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What to watch and listen to in the sports world for today.
Iran’s parliament speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if the U.S. strikes the Islamic Republic over ongoing protests.
Authorities found him unresponsive in Duarte, California.
The protests have challenged Iran’s theocracy, with demonstrators flooding the streets for over two weeks.
MOBERLY- A Moberly couple was arrested and charged on Saturday, January 10, for endangering the welfare of the children in their home. According to unofficial... Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close
(The Center Square) - Voters from 36 states across the country will return to the polls to elect their next governors in 2026.
Despite criticism from the scientific community, his books sold almost 70 million copies in more than 30 languages.
A Democratic congressman put U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on notice on Sunday, noting a Fox News report that showed "armed militias" in Venezuela after the U.S. mission that took out the nation's leader.In an article called "US warns Americans to leave Venezuela immediately as armed militias set up roadblocks," the conservative outlet reported that "Armed militias known as colectivos" are "reportedly setting up roadblocks to search vehicles for evidence of US citizenship.""As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately," the embassy said, according to the Fox report.Dem rep. Ted Lieu seized on that report and used it against Rubio and even Trump, saying, "Dear [White House] and [Rubio]: You are doing such a great job running Venezuela that you are now warning Americans to leave Venezuela to escape armed militias.""And you want U.S. companies to go to Venezuela? No way they will do that," the lawmaker wrote. "Your Venezuela operation is a disaster."Read the Fox report here.Dear @WhiteHouse and @SecRubio: You are doing such a great job running Venezuela that you are now warning Americans to leave Venezuela to escape armed militias.And you want U.S. companies to go to Venezuela? No way they will do that.Your Venezuela operation is a disaster. https://t.co/nggMSCXaR5— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 11, 2026
A pickup truck crash early Sunday morning knocked out power to part of the Valley Metro light rail system near downtown Phoenix after the driver fled the scene, police said.
To judge by their obsessions, Western leftists are against supremacy except when it's Islamist supremacy
Václav Nestrašil scored the opening and go-ahead goal for UMass men's hockey on Saturday night.
Andrew Nembhard had 29 points and nine assists, Aaron Nesmith added 12 points and nine rebounds before an early exit and the Indiana Pacers routed the Miami Heat 123-99 on Saturday night. Indiana matched its longest winning streak of the season with a rare second straight victory, this time taking the easy route. The Pacers never trailed and held a double-digit lead for most of the game. The Pacers made 17 3-pointers, one short of their season high, with Nembhard matching his season best with four. Backup Micah Potter made four 3s and finished with 14 points. Jarace Walker had 13 points.
BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Braden East had 23 points in Lamar’s 63-51 victory over Incarnate Word on Saturday. East had five rebounds for the Cardinals (8-8, 3-4 Southland Conference). Rob Lee Jr. s...
Demonstrators chanted and displayed signs denouncing the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis woman who was killed by an ICE agent.
The Washington State men made things interesting after trailing by 18, but the Cougars were unable to complete the comeback Saturday against Saint Mary's.
Arlington resident Tammie Carson, 68, tears up while listening to speakers during the ICE out of Fort Worth protest Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at General Worth Square. As a grandmother herself, Carson said it is wrong for families to be torn apart. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/01102026_ICEPROTEST.CV-2-.jpg?fit=300%2C200&quality=89&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/01102026_ICEPROTEST.CV-2-.jpg?fit=780%2C520&quality=89&ssl=1" />Police estimate about 700 people attended the rally just days after the high-profile shooting by an immigration officer.
The Pioneers are now 3-0 in Catholic Conference play and are winners of six in a row.
Minneapolis is now finishing day four of enormous protests following the murder of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents. Left Voice spent the weekend on the streets of the city following the struggle and speaking with activists.The post No Peace for ICE: Minneapolis Protests Trump’s War on Immigrants appeared first on Left Voice.
The Patriots had two players make the AP All-Pro team
Jesse Nurmi scoring the only goal of the game for the Knights.
The Owatonna Christian Women’s Connection will meet Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 9–10:45 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Lincoln Ave. S. The cost is $5.
The city's Rural Childcare Innovation Program will offer $1,000 for its first grant round with hopes to increase that amount in the future.
One ship was seized Friday in the Caribbean, and others were spotted steaming hundreds of miles into the Atlantic.
Health Canada says 74 deaths have been reported this year by participating provinces and territories
Young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have major health care access challenges and disproportionate financial burdens, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Crohn's & Colitis 360.
The Green Bay Packers aren't waiting to see the results from Saturday night's playoff game against the Chicago Bears to make a decision on head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur, 46, has been coaching the Packers since the 2019 season. Although...
Josh Hart and coach Mike Brown address the Knicks' recent skid, highlighting the "dog days" of January and the impact of the wing's continued absence.
Boston has won three of its last four games and taken points in four of five.
The killing of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is reverberating across Capitol Hill where Democrats, and certain Republicans, are vowing an assertive response as U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation operations spark protests nationwide.
In contrast to January of last year, there is no risk of fire. The earth is now saturated from the recent rainfall, which greatly reduces the risk of fire, but this wetness also poses a new concern
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 35 points, Zion Williamson added 31 and Derik Queen had a triple-double to help the New Orleans Pelicans snap a nine-game losing streak with a 128-107 rout of the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
A dozen of the restaurants were victimized. Surveillance video and search warrants led to arrests.
Nanaimo RCMP say that theft from vehicles is up, and is considered a crime of opportunity. Police are asking residents to remove objects from cars and ensure that doors are locked, and to check in on your neighbours and alert them if anything is amiss.
As if to add insult to injury, Raptors lost RJ Barrett late Friday night, one game after he was a beast in win over Hornets
FGFTRebWRIGHT STATEMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTSImariagbe273-74-51-22510Pickett271-53-41-12135Burch196-80-00-03512Callaghan235-92-20-23415Pangonis292-42-30-0146Woods304-81-20-20112Holden213-611-122-30217Bruskotter101-20-00-2113Alamutu70-10-00-1110Etumnu72-20-00-0104Totals20027-5223-284-24132684
Here are the top stories involving the U.S. government this past week.
Restrictions on Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals Linked to Downturn
SGMC Health welcomes William Courson, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician, to the health system. Dr. Courson will see patients at SGMC Primary Care on Connell Road in Valdosta.
Raeneisha Evans was one of three people who bought guns in Georgia and illegally sold them here.
Trader Joe's has aisles packed with simple plant-based meals, cost-effective staples, and lots of creative flavor combinations.
As part of ongoing efforts to prevent and combat the fraud that has roiled social services programs meant to help Minnesotans in need, the state Department of Human Services announced Thursday, Jan. 8, that it will freeze enrollment of new...
Strong Thunderstorms Bringing Gusty Winds to Eastern Illinois Tonight
A Prince Albert resident originally from Iran says daily life for people back home has become increasingly harsh, marked by economic hardship, fear, and severe restrictions on basic freedoms, as protests and unrest continue across the country. The woman, identified here by the pseudonym Zeinab Golshani to protect her identity due to safety concerns, came [...]The post Iranian-born Prince Albert resident speaks out as unrest grips Iran first appeared on Prince Albert Daily Herald.
The Wildcats (8-7, 0-4 Big Ten) couldn't keep Michigan State off the boards or slow down Jeremy Fears Jr. offensively.
FGFTRebHAMPTONMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTSLong303-82-54-9038Rink191-10-01-3032Gaines-Wyatt121-21-20-2213D.Johnson231-20-00-3042Strothers171-12-21-1024Eley3013-2114-153-81143Watson213-81-20-3157Kennedy201-20-00-2133Williams110-00-00-1130Haskins60-10-00-1000Cooper40-50-00-0000Lewis30-00-00-0000Asadallah20-00-00-0000Oduro20-10-00-0000Totals20024-5220-269-3362572
LOS ANGELES — When Husan Longstreet arrived at USC a year ago, the expectation was the five-star freshman would be the Trojans' future at quarterback. But after just one season at USC, Longstreet is leaving. The true freshman passer and...
Brandon London dishes on the Knicks’ performance in their 123-111 win over the Clippers, which snapped New York’s four-game losing streak. READ: https://trib.al/k07WS7Z
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim said Thursday that she dislocated her shoulder in training and doesn’t know whether she will be able to compete at the Winter Games in Italy next month.Kim posted footage of her fall from earlier this week on the halfpipe in Laax, where the world’s top snowboarders compete later this month in a key pre-Olympic tune-up. She landed a jump cleanly but lost an edge and went skittering across the pipe, face down.Kim, who did not say which shoulder she hurt, said she is “trying to stay optimistic” about competing at the Olympics but “I don’t have much clarity now.” The 25-year-old said she has an MRI scheduled for Friday that will reveal the extent of the damage.“The positive thing is, I have range, I’m not in that much pain, I just don’t want it to keep popping out, which has happened,” she said. “I’m just trying to stay really optimistic. I feel really good about where my snowboarding is at right now, so I know the minute I get cleared and I’m good to go, I should be fine.”Figure skating3 hours agoAlisa Efimova's Olympic dream hinges on last-minute U.S. citizenship approval2026 Milan Cortina OlympicsJan 7Olympic hockey venues might not be fully finished, but tournament will go on2026 Milan Cortina OlympicsDec 23, 2025Think being an Olympian is hard? Try doing it as a new motherKim’s absence would deprive the Winter Games of one of its biggest stars and one of its best storylines. She is trying to become the first action-sports athelte to win three straight gold medals. Shaun White took three golds, but they were spread out over five games.Kim was the breakout star of the 2018 Olympics, a bubbly teenager taking gold in her parents’ home country of South Korea. Four years ago in China, she won again, with that victory puncutated by her messages about the ups and downs of success and fame.If healthy, she would be the heavy favorite to win again, but this injury off “the silliest fall,” as she called it, puts all that in question. Qualifying for the women’s halfpipe begins Feb. 11.The Laax Open is scheduled for next weekend, and even if Kim were to get a clean bill of health, there is a chance she would head into the Olympics without having competed in the final of a contest this season.Kim qualified for the U.S. team last year and has kept a light schedule. She fell during warmups for the final in Copper Mountain, Colorado, last month and pulled out after hurting her shoulder then, as well. That injury was not believed serious.___AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Ole Miss. Indiana. Miami. Oregon. Sweeping changes to college football were supposed to make the sport’s historic powers more powerful. But as the CFP semifinal matchups show, something else happened instead.
SAN FRANCISCO — Andersen Consulting enters into a Collaboration Agreement with Scimitar, a firm focused on accelerating innovation in the life sciences industry. Headquartered in the U.S., Scimitar, a premier strategy execution consulting firm for the life sciences industry, specializes in operating model design, digital transformation, and organizational change. The firm works with pharmaceutical and [...]
The crash occurred at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday at Randolph Street and Wentworth Road, Canton officials said.
One week after a devastating fire, Cluckers in Jeffersonville plans a comeback, fueled by community support and commitment to its 47 displaced employees.
Hall played 10 season for the Hawks from 1957 to 1967, during which he set an unbreakable record of 502 consecutive starts — all without a mask.
Upper weights power Seton Hall Prep to dual win over Caldwell - Wrestling recap
LINCOLN — As Nebraska lawmakers consider possibly expelling a fellow lawmaker for the first time in state history, senators introduced more than 100 bills Wednesday, the first day of the 2026 legislative session. The session will primarily focus on closing...
Check out Jon Walker's three takeaways after Creighton basketball's 76-72 win over Villanova on Wednesday night.
Prayers are pouring in for eight U.S. states bracing for tornadoes on Thursday. The National Weather Service is warning eight major U.S. states about potential tornadoes on Thursday. There's a 2 percent chance of tornadoes in several different U.S. states...
The man allegedly entered the credit union while brandishing the handgun and demanded money. He was last seen running south toward the METRO platform at MLK and Wheeler.
The White House is considering plans to acquire Greenland, including possibly using military force to take over the Danish territory. Plus, federal agents flood Minneapolis to conduct immigration raids amid a fraud scandal involving Somali Americans. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener.
What to watch and listen to in the sports world for today.
"Everyone wants a village, but no one wants to be a villager." Need proof? Look at Gen Z. They're great at setting boundaries − and losing friends.
The Beavercreek Police Department is looking for a man and a woman who are accused of stealing from the Home Depot located at 3775 Presidential Drive.
Amid rising rhetoric from the president about acquiring Greenland, CNN News Central's Kate Bolduan asks Anders Vistisen, a member of European Parliament, what he would like to tell Trump.
The Harbor Hospice Foundation said it has officially exceeded its $1 million fundraising goal in support of the Leila & Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence.
After some twists and turns in his free agency, what will longtime Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette's next move be?
A FORMER NFL star is in a critical condition following a devastating fire at his Texas ranch. Jordan Shipley, 40, suffered severe burns after the machine he was operating burst into flames. Shipley was driven to a local hospital following the accident on Tuesday. He was later taken to Austin, TX, on a medical transport...
An All-Pro punt returner, Marcus Jones has found his niche in Mike Vrabel's defense, recording career-high 3 interceptions as Patriots prepare for playoff matchup against Chargers.
Take a look at the Big North girls basketball stat leaders through Tuesday, Jan. 6.
The city initiative to rebuild middle-class housing on the South and West sides kicked off Tuesday with the construction of seven two-flats on formerly vacant lots.
Alaska Air Group Inc. is ordering 110 Boeing Co. aircraft, laying the groundwork for a global network with the largest investment in new planes in the airline’s...
A crash Wednesday morning has shut down a stretch of Route 23 near Marengo.
Reliever Kirby Yates has finalized a $5 million, one-year deal with the Angels after spending the 2025 season with the Dodgers.
More charges laid in probe into motorcycle gang tied to Hells Angels: Edmonton police CastanetEdmonton police charge 9 more men in motorcycle gang organized crime case Global NewsEdmonton police lay more charges against alleged members of motorcycle gang tied to Hells Angels CBCRaid on One Order Motorcycle Club in Edmonton: more suspects charged CityNews Edmonton6 more charged in motorcycle gang arrests from September CTV News
L.J. Cason scored 14 points and No. 2 Michigan held on to beat Penn State 74-72. Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney had 12 points each and Yaxel Lendeborg added 10 for the Wolverines (14-0, 4-0 Big Ten), off to their...
The Redhawks connected on 10 threes en route to a 37-point victory.
Despite being behind for most of the game, the Cavs rallied in the fourth quarter to escape Indiana with a 120-116 win that allowed them to avoid another dose of embarrassment.
Brown University gunman recorded videos saying attack was planned for months BBCBrown University shooting suspect planned attack for a long time, offering no motive in video confession, officials say CNNSuspect in Brown and M.I.T. Killings Discussed Attacks in Videos, Officials Say The New York TimesBrown gunman cited grudge, expressed no remorse in videos, transcripts reveal WPRI.comAccused Brown University shooter planned attack for years, video transcripts show The Guardian
The gunman showed no remorse and grumbled about an injury he sustained in the attacks, said investigators.
The Aliquippa native started 11 games at defensive end in 2025.
Cameron Boozer scored 27 points, including seven during a 16-6 run early in the second half, Isaiah Evans added 23 and No. 6 Duke shot 71% after the break to rally past No. 20 Louisville 84-73 on Tuesday night for its third consecutive victory.
No. 1 Red Bank Catholic dealt No. 2 St. John Vianney its first loss of the season
The Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office says deputies are actively searching for a missing 23-year-old man considered endangered.
Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb's coaching rise is climbing close to the stratosphere.
In a bold move that could redefine global politics, a new strategy emerges, hinting at a seismic shift in power dynamics. The world watches as plans unfold.
Ashley Tisdale is opening up about a painful chapter of motherhood, revealing why she walked away from what she calls a “toxic” celebrity mom group. In a candid essay, the actress describes feeling excluded, isolated, and caught in dynamics that felt more like high school than a supportive friendship. Watch the full video for what...
When Dean Jarvis, at 16 years old, saw his competitive basketball career end after a devastating diagnosis — which ultimately led to the above-the-knee amputation of his left leg — he could not have imagined some 40 years later that...
Raiders fire Pete Carroll after 3-14 season and will look for a new coach for third straight year
The City of Manchester announces the Inauguration of Mayor Jay Ruais, Members of the Board of Aldermen, and Board of School Committee.
Officers performed CPR on the man, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brandon Phillips/XA top aide to a Georgia Republican congressman is facing fresh scrutiny after investigators alleged he quietly put his girlfriend on the federal payroll—despite evidence she never showed up for the job.Brandon Phillips, 39, the chief of staff to Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, is accused of funding a paid congressional internship to a woman he was romantically involved with while she was simultaneously working full-time elsewhere, according to a newly released report from the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). The findings were laid out in a 33-page referral, which was made public on Monday, and have now been sent to the House Ethics Committee for further review.Read more at The Daily Beast.
Derry wrestling coach Troy Dolan said he was eager to see how his team responded after a subpar performance at the Powerade Tournament on Dec. 30.
A 32-year-old man came to Oshkosh Police Department to say he just shot someone. The victim was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Kicker/punter Beckham Sunderland, a former MLS goalkeeper, is headed to the transfer portal.
THE CONVERSATION — An image circulated over media the weekend of Jan. 3 and 4 was meant to convey dominance: Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, blindfolded and handcuffed aboard a U.S. naval vessel. Shortly after the operation that seized Maduro and...
Prince Harry is reportedly set to win his fight for automatic UK police protection within weeks following a fresh risk assessment
Environment Canada has officially lifted its coastal flooding statement for Howe Sound following a weekend of elevated water levels driven by high tides and low pressure. However, meteorologist warns that more unsettled weather is on the way.
A Roxboro man was arrested on multiple charges, some stretching back to early 2025, at a Burlington hotel on Sunday, the Burlington Police Department said.
Vermont’s congressional delegation condemned the United States’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.
This story was originally reported by Jennifer Gerson of The 19th. Meet Jennifer and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy.In the wake of the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, President Donald Trump quickly took up the cause of a 35-year-old veteran named Ashli Babbitt.“Who killed Ashli Babbitt?” he asked in a one-sentence statement on July 1, 2021. “An innocent, wonderful, incredible woman, a military woman,” Trump said during a Fox News interview a few weeks later. To Trump and his Make America Great Again movement, Babbitt was not an insurrectionist shot while trying to get close to the members of Congress who were certifying the election results, the sole rioter killed by police that day. She was a martyr, someone who died for her beliefs. She was a woman who had died for lack of protection. Trump’s framing of Babbitt’s death in the months after he left office served as one of the guiding principles of his second term: the necessity of “protecting women” and an insistence on identifying and eradicating those he sees as posing a threat to them.Who was Ashli Babbitt?She was an Air Force veteran who had done tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. She was married and divorced and then married again. She faced criminal charges after an altercation with an ex-girlfriend of her second husband. She voted for Barack Obama. She bought a pool care business with her husband. She discovered the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon, which asserted that Trump was trying to save the country from a cabal of Satan-worshipping child molesters installed within the United States government.Over time, Babbitt became increasingly steeped in QAnon and was primed to believe the robustly disproved conspiracy that the 2020 election had been stolen from Trump. So when Trump encouraged his followers to go to Washington to support him on January 6, 2021, she did. While the election results were being officially certified by Congress, Trump addressed a crowd that included Babbitt. And when he encouraged them to go to the Capitol, many did — Babbitt among them. Not everyone who went to the Capitol broke into the building, but she did. With a Trump flag draped over her shoulders like a superhero’s cape, Babbitt was part of the group who tried to gain access to the Speaker’s Lobby, just outside the House chamber. Another rioter smashed glass. As Babbitt tried to crawl through, a Capitol Police officer shot her from inside the lobby.Video footage from the day shows Babbitt falling backward into the crowd as blood pours out of her mouth. After the shooting, many rioters began to flee the Capitol grounds. Babbitt was transported to Washington Hospital Center. She was declared dead upon arrival. The officer who killed Babbitt was cleared of wrongdoing; Lt. Michael Byrd potentially saved lives by stopping the mob, lawmakers and police said. But her death gave Trump’s Make America Great Again movement something it needed: a martyr. Religiosity moves inOn Jan. 6, 2021, a political rally turned into an insurrection as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of electoral votes. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)A religious frame has been present in Trump’s politics since his rallies in the leadup to the 2016 election. Jeffrey Sharlet, a veteran journalist and professor at Dartmouth College who was an early chronicler of the rise of Trumpism and its ties to religiosity, said these rallies were shaped by the prosperity gospel, a branch of Protestantism rooted in the supposition that, effectively, God wants you to be rich. In 2020, the religious tenor was still there — but it had shifted to a more conspiratorial approach. Trump stopped merely “winking at QAnon” and began “invoking that level of conspiratorial thinking that has been absorbed into the DNA of the movement,” Sharlet said.Before Babbitt’s death, Sharlet said, Trump had already been working to incorporate martyrs into his rhetoric, invoking a list of names, usually people who had been killed by immigrants in the country without legal status. They would typically fall into two categories, he said: “blonde White women and promising young Black men” — think Jamiel Shaw Jr., a rising football star in the midst of college applications who was shot and killed by a gang member who was in the country illegally, orSarah Root, who was killed by an undocumented drunk driver the day after her graduation from college.Sharlet calls Babbitt “a perfect storm”: a White woman killed on camera in footage seen by millions, a Black man — the Capitol police officer — responsible for her death. “That changed everything,” Sharlet said. “The first real martyr who really takes hold of Trumpism is a woman, and it gives the movement a real religiosity.” And it set the stage for Trump to ascend into a kind of religious figure himself after a would-be assassin shot him in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. “Every martyr disappears into the cult of personality,” Sharlet said. “She was a placeholder. She keeps the cross warm until Trump gets up there and he’s the martyr. Now, he’s the martyr for us all — but it started with a certain appeal to women.” Martyrs can’t speakBabbitt was an active participant in the insurrection — but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be reassigned the role of someone who needed protecting. Sharlet recalled watching videos of Trump supporters talking about Babbitt in the wake of her death: “They’re aging her backward, they’re lowering her weight, they’re lowering her height, they’re turning her into a little girl.” It was a blueprint for what was to come, he said of Babbitt: “The blondeness is important, the smallness is important, but so is the camouflage of being a veteran.”Her race, too, was important, Sharlet said. “It’s about the Whiteness of things. It’s not enough for them that a woman be murdered,” he said. “She has to be a little girl. She has to be White.”Meghan Tschanz, a former missionary who has emerged as a critic of patriarchal systems in evangelical Christianity, drew a connection between Babbitt and Laken Riley, a college student whose murder by an immigrant who was in the country illegally was highlighted by Trump. Both women’s deaths became part of a larger narrative — one designed to accomplish a political goal, not mourn the victims. Tschanz, who lives in Athens, Georgia — where Riley was killed — stressed that criticizing the politicization of Riley’s death is in no way a dismissal of the reality and severity of her killing. Rather, she said, politicization can dilute the pain of the loss in service to a larger narrative.“Again and again, we see women die and the response isn’t, ‘Let’s make it so women don’t die.’ It’s, ‘Let’s make it so that I can use this to further my narrative that immigrants are evil,’” she said. Riley’s father, Jason Riley — a Trump supporter — told NBC News about the pain of watching his daughter become a political tagline after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, at the time a strong Trump ally, heckled President Joe Biden during his State of the Union speech in 2024, urging him to say Riley’s name. “I think it's being used politically to get those votes. It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, they're just using my daughter’s name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is,” Jason Riley said. “She was an angel.” It’s a dynamic also echoed in Babbitt’s death. Though Babbitt’s mother, Michelle Witthoeft, emerged as a leading advocate for the release of those who were arrested for their actions on January 6, she also has publicly grappled with the way in which her daughter’s death became something other than an acute family tragedy. Witthoeft told The Washington Post in 2021, “Half the country loves her and half the country hates her,” she said. “It’s weird to have your child belong to the world.” For Trump, Riley’s and Babbitt’s deaths helped reinforce the message that women’s lives are in danger and that they need to be saved — something he emphasized in his campaigns as he painted immigrants and his political opponents as threats. “It all plays into the fears and vulnerabilities that women have to navigate, which is that women are more vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence and women are tasked culturally with caring for the home and for their children,” said Hilary Matfess, an assistant professor at the University of Denver and the co-author of an analysis done by the Program on Extremism at George Washington University on gender and the January 6 insurrection. “So this message of scary immigrants are going to come in and destroy your communities with drugs and rape your women and children is intended to strike fear into a very specific demographic — namely, suburban White women.”Matfess pointed to how the role of martyr cemented a view of Babbitt for Trump’s followers. She became someone who needed protecting, a figure whose memory is in need of constant, everlasting protection. “Being put on a pedestal means you can’t move around too much,” Matfess said. The ‘protection racket’Michelle Witthoeft, Ashli Babbitt’s mother, participates in a demonstration in support of insurrectionists who were arrested and charged following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)Matfess said there is a long-standing academic notion of the “protection racket,” in which a government offers protection from an imagined threat to deflect from the threat posed by the government itself. It’s something that can be used to keep women in subservient roles — and thus effectively in need of some form of protection from others. “The Trump administration is not saying, ‘Wow, we should really expand access to prenatal health care’ or ‘We need more resources for women that are victims of domestic violence,’ because it is not about protecting women,” she said. “It’s about protecting certain men’s ability to wield power and influence under the banner of protection.”Babbitt’s death in some ways challenged the narrative, too — she was part of the group trying to stop the certification of the election, not sitting by.Matfess noted the ways that the Proud Boys — the far-right, all-men neo-fascist group that have become rigorous defenders of Trump and his agenda — insist on the fact that there are in fact no Proud Girls, often suggesting that the best way women can support the politics they espouse is by staying home and reproducing.Matfess points to early rumors from within the far right that Babbitt was part of a false flag mission — evidence that the movement had to grapple with a woman who was attacking, not asking for protection. “There’s a lot of utility to narratives that talk of attacks against women and children, and so it becomes that once they decided it wasn’t a false flag, that she was there of her own political beliefs, it becomes a compelling narrative of a woman sacrificing herself for this movement. Whether or not the movement would have been kind to her had she lived is besides the point,” Matfess said. “The memorialization takes away the kind of difficult questions of how this movement would deal with women who are taking on more transgressive gender roles. Once someone’s a hero, you can leave it at that.”
KIRO 7's Linzi Sheldon sits down with Seattle Public Schools’ new superintendent, Ben Shuldiner, to talk priorities and changes.