Editor&#8217;s Note: This story was updated Friday, April 3, after investigators revealed new information on Thursday about the case. 
***
An Arizona missing persons cold case turned into an investigative triumph when Christina Marie Plante was found alive after she disappeared more than three decades ago, the Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1479304087566987&amp;set=pcb.1479304147566981">announced</a> Wednesday.
But not only is Plante alive and well, an investigator shared Thursday that the teenage girl actually ran away and has been secretly living another life since.
On May 15, 1994, the then-13-year-old left her home on foot in the small town of Star Valley, Arizona, to visit her horse at a nearby stable, authorities said. At some point after leaving her house, Plante vanished &#8220;without a trace&#8221; and was reported missing.
&#8220;At the time of her disappearance, extensive search efforts were conducted involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and regional resources,&#8221; authorities wrote in the statement. &#8220;Despite exhaustive ground searches, interviews, and investigative follow-up, no viable leads were developed.&#8221;
Her name was entered into national missing children databases and missing persons flyers were distributed throughout the country.
Until this week, the case remained active and ongoing, with investigators &#8220;periodically re-examining evidence and pursuing new information as it became available.&#8221;
<div style="width: 493px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="x15mokao x1ga7v0g x16uus16 xbiv7yw x85a59c x193iq5w x4fas0m x19kjcj4" src="https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/659027770_1479348987562497_6086883609209914846_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=127cfc&amp;_nc_ohc=jcaUoGpj-isQ7kNvwG-zG7g&amp;_nc_oc=AdpbJLazfVSn4II6MVN4bqkOY3WIhd3nSI7YDYbaO_DwF129HyN2uSI_2HQEqlm8an4&amp;_nc_zt=23&amp;_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&amp;_nc_gid=JGBz8FdCuEUSJ1362NiKyQ&amp;_nc_ss=7a3a8&amp;oh=00_Af2ReAsEkuDnEy3Bxm7094k0WBSHxxf_BGQJSKV-lHADQg&amp;oe=69D462D6" alt="May be an image of text" width="483" height="621" data-visualcompletion="media-vc-image" />Credit: Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office</div>
It wasn&#8217;t until the sheriff&#8217;s office developed the Cold Case Unit with a &#8220;renewed commitment to unresolved investigations&#8221; that they reached a &#8220;breakthrough.&#8221;
Captain Jamie Garrett of the unit credits advanced technology and modern investigative techniques for the ability to have tracked down the now 44-year-old.
Garrett told <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/girl-missing-1994-left-on-purpose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NewsNation’s “Jesse Weber Live”</a> on Thursday that she spoke to Plante on the phone, who confirmed she was the missing girl from Star Valley.
Garrett said she was &#8220;dumbfounded&#8221; after learning there was no kidnapping involved. Instead, Garrett shared that Plante made the decision to run away, with the help of other family members.
&#8220;I guess she wasn&#8217;t happy with where she was living and who she was living with, and she ran away,&#8221; Garrett said of the phone call.
Garrett told Weber that she shared with Plante the authorities thought something sinister had happened, &#8220;You know, we were under the impression that somebody kidnapped you. It was deemed a criminal offense.”
Plante, according to Garrett, didn&#8217;t give much information about how she ran away or where she has been, but confirmed she is living under a different name.
“She’s in her adult life. She has her family now. That’s not something she even thinks about,” Garrett said.
The sheriff&#8217;s office initially wrote in the statement it wasn&#8217;t going to release any more information “out of respect for Christina’s privacy and well-being.”
“The Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office remains committed to pursuing all unresolved cases and encourages anyone with information regarding other cold cases to come forward.”

Detective workplace and evidence board in modern office

A Little Girl Who Went Missing 32 Years Ago Was Just Found Alive, But The Mystery Only Deepens

Arizona

Crime

Missing Person

Police

U.S.

The FBI seized election data from Maricopa County, Arizona, as the bureau expands its investigation into suspected election tampering, Just The News <a href="https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/monfbi-secretly-seizes-election-records-arizonas-largest-county-voting">reported</a> on Sunday night.
The FBI has kept the Maricopa County record seizure under wraps, but Just The News cited &#8220;multiple people familiar&#8221; with the probe who said that FBI agents are receiving gigabytes worth of data through a grand jury subpoena. The investigation into Maricopa County election records comes just a month after the FBI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-raids-fulton-county-office-as-part-of-2020-election-interference-probe">raided</a> an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of a 2020 election interference probe.
President Donald Trump celebrated the report of the FBI election data seizure, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116199384958218035">writing</a> on Truth Social Monday morning, &#8220;Great!!!&#8221;
The Daily Wire reached out to the FBI for comment.
Trump continues to push for stronger election laws, including voter ID requirements and more restrictions on mail-in ballots, across the country as the 2026 midterms near. Maricopa County was scrutinized following Trump&#8217;s 2020 election loss to former President Joe Biden over allegations that hundreds of thousands of ballots were illegally counted.
After the 2020 election, the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate investigated Maricopa County&#8217;s ballot-counting process and found that more than 200,000 ballots were counted without being reviewed, despite containing mismatched signatures. Then, in 2024, election observers filed a report after noticing blank and filled-out absentee ballots in the same warehouse on election night, Just The News reported.
A Republican and a Democrat observer also included photos in their report, which showed heavily guarded absentee ballots. While that report has not been released to the public, Just The News&#8217; sources said it was one of the reasons for the subpoena, which authorized the FBI to obtain Maricopa County election data.
Maricopa County, which surrounds Phoenix, has played a pivotal role in determining the state&#8217;s outcome and its 11 electoral votes in recent elections. Trump won the county in his first presidential race in 2016 and then again in 2024, but Trump lost Maricopa County and Arizona to Biden in the contentious 2020 election.
Trump maintains that the 2020 election was &#8220;stolen&#8221; from him as states counted an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots, and Biden won the election with a record number of votes. A Republican-led <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/arizona-republicans-release-findings-widely-panned-election-audit-2021-09-24/">audit</a> of the 2020 election results from Maricopa County found that the initial results were &#8220;within a few hundred&#8221; votes of the recount and did not change the overall result.
As Trump continues to claim that he was cheated out of the White House in 2020, he is pushing for the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act before the vital 2026 midterm elections. The legislation would require states to check voter IDs to ensure that only U.S. citizens cast ballots.
The SAVE America Act passed the House last month, but it has stalled in the Republican-led Senate. Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/front-of-the-line-trump-says-he-wont-sign-a-thing-until-save-act-hits-his-desk">said</a> on Sunday that he would not sign any other legislation until it is sent to his desk.

Maricopa County Begins Counting Ballots On Election Day In Arizona

FBI Makes New Move In Arizona County At Center Of 2020 Election Controversy

2020 Election

Donald Trump

Election

The reward for information in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of &#8220;Today&#8221; show host Savannah Guthrie, has been significantly increased thanks to a Wisconsin attorney.
Michael Hupy, president of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers, sent a $100,000 check through Crime Stoppers to 88-Crime in Tucson in hopes of generating new leads in the case.
88-Crime is Tucson&#8217;s Crime Stoppers chapter. Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that offers rewards for anonymous tips that lead to arrests. The 88-Crime reward now stands at $102,500 thanks to the boost from Hupy and Milwaukee Crime Stoppers. The FBI is also offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s whereabouts or an arrest in the case.
Though Tucson is nearly 2,000 miles from Milwaukee, where Hupy is based, he felt compelled to help.
&#8220;This case stuck out to me because of the age of the person and the need for medical treatment,&#8221; Hupy told The Daily Wire. &#8220;We have an 84-year-old woman who was left without taking her pills. That&#8217;s not a good situation. I said I better do something.&#8221;
Hupy said time is critical, and with the search entering its third week, more tips are needed.
&#8220;I think if we had motivated someone at the beginning, we might have a solution,&#8221; Hupy said.
Unlike many reward programs, Crime Stoppers guarantees tipsters complete anonymity, even through the payout process.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/fng-ep-13"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1039207 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="243" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
&#8220;When you call, we don&#8217;t take your phone number,&#8221; Hupy said. &#8220;We don&#8217;t take your name. We don&#8217;t take any information about you. We just take the information you give us. If that results in an arrest, you get a reward. We still don&#8217;t take your name.&#8221;
&#8220;You go to an undisclosed location, give them your number and your code number, and you get the reward,&#8221; Hupy added. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know of an instance where this has not worked, or anyone&#8217;s been betrayed by the system.&#8221;
Guthrie has been missing since February 1, when the grandmother was taken from her home. The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Office are working to locate her and identify a person who was seen on her front stoop.
Hupy said tips submitted through Milwaukee Crime Stoppers have helped solve murder cases. As an organization, Crime Stoppers has helped solve more than 300,000 cases over its 50 years of operation.
Anyone with information about the Nancy Guthrie case can contact 88-Crime at 520-882-7463.
For live updates about the case, read the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Has+The+Nancy+Guthrie+Kidnapping+Gone+Cold%3F+Sheriff+Responds">blog</a> or listen to the latest episode of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-10x?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+Show+Episodes+Carousel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finding Nancy Guthrie</a>, a special Daily Wire true crime podcast.

Credit: Brandon Bell via Getty Images

High-Stakes Money Move Enters Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Mystery

Nancy Guthrie

News

Controversial live-streamer Clavicular could be facing years in prison following an arrest on drug and forgery charges.
The streamer, whose real name is Braden Peters, was <a href="https://ktar.com/arizona-news/clavicular-arrested-scottsdale/5819599/">taken</a> into custody on February 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Peters, 20, was later charged with multiple offenses, including two felony counts, according to court records reviewed online.
During an initial court appearance, which was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVWl-gK9y4Y">streamed</a> on Peters’ Kick channel by a friend who was present at the time, a judge determined there was probable cause to proceed on all charges. The hearing quickly circulated on social media as viewers watched the legal proceedings unfold in real time.
Court documents show Peters was booked on two Class 4 felony counts: possession of a forged instrument and possession or use of a dangerous drug. He also faces a Class 1 misdemeanor charge for a minor using false identification to gain entry into a liquor establishment.
At the hearing, Peters’ attorney challenged the forgery charge, arguing it failed to meet the legal threshold required under Arizona law. Defense counsel asserted that the statute requires intent to defraud, and claimed the alleged fake identification was merely discovered during questioning, not actively used to deceive anyone.
The defense also questioned the legitimacy of the search that allegedly led to the drug charge, arguing there was insufficient justification and that employees at the venue never claimed Peters presented false identification. Counsel further suggested Peters was acting as a promoter at the location, a claim they argued undermined the state’s case.
Despite those objections, the judge ruled that the circumstances surrounding the arrest were sufficient to establish probable cause on all counts. A status conference has been scheduled for February 23 at 8:30 a.m., with a preliminary hearing set for February 26 at the same time.
If convicted, Peters could face substantial prison time. Under Arizona law, a Class 4 felony carries a maximum sentence of 3.75 years for a first-time, non-dangerous offender. The misdemeanor charge carries a potential sentence of up to six months in jail, along with fines that can reach $2,500.
Should the court impose the felony sentences consecutively, Peters’ total prison time could reach 7.5 years, placing his maximum possible sentence near eight years, with the addition of any time imposed for the misdemeanor. If the sentences are instead ordered to run concurrently, the maximum prison term would be significantly lower.
Peters has built an online following around extreme physical discipline and self-improvement content — not all of it traditional. He has previously acknowledged a history of drug use, including admitting to methamphetamine use.
During an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8qj9RNA938">interview</a> with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles, Peters said, &#8220;I do meth, yeah. Meth is very similar to &#8230; Adderall, but it&#8217;s got a little bit better psychoactive benefits &#8230; stimulants cause appetite suppression.&#8221; When pressed on why he was doing meth despite its negative effects, he replied, &#8220;I have enough willpower to be able to taper off of meth.&#8221;
Clavicular also drew public backlash last month for viral clips in which he and a circle of controversial online figures — including Nick Fuentes, Andrew and Tristan Tate, Justin Waller, and streamer Sneako — participated in live-streamed partying, which included the playing of a Ye song that has been widely condemned for its antisemitic lyrics.
He previously drew national attention in December after appearing to run over a supposed “stalker” with his Tesla Cybertruck during a livestream. Authorities later declined to file charges in that incident, though the platform temporarily banned his account.
This most recent bump against the law only adds to the deeply online saga surrounding the controversial streamer, whose career, if he&#8217;s convicted, may come to an abrupt, and lengthy, pause.

Clavicular

Cortisol Spike: Controversial Streamer Clavicular Arrested, Faces Two Felony Charges

Courts

Drugs

President Donald Trump on Friday night said the feds could provide &#8220;definitive&#8221; answers or a &#8220;solution&#8221; concerning the Nancy Guthrie case very soon.
&#8220;I&#8217;ll give you a little statement,&#8221; Trump told the press. &#8220;I think we&#8217;re doing very well, very well, meaning, we have some clues I think that are very strong, and I think we could have some answers coming up fairly soon.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m not talking about a search, I&#8217;m talking about a solution,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;We have some things I think that will maybe come out reasonably soon from [Department of Justice] or FBI, or whoever that could be &#8212; that could be definitive.&#8221;
&#8220;A lot&#8217;s taken place in the last couple of hours,&#8221; the president added. &#8220;A lot of things have happened with regard to that horrible situation in the last couple of hours.&#8221;
Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of &#8220;Today Show&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie, was forcefully <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Consequential+Deadline+Approaches+As+Day+6+Of+Nancy+Guthrie+Search+Continues">taken from her home</a> in Catalina Hills outside of Tucson, Arizona, in the early morning hours of February 1.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
TRUMP ON NANCY GUTHRIE: “We have some clues I think that are very strong and I think we could have some answers coming up fairly soon.”
“I&#8217;m not talking about a search, I&#8217;m talking about a solution&#8230;a lot has taken place in the last couple of hours.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/YfVP0gRMCM">pic.twitter.com/YfVP0gRMCM</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/2019960119623053615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116015545880326010">said</a> on February 4 that he spoke to Savannah Guthrie and let her know that he was &#8220;directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY.&#8221;
&#8220;We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely,&#8221; he added. &#8220;The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Hotwire&amp;rowType=Four+Column+Grid&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Consequential+Deadline+Approaches+As+Day+6+Of+Nancy+Guthrie+Search+Continues">reported</a> by The Daily Wire&#8217;s Lynden Blake on Friday, a local Arizona news station, KOLD, said it had received another ransom note concerning Guthrie.
An anchor disclosed that the station &#8220;received a new message via email tied to the Guthrie case,&#8221; adding, &#8220;The FBI is currently reviewing it. That is all we can say right now.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1039207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg" alt="" width="2290" height="544" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg 2290w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2290px) 100vw, 2290px" /></a>
On Feb. 5, police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nancy-guthries-blood-found-on-front-porch-investigators-say">confirmed</a> during a press conference that blood found on the front porch of Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s home was indeed hers.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIbeKsZF6E">updated</a> the public on the investigation at a recent press conference. While law enforcement has neither identified a suspect nor person of interest, Nanos said that more samples of DNA in addition to the blood on the porch had been sent in for analysis.
The sheriff also said that his office, with help from other law enforcement, including the FBI, have been investigating dozens of tips in the search for Guthrie.
“Right now, we still believe Nancy is still out there,” said Nanos.
Law enforcement on Thursday released an estimated timetable of Guthrie’s disappearance and revealed that a home camera, one that attached to Guthrie&#8217;s front doorbell, was disconnected and removed. Investigators have still not located the missing camera.
Multiple ransom notes with deadlines have been sent following Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance, demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
On Friday, Guthrie&#8217;s vehicle was towed from her home, according to <a href="https://www.kvoa.com/news/nancy-guthrie/investigators-remove-car-from-nancy-guthries-tucson-home/article_0bdb833a-5f1d-47e1-b22b-837087298b92.html">NBC News</a>. Authorities have not released information detailing why the car was towed.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Hotwire&amp;rowType=Four+Column+Grid&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Consequential+Deadline+Approaches+As+Day+6+Of+Nancy+Guthrie+Search+Continues">LIVE UPDATES: Consequential Deadline Approaches As Day 6 Of Nancy Guthrie Search Continues</a>

TODAY – Season 72

Trump Gives Update On Nancy Guthrie Case: ‘Solution’ Likely Coming Soon

President Donald Trump works to avert a second government shutdown, the mystery surrounding Nancy Guthrie continues, and controversy swells around Sunday’s big game halftime show as the Seattle Seahawks square off against the New England Patriots.
<div class="css-1x8c9ef">
It’s Friday, February 6, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/another-shutdown-standoff-looms-guthrie-mystery-deepens/id1576594336?i=1000748506052" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Takes On Shutdowns And Renovations</h2>
After Congress scrambled to end a government shutdown, President Trump is already working to avert another one over Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump signed a spending package on Tuesday that ended the partial government shutdown, but another shutdown is looming ahead if Democrats and Republicans can’t come to an agreement on ICE and DHS discussions. Trump is still fielding questions on ICE and Minneapolis from reporters, and he told NBC News on Wednesday evening that he will always have law enforcement’s back – though he wants the situation to improve. The president spoke Thursday morning at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, where he vowed to rededicate the United States as “one nation under God,” and he announced that on May 17, all Americans are invited to the National Mall for an event of prayer and thanksgiving. He also announced this week that he is shutting down the Kennedy Center for two years for renovations, that he is installing a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the White House, and that he is putting up an Independence Arch in the nation’s capital.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Timeline</h2>
The nation has been holding its breath since the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today Show&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie. Authorities on Thursday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nancy-guthries-blood-found-on-front-porch-investigators-say">gave</a> a clearer picture of what went on Saturday into Sunday morning when Nancy Guthrie was forcefully taken from her home. 
Investigators in the missing-persons case of Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, confirmed that blood found on the front porch of Guthrie’s home belongs to her.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIbeKsZF6E" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated</a> the public on the investigation on Thursday. While law enforcement has neither identified a suspect nor a person of interest, Nanos said that more samples of DNA, in addition to the blood on Guthrie&#8217;s porch, had been sent in for analysis.
According to Sheriff Nanos, she arrived home from a family member&#8217;s house, where she had dinner just before 10 p.m. Early Sunday morning, her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Roughly 30 minutes later, a person was detected on a camera inside the home. And at 2:28 a.m., Nancy&#8217;s pacemaker disconnected from her phone. Investigators have yet to identify any suspects or persons of interest.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Super Bowl Preview</h2>
The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots face off this Sunday in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. This is a rematch of the 2015 Super Bowl, when New England defeated Seattle with a last-minute interception by Malcolm Butler. The Patriots are competing in their first Super Bowl since the tandem of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won the title in 2019. They are representing the AFC, where they compiled a record of 14-3 this season under first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. The Seahawks, representing the NFC, also went 14-3 this season under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald. A win this weekend would be the franchise&#8217;s first Super Bowl victory since 2014, when they won the title under Pete Carroll. Bad Bunny is set to perform the halftime show, a choice that has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfls-goodell-promises-bad-bunny-understands-his-role-for-super-bowl">sparked</a> some controversy.

MW_260205

Morning Brief: Another Shutdown Standoff Looms, Guthrie Mystery Deepens, & Super Bowl Preview

Morning Wire

Super Bowl

Investigators in the missing-persons case of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, confirmed that blood found on the front porch of Guthrie’s home belongs to her.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIbeKsZF6E">updated</a> the public on the investigation on Thursday. While law enforcement has neither identified a suspect nor person of interest, Nanos said that more samples of DNA in addition to the blood on the porch had been sent in for analysis.
The sheriff also said that his office, with help from other law enforcement, including the FBI, have been investigating dozens of tips in the search for Guthrie.
“Right now, we still believe Nancy is still out there,” said Nanos.
Law enforcement on Thursday released an estimated timetable of Guthrie’s disappearance and revealed that a home camera, one that attached to Guthrie&#8217;s front doorbell, was disconnected and removed. Investigators have still not located the missing camera.
The timetable begins at approximately 5:32 p.m. on January 31 when Guthrie left her house to spend the evening with her daughter and son-in-law, who lived nearby. Guthrie&#8217;s son-in-law dropped her off at her home just before 10 p.m. when Guthrie’s home security devices registered her garage opening and closing.
At 1:47 a.m. on the morning of February 1, Guthrie’s doorbell camera is disconnected. Roughly 30 minutes later, movement is caught on one of Guthrie’s home cameras. Nanos noted that the movement could have been an animal or something else. There is no recording of what was captured because Guthrie did not subscribe to a service to hold such a recording for any length of time, according to Nanos.
At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone. It wasn’t until noon that concerned family members went to Guthrie’s house to check on her, discovered her missing, and called authorities.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1039207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg" alt="" width="2290" height="544" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal.jpg 2290w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2290px) 100vw, 2290px" /></a>
Nanos’ briefing was the first from law enforcement since Guthrie’s children <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/savannah-guthrie-and-siblings-demand-proof-of-life-in-video-plea-for-their-mother">released</a> a video on Wednesday pleading for proof that their mother is still alive. The siblings said that they are willing to talk about paying a ransom for their mother, but needed to know she is alive. The Guthrie family put out the video after several reports of ransom notes were published in the media.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” said Savannah Guthrie. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
The case has captured the nation&#8217;s attention, with even President Trump weighing in and speaking with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after the &#8220;Today Show&#8221; host released the video in which the Guthries plead for their mother&#8217;s return, Trump posted to <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116015545880326010 I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP">TruthSocial</a>.
&#8220;I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.&#8221;

Sign at the house of Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie’s Blood Found On Front Porch, Investigators Say

kidnapping

Media

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of &#8220;The Today Show&#8221; host, Savannah Guthrie, enters day four — and as each new twist emerges, the case seems to get even more disturbing.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos wouldn&#8217;t confirm the legitimacy of three ransom notes, each sent to a separate news outlet — but said on Tuesday that he was “absolutely not” dismissing them.
The first note was sent to a local news station in Arizona. Nanos said authorities were made aware Monday and they let the family know as well.
“When the note comes to us, it’s like any piece of evidence,” Nanos told CBS News. “You give it to us. You give us a lead. We’re going to look at every aspect of that lead and work it as a lead.”
Entertainment site <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/03/nancy-guthrie-alleged-ransom-note-bitcoin-millions/">TMZ</a> and local Arizona news stations KGUN and <a href="https://www.kold.com/2026/02/03/we-gotta-find-her-dna-samples-taken-nancy-guthries-home-belong-her-pcsd-says/">KOLD</a> have each reported receiving a note about Nancy Guthrie — and each note laid out a similar demand: millions in Bitcoin.
A statement from <a href="https://www.kgun9.com/us-news/crime/please-pray-savannah-guthrie-releases-first-statement-since-mom-went-missing">KGUN</a> said the note had included a deadline, saying that the cryptocurrency had to be received by Thursday — and if it was not received by Monday, the note&#8217;s author threatened to kill Nancy.
Several of the notes, according to reports, specifically referenced two pieces of evidence found at the crime scene — but the news outlets have not confirmed that information to be legitimate.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1039207 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="243" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie. We are taking all tips and leads very seriously,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement Tuesday.
In addition to the ransom notes, Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Office officials are addressing reports of a suspect in the case.
Independent journalist Ashleigh Banfield said she has sources close to the case that are saying Savannah&#8217;s brother-in-law, Tammaso Cioni, may be the prime suspect in the case. Banfield added that Savannah&#8217;s sister, Annie, who is married to Cioni, has had her car towed and is being treated as evidence.
The sheriff&#8217;s department quickly told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/04/savannah-guthrie-brother-in-law-prime-suspect-nancy-kidnapping/">TMZ</a> Wednesday, &#8220;we have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case.&#8221;
Officials said that detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie and &#8220;are also awaiting additional forensic results.&#8221;
In regard to the impounded car, TMZ quoted the department as saying, &#8220;We are not confirming the car being seized, we are unsure where that reporter is getting that information.&#8221;
The ransom notes add a strange twist to the forensic evidence and tips officials are already reviewing. While not much has been confirmed about the crime, reporters described an apparent blood trail at the scene Tuesday on Nancy&#8217;s front porch, along with a missing doorbell camera.
The sheriff said the footage from cameras at the house is being processed. The neighborhood of Catalina Hills, where Nancy lives, is very secluded, with no street lights and no sidewalks. A CNN reporter explained that anyone attempting to get to Nancy&#8217;s house would have to wind through several different roads.
The tranquility of the area is what drew Nancy to put down roots in Tucson. On &#8220;The Today Show&#8221; in November, she said, “The quality of life is laid back and gentle.&#8221;
As authorities search for anyone connected with Nancy&#8217;s disappearance, President Donald Trump spoke with her daughter Savannah on Wednesday. A White House official told Fox News Digital on Wednesday afternoon that Trump had called and was able to speak with Guthrie, but the official didn&#8217;t give any further details on the conversation.
Trump said Tuesday he would offer federal assistance to help locate Nancy. The President called the case &#8220;very unusual&#8221; and &#8220;terrible.&#8221;
Nancy was reported missing around 11 am local time on Sunday morning after she didn&#8217;t show up for church.
Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Office officials said there is no reason to believe the 84-year-old isn&#8217;t alive.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bring-her-home-savannah-guthrie-pleads-for-mothers-return-after-abduction">RELATED: ‘Bring Her Home’: Savannah Guthrie Pleads For Mother’s Return After ‘Abduction’</a>
&#8220;We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,&#8221; Sheriff Nanos said in an interview with NBC News Wednesday. &#8220;She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”
Pima County will hold another press conference on Thursday, February 5, at 11:00 am MST.
To learn more about this case, listen to the new podcast episode, Finding Nancy Guthrie, available on the Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/dwn-260204?elementPosition=0&amp;row=6&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">website</a> and the Daily Wire Plus podcast channel as well as Spotify and Apple platforms.

Credit: Don Arnold/WireImage via Getty Images

Several Ransom Notes, No Suspects As Search For Savannah Guthrie’s Mom Continues

The Trump administration is suing California over “billions” in healthcare fraud, the elderly mother of &#8220;Today Show&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie vanishes from her home, and the Senate votes to keep a federal agency alive after its CFO confesses to taking bribes.
It’s Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/californias-fraud-epicenter-guthrie-search-continues/id1576594336?i=1000747996745" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">CMS Probes Fraud In California</h2>
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz says Los Angeles County has become an “epicenter for health care fraud,” sparking a battle with California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Oz says his agency has identified billions of dollars in alleged Medicare and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dr-oz-blasts-minnesotas-deeply-insufficient-plan-as-feds-audit-medicaid-payments">Medicaid</a> fraud in California, largely tied to hospice and home care fraud. Scammers make fraudulent claims by enrolling people in hospice care when it&#8217;s unnecessary or is never actually provided. Fraudsters are billing the government for services such as grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning when these services are not provided. There appears to be a lot of coordination in Los Angeles County, specifically, essentially organized crime, to pull off these scams on taxpayers. Oz has suggested this is largely tied to the “Russian-Armenian mafia.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Nancy Guthrie Investigation</h2>
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show Host Savannah Guthrie, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bring-her-home-savannah-guthrie-pleads-for-mothers-return-after-abduction">disappeared</a> from her home in Tucson, Arizona, over the weekend, with investigators fearing the worst. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he believes Nancy was taken from her home in a “possible kidnapping or abduction.” Meanwhile, Savannah spoke out on Instagram late Monday, asking for prayers to bring her mom home, as this troubling case unfolds. “We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” Savannah wrote.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Foreign Aid Official Admits Taking Bribes</h2>
The chief financial officer of a federal agency providing aid to Africa will <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-official-of-usaid-linked-foreign-aid-agency-to-plead-guilty-to-taking-bribes">plead</a> guilty to taking bribes. Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak revealed back in May that the African Development Foundation was doing exactly what the Trump administration suspected its larger counterpart, USAID, of doing: Using foreign aid to enrich D.C. insiders. The foundation is a federal agency that not many people knew existed until it became a hero to Democrat politicians and some media outlets when its staff locked the doors to prevent DOGE from entering. According to <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.288886/gov.uscourts.dcd.288886.1.0_1.pdf">court papers</a> filed Friday, the foundation sent $800,000 to a Kenya-based company run by CFO Mathieu Zahui’s friend. The friend paid Zahui a $12,000 kickback, and the company retained $134,886 for no work. And that is just one of many examples connecting the foundation to fraud. And yet, after Zahui’s plea, the Senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/corrupt-foreign-aid-agency-lives-on-after-11-republicans-vote-against-defunding">voted</a> against abolishing the agency with help from 11 GOP senators.

MW_260204_V1

Morning Brief: California Healthcare Fraud, The Search For Nancy Guthrie, & Foreign Aid Corruption

Morning Brief: California Healthcare Fraud, Nancy Guthrie Disappearance, And Foreign Aid Corruption

Bribery

California

Dr. Oz

Savannah Guthrie

The Today Show&#8217;s Savannah Guthrie delivers the news to millions every morning, but her own life became the headline when her mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing on Sunday from her Arizona home outside of Tucson, Arizona.
Local authorities called off the search and rescue mission Monday morning and are now investigating Nancy&#8217;s house as a crime scene.
&#8220;We do in fact have a crime scene, we do in fact have a crime,&#8221; Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at the press conference Monday.
Evidence gathered during the ongoing investigation in the 84-year-old&#8217;s home suggests Nancy did not leave on her own. Authorities are reviewing camera footage at her house.
&#8220;So we make a plea to anyone who knows anything about this, who has seen something, heard something, to contact us,&#8221; Nanos said. &#8220;Call 911. We don&#8217;t need another bad, tragic ending. We need some help.&#8221;
Nanos said the community needs to check their cameras and see if they have seen anything that at first didn&#8217;t look suspicious, but now the Sheriff said you should know it is suspicious.
Authorities have Nancy&#8217;s cell phone, and officials added that her family, including Savannah, are in Arizona and fully cooperating with authorities.
The Sheriff added that Nancy isn&#8217;t in good physical health but has &#8220;no cognitive issues&#8221; and is &#8220;very alert&#8221; and &#8220;very sound of mind.&#8221;
Savannah released this statement on The Today Show on Monday.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.”
Nanos described Nancy as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds. The 84-year-old has brown hair and blue eyes. The last time her family saw her was at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Nanos said the family was alerted that Nancy wasn&#8217;t at church Sunday morning, and after a brief search for her, the family alerted authorities.
Nanos said the public is not in danger.
According to The Today Show, Savannah has often described her close relationship with her mother, and Nancy would make appearances on the national morning show from time to time. Per the outlet, her father, Charles, died when Savannah was 16 years old, leaving Nancy as a single mother of Savannah and her two siblings.
Nanos said when they get more information, they will let the public know.

Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Today Show Host’s Mom Missing, Her Home Now An Active Crime Scene

NBC News

TODAY Show

Just seven years ago, Democrats around the country embarked on a campaign to essentially abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to President Donald J. Trump’s lawful immigration enforcement actions during his first administration. One prominent Democrat, David Garcia, who couldn’t help but fall into this lawless rhetoric, hailed from my state of Arizona. The most notable statement that landed Garcia in trouble was when <a href="https://revealnews.org/blog/politicians-call-for-investigation-about-migrant-children-held-in-vacant-arizona-office-building/">he said</a>, “Trump’s immoral actions – which Ducey has enabled – demand that we rebuild our immigration system that reflects our American values.” Because, in large part, of Garcia’s attitude about ICE, he lost the November General Election to incumbent governor Doug Ducey.
History is repeating itself in 2025, as Democrats again find themselves on the opposite side of law and order, demonizing the brave men and women who serve at ICE, Border Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies. While federal agents apprehend criminal illegal aliens in communities across America, Democratic officials are taking to the streets, airwaves, and digital spaces to impede or foment outrage against the enforcement actions. Due to these antics, the lives and livelihoods of these brave men and women in law enforcement – and even those engaging in the riots or protests – are being jeopardized. We saw this play out in Minneapolis this week, where a protester was tragically killed because she appeared to be driving her vehicle straight at an officer, who reacted in self-defense. The dichotomy playing itself out in front of the American people couldn’t be starker.
These actions are not laughing matters, nor protected by the Bill of Rights as some clueless radicals wrongfully assert. Because of the hatred toward the heroes of ICE and other federal law enforcement attempting to carry out their sworn duties, agents are experiencing more injuries and threats. A recent study from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) showed there was a “1,150% increase in assaults and violence against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement officers (238 reported assaults) as compared with the same period in 2024 under the Biden administration (19 reported assaults).” According to the DHS report, these acts of violence include “hitting, spitting, kicking and biting during arrests, vehicle ramming, open gunfire, and throwing of Molotov cocktails.”
One recent fiasco involved newly minted U.S. Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who has attempted to grab headline after headline to artificially launch herself into national prominence since winning her special election earlier this fall. Grijalva took umbrage at ICE agents in Tucson, Arizona, conducting an operation against an alleged transnational criminal organization that was believed to be involved with labor exploitation, and tax and immigration violations. The Special Agent in Charge stated that the investigation, which predated the Trump Administration, uncovered human smuggling and trafficking.
So, what did Grijalva do for law enforcement officers helping to clear her community of alleged human traffickers? Did she thank them? Did she call on members of her community to support their lawful efforts? No, she did the opposite. An ICE statement showed that Grijalva “joined the rioting crowd and attempted to impede law enforcement officers, then took to social media to slander law enforcement by falsely claiming she was pepper sprayed.” Videos of the interaction that day back up the ICE account of the scene. Sure enough, two agents on the Homeland Security Investigations Special Response Team were injured during the events on the ground.
Unfortunately, this Grijalva episode is par for the course for how Democrats are choosing to deal with President Trump’s actions to enforce American laws and remove criminal illegal immigrants from our streets. Almost every day in the country, we have been subjected to violent clashes between federal law enforcement officers and rioters intent on stopping the government from protecting our communities. This narrative threatens to strip our proud nation of the principles that have made the United States the greatest country in world history, one being that we join together to uphold the law and support the officials who are tasked with doing just that. What should be a sense of unity that transcends party affiliation is grossly tearing apart the fabric of America and will prove to be our undoing unless it is stopped in its tracks.
As Army General and engineer Henry M. Robert once said, “Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of liberty.” We are seeing the results of this quote play out in front of us. Democrats, in standing against federal law enforcement’s efforts to apprehend criminal illegal aliens, are compromising Americans’ liberties in their pursuit of eviscerating any semblance of law and order. Under the Democrats’ schemes, Americans are less safe, less prosperous, and less free. Democrats have again chosen their path; now, law-abiding Americans around the country must choose theirs.
I choose to stand with our ICE agents as they boldly execute their lawful charges against those illegally in our nation, many of whom have committed offenses other than simply crossing into the United States without authorization. However, it is sad that we must take sides. This reality is not becoming of a world superpower, nor will it lead to stability going forward. Our children and grandchildren will surely pay the price for this fracture. This nation will not survive long without borders or a commitment from its people to unashamedly enforce our laws.
So, as we prepare to commemorate America’s 250th birthday in just a handful of months, let us choose to support the efforts of government officials to restore law and order to our streets and remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities. These men and women are heroes, and they deserve our praise and support for their actions. The United States of America stands with ICE.
* * *
Warren Petersen is President of the Senate in Arizona.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Arizona State Capitol Building, panoramic cityscape skyline, Phoenix, aerial view

Arizona Knows What Happens When Democrats Wage War On ICE

Democrats

Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Protests

At a ceremony in Arizona on the eve of Turning Point USA’s 2025 America Fest, a crowd cheered as Erika Kirk announced that the organization’s headquarters would be renamed the “Buckman Campus.”
Nelda and Karl Buckman donated $10 million to TPUSA this past summer, the largest gift in the organization’s history. Before he was assassinated in September, founder Charlie Kirk told the Buckmans he would rename the campus he built in recognition of their generosity.
&#8220;You know what I loved about Charlie was he wasn&#8217;t afraid to ask,&#8221; Nelda Buckman told The Daily Wire. &#8220;I know that it&#8217;s well invested, and I know that it&#8217;s gonna be well used. I just am so excited to have that opportunity.&#8221;
Buckman said she and her husband were waiting for the sale of their company to close before making the multimillion-dollar donation. She said she&#8217;s thankful it happened this summer, so Kirk received the money before he was murdered.
&#8220;We were able to give it in June, so he knew,&#8221; Nelda said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a joy to be able to do it, really and truly.&#8221;
Charlie&#8217;s relationship with the Buckmans goes back years.
&#8220;The thing about Charlie that was fascinating to me is I would get text messages, and I would think, &#8216;Oh, how neat, he&#8217;s got a great intern sending me a Bible verse.&#8217; Then I found out, no, that was Charlie. Sometimes I would send him a verse back or maybe something funny, but I always thought it was very interesting that Charlie was not too busy to reach out to the people he cared about.&#8221;
Now the philanthropist is spending more time with Erika. They talk TPUSA, expanding the high school division called Club America, but what Nelda says they really enjoy bonding over is motherhood.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/charlie-kirk-gave-his-team-an-impossible-task-now-theyre-fighting-to-make-it-a-reality?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Lynden+Blake&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Charlie+Kirk+Gave+His+Team+An+Impossible+Task.+Now+They%E2%80%99re+Fighting+To+Make+It+A+Reality.">Charlie Kirk Gave His Team An Impossible Task. Now They’re Fighting To Make It A Reality</a>
&#8220;Erika and I talked about womanhood and what our culture has been teaching our young women and what we want to teach our young women.&#8221;
The two met privately in Florida ahead of America Fest and the dedication ceremony, where Nelda said she offered Erika personal support and spoke with her about the challenges of navigating her new reality as a single mother, leading the organization, and carrying forward her late husband’s legacy.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve met several times before, but this was just, just different,&#8221; Nelda said. &#8220;She shared where she&#8217;s putting her boundaries.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1021817" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1021817" class="size-large wp-image-1021817" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-48-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-48-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-48-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-48-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Untitled-design-48.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Credit: Josh Thifault</div>
At the December 17 dedication ceremony, three months after Kirk was fatally shot, Nelda and Erika embraced onstage. Nelda later said she noticed a change in Erika’s eyes, shaped by what she described as the unimaginable experience she had endured.
&#8220;The most beautiful thing to me was seeing her soft eyes again,&#8221; Nelda said.
Buckman noted that Erika has had to be fierce in the face of tragedy, attributing her ability to protect her family and company to her maternal instincts.
&#8220;We as mamas and we as women sometimes have to have those fierce moments, and to be criticized for it is the [saddest] thing.&#8221;
Erika has kept TPUSA going. The college tour continues, and AmFest was the biggest to date. She has promised exponential growth for the organization in honor of Charlie.
&#8220;One of the things that Erika said at the investors meeting in Palm Beach was &#8216;We&#8217;re gonna stay on the path that Charlie had us going on, but we will elevate,&#8217; and I just thought that was such a beautiful way to put it. We&#8217;ll elevate, and we will grow,&#8221; Nelda said.
To say the $10 million donation will help TPUSA grow is an understatement. The Buckmans placed no restrictions or conditions on the gift, saying they simply wanted to see an organization that keeps faith at the center of every decision continue to thrive.
&#8220;We didn&#8217;t put any strings attached to it. It&#8217;s a gift.&#8221;

Credit: Josh Thifault

Turning Point USA Begins New Year With Renamed Headquarters Following $10 Million Gift

Turning Point USA

Menu