President Donald Trump called for Republicans to get a national voter ID law passed ahead of the midterm elections, saying that he would take executive action if Congress could not get it done.
Trump’s call comes after the SAVE America Act requiring photo identification and proof of citizenship to vote in elections <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-revamped-bill-to-prevent-illegal-immigrants-from-voting-senate-battle-looms">passed</a> the House on Wednesday and headed to the Senate.
“We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer. These are horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS. They have all sorts of reasons why it shouldn’t be passed, and then boldly laugh in the backrooms after their ridiculous presentations,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “If it weren’t such a serious matter, it would be considered a TOTAL JOKE! No Voter I.D. is even crazier, and more ridiculous, than Men playing in Women’s Sports, Open Borders, or Transgender for Everyone.”
Trump said Republicans should be talking about the issue in every speech, pointing to polling that most Americans support voter ID laws.
“This is an issue that must be fought, and must be fought, NOW!” Trump said. “If we can’t get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order.”
Trump said that if Democrats took back power, they would move to make Washington, D.C.,  and Puerto Rico states, pack the Supreme Court, and remove the filibuster in the Senate.
“Our Country will never be the same if they allow these demented and evil people to knowingly, and happily, destroy it,” Trump said.
According to the <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id">National Conference of State Legislatures</a>, &#8220;Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls. The remaining 14 states and Washington, D.C., use other methods to verify the identity of voters. Most frequently, other identifying information provided at the polling place, such as a signature, is checked against information on file.&#8221;
After the House passed the SAVE America Act on Wednesday, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has been pushing for it to move forward in the Senate. He has already picked up 49 Republican co-sponsors of the legislation and got commitment to support the bill from Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).
In a <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/2022447031386804662">video</a> posted to social media, Lee said that Republicans in the Senate should now move forward to debate and force Democrats to use the “talking filibuster” instead of the “zombie filibuster.”
Polling <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/poll-undercuts-democrat-voter-suppression-claims">released</a> by Cygnal this week found that 72% of white voters, 69% of Hispanic voters, and 56% of black voters support requiring identification at the polls.

President Trump And EPA Administrator Zeldin Make An Announcement From The White House

Trump Floats Executive Action On Voter ID If Congress Doesn’t Act

2026 Midterms

Donald Trump

Election Laws

Elections

Mike Lee

Politics

U.S. Senate

Voter ID

An illegal immigrant from El Salvador with half a dozen criminal convictions in California was one of the many illegals with serious criminal records arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. 
ICE arrested Jose Lopez-Arevalo, who has convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, vehicle hit-and-run, false imprisonment, grand theft, evading police, and driving under the influence in the San Francisco area. The arrest comes as Democrats look to slash ICE’s ability to combat illegal immigration. 
“Yesterday, the brave men and women of ICE arrested heinous criminal illegal aliens convicted for sex crimes against children, felony battery, and one monster convicted for SIX offenses, including a hit-and-run and grand theft,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Daily Wire.
Funding for DHS is set to expire at midnight unless Congress makes a deal. Democrats have issued a series of demands, including changing the warrants used for immigration arrests and banning agents from wearing masks.
Despite the impending funding lapses, ICE has continued to make arrests. According to DHS, others arrested on Thursday included: 
<ul>
<li>Juan Eulises Garcia-Alvarado, an illegal alien from El Salvador, convicted of possessing sexual performance by a child less than 16-years-old in Suffolk County, New York</li>
<li>Martin Rodriguez-Hernandez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in Hidalgo County, Texas</li>
<li>Jose Garcia-Acevedo, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of felony battery in Wildwood, Florida</li>
<li>Juventino Madrigal-Oseguera, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of conspiring to traffic cocaine in Guilford County, North Carolina</li>
</ul>
“There is absolutely no reason these violent criminals should remain in this country,” McLaughlin said. “While sanctuary politicians and activist judges release criminals into our communities, our law enforcement officers are risking their lives to remove public safety threats from American neighborhoods.”

MixCollage-13-Feb-2026-01-08-PM-8715

ICE Nabs Illegal Alien ‘Monster’ With Six Convictions In California

Department of Homeland Security

Illegal Immigation

A conservative legal firm is asking the federal government to reveal the truth about the creation of a race-focused organ transplant policy developed by the Biden administration. 
America First Legal <a href="https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/06111524/AFL-v-HHS-Complaint.pdf">sued</a> the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services earlier this month seeking information on the creation of the model that requires organizations that oversee the transplant process to prioritize &#8220;equity.&#8221; The suit says that the departments have not complied with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking documents on the model’s creation. 
“Biden officials embedded race into organ transplant policy and rebranded discrimination as ‘equity.’ This FOIA lawsuit seeks to expose the outside influence behind the IOTA Model, including the communications and meetings that shaped this program,” said America First Legal lawyer Megan Redshaw.
The policy in question is the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) model, which took effect in July 2025 after being implemented in the waning days of Joe Biden&#8217;s presidency. The model is set to be in place for six years.
The rule says that the federal government wanted to <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/04/2024-27841/medicare-program-alternative-payment-model-updates-and-the-increasing-organ-transplant-access-iota">increase</a> “equity in kidney transplantation by creating performance-based incentive payments for participating kidney transplant hospitals tied to” kidney transplant access.
Citing Biden’s <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government">executive order</a> on embedding “racial equity” policies in the federal government, organ procurement organizations are required to submit health equity plans “to address health outcome disparities.” Organ procurement organizations are federally designated non-profits that oversee the organ transplant process. 
The goal of the model was to address “health equity problems” through “financial incentives that reward IOTA participants that improve their kidney organ offer acceptance rate ratios over time and hold them financially accountable for not doing so.”
In August 2025, America First Legal requested documentation from HHS and CMS on whether any organ procurement organizations were involved in the creation of the model. Two organizations mentioned in the lawsuit were the United Network for Organ Sharing and the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations.
The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations said it had no comment on the litigation and that it was not involved in the creation of the model. 
The association told The Daily Wire that it “was not involved in CMS’s development of the IOTA Model. Like many stakeholders, AOPO has participated in formal public comment opportunities on proposed federal policies affecting organ donation and transplantation.”
The request to HHS was submitted on August 18, 2025, and the request to CMS was submitted the same day. America First Legal’s suit says that it has received no records or any communication from HHS or CMS apart from an initial acknowledgment the day the request was submitted. 
“The American people have a right to know who helped design that agenda, who pushed it, and what role outside stakeholders played in shaping policy that governs life-and-death decisions,” said Redshaw. 
HHS told The Daily Wire that it does not comment on pending litigation.

MixCollage-13-Feb-2026-12-14-PM-2184

Could This Be The End Of Race-Based Organ Transplants?

Department of Health and Human Services

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Equity

Joe Biden

Organ Donation

Kathryn Ruemmler, former President Barack Obama’s longest-serving White House counsel, announced Thursday she will leave her position of chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs after newly released emails revealed her friendly exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 
The emails, released by the Justice Department, show Ruemmler referring to Epstein as “Uncle Jeffrey,” asking about a possible day trip to his private Caribbean island, and wishing him happy birthday. Ruemmler has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that her relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. 
“I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction,” Ruemmler <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c9c4ea8a-f806-4a04-b409-a8ec03c00b15">told</a> the Financial Times on Thursday, explaining her decision to leave Goldman Sachs. She is set to officially leave the firm on June 30. 
Ruemmler joined the firm a few years after serving in the Obama White House, where she advised the president on legal matters involving domestic policy, foreign affairs, and national security. She served as White House counsel from June 2011 to June 2014. 
A spokeswoman for Ruemmler <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/12/business/top-goldman-sachs-lawyer-kathy-ruemmler-to-resign-over-epstein-links/">told</a> the New York Post that she “has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. Nothing in the record suggests otherwise.”
A review of the Epstein files revealed numerous emails between Ruemmler and Epstein in the years after his 2008 conviction for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor. 
In one email from January 4, 2019, Ruemmler <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02605815.pdf">wrote</a>, “Am totally tricked out by Uncle Jeffrey today! Jeffrey boots, handbag, and w=tch!”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1043495" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM.png" alt="" width="2046" height="663" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM.png 2046w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-300x97.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-1024x332.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-768x249.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-1536x498.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2046px) 100vw, 2046px" />
When asked if Epstein had given her the gifts, Reummler spokeswoman Jami Schlicher told The Daily Wire that &#8220;it has been well reported that Epstein&#8217;s MO was to provide unsolicited gifts and do unsolicited favors for people.&#8221;
In another <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02064816.pdf">email</a> from December 2015, Ruemmler told Epstein’s assistant that he was like an older brother to her. 
“Well, I adore him. It&#8217;s like having another older brother!” she said.
Other emails show her wishing Epstein a happy birthday and expressing gratitude for his friendship.
“Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy the day with your one true love,” she wrote Epstein on January 20, 2015. 
Another <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02475866.pdf">email</a> was sent while she was traveling to Megève, a ski resort in France. 
“In the Swiss Air first class lounge drinking good red wine (only one glass!)= and am grateful for your friendship. Will=send reports from Megeve. Xo,” she wrote on December 31, 2015. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1043583" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM.png" alt="" width="1938" height="573" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM.png 1938w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-300x89.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-1024x303.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-768x227.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-1536x454.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1938px) 100vw, 1938px" /></div>
In a January 17, 2017 email, Ruemmler <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02385988.pdf">asked</a> whether she could visit Little Saint James, a private island owned by Epstein, where accusers say he sex trafficked women and underage girls.
“Our flight Sunday back to NY is from St Luci=. Can we take a day trip to the island on Sat or is it too far?” she wrote after Epstein offered to fly her there. 
Schlicher said the island trip never happened, and characterized Ruemmler&#8217;s relationship with Epstein as professional.
&#8220;Ms. Ruemmler has been clear and consistent from the outset: she knew him through her work as a criminal defense attorney, shared a client with him, received referrals from him, and was friendly in that professional context,&#8221; she told The Daily Wire. &#8220;At times, Epstein sought informal advice, and she provided feedback based on her understanding at the time, without any formal involvement. Ms. Ruemmler has deep sympathy for those harmed by Epstein and if she knew then what she knows now, she never would have dealt with him at all.&#8221;
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has publicly stood by Ruemmler amid the controversy. 
“Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions and sound advice on a wide range of consequential legal matters for the firm,” he said. “As one of the most accomplished professionals in her field, Kathy has also been a mentor and friend to many of our people, and she will be missed.”

MixCollage-13-Feb-2026-07-23-AM-8066

SEE IT: ‘Uncle Jeffrey,’ Birthday Wishes And ‘Xo’ Emails Rock Obama-Era Insider

Barack Obama

Department of Justice

Goldman Sachs

Jeffrey Epstein

After a closed-door hearing this week with Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary, Senator Josh Hawley told The Daily Wire that Congress must take action against rising abortion rates largely fueled by the abortion drug mifepristone. 
Hawley and other senators on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee met with Makary on Tuesday for a private briefing on mifepristone. The briefing focused on the FDA’s handling of mifepristone and an ongoing study of the drug&#8217;s safety. 
Both Makary and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. committed to conducting the study last year, but Republican lawmakers have grown impatient. 
“I think we&#8217;re at a dead end on this process with the safety review. I just don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s going anywhere, and I think the fact that 70% of abortions in this country now are done with the chemical abortion drug, there are more abortions in America now than there were when Roe was still the law of the land just a few years ago,” Hawley told The Daily Wire. “We have a serious, serious crisis around the chemical abortion drug, and we&#8217;ve got to do something about it.”
Data released in December by the pro-abortion Society of Family Planning <a href="https://societyfp.org/research/wecount/wecount-june-2025-data/">revealed</a> that the number of monthly abortions continued to increase in 2025 from 2024, which was itself an increase from 2023. Many of the pills have been sent through the mail to states where medication abortions are technically illegal. 
Hawley said he has not heard back from the FDA on any of the letters sent on the abortion pill and said he didn’t receive any new information on Wednesday. He said there was no “sense of urgency” to take any action.
“I think this study is just a dead end,” he said. “I think Congress needs to act.”
Hawley said he was still contemplating what the action might look like, but any pro-life proposal would face an uphill battle in the Senate. 
“I think Congress needs to be involved. Congress shouldn&#8217;t be a spectator and just outsource this to other people. I think it&#8217;s time for Congress to get involved,” he said. 
At a minimum, Hawley says the FDA should reverse a Biden-era decision that allowed mifepristone to be shipped through the mail without an in-person doctor visit. Pro-life advocates say that the policy effectively nullifies the laws of states that have cracked down on abortion pills. 
When reached for comment, the FDA pointed The Daily Wire to a <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation">Q&amp;A page</a> on mifepristone.

Telecommunications Executives Testify In Senate Hearing Examining Arctic Frost Investigation

‘Serious Crisis’: Hawley Says Congress Must Act To Combat Rising Abortion Rates

Abortion

Abortion Drug

Josh Hawley

Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said Wednesday that her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, is “innocent” and remains the “legitimate president” of the country despite his imprisonment in the United States. 
Maduro, who was captured by American special forces last month, is in federal prison in New York awaiting trial for drug trafficking. 
“I can tell you President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president. I will tell you this as a lawyer, that I am. Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent,” Rodríguez, who became acting president of Venezuela after Maduro was taken into custody, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/venezuela/maduro-legitimate-president-venezuela-delcy-rodriguez-interview-trump-rcna258687">told</a> NBC News. 
The Justice Department accuses Maduro of masterminding a decades-long narco-terrorism and drug trafficking conspiracy involving senior Venezuelan officials that allegedly used state power to facilitate large-scale cocaine shipments bound for the United States. Prosecutors say the scheme transformed the government into a criminal enterprise, known as the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns).
“I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it’s stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela. And from the amount of work that I have, from how busy I am, I can tell you it’s very, very hard work and we’re doing it completely day by day,” Rodríguez said. 
She added that she has been invited to the United States and contemplated making a trip “once we establish this cooperation and we can move forward with everything.”
Last month, CIA Director John Ratcliffe <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cia-director-meets-with-venezuelas-interim-leader-as-u-s-shifts-policy">met with Rodríguez</a> in Caracas to discuss economic cooperation and intensifying efforts against drug trafficking. At the time, an American official told The Daily Wire that the meeting focused on “trust building measures and laying the groundwork for continued communication and room for collaboration between the two governments.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright was in Venezuela on Wednesday, and he praised Rodríguez.
“She’s delivered information. Everything we know so far has turned out to be true. She’s made enormous positive changes, including already changing the hydrocarbon law in the country in the first few weeks,” he told NBC News. “So I would say that cooperation is off to a tremendous start.”
Wright is in Venezuela to examine the country&#8217;s oil industry. He said more than $1 billion in sales of Venezuelan oil had already been made, with another $5 billion expected in the next few months. 
“So the Venezuelans are in charge here in Venezuela, but the United States has enormous leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela — the largest revenue source that funds&#8230; the government of Venezuela is now controlled by the United States,” Wright said.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez of Venezuela Meets With U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright

Acting Venezeula President Says Maduro Is ‘Innocent,’ Still The ‘Legitimate’ Leader

Chris Wright

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela

“Got Woke? Knoxville Symphony does.” 
That message will be emblazoned on a mobile billboard and greet attendees of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra as they arrive for a romantic date night featuring Valentine’s Day-themed music on Thursday and Friday. 
The mobile billboard seeks to spotlight a renowned clarinet player&#8217;s fight to remove DEI from the world of professional music and arrives courtesy of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, a conservative nonprofit. James Zimmermann, the clarinetist, filed a lawsuit in December, accusing the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra of refusing to hire him based on his opposition to DEI. 
Zimmermann told The Daily Wire he won a blind audition for the principal clarinet position in September 2025 and was told by staff he would soon be on salary, only to have that opportunity fall away a few days later once the orchestra learned of his <a href="https://freebeacon.com/culture/how-racial-anxiety-conquered-an-orchestra-and-crushed-a-career/">previous DEI battle</a> with the orchestra in Nashville. 
“This whole scenario is much bigger than just me and this one little job in Knoxville. It&#8217;s the demoralization that every white guy feels that, ‘Hey, these orchestras don&#8217;t want me.’ They have openly stated, ‘We need our orchestras to be more diverse.’ All that means is they want fewer white guys in the orchestra. It&#8217;s very obvious,&#8221; Zimmermann told The Daily Wire. 
Images shared with The Daily Wire by the Coolidge Reagan Foundation show the multiple messages that will appear on mobile billboard vehicles outside the Tennessee Theater from 3-11 p.m. On both days, the orchestra is performing a concert called “Star-Crossed Lovers” at 7:30 p.m.
The images include statements such as “DEI ≠ Fairness,” “Go Woke, Lose Talent,” and “Your Tax Dollars Fuel Woke DEI Policies at the Orchestra.” The Coolidge Reagan Foundation also launched a <a href="https://www.wokesymphony.com">website</a> to highlight Zimmermann&#8217;s story. 
<div id="attachment_1042819" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1042819" class="size-full wp-image-1042819" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="2560" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-576x576.jpg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-46-PM-4128-2048x2048.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />Coolidge Reagan Foundation.</div>
According to a lawsuit filed by Zimmermann in Tennessee’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra refused to hire him based on his politics. Zimmermann is suing for compensation he would have earned had he been given the job. 
“The Orchestra engaged in racial discrimination against Mr. Zimmermann, violating the results of its own screened audition, in violation of the Tennessee Human Rights Act,” a copy of the lawsuit shared with The Daily Wire said. “Had Zimmermann not been a white male, particularly a white male who had previously expressed opposition to DEI initiatives, the Orchestra would have proceeded with hiring him consistent with the result of its screened auditions.”
<div id="attachment_1042821" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1042821" class="size-full wp-image-1042821" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="2560" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-576x576.jpg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-04-47-PM-8822-2048x2048.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />Coolidge Reagan Foundation.</div>
After advancing through the screened audition process for the clarinet position, Zimmermann said Knoxville Symphony Orchestra personnel manager Mark Tucker informed him he had won, would soon be “on the payroll,” and would call him to follow up on September 17, 2025.
Instead, on September 18, Zimmermann says he received a phone call from the symphony&#8217;s CEO, Rachel Ford, who mentioned his previous musical job working for the Nashville Symphony. 
An email from Ford to Zimmermann, obtained by The Daily Wire, confirmed Zimmermann’s account. 
Ford told him in the email that “based on a number of items which have come to the attention of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra regarding your employment with the Nashville Symphony, I regret to inform you that the [Knoxville Symphony Orchestra] has decided not to move forward with offering you a contract of employment.”
She added that there would be no further discussions on the matter. 
“We wish you the best in the future. Please know our decision is final and we will not participate in any ongoing communications related to this matter,” she wrote. 
Neither Ford nor Tucker responded to requests for comment. 
The controversy referred to by Ford erupted roughly six years ago when Zimmermann started speaking out against DEI measures at the Nashville Symphony. Eventually, he was fired after two minority musicians, oboe player Titus Underwood and Emilio Carlo, <a href="https://freebeacon.com/culture/how-racial-anxiety-conquered-an-orchestra-and-crushed-a-career/">accused</a> him of harassing them and making threatening and racially charged comments to them.
In the end, Zimmermann was fired after 12 years as the lead clarinet player. Six of his colleagues would later defend him in interviews with the Washington Free Beacon. Zimmermann acknowledges that he was not perfect throughout the situation, but said his firing was prompted, in large part, by politics. 
As that played out, both Underwood and Carlo got a Davidson County judge to issue temporary restraining orders against Zimmermann. Zimmermann has called those restraining orders “bogus” and noted that they were not later renewed.
Carlo and Underwood did not respond to requests for comment. In a <a href="https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knoxville/james-zimmermann-sues-knoxville-symphony-orchestra-for-alleged-discrimination/51-59429c8d-5d6b-4aa9-86a3-6815006f322b">statemen</a>t to local outlet WBIR, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra cited the restraining orders. 
&#8220;The KSO made the decision to reject the Audition Committee’s recommendation and not hire Mr. Zimmermann due to legitimate safety concerns as confirmed by the Nashville Symphony,&#8221; the statement said. 
Zimmermann said that Ford did not mention the restraining orders during her call with Zimmermann, but instead said there were &#8220;items of interest&#8221; that he knew about. Zimmermann said he was never given a chance to explain his side of the story. 
“I have nothing bad to say about the people running the [audition]. It&#8217;s just about the CEO, who made the decision to not hire me, not ask me anything about the past, not ask my side of the story,” Zimmermann told The Daily Wire. “This is supposed to be the land of opportunity, and a blind audition gives you a chance to prove your skills, independent of your political views and race and gender and sex and all that.”
Zimmermann says he has heard from musicians all across the country who agree with him and have told him they hope the orchestra world abandons DEI once and for all.
Dan Backer, the president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, is a counsel for Zimmermann during the suit. 
“I&#8217;m just glad Coolidge Reagan is able to be there and keep the pressure on and make sure that everybody knows that when you set foot in Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, you&#8217;re not listening to the best music you could get, you&#8217;re listening to the wokest music you can get.”
On its website, the Knoxville Symphony <a href="https://knoxvillesymphony.com/aboutkso/history-mission/#:~:text=In%20May%202016%2C%20Aram%20Demirjian,Center%20and%20Washington%20Performing%20Arts.">boasts</a> that its programming emphasizes “music by living composers” and “artists from underrepresented groups.”
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra <a href="https://knoxvillesymphony.com/support-the-kso/corporate-partners/#:~:text=generations%20to%20come.-,Sponsorship%20Opportunities,of%20concertgoers%20across%20East%20Tennessee.&amp;text=Knoxville%20Symphony%20Orchestra%20concerts%20and,%2C%20and%20Arts%20&amp;%20Culture%20Alliance.">receives</a> local and state taxpayer funding through the city of Knoxville, Knox County, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. It is unclear exactly how much the orchestra gets in grants. 
Neither the Nashville nor the Knoxville symphony orchestras responded to requests for comment.

hands playing clarinets in orchestra

He Won The Blind Audition — Then Woke Culture Took The Baton

Woke Music? Tennessee Orchestra Accused Of Targeting Clarinet Player Over DEI Stance

Classical Music

Music

Tennessee

President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed the Department of War to purchase electricity generated from coal plants, saying the move was necessary for national security and “American energy dominance.” 
“We&#8217;re going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now, and it&#8217;s going to be less expensive and actually much more effective than what we have been using for many, many years,” Trump said at a White House event Wednesday afternoon. &#8220;And again, with the environmental progress that&#8217;s been made on coal, it&#8217;s going to be just as clean.&#8221; 
Trump made the remarks before signing an executive order titled &#8220;Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet.” 
“The United States must ensure that our electric grid — upon which military installations, operations, and defense-industrial production depend — remains resilient and reliable, and not reliant on intermittent energy sources,” the executive order <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/strengthening-united-states-national-defense-with-americas-beautiful-clean-coal-power-generation-fleet/">said</a>. “Given our Nation’s vast coal resources and the proven reliability of our coal-fired generation fleet in providing continuous, on-demand baseload power, it is imperative that the Department of War (DOW) prioritize the preservation and strategic utilization of coal-based energy assets.”
The order directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to approve power purchase agreements with coal-fired energy production facilities for War Department installations or other federal facilities. It states that priority should be given to projects that strengthen grid reliability, prevent blackouts, and enhance on-site fuel security.
According to the Energy Information Administration’s <a href="https://www.eia.gov/coal/annual/">2024 coal report</a>, coal production in the United States fell 11.3% from 2023 to 2024, while the number of operating coal mines declined from 560 to 524. Over the same period, American coal consumption dropped 3.5%. 
Since returning to office, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/end-the-government-bias-against-coal-trump-signs-order-to-bolster-floundering-american-industry">has taken</a> several steps to boost domestic coal production and use. He has signed executive orders designating coal as a critical mineral, expanding mining on federal lands, and repealing Biden administration regulations on coal-fired power plants. 
At the White House executive order signing on Wednesday, Trump was presented with the &#8220;Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award by Peabody Energy executive Jim Grech.

Trump Orders Pentagon To Buy Coal Power In Boost To Industry

Why Trump’s Energy Power Play Could Boost America’s National Security Edge

Trump Directs Military To Buy Coal To Bolster National Security And 'American Energy Dominance'

Coal

Department of Energy

Department of War

Energy

Executive

Executive Orders

National Security

The 18-year-old man who attacked a rural Canadian school identified as a woman and had a history of mental illness, law enforcement confirmed Wednesday. 
Police identified the man who opened fire on Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, killing six people, as Jesse Van Rootselaar. Van Rootselaar, who was found dead at the school, began to “transition” about six years ago, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said.
“I will say this, we identify the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and on social media,” he said. “I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately six years ago began to transition to female and identified as female, both socially and publicly.”
McDonald used female pronouns for the attacker despite the fact that he was a male and repeatedly called him &#8220;female&#8221; throughout a Wednesday press conference. 
Two people, identified as Van Rootselaar’s mother and brother, were found dead at a nearby residence the day of the shooting. McDonald said that police had seized guns from the residence in previous years. Canadian outlets have <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/tumbler-ridge-shooter-identified-ctv-news-confirms-live-updates-here/">identified</a> the mother and brother as Jennifer and Emmett Strang, respectively. 
He also said that police had visited the residence multiple times, dealing with “concerns of mental health” with regard to the shooter. He said the shooter had been detained in the past because of mental health concerns. 
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, investigators refused to release the name and sex of the attacker. The first alert described the attacker as a woman wearing a dress, and they later referred to him as a “gunperson.” 
Speculation began circulating that a YouTube page called “JessJessUwU” was run by the shooter. The page featured an anime figure and a rifle with colors associated with the pink, purple, and blue transgender flag in the background, according to screenshots <a href="https://www.junonews.com/p/exclusive-family-confirms-identity">captured</a> by conservative publisher Juno News. 
After the reports started linking the shooting to the account, it was removed. The YouTube channel’s owner showcased “she/her” pronouns in the biography section. 
“Following this horrific incident, our Trust and Safety teams identified and removed a YouTube channel associated with the alleged suspect in accordance with our Creator Responsibility Guidelines,” YouTube told The Daily Wire. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1042597" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.27-PM.png" alt="" width="993" height="519" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.27-PM.png 993w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.27-PM-300x157.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.27-PM-768x401.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px" /></div>
The lone post on the channel was an anime illustration of a person smoking, captioned “I’ve been pretty, um, aimless.” 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1042599" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.44-PM.png" alt="" width="1027" height="500" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.44-PM.png 1027w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.44-PM-300x146.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.44-PM-1024x499.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-1.00.44-PM-768x374.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1027px) 100vw, 1027px" /></div>
A police alert issued immediately after the shooting said the suspect was wearing a dress, and called them a &#8220;gunperson,&#8221; as opposed to a gunman, since the shooter identified as &#8220;nonbinary.&#8221;
The YouTube channel account number was “@jessjess347” which was similar to a Reddit account “jesseboy347” that was also removed. Reddit has not responded to requests for comment. 
The victims at the school included a 39-year-old teacher and five children between the ages of 12 and 13.

MixCollage-11-Feb-2026-01-06-PM-4518

Deadly Canada School Attacker Was Trans Identifying Man, Police Confirm

Canada

School Shooting

Transgender

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted a previous order on Wednesday that had grounded all flights departing El Paso International Airport in Texas for ten days due to “special security reasons.&#8221;
The White House told The Daily Wire shortly after the reversal that the move was related to drug cartels.
&#8220;Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones,&#8221; the White House said. &#8220;The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Administration official tells <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> that the FAA temporarily grounded all flights over El Paso because “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace.”
“The Department of War took action to disable the drones,” the official said. “The FAA and DOW have determined there…
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2021594743180828908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Similar <a href="https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_2234">restrictions</a> were put in place for Santa Teresa, New Mexico, about 15 miles away from El Paso. El Paso, which borders Mexico, is a city of around 678,000 people. 
&#8220;The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,&#8221; the FAA announced Wednesday morning, just a few hours after announcing flights would be grounded for ten days. The airport handles up to 100 flights daily.
The <a href="https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_2233">notice</a> from the FAA put in place flight restrictions for a 10-mile radius around El Paso. Planes flying above 18,000 feet would have been allowed to fly over, but the limitations did not extend into Mexican airspace. 
After the initial grounding was announced, Democrat Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes El Paso, <a href="https://x.com/RepEscobar">called</a> for the FAA to lift the restrictions. 
“The highly consequential decision by FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and has resulted in significant concern within the community,” she said. “From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.”
After the restrictions were lifted, Escobar said there were no safety concerns.
&#8220;The FAA is rightfully lifting the Temporary Restricted Airspace. I will again reiterate there is no threat to El Paso or the surrounding areas,&#8221; she said.
State Senator Cesar Blanco, a Democrat, said his office was contacting multiple agencies to understand the justification for the temporary grounding. 
“Actions like this are taken out of an abundance of caution to protect our community. I encourage everyone to remain calm and patient as we await further information. We will share updates as they become available,” he said. 
&nbsp;

El Paso International Airport

White House Responds After Taking Out Mexican Cartel Drones In U.S. Airspace

El Paso

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Southern Border

Texas

Ten people are dead, and at least 25 more were injured after a shooter who was reportedly wearing a dress opened fire at a rural Canadian school on Tuesday. 
The mass shooting took place at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in northeastern British Columbia, serving students in grades 7 through 12, where seven people were killed. The shooter then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. Investigators said they found two other people dead at a nearby home and believe it was connected to the school attack. Police have not yet released the attacker&#8217;s identity, but <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2021422026024681595">described</a> the shooter as a &#8220;gun person.&#8221; Authorities initially described the suspect as a person with brown hair and wearing a dress. 
When reached for comment by The Daily Wire, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police refused to confirm the sex of the shooter.
&#8220;We are unable to confirm identity publicly at this time. Updates will be provided as information becomes available. As such, I don&#8217;t have a timeline of when the next availability will be,&#8221; spokeswoman Vanessa Munn told The Daily Wire. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Amid reports that the shooter who killed 7 at a Canadian school was transgender, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police did not answer when I asked if they could tell me the sex of the attacker.
&#8220;We are unable to confirm identity publicly at this time,&#8221; they told me
— Leif Le Mahieu (@leif_lemahieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/leif_lemahieu/status/2021622206841999694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Six of the victims died at the school, while a seventh died while being transported to the hospital. Two others were airlifted with serious injuries, while 25 others were being treated for minor injuries. 
The investigation into the shooting is being handled by the Major Crime Division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Law enforcement said they were checking other locations for any additional victims. 
“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” North District Commander Ken Floyd said. “Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community, and we are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue their work to advance the investigation.”
Floyd said later that police had no indication of motive, saying he thought investigators would “struggle to determine the ‘why’, but we will try our best to determine what transpired.”
The attack was one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history. 
“My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens.”
Tumbler Ridge is a city of around 2400 people, and fewer than 200 students were <a href="https://studentsuccess.gov.bc.ca/school/05959027/report/contextual-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enrolled</a> at the school.
&#8220;I will know every victim. I&#8217;ve been here 19 years, and we&#8217;re a small community,&#8221; Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/livestory/active-shooter-alert-tumbler-ridge-secondary-school-bc-live-updates-9.7083740?ts=1770782426680">told</a> CBC. &#8220;I don&#8217;t call them residents. I call them family.&#8221;

CANADA-US-TARIFF-TRADE

10 Dead, At Least 25 Injured After ‘Gun Person’ Wearing A Dress Opens Fire At Canadian School

10 Dead, At Least 25 Injured After Person Wearing A Dress Opens Fire At Canadian School

Crime

Mass Shooting

school

World

A man who once worked for the current mayor of a California city was sentenced to four years in prison for covertly spreading Chinese Communist Party propaganda.
Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, was sentenced to 48 months in prison on Monday by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner for acting as an illegal agent for China from 2022 to 2024. Sun once worked on the city council campaign of Democrat Eileen Wang, the current mayor of the Southern California city of Arcadia.
“For years, Sun received and executed taskings from Chinese government officials, distorted our public discourse by disseminating Chinese propaganda, and surveilled groups in the United States that China viewed as threatening its interests as part of a campaign of intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg. 
“His conduct represents a brazen violation of our national sovereignty. This sentence reflects our commitment to prosecuting those who would extend the authoritarian reach of the Chinese government on U.S. soil,&#8221; he added.
During his time working as an agent for China, Sun submitted reports to Chinese officials highlighting his work to counter the Falun Gong minority and pro-Taiwanese independence forces and “helping to elect a like-minded individual (&#8216;Individual 1&#8217;) to political office in Southern California,” according to the Justice Department sentencing memo.
While “Individual 1” was not identified in court documents, both the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-10/sentence-chinese-spy-helped-elect-council-member">Los Angeles Times</a> and the <a href="https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2026/02/09/chino-hills-man-advisor-for-arcadia-leader-sentenced-to-prison-for-acting-as-unregistered-agent-for-china/">Pasadena Star-News</a> reported sources confirmed this person was Wang. Campaign documents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-election-interference-california-yaoning-mike-sun-d514395039bea63a8c7b8814d29d1aaa">listed</a> Sun as Wang’s campaign treasurer. Wang, who has not been charged with any crimes, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While her position is officially non-partisan, filings show that Wang switched from identifying as a <a href="https://laserfiche.arcadiaca.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=866849&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=CityofArcadia">Republican</a> to a <a href="https://laserfiche.arcadiaca.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=866847&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=CityofArcadia">Democrat</a>. The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-21/who-is-the-politician-at-the-center-of-the-latest-chinese-influence-scandal">reported</a> the switch was motivated by housing policies.
In one of his reports to Chinese officials, Sun said that he had “orchestrated and organized my team to win the election for city council” for “Individual 1,” whom he described as a “new political star.”
“Throughout 2022, defendant also worked as the campaign advisor for Individual 1, who was running for City Council in a Southern California city. Individual 1 was elected to the City Council in November 2022,” the sentencing memo said.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Sun was Wang’s fiancé and that he helped bring in donations from sources tied to the Chinese government. Wang previously said she ended her romantic relationship with Sun about eight months before he faced federal charges.
“We broke up the fiancé relationship,” Wang <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-02/china-allegedly-tried-to-influence-this-politician-she-says-shes-not-going-anywhere">said</a> in April 2025. “We keep the friendship.”
Additionally, Sun spied on then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in April 2023 when she visited the United States, and he published a website “targeting the local Chinese-American population&#8221; at the direction of PRC Consulate officials, according to the sentencing memo.
Investigators said that Sun worked with John Chen, a “high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus,” who previously pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent for China. Chen was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/california-man-sentenced-acting-illegal-agent-prc-government-and-bribery">sentenced</a> for his efforts to repress U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a persecuted religious minority in China.
In one report submitted to Chinese officials, Sun said he had been in the United States since 1996 to “persist in resisting any hostile forces that undermine the friendship of US-China relations.&#8221;
The House Select Committee on China said the sentencing should serve as a warning for the United States.
&#8220;This case is what the Select Committee has warned for years: the Chinese Communist Party is actively targeting U.S. political systems, all the way down to local elections,&#8221; the committee <a href="https://x.com/ChinaSelect/status/2021270689332764734">said</a>. &#8220;A China-directed agent orchestrated efforts to elect a city council candidate, pushed CCP propaganda through a fake local news outlet, and reported directly to PRC officials, all while on U.S. soil.&#8221;

A US and a Chinese flag wave outside a c

Man Who Worked For California Mayor Sentenced To Prison For Spreading CCP Propaganda

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