Carl Higbie, a host on Newsmax, has voiced concerns regarding the Republican leadership's failure to hold individuals accountable for various controversies, suggesting that without decisive legislative and judicial actions, voter enthusiasm among Republicans may decline. He emphasized the critical nature of upcoming elections for the party's future and criticized the Republican Party for not fulfilling promises related to corruption, COVID-19 policies, and political scandals. Higbie specifically targeted House Speaker Mike Johnson for not pursuing accountability measures, questioning the motivation for Republican voters to participate in elections.

Higbie pointed to perceived failures in accountability regarding COVID-19 policies, citing decisions that he believes led to negative outcomes, such as the handling of elderly patients in New York. He also raised concerns about the origins of COVID-19 and the lack of accountability for various investigations and censorship controversies. Additionally, he mentioned Hunter Biden in the context of alleged misconduct and criticized the absence of prosecutions for political figures involved in corruption, contrasting these issues with Republican support for foreign aid, particularly to Ukraine.

He suggested that voter enthusiasm could wane if former President Donald Trump is not on the ballot and called for mass prosecutions for corruption to maintain party support. Higbie also criticized state-level Republicans for their actions regarding congressional redistricting and proposed sweeping legislative changes, including the abolition of the filibuster and the IRS, asserting that aggressive actions would energize voters. He concluded by warning that failure to act on these issues could have significant electoral consequences for the Republican Party.

In a separate incident, on November 26, an Afghan evacuee named Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire on National Guard troops in Washington, DC, resulting in the death of Guardswoman Sarah Beckstrom and injuries to Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding the characterization of the attack. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) referred to it as an 'unfortunate accident' during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, prompting criticism from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who asserted that the attack should be classified as a terrorist act against U.S. service members.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem corrected Thompson during the hearing, emphasizing the severity of the situation. Following backlash, Thompson acknowledged his misstatement, clarifying that Lakanwal had been charged with first-degree murder. Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. as part of the evacuation of Afghans during the withdrawal of American forces from Kabul in August 2021, has been linked to broader concerns regarding the vetting of evacuees. National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent noted that among the 88,000 Afghans who arrived in the U.S., at least 2,000 are suspected or known terrorists. This incident has prompted discussions about the adequacy of the vetting processes during the evacuation and the potential risks associated with immigration policies, highlighting ongoing debates about national security and the treatment of immigrants.