An HHS investigation reveals dozens of organ transplant patients showed signs of life before organ harvesting, prompting calls for reform. University of Idaho killer Bryan Kohberger is sentenced to life in prison after being confronted by the families of his victims in emotional court statements. Protests erupt in the U.K. over the country&#8217;s immigration policies after an asylum seeker allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl.
It’s Thursday, July 24, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>Organ Harvesting Horror Sparks Calls For Reform</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-951379" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_20_19.Still001-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_20_19.Still001-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_20_19.Still001-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_20_19.Still001-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_20_19.Still001-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_20_19.Still001.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is demanding major reforms to the nation’s organ transplant system after a shocking investigation found that dozens of patients showed signs of life while being prepped for organ harvesting. 
An investigation by HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration found &#8220;horrifying&#8221; results and a &#8220;systemic disregard for the sanctity of life.&#8221; The review of 351 organ donation cases in Kentucky found that 103 showed “concerning features,” including 73 patients who displayed neurological signs “incompatible with organ donation.” At least 28 of those patients may not have been dead when the organ procurement process began; some later recovered enough to leave the hospital. 
The investigation placed significant blame on the ethics of Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), which are non-profits that coordinate transplants. The inquiry was sparked by a 2021 case in Kentucky where an OPO coordinator allegedly pressured hospital staff to move forward with a donation from a man who had overdosed. A doctor ultimately stopped the procedure when the patient “cried, pulled his knees to his chest and shook his head.” That patient is still alive today. 
In response, HHS is demanding OPOs adopt new procedures, including formal &#8220;hard stops&#8221; that allow any staff member to halt a donation due to safety concerns. Kennedy has threatened to decertify any OPOs that fail to comply with corrective actions. The revelations have caused some of the estimated 170 million registered organ donors in the United States to express discomfort online, with some saying they will not feel safe being donors until the system is fixed. 
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<h2>Kohberger Gets Life After Facing Victims’ Families</h2>
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Topline: Bryan Kohberger was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sentence-is-in-for-bryan-kohberger-in-university-of-idaho-murder-case?author=Catherine+Maxwell&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Sentence+Is+In+For+Bryan+Kohberger+In+University+Of+Idaho+Murder+Case">sentenced</a> to life in prison without parole on Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, after hearing emotional and searing statements from the victims&#8217; families. 
Kohberger, a 30-year-old former PhD student in criminology, stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin to death in an off-campus house in November 2022. He recently changed his plea to guilty on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary to avoid the death penalty. 
During the sentencing hearing, Kohberger sat stone-faced as the victims’ loved ones spoke directly to him. Alivea Goncalves, sister of victim Kaylee, told her sister’s murderer to “sit up straight” before asking, “What’s it like needing this much attention just to feel real? … You didn’t win. You just exposed yourself as the coward you are.”
Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee Goncalves, physically turned the lectern to face Kohberger and said, “Today you’ve lost control. Today we are here to prove to the world that you picked the wrong families.” 
Dylan Mortensen, a roommate who survived the attack, called Kohberger a &#8220;hollow vessel, something less than human.” 
In a striking moment of grace, Kim Kernodle, Xana Kernodle’s aunt, told Kohberger she had forgiven him. &#8220;I no longer could live with that hate in my heart,&#8221; she said. Kohberger declined the opportunity to speak at the hearing. 
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<h2>U.K. Immigration Backlash Intensifies</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-951383" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_17_16.Still003-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_17_16.Still003-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_17_16.Still003-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_17_16.Still003-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_17_16.Still003-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_17_16.Still003.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
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Topline: Protests have erupted in a British town after an asylum seeker allegedly sexually assaulted a local girl, highlighting growing national frustration over the U.K.&#8217;s immigration policies. 
More than a thousand protesters have taken to the streets in Epping, a town near London, after a 14-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by an asylum seeker living in a nearby hotel. Guy Dampier of the Prosperity Institute told Morning Wire that the U.K. government’s failure to stop small boat crossings has resulted in more than 100,000 asylum seekers being housed in hotels across the country over the past seven years, creating widespread anger. 
Dampier noted that the mood in the country is &#8220;changing enormously,&#8221; with protests now spreading from traditionally poor northern towns to &#8220;very leafy,&#8221; middle-class areas like Epping. He stated that mass immigration is &#8220;changing the face of the country at a speed that people are very uncomfortable with.&#8221; As an example, he cited a report indicating that there are more than 2,000 schools in Britain where the majority of pupils do not speak English as their first language. 
Economic concerns also fuel the backlash. Dampier argued that instead of being a &#8220;financial boon,&#8221; immigration has become a &#8220;massive welfare magnet.&#8221; He pointed to recent reports showing that 1.3 million foreigners now claim Universal Credit, the U.K.&#8217;s main welfare benefit, costing taxpayers close to a billion pounds a month. That monthly cost, annualized, would account for more than half of the £22 billion &#8220;black hole&#8221; in public finances that the government cited as a major crisis last year.

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Morning Brief: Organ Harvesting Scandal Blows Up, Idaho Killer Gets Life, UK Faces Immigration Backlash

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Organ Donation

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The man convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students was sentenced to four consecutive fixed life sentences without opportunity for parole.
Bryan Kohberger was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the count of burglary, as well as a $50,000 fine and $5,000 civil penalty per count.
Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. As part of the guilty plea, he waived his right to appeal but escaped the death penalty.
&#8220;No parent should have to bury their child,&#8221; Judge Steven Hippler said before the sentencing. &#8220;This is the greatest tragedy that can be inflicted on a person.&#8221;
Hippler said he was unable to find anything redeeming in Kohberger.
&#8220;His actions have made him the worst of the worst,&#8221; Hippler said. &#8220;In my view, the time has now come to end Mr. Kohberger&#8217;s 15 minutes of fame.&#8221;
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador commended the sentence.
“Our hearts are with the victims and their families. While no sentence can bring full justice to this kind of evil, today’s sentence ensures that Bryan Kohberger will never see the outside of a prison and will never again harm innocent families,” Labrador said in a statement. “Under Idaho law, the fixed prison sentences mean Kohberger will never be eligible for parole. I’m especially grateful to Prosecutor Bill Thompson and my Criminal Division Chief, Jeff Nye, whose leadership, judgment, and tireless efforts brought this case to a just conclusion. Their teams served the State of Idaho with distinction, and our families and the public are safer because of their hard work.”
Before the sentencing, family members of the victims made statements before the court.
Kristi Goncalves, mother of Kaylee Goncalves, said Kohberger &#8220;will finally get what [he] wanted&#8221; in prison.
“A dead killer doesn&#8217;t kill again, so while I&#8217;m disappointed the firing squad won&#8217;t get to take their shots at you, I&#8217;m confident that the men in prison will have their way with you in more ways than one,&#8221; Kristi Goncalves said. &#8220;You will finally get what you wanted, physical touch, just probably not how you were expecting it.”
&#8220;Hell will be waiting,&#8221; Kristi Goncalves concluded.
Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves, told Kohberger, &#8220;From this moment, we will forget you.&#8221;
&#8220;Today we are here to finish what you started. Today you’ve lost control,&#8221; Steve Goncalves added. &#8220;Your actions have united everyone in their disgust for you.&#8221;
Randy Davis, the stepfather of Xana Kernodle, told the victims&#8217; families, &#8220;I love you all and I feel your pain.&#8221;
He then told Kohberger to &#8220;go to hell,&#8221; and everyone applauded.
Kim Kernodle, the aunt of Xana Kernodle, told Kohberger she forgave him.
&#8220;This is probably gonna bother everybody, but Bryan, I’m here today to tell you I’ve forgiven you, because I could no longer live with that hate in my heart,&#8221; Kim Kernodle said. &#8220;And for me to become a better person, I have forgiven you.&#8221;
One of the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen, made her <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dylan-mortensen-roommate-idaho-murder-victims-bryan-kohbergers-sentencing/">first</a> public statement since the murders.
&#8220;Living is how I honor them,&#8221; Mortensen said. &#8220;Speaking today is to help me find some sort of justice for them and I will never let him take that from me. He may have taken so much from me, but he will never get to take my voice.&#8221;
&#8220;I get to feel sadness, I get to feel rage, I get to feel joy even when it&#8217;s hard, I get to feel love even when it hurts, I get to live, and while I will still live with this pain, at least I get to live my life. He will stay here, empty, forgotten and powerless,&#8221; she concluded.
After the impact statements, Prosecutor Bill Thompson showed photos of the four victims while family members cried in the background.
&#8220;We can&#8217;t undo and we can never undo the horror that occurred,&#8221; Thompson said. &#8220;From today forward, our memories should be focused on these innocent victims whose lives were taken on their families, on their friends, on the community.&#8221;
Kohberger declined to make a statement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948079113358495996">addressed</a> the sentencing during a press conference Wednesday.
&#8220;Our nation grieves with you, and we will never forget the precious souls who were lost in this horrific act of evil,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;May God bless and watch over everyone affected by this unimaginable tragedy, especially the parents who lost their children.&#8221;

Bryan Kohberger Is Sentenced For Murder Of 4 University Of Idaho Students

Sentence Is In For Bryan Kohberger In University Of Idaho Murder Case

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Murder

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Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador called for an end to a “discriminatory” federal program that costs states millions of dollars by pushing them to go with more expensive “diverse” contractors.
In a Wednesday <a href="https://www.ag.idaho.gov/content/uploads/2025/07/Mid-America-Milling-Amicus-Brief-DBE-Program_As-Filed.pdf">court filing</a> joined by 20 states, Labrador urged a federal judge to accept a proposal from the Trump administration to end an affirmative action program that favors minority- and women-owned businesses for state infrastructure projects. The initiative, known as the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, set aside $37 billion under the Biden administration for “disadvantaged” groups. 
The program, which has been in effect since 1983, was originally challenged in September 2023 by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on behalf of two Indiana-based companies that claim they lost business opportunities based on the policy. The Biden administration fought back against the challenge, but the Trump administration has asked a judge to side with the complaint and disband the program. 
In an amicus brief, Labrador and the other plaintiffs urged Federal Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, a George W. Bush nominee, to accept a consent decree proposed by the Trump administration that would end race and sex as components to qualify as a “disadvantaged business.” 
“This discrimination is expensive. It routinely requires States to reject the lowest bid on a project in favor of a less-efficient DBE-compliant bidder, and even when States can choose the lowest bid, the price is usually inflated because contractors have to use DBE-compliant subcontractors,” the filing says. &#8220;The DBE program wastes money on purpose. When supposedly disadvantaged entities are the lowest bidders, the program has no effect-its whole point is to force States to hire disadvantaged entities when they are not the lowest bidders.”
Labrador told The Daily Wire that the rule has cost his state at least $15.2 million over a 44-month period. In one instance, he said that Idaho had to take a $2.7 million bid instead of a $2.2 million bid. 
“This federal program has operated like a racial quota system for decades,” he said. “Federal bureaucrats forced states like Idaho to reject better bids from qualified contractors, wasting roughly $15 million in just a few years by requiring states to award a certain percentage of contracts based on race and gender instead of merit.”
A 2009 MIT <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25651355?seq=1">study</a> found that affirmative action in contracting can increase the cost when comparing state contracts without preferences to federal contracts with preferences. The study found that bids without preferences were at least 5.6% lower than the preferential contract. 
Other states that signed onto the legal filing include North Dakota, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and the Arizona state legislature. 
“While the Biden Administration defended this system in court, President Trump is working to restore equality under the law,” Labrador said. “My office will continue fighting any federal program that forces states to treat citizens as members of groups rather than individuals with equal constitutional rights.”

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Republican Attorney General Calls For End To Federal DEI Program That ‘Wastes Money On Purpose’

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Infrastructure

Trump Administration

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear two cases revolving around state laws keeping transgender-identifying males out of women’s sports. 
The court is set to consider cases out of Idaho and West Virginia, where laws banning males who identify as women from participating in women&#8217;s and girls&#8217; sports were blocked by lower courts. The news comes just weeks after the high court ruled 6-3 in favor of a Tennessee law that banned transgender medical procedures on minors. 
At issue in the cases are West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” and Idaho’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.&#8221;
 In West Virginia, a parent sued to block the 2021 law, arguing that her transgender-identifying son was being discriminated against because he was not allowed on the girls&#8217; cross country team. In Idaho, a transgender-identifying male sued because he wouldn&#8217;t be allowed to join Boise State University&#8217;s women&#8217;s track team under the state&#8217;s law. 
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West Virginia’s law was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in April 2024, and Idaho’s law was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in August 2023. The attorneys general of both states celebrated the court’s decision to take up the case. 
“It’s a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard. The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women; that’s why we passed this commonsense law preserving women&#8217;s sports for women,” said West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey. “We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women&#8217;s Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX. And most importantly: it protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair.&#8221;
Idaho was the first state to pass a law intended to exclude males from competing in women&#8217;s sports in 2020.
“Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field,” added Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports. Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve.”
More than two dozen states have enacted laws similar to those in Idaho and West Virginia, and courts have blocked full implementation in other states, including New Hampshire, Utah, and Montana.

Transgender Rights Advocates Rally Against The Supreme Court’s Ban On Gender-Affirming Youth Care

Red States Set To Defend Women’s Sports At Supreme Court

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President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill heads back to the House after a marathon Senate session – and a tie-breaking vote from JD Vance. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis put aside past differences at Alligator Alcatraz — touting the power of their federal-state alliance. And, Bryan Kohberger avoids the death penalty – pleading guilty to murdering four Idaho students.
It’s Wednesday, July 2, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here: 
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<h2>The Senate Passes Trump&#8217;s Big, Beautiful Bill</h2>
<div id="attachment_924413" style="width: 868px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-924413" class="size-large wp-image-924413" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg" alt="" width="858" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg 858w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-768x516.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-2048x1375.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px" />(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)</div>
Topline: After a marathon vote in Congress, the Senate narrowly passed Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, pushing his sweeping policy agenda toward the finish line.
Senators and their staff spent the last 48 hours debating the bill non-stop — in what Washington calls a Vote-a-Rama, where members submit last minute amendments before a final vote. Votes were held on 45 proposed amendments covering everything from Medicare cuts and electric car subsidies to health care for illegal immigrants and Planned Parenthood funding. That process went all night Monday and well into Tuesday afternoon.
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Democrats made clear that they viewed the Vote-a-Rama as a means of forcing Republicans to go on the record with their views, but more importantly, to stall. That tactic angered Republicans and even some Democrats who opposed the bill, including Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman.
“Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/niceblackdude/status/1939829913873522764">said</a> during the Vote-a-Rama. “Keeping us here until some ungodly hour isn’t helping anyone.”
Given their slim majority, the GOP could only afford to lose three Republican votes. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME) were definite no votes, so it came down to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Ultimately, GOP leadership won her over by offering major concessions, exempting Alaska from a number of funding cuts in the bill. The final tally was 50-50, allowing Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the deciding vote.
The bill will now head to the House, where it’s expected to pass, though not without some difficulty – some hardline Republicans have expressed concerns about some of the Senate’s changes. Given the delay from Senate Democrats, the bill might not be voted on before President Trump’s desired deadline of July 4th. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he would honor the customary 72 hour period to allow members three days to review the legislation – so it’ll be tight.
<h2>Trump-DeSantis Alliance &amp; Alligator Alcatraz</h2>
<div id="attachment_582447" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-582447" class="size-large wp-image-582447" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg" alt="Donald Trump Ron DeSantis" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Getty Images</div>
Topline: President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference down at the state’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” on Tuesday.
Trump and DeSantis have reconciled since Trump beat the Florida governor in the GOP presidential primary last year, and Trump’s win in November pushed the two even closer, especially on immigration, but also on other issues as well.
“Ron, I would like to thank you, personally,” Trump said during a joint press conference. “You&#8217;re my friend. You will always be my friend. We may have some skirmishes even in the future &#8212; I doubt it &#8212; but I will always come back. We have blood that seems to match pretty well. We have a relationship that&#8217;s been a very strong one.”
DeSantis is term-limited as Florida’s governor, and he signaled that his wife Casey may jump into the 2026 race to replace him. An endorsement from Trump would be a huge boon in a Republican primary that has the potential to be extraordinarily competitive.
The press conference took place during a visit to Alligator Alcatraz – an immigration facility being built in the everglades. It could hold thousands of illegal aliens slated for deportation. In addition to the new detention facility, Trump also plans to deputize Florida National Guardsmen as immigration judges, which could massively cut down the time it takes to schedule immigration hearings – from a matter of years to just a few days.
Detention capacity has been a big constraint to Trump’s immigration agenda. That’s why we’ve seen the Trump administration partner with El Salvador, for instance, to hold illegal aliens, or ship them to Guantanamo Bay. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now arresting hundreds of illegal aliens a day, and Trump is doing whatever he can to make sure none of them are released back into the public after they’ve been caught.
<h2>Accused Murderer Accepts Plea Deal</h2>
<div id="attachment_644939" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-644939" class="size-large wp-image-644939" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg" alt="Second District Judge John C. Judge speaks at a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of murder, on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images</div>
Topline: The man accused of the 2022 Idaho murders has accepted a plea deal. The death penalty trial was originally set to begin on August 18th.
Byran Kohberger will accept the prosecution’s plea deal and plead guilty to all charges. Those include four counts of murder, as well as burglary. In exchange, the state has agreed to take the death penalty off the table – he will serve four consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole, and he has waived the right to appeal. There will be a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, which may provide some closure for the families of the four victims: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Kaylee+Goncalves&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAC&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Kaylee Goncalves</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Madison+Mogen&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAD&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Madison Mogen</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Xana+Kernodle&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAE&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Xana Kernodle</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Ethan+Chapin&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAF&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Ethan Chapin</a>.
Kaylee Goncalves&#8217; sister Aubrie called the decision to take the death penalty off the table “shocking and cruel.” The family posted a statement to social media saying, “We are beyond furious at the state of Idaho. They have failed us.”
The defense has maintained that Kohberger is innocent, although initially the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. His car was caught on surveillance, his cell phone data was consistent with him being near the scene &#8212; not just on the night of the murder, but the next morning, and on about a dozen occasions leading up to the crime, always late at night. Most damning, his DNA was found on the knife sheath left at the scene, and his purchase history showed a black ski mask similar to the one described by the witness. He was also a criminology student with apparent interest in serial killers.
Defense attorney Anne Taylor did raise arguments for reasonable doubt. First, she filed a motion to have the DNA evidence thrown out because it was obtained, according to her, through an illegal genealogy search – that would have been devastating to the prosecution&#8217;s case. She also raised the issue of mystery DNA found in the bloody handprint. Investigators determined that there was DNA from two mystery males found in that print on the bannister, and DNA from a third mystery male was found on a glove outside the residence. There was also DNA from multiple individuals found under the fingernails of one of the victims, although it was inconclusive. The defense was planning to float an alternative suspect theory, and all they had to do was make one juror have doubts. These issues also could have theoretically provided fertile ground for appeals down the road.
However, in the past week, the judge dismissed the defense’s attempt to introduce alternative suspects. And not long before that, it was revealed that a DoorDash driver may have been at the scene delivering food at 4 a.m. when the crime occurred. In leaked police interview footage, that driver can be heard saying, “I saw Bryan there,” and she claimed she parked next to him.

MRN 7.2.25 Thumbnail_V1

Morning Brief: Senate Passes The Big Beautiful Bill, Alligator Alcatraz & Idaho Plea Deal

Congress

Crime

Donald Trump

Florida

Ron DeSantis

U.S. Senate

The man suspected of killing two Idaho firefighters during an ambush on Sunday was found dead with a gunshot wound.
The man is believed to have deliberately set a grass fire at Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho and then started shooting at firefighters when they responded. Two firefighters were killed, and a third is fighting for his life after sustaining serious injuries. 
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris did not release any identifying information on the suspect, but said that he was found with a weapon and that law enforcement had tracked him using his cell phone. 
&#8220;We had a cell phone activation that was in the same spot since about 3:16 [p.m.], and that it was in the same area,&#8221; Norris said at a press conference. &#8220;And we honed in on that cellphone, and we saw that there was a male, appeared to be deceased, with a weapon nearby.&#8221;
He said that the cell phone signal was tracked with help from federal resources, including helicopters. 
&#8220;There are some helicopters that had some really good technology that were able to pinpoint where that cellphone activity was,&#8221; Norris said. &#8220;So yeah, there were our federal partners assisting us in this situation.&#8221; 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial&amp;_gl=1*r8odly*_gcl_au*MTQ5MDUzNjQ0NC4xNzQ1ODQ0MzMyLjEwNDAyMzM0NDQuMTc0NzY1MzIxNy4xNzQ3NjUzMjE3*_ga*MTM1OTk4Njg2NS4xNzA2NzE2NTAy*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*czE3NTEyOTIzMDQkbzMyJGcxJHQxNzUxMjkyOTI5JGo1NyRsMCRoMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-75638">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
Norris said that they had not yet identified a motive, but the attack was an intentional ambush. He added that law enforcement had to act quickly to recover the suspect&#8217;s body as the fire continued to spread and that they expected to find more weapons near the scene after the blaze was fully contained. 
The two firefighters killed were from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. The names have not yet been released to allow time for family notification. 
“This was a total ambush,” Norris said. “These firefighters did not have a chance.”
At one point, there were more than 300 law enforcement officers on the scene Sunday afternoon, including FBI agents. Norris said law enforcement exchanged gunfire with the suspect, but it was not known if he was killed by law enforcement or if he shot himself. 
Based on the current information, investigators believe there was only one shooter and that there was no active threat to the community. Norris thanked the White House, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, and Republican Governor Brad Little for assisting in the response. 
“Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,&#8221; Little <a href="https://x.com/GovernorLittle/status/1939460833354072306">posted</a> on X. &#8220;I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken.&#8221;

Close-up Shot of Police Car Siren Lights. Offices of the Law Ready for Action, Chase the Criminals, Arrest Offenders and Fight Crime. Stylish Cinematic Lights with Dark Sky

‘Total Ambush’: Idaho Firefighters Gunned Down, Suspect Found Dead In Apparent Trap

Arson

Firefighters

Law Enforcement

One or more suspects are still at large after staging an apparent ambush and shooting at the firefighters and first responders as they arrived on the scene.
According to the most recent reports concerning the still unfolding situation in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at least two of the firefighters have died. The number of shooters has not yet been confirmed, but no suspects are yet in custody.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
At least two firefighters are now confirmed to have been killed by the shooter/s that are are still “at large” on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d&#39;Alene in Northern Idaho, with several other first responders injured in the ambush. According to law enforcement, the shooter/s, who… <a href="https://t.co/lzA0GfNNNi">pic.twitter.com/lzA0GfNNNi</a>
&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1939470764144546233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Law enforcement officials have said they are unsure as to the potential number of shooters on Canfield Mountain, but suggested there could be as many as four.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨NEW: Law enforcement are actively taking fire after multiple firefighters were shot and killed in an ambush attack in Coeur d&#39;Alene, Idaho. The number of shooters is unknown.
&quot;We don&#39;t know if there&#39;s one, two, three or four [shooters].&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0hZwfac723">pic.twitter.com/0hZwfac723</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1939475445382332605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Governor Brad Little (R-ID) issued a statement on the situation, saying, “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters … As the situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area and allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
At least two people were killed and an &quot;unknown&quot; number injured after fire crews were shot at when responding to a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene on Sunday. Officials say the area is still &quot;an active and very dangerous scene.&quot; 
MORE: <a href="https://t.co/D0v19OF53f">https://t.co/D0v19OF53f</a> <a href="https://t.co/mOc5i546Zk">pic.twitter.com/mOc5i546Zk</a>
&mdash; NewsNation (@NewsNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsNation/status/1939493306930520304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) also released a statement on Sunday evening. “While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery,” it read.
“Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
While responding to a fire earlier today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, IAFF members were ambushed in a heinous act of violence. Two of our brothers were killed by a sniper, and a third brother remains in surgery. 
Please keep them, their families, and law enforcement in your prayers.
&mdash; International Association of Fire Fighters (@IAFFofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAFFofficial/status/1939489653809139801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also issued a statement saying that the FBI was sending assets to assist local law enforcement in handling the situation.
“FBI assets are headed to the scene in Coeur d’Alene to provide tactical and operational support,” he posted. “It is an active scene.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FBI assets are headed to the scene in Coeur d’Alene to provide tactical and operational support. It is an active scene.
&mdash; Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1939463838048633105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to multiple reports, the fire is believed to have been set intentionally to draw first responders to the scene.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨 BREAKING: At least 2 firefighters have been kiIIed by a gunman in Idaho, and he is STILL actively firing on authorities from the hill, per PD
It’s believed he started the fire to lure authorities to the scene
Pray for these firefighters’ families 🙏🏻 <a href="https://t.co/DvUhv9iYkz">pic.twitter.com/DvUhv9iYkz</a>
&mdash; Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1939469666432565698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

Firefighters walking to the fire truck after responding an emergency call

Fire Fighters Ambushed While Responding To Idaho Fire, Two Dead

First Responders

Over two dozen Republican attorneys general are defending President Donald Trump&#8217;s moves to keep women from being housed alongside transgender-identifying men in federal prisons.
Led by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, a group of 26 states filed an amicus brief on Friday in support of Trump&#8217;s executive order requiring prisoners to be housed by sex and halting funds for transgender procedures for prisoners. Trump&#8217;s actions to rid prisons of gender ideology currently sit before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after being blocked by lower federal courts.
“Truth matters — and it’s under attack in our culture today,” Labrador told The Daily Wire on Wednesday. “We’re standing up for biological reality, lawful executive authority, and the dignity and safety of women. If government policy or court rulings deny basic truth, it threatens both public trust and the rights of individuals.”
In February, a federal judge blocked the Trump&#8217;s directive to move transgender-identifying male prisoners out of a female prison, arguing that it violates the Eight Amendment&#8217;s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Two other judges have also blocked the order, including provisions ending funding of transgender procedures for prisoners.
Led by Labrador and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, the Republican attorneys general argued Friday that Trump&#8217;s actions to keep men out of women&#8217;s prisons are not bound by the Eighth Amendment.
&#8220;The federal government is charged with preserving the safety of all prisoners in its care, and it has determined that placing transgender-identifying male prisoners in female housing intolerably jeopardizes female prisoners’ well-being,&#8221; they wrote in their legal brief. &#8220;So far as the Eighth Amendment is concerned,  the federal government is free to decide, as it has, that the best and safest solution is to house trans-identifying male prisoners with non-violent male offenders.&#8221;
The Republican officials also noted that there is a great danger that could be posed to women who are forced to shower and bunk alongside males.
&#8220;Housing transgender-identifying males with female prisoners presents its own set of risks. Those risks inure to the harm of female inmates, who  (1) have their rights to privacy and dignity compromised by having to sleep and shower with men, (2) are exposed to elevated possibilities of violence or sexual assault, and (3) will be pressured or coerced into using speech reflecting a belief that conflicts with  biological reality,&#8221; they wrote. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-trump-youth-prisons-transgender-house-young-girls?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Despite+Trump+Orders%2C+Juvenile+Prisons+Still+Have+To+House+‘Trans’+Men+With+Young+Girls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Despite Trump Orders, Juvenile Prisons Still Have To House ‘Trans’ Men With Young Girls</a>
They also argue that the Trump administration should be allowed to deny transgender procedures to prisoners because of the well-documented risks of gender medical interventions.
&#8220;Politically accountable policy makers are better positioned and constitutionally  empowered to decide if, when, and how those treatments should be administered, and the need for deference to the politically accountable branches is particularly high in light  of the medical uncertainty regarding the treatments’ efficacy,&#8221; they wrote. 
<div id="attachment_923535" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-923535" class="size-full wp-image-923535" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2149418788.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador speaks outside the Supreme Court on April 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court hears oral arguments today on Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States to decide if Idaho emergency rooms can provide abortions to pregnant women during an emergency using a federal law known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to supersede a state law that criminalizes most abortions in Idaho." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2149418788.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2149418788-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2149418788-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2149418788-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Labrador at the Supreme Court/ Credit: Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.</div>
The brief was signed by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Risks to women being housed alongside males are not abstract and are currently the subject of multiple lawsuits across the country. A California man named Tremaine Carrol faces multiple rape charges after he was housed in a woman&#8217;s facility. In Washington, former prisoner Mozzy Clark has sued the state saying it subjected her to multiple sexual assaults because they housed a man in her cell.
The issue is not isolated to the adult prisons as Obama-era regulations states could be required to house boys in all-girl youth prisons as well. As The Daily Wire previously reported, states must consider housing a juvenile male who identifies as a female at a women&#8217;s facility on a case by case basis or risk the loss of federal funding.

Criminal wearing handcuffs in prison

Republican AGs Blast Federal Judges For Keeping Men In Women’s Prisons

gender ideology

Prison

Transgender

US-NEWS-BOISE-MAYOR-2-ID

American Cities Are Making The Pride Flag Their Official Flag

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Boise

flags

LGBT

Matt Walsh

Opinion

Pride Flag

Utah

Red states throughout the country are considering employment verification legislation that experts say could be one of the most effective ways to encourage illegal alien self-deportations.
The states are considering bills that would mandate that employers use E-Verify, a system run by the Department of Homeland Security that ensures workers are in the country legally and eligible for employment.
Ira Mehlman, the media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-one-simple-trick-that-could-lead-illegal-immigrants-to-self-deport?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=23&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=The+One+Simple+Trick+That+Could+Lead+Illegal+Immigrants+To+Self-Deport">told</a> The Daily Wire that E-Verify mandates eliminate the “biggest incentive” for illegal aliens to enter or stay in the United States.
“If employers were mandated to use E-Verify and the government demonstrated the resolve to hold employers accountable, that would go a long way toward drying up the supply of jobs for illegal aliens, thereby eliminating the biggest incentive to come or remain here illegally,” Mehlman explained.
A recent estimate from FAIR found that there are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-alien-population-surges-to-record-high-bombshell-study-finds">18.6 million illegal aliens</a> currently present in the United States, with experts like Mehlman and Center for Immigration Studies Executive Director Mark Krikorian saying that self-deportations are key to reducing America’s illegal alien population.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerLndqst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpencerLndqst</a> on the latest logistical issue the Trump administration is facing:
&#8220;There are 18.6 million illegal aliens present in the US currently. If they had their own state, not only would it always go to the Democrats, it would also be the fifth largest in the country.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qyvTkyOO4P">pic.twitter.com/qyvTkyOO4P</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1915060538348130408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
Now, states across the country are considering legislation to implement or expand E-Verify mandates. Idaho’s House of Representatives is <a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/02/14/idaho-legislature-introduces-new-bill-requiring-employers-e-verify-all-new-employees/">considering</a> an E-Verify proposal that would require all businesses in the state to verify the employment status of new employees. Republican Representative Jordan Redman, the sponsor of the legislation, says that the bill “adds to Idaho employment law to prohibit employment of illegal aliens and require employers to use E-Verify for each new hire to verify legal employment status as a condition of their employment.”
The effort has faced opposition from Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, a Republican from Idaho Falls and a potato farmer, as well as from the Idaho Dairyman’s Association, which cited labor shortage concerns.
Montana is currently <a href="https://legiscan.com/MT/bill/HB226/2025">considering legislation</a> that would require employers to use E-Verify or the I-9 employment verification form and maintain eligibility documentation for workers. Companies that fail to abide by the law could face civil penalties, including fines and even the revocation of business licenses after multiple violations. The bill was sent to the governor after passing through the state House and Senate.
“By leveraging verification systems already in place, we can promote lawful employment practices while protecting the integrity of our labor market,” said Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, the House bill’s sponsor.
The Florida State House <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/04/23/florida-house-passes-e-verify-measure-but-bill-looks-dead-in-the-senate/">just passed</a> legislation that would expand the state’s current E-Verify laws and require all businesses to use the system. But even though the bill was passed with unanimous support from Republicans and garnered support from seven Democrats, the corresponding effort hasn’t gained any traction in the Senate and has not been assigned to a committee.
Texas is also considering legislation to expand its existing E-Verify mandate, which currently only applies to government workers. The <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=SB324">new legislation</a> would require all employers in the state to use E-Verify, which Sen. Lois Kolkhurst <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/state/senate-committee-advances-legislation-requiring-use-of-e-verify/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> “the most functional and cost-effective method the state of Texas can implement to stem the flow of illegal immigration.”
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has <a href="https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/ensuring-a-legal-workforce-in-texas">endorsed</a> the Texas bill, asserting that it could help unemployed Americans in the Lone Star state get back into the workforce while disincentivizing illegal immigration. “The largest pull factor for illegal aliens is the ability to make money in the U.S.,” AFPI explained. “Mandatory use of E-Verify would significantly reduce the ability of illegal aliens to work, and over time, this action will help reduce the pull factor of employment for those who enter the country unlawfully.”

Illegal alien sign

Red States Consider Bills To Push Illegals To Self-Deport

E-Verify

Illegal Immigration

Montana

Texas

A man was arrested in Idaho over the weekend after he allegedly drove into a pro-Trump counter-protester outside of a Tesla dealership as a group of people gathered to protest Elon Musk and the Trump administration&#8217;s government cuts.
Christopher Talbot, 70, was arrested after allegedly hitting a 49-year-old man at the anti-Musk rally on Saturday, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-strikes-tesla-counter-protester-vehicle-idaho-police/story?id=120308032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. According to police, &#8220;Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car.&#8221; The victim drove himself to the hospital after sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials.
Around 30 anti-Musk demonstrators showed up to the Idaho dealership on Saturday and were met by 200 counter-protesters, according to the Meridian Police Department. Authorities alleged that Talbot &#8220;made an obscene gesture&#8221; toward the pro-Trump counter-protester before hitting him with his car. Talbot was arrested at his home after police traced his license plate number. He was booked into the Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, which is a felony.
In a statement, the police department urged people &#8220;to respect everyone&#8217;s right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence.&#8221;
While most of the protests have remained peaceful, some anti-Musk demonstrators have resorted to violence to protest Musk&#8217;s influence on government spending cuts. Last week, an incendiary device was <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/incendiary-devices-found-at-austin-tesla-showroom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> inside a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas, and had to be promptly removed by a police bomb squad. In Las Vegas earlier this month, a suspect allegedly <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nevada-resident-arrested-and-charged-connection-violent-tesla-arson-las-vegas">lit two Tesla vehicles on fire</a> and shot at them at a Tesla facility in what law enforcement officials described as a “<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-arrested-after-setting-teslas-fire-las-vegas/story?id=120220369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted attack</a>.” Numerous videos posted online have also shown perpetrators keying and damaging parked Tesla vehicles.
In one instance, anti-Musk protesters were <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-charged-assault-tesla-dealership-driving-car-protesters-rcna197746" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted</a> while demonstrating when a man in Florida was arrested and charged with assault for allegedly driving a car toward a crowd of protesters. No one was injured in the incident, but according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff&#8217;s Office, &#8220;The protestors had to move out of the way in order to avoid being struck by the vehicle.&#8221;
Numerous anti-Musk protests have popped up across the country as groups often gather near Tesla dealerships to protest the electric car company owner and senior Trump adviser. On Saturday, over 200 organized &#8220;Tesla Takedown&#8221; protests took place in the United States, Canada, and Europe, CNN reported. A Business Insider reporter who attended two Tesla protests in Michigan <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/takeaways-tesla-takedown-protests-michigan-2025-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> that the protesters &#8220;were primarily people over the age of 65, white, and retired from jobs that depended on public funding as teachers, professors at local universities, and social workers.&#8221;

Tesla Protest

Man Hits Pro-Trump Counter-Protester With Car At Demonstration Outside Of Tesla Dealership: Police

Elon Musk

Protest

Tesla

The Trump administration will drop a challenge brought by President Joe Biden’s Justice Department against Idaho’s pro-life law making it a crime to end the life of an unborn child in most circumstances.
The Biden administration had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-allows-idaho-abortion-law-to-stay-in-effect-as-biden-admin-sues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> Idaho over the law claiming that it violated federal emergency medical treatment laws. On Wednesday, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case on Wednesday, which would allow the law to go back into full effect. 
Idaho’s <a href="https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch6/sect18-622/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">law</a> prohibits all abortions with exceptions for rape or incest in the first trimester and if a doctor determines that “abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” Those who administered criminal abortions could have been subject to up to two to five years in prison. 
The Biden administration claimed that the law violated the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), alleging that the statute would mandate doctors to perform “emergency” abortions. 
The decision from the Justice Department was praised by pro-life groups and criticized by pro-abortion activists.
“The Trump-Vance administration&#8217;s end to Biden&#8217;s EMTALA case against Idaho&#8217;s pro-life law is a win for the truth,” SBA Pro-Life America <a href="https://x.com/sbaprolife/status/1897369590126047322" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Every state that protects unborn life also protects women who experience miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or any medical emergency.”
Last June, the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/leak-confirmed-supreme-court-rules-against-red-state-in-pro-life-case-day-after-decision-inadvertently-posted-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allowed</a> parts of the law to be blocked in a 6-3 decision. The court never ruled on the merits of the law or the challenge when it allowed parts of the law to be blocked, writing that litigation on the law should continue on the lower level while allowing a block on parts of the law to go back into effect.
The decision is in line with other <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-restores-mexico-city-policy-ends-taxpayer-funding-for-abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro-life actions</a> taken by President Donald Trump in the early months of his administration. He previously issued a memorandum that prevents taxpayer funds from being sent to foreign non-governmental organizations that perform or promote abortions. Trump also signed an executive order strengthening the Hyde Amendment, a ban on the use of federal funds for abortion.
He also issued pardons for 23 peaceful pro-life protesters who were targeted by the Biden administration and indicated that he would end aggressive prosecution under the FACE Act.

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