Telegram Chats Reveal Young Republicans' Racist Messages

Politico obtained thousands of pages of private Telegram messages from Young Republican leaders in multiple states that contained racist and antisemitic slurs, praise for Hitler, jokes endorsing rape, calls for violence and other dehumanizing language. The revelations prompted national and state Young Republican leaders to demand resignations, led some participants to step down or lose their jobs, and caused many accused individuals to delete or make their social accounts private. Governors Kathy Hochul and Gavin Newsom and other officials condemned the messages; Newsom formally asked the House Oversight Committee (chaired by Rep. James Comer) to open a congressional investigation. Vice President J.D. Vance and several conservative commentators downplayed the chats as private jokes or “what kids do” and warned against “cancel culture,” while critics said the episode reflects a radicalized, online-influenced faction gaining influence within GOP ranks.