The Army put helicopter flights to the Pentagon on hold on Monday after another incident last week forced air traffic controllers to divert two commercial planes that were preparing to land at Reagan National Airport (DCA), POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/05/army-helicopter-flights-reagan-airport-00327392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The 12th Aviation Battalion, which transports political and military VIPs, will not be allowed to fly near DCA as the Army conducts an internal inquiry after a military helicopter reportedly &#8220;took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport&#8221; last Thursday. The incident prompted commercial flights to abort their landings, according to POLITICO, which cited &#8220;an email sent by an FAA official.&#8221;
Last week&#8217;s aborted landings came just over three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane near DCA, killing all 64 people aboard the plane and all three helicopter pilots.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy <a href="https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/1918448336048206226" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Friday that the Army helicopters&#8217; &#8220;scenic route&#8221; was &#8220;unacceptable,&#8221; adding that he would speak with the Defense Department &#8220;to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.&#8221; An Army spokesman disputed that the flight was &#8220;scenic,&#8221; calling the characterization &#8220;inappropriate,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/05/02/national-dca-airliners-helicopter-danger/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. According to the Army official, the helicopter had been approved to land at the Pentagon, but was asked by the Pentagon flight tower to circle again before landing. The helicopter&#8217;s second pass appears to have caused air traffic controllers at DCA to divert two planes&#8217; landings, the Army spokesman said.
The helicopter&#8217;s flight on Thursday was done &#8220;in accordance with published FAA flight routes,&#8221; according to the Army.
Congressional leaders called on the Army and the FAA to prevent more dangerous incidents between military helicopters and commercial aircraft around DCA. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/sentedcruz/status/1918452272624701941?s=46&amp;t=D2Xwf7zbmcagvzLI-U0uIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Army was &#8220;once again putting the traveling public at risk.&#8221;
&#8220;Thank God there was a decisive response from air traffic controllers and pilots, or else these two close calls could have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives,&#8221; Cruz (R-TX) added. &#8220;I believe it’s time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.&#8221;
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, <a href="https://x.com/JerryMoran/status/1918428042978054438" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;The tragic accident at DCA in January and the data that has come to light on near-misses at DCA over the last four years overwhelmingly demonstrate that new safety measures must be implemented before military helicopters resume operations near the airport. &#8230; The Army and FAA need to reevaluate their operations and return to Capitol Hill to explain what needs to be done to make certain the DCA airspace is safe. We already had a tragedy that should not have happened.&#8221;
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) added, “It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at DCA. It is far past time for [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.”

Army Black Hawk

Army Helicopter Flights Suspended Near DCA After Two Planes Forced To Abort Landings

Airplane

airport

General

Sean Duffy

U.S.

U.S. Army

President Donald Trump and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Monday that the 2027 NFL draft would be held at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as the nation&#8217;s capital prepares for the Washington Commanders, formerly Redskins, to return to the district.
The National Mall is home to iconic American monuments and memorials. Trump was joined by Goodell, D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for the announcement in the Oval Office.
&#8220;The draft is a celebration of one of our country&#8217;s most cherished cultural institutions and the annual highlight for football fans everywhere,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Everyone in the world is going to be watching.&#8221;
&#8220;Not only are these announcements great for the NFL, but they also advance the mission of making Washington D.C. safe and clean and beautiful,&#8221; the president added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Not only are these announcements great for the NFL, but they also advance the mission of making Washington D.C. safe and clean and beautiful. We&#39;re working very closely with the Mayor &#8212; and we&#39;ve made a lot of improvements in the last few months&#8230; Crime is way down.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Yt0BUcG6v2">pic.twitter.com/Yt0BUcG6v2</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919449512378089557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Goodell said that he believes the draft in D.C. will draw more than one million people over three days, adding, &#8220;The draft has become one of the great entertainment and sports events.&#8221;
&#8220;It will not just be an event. It will be something that will show the world how far the nation&#8217;s capital has come and where it&#8217;s going,&#8221; the NFL commissioner said.
For decades, the NFL draft was held at different venues in New York City, but beginning in 2015, the league allowed cities to bid on hosting the draft, an event that now draws hundreds of thousands of people. Last year, Detroit <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/04/25/2025-nfl-draft-attendance-round-1-green-bay-detroit/83250827007/#:~:text=Green%20Bay%20hosted%20approximately%20205%2C000,during%20the%20three%2Dday%20event." target="_blank" rel="noopener">set the record</a> with 775,000 people coming to the three-day event, <a href="https://detroitsports.org/news/2024/7/11/general-visit-detroit-and-the-detroit-sports-commission-announce-record-setting-2024-nfl-draft-generated-213-6-million-in-economic-impact.aspx#:~:text=%22Visit%20Detroit%20and%20the%20Detroit,Co%2DChair%20of%20the%20Detroit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">generating</a> more than $200 million for the city&#8217;s economy. The 2025 draft in Green Bay last month drew an estimated 600,000 fans.
Professional football is making a comeback in the nation&#8217;s capital as the Commanders will return to playing within the district&#8217;s borders in 2030. The team is also led by Jayden Daniels, an exciting young quarterback who took Washington to the NFC championship game last season. The team appears poised to be a serious contender for years to come. Last week, the Commanders, alongside D.C. Mayor Bowser, announced the construction of new domed stadium in the district, built on the site of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, where the Redskins played for 36 seasons before moving to Prince George&#8217;s County, Maryland, in the late 1990s.
Trump previously <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-touts-commanders-stadium-deal-hopes-lead-less-crime-dc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the new stadium deal a &#8220;HUGE WIN for Washington, D.C., and for the Team’s incredible fan base.&#8221;
&#8220;It will also boost Economic Development, create more Jobs and, hopefully, lead to less Crime in the area,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We are making Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN, one step at a time!&#8221;

NFL Draft announcement

Trump Joins NFL Commish To Announce Iconic Location For 2027 Draft

Donald Trump

Executive

Roger Goodell

Washington D.C.

Minnesota governor Tim Walz’s daughter, Hope Walz, said the sport of running is “privileged.”
The 24-year-old posted a two-minute tirade against the idea of running to her TikTok account. “Running as an act is political. And you know who taught me that? Tim Walz,” she said. “The first thing he told me when I was getting into it in high school — granted, I don’t really do it as much anymore, I go in spurts — but when I first [was] getting into it in high school, the first thing he told me was that running is a privilege and being part of the running community is a privilege that not all people have access to.”
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@hopewalz/video/7499564036535635242" data-video-id="7499564036535635242" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;">
<section> <a target="_blank" title="@hopewalz" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hopewalz?refer=embed">@hopewalz</a> 
running is political!!! <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed">#fyp</a> <a title="running" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/running?refer=embed">#running</a> 
 <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - hopewalz" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7499564135412796206?refer=embed">♬ original sound &#8211; hopewalz</a> </section>
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Walz went on to explain some of the “privileged” aspects of running, which include “time to run,” “access to funds to buy the gear,” “access to … healthy, quality food,” and “access to a safe, stable situation that allows you to be in a good mental state to be able to run.”
“All of those things are hard to come by, and if you have them and you are a part of the running community, that is a privilege,” Hope Walz said. “That, again, was the first thing he taught me.”
Walz’s rant comes just after running influencer Kate Mackz filmed a video with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. This seemed to especially trigger the former vice presidential candidate’s daughter, as her dad also did an interview with Mackz, which is still “pinned” to Mackz’s page.
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Walz attacked the running influencer for “platforming” the current administration, then went on to list her grievances with President Trump and his policies.
“Cutting funds to climate initiatives, sending people away without due process, villainizing minorities, all of those things are preventing people from getting into the running community, which is what I thought Kate’s platform was for, but it’s also just damaging to society as a whole,” she said. “We should not be normalizing these people.”
“You don’t get to ‘both sides’ this. It’s not both sides. We are quite literally talking about good versus evil here,” Walz said, adding how it’s “extremely disappointing.”

Hope Walz

Tim Walz’s Daughter Rants That Running Is ‘Political’ And ‘A Privilege’

Tim Walz's Daughter Rants That Running Is 'Political' And 'A Privilege'

Politics

Sports

Tim Walz

White House

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was back in the spotlight for the first time since her loss to President Donald Trump, taking the stage in San Francisco on Wednesday night to deliver a speech ripping the president.
Harris gave the keynote <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/fmr-vice-president-kamala-harris-delivers-remarks-at-emerge-gala/659258" target="_blank" rel="noopener">address</a> for the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge, a Democratic organization that recruits women to run for office. After a quick acknowledgement of the leftist organization at the beginning of her speech, Harris quickly moved to taking shots at the Trump administration.
&#8220;The American people deserve leaders who make their lives better and make our country stronger, but sadly, we have seen quite the opposite over these past few months,&#8221; Harris said. &#8220;Now I know tonight&#8217;s event happens to coincide with the 100 days after the inauguration, and I&#8217;ll leave it to others to give a full accounting of what has happened so far, but I will say this, instead of an administration working to advance America&#8217;s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We got stern, serious Kamala now. <a href="https://t.co/BmgeCGD2ZF">pic.twitter.com/BmgeCGD2ZF</a>
&mdash; ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) <a href="https://twitter.com/alx/status/1917780654277697847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Harris argued that Trump is &#8220;counting on the notion that fear can be contagious &#8230; that if they make some people afraid, it will have a chilling effect on others.&#8221; The former vice president then accused Trump of creating the &#8220;greatest manmade economic crisis in modern presidential history,&#8221; referring to the president&#8217;s massive tariff rollout, which she described as &#8220;absolute chaos.&#8221;
She praised leftist politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who have traveled the country to hold rallies bashing Trump&#8217;s agenda. She also commended Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who traveled to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration deported on suspicion of being an MS-13 gang member.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kamala Harris: I&#39;m really inspired by Democrat leaders like Chris Van Hollen, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost AOC, and others. <a href="https://t.co/OlEBpiJ5hw">pic.twitter.com/OlEBpiJ5hw</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1917780078492070014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Later in the speech, Harris pointed to a video of elephants at the San Diego Zoo that were captured on video forming a circle of protection during a recent earthquake.
&#8220;So that scene has been on my mind,&#8221; Harris said, breaking into a laugh. &#8220;So in the video, here those elephants were. And as soon as they felt the earth shaking beneath their feet, they cut in a circle and stood next to each other to protect the most vulnerable. Think about it. What a powerful metaphor.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
2024 loser Kamala Harris tells Democrats to find inspiration in the San Diego Zoo elephants that circled up in shoulder-to-shoulder after an earthquake:
&quot;Think about it. What a powerful metaphor.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Q4QAoU8FQJ">pic.twitter.com/Q4QAoU8FQJ</a>
&mdash; Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1917895482665292089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Harris did not address speculation that she is preparing to jump into the 2026 California governor race to replace Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. Earlier this month, she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-hints-at-future-political-run-im-not-going-anywhere?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Kamala+Harris+Hints+At+Future+Political+Run%3A+%E2%80%98I%E2%80%99m+Not+Going+Anywhere%E2%80%99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hinted</a> at a future political run, saying she is &#8220;not going anywhere.&#8221;

Kamala Harris

Kamala Comes Out Angry In First Major Speech Since Election Loss

2024 Election

California

San Francisco

Trump Administration

On Wednesday, Elon Musk declared a &#8220;tremendous amount&#8221; has been accomplished during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term, a message the tech guru delivered as he prepares to spend less time working on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.
Musk — who has said he plans to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-significantly-cut-back-doge-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rededicate</a> himself to his electric car and energy company, Tesla, starting next month — trumpeted the Trump administration&#8217;s achievements during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
&#8220;The American people voted for secure borders, safe cities, and sensible spending, and that&#8217;s what they have gotten. A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days,&#8221; Musk said, adding later, &#8220;This portends very well for what happens for the rest of the administration. I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>: &quot;The people voted for secure borders, safe cities, and sensible spending and that&#39;s what they&#39;ve gotten. A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;You have been treated unfairly but the vast majority of people in this country really… <a href="https://t.co/I6X1WINZew">pic.twitter.com/I6X1WINZew</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1917623036351488445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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After helping Trump get elected last year, Musk <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/13/upshot/musk-doge-1-trillion-goal.html">endeavored</a> to remove $1 trillion in waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal budget via the DOGE initiative. With cuts to programs and jobs across the bureaucracy, DOGE&#8217;s website now says &#8220;estimated savings&#8221; have <a href="https://doge.gov/savings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached</a> $160 billion.
Musk&#8217;s involvement with DOGE sparked controversy. There have been protests at Tesla locations across the United States and abroad, as well as incidents that the FBI says have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-issues-warning-over-left-wing-terrorist-attacks-against-tesla" target="_blank" rel="noopener">involved</a> vandalism, arson, and gunfire, resulting in charges being filed against some alleged perpetrators.
During the Cabinet meeting, Trump said Musk &#8220;sacrificed a lot&#8221; and has been &#8220;treated very unfairly,&#8221; to which Musk quipped that people burning his cars is &#8220;not great.&#8221; The president also insisted that the &#8220;vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you,&#8221; although recent polls show public support for Musk has <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elon-musk-approval-low-reflecting-opposition-trump-cuts/story?id=121199149" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> since the DOGE effort began.
Musk <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-significantly-cut-back-doge-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in a Tesla earnings call that he believed &#8220;starting probably in the next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly&#8221; while he planned to put more focus back on Tesla, which has just <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/22/tesla-tsla-earnings-report-q1-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> a 71% net income drop in the first quarter, compared to one year ago.
Trump acknowledged that Musk wanted to &#8220;get back&#8221; to his cars, but he also told Musk, &#8220;You&#8217;re invited to stay as long as you want.&#8221; The president also said &#8220;a lot of stuff is being worked on&#8221; and contended that DOGE&#8217;s $160 billion savings figure &#8220;could be doubled and even tripled&#8221; as &#8220;a lot of things are being worked on that we don&#8217;t count because it&#8217;s not quite there.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>: &quot;Elon, I love the double hat by the way.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>: &quot;Well, Mr. President, you know they say I wear a lot of hats. Even my hat has a hat!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/iwlSpTDQVl">pic.twitter.com/iwlSpTDQVl</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1917622693215756416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A light-hearted moment took place when Trump first began speaking to Musk and took note of how the tech executive was wearing multiple hats on his head. The top hat was a red one that read, &#8220;GULF OF AMERICA.&#8221;
&#8220;Elon, I love the double hat, by the way,&#8221; Trump said. Laughter erupted in the room as Trump added that Musk was &#8220;the only one that can do that and get away with it.&#8221; Musk replied, &#8220;Well, Mr. President, you know they say I wear a lot of hats. That&#8217;s true. Even my hat has a hat!&#8221; More laughs ensued.

Elon Musk

Elon Salutes Trump’s First 100 Days: ‘Could Be The Greatest’ Ever

Cabinet

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) may soon move to boot newly-elected Vice Chair David Hogg following a complaint from Native American Kalyn Free, who lost the vice chair race to the Parkland school shooting survivor in February and is now claiming that the election had been discriminatory toward women of color.
The DNC, according to a report published Tuesday by Semafor, will meet virtually on May 12 to consider the challenge.
&#8220;DNC could vote to oust David Hogg. Will hear a challenge next month by a Native American DNC member who lost the vice chair race, and wants a new election, citing &#8216;fairness and gender diversity&#8217; rules,&#8221; <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/04/29/2025/native-american-woman-gets-a-chance-to-topple-hogg-at-dnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Semafor</a> political reporter David Weigel posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Scoop: DNC could vote to oust David Hogg. Will hear a challenge next month by a Native American DNC member who lost the vice chair race, and wants a new election, citing &#8220;fairness and gender diversity&#8221; rules. <a href="https://t.co/yKKbBUtkfr">https://t.co/yKKbBUtkfr</a>
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) <a href="https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/1917285633300529310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Free, in her complaint, called on the DNC to vacate the vice chair positions and hold two new elections, saying that the results of the previous &#8220;fatally flawed election that violated the DNC Charter and discriminated against three women of color candidates&#8221; should not be allowed to stand.
Hogg also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dnc-chief-warns-david-hogg-if-you-challenge-dem-incumbents-leave-dnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provoked</a> anger from the current DNC Chairman Ken Martin and others within the Democratic Party when he declared his intention to funnel some $20 million through his Leaders We Deserve organization into primary challenges against Democrats whose time he believes has passed. Martin issued a warning, saying that he would be wise to leave the DNC if his intent was to attack incumbent Democrats.
Longtime Democratic strategist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-honeymoon-is-over-longtime-dem-strategist-trashes-contemptible-little-twerp-david-hogg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Carville</a> also took aim at Hogg over his primary plans, referring to him as a &#8220;contemptible little twerp&#8221; and suggesting the DNC should consider suing him if he insisted on working against the party from within.
&#8220;If I work for, if you work for NewsNation, you can’t promote CNN. That’s if you worked for somebody else,” Carville said. “You have a fiduciary duty to your employer, which anybody can understand. He’s being paid to run against other Democrats. I think it’s an outrage. I don’t know if I have standing, but I might give the DNC $10 and sue him.&#8221;

Eighteen X 18 Presents We Vote Next Summit

DEI At The DNC Could Force David Hogg Out As Vice Chair

David Hogg

Democratic National Committee

Nike is getting blasted for its insensitivity in using a phrase associated with the Holocaust only three days after Yom HaShoah, when Jews around the world mark the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis in the Holocaust.
Nike installed signs along the London Marathon route emblazoned, “Never again, until next year.”
“As a Jew living in London, I felt shocked, hurt, and angry to see the use of words in this context, even if no doubt in reference to the temporary pain of running 26 miles,&#8221; retired British judge Nigel Litman <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-851847" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Walla.
He continued:
<blockquote>
“Never Again” is a phrase related to the Holocaust and the murder of six million Jews. It is directed as a prayer to the world that it will not allow such a horror to repeat itself. And over the past 18 months, it has been used more than ever, as we mourn the barbaric slaughter of more than 1,000 Israelis and long for the return of hostages kidnapped to the tunnels of Gaza. The fact that the phrase is used as a marketing tool for the marathon is very indicative of the way it is treated. In fact, to chant ‘never again, until next year’ is exactly what Hamas promised: to repeat October 7 over and over again.
</blockquote>
“I am not arguing that Nike meant an antisemitic act, but it demonstrated how a serious and important comment is thrown aside as of little importance, despite the fact that for many Jews it is of enormous importance,” he concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Boycott Nike <a href="https://t.co/sntTQ9Fg9W">pic.twitter.com/sntTQ9Fg9W</a>
&mdash; Eye On Antisemitism (@AntisemitismEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/AntisemitismEye/status/1916873782381203492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The idea that <a href="https://twitter.com/Nike?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nike</a> would make light of the holocaust using Hitler-red imagery in a post-October 7th world is stunning. 
Heads need to roll. 
WTF Nike? <a href="https://t.co/5kHx3sdB7a">https://t.co/5kHx3sdB7a</a>
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1916929342296166809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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I will &quot;never again&quot; purchase anything from Nike. <a href="https://t.co/lPx99oOsqV">pic.twitter.com/lPx99oOsqV</a>
&mdash; Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EYakoby/status/1916862588282904667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Nike&#39;s ad at the London Marathon — to Never Again buy Nike. <a href="https://t.co/Egs4M06vfL">pic.twitter.com/Egs4M06vfL</a>
&mdash; dahlia kurtz ✡︎ דליה קורץ (@DahliaKurtz) <a href="https://twitter.com/DahliaKurtz/status/1916841999136604413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
One month after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre of over 1,200 Israelis, a &#8220;digital media marketing specialist&#8221; at Nike accused Israel of “massacring civilians.”
“Much of what is Israel claims about Palestinian resistance is pure projection. The killing of children, massacring civilians, the r*pe, torture, hostage-taking, and imprisonment that Israel accuses of Palestinians of occurs on a much greater scale by the Israelis,” James Rehwald wrote, The Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/democrats/meet-the-nike-marketing-specialist-who-says-israel-not-hamas-is-massacring-civilians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, adding, “Nike CEO John Donahoe nearly a week after the attack sent an internal email to employees decrying the &#8220;horrific attacks in Israel&#8221; but did not mention Hamas, prompting pushback from some Jewish employees.”

Nike Swoosh Logo

Nike Blasted After Posting ‘Never Again’ Signs During Marathon 3 Days After Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust

London

Marathon

Nike

World

A massive explosion at a strategic Iranian port killed at least 14 people and injured 750 others on Saturday, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency in the coastal city that serves as a vital shipping hub for the Islamic Republic.
The explosion occurred at the port of Bandar Abbas in southwestern Iran, sending a massive plume of thick gray smoke into the air, with footage showing the blast originating in what appears to be a warehouse facility, according to videos <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/26/middleeast/iran-bandar-abbas-port-explosion-intl/index.html">geolocated</a> by CNN.
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani indicated the explosion likely involved chemical containers, stating that they were stored in a “corner of the port that likely contained chemicals which exploded.”
However, she cautioned, “Until the fire is extinguished, it&#8217;s hard to ascertain the cause.&#8221;
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni confirmed that six people remain missing as firefighters battle the blaze amid challenging high winds.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Massive explosion hits the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas <a href="https://t.co/PDNvcmCVOi">pic.twitter.com/PDNvcmCVOi</a>
— BNO News (@BNONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1916063449383153959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The state-controlled oil company denied responsibility for the explosion, with state media company IRIB reporting that the explosion took place in the chemical and sulfur section of the port.
The blast caused widespread destruction, shattering windows within a radius of several kilometers and leaving buildings at the port complex severely damaged, with reports indicating some people may be trapped in collapsed structures.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has <a href="https://x.com/drpezeshkian/status/1916111653445284183">ordered</a> an investigation into the incident and dispatched the interior minister to the region to &#8220;examine the dimensions of the accident&#8221; and conduct &#8220;a comprehensive assessment&#8221; to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Health authorities have advised citizens to remain indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and keep windows closed due to significant air pollution concerns, while many Iranians were seen lining up at health centers to donate blood for the injured.
The now-decimated facility is a critical infrastructure asset for Iran, spanning 2,400 hectares with 35 shipping berths and handling approximately 70 million tons of cargo annually, including oil shipments and general cargo, per CNN.
Regional governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani confirmed that injured people were being transferred to local medical centers in Bandar Abbas, while the port has been closed and all maritime operations suspended until further notice.

TOPSHOT-IRAN-PORT-EXPLOSION

Massive Explosion Rocks Major Iranian Port, Killing 14 And Injuring 750

Explosion

Iran

Middle East

Oil and Gas

Michelle Obama just explained her reasons for not attending the inauguration of President Donald Trump, a move which has inspired a lot of speculation among her followers.
The former first lady discussed her decision in a newly released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL5q4BMln7M" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode</a> of her podcast, “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson,” where she spoke with actress Taraji P. Henson.
&#8220;My decision to skip the inauguration — or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me — were met with such ridicule and criticism,&#8221; Obama explained. &#8220;People couldn&#8217;t believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me, and it took everything in my power to not do the thing that &#8216;was right,&#8217; or was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me,&#8221; she said of the viral rumors of impending divorce. 
Obama said she had to “basically trick” herself into creating a situation where she wasn’t able to go to the inauguration.
&#8220;It started with not having anything to wear,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I was like, if I&#8217;m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don&#8217;t even want to have a dress ready, right? Because it&#8217;s so easy to just say let me do the right thing.&#8221;
The “Becoming” author said not having anything to wear would essentially force her to make the decision she actually wanted to make in the first place.
Obama said it’s all part of her goal of mastering the “art of saying no.”
“It&#8217;s a muscle that you have to build,” she said during the episode. “And I think we suffered, because it&#8217;s almost like we started training late in life to build that muscle, right? I am just now starting to build it.”
“I want our daughters, I want the young women out there… I want my girls to start practicing different strategies for saying no,” she continued. “After all that I&#8217;ve done in this world, if I am still showing them that I have to keep- I still have to show people that I love my country, that I&#8217;m doing the right thing, that I am always setting, going high all the time, even in the face of a lot of hypocrisy and contradiction, all I&#8217;m doing is keeping that crazy bar that our mothers and grandmothers set for us.”
&nbsp;

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama Reveals Why She Skipped President Trump’s Inauguration

Michelle Obama Reveals Why She Skipped President Trump's Inauguration

Barack Obama

Inauguration

The World Economic Forum is investigating its founder and former chairman Klaus Schwab over whistleblower complaints of unethical conduct and misappropriating organization funds.
Schwab stepped down as chair and as a member of the board of trustees on Monday, just days after the board received an anonymous letter with allegations against Schwab and his wife, Hilde, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/world-economic-forum-opens-new-probe-into-founder-klaus-schwab-e2f061d6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>. Schwab had announced earlier this month that he planned to resign as the non-executive chairman of WEF by January of next year amid an investigation into the WEF’s workplace culture.
The earlier probe into WEF’s workplace culture also implicated Schwab, but the WEF said that the allegations against him were not substantiated. Schwab and his wife have denied all allegations against them in both probes.
The letter stated that it is from current and former employees of the WEF.
“We feel compelled to share a comprehensive account of systemic governance failures and abuses of power that have taken place over many years under the unchecked authority of Klaus Schwab,” the letter says.
The letter included accusations against the Schwabs such as using WEF funds to pay for massages, setting “token” meetings in ritzy spots around the world to justify the use of WEF funds for vacations, and using WEF property as personal getaways.
The WEF board said it unanimously supported an investigation “following a whistleblower letter containing allegations against former Chairman Klaus Schwab. This decision was made after consultation with external legal counsel.”
The WEF takes “these allegations seriously, but they remain unproven, and will await the outcome of the investigation to comment further,” the board said.
Schwab, who denied a request to address the allegations to the board personally, said through a spokesman that he planned to file a lawsuit against whoever is responsible for the letter and “anybody who spreads these mistruths.”
Schwab announced his plans to eventually leave WEF earlier this month, but the letter expedited his departure from the organization he founded.
“Following my recent announcement, and as I enter my 88th year, I have decided to step down from the position of Chair and as a member of the Board of Trustees, with immediate effect,” Schwab said in a <a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/04/world-economic-forum-announces-governance-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Monday.
Schwab’s departure comes amid an exodus of other top executives at the group as it <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/davos-founder-klaus-schwab-to-step-aside-as-forums-chair-0f3231b0?mod=article_inline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grapples</a> with an investigation and accusations of a workplace culture that ignored discrimination against women and black people.

Klaus Schwab

WEF Investigating After Klaus Schwab Accused Of Ritzy Spending On Personal Perks

Corruption

World Economic Forum

The Trump administration is planning to close 132 State Department offices and cut U.S. personnel, The Free Press <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/trump-state-shake-up-rubio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Tuesday.
The closures will affect offices that focus on instituting democracy overseas, countering extremism, and protecting human rights, according to The Free Press. The administration seeks to reduce the number of State Department offices by 17%, from 734 to 602. Undersecretaries were also reportedly given 30 days to present plans to slash personnel in individual departments by 15%.
&#8220;Today is the day. Under @POTUS’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department,&#8221; Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media. &#8220;These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first.&#8221;
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Today is the day. Under <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department. 
These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first. <a href="https://t.co/CGWz3JrYwu">pic.twitter.com/CGWz3JrYwu</a>
&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1914680613275161078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In a statement, Rubio confirmed that massive changes are coming to the State Department, adding that it is currently &#8220;bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission in this new era of great power competition.&#8221;
&#8220;Over the past 15 years, the Department&#8217;s footprint has had unprecedented growth and costs have soared. But far from seeing a return on investment, taxpayers have seen less effective and efficient diplomacy,&#8221; the statement added. &#8220;The sprawling bureaucracy created a system more beholden to radical political ideology than advancing America&#8217;s core national interests.&#8221;
A report by The New York Times published on Sunday claimed that the State Department&#8217;s restructuring would also &#8220;shut down embassies and consulates across&#8221; Africa. Rubio <a href="https://x.com/marcorubio/status/1913928218450579630" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the Times report, calling it &#8220;fake news.&#8221;
According to The Free Press, internal documents show that the Trump administration plans to eliminate State Department offices &#8220;that focus on a variety of foreign policy issues and are viewed by the Trump administration as no longer necessary.&#8221; Around 700 positions for civil service and foreign service employees in those offices are expected to be cut.
“This approach will empower the Department from the ground up, from the bureaus to the embassies,” Rubio added. “Region-specific functions will be consolidated to increase functionality, redundant offices will be removed, and non-statutory programs that are misaligned with America’s core national interests will cease to exist.”
On Tuesday morning, around a dozen top State Department officials were informed by leadership of the overhaul, a senior official told The Free Press. The State Department is the latest in the Trump administration to be the center of significant cuts.
Trump&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency project, which is influenced by senior adviser Elon Musk, has targeted numerous government agencies, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, and the Department of Defense, among others.

Marco Rubio

‘Sweeping Changes’: State Dept Shuttering More Than 130 Offices, Slashing Staff

State Department

Pope Francis passes away just one day after delivering an Easter message to millions of Christian faithful. It will be days before the church picks a new pontiff, but some favorites have already emerged. And, with Republicans in control of D.C., Democrats are searching for a strategy and a leader to pull them out of the political abyss.
It’s Tuesday, April 22, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/picking-the-next-pope-democrats-new-message-4-22-25/id1576594336?i=1000704426417" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2>Pope Francis’ Legacy</h2>
<div id="attachment_910567" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-910567" class="size-large wp-image-910567" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Pope-Francis-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)</div>
Topline: Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Catholic Church, died Monday at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a transformative and, at times, polarizing papacy.
Pope Francis will likely be remembered as a progressive reformer. In 2013, shortly after he was elected, he made his famously controversial statement about gay priests, “Who am I to judge?” His 2015 encyclical called for environmental action, and he continually urged world leaders to address climate change. During his last Easter address on Sunday, after meeting with Vice President JD Vance, he warned against politicians stirring up “anti-migrant” sentiments.
But his papacy wasn’t as transformative as many theological progressives would have liked. Francis did endorse civil unions for same-sex couples, which was a historic move for a pope, and approved a document saying priests could “bless” gay couples. But he also upheld the Church’s stance that marriage is between a man and a woman. He also refused to approve the use of contraception and ordaining women, and was staunchly pro-life.
Francis took steps to curb the influence of conservative prelates who viewed his reforms as a threat to Church tradition. In 2014, he removed conservative cardinals like Raymond Burke, a vocal critic, from a key Vatican post. He also appointed more moderate or progressive bishops to various roles of authority and elevated like-minded clerics to the College of Cardinals. Because of this, critics accused him of stacking the deck and stifling dissent.
“He was really progressive,” Robert Sirico, former president of the conservative Acton Institute, told Morning Wire. “People call him a Marxist. They don&#8217;t think he was a Marxist. He certainly wasn&#8217;t a free market kind of guy, the way John Paul was. But on the other hand, I think he profoundly misunderstood the United States on a very visceral level, and I think that is owing to his Argentinian background.”
Despite possibly being the most progressive pope in history, Francis’ tenure saw a resurgence of conservative Catholicism, especially among young believers. Last year, we reported on the surge in Catholic conversions among young people in New York City. However, there is also evidence that this trend is happening in Europe. According to the Bishops’ Conference of France, more than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday – mostly young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Something similar is happening in England, where surveys now show that Catholics outnumber Anglicans by more than two to one among Gen Z and younger millennials. These younger people, particularly young men, are <a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/honorable-mention/2024/americas-catholic-church-seeing-shift-toward-more-conservative-ways/">being especially drawn</a> to more conservative expressions of faith.
<h2>The Next Pope</h2>
<div id="attachment_910565" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-910565" class="size-large wp-image-910565" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Conclave-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Topline: Speculation is already swirling about who will become the next head of the Catholic Church.
When a pope dies, eligible cardinals convene a papal conclave, where they cast ballots for the next pope. Famously, white smoke appears from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney when a new pope is elected, and a cardinal comes out to announce the new pope to cheering crowds in St. Peter’s Square. Usually, one of the cardinals is elected the next pope, and the big question on many Catholics’ minds is whether the new pope will lean conservative or progressive on controversial issues.
One of the more conservative candidates being discussed as a possible successor is Cardinal Robert Sarah, 79, an African cardinal from Guinea who has been an outspoken critic of Francis.
“The Church is not a social organization to meet [the] problem of migration or poverty,” Sarah <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG0YSN7LeAM">said</a>, in response to Pope Francis’s stance on immigration policy. “The Church is a divine purpose to save the world.”
Sarah was critical of Francis’ restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass and his statement on blessings for same-sex couples.
Cardinal Wim Eijk, 71, is also considered a conservative potential successor. Eijk is a former medical doctor from the Netherlands – and he’s been a sharp critic of Francis. He is one of the authors of a 2015 document opposing the pope’s approval of civil remarriages among people who have not received an annulment, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/18/world-news/who-are-the-frontrunners-to-be-elected-next-pontiff-after-pope-francis/">calling</a> them “a form of structured and institutionalized adultery.” Eijk also <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/blog/cardinal-eijk-pope-francis-needed-to-give-clarity-on-intercommunion">criticized</a> Francis for giving what he called a “completely incomprehensible” response to a German Bishops’ Conference proposal on allowing Protestants to receive the Eucharist.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, 77, is another conservative from Sri Lanka. He criticized bishops who did not obey Pope Benedict on allowing the Latin Mass.
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, is one of the few potential successors from the United States. Burke has criticized the Church’s more liberal language under Francis, and he said that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion, like former President Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.
A number of more progressive and politically moderate candidates are also likely to take the reins of the Church.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, who’s been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151124125431/http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/01/15/manila-cardinal-luis-tagle-the-asian-pope-francis/">called</a> the “Asian Pope Francis” and would likely continue Francis’ more left-leaning stances. Tagle has defended the Church’s teachings on abortion and contraception, but he has also criticized the Church for using “harsh words” for LGBT people and divorced and remarried Catholics.
Another more progressive cardinal in the running is the French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, 66, who was reportedly Francis’ “favorite” to succeed him and is well-liked in left-wing circles.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is an Italian cardinal who has been in the Holy See’s diplomatic service since the 1980s, is considered a political moderate and has played a role in many political issues, including moderating 2014 talks between Cuban and American officials, asking the United States to find an “adequate humanitarian solution” for Guantanamo Bay prisoners, and urging countries to implement the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
<h2>Democrats Tilt Left As They Search For A Standard Bearer</h2>
<div id="attachment_910569" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-910569" class="size-large wp-image-910569" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Liberal-Tilt-Graphic-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by Gajus via Getty Images)</div>
Topline: As President Donald Trump approaches his 100th day in office, Democrats are still searching for a message — and messenger — to lead their party.
Since their defeat in November, there’s been little cause for confidence within the Democratic Party. For the optimists on the Left, Democrats did see strong turnout in special elections in a dozen or so states, where their candidates outperformed Kamala Harris by an average of <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democratic-performance-improving-slew-special-elections-weary-party-lo-rcna198984">more than 10 percentage points</a>. Most notably, Democrats won a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dangerously-liberal-judge-projected-to-win-wisconsin-supreme-court-race">resounding victory</a> for a Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin — a state Trump won by a point.
But: The bad news outweighs the good. First, <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nn1HT9AZ2OPFuB1z2jKHM6OMrh-NONO0NIzOoHqjxk8/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.35xntky3bxsv">Gallup</a> just found that the approval rating for Democrat leaders in Congress has fallen to just 25%. Not only is that the lowest mark in the poll&#8217;s history, it’s a full nine points lower than the previous record. That disapproval is crossing party lines – according to the latest numbers from CNN, only 63% of Democrats even view their own party favorably.
Polling shows that folks on the Left feel their leaders don’t have a clear strategy for standing up to Trump. A recent survey from Data for Progress asked Democrat voters how they would grade their party leaders’ response to Donald Trump &#8212; 7 in 10 gave a C, D, or F. If they had a singular leader to rally around, there might be more optimism, but there isn’t a clear standard bearer waiting in the wings for them to rally around. President Barack Obama can’t run again and is seemingly content to work primarily behind the scenes. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is 85 years old and could retire at any moment. President Joe Biden is 82 and still unpopular with the general public. Vice President Kamala Harris could come back into the fray, but she’s essentially been in hiding since November.
That void has left an opportunity for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — two of the Left’s most popular, and controversial lawmakers — to take center stage. A poll last week from Survey USA found that 50% of Democrats want the party to “become more progressive,” while just 18% said “more moderate.” AOC and Sanders&#8217; &#8220;Fighting Oligarchy&#8221; speaking tour has drawn massive crowds all across the country, including in deep-red states like Idaho and Utah. Instead of embracing a more moderate approach, they’ve gone all-in on calling for Democrats to embrace their far-Left base and oppose Trump at all costs.
“Donald Trump is a criminal who was found guilty of 34 counts of fraud,” AOC <a href="https://x.com/Bubblebathgirl/status/1911951880395055606">told</a> a cheering crowd in Idaho. “Of course he’s lying and abusing and manipulating the stock market, too. When he talks about rapists and criminals he should look in the mirror.”
Ocasio-Cortez raised nearly $10 million last quarter — by far her largest haul since taking office, and according to a recent YouGov poll, she’s got a +61 approval rating among Democrat voters. Polls now show that Ocasio-Cortez is a frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Plenty of Republicans are salivating at the idea of AOC becoming the party’s leader or nominee, given her endorsements of measures that are unpopular with the general public, including the Green New Deal, defunding the police, and abolishing ICE.
To that point, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom appears to be pushing his party to make a beeline for the middle, urging it to retreat from political correctness, oppose boys in girls&#8217; sports, and refrain from apocalyptic language about Donald Trump and his supporters. But right now, that message doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction with Democratic voters.

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