George Washington University law professor emerita W. Burlette Carter declared on Thursday that Karmelo Anthony was entitled to a new trial.
Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf, 17, and sentenced to serve 35 years in prison. Carter argued that because &#8220;minorities are not interchangeable,&#8221; Anthony was not provided with &#8220;a jury of his peers&#8221; at trial — and she said that alone was grounds for him to receive a new trial.
Carter, a black woman who describes herself on X as a &#8220;descendant of slaves,&#8221; prefaced her <a href="https://x.com/ProfWBCarter/status/2065283542414705051">statement</a> by admitting that she had not yet read a full transcript of the trial — but then immediately argued that she didn&#8217;t need to because it was already clear to her that Anthony had not been granted a fair trial.
&#8220;I have not yet read the full trial transcript. But so far, I do know this. Karmelo Anthony was entitled to a jury of his peers. He did not get that,&#8221; she claimed. &#8220;On that ground alone, he is entitled to a new trial. Minorities are not interchangeable. The prosecutor’s reported proffered reasons for striking all black jurors  — that they were teachers — appears to be pretext.&#8221;
But by law, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/race-narrative-kicked-into-overdrive-after-jury-selected-in-austin-metcalf-murder-trial">jury</a> does not have to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-race-card-karmelo-anthonys-father-is-playing-gets-scorched-by-facts">reflect the race</a> of the defendant — rather, it must be made up of a reasonable cross section of the community, and both attorneys and judges are to do their best to ensure that the jury is made up of individuals who will decide the case based on the facts presented rather than preexisting biases.
The jury in Anthony&#8217;s case was made up of multiple ethnic minorities — in spite of claims made by Anthony&#8217;s father and others that the jury was &#8220;all white&#8221; — including Asian, Indian, and Hispanic. The prosecution did challenge several potential jurors who were black because they were educators and the murder had happened on school grounds. The judge accepted those challenges as valid.
&#8220;Anthony needs a new lawyer on appeal and in a new trial,&#8221; Carter continued, arguing that Anthony&#8217;s court-appointed attorney had not done a good job. She left out the fact that, after raising some $600,000 via GiveSendGo, Anthony&#8217;s family had gone with a court-appointed lawyer after claiming that he was unable to afford a private attorney.
&#8220;His trial lawyer allowed in opinion evidence that should have been struck. He also seemed unable to appreciate and counter the impact of racial overtones in that case. Those overtones are clear even on Twitter commentary as folks seek to paint Metcalf as having no culpability in what happened and Karmelo as a complete monster,&#8221; she insisted. &#8220;The facts on how the matter escalated are more complicated than that. He and they had no such authority. They are also apparent in the statements that seek to deputize Metcalf and other kids with authority to remove Anthony. They had none and initiated the conflict. That does not mean they should have been killed but it means they have explaining to do. The lawyer for Anthony apparently did not require that explaining. It is fair to ask how the Anthonys ended up selecting that lawyer.&#8221;
Her final jab was aimed at the trial judge, and she claimed that he should &#8220;be disqualified&#8221; because he gave an interview that could have &#8220;negatively affected the appeal rights of the defendant.&#8221;

Karmelo Mugshot

The Flaw In A Professor’s Race-Based Defense Of Karmelo Anthony

Austin Metcalf

Courts

Crime

Karmelo Anthony

Murder

The New York Knicks clinched the series with a Game 5 win on Saturday evening in San Antonio, winning their first NBA Finals in more than half a century when they edged out the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 94-90.
They ended the first quarter down 10 points, with 13 to the Spurs’ 23, but by halftime, they had cut their deficit in half. They began the second half with 37 to the Spurs’ 42 — and trailed them until the final moments of the fourth quarter, finally tying up the score at 83-83 with 4:25 left in the game. The Spurs didn’t make it easy for them, scoring almost immediately — but the Knicks pulled ahead with 3:40 left, 86-85, and the two teams traded blows until the clock ran out.
Going into Saturday night’s game, New York was already leading the series three games to one. They won their first matchup on June 3 (105-95) and the second on June 5 (105-104). The Spurs notched a win on June 8 (115-111), but the Knicks delivered a record-setting comeback in Game 4 to win (107-106).
After the first quarter of Game 4, the Knicks were already down by 19 — the biggest first-quarter disadvantage in NBA Finals history for the home team — and by halftime things were looking bleak. Another record-setting deficit, this time at 27 points — and then in the second half, the Spurs widened their lead to 29 points. 
The comeback — driven largely by power forward OG Anunoby and guard Jalen Brunson — delivered the final basket with just 1.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. San Antonio did not even have time to attempt one last shot.
And so the Knicks headed to Texas for Game 5. If they had not pulled out the victory on Saturday, they would have returned to their home court at Madison Square Garden for Game 6.
The last time the Knicks won the NBA finals was 1973, when they bested the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.

Knicks Fans Gather Around NYC To Watch Game 4 Of The NBA Finals Against The San Antonio Spurs

Knicks Run Away With First NBA Finals Win In 53 Years

Basketball

New York Knicks

Sports

Spurs

Vanessa Trump shared an update Saturday on her cancer treatment and what the next steps down that road would be for her.
Trump, who announced her breast cancer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vanessa-trump-reveals-breast-cancer-diagnosis">diagnosis</a> publicly on May 20, said in a Saturday morning <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZh9jmATYMZ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Instagram post</a> that she&#8217;d spent the last several weeks recovering from surgery and was preparing for the next phase of treatment.
&#8220;I wanted to share an update on my cancer journey,&#8221; she began. &#8220;Over the past four weeks, I&#8217;ve been recovering from surgery and I&#8217;m grateful to be healing and moving forward. Soon, I&#8217;ll be starting the second stage of my treatment. Sending love, strength, and hope to everyone fighting this battle.&#8221;
Trump, who has five children from her previous marriage to Donald Trump Jr., did not give any further details about the surgery or what the next step in her treatment might be, although she had briefly mentioned a &#8220;procedure&#8221; when she first shared her diagnosis.
&#8220;I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me,” she wrote at the time, adding, &#8220;I kindly ask for privacy as I focus on my health and recovery.&#8221;
Ivanka Trump, her former sister-in-law, showed her support in a statement saying, &#8220;Praying for your continued strength and a swift recovery. Love you mama.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s cancer update comes just two weeks after her former husband, Trump Jr., tied the knot for a second time, marrying <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/donald-trump-jr-offers-an-intimate-peek-inside-his-wedding-day">Bettina Anderson</a> in a Memorial Day Weekend ceremony in the Bahamas — and one day after her boyfriend, golf legend Tiger Woods, left his rehab facility in Switzerland.
Woods, 50, has been in rehab since his DUI arrest in late March — but he did take a brief break in order to be with Vanessa as she faces her cancer treatment.

Vanessa-Trump-052026-8e8868f8a875469f8ecdca3a5438fd1a

Vanessa Trump Shares Cancer Update

Breast Cancer

Donald Trump Jr.

Kai Trump

Trump

Kate Bedingfield said that prominent Democrats refusing to disavow Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner — over several scandals and allegations — amounted to an &#8220;indictment&#8221; of the party.
Bedingfield, who served as communications director for former President Joe Biden, addressed the issue on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;The Arena,&#8221; telling host Kasie Hunt that she believed at least part of the problem could be chalked up to sexism.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
💥NEW: Former Biden Official Kate Bedingfield on Graham Platner: “I think it’s demoralizing that his transgressions are being overlooked … I think it’s an indictment of our party that we’re willing to look the other way on this.” <a href="https://t.co/ATAWk3nDZT">pic.twitter.com/ATAWk3nDZT</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://x.com/JasonJournoDC/status/2065873209073742080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I personally — I think it’s demoralizing that his transgressions are being overlooked,&#8221; Bedingfield said. &#8220;However, I&#8217;m not overly stunned in part because I think that the gender breakdown on how people are reacting to what they&#8217;ve read about him is very telling.&#8221;
She pivoted quickly to point out why that disparity could cause political problems for Platner in Maine — namely the fact that the electorate there skews toward women and older voters — and argued that he would have to win over some of the split-ticket voters who had chosen Biden and incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) in 2020.
&#8220;He&#8217;s got to pull some Biden-Collins voters from 2020 over his way, and Donald Trump continuing to attack him is one way that some of those people, you know, may come along,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;So, you know, listen, I personally don&#8217;t love it, but the people of Maine, you know, I don&#8217;t live there so they probably don&#8217;t really — they don&#8217;t really care what I think.&#8221;
&#8220;But I think it&#8217;s — I&#8217;m going to just say it and I have said it consistently, I think it’s an indictment of our party that we’re willing to look the other way on this, personally,” Bedingfield concluded.
Bedingfield&#8217;s assessment aligns almost perfectly with that of Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), who has also been very critical of Platner throughout the campaign. When Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked Fetterman directly whether he would campaign against Platner and for Collins — who by record and by most accounts is a moderate — he drew a <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/2065577500294713769">hard line</a> and reminded her that at the end of the day, he is a Democrat.
President Donald Trump officially endorsed Collins in the Maine Senate race several days earlier despite conceding that the two are definitely not &#8220;best friends.&#8221;

White House Director Of Communications Kate Bedingfield Holds Press Briefing

Biden Spox Goes Scorched Earth On Platner: To Accept Him Is ‘An Indictment’ Of Dems

Biden Spox Goes Scorched Earth On Platner: To Accept Him Is 'An Indictment' Of Dems

Democrats

graham platner

Joe Biden

Maine

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has confirmed that an employee has been terminated over her remarks about Karmelo Anthony in the wake of his murder conviction and subsequent 35-year prison sentence.
The TDCJ confirmed to <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/article/karmelo-anthony-parole-supervisor-facebook-comment-22302990.php">The Dallas Morning News</a> that Donna Robinson was no longer with the department after she posted on Facebook about the case, saying that she believed Anthony was likely to be &#8220;protected&#8221; in prison. She also added, &#8220;I&#8217;m just glad we didn&#8217;t have to bury another Black child. Let them start burying some of theirs for a change. FK&#8217;em I said what I said.&#8221;
Libs of TikTok shared screenshots of the post on Friday, following up later with a post stating that Robinson had been let go.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This woman claims to be on the Board of Pardons and Parole in Texas
She allegedly posted this after Karmelo Anthony was found guilty.
We reached out to <a href="https://x.com/TDCJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TDCJ</a> but they declined to respond <a href="https://t.co/OBxn2rRsdg">pic.twitter.com/OBxn2rRsdg</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2065245530058330465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I am a parole supervisor at TX DCJ Karmelo will be ok he I can almost assure you will be protected on the inside. I for one don&#8217;t give fk about the family&#8217;s loss. It&#8217;s about time these fking bigots feel the pain tha they have inflicted on other people since the beginning of time!&#8221; she posted.
&#8220;I&#8217;m just glad we didn&#8217;t have to bury another black child. Let them start burying some of theirs for a change. FK&#8217;em I said what I said,&#8221; she added.
The TDCJ said in a statement to The Dallas Morning News that Robinson&#8217;s comments undercut the department in a way that was deemed unacceptable, and after a review of her public statements, she was fired.
&#8220;These statements are incompatible with TDCJ policy and values. They demonstrate bias and a lack of the impartiality essential to the fair administration of justice in Texas,&#8221; the statement said, noting that employees were expected on a regular basis to make decisions in the workplace that had to be free from bias. &#8220;Discriminatory or inflammatory conduct that erodes public confidence in the criminal justice system will not be tolerated.&#8221;
Anthony, 19, was convicted for the murder of Austin Metcalf, 17 — whom he fatally stabbed at a high school track meet — and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

karmelo_behind_bars__720

The Karmelo Anthony Post That Ended A Prison Official’s Career

Politics

Racism

Thus United States joined with Venezuela in a joint strike targeting Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero, marking a new era of cooperation in the wake of former dictator Nicolàs Maduro&#8217;s arrest.
Trump shared details of the strike late on Friday evening — along with footage — touting the cooperation with Venezuela and saying that he was making good on his promise to eradicate the gangs no matter where they chose to hide.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FROM <a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> — At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth. Before I returned to… <a href="https://t.co/2dXhF5IWoH">pic.twitter.com/2dXhF5IWoH</a>
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2065609709139140889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth,&#8221; Trump posted, and then quickly pivoted to blame Biden.
&#8220;Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of Illegal Criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim, and murder American Citizens with total impunity,&#8221; he said. &#8220;During my Campaign, I pledged to expel these monsters from our Country, and bring Justice to the families of those they slaughtered, including the precious 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, 22-year-old Laken Reilly, and countless other beautiful souls.&#8221;
&#8220;With this action, the United States Military has brought retribution for them, their families, and their loved ones,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive.&#8221;
Trump concluded his post by touting the cooperation between the United States and Venezuela, saying that because the two nations were working together, there was no safe place for such violent gang members to hide: &#8220;This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well. As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drugs lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong. GOD BLESS AMERICA!&#8221;
General Francis L. Donovan, head of U.S. Southern Command, also praised the joint operation with Venezuela: &#8220;We extend our gratitude to the Venezuelan security forces for their support to the successful joint operation against a Tren de Aragua compound that resulted in the death of the narco-terrorist organization’s leader &#8230; Guerrero was a wanted fugitive charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with ordering, directing, and facilitating acts of terrorism and violence in the United States.&#8221;
War Secretary Pete Hegseth describe the operation as proof that the United States and Venezuela were committed to taking the fight to those who would participate in narco-terrorism and &#8220;deny them any safe haven.&#8221;
&#8220;TdA founder &amp; leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, aka &#8216;Niño Guerrero,&#8217; was confirmed killed during the strike. The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere. We will continue to work closely with security partners, like Venezuela — and counties in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) partners — to take the fight to our enemies,&#8221; Hegseth posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Earlier this week, the <a href="https://x.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> — in full collaboration with Venezuelan security forces — conducted a kinetic strike on a Tren de Aragua (TdA) compound in Venezuela. TdA founder &amp; leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, aka “Niño Guerrero,” was confirmed killed during the…
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/2065613430074065246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Screenshot/War Department

U.S. Teams With Venezuela In Strike To Take Out Tren De Aragua Leader

Border Crisis

Donald Trump

gangs

Tren De Aragua

Embattled former First Son Hunter Biden offered an extensive defense of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, arguing that his critics should be the first to reveal the contents of their own phones.
Biden, speaking with Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), explained away everything from Platner&#8217;s Nazi-inspired tattoo to his apparent history of troubling behavior with women before arguing that he made up for any shortcomings by taking appealing political positions. Biden also suggested that Platner&#8217;s issues were irrelevant anyway, since the people raising concerns about him were probably equally dirty.
WATCH:
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Newsom raised the question about Platner, who has faced a number of controversies since he rose to the top of the heap in Maine, asking Biden what he made of the way things had played out in recent weeks.
&#8220;What do think in the context of authenticity versus the audacity frame of Platner as a — as, you know, an example?&#8221; Newsom asked, referencing Platner&#8217;s tattoo and vulgar comments he&#8217;d made on social media.
Biden began by attributing Platner&#8217;s previous behavior to his military service and his struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, alluding to his own troubled history as a drug addict and suggesting that he of all people would recognize someone who was trying to right his own course.
&#8220;He&#8217;s not saying something new today that he wasn&#8217;t saying four months ago,&#8221; Biden said. &#8220;Or five months ago, which is this: he was a veteran, a combat veteran, and when he came back he had some real issues with PTSD, and that trauma, and whatever way that he was working it out, I think he has been really open about &#8230; he wasn&#8217;t a good person.&#8221;
Biden then compared Platner&#8217;s struggles to his own, saying that he knew how much &#8220;stamina&#8221; and &#8220;courage&#8221; it took to turn things around.
He went on to declare that he was &#8220;99% certain that Graham Platner is no Nazi,&#8221; and argued that people should stay out of the Maine Democrat&#8217;s relationship with his wife.
&#8220;I always say to people, like, show me your phone,&#8221; Biden continued, and Newsom laughed. &#8220;Give me access to your iCloud. Let&#8217;s go through it and pull everything that we can that is inappropriate, that is off-color, that is — you know, that selfie that you took when you were drunk off your ass and you sent it to your blah, blah, blah. Like, show me your phone!&#8221;
Biden argued that, by that standard, no one would ever be qualified to hold public office — and appeared to suggest that for that reason, people should ignore the furor around Platner.
In his final defense, Biden said he did not believe Platner was abusive, and he was worth supporting because no matter what his personal issues might be, he supported things like government-provided free healthcare and sticking it to billionaires.

Jury Deliberates In Hunter Biden Gun Trial

Hunter Biden Defends Graham Platner With A ‘Show Me Your Phone’ Challenge

Hunter Biden Defends Graham Platner With A 'Show Me Your Phone' Challenge

Hunter Biden

Media

The CEO of the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue was a font of absolutely no information during a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday.
Regina Wallace-Jones gave the same answer to every question — invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination — throughout the hearing, provoking a shocked response from Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) when she offered the same response to a question about her name.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Apparently, even the preferred usage of the ActBlue CEO’s name is protected under the 5th Amendment. <a href="https://t.co/9tJhqRcwCQ">pic.twitter.com/9tJhqRcwCQ</a>
— Rep. Barry Loudermilk (@RepLoudermilk) <a href="https://x.com/RepLoudermilk/status/2064760465960378405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;So I do have a series of questions for you, but I want to make sure I’m respectful. Is it Miss Jones or Miss Wallace-Jones?&#8221; Loudermilk asked.
&#8220;On the advice of my counsel, I respectfully decline to answer this question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution,&#8221; Wallace-Jones replied, prompting a few laughs in the room.
&#8220;Okay, wow! Okay, didn’t, uh … expect that one,&#8221; Loudermilk reacted in surprise.
But Wallace-Jones also refused to answer the more substantive questions — including a series of questions from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) about whether ActBlue had allowed illegal foreign donations to pass through the platform or had weakened fraud safeguards to help Democrats.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After Rep. Garcia (D-CA) claimed that the hearing on ActBlue is nothing more than a charade, Rep. Jim Jordan made him eat his own words.
&#8220;Let&#8217;s be clear. We&#8217;re here because ACTBlue&#8217;s legal counsel said Ms. Wallace-Jones lied to Congress, willfully and knowingly misled the… <a href="https://t.co/493tQJLH0R">pic.twitter.com/493tQJLH0R</a>
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2064734664334438419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jordan, pushing back on claims from Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) that the hearing was more of a political performance than substance, pointed out that statements from ActBlue&#8217;s former legal counsel had prompted the hearing.
As laid out in a <a href="https://judiciary.house.gov/media/in-the-news/actblue-employees-took-fifth-house-depositions-146-times">press release</a> from the House Judiciary Committee in April, former ActBlue general counsel Darrin Hurwitz, ex-director and associate general counsel Aaron Ting, and former counsel Zain Ahmad all parted ways with ActBlue after warning that unspecified changes to fraud standards could leave the political action committee and fundraising platform open to legal risks.
In the investigation that followed, ActBlue employees invoked their 5th Amendment rights at least 146 times — and Wallace-Jones did the same throughout her hearing on Wednesday, declining to answer questions such as:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;How much fraud is too much fraud?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;How many foreign contributions did ACTBlue accept?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;How much money did ACTBlue accept from Russia?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Why did your entire legal team quit, your in-house legal team?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Did your legal team quit because of reduced fraud standards?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Did you weaken your fraud standards to help Democrats?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
&#8220;The crux of this misconduct is simple: ActBlue appears to have accepted illegal foreign donations en masse and tried to cover it up, lying to and withholding information from Congress in the process,&#8221; the Judiciary Committee&#8217;s report concluded.

Preventing Fraudulent Donations Hearing

CEO Of Democrat Fundraising Machine Refuses To Answer Questions

Congress

Democrat

fundraiser

President Donald Trump officially endorsed incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Wednesday, praising her as &#8220;sane&#8221; and reasonable — especially when compared to her Democratic opponent, Graham Platner.
Trump made the comments to reporters in the Oval Office as he discussed the next steps he planned to take in Iran, referring to Platner as a &#8220;thug&#8221; and a &#8220;pig&#8221; and urging Mainers to stick with their &#8220;respected&#8221; incumbent senator instead.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: President Trump officially endorses Senator Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race, blasting Democratic candidate Graham Platner.
&#8220;She&#8217;s a sane woman and she&#8217;s a respected person.&#8221;
“But this guy is a thug… He&#8217;s a phony. I made a lot of money picking out phonies. He&#8217;s… <a href="https://t.co/EKGlm4P4zY">pic.twitter.com/EKGlm4P4zY</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2064740027540681035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The question put to the president was a simple one: &#8220;Are you all in on supporting Susan Collins? Does she have your full support and endorsement in her reelection?&#8221;
&#8220;She does, because she&#8217;s a sane woman,&#8221; Trump interrupted, adding a caveat: &#8220;She&#8217;s not my best friend, at all &#8230; but we get along, but she&#8217;s a sane person and she&#8217;s a person that never missed a vote in many years — like 10,000 votes.&#8221;
&#8220;She had 10,000 votes, she never missed a vote. Unfortunately, because sometimes she voted against me,&#8221; Trump added, prompting laughter around the room. &#8220;Look, she&#8217;s a sane woman and she&#8217;s a respected person, maybe a little different ideology than me.&#8221;
Trump pivoted then to attack Platner, saying, &#8220;But this guy is a thug. He&#8217;s a fake — a fake thug, he&#8217;s a phony. I made a lot of money picking out phonies. He&#8217;s a real phony. He&#8217;s bad. He&#8217;s a bad person.&#8221;
Trump also referred to the Maine Democrat several times as a &#8220;pig,&#8221; but quickly <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2064744229692203178">reconsidered</a> his choice out of consideration for the pigs: &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to stick him with that one, though, I think pigs would be very upset about it.&#8221;
The president and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-susan-collins-voting-yes-kavanaugh-paul-bois">Collins</a> have often been at odds over votes, but she has also voted with Trump on several key occasions — including the vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

Republican Lawmakers Work To Pass Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” On Capitol Hill

Trump Endorses ‘Sane Woman’ Susan Collins After ‘Thug’ Graham Platner Lands Dem Nomination

Trump Endorses 'Sane Woman' Susan Collins After 'Thug' Graham Platner Lands Dem Nomination

Elections

Executive

Susan Collins

The United States successfully eradicated the New World Screwworm in the late 1960s, but Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says that former President Joe Biden&#8217;s open borders helped clear the way for its return.
Rollins laid out the case during a recent hearing, following news that the parasitic fly — which, in its larval (maggot) stage, enters livestock, pets, and even humans through open wounds and then feeds on living tissue — had breached the United States border for the first time in 50 years.
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&#8220;Beginning in 2022 when the Darien Gap was breached, into 2023 when the screwworm began moving at a rapid pace up through Central America, and hitting Mexico in 2024 under the last administration,&#8221; Rollins described the timeline around the parasite&#8217;s migration, linking it to the mass migration of people who flooded the United States border during Biden&#8217;s administration due to his lax border policies.
&#8220;We know this development is a serious threat, but it did not catch us off guard,&#8221; Rollins added. &#8220;We&#8217;ve established a 20-kilometer movement zone, expedited targeted release of sterile flies in the affected area, we&#8217;ve increased the trapping for flies along the border, and are ramping up surveillance.&#8221;
Rollins <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-declares-war-on-screwworm-to-contain-flesh-eating-parasite">shared several details</a> about efforts already underway to stop the spread of the deadly parasite in an earlier X post, effectively stating that the Trump administration was declaring war on the invasive pest.
&#8220;We have been in full combat mode against this invasive threat since Day One,&#8221; she posted, adding, &#8220;This administration is working hand-in-hand with our Texas partners delivering an unprecedented response: hitting harder, faster, and smarter than ever before. Thanks to our proactive preparation and rapid response, American agriculture will not be disrupted. We will eradicate this threat.&#8221;
The first official case of the screwworm in the United States came last week when a young calf in Texas tested positive for the parasite.

Governor Greg Abbott Holds A Press Conference On New World Screwworm In Texas

America Wiped Out Nightmare Pest In 1966. Biden’s Border Crisis Helped Bring It Back.

America Wiped Out Nightmare Pest In 1966. Biden's Border Crisis Helped Bring It Back.

brooke rollins

Screwworm

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) forced a witness for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) into an uncomfortable corner during a Tuesday hearing, pressing him on Maine&#8217;s Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and the Nazi-inspired tattoo about which he&#8217;d claimed ignorance.
Gill pressed Bryan Fair, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the SPLC, on Platner&#8217;s tattoo and whether the organization would condemn it.
WATCH:
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Credit: x: @RepBrandonGill
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&#8220;Do you have an opinion on this tattoo?&#8221; Gill began, holding up a photo of Platner&#8217;s chest with the Totenkopf clearly visible.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not an expert on tattoos, no I don&#8217;t,&#8221; Fair replied.
Gill offered some &#8220;background&#8221; information on the displayed image, saying, &#8220;This is a tattoo on Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner&#8217;s chest — that&#8217;s the Nazi SS death head tattoo. Do you have any opinions on that?&#8221;
&#8220;If it&#8217;s what you say, if it&#8217;s a Nazi symbol, we oppose Nazis,&#8221; Fair replied.
&#8220;I agree, we do oppose Nazis,&#8221; Gill said. &#8220;Do you think that if somebody got a Nazi tattoo on their chest that&#8217;s indicative that they might be a Nazi?&#8221;
Fair attempted to evade the question, suggesting that Gill should ask Platner why he&#8217;d gotten the tattoo. Platner has claimed that he did not know the tattoo had Nazi connections until recently, but several people who have been close to him have said that he was well aware of the connections and referred to the ink as &#8220;my Totenkopf.&#8221;
&#8220;You don’t think that that&#8217;s indicative that perhaps he holds Nazi sentiment?&#8221; Gill tried a different tack.
Fair acknowledged, &#8220;It may well be.&#8221;
&#8220;Do people that aren’t Nazis normally get Nazi tattoos on their chest?&#8221; Gill asked one more question.
&#8220;I assume they don’t,&#8221; was Fair&#8217;s reply.
&#8220;Do you think that somebody that has a Nazi tattoo on their chest should service in the United States Senate?&#8221;
&#8220;I wouldn’t vote for that person,&#8221; Fair conceded.
Gill pressed again: &#8220;Do you think that this should disqualify him from serving politically in the Senate?&#8221;
&#8220;I’m not sure where the lines of questions are going,&#8221; Fair protested, repeating that the SPLC as an organization would not support Nazis.
Platner is likely to become Maine&#8217;s official Democrat nominee for Senate after Tuesday&#8217;s primary — especially since Governor Janet Mills (D-ME) suspended her campaign more than five weeks earlier due to a lack of funding — despite a series of damning reports detailing his troubling behavior in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-platner-staffer-calls-bs-on-dems-excuse-for-nazi-tattoo-troubling-behavior">past relationships</a> and social media posts attacking a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/didnt-deserve-to-live-leftist-candidate-appears-to-mock-wounded-soldier-in-resurfaced-post">Purple Heart</a> recipient, among other things.

Former US Special Counsel Jack Smith Testifies Before House Judiciary Committee

Brandon Gill Corners SPLC Witness Over Platner’s Nazi Tattoo

Brandon Gill

nazi tattoo

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has brought in a veteran crisis communicator to handle public scrutiny over his ties to disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and any future dealings with the Senate Ethics Committee.
The communicator in question is Andrew Bates, who most recently handled crisis communications for former President Joe Biden as he weathered the final days of his ill-fated 2024 re-election campaign and the end of his term in the White House.
According to a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/09/democrats-ruben-gallego-eric-swalwell-biden-andrew-bates?utm_campaign=mrf-utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_source=x&amp;utm_medium=owned_social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;mrfcid=202606096a1d03c13e6f3e29b07150c1">report</a> published Tuesday by Axios, some in Gallego&#8217;s camp feel they&#8217;re being sidelined to make room for the Biden alum.
&#8220;Senator Gallego has been clear that he plans to help Democrats take the majority in 2026 and is weighing all options for his political future. He has brought on Andrew to help navigate those processes,&#8221; a spokesperson for Gallego told the outlet.
What Gallego&#8217;s team did not say was that the senator has been under increased scrutiny since several women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct and even rape against Swalwell. Gallego has repeatedly claimed that he had no knowledge of Swalwell&#8217;s alleged behavior — despite the fact that the former California congressman was a longtime close friend and former roommate.
An experienced crisis communicator may be necessary if Gallego is to survive the fallout — and Bates&#8217; work for the Biden White House certainly speaks to that.
When even the Democratic leaders in Congress — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), among others — were approaching the White House and calling for Biden to bow out of the 2024 race, Bates was telling reporters that it wasn&#8217;t going to happen.
&#8220;The president told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100-days agenda to help working families,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/us/politics/biden-election-drop-out.html">Bates said</a>, just a few days before Biden announced that he would not continue his presidential re-election campaign.
On July 18, Bates posted an ABC News article citing an unnamed White House official who declared Biden&#8217;s plan to remain in the race.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Flatly denied reports that the president is now more open to the idea of ending his campaign.
‘Anyone who has talked to Joe Biden in the last 24 hours can tell you that is not true,’ [said] the senior White House official, who has spoken to Biden today”<a href="https://t.co/oCbBCvfciW">https://t.co/oCbBCvfciW</a>
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewBatesNC/status/1814028972809683025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Keep the faith,&#8221; Bates posted on July 20 — along with an article about Biden&#8217;s plans to hit the campaign trail in the coming days.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Keep the faith.
“1 big thing: Biden digs in”
“Biden officials are telling Democratic critics that President Biden is eager to prove them wrong — and plans to hit the campaign trail once he recovers from COVID” <a href="https://t.co/fIrxXSsrXv">https://t.co/fIrxXSsrXv</a>
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewBatesNC/status/1814663860525097305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Just over 24 hours later, Biden would exit the race.
And by late February of 2025, Bates — who had defended Biden to the final hours of both his campaign and his presidency — was on MS NOW claiming that President Donald Trump might not have the &#8220;energy&#8221; to do the job well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://x.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a>: &#8220;Former Biden spokesperson suggests Trump might not have the &#8216;energy&#8217; to do the job, &#8216;desperate to show that he&#8217;s in charge'&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ML0U5uB91v">https://t.co/ML0U5uB91v</a>
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewBatesNC/status/1893730118528278608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act

Swalwell’s BFF Brings Back Infamous Biden Lackey To Manage Crisis Response

Swalwell's BFF Brings Back Infamous Biden Lackey To Manage Crisis Response

Eric Swalwell

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Virginia Kruta