Two countries that criminalize homosexuality have asked to be left out of a soccer match that is being branded as a celebration of homosexuality.
Egypt and Iran, who are scheduled to play in Seattle on June 26, the same day that Seattle is holding its &#8220;Pride Match,&#8221; said that they want no part of the LGBT celebration. This should come as a shock to no one. While the pride theme was determined before last weekend&#8217;s team draw that put Egypt and Iran on the June 26 slot, backlash was to be expected.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/world-cup-teams-back-down-on-rainbow-armbands-after-fifa-threats">World Cup Teams Back Down On Rainbow Armbands After FIFA Threats</a>
In a <a href="https://www.efa.com.eg/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6-%D8%A5%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%83%D8%A3%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85/">letter sent to FIFA</a>, the Egyptian Football Association requested that there be no activities glorifying homosexuality during the match with Iran. Egypt references FIFA&#8217;s policies requiring FIFA competitions to avoid anything that brings conflict between fans from different backgrounds.
&#8220;The Egyptian Federation categorically rejects these calls and demands that FIFA not hold any events or performances related to supporting (homosexuality) inside the stadium on match day.&#8221;
The Egyptian Football Association said that it &#8220;rejects such activities&#8221; such as promoting homosexuality during the soccer match that &#8220;directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values ​​in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.&#8221;
Iran made a similar statement.
President of Iran&#8217;s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, spoke to state media and denounced the decision to use pride branding for the match.
&#8220;Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point.&#8221;
Taj said Iran would bring up the issue at a FIFA Council meeting next week in Qatar, another country that will start their quest for the World Cup in Seattle.
Egypt, Iran, and Qatar have laws against homosexuality.
In Egypt, if someone is caught engaging in homosexual activity, it’s punishable with up to three years in prison, and they may be forced to pay a hefty fine, according to Human Rights Watch. In Iran, capital punishment remains the maximum penalty for homosexuality under the law.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/2026-world-cup-to-host-pride-match-featuring-two-countries-that-criminalize-being-gay">2026 World Cup To Host ‘Pride Match’ Featuring Two Countries That Criminalize Being Gay</a>
Seattle&#8217;s Pride Match Advisory Committee is organizing the &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; that is still set to go on despite the two countries&#8217; requests during the city&#8217;s Pride weekend. This committee isn&#8217;t associated with FIFA or endorsed by it.
Hana Tedesse, Vice President of Communications for Seattle FIFA World Cup 26™ , which is directly associated with the soccer tournament, told The Daily Wire SeattleFWC26 isn&#8217;t backing down.
&#8220;SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington,&#8221; Tedesse said.
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SeattleFWC26 called inclusion Seattle’s “greatest strength.”
&#8220;As the local organizing committee, our role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,&#8221; Tedesse said. &#8220;Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs. The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle.”
During the 2022 World Cup, FIFA threatened sanctions for European countries that wanted to wear pride-themed LGBT bands — the countries ultimately decided against it.
The &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; is scheduled for June 26 at Seattle&#8217;s Lumen Field. The Daily Wire has reached out to FIFA to comment on Egypt&#8217;s and Iran&#8217;s request to take pride out of play.

Photo-illustration: Getty Images; Daily Wire staff

Egypt And Iran Clash With FIFA Over 2026 World Cup ‘Pride Match’

Egypt

Iran

News

Soccer

World Cup

Nothing says LGBT pride like a &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; featuring two countries that criminalize homosexuality.
Seattle will host a match between Egypt and Iran during the FIFA World Cup on June 26. The match is being designated as the official &#8220;<a href="https://www.seattlefwc26.org/committees/pride-match">Pride Match</a>&#8221; of the global tournament during Seattle&#8217;s Pride weekend. Egypt and Iran were selected over the weekend for the June 26 match at Lumen Field. The &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; isn&#8217;t affiliated or endorsed by FIFA.
That these two countries are the participants in the &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; seems satirical, considering the optics. Many have rightly concluded that you could not pick two worse teams to participate in such a match.
In Egypt, if someone is caught engaging in homosexual activity, it&#8217;s punishable with up to three years in prison, and they may be forced to pay a hefty fine, according to <a href="https://features.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/index.html?_gl=1*1ghvjda*_ga*MTMxOTE2ODExMy4xNzY1MjI4NjA1*_ga_8G7WH8R2Z8*czE3NjUyMjg2MDUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjUyMjg2MjIkajQzJGwwJGgxODk0NDg2Mjg2">Human Rights Watch</a>.
In Iran, capital punishment remains the maximum penalty for homosexuality under the law, the organization also <a href="https://features.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/index.html?_gl=1*1ghvjda*_ga*MTMxOTE2ODExMy4xNzY1MjI4NjA1*_ga_8G7WH8R2Z8*czE3NjUyMjg2MDUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjUyMjg2MjIkajQzJGwwJGgxODk0NDg2Mjg2">reports</a>.
Qatar, another country that outlaws homosexuality, is also scheduled to play in Seattle for the 2026 World Cup. Qatar hosted the renowned soccer tournament in 2022, where European teams came under fire for Pride-themed armbands. The bands ultimately weren&#8217;t worn during the matches after FIFA threatened to penalize players for wearing the symbolic accessory.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/world-cup-teams-back-down-on-rainbow-armbands-after-fifa-threats">World Cup Teams Back Down On Rainbow Armbands After FIFA Threats</a>
<a href="https://www.seattlefwc26.org/about/about">SeattleFWC26</a>, the Seattle committee putting pride in the World Cup, calls inclusion Seattle&#8217;s &#8220;greatest strength.&#8221;
&#8220;We have a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact. One that educates the world, inspires our LGBTQ+ community, and uplifts LGBTQ+ businesses and cultural organizations,&#8221; the local organizing committee states.
Seattle hosts one of the country&#8217;s largest Pride celebrations, so there is no doubt there will be a clash of cultures when Egypt, Iran, and Qatar come to town next June.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson doesn&#8217;t seem too concerned about the participants in the &#8220;Pride Match.&#8221;
&#8220;With matches on Juneteenth and Pride, we get to show the world that in Seattle, everyone is welcome,&#8221; she said.
President Donald Trump criticized the new mayor last month during a World Cup press briefing in the Oval Office, calling Wilson&#8217;s policies more extreme than socialism.
&#8220;If we think there&#8217;s going to be a sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni [FIFA President Gianni Infantino] to move that to a different city. We have a lot of cities that would love to have it number one, and will do it very safely,&#8221; Trump said.
Host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are all across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The first match is set for June 11 in Mexico City.

2026 World Cup To Host ‘Pride Match’ Featuring Two Countries That Criminalize Being Gay

Donald Trump

Pride Month

Seattle

This holiday season, there’s a little extra cheer at the gas pump. For the first time in four years, the average price of gas has dipped below $3 a gallon.
&#8220;As you go into the holiday season, there is nothing better than saving money,&#8221; Energy Secretary Chris Wright told <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/energy/gas-prices-drop-below-3-nationwide-trump-says-2-gas-within-reach">Fox Business</a>.
According to AAA, the last time gas averaged $3 or below was May 2021. It was a different world: Joe Biden was president, California was still in COVID hibernation, and every junk drawer in America was 80% face masks.
Today, the average gas price per gallon is $2.978.
&#8220;This is what happens when the American public elects a president who cares about their pocketbook, cares about American people and not special interests or the climate crazies or whatever interest the Democrats are trying to appease,&#8221; Secretary Wright said. &#8220;President Trump&#8217;s just focused on the American consumer.&#8221;
California ($4.51) and Hawaii have the highest gas prices in the country. The states with the lowest gas prices are Oklahoma ($2.40), Texas ($2.53), Arkansas ($2.55), Colorado ($2.56), Mississippi ($2.57), Tennessee ($2.58), Louisiana ($2.60), Iowa ($2.63), Wisconsin ($2.63), and Missouri ($2.64), per AAA.
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Trump said he thinks the national average can go way lower.
&#8220;We&#8217;re gonna be, I think, at $2 a gallon,&#8221; Trump said during a press conference earlier this week. &#8220;We could even crack that at some point, I&#8217;d love to do it. We could do it more easily if we weren&#8217;t building up the Strategic National Reserves, which Biden emptied out before the election.&#8221;
The reserves Trump is referring to are the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the government’s emergency supply of crude oil stored along the Gulf of America.
Crude oil prices are hovering around $60 a barrel, which is driving down <a href="https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/">gasoline</a> prices at the pump.
Secretary Wright said another boost to Americans&#8217; wallets would be to continue building the domestic oil and gas supply.
&#8220;We will see increasing production in the next six to 12 months out of the Gulf of America. If you look carefully at the oil production data in the U.S., as a whole right now, it&#8217;s almost a million barrels a day higher than it was 12 months ago. So even with low oil prices, we&#8217;re seeing more development. Just common sense is back in town.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/">U.S. Energy Information Administration</a> predicts gas prices will remain below the $3/gallon average in 2026.

Cha-Ching! Trump Delivers Relief At The Pump, Driving Gas Prices Down To Lowest Point In 4 Years

Energy

Gas Prices

Get ready to flush idiocracy down the drain because public bathroom signs matter again in Texas.
<a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00240I.pdf">The Texas Women&#8217;s Privacy Act</a>, or &#8220;bathroom bill,&#8221; went into effect Thursday. It requires you to do your business in the bathroom that matches your biological sex.
State Senator Mayes Middleton wrote the bill to save female multiple-occupancy private spaces in Texas, including restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms, from being invaded by men.
&#8220;This is the strongest women&#8217;s privacy law in America,&#8221; Middleton told The Daily Wire. “I defeated the woke left&#8217;s radical gender ideology to protect Texas women and children’s safety.&#8221;
He believes the gendered symbols that have long identified which restroom to use for decades finally have a purpose again.
&#8220;This bill restores those boundaries and makes them enforceable,&#8221; Middleton said.
The bill also requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to house inmates according to their biological sex and domestic violence shelters made for women to only serve women and their children.
&#8220;These are boundaries that have existed for generations. They are boundaries based on biological truth. Boundaries based on Biblical truth.&#8221;
Women across the country have been fighting for more laws like the one in Texas. Just last month, a woman in California went viral for complaining about men being in the women&#8217;s locker rooms at her gym. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-tish-hyman-the-california-lesbian-fighting-to-keep-men-out-of-womens-locker-rooms">Tish Hyman</a> has since put pressure on her state leaders in California to keep women safe.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/answer-straight-tish-hyman-crashes-swalwells-town-hall-demands-answer-on-men-in-womens-spaces">‘Answer Straight!’: Tish Hyman Crashes Swalwell’s Town Hall, Demands Answer On Men In Women’s Spaces</a>
Another victim of men wrongfully invading women&#8217;s spaces is Payton McNabb. During a high school volleyball game, she was knocked unconscious by a man playing on the opposing women&#8217;s volleyball team. McNabb, now ambassador at Independent Women&#8217;s Voice, is thrilled Texas has chosen to stand up for women.
&#8220;A big win for basic privacy and common sense,&#8221; McNabb said. &#8220;With the Texas Women’s Privacy Act officially going into effect today, I’m thinking about the girls who will never have to go through what I did. Seeing these protections taken seriously is a reminder of what good leadership looks like.&#8221;
The law imposes civil penalties up to $125,000 per day. People can file complaints with the state&#8217;s attorney general, who issues the penalties.
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The bill includes some exceptions, such as allowing entry for custodial, maintenance, medical, or childcare purposes.
The Texas Women&#8217;s Privacy Act is a victory for the state&#8217;s lawmakers who have fought for this protection since the first bills were introduced in 2017. Now with the law in effect, <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/state/gov-abbott-signs-womens-privacy-act-into-law/">Texas Scorecard</a> reports the state joins 19 others that have legislation protecting women in locker rooms and bathrooms.

Texas Takes Back Bathrooms As New Law Bans Men From Using Women’s Facilities

Texas Takes Back Bathrooms As Law Requiring Biological Gender Use Goes Into Effect

Texas

Women's sports

An Olympic silver medalist is no longer staying quiet. After MyKayla Skinner&#8217;s former USA Gymnastics teammate, Simone Biles, attacked Riley Gaines this summer, she is not afraid to speak out anymore.
&#8220;We shouldn&#8217;t let transgender men be in women&#8217;s sports. How can you be one of the best athletes in the world and think that it&#8217;s okay for that to happen? They&#8217;re literally not competing because they don&#8217;t want to go up against a man,&#8221; she told The Daily Wire.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I interviewed Olympic Silver Medalist, <a href="https://twitter.com/mykaylaskinner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mykaylaskinner</a>, on her latest push for the <a href="https://twitter.com/iocmedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iocmedia</a> to ban men from competing as women in the Olympics. She said more athletes need to demand the Olympic Committee protect women&#8217;s sports. <a href="https://t.co/tGR9GeMerc">pic.twitter.com/tGR9GeMerc</a>
— Lynden Blake (@LyndenBlake) <a href="https://twitter.com/LyndenBlake/status/1995929504586629161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
Skinner is now calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban transgender athletes.
&#8220;I hope that they make a change and that it does happen. Because it&#8217;s not fair, it&#8217;s not right. It&#8217;s just sad to think that we even have to vote on this. Us women work so hard, especially being in the Olympics,&#8221; Skinner added.
The IOC, under its new president, <a href="https://x.com/iocmedia/status/1938227406805880959?s=20">Kirsty Coventry</a>, created a Working Group on the protection of the female category this summer. An IOC spokesperson told The Daily Wire that a final decision on banning men from the women&#8217;s category has yet to be reached.
&#8220;An update was given by the IOC’s Director of Health, Medicine and Science to the IOC Members during the recent IOC commission meetings,&#8221; the spokesperson said. &#8220;The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet. Further information will be provided in due course.”
Skinner said having discussions on whether men should compete in the Olympics against women is &#8220;mind-blowing.&#8221;
&#8220;It shouldn&#8217;t even be an issue. I couldn&#8217;t imagine having to compete against a male and getting medals stripped,&#8221; The Olympian continued. &#8220;Especially having a daughter, she&#8217;s gonna be raised in this next generation, and I want her to have an even playing field like I had. Like we all had on the Olympic team.&#8221;
During the 2024 Olympics, the IOC dismissed gender tests for Imane Khelif as not legitimate. The Algerian boxer came under scrutiny for competing in the women&#8217;s category, winning gold, even though an independent analysis in 2023 revealed a &#8220;male karyotype,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2025/06/01/imane-khelif-medical-report-proves-biological-male/">The Telegraph</a>.
Since then, other sports organizations have required sex testing to ensure fair competition. In August, <a href="https://worldboxing.org/world-boxing-confirms-mandatory-sex-testing-will-apply-in-the-female-category-at-the-inaugural-world-boxing-championships-2025/">World Boxing</a> announced mandatory sex testing for boxers wanting to compete in their competitions. Khelif has refused to take the test and appealed the rule. He hasn&#8217;t boxed in a World Boxing event since the testing was put in place.
&#8220;Watching the last Olympics, it was just so crazy that we&#8217;re experiencing this,&#8221; Skinner said. &#8220;We&#8217;re watching it, we&#8217;re witnessing it, it just shouldn&#8217;t be happening. We shouldn&#8217;t have to be competing against trans biological men. Girls need to have a safe place. That&#8217;s what I want for my daughter and the next generation to have.&#8221;
RELATED: ‘<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-were-right-leaked-medical-report-says-boxer-who-beat-up-women-at-olympics-is-a-man">We Were Right’: Leaked Medical Report Says Boxer Who Beat Up Women At Olympics Is A Man</a>
Coventry, the first female IOC President, wasn&#8217;t in power in 2024, but since being elected, she has said she wants fair competition.
“There was overwhelming support from all of the Members who were present here, and those who were able to share with us before they left, that we should <a href="https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-president-coventry-announces-two-working-groups-to-strengthen-future-host-election-process-and-protection-of-the-female-category">protect the female category,</a>&#8221; Coventry said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Another key action emerging from the ‘Pause &amp; Reflect’ session held with IOC members on 24-25 June is the setting up of a working group that will look into the protection of the female category – on which there was broad consensus. <a href="https://t.co/09Pxwfm4Io">pic.twitter.com/09Pxwfm4Io</a>
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/iocmedia/status/1938227406805880959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
Republican Senator John Cornyn urged the IOC to make its decision before the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.
&#8220;As the IOC continues its deliberations, this issue has become a global policy concern and a question of athletic integrity,&#8221; Cornyn said. &#8220;In the United States, President Trump honored his unwavering commitment to women and girls with the issuance of Executive Order 14201: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. His action reaffirmed the longstanding belief that women’s sports must be preserved for biological females.&#8221;
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While the IOC deliberates, Skinner wants more athletes to publicly state that men should not be in women&#8217;s sports.
&#8220;I would love to see more athletes, my Olympic teammates, Team USA National Team members, join this fight and stand up, because I didn&#8217;t have to go through this. If this is something that you&#8217;re really passionate about, just find the courage deep down inside, and just speak up.&#8221;
It took Skinner longer than she would like to admit to speak out on this issue. She was scared of being canceled, but said the amount of support she&#8217;s received has been overwhelmingly more than hate.
&#8220;I feel like I can finally use my platform to do something good. That&#8217;s the most important thing to me. I hope by showing that, it will really give all these athletes the courage to do the same.&#8221;
The IOC told The Daily Wire that no date has been set to vote on a transgender ban.

MyKayla Skinner

‘It Needs To Happen’: Olympic Gymnast Pushes IOC To Ban Transgender Athletes

female sports

Olympics

Transgender Athletes

Women Sports

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is calling out New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for her silence over the latest anti-police move made by far-left Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, whom Hochul endorsed.
Mamdani recently appointed Alex Vitale to his community safety committee. Vitale, a sociology professor, is the author of &#8220;The End of Policing&#8221; and has espoused radical anti-police views, such as suggesting all officers and their unions are embedded with &#8220;deep racism&#8221; and calling for the defunding and abolition of police.
“Kathy Hochul must condemn Zohran Mamdani’s appointment of Alex Vitale to his transition advisory committee,&#8221; Stefanik told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;Vitale is a radical police abolitionist who will destroy New York if he gets his way,&#8221; she added.
Stefanik <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stefanik-launches-gubernatorial-bid-to-oust-empire-states-communist-loving-red-queen?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Stefanik+Launches+Gubernatorial+Bid+To+Oust+Empire+State’s+‘Communist’-Loving+Red+Queen">announced</a> her bid for New York&#8217;s next gubernatorial election in November, just days after Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, won the election as New York City’s next mayor with Hochul’s endorsement.
When Hochul endorsed Mamdani, she claimed that Mamdani told her he would maintain all police resources to ensure the safety of New Yorkers was a top priority. Vitale&#8217;s appointment seems to fly in the face of that commitment, though Hochul has so far stayed mum.
Back in 2020, Vitale strongly backed the &#8220;defund the police&#8221; movement and criticized police unions and their members for their supposed &#8220;deep racism.&#8221;
&#8220;They become, in many cities, the locus, the institutional hub, for a whole set of right-wing &#8216;thin blue line&#8217; politics that believe that policing is not only effective but it’s the most desirable way to solve our problems,&#8221; Vitale <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2020/6/8/alex_vitale_end_of_policing?">said</a>. &#8220;And embedded in this is a deep racism that says that certain populations can only be managed through constant threats and coercion.”
The professor added that this is the &#8220;logic of slavery&#8221; and &#8220;colonialism,&#8221; and activists must &#8220;take concrete steps to dismantle their political power.&#8221;
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-names-end-of-policing-author-who-called-cops-violence-workers-to-transition-team">The Daily Wire</a>, Vitale&#8217;s book, “The End of Policing,” imagines a world in which “modern policing” is broadly replaced by a combination of decriminalization and community empowerment. He argues that policing is designed to reinforce inequality, and that giving police officers diversity training is not enough to bridge the gap.
Vitale has also called for the decriminalization of offenses such as prostitution and drug use, and advocates for private corporations or government programs that would provide permanent housing for the homeless population.
Mamdani himself has espoused radical anti-police views, like calling NYPD officers &#8220;racist, anti-queer &amp; a major threat to public safety&#8221; and calling for the &#8220;wicked &amp; corrupt&#8221; department to be defunded and dismantled.
In addition to his controversial Vitale appointment, Mamdani has picked a black nationalist named Lumumba Bandele to serve on a Community Organizing committee. As <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/25/us-news/rep-elise-stefanik-challenges-hochul-after-call-to-fire-nightmare-mamdani-transition-team-pick/">noted</a> by the New York Post, Bandele previously aligned with Black Liberation Army members convicted of killing police officers in the tristate area.
“Kathy Hochul’s endorsed Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, just picked a man who supports the killers of cops in New York and New Jersey to serve on his transition team,” Stefanik said.
“Mamdani’s vision for New York is getting very clear and it’s starting to look like a nightmare,&#8221; the Republican added. &#8220;Kathy Hochul must immediately call on Mamdani to fire Lumumba Bandele from his transition team.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-names-end-of-policing-author-who-called-cops-violence-workers-to-transition-team">Mamdani Names ‘End Of Policing’ Author Who Called Cops ‘Violence Workers’ To Transition Team</a>

Stefanik, Hochul, Mamdani

Stefanik Blasts Mamdani, Hochul Over Wild Anti-Police Appointment

Elise Stefanik

Kathy Hochul

mamdani

New York

New York City

Shedeur Sanders has a laundry list of critics, but the most powerful man in the world is a huge fan.
President Donald Trump gave the son of two-time Super Bowl champ Deion Sanders a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115604342260009397">rave review</a> after Sanders made his first start as the Cleveland Browns quarterback.
&#8220;Shedeur Sanders was GREAT,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Wins first game, career start, as a pro (for Cleveland.) 
Great Genes.&#8221;
Trump ended his <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115604342260009397">TruthSocial post</a> with an enthusiastic, &#8220;I TOLD YOU SO!&#8221;
<iframe class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115604342260009397/embed" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>
In Sunday&#8217;s contest against the Raiders, Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and an interception in the Browns&#8217; 24-10 win.
The 23-year-old said after the game he wasn&#8217;t nervous for his first professional start.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not gonna lie, I felt very relaxed. Half of that comes from preparing, studying, and knowing I got God on my side.&#8221;
Trump has been on the Shedeur Sanders train since the NFL Draft this past April. Sanders was a Heisman finalist, and projected as a first-round pick. Then he famously fell to the fifth round of the draft before Cleveland picked the Colorado quarterback 144th overall. Who called out the NFL teams for passing on Sanders? President Trump, whose Monday praise backed up his initial scouting report from April.
&#8220;What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID?&#8221; <a href="https://truthsocial.com/users/realDonaldTrump/statuses/114400583767375750">Trump said at the time.</a> &#8220;Deion Sanders was a great college football player and was even greater in the NFL&#8230;therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for greatness. He should be picked IMMEDIATELY by a team who wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!&#8221;
Deion Sanders was in Las Vegas Sunday for his oldest son&#8217;s big game. The performance was enough for Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski to make Sanders the official starting quarterback on Monday, despite Dillon Gabriel clearing concussion protocol.
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Sanders has been Cleveland&#8217;s backup quarterback behind Joe Flacco and, most recently, Gabriel, who the Browns drafted in the third round. Critics came for Sanders after he saw the field for the first time all season in Week 11 against the Ravens. Through the air, he was 4-16 for 47 yards and an interception.
Stefanski wouldn&#8217;t tell reporters if the decision to keep Sanders as the starting quarterback was permanent. The head coach said he&#8217;d rather focus on this week&#8217;s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Stefanski said he&#8217;s excited for Sanders to have gotten his first win.
&#8220;The number one job of a quarterback is to win. The next thing is improvement, and that&#8217;s what young players do.&#8221;
Trump will get to cheer Sanders on this Sunday. The Browns and 49ers kick off at 1:00 ET.

Cleveland Browns v Las Vegas Raiders

President Trump Gives Shedeur Sanders Rave Review After First Start

Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders

Aftyn Behn, the Democratic candidate running in the special election to represent Tennessee&#8217;s 7th Congressional District, did not deny that she had suggested that burning down police stations was a righteous act when confronted about previous social media posts on MS Now (formerly MSNBC) over the weekend.
MS Now anchor Catherine Rampell asked if the Democrat stood by her previous 2020 statement, when she gushed over Americans who thought setting a police station ablaze was justified.
“I’m not gonna engage in cable news talking points,&#8221; Behn said.
Rampell was referring to a now-deleted post on X where Behn said: &#8220;Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified.&#8221;
Rampell pressed Behn on this issue after the Democrat kept dodging the topic. Still, Behn never addressed her social media post or said whether her radical positions on law enforcement had changed in the past five years.
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&#8220;I&#8217;m here to talk about my race,&#8221; Behn said.
The Knoxville native has been under fire recently for negative comments about Nashville, parts of which lie in the district she’s fighting to represent.
“I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it’ city to the rest of the country. But I hate it,” she said.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-democrat-aftyn-behn-running-on-extreme-abortion-stance-in-deep-red-state">RELATED: Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Running On Extreme Abortion Stance In Deep Red State</a>
After the comments went viral, Behn <a href="https://x.com/aftynfortn/status/1991669057473425651?s=20">said</a> that she does not hate Nashville.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris spent time in the Music City this month campaigning for Behn, who said she would be willing to get arrested for breaking abortion laws.
Behn is running against Republican Matt Van Epps for former Rep. Mark Green&#8217;s seat.
Van Epps, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, is a combat veteran who served for three years in the Tennessee Governor&#8217;s Office as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. The West Point graduate said he is ready to support Trump&#8217;s America First agenda in Washington while delivering results to the people in Tennessee&#8217;s 7th district.
Van Epps has claimed <a href="https://x.com/MattForTN/status/1985900445886267637?s=20">Behn is more radical than New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani</a>, after Behn said Mamdani’s agenda mirrors her own in Tennessee.
The special election takes place on December 2.

Aftyn Behn

Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Won’t Take Back Support For Burning Down Police Stations

2025 elections

Matt Van Epps

Tennessee

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is calling the criminal-justice system a “failure” after a woman was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire while riding a rapid-transit train Monday night.
“This is an absolute failure of our criminal justice system as well as our mental health institutions,” Johnson said during a city hall press conference Thursday.
Authorities allege that Lawrence Reed, 50, attacked a 26-year-old woman by pouring gasoline on her and setting her ablaze aboard a Blue Line train near downtown Chicago. He is now charged with a federal terrorism offense against a mass transit system. During his court hearing Wednesday, Reed shouted “I plead guilty” several times as he was restrained by officers.
According to ABC7 Chicago, Reed has 14 criminal cases, including several battery charges, dating back to 2017. In 2020, Reed was reportedly under 24-month mental health probation after starting a fire outside a building in Chicago.
&#8220;This individual was charged with dozens of felonies over the past three decades,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;He was clearly, seriously mentally disturbed and a danger to himself and others. The system we had failed to intervene and now we have a woman who is fighting for her life. I am praying for her.&#8221;
Illinois passed a $1.5 billion transit funding bill in October that Johnson said could make Chicago&#8217;s transit systems safer through mental health and homelessness programs.
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&#8220;As far as how we show up with law enforcement or security agencies, those things will be debated, but just know that it&#8217;s a top priority.&#8221;
Mayor Johnson has been critical of President Donald Trump&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in Chicago. He <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1990889223444943209?s=20">claimed</a> Trump was trying to &#8220;re-ignite&#8221; a civil war by sending National Guardsmen to crime-ridden big cities led by Democrats.
The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have been engaged in an ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration after troops were deployed to Chicago, but they have been ordered to leave as the conflict plays out in court.
The suspect is expected back in court on Friday.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson

Chicago Dem Mayor Calls Justice System An ‘Absolute Failure’ After Career Criminal Torches Woman

Chicago

public safety

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon addressed federal funding and &#8220;education micromanagement&#8221; at a White House Press Briefing on Thursday.
&#8220;We&#8217;re not ending federal support for education,&#8221; McMahon said. &#8220;We&#8217;re ending education micromanagement. The Department of Education does not educate a single student.&#8221;
At Thursday&#8217;s press briefing, McMahon further clarified the misconception currently held by many Democratic lawmakers — including Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — that President Trump plans to defund education. McMahon reiterated that the Trump administration is focused on ending the bureaucratic, non-educational agency that has failed to improve national reading or math scores for decades.
Walz had <a href="https://x.com/Tim_Walz/status/1990913615117857010?utm_source=chatgpt.com">posted to X</a> on Tuesday, &#8220;Gutting the Department of Education and defunding our public schools threatens that promise for every child in the nation.&#8221;
McMahon initially responded to Walz with a <a href="https://x.com/EDSecMcMahon/status/1990964078689341579">post</a> of her own, writing, &#8220;The good news for you, Governor, is that federal funding for education CONTINUES to flow.&#8221;
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended the administration&#8217;s plan to close the Department of Education, pointing out the recent furlough of 90% of the agency&#8217;s staff as proof that the department is unnecessary.
&#8220;The Department of Education furloughed 90% of its staff, and it did not affect schools whatsoever,&#8221; said Leavitt.
With only 10% of its staff still working, institutions from preschool to college remained fully open and all teachers received their paychecks, making &#8220;it painfully obvious that American families do not need a Department of Education.&#8221;
Education Secretary Linda McMahon joined Leavitt at the podium to reinforce the message.
&#8220;The Department of Education does not educate a single student,&#8221; said McMahon.
She rejected claims that Trump wants to &#8220;defund education,&#8221; clarifying that the administration&#8217;s goal is to return control of schools to the states — not eliminate education itself.
The Department of Education was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. McMahon argued that after decades of federal oversight, students have yet to see the benefits.
&#8220;Since the 1970s, math and reading scores are down in public schools,&#8221; said McMahon. &#8220;It&#8217;s clear throwing money at a broken system does not work.&#8221;
McMahon cited troubling statistics: Only 3 out of 10 students can read proficiently at the third-grade level, college students are collectively $1.7 trillion in debt, and about half of college graduates work in fields unrelated to their expensive degrees.
In an effort to reset American education, McMahon launched a 50-state tour to meet with students, teachers, parents, and community leaders to identify what&#8217;s working on the ground.
Her conclusion so far: &#8220;The best education comes from those closest to the student. Education is local, and it should be overseen locally.&#8221; She added that President Trump shares this view and campaigned on returning control of education to the states.
While McMahon is working to shrink the Department of Education, former President Joe Biden&#8217;s Education Secretary sought to expand it.
Biden&#8217;s Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona requested <a href="https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/about/overview/budget/budget25/summary/25summary.pdf">$82.4 billion</a> in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous year.
Unlike Cardona, McMahon did not request a budget increase. Instead, she focused on tightening the department&#8217;s operations, reporting earlier this year that the department uncovered nearly <a href="https://x.com/EDSecMcMahon/status/1927740692186427588">$90 million</a> in misused taxpayer dollars.
The Trump administration anticipates further savings from reducing redundancies by streamlining agency administration and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-plan-to-dismantle-education-dept-gains-momentum?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump%E2%80%99s+Plan+To+Dismantle+Education+Dept+Gains+Momentum">shifting crucial Department of Education responsibilities</a> to other federal agencies.
Ultimately, McMahon hopes that through this plan, &#8220;America&#8217;s next generation will look back on the work we&#8217;ve carried out [and be] thankful for an education system that prioritizes students over bureaucracy.&#8221;

FILE PHOTO: 21st day of U.S. government shutdown

‘Education Micromanagement’: Linda McMahon Addresses Key Education Issue

Department of Education

Linda McMahon

Tim Walz

Trump Administration

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump signed a bill into law Wednesday night requiring the release of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The move follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in both the House and Senate earlier this week.
And now, the countdown begins.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has 30 days to publish “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ&#8217;s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein,” according to the bill <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summary</a>.
The DOJ is also required to release any materials related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ghislaine-maxwell-reveals-whether-she-believes-epstein-committed-suicide">associate</a> and convicted sex trafficker.
This includes flight logs, travel records, and individuals named or referenced — including government officials — in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Epstein.
The published information must be released in a “searchable and downloadable” format, the bill said.
However, the release may not be comprehensive.
The bill allows the attorney general to withhold or redact certain records, including victims’ names, as well as materials that could jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution.
Earlier in November, Trump asked Bondi to investigate Epstein’s “involvement and relationship” with individuals, including Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, and financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase, to “determine what was going on with them, and him.&#8221;
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) previously appeared on CNN and <a href="https://x.com/SwampyUniparty/status/1991201166793797736?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they wrote the legislation that way “so that if it did pass, things would be on a fast track.”
He noted there could be delays if investigations are underway.
“It is true that if they start investigations in one sort of silo of area of these Epstein files, they could block or delay — it won&#8217;t delay it forever, but they could delay releasing those files there. But here&#8217;s the thing, there are 1,000 victims and there are so many perpetrators, they can&#8217;t open enough cases to block all of the Epstein files,” Massie said.
Additionally, the DOJ will have 15 days after publishing to report the categories of information withheld, a summary of redactions, and a list of all “government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials.”
“Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115579394833948106">said</a> Wednesday night.
The Department of Justice has already released 50,000 pages of documents, Trump said.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has been <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/chairman-comer-subpoenas-banks-for-epstein-records-seeks-information-from-usvi-attorney-general/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conducting</a> its own review of the federal government’s investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. This week, the committee issued subpoenas to JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank for Epstein’s financial records.
More is coming, but just how much and when remains to be seen.

Trump Bondi Press

Trump Signed The Bill To Release The Epstein Files. What Happens Next?

Ghislaine Maxwell

Jeffrey Epstein

President Donald Trump doubled down on his call for House Republicans to vote to release the files related to the case involving convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein on Monday.
&#8220;What I don&#8217;t want Epstein to do is detract from the great success of the Republican Party,&#8221; Trump said during a briefing. &#8220;It&#8217;s really a Democrat problem. The Democrats were Epstein&#8217;s friends, all of them.&#8221;
It&#8217;s a shift from Trump&#8217;s recent rhetoric, where he opposed the release of the files, but he said he is tired of the situation overshadowing what he&#8217;s accomplished.
&#8220;All I want is for people to recognize the great job that I’ve done on pricing, on energy, on ending eight wars and another one coming pretty soon. We&#8217;ve done a great job, and I hate to see that deflect from the great job we&#8217;ve done, so I’m all for it.&#8221;
The White House said in a release Monday that the Democrats aren&#8217;t talking about former President Bill Clinton traveling on Epstein&#8217;s plane 26 times or the time the Democrats refused to return $32,000 in donations from Epstein.
“We have nothing to do with Epstein. The Democrats do. All of his friends were Democrats. You look at this Reed Hoffman (Democrat donor), you look at Larry Summers (Clinton Treasury Secretary), Bill Clinton, they went to his island all the time, and many others, all Democrats.”
Trump implied the men he mentioned are the ones who are being looked at &#8220;very seriously&#8221; for their connections to Epstein.
&#8220;They were with him all the time. I wasn&#8217;t.”
Trump said his administration has already released 50,000 pages from the Epstein files.
&#8220;No matter what we give it&#8217;s never enough,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump said he would sign the bill to release the files when it comes to his desk.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll give them everything&#8230; let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it.”
Sunday night, he called for House Republicans to back a vote compelling the Justice Department to release all files connected to the convicted child sex offender.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nothing-to-hide-trump-now-demands-house-republicans-vote-to-make-epstein-files-public?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Nothing+To+Hide%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+Now+Demands+House+Republicans+Vote+To+Make+Epstein+Files+Public">‘Nothing To Hide’: Trump Now Demands House Republicans Vote To Make Epstein Files Public</a>
This is after Democrats released <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dems-drop-new-epstein-emails-in-which-he-claims-trump-knew-about-the-girls">emails</a> from Epstein that said Trump &#8220;knew about the girls&#8221; and &#8220;spent hours&#8221; at Epstein&#8217;s home with one of the sexual offender&#8217;s victims. The White House said that the contents confirmed that Trump did not take part in Epstein’s sex crimes.
According to CBS, House GOP leaders are expected to hold a vote Tuesday for the full release of the Justice Department&#8217;s files on Epstein.
The bill is called the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405">Epstein Files Transparency Act</a>. It was introduced in July of this year. In addition to the release of all files related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein, the bill calls for the release of materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell, flight logs and travel records, and individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the Epstein investigation.

Trump Calls To Release Epstein Files

‘The Democrats Were Epstein’s Friends’: Trump Said He Is All For Release Of Epstein Files

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