A new report is adding fuel to Republican efforts to frame 2026 as the opening salvo in President Donald Trump’s so-called “War on Fraud,” just days before House lawmakers are set to question Minnesota’s top officials over what the president has described as one of the largest public-fraud scandals in the country.
The State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) <a href="https://sfof.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SFOF-2025-Oversight-Report.pdf">report</a>, released Tuesday morning, claims that 40 conservative state treasurers, auditors, and comptrollers across 28 states recovered or returned $28 billion in taxpayer funds this year through efforts targeting waste, fraud, abuse, unclaimed property, and investment mismanagement. The organization says the report will be issued annually.
In a letter accompanying the report, SFOF CEO OJ Oleka wrote to Vice President JD Vance, who was tasked during the State of the Union with helping lead the administration’s anti-fraud initiative, pledging state-level cooperation with federal enforcement efforts. The letter was also sent to Associate Deputy Attorney General Colin McDonald, recently nominated by Trump to serve as the first Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement at the Justice Department, a role supporters have dubbed the administration’s “fraud czar.”
It comes at an auspicious time for the administration and his supporters. The United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is preparing to question Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison over oversight failures connected to a sweeping pandemic-era fraud case involving a federally funded child nutrition program in Minnesota.
During his State of the Union address, Trump singled out Minnesota as a “stunning example” of systemic fraud, alleging that billions in taxpayer funds were siphoned off through fraudulent schemes. Federal prosecutors have previously charged dozens of individuals in connection with the case, which centered on misuse of COVID-relief funds intended to feed low-income children. Court filings have detailed large sums improperly obtained, though the precise dollar totals remain the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
Republicans argue the case reflects broader governance failures in Democratic-led states. In a statement obtained exclusively by The Daily Wire ahead of the Oversight hearing, Republican Minnesota State Senator Jordan Rasmusson said taxpayers “deserve answers on why billions of taxpayer dollars were stolen through fraudulent schemes under the failed leadership of Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison,” adding that federal intervention has been critical in prosecuting offenders.
Oleka framed the Minnesota case as a cautionary tale. In his statement, also exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire,  he called it “a criminal heist of historic proportions” and argued that eliminating the state treasurer’s office in Minnesota diffused financial oversight authority. Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 abolishing the elected treasurer position, consolidating certain duties under other state offices.
Supporters of Walz and Ellison have previously maintained that the fraud was uncovered through state and federal cooperation and that prosecutions demonstrate the system ultimately worked. The governor’s office has said it has implemented additional oversight mechanisms since the scandal emerged.
The SFOF report contrasts what it describes as aggressive fraud recovery efforts in red states with what it characterizes as lax oversight in states like Minnesota.
The new report from the State Financial Officers Foundation details what it describes as a coordinated effort by conservative financial officers to aggressively police public spending and return money to taxpayers.
According to SFOF, its members uncovered $5.7 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse in 2025 alone, while generating or returning another $22.3 billion through investment earnings and unclaimed property programs, totaling $28 billion in what the organization calls protected or restored taxpayer funds.
Among the largest waste and fraud findings highlighted in the report were in Florida, where Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia identified roughly $1.86 billion in what SFOF described as excessive or wasteful local government spending, and in Kentucky, Auditor Allison Ball flagged approximately $1 billion in Medicaid waste and lapsed education funds.
Whether the upcoming Oversight hearing produces new disclosures remains to be seen. But with the White House publicly elevating fraud enforcement as a national priority, and state financial officers positioning themselves as frontline partners, the Minnesota case is likely to serve as a test of competing narratives: one arguing systemic executive failure necessitating strong preemptive action, the other pointing to eventual detection and reaction as evidence of accountability.

Barack Obama Campaigns With Tim Walz On First Day Of Early Voting In Wisconsin

New Report Contrasts Minnesota Fraud With Big Wins For Red State Taxpayers

Crime

Fraud

Keith Ellison

Minnesota

Tim Walz

Trump Administration

U.S.

Democratic lawmakers are twisting the federal judiciary’s arm to restore a controversial climate science chapter that was recently removed from its flagship reference guide for judges, a move that comes amid broader scrutiny over the intersection of climate litigation, judicial education, and political advocacy.
At stake is not merely a single chapter in a reference book, but the perception of neutrality in how federal judges are trained to evaluate complex scientific claims, particularly when those claims sit at the center of high-dollar, politically charged litigation campaigns still unfolding in courts across the country.
According to reporting from <a href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2026/03/02/democrats-urge-judicial-group-to-restore-deleted-climate-chapter-cw-00804211">Politico</a>, a group of Senate Democrats led by Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter Friday urging the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) to reinstate a deleted climate chapter from the latest edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence. The lawmakers argued that removing the chapter “sends a clear and chilling message that the federal judiciary is susceptible to partisan political pressure.”
The FJC is the research and education wing of the judicial branch. It guides and trains federal judges, gives resources, publishes materials, and maintains resources on federal judicial history and procedures.
The Reference Manual is widely used by federal judges as a guide to evaluating complex scientific and technical evidence. The now-removed climate section had drawn objections from a group of state attorneys general who argued that it adopted contested climate attribution methodologies and liability theories that mirror arguments currently being advanced in active climate lawsuits against energy companies. Critics contended that including such material in an official judicial reference guide risked lending institutional credibility to one side of ongoing litigation.
The FJC has not publicly characterized the removal as politically motivated, but the timing followed the objections, prompting Democrats to frame the move as capitulation to outside pressure.
Senator Wyden’s advocacy for restoring the chapter has also drawn attention because of his financial and public ties to a climate litigation attorney whose courtroom tactics have faced scrutiny.
<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Roger+worthington&amp;contributor_state=OR">Federal Election Commission records</a> show Wyden has received approximately $11,000 in campaign contributions from Roger Worthington, an Oregon-based attorney involved in climate liability cases.
Worthington has been associated with legal strategies seeking to hold fossil fuel companies financially responsible for climate-related damages. He has also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and causes in the reliably blue state over his career.
Worthington’s litigation conduct has itself become a point of ethics concerns. As reported by <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/lead-counsel-in-52-billion-big-oil-lawsuit-facing-ethical-misconduct-allegations-over-climate-activism/">National Review</a>, a court filing alleged that Worthington introduced scientific studies in litigation that he had helped fund without disclosing his involvement, presenting them instead as independent research. During a hearing on the matter, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Benjamin Souede rebuked the lack of transparency, stating, “It is not acceptable to submit a declaration by an expert that is based in part on a reliance on a scientific article that plaintiff’s counsel helped to fund without pointing out to the Court that that is so.”
The judge added that “no lawyer in the history of American jurisprudence thought it appropriate to submit an expert declaration relying on an article that the plaintiff’s lawyer helped buy.”
Additional <a href="https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/energy/celebrity-scientist-michael-mann-co-authors-paper-partly-funded-attorney">reporting</a> noted that a draft of a climate liability study appeared on Worthington’s firm&#8217;s website prior to publication and was later cited in court filings. The draft contained a watermark reading “DO NOT DISTRIBUTE UNDER REVIEW” while the link was later removed, the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250923213615/https://www.worthingtoncaron.com/documents/Carbon-majors-and-the-scientific-case.pdf">archived version</a> is accessible online to verify this. The motion cited in that reporting argued the circumstances suggested involvement beyond that of a neutral observer.
As an attorney with a specialized background in climate litigation, Worthington has much to gain, as do other donors like him, from the reinstatement of the chapter. This dense web of donations, misdirection, and unethical behavior forms just a small part of the broader national backdrop to the dispute over the climate chapter’s inclusion in the Reference Manual.
The core question now confronting the judiciary’s education wing is whether incorporating new, novel, and actively litigated climate liability theories into official guidance risks blurring the line between neutral scientific explanation and advocacy-aligned framing.

US-POLITICS-CONGRESS-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE

Fight Over Climate Chapter Exposes Tensions Between Judicial Neutrality And Activist Lawfare

Courts

Democrats

Environmentalism

Lawsuit

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing scrutiny after sharply criticizing the U.S. operation in Iran, asserting that American or Israeli strikes “killed children, young girls at a school,”  a claim for which there is currently no independent verification.
At a Monday <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffqSHkMrxSM">press briefing</a>, Newsom questioned President Donald Trump’s justification for the strikes, asking what “imminent threat” prompted the action. He went further, stating: “We have to reconcile why our bombs were used, or Israeli bombs were used to kill children, young girls at a school,” referencing reports circulated by Iranian state media that blamed the U.S. and Israel for the alleged <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1l7rvqq51eo">incident</a>.
As of this writing, however, there have been no confirmed reports from the Pentagon, the Israeli Defense Forces, independent news organizations, or credible international monitoring groups that a U.S. or Israeli strike hit a school or killed children in the current round of operations. Publicly identified targets have included Iranian military infrastructure, missile sites, drone facilities, and assets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. officials have indicated that any credible allegation of civilian casualties would be reviewed, but no evidence has emerged supporting the specific claim Newsom cited.
In previous operations, both the United States and Israel have routinely released strike footage, target descriptions, and post-strike assessments. No such material has substantiated the allegation that a school was deliberately targeted. Without corroboration, the claim rests primarily on Iranian state-linked narratives, which have historically characterized military site strikes as attacks on civilian locations. While civilian-adjacent targeting environments can complicate battlefield assessments, there is no verified evidence at this stage that a school was struck by U.S. or Israeli forces.
Newsom also warned that “Gulf allies [are] being attacked,” presenting regional retaliation as evidence of widening instability. But official statements from Saudi Arabia and other allies reflect a posture of condemnation toward Iran and coordination among U.S.-aligned states rather than distancing from Washington.
Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday that Iran launched strikes targeting Riyadh and the Kingdom’s Eastern Province. In a <a href="https://x.com/ksamofaen/status/2027750941047349501?s=46">statement</a>, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it “expressed its strongest condemnation of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks targeting the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, which were repelled.”
According to the <a href="https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2524710">Saudi Press Agency</a>, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also held calls with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan following Iranian missile launches targeting U.S. bases across the region.
During those calls, Prince Mohammed “affirmed the Kingdom’s full solidarity and standing alongside the brotherly countries, and the Kingdom’s readiness to place all its capabilities at their disposal,” the agency said. Rather than signaling a rupture with Washington or distancing from U.S. operations, the Saudi statements emphasize regional coordination and collective security.
Newsom further criticized Trump over the deaths of U.S. servicemembers during the operation, accusing the president of focusing on personal matters instead of the fallen troops. Later updates indicated the death toll had risen from four to six service members.
In fast-moving conflicts, allegations of casualties and civilian harm often surface before verification. But when a sitting governor asserts that U.S. or Israeli forces killed schoolchildren, that charge carries consequences. As of now, there is no confirmed evidence supporting that allegation. At the same time, key Gulf allies have publicly condemned Iran’s strikes and affirmed solidarity with one another against the regime in Tehran.
The contrast is clear: while regional governments are issuing formal statements attributing aggression to Tehran and coordinating their response, Newsom has amplified an unverified claim and framed allied retaliation as evidence of collapse. The available record shows no confirmed school strike and no visible fracture among U.S. partners, only Iranian attacks, allied condemnation, and a conflict still unfolding, not to be judged prematurely.

Gavin Newsom

Newsom Accuses U.S., Israel Of Killing ‘Young Girls’ In Iran — With No Confirmed Evidence

A controversial Maine Democrat already dogged by questions over a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol is again under fire after promoting an openly antisemitic conspiracy theorist — the latest episode in a pattern critics say underscores how radical and politically toxic he is.
Graham Platner, a 41-year-old Senate candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to take on incumbent Susan Collins (R-ME), faced backlash this week after amplifying a social media post about a looming war with Iran from Stew Peters, a neo-Nazi influencer known for Holocaust denial and antisemitic rhetoric. Platner <a href="https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/02/26/politics/elections/graham-platner-stew-peters-post/">later deleted</a> the post, with his campaign claiming it was shared “in error” and removed immediately after discovering it elevated a “despicable account.”
But the incident was not isolated.
In late January, Platner <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/platner-sat-lengthy-interview-antisemitic-075439570.html">appeared</a> for an hour-long interview on Valhalla VFT, a YouTube show hosted by Nate Cornacchia, a retired Green Beret who has promoted conspiracy theories alleging Israeli involvement in high-profile assassinations and suggesting the global war on terror was conducted at the “behest of Israel.” During the interview, Platner described himself as “a longtime fan” of the show and said it was “an absolute pleasure” to appear.
Cornacchia has pushed claims tying Israel to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and agreed with assertions that President John F. Kennedy was “probably” killed in a covert joint operation between the CIA and Mossad. Platner’s campaign did not respond to Jewish Insider&#8217;s questions about Cornacchia’s remarks.
The controversy compounds scrutiny Platner has faced since last year over a tattoo on his chest that closely resembled a Totenkopf, the skull-and-crossbones emblem adopted by an infamous Nazi SS unit. Platner <a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-10-22/democratic-senate-hopeful-graham-platner-gets-tattoo-of-nazi-symbol-covered-up">said</a> he received the tattoo while serving in the Marine Corps during a drunken night in Croatia and claimed he was unaware of its historical meaning at the time. The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8">Associated Press</a> later confirmed that he had the tattoo covered once the comparison became public, saying he did not want a symbol associated with hate on his body.
“For what it’s worth,” Maine Governor Janet Mills, who’s running against Platner in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat, quipped on <a href="https://x.com/JanetMillsforME/status/2027421147956969915">X</a> amid the controversy, “I don’t have any tattoos.”
In past posts, Platner has described U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East as being overly shaped by “foreign influence,” and has argued that Washington’s alliance structure requires “fundamental rethinking.” Critics say such rhetoric mirrors themes common in online spaces where antisemitic conspiracy theories flourish.
National Republicans have begun to take notice. A spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee blasted Platner this week, saying Democrats are “flirting with extremism” in a race they view as central to their hopes of regaining Senate control. Allies of Collins have also circulated screenshots of Platner’s deleted posts, arguing they raise serious questions about his judgment.
The Democratic primary race in Maine is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the cycle. Democrats view the seat held by moderate Republican Collins as a key pickup opportunity. But Platner’s growing list of controversies, from boosting a neo-Nazi influencer to praising a YouTube host who traffics in antisemitic conspiracies, to the lingering fallout over his tattoo, threatens to complicate that strategy.

Graham Platner Maine

Dem Senate Darling Stumbles Into Third Nazi-Related Scandal Of Primary Campaign

Anti-Semitism

Democratic Party

Elections

graham platner

Maine

Politics

Susan Collins

As Israel faces mounting threats from rockets, drones, and mortar fire across multiple fronts following the weekend strikes on Iran, attention is turning to a new system poised to reshape modern air defense: Iron Beam.
Israel’s highly anticipated laser-based defense platform is expected to be delivered to the military by the end of the month, according to Israeli officials. The system is designed to intercept short-range rockets, mortar rounds, and unmanned aerial vehicles using a high-powered directed-energy beam rather than traditional interceptor missiles.
One of the most striking features of Iron Beam is its cost efficiency. Each laser interception is estimated to cost as little as $2 in electricity, a dramatic reduction compared to the interceptor missiles used by Israel&#8217;s existing layered defense systems — roughly $100,000 per missile fired by Iron Dome, which counters short-range rockets, and up to $1 million per interceptor launched by David&#8217;s Sling, designed to defeat longer-range missiles and aircraft.
Iron Beam, first <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/rafael-unveils-laser-shield-at-premier-defense-show/">revealed</a> to the public in 2014, has been heralded as the future of air defense and is capable of intercepting the ever-growing threat of suicide drones, unguided rockets, and even traditional kinetic ordnance such as mortars and artillery. Iron Beam was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the same firm behind Iron Dome, in partnership with U.S.-based defense giant Lockheed Martin. The system consists of an air defense radar, a command and control unit, and two High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, enabling it to track and destroy incoming threats at the speed of light.
According to publicly available material from <a href="https://www.rafael.co.il/system/iron-beam/">Rafael</a>, Iron Beam is designed to integrate into Israel’s existing multi-layered air defense architecture, complementing systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. While missile interceptors remain essential for higher-altitude and long-range threats, a directed-energy platform offers a potentially transformative solution against short-range projectiles and drone swarms, particularly in scenarios involving sustained, high-volume attacks.
According to <a href="https://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/defense-systems/iron-beam/">missile defense analysts</a>, Iron Beam is intended to relieve pressure on Iron Dome by handling lower-end threats, reserving expensive interceptors for more complex or long-range attacks. The system has reportedly demonstrated successful interceptions, particularly short trajectory targets during extensive testing, though operational details remain classified.
These missile defense analysts have also long argued that directed-energy weapons represent the next phase of air defense evolution. Unlike traditional systems that require physical interceptors and complex resupply chains, laser platforms can, in principle, operate indefinitely as long as power is available, eliminating reloads and significantly reducing per-shot costs.
The technology is also reportedly being shared with the U.S. Army’s directed energy program, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-unveils-iron-beam-laser-weapon-while-achieving-record-15b-arms-sales">Fox News</a>, underscoring growing American interest in laser-based air defense capabilities.
While questions remain about operational constraints, including weather limitations and line-of-sight challenges, Iron Beam’s imminent fielding marks a major milestone in the development of practical battlefield laser systems. If it performs as advertised, it could fundamentally alter the cost calculus of missile defense and provide Israel with a powerful new tool to counter the increasingly sophisticated arsenal of Iranian-backed proxy groups.

Iran fires missiles at Israel

What Is Iron Beam? The Israeli Laser Defense System Explained

Global Politics

Hezbollah

Iran

Iron Dome

Israel

The Department of Homeland Security is marking its 23rd anniversary Sunday, celebrating more than two decades since its creation in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, even as the agency finds itself in the crosshairs of Democrats amid a partial government shutdown.
Formed in November 2002 and formally commencing operations on March 1, 2003, DHS was established to unify the nation’s domestic security apparatus under one umbrella. Today, it oversees border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, disaster response, counterterrorism operations, and maritime interdiction.
“As the threat landscape continues to evolve, DHS is there. By air, land, sea, or in cyberspace, the DHS workforce boldly confronts the threats our nation faces every day,” Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement marking the anniversary. “We are working diligently to prevent cybersecurity and terror threats, safeguard the southern border, reform our broken immigration system, and help Americans in the face of natural disasters. Our mission could not be achieved without your extraordinary courage and commitment. I am especially grateful to those of you who are serving during the current shutdown without a paycheck.”
With conflict recently erupting in Iran, Noem also emphasized vigilance at home, writing on X that she is “in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland.”
The anniversary comes at a politically charged moment. DHS has announced it must take steps to preserve limited funds and personnel during the shutdown, even as it continues core national security functions.
Under President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem, department officials point to a slate of enforcement and security actions over the past year as evidence that DHS is fulfilling its founding mission.
According to a statement from the department obtained by The Daily Wire, Border Patrol has recorded nine consecutive months of zero migrant releases at the southern border, ending what officials describe as the Biden administration’s “catch and release” policy. DHS also reports that total border apprehensions during Trump’s first year back in office were lower than a single average month under the previous administration.
Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the United States amid the administration’s immigration crackdown, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations, according to DHS. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the department says, arrested 1,538 known or suspected terrorists and removed 1,534, along with thousands of gang members tied to groups such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13.
That aggressive enforcement posture has fueled Democratic opposition and contributed to the funding standoff now affecting the department.
On the cybersecurity front, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reports blocking billions of malicious connections on federal civilian networks and hundreds of millions more targeting critical infrastructure. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than 617,000 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year, including more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl. The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted over 547,000 pounds of illegal narcotics — nearly three times its normal annual average — which officials say prevented hundreds of millions of lethal doses from reaching American communities.
DHS also highlights joint efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services to locate 145,000 unaccompanied minors it says were lost under prior border policies, as well as reforms to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aimed at accelerating state-led disaster response. President Trump has approved 12 federal emergency disaster declarations in recent months, unlocking additional resources for affected states.
More than two decades after its creation in response to the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, DHS is marking its anniversary while confronting both evolving global threats and immediate fiscal constraints. Department leadership maintains that the mission remains unchanged: protect the homeland and keep Americans safe, regardless of political or budgetary headwinds.

Department Of Homeland Security

DHS Celebrates 23rd Anniversary Amid Budget Battle And New Middle East Conflict

9/11

Department of Homeland Security

General

A growing rift inside the Republican Party burst into public view this week as President Donald Trump and several House Republicans openly blasted Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) over the stalled SAVE America Act, accusing the longtime Kentucky lawmaker of standing in the way of legislation they argue is critical to securing federal elections.
What might once have played out behind closed doors is now unfolding in plain sight — with Trump mocking McConnell online and GOP lawmakers questioning both his motives and his leadership as the bill sits idle in the Senate.
One of the most pointed comments came from Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC), who on SiriusXM blasted McConnell directly, saying “he hates Donald Trump” and argued the Kentucky senator “should be in a nursing home” rather than blocking the bill. Norman said McConnell is “beholden to the special interests” and insisted the GOP needs new leadership and term limits.
Norman’s remarks were shared on <a href="https://x.com/WilkowMajority/status/2027161540432969925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2027161540432969925%7Ctwgr%5E3383e92a7556d2a8fb97a3079c218e9523329448%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Famericanwirenews.com%2Fhouse-republican-blasts-mcconnell-over-save-act-he-should-be-in-a-nursing-home%2F">X</a>, calling out McConnell by name and questioning his effectiveness in the Senate, a rare and unusually blunt rebuke from a Republican colleague.
That sentiment reflects wider frustration among Trump-aligned Republicans over the SAVE Act’s slow progress in the chamber. While President Donald Trump used his 2026 State of the Union to call for Senate passage of the bill — urging lawmakers to “approve the SAVE America Act” as part of his agenda to require voter ID and proof of citizenship — the Senate has yet to bring it up for a vote.
Trump escalated the pressure on social media, <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2028109709824139442">posting</a> a clip from &#8220;Weekend at Bernie’s&#8221; and captioning it: “Mitch McConnell arriving to block the SAVE Act in a last-ditch attempt to save his name.” The jab underscored growing frustration among conservatives who see the bill as a must-pass election integrity measure with overwhelming grassroots support.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) suggested McConnell’s opposition may be personal, saying on <a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2024875245966958916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2024875245966958916%7Ctwgr%5E77f261b58e40fcfc14a750af0055b2b809e4fae9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewrepublic.com%2Fpost%2F206864%2Fmcconnell-trump-election-overhaul-bill-save-america-act">X</a> he believes it is “partially just out of meanness,” adding that “he doesn’t like Trump.” Burchett went further, questioning who is truly making decisions in McConnell’s office: “Is it him or a staff member? Because, as you know, he’s a lot like Joe Biden in his last days in office.”
Other Republicans have pressed Senate leadership to move the bill forward, arguing that requiring proof of citizenship is common sense and widely supported by voters. Trump has repeatedly urged the Senate to act, framing the measure as essential to election security.
Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), who will be running for McConnell’s seat after he retires, sent the senator a <a href="https://barr.house.gov/2026/2/barr-backs-voter-id-mandate-calls-on-mcconnell-to-advance-save-america-act">letter</a> last month. The letter strongly urged McConnell, “as Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, to expeditiously move the America Act through the Senate and to the President’s Desk.” He added, “This marks the second time that the U.S. House of Representatives has acted to advance common sense voter identification and proof of citizenship requirements to strengthen the integrity of our federal elections.”
For his part, McConnell and his team have not claimed responsibility for the stall. A spokesperson for the Kentucky senator <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/article314828972.html">wrote</a> in a statement, “Senator McConnell has not, at any point in time, prevented a floor vote on any version of the SAVE Act. The most recent version of the bill that passed the House was not referred to any committees and is currently awaiting Senate floor consideration. Senator McConnell has no role in or power to control floor consideration of this bill.”
McConnell has not publicly embraced the legislation and has resisted procedural efforts to fast-track it, fueling criticism from within his own party as tensions between Trump-aligned Republicans and the Senate’s Republican leadership once again spill into public view.
Senate Republican leadership has tried to take the scrutiny from McConnell. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), in a statement to the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4473765/senate-gop-warns-house-save-act-agitators-do-not-tell-us-what-to-do/">Washington Examiner</a>, said, “House members are going to say what they’re going to say. They aren’t going to tell us how we’re going to run the Senate.” Another Senate leader said the Senate was “going to do what we’re going to do,” regardless of outside commentary.
Thune also <a href="https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/2/thune-joins-america-s-newsroom-on-fox-news">addressed</a> the SAVE America Act directly in an interview with Fox, saying the chamber plans to put Democrats “on the record,” but is focused first on broader issues like reopening the government, and that a floor vote will come “in due time.”
With McConnell nearing retirement and allies jockeying to replace him, the fight carries added political weight, especially in Kentucky. As House Republicans and Trump continue to escalate public pressure, Senate leadership insists the chamber will move on its own timetable. But for many in the GOP base, the optics are clear: a bill framed as “common sense” election security is stalled, and McConnell’s critics are making sure voters know exactly who they believe is responsible.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R)

Trump, Fellow Republicans Take Shots At Mitch McConnell Over SAVE Act Stall

Congress

Donald Trump

John Thune

Mitch McConnell

U.S. Senate

A University of Notre Dame professor, with a long public record of supporting abortion, has stepped down from a senior leadership role at the Catholic university following weeks of pressure from students, faculty, and Catholic leaders nationwide.
Susan Ostermann, an associate professor in Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, will no longer assume the role of director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, <a href="https://www.ndsmcobserver.com/article/2026/02/breaking-ostermann-declines-liu-institute-directorship-following-backlash-over-abortion-advocacy">according</a> to a February 26 email from Keough Dean Mary Gallagher. Ostermann had been slated to take the position on July 1.
Gallagher said Ostermann “decided not to move forward” with the appointment and thanked her for her “willingness to serve.” Ostermann will remain on the faculty in her prior role as associate professor.
The decision follows widespread backlash after Notre Dame announced Ostermann’s appointment in January. Critics pointed to her extensive public advocacy for abortion, including multiple articles in which she described restrictions on abortion as “violence” and rejected the claim that abortion ends human life.
The controversy quickly escalated beyond campus. Two faculty members resigned from their roles at the Liu Institute in protest, and students organized prayer events and demonstrations calling on the university to uphold its Catholic identity.
Notre Dame <a href="https://meca.nd.edu/our-catholic-mission/">describes</a> itself as an institution where “Catholic character” informs all it does, a claim critics said was incompatible with elevating an outspoken abortion advocate to a leadership role.
The news of Ostermann’s withdrawal from the leadership role was met with positive reactions from pro-life advocates, though some said it did not go far enough. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, called the move “a good start,” but argued that Ostermann’s continued presence on the faculty remains incompatible with Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.
“It’s clear from her aggressively pro-abortion body of work, including her association with the Population Council, that she needs to be terminated,” Hawkins said in a statement obtained by The Daily Wire. “The premier Catholic school in America should not allow professors to blatantly oppose central teachings on the value of all human life, including babies in the womb. Her elevation was extremely troubling, but stepping down is not enough. She needs to go.”
Pressure intensified earlier this month when Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, whose diocese includes Notre Dame, <a href="https://diocesefwsb.org/statement-of-most-reverend-kevin-c-rhoades-on-appointment-of-new-director-of-the-liu-institute-at-the-university-of-notre-dame/">issued</a> a public statement condemning the appointment. Rhoades said he had “strong opposition” to the decision and warned it was “causing scandal to the faithful of our diocese and beyond.”
Ostermann’s “extensive public advocacy of abortion” and her “disparaging and inflammatory remarks about those who uphold the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death,” Rhoades said, directly conflicted with a core principle of Notre Dame’s mission.
Catholic lay-leaders framed Ostermann’s withdrawal as a necessary step to preserve the university’s identity and credibility. Mary FioRito, a senior fellow at The Catholic Association, said the decision was a “win for consistency, clarity, and common sense” at the University of Notre Dame.
“As an explicitly Catholic university, Notre Dame owes its students and faculty truth in advertising,” FioRito said in a statement obtained by The Daily Wire, arguing that “Ostermann’s public advocacy of legal abortion would have overshadowed the good work of the Liu Center and significantly hampered its ability to form students.” FioRito also credited alumni, students, faculty, and staff who raised concerns through prayer and public advocacy, as well as Bishop Rhoades and other bishops who issued statements opposing the appointment.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I want to express my strong support for the statement that Bishop Kevin Rhoades made this morning concerning a controversial appointment at the University of Notre Dame. Please read his communication in full, for he makes the case more completely and eloquently than I could.…
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopBarron/status/2021613562842489042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Tuesday, Rhoades <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/cna/bishop-rhoades-leads-rosary-for-notre-dame-s-catholic-identity">joined</a> students, faculty, and staff at the university’s Marian grotto for a public rosary “for the cause of life.”
In a statement included with Gallagher’s email, Ostermann said her acceptance of the directorship was motivated solely by a desire to serve the institute’s faculty and students. She added that the ongoing controversy risked overshadowing the institute’s work and said there was “work to do at Notre Dame to build a community where a variety of voices can flourish.”
The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred from conception to natural death and that direct abortion is a grave moral evil. In recent remarks honoring Mother Teresa, Pope Leo XIV <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-01/pope-leo-political-innovation-hackathon-one-humanity-one-planet.html">described</a> abortion as “the greatest destroyer of peace.”
Church teaching on Catholic higher education is laid out in St. John Paul II’s apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which calls on Catholic universities to safeguard their identity while exercising academic freedom within the bounds of faith and reason.
Student organizers say demonstrations and prayer events will continue, framing Ostermann’s withdrawal not as an endpoint, but as evidence that sustained, faithful pressure can produce results.

University of Notre Dame Golden Dome

Pro-Abortion Professor Finally Caves To Pressure At Historic Catholic Institution

Student And Clergy Protest Leads Pro-Abortion Professor To Bow Out Of Notre Dame Director Role

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Pope Leo XIV urged Catholic priests to resist the growing temptation to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) in their pastoral work, warning that technology can never substitute for lived faith, prayer, or personal encounter.
During a <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-02/pope-dialogue-priests-rome-young-people-internet-prayer-study.html">meeting</a> with priests in Rome, the Pope emphasized that effective ministry begins with genuine closeness to the people a priest serves, not with shortcuts or pre-packaged messages. Drawing on his own experience living in Rome at different points in his life, Leo noted that while the city’s streets may look the same, “life has changed so much,” requiring priests to deeply understand the realities of their communities.
“To speak with these people, we must begin by knowing their reality as deeply as possible,” the Pope said, recalling a recent parish visit to the southern Roman neighborhood of Ostia.
That emphasis on personal engagement framed one of the strongest warnings of the address: a direct rejection of AI-generated homilies.
“No to homilies prepared with artificial intelligence,” Leo said, cautioning that reliance on AI weakens a priest’s intellectual and spiritual life. “Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, they die,” he explained. “The brain needs to be used … our intelligence must also be exercised.”
While acknowledging that technology can serve practical functions, the Pope stressed that preaching is fundamentally an act of witness, something AI cannot replicate. “To give a true homily is to share faith,” Leo said. “Artificial intelligence will never be able to share faith.”
Those remarks are consistent with the warnings Leo delivered earlier in his pontificate. In his first major address as pope, he cautioned against allowing emerging technologies to replace moral responsibility, saying that innovation must remain “at the service of the human person” and never displace conscience or judgment.
In a subsequent Vatican address on technology and ethics, Leo warned that AI can create the illusion of wisdom without understanding, noting that “no machine can bear moral responsibility, and no algorithm can replace the formation of the heart.”
That concern resurfaced as the Pope turned to the broader digital culture, particularly social media. Leo cautioned priests against the illusion that online popularity,  measured in likes or followers, constitutes authentic evangelization.
“An illusion on the internet, on TikTok,” he said, is to believe one is truly giving oneself in pursuit of visibility. “It is not you: if we are not transmitting the message of Jesus Christ, perhaps we are mistaken.”
Instead, the Pope underscored the necessity of a disciplined prayer life, warning against treating prayer as a mere routine rather than time genuinely spent with God. Only a life “authentically rooted in the Lord,” he said, allows priests to offer something real and lasting to their communities.
The remarks build on repeated statements Leo XIV has made about AI since shortly after his election. In a <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-11/pope-leo-xiv-message-builders-ai-forum-ethical-technology.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">message</a> to the Builders AI Forum 2025, he urged that AI development be grounded in respect for human dignity and justice, saying that technology must “reflect the design of God the Creator,” and that “the question is not merely what AI can do, but who we are becoming through the technologies we build.”
His broader caution about the digital age extends beyond clergy and developers but to all believers and society at large. In a 2026 <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-01/pope-leo-xiv-messsage-world-day-social-communications-ai-human.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">message</a> for the World Day of Social Communications, the Pope underscored that digital technologies, including AI systems capable of simulating voices and faces, risk altering essential dimensions of human communication and identity. Preserving human faces and voices, he said, “means preserving this mark, this indelible reflection of God’s love.”
Taken together, the remarks reflect a defining theme of Leo XIV’s pontificate: a cautious approach to technological power paired with a firm insistence on human presence, moral responsibility, and personal encounter. As AI continues to spread into creative, professional, and even religious spaces, the Pope’s message draws a clear boundary between tools that assist ministry and practices that hollow it out.

Pope Leo XIV makes statements on his return from his first foreign trip

‘An Illusion’: Pope Leo Sends Defiant Message Against AI Use In Churches

Pope Leo Requests Priests Stop Writing Homilies With AI

The U.S. Supreme Court <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/02/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-case-on-colorado-dispute-over-climate-change/">announced</a> Monday that it will take up a major climate change lawsuit targeting the energy industry — a case that could determine the future of similar lawsuits filed by left-wing states and municipalities across the country.
The Court agreed to review Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County. They granted the hearing after the Colorado Supreme Court allowed Boulder County’s state-law claims to proceed, rejecting arguments from energy producers that the lawsuit is preempted by federal law. 
The decision comes amid a wave of nearly three dozen lawsuits brought by leftist jurisdictions seeking to hold oil and gas companies financially liable for alleged climate change damages.
Boulder County’s lawsuit accuses energy companies of knowingly contributing to climate change and claims the resulting environmental effects have caused millions of dollars in damage to local property and residents. Energy producers have countered that such claims attempt to regulate interstate and global emissions through state tort law, an approach they argue is incompatible with the Constitution and federal environmental statutes.
Legal experts say the Supreme Court’s intervention signals concern about allowing state courts to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woke-lawfare-is-the-latest-frontier-for-the-lefts-antidemocratic-attacks-report-says">set</a> national energy and climate policy.
Christopher Mills, a constitutional attorney and former law clerk to Clarence Thomas, said the Court is correctly recognizing the national stakes involved. “The Court&#8217;s action shows that it rightly recognizes that this is a national issue in need of an immediate national resolution,” Mills <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_8d590b75-5787-4f63-8784-8a722960477b.html">said</a>. “Letting these copycat lawsuits fester in state courts across the country is a recipe for uncertainty, undermining American energy production and harming consumers.”
Todd Zywicki, a law professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, described the case as a test of whether local governments can effectively impose national policy through litigation. “For years, trial lawyers and left-wing municipalities have used state law as a backdoor to impose their preferred energy policies on the entire country — without a vote, without Congress, and without accountability,” Zywicki said, adding that the Constitution does not permit such an end run around federal authority.
Former Bush administration official John Shu emphasized that greenhouse gas emissions, by definition, do not respect state borders, placing them squarely within Congress’s regulatory authority under the Commerce Clause and the Clean Air Act.
Boulder County, for its part, argued that Supreme Court review is premature because the case has not reached a final judgment. The justices nevertheless agreed to hear the dispute and directed the parties to address whether the Court has jurisdiction to review the case at this stage. 
The incentive for Boulder to resist Supreme Court review right now is that State and local governments have generally had more success keeping these climate lawsuits alive in friendly state courts, where judges have been willing to treat them as traditional nuisance or consumer-protection cases. Once the Supreme Court weighs in, especially on the federal preemption question, a ruling against Boulder could wipe out not just this case but dozens of similar lawsuits nationwide in one stroke.
Oral arguments are expected in the fall, with a decision likely in 2026, and one that could determine whether state courts may continue serving as battlegrounds for national climate policy or whether such questions must remain with Congress.

Supreme Court Releases Opinions

How The Left-Wing Climate Crusade May Be Nearing Its Breaking Point

Supreme Court Takes Up Case To Determine If States Can Sue Energy Companies Over Climate Change

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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger used her State of the Union <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzX4JF3SR8Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">response</a> to hammer President Donald Trump on everything from tariffs to border policy. The talking points weren&#8217;t invented, but they told a version of the story with some important chapters missing. 
Hours before Spanberger delivered her remarks, the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/02/radical-lefts-rebuttal-will-contrast-democrat-extremism-with-president-trumps-road-to-prosperity/">released</a> a detailed statement outlining what it described as her long record of opposing tax relief, border security, and law enforcement positions that directly undercut her claims.
Spanberger blamed rising costs on Trump’s trade policies, she estimated American families have paid more than $1,700 each in tariffs since he took office, which is in the range of other reported estimates. But the White House noted that Spanberger&#8217;s record showed no better, she opposed President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced taxes for roughly 80% of American taxpayers, and supported Biden-era multi-trillion-dollar spending packages that economists warned would fuel inflation.
Governor Spanberger also said, &#8220;Even though the Supreme Court struck these tariffs down four days ago, the damage to us, the American people, has already been done.&#8221; It’s worth noting, however, that the Supreme Court said the president exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing sweeping tariffs, however, the court’s action did not nullify all tariffs instantly and wholesale, nor did it directly issue refunds or immediately undo all tariff collections. 
The ruling focused on the procedural basis for the tariff authority, not on a blanket cancellation of all trade levies, in fact, Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-hikes-his-new-tariffs-to-15-after-complete-review-of-scotus-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reinstated</a> tariffs, invoking his authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Spanberger also accused Republicans of supporting “massive tax hikes,” yet her own record on taxes in Virginia tells a different story. Since taking office in January, the Democratic majority in the Virginia General Assembly, working closely with Spanberger, has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-running-on-affordability-virginia-dems-push-for-nations-highest-income-tax?">introduced</a> dozens of new tax proposals, including measures to create new income tax brackets and expand taxes on investment income, potentially pushing the commonwealth’s top rate on investments to 13.8% — higher than even California’s.
Then Spanberger blamed Republican legislation, specifically the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” for threatening rural hospitals and stripping healthcare access. While rural healthcare access is a documented problem, primary data shows the issue long predates current congressional action.
The American Hospital Association, for instance, <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2022/09/rural-hospital-closures-threaten-access-report.pdf?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that rural closures have occurred steadily and have been driven by structural challenges in rural healthcare delivery, with some of the highest closure numbers occurring while President Barack Obama was in office and during the COVID pandemic.
On public safety, Spanberger leaned heavily on her background as a former federal agent and CIA officer, portraying herself as a defender of law enforcement while accusing the Trump administration of unleashing “poorly trained federal agents” who arrest citizens without warrants.
Yet the White House statement highlights that Spanberger voted against the Secure the Border Act, supported pathways to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, and twice voted to terminate President Trump’s national emergency declaration at the southern border. As governor, she also <a href="https://virginiamercury.com/2026/02/04/spanberger-ends-ice-agreement-involving-virginia-state-police-and-corrections-officers/">ended</a> Virginia’s cooperation agreement with ICE, halting information sharing with federal immigration authorities.
But what she fails to mention is that there have been no Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, or court findings confirming systemic illegality. Beyond that, immigration enforcement <a href="https://www.ice.gov/immigration-enforcement-frequently-asked-questions">operates</a> under civil, not criminal, warrant standards.
While Spanberger accused Trump of “sowing fear” through immigration enforcement, the administration countered that her policies prioritized illegal aliens over public safety, citing her refusal to condemn a Washington, D.C., crime bill that reduced penalties for violent offenders.
Spanberger said Trump is “ceding economic power and technological strength,” “bowing down to a Russian dictator,” and “making plans for war with Iran.” Those assertions bundle three distinct policy areas, none of which have verifiable wholesale policy reversals in official treaties or policy documents as implied.
The Trump administration has maintained sanctions and export controls on Chinese entities; however, recent trade rulings have directly challenged the presidential authority to impose tariffs without an explicit congressional grant. So, in a roundabout manner, it’s been the Democrats who have been ceding U.S. economic leverage against China. In Russia and Iran, U.S. policy continues to involve sanctions and diplomatic pressure. 
To conclude the pre-buttal response, the White House said, “Tonight, while President Trump highlights the successes of his America First agenda in slashing costs, revitalizing manufacturing, securing our borders, and delivering real relief — Spanberger’s response will only underscore her party’s commitment to the failed lunacy Americans rejected.”
Spanberger closed her address by urging voters to “reject this chaos” and return Democrats to power. But the contrast between her rhetoric and the documented record highlights the central tension of her response: sweeping claims delivered with certainty, while the underlying policy history tells a more complicated story. As Republicans argue, the question is not whether Americans are frustrated; it is whether Spanberger’s record reflects the affordability, public safety, and restraint she now claims to champion.

Press Conference Held To Discuss Congressmembers Stock Trading

FACT CHECK: Spanberger’s Claims And Lowlights In The State Of The Union Response

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State of the Union

WASHINGTON—Michael Knowles and Isabel Brown will attend the State of the Union on Tuesday, the latest sign of The Daily Wire&#8217;s growing influence in the nation&#8217;s capital.
Brown will join West Virginia Congressman Riley Moore (R), while Knowles will attend as a guest of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“Michael Knowles is one of America’s most influential commentators on politics and culture and a major asset to the conservative movement,” Johnson said. “As an author, podcaster, and commentator, Michael has done exceptional work advancing our cause and speaking truth with clarity and conviction. It’s my distinct honor to host him at the Capitol for President Trump’s State of the Union address.”
This will be Knowles&#8217; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michael-knowles-to-attend-state-of-the-union-with-tennessee-congressman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second time</a> attending the State of the Union, having previously been the guest of Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) in 2024. It&#8217;s the first State of the Union for Brown, whom Moore praised for her steadfast defense of conservative values.
“I am honored to announce that Isabel Brown will join me as my guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address,” Moore said. “Isabel is a devout Catholic who stands firm in her beliefs and works continuously to promote faith, family, and freedom in her work at The Daily Wire. Isabel inspires countless Americans to stand firm in their faith, and I am glad to welcome her as my guest.”
The Daily Wire&#8217;s presence at the State of the Union is the latest sign of the site&#8217;s growing cachet in Washington, D.C. Mary Margaret Olohan was named The Daily Wire&#8217;s first White House correspondent minutes after President Trump returned to office. Her reporting has brought her around the country with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and earned The Daily Wire a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-briefing-room-gets-facelift-daily-wire-gets-permanent-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> permanent seat</a> in the White House Briefing Room.
Knowles and Brown have each participated in new media events at the White House, interviewing such figures as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Brown has become a regular sight on Pennsylvania Avenue, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUEZnQUj_Ht/?hl=en&amp;img_index=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moderating</a> a panel with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and others on Trump Accounts.
Outside the White House, Daily Wire reporters have interviewed figures including Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-previews-major-hurdle-to-start-2026-after-momentous-first-year-as-majority-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thune</a> and Democratic Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-daily-wire-sits-down-with-john-fetterman-who-doesnt-hear-from-democrats-anymore?author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=The+Daily+Wire+Sits+Down+With+John+Fetterman%2C+Who+Doesn%E2%80%99t+Hear+From+Democrats+Anymore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fetterman</a>. In December, Brown joined Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Reagan National Airport to discuss the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to improve air travel.
In addition to Knowles and Brown, Republican guests for the evening include members of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team, whom President Trump invited personally shortly after their gold medal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-mens-olympic-hockey-team-snags-win-in-overtime-thriller?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=U.S.+Men%E2%80%99s+Olympic+Hockey+Team+Snags+Win+In+Overtime+Thriller">win</a> in Milan.
Democrats are taking a slightly different tack to the evening’s address, which has Washington abuzz. In addition to the usual opposition response, which this year will be delivered by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D), Democrats are planning a day&#8217;s worth of events to protest the president.
The slate of Democrat counter-programming begins Tuesday morning with a &#8220;prebuttal&#8221; from New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver (D). The address will be streamed on the left-leaning site MeidasTouch, which is also hosting a &#8220;People&#8217;s State Of The Union&#8221; rally on the National Mall during Trump&#8217;s speech. Prominent Democrat lawmakers, including California Senator Adam Schiff, have said they will skip the State of the Union to attend the alternative event.
The Daily Wire will be broadcasting live from that rally, as well as from inside the Capitol and throughout Washington on Tuesday evening. Be sure to tune in to our live coverage beginning at 7:45 p.m. ET, and follow along all day with our live blog, where our reporters will be bringing you all the news you need to know before, during, and after the speech.

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Michael Knowles, Isabel Brown To Attend State Of The Union

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Drew Berkemeyer