Democrats and and their media surrogates have made it abundantly clear that they&#8217;re not going to let go of their chosen narrative surrounding War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Admiral Mitch Bradley, and how many strikes are necessary to neutralize the threat posed by Venezuelan narco-terrorists.
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.
A story that should have been on life-support by Sunday morning — published eight days earlier by The Washington Post — somehow still had legs. The initial story cited anonymous sources and described the scene that played out after SEAL Team 6 struck a boat that intelligence had identified as part of a drug-running operation.
According to the WaPo report, Hegseth issued a clear order: &#8220;Kill them all.&#8221; When the first strike left two survivors, the story alleged, a second order was given and another strike followed — this one taking out the remaining individuals on the scene.
What followed was a mad scramble for Democrats and media to take up the torch for those two survivors and give them the most sympathetic makeover possible. They were helpless, Democrats claimed, clinging to the wreckage of their boat and just hoping against hope that they might survive. Targeting unarmed survivors, they claimed, was nothing short of a war crime.
Over the following days, however, new reports added dimension to the story. ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz — who had helped sell the &#8220;helpless survivor&#8221; narrative just days earlier with &#8220;This Week&#8221; host Jonathan Karl — reported that the boat had apparently been disabled but not destroyed by the first strike. In addition, she cited sources who&#8217;d said the operators were in contact with the Judge Advocate General&#8217;s office in real time — and that because they&#8217;d believed the survivors were attempting to contact someone for help and salvage their illicit cargo, they were deemed lawful enemy combatants.
Still, the hosts of the Sunday morning shows brought in a whole new slate of guests, most of whom continued to hawk the war crimes narrative in any market where they believed it would fly.
On &#8220;This Week,&#8221; Rep. Adam Smith raised the question of land strikes in Venezuela, complaining that President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration — the War Department in particular — had not kept him and others in Congress in the loop.
&#8220;They have not kept us informed on this, they did not inform us of these strikes,&#8221; he said.
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Rep. Adam Smith tells George Stephanopoulos that he has not been briefed on the possibility of land strikes in Venezuela. Referring to the Department of Defense, he said: “They have not kept us informed on this, they did not inform us of these strikes.” <a href="https://t.co/K7SoJZoCdk">pic.twitter.com/K7SoJZoCdk</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1997701054511632452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Smith also called for the public release of video from the strike in question, claiming that President Donald Trump was trying to avoid doing so.
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Rep. Adam Smith calls for the release of the videos shown to lawmakers of U.S. strikes against one suspected drug boat on Sept. 2. <a href="https://t.co/AtDV1HPtg3">pic.twitter.com/AtDV1HPtg3</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1997698092397645930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Following the release of the Inspector General&#8217;s report — regarding Hegseth&#8217;s use of the Signal messaging app to share information about a strike on Houthi terrorists — Smith also suggested that the War Secretary wasn&#8217;t taking the right approach: &#8220;It&#8217;s perfectly okay to look back at past actions and say, ‘Yeah, I didn&#8217;t do that right.'&#8221;
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Rep. Adam Smith criticizes Sec. Hegseth’s response to the inspector general&#8217;s report on the alleged release of sensitive information on the Signal messaging app.
“It&#8217;s perfectly okay to look back at past actions and say, ‘Yeah, I didn&#8217;t do that right.’” <a href="https://t.co/eIjxnABn3b">pic.twitter.com/eIjxnABn3b</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1997682715890700594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CBS News, Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) constructed what was supposed to look like a thought experiment, behind which he hid an attack on Admiral Bradley&#8217;s character.
&#8220;Anyone who has ever worked with Admiral Bradley will tell you that he has a storied career and that he is a man of deep, deep integrity. And frankly, I have no reason to doubt that,” Himes said before pivoting to wonder aloud whether Bradley might compromise that integrity under pressure. “What happens when an apparently good man like Admiral Bradley is placed in a context where he knows that if he countermands an order that he is perhaps uncomfortable with, it is very likely that he will be fired? It’s interesting to think about how a good man in that context maybe does something that if he weren’t in that context he might not do.&#8221;
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On the alleged Venezuelan drug boat strikes, <a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a> asked Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/jahimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jahimes</a> (D-CT) if he has confidence in Admiral Bradley.
“Anyone who has ever worked with Admiral Bradley will tell you that he has a storied career and that he is a man of deep, deep integrity. And frankly, I… <a href="https://t.co/Lv7AhPQYa1">pic.twitter.com/Lv7AhPQYa1</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1997761860200771693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Himes also claimed that the people on the boats were likely low-level drug runners, meaning that the cartel bosses were not necessarily feeling the sting.
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Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/jahimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jahimes</a> (D-CT) tells <a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a> he does not believe all the identities of those on the alleged Venezuelan drug boats are known. He says the U.S. strikes are hitting low-level operatives, not high-ranking cartel leaders, leaving the top figures in comfortable villas while… <a href="https://t.co/fec6gEQjI5">pic.twitter.com/fec6gEQjI5</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1997763814524096587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) used back on &#8220;This Week,&#8221; however.
Democrats &#8220;have such X-ray vision and clairvoyance that they know the intentions of narco-terrorists on boats, yet were so blind to see that they had a President for four years that was operating as a vegetable&#8230; Forgive me if I&#8217;m a little skeptical,&#8221; he declared.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenEricSchmitt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenEricSchmitt</a>: Democrats &#8220;have such X-ray vision and clairvoyance that they know the intentions of narco-terrorists on boats, yet were so blind to see that they had a President for four years that was operating as a vegetable&#8230; Forgive me if I&#8217;m a little skeptical.&#8221; 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/fgyMRbrnel">pic.twitter.com/fgyMRbrnel</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1997687852566737239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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President Trump And Pete Hegseth Address U.S. Senior Military Leaders At Quantico

Spin Cycle: Media, Democrats Still Mad At Pete Hegseth For Doing His Job

ABC News

CBS News

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Pete Hegseth

Politics

The Washington Post ran with an anonymously-sourced <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/">hit piece</a> claiming that War Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered Seal Team 6, when executing a strike against narco-terrorists in the Caribbean, to &#8220;kill them all&#8221; — and legacy media outlets fell all over themselves platforming guests who would question whether or not such an order, if given, was legal.
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.
Once the story began circulating on Saturday, Hegseth <a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/1994552598142038358">addressed it directly</a>, saying, &#8220;As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland.&#8221;
&#8220;As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be &#8216;lethal, kinetic strikes.&#8217; The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people,&#8221; Hegseth continued. &#8220;Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.&#8221;
The focus across media outlets was on what happened after the initial missile strike: operators watched a live feed that showed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of the boat. Then, according to The Washington Post&#8217;s report, a second strike was carried out in order to comply with the directive to &#8220;kill them all&#8221; — and the legality of that second strike in particular was where they focused the majority of the attention.
On ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week,&#8221; host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abc-personalities-run-with-wapo-hit-piece-on-hegseth-ignore-war-secs-response">Jonathan Karl</a> brought in global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz to discuss the issue, and she questioned whether the second strike, reportedly carried out when the two survivors were not known to be an &#8220;imminent threat&#8221; might stand in violation of the &#8220;rules of war.&#8221;
&#8220;Did those two men clinging to the side of the boat pose an imminent threat?” she asked, and she wondered aloud whether the order to strike a second time had been given with the knowledge that survivors were hanging on for dear life, and whether the lawyers had been consulted about the legality of such a strike.
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“Did those two men clinging to the side of the boat pose an imminent threat?”<a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaRaddatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarthaRaddatz</a> weighs in on the Washington Post reporting of a military strike that allegedly targeted two survivors in the Caribbean. <a href="https://t.co/qh5zs8hdWr">https://t.co/qh5zs8hdWr</a> <a href="https://t.co/alnukF1hlq">pic.twitter.com/alnukF1hlq</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1995139913990255102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Karl then set up Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) with the framing of the second strike as a &#8220;war crime.&#8221; Van Hollen agreed that it would certainly be a &#8220;war crime,&#8221; but only if one accepted the Trump administration&#8217;s assertion that the United States was, in fact, at war with the cartels.
&#8220;But it could be worse than that. If that theory is wrong, then it&#8217;s plain murder,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But even if you accept their legal theory, then it is a war crime.&#8221;
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“I do believe that the Secretary of Defense should be held accountable for giving those kind of orders.”
Sen. Van Hollen comments on the Washington Post reporting of a military strike that allegedly targeted two survivors in the Caribbean. <a href="https://t.co/CeUj71b7jA">https://t.co/CeUj71b7jA</a> <a href="https://t.co/eqaL76Vd4o">pic.twitter.com/eqaL76Vd4o</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1995153144502767839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) took the same position as Raddatz, arguing that he could not see how two men hanging onto wreckage in the water amounted to an &#8220;imminent threat.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to believe that two people on a raft trying to survive would pose an imminent threat,&#8221; he said, but argued that he didn&#8217;t believe Hegseth would give an order to kill survivors after an initial strike.
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Rep. Don Bacon on the Washington Post reporting of a military strike that allegedly targeted two survivors in the Caribbean: “It&#8217;s hard to believe that two people on a raft trying to survive would pose an imminent threat.” <a href="https://t.co/Nh3a5IomlB">https://t.co/Nh3a5IomlB</a> <a href="https://t.co/NmxgtniEnp">pic.twitter.com/NmxgtniEnp</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1995159073562509713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CBS&#8217;s &#8220;Face the Nation,&#8221; Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) argued that he was unsure of the legality of any of the strikes against narco-terrorists. &#8220;It’s time for Congress to rein in a president who is deciding to wage war on his own say so, which is not what the Constitution allows,&#8221; he said.
He also argued that a second strike &#8220;rises to the level of a war crime if it&#8217;s true.&#8221;
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Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) says the “shoddy” legal rationale the Trump administration provided Congress for its military strikes on alleged drug boats “was not at all persuasive that these are legal actions.”
“It’s time for Congress to rein in a president who is deciding to wage war… <a href="https://t.co/KrMKfTNhYb">pic.twitter.com/KrMKfTNhYb</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1995179682661081112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) claimed that he would have disregarded the order to carry out the second strike.
&#8220;I&#8217;m a guy who — I have sunk two ships &#8230; during the first Gulf War,&#8221; Kelly said. &#8220;I never in that situation questioned whether those strikes were legal. We were given an order to do this, it was a time of war.&#8221;
Kelly went on to say that he, like Kaine, questioned the legality of the strikes from the start.
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BASH: You mentioned that you were a captain in the Navy. If you received that order, would you have carried it out? 
KELLY: No. No. <a href="https://t.co/CngXyLvL1f">pic.twitter.com/CngXyLvL1f</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1995155167302353331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A second strike on top of that — particularly when the men in the water supposedly posed no immediate threat — would rise to the level of a &#8220;war crime,&#8221; Kelly said.
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Sen. Mark Kelly: U.S. military carrying out second strike on a suspected drug vessel killing unarmed survivors &#8220;seems to&#8221; constitute a war crime. <a href="https://t.co/eTJl19bVxm">pic.twitter.com/eTJl19bVxm</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1995155407535260011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On Fox News&#8217; &#8220;Big Weekend Show,&#8221; however, Marine Corps veteran Joey Jones pushed back and argued that an “imminent threat” does not always have to come in the form of guns pointed at American citizens.
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🚨 Joey Jones just ended the left with one quote:
“Spare me the tears over terrorists when you don’t cry over Americans who’ve died from them. Spare me the tears over terrorists when you didn’t have anything to say when President Obama droned American citizens.”
🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/6ISsgZkWzD">pic.twitter.com/6ISsgZkWzD</a>
— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/ginamilan_/status/1994905288915521570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Jones noted that if the survivors were able to radio others in their drug trafficking network, that could be just as grave a threat — and could also quickly result in men with guns showing up to defend them.

President Trump Attends Pentagon Ceremony On 24th Anniversary Of 9/11

Spin Cycle: WaPo Hit Piece Targets Pete Hegseth, And Legacy Outlets Fall In Line

narco-terrorism

Several elected Democrats got together to make a video last week in which they openly encouraged members of the United States military to take matters into their own hands and subvert their Commander in Chief – but the real problem, as far as legacy media outlets are concerned, is that President Donald Trump didn&#8217;t take it quietly.
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.
The media personalities and members of Congress who appeared across Sunday morning&#8217;s political talk shows spent the majority of their time discussing Trump&#8217;s reaction to a video that featured Democrats — who had previously served in either the military or the intelligence community — wanting current service members that they could, and should, disobey any order from Trump that was &#8220;unlawful.&#8221; And although the video was light on specifics, it was heavy on the obvious insinuation that Trump either had or would issue such an order.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-urge-military-to-disobey-orders-from-trump-admin-trigger-accusations-of-insurrection">Trump&#8217;s response</a> to the video was entirely predictable: he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115582703277798715">lashed out</a> via his Truth Social platform, and the Democrats highlighted his reaction as proof that he might do exactly as they&#8217;d warned.
<blockquote>This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP??? SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!</blockquote>
Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), along with Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Jason Crow (D-CO), appeared in the video — and several of them made the rounds on Sunday morning to talk about Trump&#8217;s reaction.
On ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week,&#8221; host Martha Raddatz began with the fact that Slotkin had been on the receiving end of death threats — and she immediately interpreted that as a reaction to Trump&#8217;s social media posts rather than to Slotkin&#8217;s participation in a video that, by multiple accounts, actively encouraged insurrection.
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Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who appeared in a video telling veterans and national security specialists to “refuse illegal orders,” responds to President Trump’s social media posts accusing her and others of “seditious behavior, punishable by death.” <a href="https://t.co/66zaLl3hl4">https://t.co/66zaLl3hl4</a> <a href="https://t.co/Evo4BpF5cE">pic.twitter.com/Evo4BpF5cE</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1992601694731993358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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When pressed, Slotkin did ultimately concede that Trump had not given an illegal order that she knew of — yet — but she maintained the warning was justified because the Trump administration&#8217;s actions against narco-terrorists had involved some degree of &#8220;legal gymnastics.&#8221;
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Sen. Slotkin tells Martha Raddatz that she is “not aware” of illegal orders made, but says that “there are some legal gymnastics that are going on” in the Trump administration’s recent moves in the Caribbean and Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/0rBn756p75">https://t.co/0rBn756p75</a> <a href="https://t.co/eJMELd3Cx9">pic.twitter.com/eJMELd3Cx9</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1992606362124136570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Raddatz pointed to a concern voiced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who argued that making the video had been unwise: &#8220;You owe that to the men and women of the military to be specific about what you&#8217;re talking about &#8230; What theses senators and House members did was unnerving, and it was unconscionable to suggest that the President of the United States is issuing unlawful orders without giving an example.&#8221;
&#8220;It makes me incredibly nervous that we&#8217;re about to see people in law enforcement … get nervous, get stressed, shoot at American civilians,&#8221; Slotkin pushed back.
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Sen. Slotkin says her “primary concern” is military use within the United States: “It makes me incredibly nervous that we&#8217;re about to see people in law enforcement … get nervous, get stressed, shoot at American civilians.” <a href="https://t.co/MFiqhccKmQ">https://t.co/MFiqhccKmQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/5UVWurZgi5">pic.twitter.com/5UVWurZgi5</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1992606620132499524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), an Army Ranger veteran, also got death threats and blamed President Trump on the CBS News Sunday morning staple &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221;: &#8220;It’s very disturbing stuff. When you have the President of the United States threatening to execute and to hang and to arrest using this rhetoric, people listen to it.&#8221;
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Rep. Jason Crow says he is taking “seriously” the “very disturbing” death and bomb threats he, his family, and his office have received in the wake of President Trump’s rhetoric over the video to U.S. troops some Democratic lawmakers released.
“It’s very disturbing stuff. When… <a href="https://t.co/u42HpdcVTq">pic.twitter.com/u42HpdcVTq</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1992644625698279426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Crow defended the video by suggesting that even if an illegal order were to be issued, members of the military might not be ready to defy the Commander in Chief if Democrats did not take decisive action to groom them ahead of time.
&#8220;If we wait until the moment that he gives a manifestly unlawful order to a young soldier, then we have failed them. We have to start that conversation now and get people thinking about the distinction, which is what we did,&#8221; he explained.
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“These, unfortunately, are some of Trump&#8217;s core supporters who are rallying behind the president, and they know better,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) says of the video released by House Republicans countering the one released by Democratic lawmakers telling U.S. troops they can refuse… <a href="https://t.co/N5y49Ky3BO">pic.twitter.com/N5y49Ky3BO</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1992646525437333857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) ignored the weight of his words — and the words of the others on the video — and claimed that Trump&#8217;s words attacking them carried such &#8220;weight&#8221; that he should hold his tongue.
&#8220;His words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the country, and he should know that,&#8221; Kelly said, also suggesting that Trump&#8217;s reaction to the video was the main concern.
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Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) says President Trump’s rhetoric in response to the Democratic lawmakers’ video to U.S. troops is “very serious,” arguing the president should “understand what political violence is.”
“His words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the… <a href="https://t.co/X3AVXTVvex">pic.twitter.com/X3AVXTVvex</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1992647577641066902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) also pointed the finger at Trump, saying his words were, &#8220;reckless, inappropriate, irresponsible.&#8221;
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Republican Sen. Rand Paul condemns President Trump’s social media rhetoric over the Democratic lawmakers’ video to U.S. troops, calling it “reckless, inappropriate, irresponsible.”
“It’s not something that is helping the country heal wounds. I think it stirs things up, and… <a href="https://t.co/iGN6rs70rU">pic.twitter.com/iGN6rs70rU</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1992655240638677141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Kristen Welker pressed Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) — who was not a part of the video — on whether or not she knew of a specific &#8220;illegal&#8221; order.
Klobuchar&#8217;s reply was vague: &#8220;If [a National Guard] commander were to tell [troops], hey, go out on the streets and do this and that, that&#8217;s not following the order that is in law. So I just use that example.&#8221;
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Welker: &#8220;Do you know what the specific illegal acts are that your Democratic colleagues were referring to?&#8221;
Klobuchar: &#8220;If [a National Guard] commander were to tell [troops], hey, go out on the streets and do this and that, that&#8217;s not following the order that is in law. So I… <a href="https://t.co/viCkHoAxMJ">https://t.co/viCkHoAxMJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qht2S09sNg">pic.twitter.com/Qht2S09sNg</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1992703489378586890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Spin Cycle: Democrats Calling For An Insurrection Wasn’t A Problem Until Trump Didn’t Like It

Spin Cycle: Democrats Calling For An Insurrection Wasn't A Problem Until Trump Didn't Like It

Democrats

insurrection

A handful of Republicans have broken with President Donald Trump on whether or not to release files related to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein — so naturally, they were the ones who got most of the airtime on Sunday morning&#8217;s 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.
Two of the loudest Republican voices with regard to releasing the files, a move largely opposed by the White House, are Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — and as an added bonus, Trump had trashed both in insult-riddled social media posts just one day earlier. Massie appeared on ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week&#8221; to discuss the situation, and Greene sat down with &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; anchor Dana Bash on CNN. The remaining airtime was largely filled with Democrats who, despite having zero interest in releasing the files when former President Joe Biden was in office, have been flooding the zone with demands that they be made public immediately.
On &#8220;This Week,&#8221; even the framing of the story was presented as an attack on President Trump. His call for Epstein&#8217;s ties to former President Bill Clinton were portrayed as a deflection at best and political retribution at worst — and Attorney General Pam Bondi was painted as an obedient lapdog rather than a public official doing her job. The only people whose comments on the issue were presented were Democrats or Republicans who viewed that investigation as politically motivated.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The release of thousands of documents from Jeffrey Epstein&#8217;s estate is sparking questions about the sex offender’s relationship with President Trump. <a href="https://twitter.com/marykbruce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marykbruce</a> reports on the president’s response and pushback from longtime ally, Rep. Taylor Greene. <a href="https://t.co/g76EssDMR5">https://t.co/g76EssDMR5</a> <a href="https://t.co/9egecaZObI">pic.twitter.com/9egecaZObI</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1990065870609993949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Massie joined host Jonathan Karl to discuss whether or not the issue would even get a vote in the Senate, and Massie suggested that absent a vote called by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), senators could potentially force a vote by attaching the matter as an amendment to an unrelated bill.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“I just hope John Thune will do the right thing.”
After championing a House vote, Rep. Thomas Massie tells <a href="https://twitter.com/jonkarl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonkarl</a> there are “other ways” the release of the Epstein files can be brought up for a vote in the Senate. <a href="https://t.co/DVClWBcAj0">https://t.co/DVClWBcAj0</a> <a href="https://t.co/V3uM3PvQwK">pic.twitter.com/V3uM3PvQwK</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1990069136223805484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Massie went on to say that he didn&#8217;t expect to see Donald Trump implicated by the release of the files, but that he would not be surprised to learn that the president was protecting people who might be. &#8220;I’ve never said these documents will implicate Donald Trump. I think he’s trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends,&#8221; he said.
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Rep. Massie says that he expects a “deluge” of House Republicans will vote to compel the release of the Epstein files: “I’ve never said these documents will implicate Donald Trump. I think he’s trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends.” <a href="https://t.co/DVClWBcAj0">https://t.co/DVClWBcAj0</a> <a href="https://t.co/fPhMYOYabf">pic.twitter.com/fPhMYOYabf</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1990069219791085663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) took the opposite approach, telling Karl that he absolutely expected to see Trump &#8220;seriously implicated&#8221; when the files were released. &#8220;This is most likely the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the country,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“This is most likely the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the country.”
Sen. Murphy says that he believes President Trump is “seriously implicated” in the Epstein files, as the WH said that Epstein&#8217;s emails &#8220;prove absolutely nothing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/jFXObPLHp1">https://t.co/jFXObPLHp1</a> <a href="https://t.co/JYCnKHSjwj">pic.twitter.com/JYCnKHSjwj</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1990078895178027281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CBS News, &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; host Margaret Brennan spoke with Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) – and he argued that the House should just vote to release the files and &#8220;get it over with.&#8221;
&#8220;Let’s rip the Band-Aid off and get it done. And I wish the president realized that. The more the White House pushes back on this, it just looks bad,&#8221; he said, arguing that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) — who has opposed voting to release the files — &#8220;realizes the train has left the station on this.&#8221;
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On the push to release the Epstein files, Republican Rep. Don Bacon says he thinks Speaker Johnson “realizes the train has left the station on this.”
“Let’s rip the Band-Aid off and get it done. And I wish the president realized that. The more the White House pushes back on… <a href="https://t.co/z4wr1N2zqf">pic.twitter.com/z4wr1N2zqf</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1990106814684254382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told host Kristen Welker that it was past time to release the files. He was far less concerned with having them made public just one year ago when Donald Trump was not the president.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/kwelkernbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kwelkernbc</a>. The Epstein class needs to go.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepThomasMassie</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mtgreenee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mtgreenee</a> are standing on Tuesday with survivors.
The vote is standing with forgotten Americans or the Epstein class. <a href="https://t.co/NNVhiRfhGw">pic.twitter.com/NNVhiRfhGw</a>
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoKhanna/status/1990089764653985976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; Greene told anchor Dana Bash that her support for releasing the files was what had led to Trump&#8217;s very public attacks on her — up to his Saturday Truth Social posts withdrawing his endorsement of her and threatening to support a primary against her.
&#8220;Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files, and that is shocking,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I have no idea what&#8217;s in the files. I can&#8217;t even guess. But that is the question everyone is asking, is, why fight this so hard?&#8221;
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on why Trump is severing ties with her:
&#8220;Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files, and that is shocking&#8230; I have no idea what&#8217;s in the files. I can&#8217;t even guess. But that is the question everyone is asking, is, why fight this so… <a href="https://t.co/lpepWLaBJO">pic.twitter.com/lpepWLaBJO</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1990096353788133671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Despite the accusations made against Trump — primarily by Democrats — the people closest to Epstein have all claimed that Trump would not be implicated in any wrongdoing related to his relationship with Epstein. Convicted trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and late victim Virginia Giuffre both said under oath that Trump was not involved in anything illegal with regard to Epstein. In addition, Harvard professor emeritus — and Epstein&#8217;s former attorney — Alan Dershowitz has also denied Trump&#8217;s involvement in anything illegal.

Jeffrey Epstein/Donald Trump

Spin Cycle: The Epstein Files Ride Again

Jeffrey Epstein

Democrats and media talking heads have voiced their opposition, on multiple occasions, to President Donald Trump&#8217;s efforts to prevent narco-terrorists — by whatever means necessary — from continuing to flood the United States with fentanyl and other drugs.
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.
The federal government has been shut down for nearly one full month — and although Democrats have done their best to reassure the public that the blame for that lies with Republicans, the fact remains that Democrats are the ones refusing to accept a clean continuing resolution that would reopen the government or even vote on a measure that would make sure military service members continue to receive pay.
And while some of the conversation on the Sunday morning talk shows was focused on the shutdown and how to bring it to an end, a lot was also focused on Trump&#8217;s efforts to take out drug runners before they were able to reach the United States.
On ABC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said that recent strikes on boats that reportedly contained drugs and were headed toward the United States were, at best, &#8220;questionable.&#8221;
&#8220;The White House and the Department of Defense could not give us a logical explanation on how this is legal,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Mark Kelly tells <a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaRaddatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarthaRaddatz</a> that the U.S. military&#8217;s recent strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat is &#8220;questionable.&#8221;
&#8220;The White House and the Department of Defense could not give us a logical explanation on how this is legal.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/c5ou1EVNTV">https://t.co/c5ou1EVNTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/EVP53aCZfd">pic.twitter.com/EVP53aCZfd</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1982459545478709337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) supported President Trump&#8217;s actions, telling host Margaret Brennan on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; that he believed Trump was acting well within his authority to strike the boats carrying drugs and traffickers.
He went on to tell Brennan that he saw it as &#8220;a real possibility&#8221; that Trump would also authorize strikes on land in Venezuela in order to stop the flow of drugs into the United States. Graham said that he expected the president to brief Congress about his next moves, adding, &#8220;I support that idea. But I think he has all the authority he needs.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
U.S. land strikes on Venezuela are “a real possibility,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says, telling <a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a> President Trump plans to brief Congress about potentially expanding the U.S. military operations “from the sea to the land.”
“I support that idea. But I think he has… <a href="https://t.co/q7iBG7D0H7">pic.twitter.com/q7iBG7D0H7</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1982479665525613037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Graham also responded to criticisms of Trump from within the Republican Party — namely from Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and James Lankford (R-OK) — telling Brennan, &#8220;Rand Paul, I just fundamentally disagree with. To the other senators, you deserve more information and you&#8217;re going to get more information. But there is no requirement for Congress to declare war before the commander-in-chief can use force.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is pushing back against criticism by Democrats and some Republicans, including Sens. Rand Paul and James Lankford, that the Trump administration is not providing enough information to Congress about its strikes on alleged drug boats off the coast of… <a href="https://t.co/KjrqzPW36x">pic.twitter.com/KjrqzPW36x</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1982480379844931876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It’s time for Maduro to go. I hope Maduro would leave peacefully, but I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s going to stay around much longer,&#8221; Graham added. &#8220;The game is changing when it comes to drug traffickers and drug cartels. We&#8217;re going to use military force like we have in the past to protect our country &#8230; And if I were Maduro, I&#8217;d find a way to leave before heat goes down.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On the U.S. potentially expanding its operations to on the ground inside Venezuela and whether that would include U.S. troops, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says “It’s time for Maduro to go. I hope Maduro would leave peacefully, but I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s going to stay around much… <a href="https://t.co/42tYbYWOrE">pic.twitter.com/42tYbYWOrE</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1982483129349861497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) referred to the targeted strikes as &#8220;sanctioned murder.&#8221; He told host Kristen Welker, &#8220;This is murder. It&#8217;s sanctioned murder that he is doing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Ruben Gallego on the strikes on drug boats: &#8220;This is murder. It&#8217;s sanctioned murder that he is doing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/n4i9WWj9RA">pic.twitter.com/n4i9WWj9RA</a>
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1982549544182374444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Gallego claimed that a declaration of war would be necessary if Trump planned to continue to target such boats.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trump is blasting Venezuelan ships out of the water to make himself feel tough.
Either send the Coast Guard onto these ships or come to Congress for a declaration of war. Plain and simple. <a href="https://t.co/7zZ5td7RLz">pic.twitter.com/7zZ5td7RLz</a>
— Senator Ruben Gallego (@SenRubenGallego) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRubenGallego/status/1982497980725838112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Welker on &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Democrats&#8217; refusal to put an end to the shutdown are starting to cause real problems: &#8220;Chuck Schumer is trading off his polls. What&#8217;s different than when he passed a clean CR in the spring? It&#8217;s his polls &#8230; We&#8217;re starting to eat into muscle here &#8230; I don&#8217;t know what the purpose is. I&#8217;m not sure they do.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;Chuck Schumer is trading off his polls. What&#8217;s different than when he passed a clean CR in the spring? It&#8217;s his polls,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a> on the Democrat Shutdown.
&#8220;We&#8217;re starting to eat into muscle here&#8230; I don&#8217;t know what the purpose is. I&#8217;m not sure they do.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Bt0ej6d8yF">pic.twitter.com/Bt0ej6d8yF</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1982443342110613889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Untitled design (78)

Spin Cycle: The War On Trump’s War On Drugs

Spin Cycle: The War On Trump's War On Drugs

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) appears to be at odds with himself over what constitutes acceptable behavior in the event of a government shutdown.
During a Sunday morning broadcast of &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; NBC host Kristen Welker asked Kaine about statements he&#8217;d made during a previous government shutdown in 2019 — and pressed him on the fact that he is taking a different — opposite — position just six years later.
WATCH:
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NBC plays a clip of <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTimKaine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenTimKaine</a> in 2019 saying he&#8217;d only discuss policy after the government is re-opened.
&#8220;By your own logic, should Democrats not vote to re-open the government first and negotiate later&#8230;?&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/SenTimKaine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenTimKaine</a>: No it&#8217;s different now 🤡 <a href="https://t.co/CdwzHr04on">pic.twitter.com/CdwzHr04on</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1980017649007403177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;You know, Senator, back in 2019, you made a similar argument during that shutdown that Republicans are making now,&#8221; Welker began. &#8220;Republicans at the time were asking for more funding for a border wall. You said, &#8216;Let&#8217;s reopen the government first.'&#8221;
Welker went on to play a clip of Kaine from 2019, in which he said, &#8220;We first should reopen government. Why punish people who are applying for food stamps because the president is having a temper tantrum? Open the government first &#8230;&#8221;
&#8220;So Senator, by your own logic, should Democrats not vote to re-open the government first and negotiate later?&#8221; Welker asked.
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&#8220;Kristen, here&#8217;s what&#8217;s different now,&#8221; Kaine replied. &#8220;The president told Republicans to write this budget without any Democratic involvement.&#8221;
Kaine left out the fact that the Continuing Resolution currently on the table — which would at least temporarily reopen the government — is considered &#8220;clean,&#8221; meaning that it makes no changes from the previous spending levels.
Democrats have been holding out largely because they object to certain cuts made in the Big Beautiful Bill — most notably to provisions that would have allowed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dems-peeved-that-media-sees-through-their-no-healthcare-for-illegals-lie">illegal immigrants</a> to get health care at taxpayer expense.
<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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Kaine is not the only Democrat who&#8217;s been confronted with his own previous statements on government shutdowns either. &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; host Margaret Brennan (CBS) pressed Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) about his previous comments — namely that government shutdowns should not be &#8220;used for hostage taking.&#8221;
&#8220;Aren&#8217;t you doing today exactly what you were criticizing then?&#8221; she asked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
*plays clip from 2018 where <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisMurphyCT</a> says government shutdowns should never be used for hostage-taking*
CBS: &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you doing today exactly what you were criticizing then&#8230;?&#8221;
Murphy: Erm, no.
(example number one million of <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisMurphyCT</a> being a sleazy moron) <a href="https://t.co/ygJC4IdZyo">pic.twitter.com/ygJC4IdZyo</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1977397124326178971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senate Committee Hears Testimony In Virtual Hearing From Nation’s Leading Disease Experts On Covid-19

Tim Kaine Goes Head-To-Head With … Tim Kaine On Government Shutdown Ethics

Government Shutdown

Hillary Clinton

Meet the Press

Tim Kaine

Just over a week after President Trump brokered a deal that brought home the last of the hostages held by Hamas terrorists — and laid out a plan for lasting peace between Israel and Gaza — the latest reports indicate that Hamas militants have taken to publicly executing Palestinian civilians. So of course, CNN wanted to talk about — and to — former Rep. George Santos (R-NY).
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.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-commutes-sentence-of-former-gop-rep-george-santos">Trump announced</a> on Friday that he was commuting the remainder of the 7-year sentence that Santos was serving after he pled guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire-fraud charges in relation to his 2022 congressional campaign. Prior to that he&#8217;d been ousted by Congress after serving less than a year of his first term: Lawmakers <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/01/gop-rep-george-santos-faces-expulsion-vote-in-house.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> 311-114 to oust Santos in December 2023 after a GOP-led House Ethics Committee report accused Santos of stealing campaign donors’ money to spend on Botox, OnlyFans, and other items.
Trump swiped at Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in the Truth Social post announcing the commutation, saying, &#8220;I started to think about George when the subject of Democrat Senator Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal came up again. As everyone remembers, “Da Nang” stated for almost twenty years that he was a proud Vietnam Veteran, having endured the worst of the War, watching the Wounded and Dead as he raced up the hills and down the valleys, blood streaming from his face &#8230; This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!&#8221;
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So on Sunday, despite the continued bloodshed in Gaza and the ongoing Democrat-driven government shutdown, much of the conversation on CNN was focused squarely on Santos.
Anchor Dana Bash started with Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), asking whether she took issue with Trump&#8217;s decision to commute the sentence of the disgraced congressman.
&#8220;[Santos] did plead guilty to defrauding his donors and constituents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, money he will no longer be required to pay back because of this commutation. Is this acceptable to you?&#8221; Bash asked.
&#8220;Look, I will let Congressman Santos speak for himself,&#8221; Britt replied. &#8220;What I appreciate is President Trump&#8217;s commitment to the American people.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BASH: “[Santos] did plead guilty to defrauding his donors and constituents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, money he will no longer be required to pay back because of this commutation. Is this acceptable to you?”
BRITT: “Look, I will let Congressman Santos speak for… <a href="https://t.co/3SvurPWDHk">pic.twitter.com/3SvurPWDHk</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979939429633380426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Bash then took the question to Santos directly, asking him whether he planned to make restitution.
&#8220;You were ordered by the court to pay $370,000 in restitution to the people you defrauded… Will you work to try to do that?&#8221; she asked.
&#8220;I can do my best to do whatever the law requires of me. So I don&#8217;t know what that is,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;If it&#8217;s required of me by the law, yes. If it&#8217;s not, then no.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BASH: “You were ordered by the court to pay $370,000 in restitution to the people you defrauded… Will you work to try to do that?”
SANTOS: “I can do my best to do whatever the law requires of me. So I don&#8217;t know what that is… If it&#8217;s required of me by the law, yes. If it&#8217;s… <a href="https://t.co/EVBHKzKGTg">pic.twitter.com/EVBHKzKGTg</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979942437411057676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Bash then pivoted to note that some were critical of Trump&#8217;s decision to commute his sentence, and Santos pushed back, essentially arguing that there would be people criticizing Trump no matter what he did.
&#8220;I&#8217;m pretty confident if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics,&#8221; Santos said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
George Santos shrugs off criticism of Trump commuting his prison sentence: “I&#8217;m pretty confident if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics.” <a href="https://t.co/YxjwjV5F6u">pic.twitter.com/YxjwjV5F6u</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979943369892679734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I&#8217;m very grateful to President Trump, Dana, and I sit here quite literally, I don&#8217;t know how much more humbled I can get before people believe I&#8217;m humble or remorseful, but I can just do the best in my actions moving forward,&#8221; Santos added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
George Santos responds to former Republican colleagues who say he shouldn’t have been freed from prison: “I&#8217;m very grateful to President Trump, Dana, and I sit here quite literally, I don&#8217;t know how much more humbled I can get before people believe I&#8217;m humble or remorseful, but I… <a href="https://t.co/1TyrdeeDXl">pic.twitter.com/1TyrdeeDXl</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979943593436479708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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He went on to say that he&#8217;d already thought of a way that he could potentially begin to give back, saying, &#8220;I told this to the president, that I&#8217;d love to be involved with prison reform, and not in a partisan way, in real human ways, in a way that we effect it, that it helps society, it helps these individuals rebuild their lives and we have a better system with less incarcerated people … If I can be a part of helping that, I think that would be a great road to follow in the future.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Santos: “I told this to the president, that I&#8217;d love to be involved with prison reform, and not in a partisan way, in real human ways, in a way that we effect it, that it helps society, it helps these individuals rebuild their lives and we have a better system with less… <a href="https://t.co/6qXkS9c3z3">pic.twitter.com/6qXkS9c3z3</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979943752346353792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And it didn&#8217;t end there: Santos was also the topic of a panel discussion to round out &#8220;State of the Union.&#8221;
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) said she wasn&#8217;t in favor of Trump&#8217;s decision, but that she planned to withhold judgment and give Santos a chance to prove he&#8217;d changed.
&#8220;I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and I hope he is a changed person who&#8217;s going to focus on his second chance on doing good. I do not agree with the commutation. I think it was a wrong decision, primarily because this is somebody who stole millions of dollars from his donors. He defrauded the public and his voters … I wish him well. I hope he does good, and I hope he sticks to his word that he&#8217;s a renewed person.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New York Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis on Trump commuting George Santos’ prison sentence:
“I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and I hope he is a changed person who&#8217;s going to focus on his second chance on doing good. I do not agree with the commutation. I… <a href="https://t.co/I77ZfKoMw7">pic.twitter.com/I77ZfKoMw7</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979948410368061661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And then Paul Begala tried to make it about Trump &#8230;
&#8220;This is a story about a con man, a liar, a grifter, somebody, a felon, disgraced his high office, and also about George Santos,&#8221; he quipped.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Paul Begala: “This is a story about a con man, a liar, a grifter, somebody, a felon, disgraced his high office, and also about George Santos.”
GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Brad Todd, and Faiz Shakir join Dana Bash to react to President Trump’s controversial decision to commute… <a href="https://t.co/W7SQ50hJpp">pic.twitter.com/W7SQ50hJpp</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1979949001135763632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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U.S. Congressman-elect George Santos

Spin Cycle: Let’s Talk About … Santos?

Spin Cycle: Let's Talk About ... Santos?

George Santos

Prison

NBC News cut 7% of its workforce ahead of the split that will separate NBC from sister network MSNBC, soon to be known only as &#8220;MSNOW.&#8221;
According to a <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/nbc-news-layoffs-number-versant-split/">report</a> from The Wrap, the terminations hit the dedicated teams &#8220;covering issues affecting black, Asian American, Latino and LGBTQ+ groups&#8221; hardest. Some 150 employees were reportedly laid off.
As The Wrap reported, the verticals that feature coverage about those issues (NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino, and NBC OUT) will still exist — and new stories will still be pursued and reported on — but the coverage will be spread out across the newsroom rather than provided by teams dedicated to those specific beats.
The cuts represent about 7% of the 2,000 staffers at the NBC News newsroom, and about 2% of the broader company that also includes several local stations owned by NBC outright in addition to Telemundo. A <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/nbc-news-layoffs-100-to-150-jobs-1236553614/">report</a> from Variety noted that the cuts could simply result in changing roles, as those who are being terminated will still have the option to apply for more than 100 different open positions across the news division.
The coming NBC split will also see its parent company, Comcast, spinning off other networks from the main news division — networks such as CNBC and USA Network will all fall under the same brand, Versant.
Other reports have also suggested that a similar fate — and a hefty round of layoffs — could be looming in the not-too-distant future for CBS News as well.
The Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/media/the-scythe-draws-near-cnns-overpaid-talent-brace-for-deep-cuts-amid-corporate-shakeup/">noted</a> over the summer that whether or not CNN faces more layoffs in the near future, it&#8217;s likely that some of the highest-paid personalities on the network could face pay cuts in the future. Among those mentioned most frequently were Anderson Cooper ($18 million annually), Jake Tapper ($7.5 million annually), and several others. Gayle King, who earns $13-15 million annually at CBS, was also mentioned as one who could potentially see her pay reduced.

Vivendi Universal Entertainment Auction Drags On

DEI-Focused Teams Hit Hardest In Mass NBC News Layoffs

NBC Lays Off 7% Of Workforce Ahead Of MSNBC Split, DEI-Focused Teams Hardest Hit

Legacy Media

MSNBC

President Donald Trump left for Israel on Sunday to celebrate the deal he&#8217;d brokered just days earlier between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for the brutal massacre on October 7, 2023. In the days since the agreement was reached, the litmus test has been a simple one: who is willing to give Trump credit for the work he&#8217;s done — and who isn&#8217;t?
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.
While there were some on both sides of the political aisle who were willing to acknowledge Trump&#8217;s role in securing a deal to bring the hostages home and ultimately end the war entirely, others tried to qualify his success — or even omit him from the conversation.
Vice President JD Vance, of course, was firmly in Trump&#8217;s corner as he made the rounds on the Sunday morning shows. On ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week,&#8221; he spoke with anchor George Stephanopoulos about phase one of the deal and the return of the last remaining hostages held in Gaza.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Vice President JD Vance confirmed to <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ThisWeekABC</a> anchor George Stephanopoulos that Hamas has said they are holding 20 living hostages, and that those hostages are expected to be released in the next 24 hours. <a href="https://t.co/UfEwC9T1VW">https://t.co/UfEwC9T1VW</a> <a href="https://t.co/m2YM0mFINZ">pic.twitter.com/m2YM0mFINZ</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1977374051581530562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Vance took a similar tone with &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; host Margaret Brennan on CBS, telling her, &#8220;The president is actually traveling to the Middle East, likely this evening, in order to meet them and greet them in person. It&#8217;s a big day for their families, but I think more importantly, it&#8217;s a big day for the entire world.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Vice President JD Vance says he is “very confident” the Israeli hostages will be released by Monday’s deadline.
“The president is actually traveling to the Middle East, likely this evening, in order to meet them and greet them in person. It&#8217;s a big day for their families, but I… <a href="https://t.co/GHr02lZ1z6">pic.twitter.com/GHr02lZ1z6</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1977386745722245598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke to Brennan and expressed confidence in Trump&#8217;s deal. &#8220;We are very hopeful that the first phase will be completed in all honesty,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We are in full contact with the Palestinians, with Hamas, because it’s all about, of course, releasing the hostages and for Israel, releasing some of the Palestinian detainees.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty says Egypt is “confident the first phase of the Trump peace plan will be implemented,” telling <a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a> “we are very hopeful that the first phase will be completed in all honesty” from Israel and Hamas.
“We are in full contact with… <a href="https://t.co/J1ncn5MvTq">pic.twitter.com/J1ncn5MvTq</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1977400339612483731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Chris Murphy, however, couldn&#8217;t bring himself to directly credit Trump with the win — even when asked point blank by Brennan whether the deal marked something upon which he could agree with the president.
&#8220;I congratulate the negotiators on getting this done. There&#8217;s no politics about this moment,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But you watch those devastating images of what Gaza looks like today, and it&#8217;s both heartbreaking and infuriating that this deal has been on the table for over a year. So again, this will be a good week, but as you have reported, there are big issues to come. Israel is not fully pulling out of Gaza. There is no clear path forward on what the security and governance force is going to look like inside that country.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In reaction to the first phase of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) says “I congratulate the negotiators on getting this done. There&#8217;s no politics about this moment.”
“But you watch those devastating images of what Gaza looks like today, and it&#8217;s… <a href="https://t.co/Yz2SjimNgv">pic.twitter.com/Yz2SjimNgv</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1977408024877707484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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CNN anchor Dana Bash also asked her guests whether Trump deserved some credit for securing the deal. Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-worked-this-out-senate-dem-admits-trump-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-gaza-deal">Mark Kelly</a> (D-AZ) told her that Trump &#8220;should get a lot of credit&#8221; for making it happen.
&#8220;I think he should get a lot of credit. I mean, this was his deal,” Kelly replied. “He worked this out. He sent [Middle East Envoy] Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over to negotiate this. And so far, it’s gone well. Hopefully, the hostages get released here — might not be within 24 hours — but certainly, I think, by Monday. And that’s progress. And now we’re going to have to see what happens next.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Mark Kelly on ceasefire deal in Gaza: I think Trump &#8220;should get a lot of credit.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/iFopebsXTI">pic.twitter.com/iFopebsXTI</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1977373195628941468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Former President Joe Biden&#8217;s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was also quick to agree that Trump had earned credit by securing the ceasefire. Bash recalled Kelly&#8217;s interview and asked Sullivan whether he agreed that Trump should be lauded for getting the deal across the finish line. &#8220;Of course he does,&#8221; Sullivan said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Former Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on whether Trump deserves credit for ceasefire deal in Gaza: &#8220;Of course he does.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/enthxBCStL">pic.twitter.com/enthxBCStL</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1977380978344538545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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CNN guest Jamal Simmons attempted to split the baby, qualifying Trump&#8217;s success: &#8220;The problem that we see is, on one side is Donald Trump solving or doing a great job in bringing people together around the world around some of these peace issues, while at the same time dividing people at home.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“The problem that we see is, on one side is Donald Trump solving or doing a great job in bringing people together around the world around some of these peace issues, while at the same time dividing people at home.”
Jamal Simmons, Scott Jennings, Nayyera Haq, and Rebeccah… <a href="https://t.co/TfVoGrgFyO">pic.twitter.com/TfVoGrgFyO</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1977392744906502336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Even former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-snubs-trump-over-israel-hamas-peace-deal">Barack Obama</a> took some heat for praising the deal without even acknowledging who had brought it about.

TOPSHOT-US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-TRUMP-NETANYAHU-CONFLICT-DIPLOMACY

Spin Cycle: The Gaza Litmus Test — And Who Is Passing It

Benjamin Netanyahu

Fox News Sunday

Hostages

Israel

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.”

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

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

Political Violence

As a government shutdown looms in the very near future, the topic at the forefront of discussions across the Sunday morning political talk shows was funding the government: who is holding the most leverage, who — if anyone — is willing to budge, and what will happen if they can&#8217;t come to an agreement?
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.
After previously canceling a meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — and declaring their demands for a potential deal to be &#8220;ridiculous,&#8221; Trump has reportedly agreed to a rescheduled meeting to discuss plans to avoid a shutdown. Republicans and Democrats alike addressed what such a deal might look like — and thus far, a consensus it is not.
Jeffries, for example, told ABC News host Martha Raddatz on &#8220;This Week&#8221; that he was willing to sit down with anyone who was interested in finding a path forward to funding the government.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve made clear that we&#8217;re ready, willing, and able to sit down with anyone at any time and at any place in order to make sure that we can actually fund the government,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“We&#8217;ve made clear that we&#8217;re ready, willing, and able to sit down with anyone at any time and at any place in order to make sure that we can actually fund the government,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tells <a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaRaddatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarthaRaddatz</a>. <a href="https://t.co/CyT5lxgzMc">https://t.co/CyT5lxgzMc</a> <a href="https://t.co/tWvRtrkObC">pic.twitter.com/tWvRtrkObC</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1972304860528722211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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But in the same interview, he badmouthed the people he claimed to be ready to work with, saying they&#8217;d &#8220;behaved not as a separate and co-equal branch of government and a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch, but as a consistent rubber stamp for Donald Trump&#8217;s extreme agenda.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Republicans have “behaved not as a separate and co-equal branch of government and a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch, but as a consistent rubber stamp for Donald Trump&#8217;s extreme agenda,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says. <a href="https://t.co/OKY7B0xDem">https://t.co/OKY7B0xDem</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrrprqmxbC">pic.twitter.com/FrrprqmxbC</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1972305063549800536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And then he flipped back, saying once again that he wanted to work with the Republicans he&#8217;d just referred to as &#8220;rubber stamps&#8221; for an &#8220;extreme agenda.&#8221;
&#8220;We want to find a bipartisan path forward and reach a spending agreement with our Republican colleagues that actually meets the needs of the American people, but that also addresses the Republican health care crisis,&#8221; he said.
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“We want to find a bipartisan path forward and reach a spending agreement with our Republican colleagues that actually meets the needs of the American people, but that also addresses the Republican health care crisis,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says. <a href="https://t.co/OKY7B0xDem">https://t.co/OKY7B0xDem</a> <a href="https://t.co/IOdlC4TrET">pic.twitter.com/IOdlC4TrET</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1972305251743973649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) made it clear that he believed Republicans — who hold a slim majority — had the advantage and did not plan to make unnecessary concessions.
&#8220;I’m glad that President Trump is showing leadership in meeting with all leaders … But ultimately, those Democrats have to make a decision,&#8221; he told Raddatz, adding that he still believed there was time for them to reach a deal.
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says “there’s still time” to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.
“I’m glad that President Trump is showing leadership in meeting with all leaders … But ultimately, those Democrats have to make a decision.” <a href="https://t.co/VVmgI0y1x3">https://t.co/VVmgI0y1x3</a> <a href="https://t.co/0hmyU6JT1Y">pic.twitter.com/0hmyU6JT1Y</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1972314405963510038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CBS, &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; opened with a statement from President Trump — who said that unless Democrats are willing to move on several key issues, the government is likely to shut down.
&#8220;I just don’t know how we are going to solve this issue,&#8221; he said.
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NEW THIS MORNING: President Trump tells <a href="https://twitter.com/costareports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@costareports</a> the government is likely to shut down this week unless top Democrats address his concerns on immigration and health care, and says both parties are now at a stalemate.
“I just don’t know how we are going to solve this issue,”… <a href="https://t.co/VdLXd7Qxl0">pic.twitter.com/VdLXd7Qxl0</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1972313362793943395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) made it clear that Republicans did not plan to give an inch — and that Democrats were just going to have to come around.
&#8220;The choice remains the same: Democrats can either vote for a clean, short-term, nonpartisan CR that prioritizes the American people, or they can choose a completely avoidable shutdown that prioritizes politics above all else,&#8221; he said.
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The choice remains the same: Democrats can either vote for a clean, short-term, nonpartisan CR that prioritizes the American people, or they can choose a completely avoidable shutdown that prioritizes politics above all else. <a href="https://t.co/ESOndRHAO9">pic.twitter.com/ESOndRHAO9</a>
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderJohnThune/status/1972326146139467887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Schumer, who has apparently learned his lesson after he worked with Republicans to avert the last potential government shutdown, also appeared on the NBC Sunday morning show and insisted that Republicans were &#8220;feeling the heat&#8221; and would soon give in to Democrats&#8217; demands.
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Republican Senators, Representatives, and even Donald Trump are feeling the heat to do something about the horrible health care crisis they’ve created. <a href="https://t.co/20SG3sKiX1">pic.twitter.com/20SG3sKiX1</a>
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1972349160717205796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined host Jake Tapper on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; where he called on members of his party to &#8220;hold the line.&#8221;
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Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen calls on his party to “hold the line” in government funding fight. <a href="https://t.co/0nn9wg5v7w">pic.twitter.com/0nn9wg5v7w</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1972311184863813768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Van Hollen, who made a name for himself when he left his own constituents twisting in the wind while he flew to El Salvador to advocate for a deported MS-13 gang member, then snarked at President Trump and suggested he&#8217;d previously refused to meet with congressional leaders because he was too busy golfing.
&#8220;It&#8217;s good to see the president finally get off the golf course and decide to talk,&#8221; he said.
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Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Trump’s meeting with Democratic leaders ahead of shutdown deadline: “It&#8217;s good to see the president finally get off the golf course and decide to talk.” <a href="https://t.co/gjjckTkaZa">pic.twitter.com/gjjckTkaZa</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1972311038612643938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Trump explained days earlier that he&#8217;d <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/do-the-right-thing-trump-axes-meeting-with-radical-dems-calls-for-realistic-terms">called off a planned meeting</a> because the demands put forth by the Democrats at the time had been unrealistic.

Spin Cycle: Will They Or Won’t They (Shut Everything Down)?

Spin Cycle: Will They Or Won't They (Shut Everything Down)?

Charles Schumer

Chris Van Hollen

Hakeem Jeffries

John Thune

Steve Scalise

The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has further exposed media bias, with outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and ABC labeling him “divisive” or “controversial” while downplaying leftist rhetoric that may have fueled violence. <a href="https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2025/09/12/charlie-kirks-murder-cheered-online-liberal-teachers">Posts by liberal school teachers cheering</a> Kirk’s death and comments from Democrat politicians like Jasmine Crockett and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker inciting unrest reveal a double standard. This tragedy may finally force the elite legacy media to confront the effect their far-left bias has had on America. Even before Kirk’s assassination, President Trump was pushing broadcasters to restore balance to heal the political divide, improve network viewership, and ensure the airwaves serve all Americans, aligning with the law and fostering fair discourse.
When Donald Trump descended the escalator in the summer of 2015, he put on center stage the fight that the Media Research Center (MRC) has been engaged in for nearly 40 years. While MRC may be the incumbent in this battle against media bias, the president deserves enormous credit for helping to identify and root out media malfeasance.
President Trump and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr are addressing the longstanding issue of media bias by enforcing the legal obligations of broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, which use public airwaves rent-free. These networks must meet a “public interest test” to serve all Americans, not just select political groups. Recent actions, including Trump’s lawsuits against CBS and ABC for deceptive editing and defamation, highlight a commitment to rooting out bias.
Legacy media are undoubtedly biased and purpose-driven. Take ABC’s David Muir, who was still allowed to host a presidential debate after MRC research found his nightly newscast had <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/rich-noyes/2024/09/09/100-abc-debate-moderator-david-muir-hosts-most-pro-harris-left-wing">100% positive coverage of Kamala Harris</a> and <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/rich-noyes/2025/04/28/tv-news-assaults-2nd-trump-admin-92-negative-coverage">92% negative coverage of Donald Trump</a>. From routine <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/bill-dagostino/2025/09/02/why-cant-cbs-stop-deceptively-editing-interviews-politicians">deceptive</a> editing in their interviews with Trump – and his cabinet officials – to initially refusing to mention the brutal Charlotte stabbing, only to eventually <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jorge-bonilla/2025/09/08/nbc-trumpwashes-their-coverage-brutal-charlotte-stabbing">report</a> the tragedy through the lens of it being right-wing hysteria and fuel for Trump’s tough-on-crime approach. The media have earned the colossal decline of their collective reputation.
The public is now keenly aware of the media’s deficiencies, with <a href="https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/657239/five-key-insights-americans-views-news-media.aspx">69% </a>of people saying they have very little to no trust in the media, the worst result for the media since Gallup started assessing public confidence in it.
Some would argue, and most conservatives would agree, that these broadcasters and their cable news counterparts have a right to anchor themselves in whatever political persuasion favors their interests, so long as they are honest with their audience. While it would, at best, lack journalistic integrity for a major cable network like MSNow (formerly MSNBC) or CNN to show blatant favoritism in how they interview a Supreme Court justice, it would still easily pass legal muster. However, when traditional network broadcasters like CBS engage in <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jorge-bonilla/2025/09/07/tale-two-interviews-cbss-norah-odonnell-fawned-over-justice#">the same behavior</a>, it’s a completely different story.
That is because the airwaves used by ABC, CBS, and NBC are owned by the American public. It will surprise many to learn that these broadcasters use our airwaves rent-free. This might sound like a terrible deal for taxpayers, but that is why broadcasters are required to meet a “public interest test,” ensuring that the whole public is served. Not just Democrats. Not just liberals. Not just left-wing agitators.
Carr is taking action to hold broadcasters accountable to the law which requires them to act in the interest of all Americans. Perhaps ironically, by requiring broadcasters to serve a much larger audience, Carr is probably saving these networks from their plummeting ratings and their declining revenues. Moreover, by reducing other regulatory burdens placed on them by the Biden administration, like the onerous DEI and ESG requirements, Carr is helping their bottom lines in more ways than one.
It’s no secret that traditional <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-05-11/network-evening-newscasts-still-matter-but-face-stiff-winds-of-change#:~:text=View%20All-,The%20network%20evening%20news%20is%20in%20flux:%20Why%20an%20American,With%20David%20Muir%E2%80%9D%20on%20ABC.&amp;text=Network%20evening%20newscasts%20are%20down,younger%2C%20digital%2Dsavvy%20viewers.">broadcast media is</a> in financial trouble. Without question, this is due to the fact that their current business model focuses on the fastest shrinking segment of America: liberals.
That might or might not work for a niche channel, like MSNow, but it is a guaranteed losing proposition for broadcast news.
By getting these networks to live up to their legal obligations, President Trump and Chairman Carr are helping all Americans become better informed while simultaneously helping the networks increase their <a href="https://allaboutcookies.org/cord-cutters-streaming-survey#:~:text=Rising%20cable%20costs%20and%20the,to%20move%20away%20from%20cable." target="_blank" rel="noopener">sagging viewership and revenue.</a> 
Their recent actions represent the first serious attempt in modern history to restore lawfulness, fairness, and order to the political discourse in America’s media. It is something we need more of.
* * *
Dan Schneider is the Vice President of the Media Research Center.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Left-Wing Media Bias Under Scrutiny Following Coverage Of Kirk Assassination

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