Virginia Democrats brushed off calls to condemn political violence this week after pulling the legislature back into special session to push a redistricting amendment aimed at reshaping state maps before the 2026 general election.

Del. Delores Oates, R-Front Royal, was yielded the floor to address a House session on Wednesday; introducing a women’s group called “Moms Say No To Violence Against Children.”

But, Oates’ introduction was short-lived, as she began to speak about how “our children are Virginia’s future, the heart of our families and a gift from God.”

“When anyone, especially a public figure, wishes harm on a child – that they die in their mother’s arms so they can win a political point, these moms refuse to stay silent.”

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After Oates uttered “die in their mother’s arms,” House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, slammed his gavel and announced that Oates was “out of order.”

Scott appeared to recognize Oates’ reference to text messages by Jay Jones, the Democrats’ candidate for attorney general, about a former Republican leader. Scott is a staunch defender of Jones who told reporters after the gubernatorial debate that Republicans should pay more attention to President Donald Trump’s past comments about ex-Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney.

Scott then uttered, “sergeant-at-arms,” as if to threaten Oates with formal punishment for continuing to speak.

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Across the Capitol on the Senate side, Republicans unsuccessfully sought to insert an amendment into the text of the original resolution outlining the special session, which would have recognized the issue of political violence in Virginia.

Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg – who is also party chairman – drafted an edit “condemning politicians who wish death on children and families of elected officials.”

That too was quickly nixed by Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell of Mount Vernon, who recommended his colleagues reject it.

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“I don’t think this is something we need to take up as part of this special session,” Surovell said.

“It’s something that we can easily take up in the regular session later — it’s not something that’s urgent right now.”

The Senate GOP caucus responded with outrage, writing on X that “Surovell just told the world it’s ‘not urgent right now’ to condemn politicians who wish death on their opponents’ children.”

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Shortly after Surovell’s formal recommendation, the Senate voted 21-17 along party lines to follow his advice and reject the amendment.

The move would’ve added such language to the state Constitution, according to Del. David Owen, R-Short Pump.

“This is why elections matter,” Owen said. “Don’t sit on the sidelines. Make a plan to vote today.”

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Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, who was personally subjected to a death threat that led to the arrest of a Dinwiddie County man, fumed at Democrats’ rejection.

“As someone who has personally experienced politically motivated threats, I am appalled,” she said.

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“Violence has no place in our politics and refusing to condemn it is indefensible.”

In a statement, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, called the situation “disgraceful.”

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., vowed on the “Ruthless” podcast Thursday in an exclusive interview that he will hold the NCAA accountable over a rules change regarding athletes engaging in sports betting.

Guthrie sent a letter to National Collegiate Athletic Association President Charlie Baker, questioning their decision to allow student athletes and college athletic department staff to bet on professional sports.  

“The timing of the NCAA’s decision to allow student athlete and staff participation in professional sports betting raises questions about sports betting and integrity of sport in the NCAA,” Guthrie wrote. 

While college athletes are still unable to bet on college sports, Guthrie warned in a letter that there are those who believe it may be hazardous to allow college athletes to bet on professional sports, noting that even the NCAA itself, “previously expressed concern about the pervasiveness and potential harm of sports betting on young adults” and yet beginning next month, student athletes will be able to place bets. 

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Amid recent sports betting scandals, the timing of such a rule change, the letter argued, is concerning, and proceeded to ask numerous questions such as, “Why is the NCAA changing its policy allowing student athletes to bet on professional sports?”

Guthrie spoke to the “Ruthless” podcast on Thursday, announcing his NCAA letter.

“The integrity of the game is in question,” the lawmaker said. “And my understanding with the NBA, a lot of these gambling houses are the people that apps, I guess, is what flagged it. Because they saw these different patterns.”

Guthrie expressed concern that while the NCAA has moved to permit student-athletes to bet on professional sports, many questions remain about who made this decision, how the decision was reached, and how oversight and control will be implemented. He emphasized that these athletes are closely connected—often moving from college to the pros and maintaining personal relationships—making it especially important to understand how such relationships and communications will be managed under this new policy.

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“Yeah, ‘Maybe pull a hamstring in the second quarter,’” co-host Michael Duncan joked, a person might suggest to his athlete friend, looking to win big.

Co-host Michael Duncan joked that friends of athletes might pressure them to throw the game in order to win a bet. 

“Yeah, I’m just saying, you don’t know that – hopefully they wouldn’t do that, but it certainly sets that situation up,” the congressman warned.

Guthrie went on to note the strange ways that unethical gambling behaviors can pop up, such as citing how player-manager Pete Rose defended how he only bet on his team winning, something which Guthrie noted even himself thought innocuous, “’If you bet on your team to win, aren’t you gonna try harder?’”

However, Guthrie noted how he learned from sports gamblers how even this can be ethically hazardous, due to what games one strategically decides not to bet on.

“So if he’s betting $10,000 on this game, but nothing on the next game, he knows there’s a pitcher not pitching well, has a player got a sore foot. You know, that’s what you don’t know,” he said. “And so I agree. So you can’t have athletes, particularly people that communicate as they do, even though, you know, a college player is not on a pro team, but if his best friends own the pro team, and you’re seeing him betting, then you’re going, ‘Well, maybe we should bet that way.’”

“Ruthless” can be listened to on all podcast platforms and can be watched on YouTube. (Fox News Media)

“If there’s one guy that I trust to look into it, it is you because you’re a sports fan, you have tons of integrity, and you actually try to find the facts, not just get your name next to the league letters in the newspaper,” co-host Josh Holmes said. 

FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested two illegal immigrants wanted for murder in Texas and Georgia on the same day, with one allegedly confessing to a killing after his arrest, officials said.

In Texas, on Oct. 22, agents took William Machado, a Honduran national, into custody. Machado had been wanted by local law enforcement since 2022 for murder.

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ICE officials said in a statement that it was during an interview following his capture that Machado confessed to the homicide.

In a separate operation in Georgia, ICE agents arrested Salvador Rodriguez-Mendoza, a Mexican national, who is wanted by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, also for murder, as well as two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

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In Georgia, ICE arrested Salvador Rodriguez-Mendoza from Mexico, who had an active arrest warrant for murder. (Department of Homeland Security)

Authorities said Rodriguez-Mendoza has a lengthy criminal record, including multiple arrests on charges of drunk driving, drug possession charges, and driving without a license.

ICE confirmed Rodriguez-Mendoza had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2000 and 2018, but illegally re-entered the country for a third time at an unknown date and location.

“These two criminal illegal alien MURDERERS will now face justice thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Machado and Rodriguez-Mendoza have zero regard for human life, and we have NO PLACE for animals like them in our country,” she added.

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Nearly 60 people were detained by ICE in the operation. (WZTV)

“These are the exact type of heinous criminals ICE is arresting and removing from American communities every single day. 70% of ICE arrests have been charged with or convicted of crimes in the U.S. Thanks to President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s leadership, these two dangerous criminals are no longer a threat to Americans,” McLaughlin added.

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ICE said detainers have been lodged on both individuals pending the conclusion of their criminal proceedings.

According to ICE data, roughly 70% of individuals arrested in fiscal year 2024 had either been charged with or convicted of crimes inside the U.S., ranging from homicide and assault to drug trafficking and DUI offenses.