasefire. Iranian authorities told The Associated Press that the recent wave of strikes have killed 50 and injured over 500. Over the weekend, the Pentagon announced the deaths of three U.S. service members, and The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration is now on the verge of “all-out war with Iran after more troops are killed.” And according to The New York Times, the Defense Department has been withholding the full number of U.S. troops who have been wounded in the conflict.
CNBC reported that a maritime risk firm characterized the current state of the Strait of Hormuz as a “worse-case scenario,” with the key waterway nominally open but still a primary point of conflict between the two countries.
These grim assessments stand in stark contrast to the predictions Iran hawks made in the days after the U.S. and Israeli militaries began their joint campaign on February 28 — the pundits listed below may as well have unfurled a “Mission Accomplished” banner for all of their premature declarations of victory.
In early March, right-wing media figures predict imminent end to Iran war
Although some in right-wing media expressed early skepticism of the war, there was no shortage of hacks (and hawks) who got on board immediately.
On March 3, Fox News’ Laura Ingraham set a tone that others would soon match. “We've already knocked out so much of their capability,” Ingraham said. “It looks like this is just a wrap-up mission at this point.”
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From the March 3, 2026, edition of Fox News' The Ingraham Angle
Two days later, her colleague Greg Gutfeld speculated on The Five that “maybe there's just nobody who can declare surrender because they're dead. I don't know, but I don't see how this thing can continue much longer.”
The Five returned to the topic the next day. “Do not lie about the war,” host Jesse Watters shouted at his liberal colleague Jessica Tarlov. “You know the war is going well.”
Fox News contributor Tyrus Murdoch added: “I’m willing to say this is a done deal.”
Some prime-time hosts at right-wing network Newsmax took the same line.
“I think we're at the end of serious U.S. involvement in Iran,” said host Rob Finnerty on March 9.
The same night on the same network, Greg Kelly said, “This time next week, we may be able to declare victory and warn Iran, don't do it again. But it could be over.” Kelly’s comments were illustrated by a graphic that read “I Predict: War Over Soon.”
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From the March 9, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Greg Kelly Reports
Finnerty doubled down the next night. “The war in Iran appears to be winding down,” he said. “I think it is.”
Also on March 10, Fox News’ Sean Hannity weighed in during his Premiere Radio Networks radio show. “I am a firm believer that this is going to end very quickly,” Hannity said.
As the month drew to a close, Hannity again saw the conflict’s end in sight, telling his radio audience, “It's going to be on the verge of wrapping up no later than three weeks from today is my prediction.”
That was on March 30.
Conservative pundits claim in March that Trump had won the war
Sometimes right-wing talking heads went even further, not just claiming that the war would end soon but declaring that Trump was already the victor.
On March 5, Ingraham stated flatly: “Trump has already won in Iran.”
In response to a press briefing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 13, Heritage Foundation senior counselor James Carafano said, “The reality is the U.S. has already won this war, period. Mic drop. End of statement.”
Although Kelly’s “War Over Soon” prediction hadn’t come to pass, on March 16 the Newsmax host tried to speak that reality into existence. “I think we kind of just won the war,” Kelly said, adding: “I think we got this.”
Carafano echoed Kelly on March 23, arguing that “it does make sense for the U.S. to say, ‘Hey let's wind this down.’ Look, from America's perspective, dude, we’ve already won."
It’s now been at least three and a half months since these pundits made their various rosy predictions. Contrary to their Pollyannish analysis, the war appears to be expanding, as Iran continues to bomb U.S. military bases in the region and the Houthi militants in Yemen impose a blockade on Saudi Arabia to mirror Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
In light of these developments, a recent Fox News guest offered a different timeline, drawing inspiration from operations the U.S. military conducted after the 1991 Gulf War.
“I do expect that we're going to be there a long time,” said Robert Spalding, a retired Air Force general. “You know Operation Northern and Southern Watch went on for, you know, almost 20 years, I think.”
“I think this is going to be something similar,” Spalding continued. “We're going to have to stay there.”
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Fox guest predicts the US will be in Iran “for a long time”
07/20/26
MMA
Video by Olivia Smith & Audrey Bowler/Media Matters for America
As American cities across the Midwest and Northeast suffer from the “worst air quality in the world” due to the spread of smoke from Canadian wildfires as far south as the mid-Atlantic, several right-wing media figures are railing against health recommendations for staying safe.
As Fox correspondent Katie Byrne reported, residents in Cleveland are “really seeing some of the worst air quality they've seen in years today.” Byrne said, “Health officials are urging people to limit time outside, especially kids, older adults, and anyone with breathing problems,” noting that many of the people she’d spoken to were “taking those warnings seriously” and keeping indoors. Fox host Sean Hannity reported that breathing the air in New York city is “equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes a day.”
In fact, experts recommend people in affected areas wear high-quality masks to prevent health problems caused by the wildfire smoke, as “exposure can trigger respiratory problems and irritate sinuses and has been linked to more severe problems. It can affect anyone, but children and those who are older or pregnant or who have preexisting conditions are particularly vulnerable.”
Despite this, several right-wing media figures are taking an absurd stand against such health advice and mocking those taking steps to protect themselves from wildfire smoke.
FINNERTY? METAXAS FREE MAN INGRAHAM GOOFY MASK
MMA
July 16, 2026, edition of MS NOW's All In with Chris Hayes
CHRIS HAYES (HOST): This is interesting, Angelo. This was Matthew Gertz at — your colleague pulled this up, this is the Fox website. They are not going big on, like, again, in line with this theme of the people who sort of are like most invested in Republican political electoral success in the midterms. They're not going huge on this. It does seem like there's a general recognition of people around him. This is not what you want to be doing.
ANGELO CARUSONE (MEDIA MATTERS PRESIDENT): Yeah, and look, they got burned really bad, in particular the last time when they carried water for a bunch of election attacks. Because a lot of what we're going to hear tonight, and that's the tell, is going to be retread from the 2020 election lies. But in effect, you know, it used to matter a lot what Fox was doing, especially in this context because of the feedback loop. You needed them to act to get the party and the populace motivated, and that would then create action. But it's one in the same, John Solomon, as it was mentioned, you know, this is a guy that's running the task force. He can do a podcast on and a segment on Steve Bannon in the morning, and then walk into the White House and begin to execute and implement. The lines are gone. You no longer need that power. And that's what's different this time than last time.
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Right-wing and right-leaning online show hosts, including Nick Fuentes, are getting millions of views pushing extremely racist rhetoric
After the Belfast riots, Henry Nowak murder case, and Karmelo Anthony trial, online show hosts defended, supported, and even encouraged more protests and violence, earning over 5.3 million views combined. Nick Fuentes alone earned 2.4 million views.
Written by Reed McMaster, Gideon Taaffe & Jack Wheatley
Published 07/15/26
Right-wing and right-leaning online shows and hosts earned millions of views pushing extreme rhetoric in the wake of Karmelo Anthony's trial in the U.S., the murder of Henry Nowak in Britain, and race riots in Northern Ireland following an alleged knife attack by a Sudanese immigrant.
Media Matters found that white nationalist Nick Fuentes’ online show America First earned at least 2.4 million combined views on Rumble for 3 episodes that defended people resorting to violence in the wake of these events. We also found at least 13 episodes from 11 other right-wing and right-leaning online shows from June 2 through June 11 that contained incendiary rhetoric against immigrants or people of color while discussing those events, with over 2.8 million combined views on YouTube and Rumble.
Hosts of the 11 online shows we identified range from well-known staples of conservative media like Glenn Beck to far-right commentator Stew Peters, who suggested that “all of us should be” recreating the Belfast riots. After Anthony's trial, during which the Black teenager was tried and found guilty of murdering a white peer, these online hosts echoed rhetoric usually relegated to white nationalist circles: The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh used the incident to attack the 20th century Civil Rights Movement, saying its “purpose” was “eliminating the civil rights of every white American,” while Stew Peters Network podcaster Frankie Stockes claimed, “These types of things have been happening in this country since the integration of schools.”
Recent incidents in America and Europe have sparked racist commentary from right-wing and right-leaning media, with many commentators mirroring Fuentes' extreme rhetoric
In June, an alleged knife attack by a Sudanese man in Belfast, Northern Ireland, led anti-immigrant rioters to burn down multiple homes and vehicles, and some participants allegedly threatened people of color during the riot. WIRED noted the influence of outside agitators, specifically a white supremacist youth group that helped organize the riot.
Violence also erupted in Southampton, England, following a trial for the December 2025 murder of a young man named Henry Nowak by a Sikh man who reportedly “lied to the police by falsely claiming that Nowak, who was white, had racially abused him.” The story ignited widespread anti-immigrant protests as news broke that the assailant in Nowak’s murder was convicted on May 28 and police bodycam footage was released that, according to the BBC, showed “Nowak being handcuffed as he lay dying.”
In the U.S., a Black teenager named Karmelo Anthony was convicted on June 9 of stabbing and killing a white teen, Austin Metcalf, at an April 2025 track meet. The trial became a cultural flash point — as Forbes reported, “some claimed the response to the facts of the case would have been different if the races were reversed; others lamented that Anthony’s fate was decided by [a] jury that included no Black people.” During the trial, Jake Lang, who Forbes described as a “right-wing provocateur,” appeared at the courthouse and reportedly shouted that Anthony should be “lynched.”
Many popular figures within the right-wing and right-leaning podcasting world responded to news coverage of these three cases with extreme racist rhetoric, often mirroring the kind of language used by white nationalists like Nick Fuentes.
Since 2025, Fuentes — who last year was named Media Matters’ Misinformer of the Year — has been making the rounds on numerous online shows, getting millions of views, and sparking debate about whether the conservative movement should embrace him and his positions. At the same time, right-wing and right-leaning media personalities have also been echoing language and ideas from white nationalists — for example, by endorsing the concept of remigration, a form of ethnic cleansing that reflects exactly the kind of harsh anti-immigrant ideas Fuentes espouses.
As Media Matters’ John Whitehouse wrote last year, the fact that there’s even a debate regarding whether the conservative movement should embrace Fuentes can be attributed to “the right's continued embrace of extremism as the fractured MAGA coalition jockeys for power in a second Trump term and beyond.”
Right-wing and right-leaning online shows pushing extreme rhetoric over these events earned over 5.3 million views across YouTube and Rumble
Media Matters reviewed transcripts of episodes from right-wing and right-leaning online shows and found at least 16 episodes from 12 programs that were published between June 2 and June 11 and pushed extreme anti-immigrant, racist, and anti-civil rights rhetoric while discussing the Karmelo Anthony trial in the U.S., Henry Nowak’s murder in the U.K., and the Belfast riots. These episodes earned over 5.3 million views combined on YouTube and Rumble.
Three of these episodes came from Nick Fuentes’ America First, with these episodes earning at least 2.4 million views combined on Rumble, or roughly 825,000 average views per episode. The other 13 episodes earned at least 2.8 million views combined, with over 1.3 million views earned on YouTube and nearly 1.5 million on Rumble. These episodes garnered roughly 218,000 average views.
While Fuentes’ three episodes earned the most views on Rumble, The Daily Wire's The Matt Walsh Show garnered the most on YouTube, with at least 766,000 views over two episodes.
Right-wing and right-leaning podcasters defended the riots in Belfast, with some suggesting they should spread to other countries
Nick Fuentes: “It is refreshing to see white people riot. I do love to see it actually because you know what, it is our fucking turn.” He continued, “Clearly, that's the only way anything gets done. That's just how we do things. That is just how we do things. Now that society has become open warfare between tribes, this is clearly just how we resolve disputes and differences. Muslim thugs, African thugs, Black thugs, gangsters and gangbangers from every group, this is how they get their way. Violence, intimidations, tribalism, rioting — that is how they get their way. That is how they push white people around. That’s how they push government around.” [Rumble, America First, 6/10/26]
Podcaster Benny Johnson said “Belfast is set completely ablaze” because a “70 IQ or less Third World invader from Sudan” was “brought there from Paris.” Johnson added, “We, the civilized taxpayers who uphold society and whose ancestors built society and who play by the rule, we're tired of being preyed on, raped, murdered, pillaged. We're sick of it.” Johnson continued, “Belfast is set completely ablaze. Why? Well, because a 70 IQ or less Third World invader from Sudan, who should have never been in Belfast — couldn't have built a plane, couldn't have built a train, couldn't have built a boat to get to Belfast — was brought there from Paris.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 6/10/26]
War Room host and former Trump administration official Steve Bannon reacted to the riots in Belfast, saying, “Hopefully it gets channeled into positive nationalism,” adding, “You got to throw down at first, because they don't listen until you throw down hard.” Referencing Nowak’s murder as well, right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec responded, “You saw people — we were talking about this before — how it's uniting all of Europe, how the old tribalisms of Europe have now kind of been broken down because there's a new situation going on. The migrant invasion of 2015 is now finally being responded to. And you've got people in Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, England, Western Europe, all over, rising up and saying enough is enough.” [Real America’s Voice, War Room, 6/9/26]
Podcaster Steven Crowder on the Belfast riots: “I think there's a turning point in the Western world, and everyone is seeing it right now.” Crowder said, “Even though I don't support political violence, indiscriminately, at all, whatsoever, people in Belfast breaking windows in the public housing for asylum-seekers that they pay for — I understand it.” He also commented on Anthony's verdict, claiming people have “Black fatigue, I get it.” [Rumble, Louder with Crowder, 6/10/26]
Host Glenn Beck said the probable cause of the attack which inspired the Belfast riots was “the cultural clash rooted in Islamic patterns of violence that have no place in Western society.” He also said, “Enough is enough. People are rising up because the elites ignored them for too long.” He later continued, “You know, towns just didn't slide into Third World violence by accident. It happened when leaders prioritized open borders and brought the Third World in.” [YouTube, The Glenn Beck Program, 6/10/26]
Podcaster Dave Rubin reacted to the Belfast riots saying, “If you import people, for whatever reason, who do not have approximately the same views as you, who are willing to do unimaginably evil things on their religious or cultural conquest, or anything else, then your society will die.” He continued, “We have so much empathy for these brown people who, you know, they just — they're just different from us and OK, they rape, OK, they behead, but let's just invite them into our country and see what happens. And that is how you will get the collapse of the West. Quite literally.” [YouTube, The Rubin Report, 6/10/26]
After guest Anthony Pompliano said he thought the Belfast riots were “something where you’re going to see other people in other countries get inspired by it,” PBD Podcast host Patrick Bet-David responded, “Hopefully, hopefully.” Pompliano said, “This is something that is much more systemic. And, again, it goes back to — there's an economic reason that we got to this point. But now when you get this type of response, I think that this is something where you're going to see other people in other countries get inspired by it.” Bet-David replied, “Hopefully, hopefully.” [Valuetainment, PBD Podcast, 6/10/26]
Far-right commentator Stew Peters — who has promoted white nationalism and antisemitism, including on his show — argued that “all of us should be” recreating the Belfast riots. Peters stated, “Until just recently, Scotland had a Muslim invader as their first minister, the equivalent of their head of state. Just think of that. The country where King Robert the Bruce, upon his death, ordered his men to cut his heart out of his body and take it with them around the world to fight the enemies of Christianity. That place was conquered by Jews and had a Muslim installed as its head of state. Really, the people of Scotland should have been out in their streets doing exactly what they're doing in Northern Ireland right now a long time ago. All of us should be.” [Stew Peters Network, The Stew Peters Show, 6/10/26; Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed on 6/25/26; Media Matters, 3/13/23]
Reacting to the trials for the killings of Metcalf and Nowak, right-wing and right-leaning online hosts attacked the Civil Rights Movement, promoted violence, and fearmongered about the death of “Western civilization"
Nick Fuentes claimed, “What we find emerging is a pattern where it is always — the interracial violence is always — nonwhite people killing white people,” adding later, “They're crossing over into our communities and killing our own people.” He continued, “They're migrating to our countries and turning our countries into war zones, centers of conflict. And again, throughout history, these things happen too. Tribal conflict happens. Sometimes the barbarians breach the perimeter and get inside the city gates. ... When this happens, it is incumbent on a people, and in particular its government, to get together and protect the sovereignty and safety and the well-being ... of our society.” [Rumble, America First, 6/9/26]
Fuentes celebrated violence against minorities, saying, “I actually do love to see … some white men show up and just start beating the shit out of these people.” He then added, “Sadly, you can't even do that because that would be the solution. It would be.” [Rumble, America First, 6/10/26]
Fuentes argued Western civilization is “going to die” unless white people fight back in the face of Nowak's murder. He said, “This is the state of the Western white world. And the future without white civilization is ugly. It's ugly and it's bleak and it's poor and it is primitive and it is sad. And ultimately, unless white people are willing to fight for a place in this world where we are not being stabbed to death, where police are not arresting us for being stabbed, unless white people are willing to take a stand and fight for space, fight to take up space, fight for power as whites, not just incidentally holding power and being white, but holding power as whites, then we are going to die and our civilization will be wiped out.” [Rumble, America First, 6/2/26]
Benny Johnson called Nowak’s story a “massive red-flashing warning sign” about “how pernicious and evil our current leaders are in the West, how much they seek the destruction of everything Western, good, and Christian.” He continued, “They seek the destruction of our culture, and it's permissible, and they're using the authorities to do it. Whether that's locking us down during COVID, burning our cities during the George Floyd riots, or letting Henry Nowak bleed out. It is those institutions that must be ripped up. They were founded well before any of us were born. They were founded in post-World War II, modernist thinking, nihilistic thinking. They're antithetical to God and creation and a harmonious culture that was established by our founding.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 6/2/26]
The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh reacted to the Anthony trial by claiming that the civil rights era “achieved in the rest of the Western world” the “purpose” of “eliminating the civil rights of every white American.” He said, “Ever since the civil rights era, our leaders have conditioned millions of white Americans to accept their debasement, humiliation, and discrimination on the basis of race. And once white victims are held responsible for their own murders, on top of all that, then the civil rights era will have achieved its ultimate purpose. The purpose that's already been achieved in the rest of the Western world — eliminating the civil rights of every white American.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 6/2/26]
Walsh called for British men to “transform their entire society and their entire legal system to avenge Henry Nowak.” He said, “And if British men responded to this murder with one-tenth of the intensity that leftists used in response to George Floyd's overdose, the problem will be solved overnight. So, when does that happen? When are the riots starting? When will British men transform their entire society and their entire legal system to avenge Henry Nowak? And it doesn't even need to be riots because rioting is not the answer to anything. But actual anger and real systemic change in the country.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 6/2/26]
Referencing Nowak's murder and protests outside a New Jersey immigration detention center, Turning Point USA's Andrew Kolvet said: “You have Henry Nowak in the U.K. All of these forces, they feel like civilizational-defining forces that are clashing and colliding all the time. And the question I sort of have right now is, do we have the coalition that can save the West?” Kolvet added, “The forces arrayed against us are so vast and so demonic that we need to stick together.” [Real America’s Voice, The Charlie Kirk Show, 6/3/26; PBS, 6/6/26]
Frankie Stockes of the Stew Peters Network reacted to the Anthony verdict by asserting that “the social contract is white” and “these types of things have been happening in this country since the integration of schools.” He went on to add: “You still have idiot adults out here who will continue to tell their children after seeing this and cases just like it, Everyone else is just like you, everyone else is playing by the same set of rules that you are, everyone else has the same morals that you do. … Little Tyrone, little Raphael, little Abdul, little Ari, little Avi, they’re not so different than you, little Bobby. Yeah they are.” [Stew Peters Network, The Based Report, 6/10/26]
Media Matters is maintaining a database of online shows with a right-leaning or left-leaning ideological bent, including those that self-categorize in nonpolitical categories such as comedy, sports, and culture but which we determined regularly cover news and politics. This report draws upon that ongoing research in categorizing the online shows mentioned.
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Right-wing media are split on white nationalist Nick Fuentes
06/17/26 10:15 AM EDT
Megyn Kelly reacts to Supreme Court TPS decision: “Go back to fucking Haiti”
06/25/26 1:52 PM EDT
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06/24/2
MMA
Right-wing media respond to fatal ICE shooting in Maine by defending ICE vehicle stops and celebrating or downplaying the killing
Asmongold: “Good. Finally, they're shooting them.”
Written by Isabella Sherk & Torri Lonergan
Research contributions from Gideon Taaffe
Published 07/16/26
Right-wing media figures are excusing Immigration and Customs Enforcement's culpability for a recent fatal shooting in Maine -- and some are justifying, downplaying, or celebrating the death of ICE’s victim. The agency has faced widespread backlash since agents carried out two deadly shootings during vehicle stops in less than a week.
Recent fatal ICE shootings have drawn widespread scrutiny
On July 13, a man identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero was shot and killed during an ICE operation in Maine. This came less than a week after an ICE agent fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas. According to ABC News, officials said Guerrero had a work permit and was “not the intended target of the operation.” In a statement, ICE claimed that an “illegal alien” in a vehicle had “attempted to flee the scene and fearing for public safety an officer discharged his weapon." The officer involved was reportedly “a newly sworn-in ICE officer.” [ABC News, 7/14/26; PBS News, 7/10/26]
The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly issued statements that have turned out to be false about shootings involving its officers and has had to retract and change statements after the release of video or witness evidence. As The New York Times reported, “In other recent incidents, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have also claimed that motorists have ‘weaponized’ their vehicles, which has sometimes been contradicted by video analysis and witness accounts.” DHS’ initial statement about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti earlier this year, for example, was contradicted by video footage and an internal DHS review, and the agency acknowledged that federal immigration agents appeared to have lied about the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. DHS' statements about the shootings of Renee Good and Marimar Martinez were also contradicted by video evidence. [Media Matters, 2/11/26; The New York Times, 7/14/26; ABC News, 1/31/26; PBS News, 2/12/26]
In response to the recent shootings of Guerrero and Araujo, ICE reportedly ordered all agents to cease vehicle stops. Following backlash from right-wing media, President Donald Trump intervened and reversed the decision. ICE has a history of violent and deadly traffic stops. Nearly all of the U.S. citizens killed by ICE during Trump's second term were shot while in their cars, and ICE has injured others during traffic stops as well, including disabled U.S. citizen Aliya Rahman. [The Daily Wire, 7/14/26; The Wall Street Journal, 7/15/26; The New York Times, 7/14/26; MPR News, 4/19/26]
Right-wing media figures justified, minimized, and celebrated ICE shooting and killing Guerrero
Right-wing Twitch streamer Zack Hoyt, known online as Asmongold, reacted to the Maine shooting: “Good. Finally, they're shooting them." Hoyt said, “Try and drive your car at a police officer, they should shoot you in the fucking head. That's what I think. That's where I'm at. Get them out of here. Vehicle's a weapon. That's right. That's right, bro. Like, you — like, deport them all. Exactly.” [Twitch, Zackrawrr, 7/13/26; Media Matters, 12/11/25]
The Alex Jones Network’s Harrison Smith said he doesn't “feel that bad" about ICE killing Guerrero because “I do want people with the fear of ICE in their hearts.” He explained, “You don’t want to get shot by ICE, you better go home, all right? I think the main takeaway here is for all immigrants, you are in danger, OK? I'm not saying you should be. I’m not saying it’s a good thing you’re in danger. I’m just — you just clearly are.” He continued, “You better go home now, where nobody will be hunting you down. Go back to your home countries, where ICE will no longer care about you or have any reason to try to get you at all, OK? Go home. You need to go home now. I don't feel that bad, to be honest with you." [The Alex Jones Network, War Room, 7/13/26]
Fox host Jesse Watters brushed off the shooting, saying, “Can we grow up? I mean, there's going to be fatalities in law enforcement situations, especially when there's foreign fugitives who are resisting and running away.” He argued, “I'd say Trump's almost batting a thousand if you calculate this,” and asked, “What are we talking about here? The guy’s trying to make an arrest, and this guy’s driving all around like crazy. What is he doing? It's pretty stupid. Why is he here anyway? Shouldn't be here." [Fox News, The Five, 7/14/26, 7/14/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool expressed outrage over CNN calling Guerrero a “victim,” saying, “You don't have to call him a perpetrator, but you also don't have to call him a victim.” He complained, “Now you're going to get a bunch of lefties being like, ICE just killed an innocent man.” He continued, “I don't want anybody to die, but if you’re a criminal fleeing the police, anything that happens afterwards is your criminal culpability. Ergo, this man who died is criminally responsible for his own death." [YouTube, Timcast IRL, 7/13/26]
Newsmax host Greg Kelly compared ICE officers killing people to plane crashes: “It just happens.” Kelly said, “It may have been a bad shooting. That doesn’t mean you don’t have ICE. Bad shootings will happen from time to time. It’s — it just happens. Planes will crash.” As a comparison, Kelly added, “Schools – we need schools. Teachers hook up with students. Sometimes. I don’t like it. We arrest them. But we still need schools. We still need ICE.” He dismissed the fatal shooting in Maine, saying that “people get shot. But when it’s an illegal, and it’s law enforcement” there are protests. Kelly complained, “You may have heard that Markwayne Mullin from Department of Homeland Security has ordered ICE officers, for the time being, not to make apprehensions of individuals while they’re in their car. That’s — they got to fix that real fast. They got to do their training or retraining or whatever it is they have to do. Because that’s where you often find illegals.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Reports, 7/14/26]
Kelly also asked, “Why didn’t he stop?” and claimed, “The ICE officers tried to save him.” Kelly reported, “They were pursuing an illegal, and a legal actually got in the way.” He added, “The latest word I have is that he was here legally. OK, legally. But what he may have been doing there didn’t look legal. When law enforcement tells you to stop, you stop. He may have. We don’t have all of the information.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Reports, 7/14/26]
Fox News correspondent Christina Coleman blamed Guerrero for being shot and killed, saying, “Why are they fleeing the scene? Why are they driving off and putting our law enforcement in danger here? Maybe if they stop doing that, they wouldn't get hurt. But that seems to be the case.” She complained, “It's disgusting and it’s shameful and it’s disrespectful that you have the anti-ICE protesters. They're determined to jump to conclusions here. You literally have DHS — this is a government organization — saying what happened.” [Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 7/13/26]
Right-wing media defended ICE vehicle stops
On Fox News, former acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey worried about ICE temporarily suspending vehicle stops after multiple deadly shootings, saying that “if it in any way … implies one of these agents did something wrong, I think that could be a problem.” He also suggested ICE suspending traffic stops could embolden “some of these quote-unquote ‘protesters’ that are really — their goal is really to subvert ICE in all its roles — it might embolden them to even be more active in resisting and fighting against ICE.” He continued, “We were talking before the break about places that have, you know, eliminated pursuit policies — police departments — and how that actually increases more violence and more danger. So, hopefully it's temporary, because, you know, they’re going to have to get people in vehicles. That's just the way things are.” [Fox News, America Reports, 7/14/26]
White nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes complained that ICE is pausing traffic stops: “So where are they actually going to pick up the illegals then?" He said, “ICE has apparently killed two more people in their traffic stops,” and complained, “If you can't get the illegals at the job sites, at their houses, in their cars, if you can't pick them up on the street when you're doing patrols, where are you going to get them? How are you going to get them? The answer is you're not. You're not. ICE is not going to be deporting massive amounts of illegals anytime soon." [Rumble, America First, 7/14/26]
On Newsmax, Lidia Curanaj asked, “When are criminals going to learn that when you f around, you're going to find out the hard way?” She complained, “A vehicle is now a safe haven for an illegal alien. If you or I drive over the speed limit, say, just, what? 10 miles, cops can pull us over. But a person who is in this country illegally, perhaps even convicted of killing, raping, and robbing, all they have to do is jump in their car and an ICE agent can't do anything about it.” She criticized the Trump administration for “bending the knee to the left,” arguing that “eliminating … one of the tools that ICE agents use to protect us, it doesn't solve a problem. It creates an even bigger one.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 7/15/26]
Fox host Johnny “Joey” Jones defended ICE’s tactics, saying, “We're not going to change what the protect-and-defend folks can do based on what the defrauded-this-country folks might have done.” Jones said, “If you stick to the facts of it, you've got two people involved in that incident that tragically resulted in death. One defrauded this country, came here illegally. The other swore to protect and defend and uphold an oath and put his life on the line.” He continued, “We have to keep enforcing this policy. American people voted for it resoundingly. President Trump has mandated it. Not just the worst, but mass deportations.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/15/26]
Newsmax host Bob Brooks said vehicle stops are “key to mass deportations." Brooks asked, “If illegal aliens are allowed to shield themselves from deportation using cars, well, I got to ask this question — why should any Americans continue to follow traffic laws?” He complained, “The administration seems to be bending the knee. It's confusing. The radical left now has veto power over interior enforcement.” [Newsmax, Rob Schmitt Tonight, 7/14/26]
Fox host Lawrence Jones: “I've heard a lot of dumb commentary, like, Why don't they just shoot at the wheel of the tire? I’m sorry, that's not policing.” Co-host Johnny “Joey” Jones called such commentary “dangerous rhetoric,” saying, “They are shooting when their life is in imminent danger and in that moment is not when you go, Hey, the vehicle might have run over me, but let me shoot the tires so there's not a riot or a protest.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/15/26]
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On the One Big Beautiful Bill's anniversary, Fox elided the energy story
07/16/26
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MMA
Trump’s self-dealing as president is under the microscope. Some in right-wing media are speaking up about it — while others deflect or deny concerns.
Written by Isabella Sherk & Ben Van Bloem
Published 07/13/26
President Donald Trump is facing scrutiny from some right-wing media figures over new reporting about how he is taking advantage of his position as president to enrich himself and his family.
Trump’s recent mandatory financial disclosure revealed he earned at least $2.2 billion in 2025, including over $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency ventures alone, after he pledged to make America “crypto capital of the planet.” Trump also accepted a $400 million jet gifted from Qatar, and helped negotiate a billion-dollar deal surrounding a tungsten mine in Kazakhstan that his sons are invested in.
As the evidence has piled up, some in right-wing media are now admitting Trump is engaging in “cut and dry fraud,” while others on the right are deflecting and downplaying concerns that he is abusing the presidency for blatant self-dealing.
Trump and his family profited from cryptocurrency, government contracts, real estate, and lawsuits targeting media companies in 2025
Trump's recently released mandatory financial disclosure revealed he brought in at least $2.2 billion in 2025, compared to a minimum of $622 million in 2024 before he retook the presidency. He made about $1.4 billion from his family's cryptocurrency ventures, including selling a part of his family's crypto company to a United Arab Emirates-tied firm in a deal The New York Times said “blurred the line between foreign policy and private enterprise.” Trump also made $636 million from his meme coin, which the Times reported lost nearly 1 million investors a collective $3.8 billion. Additionally, Trump made over $80 million from lawsuits directed at some of the biggest tech and media companies. Experts have called these lawsuits “meritless” and argued they looked like attempts to compel “a form of internal self-censorship." [The New York Times, 6/30/26, 7/4/26; Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, 4/10/25; Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, 8/6/25]
The Qatari government gifted a $400 million jet to the Trump administration for a new Air Force One, raising “concerns about national security, foreign influence and conflict of interest.” According to The Washington Post, “The new Air Force One, which was speedily modified after Qatar gave it to the U.S., is believed to lack some of the sophisticated security technology the previous planes had.” The new jet was officially used for the first time taking Trump to a NATO meeting in Turkey on July 1, though he used the older Air Force One for the first leg of the return flight. [The Washington Post, 7/9/26]
The New York Times reported that the sons of both Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick invested in two companies with stakes in a Kazakhstan tungsten mine that may receive over $1 billion from the U.S. government as part of “a deal that their fathers were negotiating, continuing a pattern of self-enrichment in the second Trump administration that has few precedents in American history.” The Times reported, “The arrangement is hardly an outlier. One or both families have financial ties to at least 14 companies that are actively working with the federal government on critical mining deals, including the Kazakhstan project. … All 14 of these companies have either benefited directly from offers of financial assistance from the Trump administration, or have pending permit applications before the Commerce Department, which Mr. Lutnick oversees, The Times found. The total amount of federal funding that the Trump administration has provided or is considering providing to the companies exceeds $8.9 billion, according to public statements by the companies and federal government.” [The New York Times, 6/29/26]
Right-leaning figures called the Trump family's self-dealing “grifty” and “slimy”
SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly: “The Trump family is grifty.” In a July 1 interview, Kelly stated, “There's been, like, story after story about all the money that his sons are making off of the government, these government contracts they're getting, all that. I can't stand that stuff. And I love his sons, OK? So, I say this as a true fan of theirs, but I didn't like it when Hunter Biden was doing it and I don't like it when the Trumps are doing it.” [Sky News Australia, Paul Murray Live, 7/1/26]
White nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes complained about “a $2 billion Trump crypto scam” and asked, “Is this really the golden age that we were promised?” He continued, “You look around and it's a $2 billion Trump crypto scam. They're burying the Epstein files. It's $5 gas because we're in a war with Iran. Approval rating lower than ever before. Half the Cabinet is on their way out. And what the administration is fixated on now is this reflecting pool.” [Rumble, America First With Nick Fuentes, 7/2/26]
Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens lamented the Trump family's efforts to take over a publicly owned Albanian island for a planned resort, questioning, “How much more does the Trump family need?” She continued, “I mean, when — Ivanka swimming to Albania, like what? Like how much more money do you guys need? When is enough enough?” [PBS News, 6/11/26; YouTube, The Shawn Ryan Show, 7/2/26]
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones called the Trump family's involvement in a Kazakhstan tungsten mine deal “cut and dry fraud” as well as “espionage, treason.” Jones said, “I mean, that's beyond conflict of interest. That's cut and dry fraud. That's cut and dry espionage, treason. I mean, it's absolute — his own family getting contracts that Trump has forced deals with with foreign countries.” [The Alex Jones Network, The Alex Jones Show, 6/11/26]
The New York Post wrote an editorial, titled “Hunter Biden-style sleaze is just as slimy when the Trump boys do it,” criticizing the Trump family's involvement in the Kazakhstan tungsten mine and cryptocurrency ventures. The editorial board wrote, “Insider deals, finders’ fees and backdoor introductions to family members are business-as-usual in Third World banana republics, but these slimy practices have now been normalized in the White House, to the shame of the nation. … It would behoove the Trump administration, and the nation as a whole, if the president gets ahead of the growing scandal, acts transparently and cleans up the whole mess before it swamps his final two years in office — and defines his legacy.” [New York Post, 6/29/26]
In a column titled “Trump and Crypto, Again … ,” National Review's Andrew McCarthy wrote, “Trump is monetizing the presidency in a manner that would not only have appalled the Founders but would have been inconceivable just a decade ago.” McCarthy continued, “The $24 million in self-dealing revenue the Biden family earned over the course of several years (but not during Biden’s presidency), over which Republican-controlled House committees opened an impeachment investigation against President Biden, would barely amount to a rounding error compared to the dimension of cashing in on U.S. government power and influence over the past 18 months.” [National Review, 7/2/26]
Others on the right have denied, excused, or downplayed Trump’s self-dealing
Fox host Greg Gutfeld excused Trump's Qatari jet and crypto ventures, saying that Trump was “making billions before and he will make billions after.” Gutfeld said, “He didn't put a gun to anybody's head and took money from them” and questioned, “How much money did the Clintons and the Obamas make after they were president?” [Fox News, The Five, 7/1/26]
After Fox anchor Bill Hemmer talked about the danger of “investigations” into the Trump family if they “lose control of Congress,” Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade said, “Both Eric and Don said they have nothing to do with that mining company.” Hemmer immediately clarified that they were discussing the mine in Kazakhstan. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/1/26]
On CNN, former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) downplayed Trump’s new Air Force One from Qatar, asking, “Where’s the corruption here? I mean if a foreign government is giving a gift to the United States, how is that different from foreign direct investment?” [CNN, CNN NewsNight, 7/1/26]
After Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore commented on Trump’s self-dealing in crypto, Fox anchor Shannon Bream pivoted to talk about former President Joe Biden. When Moore said that “the president of the United States has made more money on crypto than crypto companies in the past year,” suggesting it highlighted “something fundamentally wrong that has to be fixed,” Bream commented, “As you know, there are a lot of folks who have big problems with a number of the pardons that President Biden handed out and how they benefited his family as well.” [Fox News, Fox News Sunday, 7/5/26]
Streamer Amrou Fudl, who goes by Myron Gaines, criticized Trump and “his sons” for their “crypto project” because it “doesn't look good optically, that's for sure,” but added that “Democrats do this shit too.” He said, “You know, the Trump administration, they're making money hand over fist, whether it's his sons, him, his crypto project, etc., but they're doing it openly. The only difference between them and Democrats, Democrats do this shit too. Democrats just do it quietly. That's the difference. … Trump is just brazen about it.” [Rumble, MyronGainesX, 7/4/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro dismissed criticism from MS NOW that the UFC fight on the White House lawn was benefiting a Trump-connected crypto venture, saying, “The outsized heartburn the Democrats are suffering from this sort of stuff, it is connected in general to a sort of anti-patriotism.” [YouTube, The Ben Shapiro Show, 6/15/26]
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mma
Right-wing media figures are split on AI and data centers
Amid internal divisions within the Trump admin on how to regulate AI, right-wing media are split on AI’s benefits and whether data centers pose a risk
Written by Jack Winstanley & Hanne MacDonald
Published 07/08/26
As novel AI tools continue to emerge and massive data center construction projects generate local and national controversy, right-wing media are divided over the impacts of the technology and the infrastructure that supports it. Some right-wing figures have been critical of AI, arguing it poses an “existential threat” to civilization and that data centers “deserve the rap they’re getting.” Others have championed continued growth of AI and data center construction, claiming that “data centers are good for society, good for the economy” and downplaying concerns that people living near them “might have to put on some earmuffs” or “might have to move.”
Trump administration takes steps to regulate AI as the technology comes under scrutiny
On June 2, President Donald Trump signed an executive order asking companies to provide the government with early access to new AI models before they launch to assess them for cybersecurity risks. The executive order came after the Department of Defense’s showdown with Anthropic, which has been blacklisted by the Pentagon over security concerns, and the release of the company's Mythos product, which was explicitly marketed to exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities. CNN,[6/2/26; White House,6/2/26; Anthropic, 4/7/26]
Trump initially delayed signing the executive order, citing fears that it would impede U.S. competitiveness. The delay, which reportedly followed a call from former White House crypto and AI czar David Sacks, also coincided with splits within the administration over the extent to which the federal government should be stepping in to regulate AI models. Sacks reportedly advocated an anti-regulatory stance while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was “pushing for greater barriers to Mythos-type models.” NBC News,[5/21/26; Politico,5/28/26; Bloomberg, 12/6/24]
On June 12, the Trump administration imposed export controls on Anthropic’s Fable and Mythos models, citing “national security authority.” Politico reports that the administration's move came after “tense calls” between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and administration officials who could not come to an agreement on how to remedy the White House's concerns. Politico, [6/13/26]
Data centers are facing widespread backlash across the country — including Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary’s formerly planned 40,000-acre data center project in Utah — with some localities even prohibiting their construction.The rapid growth of data centers has angered residents across Utah. A coalition of groups in New Jersey have petitioned the governor to pause all data center projects due to their impacts on residents and the environment. Denver’s city council approved a one-year moratorium on new data center projects following public pushback. And, backlash against data centers has also begun to emerge in the Make America Healthy Again coalition, with one MAHA media figure calling the continued construction of data centers “not compatible with the promise to Make America Healthy Again.” Fortune,[5/11/26; Inside Climate News,5/14/26; NewJersey.com,5/17/26; Axios Denver,5/18/26; Media Matters, 6/10/26]
Amid the growing data center backlash, right-wing media personalities have had mixed reactions, with some suggesting that China is behind the protests, while others have admitted that “a lot of the opposition is grassroots.” In one Fox Business appearance, O’Leary stated that “the Communist government of China is undermining the U.S. by fueling anti-AI data center protests.” Fox News later made on-air apologies for O'Leary's claim, noting there was “no evidence” and that Fox News “apologizes for the error.” Media Matters, [6/10/26; Business Insider, 6/29/26]
Calls for regulation around AI have been brewing within the MAGA camp, with an open-letter signed by over 60 “loyal allies of President Trump,” including Steve Bannon, urging government security testing and approval of AI models. In the past year, several other open letters calling for limits or regulations on AI development were directed toward the administration. At least two were co-signed by Bannon, and at least one was signed by conservative media personality Glenn Beck. Axios, [5/18/26; NBC News, 3/4/26; Time, 10/22/25]
## Some right-wing media figures have criticized AI and data centers, highlighting negative impacts
Podcaster Candace Owens urged people to “cause an uproar” over planned data centers in their communities. She added, “There are more of us than them.” YouTube, *Candace*,[5/20/26]
:{:{Host Alex Jones called data centers “the new system to rape us.” In another episode, Jones explained that AI is “being deployed to make us obsolete.” He continued, “There's not enough hype of how dangerous this is.” The Alex Jones Network, *Alex Jones Live*, [5/17/26, 5/13/26]}:
}:
Jones said that data centers “sound like a trillion fingernails on a chalkboard,” and stated that “the globalists are deploying it [AI] to replace us.” Jones continued, “They're stealing almost all the water and they do whatever they want.” With regards to AI rollouts, Jones stated, “We’re just stepping aside and saying yeah, we’re not going to have any prohibitions on this, we’re not going to have any controls. In fact, we’re not going to have any studies on it, even though the numbers are already showing young people and AI are losing IQ, getting depressed, alone, destroying relationships.” The Alex Jones Network, *Alex Jones Live*, [6/1/26]
OnOutnumbered, Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway shared sympathy for college graduates who booed commencement speakers discussing AI positively. She continued, “I actually kind of understand what the students are going through. Imagine that you have spent so much money to receive what is considered an education. … Then you have basically no job prospects because of how disruptive AI has been for the job market. I think it's something that people should understand.” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [5/18/26]
Podcaster Megyn Kelly stated that she is “very worried about AI,” and shared concerns that there is a lack of discussion on the “existential threat” AI could pose to human life. Additionally, Kelly called out the potential “elimination of all of our children's livelihoods.” In a later episode, Kelly doubled down, arguing that “the American public should have a piece of it” since “their kids are not going to have jobs” and adults “are going to have their livelihoods wiped out.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*,[5/18/26, 6/11/26]
Tucker Carlson criticized Trump for “encouraging more surveillance, more spying on Americans, to encouraging data centers across the country to abet that surveillance.” In another episode, Carlson also claimed that “there's been no real effort to explain to you or me or anyone how this is going to be great for us.” According to Carlson, major AI developers have focused on “telling us this is going to end everything that we love, including human autonomy, our jobs, our economy. It'll basically be a slave state run by machines.” YouTube, *The Tucker Carlson Show*, [5/20/26, 5/18/26]
All-In Podcastco-host Chamath Palihapitiya: “To be very clear and blunt, there is literally not a scintilla of evidence that AI has helped lift the operating margins of the S&P 500.” He also stated that the AI industry “doesn't have a measurable benefit for themselves,” and argued that “eventually it all comes home to roost” when AI investors want to see returns on their investments. YouTube, *All-In Podcast*, [5/8/26]
PBD Podcastco-host Tom Ellsworth stated that “data centers deserve the rap they’re getting.” He added that complaints about ambient noise, water use, and power problems were well-founded, though argued that legislation could be created to offset some of the concerns. YouTube, *PBD Podcast*,[5/11/26]
On former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’sWar Roompodcast, American Principles Project President Terry Schilling argued that AI wants to “subjugate us and colonize all of rural America.” Schilling shared concerns that AI data centers will “drive up energy costs, it's going to drive up water costs, it's going to drive down the value of the land. … We have to stop this all over the country.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [4/6/26]
Podcaster Jimmy Dore argued that “our own government” is working with AI developers to “create a surveillance state and make sure we don't have jobs.”YouTube, *The Jimmy Dore Show*, [5/16/26]
In a social media post played onWar Room, right-wing influencer Mike Cernovich argued that data centers would support “cradle to the grave surveillance.” In the video, which Bannon called “100% correct,” Cernovich also argued that Big Tech is using “populist messaging” to continue “profiteering.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [5/14/26]
Discussing the need to “beat China” at AI development, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh said, “If we impoverish millions of people and empower bureaucrats and Big Tech oligarchs with surveillance tools beyond their wildest imagination, then what good is it to win the race?” Walsh continued, “How is human welfare secured or advanced by creating a society where we are tracked and surveilled every hour of the day? And at the same time, millions of jobs become obsolete all at once.” The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [5/14/26]
Far-right podcaster Stew Peters stated, “The data centers are not a good thing. And there's not a good argument that makes the data centers a good thing,” calling them “digital prisons.” Peters also claimed that the data center project in Utah uses “more than two times the amount of power that the entire state currently uses.” The Stew Peters Network, *Stew Peters Financial*, [6/13/26]
## Others have expressed their support for AI and data center construction, with some dismissing potential harms
TheBlaze’s Glenn Beck proclaimed, “If you are just against the data centers, I can’t help you. I think you’re wrong on that.” Later, he added, “If you don't like the idea of the data center in your county, how do you feel about your grandchildren being under the thumb of an all-powerful AI that comes from China? Because those are the stakes, as I see them.” TheBlaze, *The Glenn Beck Program*, [6/5/26]
OnThe Mark Levin Show, guest host Brian Mudd argued that job loss due to AI is overstated since “less sexy-sounding companies” that build the data centers will be hiring. He stated, “Bottom line is, it always makes the news when you have like a high-profile tech company that announces AI related layoffs,” adding later, “What doesn't make the news is when all these less sexy-sounding companies and jobs, the construction jobs, HVAC jobs, the whatever that goes in, and you're certainly the small companies, those under 20 employees, all these jobs are being added.” Westwood One, *The Mark Levin Show*, [6/5/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro pushed back on concerns about energy prices being impacted by data centers, stating, “Red states just regulate energy far less than blue states.” He also dismissed concerns about water consumption, claiming that “as for the argument that data centers are going to disproportionately consume water, we should look at what actually disproportionately consumes water in the United States. … Almonds.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [5/18/26]
In another episode, Shapiro argued, “If you are concerned about things like inflation, one of the things that will allow for deflation, that will allow for prices to actually come down, is the increased productivity that is a result of innovation via AI.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [6/4/26]
During an interview with podcaster and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Heritage Foundation economist Peter St. Onge claimed that “AI uses almost no water” and suggested that companies “have to learn how to bribe local towns” to build data centers. St. Onge discussed concerns about power usage and data centers, claiming, “People worry about the energy usage of data centers. Trump recently required that AI companies have to build their own [power] generation. It's a very, very good idea. The water thing is B.S. — AI uses almost no water.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [5/29/26]
Bongino minimized the environmental concerns of data centers, calling the criticism “an op.” Later in his podcast, Bongino argued that AI dominance was a national security concern, adding, “I know they're not popular. I get it. However, what are you going to do? AI — You're going to let China build a bunch of data centers to use advanced AI products to hack every single U.S. bank, contract system, water plant? We don't have a choice.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [5/27/26, 5/27/26]
OnThe Joe Rogan Experience, MAGA billionaire Marc Andreessen said, “If you're ever going to build anything, a data center is the most benign thing you could ever build because it doesn't do anything.” He went on to describe the backlash to Kevin O'Leary's proposed data center in Utah as “a weird issue,” claiming, “You're never going to see it. It's out in the middle of nowhere.” YouTube, *The Joe Rogan Experience*, [5/19/26; Fortune, 12/11/24]
PBD Podcastco-host Adam Sosnick dismissed concerns that ambient noise from data centers would harm people's hearing, saying that people living nearby “might have to put on some earmuffs” or “might have to move.” Sosnick: “If it's going to affect some people's hearings, you might have to move. They might not have to build the data plant, data centers, right there. But at the end of the day, data centers are good for society, good for the economy, and just, you might have to put on some earmuffs like in old school.” Valuetainment Media, *PBD Podcast*, [5/11/26]
OnThe Five, Fox’s Greg Gutfeld argued that AI is “going to create as many jobs as it gets rid of.” Gutfeld also likened the advent of AI to the invention of the automobile, arguing, “The way the automobile sped up travel, AI is going to speed up research.” Fox News, *The Five*, [5/13/26]
Podcaster Joe Rogan suggested that AI “could analyze where all the money goes and eliminate all the fraud and waste” in the federal government. He also argued that such AI integration “would be a great benefit and a way to make it so that your taxes directly benefit people.” YouTube, *The Joe Rogan Experience*, [5/5/26]
//
### MAHA moms are taking on data centers
06/10/26 1:54 PM EDT
03/04/26 9:35 AM EST
### Right-wing media are fracturing over widespread backlash to data centers
06/10/26
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MMA
“President mass surveillance”: Right-leaning media are calling out JD Vance’s ties to Palantir
Amid an emerging divide over mass surveillance, some right-leaning figures are openly uncomfortable with the Trump administration's close links to Palantir
Written by Noah VanDowe & Ben Van Bloem
Published 07/02/26
As the Trump administration expands its use of the tech company Palantir across multiple agencies and departments within the federal government, some right-leaning media figures are expressing anger and fear about a “surveillance state,” placing a particular focus on Vice President JD Vance’s close ties to the Silicon Valley data management company.
Warning of a future “President Palantir,” these right-leaning commentators have slammed Vance as a “pawn” of “the ultimate deep staters” like Palantir co-founders Peter Thiel and Alex Karp. They have also suggested that the goal of such tech companies is to make it so Americans cannot “live or do anything that feels human.” Other conservative figures have dismissed these concerns, arguing they will cause America to “lose” the artificial intelligence race to China.
Vance has deep ties to Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, whose company the Trump administration tapped for administrative data collection
Palantir makes software that searches through and organizes large datasets — and as a U.S. government contractor, that could include sensitive information about every American.Wired notes, “The software firm's work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the US Department of Defense, and the Israeli military has sparked numerous protests in multiple countries.” Wired, [8/11/25; Inc., 11/3/25]
Trump chose Palantir to help “share data across agencies,” creating the possibility of a “master list of personal information on Americans that could give him untold surveillance power.” The apparent goal of the administration is to have Palantir compile a merged database that would include — but not be limited to — a person’s student debt, wages, bank account number, biometric data, and disability status. That information is currently siloed in different agencies, and experts warn that a merged database could be used by government actors to target political enemies, dissidents, and marginalized communities. The New York Times, [5/30/25, 4/9/25; The Guardian, 6/30/25]
Palantir was co-founded by Peter Thiel, who hired Vance to his investment firm in 2017 and donated $15 million to a super PAC supporting the future vice president’s 2022 Ohio Senate campaign.As reported by CBS, “In 2019 Vance moved back to his native Ohio, where he started his own venture capitalist firm, heavily backed by Thiel and other elite tech investors. By then he was flirting with a potential run for elective office, and Thiel was encouraging him. … Thiel brought Vance to his very first meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in February 2021, according to the New York Times.” CBS News, [7/16/24; Mother Jones, 7/23/25]
As the Trump administration’s ties with Palantir deepened last year, right-wing figures and podcasters lashed out, suggesting the company is “spying on us” and serves as “the backbone infrastructure of the Mark of the Beast.” War Room host and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon called Palantir “the villain in the AI” space, while former Fox host Tucker Carlson warned that “the technology, not just Palantir but all the emerging technology … it could be used to enslave the population really easily.” Media Matters, [11/10/25]
## Right-leaning figures are lashing out against Palantir’s political activities and potential role in “state surveillance”
OnThe Alex Jones Show, former Trump official Joe Kent suggested Palantir could be “waiting in the wings” to “drop in some kind of state surveillance.” Host Harrison Smith asked whether it is “dangerous to have Palantir, this, you know, AI technology sort of insinuating itself into ICE and the warfighting capabilities — are you suspicious of how this may be used in the future when another administration comes in, that we’re maybe building a very powerful, tyrannical technology?” Kent responded, “I am, and I feel that way about AI in general. And giving that central node, whether it's Palantir or somebody else, to the federal government, it's scary. I mean, it’s very dangerous.” Infowars, *The Alex Jones Show*, [3/30/26]
Podcaster Joe Rogan on Palantir calling for universal national military service: “Why the fuck would a tech company be saying that? ... How about fuck you, you go.” Rogan continued, “None of these tech dorks that are running these companies, they're not doing it. Like, what are you talking about? Throwing meat into the machine, throwing people's children into these unnecessary wars. Fuck you.” Fortune, [4/20/26; YouTube, The Joe Rogan Experience, 5/14/26]
On Stew Peters’ podcast, conspiracy theorist Jake Shields mentioned Palantir as part of a mechanism by Jewish people to force “us to live as slaves.”Shields said, “Look what they do in Palestine. That's a testing ground, I think, for all of us, through drones, Palantir, surveillance. I think, ultimately, what these people want is for us to live as slaves.” Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed [6/25/26, 4/11/25; Rumble, The Stew Peters Show, 5/8/26]
Podcaster Theo Von warned that because of “Flock cameras or some company like this, Palantir, one of these companies is going to be owning all of this information,” and Americans will not “be able to live or do anything that feels human.”YouTube, *This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von*, [6/21/26]
Von and guest John Kiriakou criticized data centers, with Kiriakou warning that the projects are “intel-related” and backed by “Palantir and Nvidia and Abraxas and all these big companies that either took CIA investments to get started as seed money, or are staffed by retired senior CIA officers — they’re not doing it for their health.”Kiriakou continued, “This new compound in Utah that NSA has built has enough memory storage space for every phone call, every email, and every text message from every American for the next 500 years.” YouTube, *This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von*, [6/5/26]
## Some commentators criticized Vance for being a “pawn of Palantir,” warning he will institute a “super surveillance state”
Right-wing influencer Alex Stein suggested that future elections could be “fake” and he therefore “wouldn't be surprised if JD Vance wins, the Palantir president.” On the Gray Areapodcast, Stein mocked Vance’s potential supporters, saying, “You're going to have all these MAGA people like, oh, I'm so happy we have a digital currency. I'm so happy we have a social credit score so we can kick them Mexicans out of here, even though they're going to be the ones that shut off your car for not getting the vaccine.” Rumble, *Gray Area,* [1/26/26]
On theNXR Podcast, white nationalist Nick Fuentes said, “If Vance is a pawn of Palantir and Anduril, which are defense contractors and intelligence contractors, wouldn't the deep state prefer Vance over Trump?” Fuentes: “And in particular, what will he do? Give them the federal contracts, give them favorable regulation, get their personnel inside the Department of War, inside the administration. And then eventually he'll be the president and have even more power.” Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed [6/25/26; NXR Podcast, 2/25/26, 2/25/26]
Steve Bannon said that Vance is “a creation of” Thiel’s political efforts to make “a surveillance state.” Bannon continued, “They try to put a false front of patriotism and nationalism when they’re anything but — these guys are the ultimate deep staters. They provide the surveillance apparatus to take the deep state to a much darker place than it already is.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [4/21/26]
Fuentes complained that Vance is “totally unacceptable” as a presidential candidate because of “his connections with Palantir.” Rumble, *America First*, [5/7/26]
Stew Peters: If Trump is impeached, Vance will “make Vice President Palantir body-snatcher turn into President Palantir body-snatcher and preside over the Alex Karp-Peter Thiel AI takeover of everything, along with, of course, the rest of the criminals in Big Tech.”Peters warned, “If you think that data centers right now are a problem, just imagine JD Vance becoming president.” Rumble, *The Stew Peters Show*, [5/7/26]
Bannon suggested that “JD Vance, and Peter Thiel, and [Palantir CEO Alex] Karp, and all these guys are in bed with China and the Chinese Communist Party.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [5/8/26]
Peters: Vance is “going to be President Palantir because he is going to be president mass surveillance state, super surveillance state. That’s JD Vance. That’s why Peter Thiel has funded him, has created him.” Rumble, *The Stew Peters Show*, [5/14/26]
Right-wing influencer Amrou Fudl, known online as Myron Gaines, said “JD Vance’s entire political career is astroturfed,” adding, “I don’t like these Palantir people.” Fudl continued, “I don't like Peter Thiel. … JD Vance throws me off, OK? And I also — I don’t like the other idiot that runs Palantir, right? This guy right here — the worst. Alex Karp. The worst.” Mediaite, [12/22/25; Kick, MyronGainesX, 5/7/26]
Podcaster Tim Dillon criticized a clip of Vance discussing concerns about AI and mass surveillance, arguing the vice president is “sponsored by the tech CEOs and data centers.”Dillon said that the Trump administration wanted Palantir to “merge all of the databases that collect information on you — the federal government’s databases, whether it’s concerning health issues or criminal justice issues,” adding, “What the hell’s that? What would that be used for — birthday cards?” YouTube, *The Tim Dillon Show*, [6/20/26, 6/20/26]
OnThe Joe Rogan Experience, Dillon said Vance and other figures in the Trump administration are engaging in “a little bit of gaslighting” over AI and mass surveillance: “It’s almost like China will enslave you. Let us do it first.”Dillon explained, “My worry is that in the guise of fighting China, we’re going to become China. So I would take the government a lot more seriously if they weren't, you know, potentially like, saying Palantir should merge all these different government databases so your health data and your criminal justice data and your tax data all merges. And who’s doing that? Palantir. … So when Vance comes out and he goes I'm worried about a credit score. It's like, OK. Hey, buddy. Me too. What the hell is this?” YouTube, *The Joe Rogan Experience*, [6/24/26]
## Other right-leaning media platformed defenses of Palantir and dismissed concerns about surveillance programs
TheAll-In Podcasthosted Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar to “respond” to worries about “Palantir powering a surveillance state.” Sankar insisted, “We don't collect data. We don't have any data. It'd be like accusing Excel of being a surveillance tool.” The CEO of Palantir, Alex Karp, was similarly invited to participate in a summit run by the All-In Podcast last year. YouTube, *All-In Podcast*, [4/6/26, 9/9/25]
Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro criticized the idea that “Palantir is the Antichrist,” arguing “we’ll just lose” the AI competition with China.Reading a post from Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, Shapiro complained, “So Palantir is the Antichrist. And now, if you buy into this entire shtick, if you buy into the idea that AI as a technology must be destroyed, it won't be destroyed. We'll just lose. If you think that China is going to forgo AI, you're a fool. They're not.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show,* [4/21/26]
OnThe Rubin Report, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale claimed, “If they'd had Palantir, it would have been very easy to stop 9/11. That was the whole point.” Forbes, accessed [6/25/26; YouTube, The Rubin Report, 5/9/26]
//
11/10/25 3:18 PM EST
### “Weak” and “disgusting”: Right-wing media revolt against JD Vance over Iran negotiations
06/24/26 4:02 PM EDT
### The plot to subvert the midterms is getting stranger and more dangerous
07/02/26 10:05 AM EDT
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MMA
How right-wing media covered corporate Pride campaigns in 2026
Reactionaries rejoice that “Pride is mostly over” — and target the holdouts
Written by Sage Hodil
Published 06/25/26
With Pride Month underway, right-wing media figures are celebrating that corporate Pride “is mostly over” and “beyond [its] peak,” crediting this decline to President Donald Trump and the right’s crusade “against all the weird LGBT stuff” in recent years. However, right-wing media continue to express outrage over social media posts from corporations observing Pride Month. Pundits have attacked sports teams for “trying to out-gay one another to show their fidelity to the LGBT religion,” claimed children's shows are “grooming” children and “inundat[ing]” them “with sexual messaging," and referred to posts celebrating Pride as “gross” and “repulsive.”
Corporate support for Pride Month has declined in recent years, but this may come with negative consequences for the brands that pull back
During Pride Month in 2025, several major retail stores and brands backed off from public support of pride.According to CNN, “Consumer brands are wary of provoking right-wing customers and activists” and “fear reprisals from President Donald Trump’s administration,” prompting them to “chang[e] their Pride Month approach.” Media Matters, [7/9/25; CNN, 6/2/25]
This trend has continued into 2026, but could be causing consumers to shop elsewhere.As USA Today’s Jessica Guynn writes, prominent brands have “muted their support” for the LGBTQ community “in an effort to avoid the ‘go woke go broke' backlash that roiled Bud Light, Harley-Davidson and Target." But Guynn also warns, “That approach can have consequences,” as new data from The Harris Poll shows that a vast majority of LGBTQ shoppers “would pay more for a brand that meaningfully supports gay and trans people and issues," and many see businesses that back away from supporting pride as “a red flag." As The Harris Poll's Tim Osiecki notes, “LGBTQ+ consumers are telling us that they notice when brands pull back, they can tell when support feels performative and many change how they shop when support disappears." USA Today, [6/10/26]
## Right-wing media have assailed and even boycotted businesses for supporting LGBTQ people and celebrating Pride Month for years
In 2023, the right led a crusade against corporate campaigns celebrating Pride Month or supporting LGBTQ people.Clothing retailers J. Crew and Kohls, as well as sportswear brands like Adidas and Nike, all faced attacks over marketing campaigns in support of pride or the LGBTQ community. Professional sports teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Jose Sharks were attacked over their “woke” Pride Night celebrations. Perhaps the most notable outrage and subsequent boycotts centered around Bud Light’s partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and Target’s Pride Month merchandise line, which led to sales declines for both companies. Media Matters, [5/25/23, 6/8/23]
In 2024, right-wing media seemingly dialed back their crusade but still found time to attack children’s educator Ms. Rachel for posting celebratory pride messages. Anti-LGBTQ social media account Libs of TikTok accused Ms. Rachel of subscribing to “the child m*tilat*on cult,” while Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing accused her of wanting “to brainwash your kids into radical ideology.” Media Matters, [6/5/24]
In 2025, conservative pundits claimed victory over pride but still found celebratory posts and sports teams to attack.Podcaster Matt Walsh insisted that pride is “collapsing,” while his Daily Wire colleague Michael Knowles claimed that “we reached peak LGBT somewhere around 2019 and … have been declining ever since.” After displaying a post from Sesame Street celebrating pride, podcast host Patrick Bet-David called public corporate support for pride “criminal.” Meanwhile, writers for The Daily Wire admonished MLB teams for “going all in on LGBT festivities.” Media Matters, [7/9/25; The Daily Wire, 6/2/25]
## Right-wing media are once again attacking brands that show signs of support for Pride in 2026
### Sports organizations and teams
Michael Knowles read a Pride post from the MLB stating that “baseball is for everyone” and said, “It's for everyone. Except for kids, and Christians, religious Jews, Muslims. Normal people who don't want weird sex stuff just constantly foisted upon them.”Reacting to a similar post from the New York Yankees, Knowles also said, “You don't have to do this, guys. Who is this for? We won the popular vote running against the rainbow.” The Daily Wire, *The Michael Knowles Show*, [6/2/26]
Podcast host Andrew Kolvet: “The MLB has just gone full pride. … It really breaks my heart because I'm a huge baseball fan.”Kolvet went on to say, “This is how you lose a country. When you start celebrating the wrong things. When you start lifting up as the ideal something that's outside of God's design.” Real America’s Voice, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [6/1/26]
The Federalist’s Shawn Fleetwood attacked sports teams for “trying to out-gay one another to show their fidelity to the LGBT religion” and promoting “sinful lies” like same-sex marriage and gender transition.Fleetwood said sports teams are making these posts to “appease the wrath of mentally deranged LGBT activists” and that “the entire concept of ‘Pride Month’ itself is grounded in a war against truth.” The Federalist, [6/2/26]
Newsmax host Ike Wingate slammed sports organizations for going “all in on Pride Month” and stated, “As a heterosexual male, let me say, when I watch sports, I want to see sports, not be inundated with your sexual orientation or pride logos.”Wingate asked, “Did we learn nothing from the reaction to Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney?” Newsmax2, *Ike Wingate America*, [6/2/26]
Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany: “It's June, which means the culture police are working overtime for Pride Month, making sure their radical agenda is forced on all of us. Case in point, Major League Baseball.” McEnany discussed with comedian and actor Rob Schneider an incident in which three San Francisco Giants pitchers were issued warnings for writing Bible verses on their Pride Night hats. Schneider argued, “Why are they trying to make baseball gay? We have enough gay sports. We have the WNBA. We have figure skating.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [6/16/26]
Fox News contributor Mary Katharine Ham referred to the MLB as “social cultural bullies who want to live in 2020” for issuing warnings to the San Francisco Giants pitchers.Ham continued, “The idea that you have to force everyone to do this thing, to embrace your secular religion, but that they can't make any reference to their own sincerely held religious beliefs is mean. It’s mean. It’s not tolerant.” Fox News, *The Faulkner Focus*, [6/17/26]
Fox News contributor Johnny “Joey” Jones called it “anti-American” for the MLB to require players to wear Pride Night-themed hats. Jones said the MLB should “allow them to wear a hat that doesn't have a rainbow on it" because “to make people celebrate something that is still debated in the public space in this country, I think, is just anti-American.” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [6/19/26]
:{:{British pundit Piers Morgan: “My own beloved Arsenal Football Club has taken a break from celebrating the Premier League title to celebrate Pride.”Morgan then remarked, “Why a month of celebrations? I don't get an hour for being a straight guy.” [YouTube, Piers Morgan Uncensored, 6/5/26]}:
}:
Libs of TikTok posted a collage of multiple NFL teams’ posts celebrating Pride Month and wrote, “The NFL has been compromised."Bluesky, [6/1/26]
Fox host Tomi Lahren commented under the post from the MLB: “If it’s for everyone, then why are we celebrating the sexual preferences of some by changing the logo for a month?”On Fox News, Lahren praised the Texas Rangers for “celebrat[ing] faith and family instead of a pride night.” Queerty, [6/1/26; Fox News, The Big Weekend Show, 6/7/26]
The Federalist CEO and co-founder Sean Davis commented under the post from the MLB: “Oh shut up. Stop trying to make everything gay, you sick freaks.” Queerty, [6/1/26; The Federalist, accessed 6/22/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty: “NFL teams, Roger Goodell, why? All tweeting about Pride. Not all of them. Some teams, the Lions, they even turned their little logo into the pride flag, like you’re a mean lion, you’re like a fabulous lion.”Finnerty went on to say, “The insanity is only just starting as the nation is forced to accept and celebrate what people do in the bedroom. That’s what this is all about.” Newsmax, *Finnerty*, [6/2/26]
OutKick’s Armando Salguero said the NHL “changing its logo to rainbow colors” is “a betrayal of its own corporate branding.”Salguero also praised the NFL for not posting about Pride, “The league accounts that, in the past years, have told fans that ‘football is gay,’ that ‘football is lesbian,’ that football is queer, transgender, bisexual and, for everyone, were silent on the issue. The National Football League's social media accounts this year stuck to, well, football.” Fox News, [6/2/26]
Turning Point USA representative Nathan Roberts commented under posts from numerous teams claiming he was “a lifelong fan” of each of them but would “cancel” his “season tickets right now” over their “absolutely disgusting” posts.Mediaite, [6/1/26]
Children’s shows and books
Newsmax host Todd Starnes: “Parents thoughtSesame Streetwas a safe space for their kids to learn their ABCs, but it turns out that Big Bird and Grover, well, may be groomers.”Starnes also stated, “I need somebody to tell me why toddlers need to know about gay sex. Anybody want to take a gander at that one? Or what about transgender ideology? … Folks, it just smacks of grooming.” Newsmax2, *The Todd Starnes Show*, [6/2/26]
Newsmax host David Harris Jr. mentionedSesame Street’s post celebrating Pride, as well as a drag queen story hour at the New York library, and asked, “Why is the left so obsessed with grooming children?”Newsmax contributor Kay Smythe Hill responded, “The goal of the left is depopulation. … If you can normalize the castration of children, and if you can normalize that from a very, very, very young age, then you’re just one step closer to their ultimate goal of, you know, the one world order, communist takeover of the West.” Newsmax2, *David Harris Jr. The Pulse*, [6/4/26]
Kayleigh McEnany claimed that “our children are being inundated with sexual messaging” while displaying a post from Peppa Pig celebrating Pride.Fox News contributor Kaylee McGhee White then stated, “There's a reason my son is not going to ever watch any of the cultural mainstream television shows geared towards children these days. He’s going to watch the Little House on the Prairie and maybe SpongeBob if he's lucky.” Fox News, *Saturday in America*, [6/6/26]
Newsmax contributor Luke Ball reacted to a post fromReading Rainbowrecommending a variety of children’s books to celebrate Pride by stating, “If the devil can get a foothold in the most formidable years of somebody’s life, then he has them for the entire generation, and I truly believe that that’s why they’re doing this. They want to indoctrinate them from an early age.”Ball went on to say that he is “devastated that we still have to deal with people who want to sexualize our children repeatedly.” Newsmax2, *The Todd Starnes Show*, [6/4/26]
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt mentionedSesame Street's post and stated, “Pride propaganda really does go after kids in a very sinister way.”Schmitt’s comment came after political commentator Link Lauren criticized Sesame Street and the Teletubbies for celebrating Pride and said, “We should celebrate the innocence of children and not push this onto them.” Newsmax, *Rob Schmitt Tonight*, [6/3/26]
Michael Knowles called it “sad” and “creepy” thatSesame Streetcelebrated Pride.Knowles also joked that the show’s monkey characters, Joey and Davey, “are actually who the pox was named after.” The Daily Wire, *The Michael Knowles Show*, [6/2/26]
Political commentator Brilyn Hollyhand referred toSesame Street’s post as “gross” and “strategic grooming.”Hollyhand posted, “There’s no scenario where Elmo telling kids to follow their sexual desires isn’t strategic grooming from activist cosplaying as educators. Gross.” HuffPost, [6/2/26]
Food delivery companies
Podcast host Steven Crowder called food delivery company HelloFresh “gay-pandering world champions” and suggested there should be “an age protection on these posts.” Earlier in the show, Crowder referred to Pride Month as “the month of faggots.” *Louder with Crowder*, [6/8/26, 6/8/26]
On Fox News, The Federalist’s Brianna Lyman referred to HelloFresh’s ad as “beyond the pale for a healthy society.”Lyman also stated, “For some reason people are told during Pride Month you are — everything is off, you know, bounds for criticism, otherwise you're homophobic. And it’s like, actually, no.” Fox News, *Gutfeld!*, [6/10/26]
In a video titled “Why Is a Food Company Selling Gay Propoganda?” Daily Caller reporter Ashley Brasfield said HelloFresh apparently learned “absolutely nothing from the Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light controversy.”Brasfield also accused the company of pushing “culture war content” and asked, “When did ordering chicken, vegetables, and pasta become a conversation about sex?” YouTube, [6/8/26; YouTube, accessed 6/22/26]
The Daily Wire’s Drew Berkemeyer called the ad “repulsive” and “sickening.”Berkemeyer argued, “HelloFresh seems to be trying to turn back the clock to a much more explicit era of Pride.” The Daily Wire, [6/7/26]
Michael Knowles reacted to the post: “Yuck. Yuck. Icky. Gross. Yuck. … It makes me nauseated.”Knowles also stated, “Prepping means that you change what you eat in order to prepare for really gross stuff … really deviant, aberrant actions.” The Daily Wire, *The Michael Knowles Show*, [6/8/26]
The Daily Caller published an article titled “Food Brands Need To Stop Making Pride Month Sodomy Jokes — It’s In Bad Taste.”The article discussed both the HelloFresh post and a post from Blue Apron and wrote, “If Don Draper were a real person, he’d be pouring himself a drink right now, lighting a cigarette, and staring off into the distance with disgust.” Daily Caller, [6/10/26]
In the New York Post, conservative writer Bethany Mandel slammed the posts from HelloFresh and Blue Apron as “smutty” and argued they “should take notes from Bud Light — embracing Pride typically precedes a business freefall.”Mandel also praised conservative activist Robby Starbuck for “launching widely successful boycott campaigns against corporations that prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion posturing over all else” in recent years. New York Post, [6/12/26]
Center for Renewing America Executive Director Wade Miller: “Interesting choice by @HelloFresh. It wasn’t enough for them to merely celebrate Pride Month, they went the extra mile in associating their food with human a--holes, enemas, and sh--. Bold strategy. Unsubscribed.”Fox News, [6/8/26]
## Right-wing media cheered the death of “peak pride” and celebrated efforts to rebrand June as “nuclear family month”
Fox News host Will Cain said sports teams celebrating Pride Month “doesn't feel as mandatory as it used to, or as universal,” and stated, “We’ve as a country, I think, moved beyond peak pride.” Guest Jillian Michaels agreed, “This is the part where we put down the flags and everybody gets along. We're not being persecuted. We can get married. … At this point, pride is completely counterintuitive for the community to come together, whether it’s in sports or just Americans in general.” Fox News, *The Will Cain Show*, [6/2/26]
Podcaster Megyn Kelly said “we are making some progress on the LGBTQ fight” because “for the first time in years, we're seeing very little on the pride front as we celebrate Pride Month.”Kelly continued, “Target, for once, not really leaning in — the tuck-friendly bathing suits with extra crotch coverage that they had back in 2023 — that's not, that's not really taking over anymore. So that's good. It appears that they've calmed down.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [6/3/26]
Michael Knowles: “Pride is mostly over, and the reason pride is mostly over for now is because of the popular vote victory in 2024, during which time Republicans campaigned against all the weird LGBT stuff. And the corporations and the Democrat politicians got the message, so they’re trying to downplay it.”The Daily Wire, *The Michael Knowles Show*, [6/2/26]
Matt Walsh: “Nobody cares about their dumb, gay Pride Month anymore. Not even the corporations."Walsh also contrasted a UFC event held at the White House to Biden's Pride celebration in 2023 and stated, “It looks like we won a major war of some kind. It's like we overthrew an occupying force that was intent on indoctrinating us and undermining our will to live and subjecting our children to horrific displays of sexual perversion." The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [6/15/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool cheered, “Pride is canceled,” and argued that “the weird woke era ... seems to be dead.” Pool mentioned that “very few" corporations “change[d] their corporate logo on social media to a pride flag" but that “it seems like baseball is the last holdout." YouTube, *Timcast*, [6/18/26]
Timcasthost Tate Brown said “I don't think anyone can deny that President Trump has spearheaded most of” the decline of corporate Pride campaigns.Brown continued, “Amazon, Walmart, Nike, maybe not Nike, but just look up a few companies. They haven't changed their branding for Pride Month. Four or five years ago, they absolutely would have.” Rumble, *Timcast*,[6/1/26]
On Newsmax, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said: “Pride is never a good thing. … It does harm us, what other people do, and the idea that we’re celebrating pride and we’re celebrating perversion and moving away from that nuclear family — it hurts all of society.” Perkins also praised Republican governors for “addressing the elephant in the room” that “children need a mom and a dad.” Newsmax2, *Ike Wingate America*, [6/2/26]
The Federalist’s Nathanael Blake claimed that “Americans are falling out of love with LGBT ‘Pride’” in part because they “learned that same-sex marriage was a bait and switch” that “unleashed radicalism into normal life.”Blake argued that “LGBT groups and their allies wanted far more than same-sex marriage. … Rather, everyone and everything, from schools to sports, had to bow to the rainbow flag.” The Federalist, [6/16/26]
Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy said red states celebrating “nuclear family month” are “such a welcome change” because “it felt like four or five years ago that we were going to be stuck in this woke hellscape.”Campos-Duffy also argued that supposed efforts “to get rid of the nuclear family” are a “cultural Marxist thing” because “if you can tear down the family, you can actually tear down the country and the society.” [Fox News, The Big Weekend Show, 6/7/26]
While discussing the red states' push to celebrate June as “nuclear family month,” Newsmax host John Burnett cited Proverbs 16:18 that “pride goeth before destruction.”Burnett continued, “Just like the other side has a right to celebrate and go under whatever banner they want, each state, based upon federalism, has the right to promote whatever values it deems appropriate and is aligned with their residents.” Newsmax 2, *First Edition*, [6/12/26]
Catholic League President Bill Donohue said the push for nuclear family month represents a “cultural shift … in a family-friendly direction” as “people are hitting the pause button” on LGBTQ pride.Over a Newsmax chyron claiming “states push back on Pride Month,” Donohue also said “people are pushing back against” the LGBTQ “agenda, which sometimes can be very vulgar and affect children.” Newsmax 2, *National Update*,[6/12/26]
//
### Snapshot: How right-wing media covered Pride Month in 2025
07/09/25 11:29 AM EDT
### Timeline: The right’s crusade against LGBTQ+ corporate Pride Month campaigns
05/25/23 5:36 PM EDT
05/25/23
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Right-wing media are fracturing over widespread backlash to data centers | Media Matters for America
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Fox's deranged reaction to NYC Mayor Mamdani's affordable housing proposal
Fox personalities side with negligent landlords and rant about “wealth confiscation” and “mass killing”
Written by Zachary Pleat
Published 05/29/26
After New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled his plans to make affordable housing more available in the city, Fox News personalities and guests fixated on the plan’s efforts combating negligent landlords. They declared that enforcement against negligent landlords amounted to “public theft,” said it was a “throwback to Stalin,” and ranted that legal action to turn over properties from them to more responsible stewards will lead to “mass killing” and similar atrocities.
Mamdani proposes affordable housing initiatives, action against negligent landlords}:
NBC News: “New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled proposals Tuesday to build 200,000 affordable housing units and preserve an additional 200,000 over the next decade as part of a comprehensive housing plan.” The article continued: “The plan, dubbed ‘Block by Block, a Housing Policy for a New Era,’ includes $22 billion in new investments to build affordable housing, $5.6 billion in funding to enhance the New York City Housing Authority and a new $40-per-hour minimum wage for construction workers on city-financed projects. The proposal also outlines new aggressive code enforcement measures, investment in a city-backed home insurance provider and loosened regulations around prefabricated homes.” NBC News, [5/26/26]
Politico: “Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to tackle ‘inequitable’ residential growth across New York City that allows many wealthy neighborhoods to add scant housing amid a massive shortage.” The article continued: “Mamdani will roll out a set of zoning and land use initiatives on Tuesday aimed at changing this paradigm, as one plank of a wide-ranging housing plan. City Hall will explore land use changes to allow residential development in neighborhoods with the lowest rates of affordable housing production, and citywide zoning reforms to permit more housing to be built near public transit, among other policy changes.” Politico, [5/26/26]
:{Mamdani’s “Block by Block” affordable housing plan includes numerous steps to take action against negligent landlords, including a formal process to seize their buildings if they refuse to comply. Chapter 1 of:{ Mamdani’s “Block by Block” plan details how the city plans to enforce regulations and code requirements against “a small group of persistent ‘bad actor’ landlords [who] have willfully and routinely neglected their buildings.” This includes plans to “aggressively use the 7A Program” to “initiate legal action to remove negligent owners and property managers from day-to-day management,” and “where appropriate, engage with lenders to force compliance or immediately begin foreclosure proceedings when landlords refuse to comply.”}:
Gothamist reported that the city is also working on formalizing procedures for tenants to purchase their buildings either sold by or seized from their landlords. New York City, The Office of the Mayor, [May 2026; Gothamist, 5/26/26]}:
In a speech outlining his plan, Mamdani said: “When necessary, we will take aggressive legal action to remove negligent owners and property managers. And for buildings that have suffered chronic neglect, we will work to transfer ownership to responsible stewards.” Mamdani continued, stating that those “responsible stewards … include community land trusts, nonprofits, or even the tenants themselves.” CBS New York via YouTube,[
]
## Fox personalities and guests side with negligent landlords, claim Mamdani’s plans will lead to mass violence and death
Fox Business host Charles Payne on Mamdani’s plan to transfer ownership from negligent landlords: “This will be public theft. Public theft.” Payne added: “He’s actually hijacking a real problem; the transfer of ownership of private property from struggling landlords — mostly folks who own one or two buildings, in part because of, you know, rent controls and things like that — and he is hijacking the problem. Because this is what Democrats do very well — they take a problem, they take acute pain — then they find a way to hijack it and give it to their friends.” Fox News, *America’s Newsroom*, [5/28/26]
Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Mamdani’s plans regarding negligent landlords: “I'm thinking, do people not know where this always leads? I mean, socialism to communism always leads to mass killing.” Ingraham continued: “It just does. It leads to extermination.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [5/27/26]
Fox Business host Jackie DeAngelis on Mamdani threatening a “property takeover”: “It feels like wealth confiscation, that’s honestly what it is.” Fox Business, *The Evening Edit*, [5/27/26]
Washington Examiner editor-in-chief Hugo Gurdon on Fox: “All socialist systems, ultimately, use force, and you can see it with Mamdani now” regarding his plans for negligent landlords. Fox News, *The Will Cain Show*, [5/27/26]
Fox anchor Sandra Smith said Mamdani’s plan to hold negligent landlords accountable “is outright blatant theft,” while guest and Republican NYC council member Vickie Paladino cited a quote she attributed to “Zohran’s good buddy” streamer Hasan Piker: “Let the streets run red with their capitalistic blood.” Piker previously explained that the quote, which was slightly different, “was in a conversation that I was having with a landlord friend of mine, and it's of course hyperbolic and it's not meant to be sincere. This is not sincere advocacy. It's not a real policy that I would ever advocate for.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [5/27/26; Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 9/17/25]
Fox Business host Larry Kudlow claimed Mamdani “is a throwback to Stalin” over plans to address negligent landlords, likening the plans to “when the Soviet Union would confiscate the means of production.” Kudlow continued: “This stupid kid is doing the same thing, because it's what he thinks is the right thing to do. I mean, it's a throwback. I mean, nowadays the modern socialist Democratic Party uses regulatory apparatus to do this kind of thing. This kid's coming in and just, he's just taking the assets and changing ownership. … It’s like setting up little soviets.” Fox Business, *The Big Money Show*, [5/27/26]
Discussing Mamdani’s plans for negligent landlords on Fox Business, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) said: “Let’s be real and call it what this is — trying to seize private property, that is communism.” She additionally claimed: “New York City is actually the biggest slumlord in the city of New York.” Fox Business, *Varney & Co.*, [5/27/26]
Fox anchor Martha MacCallum on Mamdani possibly turning over properties from negligent landlords to tenants: “This is Marxism. It’s collectivism. It’s government apprehending all of the means of production, property, all of the things that Marx writes and talks about are exactly what we’re seeing here.” Fox Business, *Varney & Co.*, [5/27/26]
OnFox & Friends, network contributor and New York Post columnist Miranda Devine said Mamdani’s “communist prescriptions” targeting negligent landlords will lead to “bloodshed and mayhem and abject misery.” Devine added that Mamdani has an “eerie smile ... when he closes his eyes and says something really frightening.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [5/27/26]
//
05/27/26 10:42 AM EDT
05/28/26 1:24 PM EDT
05/27/26
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TARGET BC HE IS DEM STRONG IN STATE BETO ALMOST TIPPED CALLS OUT GOP RT ON BEING BAD XIANS
AMAZING OVER THE TOP BILE FROM PAXTON SPEECH WIN PRIMARY -->
“Weird,” “vegan,” and “effeminate”: Right-wing media are attacking James Talarico based on lies and vibes
Right-wing pundits have resorted to calling Talarico disparaging nicknames like “Tofu Talarico,” “Tala-freak-o,” and “Beta O’Rourke”
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Sage Hodil
Research contributions from Jane Lee
Published 05/28/26
Right-wing media are lobbing attacks at Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, resorting to playground insults and seeking to define him as “unlikable,” “gay,” and “against meat.”
## James Talarico has been under attack from high profile Republicans over false claims and misrepresentations of his beliefs since winning the Democratic nomination for Senate
Following Talarico’s Democratic primary win earlier this year, right-wing media attacked his faith as a Presbyterian seminarian.MAGA pundits called Talarico and his discussions of Christianity “blasphemous,” “demonic,” and “completely insane.” Media Matters, [3/5/26]
President Donald Trump has also attacked Talarico, falsely claiming he was a vegan.Trump told reporters, “I mean, this guy is bad news. His masking from relatively recently. And he's a vegan. He's a vegan. All of a sudden he's not a vegan.” The claim stems from a 2022 clip from Talarico’s campaign for state House in which he said he was running a “non-meat” campaign by buying vegan products at campaign events. Talarico has repeatedly denied being a vegan and has posted evidence of him eating a turkey leg. USA Today, [5/15/26; CNN, 5/25/26]
Republicans have also baselessly insinuated that Talarico is a pedophile or transgender.An official Republican social media account posted a photo of Talarico with the caption, “Hide your kids.” Additionally, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed, referring to Talarico, “The Democrats made history in Texas by nominating their first transgender senate candidate.” Bluesky, [5/21/26; Them, 5/27/26]
## Right-wing media are falsely claiming Talarico is a vegan and mocking him as “weird”
War Roomhost Steve Bannon said Talarico “is a vegan who plays with dolls.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [5/27/26]
The Charlie Kirk Showhost Andrew Kolvet listed off nicknames for Talarico including “Tofu Talarico,” “Tala-freak-o,” and “soy boy.”Kolvet also said Talarico is “objectively very weird.” Real America’s Voice, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [5/27/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool called Talarico a “vegan, woke, weird sex guy.”YouTube, Timcast, [5/27/26]
Right-wing radio host Scott Jennings attacked Talarico, saying, “Today, perhaps he has committed the most unforgivable sin that a candidate can commit in Texas: He has come out against meat.” Jennings then played the clip from 2022 of Talarico talking about his “non-meat” campaign and stated, “I don’t know a single male, in fact, who talks this way.” Salem News Channel, *The Scott Jennings Show*, [3/18/26]
Fox & Friendsco-host Lawrence Jones attacked Talarico for being a vegan in Texas, saying, “The brisket capital of the world. Right. Unelectable.”Jones continued, “That's just like going to Texas and saying get rid of all the Whataburgers. It doesn't work. And, you know, if you want him at the top of the ticket, go for it.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/20/26]
Fox News anchor Dana Perino said onThe Fivethat Talarico is “against meat.”Fox News host Greg Gutfeld reacted to Talarico wearing a mask in 2022, saying, “He may not eat meat but he doesn't have any balls, that's for sure. What a pathetic individual.” Fox News, *The Five*, [3/19/26]
Podcast host Megyn Kelly called Talarico “weird and unlikable.”SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [5/20/26]
OnThe Ingraham Angle, Fox News contributor Ben Domenech said, “James Talarico is, quite frankly, a gigantic weirdo and believes insane things.”Fox News,*The Ingraham Angle*, [5/26/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty claimed, “James Talarico is insane, and I mean that literally.” Newsmax, *Finnerty*, [5/26/26]
Jennings said of Talarico, “Democrats down there have nominated one of the biggest weirdos in America.” Salem Radio Network, *The Scott Jennings Show*, [5/26/26]
While discussing Democrats’ nomination of Talarico in Texas, Fox News host Charlie Hurt said Democrats are “doing everything they can to pick the weirdest people.”Hurt stated, “Don't nominate weird candidates to represent your party. That's all you have to do. And it's like they're doing everything they can to pick the weirdest people.” Fox News, *Hannity*, [3/23/26]
## Right-wing media have questioned Talarico’s masculinity and sexuality
Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro said, “Talarico is the slightly more gay Pete Buttigieg.”The Daily Wire,*The Ben Shapiro Show*, [5/20/26]
Megyn Kelly said Talarico reminds her of “a little boy with an unusually mismatched deep voice.” She continued, “When you just listen to him, like the people listening to this on SiriusXM or on podcast, I think you would picture a much larger, more manly man. Then you see this guy, and it's like, don't you have, like, to get back to school for your PE class? Look at him. He's just like — he looks like — he needs to wear a tie too, and he's one of those politicians who should be praying that he goes prematurely gray just to be taken a little bit more seriously.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [5/27/26]
On Fox News, podcaster Benny Johnson said Democrats have “given up on masculinity” and called Talarico an “effeminate, estrogenetic, catty, and totally embarrassing” candidate.Johnson also referred to Talarico as “Beta O’Rourke” and ranted: “This guy is the Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light ad of political campaigns. Clearly Michelle Obama has more testosterone than Talarico. James Talarico is a guy who could be played by Elliot Page in a new Christopher Nolan movie, or a Subaru ad.” Fox News,*Jesse Watters Primetime*, [5/28/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie referred to Talarico as “low T” and said he has “weird perverted” rhetoric regarding trans kids.Reacting to a clip in which Talarico said he loves trans children, Higbie lashed out: “You pervert. You disgusting, child mutilating freakshow of a human being.” Newsmax,*Carl Higbie Frontline*, [5/25/26]
OnThe Five, co-host Jesse Watters said “Tala-freak-o” looks “prepubescent” before joking, “Yes, a gay vegan is definitely going to win in Texas.”Fox contributor Lisa Kennedy Montgomery called Talarico a “baby lotion soft child” and a “beta male,” saying he looks “prepubescent” and that he “put the semen in seminarian.” Fox News, *The Five*, [5/27/26]
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MMA
Right-wing media defend ICE detention center amid protests over horrible living conditions
Written by Sophie Lawton
Research contributions from John Knefel
Published 05/29/26
Right-wing media are defending the living conditions at Delaney Hall, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in New Jersey, following reports of a detainee hunger strike sparking protests outside. In addition to repeating Department of Homeland Security talking points about the conditions, media figures have attacked protesters outside the facility, claiming the demonstrations are “performance art,” among other allegations.
According to NBC, one lawyer who represents multiple detainees said her clients at Delaney Hall “have been given expired food and meals with worms in them” and that some “have been released in recent months because they were not receiving medication or treatment for cancer, diabetes, depression and other conditions.”
The Department of Homeland Security has denied that a hunger strike is taking place at the facility, and both DHS and private prison company the GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, have rebuked claims that conditions are unsanitary or “subprime.” In the past year, reports of poor conditions at ICE detention centers have arisen across the country, including from locations such as Fort Bliss Army Base in Texas and the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” facility in Florida.
Right-wing news pundits and podcasters have contested such reports, repeating DHS talking points claiming that conditions in immigration detention facilities are “clean and nice” and possibly offer “better meals” and “better healthcare” than detainees had previously. Further, several have argued that it shouldn’t matter whether the detainees are on a hunger strike.
Besides defending the facilities, right-wing media figures have also attacked the protesters demonstrating outside Delaney Hall, encouraging escalation from the federal government and accusing protesters of being an “organized agitator group” that aims to stir up votes for the midterm elections and set violent criminals loose on the streets.
Right-wing media dismissed the hunger strike, defended detention center conditions, and attacked demonstrators for protesting
Fox's Greg Gutfeld said onThe Five, “Maggots or not, the food is dietitian approved.” Fox News, *The Five*, [5/28/26]
OnOutnumbered, Fox host Carley Shimkus said of federal detention centers, “Let's not make this a luxury experience on the taxpayer dollar,” and questioned, “Could this be a protest that sparked for political reasons to get this back in the news cycle?” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [5/28/26]
Fox & Friendshosts Lawrence Jones, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade made various arguments against the protests, including Eardhart’s claim that “they are mad at Trump for trying to clean up the problem” of immigrants on “the streets” by putting them “in these facilities that are clean and nice.” Kilmeade also encouraged the federal government to pull resources from New York airports, saying, “Make your choice, sanctuary cities. Do the right thing or you going to pay the price.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [5/28/26]
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From the May 28, 2026, edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends
The previous day onFox & Friends,Jones argued, “If they are choosing not to eat … we don't care.” Earhardt read aloud a social media post from DHS that claimed, “ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. Citizens." Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [5/27/26, 5/27/26]
On Fox Business'Mornings with Maria Bartiromo, former ICE Director Jonathan Fahey claimed that “this idea that these people aren't being fed or getting medical care is completely false, or my guess it is.”Fahey then threatened the protesters with imprisonment, saying, “These people that are basically assaulting and obstructing ICE agents are going to find out the hard way — they’re going to get to compare what it's like being in a federal detention center to an ICE detention center because a lot of these people are going to get locked up. But this is all performative nonsense designed to obstruct, to disrupt.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [5/27/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie said about the hunger strike: “If they want to not eat, that's on them. I don't really care. Saves us some taxpayer money, I guess.” Higbie also claimed that “half of the people in the ICE clink are probably getting better meals and probably getting better healthcare than they did before they were picked up.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [5/26/26]
Speaking with Trump “border czar” Tom Homan, Fox host Laura Ingraham said reporting of bad living conditions at Delaney Hall “doesn't pass the straight-face test” because “this is not supposed to be a spa with foot massages and facials,” and suggested that China was “behind some of this agitation” to make “America look bad.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [5/26/26]
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From the May 26, 2026, edition of Fox News' The Ingraham Angle
Fox host Jesse Watters replied to co-host Jessica Tarlov explaining the protests at Delaney Hall: “Who cares if there's a hunger strike for criminal illegals?” Fox News, *The Five*, [5/26/26]
A panel member on Newsmax'sThe Right Squadclaimed: “If they're electing to have the hunger strike, I mean, you know, that's of their own choosing.” Newsmax, *The Right Squad*, [5/27/26]
Megyn Kelly alleged that Democrats started protesting at Delaney Hall because they “are looking for another Minneapolis” and repeated claims from DHS that “there is no hunger strike happening” and “there are no subprime conditions whatsoever, … these are all lies for attention, either by leftists or the inmates or both.” Kelly's guest, National Review's Rich Lowry, claimed, “There's probably a large element of organic nature to it [the protest] because they hate ICE and they believe the lies about ICE, that ICE is an American Gestapo.” Lowry also praised ICE for its standards of detention, saying “it's very unlikely that these horror stories [about conditions inside] are happening.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [5/26/26]
Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner expressed disbelief over the protests: “What do these sanctuary districts want us to do with the illegals that we have in detention centers? Do they want us to release them just out on the streets?” Faulkner also asked “for those lawmakers showing up, I mean whose side are they really on?” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [5/28/26]
Fox host Will Cain said “this idea that these people [detained at Delaney Hall] didn't commit a crime is simply absurd. It is simply absurd.” Cain called the protesters “an organized agitator group.” Fox News, *America's Newsroom*, [5/28/26]
In an interview on Fox discussing protests at Delaney Hall, correspondent Bill Melugin asked former ICE Director Jonathan Fahey, “Do the feds need to up their posture a little bit, maybe get a little bit more aggressive?”Fahey responded, “Yeah, I think arrests need to be made.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [5/26/26]
Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino called the protests “performance art” and argued Democrats want people who “committed serious crimes in the United States” to be “released in their communities to rape, assault, burglarize your home, rob you, and potentially murder you, because they don't give a shit.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [5/26/26]
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mma
Right-wing media team up with the Trump administration to sell regime change in Cuba
Conservative pundits have spent months agitating for regime change
Written by John Knefel
Research contributions from Janos Balazs
Published 05/21/26
Right-wing media figures are helping administration officials lay the groundwork for regime change in Cuba in what would potentially be the latest unprovoked act of military aggression by the Trump White House.
MAGA media figures have long embraced a Trumpy version of the Monroe Doctrine, the notion that the United States has the right to exert dominance over the Western Hemisphere. As the second Trump administration has pursued more openly imperialist ambitions, many conservative pundits have cheered on the White House every step of the way, including when the administration started to threaten Cuba.
If Trump does attack Cuba, it may be an attempt to replicate what he sees as the successful operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, the former president of Venezuela — in contrast to the administration’s increasingly unpopular war on Iran.
On May 20, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller appeared on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime to discuss the Justice Department’s indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro.
“Today, finally, accountability is coming for Castro,” Miller said, before offering the administration’s case for escalation.
“Cuba, positioned just a 45 minute flight from American shores, has been a staging ground for America's adversaries for decades,” Miller said. “It is the last outpost of communism. It is the last outpost of the Cold War. American presidents for generations have tried to deal with the problem, the threat of this communist foothold just miles away from American shores.”
“And President Trump,” Miller argued, “has brought us closer than ever to the day when Cuba will be free and when Cuba will no longer be a threat to America but Cuba will be a friend and partner to America, which is essential for our national security.”
Watters responded: “Absolutely, and it will be a historic achievement if that does happen.”
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From the May 20, 2026, edition of Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime
A week earlier, Fox’s Sean Hannity interviewed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime advocate for regime change in Cuba, aboard Air Force One.
“It’s my personal opinion, you cannot change the economic trajectory of Cuba as long as the people who are in charge of it now are in charge of it. That’s what’s going to have to change,” Rubio said.
Hannity agreed and speculated about the possibilities for U.S. capital to flood the country. “If these people are not in charge, I mean, I can envision American wealth and companies — it could become the destination.”
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From the May 13, 2026, edition of Fox News' Hannity
Amid a report that the Cuban government was considering using drones to attack the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay or Key West, Florida, MAGA streamer Benny Johnson speculated the leaked intelligence could be a “pretext” for launching a war — though he appeared to support the administration’s overall goal.
“I don't buy this,” Johnson said. “Right? Like, why would Cuba ever consider doing this unless it was a false flag — unless it's a false flag that's getting set up by the American administration, and that's what I believe that this is.”
Despite acknowledging the intelligence could be false, Johnson concluded the segment by seemingly endorsing military action.
“Expect this to pop off any day now,” he said. “Hopefully, Iran signs a peace deal, and then we can get Cuba done, as they say.”
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From a May 18, 2026, video posted to the YouTube account of Benny Johnson
For months, some of the loudest voices suggesting regime change in Cuba have come from right-wing Spanish-language media, a trend that has continued into May.
On May 5, Fox Noticias host Andrea Linares said that before there could be any foreign investment in Cuba, “there would have to be a total regime change.”
On May 19, Augustin Acosta, co-host of Actualidad Radio's Cada Tarde, argued that if Trump “believes he can fix Cuba while leaving the regime in power, the president is either completely wrong or has started to lose his mind.”
“In Cuba there is nothing that can be fixed — absolutely nothing that can be fixed — while leaving the dictatorship in power,” Acosta added. “That is absolutely impossible.”
Still, there are already some signs of discontent in right-wing media. Newsmax host Rob Finnerty questioned the wisdom of “another foreign entanglement” in addition to the Venezuela operation and the Iran war, which has caused gas prices to skyrocket across the country.
“According to two new polls — and say what you want about the polling, but it's not good,” Finnerty said. “People are clearly losing their patience.”
He added: “I think people struggle with how this is America First when gas is $4.55 a gallon right now.”
//
05/21/26 8:04 PM EDT
05/21/26
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mma
Right-wing media react to Trump's slush fund for allies with unquestioning loyalty — and some vague skepticism
Written by Sophie Lawton
:{:{Published 05/21/26}:
Some right-wing media figures are jumping on board with the Trump administration's newest effort to support MAGA allies despite numerous questions about its legality; a few are voicing light skepticism of the plan.
This week, the Department of Justice announced that the Trump family had agreed to drop a legally questionable $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for the creation of a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” According to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the fund's intended recipients are “victims of lawfare and weaponization” by the federal government. Critics of the move are calling the idea a “slush fund,” and The New York Times called the deal “highly unusual” and wrote that the fund is “a pipeline to funnel taxpayer money to President Trump’s allies.”
Some right-wing media figures have been praising the fund, calling it a great idea and complementing Trump for his “patriotic” use of the number 1776 while ignoring the more problematic details of the fund.
Newsmax host Carl Higbie staunchly defended the fund, claiming that Trump has “dropped — he dropped — his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for a $1.776 — 1776 — billion-dollar fund set up for truth and justice compensation for people who were victims of Biden's weaponization of government” and that “Trump and his family will get $0 in exchange for just simply an apology from the IRS and a fund set up for every other person who Biden targeted.”
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From the May 18, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Carl Higbie: Frontline
Fox's Sean Hannity said the Department of Justice “rightly agreed to set aside the patriotic amount of $1.76 billion to settle other claims like this.”
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From the May 19, 2026, edition of Fox News' Hannity
Trump's former co-deputy director of the FBI Dan Bogino praised the fund and the Trump administration on his podcast, saying that “things are happening all over the place, good, positive things.”
Another right-wing podcaster, Vince Coglianese, said on his show that the fund “sounds like justice” and said, “I think it's perfectly wonderful.”
Coglianese also suggested a few people and groups who could benefit from the fund, including anti-abortion activist Mark Houck, other “conservatives who stood outside of abortion mills” and who faced charges, “parents at school board meetings” complaining about curricula and gender-neutral bathrooms who he said were attacked by the FBI and left-wing groups, and “traditional Catholics” who he claimed were targeted by Biden's FBI.
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From the May 19, 2026, edition of VINCEstreamed on Rumble
Greg Kelly took to his Newsmax show to make specific claims about the legal precedent for the fund, stating, “The US government gets sued all the time, and they make settlements. This is not an outlandish arrangement. It actually makes a lot of sense.”
Kelly also claimed that the announcement of the fund came after he sat down with Trump and proposed a “compensation fund for the January 6ers.”
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From the May 19, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Greg Kelly Reports
The DOJ also claims there is precedent for this type of fund, saying it’s similar to the Obama-era "Keepseagle" case. In reality, the fund seems to have little legal basis.
As Mike Masnick wrote for Techdirt, the fund was created as a settlement offer because “Trump needed to drop that lawsuit in order to end it before a judge called bullshit on the fact that he was negotiating with himself to take $10 billion from American taxpayers.”
Masknick also refuted the DOJ claims of legal precedent, writing, “The Keepseagle settlement was approved by a court in response to a class action lawsuit. Here, this fund, is being created in a manner deliberately to avoid having the court review it.”
A New York Times piece reported that “legal experts struggled to make sense of this week’s developments, saying tentatively that it was unlikely anyone could sue to stop the moves.” The article noted nevertheless that the fund’s creation is a “jarring shock to the conventional understanding of the constitutional system.”
Reuters quoted Tax Law Center policy director Brandon DeBot calling the fund a “breathtaking abuse of the tax and legal system" and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) calling it a “slush fund” that represented “a stunning act of corruption.”
Some Republican lawmakers have spoken out against the fund, such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who said he doesn't “see a purpose” for it, and others seem bothered by the lack of details surrounding where the money might go. “I’ve got more questions than I’ve heard answers for,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
January 6 Capitol Police Officers have sued to block the fund on the grounds that it violates the 14th Amendment's prohibition on using federal funds for “any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.”
Even a few right-wing media voices have been lightly skeptical of the move.
On Fox's Special Report, guest anchor Trace Gallagher admitted that “who gets the money and where it comes from is a bit unclear.”
Special Report's reporting on the topic also included clips of Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) asking for clarity on where the money is coming from and “the legality of creating a fund that Congress hasn't had anything to say about.”
The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro touched on the matter, saying on his show, “I'm generally against slush funds, to be clear. I do not like them. I think there are other ways of pursuing redress for grievances in this fashion. However, many of the myths that you're hearing about it are overstated.”
Megyn Kelly said on her podcast about the fund, “I don't like it,” explaining that she'd rather see individual suits. But she also made false correlations between this move and Obama's Keepseagle fund, saying, “This was created by Barack Obama,” and, “The same media that's now ripping Trump to shreds for doing it said nothing, nothing when Barack Obama started it. … So I really have no tolerance for their cries and protestations about what Trump is doing.”
Already, January 6 rioters, election deniers, and Trump allies are lining up for a chance at the taxpayer money.
//
### True the Vote founder hopes “we will see some level of compensation” from Trump's weaponization fund
05/21/26 11:50 AM EDT
05/20/26 5:26 PM EDT
### Newsmax's Greg Kelly defends Trump “weaponization” fund: “This is not an outlandish arrangement”
05/20/26
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RWW 5 26
Helen Lewis @ The Atlantic: The Men Who Want Women to Be Quiet
A virulent form of misogyny has become the single most important force holding together the American right.
Phil Williams @ News Channel 5: Andy Ogles now denies raising $25,000 from public for children's burial garden that was never built
Tennessee congressman's latest stories about GoFundMe: Money actually came from him and his family, spent on 'children with cancer.'
Will Sommer @ The Bulwark: The Right’s Worst New Star Just Shot Someone
Meet “Chud the Builder.”
There’s a truly villainous new livestreamer who’s become a cause célèbreon the right—a guy so bad he makes Clavicular’s videos about drug overdoses and the Israeli mafia look like an episode of Bluey.
[
](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F7rW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91fecf5b-10f6-490e-9a17-26b843cefc07_902x1036.png)(Instagram)
Meet “Chud the Builder,” a mustachioed, cowboy hat–wearing 28-year-old Tennessee man whose real name is Dalton Eatherly. His internet alias combines the insult “chud”—basically slang for a low-brow right-winger—and a play on both Eatherly’s profession as a construction worker and the children’s show Bob the Builder.
Eatherly’s gimmick is that he films himself walking around calling black people the n-word or accusing them of “chimping out”—a racial slur comparing black people to monkeys. When the people he’s accosting get understandably mad, he encourages them to attack him so he’ll have an excuse to defend himself with mace or a gun.
You can probably guess where this is headed. On Wednesday, Eatherly shot someone in the Nashville suburb of Clarksville, according to police, apparently after the man punched him. Eatherly also shot himself during the incident, sustaining a minor injury. Eatherly has been charged with attempted murder by the Montgomery County district attorney.
“Everybody knew this was going to happen,” popular streamer Asmongold said Wednesday after the shooting, describing the event as a “huge, huge aura loss.”
Clearly, Eatherly is acting in this vile way for attention. He’s been on my radar for a few months, but his shtick is so depressing I was reluctant to give it any more coverage. At the point where a rising online star is shooting people, though, I think it’s worth considering how the economics of livestreaming and the right’s embrace of even the most despicable people could allow a figure like “Chud the Builder” to exist, let alone get a serious following.
Eatherly’s rise has been fueled by “clipping” accounts on social media, which take the hours of streaming he produces and repackage his most incendiary moments into shorter videos. He’s appeared on InfoWars and Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes’s online show to make his case that he’s defending free speech by trying to reclaim the n-word for white people. His videos have also, understandably, been heavily commented on by black YouTubers, some of whom have raised the specter of violently confronting him.
“Somebody might have to just do it,” hip-hop podcaster DJ Akademiks said recently, calling for Eatherly to be assassinated in the same way Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was.
This sort of boomerang effect—in which Eatherly says the most provocative thing possible to get attention, which, in turn, gets a provocative response that also gets attention—is the fuel of the modern internet. And it’s lucrative.
The videos have made Eatherly a notorious figure in Clarksville, where he lives. He’s also raised $65,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, and sells a memecoin called, naturally, “$CHUD.”
Eatherly’s journey into commercialized racism began sometime in 2024 or early 2025, when he got into a road rage incident with a black woman. The woman’s daughter posted a picture of him, claiming he had called her family the n-word,
Eatherly claims lost him his job in construction. In response, Eatherly began filming himself berating black people in public.
It’s a strange way to make a living, even in 2026. But it’s not unique to Eatherly. Last year, a woman named Shiloh Hendrix made more than $800,000 from a crowdfunding campaign after she was filmed calling a five-year-old boy the n-word. Hendrix wasn’t a livestreamer, just an organic racist. But Chud’s obnoxious, confrontational style has been echoed by other livestreamers, like an American internet personality named Johnny Somali, who was just sentenced to six months in a South Korean labor prison for harassing Koreans as part of his content creation strategy.
Intriguingly, the FBI appears to have shown interest in Eatherly and his associates even before Wednesday’s shooting. Last week, Eatherly was arrested in an unrelated case for allegedly refusing to pay his bill at a restaurant after being kicked out for livestreaming and making racial attacks. While in custody, Eatherly claimed, he was interviewed by an FBI counterterrorism agent about any ties he could have to an extremist antisemitic group called the Goyim Defense League.
This all seems to have taken a bit of a toll on Eatherly’s private life. Shortly before this week’s shooting, he claimed that his son’s mother was changing their child’s name so the boy wouldn’t be associated with his racist father.
Whatever’s going on in Eatherly’s personal life, it’s indisputable that his public profile has only grown. His racist content is, unfortunately, the perfect type of ammunition for the online culture war. While the image-conscious white nationalist Nick Fuentes has rejected Eatherly’s tactics of “antagonizing people in public,” the former-ESPN personality turned conservative sports figure Jason Whitlock said the black men Eatherly targets need to behave better themselves.
“Chud the Builder’s rise is a sign of weakness among black men,” Whitlock, who is himself black, wrote on X last month.
The dissection of Eatherly’s content has continued even after he shot someone. Eatherly’s defenders have argued that the shooting should be legal, assuming he was physically attacked first. Yet Eatherly’s defense will almost certainly be undermined by the fact that, before the shooting, he sent numerous violent, racist tweets laying out how he planned to provoke a black person into attacking him so that he could shoot him, a plan he hoped would ratchet up racial tension nationally.
“Series finale is dead chimp on the pavement and you monkeys rioting when I walk free,” Eatherly wrote menacingly in a May post on X. “Stay tuned.”
“The day one of you [slur] make me take your life is the day the White man takes this country back,” Eatherly wrote in December.
It might be hard to muster up a self-defense argument with a social media trail like that. As of the publishing of this newsletter, Eatherly’s lawyer has not commented publicly on the case.
But in an ominous sign about the economics of the worst corners of the livestreaming world, the price of the $CHUD memecoin shot to a new level in the immediate aftermath of the shooting—with buyers appearing to bet that all the controversy about “Chud the Builder” would turn into a windfall.
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AN 5 26
Prominent right-wing or right-leaning media operations are hemorrhaging money and viewers, but according to a breakdown of the situation from The New Republic, the billionaires keeping the lights on at these companies still do not care.
:{:{In a piece published Friday morning, veteran media reporter Parker Molloy gave an overview of the woes currently besetting these more high-profile media operations. CBS News, recently taken over by conservative columnist Bari Weiss and reshaped into a much more MAGA-friendly mold, is bleeding viewers at a rapid rate and taking hits over the sloppiness of its operations. }:
Ben Shapiro's The Daily Wire, meanwhile, has seen its YouTube traffic "collapse" by 70 percent since the end of 2024, and recently cut about 13 percent of its staff. This came after the tepid launch of its expensive high-fantasy TV series, The Pendragon Cycle, as part of its abortive attempt at being a mainstream production studio.}:
Molloy's piece was mainly inspired, however, by the Washington Post, which has garnered attention — if not views — for its new podcast. The video series, "Make It Make Sense," is fronted by the paper's opinion section, which has been foregrounded after owner and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos slashed the outlet's newsroom to the bone. The series is 20 episodes and 186 YouTube videos deep, and boasted only a meager 515 subscribers at the time Molloy published the piece. (It is currently up to just 527, even after its flagging viewership went viral on BlueSky.)
The series — which includes videos claiming to debunk the claim that the rich do not pay enough taxes and that colleges are giving away top grades too easily — has numerous posts on YouTube that have failed to crack 100 views and does not seem to be doing much better on dedicated podcast platforms, boasting just four scathing reviews on Apple Podcasts.
"The new opinion section’s video push is failing publicly, and so are the other billionaire-funded prestige-media operations that share its model," Molloy explained. "The content is dull. The numbers are microscopic. And the men paying for it have been telling us all along that they don’t care. For all the talk of 'the marketplace of ideas,' 'Make It Make Sense' looks like yet another right-wing influence operation that exists solely because a billionaire is willing to subsidize it."
The Post has seen a notable shift under Bezos that has seen its once solid subscription base fizzle. The outlet lost 250,000 after it broke with years of tradition and declined to endorse a presidential candidate in 2024, with a report indicating that an endorsement of Kamala Harris had already been prepared. A month after Trump returned to office, Bezos announced that the opinion section would take on a new focus on "personal liberties and free markets," which prompted 75,000 more subscribers to bail.
When pressed about potential concerns that this shift would alienate paying readers, Bezos is reported to have told opinion editor David Shipley: "I don't care."
"The Post is down 24 percent. The Daily Wire is down 50 percent. CBS Evening News just posted its worst-ever April in the 25–54 demographic," Molloy observed. "The men funding all of it could read the numbers if they wanted to."
She concluded: "What’s on the screen, meanwhile, is what they think doesn’t need to work. Four mid-tier opinion writers on a couch under wood paneling and a framed cowboy. Recent topics: hantavirus, pension padding, the Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. The trailer view count and the channel subscriber count that you have to do the math to believe. Nobody is watching. Bezos doesn’t care."
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MMA
Right-wing figures are spreading “plandemic” conspiracy theories about the hantavirus
Written by Alex Kaplan
:{:{Published 05/13/26}:
As concerns about the spread of hantavirus emerge, right-wing and far-right figures are spreading conspiracy theories on podcasts and social media that the virus came from a lab and may be a new “plandemic” (planned pandemic) created to push vaccines, disrupt upcoming elections, or achieve other nefarious goals.
The conspiracy theories are similar to those spread among the right during the COVID-19 pandemic that harmed efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus and contributed to declining vaccination rates.
Hantavirus concerns arise after outbreak on cruise ship}:
In early May, a cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean experienced an outbreak of hantavirus, a typically rodent-borne virus, causing at least three deaths and at least eight others to become ill or test positive for the virus. In response, passengers from more than 20 countries were flown home and quarantined, including an American who “was suspected of infection after initial testing.”
Nevertheless, the World Health Organization has said that “the risk of hantavirus spreading to the general population is ‘absolutely low,’” with the organization’s head of epidemic and pandemic preparedness saying, “This is not the start of an epidemic, this is not the start of a pandemic.”
A hantavirus vaccine is currently in development, though it could be years before it is released.
## “Plandemic” conspiracy theories about hantavirus are spreading online
Some right-wing and far-right figures on podcasts and social media have been baselessly claiming that hantavirus is the beginning of a planned outbreak.
For instance, David Niño Rodriguez, a podcaster whom The Daily Beast described as “a vocal QAnon supporter,” posted on Truth Social about hantavirus, claiming that “they’re moving into desperate territory” and that the death of late actor Gene Hackman’s wife from the virus “was just the beginning. … Here we go again.”
Some were more specific about who they thought was responsible for the spread of the virus — like the World Health Organization — and their alleged nefarious reasons, which include forcing vaccines on people and “rig[ging] elections.”
Sherri Tenpenny, a podcaster with a history of spreading vaccine misinformation, suggested that the WHO may have had a role in the outbreak to help secure a treaty, claiming that “they can’t agree” on “how countries … ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments,” and questioning if the ship outbreak was a “coincidence.”
On conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ network, host Harrison Smith said, “If I was the bad guy, you know what I would do? I’d really release the hantavirus. I would really have an actually super deadly virus spreading from person to person, and then I would release a real vaccine.”
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From the May 7, 2026, edition of The Alex Jones Network's War Room
An account for the far-right podcast X22 Report suggested in a social media post that this could be “another manufactured event to push vaccines.”
“Pepe Deluxe,” whom Vice described as an “influential QAnon promoter,” shared a social media post — which said “LMAO - incoming plandemic” in response to news of WHO’s media briefing on hantavirus — with Pepe Deluxe also writing, “I’m sure they already have a vaccine ready 🙄.”
On another podcast, The Shannon Joy Show, gynecologist James Thorp, who has spread vaccine misinformation, claimed that “this hantavirus event and future events will be used to scare the population into taking the vaccines,” and told viewers, “Don’t ever take a vaccine for the hantavirus.”
:{:{Video}:
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Citation
From the May 11, 2026, edition of The Shannon Joy Show, streamed on Rumble
Mikki Willis, the filmmaker behind the viral *Plandemic* film that helped popularize the conspiracy theory that the COVID pandemic was planned, suggested that “they are … gonna try this again” with hantavirus, falsely adding that “Pfizer already has a vaccine ready.”
:{Meanwhile, Judy Mikovits, who was featured in Plandemic, spoke with Rodriguez about hantavirus, somehow bringing vaccine boosters into it.
}:
:{:{Video}:
Citation
From a May 8, 2026, video from Ninoscorner.tv, uploaded to Rumble
JUDY MIKOVITS: So, here we are on a — here we are on a — on a cruise ship. Oh, okay. So, you've got — you've — and you're testing now not with an antibody. Take those five people and say, show me an antibody to hantavirus, meaning you've been exposed. Because if you're injected with the virus, that's the only way you can get it.
...
DAVID NIÑO RODRIGUEZ (HOST): No. Wait. Hold on. Hold on. If you get — if you're injected with it, it would tell me that the vaccinated are going to be the ones —
MIKOVITS: Correct, and it's the vaccinated from the coronaviruses. The only way you will test positive for an antibody and it is to be injected with the virus. And it would have come from every booster. It would have come from the monkey mouse, cow, pig, from 1993. The last time they tried to play the hanta game was right after my PhD thesis.
Several figures suggested that the virus was released to disrupt the 2026 elections. Podcast host Tim Pool said that the “hantavirus pandemic panic” was “just in time for a midterm election” (though he also said the virus was “no big story”). And a fellow podcaster, Benny Johnson, called the virus “an op to rig elections." A Newsmax host later similarly said, “They are doing it all over again on purpose. COVID started in March 2020, impacted the November elections. Hantavirus started in May of 2026.”
A user on the far-right forum previously known as TheDonald wrote that “the best condition for a virus to spread, is an election year.”
And an article on the The Gateway Pundit for a “Contagion Emergency Kit” mused about whether hantavirus was “another plandemic” and a “transparent effort to terrorize Americans and swing the mid-terms against President Trump.”
Some social media users also pointed to a 2022 post with the text “2023: Corona ended 2026: Hantavirus” and claimed the post was proof of a “White Hat exposure operation.” A user on the conspiracy subreddit called the post “predictive programming” and said it “feels like yet another planned out, manufactured ritual.” (Pool mentioned it on his podcast as well.)
Some figures also suggested the hantavirus outbreak was caused by a lab leak in Australia. Podcaster Seth Holehouse said, “Three hundred and twenty-three vials containing deadly viruses go missing from a lab in Australia. … Two vials contain the hantavirus. Imagine that. … So, is this kind of like the precursor? Is this like the Wuhan lab leak?”
## Why does this sound familiar?
These claims about hantavirus are essentially recycled versions of what the right and far right pushed during the coronavirus pandemic: that the pandemic was planned, that it was a ploy to overthrow Trump or help Democrats win the 2020 election, and that “the vaccine was invented before the COVID-19 pandemic to advance vaccine sales.”
Conspiracy theories and misinformation about COVID-19 helped drive down COVID vaccination rates and primed people to reject other vaccines as well. This has had other long-term consequences, possibly contributing to declining vaccine rates and outbreaks of measles, which may lead to the U.S. losing its measles elimination status. Recycling the same claims could help further entrench that vaccine hesitancy and erode public trust in health institutions at a time when the Trump administration has already been cutting federal resources for pandemic preparedness.
//
05/07/20 5:33 PM EDT
05/12/26 10:47 AM EDT
### In 2021, the bond between QAnon and anti-vaxxers grew even stronger
01/12/22
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mma
The right-wing media machine lines up behind reality TV’s Spencer Pratt for Los Angeles mayor
Written by Jack Winstanley & Gideon Taaffe
Published 05/12/26
Following last week’s mayoral debate in Los Angeles, right-wing media have praised candidate Spencer Pratt, a Republican, as a “star” and a “political colonoscopy for California politics.” Some even compared Pratt to Trump as a reality TV personality-turned-politician. Pratt is running against Democrat incumbent Karen Bass and LA city council member Nithya Raman.
Former reality TV personality Spencer Pratt is campaigning to become Los Angeles’ next mayor
Former reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, a Republican, is running for mayor of Los Angeles against Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, both Democrats. Pratt made headlines after blaming Mayor Karen Bass for the loss of his house in the Palisades fires. Los Angeles Times, [5/6/26]
According to the Los Angeles Times, Pratt “mostly succeeded” in the LA mayoral debate. The Times claimed, “As a TV personality-turned-influencer, Pratt knows that storytelling is far more effective than drowning the audience in statistics, as Bass and Raman did.” Los Angeles Times, [5/6/26]
Pratt was previously known as the “resident villain” on MTV’sThe Hills. Pratt has commented on his past on TV, saying, “People know when I was a reality villain, I was doing it to get paid. It was strategic. I was working with producers.” CBS News, [5/8/26]
## Right-wing media have heaped praise on Pratt, framing him as a “star” and “exactly what Los Angeles needs”
Fox News host Sean Hannity praised Pratt, saying, “Los Angeles, wake up. Spencer Pratt would be a breath of fresh air.” Fox News, *Hannity*, [5/7/26]
Fox News host Jesse Watters claimed, “You get this charismatic common sense populist with the reality TV background, and he comes in and he just shoots from the hip.” He added, “And you can kind of see his blood boiling because he's face-to-face with these politicians who burned his house down and destroyed his city.” Fox News, *The Five*, [5/7/26]
Watters commented, “We've seen this before. Reality star-turned-politician, common sense, charisma, no script, just saying it straight, running against the establishment.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [5/7/26]
Fox News host Laura Ingraham claimed, “Spencer Pratt, the Republican, appealed to” regular Americans “with his own common sense responses.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [5/7/26]
Fox News host Will Cain praised Pratt’s performance in the LA mayoral debate, saying, “All night Pratt was direct, blunt. Perhaps other Republicans should take a note of his firebrand energy as we head into the midterms.” He added, “There are a lot of Republicans who try to be blunt. This is actually just very authentic. And I've met the man, but this is authentic to who he is, Spencer Pratt.” Fox News, *The Will Cain Show*, [5/7/26]
Fox & Friendsco-host Rachel Campos-Duffy praised Pratt’s debate performance, saying, “He really knocked this out of the park.” Campos-Duffy, whose husband is a reality TV personality-turned-Trump official, added, “I'm very partial to politicians coming out of reality television. I think it's worked out pretty well.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [5/7/26; CNN, 5/9/26]
Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany told congressional Republicans to “wake up” and “become Spencer Pratt.” Co-host Emily Compagno said, “Many residents are grateful they finally have an advocate in Spencer Pratt.” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [5/7/26]
SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly reacted to the LA mayoral debate, saying Pratt was a “star.” Kelly added, “I am totally behind Spencer Pratt here after listening to him last night.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [5/7/26]
Outkickfounder Clay Travis praised Pratt, saying, “The villain fromThe Hillsis the only person sane enough to be able to run this city.” He continued, “I think he's comfortable being the villain that Los Angeles needs because he's saying in particular what most men in Los Angeles and a lot of moms think, which is the city is broken.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [5/7/26]
Fox News host Tomi Lahren said Pratt is “exactly what Los Angeles needs.” She added, “Whether it's protecting your citizens from wildfires or protecting them from homeless drug-addicted zombies, you need somebody like Spencer Pratt.” Fox News, *Hannity*, [5/7/26]
OnJesse Watters Primetime, radio host and former NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch praised Pratt, saying, “I love the way Spencer Pratt is running his campaign.” She continued: “The ads are phenomenal. He's completely unafraid. And whenever anybody tries to go up against him, especially, and measure their career 20 years ago to his in reality television, it ends up backfiring on them pretty horribly.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [5/4/26]
OnAmerica’s Newsroom, frequent Fox News guest and podcaster Rich Zeoli claimed, “Spencer Pratt is reaching people and connecting with them.” Zeoli: “Karen Bass is very, very worried because Spencer Pratt is reaching people and connecting with them. Moms, too. … He did this great thing at a playground the other day and he says to these moms, Women and children first.” Fox News, *America’s Newsroom*, [5/5/26]
Podcast host Dan Bongino praised Pratt for being “the greatest political colonoscopy for California politics we’ve seen in a long time.” Bongino also celebrated Pratt’s debate performance against Bass and Raman: “Watching this guy with no political background at all, just like when Trump came in, shred these two idiots on the stage who've been in politics basically most of their adult life is just glorious.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [5/7/26]
Bongino also compared Pratt's campaign to Trump's first presidential campaign, saying, “It reminds me of Trump 2016.” He explained, “The renegade tactics. It just does. It’s just like, move fast and break stuff.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [5/6/26]
The Free Press claimed that the tactics he used to gain notoriety as a reality TV villain help him with “telling the truth” on “a larger scale than ever before” in a piece titled “Everything is reality TV.”The Free Press celebrated Pratt’s reality TV bona fides, writing, “But if you looked more closely, you realized something much deeper: Pratt wasn’t the villain at all. And his true purpose wasn’t really to antagonize his castmates; it was much grander and more instructive. He was bucking the rules of the show itself. Spencer Pratt got something right about contemporary American culture about 20 years before the rest of us did: that it was all fake, rigged, and incredibly dumb.” The Free Press, [4/30/26]
On his Substack, Manhattan Institute senior fellow Chris Rufo suggested that Pratt has “charisma, a compelling story, and credibility,” when compared to his opponents. Rufo also stated that Pratt’s “idealism and righteous anger must compete with the ugly, raw political calculus of people like Bass and Rahman, who — at least this is the sense I get — actually don’t care about what happened in the Palisades.” Substack, [5/8/26, 5/9/26]
Podcaster Vince Coglianese said Pratt is “on another level,” called his campaign “downright heroic,” a “breath of fresh air,” and declared, “I'm not in LA, but he’s got my vote.” He also called Pratt a “freaking hero,” adding, “The reason he’s a hero is because he’s had to live with the consequences of the left’s actions.” Rumble, *Vince*, [5/7/26]
## Some right-leaning podcasts and streamers have also celebrated Pratt’s campaign
Right-wing streamer Asmongold posted a video titled “Spencer Pratt is a f*cking legend.” In the video Asmongold said, “See, the country used to be made up of a mosaic of these guys that improved the country. Then they made things run the right way.” YouTube, *Asmongold TV*, [5/9/26, 5/9/26]
Podcaster Joe Rogan interviewed Pratt in April, telling him, “I really, really hope you win. It'll be fun. It'll be fun to watch you shake it up.” Rogan added, “Boy, if you could really change Los Angeles and turn it around, I mean, that would be absolutely fantastic. It would be a great story. It would be really amazing. And it would give hope to a lot of other cities that are experiencing similar situations where I think a lot of other people would follow your path.” YouTube, *The Joe Rogan Experience*, [4/15/26]
Hosts of theAll-In Podcastpraised Pratt’s campaign ads with entrepreneur Brad Gerstner saying Pratt winning is a “nonconsensus view that I'm becoming increasingly optimistic about.” YouTube, *All-In Podcast*, [5/8/26]
---
// maj rept wire fired 1/2; kid pgms
The Daily Wire's Decline
866,037 views May 3, 2025
The Daily Wire has been having some hard times. Layoffs, a CEO stepping down, and losing some major talent. This video looks at the decisions that led to its current situation. In this case, decline is not the same as death, but things don't seem to be going well there. If you are a streamer reacting to this video, please wait at least one week after its upload date, but if you're just using short clips, you can play those right away. Also, please provide a link or some other means of directing people back to this channel. Thanks - Intro and The Daily Wire's histor
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Well, we we've never done anything like that. Everybody does not do that.
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Two people The Daily Wire apparently it's being reported uh has laid off 50%
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half of the company. No,
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half of the company, half of the people working there were laid off at Daily Wire.
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35 seconds
There's a lot of reasons for this, I'm sure. You'll recall Daily Wire tried to do a cartoon.
0:43
43 seconds
Yes, you can. People should check out Jose uh his video essay on the Daily Wire and their foray into children's
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entertainment. is key. It was a whole channel for children's uh programming to to combat Miss Rachel and other
0:58
58 seconds
scary, you know, pro- Hamas factions that are trying to indoctrinate your children. But it was a big failure because they boring and the rest of the
1:07
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Daily Wire team anticipated that they could that they could ride What is a woman's success into other areas that
1:15
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would expand into like say family programming to unwoke your children. But it turns out the people that signed up for What is a woman kind of just signed up for that whole very narrow
1:23
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transphobia thing that had the contours of a documentary while being a propaganda outfit and that children just want to watch like children's
1:32
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programming that maybe they've heard about from their friends or other parents too. Like uh kids love to watch something that none of their friends watch.
pluto roi tpusa gunshot sound
Visit Our Website: http://www.humanistreport.com/
Why the Right-Wing’s Online Media Ecosystem is Dying
union safety commies
bari w cbs paid ty trans benny bee ai slop
May 5, 2026 #HumanistReport #TheDailyWire #BenShapiro
With The Daily Wire facing another round of layoffs and Bari Weiss’ media ventures struggling to attract eyeballs, it’s safe to say online conservative media is in a really bad spot after years of dominance. In fact, the only conservative outlets doing well are the ones attacking Donald Trump. After taking over the country and implementing the radical right-wing reforms conservatives have been wanting for decades, it turns out conservative viewers don’t like the vision of the country that was sold to them. In this video Mike shares his theory as to why some conservative media outlets are seemingly imploding.
Sources: The Wrap - https://www.thewrap.com/media-platfor...IndieWire - https://www.indiewire.com/features/ge...Deadline - https://deadline.com/2026/04/jonathan...RawStory - https://www.rawstory.com/bari-weiss-2...
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wing content is these days. They are flailing. And these people didn't grow their audiences organically. Nobody
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is subscribing to Benny [ __ ] Johnson because he's particularly insightful or funny. They're subscribing to him because he was shoved down their throats, which is also terrible wording.
7:23
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I'm sorry for that. But these people,
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they were propped up by billionaires who pay to get their names out there. And there's even indications that some of them use bots to boost their accounts.
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Whereas on the left, you see a proportional amount of engagement because our audience came to us naturally. So they stay and they watch and they actually engage with the
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content because they genuinely and sincerely find it interesting. You didn't find us through an advertisement or a headline. You're watching because
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you want to be here and not because some billionaire paid to put us in front of you. And while YouTube is just one portion of their business model, the
7:56
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conservative ecosystem has been suffering at the organizational level as well. Turning Point USA has devolved into a grievance machine for Erica Kirk,
8:04
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who nobody likes, and they're back to policing Charlie Kirk memes while not realizing it's only going to backfire once again. They boasted about getting
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the Tik Tok of teenage girls using Charlie Kirk's last words and gunshots for an outfit transition because, you know, censoring speech is exactly what
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Charlie Kirk would have wanted. But they don't realize that this trend was popular before those teenage girls decided to do it. And the trend itself
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emerged in the aftermath of their campaign to deplatform any and everyone who dared to even be mildly critical of Charlie Kirk. and they lack the
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self-awareness to realize that the more they try to police speech, the more blowback they're going to receive. The more of a joke he becomes. They are doing this to themselves. But I mean,
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what else could they be doing right now?
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Because quite frankly, they won and thus their work is complete. And I mean that in a more broad sense as well.
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Conservatives won. They defeated us and they got the America that they've been wanting for decades. Think about it.
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Trump stripped the federal government to the bone. He closed the borders. He's deporting every immigrant he can track
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down as we speak. He's passed more tax cuts for the rich. He gutted the social safety net programs that we had that were already meager. And he implemented
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53% of project 2025. On top of that, the Supreme Court just gave the Voting Rights Act its final death ball, which is another win for conservatives. And
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they overturned Roie Wade a couple of years ago, which is what they've always wanted. And sure, Trump may have lied about no new wars, but aside from that,
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he's pretty much doing everything that he said he was going to do. So, if you're a conservative in America, this is your golden age in theory. You're getting pure unadulterated conservatism,
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which is what you said you wanted. The things that you said we needed to save the country are now being implemented.
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So, the question is, why are you still so [ __ ] miserable? And to be clear,
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it's not just conservative media and conservative organizations. I mean, the vibe shift has been palpable, but we know why conservatives are so down.
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They're down because they won. They're suffering from their own success because after getting the political reality that they fought for for decades, they're
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realizing that what they thought would be a utopia turned out to be a [ __ ]
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dystopian hellscape. They still can't buy a house or afford groceries, even though the border is closed and immigrants have been deported and trans
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people have virtually no rights in half the [ __ ] country. So they're miserable right now because they're finding out that the theory of change
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that was sold to them and that they themselves sold was a complete and utter lie. They're realizing that conservatism
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doesn't actually have a way to meaningfully improve their material conditions because it's not supposed to.
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Take fifth place loser Riley Gaines for example. She recently made a video about how expensive it is to have a baby in the United States, and the only solution she could think of wouldn't change [ __ ]
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Just watch.
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I gave birth to this perfect precious little angel in September of last year.
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It is April, nearly May of the next year, and I am getting bills in the mail nearly every single week. Let's look at them. Okay, this one is a bill for
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$2,000. Uh the service description literally just says vaginal birth. Uh, here's another bill for $1,261.
...
chaya libs of tt
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Honestly, [ __ ] you, Etna. I'm going to do everything I can to destroy you. And by destroy, I assume she means doxing Etna executives who happen to be gay or
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trains. That'll show him. I'm sure that they're going to delete that bill for her as soon as she calls their COO the fsler or something. That's that's a great strategy. But, I mean, there is no
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federal program where undocumented people get free healthcare. Yet in Trump's America, the version of the country she fought for, she's still
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blaming immigrants for her healthcare problems as opposed to the actual health insurance company that ripped her off. I mean, she's blaming them to an extent,
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but only in a tangential, ciruitous way.
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Because more transparency and deporting more immigrants is the furthest these people are willing to go to address our
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healthcare crisis. because the actual solution which obviously is Medicare for all healthcare free at the point of service would be socialism and they
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can't have that. So they've resigned themselves to the shitty status quo because this is as good as it gets. Even in their ideal version of the country,
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which is so sad because even if those two in particular deserve this fate,
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most Americans don't deserve to live like this. But other Americans, they're not so willing to acquies. They're not part of the cult and they're realizing
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that pure unadulterated conservatism is bad. They actually want their lives to get better. Most of them probably didn't
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vote for mass deportation specifically because they hate immigrants even though that was obviously undoubtedly a role uh that you know that was played. But I
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think that most people voted for mass deportation because they were told by [ __ ] like that that it would make things better. And now all of the gullible rubes that fell for that,
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they're taking note about how, hey, things aren't getting better. In fact,
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they're getting measurably worse in every conceivable way, despite the mass deportation that they said was a fix
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all. Hell, for all of the fear-mongering about socialism and communism that we've been subjected to as Americans, people are finally getting a lesson about how
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bad conservatism is when you take it to its logical conclusion. I guess they needed that because Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and third-weight Democrats weren't enough. But I mean,
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think about the way that we're doing things now. Like the billionaires, they're not creating new jobs.
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Corporations aren't lowering prices in spite of more tax cuts. We're seeing unprecedented deregulation, which we were told would lower costs. But all
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that did was make things shittier, not cheaper. Everything is getting worse.
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Everybody knows that. But it's getting worse not because Trump failed, but because he succeeded. He's doing almost everything he said he was going to do.
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And Trump's victory and political success revealed the reality of conservatism and exposed pedlers of it as the charlatans that they are. And
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that's why they're doing so bad right now. I mean, they're the ones telling us Trump is the best president ever. And if
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this is as high as the bar goes and is as good as it gets, I mean, you can kind of see why people feel so disillusioned.
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The problem is that people also think that we already experienced pure unadulterated leftism under Obama and Biden. in part because the conservative
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outlets that we talked about today helped convince people that they were socialists and communists. So what we have is a situation where people feel
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inclined to just check out of politics altogether because they've concluded that, you know, the left didn't improve their lives and the right isn't changing things for the better either. So it
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seems like nothing's going to work. So what's the point of even participating?
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And that is why we as leftists need to convince people that a better world is in fact still possible. And things haven't improved because we've only
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experienced gradations of latestage capitalism when in actuality the solution is real leftism, real liberation for working people and all people.
---
AN 4 26
DOJ indictments are converging with MAGA media narratives
Written by Matt Gertz
Published 04/30/26
Recent Justice Department indictments whose validity have been questioned by legal experts demonstrate an increasing alignment of the Trump DOJ’s activities with the narratives of the MAGA media echo chamber.
President Donald Trump has long sought to use federal law enforcement to punish his enemies, and under former Attorney General Pam Bondi, the DOJ and FBI launched scattershot and apparently pretextual probes targeting figures like Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff over behavior unrelated to the president’s gripes.
But since Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche became acting attorney general last month, the president’s federal retaliation machine has seemed to sync up more closely with long-running talking points of his propaganda arm rather than simply focusing on the same targets.
Federal charges were filed or unsealed in recent days against the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group; former National Institutes of Health official Dr. David Morens; and former FBI Director James Comey. Legal experts have said that each of these cases are either weak or concern behavior common among Trump administration officials.
Each set of charges, however, has buttressed MAGA arguments, and provided their proponents with fresh opportunities to leverage them for content. And they foreshadow the potential fruits of DOJ’s ongoing “Grand Conspiracy” investigation, which unifies a string of conspiracy theories promoted by Fox News hosts like Sean Hannity under the auspices of Joe diGenova, a Republican lawyer and longtime fixture in right-wing media.
James Comey
Citation
Fox News
The target. Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 until May 2017, when Trump fired him over his handling of the federal probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which the president describes as a “hoax”; he subsequently became a key figure in the right’s “deep state” conspiracy theories. The DOJ indicted Comey last year over congressional testimony he gave in 2020, but a judge dismissed the case, ruling that the appointment of the prosecutor who filed the indictment (and replaced a U.S. attorney who had questioned the case) had been unconstitutional.
The charges. Federal prosecutors on April 28 charged Comey with one count of “Threatening the President” and one count of “Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce” related to a now-deleted May 2025 Instagram post in which Comey posted a photo of shells arranged on a beach to spell out “86 47” and commented, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” In the press release announcing the charges, Blanche said, “The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable,” while FBI Director Kash Patel added, “James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump’s life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see.”
The underlying right-wing media narrative. MAGA pundits have argued that recent examples of political violence targeting the right are the result of overheated commentary from Democrats and the media, often erasing incidents of right-wing political violence and ignoring violent rhetoric from the likes of Trump in the process. Numerous Fox News personalities suggested last May that Comey face an investigation or charges over his post, with Jesse Watters calling for it as “retribution.” And the indictment came days after a gunman allegedly targeting the president was stopped trying to breach the perimeter at the April 25 White House Correspondents Association’s annual dinner, which Trump, the White House, and media allies subsequently blamed on criticism from Democrats and journalists. VID]
The response from legal experts.“Supreme Court precedent has placed a high bar for convictions in threat cases like these, and former prosecutors and First Amendment scholars alike were highly skeptical the new prosecution would be successful,” CNN reported. Even some lawyers who are Fox News contributors aren’t buying DOJ’s argument — George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said on Fox that Comey’s Instagram post would “very likely be viewed as protected speech if it was the basis of a criminal indictment” and “have a hard-time standing up in court,” while Andrew McCarthy wrote at National Review that the “bogus” indictment is a “farce,” called Comey’s conviction “inconceivable,” and added: “Of course, when the Justice Department abuses power this way, as it has repeatedly, it shreds its credibility with the courts and undermines the integrity of all its work.”
The response from the MAGA right. While the indictment drew skepticism on Fox’s daytime coverage, the network’s evening programs championed it on Tuesday night. MAGA lawyer Mike Davis said on The Ingraham Angle that the charges were “a long time coming,” offered “cheers” to Blanche and Patel, called Comey’s post “a clear threat,” and claimed, “There have been people who have gone to prison for a lot less than this.” Hannity, meanwhile, mocked the idea that “86 47” could mean anything but “get rid of Trump,” and hosted Fox legal analyst Gregg Jarrett to claim that Comey “surely knew what the phrase meant” and that “if he tries to claim free speech as a defense, that's not going to work.”
Dr. David Morens
Citation
Fox News
The target. Morens is an expert in public health and infectious diseases who served from 2006 to 2022 as senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, then the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The charges. The Justice Department announced on April 28 that Morens had been charged with “conspiracy against the United States; destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations; concealment, removal, or mutilation of records; and aiding and abetting,” specifically by using his personal Gmail account to conduct what prosecutors allege was government business in order to avoid public disclosure. Blanche alleged in the press release that Morens “deliberately concealed information and falsified records in an effort to suppress alternative theories regarding the origins of COVID-19,” while Patel claimed that “circumventing records protocols with the intention of avoiding transparency is something that will not be tolerated by this FBI.”
The underlying right-wing media narrative. The right-wing media echo chamber responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in part by turning Fauci into a hate object. Its participants also claimed that the coronavirus originated through a lab leak from a Chinese virology facility and its development may even have been funded by American tax dollars, rather than the prevailing view that the virus initially spread among wild animals before jumping to humans at a market in Wuhan, China. Morens and his email practices came under scrutiny from congressional Republicans and right-wing media in 2023 and 2024. While the Justice Department suggests Morens was acting to suppress the lab leak theory, The New York Times reports that the DOJ’s investigation “has so far yielded no evidence that scientists or health officials were involved in research that started or spread the coronavirus outbreak” and his emails in the indictment “do not show him trying to conceal evidence of a lab leak.”
The response from legal experts.Scott Amey, general counsel at the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight, told The New York Times that “the allegations are quite concerning,” but also “noted that senior members of the Trump administration have themselves been accused of trying to evade federal record-keeping laws.” Indeed, The Washington Post reported last year that top Trump administration national security officials were communicating over their private Gmail accounts, and in March 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared operational details of an impending U.S. military strike over an unsecured Signal chat with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, other Trump administration officials, and Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who had been accidentally added to the chain.
The response from the MAGA right. The New York Post reported on — and effectively generated — “pressure on DOJ to prosecute Anthony Fauci” in light of Morens’ indictment. Its Thursday article claimed that “critics say Fauci … bears the most responsibility and that he should be hauled into court,” citing the head of a right-wing think tank, Republican Sen. Rand Paul, and a former DOJ official who is now national political reporter at the right-wing media outlet Real America’s Voice.
The Southern Poverty Law Center
Citation
Fox News
The target.The SPLC is a nonprofit civil rights organization best known for its monitoring, researching, and reporting on white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and others it describes as “hate and antigovernment extremist groups” that “make up some of the most extreme elements of the hard right.”
The charges. The Justice Department revealed April 21 that a grand jury had returned an indictment charging the SPLC with “11 counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering.” DOJ alleges that by using paid informants to infiltrate hate groups, the SPLC “secretly funneled more than $3 million in donated funds to individuals who were associated with various violent extremist groups” from 2014 to 2023, including to one individual who “was a member of the online leadership chat group that planned the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ event in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attended the event at the direction of the S.P.L.C.” Blanche claimed in a press release that SPLC was “manufacturing racism to justify its existence,” while Patel alleged the group “engaged in a massive fraud operation to deceive their donors.”
The underlying right-wing media narrative. As the American right adopted positions previously espoused only by explicit white supremacists, the SPLC drew its ire by expanding its monitoring to include “extreme” right-wing elements that were nonetheless accepted within its mainstream, like Turning Point USA. Right-wing media figures denounced SPLC’s characterizations of TPUSA after the assassination of its founder, MAGA operative Charlie Kirk, in September 2025, and the following month, Patel said the FBI was cutting ties with the group, which he described as a “partisan smear machine.” Right-wing media figures have also pushed back hard against links between Trump and the deadly Charlottesville event, and described white supremacy itself as a “hoax.”
The response from legal experts.The SPLC indictment “may contain serious legal defects that could lead to a full or partial dismissal because it struggles to articulate the elements of the alleged crimes,” CBS News reported after consulting former federal prosecutors. “Legal experts say it is not clear exactly how the SPLC's statements to donors represent material falsehoods or omissions, or why its past use of paid informants would run counter to its mission of dismantling white supremacist groups, a tactic that federal and local law enforcement also utilize to infiltrate and break up criminal organizations,” the report added. Andrew Weissmann, who led the DOJ Fraud Section from 2015 to 2019, likewise wrote in a piece for Just Security that DOJ’s claims “may sound superficially plausible in a press release against an organization dissimilar to the SPLC, but nothing in the speaking indictment against the Center appears to meet the legal standard required” for the charges.
The response from the MAGA right.Right-wing pundits have gleefully parroted the DOJ allegations, using them both to the SPLC and to suggest that the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally had been a false-flag hoax instigated by the left as a way to sabotage Trump. Fox personalities alone have mentioned the SPLC nearly 400 times since the indictment’s release, according to a Media Matters review. (The indictment was “huge breaking news,” as Hannity put it before hosting Patel to accuse the SPLC of the “ultimate definition of hypocrisy.”) Trump himself has picked up the story, rambling about how “Southern Law” is a “total scam” in an interview with CBS over the weekend. The president said in part:
I see these No Kings which are funded just like the Southern Law was funded. You all that Southern Laws, financing the KKK and lots of other radical, terrible groups. And then they go out and they say, oh, we’ve got to stop the KKK. And yet they give them hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars. They work. It’s a total scam run by the Democrats. It shows you that, like Charlottesville, Charlottesville was all funded by the Southern Law. That was a Southern Law deal, too. And it was done to make me look bad. And it turned out to be a total fake. It basically was a rigged election. This was a part of the rigging of the election. And that’s what you really should be doing. I mean, I hope one of your 60 Minutes episodes, which really hasn’t changed very much for the last few years, I’m surprised. But one of those episodes should be on Southern Law, and the fact that they spent millions and millions of dollars on absolute far right and just bad, bad groups, and then they’d use those groups and they’d say, these are Republican groups, and we’re coming to your rescue, and they’re the ones that have funded it, and they’re the ones that kept them, keep them going. Pretty sad.
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Right-wing media's immigration wish list: Kill the bipartisan Dignity Act, more mass deportations, and fewer paths for legal immigration
Right-wing media are trying to pressure Republicans to move even further right on immigration
Written by Torri Lonergan & Isabella Sherk
Published 04/24/26
Right-wing media figures are rejecting recent messaging from the Trump White House to back away from calls for mass deportations and attacking bipartisan immigration legislation. These personalities have gone so far as to accuse the GOP of “pushing for mass amnesty” and “surrendering our country to foreigners.”
They are advocating for harsher anti-immigration policies — demanding that President Donald Trump enact his most extreme campaign promises for mass deportations, calling for “a 10-year ban on all immigration,” and encouraging Trump to start “denaturalizing citizens” and “removing lawful permanent residents.”
While the Trump administration slashes legal immigration, some congressional Republicans have backed away from mass deportations and cosponsored the Dignity Act}:
The Trump administration has been slashing legal immigration and targeting non-criminal “immigration violators” while telling the public its efforts were prioritizing deporting “the worst of the worst.” The administration has drastically cut visas for legal permanent residents, international students, H-1B workers, and the foreign partners of U.S. citizens. Meanwhile, CBS reported that “30,986 — or 48% — of the ICE detainees in custody as of Nov. 16 lacked any criminal charges or convictions in the U.S. and were being held solely because of civil violations of U.S. immigration law.” Cato Institute, [4/13/26; CBS News, 11/26/25]
A recent poll from Politico found that “half of Americans — including one quarter of Trump’s 2024 voters — said his mass deportations campaign is too aggressive.” However, the poll also found that two-thirds of his 2024 voters said, “Trump’s mass deportations campaign is either about right or not aggressive enough.” Politico, [4/18/26]
In March, the White House reportedly advised congressional Republicans to avoid discussing mass deportations ahead of the midterm elections.According to Axios, White House deputy chief of staff James Blair urged House Republicans “to stop emphasizing ‘mass deportations’ and instead focus their messaging on removing violent criminals.” Axios, [3/10/26]
A group of Trump allies have formed the Mass Deportation Coalition to encourage the administration not to back away from its deportation push. The coalition — which includes the Oversight Project’s Mike Howell, former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, former Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan, and conservative groups including The Heritage Foundation — released a playbook urging the White House to continue raiding work sites and deporting migrant workers despite pushback from voters. Politico, [4/1/26]
The Dignity Act is a bipartisan bill that would allow migrant workers who have been here more than five years to legally work in the U.S. The “Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2025” or the “DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act” was introduced by Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) in July 2025. 19 other Republicans and a similar number of Democrats have cosponsored the bill. Salazar described the legislation as “a serious, balanced solution: no amnesty, no path to citizenship, but a legal status for those who have worked, paid taxes, and contributed to our economy.” According to the American Immigration Council, “The Dignity Act would provide a path to permanent legal status — but not citizenship — for nearly all undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States since December 31, 2020.” Congress.gov, [7/15/25; Office of Rep. María Elvira Salazar, 3/25/26, 7/15/25; American Immigration Council, 7/15/25]
In April, 11 House Republicans voted with Democrats to extend temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants through 2029. CBS News reported that TPS “allows immigrants to temporarily live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation if DHS decides their home country is unsafe due to armed conflict, environmental disasters or other extraordinary circumstances.” Haitian immigrants have been granted TPS since 2010. The bill’s Republican supporters broke with Trump, who has attempted to end deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants and reportedly plans to veto the bill if it passes the Senate. CBS News, [4/16/26; NPR, 4/16/26]
## Right-wing media figures railed against the Dignity Act, calling the bill that bars undocumented people from citizenship “amnesty”
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh called Dignity Act cosponsor Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) an “anchor baby,” described the bill as “treasonous,” and claimed the legislation would “backdoor a mass amnesty.” The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [4/9/26, 4/9/26]
Fox’s Sean Hannity complained, “We have Democrats and some Republicans even that are pushing for this idiotic, imbecilic, insane idea of the Dignity Act.” He framed the proposed legislation as saying, “Oh, never mind that you didn't respect our laws, our borders and sovereignty. Never mind that we didn't vet you. We're just going to let you into the country anyway.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Sean Hannity Show*, [4/9/26]
On April 8, Fox host Laura Ingraham asked Dignity Act cosponsor Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), “How can you possibly look in the face of the American people and say that's dignity?” The next day, Ingraham argued that “American workers, taxpayers, and the rule of law” will lose if this bill gets passed. She also said that Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) “nailed it” when he referred to the bill as a “double middle finger to the middle class.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [4/8/26, 4/9/26]
Discussing the Dignity Act, Fox host Will Cain asked Lawler, “How is this not amnesty?” Cain insisted, “Whatever words you want to use, amnesty, pathway to citizenship — I know you’re not proposing that — legal status, you are creating the continued incentive for illegal immigration.” Fox News, *The Will Cain Show*, [2/4/26]
Right-wing podcaster Laura Loomer said that Republicans will “lose the midterms” because they are “talking about this Dignity Act to give amnesty to 65 fucking illegal aliens.”In February, she insisted the Dignity Act is “just another word for mass amnesty, it makes me so angry,” and said, “I think that Lawler should be primaried. I think that he should be removed from Congress.” Rumble, *Loomer Unleashed*, [4/7/26, 2/5/26]
Megyn Kelly questioned why Republicans were cosponsoring the “betrayal bill” and said, “This is no time to be talking about amnesty.” She added, “I don't care about them being in fear of deportation,” and asked, “What is this, just to create a talking point for the Democrats right before the midterms?” Sirius XM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [4/9/26, 4/9/26]
The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles said Salazar is “pushing for mass amnesty” and declared that the Dignity Act is “as rancid as a bill as ever I have seen.” On The Megyn Kelly Show, Knowles said, “I have my own alternative legislation that I am proposing. The legislation is the All New Denizens Actually Leave En Masse Bill, or the ANDALE Bill.” He argued, “Mass deportations are a mainstream popular political issue. So what are these jokers, these Republicans in Congress say? They come around and they say I know what we'll do after winning the first popular election in 20 years. Let's give illegals mass amnesty. … Leave it to these people to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.” The Daily Wire, *The Michael Knowles Show*, [7/21/25; The Daily Wire, Friendly Fire, 4/8/26; Sirius XM, The Megyn Kelly Show, 4/9/26]
Infowars host Harrison Smith said that Congress “named the amnesty bill in the Spanish language just to really emphasize how thoroughly they are surrendering our country to foreigners.” Infowars, *War Room*, [4/7/26]
On former Trump strategist Steve Bannon’sWar Roompodcast, Immigration Accountability Project co-founder Rosemary Jenks criticized the Dignity Act, claiming, “It's got amnesty for at least 10 million illegal aliens to compete with low-wage American workers.” She said, “I call this bill, instead of the Dignity Act, the SAAW Act for Screw All American Workers, because this bill hits every American worker, whether they're low-wage, medium-wage, or high-wage.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [4/10/26]
The Charlie Kirk Showexecutive producer Andrew Kolvet said the Dignity Act is “a new grift to try to get more illegals coming in.” He claimed, “There are people around the president right now saying, don't ever use the word mass deportation again — the thing that we all got so excited to vote for in 2024.” Real America’s Voice, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [4/7/26]
Podcaster Vince Coglianese ranted, “What the hell did people vote for, by a majority? A majority? They said mass deportations. They said get everybody out of the country who's here illegally. Stop breaking our laws. Stop making it chaotic. Get out. Get out. And you're picking now for amnesty? No. None. No more amnesty.” Coglianese called the Dignity Act a “dumpster fire” and said, “The goal of the bill is to give amnesty to huge categories of illegal aliens.” He criticized Republicans who support the bill, complaining, “They're going to deliver the American dream. To whom? Not to Americans. To illegal aliens. What are you idiots doing?” Rumble, *VINCE*, [2/5/26]
## Right-wing media personalities demanded that Trump double down on mass deportations
Podcaster Tim Pool complained about “the Trump administration telling people to back off of mass deportations,” claiming, “That says to me, yeah, MAGA's dead.” He continued, “If the Republican Party is now saying Joe Biden allowed in 10 million undocumented — undocumented — migrants, illegal immigrants, as we call them, if he really did that, and the Trump admin is saying we're done with this; we're not going to do it — OK. Well, then America's over.” Rumble, *Timcast IRL*, [3/17/26]
War Roomhost Steve Bannon called for “mass deportation of every illegal alien that’s here. All of them, not just the bad hombres.” Previously, in late March, Bannon had complained that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the White House said, “We can't even use the phrase mass deportations again.” Days later, Bannon insisted, “We cannot take our eye off the ball of mass deportations, even if the lobbyists that continue to hammer at the White House want us to stop doing it.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [4/14/26, 3/23/26, 3/31/26]
In an episode ofThe Charlie Kirk Showtitled “The RINO Plot to Dump 'Mass Deportations,’” Andrew Kolvet said, “We’re going to keep saying mass deportations, because guess what? That’s what the people want.” Kolvet later complained, “If you're going to cuck out on deportations and immigration, you will depress turnout at the midterms. … You will depress our base and we will not get out and vote for you in the midterms." Real America’s Voice, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [4/9/26, 4/9/26, 4/21/26]
Fox host Laura Ingraham told Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, “We want mass deportations, Mr. Secretary. That's what the American people voted for.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [4/15/26]
White nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes lamented, “Trump always chickens out,” specifically complaining that the administration backed down on mass deportations.Fuentes said, “Mass deportations — where are they? Not happening.” Rumble, *America First*, [3/31/26, 4/8/26]
Laura Loomer complained that “we're not getting all of the 65 million mass deportations like we were told,” saying, “At the rate of these deportations, they're not exactly mass deportations.”Rumble, *Loomer Unleashed*, [4/7/26]
Conservative influencer Nick Sortor said he will continue to use the words “mass deportations” because “if we only go after the worst of the worst, that means amnesty for the rest.” Rumble, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [4/7/26]
Megyn Kelly said, “We’ve gone from worst-first to pretty much worst-only, if that.” She said, “We’re going in the wrong direction in terms of the detention of illegals,” complaining that the drop in ICE detentions is “primarily driven by the decline in arrests of illegal immigrants without criminal records. It very much appears like we have moved considerably on from that group.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [4/15/26]
PBD Podcastpanelist Vincent Oshana said, “This mass deportation has slowed down. OK? And I’m sorry, I voted for the people that do not belong here to leave.” He continued, “The rules are the rules, you have to leave if you're freaking here illegally and that's it.” YouTube, *PBD Podcast*, [3/20/26]
Mike Howell of the Mass Deportation Coalition said on Julio Rosas’Mostly Peaceful Podcastthat “only focusing on the worst of worst” is “comfort food for RINOS.” He continued, “It's a problem in that there's not that many criminal illegal aliens out of the total illegal alien population. And so, when you're focused on a small subset, you're going to get small numbers.” YouTube, *Mostly Peaceful Podcast*, [4/2/26]
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh complained that if Trump “won’t do” mass deportations, then “I don’t think anyone else ever will.” The Daily Wire, *Friendly Fire*, [4/8/26]
The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles said he’s sure the “abuelas are really nice, but abuela has to go too.” He said, “I want mass deportations. I don’t just want the face-tattooed criminals gone.” The Daily Wire, *Friendly Fire*, [4/8/26]
## Right-wing media figures attacked legal immigration and advocated for denaturalizing US citizens
Steve Bannon said, “We should have a 10-year ban on all immigration. People say, oh well legal — it's not legal. It's all a scam.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [4/10/26]
YouTuber Tyler Oliveira posted a video attacking the H-1B visa program that claimed to expose “Texas' Indian Invasion.” Oliveira said “infinite legal immigration” will “alter the fabric of any place” and asked, “If the law has allowed Frisco's Indian population to go from less than 2% to almost 20% Indian in the last 20 years, turning Frisco into a majority-minority city, is the intent of these work visas bringing Indians to America to support our labor force or to replace it altogether?” YouTube, Tyler Oliveira, [4/5/26, 4/5/26]
Right-wing streamer Zack Hoyt, known online as Asmongold, said that “what needs to happen” is “denaturalizing citizens,” “removing lawful permanent residents,” and “scaling down the H-1B program by like 95%.” He said he would denaturalize and deport Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) “instantly” and added, “I am not satisfied in the level of aggression and force that they are using to get rid of a lot of these people.” Omar immigrated to the United States as a child and has been a U.S. citizen for over 20 years. YouTube, Asmongold TV, [4/13/26; Politico, 2/3/26]
Hoyt complained about legal immigration from India specifically, saying, “It's way too fast, way too many.” Hoyt insisted, “The problem is the system that allows these companies to undercut American workers and then get cheap foreign labor and then import them here and then bring their entire family.” He went on to accuse Trump of “selling out the American people” by supporting H-1B visas. YouTube, Asmongold TV, [4/14/26, 4/14/26]
Podcaster Benny Johnson said “Ilhan Omar’s family” is “a walking advertisement for why we should never take anyone from the Third World into our country ever again.”He complained that a “horrific” and “sick” “experiment” has been “run on us for the last 40 years that you need to flood our nation, that anyone can become an American, that paperwork Americans are just as American as you are. No, doesn't work.” YouTube, *The Benny Show*, [3/22/26]
Podcaster Vince Coglianese said, “We need a full-blown moratorium on all migration into the United States.” He celebrated data from the Cato Institute finding that Trump has cut legal immigration more than illegal immigration, saying, “Yes, I voted for all of this. And, yes, these are all massive wins.” Coglianese also criticized Congress for extending temporary protected status for Haitians, saying that we need to “purge the ranks of people who would sell us out like this” and falsely labeling Haitian immigrants with TPS as illegal aliens. Rumble, *VINCE*, [4/16/26, 4/16/26]
Fox host Laura Ingraham said it “drives me crazy” that Republicans voted with Democrats to protect Haitian immigrants in the United States with temporary protected status. Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [4/15/26]
Blaze TV host Auron MacIntyre said onThe Charlie Kirk Showthat Haitians have a “high propensity toward violence” and “don’t belong in the United States.” MacIntyre railed against extending temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants, saying, “The problem with Haiti, the reason it's dangerous, is because Haitians live there.” Rumble, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [4/16/26]
Megyn Kelly said Haitians are continuing to “be rewarded for their illegal law breaking” and that Republicans who voted to extend temporary protected status for Haitians “deserve to be named and shamed.” Kelly said, “They pretend at every turn that there are not Americans who want these jobs. I'm here to tell you there are. There are. I've known and loved some of them. So fuck you and your bullshit excuses, Rep. Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [4/17/26]
//
03/04/26 12:18 PM EST
01/30/26 6:13 PM EST
### A federal judge's ruling debunks right-wing media smears about Haitian immigrants
02/06/26
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Right-wing media’s scattered responses to Viktor Orbán's loss in Hungary
Written by Sophie Lawton
Research contributions from John Knefel
Published 04/17/26
Right-wing media are struggling to reach a consensus about Viktor Orbán’s loss to Peter Magyar in Hungary’s general election on April 12. Some figures have called it a “major loss” for conservatives while others tried to find positive things to say about the results.
During his 16 years in power, Orbán became a close ally of President Donald Trump, his administration, and conservative media in the United States, specifically former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Just before Orbán’s loss, Vice President JD Vance even traveled to Budapest for a campaign appearance with Orbán, at an event where some attendees were reportedly “wearing red MAGA hats.” Magyar told reporters this week that Orbán had “diverted Hungarian taxpayer funds toward financing” the .
Orbán has been praised by right-wing media figures for his hard-line stance on immigration and his crackdown on freedom of the press, so his ouster has been a point of discussion thiConservative Political Action Conferences week among conservative pundits. Podcaster Glenn Beck claimed that the Trump administration needs to see Orbán’s loss as a lesson and that they should be working harder to “drain the swamp” in D.C. Fox News' Brian Kilmeade said he was “glad” Orbán lost because of his close ties to Putin. Daily Wire hosts Michael Knowles and Ben Shapiro were split on the issue — Knowles argued Orbán's loss was a “loss for conservatives” while Shapiro claimed it was not a “switch away from conservatism” for Hungary.
Podcaster Glenn Beck claimed Orbán lost because he failed to “drain the swamp” in Hungary. “Put people in jail that belong in jail, and you will win. That's the lesson from Hungary,” Beck said. Mercury Radio Arts, *The Glenn Beck Program*, [4/13/26]
Video
Citation
From the April 13, 2026, edition of Mercury Radio Arts' The Glenn Beck Program
Charlie Kirk Showproducer and co-host Blake Neff said about Orbán's loss: “A lot of bad stuff might be about to happen in Hungary.” Neff claimed a post by former President Barack Obama celebrating the results is “proof that it's a bad sign.” Real America's Voice, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [4/14/26]
Podcaster Dave Rubin praised Orbán, saying, “He is no longer the prime minister of Hungary after a 16-year run where he closed his borders, fought the EU. They quite literally had no Islamic terrorist attacks in 16 years. Not one illegal came through their borders.” Rubin said about Magyar: “That really is the problem that he likely, by playing ball with the European Union on things like immigration, most likely ends up opening their borders, right?” YouTube, *The Rubin Report*, [4/13/26]
Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro seemingly pushed back against the idea that Magyar is liberal and claimed, “Is this a wild switch away from conservatism in Hungary? It seems like not.”The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [4/13/26]
Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani praised Orbán, claiming that he “rendered Hungary free of any of the Islamic problems that beset England, France, Germany, Italy, because he basically lets them in sparingly, if at all.”Giuliani then claimed that by voting him out of office, Hungary was about to “jump on the sinking ship" of the European Union. Rumble, *America’s Mayor Live*, [4/13/26]
The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles claimed that anyone arguing “we shouldn't be upset about losing Orbán” is wrong because people like Hillary Clinton, Alex Soros, Gavin Newsom, and other Democrats are celebrating his loss, saying, “This is a loss for conservatives, major loss.”Knowles later said, “I hope that this guy, Peter Magyar in Hungary, can resist Brussels. But if I were a gambling man, I would say probably not.” The Daily Wire, *The Michael Knowles Show*, [4/13/26]
In a conversation between Fox host Brian Kilmeade and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, Kilmeade said, “I'm glad Viktor Orbán lost. I love what he did on immigration. It was smart. But in terms of giving his economy over to China and kissing up to Russia, I could do without that.”Roberts responded, “I definitely don't like the Russia part, between Orbán and Putin,” then added that “all of that to say on Mr. Orbán, it's proof that in a democratic republic, when you've been in power for sixteen years, even the most popular populist can fall out of favor.” Fox News Radio, *Brian Kilmeade Show*, [4/13/26]
Podcast host Steven Crowder argued Magyar will be further right than Orbán, saying, “Anyone saying this signals that this whole sort of nationalist, that this Christian conservative, this culturally Christian movement is dying — this signals the exact opposite of that.” Rumble, *Louder with Crowder*, [4/13/26]
Infowars’ Rob Dew: “I predicted a few days ago that they're just going to open up to mass migration. And of course, their new leader is like, well, we're not going to open it up totally yet, but we're going to leave our fence up. That doesn't mean anything. I mean, I think it's in. The jig is up for Hungary.” Infowars, *War Room*, [4/14/26]
Timcast IRLco-host Tate Brown tried to save face for Trump and claimed the president “knew Orbán was going to lose. … I mean, it was kind of obvious.” YouTube, *Timcast IRL*, [4/15/26]
The Gateway Pundit published an article calling Orbán's defeat “HORRIBLE NEWS” which claimed, “Conservatives around the world are saddened by the crushing electoral defeat sustained by right-wing hero, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.” *The Gateway Pundit*, [4/12/26]
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mma 4 26
Research/Study
“No Kings” rallies highlight how right-wing provocateurs generate content for right-wing media
Right-wing criticism of No Kings protests are being fueled by videos from TPUSA Frontlines, FreedomNews, Nate Friedman, Julio Rosas, and others
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Jack Winstanley
:{:{Published 04/08/26}:
Right-wing media have been using video content from right-wing content creators, many of whom describe themselves as “independent journalists,” to attack the March 28 “No Kings” rallies, claiming protesters had “idiotic things to say,” calling protesters “quite terrible” people, and accusing them of engaging in “terrorism.”
This is just the latest example of the feedback loop between right-wing media and a variety of online influencers and content creators who have emerged to create and distribute content that spreads right-wing narratives on social media. These creators, some of whom have affiliations with right-wing outlets and organizations like FreedomNews and Turning Point USA’s Frontlines, have become part of the right-wing media ecosystem, as right-wing media figures have come to rely on them for on-the-ground footage and evidence in support of longstanding right-wing talking points.
These content creators and so-called “independent journalists” descended on the March 28 No Kings rallies in several U.S. cities — including New York City, Nashville, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Los Angeles — for content, using their videos to push the longstanding right-wing narrative that anti-Trump protesters are violent or paid.
While 74 arrests were reported in relation to protests in Los Angeles, the No Kings rallies drew out an estimated 8 million people across the United States. Despite the overwhelming number of protesters engaging peacefully, right-wing content creators highlighted confrontations between protesters and police.
## Right-wing content creators, many of whom describe themselves as “independent journalists,” descended on No Kings protests for content
Citation
Images via Nate Friedman, Frontlines TPUSA, Julio Rosas, and FreedomNews.tv
FreedomNews, a “video content supplier” that purports to be composed of “independent journalists” and “committed to independent reporting,” filmed No Kings rallies from around the country, including New York City, Nashville, Palm Beach, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Many of FreedomNews’ videos featured clashes between No Kings attendees and counter protesters, as well as footage of protesters engaging with police and demonstrating outside federal buildings. The outlet additionally highlighted activist groups attending the protests, including pro-choice activists, trans activists, and communists. YouTube, [3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/29/26, 3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/29/26, 3/28/26, 3/28/26; FreedomNews.tv, accessed 4/6/26]
:{:{TPUSA’s Frontlines, which Axios described as the “guerrilla-style reporting” arm of Turning Point and which self-describes itself as “a team of passionate and dedicated video journalists,” posted footage of protests in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, with self-described “independent journalist” Jonathan Choe capturing footage from Las Vegas.Videos alleged that rally attendees were “agitators … trying to break down the fence at the federal building” and “appear[ed] to throw cement at federal officers.”}:
Another video claimed that Turning Point Action volunteers had been heckled and that “cops just stepped in to scold a leftist protester after she used her pom pom to hit a woman singing Christian praise music.” On Instagram, TPUSA and one of its creators, Bronson Alford, posted a video from New York City that claimed a No Kings attendee “can’t define ‘conservative.’” Instagram, [3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/28/26, 3/30/26, accessed 4/6/26; Axios, 10/30/25; TPUSA Frontlines, accessed 4/6/26]}:
Citation
From a March 30, 2026, YouTube video from Turning Point USA
Julio Rosas, who describes himself as “a trusted source and independent journalist,” posted a video showing protesters approaching a fence outside the Los Angeles federal building, with the title describing it as a “riot.” The video showed protesters kicking a fence outside the building and throwing pieces of concrete as police deployed gas. YouTube, [3/29/26; Substack, accessed 3/30/26]
Self-described “investigative journalist” Nate Friedman posted a video in which he “crashed No Kings NYC” and interviewed several protesters. The video featured one protester who pushed back against the claim that the protest was largely white. YouTube, [3/30/26; Instagram, accessed 4/6/26]
Citation
From a March 30, 2026, YouTube video from Nate Friedman
The Daily Wire posted a video to Instagram Reels of reporter Brecca Stoll interviewing protesters at No Kings rallies, including one in Washington, D.C.Instagram, [3/29/26, 3/29/26, 3/29/26]
Citation
From a March 29, 2026, video from Brecca Stoll, uploaded to Instagram
Frank Scales, founder of Surge Philly — a Philadelphia-based “independent media organization” covering “Antifa and other radical groups,” “Islamification,” and “National Protests and Demonstrations” — posted a TikTok in which he interviewed protesters at a No Kings rally in Philadelphia.The video featured a protester in a banana costume who struggled to explain how Trump was behaving unconstitutionally. On his Instagram, Scales also describes himself as an “independent journalist.” TikTok, [3/29/26; SurgeMedia.com, accessed 3/31/26; Instagram, accessed 4/6/26]
Citation
From a March 29, 2026, video from SurgePhilly, uploaded to TikTok
## Right-wing media picked up videos from these content creators and “independent journalists” and used them to claim protesters were “paid,” “terrorists,” or had “idiotic things to say”
Right-wing streamer Asmongold reacted to several No Kings videos online, including FreedomNews’ videos from a Portland protest.While watching the videos, Asmongold commented, “I cannot wait till we have a presidential candidate that I can vote for whose solution to this will be literally just shoot them with rubber bullets until they leave.” He then commented that “every time they do this,” police need to take a few protesters as “sacrifices” and “totally crucify them,” adding, “Put them on 10 different charges and send them to jail [for] like 15 years.” Twitch, [3/29/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool reacted to a video from Andy Ngo, a provocateur previously presented in right-wing media as an “independent” or “conservative” journalist, of protesters throwing rocks at an ICE facility and FreedomNews’ video of communists at the New York City protest.Pool commented, “I’m watching a video right here of a dude chucking concrete slabs at cops. Do you think reasonable people are happy with what you are doing?” YouTube, [3/30/26, 3/30/26; Media Matters, 8/28/19]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro aired Julio Rosas’, Nate Friedman’s, and The Daily Wire’s in-house videos.Shapiro mocked protesters, calling them “quite terrible” people, saying a protester “throws like a girl,” and calling another a “fatass.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [3/30/26]
Podcaster and former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino reacted to FreedomNews’ video of protesters carrying communist flags at the New York City No Kings protest and a video from Surge Philly showing protesters in keffiyehs. Bongino described protesters as “thugs and jerkoffs” and said No Kings protests are “paid-for bullshit.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [3/30/26]
The New York Post shared video from Rosas of protesters attacking an ICE facility. Rumble, [3/29/26]
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh aired The Daily Wire’s, Surge Philly’s, and Friedman’s interviews with protesters while claiming, “I need to emphasize that I’m not cherry-picking clips here. Every single time one of these people was asked to explain their worldview, it all fell apart.” After playing Friedman’s clip, Walsh said, “These people, they just make no attempt to form a coherent worldview at all,” adding, “It’s impossible to debate people that have no interest in being coherent.” The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [3/30/26, 3/30/26]
Podcaster and radio host Vince Coglianese shared a FreedomNews video from Portland while claiming, “This is terrorism, what you’re witnessing.”Coglianese also aired a clip of protesters in Los Angeles from Rosas’ Mostly Peaceful Media, saying, “This is like communist revolution stuff, what you’re watching. This is Marxism on display.” Rumble, *Vince*, [3/30/26]
OnThe Charlie Kirk Show, several TPUSA Frontlines journalists who were at the protests, including Bronson Alford, Gabriel Victal, and Ro Ortiz, spoke about their experiences.They also showed a clip from Friedman to claim the demographics of the protesters are “very old, lib boomers.” Rumble, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [3/30/26]
Citation
From the March 30, 2026, edition of Real America's Voice's The Charlie Kirk Show
Right-wing talk show host Steven Crowder dubbed the No Kings rally the “dumbest protest in American history” and aired clips from right-wing content creators and journalists.Crowder played clips from online content creators, including Friedman, TPUSA, FreedomNews, and The Daily Wire. YouTube, *Louder With Crowder*, [3/30/26, 3/30/26, 3/30/26]
On his showTriggered, President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., aired clips from both TPUSA Frontlines and FreedomNews of No Kings protests in Los Angeles and New York City. After playing TPUSA’s clip, which showed protesters lobbing rocks at the Los Angeles federal building, Trump Jr. commented, “I remember when that was an insurrection, but, you know, if you’re a Democrat it’s clearly not. It’s just, you know, protest, paid or not.” Rumble, *Triggered*, [3/30/26]
On Salem News’The Scott Jennings Show, host Scott Jennings played a clip from Friedman in which he interviews a No Kings protester. Jennings teased the clip, saying, “A lot of the people that went to the No Kings rallies had idiotic things to say.” Salem News Channel, *The Scott Jennings Show*, [3/30/26]
On Newsmax, host Carl Higbie aired clips from Rosas while discussing the No Kings protests, which he described as “fake outrage by people with nothing better to do on a Saturday.”While Rosas’ clip played in the background, Higbie stated, “It's also funny that the people who said Trump would destroy America are literally the ones setting fire to and breaking stuff in American cities. It's like, nothing to see here, just mostly peaceful protests.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [3/30/26]
Higbie then interviewed Surge Philly founder Frank Scales about a clip he posted of an interview with a woman at one of the No Kings protests, which Higbie argued were funded by “NGO grants and fraud.” Scales said of the video, in which he interviews a woman dressed as a banana, “It's very alarming that we have people dressed as bananas who can't, you know, explain why they're dressed as bananas.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [3/30/26]
Fox News host Sean Hannity interviewed Brecca Stoll about her interviews with No Kings protesters in Washington, D.C. Queueing up Stoll’s video, Hannity said, “Take a look at some of the, well depending on your point of view, highlights or lowlights.” Fox News, *Hannity*, [3/30/26]
Citation
From the March 30, 2025, edition of Fox News' Hannity
## Right-wing content creators have become a part of the right-wing ecosystem, exploiting national flashpoints to generate content for right-wing media
YouTuber and “independent journalist” Nick Shirley went viral after he posted YouTube videos purporting to show widespread fraud in Somali immigrant-run child care centers in Minnesota, prompting a response from the Trump administration. Shirley’s Minnesota investigation was celebrated by right-wing media and members of the Trump administration, and it led to the Trump administration pausing $185 million in federal child care payments to the state. Media Matters, [1/13/26; Anti Fraud Club, accessed 4/6/26]
After Shirley's success, right-wing content creators and the Trump administration itself descended on Minnesota and other states trying to replicate Shirley’s template and similarly expose supposed instances of fraudulent activity. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz released his own video alleging mass fraud and abuse at Los Angeles-based hospice centers. For his part, Shirley has continued to release videos claiming to uncover mass voter registration fraud in California. Wired, [1/12/26; NBC News, 1/4/26; Politico, 2/27/26; Media Matters, 2/18/26]
Two outlets have emerged as major distributors of this influencer-driven, on-the-ground reporting for right-wing media: TPUSA’s Frontlines and FreedomNews.Frontlines has its own content creation staff and has previously partnered with other right-wing influencers, including Cam Higby, to capture footage, often focusing on left-wing protests. FreedomNews, which bills itself as a “video content supplier,” has frequently published footage showing violent scuffles between protesters and police officers. Axios, [10/30/25; TPUSA Frontlines, accessed 4/6/26; FreedomNews, accessed 4/1/26; Media Matters, 10/24/25]
Citation
From an April 3, 2026, video from Savanah Hernandez, uploaded to YouTube
Other right-wing “independent journalists,” like Rosas and Friedman, have also developed online presences filming protest content.Friedman’s videos often involve street interviews with protesters while claiming he has “exposed” paid protesters. Rosas has received praise from right-wing media figures like Manhattan Institute senior fellow Chris Rufo and Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway for his reporting on liberal protests. YouTube, [11/22/25, 2/3/26, 3/3/26; Substack, accessed 3/30/26]
Citation
From a March 24, 2026, video from Nate Friedman, uploaded to YouTube
The Trump administration has also sought many of these influencers out and treated them as legitimate subject-matter experts and media officials.In October, the White House invited a dozen right-wing influencers to partake in a roundtable discussion on supposed threats posed by antifa. Several right-wing influencers, including figures affiliated with TPUSA, have been selected to be part of the Pentagon Press Corps, following the Department of Defense’s dismissal of traditional media outlets from the Pentagon. Right-wing influencers have also taken part in ride-alongs with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and filmed promotional content for mass deportations. Media Matters, [10/24/25, 11/20/25; The Guardian 1/11/26; The Washington Post, 12/2/25, Talking Points Memo, 4/1/26]
//
03/30/26 1:39 PM EDT
03/18/26 11:00 AM EDT
### Nick Shirley rebooted James O’Keefe’s debunked voter fraud myths for a new audience
02/18/2
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MMA
Right-wing media’s heinous rhetoric against people experiencing homelessness
From calling for homeless people to be sent to “internment camps” to fantasizing about making them “fight like gladiators,” right-wing media’s crusade against people without housing continues
Written by Sage Hodil
Published 04/03/26
Right-wing media have a long history of attacking homeless people, and so far 2026 has seen a continuation of that trend. Pundits have called for sending homeless people to different countries, “internment camps,” and institutions. Right-wing media figures have also pushed dehumanizing rhetoric by referring to homeless people as “bums,” “blighty,” “junkies,” “mentally deranged,” and even joking about their deaths.
## Right-wing media have consistently demonized and mischaracterized homelessness, sometimes advocating for aggressive solutions
Research shows that homelessness is driven primarily by economic factors, and the belief that it’s a personal choice is largely a myth.From October 2021 to November 2022, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, conducted the “largest representative study of homelessness since the mid-1990s” and found homelessness was mainly determined by “high housing costs and low income.” Margot Kushel, who led the study, has criticized the media for “misdiagnosing the problem” when they “blame homelessness on substance abuse,” arguing, it “simply isn’t true” that homeless people “refuse housing or that their problems make them impossible to house.” University of California San Francisco, The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness, [6/2023; Truthout, 11/6/23]
Experts from the Legal Defense Fund say that punitive approaches, such as forced displacement and criminalization, “will not end homelessness or address its root causes.” As The Legal Defense Fund stated, “Study after study show that the best way to address homelessness is to provide people with safe, affordable housing and to offer additional supports and services if needed.” Legal Defense Fund, [8/1/25]
Yet right-wing figures like Fox host Jesse Watters have spent years calling homeless people “a virus,” a “contagion,” and an “invasive species” and proposing carceral solutions.Watters, for example, has fantasized about sending homeless people to a “mega prison,” advocated for “bulldoz[ing]” homeless encampments and “institutionaliz[ing] everybody,” argued “it was more civilized when we banished them to asylums and put them in strait jackets,” and proposed “federally funded opium dens where the homeless can kill each other.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [8/21/23, 9/22/22, 9/22/22; Fox News, The Five, 3/24/25, 6/3/19, 9/15/22]
## In 2026 alone, right-wing media figures have called for detaining homeless people in jails and even sending them to other countries
On Fox News, billionaire CEO John Catsimatidis suggested homeless people should “live in Uganda.”Catsimatidis claimed the homeless should “live in Uganda for $8.13 a day. We'll give them the check for $8.13 a day, let them live somewhere else.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [3/19/26]
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld said we could “annex Greenland,” “send the homeless there,” and “call it homeless island.”Gutfeld continued, “You send them to a cold place, they've got to build shelter. Pretty soon they start to evolve towards normal living.” Fox News, *Gutfeld!*,[1/15/26]
Newsmax host Michael Savage proposed “internment camps” for “homeless bums.”Savage said homeless people “shouldn't have the freedom to live in the streets” and we should “take the freedom away from them, put them in internment camps 100 miles away from cities, and give them the care that they need.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie: Frontline*, [3/16/26]
Podcaster Tim Pool said if Democrats were serious about fixing homelessness they would “forcefully detain them and bring them to a facility” because “the only way to remove the homeless is by force.”Pool went on to say people are not homeless “because they fell on hard times” but “because of substance abuse issues and choice.” YouTube, *The Culture War with Tim Pool*, [2/16/26]
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh called for homeless people to be “forcefully and permanently” moved into jails or mental institutions.Walsh stated, “They should be jailed or they should be institutionalized. You remove them from the street forcefully and permanently.” The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [2/4/26]
On Newsmax, Citizens Alliance CEO Cliff Maloney complained about “mentally deranged” people on the streets and said, “I'm not trying to be harsh when I say this, but some people, you got to just lock them up and throw away the key.”Newsmax host Carl Higbie also endorsed bringing back mental institutions and insane asylums, saying, “Make asylums great again.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [1/21/26]
Fox host Todd Piro advocated for rounding up “every single homeless person” and putting them “in one location.”Piro stated, “I feel like you can take every single homeless person in a city, put them in one location, and pay security to keep everybody safe.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [3/26/26]
## Right-wing media have dehumanized people experiencing homelessness as “bad people” who are “repulsive” and embody “third world criminal blight”
Jesse Watters said billionaires should “make the homeless people in skid row fight like gladiators.”Watters also proposed for billionaires to “buy maybe everybody in skid row a one-way ticket to Thailand.” Fox News, *The Five*, [2/19/26]
Fox News contributor Lisa Kennedy Montgomery joked about homeless people freezing to death in New York City, referring to them as “corpsicles.”Her comment came after actor Rob Schneider joked, “As soon as they freeze to death you don't have to call them homeless. You just call them frozen dead people.” Fox News, *Gutfeld!*, [2/6/26]
Fox News host Sean Hannity cited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s free bus proposal and said if he really wants to “get rid of their homeless problem” he should “offer free booze, hookers, and drugs and nobody will ever leave the bus.”Prior to Hannity’s comment, guest Jeff Dye made a joke about “bums” urinating and defecating on buses and claimed they will “end up living” there if public transit is made free. Fox News, *Hannity*, [1/19/26]
Greg Gutfeld claimed, “Homeless people do not have the ability to make decisions for themselves. We all know that.”Gutfeld blamed Mamdani for the deaths of 16 people during New York’s freezing weather and argued, “If they had allowed to take down the encampments and required them in shelters, all of those people would be alive.” Fox News, *The Five*, [2/3/26]
Matt Walsh characterized homeless people as “junkies” and “for the most part bad people.”Walsh went on to say, “The only solution is to round them up by force and put them in jail. … Treat drug use as a crime. Treat homelessness as a crime.” The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [1/6/26]
In January, right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson referred to homeless people as “vagrants” who are “sickening,” “blighty,” and “repulsive and dangerous.”Johnson also said homeless encampments in California represent “third world criminal blight.” YouTube, *The Benny Show*, [1/16/26, 1/13/26]
//
### Jesse Watters’ decade-long hate campaign against homeless people
07/17/23
### Fox News zeroes in on a new target: the homeless
06/04/19
### NY Post's Latest Attack On Homeless Demonstrates Real-World Consequences Of Poor-Shaming
03/10/16
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How right-wing media helped the Trump administration push a “psyop” against Iran's new supreme leader
At least 40 shows within the right-wing media ecosystem ran with unsubstantiated rumors that the new Iranian ayatollah may be gay
Written by Harrison Ray, Noah Dowe & Reed McMaster
Research contributions from Tyler Monroe
Published 03/27/26
At least 40 shows within the right-wing media ecosystem helped the Trump administration push an unsubstantiated narrative that the new Iranian ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, is gay — a move that Zeteo reports was meant to be a “psyop against their Iranian enemies and the new supreme leader.”
On March 16, the New York Post published an article which claimed that President Donald Trump was told “US intelligence indicates new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may be gay.” The Post suggested that its sources “say the implausible-sounding allegation is viewed as credible by US spy agencies, rather than false information intended to undermine Khamenei.”
Yet according to a March 27 report from Zeteo, there exists “no credible intel” on Khamenei’s sexuality; rather, “the idea was fabricated and pushed behind the scenes in the past several weeks by a cohort of Trump advisers, US government personnel, and MAGAworld associates.” One source told Zeteo that the administration “wanted to mindfuck [the Iranians] with gay shit,” while another suggested, “It’s some 20-year-old frat boy in the federal government’s idea of a good joke.”
Media Matters found that at least 40 shows within the right-wing media ecosystem — including at least 6 on Fox News, at least 8 on Newsmax, at least 2 on One America News Network, and at least 24 podcasts or radio shows — repeated the administration’s narrative, with some adding their own absurd and bigoted commentary. Following the story's surge of attention on March 16, it has continued to be mentioned daily within the right-wing media sphere as recently as yesterday.
While some within the right-wing media simply highlighted the New York Post story, others added their own takes.
Fox host Greg Gutfeld joked about the rumor on March 16, saying, “Speaking of world leaders, rumors are circulating that the new Iranian supreme leader is gay. They know this because he keeps throwing himself off a building — that’s what they do in Iran.”
Newsmax host Chris Plante made the same joke on his March 17 podcast, saying, “If he became the ayatollah, the first thing he’d have to do as ayatollah is kill himself.” Following a lengthy and graphic fantasy about Khamenei committing suicide, Plante explained, “That’s what they always do when they hang the gay people in Iran, and the Democrats are on the side of the Iranian regime because of their many mental illnesses.”
Referencing the death of the new supreme leader’s father, former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Plante added, “And here’s the headline: Ayatollah disappointed to learn 72 virgins awaiting him in paradise are all women. Oh no, not the women. That is because, you know, it might run in the family, like monkeypox.”
That same day, Daily Wire host Michael Knowles ranted, “The ayatollah might be a homosexual, might be a little light in the loafers. You know what I'm saying? A couple fries away from a Happy Meal. The kind of fella has a long handshake.” While Knowles acknowledged that the story seemed at first “like an op” and “a demoralization tactic from our intelligence services,” he claimed, “There's a little bit of evidence that the ladies are not exactly his type.”
Newsmax host Rob Carson repeated the claim on March 22 and suggested the ayatollah has not been going out in public because “he's been in the closet.” After showing a clip of host Carl Higbie mocking “the Strait of Hormuz and the gay son,” Carson broke out in song, seemingly parodying “It's Raining Men.”
VID]
//
03/30/26 2:06 PM EDT
03/30/26 1:57 PM EDT
03/30/26
---
// GT REPLACEMENT OPEN BORDER BS
MMA
Right-wing media are calling for ICE to “surround the polls” in midterms
Right-wing media figures claim Democrats are “basically admitting they're cheating” by opposing ICE at polling stations. But noncitizen voting is a fake problem and ICE has racially profiled US citizens.
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Sage Hodil
Published 03/27/26
Right-wing media personalities are pushing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be deployed to polling stations during the 2026 midterm elections, claiming it will “fix the fraud” of alleged noncitizen voting and suggesting the only reason Democrats oppose the idea is that “they want to cheat” and “protect illegals’ voting rights.” Department of Homeland Security officials, meanwhile, have put out mixed messaging regarding whether or not the department will consider this course of action.
In reality, according to experts, instances of noncitizen voting are negligible and the presence of ICE agents at polling stations would be illegal, as it could intimidate voters into staying away and have a “chilling effect” on elections due to ICE’s history of racial profiling and harassing and detaining U.S. citizens.
## DHS officials have given mixed messaging on deploying ICE to polling sites in upcoming midterm elections
A DHS official previously dismissed concerns that ICE would be present at polling locations. Heather Honey, deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, reportedly told a group of secretaries of state in February that “any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true.” PBS, [2/26/26]
But new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has not ruled out the possibility.During his confirmation hearing, Mullin said if ICE is sent to polling places, “there will be a reason for us to be there, and it’ll be known why we’re there.” White House border czar Tom Homan also downplayed concerns about ICE at polling stations, saying, “Part of DHS’ job is secure elections, and I’m not going to say, you know, you know, what our plan is going forward, but if only U.S. citizens can vote, I don’t see the issue of what they’re concerned about.” The Hill, [3/25/26]
At CPAC, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche rhetorically asked,“Why is there an objection to sending ICE to polling stations?” He continued, saying, “Illegals can’t vote. It doesn’t make any sense.” The Hill, [3/27/26]
## Experts have consistently stated that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud and that deploying federal agents at polling stations would be illegal and lead to voter intimidation
The Brennan Center for Justice’s Sean Morales-Doyle asserted that Trump can not send ICE agents to polling sites, writing, “The law is crystal clear: It is illegal to deploy federal troops or armed federal law enforcement to any polling place.” He added, “In fact, it is a federal crime for anyone in the U.S. military to interfere in elections in any way.” Brennan Center for Justice, [10/22/25]
Voting rights advocates have also warned that deploying ICE to polling sites, or even threatening to do so, could intimidate voters from casting their vote.Potential voters who may be intimidated by ICE's presence at polling sites have legal redress under the Voting Rights Act and “the person bringing the suit only has to prove that they were intimidated, not that the person they’re suing intended to intimidate them.” Brennan Center for Justice, [10/22/25; CNN, 3/25/26]
ICE has also shown a pattern of racial profiling, which has led to a “chilling effect.” A Brookings Institution survey found “high percentages of Latino citizens avoiding important activities, including being engaged in their children’s schools and reporting crimes to police for fear of being asked for their immigration papers.” Since a 2025 Supreme Court ruling allowed ICE to “profile Americans based on perceptions that they look like an immigrant,” U.S. citizens have reported being racially profiled and detained by ICE. Brookings Institution, [10/16/25; The Guardian, 1/22/26]
A recent internal review from DHS on noncitizen voter registration indicated “there is no evidence of widespread fraud.” While the review has found some instances of noncitizen voter registration, as The New York Times pointed out, “Even that number could be inflated. The verification tool has mistakenly flagged some people who appear to actually be citizens, according to some local election officials.” The New York Times, [1/14/26]
According to the American Immigration Council, instances of noncitizen voting are “infinitesimally small.”The right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own study on voter fraud “has documented just 68 total cases of noncitizen voting going back to the earliest cases documented in the 1980s.” American Immigration Council, [8/1/24]
## Right-wing media are calling for ICE to “surround the polls” in November because “illegals shouldn't be voting in our elections”
War Roomhost and former Trump administration chief strategist Steve Bannon: ICE at airports can be “a test case to get, to really perfect ICE's involvement in the 2026 midterm elections.”Bannon added, “They can’t work the machines, you know what they’ll do? Just walk up and down, hey, we're going to speed things through — can we check your IDs? That’s what’s going to happen in the fall of ‘26 because, folks, we’re tired of having elections stolen.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [3/23/26]
Bannon also said in February, “You’re damn right we’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [2/3/26]
The Gateway Pundit: “War Room’s Steve Bannon Says ICE Must ‘Surround The Polls’ in November to Stop Election Fraud.”The blog added, “Democrats will inevitably argue that ICE’s presence at the polls constitutes voter intimidation, but that concern only makes sense if illegal aliens are, in fact, showing up to vote.” The Gateway Pundit, [2/4/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro: “Making sure illegal immigrants do not show up at polling sites is not a horrible use of ICE.” Shapiro asked, “Why are illegal immigrants at polling sites? I mean, if ICE is there — like, if ICE shows up at a polling site and I show up at a polling site, I’m not worried about ICE because I’m not an illegal immigrant.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [3/24/26]
Podcaster Benny Johnson: “Can we deploy ICE to every voting booth in America? Would that fix the fraud? Of course, it would.”Johnson continued, “Why are we even talking about the SAVE Act? You don't need the SAVE Act if you don't have a nation overrun with criminal aliens.” YouTube, *The Benny Show*, [3/24/26]
Fox’s Jesse Watters argued for ICE agents to be at polling locations.Watters said, “Well, one of the demands, they say no ICE agents can be at a polling station. What's the trouble with that, Jessica? What's the problem? If illegals aren't voting, why can't ICE agents be at a polling station?” Fox News,*The Five*, [3/23/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie said, “ICE at polling places shouldn’t be a problem, because illegals shouldn’t be voting in our elections.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [2/2/26]
Radio host Tony Katz: “Why aren’t ICE agents at polling places? Why aren't we ensuring that Americans vote?” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [3/3/26]
## Right-wing media claim Democrats are “basically admitting they're cheating” by opposing ICE at polling stations because they want to “protect illegals’ voting rights.”
On his prime-time show, Jesse Watters said Democrats are “basically admitting they’re cheating” by opposing ICE at polling locations. Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [3/23/26]
Former Trump FBI deputy director and podcaster Dan Bongino claimed “Democrats don’t want any immigration enforcement anywhere near polling locations” because “they want to cheat.” Bongino also argued that Democrats are “so concerned about this” because “they like the cheating.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [3/5/26]
In an op-ed for The Daily Wire, Matt Walsh claimed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ opposition to ICE at polling stations is about “ensuring that tens of millions of illegal aliens can vote in the next election.”Walsh wrote: “He desperately wants ICE to stay very far away from *polling stations,* in particular. He says it several times. Why might that be? Who exactly would be intimidated by the presence of a federal immigration officer at a polling station? Who would choose to stay at home, in hiding, rather than get anywhere near an ICE agent?” He continued, “Jeffries is simply too dumb to realize how transparent he’s being here. His overriding concern — and the concern of his party — is ensuring that tens of millions of illegal aliens can vote in the next election.” The Daily Wire, [3/23/26]
On Newsmax, American Principles Project President Terry Schilling said Democrats “can deal with ICE agents at every single polling location across the country” if they continue to oppose the SAVE Act. Schilling also claimed that Democrats are “pushing illegals to the polls.” Newsmax, *The Right Squad*, [2/11/26]
While previewing an upcoming interview with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Newsmax host Ed Henry suggested that Democrats are “so concerned about ICE potentially being at the polls in November” because “maybe they don’t want election integrity.”Newsmax, *Ed Henry The Big Take*, [3/3/26]
One America News host Dan Ball claimed Democrats oppose ICE agents at polling sites because they want to “protect illegals’ voting rights.”Ball continued, “Otherwise, why would you give a rat's you-know-what if ICE goes to a polling station to look for illegals? They shouldn't be voting.” One America News, *Real America with Dan Ball*, [3/9/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty suggested Democrats don’t want ICE at polling sites because then “illegal aliens” won’t be able to vote for them.Finnerty stated, “ICE can't be at polling sites because how are illegal aliens going to vote if ICE is arresting people at polling sites?” Newsmax, *Finnerty*, [3/10/26]
Newsmax host David Harris Jr. said, “I really hope ICE is at every single voting poll around the country come voting time.” Harris Jr. also claimed Democrats “don’t want to have the people that shouldn’t be here in the first place interfered while they go cast their votes.” Newsmax, *David Harris Jr. The Pulse*, [3/11/26]
Right-wing blog Townhall claimed Democrats are “more than willing to withhold funding from DHS,” despite terror attacks, “all to ensure that illegals are freely able to go to polling sites.”The blog criticized Democrats in a piece titled “Despite Terror Attacks, Dems Vow to Continue DHS Shut Down to Block ICE From Polling Sites.” Townhall, [3/9/26]
Right-wing blog RedState criticized Democrats who oppose ICE at polling stations, writing, “Why would you not want ICE to be keeping illegal aliens out of polling places? Unless you had some other reason for wanting illegal aliens at polling places, Democrats?” The blog added, “You keep the illegal aliens out of the polling places, and ICE doesn't need to be there. Will the Democrats commit to that? Why are they placing illegal aliens over the American people?” RedState, [3/9/26]
//
### Right-wing media use the SAVE America Act to undermine the upcoming midterm elections
:{:{03/20/26}:
### Nick Shirley rebooted James O’Keefe’s debunked voter fraud myths for a new audience
:{:{02/18/26}:
02/12/26
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MMA
Spanish- and English-language right-wing media figures call for U.S. military intervention and regime change in Cuba
MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson said, “I’m here for the invasion of Cuba,” adding, “I'll join Bay of Pigs 2.0”
Written by Monica Rodriguez & Pete Tsipis
Research contributions from Jack Winstanley
Published 03/24/26
Right-wing media pundits, in both English and Spanish, have advocated for U.S. military intervention or U.S.-backed regime change in Cuba — a recent target of the Trump administration following the January 3 U.S. military operation against Venezuela, a longtime Cuban ally. While hosts and guests on Spanish-language conservative radio and online shows have been pushing for U.S. intervention against Cuba for months now, Fox figures have also recently backed the Trump administration’s warmongering, while podcasters have called to make Cuba a U.S. territory as part of an American “empire.”
## While tensions rose, the Trump administration communicated its desire to take Cuba
President Donald Trump said he believed he “will be having the honor of taking Cuba.” Previously, Trump said, “It may be a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover.” Speaking from the White House on March 16, Trump said Cuba is “a very weakened nation right now” as the country experienced a nationwide blackout. A series of blackouts across Cuba has caused a humanitarian crisis due, in part, to the de facto blockade imposed by the Trump administration in January following the U.S. abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose government was Cuba’s largest oil supplier, and after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries supplying fuel to Cuba. Reuters, [3/16/26; The New York Times, 3/16/26; CNBC, 3/10/26]
While tensions between the U.S. and Cuba have been rising steadily in recent weeks, there have been some efforts at negotiation. On March 15, Trump stated, “Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do.” He added, “We're talking to Cuba, but we're going to do Iran before Cuba.” Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga has admitted to talks with the U.S., saying the regime is open to “a fluid commercial relationship with US companies.” However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 17 that this offer from Cuba doesn’t go far enough. Reuters, [3/13/26, 3/15/26; The Guardian, 3/17/26]
## Spanish-language right-wing media push for US intervention and regime change in Cuba
YouTuber Agustín Laje said, “The next objective of the United States consists of … destroying the Castro regime, finally destroying it.” He added, “We may be witnessing a unique and historic opportunity for the United States, governed by Donald Trump, to focus his efforts toward the definitive liberation of the Cuban people once he finishes with Iran.” YouTube, *Agustín Laje Arrigoni*, [3/9/26]
OnVoz News, political analyst Diego Loyo stated that between Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba, the latter would be the country where the United States “could most easily intervene, from a military standpoint.” He added that the U.S. military “would definitely have far greater capacity to attack Cuba, and the Cuban regime specifically, than other countries.” Voz Media, *Voz News*, [3/13/26]
Jorge Martínez, then the Spanish-language spokesperson for the America First Policy Institute, claimed that “Trump believes in peace through strength” and that “acting firmly” on Cuba now would “help avoid greater conflict later.” La Nueva Poderosa, *Mucho que Decir*, [1/27/26]
Former Vice President of Argentina Carlos Ruckauf suggested that “what they did in Venezuela” was a “perfected” example for how to handle Cuba and “end the dictatorship, get these guys out, and usher in a transition.” Appearing on Agustin Laje's YouTube show, Ruckauf said, “Trump is changing the course of history, and specifically the course of history for our continent. … If he ends this dictatorship, which is close, he would be ending the dictatorship that is the mother of narco-socialism of the 21st century.” YouTube, *Agustín Laje Arrigoni*, [3/13/26; YouTube, Agustín Laje Arrigoni, 3/13/26]
Voz Newspanelist Alfonso Aguilar said escalations in Iran “send a message to Cuba that everything is on the table.”Aguilar, the Director of Hispanic engagement at the America First Policy Institute, clarified that his preference is to avoid “prolonged wars.” He said, “It would be extraordinary if we could have a Venezuela-type transition that leads to a stable and democratic government” in Cuba. Voz Media, *Voz News*, [2/27/26]
Cada Tardehost Agustín Acosta said that if the Cuban government made the “mistake” of repressing its citizens as the Iranian ayatollahs did, Trump would not miss the “opportunity” to “destroy all the military infrastructure and bomb the palace where Raúl [Castro] lives.” He added that if that scenario occurs, “a military intervention would be justified in the eyes of public opinion as a humanitarian intervention.” Actualidad Radio, *Cada Tarde*, [2/18/26]
Acosta stated that there should be regime change in Cuba, but claimed that “there will probably not be a single American soldier’s boot on the ground in Cuba, just like in Venezuela.” He argued that this year in Cuba, people could have the opportunity to “hold rallies without repression, precisely without firing a shot from Washington, because they have a gun to the back of their heads at the moment.” Actualidad Radio, *Cada Tarde*, [2/2/26]
## Some English-speaking right-wing podcasters and streamers have advocated for the “invasion of Cuba”
During an ad read, podcaster Benny Johnson said he’s “here for the invasion of Cuba,” adding, “I'll join Bay of Pigs 2.0.” Johnson also said during another episode that taking over Cuba “feels a little more natural” than the attacks on Iran because it’s “a collapsed and failed nation, it’s something that is right off our coast, it was used to nearly launch a nuclear holocaust on our people, and it’s been a — they’re serving a pawn state to the communist faction of the world that is nonexistent, effectively.” YouTube, *The Benny Johnson Show*, [3/12/26, 3/6/26]
Right-wing streamer Zach Hoyt, who goes by Asmongold online, suggested Trump “take over” Cuba and turn it into a U.S. territory. He said, “If Trump is able to take Greenland, basically subjugate Venezuela, get rid of Iran's dictatorship, and then also take over places like Cuba, I think that pretty much locks it in. I mean, I know people might not like this. Right? But, like, really think about that. That's nuts. Like, really? I mean, like, yeah, you get, like, fucking, like, three or four different territories. That's insane.” YouTube, *Asmongold TV*, [1/21/26]
PBD Podcastpanelist Brandon Aceto said Cuban Americans would be thrilled if “the United States went in and took out the leader of Cuba the way we did with Venezuela.” Aceto stated, “If you were to think about it from terms of precedent and international law and everything, yeah, sure, you could say like, oh, so we're talking about taking over a country. But no, like, I mean, let's be real. I don't think there's a Cuban in the world that exists that would be upset if the United States went in and took out the leader of Cuba the way we did with Venezuela.” YouTube, *PBD Podcast*, [3/18/26]
White nationalist Nick Fuentes advocated for U.S. imperialism in Cuba, saying he likes “seeing more territory have the American flag flying over it” and that he wants “America to be an empire.” Fuentes stated, “I like the idea of America getting bigger, larger. I don't know about you, but I like seeing more of the map become America. I like seeing more territory have the American flag flying over it. Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, why not?” In a later episode, Fuentes stated, “We need more territories. This is the thing, like — I believe in American empire. I want America to be an empire. Yes. Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela.” He added, “These are all the countries we need to capture.” Fuentes would later seem to contradict himself by criticizing the idea of regime change in Cuba, claiming that it would lead to refugees entering the United States. Media Matters, [3/18/26; Rumble, America First, 1/15/26, 2/9/26, 3/16/26]
Conservative pundit Jesse Kelly pushed for U.S. intervention in Cuba, saying that “if we’re going to reassert the Monroe Doctrine … Cuba has to be part of that.” Kelly stated, “They're 90 miles off our shore. If we're going to reassert the Monroe Doctrine — and Donald Trump has talked openly about that, where we control our hemisphere — Cuba has to be part of that. We can't have a hostile country 90 miles from our border. We are running into a problem, and they've spoken about this. We don't know. Again, this is similar to Iran — we don't know who's taking over.” YouTube, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [3/6/26]
## Fox figures have backed or touted the administration's threats of military intervention in Cuba
Fox News analyst Jack Keane said the U.S. can “bend this regime to our will,” referring to Cuba. Keane stated, “You take advantage of the reality that Cuba is near economic collapse ever since we shut down any assistance from Venezuela, particularly their oil. And as a result of that we can bend this regime to our will in a way that we've never been able to do.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [3/17/26]
Fox News contributor Dan Hoffman voiced support for a U.S.-led regime change in Cuba. Hoffman stated, “This is probably our best chance that we’ve ever had, with the leverage that we have, to impose some change on Cuba, which would benefit the Cuban people as well.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [3/17/26]
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said the Cuban regime will have to “make a choice” because Trump “has already demonstrated, when you look at Iran and Venezuela, he’s not kidding.” Kilmeade said, “Do they want to end up in a Brooklyn jail or do they want to go some place of their choosing? It depends on the type of landing they prefer.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/9/26]
Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe listed Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran as countries that “have required … or may require U.S. military intervention” to achieve freedom. She said: “You look at these three different countries right now, whether it be Iran, Venezuela, or Cuba that have required, or at least Cuba, President Trump’s talking about it, that have required or may require U.S. military intervention to free those societies.” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [3/6/26]
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MMA
Right-wing media use the SAVE America Act to undermine the upcoming midterm elections
Right-wing pundits have falsely claimed Democrats oppose the SAVE America Act because they are “cheating” and “want the illegals to be able to vote”
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Sage Hodil
Published 03/20/26
Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, right-wing media are using the controversial SAVE America Act to undermine election integrity by claiming Democrats oppose the bill because they “want to steal elections” and “want the illegals to be able to vote.” This is the latest iteration of a longstanding pattern in which right-wing media cast doubt on elections as Americans prepare to cast their votes.
For example, in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, right-wing media were peddling election conspiracy theories and insisting the 2020 election was rigged. Ahead of the 2024 election cycle, right-wing media deployed that same playbook, spreading false information about undocumented immigrants voting, accusing Democrats of rigging the system, and attempting to undermine the validity of mail-in voting.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, right-wing media figures are yet again claiming that Democrats are trying to cheat and want undocumented immigrants to vote, even though instances of noncitizen voting are vanishingly rare. Still, right-wing media figures have advocated for Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence at polling locations, President Donald Trump to declare a “national emergency” to enforce his preferred election policies, and Congress to pass the SAVE Act (since modified and rebranded as the SAVE America Act).
Though the SAVE America Act appears to be doomed in the Senate, the controversial bill, which aims to rewrite election laws nationwide, would, if passed, create new barriers for people attempting to register to vote by requiring them to provide documents such as a passport or birth certificate as proof of citizenship. But as the Brennan Center for Justice points out, millions of citizens lack access to these documents, and “roughly half of Americans don’t even have a passport.” As an example of the potential effects, the Bipartisan Policy Center examined a similar law requiring proof of citizenship passed in Kansas and found the law prevented roughly 12% of applicants from registering to vote. The SAVE America Act could also place additional burdens on married women who have changed their last name from the one that appears on their birth certificate.
Nonetheless, right-wing media have been using the bill to sell a false narrative that Democrats have “nefarious intentions” and are “petrified about having safe and secure elections” because “they want the illegals to be able to vote.”
War Roomhost Steve Bannon said “we have to codify” the SAVE America Act “to stop the Democrats with the illegal aliens stealing the 2026 midterm.”Bannon also threatened, “If Thune cannot deliver this week on these basics about not allowing them to steal elections, why is he not removed as a leader of the Senate?” Real America’s Voice,*War Room*, [2/3/26]
Fox News host Jesse Watters claimed that when Democrats “fight this hard” against the bill, “you know they’re cheating” in elections.Watters then argued that it’s “logical” to require voter ID after you “poured 20 million foreigners into the United States.” Fox News,*The Five*, [2/4/26]
On his radio show, Fox News host Sean Hannity claimed the “only reason I can think” Democrats “don't want voter IDs, signature verification” is because they have “nefarious intentions.”Hannity continued, suggesting Democrats must not “want honest elections with integrity so everyone can have confidence in the results.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Sean Hannity Show*, [2/6/26]
QAnon conspiracy theorist Scott Presler: “The Democrats are petrified about having safe and secure elections because they know that our Congress and our Senate would look much different today if we had secure voting.”Presler: “Having a trust me, bro, election system in Minnesota is the reason why it's been blue even since Mondale.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Sean Hannity Show*, [2/6/26; Media Matters,8/23/21]
Presler later commented on Fox News: “When Sen. Chuck Schumer says that tens of millions of Americans will be removed from the voter rolls, did he say the quiet part out loud? Did he allude to the fact that perhaps tens of millions of noncitizens are on the voter rolls?” He added, “Anyone that is only for Americans being registered to vote cannot be against the SAVE America Act.” Fox News, *The Story with Martha MacCallum*, [3/11/26]
Fox News contributor Ari Fleischer said “there’s no logic” for Democrats’ opposition to the bill “other than they’re working so hard to let anybody vote without knowing if they’re a citizen or not.” Fleischer then claimed noncitizen voting is “the perfect crime” because “no one will catch you.” Fox News, *Special Report with Bret Baier*, [2/11/26]
Fox & Friendsco-host Lawrence Jones claimed Democrats oppose the bill because “they want the illegals to be able to vote.”Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [2/20/26]
Fox News host Will Cain claimed Democrats “benefit from having insecure voting rolls, they benefit from the potentiality of illegals voting in American elections.”Fox News, *The Will Cain Show*, [3/11/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty claimed, “Democrats don’t want the SAVE Act to pass because if it does, people who aren't legally allowed to vote in our elections will not be able to vote in our elections anymore.” Finnerty also characterized the Democratic party as “a party built around illegal aliens and dead people voting.” Newsmax, *Finnerty*, [3/12/26]
On Newsmax, actor Dean Cain said “there's no reason in the world” for Democrats to “oppose the SAVE Act, other than it will stop them from being able to cheat.”Newsmax, *Ed Henry The Big Take*, [3/6/26]
On Newsmax, The Federalist’s Ben Weingarten suggested that it’s incredibly easy to cheat in elections today and claimed Democrats have been “normalizing the idea that noncitizens should be able to vote.”Weingarten attacked Democrats for “gaslighting” and spreading “propaganda” about the SAVE America Act and stated, “Americans want clean voter rolls and clean elections where it's easy to vote and incredibly hard to cheat. And we have the opposite today.” Newsmax, *The National Report*, [3/11/26]
Fox contributor Newt Gingrich claimed Democrats oppose the bill “because they want to steal elections.” Gingrich continued, “They want to have the ability to vote people who aren't legal or people who are dead.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [3/19/26]
Trump ally and right-wing podcaster Roger Stone: “SAVE America Act Hits the Achilles Heel of Democrats’ Fraud Scheme.” Wrote Stone, “There is only one reason for Democrats and far-left special interest groups to oppose the SAVE America Act: because they want to enable fraud. They know that loosening the system allows them to essentially stuff the ballot box. The illegals who are still floating around in this country by the millions can exploit these loopholes.” Substack, [3/4/26]
//
03/18/26 10:15 AM EDT
### Nick Shirley rebooted James O’Keefe’s debunked voter fraud myths for a new audience
02/18/26 4:25 PM EST
02/12/26
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MMA
Right-wing media blamed Iran for bombing of Minab elementary school, but reporting suggests it was a US strike
Reporting indicates that a US Tomahawk missile likely hit the school, yet right-wing media blamed the attack on Iran and downplayed the killing of children because “things happen in war”
Written by Torri Lonergan, Ben Van Bloem & Isabella Sherk
Published 03/11/26
Right-wing media blamed Iran for the likely U.S. bombing of an elementary school during initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. As evidence mounted that the U.S. was likely at fault, right-wing media called it “disinformation from the enemy.” The strike killed about 175 civilians, largely young children.
Multiple mainstream news organizations have now verified a video that appears to show a U.S. Tomahawk missile hitting a building near the school as part of an attack on an Iranian naval facility next door. Additionally, Defense Department investigators have reportedly determined that the U.S. was likely responsible for the strike. However, right-wing media figures claimed to have “photographic evidence” that Iran was behind the bombing, downplayed the killing of school children, and cast doubt on reporting about the strike, calling the entire story “a lie that has been completely retracted.”
## Reporting and video suggest that the US is likely responsible for the bombing of an Iranian elementary school
Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in southern Iran was struck by a missile on February 28, killing about 175 people. Neither the U.S. nor Israel initially admitted responsibility for the attack that killed so many civilians, including many children. NPR, [3/8/26; BBC, 3/9/26]
Evidence suggests that the missile was launched by the United States.The New York Times linked the strike on the school to a simultaneous U.S. military attack on a neighboring Iranian naval base and debunked the claim that the school was hit by a “misfired Iranian missile.” The New York Times, NPR, and the Washington Post also verified a video that confirmed it was a Tomahawk missile that hit the school. All three outlets reported that the U.S. is the only actor in the war that is known to possess Tomahawks. The New York Times, [3/5/26, 3/8/26; NPR, 3/8/26; The Washington Post, 3/8/26]
Even Fox News reported that the school was likely hit with U.S. munitions.Correspondent Jennifer Griffin said, “Satellite imagery and verified video shows the girls elementary school hit in Minab, Iran, on Saturday was likely hit by U.S. precision munitions.” Even Fox host Laura Ingraham mentioned the possibility that “some horrific U.S. or Israeli mistake” caused the strike and said that if the reports are true, then “we will need to own up to it, full transparency.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [3/6/26; Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 3/4/26]
Both a U.S. official and open-source investigative journalism collective Bellingcat said the strike was “likely American.” A Bellingcat researcher identified the munition as a Tomahawk cruise missile made by American weapons manufacturer Raytheon. Reuters reported that “U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed scores of children.” The New York Times reported that “an ongoing military investigation has determined that the United States is responsible” for the strike, noting that it was “the result of a targeting mistake by the U.S. military,” which “created the target coordinates for the strike using outdated data” that “had not been double checked.” Bellingcat, [3/8/26; The Associated Press, 3/9/26; Reuters, 3/5/26; The New York Times, 3/11/26]
Despite this reporting, President Donald Trump denied U.S. responsibility for the strike and blamed Iran.“In my opinion and based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” Trump told The New York Times. “They’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions.” Fox’s Jennifer Griffin accused Trump of trying to “muddy the waters,” saying, “It seems highly unlikely it would be anyone's Tomahawk other than a U.S. Tomahawk that hit that school, and I think the president knows that.” The New York Times, [3/5/26, 3/8/26; Fox News, Special Report with Bret Baier, 3/9/26]
## Many right-wing media figures blamed Iran for the school bombing
Right-wing podcaster Laura Loomer dismissed U.S. and Israeli responsibility for the bombing as “Islamic propaganda” and claimed to have “photographic evidence” that the missile that hit the school was “fired by the Iranians.”Loomer argued, “The school that was struck in Iran was struck by an Iranian missile that misfired because it was fired by the Iranians, and then they blamed Israel and they blamed the United States. And I posted photographic evidence of this the other day, and you can clearly see the missile shooting up and then shooting back down in Iran. So no, the United States and Israel did not just murder 175 Iranian school girls. The Iranians murdered 175 Iranian school girls.” Rumble, *Loomer Unleashed*, [3/3/26]
Fox News contributor Brett Velicovich implied that Iranian “tyrants” were “bombing girls schools in the midst of their own chaos.” Velicovich said, “This is not a country defending itself anymore, it’s a regime exporting chaos in every direction. It’s a regime full of psychopaths that should not exist in modern society. And while our military conducts precision strikes on the tyrants in Iran, they are busy bombing girls schools in the midst of their own chaos and killing more innocents.” Fox News, *The Faulkner Focus*, [3/5/26]
Charlie Kirk Showproducer Blake Neff raised the possibility that “Iran might have launched one of their missiles and it didn’t go well.” Former Tucker Carlson writer Neff said of the strike, “I highly doubt our government would intentionally strike an elementary school. So there's a possibility it didn't happen at all. Accidental strike. Iran might have launched one of their missiles and it didn't go well and it landed inside their own country.” Rumble, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [2/28/26; The New York Times, 9/16/20]
Podcast host Stephen Crowder amplified an “unverified” Telegram post claiming “Iran knew they struck their own school by accident, used it — or on purpose — used it for propaganda.”Crowder said that he “would be willing to bet if it did happen that it obviously wasn't targeted” and suggested that it could have been an Iranian missile that struck the school. Rumble, *Louder with Crowder*, [3/3/26]
PBD Podcasthost Patrick Bet-David said reports about the school bombing were “disinformation,” and panelist Adam Sosnick claimed it had been tracked back to a “fallen military missile from Iran.” Bet-David responded, “Let me tell you, that’s the disinformation camp.” Later in the episode, Sosnick reiterated that it “was the IRGC,” or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and said that people complaining about the school attack were being hypocritical for ignoring violence by the Iranian government during recent protests: “You didn’t care that 30, 40, 50,000 Iranians were killed?" YouTube, *PBD Podcast*, [3/2/26, 3/2/26]
## Right-wing media downplayed the school bombing or denied US involvement
Fox host Jimmy Failla claimed that Democrats planted “a lie that has been completely retracted of these allied forces wiping out a girls school.” He blamed Democrats for planting the story in the media, saying, “If you see the entirety of the world celebrating Donald Trump, your first thought as a Democrat is oh shit. So they get out there and they plant a story.” Failla continued by claiming that Democrats want people to think, “I don't want to live in an America where Trump just blows up girls schools.” Fox News Radio, *Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla*, [3/3/26]
Newsmax host Greg Kelly said he thought there was a “major chance” that reports of the U.S. striking a school were “disinformation from the enemy.” Kelly said, “This is an authoritarian move. They do it all the time, right? Once the bullets start flying, they claim war crime, war crime.” The host later suggested the building may not have even been a school, admitting that “it’s possible, but none of the reports mention that it was located right next to the Iranian Islamic Republican Guard headquarters for that area.” Newsmax, *Greg Kelly Reports*, [3/2/26]
Fox host Jesse Watters: “If someone made a mistake when they hit a school, that's bad, but that's war.” He accused co-host Jessica Tarlov of “lying about the war” and said Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “murdered 35,000 people” as a defense when Tarlov brought up the school bombing. Fox News, *The Five*, [3/6/26]
War Roomhost Steve Bannon downplayed the deadly school bombing, saying, “Those things happen in war.” He insisted, “They don't make mistakes. You may have something go offline, there's this issue about this striking the girls school that’s on a military base. Yes, those things happen in war. But the process is bulletproof.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [3/9/26]
Streamer Zack Hoyt, known online as Asmongold, dismissed concerns about the bombing of the school as “emotional manipulation” and “Karen ideology” while praising a video of Secretary of State Marco Rubio talking about the conflict. YouTube, Asmongold TV, [3/2/26]
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro criticized “people putting extraordinary focus on the Iranian school” who didn’t talk about “protesters mowed down by the Iranian regime.” Shapiro said, “Every life lost is a tragedy. I've noticed that many of the people, nay, virtually all of the people who are placing extraordinary focus on the Iranian school that was horrifically struck today didn't give two bleeps about the 32,000 protesters mowed down by the Iranian regime. So they're perfectly happy to let 88 million people live under the tyranny of the ayatollahs, mowing down tens of thousands of people at a time. That, they have no problem with. No protest. Nothing. But, if in taking out the ayatollahs, a mistake is made and an Iranian school gets hit, I guess it's all game over, we have to stop. That’s nonsense.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [2/28/26]
---
MMA
Trump's media allies embrace oil wars
Amid encouragement from right-wing media, Trump is reportedly considering seizing Iran’s oil
Written by Zachary Pleat
:{:{Published 03/10/26}:
Soon after President Donald Trump launched his war against Iran, Fox News and Newsmax personalities began talking about the possibility of Trump taking control of Iran’s oil industry, and multiple news reports now say the administration is not ruling out such a move.
This development follows months of encouragement from right-wing media figures to do a similar takeover of Venezuela’s oil industry, which Trump embraced after taking military action to depose President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump won’t rule out seizing Iran’s oil, acknowledges it’s a topic of discussion}:
NBC News: “President Donald Trump on Monday left open the prospect of acquiring Iranian oil as the U.S. proceeds with” its war against Iran. NBC added: “Trump told NBC News that he did not want to discuss whether he would like the U.S. to seize Iranian oil but added: ‘Certainly people have talked about it.’” NBC News, [3/9/26]
Axios: “Administration officials tell Axios there has also been discussion of seizing Kharg Island, a strategic terminal responsible for roughly 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.” CNBC explained that Iran’s Kharg Island is “a small but strategically vital strip of land nestled in the waters of the northern Persian Gulf” where “it is estimated that around 90% of the country’s crude exports pass through it before tankers then travel through the Strait of Hormuz.” Axios, [3/7/26; CNBC, 3/9/26]
## Right-wing media muse about Trump taking over Iran’s oil
Fox host Jesse Watters suggested a benefit to Trump’s war on Iran would be that we will “have full control over the oil-rich Middle East.” Fox News, *The Five*, [3/2/26]
Watters: “What we’ve done here is, now with Venezuela and Iran, we’ve basically tipped over two petro dictatorships. … And we now control almost the entire world oil market.” Watters concluded: “So if this is a successful mission, this is what you call checkmate.” Fox News, *The Five*, [3/3/26]
America First Policy Institute’s Keith Kellogg on Fox: Iran’s Kharg Island “would be a good place if you’re going to use U.S. troops, or any type of troops, occupy Kharg Island, then you control 80% of the oil that comes out of Iran.” Kellogg added: “So, that would be a pretty good move.” Fox News, *America’s Newsroom*, [3/3/26]
Fox guest Harley Lippman: “China desperately depends on” Iran’s “oil and gas. … By the United States having control of that from Venezuela and Iran, we have a powerful leverage play with China.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [3/3/26]
Fox Business guest Ryan Payne: “We took over the infrastructure in Venezuela. Now, if we take over the infrastructure in Iran, I would argue you’re going to see lower prices because that’s more output to the market.” Payne continued: “You’re going to have less volatility. So what might happen here is actually oil prices become more normalized, not as volatile, and actually a little bit lower over the longer term, which will be great for input costs for the globe.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [3/4/26]
Fox Business host Elizabeth MacDonald: “President Trump is now moving to strengthen world security, liberating 121 million people from dictatorships in Iran and Venezuela, and also liberating $30 trillion worth of oil fields.” Fox Business, *The Evening Edit*, [3/4/26]
Newsmax host Carl Higbie: “We’re taking the oil from Venezuela now. We’re likely going to get a bunch from Iran.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [3/4/26]
Fox host Lawrence Jones: Trump “started out by saying, why do we always go to war? We don’t take the oil. … Why do we leave the engine of the people that just attacked us?” Jones concluded: “It all started, though, before he declared his candidacy for president and said we got to control the oil. Because the oil controls the world economy.” Earlier in the segment, National Review writer Caroline Downey said: “This is part of Trump’s grand strategy to counter the new Axis of Evil. … We’re doing this because Iran is a weapon of the Chinese communist regime. We got to take China’s pawns off the chessboard. One of them is disrupting raw materials from Iran and from Venezuela to China.” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [3/5/26]
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt gushed over Trump’s “bold agenda,” likening Iran’s future to Venezuela’s and saying the latter “is now effectively a colony of the United States.” Schmitt outlined what he believed were Trump’s broad geopolitical plans “to change the landscape of the world to the benefit of our country,” specifically adding that Trump “wants to force American influence onto OPEC by controlling Iran, by controlling Venezuela.” Newsmax, *Rob Schmitt Tonight*, [3/5/26]
Fox guest Jim Hanson suggested seizing “Kharg Island, the oil terminal that Iran uses to get 60%, or 40-plus %, of their revenue from.” He continued: “Taking that and keeping that in hold until the regime falls might be a way to shut them down.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends First*, [3/9/26]
Fox host Laura Ingraham: “If there is a way to help manage and rebuild, maybe with a joint venture in place, the Iranian oil fields … what’s the argument against doing this? Why wouldn’t it make sense?” Ingraham also said “of course Trump was right” “when he railed against Bush, President Bush, for failing himself to take control of Iraqi oil fields after that invasion.” During Ingraham’s monologue, a graphic showed an image of Trump with the words: “To the victor go the spoils.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [3/9/26]
Fox & Friendshost Brian Kilmeade: “Now they’re talking about possibly taking Kharg Island. This oil island, where 90% of Iranian oil is pumped from, the president ironically talked about taking this island as far back as 1988 in an interview when he was selling his bookThe Art of the Deal.” Kilmeade added: “There seems to be a lot of upside in doing it.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/10/26]
Kilmeade asked a guest: “Would you take Kharg Island? Should that be one of our objectives, where 90% of the oil transfers to in Iran?” The guest, former Air Force Assistant Deputy Undersecretary John Teichert, replied: “I think that’s a great idea, and I hope and expect that there are plans to potentially do so.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/10/2_{6}_]
## Trump has a history of advocating for seizing other nations’ oil supplies
Brookings Institution in 2016: “Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump has said repeatedly the United States should take Iraq’s oil as the spoils of war. With him, it’s an old refrain that goes back at least five years.” Brookings Institute, [9/16/16]
Vanity Fair in 2018: “Trump twice floated plundering Iraq’s oil to Iraq’s prime minister.” Vanity Fair, [11/26/18]
The Guardian: In an interview in 1988 to promote his bookThe Art of the Deal, Trump said: “I’d be harsh on Iran. … One bullet shot at one of our men or ships and I’d do a number on Kharg Island. I’d go in and take it.” The Guardian, [1/12/27]
## Right-wing media previously encouraged and then celebrated Trump’s apparent seizure of Venezuela’s oil industry
Prior to Trump’s January 3 ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, many right-wing media figures urged regime change there to seize Venezuela’s oil supplies. Media Matters, [1/6/26]
Fox celebrated Trump's apparent seizure of Venezuela's oil as an economic boon. Yet Fox also previously criticized the Biden administration for merely permitting one American company to resume production of oil in that country in 2022 as part of negotiations with Venezuelan opposition groups. Media Matters, [1/8/26]
Multiple Fox personalities misleadingly claimed that Trump’s seizure of Venezuela’s oil industry would lower gas prices in the U.S. The reality is that rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry would cost a reported $100 billion over a decade, and, as of January 2026, there was an oversupply of oil with decreased demand that had caused gas prices to decline. Media Matters, [1/16/26]
//
03/06/26 5:07 PM EST
03/09/26 10:38 AM EDT
### Laura Ingraham: “Trump has already won in Iran”
03/05/26 7:41 PM EST
### Trump delivered on right-wing media’s desire for regime change in Venezuela over oil
01/06/26 10:03 AM EST
01/08/26 3:22 PM EST
01/16/2
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MMA
Right-wing media bizarrely suggest Trump's war in Iran is actually ending a decades-long war, not starting one
Written by Reed McMaster
Published 03/06/26
In the days since President Donald Trump started a war with Iran, right-wing media have argued that Trump did not start a war with Iran, but rather he is ending a “forever war.” Some have claimed the U.S. has “been at war” with Iran since the Iran hostage crisis of 1979, while others suggested that bombing Iran is an extension of Trump’s promise to bring peace because the conflict could create “peace in the region."
The Trump administration is struggling to sell their war with Iran
On February 28, Trump announced that the U.S. was conducting “major combat operations” in Iran. In a social media post announcing the strikes, President Trump accused Tehran of waging an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States,” and cited the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. CNN, [3/1/26; BBC, 3/3/26]
Trump's decision to go to war with Iran is a direct violation of campaign promises he made in 2016 and 2024. As New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker noted, Trump in 2016 “promised to stop racing to topple foreign regimes,” and in 2024 “boasted of starting ‘no new wars.’” Baker then added, “Mr. Trump is racing to topple foreign regimes, and is sending American sons and daughters to wage another war in the Middle East. The self-declared ‘president of PEACE’ has chosen to become the president of war.” The New York Times, [2/28/26]
MAGA media has erupted into bitter infighting over the conflict, with notable figures like Tucker Carlson calling it “absolutely disgusting and evil.” Media Matters, [3/2/26]
Americans are largely critical of the decision to enter war with Iran, with early polls showing nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of taking military action in the country. As Axios notes, “If early polling is any indication, the White House's reasoning isn't resonating with Americans.” Axios, [3/4/26]
## Right-wing media figures have insisted Trump did not start a war with Iran — because the United States was already at war
Wall Street Journal editor-at-large Gerry Baker claimed America has been at war with Iran “essentially for 47 years.” He said, “I find this argument that some Democrats have had — that there's no case for war, there was no imminent threat, we were not immediately under real menace from the Iranian regime — to be, frankly, ridiculous. America has been at war with Iran essentially for 47 years. The first acts, remember the very first acts of that Iranian revolutionary government back in 1979 was to take American diplomats hostage, hold them hostage for more than 400 days.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [3/4/26]
Podcaster and former deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino argued Iran struck first, pointing to incidents like the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings. He said, “On the Iranians, there has already been a first strike, and a second strike, and a third strike. IEDs overseas in war theaters designed by Iranian proxies, the Beirut barracks, targeting on U.S. soil of foreign ambassadors. It's already happened.” Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [3/2/26]
Newsmax host Greg Kelly suggested Trump didn't break his promise of no new wars because “he is ending a war that started in 1979.” He claimed, “For those who say, Oh, President Trump promised no new wars, I just don't see it that way. I see it as he is ending a war that started in 1979 when they took our hostages.” Newsmax, *Greg Kelly Reports*, [3/3/26]
Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen wrote in the Washington Post, “Trump is not starting a forever war in Iran; he’s ending one.” He wrote, “For 47 years, the Iranian regime has been waging war against the United States. That war began in 1979, when Iran seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.” The Washington Post, [3/3/26]
Newsmax guest Mike Sarraille argued that the U.S. didn’t declare war, “Iran did in 1979.” He added, “What people fail to realize is that we didn't declare war here. Iran did in 1979, when they raided our embassy and took 52 Americans hostage. It's just taken a presidency this long, with a moral clarity and the moral courage to actually do what must be done. And I think Mike Waltz said it to the UN beautifully. The price of inaction is greater than the burden of decisive action. This is long overdue.” Newsmax, *Carl Higbie Frontline*, [3/2/26]
Fox host Jesse Watters claimed “We've been at war with these people since 1979.” Responding to MSNOW host Rachel Maddow questioning why we're at war, Watters said, “I don't know why people are surprised. Rachel Maddow doesn't know why we’re at war? There has been an armada building in the gulf for a month. Hannity, at 9 o'clock opposite of her, has been covering it every night while she's been covering Epstein and she doesn't know why? Call a source. Call someone in the deep state. They will explain it to you. We've been at war with these people since 1979.” Fox News, *The Five*, [3/3/26]
Fox News guest Julian Epstein defended Trump's strikes on Iran by arguing that “Iran has been at war with the United States for decades.” He claimed, “Iran has been declaring open war against the United States since 1979. … Iran has been at war with the United States for decades." Fox News, *Fox News Live*, [2/28/26]
:{:{CBS News’ head Bari Weiss’ outlet The Free Press published an article titled “Our 50-Year War with Iran.” Senior editor Peter Savodnik claimed, “The Islamists who seized power in 1979 and have been waging a holy war against the West—the United States, the Anglosphere, Europe and, of course, the only truly Western outpost in the Middle East, Israel—ever since.” The Free Press, [3/1/26]}:
Fox News guest and Hudson Institute senior fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs claimed that Trump “has not started this war. We're ending the war.” Fox News, *America's Newsroom*, [3/5/26]
Newsmax host Chris Plante argued the U.S. has been in an “asymmetric war” since 1979. He said, “The United States has been engaged in a low-level, asymmetric war with Iran because Iran has been waging war against us since November 4, 1979, when they overran our embassy, and they have been killing Americans on and off ever since.” Newsmax, *The Right Squad*, [3/4/26]
## Right-wing media claimed Trump’s war with Iran will stop “ the forever war” and bring peace to the Middle East
Julian Epstein claimed Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for striking Iran. He claimed, “What I think Donald Trump is doing is heroic. I think if this is successful, it will be something that could qualify him once again for a Nobel Peace Prize, and I think it’s very, very long overdue.” Fox News, *Fox News Live*, [2/28/26]
Newsmax guest Dan Diker claimed war with Iran was to “end the forever war.” He claimed, “This is a long war, Israel and the United States have come in to end the forever war.” Newsmax, *Wake Up America*, [3/2/26]
Newsmax host Rob Finnerty suggested war with Iran could be about preventing a future war. He said, “No new wars. And after 14 months, that is exactly what we have, a new war. But it might be the war that prevents a future war. And that could be what this is all about. I hope that's what this is all about.” Newsmax, *Finnerty*, [3/3/26]
Finnerty insisted Iran is “not a forever war” but instead a “war to end forever wars.” He said, “Iran is not a forever war. In fact, right now Iran has been a war to end forever wars. Right now, I'm not even sure it is a war. Not yet.” Newsmax, *Finnerty*, [3/4/26]
Fox News contributor Kellyanne Conway claimed Trump is promoting “peace through strength” which “includes dealing with the enemy.” She said, “Look, how loudly and for how long did we need to hear death to America, death to Israel out of these rapist, murderous thugs who have terrorized Americans — responsible for killings of thousands of Americans over the years, and other people — before we were going to take action? The Democrats always want to rule foreign policy through press release and symbolic resolutions and social media posts. President Trump is peace through strength. And yes, peace often includes dealing with the enemy, dealing with the savagery.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/4/26]
On his radio show, Fox News host Sean Hannity claimed it was a “real possibility” that the war leads to peace in the region. He stated, “My hope and prayer is that the end result of this is peace in the region that we have not seen in, what, a thousand years for crying out loud. And I think it's going to be a real possibility. The president's relationship with Gulf State countries, the president's relationship with other countries in the region, the president's special relationship with Israel. I think when this is all said and done — and hopefully, the Iranian people will rise to the occasion.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Sean Hannity Show*, [3/4/26]
Hannity praised the “wisdom” of Trump’s attacks and insisted war with Iran makes the world “a safer place” and will bring “a peace that hopefully is lasting in the Middle East.” He claimed, “It's in our best national interest, it's in our best national security interest, and it's in our kids’ and grandkids’ best interest. And the world is a safer place. And I think on the other side of this, my hope is that we're going to see a peace that hopefully is lasting in the Middle East.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Sean Hannity Show*, [3/4/26]
//
03/06/26 1:46 PM EST
:{:{03/06/26}:
03/06/26
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mma
03/05/26
mma
Right-wing media attack James Talarico for his Christian faith and beliefs: “He’s not a minister, he’s blasphemous”
Written by Sophie Lawton
:{:{Published 03/05/26}:
Texas Democrat James Talarico is under attack by the right for his faith, with right-wing media figures particularly zeroing in on his views on abortion and LGBTQ issues to claim he is a “fake Christian” whose beliefs are “straight up demonic.” Following Talarico’s victory in the March 3 Senate primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, right-wing media immediately began railing against Talarico’s Christian faith, focusing on old videos of him supporting abortion rights and discussing his belief God is a nonbinary figure.
Talarico, an aspiring minister in seminary school, has been connecting his Christian faith and politics throughout his time in the Texas House of Representatives and on the campaign trail. His comments have drawn ire from Republican politicians like state Rep. Jeff Leach, who said Talarico “isn’t reading the same Bible I’m reading. And his ‘values’ couldn’t be more unTexan."
Right-wing media figures have taken up the hostility toward Talarico’s religious views, calling him “blasphemous” and “straight up demonic." Other examples of commentary from right-wing media figures about include:
“Trying to come across” as a “fake Christian”
“Uses fake sermons and fake passages from the Bible”
“Skin suit of Christianity”
“A creepy looking heretic and fake pastor who pathologically lies to Christians over and over again about what scripture says”
Podcaster Benny Johnson has attacked Talarico multiple times, claiming his beliefs on abortion and faith are “straight up demonic” and calling him a “demon” who is “perverting my faith.” Before sharing a clip of Talarico speaking, Johnson claimed he was nervous to “curse the show by playing such blasphemous clips.” YouTube, *The Benny Johnson Show*, [3/4/26, 3/5/26]
Newsmax host Greg Kelly called Talarico a “false teacher” for his views on transgender children and “the LGBT queer situation, which has gotten completely and totally out of hand."Kelly also accused Talarico of being a “fake teacher” who has “weaponized the faith.” Newsmax, *Greg Kelly Reports*, [3/4/26]
Newsmax guest Mercedes Schlapp claimed Talarico is “trying to come across” as a “fake Christian” and said she hopes young people “don’t fall for this trap." Host Rob Schmitt responded, “We’re watching the left, the Marxists trying to take the churches. I mean, James Talarico is the church with the pride flag on the front of it.” Newsmax, *Rob Schmitt Tonight*, [3/4/26]
OnThe Right Squad, Newsmax host Chris Plante called Talarico’s preaching “pseudo-sermons” and “left-wing fake religion sermons," claiming “he uses fake sermons and fake passages from the Bible, tortured and misrepresented — misrepresentations from the Bible.” Plante also called Talarico a “freak.” Newsmax, *The Right Squad*, [3/4/26]
Discussing the primary race between Crockett and Talarico, Newsmax host David Harris Jr. said that the “Democrats chose to ditch ghetto, everyone-is-racist girl for the young, smooth-talking, God-is-binary blasphemer.” Newsmax, *The Pulse*, [3/4/26]
Podcaster Vince Coglianese called Talarico’s views on abortion and gay marriage “a series of abominations. It's just blasphemies.” Coglianese then claimed, “The guy’s just making things up about scripture that aren't true at all, and he’s playing with, perhaps, eternal fire.” Rumble, *VINCE*, [3/4/26]
Fox host Lawrence Jones criticized Talarico’s faith, claiming that in Texas “our pastors don’t talk like that” about God and gender. Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/5/26]
OnThe Ingraham Angle, Fox host Charlie Hurt claimed Talarico is “fundamentally unserious” and said it’s “insulting” how he “wraps himself in the Bible." Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [3/4/26]
On his radio show, Sean Hannity and his producer, Lynda McLaughlin, called Talarico “dangerous." After Hannity said Talarico “acts like he’s a minister but he has very, very radical and extreme views,” McLaughlin claimed “he’s not a minister, he’s blasphemous.” Premiere Radio Network, *The Sean Hannity Show*, [3/4/26]
Fox host Will Cain said Talarico is “perhaps more radical than Jasmine Crockett” and claimed he is “concerned” that Texans will “get wrapped up in this, you know, skin suit of Christianity while selling the wokest of woke left politics.” Fox News, *The Will Cain Show*, [3/4/26]
Fox host and former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed Talarico is “not much of theologian" for saying “scripture is silent on the issue of abortion” and “not much of a scientist” for stating scientists have confirmed there are six genders.Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [3/4/26]
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh said Talarico “is not simply a creepy looking heretic and fake pastor who pathologically lies to Christians over and over again about what scripture says. Now James Talarico is all of those things … but he is also completely insane.” Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [3/5/26]
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// BOEBERT HILLARY PIX?
MMA
Right-wing media figures are getting briefed on the Iran war before Congress
Benny Johnson and Brian Kilmeade appear to have more information than just about any elected representative
Written by John Knefel
Research contributions from Sophie Lawton
Published 03/02/26
A defining feature of President Donald Trump’s second term is its symbiotic relationship with media allies, both at traditional right-wing outlets like Fox News and among the newer cohort of MAGA podcasters and online influencers — in some cases, these figures know more about Trump’s upcoming policy decisions than members of Congress. That dynamic was fully on display in the lead-up to the unprovoked bombing campaign the United States and Israel launched against Iran on February 28.
Prior to Trump’s initiation of the war, MAGA streamer Benny Johnson and Newsmax host Greg Kelly appeared to have insider information about when the first round of strikes would occur. Beyond them, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade and contributor Jack Keane claimed to have been involved in high-level briefings on the campaign.
Johnson, who was fired by Buzzfeed for plagiarism in 2014 and later disciplined by the Independent Journal Review for publishing false information, appears to have had unusually close access to officials in the Trump administration responsible for the decision to go to war.
On February 21, Johnson told his audience, “We are going to war with Iran. … I've been asking — I think that the cake's been baked.” It was unclear at the time whether he had inside information or was speculating, as he later added, referring to the publicly reported military build up, “the maps don't lie, OK? It’s happening.”
Johnson returned to the subject on February 27, just hours before the U.S.-Israeli campaign began. He began his show saying he’d just been “on the phone with top-level — let’s just say very high-level administration officials — moments ago to discuss what the plan is” for attacking Iran. Later in the same episode, Johnson claimed that he’d been talking with someone who is at the “top, top level of the administration, and we were yelling at each other — not yelling, but having polite conversation — about, like, what’s about to pop off in the Mid East.”
Ultimately, Johnson told his audience, “This is not a drill. It is actually happening,” adding: “I think in the next 24 hours we are going to see the world change. It may be the next 24 minutes, we're not exactly certain."
Newsmax host Kelly was even more precise. “A very well-informed person told me” the attack on Iran will happen Friday “after Wall Street closes,” Kelly said February 26.
By contrast, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who sits on both the Senate committees on intelligence and on foreign relations, told reporters on February 28 that he was “learning like you are as the news unfolds exactly what's happening." The Trump administration reportedly briefed some congressional staff the following day, with a full briefing to Congress scheduled for March 3.
Johnson and Kelly weren’t the only right-wing media figures enjoying extraordinary access to high-level information. Over at Fox, Kilmeade — a weekday Fox & Friends host who came in to cover a weekend shift — said on March 1 that he “was fortunate enough to be in a briefing with high-ranking Trump officials” a day earlier.
The same morning, Keane offered more granular detail, implying a high degree of insider information. “The [Persian] Gulf states are adequately defending themselves,” said Keane, a retired general and former Army vice chief of staff. “Three of them are preparing for combat, offensive operations. One has already started and two others are about to get going. I'm not going to talk about who they are, but that is being coordinated with Adm. Cooper and Central Command. These will be coordinated, selected targets, and they will contribute to the offensive nature of what’s taken place."
Keane’s comments on Fox the next day suggested he’d been provided with high-level briefings that everything is going smoothly. “The military has got a plan here that I have been privy to understand and it is very comprehensive,” Keane said. “And we're going to stick with that plan until the conditions of these military objectives are met. So far, the plan is exceeding all expectations."
The access to White House war plans that Johnson, Kelly, Kilmeade, and Keane appear to have is even more noteworthy given that the Pentagon tightly controlled its first press briefing of the war on March 2 — having already largely replaced the traditional Pentagon press corps with a series of lackeys, grifters, conspiracists, and cranks. According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth — formerly of Fox News — “only answered questions from his chosen outlets” and had a “pre-selected list of questioners.” Those approved outlets didn’t include Hegseth’s former employer, whose correspondent was relegated to the back row and not called on for a question.
All administrations leak and try to manage public opinion through press operations. But the alignment of messaging and interests between the Trump White House and its media allies is unlike anything the United States has seen in recent memory. Sometimes that looks like providing right-wing influencers with embeds alongside Trump’s deportation agents; other times it looks like inviting MAGA media trolls to the White House to discuss antifa. Now, it looks like some of the most slavish voices in right-wing media are getting better information more quickly than members of Congress as the United States and Israel unleash yet more destruction in the Middle East.
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hinder---powerline forgotten till 2 26
pseudo-intellectual crm?
forgotten till 2 26 somali fraud bs
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mma
Right-wing influencers pushed the Trump admin to ignore judges. New reporting shows that's what's happening — especially in immigration cases.
Since the beginning of Trump’s second administration, right-wing media have encouraged an “all-out war” on judges and dismissed the “so-called rights of illegals”
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Jack Winstanley
Published 02/18/26
Recent reporting shows how the Trump administration — particularly the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency — “has slow-walked or outright defied” numerous court orders as it continues its nationwide crackdown against immigrants.
Politico highlighted several instances of judges speaking against the Trump administration over its defiance of judges and efforts to undermine due process for immigrants. The New York Times reported in January that ICE has violated nearly 100 court orders, and last summer, The Washington Post examined over a hundred cases on various matters and found “the administration is accused of defying or frustrating court oversight in 57.”
Meanwhile, since the beginning of Trump’s second administration, right-wing media figures have repeatedly encouraged a hostile approach to the courts, attacking judges who challenge Trump’s actions, calling for judges to be impeached, and encouraging the administration to deny noncitizens their due process rights.
## Recent reporting shows the Trump administration’s continued defiance of judges and efforts to undermine due process
Politico reported that ICE officials have “slow-walked or outright defied judges’ orders,” including some demanding the release of people detained by the agency, and The New York Times reported that one judge says ICE has violated nearly 100 court orders.One Minnesota judge said that ICE’s delay in releasing people from custody is a “constitutional injury,” adding, “The individuals affected are people. The overwhelming majority of the hundreds seen by this Court have been found to be lawfully present as of now in the country. They live in their communities. Some are separated from their families.” Politico had previously reported the allegation that ICE officials “simply don’t respond” to Department of Justice requests to cooperate with investigations and ongoing legal proceedings. Politico, [2/10/26, 2/4/26; The New York Times, 1/28/26]
ICE also undermines due process for detainees by shuffling them around the country to make it difficult for them to sue the government for their release, according to Politico. Detainees generally need to sue from the district where they are held in order to be released, but as Politico notes, “that gets complicated when ICE rushes detainees out of state and bounces them around the country while they’re attempting to hire lawyers or decide where to file lawsuits.” The Vera Institute has reported that the Trump administration also undermined due process by detaining people as they appear for their legal obligations while attending court hearings and check-ins with ICE. Politico, [2/10/26; The Vera Institute, 1/20/26]
Politico reported that judges have called the administration’s actions a “pattern of obfuscation” and an effort “to frustrate judicial review” and identified at least 347 judges “who have rejected the administration’s detention policy.”One judge rebuked the administration’s movement of a detainee, saying, “There is something particularly craven about transferring a nursing refugee mother out-of-state.” Politico, [2/10/26, 1/26/26]
The Washington Post reported on the Trump administration defying judges on topics outside of immigration too, examining 165 lawsuits and finding “the administration is accused of defying or frustrating court oversight in 57 of those cases — almost 35 percent.” The Post identified cases where the Trump administration defied judges by continuing to lay off federal employees, refusing to unfreeze appropriated funds, and targeting transgender people in the military. The Washington Post, [7/21/25]
## Right-wing media figures have continually called for the Trump administration to defy “activist judges” and ignore “lawless and dangerous” court orders
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh declared that there “needs to be an all-out war at this point against activist judges” opposing Trump’s actions. Walsh additionally argued that “unelected judges” were “trying to override, not just the president, but the will of the people.” The Daily Wire, *The Matt Walsh Show*, [3/19/25]
SiriusXM radio host Megyn Kelly claimed that “the Trump administration is not going to have a choice” but to ignore the courts. She added: “They're trying to create a constitutional crisis is, I guess, the point I'm making.” SiriusXM, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, [2/13/25]
Right-wing commentator Dan Bongino, who served as co-deputy director of the FBI under Trump, argued that the Trump administration “should ignore” federal district Judge John McConnell’s court order to restore frozen federal funds.Bongino, who mistakenly said McConnell is from New York rather than Rhode Island, said, “This judge is clearly making up powers he does not have,” adding, “He does not have power to demand the president spend money.” McConnell had issued a permanent injunction barring Trump from dismantling several federal agencies and gutting staff from others and had blocked a separate move by the administration to peg funds for road and highway maintenance to state compliance with immigration demands. Rumble, *The Dan Bongino Show*, [2/11/25; Rhode Island Current, 11/24/25; Politico, 11/4/25]
On CNN, conservative contributor Scott Jennings suggested the president may need to “defy” judges who order his administration to comply with the law. He asked: “Should the president, the singular president, should he have to share the presidency with 300 district court judges? No. Absolutely not.” CNN, *NewsNight with Abby Phillip*, [2/10/25]
Right-wing influencer account “Amuse” wrote of McConnell’s ruling, “The Trump Administration should treat this for what it is—an unconstitutional usurpation—and consider defying it outright.” Media Matters, [2/13/25]
Fox News host Mark Levin cited controversial federal court rulings from the past — includingPlessy v. Fergusonand the Dred Scott decision — to argue for the administration to defy court orders. Levin justified rejecting court decisions, saying, “Some of the worst human rights violations and crises occurred in this country as a result of our courts.” Fox News, *Life, Liberty, & Levin*, [2/15/25]
Article III Project President Mike Davis argued onThe Charlie Kirk Showthat if “activist judges” keep pushing back on Trump’s actions then “the president is just going to ignore these lawless and dangerous orders.”He continued, “When they overstep, the commander-in-chief has a constitutional duty to ignore clearly lawless orders.” Real America’s Voice, *The Charlie Kirk Show*, [4/15/25]
OnThe Benny Show, Davis said he hoped “President Trump said ‘F you’ to Judge Boasberg” and said Boasberg was trying to order “the most dangerous thing imaginable.” YouTube, *The Benny Show*, [3/17/25; NPR, 3/25/25]
## Some right-wing media figures have criticized the judiciary’s oversight and called for judges to be impeached
Fox News legal editor Kerri Kupec Urbahn argued that “the conversation really should start shifting to the constitutionality of the judiciary.” She added that the judiciary is “blocking a co-equal branch’s function.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [2/11/25]
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt called for federal judges to be impeached: “You can’t have people like this on the bench.” Newsmax, *Rob Schmitt Tonight*, [2/12/25]
Right-wing commentator Steve Bannon called on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to impeach a federal judge, saying, “You put one through the process, they’re all going to be sheep.” He advised Johnson, “Just don't back off. All gas, no brake.” Real America’s Voice,*War Room*, [3/24/25]
Then-Fox News host and current U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro called Boasberg “stupid” and questioned his authority to rule on deportation flights because he is “a local judge.”Pirro stated, “A local judge — make no mistake, this is a local judge, folks, who is a trial judge, he’s not even an appellate judge — thinks he can stop international diplomacy for national security issues that involve the American people because he’s a local federal judge. He’s stupid.” Fox News, *The Five*, [3/17/25]
Urbahn said Boasberg has no oversight “over matters pertaining to immigration” because he’s not president.Urbahn stated, “Really, what’s his oversight at all? Because last time I checked, this judge was not elected president of the United States and therefore doesn’t have authority over matters pertaining to immigration, national security, and foreign policy.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/18/25]
The Gateway Pundit posted instructions on how to advocate for impeachment of “crazed leftists” like Boasberg. It described the judge as “a very, very dangerous and lawless lunatic” and “America-hating.” Media Matters, [3/18/25]
## Right-wing media figures have also suggested that due process shouldn’t apply to noncitizens, with some calling for a suspension of habeas corpus
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt claimed undocumented immigrants and Democrats “have exploited the good nature of this country” and that “due process … allows illegals to break into the country, rape and kill an American, and then be given a free attorney to defend themselves.”Schmitt continued, “Those are vulnerabilities that are now being exploited every day in this country.” Newsmax, *Rob Schmitt Tonight*, [3/17/25]
On the right-wing social media platform GETTR, Steve Bannon posted: “Alien Criminal Invaders DON’T Get ‘Due Process’—They Get the Boot.” GETTR, [3/17/25]
OnFox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade questioned whether migrants have the right to due process, saying, “Really? They deserve due process? We have to give all these guys due process?” Later, co-host Lawrence Jones mocked questions about the process, saying, “So we’re going to do vetting when we deport, but we’re not going to do any vetting when they come across the border?” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/21/25, 3/21/25]
Kilmeade also claimed, “It’s not practical to think that we can do due process on 8 million people.”Shortly after, he continued: “We cannot give every illegal immigrant due process, because we’ve got 22 million minimum, 8 million that came over the last four years.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/24/25, 3/24/25]
Jones said we should “revisit” due process for alleged undocumented migrants. Jones: “The president is saying under the act that you don’t have to show, you don’t have to do this due process. So you have a constitutional right that is actually — they are afforded to illegals in this country. We should revisit that. But then you have a competing act that is saying, hey, if someone is a part of a foreign terrorist organization that you don’t have to give them due process and they can be deported.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [3/24/25]
Right-wing podcaster and Trump ally Laura Loomer asked, “Who on earth thought that illegal aliens should be entitled to legal representation and rights? These people are not entitled to due process in our country.”Loomer continued, “I don’t even give a shit about all these illegal alien kids.” Rumble, *Loomer Unleashed*, [4/30/25]
YouTuber Zack Hoyt said, “I don’t really think that illegals deserve due process, by the way. I don’t think the Constitution applies to illegals.” Hoyt, who goes by Asmongold, acknowledged that the government could “get it wrong” when detaining immigrants but said: “There’s people in jail for murder that didn’t commit murder. … Does that mean we shouldn’t put people in jail for murder? … It just doesn’t make any sense.” Asmongold, Asmongold TV, [6/9/25]
Fox host Sean Hannity asked, “Why do people have this belief system that you enter the country illegally and then you, quote, ‘automatically have constitutional rights’? You do not, in my view.”Hannity also said, “Why do so many federal judges believe that the safety and security of all of you comes second to the so-called due process rights of illegal immigrants that broke into this country illegally, broke the law, committed serious crimes?” Hannity has repeatedly referred to the “so-called rights of illegals.” Fox News, *Hannity*, [5/21/25, 7/14/25, 7/15/25, 7/22/25; Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 7/1/25, 7/24/25]
:{:{Jeanine Pirro said, “The only due process I believe in is a legal way to enter this country.”}:Pirro said of Trump’s deportation of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members to a megaprison in El Salvador: “They are illegal. They are committing crimes, OK? We do not have to have them convicted of a crime to remove them.” Pirro later said the Fifth Amendment, which confers the right to due process, “says nothing about illegals” and “the Supreme Court never said in Abrego Garcia case that due process is required for illegals.” Fox News, *The Five*,[3/17/25,3/17/25,5/5/25]
Newsmax host Greg Kelly said, “Habeas corpus is great, but I don’t think it applies to an illegal alien.”Newsmax, *Greg Kelly Reports*, [7/8/25]
Bannon argued that Trump is “going to have to” suspend habeas corpus, “because these courts are going to continue to try to jam him up.” And later Bannon hailed himself and right-wing commentator Rogan O’Handley as “the biggest advocates of just do what Lincoln did: Start suspending the writ of habeas corpus, put them on an aircraft, and get them the hell out of here.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [5/16/25, 5/30/25]
Rogan O’Handley argued that “we should consider suspending the writ of habeas” so that “we can start to take more drastic actions to deport illegals, especially the cartels, without judicial overview, without the courts getting involved.”Handley, who goes by DC Draino, explained to Bannon, “I would say 10 to 20 million illegal aliens coming into this country counts as an invasion, especially when many of the illegal aliens are coming from hostile adversaries like China, like Ukraine, like … Venezuela, the Tren de Aragua. They’re being sent by these governments.” Real America’s Voice,*War Room*, [4/22/25]
Fox host Emily Compagno criticized those who have called for due process for the deportees, saying, “I think it’s rich that all of a sudden we have some kind of, you know, voiced protection of due process and questioning of making sure all of the work is shown.”Compagno then questioned, “Where was that when, for example, President Trump was being prosecuted, ridiculously, right here in this very city? Where was that commitment to due process for those peaceful abortion activists and the elderly being put in jail?” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [3/19/25]
Right-wing radio host Buck Sexton mocked those questioning whether alleged criminals should be sent to a Salvadoran prison and said, “Democrats are going to the mat to make sure they have maximum due process rights,” but “had no problem with nonviolent J6 Americans rotting away.”According to Sexton, “The same Democrats — and I mean the same individuals in some cases in the media and the Democrat party — who had no problem with nonviolent J6 Americans rotting away in a DC gulag for a year without trial are now really concerned about Tren de Aragua members.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show*, [3/21/25]
//
02/09/26 9:08 AM EST
### Right-wing media’s claims that ICE agents need to be masked for safety fall apart
02/12/26 4:01 PM EST
### A federal judge's ruling debunks right-wing media smears about Haitian immigrants
02/06/26
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SHOT FIRED THRU DOOR?
MMA
Right-wing media hyped a supposed “shovel” attack against ICE. Prosecutors just dropped the charges.
After a federal agent shot and killed Renee Good, MAGA pundits seized on the supposed shovel attack to change the narrative
Written by John Knefel
Published 02/13/26
In mid-January, right-wing media figures seized on a story that could serve as a narrative reset after a Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis. Amid rising backlash to the Trump administration’s mass deportation operation across Minnesota, MAGA pundits hyped claims from the Department of Homeland Security that Venezuelan immigrants had attacked federal agents with a shovel and broomstick. Federal agents shot in response, the story went, wounding one of the men accused in the attack.
Since then, those claims have totally fallen apart, and on February 12 prosecutors asked the presiding judge to dismiss the case with prejudice. The prosecutor wrote that “newly discovered evidence in this matter is materially inconsistent with the allegations” put forward by the government in official filings and testimony.
Right-wing media coverage of the story was unhinged, and it followed a clear, established pattern of hyping dubious initial government claims that would later turn out to be false.
As news of the incident broke on January 14, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin called in to Sean Hannity’s show to read a DHS statement he’d been given “literally 45 seconds ago” and to lay the foundation for the coverage to come, a role he often plays in the conservative media ecosystem. ESCALATOR?
“While the subject and law enforcement were in a struggle on the ground, two subjects came out of a nearby apartment and also attacked the law enforcement officer with a snow shovel and broom handle,” Melugin read. “As the officer was being ambushed and attacked by the two individuals, the original subject got loose and began striking the officer with a shovel or broomstick.”
“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired defensive shots to defend his life,” Melugin continued.
The narrative was set, and the next morning Fox News’ Fox & Friends weighed in on the story.
“You come at these guys and these women with a shovel and if you are being apprehended and try to run away or drive over them, you will be featured in retaliation videos,” said host Brian Kilmeade. “That's what this is about."
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From the January 15, 2026, edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends
Kilmeade’s co-host, Steve Doocy, also bought the government’s line. “You cannot hit a cop with a shovel or a broom. You just can't do that. It is against the law,” Doocy said. “It is terrible when anybody gets shot. But, unfortunately, a lot of people don't realize, if you break the law -- when you're breaking the law, there's going to be repercussions.”
Co-host Ainsley Earhart suggested capital punishment should be on the table. “When we were growing up, if you harmed a police officer, if you killed a police officer, in South Carolina you got the electric chair,” Earhart said. “When we were growing up, you didn't go after police with your car. You listened to what they said.”
Guest Trey Gowdy, who hosts another Fox show, said the supposed attack and the broader resistance to ICE’s presence gave President Donald Trump “all the justification” he needed to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, thereby deploying active military units against civilians.
The tenor of the coverage was similar elsewhere, and sometimes even more irresponsible.
On the podcast of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Kevin Posobiec — brother of MAGA influencer Jack Posobiec — said an immigrant was “shot in the leg because he was trying to kill an ICE agent with a shovel.”
At The Daily Wire, host Matt Walsh claimed that after a foot chase, “the illegal alien began attacking the officers and then two individuals, apparently family members of this person, came out of a nearby apartment and began ambushing the officers with a shovel and a broom handle.”
Walsh called it “another clear-cut, totally justified shooting by law enforcement.”
Walsh’s colleague, Michael Knowles, said, “The poor ICE agents now getting ambushed — they take out shovels, they start beating this guy with a shovel, and, so, luckily, happily, the ICE agent was able to get his gun out and shoot the Venezuelan.”
Although the exact details of what happened in the incident remain unclear, the prosecutor’s own words make it plain that the government's account was false. Less than two weeks after the shooting, two Border Patrol agents would shoot and kill Alex Pretti. Right-wing media tried to justify that shooting as well.
---
MMA
Fox cheers Trump’s repeal of the EPA endangerment finding — a move that could cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care costs
Special ProgramsClimate & Energy
Written by Allison Fisher
Published 02/13/26
On February 12, the Trump administration finalized repeal of the endangerment finding – the landmark legal determination that protected Americans by limiting greenhouse gases and carbon pollution from cars, power plants, and other industries. The Associated Press reported last year that the protections mandated by this finding were projected to “prevent an estimated 30,000 deaths and save $275 billion each year they are in effect.”
Ignoring these benefits, Fox News and Fox Businesses personalities celebrated the repeal while pushing climate denial talking points to bolster support for this huge rollback of pollution safeguards — including dismissing the overwhelming scientific evidence that underpins the endangerment finding, suggesting that cold weather in winter somehow disproves climate change, or outright calling climate science a “hoax.”
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin has referred to the endangerment finding as “the holy grail of the climate change religion,” while The New York Times reports that “dozens of conservative activists, lawyers, scientists and others had worked for years to prepare the case against the endangerment finding,” including a secretive campaign underwritten by The Heritage Foundation. As documented by Media Matters, this effort has also relied on a decades-long right-wing media campaign to undermine climate science.
## Pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is an unequivocal threat to human health and safety
In 2009, the EPA’s endangerment finding established that greenhouse gases must be regulated because they “cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” Lisa Jackson, the agency’s first Black administrator, formally “announced an endangerment finding on greenhouse gases, setting the stage for EPA action on climate change. Under her leadership, EPA issued clean air standards designed to reduce emissions from large facilities without burdening small businesses, and a clean cars program.” Environmental Protection Agency, accessed [7/30/25, accessed 7/30/25]
The Trump administration’s proposed repeal of the endangerment finding, issued in July, was based on arguments made by a handpicked working group of climate contrarians. NBC News reported that “it’s not clear whether the final rule will rely on the same arguments or change its justifications in response to public comments,” while also pointing out that “a judge ruled last month that (Energy Secretary Chris) Wright and the Energy Department had violated transparency laws in the way it formed and operated the working group behind the report.” Media Matters, [7/31/25, 8/14/25; NBC News, 2/10/26]
EPA regulations reducing greenhouse gases, based on the agency’s own assessment, were projected to “prevent an estimated 30,000 deaths and save $275 billion each year they are in effect.” AP further noted that “experts say the numbers are conservative and that even a partial dismantling of the rules would mean more pollutants such as smog, mercury and lead — and especially more tiny airborne particles that can lodge in lungs and cause health problems.” The Associated Press, [6/5/25]
:{:{The Trump administration claims that repealing the endangerment finding will benefit the economy — including bringing down the cost of “light-duty cars, S.U.V.s and trucks” — are dubious. The New York Times reported the administration has declined to explain how it assessed the benefits of repealing the finding, with one expert noting, “‘It’s hard to find any math in their assessment that doesn’t seem, frankly, a little bit ridiculous.” On CNN News Central, correspondent Renee Marsh pointed out that by “the EPA’s own data” under the Clean Air Act, “between 1970 and 2023 combined emissions of six common pollutants dropped some 78% and that all happened while the U.S. economy continued to grow,” with a 321% increase in gross domestic product. }:
Marsh continued, “So it's not an either or — you don't have to pick dirty air in order to have a strong economy.” Later in the program, author and climate expert Porter Fox pointed out that “back when the endangerment finding was adopted in 2009, we were looking at a billion-dollar climate disaster roughly every month or so. Now it's every three weeks. So, you know, if Trump is going to claim that $1.3 trillion will be saved by easing these regulations, just do the math. In less than 10 years, we're already going into the red, and those billion-dollar disasters are getting more and more expensive and more and more frequent every year.” The New York Times, [2/12/26; CNN, CNN News Central, 2/12/26, 2/12/26]}:
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From the February 12, 2026, edition of CNN News Central
The scientific evidence supporting the endangerment finding has only strengthened since 2009. As reported by Stanford University, “evidence for climate change’s damaging impacts – such as food insecurity, mass migration, and health problems – has only grown since the finding was established.” Meanwhile, the Earth just experienced its hottest decade ever recorded, “the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide – as well as methane and nitrous oxide – are at the highest levels in the last 800,000 years,” and in the U.S. alone there were “two dozen billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2025, causing at least 276 fatalities and costing a total of $115 billion in damages.” Stanford Report, [9/19/25; AccuWeather, 3/19/25; ABC News, 1/8/26]
## Right-wing media personalities celebrated Trump’s ending of the endangerment finding and pushed climate denial talking points to justify scrapping regulation of greenhouse gas pollutants
Fox Business host Stuart Varney celebrated news that the Trump administration would end the endangerment finding: “Wave goodbye to the Green New Deal — the energy policies of Obama and Biden are going, going, gone.” Varney said, “If you questioned that finding, the climate crowd called you a denier as if you were denying the Holocaust — the science is in, they said, the argument is over. Not so fast.” Fox Business, *Varney & Co.*, [2/10/26]
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From the February 10, 2026, edition of Fox Business' Varney & Co.
:{On Fox Business’The Evening Edit, the :{Federalist}:’s Brianna Lyman said: “All we’ve been doing for the past 15 years or so is saddling American consumers and businesses with these regulatory burdens that are expensive and ineffective in the grand scheme of things.” She claimed, “China is responsible for a third of the world's global emissions and a third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The United States on its own accounts for about 10% of CO2 emissions, 10% of greenhouse gases, which means 90% of these emissions are coming from other countries. So at the end of the day, no matter what we do here, it is ultimately negligible until countries like China, and India and Russia abide by the same set of standards that we are abiding by, and they don't.”
The argument that the U.S. shouldn’t act to regulate pollution because of the emissions output of other countries has been employed by climate deniers for more than a decade. It discounts the domestic benefits of climate action and the role of U.S. leadership in driving solutions, and also falsely suggests that other countries are not taking action. For example, according to a new analysis, China’s emissions fell by 1% in the last three months of 2025, and the drop “extends the ‘flat or falling’ trend in China’s CO2 emissions that began in March 2024 and has now lasted for nearly two years.” Fox Business, *The Evening Edit*, [2/10/26; Newsweek, 12/1/23; Carbon Brief, 12/2/26]}:
The Bottom Linehost Dagen McDowell called the endangerment finding “an Obama-era rule — shocker — that has been used for years as the foundation to push its climate religion up our wazoo.” McDowell said: “Oh, this is so delicious — the Trump administration about to mark its most sweeping rollback yet. Get 'er done. An Obama-era rule — shocker — that has been used for years as the foundation to push its climate religion up our wazoo.” Fox Business, *The Bottom Line*, [2/10/26]
Fox Business host and former Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow: “The whole climate change crowd never proved their case” behind the endangerment finding. Kudlow said, “We can argue till we are blue in the face but I will say the whole climate change crowd never proved their case. Or let me put it to you this way. It never proved the existential risk, what I would call the extremist case. I’m not denying that there’s emissions in the air. The question is how much and how bad is it for your everyday health.” Fox Business, T*he Big Money Show*, [2/10/26]
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From the February 11, 2026, edition of Fox Business' The Big Money Show
In the same segment about President Donald Trump’s end to the endangerment finding, Fox Business host Jackie DeAngelis claimed: “There is no global warming here. Maybe the president is right.” She said, “This idea that the climate is changing — it was negative 8 degrees here on Sunday. There is no global warming here. Maybe the president is right that this is moving, this is the climate doing what it does and that it goes in cycles.” Fox Business, *The Big Money Show*, [2/10/26]
Describing the endangerment finding as “a regulatory wet blanket on the economy,” Fox contributor Marc Thiessen said, “We've got to recognize climate change isn’t an existential crisis. It is a problem that can be managed. … AI will help us find lots of ways to adapt to a warming climate so we can live with it.”Thiessen: “First of all, the regulations were a regulatory wet blanket on the economy that’s now being taken off, which is good for Trump and good for Americans. … We've got to recognize climate change isn’t an existential crisis. It is a problem that can be managed. And the answer is adaptation. … Air conditioning is cheaper than heat. AI will help us find lots of ways to adapt to a warming climate so we can live with it. Because we can't destroy the free market economy in order to stop the planet from warming.” Fox News, *Special Report with Bret Baier,* [2/12/26]
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine cheered Trump’s repeal of the endangerment finding as “the final nail in the coffin of the climate hoax that we’ve all been laboring under all around the world.” Devine: “Look, it’s absolutely huge. This is really the final nail in the coffin of the climate hoax that we’ve all been laboring under all around the world since at least 20 years ago when Al Gore brought out that piece of propaganda, that apocalyptic movie An Inconvenient Truth that scared, you know, a generation of kids to thinking that really planet would be all burned up by now. You know, their deadlines have kept on have come and gone and nothing has changed. So I think people are now waking up to the fact that it was a hoax.” Fox Business, *Kudlow*, [2/12/26]
Video file
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From the February 12, 2026, edition of Fox Business' Kudlow
Fox & Friendsco-host Brian Kilmeade said the rollback is “really going to be jet fuel for the economy,” adding, “You will be surprised about the impact because they can't back up the science when it comes to the new green mania.”Kilmeade: “It’s really going to be jet fuel for the economy. Cover of the New York Post, cars will cost $2,400 less. You will be surprised about the impact because they can't back up the science when it comes to the new green mania.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [2/13/26]
//
08/14/25 2:26 PM EDT
07/31/25 12:45 PM EDT
### Right-wing media hyped a supposed “shovel” attack against ICE. Prosecutors just dropped the charges.
02/13/26
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Right-wing media are mouthpieces for DHS lies about ICE abuses
Written by Gideon Taaffe & Pete Tsipis
Published 02/11/26
Amid the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive deportation push, the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly misrepresented or lied about multiple recent events, only to be contradicted by later evidence. Right-wing media, meanwhile, continue to carry water for the agency’s propaganda.
In reporting following two separate incidents in which U.S. citizens were killed at the hands of immigration officials in Minnesota, Fox News, for instance, cited DHS statements that later proved to be false before further information was available.
Many right-wing media figures also amplified DHS claims following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Chicago and a shooting in Portland, Oregon, establishing a pattern in which right-wing media have echoed Trump administration propaganda in order to falsely portray the reality of mass deportations and attempt to justify ICE’s abuses.
Right-wing media are echoing DHS lies in the aftermath of ICE abuses
DHS has made several unproven or false claims about the agency’s conduct as it continues to detain and deport people. In some cases, video footage has contradicted DHS statements, while other DHS claims have fallen apart in court. As NPR noted, “The administration’s mischaracterizations have also spilled over to courtrooms, where federal judges in dozens of cases have admonished federal officials for providing false, contradictory or unreliable statements in court.” DHS has also pushed unverifiable claims on rising rates of assaults on officers. NPR, [1/31/26; MSNOW, 1/9/26]
Right-wing media have helped DHS build a narrative by repeating false claims and parroting the Trump administration’s talking points.Many right-wing talking heads have uncritically repeated the administration’s claim that ICE is going after the “worst of the worst” or have cited the inflated statistic that 70% of people in ICE custody supposedly have “criminal histories.” In reality, only about 7% of people in ICE custody have been convicted for a violent criminal offense, and in Trump’s first year, nearly 40% of those arrested by ICE had no criminal record at all. Additionally, Fox News began highlighting specific individuals seized by ICE, characterizing detained migrants as criminals in an effort to boost the agency’s credibility. Media Matters, [1/23/26, 1/23/26, 1/23/26; CBS News, 2/9/26]
## Incident: Alex Pretti shooting in Minnesota
#### True: Immigration agents killed Alex Pretti, who was lawfully carrying a gun on his body, as he filmed them
Alex Pretti was killed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers as he filmed agents engaging with other civilians.Pretti, who was reportedly carrying a legal firearm at the time, was wrestled to the ground and shot by Border Patrol agents on January 24. According to The New York Times, Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department confirmed that Pretti “was an American citizen with no criminal record and that he had a valid firearms permit.” Additionally, video evidence suggests that Pretti was disarmed prior to being shot. The New York Times, [1/24/26]
False: DHS said Pretti was “brandishing” a gun and wanted to “massacre law enforcement”
Shortly after the shooting, DHS claimed it “look[ed] like” Pretti “wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti was “brandishing” a gun.Noem also told reporters, “This individual impeded the law enforcement officers and attacked them.” CNN, [1/25/26]
Video footage and a subsequent internal review by DHS appear to show Noem’s prior claims to be false.The DHS review “did not indicate that he brandished a weapon during the encounter,” The New York Times reported. Additionally, a New York Times video review of the incident found that Pretti had approached officers with his phone in his hands and was tackled to the ground and disarmed before being shot. The New York Times, [1/27/26, 1/26/26]
Right-wing media repeated DHS claim and said Pretti “literally” pulled a gun on an ICE agent
Fox contributor Nicole Parker defended DHS officers, saying, “When you’re seeing a gun in your face and you’re in the scuffle, then you have to, again, assume that is a gun.” Fox News, [1/24/26]
Fox contributor Paul Mauro claimed that Pretti was shot because he “tried to involve himself somehow and at some point during the scuffle when they were trying to subdue him without using deadly force, he pulls out that 9mm.” Mauro continued, “That’s an expensive gun. That doesn’t look like a funny-gun kind of thing that you very often see among the perps.” Fox News, [1/24/26]
The Heritage Foundation’s Lora Ries also repeatedly suggested Pretti may have drawn his gun on the agents. She denounced him as a “radical goon” and suggested that he and other “protesters are paid.” Fox News, *Fox Report with Jon Scott*, [1/24/26]
Fox contributor Joe Concha described Pretti’s shooting, saying that “literally, a guy pulls a gun on an ICE officer” and that the agent “defends himself.” Fox News, *The Big Weekend Show*, [1/24/26]
Newsmax host Rob Astorino said,“If we’re to believe the DHS side of this, the 37-year-old may have been brandishing this weapon.”He then asked his guest, “If you’re confronted with somebody who, you know, takes out of his holster a weapon, you don’t know if that guy has a permit or not or what he’s going to do with that gun. And if he’s not listening to commands, what does the law say the agents can do?” Newsmax,*The Saturday Agenda*, [1/24/26]
## Incident: Renee Good shooting in Minnesota
#### True: ICE officers killed Renee Good on video
Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE officers during operations in Minneapolis.Good was reportedly on the scene in her car as a “legal observer.” Bystanders captured the incident on video. According to ABC News’ analysis of the video taken by the agent who allegedly shot Good, “Good can be seen turning her vehicle’s steering wheel to the right, away from the agent, just over one second before the first shot is fired.” BBC, [1/13/26; ABC News, 1/9/26]
False: DHS said Good “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over" officers
Kristi Noem initially claimed Good “attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed, “Rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism.” The Associated Press, [1/7/26; The Atlantic, 1/8/26]
A New York Times analysis of the incident stated that “the vehicle appear[ed] to be turning away” from the officer involved and that he was “standing … to the left of the SUV” at the time he opened fire, while the SUV’s wheels were “pointing to the right, away from the agent.” The New York Times noted that video evidence “appears to conflict with allegations that the SUV was ramming or about to ram the officer.” The New York Times, [1/8/26]
Right-wing media pushed DHS’ unverified claims and suggested Good acted out of “unbridled rage”
Shortly after news of the shooting broke, Fox News correspondent Mike Tobin said there “is some discussion that it was triggered by a ramming incident that we see so often when ICE and Border Patrol agents are conducting their operations.”Tobin additionally noted that “no agents have been harmed.” Fox News, *Outnumbered*, [1/7/26]
Parroting Noem’s claims, Fox News anchor John Roberts stated that ICE agents “were trying to push their car out of a snowbank when this person allegedly came at them.” He said: “Kristi Noem said politicians of all stripes should be able to come out very easily and condemn something like that, yet these protesters get it in their mind that it’s fine for them, in their own way of thinking, to use a vehicle as a weapon. And, as we heard the DHS secretary say, it looked like they weren’t, at that particular time, engaged in active ICE operations. They were trying to push their car out of a snowbank when this person allegedly came at them.” Fox News, *America Reports*, [1/7/26]
Fox News anchor Sandra Smith cited Noem while claiming, “A woman chose to ram the agents with her vehicle. The agent shot to protect himself and others with him.” Fox News,*America Reports*, [1/7/26]
Roberts suggested the victim used her “car as a deadly weapon” in an “act of rage” against officers trying to get their car out of a snowbank. In a question to Paul Mauro, Roberts asked, “Is there any other way to describe this than an act of rage? To see ICE agents, federal officials, federal law enforcement trying to get their car out of a snowbank and then using your car as a deadly weapon, just because you are upset about what the ICE officers are doing in your city. Can that be characterized — I mean, obviously domestic terrorism is one way, but also an act of rage, unbridled rage?” Fox News, *America Reports*, [1/7/26]
Newsmax host Bianca de la Garza described the shooting as a “vehicle ramming incident” while citing DHS. De la Garza added, “We saw video and reports that they were throwing objects at the ICE officers there, of course, trying to conduct a legal enforcement action.” Newsmax, *Newsline*, [1/7/26]
## Incident: Portland Border Patrol Shooting
#### True: Border Patrol agents shot two Venezuelan migrants who did not have prior criminal convictions
On January 8, Border Patrol agents in Portland, Oregon shot two Venezuelan migrants, Luis Niño-Moncada and Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras, neither of whom had prior criminal convictions, according to their attorneys. The Guardian, [1/9/26, 2/3/26]
False: DHS claimed agents shot two Tren de Aragua gang members who tried to run them over
Immediately following the shooting, DHS claimed that Niño-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.They also claimed Zambrano-Contreras was involved in a prior shooting. The Guardian, [1/9/26, 2/3/26]
In court, a Department of Justice prosecutor directly contradicted DHS’ claims, saying that they did not believe the two shooting victims were gang members. According to their attorneys, neither Niño-Moncada or Zambrano-Contreras have prior criminal convictions.The Guardian further reported that “an FBI affidavit” suggested “that in the previous shooting cited by DHS, Zambrano-Contreras was not a suspect, but rather a reported victim of a sexual assault and robbery.” The Guardian, [2/3/26]
Right-wing media parroted DHS’ unverified claims, arguing the victims were “gangsters” and “Venezuelan Gang Affiliates”
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said it’s “absolutely insane that the people of Portland—the government, leadership of Portland, would go to bat for TDA members that don’t belong here anyway.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [1/9/26]
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin confronted Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-D) about a statement she released following the shooting, claiming she didn’t “wait for any facts to come out.” When Dexter told Melugin the victims were shot before having due process, Melugin responded, “Those folks were two Venezuelan gang members.” The Daily Caller, [1/14/26]
Podcaster Vince Coglianese referred to the shooting victims as “gangsters” while attacking the Portland police chief for crying during the press conference in which he announced they’d been shot. He said, “We have immigration law enforcers who are out doing their jobs, and under threat from Tren de Aragua gangsters, they opened fire, shooting two of these idiots. And the police chief of the city regrets that he has to share this news and then starts literally crying because he says he feels so bad for the Hispanic community. What the hell is he even talking about?” Rumble, *Vince*, [1/12/26]
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones called the two victims “gangbangers” and attacked government officials for “crying” over the shooting. Infowars, *The Alex Jones Show*, [1/12/26]
Fox News host Laura Ingraham argued that a “left-wing narrative collapsed” in the Portland shooting after citing DHS claims that the shooting victims were gang members. She stated, “Now to Portland, where another left-wing narrative collapsed today with something called facts. No, contrary to what the media spin was, federal agents yesterday didn’t shoot two innocent Oregonians who were simply strolling about exercising their First Amendment rights. But they did shoot two suspected Tren de Aragua gang members, both criminal illegals, after DHS says that they tried using their vehicle as a weapon against Border Patrol. And look at them. Aren’t they lovely?” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [1/9/26]
Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner repeated DHS claims that the two were “criminal illegal immigrants” and members of Tren de Aragua. She stated, “The driver, allegedly a member of the violent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. So they knew that. And the passenger was affiliated with a trans national prostitution ring. That’s who they were looking for.” Fox News, *The Faulkner Focus*, [1/9/26]
A headline from The Federalist read, “DHS: Portland Suspects Who ‘Weaponized’ Vehicle Against CBP Agent Are Venezuelan Gang Affiliates.” Federalist staff writer Shawn Fleetwood wrote, “When details of the case finally emerged, it clearly was not what Democrats — who had already rushed to falsely blame the immigration officials — were expecting.” The Federalist, [1/9/26]
## Incident: Chicago apartment building ICE raid
#### True: ICE raided an apartment building and arrested 37 people
On September 30, immigration officials arrested 37 people at a Chicago apartment building the agency said was “frequented by Tren de Aragua members.”ICE reportedly detained a U.S. citizen during the raid. CNN, [10/3/25]
False: DHS said the building was “frequented by Tren de Aragua” and ICE arrested TdA members
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the raid was based on intelligence that TdA members were “terrorizing” residents. He also said, “When law enforcement has any intelligence like that, when we’re facing known gang members that are now designated a foreign terrorist organization, of course we’re going to go in with our SWAT teams and our special operations teams.” ProPublica, [11/13/25]
But, as ProPublica noted, “officials have provided no evidence to back up the claim” that Tren de Aragua had taken over the building.According to ProPublica, “Even today, four months after the raid, federal prosecutors have not filed criminal charges against anyone who was arrested.” ProPublica, [2/4/26]
New reporting suggests DHS had no evidence gang members were in the building.ProPublica reported: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security makes no mention in the records of Tren de Aragua, even though officials repeatedly cited the gang’s presence in the building as the motivation for the raid. Agents paraded immigrants in front of cameras and called their arrests a victory against terrorism. The government also claimed two of those arrested were gang members but never provided any proof.” The outlet further reported that the “landlord had given federal officials, who were already targeting immigrants in Chicago, the blessing to search the building,” and Mark Flemming of the National Immigrant Justice Center said the raid “was really about immigrants purportedly occupying apartments unlawfully, which is radically different than the story they told.” ProPublica, [2/4/26]
Right-wing media spread the false narrative that the building was “taken over” by the gang.
Harris Faulkner claimed the building was “taken over by members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang.”Fox News,*The Faulkner Focus*, [10/2/25]
Jesse Watters asserted that “dozens of Tren de Aragua members are getting Kilmared,” apparently referencing the attempted deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, before cutting to reporting on the September 30 raid. Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [9/30/25; NPR, 2/3/26]
Fox News anchor Trace Gallagher said the operation led to “the arrest of more than a dozen suspected Tren de Aragua gang members.”Fox News,*Fox News @ Night*, [10/1/25]
Laura Ingraham claimed “Trump is actually fixing the criminal mess” in Chicago, saying that “TDA gang members in Chicago got a surprise this week” when ICE conducted an “unexpected drop-in that involved a Black Hawk helicopter and hundreds of federal agents.” Fox News reporter Mike Tobin reported, “More than a dozen were detained. At least one has a tattoo commonly associated with the Tren de Aragua gang.” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [10/1/25]
In an interview with acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Newsmax host Emma Rechenberg claimed the apartment had been “seized by TDA gang members.” Lyons also pushed the claim, stating the building had been “taken over by Tren de Aragua gang members.” Newsmax, *The National Report*, [10/8/25]
While displaying a chyron that read “Tren de Arrested,” Fox News anchor Dana Perino said ICE agents were “targeting suspected Tren de Aragua members” in the raid and “netted 37 illegal aliens, including those associated with the bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang.”Fox News, *The Five*, [10/1/25]
The Daily Wire’s Jennie Taer wrote that the building was “teeming with suspected Tren de Aragua gang members.” The Daily Wire, [10/1/25]
Fox & Friendsco-host Lawrence Jones complained that people are “more concerned about the children being temporarily detained, not the fact that they were around in the same apartment complex of Tren de Aragua, a known terrorist organization.”Jones’ comment came after Lyons claimed Tren de Aragua “took over” the building and that pictures of zip-tied children were “AI fake photos.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [10/6/25]
Vince Coglianese claimed, “The feds have made an arrest in a raid on an apartment building in Chicago on a bunch of suspected Tren de Aragua members.” Rumble, *Vince*, [10/1/25]
//
A federal judge's ruling debunks right-wing media smears about Haitian immigrants
02/06/26 4:42 PM EST
### Study: Fox News smeared Alex Pretti dozens of times following his killing by federal agents
02/06/26 9:58 AM EST
### Right-wing media figures are claiming, once again, that anti-ICE protesters are paid agitators
01/29/26
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Right-wing media miss the mark on explaining wildfire recovery in Los Angeles
The Trump administration has denied Los Angeles $34 billion in disaster relief
Special ProgramsClimate & Energy
Written by Ilana Berger
:{:{Published 02/11/26}:
Right-wing media are echoing a recent executive order from President Donald Trump pinning the blame for Los Angeles’ delayed recovery from last year’s wildfires on the state and local government, specifically construction permitting holdups. But the order, which the White House says will speed up permitting processes, fails to address key factors, like unpaid insurance claims and insufficient funding. The coverage omits how Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s mismanagement is hindering disaster response and recovery.
Experts are skeptical about whether federal agencies even have the authority to implement the executive order, and survivors say a lack of access to money to fund construction is more of a barrier to rebuilding than permitting. Meanwhile, DHS has reportedly created a “$17 billion bottleneck” that is impeding federal disaster response, and the administration denied Los Angeles $34 billion in disaster relief.
## Trump issued an executive order that cuts through permitting requirements, but he might not have the authority, and experts say it doesn’t address Los Angeles’ root problems
Trump’s order directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration to find ways to “preempt State or local permitting processes, and other similar pre-approval requirements, that each agency has found to have unduly impeded the timely use of Federal emergency-relief funds.”The White House wrote that it would implement a system where builders would “self-certify to a Federal designee from each agency that they have complied with all applicable substantive State and local health and safety standards with respect to the structure proposed to be rebuilt using Federal emergency-relief funds.” Notably, LA County already launched a self-certification program back in May 2025 “to fast-track reconstruction in fire-scarred neighborhoods.” WhiteHouse.gov, [_{1/27/26}_; Pasadena Now, 5/8/25]
Trump might not have the legal power to implement the order in the first place. “Legal experts and state officials have questioned whether federal agencies have the statutory authority to override local building codes or land-use laws,” reported FOX 11. Daniel Farber, the faculty director of the Center for Law Energy & Environment at University of California, Berkeley, told Politico “This is completely unprecedented in terms of the history of federal disaster aid,” adding, “They’re gonna have a hard time making this stand up in court.” The move may violate the 10th Amendment and legal precedents which have been used to “argue against the federal government wresting away control of regulations, such as land-use rules, that are traditionally held by state and local government.” FOX 11, [_{1/27/26}_; Politico, 1/27/26]
Some survivors and city officials say more money is what’s needed most.Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, a Republican, responded to Trump’s executive order, saying that while she welcomes “any effort to responsibly accelerate rebuilding,” the county “already has a local self-certification process to help expedite rebuilding.” She continued, “The most urgent need in the Altadena region is financially driven. Families lack the capital to kick start or continue their rebuilding plans.” Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, said that “the number one barrier to Eaton and Palisades fire survivors right now is money.” LACounty.gov, [_{1/27/26}_; The Associated Press, 1/28/26]
A McKinsey report recommending how LA could accelerate recovery is largely inconsistent with Trump’s new executive order, which focuses solely on permitting.The report recommended that local governments optimize their own systems based on previous successes, identifying “gaps between insurance payouts and rebuilding costs” as “significant challenges.” The firm also pointed out that “Los Angeles has built momentum in permitting,” has already adopted multiple processes to accelerate rebuilding, and in striving to “ensure long-term community health and resilience, speed must be balanced with safety, compliance, and sustainability.” McKinsey & Company, [_{1/22/26}_]
:{:{## Right-wing media’s coverage of the fires in L.A. was misleading from the start.}:
Right-wing media insisted that climate change had nothing to do with the wildfires, despite the clear connection, and instead blamed forest mismanagement and water policies. In reality, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s water policies have no relationship to the LA fires or low water pressure in fire hydrants, debunking another popular narrative on the right, while the conditions driving the fires and their clear connections to climate change were dismissed. PBS News, [_{8/9/21;}_Media Matters, 1/10/25, 1/10/25, 1/15/25]
As The New York Times correctly observed, “a megadrought” driven by climate change “has sapped water supplies, ravaged farms and ranches, and fueled wildfires across the American Southwest for going on 25 years.” The latest U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report found with “high confidence” that anthropogenic “warming over land drives an increase in … the severity of droughts.” The New York Times [_{7/16/25}_; United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 8/9/21]
## Right-wing media praised Trump for the new executive order and attacked California Democrats, assigning blame just like they did when the fires occurred
The California Post, the Murdoch-owned sister tabloid to the New York Post, featured the executive order in an “exclusive” interview with Trump on January 27, the day after the paper launched.“I want to see if we can take over the city and state and just give the people their permits they want to build,” the president said. The article lauded Trump for allowing “the federal government to maneuver around the needless obstacles imposed by Democratic leaders” and blamed “thumb-twiddling California Democrats” for delays in rebuilding. California Post, [1/27/26; New York Post, 1/5/26]
:{In an interview wit:{h Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Breitbart}: editor-in-chief Alex Marlow said that “only a fraction” of small business loans have been dispersed to victims in California, and blamed “city permitting backlogs,” calling them “a really supreme outrage.” During the interview, Loeffler said that the executive order is “not a performative half measure, which is what seems to be going on locally. This is full-on permitting and rebuilding right now.” :{Salem:(style="background-color:#ffff00ff"):}: News Channel, *The Alex Marlow Show*, [2/4/26]}:
Fox News host Sean Hannity complained that a recent profile of Gavin Newsom in Vogue “left out a number of important topics” like the LA wildfires and “why people can’t get a building permit.” He added that Newsom is a “full-time Tweety bird podcaster” but a “never-time governor” who is “MIA always.” Fox News, *Hannity*, [2/3/26]
Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo interviewed Loeffler, who said, “President Trump is saving Californians from failed local leadership — state leadership, Gavin Newsom — who have failed to help the residents rebuild.” Bartiromo said the executive order addresses “permitting delays which have stalled local rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles for over a year.” Loeffler credited Trump for having “sped disaster recovery, and then we sped disaster relief in the form of small business loans, 12,000 of them, $3.2 billion dollars. What we found out is they have delayed permitting, the stalling, the bureaucracy that has crowded out that ability to rebuild. So President Trump is again leading for California to rebuild.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [1/30/26]
Fox host Jesse Watters said “Trump is doing what Newsom couldn’t” by signing the executive order targeted at LA because “Democrats let it burn and would not rebuild.”Watters said, “Trump is doing what Newsom couldn’t — grabbing a shovel. [President] 47 signed an executive order for the feds to fast-track rebuilding LA after Democrats let it burn and would not rebuild. If Newsom really wants the Oval, he might want to fireproof his excuses.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [1/28/26]
Hannity said that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin would be in charge of implementing the order “as part of the administration's commitment to facilitating a swift recovery” and claimed that Newsom “can't get people their building permits and help them and assist them and have insurance companies pay homeowners.” Hannity called the 2025 wildfires “predictable” and blamed “empty hydrants, empty reservoirs.” [Fox News,
Hannity, 1/28/26]
Fox Business host Stuart Varney asked real estate broker Josh Altman if Trump could “fix the problem in Los Angeles” — Altman replied “absolutely” because last year Trump “accomplished in six weeks what the state and local level says were going to take six months to the year.”Fox Business,*Varney & Co.*, [1/28/26]
Newsmax anchors Bob Brooks and Katrina Szish spoke with former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, who blamed Newsom for slow wildfire recovery because his administration spent money on “homelessness,” which had “zero support,” and “unemployment fraud” instead. Maldonado said Newsom’s recovery efforts are “useless” and Trump is the one “trying to move this forward and help the people of California.” Newsmax, *American Agenda*, [1/28/26]
In the same interview, former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told Newsmax viewers that California wants to take “that $34 billion prize coming from the feds, they want to feed it into their bureaucratic mess, and only a trickle of it, if ever, will get down to the survivors.”He added that Trump is “trying to bypass that whole mess.” Newsmax, *American Agenda*, [1/28/26]
## Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s mismanagement is slowing recovery from natural disasters and preventing communities from becoming more resilient in the future
In the order, Trump requested an audit of a $3 billion grant program which, according to FEMA's website, “provides funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in ways that reduce or mitigate future disaster losses in their communities.” The order directs FEMA head Karen Evans, the third acting administrator during Trump’s second term, to “make administrative determinations” with the possibility of “imposing future grant conditions” and even making communities return money they were previously awarded. No new funds for this Hazard Mitigation Grant Program have been awarded to any state since March 2025, according to PBS. Federal Emergency Management Agency, accessed [_{2/4/26}_; WhiteHouse.gov, 1/27/26; PBS News, 1/28/26; CNN, 11/24/25]
According to The New York Times, Noem’s requirement for her office to personally review and approve all FEMA expenditures exceeding $100,000 has created “a $17 billion bottleneck.”This includes millions in delayed aid to one Iowa town where “huge floods damaged or destroyed 500 homes” in June 2024. The city administrator says its “annual budget is typically less than $10 million, so the city has had to borrow $19 million to make ends meet, at a cost of $1,800 in daily interest that is not eligible for FEMA reimbursement.” The New York Times, [_{1/27/25}_]
This same review process reportedly delayed response to the catastrophic Texas flooding in July 2025. According to CNN: “Texas did request aerial imagery from FEMA to aid search and rescue operations, a source told CNN, but that was delayed as it awaited Noem’s approval for the necessary contract. FEMA staff have also been answering phones at a disaster call center, where, according to one agency official, callers have faced longer wait times as the agency awaited Noem’s approval for a contract to bring in additional support staff.” CNN, [_{7/10/25}_]
In 2025, FEMA cut approximately 20% of its staff, including “some of its most experienced and knowledgeable leaders” — this year the reductions could reportedly impact 50% of staff. On January 2, CNN reported: “The cuts target FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) teams, which form the backbone of the agency’s operations during and after a disaster, and could be just the beginning of a larger effort by Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security to shrink FEMA. … CORE employees make up about 40% of FEMA’s workforce — over 8,000 people — working full-time hours on temporary contracts. Several thousand of these workers will see their contracts end in 2026.” Additionally CNN reported that FEMA leaders were told that the goal is to cut staff by over 50% by the next fiscal year, which begins in October. AccuWeather, [_{4/24/25}_; CNN, 1/2/26, 1/5/26]
Under Noem, the Trump administration has hurt national disaster preparedness by installing inexperienced leaders.Trump’s initial acting FEMA administrator was fired in May 2025 after testifying that the agency shouldn’t be abolished. He was replaced by David Richardson, who had no emergency management experience, according to CNBC. In early June, Reuters reported that Richardson had told staff he didn’t know that the United States had a hurricane season. Staff said they were unsure whether Richardson was joking, and he resigned in November. The New York Times, [_{6/12/25}_; CBS News, 6/13/25; Politico, 5/8/25, 11/17/25; CNBC, 6/2/25]
Program and staff reductions along with public statements from Noem suggesting that FEMA would be eliminated have reportedly left the agency ill-prepared for extreme weather. In May 2025 — just weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season and peak extreme weather — CNN obtained an internal memo warning that FEMA was “not ready” for hurricane season. According to the internal assessment, preparations for hurricane season have been “derailed” and issues abounded at the agency, “including a general uncertainty around its mission, lack of coordination with states and other federal agencies, low morale and new red tape that will likely slow responses.” CNN, [_{5/15/25}_]
Further crippling the agency, the Department of Homeland Security has involuntarily reassigned dozens of FEMA staff to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation efforts.A letter to Congress arguing that FEMA’s leadership has hindered its ability to effectively manage emergencies signed by about 180 agency employees “points to the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, which states that transfers are prohibited ‘except for details or assignments that do not reduce the capability of the Agency to perform its missions.’ The reassignments to help ICE, employees say, do just that.” The Washington Post, [_{8/6/25}_, 8/25/25]
Rollbacks on flood risk standards and canceled preparedness programs have put communities at greater risk.On his first day in office, Trump revoked federal flood protections which require federally funded infrastructure projects to comply with design requirements that harden them against flood risks. “The goal of the standards were not only to protect human lives and homes, but also to save taxpayer money, preventing a never-ending cycle of destroy-rebuild-repeat,” Truthout reported. In April 2025, Trump canceled a FEMA program started during his first term in 2018 that allocated billions of dollars in disaster preparedness grants to “help local, state and tribal governments protect residents from future disasters such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes,” NPR explained. Even some Republicans have asked Trump to reconsider the cuts because, as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said, the program providing the grants “protects families and saves taxpayer dollars in the long-run. That’s efficient in my book.” Truthout, [_{7/12/25}_; NPR, 5/1/25; Cassidy.Senate.gov, 4/10/25]
MMA //
:{:{10/10/25}:
:{:{02/07/25}:
01/24/2
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mma semi random
02/10/26 12:45 PM EST
02/10/26 12:06 PM EST
### Alex Jones: Trump's DOJ “is officially involved in the cover-up” of the Epstein case
02/10/26 11:03 AM EST
02/10/26 10:11 AM EST
### Newsmax's Greg Kelly says the NFL is “trying to destroy America”
02/10/26 9:24 AM EST
### Fox contributor Raymond Arroyo says US skier has committed “borderline treason” by criticizing ICE
02/10/26 9:04 AM EST
### Laura Ingraham says Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny's halftime show “didn't represent America at all”
02/09/26 7:51 PM EST
### Sean Hannity: “There's going to be an explosion in the economy, and I'm making that firm prediction”
02/09/26 7:33 PM EST
02/09/26 6:27 PM EST
02/09/26 6:24 PM EST
02/09/26 4:24 PM EST
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MMA
After years of right-wing media and election deniers pushing outrageous claim Venezuela stole the 2020 US election, the Trump administration is now probing for evidence
For over five years, right-wing figures have falsely alleged voting machine companies Dominion and Smartmatic were based in Venezuela or had ties to Venezuelan leaders
Written by Alex Kaplan & Reed McMaster
Research contributions from Zachary Pleat
Published 02/10/26
For over five years, right-wing media and election deniers have pushed long-winded conspiracy theories claiming that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen by the Venezuelan government via Smartmatic and Dominion voting machines. Figures on the right have falsely claimed that these companies were based in Venezuela, had ties to former Presidents Hugo Chávez or Nicolás Maduro, used software in their voting machines that could override security features and flip votes, and were even used to rig Venezuelan and U.S. elections.
Following the Trump administration's recent capture of Maduro and the FBI's raid of an election center in Fulton County, Georgia, election deniers are now openly declaring that the government will prove that their baseless election fraud claims about 2020 are correct.
The Trump administration is probing 2020 election fraud claims, elating election deniers
The administration began a major push to investigate President Donald Trump's repeatedly debunked claims that he won the 2020 election, with Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard making herself a public face in the probe and being on-site for an FBI raid of a Fulton County, Georgia, election center. According to The Guardian, the warrant for the FBI's January 28 raid “sought all ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton county, tabulator tapes, ballot images and voter rolls.” ABC reported Gabbard arranged a phone call between Trump and the FBI agents conducting the raid. CNN, [1/31/26; ABC News, 2/2/26; The Guardian, 1/28/26]
Election deniers cheered the Fulton County raid, saying it's “exactly what” they previously asked Trump to do. Former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne claimed that the raid shows “they’ve crossed the Rubicon” and it was “exactly what we were asking him [Trump] to do” in 2020. Trump's former lawyer Sidney Powell, who has promoted baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, said she was “hopeful that means this administration is taking seriously the massive fraud that I believe occurred in the 2020 election.” Byrne — who has been a prominent fundraiser of election denial efforts — attended the December 2020 Oval Office meeting, alongside Powell and Michael Flynn, where Trump was urged to seize voting machines. Media Matters, [2/5/26; The New York Times, 1/31/22; NPR, 10/19/23; The Washington Post, 12/6/21; The Guardian, 7/20/24]
Gabbard also led an investigation last spring that was reportedly related to “claims that Venezuela had hacked voting machines in Puerto Rico,” where a U.S. attorney has allegedly been in touch with figures who have prominently promoted unfounded claims Venezuela helped steal the 2020 election. The Guardian reported U.S. attorney for Puerto Rico Stephen Muldrow, “a staunch Republican and Trump supporter,” had been briefed on “the old voting conspiracy and the allegations that Venezuela helped rig elections worldwide” by former CIA officer Gary Berntsen and Venezuelan expatriate Martin Rodil. Byrne has hyped Muldrow’s involvement, saying it meant an investigation into these conspiracy theories is “about as clean and squeaky clean as you get.” Reuters, [2/4/26; The Guardian, 11/21/25; LindellTV, The Absolute Truth with Emerald Robinson, 2/5/26]
After the Trump administration captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a January 3 raid and brought him to the United States to face trial, MAGA influencers suggested it was linked to the conspiracy theory about Venezuela's involvement in the 2020 election. Trump appeared to endorse the suggestion that the raid was retaliation for 2020, repeatedly amplifying references to the purported role Venezuela played on Truth Social. CNN, [1/3/26; Media Matters, 1/5/26]
## Voting machine companies Dominion and Smartmatic — common targets of 2020 election conspiracy theories — were not based in Venezuela, nor did they have ties to the country's leaders
Right-wing media used Dominion and Smartmatic voting machines to create a boogeyman for the 2020 election. For years, right-wing media figures falsely claimed Dominion and Smartmatic voting machines switched votes from Trump to Joe Biden and created election irregularities. Media Matters, [11/2/21, 12/22/20, 9/6/24]
Smartmatic and Dominion have sued several right-wing outlets that promoted conspiracy theories tying the companies to the purported 2020 election theft, with some of the outlets paying out multimillion dollar settlements. Fox News, which currently faces a $2.7 billion lawsuit from Smartmatic, ultimately settled a similar suit from Dominion for a record $787.5 million in 2023; filings in the case show that Fox executives and stars privately acknowledged that the election had not been tainted by large-scale fraud, even as the network broadcast false claims tying Dominion to Venezuela and suggesting it had rigged the 2020 vote. Business Insider, [4/18/23; Politico, 8/19/25; Media Matters, 1/21/21, 7/5/22, 3/2/23, 8/21/25]
Two Smartmatic founders are from Venezuela, but the company was founded in Florida and incorporated in the United States. A fact check from Reuters additionally reported that “Smartmatic confirms on its website that the company is not Venezuelan, adding, ‘Smartmatic has no ties to governments or political parties of any country.’” Reuters, [12/14/20]
Smartmatic voting machines were only used in one county during the 2020 election. FactCheck.org explained: “Apart from the dubious support for this conspiracy theory, the company it’s targeting doesn’t do much work in the United States. Smartmatic says it provided voting equipment to only one U.S. county in the 2020 election. Los Angeles uses the company’s VSAP touchscreen machines, according to the California Secretary of State’s list of certified voting equipment used in each county.” The article further explained that Los Angeles’ 2020 election results were similar to its 2016 election results. FactCheck.org, [11/25/20]
Dominion Voting Systems was founded in Toronto, Canada, and in recent years was based in Denver, Colorado. Dominion responded to false claims of Venezuelan ties in a lawsuit, stating: “Dominion was not created in or for Venezuela, has never been located there, and is not owned by Smartmatic or Venezuelans. Dominion has never provided machines or any of its software or technology to Venezuela, nor has it ever participated in any elections in Venezuela.” Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, [10/10/25; US Dominion, Inc. v. Powell, 1/8/21]
## Right-wing media figures and election deniers repeatedly pushed false claims that Dominion and Smartmatic were Venezuelan or tied to Chávez or Maduro
On Fox Business, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani acknowledged Dominion was a Canadian company before claiming it was “a Venezuelan company that has Chinese parts in it.” Media Matters, [11/16/20]
On Fox News, Giuliani said that Smartmatic is “a Venezuelan company.” Giuliani further claimed that Smartmatic was “founded by Chávez,” and later claimed it’s “really being run by people that are close to Maduro and Chávez.” Fox News, *Sunday Morning Futures*, [11/15/20, 11/15/20]
On Fox Business, Sidney Powell argued Smartmatic “all Venezuelan and Cuban and essentially communist money.” Powell claimed, “This affidavit also explains it [Smartmatic] has been used to change election results all over the world. And it's all Venezuelan and Cuban and essentially communist money that's been doing this. It's a foreign-owned company.” Fox Business, *Lou Dobbs Tonight*, [11/16/20]
Newsmax contributor Dick Morris claimed, “The Dominion software is licensed from … Smartmatic, which is [a] Venezuelan-owned and -controlled company. So we’re dealing here with the most incredible kind of systemic fraud.” Morris added that “this is the exact same system they’re using in Georgia on January 5,” the date of a then-upcoming runoff election. Newsmax, *American Agenda*, [12/15/20]
Election deniers Gary Berntsen and Ralph Pezzullo argued that despite Smartmatic being founded in America, it was started with “source code” owned by the Venezuelan government. They also stated Smartmatic was “winning contracts in election districts all across the United States and it's Venezuelan owned,” that Smartmatic “bought another company called Sequoia,” and “from Sequoia, they were forced because of the CFIUS investigation to sell it to Dominion.” The Guardian reported that Berntsen promoted “the old voting conspiracy and the allegations that Venezuela helped rig elections worldwide,” and “in September, Pezzullo published an e-book called Stolen Elections: the Takedown of Democracies Worldwide, which described the Venezuela conspiracy theories.” The Guardian, [11/21/25; Going Rogue with Lara Logan, 11/21/25, 11/21/25]
Election denier Martin Rodil: “And then slowly but very steady, they were building a Smartmatic, then they purchased Sequoia in Colorado, and then they ended [up] controlling the software used by Dominion.” Rodil continued: “So you have two problems here. You have not just an election problem, but you have a counterintelligence problem where a country like Venezuela — which is completely ignored but it becomes some sort of proxy for China, for Russia, for Iran, for every enemy of the United States — was allowed to do everything they could inside the U.S.” According to The Guardian, Rodil promoted “the old voting conspiracy and the allegations that Venezuela helped rig elections worldwide” along with Berntsen. Patriot Party News, [11/19/25; The Guardian, 11/21/25]
One America News host Lilia Fifield, citing The Gateway Pundit, claimed “Smartmatic is partially owned by the Maduro regime and George Soros.” The segment’s chyron claimed the “Soros-backed firm installed socialism in Venezuela.” OAN, [11/17/20]
Mark Levin: “What in the hell are we doing with a company that had any ties with Venezuela’s government? ... This is Smartmatic with ties to the Hugo Chávez machine.” Westwood One, *The Mark Levin Show*, [11/16/20]
## Right-wing media and election deniers alleged that Smartmatic software could override security features and flip votes
Rush Limbaugh claimed that Dominion and Smartmatic “both have the same purpose ... to rig elections, and they are used in conjunction with one another.”Limbaugh: “Dominion is the software company out of Venezuela. Smartmatic is a piece of software that does all of the conniving. And they’re both manufactured — the same outfit — and they both have the same purpose, is to rig elections, and they are used in conjunction with one another.” Premiere Radio Networks, *The Rush Limbaugh Show*, [11/17/20]
Fox host Maria Bartiromo repeated claims by Sidney Powell that Smartmatic software has “built-in functionality allowing the administrators to override security features.” She said, “Smartmatic election software was developed, Sidney Powell says, in Venezuela, with porous security and built-in functionality allowing the administrators to override security features.” Fox News, *Sunday Morning Futures*, [11/22/20]
On Fox Business, Powell also argued Smartmatic “had been used to change election results all over the world.” Fox Business, *Lou Dobbs Tonight*, [11/16/20]
Then-Fox host and current U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro called Trump lawyers’ claims that Dominion was started in Venezuela and Smartmatic software could flip votes “serious allegations.” She stated, “The president's lawyers alleging a company called Dominion, which they say started in Venezuela with Cuban money and with the assistance of Smartmatic software, a backdoor is capable of flipping votes.” Pirro added: “These are serious allegations, but the media has no interest in any of this. But you and I do, as we should.” Fox News, *Justice with Judge Jeanine*, [11/21/20]
## Right-wing media and election deniers repeated the suggestion that Chávez or Maduro were behind Smartmatic and Dominion efforts to rig Venezuelan and U.S. elections
Patrick Byrne argued Chávez directed the Venezuelan immigrants who founded Smartmatic to build a “system that can rig me an election.” During a 2023 interview, he stated Chávez “went to these three young guys and he told them to build a system that can rig me an election. They moved to Florida, to Boca, and they started a Delaware company called Smartmatic. And then Smartmatic rigged the election.” In 2024, Byrne also said that he “hacked the government of Venezuela” and has “stolen everything. And everything we’ve been asserting from November 4 [of 2020] is true.” He went on to say he had Dominion “source code” and the software is “Venezuelan junk, just as we’ve been telling you from a week after the election. And we have all the proof. We have everything.” Rumble, *The Courtenay Turner Podcast*, [5/19/23; Media Matters, 7/29/24]
Discussing Smartmatic in a stream on Locals, Byrne read from an affidavit about the 2020 election claiming that “it took the voting system approximately two hours — the operator — two hours to make the adjustments to the vote for Radonski to Maduro” in Venezuela’s 2013 election. Byrne read, “Then when they turned the Internet back on and the online reporting was up and running, they checked each screen state by state. And then at that moment, the Smartmatic system changed the votes from Radonski to Maduro. By the time the system operator finished, they had achieved a convincing but narrow victory of 200,000 votes for Maduro.” He added, “Is any of this sounding familiar?” Locals, [12/7/24]
Then-Newsmax correspondent Emerald Robinson claimed that Smartmatic software was used to “fix elections in Venezuela” for Hugo Chávez. The Washington Post reported that as part of its lawsuit, “Smartmatic has pointed to a Nov. 17, 2020, remark by Newsmax correspondent Emerald Robinson, who falsely asserted that ‘Smartmatic software is what was used by Hugo Chávez and his successors to fix elections in Venezuela,’ and a comment made by Newsmax host Chris Salcedo, who said that Smartmatic software comes with a ‘directive’ on ‘how you change the results’ of an election.” The Washington Post, [9/20/24]
On Mike Lindell's streaming channel, Robinson talked up how a “team of wonderful American patriots” — naming “Patrick Byrne and Gary Berntsen” — had proof of the Venezuelan regime rigging U.S. elections. She stated, “This team had already recruited more than a dozen people, whistleblowers, who knew exactly how the rig system was built in Venezuela because they were former engineers from Venezuela who had worked for Smartmatic, and for Nicolás Maduro, and before that Hugo Chávez, who commissioned the building of this software so he could steal his referendum in 2004 to corruptly remain in power. Now, I've spoken to some of these whistleblowers myself. I've asked them about their information, their evidence, their work experience, the data, exactly how they steal it.” LindellTV, *The Absolute Truth with Emerald Robinson*, [12/1/25]
Following Trump's capture of Maduro, Infowars host Alex Jones argued it was about stopping Smartmatic from “stealing our elections.” He claimed, “So out of survival, out of existential threat, I understand why Trump went into Venezuela. The total election fraud — Smartmatic is in the five big voting machine companies. It's been certified, confirmed, stealing our elections. They steal elections in 100-plus other countries. They're a globalist command base with the CIA, the EU, NATO, the Chicoms, and the whole U.S. deep state has really been at the top of the pyramid in Venezuela. Trump's ending all that. And so the U.S. was already, through the deep state, in control of Venezuela. That's the big secret.” Infowars, *The Alex Jones Show*, [1/5/26]
Then-Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, citing “a whistleblower’s stunning affidavit,” claimed that “Smartmatic’s technology was used to rig elections in Venezuela.” Fox Business, *Lou Dobbs Tonight*, [11/19/20]
Powell told Fox Business that an independent investigation showed Dominion voting machines were “created for the benefit of Venezuela.” She stated, “We've known from early on in our independent investigation that the entire system was created for the benefit of Venezuela and Hugo Chávez to rig elections to make sure he continued winning. And then it was passed on to Mr. Maduro to do the same. And we know it was exported to other countries by virtue of some of the Dominion executives that proceeded to go about and essentially sell elections to the highest bidder.” Fox Business, *Lou Dobbs Tonight*, [12/10/20]
On Dobbs’ Fox Business show, Rudy Giuliani insisted that Smartmatic was founded by Chávez for “the specific purpose of fixing elections.” He stated that Smartmatic is “a company that was founded in 2005 in Venezuela for the specific purpose of fixing elections. That’s their expertise.” In the same show, he claimed, Smartmatic “was founded by Chávez” and was now being used “to call votes in America because their specialty in Venezuela is cheating.” Fox Business, *Lou Dobbs Tonight*, [11/18/20, 11/18/20]
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### MAGA media link Trump's overthrow of Maduro to 2020 election conspiracy theories
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11/02/21
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Democrats want ICE to comply with the Fourth Amendment. Right-wing media are trying to muddy the waters.
MAGA pundits are feigning outrage over a requirement for judicial warrants for private property searches that border czar Tom Homan acknowledged just months ago
Written by John Knefel
Research contributions from Sophie Lawton
Published 02/09/26 9:08 AM EST
Right-wing media figures are feigning outrage that Democrats have called for federal deportation officers to comply with the Fourth Amendment before carrying out searches of private property, a requirement that even Trump administration border czar Tom Homan has acknowledged, and inaccurately suggesting it will “make it impossible for ICE to do their job.”
Media Matters recently resurfaced a Fox News interview from August 2025 during which Homan said, “We need a judicial warrant for a search.” That assessment is in line with longstanding federal immigration protocol and complies with the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable search and seizure.
As The Associated Press reported in January, however, an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo written last year purportedly authorized agents to enter private property without obtaining a judge’s signature. Instead, agents would rely on an administrative warrant, which is signed by an ICE officer, not a judge. Six former general counsels or acting general counsels for the Department of Homeland Security recently objected to the memo’s legal rationale, arguing in a New York Times op-ed that the directive violated the Fourth Amendment.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee and in congressional leadership have demanded that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE rescind the memo and obtain judicial warrants before entering private property to carry out immigration enforcement.
Right-wing media have responded by attempting to muddy the waters and claim, incorrectly, that congressional Democrats want federal agents to obtain a judicial warrant — rather than an administrative warrant — for every ICE or Border Patrol arrest. The most generous reading of these claims perhaps relies on an interpretation of imprecise language from some Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who said Democrats want “arrest warrants and an end to racial profiling.” The list of leadership’s demands also says ICE must “end indiscriminate arrests and improve warrant procedures and standards.”
Even granting the possibly muddled messaging from Democrats, the right-wing media response has been profoundly misleading. MAGA pundits are stoking fear about immigrant communities and threatening what is meant to be a basic constitutional protection against government overreach. Here are some of the most egregious examples.
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro acknowledged that “ICE does need a judicial warrant to enter homes,” but said elsewhere that if Democrats are saying “only judicial warrants can be used by ICE, that means the end of immigration enforcement in the United States, and they know it.” He added of that and other Democrat demands: “So, basically, hamstring federal law. Make sure that illegal immigration can never be stopped. That’s the Democrat goal.” The Daily Wire, *The Ben Shapiro Show*, [1/28/26, 2/4/26]
Fox News host Jesse Watters responded to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s criticism of the ICE memo by asking: “We have to get a warrant from a judge every time we arrest an illegal?” Watters added: “If you needed a warrant for every time you arrested a migrant, they could just stay inside their apartment all day and collect welfare.” Fox News, *Jesse Watters Primetime*, [1/27/26]
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said that “to get a judicial warrant to … get 9 million people is the most impractical thing I have ever seen.” Co-host Ainsley Earhart added: “Impractical legal hurdle there.” Fox News, *Fox & Friends*, [2/2/26]
MAGA legal activist and Article III Project founder Mike Davis said, “We have never required judicial warrants to arrest illegal aliens and deport them. This would make it impossible for ICE to do their jobs. It's a red line, it’s unacceptable, it’s a hell no.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [2/2/26]
Davis made a similar argument on Fox’sThe Ingraham Angle, claiming, “We have used immigration warrants for decades. You don't need a judicial warrant to go round up illegal aliens and get them out of our country.” Host Laura Ingraham had asked: “This idea that you can't use an administrative warrant. Suddenly the Democrats don't like administrative warrants? When did that start?” Fox News, *The Ingraham Angle*, [2/2/26]
On Rumble, Donald Trump Jr. said Democrats “want a long, drawn-out process for judicial warrants before arresting criminals, illegal alien criminals.” Trump Jr. added: “Basically, they want to make it impossible for ICE to do its job.” Rumble, *Triggered*, [2/2/26]
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said on hisWar Roompodcast that Democrats “want a federal warrant to remove any — they want a signed judicial warrant to remove anybody from the United States.” Real America’s Voice, *War Room*, [2/3/26]
As border czar Tom Homan said last August, federal agents need a judicial warrant to conduct a search on private property. Right-wing media figures can try to obscure that all they want, but it doesn’t change the underlying facts.
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Right-wing media rally behind Trump’s efforts to trigger regime change in Cuba
Written by Zachary Pleat
Published 02/06/26
After right-wing media pushed for and then celebrated the Trump administration’s ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and seizure of the country’s oil supplies last month, they quickly pivoted to the administration’s reported efforts to overthrow Cuba’s government, which for now primarily involves starving the island of oil.
## The Trump administration is working to cut off oil supplies to Cuba, seeking regime change
President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on imports from countries that provide oil to Cuba. The Guardian reported that an executive order from Trump, “which ratchets up Trump’s pressure to topple the communist government, declares a national emergency and establishes a process for the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess tariffs against countries that sell or otherwise provide oil to the island nation. The White House has yet to specify tariff rates for violating its new policy of blocking Cuba from buying oil.” The Guardian, [1/29/26]
Mexico announced a pause on oil shipments to Cuba amid reported pressure from the Trump administration. According to The Associated Press, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the decision to pause oil shipments to Cuba “was a ‘sovereign decision’ not made under pressure from the United States,” but it came amid overt Trump administration efforts to isolate the Cuban government and amid threats from Trump to “take military action against Mexican drug cartels.” The Associated Press, [1/27/26]
Politico: “Trump administration weighs naval blockade to halt Cuban oil imports.” Politico reported: “The Trump administration is weighing new tactics to drive regime change in Cuba, including imposing a total blockade on oil imports to the Caribbean country, three people familiar with the plan said Thursday.” Politico, [1/23/26]
Trump has said Cuba is “ready to fall” and threatened Cuba to “make a deal, before it is too late.” BBC, [1/11/26]
Wall Street Journal: “The U.S. Is Actively Seeking Regime Change in Cuba by the End of the Year.” The Wall Street Journal reported: “Emboldened by the U.S. ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration is searching for Cuban government insiders who can help cut a deal to push out the Communist regime by the end of the year.” The article continued: “In meetings with Cuban exiles and civic groups in Miami and Washington, administration officials have focused on identifying somebody inside the current government who will see the writing on the wall and want to cut a deal.” The Wall Street Journal, [1/22/26]
## Right-wing media rally behind the Trump administration’s tactic of starving Cuba of oil and its goal of overthrowing the Cuban government
Fox Business host Elizabeth MacDonald on an oil embargo against Cuba: “This is Trump getting communism out of the western hemisphere.” MacDonald asked her guest, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), “Do you see ... Cuba collapsing [as] a 2026 event?” Fox Business, *The Evening Edit*, [1/26/26]
Heritage Foundation's Victoria Coates on Fox Business: Cuba is a “proximate threat to the United States. It's been a deadly enemy of the United States for more than 60 years. It would be great to see positive change in Cuba.” Coates continued: “I think we could see that through economic means through this oil embargo. … We have the extraordinary diaspora in the United States starting with the secretary of state, who are prepared to help Cuba in a very positive transition to become a friend of the United States.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [1/28/26]
America First Policy Institute's Fred Fleitz on Newsmax: “I love Rubio's answer to this. When he was asked, do you favor regime change in Cuba? And he said, yes.” Another guest, former deputy assistant secretary of state Joel Rubin added, “I think the Cuban regime has to go, clearly.” Newsmax, *American Agenda*, [1/28/26]
Fox Business anchor David Asman: “Let’s hope, let’s pray that the communist system” in Cuba “comes to an end as a result of not having oil.” Asman continued: “I say the same prayers about Nicaragua.” Fox Business, *The Big Money Show*, [1/30/26]
America First Policy Institute’s Carla Sands on Fox Business: “What we're doing is by strangling the energy, we're not allowing Mexico to send energy, we've stopped the Venezuelan energy. I think for the first time in my lifetime there will be regime change” in Cuba. Sands continued: “And I'm sure that the United States has someone in their sights within Cuba, or in the Cuban community in the United States, because they will have to seize power, and then they're going to need a lot of investment to — I mean, to bring Cuba into the 21st century, it's still in the mid 20th century, sadly, for these people, because of communism.” Fox Business, *Varney & Co.*, [1/30/26]
Coates on Fox Business: Letting the Cuban government survive the collapse of the Soviet Union was “a mistake we can’t afford to make again.” Coates added that blockading oil from the island is necessary “to get to the change that everybody, I think, who’s reasonable, wants to see in Cuba.” Fox Business, *The Bottom Line*, [1/30/26]
Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo to Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL): “Is the Cuban regime entering its final chapter?” Salazar replied: “Thank God for that.” Fox Business, *Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street*, [1/30/26]
Newsmax guest Antonio Mora: “Few things would make me happier than the collapse of this malignant cancer that has been the Communist Party-dominated regime in Cuba for the last 67 years.”Newsmax, *Saturday Agenda*, [1/31/26]
Heritage Foundation’s Andrés Martínez-Fernández: It’s a “perfect moment for an opening to be created for a restoration of stability and democracy” in Cuba. Newsmax, *Saturday Agenda*, [1/31/26]
Coates on Newsmax: “Getting Cuba into a better condition is a great strategic gain.” Coates added that Cuba “is a very proximate threat to us.” Newsmax, *Wake Up America*, [2/2/26]
Fox senior strategic analyst Jack Keane on Cuba: “I think the president's team is moving in the right direction here. Pressure this regime, maximum pressure.” Fox Business, *Mornings with Maria*, [2/3/26]
Newsmax guest Tony Shaffer on Trump’s actions against Cuba: “Just sit back and get some popcorn and watch the expatriates get their boats ready to go from Key West into Havana.” Shaffer added that Trump should “just continue to allow their own economy to fail” from an oil embargo. Newsmax, *Wake Up America Early*, [2/3/26]
Heritage Foundation’s Brent Sadler: “This is not the time to relent on the economic and certainly the military pressure” on Cuba. Sadler added: “So, pressure, much like Iran, the pressure needs to be sustained. The United States has both these terroristic regimes right in the place that we want them, a very weakened one, to get the most out of negotiations, preferably. But this is also a moment in time where the people in both Cuba and Iran can actually seize their own countries back.” Newsmax, *Wake Up America*, [2/3/26]
Fox Business host Stuart Varney to Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) on Cuban regime change: “When you say push it over, how do we push it over?”Gimenez replied: “I think right now what the president's doing is the right thing. He is basically taking away all the economic benefits that it gets from free oil from Venezuela. They also get free oil from Mexico. He's making sure that they're not going to get free oil from Colombia. I want some more harsher measures against Cuba.” He continued: “And that regime is a cancer, a cancer to the Cuban people, a cancer to the western hemisphere. We need some harsh medicine to cure the patient, Cuba, so that we can get rid of this cancer which is the communist regime that has basically oppressed its own people for over 65 years, and has exported its revolution to the western hemisphere. So they've been a real thorn in our side for a long time, and I'm very glad that the president is taking decisive action.” Fox Business, *Varney & Co.*, [_{2/3/26}_]
MMA //
### Trump delivered on right-wing media’s desire for regime change in Venezuela over oil
01/06/26
01/07/26
12/11/25
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