Latest news with #pro-Democrat
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republicans Kidnap Latina Girlfriend in New Democratic Ad
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A pro-Democrat PAC has released an ad showing a fictional Republican lawmaker and masked men kidnapping an American citizen while on a date with her boyfriend. Newsweek reached out to the Progress Action Fund via email for comment. The Context The Progress Action Fund, a group targeting Republicans in swing districts that published similar ads during the 2024 election, frequently portrays a generic "Republican congressman" interfering with actors' personal lives in an attempt to reach new audiences. The group was founded by former Obama administration staffers, and its ads received over 500 million views across swing states in the 2024 presidential election. What To Know The latest ad, released on Wednesday, features a white man and a Latina woman on a date. Masked men grab the screaming woman as a Republican congressman tells her boyfriend that "she's coming with us." He says that they're taking her to a prison in El Salvador. When the man protests that "she was born here, she's a citizen," the lawmaker replies, "I don't care, she looks like one of them." The ad closes with a quote from President Donald Trump, which reads: "The homegrowns are next." The quote was from a conversation Trump had with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele in April about the possibility of jailing U.S. citizens. Democrats are really running "Trump is coming for your Latina gfs" ads lmao — Armand Domalewski (@ArmandDoma) June 18, 2025 "We were inspired to create this ad because despite saying he would only target violent criminals, Trump and ICE are rounding up everyday people and American citizens," Joe Jacobson, the founder and executive director of Progress Action Fund, told Newsweek. "ICE even deported a 4-year old citizen with cancer and detained a 9-months pregnant woman who was also a citizen. Only 10 percent of the roundups are actually of violent criminals, and we need to take a stand against this blatant racial profiling so Trump does not become even more emboldened to tear apart our communities." The video, which was written, shot, produced and published within a month, caught the attention of the White House, which told Fox News that the ad was a waste of money. "It would be more efficient for Democrats to just light their money on fire instead of spending it fear-mongering with a silly ad no one takes seriously. This is clearly just a sad attempt to distract from the violent Democrat rioters in LA who want to keep criminal illegal aliens in American communities," Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said. A screenshot from a new political advertisement from the Progress Action Fund. A screenshot from a new political advertisement from the Progress Action Fund. Progress Action Fund What People Are Saying Joe Jacobson, the founder and executive director of Progress Action Fund, told Newsweek: "The goal is to show people what's going on because most people don't know how frequently and widespread these disgusting deportations are. "This is especially true of young men, who we are targeting because both my deputy and I are 31 years old and uniquely understand this demographic. This group is absolutely critical to reach, given they swung to Trump by 30 points last cycle. The only way to win them back is to produce extremely creative and provocative content because they will not engage with politics unless they absolutely have to. "Young men and all voters need to understand that Trump isn't just coming for violent criminals who are here illegally: he's coming for citizens and he's coming for you." What Happens Next The Progress Action Fund had said it plans to produce similar videos in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections.
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Donald Trump's ‘Les Miserables' Appearance Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes
President Donald Trump's attendance at a performance of Les Miserables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, during which he received cheers and boos from sections of the crowd, triggered a wave of jokes and memes on social media. Newsweek contacted the White House and the Kennedy Center for comment on Thursday via email and online inquiry form, respectively, outside regular office hours. Following his second presidential inauguration in January, Trump fired most of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees, replacing them with allies and appointing himself as chairman. The president attended the show in Washington, D.C., against a backdrop of days of anti-immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles, some of which have turned violent. In response, his administration ordered 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines against the wishes of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. On Wednesday, the president and first lady Melania Trump attended the opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center. Other prominent figures in attendance included Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Footage of the event shows Trump receiving cheers and boos from the audience. According to CNN, one woman appeared to be escorted out after shouting, "Convicted felon, rapist!" Les Miserables is a musical adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. It is set against the backdrop of the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, a failed insurrection against French King Louis Philippe that was suppressed by government troops. On X, Newsom shared a screenshot of an NBC News headline about the president's attendance, writing, "Someone explain the plot to him." The post has received more than 60,000 likes and 1.9 million views. User @BlueATLGeorgia, a pro-Democrat account with 39,000 followers, wrote: "Les Misérables is a story of social unrest, especially the June Rebellion, where young idealists rise up against inequality and government oppression. "Young people fight for justice, calling for reforms and dignity for the poor. The government responds to the rebellion with heavy force, resulting in bloodshed. Sound familiar?" A Michigan business called That Gay Guy Candle Co. wrote: "Trump's going to see Les Mis tonight? That's ironic." User @Betches_News told its 25,000 followers, "Trump and Melania watching Les Mis at the Kennedy Center tonight like." Below the caption, it shared a photo of a shocked woman asking: "Wait. Is this f*****g play about us?" User @toyjawn1 wrote, "Trump ... watching Les Mis ... with tickets upwards of the amount of an ordinary person's whole life wages," above a GIF of a man rubbing his face with an iron. During Thursday's performance, a number of drag performers sat below the presidential box in what one described as a "message of inclusivity." Before the performance, Trump attended a VIP reception with paid attendees. He told reporters that $10 million was raised for the Kennedy Center. Kennedy Center Interim Director Richard Grenell, commenting on reports that some actors did not want to perform in front of President Donald Trump,said: "Any performer who isn't professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won't be welcomed. In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn't hire—and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience." Darlene Webb, a Trump supporter who was at the performance, told CNN about the jeers: "I just wanted to clap and yell over it, because at this type of performance I don't think it was good for them to do that, professionally." Cara Segur, Webb's friend, told the outlet: "Seeing some of the actors and actresses, it looked like they were singing at him, instead of just singing to the crowd. And it felt really powerful and I liked it." On Saturday, a military parade is due to take place in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The day also marks Trump's 79th birthday. The "No Kings" movement has organized demonstrations against Trump across the U.S., with 1,800 events planned for Saturday. Related Articles Iran Threatens to Attack U.S. Forces if Israel Strikes Nuclear SitesDonald Trump's Approval Rating Plunges With MillennialsDonald Trump Issues Next Trade Deal Update After ChinaHow Project 2025 Compares With Trump's Los Angeles Response 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
The Hill
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Democrats aren't engaged enough online in non-election years, study finds
Democrats aren't engaged enough online in non-election years, and Republicans' digital advantage gave the right a leg up in 2024, new research shows. A report from Tech for Campaigns, a pro-Democrat nonprofit focused on commercial digital marketing and data techniques, found that Democrats continue to treat digital communication as 'a campaign-season sprint,' while Republicans have embraced year-round, off-year investment in the online space. 'The Right, especially [President] Trump, recognized that persuasion is no longer about last-minute convincing, but about shaping beliefs continuously—building trust, shifting opinions, and staying visible through frequent engagement,' the report reads. For example, left-wing advocacy groups and media companies dropped spending on Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, by 75 percent in off years between 2020 and 2025, according to the research. Their right-wing counterparts, on the other hand, decreased that spending by just 3 percent. 'For presidential and major federal and statewide races … the persuasion groundwork is now laid years in advance through partisan media ecosystems. The Trump campaign didn't need the same massive persuasion push in 2024 as the Democrats. The work was already done,' the researchers said. The report comes as Democrats grapple with the party's brand in the wake of 2024 losses. A number of Democrats seen as potential White House hopefuls, including Govs. Gavin Newsom (Calif.) and Andy Beshear (Ky.), have recently stepped into the podcast space, where right-wing voices dominate. As of December, right-wing podcasts had nearly three times the audience of left-leaning programs, according to Tech for Campaigns. But trying to duplicate Republican tactics isn't necessarily a ticket to success for Democrats, the report argued, noting that successful influencers on the right have largely emerged organically, rather than appearing as a 'top-down creation.' Former Vice President Harris's campaign, which faced a short runway after ex-President Biden's historic exit from the race, did lean heavily into social media and made concerted efforts to reach young voters in the digital space. She also spent $400 million more than Trump on the race, according to the research, but spent a smaller share of her funds on mobilization efforts, focusing instead on fundraising and voter persuasion. 'Some will argue the Harris campaign's heavy focus on persuasion was necessary given her late entry. This misses the crucial point: persuasion shouldn't begin a few months before Election Day,' Tech for Campaigns said. 'It requires continuous engagement throughout the four-year cycle with candidates, left-wing groups and other advocates building the brand and the relationship with voters.' Politico first reported on the new advertising report.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Democrats need to embrace males with affection, not political strategy, NYT columnist argues
New York Times opinion columnist David French suggested the Democratic Party's $20 million effort to address their fallout with male voters might be the wrong approach, arguing that men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan" is Democrats' $20 million project to "study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces" of male voters, the Times reported Sunday. Known as "SAM," the study will specifically examine young male voters and how the party can connect with the demographic. Additionally, the study advised rolling out pro-Democrat ads in video games. French acknowledged the Democratic Party's fallout with young male voters, as the voting bloc was instrumental in re-electing President Donald Trump, but argued the party was "getting the challenge of reaching young men backward," because the "manosphere is not about politics." "You can't write a history of the manosphere without acknowledging that it was a response to a genuine crisis," French added. "Slogans like 'the future is female' created the impression that the sexes were in competition, and for women to win, men had to lose." Fetterman Hits Party's Losses Among Young Male Voters: 'Its Undeniable That Democrats Have Lost A Lot' The headline for French's column read, "The Democrats' 20-Million-Dollar-Man Problem." Read On The Fox News App The term "manosphere" has been used to describe podcasters or online personalities that appeal to male listeners and viewers. French also pointed to the American Psychological Association's study from 2019, which deemed traditional masculinity as "harmful." The study described it as being "marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression." The NYT columnist wrote, "The message seemed clear. Men, you don't have a problem; you are the problem." The 2024 election cycle included a push from both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's campaigns to speak to podcasters and other non-traditional media voices. 'The View' Hosts Clash Over Whether Racism, Sexism Played Role In Trump Election Victory The NYT reported that part of the Democrats' push to regain support from young male voters is to "shift from a moralizing tone." "The manosphere succeeded not by refusing to condemn men and not by avoiding a moralizing tone, but by choosing to love them and by choosing to help them," French wrote. French also argued that the "manosphere" has been planting "seeds for its own failure," and Trump's involvement with it means that many men are "doubling down on the worst versions of themselves." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture French said men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "The answer to the manosphere's dark turn is rooted in embracing men with sincere affection, shunning the zero-sum calculus of the gender wars and offering a vision of masculine virtue that inspires men to heroic acts of compassion rather than vicious acts of aggression," French added. "America doesn't need a left-wing version of Joe Rogan. What it needs is our parents, pastors, teachers and coaches to fill the void in young men's hearts. Our sons should not have to turn to books or podcasts or social media to hear this simple and powerful message: I like you. I want you to live a good life. Let me show you how," the New York Times columnist concluded. Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this article source: Democrats need to embrace males with affection, not political strategy, NYT columnist argues
Fox News
30-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Democrats need to embrace males with affection, not political strategy, NYT columnist argues
New York Times opinion columnist David French suggested the Democratic Party's $20 million effort to address their fallout with male voters might be the wrong approach, arguing that men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan" is Democrats' $20 million project to "study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces" of male voters, the Times reported Sunday. Known as "SAM," the study will specifically examine young male voters and how the party can connect with the demographic. Additionally, the study advised rolling out pro-Democrat ads in video games. French acknowledged the Democratic Party's fallout with young male voters, as the voting bloc was instrumental in re-electing President Donald Trump, but argued the party was "getting the challenge of reaching young men backward," because the "manosphere is not about politics." "You can't write a history of the manosphere without acknowledging that it was a response to a genuine crisis," French added. "Slogans like 'the future is female' created the impression that the sexes were in competition, and for women to win, men had to lose." The headline for French's column read, "The Democrats' 20-Million-Dollar-Man Problem." The term "manosphere" has been used to describe podcasters or online personalities that appeal to male listeners and viewers. French also pointed to the American Psychological Association's study from 2019, which deemed traditional masculinity as "harmful." The study described it as being "marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression." The NYT columnist wrote, "The message seemed clear. Men, you don't have a problem; you are the problem." The 2024 election cycle included a push from both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's campaigns to speak to podcasters and other non-traditional media voices. The NYT reported that part of the Democrats' push to regain support from young male voters is to "shift from a moralizing tone." "The manosphere succeeded not by refusing to condemn men and not by avoiding a moralizing tone, but by choosing to love them and by choosing to help them," French wrote. French also argued that the "manosphere" has been planting "seeds for its own failure," and Trump's involvement with it means that many men are "doubling down on the worst versions of themselves." French said men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "The answer to the manosphere's dark turn is rooted in embracing men with sincere affection, shunning the zero-sum calculus of the gender wars and offering a vision of masculine virtue that inspires men to heroic acts of compassion rather than vicious acts of aggression," French added. "America doesn't need a left-wing version of Joe Rogan. What it needs is our parents, pastors, teachers and coaches to fill the void in young men's hearts. Our sons should not have to turn to books or podcasts or social media to hear this simple and powerful message: I like you. I want you to live a good life. Let me show you how," the New York Times columnist concluded.
