House Democrat Fires Back at Trump Ally Over Anti-Muslim Censure Effort

Rep. Shri Thanedar responds to criticism of his resolution condemning anti-Muslim hate speech from GOP colleagues.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:18pm

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Rep. Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, has introduced a resolution to censure two Republican colleagues, Reps. Randy Fine and Andy Ogles, for their anti-Muslim rhetoric. This prompted a backlash from a far-right activist, Eric Daugherty, who accused Thanedar of trying to "discipline Republicans for free speech." Thanedar fired back, calling Daugherty a "terrible liar" and defending his resolution as a stand against bigotry and support for the First Amendment.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Democrats and Republicans over issues of religious freedom, free speech, and the treatment of minority communities. Thanedar's resolution aims to hold accountable GOP members who have made inflammatory statements targeting Muslims, while Daugherty and his allies argue that this amounts to an attack on conservative speech.

The details

Rep. Shri Thanedar, a Democrat from Michigan, has introduced a resolution to censure two Republican colleagues, Reps. Randy Fine of Florida and Andy Ogles of Tennessee, for their anti-Muslim rhetoric. Fine has suggested that Muslims deserve fewer rights than dogs, and Ogles has called for banning Muslims from the United States. Thanedar, whose district includes a sizable Arab-American community, sees this as an important stand against bigotry.

  • On X Friday, Thanedar introduced the resolution to censure Reps. Fine and Ogles.

The players

Rep. Shri Thanedar

A Democratic congressman representing a district in Michigan with a large Arab-American population, who introduced a resolution to censure two Republican colleagues for their anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Rep. Randy Fine

A Republican congressman from Florida who has suggested that Muslims deserve fewer rights than dogs.

Rep. Andy Ogles

A Republican congressman from Tennessee who has called for banning Muslims from the United States.

Eric Daugherty

A far-right activist and Trump supporter who runs the Florida Voice News and criticized Thanedar's resolution on social media.

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What they’re saying

“BREAKING: Indian-born Rep. Shri Thanedar and other Democrats are now moving to CENSURE Reps. Andy Ogles and Randy Fine and after they called for Islam to be repelled from America.”

— Eric Daugherty (Florida Voice News)

“You're a terrible liar; my colleague @RepLaMonica never assaulted ICE officers, they assaulted her.”

— Rep. Shri Thanedar, U.S. Representative (X)

“Calling for the expulsion of Americans on account of their religion is bigoted and anti-1st Amendment, so MAGAs like you and Ogles who support that are TRULY un-American.”

— Rep. Shri Thanedar, U.S. Representative (X)

What’s next

The House will consider Thanedar's resolution to censure Reps. Fine and Ogles in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between Democrats and Republicans over issues of religious freedom, free speech, and the treatment of minority communities. Thanedar's resolution aims to hold accountable GOP members who have made inflammatory statements targeting Muslims, while his critics argue that this amounts to an attack on conservative speech.