Thousands of believers gathered in the nation’s capital on Sunday for an all-day prayer and worship service honoring America’s Christian heritage ahead of the country&#8217;s 250th anniversary.
The event — <a href="https://freedom250.org/celebration/rededicate-250-a-national-jubilee-of-prayer-praise-and-thanksgiving">Rededicate 250</a>, part of the Trump administration’s Freedom 250 initiative — featured a host of political, Catholic, and evangelical leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Secretary Pete Hegseth, Bishop Robert Barron, and Franklin Graham, who did not hold back in condemning what he described as America’s moral decline.
&#8220;People have become lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God,&#8221; Graham said, painting a dire picture of the country&#8217;s biblical literacy. &#8220;America has become morally rotten, completely sick with sin, transgenderism, same-sex marriage, opening women&#8217;s locker rooms to men are just the tip of the iceberg.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfyAL0e6ei0">In a recorded address,</a> Trump struck a similar tone, reading a passage from 2 Chronicles that calls for repentance and urges people to turn from their wicked ways.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., thousands braved 80-degree heat and waited in hour-long lines that stretched for blocks to call on their fellow Americans to repent and join each other in prayer and worship. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Large crowd waiting in line for Rededication 250 event <a href="https://t.co/eJCZwAM5Ft">pic.twitter.com/eJCZwAM5Ft</a>
— Jacob Wheeler (@JWheelertv) <a href="https://twitter.com/JWheelertv/status/2056072888407507331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
Grammy-winning Christian artist Chris Tomlin performed &#8220;Holy Forever&#8221; to the thousands on their feet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
HOLY FOREVER
&#8220;Your name is the highest 
Your name is the greatest 
Your name stands above them all 
All thrones and dominions 
All powers and positions 
Your name stands above them all&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/christomlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@christomlin</a> <a href="https://t.co/7ie11Vtn9z">pic.twitter.com/7ie11Vtn9z</a>
— Real America&#8217;s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealAmVoice/status/2056139300798877984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
In front of a crowd wearing Bible-themed shirts and waving Jesus-inspired flags, top Trump administration officials and Republican leaders offered historical and personal reflections.
&#8220;On this day, two and a half centuries ago, our forefathers gathered for the second time in as many years for a national day of fasting and prayer,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/StateDept/status/2056011858201764095?s=20">Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Roman Catholic, said.</a> &#8220;They knew that what they were trying to do had never been done before in human history, but with the dark storm clouds of war looming on the horizon, they did what Christians have always done across place and time for 2000 years. They turned their eyes to heaven and placed their faith in the hands of God.&#8221;
&#8220;This is who we are. It is who we have always been. America is still a young nation, measured against the record of history, and from the beginning, we have carried the belief that our country represents something new in the world, but the soul of our nation has always been rooted in an ancient faith,&#8221; Rubio added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
On this day 250 years ago, our forefathers gathered for a national day of fasting and prayer. Today, Americans will come together again as one Nation under God.
This is who we are and who we’ve always been. <a href="https://t.co/0r4QUsy1hY">pic.twitter.com/0r4QUsy1hY</a>
— Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/2056011858201764095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) spoke about Christianity in personal terms.
&#8220;I stand before you as living proof that prayer, the power of prayer, changes lives,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/Freedom250/status/2056090057812111708?s=20">Scott said.</a> &#8220;It&#8217;s prayer that inspires our nation. It&#8217;s prayer that transforms our world. There is no way to grasp the last 250 years of America without looking to the power of prayer.&#8221;
Actor Jonathan Roumie, best known for portraying Jesus Christ in “The Chosen,” urged Americans to recommit to the idea of being “one nation under God.”
&#8220;No matter who you are, or what you&#8217;ve done, or how long it&#8217;s been, or how bad things might all seem when you get stuck in the doom scroll of it all, simply stop and pray,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RSBNetwork/status/2056079289926259196?s=20">Roumie said.</a> &#8220;And if you still feel burdened, maybe it&#8217;s time to go to confession. There is power in repentance.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
FULL SPEECH: Actor Jonathan Roumie Provides Testimony and Reflects on Portraying Jesus &#8211; 05/17/26 <a href="https://t.co/8DFzOZSYZz">pic.twitter.com/8DFzOZSYZz</a>
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/2056079289926259196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
The nod to faith comes amid increasing signs of a religious revival in America, especially among young men.
About 42% of men aged 18 to 29 now say religion is “very important” in their lives, up from just 28% two years prior, according to a<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/708410/young-men-religious-young-women.aspx"> new survey from Gallup</a>. The 14-point jump marks the steepest increase measured across any demographic group in the poll’s recent history and returns young men to levels of religiosity not seen since the early 2000s.
Vice President JD Vance said the trend is defying what the expert class had predicted.
&#8220;Defying predictions, the experts said that religion and faith were dying. Today, a wave of young Americans is returning to the pews, and we know that they&#8217;re looking for meaning, for authority, for direction, and of course, for closeness with God,&#8221; Vance said. &#8220;That should give all of us hope for our future together.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
WATCH: Vice President JD Vance&#8217;s Rededicate 250 message:
“I always ask people to pray for wisdom and for courage for their leadership. Pray for wisdom that we know the path God wants us to walk. Pray for courage that we have the ability to walk that path.” <a href="https://t.co/5hKNESi7hV">pic.twitter.com/5hKNESi7hV</a>
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/2056135528752234892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/05/14/how-americans-feel-about-religions-influence-in-government-and-public-life/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">A Pew Research poll</a> this week showed 37% of U.S. adults believe religion is gaining influence in America, the highest share since 2002.
&#8220;No one saw this coming, and this is something that the world, I think, wasn&#8217;t really prepared for but is in awe of watching,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/foxandfriends/status/2055993621027905540?s=20">The Daily Wire host Isabel Brown</a> said of<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/bible-sales-surged-following-killing-of-charlie-kirk-7da17aec"> rising Bible sales</a> and <a href="https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/">Gen Z leading a resurgence in church attendance.</a> &#8220;I think because of the secularism and the moral relativism we&#8217;re living through every single day in our secular culture. We&#8217;re finding the answers in God.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
REDEDICATE 250 🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/theisabelb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theisabelb</a> joins <a href="https://twitter.com/RCamposDuffy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCamposDuffy</a> at the event to discuss the Gen Z revival in attending church! <a href="https://t.co/rNs4YidI4y">pic.twitter.com/rNs4YidI4y</a>
— FOX &amp; Friends (@foxandfriends) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/2055993621027905540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>

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Thousands Of Christians Fill National Mall For Prayer Service Celebrating America’s Faith Heritage

America 250

Christianity

Faith

News

Trump Administration

Two Navy jets collided midair during an air show in Idaho on Sunday, forcing all four crew members to eject safely and the base to go on lockdown.
A dramatic video showed two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets colliding during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Footage of the mid air collision between a pair of Navy Super Hornets/Growlers during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base moments ago. <a href="https://t.co/yQqPavmSWk">pic.twitter.com/yQqPavmSWk</a>
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/2056086529404260666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
The crash happened at 12:10 p.m. local time in the middle of an aerial demonstration, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/midair-jet-collision-forces-lockdown-idaho-air-force-base-show-rcna345586">according to NBC News.</a> All four crew members ejected by parachute moments before the two jets crashed to the ground and exploded. A photo circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the crash. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
2 E/A-18G Growlers from the VAQ-129 Growler Demo Team are reported to have collided during the Gunfighter Skies Airshow at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho today. Both crews are reported to have ejected safely. <a href="https://t.co/k5SWJ9mz1u">pic.twitter.com/k5SWJ9mz1u</a>
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) <a href="https://twitter.com/thenewarea51/status/2056084549818347533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
The four crew members ejected safely and were &#8220;found safe,&#8221; <a href="https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article315790106.html">according to a local Idaho news outlet. </a>
In a social media post, Mountain Home Air Force Base acknowledged “an aircraft incident” and canceled the remainder of the air show pending an investigation. 
&#8220;Mountain Home Air Force base has canceled the remainder of the air show. At this time, we ask for our guests already on base to remain in the flightline area to allow first responders to move in and out of place to continue securing the area. We are working on a plan to safely allow guests to exit base as soon as possible,&#8221; the statement said. 
Organizers said the popular air show that includes flying demonstrations and parachute jumps is a celebration of aviation history and a look at modern military capabilities.
On Saturday, the base posted photos on Facebook of the air show&#8217;s successful Day 1. 
&#8220;From the first takeoff to the final pass, today was packed with unforgettable moments! And we&#8217;re doing it all again tomorrow&#8230;&#8221;

Blue Angels And Thunderbirds Do Flying Tribute To NYC COVID-19 Frontline Workers

WATCH: Military Jets Collide Midair At Idaho Air Show

Aviation

Idaho

Plane Crash

Louisiana Republicans voted to oust Sen. Bill Cassidy on Saturday, rejecting the incumbent who voted to convict President Donald Trump on impeachment charges.
With more than half the vote counted, Cassidy is trailing his conservative primary rivals, Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) and State Treasurer John Fleming. Trump-backed Letlow, buoyed by the president’s endorsement, currently leads the race with 45% of the vote. With no candidate clearing the 50% threshold, Letlow and Fleming will advance to a June 27 runoff. <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2055829975475859625?s=20">Decision Desk HQ called the race 9:56 p.m. ET.</a>
Cassidy’s fall from grace is another sign of Trump’s enduring grip on the Republican base, as the president continues flexing his political clout to target GOP lawmakers he views as disloyal to his agenda.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-slams-disloyal-disaster-bill-cassidy-as-louisiana-voters-head-to-the-polls?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Slams+%E2%80%98Disloyal+Disaster%E2%80%99+Bill+Cassidy+As+Louisiana+Voters+Head+To+The+Polls">took one last shot</a> at Cassidy as Louisiana headed to the polls on Saturday, urging voters to throw their support behind the incumbent Republican’s primary challenger.
“Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is a disloyal disaster,” the president wrote on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116584450399753941">Truth Social</a>, noting that the two-term senator voted to impeach him after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. “Bill Cassidy is a sleazebag, a terrible guy, who is BAD FOR LOUISIANA. Now he’s going to get CLOBBERED, hopefully, in today’s BIG election, by two great people!!!”
 In January, Trump endorsed Letlow (R-LA) to replace Sen. Cassidy, who was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot. 
In a <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/article_67fa0a74-6ee1-11eb-8bd4-6bda88cda171.html">February 2021 column that has since come back to haunt him politically</a>, Cassidy wrote that Trump was &#8220;guilty” of inciting the riot and “actively subverting the peaceful transfer of power.” 
Ryan Girdusky, a conservative political consultant, called that vote the &#8220;ultimate betrayal.&#8221; 
&#8220;The impeachment vote against Trump is really what did him in; had he not voted to impeach Trump, he wouldn&#8217;t be in this position,&#8221; Girdusky said. &#8220;If they successfully had a trial against him, he would have been ineligible to run for President. So maybe that&#8217;s what Cassidy was rooting for.&#8221;
That reality, Girdusky said, pushed Trump to get involved. 
&#8220;“Highly Respected America First Congresswoman, Julia Letlow, of the wonderful State of Louisiana, is a Great Star, has been from the very beginning, and only gets better!’ <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116578950880982545">Trump said in a Friday Truth Social post</a>. “Election Day is tomorrow, Saturday, May 16th. Vote for Julia Letlow — She has my Complete and Total Endorsement, and will never let you down!”
In her campaign launch, Letlow said that in “a state as conservative as ours, we shouldn’t have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure’s on. Louisiana deserves conservative champions, leaders who will not flinch,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-slugfest-all-but-inevitable-as-trump-backed-lawmaker-enters-louisiana-race">The Daily Wire previously reported.</a> The congresswoman took office in April 2021, following a special election triggered by her husband’s death.
During the campaign, Cassidy and Fleming targeted Letlow over <a href="blank">past comments praising diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts</a>, questioning her conservative credentials.
&#8220;She&#8217;s as moderate as Bill Cassidy is,&#8221; Girdusky told The Daily Wire. &#8220;So it&#8217;s not like they&#8217;re trading a moderate for a conservative. They&#8217;re trading a moderate for a moderate, but one that Trump approved versus one that Trump didn&#8217;t approve.&#8221; 
Cassidy also faced heat for stalling some of Trump&#8217;s high-profile nominees, including Surgeon General pick Dr. Casey Means.  
A physician and chairman of the Senate health committee, Cassidy stopped short of supporting her, effectively sinking her nomination prospects — a move that infuriated MAHA supporters and the president himself.
“Bill Cassidy is a mindless avatar for his donors and a blind defender of the status quo system that is profiting from American sickness,” Calley Means, Casey Means&#8217; brother, <a href="https://x.com/calleymeans/status/2049893588985638974?s=20">said on social media.</a>
The president piled on, calling Cassidy a “very disloyal person” who “stood in the way” of RFK Jr.’s preferred nominee.
Trump, widely viewed as the GOP’s kingmaker, recently exacted revenge on a handful of Indiana Republicans who bucked his redistricting push. With Cassidy&#8217;s defeat, the White House is already shifting its attention to another bruising primary battle: backing Captain Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thomas-massie-is-a-political-survivor-but-this-time-might-be-different?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Thomas+Massie+Is+A+Political+Survivor+%E2%80%94+But+This+Time+Might+Be+Different">Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.</a>
&#8220;It shows that it&#8217;s really about Trump,&#8221; Girdusky said. &#8220;It shows that voters have this innate belief that he has their best interests at heart, and that he is feeling the anger that they&#8217;re feeling of betrayal from the elected officials.&#8221;

Senate Health Committee Hears Testimony From Fired CDC Director Susan Monarez

Voters Decide Fate Of Senator Who Voted To Convict Trump

2026 elections

bill Cassidy

Politics

Republicans

Trump

U.S. Senate

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday allowed mail orders of the abortion drug mifepristone to continue, handing a major defeat for the pro-life movement while litigation over the pill continues.   
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a1207_21p3.pdf">In an emergency order</a>, the court temporarily blocked a federal appeals court ruling that struck down a Biden-era policy that allowed the abortion drug mifepristone to be prescribed online and shipped by mail. 
The unsigned order provided no legal explanation. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. 
&#8220;The Court’s unreasoned order granting stays in this case is remarkable,&#8221; Justice Alito wrote. &#8220;What is at stake is the perpetration of a scheme to undermine our decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which restored the right of each State to decide how to regulate abortions within its borders.&#8221;
Justice Thomas went further, describing the mail distribution system for mifepristone as a &#8220;criminal enterprise.&#8221;
&#8220;Applicants are not entitled to a stay of an adverse court order based on lost profits from their criminal enterprise,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;They cannot, in any legally relevant sense, be irreparably harmed by a court order that makes it more difficult for them to commit crimes.&#8221;
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration expanded nationwide access to chemical abortion. Under rules finalized in 2023, women could obtain mifepristone through telehealth appointments without an in-person doctor visit. 
The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained through medications, usually a combination of mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-supreme-court-louisiana-0533e83d67148fdfec53b1d0d30c1e8a">according to the Associated Press</a>. 
Louisiana challenged the Biden-era policy under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing the FDA relied on flawed or nonexistent data while eliminating safety protocols. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/court-issues-major-ruling-on-biden-abortion-pill-policy">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that the FDA acknowledged it had not adequately studied the safety of remote dispensing and is still conducting a review, with no clear timeline for completion.
The three-judge 5th Circuit panel held that the regulation, which has continued under the Trump administration, was likely unlawful. 
“Every abortion facilitated by FDA’s action cancels Louisiana’s ban,” the federal appeals court wrote, emphasizing that such harm cannot be undone.
Manufacturers of the abortion drug quickly filed emergency appeals asking the Supreme Court to intervene.
Acting alone, Justice Samuel Alito <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/genbiopro-v-louisiana/">entered and then extended an administrative stay</a> of the Fifth Circuit ruling, which is a short-term, procedural order that freezes legal proceedings so the full court has time to weigh the issue.
On Thursday, a majority of the justices appeared to agree with the abortion manufacturers, overturning the block in a significant setback for pro-life advocates as litigation drags on.
&#8220;This decision keeps deadly abortion drugs available by mail and telehealth, where preborn children are killed at home and women can be abandoned, coerced, and left to suffer alone,&#8221; Lila Rose, a prominent pro-life activist, said on social media. &#8220;The FDA must act now.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has tragically and wrongly granted the abortion pill makers’ emergency appeal, allowing the mail order abortion pill regime to continue nationwide.
Justices Thomas and Alito dissented.
This decision keeps deadly abortion drugs available by mail and…
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) <a href="https://twitter.com/LilaGraceRose/status/2055040440508772852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump’s embattled FDA commissioner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breakimg-embattled-fda-chief-marty-makary-resigns-amid-mounting-criticism?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Embattled+FDA+Chief+Marty+Makary+Resigns+Amid+Mounting+Criticism">Marty Makary resigned on Tuesday </a>following intense criticism from pro-life advocates over his handling of mifepristone and the speed of the agency’s review of the abortion drug’s safety.
&nbsp;

Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Abortion Drug Mifepristone

⁨Supreme Court Issues Major Decision On Abortion Pill, Deals Blow To Pro-Life Fight

Abortion

Supreme Court

Eric Church has had a &#8220;record year&#8221; plenty of times, but the Carolina-born country singer can now say he gave one heck of a commencement speech. And yes, his guitar skills were included.
The die-hard Tar Heel fan gave the commencement speech at the University of North Carolina on Saturday, where he used six strings to deliver a sermon you don&#8217;t hear too often on campuses anymore.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Some are calling it the best commencement speech ever" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-_-Pya9plKY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Church compared the six strings of a guitar to what he described as the six pillars of life: Faith, family, your spouse, ambition, community, and you.
Church began with the biggest string on the guitar and the biggest pillar in life to him, which is faith.
&#8220;The people who tend to their faith in ordinary seasons do not come undone in extraordinary ones,&#8221; Church said. &#8220;They still hurt. They still sit in hospital waiting rooms asking unanswerable questions at three in the morning, but they have a foundation to return to.&#8221;
&#8220;The world will try to &#8216;untune&#8217; this string&#8230; through business, through slow accumulation of a full schedule, a full inbox, a full life. Listen to me, tend to your faith not just when you&#8217;re broken, but when you&#8217;re whole.&#8221;
Church went on to stress family, telling the new graduates to &#8220;call your people.&#8221;
&#8220;[Family] is the string that makes you feel like you&#8217;re not alone in a room. I want to warn you about something. You&#8217;re about to get busy in ways that feel important, and many are professionally ambitious&#8230; building the life you&#8217;ve been pointed toward for years. And family, because they love you with a grace you will spend most of your life trying to deserve, will rarely demand your time. They&#8217;ll tell you they understand, and they&#8217;ll mean it. Do not take them up on it.&#8221;
When describing the &#8220;heart string&#8221; of the guitar, Church said it holds the guitar together, like a spouse holds your life together.
&#8220;Find your best friend. Someone you want to talk to at the end of a long day. Look for shared values over shared interest. You don&#8217;t need to love the same food or music &#8230; you need the same compass — though it would be a benefit if you both hated N.C. State.&#8221;
The Grammy winner has been married to his wife since 2008 and encouraged the UNC alums to find the person who amplifies their faith and every aspect of their life.
&#8220;The person you choose to share your life with is the most important decision you will ever make outside of your faith,&#8221; Church told the crowd.
After picking the next guitar string, Church explained how ambition and resilience pull in opposite directions, but he encouraged them to keep pursuing their goals regardless. &#8220;And when you fail, and you will fail &#8230; get back up, tune the strung, and keep on playing.&#8221;
For the fifth string, Church got serious when explaining to the Gen-Z crowd the importance of true community and getting offline. He said this generation of new alumni faces a world of temptation, specifically the temptation to &#8220;perform&#8221; for an online crowd of followers.
Church urged the crowd to &#8220;resist&#8221; and instead &#8220;plant yourself.&#8221;
&#8220;Put down roots with the full intention of growing there. Learn the actual names, not usernames, of the people around you. Volunteer. Coach the team. Build the thing your community needs. Even if the internet will never see it,&#8221; he added.
The final guitar string Church described was the high E string, which he told the crowd represents the graduate. &#8220;Social media is going to show you a thousand versions of a life that looks better than yours.&#8221;
&#8220;Six strings — Six strings of life and willingness to keep them in tune. Six principles. Six pillars. When all six are in tune with each other, the chord your life makes is full and resonant and true,&#8221; Church said. &#8220;All six will drift, not one or two, all six in their own time, in their own season. Your faith will go quiet when you need it loud. Your family will get complicated in a way only the people who love you most can complicate things. You will go through hard seasons with your spouse. Your ambition will hollow out, and your resilience will wear thin. Your community will start to feel like an obligation, and your world will try to sand down the edges of exactly who you are.&#8221;
But when that happens, Church reminded the UNC crowd, &#8220;this is not failure.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s the inevitable universal experience of living in an imperfect world that doesn&#8217;t stop to let us tune up. And the difference between a life that sounds like music and a life that sounds like noise, is whether you stop and listen, whether you&#8217;re honest enough to hear which string has drifted out of tune&#8230; and humble enough to make the adjustment instead of just turning up the volume and hoping nobody notices.&#8221;
Church wrapped up the speech by telling the graduates to tune up their &#8220;six strings&#8221; of life before breaking out into his hit &#8220;Carolina.&#8221;
The reaction on social media from this crafty commencement speech proves why &#8220;The Chief&#8221; has 10 No. 1 songs, but for this hit, he didn&#8217;t even need the radio.
Encore!

Credit: UNC

WATCH: Country Star Gives Rare College Commencement Speech Focused On Faith And Family

country

Entertainment

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Yale University’s medical school illegally discriminates in admissions to favor black and Hispanic students, a Justice Department investigation found.
On Thursday, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division completed a year-long investigation into the Ivy League school’s admissions policies and practices. According to the federal government, Yale admits black and Hispanic applicants at higher rates than white and Asian applicants with similar academic credentials. 
&#8220;Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted with consistently lower academic qualifications than their White and Asian counterparts,&#8221; the DOJ said in a statement. &#8220;These facts support the Department’s <a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1440601/dl">finding</a> that Yale violated the law by intentionally discriminating based on race in its admissions, in clear violation of federal law.&#8221;
The findings suggest Yale may be violating the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf">landmark 2023 Supreme Court ruling</a> striking down race-based affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
&#8220;The students admitted to Yale School of Medicine demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment; its program of medical education encourages curiosity and critical thinking, and its graduates go on to become leaders in clinical care, research, and public service,&#8221; a university spokesperson said in a statement to The Daily Wire. &#8220;We will carefully review the Department of Justice’s letter. Yale School of Medicine is confident in the rigorous admissions process we follow. 
The Department of Justice, however, disagrees.
“Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said. “This Department will continue to shed light on these illegal practices, and demand that institutions of higher education comply with federal law.”
Dhillon later pointed to the DOJ&#8217;s statistical analysis.
&#8220;At Yale Medical School, a black applicant is 29 times more likely to be invited to interview than an Asian with equally strong academics,&#8221; Dhillon added. &#8220;Today,<a href="https://x.com/CivilRights">@CivilRights</a> told Yale that its use of race in admissions is ILLEGAL — and that <a href="https://x.com/TheJusticeDept">@TheJusticeDept</a> will step in to enforce Title VI.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
At Yale Medical School, a black applicant is 29 times more likely to be invited to interview than an Asian with equally strong academics.
Today, <a href="https://twitter.com/CivilRights?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CivilRights</a> told Yale that its use of race in admissions is ILLEGAL—and that <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a> will step in to enforce Title VI.…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) <a href="https://twitter.com/AAGDhillon/status/2054978751524401596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The findings come amid renewed national debate over affirmative action and admission at elite universities.
Former MSNBC host Joy Reid recently claimed that Vice President JD Vance benefited from affirmative action at Yale, suggesting the university pursued geographic diversity by admitting &#8220;an Appalachian white.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Joy Reid: &#8220;JD Vance got into Yale because they were tired of just letting in white men from New York … They wanted an Appalachian white. That&#8217;s how that man got into Yale, I promise you.&#8221;
How is one such miserable person named Joy? <a href="https://t.co/YepzfccNc3">pic.twitter.com/YepzfccNc3</a>
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefiantLs/status/2054758604004319690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
The far-left commentator has publicly credited affirmative action with helping her attend Harvard.
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Yale Encampment Protest

Ivy League Medical School Accused Of Illegal Race-Based Admissions

Affirmative Action

College Admisisons

Yale University

A Mexican national living in the United States illegally was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for distributing and receiving child pornography on Facebook,<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndms/pr/illegal-alien-mexico-sentenced-distribution-child-pornography-facebook-messenger"> the Justice Department announced.  </a>
Adolfo Raul Vasquez-Santana, 32, of Southaven, Mississippi, was sentenced to 121 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for using Facebook Messenger to send and receive child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered him to pay $14,000 in penalties.
Local police began investigating after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Homeland Security Investigations, a division of ICE,  pursued federal charges after determining that Vasquez-Santana was living in the United States illegally.
ICE placed an immigration detainer on Vasquez-Santana, and he is expected to face deportation after completing his prison sentence, according to authorities. 
“HSI is committed to protecting children from predators who use technology to exploit them. When we received information about Vasquez-Santana, our agents acted quickly to investigate, arrest, and bring this individual to justice.  We remain vigilant against child predators and will continue to pursue these offenders wherever they operate,” Matt Wright, acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI New Orleans, said. 
“Our partners at Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) will ensure that once the defendant completes his federal sentence, he is removed from the United States and unable to pose further risk to our communities,” he added. 
The case was prosecuted as part of<a href="https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline"> Operation Take Back America</a>, a nationwide initiative that the Justice Department says &#8220;marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration&#8221; and &#8220;achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations.&#8221; 
Authorities said the case was also pursued under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative established to fight sexual exploitation of children.
“Child pornography is a plague,&#8221; U.S. Attorney Leary said. &#8220;Children are victimized not only through the production of obscene material, but through its continual distribution. Somehow, this debauchery has gained a foothold in our society. We need the public’s help. Please, when you see something troubling, let law enforcement know – we will respond.&#8221;
&nbsp;

ICE Agents

Illegal Immigrant Sentenced For Sending Child Porn On Facebook

Illegal Immigration

Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday called a special session to redraw the state&#8217;s congressional and legislative districts before the 2028 elections.
Kemp signed a proclamation convening the General Assembly on June 17 to address redistricting after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling ended race-based gerrymandering.
The news, first reported by<a href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/05/gov-kemp-calls-lawmakers-back-for-redistricting-special-session/"> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>, comes as Republican-led states across the South move to redraw the maps ahead of the November midterms.
The special session next month in Atlanta is expected to center on new maps that could take effect for the 2028 election cycle, particularly if Republicans lose power in the governor’s office or state legislature this fall.
&#8220;The new maps could net Republicans two U.S. House districts and further entrench GOP power in GA’s General Assembly,&#8221; VoteHub, an independent election reporting outlet,<a href="https://x.com/VoteHub/status/2054652298853560756?s=20"> said on social media. </a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEWS — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has called a special session to redraw Georgia’s congressional, state House, and state Senate districts before the 2028 elections.
The new maps could net Republicans two U.S. House districts and further entrench GOP power in GA’s General Assembly.
— VoteHub (@VoteHub) <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteHub/status/2054652298853560756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
Georgia&#8217;s Freedom Caucus, a state-level bloc of Republicans, celebrated the move, urging state lawmakers not to waste the opportunity.
&#8220;We must not let this opportunity go to waste,&#8221;<a href="https://x.com/FreedomCaucusGA/status/2054628817545658646?s=20"> the group said on social media.</a> &#8220;The time is NOW to scrap the machines and go to paper ballots. The time is NOW to end racial gerrymandering and provide Georgians with fair electoral maps.
Democrats slammed the decision.
&#8220;We just learned that Georgia is moving forward with gerrymandering for 2028,&#8221; Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) <a href="https://x.com/ReverendWarnock/status/2054642864349438084?s=20">posted on X.</a> &#8220;There is an extreme movement in this country that will stop at nothing to hold on to power, even if it means stripping representation away from millions. I will fight this with everything I have.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We just learned that Georgia is moving forward with gerrymandering for 2028.
There is an extreme movement in this country that will stop at nothing to hold on to power, even if it means stripping representation away from millions.
I will fight this with everything I have.
— Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReverendWarnock/status/2054642864349438084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
Georgia&#8217;s Democratic Party said redistricting would undermine minority representation and energize its base.
“Governor Kemp’s decision to call a special session to redraw our maps immediately in the wake of the gutting of the Voting Rights Act is not only a brazen attempt to take away the voting power of Black Georgians – it shows just how scared Republicans are of Georgia voters,&#8221;<a href="https://georgiademocrat.org/dpg-statement-on-kemp-calling-for-a-special-session-to-redraw-georgias-maps-take-away-black-voters-power/"> the group said in a statement. </a>
Georgia&#8217;s approach differs from other Republican-led states that have already moved forward with redistricting tied to more immediate election cycles. Florida and Tennessee have enacted new maps, while Alabama and Louisiana are expected to follow. On Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld new district lines expected to net Republicans a seat.
On Wednesday, several media outlets reported South Carolina GOP Gov. Henry McMaster is planning to call a special session next week to weigh a new map that could eliminate the state&#8217;s remaining Democratic seat after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-republicans-may-be-headed-for-the-indiana-treatment-after-redistricting-pushback?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=More+Republicans+May+Be+Headed+For+The+Indiana+Treatment+After+Redistricting+Pushback">Republicans hit a procedural roadblock on Wednesday. </a>

Governor Brian Kemp Election Night Rally

Georgia Gov Calls Special Session To Redraw Maps, Democrats Cry Gerrymandering

Brian Kemp

Georgia

Redistricting

Agriculture Department employees sued USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday, alleging she subjected workers to “government-sponsored religious coercion” by promoting an Easter message.
<a href="https://www.au.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-NFFE-v-USDA.pdf">The lawsuit, filed by a union representing 19,000 USDA employees,</a> centers on an Easter message Rollins shared, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and other faith-based holiday messages.
On Easter Sunday, Rollins shared a memo with the roughly 100,000 USDA employees, saying, “Happy Easter — He is risen indeed!”
&#8220;From the foot of the Cross on Good Friday to the stone rolled away from the now empty tomb, sin has been destroyed. Jesus has been raised from the dead. And God has granted each of us victory and new life. And where there is life — risen life — there is hope,&#8221; Rollins wrote, <a href="https://www.au.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Happy-Easter.pdf">according to Politico</a>.
That message, according to the lawsuit, violated the First Amendment&#8217;s Establishment Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act.
&#8220;Secretary Rollins’s practice and policy of subjecting agency employees to proselytizing messages conveys the expectation that USDA employees share in the Secretary’s religious beliefs, even when doing so would betray an employee’s own beliefs,&#8221; the lawsuit reads. &#8220;It is exactly the sort of government-sponsored religious coercion, religious sermonizing, and denominational preference that the Establishment Clause prohibits.&#8221;
For nonreligious USDA employees, the Christian message amounted to religious indoctrination.
&#8220;Secretary Rollins’s Easter Sermon draws heavily on biblical references that promote a particular religion — Christianity — which the Secretary’s message evangelizes as fact. The denominational favoritism conveyed in Secretary Rollins’s communications indoctrinates USDA employees and has caused them to feel coerced, unwelcome, excluded, and like outsiders to the agency,&#8221; the lawsuit said. 
The organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the progressive legal advocacy group Democracy Forward also joined the case.
In a striking request, the plaintiffs ask the court to block Rollins and any other USDA official from issuing “such religious communications” and to declare the secretary’s religious messages unlawful.
“While we do not comment on pending litigation, we will keep the plaintiffs in our prayers during this process,” a USDA spokesperson said in a statement to The Daily Wire. 
A vocal Christian, Rollins regularly speaks about her faith and has said she holds a Bible study with other members of the Trump Cabinet.
&#8220;We are very deep into studying service and being servants of God and servant leaders, but also being able to resist the temptation that comes with power — staying humble and serving God in these positions,&#8221; <a href="https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/fighting-for-the-soul-of-america">she said in June 2025</a>.

Vice President JD Vance Speaks At A Manufacturing Facility In Des Moines, Iowa

‘He Is Risen’ Message Sparks Meltdown Against Top Trump Official

brooke rollins

Marco Rubio is stealing a look from Nicolás Maduro.
Aboard Air Force One on his way to China with President Donald Trump, the secretary of state is rocking the Nike sweatsuit that was worn by Maduro after he U.S. forces arrested him and extradited him to New York to face criminal charges, according to a picture posted by White House official Steven Cheung. 
&#8220;Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!&#8221; wrote Cheung.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One! 😂 <a href="https://t.co/yi1b1mR8M0">pic.twitter.com/yi1b1mR8M0</a>
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheung47/status/2054325027659448711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
The White House immediately posted a <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2054338104316547154?s=20">video</a> that shows Rubio and Maduro both in the same clothes.
The short clip starts off with Rubio&#8217;s now-famous quoting of<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZom_gVfuw"> The Notorious B.I.G.&#8217;s &#8220;Juicy&#8221;</a> on January 3, 2026, saying,<a href="https://x.com/StateDept/status/2007530937362321732?s=20"> &#8220;If you don&#8217;t know, now you know,&#8221;</a> referencing the overnight capture of  Maduro.
Then, the video transitions to a cropped photo shared by President Trump on Truth Social showing the blindfolded Venezuelan leader dressed in the gray Nike sweatsuit aboard a U.S. naval warship en route to the United States, his ears covered with noise-canceling headphones. At the very end, the video has straight-faced Rubio donning the same outfit aboard Air Force One.
&#8220;Full circle moment,&#8221;<a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2054338104316547154?s=20"> the White House said on social media. </a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full circle moment <a href="https://t.co/6hkxyGNo8J">pic.twitter.com/6hkxyGNo8J</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2054338104316547154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Maduromaxxing,&#8221; one X user posted.
&#8220;Haters will say it&#8217;s AI,&#8221; a White House official said.
&#8220;Marco Rubio will be next President based on the memes alone,&#8221; said another user.
The gray Nike Tech suit became a viral social media meme following Maduro&#8217;s capture. The specific Nike Tech suit featured in the Maduro photo carries cultural significance, particularly for younger men in the worlds of rap music and sports.
The morning after Maduro&#8217;s capture, Rubio hammered the<a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/nicol-s-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism"> indicted narco-terrorist</a> and used the moment to reinforce the administration&#8217;s messaging. 
&#8220;I hope what people now understand is we have a president, the 47th president of the United States, is not a game player. When he tells you that he&#8217;s going to do something, when he&#8217;s going to tell you he&#8217;s going to address a problem, he means it,&#8221; Rubio said.
&#8220;This is a president of action, like, I don&#8217;t understand yet how they haven&#8217;t figured this out. And now, if you don&#8217;t know, now you know, because this is the way it&#8217;s going to play out,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Marco Rubio LAYS THE HAMMER on Maduro &#8211; and warns the entire world
&#8220;He likes to PLAY GAMES and thinks NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. I hope people understand President Trump is NOT A GAME PLAYER!&#8221;
&#8220;He wanted to play BIG BOY?&#8221;
&#8220;IF YOU DON&#8217;T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW.&#8221; 
🔥🔥🔥🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/MS8lWsaAvL">pic.twitter.com/MS8lWsaAvL</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2007501274095427893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote>

HIJ5e5SW4AAxgbD

Marco Rubio Is Actually Wearing Nicolas Maduro’s Nike Sweatsuit On Air Force One

Marco Rubio

Nicolas Maduro

Senator Eric Schmitt, the Republican from Missouri, says it&#8217;s all out battle with Democrats right now, saying they&#8217;ve turned themselves into &#8220;legislative terrorists&#8221; and that the days when bipartisanship was possible are gone.
&#8220;This is a new world. This is a different era,” Schmitt said in a wide-ranging interview on the political landscape. “This isn&#8217;t Ted Kennedy working with somebody on some bill; they&#8217;re legislative terrorists at this point.”
Schmitt said he expects Democrat leadership to find a way to shut down the government again before the midterm elections in November, arguing that Chuck Schumer &#8220;hears the footsteps&#8221; of fellow New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and needs to prove to his base that he&#8217;s a fighter.
“They&#8217;re going to shut it down,” Schmitt said.
Schmitt said the new landscape is perfectly timed with the Supreme Court’s ruling curbing race-based redistricting has reshaped the midterm election landscape, urging Republicans to go on offense and challenge congressional maps in blue states as Democrats hope to ride voter frustration over affordability to the ballot box.
Schmitt said the high court’s decision “opens up a much larger front” for targeting Democratic-led states like California and Illinois.
The former Missouri Attorney General, has called on the Department of Justice to sue California, arguing the voter-approved maps illegally relied on race to likely gain five blue seats.
“I view it as all upside because the Democrats have been doing this forever,” Schmitt said to reporters, including The Daily Wire, noting that no Republicans represent the New England area in Congress. 
Schmitt argued that the nationwide push to redraw maps in red states, combined with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, reflects a more aggressive Republican Party.
“They understand that their political power is a real risk,” Schmitt said. “Just listen to [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries. I mean, this guy sounds like totally unhinged about how they will approach this.” 
Last Friday, the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a state referendum that would likely have allowed Democrats to pick up five blue seats, delivering a devastating setback to Democratic efforts to take back the House of Representatives.
In response, some Democrats, including Jeffries, have floated lowering the retirement age to replace the entire Virginia Supreme Court with new nominees aligned with their political goals, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/politics/democrats-virginia-plans-gerrymandering.html">according to the New York Times. </a>Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) on Monday <a href="https://x.com/TylerEnglander/status/2053924629530501207?s=20">shot down the idea. </a>
“I don&#8217;t know Hakeem Jeffries, I’m not a member of the House, but just watching him right now, he seems like [a] very desperate man because he thought he was going to be speaker,” Schmitt said. “I don&#8217;t know how everything&#8217;s going to play out, but this structural bias that they had for a long time over the next four to five years could be completely wiped out, and that&#8217;s a good thing.”

Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Missouri

‘It’s A New World’: GOP’s Eric Schmitt Says Democrats Are ‘Legislative Terrorists’

Congress

Democrats

Eric Schmitt

Senate GOP

FBI Director Kash Patel clashed with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on Tuesday over accusations that the federal law enforcement chief has a drinking problem. 
At a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Van Hollen bombarded Patel with questions about his alleged drinking habits and whether he abused government funds for personal travel. 
&#8220;Director Patel, these reports about your conduct, including reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home, are extremely alarming,&#8221; Van Hollen said.
The Democrat appeared to be referencing allegations published by The Atlantic, which Patel called a “malicious and defamatory hit piece.” Patel has also filed a $250 million lawsuit against the publication, as previously<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-now-know-how-much-kash-patel-is-suing-the-atlantic-for?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=52&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=We+Now+Know+How+Much+Kash+Patel+Is+Suing+The+Atlantic+For"> reported by The Daily Wire.</a>
The story portrayed an absent FBI chief struggling with substance abuse, which is said to be affecting key investigations, including the murder of Charlie Kirk.
“So, there have been no occasions when your security detail had difficulty waking or locating you?” Van Hollen asked Patel.
&#8220;Nope, it&#8217;s a total farce. I don&#8217;t even know where you get this stuff, but it doesn&#8217;t make it credible, because you say so,&#8221; Patel fired back. 
 &#8220;I&#8217;m not saying it,&#8221; Van Hollen said, citing news reports. 
&#8220;You are literally saying it,&#8221; Patel responded.
&#8220;The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you&#8230; the only individual in this room that has been drinking on taxpayers&#8217; dime during the day is you,&#8221; Patel said, referencing Van Hollen&#8217;s infamous photo-op with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBIDirectorKash</a> COOKS <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisVanHollen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisVanHollen</a>: &#8220;The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang-banging rapist was you&#8230; the only individual in this room that has been drinking on taxpayer dime during the day is YOU.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/UPtB9jL7pv">pic.twitter.com/UPtB9jL7pv</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2054272390532632955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
Van Hollen rejected Patel&#8217;s &#8220;blow up,&#8221; saying the FBI chief made<a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2054295283186487470?s=20"> &#8220;provably false statements.&#8221;</a>
The heated confrontation escalated further, with both men challenging each other to take sobriety tests.
“Are you willing to take the test … it’s called the audit test that members of our active duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem?” the Democratic senator asked.
“I’ll take any tests you’re willing to take,” Patel fired back.
“I will take it. Director Patel, I’ll take it,” Van Hollen said. “You’re ready to take it?”
&#8220;Let&#8217;s go, side-by-side,&#8221; Patel shot back.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
FBI Director Kash Patel blows up at Senator Van Hollen as Van Hollen asks him about allegations in reporting from The Atlantic:
The only person that was slinging margaritas in El Salvador and the taxpayer dollar with a convicted gang banging rapist was you. <a href="https://t.co/vGxnqzP66M">pic.twitter.com/vGxnqzP66M</a>
— Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/2054271883823173801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>

FBI Director Kash Patel

Kash Patel Lays Into Dem Senator For ‘Slinging Margaritas’ With ‘Gang-Banging Rapist’

Chris Van Hollen

kash patel

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