EAGLE PASS — Thirteen governors joined Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott at the southern border in Eagle Pass on Sunday to show support for his ongoing feud with the Biden administration over the border crisis, and see for themselves how Texas has stepped up where the federal government has failed.
“Governor Abbott has been stepping up where the federal government is dropping their duty,” Gov. Sarah Sanders of Arkansas told The Daily Wire after a briefing at the border. “So states are coming together, working together, to help do the job of the federal government.”
The visit to the border comes amid a border crisis, with more than <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2455010/illegal-border-crossers-total-over-10-million-since-biden-inauguration/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 million</a> illegal immigrants crossing the border since Joe Biden took office. After the federal government failed to secure the border, Abbott took matters into his own hands by taking control of Shelby Park and reinforcing the border.
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We spoke to Arkansas Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahHuckabee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SarahHuckabee</a> earlier today at the southern border, where she says Texas is proving it can do the job the Biden administration says is impossible 
&quot;States are coming together, working together, to help do the job of the federal government&quot; <a href="https://t.co/EOplmTdmCR">pic.twitter.com/EOplmTdmCR</a>
&mdash; Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1754339761936839043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Speaking in front of national guard troops, Abbott touted his administration&#8217;s success in significantly reducing the number of border crossings and blasted the Biden administration.
“Joe Biden has completely abdicated and abandoned his responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States,” Abbott said. “As opposed to detaining any illegal immigrants, Biden has instead let them all loose across the entire country with no ability to accurately determine their whereabouts.”
Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) praised Abbott for his state&#8217;s success in lowering the number of crosses in the Eagle Pass area from thousands to single digits.
“They have virtually shut down crossings here in Eagle Pass,” Gianforte told The Daily Wire. “They showed pictures of 3,500 people in a detention center right here in this park … in the last couple of weeks — since they’ve taken the actions here to secure the border — they’ve had single digit crossings each day.”
Gianforte, whose state borders Canada, said he’s been to the southern border four times because the drugs coming across the borders have harmed his state.
“We’ve been able to shut down Montana Meth but now we have Mexican Meth in Montana along with the fentanyl, and it&#8217;s breaking up families, it&#8217;s increasing violent crime,” Gianforte said, adding that Montana’s National Guard troops were on the southern border for most of last year. &#8220;We need to secure our border and put it to an end.&#8221;
While 25 governors signed onto a letter in support of Abbott last week, his press conference at Shelby Park was attended by just about half of the signees. In addition to Sanders and Gianforte, the trip to the border included Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
Sanders said the group of governors does not intend to abandon the mission until the Biden administration steps up.
“Hopefully the federal government sees that Texas and other states are capable of doing the job they claim is impossible, and that they’ll start helping in the process,” Sanders said. “If they don’t, you’ll continue to see states step up because we know that we have to protect our border and protect the people of our states.”
Texas authorities denied a request from the Biden administration to hand over control of the park to Border Patrol, with the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety instead maintaining control and even reinforcing existing border barriers with additional razor wire.

ArticlePhoto

Republican Govs Back Texas at Border: We’re ‘Doing The Job Of The Federal Government’

Greg Abbott

Greg Gianforte

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Southern Border

Montana&#8217;s Republican governor said Monday that his state followed state law in a case where a trans-identifying teenager was removed from her parents.
A Montana couple accused the state of “kidnapping” their teenage daughter after she began identifying as a boy, Reduxx <a href="https://reduxx.info/exclusive-montana-family-loses-custody-of-teenage-daughter-after-expressing-opposition-to-her-gender-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Monday.
Krista and Todd Kolstad said their 14-year-old daughter was removed from their custody and sent to a Wyoming facility, where they were unable to contact her directly.
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🚨🚨🚨SCOOP
The state of Montana has kidnapped a teenage girl from her parents to transition her gender in another state, subverting Montana&#39;s laws against gender transition for minors. 
A friend of the family reached out to <a href="https://twitter.com/GabsClark5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GabsClark5</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AffirmReal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AffirmReal</a> for help because a… <a href="https://t.co/imUbcFqHat">pic.twitter.com/imUbcFqHat</a>
&mdash; Karlyn Borysenko (@DrKarlynB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrKarlynB/status/1750625192462721384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The problems allegedly began in August when the parents got a call that their daughter had expressed suicidal ideations at school. That night, a Montana Child and Family Services case worker showed up at their door, Reduxx reported.
During the case worker&#8217;s visit, the teen claimed to have ingested painkillers and toilet bowl cleaner to try to kill herself. This led to a hospital visit, where her bloodwork showed no evidence of those toxins.
However, hospital workers noted in paperwork that the teen identified as &#8220;male&#8221; and wanted to be called &#8220;Leo.&#8221; Her parents objected, but hospital staff told the parents to &#8220;respect&#8221; their daughter&#8217;s new identity, they said.
Eventually, the state removed the teen from her parents&#8217; custody and moved her to a facility in Wyoming, the parents said. Police showed up at their home to serve them with custody papers, saying the reason was that the teen&#8217;s parents were &#8220;unable or refusing to provide medical care,&#8221; which her mother <a href="https://reduxx.info/exclusive-montana-family-loses-custody-of-teenage-daughter-after-expressing-opposition-to-her-gender-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> is &#8220;just not true.&#8221;
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The parents said they were not allowed to communicate directly with their daughter while she was in Wyoming.
In September, the teen was returned to Montana and now lives in a group home.
However, earlier this month, Child and Family Services said it planned to place the teen in the care of her birth mother in Canada, who has not been a part of the teen&#8217;s life, and whose children have made allegations of physical abuse against her, according to the parents.
“Our family has been destroyed by this. We have little to no contact with Jennifer and our rights as her parents have been trampled on,” Krista <a href="https://reduxx.info/exclusive-montana-family-loses-custody-of-teenage-daughter-after-expressing-opposition-to-her-gender-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Reduxx.
The couple defied a judge’s order to remain silent on the case.
“We will continue to fight. We will never give up on our daughter and for what we believe is morally right. We will continue to tell our story, even though we are currently in contempt of court, and try to keep other families from going through this. Our greatest fear is that our daughter is now going to become a victim of this system and eventually take her own life,” she said.
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To give them their best shot at reaching their full potential, children deserve to grow up in happy, healthy homes with loving families. Sadly, this ideal is not always realized. 1/8
&mdash; Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGianforte/status/1752109957020094598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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On Monday, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, a Republican, said the state had reviewed the case and concluded that state policy and law was followed.
&#8220;To give them their best shot at reaching their full potential, children deserve to grow up in happy, healthy homes with loving families. Sadly, this ideal is not always realized,&#8221; Gianforte posted on X. &#8220;Unfortunately, our society finds children whose life, health, and wellbeing are at serious risk from abuse and neglect, and only as a last resort, should they be removed from their home.&#8221;
Gianforte said he asked Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras (R), an &#8220;experienced attorney, constitutional conservative, mother, and grandmother,&#8221; to review the child welfare case.
The lieutenant governor personally examined case documents and consulted with the director of Montana&#8217;s Department of Public Health and Human Services. She concluded that the department and the court &#8220;have followed state policy and law in their handling of this tragic case,&#8221; Gianforte said.
&#8220;I have asked the lieutenant governor to continue monitoring the case as it progresses,&#8221; the governor added.

Ceremony In Montana Honors Airmen Who Died In Crash Almost 60 Years Ago

Montana Governor Says State Followed Law In Case Where Trans-Identifying Teen Was Removed From Parents

Gender

Montana

Politics

Social Issues

Transgender

Georgia Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brian-kemp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Kemp</a> and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte slammed President Joe Biden during a joint interview on Friday for the impact that his border crisis is having on their states and for his lack of action to address the issue.
Kemp said that Republican Governors did not coordinate their responses to help Texas Governor Greg Abbott this week because the dire situation was such a &#8220;no brainer.&#8221;
&#8220;Every state now is a border state,&#8221; he said. &#8220;When you have Joe Biden&#8217;s Democratic opponent saying, &#8216;This is outrageous and out of control at the border&#8217;; when you have Democratic mayors across the country that are saying, &#8216;This is outrageous and something&#8217;s got to be done.&#8217; And the Republican governors, we have been standing in solidarity for well over a year, couple years now on the disaster at the border. I&#8217;ve been down there four times myself, the White House and Joe Biden just obviously doesn&#8217;t get it or they don&#8217;t care.&#8221;
Gianforte said that 10 million illegal aliens have crossed into the U.S. under Biden&#8217;s watch, nearly 10 times the population of the state of Montana.
&#8220;We&#8217;re seeing the implications here on the northern border,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been arresting Mexican cartel drug dealers in the state of Montana. We are being overwhelmed. There is no word to describe this except invasion. The open border policy of the Biden administration is making every state a border state as Governor Kemp said, and it&#8217;s time for the administration to step up and do their job. That&#8217;s why it was not a question about whether you&#8217;re going to stand with Governor Abbott in protecting the southern border.&#8221;
Kemp said that Republicans in Congress should do whatever they can to secure any wins they can get right now while Republicans pressure Biden to use executive action to bring an immediate end to damaging policies like catch and release.
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Kemp said that Biden needs to go to the border himself and see the destruction he has caused first hand instead of focusing on &#8220;cutting Greg Abbott&#8217;s razor wire.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Joe Biden’s refusal to take action at our southern border has put American lives in danger. 
Georgia will not waiver in our support for <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregAbbott_TX</a> and Texas&#39; constitutional right to self-defense. <a href="https://t.co/v5IegST8bD">pic.twitter.com/v5IegST8bD</a>
&mdash; Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianKempGA/status/1750933227286507546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Brian Kemp Holds Primary Night Election Event

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Blasts Biden Over Border Crisis: He Can Take Executive Action ‘Right Now’

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Blasts Biden Over Border Crisis: He Can Take Executive Action 'Right Now'

Biden Administration

Border Crisis

Brian Kemp

Illegal Immigration

Pornography giant Pornhub will be cutting off access to users in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/montana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montana</a> ahead of the implementation of a state law that requires age verification for access to sites with explicit content. 
The law, which takes effect on January 1, is intended to keep children from being exposed to pornography by mandating sites with explicit sites verify the age of their visitors. Other states, like Utah and Virginia, have passed similar legislation, leading Pornhub to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-state-senator-jokes-about-pornhub-as-virginia-age-verification-law-takes-effect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">block access</a> in those states over the law. 
“While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk,” Pornhub said in a statement, <a href="https://www.3newsnow.com/new-law-prompts-pornhub-to-block-access-in-montana#:~:text=The%20bill%20was%20signed%20into,allowing%20access%20to%20the%20site." target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Scripps News Helena. 
The law, <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/SB0544.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SB 544</a>, says a commercial entity that “knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of the material must be held liable if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material.”
The text notes that “pornography is creating a public health crisis and having a corroding influence on minors” and that “pornography may also impact brain development and functioning, contribute to emotional and medical illnesses, shape deviant sexual arousal, and lead to difficulty in forming or maintaining positive, intimate relationships, as well as promoting problematic or harmful sexual behaviors and addiction.”
It <a href="https://legiscan.com/MT/votes/SB544/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> 84-13 in the state House and 47-3 in the state Senate before being signed by Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) in May. 
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Other state lawmakers, like Republicans in Tennessee, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-republican-introduces-age-verification-bill-to-protect-children-from-porn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are looking</a> to bring forth similar legislation in the coming year. Earlier this month, Rep. Patsy Hazlewood introduced the “Protect Tennessee Minors Act,” which would require online pornography distributors to put in place age verification measures to ensure that children are unable to access the explicit content.
Pornhub has been the target of a series of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pornhub-producer-admits-pornography-is-unhealthy-addictive-in-undercover-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undercover investigations</a> by Sound Investigations, which has recorded leadership at the company discussing strategies and the impacts of porn. In one recently released undercover video, a manager for the parent company of Pornhub admitted that pornography is unhealthy, addictive, and destructive.
“I definitely think porn addiction is definitely a thing, that’s for sure,” Mike Farley, a Senior Product Manager at Aylo said in the footage. “I don’t think it’s a positive thing in general.”

FRANCE-JUSTICE-INTERNET-PORN-CHILDREN

Pornhub Shuts Down Access In Montana Days Before Age Verification Law Takes Effect

Online porn

Pornhub

Pornography

U.S.

Republicans in Montana have taken a strong stand against drag queens reading books to children, banning the practice at libraries and schools.
Republican governor Greg Gianforte signed Montana HB 359 on Monday; over half of the state legislature cosponsored the bill, which bars minors from attending sexually oriented shows.
“A school or library that receives any form of funding from the state may not allow a sexually oriented performance or drag story hour &#8230; on its premises during regular operating hours or at any school-sanctioned extracurricular activity,” the bill <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0359.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a>, adding that a minor who attended such a performance “may bring an action against a person who knowingly promotes, conducts, or participates as a performer in the performance. The minor&#8217;s parent or legal guardian may bring an action in the name of the minor for an action commenced under this section.”
“In my humble opinion, there&#8217;s no such thing as a ‘family-friendly’ drag show,” the bill&#8217;s sponsor, Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell, <a href="https://montanafreepress.org/2023/02/23/montana-republicans-advance-drag-ban-for-public-spaces-near-minors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in April, adding that he sponsored the bill “because drag shows in recent years have been specifically aimed at children.” He also stated that drag queens reading to children were part of a “sick agenda” and drag shows were “damaging to a child’s psychology and general welfare.”
In signing the bill, Gianforte commented that he believed it was “wildly inappropriate for little kids, especially preschoolers and kids in elementary school, to be exposed to sexualized content.”
The bill passed the Republican-controlled House in a 66-33 vote in February. Democrat Minority Leader Kim Abbott <a href="https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/drag-ban-bill-for-public-places-schools-and-libraries-moves-through-legislature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a>, “I’m going to object today every time we’re equating a drag performance to sexualizing children. And I just want the body to know that we can do it all day long.”
Democrats attempted to amend the bill and replace references to “drag” with “adult-oriented performance.”  Mitchell said the Democrats’ amendment “completely derails the intent of the legislation” while pushing for the motion to be defeated, which it was in a 58-42 vote.
Drag queens reading at libraries has been pushed for years; as far back as 2016 San Francisco-based <a href="http://www.radarproductions.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RADAR Productions</a> and New York-based <a href="http://www.feministpress.org/drag-queen-story-hour/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Feminist Press</a> teamed up to bring “Drag Queen Story Hour” to life.
 “DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models,” explained the campaign&#8217;s YouTube promotional video. “In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, and where dress-up is real.”

Missoula Montana Public Library

Montana Bans Drag Queens Reading To Kids At Libraries, Schools

Drag Queen story hour

Montana GOP Governor Greg Gianforte discussed his decision to sign legislation banning China&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> app, saying that the communist regime uses it to steal the data of American citizens and use it for &#8220;nefarious purposes.&#8221;
&#8220;I would first say the ability of the Chinese communist government to use TikTok to spy on Americans is well documented,&#8221; he told Fox News host John Roberts. &#8220;That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m pleased that we&#8217;ve banned the application here in Montana. I wish the bill actually was broader. I would have liked to have picked up other social media apps that [are] owned by foreign adversaries. But this is a good step in the right direction.&#8221;
Gianforte slammed the leftist American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for claiming that the bill was too broad and that his government could not impose a total ban.
&#8220;Well, they&#8217;re just wrong,&#8221; he responded. &#8220;The Montana Constitution has a very broad protection for individual privacy. And TikTok violates that. And this is why we&#8217;ve banned it here. I mean, spying on Americans, enough is enough. We&#8217;re not going to let foreign adversaries surveil the people of Montana.&#8221;
He said that he welcomes the ACLU&#8217;s attempts to challenge in court because his administration has already considered all the ways that this could play out and believes that they will be victorious.
&#8220;The issue with TikTok and these other applications owned by foreign adversaries is they&#8217;re able to steal data about Americans and ship it back for nefarious purposes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not what the app does. It&#8217;s where the personal data goes. This is a national security issue. It&#8217;s a violation of the Montana privacy clause in our Constitution. And we&#8217;re pleased that we&#8217;re the first state in the country to outright ban the application.&#8221;
&#8220;Again, I wish it was broader. I wish it picked up, though, the Russian apps and the other Chinese apps,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;We just ran out of time in our legislature to get that done.&#8221;
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WATCH:
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Montana Gov Greg Gianforte (R): &quot;I would first say the ability of the Chinese communist government to use Tik Tok to spy on Americans is well documented. That&#39;s why I&#39;m pleased that we&#39;ve banned the application here in Montana. I wish the bill actually was broader. I would have… <a href="https://t.co/kY19qfd6nC">pic.twitter.com/kY19qfd6nC</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1659348059078430720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Montana Governor Gianforte On Banning TikTok: They’re ‘Spying On Americans, Enough Is Enough’

Montana Governor Gianforte On Banning TikTok: They're 'Spying On Americans, Enough Is Enough'

Big Tech

Chinese Communist Party

TikTok

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/montana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montana</a> has become the first state to completely ban <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> after Republican Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/greg-gianforte" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Gianforte</a> signed a bill into law on Thursday. 
The law prohibits app stores from making TikTok available for download in the state. It comes as state lawmakers accused <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a> of using the social media app to spy on Americans and steal their data. 
“The Chinese Communist Party using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information is well-documented,” Gianforte <a href="https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Bans_TikTok_in_Montana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Today, Montana takes the most decisive action of any state to protect Montanans’ private data and sensitive personal information from being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party.”
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To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana.
&mdash; Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGianforte/status/1658948119285964802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The bill was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Shelley Vance, who <a href="https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/supporters-of-tiktok-ban-in-montana-say-threats-outweigh-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said that</a> TikTok was “a major threat to our national security.” TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, and has been accused of allowing the communist country access to data on Americans. 
Entities, including TikTok or an app store, <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/SB0419.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">could be fined</a> $10,000 every time someone accesses the app in the state or downloads it. Penalties will be enforced by the Montana Department of Justice. 
“I appreciate Attorney General [Austin] Knudsen and Senator Vance for their partnership on this important measure and for advancing our shared priority to protect Montanans from Chinese Communist Party surveillance,” Gianforte said. 
Jamal Brown, a spokesman for TikTok who previously worked in the Biden administration, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-china-data-chinese-government-71143a3a87c9a0b692d927f72b6fec70" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> more than 200,000 people and 6,000 businesses use the app in Montana, which has a population of about 1.1 million people. 
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The law is expected to face legal challenges, including from some free speech groups. 
“We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find community as we continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana,” TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said. 
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stand-up-to-china-republicans-press-biden-to-take-enforcement-action-against-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has concluded</a> that TikTok poses meaningful national security risks.
CFIUS, a board composed of nine cabinet-level officials who weigh the national security implications of international investments, ordered ByteDance in March to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-orders-chinese-company-behind-tiktok-to-sell-the-platform-or-face-nationwide-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sell</a> the platform or face a nationwide ban. The agency initially concluded after a national security review in 2020 that TikTok could “impair the national security of the United States,” a revelation that nearly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-trump-says-he-will-take-action-to-ban-chinese-owned-app-tiktok-from-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prompted</a> former President Donald Trump to ban the platform via executive order.

Montana Becomes First State To Completely Ban TikTok After National Security, Privacy Concerns

China

Communist China

General

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/montana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montana</a> became the latest state to ban sex-change procedures on minors after Republican Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/greg-gianforte" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Gianforte</a> signed a bill into law on Friday, protecting children from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">life-altering treatments</a>.
Gianforte <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/us/montana-trans-gianforte.html#:~:text=—%20The%20Republican%20governor%20of%20Montana,the%20beginning%20of%20the%20year." target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> Senate Bill 99, known as the “Youth Health Protection Act,” after previously sending it back to the legislature for amendments. The bill bans surgeries, like elective double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys and prohibits puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for children.
“He [Gianforte] is committed to protecting Montana’s children from invasive medical treatments that can permanently alter their healthy, developing bodies,” Kaitlin Price, a spokeswoman for Gianforte, said in an email to The New York Times.
In a <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Senate-Bill-99-Amendatory-Veto-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Montana Republican Senate and House leaders, Gianforte explained why he supported the bill. He said that the bill “focuses on so-called gender-affirming medical care for children. ‘Gender affirming care’ for children is Orwellian Newspeak, a seemingly innocuous, even solicitous phrase that masks its true nature of permanent, invasive, life-altering medical and surgical procedures, performed on children whose young minds and bodies are still developing.”
During the previous debate on the bill, Sen. John Fuller, who sponsored the bill, <a href="https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2023-02-08/after-a-heated-debate-state-senate-advances-a-ban-on-gender-affirming-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that “no serious state would promote the destruction of its own children. We must protect Montanans.”
The bill, which was supported by Republicans, was widely opposed by Democrats. “I’m very disappointed it’s becoming law,” said House Democrat leader Kim Abbott. “It is very damaging policy. It impacts families and communities who are trying to obtain medically necessary care.”
Left-wing groups, like the ACLU of Montana, are already promising legal action against the bill.
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Gianforte’s signing follows the Montana House voting to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/montana-house-votes-to-punish-transgender-member-who-said-colleagues-have-blood-on-your-hands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">censure a transgender-identifying</a> lawmaker who told colleagues who supported SB 99 that they have “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blood-on-your-hands-trans-lawmaker-lashes-out-during-hearing-on-bill-banning-trans-surgeries-for-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blood on your hands</a>.”
State Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D-Missoula), a man who identifies as a woman, was barred from attending or speaking at floor sessions, but will be allowed to vote remotely for the remainder of the session, which is set to end next week.
Following the vote, which came in along party lines, Zephyr blasted the “undemocratic decision” by the Republican majority.
Montana joins a number of other Republican-led states, including Iowa, Tennessee, and Mississippi in banning transgender procedures for children.

Montana GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte Advocates For Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act

Montana Governor Signs ‘Youth Health Protection Act,’ Bans Trans Procedures For Kids

Montana Governor Signs 'Youth Health Protection Act,' Bans Trans Procedures For Kids

Health

transgender surgery

Nearly two dozen Republican governors slammed a massive spending bill that Democrats are trying to ram through the U.S. Senate in a statement Thursday, saying that the bill will worsen inflation.
The statement comes as Senate Democrats rush to make last minute changes to a massive $740 billion spending bill that they will try to pass before the August recess by using the reconciliation process because the bill lacks bipartisan support.
&#8220;The Democrats’ solution to 40-year high inflation is passing another reckless tax and spending spree to the tune of $740 billion, affecting Americans in every tax bracket,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;While denying recession, Democrats want to raise taxes on businesses and manufacturers, which will force higher costs onto consumers, worsen inflation, and aggravate shortages.&#8221;
&#8220;With sky high prices at the pump, the last thing Americans need is for Democrats to punish energy producers, which will ultimately hurt working families struggling to pay for gas, goods, food, and utilities,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Our citizens cannot afford Joe Biden’s broken promises on taxes and Democrats’ inflationary spending that will only exacerbate the economic crisis they created.”
Governors Henry McMaster (R-SC) and Brian Kemp (R-GA) led the 22 Republican governors in issuing the joint statement.
The other Republican governors who signed onto the statement included Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), Brad Little (R-ID), Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Tate Reeves (R-MS), Mike Parson (R-MO), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Bill Lee (R-TN), Greg Abbott (R-TX), Mark Gordon (R-WY), Chris Sununu (R-NH), Kevin Stitt (R-OK), Doug Burgum (R-ND), Kay Ivey (R-AL), Spencer Cox (R-UT), Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), and Eric Holcomb (R-IN).
The statement from the governors comes after the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rogan-slams-democrats-for-trying-to-claim-economy-is-not-in-a-recession-what-a-bunch-of-weasels">released</a> data last week showing that the U.S. economy shrank for the second straight quarter, satisfying the traditional requirement of a recession.
The Biden administration has downplayed the poor economic news by claiming that the economy is transitioning out of a fast-paced, post-pandemic recovery to a more stable environment. The White House’s claims come as Americans continue to be battered by inflation, which measured over 9% in June.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Holds Election Night Watch Party In Columbia

22 Republican Governors Blast Democrats’ Spending Bill, Warn About Impact On Inflation

Asa Hutchinson

Bill Lee

Doug Ducey

Glenn Youngkin

Joe Biden

Kristi Noem

Ron DeSantis

Tate Reeves

Five Republican governors have agreed that they are not going to accept the $300 per week enhanced unemployment benefits offered by the federal government, saying it disincentivized workers from going back to work.
“The move to reject the extra money comes as new expert analyses show those who made $32,000 before COVID-19 hit are now making more in benefits staying at home and collecting than if they were to go back to work,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9566303/Residents-five-GOP-states-LOSE-enhanced-unemployment-Republican-governors-refused-it.html">Daily Mail</a> noted. &#8220;The average U.S. salary for an individual in 2019 was $31,133. This means the average Americans could earn more money in coronavirus-era benefits instead of going back to work.&#8221;
Governors Kay Ivey of Alabama, Asa Hutchinson in Arkansas, Tate Reeves in Mississippi, Greg Gianforte in Montana, and Henry McMaster in South Carolina have stated in the past week their intention to refuse the benefits.
McMaster told Fox News on Monday:
<blockquote>This is about as close to socialism that I&#8217;ve seen. We&#8217;ve got help-wanted signs up everywhere, we get calls and letters, and texts from all sorts of businesses all across the state looking for people to work. People won&#8217;t come to work because they&#8217;re getting as much money or more in some cases by staying home. It’s a counterproductive policy and I&#8217;m afraid what the Biden administration is doing is that they&#8217;re telling everybody that the virus is still rampant and still in great danger. Everybody has to stay home. That&#8217;s not true. Go get a job, get back to work. That&#8217;s how you build an economy and a family and everything else. The Biden proposals are totally underproductive, killing incentive, and it puts us right on the road to socialism. We&#8217;ve got to stand up and fight against this.</blockquote>
He <a href="https://governor.sc.gov/news/2021-05/south-carolina-return-pre-pandemic-unemployment-program-address-workforce-shortages">wrote</a> South Carolina’s Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), “South Carolina&#8217;s businesses have borne the brunt of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those businesses that have survived — both large and small, and including those in the hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors — now face an unprecedented labor shortage.”
South Carolina&#8217;s unemployment rate in March 2021 was 5.1 percent, down 8 points from April 2020, the Daily Mail pointed out.
McMaster tweeted, “We are currently facing a labor shortage created in large part by the supplemental unemployment payments that the federal government provides. Since the Biden Admin and Congress appear to have no comprehension of the damage being done the State of South Carolina must take action.”
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We are currently facing a labor shortage created in large part by the supplemental unemployment payments that the federal government provides. Since the Biden Admin and Congress appear to have no comprehension of the damage being done the State of South Carolina must take action.
&mdash; Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) <a href="https://twitter.com/henrymcmaster/status/1390395431197233153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Reeves issued a statement on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tatereeves">Facebook</a>, saying, “After many conversations over the last several weeks with Mississippi small business owners and their employees, it has become clear that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and other like programs passed by the Congress may have been necessary in May of last year but are no longer so in May of this year.”
He added on Twitter, “It has become clear to me that we cannot have a full economic recovery until we get the thousands of available jobs in our state filled.”
Hutchinson told CNN’s “New Day,” “The extra compensation was very helpful during the dark days of the pandemic when unemployment rates were so high. But now our economy has come back, we have jobs aplenty, we have employers that are begging workers to come to their place of business. We cannot pay extra compensations for workers to stay home – we need them in the place of employment. If they need assistance in finding a job, we&#8217;ll provide that to them. If they did child care assistance we have more than ample resources to assist in that, as well. People of Arkansas want to work, but we found that that enhanced benefits was simply an impediment.”
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&quot;The extra compensation was very helpful during the dark days of the pandemic when unemployment rates were so high. But now &#8230; we have jobs aplenty,&quot; Gov. Asa Hutchinson says about his decision to end pandemic jobless aid in his state. &quot;We cannot pay &#8230; workers to stay home.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/undhfHUZmy">pic.twitter.com/undhfHUZmy</a>
&mdash; CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNThisMorning/status/1392082492748873731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ivey’s <a href="https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2021/05/governor-kay-ivey-announces-end-of-participation-in-all-federal-pandemic-unemployment-compensation-programs/">statement</a>: “As Alabama&#8217;s economy continues its recovery, we are hearing from more and more business owners and employers that it is increasingly difficult to find workers to fill available jobs, even though job openings are abundant. Among other factors, increased unemployment assistance, which was meant to be a short-term relief program during emergency related shutdowns, is now contributing to a labor shortage that is compromising the continuation of our economic recovery. Our Department of Labor is reporting that there are more available jobs now than prior to the pandemic. Jobs are out there.”

Closeup of man hand showing thumbs down

‘This Is About As Close To Socialism That I’ve Seen’: 5 GOP Governors Reject Biden’s Increased Unemployment Benefits

Kay Ivey

Unemployment

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed legislation banning so-called sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants within his state on Wednesday.
The move is largely symbolic since Montana does not have any sanctuary cities, though it is representative of state GOP executives pushing back as President Joe Biden and a Democratic Congress continue to push progressive reforms. Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, vetoed similar legislation in 2019.
“We are a nation of laws, and immigration laws will be enforced in Montana,” Gianforte said in a statement, according to <a href="https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/gianforte-signs-bill-banning-sanctuary-cities-in-montana/article_876dfd3e-71e2-5ad4-ab0b-caace2098173.html">The Associated Press</a>.
The bill bars state and local police from refusing to comply with federal law or work with Immigration and Customs Officials to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants. The law also grants authority to Montana’s attorney general to pursue legal action against cities and localities that do not comply.
Florida GOP Gov. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-follows-through-will-sign-bill-today-hank-berrien">Ron DeSantis</a> signed similar legislation into law in his state in 2019.
“This is about the rule of law,” DeSantis <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-gov-ron-desantis-signs-sanctuary-city-ban-11560536897">said</a> at a signing ceremony for the legislation at the time. “It’s also about public safety.”
Sanctuary city policies have led to city officials at times protecting violent criminals from federal authorities, helping those criminals avoid deportation and giving them the chance to commit more violent acts. Such a case appeared to unfold in Chicago in February when a convicted felon allegedly sexually assaulted a toddler. As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chicago-mayor-defends-sanctuary-city-policy-after-ice-says-man-accused-of-raping-toddler-was-previously-deported">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is on the defensive this weekend after Immigrations and Customs Enforcement announced that a convicted felon, now facing charges of sexually assaulting a toddler in a downtown Chicago McDonalds bathroom, was supposed to have been turned over to ICE and deported — and had been deported before.
“ICE said in a news release Thursday [Christopher] Puente was placed into Chicago police custody in June of 2019 after he was arrested for theft,” according to a Chicago ABC affiliate. “According to ICE, Chicago police were expected to hold Puente until he could be taken into their custody, as Puente was expected to be deported.”
Because Chicago is a so-called “Sanctuary City” and has lenient bail policies, Puente was released back into the community.
Puente is now charged with raping a 3-year-old girl in the bathroom of Chicago’s landmark “Rock &amp; Roll McDonalds,” a major tourist destination just north of the city’s downtown, and just west of its “Magnificent Mile” shopping district. Puente allegedly lured the girl away from her father, who was attending to the girl’s brother inside a bathroom stall. Puente, police say, dragged the girl into his stall, locked the door, molested and assaulted her. The girl’s father, alerted by her screams, rescued her, but could not catch Puente, CPD says, who bolted from the bathroom and out the door of the McDonalds, into the street.</blockquote>
Before losing election in November, former President Donald Trump implemented a policy to restrict sanctuary cities’ access to federal funds until local officials begin to comply with ICE requests. The Biden administration has rolled back the policy and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/biden-seeks-dismissal-of-sanctuary-funding-dispute-at-supreme-court-idUSKCN2AW2WN">requested</a> that legal challenges to it be dropped.

Montana Bans Sanctuary Cities For Illegal Immigrants

Sanctuary Cities

President Donald Trump prompted cheers from a crowd at a rally in Montana on Thursday night when he touted body-slamming Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT), saying, &#8220;Any guy that can do a bodyslam, he&#8217;s my kind of guy.&#8221;
&#8220;Let me just say on behalf of all of Montana, Mr. President, thank you for giving us hope again,&#8221; Gianforte said, while at a rally in Missoula, Montana.
After shaking his hand and walking back up to the podium, Trump told the crowd: &#8220;Never wrestle him.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s comment was a reference to when Gianforte body-slammed a reporter in 2017 who got up in his face.
&#8220;You understand that, never.&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;Any guy that can do a bodyslam, he&#8217;s my kind of guy.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Here&#8217;s the video of Trump on Greg Gianforte body slamming Ben Jacobs: &#8220;Any guy that can do a body slam, he&#8217;s my kind of guy.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/8tWxLXE6Jx">pic.twitter.com/8tWxLXE6Jx</a>
&#8212; Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1053096071231164416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump has a history of making jokes out of body-slamming the media:
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FraudNewsCNN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FraudNewsCNN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FNN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FNN</a> <a href="https://t.co/WYUnHjjUjg">pic.twitter.com/WYUnHjjUjg</a>
&#8212; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/881503147168071680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Trump Touts ‘Body Slamming’ Montana Politician, Crowd Erupts

Donald Trump

Trump Administration

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