California Republicans appear energized heading into the state’s closely watched June 2 primary, holding an early turnout advantage as Democrats scramble to unite behind a candidate in multiple key races.
The Golden State sends every registered voter a mail-in ballot, arguing that the policy gives voters ample time and access to make their voices heard. With a few weeks until Election Day, more than 900,000 have returned ballots in California&#8217;s primary, which features a contentious gubernatorial race plagued by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-accuser-claims-dem-drugged-choked-and-raped-her?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=73&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Swalwell+Accuser+Claims+Dem+Drugged%2C+Choked%2C+And+Raped+Her">scandals</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-crashes-out-on-reporter-before-she-can-even-ask-a-question?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Democrat+Crashes+Out+On+Reporter+Before+She+Can+Even+Ask+A+Question">stumbles</a> and the Los Angeles mayoral contest. 
The data,<a href="https://tracker.politicaldata.com/?type=statewide"> compiled by Political Data Intelligence</a>, paints an encouraging early picture for Republicans. As of May 15, statewide Republican turnout stood at 6%, compared to 4% for Democrats. Despite trailing Democrats nearly 2-to-1 in voter registration, Republicans remain competitive in the total vote share.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
California Early Voting Now vs at this point in 2022
At this point in 2022: 
🔵 54% 
🔴 26% 
🟡 20%
(719k Voted)
Now: 
🔵 41% (-13) 
🔴 37% (+11) 
🟡 22% (+2)
(906K Voted) <a href="https://t.co/dI1IfKRDjB">https://t.co/dI1IfKRDjB</a> <a href="https://t.co/FRGT6nYz2E">pic.twitter.com/FRGT6nYz2E</a>
— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenSourceZone/status/2055711433568969212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Of the 900,000 ballots returned so far, 371,130 were cast by registered Democrats, compared to 334,791 from registered Republicans. Another 199,967 came from independents or voters with no party affiliation. GOP returns have increased 11% compared to this point in the 2022 midterm cycle. 
In battleground Orange County — where President Ronald Reagan once joked that <a href="https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-republican-campaign-rally-fullerton-california">“good Republicans go before they die”</a> — the divide is even more pronounced. Roughly 6% of registered voters have returned ballots, with Republicans holding an advantage of more than 10,000 votes. 
In San Diego County, where Democrats make up the majority of registered voters, Republicans have posted an 11% turnout rate — nearly double the Democratic rate of 6% — and account for a majority of returned ballots.
Even in deep-blue Los Angeles County, home to the marquee showdown between Mayor Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt, Republicans hold a 4% turnout rate, compared to a sluggish 2% for Democrats. Democrats maintain a raw vote lead in the City of Los Angeles, reflecting their significant registration advantage over Republicans.
Older white voters make up the overwhelming majority of the early vote so far, according to PDI&#8217;s data. 
“Republicans are potentially returning their ballots at a pre-2020 rate, before [President Donald] Trump and other leaders discouraged it,” PDI Vice President Paul Mitchell <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/16/us-news/california-sees-massive-surge-in-republican-votes-as-more-than-900k-ballots-already-returned/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter">told The New York Post.</a> “It’s kind of typical of a low-turnout election that these are the people that always vote in every election. They probably almost always vote early, and they’re getting their ballots in right away.”
On the Republican side, voters have to choose between former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra leads the crowded Democratic field, followed by progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 
Under California’s “jungle primary” system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November regardless of party.

Americans voting in an election

California Republicans See Surge In Early Voting With Democrats In Disarray

California

Elections

Politics

Primary

Republican

Voting

Recording artist Kid Cudi has dropped rapper M.I.A. from his tour due to “offensive” statements she made about immigrants.
M.I.A. was dropped following an incident on May 2 at the Dallas stop of Cudi’s Rebel Ragers Tour. Some audience members were enraged by the comments M.I.A. made during her opening act, which included her saying, “I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.”
She also discussed not performing one of her songs, saying, “I can’t do ‘Illegal,’ though some of you could be in the audience.”
Left-leaning Reddit commenters went into a spiral over her remarks, which they <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KidCudi/comments/1t2dgz7/did_anyone_catch_all_that_wildly_racist_shit_mia/?rdt=40922">called</a> “wildly racist.”
“Her entire set left a bad taste in my mouth,” one person complained.
Cudi told fans that M.I.A. was out via an Instagram post shared yesterday. 
“TOUR UPDATE: M.I.A is no longer on this tour. I told my management to send a notice to her team before we started tour that I didn’t want anything offensive at my shows, cuz I already knew what time it was, and I was assured things were understood. After the last couple shows, I’ve been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants. This, to me, is very disappointing, and I wont have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase. Thank you for understanding. Rager.”
<div id="attachment_1089547" style="width: 336px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1089547" class="size-large wp-image-1089547" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Cudi-326x576.png" alt="Cudi" width="326" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Cudi-326x576.png 326w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Cudi-170x300.png 170w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Cudi.png 588w" sizes=" (max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px" />Instagram</div>
M.I.A. responded on X later that same day. 
“I WROTE ILLYGAL [sic throughout] ON THE MAYA LP A SONG FROM 2010. I STARTED THIS INTRO TO THE SONG WITH THE STATEMENT SAYING I’M ILLYGAL, AND I SAID MY TEAM HASN’T GOTTEN VISAS YET. THEN PLAYED A SONG THAT HAD LYRICS SAYING &#8216;FU&amp;% THE LAW,&#8217; WHICH I STILL BELIEVE, IF THE LAW IS UNJUST F@%&amp; IT. DO NOT GASLIGHT MY WORDS,” her response said. 
“THAT IS THE WORK OF SATAN. I WROTE BORDERS AND ILLYGAL AND PAPER PLANES BEFORE YOU THOUGHT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WERE COOL. I’VE HAD THSES BATTLES BY MYSELF WITHOUT THE HELP OF MILLIONS OF FANS BACKING ME . I DON’T NEED THIS VIRTUE SIGNAL ERA TO ALL OF A SUDDEN ERASE AN ENTIRE LIFE I’VE LED.”
The post added, “JESUS WAS AN IMMIGRANT AND A REBEL. I HAVE NO APPOLGY [sic] FOR THE JUDGEMENTAL THE WICKED AND THE IGNORENT [sic], FOR THOSE ARE SPIRITS THAT WE MUST OVER COME IN OUR LIVES AND IN THIS WORLD. JESUS RETURNS TO LEAD THE WORLD JUSTLY BECAUSE THERE IS INJUSTICE IN THIS WORLD. IM PROUD OF THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR IT EVERYDAY. GOD BLESS YOU.”
In a follow-up, M.I.A. noted that she’s British and doesn’t vote anyway, and claimed the backlash is an overreaction.
“DON&#8217;T BE AN AGENT OF DIVISION, I CAN&#8217;T VOTE IN THE US, AND 48% OF LATIN COMMUNITY VOTED TRUMP. SO ARE YOU GOING TO HATE THEM ALL?” she <a href="https://x.com/MIAuniverse/status/2051354178195206386">posted</a>.
“WE MUST UNITE TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY, THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE IN A BETTER PLACE. IF YOU ARE EASYLY LED BY RUMOUR THEN YOU DON&#8217;T SEE THE LIGHT FOR YOURSELF. I PRAY FOR YOUR AWAKENING,” she went on.
Mathangi &#8220;Maya&#8221; Arulpragasam, or M.I.A. as she&#8217;s known, is a British-born Sri Lankan performer who began expressing Right-wing views following the COVID-19 pandemic. She became a Christian in 2022 and has since incorporated religious themes into her music and public statements.

Singer Dropped From Kid Cudi Tour After She Enrages Crowd With Statement On Illegals

Celebrities

Entertainment

Instagram

Music

A visa program created to support victims of crimes has become a breeding ground for &#8220;fraud,&#8221; a new Republican-sponsored bill seeking to end the immigration program argues.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the &#8220;End U Visa Abuse Act&#8221; Thursday, saying that the U visa program has become &#8220;a magnet for fraud, allowing illegal aliens to game the system, avoid deportation, and secure work permits they were never meant to have in the first place.&#8221;
“This broken program undermines the rule of law and encourages further illegal immigration by allowing immigration lawbreakers to claim they are crime victims to potentially qualify for the visa,&#8221; Roy told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Alleged victimization should not be a basis for securing a green card — it’s time we end the fraud-ridden U visa program once and for all.”
The United States began handing out U visas in 2000 &#8220;for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity,&#8221; according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Roughly 400,000 petitions for U visas are pending approval, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. The United States caps yearly approvals at 10,000, which doesn&#8217;t include the spouses, children, or parents who the primary applicant can sponsor.
One major issue with the program is that the applicant&#8217;s reported crime doesn&#8217;t need to have yielded any arrests, charges, formal investigation, prosecution, or conviction, as USCIS states on its website in its instructions to law enforcement signing off on an alleged victim&#8217;s petition.
While awaiting the outcome of their application, immigrants can avoid deportation, which is put on hold while a decision is pending. That&#8217;s a massive incentive, leaving the program vulnerable to abuse, Roy&#8217;s bill argues.
Between 2012 and 2018, roughly 22% of U visa applicants were previously in removal proceedings, while about 13% said they were in deportation proceedings when they applied, <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/immigration-law-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/06/GT-GILJ220021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a 2022 Georgetown Immigration Law Journal article. In 2018 alone, 33% of applicants were in removal proceedings before and 15% had ongoing deportation cases when they applied.
Managing Attorney of Codias Law Cody Brown, who represents American citizens who are victims of immigration fraud, called the U visa &#8220;the most absurd immigration program ever conceived.&#8221;
&#8220;The federal government hands illegal aliens — and their entire extended families — a path to U.S. citizenship simply for accusing an American of a crime,&#8221; Brown told The Daily Wire. &#8220;No investigation, no prosecution, no conviction required.&#8221;
&#8220;The accused citizen gets no notice, no hearing, and no right to defend themselves. Worse: federal law actually forbids USCIS from denying the visa based solely on the accused citizen&#8217;s evidence,&#8221; he said.
Several recent cases shed light on how foreigners have attempted to fraudulently obtain U visas.
Federal authorities charged a group of ten Indian nationals in March for allegedly staging armed robberies of convenience stores so the clerks could falsely claim to be crime victims in order to apply for U visas, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/ten-indian-nationals-indicted-visa-fraud-conspiracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to USCIS.
In a separate case, five current and former law enforcement officials in Louisiana allegedly produced police reports for illegal immigrants to pose as victims of robberies in order to apply for U visas, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/media/1408116/dl?inline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a July indictment.
Meanwhile, Roy&#8217;s bill argues that if an immigrant &#8220;is a crime victim and is actively cooperating with law enforcement as a witness&#8221; that they should pursue obtaining an S visa.&#8221; The proposed legislation also states that the Homeland Security secretary &#8220;can grant humanitarian immigration parole to purported alien crime victims or witnesses on a case-by-case basis if they are needed by law enforcement or are required to testify.&#8221;
S visa applications are submitted by a law enforcement agency for a witness or informant. U visas are submitted by the foreigner and are signed by a law enforcement official who &#8220;must confirm that you were helpful, and currently being helpful, or will likely be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the case,&#8221; according to USCIS.

Children Receive U.S. Citizenship Certificates In New York

EXCLUSIVE: How An Immigration Path For Crime Victims Became A Breeding Ground For Fraud

Congress

Immigration

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

WASHINGTON—War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday laid down the law for members of President Donald Trump&#8217;s base who want more clarity on the war in Iran.
“I don’t understand why the base … wouldn’t have faith in his ability to execute on this,” Hegseth told Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan, pointing to President Trump’s record of pursuing “peace through strength” and “America First outcomes.”
In a Pentagon press briefing, Olohan asked Hegseth if he had a message &#8220;to Americans who love the president and strongly believe in him but are very worried about this notion of boots on the ground?”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This morning I asked Secretary Pete Hegseth what his message is to Americans who love the president and support him, but are very anxious about this notion of &#8220;boots on the ground&#8221;: <a href="https://t.co/yvWJctIUt7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/yvWJctIUt7</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2039001865505968287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Hegseth made it clear that while the president was keeping every option on the table, he would not aid the Iranian enemy forces by making known publicly what the next move would be.
“We’re not going to foreclose any option. You can’t fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do, to include boots on the ground.”
While he nodded to the possibility of diplomacy (&#8220;maybe negotiations work, or maybe there’s a different approach”), Hegseth&#8217;s answer reinforced that escalation remains a live option. He also sought to reassure skeptics indirectly, arguing that Trump has “internalized the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan” and would not repeat past mistakes, even while keeping all military tools available.
While support for the war itself remains strong, as does <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-pollster-admits-it-reports-of-magas-death-have-been-grossly-exaggerated" target="_blank" rel="noopener">support among MAGA</a> for Trump, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-voters-oppose-action-iran-give-u-s-military-positive-marks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polling</a> shows broad backing among Trump voters for strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure; support <a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/most-say-the-united-states-recent-military-actions-against-iran-have-gone-too-far/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drops off sharply</a> when it comes to sending ground troops. Recent surveys show a majority of Republicans, and an even larger share of the broader electorate, oppose deploying U.S. troops, with roughly half of Republicans and nearly three-quarters of all voters against “boots on the ground.”
That divide has already begun to show up publicly, with cracks emerging inside the MAGA movement over the direction of the war and fears that it could become another prolonged Middle East conflict. Loud voices have increasingly warned against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/19/pete-hegseth-iran-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mission creep</a>, invoking Iraq and Afghanistan as cautionary examples of conflicts that began with limited objectives but expanded over time.
Hegseth, while engaging at length, offered little in the way of direct reassurance. Instead, he leaned into strategic ambiguity and the need to keep adversaries guessing.
“Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with boots on the ground,” he said. “And guess what? There are.”

Pete Hegseth And Dan Caine Hold Pentagon Press Briefing On Operation Epic Fury

Hegseth Gets Real With MAGA Voters Worried About Iran War

Donald Trump

Iran

MAGA

Pete Hegseth

Voters

Republican Senator Rick Scott is set to introduce legislation that would spell major financial losses for sanctuary cities and states, The Daily Wire has learned.
The Florida senator introduced the bill — dubbed the Unifying American Security Interests Act — to explicitly tie eligibility for federal grants to cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In order to secure the federal funds, cities would need to honor ICE detainers, conduct joint training with immigration officers, and commit to openly sharing information with federal authorities.
Along with the aforementioned bill, Scott introduced the Sanctuary Jurisdiction Event Security Enhancement Act, which bars sanctuary cities and states from receiving federal funding for event security through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Special Event Assessment Rating.
“Democrat politicians are putting illegal aliens first and the American people last, harboring criminals in sanctuary cities where they refuse to enforce our laws,&#8221; Scott said in a statement shared with The Daily Wire.
&#8220;President Trump is doing his part by securing the border, now Congress must pass my bills to hold sanctuary cities and states accountable by withholding federal tax dollars until they cooperate with federal law enforcement,&#8221; Scott said.
President Donald Trump has previously threatened to cut federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions amid his mass deportation crackdown.
Trump accused sanctuary cities and states of doing &#8220;everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens,&#8221; adding that &#8220;it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-immigration-funds-sanctuary-cities-states-february-rcna253986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NBC News.
The state of Virginia and its new Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger have drawn the ire of the Trump administration over recent crimes carried out by illegal immigrant offenders.
In the latest example, the Department of Homeland Security is begging local authorities in Fairfax County not to release an illegal immigrant accused of groping at least a dozen female students while he attended a local high school with them as an adult.
“This 19-year-old criminal illegal alien should NOT have been attending a Virginia high school and allowed to prey on innocent teenage girls. He now faces nine counts of assault and battery. This is yet another example of the Biden Administration’s failed open border policies,” Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement Monday regarding the case.
“We are calling on Fairfax County sanctuary politicians to NOT release this predator from jail back into our communities to assault more teenage women. Unfortunately, Governor Abigail Spanberger ended cooperation with ICE and is siding with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.”
The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office told The Daily Wire that they don’t “obstruct or prevent ICE from acting on their civil detainers,” but didn’t say whether they’d notify federal immigration officers ahead of the suspect&#8217;s eventual release.
“While it is still too early in the process to know the outcome of his case, ICE has been notified of Ortiz’s location at the ADC [Adult Detention Center], and they are able to execute their detainer by responding to the ADC and taking Ortiz into custody if and when he is ordered released,” the sheriff’s office said.

Zohran Mamdani holds a press conference outside the Federal Plaza in NYC

New GOP Bills Would Withhold Federal Funds From Sanctuary Cities

Rick Scott

Sanctuary Cities

California Republican gubernatorial candidate and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has said he supports creating a &#8220;path to citizenship&#8221; for illegal immigrants living currently in the United States, a stance that has drawn scrutiny from conservative voters in a crowded GOP primary.
During a November interview with Pastura California that recently resurfaced, Bianco laid out his plan for allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country.
&#8220;My family immigrated here from Italy and they came here for jobs, that&#8217;s what things were here for. You came here [for] a job, you said that America is the greatest country in the world and I wanna be an American and you bust your behind to make sure that you provide for your family. That&#8217;s what it was then,&#8221; Bianco <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/19/republican-chad-bianco-vows-support-path-citizenship-illegal-aliens-california-governor/">said</a> during the interview.
&#8220;The people that are coming here now, especially illegally, are coming here for free stuff, and then we are the ones that are paying for that. So the immigration system has to be fixed. We have to have a secure border.&#8221;
Bianco also said he believes the border &#8220;is secure right now,&#8221; though he argued the country faces a major problem with visa overstays and illegal immigrants already in the United States.
&#8220;But we have to address it, we have to make it right, whether they came across illegally into the country, legally or not, is irrelevant because we allowed it to happen. So now we just have to fix it. Secure our borders, don&#8217;t let that happen again, and now we have to give a path to citizenship to the ones that are here. We have to create a way for them to become U.S. citizens and &#8230; make their families great. If they truly did come here to make their lives and their families&#8217; lives better, we have to get to a position where we allow that to happen.&#8221;
Bianco added that if illegal immigrants are caught breaking laws &#8220;and committing crimes, they gotta go back.&#8221;
&#8220;As the governor of California, we will fight for a path to citizenship,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;We have to start working for the people that are here trying to make California great and we have to make their lives easier.&#8221;
When asked about his resurfaced remarks, Bianco told Breitbart on Thursday that he&#8217;s “been very clear” on immigration and that “both sides of the political aisle” have used his comments “to benefit them.”
“Immigration is being made into a political tool, and California residents are the pawns,” Bianco said.
But it&#8217;s not the first time Bianco has appeared to favor illegal immigrants.
Last April, Bianco told podcast host Britt Mayer that he did not want his deputies cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that doing so could deter illegal immigrant crime victims from reporting offenses.
“I don’t want my line deputies, my patrol deputies, absolutely cannot be cooperating with the federal government in immigration reform because the people that we go to help are calling for our help,” Bianco said. “They are being victimized. And if they are afraid to report crime because they’re afraid to be deported themselves for being a victim.”
“If a woman is raped and she will not report that to law enforcement because she believes she is going to be deported, then we are failing as an absolute country because we should be only caring about who victimized that poor girl or woman or man, and how can we make sure we get that criminal off the streets and behind bars, and if they’re illegal, they need to be deported immediately,” Bianco said.
Bianco also reiterated that the United States &#8220;absolutely must have a path to citizenship for people that are here.&#8221;
In a statement to Breitbart, Bianco said he believes “every person who is in jail for victimizing Californians should be deported” and that &#8220;sheriffs operating jails should be cooperating with the federal government.”
“The sanctuary policies prevent that from happening and force the release of criminals back into our neighborhoods,” Bianco said. “Sanctuary policies place sheriffs at risk of criminal prosecution and removal from office because of ridiculous sanctuary state laws. The vast majority of residents, including immigrants, want that to end.”
The gubernatorial hopeful also said that “the threat of deportation cannot be used by criminals to prevent the reporting of crime.”
“A child being molested under threat of deportation should not be afraid of turning toward a deputy for protection,” Bianco said. “With all that said, sanctuary state policies need to be repealed. They harm our communities. As California governor, I will gladly work with other governors to pressure Congress to fix a broken immigration system.&#8221;

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, A California Gubernatorial Candidate, Tours Skid Row

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate’s Immigration Stance Raises Eyebrows In Deep Blue State

gubernatorial race

illegal immigrants

Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) has been hospitalized, but is responsive and in stable condition after a &#8220;pretty bad&#8221; car accident. His wife was also injured in the accident.
Baird&#8217;s office provided a <a href="https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2519">statement</a> on Tuesday declaring that the Indiana Congressman was recovering in the hospital after his &#8220;vehicle was struck&#8221; in an accident:
<blockquote>Congressman Baird is in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, and he is extraordinarily grateful for everyone’s prayers during this time. Congressman Baird looks forward to continuing his work on behalf of Hoosiers. The Office of Congressman Baird will continue to provide services and support for those who need it. Congressman Baird and his office remain steadfast in their commitment to serving constituents and focused on advocating for Hoosiers at the highest levels of government.</blockquote>
Baird, 80, is a Vietnam veteran (U.S. Army) and a veterinarian who has represented Indiana&#8217;s 4th Congressional District since 2019. He voiced his support for President Donald Trump&#8217;s weekend move to capture and extradite Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
&#8220;We are fortunate to have a president willing to follow through on protecting American lives. Decisive leadership as commander in chief matters, and it gives our men and women in uniform the confidence they need to carry out difficult missions against those who threaten our country,&#8221; he said in an <a href="https://x.com/RepJimBaird/status/2007539553083478313">X post</a> on Saturday.
Governor Mike Braun (R-IN) responded to the accident in a post on X, saying, &#8220;Maureen and I are grateful to hear that Congressman Jim Baird and his wife are safe and in good spirits following last night’s accident. We continue to pray for their family and wish the Bairds a smooth and speedy recovery.&#8221;
President Donald Trump addressed the news during remarks to Republican members of Congress at the newly-renamed Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, saying, &#8220;I also want to send our best wishes to Congressman Jim Baird and his wife, who were recovering from a car accident. They’re going to be okay, but they had a pretty bad accident and we’re praying that they get out of that hospital very quickly.&#8221;
During the same remarks, the president also offered his thoughts on the passing of Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), who died on Monday at the age of 65.
With LaMalfa&#8217;s passing and Baird&#8217;s hospitalization — along with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene&#8217;s resignation — the already-slim Republican majority in the U.S. House has dwindled to 218-213.

Agriculture Secretary Rollins Holds Make America Healthy Again Event With HHS Secretary Kennedy

GOP Rep. Jim Baird Hospitalized But ‘Responsive’ After Car Accident

GOP Rep. Jim Baird Hospitalized But 'Responsive' After Car Accident

House Republicans

Indiana

Republican strategist Brad Todd laid out in detail the errors made during the 2020 census that disproportionately hurt Republicans — and helped Democrats.
Todd joined CNN anchor Kate Bolduan on &#8220;CNN News Central&#8221; to discuss the issue on Thursday, and he argued that a number of the U.S. Census Bureau population miscounts had dramatically skewed in favor of Democrats in multiple states across the country.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨NEW: GOP Strategist Brad Todd *SCHOOLS* CNN Host Kate Bolduan on how 2020 census &#8220;errors&#8221; hurt red states &#8220;DISPROPORTIONATELY&#8221;🚨
TODD: “In fact, we know the 2020 census — the errors were almost always to the detriment of red states.”
BOLDUAN: “Do we know that?”
TODD: &#8220;We do… <a href="https://t.co/8RxPTy7Fzm">pic.twitter.com/8RxPTy7Fzm</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJournoDC/status/1953485745848508573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;In fact, we know the 2020 census — the errors were almost always to the detriment of red states,” Todd began, prompting an almost immediate interruption from Bolduan.
&#8220;Do we know that?&#8221; she asked.
&#8220;We do know that. The Census Bureau’s own audit of its work has proven that,&#8221; Todd shot back. &#8220;Blue states like Rhode Island were overcounted. Rhode Island then didn’t lose a seat. Red states like Alabama were undercounted. This is just a fact. It wasn’t all red-blue, but it was disproportionately red-blue.&#8221;
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey found that of the 14 states that were miscounted, five out of the six undercounted states were red states, and five of the eight over-counted states were blue states, per <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/05/19/census-bureau-2020-undercount-overcount-miscount-electoral-college/">The Daily Caller</a> in 2022. Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Utah were reportedly among those that were overcounted. The undercounted states included Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
Todd&#8217;s comments come on the heels of President Donald Trump&#8217;s call for a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-illegal-immigrants-will-not-be-counted-in-the-next-census">new census</a> that will not include illegal immigrants in the final counts. Trump faced a number of legal challenges when he attempted to take similar changes to the census process during his first term as president, but has signaled he plans to try again in the near future.

USA States Election

GOP Strategist Lays Out How 2020 Census Disproportionately Hurt Republicans

2020

Census Bureau

Media

WASHINGTON—The White House rescissions package is full of billions in woke, wasteful spending that should have been dealt with long ago, Congressman Brian Mast told The Daily Wire. 
The Florida Republican weighed in after the White House announced it had sent its first rescissions package to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, a package that the White House says targets billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as foreign aid and federal funding for both NPR and PBS. 
Passing the rescissions package would codify the cuts the Department of Government Efficiency had proposed. A vote is expected next week. 
“We’re talking about roughly $10 billion, and let&#8217;s say $8.5 billion of that largely comes from the State Department, USAID,” Mast explained to The Daily Wire. “In that, if you really wanted to break it down, you would need an encyclopedia to do it because there&#8217;s so many little different things that are going to so many international organizations.” 
Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the congressman said, much of this waste was hidden. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Today, we sent the first rescissions package to Capitol Hill.
This package contains BILLIONS in wasteful foreign aid and federal funding for NPR and PBS.
Here’s just some of the waste, fraud, and abuse identified: 🧵
— Office of Management and Budget (@WHOMB) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHOMB/status/1929991228449312979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
“So where the State Department, under the previous administration, was really nickel and diming the American people under a host of different programs, whether they called it global health or whether they called it international organizations or whether they called it USAID, or whether they called it migration in refugee assistance,  they nickeled and dimed in all of these different places to do these very much social engineering programs,” he explained. 
He pointed to some of these expenditures: $33,000 for “Being LGBTI in the Caribbean,” $643,000 for LGBTQ+ programs in the Western Balkans,&#8221; and &#8220;$567,000 for LGBTQI+ programs in Uganda.” 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
“These countries were upset that we were doing them to begin with,” Mast added in reference to the woke initiatives. He said he has spoken to many of the ambassadors to these countries over the last six months. “They&#8217;re so glad to see these programs go away.” 
Other woke items that would be cut include $67,000 for testing insect powder nutrition on children in Madagascar, $5 million for the &#8220;Minority Serving Institute Fellowship Cooperative Agreement,” $595,400 for training women in gender equity, $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda, $6 million for “net zero cities” in Mexico,  $2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa $5 million for “green transportation and logistics” in Eurasia,  $4 million for “legume systems research,” $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street, and more. 
Mast went through a number of these items, ripping into the massive amounts of money spent on such niche and ideological interests. 
“Why are we doing that for Mexico, and not putting money into the cities in the United States of America?” he asked of the funds going to Mexico’s “net zero cities.” 
“Most people would have no idea” about the items that have been paid for with taxpayer dollars right under their noses, he pointed out. “They’re just hidden in there until you actually get in there and start digging.” 
Asked about pushback from Democrats to the White House rescissions package, Mast suggested that resistance to the cuts is “largely an uneducated pushback.” 
“Democrats will look at this and they&#8217;ll say, ‘Oh my God, you&#8217;re cutting something for migration and refugee assistance.'&#8221;
They’ll also focus on things that are lifestyle choices, rather than life-saving choices, he added. 
“We’re  just blowing money on it year after year after year, decade after decade after decade.” 
Mast believes that Republicans can get the cuts through, and “truthfully,” he thinks they should go much further. For now, it will do.

Thune Aims Vote On Tax Bill In Last Week Of June

White House Rescissions Package Would End Billions In Woke, Wasteful Spending, Congressman Says

Brian Mast

President Donald Trump named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio when asked who could become his successor.
Their names came up during an interview airing Sunday on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet The Press.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 BREAKING: When asked about President Trump&#8217;s successor&#8230; he first and foremost names VP JD VANCE for 2028.
&#8220;It&#8217;s far too early to say that, but I do have a vice president and typically would be &#8211; and JD&#8217;s doing a fantastic job.&#8221;
&#8220;It could very well be. I don&#8217;t want to get… <a href="https://t.co/6nD1dZPbLK">pic.twitter.com/6nD1dZPbLK</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1919029142512611740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Moderator Kristen Welker asked Trump who he sees as his successor after the first 100 days of his second term.
&#8220;Well, I — it&#8217;s far too early to say that. But you know, I do have a vice president, and typically — and JD&#8217;s doing a fantastic job,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;He would be at the top of the list?&#8221; Welker pressed.
&#8220;It could very well be,&#8221; Trump replied. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to get involved in that. I think he&#8217;s a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco is great. There&#8217;s a lot of them that are great.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody&#8217;s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage. But I think the other people would all stay in unbelievably high positions. But you know, it could be that he&#8217;d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party.&#8221;
Trump also indicated that he has no intention of seeking a third term in the White House.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;I&#8217;m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody — ideally a great Republican, a great Republican — to carry it forward,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>.
&#8220;Four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/pK6t6X3AiA">pic.twitter.com/pK6t6X3AiA</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919026233943187660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Are you seriously considering a third term, Mr. President, even though it&#8217;s prohibited by the Constitution? Or is this about staying politically viable?&#8221; Welker asked.
&#8220;I will say this. So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that. But it&#8217;s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you&#8217;re not allowed to do. I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s constitutional that they&#8217;re not allowing you to do it or anything else,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump noted there are &#8220;many people selling&#8221; 2028 hats.
&#8220;But this is not something I&#8217;m looking to do,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I&#8217;m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward. But I think we&#8217;re going to have four years, and I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.&#8221;
Welker again said the Constitution prohibits a third term.
&#8220;Have you – some of your allies are pretty serious about this, though, Mr. President. And I&#8217;ve spoken to them. They say they are coming up with potential ways, obviously the biggest one would be a constitutional amendment,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s because they like the job I&#8217;m doing, and it&#8217;s a compliment. It&#8217;s really a great compliment,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;Has anyone in an official capacity presented you with, &#8216;Sir, here are some ideas by which you could actually get a constitutional amendment?'&#8221; Welker asked.
&#8220;Well, in a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things, but, I&#8217;m not looking at that,&#8221; Trump said.

President Donald Trump

Trump Drops Two Names When Asked About A Successor

JD Vance

Marco Rubio

U.S.

Mel Gibson is reportedly “flattered” by the news that he&#8217;s the leading Republican candidate to run for California Governor in a new straw poll, but will not be throwing his hat in the ring.
A source close to the 69-year-old actor told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/03/18/mel-gibson-flattered-california-governor-poll-favorability/">TMZ</a> that the “Braveheart” star is “flattered” by getting 12% in the poll amid a recall effort to remove Democrat CA Governor Gavin Newsom following the massive wildfires in southern California, rising crime, and more. But the source also made it clear that Gibson has no interest in the job.
In the Wednesday straw poll from The Lost Coast Outpost, Gibson leads Republicans, beating out Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco who received 11% of the vote, after becoming the only notable Republican candidate to enter the race. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and former congresswoman Katie Porter received 20% and 25% percent of the vote in the same poll that was taken among 2,640 respondents.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mel Gibson &#8216;Flattered&#8217; by Governor Poll Favorability, but Has Zero Interest | Click to read more 👇 <a href="https://t.co/sCL7fRyuwY">https://t.co/sCL7fRyuwY</a>
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1902039951039926627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;He&#8217;s sticking with his day job for now,&#8221; Gibson&#8217;s publicist, Alan Nierob, told the <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/fr/exclusive-mel-gibson-confirms-to-globe-he-isnt-running-for-governor/">California Globe</a> following weeks of speculation.
Gibson recently spoke out at a Newsom recall event and blasted the governor over his &#8220;gross mismanagement&#8221; of the state following the devastating wildfires.
During a <a href="https://x.com/TONYxTWO/status/1894948199934079110">press conference</a> in Los Angeles, Gibson told the crowd that both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had let them down after the actor became one of the numerous people who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.
“Governor Newsom and Karen Bass let us all down,” Gibson said, pointing out how much California residents pay in taxes. “Now for that kind of money, we deserve much more and much better, and there is absolutely no adequate excuse the governor or mayor can make for this gross mismanagement and failure to preemptively deal with what they knew was coming.”
“Was it incompetence? Was it indifference, complacency, carelessness? Was it negligence? Absolutely,” he added, asking the crowd if the mayor or governor “give a damn about you,” to which the crowd replied, “no.” “Newsom … has brought us nothing but rampant crime, acute homelessness, horrendous inflation.”
“I mean, the industry I work in, the film industry, this used to be the Mecca of filmdom. It is no more. All of my fellow citizens who have lost their homes, they have no recourse, no insurance payouts because the carriers dropped them,” Gibson continued, per The <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mel-gibson-slams-mayor-bass-governor-newsom-altadena-press-conference-1236148644/">Hollywood Reporter</a>. 
“Even the carriers realized that California was ill-prepared and had scant resources to deal with the inevitable fires. They knew that. So are we supposed to believe that our elected officials didn’t know that? Of course they knew that. Of course.”
The event, which was organized by <a href="https://savingcalifornia.vote/">Saving California</a>, is focused on recalling Newsom and fixing the state’s economy, per its website.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mel-gibson-blasts-newsom-at-recall-event-for-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mel Gibson Blasts Newsom At Recall Event For Governor</a>

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson ‘Flattered’ By Report He’s Leading Republican In California Governor’s Race

Gavin Newsom

governor

Hollywood

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