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CNN's Tapper: A Judge Outside The DOJ Signed Off On A Warrant To Find Out If Ilhan Omar Pretended To Be A Minor To Get Citizenship

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:32:33 -0500

CNN's Elie Honig and Jake Tapper report on the potential charges against Rep. Ilhan Omar:

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: So, as you say, this is an internal rule. It's been followed for decades now by administrations of Republicans and Democrats alike that you wouldn't make a move like this within 60 days of an election if you can avoid it. I can think of two possibilities here. One, there are exceptions to the rule if prosecutors determine there's an ongoing danger to the public or if prosecutors determine that there's some effort to obstruct justice or for somebody to flee. The other possibility is this DOJ just might not care. They might just say, we're not abiding by that rule. I think it would be a very bad idea if they do that, because the rule is intended to protect DOJ's independence from politics, but it certainly would be within the powers and rights of DOJ to say, we're just not playing by that rule. TAPPER: The Justice Department had to get this magistrate judge to sign off on the search warrant. What does that tell you, if anything, about the seriousness of this investigation? HONIG: Well, it means that at least some external person, this magistrate judge outside of the Justice Department, reviewed paperwork and determined that there's probable cause that a crime was committed. That's a lower standard, of course, than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and the prosecutors or agents were likely to find evidence of that crime in the place they're searching. Now, I've done this more times than I can count, Jake. As a prosecutor, you do have to lay out your evidence in detail. You can't just say, hey, Judge, we think something's wrong. And you have to specify a federal crime. Judges and magistrates typically look at this fairly carefully. They're not going to rubber stamp it, but, again, important to remember, the burden of proof here, probable cause, much, much lower than proof beyond a reasonable doubt that you're supposed to have before you charge a case and that you have to have if you want to get a conviction. TAPPER: So, the allegation, as we've discussed with Evan and Katelyn, is that she may have -- and we're not saying this is true, but the allegation is that when she was an adult, maybe 18, maybe 19, she claimed to be a minor, maybe 17, and because it would be easier to become a citizen because her father from Somalia was a naturalized citizen. That seems like a long time ago. I mean, that was, I think, in the year 2000. What about the statute of limitations, or is it important if she continued allegedly to keep up this lie and conspiracy to hide the truth from 26 years ago? HONIG: Right. Most federal crimes in the immigration area will have a maximum of a five-year statute of limitations. We're obviously well beyond that from 2000. So, there could be a couple possibilities. One, some offenses say that if a person gets into the country or gets status by making false statements and then remains in the country, that will extend -- the person remaining in the country will extend the statute of limitations. Two, it could be that more recent paperwork was submitted, perhaps a reapplication or a renewal. It could be somebody relating to Representative Omar, somebody around her. And then, three, if prosecutors have evidence that within the last five years there's been some evidence of obstruction, some effort to get stories straight, to destroy documents, to persuade potential witnesses to say a certain thing, then those obstruction charges, if they happened within the last five years, would also be within the statute of limitations. So, I think it's one of the bigger mysteries around this case, but those are three possibilities. TAPPER: Just quickly, if this is true, would it not have been wiser for the congresswoman to have gone to the Biden Justice Department and said, this has happened, and there was a mistake, and I'd like to come clean and pay whatever fine, and then that way this, you know, not left up to the Trump Justice Department? I mean, has that occurred to you? HONIG: It's a really tricky dilemma that any subject of this type of investigation might have, and indeed she might have fared better under the Biden administration. But, look, it's an important point of all this. There was some investigation, as I think Evan just said, that was started under the Biden administration, reopened under the Trump administration. So, I think that's going to undermine any argument she may have down the line that this is politically selective and vindictive. But again -- then again, Donald Trump has given her plenty of ammo to argue that she's being singled out for personal reasons. So, that's a battle yet to come.

Trump Debuts New Nickname For Zelensky: "PT Barnum"--"More Difficult To Work With Than Putin"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:10:46 -0500

President Trump said during a Newsmax interview Tuesday that Ukrainian President Zelensky is "more difficult to work with than Putin" and compared his government to a circus, calling him "P.T. Barnum." PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You know, they talk about ammunition. We're building up ammunition very, very rapidly, by the way. We're keeping it for ourselves. We're just building it up very rapidly. We're getting Patriots at record levels. We're getting Tomahawks at record levels. We're building very quickly. But when I first came, you had Obama. Our cupboards were empty because he didn't want to buy any ammunition. I filled it up. But the reason that we went lower than we'd like to, and only with certain munitions, not with very good stuff, but we have a lot. But now we're very rapidly building it up for purposes. But I just want to say it wasn't what I was doing with Iran. It was what Biden did with Ukraine. They gave him, they gave them, I call him P.T. Barnum. They gave to P.T. Barnum, which is Zelenskyy, massive amounts of Patriots, of Tomahawks, of everything. And they didn't make him pay. There was nobody to pay. So I went to the European Union. I said, "I'm not going to give you anything. You have to pay." They have a lot of money. They've been paying us, and we send them munitions, and that works. But over the last period of time, we just take the munitions for ourselves because we have to have for ourselves. We have to have. And once we are stocked, really stocked, we will start letting our allies buy them from us. But Biden should have made them pay. He gave hundreds of, probably $350 billion worth of equipment and cash to Ukraine. Where is the cash that we gave to Ukraine? Where are all of those? Where is all the equipment? You know, people who are selling that equipment? Biden was giving them missiles, and they were being sold on the open market right after they went to Ukraine. REPORTER: And I ask you, because the war is at a stalemate over the Donbas region, which six years later most Americans still can't find on a map. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I do two things. Number one, had they not taken the right turn onto dirt instead of going up a concrete highway, it would have ended in one day. So I can imagine Putin's not exactly thrilled because you're getting into six years. They're losing on average 25,000. Now that number is going up to 32,000. But 25,000, mostly men, mostly military, you know, small numbers relatively in towns and cities that are being hit, but they're losing a tremendous amount of people. And I want to see it stop. And I want Zelenskyy to stop. And I want Putin. Now, if you tell me that Zelenskyy is again shooting at refineries, all he's doing is making the world oil price higher, and he is doing that. Well, I think that's a disgrace. There's plenty of other targets they don't have to hit. There are a lot of targets that you can hit. But when you shoot at diesel refineries, when you make diesel oil, and we need that and the world needs that, then he's not doing a good service for the world. REPORTER: Mr. President PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And I think that, frankly, Zelenskyy has been there a long time. And I think it's time for, if they want to get that settled. So I watched an interview of a young woman the other day from Ukraine, and she said, "President Zelenskyy has destroyed our country. President Zelenskyy has taken our men away from us. Our men have no legs, no arms. Our men are, in many cases, in mental institutions or they're dead." They need a two-month pause to hold elections. To make that a pssibility. TRUMP: They dont need an election. No one is telling me the people of Ukraine are satisfied having missiles coming down on them. But Russia is a massive country, and they can lose more men. Ukraine does't have that kind of manpower. ..., PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It was supposed to be a very much, you know, a very quick war. And if you remember, the tanks going up the highway right into Kyiv, had the general, who was obviously not a very good general, not made a right turn into farmland, which was soaked and soaking wet from the heaviest rain in 10 years. They say he went right up into the mud, and it was like quicksand, and those tanks. So they got, I guess, I don't know if you call it lucky or not lucky, frankly, because it's been five years, and Ukraine has lost a tremendous-you know, Ukraine has lost so many of its men, and Russia too. But Russia is a massive country. Russia has millions of people, 150 million people. [UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER]: Does that war end before you leave office? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It should end soon. I think they actually both would like to see it end, but I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin. ... I watched an interview of a young woman the other day from Ukraine, and she said, "President Zelensky has destroyed our country. President Zelenskyy has taken our men away from us. Our men have no legs, no arms. Our men are, in many cases, in mental institutions or they're dead." They need a two-month pause to hold elections, to make that a possibility. So we'll see what happens. [UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER]: Let me ask you, you mentioned- PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think you need an election because there's nobody that's telling me that the people of Ukraine are satisfied having missiles hitting their apartment building. But there's truth because Russia's a massive country, and Russia can lose a million men, and they have lots of other millions of men behind them. Ukraine doesn't have that kind of manpower. Now, at the same time, they're a much smaller-they have the best equipment in the world given by the United States. We have the best equipment. We make the best military equipment in the world by far.

Sean Hannity to New Press Secretary Katie Zacharia: You Crashed And Burned In First Briefing, "What Happened?"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:49:30 -0500

Sean Hannity was pretty harsh on Katie Zacharia, the president's new press secretary, during an interview Thursday evening, asking about identifying herself as an attorney after failing the bar exam, and only taking three questions at her first briefing:

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: All right. If you're voting in Florida, Byron Donalds and Ashley Moody, and the attorney general is doing a great job as well. Here with reaction, Katie Zachariah. We'll have more with Matt and Erin straight ahead. Katie, this is a big interview for you. You had your first moment as press secretary. It's been widely panned. I'm sure you're aware. It only lasted 14 minutes. You took three questions. Questions about your legal background, calling yourself a lawyer. You went to Pepperdine but did not pass the bar exam, correct? KATIE ZACHARIAH, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Correct. SEAN HANNITY: What happened? How did you feel it went personally? KATIE ZACHARIAH: I want to give some background. It's nice to be here with you and a privilege to be serving as the president's new press secretary. I was given the offer last Wednesday. I got a phone call last Wednesday. I flew out to D.C. Thursday. I had a meeting on Friday. Offered the job. Flew home to California on Saturday. Flew back to Washington on Sunday. Was asked to start on Monday, Sean, which is Columbus Day, so it's a federal holiday. Have a press briefing at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. So what I feel is I really stepped up to the plate to do the press conference, shaken, with very little prep time. I received briefing materials in the morning of Tuesday. I went to deliver all of the great results that President Trump is delivering for the American people that are not often spread in the national media. So I took it as an opportunity so people would know what he's doing for Americans and how hard he's working. And then I delivered some breaking news. I think one of the first press secretaries to deliver staff changes for the administration. I was honored that President Trump trusted me delivering that information. Then I took several questions. I think it's been mixed, Sean. They have said I only took questions from conservative outlets. However, the Daily Mail is not known to be a conservative outlet or friendly to conservatives, so I do challenge that narrative. And then, as I should have, I ended the conference. I left, as I believe, given the fact that I had been on the job less than maybe eight hours and had a briefing book in the morning, I feel like I did my very best, Sean, to deliver for the American people that day. SEAN HANNITY: Am I hearing that you think the staff should have prepped you better? KATIE ZACHARIAH: Well, I believe that in that time, I could have just given a brief intro and said, "I'm only here to introduce myself. I want to engage with the press corps. I want to build relationships with every single one of you. I've been on the job one day and I now need to-" Instead of taking questions, probably should have stepped aside. However, I was able to deliver breaking news, which I do believe was the right thing to do as the press secretary, Sean. SEAN HANNITY: I saw you were on with Jack Posobiec earlier tonight. You called it a conspiracy theory as it relates to the issue of being a lawyer. You did go to Pepperdine. It's a good school, no doubt about it. You took the bar exam, but you didn't pass the bar exam, correct? KATIE ZACHARIAH: Yes, Sean. SEAN HANNITY: Did you ever take it a second time? KATIE ZACHARIAH: So for background, I graduated Pepperdine, got married in the same week. We had all intent to move to China. I had already preregistered for the bar exam, basically during the summer. I knew I would be living in China, and the results of the bar were inconsequential. I sat for it because I didn't want to have a withdrawal status. I moved to China, where I did get a job in an international practice of a Chinese law firm. I was doing [unclear] cross-border transactions and multimillion-dollar shareholder agreements and- SEAN HANNITY: I want to ask you specifically. I know that part of the story. You did do that. Did you ever take it a second time or third time? KATIE ZACHARIAH: No, I did not. SEAN HANNITY: So you said you consulted with many people, and they advised you it was okay to call yourself a lawyer but not an attorney, correct? KATIE ZACHARIAH: Correct. SEAN HANNITY: There's a report out tonight that showed 15 social media posts where you identify yourself as an attorney. KATIE ZACHARIAH: I think they were retweets. I corrected the record and said it's not endorsing the title. They were retweets of a title that had been given. SEAN HANNITY: Look, that is a very tough room. I've known a lot of press secretaries over the years. Following on the heels of Karoline Leavitt is very tough. Speaking for Donald Trump makes everything difficult. And why not say, "I took the bar and didn't pass it"? Why get in this drawn-out definition of an attorney and a lawyer? Why didn't you just say, "I never practiced law"? KATIE ZACHARIAH: Sean, when I moved back to the United States, I had four kids in six years. It was never my intent to go into the practice of law. When I went to engage in media and give legal analysis, I had a valid Juris Doctor from a reputable law school, Pepperdine, and in conjunction with the fact that I did have actual substantive legal experience, I wasn't providing any legal analysis, Sean, or legal advice. I wasn't being paid for legal advice. I was giving a general review of the legal circumstances surrounding it. SEAN HANNITY: All right. Why only three questions in 14 minutes, and what might you do differently going forward? Can I give you some unsolicited advice? That will never be a friendly room to you. KATIE ZACHARIAH: Yeah. What I'd say is I would absolutely be very well prepared on the briefing, Sean. I would love, and I do love, questions. I would love to build a relationship with all of those members of the press corps. So there's a substantive component to us having an ability to interact, and I will be very prepared, Sean, and I will step up to the duty President Trump has asked me to as press secretary. SEAN HANNITY: All right. Katie, wish you the best of luck in your new position.

Trump: "I Did Nothing Wrong"--"But I'm Allowed To Do A Self-Pardon"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:42:47 -0500

President Trump told Newxmax that he is considering pardoning himself and members of his staff before leaving office:

REPORTER: Joe Biden pardoned his brother. He pardoned his sister. He pardoned his son. He pardoned half of Washington, almost everybody. He invented the preemptive pardon. So I just have to ask you, are you seriously considering a self-pardon before you leave office? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I don't think about it because I did nothing wrong. I could have given myself a pardon the last time I left office. I never thought that they'd drag me through the mud. REPORTER: Do you regret that? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I won, but I won the hard way. Yeah, but I'm allowed to do a pardon, a self-pardon. I'm allowed to pardon. One thing, the only thing Biden did is he proved that. You know, the pardon is very powerful. I know that they say it's the most powerful thing a president has, the power of pardon. I can tell you this: I don't want to see my people go through, because these people are lunatics on the left. I don't want to see people that work for me go through years of nonsense, hire lawyers and everything else, all for nothing. So I'm probably glad I didn't do it the first time, but I had to go through a lot. But I won. I don't want my people to go through. You know, at the end of two and a half years, we will have done things that nobody's ever done. This has been a great presidency. My first one was a great presidency. We had the greatest economy in the history of our country. We did Space Force. I rebuilt the military. They wasted it. You know, they talk about ammunition. We're building up ammunition very, very rapidly, by the way. We're keeping it for ourselves. We're just building it up very rapidly. We're getting Patriots at record levels. We're getting Tomahawks at record levels. We're building very quickly. But when I first came, you had Obama. Our cupboards were empty because he didn't want to buy any ammunition. I filled it up.

Vance: What Does It Say About El-Sayed That He "Invented A Totally Fictitious Background" For Himself As A Foreigner?

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:36:05 -0500

Vice President JD Vance called out Michigan Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed for "hatred in his heart" at a campaign rally for Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers.

VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE: And Abdul had every opportunity to love the place where he grew up and he had every opportunity to love the place and feel grateful for it. He had every opportunity to feel gratitude for a country that gave him a happy upbringing, that gave him high quality schools with good teachers, that made him captain of his high school sports team. But instead of feeling gratitude or instead of feeling love, he chose, he made a choice to embrace the politics of grievance that is hell bent on our national self-suicide. You listen to the man talk and it's clear Abdul doesn't love this community, Democrat or Republican. He doesn't love the people who live here. He hates the history of the United States of America. He calls our nation irredeemably racist. He calls the United States of America genocidal and he hates the people who built it. People like my grandfather who was for 40 years a union welder at the Middletown works of Armco Steel in Ohio. Abdul says that men like this, men like you, men like your father and grandfather and your son were bigots. He said my Papaw, one of the greatest men that I have ever known, the man who raised me when my own mom and dad struggled, was incapable and he said this, go and look it up, that my Papaw was incapable of loving my darling wife and our amazing second lady for the simple fact that he was white and she is not. Abdul said this despite being raised in part by his own white step grandfathers and I can only imagine if he says that in public what he says about you when the cameras aren't on. So deep is Sayed's contempt for this nation that he lies about the most fundamental parts of who he is. He's introduced himself and I quote as an immigrant from North Africa. Well ladies and gentlemen, I think that while we love anybody who wants to make a better life in this country, you ought to be damn proud of coming from the state of Michigan and you ought to sing it from the rooftops. But you can't make this up. He invented a totally fictitious background for himself, not as a Michigander born an hour north of where we stand today, but as a foreigner who came here from 6,000 miles away. What does it say about your love of your community when you literally lie? You are so ashamed of this place that you lie about where you came from. Now if you look at his history, he's told similar lies across his career. For over a decade he has falsely claimed himself as a dual citizen of Egypt just to sound less American. My friends, ask yourself this. Why? Why would he lie? What is it that animates Abdul El Sayed and drives him to seek public office? It is not the well-being of his fellow Americans. It's not the hopes or aspirations of the amazing auto workers of Detroit or the students of Ann Arbor or families in Flint. No. What excites him is this prospect of wielding the power of a country he hates. He wants to litigate ancient grievances with your tax dollars and he wants to use the grievances of faraway lands to punish you. Well I say on November the 3rd, send a message to Abdul El-Sayed. Punish him. Don't send him to Washington D.C.

Vance: El-Sayed Should "Shut His Mouth And Show A Little Gratitude To The Country That Gave Him Everything"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:45:23 -0500

Vice President JD Vance called out Michigan Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed for "hatred in his heart" at a campaign rally for Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers. "I feel bad for Abdul El Sayed," Vance said on Thursday. "Because I don't understand. I don't understand how this man could have so much hatred in his heart for the people and the places that gave him so much opportunity. I don't know why he resents the things that he does. Perhaps it's because he sees them as too white or too proud or too American. But what I do know is this."

VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE: Will you accept someone who says that we should defund the police? Will you accept somebody who says that we have to abandon Detroit's most vulnerable citizens, black and white, to the criminals, rather than empowering our police to go after those criminals? Ladies and gentlemen, I know you. I know this state. And for all the ribbon I give you as an Ohio guy, the fundamental reality is that we are cut from the same cloth. All of this. And all of this crap from El Sayed. The contempt for our heritage. The excuse making for terrorists. The saying we deserve 9-11. This is not who you are. You are a state with a proud history. You are the state that when Americans needed an arsenal during the Second World War, this state said aye-aye and they went and got to work. This state brought together 40,000 workers under one roof on an assembly line a mile long. Americans who were black and white. They were from eastern Kentucky and the Mississippi Delta. Men and women alike. All working together to build the new B-24 bomber every single hour on repeat. You look at this, and how can you not feel proud of it? How can you not say our family, our people, our Michigan workers built that? But Abdul El Sayed looks at them and says, They're bigots. Your grandparents. Your great-grandparents. The men and women who transformed Michigan into the industrial capital, not of the United States, but of the world. And Abdul wants you to be ashamed of that heritage. But Michigan, take it from me, you have got nothing to be ashamed of. Let's be proud of Michigan, and let's vote for Mike Rogers. You don't need to be ashamed of your ancestors. Don't be ashamed of the factories they built. Don't be ashamed of Friday night football. Don't be ashamed of fireworks on Independence Day. And most certainly, do not be ashamed of Mackinac Island. You know, I'll be honest with you. I feel bad for Abdul El Sayed. Because I don't understand. I don't understand how this man could have so much hatred in his heart for the people and the places that gave him so much opportunity. I don't know why he resents the things that he does. Perhaps it's because he sees them as too white or too proud or too American. But what I do know is this. That Michigan deserves better. You deserve better than a little weasel who should shut his mouth and show a little gratitude to the country that gave him everything. You deserve a senator who is grateful to this country. You deserve a senator who spent his life serving it, in uniform and out. You deserve a senator who looks at this state and sees something to protect and to build upon, not something to apologize for. Ladies and gentlemen, you deserve Senator Abdul El Sayed.

Britain's Online Speech Crackdown: Arrested Over Memes That Cause "Anxiety"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:28:23 -0500

"Full Measure" host Sharyl Attkisson looks at the UK's Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, which has unleashed what many consider disturbing policing of online speech.

FULL MEASURE: It's a focal point of national discussion: online hate, misinformation, and what constitutes each. While many Americans still consider the First Amendment near-absolute for free speech, Britain has taken a starkly different approach. Its Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, was billed as protection for kids. But it's unleashed what many consider disturbing policing of online speech. And it comes with a warning for us. A caution, some viewers may find this content graphic. Surveillance footage shows a killer arriving at a dance studio in Southport, England where he stabbed to death three little girls, and injured 12 others, slashing one six-year-old 122 times and trying to cut off her head. The murderer, British-born Axel Rudakubana, the son of Rwandans who entered the UK illegally and were granted asylum. Tensions surrounding immigration and violence were already high the stabbings prompted riots. Jamie Michael, a former Royal Marine and father of two young daughters, took to Facebook with a call to action. SHARYL ATTKISON: What did you post that got you in trouble? JAMIE MICHAEL: I posted a 12-minute video asking, calling on the community to come together and have a meeting so that we can discuss safety measures for the schools and parks. Jamie Michael social media post (July 31, 2024): Wise up people, wise up. We are under attack. I told you this was going to happen three months ago, okay. SHARYL ATTKISON: Police soon showed up at his workplace in Wales- and arrested him. Police officer (Aug. 9, 2024): The time is 12:55 and I'm arresting you on suspicion of indecent racial hatred. JAMIE MICHAEL: I was filming for my own safety and for my own evidence and they just quickly said that I had been posting stuff on Facebook that could be indecent racial hatred they actually said that I'd had terrorist intentions, that's what was on the police report. SHARYL ATTKISON: While he was in jail, Michael says, officials altered a transcript of his Facebook video-to make it look like he'd admitted to starting a riot. Yet he'd said no such thing. JAMIE MICHAEL: So I put my hand up in the court to say, you know, 'things are wrong,' wanted to say that 'that's wrong and this is wrong,' and the judge literally shouted me down, said, 'Sit down.' He said, 'This isn't a place for you to speak.' And I was like, 'Wow.' SHARYL ATTKISON: Eventually, a civil liberties group took up Michael's defense. A jury found him not guilty. TalkTVUK video (Feb. 8, 2025): And ironically, it took a jury last week just 17 minutes to acquit him of any criminal offense. And we need to have a serious look at the laws that govern free speech in this country. SHARYL ATTKISON: After jail time and months of anguish, Michael says he's still dealing with a destroyed reputation. JAMIE MICHAEL: So it's crappy. It's crap what they're doing to people and it wasn't just me. They jailed hundreds at the time for nothing. SHARYL ATTKISON: Businesswoman Bernie Spofforth's saga also began after the Southport stabbings. BERNIE SPOFFORTH: I was taken to the police station and held for 36 hours like a terrorist. Held for 36 hours. SHARYL ATTKISON: She shared the identity of a supposed suspect circulating online: asylum seeker Ali Al-Shakati. She didn't know it, but someone had made up the name. Days later, police came for her, too. What were they trying to prove? BERNIE SPOFFORTH: Malicious communications and making up communications in a racist way. SHARYL ATTKISON: They thought you fabricated the suspect's name? BERNIE SPOFFORTH: They thought they thought I'd made the name up in order to create hate and to incite violence, which of course, of course I didn't do. And yes, my post was incorrect, but there were thousands and thousands of posts all over Telegram, Signal, Facebook, everywhere, that same name, but they decided to arrest me. And they arrived, five of them were police cars with a van to put me in the back like a prisoner. I was incredibly distressed because I just could not believe this was happening to me. 'Look, I've made a mistake. I said I'd made a mistake. I apologized for the mistake. I showed you how it happened. You can't possibly be arresting me.' SHARYL ATTKISON: It's a 2023 British law that's largely responsible: the Online Safety Act. The government framed it as vital to protecting children. But Claire Fox says shocking provisions in the fine print outlaw speech that harms. She was one of the only legislators who opposed it. CLAIRE FOX: And in this particular bill, the Online Safety Act, they then stressed, 'Well, no, when we say 'harm,' we don't mean physical harm, we mean psychological harm.' Psychological harm is an elastic term that's become inflated beyond any recognition, which basically says, you know, anything can be harmful. SHARYL ATTKISON: 'You hurt my feelings.' CLAIRE FOX: 'You hurt my feelings.' And that's what happened through the online safety bill. And that became institutionalized in law. SHARYL ATTKISON: Comedy writer Graham Linehan was also arrested after posting that men in female-only spaces are committing a violent, abusive act. "Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls, he wrote. He later released audio of his arrest. Police: Calm down Linehan: I will calm right down but if you cuff me I swear to God I'll be a problem. You don't f***ing cuff me. For standing up for women's rights don't f***ing cuff me. And British Army veteran Darren Brady was arrested for making an unnamed person anxious by sharing this image of gay pride flags in a swastika. Police: Because someone has been caused anxiety based on your social media post. That's why you're being arrested. SHARYL ATTKISON: Police in England and Wales arrested more than 12,000 people in 2023 alone for violating communications law. Not only for obvious incitement to violence but also for private messages and direct chats deemed to persistently cause "annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety." The controversy has inspired scathing parodies like this: Parody video: You're under arrest for daring to criticize immigration on the internet. We wanted to hear from Ofcom, the UK office tasked with making life safer online. Ofcom video: And we also protect people who are online. Setting out rules and making sure services and measures are in place to protect their users from harm. Oliver Griffiths oversees online safety regulations at Ofcom's London offices. He insists big drivers in the arrests are social media companies because they're too slow to remove posts. OLIVER GRIFFITHS: So we made an announcement last month where we had seen that there was just far too much illegal content on X. That people were reporting it and it was taking far too long to come down. And so they've made commitments to us that they will be taking down the vast majority of this within 24 hours. And I think that's a really important step forward for us. As arrests mount, some are pushing to change the law. Freespeechunion.org video: The number of cases the Free Speech Union has fought since it was set up in February 2020 has just surpassed 5,000. Demand for our services has never been greater. We get about 75 requests for help a week. Sir Iain Duncan Smith is on the conservative side in Parliament. IAIN DUNCAN SMITH: I'm definitely certain that we've gone way too far now in over-interpreting hate crime and figuring out who's more likely to be offend or not offend. SHARYL ATTKISON: You think there's enough sentiment in parliament to do something about this? IAIN DUNCAN SMITH: I know on the conservative benches and I know even probably on the liberal benches there is a sense that something has gone wrong with all of this. SHARYL ATTKISON: Member of Parliament Alex Ballinger is with the Labour Party, the UK's version of progressive Democrats. What are your thoughts on the idea that there could be a perception, the government could be reaching too far and trying to control, what we would consider free speech in the states? ALEX BILLINGER: I don't think there's overreach. I think it's been slightly exaggerated in the American media. We're enforcing the law. There have been concerns that the police have been going too far in some cases, hence the number of acquittals, and I think in the last year or so, you've seen them change the guidelines over what they prosecuted. Many fewer people are being prosecuted. But if you would expect to be arrested by the police for doing that in the streets, you should be expected the police to look at you if you're doing that online. SHARYL ATTKISON: This whole debate may feel foreign in the United States, but cracks are also appearing in America's free-speech protections. In July, police in Fort Worth, Texas actually told street preachers at a gay pride event that it's against the law to offend. Officer: If someone is offended by your talking, then we have a problem. No, if they are offended by your speech. Ok then I'll write you a ticket and we'll go from there. Street preacher: Wait. You're going to ticket us for offensive speech? Officer: Yes absolutely Street preacher: Are you serious? Fort Worth police later admitted the officers were wrong, and announced First Amendment refresher training. SHARYL ATTKISON: In the UK, Michael and Spofforth weren't convicted, but endured jail time, legal costs, public stigma, and career damage. What do you see in the near future for British citizens? SPOFFORTH: I think Britain has a massive problem and I've heard people say, if everybody just says what they think, they can't put us all in prison,- that's true. But they don't need to put you in prison, do they? They just cut off your access. Or, "I'm sorry, you can't hire a car because, yeah, you've got two bad marks against you and a respect order And that's the danger. It's just about trying to quash any dissent, any dissenting views. That is what's happening in the UK. SHARYL ATTKISON: Starting later this month, police in England and Wales can use a civil Respect Order to ban people from speech that causes-quote- harassment, alarm or distress. Violating it is a crime that can be tried by a magistrate without a jury

El-Sayed: Israel Dragged Us Into War; "Has That Made Us Any Safer? Has That Improved Our Lives?"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:33:21 -0500

In a new interview in battleground Michigan, NBC News' Tom Llamas interviews Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed about whether Israel or Iran poses the bigger threat in the U.S. El Sayed declined to answer the question during a debate earlier in October.

TOM LLAMAS: You were asked this question in the debate, but I do want to get an answer. You were asked, what is a bigger threat to the U.S., Israel or Iran? You said it was a ridiculous hypothetical. [CROSSTALK] ABDUL EL-SAYED: Why are we in a war in Iran? LLAMAS: Do you think that Israel is a bigger threat than Iran to the United States? EL-SAYED: Why are we at war with Iran right now? LLAMAS: The president says they were building a nuclear weapon. EL-SAYED: Well, it's also, who was the one foreign operative, somebody who works for a foreign government, who was invited to the Situation Room to pitch the case? Do you know? LLAMAS: You're talking about Israel? It was the prime minister of Israel. EL-SAYED: So if your ally, ostensibly, is getting you into a war, does that make you safer? LLAMAS: So you do think Israel is as big of a threat? [CROSSTALK] LLAMAS: I just want to nail you down on this. Do you think they are equally a threat to the U.S.? EL-SAYED: When we look at our situation in the world because of what Israel is pushing us into. We should never have fought a war with Iran. I agree that Iran is a dangerous threat. That's not a question. But I also think that when you ostensibly have an ally that's pushing you into war with the country that is threatening you, that does not make you any safer. LLAMAS: So you think they're as dangerous? I just want to understand you. EL-SAYED: Look at this war. I'm telling you exactly what I think. You just don't seem to think that I'm telling you that. LLAMAS: No, I get it. Let me just explain my point. EL-SAYED: We are in a war we should not be fighting. Israel had very clear war aims. They wanted the annexation of southern Lebanon. They wanted to continue to pursue what is a bigger boundary around themselves. Has that made us any safer? Has that improved our lives? We're paying $5 gas. We're paying more for groceries because of a war we should not be fighting at the behest of whom? The government of Israel. So do you want to tell me that that's somehow good for us? I just don't think that's the case. So the question about Iran is not a question. Yes. They have been a dangerous threat. Now, the question to me is -- LLAMAS: You think they're both a threat? EL-SAYED: Yes. Look, last month alone, we paid $2.8 billion for 2,000 pound bombs for a foreign government. Do you think that makes us safer? Is that good for us? What could we do with $2.8 billion? I'd rather spend it on our schools here. I'd rather spend it on our infrastructure here. To tell me that somehow that is what you do with an ally, it just seems to me to be insane, especially when they're dragging you into wars you have no business fighting, that you end up paying more for in gas and groceries.

Trump On Campaigning For Paxton In Texas: "I'll Go Back, If It's Necessary"

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:24:16 -0500

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would return to Texas to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton "if it's necessary."

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We have a good guy. Look, Ken Paxton's a guy that whether you like Ken or not, honestly, I mean, I understand some people are controversial, etc. I don't happen to be a controversial person. So I'm very happy. But Ken is a little bit controversial. The one thing about him, he may have been the best attorney general in this country for many, many years. He was amazing as the attorney general. He was you don't get better. He was the top of the list or certainly in a very small group of attorney generals. He was probably the best in the history of Texas. The things he did on voter fraud, the things he did on covid. And he did tremendous work and he wasn't afraid to do it either. So you have to give somebody a lot of credit for that. He was the best attorney general in the history of Texas. He was certainly right now one of the best attorney generals in our country. You got to give him a lot of points for that. So hopefully he's going to win. I'd see the they pulled a pretty even now. And we had a great rally in Texas. I'll go back if it's necessary.

Former AOC Comms Director: Democrats Need To Prove That This Is The Party That Should Be In Charge

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:51:53 -0500

Corbin Trent, former communications director for U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, appeared on CNN on Thursday and said that Democrats need to decide if they are going to be a progressive FDR party or a status quo Clinton party. "Is it the Bill Clinton Democratic Party that shows up in Washington or is it the FDR Democratic Party that shows up? And I think the FDR Democratic Party is the one that sent us on to generational majorities and supermajorities. And the Bill Clinton party is the one that sort of preceded, you know, thousands and thousands of losses across this country,"

BRIANNA KEILER, CNN ANCHOR: We're joined now by Corbin Trent, he served as Communications Director for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. He's also host of the show, A Fight Worth Having. Corbin, thank you so much for being with us. We see AOC campaigning there for Abdul El-Sayed. What's her objective, if you had to distill it down? CORBIN TRENT, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: Help win that race, help get a majority in the Senate, I think that's the way I would distill it. She's also helped with Angie Nixon in Florida. You're seeing basically everybody that's got a deep connection to the Democratic Party and high favorability showing up in Michigan, whether it's Barack Obama, Harris, or Alexandria. That's a useful, super good thing. I think this election is going to come down to turnout, sort of whichever team scores the most points I guess wins the game is obvious, but I think what's driving the polls is a depression among Republican voters, more than Republican voters switching to Democrats. But I think what's going to be really important for us as a party and as a nation is if the Democrats do take the House and the Senate, what we do with that trust that the American people have given us. Right now, you were just talking in the previous segment about how low Trump's approval ratings is around all the policies that he's promoting, but the thing that's nearly as bad in terms of favorability is the Democratic Party. It just happens to be less unpopular than Republican Party and Trump, right? So we've still got work to do as a party to prove that this is the party that should be in charge. KEILER: Okay, so it sounds like you see her sort of building the excitement, trying to up that turnout there. She did make a direct appeal to Republicans. I mean, you said it's not maybe necessarily about flipping Republicans, but she made a direct appeal to Republicans. She said she hoped they were in the room. If that's you, I want to welcome you here. She said, I want to thank you for keeping an open mind and an open ear, stressing we're better together than we are apart. Is she the right messenger for that? Do you think Republicans are open to hearing from AOC? TRENT: I think any American is going to have a lot of convincing to do to rebuild our trust in our government, to rebuild our trust in politicians. One of the things that's also leading the polls as far as one thing that concerns people is corruption in our government. We have massive amounts of corruption and right now it's running sort of unchecked at an unparalleled rate, but it's been a problem for a long time. So I think absolutely people like Alexandria, people like Bernie, people like Barack Obama, Harris, anybody out there that can say, hey, we need to do something differently. We need to restore confidence in our government and our elected officials and then follow through with that. I think that's going to be the, you know, everybody's heard the wind blow. The question is going to be what happens if we win? Do we start holding people accountable? Do we start actually implementing policies that can reduce the burden on people as far as affordability goes? You know, or do we just increase interest rates and try to make poor people poorer? And I think that's what's going to come down to, you know, this election's coming up in a couple of weeks now. The question is what happens when the rubber meets the road in January? How do Democrats go about winning the hearts and minds back of the people that were Obama Trump voters or Bernie Trump voters? You know, how do we win those people back? Like here in East Tennessee, you got Jerry Green running for governors. You got, in my district, Michaela Barnett running in Tennessee, too. You've got Marquetta Bradshaw running for Tennessee Senate against, you know, against a wacko who is Marcia Blackburn, who's done some really incredible ads, I think, as far as just embarrassing herself. And there is an opportunity for the Democrats to reclaim places like West Virginia, Tennessee, Texas. And I hope we don't mess that up. And I think we can. I think we can go forward bringing people out like Alexandria, like Bernie, like Barack Obama, and then doing something for the American people when we take the Senate and the House back in January. KEILER: The question about what kind of Democrat can win, right, in some of these races. And the New York Times reported that it obtained an audio recording from a recent closed-door fundraiser that AOC attended. The Times quoting her saying, if Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere. And describing this particular race as part of a generational project for the progressive movement. If he does win this seat, do you think a progressive is more likely to become the Democratic nominee in 2028? Do you think that that makes it more likely that AOC might be finding a window or a door there to walk through? How are you seeing this race? TRENT: Sure. Yeah, I mean, I think that that changes the people's calculus of what they think is possible. The over to the window of who can win, for sure. But I really do think it comes down to which party shows up in the speakership, which party shows up in Senate majority leader, if we get the majority. I think that if it stays like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, and it's more of the same, people trying to claw back what we had when Trump won the second time, trying to get back to where we were then, then I think that does less for the American people's trust and faith in the Democratic Party as the solution. My analysis is that voters have been going looking for transformative change. That's what drew them to Barack Obama in 2007. I think that's what drew them to Bernie Sanders. And I think that's what drew them to Donald Trump twice now, is that they they're looking for something substantially different than what's being delivered. So, yes, I think Abdul winning in Michigan is going to go. You know, it's going to definitely take us in a step towards that direction. But what really matters is which Democratic Party shows up. Is it the Bill Clinton Democratic Party that shows up in Washington or is it the FDR Democratic Party that shows up? And I think the FDR Democratic Party is the one that sent us on to generational majorities and supermajorities. And the Bill Clinton party is the one that sort of preceded, you know, thousands and thousands of losses across this country.

Talarico: "I'm A Border Security Democrat," We Need Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:30:20 -0500

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico explains his view on immigration and immigration enforcement at CNN/Jubilee town hall event.

TINA LOREN, AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes, ma'am. Thank you. My name is Tina Loren, and I protect firefighter families from the unexpected. I'm also a Miss Texas United. TALARICO: Wow. LOREN: And my question for you is that your Senate term would extend beyond President Trump. TALARICO: Yeah. LOREN: So what would you do and what federal laws would you support to ensure that border security was durable regardless of what party was in the White House? And then if or when someone enters our country illegally, and they have no basis to stay, should federal law require that they be removed from our country? TALARICO: So I think Texans understand this issue of immigration better than most people around the country because we live with it. We live with the challenges, and we live with the benefits. And I've said before that both political parties have failed us on this issue. Joe Biden failed us during his administration by not securing the border. I remember talking to my colleagues in the state legislature who represent border communities, and they were telling me about the utter chaos along our southern border during the Biden administration. That's unacceptable. But now we've seen under this administration a different kind of extremism. We've seen masked men in unmarked vehicles kidnapping our neighbors off our street. We were told that ICE was going to go after violent criminals, and I support that. If you're an undocumented immigrant and you commit a violent crime, you should be deported immediately. But that's not what they're doing. They're going after Uber drivers. They're going after small business owners. They're going after grandmothers and infants. ICE should be focused on going after the cartels, not our communities. They should be going after violent gang members, not moms and babies. And so, I think we've got to get to a place where we reject the extremism on this issue in both parties and finally pass comprehensive immigration reform. And here's what I think that should include. One, it should include border security. I'm a border security Democrat. I think we should know who's coming into our country. And in fact, in the state legislature, I worked on this issue. I authored a bill as a state representative to modernize our ports of entry because 93 percent of the fentanyl that comes into Texas comes through our ports of entry. And we don't have the technology or the manpower to stop it. I rolled out a common sense border security plan that was endorsed by Democratic and Republican law enforcement officials along our southern border, calling for more border patrol agents, calling for better surveillance technology so we can detect unauthorized crossings. I also think that that comprehensive immigration reform package should include more legal pathways for hardworking immigrants who want to come here and contribute to our economy and make us richer and stronger as a nation, as immigrants have always done. You wouldn't be at a town hall for a guy with the last name Talarico if this was not a nation of immigrants. We all have that immigrant story somewhere in our backgrounds. And then lastly, I think we have to build a pathway to citizenship for our neighbors who have been here for years and decades. They should pay a fine. They should pay back taxes. They should learn English. And if they can do all those things, I think they deserve a shot at joining our communities as full citizens. That's what I want to see from a comprehensive immigration reform package. I hope to fight for it in the United States Senate. BURNETT: So we have obviously, from where I sit, we've been covering ICE-involved apprehensions, as well as ICE-involved shootings over the past year. And a lot of them have been tragic and touched to so many. Earlier this year, after the Minnesota ICE shooting of Renee Good, you said and I quote you, Representative, It is time to tear down this secret police force and replace it. That was actually in your Senate primary debate back in January. Your current immigration plan as you -- as you lay it out does not go quite that far, right? It does not actually abolish ICE, if that's what -- but tear down the secret police force. So I'm trying to understand where you stand on this issue, so important to Texas and the country. TALARICO: Yeah. BURNETT: Do you support abolishing ICE or not? TALARICO: No and I never had have. We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country.

AOC Campaigns For El-Sayed: Once You Elect One Person, People Will Catch On And Elect More People Like That

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:21:57 -0500

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed campaigned on Thursday with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in Escanaba, MI on his "Shouldn't Be This Hard" town hall tour. Earlier this month, AOC told donors if "Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere."

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): Abdul is not a typical politician. He's not a typical candidate. Because we see what is happening out here. We know how ugly things can get right before an election. And we see all of the terrible, divisive, angry things that go out there. And the reality is, that's all being done. Because he doesn't take their money. And so, they have to link it. Airwaves, stuff in people's mailboxes, in trying to get you to think of some caricature, so that you close your ears before you even hear what this man has to say. Because if you actually hear what Abdul is saying, we will challenge the status quo and politics as usual in America. Abdul doesn't use a dime in lobbyist money from anybody. Abdul doesn't take money from the pharmaceutical lobbyists, from the insurance lobbyists. He doesn't take money from Wall Street. And what he says, is that if working people come together across geography, race, difference, and fight, so that we all can guarantee healthcare in America, so that we all can support our schools in America, and we all take on these monopolies that are driving up our prices and making our lives impossible, then we will have a better world, and a fairer shape. And because once you elect one person like that, people will then catch on, and we will start electing more people like that. And so, there's a lot of money and a lot of interest in making sure that nobody can open their ears or their eyes to even give this guy a shot. But what he's doing out here is choosing to take that on head-on and be vulnerable, and also to actually engage with the people of Michigan before an election, which is how politics is supposed to be. But how many times have we heard about people... I mean, truly, how many town halls do you see the average member of the United States Senate doing? None. I mean, I don't know the numbers, but I wonder how many real town halls someone like Mike Rogers did when he was elected office. So, what we're seeing right now is not a promise of how he's going to be.

Scott Jennings: It May Sound Like Cold Comfort, But Grocery Prices Are Down 1.8% Year Over Year

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:25:50 -0500

Scott Jennings on CNN debated the recent decrease in grocery prices:

SCOTT JENNINGS: Now the gas prices are killing him. Diesel is a major problem, and we've certainly debated out here. The antidote to that and all the different ideas that are floating around out there, but when it comes to food inflation at the grocery store, he actually has a point that's may sound cold comfort to people who saw massive price increases during the Biden years, but after two years of Trump, the grocery inflation is actually less than the 20 year historic average. And in the last month it edged down a tick.

Stephen Miller: A "Manchurian Candidate" Is Running In Michigan, El-Sayed's Allegiance Is To Jihad And Not America

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:19:42 -0500

White House advisor Stephen Miller spoke with FNC's Sean Hannity about the extremism of several Democrat candidates for the Senate. Miller focused on Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed:

STEPHEN MILLER: No, they are not going to get away with it. And part of what President Trump is doing with his historic barnstorming tour across the country is putting the words, the records, the comments, the histories and the votes of these extremist candidates before the American people. Sean, this is the most radical, crazy, lunatic, maniac group of candidates ever to run for federal office. Look at El Sayed in Michigan. His own sister says that their family are part of the Muslim brotherhood. The radical jihadists organization that spawned Islamic terrorism. In other words, that is the group that is the forebearer to these Islamic terrorism that is spread all across the middle East and the world including Al Qaeda. So you have a Manchurian candidate running in Michigan. Somebody who is allegiance is not to this country, but to jihadist violence and extremism who will not condemn the most vile acts and the most violent organizations in the world.

Byron York: Kamala Harris Doing The "Bare Minimum" To Stay Relevant If She Chooses To Run

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:06:15 -0500

FOX News contributor Byron York questioned Kamala Harris' strategy for the 2028 election cycle:

BYRON YORK: She's reading the polls just like everybody else, and so she's predicting a Democrat victory. It seems like she's doing the bare minimum to stay relevant, if she chooses to run. She's doing some campaigning. It's a little bit late. She is still in the name recognition leadership position in the Democratic race. But the fact is, Democrats don't renominate their failed former nominees. They have done it once in the last 120 years, with Adlai Stephenson 1956 and it didn't work. I don't think they will do it this time either.

Begala: Talarico Is Running Away From The Left, Sees The Real Energy In The Democratic Party Is In The Center

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:58:40 -0500

CNN Political Commentator Paul Begala reacted to James Talarico's Townhall performance and his distancing from the left wing of the Democrat Party:

PAUL BEGALA: This is like the thing that makes my head explode when when stupid people on other networks say all the energy is on the left in the Democratic party really? really? He's running away from the left like the devil runs from holy water. He is moderate, centrist, that's where the energy is, that's where the winning is. That's where the voters are. James Talarico knows that and I think other democrats ought to take a look at him and lots of other Democrats around the country and see that the real energy in this country and in my party is in the center and that's exactly what Talarico is doing tonight.

TX Voter vs. Talarico on Funding Ukraine War: "Why Should We Focus Our Financials On Foreign Wars?"

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:23:48 -0500

During a CNN/Jubilee town hall on Wednesday, Rep. James Talarico (D-TX) was asked why the U.S. should continue sending money to Ukraine rather than helping Americans.

PAUL WULLER, COLLEGE STUDENT: Hi, Representative. TALARICO: Hi. WULLER: Hi, Representative Talarico. TALARICO: Hi. WULLER: My name is Paul Wuller. I'm currently a senior at Southern Methodist University. TALARICO: Wonderful. WULLER: And an issue that I really want to talk to you about today is international relations. I know when I go to your website and I read your policy stances, I see that you want to continue supporting Ukraine and you want to broker a peace deal between Israel and Gaza. I guess I get concerned when I look at how much money we've sent to Ukraine over the many years this war has been going on. And then I turn around and look at my own community, and I see homeless people living under a bridge and begging for money. Why should we focus our financials on foreign wars rather than our own citizens first? TALARICO: Well, you know, the -- the real drain on our resources is this disastrous war in Iran. And it's why I've called for this war to come to a close because not only is it costing us a billion dollars a day, not only is it driving up gas prices and diesel prices here at home, but it is also killing our brave men and women in uniform -- WULLER: Yeah. TALARICO: -- including one of our own, our fellow Texans, Private Isabella Gonzales, who grew up right here in DFW. She graduated from Hebron High School. She was 19 years old when she was killed by an Iranian airstrike in Jordan. Isabella died a hero, died a patriot. We should be grateful for her service and her sacrifice, but our gratitude for her service should not be mistaken for an acceptance of her death. We should not be sending our brave men and women off to die in another forever war in the Middle East. Our service members love this country. It's time for this country to start loving them back. WULLER: I completely agree. (APPLAUSE) WULLER: I completely agree with that. But I do just want to bring the question back to Ukraine. TALARICO: Yeah. WULLER: Why should we send all this money to Ukraine? And Ukraine has done a phenomenal job defending themselves -- TALARICO: Yeah. WULLER: -- since it feels like forever at this point. Why shouldn't we invest that money first and foremost in our local communities and help fellow Texans? TALARICO: Well, I think we learned back in the Second World War that when we failed to stand up to an aggressor in Europe, that comes back to haunt us. And we need to strengthen Ukraine. We need to strengthen our NATO allies as they stand up to Russian aggression, so we don't have to. So, in some ways, I see this as a cost-saving measure. If we can stop this aggression, if we can stop Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, then we're not going to have to stop him elsewhere. And I always think we got to be good stewards of our taxpayer funds. We got to be strategic when it comes to any investments abroad. I think what we're doing in Ukraine is a good investment. I think it will save us money in the long run, but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't always examine it and ensure that we are using taxpayer dollars in the most efficient and effective way possible. WULLER: Absolutely. And I want to kind of just follow up on that. TALARICO: Yeah. WULLER: So, I looked -- this past weekend, when Trump announced that he wants to start buying Russian oil again, do you think that economic and military together should work together? TALARICO: Yes. WULLER: Or should we primarily focus on just one or the other? Which is more important? TALARICO: No, we should identify what our objectives are, and then we should align our military and economic strategy to achieve those objectives. And I think my biggest complaint about the administration's policies in Iran or when it comes to buying Russian oil is that those objectives aren't clear, or those objectives keep changing. And there's no way that you can -- you can steer our foreign policy without clear goals. And so, no, I think this decision to enable and appease Vladimir Putin is a mistake. And I have actually outlined a different policy that could bring down gas prices. I have said that we should immediately suspend the federal gas tax and the federal diesel tax, which would drop the price of gas by 18 cents a gallon tomorrow, and it would save those who use diesel about $200 a year. I know that's not enough, but it could provide some immediate relief now, as we bring this war in Iran to a close. (BELL RINGS) WULLER: Thank you. TALARICO: Thank you.

Victor Davis Hanson: Do Republicans Have Enough Time? They Definitely Are Getting Momentum Now

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:20:03 -0500

Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson argued on "Hannity" that Republicans have an opportunity to defy expectations in the midterm election.

SEAN HANNITY: All right, joining us now with reaction to the race in Maine and other critical races across the country. We have Hoover Institution's senior fellow, Victor Davis Hanson, is here. I will tell you, if you look at Mike Rogers and his debate, Darline Graham and her debate, Susan Collins and her debate, Bruce Blakeman and his debate, Republicans are crushing it in these debates, and I think they're helping themselves a lot. OK, if you believe the polls, Abdul El-Sayed would have won the primary in Michigan by 20 points. He won by barely a point. If you believe the polls between 20 and 30 points, Francesca Hong would have won. I am telling people not to trust the polls, but I will ask you, the great Victor Davis Hanson, as you look at Maine and New Hampshire and North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, as you look at Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, Alaska, what are you seeing? Iowa would be another one. VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: Something's definitely going on. I mean, for a supposed blue wave, Sean, there's these races in Minnesota and Maine and Michigan and Oregon and New York, whether Senate or gubernatorial, they shouldn't be so close. And when you add in the second factor that in the last three elections, the pollsters have been off by three to five to the detriment of Republicans. So I think it's a question of time. Can the Republicans get the right message out, and they're doing pretty well? Do they have enough time, and do they have enough money? And one thing that's in their favor is, at least they're authentic. They're not erasing their social media accounts. They're not trying to double back and say, I really didn't mean that. They are what they are. But their opponents are starting to panic because, basically, they have an agenda that's about 40% approval, and they know it, and they know if they can get elected, then they will announce what they said in the campaign and reveal their true self. So the challenge for the Republicans is, can I show the people who they really are? And these are not authentic people during the campaign, and they stand for positions and issues and ideologies that are incompatible in the United States. And that's why four or five million people leave blue states every year where they're in charge to red states. And that's why they erase their social media accounts, and that's why they said, I need contacts. I really didn't mean that. So it's just a matter of they have enough time, because they definitely have them getting momentum now.

Vance on Omar: We Have Rarely Had A Person In Congress With Such Disdain Of A Country That Gave Her A Better Life

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:58:39 -0500

Vice President JD Vance told FOX News Digital that the administration will find out if Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) committed a crime after Homeland Security Investigations raided her Washington, D.C. home.

VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE: To the question of it being unprecedented, I mean, what I'd say is that Ilhan Omar herself is a very unprecedented person. We have very rarely had a person in Congress who seems to have such disdain and such rage at the country that gave her a better life. Now, that's not a crime. But we're going to see whether she did commit a crime. And if she did, we're obviously going to follow the law.

Ossoff: Trump Has Cemented His Legacy In American History As A Failure And Disgrace, Vance Will Go Down As A Footnote

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:44:14 -0500

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) told MS NOW host Chris Hayes on Wednesday that if Democrats win control of the Senate in November, their immediate priorities "include repeal of the tariffs and end to the war, repeal of the Medicaid cuts, restoration of Affordable Care Act benefits."

CHRIS HAYES, MS NOW HOST: We live in very strong, very strange times in the discourse and just in the time that I've covered politics, particularly on television the last 10 years in the age of Trump. And I'm just struck by the way that J.D. Vance and the President are sort of closing this race. So you've got the President of the United States calling Abdul El-Sayed a jihadist and just using the name Mohammed about him. No, it's a middle name. But you got J.D. Vance, basically like his thing now is calling Talarico gay, I guess. He's said this multiple times. You're sort of in the mix in this world. What do you think about the level of rhetoric and the kind of rhetoric that has become as made so sort of commonplace by the president on down his party at this point? SEN. JON OSSOFF (D-GA): Look, obviously, it is bigoted and offensive, but it's also so politically feeble and weak. Forty percent of Americans are going without food or health care to afford gas and they're throwing around schoolyard insults and taunts. And it's getting them nowhere with an American public that has decisively turned against this administration. The Trump presidency has failed. Donald Trump has cemented his legacy in American history as a failure and a disgrace. J.D. Vance will go down as a footnote in that disgrace. And right now, the moment is at hand for the American people to use the power that we have as citizens to rebuke these abuses so decisively that no president will dare anything like this again for centuries. HAYES: This is a question of rebuking the abuses. We had an MS NOW member who posted this question, which was very in line with what I've been thinking. You know, politics is at some level, it can be zero-sum insofar as you have to focus on one thing and not focus on another. And focusing is an act of attention in one place and not a place in another. Prioritization, like what legislation do you move first? What do you move second? And one of the sort of paths before a possible Senate Democratic majority is meaningful legislation, reform, solution to everyday problems like the ones you outlined in that debate, but also accountability, abuses of power, threats to democracy. How do you think about those trade-offs and your own priorities were you to become the member of a Senate majority in January? OSSOFF: Look, immediate policy priorities include repeal of the tariffs and end to the war, repeal of the Medicaid cuts, restoration of Affordable Care Act benefits. Those are things that can immediately relieve the American people's economic suffering. But there does have to be accountability. And I want to be clear that when I say accountability, I don't mean vengeance. I don't mean something punitive and partisan. But we're a nation of laws in which our Constitution vests the Congress with vital oversight functions. And when we face abuses of power and corruption of this magnitude, literally unprecedented in the history of the American presidency, as members of Congress, we have an obligation to investigate and to ensure that those facts become public and that there's accountability for misdeeds.

Trump: Mike Rogers Is "Apple Pie," "We Don't Need The Muslim Brotherhood As A Senator"

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:29:16 -0500

President Donald Trump praised Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and criticized Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a press gaggle in Bullhead City, Arizona.

REPORTER: Are you concerned about Abdul El-Sayed's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yeah, he's a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Abdul, or as I call him Mohamed, Mohammed El-Sayed. He's a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He said that years ago. He was a proud member, and you can't have a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Congress being on one of our security committees, right? But he is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. And you have in Mike Rogers, such an amazing candidate. He's apple pie. He's all apple pie. And that's what our country needs. We don't need the Muslim Brotherhood as a senator.

Hume: Should Trump Be Front And Center With 36% Approval?

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:28:12 -0500

FOX News chief political analyst Brit Hume questioned whether President Donald Trump's high-profile campaigning is helping the party given his low approval rating.

BRET BAIER: Well, senators and challengers debate President Trump's policies as we get closer to the midterm elections. If you look at the debates that happened last night, you just saw that piece from Grady Trimble. This is just last night. We'll see many more of those in the days to come. If you look at our power rankings when it comes to the Senate, you can see how it's on a knife's edge here. And the toss-ups in yellow, that will determine control of the U.S. Senate. Let's bring in Fox News Chief Political Analyst Brit Hume. Brit, let's start 30,000 feet. We're closing in, obviously, on Election Day. Where do you see things right now? BRIT HUME: Well, I think that the Republicans have to be concerned that this might turn out to be a little bit like, first like 1980 for the, where the Republicans won a landslide and nobody expected it. Ronald Reagan became president over 1994, where it looked like Bill Clinton was, he was campaigning much the way, he was president, of course, Democrat, he was campaigning much the way Trump has, just crossing the country. The Republicans that year had a program called the Contract for America, and Clinton was calling it the Contract on America. And I was covering the White House at the time, I'll never forget it. I thought, well, maybe he's making headway here with this. You know, he had the biggest megaphone, as presidents always do, and he got big crowds, and the Democrats and the president's party absolutely got slaughtered in that race and got control of the House for the first time in decades. The Republicans have to worry that something like that may happen to them in this race, where not only do they lose the close ones, but they lose a lot that weren't even thought to be close, and you get a big washout. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but I think it could happen. BRET BAIER: Yeah, and you look at the polls, the races are pretty tight on the big Senate races, also some governor's races. But if you look at our poll, the new poll out tonight, which party would be better to handle? And you ask a list of questions, foreign policy, gas prices, inflation and prices, and you see Democrats with pretty significant leads in places where Republicans have been, especially when it comes to foreign policy, leading. BRIT HUME: Absolutely, Bret. I mean, you know, those are the three major issues right there, and the Republicans are way underwater by, you know, any number of points there that the polls reflect. And, you know, the polling is similar about the president himself. You know, he's out there saying he wants everybody to act like he's on the ballot. Well, that's fine if you're simply trying to turn out Republicans. But the polls, the polling that we now have show that his support among Republicans has diminished since election day. And they're also showing that his approval rating is, what, 36 percent? That means he might get 36 percent of the vote out, but look, 64 percent disapproved. That is really bad at this stage when he's out there front and center. And it may raise the question in the minds of some people whether he should be out there front and center the way he is, given his standing. So I think it's a tough situation for the Republicans. They may be able to overcome it, but it won't be easy. BRET BAIER: Yeah, he's clearly hoofing it to a lot of states and thinks he can move the needle with these events, and we'll see if it happens in a few weeks. Brit, as always, thank you.

Think Twice: Navigating the Election Cycle & Civic Power with Eric Liu

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:03:02 -0500

In this episode of our Think Twice series, John Donvan sits down with Eric Liu to examine his case for a different kind of citizenship and why changing the country may require challenging our views about citizenship and governance. Leading up to the midterms, and amidst deep political division, declining trust, and growing cynicism about public life, the meaning of good citizenship is being put to the test. For co-founder and CEO of Citizen University, Eric Liu, citizenship is more than a legal status or something practiced at the ballot box. After working in Washington, D.C., including at the federal level, Liu began questioning whether lasting democratic progress really comes from the top down - or whether meaningful change must start with citizens and communities themselves. In his new book, Live Like a Citizen: 8 Ways to Change Your Mindset and Our Country, Liu argues that repairing American civic life begins with thinking twice and changing how we engage with one another. He lays out eight practices -see, listen, feel, join, fight, change, imagine, and commit - intended to counter cynicism and resentment and rebuild the habits that democratic self-government requires. But what does it mean to fight for what you believe while accepting that people you disagree with remain fellow citizens? And perhaps most challenging: Can you hope to change someone else's mind without being genuinely willing to change your own? Featuring: Eric Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of Citizen University; Author of "Live Like A Citizen" Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates.

Schweizer: D.E.I. Should D.I.E.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:58:48 -0500

It has been two full years since the Trump administration outlawed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies (DEI) in federal government hiring and contracting rules. How much has changed? In 2023, the US Supreme Court found that race-conscious quota systems in place at Harvard University and others unconstitutional. In his first days in office in 2025, Donald Trump's administration ended what it called discriminatory DEI programs in federal contracting and hiring practices. Simultaneously, the Trump administration began reviewing federal funds that have gone to universities that use quota systems to ensure a minimum enrollment of black students and other underrepresented people. Two years on, how are these hotly contested changes progressing? I remember an interview with Harmeet Dillon, who's with the Trump administration Department of Justice's Office of Civil Rights, says co-host Eric Eggers on the most recent episode of The Drill Down. He quotes her as saying Look, one thing we're committed to doing is playing offense on civil rights. And nothing is more -- pardon the pun – offensive to some people than the executive order Trump issued on day one, in which he directed the Office of Management and Budget to terminate federal DEI offices. DEI policies have been in place for many years but accelerated in the frenzied response to the George Floyd riots in 2020. They are an upscaling of previous policies known as affirmative action that have been around since before the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The phrase affirmative action was coined in 1961 by a Black attorney named Hobart Taylor in John F. Kennedy's administration back in 1961, pitched as a way to help minority job and college candidates who had previously suffered racial discrimination to get a leg up. Famously, as Schweizer recalls, it became less obviously a numbers game after the High Court's Bakke decision in 1978 that outlawed direct quotas but did allow racial consideration in college enrollment. Over the years, these programs expanded and widened, showing up in medical school enrollments and in military promotions. Schweizer notes that Trump fired the second Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had declared he wanted to set racial percentage goals for fighter pilots. They wanted 67% white officers, down from 80%, Eggers notes. Seriously, it was the stated goal of the US Air Force to get the number of white people in the military down. They wanted 13% percent African American, up from 10%. They wanted 10% Asian, up from 8%, 7% 'multiracial,' and 1.5% Native American, Eggers cites. Schweizer doubts America's adversaries are so fastidious: I don't know, XI Jinping might say, 'Hey, we need more Uyghurs in the senior ranks of the Chinese military,' but I kind of doubt it. In federal contracting, GAI has previously exposed corruption within the Small Business Administration's minority set-aside contracting programs, finding that oftentimes those programs are ripe for corruption. We've all heard the stories about white guys who hire somebody of Alaskan heritage, give them fifty-one percent of the company so they can get minority set aside contracts, Schweizer says. We've learned about those abuses. Still, the problems in those programs are that they create an ongoing constituency for continuing the DEI programs that these firms have profited under. Let's say you were one of those businesses who set up shop to pursue minority-only contracts, Schweizer explains. You would now be incentivized to want to keep the DEI practices in place because it limits the competition. Washington accumulated large numbers of such companies, competing for those set-aside contracts. So, there's huge financial incentive for people to have the old system to remain in place, he adds. How should people who don't work for the government view this issue? Even as the government has removed DEI policies, there are still plenty of large companies that are clinging to them. Costco, Apple Computers, and United Airlines still proudly commit themselves to race-conscious hiring and promotion efforts. United Airlines has a policy favoring [United Airlines] Academy candidates based on race and gender. CEO Scott Kirby recently reaffirmed the airline's goal for 'fifty percent of United Airlines Academy graduates to be women and people of color,' Schweizer says. Again, I don't have a problem with whoever the pilot is, but when you say we're going to fill slots based on their ethnicity, or their gender, rather than their skill set, that's when I start to get a little a little jiggy. This mindset of treating people differently based on their racial background or their sexual preference or whatever does have real implications, I would argue, when it comes to corruption and when it comes to enforcing the law, Schweizer says. He notes the recent raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home under a judicial search warrant obtained by the Department of Homeland Security. Omar has been controversial for her radical politics, but also under fire for questions surrounding how she came to be a naturalized American citizen and over financial irregularities in her required financial disclosure statements. The first thing she did was cry 'racism,' Schweizer says, before noting her ties to Somali fraudsters in the Feed Our Future scandal in Minneapolis. She has been 'hands-off' by federal law enforcement for a long time, he says. For more from Peter Schweizer, subscribe to The DrillDown podcast.

Kite & Key Media: Why is Election Day on a Tuesday in November?

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:46:41 -0500

Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays, when most of the world goes to the polls on Sundays? In the early republic, we didn't even have a single Election Day. States could hold presidential elections anytime within a broad window. Reformers worried that system invited fraud, so, in 1845, Congress chose one date for presidential elections. House elections followed in 1872. The date was built around the lives of 19th-century farmers. November came after the harvest but before winter. Sunday was out because of church, and Wednesday because that was the day many farmers sold their goods at market. And since getting to the polls could take a full day of travel, Tuesday was what was left. Should we change it? Actually, research on elections around the world finds little difference in turnout between weekday and weekend voting. And in 2024, most American voters didn't cast their ballot in person on Election Day at all.

Crabtree: Hilton Could Have Scored More Political Points, Debate Was Becerra's "Weakest Moment"

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:39:27 -0500

After watching the California gubernatorial debate, a veteran reporter said that if the California governor's race were a contest of ideas, Steve Hilton would win. But it's not. Hilton and Democratic standard-bearer Xavier Becerra faced off Wednesday night in what will likely be their only debate, and while the state's many problems under Newsom's leadership should dominate voters' thinking, Becerra instead invoked the name of President Donald Trump forty times in his responses to questions posed by CNN moderator Jake Tapper and his opponent. Crabtree, a California-based investigative reporter, covered the debate for RealClearPolitics. She believes, Hilton could have scored a lot more points by taking the fight to him a little more and forcing Becerra to explain what he would do differently from the incumbent, Gavin Newsom. All you ever say is 'Trump, Trump, Trump,' a clearly exasperated Hilton told his opponent during the debate. And that's nothing but an insult to every Californian who is desperate for something to change in this state, he said. All you're offering is more of the same. Crabtree, a California resident, and Eric Eggers of the Government Accountability Institute, assessed the debate on the most recent On Background podcast. She is also a Fellow of GAI, which produces the show. The LA Times said Becerra won, and the California Post said it was all Steve Hilton, Crabtree says. I came out somewhere in between, mainly because it was such a low bar [for Becerra], because he has been in hiding. We haven't seen him come out. He's been running away from reporters literally, who are trying to ask him questions, and having very limited events over the summer. By contrast, Hilton has run a tireless campaign hosting events and sitting for interviews with the press constantly. He was interviewed by On Background less than a month ago. Becerra has clearly decided to run against Trump's unpopularity rather than run a campaign based on how he would improve the quality of life in the state. Still, Crabtree allows, Becerra's lackluster campaign may be enough in deep-blue California for him to win. Polls consistently show him with a wide, but tightening, lead. Becerra served 12 terms in Congress, then as state attorney general before becoming secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Joe Biden. He is running on his experience in state and national politics but has made few appearances and offered little in the way of policy ideas for a state with the highest cost-of-living. Hilton has made a campaign issue out of Becerra's tenure at HHS, citing news stories about more than 140,000 migrant children going missing and unaccounted for while he led the department. Hilton renewed that charge during the debate, assailing Becerra for his record, citing a New York Times investigation and whistleblowers who have said the plight of those migrant children – including sex trafficking and being forced to work in dangerous jobs – during Becerra's tenure. The Hilton campaign posted a clip from the debate of their candidate making those charges while Becerra calmly sipped from his coffee cup on stage. Becerra's campaign pinned blame for the problems on Trump during his first term, for leaving them a disorganized, chaotic mess. This is his weakest moment. He had absolutely had nothing to say. So, it was a nervous tic. He went for the coffee, Crabtree says. Eggers, author of a 2018 book on election fraud, noted the confidence in Becerra's social media post (clip on the podcast) after the debate that the election would be decided on Election Day. In close elections, the state notoriously struggles to count votes, often taking weeks after an election to formally certify a winner. Finishing elections or declaring a winner on election night is not something California does, Eggers says. Whatever policy points were scored in the debate, Crabtree doubts it will move the needle much. A lot of people I know that are very attuned politically weren't talking about the debate yesterday, she says. They were talking about that hijacking and the heroism involved with the Israelis. She believes there may have been more interest outside the state because of Newsom's presidential ambitions, because he was the fourth person who featured prominently in the debate. More may hinge on voter turnout for a referendum on requiring voter ID, which will be on the state ballot alongside the governor's race, Crabtree believes. Republicans in the state were successful in getting that ballot initiative added. Nationwide, voters express overwhelming support for voter ID proof when voting. Hilton's best hope, Crabtree believes, might be in Republicans and independents in the state turning out to support that ballot measure. I do think it's fair to say there's probably an enthusiasm deficit on behalf of Becerra, Crabtree says. This, the hosts both note, is probably why Becerra focused his debate message on Trump, rather than himself. Eggers closes by noting that Trump's deep unpopularity in California may mean not so much a blue tsunami as a red undertow.

RCP Podcast: Senate Races Get Personal, Is Ossoff Eyeing 2028? Pope Leo's Cancer Diagnosis

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:53:16 -0500

Wednesday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Carl Cannon, Tom Bevan, and Andrew Walworth review the contentious Senate debates last night and run down close races in Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Texas, and Alaska. Plus, EWTN News editorial director Matthew Bunson joins the show to report on the latest information about the pope's cancer diagnosis. Listen live weekdays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on SiriusXM's Megyn Kelly Channel 111, or on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or other platforms.

00:00 - Opening: Ossoff vs. Collins Gets Nasty Walworth, Cannon, and Bevan start with last night's Georgia Senate debate, where Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins traded accusations. Why is Ossoff escalating his attacks while he's leading in the polls? Watch: Ossoff Accuses Collins Of Allowing "Production Of Neo-Nazi Propaganda From Your Home" Watch: Final Georgia Senate Debate: Mike Collins And Sen. Jon Ossoff Trade Accusations "I think he's auditioning to be AOC's vice president -- he's the attack dog," Tom Bevan said. "But that question was just an unbelievable cheap shot." *** 05:03 - Iowa, Maine and Texas The panel turns to the debate last night in Iowa, where Republican Ashley Hinson said she opposes President Trump's diesel deal with Russia. The hosts discuss the political consequences of Trump's foreign policy and Hinson's votes against restricting presidential war powers. Watch: Second Iowa Senate Debate: Ashley Hinson and Josh Turek Clash In Toss-Up Race RCP Average: 2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan | Flanagan 2.2% RCP Average: Third Maine Senate Debate: Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson on Iran War, Cost of Living RCP Average: James Talarico: "I'm Not Interested In Turning Texas Blue... The Best Color For Texas Is Purple" "There is no way that Democrats win Kansas and Republicans maintain control of the Senate," Tom Bevan said. Cannon agreed: "If the Republicans lose there, they lose everywhere." *** 21:40 - Minnesota: Tafoya vs. Flanagan Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya has opened up a possible opportunity in a traditionally Democratic state. RCP Average: 2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan | Flanagan +2.2 "Tafoya is a good Republican candidate -- and Peggy Flanagan is not," Bevan said. "A lot of local issues are playing in that race," Bevan said. "She's a pretty moderate, benign Republican... She did declare herself a 'pro-choice Republican,' which maybe that's gonna turn off some Republican voters but might win over some Democratic voters or independent voters there." "It would be interesting if Democrats take some of these Republican states, but lose Minnesota and New Hampshire," he said. *** 25:12 - Pope Leo Cancer Diagnosis EWTN News editorial director Matthew Bunson joins to discuss Pope Leo XIV's reported lung cancer diagnosis, surgery, and recovery. Bunson reports that the Vatican has emphasized transparency and says the Pope's illness has prompted an outpouring of prayers and goodwill. Bunson's book: Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope "The news is that the Holy Father has been recovering very well from the surgery," Bunson said. "I have to give him a great deal of credit from a communication standpoint because what's that old saying for all of us in media? He got ahead of the story." "I think Pope Leo has proven to be a remarkably adept foil to President Trump -- I don't think that was his intent," he said. *** 38:26 - Trump in Wasilla President Trump is hosting a rally in Wasilla, Alaska, today for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is running a couple of points behind Democrat Mary Peltola in a competitive reelection race. RCP Average: 2026 Alaska Senate - Sullivan vs. Peltola | Peltola +1.4% *** 43:35 - Where Did Sarah Palin Go? The panel asks where former Gov. Sarah Palin is as Alaska becomes a swing state, remembering her sudden burst of celebrity 18 years ago.

Listen to RealClearPolitics weekdays at 11 a.m. Eastern on SiriusXM's Megyn Kelly Channel 111, or on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or other platforms. Subscribe for more RealClearPolitics analysis, interviews, and political commentary.

Watch: Protesters Disrupt Secretary Hegseth Presentation On Future Of Autonomous Weapons

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:10:07 -0500

Secretary Hegseth hosted this panel discussion with members of the military leading a major initiative to develop a new "autonomous warfare command" called Project Agincourt. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao reported that the USS Teddy Roosevelt carrier strike group recently deployed to the Persian Gulf with the first large-sized unmanned surface vessel ever in action.

Ossoff Accuses Collins Of Allowing "Production Of Neo-Nazi Propaganda From Your Home"

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:35:19 -0500

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff criticized GOP Rep. Mike Collins at Tuesday night's debate for his relationship to his podcaster son-in-law and by stating: "Imagine running for the U.S. Senate while neo-Nazi propaganda is disseminated to an audience of millions from your home, that's Mike Collins." Collins says his son-in-law, David Allen Shear, "has had no role in my campaign whatsoever," while Ossoff has a seemingly endless set of comments about pro-white, anti-Semitic topics to point to.

MODERATOR: Congressman Collins, in the last debate, Senator Ossoff called you a bigot and said that you hired half of the Third Reich. This was in connection to former members of your staff and their potential connections to white nationalists, according to reports. So I want to get your response to that, and I just want to ask you directly here: Are you a white nationalist? And what do you say to Black Georgians who question whether you will represent them equally? REP. MIKE COLLINS: No. I condemn any sort of hate speech, antisemitism, hate of any kind. It's abhorrent. You know, when-and I fired people when things happened. Fired them. The problem is Jon Ossoff never has done that. I mean, he hangs his hat on this Abdul El-Sayed, best friends with Hasan Piker, that said that America deserved 9/11. Where is his condemnation of that? Of those two? Where is his condemnation of Reid Hoffman, the guy that's been funding his campaign? You don't hear that. I'll tell you, young people, young people on both sides, Republicans and the whole DSA wing of the Democrat Party, we do have a problem with antisemitism and hate around the world. These people, these young people feel like they're forgotten, and they're just lashing out. And this hate speech has got to stop. And we've got to educate them. We've got to help them by giving them opportunities. MODERATOR: Thank you, Mike Collins. Jon Ossoff, you have time for a 30-second rebuttal. SEN. JON OSSOFF: How weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate? The paper reported it's still going on to this day. How about this, Mike? We can shake hands on it. Will you commit tonight that for the remainder of this campaign-it's just three weeks, Mike-you won't allow any more neo-Nazi propaganda to be produced from your house? Can you make that commitment? MODERATOR: Unfortunately, I'm-30 seconds. REP. MIKE COLLINS: You know what? I'm a little tired of this, Jon. This crazy person in jail right now because of your rhetoric, and you threatened my son-in-law and threatened to kill me. Had another threat just yesterday. That's because of you and your rhetoric that you're out there spewing. Just vitriol, hate. What about you? You have not denounced, you have not condemned-give me Reid Hoffman, one of your largest donors out there, one that's been supporting you with over $1 million. Why don't you denounce-why don't you return that money? MODERATOR: Thirty-second rebuttal. SEN. JON OSSOFF: Mike, if any of these folks were based in my house, then I would understand you asking me to take responsibility for them. What I asked you, Mike, was can you commit for just three weeks to stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your home? It's happening. We all know it's happening. Why can't you stop it? Why won't you commit right now to stopping it? MODERATOR: All right, 30 seconds. And this is the last- REP. MIKE COLLINS: What I'm going to ask you is, why don't you denounce Reid Hoffman right now? Why don't you give that money back to Reid Hoffman? The Epstein files guy. SEN. JON OSSOFF: You can't stop the neo-Nazi propaganda from your own house? REP. MIKE COLLINS: You don't know people that give you $20 or $15 or $10, but you know the people that max out to you. You know the people pumping $1 million into your super PAC. SEN. JON OSSOFF: You are going to allow neo-Nazi propaganda to continue to be produced from your home? REP. MIKE COLLINS: You allow people, Epstein friends and people- SEN. JON OSSOFF: You're going to let the neo-Nazi propaganda continue, is that right? REP. MIKE COLLINS: You put the commercials on- MODERATOR: Excuse me. REP. MIKE COLLINS: Epstein-make a commitment, Jon. MODERATOR: We are going to have to move on, gentlemen. REP. MIKE COLLINS: Give the money back. MODERATOR: We are going to have to move on. REP. MIKE COLLINS: No more money.

RCP Polling Minute: Democrats Still Favored, But Midterm Races Are Tightening

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:43:52 -0500

With less than three weeks until Election Day, Democrats still lead in the battle for Congress, but their advantage is narrowing. This week on the RealClearPolitics Polling Minute, Maggie Miller breaks down the latest RealClearPolitics polling averages and Polymarket predictions. Democrats' chances of controlling both the House and Senate have slipped from 67% to 62%, while closely watched Senate races in Maine, Iowa, and Alaska remain competitive. Plus, a new Harvard Harris Poll reveals a divide in Americans' views on voter fraud and election integrity.

Second Iowa Senate Debate: Ashley Hinson and Josh Turek Clash In Toss-Up Race

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:10:38 -0500

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) and state Rep. Josh Turek (D) met for their second debate on Tuesday night, hosted by Nexstar affiliate WHO 13 in Des Moines.

Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek leads GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson by 0.6 points in RCP's average. President Trump won Iowa by more than 13 points in 2024 https://t.co/AacbxB7yUY
- RealClearPolitics (@RCPolitics) October 13, 2026

Final Georgia Senate Debate: Mike Collins And Sen. Jon Ossoff Trade Accusations

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:00:32 -0500

Rep. Mike Collins (R) and Sen. Jon Ossoff faced off for their second debate Tuesday night in the Georgia US Senate race, hosted by the Atlanta Press Club. They each offered personal attacks and accusations that the other was an extremist. Ossoff attacked Collins over family and staff associations with white nationalists, and Collins attacked Ossoff for relationships with Democratic donors associated with Jeffrey Epstein.

Ossoff leads Collins in Georgia by more than eight points with less than a month to go https://t.co/leNgV6Yc5R
- RealClearPolitics (@RCPolitics) October 14, 2026

Third Maine Senate Debate: Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson on Iran War, Cost of Living

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:53:32 -0500

Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson took the debate stage for the third time on Wednesday.

Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins is trailing Democratic challenger Troy Jackson by 1.2 points in RCP's latest average of polls after a rollercoaster campaign. She's outperforming President Trump's 2024 results in Maine by nearly 5 points: https://t.co/J4LNDv4hyA
- RealClearPolitics (@RCPolitics) October 13, 2026

RCP Podcast: Livestreaming an Execution? Ilhan Omar Raid, Where Was Talarico? Is Vivek Going to Lose?

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:37:17 -0500

Tuesday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Carl Cannon, Tom Bevan, and Andrew Walworth speak to WH correspondent Carolina Lumetta about the first briefing with the new press secretary, Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle's fall from favor with the Trump administration, plans to livestream the firing squad execution of a terrorist, and the DHS raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home. Jewish Insider editor-in-chief Josh Kraushaar joins the show to analyze the midterms, where Senate Republicans are playing defense in red states. Will Vivek Ramaswamy lose the race for Ohio governor? Plus, President Trump faces criticism at home and abroad for a new diesel deal with Russia and plans to remodel the golf courses at Hains Point in Washington. Listen live weekdays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on SiriusXM's Megyn Kelly Channel 111, or on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or other platforms.

00:00 - Opening: Grading Zacharia's First Briefing RCP White House reporter Carolina Lumetta joins Walworth, Cannon, and Bevan to discuss the administration's new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, and her 14-minute debut press briefing this morning. Watch: New WH Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Introduces Herself To Reporters In Briefing Room "What was unusual for a press briefing is that she only called on three reporters," she said. "I think the White House press corps is still trying to figure out who exactly Katie is, how she'll approach the role." Watch: WH: "We Have Asked Ambassador Guilfoyle To Resign" "The way we phrase it in journalism is she's been sacked," Carl Cannon said about Guilfoyle. "The Trumps have gone around the world doing billion-dollar deals, so this is not a lot of money to them, but it was crass in a way that I think embarrassed the White House, and so they decided to make the problem go away." *** 09:28 - Livestreaming a Terrorist's Execution Carolina Lumetta raises unanswered questions about the proposed livestream of the execution of convicted Fort Hood attacker Nidal Hasan --who shot nearly 50 people at Fort Hood in 2009, killing 13 -- and the panel discusses whether the imagery could harm America's moral standing and help terrorist recruitment. "I can't tell you what the White House thinks about this because we didn't have a long enough briefing," Lumetta added. Watch: Vance On Execution Of Fort Hood Shooter: "If It's Ultimately Livestreamed, I'm Not Gonna Be Watching It" "It would just be stupid, and it would be counterproductive, and it would cause the United States national security problems," Cannon said. Watch: Trump Supports Livestreaming Execution Of Fort Hood Shooter: "Did I Approve? Absolutely I Did" "I hope the president does go on with the execution, but just not have it livestreamed," Bevan added. *** 16:55 - Ilhan Omar Raid The panel discusses reports of a federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's residence just three weeks before the midterms, examining questions about immigration fraud allegations, judicial warrants, and the political timing of the investigation. Watch: Trump on Raid of Ilhan Omar's Home: "I've Always Found Her To Be Totally Crooked," "Just A Complainer" "If you were in favor of Trump's home being raided, then you should have no problem with this," Bevan quipped. "Once that genie is out of the bottle, it's hard to put it back in." *** 21:32 - Where Was Talarico? Josh Kraushaar discusses the Texas Senate race and James Talarico's nearly two-week unexplained absence from the campaign, and which red states the Democrats have a realistic chance of winning next month. Watch: Mark Penn: Talarico's "Super Odd" Disappearance From The Campaign Trail "Is A Loss Of Momentum" "So as long as there is no evidence that he's lying or saying something that's untrue about why he was off the trail for two weeks, I think we've got to take him at his word, and I don't think it markedly changes the dynamic of the race," Kraushaar said. "And I think it shows a very significant weakness in Paxton's argument that he does not want to debate Talarico in the final stage of the campaign." *** 29:31 - Trump and GOP Play Defense Kraushaar examines Trump's campaign appearances in traditionally Republican states, including Alaska, where Sen. Dan Sullivan faces a competitive reelection challenge from Democrat Mary Peltola. Kraushaar suggests it might not be defense as much as recognizing that his presence is not very useful in swing states. Watch: VP Vance: I Keep Reminding Republicans That "We're Swimming Upstream" With Midterm Elections "Trump is not an asset in many of the more battleground contests," he said. Kraushaar predicts Democrats will net three or four Senate seats, saying: "The question, to use meteorological forecasting terms, is this a Category 3 hurricane or a Category 5 hurricane? ... I would say three to four would be my best guess right now in the Senate." *** 36:55 - Could Ramaswamy Lose? Kraushaar analyzes Ohio's competitive gubernatorial race between Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton, and whether Ramaswamy's high unfavorable ratings and polarizing political style could hurt Republicans in Ohio. "He's not the type of Mike DeWine, John Kasich Republican that has been able to be successful there," Kraushaar said. "Acton has her own vulnerabilities, so I still think the governor's race is still open, but it's looking good overall for the Democrats in Ohio." *** 37:58 - Trump Faces Criticism Over Russian Diesel Deal, DC Golf Course The episode ends with a debate about Trump's agreement to ease sanctions on Russian diesel purchases ahead of the midterms, with Cannon accusing the administration of putting short-term political interests ahead of Ukraine, and opposition to Trump's plans to remodel the golf courses at Hains Point near the National Mall. Watch: Trump: We Told Zelensky Not To Hit Russian Oil, "What Does He Do? He Hits The Diesel Fuel" "This puts money in Vladimir Putin's pocket so he can continue to commit war crimes and do these despicable acts," Cannon said.

BBC: Will Alberta Become Canada's Brexit?

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:55:02 -0500

BBC reports on the referendum this week in Alberta about whether to begin the process of declaring independence from Canada: BBC: People in the province of Alberta will vote on 19 October on whether they want to start the process of separating from the rest of Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the upcoming referendum a "dangerous bluff", comparing it to the Brexit vote that saw the UK leave the European Union. But supporters of Albertan independence believe that the oil-rich province has long been overlooked by decision-makers in Ottawa, the national capital, and that federal environmental policies have hindered its ability to develop its natural resources. So, could Alberta really become its own country? The BBC's Nadine Yousif takes us on a journey through Alberta to talk to both supporters and opponents of separation about their hopes for the country's future.

VP Vance: I Keep Reminding Republicans That "We're Swimming Upstream" With Midterm Elections

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:25:02 -0500

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on the way to Texas, where he will campaign for GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton, that he is trying to lower expectations for Republicans in the midterm elections.

REPORTER: Republicans are pulling money out of New Jersey and some Iowa races. Does that mean the House cannot maintain control for Republicans? VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE: New Jersey is a very blue state. It would always be a really big thing for us to win in New Jersey. There are a number of races --for example, in Minnesota, traditionally blue areas, where we have a chance. The nature of the election is sometimes races have more of an individual rather than national character. I feel good about where we are. We know that we're swimming upstream. I try to remind Republican voters all the time, it is historically unusual for a president who controls-whose party controls the Senate and the House-usually the party will lose the midterm elections. We know we are swimming against some serious historical trends here. We have as good a chance as I have ever seen to defy those historical trends. We are not giving up anywhere. We are just trying to win the races where we can and focus where we can. We'll see you in Texas. Thank you.

WH: "We Have Asked Ambassador Guilfoyle To Resign"

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:21:17 -0500

New press secretary Katie Zacharia revealed at her first briefing on Tuesday that the administration has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece and Donald Trump Jr.'s ex, to resign after a series of critical reports in The Wall Street Journal

REPORTER: Congrats on the job, first of all. I have two questions. On Kimberly Guilfoyle, the Daily Mail has been reporting on her since last year. The president said he is considering firing her. Do you know a timeline for that? And potentially, you could be on the shortlist to replace her if he does? KATIE ZACHARIA: We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.

Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for entrusting me with the extraordinary privilege of representing the greatest country in the history of the world. From my first day as Ambassador, I have worked tirelessly to advance President Trump's America First agenda, strengthen our strategic alliance with Greece, and deliver meaningful victories for the American people. During my tenure, we have helped secure historic agreements to expand American liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, advanced the Vertical Corridor to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian energy, strengthened our defense and security partnership with a critical NATO ally, and expanded opportunities for American businesses and investment throughout the region. I am especially proud of the role our Embassy has played in strengthening American energy dominance, advancing economic cooperation, and ensuring that the United States remains the indispensable leader in Southeast Europe. These accomplishments are a testament to President Trump's bold leadership, Secretary Rubio's commitment to American diplomacy, and the extraordinary men and women who serve our country every day. I also want to address the recent allegations against me. These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service. My gratitude and respect for President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain unwavering. I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again. While my time as Ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the United States of America. My deepest heartfelt appreciation to the people of Greece for their hospitality, partnership, and welcoming me with open arms. God bless President Trump, God bless our incredible diplomats and service members, and God bless the United States of America.
- Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) October 13, 2026

New WH Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Introduces Herself To Reporters In Briefing Room

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:14:47 -0500

President Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, spoke to reporters for about 15 minutes on Tuesday morning, mostly answering questions about her admiration for President Trump, personnel issues, and how she plans to handle work-life balance. She offered reporters an opportunity to ask President Trump questions about any issues on the lawn when he leaves for a trip to Alaska. She has a law degree from Pepperdine University and has worked for the Christian Legal Society and as a commentator for Newsmax. She wrote:

Thank you to President Trump for the distinguished privilege of serving as White House Press Secretary. Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime. President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he works to effectuate that greatness every single day. His confidence is a true privilege, and his leadership is a blessing to this country. The work ahead is to continue delivering strong results for our Country and communicating to the American people the major wins that this Administration is making every single day. I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out. Following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting. God bless President Trump, and God bless America.
- Katie Zacharia (@KatieZacharia) October 9, 2026

Steve Cortes: Islam Is Not Compatible With Western Civilization

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:14:24 -0500

Former Trump adviser Steve Cortes joined "The Charlie Kirk Show" to discuss his new documentary on Dearborn, Michigan. Cortes argued that Muslim immigration threatens Western civilization, warned of an alliance between the radical left and Islamists, and predicted Mike Rogers would win Michigan's Senate race.

ANDREW KOLVET, 'THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW' CO-HOST: A new documentary by our friend Steve Cortes, who joins the show now. Welcome back, Steve. Good to see you. This is an important project. You know, everybody check in. Former Trump advisor and cortesinvestigates.com. That's the website. So everybody check it out there. See why, you know, we just covered the FBI foiled terror plot in... [CROSSTALK] KOLVET: So we go from one Muslim filled upper Midwest state to the next and you focus on Michigan. So tell us about why you focused on Michigan and why you did this project, Steve. STEVE CORTES, FORMER TRUMP ADVISER: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. This is such an important work and not just because I made it, but it's important for this country. I went to Dearborn, Michigan, because that is the city in America that has been most overtaken by mass Muslim migration to this country. Dearborn, Michigan, if people know it historically, they mostly know it through Ford Motor Company. I mean, this is really the heart of America, especially industrial America. Well, it is now a place that is unrecognizable, I think, to most Americans. Nearly every sign in town is in Arabic. There are women walking around everywhere with the full-on Muslim dress, the hijabs, including even covering their faces and eyes. There are at least three very large mosques that do public prayer calls throughout the city. The police force is totally Islamic, and they have de facto Sharia law in Dearborn, Michigan. And of course, they're now trying to elect one of their own, Abdul El-Sayed, to the United States Senate. And by all credible polling, including my own polling, it is a very tight race right now. So I think this issue could be determinative in that race. And I'm trying to raise the warning for the good citizens of Michigan and all over America that Islam is not compatible. It is simply not compatible with Western civilization, with our way of life. And electing somebody, a radical, anti-American, pro-Muslim brotherhood extremist like El-Sayed would be ruinous for this country. KOLVET: Well, this is really interesting. El-Sayed, I just found out because of an interview that Mike Rogers, his Republican opponent, obviously did, that he not only grew up spending his summers in Egypt, he refused to condemn the Ayatollah. He refuses to condemn the Muslim Brotherhood or CARE. And he equated Sharia law to canon law, which is pretty interesting. He's best buddies with Hasan Piker, who's Turkish, and is a total political goblin who celebrates political murder and assassination culture, mocked Charlie's death, so much more. But he also has a luxury property, Steve, in the United Arab Emirates. And then there's this clip voting that he was a dual citizen. And it's like, I never said that. Oh, well, you did say it. We have the clip. I mean, this guy is a complete fraudster. And I love what your interview guest in that first clip said. They use socialism and far-left parties across the West because that's the vehicle through which they can transmit into the United States, into Western democracies, because they know the conservatives aren't going to give them hearing. We're on to this. We love Western civilization. But they know that the lefties will let them in. And so there's a whole, there's a lot of data here, Steve, and I'm sure you're aware of it, that shows very conservative Muslims will latch on to socialist parties in the West, because that's the way they get in. CORTES: Yeah, that's exactly right. So there is this red-green alliance. And in many ways, it is a strange alliance, right? Because certainly on social issues, they're not going to agree on very much. But nonetheless, they have the same common enemy, which is Western civilization, which is historic Christianity. That is their common enemy. And so they're willing to put their differences aside for now to form this political alliance, a very toxic political alliance that we see here in the United States. You know, I'm right now at Georgetown University, which is my alma mater. And just last night, I did a forum here for Al Jazeera with Mehdi Hassan. As you might imagine, he and I don't agree on very much. And Mehdi Hassan tried to claim that there is no such thing as this radical left and Muslim alliance forming in the United States and in other Western countries. Well, of course, he's dead wrong on that. It's very clear that it is happening here with characters like Mamdani, like Ilhan Omar, and now like Abdul El-Sayed. And I'm making the point, the bigger point, that mass Muslim migration to this country has not been constructive for our society. It is not making us a better, stronger, more cohesive country. It just is not. It does not work for us. I'm against mass migration from the third world period, by the way, but particularly from Muslim dominated countries. And one of the main reasons, by the way, and I'm sure you know this and realize this, Andrew, and I'm sure most of your audience does, there's nothing virtuous about tolerating the intolerant. And when we look at Muslims who take their faith seriously, and when we look at Muslim dominated countries, they do not believe in our values, not at all. And just for starters, they certainly don't believe in free speech. Well, it's impossible for us to have a virtuous and prosperous and free society without the bedrock principle of free speech, which these people do not believe in. But nonetheless, I think we have to take the threat very seriously. Certainly, they have already overtaken some locales, places in Texas, places in Minnesota, as you mentioned, and definitely Dearborn, Michigan, which is why I went there to put a camera on it and to interview very smart people, both locally as well as experts like Larry Taunton, who you showed in that clip right there. Larry Taunton, by the way, is an evangelical who does a fantastic job of exposing Islam. He is a true expert on the Quran, somebody who has studied Islam deeply, who has debated some of the most radical Muslims in the West. And so it was important, I think, for him to come on my show. It's just a 20 minute documentary, by the way. It's not a long investment. So I ask you to please watch it, share it. There's no paywall at all. We just want as many people as possible to see it, especially, of course, in the state of Michigan. I think ultimately we're going to win this race. Mike Rogers is going to prevail. And I think mostly because of this issue, because Al-Sayed is just not in any way consistent with the Midwestern values of a place like Michigan.

Sen. Tillis: I Believe Trump "May Be" Breaking The Law With Russian Oil Deal

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:36:12 -0500

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) tells Meet the Press the U.S. oil deal with Russia will put American lives at risk and criticizes the cozy relationship that Putin has had with Iran over the years.

KRISTEN WELKER: Well, talking about bills that have been passed, in 2022 the Senate voted 100 to nothing to ban Russian oil imports until Russia met certain conditions, including withdrawing from Ukraine. The law says any changes to that have to be run through Congress. Do you believe the president is breaking the law with this deal with Russia? SENATOR THOM TILLIS: I believe that he may be. And I'm planning on, if we haven't put it out yet, putting out a statement with Senator Shaheen on this matter. Look, this has deadly consequences. Giving Vladimir Putin any sense that we're going to put our foot on the brakes versus put our foot on the accelerator to ending this war and ensuring peace in Europe, we've got to go back. And I do believe there's a legitimate case for saying the president's not following the law. We were very clear that Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one who can end this war by backing out of territory that they occupied. In fact, it should go all the way back to Crimea but at least the additional land that they've invaded over the past three years, four years now.

Turley: Omar's Age, Immigration History, and Citizenship Status Raise Questions That Remain Unanswered

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:23:57 -0500

Jonathan Turley weighs in on the federal investigation involving Ilhan Omar, raising questions about her immigration status, earlier marriage, and congressional paperwork.

CHARLIE HURT, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Here to weigh in, FOX News contributor Jonathan Turley and Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett. So, Professor Turley, let's start with you. You know, obviously we have a limited amount of knowledge about today's raid, but there's been a lot of smoke that we have talked about over the past years, months, and years. What do you make of this? JONATHAN TURLEY: Well, there's long been controversy about the immigration status related to Representative Omar. Some of those questions remain unanswered. They go back not just to her status, a controversy about an earlier marriage, but also her father's role in all of this. He filled out much of the paperwork that may be the subject of this search. He had a record as a colonel in a in a really brutal regime, and there may be questions as to those original papers. There's also a question about her age. By saying that she was 17, she did not have to file for her own citizenship. All of those issues are likely in the mix here. The Department of Justice has not answered the question as to why they decided to depart from the DOJ policy not to make these types of moves before an election. I think there's legitimate questions there. We'll have to see if they have a real answer, but that is a policy. It's not a binding obligation of the Department of Justice. It has in fact been ignored in the past, but it has raised some concerns. HURT: Real quickly before I go to Gregg, is it significant to you that it was a DC federal judge that signed off on the warrant? TURLEY: Yes, I mean you can't discount the fact that this went to a judge who clearly must have known that he was discussing a member of Congress, and yet felt that there was probable cause to go forward, and that is not an insignificant fact. HURT: And Gregg, obviously also we've seen the federal judiciary here in DC, and it's not favorable to, if anything it would be far more favorable to Democrats and Republicans. GREGG JARRETT, FOX NEWS LEGAL ANALYST: Yeah, that tells you a lot Charlie, and clearly this judge found probable cause that evidence of a federal crime existed somewhere inside the home, and for a judge to do that against a sitting member of Congress less than 30 days before an election, I mean that evidence had to be incredibly compelling, and the feds of course carried away boxes. So the potential here could be immigration fraud, citizenship fraud, marriage fraud, those are all crimes in the federal codes, and there's no privilege or immunity for a member of Congress. There's also the possibility of removal proceedings, and deportation, and then a lifetime ban from re-entering the U.S., and if her citizenship is revoked, she loses her job in Congress, because that's a requirement in the Constitution. And there's one other thing, the search warrant according to the New York Times included a reference to conspiracy. Well what does that mean? Does that involve campaign funds, Omar's finances, some connection to Minnesota fraud schemes? We don't know that, but it's no surprise to me that Omar today accused Trump of political persecution. That's a very claim he made when the Biden DOJ brought criminal charges against him, and by the way, when Trump was indicted, Omar loudly declared nobody is above the law. She might want to say that again, but this time in the mirror, Charlie. HURT: Yeah, and of course, Professor, there was also a lot of questions over the past year about her campaign finances, where one minute she was worth, you know, like a million bucks, and the next minute she was worth far less. Is it significant to you, you heard Kevin Cork's report, is it significant to you that her home in Minnesota was not raided? TURLEY: I was actually perplexed by that, because if this was based on the general sort of conspiracy type of allegations, you would think they would hit both homes, that's fairly common. You know, part of the problem for Representative Omar is that even though there's a statute of limitations on things like fraudulent marriage of five years, as a member of Congress, as a candidate for political office, she regularly signs paperwork that referred to some of the issues that may be at the center of this investigation. Every time she signs a form, files a paper, it is a potential violation. She has also denied all these allegations repeatedly to her colleagues in Congress, so there could be a collateral question here about whether she has been honest with those members. We don't know whether, in fact, there's evidence here to support these allegations, but that shows sort of how broad this can be. It's not just simply, can she be prosecuted for a fraudulent marriage, particularly with the statute of limitations that's now expired.

Trump Slams El-Sayed: "Jihadist Sympathizers" Don't Belong In America, "Better Get Them The Hell Out Of Here"

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:49:07 -0500

President Donald Trump attacked Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed at a campaign rally in Ohio on Monday. At a rally in Tennessee on Saturday, Trump said he calls El-Sayed "Mohammed." "These people are crazy," Trump said on Monday. "What they want to do to our country, you look at the guy running in Michigan, he's a jihadist. He's a jihadist. And you know what bothers me? Even in the mainstream, but the media gives him so much publicity. They give him so much publicity that's, you know, really terrible. Running against a very good candidate, a very, very strong, very good, Mike Rogers, very good candidate." "But this, this guy's a jihadist," Trump continued. "The Republican Party, we believe that Somalian bandits, third world gangs, because jihadist sympathizers do not belong in Ohio, they don't belong in America. Better get them the hell out of here." "Deport, deport, deport," the crowd cheered.

Amy Walter on Midterms: Trump Struggling To Figure Out "How Do I Make It About Something Other Than Me?"

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:25:46 -0500

PBS NEWSHOUR: NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump on the campaign trail with the midterm elections closing in.

GEOFF BENNETT, PBS NEWSHOUR: So the president's going to be in Ohio tonight, and he appears increasingly concerned about rising gas and diesel prices. But rather than acknowledge the impact of the war in Iran, he's blaming the war in Ukraine. Tam, what do you make of this effort to shift blame for an economic problem that's becoming harder to ignore? TAMARA KEITH, NPR: And he's also trying to solve it by importing diesel from Russia, which seems to be pretty clearly prohibited by laws, including one he just signed. He's getting a lot of bipartisan pushback from Congress on that. The reality is that the American people blame the president and his policies for high prices, and that is a problem for the president and his party in this midterm year. BENNETT: And, Amy, how do you see Republicans calibrating, if at all? AMY WALTER, THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT: Well, listen, they understand that this is a cost of living election. And so what you will hear them talking about in their campaign ads is about ways in which they're trying to bring costs down. Maybe they will be taking on big pharma or insurance, but they will talk about affordability. A couple of them, of course, have come out and said the war needs to end. We have seen just a handful of incumbents saying that. The thing about the president, too, and he's been going after other people too and blaming -- or going after them, either blaming them for the high costs or just choosing to put his anger and deflecting it there. And I think what we have is a president who is very good when he is up against one foil. So when he was running against Hillary Clinton, when he was running against Joe Biden, and he could make the election about them, it really helped his numbers, actually, when he was able to shift it over there. He doesn't have that foil this time around. And he you can see he's really struggling to figure out, how do I make it about something other than me? Meanwhile, voters are saying, we'd like you to spend more time talking about the issues that matter to us, not just the issues that maybe are grabbing your attention at this moment.

Fight Breaks Out At Trump Rally: Trump Says Protester Has "Got To Go On A Diet"

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:16:17 -0500

An anti-Trump protester was punched and subdued at a Trump rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday. "He's got to go on a diet," Trump said when he saw the protester. The protester was a woman. "He's a fat guy," Trump continued. "Wow. Got to go on a diet fast." "We all do," Trump added.

"He's gotta go on a diet, he's a fat guy." President Trump calls out an apparent protester during his midterm rally in Youngstown, Ohio, as a physical altercation erupts in the crowd. Witnesses describe punches being thrown as security officers quickly move in to address the disturbance. Trump suggests the individual was paid by his political opponents before telling him to "go back home to mom."
- Bruce Snyder (@realBruceSnyder) October 13, 2026

Mollie Hemingway: Trump's Russian Oil Deal Puts The American People First, "We're Not At War With Russia"

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:00:54 -0500

"Federalist" editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway joined FOX News anchor Bret Baier on "Special Report" to defend President Donald Trump's approach to Russian oil amid criticism.

BRET BAIER: Mollie, you know, after we saw the Lindsey Graham bill pass the House and the Senate, it enabled the U.S. to launch sanctions on anybody that was doing deals with the Russians, buying Russian oil or diesel, and then we did a deal. Here's some former Trump staffers and the president reacting to some of that criticism. KT MCFARLAND, FORMER DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The question will be, is the United States going to somehow be helping Russia continue to fight this war? MIKE POMPEO, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Giving Vladimir Putin more money is akin to underwriting the Iranians as well. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: These are Republicans that can't really be serious. We have, you know, we make a lot of oil. We could do a restriction on oil, but the rest of the world would be greatly, greatly affected if we do that. BAIER: So your thoughts on this and kind of the fallout from it? MOLLIE HEMINGWAY: Well, the legislation mentioned does include a provision that the president can work within the restrictions of the sanctions. But I think what President Trump is trying to do here is put the American people first and let them have an interest in this ongoing, lengthy war between Russia and Ukraine. People in America are suffering. Farmers in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa who are dealing with very high diesel prices. Just normal Americans who are struggling to fill up their tanks at the pump. And diesel is something that Russia has a lot of. Contrary to what some of those people seem to be suggesting, we're not actually at war with Russia. We're not at war with China. We do make arrangements with both of these countries, adversarial though they may be. And Americans are very happy to help Ukraine, but not when it's hurting American interests as much as this is currently. We've given hundreds of billions of dollars. We provide the technology, weapons, intelligence, and we're happy to do that in their efforts. But again, this war, which has been going on for a long time and seems to not be near resolution unless the parties admit the reality of what's going on, is hurting Americans in a way and President Trump seems to be caring about it more than those voices in D.C. who tend to support lengthy wars.

Trump on Raid of Ilhan Omar's Home: "I've Always Found Her To Be Totally Crooked," "Just A Complainer"

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:18:12 -0500

Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-MN) Washington, D.C., home was the target of a raid early Monday morning by ICE's investigations unit. Sources say the investigation centers on Omar's immigration paperwork. The documents in question date back to Omar's childhood, involving paperwork completed by her late father when she was a child.

Trump: "We're Looking" At Firing Kimberly Guilfoyle, "We're Not Happy"

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:01:25 -0500

President Trump said he and his administration are "looking at" firing Kimberly Guilfoyle from her position as U.S. ambassador to Greece, after an associate of Guilfoyle's alleged she asked him to wire $100,000 to pay her American Express bill in exchange for her help with the Trump administration ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing. "Well, we're looking at it," the president told reporters on his way to Ohio when asked if he's considering firing Guilfoyle. "We're not happy."

Full Measure: EPA Plans To Reduce Mosquito And Tick Population In DC By 90% By 2028

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:33:59 -0500

"Full Measure" reporter Lisa Fletcher reports on federal efforts to curb the mosquito population by releasing thousands of diseased mosquitoes that can't reproduce or bite and are said to reduce the population of non-native invasive mosquitoes:

President Trump announced a major effort last month to fight what was described as two of the 'world's deadliest animals'-mosquitoes and ticks. The plan is to explore new and non-pesticide ways to eliminate the pests. Lisa Fletcher spent an afternoon with one company, fighting mosquitoes by releasing more of them. In the fight against mosquitoes, Todd Montgomery is taking an unusual approach. Todd Montgomery: There's 750 in this tube and they're kinda loud. Releasing hundreds of thousands of them into backyards around Maryland. Todd Montgomery: Everybody hates mosquitoes and people are willing to do pretty crazy things to get rid of mosquitoes, including spraying their entire yard with broad spectrum insecticides that could have negative impacts on their kids, their pets, and obviously the rest of the ecosystem as a whole. The mosquitos Montgomery's company, Bee Safe Mosquito Control, is releasing are lab raised non-biting males that carry a naturally occurring bacteria called Wolbachia Todd Montgomery: So, the males we release have this gut bacteria. The females in the wild do not. Because of that, they're incompatible. Their offspring will not be produced. Bee Safe tried it this past summer with 25 residential customers, each getting about 15-hundred male mosquitos a week for four months, at a cost of about a thousand dollars for the season. It's the first time this technique has been available to homeowners and it relies on meticulous quality control to separate males and females in the lab and make sure only males are released. Lisa: Is it prudent to tinker with nature and put changed mosquitoes out into the wild? Todd Montgomery: We're only targeting the non-native invasive,, the tiger mosquitoes. It's not from here. The EPA has approved this kind of mosquito control and it could soon play a part in a new White House effort to reduce mosquitos and ticks in the DC region by 90 percent by 2028. Montgomery's first customers did report fewer mosquitos and he's booked out for 2027, meaning the mosquitos that remain should be much less productive.

James Talarico: "I'm Not Interested In Turning Texas Blue... The Best Color For Texas Is Purple"

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:31:26 -0500

"Full Measure" host Sharyl Attkisson reports on the Texas Senate race. Mikenzie Frost reports.

Trump Says Democratic Party Should "Get Rid Of The Name Because It's No Longer Accurate"--"Fetterman Is Great"

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:10:14 -0500

President Trump told reporters outside Air Force One on Saturday night:

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I think that the Democrats have become the socialists of America, and I think that they ought to get rid of the name Democrat because it's no longer accurate. But you have a combination of socialism and communism, and I think, frankly, the word Democrat is [unclear], or Democrat, as I call them. But I think it's a very inaccurate name, Democrat, because they're really socialists. They've become [unclear], and they're being dragged much further left than socialism. [UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER]: [Unclear] TRUMP: I'd love to see it. I think it's great. It's going to be hard for him to get the nominee as a Democrat, but I'd love to have him as a Republican. John Fetterman is a great [unclear], with magnificent parents. I got to speak to his parents about something, and they were great. The mother, the father is a very solid person. You know, he's a person, he's smart and all that, but he's got great common sense. But if you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat.