MMN Editor

Mar-a-Lago/Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license/Author: Jud McCranie
During New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ 2023 civil fraud/political persecution of President Trump, one of her most ridiculous assertions was that the president had ‘overvalued’ his Mar-a-Lago property.
According to Tish and affirmed by crackpot Manhattan Judge Arthur, the massive oceanfront estate was only worth $18 million.
President Trump said during the trial, “But this is the Attorney General of New York State, Leticia James, and she shouldn’t be allowed to be Attorney General. She’s defrauded the public with this trial.”
“She said that Mar-a-Lago, she convinced the judge that Mar-a-Lago was worth in Palm Beach, Florida, the most expensive land in the world, I guess, and the most expensive houses definitely, in the world. At Mar a Lago, the biggest house, the most spectacular place in all of Florida, was worth $18 million, when it’s worth approximately could be close to 100 times that amount.”
“And based on that testimony, and based on her convincing the judge of Mar-a-Lago was worth $18 million instead of a billion to a billion five, which would sell very easily, which we’ve already proven. But we’ll have people come up and say that and prove it. The most important people, the brokers that make the sales. But based on that, he ruled against me. He ruled fraud.”
“So they chose to do this. So I just want to say, the head of Deutsche Bank came in. He said we were great, the loan was great, everything was fine, and it was perfect. And this was their witness, wasn’t even my witness. And we have other bankers coming in.”
A recent Forbes article on billionaires vindicates President Trump again, valuing the property at more than half a billion.
In Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires list coverage, the outlet updated its valuation of Mar-a-Lago to $560 million, up from $370 million the previous year and a far cry from James’ politically motivated assessment.
Per Forbes:
Other personal assets belonging to Trump have flourished as people aim to curry favor with him or at least show their support. That includes Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, which has benefited from politics more than any other property. Referred to as his winter White House, it’s where he meets world leaders (Zelenskyy and Netanyahu, among others), hosts allies (Musk, Changpeng Zhao) and launches missiles (Syria, Iran).
Bought by Trump in 1985 for an estimated $10 million, Forbes now pegs its value at about $560 million, up nearly $370 million a year ago and more than triple its 2018 value. Meanwhile, Trump’s 10 golf courses in six states have appreciated substantially too, as supporters keep visiting and profits soar. Those properties are now worth about $550 million, up from $340 million last year.
The estate covers approximately 20 acres of manicured lawns, vibrant gardens, and sweeping sea-to-lake vistas with its own 2-acre private Beach Club.
It includes the original historic mansion (built 1924–1927) of roughly 37,000–37,400 square feet, with a 20,000-square-foot ballroom added in 2005.
The complex includes 126 rooms total, including 58 bedrooms.
Amenities at the estate include 6 championship clay tennis courts, a full-size croquet lawn, an oceanfront swimming pool,
spa, salon, and state-of-the-art fitness center.
There are two grand ballrooms, a chip-and-putt golf course, and multiple fine-dining restaurants.
 
The post Trump Vindicated Again: Forbes Values Mar-a-Lago at Massive $560 Million, Exposing Letitia James’ Fake Numbers appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

When “ICE Out” protests spread across Arizona in recent months, one restaurant found itself at the center of the ICE storm. At Sammy’s Mexican Grill, owners Jorge and Betty Rivas—immigrants who have lived the American dream—chose to stay open and continue their five-year tradition of serving free meals to all law enforcement officers.
The Rivas’ story reached The Daily Signal through Mark Hurley, senior adviser to the president for donor relations at The Heritage Foundation. Hurley stopped for lunch at Sammy’s Mexican Grill during a trip to Arizona, and was struck by the family’s resilience, calling their story “impressive” and inspiring to see people “standing up for what they believe in.”
When Protests Hit Tucson
During “ICE Out” protests in Tucson, Arizona, organizers called for a day of demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many businesses and restaurants closed to show their support for the protest and posted signs on their doors.
All eyes turned to Sammy’s Mexican Grill when it chose to stay open. The situation escalated after a local reporter asked owner Jorge Rivas if the “free meals for law enforcement” policy extended to ICE officers. When Jorge replied, “Yeah”—explaining that “they’re also enforcing the laws”—criticism and backlash erupted.
Jorge, his family, and the restaurant were met with hundreds of insulting calls and thousands of negative reviews. People who had never visited the grill deliberately left false, damaging comments.
Origins of the Free Meals
When asked why the Rivas family began serving free meals to law enforcement five years ago, Jorge told The Daily Signal that the idea grew out of rising hostility toward police.
He pointed to a Dallas police ambush, where five officers were killed, as well as reports of police being denied service in Louisiana restaurants because the owners “didn’t feel safe with law enforcement.”
“How can you deny service? How can [you] deny the entrance of law enforcement into your building?” Jorge said. In response, he created a sign at Sammy’s Mexican Grill offering officers free meals as a gesture of appreciation.
From Immigrants to Business Owners
Jorge is originally from El Salvador and Betty is from Mexico. The two immigrated to the United States, married, and raised three boys who have all graduated from college. They eventually were able to start and own a restaurant—and the building it’s in.
In 2020, Jorge wrote a book titled “Modern Patriots: How one Hispanic family fought backlash after supporting the man who would become an American president.” The book recounts how a wave of threats and harassment followed Betty’s appearance at a Trump rally, and how their family relied on faith, unity, and love of country to stay strong in their beliefs.
“We’re very grateful for everything that we have been able to achieve in this country,” Jorge said of their version of the American dream.
A High-Profile Visit
In February, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks visited Sammy’s Mexican Grill, accompanied by about 60 ICE officers—all of whom received a free meal.
Jorge said it was a great event, and Noem was able to personally thank him for the work he has done in the community.
For Jorge and Betty Rivas, the backlash and controversy haven’t changed their beliefs. They will keep serving their community—and cops—one meal at a time.
[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by The Daily Signal.]

Wednesday, during an appearance on FNC’s “Hannity,” former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino rejected criticisms from former Trump counterterrorism official Joe Kent that Iran was not an imminent threat, which was the predicate for the Trump administration’s strikes against Iran.
The post Bongino Rejects Argument Iran Was Not an ‘Imminent Threat’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Global oil prices are back near their highest levels in nearly four years Thursday after Iran targeted energy production in the Gulf region.

Arizona has filed the first criminal charges against a prediction market website in the United States.Kalshi is one of two major prediction market websites in the country (along with Polymarket), which allows users to make money off of almost anything. ‘We just can’t allow companies to come in here and override our laws.’Whether it’s Taylor Swift getting married or the future price of Bitcoin, prediction markets turn real-life events into shares that can be bought and sold depending on their value. The value changes based on which outcome users are putting their money into. Like financial exchanges, these predictions are regulated federally by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) is calling that into question.”We just can’t allow companies to come in here and override our laws or try to bypass our laws against online gaming outside of regulations,” Mayes told Arizona’s CBS 5.Mayes’ office put out a press release on Tuesday alleging that Kalshi has accepted bets from Arizona residents that violate state law. The press release included a filing against Kalshi Trading LLC out of Delaware, listing 20 criminal charges related to what Arizona referred to as “proposition bets,” which typically refer to sports bets focused on individual player performances.RELATED: Insider war bets. Multiple lawsuits. Free groceries. Are the top prediction platforms about to crash out? The filing listed 16 “betting and wagering” offenses and four counts of “election wagering.”This included “bets” on the 2028 presidential race, the 2026 Arizona gubernatorial race, the 2026 Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary, the 2026 Arizona Secretary of State race, and whether the SAVE Act would become law.The alleged sports bets were on pro and college events, including prop bets on individual performances in those categories.The state said that Arizona law prohibits operating an “unlicensed wagering business” and separately bans “betting on elections outright.”A Kalshi spokeswoman told Business Insider that she believes Arizona’s charges are “seriously flawed” and an example of “gamesmanship.””These charges are meritless, and we look forward to fighting them in court,” the spokeswoman, Elisabeth Diana, told the outlet.RELATED: Prediction markets let you ‘bet’ in states where gambling is banned: Here’s how Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images “Kalshi may brand itself as a ‘prediction market,’ but what it’s actually doing is running an illegal gambling operation and taking bets on Arizona elections, both of which violate Arizona law,” AG Mayes said in the press release. “No company gets to decide for itself which laws to follow.”Mayes added, “Arizona will not be bullied into letting any company place itself above state law.”Kalshi’s front page is currently covered in political predictions, which of course are subject to change. This includes the options to trade on topics like government shutdowns, U.S. tariff rates on China, and the results of the midterm elections.Prediction markets have become so popular that they have forced major gambling platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel to create their own models, offering services to a national market as opposed to operating on a state-by-state basis.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rates has risen to 6.22% this week, according to Freddie Mac. This is a 0.11% incline from last week and the third consecutive week of increases. Three weeks ago, the 30-year rate had dropped below 6% to 5.98%.The 15-year fixed rate is also up for a second week in a row. It now sits at 5.54%, which is a 0.04% increase since last week.A significant chunk of my mortgage-reporting career has focused on mortgage rates, so I can’t say I’m surprised that rates have climbed again this week. Numerous economic factors impact mortgage rates, but one seems to be king in the current environment: the conflict in the Middle East.Iran war continues to affect mortgage ratesGeopolitical unrest affects the U.S. economy in various way — one being that it pushes up mortgage rates.“Right now, the story in the markets is still being driven almost entirely by what’s happening in the Middle East and the impact it’s having through elevated and volatile oil prices,” said Jeff DerGurahian, chief investment officer and head economist for loanDepot.Related: How Fed meeting impacts mortgage rates, housing marketAmerica and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28. The longer the Middle East conflict drags on, the more significant its effect on mortgage interest rates could be. Considering Israel claimed to have killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, on Wednesday, March 18, as CNBC reported, it doesn’t look like the turmoil is winding down.High oil prices typically lead to high mortgage rates. Prices for Brent crude, the main benchmark for oil prices internationally, have skyrocketed since Feb. 28. Brent crude closed at $72.50 on the day before Israel and America attacked Iran, and today, it opened at $103.66, per Business Insider.Consider adjustable-rate mortgages insteadRegardless of what mortgage rates are doing, it’s always a good idea to shop for different types of home loans with a few mortgage lenders to compare your options. And as rates rise during the Middle East conflict, you may want to ask lenders about getting an adjustable-rate mortgage (often called an ARM) instead of a fixed-rate mortgage.With a FRM, your interest rate is locked in for your entire term length, unless you refinance into a new rate. An ARM keeps your rate the same for a predetermined amount of time, then fluctuates at regular intervals. For example, a 5/1 ARM would lock in your interest rate for five years, then it would increase or decrease every one year. With a 7/6 ARM, your rate would be stagnant for seven years, then change every six months. Lenders also typically offer lower mortgage rates during ARMs’ introductory years than they do for FRMs.On March 19, I compared mortgage rates among lenders for a ZIP code in Sacramento, Calif., which is the top metro area where Americans are moving, according to Redfin. The results supported the idea that ARM rates are lower right now.At Better Mortgage, the advertised 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 5.75%, while 7/6 and 5/6 ARMs charged 5.5%. Chase Home Lending’s rate on a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo loan was 5.875%, and its rate on a 7/6 jumbo ARM was 5.490%.(These advertised rates assume the homebuyer will pay for discount points, which lowers the rate but costs money on closing day.)More on mortgages and mortgage rates:How Fed meeting impacts mortgage rates, housing marketRedfin reveals why now is the right time to refinance a mortgageFannie Mae predicts shifts in housing market, mortgage ratesARMs are worth considering if you think mortgage rates could decrease later — but there’s always the risk that market rates could actually be higher when your introductory-rate period ends, and your monthly mortgage payment would go up. So, ARMs are a particularly worthwhile option for those who plan to move before their intro-rate period ends. This way, you don’t risk taking on a higher rate later.Adjustable rates do come with some risk, but they aren’t as volatile as 20 years ago.”It’s also worth noting that today’s ARMs are different from the pre-2008 ARMs you may remember — they’re more tightly regulated and include adjustment caps, which provide you with clearer guardrails around how much your rate, and payment, can increase over time,” said loanDepot branch manager Baret Kechian.Long-term fixed mortgage rates are still downThree consecutive weeks of rate increases may feel dismal, but I have good news for homebuyers: Long-term mortgage fixed rates have actually decreased. So, you could still be in a relatively good spot to buy a house or refinance into a lower rate.Year-over-year mortgage rates have decreased. The 30-year fixed rate is 0.45% lower than this week last year, and the 15-year rate is down 0.29%.Mortgage rates are also below their 52-week averages. The average 30-year rate is down 0.21% from its 52-week average, and the 15-year rate is 0.12% lower.Today’s mortgage rates are actually lower than Freddie Mac’s historical average. Since Freddie Mac started tracking 30-year fixed mortgage rates in 1971, the average is 7.69%. The current rate is 1.47% lower than the historical average.
Source: Freddie Mac
Related: Fannie Mae predicts shifts in mortgage rates, housing market

US-Japan Announce $40 Billion Nuclear Deal; Trump Cracks Awkward Pearl Harbor Joke

Update (1220ET): President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced a roughly $40 billion collaboration to build advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The project, involving U.S.-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd., targets sites in Tennessee and Alabama. Officials described it as a step to stabilize electricity prices, expand power generation, and bolster energy security amid global tensions, including the ongoing Iran conflict. The deal builds on last year’s U.S.-Japan trade framework and investment commitments, with no major new military pacts emerging from the talks.

The joint press conference following the extended Oval Office meeting – long enough to cancel the planned working lunch – was overshadowed by a viral moment. When asked about the lack of prior coordination with allies on strikes against Iran, Trump turned to Takaichi and quipped: “We went in very hard and we didn’t tell anyone about it. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” The remark elicited a mix of nervous laughter, groans, and stunned silence in the room, quickly dominating social media reactions.

HILARIOUS: President Trump to Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi after being asked why he didn’t coordinate with allies prior to attacking Iran: “We went in very hard and we didn’t tell anyone about. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor,… pic.twitter.com/cEZPrl24ek
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 19, 2026
Trump praised Takaichi repeatedly, calling her “a very popular, powerful woman” and “a great woman” after her recent landslide election win. He expressed particular delight when she spoke English directly, noting it was “so nice that we don’t have to sit through that [translation].” Takaichi reciprocated warmly, addressing him as “Donald” and stating, “I firmly believe it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world,” while condemning Iran’s nuclear program and actions in the Strait of Hormuz, though urging de-escalation.

On the security front, Japan held firm on constitutional limits, with Takaichi explaining what her country “can and cannot do” militarily—no warships were committed to Hormuz despite Trump’s earlier pushes for allied naval support. Broader discussions covered trade implementation, critical minerals, Indo-Pacific stability, defense cooperation, and countering China.

As noted below on the nuclear deal – GE Vernova and Hitachi, under their existing joint venture GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH), will construct BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) in Tennessee and Alabama, with the projects valued at up to $40 billion. Specific timelines for operation remain under wraps, but the deal highlights accelerating momentum for advanced nuclear technology.

This announcement follows the first tranche of commitments under the fund, which we covered in detail last month. Those initial projects totaled $36 billion and focused on a massive natural gas facility in Ohio, a synthetic diamond plant in Georgia, and a Gulf Coast crude export terminal.

The BWRX-300 units, each roughly 300 MW, are designed for faster factory-built deployment than traditional gigawatt-scale plants. Sites in Tennessee tie into the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River development, while Alabama locations will partner with private developers. No SMRs currently operate on US grids, but the Trump administration has prioritized regulatory streamlining and federal support to shorten timelines that have historically stretched a decade or more.

We previously covered the US-Japan trade deal and the surrounding agreements back in October of last year when investments worth over $500 billion were pledged by Japan. At the time, the announced value of investments for GE Vernova reactors was $100 billion, so this barely represents even half of that previously announced commitment. It remains unknown where the other $60 billion will be directed to.

There are also outstanding commitments from Japan to support NuScale with up to $25 billion, and Westinghouse with an additional $100 billion. The $100 billion for Westinghouse will most likely be in the form of funding the $80 billion agreement between the US, Cameco, and Brookfield for 10 AP1000s. 

*  *  *

President Donald Trump is expected to use today’s White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at 11:15 ET to press Tokyo for naval support in the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran – specifically requesting minesweepers and escorts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, tapping their oil reserves, developing missiles, and in non-Iran news, are expected to announce a $40 billion nuclear power project in the southern US. 

WATCH:

Despite publicly declaring that the United States “does not need the help of anyone,” Trump has repeatedly lashed out at allies for their lukewarm response and continues to urge partners to clear mines and escort tankers through the critical waterway. The request places Takaichi in an awkward position: Japan relies on the Gulf for 95% of its crude oil imports, yet any deployment of the Maritime Self-Defense Force would clash with the country’s pacifist constitution and deeply unpopular domestic sentiment toward the war.

“Japan gets 95 percent of its crude oil supplies from the Gulf,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Thursday ahead of the meeting. “I would expect that they would want to ensure its supplies are safe.”

Japan’s Navy notably has some of the best minesweepers and mine detection capabilities in the world, according to Bessent, who said it puts Tokyo in a perfect position to assist – and that they should release their oil reserves to ease pressure on global oil markets.

“I think we’re going to have a very good discussion with the prime minister,” he said. “President Trump has an excellent relationship with her.”

Trump may also seek Japanese production or co-development of missiles to replenish U.S. stocks depleted by the Iran conflict and Ukraine war. Japan maintains ties with Tehran, potentially offering a diplomatic channel, though past mediation efforts failed, Reuters reports.

Unlike Washington, Tokyo has diplomatic relations with Tehran, creating a potential avenue for diplomacy in any moves to end the war, although past attempts ​by Japan to mediate with Tehran in 2019 were unsuccessful.

Takaichi will also tell Trump that Japan intends to join the “Golden Dome”, opens new tab missile defense initiative that ​is meant to detect, track ⁠and potentially counter incoming threats from orbit, two Japanese government sources said. -Reuters

Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, has so far offered no concrete assistance. Speaking to parliament on Monday, she confirmed no official U.S. request had been received but said officials were “checking the scope of possible action within the limits of its constitution.” In public comments before departure, she described the trip as “very difficult” and stressed that her “top priority is the early de-escalation of the situation.”

The visit – Takaichi’s first to Washington since taking office – was originally designed to burnish the U.S.-Japan alliance, remind Trump of the China threat ahead of his now-postponed trip to Beijing, and announce a fresh wave of Japanese investment in the United States. Tokyo had already committed $550 billion in projects to win tariff relief; a second tranche of roughly $60-100 billion in critical minerals, energy, and other sectors was expected to be unveiled during the visit.

$40 Billion Reactor Project

Trump and Takaichi are also expected to unveil a major nuclear initiative at the White House today, channeling fresh capital from the US-Japan $550 billion investment fund created under their bilateral trade agreement.

Trump and Japanese PM Takaichi are set to announce a $40BN nuclear power project in the southern US, the latest initiative stemming from an investment fund the countries established as part of a trade pact.
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 19, 2026
GE Vernova and Hitachi, under their existing joint venture GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH), will construct BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) in Tennessee and Alabama, with the projects valued at up to $40 billion. Specific timelines for operation remain under wraps, but the deal highlights accelerating momentum for advanced nuclear technology.

This announcement follows the first tranche of commitments under the fund, which we covered in detail last month. Those initial projects totaled $36 billion and focused on a massive natural gas facility in Ohio, a synthetic diamond plant in Georgia, and a Gulf Coast crude export terminal.

The BWRX-300 units, each roughly 300 MW, are designed for faster factory-built deployment than traditional gigawatt-scale plants. Sites in Tennessee tie into the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River development, while Alabama locations will partner with private developers. No SMRs currently operate on US grids, but the Trump administration has prioritized regulatory streamlining and federal support to shorten timelines that have historically stretched a decade or more.

We previously covered the US-Japan trade deal and the surrounding agreements back in October of last year when investments worth over $500 billion were pledged by Japan. At the time, the announced value of investments for GE Vernova reactors was $100 billion, so this barely represents even half of that previously announced commitment. It remains unknown where the other $60 billion will be directed to.

There are also outstanding commitments from Japan to support NuScale with up to $25 billion, and Westinghouse with an additional $100 billion. The $100 billion for Westinghouse will most likely be in the form of funding the $80 billion agreement between the US, Cameco, and Brookfield for 10 AP1000s. 

Exact unit counts, financing splits, and commercial operation dates were not detailed ahead of the formal announcement. Additional energy, minerals, or defense deals could surface during the visit.

So – Iran, Oil, and Nuclear power are on the agenda, officially or not.

Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/19/2026 – 12:26

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated that the Empire State needs wealthy individuals paying taxes in the state to help fund social programs, but noted that the state’s tax base has “eroded.”During remarks at Politico’s “New York Agenda: Albany Summit” event last week, the Democratic governor explained that she needs individuals with a “high net worth to support the generous social programs that we wanna have in our state.”She highlighted the issue by suggesting that wealthy individuals should visit Palm Beach, Florida, to “see who you can bring back home, because our tax base has been eroded.”Hochul explained that New York is “in competition with other states who have less of a tax burden on their corporations and their individuals. And I would say remote work changed everything,” she added.DR OZ ALLEGES WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN NEW YORK’S $100B MEDICAID PROGRAM, DEMANDS HOCHUL RESPONDHochul said that “Wall Street businesses looking at Texas” are moving due to taxes.”We have to be smart about this,” she said, adding that “We can fund what we want to fund with what we already are taking in.”Hochul is running for re-election this year. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, is also running in the gubernatorial contest.NEW YORK GOVERNOR WARNED TO FIX RACE-BASED COLLEGE PROGRAM OR BE TAKEN TO COURT”Kathy Hochul finally discovered what New Yorkers already know,” Blakeman said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living, make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings, people leave. Apparently Hochul’s new economic development strategy is to ask them politely to come back.””Palm Beach is lovely this time of year, but I’m not sure former New Yorkers will be eager to trade sunshine, no state income tax, and sanity for the highest taxes in the nation under Kathy Hochul — especially while Zohran Mamdani proposes a massive death tax hike. He wants to start taxing inheritances as low as $750,000 and take up to half of what families leave behind. That’s a tough sell.”SOCIALIST NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CLASHES WITH HOCHUL OVER TAX HIKES AS SOME CRITICS WARN OF CATASTROPHE”Here’s a revolutionary idea: cut taxes, make New York affordable, and people might actually stay. That’s what I’ll do as governor,” he noted.Blakeman’s campaign said his affordability plan includes “the largest middle-class tax cut in New York State history that will eliminate state personal income tax on the first $50,000 of income for single filers and the first $100,000 for joint filers.””Blakeman will also reduce property taxes by 10% and cut utility bills in half by cutting county and state mandates and taxes on energy,” his campaign added.Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul’s press office and to her campaign to request comment on Thursday.

FIRST ON FOX: Top Democratic candidate James Talarico, who is running for U.S. Senate in Texas, is facing criticism for suggesting concerns about biological males in girls’ sports are a “far-right conspiracy.”Since rising to the national stage, Talarico, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, has faced intense criticism for his history of highly controversial, progressive statements and policy positions.Now, the latest Talarico controversy stems from an unearthed 2021 interview with Fox 7 Austin in which he referenced “trans children” in sports. Talarico was being interviewed about Democrats fleeing the state to block a special legislative session. During the interview, he accused Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of filling the special session with “far-right conspiracy theories about trans children causing problems on sports teams, which we know does not occur in the state of Texas.”He also knocked Abbott for including critical race theory in the legislative agenda, which he said, “We know is not being taught in the state of Texas.” TALARICO CONFRONTED ON PAST TWEETS ACCUSING WHITE PEOPLE OF SPREADING ‘VIRUS’ OF RACISM”If we were focused on actual issues, that would be one thing, but we’re not,” said Talarico.Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, ripped into Talarico over the statement, saying, “James Talarico calls parents ‘conspiracy theorists’ for not wanting him to talk to kids about getting a sex change or how ‘little white boys’ are domestic terror threats.”Kraft told Fox News Digital that “once again, James Talarico is proving that he is a creep who has zero chance of winning in a red state like Texas.”In 2021, Texas passed a bill banning biological males from competing in K-12 girls’ sports. The bill was signed into law by Abbott. Two years later, Texas expanded the policy, passing the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which banned biological men from competing in women’s sports at the collegiate level.Talarico voted against both the K-12 and collegiate sports bills. He also voted against a bill to ban sex change surgeries for children, asserting that “gender-affirming care is not child abuse.”While debating the bill on the Texas House floor in 2021, he made one of his most controversial comments, asserting that “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non-binary.”PROGRESSIVE INFLUENCER ERUPTS AFTER ILLINOIS PRIMARY LOSS, DROPS PROFANE ANTI-TRUMP, -ICE RANTTalarico was also recently mocked for a “creepy” comment he made on a podcast about loving transgender children.During a 2023 episode of the Superbloom Podcast, Talarico was asked by host Candice King, “What is something that you love, other than family and friends?”Talarico responded, “I love, I’m just saying this because it’s on my mind, the trans children who showed up yesterday at the state capitol to advocate for their humanity.” He added that “they shouldn’t have to, but it was an inspiration to watch.”Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., ripped into Talarico, calling him a “creepy goofball.”Women’s sports activist Riley Gaines wrote, “James Talarico loves ‘trans kids’ so much that he advocates for them to cut off healthy, functioning body parts. Quite the display of love.”GOP CANDIDATE CITES ‘FAILURE’ OF NEWSOM, DEMS AS NEW POLL SHOWS REPUBLICANS LEADING CROWDED CALIFORNIA FIELDTalarico has also been an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, co-authoring legislation in 2021 to teach DEI in Texas schools. In promoting the bill, Talarico argued that “radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terror threat.””There but for the grace of God go I,” he wrote in a tweet, continuing, “As a white man, I’m susceptible to the same radicalization. Thankfully, I was exposed to diversity at a young age and explicitly taught the values of equality, inclusion, and justice. But not every young white boy is so lucky.”The day a Texas anti-DEI bill took effect, Talarico tweeted that “Texas teachers can’t talk about race,” calling it “a dark day in our state’s history.”Talarico’s campaign declined to comment.

Conservatives celebrated Tuesday after a federal appeals court denied California’s request to narrow a Supreme Court ruling on transgender policies, two weeks after the high court dealt the state a major blow in the same case.”California has now lost at the district court, lost at the Supreme Court, and been turned away by the Ninth Circuit,” Executive Vice President of the Thomas More Society Peter Breen said in a statement. “The state has repeatedly tried to paint parents who don’t immediately accept their children’s assertion of a new name and gender as ‘abusive.’ The courts have resoundingly rejected that premise.”The Supreme Court had temporarily blocked California officials on March 2 from interfering with school policies that require parents to be notified if their child identifies as transgender. Democrat California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office responded by turning to the 9th Circuit to seek clarification on the high court’s ruling in an effort to interpret it more narrowly.CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICT LETS STUDENTS CHANGE NAMES AND GENDER IDENTITY IN SECRET FROM PARENTSA three-judge panel comprising three Democrat-appointed judges acknowledged that Bonta’s office raised “important concerns” about whether the injunction upheld by the Supreme Court would force schools to disclose gender-related details to parents “who would engage in abuse.” But, the panel said that was for the lower court to decide at this stage.The Thomas More Society, a Catholic-based law firm helping to represent the parents and teachers who brought the lawsuit against the state, added that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit effectively told California officials on Tuesday they cannot use the appellate court as a “backdoor to rewrite” the Supreme Court’s ruling.Civil rights lawyer Laura Powell noted that Bonta’s “attempt to circumvent SCOTUS’s order” had failed and that the district court judge, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, would likely side against Bonta again.”Good like convincing Judge [Roger] Benitez to back down after being vindicated by SCOTUS!” Powell wrote.Benitez had issued the initial preliminary injunction that the Supreme Court upheld, and the same judge will continue to preside over the broader case as it continues to play out in court.The lawsuit, Mirabelli v. Bonta, was brought by California parents and teachers who argued that the state’s policy violated their rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The parents said the policy prevented school administrators from telling them about their child’s potential efforts to engage in gender transitioning unless the child consented to it. The policy also required school staff to use a student’s preferred name and pronouns regardless of the parents’ wishes.”The State argues that its policies advance a compelling interest in student safety and privacy,” the high court wrote in the unsigned order. “But those policies cut out the primary protectors of children’s best interests: their parents.”Attorneys for California had argued that balancing the interests of parents and the “needs of transgender students” presented complex questions that should not be answered on an emergency basis while the litigation proceeds.Fox News Digital reached out to Bonta’s office for comment.