Turning Point USA Wrongly Labeled a Hate Group by SPLC: My Stand Against Their Smear with 2 Simple Facts

 

Why I Reject the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Attack on Charlie Kirk and TPUSA

As the author of this blog post and I wrote Prior: Ramaswamy’s Unholy Crusade: Ohio Conservatives and Pastors Sell Out Christ for a Biotech Obsessed Opportunist, I’ve never shied away from critiquing conservative leaders when I believe they’ve strayed from principle. In that piece, I wrote, “A dark shadow looms over the state’s political landscape. Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech billionaire and self-styled conservative darling, has hoodwinked Ohio’s GOP establishment and even some clergy into endorsing his 2026 gubernatorial bid. But beneath the polished veneer of his ‘America First’ rhetoric lies a man whose moral compass is not only misaligned with Christian values but actively hostile to them. Ramaswamy’s disturbing embrace of human-animal chimeras, his cavalier dismissal of pro-life principles, and his reckless policy proposals expose him as an ungodly opportunist—a wolf in sheep’s clothing preying on Ohio’s faithful. Those conservatives and clergy who back him, from Charlie Kirk to local pastors, are not shepherds of Christ’s flock but hypocrites peddling political ambition over divine truth.”

I also expressed concern in another post, stating, “Ramaswamy’s attempt to equate Hinduism with Christianity might encourage syncretism—blending religions—which orthodox Christians reject. The New Testament emphasizes purity of doctrine (Galatians 1:8-9), and a Hindu leader promoting overlapping values could blur these lines, unsettling believers.” While I firmly disagree with Charlie Kirk and other GOP figures for endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy, I find the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) decision to brand Turning Point USA (TPUSA) a hate group in their 2024 report, Turning Point USA: A Case Study of the Hard Right in 2024, to be a baseless and inflammatory attack. The SPLC’s claim that Kirk “proudly embraced a white nationalist conspiracy theory” is a distortion that collapses under scrutiny, and I’m here to dismantle it with two clear facts.

First, the SPLC’s accusation that Kirk promotes white nationalism is absurd when you consider his enthusiastic support for Vivek Ramaswamy. a brown-skinned American of Indian descent and a practicing Hindu. I’ve criticized Kirk’s endorsement of Ramaswamy because I believe it risks syncretism and dilutes Christian doctrine. But this very partnership—seen in events like their joint appearance at Georgia State University in October 2024, where they championed conservative values—directly refutes the SPLC’s narrative. If Kirk were truly a white nationalist, as the SPLC claims, his vocal support for a non-white, non-Christian figure like Ramaswamy would make no sense. The SPLC’s report conveniently ignores this contradiction, which exposes their accusation as a hollow attempt to smear a conservative leader.

Second, the SPLC’s charge that TPUSA is pushing “authoritarian, patriarchal Christian supremacy” to undermine democracy misrepresents the organization’s mission. I’ve called out Kirk for prioritizing politics over faith in backing Ramaswamy, but TPUSA’s broader efforts, like its Turning Point Faith initiative launched in 2021, show they’re about engaging religious communities to promote civic involvement, not excluding non-Christians. Kirk has described Ramaswamy as embodying “Judeo-Christian values” despite his Hindu faith, and in 2024, he stated, “you cannot have liberty if you don’t have a Christian population.” I see this as a defense of cultural values, not a supremacist agenda, even if I disagree with his approach. The SPLC’s attempt to frame TPUSA as exclusionary ignores their work with diverse voices like Ramaswamy, twisting their mission into something it’s not.

The SPLC’s report further accuses TPUSA of stoking rage and pushing a “white-dominated, male supremacist, Christian social order.” As someone who’s not afraid to critique conservatives, I find this accusation infuriatingly dishonest. Kirk has explicitly rejected white supremacy, such as in 2020 when he stated on the TPUSA website, “White Supremacy Has NO PLACE In TPUSA & The Conservative Movement!” Scholars like Joseph Lowndes have noted that TPUSA doesn’t promote racial superiority, yet the SPLC lumps them with groups like the KKK, diluting the meaning of “hate group.” Their history of targeting mainstream conservatives, like the Family Research Council—linked to a 2012 shooting inspired by their hate map—shows a pattern of weaponizing labels for political gain. I may disagree with Kirk’s choices, but I won’t stand for the SPLC’s reckless smear campaign.

I’m no fan of every move Kirk or TPUSA makes—my concerns about their support for Ramaswamy stem from a commitment to doctrinal purity, not politics. But the SPLC’s attack is a distortion that serves no purpose but to silence conservatives who challenge their worldview. TPUSA isn’t a hate group; it’s a movement pushing young people toward free markets and civic engagement, even if I think they’ve made missteps. The SPLC’s report is less about truth and more about fearmongering, and I reject it outright.

Sources:

Southern Poverty Law Center. (2024). Turning Point USA: A Case Study of the Hard Right in 2024. Turning Point USA: A case study of the hard right in 2024

Author’s Blog Post. (April 2025). Ramaswamy’s Unholy Crusade: Ohio Conservatives and Pastors Sell Out Christ for a Biotech Obsessed Opportunist. https://daretochallengelearn.blogspot.com/2025/04/ramaswamys-unholy-crusade-ohio.html

Author’s Blog Post. (March 2025). Vivek Ramaswamy’s Claim of Alignment with Christian Values Betrays Ohio’s Faithful. https://daretochallengelearn.blogspot.com/2025/03/vivek-ramaswamys-claim-of-alignment.html

PolitiFact..(2022) Fact-checking Claims About Turning Point USA and White Nationalism. https://www.politifact.com

Charlie Kirk Rejects & Denounces White Supremacy Charlie Kirk Rejects & Denounces White Supremacy

The Daily Signal. Southern Poverty Law Center Puts Largest Conservative Grassroots Youth Group on ‘Hate Map’ With Klan Chapters.

Why Catholics Should Dismiss the Absurd Claim That Islam Holds Lessons for Happiness

 

A Firm Rejection of U.S. Catholic’s Misguided Comparison

On May 23, 2025, Robert Spencer, known as @jihadwatchRS on X, brought attention to an outlandish article published by U.S. Catholic titled “What Catholics Can Learn from Islam About the Pursuit of Happiness.” Spencer shared the article in a post, linking to his own commentary on Jihad Watch. The U.S. Catholic piece cites the World Happiness Report’s claim that the United States is growing less happy, suggesting that lessons from the Muslim tradition can help. This piece is a baffling mix of theological ignorance, shallow comparisons, and relativistic nonsense that undermines the richness of Catholic doctrine. Faithful Catholics should reject it outright as irrelevant and misguided. Here’s why this claim is not only wrong but an insult to the Catholic faith.

1. Catholic Happiness Is Found in Christ, Not Worldly Metrics

The U.S. Catholic article leans on the World Happiness Report to frame its argument, but this secular metric of happiness—based on subjective well-being and societal factors—has little to do with the Catholic understanding of true joy. Catholicism teaches that happiness, or beatitude, is found in union with Jesus Christ, not in chasing fleeting emotions or borrowing from other faiths. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) offer a divine roadmap to eternal fulfillment through virtue and grace. Suggesting that Islam, which denies Christ’s divinity and the salvific power of the Cross, can teach Catholics about happiness is absurd. The article’s reliance on a secular report to justify its premise only highlights its disconnect from Catholic theology.

2. Theological Differences Render the Comparison Ridiculous

Catholicism and Islam are fundamentally incompatible in their views of God, salvation, and the human person. Catholics believe humans are made in God’s image, redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice, and called to eternal life through the sacraments. Islam emphasizes submission to Allah’s will, with no concept of divine sonship or sacramental grace. The U.S. Catholic article’s claim that Catholics can learn from Islamic perspectives on happiness ignores these irreconcilable differences. It’s as if the author thinks spiritual traditions are interchangeable recipes you can mix and match—utterly incoherent and disrespectful.

3. Catholic Practices Are Profound, Not Interchangeable

The article’s suggestion that Catholics adopt Islamic practices like prayer or fasting to enhance their pursuit of happiness is laughable. Catholic prayer, particularly the Eucharist, is a direct encounter with Christ’s real presence, not merely a mindfulness exercise as the article implies about Islamic prayer. Catholic fasting, rooted in penance and union with Christ’s sacrifice, carries a depth that Ramadan’s fasting cannot replicate in a Catholic context. These practices stem from entirely different theologies, making them incompatible. The article’s vague appeal to “shared values” like charity or community is so generic it could apply to any belief system—or none. Catholics already embody these values through the Gospel, with no need to look elsewhere.

4. Relativism Undermines Catholic Truth

The U.S. Catholic article drips with religious relativism, implying that all faiths are equal paths to the same end. This is not just theologically false—it’s a betrayal of the Catholic Church’s claim to the fullness of truth through Christ. By suggesting Catholics can “learn” from Islam’s approach to happiness, the article dismisses the unique role of the Church as the guardian of divine revelation. Catholics profess that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), not one of many options for personal satisfaction. The article’s failure to uphold this truth renders its arguments irrelevant to any serious Catholic.

5. Shallow Scholarship and Empty Platitudes

The article lacks any serious engagement with Catholic theology or Islamic texts, cherry-picking superficial similarities without referencing the Catechism, Scripture, or the Quran. It tosses around buzzwords like “happiness” without defining them or grounding them in Catholic teaching. The result is a flimsy, feel-good comparison that collapses under scrutiny. Catholics have a 2,000-year tradition of saints, theologians, and mystics who have deeply explored the pursuit of happiness. To claim that Islam offers something novel or superior is not just nonsense—it’s an insult to the Church’s intellectual and spiritual heritage.

6. Syncretism Is a Dangerous Dead End

The article flirts with syncretism, the misguided attempt to blend religions into a spiritual smoothie. This erodes Catholicism’s distinctiveness, which holds that Christ is the sole path to salvation. While interfaith dialogue can promote respect, suggesting Catholics adopt Islamic practices to improve their spiritual lives crosses a line into betrayal. Faithful Catholics should reject this muddled thinking and hold fast to the clarity of their faith, which offers all they need for true happiness.

Conclusion: Toss This Article, Embrace the Faith

The U.S. Catholic article, with its baseless claim that Catholics can learn from Islam about happiness, is a theological trainwreck. Its reliance on the World Happiness Report, shallow comparisons, and relativistic undertones make it utterly dismissible. Catholics have a rich, Christ-centered understanding of happiness rooted in Scripture, tradition, and the sacraments. There’s no need to scavenge ideas from another faith, especially one that fundamentally differs in its view of God and salvation. Skip this article and turn to the Gospels, the saints, or the Catechism for true guidance on eternal joy. Anything else is just noise.

Fire at Hillsboro Data Center Sparks Global X Outage on May 22, 2025

How a Battery Room Blaze Disrupted X and Exposed Data Center Risks

On May 22, 2025, a fire broke out at a data center in Hillsboro, Oregon, leased by X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, causing a widespread global outage that left users unable to post, message, or log in for hours. The incident, which unfolded around 10:20 AM PDT, has raised fresh concerns about data center safety and the reliability of critical digital infrastructure. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and what it means for the future.

The Incident: Fire in the Battery Room

The fire originated in a battery room at the Hillsboro Technology Park, a facility operated by Digital Realty at 6675 NE 62nd Ave. The batteries, likely lithium-ion, were part of the data center’s backup power system. Hillsboro Fire & Rescue responded swiftly, containing the blaze to the battery room by around 3:30 PM after a five-hour battle. Thick smoke filled the facility, but no injuries were reported, and all personnel were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with officials examining whether battery maintenance or safety protocols played a role.

Impact on X and Its Users

The fire triggered a significant outage for X, with thousands of users worldwide reporting issues. According to Downdetector.com, nearly 6,000 complaints flooded in by May 23, citing problems with posting, messaging, and account access. X’s engineering team confirmed the data center outage as the cause and worked to reroute services to other facilities. By late May 22, most services were restored, but the incident disrupted millions of users who rely on X for real-time communication, news, and networking.

This isn’t X’s first brush with infrastructure challenges. In March 2025, a major outage was initially blamed on a cyberattack but later linked to internal security lapses. The Hillsboro fire underscores the platform’s vulnerability to physical infrastructure failures, raising questions about redundancy and resilience in its global operations.

Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Are a Growing Concern

Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in data centers for backup power, are powerful but volatile. When improperly maintained or exposed to faults, they can ignite, producing intense fires that are difficult to extinguish. Globally, data centers have faced costly blazes linked to these batteries, with inadequate safety measures often cited as a factor. The Hillsboro incident adds to this troubling trend, prompting calls for stricter regulations and better battery management protocols in the tech industry.

Hillsboro’s Data Center Boom and Local Tensions

Hillsboro, located in Oregon’s tech corridor, is a hub for data centers due to its proximity to renewable energy sources and favorable tax incentives. However, the rapid expansion of these facilities has strained the local power grid and driven up utility costs for residents. The fire has amplified local concerns, with some pointing to proposed legislation like House Bill 3546, which aims to regulate data center energy use and emissions. Critics argue that the economic benefits of data centers—jobs and tax revenue—must be balanced against their environmental and infrastructural impact.

What’s Next for X and Data Center Safety?

For X, the outage is a stark reminder of the need for robust contingency plans. The platform’s reliance on a single data center for critical operations highlights potential weaknesses in its infrastructure. As X continues to grow under Musk’s leadership, investing in redundant systems and geographically diverse facilities will be crucial to prevent future disruptions.

For the broader tech industry, the Hillsboro fire is a wake-up call. Data centers are the backbone of our digital world, powering everything from social media to cloud computing. Ensuring their safety—particularly around volatile components like lithium-ion batteries—requires rigorous standards, regular inspections, and innovative fire suppression systems.

Takeaways for Tech and Communities

The May 22 fire at the Hillsboro data center serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action. For tech companies, it’s a reminder to prioritize infrastructure resilience and safety. For communities like Hillsboro, it’s an opportunity to push for policies that balance economic growth with environmental and social sustainability. As investigations into the fire’s cause continue, one thing is clear: the stakes for reliable, safe digital infrastructure have never been higher.

If you’re an X user or live near a data center, what’s your take on this incident? Share your thoughts in the comments below!