President Trump gave several updates on the current military operations in Iran during a press conference on Monday evening. As the press conference concluded, Trump opened up the floor for questions and was asked by one reporter if Iran has activated any sleeper cells inside the United States. Trump responded by sharing that his administration is already on top of it. Watch Trump here: .@POTUS on the potential for Iranian sleeper cells: "We've been very much on top of it. One of the things we have to do is get the Democrats to stop the Democrat shutdown because, as you know, the apparatus that looks into that (@DHSgov), Schumer the Democrats have shut it down." pic.twitter.com/n8Z5T5ZoNM — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 9, 2026 Backup here if needed: BNO reported more on Trump’s response: After being asked whether Iran had activated sleeper cells inside the United States, President Trump said U.S. officials know “a lot” about them but blamed the DHS shutdown for limiting the response. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump was asked whether Iran had activated any sleeper cells inside the United States. He responded by saying Iran had “been trying for a long time” and that the U.S. was “very much on top of it.” “We know a lot about them, but the shutdown doesn’t allow us to do what we have to do,” Trump added, after blaming Democrats for the DHS shutdown. Trump was asked the question after a report by ABC News reported that the U.S. intercepted an encrypted message from Iran that reportedly discussed sleeper cells being activated. NEW: The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as "an operational trigger" for "sleeper assets" outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies. https://t.co/3LK66mTlJG — ABC News (@ABC) March 9, 2026 ABC News reported more on the intercepted encrypted messages: The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as “an operational trigger” for “sleeper assets” outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies. The alert, reviewed by ABC News, cites “preliminary signals analysis” of a transmission “likely of Iranian origin” that was relayed across multiple countries shortly after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28. The intercepted transmission was encoded and appeared to be destined for “clandestine recipients” who possess the encryption key, the kind of message intended to impart instructions to “covert operatives or sleeper assets” without the use of the internet or cellular networks. It’s possible the transmissions could “be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,” the alert said. “While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness,” the alert said. While the alert is careful to say there is “no operational threat tied to a specific location,” it does instruct law enforcement agencies to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity. What’s your assessment?

Earlier today, the Pentagon released the identity of the seventh U.S. soldier killed during Operation Epic Fury. His name is Sgt. Benjamin Pennington from Kentucky. Full scoop here: JUST IN: Seventh U.S. Soldier Killed in Operation Epic Fury Identified Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were able to attend the dignified transfer of Sgt. Pennington at Dover Air Force Base. Watch here: BREAKING: VP JD Vance and Sec. Pete Hegseth salute the dignified transfer of Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Kentucky, at Dover Air Force Base following the Iran conflict.pic.twitter.com/7PbIm0vMkW — Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) March 10, 2026 VP Vance and Secretary Hegseth also prayed over the fallen hero at the base. See here: JUST IN: VP JD Vance and SecWar Pete Hegseth pray over fallen Sgt. Benjamin Pennington of Kentucky at the dignified transfer from Iran God bless this hero, these troops are the bravest among us pic.twitter.com/Mk2f563Qrp — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 10, 2026 Sgt. Pennington is the seventh soldier to have been killed in Iranian strikes. He was injured on March 1st but sadly passed away from his injuries on Sunday. CNN has more: Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, from Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after sustaining injuries the week prior in an attack by Iran on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, a unit within the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command. Vice President JD Vance joined top military officials, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, in observing the solemn event. They saluted as the transfer case was taken across the tarmac. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called Pennington a “hero who sacrificed everything serving our country” in a Facebook post on Monday. Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a news release that Pennington “gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country that he loved.” “That makes him nothing less than a hero,” Gainey said, “and he will always be remembered that way.” Pennington enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a unit supply specialist. The Army said Monday he would be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. A message from the Hardin County school district, where Pennington graduated the same year he enlisted, said he “represented the very best of our community, state, and nation.” “We are profoundly grateful for his service and his devotion to our country,” the message said. “His dedication was exemplary and he has proven that by rendering the ultimate sacrifice.” Flags were flown at half-staff in Hardin County in Pennington’s honor. County Judge-Executive Keith Taul said he’d known Pennington’s father for decades and that his family is “hurting pretty bad right now.” Rest in peace, warrior. Please keep all of the families of these fallen soldiers in your prayers, along with all of our troops. Do you agree?

Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s true colors are showing again… Despite President Trump making it very clear that the SAVE America Act needs to get passed as soon as possible and urging Senate leadership to nuke the filibuster, Sen. Thune is completely refusing to take action. Sen. Thune told NBC News that a talking filibuster is “more complicated and risky” than people realize and that he doesn’t believe it would work. Take a look: UPDATE: Senate Leader John Thune casts major doubt on passing the SAVE America Act through a talking filibuster, says it's "very hard" to see it working "Having studied it and researched it pretty thoroughly, you have to show me how, in the end, it prevails and succeeds."… pic.twitter.com/JJ0MihmVQ2 — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 10, 2026 UPDATE: Senate Leader John Thune casts major doubt on passing the SAVE America Act through a talking filibuster, says it’s “very hard” to see it working “Having studied it and researched it pretty thoroughly, you have to show me how, in the end, it prevails and succeeds.” “What people don’t realize is it’s all unlimited debate and also unlimited amendments.” “What I’ve said before is you have to have unified support, not only in support [of] the SAVE America Act, on the process to be able to defeat amendments that would undo legislation the first place.” “We can’t find a piece of legislation in history that’s been passed that way.” — Thune to NBC News First of all, what Sen. Thune said about there not being a single piece of legislation to get passed due to a talking filibuster simply is not true. Scott Pressler pointed out just one example that Thune apparently missed in his “thorough research”: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed because of the talking filibuster. I found that information in 10 seconds with a simple Internet search. — ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) March 10, 2026 It seems more like Sen. Thune just doesn’t want to change the Senate rules, not that he’s convinced they won’t work. He went even further in an interview with ABC News, where he flatly stated that any changes to Senate rules to pass the SAVE Act are “not going to happen.” From ABC News: Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday reiterated that there would not be changes to Senate rules in order to pass a Republican-led election reform bill that President Donald Trump has demanded be sent to his desk. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Thune said when asked by ABC News about whether Senate rules requiring 60 votes to advance most legislative matters could be altered in light of Trump’s new pressure campaign to pass the SAVE America Act, which would change voter ID requirements ahead of November’s midterm elections. “The president clearly is very interested in getting the SAVE America bill up and voted on, although he wants a modified version of it, and so we’ll do our best to do that,” Thune said. “But the one thing I’ve said all along is, and I’ve told him and others, that I can’t guarantee an outcome. I can’t guarantee a result. If the result is only achieved by nuking the legislative filibuster, we don’t have the votes to do that and so that’s not a — that’s just not a realistic option.” Thune’s comments come after Trump on Sunday threatened to withhold his signature on all legislation until the SAVE America Act is delivered to his desk. What a backstabber. Folks are not happy with Sen. Thune on this one: Why am I seemingly the only person who thinks Thune should have been removed a long time ago? The idea that Thune will support Americans is like grabbing onto a lead weight expecting it to be your floatation device. — American_Revelator (@A_Revelator) March 10, 2026 If it’s too “hard” work for @LeaderJohnThune, then perhaps he should step down, and let a real man become Leader. — Scott J Mira (@ScottJMira) March 10, 2026 This is infuriating. I’m so done with Thune and the GOP. — Mindy Metcalf (@MindyMetcalf44) March 10, 2026 This all came after President Trump made a vow not to sign any new legislation — with the notable exception of funding the DHS once Democrats finally come to an agreement — until the SAVE America Act is passed. Today, President Trump doubled down on that threat: HOLY CRAP. President Trump says he won't sign a single law before the SAVE America Act even if it takes SIX MONTHS! "If it takes you 6 months, I'm for not approving ANYTHING! I don't think we should approve ANYTHING until this is approved!" Trump's DONE with the games! The… pic.twitter.com/rtPBFBP8HH — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 9, 2026 HOLY CRAP. President Trump says he won’t sign a single law before the SAVE America Act even if it takes SIX MONTHS! “If it takes you 6 months, I’m for not approving ANYTHING! I don’t think we should approve ANYTHING until this is approved!” Trump’s DONE with the games! The only thing Trump would sign is to reopen DHS during the shutdown. With or without John Thune’s help, the SAVE Act must get passed. It’s a shame that Sen. Thune seemingly doesn’t want to do it the easy way. I’m inclined to think this: He absolutely could get it done; he just doesn’t want to. — A Ruthless (@ARuthless8) March 10, 2026 But, President Trump is very serious about getting this done ahead of Midterms. Today, he announced that he will be personally getting the names of the Senators who are preventing it from passing and “push them to get it done.” Watch this: BREAKING: President Trump confirms he's going to get the NAMES of the 4-5 GOP senators refusing to pass the SAVE America Act "We're gonna have to PUSH the senate! You have 4 or 5 senators!" "EVERY time I go out, 'SAVE America Act, sir!' That's ALL they talk about!" "Send it… pic.twitter.com/vShPZDRxOO — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 9, 2026 BREAKING: President Trump confirms he’s going to get the NAMES of the 4-5 GOP senators refusing to pass the SAVE America Act “We’re gonna have to PUSH the senate! You have 4 or 5 senators!” “EVERY time I go out, ‘SAVE America Act, sir!’ That’s ALL they talk about!” “Send it up there and you will WIN THE MIDTERMS!” “4 or 5 Republican senators, you will have to explain them to me. We won’t get into that, but we will push them to get it done.” “I am making my biggest plea TONIGHT. It will GUARANTEE THE MIDTERMS! If you don’t get it, BIG TROUBLE.” This is the exact same thing @ScottPresler said. Get it done! Pressure from President Trump has worked like a charm many times! Hopefully, President Trump will be able to persuade a few Senators to get it passed very soon. Trump will get it passed. It’s too important not to! — crazy gram (@mowsh51) March 9, 2026 Your thoughts?

This is just too funny. A new poll from NBC News found that Democrats are wildly unpopular. Of course, there’s no surprise there. But, just how despised they are even among respondents to a left-wing NBC News poll is very telling. Democrats are viewed less favorably than ICE, the GOP, or President Trump. In fact, the only thing the poll respondents said they viewed less favorably than the Democrat Party is Iran! Take a look: A recent NBC poll found ICE more popular than the Democratic Party. https://t.co/lVehYLykAl. It barely edged out Iran in popularity. As Democrats push airports toward a shutdown during peak Spring break travel, they could soon lose not just to Iran but Ebola in future polls… — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 9, 2026 The New York Post has more details on the poll’s findings: The Democratic Party has a lower net favorability rating than its Republican rivals, President Trump and even the much-maligned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a stunning new poll of registered voters. The NBC News survey found that 30% of respondents had “very positive” or “somewhat positive” views of Democrats, while 52% had “very negative” or “somewhat negative” views of Democrats, for an overall net rating of -22. The alarmingly low score still represents a recovery for the party from its low point of a -28 net rating in March 2025 (27% positive, 55% negative). By contrast, Trump scored a -12 favorability rating (41% positive, 53% negative) and the Republican Party recorded a -14 favorability rating (37% positive, 51% negative). Despite heavy messaging by Democrats against ICE in recent months, the NBC survey found 38% had positive views of that agency compared to 56% with negative views — for a net rating of -18, still better than the opposition party could manage. In fact, only the nation of Iran (-53 rating, 8% positive, 61% negative) drew a lower net rating than Democrats of the 14 name-tested people and entities. There are so many reasons why Democrats are near the bottom of the list when it comes to popularity ratings. This is just what happens when nearly every policy your party signs onto is the exact opposite of what the American people want! Most recently, there’s also the whole issue of Democrats shutting down the DHS and preventing thousands of people from getting paychecks because they don’t like ICE — even though they’re already funded for the whole year! Folks on X are naming some more (hilarious) examples of things that are more popular than the Democrat party, at this point: I got news for ya Gas station sushi is more popular than the Democrat Party @DNC — Salty Texan (@texan_maga) March 9, 2026 Explosive diarrhea is more popular. — Plato’s_Cave _Shadows (@False_Shadows) March 9, 2026 So are hemorrhoids — Vile E Coyote (super/genius) (@WildYeeCoyote) March 10, 2026 Next, NBC News should do this poll: Now we need a poll to see if ICE is more popular than NBC. — Peculiar People (@joinedphalanges) March 10, 2026 Do you agree?

After COVID and the toxic “Clot Shot” a/k/a mRNA shots a/k/a Turbo Cancer Jabs, millions of Americans finally woke up. But their awakening hasn’t been fully complete. Because I can’t tell you how many times people say “I’m not getting the COVID jab, but I’ll still get the good ones like the flu shot each year.” Folks, there are no “good ones”, they’re all bad for you! Yes, even the flu shot. I have proudly never gotten the flu shot once in my life, not ever. Even long before COVID and long before I woke up to the poison they are injecting in our children with 72 vaccines by the age of 5 (completely ridiculous), even before all of that I knew instinctively that injecting yourself with the flu to prevent against getting the flu didn’t make any sense. And then I started watching year after year as I almost never get the flu, but all the good sheep who got their Flu Shot Jabs constantly fell sick with nasty flu strain. Well, now RFK has come out and said the same thing I’ve been saying for over a decade: DO NOT GET THE FLU SHOT! Here’s why: RFK Jr: "In a million years, I would not take the flu shot, and I'll tell you why."pic.twitter.com/xkYEpxs7Hd — Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) March 10, 2026 FULL TRANSCRIPT: In a million years, I would not take the flu shot. And I’ll tell you why. Because this is what Cochrane and BMJ have found. People who take the flu shot are protected against that strain of flu. Uh, they’re 4.4 times more likely to get a non-flu infection. And you might find, and a lot of people do, that they get the flu shot and then they get sick. They’re usually not getting the flu. They’re getting something that is indistinguishable from the flu, because the flu shot gives you something called pathogenic priming. If, if, it injures your immune system so that you’re more likely to get a non-flu viral upper respiratory infection. In fact, the Pentagon published a story, and you can cite this, it’s by Wolfe, W-O-L-F-E, in January of this year, in which they said the flu shot not only f- primes you for flu, but it primes you for coronavirus. If you get They gave fl- they had a placebo group and they had a vaccine group because they wanted for mi- military readiness to see if the flu shot was prophylactic against coronavirus. What they found is actually the people who got the flu shot were 36% more likely to get coronavirus. And that’s not a, that’s not a lone study. We found 6 other major studies that say the same thing. If you get the flu shot, you’re more likely to get coronavirus. You know, we have to look All you have to do, Alan, and this is what Cochrane said, is look what’s happened to longevity in the elderly since we started mandating the flu shot to elderly people. Those are the people who, uh, their, their life expectancy had dramatically gone down as the flu shot br- proliferated. And if you see, you know, the people who died during the COVID vaccinate, di- during the COVID crisis, many And there’s no science on this, but it’s observational. It tended to be people who got their flu shots, people who were in nursing home who will all get flu shots, people who are first responders who get- So with all due respect, I don’t understand the implications of your position. If, if you’re right, why wouldn’t it follow that the flu shot should be illegal? You said it’s criminal to. Backup here on Rumble if needed: If you don’t mind, can I suggest a much better way? Do this instead: Americans Can Stockpile Ivermectin & Key Prescription Medicines – Here Is One Way To Do It Millions of Americans understand why it is so important to be prepared. It is why so many Americans have stockpiled guns, ammo, food and other supplies. Unfortunately, far too many are failing to stockpile one of the single most important items – prescription medication. We know that the next crisis is just around the corner, and we know – sadly – that we simply can’t just trust the government to keep us safe. The truth is that almost no sector is more vulnerable than our healthcare system. Whether it is supply chain issues, cyber threats, the corrupting influence of big pharma, government overreach, drug bans, or the rising threat that global instability plays, the reality is that our healthcare system is in real trouble. If you really want to be prepared, if you really care about keeping your family safe, then you should be stockpiling prescription medications – TODAY! The Wellness Company is Your Source for Prescription Meds You know you should be prepared, you know how vulnerable our healthcare system and you know why you should be stockpiling critical prescription medications. The question is, how do you do it? That’s where The Wellness Company comes in. The Wellness Company and its great doctors – like Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Drew, Dr. Harvey Risch, and Dr. Jim Thorp – are regularly in the media fighting against the broken medical establishment. Dr. Thorp, one of the nation’s leading critics of corrupt Big Pharma, believes that now – more than ever – people should be prepared:  “I’ve strongly recommended “stockpiling” critical medications including antibiotics since the turn of the century. This has been an incredible investment as many friends, family, and patients have benefited. Now, in the winter of 2024, this recommendation is even more crucial.” The Wellness Company and their doctors are medical professionals that you can trust and their new medical emergency kits are the gold standard when it comes to keeping you safe and healthy. The ultimate safeguard for your health. Be ready for the next crisis. This medical emergency kit contains an assortment of life-saving medications – including ivermectin, amoxicillin, and Z-pak. The Medical Emergency Kit includes a guidebook to aid in the safe use of these life-saving medications. This kit is prescription-only – you can’t find it in any store or pharmacy. Simply fill out a short questionnaire after purchase and a trusted Wellness Company doctor will confirm your suitability and issue your prescription Medical Emergency Kit. The Wellness Company Medical Emergency Kit includes: Amoxicillin-Clavulanate (generic Augmentin) 875/125 mg – 28 tablets Azithromycin (generic Z-Pak) 250 mg – 12 tablets Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg – 60 capsules Metronidazole (generic Flagyl) 500 mg – 30 tablets Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (generic Bactrim) 800/160 mg – 28 tablets Ivermectin 18mg – 7 compounded capsules Fluconazole (generic Diflucan) 150 mg – 2 tablets Ondansetron (generic Zofran) 4mg – 6 tablets 1 Emergency Medication Guidebook written by the Chief Medical Board for safe use. What people are saying about the Medical Emergency Kit: Excellent Kit! This medical emergency kit is great. Having it “just in case” gives me peace of mind. Highly recommend. Thank you! – Melinda C. Glad that I purchased your Medical Emergency Kit! Though I haven’t yet needed to use any of the medications that are in our kit, I am happy that I ordered it! One never knows when “an emergency might occur”, and I feel safer having your M.E.Kit at my disposal IF needed! We’re so glad we ordered ours! Thank you for making it available! – Susan M. Peace of mind. It is an amazing peace of mind to have this kit in case of emergencies and shortages. The Wellness Company did an excellent job of getting this to me in a timely manner and I and thankful to have it. – Phyllis T. Great medical emergency kit. Kit came as advertised! Neat and orderly. The guide is great. Only plan on using it in an emergency during a difficult time. Confident it is what I was counting on. – Fred D. Don’t be caught unprepared for whatever 2024 sends your way! Order The Wellness Company’s Medical Emergency Kits before it’s too late — and save 10%! Here’s exactly how you do it… When you hit Checkout, look for this Box: Type in WLT and hit Enter and you’ll see it will instantly take 10% off your purchase price. Who loves ya baby? (Note: The information provided is intended for generalized informational purposes only and should not be considered personal medical advice or used as a substitute for professional healthcare guidance. It is your responsibility to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines regarding the purchase, possession, and use of prescription medications. Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message in this article and ordering through the links provided, which benefits WLTReport. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to keep you SAFE and HEALTY!) Any feedback?

Angus Young on AC/DC's most "regrettable" song

This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you. *** “I just want people to know that I’m a real person,” says Meghan Markle, the same person who tried to wipe out the British monarchy and then moved to a $15 million mansion in Montecito, California, where she pretended to make rainbow fruit platters for her kids and demanded she be announced as “the duchess of Sussex” before entering a room. Yes. So real. Maybe she just needs to “anchor into her own knowing” a little harder, as she says … whatever that means. Stars—they’re (obsessed with being) just like us! Except they’re hardly ever real enough to be relatable. Apparently, something about falling into a daily routine with Oprah’s $3.2 billion fortune, Beyoncé’s $40 million private jet, or Jeff Bezos’ $500 million superyacht triggers amnesia about before-times spent comparing prices on grocery store toilet paper.  McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski recently highlighted the elite’s struggle to connect. Dubbing himself “Chris K” in a now-viral video launching the chain’s new Big Arch burger, the multi-millionaire unknowingly channeled Mr. Burns as he awkwardly handled what he referred to as the “product,” claiming it was his lunch as if he eats McDonald’s in real life. His dainty, Barbie-sized bite was the final nail in his counterfeit coffin. “We all know he probably chucked it after the camera stopped rolling,” posted a Redditor. I’m riddled with second-hand embarrassment at these failed attempts to be human, but let’s be real: They’re also entertaining. It reminds me of the Steve Buscemi meme from “30 Rock,” where his old man undercover cop character—rocking a skateboard, hoodie, and “music band” tee—asks a group of high school students, “How do you do, fellow kids?” It’s almost a fetish for the ultra-wealthy to cosplay regular people. Like, hello, stop trying to co-op our normie lives, you guys. Just check out the never-ending supply of GoFundMes posted by celebrities, desperate for us to understand that millionaire life is harder than we think and to donate our entire paychecks accordingly. And we enjoy no shortage of photoshoots from stars turning shopping for Cheetos at 7-Eleven into high fashion. Of course, who could forget the time Ellen DeGeneres compared quarantining in her multi-million dollar California home to “being in jail,” or the bit where Bill Gates guessed grocery prices on her show. “When’s the last time that you have been at a supermarket?” DeGeneres asked. “A long time ago,” Gates said. Everyone laughed. Not pictured: the staff who keep both of their home fridges stocked. Did anyone believe that Senator Elizabeth Warren drank beer when she popped one open on Instagram after announcing her 2020 run for president? (It got worse when her husband told her, “Enjoy your beer.”) Elsewhere in politics, during his recent book tour, California Governor Gavin Newsom assured Katie Couric, “I am who I am. You don’t have to like me.” Mkay, says the guy trying to convince regular Americans to like him by claiming he used to eat Wonder Bread and mac and cheese and got a 960 on his SATs. (Look away from the photo where he casually wears a Burberry scarf in college.) Politicians get a pass for just trying to win votes, but tone-deaf celebrities selling merch feels personal. Hey, if I’m gonna shell out $350 for your complete line of jams, candles, and edible flower sprinkles, I want to believe we could hang out in real life. Sorry not sorry for dunking on Meghan Markle, duchess of Southern California, but she commits this crime like it’s her brand. Her Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” portrayed the daily goings-on of a domestic goddess happily tending to her loving family, when in her personal life, Meghan ditched her first husband and most of her relatives at the first whiff of fame and money. She said she had no idea who Prince Harry was, even though she was already buds with Princess Eugenie before dating him; she alleged she was suffocated by royal fashion protocol in England, and yet she copied Princess Diana’s look any chance she got. I admit that I hate-subscribe to her newsletter. But that’s where she encourages us normal folk to create a centering moment for ourselves with her overpriced As Ever tea and bespoke honey, marveling at the pitter-patter of our children’s precious little feet—as if she does this herself, without the benefit of nannies to put those little feet to bed while she practices her twee calligraphy.  This bounty on human connection comes from the magic in recognizing yourself in someone else. Psychological studies prove that we’re more attracted to the perceived warmth and openness of truth tellers we believe, versus scam artists we don’t. Of course, most celebrities are probably caught somewhere in between posting aspirational lifestyle content and blowing their own mysterious allure via oversharing—all for the sake of genuinely connecting with fans. Maybe it’s the denser atmosphere down here on planet Earth, but we can spot A-list bull honky from a mile away. But the real key to connecting with us normies isn’t relatability; it’s authenticity. Need proof? Instead of pretending not to be a flashy billionaire, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump offered kids rides in his $7 million helicopter at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. “You don’t think this is a little much?” ABC News reporter Martha Raddatz asked, over the squeals of delighted children. “It’s me. I am who I am,” Trump replied. Real and relatable. *** The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

I was told that an email from Ann Coulter is what led David Keene to hire me in 2006. She wrote, “You only have to tell Lisa to do something once.” Despite all the drama, I hope he never regretted it. While David was chairman of the American Conservative Union, a volunteer position, I worked with him as the Director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) from June 2006 to April 2011. In planning the conference there were many ups and downs. I’m sure there were times when I disappointed David in some effort, but I can’t think of any time when he disappointed me. Even though I was only 28 when I began as CPAC Director, he gave me the same opportunity to give my opinion when I disagreed with a board member, sponsor, speaker, or member of Congress. Not to brag, but I won a couple of those battles. During the five years I worked with David, I was privy to the way he worked within the conservative movement. I saw him compromise with people he didn’t like and who didn’t like him. I saw him defend people he disagreed with on issues because it was the right thing to do. I saw him make decisions based on what was best for the conference attendees and nothing else. I was on a high when he once told me a speaker idea I had was “inspired.”   Source: @WisconsinYAF One of the things I admired most about David is that he’s not one of those Old Guard members of the conservative movement who don’t value dissent or new blood. As the chairman of ACU/CPAC, he fought to give everyone a seat at the table. Those like Chris Barron, who endeavored to start a group that represented conservative gays and their allies. As well as leaders of the Tea Party movement who criticized his friends in Congress. David was adamant about including emerging conservative leaders as speakers at the conference. In February 2010, it was his idea to invite Marco Rubio, who was then a long shot in the Republican primary against Charlie Crist, to be the opening speaker at CPAC. He knew the value of sending that message to his Republican friends and to the media. I’ve seen him give dozens and dozens of young leaders and unknown activists a place in the spotlight over the years. I was fortunate to be one of them. I’m sure it’s because he still thought of himself as one of us — and he was! On Newsmax, John Gizzi wrote about David’s decades in the conservative movement that began on his college campus. When Rush Limbaugh was the closing speaker at the 2009 conference, it was David who suggested I introduce Rush. We knew the speech would be covered by many of the networks, and it was a very visible spot. David didn’t insist on some well-known Congressman or Senator, donor, or head of a prominent conservative organization. He suggested me because during one of our planning sessions, I said Rush was the person who got me excited about being a conservative. Rush was my Reagan.    Source: Kevin McKeever The same thing happened a few years later when Donald Trump was scheduled to make a surprise appearance at the conference (thanks to Chris Barron!), and I expressed interest in introducing him because I enjoyed Trump’s candor — also no one else asked. How times have changed. From time to time, friends or acquaintances came to me with an idea or project and requested a meeting with David. Unless the timing just didn’t work out, I don’t recall any instance when David refused to meet with someone. He was always available to give young conservatives advice and to listen to what they had to say. In fact, it is because of David that CPAC became a must-attend event for College Republicans and other conservative students. In CPAC’s early years, David made a promise to President Reagan that CPAC would never be priced out of reach for students and young activists. Even when hotel costs went up, student registration was always between $25-50 ($15 for early bird rate). He also knew the value of CPAC as a reunion for the “vast right-wing conspiracy.” It wasn’t just about what was happening on stage, but the conversations that happened in the bar, at ancillary events and in the hallways. It was where people met future coworkers, allies, and spouses. Even though I hadn’t spoken to David in years, it is very important to me that he be remembered for the intellectual and activist giant that he was. In the five years I worked for him, I learned which battles were worth fighting. I learned the importance of being supportive of friends. While I wish I could have worked for David longer than I did (we both left in 2011), I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me a chance to lead CPAC during an important time for the conservative movement. I’ll also remember the man he was in a city and industry that treats people as disposable and transactional. As his daughter Kerry wrote, “I will remember not the public figure, but a father who welcomed me as his own, who gave me a home, and my first job.” I will always think of him that way, too. * * * Lisa De Pasquale is an author, columnist, and the former director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). She’s a frequent guest on Fox News and Fox Business, the founder of “Bright” on Substack, and the author of “The Gen X Handbook for Middle Age: The Pursuit of Health, Success, and Human Fulfillment.” De Pasquale has authored articles for a variety of publications including The Federalist, Washingtonian, The Daily Caller, and The Washington Times. Follow her on Twitter/X: @LisaDeP and on Instagram at @Lisa_DeP. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.