Republican leaders are increasingly turning against data center development even as the Trump administration remains staunchly in favor of building them. 
Across red states, Republicans who once welcomed the economic investment promised by artificial intelligence infrastructure are beginning to pump the brakes as constituents raise concerns about electricity prices and water consumption. 
Texas State Sen. Charles Schwertner said a July hearing revealed growing unease among Texas landowners. “After hearing hours of testimony from Texas landowners, one thing is clear: landowners deserve a fair and transparent (Certificate of Convenience and Necessity). Texans’ property rights must be protected,” he <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/texas-transmission-lines-landowners-puc-permian-22366999.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com">said</a>. 
Republicans elsewhere are not just sounding the alarm, but introducing legislation to block the tech industry’s newest wave to please their constituents. Oklahoma State Senator Kendal Sacchieri <a href="https://oksenate.gov/press-releases/senator-sacchieri-files-legislation-address-unknown-impacts-data-centers-oklahoma">wants</a> to impose a three-year statewide moratorium on new data centers. “By pausing further development, the state can gain empirical evidence on how large-scale data centers interact with Oklahoma’s infrastructure and environment, and tailor regulations that protect residents and ratepayers without undermining economic prospects,” she said. 
In key 2026 races, battleground candidates like Mike Rogers in Michigan, Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin, and Ken Paxton in Texas have all signaled increased opposition to data centers in recent weeks.
But while Republican lawmakers face pressure to slow data-center development at home, they are receiving the opposite message from the top of their party. President Donald Trump has made expanding America&#8217;s artificial intelligence infrastructure a major component of his economic and national security agenda, but in July, the president seemed to offer his fellow Republicans a compromise to bring back home. Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/president-trumps-ratepayer-protection-pledge-secures-american-ai-dominance-protects-consumers/">hosted</a> an event where over 200 utilities, tech companies, and governors agreed to ensure artificial intelligence data centers are paying for their energy infrastructure without raising residential bills. This allows states to keep building data centers, but makes them pay for themselves by requiring them to BYOE (bring their own energy). 
One week later, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who was one of the governors who signed President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge at the July event, appeared to embrace that approach. Abbott announced that his administration would subject data centers seeking to connect to the Texas electric grid to an energy audit. Projects that demonstrate they can supply their own electricity could move through the review process, while those planning to draw heavily from the Texas grid could see their requests to build getting denied.
“Texans must come first,” Abbott <a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-comprehensive-data-center-audit">said</a>. “Any project that fails to comply with the requirements set forth by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas must be denied connection to the Texas grid.” The governor did not say how long the review process would take. But the scale of the requests facing Texas regulators illustrates why the issue has become politically difficult to ignore.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is weighing connection requests that, if granted, would total more than five times the state&#8217;s record peak electricity demand, with roughly 90% of those requests coming from data centers. Texas lawmakers have warned that the “unprecedented load growth could endanger the reliability and stability of the Texas electric grid.” 
Abbott&#8217;s response seems to have left Texas business interests pleased but angered his rural base. Venture capitalist Jason Calacanis, who left Silicon Valley for Texas, emphasized that Abbott&#8217;s action was not a ban on development. “Governor Abbott announced this week an energy audit,” Calacanis <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVzYGVJ8zUk">said</a>. “Not that he’s going to slow things down, not that it’s a moratorium but that everybody has to go through an energy audit.” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller seemed to have the same read as Calacanis, calling Abbott’s latest move “all smoke and mirrors.” 
“He [Abbott] hasn’t done anything really,” Miller <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/06/sid-miller-republicans-elections-data-centers-abbott/">said</a>. “It’s all smoke and mirrors and campaign fluff to gain votes. It’s not about the people of Texas or protecting our grid or protecting our water or protecting our land base.”

Construction At The First Stargate AI Data Center

Republicans Are Turning Against Data Centers, Fast

Data Centers

Greg Abbott

Michigan

Mike Rogers

Rural America

Texas

Tom Tiffany

Wisconsin

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) poured more cold water on James Talarico&#8217;s Senate campaign Thursday, saying black voters are not excited about the Democratic nominee as he seeks to defeat Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“What are you hearing from black voters that you spoke to in Texas? Is there excitement in terms of turnout?” CNN anchor Laura Coates asked Crockett.
“I don’t think that there is excitement,” <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2093327144340410619?s=20">Crockett replied.</a>
Crockett said black voters “are practical&#8221; and may support Talarico without being enthusiastic about his candidacy, but she acknowledged that excitement could prove crucial on Election Day. 
&#8220;You want them to feel that, because that gives you an idea again, if it&#8217;s raining on that day, if the lines are long, you want that excitement,” she said.
The Dallas-area congresswoman agreed with Coates that Democrats would need strong enthusiasm to overcome what they called “suppressive tactics.”
“We saw that happening obviously in the primary, and so yeah, we need that excitement to kind of get over some of the things that are going to be coming our way,” Crockett said.
Crockett’s provocative comments are the latest in a string of remarks <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jasmine-crockett-pours-cold-water-on-james-talaricos-senate-hype?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=63&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Jasmine+Crockett+Pours+Cold+Water+On+James+Talarico%E2%80%99s+Senate+Hype">casting doubt </a>on her former primary rival’s bid to turn Texas blue.
Crockett argued that Democrats cannot depend on a compelling Senate candidate alone to lift the rest of the ticket, pointing to former Rep. Beto O&#8217;Rourke&#8217;s unsuccessful statewide campaigns.
“We&#8217;ve tried this where we&#8217;ve got one amazing candidate that&#8217;s running at the top of the ticket. Beto is a very good example of this, raising all the money, doing all the things, running around the entire state. But it&#8217;s not enough,” she <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2093322707462988098?s=20">said</a> in the CNN interview.
With 67 days to go until the election, the traditionally safe red seat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ken-paxton-gets-some-much-needed-good-news-in-race-against-talarico">looks increasingly competitive</a>. Several recent polls show Talarico narrowly leading Paxton, raising concerns that a bruising Republican primary may have left the GOP nominee vulnerable in November, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-race-in-solid-red-state-remains-too-close-for-gop-comfort?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Senate+Race+In+Solid+Red+State+Remains+Too+Close+For+GOP+Comfort">The Daily Wire reported.</a>
Even as some Republicans sound the alarm over the race, Crockett said she isn’t sold on the Talarico hype. 
“I don’t know,” she <a href="http://nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-michigan-el-sayed-2026-election-congress-iran-live-updates-rcna590889/rcrd118342?canonicalCard=true">told</a> NBC when asked whether she thinks Talarico can win. “I watch money.”
“When I look at the money, if Republicans start spending money in Texas, then I’ll be convinced,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I look at: where does the NRSC stand? Where does DSCC stand? Right now, neither one are investing, which tells me that their internals are saying the same thing.” 
Crockett <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/04/us-news/rep-jasmine-crockett-endorses-opponent-james-talarico-but-wont-make-plans-to-campaign-for-fellow-dem/">endorsed</a> Talarico after losing the March primary but has repeatedly declined to commit to campaigning alongside him, saying she intends to concentrate on down-ballot candidates.
Concerns about Talarico&#8217;s support among black voters extend beyond Crockett. Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones, a Democrat, has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-activists-threaten-to-nuke-james-talaricos-senate-run">warned</a> that his campaign has failed to engage sufficiently with black elected officials and political organizations. 
“Do I think that Talarico’s refusal thus far to engage black electeds and the black infrastructure has put him at a disadvantage? Absolutely,&#8221; Jones said <a href="https://x.com/BreitbartNews/status/2074908934507233660?s=20">earlier this summer.</a> 
“Talarico needs to pay for us to get our voters out,” Jones said. “If he continues to do what he has been doing, I believe Talarico is going to lose.” 
Talarico, who has sparked backlash for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-book-is-gay-read-the-sexually-explicit-volumes-james-talaricos-church-gives-kids">fringe views on Christianity</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-james-talarico-says-he-loves-trans-children-in-unearthed-clip">affection for transgender children</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-audio-thats-blowing-a-hole-in-talaricos-christian-persona">disdain for the American flag,</a> will need overwhelming support from minority voters and sky-high black turnout to win in one of America’s most culturally conservative states. 
During the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-texas-primary.html">contentious March primary,</a> Crockett outperformed Talarico in most urban areas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and much of East Texas.
“Talarico and everybody statewide in the Democratic Party has a black problem, whether they acknowledge it or not,” Jones added. “And inspiration is not going to get us to the polls.”

image0-scaled

Jasmine Crockett Says Talarico Has A Black Voter Problem

2026 elections

Democrats

Elections

james talaico

Jasmine Crockett

Ken Paxton

Midterms

News

U.S. Senate

President Trump on Thursday praised Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as a “talented guy” while teasing the possibility of the Republican launching another bid for the White House in 2028.
The latest twist in the 2028 GOP presidential sweepstakes came when The Daily Caller’s Reagan Reese pressed Trump directly about the race to lead his MAGA movement forward.
“Ted Cruz keeps teasing a 2028 presidential run. You ran against him for president. Do you think he could be president? What’s your reaction to that?” she asked.
“Yeah, I would say that he&#8217;s very talented. He&#8217;s a very good friend of mine. I think he might do that. Yeah, he&#8217;s a very talented — he&#8217;s a talented guy,” Trump <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2093034068711526786?s=20">said</a>. 
Another presidential bid appears almost inevitable for the Texas Republican, who has made no secret of his national political ambitions.
“It’s no secret that I want to be president,” Cruz said during an interview on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1laHkwvrB0&amp;list=PLOv-623vWdc0">podcast</a>. “Time will tell.”
The 55-year-old appeared to agree with Patrick’s assertion that the GOP nomination will not be a coronation for Vice President Vance, predicting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott could all throw their hats into the ring.
“I will say, this is a bug that history has proved is rarely ended,” the senator <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1laHkwvrB0&amp;list=PLOv-623vWdc0">said</a> of his White House ambitions. “It is a permanent and often fatal bug.”
While Trump stopped short of an endorsement, it’s not the first time he’s left the door open for Cruz to climb the political ladder. For years, Trump has repeatedly floated Cruz as a potential Supreme Court nominee. 
Once a fierce critic and primary rival, Trump has called the conservative “an amazing guy” who is “so good and so talented,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-floats-idea-for-his-next-supreme-court-appointment-as-rumors-swirl-about-possible-retirements">The Daily Wire previously reported. </a>
“I’m thinking about putting him in the Supreme Court,” Trump said in February. “I’m thinking because it’s very hard, getting these nominations through is tough.”
The president added that Cruz would receive “100%” of the Democratic and Republican vote, arguing that Cruz’s foes would “want to get him out of [the Senate]. He is such a pain in the ass.”
At the time, Cruz shot down the idea of serving on the nation&#8217;s highest court. 
“My answer’s not just no, it’s hell no,” he <a href="https://www.fox26houston.com/news/supreme-court-texas-ted-cruz-donald-trump">said earlier this year</a>. “It is interesting in the first Trump term, the president talked to me about all three Supreme Court vacancies, and we had very serious conversations, and I told him no all three times.”
In his podcast interview with Patrick, Cruz opened up about why he ultimately rebuffed Trump&#8217;s push to potentially consider him to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
“But I said no and came to a real peace with it because I believe that I can make a much bigger difference in the Senate than I would on the court,” he said. “That there are lots of good principled constitutionalists who would do that job and I care deeply about [them] being there. In the Senate, how many people actually stand up and lead?”
Not everyone, however, is convinced Cruz can win over the hearts and minds of the MAGA faithful. Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz bluntly questioned whether the Texas senator has any path to the White House in 2028.
&#8220;It’s going to be very hard for you to become President when voters don’t like you. How do you plan to make them like you? You aren’t particularly charming, your voice is a bit annoying, you’re a career politician with limited accomplishments, and you aren’t exactly &#8216;America First,&#8217;” Bruesewitz <a href="https://x.com/alexbruesewitz/status/2092982498032767347?s=20">said</a> on X. 
&#8220;I’ve also been told your operation has been paying influencers to undermine people inside the Trump admin, which isn’t cool, bro.&#8221;

President Trump Speaks At Port Of Corpus Christi In Texas

Trump Weighs In On Potential Ted Cruz Presidential Run

2028 election

2028 presidential election

MAGA

Politics

President Trump

Republicans

Ted Cruz

Trump Administraiton

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who has made fighting corruption a central part of his campaign, attended a Dallas-area fundraiser earlier this month at the home of a convicted fraudster who has donated thousands of dollars to his campaign.
The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbaqqcvxBsv/">August 6 fundraiser</a> in DeSoto, Texas, was hosted at the home of Thomas Merrill Gaubert, 86, a Dallas-area real estate developer and former savings-and-loan owner who served three years in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud and money laundering.
<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/?data_type=processed&amp;contributor_name=thomas+gaubert&amp;max_date=12%2F31%2F2026">Federal Election Commission</a> records show Gaubert donated $3,500 to Talarico&#8217;s campaign in September 2025 and another $3,500 in March 2026.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/janderson.lester/posts/pfbid02zfpwkdb6ZU1AiUaoUsKdWxZBWy2TSQbwSihjrxbS3cvJVB2gekS3Mb6zmpMBbEqKl">Photos</a> from the event show Talarico speaking poolside at Gaubert&#8217;s home, with the convicted fraudster seated nearby. In another image, Talarico poses for a photograph as Gaubert, wearing a pink collared shirt and khaki shorts, stands in the background. The Daily Wire independently reviewed the address and photos of the property and confirmed that the images were taken at the home.
&nbsp;
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1166649 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Untitled-design-2.png" alt="" width="386" height="515" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Untitled-design-2.png 386w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Untitled-design-2-225x300.png 225w" sizes=" (max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px" /></div>
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1166599" style="width: 452px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1166599" class="wp-image-1166599 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/765573506_3664089240395889_1217918065044311701_n-442x576.jpg" alt="" width="442" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/765573506_3664089240395889_1217918065044311701_n-442x576.jpg 442w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/765573506_3664089240395889_1217918065044311701_n-230x300.jpg 230w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/765573506_3664089240395889_1217918065044311701_n-768x1002.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/765573506_3664089240395889_1217918065044311701_n.jpg 960w" sizes=" (max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px" />Talarico poses for a photo as Thomas Gaubert appears in the background in a pink shirt.</div>
In 1993, Gaubert was convicted in federal court on 10 counts, including bankruptcy fraud and money laundering. At the time, he was also awaiting trial in a separate case in which he later pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Gaubert served three years in federal prison, <a href="https://laist.com/news/npr-news/texas-banks-draw-on-lessons-from-the-s-l-crisis">according to NPR</a>. Gaubert cost taxpayers roughly $500 million by looting his Independent American Savings Association, prosecutors said.
Gaubert contended his innocence and blamed regulators for driving his S&amp;L into the ground. &#8220;They can put you in jail, they can destroy you if you let them. But if you&#8217;ve got good work ethic and you&#8217;re smart people and you&#8217;re willing to work hard, the world doesn&#8217;t end,&#8221; Gaubert told the outlet in 2008.
In a 1996 profile, <a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1996/december/sleaze-magnet/">D Magazine</a> described the Talarico supporter as a high-profile Democratic fundraiser who had raised millions for former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright (D-TX) and other elected officials before his real estate empire collapsed.
Gaubert’s bankruptcy fraud conviction followed an earlier federal criminal case in 1988 involving a $32 million loan tied to a condominium project, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/31/business/land-dealer-is-acquitted.html">The New York Times</a> reported. He was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/31/business/land-dealer-is-acquitted.html">acquitted</a> of all five counts in that case.
The exclusive fundraiser, helped by the Dallas County Democratic Party, was also co-hosted by <a href="https://www.zachariahlaw.com/about">Jacob Zachariah</a>, a criminal defense attorney whose law firm represents people accused of crimes against children. 
Talarico&#8217;s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the candidate was aware of Gaubert&#8217;s criminal history when he attended the fundraiser or whether the campaign intends to return Gaubert&#8217;s donations.
On the campaign trail, however, Talarico has frequently branded Ken Paxton “<a href="https://x.com/jamestalarico/status/2059442627393597577?s=20">the most corrupt politician in America</a>” — despite previously arguing that Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) was even more corrupt.
“I was part of the bipartisan majority in the Texas House that voted to impeach our corrupt attorney general, so I know his crimes better than most people do. But I would say that John Cornyn is even more corrupt than Ken Paxton,” Talarico <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPgL8TpPTKE">said</a> in a recent interview. “John Cornyn was the deciding vote on that big ugly bill last year.” 
“It&#8217;s a bill that is going to kick millions of Texans off their health care. It&#8217;s going to take food out of the mouths of hungry Texas children, all to give yet another tax break to John Cornyn&#8217;s billionaire mega donors,” he added. “Ken Paxton was impeached for using his public office to enrich his donors in a very literal illegal way, but John Cornyn, at a massive scale, is using his public office to enrich his donors, so to me, it&#8217;s two sides of the same corrupt coin.”
The Texas Senate acquitted Ken Paxton of all 16 impeachment articles in 2023 after the state House accused him of corruption and abuse of office, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-senate-votes-to-acquit-attorney-general-ken-paxton-of-all-charges">The Daily Wire</a> reported. 
Impeachment managers alleged Paxton accepted bribes from Austin real estate developer and campaign donor Nate Paul, including an agreement to hire Paxton’s alleged mistress and renovations to his home, in exchange for helping Paul as he faced an FBI investigation. Paxton’s defense attorney Tony Buzbee called the impeachment proceedings a “political witch hunt.”
With 68 days to go until Election Day, <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488686?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Cook Political Report</a> rates the race — which could determine control of the Senate — as a toss-up.

James Talarico

Talarico Attends Fundraiser Hosted By Infamous Convicted Fraudster

2026 Midterms

campaign finance

Corruption

Crime

Donations

money laundering

The National Rifle Association is going on the road for the 2026 midterm elections, launching its first-ever national bus tour Thursday to mobilize gun owners across 13 states where control of Congress and statehouses is up for grabs, the group exclusively told The Daily Wire.
The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) launched the 2026 NRA’s Gun Bus Battleground Tour, sending a tour bus on a more than two-month, 63-stop trek through key battleground states. The tour will conclude on Election Day, November 3.
The tour is designed to bring NRA-ILA staff and volunteers directly to voters rather than relying on traditional campaign advertising. “Gun owners don’t need another polished ad interrupting their favorite show. They need real conversations about what’s at stake for the Second Amendment,” NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford told the Daily Wire. “The Gun Bus Tour puts NRA staff and volunteers on the ground where it matters most — talking directly with the men and women who form the backbone of this organization,” Commerford continued. “This is how we build lasting political power: one conversation, one neighborhood, one vote at a time.”
The tour will travel through Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Stops will range from gun stores and manufacturing facilities to college football tailgates and community events, including Michigan’s annual Oktoberfest. The tour will also feature appearances from pro-Second Amendment candidates running for local, state, and federal office.
The NRA’s first stop will be in Dillon, Montana, at Montana’s Biggest Weekend, a Labor Day celebration centered around the Beaverhead County Fair. The event includes rodeo competitions, livestock shows, a carnival, a country music concert, and a parade.
Other stops include college football matchups, including the Iowa vs. Iowa State tailgate in Iowa City; the Wisconsin vs. Penn State tailgate in State College, Pennsylvania; and the Kentucky vs. South Carolina tailgate festivities in Columbia, South Carolina. They will also stop at the NRA’s National Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, Texas.
The tour comes as Republicans defend their majorities in both chambers of Congress and as gun rights remain a major dividing line between the parties. The NRA says its goal is to ensure that pro-Second Amendment candidates retain control of Congress and state governments while supporting candidates in critical state and local races.
NRA CEO Doug Hamlin warned that recent gains for gun owners could be reversed if Republicans lose control of Congress or statehouses. “Across the country, the NRA is working tirelessly to advance and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens,” Hamlin said. “Thanks to our incredible staff and millions of NRA members, we have secured major victories that have ushered in a golden age of gun ownership.”
“However, while we are enjoying unprecedented success, if we lose pro-gun majorities in Congress and the statehouses, the incredible gains we have made can be wiped out by the stroke of a pen,” he added. “That is why it is more critical than ever for gun owners to get activated and vote to protect their sacred, God-given rights.&#8221;

Untitled design (8)

EXCLUSIVE: NRA Hits The Road For Midterm Battleground State Tour

2nd Amendment

firearms

Georgia

Guns

Iowa

Montana

National Rifle Association (NRA)

Nebraska

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Second Amendment

South Carolina

Tour

Virginia

Wyoming

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Minnesota&#8217;s emergency attempt to force Texas to extradite an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/minnesota-ag-keith-ellison-sues-to-force-texas-to-extradite-ice-agent">accused</a> of shooting a Venezuelan man and lying about the incident, potentially clearing the way for the agent&#8217;s release from jail.
Christian Castro, 52, faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime in Minnesota over a January shooting during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
The judge denied Minnesota&#8217;s request for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the Cameron County sheriff from releasing Castro and required Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to sign an extradition warrant allowing Minnesota authorities to take custody of him.
Castro has been held in Texas since May. Under existing Texas law, a person jailed while awaiting extradition can be held for up to 90 days, meaning Castro could be released as soon as Thursday, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-texas-ice-shooting-christian-castro-extradition-384843049feeba26fac6fc09412161ca?utm_source=app&amp;utm_medium=iOS_share&amp;utm_campaign=copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Associated Press.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Abbott last week to compel Castro&#8217;s extradition and sought a temporary restraining order to prevent his release while the dispute played out.
Officials in Minnesota fear Castro is a flight risk, citing calls he has made from jail to a woman in Mexico in which he talked &#8220;about marrying her and buying a house in Mexico when he is released,&#8221; the AP reported, citing the lawsuit.
In January, Castro allegedly fired a gun at a home in north Minneapolis &#8220;with the intent to cause fear of immediate bodily harm or death to the four adults who were just inside the door,&#8221; Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a May news conference. The bullet hit Venezuelan migrant Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg before it traveled through a closet and into the wall of a child’s bedroom.
Castro allegedly falsely told federal investigators that Sosa-Celis and another man assaulted him with a broom handle and a snow shovel, prompting him to fire his gun in “self-defense,” Ellison said during a recent news conference.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially claimed that Sosa-Celis tried to “evade arrest” and “began to resist and violently assault” a federal officer. The department alleged that two individuals came out of a nearby apartment before attacking the officer “with a snow shovel and broom handle.”
Sosa-Celis then “got loose and began striking the officer with a shovel or broomstick,” DHS said at the time.
“Fearing for his life and safety,” the officer “fired a defensive shot” that hit Sosa-Celis in the leg, according to DHS. Sosa-Celis and two others “ran back into the apartment and barricaded themselves inside” before ICE took them into custody.
Then-Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons announced in February a federal probe into the incident after video footage showed that “sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements.”
“Lying under oath is a serious federal offense,” Lyons said at the time.
“The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct,” he said. “Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated. ICE remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.”
A federal judge later dismissed the charges against the two migrants after the video footage emerged.
Authorities arrested Castro in Cameron County, Texas, on May 29. Four days later, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz asked Abbott to extradite Castro.
&nbsp;

Abbott Announcment

Judge Denies Minnesota’s Demands For Texas To Extradite ICE Officer

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Keith Ellison

Minnesota

A baby born with a severe heart defect is in critical condition as a bitter legal battle continues between a pro-life surrogate who refused to abort him and genetic parents who demanded the pregnancy be terminated.
The newborn, whom surrogate McKenna West named Gabriel and his genetic parents named Rumi, was placed back on a breathing tube after his condition deteriorated following open-heart surgery, according to court documents obtained by <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/25/surrogate-mckenna-wests-baby-gabriel-in-critical-condition/">TMZ</a>. 
In a Dallas courtroom Tuesday, the genetic parents Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed told a judge they were reeling after West defied their demand to get an abortion and traveled to Texas, where she sought legal protection and medical care for the baby.
“He’s our child,” Gilkar said, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-surrogacy-mckenna-ivf-texas-heart-surgery-3df649dd00acd9fec8324687be557044">The Associated Press</a>, which reported that the California woman wiped away tears on the witness stand. Referring to the surrogate sitting across the courtroom, Gilkar added, “She’s unstable. She’s trying to take him from us.”
Jeff Domen, an attorney for West, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-surrogacy-mckenna-ivf-texas-heart-surgery-3df649dd00acd9fec8324687be557044">repeatedly pressed</a> Gilkar about her desire to terminate the pregnancy after the baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS.
“Would you trust somebody to care for your child that wanted your child dead?” Domen asked.
Gilkar said she did not know how to answer.
West, an Alaska nurse and single mother of two, delivered the baby earlier this month in the Dallas area after Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a court order requiring that he receive life-saving medical care. 
The baby was diagnosed at 20 weeks with HLHS, a serious congenital heart defect. West has said that after learning of the diagnosis, the genetic parents demanded that West travel to California to abort the child, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-comes-to-rescue-of-surrogate-mom-facing-pressure-to-kill-baby?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Red+State+Comes+To+Rescue+Of+Surrogate+Mom+Facing+Pressure+To+Kill+Baby">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported.
West told the judge she scheduled an abortion at 23 weeks at the couple’s urging but ultimately could not bring herself to go through with it. 
“I knew that this baby, despite the diagnosis, had a great chance at survival and a great chance at leading a long life,” West told the court.
West also described the “terrifying” prospect of undergoing an abortion.  
“It would have been a two-day procedure … they would have injected his heart with a solution that would stop it,” West <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/25/us-news/surrogate-mckenna-west-breaks-down-describing-abortion-procedure-at-over-20-weeks/">testified</a>, saying the baby would have been removed two days later. “It was terrifying.”
The <a href="https://dam.tmz.com/document/3f/o/2026/08/14/3fb808514e0747bca9785de19a7b2472.pdf">surrogacy agreement</a> at the center of the dispute contains a provision giving the genetic parents broad authority to request that West abort the baby.
The child later underwent <a href="https://x.com/LilaGraceRose/status/2089514128465649710?s=20">complex heart surgery</a>, the first of three surgeries needed to treat HLHS. Since then, the baby’s condition has taken a turn for the worse.
“He’s struggling to breathe … We have to watch him gasp for air and choke on tubes,” Gilkar said, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/25/us-news/surrogate-mckenna-west-breaks-down-describing-abortion-procedure-at-over-20-weeks/">New York Post.</a> 
Beyond the custody fight, the California couple is reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/surrogate-baby-saga-takes-dark-new-turn-after-mom-chose-life?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=19&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Surrogate+Baby+Saga+Takes+Dark+New+Turn+After+Mom+Chose+Life">seeking a six-figure cash award</a> from West, accusing her of “malicious conduct” by refusing to terminate the pregnancy and breaching the surrogacy agreement. 
Gilkar and Ahmed have claimed they suffered emotional distress throughout the ordeal, which has captivated attention from pro-life activists and members of the Trump administration. 
West previously said having the baby could cost her up to $200,000 — a price she was willing to pay.
“This is my body, and I absolutely don’t want to go through this. Nothing was scarier than questioning my own soul and knowing what would happen to this baby boy,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-comes-to-rescue-of-surrogate-mom-facing-pressure-to-kill-baby?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=12&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Red+State+Comes+To+Rescue+Of+Surrogate+Mom+Facing+Pressure+To+Kill+Baby">told</a> Live Action. “His life doesn’t have a price tag on it. There’s nothing that they could try to come after me for that would be worth his life.”
The Dallas judge on Tuesday extended for another two weeks a temporary restraining order barring West from making medical decisions for the baby. The judge did not issue a final custody ruling.

Doctor used an Ultrasound  3d sonogram  monitor for  the fetus 22 weeks young adult patient pregnant

Baby Fights For Life As Genetic Parents Battle Surrogate Who Refused Abortion

Abortion

California

life

McKenna West

pro-choice

Pro-Life Movement

Surrogacy

surrogate

Texas Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido performed alongside a registered sex offender and longtime bandmate at a 2018 “Family Fiesta” Cinco de Mayo festival promoted as a family event featuring activities for young children, The Daily Wire has learned.
Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning Tejano musician running for Congress, has faced scrutiny over his decades-long professional relationship with accordionist Frankie Caballero, 63, who was convicted of <a href="https://sor.dps.texas.gov/Search/Rapsheet?Sid=03104979">indecent sexual contact</a> with an 8-year-old girl and sentenced to four years in prison.
Caballero was sentenced in 2014 for the <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&amp;code=PE&amp;chapter=PE.21&amp;artSec=21.11">second-degree felony</a>, but that did not stop Pulido from continuing to share the stage with the registered sex offender following his release. Pulido&#8217;s campaign said he was unaware of Caballero&#8217;s sex-offender status.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1165083" style="width: 235px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1165083" class="size-full wp-image-1165083" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Photo.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" />Frankie Caballero: Texas Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry</div>
<a href="https://www.kchispanicnews.com/pdfs/KCHNV21/KCHNV21N32.pdf">A preview</a> of the May 2018 &#8220;Family Fiesta&#8221; in Kansas City, Missouri advertised free admission for children 12 and younger. The two-day celebration included a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, rides, and toys for children.
The flyer featured Pulido and identified Caballero in a biographical section about the singer&#8217;s band. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Up747ZqZX0&amp;t=53s">Video from the Latin performance</a> reviewed by The Daily Wire shows Pulido introducing the registered sex offender to the crowd as a young child sits onstage near the band, within several feet of Caballero.
Pulido also introduced Caballero to the crowd and described him as his first accordion player.
“And when I first came out with &#8216;Desvelado,&#8217; and I first started my band, my first accordion player was this man right here, Frankie Caballero, who was actually the accordion player for Grupo Mazz. I just brought him,” Pulido said. 
In response to the revelations, a campaign spokesperson claimed Caballero was a &#8220;needs-based contractor&#8221; who Pulido hired during his music career.
&#8220;As said before, Bobby Pulido never knew about Caballero’s sex offense charges and found out like everyone else – from the New York Post,&#8221; the campaign said. The spokesperson then accused Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) of hypocrisy, pointing to allegations involving her former stepdaughter and the Epstein files.
The family festival took place roughly three weeks before Pulido and Caballero performed at a fundraiser benefiting a middle school in Texas, where the musician was introduced to students and a young girl was brought onto the stage to meet him, according to a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/22/bobby-pulido-congress-texas?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=ncl_amplify&amp;utm_campaign=260623-bobby_pulido_knowingly_brought_convicted_sex_offender_to_a_school&amp;utm_content=ncl-r48J5N3nwM&amp;utm_term=&amp;_nlid=r48J5N3nwM&amp;_nhids=ncRmGi6MwU3XLls">June Axios report.</a>
Pulido&#8217;s campaign previously said he did not know about Caballero&#8217;s criminal history at the time of the school fundraiser despite <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/12/us-news/texas-dem-bragged-about-getting-career-criminal-bandmate-out-of-jail-who-went-on-to-sexually-assault-8-year-old/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=ncl_amplify&amp;utm_campaign=260615-bobby_pulido_bragged_about_freeing_child_sex_offender_buddy&amp;utm_content=ncl-kDcaNyXv6W&amp;utm_term=&amp;_nlid=kDcaNyXv6W&amp;_nhids=ncGwKiXxxs6w8ls">previously bragging</a> about his efforts to get Caballero out of jail on a separate occasion. 
Pulido is running to unseat incumbent De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, which lies along the southern border. President Donald Trump carried the district by approximately 18 points in 2024, while <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/485291" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Cook Political Report</a> currently rates the race &#8220;Lean Republican.&#8221;
Pulido also previously performed alongside a Mexican cartel operative, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-grammy-winning-dem-candidate-in-hot-seat-for-sharing-spotlight-with-cartel-operative">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported.
The Democrat hopeful appeared at his concerts on numerous <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DswT2i2kq/">occasions</a> before the U.S. government formally <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-release/sm0144">sanctioned</a> Mexican singer Julión Álvarez for acting “as a front” person for a drug trafficker and his cartel, while holding “assets on their behalf.” Pulido performed on stage with Álvarez in October 2018 and shared the video on his Facebook page, where he called the sanctioned singer “mi amigo.”
In a statement, Pulido’s campaign manager Abel Prado claimed that “Álvarez was cleared,” adding that “Bobby and Álvarez are not friends, and this is just another case of Republicans not understanding our culture — ‘amigo’ is a common expression.”
“Republicans think all these attacks on Bobby are going to do something … but the fact of the matter is he is a beloved figure, and they’re going to find that out in November when he flips this seat.”

La Cura Fest By Carin Leon

EXCLUSIVE: Dem Performed With Convicted Child Sex Offender At ‘Family Fiesta’

Bobby Pulido

Frankie Caballero

U.S. House of Representatives

President Donald Trump has unleashed his massive $400 million war chest for the first time this year in a hotly contested GOP primary as party officials worry the president has yet to focus on key battleground races.
On Monday, Trump <a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00892471/2009583//se">Super PAC MAGA, Inc.</a> made its first significant spending since November 2025, pouring $827,711 into GOTV calls and text messages for Darline Graham in Tuesday’s South Carolina Senate GOP runoff. The group last reported more than $403 million cash on hand.
The South Carolina race appears personal to the president, who hand-picked Darline Graham to fill the shoes of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/08/25/2026/trump-tries-to-pull-darline-graham-to-victory">telling a tele-rally </a>audience that he “got her into this whole thing” and “has to make sure she gets in.”
The last-minute push for Graham marks the <a href="https://x.com/rpyers/status/2091977182835097913?s=20">first time</a> Trump has tapped into his hundreds of millions since coming to the rescue of Rep. Matt Van Epps in Tennessee’s closer-than-expected 7th Congressional District special election.
The money dump in South Carolina highlights Trump’s increasing involvement in divisive and hotly contested GOP primaries as he continues to withhold money from key battleground states and races with just 70 days to go until Election Day. 
“Well, I’ve raised a lot, and nobody knows what it is, but I will tell you it’s about $850 million,” Trump said, <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2090929512590582107?s=20">teasing</a> his financial involvement in the midterms. “I’ll be spending a lot of that money, and my own money, for candidates that I think are good — Republican candidates that I think are good.”
MAGA, Inc. may be calculating that voter engagement will intensify closer to Election Day, making a larger spending push in late September and October more effective.
“When you add the $850 million to all of the other money that we’ve raised, we’re in very good shape,” Trump added in an August 21 gaggle with reporters.
Perhaps no candidate is more eager for Trump’s financial firepower than Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is locked in a tight Senate race with Democrat James Talarico.
Over the weekend, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/greg-abbott-downplays-gop-fears-about-texas-turning-blue?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Greg+Abbott+Has+A+Message+For+Those+Betting+On+Texas+Turning+Blue">downplayed fears </a>that Democrats could flip the Lone Star State blue this year and seize control of the U.S. Senate. “Well, let’s put it in context where Ken Paxton is in his campaign, and that is he was in a three-month-long runoff that demanded capital, it demanded campaigning, demanded his attention, and so he’s just now catching up in the campaign process with Talarico,” Abbott told ABC News.
“Talarico got away with something, and that is with Ken Paxton campaigning against John Cornyn as opposed to Talarico,” he added.
The Senate GOP’s fundraising arms have continued to withhold money from Paxton’s campaign after Trump led the effort to oust incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/greg-abbott-downplays-gop-fears-about-texas-turning-blue?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Greg+Abbott+Has+A+Message+For+Those+Betting+On+Texas+Turning+Blue">The Daily Wire</a> reported. Since then, Talarico has dominated the airwaves while Paxton has struggled to raise money in one of the nation’s largest and most expensive states for statewide campaigns. The <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/texas/talarico-vs-paxton">RealClearPolitics</a> polling average gives Talarico a nearly two-point advantage.
With control of both the House and Senate up for grabs, Republicans face significant headwinds heading into Election Day, including <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">elevated gas prices</a>, the lingering <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=U.S.+Hammers+Iran+After+Tehran%E2%80%99s+Attempt+To+Take+Out+American+Troops">war with Iran</a>, and President Trump’s low approval ratings. The latest <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-of-the-union/generic-congressional-vote">RealClearPolitics </a>polling average gives Democrats a roughly 6.4-percentage-point lead on the generic congressional ballot.

President Trump Meets With Visiting Argentine President Milei At The White House

Trump Unloads Campaign War Chest For The First Time Of 2026 — In A GOP Primary

campaigns

Darline Graham

fundraising

MAGA inc

Money

November elections

Trump

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is downplaying fears that Democrats could flip the Lone Star State blue this year and, with it, seize control of the U.S. Senate.
In an interview with <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/week-transcript-8-23-26-texas-gov-greg/story?id=135865528">ABC News</a>, Jonathan Karl pressed the three-term governor on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s fundraising woes and whether his political baggage could cost Republicans the must-win U.S. Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.
&#8220;So, I&#8217;ve heard from Republicans, Texas Republicans, who have real concerns about Ken Paxton, the nominee for Senate or for your party. They say he&#8217;s not working hard enough. He&#8217;s not raising money. He&#8217;s got too much baggage. Do you share some of those concerns?&#8221; Karl asked Abbott.
“Well, let&#8217;s put it in context where Ken Paxton is in his campaign, and that is he was in a three-month-long runoff that demanded capital, it demanded campaigning, demanded his attention, and so he&#8217;s just now catching up in the campaign process with Talarico,” Abbott said, adding, “Talarico got away with something, and that is with Ken Paxton campaigning against John Cornyn as opposed to Talarico.” 
The Senate GOP’s fundraising arms continue to withhold money from Paxton’s campaign after President Donald Trump led the effort to oust incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Since then, Talarico has <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/20/texas-us-senate-race-donors-ken-paxton-james-talarico/">dominated</a> the airwaves while Paxton has struggled to raise money in one of the nation’s largest and most expensive states for statewide campaigns. The <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/texas/talarico-vs-paxton">RealClearPolitics</a> polling average gives Talarico a narrow one-point advantage. 
“In that runoff, John Cornyn said he was the kiss of death for Republicans and for the Republican ticket in 2026, that he would be an albatross on the party. He said if he&#8217;s the nominee, we could well experience a massacre and the first Democrat elected statewide,&#8221; Karl pressed Abbott. 
The Texas governor, who is running for a fourth term, downplayed those concerns, arguing that elections “are about choices.”
“And when voters go to make a choice on November the 3rd, the contrast they will see between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is so extraordinary. That choice is going to be easy. And they&#8217;ll be voting for Ken Paxton, and they&#8217;ll be voting against James Talarico,” Abbott said.
Paxton holds his strongest advantage among white voters and men, while Talarico leads among most black and Hispanic voters, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ken-paxton-gets-some-much-needed-good-news-in-race-against-talarico?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=19&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Ken+Paxton+Gets+Some+Much+Needed+Good+News+In+Race+Against+Talarico">according to one survey</a>. Talarico held just a one-point advantage among women after facing backlash over his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/talarico-says-god-is-not-a-christian-in-unearthed-sermon?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Talarico+Says+%E2%80%98God+Is+Not+A+Christian%E2%80%99+In+Unearthed+Sermon">views</a> on Christianity, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-james-talarico-says-he-loves-trans-children-in-unearthed-clip">“love” for transgender children</a>, and disdain for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-audio-thats-blowing-a-hole-in-talaricos-christian-persona">American flag.</a> 
Top issues for Texas voters include the economy (30%), immigration (19%), threats to democracy (14%), and healthcare (13%), according to the Emerson College poll. Republican voters rank immigration as their top issue (32%), while Democrats (33%) and independents (31%) rate the economy as their top concern.
Those issues have not stopped either campaign from diving into hot-button cultural issues as both sides wage a fierce battle for Christian voters who will likely play a pivotal role in November. The Daily Wire earlier this week uncovered the Democrat hopeful calling God &#8216;not Christian&#8217; and comparing evangelism to forcing alcohol on young children.
&#8220;Christians and Muslims and Jews all worship the same God,&#8221; Talarico is caught saying in an <a href="https://x.com/LoneStar_PAC/status/2091533921968087104?s=20">unearthed video.</a>  &#8220;Muslims love Jesus&#8230; We are all branches on the same tree.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488686">Cook Political Report</a> ranks the race as a toss-up.

Texas Gov. Abbott Casts His Vote On First Day Of Early Voting For Primary Election Runoff

Greg Abbott Has A Message For Those Betting On Texas Turning Blue

A Texas judge on Saturday dealt a crushing blow to convicted killer Karmelo Anthony, denying his bid for a new murder trial for fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf in the heart at a high school track meet.
Judge Michael Chitty rejected Anthony’s motion for a new trial following a two-day hearing after the judge who oversaw his murder conviction was removed from the case, <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/karmelo-anthony-case-updates-new-trial-mckinney-texas/287-329182e9-8399-4ca1-bd43-b20646e9e492?utm_source=chatgpt.com">local media reported</a>.. 
Saturday’s ruling marks a major setback for Anthony’s appellate team, which cited several alleged errors during the trial, including claims that prosecutors violated a secret agreement with Anthony’s trial defense team to keep certain evidence — including allegations of racism and violence — from being presented to jurors.
The Collin County District Attorney’s Office has maintained that prosecutors acted ethically throughout the trial,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/convicted-killer-karmelo-anthony-gets-big-break-in-fight-for-new-trial?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> The Daily Wire previously reported</a>.
Anthony, 19, fatally stabbed Metcalf at a track event in April 2025 in Frisco, Texas. Evidence presented at trial showed that Anthony refused to leave another team’s tented area and, when confronted by the unarmed Metcalf, stabbed him directly in the heart. A Texas jury rejected his self-defense claim and sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison.
The case quickly drew national attention, fueled in part by a narrative peddled by the Anthony family and what critics described as a glaring lack of coverage from legacy media outlets, which routinely highlight and escalate white-on-black incidents. The high-profile trial began June 1 with jury selection and wrapped up just nine days later. Anthony broke down in tears and visibly shook as the verdict was read, and he again became emotional when his 35-year sentence was announced.
When Metcalf’s family delivered victim impact statements to the court, Anthony reportedly kept his head down and refused to look them in the eyes, even when asked to do so. 
“You can’t even look me in the eyes right now, but you can stab my f*cking son,” the victim’s father, Jeff Metcalf, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/convicted-killer-karmelo-anthony-files-appeal-one-day-after-sentencing?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Convicted+Killer+Karmelo+Anthony+Files+Appeal+One+Day+After+Sentencing">said</a>.
In his longshot appeal, Anthony’s legal team argued that a retrial was warranted because District Judge John Roach enforced overly strict courtroom rules and gave an interview just days after the trial concluded. A visiting judge subsequently ordered Roach removed from the case.
Anthony&#8217;s legal team can appeal Saturday&#8217;s ruling, <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/karmelo-anthony-case-updates-new-trial-mckinney-texas/287-329182e9-8399-4ca1-bd43-b20646e9e492">according</a> to WFAA.

Menu