Host - Dave and Betsy Smith, Guest - Remy the Republican Dog

Political Violence, Media Bias, and the Demonization of Conservatives

Recent Attacks Reveal Disturbing Pattern of Left-Wing Violence

The propaganda machine and brainwashing mechanisms in the United States are in full swing. Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, we've witnessed the full effects of demonization against the Republican Party, the conservative movement, and Christian Americans. Every principle of propaganda has been focused against these groups, with trusted enemies like law enforcement being constantly vilified.

The shooting at the ICE office in Dallas, close to the Stenman's Highway, provides another stark example. Initially, the media attempted to deny that this was a left-wing Marxist action. Governors like JB Pritzker in Illinois and Gavin Newsom continue endangering law enforcement by characterizing ICE as "Trump's secret police" and claiming we're living under an authoritarian government. This rhetoric puts all law enforcement at risk, as the radical left fails to distinguish between different agencies.

The Dallas shooter was a 29-year-old man with a gaming addiction, similar to Charlie Kirk's assassin and many mass shooters over the last 30 years. He positioned himself on the roof of a building housing immigration attorneys and fired into an ICE transport van, killing one illegal alien and wounding two others. He also fired into the building, with rounds striking walls. Only by the grace of God were no ICE agents injured or killed.

Unspent ammunition recovered from the scene was marked with "anti-ICE" text. The shooter had been previously arrested for minor offenses, while his sister has a record of numerous arrests. His mother appears to be a left-wing activist on social media, constantly advocating for gun control and blaming Republicans for mass shootings. Now her son has become one of these shooters.

The Left's Dangerous Rhetoric and Soviet-Style Propaganda

The propaganda machine is in full exposure. Those who understand propaganda principles can clearly see it operating at maximum capacity. We must teach our loved ones to think critically, which isn't happening in America today. Politicians like Gavin Newsom engage in demonization beyond belief, employing lunatic generalizations that the media never challenges.

Propaganda was originally meant for propagating the church and marketing—it wasn't inherently negative. Only under Soviet, fascist, and Nazi regimes did it become considered vile and evil. Today, the left is employing Soviet-style propaganda techniques: making blanket generalizations without factual basis, coercing agreement, and using inflammatory rhetoric.

This is projection at its core. The left accuses others of fascism while implementing fascist policies themselves. California residents have lost freedoms under an administrative state that controls businesses through bureaucracy. Unlike Marxism which takes over the means of production directly, fascism controls through a bureaucratic state.

There's no meaningful difference between Marxism, fascism, and Nazism—they're all socialist ideologies. We need to stop viewing political ideologies on the traditional left-right spectrum from the French Revolution. Conservatism and libertarianism exist on a separate spectrum entirely.

The left hypnotizes people into their way of thinking, and even those who once identified as conservative find themselves arguing points from MSNBC, CNN, or other leftist media sources. Almost all media that isn't explicitly conservative has become leftist. Where are the journalists asking basic questions like "Gavin, where's your proof for that? Why was that authoritarian?" During the Biden administration, the power of the state was used to arrest political opponents, with CNN being notified ahead of time about perp walks to maximize humiliation.

Dishonest Media Coverage of Political Violence

The left-wing media either ignores inconvenient facts or overtly denies them. CNN and MSNBC still claim not to know the motives of Charlie Kirk's assassin, despite having text messages where he confesses to the murder. Similarly, with the attack on the ICE facility in Dallas, far-left outlets claim not to know the motive despite the "anti-ICE" markings on the ammunition.

FBI Director Cash Patel disclosed that the Dallas shooter had conducted multiple internet searches on ballistics in the days before the attack and had watched the Charlie Kirk assassination video. Interestingly, both shooters used similar firearms—Mauser actions from World War II. The Utah shooter who killed Kirk used a 30-06, while the Dallas shooter used the original eight-millimeter German round. Both are high-powered rounds capable of penetrating body armor, walls, and vehicles.

The irony isn't lost that these "anti-fascists" are using weapons originally designed for the German military in World War II. These are deadly rounds with tremendous penetrating power, far more powerful than the AR-15 platform that receives so much media attention. Young people are being brainwashed and told that Republicans are Nazis, that Trump is a Nazi, and that ICE agents are "Trump's secret police" disappearing people from the streets.

NBC recently had to correct a story claiming ICE had captured a five-year-old autistic girl to lure her illegal alien father. In reality, this criminal abandoned his daughter in a vehicle while fleeing ICE agents. The agents rescued her and took her to safety before arresting the father.

The Dallas shooter, Joshua John, had downloaded documents about the Dallas County Office of Homeland Security and written notes saying "hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror to think. Is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?" This is the definition of domestic terrorism—violent acts trying to change political outcomes. Yet CNN and MSNBC featured commentators suggesting deportations should be halted, which would mean the terrorism worked.

The Reality of Law Enforcement in Our Communities

ICE agents, federal agents, and other law enforcement officers are our neighbors—they're parents at PTA meetings and soccer coaches for our children. In Pima County, which has the largest Border Patrol presence in the United States, these officers are integral members of our community.

The media consistently mischaracterizes firearms used in these attacks. Every time someone uses an AR-15, it's portrayed as a "high-powered rifle" when it's not. The AR-15 in 5.56mm caliber is far less powerful than the military surplus weapons used in these recent shootings. Any rifle round above about a ton of energy is difficult to stop with body armor. The military surplus 8mm ammunition the Dallas shooter used isn't technically armor-piercing—it's simply powerful enough to penetrate many barriers.

When people suggest banning AR-15s, these shootings prove that's not addressing the real issue. The problem is the mindset of individuals who want to kill using weapons for evil purposes. America once had a time when weapons weren't the tool of choice—bombs were, which is much more terrifying.

Rising Political Violence from the Left

Political violence continues to come almost exclusively from the left. From Charlie Kirk's assassination to the Dallas ICE office attack, from the Bernie Sanders supporter who nearly killed Steve Scalise at the congressional baseball practice to far-left activists setting fire to Tesla vehicles—the pattern is clear.

Yet we constantly hear political leadership saying "we've got to tone it down," while the left never does. Conservatives are the ones who moderate their rhetoric while being accused of violence for simply disagreeing with progressive policies. The left's argument is that disagreement with their positions equates to violence against marginalized groups, which they believe justifies actual physical violence in response.

This explains why many were concerned about hate crime laws from the beginning. These laws make motive critically important in prosecution, but under administrations like Obama's and Biden's, they're never applied equitably. Instead, they're weaponized against conservatives, Christians, and others who hold traditional values.

Pima County Politics and Community Action

Pima County faces its own set of challenges with politicians who seem disconnected from community needs. Atelida Grahalva, recently elected to Congress, has a record of failure. She helped turn Tucson Unified School District into a subperforming institution and has contributed to deteriorating county conditions. Looking at our streets, where's the concern for basic infrastructure?

The Board of Supervisors, with the exception of Steve Christie, operates like "a left-wing clown show." Recently, a bicyclist was stabbed to death on the Chuck Huckleberry Loop trail by a homeless man—not even in Tucson city limits, but in Pima County. Citizens must ask why we're living this way.

Three years ago, 100 Republicans would attend Board of Supervisor meetings to defend their rights, energized by opposition to COVID mandates. At a recent meeting, there was just one conservative present while the room was filled with angry leftists arguing about Project Blue. The left can mobilize a room full of people instantly, while Republicans fail to show up and get engaged.

Many decisions made by the Board of Supervisors go unchallenged. There's still no accounting for where money allocated for illegals and homelessness was spent. When citizens ask in public forums, they're treated as if they're insane. Even after the border was secured, the Board voted to fund water stations in the desert, which can attract illegal immigrants into dangerous situations. These "blue barrels" are presented as humanitarian aid, but they're facilitating criminal activity by encouraging illegal border crossings.

Getting Involved in Local Politics

Republicans need to unite and quit engaging in petty internal fights. The special election saw Dan and Paula Boteares put forth a wonderful effort, but they faced significant challenges: Democrats had more money and a favorable voter balance. Many Republicans thought they didn't need to vote until November, not realizing the special election was in September.

Democrats excel at motivating their base and likely engage in ballot harvesting, which is illegal. Republicans chase ballots, asking people to send them in, but struggle to match Democrat mobilization. Pima County has been abandoned by the Republican National Committee, leaving local Republicans to do the work themselves.

The party is hindered by "litmus people" who attack fellow Republicans over ideological purity tests, making it difficult to recruit new precinct committee people. It's time to stop fighting each other and direct energy toward fighting Democrats.

There are positive developments, including the upcoming city election. A candidate roundup is scheduled at Casino del Sol, featuring Republican candidates J.L. Wittenbraker and J. Tolkoff for Tucson City Council. City elections are entirely mail-in ballots, a system abandoned by most of the developed world due to reliability concerns. Mail-in voting undermines the sacred nature of voting, where citizens should have "skin in the game" and make informed decisions.

Economic Concerns and Federal Policy

The Federal Reserve has become an antiquated institution that hasn't prevented inflation or recessions but effectively retards economic recovery by interfering with rate reductions. The housing market suffers because Jerome Powell and other economists seem unwilling to lower rates appropriately. We need Austrian economists who support free markets and allow businesses to control their own value.

On tariffs, they've been around since before the United States was formed, serving as both diplomatic and fiscal tools. The rest of the world imposes tariffs on American goods, affecting our economy while they relocate manufacturing to their countries. President Trump's "America First" approach doesn't mean isolation—it means stopping foreign countries from taking advantage of the United States.

Canada exemplifies these tensions, with Western provinces like Alberta becoming increasingly frustrated with Ottawa's policies. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has discussed separation from Canada or potentially joining the United States, driven by Ottawa's restrictions on pipelines and resource development.

The Value of Agriculture and Local Production

Arizona plays a crucial role in feeding America, though coastal elites remain oblivious to this fact. Tucson and surrounding areas produce lettuce, broccoli, avocados, tomatoes, citrus, and Pima cotton—among the world's finest. Yet politicians like Ruben Gallego seem more concerned about Mexican avocados than supporting Arizona agriculture.

California's agricultural potential is artificially limited by environmental policies that prioritize "little fishes and little birds" over food production. Arizona should take pride in its agricultural contributions, but local politicians—with few exceptions like Steve Christie—show little concern for community needs or taxpayer interests.

School boards have become particularly problematic, as evidenced by the controversy at Catalina Foothills regarding transgender bathroom policies. The real issue is that Pima County residents are ignored by their representatives, who view them merely as sources of tax revenue to fund other interests. Despite promises of federal intervention in corruption cases, actual accountability remains elusive.

For immediate action, the local Republican Party needs five more volunteers for hand-counting ballots in the CD7 election, with volunteers receiving $75 for their service. Citizens can sign up at pima.gop.org to participate in this important election integrity measure.