Republicans appear to support a bipartisan bill led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), but the legislation remains stalled amid reported concerns that giving the Democratic socialist a legislative victory could fuel her presidential ambitions.  
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1837/text">The DEFIANCE Act</a> (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits Act) would create a federal civil cause of action allowing victims of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes to sue those who create or distribute fake nude or sexual images without their consent. 
Under the bill, victims could recover up to $250,000 in damages in cases involving sexual assault, stalking, or harassment, earning support from leftists, conservative Republicans, and Hollywood figures such as Paris Hilton.
AOC first introduced the legislation last year. In January, the U.S. Senate passed it unanimously.
“I want to thank the Senate cosponsors of this legislation, including my Republican co-lead, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) <a href="https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-successfully-passes-bill-to-combat-nonconsensual-sexually-explicit-deepfake-images">said</a> at the time. “Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez herself is a publicly confessed victim of explicit deepfakes. I commend her for working to create tools for victims in the fight against this despicable crime.” 
Despite bipartisan support, the bill remains stalled in the Republican-led House. <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2026/07/23/paris-hilton-and-the-politics-of-defiance-01009283?nname=playbook&amp;nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&amp;nrid=5c65d8fa-b7c7-44e5-98d0-43e6086e71cd">Politico reported</a> Thursday that some Republicans worry passing AOC&#8217;s legislation could hand the New York congresswoman a political victory as she emerges as a potential 2028 presidential contender. 
“It’s a shame that this bill isn’t law because they are unwilling to give AOC a win,” one person working on the bill told the outlet. “When you look at it, everything is aligned for it to pass, except that they don’t want her to have this.”
“We’re depriving many, many people of the ability to set their lives right just to prevent one member of Congress from being able to pass a bill,” another person said, according to Politico. 
Ocasio-Cortez has blamed the delay on House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH). Earlier this month,<a href="https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/2077191769477791989?s=20"> she told The Independent</a> that the bill passed the Senate unanimously with Republican support, adding that people should &#8220;ask Jim Jordan&#8221; why it has yet to advance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters Tuesday that he supports the legislation but was unsure of its status in committee, according to Politico. 
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-melania-backed-bill-to-fight-deepfake-revenge-porn">TAKE IT DOWN Act</a>, championed by first lady Melania Trump, into law. The measure criminalizes the non-consensual online distribution of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes.
The impasse comes days after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-2028-poll-just-shook-up-both-parties?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=A+New+2028+Poll+Just+Shook+Up+Both+Parties">New Hampshire primary poll</a> signaled an early shake-up in the 2028 Democratic presidential race, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) leading the field.
The Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, shows the Democratic socialist leading the hypothetical Democratic field with 22% support, narrowly ahead of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 21%. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) placed third with 9%. 
“You know polls are polls, and a horse race is a horse race,” AOC <a href="https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/2080038582211821579?s=20">said</a> in response. “I am, of course, I think very deeply humbled and grateful to you know folks who participate and convey that confidence.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
👀👀👀 AOC on a poll showing her leading in a 2028 primary in New Hampshire:
&#8220;One is that you know polls are polls, and a horse race is a horse race. I am, of course, I think very deeply humbled and grateful to you know folks who participate and convey that confidence.&#8221;
&#8220;I… <a href="https://t.co/fSXAOC0AGO">pic.twitter.com/fSXAOC0AGO</a>
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) <a href="https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/2080038582211821579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2026</a></blockquote>

Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Omar, And Pressley Hold News Conference After President Trump Attacks Them On Twitter

Republicans Love This AOC-Led Bill, But They Don’t Want To Pass It

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Artificial Intelligence

bipartisanship

Congress

Deepfakes

Democrats

Dick Durbin

Donald Trump

Jim Jordan

Lindsey Graham

Melania Trump

Mike Johnson

News

Politico

Politics

Republicans

Sen. Darline Graham&#8217;s (R-SC) odds of winning South Carolina&#8217;s special Republican primary skyrocketed from 14% to 80% in four days after President Donald Trump endorsed her, according to the prediction market Kalshi.
CNN data analyst Harry Enten argued Tuesday that Trump&#8217;s endorsement has made Graham the overwhelming favorite in the August 11 special Republican primary to fill the seat left vacant by the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Darline Graham&#8217;s now the favorite in SC. Why? Trump&#8217;s endorsement = most powerful I&#8217;ve ever seen.
In senate primaries with no elected incumbent, his picks have won ~95% since 2022 &amp; 100% in 2026.
His own party approval is highest this century for a prez at this pt in term 2. <a href="https://t.co/urpkkeI9vd">pic.twitter.com/urpkkeI9vd</a>
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) <a href="https://x.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2079616190679339503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Darline Graham&#8217;s chances have rocketed up because rarely has the power of one man and his endorsements in primaries been as strong with Donald Trump,&#8221; Enten explained. He went on to cite the odds posted by Kalshi, which had Graham at 14% on July 17 and 80% just four days later — and he noted that the one major change in the interim was Trump&#8217;s endorsement, given before Graham had even declared her intent to seek a full term in office.
&#8220;Now, that&#8217;s not 100%,&#8221; Enten conceded, adding, &#8220;But it&#8217;s way, way higher than 14%. She&#8217;s the clear favorite to fill that seat, or at least win the primary.&#8221;
Enten noted that Graham was not an outlier, pointing to a number of recent primary races in which Trump had played kingmaker.
&#8220;When it comes to Senate primaries, Donald Trump&#8217;s record is magnificent,&#8221; he told anchor John Berman. &#8220;Since 2022, it&#8217;s about 95% of the time. This year, in fewer races, it&#8217;s 100% of the time. No wonder why the prediction markets and the conventional wisdom have moved so rapidly once Trump made that endorsement!&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s weight in recent primaries has been nearly insurmountable as candidate after candidate has soared to victory following a nod from the White House — and Graham now appears poised to follow suit in the August special primary for a seat Republicans are expected to retain in November.

Graham’s Sister Sworn-In To US Senate Days After His Death

Lindsey Graham’s Sister Surges To Frontrunner Status On Back Of Trump Endorsement

Lindsey Graham's Sister Surges To Frontrunner Status On Back Of Trump Endorsement

Darline Graham Nordone

Endorsement

Harry Enten

Kalshi

U.S. Senate

Darline Graham Nordone said that she would focus on domestic issues as she announced her decision to run to succeed her late brother in the Senate.
Nordone, appointed last week to finish out Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) term, told Fox News host Sean Hannity during an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF6f0V_4Tao">interview</a> on Monday that she has decided to seek a full term in office. During the interview, Nordone said she would advocate for similar positions as her brother, but also suggested she would have a different focus.
“I&#8217;ve thought, and I prayed,” Nordone told Hannity. “He&#8217;s worked so hard for so long, I just, I can&#8217;t just let that die. I&#8217;ve got to step in and carry on his legacy. I know he cared about the people of South Carolina so deeply.”
Like her brother, Nordone said she would like to see Congress pass the Russia sanctions for which Graham had advocated before he died unexpectedly earlier this month. Doctors believe that Graham died of an aortic dissection related to underlying cardiovascular disease.
“I really wanted to push those across the finish line,” Nordone said of the sanctions.
Nordone, who works on the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, also suggested that if elected in her own right, she would focus more on domestic issues than national security.
&#8220;I used to see him on the talk shows. I would watch him, and I&#8217;d be like, ‘Lindsey, are you just talking about national security all the time?,'&#8221; she said. &#8220;And I understand that&#8217;s important. Protecting our borders, national security, absolutely.&#8221;
&#8220;I said, ‘But talk about also what matters to the average person. The price of groceries, the price of gas, health care. Insurance, those kinds of things.’ That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m worried about,” Nordone added.
Nordone said she was still reeling from her brother’s shocking death.
“I&#8217;m just taking it day by day. I am not gonna lie. It&#8217;s been tough, extremely tough.  Lots of prayers, heartfelt messages from friends and family, colleagues really got me through this week,” she said. “It was like I was living a nightmare when I got the unexpected news. I was just, I can even tell you how devastated I was when I got that call.”
She didn’t have much time to process her thoughts before she was asked to finish out her brother’s term — and then encouraged to run in the special primary. The deadline to enter the race is July 28 and the special primary election is scheduled for August 11. Her decision to run came after President Donald Trump gave her his preemptive endorsement.
Several other Republicans have jumped into the special primary race, including Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry.

Darline Graham Nordone Is Ceremonially Sworn In To Take Her Brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate Seat

Lindsey Graham’s Sister Breaks From One Of His Defining Priorities

Senate

South Carolina

Darline Graham Nordone’s appointment as interim U.S. Senator marks a historic milestone for South Carolina as she becomes the <a href="https://x.com/RepJamesClyburn/status/2077104368218763573">first woman</a> and the first HBCU graduate to represent the state in the chamber.
U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) highlighted the significance in a post on X, writing that her appointment “marks a significant milestone for our state” and that her accomplishment “will inspire generations of South Carolinians to believe that no barrier is beyond reach.”
The appointment came days after Republican Governor Henry McMaster picked Nordone, who graduated from South Carolina State University in 2009, to fill the remainder of her brother’s Senate term, which ends in January 2027. President Donald Trump recommended her for the role as a tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who had spoken highly of his sister in past interviews.
In an open letter <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/darline-graham-nordone-pens-emotional-open-letter-following-brothers-death?author=Leona+Salinas&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Darline+Graham+Nordone+Pens+Emotional+Open+Letter+Following+Brother%E2%80%99s+Death&amp;trueLinkId=2O%2FbAu5Q0JkRE%2FFz68BRk0GhxmF6NCE05bcQWkS5XAx9w2lMEr8lp8a4hj0xpCeVyLGqjIkO2odcD9pEp%2BbCNA%3D%3D&amp;trueLinkTs=1782495158&amp;trueLinkExpiry=43200">posted</a> to X on Saturday, Nordone reflected on the abrupt loss of her brother a week earlier. “If I could trade this moment and have Lindsey back, I would do so in a heartbeat. But I can’t,” she wrote. “Now, it’s time for me to step up for South Carolina, just like he stepped up for me when our parents died. In the most challenging of times, I’ve learned God often calls on ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
Nordone mentioned that while she is not her brother, the two were raised with the same core values: work hard each day, trust in the Lord, remember your roots, and never forget who you work for. She pointed to her own career focused on helping South Carolinians with disabilities find employment and live independently as an example of that service.
Supporters, including members of Graham’s former staff and fellow South Carolina officials, have praised her background in state government and workforce development. During an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/who-is-darline-graham-nordone-south-carolinas-likely-next-senator">emotional public appearance</a> after accepting the appointment, she stated, “Lindsey has always been there for me. Now, I will be there for him.”

US-POLITICS-CONGRESS-GRAHAM

HISTORIC: Lindsey Graham’s Sister Becomes First HBCU Grad To Represent South Carolina In Senate

James Clyburn

Media

Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), announced Monday that she is running to succeed her brother in the U.S. Senate.
Nordone announced her decision to enter the race during an interview with <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2079270238902693913?s=20">Fox News host Sean Hannity.</a>
“I’m in,” Nordone told Hannity on Monday, acknowledging &#8220;a tremendous amount of pressure&#8221; around the decision.
&#8220;I have been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff, I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey. He cared about the people of this state. I worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state, I feel like I can do it,” she said. 
“I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes. Absolutely,” she added. 
Nordone&#8217;s announcement comes days after President Donald Trump endorsed her before she had publicly announced her candidacy. 
<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116936914779266256">In a Truth Social post</a>, Trump backed Nordone to run in the August 11 special GOP primary, telling her: “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
“She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump said about Nordone. “Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.”
<a href="https://www.dgraham.senate.gov/">Nordone</a> earned a bachelor&#8217;s degree in sociology from the College of Charleston and a master&#8217;s degree in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University. She later worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and served on the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
Graham unexpectedly died earlier this month at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes was an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-medical-examiner-releases-preliminary-cause-of-death">aortic dissection</a>. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain. 
Graham had easily won his Republican primary in June before his sudden death upended the race. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman are among the prominent Republicans considering a run.
Other potential candidates are clearing the way for Graham’s sister. Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who got fourth place in the recent gubernatorial primary, announced late Monday that she wouldn&#8217;t run.
&#8220;I want to be straight with you. I&#8217;m not running for the U.S. Senate, not because I&#8217;m backing down from a fight, but because the one I&#8217;m already in matters right now,&#8221; Mace <a href="https://x.com/NancyMace/status/2079301034476724673?s=20">said</a>. &#8220;I&#8217;m not chasing another title. I&#8217;m chasing justice, justice for me, justice for other women, and justice for every little girl who was told to stay silent,&#8221; before adding her work is not done. 
&#8220;I&#8217;m even gonna sh*t post from time to time&#8230; because someone has to call out the dumb*ss*s&#8230; because if we don&#8217;t, we as a country will be gone,&#8221; she added.
<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488671">The Cook Political Report</a> ranks the seat as Solid Republican going into November.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-endorses-lindsey-grahams-sister-for-senate-seat?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Makes+Endorsement+In+Race+To+Replace+Lindsey+Graham">Memorial services</a> for Graham will be held in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina on July 28 and 29 after funeral plans were delayed to accommodate foreign dignitaries, a staffer revealed on Friday.

Senator Lindsey Graham Makes Announcement On Presidential Run

‘I’m In’: Lindsey Graham’s Sister Makes It Official

South Carolina’s newly appointed interim U.S. Senator Darline Graham Nordone <a href="https://x.com/darlinegrahamsc/status/2078593464053166332?s=46&amp;t=5nB3R1hthzMlYMrXjZyN8Q">addressed</a> the people of her state in an open letter posted to X on Saturday, reflecting on the sudden loss of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and her commitment to stepping into the role.
Nordone began the letter by addressing her brother&#8217;s death a week before, writing, &#8220;Dear Fellow South Carolinians, I never imagined I would be speaking to you under these circumstances.&#8221;
&#8220;If I could trade this moment and have Lindsey back, I would do so in a heartbeat,&#8221; she continued.
Darline Graham expressed gratitude for the support her family has received. “I have been amazed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from the people of South Carolina,” she said. “I always knew Lindsey was an amazing person, but I have been overwhelmed by how many people truly loved him and how many lives he touched.”
The letter highlighted Lindsey Graham’s lifelong dedication to South Carolina and the nation and also described Nordone&#8217;s decision to accept the appointment as a continuation of family values instilled in them from an early age.
“Lindsey dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and defending our nation. He accomplished so much, yet he still had so many big ideas that he was determined to see through,” she wrote, adding, “Now, it’s time for me to step up for South Carolina, just like he stepped up for me when our parents died. In the most challenging of times, I’ve learned God often calls on ordinary people to do extraordinary things.”
She acknowledged that she brings her own approach to public service. “Yet I am not Lindsey. I have my own way of doing things. But we were raised with the same values: work hard each day, trust in the Lord, remember your roots, and never forget who you work for.”
She cited her career focused on helping South Carolinians with disabilities find employment and live independently as an example of that service.
The open letter also thanked Lindsey Graham’s staff for their work during a difficult period. “On behalf of my family and Lindsey’s staff — who have worked tirelessly through their own grief while continuing to serve the people — thank you.”
She concluded by asking for prayers: “I did not seek this moment. But it’s here. Now, I’m asking for your prayers. God Bless.&#8221;
The letter comes days after South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster appointed Nordone to fill the remainder of her brother’s Senate term after she was recommended by President Donald Trump, saying it would be a fitting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-grahams-sister-named-interim-senator-she-accepted-through-tears?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Lindsey+Graham%E2%80%99s+Sister+Named+Interim+Senator+%E2%80%94+She+Accepted+Through+Tears">tribute</a> to Lindsey Graham, who had spoken highly of his sister in past interviews. She accepted the position in an emotional public appearance. 
“Lindsey has always been there for me. Now, I will be there for him,” she said last week.
Supporters, including members of Graham’s former staff and fellow South Carolina officials, praised her background in state government, workforce development, and her personal character. With her appointment, Nordone became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. She will serve out the remainder of her brother&#8217;s term, which ends in January 2027.

Darline Graham Nordone Pens Emotional Open Letter Following Brother’s Death

Punch-Graham-4

The Last Amigo

Bob Heckman

DW Opinion

interview

John McCain

<a href="https://x.com/taylor_reidy/status/2078144154962399732?s=20">Memorial services</a> for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will be held in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina on July 28 and 29 after funeral plans were delayed to accommodate foreign dignitaries, a staffer revealed on Friday. 
Graham&#8217;s funeral was initially expected to take place this week, but the services were delayed after multiple international leaders expressed a desire to attend, according to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
&#8220;I think my understanding is that the offer has been made to lie in state,&#8221; Scott told <a href="https://www.wltx.com/article/news/politics/possible-funeral-plans-for-lindsey-graham/101-9089a3ad-572a-41a7-a325-ce43cd896677">News19</a> on Wednesday, stressing that final arrangements had not been decided. 
&#8220;The process of figuring out when the National Cathedral would be made available at the exact same time that the global leaders who want to come and all the other national leaders who will be there has made it a little more difficult,&#8221; he added.
Last weekend, Graham unexpectedly died at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes to be an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-medical-examiner-releases-preliminary-cause-of-death">aortic dissection</a>. The life-threatening condition is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain. 
On Capitol Hill, Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was sworn in to fill her brother’s seat for the remainder of his term, which expires in January. 
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lindsey-graham-darline-trump-mcmaster-fee07e7991d764bffe91dffb161927ca">The Associated Press</a> reported that Nordone has privately expressed interest in running for the full Senate term, citing sources who say she has begun conversations about a potential campaign. 
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman are among the other prominent Republicans considering a run.
The filing period for a special primary runs from July 21 to July 28, and the primary is scheduled for Aug. 11.
Behind closed doors, Republican senators on Tuesday watched an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxj8CSi0-Jo">emotional tribute</a> featuring memorable quotes from their late colleague. 
“Here’s what I can tell you: that life can change just like that,” Graham is heard saying, with overlay footage showing him greeting world leaders. “Don’t take it for granted. Don’t take relationships for granted.”

World Leaders Prompt Change To Lindsey Graham Funeral Plans

When your goal is to keep your audience whipped up into a perpetual state of outrage and fear, you treat the mundane and the routine as an egregious breach of norms with questionable legality. That’s exactly what happened on ABC’s “bona fide news program” The View this week when Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2026/07/15/sunny-hostin-joy-behar-rage-lindsey-grahams-sister-senate">clutched their pearls </a>over Darline Graham getting appointed as a South Carolina senator following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham.
Let’s get the fact-check out of the way early so that we can see just how truly ridiculous and manipulative their outrage was.
The text of the <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-17/">17th Amendment</a> makes it clear that state governors (if allowed by their legislatures) have the authority to appoint temporary senators to fill in and represent the state before a special election for a formal successor:
<blockquote>
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
</blockquote>
“I don&#8217;t love it. I don&#8217;t love it,” Hostin proclaimed, even though she was wholly supportive of Vice President Kamala Harris being handpicked to replace President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket without winning a single primary state.
Ignoring how it’s been common practice by both parties for decades to have relatives appointed to their loved one’s seat upon their death, Behar and Hostin suggested Republicans were being hypocritical and equated Graham to a DEI hire benefitting from nepotism:
<blockquote>
BEHAR: It&#8217;s – this the very definition of a DEI?
HOSTIN: Correct! Correct! It&#8217;s everything that the Republican Party stands against! Everything! Everything! It&#8217;s DEI. Nepotism. All these things thrown in together.
</blockquote>
Hostin was particularly upset that Graham was a doctor and suggested that somehow disqualified her from being a senator. “I think the experience does matter. And while she is a certified optician and while she has done great work in that field, I don&#8217;t think that she should be representing the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate. I just don&#8217;t,” she proclaimed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sunny Hostin attacks South Carolina for Darline Graham being their first female senator, and says there&#8217;s something &#8220;fundamentally wrong&#8221; with the state. She suggests doctors can&#8217;t be senators. 
She and Joy Behar call the appointment &#8220;the very definition of a DEI [hire]&#8221; and an… <a href="https://t.co/MxaSry6HAS">pic.twitter.com/MxaSry6HAS</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://x.com/NickFondacaro/status/2077416151789838356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not including Graham, there were four doctors serving in the U.S. Senate, all of them Republicans: John Barrasso (WY), Rand Paul (KY), Bill Cassidy (LA), and Roger Marshall (KS). There have also been <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/PhysiciansintheSenate.htm">54 senators</a> who have either studied and/or practiced medicine throughout the Senate’s history.
Yet, in the same segment, they suggested President Obama was qualified to be a senator since he was a community organizer:
<blockquote>
BEHAR: Obama was a community organizer, like that and they gave him a lot of crap for that.
HOSTIN: And he was qualified to be in the Senate.
</blockquote>
Behar was appalled by the revelation that Graham was her own person and may not think like her brother: “But we do not know her positions on abortion, foreign policy, or healthcare. &#8230; Just because she&#8217;s your sister doesn&#8217;t mean she agrees with you.”
This would be true for anyone appointed and not just Graham. So, was Behar coming out against the completely constitutional process of temporary appointments?
Additionally, there was no indication that Graham was seeking to run to keep the seat.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sara Haines calls out Behar and Hostin. Haines notes that relatives being appointed to seats when a lawmakers has passed is a common practice by both sides. She also notes such appointments mean the voters of a state get someone who can represent the in a similar way to who they… <a href="https://t.co/V6mUvIBazU">pic.twitter.com/V6mUvIBazU</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://x.com/NickFondacaro/status/2077436935451111854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ultimately, this showed that Behar and Hostin were more interested in stoking fear and outrage among their audience than in ensuring that the citizens of South Carolina were properly represented. Then again, Hostin did lash out, claiming something was “fundamentally wrong” with the state because Graham was their first female senator, so she likely didn’t care about their well-being.
***
Nicholas C. Fondacaro is the associate editor for the Media Research Center and NewsBusters.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG, SARA HAINES, JOY BEHAR, SUNNY HOSTIN, ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN

The View Goes All In Against Lindsey Graham’s Sister

Darline Graham

The View

Senator Lindsey Graham passed away a few days ago from an aortic dissection. He was 71.
The public reaction to his death echoes that of Charlie Kirk&#8217;s last year. There has certainly been a heartening display of sympathy from most of the Right and much of the prominent Left, praising his character and principles if not his politics.
There are also, however, the dregs of society who have dedicated the past few days of their lives towards doing what they do best — spreading misery and hatred.
Graham was a fighter his whole life. After the tragic death of his mother, Graham put himself and his younger sister through college with an ROTC scholarship and later an Air Force salary. He served his country proudly for decades before turning to politics.
It’s time his country returned the favor and protected his legacy from the barrage of disrespect.
In the Senate, he stood up for the West on every front. He was an unequivocal advocate for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine in the halls of Congress, despite immense political pressure from both sides of the aisle. He died only hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine to secure a bipartisan Russian sanctions package. He was a powerful voice against authoritarianism and terrorism across the globe.
He crusaded against the smear campaign on Justice Kavanaugh and regularly called out the hypocrisy of the Left. He was a steadfast voice for our country’s most foundational values.
Graham was also known for his political 180 from a hardline Trump critic to one of his fiercest supporters. Some of his critics will have you believe that this is spinelessness. They’re wrong.
When exactly did it become spineless to admit your mistakes? Graham observed the administration&#8217;s actions and adjusted his judgment accordingly. Is that not the humility that we should look for in a representative?
He was a great man. Even those who disagree with his politics ought to express condolences. 
The contemptible reactions fit squarely into the same two camps. There are the ghouls who celebrate his death as great news, and the ghouls who try to use it to their own ends.
In the words of Mr. Graham himself, only days before he died: “Judge me by my enemies.”
Whenever you call out someone for celebrating political violence, you’re bound to get the usual protests, “But what if it were Hitler? Or Sinwar? Then it would be okay to celebrate his death!” True.
Here’s a little news flash, people: It isn’t Hitler or Sinwar. It’s a truly decent man and one of the greatest statesmen of the century. It’s okay to celebrate the death of vile mass murderers. It’s not okay to celebrate the death of Senators who didn’t vote the way you wanted.
Usually, the latter comes in the form of conspiracy theories.
Iran does not have the capacity to silently and subtly assassinate a sitting United States Senator. Furthermore, Graham devoted much of his life to combating the Iranian threat. If there were any credible chance that they really had assassinated him, it would be the public focus of his family, the President, and a few channels just slightly more official than the legion of online trolls. The same goes for the Russians.
It wasn’t the Jews either. If anyone hasn’t seen Candace in the past few days, it’s probably because she’s working out how the Mossad killed off Israel’s greatest ally in Congress. He was about to turn on Israel any minute now, guys. She has the sources.
No, Lindsey Graham was not assassinated. He died a tragic, but natural death.
Equally detestable are those mainstream political operatives who would use his passing for political angling.
The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum, in her usual tastelessness, did not express any condolences for Graham or his family. Instead, she used his death as an opportunity to promote a recycled hit piece on him entitled <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/07/trumps-collaborators/612250/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3_RouLwI10rEYFfGKtdXD1Y&amp;utm_source=copy-link&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=share">“History Will Judge the Complicit.” </a>
History will judge Lindsey Graham for the hero that he was, Ms. Applebaum. You, on the other hand, will be forgotten altogether with the rest of the soulless vultures who have no regard for human life.
Lindsey Graham is dead. Decent people everywhere mourn him. There’s one less great man in Congress, and one less fighter for the West.
May God bless him, his family, and all that he stood for. That is all there is to say.

Senator Lindsey Graham Speaks On President Trump’s Announcement Of Troop Withdrawal In Syria

If You Have Nothing Nice To Say About Lindsey Graham, Get Your Head Examined

Behind closed doors, Republican Senators on Tuesday watched a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxj8CSi0-Jo">touching and emotional tribute</a> to their late colleague, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham. 
The nearly three-minute video, which highlights Graham’s political career and trademark humor, was shown at the weekly GOP Senate lunch. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) presented the video during the lunch, which <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/2077090129810739434?s=20">one reporter</a> described as a memorial to the late senator. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended.
“Here’s what I can tell you: life can change just like that,” Graham is heard saying, with overlay footage showing him greeting world leaders. “Don’t take it for granted. Don’t take relationships for granted.”
The tribute highlighted Graham’s decades-long military service with the U.S. Air Force and his passionate defense of then-Supreme Court nominee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flashback-the-lindsey-graham-speech-that-turned-the-tide-for-brett-kavanaugh">Brett Kavanaugh</a>, which many political insiders believe helped save his nomination.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Lindsey Graham: An American Original" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cxj8CSi0-Jo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“He was a one-in-a-million,” Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) said in the video. “Someone who could laugh at himself, and was a cut-up, had a great wit, and a great sense of humor.” 
Another moment showed Graham joking with veteran political reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann at a political fundraiser. 
“Have you had anything to drink yet?” Heilemann asked Graham, who responded, “No.”
“Has anybody in this room had anything to drink yet?” Heilemann followed up.
“I hope so,” Graham replied. “I do better with people who drink. The more you drink, the more this will make sense to you. You can see where I’m taking the country.” 
Over the weekend, Graham unexpectedly died at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes to be an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-medical-examiner-releases-preliminary-cause-of-death">aortic dissection</a>. The life-threatening condition is a tear that develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The Republican is said to have notified a staffer that he was suffering chest pain before falling unconscious.  
Despite the medical report, dozens of FBI agents showed up to Graham’s home in Washington, D.C. to investigate the scene out of an abundance of caution. In the Oval Office, President Trump on Tuesday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-splits-with-fbi-questions-decision-to-probe-lindsey-grahams-death?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Splits+With+FBI%2C+Questions+Decision+To+Probe+Lindsey+Graham%E2%80%99s+Death">swatted down conspiracy theories</a> floating online. 
“Supposedly — and I’ve watched all the medical reports, I’ve had the doctors from the White House come in and explain what happened,” Trump said. “This is something that is almost undetectable. If it happens, there’s not much you can do about it. Sounds unfortunate. If you look at — his father died of the same thing at about the same age.”
“I don’t see a lot of evil there. I know there’s all sorts of conspiracy theories going along, but I don’t think the FBI — I think the FBI is wasting their time if they’re doing that,” the president added.
Back on Capitol Hill, Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was sworn in to fill her brother’s seat for the remainder of his term, which expires next January. At the GOP Senate lunch, Republicans reflected on an inspiring message from the ‘Remembering Lindsey Graham’  tribute video. 
“I learned that serving a cause greater than yourself hurts. Anybody in the military can tell you the risk you take. Principle and compromise are not mutually exclusive, and the foundation of a great person, as well as a great nation. If you want to help me, join the march,” Graham said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Darline Graham Nordone takes the oath of office as South Carolina&#8217;s newest senator, filling the seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham. <a href="https://t.co/3rLb4K5d0y">pic.twitter.com/3rLb4K5d0y</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2077100827043361092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></blockquote>

Lindsey Graham Office Memorial

WATCH: The Tribute To Lindsey Graham Tom Cotton Just Showed GOP Senators, Marco Rubio

Senate Republicans

Late on Saturday evening, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died in a sudden and tragic fashion. It was unexpected for everyone.
A few hours later, my wife gave birth to our fifth child, a bouncing baby boy, which led to some internet memes about how Lindsey Graham had been reincarnated in my son.
I&#8217;ll say this: If my son grows up to be a multiple-term senator who stands for American power in the world, never enriches himself from his office, and has the hatred of all the people who hate America the most, that would be pretty great.
You can judge a man by his enemies.
You know who was very happy when Lindsey Graham died? Iran and Russia.
You know who else was really, really happy? The echo chamber of evil; the dirtbag Left and horseshoe Right. They hug each other; they help each other; they maximize each other. They collaborate on destroying America.
They&#8217;re all pretending to be opponents, but they&#8217;re not. They all hate the country.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ben-shapiro-show-ep2463?elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-981859" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/ben-banner.avif" alt="" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/ben-banner.avif 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/ben-banner-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/ben-banner-768x128.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Here&#8217;s the thing: If you are judging who loved the country more — the senator who spent 33 years in the United States military spanning the active duty Air Force, South Carolina Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, the senator who stood for American peace through strength and stood staunchly alongside our allies like Ukraine and Israel against Russia and Iran, the senator who never made a penny off his office — or pseudo-socialists like congressman Ro Khanna, who is worth $250 million, or the influencer class, who get thrills from terrorists and dictators and openly celebrated Graham’s death — I’ll pick Senator Lindsey Graham every single time.
If these are the people who celebrated Lindsey Graham’s death the most, then hell, Lindsey Graham may be one of the best senators of all time.
Lindsey Graham stood for American strength. These jackasses stand for American weakness, surrender, and collapse. They think America is a nefarious force abroad, that America&#8217;s allies are the problem, and that terrorists are freedom fighters against American and Western imperialism. They&#8217;re propagandists for the people who would love to see America laid low.
And, of course, they help each other.
This is not about connecting the dots. It&#8217;s the same dot. They believe the same things. They may disagree from time to time about issues such as transing of the kids, but that&#8217;s pretty much the only issue. The rest of the time, they&#8217;re centered on their primary issue: that America sucks and that America and those who stand for her and her allies are forces of wickedness in the world.
When you think America is imperialistic, when you think it&#8217;s evil, when you think the world would be better off if we were governed by the Chinese, the Russians, the Iranians — all of the people who hate America the most — that our enemies are better than our allies, and that those who stand for America deserve to die, you are the bad guy.
Let&#8217;s be clear. Lindsey Graham was an American success story. He was the son of pool hall owners. They owned a bar. He grew up helping his parents run the business. They lived in a room behind the bar. They moved into a mobile home. He was the first person in his family to go to college. His parents died 15 months apart from one another. His mom had Hodgkin&#8217;s lymphoma. His dad died from a heart attack.
Graham became his sister Darline&#8217;s legal guardian. She&#8217;s nine years younger than he is, and she is the person who&#8217;s going to be replacing him in the Senate.
Graham joined the Air Force ROTC, served as an Air Force JAG officer, and then served in the South Carolina National Guard and Air Force Reserve. He retired as a colonel after 33 years of service to the country.
He was in the U.S. House from 1995 to 2003, and then the U.S. Senate from 2003 until his death over the weekend.
He was an extraordinarily powerful senator. He was chairing the Senate Budget Committee at the time of his death. He had previously chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee. He had served on the Appropriations, Armed Services, and the Environment and Public Works Committee.
And, of course, he was most famous for being extremely national security-oriented, making sure that the United States remained at the forefront of military development. He was the strongest advocate for aid to Ukraine. He was very much in favor of sanctions on Russia and Iran, very pro-Israel, very pro-Saudi. He was very active in debates around NATO. He thought it was important that America remain the global hegemon.
In the 1990s, he was very active in the impeachment of Bill Clinton, was vocally critical of President Trump in 2016, and then later they became close partners. He had some serious legislative accomplishments on issues ranging from law enforcement to the economy. He was very hawkish on border security.
And of course, he was very much known as one of the most congenial members of the United States Senate.
Senator Graham’s ideology was, at its core, extraordinarily pro-American and aligned with American exceptionalism.
Senator Graham was one of the good ones. He will be missed.

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Why Your Enemies May Be The Highest Compliment

Ben Shapiro

Opinion

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