As always, Anderson City Councilman Darin Hale has been active on Facebook lately, posting frequently about his candidacy for the upcoming California State Assembly election. His recent posts, in particular, have included AI-generated content, which has upset local netizens and politicians alike.
On May 25, Hale posted an AI video of herself in a classroom. He is seen picking up another small adult, believed to be a teacher. The figure, with a green shaved haircut and a frightening expression, appears briefly before Hale throws them out an open window on the third or fourth floor, presumably to their death. After the act of violence, Hale tore down three flags that had been pinned to the classroom blackboard. One looked like a cross between the Israeli and Pride flags, one had a “Circle A” or anarchy symbol on it, and the other had the United Nations insignia on it. The students in the classroom cheered and high-fived the man. The video ends with a graphic promoting Darin Hale to run for state legislature.
In the comments, he pinned this notice. “Disclaimer: No AI characters were harmed in the creation of this video. All AI characters also signed an NDA stating that their stunt scenes will not be released to the public. Thank you for your consideration. 😎”
Hale admitted to the Shasta Scout that the video was intended to depict him committing acts of violence, and said it expressed his frustration with the “woke ideology that is being forced on kids in the classroom.” He previously accused California’s public school system of having a “Marxist-Leninist agenda.” He added that he does not know why the AI generator superimposed the Star of David on the Pride flag.
Comments on Hale’s video on Facebook have seen polarized reactions. Although many supported him, some criticized him for using violent images to promote his campaign. In response to a backlash from critical commenters who took issue with Hale’s “incitement of political violence,” Councilman Anderson wrote, “The best way to stop violence is to remove from the classroom the woke political educators who teach children that they have been oppressed and have a right to seek justice by any means necessary.”
This is not the first time Hale has come under fire for her social media posts. The Anderson City Council adopted a new social media policy in March after Hale posted numerous posts on his Facebook account criticizing a local flight school that trains students from China. Hale claimed the students may be collecting information for Chinese espionage purposes, a claim the flight school flatly denied, pointing to the damage caused by such claims.
Hale is not the only California politician to use AI to advance a political agenda during the campaign. Most recently, Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt was criticized for using AI-generated content in his campaign, and nationally in New York City, disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was criticized for using AI in his mayoral bid against Zoran Mamdani.
In the days since the video was posted, discussion of the image has moved from the comments on his own Facebook post to the profiles of other sitting politicians. Redding City Council member Erin Reznor, who is running for county supervisor, denounced Hale’s video as “political violence” in a post of her own. In a comment to Shasta Scout, she wrote, “Society doesn’t lose its character all at once. It happens slowly every time we abandon our integrity.”
Reading mayor Mike Littau also weighed in online, calling Hale’s video “deeply disturbing” and adding: “If you want your politics to harm people who think and look different, you’re on the wrong path.” In a call with reporters, Littau suggested that Hale’s video could push unstable people over the edge and incite them to harm themselves or others.
“We shouldn’t just worry about Charlie Kirk,” Littau warned, saying violent rhetoric should be condemned on both the left and the right.
When asked about Littau’s accusations, Hale dismissed them as mental distress.
“Mayor Littau’s response has not changed my policy of protecting children from this level of insanity. There is a war being waged against our children, and that is a fight I am fighting head-on. I do not have the time or energy to respond to Mayor Littau’s emotional damage. I am confident that there are local social-emotional programs he can participate in to assist with his suffering.”
He also responded to both Littau and Lesnar with a satirical follow-up AI video that used their likenesses, as well as that of his opponent in the race, incumbent Congresswoman Heather Hadwick. The video doubled down on Hadwick’s previous message and prompted a response from Hadwick.
“Campaigns reflect personality and priorities,” Hadwick said. “The people of this district deserve a leader who will spend time serving the community, rather than stirring up anger and division for attention.”
Have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org
