The consequences of the botched Afghanistan withdrawal during the Biden administration have made their way to the American homeland after the deadly National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C., according to many Republicans, including Senator Jim Banks (R-IN), who was deployed to Afghanistan while serving in the Navy.
Shortly following the suspect’s identification as an Afghan national, Banks immediately called for proper vetting of individuals who came into the country as refugees following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. In a Thursday interview with The Daily Wire on Capitol Hill, Banks elaborated on why he “predicted that this would happen.&#8221;
“If you flood the country with unvetted Afghan nationals, we knew that there would be a large population within that group who were aligned with terrorists, and now this is playing out and proving to be true,” Banks said.
“Go back and vet all of them,” the senator said, further adding that the role of Congress should be to support the president and “fund the effort to do that.&#8221; The &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill Act,&#8221; which passed in July, paved the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hire thousands of agents, along with providing funding for immigration and border security measures.
“And all of them who weren&#8217;t properly vetted — every single one of them — should be vetted. And if they shouldn&#8217;t be in the United States, then they should be sent back to where they came from,&#8221; the Republican said.
“I served in Afghanistan, I served with translators and Afghan troops and others, and I can just tell you, not every single one of them should be allowed to come to the United States,” Banks continued.
“They should be vetted. Just because they did something in Afghanistan during the war that &#8230; aligned with America, doesn&#8217;t mean that they support American values, and no one should &#8230; be allowed to come to America that doesn&#8217;t love America,” he added.
Banks noted that the country&#8217;s immigration woes are arguably what won President Donald Trump a second term in 2024, adding that “he has a mandate to do what he’s doing.”
Millions of people were let into the U.S. through asylum and parole programs, as well as by illegally crossing the southern border, during the Biden administration. Roughly 14 million immigrants &#8220;unauthorized&#8221; to be in the U.S. were in the country as of 2023, according to the <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/08/21/u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population-reached-a-record-14-million-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pew Research Center</a>. As for Afghans who entered after the withdrawal, they came in through Operation Allies Welcome and other programs.
The suspect in the deadly National Guard shooting last month in Washington, D.C., Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly worked alongside the CIA as a member of &#8220;Zero Unit&#8221; in Afghanistan. Rahmanullah has also dealt with mental health issues since coming to the United States.
The deadly shooting killed Sarah Beckstrom and seriously injured another National Guard member, Andrew Wolfe, who remains in serious condition, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/us/national-guard-andrew-wolfe">reported</a>.
Following the National Guard tragedy, Trump ordered the immigration processes for individuals from 19 “high-risk” nations halted to allow for “a thorough re-review process,” according to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy memorandum from Dec. 2.
&#8220;In light of identified concerns and the threat to the American people, USCIS has determined that a comprehensive re-review, potential interview, and re-interview of all aliens from high-risk countries of concern who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021 is necessary,&#8221; the memo stated. &#8220;Lastly, USCIS may, when appropriate, extend this review and re-interview process to aliens who entered the United States outside of this timeframe.&#8221;
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“We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country,” Trump said in the immediate aftermath of the Nov. 26 shooting.
As for the suspect in the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told NBC News&#8217; &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; &#8220;We believe he was radicalized since he has been here in this country. We do believe that it was through connections in his home community and state.&#8221;
The Indiana senator pointed out that even though the withdrawal from Afghanistan was in 2021, “there hasn’t been a successful effort for accountability in its aftermath.”
During the exit of American troops, 13 American soldiers died in an ISIS-K attack, and the Taliban regained control of the country.

Screen Shot 2022-05-18 at 7.32.58 PM

Veteran Serving In Congress Demands Vetting Of Afghan Nationals After Deadly National Guard Shooting

Afghan War Vet In Senate Stresses Importance Of Vetting After National Guard Shooting

Afghanistan

Immigration

Jim Banks

National Guard

Senate

Washington DC

Testifying before Congress on Thursday, Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley flatly denied that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a &#8220;kill all&#8221; order for strikes on a vessel carrying alleged drug-smuggling Venezuelan narco-terrorists in the Caribbean in early September, pushing back against accusations of war crimes.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said that the strikes on September 2 were “entirely lawful and needful and they were exactly what we would expect our military commanders to do.” Cotton added that during a classified briefing with Bradley, he witnessed “two survivors trying to flip a boat” after the first strike and “board it with drugs.”
&#8220;Admiral Bradley was very clear that he was given no such order to give no quarter or kill them all,” Cotton added.
The Washington Post published an anonymously-sourced story on Saturday claiming that things had gone very differently, however.
According to the initial story, a direct order to “kill them all” was attributed to Secretary Hegseth — and the scenario described suggested that two survivors had been clinging to wreckage when a second strike was ordered to ensure that they weren’t left alive.
Democrats and legacy media outlets were only too happy to run with that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/spin-cycle-wapo-hit-piece-targets-pete-hegseth-and-legacy-outlets-fall-in-line" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrative</a>, and they spent much of the week declaring Hegseth — along with anyone who had been involved in carrying out his order — was likely guilty of war crimes and continued with those questions after viewing video of the second strike on Thursday.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) said the second strike on the boat was “one of the most troubling things I&#8217;ve seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion with a destroyed vessel, who were killed by the United States.”
&#8220;Now there&#8217;s a whole set of contextual items that the admiral explained. Yes, they were carrying drugs. They were not in the position to continue their mission in any way,” he continued.
&#8220;Based on what I&#8217;ve seen, I am deeply concerned about the legality of the strike,&#8221; Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) told PBS News on Thursday. “I’m deeply concerned about the legality of the entire operation, and it needs a further investigation for a possible war crime.&#8221;
Following the briefings on Thursday, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell demanded that the Washington Post retract their piece.
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“The Washington Post must retract their story which led to this latest hoax against Secretary Hegseth,” he posted. “It’s an insult to the American People &amp; to everyone who wears the uniform of our country.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) called the outrage from Democrats “manufactured and disingenuous” after <a href="https://x.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1996745632287977536">mocking</a> the war crime accusations on social media.
Virginia Kruta contributed to this report.

Adm. Frank Bradley Visits Capitol Hill To Brief Lawmakers On Venezuelan Boat Strike

Admiral Denies ‘Kill All’ Order As Left Spins ‘War Crime’ Narrative

Congress

drug boat

narcoterrorists

Pete Hegseth

Politics

California has opened its tip line to report federal officers, as Democratic leaders in the state attempt to push back on immigration enforcement measures by the Trump administration.
“My office created a portal that will allow Californians to report misconduct by federal agents,” Attorney General Rob Bonta posted to X on Wednesday, asking people to send in a tip if they “believe a federal agent is abusing their power or acting unlawfully.”
“Federal agents have broad authority to enforce federal laws, but they must do so lawfully,” he added.
The webpage specifically names Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the National Guard as examples of entities that could be reported to the state. However, it disclaims that it cannot guarantee it will “take any action” on a report.
The move was quickly blasted by Republicans, as there is a limited scope of what a state government can do regarding federal authorities.
“How about if you think state agents or officials have abused their power or committed unlawful acts?” Assemblyman James Gallagher said. “Asking for a friend.” Bonta is facing scrutiny for using roughly $500,000 in campaign dollars for legal assistance as part of a federal bribery case probe, <a href="https://www.kcra.com/article/attorney-general-rob-bonta-campaign-funds-legal-help/69477723" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KCRA</a> reported.
“We have a portal too. People can report California state officials engaged in illegal activity at the following link,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli posted with a link to the FBI’s tip line. 
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The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-sues-to-block-california-laws-that-recklessly-endanger-lives-of-federal-agents">reported</a> last month that the Trump administration was suing the state over new laws seeking to stop federal agents from wearing masks and other measures that the administration says are meant to protect the safety and identity of agents who may be targeted while off the job.
“The No Secret Police Act and No Vigilantes Act directly regulate the Federal Government by dictating permissible uniforms for federal agents and forcing federal agencies to adopt specified policies,” the lawsuit stated. “But the Federal Government, not California, has authority to control its own agents and activities.”
At the time, Bonta raised concerns about Trump’s approach to immigration. The Golden State has been at the center of attention for the administration’s efforts, especially after anti-ICE riots broke out in Los Angeles earlier this summer, along with a tense raid at a pot farm leading to hundreds of arrests.
“It’s problematic when Californians can’t tell the difference between a law enforcement officer who is charged with protecting them and a criminal who is attempting to cause them harm,” Bonta’s office stated. “The FBI itself has warned that the practice of ICE agents obscuring their identity has led to a rise in copycats committing crimes, threatening public safety and eroding trust in law enforcement.”

ICE Raid At Southern California Farm Sparks Protests

California Opens Tip Line To Report Federal Immigration Agents, Quickly Blasted By GOP

Border Patrol

California

Democrats

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Republicans

Trump Administration

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries agreed with President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon Rep. Henry Cuellar on bribery, money laundering, and “foreign influence” charges from the Biden-era Justice Department in 2024.
“Listen, the reality is this indictment was very thin to begin with, in my view. The charges were eventually going to be dismissed, if not at the trial court level by the Supreme Court, as they&#8217;ve repeatedly done in instances just like this,” the Democrat leader said on CNN’s “The Situation Room” on Wednesday, adding that Cuellar is a “beloved” member of the chamber.
He further added, “I don&#8217;t know why the President decided to do this. I think the outcome was exactly the right outcome.”
When CNN asked Jeffries if Cuellar had planned to switch parties, as he represents a south Texas district that the president won last year, he anticipates that the lawmaker will remain a Democrat.
“I think Congressman Cuellar is a highly-valued Member of the House Democratic Caucus, and I expect that he&#8217;ll continue to remain a highly-valued Member of the House Democratic Caucus,” he added.
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The Texas Democrat filed to run in the Democratic primary earlier on Wednesday. Punchbowl News reported that Cuellar said “nothing has changed” when asked on Capitol Hill after the pardon whether he planned to become a Republican.
The 2024 indictment alleged that Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, “accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City.”
Trump has been a critic of the indictment since it was announced in May 2024, saying it was politically motivated due to the congressman’s opposition to the Biden administration&#8217;s lax border policies. The Biden administration caught flak from Republicans and a handful of Democrats for the border crisis that persisted throughout the term, which led to major humanitarian issues in communities throughout the southwest that were ill-equipped to handle the resulting massive influx of individuals crossing illegally.
“I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts. I thank God for standing with my family and I during this difficult time. This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas,” the Democrat said in an X post on Wednesday. “This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on.”
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that Cuellar had ultimately been targeted for “speaking the TRUTH.”
“Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!” the president added.
Cuellar is expected to have a competitive race in 2026, with the Cook Political Report rating his district as a “toss-up.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Holds News Conference

Hakeem Jeffries Sides With Trump Over Pardon For Texas Democrat

Hakeem Jeffries

Henry Cuellar

House of Representatives

pardons

Texas

Squad member Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) will not primary challenge Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) in the 2026 election. She is instead opting to run for re-election to her current seat.
“Hearing from so many people from throughout our Commonwealth encouraging me to run for the United States Senate was deeply humbling and a testament to the strength of our movement,” Pressley <a href="https://x.com/AyannaPressley/status/1995949427249610967">posted to X</a> in a statement on Tuesday.
“It would be an honor to serve the whole Commonwealth-but with our daughter in her last year at home before college and a district that has been in the crosshairs of this White House, I am certain that the Massachusetts 7th is where I belong in this moment,” she continued.
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The only major primary challenger to Markey next year for the seat is now Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA).
The move comes as the Democratic Party is at a political crossroads in terms of both the age and ideology of candidates it runs. The congresswoman is 51 years old, and Markey is 79. Moulton is even younger at 47, and he’s been an advocate for having different Democratic leadership in the Senate besides Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
&#8220;Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If [Schumer] were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now [Markey] will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?&#8221; Moulton posted to X on November 9 when a handful of Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to take steps toward reopening the federal government.
As for Pressley, she is one of the original four members of the far-left “Squad,” which started with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Pressley, who all took office in 2019.
The debate has manifested most notably when President Joe Biden was swapped out for Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 presidential nominee. However, it is also showing up in other places, including the Maine Senate primary between 41-year-old veteran Graham Platner and 77-year-old Gov. Janet Mills.
“Congresswoman Pressley is a powerful fighter for working families and a national leader for her work in Congress,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) posted in response to Pressley’s announcement.
“No one fights harder than [Ayanna Pressley], and she will continue to be a strong, effective voice for Massachusetts,” she added. If Warren opts for re-election, it would not be until 2030, which is the year she turns 81.
Markey’s seat is rated as “Solid Democrat” by the Cook Political Report.

Ayanna Pressley

Squad Member Will Not Challenge Fellow Dem Senator As Party Frets Over Trump

Ayanna Pressley Will Not Primary Sen. Ed Markey As Democrats Navigate Trump-Era Direction

2026 election

Democrat

Ed Markey

Massachusetts

seth moulton

President Donald Trump pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) on Wednesday morning for federal money laundering, bribery, and illegal “foreign influence” charges.
“One of the clearest examples of this was when Crooked Joe used the FBI and DOJ to &#8216;take out&#8217; a member of his own Party after Highly Respected Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out against Open Borders, and the Biden Border ‘Catastrophe,’” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115656343773820545">wrote</a> on Truth Social.
“Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH. It is unAmerican and, as I previously stated, the Radical Left Democrats are a complete and total threat to Democracy!” he continued.
Trump criticized the indictment back in 2024, saying it was because of Cuellar’s criticism of Biden’s border policies.
In 2024, the Biden-era Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/us-congressman-henry-cuellar-and-his-wife-charged-bribery-unlawful-foreign-influence-and">charged</a> Cuellar and his wife with having “accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City” from 2014 to 2021.
&#8220;I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts. I thank God for standing with my family and I during this difficult time. This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas,&#8221; Cuellar posted to X after the news broke.
&#8220;This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on. Thank you Mr. President, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America,&#8221; he added.
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His daughters sent a clemency request letter to President Trump on November 12, saying that the actions of Cuellar and his wife “were lawful and consistent” with his role in Congress, adding that the Democrat received a “written legal opinion” and opinions from the House Ethics Committee stating that his actions were lawful.
“Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!” the president further stated.
Last May, the Democrat said in a statement that “I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations.&#8221;
Cuellar is running for re-election in 2026 in a competitive South Texas district rated a &#8220;toss-up&#8221; by the Cook Political Report.
Trump has pardoned and commuted the sentences of other noteworthy politicians since returning to the White House. He pardoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) in February and commuted the sentence of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) in October.
<div dir="auto" lang="en" data-testid="tweetText">
&#8220;George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!&#8221; Trump wrote of Santos.
Earlier this week, the president said that pardons signed during the Biden administration with an autopen are no longer valid.
&#8220;Any and all Documents, Proclamations, Executive Orders, Memorandums, or Contracts, signed by Order of the now infamous and unauthorized &#8216;AUTOPEN,&#8217; within the Administration of Joseph R. Biden Jr., are hereby null, void, and of no further force or effect,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Anyone receiving &#8216;Pardons,&#8217; &#8216;Commutations,&#8217; or any other Legal Document so signed, please be advised that said Document has been fully and completely terminated, and is of no Legal effect.&#8221;
</div>

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas

Trump Turns Heads With Pardon Of A Democrat: ‘Your  Nightmare Is Finally Over!’

Trump Makes Shocking Pardon Of Dem Congressman Critical Of Biden's Border Policy

President Donald Trump is preparing to deploy the National Guard to New Orleans as part of a crime crackdown effort in major cities nationwide.
The president said during a cabinet meeting on Monday that “in a couple of weeks,” the federal surge will make its way to the Louisiana city, like Memphis and Washington, D.C., before it.
“We&#8217;re going to New Orleans pretty soon. The governor called me; he&#8217;d like to have us go there,” Trump said. “Governor Landry &#8212; great guy, great governor. He&#8217;s asked for help in New Orleans and we&#8217;re going to go there in a couple of weeks.&#8221;
Trump referred to changes made in the capital city as a “miracle” as many crimes dropped in the aftermath of the federal law enforcement takeover that took place during the summer.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer,” Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said in August after initially being a strong critic of the takeover.
A recent WalletHub study ranked New Orleans dead last in safety out of the 182 cities it surveyed. Memphis stood at #181, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, came in at #180. In September, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry made a “request for federal assistance” to allow for 1,000 Louisiana National Guard members to tackle crime in the state.
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“Since taking office, we have made real progress in driving down crime across Louisiana — but the job is far from finished. Federal partnerships in our toughest cities have worked, and now, with the support of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, we are taking the next step by bringing in the National Guard,” Landry said in a statement at the time.
“This mission is about saving lives and protecting families. To the criminals terrorizing our communities: your time is up. Law and order are back in Louisiana,” the governor continued.
The Daily Wire reported last month that Border Patrol will be conducting operations in the city, nicknamed “Swamp Sweep,” with approximately 250 agents.
“My first priority is to keep our community safe. The reports of due process violations and potential abuses in other cities are concerning. I want our community to be aware and informed of the protections available under law,” Democratic Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said in a statement regarding the immigration enforcement, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/border-patrol-heads-to-another-blue-city-in-latest-round-of-illegal-immigration-sweeps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported at the time. Moreno launched a &#8220;community resources&#8221; <a href="https://helenamorenola.com/communityresources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webpage</a> detailing the ways in which people should navigate federal immigration enforcement, saying that local police &#8220;will not ask about your immigration status.&#8221;
“We must demand accountability and that people’s rights are not violated. I’m also calling on our legal community to step up and provide whatever assistance they can to help protect and preserve individual rights,” Moreno continued.
A spokesperson for the city of New Orleans government said that the city and &#8220;New Orleans Police Department have a track record of working collaboratively with Federal and State law enforcement partners and the National Guard and that will continue to be the position of the City of New Orleans.&#8221;
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New Orleans terror attack

Trump Reveals Next Deep Blue City He’ll Send National Guard To In Cabinet Meeting

Crime

Law Enforcement

New Orleans

U.S.

Janeese Lewis George, a far-Left councilwoman for Washington D.C.’s Ward 4, announced her bid for mayor on Monday after current Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser said she would not seek re-election. George has previously been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has called for divesting funds from the local police department.
George said in her announcement video that “it’s time we had leaders who fight for the people, who stand up to corruption and greed and stand with the people who make D.C. work.”
During her 2024 bid for city council, she was endorsed by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
“She understands the realities that families, workers, and tenants face and governs every day with empathy to those realities,” a February 2024 <a href="https://mdcdsa.org/metro-d-c-dsa-endorses-janeese-lewis-george-for-d-c-council/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> from the group stated.
“She has advocated to expand rent control in the city, led on a Green New Deal for Social Housing, and has introduced legislation to hold slumlords accountable for terrible living conditions,” the release continued.
In 2020, she told <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/protesters-defund-police-george-floyds-death/story?id=71123610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> that she backed defunding the Metropolitan Police Department.
&#8220;It&#8217;s no longer sounding like a radical idea. It&#8217;s sounding like a logical idea for many,&#8221; she told the outlet at the time.
George has also faced criticism for a social media post in October 2019 when she wrote, “I will absolutely divest from MPD and put that money into violence interruption programs. Full stop.” According to <a href="https://dcist.com/story/20/05/28/is-this-primary-a-fight-for-the-soul-of-the-d-c-council/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DCist</a> in 2020, she touted her background as a prosecutor to defend against the pushback to her comments.
Bowser and the Trump administration have maintained a cordial yet critical relationship since the president ordered troops and federal officers to the city over the summer. The next mayor will have the unique role of navigating the city’s relationship with the administration, which will likely include U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, who has been leading the federal government&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in the city.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer,” Bowser said in August.

Trump Increases Federal Law Enforcement Presence, Deploys National Guard In Nation’s Capital

Far-Left Radical Jumps Into D.C. Mayoral Race As Bowser Bows Out

Democratic Socialists Of America

Elections

Tennessee Democratic congressional candidate Aftyn Behn deflected when asked whether she supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an interview with CNN on Sunday.
“I&#8217;ve got 48 hours to flip this congressional district, and have been dogged about the message of affordability, and that&#8217;s not what I&#8217;m hearing in the district,” Behn, a state representative, said before switching topic to rural healthcare.
Behn is running in Tuesday’s special election in the state’s Seventh Congressional District against Republican Matt Van Epps. Rep. Mark Green’s (R) resignation in July created the vacancy that this special election will fill. President Donald Trump and Green both won the district with roughly 60% of the vote in 2024.
CNN’s Manu Raju outright asked her whether ICE should be abolished, noting that it’s a stance Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has, who is expected to campaign with Behn in a tele-rally on Monday, according to the outlet.
Behn was also asked whether ICE should cease its operations in Nashville, parts of which she represents in the state legislature. The Democrat said she’s been hearing from people in her district, particularly the Hispanic community, that they are concerned about “the overreach of our federal government.”
In a May video, the Democrat said, “We’ve got our girl squad, and we’re bullying the ICE vehicles and State Troopers,” which has since been used in advertisements against Behn.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-democrat-aftyn-behn-repeatedly-advocated-for-prison-abolition?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Tennessee+Democrat+Aftyn+Behn+Also+Wants+To+Abolish+Prisons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported that she’s made previous comments that were highly critical of law enforcement and also called for abolishing prisons multiple times.
“On this Juneteenth, we need less white folks posting Canva graphics and more adopting prison abolition as a political foundation,” Behn said in a deleted post from last year.
“No, I do not agree with these ‘tough-on-crime’ policies,” she told <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2024/08/01/candidate-profiles-tennessee-senate-and-house-primary/74623149007/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z114837d00----v114837b0054xxd005465&amp;gca-ft=181&amp;gca-ds=sophi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Tennessean</a> in August 2024. “As a legislator who believes in prison abolition, I am committed to addressing the root causes of crime rather than implementing punitive measures that often perpetuate a cycle of harm.&#8221;
In 2020, Behn posted on social media, &#8220;Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified,&#8221; which has led to scrutiny throughout the campaign.
“I’m not gonna engage in cable news talking points,” Behn told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-democrat-aftyn-behn-wont-take-back-support-for-burning-down-police-stations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MS Now</a> when asked if she still agreed with her comments made at the time.
Behn has had Vice President Kamala Harris and other major Democrats campaign for her. Van Epps held a rally with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Monday, and Trump called in to make his case for the Republican.
“Number one, she hates Christianity,” Trump said on the call to the audience. “Number two, she hates Country Music. How the HELL can you elect a person like that?!”
&nbsp;

Aftyn Behn

Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Won’t Say Whether She Supports Abolishing ICE

house

Tennessee

The 2026 midterms are about as high-stakes as elections can be.
Thirty-five Senate seats are up for grabs next November, as are all 435 House seats. Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both houses of Congress — one that could get even slimmer with the<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-is-resigning-heres-what-happens-now?author=Amber+Jo+Cooper&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Marjorie+Taylor+Greene+Is+Resigning.+Here%E2%80%99s+What+Happens+Now." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> coming resignation</a> of Marjorie Taylor Greene. The results of the elections could shape the final two years of President Donald Trump&#8217;s time in the White House. The midterms will also loom over the 2028 presidential election, particularly for Democrats, who do not have an obvious candidate waiting in the wings.
We&#8217;re still a ways out, but many of the most crucial races are already heating up. Here are five races to keep an eye on.
<h3>Texas</h3>
The cycle&#8217;s most heated election began months ago when Trump ally and Texas Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ken-paxton-to-probe-womens-weightlifting-competition-after-trans-identified-athlete-wins-gold?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Ken+Paxton+To+Probe+Women%E2%80%99s+Weightlifting+Competition+After+Trans-Identified+Athlete+Wins+Gold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Paxton</a> announced a challenge to longtime Sen. John Cornyn.
Paxton has argued that Cornyn is too establishment to continue representing the state, saying that “Cornyn’s Swamp friends are spending tens of millions of dollars to attack me.&#8221; Cornyn in turn has called Paxton a “conman and a fraud,&#8221; the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-paxton-cornyn-bc9dcc271c97ad1d724383397e5807c6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a> reported earlier this year.
The winner of that primary will face off against either Colin Allred, a former congressman, or State Rep. James Talarico, who made national headlines in 2021 when he and a group of Democrat colleagues <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-who-fled-texas-to-subvert-democracy-mocked-for-playing-victim-card-you-guys-are-pathetic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fled Texas</a> to prevent the state legislature from voting on bills they opposed. More recently, Talarico — who has pitched himself as a Christian Democrat — came under fire after it was revealed that he followed a number of <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/15/us-news/james-talarico-caught-following-more-onlyfans-models-and-prostitutes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OnlyFans models</a> on Instagram.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, whose radical outbursts are almost too numerous to mention, is also weighing entering the race — which has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/crazy-radical-democrats-republicans-welcome-jasmine-crocketts-potential-senate-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans thrilled.</a>
<h3>Maine</h3>
Like John Cornyn, Susan Collins has caught plenty of flak from her fellow Republicans in recent years. But the moderate senator&#8217;s main concern as she runs for a fifth term comes from Democrats, not a primary challenger.
Maine Governor Janet Mills lost an early lead to populist upstart Graham Platner — though the oyster farmer blew an early lead with a series of scandals, including resurfaced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-called-himself-a-communist-made-racist-comments-in-reddit-posts?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dem+Senate+Hopeful+Called+Himself+A+Communist%2C+Made+Racist+Comments+In+Reddit+Posts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit posts</a> in which he slammed cops and called himself a “communist,” and the revelation that he had a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-has-known-about-his-tattoos-nazi-connotations-since-2012?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Has+Known+About+His+Tattoo%E2%80%99s+Nazi+Connotations+Since+2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Nazi symbol</a> tattooed on his chest.
Platner has been<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platners-treasurer-switch-marks-yet-another-exit-from-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> bleeding staff</a> in the wake of these revelations, including his campaign manager, political director, and national finance manager.
Despite all this, Platner still seems to be the Democrat to beat — though a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-voters-embrace-susan-collins-the-more-they-learn-about-graham-platner-poll?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Maine+Voters+Embrace+Susan+Collins+The+More+They+Learn+About+Graham+Platner%3A+Poll" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> recent poll</a> found that voters favor Collins the more they learn about Platner.
<h3>Michigan</h3>
In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed are seeing who can run furthest to the Left.
McMorrow recently held a fundraiser with a leftist blogger who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-democrat-teams-up-with-leftist-blogger-who-mocked-charlie-kirk-after-assassination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mocked</a> Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination. Stevens, who endorsed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), once <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-democratic-lawmaker-screams-at-constituents-over-nra-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">screamed at her constituents</a> for supporting the Second Amendment. And El-Sayed, who&#8217;s backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), blamed Israel for &#8220;invading&#8221; Gaza in October 2023, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-candidate-accuses-israel-of-invading-gaza-in-oct-7-fundraising-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failing to mention</a> that the &#8220;invasion&#8221; in question was a military response to Hamas&#8217;s October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians.
Whichever Democrat emerges victorious from the fray will face off against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-michigan-gop-congressman-launches-2nd-senate-bid-after-coming-up-short-in-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Rogers</a>, a Trump-endorsed former congressman who lost his 2024 Senate race by a tiny margin.
<h3>Ohio</h3>
Rogers isn&#8217;t the only lawmaker staging a political comeback in 2026. In Ohio,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-dem-sherrod-brown-plots-senate-comeback?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Ohio+Dem+Sherrod+Brown+Plots+Senate+Comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sherrod Brown</a> — a longtime leftist fixture in the Upper Chamber who fell last year to Republican Bernie Moreno — is running against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was tapped to fill Vice President JD Vance&#8217;s seat.
Brown was dogged with allegations of hypocrisy throughout his time in the Senate, something The Daily Wire<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-dem-sherrod-brown-plots-senate-comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> frequently covered</a>. The leftist was slammed for taking <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-democrat-senator-took-thousands-of-dollars-in-donations-from-pharma-companies-at-center-of-opioid-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donations</a> from drug companies at the center of the opioid crisis and<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/east-palestine-is-still-suffering-but-ohios-democrat-senator-took-time-for-a-hollywood-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> attending</a> a ritzy Hollywood fundraiser while constituents worried about the water quality at their home after the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine.
<h3>California</h3>
Of all the House seats up for grabs in 2026 — and, remember, that&#8217;s all of them — the most closely-watched is California, where Democrats are fighting to fill former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s soon-to-be-vacated seat.
Pelosi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/potential-pelosi-successor-pushed-a-bill-so-woke-even-the-new-york-times-has-doubts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> wants San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to succeed her. But the candidate to beat is California State Senator Scott Wiener, a man so radical that even the New York Times <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/potential-pelosi-successor-pushed-a-bill-so-woke-even-the-new-york-times-has-doubts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has its doubts</a> about him.
From radical trans activism to legalizing prostitution and pedophilia, there&#8217;s almost nothing Wiener doesn&#8217;t want the state to permit — unless of course parents don&#8217;t want their minor children to undergo radical gender procedures, in which case he thinks the state should be able to take custody of those children.
Wiener&#8217;s record is almost too insane to believe, but The Daily Wire recently published the definitive account of this wannabe congressman. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-scott-wiener-nancy-pelosis-likely-replacement-probably-thinks-youre-a-bigot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Give it a read here.</a>
<h3>Georgia</h3>
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff will be defending his seat against a Republican challenger yet to be determined. The current frontrunners are Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley.
The race is expected to be extraordinarily expensive, as Ossoff already has $21 million in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S8GA00180/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> data</a>. Although it&#8217;s unclear who the nominee on the Republican side will be, millions are already pouring in for the individual candidates at this stage,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-expensive-race-to-unseat-a-vulnerable-democratic-senator" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The Daily Wire</a> reported in October.
Ossoff most recently made waves for his vote against reopening the government, a vote that Republicans will likely lord over him throughout the cycle.
<h3>But Wait, There&#8217;s More&#8230;</h3>
North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is set to square off against Republican Michael Whatley. Former Senators John Sununu and Scott Brown are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-gop-senator-enters-highly-competitive-race-in-hopes-to-flip-new-hampshire-red" target="_blank" rel="noopener">duking it out</a> in a New Hampshire primary. Redistricting battles are sure to make house races <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-redistricting-battle-keeps-getting-messier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spicy</a> in Texas, Indiana, North Carolina, and more. And just for fun, the weirdest scion of the Kennedy family is running alongside about a dozen other Democrats to represent a district in the heart of Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s Manhattan.
It&#8217;s going to be a heck of a cycle. Stick with The Daily Wire, we&#8217;ll be covering it all!

Untitled design (75)

These Are The Most Important Races To Watch In The 2026 Midterms

Jon Ossoff

Susan Collins

President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Wednesday following the &#8220;ambush&#8221; by an Afghan national of two West Virginia National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., placing the blame on the Biden administration.
Trump said that Americans are “filled with righteous anger and ferocious resolve” in the wake of the attack, which he said was “an act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror.”
“It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity,” he said.
The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the United States from Afghanistan in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome following the messy withdrawal during the Biden administration of American troops from Afghanistan.
&#8220;We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country,” he said.
“This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation,” the president said regarding illegal immigration, blaming Biden for the hefty influx of immigrants into the country during his administration through both legal and illegal avenues.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect was not properly vetted before entering the United States following 2021 troop withdrawal.
&#8220;The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration. I will not utter this depraved individual’s name. He should be starved of the glory he so desperately wants,&#8221; she said.
The president said he would then direct the Department of War to send 500 more troops to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal law enforcement surge that began earlier this summer to crack down on crime in the capital city.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
WATCH IN FULL: President Donald J. Trump addresses the nation following the horrific terror attack on National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. <a href="https://t.co/5g6xpAYqVw">pic.twitter.com/5g6xpAYqVw</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1993873244508525029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump said that he will make sure the suspect “pays the steepest possible price.”
Earlier on Wednesday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said, “We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information.&#8221; In a prior post, the governor said that the victims died.
National Guardsmen were seen praying outside the hospital where the victims were being treated.
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President Trump Pardons Thanksgiving Turkeys

Trump Addresses Nation After National Guard Attack, Points Finger At Joe Biden

homeland security

The gunman accused of shooting two National Guardmen just blocks away from the White House on Wednesday is an Afghan national who entered the country during the Biden administration, a law enforcement source confirmed to The Daily Wire.
The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was let into the country during the Biden administration in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, which was the Afghan refugee program following the botched American troop withdrawal from the country, the law enforcement source told The Daily Wire. He has since overstayed his visa and was illegally in the country, sources have told Fox news.
After publication of this article, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed that the suspect entered the United States through the refugee program.
&#8220;The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration,&#8221; Noem said.
In a Wednesday night address, President Donald Trump said the United States must &#8220;reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.&#8221;
“This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation,” the president said.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-national-guard-troops-shot-near-white-house-suspect-down?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Two+National+Guard+Troops+Shot+Near+White+House%2C+Afghan+National+In+Custody">Two National Guard Troops Shot Near White House, Afghan National In Custody</a>
The suspect relocated to Bellingham, Washington, after entering the United States from the war-torn nation.
The 29-year-old shot two West Virginia National Guard troops in the head near the White House on Wednesday afternoon with a handgun. The attack is being described as a targeted &#8220;ambush&#8221; of the troops. The FBI says the incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, asking people to contact them if they have tips related to the case.
West Virginia&#8217;s governor Patrick Morrisey says the condition of the victims is unknown.
“We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” Morrisey said following the shooting, walking back an earlier post saying the victims had both been killed.
“Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community,” he continued.
Trump, who ordered the National Guard to deploy to Washington, D.C. to quell crime over the summer, condemned the shooting within hours of reports.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” Trump wrote on social media.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser posted to X that the shooting “was horrific and unconscionable” and said the act was “targeted.”
Deportation efforts of those in the country illegally have been underway since Trump took office in January in the Biden-era border crisis aftermath, with the Department of Homeland Security largely highlighting arrests of those who have committed other crimes.
The Department of Homeland Security&#8217;s inspector general <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ig-report-blasts-bidens-homeland-security-for-improperly-vetting-afghan-refugees">slammed</a> the Biden administration in 2022 for failing to vet thousands of Afghan refugees that were let into the United States. Critics have warned for years that the refugee program that brought Lakanwal into the country created a massive national security risk.
Editor&#8217;s note: This piece was updated with information from the Department of Homeland Security.
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Afghanistan Withdrawal

Afghan National In Custody For National Guard Attack Was In Country Illegally: Sources

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Cameron Arcand