Tulsi Gabbard Leaves Democratic Party

Key Facts: Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced that she's leaving the Democratic party.

Key Quotes: "I can no longer remain in today's Democratic Party that is now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue & stoke anti-white racism, actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms, hostile to people of faith & spirituality, demonize the police & protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans, believe in open borders, weaponize the national security state to go after political opponents, and above all, dragging us ever closer to nuclear war," Gabbard said on Twitter.

For Context: After her unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign, Gabbard took up conservative stances on culture war issues like LGBTQ+ education and abortion, and was embraced by some Republicans who saw her as a voice of reason across the aisle.

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum covered Gabbard's announcement. Right-rated outlets covered the news more prominently, and placed more emphasis on her harsh criticisms of Democrats.