When President Trump addresses the nation tonight, Jimmy Lai’s daughter, Claire Lai, will sit in the chamber as a reminder that the Chinese Communist Party is still punishing dissidents who dared to believe in freedom. Earlier this month, we learned of the <a href="http://google.com/search?q=jimmy+lai+sentence&amp;sca_esv=190a96a9d156750b&amp;rlz=1CAGZLV_enUS889&amp;tbm=nws&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n4Gq5fmGsUjNbcnkqRKkx3Ey-n_Pw:1771015882615&amp;ei=yo6PafujJYSlqtsPu-XyiQc&amp;start=10&amp;sa=N&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj7sMykrNeSAxWEkmoFHbuyPHEQ8NMDegQIBhAW&amp;biw=1536&amp;bih=695&amp;dpr=1.25">near-life sentence</a> handed down to the Hong Kong democracy advocate. But Lai is not merely a symbol of Beijing’s repression. He is a British citizen. And if it takes an American president to elevate his cause before the world, it raises an uncomfortable question for Prime Minister Keir Starmer: what, exactly, is British citizenship worth?
Jimmy Lai’s life reads like a true rags-to-riches story. Born in mainland China, a 12-year-old Lai traveled by boat to what at the time was British Hong Kong with no money to his name. Finding work in the garment industry, Lai climbed his way up from the factory floor to achieve billionaire status. He could have rested on his laurels and gone quietly into retirement, but that is not who Jimmy Lai is.
Lai recognizes that his rise is thanks to the rights and freedoms Hong Kongers grew accustomed to, thanks to years as a British colony. Promising decades of autonomy and freedom under the handover, the CCP gradually whittled down the freedoms enjoyed in the city. Jimmy Lai refused to take these encroachments lying down, engaging in memorials of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and publishing pro-democracy content in the Apple Daily, the newspaper he founded. Therefore, it was no shock that Lai incurred the wrath of the CCP in the form of the National Security Law (NSL), under which he was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/hong-kong-media-tycoon-jimmy-lai-arrested-over-alleged-foreign-collusion#:~:text=%E2%80%9CToday%27s%20police%20action%20upends%20those,in%20protest%20against%20his%20arrest." target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in 2020 for allegedly colluding with foreign forces.
Enter Keir Starmer, the British prime minister. While Starmer’s government has voiced opposition to Lai’s imprisonment, it has thus far been unsuccessful in securing Lai&#8217;s release. So why is the conviction of a Chinese citizen the business of Starmer or Great Britain in general? After all, a spokesman for the Chinese government <a href="https://www.bastillepost.com/global/article/5598459-jimmy-lai-should-be-severely-punished-by-law-spokesman">denounced</a> criticism of Lai’s conviction as interference in an internal affair. However, there are several reasons why this issue matters to the British Government.
First, Hong Kong is not just a former British colony — it is a city in which Britain has treaty obligations. As a signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the UK is responsible for ensuring that China fulfills its promise to allow autonomy in Hong Kong. For Jimmy Lai specifically, he is a British passport holder and therefore a British citizen. Keir Starmer is as responsible for Jimmy Lai’s safety as he is for any other British citizen unjustly detained abroad.
Jimmy Lai is not the only British citizen being held in a foreign prison. Estimates are that there are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/24/its-about-political-will-is-the-foreign-office-failing-britons-detained-abroad">thousands of Brits</a> detained or arrested in foreign countries. Jagtar Singh Johal has been imprisoned in India since 2017 after he confessed to involvement in a murder after police tortured a confession out of him. Every day that Jimmy Lai, Jagtar Singh Johal, and many others sit in prison is a day that Starmer is failing his citizenry.
What can Starmer do to help people like Jimmy Lai? For starters, he can stop treating the Chinese government like a friendly nation. The Jimmy Lai conviction is one of many examples where Starmer has been soft on China. His recent visit to Beijing <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2j04lk83zo">focused</a> on trade and tourism, but Starmer claims that he <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15543421/Keir-Starmer-accused-monumental-diplomatic-failure-China-jails.html">raised</a> the issue of Lai’s release when he was in China. This casual approach isn’t going to cut it. Unjust imprisonment is not some tertiary issue in diplomacy. What good are reduced tariffs on whiskey if British citizens aren’t safe when they travel to China?
If Keir Starmer wants to free Jimmy Lai and the other dissidents in Hong Kong, he needs to get tough on the Chinese government. First, trade negotiations need to stop until Lai is released from prison. The UK is failing its obligations to Hong Kong; now is the time to change course. Second, Starmer needs to shut down the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/world/europe/chinese-embassy-london-starmer.html">Chinese mega-embassy</a> project in London. Not only does the mega-embassy put critical communication cables at risk, but its construction will also allow the CCP to expand the transnational repression of other Hong Kong democracy advocates living in London. If Britain can’t protect its citizens abroad, the very least it can do is protect them on British territory.
Keir Starmer’s tenure at 10 Downing Street has been a disaster for a <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-epstein-files-threaten-to-topple-keir-starmers-labour-government/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">variety of reasons</a>, but his handling of the Jimmy Lai arrest only adds fuel to the fire. While Starmer’s days as PM might be limited, he can right this wrong if he acts quickly. By securing Jimmy Lai&#8217;s freedom, Keir Starmer will establish Britain’s diplomatic influence and potentially serve as a deterrent to other regimes hoping to illegally detain British citizens.
* * *
<a href="https://www.joinyv.org/talent/matthew-cookson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Cookson</a> is an alumnus of the Young Voices Contributor Program and was a Middle East History and Policy Fellow with Young Voices. He also works in the supply chain for a U.S. Defense Contractor. His commentary has appeared in the Mises Institute, Real Clear Politics, the National Interest, Providence Magazine, China Source, and the Idaho Freedom Foundation. You can follow him on X @<a href="https://x.com/MattCookson95" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MattCookson95</a> and Substack @<a href="https://substack.com/@thewaythecookiecrumbles?utm_source=user-menu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thewaythecookiecrumbles</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Activists In L.A. Rally Outside Chinese Consulate For Imprisoned Hong Kong Media Entrepreneur Jimmy Lai

As Jimmy Lai’s Daughter Attends Trump’s Address, Britain Faces An Uncomfortable Question

China

Donald Trump

England

Great Britain

Hong Kong

Jimmy Lai

Keir Starmer

Prison

State of the Union

United Kingdom

A judge for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) has resigned after a man with Tourette’s syndrome shouted the n-word during Sunday night’s televised ceremony, sparking backlash over how the incident was handled.
Jonte Richardson resigned from BAFTA&#8217;s emerging talent judging panel, calling the organization&#8217;s handling of the situation “utterly unforgivable,” Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/bafta-jury-member-steps-down-over-n-word-incident-1236671070/">reported</a>.
The controversy began when Tourette&#8217;s advocate John Davidson shouted the slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for Best Visual Effects. Both presenters are black, and the moment drew particular criticism given the word&#8217;s history and the setting.
Davidson has said Tourette&#8217;s syndrome includes <a href="https://tourette.org/resource/understanding-coprolalia/">coprolalia</a>, a vocal tic that can involve &#8220;involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks.&#8221; He and advocacy groups said the symptom was responsible for the slur shouted during the presentation. 
“I cannot and will not contribute my time, energy, and expertise to an organization that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its black guests, members, and the black creative community,” Richardson <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bafta-jury-member-quits-jonte-richardson-tourettes-awards-1236513461/#:~:text=Jonte%20Richardson%20posted%20on%20social,By%20Lily%20Ford">said</a> in a statement.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/friendly-fire?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_content=20260224_sotu_aa_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=banner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Watch the State of the Union with The Daily Wire! Live coverage from the nation’s capital begins at 7:45 ET.</a>
BAFTA and the BBC, which broadcast the remarks, are facing backlash for initially airing the ceremony without editing out the slur. 
Following the incident, the event host, BAFTA, and Davidson each issued apologies. Davidson said he was “deeply mortified” by what occurred. 
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,&#8221; host Alan Cumming said immediately afterward.
“I can only add that I am and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning,” Davidson said in a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tourettes-campaigner-john-davidson-statement-apology-bafta-1236512771/">statement</a> to The Hollywood Reporter. 
Davidson said he appreciated that the audience had been warned in advance that his tics are involuntary and not reflective of his beliefs, adding that he was &#8220;heartened&#8221; by applause that followed. He said he later chose to leave the ceremony early because he was &#8220;aware of the distress&#8221; the incident had caused.  
Davidson also said he has &#8220;spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette&#8217;s community&#8221; and remains committed to promoting empathy and understanding.
In its own statement, BAFTA acknowledged that guests &#8220;heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many” and apologized for the &#8220;harm this has caused&#8221; while thanking Davidson for &#8220;his dignity and consideration.&#8221;
The U.K.-based charity Tourette’s Action also issued a statement stressing that Davidson&#8217;s remarks were involuntary.
In a statement <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVGnQbrjh2d/">posted</a> to Instagram, Tourette&#8217;s Action said it was &#8220;deeply sorry to the black community for the harm caused&#8221; while emphasizing that tics are &#8220;not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character.”
The organization added that people with Tourette&#8217;s might say words they do not mean or endorse because the symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and said media backlash over the incident &#8220;has been extremely saddening.&#8221;

Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo

Live Awards Show Racial Slur Ignites Firestorm And Debate Over Tourette’s

Entertainment

Hollywood

World

The following is an edited transcript excerpt from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1917-assassin-storms-mar-a-lago-to-try-to-kill-president-trump">The Michael Knowles Show</a>.
* * *
One of the most common talking points you hear from the Left — and you’re going to hear it a lot heading into the midterms — is that America has terrible health care. We’re told that every civilized country in the world has universal, socialized medicine, and that we’re backward, retrograde, clinging to some barbaric capitalist system while enlightened Europeans enjoy cradle-to-grave care.
You hear it constantly: America is a disgrace. We need socialized medicine.
Now, before we go any further, let’s acknowledge something the Left rarely does: we already have a substantial amount of socialized medicine in this country. We have it for illegal aliens. We have it for the very poor. We have it for the elderly through Medicare. We have a massive social safety net.
But here’s the part they leave out: the only reason any of that works at all is because it’s sitting on top of a heavily capitalist health care system that funds the entire apparatus. The “free” part only functions because something productive underneath it is paying the bills.
Still, we’re told we should scrap the whole thing and go full European.
How about we take a little look at some of the socialist health care systems around the world? Let&#8217;s start with Europe.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1917-assassin-storms-mar-a-lago-to-try-to-kill-president-trump">WATCH: The Michael Knowles Show on DailyWire+</a></h3>
A horrifying story recently came out of the United Kingdom. According to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15582277/Woman-dead-floor-home-told-wait-ten-days-ambulance.html?ns_mchannel=rss&amp;ns_campaign=1490&amp;ito=social-twitter_mailonline">The Daily Mail</a>, a 97-year-old woman, Babette Burge, was found nearly dead on the floor of her home after being told she would have to wait ten days — ten days — for an ambulance. Not ten days for surgery. Ten days just to be transported to a hospital.
<blockquote>Just five days earlier, a paramedic from a local GP surgery had attended Ms Burge&#8217;s home to assess her condition and found that her leg was &#8216;shortened and rotated&#8217; &#8211; a sign of a fractured hip.</blockquote>
She was nearly 100 years old, lying on the floor with a broken hip, and was told she’d need to wait ten days for an ambulance.
She was later discovered barely breathing. Then she died.
This is what we’re supposed to envy? “Everybody gets health care” in the UK — assuming you can get to the hospital. The catch is that no one comes to get you. Universal coverage is lovely in theory. In practice, however, if you can’t secure transportation, it doesn’t matter how free the surgery is.
Meanwhile, in Canada, a prominent Canadian writer — very much on the Left, by her own description — recently admitted something chilling. She said she was offered medical assistance in dying (MAID) instead of care.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m about as far left as you can get… but we do have problems with MAiD in Canada.
How do I know? It was “offered” to me in lieu of care.
I’m disabled, I was alone, my conditions expensive.
Yes I was allowed to say “No”, but no alternative care was offered.
That’s coercion. <a href="https://t.co/LvCWd55esk">https://t.co/LvCWd55esk</a>
— Kelly (@broadwaybabyto) <a href="https://twitter.com/broadwaybabyto/status/2025364112348188828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Credit: @broadwaybabyto/X.com
That’s not compassion. That’s coercion.
And this isn’t an isolated anecdote. Canada has dramatically expanded medical assistance in dying, or MAID. In parts of Europe — particularly in countries like the Netherlands — similar policies are spreading. Elderly people, disabled people, chronically ill people, and even young people struggling with “seasonal depression” are increasingly being told that death is a “treatment option.”
Think about that.
In a system where the government is paying the bills, patients are not just patients — they’re line items. They’re costs. And when waitlists grow long and budgets grow tight, the incentives get dark very quickly. The cheapest patient is the one who isn’t there anymore.
On the one hand, American leftists insist we’re the only country in the civilized world without socialized medicine. On the other hand, you look at some of these “civilized” systems and see 97-year-olds waiting ten days for an ambulance and disabled citizens being nudged toward suicide because their care is expensive.
That’s not health care. That’s the opposite of health care.
Now, is the American system perfect? Of course not. It’s expensive. It’s complicated. It’s frustrating. But it is also the system that produces the vast majority of the world’s pharmaceutical innovation. It is the system that subsidizes global research and development. It is the system that people from all over the world come to when they need cutting-edge treatment.
It is not, however, a system where the government routinely suggests that you kill yourself because you’re inconvenient. There’s a reason that countries with fully socialized medicine struggle with wait times and rationing.
So before we swallow the talking point that America is uniquely cruel because we don’t have cradle-to-grave government medicine, it’s worth looking at what that actually looks like in practice. A nearly 100-year-old woman dying on the floor because no ambulance is available. A disabled Canadian writer being offered euthanasia in lieu of care.
Beware the supposedly greener grass on the other side of the fence. Especially when that fence is our northern border, separating us from the snow Mexicans.

Motion blur ambulance United States

Waiting 10 Days For An Ambulance — The Dark Side Of ‘Free’ Health Care

Waiting 10 Days For An Ambulance — The Dark Side Of 'Free' Health Care

Assisted Suicide

Canada

Death

Europe

Health Care

Hospitals

Michael Knowles

Mexican special forces take out Jalisco Cartel leader “El Mencho,” sparking violence across 20 Mexican states. President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and another high-profile name has been arrested in the U.K. over their connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/violence-engulfs-mexico-britains-epstein-reckoning-2-24-26/id1576594336?i=1000751166888" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Mexico Takes Out Kingpin ‘El Mencho’</h2>
With help from the United States, Mexican special forces on Sunday <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mexican-drug-lord-el-mencho-killed-in-military-operation-says-government-source">killed</a> longtime Jalisco Cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. 
Oseguera, with a U.S. bounty of $15 million, was regarded as one of the most notorious drug traffickers in the world. He was perhaps the most powerful drug lord in the world. This was a major step by Mexico and a big win for the United States. American authorities say groups like the Jalisco Cartel are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans a year through the drug trade.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/friendly-fire?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_content=20260224_sotu_aa_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=banner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Watch the State of the Union with The Daily Wire! Live coverage from the nation&#8217;s capital begins at 7:45 ET.</a>
Violence has exploded across the country in the aftermath. There are many Americans stranded in Mexico right now because the violence has closed down roads and airports. At least a couple of dozen Mexican National Guardsmen have been killed so far in the fighting.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">SOTU Preview</h2>
President Trump will deliver his annual State of the Union address tonight — a high-stakes moment for outlining his administration’s priorities and shaping the message Republicans will take into the 2026 midterm elections.
It’s expected to be a consequential evening, with Trump highlighting what he frames as major accomplishments in the first year of his second term and stressing policy directions he hopes will resonate with Republican voters.
Expect him to spotlight what he describes as historic gains at the southern border, touting a dramatic crackdown on illegal immigration and stepped-up deportations. He is also likely to point to diplomatic and security developments in the Middle East, including the continued tension between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as talks over Iran&#8217;s nuclear program continue in Geneva and officials caution that the risk of conflict remains high.
On trade, Trump is pressing forward. After the Supreme Court limited his earlier tariff framework, the administration implemented a 10% global tariff under separate authority, with the president saying he would prefer to raise it to 15%. The current rate remains at 10%, but Trump is expected to make the case that tougher trade measures are key to protecting American workers and reducing the trade deficit.
The president is also likely to highlight efforts to make American cities safer, reinforcing law-and-order themes that are central to his broader political narrative.
All told, tonight’s address is set to be part accomplishments report, part policy outline, and part strategic messaging designed to shape the national debate — and Republican positioning — as voters head into the midterms later this year.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Ex-Ambassador Mandelson Arrested</h2>
Former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-british-ambassador-arrested-over-epstein-file-revelations?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Former+British+Ambassador+Arrested+Over+Epstein+File+Revelations">arrested</a> Monday over “suspicion of misconduct” in office. The charges stem from newly released Jeffrey Epstein files. 
Mandelson served under Prime Minister Keir Starmer before Starmer removed him in September 2025. The scandal erupting around Mandelson has threatened to tear apart Starmer’s government, as well as further validating concerns about Mandelson prior to his appointment, based on information in the Epstein files. The arrest comes just days after British police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-over-epstein-files-faces-life-in-prison">arrested</a> former Prince Andrew in connection with his ties to Epstein. 
Morning Wire spoke with GB News host Bev Turner about the latest fallout from the Epstein files. According to Turner, Mandelson could be in major trouble: “It genuinely carries a risk of life imprisonment. If you are found guilty of misconduct in public office, it&#8217;s an incredibly serious charge.”

MW_260224_V1

Morning Brief: Trump’s High-Stakes Address To Americans & Tourists Trapped In Cartel Crossfire

Drug Cartels

Mexico

Morning Wire

Police in London arrested former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson on Monday over accusations that he shared confidential information with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson, who was Prime Minister Keir Starmer&#8217;s ambassador to the United States before he was fired in September 2025, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. 
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, February 23 and has been taken to a London police station for interview,” a London police spokesman said. “This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
The arrest comes just days after British police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-over-epstein-files-faces-life-in-prison">arrested</a> former Prince Andrew in connection with his ties to Epstein. The disgraced ex-royal was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a crime that could be punished with life in prison. He was accused of sharing confidential trade secrets with Epstein. 
Mandelson has said he regrets his relationship with Epstein, but denies any wrongdoing.
The arrests follow the release of emails by the Justice Department that shed further light on Epstein&#8217;s relationships with the powerful British political figures.
Previous documents <a href="https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2025/09/Request-No.-1.pdf">released</a> by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee appeared to document a close relationship between Mandelson and Epstein. The documents include a note where Mandelson referred to Epstein as his “best pal” and included a photo of him wearing a bathroom and talking with Epstein. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1048381" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM.png" alt="" width="945" height="619" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM.png 945w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM-300x197.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM-879x576.png 879w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM-768x503.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></div>
Mandelson also told Epstein, after his 2008 convictions for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor, that he stood with him. 
“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened,” Mandelson said. “I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain.”
The fallout from Mandelson’s ties to Epstein has rocked the British political world. Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chief-of-staff-falls-on-sword-as-party-turns-on-u-k-s-starmer-over-epstein-linked-appointee">resigned</a> after the release of the Epstein files by the Justice Department. McSweeney took responsibility for Starmer’s decision to install Mandelson as the U.K. Ambassador to the United States. 
Starmer has also faced calls to resign amid questions about his knowledge of the link between Mandelson and Epstein.

Mandelson

Former British Ambassador Arrested Over Epstein File Revelations

Former British Official Arrested Amid Epstein File Revelations

Department of Justice

Epstein Files

Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew

President Donald Trump makes new threats to Iran amid growing United States military presence, former Prince Andrew is arrested over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, and the search for Nancy Guthrie seems to hinge on DNA evidence.
It’s Friday, February 20, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumps-iranian-ultimatum-former-prince-andrew-arrested/id1576594336?i=1000750637458" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Tells Iran That Time Is Ticking Short</h2>
As the United States military buildup in the Middle East continues, President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Trump+Puts+Iran+On+Notice+With+A+Specific+Timeframe">offered</a> new threats to Iran on Thursday as the world holds its breath. 
Nuclear talks, both formal and informal, have continued to stall this week, with the Trump administration reportedly furious over Iran’s refusal to give in on a number of key points — mainly the dismantling of their uranium enrichment facilities. On Tuesday, the regime asked for two weeks to come up with a new proposal, but the growing sense in Washington is that they’re simply stalling, trying to buy time for a potential nuclear breakthrough, and preparing for an armed conflict if it comes to that. While the president has said he’s still open to diplomacy, his actions say the time for negotiating may be over. 
Over the last 24 hours, the historic military buildup in the Middle East continued, with a steady stream of tankers, warships, and fighter jets arriving by the hour.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Prince Andrew Arrested</h2>
British police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-over-epstein-files-faces-life-in-prison?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Former+Prince+Andrew+Arrested+Over+Epstein+Files%2C+Faces+Life+In+Prison">arrested former Prince</a> Andrew on Thursday in connection with his contact with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – and Andrew’s brother, King Charles, has responded. 
Hilary Fordwich, media host and former head of Global Bd, joined Morning Wire to discuss the controversy. Thames Valley Police arrested former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on his 66th birthday at 8 a.m. on Thursday. He has since been released, though it is unknown on what terms he was let go. 
“Ironically, obviously there&#8217;s all the debauchery from the photographs we&#8217;ve seen – he&#8217;s always claimed his innocence – but this is due to the misuse in public office of information, misuse of information as a trade envoy, passing secrets and trade private issues onto Jeffrey Epstein,” said Fordwich. “So, he betrayed his mother, his entire family, the Royal Family, and his nation.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">DNA Evidence In Guthrie Case</h2>
It’s day 20 in the search for Nancy Guthrie, and it seems the case is now hanging in the balance on DNA evidence. 
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes">insisted</a> that the case has not grown cold. One of the main leads law enforcement currently has is DNA found on a black glove believed to belong to the suspect. After testing, the DNA was not found to match anyone in CODIS, a database of DNA profiles. 
Meanwhile, the bounty for information in the case drew a significant donor. Michael Hupy, president of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/high-stakes-money-move-enters-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-mystery">sent</a> a $100,000 check through Crime Stoppers to 88-Crime in Tucson in hopes of generating new leads.

MW_260220_V1

Morning Brief: Trump Warns Iran & Prince Andrew Arrested

Iran

Nancy Guthrie

British police arrested former Prince Andrew on Thursday in connection with his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on the day of his arrest, was taken into custody by the Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The disgraced former prince was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/prince-andrew-will-be-stripped-of-titles-moved-out-of-royal-residence-buckingham-palace">stripped</a> of his royal titles in October 2025 following revelations about his ties to Epstein. 
Police provided limited details about the arrest, citing British law, but said they were conducting searches at homes in Berkshire and Norfolk. According to the BBC, law enforcement said &#8220;it was assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material&#8221; with Epstein. This confidential material <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/19/world-news/ex-prince-andrew-mountbatten-arrested-for-misconduct-in-public-office-over-his-links-to-jeffrey-epstein/">reportedly</a> included trade documents. One <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00751685.pdf">email</a> from the Epstein files released by the Justice Department showed Mountbatten-Windsor appearing to forward Epstein official trade reports for Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam. 
“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time,” Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said. “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.”
If convicted, Mountbatten-Windsor could face life in prison. 
<div id="attachment_1046207" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1046207" class="size-full wp-image-1046207" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-52107904.jpg" alt="ASCOT, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 22: Royal Ascot Race Meeting Thursday - Ladies Day. Prince Andrew, The Duke Of York and Jeffrey Epstein (far right) At Ascot. With them are Edward (far left) and Caroline Stanley (in pink), the Earl and Countess of Derby. " width="1024" height="672" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-52107904.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-52107904-300x197.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-52107904-878x576.jpg 878w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-52107904-768x504.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images.</div>
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died by apparent suicide last year, alleged that Mountbatten-Windsor sexually abused her when she was 17. He previously <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60667111">settled</a> a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.
“He knows what he’s done and he can attest to that,” Giuffre said in 2019. “He knows exactly what he’s done and I hope he comes clean about it.”
Giuffre&#8217;s family welcomed the arrest.
&#8220;Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,&#8221; they said. &#8220;He was never a prince.&#8221;
&#8220;For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you,” they added. 
In a statement, King Charles III called for a fair investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor. 
&#8220;I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities,” he said. 
&#8220;In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation,” the king added. “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
The Justice Department&#8217;s release of the Epstein files has rocked the United Kingdom, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer over reported ties between former U.K. ambassador to the United States Lord Peter Mandelson and Epstein.

The Funeral Of The Duchess Of Kent

Former Prince Andrew Arrested Over Epstein Files, Faces Life In Prison

Crime

King Charles III

Virginia Giuffre

Pro-democracy newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong on Monday under a national security law imposed by Beijing and widely used to crack down on critics of the Chinese Communist Party. 
Lai, a 78-year-old Chinese-born British citizen and media tycoon, was convicted in December 2025 of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material. His newspaper, Apple Daily, was published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021, when authorities froze its assets and arrested top executives, forcing it to shut down.  
China governs Hong Kong as a special administrative region, but Beijing has tightened its grip in recent years, imposing the law used to prosecute and sentence Lai.
Lai was accused of supporting the massive pro-democracy protests that broke out in Hong Kong in 2019 and has been detained since his arrest in August 2020, spending more than 1800 days in solitary confinement. He was held under the 2020 National Security Law, which punishes speech or conduct that the government claims threatens its authority. 
“We welcome the court’s heavy sentence of 20 years for Jimmy Lai. It highlights his role as the mastermind and behind-the-scenes manipulator,” Hong Kong police official Steve Li after the sentencing on Monday. 
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/08/world/jimmy-lai-sentenced-hong-kong">reported</a> that Lai smiled and waved to supporters in the courtroom gallery after his sentencing. Six former Apple Daily employees were also sentenced Monday, receiving prison terms ranging from six to ten years.  
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper <a href="https://x.com/FCDOGovUK/status/2020740332262961171">said</a> Lai’s prosecution was “politically motivated” and that he was punished for expressing his viewpoints. 
&#8220;For the 78-year-old, this is tantamount to a life sentence. I remain deeply concerned for Mr Lai’s health, and I again call on the Hong Kong authorities to end his appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family,” she said. 
Claire Lai, Jimmy Lai’s daughter, called the sentence “heartbreakingly cruel.” 
“If this sentence is carried out, he will die a martyr behind bars,” she said. 
Sebastian Lai said that his father had &#8220;decided to dedicate his life to defending the freedoms of Hong Kong&#8221;.
&#8220;For that heroism, he&#8217;s being punished, he&#8217;s essentially getting a death sentence for that,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cq5yv581e9yt">told</a> the BBC. &#8220;Surely a man who has given so much for liberty, for freedom, deserves a bit of it himself.&#8221;
The State Department condemned the sentencing and called for Lai&#8217;s release. 
&#8220;The Hong Kong High Court’s decision to sentence Jimmy Lai to 20 years is an unjust and tragic conclusion to this case. It shows the world that Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, casting aside the international commitments Beijing made in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration,&#8221; Marco Rubio said. &#8220;After enduring a trial lasting two years, and detention in prison for more than five, Mr. Lai and his family have suffered enough.  The United States urges the authorities to grant Mr. Lai humanitarian parole.&#8221;
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), the chair of the House Select Committee on China, said that the sentencing was the “latest stain on the human rights record of the Chinese Communist Party.” 
“Lai and his Apple Daily colleagues are being punished for exposing the truth about the CCP&#8217;s attacks on the rights of Hong Kongers,” he said. “President Trump made it abundantly clear to General Secretary Xi in October that Lai should be freed and allowed to leave Hong Kong to be with his family.”

China Imposes National Security Law In Hong Kong

Hong Kong Court Sends CCP Critic, Pro-Democracy Publisher Jimmy Lai To Prison For 20 Years

Beijing-Imposed Law Sends 78-Year-Old CCP Critic, Pro-Democracy Publisher To Prison For 20 Years

Chinese Communist Party

Democracy

Media

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer&#8217;s chief of staff resigned on Sunday as the premier faces increasing pressure to step aside — some from within his own party — over recent revelations linking one of his former ambassadors to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer&#8217;s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney stepped down after emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed more about former U.K. Ambassador Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019.
In a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c74wd01egvyt?post=asset%3A7905f35e-1e89-4761-92e4-bf51ccc0e8e4#post">statement</a> explaining his resignation, McSweeney took responsibility for Starmer’s decision to install Mandelson as the U.K. Ambassador to the United States. Records in the Epstein files have revealed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein to be much deeper than Mandelson had previously admitted, according to the <a href="https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/starmer-chief-of-staff-resigns-over-mandelson-appointment/">European Conservative</a>.
“The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself,” said McSweeney.
“When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice,” he continued. “In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In these circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.”
The Justice Department released millions of files related to Epstein on January 30. Some of those files revealed emails that appear to show Mandelson sharing confidential information with Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis and after Epstein had been convicted of sex crimes, including a count involving a minor. The revelation is now the basis of a police investigation into Mandelson.
Other files revealed that Epstein paid Mandelson $75,000 between 2003 and 2004, according to the <a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/uk-pm-starmers-chief-of-staff-resigns-in-jeffrey-epstein-fallout/">American Conservative</a>.
Starmer released a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c74wd01egvyt?post=asset%3Af9e3b876-8fa1-4def-85a5-a40430d2d7c3#post">statement</a> on Sunday showing appreciation for McSweeney’s work. McSweeney had been one of Starmer’s closest and longest serving aides.
&#8220;He turned our party around after one of its worst ever defeats and played a central role running our election campaign. It is largely thanks to his dedication, loyalty and leadership that we won a landslide majority and have the chance to change the country,” said Starmer.
“Having worked closely with Morgan in opposition and in government, I have seen every day his commitment to the Labour Party and to our country. Our party and I owe him a debt of gratitude, and I thank him for his service,” he added.
Starmer appointed Mandelson to represent the U.K. in Washington in December of 2024 despite Mandelson’s prior ties to Epstein. After more was revealed about the then-ambassador’s ties to Epstein last year, Mandelson was fired. Mandelson’s fall continued after the most recent release of Epstein documents, with the disgraced ex-ambassador resigning his Labour Party membership and stepping down from the House of Lords.
The scandal erupting around Mandelson has threatened to topple Starmer’s premiership as members of his own party grow frustrated. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said that blaming McSweeney for Mandelson’s appointment is a mistake.
“I don&#8217;t think he should,” McFadden told <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/starmers-top-adviser-shouldnt-resign-over-mandelson-scandal-as-responsibility-lies-with-pm-minister-says-13504837">Sky News</a> when asked Sunday if McSweeney should resign. “In the end &#8230; it’s a prime ministerial appointment. And prime ministers have to take responsibility for the decisions that they make.”

Chief Of Staff Falls On Sword As Party Turns On U.K.’s Starmer Over Epstein-Linked Appointee

Chief Of Staff Falls On Sword As Party Turns On U.K.'s Starmer Over Epstein-Linked Appointee

President Donald Trump ripped into the United Kingdom on Tuesday for its plan to cede control of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. 
Trump said that the deal showed “weakness” to Russia and China and would endanger a key American military base located on the island of Diego Garcia, one of the Chagos Islands. Last year, the United Kingdom inked a deal to hand control of the islands over to Mauritius. At the time, the agreement was supported by the Trump administration. 
“Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115926047595803521">wrote</a> on Truth Social. “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before.”
Trump said that the deal showed the strategic necessity of the United States acquiring Greenland. 
“The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired. Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING,” he added. 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed that same reasoning during an appearance at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. 
“The U.K. is signing the island over to Mauritius. So again, I can see why the president believes that for U.S. engagement we do not want another Diego Garcia on our hands,” Bessent said, referring to Trump’s Greenland aspirations. 
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his &#8220;position hasn&#8217;t changed on Diego Garcia or on the treaty that&#8217;s been signed.&#8221;
The Naval base on Diego Garcia <a href="https://cnrj.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NSF-Diego-Garcia/About/About-Diego-Garcia/">provides</a> logistical support to American forces deployed for missions in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. The island is home to about 280 Navy personnel, 40 Air Force personnel, and 40 British troops. 
Trump&#8217;s State Department <a href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-support-for-uk-and-mauritius-agreement-on-chagos-archipelago">previously approved</a> the agreement to return the islands to Mauritius&#8217; control. The island of Diego Garcia would be leased to the United Kingdom for 99 years. The Trump administration determined that the deal secured “the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time.

U.S. President Donald Trump Visits Scotland For Rounds Of Golf And Trade Talks

Trump Warns Of ‘Total Weakness’ In British Plan To Surrender Strategic Islands

Scott Bessent

The Wikipedia entry of a British-Egyptian national downplays his history of violent and antisemitic rhetoric that was spotlighted by critics after he was welcomed into the U.K. by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The first section of the Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaa_Abd_El-Fattah">page</a> for Alaa Abd el-Fattah describes him as an “Egyptian-British software developer, blogger, political activist and former political prisoner who was imprisoned by the Egyptian government for 12 years.” It briefly summarizes his history of conflict with the Egyptian government, serving stints in prison for “organising a political protest without requesting authorisation” and for “spreading fake news.”
Abd el-Fattah received a literary honor as a 2024 PEN Pinter Prize “writer of courage,” according to the page. Starmer lobbied the Egyptian government for Abd el-Fattah’s release and considered the case a top priority.
At the bottom of the introductory section, the page briefly mentions a “controversy over his past social media posts” that broke out after his arrival in the United Kingdom. The posts contained “openly racist views and incitements to violence.”
Over a decade ago, when Abd el-Fattah was around 30 years old, he posted a number of messages on what was then Twitter, calling for the death of Zionists. He also described himself as being “far from British” and described the British people as “dogs and monkeys.”
Other posts <a href="https://x.com/Adrian_Hilton/status/2005962561938657603">called</a> to “kill all foreigh [sic] journalists” and “advocate genocide against journalists.” Abd el-Fattah particularly disliked “f*cking white journalists.” He <a href="https://x.com/Adrian_Hilton/status/2005197972976664751">described</a> “white people” generally as “a blight on the earth.”
Critics, such as Ashley Rindsberg at NeutralPOV, have <a href="https://x.com/AshleyRindsberg/status/2005616773849063669">contrasted</a> Wikipedia’s treatment of Abd el-Fattah with right-wing figures such as Tommy Robinson, who the site <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Robinson">describes</a> as a “British far-right activist” with “a history of criminal convictions” in its opening paragraph.
Wikipedia entries have grown in influence with the rise of artificial intelligence. AIs appear to scrape the site for information, deeming it a trustworthy source. The site has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-anti-zionism-sentence-wikipedia-wont-let-you-touch">suspected</a> of bias against conservatives and as a path for foreign influence into American information networks. Earlier this year, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-goes-to-war-with-wikipedia-over-political-slant">announced</a> an investigation into bias and foreign interference on Wikipedia.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale &#8211; Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Abd el-Fattah arrived in the United Kingdom last week after nearly two decades of run-ins with Egyptian authorities. He <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/12/28/murderer-echr-win-extremist-win-british-citizenship/">obtained</a> U.K. citizenship in 2021 through an immigration law that allows mothers to transmit citizenship to their children, even allowing him to bypass a “good character” background check that some lawmakers argue he would have failed because of his past calls for violence.
“I’m delighted that Alaa Abd el-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief,” Starmer <a href="https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/2004603692197036322">posted</a> on December 26. “Alaa&#8217;s case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office. I’m grateful to President Sisi for his decision to grant the pardon.”
Starmer later <a href="https://x.com/Telegraph/status/2005338205160112392">claimed</a> to have been unfamiliar with Abd el-Fattah’s “abhorrent” past statements. Starmer <a href="https://x.com/EYakoby/status/2005663881675628799">pushed</a> for Abd el-Fattah to be released by Egyptian authorities for years after his imprisonment over “social media posts.”
Abd el-Fattah has often been described as a “pro-democracy” activist for his support of the Arab Spring protests that took place in Egypt in 2011. The protests called for democratic elections in order to install leaders affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Trump administration recently deemed certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood terror groups, including the Brotherhood chapter in Egypt that Abd el-Fattah rallied in support of. “Democracy” in the Middle East is often used to justify national and regional takeovers by radical Islamists, according to experts.
“After the Arab Spring protests of 2011 brought down dictatorships across the Middle East, many Brotherhood branches even embraced elections as a means of seeking power,” according to an October<a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/10/27/patient-extremism-the-many-faces-of-the-muslim-brotherhood/"> report</a> from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “They may accept leaders chosen by the people, but their bedrock conviction remains that no government is legitimate unless it rules according to the dictates of sharia, Islamic law.”

Logo of Wikipedia

Wikipedia Buries Violent Rhetoric Of British-Egyptian ‘Human Rights Activist’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared a statement declaring his intention to protect women and girls from &#8220;misogyny&#8221; — and was immediately met with a virtual thrashing from women and girls who say he&#8217;s already failed them with policies that protect grooming and rape gangs and give trans-identifying men access to their spaces.
Starmer addressed the issue in an X post, in which he suggested that the greatest threat facing women and girls was the misogyny being cultivated in young men by social media influencers.
&#8220;I want my daughter to grow up in a Britain where she feels safe in school, online, and in relationships. Every young girl deserves that, and every young boy should be protected from harmful misogynistic influences,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;My government is making that happen, by backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening early. We can stop harm before it starts and save a generation of young men from the influence of online misogynists.&#8221;
A number quickly pointed out that Starmer&#8217;s failure to tighten immigration laws was putting more girls in immediate danger than any toxic internet culture.
&#8220;How about deporting Pakistani grooming gang members?&#8221; Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) <a href="https://x.com/RepFine/status/2001778910770458695">suggested</a>.
&#8220;Your government bends the knee to terrorists in the name of equity. You don&#8217;t care about girls or women; if you did, you&#8217;d do something about the terrorists in your country,&#8221; Twitchy&#8217;s Sam Janney <a href="https://x.com/PolitiBunny/status/2001656302703964316">added</a>.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible c-link--underline" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
&#8220;Stop lecturing schoolboys while refusing to secure the border or enforce the law,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/TheBritishIntel/status/2001613317144527171">another said</a>. &#8220;British lads aren’t the problem — importing violence and then blaming our sons is cowardice, not leadership.&#8221;
One victim of an alleged grooming gang called Starmer out directly, saying, &#8220;I wanted to grow up in a Britain where CSE detectives didn’t ask me if I &#8216;consented to sexual activity&#8217; after I was abused from the age of 5. I wanted to grow up in a Britain where the police didn’t show up at my door to threaten me after I exposed their failings on TV.&#8221;
&#8220;I wanted to grow up in a Britain that didn’t prioritise &#8216;community cohesion&#8217; and &#8216;race relations&#8217; over protecting little girls from being raped and killed. I wanted to grow up in a Britain where Labour politicians like you didn’t turn a blind eye to the systemic abuse of little girls,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I wanted to grow up in a Britain that didn’t refuse to prosecute 98.6% of rape cases. I wanted to grow up in a Britain that didn’t trade little girls for votes.&#8221;
&#8220;How dare you try and lecture us on the importance of protecting women and girls after you and your party spent decades betraying us? You are a hypocrite and a liar, Keir Starmer,&#8221; she declared.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I wanted to grow up in a Britain where CSE detectives didn’t ask me if I “consented to sexual activity” after I was abused from the age of 5.
I wanted to grow up in a Britain where the police didn’t show up at my door to threaten me after I exposed their failings on TV.
I… <a href="https://t.co/jUwvMJEo4U">https://t.co/jUwvMJEo4U</a> <a href="https://t.co/LkXp1I1qBW">pic.twitter.com/LkXp1I1qBW</a>
— Samantha Smith (@SamanthaTaghoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/2002096846613746146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Britain will turn itself into a dystopian police state before it admits that its problems stem from mass Muslim immigration,&#8221; The Federalist&#8217;s John Daniel Davidson <a href="https://x.com/johnddavidson/status/2001689563388125326">concluded</a>.
Author J.K. Rowling took the argument in another direction, <a href="https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/2002090766223462862">registering her disgust</a> with Starmer&#8217;s position on trans issues: &#8220;I want my daughters to live in a country where their right to single-sex spaces isn’t under attack from their own government.&#8221;
&#8220;Despite being married to a woman and the father to a daughter, you still required the Supreme Court to tell you what a woman is. That makes you one of two things; stupid, or a coward. In either circumstance, to think you can be trusted with the safety of women and girls in this country is laughable,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/FFS_WhatNow/status/2001718390919254290">another said</a>.
Carla Lockhart, MP, <a href="https://x.com/carlalockhart/status/2001996714069139801">added</a>, &#8220;Perhaps you can begin by ensuring that your daughter can have female only toilets, changing rooms and spaces. The Supreme Court was clear. Because of Labour a court had to rule on something so plain and obvious to us all. Now act on the Supreme Court ruling and stop your Ministers stalling.&#8221;
Even Santa Claus weighed in with just one week to go before Christmas, declaring Starmer to be &#8220;on the naughty list.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Keir Starmer is on the naughty list. <a href="https://t.co/rinxugGAGN">pic.twitter.com/rinxugGAGN</a>
— Santa Decides (@SantaDecides) <a href="https://twitter.com/SantaDecides/status/2001738922288910344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

NATO Leaders Attend 2025 Summit In The Hague

Keir Starmer Claims He Protects Women, Gets Absolutely Thrashed By Women Who Say He’s Failed Them

Keir Starmer Claims He Protects Women, Gets Absolutely Thrashed By Women Who Say He's Failed Them

Britain

Politics

Women

Menu