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‘Free beer’ for Trump death Dem activist running for Wisconsin gov: ‘I will win’ if they silence me
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Kirk Bangstad, the controversial Wisconsin brewery owner who seemed to offer free beer on Facebook for the assassination of President Donald Trump, is currently seeking the requisite 2,000 signatures for his burgeoning campaign for governor, warning his party he will win the primary if they try to silence him.
«I will win the primary if they don’t let me speak: I guarantee you that,» Bangstad told WISN 12 News this week when asked about speaking at the state Democratic convention.
Bangstad, the owner of Minocqua Brewing Company (MBC), launched his campaign for Wisconsin governor after drawing national scrutiny for a social media post that appeared on the brewery’s Facebook page after an alleged assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
«Well, we almost got #freebeerday,» the April 12 post read just minutes after the WHCA Dinner security event. «Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We’ll never know. Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens.»
WISCONSIN DEM’S BAR LAMENTS ‘WE ALMOST GOT FREE BEER DAY’ FOR TRUMP ASSASSINATION
The Minocqua Brewing Company is shown in a Google Earth image amid controversy over its «free beer day» campaign referencing the anticipated death of President Donald Trump. (Google Maps)
The news spread so far on social media and in the news that it drew a visit from the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI days later, but Bangstad contends it was merely satirical commentary and not a dog whistle for political violence from leftist radicals like the past three Trump assassination attempts.
«It was satire,» he told WISN 12. «I meant it as satire. I’ve said that all along and it was taken out of context in order to create a feeding frenzy by the media, which it did, and allow Republicans to paint Democrats as politically violent.»
There has been caution from Democrats about Bangstad’s rhetoric for weeks, but it has not stopped him, and he acknowledged it led to his jumping into the gubernatorial race after the federal law enforcement visit, and even has proven lucrative for fundraising, if not his brewery business.
«Remember there was another half of that post that said, ‘or Donald Trump is trying to fake an assassination attempt to get a better news cycle,» Bangstad told WISN 12. «The first part was satire that was trying to set off the second part.»
WISCONSIN MOM ‘SEETHING’ AFTER DEMOCRATS GIVE HER 8-YEAR-OLD SON A CHILLING BRACELET CALLING FOR TRUMP’S DEATH
Minocqua Brewing Company posted an offer for free beer when a man dies on its Facebook page. (Screenshot/Facebook)
Bangstad said he resurfaced his «free beer day» MBC business campaign because «the assassination attempt seemed staged,» acknowledging it has allowed him to gain «name recognition.»
Bangstad pointed to his «250,000 followers on Facebook» and «170,000 subscribers to our Substack page.»
«Most of those people are progressives and a lot of those are progressives who live in Wisconsin, so I would think I have the best name recognition in the state of Wisconsin right now,» Bangstad continued.
«The Democratic Party who has a terrible approval rating across the country and in Wisconsin can say all they want to about me. I’m a true Democrat, a true progressive Democrat, and I have more name recognition than everybody in this race save for probably Mandela Barnes.»
DEM LAWMAKER SPARKS ONLINE OUTRAGE FOR BLAMING TRUMP’S LOW APPROVAL FOR WHCA DINNER SHOOTING
A split image of the Minocqua Brewing Company and its owner Kirk Bangstad. Photos taken on unknown dates. (Google Maps; Facebook/Minocqua Brewing Company)
If he was blocked from speaking at the June 13-14 Wisconsin Democratic convention at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Bangstad vowed, «I’d speak anyway; I’d speak outside the front door.»
«And if they try to not let me speak, they’re going to put me in office,» Bangstad said. «Let’s be honest.
«If they restrict my speech as a fellow Democrat, they are going to do so much harm to their appearance, and they’re going to do so much harm to other candidates, I will win the primary if they don’t let me speak. I guarantee you that.»
Bangstad said he has not «gotten that far» on whether he will attend the Democratic convention in June.
MANDELA BARNES JUMPS INTO WISCONSIN GOVERNOR RACE — BUT BAGGAGE FROM HIS 2022 SENATE BID FOLLOWS
The Minocqua Brewing Company building is located in Wisconsin. The company has a history of promoting progressive politics. (Screenshot/Google Earth)
«I’ve got to get my 2,000 signatures by June 1 – obviously, I’m in the race really late; we’ve got a month to get 2,000 signatures,» he said.
«I will of course attend the Democratic convention, I’m a Democrat. I want to drag the Democratic Party kicking and screaming to a realistic place that’s not owned by big money, and that’s what I plan to do.
«And I think I can get there in Wisconsin.»
FORMER NAVY SEAL AND ‘POLITICAL OUTSIDER’ ANNOUNCES GOP CAMPAIGN FOR WISCONSIN GOVERNOR
The Wisconsin primary is Aug. 11, but getting the signatures and his name out there is a first priority, according to Bangstad, admitting the campaign as «raised a ton of money so far» while demurring on exactly how much.
«I’ve got oodles of money in Facebook followers, in Substack followers, the equivalent of that in my being able to reach people and give them my message,» he said.
Bangstad’s small brewery has long leaned into liberal politics, selling progressive-themed merchandise and promoting itself through anti-Trump messaging and shirts reading, «I wish it was free beer day.»
PATTERN OF LEFTIST VIOLENCE GROWS AS TRUMP NEARS 10 MONTHS IN OFFICE
The controversy escalated after the April 25 security scare at the WHCA Dinner in Washington, D.C., where authorities say Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, attempted to storm a Secret Service checkpoint with a loaded shotgun and other weapons. Allen was ordered held without bail, facing life in prison for attempted assassination of the president and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
After the brewery’s post, the FBI and Secret Service confirmed they followed up on the matter and conducted a voluntary interview with Bangstad.
«The U.S. Secret Service follows up on perceived threats against the President of the United States or any one of our protectees,» the agencies said in a joint statement to Fox News. «The FBI and Secret Service together followed up on information received and conducted further investigative steps, which included a voluntary interview with the individual. This is an ongoing matter and we do not have further comment.»
Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes might be the only gubernatorial candidate with more ‘name recognition,’ according to Kirk Bangstad. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
HASAN PIKER NO-SHOWS PRO-COMMUNIST EVENT OVER ALLEGED SAFETY FEARS WHILE MOCKING TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Bangstad livestreamed part of the encounter with two suited men who questioned him about whether he knew anyone who wanted to harm Trump or supported anyone who wanted to harm the president. The brewery also posted what it said was a transcription of a voicemail from a person Bangstad identified as a Secret Service agent and urged supporters to call the number.
Bangstad, a former Democrat candidate for Wisconsin’s 34th Assembly District, lost his 2020 general election bid. He also founded the Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC, which has targeted Trump and Republicans, and previously sued to keep Trump off Wisconsin’s 2024 ballot.
The latest controversy also put pressure on other Wisconsin Democrats who have past ties to Bangstad.
Trump-backed House candidate Michael Alfonso accused Democrats of trying to avoid the issue, pointing to Bangstad’s connections to Democrats in the state.
POPULAR LEFT-WING PODCAST HOSTS PUSH CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT TRUMP STAGED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON HIMSELF
«This brewery is owned by a man named Kirk Bangstad, and he’s not just some random crazy guy,» Alfonso wrote on X. «Kirk is friends with current Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong. He previously employed Rebecca Cooke, the Democrat currently running against Derrick Van Orden, and was himself the Democratic nominee against my father-in-law, Sean Duffy, in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District—where I am now running for office.»
Cooke’s campaign denounced political violence but did not mention Bangstad by name in its response to Fox News.
«This rhetoric is dangerous and unacceptable – showcasing just how broken our political system is,» Cooke said through her campaign manager. «I denounce all forms of political violence.
«We need to bring the temperature down, stop pitting working folks against each other, and come together to solve the very serious problems facing our communities.»
A Google maps image of the Minocqua Brewing Company in Minocqua, Wisconsin, taken on an unknown date. (Google Maps)
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The National Republican Congressional Committee said Cooke’s response was insufficient and called on her to directly name her former employer.
«Rebecca Cooke needs to stop hiding and immediately denounce her former employer, Kirk Bangstad’s dangerous and unhinged comments,» NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon told Fox News. «Cooke’s previous employment by Bangstad makes her silence even more unacceptable. Voters deserve to know whether she stands with Wisconsinites who reject this rhetoric or with the same extremist voices pushing it.»
Hong also responded in a series of X posts after Fox News Digital reached out, condemning the normalization of political violence but not naming Bangstad. When asked specifically about the brewery or owner, Hong campaign manager Becky Cooper pointed back to the posts.
«That would fall under the ‘becoming numb’ portion,» Cooper told Fox News, declining to denounce Bangstad by name. «MBC’s tweet is intentionally inflammatory and a symptom of the normalization of political violence.»
LIBERAL WISCONSIN BREWING COMPANY PROMISES ‘FREE BEER, ALL DAY LONG’ AFTER TRUMP DIES
Wisconsin Republicans and national GOP figures have seized on the episode as evidence of overheated rhetoric on the left.
«Wisconsin Democrats are so sick in the head that an attempted murder is funny to them,» RNC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar told Fox News. «All Wisconsin Democrats, including Rebecca Cooke, must immediately condemn this disgusting behavior.»
Bangstad has also drawn scrutiny outside his anti-Trump messaging. Wisconsin Public Radio reported last year that he had been charged in a harassment case tied to a dispute with a local newspaper publisher.
«We only give comments to legitimate news organizations, not state propaganda agencies,» Bangstad told Fox News Digital after a request for comment about the Secret Service and FBI visit. «However, maybe one of our customers might want to respond to your question.»
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Fox News reached out to Bangstad for further comment Sunday and has not yet heard back.
Fox News has also reached out to the campaigns for Hong, Cooke and Barnes, along with the Wisconsin Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee.
Fox News’ Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
midterm elections, democrats elections, mandela barnes, primary results, wisconsin, governors
INTERNACIONAL
Former Olympian among those charged with vandalizing Reflecting Pool; Trump says basin must be drained: report
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Multiple people have been arrested this weekend after allegedly vandalizing the newly refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, prompting a strong response from President Donald Trump and an increase in security at the site.
In a statement on Truth Social Saturday night, Trump announced «many additional people» have been arrested after suspects «took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete.»
The president also alleged suspects «poured corrosive and destructive chemicals» into the basin.
«It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work,» Trump wrote in the post. «Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before! What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly.»
TRUMP SAYS VANDALS USED CHEMICALS TO DAMAGE NEWLY RENOVATED REFLECTING POOL NEAR LINCOLN MEMORIAL
National Park Service employees and contractors use vacuums to remove green algae from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Thursday, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump said administration officials met with contractors Saturday and will likely need to drain «much of the water» in order to do the necessary repairs.
It is unclear if the contractors mentioned are the same ones initially employed to carry out the renovations.
«[We] will have them done as quickly as possible,» the president wrote. «What they have damaged does not even include the earlier killing of a large amount of grass which was, by far, the least of it.
«… The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened. We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure, and we will get it repaired, quickly, to an equal level of Beauty.»
The announcement came as the administration faces scrutiny over peeling paint and algae growth just weeks after a $14.8 million restoration project was completed.
While Trump did not specify who was responsible for the alleged gash in the lining and subsequent peeling, multiple arrests were documented over the weekend by local reporters.
Paint peels from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. (Annabelle Gordon/Reuters)
TRUMP TAKES MOTORCADE INTO REFLECTING POOL, BLASTS PAST ‘$38M DISASTER’ FIX UNDER OBAMA
Journalist Emily Miller posted a two-minute video on X Friday showing a man in lime green racing gear questioning a National Guardsman before being handcuffed by U.S. Park Police.
The Washington Post later identified the man in Miller’s video as David Hearn, 67, a three-time Olympian who was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property.
Hearn told the outlet he had just finished a 52-mile bike ride when he noticed a «partially detached piece» of the new pool liner and «reached into the water to see what it felt like.»
The Bethesda, Maryland, native told The Associated Press he owned a company that made composite used to build watercraft.
Former U.S. Olympian David Hearn was arrested after allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. (David Madison/Getty Images, File)
While Miller claimed in her post that Hearn «grabbed» a hose that National Park Service workers were using to remediate algae growth, Hearn told The Washington Post the hose «may» only have been touched by his bike tire.
«I didn’t vandalize anything,» Hearn told the outlet.
Hearn, who was arrested in 1996 on charges of canoeing on the Potomac River but later had them dropped, said, «I didn’t destroy, break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already being handcuffed.»
National Guard members walk past a National Park Service employee using a vacuum to clean the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Friday, in Washington. D.C. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Miller reported that seven people were detained Friday and five people were detained Saturday in separate incidents, which has led to a major security surge.
In an earlier Truth Social post Saturday, Trump questioned, «Who would do such a thing?»
«These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments,» the president wrote. «Years in jail! Work will begin immediately on its repair.»
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The White House, U.S. Park Police and Miller did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
vandalism, national guard, white house, parks, donald trump, police and law enforcement, washington dc
INTERNACIONAL
El Gobierno de Guatemala lanza un plan estatal para buscar a 45.000 desaparecidos de la guerra civil
Guatemala lanzó un plan estatal para buscar a 45,000 desaparecidos de la guerra civil, una deuda abierta desde el conflicto armado interno que dejó al menos 200,000 muertos y desaparecidos entre 1960 y 1996. El presidente Bernardo Arévalo presentó el mecanismo como una vía para localizar a las víctimas con participación de autoridades, familias y organizaciones humanitarias, en un proceso que, según remarcó, no reemplaza las causas judiciales.
El programa tendrá una vigencia de 10 años y funcionará entre 2026 y 2036. El diseño incluyó 67 encuentros nacionales con la participación de 775 familiares y organizaciones de derechos humanos, y prevé además la creación de un Archivo Nacional de Memoria a partir de bases de datos dispersas que serán digitalizadas por el Poder Judicial.
Arévalo hizo el anuncio el viernes al presentar oficialmente el Mecanismo de Búsqueda Humanitaria de Personas Desaparecidas durante el Conflicto Armado Interno 2026-2036. “Iniciamos un camino para encontrar a quienes nos faltan, para sanar una herida abierta por la historia”, dijo el mandatario.
El presidente guatemalteco sostuvo además que el nuevo instrumento apunta a establecer el paradero de las víctimas mediante un trabajo coordinado. En ese marco, precisó que “no sustituye la aplicación de la justicia”.
La presentación del mecanismo reunió la promesa oficial de búsqueda con el reclamo histórico de los familiares de las víctimas. Pablo Estrada, presidente de la Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos y Desaparecidos de Guatemala, definió el anuncio como una “pequeña luz” después de décadas de búsqueda de personas cuyo “único delito fue pensar distinto”.
Estrada habló en el mismo acto en el que se oficializó el plan. Allí recordó que su organización promovió en las últimas décadas procesos de exhumación de 1.800 osamentas de “víctimas del terrorismo de Estado”, de las cuales el 30% fue identificado y entregado a sus familias.
Arévalo anunció el mecanismo; Estrada expuso el límite de los esfuerzos previos. El Gobierno promete articular instituciones y tecnología para localizar a los desaparecidos, mientras las familias piden que esa estructura permita ingresar a lugares donde hasta ahora no hubo acceso y donde sospechan que puede haber restos de víctimas.
El activista advirtió que la búsqueda “conlleva riesgos” y colocó un punto de tensión sobre la eficacia real del plan. Expresó su expectativa de que el nuevo mecanismo abra las puertas de recintos militares a los que se les negó el acceso pese a “denuncias sustentadas” de que allí “existen cementerios clandestinos”.
Ese señalamiento vincula la dimensión humanitaria del programa con una demanda concreta de acceso a información y lugares sensibles. La promesa oficial de que el mecanismo no reemplazará a la justicia convive así con un reclamo de larga data: que la búsqueda avance también sobre espacios bajo control militar.
La estrategia presentada por el Gobierno incluye el uso de inteligencia artificial para identificar patrones, recopilar macroprocesos y procesar documentación masiva del régimen militar. También prevé que el Poder Judicial digitalice y organice bases de datos dispersas para construir un Archivo Nacional de Memoria unificado.
El anuncio se produjo en el marco del aniversario del acuerdo de paz firmado con la Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca. Según la presentación oficial, el plan se inscribe en la conmemoración del pacto cuya efeméride se cumplirá el 29 de diciembre.
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Keir Starmer reportedly considering stepping down as PM and could announce timetable for departure
British PM Keir Starmer could face leadership challenge amid internal troubles
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces significant internal pressure following Andy Burnham’s special election win, potentially triggering a leadership contest. Starmer is under fire for economic pressures, illegal immigration issues, and controversies surrounding his previous role in prosecuting grooming gangs. Elon Musk also accused Starmer of complicity.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly considering stepping down and could announce a timetable for his departure as early as Monday, according to a report published Saturday.
Britain’s Observer newspaper reported that Starmer was discussing his future with his wife at his Chequers country residence before making a final decision.
The outlet reported that senior Labour Party figures expect a statement addressing his future as early as next week.
A government source told Reuters that Starmer remains focused on governing and pointed to previous comments in which he vowed to remain in office.
AS EPSTEIN-LINKED APPOINTMENT SPARKS BACKLASH, UK PM STARMER FACES PARTY REVOLT AMID RESIGNATION CALLS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer awaits Switzerland’s Federal President Guy Parmelin on the sidelines of the G7 summit, in Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday. (Isabel Infantes/Pool Reuters via AP)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the prime minister’s office for comment.
Pressure on Starmer has been building for months amid growing dissatisfaction within his party and concerns over the government’s handling of the economy and cost-of-living issues.
The political threat to Starmer intensified Friday after rival Andy Burnham won a seat in Parliament, positioning him to mount a formal leadership challenge.
LABOUR MP PUTS CABINET ‘ON NOTICE,’ THREATENS TO TRIGGER LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE AGAINST STARMER BY MONDAY
Britain’s Labour party candidate Andy Burnham speaks to supporters after the Makerfield by-election in Ashton in Makerfield, England, Friday. (Jon Super/AP)
Starmer congratulated Burnham following the victory, writing on X that voters, «chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate.»
When asked about Burnham’s apparent ambitions to replace him, Starmer insisted he intends to remain in office.
«I’ve said repeatedly I’m not going to walk away from that,» Starmer said.
UK’S STARMER JUGGLES TROUBLE AT HOME AS HE WALKS GEOPOLITICAL TIGHTROPE WITH TRUMP
Sir Keir Starmer is battling to save his position and refusing to stand aside despite dozens of Labout MP’s demanding he resigns. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Starmer has led the Labour Party since 2020 and became prime minister in 2024.
Calls for his resignation intensified last month, with more than 100 Labour lawmakers publicly urging him to step aside or set out a timetable for his departure. Several parliamentary aides also resigned in protest.
The internal revolt followed a series of disappointing local election results for Labour, which lost hundreds of council seats across England, surrendered long-held ground in Wales and fell behind political rivals in Scotland.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks a news conference at Downing Street in London, March 5. (Tolga Akmen/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File)
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Starmer’s popularity has also declined amid a persistently high cost of living, sluggish economic growth and criticism over his acceptance of gifts from wealthy donors.
Fox News Digital’s James Cirrone and Emma Bussey, and Reuters contributed to this report.
uk politics, elections, united kingdom, world
Former Olympian among those charged with vandalizing Reflecting Pool; Trump says basin must be drained: report
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Florida court says 18-year-olds have same gun rights as other adults
