On Wednesday night, the Texas Department of Public Safety revealed it had arrested a man who had planned to attack the Texas State Capitol because of his hatred for Jews, specifically the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the boogeyman organization pilloried by the left (and, increasingly, on the right) as a shadowy group of Jews controlling U.S. politicians on behalf of Israel.
Sadly, this foiled hate crime — which the suspect said had to happen because “these people have to be exterminated” — was of no interest on Thursday to the lead morning shows of ABC and CBS, Good Morning America and CBS Mornings.
NBC’s Today had a 35-second news brief in the second hour. Co-host Savannah Guthrie shared:
This was the only coverage on any of the Big Three networks this morning about the foiled terror attack on the Texas State Capitol by a man inspired by the hate against AIPAC and said, “these people have to be exterminated.”
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 1, 2026
NBC’s Today had a 35-second news brief pic.twitter.com/13PLVooOlx
A man was arrested yesterday for allegedly plotting an attack at the Texas State Capitol. 40-year-old Benny Caldera Jr. was taken into custody early yesterday morning. Authorities say they received a tip on Tuesday about an individual planning a violent attack today in Austin. According to the arrest documents, Caldera told a friend that he was very angry at the Arab — American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and said, “these people have to be exterminated.” The Capitol will be open today as scheduled, but with an increased police presence.
As of this blog’s publication, it fetched coverage on the 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour of ABC News Live, CNN Headline Express (which airs in the 5:00 a.m. Eastern hour), the Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom, NewsNation’s Morning in America, our friends at Newsmax2’s First Edition, NBC News NOW’s Morning News NOW and Current.
MS NOW repeatedly covered on Thursday morning the latest on the ICE officer-involved shooting back on September 20, but saw no reason to mention what was also taking place in the Texas capital city.
Along with the mention on its streaming channel, ABC News was definitely aware of this plot, as its overnight show Good Morning America First Look had both a tease and news brief about it.
Co-host Hanna Batta had the 20-second brief, which was in and of itself absurd because she completely ducked the clear angle about hating Jews and made it as vague as possible:
ABC’s middle-of-the-night show ‘Good Morning America First Look’ (which we don’t usually count at the MRC) had a brief. Co-host Hanna Battah omitted the suspect’s anti-Semitic motivations.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 1, 2026
No, it was b/c he was “angry over the direction of the country & the Palestinian cause” pic.twitter.com/sK7jjnkz2Z
Authorities in Texas say they foiled a plot to attack the state capitol in Austin. They arrested a man who allegedly told a friend he was going to shoot up the Capitol and had guns and ammo. They say Benny Caldera Jr. was angry over the direction of the country and the Palestinian cause. It’s not clear if he has issued a plea yet.
Here’s more on the arrest from an NBC Dallas-Fort Worth article cross-posted at NBCNews.com:
At around 3 a.m. Wednesday, DPS SWAT arrested 40-year-old Benny Caldera Jr. at his residence in Converse, about 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, Texas DPS said.
(....)
Caldera’s friend told officers that Caldera said, “I love you, if you don’t see me again,” and explained that, “I am going to the Capitol and I am going to shoot it up,” according to arrest documents.
(....)
Bexar County court records show that Caldera was previously charged with unlicensed carrying of a weapon in November 2023.
Instead of finding a few seconds for a brief about this, ABC’s Good Morning America had a full story pouting over new work requirements to receive federal benefits as another case of heartless conservatives. CBS Mornings, meanwhile, told viewers about a pair of Elvis sunglasses being up for auction and then how men can help with the “mental workload” of home life.
In other words, classic script of men are clueless chuds.
To see the relevant transcripts from October 1, click “expand.”
ABC’s Good Morning America First Look
October 1, 2026
3:30 a.m. Central [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Developing Story; Attack Plot Arrest]
SOPHIE FLAY: Also developing right now, the alleged plot to attack the Texas State Capitol and the arrest now made.
(....)
3:37 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Attack Plot Arrest]
HANNAH BATTA: Authorities in Texas say they foiled a plot to attack the state capitol in Austin. They arrested a man who allegedly told a friend he was going to shoot up the Capitol and had guns and ammo. They say Benny Caldera Jr. was angry over the direction of the country and the Palestinian cause. It’s not clear if he has issued a plea yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NBC’s Today
October 1, 2026
8:04 a.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: News at 8; Texas Man Accused in Plot to Attack Capitol]
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: A man was arrested yesterday for allegedly plotting an attack at the Texas State Capitol. 40-year-old Benny Caldera Jr. was taken into custody early yesterday morning. Authorities say they received a tip on Tuesday about an individual planning a violent attack today in Austin. According to the arrest documents, Caldera told a friend that he was very angry at the Arab — American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and said, “these people have to be exterminated.” The Capitol will be open today as scheduled, but with an increased police presence.
