Former intelligence official Joe Kent is suspected of leaking classified information to &#8220;disaffected MAGA media&#8221; personalities like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson — and FBI Director Kash Patel may be poised to declassify information regarding a probe into former intelligence official Joe Kent in an effort to prove that the investigation was not retaliation for his resignation.
A <a href="https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/joe-kent-investigation-fbi-kash-patel">report</a> published Thursday by NOTUS also stated that FBI Director Kash Patel was considering declassifying as much information as possible in order to show that the investigation into Kent was already underway when he announced his plan to leave the administration.
A law enforcement source told NOTUS that FBI counterintelligence had already begun a criminal investigation into Kent&#8217;s alleged actions long before he announced his resignation. An administration official told the outlet that Kent had &#8220;leaked classified information from a server to a member of the media.&#8221;
Kent, according to a Wednesday report first published by <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/03/18/2026/fbi-investigates-national-security-aide-who-resigned-over-war">Semafor</a>, was already under the FBI&#8217;s microscope before he abruptly resigned on Tuesday and stated that he could no longer support President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration as it waged war against the Iranian regime.
The Green Beret veteran declared on Tuesday that he could not remain on the job — as director of the National Counterterrorism Center — as long as the Trump administration continued military action alongside Israel against Iran. &#8220;Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,&#8221; he claimed.
But shortly after Kent tendered his resignation, several sources revealed that he had not been part of the planning with regard to Iran — and had not been briefed on the intelligence that led President Trump to determine that Iran was, in fact, an imminent threat.
By Wednesday evening, reports began circulating that Kent was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-counterterror-chief-joe-kent-under-fbi-probe-for-leaking-classified-info">being investigated</a> by the FBI — and a strategic declassification of the relevant information could provide evidence that the investigation predated Kent&#8217;s exit from the administration.

Controversial Washington Congressional Candidate Joe Kent Holds Town Hall As He Campaigns For Office

Did Joe Kent Leak Classified Intel To Tucker Carlson?

Iran

Joe Kent

Military

Politics

Tucker Carlson

The FBI is investigating former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent over allegations that he improperly shared classified information, a source familiar with the investigation told The Daily Wire.
Kent resigned Tuesday in protest of the ongoing war against Iran’s Islamic regime, arguing in his resignation letter that the regime “posed no imminent threat to our nation. He also accused President Trump of initiating the conflict due to “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
<a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/03/18/2026/fbi-investigates-national-security-aide-who-resigned-over-war">Semafor</a>, which first reported the story, confirmed with four sources that the leaking probe was already underway prior to Kent’s departure and has been ongoing for months. One source described the investigation as long-running, rather than a response to his resignation.
Following his departure, people in Trump’s orbit <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-intel-official-joe-kent-quits-over-iran-strikes-claims-israel-controls-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">accused him</a> of leaking, with one calling him a “crazed egomaniac.”
“Joe Kent is a crazed egomaniac who was often at the center of national security leaks, while rarely (never?) producing any actual work,” said Taylor Budowich, the former deputy White House chief of staff. “He spent all of his time working to subvert the chain of command and undermine the President of the United States.”
“This isn’t some principled resignation—he just wanted to make a splash before getting canned. What a loser.”
President Trump pushed back on Kent’s claim, calling his departure “a good thing.”
“When I read his statement, I realized that it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat,” Trump said. “Iran was a tremendous threat.”
He added, “I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security.”
In a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe directly contradicted Kent.
&#8220;I think Iran has been a constant threat to the United States for an extended period of time and posed an immediate threat,&#8221; he said.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment, and the FBI declined to comment.

US-POLITICS-SECURITY-NOEM

Former Counterterror Chief Joe Kent Under FBI Probe For Leaking Classified Info

Operation Epic Fury

FBI Director Kash Patel credited brave students with saving many lives by stopping a gunman who carried out a suspected terror attack at Old Dominion University on Thursday.
“Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement,” Patel said in a social media post. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2032183663350214858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Patel said the students likely saved many lives.
“The FBI is now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and providing all resources necessary in the investigation,” he said. “In the meantime, please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU community.”
The gunman has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guardsman who was convicted in 2016 for conspiring to provide material support for ISIS. The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/12/us-news/hero-rotc-cadet-fatally-stabbed-crazed-old-dominion-gunman-to-prevent-more-carnage/">reported</a> that a student member of the Reserve Officers&#8217; Training Corps (ROTC) stopped the gunman with a knife. Two ROTC members were injured during the attack.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, the FBI spoke about the students who subdued and killed Jalloh.
&#8220;There were students that were in that room that subdued him and rendered him no longer alive,&#8221; said Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI&#8217;s Norfolk office. &#8220;They basically were able to terminate the threat.&#8221;
Evans also noted that Jalloh yelled &#8220;Allahu Akbar&#8221; during his attack.
“We are deeply saddened from the active shooter incident that occurred at Old Dominion University on March 12, 2026. We can confirm that two members of the university ROTC program were shot and were taken to a local hospital to treat their injuries,” U.S. Army Cadet Command said in a statement. 
Old Dominion Police Chief Garrett Shelton said that there were three victims in the shooting. Shelton confirmed two victims were transported to the hospital for medical treatment, and the third victim went on their own.
Patel confirmed early on Thursday that the FBI was on the scene and assisting police in investigating the attack. 
As a result of the attack, Old Dominion President Brian Hemphill cancelled all classes. 
“The safety of our campus community is my top priority. We are deeply committed to safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times,” he said. “We take this responsibility very seriously and remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain a safe campus. I extend my thoughts and prayers to those impacted.

MixCollage-12-Mar-2026-03-23-PM-422

Heroic Students Rally To Stop Gunman Who Carried Out Terror Attack At Old Dominion

Heroic Students Stopped Gunman Carrying Out Terror Attack At Old Dominion

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terrorist attack

Virginia

FBI agents provided an active shooter training seminar for leadership and staff at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, just six weeks before armed security at the synagogue successfully stopped a shooter on the premises.
The FBI&#8217;s Detroit Field Office shared a photo and some information about the training on January 30, 2026, as two special agents joined Temple Israel&#8217;s clergy and staff members to walk them through active shooter scenarios and drills that could help them to prepare for the unthinkable.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FBI Detroit led an Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) training for the clergy and staff of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. The FBI course combines lessons learned from years of research and employs scenario-based exercises to help participants practice… <a href="https://t.co/qvtJIkClkS">pic.twitter.com/qvtJIkClkS</a>
— FBI Detroit (@FBIDetroit) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDetroit/status/2017244001225564419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;FBI Detroit led an Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) training for the clergy and staff of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield,&#8221; the post read. &#8220;The FBI course combines lessons learned from years of research and employs scenario-based exercises to help participants practice the decision-making process of the Run, Hide, Fight principles and take necessary actions for survival.&#8221;
&#8220;We appreciate them for having us. Our Division has partnered with many organizations in Michigan and is committed to protecting schools, workplaces, houses of worship, medical facilities, transportation centers, government facilities, other public gathering sites, and communities,&#8221; the post concluded, encouraging other organizations to reach out for access to similar training. &#8220;Contact us or your local FBI Field Office for questions regarding active shooter training.&#8221;
Just six weeks later, on March 12, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-respond-to-reports-of-active-shooter-as-michigan-synagogue-goes-up-in-smoke">shooter attacked</a> the massive synagogue. Ramming the building with his vehicle first — and armed with a rifle — security personnel on site were able to quickly evaluate the situation and engage the shooter.
As The Daily Wire initially reported, a security guard at the synagogue engaged the attacker and “shots were fired,” according to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. The shooter was found dead in the vehicle. One security guard was injured after he was hit by the attacker’s vehicle, but he’s expected to recover, according to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
The Republican Jewish Coalition commented on the fortuitous timing of the training, saying in an X post, &#8220;@FBI led an Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) training at Temple Israel less than two months [ago]. @FBIDirectorKash. No doubt this helped to prevent a mass casualty event today.&#8221;
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.

Screenshot/FBI Detroit

FBI Trained Michigan Temple How To Stop A Shooter Just Weeks Before Attack

Active Shooters

Crime

Michigan

Shooting

Synagogue Attack

U.S.

The FBI on Sunday raided the homes of two men who have since been charged in an ISIS-inspired attack outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence. 
The Pennsylvania homes of 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi were searched Sunday after they allegedly attempted to light an improvised explosive device (IED) outside of Mamdani’s mayoral mansion during a protest on Saturday. The device did not detonate, but officials said it could have been deadly.
“Earlier this evening, federal and local law enforcement conducted investigative activity in Middletown Township and Newtown related to an incident that occurred yesterday near the New York City Mayor’s official residence,” <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RepBrianFitz/posts/pfbid032gNxSC8hcxCSeWb9AX95b3KbLiLX5Y3CaptNK3o3iHdmc1P5X5dUiwHwdKv5Vjd4l">said</a> Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Sunday. “Authorities have indicated that there is no known threat to the surrounding community, and the situation remains under the control of law enforcement. The activity was not related to immigration enforcement.”
On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media: &#8220;We have charged the two alleged ISIS-inspired terrorists who attempted to bomb a protest in New York City. We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation. Our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant.&#8221;
Both suspects reportedly made pro-ISIS statements while in custody, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/warrants-served-new-jersey-pennsylvania-feds-look-possible-nyc-terrorism">reported</a>. On Monday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attempted bombing was an “act of inspired ISIS terrorism.”
Police in Newtown Township, where Kayumi resides, <a href="https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/bucks/newtown-twp-pd/34824/post/police-activity-active-investigation">said</a> Sunday that they were working with the FBI on an investigation. His family&#8217;s 5,800-square-foot home is worth $2.25 million, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/09/us-news/parents-of-alleged-nyc-bomb-thrower-own-2-5m-home-are-naturalized-citizens-from-afghanistan/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported</a>. His parents are <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2030771962973188114">repo</a><a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2030771962973188114">rtedly</a> from Afghanistan and were naturalized between 2004 and 2009. 
The home of Balat in Middletown Township was also searched on Sunday. That 3,200-square-foot home is worth $653,000, the New York Post reported. 
“The FBI, along with specialized federal teams, is conducting a court-authorized search warrant as part of a federal investigation related to an incident that occurred yesterday in New York City,” Middletown Township said. “There is no known threat to the public at this time, and this activity is not related to immigration enforcement.”
Balat is a high school senior in the Neshaminy School District, <a href="https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/crime/2026/03/09/emir-balat-ibrahim-kayumi-bucks-county-terrorism-nyc-isis-iran-protest-lang-mamdani/89064102007/">according</a> to school officials. His parents are <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2030771962973188114">reportedly</a> from Turkey and were naturalized in 2017. 
<div id="attachment_1055941" style="width: 1557px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055941" class="size-full wp-image-1055941" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM.png" alt="" width="1547" height="975" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM.png 1547w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-300x189.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-914x576.png 914w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-768x484.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-at-11.01.53-AM-1536x968.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1547px) 100vw, 1547px" />Middletown Township Police Department.</div>
An additional residence in New Jersey was raided as part of the investigation, Fox News reported. 
“FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the matter with our partners at NYPD as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,” the FBI said on Sunday. “Preliminary analysis confirms one of the devices ignited and deployed by the subjects was an IED explosive. Tests remain ongoing for other devices.”

US-POLITICS-DEMONSTRATION

FBI Raids Homes Of 2 Teens Charged In Attempted ISIS-Inspired NYC Bombing

FBI Raids Homes Of 2 Teens Suspected Of Attempted ISIS-Inspired NYC Bombing

ISIS

New York City

Terrorism

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

Maricopa County Begins Counting Ballots On Election Day In Arizona

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

2020 Election

Arizona

Donald Trump

Election

The FBI is reportedly looking at an attempted bombing in New York City as a potential act of terror after at least one of the suspects — who wielded a homemade bomb at a protest outside Gracie Mansion the day before — claimed that he had been inspired by ISIS.
NBC News correspondent Tom Winter reported on Sunday that one of the suspects referenced ISIS directly in statements to law enforcement after his apprehension, prompting the terror probe.
CNN reported that both suspects admitted to being &#8220;inspired by ISIS,&#8221; but said that officials do not believe that there is a connection between the New York City attack and the military action unfolding in Iran.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Emir Balat and Ibrahim Nikk, the two NYC terrorists who hurled an IED at protestors were reportedly inspired by ISIS. <a href="https://t.co/gPiNeC0FoM">pic.twitter.com/gPiNeC0FoM</a>
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasMHern/status/2030735447656222986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Law enforcement sources [are] also telling us that the two suspects that were arrested in relation to those explosive devices have admitted to being inspired by ISIS,&#8221; correspondent Gloria Pazmino reported.
According to a report published Sunday by CBS News, the FBI&#8217;s Joint Terrorism Task Force has taken over the investigation into Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 — both of whom live in Pennsylvania — after a lab in Quantico confirmed that what appeared to homemade bombs were not &#8220;hoax devices&#8221; but deadly Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) using components that have been seen in previous terror attacks.
The devices, two sources told CBS, contained sports drink bottles filled with explosives that were set inside glass jars packed with nails, bolts, and screws. The explosives were connected to a firework described as an &#8220;M-80-type&#8221; with a fuse.
The sources said that the explosive material inside was called triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, which is a white powder made from two readily available household chemicals: acetone and hydrogen peroxide.
Multiple reports suggest that the investigation is also likely to probe the recent travels of the suspects, both of whom have made extended visits to Istanbul in the last two years. Balat stayed in the Turkish city for months, from early May of 2025 to late August of the same year. Kayumi also traveled to Istanbul, but only stayed for a few weeks in July and August of 2024. He also traveled to Saudi Arabia in March of 2024.
Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin also reported that &#8220;New York City IED suspect Emir Balat’s parents are both from Turkey &amp; were naturalized into US citizens in 2017, while Ibrahim Kayumi’s parents are both from Afghanistan. Mom naturalized in 2009, dad naturalized in 2004.&#8221;
New York City&#8217;s Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-breaks-silence-after-nypd-confirms-bomb-was-used-in-terror-attempt">issued a statement</a> about the attack on Sunday, which had taken place as competing protests played out in front of Gracie Mansion.
Mamdani specifically named January 6th defendant Jake Lang — who led a protest of about 20 people — and referred to him as a &#8220;white supremacist,&#8221; saying his demonstration was &#8220;rooted in bigotry and racism&#8221; and was not welcome in New York City.
While he condemned the violent act that followed, he did not mention the names of the terror suspects or their potential inspiration. Instead, he said simply, &#8220;The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are.&#8221;

Right-Wing Activists Protest Against New York Mayor Mamdani Outside Gracie Mansion

FBI Opens Terror Probe After Homemade Bombs In NYC Linked To ISIS

bombing

Media

FBI agents and airport police worked together to investigate after an unspecified threat caused officials to evacuate sections of Kansas City International Airport in Missouri on Sunday morning.
According to multiple <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/us-news/kansas-city-international-airport-evacuated-over-threat-as-fbi-cops-swarm-terminal/">reports</a>, hundreds of passengers were evacuated onto the tarmac as investigators closed one terminal, out of &#8220;an abundance of caution,&#8221; and diverted several flights, leaving others — who landed after the threat was received — stranded on the taxiway until they were given the all-clear.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 BREAKING: Kansas City International Airport is being EVACUATED of all travelers and workers due to a “SERIOUS INCIDENT”
Initial reports are of a credible bomb threat to the airport.
All planes have been halted and a sweep is underway <a href="https://t.co/QOZWFSa8bL">pic.twitter.com/QOZWFSa8bL</a>
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2030700520403247258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The threat, according to reports, came in at 11:50 a.m. local time and prompted an immediate and complete evacuation of the terminal. Flights did not resume until after 2 p.m. In the interim, airport police and FBI agents conducted sweeps of the terminal.
Passenger Logan Hawley told <a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/kc-aviation-department-aware-of-situation-at-kansas-city-international-airport">reporters</a> that he had been preparing to board a flight to Texas when law enforcement swarmed the terminal: &#8220;Suddenly there was an airport worker saying ‘immediately evacuate,’ people got up fast and rushed out of there.&#8221;
Highway traffic near the airport also faced delays as the Missouri Department of Transportation confirmed temporary road closures at Interstate 29 northbound to Interstate 435 eastbound and the KCI exit ramp.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the all-clear shortly after 2 p.m. CST, <a href="https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/2030723386511425750">posting</a> on X that the airport would be returning to business as usual. He did not give any details as to the nature of the threat or its resolution.
&#8220;The security incident at @Fly_KansasCity is now clear and normal operations are resuming,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I want to thank law enforcement including the @FBI for their timely response. The safety of passengers, airport staff, and crew members is always our number one priority @FAANews.&#8221;

Screenshot courtesy of @NickSortor

Bomb Threat Triggers Shutdown At Major U.S. Airport, Forces Passengers Onto Tarmac

Air Travel

Kansas City

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

Austin

Mass Shooting

News

Texas

A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot was arrested Wednesday on allegations that he traveled to China to illegally train combat pilots with the People’s Liberation Army. 
The Justice Department<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-us-air-force-pilot-arrested-providing-defense-services-chinese-military"> announced</a> that 65-year-old Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr. had been charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Brown was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and is expected to make his first court appearance on Thursday. 
“Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with decades of experience flying U.S. military aircraft, allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the U.S. armed forces to modernize China’s military capabilities.”
The complaint accused Brown of beginning in August 2023 to conspire with foreign nationals to train People’s Liberation Army Air Force combat pilots. It said that Brown did not obtain the proper license from the State Department to train a foreign military. 
Brown served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years. He commanded sensitive units with responsibilities that included oversight of nuclear weapons delivery systems. He led combat missions and served as a fighter pilot instructor, according to the Justice Department. Before he retired in 1996, he was known by the call sign &#8220;Runner.&#8221; Brown also worked for multiple defense contractors in recent years on flight training. 
The Justice Department said that Brown worked with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national who pleaded guilty back in 2016 for conspiring to hack into the computer systems of multiple defense contractors. 
Brown traveled to China in December 2023, where he allegedly answered questions about the Air Force. According to the complaint, he told a co-conspirator in a message upon landing in China that he now had &#8220;the chance to fly and instruct fighter pilots again!” He did not return to the United States until February 2026. 
“As an Air Force Officer, Brown took an oath to defend our Nation against all enemies foreign and domestic, he broke that oath, and betrayed the country, jeopardizing the safety of our servicemembers and allies,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “We will hold Brown, and anyone conspiring against our Nation, accountable for their actions.”
The case against Brown was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office.

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He Served The U.S. Air Force For 24 Years. He’s Now Accused Of Training CCP Combat Pilots

Former Air Force Fighter Pilot Arrested For Training CCP Combat Pilots

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Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was the subject of multiple federal raids on Wednesday.  Multiple reports confirmed that authorities conducted searches of both his home and his office.
An affidavit was filed in connection with the <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/lausd-superintendent-carvalho-raid/3853654/">searches</a>, but officials stated that the details remain under seal. Another search was executed at a Miami property also connected to Carvalho, who has been the head of the second-largest school district in the United States since 2022. Carvalho previously worked for 14 years as superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
No details have been released regarding the reason for the searches, but the FBI Los Angeles office released a statement confirming the action: &#8220;We can confirm that the FBI is serving a court-authorized warrant at those locations. However, the affidavit in support of the warrant has been sealed by the court and we, therefore, have no further comment.&#8221;
According to a <a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/fbi-raids-lausd-headquarters-superintendent-alberto-carvalho-home">report</a> from local FOX affiliate FOX11, employees were evacuated from the Los Angeles school district offices while officers searched the premises. Other officers searched his home in San Pedro, California. Drone footage captured by local news outlets showed multiple FBI agents entering and leaving the properties, some carrying boxes.
Complicating matters further, President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration joined a lawsuit against LAUSD alleging that the district discriminates against white students by funneling money and resources to schools based on the racial demographics of the attending students.
The lawsuit, filed by the 1776 Project Foundation, states that LAUSD uses a race-based label to designate certain schools as &#8220;PHBAO&#8221; (Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Other non-Anglo). The complaint then argues that schools without that designation — meaning they are predominantly white — often do not receive the same funding considerations or allocation of resources. The DOJ asserts that, in addition, students from &#8220;PHBAO&#8221; schools receive preferential treatment when they seek to transfer to magnet programs.
The FBI has not indicated whether the searches are related to the lawsuit and the school district as a whole or are directed specifically at Carvalho.

LAUSD, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho,

FBI Raids Home And Office Of Los Angeles School Superintendent

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Whoopi Goldberg floated a bizarre theory during Monday&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;The View&#8221; on ABC, suggesting that FBI Director Kash Patel had been sent to Italy to watch Team USA&#8217;s first Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years because the rank and file wanted him out of the way.
Goldberg and her cohosts began the segment by bashing Patel for going to the championship game between fierce rivals, the United States and Canada, because that meant he was not present to handle other major issues in which the FBI has been deeply involved.
Cohost Ana Navarro mentioned the videos that showed Patel partying with Team USA in the locker room after their overtime win, and complained that he was behaving like &#8220;a member of &#8216;Animal House,'&#8221; and claimed she had no idea what he was even doing there.
Sara Haines argued that she personally would rather have a law enforcement leader who was &#8220;serious and borderline boring,&#8221; complaining that he was partying instead of dealing with real issues like the upheaval in Mexico and the Secret Service-involved shooting at Mar-a-Lago.
&#8220;Right now the world doesn&#8217;t feel settled or stable, and you&#8217;ve got the head of the FBI, and the visual of chugging a beer in a locker room,&#8221; she added, arguing that he was not helping the administration to appear more &#8220;competent&#8221; and that the whole scenario was &#8220;a bit of an insult to the American people.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Whoopi suggests the rest of the FBI told Patel to get out of the office to get their &#8220;incompetent&#8221; boss out of their hair so they could do their jobs: 
&#8220;I&#8217;m going to put a positive spin on it. Maybe the folks in the FBI say, &#8216;yeah, Kash, go do that&#8217; so they don&#8217;t have to deal with… <a href="https://t.co/Fjof0tBmGn">pic.twitter.com/Fjof0tBmGn</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/2025970450304524565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Goldberg then pivoted to suggest that maybe the move had come at the behest of some in the FBI who felt that they would be better able to do their jobs if Patel was off doing something else.
&#8220;I&#8217;m going to put a positive spin on it. Maybe the folks in the FBI say, &#8216;yeah, Kash, go do that&#8217; so they don&#8217;t have to deal with him, because they know he doesn&#8217;t know what he&#8217;s doing,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They know that he is incompetent. They know that he is just — he is a joke and he is a joke in the rest of the world. And because for most of the people working in the FBI it is not a joke. They are the ones whose eyes are on the ball.&#8221;
Patel himself <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kash-patel-owns-partying-with-usa-hockey-team-yes-i-love-america">addressed the media</a> scrutiny in a post to X, saying that he&#8217;d been invited to celebrate with Team USA after their gold-medal win and had chosen to do so.
&#8220;For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.&#8221;

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Floats Wild FBI Theory Tying Kash Patel To Team USA’s Gold Medal Moment

Whoopi Thinks The FBI Sent Kash Patel To USA Hockey Game To Get Rid Of Him

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