A heated YouTube segment that quickly spread across social media has put Candace Owens back in the center of a conservative media storm. Comedian and political commentator Jimmy Dore says a group of conservative influencers helped drive a “massive astroturf campaign” meant to pressure Owens into backing off her reporting and commentary.

Dore ties the sudden pile-on to Owens giving airtime to whistleblower Mitch Snow, who claimed he saw several Turning Point USA (TPUSA) figures at a military base shortly before TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September 2025.

Dore’s video, titled “Massive Astroturf Campaign To SHUT UP Candace Owens EXPOSED!”, went live on January 1, 2026. It features screenshots, post timelines, and side-by-side comparisons that, in Dore’s view, point to coordinated messaging. The episode has also renewed a bigger debate about trust, authenticity, and money-driven incentives in influencer media.

The Spark: Mitch Snow’s claims set off the fight

The flashpoint began with Owens’ podcast interview with Mitch Snow, a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant and combat medic. Snow said he was at Fort Huachuca, a U.S. Army intelligence training base in Arizona (often called Camp Huachuca in public talk), on September 8 and 9, 2025. He said the trip was tied to personal records related to a past injury.

Snow claimed he accidentally witnessed what looked like a high-level meeting breaking up around 7:30 a.m. on September 9. He alleged that TPUSA’s head of security, Brian Harpole, left the area with a congressman. He also said he was “95-99% certain” he saw Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, in a hotel lobby the night before. Snow added that he may have seen other people connected to TPUSA.

Charlie Kirk was killed the next day, September 10, during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. Public accounts blame a lone gunman, Tyler Robinson. Owens has continued to challenge that storyline, suggesting there may have been an internal betrayal or a cover-up. Snow’s story, even without independent verification, added fuel to speculation about schedules, travel, and possible alibis for people he named.

Owens has said she did not treat Snow’s interview as final proof. She framed it as a lead that needed checking, and she called for hard records such as flight logs and hotel metadata to confirm timelines. Supporters also point to a confirmed Fort Huachuca incident report from September 9 tied to a bomb threat and an interrogation. They say it supports parts of Snow’s account, including his presence at the base and the disruption that day.

Critics have pushed back fast. Alex Jones and Tim Pool rejected Snow’s account and called it baseless. Some critics also highlighted claims about past domestic issues in Snow’s personal life. Other figures, including Cabot Phillips, denied being at the base and said family details back up their whereabouts.

The backlash and the claim that it was coordinated

After the Snow interview, several conservative influencers began publicly criticizing Owens for promoting claims that had not been proven. That group included Tim Pool, Evan Kilgore, and others. Kilgore had been one of Owens’ loudest supporters online. In late December, he posted that he could “no longer support” her investigation after looking into concerns raised about Snow’s background.

Owens fired back by pointing to what she said looked like synchronized posting. She also shared what she described as evidence of coordination, including references to group texts. In one response to Kilgore, Owens asked why he and other influencers were coordinating posts on X through text messages.

Dore stepped into that conflict and amplified Owens’ point. In his episode, he highlights how Kilgore and similar accounts appeared to flip positions quickly. Dore argues that the timing, the volume of posts, and the similar phrasing across accounts look planned rather than organic. He wrote that the blowup over @RealCandaceO for investigating an assassination was “obviously” funded and astroturfed, calling it a coordinated, paid hit job by social influencers.

Dore’s segment also includes visuals comparing posts that use overlapping wording, along with timelines showing rapid shifts in tone.

The PolyMarket angle, and whether money plays a role

Dore also points to another pattern. Several accounts that criticized Owens regularly promote PolyMarket, a crypto-based prediction and betting platform. PolyMarket has become popular for wagers tied to politics, major news outcomes, and culture-war stories.

Influencers promote betting sites all the time, often as a sponsor or affiliate deal. Dore suggests that the overlap could still matter, since financial incentives can shape what gets pushed online. PolyMarket ads have also shown up widely in conservative spaces, including on podcasts that featured Owens earlier in 2025 in unrelated segments.

Critics of Dore’s theory say the PolyMarket promotions are normal and do not connect to the Owens dispute. Still, the shared promotional activity has sparked talk in online forums about affiliate networks, traffic rewards, and whether outside interests might benefit from steering attention and outrage.

No public proof links PolyMarket to funding anti-Owens posts. PolyMarket representatives have not responded to requests for comment about influencer partnerships.

What this says about influencer media and public trust

This story highlights how fast astroturf claims can spread, and how hard it can be to tell real shifts in opinion from organized pressure campaigns. Influencers do change their minds, and audiences do respond in waves. Still, abrupt reversals that happen in clusters, especially among monetized accounts, tend to draw scrutiny.

Owens’s ongoing focus on the Kirk assassination has split parts of the conservative movement. Tim Pool has argued that Owens is damaging unity ahead of future elections. He also responded to Dore by calling Owens a “deep state shill” who is trying to push away key voter groups.

Dore, a left-leaning commentator who often targets establishment narratives, has become an unexpected voice defending Owens’ right to keep asking questions. He frames the backlash as an effort to shut down inquiry around a major political killing.

Federal investigations into Kirk’s death remain active, and officials have not released major new updates. Online, the fight continues. Whether Dore’s claims reveal a real influence operation or add more noise, the episode shows how money, algorithms, and internal feuds can bend public debate.

More clarity would likely come from independent verification of Snow’s story, clearer records tied to travel and locations, and confirmation of influencer communications and sponsorship ties. Until that happens, the controversy remains a reminder that manufactured outrage can look a lot like a grassroots response, especially when attention is the prize.

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A long-running dispute tied to French First Lady Brigitte Macron has flared up again, this time over a public bet between Candace Owens and Piers Morgan. Owens says a recent French appeals court decision means Morgan should pay up.

Morgan says she is twisting what the court actually ruled. Candace Owens has repeatedly pushed an unproven claim that Brigitte Macron was born male. After the latest court move in France, Owens says she has been proven right.

The conspiracy claim says Brigitte Macron, 72, was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. That name belongs to her older brother. The story gained traction in far-right circles in France around 2017, as Emmanuel Macron rose in national politics.

The rumor surged again in December 2021 after a four-hour YouTube video by two French women, Natacha Rey (who described herself as a journalist) and Amandine Roy (a spiritual medium who also used the name Delphine Jegousse).

The video drew hundreds of thousands of views before it was taken down. It accused the Macrons of hiding the truth through a major cover-up. Brigitte Macron and her brother later filed a defamation complaint.

In September 2024, a Paris court convicted Rey and Roy of libel. The court ordered them to pay €8,000 to Brigitte Macron and €5,000 to her brother.

Candace Owens Brings the Claim to a US Audience

That changed in July 2025. The Paris Court of Appeal overturned the convictions and cleared both women. The court said their statements were made in “good faith” and fell under freedom of expression. The judges also stressed that the ruling was about defamation rules, not whether the claim was true.

Brigitte Macron has appealed again, taking the case to France’s top court, the Cour de Cassation. That appeal is still pending.

The rumor spread more widely in the United States in early 2024, when Candace Owens, a conservative podcaster with a large audience, released multiple episodes focused on the theory.

Her series was titled “Becoming Brigitte.” Owens leaned on the work of Rey and Roy, along with what she called her own research and what she described as gaps in public records.

Owens said she would “stake my entire professional reputation” on the claim. She also called it “likely the biggest scandal in political history.”

Major fact-checkers, including Reuters and Snopes, have rejected the claim. They point to publicly available material such as childhood photos, birth announcements, and the fact that Brigitte Macron has three children from a prior marriage.

The Bet With Piers Morgan

The fight turned into a headline moment on Piers Morgan’s show, “Uncensored.” Morgan challenged Owens on air and said he would bet that Brigitte Macron is a woman. The amount grew over time, starting at $100,000, then rising to $150,000, and later to $300,000 across appearances.

Owens accepted and said she was “1000 percent” sure. Morgan said the story was baseless and fueled by attention and outrage. After the July 2025 appeals court ruling in France, Owens posted online and repeated on her podcast that she had won.

In a recent episode, she said she wouldn’t “let Piers Morgan off the hook.” She argued that the court decision cleared the women who promoted the claim, and that Morgan should now pay $300,000, either to charity or to her.

Morgan has rejected that reading of the decision. In interviews, he has said the French court did not validate the rumor. He has also pointed out that the judges focused on “good faith” and free speech protections, not proof of the allegation.

Morgan has continued to frame the bet around his view that Brigitte Macron is a woman, while also pointing to her three children.

More Lawsuits, More Fallout

The French appeal ruling landed at the same time the Macrons expanded their legal fight. In July 2025, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron filed a 219-page defamation lawsuit against Owens in Delaware Superior Court, where her media companies are incorporated.

The filing accuses Owens of running a “campaign of global humiliation” for profit. It also points to merchandise tied to the rumor.

The complaint lays out material meant to rebut the allegation, including newspaper birth announcements from the time and family photos. Owens has said she plans to fight the case. She has framed it as an attack on free speech and has suggested more surprises are coming.

In a separate case, a Paris court in October 2025 tried ten people accused of cyber-harassment linked to similar claims about Brigitte Macron. Several defendants reportedly pointed to Owens’s content.

Why the Brigitte Story Keeps Spreading

The dispute shows how hard it is to stop misinformation once it takes off, especially when it jumps countries and languages. Researchers who track misinformation say the rumor survives because it fits neatly into conspiracy communities and culture-war content, even without solid evidence.

Brigitte Macron, a former teacher who met Emmanuel Macron when she taught drama at his school, has rarely addressed the rumors in public. She has focused on legal action instead. Emmanuel Macron has described the attacks as misogynistic and aimed at weakening him politically.

With the Cour de Cassation still reviewing the French appeal and the US defamation lawsuit moving forward, Owens keeps pressing her claims on air. The bet has become a stand-in for a wider political fight, and it remains unclear if Morgan will ever write a check.

Candace Owens treats the appeals court outcome as enough to claim victory. Critics warn that treating a procedural ruling as proof risks keeping the false claim alive. As 2025 ends, the story shows no real sign of going away.

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LOS ANGELES – Hollywood is in mourning after legendary director and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife of 36 years, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Sunday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Police Department is treating the case as a double homicide, and multiple outlets, including People, report that the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, is alleged to be responsible.

News of their deaths has stunned the entertainment community and fans around the world, leaving many grieving the loss of a beloved filmmaker and his longtime partner.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency call at the Reiner residence on the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue at about 3:38 p.m. on December 14. When they entered the home, they found both Rob and Michele Reiner dead with multiple stab wounds.

Law enforcement sources, cited by the Los Angeles Times, said there were no signs of forced entry.

The LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division quickly took control of the investigation. During a late-night press briefing, Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed that detectives are actively working the case but said that no suspect has been formally identified or detained.

He added that police are not looking for any person outside the couple’s close circle. A search warrant was being processed so investigators could fully examine the property.

According to reports, the couple’s daughter, Romy Reiner, who lives nearby, found the bodies and made the 911 call, describing what she believed to be a “family incident.”

Sources close to the family told People and other outlets that 32-year-old Nick Reiner, who has publicly spoken about his long struggle with drug addiction, is suspected of the killings. Nick previously shared details of his substance abuse and periods of homelessness during press for the 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which he co-wrote with his father.

Current Status of the Investigation

As of Monday morning, the LAPD has classified the deaths as an “apparent homicide” and has released only limited information while they await autopsy findings from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. While officials have not confirmed the recovery of a weapon, stab wounds were clearly visible at the scene.

Law enforcement sources told ABC News and Variety that high-ranking LAPD officials responded in person, underscoring the profile of the case and the attention it has drawn. Family members, including a relative who was seen leaving the neighborhood, have spoken with investigators, but police have not announced any arrests.

In a brief statement released Sunday night, the Reiner family said, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

Rob Reiner’s Friends, Colleagues, and Fans React

By early Monday, tributes had begun pouring in as Hollywood woke up to the news that one of its most familiar and respected figures was gone.

Christopher Guest and Jamie Lee Curtis, close friends of the couple who were married at the Reiners’ home in 1984, shared a joint statement: “Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner.

Our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families, and we will offer all support possible to help them.” The guest recently worked with Rob again on Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.

The family of producer Norman Lear, who was a mentor and father figure to Rob Reiner through their work on All in the Family, also reacted with heartbreak. “The Lear Family is devastated by the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. Norman often referred to Rob as a son… The world is unmistakably darker tonight, and we are left bereft.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom remembered Reiner as a “big-hearted genius” whose films carried “depth and timelessness” rooted in empathy and humanity. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the deaths “a devastating loss for our city and our country” and praised Reiner’s long record of activism and social engagement.

Across the industry, actors and filmmakers expressed their grief. Elijah Wood said he was “horrified” by the news, while Virginia Madsen thanked Reiner for “giving us so much joy.” Fans on social media shared favorite clips from When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride, and many described Reiner as a kind, thoughtful presence who shaped their love of movies.

A Remarkable Hollywood Life: From “Meathead” to Acclaimed Director

Rob Reiner’s career covered nearly seven decades and left a lasting mark on television, film, and political life.

Born in the Bronx in 1947, he grew up in a show business family. His father was legendary writer and comedian Carl Reiner, and his mother, Estelle Reiner, was an actress and singer remembered for her famous “I’ll have what she’s having” line in When Harry Met Sally…. Rob first became widely known as Michael “Meathead” Stivic, Archie Bunker’s outspoken son-in-law, on Norman Lear’s groundbreaking series All in the Family (1971–1979).

The role earned him two Emmy Awards and turned him into a familiar face in American homes.

Reiner later moved behind the camera and quickly proved himself as a director. He co-created and starred in the rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), which became a cult classic and eventually led to the sequel Spinal Tap II.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, he directed a string of influential films: the coming-of-age story Stand By Me (1986), the fantasy romance The Princess Bride (1987), the landmark romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… (1989) where he first met Michele, the Stephen King thriller Misery (1990), the courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992), and the political love story The American President (1995).

He continued working into the 2000s and beyond, directing The Bucket List (2007) with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and the 2023 documentary Albert Brooks: Defending My Life. His films often balanced humor, emotion, and social themes, bringing in major box office success and multiple award nominations.

Outside of directing, Reiner became a prominent progressive voice in politics. He pushed for early childhood education funding through California’s Proposition 10, supported LGBTQ+ rights, and backed Democratic candidates and causes.

Reiner married actress and director Penny Marshall in 1971 and adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner, who later appeared in A League of Their Own. After their divorce in 1981, he met Michele Singer while working on When Harry Met Sally…. The two married in 1989 and raised three children together: Jake, Nick, and Romy.

Michele built her own career as a photographer and producer and worked with Rob on several projects, including Spinal Tap II. Friends knew her for her creative eye and her warmth within their close-knit circle.

As investigators continue to piece together what happened inside the Brentwood home, the film community is remembering Rob Reiner as far more than a hit director. To many, he was a generous friend, a committed activist, and a steady presence whose work helped shape modern film and television.

His legacy, from confronting prejudice on All in the Family to creating some of the most quoted movies of all time, will live on through his work. For now, the focus remains on the Reiner children and their extended family as they face a loss that feels almost too painful to put into words.

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