San Francisco Giants leaders are refusing to speak ill of the Christian players who counter-signaled the team&#8217;s LGBT &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221;
Reporters on Tuesday night pressed San Fran manager Tony Vitello about the recent &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; fiasco, where players were pressured to wear gay pride rainbow-logo hats. When a reporter suggested Vitello was somehow disrespected by Christian ball players who added Bible verses to their hats, he refuted the journalist.
The reporter argued that because the Christian players didn&#8217;t tell Vitello they were going to write on their hats, it was an act of &#8220;disrespect to the manager.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t see that as a disrespect to me to be honest with you,&#8221; Vitello responded, adding that what would be disrespectful in his view would be players not giving it their all on the field for their teammates. &#8220;I have not been disrespected in this role, at all.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
From players writing on their Pride Night hats without him knowing to the Rafael Devers incident, Tony Vitello feels no disrespect whatsoever.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t see that as a disrespect to me to be honest with you&#8230; I have not been disrespected in this role at all.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Vemfv4ty11">pic.twitter.com/Vemfv4ty11</a>
— KNBR (@KNBR) <a href="https://x.com/KNBR/status/2069565974488179047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Buster Posey, the Giants&#8217; president of baseball operations, also shared a vague statement about the Christian players, and then refused to answer questions about anything other than &#8220;baseball.&#8221;
“I’d like to recognize that the organization has shared its response to &#8216;Pride Night,&#8217; and I understand that there’s strong feelings on this topic,” Posey said, before taking questions from the media. “There’s differing perspectives, and out of respect to everybody involved, it’s not something that I’m going to revisit.”
Reporters continued to press Posey about the Christian players, stressing that they believe the LGBT community is vital to the San Fran area. Posey, time after time, told the press that he&#8217;d only take &#8220;baseball questions.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Buster Posey opened his media availability with a prepared statement on the Pride Night controversy, then proceeded to decline to answer further questions on the topic, stating he will only answer &#8220;baseball related questions.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/pxsC0p4hiQ">pic.twitter.com/pxsC0p4hiQ</a>
— KNBR (@KNBR) <a href="https://x.com/KNBR/status/2069535169497968640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
The response online was generally positive from apolitical and conservative X users, who criticized the media. However, as California-based civil liberties attorney Laura Powell highlighted, the controversy started because the Giants chose to host a &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221;
&#8220;Tense moments as the press pesters Buster Posey with questions about the Pride cap controversy, but he says he will only respond to baseball-related questions,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I was on Posey’s side, as I’m sick of the local media milking this story with biased takes, but this reporter made a good point: &#8216;But you guys have made this baseball related because you had Pride Night.'&#8221;
&#8220;Stick to baseball, please!&#8221; Powell added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tense moments as the press pesters Buster Posey with questions about the Pride cap controversy, but he says he will only respond to baseball-related questions.
I was on Posey’s side, as I’m sick of the local media milking this story with biased takes, but this reporter made a…
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) <a href="https://x.com/LauraPowellEsq/status/2069569429269356898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Powell also noted the LGBT flags at the stadium, commenting on how &#8220;captured&#8221; the organization has become.
&#8220;The top of the pole is a position of honor, indicating a greater rank,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Why did the SF Giants place the trans flag above the &#8216;progress pride&#8217; flag, which is a modification of the rainbow flag that expressly honors the trans identity? How captured is this organization?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The top of the pole is a position of honor, indicating a greater rank.
Why did the SF Giants place the trans flag above the “progress pride” flag, which is a modification of the rainbow flag that expressly honors the trans identity?
How captured is this organization? <a href="https://t.co/H4jXLz7aGr">pic.twitter.com/H4jXLz7aGr</a>
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) <a href="https://x.com/LauraPowellEsq/status/2069674193395023905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-scrambles-for-damage-control-after-targeting-christian-players-no-ones-buying-it">MLB Scrambles For Damage Control After Targeting Christian Players. No One’s Buying It.</a>

Athletics v. San Francisco Giants

MLB ‘Pride Night’ Fiasco Takes Another Turn

Baseball

Christianity

Pride

San Francisco Giants

“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kathy Hilton has been dropped from the WeHo Pride Parade in Los Angeles due to her association with President Donald Trump.
<a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/06/04/celebrity-news/kathy-hilton-pulls-out-of-pride-event-following-backlash/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">The 67-year-old socialite</a> was originally scheduled to serve as grand marshal of the event, but an outpouring of backlash forced event organizers to move in a different direction.
Hilton was also accused by one of her “RHOBH” co-stars of using a homophobic slur in the past, which also led to activists demanding that her invitation be rescinded. 
“Wtf she literally parties at mar-a-lago,” one person wrote on Instagram in response to the news that Hilton would serve as grand marshal. 
“MAGA Kathy Hilton?? Have you all lost your MIND??” another commenter shared. 
She denied using the slur, and Bravo executive Andy Cohen said that the results were inconclusive following an in-depth HR investigation.
Event organizers said in their <a href="https://www.wehopride.com/news/joint-statement-from-the-city-of-west-hollywood-weho-pride-and-kathy-hilton">official statement</a>, &#8220;The announcement of Kathy Hilton as Grand Marshal Icon for the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade has generated a range of perspectives across our community. In recent days, community members have shared thoughtful feedback regarding the role and significance of Pride honorees.&#8221;
“The City of West Hollywood is grateful for the respectful and sincere dialogue that has taken place,” the statement continued. “These conversations reflect the passion people have for WeHo Pride and underscore the importance of ensuring that WeHo Pride continues to honor the history, values, and diverse voices of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Hilton also shared a statement in response to the news. 
&#8220;I am honored to have been considered for this recognition and appreciative of the support I have received from members of the community throughout the years. My reason for wanting to be involved in this year’s WeHo Pride weekend was simple: to celebrate, support, and share in the joy of a community that means a great deal to so many people. Pride is, and always will be, about celebrating and uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, experiences, and achievements,” the reality star said. 
“I respect the thoughtful conversations that have taken place and remain deeply committed to supporting LGBTQ+ causes and visibility,” she added, listing several LGBT organizations she’s been involved with.  
“My support for the community and WeHo Pride is unwavering. This monumentally important event has always had a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the experience I had acting as Grand Marshal of the LA Pride parade with my daughter in 2005. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to make it happen, and I wish the community nothing but love, joy, and a fantastic WeHo Pride weekend.”
Hilton is associated with Trump through social and professional connections in New York City. She and her husband Rick Hilton have not publicly endorsed candidates or revealed their political affiliations, but they have been known to socialize with the Trumps over the years.

Kathy Hilton

Pride Parade Grand Marshal Ousted For Trump Ties

Donald Trump

Hilton

LGBT

Real Housewives

Halo Studios, the developer of the beloved classic shooter game, celebrated &#8220;Pride Month&#8221; with an update to Halo on June 1. 
“Wear your #Pride all month long with the Unity armor coating, visor and emblem, available in the Halo Infinite Exchange,” Halo Studios wrote on social media, showing how gamers can change their armor skin and player icon to be adorned with rainbow colors.
Halo blocked comments on the post, silencing the reactions of their fanbase. However, quote retweets are allowed on X, and gamers didn&#8217;t hold back in roasting the company.
Many users called out Halo for being too weak to keep replies open. 
Some argued that the game&#8217;s protagonist Master Chief would disapprove of gay &#8220;Pride&#8221; and complained about woke activists seemingly infiltrating the beloved franchise to turn it into a propaganda machine.
&#8220;Dear Halo, It&#8217;s time to just start firing people who push for this to happen yearly, and then fire the artists because these suck,&#8221; one person wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Wear your <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Pride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pride</a> all month long with the Unity armor coating, visor and emblem, available in the Halo Infinite Exchange. <a href="https://t.co/Qu0z79tUMD">pic.twitter.com/Qu0z79tUMD</a>
— Halo (@Halo) <a href="https://x.com/Halo/status/2061510595455697006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>
Some users dubbed the game &#8220;Gaylo,&#8221; using AI to <a href="https://x.com/Captain_toke/status/2061562882048086096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2061562882048086096%7Ctwgr%5E0f97ea7298e16ffe5bbb4278e425f7c790ad83b7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnotthebee.com%2Farticle%2Fhalo-locked-the-replies-to-its-gay-pride-post-but-it-forgot-about-the-quote-tweets">reimagine</a> the game with safe diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives, such as safe spaces and pronoun affirmation. Other social media users posted a GIF of the scene from &#8220;The Godfather,&#8221; where Vito Corleone laments, “Look how they massacred my boy.” 
Former Blizzard Entertainment executive Mark Kern, known by his hundreds of thousands of social media followers as &#8220;Grummz,&#8221; has been a vocal advocate against DEI in video games. 
In a recent <a href="https://x.com/Grummz/status/2061885611473342959">post</a> on X, Kern pointed out that many major gaming companies have decided to avoid celebrating Pride Month, calling 2026 a “massive June month win for gamers.&#8221; 
&#8220;A year ago [these gaming companies] would have been all skittles,&#8221; he wrote. 
Kern reminded gamers that even though Halo might still be woke, many other gaming companies are not anymore.

Experience: HALO by Xbox 360

Gamers React After Popular Shooter Game’s ‘Pride’ Update

Entertainment

Gaming

LGBTQ

Twitter

Video Games

Woke Culture

Katy Perry celebrated the advent of June with an announcement that many of her fanatic followers would consider to be out of this world and her critics wish had been lost in space.
“I know so many of you are doing so much for this month, but me? I’d like to introduce the earth to the world’s first gaylien!” Perry crowed in a <a href="http://instagram.com/reel/DZDritwyxy_/">post</a> on social media.
This announcement joins the laundry list of Pride-related shoutouts that no one asked for.
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Perry&#8217;s “gaylien&#8221; wore a tangerine orange beanie and a black, white, and orange sweatshirt emblazoned with a green alien face. The person in the costume wore a mask that looked like a shriveled gray mummy with stereotypically beady alien eyes. 
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Despite rumors that the man in the alien costume was her boyfriend former Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://people.com/katy-perry-shares-new-photos-justin-trudeau-miranda-kerr-instagram-11964886">Justin Trudeau</a>, the alien was likely just a backup dancer.
Perry proceeded to join the alien in doing a dance that appeared to be a mix of a forgotten &#8217;90s workout routine and a mating ritual from a lame bird of paradise.
In the video, the man in the alien costume jumped up into the air and proceeded to do an extended squat. He shook his legs and his butt in seizure-like contortions while swaying his hands and wrists in a circular fashion. He then feigned a melodramatic collapse on the floor, came back up to do off-brand Michael Jackson moonwalk step, then fell to the floor again.
The gaylien will reportedly be making appearances at Perry&#8217;s European summer festivals to celebrate pride.
Perry has been notorious for being supportive of gay rights, with her hit song “I Kissed a Girl” being famous for its depiction of a lesbian relationship. She has also shown an interest in space with her song “E.T.” and her widely mocked <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-origin-sent-celebs-up-for-minutes-they-came-back-with-astronaut-egos?author=Lauren+Bair&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Blue+Origin+Sent+Celebs+Up+For+Minutes.+They+Came+Back+With+Astronaut+Egos.">Blue Origin flight</a>.
Perry&#8217;s &#8220;gaylien&#8221; also seems to ride on the wave of renewed public interest in aliens, especially after the U.S. government has released documents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-opens-secret-ufo-vault-tells-americans-to-decide-whats-real">detailing</a> UFO sightings.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s ‘Gaylien’ Will Make You Wish You Weren’t On Planet Earth

Aliens

Celebrities

Dance

Gay Rights

Media

Music

pop music

Pride Month

Social Media

Now for a little dose of good news: while some companies are clinging to Pride-themed ad campaigns in June, one of the most notorious offenders is going all-in for Americana just ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Target’s homepage on Tuesday featured a man and woman with children smiling and clad in red, white, and blue. “Epic Style: Americana-inspired looks for everyone,” the website headline says.
 The retail giant still has an LGBT-themed section, because of course they do, but it’s way below the fold and not prominently featured.
<div id="attachment_1107019" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107019" class="size-large wp-image-1107019" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-1024x482.png" alt="Target 2026" width="1024" height="482" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-1024x482.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-300x141.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026-768x362.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2026.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com</div>
This is a significant change from years past. 
In 2021, the Minneapolis-based retailer pushed its Pride collection to the top of its homepage in all its rainbow-hued glory. The banner read, “#takepride everywhere” and included various people, and even a dog, sporting Pride-themed apparel. It also promoted a children’s book called “What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns.” 
<div id="attachment_1107015" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107015" class="size-large wp-image-1107015" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-1024x300.png" alt="Target 2021" width="1024" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-1024x300.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-300x88.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021-768x225.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2021.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
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In 2020, there was not a hint of red, white, or blue on the homepage. Instead, a rainbow-colored shirt that said, “Ask Me About My Pronouns,” was featured front and center. 
<div id="attachment_1107013" style="width: 464px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107013" class="size-large wp-image-1107013" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-454x576.png" alt="Target homepage" width="454" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-454x576.png 454w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-236x300.png 236w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020-768x975.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2020.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
By 2024, the Pride collection had been moved down toward the bottom of the homepage. But even that placement was far more prominent than its status in 2026. 
<div id="attachment_1107017" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1107017" class="size-large wp-image-1107017" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-1024x281.png" alt="Target homepage" width="1024" height="281" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-1024x281.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-300x82.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024-768x211.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Target-homepage-2024.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Target.com via Wayback Machine</div>
The march back toward sanity comes as no surprise after Target announced it would be reversing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in early 2025.
“Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer Kiera Fernandez said in an internal memo at the time. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future – all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.”
WATCH FROM TODAY&#8217;S EPISODE OF MORNING WIRE:
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Target also stopped reporting to external diversity-focused groups, including the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The retailer came under fire in 2023 for marketing a line of Pride-themed merchandise, including products like “tuck-friendly” swimming suits, in prominent displays near the front of its stores. Other products in its “Pride Collection” included small shirts with phrases like “Just Be You And Feel The Love,” Pride-themed onesies, rainbow-colored leggings, tutu skirts, and jumpers.
Following widespread backlash and boycotts, the Pride collection was significantly scaled back in 2024. It was also confirmed at the time that the retailer would no longer market Pride merchandise to children, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-rolls-back-dei-joining-other-major-companies-like-walmart-meta">reported</a>.

happy family with the flag of america USA at sunset outdoors

Target Picks A Different Flag This June

Business

Target

A Bay Area coffee shop chain is reportedly facing backlash from LGBT activists after a new corporate protocol was handed down. 
Customers are outraged that the company CEO, Mahesh Sadarangani, has ordered the removal of Pride flags at certain locations in pursuit of an “inclusive” atmosphere.
“At Philz, we have always believed everyone who walks through our doors deserves to feel welcome and safe, and that belief is at the core of everything we do. Our longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is unchanged. We are working toward creating a more consistent, inclusive experience across all our stores, including removing a variety of flags and other decor,” Sadarangani said in a statement. 
“This is a change in how our stores look, not in who we are. Our allyship runs deeper than what is on our walls. It shows up in who we hire, how we treat one another and in our annual Pride Month Unity celebration, which returns this June as it has every year. Unity is fundamental to how we operate,” he added.
A Philz manager at one San Francisco location <a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/petition-circulates-claiming-philz-coffee-asked-stores-to-remove-pride-flags/">told</a> KRON4 News that Sadarangani had told store leadership to consider whether in-store displays make all customers feel included during a recent company summit. According to the outlet, employees at multiple Bay Area locations said they have not been asked to take down Pride flags.
Despite the executive’s stated commitment to LGBT causes, leftist activists were melting down online and started a petition in an attempt to have the flag removal decision reversed.
As of Friday afternoon, a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/urge-philz-coffee-to-keep-pride-flags-up">petition</a> created by “Philz Coffee Baristas” had more than 4,000 signatures. “In today&#8217;s society, businesses have an essential role in fostering inclusivity and support, and displaying the pride flag is a simple yet remarkably powerful demonstration of that role,” the description said in part. 
“Removing these flags risks alienating a core group of team members and loyal customers who see Philz not just as a coffee shop, but as a place where they are embraced and celebrated for who they are.”
Some customers interviewed on the street were also outraged, saying they would “boycott” the business if the decision wasn’t reversed.
Philz Coffee was founded in San Francisco in 2003. It operates more than 60 locations, mostly in California, with a few in Chicago. 
The company made headlines in 2025 when the private equity firm Freeman Spogli &amp; Co. bought it for $145 million, prompting complaints from many customers. Some commenters blame the new ownership for the revised Pride flag policy.

Philz Coffee

Coffee Chain Ditches Politics To Be Inclusive And Still Dems Rage

Coffee

Pride Flag

The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain caved to public pressure for the second time in as many days on Wednesday, removing several items from the corporate website that advertised a commitment to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and LGBTQ Pride events.
Robby Starbuck took to X to share what he touted as a &#8220;major victory,&#8221; noting that the company had scrubbed several key pages from the website even as the backlash over a recently sanitized corporate logo — which was abandoned within days of its unveiling — was just beginning to die down.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Major victory to report. After a week running our pressure campaign, Cracker Barrel FINALLY caved and removed their LGBTQ and DEI page.
Let this be a message to all companies: It is now socially unacceptable to promote trans causes or DEI and it’s unacceptable to use our money… <a href="https://t.co/tDqvanEYZs">pic.twitter.com/tDqvanEYZs</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1960767840644162041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Major victory to report. After a week running our pressure campaign, Cracker Barrel FINALLY caved and removed their LGBTQ and DEI page,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Let this be a message to all companies: It is now socially unacceptable to promote trans causes or DEI and it’s unacceptable to use our money for Pride events.&#8221;
&#8220;YOU could be next if you embrace wokeness. Now’s the time to fix it,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Conservative consumers will no longer fund companies who use our money to violate our values. Just be neutral on politics and social issues. You don’t need to parrot our politics. Just stay out of politics and focus on your core business. That’s the path to greatness. First 3 screenshots are yesterday, 4th is today.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s my pleasure to deliver y’all another win for those of us who want sanity. Many more to come!&#8221; Starbuck concluded.
Cracker Barrel&#8217;s capitulation on DEI and LGBTQ issues follows the company&#8217;s quick backpedal over an attempted rebrand that sparked an immediate public outcry.
Starbuck shared the news on Tuesday, saying. &#8220;Big news: Cracker Barrel has caved. They just sent an email confirming that they’re returning to the old logo. All plans for the new logo have been scrapped. Now they just need to end DEI and stop funding all ages pride shows!&#8221;
&#8220;The emailed statement: &#8216;We thank your guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain. At Cracker Barrel, it’s always been – and always will be – about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family.&#8217; As always, we get results and we have them on the run. They’ve also distanced themselves from the woke @HRC by saying they don’t associate with them now. We are winning and we plan to keep winning.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Big news: Cracker Barrel has caved. They just sent an email confirming that they’re returning to the old logo. All plans for the new logo have been scrapped. Now they just need to end DEI and stop funding all ages pride shows!
The emailed statement:
&#8220;We thank your guests for… <a href="https://t.co/13OJLzfGBX">pic.twitter.com/13OJLzfGBX</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1960475170063192477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cracker Barrel Redesigns Its Logo

Cracker Barrel Thought The Logo U-Turn Would Be Enough. It Wasn’t.

Cracker Barrel Thought The Logo U-Turn Would Be Enough. It Wasn't

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Cracker Barrel

A Texas mayor was caught on video using disturbing language berating a Christian preacher at a LGBT festival, video shows.
Jim Ross, the mayor of Arlington, Texas, targeted the preacher during a 2023 LGBT event. The shocking moments were captured by Vice, though Ross&#8217;s face is blurred and the footage has just now been <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/exclusive-arlington-mayor-jim-ross-200000969.html">uncovered</a> by The Dallas Express.
Ross claims he&#8217;s a moderate, but routinely <a href="https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-04-05/arlington-candidates-tackle-dei-issues-transportation-development-in-naacp-forum">pushes</a> race-based and gender-based initiatives and has promoted LGBT &#8220;pride.&#8221;
“I believe y’all can have free speech. But this is some hateful s*** and I am a heterosexual guy,&#8221; Ross says in the footage, speaking to preacher Ruben Israel, who has since passed away.
“You stand out here like you are a b*da** motherf***er,” the mayor continued. “You don’t think anal sex is good, do you? Have you ever f***ed your old lady in the a**? I’d f*** your old lady in the a**.”
Ross was not done, however. He called Israel a &#8220;p**** mother***er&#8221; and told him, “Shut your a**, shut your a**, you little piece of s***. You ought to talk s***, these people around here are having a good f***ing time.”
At the time of the confrontation, Ross was serving as mayor of Arlington, and currently holds the same position.
Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French said Ross needs to resign &#8220;immediately&#8221; over the conduct.
Tarrant County Republican Precinct Chair TK Campbell, also speaking to The Dallas Express, said Ross&#8217;s unprofessional behavior mirrors that of prominent Democrats, who&#8217;ve clung to cursing as an apparent political strategy.
“The now Mayor of Arlington’s vile, profanity-laced rant at the late Ruben Israel, a Christian street preacher, is a disgrace,&#8221; Campbell said. &#8220;Perhaps the mayor was stressed out because of not being able to pay his taxes of late, but his unprofessional conduct mirrors the worst of today’s cursing Democrats. Leadership demands better.&#8221;
Campbell&#8217;s comments regarding taxes seem to reference Ross recently having his wages garnished by the IRS. <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/arlington-mayor-acknowledges-irs-garnishment-160013005.html">According</a> to The Dallas Express, Ross owes $940.39 in penalties and interest and has an outstanding debt of about $175,000.
During his tenure as mayor, Ross has created advisory councils based on race, religion, and identity, including black, Asian, Latino, Muslim, and LGBTQ.
In 2023, Ross defended the forums during an NAACP event. “You have to have a black advisory council because, folks, black people are not the same. Did y’all know that?” he said, <a href="https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-04-05/arlington-candidates-tackle-dei-issues-transportation-development-in-naacp-forum">according</a> to KERA News. “Latinos are not the same. Asians are not the same.”
WARNING: Language 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨BOMBSHELL🚨 Newly surfaced footage identifies Texas Arlington Mayor Jim Ross at an LGBTQ festival telling a Christian preacher: “I’d f*ck your old lady in the *ss.” Ross used vulgar language and made explicit remarks
Read article👇.
Follow: <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasExpress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallasexpress</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Carlos__Turcios?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Carlos__Turcios</a> <a href="https://t.co/IzagUbFqb5">pic.twitter.com/IzagUbFqb5</a>
— Carlos Turcios (@Carlos__Turcios) <a href="https://twitter.com/Carlos__Turcios/status/1953919764616638727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2025</a></blockquote>

Mayor Jim Ross

‘I’d F*** Your Old Lady In The A**’: Liberal Mayor Berates Christian At LGBT Festival

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Politics

A spokesperson for the group Heritage of Pride confirmed that about 25% of their corporate sponsors had either pulled out of sponsoring New York City’s Pride parade or reduced contributions, leaving organizers scrambling to replace those funds.
“The vast majority of what we have heard is that folks are treading carefully from an economic perspective,” Kevin Kilbride <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/nyregion/nyc-pride-sponsors-trump-tariffs.html">told</a> The New York Times during an interview published in late May. He asserted that companies are distancing themselves from the Pride movement for political reasons.
“&#8230;Some folks have definitely mentioned the fear of potential blowback from the Trump administration if you are a big corporation and you are publicly supporting D.E.I. initiatives,” Kilbride told the outlet.
Now the event is happening in ten days. A few weeks ago, Heritage of Pride organizers had been focusing on community funded donations after big corporate spenders pulled back. They were facing a shortage of about $750,000.
“That gap we’re trying to fill with a community fundraising campaign. So in the middle of May, we launched a peer-to-peer campaign so folks can start their own fundraiser online, share it with their friends, and then have folks donate to that,” he told NYT.
Kilbride confirmed the organization planned to “lean a little bit more into individual giving and support from the community.”
Per NYT, four of the five companies that were Platinum sponsors last year either scaled back contributions or canceled. Those include Garnier, Skyy Vodka, Target, and Mastercard. Pepsi and Nissan are also <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/08/pride-month-sponsorship-decline-2025">not contributing</a> funds this year.
Several other cities have reported similar results, with corporate and individual sponsorships being reduced this year compared to others. This has led to some Pride events in large cities being <a href="https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/boise-pride-cancels-june-kickoff-event-due-to-low-attendance-despite-strong-online-support-idaho/277-85507887-f32c-4bae-ae4b-366f10d9eda3">canceled</a>.
This pulling back from Pride has become a trend with major retailers. Target shoppers noticed that the retailer has moved their Pride messaging to the back burner. Social media is buzzing with photos of patriotic apparel displays in Target stores during the month of June. Just two years ago, these same displays would have been decked out in rainbow flag glory.
In 2023, Target was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-to-offer-pride-merchandise-in-fewer-stores-after-backlash-against-tuck-friendly-swimsuit-sale-last-year">blasted</a> for offering “tuck-friendly” female swimsuits, which led to boycotts and sinking sales. After the backlash, Target scaled back its “Pride” displays in June 2024, only offering “Pride” merchandise at a limited number of stores. Now, almost all have been <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/target-swaps-out-rainbow-flags-stars-stripes-shoppers-notice-shift-during-pride-month">replaced</a> with red, white, and blue.

NYC Pride

NYC Pride Parade Loses Corporate Sponsors, Begs For Individual Donations

New York City

Social Issues

U.S.

A new president might be in the White House, but Washington, D.C., is pushing “Pride” as much as ever this year. 
From parades and marches to dance festivals and drag performances, the nation’s capital has not stepped back from using “Pride Month” to push radical gender ideology. This year in D.C., hundreds of thousands of people took part in a three-week-long celebration called “<a href="https://worldpridedc.org/event/world-pride-family-fun-festival/">WorldPride</a>.” The weeks-long event concluded on Sunday with a march and a video message from former Vice President Kamala Harris, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/08/world-pride-rally-march-national-mall/">reported</a>. 
“Pride is about honoring the trailblazers who came before, joining arms with those leading the fight for equality today and empowering the next generation to live boldly, freely and with joy,” Harris <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/06/08/world-pride-rally-march-national-mall/">said</a>. “In this moment, as you gather with friends and allies from across the world, let us be clear: No one should be made to fight alone. We are all in this together.”
While President Donald Trump and his administration have pushed back on some of the crazy transgender policies that were supported by the Biden administration, the Left continues to stake its identity on allowing men to compete against women and defending the sterilization and mutilation of children. 
The WorldPride event in D.C. was <a href="https://worldpridedc.org/our-advocates/">sponsored</a> by numerous companies and activist groups, including (unsurprisingly) Kaiser Permanente, the medical group that was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/detransitioner-chloe-cole-announces-official-lawsuit-against-kaiser-permanente-for-medical-negligence">sued</a> by detransitioner Chloe Cole claiming medical negligence for allegedly facilitating the chemical and surgical sex change operations on Cole when she was a minor. Another sponsor is Johns Hopkins University, which <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/center-transgender-health/services-appointments/children-adolescents-and-young-adults#:~:text=Clinical%20services%20are%20available%20for%20children%2C%20adolescents,for%20Transgender%20and%20Gender%20Expansive%20Health%20guidelines.">offers</a> children puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. 
The <a href="https://worldpridedc.org/our-advocates/">list</a> of other sponsors goes on and on: 
<ul>
<li>Amazon </li>
<li>Starbucks</li>
<li>Ikea</li>
<li>JP Morgan Chase</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley</li>
<li>McDonald’s</li>
<li>Corona</li>
<li>Delta</li>
<li>United</li>
<li>Fresca</li>
<li>Hilton</li>
<li>Marriot</li>
<li>Wegmans</li>
<li>Hyatt</li>
<li>Dollar Tree</li>
<li>H&amp;M</li>
<li>Macy’s</li>
<li>Total Wine &amp; More</li>
<li>Astra Zeneca</li>
<li>AARP</li>
</ul>
All of these companies put their public stamp of approval on an event that focused on celebrating the LGBT identity and encouraged parents to bring their children to the “<a href="https://worldpridedc.org/event/world-pride-family-fun-festival/">World Pride Family Fun Festival</a>,” which it said would be “especially enjoyed by children ages 2–10.”
Most Americans are tired of the “Pride Month” shenanigans, but they’re still being shoved down their throats with the endorsements of some of the country’s most popular brands. 
At least there are still some companies that can read the room and aren’t going to push LGBT craziness — companies like <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/">Jeremy’s Razors</a>. 
Check out some of the quality products offered by Jeremy’s Razors, such as the<a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/products/precision-5-trial-kit-2?selling_plan=3820880085"> Precision 5 Razor</a>. Feel a little dirty after reading about D.C.’s “Pride” festival? Check out Jeremy’s all-new <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/products/birch-bark-body-soap?_pos=1&amp;_sid=32db4f1d8&amp;_ss=r&amp;variant=51559588462805&amp;selling_plan=4232937685">Birch Bark body soap</a>. 
We’re not even halfway through June. The incessant drumbeat of “Pride Month” still has weeks to drive us crazy. Hopefully, you don’t have to be in a place like D.C. to endure the rest of it.
Jeremy&#8217;s Razors shares common ownership with The Daily Wire.

People celebrating Pride Month and Parade-People marching with the rainbow LGBTQ flag

D.C. Goes All Out For ‘Pride’: These Companies Sponsored The Weeks-Long LGBT Celebration

Amazon

Delta Airlines

JP Morgan

McDonald’s

Starbucks

United Airlines

Washington D.C.

A Washington, D.C., park at the center of this weekend&#8217;s Pride festivities will be closed to prevent the vandalism that occurred in years past.
Dupont Circle Park closed at 6 p.m. on Thursday and will remain closed through about 6 p.m. on Sunday, the National Park Service <a href="https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/management/dupontcirclerod.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a>.
Early Friday morning, temporary fencing was erected around the park.
The decision comes as after days of back-and-forth between federal and local authorities over the issue, as well as backlash from WorldPride 2025 attendees, who hoped the park would remain open.
Washington, D.C., is hosting WorldPride 2025, which will have a plethora of events from Friday to Sunday. The events <a href="https://worldpridedc.org/events/welcome-center/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a> at least four drag queen story hours including &#8220;Indigenous Drag Story Hour,&#8221; an event about &#8220;Deaf Queer Dating,&#8221; and a talk by a trans-identifying woman titled, &#8220;Propaganda &amp; Transphobia: How Trans People Became the Political Pawn.&#8221;
Dupont Circle Park was closed at the request of the United States Park Police, which said it was necessary to “secure the park, deter potential violence, reduce the risk of destructive acts and decrease the need for extensive law enforcement presences.”
Washington, D.C., Police Chief Pamela Smith originally requested to close the park, but she later <a href="https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/management/upload/Recession-of-Request-for-Anti-Scale-Fencing-Dupont-Circle-Park-6-3-25.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">withdrew</a> that request &#8220;after hearing from community leaders and residents.&#8221;
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However, she noted that in recent years, the park has been vandalized and has seen other violent illegal activity around the time of Pride festivities.
In 2019, gunshots were heard in the park causing people to flee, and a person was arrested. In 2023, the park was vandalized to the tune of $175,000 in damage to a historic fountain. Last year, &#8220;large groups of juveniles&#8221; in the park engaged in &#8220;illegal activities, including drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and engaging in fights&#8221; and also &#8220;ran into a local business and stole items,&#8221; the police chief noted in her letter to the Park Police.
The Park Police pushed for a closure anyway, noting that &#8220;the threat of violence, criminal acts and [park] resource destruction&#8221; has &#8220;only increased&#8221; over the last few weeks.
For example, a local DJ was selling tickets to an &#8220;unpermitted gathering/party&#8221; in Dupont Circle after the World Pride events, the Park Police said.
&#8220;This social media advertisement is stating that this is the same DJ and &#8216;party&#8217; as the previous several years, which have resulted in the unsafe conditions and damages recounted above,&#8221; the Park Police <a href="https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/management/upload/2025-06-03-USPP-Dupont-Circle-Closure-Memo-Update.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in a June 4 letter to National Park Service leadership.

WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 08: Hundreds participate in the annual D

Park At Epicenter Of DC’s Pride Parade Forced To Close To Avoid Vandalism

Park At Epicenter Of DC's Pride Parade Forced To Close To Avoid Vandalism

Crime

Vandalism

Elon Musk and fiscal conservatives are pushing back on President Donald Trump’s new budget bill, warning it could add trillions to the national debt. The White House has officially replaced Pride Month with “Title IX Month,” focusing on protecting women’s sports and spaces. And, two Chinese nationals were arrested for attempting to smuggle a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States.
It’s Thursday, June 5, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump Cancels &#039;Pride Month&#039; &amp; Elon Musk Smears Trump&#039;s Bill" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s6KkecuSyyQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/budget-hawks-rejoice-trump-cancels-pride-month-6-5-25/id1576594336?i=1000711363313" 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>
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<h2>Budget Battles &amp; The &#8216;Big Beautiful Bill&#8217;</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-929519" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_21_19.Still001.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_21_19.Still001.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_21_19.Still001-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: The Senate takes up debate of Trump’s budget bill – while Musk raises concern over the massive debt.
 Elon Musk made waves this week with his criticism of President Trump’s big, beautiful bill, and budget hawks couldn’t be happier. 
On Wednesday, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the big beautiful bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. The Trump administration says this estimate is wrong — Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought says the CBO is “not using a realistic current policy baseline” and that the bill would actually reduce the debt by $1.4 trillion over 10 years.
Musk, who just stepped back from his government post last week, said Tuesday that the bill was a “disgusting abomination.” Republicans who opposed the bill, like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), quickly joined Musk in slamming the bill. Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee took a different tack, saying that the bill that passed the House was flawed and that the Senate can improve it.
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Democrats joined the fight, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://grabien.com/story?id=530108">highlighting</a> that even “Trump’s buddy” doesn’t like his spending bill. “If even Elon Musk, who’s been part of the whole process and who’s Trump’s buddy, says the bill is bad, you can imagine how bad this bill is.”
Trump defended the bill but stopped short of slamming Elon, instead turning his ire on Senator Paul, saying: “Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can’t stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!”
Meanwhile, the White House sent Congress a $9.4 billion rescission package. This bill codifies a number of DOGE cuts, including federal funding for PBS and NPR. Members of the House Freedom Caucus are demanding a vote on this package immediately, and both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) say they’re eager to call a vote on the bill as quickly as possible.
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<h2>Trump Administration Rebrands June</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-929517" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_20_17.Still002-2.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_20_17.Still002-2.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_20_17.Still002-2-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: Instead of Pride Month, the Trump White House announced that June will be dedicated to highlighting the protection of women’s spaces.
It’s June in Washington, D.C., but the Pride flags that have become ubiquitous in many of the city’s public spaces are notably absent. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the White House issued an annual Pride proclamation celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex Pride Month. It hosted a now-infamous Pride celebration on the White House lawn, where a trans-identifying activist drew some serious backlash for posing for topless photos and videos. The White House was heavily decorated with rainbow-colored decor, and Biden and his wife, Jill, mingled with pro-trans activists. 
This year, however, things are looking different. The Daily Wire broke the news that the Department of Education would declare June “Title IX Month” rather than Pride Month. That move is intended to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Title IX’s passage, and the Education Department plans to spend June highlighting what the Trump administration has done so far to reverse the Biden administration’s weaponization of Title IX. 
And the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating two significant cases that developed under Biden. One of those deals with a little girl who was allegedly forced to share a bed with a boy who identifies as a girl on an overnight trip. The other deals with a boy joining a sorority at the University of Wyoming, living in the sorority house, and ogling girls in their towels.
“The Biden administration just really muddied the waters on Title IX, tried to get all kinds of different things passed through relative to gender identification,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told The Daily Wire. “That has now been rolled back.&#8221;
The Pentagon announced in January that “identity months” are dead at the Defense Department, and it specifically said Pride Month would not be celebrated anymore. This week, sources tell The Daily Wire that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would order the renaming of a U.S. Navy ship named after gay rights activist Harvey Milk, a Navy veteran who was assassinated in 1978 after being elected to San Francisco&#8217;s Board of Supervisors. He has been repeatedly accused of grooming young boys.
The FBI also startled the world on Monday when it announced that it’s looking for tips on any hospitals, clinics, or practitioners performing transgender surgeries on minors. The bureau promised in a tweet: “We will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care.”
Meanwhile, other Republicans are aggressively messaging against Pride Month and for celebrating traditional values. On Tuesday, Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-gop-resolution-declares-june-family-month-instead-of-pride-month">introduced a resolution</a> declaring June “Family Month.&#8221; 
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<h2>Chinese Nationals Arrested For Smuggling Pathogen</h2>
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Topline: Two Chinese nationals have been arrested for allegedly smuggling a dangerous pathogen into the United States.
This week, we learned that the FBI has arrested two Chinese nationals accused of attempting to smuggle Fusarium graminearum, a dangerous biological pathogen, into the United States. 
One of those individuals, Yunqing Jian, worked as a researcher at the University of Michigan. The FBI says she has expressed loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and has received funding from Beijing in the past to study similar pathogens in China. The other individual, her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducted similar research. 
According to the DOJ, Liu “made false statements&#8221; to federal authorities &#8220;about the purpose of his visit to the United States, and his knowledge of the existence of the biological pathogen in his possession.” But he later admitted that he planned on using his girlfriend’s access at the University of Michigan to conduct research. 
The two have now been charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud. 
Fusarium graminearum is a noxious fungus that scientists consider a potential agroterrorism weapon. It causes head blight, a fungal disease that spreads among wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops, causing plants to shrivel and die, leaving behind infected kernels that can blow away and spread to the next field. The fungus is responsible for billions of dollars in ruined crops each year. Also, it poses a significant risk to humans and animals, causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects if accidentally ingested. 
FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident a “sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences… putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.”
While it’s not yet clear if this was part of a broader effort to unleash a bioweapon on American crops, it is clear that China is using students and researchers to steal American research from universities. In 2019, a Chinese professor at UCLA was convicted of trying to illegally obtain semiconductors with military applications so he could smuggle them back to China. Then, a year later, a Chinese national at <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/harvard-university-professor-and-two-chinese-nationals-charged-three-separate-china-related">Harvard</a> was caught attempting to smuggle 21 vials of cancer research from a medical lab back to China. Similar arrests have been made at the University of Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas A&amp;M.

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