In a remarkably efficient 12 minutes, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger told Americans quite a bit—less about the formal trappings of the State of the Union, and much more about what the 2026 political cycle is likely to be about.  Before getting to her address, some background is useful.  Former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, who served in Congress with Spanberger, has noted the significance of her political rise and the strength of her alliances.   Those coattails were on full display when former President Barack Obama visited the Norfolk area with Spanberger in the closing days of the gubernatorial race, a move that appeared to give her at least a four-point boost in the final vote tally.  Spanberger’s Roadmap Turning to the address itself, Spanberger made several things clear about her roadmap for 2026.  First, affordability will remain a central campaign issue, just as it was during the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session and the gubernatorial race.   But she also signaled something deeper. While affordability may be the pretext, the subtext of the coming campaign will be a familiar one: President Donald Trump and his allies in Congress, she argues, are acting not in the public interest, but to enrich themselves.  It’s a classic political playbook—back to the future, really. 2107 All Over Again We’ve heard this before. It feels like 2017 all over again, complete with a revival of themes tied to the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause.   Of course, no one actually uses that term on the campaign trail, because most Americans don’t know what it means. What they do recognize, however, is the idea of politicians using power for personal gain—and that’s the message being repackaged.  Which brings us to the optics. The goal was clear: to present Spanberger in a presidential light, framed by a supportive crowd applauding on cue. Visuals matter, and this was carefully choreographed politics.  What’s interesting in this moment is the contrast with recent history.   In 2022, shortly after then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin took the oath of office, Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas launched a steady drumbeat of criticism, accusing Youngkin of using the governorship as a stepping stone for an inevitable presidential run. Spanberger for President? So the question now is this: What happens if, a year or so from now, Abigail Spanberger announces an exploratory committee?   You know how it goes—careful language, plausible deniability, and just enough ambiguity to test the waters without admitting that both feet are already in.  If Spanberger turns out to be the one using the governor’s office as a springboard to national ambitions, what will Louise Lucas say then?  The post Spanberger’s Subtext: What the Governor’s Rebuttal Really Reveals  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Britain’s Gorton and Denton by-election on Feb. 26 was more than just a local upset. It gave a glimpse into demographic changes that could shape U.S. politics. The Green Party’s Hannah Spencer won with 41% and 14,980 votes, turning this Labour stronghold into the Greens’ first northern seat. Reform UK came second with 29% of the vote, and Labour finished third with 25%. Turnout was low at 48%. The main story: Muslim bloc power flipped a seat, and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s strategy did not work. The seat’s divided nature tells the story. Manchester wards like Burnage, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Levenshulme, and Longsight are changing fast: 40% Muslim, 62% U.K.-born, and 30% are graduates or students. In Longsight, 60% are Muslim and 52% U.K.-born, making it a diverse, urban area where Gaza is a common topic. The Greens succeeded by using multilingual flyers, focusing on Palestine, and promoting anti-Islamophobia messages. Instead of attacking others, they built coalitions. That bloc, along with tactical left-wing voters, overshadowed everything else. Tameside wards, including Denton North East, South, and West, feel very different: less than 3% Muslim, 86% U.K.-born, and over 80% white British. These are working-class areas with few graduates and strong local roots. Reform UK led here, getting over 40% in some places by appealing to “keep Britain British” sentiment. Still, Manchester’s voters decided the outcome. This is a story of two different visions, almost like a modern Dickens novel. Manchester is moving away from traditional English and British identity, with lower native birth rates, more multiculturalism, less connection to Christianity and old values, and a shift toward new cultural expressions. Tameside, on the other hand, is more cautious about fast cultural change, holding on to traditions and trying to keep established cultural identities. It is similar to the old divide between East and West Germany. The East kept its German identity, had little migration, and held onto traditions. The West became more multicultural, saw fewer native births, and its religious makeup changed. Gorton-Denton is a smaller version of this: Manchester shows the changing face of old England, while Tameside tries to stay recognizably British. The Greens won by understanding that concentrated bloc votes and progressive alliances now matter more than nostalgia. Farage’s role was chaotic. Before the election, he avoided criticizing Muslims, maybe to appeal to more voters. But after losing, Farage accused others of “sectarian voting,” “cheating,” and “dangerous Muslim sectarianism.” He complained about “family voting,” with observers noting it in twelve percent of sampled cases, where husbands and wives crowded voting booths—the highest rate ever recorded. Democracy Volunteers flagged 68% of polling stations. No mosques were used as polling places; the council managed the process. Still, Farage’s comments sparked controversy. Critics say he changes his stance: soft on Islam to grow Reform, but harsh when things go wrong. Either way, he seems unsettled, caught between his supporters and the need to win votes. Now, America faces similar questions in its primaries. The Muslim population is under 2% nationally, but is expected to grow due to higher birth rates and migration. CAIR reported 38 Muslim winners across the country last year. Zohran Mamdani won New York’s mayoral race with strong support for his socialist and pro-Palestine views. Ninety-seven percent of Muslim voters supported him, along with major donors, and Gaza became a key issue. Does this sound familiar? If the Gorton-Denton approach shows up in other places, like Dearborn, Queens, or Minneapolis, organized turnout could affect close elections. Strong support from certain communities may help some candidates, while others might choose more moderate strategies. Family-based turnout, like what was seen in the U.K., could change usual voting patterns. Demographic changes are likely to continue, with some areas keeping traditional majorities and others forming new coalitions. The message is clear: Pay attention to demographic trends, or you might be surprised by changes in election results. Primaries are still important—voters may choose to stick with the status quo or join coalitions that want change. The lesson from Britain is that traditions alone may not be enough when organized participation increases. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Britain’s Islamic Bloc Vote Warning. America, Take Note. appeared first on The Daily Signal.

CAMDEN, Ark.—Secretary of War Pete Hegseth toured key weapons manufacturing facilities on Friday and delivered a message of U.S. military “dominance” as a military operation against Iran appears to grow increasingly likely. “We’re sending a clear, sustained demand signal to American industry: We want the best and we need it yesterday,” Hegseth told about 1,500 employees of L3Harris, a major American technology and defense company that builds weapons. “The era of weakness and the era of wokeness is over,” Hegseth said to applause. “The era of weakness and the era of wokeness is over.” – @SecWar pic.twitter.com/rMRT7OBCz3— Virginia Allen (@Virginia_Allen5) February 27, 2026 Hegseth’s trip to southern Arkansas marks the eighth and final stop on the secretary’s Arsenal of Freedom Tour aimed at bolstering America’s military industrial base. “The technology that you build for our missiles, interceptors, and hypersonic weapons is what allows the War Department to achieve peace through strength,” Hegseth said. “And that mission comes with a non-negotiable mandate from the War Department, straight from the Resolute Desk and President [Donald] Trump: Build more and build faster.” Hegseth stressed the need to cut red tape that blocks American ingenuity, telling the crowd, “Our job is to conduct an ongoing and never-ending war of attrition against the Pentagon bureaucracy so that we can unleash you, and so that you can unleash our warfighters.” Hegseth also toured a General Dynamics weapons manufacturing facility on Friday, where he swore in 40 new military recruits, telling them to give America’s enemies “hell.” Secretary Hegseth swears in new military recruits in Camden, Arkansas. “Congratulations to all of you. Give them hell.” pic.twitter.com/UvW6BnstfU— Virginia Allen (@Virginia_Allen5) February 27, 2026 Since Trump returned to the White House just over a year ago, Hegseth said America’s enemies, including Iran, have learned the “hard lesson” that “if you challenge the United States of America, you will pay a high price.” Despite the U.S. bombing of three of Iran’s key nuclear sites in June, Trump has claimed the Iranian regime is seeking to rebuild its nuclear program. Iran has denied it is seeking a nuclear weapon, saying its enrichment of uranium is for civilian use, Reuters reported. Trump has repeatedly stated Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and has pledged to prevent it from building one. The U.S. and Iran have already held three rounds of nuclear negotiations, with the most recent taking place on Thursday, but no deal has been reached. A large build-up of U.S. military power in the Middle East and news Friday that the U.S. Embassy in Israel is encouraging non-emergency personnel to leave the country indicate a U.S. attack on Iran may be imminent in the coming days. “We’re negotiating right now, but they’re not getting to the right answer,” Trump told the press Friday when asked about nuclear negotiations with Iran, adding, “We’re not going to see what’s happened for 47 years keep going.” The post Hegseth Pronounces ‘Weakness’ and ‘Wokeness’ Dead in US Military appeared first on The Daily Signal.

With the large-scale military buildup in the Middle East, President Donald Trump could take action against Iran at any moment. But on Capitol Hill, lawmakers and staffers are voicing concern that Congress will be cut out of critical developments. “We have a big decision to make,” Trump told supporters during a Friday rally in Texas. “I’d rather do it the peaceful way. But they’re very difficult people.” Representatives from Iran and the United States met in Geneva this week and are expected to reconvene in Vienna next week. Trump said he was “not happy” with the lack of progress, leading some Capitol Hill observers to question what might come next. Will Congress Be ‘Left in the Dark’? A Republican staffer, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told The Daily Signal that he “would not be surprised if Congress were left in the dark” by the president. “It is my understanding that this is certainly what will happen if Trump were to engage with Iran,” added another Republican congressional staffer. The staffers’ remarks come after a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Rho Kanna, D-Calif., introduced a war powers resolution last June requiring Congress to authorize any act of war against Iran. Recently, tensions between Iran and the United States reaching a boiling point, prompting the lawmakers to press for a vote on their resolution next week. “We don’t need to be doing it,” Massie said, as reported on by The Hill. “We took out their nuclear capability, and we don’t need a long and protracted war in the Middle East. “This is not ‘America First,’” Massie added. Khanna wrote on X that Trump “can’t [strike Iran] without Congress.” Trump officials say there's a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress. @RepThomasMassie & I have a War Powers Resolution to debate & vote on war before putting U.S. troops in harm’s way. I will make a motion to discharge to force a vote on it next week. https://t.co/FWQ245D6B8— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 18, 2026 Massie and Khanna, the pair of lawmakers who headed up efforts to force a release of the Epstein files, did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment. Last June, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., introduced a similar effort in the Senate, adding that “the American people” have “no interest” in participating in another Middle East war. “This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation’s men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress,” Kaine said at the time. A Republican congressional staffer who works on defense policy told The Daily Signal said he would not be surprised if Trump took action against the Iranian regime ahead of a vote on the resolution. “With everything going on, I will not rule out action against Iran before the Dems get a chance to act on their resolution,” he stated. On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that he designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention for their detainment of “innocent Americans and citizens of other nations for political leverage.” War Powers Effort Meant to ‘Sabotage’ Trump Administration Others on Capitol Hill believe the resolution is an attempt to undermine the Trump administration. A senior Republican staffer told The Daily Signal that he believes the effort to require the president to brief Congress before conducting a strike on Iran would “sabotage” the administration. “President Trump has kept all options on the table pending the outcome of negotiations with Iran, and Republicans have no reason to join Democrats in pre-emptive sabotage of his efforts before any armed conflict has even started,” he told The Daily Signal. Another Republican congressional staffer told The Daily Signal that congressional Republicans “trust” Trump and Rubio’s decisions when it comes to deterring America’s enemies, and GOP lawmakers would support the president’s actions, whatever they may be. Lawmakers such as Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said in a statement on Wednesday that they “respect and defend Congress’s constitutional role in matters of war,” but believe “this resolution would restrict the flexibility needed to respond to real and evolving threats and risks, signaling weakness at a dangerous moment.” Congress Getting More Assertive on War Powers This is only the latest effort by Congress to assert its authority with the Trump administration. In September, Democrat lawmakers introduced a war powers resolution to curb the Trump administration’s strikes against suspected drug cartel votes. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who supported the resolution, questioned the “ethical, moral or legal code” of some of the strikes, calling on Congress to “get to the bottom” of it. At the time, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said that he didn’t know “whether the administration knows their [narcotraffickers on narcotrafficking boats] identities,” and suggested the administration killed “people who were not engaged in trafficking.” Kaine added that “Congress simply cannot let itself be stiff-armed as this Administration continues to flout the law,” leading him to introduce the legislation along with Schiff to ensure that there is a “debate and vote on whether the U.S. should be conducting these strikes without congressional approval.” The post Congress Fears Being ‘Left in the Dark’ On Possible Iran Strike appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A Virginia school board settled Friday with two male high school students who were punished for objecting to a female student using the boys’ locker room, WJLA 7News reported. The Loudoun County School District, which has a history of controversy on gender issues, actually investigated the two students for objecting to a female student, who identified as a male, using the locker room at Stone Bridge High School. The female student also reportedly recorded the male students in the locker room.  As The Daily Signal previously reported, the school district found the two sophomore students responsible for Title IX sexual harassment and discrimination, and suspended them for 10 days.  After the investigation, the students’ families sued the school district to have the finding removed from their sons’ records.  “We’re glad that our clients and Loudoun County were able to reach an agreement that ends this litigation,” Victoria Cobb, the president of Founding Freedoms Law Center, told 7News. “We hope that, in the future, as a result of the attention brought to this situation and our efforts to help vindicate these boys, Loudoun County will have an even greater incentive to protect vulnerable students from the harms of gender ideology.” America First Legal attorney Ian Prior, who represented the boys, told 7News, “While I can’t comment on specifics, the families are pleased that we were able to successfully mediate this case and are very happy with the result.” The Loudoun County School Board already allows students to use bathrooms and locker rooms at schools based on how they “identify,” regardless of biological sex. A federal judge denied the U.S. Justice Department’s motion to intervene in the case to sue the school board for violating the two boys’ religious beliefs.  In 2021, the same school district had a major controversy over its bathroom policy. That May, a 15-year-old male student forced a girl to commit sex acts at Stone Bridge High School, then later sexually assaulted another girl in the girls’ restroom at Broad Run High School on Oct. 6. This contributed to the departure of Loudoun County Superintendent Scott Ziegler. The Loudoun County Juvenile Court had found the perpetrator “not innocent” of charges of forcible sodomy and forcible fellatio. The student also pleaded “no contest” to charges of abduction and sexual battery on Oct. 6. The post Virginia School Board Settles With Boys Punished Over Locker Room Dispute appeared first on The Daily Signal.