Candace Owens vs. Turning Point USA

And Iran's foreign minister joins "Morning Joe" to discuss negotiations with the U.S. |

VIEW IN BROWSER MS NOW DAILY Understand today's news Friday, Feb. 20, 2026   THE LATEST Candace Owens' skirmish with Turning Point USA sums up the right's disinformation predicament By Zeeshan Aleem Candace Owens' skirmish with Turning Point USA sums up the right's disinformation predicament By Zeeshan Aleem Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens has peddled a number of conspiracy theories about the 2025 assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Among other things, Owens, who once worked at TPUSA, has suggested that the FBI, the French Foreign Legion, the Israeli government and even Turning Point staff could be among those involved in Kirk's death. Now her unsubstantiated claims appear to be sowing discord at TPUSA itself — and, in the process, revealing how right-wing disinformation can hurt the right just as much as any other sector of American society. The Bulwark recently reported on how Owens appears to be getting "inside TPUSA's head." TPUSA has fired several employees recently, and one of them said she believes she was fired in part due to her apparent rejection of mainstream news accounts of how Kirk was killed.  In a video posted on X in February that was shared widely, former TPUSA public relations manager Aubrey Laitsch said she has "a gut feeling that I was terminated from Turning Point because I am questioning the narrative" of Kirk's death and that "what is being told to us in the mainstream media just really doesn't add up to me."  We don't know why Laitsch lost her job. But her insinuations illustrate how the right is being hobbled by its abject distrust in institutions. The very fact that Laitsch believes that considering conspiracy theories about Kirk's death is what got her fired — and wants to share that information publicly — shows how the right is at risk of being cannibalized.   This is a preview of Zeeshan Aleem's latest column. Read the full column here. TOP STORIES AUTUMN BREWINGTON What Britain's royals don't want people to notice about former Prince Andrew's arrest King Charles III could have done more, much earlier, than let it be known in a statement Thursday that "the law must take its course." Read more. JASON JOHNSON Trump's exclusion of Moore and Polis from governors event is a new low — even for him The gathering of the National Governors Association is not usually a time of political tension or conflict, but a working meeting for governors and a chance for some face time with the president. Read more. ERUM SALAM Giant Trump banner hung on Justice Department headquarters The new decor is the latest in a series of renovations the president has undertaken in the nation's capital. Read more. ADAM HUDACEK Where leaders have (and haven't) faced fallout for Epstein ties From a British prince to a Norwegian prime minister, the Justice Department's latest document dump is toppling the powerful — seemingly everywhere but the U.S. Read more. TOP VIDEOS MORNING JOE Iranian foreign minister: No military solution for Iran's nuclear program, only diplomacy WATCH NOW THE BRIEFING WITH JEN PSAKI Family of Virginia Giuffre, accuser of former Prince Andrew, react to his arrest WATCH NOW KATY TUR Virginia Gov. Spanberger to give Democratic response to Trump's State of the Union WATCH NOW ALL IN WITH CHRIS HAYES 'All about '26 and '28': Stacey Abrams warns FBI raid is 'test run' ahead of key races  WATCH NOW MORE FROM MS NOW Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels are analyzing how culture and politics collide in their new original podcast, "MS NOW Presents: Clock It." In episode two, they are joined by journalist Jemele Hill to discuss why it was so exciting to see former President Barack Obama at the NBA All-Star Game, why Stephen A. Smith is proof that the age of the celebrity president isn't going anywhere, and politics at the Olympics. Plus, a reminder that "we are somebody" as Symone and Eugene pay their respects to civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson. Listen now, and subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening and a bonus episode featuring Symone and Eugene's answers to your questions about politics, how they became friends and more. On Saturday, Feb. 28, catch the premiere of "Crooked on MS NOW," a new special weekly series that highlights the smartest, funniest, and most talked-about moments of the week from Crooked Media's chart-topping podcasts. Watch "Crooked on MS NOW" premiering on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. Eastern. 229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE