The FBI just stopped what could have been one of the most devastating attacks on a state capitol in American history.

Federal prosecutors in Albany announced this week that a 35-year-old Albany woman was arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force after allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on the New York State Capitol — a plot that included killing state senators, timing the strike to coincide with a legislative session, and fleeing to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria afterward.

Her name is Jessica Bowie. And according to the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, she came remarkably close to pulling it off.

The Alleged Plot

Prosecutors allege Bowie converted to Islam roughly five years ago, adopted the name “Aisha Saif,” and — over the past several months — filmed and posted online what investigators identified as a “Bayah,” or formal oath of allegiance to the Islamic State.

She then allegedly began planning a real-world attack.

According to the complaint, Bowie conducted repeated reconnaissance of the New York State Capitol between mid-July and early August, visiting the grounds multiple times, taking photographs of the building, and studying its layout. She allegedly told what she believed to be an ISIS “facilitator” — actually an FBI confidential source — that she wanted to attack lawmakers while the state Senate was in session.

The disguise she reportedly planned to use: a DoorDash bag, with an explosive device concealed inside, walked into the Capitol as if she were delivering food.

The Sting That Caught Her

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked the case with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, the New York State Police, and the Albany Police Department. Their approach: put a confidential source in front of her, let her incriminate herself, and give her enough rope to make an unmistakable case.

According to the complaint, Bowie allegedly:

• Purchased bomb-making materials at Home Depot for $200 and turned them over to the source
• Paid $150 to fund the acquisition of a firearm and ammunition
• Paid an additional $200 to fund construction of further devices
• Left a meeting with the source in possession of what she believed was a live explosive device and a live handgun — both provided by the FBI in inert form

She was arrested as she took possession of the fake explosive, believing she was hours away from carrying out the strike.

What She Allegedly Said Online

The criminal complaint is direct about what Bowie is accused of posting to her extremist social media accounts. Prosecutors quote her allegedly writing, of the 9/11 attacks:

“Praise be to Allah for September 11th.”

And of Americans generally, she allegedly wrote:

“When I can migrate, I will poison these infidels.”

These are not hypotheticals. These are the quotes the FBI put in a sworn federal filing.

The Charge

Bowie was charged with a single count: attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. It carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. She appeared in federal court in Albany for her initial appearance this week and remains in federal custody.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

Why This Matters

Two things stand out about this case that everyone should sit with.

First — this was not a lone wolf who snapped. This was a years-long, self-directed radicalization pipeline, ending in a plot with real materials, real reconnaissance, and a real intended target. If the FBI had missed her, the outcome would have been catastrophic.

Second — this happened in Albany. Not overseas. Not in a war zone. In the capital of New York State. The idea that ISIS-inspired plots against American government buildings are a relic of the 2010s is exactly the kind of complacency that makes attacks like this succeed. This one didn’t succeed only because federal agents were paying attention.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force did its job. The Trump-era Justice Department got another prosecution filed in a district that has taken heat for its handling of major cases. And an American state capitol still stands intact today — with its lawmakers alive — because the people paid to prevent this kind of attack actually did prevent it.

That’s a story worth telling. And it’s one worth remembering the next time someone argues that domestic counter-terrorism has become an overreach.

Right now, the Joint Terrorism Task Force is the reason nobody in Albany is planning a funeral.

The “Blue States, High Rates” report from Always On Energy Research and the Institute for Energy Research analyzed all 50 states and Washington, D.C., tracking renewable portfolio standards, carbon pricing, natural gas restrictions, and utility net-zero pledges.

The findings: 86% of states with above-average electricity prices voted Democrat in both 2020 and 2024. Meanwhile, 90% of the ten cheapest states voted Republican in both elections.

“While there are many factors that influence electricity rates, the one constant we see is that states that have pursued climate or net-zero policies above all else have some of the highest rates in the country.”

Tom Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, said the correlation is impossible to ignore.

California and New York illustrate the cost of climate ideology. California mandates 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045 and runs a cap-and-trade program — its average electricity price has climbed from 16.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2018 to 27.6 cents today.

New York requires a zero-emissions grid by 2040. Its rates jumped from 14.8 cents to 21.6 cents in the same period.

Amy Cooke, president and CEO of Always On Energy Research, said the numbers confirm what energy-policy watchdogs have warned for years.

“Bad energy policy leads to higher electricity rates.”

The analysis breaks down policy impacts state by state. North Dakota has the lowest rates at just $0.082 per kilowatt-hour. The state has no binding renewable portfolio standard, no carbon pricing, no cap-and-trade, and no utility net-zero pledges. North Dakota consumers get 83.4% of their electricity from coal and natural gas.

Renewable-energy advocates often point to North Dakota’s 40% renewable generation as proof that wind and solar lower costs — but that’s generation exported to other states, not what North Dakotans actually consume.

Hawaii has the highest rates in the nation, partly due to its remote location and reliance on imported petroleum. But the state compounds those costs with aggressive climate policies — renewable mandates, limited natural gas infrastructure, and utility net-zero pledges.

Rhode Island ranks third-highest with a renewable portfolio standard, net metering, carbon pricing, hostility to natural gas pipelines, and utility net-zero pledges.

An Ipsos poll released in May showed 79% of respondents would support a political candidate who promises to lower their utility bill. The same poll found 58% of Americans don’t understand what drives their utility costs.

Alex Stevens, manager of policy and communications for the Institute for Energy Research, said the report gives voters clarity heading into the midterms.

“Every decision made at the local and state level carries real financial consequences for that state’s residents,” Pyle said. “Understanding the connection between state policy and electricity prices helps provide greater transparency and accountability and empowers ratepayers to push back against bad energy policies.”

The average American household consumes about 899 kilowatt-hours per month. In California, that’s a $248 monthly bill. In North Dakota, it’s $74.

Patriots watching their electricity bills climb now have the receipts showing exactly who’s responsible.

The endorsement marks Trump’s most direct involvement yet in the 2025 New York attorney general race, a contest that has drawn national attention given the personal history between Trump and the incumbent. Trump’s decision to weigh in publicly underscores how deeply the former president’s legal battles with James have shaped his political priorities and his determination to reshape the leadership of New York’s top legal office.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Saritha Komatireddy, who is running to be the next Attorney General of the once wonderful State of New York,” Trump wrote in a Friday Truth Social post.

He didn’t hold back on James.

“Between Kathy Hochul and the Most Corrupt Attorney General in the Country, Letitia James, it has gone to HELL!”

The endorsement comes as Trump continues pressing for James to be prosecuted over mortgage fraud allegations — adding another front to his years-long feud with the Democratic attorney general who took him to court in 2022.

The relationship between Trump and James has been contentious for years, dating back to James’ 2018 campaign for attorney general when she made investigating Trump a centerpiece of her platform. Since taking office, James has positioned herself as one of Trump’s most aggressive legal adversaries, using the powers of her office to scrutinize his business dealings in New York. That adversarial relationship has only intensified as both figures remain prominent in their respective political spheres.

James successfully sued Trump and The Trump Organization, alleging they fraudulently inflated asset values on financial statements to obtain more favorable loans.

The lawsuit, which was filed in state court, alleged a decade-long pattern of financial misconduct involving properties including Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street, and various golf courses and estates. The case drew widespread attention as it unfolded in a New York courtroom, with James’ office presenting evidence that Trump and his company manipulated property valuations to secure better banking terms and insurance rates.

An appeals court later wiped out the nearly $465 million financial penalty against Trump, ruling the massive disgorgement award violated the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive fines.

The appellate decision represented a significant legal victory for Trump, though it did not dismiss the underlying findings of wrongdoing. The ruling focused specifically on the punitive nature and size of the financial penalty rather than the merits of the fraud allegations themselves, leaving the case’s broader implications still subject to legal debate.

Trump unleashed on James in his Truth Social post, calling her “the WORST Attorney General in our Country.”

“She is a Complete and Total Disaster, who tried running against Kathy Hochul for Governor, and got less than 1% of the Vote in the Polls, and QUIT, taking many innocent suckers down with her,” Trump wrote.

He continued: “She then went back to her WITCH HUNT against your favorite President, (ME!), and others, yet Murder and other Violent Crime is RAGING OUT OF CONTROL in New York, as People and Businesses flee, in Record Numbers, to other States!”

Trump contrasted James to Komatireddy, touting her qualifications as Drug Enforcement Administration chief of staff, a former federal prosecutor, and that she clerked for Brett Kavanaugh before he became a Supreme Court justice.

Komatireddy’s legal background gives her credibility in a race where prosecutorial experience and law enforcement credentials are likely to be central campaign themes. Her professional resume includes both federal law enforcement experience and work in the judiciary, positioning her as someone familiar with both prosecution and the broader justice system.

“Saritha Komatireddy will fight tirelessly to Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Grow our Economy, Champion our Law Enforcement and First Responders, Support our Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Uphold our Constitution, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

Komatireddy, who Trump nominated to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in 2020, thanked the president for his endorsement.

That judicial nomination, which came during Trump’s final year in office, never advanced to confirmation before the administration ended. The nomination nonetheless established a working relationship between Trump and Komatireddy that appears to have continued as she pursues elected office rather than a seat on the federal bench.

“I was honored to be nominated to be a federal judge by the President in 2020 and I’m honored to receive his endorsement today,” Komatireddy wrote on X. “I’m working hard to win the support of all New Yorkers and defeat Letitia James this November.”

Komatireddy has been outspoken against James’ handling of the state’s fraud investigations.

The New York attorney general’s race is set for November.

The unscripted moment happened at the Nassau County Police Academy while Trump was addressing his administration’s crackdown on crime.

“Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy named Jacob Freytes was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet fired by a repeat offender in a gun battle,” Trump said from the podium.

He continued: “Jacob was the son of a loving mom and a retired New York City police detective, and they are incredible people, and I think I heard that they may be with us today. Are you with us?”

“In a beautiful impromptu moment, President Trump exits the stage in the middle of his speech to embrace Migdalia Martinez and retired NYPD Sergeant Jesus Freytes, whose 12-year-old son Jacob was tragically killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx.”

That’s when Trump left the stage.

He hugged Jacob’s teary-eyed mother, Migdalia Martinez, and his father, retired NYPD Sgt. Jesus Freytes. Trump spoke privately with both parents for several moments before returning to the podium.

“Incredible. Horrible story. What a horrible thing,” Trump said when he returned. “But we’re going after them. These are bad, sick people.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt captured the moment on video and posted it to social media.

White House Press Secretary

@PressSec · Fri, Aug 14, 3:15 PM

𝕏

In a beautiful impromptu moment, President Trump exits the stage in the middle of his speech to embrace Migdalia Martinez and retired NYPD Sergeant Jesus Freytes, whose 12-year-old son Jacob was tragically killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx. Video

View on X →

Jacob Freytes was sitting on his bike outside a bodega late last month when he was struck by a stray bullet from a gun battle.

Martinez described the moment she learned her son had been shot.

“I gave him a kiss, and I walked out, and we always do a little dolphin kiss. And I walked out and went to work,” Martinez told Fox & Friends Tuesday. “Around five o’clock, they called me and said that he had gotten shot. And all I could do was try to think of different ways to get here faster.”

“When I got there, I just seen my boy gone,” she added.

Police arrested William Ferrer, 45, and charged him with second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

Ferrer has an arrest record spanning more than 25 years, including prior charges for drunk driving, drug possession, menacing and criminal contempt, according to the New York Post.

Jacob’s case has prompted Republicans to introduce “Jacob’s Law” in the New York Legislature — legislation that would impose harsher penalties on criminals whose reckless actions result in the loss of a child’s life.

The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.

Speaking at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City, Trump praised the “men and women who put their lives on the line” to protect Americans and credited his administration’s “efforts to protect law enforcement” with driving down attacks on officers.

The president cited FBI data showing 3,100 fewer murders last year compared to the year before he took office, along with 10,000 fewer rapes and 1.1 million fewer violent crimes overall. Robberies fell 19%, car thefts plunged 23%, and Trump said “the numbers keep getting better.”

.@POTUS: Last year, there were over 3,100 fewer murders than the year before I took office, 10,000 fewer rapes, and 1.1 million fewer violent crimes. Robberies fell by 19%, car thefts plunged by 23% — and according to the latest data, crime has continued to plummet under our… pic.twitter.com/4Azgc3KfYy

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2026

Trump pointed to his executive order mandating the death penalty for anyone convicted of killing a police officer — a move he credited with driving officer line-of-duty deaths to an 80-year low last year.

“Shortly after taking office, I signed a historic Executive Order directing that anyone convicted of killing a police officer should face the death penalty — and last year, deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty fell to an 80-year low.”

.@POTUS: Shortly after taking office, I signed a historic Executive Order directing that anyone convicted of killing a police officer should face the death penalty — and last year, deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty fell to an 80-year low. pic.twitter.com/VUp9WTcS1t

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2026

But the president warned the progress “can be reversed” if Democrats hold power, hammering incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul for what he called her “NIGHTMARE on crime” record.

Trump attacked Hochul’s support for New York’s no-cash-bail law, which he said “releases dangerous criminals immediately after” arrest.

.@POTUS on Long Island: Nowhere is the Communist attack on American society more clear than here in New York. Radical Left @GovKathyHochul has been a NIGHTMARE on crime:

She supports New York’s disastrous No Cash Bail law, which releases dangerous criminals immediately after… pic.twitter.com/ptp4GtW5t4

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2026

The solution, Trump said, is to “vote for Republicans” — and he brought Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman onto the stage to deliver that message. Blakeman is challenging Hochul in the November midterm election.

BREAKING: Trump-endorsed New York governor candidate Bruce Blakeman just WALKED OUT on stage with President Trump and absolutely WENT OFF

“THANK YOU, President Trump! And God BLESS you for everything you do. We appreciate you. Keep going!”

“I mean this from the bottom of my… pic.twitter.com/kSnsW9OaHk

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 14, 2026

The Long Island rally comes as Trump barnstorms for Republican candidates ahead of the November midterms, positioning the GOP as the law-and-order alternative to Democrat soft-on-crime policies.

The 28-year-old entered the plea during a hearing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Lower Manhattan before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett.

When the judge asked how he pleaded to both stalking counts, Mangione answered: “guilty.”

“I knew what I was doing was illegal. I shot Mr. Thompson and he died.”

That courtroom admission marks a dramatic turn in a case that has dominated headlines for months. The statement represents the first time Mangione has acknowledged criminal responsibility in open court, fundamentally shifting the legal landscape of a prosecution that has drawn intense public scrutiny since the incident occurred outside a Manhattan hotel last year.

Mangione now faces sentencing in his federal case on Friday, December 18th.

The federal charges against him include travel in interstate commerce resulting in death and use of interstate facilities resulting in death. These federal charges were brought alongside state-level prosecution, creating a dual-track legal process that legal observers have noted is unusual in cases involving a single victim. Each charge carries a potential life imprisonment sentence if convicted.

In January, Judge Garnett dismissed one count of discharging a firearm equipped with a silencer during a crime of violence and one count of using a firearm in connection with that crime — eliminating the possibility of the death penalty at the federal level. That ruling narrowed the scope of federal liability while still leaving Mangione exposed to the most serious non-capital penalties available under federal law. The dismissal came after defense attorneys argued procedural grounds related to the specific statutory language governing firearm enhancements.

Sources told NBC News that Mangione met with his legal team Thursday morning at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn ahead of Friday’s hearing. Plea negotiations were reportedly ongoing until the moment he entered the courtroom. The last-minute nature of the agreement suggests that both sides were weighing complex strategic considerations, including the interplay between the federal case and the pending state charges.

The federal plea comes just weeks before Mangione’s New York state case is set to begin. Legal experts have noted that a guilty plea in federal court does not bind the outcome of state proceedings, which operate under separate sovereigns and involve distinct charges. At the state level, he faces nine charges — including one count of second-degree felonious conduct, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all state charges. This divergence in plea strategy reflects the different evidentiary standards, procedural rules, and potential outcomes between the two court systems. Defense attorneys in cases involving parallel state and federal prosecutions often navigate competing priorities, and Mangione’s approach underscores the complexity of defending against charges in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

The state case involves Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two who led one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies. Thompson had been in New York for an investor conference when the incident occurred, an event that sent shockwaves through the corporate community and raised questions about executive security protocols. Jury selection for that case is scheduled to begin September 8, 2026.

The judge overseeing the state proceedings has ordered an anonymous jury due to concerns about harassment or outside influence — a rare move that signals the high-profile nature of the case. Anonymous juries are typically reserved for cases involving organized crime, terrorism, or situations where juror safety may be compromised. The decision reflects both the media attention surrounding the case and the polarized public reaction it has generated since the incident became public.

The charges remain allegations in the state case. That case has not been proven in court. While the federal guilty plea may influence public perception, prosecutors in the state case will still be required to present evidence and meet their burden of proof independently before a jury that will be instructed to consider only the facts presented during that trial.

Gillen represents New York’s 4th Congressional District, large swaths of Long Island that went for Biden by 15 points in 2020 but only broke for Kamala Harris by one point in 2024. The district is trending red, and Republicans believe Gillen’s leftist positions are wildly out of step with voters who just elected Republicans to every top Nassau County position last year.

“Out-of-touch radical Laura Gillen has repeatedly fought to send Long Islanders’ tax dollars down the drain,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole told The Daily Wire.

“Her record of pushing woke pet projects won’t fly in this district, and voters will send her packing in November because of it.”

Gillen ousted Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito by about 8,000 votes in 2024. Since entering Congress, she’s voted with Democrats to force the military to use taxpayer dollars for transgender surgeries and sponsored legislation blocking deportations of Haitian nationals — directly opposing the Trump administration.

Gillen’s bill would expand Temporary Protected Status for Haitians until 2029. The White House opposed it, noting that numerous Haitian nationals granted TPS have been the subject of administrative investigations for fraud, public safety, and national security concerns.

“The president has made it clear that this administration’s priority is protecting the American people and addressing the criminal threat posed by those who enter this nation with little to no vetting or overstay the visa granted them,” the White House said in a policy statement.

Gillen claimed on social media that ending TPS for Haitians would burden the healthcare system by forcing facilities to fire caregivers. She voted against an amendment to keep the military’s TRICARE health coverage from funding transgender procedures on gender-confused service members.

She also opposed $9 billion in foreign aid cuts to programs pushing LGBT and climate activism around the globe.

The New York Democrat is a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, which backs federal funding for transgender procedures and opposes efforts to keep drag shows off military facilities.

Running against Gillen is Republican Jeanine Driscoll, who’s focusing on cutting taxes, backing law enforcement, and securing the southern border. Driscoll served as an official in Hempstead Town overseeing local taxes.

Republicans have momentum in the district. Long Beach, a city of about 35,000, elected all Republicans to the city council in November 2025 for the first time in over half a century. Republican Bruce Blakeman coasted to re-election as Nassau County Executive in 2025 by over 10 points.

Now running for governor, one recent poll showed Blakeman down just 10 points to Governor Kathy Hochul — who once led by 20 points. The same poll showed Republicans with a 49% to 44% lead over Democrats on the generic Congressional ballot in the suburbs.

“In New York, Republicans are in the strongest electoral position possible, because while Kathy Hochul and Zohran Mamdani run the Empire State into the ground, Republicans are delivering. Taxes are down, communities are safer, and New Yorkers have President Trump and Republicans to thank for it.”

The race is shaping up as a referendum on whether Long Island voters want a congresswoman who backs transgender military spending and opposes deporting Haitian nationals with fraud and public safety red flags — or a Republican who’ll put taxes, safety, and the border first.

We’re already seeing the effects of ending TPS for law-abiding Haitians.

We don’t need to keep burdening our healthcare system by forcing them to fire caregivers, but ending TPS did just that.https://t.co/nGZAQybIz4

— Laura Gillen (@LauraAGillen) August 12, 2026

Section 8144 bans drag show performances at military facilities in an attempt to silence queer voices and perpetuate a spirit of malice towards LGBTQI+ people in the armed forces.
(3/3) pic.twitter.com/UAq1NK8ogO

— Congressional Equality Caucus (@EqualityCaucus) June 12, 2025

On the Republican side, President Trump’s endorsement became the ultimate kingmaker, delivering defeats to sitting lawmakers who fell out of favor with the MAGA base.

The Democrat side saw an even bigger bloodbath: seven incumbents ousted, many by far-left Democratic Socialists of America-backed challengers who ran on defund-the-police and anti-Israel platforms.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas became the first major Republican casualty. Crenshaw was the only Texas GOP House incumbent running for re-election who did NOT receive Trump’s endorsement. He lost the primary for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District to state Rep. Steve Toth.

Trump endorsed Toth after the primary. Crenshaw has served since 2019.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost the GOP primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District to Trump-backed Navy SEAL veteran Ed Gallrein in what reports called the most expensive U.S. House primary contest in history.

Massie has served in the House since late 2012 — his defeat sent shockwaves through the libertarian wing of the GOP.

Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee became the third Republican incumbent to fall, losing the GOP primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher despite initially having Trump’s endorsement.

Trump later backed Hatcher after the primary results came in.

“Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning, and was running against a Great ‘Trump’ Candidate, and former Agricultural Commissioner of Tennessee, named Charlie Hatcher. Good luck Charlie! Run tough and hard. You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump declared in a Truth Social post.

Ogles has served since 2023.

The Democrat side saw a full-scale socialist revolt.

Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan lost the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District to state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a Democratic socialist. Thanedar had renounced his Democratic Socialists of America membership in October 2023, though Detroit DSA leaders claimed he’d already been expelled by a 91% vote the month before.

Thanedar has served since 2023.

Rep. Dan Goldman of New York lost the Democratic primary in New York’s 10th Congressional District to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. Goldman took office in 2023.

Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, backed Lander ahead of the primary.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York lost the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District to Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was also endorsed by Mamdani.

Espaillat has served since 2017 and currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado lost the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District to Democratic socialist Melat Kiros. DeGette has served in the House for nearly two decades since taking office in 1997.

Rep. Al Green of Texas lost the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District to U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee. Green has served since 2005.

Rep. Julie Johnson of Texas lost the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 33rd Congressional District to former Rep. Colin Allred. Johnson has served since 2025.

Rep. John Larson of Connecticut lost the Democratic primary in Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.

Larson has served in the House since 1999 — making him one of the longest-serving incumbents to fall in this cycle.

The failed Texas and Tennessee incumbents grappled with redistricting that applied to this cycle.

He was expelled as a member on September 17th, by 91% of vote the general membership. He no longer had a membership to renounce.

— Mikal Goodman (@mikalgoodman.bsky.social) (@MikalGoodmanMI) October 11, 2023

I’m proud to be supporting my friend Brad Lander for Congress. @BradLander has spent his career taking on big fights for New York’s working families. He’ll bring principled leadership to Washington and make sure Congress works for the many, not just the few. pic.twitter.com/DJ5Xf1og22

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) February 25, 2026

U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino of the Northern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction Monday preventing enforcement of two key provisions of the state’s anti-ICE law. The law had prohibited federal immigration agents from wearing masks and required them to display visible identification during operations.

“New York cannot impose its own uniform requirements on federal agents simply because it disagrees with how the Federal Government is exercising its authority.”

D’Agostino ruled the challenged provisions were likely unconstitutional because they interfere with federal law enforcement operations — including those carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The judge was clear: only the federal government has the authority to establish policies governing federal law enforcement operations. New York can’t dictate how federal agents perform their official duties.

Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a joint statement criticizing the ruling, claiming they’re “reviewing all legal options.”

“While the court enjoined enforcement of New York’s mask ban, we stand firm in our belief that masked agents do not make New York safer and our offices are reviewing all legal options at this time,” the pair said.

D’Agostino did allow one portion of the law to stand — a provision barring New York local law enforcement agencies from performing certain federal immigration enforcement functions under 287(g) agreements.

The judge said participation by state and local agencies in federal civil immigration enforcement is voluntary under federal law.

Hochul and James celebrated that portion of the ruling, arguing New York taxpayers shouldn’t fund local cooperation with ICE.

“As we have said from the start, New York’s ban on 287(g) agreements is legal and will keep our communities safe. Local law enforcement should be focused on local matters, and New York taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for any collaboration with ICE,” their statement read.

The case is part of a broader legal clash between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. The Justice Department has already sued Virginia over similar anti-ICE mask laws.

And she’s not alone. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling for rural bans. The panic is spreading.

The left’s new target isn’t fossil fuels or pipelines this time. It’s the infrastructure that powers American technological dominance.

China just drafted a five-year plan to invest $295 billion into AI buildout while Democrats slam the brakes on ours.

Polls show 70% of Americans oppose new data centers in their area, with 48% strongly opposed. Only 27% favor them, according to Gallup.

The campaign against data centers mirrors the anti-fracking hysteria — same junk science, same scaremongering, same result: economic suicide.

The economic case for data centers is indisputable.

A single hyperscale facility brings billions in capital investment, creates high-paying jobs from construction to engineering, and floods local governments with tax revenue.

In Loudoun County, Virginia — home to the largest concentration of data centers in the country — tech tax revenue accounts for 95% of the county’s operating budget. One study found homeowners would need to make up $5,800 a year in property taxes if the data centers disappeared.

That revenue funded a $100 million plan for new schools in the county of 455,000 residents.

Because energy price spikes have coincided with the data center debate, opponents claim utility bills will skyrocket.

The data says otherwise.

A City Journal investigation found the sharpest electricity rate increases are in states with the most aggressive climate policies — not those with the most data centers. California has few data centers and fast-growing rates. Virginia leads the country in data center energy consumption and has seen prices increase at the national average.

There’s considerable evidence data centers have actually eased electricity rate hikes over the past decade as companies took on a growing share of utility costs.

The solution to high energy demand isn’t fewer data centers. It’s more energy generation.

The environmental attacks don’t hold water either.

WNBA player Sophie Cunningham asked on X: “So how do we save our farm land and stop all these dumb data centers?”

Save farmland? Data centers are predicted to use around 1,400 square miles of land by 2028. Farmland already uses around 880 million acres. There’s more than enough land for both.

If anything, data centers might save farming communities. A large data center project in rural Prince Edward County, Virginia, will bring a $5 billion investment into that community.

Data centers consume somewhere around 2% to 4% of total freshwater withdrawals — a tiny fraction compared to agriculture, manufacturing, or mining. Nationally, data centers consume significantly less water than golf courses.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez produced two jars with brown water at a congressional hearing, alleging that was “drinking water” near a Meta data center in Georgia.

Earlier reports found only four households in the county had sediment-clogged taps. Brown drinking water was not widespread, as Ocasio-Cortez claimed.

Construction projects that burst wells on occasion aren’t unique to data centers. In a major solar project in upstate New York, crews accidentally struck an aquifer while drilling. Does Ocasio-Cortez believe we should ban solar panel projects?

If you care about the environment, data centers facilitate considerable efficiencies elsewhere — remote work that reduces commuting emissions, better supply chain organization that cuts waste, and cloud computing that’s far more efficient than everyone running their own servers.

The data center debate is about whether we want to remain the technological leader or cede to adversaries like China.

Beijing just drafted a five-year plan to invest roughly $295 billion into an AI buildup while Democrats block American infrastructure.

NIMBYism is part of the opposition. If a local community doesn’t want a new data center nearby, they should be able to stop the project. But if a local community wants a data center, governors and Congress shouldn’t stop them from bringing in jobs and tax revenue.

The voices against data centers are the same activists who’ve spread environmental apocalypticism to stop pipelines, power plants, and fracking.

Most of their arguments don’t hold water. That doesn’t mean they’re not winning.

so how do we save our farm land and stop all these dumb data centers?

— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 16, 2026