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Rising star Talarico topples progressive firebrand Crockett in high-stakes Texas Senate Democratic primary
AUSTIN, TEXAS - James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker from Texas with a surging national profile, defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a nationally known politician, progressive firebrand, and vocal critic and foil of President Donald Trump, to win the Democratic Senate primary in Texas, according to the Associated Press.
Talarico, 36, will now try to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate election in Texas, as he faces off against the winner of a bruising Republican primary runoff between longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
This year's Senate showdown in Texas is one of a handful across the country that could determine if Republicans hold their majority in the chamber in the midterm elections. The GOP currently controls the chamber 53-47.
In the final weeks leading up to Tuesday's Democratic primary, race became a key factor in the showdown between Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who is considered a rising star among Democrats, and Crockett, a civil rights attorney first elected to Congress in 2022.
Talarico, who is White, was accused a month ago by an influencer of calling former Rep. Colin Allred, a former rival for the 2026 Senate nomination, a "mediocre Black man."
Allred, the 2024 Democratic Senate nominee, was making a second straight run after losing two years ago to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz by eight points.
He ended his Senate campaign late last year, just before Crockett announced her candidacy. Allred, a former college football star who played professionally in the NFL and later became a civil rights attorney, is now running for his old House seat.
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Morgan Thompson, the influencer who goes by the username @morga_tt on TikTok, in a social media post claimed Talarico told her in a private conversation that he had "signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent, Black woman."
Pushing back against Thompson's characterization of their conversation, Talarico said in a statement, "In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race."
Allred, responding in a social media video on Monday, said: "James, if you want to compliment Black women, just do it. Just do it. Don’t do it while also tearing down a Black man."
The 44-year-old Crockett, who is Black, said in a statement that Allred "drew a line in the sand."
"He made it clear that he did not take allegations of an attack on him as simply another day in the neighborhood, but more importantly, his post wasn’t about himself," Crockett, who was endorsed by Allred, said. "It was a moment that he decided to stand for all people who have been targeted and talked about in a demeaning way as our country continues to be divided."
A couple of weeks later, Crockett claimed that a Talarico-aligned super PAC had darkened her skin tone in an ad and said it was "straight up racist."
She also argued late last month that talk that she wasn't electable statewide was a "dog whistle" that was "tearing down a Black woman," and that she was the "most qualified" candidate.
CARDI B ENDORSES JASMINE CROCKETT FOR TEXAS SENATE, DECLARING 'VOTE FOR MY SISTER'
Talarico, who was first elected to the Texas House in 2018 by flipping a red district in northeast Austin and surrounding suburbs, highlighted his ability to win over Republican voters. And he questioned whether Crockett could run a competitive general election campaign.
While dramatically outraising and outspending Crockett the past two months, Talarico cast himself as the underdog in the primary battle against the better-known congresswoman.
Talarico, who speaks openly about his faith and how it shapes his progressive policy agenda, last year started garnering national attention through a slew of social media appearances that went viral. Also boosting his profile were his TikTok videos, which have grabbed millions of views, and his appearance last July on Joe Rogan's top-rated podcast.
Rogan suggested during the interview that Talarico should run for president.
A month later, Talarico was a regular on the cable news networks, conducting dozens of national media interviews, as he and dozens of his fellow Democrats in the Texas House fled the state for weeks, to delay the eventual Trump-led redistricting push in Texas to create up to five more right-leaning congressional seats
Talarico launched his Senate campaign a month later, in September.
Last month, Talarcio grabbed even more national attention when his appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" was bumped off broadcast TV and instead appeared on YouTube. Colbert accused his network, CBS, of blocking the interview by citing guidelines from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The controversy appeared to boost Talarico, with his campaign saying they hauled in $2.5 million in fundraising in the 24 hours "following his censored" interview.
Jasmine Crockett suggests GOP rigged her Democratic Primary election: 'This is what Republicans like to do'
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is claiming Republicans tried to rig her primary race against moderate Texas State Rep. James Talarico, District-50, on Tuesday after the state's Supreme Court ruled in an emergency decision against her campaign's request to give voters from Dallas County an extension to sort out confusion about Republican-led changes to polling locations.
On Tuesday, Republicans and Democrats did not hold joint primaries, leading to polling location restrictions that Democrats, like Crockett, claimed were disenfranchising voters.
Crockett's claims came after the Texas Supreme Court knocked down a lower judge's ruling to keep polling places open longer, mandating that any votes cast after the initial closing time be separated. Democrats pushed for polling locations to be open longer amid polling location restrictions that resulted from Republicans and Democrats not holding joint primaries.
"Knowing that Dallas County is a big dump of votes, we, in my opinion, will not know the election results overall tonight," Crockett told supporters who gathered to celebrate her potential victory.
"So, that's my news, is that we're not going to have election results tonight, in my opinion, based upon what specifically is taking place in Dallas County. Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do. And, so, they specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why."
The Texas High Court's decision to undo a lower court's ruling from earlier in the night that had given voters in Dallas County until 9:00 p.m. to cast their ballot instructed tabulators to disregard votes that came in after 7:00 p.m.
"I can tell you now that people have been disenfranchised," Crockett told supporters at a campaign event on Tuesday evening as the courts' back-and-forth played out. "In my opinion, we will not know the election results overall tonight."
Voters ran into confusion on Tuesday evening amid the decision of certain counties — including Dallas — to separate out the locations where voters could cast ballots for Republican and Democrat primaries.
Under Texas law, party leaders can object to conducting their primaries together, at the same locations and through the same equipment. For Tuesday's primaries, counties like Houston decided to forgo joint primaries to protect against crossover voting, fearing that holding Republican and Democratic elections at the same locations could invite sabotage.
Meanwhile, voters in Texas can also participate in any primary without party registration due to it hosting open primaries.
"They specifically targeted Dallas County, and I think we all know why," Crockett said Tuesday night.
Republican congressman accused of affair with late aide to face runoff election
A GOP congressman accused of having an affair with a staffer who has since committed suicide will see his primary race head to a runoff after Tuesday night.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, failed to clinch more than 50% of the vote in his southwest Texas district after dealing with the scandal for several weeks.
Gonzales was accused of having an affair with and sending sexual messages to a married staffer in his Uvalde office, who died after setting herself on fire near her home in September 2025.
Gonzales, a married father of six, has pushed back on the allegations and accused the late staffer’s husband of blackmail attempts.
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"During my six years in Congress, not a single formal complaint has been levied against my office. Now days away from an election, coordinated political attacks reign in. IT WON'T WORK. Halfway through early voting and the intensity resides w/ TG voters. I’d rather be us than them," he posted on X in late February.
That has not stopped the growing backlash from members of his own party in the House of Representatives, several of whom called on Gonzales to resign. The Texas Republican has rejected those calls.
He's now fighting for his political life against social media influencer Brandon Herrera, who has been endorsed by the conservative House Freedom Caucus' campaign arm.
Herrera, a firearms activist, previously lost to Gonzales in 2024 by less than 400 votes. He's now facing Gonzales again in their runoff after neither gained an outright majority in a four-way Republican primary race.
Fox News Digital was told in the weeks before the Tuesday primary race that many fellow House Republicans had been privately hoping for Gonzales to lose, putting the decision to boot him from Capitol Hill on his voters.
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Several had signaled as much in public comments as well, telling Fox News Digital that they condemned the allegations but maintaining that the final decision lies with the people Gonzales represents.
"I think it’s pretty unbecoming, any individual in power engaging in activities like that with their staff. And, you know, I endorsed his opponent last Congress, I’ve endorsed his opponent this Congress," Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., told Fox News Digital last week, referencing Herrera.
He said Gonzales was entitled to "due process" but accused him of "despicable behavior."
Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital the allegations are "extremely concerning" and said, "I think that this is in the hands of the voters in that district right now."
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., announced just this week that she is forcing a vote on a measure requiring the House Ethics Committee to disclose information on lawmakers accused of sexually harassing their staff. She has also called for Gonzales to resign.
Though, not all House Republicans are on the same page. The House GOP is already dealing with a razor-thin majority that will likely fluctuate between a one- and two-vote margin for much of the rest of this year.
Retiring Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, cited that margin when arguing that pushing Gonzales out early was a bad idea.
"He's got a problem here, don't get me wrong. The optics are horrible," Nehls told reporters. "But I would in no way ever resign right now."
"Accusations aren't enough. If he does that, you've got to give the gavel to [House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.]."
Voters in Texas' 23rd congressional district will have a second chance to weigh in on Gonzales in May.
Dan Crenshaw defeated by Cruz-backed state lawmaker in Texas GOP primary, boosting MAGA clout
Four-term Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, lost his Republican primary battle on Tuesday to Steve Toth, a state representative and businessman, following years of turmoil between Crenshaw and the MAGA faction of the Republican Party that questioned Crenshaw's loyalty to Trump.
The 2nd Congressional District primary that ended Tuesday with Toth beating out Crenshaw drew a sharp line within the Republican Party. Crenshaw was not formally endorsed by President Donald Trump or Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, endorsed Toth after he reportedly got into a tiff with Crenshaw at the airport over whether the senator was working against the representative's reelection.
Ahead of the Tuesday primary, Toth positioned himself as the more loyal conservative, comparing Crenshaw to a "version of Liz Cheney," who, when in Congress, found herself frequently at odds with Trump before exiting public office.
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Toth, a Texas State Representative since 2019 who also owns a residential and commercial pool management company, received endorsements from the House Freedom Caucus, Turning Point USA, Sen. Cruz, Texas Right to Life, 21 Republican colleagues from the Texas state legislature and some high-profile local conservatives.
Meanwhile, Crenshaw received endorsements from Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leader of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., the National Border Patrol Council, and the National Rifle Association, among others. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also told media ahead of the primary that he "supported" Crenshaw, and that "hopefully he pulls it out."
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost his eye in combat and currently sits on the powerful House intelligence committee, fought back against the label that he was an insufficiently loyal MAGA Republican ahead of the primary.
"My relationship with Trump is good," Crenshaw told the Houston Chronicle, which also endorsed the incumbent congressman, in advance of Tuesday's primary. "I work very closely with his administration. I'm close with Pete Hegseth and John Ratcliffe and Kash Patel, because this is all within my scope too on the [House] Intelligence Committee. We work very closely together with the White House. You'd have to not pay attention to any of that to think I'm not ‘Trump’ enough."
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In 2020, Crenshaw ran unopposed, then won about two-thirds of the vote in the following 2022 primary, according to Ballotpedia. But, in 2024, according to the database, Crenshaw's popularity dipped significantly to around just 60% in the primary.
Just days ahead of Tuesday's primary, reports surfaced of Crenshaw and Cruz getting into a tense exchange at the airport, during which Crenshaw allegedly accused Cruz of working against him in the House primary. According to reporting, Cruz responded: "If I’m working against you, you’re gonna know it."
Days later, he dropped his Toth endorsement, followed by a paid ad to get the word out.
"You deserve an unwavering fighter, a Republican who walks the walk," Cruz says in the ad, which does not refer to Crenshaw.
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Crenshaw had a substantial fundraising advantage over his opponents, but also faced redistricting changes in his district that drew parts of Toth's home district into the race.
Toth will take on Democratic nominee and investment banker Shaun Finnie, who ran unopposed in the primary, during November's general election to be the next Representative of Texas's 2nd Congressional District covering parts of the greater Houston and surrounding areas.
US, Ecuador launch joint operations targeting narco-terror groups: SOUTHCOM
U.S. and Ecuadorian forces launched joint operations Tuesday targeting suspected narco-terrorists in Ecuador, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said.
SOUTHCOM said it was taking "decisive action" against designated terrorist organizations, though it was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.
"On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador," SOUTHCOM posted on X. "The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism."
SOUTHCOM added: "Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere."
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SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan praised Ecuador’s military for joining the U.S. in the operations.
"We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country," he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador said Tuesday the United States "successfully concluded a joint operation" with Europol and Ecuadorian authorities dismantling the Hernán Ruilova Barzola transnational drug trafficking organization, which it said is linked to the Los Lobos cartel.
The announcement follows a series of U.S. strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
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Last week, U.S. forces struck a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean tied to designated terrorist organizations, killing three suspected traffickers.
That strike came after SOUTHCOM said last month it had carried out three strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, killing 11.
Overall, the U.S. has conducted at least 43 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels, killing 150 people in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Two young unidentified Black girls found dead inside buried suitcases in Ohio
Police in Cleveland, Ohio, are asking the public for tips after two young Black girls were found dead inside separate suitcases buried in shallow graves on Monday.
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said during a news conference that the girls, believed to be between the ages of 8 and 13 and 10 and 14, were found Monday evening.
The discovery was made Monday evening after a man walking his dog near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue, in a field near Ginn Academy, found a partially buried suitcase and called police.
Police responded and located a shallow grave and found a deceased individual in a suitcase. After canvassing the area, police found a second shallow grave and another suitcase containing a second individual.
The man who discovered one of the suitcases told Fox 8 that his dog ran toward a fence near a playground where the partially buried suitcase was found. He said he called police after unzipping the suitcase and seeing a head.
The girls have not been identified, and authorities have not determined a cause of death.
There are no active missing persons reports in Cleveland matching the victims, according to police, and it was unclear how long the girls had been inside the suitcases.
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Todd described the discovery as a "terrible, horrific situation."
"This is a traumatic event for our officers, for the community. This is just such a tragic incident, but we are trying to develop any leads we can. That’s why we are also asking for the community’s help," Todd said.
"We know that this didn’t just happen. We still have to develop exactly when this happened. We don’t have any indication this is a clear threat to safety," Todd said.
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The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office has custody of the bodies.
Todd said the bodies had not been dismembered.
The Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit launched a 24-hour tip line at 216-623-5464.
Combustible Republican Senate primary in Texas heading into overtime
AUSTIN, TEXAS - The expensive and contentious battle for the Republican Senate nomination in Texas is headed to a May runoff, after none of the three major candidates in the crowded field of contenders topped 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary election.
Longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn will face off with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after they finished in the top two in the primary, with Rep. Wesley Hunt in third place, the Associated Press reports.
The winner will face off with either rising star state Rep. James Talarico or progressive firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a vocal critic and foil of President Donald Trump, who were vying for the Democratic Senate nomination. Both are trying to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate election in right-leaning Texas.
This year's Senate showdown in Texas is one of a handful across the country that could determine if Republicans hold their majority in the chamber in the midterm elections. The GOP currently controls the chamber 53-47.
The Cornyn campaign and aligned super PACs spent nearly $100 million to run ads attacking Paxton and Hunt, with the senator charging in the closing weeks of the primary campaign that Democrats will flip the seat in the general election if Paxton's the GOP's nominee.
Cornyn, his allies, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the campaign arm of the Senate GOP, repeatedly pointed to the slew of scandals and legal problems that have battered Paxton over the past decade, as well as his ongoing messy divorce.
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"If I'm the nominee, I'll help President Trump by making sure that we carry the five new congressional seats as well as maintain this Senate seat and will help him continue his agenda through the last two years of his term of office," Cornyn touted in a Fox News Digital interview on Sunday.
And, he argued, "If the Democrats win, because we nominate a flawed candidate with incredible baggage like the attorney general, then that last two years of [Trump's] agenda is jeopardized, as well as everybody down ballot that we need to continue to elect as Republicans."
Speaking to reporters on primary night, Cornyn emphasized, "Over the next 12 weeks, Texas Republican primary voters will hear more about my record of delivering conservative victories in the United States Senate, and learn more about Ken's indefensible personal behavior and failures in office."
"Just like the primary, we have a plan to win the runoff, and we are in the process of executing it. Judgment day is coming for Ken Paxton," Cornyn vowed.
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Paxton, a MAGA firebrand who grabbed significant national attention by filing lawsuits against the Obama and Biden administrations, pushed back, telling Fox News Digital on the eve of the primary that "I'm 3-0. I've won three statewide races."
Pointing to public opinion polls suggesting he has the edge over Cornyn, Paxton argued, "it's really easy for him to say that when he's losing a primary, because he's not delivered for the people of Texas, and he's going to find out tomorrow what that means. He's going to end up losing."
"This idea that I can't win a race is not true... there's no evidence of what he's saying is being true. As a matter of fact, the evidence is just the opposite," Paxton added.
On primary night, as he looked ahead to the runoff election, Paxton told supporters, "As we head into this runoff, we're going to make the choice even clearer. While John Cornyn was cutting deals on gun control and amnesty, I was suing corrupt Joe Biden over 107 times."
Paxton was boosted a few weeks ago by an endorsement from the political wing of Turning Point USA, the powerful grassroots conservative organization that was long steered by the late Charlie Kirk.
The GOP nomination battle was a two-person race until Hunt, a West Point graduate and military veteran who flew helicopters during his service and who represents a solidly red district in suburban Houston, announced his candidacy last autumn.
"I think there's going to be a runoff, no matter what happens," Cornyn predicted on Sunday.
Paxton, speaking to supporters on primary eve, touted that "if we go to a runoff, the odds get better for me," as he pointed to what will likely be a smaller electorate for the May 26 runoff.
Hunt, in a Fox News Digital interview on the eve of the primary, argued that he's "the best candidate to win the primary and win the general."
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And pointing to the negative ads from Cornyn and his allies that have targeted him the past couple of weeks, Hunt said, "They have spent tens of millions of dollars against me in the state of Texas, which means that I must be doing the right thing, and I must be a threat. DC will not decide who will be the next senator from Texas. Texans will and that's why I got in this race."
Hunt fell far short of his goal.
But in his concession speech, Hunt teased, "This will not be the last time you see my name on a ballot. I can assure you. We've learned some valuable lessons, have some valuable knowledge."
Trump, whose clout over the GOP remains immense, stayed neutral in the Republican primary race. All three candidates, who sought the president's endorsement, were in attendance Friday as Trump held an event in Corpus Christi, Texas.
"They're in a little race together," Trump said of Cornyn and Paxton. "You know that, right? A little bit of a race. It's going to be an interesting one, right? They’re both great people, too."
Trump also complimented Hunt, and said that all three contenders were engaged in an "interesting election."
While Trump stayed neutral, his top pollster, Tony Fabrizio, helped the Cornyn campaign. And veteran Republican strategist Chris LaCivita, who served as co-campaign manager of Trump's 2024 White House bid, consulted for a top Cornyn-aligned super PAC.
The big questions going forward as the runoff campaign gets underway are whether Trump will make an endorsement, and whether the major outside groups that supported Cornyn will continue to throw resources into the extended nomination battle.
With Talarico leading Crockett in the Democratic primary, with the race not called early Wednesday morning, NRSC Communications Director Joanna Rodriguez told Fox News, "John Cornyn remains the only candidate that guarantees Senator Talarico never becomes a reality, and ensures the fight for President Trump’s Senate Majority is waged in true battleground states, not Texas."
The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), the top super PAC backing Senate Republicans, which spent big bucks on behalf of Cornyn in the primary campaign, made it clear in a statement early Wednesday that they’ll continue to support the senator in the runoff.
"SLF and its sister organizations were proud to support Senator Cornyn early and we look forward to him securing the Republican nomination on May 26th," the group's executive director, Alex Latcham, said in a statement.
But Dan Eberhart, an oil drilling chief executive officer and a prominent Republican donor and bundler who supports Paxton, told Fox News Digital "this was Cornyn’s shot to fend off his challenger by getting over 50% and he couldn’t do it. The runoff voters will be even less friendly territory for Cornyn."
Pointing to former longtime Senate GOP leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, a longtime Trump foil, Eberhart, pointing to the runoff, said, "This race is about MAGA vs. McConnell. "
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), in a statement, argued that "no matter which Texas Republican makes it out of their primary runoff, Texans will show them the door in November."
And the DSCC launched a digital ad describing the GOP primary as a "clown car."
Talarico spoke to supporters at his primary night event around midnight local time.
"Tonight our campaign is shocking the nation. We are still waiting for an official call, but we are confident in this movement we've built together. Every vote must be counted. Every voice must be heard," Talarico said.
Hours earlier, Crockett, pointing to a legal dispute over extending voting hours in Dallas, her home base, told supporters not to expect final results on primary night.
Voting issues in Dallas and in Williamson County north of Austin led to confusion and voters being turned away from polling locations.
"We don’t have any of the results because there was a lot of confusion today," Crockett told her supporters gathered at an election watch party in Dallas. "I won't be back tonight because I have no idea of when we're going to get results. And I fully anticipate it won't be until tomorrow."
Crockett blamed Republicans and charged, "that people have been disenfranchised."
Talarico also spoke out against what he said was "voter suppression in my home county and in Congresswoman Crockett's home county."
Iran's senior clerics ‘exposed’ after building strike in Qom, succession choice looms
Senior Iranian clerics would have been left "exposed" after an Israeli airstrike hit a meeting place where they were supposed to be convening Tuesday — days after a strike leveled the Tehran compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a defense analyst has claimed.
The clerics, members of the Assembly of Experts, had reportedly planned to meet at the location in Qom to deliberate succession plans for Khamenei, who was killed in the strikes, according to The Times of Israel.
"This second strike would be another embarrassment to what has been left of the regime," Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital.
"It indicates intelligence dominance and superiority because any movement is detected, meaning they would feel exposed," Michael added.
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"As of now, the leadership would feel insecure and hunted, with all of their plans collapsing one after another."
"They would feel totally isolated and understand that the biggest risk might come from home — from a potential uprising next," he added.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin confirmed that the Israeli Air Force struck the building where senior clerics had planned to assemble, The Times of Israel reported.
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It remains unclear how many of the 88 members were present at the time of the strike, according to an Israeli defense source cited by the outlet. The second strike on Iran's leadership comes amid a broader military campaign.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, U.S. forces have struck more than 1,700 targets across Iran in the first 72 hours of Operation Epic Fury, according to a U.S. Central Command fact sheet.
The campaign is aimed at dismantling Iran’s security apparatus and neutralizing what officials describe as imminent threats.
According to U.S. Central Command, targets have included command-and-control centers, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Joint Headquarters, the IRGC Aerospace Forces headquarters, integrated air defense systems and ballistic missile sites.
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"We need strategic patience and determination, and in several weeks most of the job will be accomplished," Michael added. "Even if the regime does not collapse, Iran will not be like we used to know.
"I assume that the U.S. and Israel will establish a very robust monitoring mechanism that will enable them to react whenever the regime tries to reconstitute its military capacities again."
Austin suspect unleashed anti-Christian, antisemitic, misogynistic rants on social media before mass shooting
The shooter responsible for Sunday’s mass shooting in Austin reportedly ran an X account where he unleashed numerous anti-Christian, antisemitic and other highly inflammatory comments, including slurs such as "fake jewish wh—" and "monkey looking b—-."
Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal, opened fire just before 2 a.m. at a crowded bar, killing three people and wounding 13 others. Authorities say they are investigating the incident as a "potential nexus to terrorism" after he appeared to wear a "Property of Allah" sweatshirt and an undershirt depicting the Iranian flag. A Quran was also later recovered from his vehicle, officials added.
According to an X account believed to belong to Diagne, under @NdiagaDiag88249, the suspect reportedly hurled numerous hateful comments that were flagged as "potentially sensitive content" that may violate X’s rules against hateful conduct.
He joined in October 2024 and began posting derogatory comments almost immediately.
"THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IS ETERNAL AND HERE TO STAY UNTIL THE END OF TIME, you Zionist and islamophobes can be angry all you want but you can’t do a d--- thing about it, no matter what," one post from August 2025 said.
The comment was a reply to Islamic Republic of Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who criticized President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"So funny Islam is considered an enemy to America? Because Jesus who came out of a vagina can never be GOD, just read Mark 12:29, John 17:3, your lies, propaganda, insults and smear will not stop ISLAM, ISLAM is here to save you in this world and the hereafter," he said in a post from November.
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Separately, Diagne criticized Trump and Netanyahu on multiple occasions, at one point calling Trump "a shameless clown" and Netanyahu "evil."
Several posts were direct replies to Trump supporters and right-wing influencers, including one that said, "you and your Israel first acolytes fake Jews know it, so melt down all you want you ugly b----."
Last October, he also said, "Shut the f--- up, you f---ing Israel-first wh---. Move to Israel, you f---ing b----."
Beyond religion and politics, the account frequently shared misogynistic content.
"No one wants you that’s why you were single for 4 years, look at you, nobody in their own mind would date, what do you have going, you fat and ugly like a pig, women belong to the kitchen and bedroom," he said in November 2024.
Authorities are investigating whether Sunday’s shooting may have been influenced by recent U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who reportedly died one day before Diagne opened fire in downtown Austin.
No official motive has yet been confirmed.
New York AG orders Manhattan hospital to resume gender-transition treatment for transgender youth
New York Attorney General Letitia James is instructing a Manhattan hospital to resume offering gender-transition treatment to transgender youth after it ended such treatments last month over funding threats from the Trump administration.
NYU Langone's decision to close its Transgender Youth Health Program violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws by "jeopardizing access to medically necessary healthcare for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers," James wrote in a Feb. 25 letter first made public this week.
James’ office threatened "further action" if the hospital does not immediately resume offering hormone therapies, puberty blockers and other treatment to transgender youth.
TOP NEW YORK HOSPITAL TO END TRANSGENDER PROGRAM FOR MINORS
NYU Langone, one of the city’s largest hospital systems, said last month it would stop providing certain gender-transition treatments for patients under the age of 19.
"Given the recent departure of our medical director, coupled with the current regulatory environment, we made the difficult decision to discontinue our Transgender Youth Health Program," NYU Langone spokesman Steve Ritea said in a statement at the time. "We are committed to helping patients in our care manage this change. This does not impact our pediatric mental health care programs, which will continue."
The hospital ceased admitting new patients into its transgender youth program last year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order entitled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," which aims to restrict gender-transition treatment for people under 19.
Referencing Trump's order, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services later announced a proposal to cut federal Medicaid and Medicare funding to hospitals that provide these treatments to transgender youth.
But the Feb. 25 letter signed by the attorney general’s health care bureau chief, Darsana Srinivasan, said the proposal did not officially change federal law and did not affect a "medical institution's existing duties and obligations under New York law."
"The sudden discontinuation of medically necessary transgender healthcare can have severe, negative health outcomes," Srinivasan wrote. "Accordingly, the Attorney General is extremely concerned by your institution’s decision to cease the provision of care to this vulnerable, minority population."
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The letter gives the hospital until March 11 to show its compliance, although it is unclear what steps would be taken if it fails to resume the treatments.
Several other hospitals across the country have also halted transgender youth treatments following Trump's executive order and funding threats.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.