Overview

• Rep. Derrick Van Orden introduced a bill to prohibit federal funding for entities that employ individuals who condone or celebrate political violence or domestic terrorism.
• He threatened to block millions in federal aid for Eau Claire and also warned Ellsworth after social media comments he argued endorsed the killing.
• The Eau Claire council members whose posts he cited deleted them and said they did not believe Charlie Kirk, who was shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, deserved to be killed.
• Free-speech group FIRE says the legislation likely violates the First Amendment by conditioning funding on protected speech and leaving key definitions to shifting government discretion.
• The Wisconsin Democratic Party alleges Van Orden posted more than 550 times on X in five days with escalatory rhetoric, including a message vowing to be "at war for the next 20."