Skip to content
Skip to content
Skip to content
Skip to content
Amid a sexting scandal involving Democrat Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, the governor of the state, fellow Democrat Janet Mills who suspended her Senate campaign in April, is now reminding citizens they still have the option to vote for her in the June 9 primary.
“People have the impression that I withdrew or dropped out, but I simply suspended active campaigning,” Mills told the Portland Press Herald. “I am still on the ballot.”
In April, Mills had suspended her campaign for financial reasons, saying: “While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else – the fight – to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources. That is why today, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to suspend my campaign for United States Senate.”
In her first post since she suspended her campaign, Mills on Monday featured a rainbow flag to say on X: “Happy Pride Month, Maine! Everyone deserves the freedom to live authentically and marry who they love without fear. I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community, today and every day.”
Happy Pride Month, Maine!
Everyone deserves the freedom to live authentically and marry who they love without fear. I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community, today and every day. 🏳️🌈
— Janet Mills (@JanetMillsforME) June 1, 2026
The University of New Hampshire released a poll last week indicating Mills had only 10% support. During her active campaign, the governor trailed the oyster farmer Platner by double digits, and an Emerson College poll in March showed Platner with a 27-point lead.
We stopped by Governor Mills’ office earlier this morning to ask about rumors that she may get back into the race.
In typical fashion, her press team did not follow up with us. https://t.co/tdeljLej1S pic.twitter.com/5kmIYrqodD
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) June 1, 2026
The Press Heralds reports: “Mills’ name will remain on the ballot and votes for her will be counted because she has not filed the necessary paperwork with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State to nullify them. Unlike many prominent Maine Democrats, Mills never endorsed Platner after she dropped out of the race.”
“Platner continues to face scrutiny over his controversial past Reddit posts and for his tattoo that resembles a Nazi image.
“He has apologized for the online posts, which included blaming sexual assault victims for their assaults and the use of slurs for disabled people and gay men. He said the posts came at a time he was struggling with depression and PTSD sustained during four combat deployments, and that the words longer reflect who is today.”
Longshot hopeful David Costello is on the ballot, and write-in candidate Andrea LaFlamme is also vying for the Democrat nomination. The primary winner will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
NBC Nightly News: “The sexting scandal, the latest controversy… There’s a series of Platner’s inflammatory past social media posts, including where he blamed victims for rape and said a Purple Heart veteran who was shot by the Taliban didn’t deserve to live.” pic.twitter.com/mMdYdZ6YS0
— Bobby LaValley (@Bobby_LaVallley) June 1, 2026
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said he’s “certainly not” rethinking his endorsement of Platner following revelations he sent sexually explicit text messages to women.
“My understanding is that his wife, Amy, who I’ve met, indicated they love each other, but maybe we focus on the issues facing the American people, the people of Maine, and not the marriage issues facing Graham Platner,” Sanders told MS NOW.
NEW: Sen. Bernie Sanders told me he’s “certainly not” rethinking his endorsement of Graham Platner following news that he sent sexually explicit text messages to women.
“My understanding is that his wife, Amy, who I’ve met, indicated they love each other, but maybe we focus on… pic.twitter.com/pQnzmH9a2w
— Mychael Schnell (@mychaelschnell) June 1, 2026
Outback founder Clay Travis noted Monday: “The ladies on the View called Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner a racist liar. Democrats have ordered the code red on Platner. Feels like more awful revelations are coming. It’s a Swalwell-like implosion.”
Today the ladies on the View called Maine Democrat senate candidate Graham Platner a racist liar. Democrats have ordered the code red on Platner. Feels like more awful revelations are coming. It’s a Swalwell-like implosion. pic.twitter.com/f6axlLZ2aY
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 1, 2026
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
‘Pulled out’: Graham Platner bails on interview with friendly media amid sexting scandal
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL’s newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe’s Eastern neighborhoods.
I’m RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I am drilling down on two issues: Why the EU isn’t naming a Russia envoy and the upcoming EU-Moldova summit.
Briefing #1: Why The EU Won’t Name A Russia Envoy
What You Need To Know: When EU foreign ministers gathered in Cyprus on May 27-28, one topic was dominating the conversation — that of the bloc nominating a person to talk directly to Moscow about the war in Ukraine. But it appears nothing was settled. No mediator was named, and no mandate was put forward. “It’s a dead topic, only kept alive because you journalists keep asking about it.” That was the verdict of a senior EU official when asked about the prospect of not only agreeing on a special envoy but also that person having a clear mandate to negotiate with the Kremlin.
It is not only media speculation, however, that keeps this topic going. The main reason these discussions took place was Russia. And then because of Ukraine. And then because of individual players inside the club. Earlier in May, the Kremlin threw the ultimate curveball in Brussels’ direction when they suggested that Gerard Schroeder, the former German chancellor and close Putin confidant, should be the EU envoy. EU officials that RFE/RL has spoken to see this as classic Russian “trolling,” with Moscow keen to take the spotlight away from losses on the battlefield or political embarrassments such as the puny and badly attended May 9 parade.
Deep Background: Moscow is also well aware of the EU’s weakness in uniting around one candidate and one message. That’s why the EU’s foreign policy chief and outspoken Russia hawk Kaja Kallas again in Cyprus warned “that it is a trap that Russia wants us to walk into, that we discuss who talks to them, and they are already picking who is suitable and who is not.” For now, it appears that she has managed to steer the EU countries to talk about “the mandate, not the person” — a mantra that is oft repeated these days. But the question is if the EU can even agree on a mandate.
Drilling Down:
- So far, the EU member states seem to agree that the bloc can never be a neutral mediator as it explicitly supports Ukraine and that any talks will start only after a cease-fire on all sides is agreed and maintained — something that has proven elusive after over four years of fighting.
- In February, Kallas herself issued a highly “maximalist” discussion paper calling for elections in Russia, reparations from Moscow for war damages, major reductions in Russian forces, and the withdrawal of Russian troops not only from Ukraine but also from Georgia and Moldova. The sweetener for Russia was gradual EU sanctions relief.
- Kallas’s paper was widely ridiculed and the discussion hasn’t really moved forward since then. In fact, EU ambassadors in Brussels were discussing a new sanctions package on Russia, the 21st since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the same day as foreign ministers met in Cyprus.
- The EU will also officially start accession talks with Ukraine in mid-June. If Brussels was really serious about mediating the Ukraine conflict, now would not be the time. Instead, Brussels has long concluded that Russia isn’t particularly interested in real talks either.
- But the situation changed somewhat when Ukraine — notably both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha — recently asked Europe to engage in talks.
- These requests seem to have died down a bit in recent days, however, as Sybiha, according to European diplomats, didn’t push for the EU’s involvement in talks while meeting his counterparts in Cyprus.
- Instead, he mentioned “precise, doable steps” that can complement, rather than replace, the US-led peace process such as the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
- EU officials have also indicated to me that they believe Ukraine’s push to involve the EU was primarily a message to Washington — urging it to remain actively engaged in a diplomatic solution — while the US is currently focused on Iran.
- Don’t expect the issue to go away just yet. There are, after all, individual EU member states, especially larger ones, that will keep on talking about this. Which means that media speculation about a potential EU envoy will rumble on.
- Paris, Berlin, and Rome are all annoyed that, so far, they have all been overlooked during the negotiations. Most of the names put forward so far — the former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Schroeder — are former leaders from big European nations. “They are always looking for jobs and the current presidents, premiers, and chancellors, want them out of the hallways in their respective capitals,” one European diplomat told me.
- Then there are the skilled “self-promoters,” as they’re often called in Brussels. A notable example is Finnish President Alexander Stubb, whose reputation for talking to Putin is widely viewed by some EU officials as just as overhyped as his supposed “Trump-whispering” prowess.
What You Need To Know: The European Union and Moldova will have its second ever summit on June 22 in Brussels as Chisinau finally looks set to start accession talks with the bloc in the days just before the high-level gathering. In the draft summit declaration, seen by RFE/RL, there are no hints of dates, the number of accession chapters to be opened, or the speed of the process. So far, the text just notes that “We reiterate our commitment to advancing Moldova’s EU accession process swiftly and based on credible reforms and the principle of its own merits.” There is a placeholder in brackets in the draft document acknowledging the opening of “clusters,” a reference to groups of negotiation chapters in the EU accession process.
Deep Background: The 33 negotiating chapters are divided into six clusters, and Brussels is currently awash with rumors about how many clusters and when they will be opened for Moldova and Ukraine as they are coupled in the enlargement process and so far, have taken all relevant steps together.
The 33 negotiating chapters are divided into six clusters. Brussels is currently buzzing with rumors about how many clusters — and when — will be opened for Moldova and Ukraine. The two countries have been closely coupled throughout the enlargement process and have taken all key steps together so far.
The enlargement buzz is in large due to the recent change of government in Hungary, which many EU diplomats hope will kick-start a number of EU initiatives as Budapest had imposed numerous vetoes. The previous Hungarian government had for two years blocked Ukraine from officially starting EU accession talks due to what Budapest said was discrimination of the Hungarian-speaking population in Ukraine; as Chisinau didn’t seek to decouple itself from Kyiv, it was, by extension, not moving either. While Hungary still has bilateral issues to iron out with Kyiv, something that is expected in various bilateral meetings in early June, it is believed that Ukraine and Moldova will open at least one of the six clusters on June 16 — just a week before the EU-Moldova summit. And several EU officials that RFE/RL has spoken to say that they hope that the other five clusters can be opened for both countries as early as July.
Drilling Down:
- The other key takeaway from the summit declaration is that Brussels will continue to ramp up lethal military aid to Chisinau — something it started providing last year via its off-budget credit line called the European Peace Facility (EPF).
- The EU’s decision is not without controversy, as Moldova continues to uphold military neutrality under its constitution.
- The draft paper notes that “we will continue to work towards the further integration of Moldova into the European security and defense architecture and its participation in relevant initiatives and cooperation mechanisms. We appreciate the continued and reinforced cooperation under the European Peace Facility, meant to respond to the most urgent operational needs.”
- A new concept note, seen by RFE/RL, states that Brussels is planning to provide an extra 120 million euros ($140 million) to Chisinau over the next 60 months to complement already delivered equipment “into a coherent air surveillance and defense system interoperable with EU and NATO states.” The funds are also intended to cover training and budget to ensure adequate maintenance of the equipment.
- The main EU funding for Moldova in the coming years will still come, however, from the so-called 1.8 billion euros “Moldova Growth Plan” presented in 2024. The concept note says that some 504 million euros has been released so far and that “an additional 528 million euros in financial support from the facility will be unlocked if Moldova continues at a steady pace and achieves all the reform steps due in 2026.”
- The key reforms, as always with prospective EU member states, are aimed at ensuring an independent judiciary, fighting corruption and organized crime, and protecting the rights of people belonging to various minorities.
- While not outlining all the reforms, the text of the draft declaration interestingly mentions both judicial vetting and the need to root out corruption even at the highest level, describing those goals as “essential elements of Moldova’s democratic transformation and its EU path.”
Looking Ahead
Look out for the EU-Western Balkan summit in Tivat, Montenegro, on June 5. No summit declaration will be agreed but it is expected that negotiations formally will commence just before the summit to create a mobile roaming-free zone between the EU and the six EU hopefuls in the region. Ukraine and Moldova have since January 1 enjoyed a similar “roam like home” deal.
That’s all for this week! Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at [email protected] .
Until next time,
Rikard Jozwiak
If you enjoyed this briefing and don’t want to miss the next edition subscribe here .
We here at WorldNetDaily need your help. For nearly 30 years, WND has delivered independent investigative reporting that others won’t touch. Watching, subscribing and commenting on Rumble is one of the most important ways you can help us continue that work and expand its reach. It only takes a moment, but it makes a real difference in keeping this reporting visible and strong. Thank you!
Was the modern Middle East built on borders that were never meant to work?
In this explosive conversation, Elizabeth Farah sits down with Israeli scholar, former IDF intelligence officer, and Middle East expert Mordechai Kedar to challenge nearly every assumption the West has been taught about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, and the Arab world.
Drawing from decades studying Arabic media, tribal structures, Islamic history, and Middle Eastern politics, Kedar argues that the central failure of modern diplomacy is simple: Western leaders continue trying to force European-style nation states onto societies still organized around tribes, clans, and family loyalties.
Kedar explains why many Arab republics collapse into chaos while tribal monarchies like the Gulf emirates remain stable. He argues that Palestinian identity, as it exists politically today, is a modern construct layered over a much older tribal reality that still governs life across the region.
As the discussion unfolds, Farah and Kedar explore the hidden migration history into Mandatory Palestine, the Ottoman system that operated without modern borders, the Nazi alliance of Haj Amin al-Husseini, and Kedar’s controversial “Emirates Plan,” which would replace the failed Palestinian Authority model with independent tribal emirates based in cities like Hebron, Nablus, and Jericho.
The conversation then turns to Gaza, Qatar, President Trump’s regional proposals, and why Kedar believes the greatest obstacle to peace may not be borders at all, but the West’s refusal to understand how the Middle East actually functions.
Join the discussion on X:
Fake borders. Fake states. Endless war. Mordechai Kedar explains why the Middle East keeps collapsing and why peace never comes. @kedar_mordechai https://t.co/QWp2vHQYve pic.twitter.com/CqeE4XBgax
— Elizabeth Farah 🇺🇸 America 1st always 🇮🇱 (@ElizabethFarah) June 1, 2026
Here are the links to watch the Elizabeth Farah Show interviews on various platforms:
Elizabeth Farah on YouTube
Elizabeth Farah on X
WND on X
Elizabeth Farah on Rumble
As military skirmishes continue between U.S. forces and Iran, President Donald Trump on Monday announced positive phone calls with the prime minister of Israel as well as Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon.
“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”
Minutes later, Trump added: “Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Monday afternoon, U.S. Central Command released new images as it continues its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, noting as of June 1, it has “redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled 5 to ensure compliance.”
Thousands of U.S. service members at sea, in the skies, and from land are supporting the ongoing U.S. blockade against Iran. As of June 1, CENTCOM forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled 5 to ensure compliance. pic.twitter.com/BDtAjp0qOF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 1, 2026
Monday morning, CENTCOM also announced: “Last night at 11 p.m. ET, U.S. forces successfully intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait. These missiles were immediately defeated and no American personnel were harmed.
“U.S. Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to protect our forces from Iranian aggression while supporting the ongoing ceasefire.”
A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is essentially a self-contained city at sea. Roughly three football fields long, with over 5,000 Sailors on board, it takes the whole team — both above and below deck — to keep operations running smoothly. pic.twitter.com/SfJZe6P0Pj
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 31, 2026
Additionally, CENTCOM said it conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran, and Qeshm Island this weekend.
“The measured and deliberate strikes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in response to aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters,” officials said.
“U.S. fighter aircraft swiftly responded by eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters. No American service members were harmed.”
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
A recent “bias report” out of the University of Minnesota included a student’s complaint that the apparently triggering term “mothers” had been used in campus grant proposals, as opposed to the more inclusive phrase “lactating individuals.”
The complaint was one of several that were lodged via the university’s “Bias Response and Referral Network,” as reported at the College Fix.
“Lactating individual” is one of the many terms spawned from the transgender movement as a means to include women who identify as men and then give birth.
Three of the 100 reports of bias between July 2024 and March 2026 referenced the same offender, who was either a graduate student or professor.
The College Fix reported that a graduate student reported the anonymous writer for using the offensive language despite it being “fixed” after the initial faux pas.
Other complaints involved a student reporting a professor with a hearing disability for having a hearing disability, someone flipping over a “rainbow safe space” doormat and a street evangelist outside campus claiming that there are only two sexes: males and females.
Call the outrage police: Someone at UMinn called moms ‘mothers’ instead of ‘lactating individuals.’https://t.co/buJ7t23WsT
— The College Fix (@CollegeFix) May 29, 2026
Without specifically repudiating “Pride Month” this year, the state of Tennessee has officially declared June “Nuclear Family Month,” urging its residents to “commend the noble endeavors of those who seek to protect and strengthen the traditional values of our state and country.”
In April, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed House Joint Resolution 182 to spotlight “the nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, [as] God’s design for familial structure” that “has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) signed a resolution declaring June as “Nuclear Family Month” instead of Pride month.
Happy Nuclear Family Month, Tennessee! pic.twitter.com/5aiMK1bnXO
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 1, 2026
The resolution criticizes international bodies such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations, stating that their positions on issues like population control and abortion conflict with Tennessee’s values.
Conservatives cheered the designation, which implicitly pushes back on the longtime claim by defenders of LGBT+ ideology that June is “Pride Month,” which is typically marked with parades, festivals and special ceremonies and recognition within professional sports.
Pro-family activist and Tennessean Riley Gaines celebrated June 1 and the state designation, posting, “God was clear about His design for humanity, and I’m grateful to live in a state that celebrates and supports that foundation.”
In Tennessee, we recognize June as Nuclear Family Month.
God was clear about His design for humanity, and I’m grateful to live in a state that celebrates and supports that foundation. pic.twitter.com/yjN00bMozr
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 1, 2026
Pride Month, of course, is marked in every state and in the media, with ABC’s “Good Morning America” Monday featuring a troop of same-sex salsa dancers:
BIZARRE: Disney-owned ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ kicked off Pride Month with back-to-back segments – one of ‘Deals & Steals’ featuring LGBTQI+-owned businesses and the other?
Celebrating same-sex salsa dancing….. pic.twitter.com/xDX1pntOr2
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) June 1, 2026
Other media warned of potential threats to LGBT Tennesseans thanks to the commemorating of Nuclear Family Month.
Reported the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
“Generally speaking, Tennessee is among the least friendly states towards members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The 2026 LGBTQ+ State Safety Report Card grades all states and Washington, D.C. on their friendliness towards LGBTQ+ members through an analysis of the kinds of laws put in place and the number of hate crimes committed. In this analysis, Tennessee ranked No. 47 with a score of 56.9 out of 100.”
According to the paper, one LGBT activist spoke out against state lawmakers, saying they too often pass “legislation directly aimed at terrifying and intimidating our community.”
‘God’s perfect design’: 1 state enrages activists by replacing ‘Pride’ month with new recognition
Alexis Wilkins, the Jesus-championing, country-music singer and girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, is now suing left-leaning MS NOW along with two reporters for defamation, alleging the network falsely claimed Patel ordered federal agents to escort an intoxicated friend of Wilkins home after a “night of partying” in Nashville.
The story by reporters Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian on Dec. 5, 2025, was titled: “Kash Patel ordered FBI detail to give girlfriend’s pal a lift home: sources.”
The official complaint reads: “This defamation lawsuit is about MS Now (formerly, MSNBC) using sham ‘anonymous’ sources to push knowingly or recklessly false allegations that Alexis Wilkins, through her relationship with FBI Director Kash Patel, abused FBI resources. Defendants are, of course, free to comment on the leadership of the FBI and its allocation of resources, whether positively or negatively.
“They are not, however, entitled to lie about it. Defendants falsely asserted that Ms. Wilkins demanded, and Director Patel ordered, that federal agents assigned to her security detail – which did not even exist at the time – escort an intoxicated friend home after a ‘night of partying.’ They falsely portrayed Ms. Wilkins as being intoxicated even knowing that she does not drink. Defendants presumed they could get away with this fiction by citing to ‘anonymous sources,’ disingenuously claiming ‘nonpublic’ and ‘inside’ knowledge. This was hogwash and they knew it.”
Everything looks good from up here ❤️🤠 pic.twitter.com/NSk71bSG5s
— Alexis Wilkins (@alexiswilkin313) May 28, 2026
The MS NOW article states: “FBI Director Kash Patel has – on more than one occasion – ordered that the security detail protecting his girlfriend escort one of her allegedly inebriated friends home after a night of partying in Nashville, according to three people with knowledge of the incidents.
“Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, asked FBI agents on her security team at least two times, including once this spring, to drive her friend home, and agents objected to diverting from their assignment, said the sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss nonpublic matters. But Patel insisted they do as Wilkins requested and in one case called the leader of Wilkins’ security detail and yelled at him to do so.
“News of the effort to deploy agents to provide security for a private citizen has spread through the bureau and beyond, as agents have grown increasingly concerned by Patel’s use of the bureau’s strapped resources, the people said.”
The lawsuit claims: “Consistent with a long-established pattern of hostility against President Trump and those in his orbit, Defendants knowingly published these lies, intending to harm Ms. Wilkins due to their clear animus toward her as an ally and advocate for President Trump and Director Patel.”
Besides defamation, the complaint alleges false light invasion of privacy, as Wilkins is seeking damages of at least $75,000.
Monday afternoon, MS NOW e-mailed Reason to say they “stand firmly behind MS NOW’s reporting,” but other than that, “[a]s a general matter of practice, … don’t comment on ongoing legal matters.”
Last month, Wilkins said: “It is not only an Information War but a Spiritual War. Our faith was never meant to be confined to the four walls of our homes or churches. Pick up the mic and bear the Sword of Truth.”
It is not only an Information War but a Spiritual War. Our faith was never meant to be confined to the four walls of our homes or churches. Pick up the mic and bear the Sword of Truth. pic.twitter.com/aUDN1JWOk1
— Alexis Wilkins (@alexiswilkin313) May 14, 2026
She told a reporter: “If you are not equipped with the armor and the tools that you need to participate in the battle or at least protect yourself from it, you simply won’t be able to make any progress.”
As WorldNetDaily reported in April, Patel himself sued another left-leaning publication, the Atlantic, over a hit piece claiming he is paranoid about being fired from his position and often drinks alcohol to excess.
“We are not going to take this laying down. You want to attack my character? Come at me. Bring it on. I’ll see you in court.”
BARTIROMO: So you’re gonna sue them?
KASH PATEL: Absolutely. It’s coming tomorrow
BARTIROMO: Tomorrow you will be dropping a lawsuit against The Atlantic?
PATEL: Yes I will. For defamation pic.twitter.com/XnL91p15q1
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2026
And on May 12, as WorldNetDaily reported, a U.S. Senate hearing went off the rails when Patel became embroiled in an fierce clash with a Democrat senator over which of the two might have a problem drinking alcohol.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland raised concerns about Patel’s leadership at the bureau, saying: “Director Patel, I don’t care one bit about your private life.”
“I don’t give a damn what you do on your own time and your own dime, unless and until it interferes with your public responsibilities.
“You cannot perform those public duties if you’re incapacitated,” Van Hollen said, adding “reports of you being so drunk and so hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home.”
“It’s a total farce. I don’t even know where you get this stuff,” Patel said. “But it doesn’t make it credible because you say so.”
WATCH THE FIERY EXCHANGE:
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
I recently saw the wonderful 1962 movie “How the West Was Won,” which dramatized the westward expansion from the Erie Canal to the closing of the frontier.
The cast included trappers and homesteaders, prospectors and railroad men, sheriffs and outlaws.
Imagine a movie that celebrated white men bringing civilization to a savage land. How hateful! Quick, somebody call the Southern Poverty Law Center!
Americans were optimistic then – a big, brawling, confident lot who lived in an eternal spring. Now, winter is closing in fast. British historian Arnold Toynbee observed, “Civilizations die from suicide and not by murder.”
The barbarians are not at the gate; they’re inside. We let them in.
The foreign-born population of the United States is now 14.8% of the total, the highest ever recorded. This includes millions who invaded under President Biden, aka, the Welcome Wagon lady.
Many of these gate crashers don’t speak English. Most receive government benefits. The overwhelming majority are from Third World countries. Among their numbers are murderers, rapists and pedophiles. The left is fighting to keep them here.
Arrivals from the wonderful world of Islam pose a special danger. The number of mosques in America increased 32% from 2010 to 2020.
It’s worse in Europe. The continent once known as Christendom is being colonized by the Religion of Rest in Peace.
Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. From 2010 to 2020, the number of Muslims worldwide grew by 347 million, versus the growth of 122 million for Christians. In Britain, the most popular name for baby boys for the past 16 years has been Muhammad.
It is difficult to imagine a religion less compatible with Western civilization than Islam. Tolerance? Pluralism? Seriously?
If you would like a taste of the creed’s modus operandi, then look at Britain with the regular rapes of “infidel” women and grooming gangs. If you have a strong stomach, read the full report of the horrors inflicted on Israeli women on Oct. 7, 2023.
Besides Judeo-Christian values, the West rose to greatness through capitalism, which brought us the Industrial Revolution and a booming middle class.
Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” was published the year the Declaration of Independence was adopted. One provided for a republic based on limited government and human rights; the other established the rationale for free markets.
Both are imperiled. A 2025 poll found that 62% of Americans younger than 30 support socialism. New York and Seattle have socialist mayors. Collectivism is a forced march backward to a world of serfs and lords. The great free market economist Friedrich Hayek titled his 1944 opus “The Road to Serfdom.”
The family is also on the decline. Although not a uniquely Western institution, it provides the foundation of Western civilization.
In 1970, married couples were 70% of U.S. households. Today, they’re 47%. Nearly 40% of children are born to unmarried couples. In 2024, the United States reached a record-low fertility rate of 1.6 children per woman, below the 2.1 needed to maintain population stability.
No industrialized nation has a fertility rate anywhere near the replacement level.
Cradles aren’t empty in the Third World. In sub-Saharan Africa, the fertility rate is 6.0. Civilizations that are confident about their future have children. Those that lack confidence do not.
The West is also afflicted by what psychologist Gad Saad calls “suicidal empathy.”
On April 2, a liberal woman was accosted by a career predator on a New York subway train. She did not report the incident because she “didn’t want to put another black man in jail.” On May 7, her attacker was charged with murdering a 76-year-old man.
Look at the assault on immigration detention centers and street takeovers by juvenile gangs and see a society devolving into chaos.
We are putting radical judges on the bench, electing Soros-backed prosecutors and installing Marxist mayors. The sheep have put the wolves in charge of protecting them.
It took centuries to build Western civilization. It’s taking decades to demolish it. We were not paying attention to what our children were being taught in school and how the public was misled by media. We slumbered while America burned.
Winston Churchill wrote a book called “While England Slept” about how Western nations ignored the rise of Nazism. As prime minister, he spoke of a German victory leading to a new dark age.
If the West is lost, a new dark age will descend in the blink of an eye. Instead of barbarians on horseback, Muslims with Shariah law and Marxists calling themselves progressives will dance on the ruins.
This column was first published at the Washington Times.
Newer Posts