News
‘I Don’t Need Statistics’: GOP Congresswoman Says Locking Up Her Guns Will Not Make Her and Her Children Safer
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz unleashed a loud anti-gun-control rant during Chairman Jim Jordan‘s field trip to lower Manhattan Monday, where he and his Judiciary Committee held a hearing wrongly alleging violent crime in the nation’s largest city – and the fifth-safest among all of America’s big cities – is out of control, in an effort to attack Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for prosecuting Donald Trump. The Indiana Republican lawmaker claimed safe storage of guns in the home does not make her or her children safer, then appeared to suggest children and young adults are the main perpetrators of violent crime, while saying schools should be reformed so children can be “taught some values.”
“I just don’t see how am I, how I am and my kids are going to be safer if I lock up my guns,” Rep. Spartz said, referring to safe storage of firearms in the home. A study published in 2020 found 2500 lives could be saved by stricter laws requiring safe firearm storage.
“I just feel actually as a female I feel not as safe,” if her guns were to be locked up, Spartz continued, complaining that she’s unsure how long it would take the police to come to her home.
According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Indiana, Rep. Spartz’s home state, “has no law that imposes a penalty on someone who fails to secure an unattended firearm and leaves it accessible to an unsupervised minor.” Moms Demand Action adds: “Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Indiana, and an average of 110 children and teens die by guns every year, of which 31% are suicides and 63% are homicides.”
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“It’s really strange for me, we tried to take, you know, protection from law-abiding citizens and believe that criminals are not going to get guns?” she said, relying on NRA and right-wing talking points that criminals don’t obey laws.
Spartz then went on to attack children and young adults, suggesting they are the real criminals, as she advocated for tax-payer-funding of private schools.
“Maybe we should reform education and have some wraparound preventive services and have more competition in education [so] that these kids [are] actually taught some values,” she railed, claiming that low reading scores force children into gangs.
“That [they] don’t have a 10% or 8% literacy rate that they have to get into gangs.”
“Is there anything else you can say except ‘gun control’?” she asked, chastising a witness invited by Democrats, and mocking the fact that more guns mean more violent crime.
“So, comprehensive solutions to reducing violence in New York City have actually been incredibly effective,” the witness responded.
“If I set the record straight,” the witness continued despite Spartz talking over her, “because we’ve been talking a lot about statistics, the NYPD’s own data has shown that shootings are down –” she said before Spartz cut her off.
“I think I don’t need statistics,” Spartz declared, cutting off the witness who was trying to answer her question.
Spartz then turned to another witness, totally changing the topic.
“I’m going to talk about child trafficking, human trafficking and drug trafficking [at] the border and cartels,” before claiming that Mexican cartels are trafficking guns, “and now it’s subsidized with taxpayers money.”
Watch Rep. Spartz’s remarks at C-SPAN.
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After the White House announced that the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — the official, “living memorial” to the late president — voted to rename the iconic cultural institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, several members of the Kennedy family took the opportunity to denounce the move.
Earlier this year, just weeks after he was sworn into office, President Donald Trump removed members of the board of the Kennedy Center and replaced them with allies and administration officials, including Richard Grenell, Pam Bondi, and Susie Wiles. The new board then voted Trump to become chairman of the Kennedy Center.
Now, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, there will be a new name as well. Legal scholars note that because the Kennedy Center was named by federal statute, any formal name change would require an act of Congress.
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Maria Shriver, the former First Lady of California, wrote: “The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F Kennedy.”
She called the renaming “beyond comprehension,” “beyond wild,” “downright weird,” and “obsessive in a weird way,” while explaining that the Kennedy Center was named in honor of a man who was interested in the arts, culture, education, language, and history.
“Next thing perhaps he will want to rename JFK Airport, rename the Lincoln Memorial, the Trump Lincoln Memorial. The Trump Jefferson Memorial. The Trump Smithsonian. The list goes on.”
“Can we not see what is happening here? C’mon, my fellow Americans! Wake up! This is not dignified. This is not funny,” she said. “Just when you think [someone] can’t stoop any lower, down they go…”
Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and the niece of the late president, John F. Kennedy, issued a statement denouncing the development.
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“President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression, targeting artists, journalists, and comedians, and erasing the history of Americans whose contributions made our nation better and more just,” she argued. “President Kennedy proudly stood for justice, peace, equality, dignity, diversity, and compassion for those who suffer. President Trump stands in opposition to these values, and his name should not be placed alongside President Kennedy’s.”
Tim Shriver, son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, said the board appeared to misunderstand the significance of the institution.
“Perhaps the board isn’t aware that the Kennedy Center is THE memorial to the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy,” he remarked.
Shriver called the move “an insult to a great president” and “short-sighted,” adding that regardless of the board’s action, the institution “is and will remain the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”
Joe Kennedy III, the former U.S. Congressman, added, “The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”
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Image via Reuters
The White House came under immediate fire after announcing that the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, chaired by President Donald Trump, voted to rename the iconic cultural institution the Trump-Kennedy Center. It is unclear if the new name is lawful.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote, “I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building.”
“Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation,” she added. “Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur.”
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Less than one month after he was sworn into office, President Trump dismissed the board of the Kennedy Center and installed some of his close confidants, including Richard Grenell and Susie Wiles. He also dismissed board members who had been nominated by President Joe Biden.
“Officials did not immediately cite an authority for the board’s ability to change the institution’s name,” The Washington Post reported on Thursday. It is possible any change would require congressional approval.
Critics were quick to register concerns.
Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman noted, “The building is statutorily named the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Congress did not give the board the authority to change the name.”
Associated Press reporter Mike Sisak observed: “A living memorial to a slain president is being co-opted into a living tribute to the current president.”
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Dartmouth political scientist Brendan Nyhan added, “A vast and growing authoritarian cult of personality. Literally un-American in its lack of fealty to the norms of the country going back to Washington himself.”
Spectrum News national political reporter Taylor Popielarz remarked: “First, President Trump:
– Took over the Kennedy Center board
– Named himself chair
– Fired its members
– Installed allies to it
– Hosted the Kennedy Center Honors
Now, the board votes to rename the performing arts center after…Trump.”
U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), an ex officio member of the board, expressed her concerns on social media, and said that she and others were not allowed to speak on the call.
“Participants were not allowed to voice their concerns,” she noted.
For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship. https://t.co/D1zGV7xiWV pic.twitter.com/npNvSIy6sV
— Rep. Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) December 18, 2025
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Image via Reuters
A prominent Democratic U.S. senator answered President Donald Trump’s attack with an unusual response: come to church to “meet the Jesus I know.”
On Wednesday, President Trump accused Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), who is also the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, of “using Religion to try and divide the Country!”
Trump said that after appearing on “Meet the Press,” Senator Warnock “ended by saying that he was going to his Church to preach now, and while I think that’s fine, I do say, ‘What ever happened to separation of Church and State?'”
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“That would be the first thing they would use against us but, actually, it’s something that never much bothered me,” Trump wrote, before labeling Warnock “a bad guy.”
The president went on to attack NBC News and ABC News, charging that they “should be ashamed of themselves in allowing garbage ‘interviews’ with untalented and uncaring people to take place.”
In a statement reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein, Warnock said that on “Meet the Press,” he “discussed his recent address at the Center for American Progress on healing America’s spiritual crisis by restoring economic opportunity for millions of Americans.”
“He’s got a lot of nerve,” Warnock then said of Trump.
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“Remember, this is the same president who literally had peaceful protesters gassed and beaten so he could stand in front of a church holding a Bible up,” Warnock charged.
“He ought to read that Bible that he was holding up on that day. That Bible says that Jesus came to preach good news to the poor. He came to heal the sick. He never billed them for his services. He stood up for the weak, the marginalized, average, ordinary people,” he wrote.
“Mr. President,” Warnock declared, “my faith is not a weapon, it’s a bridge, and I invite you to Bible study. Maybe you can meet the Jesus I know.”
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Image via Shutterstock
‘Robbing Peter to Pay Paul’: Trump Diverts Congress-Approved Funds for ‘Warrior Dividend’
‘Cult of Personality’: White House Slammed After Announcing New Name for Kennedy Center
‘With a Grain of Salt’: Urging Caution on Inflation Report Economists Warn of Missing Data
Warnock Fires Back at Trump With Bible Study Invite
‘Downright Weird’: Kennedys Blast New Trump-Kennedy Center Name
‘Downright Weird’: Kennedys Blast New Trump-Kennedy Center Name
‘Cult of Personality’: White House Slammed After Announcing New Name for Kennedy Center
Warnock Fires Back at Trump With Bible Study Invite
‘Robbing Peter to Pay Paul’: Trump Diverts Congress-Approved Funds for ‘Warrior Dividend’
‘With a Grain of Salt’: Urging Caution on Inflation Report Economists Warn of Missing Data
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