A New Jersey school district on Monday agreed to rescind a policy that allowed teachers and school officials to keep parents in the dark about their children&#8217;s &#8220;gender identities.&#8221;
The School District of the Chathams in 2024 ruled that counselors could determine &#8220;whether, and to what extent, parents/guardians can be involved&#8221; after students expressed a desire to identify as a different gender. In August, Moms For Liberty and the Thomas More Society sued the school district, <a href="https://newjerseyglobe.com/education/moms-for-liberty-sues-chathams-school-district-over-transgender-student-policy/">alleging</a> that the policy violated parents’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
&#8220;No school has the authority to transition a child behind his or her parents’ backs, and the Supreme Court made that unmistakably clear,&#8221; Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel at the Thomas More Society, said.
Citing two recent Supreme Court cases, the Thomas More Society wrote to the school district demanding it rescind the policy. On June 15, school board President Ann Ciccarelli claimed that at least one of those cases did not apply to New Jersey schools.
&#8220;This board told New Jersey parents the ruling didn’t apply to them, kept its secret transition policy on the books, and forced families to go to federal court to protect their own children,&#8221; Ferrara said.
&#8220;The Chathams Board of Education had every opportunity to fix this policy,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Instead, its own president stood up at a public meeting and told parents that Supreme Court precedent simply doesn’t apply to them. That is not a legal argument; it is defiance of the law of the land.&#8221;
Moms For Liberty asked the court to declare the policy unconstitutional and block its enforcement unless and until it was amended to require parental notice and consent before a student is allowed to adopt a new name or pronouns, or engage in any other activities based on a newly asserted gender identity.
The school board voted unanimously to settle the suit, which it did on October 15. As part of the settlement, the district agreed that it would not implement a similar policy in the future.
&#8220;Now that the policy is gone for good, every teacher and counselor in the district will receive a copy of the board’s written commitment to respect parents’ rights,&#8221; Ferrara said. &#8220;Districts that choose to still hide children’s gender transitions from their parents can follow the Chathams’ lead and change course now, or they can explain themselves to a federal judge.&#8221;

People holding transgender flags

School Backpedals After Lawsuit, Drops Secret Student Gender Policy

moms for liberty

new jersey

parental rights

politics

school district of the chathams

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Actor Matthew McConaughey faced accusations on Sunday that he used artificial intelligence to write a 6-minute video urging Americans to give independent candidates a serious look ahead of the midterms.
The Daily Wire&#8217;s Matt Walsh was among those who suggested the actor&#8217;s words sounded like they were written by AI.
&#8220;&#8216;That’s not indecision. It’s judgment&#8217;; &#8216;That’s not competition. It’s a scrimmage.&#8217; This is the most ChatGPT speech I&#8217;ve ever heard,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2112183427692671066">he wrote</a>. &#8220;Why? You&#8217;re Matthew McConaughey. You have a very distinct and recognizable way of speaking. Why outsource that to AI? I don&#8217;t get it.&#8221;
McConaughey, who often weighs in on individual issues, intentionally does not take sides with either political party. In the video, he argued that there should be someone on the ballot who represented &#8220;independents&#8221; like him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Independent counts. https://t.co/N9MkKlBuIR
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) <a href="https://x.com/McConaughey/status/2111833545132122128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;So they&#8217;ve been telling us for years that an independent vote is a wasted vote,&#8221; McConaughey began, quipping, &#8220;Well, a great question for our times is, how&#8217;s that &#8216;unwasted&#8217; vote been working out for you?&#8221;
&#8220;Yeah. Now before we go any further, I want to let you know, this is not about me right now. This is about the upcoming ballot,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I am not here today to endorse a candidate or party. I am here endorsing two things: fairness and reality. See, I believe in a fair fight, and a fair fight is not just two fighters throwing the same punches at each other for 50 years. A fair fight is when the fighters who oughta be represented in the fight are actually in the fight! That&#8217;s fair.&#8221;
McConaughey argued that more Americans identify as independents than as Republicans or Democrats, and that independents deserved representation just as members of the two major parties did.
&#8220;Independents belong in the fight. not as a protest, not as a spoiler, but as a real and potential winner on the ballot and considered seriously by us. Independent does not mean you’re middle of the road. Independent is the original road,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Before there was ever a Republican or Democrat, there was an American &#8230; a true independent is not a fence sitter.&#8221;
The Oscar-winning actor further explained that a true independent would not hate either Republicans or Democrats, but would weigh their positions and take what was best and workable from both parties.
&#8220;That&#8217;s not indecision, that&#8217;s judgment,&#8221; he said.
He argued that the extremes on either side of the aisle were not good for the country, and said that if more people were willing to risk voting the way they really felt, Americans would have a Congress that better reflected what they needed.
&#8220;America&#8217;s brand was never R or D. It&#8217;s independent,&#8221; he declared.
Other viewers echoed Walsh&#8217;s criticism.
&#8220;Another casualty of AI psychosis. Listen to Matthew McConaughey read 6 minutes of Claude output pretending it’s his own words. He says &#8216;it’s not X it’s Y&#8217; like 10 times. No comment on the subject matter, but sad to see smart people letting themselves become meat proxies,&#8221; another <a href="https://x.com/scottastevenson/status/2111904936070197589">posted</a>.
Former reality television star <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2111889925872435495">Spencer Pratt</a> (&#8220;The Hills&#8221;) also reacted to McConaughey&#8217;s video, but addressed the content rather than how it may have been written.
&#8220;Republicans vs dems isn’t the issue, man. It’s people who hate America vs people who love it…that’s what counts. There are people in both parties who have no love for their country. A 3rd party doesn’t fix that. There is no political solution for cultural rot. Stop pretending,&#8221; he said.

“The Gentlemen” Screening and Q&A With Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey’s Political Pitch Is Anything But ‘Alright, Alright, Alright’

2026 midterm election

independent voters

matthew mcconaughey

Your Uncle Frank&#8217;s famous whiskey may soon be legal.
The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it would review an 1868 law banning home distilling, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-distilling-spirits-reconstruction-ban-51131151865ded86093a99ec56451465?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+New+Content+%28Feed%29&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported</a>. The high court will consider whether Congress acted within its constitutional authority when it passed the law more than 150 years ago.
Federal law makes home distilling a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The ban was enacted as part of an 1868 tax reform measure designed to curb fraud by commercial distillers. Plaintiffs in two separate cases argue that Congress overstepped its taxation powers by prohibiting home distilling. Government attorneys are pushing back, arguing that the restriction helps prevent tax evasion and that overturning it would improperly limit congressional authority.
<a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/10/supreme-court-agrees-to-consider-federal-ban-on-home-distilleries/">The Supreme Court</a> agreed to review <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/department-of-justice-v-mcnutt/">Department of Justice v. McNutt</a> after two recent challenges to the law resulted in conflicting federal appeals court rulings.
The primary case involves the Texas-based Hobby Distillers Association and individual would-be home distillers. A panel of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals <a href="https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-10760-CV0.pdf">ruled in their favor</a>, finding that the ban exceeded Congress&#8217; authority under the Constitution&#8217;s Taxation and Necessary and Proper clauses.
The other case centered around <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/ream-v-department-of-the-treasury/">John Ream</a>, a brewpub owner from Newark, Ohio, who wants to distill whiskey at home for his own personal consumption. <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/26a0117p-06.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">A three-judge panel</a> of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal ban should stand.
&#8220;Our country’s founders would be rolling over in their graves to learn that a pastime in which even George Washington partook, which is as American as apple pie and certainly a lot older, has quite absurdly been turned into a federal crime,” Ream&#8217;s attorney Robert Alt said in a statement.
&#8220;The importance of this case and the questions it presents could hardly be overstated,” <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26-93/416889/20260720142519562_Ream%20-%20Cert%20Petition.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">the plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote</a>. “It presents fundamental questions of the extent of federal power and the powers reserved to the states and the people.”
The federal government also petitioned the Court to review the case, saying that the law was within the scope of Congress&#8217; power because it was &#8220;convenient&#8221; or &#8220;useful&#8221; in carrying an enumerated power into effect.
“Congress restricted home distilling because a distiller can more easily conceal a distilling operation or thwart necessary inspections — thereby evading the requisite tax — if the still is located in&#8221; a private residence or similar structure, the government argued.

Process of alcohol distillation with glassware and heater

Supreme Court Takes Up 158-Year-Old Ban On Home Distilling

Supreme Court Will Take Up Reconstruction-Era Ban On Home Distilleries

congressional taxation power

fifth circuit court of appeals

home distilling

sixth circuit court of appeals

supreme court

Violent riots have rocked Paris — and now would-be museum patrons are paying the price, as protesters have forced the Louvre to close its doors.
The official account for the famous art museum shared the news in both French and English via X, citing a &#8220;student social movement.&#8221; No date was given for the museum&#8217;s return to normal business operations.
&#8220;Dear visitors, due to student strikes the museum is currently closed. We apologise for the inconvenience,&#8221; the museum posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🇫🇷 Chers visiteurs, en raison d’un mouvement social étudiant, le musée est fermé pour le moment. Nous vous prions de nous excuser de la gêne occasionnée.
🌍Dear visitors, due to student strikes the museum is currently closed. We apologise for the inconvenience. https://t.co/tNKFk3B9aj
— Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) <a href="https://x.com/MuseeLouvre/status/2112105415722811622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tourists who had hoped to visit the Louvre on Monday were captured on video shouting &#8220;you sons of b*tches&#8221; and waving their middle fingers at the protesters who were blocking the entrance to the museum.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Des touristes venus visiter le musée du Louvre insultent et font des doigts d&#8217;honneur aux étudiants qui bloquent le musée depuis ce matin.
#Louvre #Paris #17octobre #24octobre https://t.co/YoH0cGgbie
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) <a href="https://x.com/LucAuffret/status/2112114636002644055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
By Monday morning, students from the École du Louvre had <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/top-tourist-destination-world-shuts-down-amid-violent-protests">barricaded</a> the museum&#8217;s entrances — the iconic glass pyramid, the Carrousel du Louvre and the Passage Richelieu — forcing management to turn away visitors, Fox News reported, citing AFP.
The blockade was organized in solidarity with nationwide protests over the rising cost of living and recent police actions, according to the outlet.
On a busy day, the renowned art museum — which plays host to masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci&#8217;s &#8220;Mona Lisa,&#8221; Johannes Vermeer&#8217;s &#8220;The Lacemaker,&#8221; the Venus de Milo, Michelangelo&#8217;s &#8220;Dying Slave,&#8221; and the Great Sphinx of Tanis — can draw as many as 20,000 visitors.
Rioters have also looted and damaged businesses, including major shopping districts in Paris, Fox News reported. Dozens of radical groups, including communist organizations and a Muslim student association, have backed the protests, where Palestinian flags are a common sight, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/communists-and-muslims-join-forces-to-bring-europe-to-its-knees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Protesters block Louvre entrances in support of nationwide student movement in Paris

Agitators Shut Down The Louvre As Riots Rock Paris

Paris Riots Shut Down The Louvre

france

france riots

louvre

paris

student protest

world

Singer and actress Selena Gomez admitted on Sunday that her addiction to vaping nicotine has changed her voice permanently — and she warned her fans not to do the same, adding, &#8220;It&#8217;s not worth it.&#8221;
The &#8220;Only Murders in the Building&#8221; actress made the comment in a video posted to her Instagram story. She said that she&#8217;d only recently stopped vaping and was hoping she&#8217;d be able to kick the unhealthy habit for good, Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/10/19/celebrity-news/selena-gomez-reveals-the-addiction-that-changed-her-voice-permanently/">reported</a>.
&#8220;I’m not going to be able to change my voice,” she said. “I vaped nicotine a lot, and nicotine is so hard to quit &#8230; it’s just not worth it.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s so stupid, and it’s changed my voice. So if you guys don’t like listening to my voice, that’s totally understandable; I don’t mind. Just don’t listen to it,&#8221; the 34-year-old &#8220;Wizards of Waverly Place&#8221; alum continued, laughing. &#8220;But I am really excited because I stopped [vaping] and I just hope I can keep it up. It’s really hard, but I know if you are going through something, you can get through it too.&#8221;
Gomez has been candid about her health issues in recent years, specifically her ongoing battle with the autoimmune disorder lupus. Lupus, a condition in which the body&#8217;s immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs, can cause uncomfortable swelling in the joints that can mimic arthritis, extreme fatigue, and recurring fevers.
The condition can affect multiple systems within the body simultaneously, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs — and treatments can also trigger weight fluctuations.
&#8220;My weight would constantly fluctuate because I would be on certain medications,&#8221; Gomez said on a 2023 episode of the Apple TV+ series “Dear…”
Gomez had <a href="https://pagesix.com/2025/12/17/celebrity-news/selena-gomez-finally-explains-reason-for-why-her-voice-has-changed/">previously attributed</a> the change in her voice to swelling in her throat, which may have been related to her condition.
&#8220;I get weird. My throat kind of swells inside sometimes. That’s all. That’s good,&#8221; she said in 2025, responding to a fan question about it during an Instagram Live.

Creative Perspective: Selena Gomez’s 4th Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit

Selena Gomez Says Addiction To Popular Drug Changed Her Voice Forever

celebrity health

lifestyle

lupus

nicotine addiction

selena gomez

vaping

The 2026 midterms aren&#8217;t even over yet, and Vice President JD Vance has already dropped a bomb into the 2028 presidential election cycle: he might not run.
Vance told the audience at a Michigan town hall that he had not yet made a decision about whether or not he would seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2028 — and said it was certainly a possibility that he would sit the election out.
Host Tony Dokoupil started the ball rolling by jumping on a comment Vance had made earlier in the evening — namely that he might be &#8220;out of a job&#8221; in a couple of years.
&#8220;The structure of the sentence suggests that you&#8217;d be running for a continued job,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Not necessarily,&#8221; Vance laughed.
&#8220;No?&#8221; Dokoupil asked. &#8220;So there&#8217;s a chance — okay, let&#8217;s go right there: Is there a chance that you don&#8217;t run for president in 2028?&#8221;
&#8220;Of course there’s a chance!&#8221; Vance&#8217;s reaction was immediate. &#8220;Yeah, man, we’ve got four little kids, my wife has never loved politics. She loves public service. I think you know you can do a lot of good in this job, and I’ve tried to do as much good as possible.&#8221;
&#8220;I really — people ask me this question all the time. I think they assume that because I&#8217;m a politician, &#8216;Of course he&#8217;s going to run for president in 2028,'&#8221; he continued adding that, as a rule, he tended to procrastinate on major life decisions and only make up his mind at the last minute.
&#8220;My wife will tell you this: I&#8217;m a procrastinator. I hate &#8216;thinking about it,'&#8221; he added. &#8220;And what will happen is that first of all, after all of these fine people elect Mike Rogers United States Senator for the state of Michigan, what&#8217;s going to happen is, they don&#8217;t have to think about it. And I actually will have to make a decision.&#8221;
Throwing up his hands, Vance shook his head and concluded, &#8220;But you know, anything could happen, man.&#8221;
President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vance-reveals-who-will-decide-2028-gop-presidential-nominee">Donald Trump</a> has refrained from naming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-takes-a-spontaneous-2028-presidential-straw-poll-vance-or-rubio">chosen successor</a>, making it clear that he has confidence in a number of members of his own cabinet should any of them decide to run for the 2028 nomination. He has said specifically that he thought Vance would do a great job, and has also voiced support for Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Holy Week Is Celebrated At The Vatican

JD Vance Just Threw A Curveball Into The 2028 Race

2028 presidential election

donald trump

jd vance

marco rubio

mike rogers

Police in Wichita, Kansas, released the 34-year-old woman who drove her truck through a crowd at the Stryker Sports Complex, killing two people and leaving another ten injured. No charges have yet been filed, and no explanation was given.
The Wichita Police Department released a <a href="https://x.com/WichitaPolice/status/2111885699850862763">lengthy statement</a> via X, giving updates across several aspects of the tragic incident that left Adrian Cole, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, dead.
Investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses — including the two children who were in the truck with the driver — before speaking with the driver herself.
&#8220;Following the interviews, investigators consulted with the Sedgwick County District Attorney&#8217;s Office. The 34-year-old driver was subsequently released pending the results of toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the vehicle,&#8221; the police department posted. &#8220;No charges have been filed at this time, and investigators continue working to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.&#8221;
The statement also gave new details about the victims, two of whom were pronounced dead at the scene.
&#8220;Emergency personnel responded and immediately began providing medical care to those injured. Despite lifesaving efforts, two people died at the scene. They have been identified as 6-year-old Adrian Cole and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, both of McPherson, Kansas. The two victims were not related,&#8221; the statement read.
&#8220;Ten people injured in the crash were transported to Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center with injuries described as noncritical. An additional 61-year-old woman was transported after experiencing medical complications unrelated to traumatic injuries, bringing the total number of people transported to local hospitals to 11,&#8221; it continued. &#8220;The ages and genders of the 10 people injured in the crash are: a 5-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, two 8-year-old boys, a 9-year-old girl, a 28-year-old woman, a 32-year-old man, a 59-year-old woman, a 65-year-old woman, and a 68-year-old man.&#8221;
The investigation is ongoing. The Wichita Police Department has asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. It also encouraged anyone who needs mental health support after the incident to reach out to Sedgewick County COMCARE.
&#8220;Our hearts are with the families of Adrian and Nicholas as they face an unimaginable loss. What should have been a day of children playing soccer and families spending time together ended in tragedy,&#8221; Police Chief Joe Sullivan said. &#8220;We are also thinking about those who were injured, their loved ones and everyone who witnessed what happened. We know this tragedy has affected many people throughout our community, and we want those families to know they are not alone. Our officers and investigators will continue working to understand exactly what happened.&#8221;

Screenshot/3KSN

Cops Release Woman Who Plowed Through Soccer Field: No Charges, No Explanation

kansas

vehicle attack

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wichita police department

Despite violent protests and riots sweeping France, the NFL is moving forward with its game in Paris on Sunday, October 25.
ESPN&#8217;s Adam Schefter posted the news Sunday via X, saying that the game — featuring the New Orleans Saints against the Pittsburgh Steelers — was still on the schedule and the Saints were set for departure for Paris in the next 24 hours.
&#8220;Saints are scheduled to leave tonight for Paris, where they play the Steelers next Sunday at Stade de France. Despite intense riots and social unrest there, the NFL says the game is on,&#8221; Schefter posted, sharing a statement from the league.
&#8220;Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” the NFL&#8217;s statement said. &#8220;We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.&#8221;
The New Orleans Saints also <a href="https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/nfl-addresses-safety-concerns-for-saints-steelers-in-paris-pittsburgh-new-orleans-protests-riots/article_460b3cac-ae26-435d-8c12-6bc00dbb6ce6.html">released a statement</a> ahead of the team&#8217;s travel.
&#8220;We concur with the NFL’s statement and are planning to play the game,” Greg Bensel, the team’s senior vice president of communications, said. &#8220;In addition to working closely with the NFL, we have also maintained daily security updates with our security partners in France. Members of our football operations staff and internal security team have been on the ground in France for the past few days, and there has been no disruption or impact at any of our team sites.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/france-burns-palestinian-flags-fly-over-frances-republic-statue-as-riots-rock-the-country">protests</a>, which began over school conditions and the rising cost of living, have since escalated into violent riots across the country. Palestinian flags have appeared at a number of the demonstrations. French journalist Paul Amar <a href="https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2111787520900112759?s=46&amp;t=5nB3R1hthzMlYMrXjZyN8Q">claimed</a> on CNews that rioters in Marseille had the addresses of Jewish shop owners, and that every Jewish-owned business on one street in the city was torched while Muslim-owned shops nearby were spared. Amar did not cite a source for the claim. The Jerusalem Post <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-912093">reported</a> that while some Jewish-owned businesses in Marseille were damaged, there was no evidence they had been singled out.
As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/france-burns-palestinian-flags-fly-over-frances-republic-statue-as-riots-rock-the-country">reported</a>:
<blockquote>The worst destruction hit Limoges in central France. In the evening, a masked gang set a police car on fire outside the city’s landmark town hall, then smashed the windows and set fires inside. The building dates to 1883 and has been a <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/world/limoges-fire-france-protests-violent-riots-sweep-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protected monument</a> since 1975. The flames raced to the roof, which <a href="https://aroundprague.cz/en/news/world/protesters-in-france-set-fire-to-the-historic-town-hall-in-limoges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caved in</a> on the floors below, and the bell tower came crashing down.</blockquote>

Protest against high cost of living in Paris

NFL Sticks With Plans For Paris Game Amid Muslim Riots

pittsburgh steelers

saints

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson doubled down on Sunday, saying that he did not regret telling incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to &#8220;shut up&#8221; during their most recent debate.
Speaking to CNN anchor Dana Bash on Sunday&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; Jackson claimed that he did not regret his reaction because he&#8217;d felt like Collins was &#8220;talking down&#8221; to him at the time when she suggested a protester at the debate had been one of his supporters.
&#8220;This week there was a protester at the debate that you had with Susan Collins,&#8221; Bash began. &#8220;She responded by saying, &#8216;This must be a Troy Jackson supporter,&#8217; and you told the senator, &#8216;Shut up.&#8217; Do you regret saying that?&#8221;
&#8220;Ah, no, you know she said that it was a Troy supporter, she accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was, I was surprised whenever he jumped up out of there,&#8221; he said, claiming that Collins had accused him of setting up the disruption rather than simply suggesting the protester was likely a supporter of his.
Jackson went on to say that he and Collins had kept things civil in their earlier debates, but that he was not going to sit quietly while she condescended to him.
&#8220;What I&#8217;m not gonna be is, you know, talked down to by Senator Collins,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to be accused of things like that &#8230; so I&#8217;m not going to apologize for that, no.&#8221;
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/17/us/politics/susan-collins-troy-jackson-shut-up-debate.html">reported</a> on the scene that played out, noting that the 19-year-old protester had yelled something about data centers during the debate.
&#8220;This is obviously one of Troy’s supporters,&#8221;Collins quipped at the time — but did not, as he&#8217;d claimed, suggest that Jackson had a hand in planning the disruption.
&#8220;Oh, shut up. I did not — I didn’t — I don’t even know that kid,&#8221; Jackson shot back.
The protester, identified as Henry Elgie, confirmed Collins&#8217; suspicions and said that he planned to vote for Jackson — but also said that there had been &#8220;zero coordination&#8221; with Jackson&#8217;s campaign prior to his interruption.
Collins argued that Jackson&#8217;s harsh response — to what should have been a throwaway quip at the debate — was indicative of his overall demeanor and the way he treated women in particular.
&#8220;I was struck by how reflexive the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was,” Ms. Collins, the longest-serving Republican woman in Senate history, <a class="css-povzk" title="" href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406992078112" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told Fox News</a>, saying that it was &#8220;very telling&#8221; that it had &#8220;seemed like such an automatic, quick reply was very telling.&#8221;
Collins also said that Jackson, who had previously served as the state Senate president, has a &#8220;reputation&#8221; for similarly abrasive remarks, &#8220;particularly when he’s dealing with women with whom he disagrees.&#8221;

Troy Jackson Campaigns For U.S. Senate In Maine

Troy Jackson Doubles Down, Doesn’t Regret Telling Susan Collins To ‘Shut Up’

Troy Jackson Doubles Down, Doesn't Regret Telling Susan Collins To 'Shut Up'

maine senate race

susan collins

troy jackson

President Donald Trump offered his full endorsement to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, saying that he was the best person to lead the Jewish state in its continued efforts to beat back the Iranian regime.
Trump issued a lengthy statement via his <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117462449149582042">Truth Social</a> platform, saying, &#8220;BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!&#8221;
&#8220;To the Great People of Israel: Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51 year old chant, &#8216;Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan,'&#8221; Trump began.
Trump went on to argue that Israel choosing anyone other than Netanyahu would leave the U.S. to finish off Iran on its own — a burden he said he had no interest in taking on.
&#8220;What Country can survive when things such as this are allowed to be said, because eventually, they always end up being true? It would have been only a question of time until Iran would have put that ominous phrase into effect, but they have been systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially, and unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so.&#8221;
The president praised his Israeli counterpart, saying that Netanyahu had displayed strength in the face of opposition — even when that opposition had come from some within Israel itself — and said that he represented exactly what the United States needed from its Middle Eastern ally.
&#8220;Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself. Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived! I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Normal men or women in such situations would have wilted under the pressure — But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today. This is the kind of Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a Country for which it has done so much.&#8221;
&#8220;Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming Race for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Israel. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!&#8221; the president concluded.
Israel&#8217;s elections are scheduled to take place in just over a week, on October 27.

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Trump Makes Endorsement Ahead Of Israeli Elections

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The raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar&#8217;s (D-MN) home reportedly moved forward after federal law enforcement reviewed a phone seized from the Minnesota congresswoman&#8217;s sister, author and health care executive Sahra Noor.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/us/politics/ilhan-omar-investigation-phone.html">reported</a> that Noor&#8217;s phone was taken earlier this year as investigators reportedly sought to build a case against Omar for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud — and that text messages sent between members of her family are being used to bolster that case.
Homeland Security agents, the outlet reported, had used those messages to convince a federal judge to sign off on the search warrant that was executed on Monday at Omar&#8217;s home in Washington, D.C.
The investigation into Omar and her family — and whether or not they are guilty of immigration fraud — began during former President Joe Biden&#8217;s term in the White House but has ramped up in recent weeks as President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration has also vowed to investigate whether the Minnesota Democrat is guilty of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ilhan-omar-welcomed-investigations-now-shes-getting-what-she-asked-for">marriage fraud</a>.
Investigators who searched the congresswoman&#8217;s home in Washington, D.C., were reportedly looking for documents that were filled out by Omar and her father when they first came to the United States in an effort to determine whether or not her citizenship is valid.
Omar referred to the search as politically motivated and said it was proof that President Trump was weaponizing the Justice Department against his critics — and has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ilhan-omar-demands-authorities-return-passport-computers-seized-in-home-search">demanded</a> that the items taken from her home during the search be returned to her.
Omar has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ilhan-omars-staff-altered-her-birthdate-after-she-was-elected-heres-why-that-matters">long claimed</a> that she gained U.S. citizenship at the age of 17 when her father became a naturalized citizen in 2000.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, if Omar was indeed 17 at the time, she could have derived citizenship automatically through her father’s naturalization under the law then in effect, provided she was an unmarried permanent resident under 18 and met the requirements regarding her parents’ status. But questions have been raised about her age, particularly after Omar&#8217;s congressional staff had her listed birth year changed from 1981 to 1982 after a political opponent raised questions about it.
Further complicating Omar&#8217;s account is the fact that a 2023 search for any record or proof of Omar’s father’s naturalization came up empty, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/10/13/us-news/the-missing-immigration-records-on-rep-ilhan-omars-dad-that-may-have-prompted-raid-on-dc-home/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
AJ Kern, Omar’s opponent in the 2022 Democratic primary, had requested information about Omar&#8217;s father during the campaign — in order to verify the congresswoman&#8217;s claims about her own citizenship — and was informed a year later that the record search had failed to locate proof that he had been naturalized, the Post reported.

Minnesota Democrats Hold News Conference Ahead Of State Of The Union

The Family Messages Now At The Center Of Ilhan Omar’s Troubles

Ilhan Omar Raid Approved After Feds Seized Sister's Phone

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Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed confirmed on Saturday that his sister-in-law Mariam Jukaku landed on the terrorist watch list when former President Barack Obama was still in the White House.
El-Sayed, who is scheduled to campaign alongside Obama in the coming days, told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michigan-democrat-confirms-sister-in-law-terror-watchlist-lawsuit-days-before-obama-campaign-appearance">Fox News</a> senior correspondent Mike Tobin that Jukaku&#8217;s name had been added to the federal Terrorist Screening Dataset — which is more commonly referred to as &#8220;the Watchlist&#8221; — and had pursued legal avenues to have her name removed.
&#8220;There&#8217;s reporting in a lawsuit that now backs it up. And documentation with the lawsuit that Mariam Jukaku, who&#8217;s your sister-in-law, that she was on the terrorist watch list?&#8221; Tobin prompted.
&#8220;Yeah,&#8221; El-Sayed said she had been added to the list, but then argued that she&#8217;d never done anything to warrant her placement there — and claimed that the system operated on a &#8220;guilty-until-proven-innocent&#8221; philosophy when the names on the list tilted in certain ethnic directions.
&#8220;She did nothing wrong and was captured on that and then sued and got off. You&#8217;ve got this system where folks are guilty until proven innocent because they&#8217;ve got different kinds of names, because of the infrastructure that people like Mike Rogers set up,&#8221; he said, trying to tie the issue to his opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI).
Jukaku&#8217;s complaint, filed in 2016, alleges that she was selected for additional screening at an airport, but was not told why the extra scrutiny was deemed necessary. She said at the time of the filing that she believes she was removed from the list by 2016.
El-Sayed claimed that she &#8220;sued and got off&#8221; from the lawsuit, but Fox News Digital reported that the ruling favoring the plaintiffs was overturned in 2021 — and a companion lawsuit from 2017, in which the plaintiffs sought damages, was dismissed.
El-Sayed has been on his back foot for much of the campaign as his association with radical pro-communist streamer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/el-sayed-shrugs-off-hasan-pikers-9-11-comments">Hasan Piker</a> has raised red flags — and his <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/2111568649513587167">apparent inability</a> to take a firm stance disavowing the Muslim Brotherhood.

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Virginia Kruta