In a landmark decision this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld West Virginia’s near-total ban on chemical abortions — a major win for federalism, health and safety, and the pro-life cause. This ruling affirms what we at March for Life have long believed: states have both a right and a responsibility to protect life and public health, even when it means outpacing the federal government in doing so.
The key question before the court was this: if the federal government, through the FDA, has approved a drug for use nationwide, can a state nonetheless decide to further restrict or even ban that drug within its own borders?
The Fourth Circuit — not a court known for reaching “conservative” outcomes — answered with a resounding “yes.” And that answer has profound implications, both for abortion policy and for the authority of the states to chart their own paths in matters of health and safety.
Let’s break it down.
Plaintiff GenBioPro — a manufacturer of generic mifepristone — argued that the FDA’s approval of the drug should preempt West Virginia’s more stringent restrictions. In other words, GenBioPro wanted the federal stamp of approval for mifepristone to override the state’s pro-life laws.
The court rejected that argument.
The majority pointed out that under our federalist system, states have the authority to regulate matters of health and safety. Congress, therefore, when granting the FDA authority over drug regulation, “intended to create a regulatory floor, not a ceiling.”
In other words, states cannot weaken federal safety standards – but they absolutely can strengthen them.
This matters because abortion drugs like mifepristone are not like ordinary medications. They have the power to end a human life — and increasingly, they do so without any in-person medical oversight. That’s not just a pro-life concern — it’s a basic medical and ethical concern. Chemical abortion carries significant risks, including hemorrhage, infection, and even death, particularly when used outside a clinical setting.
West Virginia’s legislature recognized those risks and chose to act, including chemical abortions in its law prohibiting abortion in most circumstances. Their law protects
unborn children, yes. But it also protects women from the harms of a deregulated chemical abortion industry. The Fourth Circuit’s decision affirms that West Virginia is fully within its rights to do so.
On its face, this is a case about “preemption,” a legal doctrine that determines when federal law overrides state law. But the Fourth Circuit reminds us that preemption isn’t a magic wand that erases the traditional powers of the states every time it’s waved. Preemption applies only when an intention to preempt state authority has been clearly expressed by Congress — and in the case of abortion pills, it hasn’t been.
The court concluded that in defining the FDA’s regulatory authority, Congress never said states must surrender their own traditional authority over abortion regulation or drug safety. And in the post-Dobbs era, the Supreme Court has made clear that regulating abortion is now a matter for the elected representatives of the people, including at the state level.
The outcome of this case about the preemption doctrine is therefore not merely a legal technicality. It’s a moral and political turning point.
The pro-life movement has always believed that the people, through their elected representatives, should have the power to restrict abortion in their communities. Dobbs confirmed this vision. And the Fourth Circuit’s ruling helps make that vision a reality. States that want to defend life and prioritize women’s safety can move forward confidently, knowing they are not hamstrung by FDA decisions shaped by politics, ideology, or abortion industry pressure.
To be clear, this decision affirming that states are free to take a more restrictive approach to chemical abortions does not let the FDA off the hook. We continue to urge the FDA to perform its own rigorous health and safety analysis of mifepristone, consistent with the responsibilities given to it by Congress and its obligations to the American people.
The court says that FDA regulation is a “floor” upon which the states can build – and that floor should be higher than it currently is. But our federalist system of government requires that states be empowered to determine that the interests of their citizens are best served by laws that are more pro-life than the federal “floor,” and then to act accordingly.
Thanks to the leadership of West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, and legal advocates like Alliance Defending Freedom, this case sets a precedent that will impact legislation and litigation across the country.
We at March for Life are encouraged — but not complacent. We know the abortion industry and profit-driven drug manufacturers will continue to fight tooth and nail to
eliminate any limits on chemical abortion, including in states that have chosen to protect life. But with this ruling, the courts have affirmed what is both constitutional and common sense: states can lead the way in defending life.
This is not just a victory for West Virginia. It’s a victory for every state that dares to protect its citizens — born and unborn — with the boldness to stand against a one-size-fits-all federal agenda.
Jennie Bradley Lichter is the President of March for Life and former Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Appeals Court Keeps Abortion Pill Mifepristone Available, But With Restrictions

States Need To Go Further Than The Federal Government On Banning Chemical Abortions

Abortion

Abortion Drug

Congress

West Virginia

West Virginia Congressman Riley Moore and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley called Thursday for the Trump administration to use diplomatic means to protect Christians in Islamic nations from persecution.
Moore introduced a <a href="https://rileymoore.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/rileymoore.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/final-moorwv_021_xml.pdf">resolution</a> in the House urging lawmakers to condemn the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries and asks the Trump administration to prioritize the protection of Christians during peacekeeping efforts throughout the Middle East. Hawley introduced the same resolution in the Senate. 
“Around the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ face rampant persecution for simply acknowledging the name of Jesus. That is unacceptable,” Moore told The Daily Wire. “We as lawmakers cannot continue to sit idly by.”
The resolution includes a list of over a dozen countries, predominantly in Africa and the Middle East, where Christians face intense persecution. A copy of the resolution viewed by The Daily Wire “encourages the President to prioritize the protection of persecuted Christians in U.S. foreign policy, including in the President’s diplomatic engagement with Muslim-majority countries and his efforts to stabilize the Middle East.”
The resolution also asks to use diplomatic tools like trade and national security discussions to advance the protection of Christians abroad. 
Examples of persecution included killings, forced marriages, kidnappings of girls, and the prohibition of holding worship services or discussing the Gospel. For example, it says that in Algeria &#8220;nearly all evangelical churches have been shut down for years and pastors are regularly arrested and charged for their evangelism&#8221; and that in Egypt &#8220;Christian girls are regularly kidnapped and forcefully converted with impunity.&#8221;
Other countries called out for their treatment of Christians include Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Turkey, Gaza, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and others.
“Our country was founded on religious liberty. We cannot sit on the sidelines as Christians around the world are being persecuted for declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior,&#8221; Hawley told The Daily Wire. &#8220;We must condemn these heinous crimes.&#8221;
&#8220;Year after year, the number of Christians murdered by extremists in Nigeria has numbered in the thousands. Millions more have been displaced. We cannot allow this to continue,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the persecution of Christians around the world by supporting this resolution.&#8221;
Moore pointed to two specific areas where Christians have been attacked. 
“In Nigeria alone, more than 50,000 Christians have been martyred and more than 5 million have been displaced simply for professing their faith. During a Divine Liturgy in Damascus last month, an islamic jihadist opened fire on worshippers and detonated an explosive device — killing at least 30 and wounding dozens more,” he said. “These examples illustrate the violence and death Christians face on a daily basis.”
Last month, jihadists <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terrible-massacre-hundreds-of-christians-killed-by-jihadists">massacred</a> around 200 Christians in Nigeria’s Benue State after a group of militants screaming “Allahu Akbar&#8221; attacked a group who had previously been displaced by Fulani Jihadist attacks.
Moore also said previous American “foreign policy blunders” had made the situation worse for Christians, saying that the failure to stabilize Iraq after the 2003 invasion led to the ethnic cleansing of the Christian population. 
The resolution was endorsed by a number of advocacy groups including Alliance Defending Freedom International, In Defense of Christians, Global Christian Relief, CatholicVote, Advancing American Freedom, The Center for Urban Renewal and Education, Family Policy Alliance, Christians Engaged, and Save the Persecuted Christians.

TOPSHOT-ADDITION-NIGERIA-BLAST

EXCLUSIVE: Republicans Say America Cannot ‘Sit Idly By’ As Islamic Terrorists Massacre Christians

Christianity

Josh Hawley

Persecution

Radical Islam

Riley Moore

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear two cases revolving around state laws keeping transgender-identifying males out of women’s sports. 
The court is set to consider cases out of Idaho and West Virginia, where laws banning males who identify as women from participating in women&#8217;s and girls&#8217; sports were blocked by lower courts. The news comes just weeks after the high court ruled 6-3 in favor of a Tennessee law that banned transgender medical procedures on minors. 
At issue in the cases are West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” and Idaho’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.&#8221;
 In West Virginia, a parent sued to block the 2021 law, arguing that her transgender-identifying son was being discriminated against because he was not allowed on the girls&#8217; cross country team. In Idaho, a transgender-identifying male sued because he wouldn&#8217;t be allowed to join Boise State University&#8217;s women&#8217;s track team under the state&#8217;s law. 
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
West Virginia’s law was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in April 2024, and Idaho’s law was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in August 2023. The attorneys general of both states celebrated the court’s decision to take up the case. 
“It’s a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard. The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women; that’s why we passed this commonsense law preserving women&#8217;s sports for women,” said West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey. “We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women&#8217;s Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX. And most importantly: it protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair.&#8221;
Idaho was the first state to pass a law intended to exclude males from competing in women&#8217;s sports in 2020.
“Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field,” added Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports. Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve.”
More than two dozen states have enacted laws similar to those in Idaho and West Virginia, and courts have blocked full implementation in other states, including New Hampshire, Utah, and Montana.

Transgender Rights Advocates Rally Against The Supreme Court’s Ban On Gender-Affirming Youth Care

Red States Set To Defend Women’s Sports At Supreme Court

Courts

Idaho

SCOTUS

Supreme Court

Transgender Athletes

U.S.

Women's sports

Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/soda-lobby-group-american-beverage-denies-paying-influencers-to-fight-snap-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make America Healthy Again&#8221; bill</a> into law this week that bans a number of food dyes. He&#8217;s also challenging himself (with the help of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) and his constituents to get more exercise daily.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not pretending to be a fitness guru,&#8221; Morrisey said, following the bill signing. &#8220;But, I have asked Secretary Kennedy to be my personal trainer. He hasn&#8217;t said yes yet, but I think he&#8217;s sizing me up as a major renovation project.&#8221;
In the quest to get his state healthy, the governor offered a challenge for West Virginia residents to get out and walk at least one mile per day. &#8220;As governor, I understand that I need to do this, as well, and start shedding the pounds,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A few minutes ago, I completed my second installment of the Mountaineer Mile. Over 10,000 steps so far today! Let’s make West Virginia Healthy Again!
<a href="https://t.co/rTcLS6tgC1">pic.twitter.com/rTcLS6tgC1</a>
— Patrick Morrisey (@MorriseyWV) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorriseyWV/status/1906115349654708452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
In a post on X, Morrisey elaborated on the challenge, and how he&#8217;s personally participating. 
&#8220;Tonight, after our big event with HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., I finished my first installment of the Mountaineer mile — a new challenge for West Virginians to get out and walk at least a mile every day,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I know walking every day won’t be easy for everyone, including myself. But it’s worth the effort and will help all of us live longer and spend more time with our friends and family on things that matter.&#8221;
&#8220;In my life, I haven’t always made the right decisions in terms of food and exercise, but I am going to do my best now to improve and shed some pounds,&#8221; the governor added. &#8220;I took this photograph of the sunset on my walk in Shannondale. Have a great night!#MountaineerMile.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tonight, after our big event with HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., I finished my first installment of the Mountaineer mile— a new challenge for West Virginians to get out and walk at least a mile every day.
I know walking every day won’t be easy for everyone, including… <a href="https://t.co/x849gu9RkJ">pic.twitter.com/x849gu9RkJ</a>
— Patrick Morrisey (@MorriseyWV) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorriseyWV/status/1905777190777876696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
West Virginia is also moving forward to ask the federal government to allow the state to <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/west-virginia-morrisey-ban-food-dyes-schools-snap.html#:~:text=Governor%20Morrisey%20announced%20at%20the,SNAP%2C”%20Secretary%20Kennedy%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener">restrict junk food and soda from food stamps</a>, also known as SNAP benefits.
Kennedy made comments about Morrisey&#8217;s weight and his health goals in light of the MAHA movement in West Virginia.
&#8220;You look like you ate Gov. Morrisey,&#8221; RFK recalled telling the governor. &#8220;There was a lot of talk about getting healthy again, and I&#8217;m very happy that he&#8217;s invited me to be his personal trainer. I&#8217;m gonna put him on a really rigorous regimen &#8212; we&#8217;re gonna put him on a carnivore diet.&#8221;
&#8220;Raise your hand if you want Gov. Morrisey to do a public weigh-in once a month,&#8221; Kennedy added. &#8220;And then when he&#8217;s lost 30 pounds, I&#8217;ll come back to this state and do a celebration in a public way, and with him.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
NEW: RFK Jr. tells West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey that he needs to lose 30 pounds to his face, calls on Morrisey to do a &#8220;public weigh-in&#8221; every month.
The Health Secretary is now fat-shaming people in public. Amazing.
&#8220;I said, &#8216;You look like you ate Governor Morrissey.'&#8221;… <a href="https://t.co/knJwos0paR">pic.twitter.com/knJwos0paR</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1905678687770648720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
Kennedy also strongly commended Morrisey in a statement. “West Virginia is leading the nation in passing a bill to clean up our food supply and submitting a waiver to remove soda from SNAP,” he <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/west-virginia-morrisey-ban-food-dyes-schools-snap.html#:~:text=Governor%20Morrisey%20announced%20at%20the,SNAP%2C”%20Secretary%20Kennedy%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;This state leadership adds leverage to the Trump administration’s drive to Make America Healthy Again.&#8221;
&#8220;I urge every Governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to remove soda from SNAP,&#8221; the secretary continued. &#8220;If there’s one thing we can agree on, it should be eliminating taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for lower income kids. I look forward to inviting every Governor who submits a waiver to come celebrate with me at the White House this fall. Thank you, Secretary Rollins for your leadership on this vital issue for children’s health.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-TAX REFORM

West Virginia Gov Signs MAHA Bill, Is Working With RFK To Lose Weight

Department of Health and Human Services

Health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

West Virginia Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey wants more “objective criteria” to determine which college basketball teams secure a bid to the NCAA basketball tournament.
Morrisey appeared on Daily Wire’s sports podcast Crain and Company on Tuesday after the West Virginia Mountaineers (19-13), a team on the bubble, did not make the bracket. The team finished 10-10 in Big 12 Conference matchups.
“That was outrageous for a lot of reasons. And that&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important that we step up and get to the bottom of things, because I don&#8217;t think we should have this kind of travesty, this kind of robbery, ever occur in the future,” Morrisey said. The governor has called for an investigation into the tournament selection process.
Critics have blasted the NCAA tournament selection committee for including the North Carolina Tar Heels (23-13) in the bracket over the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers had a more impressive resume when the strength of their schedule was taken into account. WVU had six Quad 1 wins, the most impressive wins as measured by the NCAA, and no losses below Quad 2. UNC, on the other hand, went 1-12 in Quad 1 matchups and a Quad 3 loss, which means a loss to a relatively weak team.
In early December, WVU star Tucker DeVries, the son of WVU’s head coach, Darian DeVries, sustained a season-ending injury. That was the primary reason WVU did not make it into the tournament, according to Bubba Cunningham, the NCAA tournament selection committee chairman. Cunningham also serves as North Carolina&#8217;s athletic director.
Even with DeVries out, experts expected the Mountaineers to receive a tournament invite.
“Everyone had WVU safely in the bracket. One hundred eleven out of 111 bracketologists – these are these people that do this for a living, they come up with these formulas – universally say WVU is in,” Morrisey said. “By the way, UNC, 27 of the 111 bracketologists say that.”
Cunningham’s dual roles as chairman of the selection committee and athletic director for UNC have incited allegations that the WVU snub may be about more than incompetency or favoritism. Cunningham said he was not in the room when the decision on UNC was made and asserted that &#8220;all the policies and procedures were followed.&#8221;
In a press conference earlier this week, Morrisey raged against the NCAA from behind a podium with a sign that read “National Corrupt Athletic Association.”
“You have an athletic director walk out the door at the supposed just right time, and then their team gets secured as the last team in, and, meanwhile WVU is the last team out,” Morrisey said. “So, I want sunlight, I want disinfectant. That&#8217;s what this is all about. Let’s fix it for the future.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="March Madness TAMPERING?! West Virginia Governor Explains His Investigation | Crain &amp; Company" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JDFrujL4RYA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Patrick Morrisey

West Virginia GOP Governor Wants NCAA Tourney Overhauled After WVU Snub

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey Wants NCAA Tourney Overhauled After WVU Snub

Crain and Company

General

March Madness

NCAA

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) slammed the Democratic Party in an interview over the weekend for being &#8220;extreme&#8221; and &#8220;toxic.&#8221;
Manchin made the remarks during a Sunday interview with CNN when asked why he decided to leave the party that he has belonged to for decades.
&#8220;I am not a Democrat in the form of what the Democratic Party has turned itself into,&#8221; Manchin said. &#8220;The national brand. Absolutely not.&#8221;
He said he told members of the party that they needed to ask themselves why a lifelong Democrat like him left the party when he and his whole family have supported them for generations.
&#8220;The brand got so bad. The D brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of — it&#8217;s just — it&#8217;s toxic,&#8221; he said.
Manchin said that he takes the Constitution very seriously and he believes in protecting the rights of everyone, even those who are in a fringe minority.
He said though that even though he would fight for everyone&#8217;s rights he did not want to be gaslit into believing that those on the fringe extremes were &#8220;the norm&#8221; and he did not want those views imposed on children.
&#8220;I will protect you. Just don&#8217;t try to mainstream it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And the Democratic Party, the Washington Democrats, have tried to mainstream the extreme.&#8221;
He said that in doing so, Democrats have infringed on people&#8217;s right to make their own decisions about what&#8217;s best for their lives.
&#8220;It&#8217;s the mindset of the left, the progressive left, which was always a minority,&#8221; he said.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
New — Joe Manchin unplugged as he leaves the Senate.
“This has been the worst performing Congress in the history of the United States of America.”
The Senate “still sucks … The House sucks worse than the Senate.”
“The D-brand is …. toxic”
On progressive leader saying they… <a href="https://t.co/IWbWyBkoui">pic.twitter.com/IWbWyBkoui</a>
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1870909524783096305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote>

Joe Manchin

Manchin On Why He Left ‘Toxic’ Democrat Party: They’re ‘Trying To Mainstream The Extreme’

Democratic Party

Republicans are expected to flip control of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> as they are projected to hold at least 51 seats.
The move comes as Republicans flipped seats in West Virginia and Ohio and are leading in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Montana, and Michigan. Republicans also held key seats in Nebraska and Texas.
In Ohio, Republican businessman Bernie Moreno is projected to defeat Democrat incumbent Sherrod Brown 50.3% to 46.3% with 90% of the vote reported in.
Moreno, a Colombian-born businessman, supports stronger border security and said that “energy dominance” will be one of his top issues if he is elected.
In West Virginia, former West Virginia Governor Jim Justice is projected to defeat Democrat Glenn Eliot 68.8% to 25.1% with 52% of the vote reported in. The seat was previously occupied by Democrat-turned independent Joe Manchin.
“We did it, West Virginia! Thank you for your incredible support! I’m honored to be your next U.S. Senator. Together, we will fight for our values and build a brighter future for our state and nation,” Justice posted on X.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Senator Ted Cruz defended his Senate seat in Texas with a projected defeat of Democratic challenger Colin Allred 54%-43.8%.
“Ted Cruz won again despite liberals from California and New York doing everything they could to bankroll his radical opponent. Ted has been a tireless champion for Texans of all stripes, working to cut taxes, secure the border, and bring down costs for families. No matter what gets thrown at him, Ted knows Texas and knows what it takes to win,” National Republican Senate Committee chair Steve Daines said in a statement.
In Nebraska, Republican Deb Fischer is projected to hold on to her Senate seat against independent challenger Dan Osborne 51.5% to 48.5%. In Missouri, Sen. Josh Hawley is projected to defeat Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce 55.4%-41.8%.
Republicans are also leading key Senate races in the Democrats&#8217; &#8220;Blue Wall&#8221; states. Republican challenger Eric Hovde is currently leading incumbent Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin. In Michigan, Mike Rogers is leading Democrat Rep. Elise Slotkin. In Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick is leading incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey.

Ohio Senate Candidates Campaign On Eve Of Election

Republicans Projected To Flip Control Of Senate

2024 Election

Elections

Ohio

Politics

Senate

A coalition of 14 Republican attorneys general warned <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/apple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple</a> on Wednesday that its “discriminatory” entrepreneur programs excluding white and Asian men may be illegal.
Led by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/west-virginia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Virginia</a> Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican officials sent a letter to Apple after it opened up applications last week for its “Entrepreneurship Camp” exclusively for minorities and women. The letter, addressed to Apple Senior Vice President Katherine Adams, says that the application stipulations may violate federal discrimination law.
“Apple should abandon this wrong-headed and exclusionary approach. As it stands, the program reflects a troubling fixation on race and sex — and looks to run afoul of anti-discrimination laws. While supporting up-and-coming developers may be a laudable goal, this harmful strategy is not the way to do it,” the attorneys general <a href="https://ago.wv.gov/Documents/Apple%20Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.
“And given how you sell your products in our States—and recruit developers, engineers, and others from our States, too—we cannot give tacit approval to your methods. Indeed, by hosting some of these camps remotely, we think Apple is effectively exporting discrimination to our States,” they added.
Joining Morrisey were the attorneys general of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1724211156439000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2-L2DitSaIUj5wz8v0bgxx">Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.</a>
Apple faced backlash from conservatives last week after it <a href="https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=49500drc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> its requirements for its “Apple Entrepreneur Camp” on August 13. According to the tech company, the camp “supports underrepresented founders and developers, and encourages the pipeline and longevity of these entrepreneurs in technology.”
The posting from the company said that all “female,* Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous” developers were welcome to apply. The asterisks around “female” pointed to a note that said that Apple “believes that gender expression is a fundamental right. We welcome all women to apply to this program.”
The Republicans said that Apple was sowing social division through the program and pushing “intentional discrimination.”
“If Apple wants to open the doors to underrepresented persons, we can conceive of plenty of ways to do so without engaging in ugly race- and sex-based classifications. It could target those who don’t hail from elite educational institutions,” they wrote. “It could target those from lower socio-economic classes. It could target persons from parts of our country that haven’t yet experienced a boom in app development.”
In recent months, corporations around the country have faced backlash from customers for pushing woke policies and implementing DEI requirements.

Apple Mac Mini Computer

Republican AGs Warn Apple About Entrepreneur Program That Excludes White, Asian Men

Apple

Discrimination

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Social Issues

U.S. Politics

Wokeness

A federal judge blocked the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden administration</a>’s freeze on new liquid natural gas export permits on Monday after 16 Republican attorneys general sued the administration over the policy.
U.S. District Judge James Cain <a href="https://ago.wv.gov/Documents/LNG%20ruling.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that the Biden administration had not followed precedent or considered national security impacts when it announced a ban on new natural gas permits earlier this year, issuing an injunction against the policy. Additionally, he ruled that the freeze would harm the states that sued after the policy was announced in January. 
The freeze meant that the Department of Energy would not issue any new permits while it updated the authorization process. According to the Biden administration, the freeze applied to countries that the United States did not have free trade agreements with, and “indefinitely” paused natural gas exports to those countries. 
“It appears that the DOE has failed to provide a more detailed justification for its halt of the approval process to conduct an update, especially considering that past precedent, which the applicants relied upon, allowed the approval of the applications to proceed when updates were made,” Cain wrote in his decision. 
“Also, it appears to this Court that Defendants did not realistically consider the cost/benefit analysis with regard to Plaintiff States’ concerns about the impact on national security, state revenues, employment opportunities, funding for schools and charities, and pollution allegedly caused by increased reliance on foreign energy sources,” the judge added. 
Cain&#8217;s injunction is in place as litigation against the freeze continues in federal court.
The states that sued were Louisiana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Cain said that the states, specifically Texas, West Virginia, and Louisiana, had shown that they would be harmed by the freeze, which would result in “loss of revenues, market share, and deprivation of a procedural right.”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1714074641207000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0TPXL7MyqvoOZpo3dQ8NTe">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“This is a big win for the country’s energy industry and the millions of jobs it supports against the attacks from the Biden administration to further its radical climate change agenda at the expense of our economy,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. “This administration’s Energy Department has no such authority to justify this ban— authority on matters like this lies with Congress and Congress alone.”
The White House disagreed with the judge’s ruling, and the Energy Department said it would assess it.
“We are disappointed in today’s ruling. We remain committed to informing our decisions with the best available economic and environmental analysis, underpinned by sound science,” White House spokesman Angelo Fernández Hernández <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4750745-federal-court-lifts-biden-pause-gas-exports/mlite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “The United States remains the world’s largest exporter of LNG, and is currently on track to more than double existing capacity by the end of this decade.”

Oil And Gas Exploration In The Marcellus Shale

‘A Big Win’: Judge Blocks Biden Admin’s Freeze On New Natural Gas Exports

Biden Administration

Department of Energy

Natural gas

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announced Friday that he had left the Democratic Party and had registered as an independent, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/31/joe-manchin-leaves-democratic-party-independent?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported</a>.
Manchin cited &#8220;partisan extremism&#8221; from both Democrats and Republicans as the primary reason for his decision to register as an independent, claiming both parties had left &#8220;West Virginia and our country behind.&#8221;
&#8220;From my first day in public service in 1982, I have always focused on doing what’s best for my state and my country, without regard to party or politics. Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. It’s who I am. It’s who I will always be. I have never seen America through a partisan lens,&#8221; Manchin said in his statement, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/west-virginia-sen-joe-manchin-leaves-democratic-party-registers-independent">according</a> to Fox News.
&#8220;However, since becoming a United States Senator in 2010, I have seen both the Democrat and Republican parties leave West Virginia and our country behind for partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation. <a href="https://t.co/tvMB2N87AW">pic.twitter.com/tvMB2N87AW</a>
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1796547335767671199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,&#8221; Manchin posted on X.
Widely considered a moderate in the Senate, Manchin broke with President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party on several issues, including certain provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/16/joe-manchin-2024-presidential-race">noted</a>. He also threatened to oppose Biden&#8217;s Environmental Protection Agency nominees in May 2023. He has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/manchin-says-he-would-think-very-seriously-about-break-with-democratic-party">indicated</a> multiple times in the past that he was considering leaving the Democratic Party over its radical policies.
Manchin <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4696125-manchin-independent-leaves-democrats/">previously announced</a> in November 2023 that he would not seek re-election in the Senate, where he has served since 2010. Before entering the Senate, he served as the state&#8217;s governor from 2005 to 2010.
Manchin indicated Wednesday that he would not enter the West Virginia governor&#8217;s race, despite rampant speculation that he would jump in, and he instead expressed his support for the Democratic nominee, Steve Williams.
“My support is with Steve Williams,” Manchin said, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4694293-joe-manchin-west-virginia-governor-race/">according</a> to The Hill. &#8220;He’s been a friend of mine for 40 years, and we’ve worked together. I know how good he is, I know how competent he is, and I know how hard he’ll work. So, I’ve been supporting Steve.&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1717170739895000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Ps3XbgPF2rL6bDpL8t5Cu">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Williams will face the Republican nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, in November. Most election predictions forecast a solid victory for Morrisey.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Sen. Joe Manchin

Joe Manchin Leaves The Democratic Party

A 15-year-old girl from Bridgeport, West Virginia, is suing the Department of Education, claiming there were a series of incidents in which a boy who competed against her and other girls in track and field events made rape threats against her.
According to the girl’s <a href="https://adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/TennesseeDeclarationOfAC.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, she is currently a ninth-grade student at Bridgeport High School (BHS) who competes in discus, shot put, and the 4 x 100 relay. In sixth through eighth grade, she attended Bridgeport Middle School (BMS), where in seventh grade (the 2021–22 school year), she competed in the 100-meter dash, pole vault, shot put, and discus, and sometimes competed in the 200-meter dash and relay events.
“To my surprise, another BMS student named B.P.J. joined the girls’ track and field team,” she noted. “B.P.J. is almost two years younger than me, and one year behind me in school. Because I know B.P.J.’s older brother from school, I knew at the beginning of the 2021–22 school year that B.P.J. is a male who identifies as a girl.”
She recalled that initially, she was better than the boy in shot put and discus, but by the end of seventh grade, he threw about the same distance in shot put: around 18–20 feet. “In discus, I typically beat B.P.J.: I threw around 40 feet while B.P.J. threw closer to 30 feet. But in the last meet of the 2021–22 season, B.P.J. suddenly threw almost 20 feet farther: 49’ 7”,” she stated.
“By the next school year (2022–23), I could tell that B.P.J. had grown a lot. B.P.J. got taller and threw farther. B.P.J. got a deeper and more masculine voice,” she wrote. In March 2023, B.P.J. finished ahead of the girl at the Connect Bridgeport Invitational in shot put and in discus. In April, B.P.J. beat her at the Pioneer MS Invitational in discus. Later in April, B.P.J. beat her at the Bobcat MS meet in shot put and discus.
“B.P.J.’s athletic records show that B.P.J. beat over 50 different female athletes in the 2021–22 school year, displacing several of the female athletes more than once. These records show that B.P.J. beat over 100 different female athletes in the 2022–23 school year, displacing them almost 300 times. I also lost to B.P.J. on four separate occasions that school year,” the lawsuit states.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1715184052205000&amp;usg=AOvVaw30mpznqHO0I3crFOdodkQW">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“B.P.J. made several offensive and inappropriate sexual comments to me,” she recalled. “At first, it did not occur often, and I tried my best to ignore it. But during my final year of middle school, B.P.J. made inappropriate sexual comments a lot more often; it increased throughout that year; and the comments became much more aggressive, vile, and disturbing. Sometimes B.P.J.’s comments were just annoying, like commenting that I have a ‘nice butt.’ But other times, I felt really embarrassed, and I didn’t want to repeat the gross things B.P.J. said to me. During the end of that year, about two to three times per week, B.P.J. would look at me and say ‘suck my d***.’ There were usually other girls around who heard this. I heard B.P.J. say the same thing to my other teammates, too.”
“B.P.J. made other more explicit sexual statements that felt threatening to me,” she continued. “At times, B.P.J. told me quietly &#8216;I&#8217;m gonna stick my d*** into your p****.’ And B.P.J. sometimes added ‘and in your a**’ as well. &#8230; B.P.J. made these vulgar comments towards me in the locker room, on the track, and in the throwing pit for discus and shotput.”
“Most of the time, B.P.J. made these sexual comments at girls’ track practice. Our team walked from Bridgeport Middle School to the High School for track practice, where we would train on the high school track,” she stated. “B.P.J. often popped up beside me as we walked and said these things. Other times, B.P.J. made comments as our team was sitting in the endzone waiting for coaches to get practice going. At least one time, it happened in the girls’ locker room.”
“I reported B.P.J.’s sexual comments to my coach and middle school administrators. Initially, the administrators told me that they were investigating, but we never heard back, and nothing changed. From what I saw, B.P.J. got very little or no punishment for saying things that no other student would get away with,” she concluded.
“I also worry about the little 6th grade girls who are on the same team as B.P.J. right now,” she wrote. “If I were in 6th grade and had to deal with sexual comments from a biological male two years older than me who was changing in the same locker room as me, I wouldn’t even play sports. It wouldn’t be worth it. My younger sister will be a freshman in high school when B.P.J is a senior. She is a good athlete, but she is very shy, and I can’t imagine how she would feel if B.P.J. said those sexual comments to her while they were competing in sports or changing in the locker room. I do not want that to happen.”
Rachel Rouleau of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the girl, stated:
<blockquote>
The Biden administration’s radical redefinition of sex won’t just rewire our educational system. It means young girls will be forced to undress in front of boys in gym class, girls will share bedrooms with boys on overnight school trips, teachers and students will have to refrain from speaking truthfully about gender identity, and girls will lose their right to fair competition in sports. Our client A.C. has already suffered the humiliation and indignity of being harassed by a male student in the locker room and on her sports team. No one else should have to go through that. But the administration continues to ignore biological reality, science, and common sense. This court deserves to hear from those most severely impacted by the administration’s attempt to rewrite Title IX.
</blockquote>

Close up of a female athlete holding a disc preparing for throwing

Girl Sues Biden’s Education Department After Male Who Competed Against Her Allegedly Made Rape Threats With No Punishment

Department of Education

Middle School

Rape

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/west-virginia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Virginia</a> will no longer be investing money in Chinese-based companies through its higher education savings investment program, according to Republican State Treasurer Riley Moore.
Moore <a href="https://wvtreasury.com/About-The-Office/Press-Releases/ID/612/Treasurer-Moore-Announces-SMART529-Board-Votes-to-Drop-China-Investments-from-Select-Plan-Emerging-Markets-Portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Wednesday that the state would be designating dollars from the investment program, known as SMART529, into a fund that wouldn’t back Chinese-based companies. The previous fund included investments in Chinese companies through an emerging markets fund.
“We have a fiduciary duty to act in the best financial interests of SMART529 plan participants, and we believe excluding Chinese emerging market investments from our Select Plan portfolio will help maximize returns while reducing exposure to the potential regulatory and geopolitical risks that come with investing in companies based in China,” Moore said. “I’m grateful to the Board members for carefully considering this recommendation to reduce exposure to these more risky Chinese investment options.”
Under the former investment plan, Chinese companies could be qualified for some of the $40 million SMART529 dollars that were invested in emerging markets. Moore said the decision to shift investments away from China came after a “lengthy period of study” showed that keeping investment in China was risky. He began looking at the move in late 2021.
“This decision is in the best long-term financial interests of those individuals who choose to invest in a SMART529 Select Plan and the children whose educational future benefits from these funds,” he said.
Moore had investment consultant company NEPC create a research report for him on potential risks from partnering with Chinese companies.
“China’s domestic policies can create periods of heightened volatility and it is possible that ongoing tensions could increase and negatively impact Chinese stocks,” NEPC told the West Virginia board that oversees the state&#8217;s college funding programs.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1712932862202000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0plT8RRdMy9XUpIhocnjQS">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
State Armor, a group dedicated to fighting national security threats on the state level, praised the decision.
&#8220;Excluding Chinese investments will reduce American funding of our greatest adversary, and protect participants from China&#8217;s volatile economy,” said Michael Lucci, the group&#8217;s CEO. “More states should look to West Virginia&#8217;s example and examine their own investment portfolios.”
“State leaders must take immediate action to protect their education systems, which includes divesting from adversaries, reviewing and canceling gifts and contracts from adversaries, and generally cutting adversary government influence on American campuses,” Lucci added.

Chinese National Flag

Red State Takes New Step To Distance Itself From ‘Risky Chinese Investments’

Communist China

Education

Investors

Menu