Authorities in Austin, Texas, released new information during a planned <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbS6W0mC3mE">press conference</a> on Thursday — including 911 calls made during the March 1 shooting and footage from body-worn cameras — and gave an update on the victims of the deadly rampage.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said that some of the video had been deemed &#8220;too graphic&#8221; to release to the general public — and warned that even the video that was going to be released would be &#8220;difficult to see.&#8221;
One video, captured from a parked vehicle, showed the suspect walking into frame, carrying a rifle that Davis described as an &#8220;AR-15.&#8221; He raised the weapon to a firing position and drew down on a pedestrian, after which Davis stopped the video.
Another video showed the street view as bars began to close up for the night on Sunday and people spilled out into the street. Additional body cam footage from multiple officers showed them running toward the suspect — eventually engaging him in the firefight that killed him.
&#8220;As additional officers arrived, they were directed to the suspect’s location by brave people that were caught in this nightmare,&#8221; Davis said.
She also shared audio from two 911 calls. One was very difficult to understand, but someone could be heard on the line shouting at others to &#8220;get down. You need to go that way and get down &#8230; There has been a shooting &#8230; there are people dead over here. There have been multiple people shot. We need help right now.&#8221; Another caller said, &#8220;I heard six gunshots &#8230; there&#8217;s cops running towards it.&#8221;
The shooter was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese immigrant, and he wore a shirt featuring the Iranian flag under a hoodie that read &#8220;Property of Allah.&#8221;
Three people have died so far as a result of the shooting. Ryder Harrington, 19, and Savitha Shan, 21, were pronounced dead at the scene and Jorge Pederson, 30, was taken to the hospital but later taken off life support. Two other victims who have not been identified remain in critical condition. A total of 19 were struck by gunfire during the attack.
&#8220;I don’t think any of us can imagine what these families are going through right now, the suffering that they are dealing with. Our hearts are with them,&#8221; Davis said.
She reiterated previous statements saying that Diagne had not previously been known to law enforcement, explaining that his last contact with authorities had been a welfare check in 2022 based on concerns about his mental health.
The shooting is being investigated as potentially linked to terrorism.

Bodycam

Austin Police Release Body-Cam Footage, 911 Audio In Terror Probe

Austin

Islam

Media

Shooting

Texas

U.S.

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said Americans should not worry about a rise in terrorist threats following the outbreak of hostilities in Iran, calling the Texas shooter who fatally shot two people while wearing an Iranian flag shirt &#8220;just a whack job.&#8221;
&#8220;I hope you don&#8217;t worry too much,&#8221; the president told The Daily Wire in a Monday evening phone call. The gunman, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/austin-shooter-once-mowed-down-pedestrian-in-nyc-leaving-her-with-life-altering-injuries-report">opened fire around 2 a.m</a>. Sunday morning on West Sixth Street in Austin, wearing a sweatshirt that read “Property of Allah” over a T-shirt with the Iranian flag on it.
The FBI is currently investigating whether Diagne was motivated by the conflict in Iran. But President Trump is confident the incidents were unrelated.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s probably just a whack job, a total whack job,&#8221; Trump told The Daily Wire. &#8220;But you know, like so many others &#8230; probably staged.&#8221;
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<div id="attachment_1052399" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-americans-shouldnt-fear-domestic-terrorism-austin-shooter-was-just-a-whack-job/mass-shooting-at-austin-texas-bar-leaves-3-dead-and-14-injured-3" rel="attachment wp-att-1052399"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052399" class="wp-image-1052399 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2264205637-865x576.jpg" alt="" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2264205637-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2264205637-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2264205637-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2264205637.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" /></a>(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)</div>
CBS News reports that authorities found an Iranian flag and images of Iranian leaders in Diagne&#8217;s house and a Quran in his car. While authorities have not yet confirmed a motive, the attack has led to speculation that the incident was a lone-wolf domestic terror attack.
The shooter is from Senegal and had first entered the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-03-01/texas-bar-shooting-leaves-2-dead-14-wounded">according to the Department of Homeland Security.</a> He became a permanent resident six years after he entered the country by marrying a United States citizen, and was naturalized in 2013.
The White House confirmed on Sunday that the president was briefed about the shooting in Austin, but he does not appear to have publicly commented on it otherwise.
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Today, President Trump has spoken with the leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE.
The President has also been briefed on the shooting in Austin, Texas.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2028181585019670771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
FBI Director Kash Patel promised on Saturday that &#8220;FBI personnel are fully engaged on the situation overseas.&#8221;
&#8220;Last night I instructed our Counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and mobilize all assisting security assets needed,&#8221; he said in a statement on Saturday. &#8220;Our JTTFs throughout the country are working 24/7, as always, to address and disrupt any potential threats to the homeland. While the military handles force protection overseas, the FBI remains at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home &#8211; and will continue to have our team work around the clock to protect Americans.&#8221;
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told The Daily Wire Monday that the Trump administration is monitoring for potential domestic threats related to Operation Epic Fury.
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“Well, across the interagency in full coordination, of course, we’re paying attention to any potentialities there,&#8221; Hegseth said during a Monday morning Pentagon press conference. &#8220;This is a former regime, a regime that seeks to export that ideology, to try to sow terror.&#8221;
“We’re ready for that,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We’ve seen these types of folks before. And the American people can rest assured that we’re vigilant on that.&#8221;

Trump Monitors Military Operations at White House

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Gives First Reaction On Austin Shooter Directly To Daily Wire

Donald Trump

Iran

Operation Epic Fury

The Austin shooter once mowed down a woman in New York City, leaving her disabled for life, the New York Post reported Monday, citing a lawsuit.
The shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, was driving a company car recklessly through Brooklyn on Jan. 30, 2016 as his vehicle “made contact” with pedestrian Jennifer Antoine, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/austin-mass-shooter-ndiaga-diagne-once-plowed-into-woman-in-nyc-while-driving-recklessly-disabling-her-for-life-lawsuit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. As a result, Antoine &#8220;sustained severe and permanent personal injuries, became sick, sore, lame and disabled; suffered injuries to her nervous system; suffered mental anguish, was confined to hospital, bed and home and may, in the future, be so confined,” the lawsuit reportedly alleged.
The suit described Antoine as being &#8220;incapacitated from attending to her usual duties and vocation,&#8221; adding that she may “suffer a loss and/or limitation of quality and enjoyment of life.&#8221;
Diagne opened fire just before 2 a.m. Sunday near Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street in Austin, Texas, leaving two victims dead and 14 others wounded, according to KVUE. At the time of the attack, he was said to be wearing a sweatshirt reading &#8220;Property of Allah&#8221; with a t-shirt featuring the Iranian flag underneath, according to multiple reports.
Authorities have yet to confirm any motive as speculation mounts about a possible lone-wolf domestic terror attack fueled by the Iran strikes.
Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI&#8217;s field office in San Antonio, said Sunday that investigators are looking into a &#8220;potential nexus to terrorism&#8221; as they review the evidence.
After searching Diagne&#8217;s home Sunday, authorities found an Iranian flag, along with images of Iranian leaders, according to CBS News. A Quran was also found in the gunman&#8217;s car.
One victim is expected to be taken off life support and two others are in critical condition, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said during a press conference Monday.
Diagne and the company he worked for at the time were “negligent, careless, reckless, grossly negligent in the ownership, operation, management, maintenance, repair, inspection and control” of the car, the lawsuit alleged.
The suit read that the “plaintiff is only seeking to recover those damages not recoverable through no-fault insurance under the facts and circumstances in this action.”
It is not clear how the case played out in the end.
Diagne was working as a taxi driver in the 2010s, according to the New York Post. His taxi and limousine license expired in 2020.
It is also not known if he was driving a taxi at the time of the incident, according to the report.

APD Austin police shooting

Austin Shooter Once Mowed Down Pedestrian In NYC, Leaving Her With Life-Altering Injuries: Report

Terrorism

A Waymo driverless taxi blocked an entire street as an ambulance attempted to respond to the deadly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-probes-potential-nexus-to-terrorism-in-deadly-austin-shooting-spree">mass shooting</a> at a bar in Austin, Texas, early Sunday morning.
A video of the incident went viral on social media over the weekend, and Austin officials confirmed that the Waymo robotaxi was blocking the road as first responders tried to drive to Buford’s, a popular bar near the University of Texas at Austin. The bar was the scene of a mass shooting where a Senegalese immigrant, who wore a shirt depicting the Iranian flag, killed at least two people and wounded over a dozen more.
The video shows the Waymo vehicle sitting perpendicular to the road and blocking an ambulance as EMS attempted to drive to the scene of the shooting. The robotaxi appeared to be waiting for its passengers as it blocked most of the street.
One woman was heard on the video saying, &#8220;This is why we should not have self-driving cars!&#8221;
&#8220;We just need to get in it, I think,&#8221; a man said.
The driverless car blocked the road for nearly two minutes before a police officer got into the Waymo and manually drove it off the street. By that time, the ambulance appeared to back up and take an alternate route to the scene of the shooting.
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<section><a title="@mturnage5" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mturnage5?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@mturnage5</a>Active shooter on W 6th in Austin TX<a title="♬ original sound - Matthew Turnage" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7612207837120432927?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound &#8211; Matthew Turnage</a></section>
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A Waymo spokeswoman told The Daily Wire that the driverless vehicle &#8220;identified a road blockage&#8221; as it was picking up passengers and then &#8220;began executing a U-turn.&#8221; When another ambulance appeared on the street, the Waymo &#8220;briefly yielded and was assisted by a nearby officer,&#8221; according to the spokeswoman.
Matthew Turnage said that after he left, he ordered an Uber ride, and the rideshare service sent him the Waymo car.
&#8220;We left a club at 2 a.m. and were walking to get a ride home. We just so happened to get a Waymo car from Uber and when we found the car, it was trying to pick us up but got stuck in the middle of the street and blocked emergency vehicles for a couple of minutes,&#8221; Turnage <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-mass-shooting/video-waymo-seen-blocking-first-responders-during-west-sixth-shooting/">told</a> KXAN Austin.
Robert Luckritz, chief of the Austin-Travis County EMS, said on Monday that the Waymo incident likely didn&#8217;t affect the &#8220;overall&#8221; response. Luckritz added that around 20 emergency vehicles made it to the scene of the shooting, with the first emergency vehicles arriving within 57 seconds of the first 911 call.
&#8220;So in the grand scheme of the impact of the overall incident, we don&#8217;t believe it had any impact on patient outcomes,&#8221; he said.
Luckritz said that officials communicated their &#8220;concerns&#8221; with Waymo &#8220;and [are working] with them to try to address this issue moving forward.&#8221;
Austin was one of the first cities to allow driverless car companies, such as Waymo and Tesla, to put robotaxis on its streets. While Waymo argues that its robotaxis have fewer accidents than human drivers, the driverless vehicles have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/waymo-woes-self-driving-robotaxis-racking-up-crashes-and-mystery-riders-in-the-trunk">caused</a> traffic jams, driven through police standoffs, and <a href="https://x.com/niccruzpatane/status/1929590206488883246">blocked</a> emergency vehicles in the past.
Police said at a press conference that the death toll from the shooting could soon rise to three as one victim could be taken off of life support later on Monday. Federal authorities are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist attack. Along with the Iran-themed shirt, the gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, also wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with the phrase &#8220;Property of Allah.&#8221;

Waymo

WATCH: Driverless Waymo Taxi Blocks Emergency Response To Deadly Austin Shooting

Mass Shooting

Authorities in Austin, Texas, have confirmed that the suspect in a shooting that left two dead and 14 more injured was wearing a shirt depicting an Iranian flag under a hoodie that read &#8220;Property of Allah&#8221; when he opened fire on Sunday morning.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Police Chief Lisa Davis gave a press conference early Monday afternoon to give updates on the still-unfolding situation, and after taking a brief moment to thank all of those involved in the investigation, they promised additional information would be coming about the suspect in another press conference tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
&#8220;We are still in the early hours of the investigation; this is a complicated and large crime scene,&#8221; Davis said, identifying the two deceased victims as Savitha Shan and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/full-of-life-texas-tech-student-slain-in-austin-shooting-as-fbi-eyes-possible-terror-link">Ryder Harrington</a> and adding, &#8220;I cannot imagine the grief, pain, and loss these families are feeling today, and my heart is with them.&#8221;
Davis went on to note that the magnitude of the crime scene would necessarily slow the investigation. Officials are tasked with interviewing more than 150 witnesses who were present at the time of the shooting — and information will be provided to the press and the public as it is deemed appropriate. She also said that in the coming days, after they&#8217;ve been thoroughly reviewed, authorities would be releasing the footage from body-worn cameras.
Once they had given the available updates, Davis and Watson took several questions from the press. It was confirmed then that the shooter, identified as Senegalese immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen Ndiaga Diagne, had been wearing a shirt with the Iranian flag on it under his hoodie. There was also a Quran located in his vehicle, as was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-probes-potential-nexus-to-terrorism-in-deadly-austin-shooting-spree">previously reported</a> by The Daily Wire.
Davis, in response to a question from the press, said that the shooter had purchased his firearms legally, and that he had not previously been on law enforcement&#8217;s &#8220;radar.&#8221;
During the question-and-answer period, officials also confirmed that of the 14 who were injured in the attack, one was expected to be taken off life support in the near future — and two remain in critical condition.
In the coming days, investigators will be working to piece together a timeline of the events leading up to the shooting in an effort to get a better picture of the shooter&#8217;s motive.

Mass Shooting At Austin, Texas Bar Leaves 3 Dead And 14 Injured

Austin Shooter’s Iran-Linked Attire Becomes Central Focus In Terror Probe

The first victim in the Austin bar shooting over the weekend has been identified as 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, a student at Texas Tech.
&#8220;Ryder was the best mix of all the Harrington crew,” his brother, Reed Harrington, wrote on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Da2o6PHw2/">social media</a>, thanking supporters on behalf of the family.
Harrington was one of two people killed early Sunday morning after 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne opened fire outside Buford&#8217;s, a popular bar in downtown Austin. Police shot and killed Diagne after a brief gunfire exchange.
According to local Lubbock TV station <a href="https://www.kcbd.com/2026/03/02/texas-tech-student-killed-austin-bar-shooting/">KCBD</a>, Harrington was a member of the Fall 2024 pledge class of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
In a statement, the fraternity said:
<blockquote>His character and genuine spirit made our chapter stronger and our friendships deeper. The energy he carried, the joy he spread, and the way he made everyone feel welcome are things we will never forget. He made the world around him better simply by being in it.</blockquote>
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) said the loss hit close to home because Harrington was related to one of his team members.
&#8220;Ryder was the brother-in-law of one of our own, and our hearts are aching alongside his loved ones,&#8221; Burrows <a href="https://x.com/Burrows4TX/status/2028304728820514958?s=20">said</a>. &#8220;From all accounts, Ryder was exactly the kind of young man who made a difference without even trying—full of life, loyal to his friends, proud to be a Red Raider and a Texan, and someone who showed up for the people around him.&#8221;
Police say Diagne fired just before 2 a.m. Sunday. He <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-tech-student-identified-victim-austin-bar-shooting-rcna261317">reportedly</a> wore a sweatshirt that said &#8220;Property of Allah&#8221; and a t-shirt underneath with a design similar to the Iranian flag. According to law enforcement, Diagne drove around the block multiple times in a large SUV before stopping, turning on his flashers, rolling down a window, and firing at people sitting outside the establishment.
He then exited the vehicle and continued shooting in the crowded nightlife district.
Authorities said Diagne was armed with a handgun and rifle and acted alone.
Fourteen people were hospitalized, several in critical condition.
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-shooting-at-austin-texas-bar-leaves-at-least-3-dead-multiple-people-wounded/#">CBS News</a> reported that investigators found Iranian flags and pictures of Iranian leaders in the shooter&#8217;s home. A Quran was also found in the vehicle. Officials have not announced a motive, but the FBI is investigating whether the shooting could be related to terrorism. Other reports say the gunman had previous mental health issues.
The attack occurred hours after the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Austin Police at 512-974-TIPS.

Credit: Brandon Bell via Getty Images

‘Full Of Life’ Texas Tech Student Slain In Austin Shooting As FBI Eyes Possible Terror Link

News

A heavy security presence remains in downtown Austin after a chaotic shooting spree early Sunday morning left two victims dead and 14 others injured.
According to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/01/us-news/austin-mass-shooter-possibly-motivated-by-iran-attacks-quran-found-in-car-as-fbi-eyes-terrorism/">New York Post</a>, the shooter has been identified as Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen. Diagne “was naturalized in 2013 and later applied for asylum in 2016.”
Fox News obtained a photo of the suspect armed and wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the phrase “Property of Allah.” A Quran was also reportedly found in his vehicle.
“I am told he was also wearing an undershirt that had an Iranian flag on it,” Fox News’ Bill Melugin wrote in a post on X.
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BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a> has obtained a photo of the Austin, TX mass shooter, armed &amp; wearing a sweater that says “Property of Allah”. He has not been identified by authorities, but multiple federal law enforcement sources tell FOX he is a 53-year-old naturalized US citizen who was… <a href="https://t.co/YjyT8sIuBr">pic.twitter.com/YjyT8sIuBr</a>
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/2028171028900266261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The violence erupted just before 2 a.m. near Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street, according to <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/active-attack-reported-in-downtown-austin/269-1a19c462-1416-4316-8dba-732c395fbfcf">KVUE</a>. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis reported that the suspect, driving a large SUV, circled the block several times before stopping and activating his hazard lights. From the vehicle, he opened fire with a handgun. He then parked near Wood Street and continued his assault on foot, moving east on Sixth Street while switching between a pistol and a rifle.
Officers stationed nearby for the weekend entertainment rush engaged the suspect almost immediately, fatally shooting him. While the suspect fired multiple rounds toward the bar, Chief Davis confirmed he never gained entry to the building.
The rapid response of emergency services likely prevented further loss of life.
&#8220;We have paramedics embedded in the entertainment district,&#8221; said ATCEMS Chief Robert Luckritz, noting that life-saving treatment began just 57 seconds after the initial 911 call. Mayor Kirk Watson praised the coordination, stating there was &#8220;no question&#8221; the speed of the response saved lives. Of the 14 wounded, three remain in critical condition.
The investigation has now taken on a federal dimension as the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) joined the probe. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran confirmed that &#8220;indicators&#8221; found inside the suspect’s SUV suggested a &#8220;potential nexus to terrorism.&#8221;
In law enforcement circles, this specific phrasing acts as a legal &#8220;bridge.&#8221; By citing a &#8220;nexus,&#8221; the FBI acknowledges a possible link between the shooting and a broader extremist ideology or organization—whether through digital footprints, recovered materials, or direct communications. However, by labeling it &#8220;potential,&#8221; officials are exercising extreme caution. Under federal law, a &#8220;terrorist&#8221; label requires proof of specific intent to intimidate a civilian population or influence government policy. Until that motive is definitively proven in the lab and through interviews, the agency maintains a neutral stance to protect the integrity of the investigation.
While authorities later cleared some items in the vehicle as non-threatening, the JTTF remains the lead investigative body. This shift allows the FBI to utilize specialized tools, such as National Security Letters, to trace the suspect’s background and determine if the Austin community was the target of a premeditated ideological attack.
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BREAKING: An FBI official confirmed in a news conference that the shooter in Austin’s mass shooting had materials that “were indications of a potential nexus to terrorism.”
&mdash; Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) <a href="https://twitter.com/tplohetski/status/2028133700068602337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Austin Shooting Suspect Identified, Wore ‘Property Of Allah’ Hoodie During Attack

The city of Austin just introduced a new logo, and based on the response so far, they may have really jumped the Cracker Barrel with this one.
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax unveiled the newly designed logo for the city at a press conference on Thursday morning. “For the first time in Austin’s history, we will have a logo to represent the city services and unify us as one organization, one Austin,” the city employee said, <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-unveils-new-city-brand-logo-redesign/">per</a> local NBC affiliate KXAN.
The entire project, including payments for brand vendors and a public awareness campaign, cost taxpayers more than $1.1 million.
The original logos for Austin had many symbolic elements, while the new one is incredibly simplified by comparison. This led to a lot of negative comments online from people who believe the redesign is a downgrade.
“Austin drops $1.1M taxpayer dollars on a logo redesign while claiming &#8216;efficiency&#8217; – peak bureaucratic delusion. Residents rightly call it insane…” one commenter on X wrote.
“This rebranding circus started in 2018 under previous leadership, proving establishment politicians always prioritize optics over substance. That million could&#8217;ve repaired roads, bolstered emergency services, or provided tax relief. Instead, Austinites get abstract squiggles representing &#8216;movement&#8217; while their infrastructure crumbles. Classic government waste: invent problems to justify self-serving spending sprees.”
Another commenter said, “It&#8217;s okay, but it looks like a corporate logo. The drawback for me is that it looks like a box of girl scout cookies. It does not make me think of Austin or Texas and they could have drawn from a number of things that would exemplify this specific city.”
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It&#8217;s okay, but it looks like a corporate logo. The drawback for me is that it looks like a box of girl scout cookies. It does not make me think of Austin or Texas and they could have drawn from a number of things that would exemplify this specific city. <a href="https://t.co/jw9LGpucKL">pic.twitter.com/jw9LGpucKL</a>
— Jack Salmon (@seamonkey10) <a href="https://twitter.com/seamonkey10/status/1963845599691731438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“I’m starting to think these expensive rebrands are actually some form of money laundering,” a third person <a href="https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1963783932203454662">wrote</a>, referencing the viral Cracker Barrel rebrand fiasco.
Broadnax said during the press conference that he was “glad to champion” the redesign because “there is a very real business need for a unified brand.”
He also mentioned that Austin has more than 300 logos used in different departments, which is why the single unified logo was created.
“We want our community members to be able to identify members of our team as city of Austin employees and trust the services we provide, whether they see the brand on a website, a utility bill, a street sign, or the side of a vehicle, they’ll know exactly who it’s from and what it stands for,” Broadnax said.
“Austinites told us that they value and appreciate their interaction with city staff, but they also want a modern government that reflects the community’s values and is consistent, connected, and responsive across departments and services, and that’s what this brand does.”

Austin rebrand

City Of Austin Mocked Over $1.1M Rebrand, New Logo: ‘Looks Like A Box Of Girl Scout Cookies’

General

United States

Democrats — who have a habit of puffing out their chests as they boast of their courage — are having a very tough time with continued Republican victories as their poll numbers continue to be in the trash. All of this is now manifesting in their latest routine in Texas.
Texas Republicans are looking right now at redistricting the state congressionally, a process called gerrymandering.
That’s quite typical around the United States. Every state has some form of gerrymandering — and some of the worst gerrymandered states are Democrat-dominated states.
If you look at a map of Illinois with its congressional districts, it looks insane. The congressional districts make no sense because they&#8217;re all over the place. One congressional district, the 13th, looks like a snake that travels halfway through the state, and that is juxtaposed with the 17th congressional district, which was created simply to get to a Democratic majority.
<div id="attachment_956575" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-956575" class="size-large wp-image-956575" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-384x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: @kerpen/X. https://x.com/kerpen/status/1952175690176221608" width="384" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-384x576.jpg 384w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-1360x2040.jpg 1360w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes=" (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" />Screenshot: @kerpen/X</div>
The attempt to treat gerrymandering as though it is unnatural and those kinds of politics are only pursued by one side — which is what the Democrats are claiming — is absolute nonsense.
The Texas state Republicans are now attempting to re-gerrymander the state. Texas Democrats have threatened that they would run away from the state so the state legislature cannot reach a quorum.
In order for them to do that, they have to claim that the gerrymandering is an authoritarian threat to democracy, as opposed to a way that congressional districts have been created since the beginning of our Republic.
There is nothing new here. Elbridge Gerry, from whom the word “gerrymander” is derived, was the Vice President of the United States who served under President James Madison from 1813 until his death in 1814.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2252-texas-democrats-run-away-plus-the-real-gaza-starvation?elementPosition=1&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
But according to former Barack Obama Attorney General Eric Holder, what the Texas Republicans are doing is “authoritarian” and a “threat to democracy.” Holder, who once called himself Barack Obama&#8217;s “wingman,” stated, “What we&#8217;re seeing now is an attempt by the White House to insulate itself from any kind of congressional scrutiny, any kind of congressional oversight, to make sure that Donald Trump remains the authoritarian figure that he has become. We have a compliant Congress, and he wants to ensure that given the fact that they pass this bill — that is unpopular, that takes healthcare away from people, that gives tax breaks to billionaires, and it puts at risk the Republican majority — that he continues to have that compliant Republican House of Representatives.”
The idea that the president is responsible for gerrymandering as opposed to the party that happens to be in control of the particular state legislature is ridiculous.
So what are Texas Democrats doing? They&#8217;re doing what they&#8217;ve done before. They&#8217;re running away.
POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/08/04/the-mess-with-texas-00491589">reported</a> on Monday:
<blockquote>When the Texas legislature reconvenes today at 4 p.m. ET, it will be 57 Democrats short of a quorum. While a small number of Democratic legislators remain in Austin, many more have fled. Instead, some will be in New York, meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul; they’ll hold a media availability at 10 a.m. in Albany. Others will be hunkered down at an undisclosed hotel in the Chicagoland area; Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is providing them with logistical support. Still others are expected in Boston for the National Conference of State Legislators.</blockquote>
There&#8217;s great irony that legislators from Texas are fleeing to Chicago, considering Illinois one of the most gerrymandered states in America. Illinois Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker is providing them with logistical support, which is no shock, as he wants to run for president in 2028.
Texas Democratic State Representative James Talarico told POLITICO, “I’m hoping that what we’ve heard from blue state lawmakers talking about retaliation may give Texas Republicans pause, it may give Speaker Mike Johnson pause, because he’s got members in blue states that may lose their seats if this escalates further.”
POLITICO continued:
<blockquote>Aboard the bus, he and other members talked about how Abraham Lincoln once broke quorum in the Illinois state legislature by jumping out of a window. “Everybody is hungry and tired, but in good spirits,” Talarico told Playbook.</blockquote>
The genuine heroism of these people.
This is not the first time Texas Democrats have run away to break the quorum. They did this back in 2021; in doing so, they released some of the worst social media ever. They went to Washington, D.C., and started releasing photos of themselves eating salads and talking about what absolute heroes they were.
Talarico was on Joe Rogan’s show recently, where he promoted a bunch of very Left-wing ideas that Rogan — who is not a Right-winger, possibly a heterodox person who voted for Donald Trump, but not traditionally conservative — started buying into. 
“My Democratic colleagues and I have just left our beloved state to break quorum and stop Trump&#8217;s redistricting power grab,” Talarico huffed, adding:
<blockquote>Trump told our Republican colleagues to redraw the political maps here in Texas in the middle of the decade to get him five more seats and protect his majority in Congress. They&#8217;re turning our districts into crazy shapes to guarantee the outcome they want in the 2026 elections. If this power grab succeeds, they will hang on to power without any accountability from the voters. But Texas Democrats are fighting back. We&#8217;re leaving the state, breaking quorum and preventing Republicans from silencing our voices and rigging the next election.</blockquote>
“We are not fighting for the Democratic Party,” he puffed. “We are fighting for the democratic process. And the stakes could not be higher. We have to take a stand.”
“We have to take a stand.” 
By running away.
That, assuredly, must be the only way to take a stand.
“Brave Sir Robin ran away — bravely.”
Run away? Yes. They are so brave.
I am loving every element of this tremendous bravery.
This demonstrates the extent to which Democrats are in real national trouble. They&#8217;re in trouble in states such as Texas.
California has already been basically gerrymandered to death by the Democrats, so this is nothing new. The Democrats are whimpering, “If you go after Texas, we might redistrict California.”
They already did it. How many more seats are they going to take away from Orange County? There&#8217;s not that much more they can do to gerrymander Republicans out of existence in places like California.
All of the posturing speaks to the desperation of Democrats; they have no national brand. Whatever national brand they might possibly have is quite negative.
So they run away.

Texas Democratic Lawmakers Flee State In Effort To Halt Redistricting Legislation

Texas Democrats Fight Back — By Running Away

Ben Shapiro

Democrats

Greg Abbott

Illinois

J.B. Pritzker

Opinion

Republicans

U.S. Politics

(Reuters) — Tesla shares jumped 10% on Monday after the electric-vehicle maker started testing its long-awaited robotaxi service, a key step toward proving the technology that CEO Elon Musk has for years touted as a crucial driver of its lofty valuation.
The automaker deployed a small fleet of self-driving taxis in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, marking the first time its cars have carried paying passengers without human drivers. The rides were being offered for a flat fee of $4.20 in a limited zone.
The trial&#8217;s success is crucial for Tesla as Musk has pivoted the company to self-driving cars and robots, shelving plans for mass-market dominance in the EV space as Chinese competition heats up and demand slows for its aging line-up of models.
&#8220;It was a comfortable, safe, and personalized experience,&#8221; said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, who took multiple robotaxi rides on Sunday and has long been a Tesla bull.
&#8220;There was a moment where we drove up a narrow road going up a hill with cars parked on both sides with oncoming traffic and people opening their car doors into the road and the robotaxi masterfully maneuvered with patience and safety.&#8221;
Many social-media influencers also posted videos of their first rides on X, showing the cars navigating busy city streets by slowing down and making room for incoming traffic.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/3GbQ9sZA2O">https://t.co/3GbQ9sZA2O</a>
&mdash; Tesla (@Tesla) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla/status/1937076639504236728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Still, the tightly controlled trial — with about 10 vehicles and front-seat riders acting as &#8220;safety monitors&#8221; &#8211; is just the first step in what could be a years-long process of scaling up the service, according to some industry experts.
Musk said that he aims to get &#8220;hundreds of thousands, if not over a million Teslas doing self-driving in the U.S.&#8221; by the end of next year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
ELON MUSK:“By the end of next year, we&#39;ll have hundreds of thousands, if not over a million Teslas doing self-driving in the US.” <a href="https://t.co/q4EkaxSggI">pic.twitter.com/q4EkaxSggI</a>
&mdash; Dima Zeniuk (@DimaZeniuk) <a href="https://twitter.com/DimaZeniuk/status/1936795466575810739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tesla, as well as rivals including Google-backed Waymo, have faced federal investigations and recalls following collisions.
Industry experts have questioned the efficacy of Tesla&#8217;s self-driving technology that depends mostly on cameras and AI, without redundant sensors such as lidar and radar, claiming fog, heavy rain and glaring sunlight can hamper safety.
The company will also have to navigate a new Texas law taking effect September 1 that requires a state permit for self-driving vehicles and reflects bipartisan calls for a cautious roll-out.
If Monday&#8217;s gains hold, Tesla — the world&#8217;s most valuable automaker — will add nearly $100 billion to its market value of about $1 trillion. The stock has declined about 12% so far this year, after the company faced criticism and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-issues-warning-over-left-wing-terrorist-attacks-against-tesla">threats</a> over Musk&#8217;s role in the Trump administration and his backing of right-wing political movements in Europe.
Still, Tesla trades at nearly 149 times forward earnings estimates, far above auto rivals such as Ford Motor at 9.3 and tech giants including Microsoft at 31.6.
(Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D&#8217;Silva)

FILE PHOTO: Tesla robotaxis launch in Austin, Texas

Tesla Shares Soar After First Robotaxis Hit The Road

Auto Companies

Elon Musk

Technology

Tesla

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday night that he would deploy the National Guard &#8220;across the state&#8221; as anti-ICE protests hit major cities.
Protests against President Donald Trump&#8217;s illegal immigration crackdown started earlier this week in <a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-joins-anti-ice-protests-immigration-crackdown-intensifies">Dallas</a> and <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/live-blog-ice-protest-at-texas-capitol/">Austin</a>, and more demonstrations are planned for San Antonio on Wednesday and Saturday. In a <a href="https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1932656855764861152">post</a> on X, Abbott said he was mobilizing the National Guard as a precautionary measure &#8220;to ensure peace &amp; order.&#8221;
&#8220;Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal &amp; will lead to arrest,&#8221; the governor added. &#8220;@TexasGuard will use every tool &amp; strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.&#8221;
In Austin, the state&#8217;s capital, police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who were ignoring warnings to clear out of the street, KXAN Austin <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/live-blog-ice-protest-at-texas-capitol/">reported</a>. Officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Austin Police Department arrested more than a dozen people during the protest Monday night, according to Abbott. During the demonstration, a federal building where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds detainees was vandalized with messages reading, “ICE NEEDS 2 SURRENDER &amp; RELEASE THE HOSTAGES” and “MODERN DAY SLAVERY DISGUISED AS CRIMINAL REFORM.”
Six men arrested during the Austin demonstration were charged with felony criminal mischief, resisting arrest, among other offenses, according to the <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/abbott-deploys-national-guard-san-antonio-protests-20371032.php">San Antonio Express-News</a>.
&#8220;Peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested,&#8221; Abbott <a href="https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1932304416435998771">wrote</a> on social media early Tuesday morning, adding, &#8220;FAFO,&#8221; the acronym for &#8220;F*** Around and Find Out.&#8221;
The protest in Dallas on Monday turned &#8220;tense&#8221; as some demonstrators clashed with police officers, The Dallas Morning News <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/06/09/protestors-in-dallas-rally-to-show-solidarity-with-la-demonstrators-amid-ice-crackdowns/">reported</a>. After sunset, authorities deployed pepper spray to disperse the crowd and appeared to make some arrests.
Texas National Guard troops will be on &#8220;standby in areas where mass demonstrations are planned in case they are needed,&#8221; according to Abbott&#8217;s office. Demonstrations, organized by a group called &#8220;No Kings&#8221; are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-warning-to-any-protester-that-wants-to-come-out-during-d-c-military-parade">planned</a> for cities in all 50 states on Saturday as the U.S. Army will hold a massive parade in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the president&#8217;s birthday, with Trump in attendance.
Protests, some of which have turned into <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anti-ice-riots-break-out-in-san-francisco-as-more-troops-deploy-to-l-a">riots</a>, have already popped up in cities across the country after anti-ICE rioters attacked law enforcement officers and damaged businesses and public property in Los Angeles last weekend. President Trump deployed the National Guard to L.A. on Saturday and then sent in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a">reinforcements</a> days later, including 700 Marines, as he blasted Democrat officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
California then sued the Trump administration over the National Guard deployment, arguing that Trump infringed on Newsom&#8217;s power. Trump has defended his decision, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Sends+Another+2%2C000+National+Guard+Troops+To+L.A.">claiming</a> that L.A. would be &#8220;burning to the ground&#8221; without his action.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Greg Abbott To Deploy National Guard Amid Texas Anti-ICE Protests

Dallas

Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Los Angeles

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Austin&#8217;s once hot housing market is in sharp decline with landlords reportedly offering tenants perks like weeks of free rent to entice them to stay.
Home prices and apartment rents in Austin have seen a steeper drop recently than any other place in the country as the city sees slower jobs and population growth, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/once-americas-hottest-housing-market-austin-is-running-in-reverse-94226027?mod=hp_trending_now_article_pos1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Several years ago, the city saw a glut of new apartment buildings get built while Austin&#8217;s economy grew at close to double the national rate, turning it into the country&#8217;s 10th-largest city, the paper reported.
Companies like Tesla and Oracle established offices in Austin, attracted by lower taxes and fewer regulations. This caused a rush of remote tech workers, who brought their six-figure salaries with them.
From 2020 to the spring of 2022, Austin&#8217;s housing prices spiked over 60%.
Now however, Austin&#8217;s population boom is waning, and prices are dropping.
Housing prices in the city have fallen more than 11% since their peak two years ago, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/once-americas-hottest-housing-market-austin-is-running-in-reverse-94226027?mod=hp_trending_now_article_pos1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Freddie Mac House Price Index. The average value of a home in Austin is now $533,719, <a href="https://www.zillow.com/home-values/10221/austin-tx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Zillow.
Rents are also down nearly 7% over the last year, <a href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/rent-report/tx/austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Apartment List. The median rent in Austin is currently $1,472.
Meanwhile, offices are starting to empty out.
Google has not moved in hundreds of workers who were supposed to work out of a 35-story building built about two years ago.
Several companies have already moved out of Austin.
In 2021, Elon Musk dramatically moved Tesla&#8217;s headquarters to Austin. Last year in February, Musk announced that the electric car company would be moving back to California in a joint press conference with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Another tech company, Cart, announced in November that it was moving its headquarters back to Houston after moving to Austin in 2021.
Venture funding in Austin has plummeted as well. In the first three quarters of 2023, venture funding was down 46% to $2.9 billion compared to the $5.3 billion Austin saw during the first three quarters of 2021, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/07/is-the-texas-boom-town-of-austin-losing-its-luster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to TechCrunch.
Meanwhile, nationally, home prices are still rising. Prices were up 4.2% year over year as of February, according to Zillow.
In many areas, concerns are still mount about soaring house prices, rents, and mortgage rates, which have driven home ownership out of reach for many families.
Prices for everyday items such as groceries also remain high due to spiking inflation over the last several years, compounding the troubles for families who may be struggling to pay their rent or mortgage.

Union Pacific Railroad Post Flat Quarterly Earnings, Signaling Slowness And Inflationary Impacts On Economy

Landlords Offering Free Rent In Austin As Once Hot Housing Market Rapidly Cools

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