Antisemitic ambassador axed by Turning Point USA

Morgan Ariel booted by Turning Point USA for consistent antisemitism

Turning Point USA cut ties with one of its controversial ambassadors following her latest antisemitic tirade, in which she claimed that the “Zionist Jews controlling our planet are all pedophiIes who have no regard for the sanctity of human life and purity.” 

Morgan Ariel, who previously claimed that she “work[s] for Jesus,” has previously drawn criticism for other shocking statements, including calling for the execution of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for promoting the Covid-19 vaccine, comparing American Christians to dogs being walked by Israel and promoting notorious far-right extremist Nick Fuentes. 

Her thoughts this week proved to be the final straw. Ariel shared what purports to be a text from a TPUSA staffer telling her that while they “100% believe you have the right to express yourself as you see fit, [] what you’re expressing is further and further out of sync with the values of the organization.” TPUSA asked her to remove any reference she has to them from her bio, which she has done. 

While she’s gone from TPUSA-world, Ariel, whose pinned tweet is her wearing a dress she designed featuring Joe Biden sniffing someone, is definitely not backing down from her unhinged Jew-hatred. In the hours after her unceremonious firing from her unpaid job, she tweeted a meme of a Kippah-clad Jew with a massive hook nose asking Jesus if he “think[s] we’re the synagogue of Satan.” 

For some Republicans who’ve worked closely with TPUSA, her removal is welcome news — but doesn’t fully address the rot. “This crazy lady has been saying disgusting things about Jews for months and Turning Point is just now disassociating from her?” one Republican strategist told Cockburn. “Will they disassociate from the other antisemitic ambassadors in their organization? Like his professed love for Trump, Charlie [Kirk]’s professed love for Israel isn’t genuine and is strictly a play to get the millions needed to buy himself his next luxury condo in Scottsdale.” 

According to Turning Point, it has over 250 ambassadors with an average following of over 275,000. At just under 69,000 between her Instagram and Twitter accounts, it’s unclear why Ariel was ever even accepted into the program, which requires four posts per year on ambassadors’ main feeds and six on their stories. Perhaps more concerning for Ariel, the group’s advertisements for its program, reviewed by Cockburn, features smiling people holding American and Israeli flags. 

Ariel responded to one of her gay critics in the wake of her firing with the kind of articulate verbiage that must have made her such an asset: “you literally take it up the butt dude.”

Cockburn will watch with interest to see where she takes her talents next.

The most annoying person you know in DC retweeted this

This week in cringe: #Resistance Twitter hero and Obama dad from Get Out Bradley Whitford stepped back into his role as press secretary from The West Wing on behalf of his “president” Martin Sheen:

“There’s a story going around saying that Martin Sheen is supporting @RobertKennedyJr for president,” Whitford posted on X. “The story is incorrect. Martin asked us to post this on his behalf. ‘I wholeheartedly support President Joe Biden and the democratic ticket in 2024. Sincerely, Martin Sheen’”

For its part, the committee hosted the event for RFK Jr. said they “would not have included Mr. Sheen in our list of attendees had we not received confirmation that he was attending.” The whole farce offers further evidence that real life in Washington was always closer to Veep than The West Wing…

Shooting the Messenger

Amid staff layoffs and financial turmoil, fledgling online-only outlet the Messenger may turn to an unusual group of potential saviors: conservative influencers, who are reportedly offering $30 million for around 51 percent of the company. 

According to Axios, the group includes Ryan Coyne, who founded Olympic Media (now called Starboard), a digital firm that worked closely with the controversial Arsenal Media Group, Garrett Ventry, who was ousted from his role in the Senate over #MeToo allegations, and George Farmer, twink husband of Candace Owens and board member of Britain’s conservative GB News, among others. The possible acquisition comes as the Messenger seeks an infusion of at least $20 million. 

The group has already met with Messenger CEO, Jimmy Finkelstein, at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate — and is not “interested in getting involved with the company’s editorial efforts, but they believe the Messenger needs to create more revenue opportunities beyond traffic-based advertising and events,” according to Axios. 

The Messenger’s promise was to be a studiously nonpartisan outlet, prompting consternation from some of its staff, who are frustrated at its coverage of, among other things, Trump. Sounds like a problem only more Mar-a-Lago meetings can fix…

Hunter goes Hollywood

He’s ready for his close-up… Hunter Biden is, according to reports this week, set to star in a forthcoming documentary. In a break from its predecessors, the film is unlikely to feature him smoking hard drugs, frolicking with sex workers or displaying his impressive appendage. No: the new doc is being backed by Hunter’s close friend Kevin Morris, an attorney, and will show the Biden heir “painting, selling his art, raising his son and navigating everyday life as a sober adult with ongoing criminal investigations and in the crosshairs of Trump and his supporters.”

If Morris is shopping around for name ideas, Cockburn has a few: what about Weird Scion-ce? Or Top Son: Maverick?Any more suggestions? Send yours — and any tips for the new year — to cockburn@thespectator.com.