Governor Greg Abbott (R) formally declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua a “foreign terrorist organization” at a press conference on Monday, a move that comes after more than 100 members of the gang violently forced their way across the border earlier this year. Tren de Aragua has repeatedly made headlines this year after allegations that gang members took over an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, as well as a historic hotel in downtown El Paso. The gang is known for violent illegal activities including murder, smuggling drugs and people, and extortion, according to authorities. Yesterday, I announced Texas is launching a statewide operation to go after the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.@TxDPS will coordinate with federal and local partners through Texas Anti-Gang Centers to stop these dangerous criminals. Our #1 priority is keeping Texans safe. pic.twitter.com/LHH9lQaLt0 — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 17, 2024 “The recent entry and expansion of the vicious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, is a dangerous and deadly problem facing our state and nation,” Abbott said. The governor also announced a statewide operation to aggressively target the Venezuelan gang. Texas’ plan would involve a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for Tren de Aragua members who smuggle people into Texas. The plan would also create a database to track gang members. Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! “Our goal is to defend Texas from the growing threat of the gang. We will not let them use Texas as a base of operations to terrorize our citizens. They have a target on their back, and we are going after them. Texas is the wrong state for them to try to do business in,” the governor said. The governor also revealed that back in March, more than 100 suspected gang members were part of the group that violently forced their way across the border. “Earlier this year, more than 100 suspected TdA members were arrested after the riots at the El Paso border, when immigrants assaulted the Texas National Guard,” Abbott said. During the chaos, which was caught on video, hundreds of migrants pushed past razor wire barriers, knocking border troops in the process, with one migrant even stomping on a National Guard member’s knee. Hundreds of those migrants had the charges against them dismissed, and dozens were allowed to go free. Since then, members of Tren de Aragua have popped up all over the country, including allegedly robbing jewelry stores in Colorado and shooting two cops in New York. The migrant accused of shooting two NYPD officers in Queens entered the country illegally last year, had his asylum case dismissed by the Biden administration, and then was apparently recruited by the gang. Former President Donald Trump has made illegal migrant criminals a major theme of his presidential campaign this election cycle. He has accused the Biden-Harris administration of allowing dangerous criminals into the U.S., including some from prisons in places like Venezuela. Trump has promised to launch a massive deportation operation targeting criminal migrants should he be elected again in November.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre doubled down on referring to former President Donald Trump as a “threat” on Tuesday — just two days after a second assassination attempt on the Republican nominee. Two months after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Republican nominee was the target of another gunman who hid out near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. The gunman allegedly hid in a sniper’s nest for 12 hours, waiting to take a shot at the former president. “It’s been only two days since somebody allegedly tried to kill Donald Trump again, and you’re here at the podium of the White House briefing room calling him a ‘threat,'” Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy said. “How many more assassination attempts on Donald Trump until the president, the vice president, and you pick a different word to describe Trump other than ‘threat’?” “Peter … I actually completely disagree with the premise of your question. The question that you’re asking, it is also incredibly dangerous in the way that you’re asking it,” Jean-Pierre responded. “Because the American people are watching, and to say that from an administration who has consistently condemned political violence, from an administration that the president called the former president and was thankful, grateful that he was okay … and now for you to make that comment in your questioning … that is also incredibly dangerous.” Jean-Pierre then defended her characterization of Trump as a “threat,” telling Doocy, “What I have said about the former president about January 6 is facts.” Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! The White House press secretary said the January 6 protesters and rioters were at the Capitol “because the former president told them to go there,” adding, “It was one of the darkest days of our democracy.” Jean-Pierre claimed the White House is not calling Trump a “threat” just to say it. “We have examples,” she told Doocy before repeating “January 6” three more times. The White House press secretary scolded Doocy over his question, saying, “You also have to be careful on how you’re asking me these questions.” WATCH: Peter Doocy: When will you stop calling Trump a threat to Democracy? KJP: How dangerous of you to ask me that question. You can’t make this sh*t up. pic.twitter.com/ZY8aWuA2uk — AG ? (@Yolo304741) September 17, 2024 The Trump campaign on Monday compiled an extensive list of Biden, Harris, and other top Democrats using extreme rhetoric to define Trump. Examples included Biden saying Trump needs to be put “in a bullseye,” calling Trump an “existential threat,” and referring to “MAGA Republicans” as extremists and a threat to the “very foundations of our republic.” Harris has also called Trump a “threat to our democracy and fundamental freedoms.” “Democrats used increasingly incendiary rhetoric against President Trump in the days, weeks, and months leading up to the two assassination attempts,” the Trump campaign said.

Iowa police arrested a trans-identifying 19-year-old on Monday and charged her with a “threat of terrorism” after she revealed in therapy that she wanted to shoot up an elementary school, The Daily Wire has learned. The Norwalk Police Department announced Monday that it had arrested Margaret Anderson after being made aware last week of a “potential threat” to Oviatt Elementary School, located in Norwalk, Iowa. In a release, the department said that Atwood has been charged with a “Threat of Terrorism” under Iowa Code 708A.5, and had been processed into the Warren County Jail. Anderson is a 19-year-old female who identifies as a transgender man, Warren County Attorney Doug Eichholz confirmed to The Daily Wire on Tuesday. The police department said on Monday that Margaret also went by Maxwell, raising initial suspicions that gender identity was at play in the case. Eichholz said that the case arose out of statements that Anderson made to her therapist during the course of her “regular treatment.” The therapist then reported the statements to the Des Moines Police Department, he said, which forwarded the information to the Norwalk Police Department in her hometown. “And then the investigation took off from there,” he explained. According to Eichholz, the complaint about Anderson says: “The defendant stated that she had thoughts that she wanted to take a gun to Oviatt Elementary School in Norwalk, at 11 am through the cafeteria, and shoot children.” The complaint did not contain context as to why Anderson was motivated to shoot children, the Warren County Attorney said. He noted that after Anderson shared these thoughts, she was immediately entered into Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, which has a mental health facility attached. She was then arrested on Monday, Eichholz said, released Tuesday morning to house arrest with restrictions including a GPS bracelet, and is currently on pretrial release. Shawn Holloway, superintendent of Norwalk Community School District, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Courtesy of the Norwalk County Sheriff’s Department. The revelation comes more than a year after a trans-identifying shooter killed three children and three adults at Covenant Christian School in Nashville in March 2023. News that the shooter identified as transgender caused many in the mainstream media to suggest, even as families were newly mourning the victims, that the shooter’s transgender identity was irrelevant and that the LGBTQ community was in danger from reprisals. A number of LGBTQ groups told Newsweek that the publication of the shooter’s manifesto could have “serious consequences,” and NBC News published a story saying that “fear pervades Tennessee’s trans community amid focus on Nashville shooter’s gender identity,” citing a transgender activist who reportedly told the publication, “We were already fearing for our lives. Now, it’s even worse.” The FBI would claim that it withheld the shooter’s 100-page journal in the name of public safety, suggesting that it would lead to “conspiracy theories” and “inaccurate information.” The Tennessee Star published the shooter’s entire journal in early September, and the writings revealed the shooter was obsessed with ideas of transgenderism and white privilege, and frequently wrote about her autism and depression.

In a significant political move, global pop icon Taylor Swift has thrown her support behind Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Swift, known for her widespread influence and large fan base, made her endorsement through an Instagram post shortly after the first presidential debate, making headlines for the clarity and tone of her message. In her post, Swift explained that her decision came after deep personal reflection and research, encouraging her fans to take a similar approach. “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” Swift wrote, urging her followers to do their own due diligence. She highlighted the importance of making informed decisions, stating, "Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make." Her post also included a voter registration link to help her audience, especially first-time voters, get involved in the election process. In the past week or so Elon Musk has joked about raping Taylor Swift, lamented that nobody is trying to assassinate the sitting Vice President and perpetuated his 10 year old consumer fraud. Just another week for the Smartest Man in the World #DeportElonMusk pic.twitter.com/07VGShM7nY — Peter A. Roselle (@PhenomenalPoto) September 16, 2024 Swift expressed admiration for Harris’s leadership qualities, calling her a "steady-handed, gifted leader" who champions critical issues like LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and women's health. Swift also praised Tim Walz, Harris's running mate, for his long-standing advocacy on similar issues. This endorsement marks a rare but impactful political stance from Swift, who has traditionally kept her distance from political endorsements. However, she has become more vocal in recent years, especially following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Swift’s 2024 endorsement of Harris echoes her 2020 support for Joe Biden, signaling a growing willingness to use her platform to influence political discourse. LOL!!! Swifties are BURNlNG their Taylor Swift merch and memorabilia and replacing it with Trump merch LET’S GOOOO!!! @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/gSKaPFjuST — TONY (@TONYxTWO) September 12, 2024 The timing of Swift’s endorsement is notable. It followed an AI-generated image of her falsely endorsing Donald Trump, which Swift acknowledged had spurred her to clarify her true stance. She raised concerns about the risks of misinformation, especially in an era where AI can easily be misused to spread false narratives. For Swift, transparency was a necessary response to combat the spread of such misleading content. Despite her influence, Swift has been careful not to dictate how her fans should vote. She instead emphasized personal responsibility, asking them to explore the issues for themselves. "Do your research," she advised, ensuring that her message remained one of empowerment rather than direct persuasion. Swift’s endorsement has been embraced by many of her fans, with some already organizing under the banner "Swifties for Kamala," raising significant funds for the Democratic campaign. The question remains how much Swift’s endorsement will impact the broader electorate, but her ability to mobilize millions of followers is undeniable. With her immense following and the credibility she holds, especially among younger voters, Taylor Swift’s backing of Kamala Harris could be a game-changer in the 2024 election. While it’s uncertain how her influence will sway the polls, Swift has proven that celebrities have the power to shape political narratives and voter engagement. As the election approaches, both candidates will likely vie for similar endorsements to gain a competitive edge. The post Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris for 2024 Presidential Race appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

'To combat climate change'

'This is being tolerated with the looking away'

'Another white guy'

'You are now seeing the hate manifesting right here'

'I am reaching the point of total outrage'