A Democrat state senator in Virginia named Lamont Bagby recently said that he understands rural America because he grew up watching TV shows like the Dukes of Hazard and the Waltons.

Does this line of thinking apply to other TV shows? Does watching Law & Order make one qualified to be a cop or a district attorney?

It’s fun to imagine how the liberal media would treat this if it was said by a conservative Republican.

The Daily Caller reported:

Democrat Says He Understands Rural America Because He Watched Classic Shows Like ‘Waltons,’ ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’

Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lamont Bagby claimed Thursday that watching “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Waltons” as a child taught him about rural America.

A judge in Tazewell County, Virginia, declared Virginia’s redistricting referendum that passed with just 51.5% of the vote Tuesday was unconstitutional, citing both procedural violations and ruling that the state’s Democratically-controlled Legislature exceeded its authority. Bagby, who represents parts of Henrico County and the state capital, Richmond, argued during a floor debate on the referendum that he understood rural Virginians because he had watched classic TV shows depicting rural culture.

“And listen, I almost took issue with the other side saying that we don’t understand [rural America],” Bagby said during the floor debate. “But I grew up watching ‘The Waltons,’ I grew up with Opie [the son of a sheriff played by Andy Griffith], I even watched the ‘Dukes of Hazzard.’ I think I know a little bit about rural America.”

Here’s the video:

NEW: During a floor debate on gerrymandering, Virginia State Senator Lamont Bagby (D) says he knows a little bit about rural America because he watched Dukes of Hazzard. pic.twitter.com/b3BtbLn4V1

— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) April 23, 2026

Here are a few responses.

I watched Star Trek a few times, does that mean I’m a space man now?

— Deplorable Garbage Petr@ does it matter? (@PragueArtist) April 23, 2026

pic.twitter.com/8LxvMwM32D

— Pedro Tapir (@PedroTapir) April 23, 2026

pic.twitter.com/IAug2FZZEM

— Pitboxer Creations (@pitboxer_crafts) April 23, 2026

He really walked into that one. Oof.

The post Virginia Democrat Says He Understands Rural America Because He Grew Up Watching the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A disturbing and deeply unsettling plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack at a Texas synagogue has been foiled

Authorities have arrested 18-year-old Angelina Han Hicks of Lexington, North Carolina, after uncovering what investigators describe as a coordinated plan to carry out a horrific attack on members of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, Texas.

According to court documents and law enforcement officials, Hicks allegedly conspired with at least two other individuals to carry out a violent assault targeting Jewish worshippers.

The plan reportedly involved using a vehicle to drive into a congregation with the explicit goal of killing as many people as possible.

Federal authorities say the FBI received a tip that triggered a rapid multi-agency response, ultimately leading to Hicks’ arrest at her home.

She now faces multiple felony charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon. Her bond has been set at a staggering $10 million.

FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X:

On Tuesday FBI received a tip that an individual out of Lexington, North Carolina was planning a mass casualty event at a Jewish Day School near Houston, Texas.

@FBICharlotte and @FBIHouston acted quickly, and working with our outstanding local partners in the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the subject has been taken into custody.

Investigation ongoing. Thank you to our Joint Terrorism Task Force personnel, FBI teams and local partners for their decisive work that likely saved lives.

On Tuesday FBI received a tip that an individual out of Lexington, North Carolina was planning a mass casualty event at a Jewish Day School near Houston, Texas. @FBICharlotte and @FBIHouston acted quickly, and working with our outstanding local partners in the Davidson County… pic.twitter.com/pqaItJ55i5

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 23, 2026

FOX8 reported:

Hicks allegedly conspired with two men referred to as “Teegan” and “Angel,” whose last names are currently unknown, to commit murder against members of the synagogue, according to warrants.

The Houston Chronicle cites a court order that stated, “The conspiracy is to kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.”

The attack was allegedly planned for April 21, 2028, about two years from now, warrants say.

“The date doesn’t reflect the entirety of the evidence and shouldn’t be interpreted to mean the contemplated acts were not imminent,” said District Attorney Garry Frank’s Office, which covers North Carolina Prosecutorial District 33.

Frank added that the investigation is unfolding across three states and includes the federal government.

Hicks’ father spoke to FOX8 after her arrest, describing the charges as “fabricated” and “way over the top.”

He says Hicks was playing a dark online fantasy game and described her as a “good kid” who was set to graduate in two weeks. She does not have a vehicle or a driver’s license.

“We miss her and we’re sick over this mess,” Hicks’ father said. “And it looks like they just want to get paid because she’s no threat to anyone other than being a fantasy video [game] player.”

The post Lexington Woman Charged in Chilling Plot to Massacre Worshippers at Texas Synagogue appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is demanding a full pardon for a U.S. Special Forces soldier now facing decades in prison after allegedly profiting from classified information tied to the takedown of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.

The soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, was indicted by the Department of Justice on Thursday.

Multiple officials tell @CBSNews that Army Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke was a communications specialist supporting Joint Special Operations Command, the unit that oversees Tier 1 special mission units such as Delta Force and SEAL Team Six. https://t.co/p8tQSQnsfz pic.twitter.com/nazjaFqRkR

— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) April 24, 2026

According to the DOJ, Van Dyke, an active-duty Army soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, participated in the planning and execution of a covert mission dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” which resulted in the capture of Maduro earlier this year.

Prosecutors allege that Van Dyke used his access to classified intelligence to place wagers on the prediction platform Polymarket, ultimately netting approximately $409,000 in profits.

This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation.

Thank you to our agents, Intel teams, and great partners @TheJusticeDept who protected our war fighters.

Investigation ongoing. https://t.co/Adn4K19r3J

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 23, 2026

According to the DOJ:

As alleged, on or about December 26, 2025, VAN DYKE created a Polymarket account, funded it, and began trading on Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets. In total, VAN DYKE made approximately 13 bets from December 27, 2025, through the evening of January 2, 2026. Those bets all took the “YES” position on “U.S. Forces in Venezuela . . . by January 31, 2026”; “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026”; “Will the U.S. invade Venezuela by . . . January 31,”; or “Trump invokes War Powers against Venezuela by . . . January 31.” VAN DYKE bet a total of approximately $33,034 on those outcomes while in possession of classified nonpublic information about Operation Absolute Resolve.

In the predawn hours of January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces apprehended Maduro and his wife at a residence in Caracas, Venezuela, and hours later the President of the United States announced the successful operation. Following the President’s public announcement, Polymarket resolved several Maduro- and Venezuela-related contracts to “YES,” including the markets “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026,” and “US forces in Venezuela by . . . January 31, 2026.” As a result, VAN DYKE won his wagers on those contracts. In total, VAN DYKE allegedly profited approximately $409,881.

Following his successful trading relating to Maduro- and Venezuela-related contracts, VAN DYKE allegedly sent most of his proceeds to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account. The same day of the operation, VAN DYKE withdrew the majority of his allegedly unlawful proceeds from his Polymarket account. Shortly after the announcement of Operation Absolute Resolve, reports of unusual trading in Maduro-related contracts on Polymarket appeared in the press and on social media. VAN DYKE then took steps to conceal his identity as the trader in the Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets. On or about January 6, 2026, for example, VAN DYKE asked Polymarket to delete his Polymarket account, falsely claiming that he had lost access to the email address to which the account had been associated. That same day, VAN DYKE changed the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an email address that was not subscribed to in his name, and which he had created on or about December 14, 2025.

VAN DYKE, 38, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of an unlawful monetary transaction, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Enter Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who isn’t buying the selective outrage for one second.

Luna fired off a powerful statement on X:

“Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice. There is no ‘justice’ when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are illegally profiting every day. I don’t agree with what he did and he should be required to disgorge all the profits however, unless the DOJ plans on doing Congress next, this is not justice.”

Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice. There is no “justice” when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are… https://t.co/b5hFXY3Ryp

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 23, 2026

Luna is exactly right. From Nancy Pelosi’s suspiciously timed stock trades that delivered eye-popping returns (some reports put her portfolio at over 16,000% gains in certain periods) to multiple members on both sides of the aisle getting rich off non-public information while average Americans struggle, the hypocrisy reeks to high heaven.

The post Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Demands Full Pardon for U.S. Special Forces Hero Prosecuted by DOJ for ‘Insider Trading’ on Maduro Raid – “Skewed Justice” While Congress Members Illegally Profit Every Single Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Florida appears ready to move forward with congressional redistricting after a warning from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that Republicans will end up the losers.

“Our message to Florida Republicans is ‘F’ around and find out,” he said, according to Fox News, calling the potential to redraw lines on the eight Democratic districts to favor the GOP a “DeSantis dummy-mander.”

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shrugged off the challenge.

“Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida to campaign,” DeSantis said. “I’ll put you up in the Florida governor’s mansion. We will take you fishing.”

“There’s nothing that could be better for Republicans in Florida than to see Jeffries everywhere around this state.”

“Our message to Florida Republicans is F around and find out. If they go down the road of a DeSantis dummy-mander … the electoral tide is turning in Florida,” Jeffries said.

Whatever Florida does has taken on new importance after Virginia voters approved new district lines that, based on party enrollment, would give Democrats up to 10 seats on the House and Republicans only one instead of the 6-5 party split in which Democrats have the higher number.

President Donald Trump last year called upon states to redrawn lines so Republicans would not lose control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections. That kicked off a series of state actions in which both parties tried to expand the number of seats likely to go their way.

Florida is up next, with a special session on tap for next week, according to Politico.

“This is honestly an all-hands-on-deck moment, because if you lose the House, you’re going to bring, essentially, the agenda to a grinding halt,” Florida-based GOP strategist Ford O’Connell said, adding that if the term-limited governor brings the GOP additional seats, “it could give rebirth to his political career.”

“All eyes are on Ron DeSantis and Florida now. It’s a little poetic,” one Republican Politico called an operative without using his name, said.

“DeSantis has his marching orders: Take the gloves off like Democrats did in Virginia and California and draw as many districts as you can, legally, for Republicans.”

Another said it may be too late to make a difference.

DeSantis “would still like to get something done on redistricting. But he realizes the atmospherics for the 2026 election are already in place and it will be tough for Republicans to retain the House regardless of what happens in Florida,” the source said.

In 2022, DeSantis pushed through a map that helped give Republicans a 20-8 edge in congressional seats.

No map has yet been released.

“By the time we get to Tallahassee, I’m sure there will be a map and the body will consider it at the right time,” state House Speaker Daniel Perez said.

The Virginia results are pushing Republicans to act.

“I don’t like this redistricting in the middle of the census, but in light of what Virginia is doing, we may need to respond to that,” Florida Republican Rep. John Rutherford said.

He had previously opposed redistricting.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Ron DeSantis Accepts Hakeem Jeffries’ Challenge, Prepares to Fight Back Against Democrats’ Virginia Power Grab appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin did not mince words Thursday morning when asked to respond to comments that degraded ICE and Border Patrol agents.

Mullin delivered a sharp rebuke of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during a Fox News interview, calling the New York Democrat a “scumbag.”

The exchange came after Schumer spoke on the Senate floor Wednesday night.

In those remarks, Schumer criticized funding for federal immigration enforcement agencies.

He said the country did not need to increase funding for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and described them as agencies “that nobody respects in this country.”

Senator Schumer says “nobody respects” ICE and CBP agents.

These brave men and women risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe.

Democrats’ hatred towards law enforcement is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/uePZrsB3u8

— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) April 23, 2026

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin played the clip and asked Mullin to respond.

“Well, it makes my ears red,” Mullin said. “It takes a lot to get me upset.”

“But Chuck Schumer, no one respects you,” he added. “The definition of a lying scumbag politician — that is you. You would be the definition, if you Googled you right now.”

DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin TEARS into Chuck Schumer after the Senate minority leader said NO ONE respects ICE and Border Patrol:

CHUCK SCHUMER: “Two groups… Border Patrol and ICE… that nobody respects in this country.”

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: “Chuck Schumer, no one respects you.… pic.twitter.com/TyuXjqOrdx

— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 23, 2026

Mullin also accused Schumer of avoiding the real issue, which is that the agencies are enforcing immigration laws that Democrats don’t agree with.

“I mean, why don’t you just come out and be honest with the American people?” he said.

“He wants to have open borders.”

“If you want to defund the Customs and Border Protection Agency, if you want to defund ICE,” Mullin said. “You had time to change those during the Biden administration.”

“You didn’t, because you’re for open borders, and you’re for the criminals running amok in our cities,” he added.

Mullin also pointed out the hypocritical nature of Schumer taking advantage of having security while asking Americans to risk their safety in a country flooded by illegal immigrant criminals.

“And for you to say that is so disrespectful to the law enforcement that is out there protecting you,” he said. “Because he has a detail with him. How about he walks around these city streets without a detail? I wonder how safe he would feel.”

According to Politico reporter Burgess Everett, Schumer also slammed immigration enforcement agencies as “a rogue police force” on Thursday.

Schumer on the vote-a-rama: “We are going to have lots of amendments”

Says Dems will be offering cost of living amendments “and they are funding a rogue police force that is not even popular with the American people.”

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) April 22, 2026

Mullin served with Schumer in the Senate for three years before accepting the top job at DHS last month.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Markwayne Mullin Nukes Chuck Schumer Over Degrading, Anti-ICE Comments: ‘Lying Scumbag Politician’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.