A leftist&#8217;s attempt to get on the ballot in Ohio as a Republican was shot down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday.
Samuel Ronan, who previously ran for chair of the Democratic National Committee, filed to run for Ohio&#8217;s 15th Congressional District and challenge Republican Rep. Mike Carey in the GOP primary. Ronan admitted his candidacy was part of a ploy to run Democrats in &#8220;deep red&#8221; districts, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-blocks-candidate-after-alleged-gop-infiltration-scheme-exposed?lid=h4ig0qgow6sl">reported</a>.
In one social media post, Ronan <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/supreme-court-keeps-former-dnc-candidate-off-ohio-gop-primary-ballot/">wrote</a>, “Leftists need to infiltrate Republican spaces and primary them.”
The leftist candidate was tossed from the GOP primary ballot by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who called Ronan&#8217;s attempt to run as a Republican &#8220;political transgenderism.&#8221; Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison upheld LaRose&#8217;s decision, saying that Ronan&#8217;s declaration to run as a Republican was fraudulent. The Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case on Thursday, with none of the justices dissenting from the decision to keep the lower court&#8217;s order in place.
&#8220;This is political transgenderism, and it’s a longstanding problem with Ohio’s primary process,&#8221; LaRose <a href="https://x.com/FrankLaRose/status/2042371793080529073">said</a>. &#8220;We had to go all the way to the nation’s highest court to fight a blatant attempt by a self-declared Democrat to hijack a Republican primary contest.&#8221;
When he declared to run as a Republican, Ronan also promised to abide by the Republican Party&#8217;s principles, and his candidacy was certified by the Franklin County Board of Elections in February. Ohio Republican voter Mark Schare, however, noticed that Ronan had publicly expressed his intention to run in the GOP primary while still pushing leftist views and filed a protest with the elections board.
LaRose stepped in to toss Ronan off the ballot after the Franklin County Board of Elections tied along party lines in a vote to decide whether Ronan could stay on the ballot.
“As required by Ohio law, Ronan declared that he was ‘a member of the Republican Party’ and if elected he would ‘support and abide by the principles enunciated by the Republican Party,’&#8221; LaRose wrote. &#8220;But even after signing this form, Ronan continued to push his vision that Democrats like himself should primary Republicans in deep-red districts to ‘get a foot in the door.’”
Ronan denied that his candidacy was &#8220;some kind of trick&#8221; and mentioned that Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump were also former Democrats. Ronan&#8217;s attorney claimed that Rep. Carey was allowed to &#8220;surreptitiously sabotage Ronan’s ballot access by secretly enlisting the Ohio Republican Party to protest Ronan.” The attorney also argued that one of the election board members should have recused herself since she is a top official in the Ohio Republican Party.
LaRose called for Ohio to adopt a closed primary system, which requires voters to register with a party before they cast a ballot. Ohio&#8217;s current primary system is partially open, meaning that voters are not required to register with a party before the election, but they must request either a Republican or Democratic ballot.
&#8220;This individual took advantage of an open primary process that’s far too vulnerable to trickery and fraud and used it to advance his dishonest campaign to &#8216;run Democrats as Republicans,'&#8221; LaRose added. &#8220;We stopped it this time, but it’s time to adopt a closed primary process and partisan voter registration before this happens again.&#8221;

Donkey posing as elephant

‘Political Transgenderism’ Enters The Chat After Secret Democrat Tried To Hoodwink Voters

Democrat

Election

Ohio

Republican

COLUMBUS, OHIO—I just finished testifying for a bill that would make it illegal for the state government to rip children away from loving parents who refuse to &#8220;affirm&#8221; that child&#8217;s so-called &#8220;transgender identity.&#8221;
It&#8217;s not every day an investigative journalist weighs in on legislation like this. But this is different.
More than two years ago, I began investigating how transgender activists were working to weaponize child welfare systems against loving parents.
I was horrified by what I found.
The <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2024/10/23/exclusive-child-services-dept-working-with-biden-harris-admin-tracked-trans-kids-on-secret-database/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cuyahoga County</a> Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was chosen as one of four agencies nationwide to develop gender ideology-based child welfare interventions that suggest parents and caregivers who do not affirm a child’s sexual orientation or gender confusion are unsafe.
As part of its &#8220;Safe Identification&#8221; program, Cuyahoga County DCFS created a database that tracked the sexual orientation, transgender identity, and pronouns of children who interacted with the child welfare system. The database noted if parents were &#8220;accepting&#8221; or &#8220;rejecting&#8221; of their child&#8217;s gender identity. Parents who were &#8220;rejecting&#8221; could be referred to re-education programs where parents learned to &#8220;accept&#8221; their child&#8217;s transgender identity as a last resort before CPS stepped in and removed the child.
Some transgender activists believe refusing to affirm a child’s gender confusion is a form of<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-harris-hhs-consulted-activist-who-said-parents-should-be-prosecuted-for-transphobia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> child abuse</a> and have even suggested families should be prosecuted as abusers for refusing to call their gender confused child the opposite sex.
Public records revealed that behind the scenes, members of the Cuyahoga County DCFS team were communicating with the Biden administration on how interventions like Safe Identification could be implemented at the federal level.
This would be insane regardless of where it was happening. But the fact that it&#8217;s been going on in a red state like Ohio is truly shocking.
As part of my reporting, I reached out to Ohio State Representative Gary Click and asked him to comment on what was happening in Cuyahoga County. He promised the Ohio legislature would not be idle while local government attempted to usurp the role of the family and harm children.
Click has kept that promise by co-sponsoring the<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-may-protect-parents-who-wont-affirm-their-childs-gender-identity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Affirming Families First Act</a>, the bill I testified in favor of today. It states that parents have a right to use their child’s given name and correct pronouns, and prohibits state agencies from using state funds for training, education, or programming that characterizes affirming a child’s sex as abuse or neglect.
I’m proud to have played a part in this bill’s inspiration. As a mother, I know if we can’t protect our children from lies and raise them according to reality, without fear of retribution from the state, we no longer live in a free nation.
When the state strips custody from loving parents who simply don&#8217;t want to affirm their confused child&#8217;s gender delusions, it violates all the rights Americans hold dear: the freedoms of speech and religion first and foremost, as well as parental rights and medical freedom. All these protections are swiftly swept away as families are ripped apart and vulnerable youth are placed in the hands of transgender activists who encourage them to destroy their bodies.
I&#8217;ve spoken with parents who’ve experienced this nightmare, and I wouldn&#8217;t wish their pain on my worst enemy. I want to see vulnerable children and families in our nation protected from this insanity, which is why I&#8217;ve traveled to Ohio to testify in favor of a bill that will protect parents who do not “affirm” their transgender-identifying children.
I wasn&#8217;t always a journalist. I&#8217;m a nurse by training, but switched careers when I realized the extent to which radical transgender ideology was endangering children. I&#8217;ve since spent hundreds of hours exposing the horrors of transgenderism because I understand stopping gender ideology is the most important issue of our time. If we can’t define the basic reality of the sexes, we can’t define anything.
President Donald Trump has kept his campaign promises to purge gender ideology from the federal government, but without legislation, these policies can be reversed as quickly as they were implemented.
Some parental rights advocates I&#8217;ve spoken with are concerned we are one election away from a full return to the transgender insanity we were living through just 15 months ago.
The transgender activists have lost some major battles under President Trump. But the war for sanity is raging on. We can&#8217;t let up on fighting gender ideology until it&#8217;s been returned to the pit of hell it came from.

‘1 Million March for Children’ protest in Toronto

Why I Testified For A Bill That Would Stop The State From Taking Gender-Confused Kids From Parents

Children's Health

Healthcare

Transgender

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in a small run-down courtroom in Adams County, Ohio, sat a man in an American flag suit, American flag sunglasses, a marijuana-shaped ring, and a legendary rap catalog. It was Afroman&#8217;s defamation trial and he was determined to win.
Afroman, real name Joseph Foreman, went from drinking Colt 45s and living his life to fighting what he calls &#8220;crooked cops&#8221; after he was sued by seven Adams County Sheriff&#8217;s deputies for defamation and humiliation. The deputies claimed Afroman defamed them and used their likeness for profit after the rapper dropped numerous viral songs about cops who raided his home.
The judge found the rapper not liable for defamation or invasion of privacy regarding his music videos and Afroman is still celebrating what he calls a &#8220;win for free speech.&#8221;
Afroman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/fng-260323-afroman">told me</a> that responding to the cops with rap videos was the most American thing he could do.
&#8220;There&#8217;s one power I have, and I&#8217;m not giving it up,&#8221; Afroman told The Daily Wire, wearing the same American flag suit he wore in court. &#8220;I have the freedom of speech. So after they kick down my door, disconnect my cameras, steal my money &#8230; with my freedom of speech, I will address all of these issues.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m a classic American. I&#8217;m a soul brother. I walk with a stroll. I play soul music. You know, all of that is America,&#8221; Afroman said. &#8220;The fist that everybody throws up. That&#8217;s American. You know, rap music — It&#8217;s American, man.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/audXVeEsDwo?si=ypbAIzOTHF5AOhhR" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xxK5yyecRo">Lemon Pound Cake</a>&#8221; and &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bNy7XO-SCI&amp;list=RD0bNy7XO-SCI&amp;start_radio=1">Will You Help Me Repair My Door</a>&#8221; are two of the botched-raid inspired songs racking in millions of views on YouTube. The lyrics are catchy with verses detailing what Afroman saw on the footage of the raid from his surveillance cameras. The pre-chorus of &#8220;Lemon Pound Cake&#8221; details an officer caught on camera checking out the cake on Afroman&#8217;s counter.
Afroman said writing the songs was no different than writing his classic track.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been writing about my pain for years, you know, &#8216;Because I Got High&#8217; wasn&#8217;t funny until I put it on paper. It kind of made it funny, you know what I&#8217;m saying?&#8221;
&#8220;Because I Got High&#8221; is Afroman&#8217;s most popular song and was even nominated for a Grammy in 2002, and now his lemon pound cake track is entertaining the internet. Afroman said the words to the viral soundtracks came easy to him once he sat down to write in the same kitchen that was raided.
&#8220;I like my kitchen. I never thought I&#8217;d like my kitchen because I used to hate washing dishes as a boy. So the kitchen was like my favorite and my worst. I loved it when it was time to eat, but I hated when it was time to clean up. You know?&#8221; Afroman said. &#8220;But I wrote it right here on my kitchen table.&#8221;
Don&#8217;t let Afroman&#8217;s outdated <a href="https://x.com/ogafroman?s=20">profile</a> on X fool you, right now it reads &#8220;2024 Presidential Candidate,&#8221; but he has fans asking about his intentions for 2028.
&#8220;If America needs me to be the president, I&#8217;ll be the president. If America needs me to be the vice president, I&#8217;ll be the vice president. If America just needs me to be a good citizen, I&#8217;ll be a good citizen,&#8221; Afroman said.
Afroman is from California but says he plans to stay in Ohio, despite the cop saga. How did Afroman end up in Ohio? He says it was all because of a woman.
&#8220;I try to be smart, but I have my, you know, side effects,&#8221; Afroman said. &#8220;I like big butts and I cannot lie.&#8221;
Under oath or from his kitchen on a podcast, Afroman doesn&#8217;t lie. His lyrics tell it like it is, and his lifestyle is unapologetic. His freedom of speech court win catapulted the singer back where he belongs — in the spotlight.
Since the trial wrapped, Afroman has nearly 28 million views on his videos related to the 2022 raid, and the rapper turned chess player, turned courtroom sensation, is grateful for every one of them.
&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget about your boy, Afro. I&#8217;m putting a record out here in a little bit, but I just like the good vibes it&#8217;s giving everybody right now.&#8221;

Illustration by Daily Wire staff

Colt 45s And Crooked Cops: I Talked To Afroman About Winning The Internet

Afroman

America

Entertainment

News

trial

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

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

Court

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:
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<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

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

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

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