Blaze News original: Tesla in the crosshairs: Leftist attacks against Elon Musk's car brand are massive and widespread



Among the biggest stories of the moment is the increasing deluge of Tesla vehicle vandalism — and worse.

Ever since the car company's CEO, Elon Musk, earlier this year joined President Donald Trump's team as the leader of the DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — and began cutbacks, leftists far and wide have been losing their minds.

'We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?'

One of the ways they've carried out their anger is vandalism of Tesla cars, primarily by "keying" them — scraping keys or other hard objects against the exterior surface as the offenders walk by.

Blaze News has looked at example after example of this woke phenomenon, and ironically Tesla's onboard Sentry Mode has caught the crooks red-handed, as the technology can record video of activity outside the vehicles.

For example, police in Lakewood, Colorado, arrested Shaydan Hessner and charged the 29-year-old for criminal tampering after video showed a Tesla Cybertruck getting keyed last month in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall, KDVR-TV reported.

Image source: Lakewood (Colo.) Police

Indeed, similar acts have been occurring at an alarming pace. Blaze News has noted documented attacks against Tesla — including arson and vandalism — as well as leftist violence against the cars in more than 20 states.

Here's a rundown, just for starters:

  • WTTG-TV reported that a swastika was keyed into the hood of a parked Tesla in Arlington County, Virginia, last month. Here's the video report.
  • A Utah woman told KSL-TV she's been the recipient of "targeted hostility" ever since purchasing her Tesla Cybertruck last summer — including, most recently, a profane sticker affixed to her vehicle. Check out the video report of her plight.
  • KRON-TV reported that on March 29 a Tesla's tires were slashed at a home in Novato, California, and the vehicle's window was smashed with a rock.
  • Police in Tustin, California, posted video on March 28 of a crook keying a Tesla the previous week. "If you recognize this male, please notify Detectives by emailing tpdtipline@tustinca.org or calling 714-426-2427," police said. "We’d like to talk to him about his bad day."
  • Police reportedly are looking for a suspect caught on video keying a Tesla in Seattle on March 23.
  • A male who admitted to vandalizing a Tesla truck in West Fargo, North Dakota, on March 29 could be charged with a felony, KVRR-TV reported. The station said Ryan Lyle Williams keyed the vehicle in a Costco parking lot. You can view video of the deed here.
  • Numerous Tesla drivers in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, complained in late March about a motorist they said aggressively pursued them. You can check out a video report here.
  • Multiple vehicles at a Tesla dealership in Encinitas, California, were spray-painted with swastikas on March 17, KUSI-TV reported. You can view a video report here.
  • A video posted March 19 on X allegedly shows a male actually reaching into the rear of his shorts and wiping his hand on a Tesla vehicle; he repeats the act another three times. The clip includes a still image of the aftermath. It isn't clear where the incident took place.
  • Spray-painted graffiti was discovered March 26 on a Santa Barbara Tesla dealership, KEYT-TV reported. You can view a video report here.
  • Police in Austin, Texas, found active "incendiary" devices at a local Tesla dealership just after 8 a.m. March 24.
  • An X video posted March 19 allegedly shows a male "throwing his dog's feces at a parked Cybertruck in St. Petersburg, [Florida]."
  • Photos and video show a Cybertruck at a Tesla dealership on the Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico spray-painted with a swastika, KOB-TV reported, adding that a second vehicle was set on fire there during the February incident.
  • A 27-year-old suspect was arrested March 14 for allegedly vandalizing a newly constructed Tesla Service Center in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, WFLD-TV reported, adding that Erin L. White was charged with felony criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.
  • Police in Brookhaven, Mississippi, said a 63-year-old male caught on Tesla security video March 28 vandalizing the vehicle with wire cutters is a Cuban illegal alien, WLOX-TV reported. You can view security video — as well as Osvaldo Torres-Rodriguez's booking photo — here.
  • A 24-year-old North Carolina woman was charged with injury/tampering with a vehicle after she allegedly used a white-milky substance on March 13 to draw "Nazi" and a swastika on a Tesla parked outside a food store near Clayton. Olivia Marie Antoine surrendered to authorities March 25.
  • Two Tesla Cybertrucks were damaged in a fire late on the night of March 17 at a Tesla service center in south Kansas City, WDAF-TV reported, adding that police believe the fire was intentionally set. You can view a video report here.
  • Two vandals were caught on video carving a swastika and the word “Nazis” on the side of a Tesla Cybertruck parked in Brooklyn, police told the New York Post on March 28. The pair fled on foot, cops also told the Post, which added that police are probing the vandalism as a hate crime.

The following are further examples, fleshed out with more detail, of the left's recent lawlessness.

Male, 70, at Tesla protest in Idaho accused of driving his car into Trump-supporting counterprotester


A 70-year-old male at a Tesla dealership protest in Meridian, Idaho, is accused of driving his car into a counterprotester, KIVI-TV reported. Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an "obscene gesture" toward a 49-year-old man before hitting the man with his car at the dealership on Franklin Road around 1 p.m. Saturday, the station said, citing the Meridian Police Department.

KIVI said the victim had just parked his truck — which was decorated with flags supporting President Donald Trump — and exited the vehicle when Talbot allegedly hit him with his car. The victim then transported himself to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the station said. The victim took note of Talbot's license plate, after which police went to Talbot's residence and arrested him, KIVI said.

Talbot was booked into the Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, the station said. He was not granted bail.

At the time of the incident, about 30 Tesla protesters and about 200 counterprotesters were gathered at the dealership, KBOI-TV reported, adding that the victim was identified as a counterprotester. You can view a video report here about the incident.

Arrested male is accused of slamming ATV into Tesla vehicle in Texas — and the bizarre incident is captured on viral video


Video caught the moment when a male riding an ATV slammed it into a Tesla vehicle. The suspect reportedly vandalized other Teslas the same day. Police in Texarkana, Texas, arrested 33-year-old Demarkeyun Marquize Cox on March 25 on charges of criminal mischief and failure to identify/giving false information. Jail records indicate Cox stands 5'2" and weighs 449 pounds. His total bond is $105,000.

Police said Cox's rampage began at the Golden Place restaurant on Summerhill Road, where he was captured on the Tesla's surveillance footage ramming into it at full speed. They were investigating the incident when police got a report of another Tesla damaged in a Lowe's parking lot. Police said soon after they saw a man fitting the provided description riding an ATV near the intersection of Summerhill and New Boston Roads. When they questioned Cox, he reportedly gave them a false name. Police got a third report of Tesla vandalism near Genesis Prime Care on College Drive after they arrested Cox. Police also said that the word "Elon" was scratched into two vehicles.

You can view a video report here from WBIR-TV about the arrest.

Female Tesla driver, 61, says male motorist repeatedly punched her after cutting her off, boxing her in on busy Arizona road — and video caught it all


A 61-year-old Tesla driver told KTVK-TV a male motorist recently cut her off, boxed her in, then exited his car and repeatedly punched her on a busy road in Flagstaff, Arizona. The woman, who wants to remain anonymous and went by the alias "Susan," explained to the station that she was on Route 66 when another vehicle started chasing her.

KTVK said Susan has video of the incident, and it shows a motorist in a green car pulling up next to her and then swerving in front of her and boxing her in. Susan told the station that the motorist then exited his car, walked over to her as she was behind the wheel of her Tesla, and then began punching her.

Susan told the station she soon bit her attacker's hand; indeed, video shows the male at one point pulling his hand away from the Tesla and shaking it. Moments later, video shows the male motorist's passenger exiting the green car and pulling the attacker away, after which the pair drive off.

Flagstaff police cited the suspect, who was due in court March 31, the station said.

A statement from police said officers responded to reports of "a road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter" around 12:30 p.m. March 19, KSAZ-TV reported, adding that investigators said the incident involved a Tesla and a Chevrolet Cavalier.

"The driver of the Cavalier, later identified as Robert Artherton, 33, of Flagstaff, drove in front of the Tesla, causing both vehicles to stop in the roadway," the statement said in part, KSAZ reported, adding that Artherton exited his vehicle and approached the driver’s side of the Tesla, after which a confrontation ensued.

KSAZ said both parties gave conflicting accounts regarding what took place, and police said they both suffered minor injuries. "All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures," officials said in the statement, KSAZ noted.

"Mr. Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in lieu of detention due to seeking medical attention for an injury to his hand," the statement said in part, according to KSAZ.

KTVK reported that another female Tesla owner said she recently departed a Flagstaff grocery store and found a note on her car that read, “She’s a Nazi and a loser.” A few weeks later, she received a threatening text calling her a “Racist POS," the station said.

KTVK said both Tesla owners also signed up for a gun safety course at Timberline Firearms, which is north of Flagstaff.

“They were targeted because they drove a Tesla and, as a result, felt quite vulnerable,” shop owner Rob Wilson told KTVK. “They were surprised someone would do something like that and realized if they were doing it, and targeting them because of car they drive, they needed to take additional measures to protect themselves.”

You can view a video report here about what happened to both Tesla drivers.

Crook caught on video repeatedly keying Tesla in Kansas. Family that owns vehicle has daughter who needs it, since she's confined to wheelchair.


The family of 18-year-old Abigail Gill owns a Tesla Model X because its automated driving function helps her drive more easily, the Wichita Eagle reported. Abigail has spinal muscular atrophy, and she uses a wheelchair, the paper said.

Abigail was out to eat with her mother, brother, and boyfriend on March 20, the paper said, after which they noticed the Tesla had been keyed deeply on both sides. Video connected to the Tesla showed that a male who had been sitting next to them had left the restaurant, keyed the passenger side of the Tesla, went back inside, came out again, and keyed the other side of the Tesla, then then picked up his family, the Eagle said.

Video also picked up the suspected culprit's face as well as the license plate of his car, she also told the Eagle.

Johnathan F. Erhart, 30, was charged with one count of criminal damage to property on March 28, the paper said. If convicted, he could be sentenced from five to 17 months in prison, the Eagle said, citing Kansas sentencing guidelines.

"It’s a super saddening and disappointing thing to see," Abigail told Fox News regarding the incident. You can view a video report about the incident here, which includes an interview with Abigail and security video of the culprit caught in the act.

Male caught on video spray-painting graffiti on Tesla in Whole Foods parking lot in Berkeley — but vehicle's owner is doubling down and expediting order for new Cybertruck


A male was caught on Tesla security video spray-painting graffiti on the Tesla in a Whole Foods parking lot in Berkeley, California, KGO-TV reported, adding that the incident took place March 16 and paint cans can be seen in both of the culprit's hands.

The Tesla owner, who identified himself as Hiroshi, told the station, "I wasn't shocked because this has been happening so frequently. Even the police, when they showed up, both officers are Tesla owners as well. They expressed to me that they've been dealing with this so much. It's like a trend."

Berkeley police have not identified the suspect, KGO said, adding that Hiroshi noted that he had the spray paint removed and is remaining loyal to Tesla. In fact, he told the station he plans to expedite his order for Tesla's new Cybertruck.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

'F**k off Nazi': Tesla Cybertruck owner in Western Michigan finds hateful message written on vehicle's window, says he gets 'a lot of middle fingers' every day


A Tesla Cybertruck owner who did not want to give his name told WZZM-TV that on March 15 he found a hateful message written on his vehicle at an undisclosed location in Western Michigan's Kent County.

The message read, "F**k off Nazi." You can view a video report here about the incident.

“We were out with my friends having dinner and drinks and come out to the vehicle with the message on the window," he told WZZM, adding that "there were people around the truck and taking photos and a lot of people laughing. It was very disappointing and frustrating.” He added to the station that his friends were "were embarrassed about it.”

The victim also told WZZM that he ordered the $100,000 Cybertruck four years ago, well prior to Elon Musk's work with the Trump administration. While the station said he didn't share his political views, he also said it doesn't matter: “Everyone works hard for what they have, and regardless of their political views, we should respect that.”

He also told WZZM that he has no plans to sell his Tesla to avoid such incidents: “I’m not going to let people tell me what I should buy or not buy.”

Still, he told the station that every day "I do get a lot of middle fingers" and that "it does not bother me as much when I’m by myself, but when we have kids inside the car, it’s kind of disappointing ... and sad.”

The victim told WZZM he plans to turn in the video to police. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office noted to the station that punishment for such an offense could result in a charge of malicious destruction of property.

Dim-witted protester lights himself on fire while trying to destroy Tesla charging stations in South Carolina; suspect arrested, charged with arson


A male who appeared to be protesting against Elon Musk's political activity accidentally lit himself on fire while trying to vandalize electronic vehicle charging stations, according to South Carolina police.

The incident unfolded on March 13 at the Tesla charging stations near a Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in northern Charleston. The male wrote "Free Ukraine" as well as another message against President Donald Trump with an expletive included, according to a report from the North Charleston Police Department.

Police said the male lit material stuffed into beer bottles and threw them at the stations. Witnesses told police the male lit himself on fire by accident and then fled from the scene.

Firefighters cut power to the chargers and then extinguished the fire. Investigators collected beer bottles from the alleged attack and had been trying to lift fingerprints from the glass. Police estimated that the male caused about $60,000 in damage to the charging stations.

Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, of James Island was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the incident, according to a March 14 news release from the U.S. Justice Department. Clarke-Pounder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Masked leftist thug cuts off Washington state Tesla driver — a mother on her way to doctor's appointment — gets out, walks up to victim's window, and tells her, 'This is a Nazi car'


A mother on her way to a doctor's appointment on March 19 in Lynnwood, Washington, told KCPQ-TV a male wearing a ski mask and a camouflage jacket harassed her in a scary incident because she was driving a Tesla.

Leigh, a Tesla owner for the last two years, added to the station, "He gets out and walks straight up to my door window. So I cracked my window, and I said, ‘What? What is the problem?’ He goes, ‘You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car. You're driving it, you need to sell your car.’"

Leigh recounted to KCPQ, "I could only see his eyes. ... I had no idea if I was safe or not. I felt very threatened."

You can view a video report here about the incident; it includes a clip of the masked male in question approaching her Tesla.

A week prior in Lynnwood, a number of Tesla Cybertrucks were spray-painted with graffiti and swastikas at a Tesla Service Station, KIRO-TV reported. The owner of one of the vandalized cars told the station that "as a gay Jewish person, I was kind of taken aback." The victim posted photos of the vandalism on X.

Philadelphia-area male accused of scrawling swastika onto Tesla vehicle — but new video allegedly shows suspect singing sorry tune when vehicle's owner confronts him



A Philadelphia-area male is accused of scrawling a swastika into the side of a Tesla last month — an act that was caught on the Tesla's security video system. Now a new video has emerged allegedly showing the Tesla owner confronting the culprit.
The Doylestown Republican Committee shared video of a male vandalizing the Tesla; police said the act took place in the parking lot of a Planet Fitness in Doylestown around 9:30 a.m. March 24.

The new video — which was livestreamed to Facebook — shows the Tesla owner allegedly confronting the suspect, who tells the owner, "I can wipe it off with a towel — it's not a key, it's a crayon." He added to the Tesla owner, "It didn't even work."

But the Tesla owner explains that his car is being fingerprinted by the police "right now," after which the confronted male asks, "What do you mean it's being fingerprinted?"

The Tesla owner said police were trying to "track" the suspect down but noted that Facebook users tracked him down.

“I’m sorry. I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you," the suspect is heard saying on video.

The Tesla owner asks the alleged suspect why he would scratch a swastika on his Tesla, after which the confronted male replies, "Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk" and admits that his actions were "misguided."

The Central Bucks Regional Police Department said in a statement that the suspect was identified by his gym membership identification card and his Pennsylvania driver's license. A criminal complaint was filed, and police on March 27 issued an arrest warrant for 55-year-old Chadd Ritenbaugh, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was hit with charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and two counts of harassment.

Masked thug caught on video spray-painting 'Nazi' on Tesla Cybertruck outside Oklahoma hotel in middle of night


A masked male was caught on video spray-painting the word "Nazi" on both sides of a Tesla Cybertruck in the middle of the night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, KFOR-TV reported.

Tulsa police said officers were called to a Residence Inn at 3:20 a.m. March 11, the station said, adding that the Cybertruck owner received a notification on her phone that someone was tampering with her vehicle. The suspect fled by the time she got to the parking lot, KFOR said.

You can view a video report here about the incident. Those with information about the person responsible can contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS with the reference number 2025-011539.

Texas Tesla owner files $1 million civil lawsuit against male accused of keying his Model X — an incident captured on the vehicle's onboard video system


A Texas Tesla owner has filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against the male accused of keying his Model X last month when it was parked at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, KTVT-TV reported.

DFW Airport Police arrested Rafael Hernandez in late March and charged him with criminal mischief, the station said, adding that the accused is expected to make his first court appearance on April 8. In the lawsuit, the Tesla owner is identified only by his initials due to fear of threats, KTVT added.

Majed Nachawati, managing partner with the Nachawati Legal Group in Dallas, which is representing the Tesla owner, told the station that "this matter has nothing to do with his political persuasions or affiliations. He happens to believe that Tesla, his Model X, is one of the best cars he's ever owned. And he enjoys driving it, plain and simple."

The Tesla's onboard camera captured images of a male holding a key fob and appearing to use it to vandalize the vehicle, the station said. The car's owner shared video of the alleged vandalism on social media, hoping to identify the culprit, after which it went viral and led to Hernandez's arrest, KTVK said.

"It's just kind of mind-boggling to me that there are people who are so triggered and so disturbed by anything these days that they can go so far as to just cause harm to somebody," the car's owner told the station soon after the incident.

More from KTVK:

Attorneys for the Tesla owner whose car was keyed said attacks on private individuals due to political disagreements cannot be tolerated. They acknowledged that the vehicle itself is not worth $1 million, but admit their client also wants to send a message with the lawsuit. He's hoping to discourage other acts of violence.

"We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?" Nachawati said. "Whether you're a Republican, whether you're a Democrat, I believe anyone who sees the video and who sees what happened would believe that deterrence would be the biggest part of this case."

Male caught on video keying a Tesla outside Houston Whole Foods confesses to crime — but insists his actions weren't politically motivated


A male caught on video keying a Tesla in the parking lot of a Houston Whole Foods on Feb. 13 confessed to the crime but told KPRC-TV that his actions weren't politically motivated.

Nicholas Carrion told the station that his behavior was the result of road rage after he said the Tesla driver cut him off, and he decided to follow her into the Whole Foods parking lot.

“I felt anger because the woman cut me off. We were both going into the Whole Foods, so I did not follow her directly. I got out and went to the store,” Carrion noted to KPRC. “But after I did my shopping, I came back outside and just couldn’t let it go.”

Carrion is now facing charges of felony criminal mischief — not terrorism charges — for the damage he caused to the woman’s Tesla, the station said. Carrion sent the following message to the victim: “I did not mean to cause you that much fear. This was in no way politically motivated. I just hope you are able to live a normal life and not be in fear to just do normal activities and drive around in the Tesla.”

The victim, however, told KPRC she had no prior knowledge of any road rage incident, expressed disbelief, and said if she had been aware of a confrontation, she wouldn't have left her car unattended in the parking lot. You can view a video report here about the new developments.

Masked punk caught on video scrawling, 'This car supports Nazis,' on Tesla in downtown Syracuse


An unidentified individual wearing a face mask was caught on video March 16 scrawling, "This car supports Nazis," on a Tesla vehicle in downtown Syracuse, WSTM-TV reported.

“Protesting is a right that we all have, but destroying people’s property is not," the car owner, Shawn Freed, told the station in an interview.

Freed posted the video of the vandalism to his X account, after which Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg reposted the clip.

Despite the hassle, Freed told WSTM he's not getting rid of his car: "In some ways, I see myself as someone who is a voice for the other people who are innocent bystanders who have their property destroyed."

Freed added to the station that he reported the vandalism to Syracuse police, who are investigating. You can check out a video report here about the incident, which also includes the interview with Freed.

Florida woman charged with felony after allegedly smearing Tesla door handle with large wad of gum, spitting on it — which left door inoperable


The Tesla's owner said the alleged gum-wad vandalism was captured on the built-in cameras of his car, which was in the parking garage of the JCPenney store at the Aventura Mall around 12:45 p.m. March 22.

Yamaris Marrero, 45, of Hallandale Beach was arrested and charged with a felony. Police said she was identified through the video, which showed a vandal smearing the large wad of gum on the car's door handle and then spitting on it. She was also seen getting into a white Honda Pilot before leaving the garage. The Tesla's owner said the damage from the gum rendered the door handle inoperable.

The police report said a security guard spotted Marrero at the mall food court on March 27, after which she was arrested. Police said she made an admission that was redacted from the publicly released report.

Marrero originally was charged for criminal mischief with a hate crime enhancement, but that was dropped on March 28, and the charge was lowered from a second-degree felony to a third-degree felony. She was held on a $2,500 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

The Tesla's owner told WPLG-TV that politics probably motivated the vandalism and that there was no personal interaction between him and the accused woman; police said it was not a traffic dispute.

The interview with the Tesla owner can be viewed on WPLG's video report on YouTube, while the video of the woman smearing the gum can be viewed on an earlier news report.

Thug allegedly pours gasoline on Tesla Model S in Seattle, lights vehicle on fire, runs away


A witness told Seattle police that on the night of March 13, a male threw gasoline on a Tesla Model S in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, lit the car on fire, and ran off, KING-TV reported.

Police told the station the right front tire area was damaged, while the quarter panel, the hood, and the car's battery all melted. The Seattle Fire Department put out the fire, KING said, adding that police said they are investigating the incident as arson.

The suspect has not been identified, the station said, adding that police found the gas can nearby and obtained security images of the suspect carrying the gas can and a plastic bag.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

'Old man' caught on video keying Tesla in San Jose arrested for felony — and a similar-looking male is confronted in hilarious follow-up clip


An "old man" who was caught on video keying a Tesla in San Jose, California, was arrested for his "act of felony vandalism."

The incident happened in a Costco parking lot between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 14, KRON-TV reported, citing the owner of the vandalized Tesla. The now-viral video shows a male with white hair and a white beard and wearing a USA jacket using a key to scratch the exterior of the Tesla vehicle.

A second video shows a similar-looking male wearing the same jacket getting confronted about the incident, and he denies involvement. The title of the pair of videos is "WATCH THIS: Old man who keyed Tesla in San Jose is confronted."

San Jose Police announced on the night of March 17 that "we successfully identified, located, and arrested the individual responsible for this act of felony vandalism."

You can view KRON's video report here about the incident.

Male reportedly 'under investigation' after allegedly keying Tesla Cybertruck at ritzy New Hampshire mountain resort


A male was "under investigation" after allegedly keying a Tesla Cybertruck at ritzy mountain resort in New Hampshire in March.

The culprit was caught on video allegedly dragging a key across the vehicle outside the Omni Mountain Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, Fox News reported.

You can view video here of the alleged vandalism.

The Tesla owner, Kerri Pouliot, told Fox News that she and her husband "were told at the time of the incident that they would be getting a warrant" for the male suspect's arrest.

Pouliot recorded a video when police arrived at the scene, and an officer can be heard asking, "Do you want to talk about what happened here?" the cable network reported.

The accused vandal snapped back, "No, I don’t know what happened," Fox News said.

Police then told the man that they "had him on video," after which the male replied, "I don't know what happened," the cable network noted.

Carroll Police Chief Tadd Bailey told the New Hampshire Union Leader that "the incident is under investigation by us and the Coos County Attorney’s Office," Fox News added.

Pouliot told the cable network that she and her husband have "no intentions of ever selling our truck." Omni Mountain Resort & Spa could not be reached for comment, Fox News said.

Couple in Oregon wake up to find their Tesla vehicles spray-painted with the words 'divest' and 'depose' — but they're refusing to cave to woke mob and won't part with their cars


A couple in Eugene, Oregon, told KEZI-TV that they found their Tesla vehicles vandalized and spray-painted with the words “divest” and “depose" on the morning of March 20. The couple requested anonymity to protect their safety and added to the station that a camera on their property caught a person approaching the vehicles before dawn. They also said there has been a rise in people being aggressive to them on the road, KEZI reported.

“This is really unfortunate that someone feels they need to vandalize and cost somebody time and money,” one of the victims told the station. “I feel very violated. We’re regular people, we live and work in this community, we contribute to community service.”

The couple added to KEZI that while their vehicles are being repaired, they had to take them to Portland — a nearly two-hour drive — because their insurance company advised them to keep the Teslas away from Eugene. Still, despite the hassle and heartache, the couple told the station they’re happy with their Tesla vehicles and are planning to keep them.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

Federal grand jury charges male, 41, with arson after authorities accuse him of throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealership in Oregon


A federal grand jury charged a Salem, Oregon, male with arson after authorities accused him of throwing Molotov cocktails at a local Tesla dealership, the Salem Reporter said.

Adam M. Lansky, 41, now faces two charges of attempted arson in addition to an earlier charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device, the outlet said, citing an indictment filed in Portland U.S. District Court on March 18.

In the new federal case, Lansky is charged with unlawfully possessing a Molotov cocktail and two counts of attempted arson — one for the Tesla dealership building and the second for a Tesla vehicle, the Reporter said.

Lansky was arrested March 4 after a federal investigation linked him to the attempted arson on Jan. 20 and gunshots that destroyed windows on Feb. 19, according to a previous statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the outlet added

More from the Reporter:

Surveillance footage from the dealership on the morning of the arson showed a man lighting around seven Molotov cocktails and throwing them at Tesla vehicles and the dealership. The man also threw a rock at the dealership’s windows, breaking the glass.

The incident caused around $500,000 in damage, including damaging seven Tesla cars, the complaint said.

Lansky is in custody at Yamhill County Jail, according to the county jail roster, and records show he's scheduled to appear in court April 3, the outlet reported. You can view a video report here on the case.

Creep wearing all black in Las Vegas torches at least 5 Teslas with Molotov cocktails, shoots at them — and now authorities have a suspect


A male wearing all black torched at least five Tesla vehicles with Molotov cocktails and then shot at them just before 3 a.m. March 18, Las Vegas police said, adding that the incident took place at a Tesla Service Center on West Badura Avenue.

The word "resist" was also spray-painted in red onto the door of the service center. A photo on social media showed the vandalism.

Paul Hyon Kim, 36, appeared in court March 27 to face federal arson charges in connection with the incident, the Department of Justice said. Kim faces up to 20 years in prison on the arson charge alone; he also was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.

62-year-old male charged with criminal damage for allegedly keying Tesla in Arizona parking lot; the act is caught on video


A 62-year-old male was charged with criminal damage for allegedly keying a Tesla vehicle last month in a Gilbert, Arizona, parking lot — and the incident was caught on the car's video system, KTVK-TV reported.

The Tesla owner, Shant Janesian, noticed the damage on his car, then viewed video recorded by his vehicle, the station said, adding that the culprit keyed his Tesla at SanTan Village.

Janesian filed a report with Gilbert Police, and in addition to viewing the Tesla video, investigators also used surveillance video from surrounding businesses prior to arresting David Moller, KTVK reported.

"Just because something that has nothing to do with me, and he’s just going around keying Teslas over certain political reasons, and it's just like, 'Dude, you don’t even know anything about me,'" Janesian told the station in the aftermath.

KTVK asked the victim what he would say to Moller, and Janesian replied, “Was it worth it? Like, was it worth it? Did you really get anything out of it? Did it really help your cause? Whatever you’re against, or ... was it just a dumb mistake?”

Janesian told the station he'll continue to drive his Tesla. You can view a video report here about the incident.

Video shows male slamming suitcase against Model Y Tesla in southern California airport parking lot as he walks by, causing $3,000 in damage


A video shows a male slamming a suitcase against a Model Y Tesla in a parking lot at Ontario International Airport in southern California, which caused $3,000 in damage.

The Daily Press report cited a March 19 post on X from Spotted Model: Cars & Tech which includes two videos and two still images related to the vandalism that allegedly took place at 9:25 p.m. March 2 in parking lot No. 3.

One video shows the male walking in the parking lot with a suitcase, and he suddenly slams the suitcase into the vehicle and then walks away.

"Although it’s dark, we have lots of detail here, including his suitcase, the logo on his shirt, and a pretty clear facial visual. Unfortunately, police have made little progress in identifying him," the post notes, adding that "in just about any other car, the owner would be out of luck. With Sentry Mode we’ve got a good chance of finding this guy with your help. On behalf of the owner and his family, thank you!"

The paper said airport and city officials have not yet responded to messages about the incident.

Tesla owner in North Carolina says vandal etched the word 'Nazi' on his vehicle


A man from Garner, North Carolina, told WRAL-TV his Tesla recently was vandalized.

The station on March 23 reported that the Tesla owner — who gave the station only his first name, Jeremy, since he feared for his safety — that someone etched the word “Nazi” into his Tesla.

“I was working from home, and my wife was out running some errands. [She] came home, and as she was coming in past the car, she saw the damage to it,” Jeremy told WRAL. “We immediately started reviewing the footage from the car because it does have Sentry Mode, but unfortunately we didn’t see anything.”

Jeremy told the station he's not sure when his Tesla was vandalized. He added to WRAL that police also found nothing while checking surveillance videos from stores he's visited.

“I bought this back in 2019 and paid it off a month ago,” he added to WRAL. “This was back in the time when Elon was just some guy tweeting about rocket motors and fast cars and wasn’t problematic at the time.”

Vandal caught on surveillance video keying 3 Teslas outside Florida shopping plaza


A vandal was caught on surveillance video keying three Tesla vehicles last month outside a shopping plaza in Bradenton, Florida, WFLA-TV reported.

You can view a video report here about the incident, which took place in the parking lot of Pinebrook Commons and caused more than $7,000 in damages, police said.

“Two of the Tesla owners, father and son, they were just there enjoying dinner," Bradenton Police Department Public Information Officer Meredith Censullo told the station. "And then there was a third Tesla owner who was, you know, shopping or doing something within that plaza."

Censullo added to WFLA that "it would certainly appear like these cars were chosen because they were Tesla vehicles. At the end of the day, though, it is completely unacceptable to damage anyone’s car."

Tesla owner Russell Blackburn told the station he's concerned: “It has been on my brain, you know, going out to public places. So when I go out with people, I ask them, ‘Do you mind driving?’ Because I don’t want to leave my car unattended."

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Woman curses out, punches 8-year-old in face because kid was 'looking' at her on bus; child's mother fights attacker: Cops



A woman cursed out and punched an 8-year-old in the face because the kid was "looking" at her on a bus, after which the child's mother fought the attacker, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.

Police said the physical attack took place Feb. 15 after the suspect boarded a bus at Lake Mead Boulevard and H Street and sat near the child, KLAS-TV reported.

'She wouldn't have made it off the bus had it been me and mine.'

Police released a video Thursday of the woman as she entered and left the municipal bus. Police on Friday afternoon told Blaze News the suspect has not been apprehended:

Police told KLAS the suspect began using profanity toward the child who was looking at her and then punched the child in the face. The station said the child's mother got into a physical fight with the suspect.

KLAS said the unidentified suspect got off the bus at Lake Mead and Lamb Boulevards and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black pants, tan boots with white fur, and large hoop earrings.

The station said police are asking those who know the woman or have information about the incident to contact detectives at 702-828-4173 or send an email to j13525r@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, police told KLAS responders can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

Las Vegas Metro police have requested the community's help in identifying a woman accused of punching a minor, KVVU-TV reported.

How are people reacting?

More than a few commenters offered their thoughts on the city police department's Facebook page in regard to the incident:

  • "She wouldn't have made it off the bus had it been me and mine," one commenter wrote.
  • "Someone knows that dirtbag POS," another user noted. "Hope that kid is OK. Lock em’ up!"
  • "How horrific!! That poor child I'm sure is traumatized and will need counseling," another commenter said. "But I'm surprised that others didn't help the mother and hold this person down until the police came!! SMH."
  • "She would have needed a stretcher if that was my child," another user predicted. "Matter of fact, she would not have been walking off that bus."

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Kash Patel wants FBI to partner with UFC to improve agent physical fitness, sources claim



New FBI Director Kash Patel has allegedly proposed the federal agency start a partnership with the UFC in some form in order to improve physical fitness.

Patel led a virtual meeting with the heads of the FBI's 55 field offices, which typically takes place once per week. During the call, Patel allegedly proposed the idea of connecting FBI agents with the UFC through some sort of mutual partnership

According to a report from ABC News, which cited sources who were told about the new proposal, Patel suggested developing programs for agents to improve their physical fitness through the UFC's training.

'The answer is not to go to [the UFC].'

Reuters, which said it spoke to two people briefed on the matter, said current FBI agents described the proposal as "surreal" and "wacky."

The outlet obtained further negative commentary from an unnamed Justice Department official who said the FBI already "receives training in physical altercations," and if there is a desire to increase that training, "the answer is not to go to [the UFC]."

Patel lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the UFC is also based and has close ties through its president Dana White and his relationship with President Donald Trump.

The proposal from the newly appointed director spread through the ranks of FBI officials throughout the country, the report from ABC claimed, with former special agent Rich Frankel telling the outlet, "If they're trying to up their physical fitness, the UFC is very specific in their fitness."

In fact, the UFC also has a performance institute situated in Las Vegas that is technically open to the public but typically acts as a training facility for UFC athletes or high-profile guests. The facility boasts training, health programs, and sports science with state-of-the-art technology that is often shown off in different types of content.

The rest of Patel's call allegedly focused on his concern about emails sent from the Department of Government Efficiency that asked for a weekly summary of what government employees have accomplished. Patel also reportedly asked the agency to give him a chance to prove his capabilities as its new leader.

At the same time, he said he would not tolerate "leaks" or any other forms of insubordination.

The FBI declined to comment on the situation while the UFC told Reuters it was "not aware of any information regarding UFC and FBI training."

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​The record-breaking flight that started as a Las Vegas marketing gimmick



An old Ford pickup truck barreled down an empty highway full of sand, swerving to keep up with the single-engine, fixed-wing airplane puttering several feet overhead.

From the passenger seat of the truck, a man angled a bucket up toward another man who was dangling from the open door of the Cessna 172 aircraft with “LAS VEGAS: Hacienda Hotel” painted brightly on the fuselage.

On day 36, Timm dozed off for an hour during his shift. When he woke up, sweating, they were in a canyon, somewhere in Arizona, maybe California.

After the man yanked the bucket up to the plane by rope, he collapsed back into his crawl space and the plane crept a little higher, a little farther from the ground, circling Nevada, California, and Arizona, again and again and again, coming down only for supplies, twice a day.

By the end of their journey, in February 1959, the two men in the plane had accomplished a remarkable feat, and it nearly cost them their lives.

Fruitcake and mobsters

The whole adventure began with fruitcake. Apparently, Warren “Doc” Bayley, an eccentric travel columnist, liked fruitcake enough to buy his own fruitcake business.

The company did well, well enough that Bayley sold it for a sizeable profit. He used some of the money to buy land north of Fresno, California, where he built a hotel. He called it the Hacienda.

Bayley traveled a lot for his work. He had stayed in every kind and quality of lodging. For years, he had been imagining what the perfect hotel would be like. And he would build it. He knew it.

The hotel business suited him, and he quickly turned the Hacienda into a chain.

Soon, he was eyeing a much bigger, much riskier property in Las Vegas: a hotel on the then-unpopulated south side of the Vegas Strip called Lady Luck.

At that time, the Strip was an isolated, undesirable area, far from the rest of the casinos and hotels. Halfway through construction, the financing collapsed. Suddenly it was becoming too big a hassle. Everyone gave up on the hotel. They assumed that it was too far out of the way and too lavish to ever make its money back.

Undeterred, Bayley signed a 15-year lease at $55,000 a month. To succeed, he would have to make a big move. He would have to rebrand the Vegas experience.

At the time, Vegas needed it. Most casinos were still firmly in the grip of the Mafia, and the wiseguys were increasingly unable to hide the funny business, which often included murder.

Selling the Strip

Bayley's Hacienda would be Mexican-themed, a family-friendly casino and hotel in direct reaction to the seedy, salacious excess of old Vegas.

Putt-putt golf course. Go-cart track. A massive swimming pool. All at reasonable prices. Retirees from all over America would flock to the Hacienda’s iconic sign: the horse and rider in neon. And he was right. But in those early days, it was all dust and empty rooms.

All he needed was a gimmick. He’d tried the usual avenues: coupons, advertisements, faux word of mouth. He even hired attractive women to hand out flyers to passing cars.

It was time for something more drastic. Like any good salesman, he appealed to our imaginations.

Come fly with me

Human beings have always wanted to fly. We’ve always looked to the sky for hope. It’s where we’ve always wanted to go.

In his lifetime, Leonardo da Vinci wrote over 35,000 words and drew more than 500 sketches about flying machines and the nature of air. He was obsessed with bird flight. He wrote: “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”

Da Vinci could never have foreseen the industrial revolution, not the way it came about.

The first commercial liquid-fueled internal combustion engine was invented in 1872. Aviation began 31 years later, on December 17, 1903, with the Wright brothers, who after four years of research and design efforts, made history with a 120-foot, 12-second flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina — the first powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine.

We’ve gotten used to flight by now, so it’s easy to forget that it’s only been a little over 100 years. Easy to forget that every time a plane takes off or lands, it’s a miracle. It’s unbelievable that a 300-ton Boeing 747 can fly through the sky, safely, full of passengers and stale pretzels.

Still, miraculous as flight is, most of us find air travel tedious, mind-numbing, and claustrophobic. An hour on a plane is enough to irritate many people. Twelve hours is unimaginable. Any longer than that, the flight attendants better have an endless supply of tiny wine bottles, or else people will start snapping.

What kind of lunatic would test the limits of sanity by staying on a plane one minute longer than needed?

A lunatic's bet

That lunatic was Robert Timm, one of the slot machine mechanics at the Hacienda.

Timm was a bear of a man. He’d been a bomber pilot during WWII, and he had a passion for flying. He convinced Bayley that an endurance flight was exactly what the Hacienda needed to make a name for itself.

Cleverly, Bayley designated it a fundraiser for cancer research. It was gambling, but for a good cause: People would guess how long the plane would stay in the air. The person who guessed the closest time would win $10,000.

It would take a year or so to build and customize the Hacienda Cessna 172. Now an aviation icon and the most-produced plane of all time, the Cessna 172 had only been available since 1955.

Timm and another mechanic installed a 95-gallon Sorenson belly tank on the plane. That way, they could refuel midair with the help of a Ford truck and an electric pump. They also rigged the plane so that they could change the engine’s oil mid-flight.

Roughly the size of a Toyota Camry, the cabin of a Cessna 172 can snugly seat four people (but not a toilet). They removed all the seats except for the pilot seat and converted the rest of the cabin into a tiny makeshift living area.

Timm had tried marathon flights three other times, but never stayed in the air longer than 15 days.

His second attempt came to a halt with a massive boom. As he wrote in his journal, “at 4 a.m. one morning the entire sky lit up." He had been in the air during one of the 57 above-ground atomic bomb detonations set off during 1958 in the Nevada.

To complicate things further, there was a brand-new flight endurance record to contend with. To beat it, the men would need to remain in flight for over 50 days.

Medallion status

Timm and his co-pilot, John Wayne Cook, took off from McCarran Field in Las Vegas at 3:52 p.m. on December 4, 1958. To ensure that the men couldn’t land the plane surreptitiously, a chase car painted white stripes on the aircraft’s tires from below. These would scuff should they touch down before their official landing.

Most of the time, they refueled in Blythe (a desert town on the California-Arizona border) or swung out to Yuma, Palm Springs, or Los Angeles — where they made the occasional radio or TV flyby.

Confined to that cramped space, their everyday life resembled that of a prison inmate’s: lots of aimless reading and repetitive exercise and never-ending games — anything to pass the time as they buzzed around the sky. They had a little sink back there, and they “showered” by pouring bottled water over their heads.

They refueled twice a day, mid-flight, as a hose from the Ford tanker truck latched to the belly tank.

The two men piloted in four-hour shifts and did their best to sleep whenever they could, on a four-by-four cushion made of thick foam. It was hard to sleep, with all the rattling and mechanical groaning.

Asleep at the wheel

On January 9, day 36 of their flight, Timm dozed off for an hour during his shift. When he woke up, sweating, they were in a canyon, somewhere in Arizona, maybe California. Luckily, the autopilot had done its job.

Years later, he told a reporter: “I flew for two hours before I recognized any lights or the cities. I made a vow to myself that I would never tell John what had happened.”

Though he never said anything to Timm, Cook was aware of the near-disaster.

“… it was 2:55 a.m. and he [Timm] was fighting sleeplessness. On autopilot fell asleep 4000 FT over Blythe Airport found himself ½ way to Yuma Ariz 4000 ft. Very lucky. We must sleep more in the day time.”

All their food had to be mashed into thermos jugs, which were hoisted up with their daily supplies. Every other day, they got a quart of bath water, a large towel, and soap.

Darkness visible

A little over halfway through their journey, the plane’s generator went out. It had powered the plane’s interior lights and heating and was used to pump the fuel into the wing tanks. After that, they had to use a hand pump to move fuel up to the wings.

When it got really cold, they wrapped themselves in blankets, shivering. They had flashlights and had strung some Christmas lights through the cabin, but other than that they flew in the dark, a beautiful, endless darkness.

Cook wrote in his journal: “Hard to stay awake in dark place — can’t use radio — can’t use electric fuel pump. Pump all gasoline by hand, using minimum lights. … Don’t realize how necessary this power until all of a sudden — sitting in the dark — no lights in panel to fly by — flashlight burning out — can’t see to fix the trouble if you could fix at all.”

By the end of the marathon flight, they’d lost the tachometer, the autopilot, the cabin heater, the landing and taxi lights, the belly tank fuel gauge, the electrical fuel pump, and the winch.

Several times weather interrupted their refueling, and they had to scramble for a new opportunity, eyes shifting from clouds to fuel gauge, over and over.

They broke the record on Jan. 23, 1959, but kept going for another 15 days, until the spark plugs and engine combustion chambers became loaded with carbon, weakening the plane’s engine.

64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes. They’d flown over 150,000 miles through the air, roughly six trips around the planet.

The record stands to this day.

After the flight, Cook said: “Next time I feel in the mood to fly endurance, I'm going to lock myself in our garbage can with the vacuum cleaner running. That is until my psychiatrist opens up for business in the morning.”

Secretly, however, I’m sure he missed that feeling, the way he lived in the clouds, in the blue of the sky, high above everything, soaring like a bird.

Teens on a high-tech crime spree: Microsoft, Vegas casinos — who’s next?



These days, it has become almost mandatory to mock “the kids” — their TikTok obsessions, relentless “doom-scrolling” on Instagram, and “know-nothing” attitudes. They grunt, moan, and communicate via emojis, GIFs, and hashtags, emerging from their digital layers just long enough to make it to class or snatch food from the Uber Eats guy.

Imagine if these extremely talented kids, armed with nothing more than a smartphone and a few low-tech tricks, turn their attention to banks, hospitals, or even the power grids of entire nations.

Yet some of these zombies-in-the-making are up to something far more disruptive than scrolling or snapping selfies. They are infiltrating and embarrassing the world’s most powerful corporations. They've brought industry giants to their knees with a few low-tech tricks, social engineering hacks, and youthful persistence. “Can’t make it to dinner, Mom,” they scream, “too busy making Microsoft sweat.”

Advanced adolescence

Dubbed “advanced persistent teenagers,” these young hackers are not only one of the biggest threats to global corporations but also expose the shaky foundations of our digital world. Groups like LAPSUS$ and Scattered Spider may chase fame and fortune, but critically, their primary motivation seems to be the sheer thrill of it.

In recent months, they’ve pulled off some of the boldest hacks in modern history, targeting hotel chains, casinos, and tech giants using methods that would embarrass any cybersecurity expert. No sophisticated espionage here — just brash smash-and-grab tactics executed with clinical effectiveness.

It’s important to note that nations do not back these teens. They’re a ragtag band of virtual vigilantes who flaunt their hacks on social media with snapshots of breached systems and leaked data. They have taken the art of trolling to a whole new level.

These strategies recall the 2020 Twitter (now X) hack, where young hackers posed as internal IT support to gain access, exploiting employees’ trust rather than high-tech systems.

With a fake call here or a well-timed email there, LAPSUS$ and Scattered Spider trick employees into handing over the keys to the kingdom. Targets include tech titans like Microsoft, Samsung, Nvidia, and, more recently, several hotel chains and casinos, including MGM Resorts. Offering bribes or targeting individuals’ emails, the groups often start with minor accounts, which they use to worm their way into corporate systems. In a world where hackers are meant to lurk in the shadows, these teens are setting off flares.

Conflicted and confused

Should we shed a single tear for these corporate giants?

Many readers will scream “absolutely not” for entirely valid reasons.

Microsoft, for one, has long been associated with a number several sites. From wielding monopolistic power that crushed competitors to pushing software that seems more focused on control than innovation, the company has played the tech game with the heaviest of hands, and its relentless drive for data often crosses privacy lines that leave users feeling more surveilled than served. Also, as I write this, Microsoft is still pushing the DEI agenda with relentless enthusiasm despite most sane Americans wanting nothing to do with it.

Similarly, Nvidia, one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, is no stranger to scandal. The American company has faced a series of controversies that reveal a pattern of miscommunication and questionable practices. First, the GTX 970 fiasco left customers with a misleadingly marketed graphics card, where its supposed 4 GB memory turned out to be 3.5 GB of high-speed and 0.5 GB of slow memory, leading to performance issues. Nvidia's promised driver fix never materialized, leading to performance issues, forcing it to settle a class-action lawsuit. The GeForce Partner Program stirred antitrust concerns, since it incentivized exclusivity only to be canceled amid backlash. To be clear, it was canceled only because Nvidia was exposed.

The California-based corporation also attempted to restrict the reviewer Hardware Unboxed, prompting accusations of extreme overreach. Additionally, Nvidia was hit with an SEC fine for failing to disclose how much crypto mining bolstered its revenue, misleading investors.

Samsung, another target of the terrible teens, made headlines not too long ago when its Galaxy Note phones started blowing up — literally. It’s difficult to feel any sympathy for these companies, now getting a well-deserved taste of their own medicine.

At the same time, it’s worth asking what we should think about these teenagers. Are they digital Robin Hoods exposing corporate arrogance, or are they future terrorists refining techniques that could one day bring nations to their knees? Is Microsoft just a warm-up for thier own Manhattan Project?

Imagine if these extremely talented kids, armed with nothing more than a smartphone and a few low-tech tricks, turn their attention to banks, hospitals, or even the power grids of entire nations. Then it’s not just Big Tech elites taking the hit — it’s all of us. Suddenly, their antics are no longer a corporate headache; they’re a real-world threat. People could die. Lots and lots of people.

As we move further into the digital age, these “advanced persistent teenagers” serve as a sobering reminder of just how fragile our world truly is. For now, their exploits might seem entertaining, almost harmless, but the thrill could easily turn into a horror show — one where the power to stop it lies solely in their hands.

Secret Service to use drones during Trump inauguration



The U.S. Secret Service intends to use drones before and on Inauguration Day as part of heightened security measures in place in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in New Orleans.

On January 3, USSS special agent in charge of the Washington field office Matt McCool announced that drones would be part of larger security protocols implemented in Washington, D.C., throughout the month of January, especially during the swearing in of the new Congress, the funeral events for the late President Jimmy Carter, and the upcoming inauguration.

"While I advise everyone that the Secret Service will use drones as part of our comprehensive security plan, do not be alarmed if you see these assets during the upcoming events or training in the days ahead," McCool said less than two weeks ago.

McCool then reiterated those remarks at a press conference on Monday. "The Secret Service's comprehensive security plan will continue to use drones as part of our protective [plan]," he said, according to Susan Crabtree of RealClearPolitics. "Do not be alarmed if you see these assets during the inauguration or training in the days ahead."

'Every four years, the District is proud to support the peaceful transition of power.'

In a statement Monday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who recently met with President-elect Donald Trump, said local and federal law enforcement had been preparing for the inauguration for a year. "Every four years, the District is proud to support the peaceful transition of power," she said. "We take pride in this responsibility, and we’re grateful to our federal partners, local agencies, and community members who work together to ensure a safe and secure event."

In addition to drones, law enforcement officials plan to use high visibility patrols, fencing, and barriers to keep the area safe.

The Secret Service went public about plans to use drones after an Islamic terrorist, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar of Texas, apparently drove a rental truck through a crowd of people celebrating on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the early morning hours of New Year's Day. The murderous rampage left 15 dead and 35 injured.

Then just a few hours later, Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger drove a Tesla Cybertruck to the Trump hotel in Las Vegas, where the vehicle detonated. Livelsberger, 37, was later discovered dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Because the Las Vegas incident occurred so shortly after the attack in New Orleans and because of the Cybertruck's association with Elon Musk, a strong Trump ally, some speculated that Livelsberger intended to use the explosion to make a political statement.

A motive for the incident remains under investigation, but shortly before his death, Livelsberger sent an email, claiming to have insider knowledge about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan as well as the purpose behind the drones spotted flying about near the coast of New Jersey.

"What we have been seeing with 'drones' is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the US," Livelsberger wrote. "Only we and China have this capability. Our OPEN location for this activity in the box is below. China has been launching them from the Atlantic from submarines for years, but this activity recently has picked up. As of now, it is just a show of force and they are using it similar to how they used the balloon."

The New Jersey drones, which began appearing in November, have prompted widespread concerns regarding American safety and possible government and/or foreign surveillance. While the FAA claimed earlier this year that most of the drones were actually airplanes, stars, or "authorized drones," the agency nevertheless expanded the list of areas in New Jersey where drone usage would be restricted.

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Shawn Ryan interview unveils explosive Cybertruck bomber claims



A friend of Las Vegas Cybertruck bomber Matthew Livelsberger has come forward to reveal an email manifesto that Livelsberger sent to him. Retired U.S. Army officer Sam Shoemate requested an appearance on the Shawn Ryan podcast to unveil the manifesto.

Shoemate stated he contacted Ryan first because he was convinced the national news media would suppress the story and that the federal government might try to stop it. Ryan, courageously, immediately released the video of the conversation to the public.

Could it be that Livelsberger knew the information he was about to disclose would get him killed or put in prison for the rest of his life?

During the interview, Ryan mentioned his cell phone had been acting up before the interview and he was concerned that he was being surveilled. I can verify that the CIA and the FBI do this to American citizens and even have done it to me. Ryan said after the interview that he would disappear with his family for a few days for their safety.

Until now, the legacy news media’s reporting of the Jan. 1 incident outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas has said nothing about the bomber’s motivation for the spectacular act that blessedly did far less damage than it might have.

Ryan showed a screenshot of the email as evidence.

According to Shoemate, Livelsberger emailed him a manifesto revealing he believed he was under surveillance by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security because of the information he was about to reveal to the public. He claimed China and the United States have anti-gravity drone technology that poses a serious risk to our national security.

Livelsberger also wrote that he was exposing a cover-up of a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan in 2019 that massacred a large number of civilians, including women and children. Livelsberger wrote this was the incident that pushed him to the limit.

Livelsberger also wrote that China has launched anti-gravity drones from submarines off the East Coast that are the “most dangerous threat to national security.” He claimed these drones, also deployed by the United States, possess stealth technology, can evade radar detection, and have an unlimited payload capacity that could be used for weapons deployment.

Below are the contents of the emails sent to Shoemate by Livelsberger:

In case I do not make it to my decision point or on to the Mexico border I am sending this now. Please do not release this until 1JAN and keep my identity private until then.

First off I am not under duress or hostile influence or control. My first car was a 2006 Black Ford Mustang V6 for verification.
What we have been seeing with "drones" is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China [on] the east coast, but throughout history, the US. Only we and China have this capability ...

China has been launching them from the Atlantic from submarines for years, but this activity recently has picked up. As of now, it is just a show of force and they are using it similar to how they used the balloon for SIGINT and ISR, which are also part of the integrated coms system. There are dozens of those balloons in the air at any given time.

The so what is because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned [aircraft], they are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the WH if they wanted. It's checkmate.

[The U.S. government] needs to give the history of this, how we are employing it and weaponizing it, how China is employing them and what the way forward is. China is poised to attack anywhere in the East Coast.

I've been followed for over a week now [by] likely Homeland or FBI, and they are looking to move on me and are unlikely going to let me cross into Mexico, but won't because they know I am armed and I have a massive [vehicle-borne improvised explosive device]. I've been trying to maintain a very visible profile and have kept my phone and they are definitely digitally tracking me.

I have knowledge of this program and also war crimes that were covered up during airstrikes in Nimruz province Afghanistan in 2019 by the admin, DoD, DEA, and CIA. I conducted targeting for these strikes of over 125 buildings (65 were struck because of CIVCAS) that killed hundreds of civilians in a single day. [U.S. Forces Afghanistan] continued strikes after spotting civilians on initial ISR, it was supposed to take 6 minutes and scramble all aircraft in CENTCOM. The UN basically called these war crimes, but the administration made them disappear. I was part of that cover-up with USFORA and Agent [Redacted] of the DEA. So I don't know if my abduction attempt is related to either. I worked with GEN Millers 10 staff on this as well as the response to Bala Murghab. AOB-S Commander at the time. [Redacted] can validate this.

You need to elevate this to the media so we avoid a world war because this is a mutually assured destruction situation.

For vetting my Linkedin is Matt Berg or Matthew Livelsberger, an active duty 18Z out of 1-10 my profile is public. I have an active TSSCI with UAP USAP access.

The FBI claimed, “Although this incident is more public and more sensational, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues.”

The American people have lost trust in these kinds of statements.

Could it be that Livelsberger knew the information he was about to disclose would get him killed or put in prison for the rest of his life? We may never know the answer.

By Watering Down Citizenship, Democrats Invite More Terrorists On American Soil

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-02-at-4.02.58 PM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-02-at-4.02.58%5Cu202fPM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]The New Year's Day terror attacks indicate politicians have enabled radical Islam through a weak concept of American citizenship.

Authorities looking at Trump hotel explosion as possible terrorist act, links to suspect in New Orleans massacre



Suspected jihadist Shamsud-Din Jabbar allegedly drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people Wednesday morning on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, claiming the lives of at least 15 victims.

Just hours later, an individual driving a Cybertruck rental loaded with fuel tanks and incendiary devices pulled up into the valet area outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. While the Cybertruck exploded right outside the hotel's front doors, the vehicle's design helped ensure that only the driver was killed by the blast.

Authorities are presently investigating whether the Las Vegas incident was a terrorist attack and have identified at least one thing the apparent New Year's Day attacks have in common besides their timing and vehicular nature.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill indicated during a press conference Wednesday that the Cybertruck arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, then drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for roughly an hour. Just before 8:40 a.m., the Cybertruck pulled into the valet area outside the Trump International Hotel, then detonated.

The truck's flatbed was loaded with gasoline canisters, camping fuel, and large firework mortars. Despite this combustive payload, the Cybertruck's design apparently saved lives.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

"It looks like the exterior of that truck is completely intact as it sits there," said McMahill. "The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet because it had most of the blast go up through the truck and out."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk later noted on X, "The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken."

An official briefed on the investigation confirmed to ABC News that the explosion was not the result of a lithium battery blast.

Seven people suffered minor injuries as a result of the blast. According to the LVMPD, two victims were briefly hospitalized but have since been released.

'Trying to see if we can say, "Hey, this is a terrorist attack."'

While McMahill was reluctant to confirm the identity of the driver, senior law enforcement sources told KOAA-TV that 37-year-old Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger of Colorado Springs rented the Cybertruck and was behind the wheel at the time. Armored vehicles and law enforcement agents in tactical gear were reported at the scene of one of Livelsberger's known addresses hours after the explosion.

The Daily Mail reported that Livelsberger served nearly 20 years in the Army, 18 of which he spent with Special Forces. While authorities have not confirmed whether the two knew each other, Livelsberger at one point served at the same military base as Jabbar, the now-deceased suspect in the New Orleans massacre whom President Joe Biden alleged Wednesday was inspired by ISIS. Jabbar similarly served in the Army — on active duty from 2007 through 2015 and then in the reserves from 2015 through 2020.

While it's unclear whether the driver of the Cybertruck knew or had anything to do with the suspect behind the New Orleans massacre, they both acquired their rentals from the same company.

McMahill indicated that the Cybertruck was rented from the rental company Turo's app in Colorado and its progress was confirmed by Tesla charging station data made available by Elon Musk. The sheriff suggested it was a "coincidence" that the truck used in the New Orleans attack was similarly rented through Turo.

Turo said in a statement, "It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that this morning's horrific attack in New Orleans and this afternoon's Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas both involved vehicles rented on Turo."

"We do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related," added the company.

The FBI is presently investigating the Cybertruck explosion through its Joint Terrorism Task Force and trying to determine whether it was a terrorist attack.

After confirming the identity of the driver, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz told reporters the task force's second objective is "to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not."

"I know everyone's interested in that word, and trying to see if we can say, 'Hey, this is a terrorist attack.' That is our goal and that's what we're trying to do," said Schwartz.

Sheriff McMahill speculated about the apparent choice of target, stating, "It's a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it's the Trump Tower so there are obviously things to be concerned about there, and it's stuff we continue to look at."

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Thug who jumped over courtroom bench, physically attacked judge in viral video is sentenced



A Las Vegas trial defendant who earlier this year jumped over a courtroom bench and physically attacked a judge was sentenced this week to at least 26 years in prison for his actions, KLAS-TV reported. You can view video here of attack.

What's the background?

On Jan. 3, Deobra Redden — who already was a convicted felon with a long history of violent crime — stood before Las Vegas District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus for sentencing over a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm, KSNV-TV reported.

'I’m not a bad person, I’m not an evil guy. I’m not making excuses for my actions, but I’m saying I’m not a bad person, and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus. I know I cared about her wellbeing.'

Holthus indicated she disagreed with a request from Redden's attorney to keep him out of prison, and that's when Redden cursed at Holthus, rushed the bench, jumped over it, and physically attacked the judge. A man next to the judge and a court officer both tried to hold Redden back and subdue him, KSNV said, adding that multiple punches were thrown at Redden. An alarm was activated, Holthus stood up after a few minutes, and officers escorted her out of the courtroom, the station said.

A week later, Redden again stood in front of Holthus, and she sentenced him to up to four years in prison, completing the hearing that was cut short due to Redden's attack.

What happened next?

Redden pleaded guilty but mentally ill in September during his trial for attempted murder in relation to his attack against the judge, KLAS reported.

At Redden's sentencing hearing Tuesday, the station said prosecutors read the following statement from Judge Holthus: “He made a conscious decision to kill me and made every effort to succeed. If he had his way, he’d be facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for murder.”

Redden tried to convince District Court Judge Susan Johnson that he wasn't trying to kill Holthus.

"I’m not a bad person, I’m not an evil guy," Redden told the judge, according to KLAS. "I’m not making excuses for my actions, but I’m saying I’m not a bad person, and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus. I know I cared about her wellbeing.”

Redden's entreaties were not enough. Johnson sentenced Redden to a prison term of 26 to 65 years, the station said.

“It was not just retaliation or an attack on Judge Holthus,” Johnson said, according to KLAS. “It was also an attack on the judiciary.”

Johnson added that doctors who evaluated Redden determined that he knew the difference between “right and wrong," the station said.

With credit for time served, KLAS said Redden would be eligible for parole in the 2050s.

You can view video here of the sentencing hearing.

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