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Wealthy white liberals urge Democrats to ‘be willing to get shot’ opposing Trump: Axios

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Wealthy white liberals urge Democrats to ‘be willing to get shot’ opposing Trump: Axios

By IRELAND OWENS | DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION

Some House Democrats told Axios that their constituents have encouraged them to prepare for violence and “be willing to get shot” while resisting President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Democratic lawmakers said that there has been mounting anger among liberal votes that has sometimes even resulted in them calling on congressional Democrats to violate the law and be prepared for acts of violence, Axios reported on Monday. Many of the House Democrats told the outlet that these voters are often white, well-educated and wealthy.

“Some of them have suggested … what we really need to do is be willing to get shot” when visiting United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities or federal government agencies, one House Democrat told Axios.

“Our own base is telling us that what we’re doing is not good enough … [that] there needs to be blood to grab the attention of the press and the public,” the Democratic lawmaker added.

Some voters have recently criticized Democratic lawmakers for not doing a good enough job of pushing back against Republicans and the president’s political agenda, according to Axios. Moreover, one House Democrat told Axios that there is a “sense of fear and despair and anger” among their voters “puts us in a different position where … we can’t keep following norms of decorum.”

The report comes after some recent polls have revealed that the majority of voters hold an unfavorable view of Democrats in Congress. Similarly, Democrats have reportedly been attempting to figure out what kind of policies to embrace to win back voters in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections and 2028 presidential election.

“This idea that we’re going to save every norm and that we’re not going to play [Republicans’] game … I don’t think that’s resonating with voters anymore,” another anonymous House Democrat told the outlet.

One anonymous House Democrat told Axios that constituents have said that “civility isn’t working” and told them they need to be prepared for “violence … to fight to protect our democracy.” Additionally, another Democratic lawmaker told the outlet that “people online have sent me crazy shit … told me to storm the White House and stuff like that,” but added that “there’s always people on the internet saying crazy stuff.”

“Democrats built this monster. Now it’s turning on them, and the 2026 primaries are going to produce some of the most unhinged candidates we’ve ever seen,” National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement provided to the DCNF.

Musk says he’ll launch a new political party

Suzanne Downing
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Musk says he’ll launch a new political party

It’s not a third party or even a fourth party. There are already over 50 political parties in America that field candidates, including the Libertarian Party, Green Party, and Constitution Party. But none of them are headed by Elon Musk.

After a very public and nasty breakup with President Donald Trump, the billionaire entrepreneur announced the formation of a new national political party on Saturday, declaring that “the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

Musk, once a Democrat, had enthusiastically supported Trump and was tapped to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after Trump’s inauguration earlier this year.

But the alliance quickly unraveled in a series of fiery online exchanges, culminating in Musk’s blistering criticism of Trump’s signature legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed Congress and was signed into law on Independence Day. The sweeping spending bill, totaling more than $9 trillion, funds infrastructure, Arctic security, and new federal agencies, but Musk lambasted it as reckless.

“This bill will bankrupt the country,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.”

On Friday, Musk posted a flash poll to his 200 million followers, asking whether America needs a new political party. The response was swift and overwhelming — with more than 70% responding “yes,” according to Musk — prompting Saturday’s official announcement of the America Party.

“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,” Musk declared. “We can’t wait for the system to fix itself. Today, the America Party is formed.”

While details about the party’s structure, leadership, or ballot access efforts are unknown, Musk’s deep pockets and massive online influence all but guarantee the effort will shake up the 2026 midterms and beyond. He has not indicated whether he will run for office himself, but as a foreign-born citizen, he is not eligible to be president. Those close to Musk suggest he is already in talks with disaffected independents and younger politicians disillusioned with the status quo.

Critics on both the left and right dismissed the move as a vanity project, while others warned it could fracture the conservative movement just as Trump seeks to consolidate his second-term agenda.

Trump wrote a long commentary about Musk’s move: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely “off the rails,” essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States – The System seems not designed for them. The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds! Republicans, on the other hand, are a smooth running “machine,” that just passed the biggest Bill of its kind in the History of our Country. It is a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time. I have been strongly opposed to that from the very beginning. People are now allowed to buy whatever they want – Gasoline Powered, Hybrids (which are doing very well), or New Technologies as they come about – No more EV Mandate. I have campaigned on this for two years and, quite honestly, when Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate – It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had. He said he had no problems with that – I was very surprised! Additionally, Elon asked that one of his close friends run NASA and, while I thought his friend was very good, I was surprised to learn that he was a blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before. Elon probably was, also. I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life. My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!”

For now, the tech mogul appears undeterred by the challenges of party politics. “If the system won’t change, we’ll build a new one,” he posted late Saturday. “That’s what Americans do.”

New protest movement hits Alaska: Circumcision

Suzanne Downing
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New protest movement hits Alaska: Circumcision

A group of demonstrators clad in white shirts and pants with blood-red splotches over their crotches drew attention in Midtown Anchorage on Sunday.

The protest on the corner of Northern Lights Blvd. and Minnesota Blvd. was organized by The Bloodstained Men, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to ending the common medical practice, which they refer to as genital mutilation. The protest marked the second day of their tour across Alaska, where they plan to visit various locations.

Although protests are a familiar sight in Anchorage, this group’s theatrical appearance stood out. The demonstrators, both men and women, wore white outfits with vivid red markings meant to symbolize what they describe as the physical and emotional harm of infant circumcision.

The organization opposes the surgical removal of the foreskin, which is often performed on newborn boys in hospitals across the United States. Members argue that the procedure is unnecessary, harmful, and performed without the child’s consent.

Signs held by the demonstrators bore slogans such as “Circumcision = Child Abuse,” “Stop Cutting Baby Penis,” and “Nobody Wants Less Penis.”

Circumcision rates in the United States have declined in recent decades, but the practice remains common. In Alaska, rates are lower than the national average, and Medicaid does not routinely cover the procedure unless deemed medically necessary. Many male children born at home or in birthing centers escape the knife.

The Bloodstained Men have taken their protests across the country, often drawing support — and controversy — wherever they appear. They will be touring Alaska through July 13.

America steps into its 250th year as a nation

Suzanne Downing
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America steps into its 250th year as a nation

As fireworks fade and flags are folded after another Independence Day, the United States quietly stepped from its 249th year into its 250th year as a nation. It has been a quarter of a millennium for a republic that is the mightiest nation in human history, but filled with plenty of struggle, triumph, and transformation.

The official semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — will be celebrated on July 4, 2026.

But as of this month, the nation is already begun its 250th year. The calendar has turned and the countdown has begun to what promises to be one of the largest patriotic observances in human history.

From Philadelphia to Fairbanks, preparations will soon be underway. States are forming their own celebration commissions. Cities are mapping out parade routes. Museums are curating exhibitions.

In Alaska, the commission for the 250th anniversary celebration is known as the America250-Alaska Task Force, established by Gov. Mike Dunleavy through Administrative Order No. 357 on Nov. 6, 2024, and designating the Alaska Historical Commission as the coordinating entity. The commission is responsible for planning and organizing events, educational initiatives, and outreach activities to commemorate the semiquincentennial starting next year. The Alaska commission has set the theme for the celebration as “History for Tomorrow,” highlighting opportunity for the next generation.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom chairs the commission that has members Jonathon Ross, Wayne Jensen, Judith Bittner, Rebecca Poulson, Givey Kochanowski, Mark Rollins, and two vacancies.

Schools, too, are preparing by drafting curricula to help a new generation understand the founding ideals and complex journey of the American experiment.

In 2026, the Fourth of July will fall on a Saturday, which will be ideal timing for celebrations.

While the biggest events will be July 4, local efforts are already gaining steam.

In Virginia, re-enactors are preparing for a series of Revolutionary War reenactments. In South Dakota, organizers are planning a special Mount Rushmore illumination. In Alaska, conversations are beginning about how to highlight the state’s unique role in the American story and future.

As the country enters this historic chapter, one thing is clear: The celebration doesn’t have to wait.

Alaska Democrats turn venom on Murkowski: ‘People will die’

Suzanne Downing
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Alaska Democrats turn venom on Murkowski: ‘People will die’

The Democrats are done with the “using” of Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Now, they are into the “abusing” phase of the relationship.

US Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona first-term Democrat, was brought in as the featured guest at a virtual “emergency town hall” hosted by the Alaska Democratic Party on Wednesday evening, giving him a platform to bash and trash Alaska’s congressional delegation.

Gallego used the platform to sharply criticize Alaska’s Republican Sens. Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both of whom supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The event, which included several Democratic state legislators from Alaska, centered on the sweeping legislative package championed by President Donald Trump and signed into law on July 4.

“Alaska’s senators sold out their constituents by backing billionaire tax cuts while slashing Medicaid and children’s health care,” Gallego said in a statement released alongside the event. “People will die because of these cuts, thousands will lose coverage, and families will face impossible choices.”

Alaska Democrats, who in 2022 effectively cleared the path for Murkowski’s reelection by fielding only token opposition, now appear to be turning against the longtime incumbent. A Democrat flyer circulating on social media reads: “COWARDS DON’T BELONG IN ALASKA — Get Murkowski out in 2028.”

The One Big Beautiful Bill marks one of the most significant legislative victories for Trump-aligned Republicans since he left office. It includes major investments in energy and defense, sweeping tax reforms, and cuts illegal immigration. Supporters say the law promotes economic growth and national strength.

Gallego, who defeated Republican Kari Lake in 2024 to succeed outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, is seen as a rising Democratic voice despite his party losing Arizona in the last presidential election. His appearance at the Alaska town hall has intensified speculation that he may be considering a 2028 run for the White House.

The Alaska Democratic Party is mobilizing in advance of the 2026 election cycle, in which both Congressman Nick Begich and Sen. Dan Sullivan will be up for reelection. Murkowski’s current term ends after the 2028 election.

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Fire update: Bonanza Creek, Goldstream

Suzanne Downing
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Fire update: Bonanza Creek, Goldstream

Wildfire activity intensified across Interior Alaska on Saturday as hot, dry, and windy conditions fueled aggressive fire growth on multiple fronts. Firefighters and air crews worked through the day to protect communities and critical infrastructure as fire behavior reached extreme levels.

Sunday’s forecast brought a welcome change: lower temperatures, higher humidity, and a light haze. There’s also a chance of rain overnight—offering a glimmer of relief for exhausted fire crews and concerned residents.

Bonanza Creek Fire (#238)

Unfavorable weather conditions drove significant westward growth on the southern flank of the Bonanza Creek Fire, south of the Parks Highway. Firefighters spent much of Saturday suppressing spot fires, supported by air tankers and a Chinook helicopter equipped with a 2,600-gallon water bucket.

The Midnight Sun Hotshots were tested when flames jumped containment lines to the east. Crews worked to re-establish control and reinforce lines on the fire’s northeast perimeter. Meanwhile, the Pioneer Peak Hotshots successfully connected containment lines on the northwest edge to the road, preventing fire runs toward the highway.

Goldstream Creek Fire (#270)

This fire advanced rapidly, making a two-mile run southwest on Saturday. In response, evacuation levels were raised for homes near Little Goldstream Creek. Two hotshot crews, a Type 2 Initial Attack crew, and three bulldozers were deployed to carve new dozer lines and strengthen existing ones. Crews also installed portable water tanks, hoses, and sprinkler systems to protect homes in the area.

Travel Impacts and Safety

Fire suppression efforts are causing significant traffic delays on the Parks Highway. Drivers are urged to proceed with extreme caution, follow pilot car instructions, and prepare for extended wait times.

Fire officials emphasize the need for public cooperation to ensure both firefighter and civilian safety. Motorists are asked by state officials to slow down in fire zones and stay alert to changing road conditions.

For the latest road status updates, visit the Alaska Department of Transportation website.

Fire crews are operating around the clock to protect lives, homes, and infrastructure.

Big Beautiful Icebreakers are Alaska wins, as Russia and China work together to gain foothold in Arctic

Suzanne Downing
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Big Beautiful Icebreakers are Alaska wins, as Russia and China work together to gain foothold in Arctic

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, includes a historic investment in US Arctic security, totaling nearly $9 billion for icebreakers that may put America back in charge of the frozen frontier.

The legislation delivers $4.3 billion for heavy Polar security cutters, $3.5 billion for medium Arctic security cutters, and an additional $816 million for lighter ice-capable vessels. It’s the largest Arctic maritime investment in US history, and it comes at a moment of escalating geopolitical stakes in the Far North.

Congressman Nick Begich is on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittee in the House.

“Arctic security is a crucial component of America’s national defense and border security portfolio, but we have deferred that investment for too long. This historic investment strengthens our response capacity, supports ongoing search and rescue missions, and enhances our ability to interdict foreign operators engaged in Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) commercial fishing,” Begich said.

‘Upon learning about chronic Coast Guard budget shortfalls as a member of the Coast Guard subcommittee and after meeting with senior Coast Guard leadership in Kodiak, Washington DC, and Tokyo, it was clear: We needed to make a significant Coast Guard investment and quickly. The OBBBA will make that happen,” Begich said.

Sullivan says no state fared better than Alaska with the One Big Beautiful Bill

Why it matters: Russia and China are joining forces in the Arctic

Over the past years when Joe Biden was president, Russia and China intensified joint naval patrols in the Arctic, while Moscow has been building new military bases across the Russian Arctic.

Meanwhile, China has pushed to rewrite the rules of Arctic governance, despite being thousands of miles from the polar region. Although China is not a full member of the Arctic Council, it was admitted as a permanent observer in 2013, which enabled Beijing to pursue push-in strategies, allowing it to speak and propose measures to the voting members. In essence, it gives China the ability to co-opt the voting members.

In 2018, China published a white paper outlining its goal to launch a polar Silk Road. It marketed itself as a “near Arctic state.”

The stakes are immense: the Arctic is estimated to hold 90 billion barrels of oil, 1,669 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of natural gas liquids.

Yet during the Biden administration, Arctic infrastructure stagnated. The US fleet of operational heavy icebreakers has remained at just one aging vessel, while Russia has more than 40.

President Trump’s Arctic response is a full-spectrum push to retake the initiative and includes:

  • 40 new U.S. icebreakers funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill
  • A pact with Canada and Finland to build 70–90 additional vessels
  • A surge in US shipbuilding, reviving dormant shipyards to support Arctic dominance

This massive build-up is intended not just to catch up, but to leap ahead, because whoever controls the Arctic sea lanes and energy routes controls the future, with Alaska’s Arctic now a battleground for world dominance.

Leftists criticize the icebreaker funding as “wasteful.” But for conservatives and national security hawks, this is about sovereignty and survival in a changing geopolitical climate.

With Arctic temperatures warming and sea ice thinning, new maritime routes are opening that could rival the Suez and Panama Canals in global shipping importance.

Billions for Alaska: Oil royalties win from Nick Begich and why it matters for Alaska’s future
The fight for Alaska: Trump’s landmark bill unlocks state’s future in energy, jobs, security
Murkowski plays hot potato with Big Beautiful Bill, now Peltola jabs at her and Sullivan for their votes

As Trump pushes for resource independence, China starts acquiring mines in Africa, South America

Suzanne Downing
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8
As Trump pushes for resource independence, China starts acquiring mines in Africa, South America

Chinese overseas mining acquisitions have surged to their highest level in more than a decade, raising alarms in Washington and among US allies seeking to counter China’s dominance over critical minerals.

According to newly compiled data from S&P Global and Mergermarket, there were 10 Chinese mining deals valued at more than $100 million each in 2024—the most since 2013. Analysts reported to Australia Business Review that the trend reflects Beijing’s aggressive push to lock up global raw material supply ahead of mounting geopolitical resistance.

Separate research from the Griffith Asia Institute confirmed that 2024 was the most active year for Chinese mining investment and construction abroad in more than a decade. This momentum appears to have carried into 2025. In April, China’s Baiyin Nonferrous Group acquired a copper and gold mine in Brazil for $420 million. In June, Zijin Mining announced a $1.2 billion acquisition of a gold mine in Kazakhstan, AFR reported.

These moves come as the US and allied nations, including Australia, seek to reduce their dependence on China for materials essential to clean energy and advanced manufacturing, including lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and other battery metals.

The Trump administration, in its second term, has prioritized securing America’s mineral independence under a broader agenda of expanding US natural resource development. President Trump’s recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill includes major investments in domestic mining, exploration, and processing infrastructure, as well as tax incentives for companies developing critical mineral supply chains within the US and allied countries.

China doesn’t share either environmental or labor standards that are found in the US. Many factory workers in China endure 12-hour shifts, 6–7 days a week, with unpaid overtime.

The communist country is exploiting weak governance in developing countries to undercut the West and lock up global resources.

This is the same tactic that China used on Alaska under the weak leadership of Gov. Bill Walker. China attempted to gain ownership and influence over the Alaska LNG project during Walker’s administration, as part of a broader effort by Beijing to secure long-term energy supplies and strategic infrastructure access in North America in its Belt and Road Initiative.

Just this month, Texas has passed a law prohibiting foreign ownership of land in the state. Alaska has yet to pass such a law.

China, which consumes more minerals than any other nation, dominates the refining and processing of many critical materials but relies heavily on imports for raw supply. Through initiatives tied to its Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese state-backed companies have used loans, infrastructure projects, and joint ventures to expand their control of mines and energy projects across Africa, South America, and Central Asia.

Analysts say the latest wave of acquisitions is part of a deliberate strategy to move quickly before Western restrictions tighten. “Chinese groups believe they have a near-term window,” said Michael Scherb of Appian Capital Advisory. “They’re trying to get a lot of M&A done before geopolitics make it impossible.”

That strategy includes acquiring assets in riskier regions where Western firms may hesitate to operate. China’s willingness to take long-term views and accept less favorable terms has given it an edge, especially in countries where governments are nationalizing Western assets or demanding higher royalties.

Billions for Alaska: Oil royalties win from Nick Begich and why it matters for Alaska’s future

Suzanne Downing
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27
Billions for Alaska: Oil royalties win from Nick Begich and why it matters for Alaska’s future

While most headlines about the “One Big Beautiful Bill” have focused on tax cuts, school choice, and border security, one of the most consequential victories for Alaska has flown under the radar. It was a quiet but powerful change to how Alaska shares in oil royalties on federal lands.

It all began in November, as Nick Begich travelled to DC for Freshman orientation, before the race was even officially called. Long before committee assignments were finalized, before most of his colleagues had even unpacked their boxes, Begich had one big idea: maximize revenues for Alaska on federal oil and gas royalties.

Alaska has lived with a 50-50 royalty split with the federal government since the days of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System legislation. At the time, Alaska’s congressional delegation tried to secure its promised 90-10 federal land royalty split in favor of the state, but had to settle for less to get the pipeline approved. Since then, generation after generation of lawmakers, including the late Congressman Don Young, tried to correct the imbalance. Each effort hit a wall.

That changed this year. In one of the most underappreciated and masterfully executed plays in the Big Beautiful Bill, Begich managed to include language that would shift the split on new leases in NPR-A, ANWR, and Cook Inlet to 90-10, with 90% of royalties staying in Alaska. He got it through the House Natural Resources Committee and passed the 90-10 split even through the full House version as written.

Sullivan says no state fared better than Alaska with the One Big Beautiful Bill

Then came the Senate.

The provision ran into the arcane but powerful Byrd Rule, a rule that limits what can be included in budget reconciliation bills. The Senate Parliamentarian agreed the rate could be adjusted but was negotiated there to 70-30, a 40% increase in Alaska’s royalty revenue.

The full provision represents potentially tens of billions in future revenue that will build and maintain infrastructure, and support Alaska’s future generations.

It was no small feat to keep even that version alive. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, took a meeting with Begich and agreed to support the increased formula. Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski went to bat to ensure it survived the final negotiations. And it did.

But make no mistake: This provision was Nick Begich’s brainchild, and it would not exist without his relentless work from Day One.

It’s worth contrasting this with the record of his predecessor, Rep. Mary Peltola, who not only voted against the Alaska Right to Produce Act, but showed no indication of having either the legislative vision or horsepower to advance such a technical but crucial policy.

Begich understood that Alaska’s economic engine starts with resource development. He didn’t just vote the right way — he built a plan, assembled the coalitions, navigated the legislative gauntlet, and delivered real results. And what is remarkable is how he did it: The split starts in 2034, which is how it got around the Byrd rule in the first place. It’s a creative flair that Begich thought of, that no one else had considered.

These efforts early on were a key reason Murkowski had to vote for this bill, which has President Trump’s signature on it now. The Alaska provisions were that important for our state and had the 70-30 not been in this bill, it’s likely she would have teetered the other way.

In a town where showmanship often overshadows substance, this is a case study in what quiet, focused, intelligent leadership can achieve. And for Alaska, it means more control over our destiny and a future that is finally starting to tilt back in our favor.

As the dust settles on the Big Beautiful Bill, Alaskans would do well to look past the flashy headlines and recognize this provision for what it is: a generational win.

Broad tax relief for Alaskans found in One Big Beautiful Bill
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