One lone Democrat has stepped up to call for Jay Jones, Democratic nominee for state attorney general in Virginia, to drop out of the race over several text messages he sent calling for the assassination of a political opponent.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) spoke with Hugh Hewitt about the texts Jones sent to a Republican colleague, then-Delegate Carrie Coyner, in which he&#8217;d suggested then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert should be shot and that he&#8217;d like to &#8220;piss on the graves&#8221; of other Republicans.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Congressman <a href="https://twitter.com/RoKhanna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoKhanna</a> calls on VA Democratic nominee for AG Jay Jones to drop out of the race, for Katie Porter to hold a long press conference, and for government to reopen though it took a long time to get to the last point.<a href="https://t.co/1xXRvtO21s">https://t.co/1xXRvtO21s</a> <a href="https://t.co/JJKbYaGQEn">pic.twitter.com/JJKbYaGQEn</a>
— HughHewittShowLinks (@HHSLinks) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSLinks/status/1976386311998275773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hewitt asked the question point blank: &#8220;Should that man, Jay Jones, drop out of the race?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s horrific. There&#8217;s no excuse for it,&#8221; Khanna began. &#8220;I fully condemn it. And yeah, I haven&#8217;t followed all the details, but if he was actually saying that, I certainly wouldn&#8217;t support him.&#8221;
While many Democrats have come forward to condemn Jones&#8217; remarks, they have repeatedly stopped short of calling for him to exit the race — and some have even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-virginia-senator-says-jay-jones-still-has-his-support">defended him</a> staying in the race either by claiming that despite those texts, he was still a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virginia-dems-say-candidate-who-fantasized-about-murdering-gop-leader-is-better-than-republicans">better choice</a> for attorney general than the Republican incumbent, Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/is-the-virginia-way-dead-ag-jason-miyares-breaks-down-whats-really-at-stake-in-jay-jones-race">Jason Miyares</a>. Khanna became the first prominent member of the party to break with Jones.
Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attempted to split the baby, telling CNN anchor Dana Bash that whether or not Jones should leave the race was a decision best left to leaders in Virginia — and then said that since he&#8217;d at least apologized, &#8220;What I understand is they say, on balance, he is a better person to be Attorney General.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CNN: &#8220;The Democrat candidate for Attorney General in Virginia said a Republican deserved two bullets in his head&#8230; Should he get out of the race?&#8221;
Pelosi: &#8220;What I understand is they say, on balance, he is a better person to be Attorney General.&#8221;<a href="https://t.co/WOgV0EXk0v">pic.twitter.com/WOgV0EXk0v</a>
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1975972670102741468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

House Oversight And Accountability Members And Watchdog Group Court Accountability Focus On Supreme Court Ethics

FINALLY: A Democrat Calls For Jay Jones To Drop Out Of Virginia AG Race Over Despicable Texts

Jay Jones

Media

Nancy Pelosi

Politics

Virginia

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could do little but stand in the frame and appear uncomfortable during a Thursday interview on CNBC, as host Joe Kernen broke down the reasons he believed Democrats were fighting a losing battle in the ongoing government shutdown.
Jeffries spoke to Kernen about the shutdown — which has just passed the week mark — and attempted to justify the fact that Democrats were holding out in a blatant effort to undo by temper tantrum what Republicans had done through the legislative process.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 BREAKING: Hakeem Jeffries was just EMBARRASSED for holding the government hostage&#8230;holy smokes. This was bad.
CNBC: &#8220;There was an ELECTION. Republicans were able to pass the Big Beautiful Bill. To then say, &#8216;We don&#8217;t like that, so we&#8217;re gonna shut down the government until… <a href="https://t.co/wlcxytaZC6">pic.twitter.com/wlcxytaZC6</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1976273823512010945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;There was an election, and the Republicans were put in a position where they were able to pass the Big Beautiful Bill, or as you call it the ‘Big Ugly Bill.’ To then say, &#8216;We don’t like any of that, so we’re going to shut down the government until you take back all the things that you duly passed through legislation &#8230;'&#8221; Kernen began, arguing that if the shoe were on the other foot, Democrats would be angry — and rightfully so.
&#8220;If Republicans had tried to do that to the Inflation Reduction Act or the — any of the acts that Biden and that administration have passed — if they said we’re going to shut down the government because we don’t like any of those things you did, ‘we’re not going to pay our military, we are going to not allow the government to reopen until you do what we want’ – after an election where the American people put Democrats in power – you’d be going crazy!&#8221; he said.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
&#8220;It&#8217;s not how it works! It&#8217;s bad, it&#8217;s bad precedent!&#8221; Kernen continued, noting that the Continuing Resolution — which would at least temporarily reopen the government — had already passed the House, but needed a handful of Senate votes.
Jeffries attempted to pivot, saying, &#8220;What is bad precedent is the Republican refusal to engage in bipartisan negotiations! &#8230; They&#8217;ve made the decision to shut the government down, they could open it now!&#8221;
&#8220;How could they do that?!&#8221; Kernen asked.
&#8220;I just explained it! The reality is they want to keep the government closed. Cruelty, from the very beginning of this administration, has been the point. The responsible thing to do is to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan path forward to address a very real health care crisis that&#8217;s upon us right now!&#8221; Jeffries said, visibly frustrated. He left out the fact that the only negotiations Democrats have said they&#8217;d agree to would necessarily include — as Kernen said — the undoing of provisions that Republicans passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill.

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

CNBC’s Joe Kernen Blisters Hakeem Jeffries Over Democrat-Fueled Shutdown

CNBC's Joe Kernen Blisters Hakeem Jeffries Over Democrat-Fueled Shutdown

Congress

Donald Trump

Government Shutdown

Hakeem Jeffries

Seattle-based independent journalist Brandi Kruse declared on Wednesday that she is &#8220;living proof&#8221; that it&#8217;s possible to recover from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) — and that she&#8217;s been &#8220;happier,&#8221; &#8220;healthier,&#8221; and even &#8220;more successful&#8221; since she did so.
Kruse joined President Donald Trump and a number of other guests for the White House&#8217;s roundtable discussion on Antifa and the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to classify the militant organization as a domestic terror group, and she explained that her own experiences with Antifa in Seattle had ultimately led to her recovery from TDS.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 MUST-SEE: <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandiKruse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandiKruse</a> testimony at the Antifa Roundtable was straight fire 🔥
She admits to past Trump Derangement Syndrome, rips MSM, and calls out Antifa as terrorists. Watch every second! <a href="https://t.co/Vzz7qS98p5">pic.twitter.com/Vzz7qS98p5</a>
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlecLace/status/1976022954904522813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I was told by probably a dozen people not to tell you this,&#8221; she said to Trump. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell it to you anyway because it&#8217;s relevant to what we&#8217;re talking about. I&#8217;m living proof that you can recover from TDS.&#8221;
&#8220;I had strong ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ for probably eight years,&#8221; she admitted, and Trump began to smile. &#8220;It&#8217;s the — this is one of the reasons I recovered from it. And by the way, it&#8217;s much better to not have TDS. I&#8217;m happier, I&#8217;m healthier, more successful, I even think I got a little more attractive after I got rid of my Trump Derangement Syndrome.&#8221;
Laughs came from all around the table at that last comment, and then Kruse pivoted to address the media outlets in the room and the reason she was there: &#8220;Frankly, I could not care any less what any of you have to say about this meeting. Could not care any less. We&#8217;re not here for you. I&#8217;m not here to convince any of you that Antifa is a real thing, because if you have not come to that conclusion by now, you are never going to come to that conclusion because you don&#8217;t want to see it.&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
She went on to predict that they&#8217;d go out and report that the meeting was little more than &#8220;a bunch of right-wing, conservative influencers&#8221; who were chasing clout and social media followers.
&#8220;I was one of you,&#8221; she reminded them, noting that she&#8217;d been a television reporter on a mainstream media network, and she&#8217;d still been roughed up by Antifa rioters.
&#8220;When I saw, after all those years, that the media wouldn&#8217;t be honest about what was happening, that Democratic politicians wouldn&#8217;t be honest about what was happening, I thought, well, gosh, if they&#8217;re not being honest about that, maybe they&#8217;re not being honest about President Trump either. And it opened my mind to just looking at things as they were — and now I find you quite funny, actually,&#8221; she concluded, prompting more laughs from around the room.

President Trump Holds Roundtable Discussion At The White House On Antifa

Seattle Reporter Says She’s ‘Living Proof’ Recovery From Trump Derangement Syndrome Is Possible

Antifa

domestic terrorism

Portland

Seattle

Violence

Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) is fighting off a wave of self-made crises, the most recent of which features a video obtained by <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/08/katie-porter-tears-into-staffer-new-video-00598942">Politico</a> in which she can be seen swearing at and berating one of her staffers for appearing in her shot while she recorded a video meeting with then Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
Porter, who pivoted from her Senate loss to Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) to a run for the governorship of California when Governor Gain Newsom (D-CA) terms out in a year, paused her meeting with Granholm to tell the unnamed staffer to &#8220;get out of my f***ing shot!&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Exclusive from <a href="https://twitter.com/melmason?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@melmason</a> on Katie Porter, who berates a staffer and tells her to “get out of my fucking shot!” while recording a video with the Biden administration.
The video + story — scooped by <a href="https://twitter.com/politico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@politico</a>👇🏼<a href="https://t.co/WENFsRlkwC">https://t.co/WENFsRlkwC</a> <a href="https://t.co/47dQ3n6nWJ">pic.twitter.com/47dQ3n6nWJ</a>
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) <a href="https://twitter.com/ccadelago/status/1976041225548701921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Porter was speaking with Granholm about how much money Americans could save if they made the switch to electric vehicles when one of her staffers walked into the shot behind her. Her tone changed mid-sentence as she began scolding the staffer.
Referencing her work on the House Oversight Committee, Porter claimed a recent study had found that &#8220;if we don&#8217;t electrify our transportation sector, we&#8217;re going to lose more than half a million Californians dying prematurely to air pollution and other problems and the state could lose &#8230; get out of my f***ing shot!&#8221;
The staffer attempted to offer Porter additional data related to the topic at hand, but Porter continued, &#8220;Okay, you also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot.&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
Just days earlier, video from a mid-September interview went viral and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-dem-flips-walks-out-on-reporter-for-asking-basic-questions">Porter</a> could be seen balking at a CBS reporter who dared to ask her pointed questions — with follow-ups — about how she planned to reach the 40% of California voters who had voted for President Donald Trump in 2024. Porter visibly bristled, claimed she didn&#8217;t need those voters to win, and then flatly refused to answer questions that were not &#8220;on the list.&#8221;
Porter was also accused of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hot-potatoes-and-insults-fly-in-report-detailing-allegations-from-katie-porters-messy-divorce">throwing mashed potatoes</a> at her now ex-husband Matthew Hoffman and of refusing to allow him to have a cell phone because he was, in her words, &#8220;too f***ing dumb to operate it.&#8221;
As Chris Cillizza quickly <a href="https://x.com/ChrisCillizza/status/1976074662124847508">noted via X</a>, the biggest problem for Porter is not any one incident, but them all together: &#8220;The problem for Katie Porter is none of these are isolated incidents. They speak to a pattern of borderline abusive behavior toward staff and others. And they appear to show who she *really* is. I don’t see how she can stay in the governor’s race.&#8221;
Porter told Politico in a statement, &#8220;It’s no secret I hold myself and my staff to a high standard, and that was especially true as a member of Congress. I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work.&#8221;

March For Our Lives town hall.

New Episode Drops In Katie Porter Drama: Staffer Takes Verbal Abuse For Being ‘In My Shot’

California

Democrats

Gavin Newsom

Katie Porter

Just before President Donald Trump announced to the world that a deal had been reached between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, a photo circulated of the moment Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaned in to inform him that an agreement was imminent.
Trump was in the middle of a roundtable discussion about Antifa, the violent group agitating protests and riots in places like Portland, Oregon, when Rubio stepped in and briefly interrupted. Trump quickly informed those seated around the table that he might be needed shortly.
Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci shared a photo of the iconic moment – along with a glimpse of the handwritten note Rubio had handed to the president: &#8220;Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Secretary of State Marco Rubio whispers in the ear of President Donald Trump after handing him a note about a Middle East deal saying “Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first” <a href="https://t.co/ISEJ2RsUOq">pic.twitter.com/ISEJ2RsUOq</a>
— Evan Vucci (@evanvucci) <a href="https://twitter.com/evanvucci/status/1976040805677867015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump did announce the deal a short time later, saying via his Truth Social platform, &#8220;BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!&#8221;
&#8220;I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.&#8221;
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a statement immediately after the deal was reached.
&#8220;With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel. From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved,&#8221; he posted.
&#8220;Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point. I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;God Bless Israel. God Bless America. God Bless our great alliance.&#8221;
The deal, according to a White House official with knowledge of the situation, &#8220;goes to the Israeli cabinet tomorrow. Once they vote yes, Israel has to withdraw to the line which should take under 24 hours. Then the 72 hour clock begins, and Hamas will try to go earlier if possible. Our assessment is that hostages will begin getting released on Monday.&#8221;

SEE IT: Photo Captures What Was On The Note Rubio Handed Trump Ahead Of Peace Deal

Global Politics

Marco Rubio

Embattled Virginia Democrat attorney general nominee Jay Jones walked away from a reckless driving charge with a slap on the wrist in 2022. That same charge resulted in suspended licenses and jail time for many other Virginia residents.
Jones, who is already under fire for 2022 texts that advocated for the assassination of former Virginia state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R), was convicted of reckless driving that same year after he was caught driving 116 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone. In addition to a $1500 fine, he was ordered to complete 1000 hours of community service.
According to data reviewed by <a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-residents-jail-time-reckless-driving-jay-jones-community-service-virginia-democrat-attorney-general-candidate-new-kent-county-speeding">7News</a> — an Arlington, Virginia, ABC affiliate — Jones appears to have been handled with kid gloves by the court system in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and others who committed similar infractions have faced much steeper consequences.
Reporter Nick Minock found that others who were convicted of similar speeding infractions — in approximately a dozen cases — often faced jail time in addition to fines and suspended licenses.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a>
One case in particular involved a man who was caught driving 115 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone — an infraction nearly identical to Jones&#8217; — and in addition to a $2000 fine, he spent ten days behind bars, and lost his license for six months. Even after he got his license back, he was only permitted to drive to and from work.
Others in the cases reviewed by 7News faced similar fines and license suspensions, and one even spent 20 days in jail.
Jones is facing continued backlash from his 2022 text messages. A number of Republicans have called on him to drop out of the race. Democrats have been hedging their bets, however, saying that they believe his comments were reprehensible but stopping short of withdrawing endorsements or demanding that he step out of the race.
The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriff’s Association joined the growing number calling for him to bow out on Tuesday, and released a public statement to that effect.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Virginia Law Enforcement Sherriff’s Association calls on ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesjay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonesjay</a>⁩ to withdraw from Virginia AG race <a href="https://t.co/ceB45zUUOr">pic.twitter.com/ceB45zUUOr</a>
— Audrey Fahlberg (@AudreyFahlberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/AudreyFahlberg/status/1975935796889718975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;This call for violence against a family of the Commonwealth of Virginia and law enforcement is disgusting and unacceptable,&#8221; the statement read in part, before addressing Jones directly: &#8220;Sir, you need to hold yourself accountable and immediately withdraw from the Attorney General race.&#8221;

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) campaigns as the Democratic nominee in the Virginia’s governor’s race.

Jay Jones Walked On Speeding Charge That Landed Others In Jail

Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), fresh off her Senate loss to Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), raised some eyebrows with a contentious interview that went viral on Tuesday despite the fact that it first aired in mid-September.
Porter, currently vying for the governorship of California, sat down with CBS reporter Julie Watts to discuss several key issues — and Porter became progressively agitated as Watts dared to ask pointed questions and follow-ups, her reaction suggesting that she was not accustomed to reporters asking her real questions.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
When Katie Porter is our next governor here in CA, it will make us long for the days of the evil Gavin Newsom. She’s a lot like him, only dumber.
How are Democrats not enraged that she overtly states here that she plans to make sure she runs in the general against a Republican?! <a href="https://t.co/oc9hmVQ5kC">pic.twitter.com/oc9hmVQ5kC</a>
— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zigmanfreud/status/1969047999239036944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The first question was a gimme, as Watts asked Porter what she thought of current Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts, and Porter said she was in favor of that. But then Watts asked Porter what her plan was to win over some of the 40% of voters who had voted for President Donald Trump in 2024. California’s gubernatorial race utilizes a “Top-Two” primary system, in which the two candidates with the highest vote totals — regardless of party affiliation — advance to the general election.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
“What do you say to the 40% of California voters who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?” Watts asked.
Porter appeared genuinely taken aback by the question: “How would I need them in order to win, ma&#8217;am?”
“Well, unless you think you&#8217;re going to get 60% of the vote. You think you&#8217;ll get 60%? Everybody who did not vote for Trump will vote for you?” Watts clarified. “That&#8217;s what you&#8217;re saying?”
“In a general election, yes,” Porter insisted. “If it is me versus a Republican, I think that I will win the people who did not vote for Trump.”
“What if it&#8217;s you versus another Democrat?” Watts asked.
“I don’t intend that to be the case,” Porter said.
A longer clip from the interview showed what happened when Watts continued to press Porter on the issue …
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrats are so used to media being their propagandists that they totally lose it when asked basic questions. Here’s California’s Katie Porter losing it during an interview. <a href="https://t.co/relSS2Ajpa">pic.twitter.com/relSS2Ajpa</a>
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1975773397524357603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“So how do you intend that not to be the case? Do you — are you going to ask them not to run?” Watts asked, referencing other Democrats in the race.
“No, I’m saying I’m going to build the support, I have the support already in terms of name recognition, and so I’m going to do the very best I can to make sure that we get through this primary in a really strong position,” Porter said. “But let me be clear with you: I represented Orange County. I represented a purple area. I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before. And that’s not something that every candidate in this race can say.”
She went on to say that other candidates from deep blue areas might not have the same ability to win Republican votes — but Watts kept pressing.
“But you just said you don&#8217;t need those Trump voters,” she said.
“But you asked me if I needed them to win,” Porter pointed out.
“So you don&#8217;t —” Watts pushed back.
Porter put up a hand to stop Watts and complained, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?”
“The question is the same thing I asked everybody,” Watts said, showing Porter her notes and adding, “Every other candidate has answered this question; it&#8217;s not argumentative. The question is, &#8216;What do you say to the 40% of voters who voted for Trump?&#8217;”
“Oh, I&#8217;m happy to say that,” Porter said. “It&#8217;s the &#8216;do you need them to win&#8217; part that I don&#8217;t understand. And I&#8217;m happy to answer the question — ask the question as you have it written, and I&#8217;ll answer it.”
“And we&#8217;ve also asked the other candidates, do you think you need any of those 40% of California voters to win, and you&#8217;re saying no, you don&#8217;t,” Watts continued.
“No, I&#8217;m saying I&#8217;m going to try to win every vote I can,” Porter protested, visibly frustrated. “And what I&#8217;m saying to you is that —”
“Well, to those voters, okay, so you —” Watts attempted one more time.
“I don&#8217;t want to keep doing this. I&#8217;m going to call it,” Porter abruptly ended the interview and began fussing with her microphone.
“You&#8217;re not going to do the interview?” Watts asked, clearly baffled by Porter’s behavior.
“Nope, not like this I&#8217;m not,” Porter declared. “Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.”
Watts protested, “Every other candidate has answered follow-ups.”
“I don’t care!” Porter clapped her hands together once to emphasize her point. “I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation in which you ask me about every issue on this list. And if every question, you’re going to make up a follow-up question, then we’re never going to get there … I have never had to do this before, ever!”
&nbsp;

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter election watch party 2022

California Dem Flips, Walks Out On Reporter For Asking Basic Questions

Elections

In the wake of a still-unfolding text scandal involving his Democratic opponent, state Attorney General Jason Miyares (R-VA) laid out what is really at stake in the coming election: what will happen to the &#8220;Virginia Way&#8221;?
Miyares spoke with The Daily Wire by phone on Tuesday, four days after a series of 2022 texts — sent by Democratic nominee Jay Jones to a Republican colleague — went viral, and he questioned whether the traditional collegial relationship between Virginia politicians, regardless of party, could survive the mindset behind them.
In the texts in question, sent to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, Jones had fantasized about the assassination of then state-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican, and declared that Gilbert would never change his political positions unless he and his wife were forced to watch one of their children die. He also said he&#8217;d like to &#8220;piss on the graves&#8221; of his political opponents.
&#8220;The &#8216;Virginia Way&#8217; has always been the idea that even though Washington might not be civil at times, [members of both parties in] Richmond will be civil with each other,&#8221; Miyares said. &#8220;That’s part of why what Jay Jones has done is so troubling.&#8221;
&#8220;He knows Jennifer Gilbert, that’s not a stranger. Todd would bring his children to the assembly, so when he sent those text messages, they were only two and five years old at the time,&#8221; Miyares explained. &#8220;So this is not some type of hypothetical; this is someone that he worked with, this was a colleague. Then to say that he wanted to see two bullets in his head and then imagine saying that the children would die in their mother’s arms — this was not a stranger. He’s met the mother, he’s met the children, and in his mind, pain is the only way that change happens. That is a — I don’t know how to get my arms around that.&#8221;
Miyares said several times that it was difficult for him to fathom the mindset behind the texts Jones sent — the idea that violence was a reasonable reaction to political opposition.
&#8220;I think this election now is really a referendum on the Virginia Way,&#8221; he observed. &#8220;Is it now dead? Because I could tell you ten years ago, it would have been unquestioned, not in a million years would anybody even consider — but there seems to be this mindset that power is more important than decency.&#8221;
He went on to remark that it wasn&#8217;t just Jones — there seemed to be an abundance of Democrats who were willing to say that what Jones texted had been bad, unconscionable even, but those same people were unwilling to say that such comments should disqualify Jones from holding public office.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), for example, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, called for former Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA) to resign over a 20-year-old blackface photo in a college yearbook — but she couldn&#8217;t bring herself to call for the resignation of a current candidate who&#8217;d called for the assassination of a colleague over political differences.
&#8220;Don’t forget the context of this,&#8221; Miyares added. &#8220;Jay was upset that Republicans had done a eulogy and said nice words in remembrance of a Democratic colleague and his reaction was that he wanted to ‘piss on the graves’ of his political opponents.&#8221;
Miyares, who is of Cuban descent, said that was the reason he found Jones&#8217; mindset so abhorrent – because he came from a &#8220;society where they would use violence to silence opinions.&#8221;
&#8220;Ideas were seen as so dangerous that it was morally excused to use violence to silence them. We said a long time ago in this country that we’re going to settle our debates at the ballot box and not with bullets,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The idea that somebody is seeking to be the top prosecutor — he’s never prosecuted a case in his life and would advocate violence against somebody he disagrees with and would want to piss on the graves of his opponents — I can’t imagine anybody in polite society thinking that’s acceptable.&#8221;
&#8220;My uncle Angel Miyares was arrested during the Bay of Pigs invasion,&#8221; Miyares recalled. &#8220;Castro arrested anybody that he thought could rise up against him on the island, and he was taken to an empty baseball stadium and he went through the humiliation of a mock execution. What was his crime? Ideas. His crime was simply — he was handing out anti-Castro leaflets in Havana. And he got put on Castro&#8217;s secret police radar, and they arrested him. When you suddenly take away someone’s individual dignity, their humanity, and you think that politics trumps their individual dignity, I can&#8217;t help that. I can&#8217;t – it is so outside of my worldview.&#8221;
Miyares brought the conversation back around to the &#8220;Virginia Way&#8221; and the idea that politics should not ever be an excuse to resort to violence.
&#8220;I view it as it’s not just me on the ballot this year, I view it as the &#8216;Virginia Way&#8217; and the idea that we are going to — yes, we will have a basic standard of decency in politics today, and I think that’s on the ballot,&#8221; he said.
His final thought on Jones was a question about whether or not he was suited to the office of attorney general.
&#8220;Crime does not know partisanship. Being the people’s protector means I protect everyone,&#8221; Miyares explained, adding that he wasn&#8217;t sure how someone who openly called for a political opponent&#8217;s assassination could approach the job in a way that did not reflect that. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s safe to say that where he is is a very different mindset.&#8221;

Jason Miyares takes over as the new Attorney General of Virginia.

Is The ‘Virginia Way’ Dead?: AG Jason Miyares Breaks Down What’s Really At Stake In Jay Jones Race

Is The 'Virginia Way' Dead?: AG Jason Miyares Breaks Down What's Really At Stake In Jay Jones Race

Jason Miyares

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) says he will still support Jay Jones — the Democratic nominee for state attorney general — in spite of several vile text messages he sent to a Republican colleague in 2022.
CNN congressional reporter Manu Raju caught up with Kaine on Tuesday to ask him whether he&#8217;d withdraw his support for Jones after the old texts surfaced — texts in which Jones had advocated for the assassination of then state House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican, and had said Gilbert would never change his political positions unless he and his wife were forced to watch one of their young children die.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrat Virginia Senator Tim Kaine STILL backs Jay Jones, who fantasized about killing a Republican official and his children, and also supports killing cops.
KAINE: “I&#8217;m still supporting Jay Jones.” <a href="https://t.co/3EXIFaGDXa">pic.twitter.com/3EXIFaGDXa</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1975570425775329686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
At first, it appeared as though Kaine was going to walk away without giving any answers to the questions being shouted after him — &#8220;Senator, do you still support Jay Jones? Do you think he should drop out of this race after those comments? Do you have concerns about what you saw?&#8221; — but he eventually stopped and turned around to speak with Raju directly.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
&#8220;The comments are completely indefensible,&#8221; Kaine declared. &#8220;But I&#8217;ve know Jay Jones for 25 years, and those comments are very much out of character for him. So if I put the comments, which are clearly beyond the pale, against knowing this guy for 25 years, I&#8217;m still supporting Jay Jones.&#8221;
With that, Kaine turned on his heel and walked away, adding himself to the rapidly growing list of Democrats who were willing to condemn calls for the assassination of political rivals, but not willing to say that people making such calls were declaring themselves unqualified to hold public office.
It should be noted that Kaine, the Democrats&#8217; 2016 vice presidential nominee, stood by twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after she wrote off half of the American population as a &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whoopi-goes-full-basket-of-deplorables-says-she-cant-even-talk-to-trump-supporters">basket of deplorables</a>.&#8221;

Tim Kaine

Top Virginia Senator Says Jay Jones Still Has His Support

Attorney General Pam Bondi let loose on Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) during a Capitol Hill hearing on Tuesday, directly challenging his credibility when he attempted to suggest that she had not handled a specific situation properly.
Bondi raised the specter of a scandal that broke back in 2010, when an investigation revealed that Blumenthal had often implied that he was a Vietnam veteran when he had, in fact, received a number of deferments before joining the Marine Reserve in 1970, and while he did participate in drills stateside, he never deployed during the war.
Blumenthal began with a question about a recent merger that involved Ballard Partners, a firm where Bondi had previously worked.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Pam Bondi just DEMOLISHED Senator Blumenthal after he ACCUSED her of impropriety:
&#8220;I CANNOT BELIEVE that you would ACCUSE ME of impropriety when YOU LIED about your MILITARY SERVICE.&#8221;
&#8220;You LIED to be elected a US Senator.&#8221;
&#8220;Don&#8217;t YOU EVER challenge MY integrity. I… <a href="https://t.co/Fx0reJH5J7">pic.twitter.com/Fx0reJH5J7</a>
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1975587653442502949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;In the merger that took place involving American Express GBT [Global Business Travel], I understand that Brian Ballard, longtime backer and head of the law firm where you worked, was instrumental in lobbying the Justice Department to drop that lawsuit,&#8221; Blumenthal said. &#8220;It was dismissed, so it&#8217;s not subject to a court review. What conversations did you have with Mr. Ballard?&#8221;
&#8220;Sen. Blumenthal, I cannot believe that you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service. You lied, you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. Senator,&#8221; Bondi shot back.
&#8220;I am not asking you — I am not accusing you of impropriety — I am —&#8221; Blumenthal attempted to cut back in several times, but Bondi continued to talk over him.
&#8220;Don&#8217;t you ever challenge my integrity. I have abided by every ethics standard. Do not question my ability to be fair and impartial as Attorney General,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;You&#8217;ll answer that question for another of my colleagues,&#8221; Blumenthal concluded.
The two squared off on several questions throughout the hearing, with Blumenthal asking Bondi about a dinner she&#8217;d had with President Donald Trump — and what was discussed during that dinner.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
AG Pam Bondi: &#8220;No one is above the law, that’s a quote from you, Senator Blumenthal.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/WtTWAp30gX">pic.twitter.com/WtTWAp30gX</a>
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Huberton/status/1975591441779843455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Senator, I am not going to discuss any conversations I have or have not had with the President of the United States. You&#8217;re an attorney, you have a law degree, and you know that I am not going to do that,&#8221; she said.
Reading from a paper in front of her, she quoted, &#8220;&#8216;I will keep fighting to ensure that law enforcement and the judicial process move forward without political interference. No one is above the law, not even the president.&#8217; That&#8217;s a quote from you, Senator Blumenthal.&#8221;

Attorney General Pam Bondi Testifies In House Hearing

Bondi Unloads On Blumenthal In Tense Hearing: ‘Don’t You Ever Challenge My Integrity’

Pam Bondi

Richard Blumenthal

Attorney General Pam Bondi tore into Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) during a Tuesday morning hearing, squaring off with the Illinois lawmaker over President Donald Trump&#8217;s plan to send National Guard troops into the city of Chicago to protect federal employees and property.
Durbin raised the question, noting that members of the Texas National Guard had been tapped to deploy to Chicago, and suggested that it wasn&#8217;t necessary despite dangerous clashes between protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
&#8220;The word is, and I think it&#8217;s been confirmed by the White House, they&#8217;re going to transfer Texas National Guard units to the state of Illinois,&#8221; Durbin prompted. &#8220;What&#8217;s the rationale for that?&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGPamBondi</a> TORCHES <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorDurbin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorDurbin</a>:
&#8220;I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump&#8230;The National Guard are on the way to Chicago. If you&#8217;re not going to protect your citizens, President Trump will.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/zHIvLYkWmm">pic.twitter.com/zHIvLYkWmm</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1975565569417224394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Chairman, as you shut down the government, you voted to shut down the government and you&#8217;re sitting here, our law enforcement officers aren&#8217;t being paid, they&#8217;re out there working to protect you,&#8221; Bondi replied. &#8220;I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump.&#8221;
&#8220;Currently the National Guard are on the way to Chicago. If you&#8217;re not going to protect your citizens, President Trump will,&#8221; she added.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
Bondi went on to explain why additional resources were necessary, particularly in Chicago, saying, &#8220;Your city has a murder rate five times higher than New York&#8217;s — 571 homicides last year. If you were serious about protecting your people, you would be asking this administration for help.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;Your city has a murder rate five times higher than New. York&#8217;s — 571 homicides last year,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGPamBondi</a> to the insufferable <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorDurbin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorDurbin</a> on the National Guard in Chicago.
&#8220;We&#8217;re there to help make America safe and Illinois safe — whether or not you want to.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qgbZIryITP">pic.twitter.com/qgbZIryITP</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1975568173291515944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;You&#8217;re saying that we&#8217;re coming into your state and your city?&#8221; Bondi pushed back, noting the static the Trump administration was getting from both Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. &#8220;We&#8217;re there to help make America safe and Illinois safe — whether or not you want to.&#8221;

Dick Durbin

Bondi Torches Dick Durbin Over Dem Failure To Stop Crime In Chicago

Chicago

National Guard

According to Virginia Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield), the still-unfolding scandal involving Democrat attorney general nominee Jay Jones goes deeper than just a few text messages.
Coyner, who was the recipient of several 2022 text messages from Jones advocating for the assassination of then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert, said that Jones had made similar comments to her back in 2020 when they were discussing the idea of qualified immunity for police officers.
“We had a pretty heated conversation about public policy and pain involving qualified immunity,” Coyner told Brandon Jarvis of <a href="https://www.virginiascope.com/coyner-says-jones-told-her-in-a-2020-phone-call-that-a-few-police-officers-dying-would-stop-them-from-killing-other-people/">Virginia Scope</a>.
“I served on the Courts Committee for a short period of time. A bill to remove qualified immunity for police officers, which protects police officers from personal liability in their line of duty and their line of work, and he believed that they should not have qualified immunity, and he was trying to convince me to agree with that,” Coyner explained.
“I said, ‘No, police officers have to make a split second decision about whether or not to shoot a gun to protect themselves or protect others. And if they’re having to think about, will this strip my whole family of everything … are they going to be able to make that split-second decision?’” Coyner recalled, adding, “And I said, ‘I believe that people will get killed. Police officers will get killed.’ And he said, ‘Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.’ And I said, ‘that’s insane.’”
“But he firmly believed that if you removed qualified immunity, that police officers would act differently, and I firmly believe that it would not result in good public policy, and it would put police officers and the public’s lives at risk if they have to second-guess themselves on a decision they’re making in a moment where someone is doing something violent,” she said.
Jones — who did put his name behind legislation ending qualified immunity for police officers — did not speak directly with Virginia Scope, but provided a statement claiming that he had never said any such thing.
“I did not say this. I have never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement, period. Every single day, police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities, and I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice. As Attorney General, I will work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to support their work,” the statement read.

Jay Jones Text Scandal Just Got Worse: Here Are The Others Ex-Colleague Says He Wanted Dead

Police

Political Violence

Menu

Virginia Kruta