Staff Reports
Carl Higbie of Newsmax did not mince words this week. On his show he labeled recent anti-ICE demonstrations as the work of “rabid leftists” and argued they were “started — and currently propped up and pandered to — by propagandist Democrats.” Whether you cheer, cringe, or roll your eyes, the clip pulls a bright thread through the debate over protests, media, and who really runs the show.
Carl Higbie’s claim: Organized outrage or organic anger?
Higbie’s short segment on Newsmax lays down a simple thesis: these anti‑ICE protests are not spontaneous community outrage but are stoked and amplified by left‑wing operatives and friendly media. That’s a useful point to raise. Mainstream reporting shows protests happened coast to coast after high‑profile enforcement actions tied to the Trump administration’s policies, and many gatherings involved national activist groups and local organizers working together. But independent fact‑checks caution against sweeping claims that protesters were broadly “paid agitators.” In short: some coordination existed, like it always does for national days of action, but the idea of a single puppet master pulling strings everywhere is a stretch.
What the evidence says — and what it doesn’t
News outlets from local papers to NBC have documented large demonstrations, curfews, and clashes with police. Fact‑checkers like PBS have examined claims about paid agitators and found limited evidence for blanket accusations. That doesn’t make Higbie wrong to point out activist networks and social‑media planning; it just means conservatives should avoid turning skepticism into lazy conspiracy claims. Call out orchestration when you can prove it — otherwise you risk sounding like the people who blame “paid protesters” for everything they don’t like.
Why conservatives should care about the framing
This matters for two reasons. First, how the public interprets unrest affects policy and policing. If reporters and politicians treat every protest as an organic outburst, they underplay the role of outside groups and tactics. If conservatives treat every protest as a manufactured attack, they delegitimize real grievances and help the left play victim politics. Second, outlets like Newsmax have real influence. Higbie’s blunt language resonates with a big audience. That means responsible conservatives should keep pushing for evidence while also keeping their rhetorical powder dry — insults and overreach make it easier for opponents to dismiss valid critiques.
The bottom line
Carl Higbie is doing exactly what opinion hosts do: stir, provoke, and push a narrative. He’s right to flag organized activism and media peddling, and he’s wrong if he implies every marcher is a hired actor. The sober approach for conservatives is to demand accountability from organizers and from media that amplifies them — and to let facts, not fevered talking points, guide the fight. If Democrats are really “propping up” chaos, show the receipts. Until then, call out bad actors where you find them, but don’t hand the other side an easy excuse to paint everyone who disagrees as a liar.
