A federal judge on Saturday denied Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s request for an injunction to halt the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, finding the case did not justify extraordinary judicial intervention.
U.S. District Judge Katherine M. Menendez, a Biden appointee, wrote that Ellison and lawyers for St. Paul and Minneapolis had asked the court to extend existing precedent to the point of novelty, noting in her order that “none of the cases on which they rely have even come close.&#8221;
The lawsuit, filed in early January by Ellison alongside the Twin Cities, sought a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction to halt “Operation Metro Surge,” an extensive federal immigration enforcement action in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Minnesota officials argued that the deployment violates constitutional protections, including the 10th Amendment’s limits on federal power.
She later noted that a separate injunction she had issued in a different case restricting certain ICE tactics was recently lifted by an appeals court, saying that if that order was too broad, “then the one at issue here — halting the entire operation — certainly would.”
Menendez also wrote that she was “particularly reluctant to take a side in the debate about the purpose behind Operation Metro Surge,” and acknowledged that it was difficult for the court to determine “at what point Defendants’ alleged unlawful actions … become so problematic that they amount to unconstitutional coercion and an infringement on Minnesota’s state sovereignty.” She added that there is “no precedent for a court to micromanage such decisions.”
The judge also found that the plaintiffs had not shown that the balance of harms decisively favored issuing an injunction, a key legal standard in these cases. “Ultimately, the Court finds that the balance of harms does not decisively favor an injunction,” Menendez wrote.
Prior to the decision, the federal government pushed back against the state’s lawsuit, dismissing the legal arguments as lacking merit. In court filings, the government called Minnesota’s claims an “absurdity” and “legally frivolous,” arguing that the 10th Amendment does not give states a means to block federal enforcement of federal law.
After the decision was released, Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2017646363039715514">wrote</a> on X, “Neither sanctuary policies nor meritless litigation will stop the Trump Administration from enforcing federal law in Minnesota.&#8221;
Ellison’s lawsuit came amid ongoing controversy in Minnesota over the enforcement operation, which has drawn protests and national attention. The injunction request was filed before the death of Alex Pretti.
Menendez’s ruling does not make a final determination on the underlying constitutional claims; it only denies the immediate injunctive relief sought by the state and cities while the broader lawsuit continues through the federal court system.
The denial underscores the high legal bar states face when attempting to block federal law enforcement, and ensures that at least for the moment, the fight over immigration enforcement in Minnesota will continue on the ground rather than in the courtroom.

Anti-ICE protest

‘No Precedent’: Fed Judge Denies Minnesota Injunction To Stop ICE Surge

Courts

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Keith Ellison

Minnesota

U.S.

On Friday, a young woman who had her healthy breasts removed at age 16 for supposed transgender &#8220;medical care&#8221; was awarded $2 million, marking the first successful detransitioner malpractice lawsuit in the nation.
Fox Varian&#8217;s psychologist and surgeon were held liable by a jury in Westchester, New York, according to independent reporter Benjamin Ryan, who attended the three-week trial.
Ryan suggested the case is just the beginning of detransitioner lawsuits he&#8217;s been following and that, ultimately, these sorts of results could discourage doctors from advising or performing these types of life-altering surgeries on minors.
&#8220;My sources suggest that tort law might permanently destroy this field,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/benryanwriter/status/2017431937330069926">said</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: 1st Detransitioner to Take a Medical-Malpractice Lawsuit to Trial Wins $2 Million Judgement
Fox Varian sued her Westchester, NY, area psychologist and plastic surgeon for the gender-transition mastectomy she got at 16.
I was the only reporter to attend the entire… <a href="https://t.co/4e89PSgGDg">pic.twitter.com/4e89PSgGDg</a>
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) <a href="https://twitter.com/benryanwriter/status/2017394408878993460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
Stacy Robinson, who was also in the courtroom, <a href="https://x.com/stacepochalypse/status/2017370091738816595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">reported</a> that Varian &#8220;wept and hugged her mother when the verdict-which followed a three week trial from a suit filed in 2023-came down.&#8221;
The verdict triggered much reaction online, including from activists and fellow detransitioners.
&#8220;In coming years, the floodgates will open as more go to trial,&#8221; Robby Starbuck, director of &#8220;The War on Children,&#8221; commented. &#8220;What was done to these kids is a crime against humanity. An unforgivable evil that must be extinguished from the earth. Never again. The damage these kids carry is heartbreaking.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In coming years the floodgates will open as more go to trial. What was done to these kids is a crime against humanity. An unforgivable evil that must be extinguished from the earth. Never again. The damage these kids carry is heartbreaking. <a href="https://t.co/I7RlQSbdNH">https://t.co/I7RlQSbdNH</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/2017439905693978720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
Prisha Moseley, a detransitioner who is suing the medical professionals who encouraged and performed trans surgeries on her as a confused minor, reacted, &#8220;First detransitioner lawsuit to go to trial WINS $2 million. May justice prevail!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
First detransitioner lawsuit to go to trial WINS $2 million. May justice prevail! <a href="https://t.co/VfbnpX2eGk">https://t.co/VfbnpX2eGk</a>
— Prisha Mosley🦎 (@detransaqua) <a href="https://twitter.com/detransaqua/status/2017409786468343832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Very significant US case &#8211; there are more in pipeline &#8211; they are likely to fundamentally change the US medical profession’s approach to surgically altering the healthy bodies of children questioning their gender,&#8221; columnist Sonia Sodha said. &#8220;Been a long, long time coming.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Very significant US case &#8211; there are more in pipeline &#8211; they are likely to fundamentally change the US medical profession’s approach to surgically altering the healthy bodies of children questioning their gender. Been a long, long time coming. <a href="https://t.co/kQclhJeq00">https://t.co/kQclhJeq00</a>
— Sonia Sodha (@soniasodha) <a href="https://twitter.com/soniasodha/status/2017544734487515138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
Conservative Stephen Miller aptly commented: &#8220;This is how this all ends.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is how this all ends. <a href="https://t.co/EPLb8OfVFn">https://t.co/EPLb8OfVFn</a>
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/2017452532176404576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2026</a></blockquote>

Transgender person, wearing white and pink striped sweatshirt, holds a transgender flag on his shoulder and in the other hand a transgender flag and another gay pride rainbow

Detransitioner Awarded Millions In First Malpractice Verdict: ‘This Is How It All Ends’

Lawsuit

Social Issues

Transgender

Illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra was found guilty in 2024 of the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley — but Friday could mark the beginning of a new trial for the convicted killer.
On Friday, a judge will hear oral arguments from Ibarra’s attorneys claiming that their client suffers from a “congenital deficiency” that could make him “incapable of preparing a defense and standing trial.” They also contend he lacked the mental capacity to knowingly waive his right to a trial by jury.
Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, who rendered the verdict after Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial, will hear the post-conviction arguments. The oral arguments begin about one year after the Laken Riley Act was passed.
President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law in 2025. The legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants for crimes including burglary, theft, larceny, and shoplifting. The legislation applies to illegal immigrants who have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or even just admitted to the crimes. If the act had been passed before Laken’s death, under the act, the federal government would have been required to detain Ibarra for a <a href="https://www.majorityleader.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4359">shoplifting citation</a> earlier that year.
If Haggard grants Ibarra a new trial, competency would become the central issue. If Ibarra is found incompetent, he could be committed to a mental health facility for treatment aimed at restoring competency. Discharge from a psychiatric ward could occur if the ward determines he is not considered a danger to himself or others. Haggard is expected to issue a decision within ninety days of hearing the arguments.
If Haggard grants Ibarra a retrial, it would mean revisiting graphic evidence and testimony, forcing Riley’s family and the university community to relive the case in open court.
Jessica Moore was a senior at the University of Georgia when Ibarra took Riley’s life. She told The Daily Wire, “The feeling that loomed over our campus that day was one that students and the victim’s family should never have to feel again, and a new trial would bring it right back.”
CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laken-riley-murder-final-texts-mother-trial/">reported</a> that during crime scene testimony, members of Riley’s family and others left as body-cam footage played from the officer who found Riley’s body in a wooded area.
Ibarra’s prosecutor, Sheila Ross, stated: “[Ibarra] put on a black hat, a hoodie-style jacket, and some black kitchen-style disposable gloves, and he went hunting for females on the University of Georgia’s campus.”
She added, “When Laken Riley refused to be his rape victim, he bashed her skull in with a rock repeatedly.”
Laken’s death caught national attention when authorities confirmed Jose Ibarra entered the country illegally. At a campaign rally, then-presidential candidate Trump said that Riley “would be alive today if Joe Biden had not willfully and maliciously eviscerated the borders of the United States.”
During Ibarra’s trial, Laken’s mother Allyson Phillips said, “There’s no end to the pain, suffering or loss. On that horrific day, my precious daughter was attacked, beaten, and shown no mercy. … This sick, twisted, evil coward showed no respect of Laken’s life.”

Laken Riley

Laken Riley Case Returns To Court As Killer Seeks New Trial

Biden Administration

Crime

Donald Trump

Illegal Immigration

A judge sentenced a man to prison on Thursday for falsely claiming to have shot Charlie Kirk moments after the conservative activist was assassinated.
George Zinn, 71, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty on three counts: one third-degree felony charge of obstruction of justice and two second-degree felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/01/29/man-who-falsely-claimed-he-shot/">The Salt Lake Tribune</a>.
Zinn will serve his sentences for all charges concurrently, with the longest term for the sexual exploitation charges – one to 15 years. A parole board will ultimately decide how long Zinn will serve in prison.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a college event in Utah on September 10. In the chaos immediately following the shot that killed Kirk, Zinn falsely claimed to have shot the conservative commentator. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said Zinn began to yell, “I shot him, now shoot me,” according to <a href="https://www.abc4.com/news/charlie-kirk-shooting/george-zinn-charlie-kirk-assassination-pleads-guilty-obstruction-justice-sexual-exploitation/">ABC4</a>.
As Zinn continued to claim he shot Kirk, law enforcement asked Zinn for the murder weapon. Zinn responded: “I am not going to tell you where [the gun] is. I shot him, now shoot me.”
Zinn was immediately detained and searched. Law enforcement found child sexual abuse materials on his phone during the search.
The 71-year-old said in a statement before the court on Thursday that the material on his phone was from a “chatroom dialogue with photos that are public access.”
“I wish the court to know I am not and will never be a danger to children or their parents,” said Zinn.
Zinn’s outburst on September 10 distracted law enforcement in the critical moments after the shooting as they were attempting to track down the killer. Law enforcement later determined that Zinn was not the shooter and, late the next day, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-the-latest-in-the-charlie-kirk-assassination-trial">arrested</a> Tyler Robinson. Robinson has been charged with seven counts related to Kirk’s murder and may face the death penalty if found guilty.
Robinson&#8217;s legal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-the-latest-in-the-charlie-kirk-assassination-trial">process</a> is ongoing, and his defense team recently claimed that the Utah County Attorney’s Office has a conflict of interest in the case due to a Utah County prosecutor&#8217;s daughter being present at Utah Valley University when the assassination took place.
The prosecution says the family member saw nothing direct and a conflict of interest has not been established. They&#8217;ve also accused the defense of stall tactics.
Judge Tony Graf said that there&#8217;s not sufficient evidence yet to warrant the expulsion of the office, but has allowed Robinson&#8217;s team to begin examining witnesses in relation to the supposed conflict of interest.
Additionally, Judge Graf <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/accused-charlie-kirk-shooter-prosecution-removed/">blocked</a> a pool video camera from showing Robinson after his defense team complained that shots of the accused speaking with his legal team could potentially be seen by lip readers and unfairly impact the trial.
Amanda Prestigiacomo contributed to this story.

Charlie Kirk

Man Who Falsely Claimed To Have Killed Charlie Kirk Sentenced To Prison

Utah

The ongoing legal battle between Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts over their seven-year-old daughter, Navy Joan, has reached a new level of friction in an Arkansas court. The dispute centers on <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15510483/Hunter-Biden-ghosted-daughter-Navy-Lunden-Roberts-stripper.html">allegations</a> that Biden has &#8220;ghosted&#8221; the child and failed to fulfill the unique terms of a 2023 settlement agreement.
Lunden Roberts recently filed to reopen the child support case, labeling Biden &#8220;classless&#8221; for cutting off all contact with Navy Joan in 2024. In response, Biden’s legal team submitted a blunt filing asserting that his lack of communication does not constitute a violation of the law. His lawyer argued that because the court order does not explicitly mandate him to speak to or visit the child, his silence is not punishable by contempt. This follows a brief period where the two had reportedly begun building a foundation through scheduled calls.
A central pillar of their <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/hunter-biden-baby-mama-luden-roberts-settle-child-support-dispute-with-first-sons-payments-slashed/">2023 agreement</a> was Biden’s commitment to provide Navy Joan with 30 of his original paintings or the proceeds from their sale. At the time, Biden’s art was valued as high as $500,000 per piece. Roberts claims Biden has failed to hand over the art, while Biden’s defense maintains that because the settlement did not establish a specific deadline, he is not currently in breach of the order. Meanwhile, the market value of his work has reportedly plummeted since Joe Biden left the White House.
Roberts cited a stark contrast between Navy Joan’s upbringing and that of Hunter’s other children. Her filings point to the Biden family’s exclusive lifestyle—specifically a 2025 Thanksgiving gathering in Nantucket—noting that Navy Joan is the only grandchild excluded from such family activities. Roberts argues that while the court cannot force Biden to be a &#8220;good dad,&#8221; it can ensure the child receives the same level of financial support as her half-siblings.
The relationship began in 2017, and Navy Joan was born in 2018. Although Hunter Biden initially claimed he had no memory of Roberts and denied paternity, a 2019 DNA test <a href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/20/dna-test-shows-hunter-biden-father-arkansas-womans/">confirmed</a> he was the father. Despite this, he famously omitted Navy Joan from his 2021 memoir and successfully fought to prevent her from using the &#8220;Biden&#8221; last name.

House Oversight Committee Considers Citing Hunter Biden For Contempt Of Congress

Legal Filings: Hunter Biden Defends ‘Ghosting’ Daughter

Hunter Biden

Joe Biden

Three of the world&#8217;s largest social media platforms are heading to court on Tuesday as they defend themselves in a bellwether social media addiction case.
The California Superior Court in Los Angeles County is set to hear the case, which alleges that Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have contributed to the growing problem of social media addiction and the mental health issues that stem from it. TikTok and Snapchat were also sued in the case, but settled with the plaintiff before the trial began. 
Jury selection for the trial begins on Tuesday, with opening arguments scheduled for next week. The case is part of a coordinated effort across the country that includes hundreds of similar cases where litigants accuse social media giants of fueling addiction.
In the case before the California Superior Court, a 19-year-old woman, referred to as K.G.M., argues that social media platforms have knowingly designed their platforms to get children and young users addicted. Studies have shown that social media features such as autoplay and infinite scroll induce a dopamine hit, which can lead to users spending hours on platforms each day.
K.G.M.&#8217;s social media addiction <a href="https://www.carriermanagement.com/news/2025/10/21/280613.htm">resulted</a> in crippling depression, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts, according to the lawsuit. K.G.M.&#8217;s case is just the first of many that are expected to trial this year, targeting Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, which is owned by Google. Snapchat settled with K.G.M., but it remains a defendant in numerous other social media cases that are set to go before state and federal courts.
YouTube told The Daily Wire that the allegations it faces in the cases “are simply not true.”
“Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work,” said YouTube spokesman José Castañeda. “In collaboration with youth, mental health and parenting experts, we built services and policies to provide young people with age-appropriate experiences, and parents with robust controls. The allegations in these complaints are simply not true.”
The Daily Wire also reached out to Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. Snapchat told The Daily Wire that it was &#8220;pleased&#8221; to have settled the K.G.M. case in &#8220;an amicable manner.&#8221;
The K.G.M trial will likely put Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the witness stand, where he will have to answer questions in front of a jury. Meta’s lawyers <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/meta-tiktok-youtube-stand-trial-youth-addiction-claims-2026-01-26/">told</a> Reuters that the social media giant will argue before the court that its platform did not lead to K.G.M’s mental health issues. YouTube said it will argue that its platform is different from those of the other defendants and shouldn&#8217;t be considered in the same case as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The California Superior Court trial could shape public opinion on social media platforms moving forward as the companies face more trials, including one in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which is set to begin on June 12. The lawsuit before the federal court was filed by school districts, which argue that social media addiction fueled by social media companies “not only harms individual children and their loved ones but also causes substantial and financially burdensome interference with school district, county, and municipal operations.”
In recent years, Meta has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ig-introduces-teen-accounts-with-built-in-privacy-settings-to-better-support-parents">rolled out</a> online safety features for children using Instagram. The platform&#8217;s &#8220;Teen Accounts&#8221; keep children&#8217;s accounts private, meaning other Instagram users cannot see posts from or contact a Teen Account unless the teenager accepts their follow requests. Instagram also censors content on Teen Accounts, so that children are not shown content that features fighting or cosmetic procedures.
TikTok, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/support/faq_detail?id=7543604789335071238&amp;category=web_account">created</a> &#8220;a separate TikTok experience specifically designed&#8221; for kids under 13 years old. The &#8220;TikTok Under 13 Experience&#8221; curates content that is more appropriate for young children, makes all accounts private, and limits screen time to one hour. YouTube also has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/intl/ALL_us/kids/safer-experience/">kids version</a> of the platform that is &#8220;designed to be a safer and simpler place for kids to explore their interests through online video.&#8221; YouTube requires videos uploaded on YouTube Kids to be &#8220;family-friendly.&#8221;
The effects of social media on children has become a hot topic in recent years, and the issue gained more attention after the book, &#8220;The Anxious Generation,&#8221; by Jonathan Haidt was published in 2024. In the book, Haidt, a social psychologist, argues that anxiety and depression skyrocketed in the past 15 years, coinciding with what he calls the &#8220;great rewiring of childhood,&#8221; which is the flip from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood.
The social media addiction case in California comes as some countries move to ban social media for children. Last month, Australia became the first nation in the world to ban social media for kids under 16. Malaysia has introduced a similar social media ban, and Utah passed a law in 2024 requiring social media platforms to verify a users&#8217; age and obtain parental consent, but parts of the law were temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
This article was updated after TikTok settled with K.G.M. shortly before the trial started.

Social media

Bellwether Social Media Addiction Trial Puts Instagram, Facebook, And YouTube In The Crosshairs

Instagram

Snapchat

Social Media

TikTok

YouTube

A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Justice Department established probable cause to charge former CNN host Don Lemon and four others over the anti-ICE church storming in Minneapolis last weekend. The appeals court, however, declined to force a lower court judge to sign arrest warrants.
The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth District was unsealed on Saturday after the Justice Department asked the appeals court to force a lower district court in Minnesota to sign the five arrest warrants. The ruling did not make the names of the five defendants public, but CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-don-lemon-protest-minnesota-probable-cause/">reported</a> that its sources confirmed one of the defendants is Lemon. The Justice Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-vows-to-pursue-don-lemon-charges-to-the-ends-of-the-earth?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DOJ+Vows+To+Pursue+Don+Lemon+Charges+%E2%80%98To+The+Ends+Of+The+Earth%E2%80%99">vowed</a> on Friday to pursue charges against Lemon &#8220;to the ends of the Earth.&#8221;
While Friday&#8217;s ruling supported the Trump administration&#8217;s pursuit of charging Lemon on paper, it did not solve the Justice Department&#8217;s request. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon responded to the ruling, <a href="https://x.com/AAGDhillon/status/2015140496344314364">writing</a> on X, &#8220;Stay tuned 🤨.&#8221; The Justice Department could now seek a grand jury indictment or represent the charges to a magistrate judge.&#8221;
Lemon joined a large group of anti-ICE protesters who stormed Cities Church in Minneapolis last Sunday during the worship service because one of the church&#8217;s pastors is believed to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Three of the anti-ICE agitators who organized the church storming have been arrested by the FBI, including Black Lives Matter activist Nekima Levy Armstrong.
Lemon&#8217;s attorney argued that he is protected under the First Amendment since he was with the anti-ICE agitators to cover the church storming as an independent journalist. The Justice Department, however, argues that Lemon was coordinating with leaders of the anti-ICE group before the church storming.
“Freedom of the press extends to a lot of different areas,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said earlier this week. “It does not extend to somebody just trespassing and being embedded with a group of rioters and being part of the group that storms inside of a church.&#8221;
Magistrate Judge Doug Micko refused to sign the arrest warrant for Lemon, saying that federal prosecutors failed to present enough evidence to justify his arrest.
The Trump administration is pursuing charges against Lemon and others who participated in the storming of Cities Church through the FACE Act, which penalizes people for interfering with Americans who are exercising their right to religious freedom. The FACE act was used by the Biden administration to go after pro-lifers who were accused of blocking access to abortion clinics.
News of the appeals court ruling broke as Minneapolis erupts into chaos again after an armed man was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday morning. Video showed federal officers attempting to detain a man on the street during what the Department of Homeland Security said was a &#8220;targeted operation&#8221; for an illegal immigrant &#8220;wanted for violent assault.&#8221; The man was armed with a loaded &#8220;semi-automatic handgun&#8221; and was shot and killed by a federal agent who was fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow agents, according to Homeland Security.

Don Lemon

Appeals Court Finds Probable Cause To Charge Don Lemon, But Rejects DOJ’s Bid To Force Arrest Warrant

Department of Justice

Minneapolis

Trump Administration

Outdoor apparel brand Patagonia is suing a drag queen who sells merchandise under a name very similar to their company name, saying it causes customer confusion.
The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court against an individual named Wyn Wiley, who uses the stage name Pattie Gonia. The company argued that matters were further complicated by the fact that Wiley is also an environmental activist who promotes activities very similar to what the brand does, such as &#8220;motivational speaking services in support of environmental sustainability&#8221; and &#8220;organizing, arranging, and conducting trail and hiking events,&#8221; per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/patagonia-sues-drag-queen-pattie-gonia-trademark-infringement-2026-01-21/">Reuters</a>.
“We want Pattie to have a long and successful career and make progress on issues that matter – but in a way that respects Patagonia’s intellectual property and ability to use our brand to sell products and advocate for the environment,&#8221; Patagonia said in a statement, the outlet noted.
The company stated in the lawsuit that Wiley agreed in 2022 not to use the name on any branded merchandise that may confuse consumers, but claims that promise has since been violated as the drag queen and LGBT activist has sold apparel with phrases like &#8220;Pattie Gonia Hiking Club.&#8221;
Attorneys representing the brand sent an email to Wiley last February, the lawsuit noted. “Patagonia remains supportive of your work but must insist that the Pattie Gonia persona not be commercialized and continue to adhere to the commitments made in 2022,” the email says.
“Unfortunately, these latest product sales force Patagonia’s hand and so I’m asking that you discontinue sales of t-shirts and stickers (or any product) using Pattie Gonia branding or designs substantially similar to Patagonia’s logos,” it said.
Wiley and his business partner said in reply that they “have never and will never reference the brand Patagonia’s logo or brand,” and <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/01/22/us-news/patagonia-sues-drag-queen-pattie-gonia-claiming-irreparable-harm/">claimed</a> there was room for Patagonia and Pattie Gonia to “play in this box.”
Patagonia noted that the lawsuit was filed in response to Wiley trying to trademark “Pattie Gonia.” They are seeking $1 in damages and court orders to prevent Wiley from continuing to use the name.
“While Patagonia seeks only nominal monetary damages, the harm Pattie Gonia has caused and will cause to the Patagonia brand is irreparable and cannot be remedied by money damages or other remedies short of an injunction,” the lawsuit says.
While Patagonia has not had any professional relationship with Wiley, he has worked with other major brands in the past. In 2022, the non-profit organization Audubon Society promoted a video of Pattie Gonia dressed as an elaborate bird while performing an interpretive dance to promote climate change awareness, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/audubon-society-teams-up-with-drag-queen-dressed-like-a-bird-for-climate-change-awareness">reported</a>.
Then in 2023, the outdoor sports gear brand The North Face <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-north-face-debuts-summer-of-pride-with-campy-drag-video-amid-ongoing-bud-light-target-backlash">debuted</a> an over-the-top “Summer of Pride” promotion on social media, which included Wiley performing as Pattie Gonia.

Pattie Gonia

Patagonia Sues Drag Queen ‘Pattie Gonia,’ Says He’s Caused ‘Irreparable Harm’ To Brand

Patagonia Sues Drag Queen 'Pattie Gonia,' Says He's Caused 'Irreparable Harm' To Brand

Business

copyright

Drag Queens

Erika Kirk’s latest court filing seeks to stop defense delays in the assassination trial of her late husband Charlie Kirk &#8212; a case in which the defendant, Tyler Robinson, has yet to enter a plea.
Erika&#8217;s attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, filed a court document asking the judge overseeing the trial to enforce Erika&#8217;s right to a speedy trial, arguing that there have been “undue delays” in the progress of the case.
&#8220;The Utah Code affords victims of a crime &#8216;the right to a speedy disposition of the charges free from unwarranted delay caused by or at the behest of the defendant,'&#8221; Neiman wrote in the filing, according to Fox News.
&#8220;This Court is tasked with the critically important function of ensuring the Defendant has a fair trial, but this Court must also do so while balancing Mrs. Kirk’s right to a speedy trial and therefore this Notice invokes Mrs. Kirk’s rights under applicable Utah Code,&#8221; the filing continued.
Neiman noted that Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder, &#8220;believed in the importance of the United States Constitution,&#8221; and while the Constitution &#8220;guarantees criminal defendants many rights, it does not guarantee them the right to cause undue delay in the criminal justice process.&#8221;
Robinson&#8217;s defense team claims the Utah County Attorney’s Office has a conflict of interest in the case due to a Utah County prosecutor’s daughter being present at Utah Valley University when the assassination took place. They are currently working to get the office booted from the case.
The prosecution says the family member saw nothing direct and a conflict of interest has not been established. They’ve also accused the defense of stall tactics.
At Robinson&#8217;s last court appearance, Judge Tony Graf said there wasn&#8217;t sufficient evidence yet to warrant the expulsion of the office, but has notably allowed Robinson’s team to begin examining witnesses in relation to the supposed conflict of interest.
Robinson has been charged with murdering Kirk, a 31-year-old husband and father of two, on September 10 at Utah Valley University. At the time he was shot, Kirk was taking questions from people in the crowd who disagreed with him on politics.
The state has made clear that they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-the-latest-in-the-charlie-kirk-assassination-trial?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Tyler+Robinson+Had+Another+Day+In+Court.+Here’s+The+Latest+In+The+Charlie+Kirk+Assassination+Trial.">Tyler Robinson Had Another Day In Court. Here’s The Latest In The Charlie Kirk Assassination Trial.</a>

US-POLITICS-SHOOTING-KIRK

How Erika Kirk Is Trying To Stop Delays In Charlie’s Assassination Trial

Murder

The Utah judge overseeing the assassination case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has yet to rule on the defense&#8217;s motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case over an alleged conflict of interest.
The defense team for Tyler Robinson &#8212; who&#8217;s been charged with the murder of Kirk, a 31-year-old husband and father of two, on September 10 at Utah Valley University &#8212; says the office has a conflict of interest in the case due to a Utah County prosecutor&#8217;s daughter being present at Utah Valley University when the assassination took place.
The prosecution says the family member saw nothing direct and a conflict of interest has not been established. They&#8217;ve also accused the defense of stall tactics.
Judge Tony Graf said on Friday that there&#8217;s not sufficient evidence yet to warrant the expulsion of the office, but has allowed Robinson&#8217;s team to begin examining witnesses in relation to the supposed conflict of interest.
Additionally, Judge Graf <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/accused-charlie-kirk-shooter-prosecution-removed/">blocked</a> a pool video camera from showing Robinson after his defense team complained that shots of the accused speaking with his legal team could potentially be seen by lip readers and unfairly impact the trial.
A court “decorum” order prohibits visual recordings of conversations at the defense table &#8212; even if they&#8217;re inaudible &#8212; that could potentially be deciphered by lip readers. It also bars close-ups of written communications. The defense argued that the video feed photographer violated such a provision twice on Friday, NewsNation reported.
The sanction of the pool video camera pertained to Friday&#8217;s hearing specifically, and is not permanent.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 3, and will focus on the defense&#8217;s requests to boot the Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case and limit video footage in the trial.
Separately, new reporting on Lance Twiggs, Robinson&#8217;s roommate and alleged lover, indicates that Twiggs is no longer being protected by federal agents.
Twiggs, who lived with Robinson at the time of Kirk&#8217;s murder, has been linked to text messages about the assassination. Relatives of Twiggs say the 22-year-old identified as transgender and was &#8220;transitioning&#8221; to female.
Twiggs had an FBI security detail due to threats before he moved out of state, according to media reports. He has not been charged with any crime in connection to the assassination.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-orders-transcripts-audio-to-be-made-public-from-hearing-for-accused-charlie-kirk-assassin?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Judge+Orders+Transcripts%2C+Audio+To+Be+Made+Public+From+Hearing+For+Accused+Charlie+Kirk+Assassin">Judge Orders Transcripts, Audio To Be Made Public From Hearing For Accused Charlie Kirk Assassin</a>

Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect Tyler Robinson Attends Court Hearing

Tyler Robinson Had Another Day In Court. Here’s The Latest In The Charlie Kirk Assassination Trial.

A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden is tying the hands of ICE agents in Minneapolis as rioting continues to escalate in the liberal city.
Agents are now barred from detaining or using tear gas or other measures against peaceful protesters who aren&#8217;t obstructing operations, according to an <a href="https://www.aclu-mn.org/app/uploads/2025/12/ECF-85-Order-1.16.25.pdf.pdf">order</a> issued by U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez on Friday night.
Complicating the already heated operations and riots in the Minneapolis area, Menendez says officers would have to show probable cause or reasonable suspicion that someone has committed a crime or is obstructing law enforcement operations to act. Additionally, the judge specifically noted that following officers &#8220;at an appropriate distance&#8221; is not reason for an officer to take any action.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reacted to the order by stressing that &#8220;rioting&#8221; is not protected by the First Amendment and said DHS will continue to uphold the rule of law and protect their officers and the public.
&#8220;We remind the public that rioting is dangerous—obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony,&#8221; McLaughlin said in a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/federal-judge-restricts-ice-agents-amid-ongoing-minneapolis-area-protests-over-fatal-shooting">statement</a>. &#8220;Rioters and terrorists have assaulted law enforcement, launched fireworks at them, slashed the tires of their vehicles, and vandalized federal property. Others have chosen to ignore commands and have attempted to impede law enforcement operations and used their vehicles as weapons against our officers.&#8221;
&#8220;Despite these grave threats and dangerous situations, our law enforcement has followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property,&#8221; she added.
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-ice-agent-fatally-shoots-agitator-as-chaos-erupts-in-minneapolis?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+DOJ+To+Investigate+Walz%2C+Minneapolis+Mayor%2C+For+Impeding+ICE+Agents">The Daily Wire</a>, ICE operations in the liberal city have become subject to heated rioting. Fox News National Correspondent Alexis McAdams, for example, said she&#8217;s observed rioters behaving more like trained operators than spontaneous protesters.
&#8220;This isn’t a protest — it’s an operation. Anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis rapidly track, doxx, and harass anyone they believe is tied to ICE,&#8221; she said, adding, &#8220;They take pics of you, your license plate, &amp; upload to their &#8216;data base.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
This isn’t a protest — it’s an operation. Anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis rapidly track, doxx, and harass anyone they believe is tied to ICE.
They take pics of you, your license plate, &amp; upload to their “data base”.
Follow you, harass you, &amp; try to stop active… <a href="https://t.co/s9m54zSIrW">pic.twitter.com/s9m54zSIrW</a>
— Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexisMcAdamsTV/status/2012283463441785271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot a protester named Renee Good after she hit him with her vehicle during operations. DHS says the officer suffered internal bleeding from the incident and acted in self-defense, likely saving other agents, too.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-ice-agent-fatally-shoots-agitator-as-chaos-erupts-in-minneapolis?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+DOJ+To+Investigate+Walz%2C+Minneapolis+Mayor%2C+For+Impeding+ICE+Agents">LIVE UPDATES: DOJ To Investigate Walz, Minneapolis Mayor, For Impeding ICE Agents</a>

TOPSHOT-US-IMMIGRATION-ICE-SHOOTING

Biden Judge Ties ICE’s Hands In Minneapolis As Rioting Escalates

Rioters

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court appears poised to allow states to keep men out of women’s sports after the majority of justices seemed favorable towards laws from West Virginia and Idaho that make participation in women’s sports contingent on sex.
After three and a half hours of arguments on Tuesday, the justices seemed skeptical of claims from transgender-identifying athletes that laws keeping them off women’s sports teams violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution and Title IX. The outcome of the cases could have far-reaching implications for protecting women’s privacy in bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sensitive spaces.
The justices heard the cases of West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox. Both cases revolve around laws in West Virginia and Idaho that prohibit men from competing on women’s sports teams.
The strongest pushback against the arguments made against the laws came from Justice Samuel Alito, who pressed lawyer Kathleen Hartnett, an attorney representing a transgender-identifying male athlete from Idaho, about what her definition of sex was.
“Is it not necessary for there to be, for Equal Protection purposes, if that is challenged under the Equal Protection Clause, an understanding of what it means to be a boy or a girl or a man or a woman?” he asked.
“We do not have a definition for the court, and we don&#8217;t take issue with the … we&#8217;re not disputing the definition here. What we&#8217;re saying is that the way it applies in practice is to exclude birth sex males categorically from women&#8217;s teams, and that there&#8217;s a subset of those birth sex males where it doesn&#8217;t make sense to do so, according to the state&#8217;s own interest,” Hartnett replied.
“How can a court determine whether there&#8217;s discrimination on the basis of sex without knowing what sex means for Equal Protection purposes?” Alito followed up. He also asked Hartnett if she thought female athletes worried about fair competition were bigots.
In a different section of arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts joined in Alito’s skepticism about ACLU lawyer Joshua Block’s reluctance to provide a definition of sex for the court.
&#8220;Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. It&#8217;s a statutory term, it must mean something,&#8221; Roberts said. &#8220;You&#8217;re arguing here there is discrimination on the basis of sex, and how can we decide that question without knowing what sex means in Title IX?&#8221;
Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared inclined to let the debate play out at the state level, noting that 27 states have protected women’s sports while the other 23 allow males who identify as females to compete in the women’s division.
“Why would we, at this point, just the role of this court, jump in and try to constitutionalize the rule for the whole country while [there&#8217;s] still, as you say, uncertainty, debate — while there are still strong interests on the other side?” he said.
Kavanaugh also noted that sports are often a “zero-sum game” and that even one transgender-identifying athlete allowed on a women’s team could have an outsized impact.
At a press conference after the case, Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer John Bursch told The Daily Wire that he believes the issue should be national and that women in California and Massachusetts should not have their right to fair competition taken away.
During arguments, demonstrators on both sides held competing rallies. One woman from North Carolina who was holding a sign in favor of protecting women&#8217;s sports told The Daily Wire that she got on a bus at 3:00 a.m. to travel up to Washington, D.C., for the demonstration.

Trans Athletes Supreme Court Case

SCOTUS Leans Toward Protecting Women’s Sports While ACLU Can’t Define ‘Woman’

Samuel Alito

Supreme Court

Transgender Athletes

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