WASHINGTON D.C. –  After reports of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, public debate on the right turned into an open fight. Big conservative voices began trading accusations over what some describe as a “Zionist attempt” to gain influence inside Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the youth group Kirk founded.

The claims have focused on Ben Shapiro, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and radio host Mark Levin. Critics say a behind-the-scenes push is underway, tied to long-running arguments about Israel and “America First” priorities. The feud has pulled in well-known names like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes, showing divisions that could reshape conservative politics.

According to early reporting and online discussion, Kirk was shot on September 10, 2025, during a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities reportedly arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, pointing to recent radicalization as part of the motive. Since then, rumors and conspiracy claims have spread fast, and some conservatives have questioned official accounts while blaming outside forces.

The Assassination and Its Aftermath

Kirk’s reported death triggered a wave of reactions across conservative media, along with public statements from elected officials, including talk of a Senate resolution honoring him. The mourning period did not last long online. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) quickly shifted to suspicion.

Some accounts blamed Israeli interests, pointing to claims that Kirk had refused funding connected to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Others said Kirk had been placing more focus on “America First” policies instead of automatic support for Israel.

In that climate, critics argue that pro-Israel voices moved quickly to gain ground inside TPUSA. Ben Shapiro, the Daily Wire co-founder and a strong supporter of Israel, gave $1 million to TPUSA soon after the reported assassination and later guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast.

Opponents framed those moves as a “hostile takeover.” On X, users claimed Shapiro, along with the ADL and Levin, was working to steer TPUSA toward a more Israel-focused direction.

The ADL, a Jewish group known for tracking antisemitism, has also taken heat from critics who say it labels too many voices as bigoted. Mark Levin has publicly defended Shapiro as the backlash grew, which added fuel to the argument.

Shapiro’s AmericaFest Speech Sets Off a Firestorm

The conflict hit a new peak at TPUSA’s AmericaFest conference in December 2025, described as the first major TPUSA event after Kirk’s death. Shapiro, who was not listed on an earlier speaker lineup Kirk had announced in August, took the stage and criticized conservatives he said were refusing to call out antisemitism. He singled out Candace Owens and others, and he argued that parts of the movement were giving space to ugly ideas.

Shapiro also criticized Tucker Carlson for interviewing Nick Fuentes, a self-described white nationalist, and said the platforming of Fuentes helped normalize extremist views.

The response was immediate. Steve Bannon, the former Trump strategist and host of War Room, hit back in his own remarks, calling Shapiro a “cancer” and accusing him of putting Israel ahead of the United States.

Bannon said Shapiro’s influence reflected a return to neoconservative foreign policy, which he argued the MAGA base has rejected. He also claimed Shapiro and allies were trying to pull TPUSA toward “greater Israel” priorities. Bannon suggested the fight could shape the road to 2028, calling it “a proxy on ’28.”

Influencers Go All In

Candace Owens, who previously worked with The Daily Wire and later split with Shapiro amid accusations of antisemitism, has stayed near the center of the storm. On her show, Owens accused Shapiro of misrepresenting her comments about Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk.

She also suggested Shapiro’s actions showed he had insight into TPUSA’s internal plans. Owens praised Megyn Kelly for pushing back on what she called Shapiro’s misleading claims. She has described the broader fight as resistance to “moral blackmail” aimed at forcing strict pro-Israel messaging.

Megyn Kelly has echoed that theme, blasting what she calls “Israel purity tests” tied to figures like Shapiro and the ADL. In recent comments, Kelly described Shapiro’s behavior as a “betrayal” and said AmericaFest highlighted deep cracks in the MAGA coalition. She wrote on X that, instead of staying focused on the country’s problems, people were turning on each other.

Tucker Carlson, after leaving Fox News and building an independent platform, has become a main target in the dispute. Shapiro’s criticism of Carlson for interviewing Fuentes and Holocaust revisionists has sharpened the divide.

Carlson has defended the interviews as free speech and open debate, and his supporters say Shapiro’s approach looks like cancel culture.

Nick Fuentes has used the chaos to build attention. He has mocked Shapiro, claimed his career is “finished,” and urged supporters to oppose what he calls “ZioConservatism.” Fuentes also went live on Rumble to respond, rejecting Shapiro’s “no to the groypers” stance and pushing a hardline “America First” message.

What It Could Mean for TSUSA and the GOP

The fight reflects a wider split in the Republican Party. Traditional pro-Israel hawks are clashing with a louder “America First” wing that wants less foreign involvement. The ADL has pointed to rising antisemitic incidents in the United States, which has increased tension around these debates. Critics of the ADL argue that the group uses that data to shut down legitimate criticism of foreign policy.

Some conservative institutions have taken sides. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts defended Carlson during the controversy, which added another layer to the divide.

Erika Kirk, described by supporters as stepping into a leadership role at TPUSA after her husband’s reported death, has faced online pressure as well. Viral posts have demanded transparency, tied to the takeover claims.

Allies like Joel Berry praised Shapiro’s AmericaFest speech as “moral courage.” Detractors saw the moment as opportunistic, and one popular line on X summed up the mood: “TPUSA as we knew it died with Charlie.”

With Trump back in the White House, this kind of infighting could shape debates on Israel, foreign aid, and domestic priorities. For now, the scorched-earth tone has not cooled. Influencers are fighting for control of the message, and the unity Kirk once promoted looks harder to maintain.

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By late 2025, the Republican coalition looks less united than it did a few years ago. The populist America First wing has gained more control, and older establishment-style conservatives keep losing ground. Ben Shapiro, long tied to The Daily Wire and a familiar name in conservative media, sits right in the middle of that fight.

Across X, Reddit, and other online communities, America First voices often describe Ben Shapiro as out of step. Critics say he cares more about foreign priorities than problems at home. Posts and threads regularly call him “irrelevant” and tell him to fade away, as younger audiences rally around louder nationalist influencers.

Much of the frustration comes from sharp disagreements on foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. Shapiro’s strong pro-Israel position and his support for military action have pushed away parts of the MAGA base that want a more restrained approach.

In these circles, he’s often grouped with an older neoconservative style that doesn’t match today’s focus on border security, economic nationalism, and ending long overseas conflicts.

A Public Blowup at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest

Those tensions spilled into the open at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December 2025. The event drew extra attention because it was the first one held without founder Charlie Kirk, following widely shared reports about his death.

Ben Shapiro took the stage with a combative message, calling out “charlatans and grifters” and taking aim at people he claimed were pushing conspiracy theories or giving a platform to extreme voices.

Tucker Carlson mocked the idea of pushing dissenters off platforms, framing Shapiro’s stance as a way to shut down arguments about Israel. Megyn Kelly hit even harder, accusing Shapiro of putting Israel ahead of American conservatives. She also said their friendship was finished, and argued that heavy-handed censorship campaigns from pro-Israel activists can fuel antisemitism instead of stopping it.

Steve Bannon went the farthest, calling Shapiro “a cancer that spreads and metastasizes.” He claimed Shapiro was jealous of Kirk and said Shapiro promotes an “Israel First” agenda that clashes with US interests.

Candace Owens, already in a long-running feud with Ben Shapiro, tied to Israel, escalated the dispute again. She suggested his remarks carried implications about foreign involvement in Kirk’s death. Nick Fuentes added his own attacks, calling Shapiro an outsider with shrinking influence in a movement that emphasizes white Christian identity. Alex Jones and Shapiro have clashed in the past as well, even if Jones was not as central to this specific moment.

Taken together, the pile-on from Carlson, Kelly, Owens, Bannon, Fuentes, and past friction with Jones showed how wide the backlash has become, especially around Shapiro’s hawkish views and support for Israel.

Ben Shapiro’s Push to Stay Close to MAGA and Turning Point

Shapiro has spent years trying to stay connected to the broader MAGA scene. He has shown up at major events, spoken to younger conservative audiences, and built relationships with groups that shape the next generation of Republican activists.

His ties to Turning Point USA became more visible in recent years. Reports and commentary have pointed to large donations connected to promoting biblical values, an area that fits well with Kirk’s public message. In America First spaces, critics claim Shapiro has tried to plant himself inside the organization to steer it toward pro-Israel politics.

Bannon warned publicly that Ben Shapiro would “make a move” on TPUSA after Kirk, reflecting fears about internal power plays. Supporters of Shapiro frame his actions as a line in the sand against extremism. Detractors see something else, a bid to stay influential while the movement shifts away from open-ended Middle East intervention.

The core issue keeps circling back to Israel and US involvement overseas. Shapiro has defended Israel strongly and has criticized conservatives who question US aid or military support tied to the region. He has also brushed off historical controversies like the USS Liberty incident as not relevant to today’s alliance, a stance that angers isolationist-leaning voters who see these debates as part of a larger pattern.

America First advocates argue that constant focus on the Middle East comes at a cost. They say it drains money and attention that should go toward the border, inflation, jobs, and public safety. In many online arguments, Shapiro gets labeled as a throwback who still supports the same “forever wars” mindset that Trump-era populists promised to reject.

Signs of Shrinking Reach on Social Media

Ben Shapiro’s critics also point to social media numbers as proof that his influence is slipping. They argue that his YouTube growth has slowed in 2025, with subscriber counts leveling off or dipping. Some claim his views are down sharply compared to past peaks, while other conservative personalities, including Carlson and Owens, have gained ground with big audience jumps.

There are also ongoing accusations aimed at The Daily Wire, with critics claiming the network props up performance using paid views or bots. These claims often focus on what they see as a mismatch between large view counts and weaker engagement, like fewer comments or likes.

These allegations remain contested, but they continue to spread, and they feed distrust inside grassroots conservative communities.

As the GOP tightens around a more populist Trump-style core, voices like Shapiro’s face a tougher road. His brand of conservatism, built on strong foreign alliances and a more traditional approach to policy, has less room in a party that prizes America First loyalty.

After AmericaFest, the shift looked even clearer. A movement that once held a wider mix of right-wing views now demands tighter agreement on priorities, especially on war, borders, and national identity.

Ben Shapiro’s pushback against antisemitism and conspiracy culture still earns respect from some conservatives, but it also draws anger from a base that distrusts institutions and resents being policed by media figures.

Shapiro still speaks loudly and often. The bigger issue is whether the loudest part of the MAGA wing still cares to listen. The calls for him to step back keep growing, and they point to a real change in who holds power in conservative media.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Republican member of Congress is weighing an unusual step, forcing a House vote to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D, Minn.) while pointing to long-running claims about her immigration history and criticisms of her views on national security.

The talk comes as federal investigators keep widening their net around large fraud cases tied to Minnesota social service programmes, cases that have drawn heavy political attention and intense media coverage.

Rep. Randy Fine (R, Fla.), a strong supporter of Israel known for blunt remarks, told reporters in mid-December that he is “actively considering” filing an expulsion resolution against Omar. He pointed to allegations, which remain unproven and which Omar has repeatedly denied, that she married her brother to help with immigration. He also accused her of sympathising with extremist violence.

Fine said he would not use the issue as a fundraising hook. He said that if he moves forward, he will put it in writing and push it on the House floor rather than through partisan messaging.

Expelling a House member takes a two-thirds majority, which is a steep hurdle. The House has used expulsion only a handful of times in US history, most often during the Civil War period over loyalty.

Observers say Fine would need major bipartisan backing for the effort to go anywhere in today’s divided Congress. Omar brushed off the threat, saying, “I don’t think anybody takes that man seriously.” Her office did not respond to further requests for comment.

Omar and the Minnesota Somali Corruption

Fine’s remarks landed as Republicans renewed attacks on Omar and on Minnesota’s Somali community, following repeated comments from President Trump. Trump has insulted Somali residents in the state and has claimed Omar should be deported, while repeating old accusations about immigration fraud.

The claims trace back to reporting and commentary that surfaced years ago about Omar’s marriage history, including a short marriage to a man some conservatives alleged was her brother. Omar has described those allegations as “absurd and offensive,” and no charges have been brought.

The latest push also follows earlier GOP attempts that did not succeed. In September 2025, Rep. Nancy Mace (R, S.C.) filed a resolution to censure Omar and strip her of committee roles over comments aimed at conservative activist Charlie Kirk shortly after his assassination. The House set that measure aside in a close vote.

Omar also lost her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2023, after critics said past remarks about Israel were antisemitic.

Minnesota fraud investigations keep expanding

The expulsion talk has spread at the same time as major developments in Minnesota, where federal prosecutors are pursuing what they have described as large-scale fraud involving public funds.

Several investigations focus on schemes that authorities say add up to nearly $1 billion. The best-known is the Feeding Our Future case, in which a non-profit organisation allegedly took more than $250 million that was meant to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dozens of people have been convicted. Prosecutors say some defendants spent money on luxury cars, property abroad, and transfers overseas.

Many of those charged are of Somali background, reflecting Minnesota’s large Somali diaspora, the biggest in the United States. Other active probes involve autism services and housing programmes, and prosecutors have suggested total losses could pass $1 billion.

Omar has called the fraud “reprehensible” and has said Somali residents are victims too, since the programmes often served their neighbourhoods. Critics have highlighted limited links around her orbit. Some people later convicted donated to her campaigns, and those donations were returned. A former campaign worker also pleaded guilty in a related scheme.

Omar has pointed to her own past actions, including a 2022 letter to federal officials urging an investigation into suspected misuse of funds.

The US Treasury Department is also reviewing whether any stolen money ended up abroad. Some allegations have hinted at possible ties to Somali militant groups, although federal sources have said there is no evidence of that so far.

Political backlash and impact on the community

Republicans, including Trump, have tied the fraud cases to broader attacks on immigration policy and have accused Democratic Governor Tim Walz of weak oversight. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R, Ky.) has opened a federal review of how the state handled the programmes.

Omar and community leaders say the rhetoric fuels stigma and can raise the risk of threats against Somali-Americans. Omar has criticised Trump’s language and said it targets people who are US citizens and long-term residents.

Immigration enforcement has also picked up in the Twin Cities area, with ICE operations aimed at undocumented people. Omar has said her US-born son was briefly stopped, and she described it as retaliation.

Expulsion is rare. The most recent case was in 2002, when a member was removed over ethics violations. If Fine files a resolution, it would raise the stakes in a Congress already locked in fights over committee seats, public statements, and partisan discipline.

As the new session nears, it is unclear whether the effort will move beyond talk. Even with shifting power in Washington, the two-thirds vote requirement makes it difficult for any one party to remove a sitting member without broad support.

Omar, elected in 2018 as one of the first Muslim women in Congress, has built a national profile through progressive positions on foreign policy and refugee issues. Supporters see the attacks on her as rooted in prejudice. Critics argue that they are a response to her statements and conduct.

With federal fraud probes still growing, and immigration politics still heated, Minnesota’s Somali community and its most high-profile elected official are again at the centre of a national fight.

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