An Ohio company was ordered to pay $22.5 million to a woman whose baby died after her company denied her request to work from home during a high-risk pregnancy.
Per <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-firm-must-pay-225-million-mom-whose-baby-died-was-denied-work-hom-rcna264321?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&amp;taid=69bc55cb9ac2060001303ea5&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">NBC News</a>, Chelsea Walsh requested to work from home beginning on February 15, 2021, for her job with Total Quality Logistics, but was denied. Walsh had just undergone an operation on her cervix when she made the request and was recommended to be put on bed rest due to the high risk nature of her pregnancy.
A <a href="https://www.woltermanlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-18-Larkin-v.-Total-Quality-Logistics-press-release-1-2.pdf">press release</a> from Walsh’s attorney said her doctors “instructed her to limit activity, remain on modified bed rest, and work from home.”
“TQL presented Walsh with an impossible choice — work at the office and put additional strain on her child, or take an unpaid leave of absence and lose the income and health insurance she needed,” the lawsuit said.
Her husband Joel Walsh then had a conversation with the company’s human resources manager, who is friends with an executive at TQL, the lawsuit says. The unnamed executive allegedly said, “Thank you … you just saved us a lawsuit.”
This led to Walsh’s request being granted on February 24, which is the same day she went into premature labor and gave birth to a daughter, named Magnolia. The baby was born at 20 weeks and four days.
&#8220;Magnolia had a heartbeat, was breathing, and exhibited fetal movement,&#8221; the lawsuit says, per NBC. &#8220;Magnolia was placed on Walsh’s chest so that Walsh could hold her. Magnolia died in Walsh’s arms approximately one hour and thirty minutes later.&#8221;
The jury ruled in Walsh’s favor and ordered the company to pay $22.5 million in damages for what they determined to be a wrongful death.
“This is a heartbreaking outcome for a young family,” one of Walsh&#8217;s lawyers said in a statement. “The evidence showed that Chelsea Walsh was following her doctors’ instructions for a high-risk pregnancy and simply asked to work from home.&#8221;
&#8220;The jury found that TQL’s denial of that reasonable request led to the death of her daughter,” he said.
Julia Daugherty, a rep for TQL, said the company disagreed with the verdict, arguing that “the way the facts were characterized at trial&#8221; were not accurate. “We are evaluating legal options and remain committed to supporting the health and well-being of our employees,” the rep said.

Baby feet

Firm Must Pay $22.5M To Woman Whose Baby Died After Work-From-Home Request Denial

Business

Courts

Death

Lawsuit

Motherhood

Ohio

U.S.

Afroman is no stranger to his legal escapades making headlines. But the &#8220;Because I Got High&#8221; singer is back in the news this week for a different kind of courtroom drama.
The rapper on Wednesday won a defamation trial after several deputies sued him for music videos he made using real footage from the sheriff&#8217;s department&#8217;s botched raid at his Ohio home in 2022. The jury found that the hitmaker did not defame the seven deputies from the Adams County Sheriff&#8217;s Department or invade their privacy when he dropped a series of music videos post-raid.
&#8220;We did it America,&#8221; a red, white, and blue-clad Afroman exclaimed after the verdict dropped. &#8220;We did it, freedom of speech.&#8221;
The deputies sued Afroman — whose real name is Joseph Foreman — in 2023, claiming the singer used their likeness without permission. The deputies claim the video for &#8220;Lemon Pound Cake&#8221; caused humiliation and distress to the deputies, plus prompted death threats, per a report from <a href="https://local12.com/news/local/jury-deliberates-lawsuit-surrounding-afromans-viral-lemon-pound-cake-video-cincinnati-adams-county-joseph-foreman-deputies-raid-lisa-phillips-brian-newland-randy-walters-shawn-grooms-shawn-cooley-justin-cooley-mike-estep">Local 12 News</a> in Cincinnati.
Per Local 12, the deputies involved in the lawsuit wanted big-time money for the alleged emotional damages. Their attorney, Robert Kiplinger, asked the jury for specific amounts for each of the deputies for &#8220;all the suffering the seven plaintiffs endured,&#8221; according to the news outlet. The highest amount requested was for Lisa Phillips at $1.5 million. Brian Newland and Randy Walters each asked for $1 million.
Kiplinger also asked jurors to award $400,000 to be divided among Shawn Grooms, Shawn Cooley, Justin Cooley, and Mike Estep.
When Afroman took the stand Tuesday, he said any pushback from the video is the deputies&#8217; fault.
&#8220;If they hadn&#8217;t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit, I would not know their names, they wouldn&#8217;t be on my home surveillance system and there would be no songs,&#8221; Afroman said.
The video for &#8220;Lemon Pound Cake&#8221; was played in court Wednesday where the jury could listen along to the song&#8217;s lyrics, including: &#8220;The Adams County Sheriff kicked down my door. Then I heard the glass break. They found no kidnapping victims. Just some lemon pound cake.&#8221;
The officer depicted in the song, looking at an apparent lemon pound cake in Afroman&#8217;s home, is Deputy Shawn Cooley, who has since retired from the Adams County Sheriff&#8217;s Department. Cooley told the jury the attention caused by the video led to threats against his life, his wife, and his children. Cooley said it was difficult for his family to go to public places like Walmart after the song that has more than 3 million views and counting on YouTube was released.
The 51-year-old rapper was not charged following the raid, which left him with significant damage to his home and plenty of footage for music videos. Afroman claims the raid stemmed from allegations of drug trafficking and kidnapping.
&#8220;In all circumstances, the jury finds in favor of the defendant,&#8221; the judge said Wednesday evening. Now Afroman has enough material to &#8220;sell tapes from here to Hong Kong.&#8221;

Credit: Rick Kern/WireImage via Getty Images

The Afroman Legal Saga Is The Most Interesting Thing On The Internet Today

Afroman

Court

News

Police body-camera footage has been released showing the moments after a former &#8220;American Idol&#8221; contestant and worship pastor allegedly killed his wife in the early morning hours of February 16 in Tipp City, Ohio, just north of Dayton.
Caleb Flynn is in jail on a $2 million bond after being charged with the murder of his wife, Ashley. The newly released video shows the Tipp City Police responding to what they believed was a burglary call that ended with Ashley being shot. Now, officials say Caleb shot his wife and staged the burglary scene.
&#8220;Is she gone?&#8221; Caleb, who once raved on &#8220;American Idol&#8221; about how much he loved his wife, asked investigators as they canvassed the crime scene.
Caleb seemed in pure shock that his wife was dead. Investigators asked Caleb if he had any weapons. He said he had guns in the house and referenced one specifically in his truck&#8217;s glove compartment.
Hours of body-cam footage were released this week as the investigation into Caleb continues. In one of the videos, Caleb is confiding in another woman, believed to be Ashley&#8217;s mother, in the yard as officers work to secure the scene.
“She told me to sleep on the couch &#8230; I shouldn&#8217;t have listened,&#8221; Caleb said.
The father of two was wailing and even throwing up at one point during the police&#8217;s initial search of the home. Caleb and Ashley&#8217;s daughters were inside during the alleged shooting.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Caleb Flynn, a former American Idol contestant, is accused of staging a burglary and killing his wife. Newly released body cam footage shows him sobbing at the scene.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CalebFlynn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CalebFlynn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericanIdol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmericanIdol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrimeNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrimeNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BodyCamFootage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BodyCamFootage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CourtCase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CourtCase</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fyp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fyp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/explorepage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#explorepage</a> <a href="https://t.co/eNa47faFGm">pic.twitter.com/eNa47faFGm</a>
— MEAWW (@meawwofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/meawwofficial/status/2028895741582643208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Later that morning, the footage shows Caleb agreeing to go to the police station for questioning. While sitting at the station, he asked about getting his phone back as well as where Ashley was.
&#8220;Where did you take her?&#8221; Caleb asked the detective. The detective responded by saying Ashley&#8217;s body was still at the house as investigators were &#8220;scouring&#8221; everything.
Three days after Caleb voluntarily went in for questioning, he was arrested and transported to the Miami County jail, where he remains on charges of homicide, two counts of felonious assault, and two counts of tampering with evidence.
After Caleb&#8217;s arrest, Ashley&#8217;s family released this statement: &#8220;Our hearts are shattered. Ashley brought endless light to our world and we are trying to navigate this immense loss. Our family believes this arrest was made carefully and not without serious consideration. After speaking with both local police and federal authorities, we trust the proper steps were taken and the process is being handled appropriately. We kindly ask for privacy as we work through this complex situation. We are clinging to our faith – just as Ashley did each and every day.&#8221;
Prior to Caleb&#8217;s arrest, Ashley was set to have a public celebration of life, but because of the tragic circumstances, she was laid to rest privately.
Caleb is being represented by Patrick Mulligan, who spoke out about his client&#8217;s $2 million bond.
Per <a href="https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/ashley-flynn-murder-case-husbands-attorney-questions-thoroughness-of-investigation/BLOGSCW4FBDQFB3P2A52FNFCCE/">the Dayton Daily News</a>, Mulligan said the bond was unnecessary. &#8220;It denies him the opportunity to be at the funeral for his wife, which is an unspeakable tragedy,&#8221; Mulligan said at the time.
Caleb made his first court appearance on February 20, where he told the judge, &#8220;I just want to take care of my daughters, I’m not a risk.&#8221;
Caleb&#8217;s preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for March 26.
The 39-year-old competed on Season 12 of &#8220;American Idol.&#8221; He described himself as a devoted husband, worship pastor, and Christian.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Credit: Tipp City Police Department

‘Is She Gone?’: Body-Cam Footage Reveals Husband’s Behavior Following Suspected Murder of His Wife

American Idol

Crime

True Crime

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday night that his administration would provide $10 million in economic assistance to the East Palestine, Ohio, community as it continues to recover from the disastrous train derailment and chemical spill in 2023.
Trump vowed to &#8220;never&#8221; forget about the Americans affected by the derailment and blasted former President Joe Biden, saying he &#8220;betrayed&#8221; the residents of East Palestine. Trump&#8217;s move on Thursday came just after the third anniversary of the disaster, which forced some residents of the small Ohio community to leave their homes for months after toxic chemicals leaked into the ground and air.
&#8220;To the Great People of East Palestine, Ohio, who were disgracefully betrayed and forgotten about by Crooked Joe Biden — &#8216;TRUMP&#8217; has never forgotten about you, and never will!&#8221; he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116100280662640693">wrote</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;In addition to our Administration’s Longterm Health Study for the benefit of the residents, we are providing $10 Million Dollars through the Economic Development Administration to help the Community continue its Economic Recovery from the disastrous train derailment.&#8221;
The Economic Development Administration, which is part of the Commerce Department, <a href="https://www.eda.gov/about">focuses</a> on investing in communities throughout the United States to &#8220;establish a foundation for long-term job growth and build durable regional economies.&#8221; The Daily Wire reached out to the Economic Development Administration for more information on Trump&#8217;s plan to pump $10 million into East Palestine&#8217;s local economy.
Trump added on Thursday, &#8220;We want to see East Palestine grow, flourish, and be able to take advantage of our now BOOMING Economy. It was horrible what was allowed to happen there, and we are with you for the LONG HAUL.&#8221;
The February 3, 2023, derailment spilled toxic and combustible chemicals, such as vinyl chloride, into the ground and water, and authorities conducted a controlled burn of the train cars carrying vinyl chloride to prevent a potentially massive explosion. The controlled burn released more chemicals into the air, and authorities in East Palestine and the surrounding areas advised residents to remain indoors.
The train disaster exacerbated an already growing economic problem in East Palestine, which was struggling to retain businesses amid a declining population. East Palestine&#8217;s population shrank from over 5,500 in the 1970s to around 4,700 at the 2020 census.
&#8220;There are a lot of businesses who have left our town, and we are in need of financial recovery and economic recovery,” Chris Page, the president of the East Palestine Community Improvement Corporation, <a href="https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2026/02/04/east-palestine-economic-recovery-derailment">said</a> earlier this month.
Trump visited East Palestine shortly after the train derailment in February 2023, handing out water bottles and talking with citizens who were concerned about the future of their community. Trump&#8217;s visit to the small Ohio village drew a sharp contrast with then-President Joe Biden, who did not visit East Palestine until a year after the disaster.
“In too many cases, your goodness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/three-years-after-east-palestine-the-fight-over-railway-legislation-chugs-along">said</a> at the time.
Along with the health and economic consequences of the disaster, some East Palestine residents also alleged in a lawsuit filed last year that the toxic chemical spill and burn-off led to the deaths of seven people, including a 1-week-old infant.
The wrongful death <a href="https://www.alleghenyfront.org/norfolk-southern-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-lawsuit-wrongful-death/">lawsuit</a>, which was filed against the Norfolk Southern railroad company, claims that contractors hired by the railroad company did not effectively clean up the toxic chemical waste and also alleges that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to properly warn residents about the health risks.
Norfolk Southern previously settled a class-action lawsuit with many East Palestine residents for a total of $600 million. In that settlement, residents within a 2-mile radius of the derailment received up to $70,000 for property damage and up to $25,000 for personal injuries. The plaintiffs in the wrongful death lawsuit, however, did not sign onto the class-action case that was settled.

Donald Trump

‘Never Forgotten’: Trump Delivers $10M To Community Still Haunted By Toxic Disaster

'Never Forgotten': Trump Hands Out $10M To East Palestine Community Recovering From Train Disaster

East Palestine

Ohio Train Disaster

Trump Administration

A transgender-identifying man commits one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada’s history, Ohio Republicans move to protect parents who rebuff the concept of gender identity, and the Food and Drug Administration zeroes in on chemical preservatives in American foods.
It’s Thursday, February 12, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trans-shooter-claims-lives-parental-rights-gain-traction/id1576594336?i=1000749409417" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Canada School Mass Shooting</h2>
At least nine people are dead and dozens more wounded after a mass shooting in British Columbia, Canada. The shooting is one of the deadliest in Canada’s history. 
The shooter, whom police initially described as a “gunperson” in a “dress,” appears to have killed at least eight people across two locations and wounded dozens. That person has now been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/youtube-confirms-trans-themed-page-is-linked-to-canada-mass-shooting-suspect?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Deadly+Canada+School+Attacker+Was+Trans+Identifying+Man%2C+Police+Confirm">identified</a> as an 18-year-old male named Jesse Van Rootselaar, who identified as a female and had a history of mental illness.
&#8220;I will say this, we identify the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and on social media,&#8221; said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald. &#8220;I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately six years ago began to transition to female and identified as female, both socially and publicly.&#8221;
 Two people were found dead inside a local home, who have since been identified as the shooter’s mother and 11-year-old brother. Most of the carnage took place at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, located in a remote area of northeastern British Columbia. There, at least six others were found dead, including the suspect. One more person died while they were being taken to a hospital. Students at the school said they were forced to barricade themselves in classrooms for roughly two-and-a-half hours before they were evacuated by police.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Ohio Lawmakers Take On Gender Ideology</h2>
In the red state of Ohio, parents can lose custody of their children for refusing to affirm their “gender identity.” But Republicans are looking to change that. 
Ohio is one of many states where child welfare agencies have embraced radical gender ideology. Some parents of gender-confused kids who insist on referring to their child’s biological sex and given name could be labeled as “abusive” or “neglectful” by the state. This could mean being investigated and even losing custody of their children. 
The Republican-backed bill is called &#8220;The Affirming Families First Act,&#8221; as in, affirming the child’s natural family rather than a gender-affirming family found by the state. The bill would ensure that parents could not be accused of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-harris-hhs-consulted-activist-who-said-parents-should-be-prosecuted-for-transphobia?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Biden-Harris+HHS+Consulted+Activist+Who+Said+Parents+Should+Be+Prosecuted+For+%E2%80%98Transpho">abuse</a> or acting “contrary to the best interest of the child” by any state agency simply for affirming the child’s actual sex.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">FDA Reviews Food Preservatives Found In Rubber</h2>
The FDA is zeroing in on chemical food preservatives and making changes to food labels, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fda-probes-use-of-food-preservative-also-used-in-rubber-and-plastic?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=FDA+Probes+Use+Of+Food+Preservative+Also+Used+In+Rubber+And+Plastic">aiming</a> to bring American food more in line with European standards and make labels clearer. The agency announced on Tuesday that it plans to review a preservative called BHA, which is commonly used in many processed foods. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary says that the preservative may contribute to cancer. 
“About 4,600 different types of food that are common in the U.S. Food supply have BHA. It&#8217;s an ingredient that&#8217;s found in rubber, in plastic, in glue,” Makary told Morning Wire. “A National Toxicology Program assessment said that there&#8217;s a reasonable anticipation that it&#8217;s carcinogenic or cancer-causing.”
The FDA is also rolling out new rules regarding food labels, specifically regarding claims around artificial dyes. 
“The FDA is making it very clear what these labels should mean, and what the criteria are. For example, the label, ‘no artificial dyes’ will now mean no artificial dyes. In the past, if you used a natural dye from natural ingredients, you could not use that label, and it created a lot of confusion among parents shopping for groceries for their kids,” said Makary.

Tumbler Ridge secondary school

Morning Brief: Trans-Identifying Man Behind Canada School Shooting & Ohio Battles Gender Ideology

Canada

Morning Wire

Transgender

Breaking into the arts is difficult under any circumstances. Doing so as an openly conservative theater producer? Well, that’s nearly impossible. Robert Cooperman knows this better than anyone because he appears to be the only one who actually did.
Do a quick search of “conservative theater companies” and you’ll find just one response: <a href="http://stagert.org">Stage Right Theatrics</a> in Columbus, Ohio. Cooperman founded the company in 2016 with the mission of presenting plays that reflect a conservative point of view. For the past decade, that decision has come with predictable consequences.
Stage Right has been boycotted, mocked, marginalized, and largely ignored by the local theater establishment and media. Cooperman himself has been branded a “clown,” a “fascist,” a “racist,” a “homophobe,” and every other label that conservatives are usually called.
“Right from the start, I was considered unserious or dangerous by the theater community, said Cooperman. “One member said I was dismissive of theater being a safe space for marginalized people.”
But despite the valiant effort to trample it into the dust, Stage Right has survived, and even thrived, in a world where liberals believe they “own” the arts and entertainment.
<div id="attachment_1040369" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040369" class="size-large wp-image-1040369" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-864x576.jpg" alt="Stage Right Theatrics-The Uncanny.jpg: These are the lead characters, Sophia and Richard, in our 2022 production of Andrew Klavan's superb play, &quot;The Uncanny.&quot;" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/theater.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Stage Right Theatrics. &#8220;The Uncanny&#8221; by Andrew Klavan.</div>
In January 2017, the company staged its first Conservative Theatre Festival, a modest one-night event featuring six short plays by conservative writers from across the country. The name was intentional and unapologetic. Stage Right was announcing itself to an industry that prides itself on “diversity” while blatantly discriminating against conservatives at every turn.
To the surprise of no one, progressives responded with derision and outrage, while conservatives showed genuine curiosity. Stage Right offered something rarely seen before. Instead of presenting conservatives as caricatures, they were painted as multi-faceted, inherently interesting individuals. The work was pro-tradition, pro-culture, and anti-woke.
What followed over the next decade was more of the same. The Left’s treatment of Stage Right mirrors its approach to every conservative institution. They kept up with the intimidation, ridicule, shunning, and a smug moral superiority. Despite their best efforts, Stage Right kept right on existing and promoting values that used to be mainstream.
<div id="attachment_1040377" style="width: 877px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040377" class="size-large wp-image-1040377" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/stage-right-shop-867x576.jpg" alt="Donut Shop Dates.jpg: From my 2019 annual festival. That's me and my wife, Sandra, in the lead roles. The play, &quot;Donut Shop Dates,&quot; is by Jeff Strausser." width="867" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/stage-right-shop-867x576.jpg 867w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/stage-right-shop-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/stage-right-shop-768x510.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/stage-right-shop-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/stage-right-shop.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px" />2019 annual theater festival. Robert and Sandra Cooperman in &#8220;Donut Shop Dates&#8221; by Jeff Strausser.</div>
After the 2024 election, Cooperman briefly held out hope that the cultural temperature might shift. It wasn’t just that Trump was elected president, but more that voters indicated their exhaustion with endless woke virtue signaling and the dismantling of Western traditions. Instead, the leftists came out kicking and screaming.
“I really thought, naively it turns out, that the Left would see very clearly the moral and philosophical direction the country embraced in the 2024 election, said Cooperman. “I thought they would realize that they have been losing audiences — and now voters — and that the election results might humble them a little bit to reach out to half the population they have been disparaging for years. I was wrong. They doubled down.”
One incident clearly illustrates the hostility.
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Cooperman dedicated three performances of Eugene O’Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms” to Kirk’s commitment to free speech. He framed the dedication as a celebration of the free exchange of ideas and invited post-show discussion.
<div id="attachment_1040383" style="width: 809px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1040383" class="size-large wp-image-1040383" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/eugene-ONeill-799x576.jpg" alt="Desire.jpg: From my 2025 production of Eugene O'Neill's &quot;Desire Under the Elms.&quot;" width="799" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/eugene-ONeill-799x576.jpg 799w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/eugene-ONeill-300x216.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/eugene-ONeill-768x554.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/eugene-ONeill-1536x1108.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/eugene-ONeill.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px" />Stage Right Theatrics. Eugene O&#8217;Neill&#8217;s &#8220;Desire Under the Elms.&#8221;</div>
The response was ugly. Audience members shouted that the dedication was “inappropriate.” Someone scrawled “Bigot” on a box of playbills. A lead actor threatened to quit. Two patrons demanded refunds. Word spread quickly through the local theater community, further isolating Stage Right.
This cultural enforcement extends far beyond Columbus. When President Trump restructured the Kennedy Center’s board with the stated aim of broadening ideological inclusion and halting overtly woke productions from being staged, several prominent artists canceled their performances, claiming the institution had become “political.”
The irony was glaring. For decades, the Left has insisted that art is apolitical while simultaneously saying anything conservative is propaganda. Institutions like <a href="http://stagert.org">Stage Right</a> and the Trump-era Kennedy Center expose that lie.
While the hostility from the Left was expected, Cooperman now faces a new challenge as conservatives fracture over key political issues.
Cooperman says his pro-Israel stance has led some conservative and libertarian figures to distance themselves from the organization. A prominent podcaster declined an interview for that reason. A local classical academy backed away from a potential partnership. Cooperman now finds himself defending his principles on two fronts, both from friends and foes.
In 2026, Stage Right celebrated its tenth annual Conservative Theatre Festival. He hopes to encourage conservatives not only to criticize the state of the arts, but to engage in them.
There are conservative artists across the country who remain silent, fearing professional or personal fallout. Cooperman understands the fear, but insists that meaningful change requires courage. There will be consequences, but he insists that standing for something true and good is worth the cost.
The theater company&#8217;s motto says it plainly: “Disagreement Does Not Equal Hate.” 
Cooperman also hopes that one day there will be dozens of companies like his across the country.
&#8220;I&#8217;d love to see theatre companies that present counter programming to what is currently being offered by &#8220;mainstream&#8221; theatre,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not talking about the &#8220;tied and true&#8221; classics that conservatives will generally attend, but experimental pieces and musicals that present a conservative worldview with hope and redemption built into their structure.&#8221;
After ten years, he has learned that no amount of wokeness, past or present, is going to bring him down.

theater

How One Conservative Built A Theater Company The Left Tried To Silence

Acting

Conservatives

Entertainment

Leftists

Liberals

Theater

WASHINGTON—Donald Trump showed up in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023 with thousands of water bottles and a message for the anxious citizens: they deserved better than the lethargic federal response they had received from President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration to the toxic train derailment in their village.
&#8220;In too many cases, your goodness and perseverance were met with indifference and betrayal,&#8221; then-candidate Trump told the people of East Palestine, flanked by then-Senator JD Vance and local officials. That train derailment had caused toxic chemicals to spill from train cars, killing animals, setting fires, and causing residents to become sick with a gruesome array of illnesses.
That moment has been widely considered an &#8220;inflection point&#8221; in the president&#8217;s journey back to the White House. Journalist Salena Zito, who trudged through the toxic mud of East Palestine that day with Trump and Vance, said it was the critical day in Trump&#8217;s comeback.
&#8220;If he is able to resurrect the magic of 2016, understanding the forgotten man and woman and the dignity of work, it started here, the day he showed up when Biden refused,&#8221; Zito wrote.
This week marked three years since the toxic train derailment, and both Trump and the senator who joined him that day are now in the White House. Yet the signature piece of legislation written in response, which Vance co-sponsored, still hasn&#8217;t been passed by Congress, and <a href="https://jacobin.com/2024/06/rail-safety-train-length-lobbying">was considered</a> largely defeated by the railway industry.
The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/576">Railway Safety Act</a> mandates the Transportation Department issue safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials. It gained <a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/05/12/bipartisan-rail-safety-bill-headed-for-u-s-senate-vote/">strong bipartisan momentum</a> and was loudly backed by Trump, who used it as an attack line in his political fight against Biden.
<div id="attachment_1039677" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/three-years-after-east-palestine-the-fight-over-railway-legislation-chugs-along/environmental-and-health-concerns-grow-in-east-palestine-ohio-after-derailment-of-train-cars-containing-hazardous-material-7" rel="attachment wp-att-1039677"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1039677" class="wp-image-1039677 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1247332026-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1247332026-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1247332026-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1247332026-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1247332026.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>A fish lies dead following a train derailment prompting health concerns on February 20, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;Crooked Joe Biden has still not visited the incredible Patriots of East Palestine, and Mayor Pete [Buttigieg] couldn’t get out of there fast enough. But that’s ok — our movement will be their voice, and we will NEVER forget them,&#8221; Trump promised as he campaigned in 2024. &#8220;JD Vance has been working hard in the Senate to make sure nothing like this EVER happens again, and that’s why it’s so important for Congress to pass his Railway Safety Act. JD’s terrific bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement!&#8221;
The topic is now back on the table in Congress. A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill gathered this week, calling for the act to pass the bill out of committee, or into the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill.
“Every single week of the year, there’s a derailment,&#8221; said Republican Michael Rulli of Ohio, who represents East Palestine and co-sponsored the 2025 version of the bill. &#8220;We only heard about Palestine because we had all these chemicals on it. And the way we handled it was horrific. We got to do better. We got to keep pressure on Congress, on both chambers and both sides of the political aisle so we can do better.&#8221;
“We’re holding people accountable,&#8221; added Democrat Emilia Sykes, also from Ohio, &#8220;primarily the railroad operators, for any issues that they may be having and provide advice and guidance.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1039673" style="width: 924px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/three-years-after-east-palestine-the-fight-over-railway-legislation-chugs-along/us-transport-accident-fire-8" rel="attachment wp-att-1039673"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1039673" class="wp-image-1039673 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1246796087-914x576.jpg" alt="" width="914" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1246796087-914x576.jpg 914w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1246796087-300x189.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1246796087-768x484.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-1246796087.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px" /></a>Smoke rises from a derailed cargo train in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 4, 2023.  (Photo by DUSTIN FRANZ/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
One of the groups opposing the bill is Mike Pence&#8217;s Advancing American Freedom — a fact seen as a net positive by those in Trump world who want the bill to finally advance. If the former vice president opposes something, it only makes it more of a priority for Trump&#8217;s White House, one senior official told The Daily Wire.
“Anyone that wants the Trump administration to support a piece of legislation should pay Mike Pence’s think tank and its lobbying arm to oppose it,&#8221; the senior White House official told The Daily Wire.
Advancing American Freedom, along with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, organized a group of think tank leaders who <a href="https://cei.org/coalition_letters/protecting-affordability-and-innovation-keep-prescriptive-rail-mandates-out-of-surface-transportation-legislation/">wrote to Congress on January 29</a> opposing the inclusion of the Railway Safety Act &#8220;in any surface transportation reauthorization legislation.&#8221;
&#8220;Surface transportation bills are intended to modernize infrastructure, improve mobility, and support economic growth,&#8221; the groups wrote. &#8220;As such, they are not an appropriate vehicle for resurrecting rail mandates that have repeatedly failed to advance through Congress on their own merits and have even been set aside by the committees of jurisdiction due to concerns about cost, feasibility, and unintended consequences.&#8221;
The letter suggests that the Railway Safety Act&#8217;s regulations would &#8220;amount to a vote against affordability,&#8221; urging Congress to &#8220;keep RSA-style mandates out of surface transportation reauthorization and instead pursue policies that advance safety, affordability, and economic growth through flexibility, innovation, and sound governance.&#8221;
John Shelton, Vice President of Policy at Advancing American Freedom, argued to The Daily Wire: &#8220;We know how to bring costs down and improve rail safety through automation and deregulation. We saw it work during the first Trump administration. Rather than turn our backs on those successes, we should lean further into that same formula.&#8221;
The think tanks are joined in their opposition by the railroad lobby, which also opposes the bill.
&#8220;We value our ongoing partnership with the Administration and share a commitment to advancing its domestic agenda — strengthening U.S. manufacturing, onshoring critical supply chains, driving down costs for consumers and businesses, accelerating innovation, and pursuing smart regulatory reform,&#8221; Ted Greener, senior vice president of communications at the Association of American Railroads, told The Daily Wire.
Greener argues that the Transportation Department&#8217;s move to expand field testing of automated track inspection technology &#8220;reflects the right, data-driven path forward,&#8221; calling the Railway Safety Act &#8220;repeatedly rejected, including by current congressional leaders.&#8221;
Still, a Republican strategist close to the White House sees a future for the bill. They argued that the Railway Safety Act has long been championed by both the president and the vice president.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a rare piece of legislation that is popular with both the MAGA populist base and the broader electorate,&#8221; the strategist suggested, &#8220;and would give the administration a strong bipartisan political win.&#8221;

Former President Trump Visits East Palestine, Ohio As Health Concerns Remain After Train Derailment

Three Years After East Palestine, The Fight Over Railway Legislation Chugs Along

JD Vance

Railroads

A 21-year-old Ohio man was arrested after investigators say he threatened to shoot Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and those he described as &#8220;retarded maga maggots.&#8221;  
The Justice Department announced Thursday that federal authorities arrested Justin Mesael Novoa for threats to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer and for threatening interstate communications. A raid of his home in December found two rifles, two shotguns, a handgun, ammunition, helmets, a plate carrier, and a Palestinian flag, according to the Justice Department. 
Novoa allegedly wrote on X on November 9, 2025, “can’t wait to shoot these p*ssy ice agents and retarded maga maggots.” Earlier in June, the account later identified as Novoa’s allegedly posted that “they should blast every ice agent they find” and “masked, unmarked vehicles, no badge or id. Every legal right to shoot these p*ssies.”
<div id="attachment_1032367" style="width: 1578px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032367" class="size-full wp-image-1032367" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-7.22.05-AM.png" alt="" width="1568" height="522" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-7.22.05-AM.png 1568w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-7.22.05-AM-300x100.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-7.22.05-AM-1024x341.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-7.22.05-AM-768x256.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-7.22.05-AM-1536x511.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1568px) 100vw, 1568px" />Justice Department.</div>
On December 16, an agent with Homeland Security Investigations served a summons to X to turn over information about the anonymous account that posted the messages. That yielded Novoa’s email and phone number, which investigators then tracked to him. 
When Homeland Security Investigation agents executed a search of his home on December 20, Novoa allegedly admitted to writing the posts. 
“Alright, you got me. That was me,” he said, according to the criminal complaint. “Damn, so Elon does give you access to that,” he reportedly said after agents asked him if the X account was his. 
The account identified as Novoa’s also had a history of making anti-white and anti-Jewish posts, according to the criminal complaint. 
This included posting things like “hitler should have finished the job,” “lets give it back and kill every white person except for the white women,” “id join hamas too. these filthy f***king subhuman rats deserve to be gassed and executed,” and “may the resistance stand tall and wipe out these filthy jews.”
If convicted, Novoa could face more than 10 years in prison. He is currently being held in jail by the Franklin County Sheriff&#8217;s Office. 
The case will be heard by Magistrate Judge Kimberly Jolson and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Prichard. A preliminary hearing was set for February 5.

MixCollage-23-Jan-2026-07-35-AM-6313

Ohio Man Arrested Over Chilling Threats Against ICE Agents And Trump Supporters

Columbus

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Justice

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Political Violence

Pro-Palestinian

A 26-year-old man was arrested Monday after he allegedly attempted to break into the Cincinnati home of Vice President JD Vance by shattering windows with a hammer. 
William Defoor was detained after midnight after the Secret Service said they found him trespassing at Vance’s Walnut Hills neighborhood home. He has been <a href="https://www.hcso.org/justice-center-services/inmate-search/inmate-detail/?id=1816987">charged</a> with vandalism, obstructing official business, criminal damaging, and criminal trespass. 
Neither Vance nor his family was at the home at the time of the incident. 
“I appreciate everyone&#8217;s well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I&#8217;m grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly,” Vance <a href="https://x.com/JDVance/status/2008188525162721647">posted</a> on X. “We weren&#8217;t even home as we had returned already to DC.”
Vance added that he was skeptical of the news value of posting pictures of the broken windows at his home. 
“One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service. In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows,” he said. 
Defoor was allegedly able to make it all the way to Vance’s home undetected before Secret Service agents heard the glass windows breaking, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-home-ohio-damaged-man-detained-c53c099124e36642e4dd4d86c38cf33f">reported.</a> A Secret Service vehicle was also vandalized. 
Defoor is being held at the Hamilton County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. He could face additional federal charges, authorities said.
“The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed,” said the Secret Service. 
Defoor’s criminal history includes prior arrests for trespassing and vandalism. In November 2023, a judge dismissed a criminal trespassing <a href="https://www.courtclerk.org/data/image_view_stream.php">case</a> after<a href="https://www.courtclerk.org/data/image_view_stream.php"> determining </a>that he was not competent to stand trial. 
In a vandalism case earlier this year, Defoor was <a href="https://www.courtclerk.org/data/case_summary.php?casenumber=%2F24%2FCRA%2F13827">sentenced</a> to receive mental health treatment. WXIX <a href="https://www.fox19.com/2026/01/05/suspect-arrested-after-vandalizing-jd-vances-cincinnati-home-report-says/">reported</a> that the case involved Defoor causing more than $2000 worth of damage to an interior design company.

MixCollage-05-Jan-2026-11-10-AM-1619

JD Vance’s Ohio Home Vandalized By Hammer-Wielding Man

Man With Hammer Arrested After Vandalizing Vance's Ohio Home: Secret Service

Cincinnati

Secret Service

Federal immigration agents will descend upon two new states as part of a continued operation to nab Somali illegal immigrants, sources familiar with the operation told The Daily Wire.
Over 200 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will deploy from across the country to Kansas and Ohio to make arrests, according to a federal law enforcement source.
The latest deployment comes as the Trump administration continues to target Somali illegal immigrants following reports of a massive fraud scheme in Minnesota. The fraudsters, many of whom were Somali, stole billions from state welfare programs, funneling the cash through fake nonprofits and shell companies back to Somalia — and even Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab, City Journal <a href="https://www.city-journal.org/article/minnesota-welfare-fraud-somalia-al-shabaab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last month.
The Trump administration responded by deploying more than 100 ICE officers to Minneapolis with orders to scoop up hundreds of illegal immigrants from Somalia who already have deportation orders.
ICE was soon met with condemnation from local leaders in Minnesota, including Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who pledged to support the Somali community in his city and to not cooperate with federal immigration agents.
The operation yielded more than 400 arrests, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS didn&#8217;t confirm or deny the latest plans.
&#8220;Every day, ICE enforces the laws of the nation across the country. What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally. We do not discuss future or potential operations,&#8221; Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement shared with The Daily Wire.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trump didn&#8217;t hold back yesterday 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaryMargOlohan</a> <a href="https://t.co/aIkHAoSr9s">pic.twitter.com/aIkHAoSr9s</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1996785816534655010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump fired back at Frey, calling him &#8220;a fool&#8221; for championing his city&#8217;s massive Somali community.
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&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t be proud to have the largest Somalian [population]. Look at their nation &#8230; it&#8217;s not even a nation, it&#8217;s just people walking around killing each other,&#8221; Trump recently said.
&#8220;These Somalians have taken billions of dollars out of our country,&#8221; Trump said, adding that &#8220;the Somalians should be out of here.&#8221;
Unlike Minneapolis, both Kansas and Ohio aren&#8217;t considered sanctuary states. In 2022, Kansas enacted legislation to ban sanctuary cities in the state.
Ohio is home to the second largest Somali community in the United States.

Federal Agents Detain Immigrants Outside Connecticut Courthouse

ICE Plans Operation To Target Somali Illegal Immigrants In Two New States

illegal immigrants

Illegal Immigration

Kansas

Minneapolis

Somalia

An Ohio surgeon has been accused of allegedly forcing a patient he got pregnant to take an illegally obtained abortion pill that ended the life of her unborn child.
Dr. Hassan-James Abbas was charged last week after investigators said he ordered an abortion pill using his estranged wife’s information and then made his girlfriend swallow the pill against her will. Abbas, whose medical license was <a href="https://elicense.ohio.gov/oh_verifylicensedetails?pid=a0Rt0000002Wpe3EAC">suspended</a> last month, was indicted on December 4 in Lucas County over the incident. 
Abbas, who is set to make a court appearance on December 19, was <a href="https://portal-ohlucas.tylertech.cloud/Portal/DocumentViewer/Index/1A27DE5ADA90791B563DF9AABAE7BB26A8C457B0E146AA636FBE055D3AC08455D17770955D9DFFB76E1BF3C5799EBC6988AF599976280647B5DD924DBC6652BC1B9D797F90A2F9E2CEC2B8E38A145CD5?caseNum=CR2025-01611&amp;docType=Filings&amp;docName=Indictment%20for%20H%20Abbas&amp;eventName=Open%20-%20Indictment%20Filed&amp;docTypeId=28&amp;isVersionId=False">charged</a> with abduction, tampering with evidence, disrupting public services, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, identity fraud, and deception to obtain a dangerous drug. 
The indictment comes amid a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-stands-by-fdas-makary-after-accusations-he-slow-walked-vital-review-of-abortion-drugs?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=White+House+Stands+By+FDA’s+Makary+After+Accusations+He+Slow-Walked+Vital+Review+Of+Abortion+Drugs">growing campaign</a> from pro-life activists to push the Trump administration to reverse Biden-era regulations that relaxed the requirements on the mailing of abortion pills. In recent years, medication abortions have become the most common type of abortion, and abortion pills have flowed into states where they are technically illegal. 
An investigation from the State Medical Board of Ohio <a href="https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/med.ohio.gov/formala/57249399.pdf">found</a> that Abbas separated from his wife in October 2024 and began having a sexual relationship with a patient. That patient then told Abbas on December 7 that she was pregnant. 
“You told her that you wanted her to get an abortion, but she stated that she did not want an abortion,” the medical board wrote in a letter to Abbas.
On December 8, Abbas ordered mifepristone and misoprostol from an “out-of-state telemedical abortion provider,” according to state officials. After a pregnant woman takes mifepristone, the unborn child is cut off from the nutrients it needs to survive and is effectively starved to death. Misoprostol is then taken to induce labor and expel the deceased baby from the mother. 
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According to the medical board, Abbas used his estranged wife’s name, date of birth, and driver’s license number to have the pills shipped to his home. Ten days later, Abbas allegedly tried to force her to take the pills.
“On Dec. 18, Patient 1 woke up at 4:00 a.m. and saw that you were awake. She fell back asleep and then awoke to you physically on top of her. She thought it was a hug but then, holding her down, you took your fingers and forced a crushed powder inside her bottom lip, beside her gums. You continued to hold Patient 1 down. She fought to get away and ran to the kitchen where she called 911. You took her phone and hung up the 911 call,” officials found. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-leftist-networks-flood-red-states-with-risky-abortion-pills-with-no-consequences">READ MORE: How A Leftist Network Of Websites Floods Red States With Abortion Pills With No Consequences</a>
The victim then drove to the hospital, where she reported the incident, and her diagnosis was reported as “vaginal bleeding.” Her baby did not survive. 
Abbas later admitted to ordering the pills during an interview with state officials, but claimed that the woman had agreed to take them, according to the State Medical Board of Ohio. As a result of the suspension, Abbas was placed on administrative leave at the University of Toledo, where he was a surgical resident. 
Pro-life advocates have long warned about the easy availability of the abortion pill and the dangers of the lax mail-order regulations. A Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-leftist-networks-flood-red-states-with-risky-abortion-pills-with-no-consequences">investigation</a> found that the pills were being shipped by shady online activist groups into states like Tennessee with no age verification or prescription requirements in the face of state law banning medication abortion.
Some groups, like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, have called for Food and Drug Administration Marty Makary to be fired over reports that he is slow-walking a review of the safety of mifepristone. The White House stood by Makary on Tuesday, saying that medical reviews take time.
Pro-life groups and lawmakers were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pro-lifers-demand-answers-from-trump-admin-after-shocking-abortion-pill-approval">shocked</a> in October when the FDA quietly approved a new generic mifepristone drug made by Evita Solutions.

Appeals Court Keeps Abortion Pill Mifepristone Available, But With Restrictions

Ohio Surgeon Accused Of Forcing Abortion Pill On Sleeping Girlfriend

Ohio Surgeon Accused Of Forcing Pregnant Girlfriend To Take Abortion Pill

Abortion

Abortion Drug

Pro-Life Movement

At Kent State University in Ohio, an a cappella group that claims to oppose discrimination reportedly enforced a policy that barred white students from even auditioning for certain solos — then moved to discipline a member who dared question it.
Emails obtained by <a href="https://www.campusreform.org/article/exclusive-kent-state-cappella-group-bans-white-students-solo-auditions/29047">Campus Reform</a> showed that Vocal Intensity A Cappella limited solos in one song strictly to “people of color,” arguing that allowing white students to audition would amount to “cultural appropriation.” The rule didn’t sit well with Mark Phillips, a three-year member and the group’s beatboxer, who asked the group’s executive board how that policy squared with Kent State’s own ban on racial discrimination. Phillips wrote that while he respected concerns about authenticity, “Art, music, and culture are meant to be shared and celebrated, not gatekept,” and that the strongest performance should win.
For raising that question, the board accused Phillips of violating the university’s anti-discrimination policy — the very policy meant to prevent the kind of race-based exclusion he was objecting to. The board placed him on probation and ordered him to appear before the entire group in a disciplinary hearing where he would “plead his case” and potentially face permanent removal.
The board doubled down in follow-up correspondence, reiterating that the solos would remain restricted to black students unless reversed by a vote. The planned hearing involved closed-door proceedings, time-limited speeches, and even guidelines for immediate expulsion should the group choose removal. If kept, Phillips would have been placed on months-long probation.
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That structure stands in stark contrast to Kent State’s written rules, which explicitly forbid racial discrimination and retaliation against students who challenge it. The university’s policy <a href="https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/university-policy-regarding-unlawful-discrimination-and-harassment">states</a>, “This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, and protected military or veteran status. Retaliation for reporting or participating in the complaint process is also prohibited.”
It also clashes with Ohio’s recently enacted Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which bars race-based advantages in public universities.
Phillips ultimately resigned and called the disciplinary process a “performative ambush” aimed at punishing him for opposing discrimination. In his resignation letter, he wrote, “Denying opportunities based on skin color is discrimination by definition.”
Speaking to Campus Reform, Phillips said, “What I really want is for people to bring common sense back and stop pretending that people of color are oppressed in this country. I want people to realize that we are meant to celebrate what we have in common instead of dividing and fighting over our differences.”
The Daily Wire reached out to Kent State for comment.

Kent State

Kent State Singing Group Bans White Students From Solos, Disciplines Member Who Objected

Racism

Whiteness

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