According to Virginia Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield), the still-unfolding scandal involving Democrat attorney general nominee Jay Jones goes deeper than just a few text messages.
Coyner, who was the recipient of several 2022 text messages from Jones advocating for the assassination of then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert, said that Jones had made similar comments to her back in 2020 when they were discussing the idea of qualified immunity for police officers.
“We had a pretty heated conversation about public policy and pain involving qualified immunity,” Coyner told Brandon Jarvis of <a href="https://www.virginiascope.com/coyner-says-jones-told-her-in-a-2020-phone-call-that-a-few-police-officers-dying-would-stop-them-from-killing-other-people/">Virginia Scope</a>.
“I served on the Courts Committee for a short period of time. A bill to remove qualified immunity for police officers, which protects police officers from personal liability in their line of duty and their line of work, and he believed that they should not have qualified immunity, and he was trying to convince me to agree with that,” Coyner explained.
“I said, ‘No, police officers have to make a split second decision about whether or not to shoot a gun to protect themselves or protect others. And if they’re having to think about, will this strip my whole family of everything … are they going to be able to make that split-second decision?’” Coyner recalled, adding, “And I said, ‘I believe that people will get killed. Police officers will get killed.’ And he said, ‘Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.’ And I said, ‘that’s insane.’”
“But he firmly believed that if you removed qualified immunity, that police officers would act differently, and I firmly believe that it would not result in good public policy, and it would put police officers and the public’s lives at risk if they have to second-guess themselves on a decision they’re making in a moment where someone is doing something violent,” she said.
Jones — who did put his name behind legislation ending qualified immunity for police officers — did not speak directly with Virginia Scope, but provided a statement claiming that he had never said any such thing.
“I did not say this. I have never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement, period. Every single day, police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities, and I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice. As Attorney General, I will work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to support their work,” the statement read.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) campaigns as the Democratic nominee in the Virginia’s governor’s race.

Jay Jones Text Scandal Just Got Worse: Here Are The Others Ex-Colleague Says He Wanted Dead

Jay Jones

Media

Police

Political Violence

Politics

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded CNN&#8217;s Kaitlan Collins that, as a reporter, it was her job to get to the bottom of things rather than to simply accept whatever party line came from the people in power.
While addressing the ongoing situation in Portland, Oregon — where Antifa rioters have squared off against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers while local police stand down and independent journalists get caught in the crossfire — Collins suggested that President Donald Trump&#8217;s plan to send in the National Guard was unnecessary.
&#8220;I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week. He said that the president&#8217;s claims just don&#8217;t match up with what&#8217;s happening on the ground,&#8221; Collins said, asking Leavitt whether she&#8217;d spoken to anyone who was in favor of a National Guard presence.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> smacks down Fake News <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a> for denying Portland crime: &#8220;I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself&#8230; You&#8217;re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this President does.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ZVjKMBooVK">pic.twitter.com/ZVjKMBooVK</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1975254876004491792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself, because there&#8217;s been many members of the press — not the press in this room but independent journalists — some of whom we&#8217;ll be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;Because they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night. It&#8217;s on video!&#8221;
&#8220;You should play it on your show — you have a great opportunity in primetime on CNN to show your audience —&#8221; Collins started to interrupt, but Leavitt kept going. &#8220;You&#8217;re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does.&#8221;
She also encouraged Collins to speak to the people who live in Portland and ask them how they felt about the chaos that was unfolding on their streets every night.
&#8220;These people are not there to peacefully protest, they are there to cause mayhem and havoc,&#8221; Leavitt said of the protesters.

Media Briefing Held By White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

‘Take A Look For Yourself’: Press Sec Challenges CNN Reporter To Actually Report

Kaitlan Collins

Karoline Leavitt

National Guard

Oregon

Portland

Virginia Democrat Jay Jones, under fire for three-year-old texts in which he advocated the assassination of a political opponent, found no support on Monday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Host Mika Brzezinski brought up the topic, noting that the messages were so disturbing she hesitated to read them on air. Co-hosts Jonathan Lemire and John Heilemann appeared to share her sentiment, expressing similar discomfort with the content.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The DNC hacks over at Morning Joe are now calling for Jay Jones to get out of the race.
The propaganda press is suddenly turning on Jones after being mum all weekend. <a href="https://t.co/3i4obiuWZG">https://t.co/3i4obiuWZG</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZBVGAC2SIQ">pic.twitter.com/ZBVGAC2SIQ</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1975201593038619061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“[The] text messages, horrible, I didn’t even want to read them out loud,” Brzezinski began. “How did the — I’m wondering how the text messages came to light?”
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“Deep — deeply disturbing messages,” Lemire agreed, immediately and repeatedly insisting that condemnation of Jones’ texts had come from both sides of the aisle. “Messages that have been swiftly condemned across the political aisle. The Republicans have tried to tie this to the — Congresswoman Spanberger, the gubernatorial candidate, she did very quickly denounce them.”
Spanberger did issue a statement voicing her “disgust” over the messages, but she — and many other Democrats stopped short of calling on him to drop out of the race:
<blockquote>&#8220;After learning of these comments earlier today, I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted. I made clear to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words. What I have also made clear is that as a candidate — and the next Governor of our Commonwealth, I will always condemn violent language in our politics.&#8221;</blockquote>
“But it&#8217;s unclear whether this attorney general candidate will stay in the race,” Lemire concluded. “I think there&#8217;s a growing sense that he probably should not. We heard from President Trump last night, but even some Democrat leaders, John Heilemann, have started to say, look, this is inappropriate, you can&#8217;t — and especially at a time right now with such concern about violent rhetoric and political violence — that this is just way beyond the line.”
“Who says that?” Brzezinski interjected.
Heilemann agreed with Lemire’s take, adding, “I would say, not to be too much on the high horse, it’s wildly inappropriate under any circumstances — today, tomorrow, ten years ago, six months ago — I think the pressure is going to be on Spanberger to — and for the whole of the party to ask this candidate to just quit the race because just — both because it&#8217;s the right thing and also the political splash back.”

US-NEWS-VA-AG-JONES-VP

‘I Didn’t Want To Read Them Out Loud’: Even ‘Morning Joe’ Isn’t Standing Up For Vile Jay Jones Texts

'I Didn't Want To Read Them Out Loud': Even 'Morning Joe' Isn't Standing Up For Vile Jay Jones Texts

Democrats

Mika Brzezinski

Morning Joe

MSNBC

Virginia

Legacy media outlets appear to have absolutely zero curiosity when it comes to the text-message scandal building around Jay Jones — the current Democratic nominee for state attorney general in Virginia — as evidenced by the glaring lack of coverage they gave it on the Sunday morning political talk shows.
For those who don&#8217;t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week&#8217;s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.
This week, what was most notable about media coverage across the networks was not where the spin was so mush as where it wasn&#8217;t. Less than 48 hours had passed since the texts — sent by Jones in 2022 and containing overt statements advocating for the assassination of a political opponent — went viral, and in that time, not one national Democrat had publicly condemned Jones or called for him to step out of the race. Despite all that, not one host of one show — &#8220;This Week&#8221; on ABC, &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; on CBS, &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; on NBC, or &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; on CNN — raised the question with their guests.
The topic did come up once — on &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; — but it was one of the guests who mentioned it during a panel discussion. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-biden-adviser-blows-off-despicable-jay-jones-texts-a-private-conversation">Marc Short</a>, who served as former Vice President Mike Pence&#8217;s chief of staff, mentioned Jones in the context of the many Democrats who had spent days in a public group meltdown over a few memes featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) with a fake mustache and a sombrero.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BONKERS. Neera Tanden excuses Virginia Democrat AG candidate Jay Jones calling for the assassination of a Republican leader and his kids as just merely just a “private conversation.”
Utterly disgraceful. 🤡🤡🤡🤡 
<a href="https://t.co/N5KEyFZHPU">pic.twitter.com/N5KEyFZHPU</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1974871008147616176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“Can we stop with the pearl-clutching about the mean tweets and the sombrero tweets?” he asked. “This week it came to light that a Democrat candidate for attorney general in the state of Virginia called for the assassination of a political opponent, called for the assassination of that political opponent’s family, and there’s not one national Democrat calling for him to step aside — not one! It’s disgraceful.”
Host Kristen Welker conceded that the text scandal was likely to become a bigger story — but gave no insight as to why, if she believed that to be true, she had not raised the question herself. She then pivoted to Neera Tanden, who worked in former President Joe Biden&#8217;s White House, to address the situation.
&#8220;I mean, I absolutely think people should criticize that, 100%,” Tanden began, but then almost immediately attempted to turn the argument back on President Donald Trump. &#8220;I think it was a private conversation he had, but still awful and disgusting … it should be condemned, but then we should condemn that, but then you should condemn when the president calls the Democratic Party the ‘party of satan.&#8217;”
After some cross talk from both Short and Tanden, Short once again stressed his original point: that not one national Democrat had come out to condemn Jones or call for his resignation.
&#8220;The fact that not one Democrat has stood up when he called for a political assassination in this moment of political violence is crazy,&#8221; he said.
Jones had sent the texts in question three years earlier, in 2022, calling for former state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-VA) to be murdered. “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones texted to Del. Carrie Coyner (R) at the time. “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
In other messages, he&#8217;d also claimed that Gilbert would not change his political positions unless he and his wife had to watch one of their children die — and that he&#8217;d attend the funerals of Republican lawmakers in order to &#8220;piss on their graves.&#8221;
Vice President JD Vance also noted the lack of Democrats distancing themselves from Jones and his vile text messages, saying, &#8220;The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages. I&#8217;m sure the people hyperventilating about sombrero memes will join me in calling for this very deranged person to drop out of the race.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages. I&#8217;m sure the people hyperventilating about sombrero memes will join me in calling for this very deranged person to drop out of the race. <a href="https://t.co/ZapsWc9VFG">https://t.co/ZapsWc9VFG</a>
— JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1974549343744205204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-funny-trump-trashes-jay-jones-over-sick-and-demented-texts-advocating-political-violence">President Trump</a> also called for Jones to exit the race &#8220;immediately,&#8221; endorsing his opponent Attorney General Jason Miyares (R-VA) and adding, &#8220;It has just come out that the Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones, who is running against Jason Miyares, the GREAT Attorney General in Virginia, made SICK and DEMENTED jokes, if they were jokes at all, which were not funny, and that he wrote down and sent around to people, concerning the murdering of a Republican Legislator, his wife, and their children.&#8221;
And in the state of Virginia, the situation is even worse — in addition to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virginia-dems-say-candidate-who-fantasized-about-murdering-gop-leader-is-better-than-republicans">not condemning Jones</a>, a number have either remained entirely silent on the issue or have come out and said that no matter what he&#8217;d said in the past, the current race was too important to allow a Republican to win.
<a href="https://x.com/jaaavis/status/1974237981268381718?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louise Lucas</a>, president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate and a marijuana dispensary co-owner, said in a statement, “There is no place for political violence or violent rhetoric in our public discourse, and Jay must take accountability for his actions. But we will not allow this moment to overshadow the stakes of this election. … The choice before us is far bigger than this mistake.”

Spin Cycle: Jay Who? Sunday Shows Black Out Dem Scandal Rocking Virginia

ABC News

CBS News

NBC News

President Donald Trump called out Virginia Democrat Jay Jones over nasty text messages he sent in 2022 — in which he suggested that then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert should be shot — and said that Jones should do the right thing and resign his campaign.
Trump made the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115322323424244142">statement</a> on Sunday via his Truth Social platform, and in addition to calling on Jones to resign from the campaign, he declared that current Attorney General Jason Miyares (R-VA) had his full support in the race.
&#8220;It has just come out that the Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones, who is running against Jason Miyares, the GREAT Attorney General in Virginia, made SICK and DEMENTED jokes, if they were jokes at all, which were not funny, and that he wrote down and sent around to people, concerning the murdering of a Republican Legislator, his wife, and their children,&#8221; Trump posted.
The president went on to note that Virginia Democrats were not doing enough to distance themselves and the party from Jones and his previous statements.
&#8220;Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor, is weak and ineffective, and refuses to acknowledge what this Lunatic has done. Even Democrats are saying it is &#8216;RESIGNATION FROM CAMPAIGN&#8217; TERRITORY,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Democrat Jay Jones should drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY, and the People of Virginia must continue to have a GREAT Attorney General in Jason Miyares who, by the way, has my Complete and Total Endorsement — JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!&#8221;
Jones made national headlines on Friday when a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reject-the-insanity-winsome-sears-hits-virginia-dems-with-ad-highlighting-vile-jay-jones-texts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series of his texts</a> from 2022 were published.
&#8220;Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones texted to Del. Carrie Coyner (R) at the time. “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.&#8221;
Jones also stated in another text that he would attend the funerals of Republican lawmakers in order to &#8220;piss on their graves,&#8221; and claimed that Gilbert would not be moved to change his political positions unless he and his wife had to watch one of their own children die.

President Trump Departs Morristown Airport En Route To Washington, DC

‘Not Funny’: Trump Trashes Jay Jones Over ‘Sick And Demented’ Texts Advocating Political Violence

'Not Funny': Trump Trashes Jay Jones Over 'Sick And Demented' Texts Advocating Political Violence

Donald Trump

Jason Miyares

Winsome Sears

Gubernatorial candidate Winsome Sears (R-VA) hit Democrats in her state with a brutal ad after they failed to condemn their own candidate for state attorney general, Jay Jones, over resurfaced texts in which he advocated for violence against his political opponents.
&#8220;Reject the insanity,&#8221; the ad challenged, showing the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/read-them-virginia-dem-sent-shocking-texts-about-killing-gop-leader-pissing-on-graves">texts</a> Jones had sent in 2022, calling for former state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-VA) to be murdered. &#8220;Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones texted to Del. Carrie Coyner (R) at the time. “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 NEW AD: Jay Jones dreamed of murdering two young kids and their dad over politics—and Abigail Spanberger wants him to be attorney general. <a href="https://t.co/RoipSKn436">pic.twitter.com/RoipSKn436</a>
— Winsome Earle-Sears (@winwithwinsome) <a href="https://twitter.com/winwithwinsome/status/1974832866388566097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The ad showed some of the fallout in reaction to the texts and other comments Jones had made, including saying that he&#8217;d attend the funerals of Republican lawmakers in order to &#8220;piss on their graves&#8221; and suggesting that Gilbert might change his political positions if he and his wife were forced to watch one of their children die.
Immediately after shining a light on Jones and his comments, the ad pivoted to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and a few other Democratic candidates, none of whom have denounced Jones or called for him to bow out of the race.
In fact, Democrats in Virginia had largely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virginia-dems-say-candidate-who-fantasized-about-murdering-gop-leader-is-better-than-republicans">doubled down</a> on Jones, as The Daily Wire previously reported, suggesting that he was still better than any potential Republican alternative.
<a href="https://x.com/jaaavis/status/1974237981268381718?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louise Lucas</a>, president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate and a marijuana dispensary co-owner, said in a statement, “There is no place for political violence or violent rhetoric in our public discourse, and Jay must take accountability for his actions. But we will not allow this moment to overshadow the stakes of this election. … The choice before us is far bigger than this mistake.&#8221;
Sears has called for Jones to <a href="https://x.com/winwithwinsome/status/1974309829998195166">remove himself</a> from the race — and even The Washington Post has raised the question as to whether or not a person making statements like Jones did had the &#8220;temperament&#8221; to serve in elected office.
&#8220;Curbing the epidemic of political violence will require leaders who do not incessantly inflame routine partisan conflict,&#8221; the WaPo piece read. &#8220;But text messages that Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, sent to a GOP legislator, which emerged Friday afternoon, cast doubt on whether he has the temperament to become the state&#8217;s top law enforcement officer.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
When a Democrat has lost The Washington Post, he’s got big problems.
Jay Jones should do the right thing and withdraw from the race.
Abigail Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi should do the right thing and call on Jay Jones to withdraw.
He does not have the temperament to lead. <a href="https://t.co/5DrHucmYZg">pic.twitter.com/5DrHucmYZg</a>
— Virginia GOP (@VA_GOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VA_GOP/status/1974513623440466125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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‘Reject The Insanity’: Winsome Sears Hits Virginia Dems With Ad Highlighting Vile Jay Jones Texts

'Reject The Insanity': Winsome Sears Hits Virginia Dems With Ad Highlighting Vile Jay Jones Texts

Democrats have repeatedly insisted that they did not shut the government down over a demand for healthcare for illegal aliens, and several of them have expressed their displeasure at the media outlets willing to call them out on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yes-democrats-want-to-give-illegals-free-healthcare-here-are-the-facts">that lie</a>.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) got testy with &#8220;CBS Mornings&#8221; host Tony Dokoupil on Thursday, claiming that it wasn&#8217;t &#8220;strictly true&#8221; when he challenged her directly on the issue.
&#8220;So, Senator, you know, Republicans say what you’re really fighting for is taxpayer dollars for, as they put it, illegal aliens. I know that’s not strictly true but there is a provision –&#8221; Dokoupil began.
&#8220;Oh, excuse me, not strictly true,&#8221; Warren&#8217;s protest was immediate.
&#8220;It’s not directly true, but –&#8221; Dokoupil tried again.
&#8220;It is a flat-out lie. It is a flat-out lie,&#8221; Warren insisted. &#8220;There is nothing in Medicaid, nothing in Medicare, that permits one undocumented immigrant to get one dollar of assistance. None.&#8221;
&#8220;Sorry, in the Democratic counteroffer the proposal for funding, there is a restoration of Medicaid benefits for certain noncitizens that had been taken away in the &#8216;Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8217; as Republicans put it,&#8221; Dokoupil pushed back.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren explodes when ‘CBS Mornings’ co-host Tony Dokoupil points out Democrats do, in fact, want to provide health care to “noncitizens…on the taxpayer dime.”
Warren snapped back by declaring “it’s not strictly true” and “a flat-out lie”….… <a href="https://t.co/fOSqgcSdUI">pic.twitter.com/fOSqgcSdUI</a>
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1973743570755506319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CNN, a very similar scene played out between anchor Jake Tapper and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
&#8220;Here&#8217;s a provision &#8230; it shows you want to give illegal aliens healthcare,&#8221; Tapper noted.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-1322">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a> 
&#8220;It&#8217;s a lie!&#8221; Jeffries protested.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a lie — but, what you support does bring back funding for emergency Medicaid to hospitals, which pays for undocumented immigrants &#8230; and a provision for people seeking asylum and &#8216;temporary protected status,&#8217; noncitizens &#8230; why even include that?&#8221; Tapper asked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Hakeem Jeffries REGRETS going on CNN, Jake Tapper just embarrassed him. <a href="https://t.co/KmdS9gMxJN">pic.twitter.com/KmdS9gMxJN</a>
TAPPER: Here&#8217;s a provision&#8230;it shows you want to give illegal aliens healthcare&#8230;
JEFFRIES: It&#8217;s a lie!
TAPPER: It&#8217;s a lie &#8211; BUT, what you support DOES bring back…
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1973515804919345641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) attempted to claim that she&#8217;d never heard anyone in her party calling for providing healthcare for illegals — and Fox News host Lawrence Jones responded with video evidence of members of her party doing exactly that.
&#8220;I haven&#8217;t heard anybody in my party saying illegal immigrants should get access to the health insurance marketplace,&#8221; she said.
Jones showed a clip of Democrats on the 2020 debate stage, and then replied, &#8220;That&#8217;s literally every member of your party from moderate to more progressive that have said that in the past.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: I haven&#8217;t heard anybody in my party saying illegals should get taxpayer-funded health care!
*ROLLS THE TAPE*
Fox: &#8220;That&#8217;s literally every member of your party from moderate to more progressive&#8230;&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ziu6pMhLKO">pic.twitter.com/ziu6pMhLKO</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973728411085578487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Republicans shared the receipts in a post to X, highlighting the relevant portion of the resolution: &#8220;It’s right there on paper. Democrats are fighting for healthcare for illegal aliens, NOT the American people.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It’s right there on paper.
Democrats are fighting for healthcare for illegal aliens, NOT the American people. <a href="https://t.co/HIRQyu9lZK">https://t.co/HIRQyu9lZK</a> <a href="https://t.co/qaj4KGzBIj">pic.twitter.com/qaj4KGzBIj</a>
— GOP (@GOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOP/status/1973800680055009462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And it&#8217;s not a new position, either. Several people posted videos and still photos from one of the 2020 Democratic primary debates, when every Democrat on the stage raised a hand to confirm that all of their healthcare plans would include coverage for &#8220;undocumented immigrants.&#8221;
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The question was:
Raise your hand if your healthcare plan covers illegal immigrants. <a href="https://t.co/xS4WYIZCo5">pic.twitter.com/xS4WYIZCo5</a>
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1973540060529303939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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US-VOTE-2020-DEMOCRATS-DEBATE-POLITICS-ELECTION

Dems Peeved That Media Sees Through Their ‘No Healthcare For Illegals’ Lie

Dems Peeved That Media Sees Through Their 'No Health Care For Illegals' Lie

Elizabeth Warren

Government Shutdown

Hakeem Jeffries

illegal alien

Illegal Immigration

Jake Tapper

CBS News is reportedly set to name Bari Weiss as its inaugural editor-in-chief after Paramount inked a deal to buy Weiss’ outlet, The Free Press, for $150 million.
Weiss will report directly to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, circumventing both CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS president George Cheeks, who typically oversees all CBS News executives, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/10/02/media/paramount-skydance-to-name-bari-weiss-editor-in-chief-of-cbs-news-sources/">New York Post</a>.
Weiss’ The Free Press will not be incorporated into CBS News, but will remain a standalone property under Paramount.
The $150 million buyout of The Free Press involves cash and stock options, according to the Post.
Weiss will move to helm the news division at CBS, vaulting her over reporters and anchors to have a significant hand in managing the editorial direction of the outlet, a remarkable comeback for a journalist who left The New York Times under controversial circumstances five years ago.
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Weiss has long been seen as an independent voice since her departure from the opinion page of The New York Times in 2020. In her resignation letter, Weiss <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/business/media/bari-weiss-resignation-new-york-times.html">cited</a> “bullying by colleagues” and an “illiberal environment” among her reasons for leaving the paper. With the deal with Paramount, Weiss has sprung into a highly influential position as media organizations grapple with the heavy progressive slant that the largest outfits have operated under for decades.
Paramount’s decision to move Weiss to the helm of CBS News reflects a new dynamic in corporate media to invite in voices that are more critical of the political Left wing of the country. Though Weiss is not a conservative, she is friendly with many on the Right, often inviting them to come on her podcast “Honestly,” and her ascension should be seen as a positive development for conservatives who want to see a more balanced approach to politics in corporate media.

Bari Weiss

Bari Weiss To Direct CBS News As Editor-In-Chief As Part Of Free Press Deal: Report

Legacy Media

Actress and activist Jane Fonda has coined a new slogan for her Hollywood &#8220;resistance&#8221; group — and it just so happens to share its initials with cable news giant CNN.
Fonda joined CNN anchor Dana Bash on Thursday to promote the newly relaunched Committee for the First Amendment — a group that was first formed in the 1940s as a backstop against McCarthy-era blacklists in the entertainment industry. Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda&#8217;s late father, was one of the group&#8217;s original members.
&#8220;No president has ever sent troops into the Democratic cities across the country saying full force,&#8221; Fonda said. &#8220;No president, as far as I know, has tried to control the Federal Reserve, the central bank. He is amassing power in a way that will destroy our democracy. And so we‘re going to stand up. We‘re creatives. We‘re storytellers. We can do it creatively. We can have a good time while we do it.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Jane Fonda: I’ve come up with a slogan for our Hollywood resistance group that uses the acronym &#8216;CNN.&#8217;
Dana Bash: We’ll take it!
Jane Fonda: Good. I knew you would.
This is CNN. <a href="https://t.co/2nUnZMMNYa">pic.twitter.com/2nUnZMMNYa</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1973435532459044936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Our statement is, &#8216;When they come for one of us, they come for all of us&#8217; — Oh! I thought of this last night,&#8221; Fonda said. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to engage in Creative Non-violent Non-cooperation. CNN.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;ll take it,&#8221; Bash replied.
&#8220;Good, I knew you would,&#8221; Fonda added, and they both laughed.
The actress confirmed that she had bigger plans in the works, saying that she also planned to create a PAC and encourage like-minded candidates to run for office.
&#8220;We‘re going to have a good group, and we‘re going to have fun doing it,&#8221; Fonda said. &#8220;But I also have a PAC, a climate PAC that elects people all over the country because I don‘t feel that our leaders are doing what they need to do. And if you can‘t change the people, change the people. That‘s what we‘re doing,&#8221; she said.
The group, according to its <a href="https://www.committeeforthefirstamendment.com">website</a>, has already ballooned into the hundreds — from show-runners and directors to A-list actors and musicians — all of whom who are ready to &#8220;stand together in defense of our constitutional rights.&#8221;

Jasne Fonda

Jane Fonda Ties CNN To Anti-Trump Hollywood Group, And Dana Bash Is All In

Celebrities

Hollywood

Jane Fonda

Vice President JD Vance gave his word on Wednesday that memes mocking House and Senate Minority Leaders Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would stop if Jeffries would help end the ongoing government shutdown.
Vance stepped into the White House briefing room to address the press corps and offered his &#8220;solemn promise&#8221; to put an end to the memes, provided Jeffries helped steer his party toward a compromise.
WATCH:
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🚨 LMFAO! JD Vance just responded to Hakeem Jeffries being offended by Trump&#8217;s memes
&#8220;I will tell Hakeem Jeffries right now, I make a solemn promise to you, that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes WILL stop!&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve talked to the President about that.&#8221; 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/DkJy5t5ooe">pic.twitter.com/DkJy5t5ooe</a>
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1973443709439189176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Vance explained that the memes — which showed Jeffries with a fake mustache and sombrero and Schumer complaining about the Democratic Party — were made in an effort to &#8220;poke fun at the absurdity&#8221; of some of the demands being made by Democrats with regard to any agreement to fund the government going forward.
&#8220;I will tell Hakeem Jeffries right now, I make a solemn promise to you, that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes will stop!&#8221; Vance added, prompting laughter around the briefing room. &#8220;And I&#8217;ve talked to the President of the United States about that.&#8221;
Vance went on to say that, in all seriousness, if there were any Senate Democrats who wanted to negotiate a deal to reopen the government, he would be glad to take part.
The memes began with one video posted to President Trump&#8217;s account on X and Truth Social:
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<a href="https://t.co/JzQYLShOCt">pic.twitter.com/JzQYLShOCt</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1972822596397003159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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When Jeffries responded by complaining about the &#8220;racist&#8221; nature of the meme. &#8220;The next time you have something to say about me, don’t cop out through a racist and fake AI video! When I’m back in the Oval Office, say it to my face!&#8221; he demanded.
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Hakeem Jeffries is very upset about Trump’s video depicting him with a mustache and a sombrero: “The next time you have something to say about me, don’t cop out through a racist and fake AI video! When I’m back in the Oval Office, say it to my face!”
😂<a href="https://t.co/aYwRrWtM9z">pic.twitter.com/aYwRrWtM9z</a>
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/1973043373956296796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Jeffries continued to complain about the meme during an appearance on MSNBC with host Lawrence O&#8217;Donnell, and Trump responded with a meme made from a clip of that interview.
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<a href="https://t.co/2yyuRkm9r8">pic.twitter.com/2yyuRkm9r8</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1973218518893207825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senate Republicans Advance Trump Tax Bill On Crucial Test Vote

‘A Solemn Promise’: Vance Swears Sombrero Memes Will Stop If Hakeem Jeffries Helps End Shutdown

'A Solemn Promise': Vance Swears Sombrero Memes Will Stop If Hakeem Jeffries Helps End Shutdown

Chuck Schumer

JD Vance

Memes

Former White House official Alyssa Farah Griffin argued on Wednesday that President Donald Trump absolutely “has a plan” for the ongoing government shutdown and how to best use it to his advantage, saying that Democrats were unlikely to enjoy the eventual outcome.
The ABC midday talk show opened with a discussion between Griffin and the other co-hosts about the shutdown that Senate Democrats triggered on Tuesday — and who was more likely to be blamed if the parties were unable to quickly reach an agreement and get things reopened.
WATCH:
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WHICH PARTY WILL BE BLAMED FOR SHUTDOWN? &#8216;The View&#8217; co-hosts weigh in after the American government shut down at midnight Tuesday following a last-ditch funding vote failing in the Senate. <a href="https://t.co/PjRuL2Kb4J">pic.twitter.com/PjRuL2Kb4J</a>
— The View (@TheView) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheView/status/1973427689626157486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Griffin cited polling that suggested Democrats were likely to feel the brunt of the public’s anger, saying, “There’s polling out there that says, well, 4% will blame Republicans and 23% are going to blame Dems. Another 34% of Americans blame both sides.”
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“Even on the Obamacare subsidies, you could pass it as a stand-alone bill,” she added, referencing one of the key sticking-point issues. “It does not need to be tied to shutting down the government. What I constantly hear is Donald Trump has too much power. The White House, the executive branch, has too much power. By shutting down the federal government, Congress, you’ve given up spending power.”
Griffin went on to insist that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) would surely have “figured it out.”
“Well, yeah, she did figure it out,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg agreed, and then complained that the real problem was that Republicans weren’t bending to the whims of holdout Democrats.
“We just need a better person to compromise with. We need somebody who is willing to compromise,” Goldberg continued. “[Trump said] that he’ll go to work on Democrats during the shutdown. It’s like, why are you going to work on us? We’re trying to work with you. He wouldn’t meet with them.”
“But that’s my warning to Democrats. Donald Trump wants the shutdown. You guys shouldn’t have given what he wanted because it means he’s got a plan and I don’t think you’re going to like the outcome,” Griffin concluded.

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

‘The View’ Host Warns Trump Will Absolutely Use A Shutdown To His Advantage: ‘He’s Got A Plan’

'The View' Host Warns Trump Will Absolutely Use A Shutdown To His Advantage: 'He's Got A Plan'

Alyssa Farah Griffin

The View

As Democrats forced a government shutdown, The Washington Post Editorial Board issued a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/01/government-shutdown-democrats-progressives-freedom-caucus/">warning</a> — which apparently fell on deaf ears — predicting that their strategy was likely to backfire and ultimately favor President Donald Trump.
According to the Post, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had attempted to split the baby in the final hours, asking whether others in his party might be amenable to a short-term agreement that would buy them more time to negotiate — and he was met with an adamant refusal from Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX): “Hell no.”
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chuck-schumer-forcefully-made-the-case-that-biden-should-bow-out-report">progressive wing</a> of the Democratic Party — along with a number of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/msnbc-host-rage-quits-democratic-party-on-air-blames-chuck-schumer-for-caving">far-left media personalities</a> — blamed Schumer for “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-think-you-caved-schumer-gets-an-absolute-grilling-on-the-view">caving</a>” to Republicans during the last shutdown battle, after he argued it was better to keep the government open than risk a shutdown over demands the GOP-controlled Congress would never accept. But with the looming threat of a primary from his left — which could potentially involve self-described Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — Schumer has thus far allowed the progressives to drive the current shutdown fight.
But that refusal to negotiate may come back to bite progressive Democrats in the very near future, the Post argued, comparing the Progressive Caucus to the Freedom Caucus on the Republican side of the aisle.
“Progressives embraced the same disastrous mentality that led the House Freedom Caucus to believe it could come out ahead in previous government funding standoffs: They wrongly assumed their political leverage would withstand the ensuing fallout,” the Post explained. “Left-wing Democrats, like the Freedom Caucus before them, enter this shutdown in a position of weakness. President Donald Trump and his budget director, Russell Vought, now have extraordinary authority to choose which agencies to close, what spending to prioritize and even which government workers to lay off.”
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President Trump also warned Democrats ahead of the shutdown to be careful what they wished for, adding, “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible.”
Indeed, the Post’s Editorial Board is predicting that Trump will absolutely make good on that promise — and he’s likely to do so in a way that “maximizes pain” for the Democrats who continue to embrace the role of “roadblock” to his administration’s agenda.
“The Freedom Caucus’s tactics have failed to achieve Republicans’ goals every time. There is no reason to think this shutdown will end any differently for its left-wing counterpart. The most likely outcome is that Democrats will come to regret having just walked into a trap,” the Board concluded.

‘It’s A Trap!’: Even WaPo’s Editorial Board Warns Democrats A Shutdown Favors Trump

'It's A Trap!': Even WaPo's Editorial Board Warns Democrats A Shutdown Favors Trump

Washington Post

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