Alaskan Native Americans unleash on Biden admin’s climate agenda: ‘Communities and culture are at risk’
The Biden administration is facing heavy criticism from Native Alaskans over its crackdown on oil and gas drilling in Alaska, activity which generates tax revenue vital for key state and local programs. Native Alaskan leaders have particularly taken issue with the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) recent actions blocking future oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve (NPR), an area in North Slope Borough, Alaska, specifically set aside by Congress for resource development, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and in federal offshore waters off the state’s coast. “My community unapologetically supports the leasing program,” Charles Lampe, the president of the Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation, told lawmakers in testimony this week. “Many people try to steer the debate to caribou. For Kaktovik, it’s about our people and having an economy to survive.” “Congress needs to fulfill its promises made to us over 40 years ago,” Lampe added. “We will not succumb to eco-colonialism and become conservation refugees on our own land. The people have every right to pursue economic, social and cultural self-determination. The laws of the U.S. should support indigenous populations, not interfere with these basic human and political rights.” BIDEN TOUTS PRO-NATIVE AMERICAN EFFORTS DESPITE AXING OIL DRILLING THAT SUSTAINS TRIBES In addition to Lampe, Nagruk Harcharek, the president of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat; Josiah Patkotak, the Iñupiaq mayor of the North Slope Borough; Morrie Lemen, the executive director of the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope; and Nathan Gordon Jr., the vice president of the Native Village of Kaktovik, among others have similarly condemned federal restrictions on resource development near their communities. According to the leaders, who collectively represent the region most impacted by the Biden administration’s recent slate of actions targeting oil and gas drilling in Alaska, Secretary Deb Haaland and other Biden administration officials have repeatedly rebuked their attempts to arrange meetings and voice their concerns. NATIVE AMERICAN PROTESTERS SHUT DOWN BIDEN ADMIN EVENT OVER OIL LEASING BAN Haaland — the first Native American cabinet member in U.S. history and who has pledged to prioritize Indigenous perspectives throughout her tenure, but who has also pursued an aggressive climate agenda — has yet to hold a single consultation with North Slope communities about either the NPR or ANWR actions. There have been zero public meetings held regarding ANWR and just two such meetings held about NPR. “The North Slope Iñupiat deserve to be more than an afterthought by the federal government,” Harcharek said earlier in November. “It’s time for Secretary Haaland and the Biden administration to live up to their promises of engagement by meeting with our elected leadership and including us at the policy table starting now.” “Roughly 95% of our region’s tax base comes from taxation on the development of land on the North Slope,” added Patkotak. “Without these funds and a strong regional economy in the long term, our communities and culture are at risk. Going forward, it is vital that the administration include us at the policymaking table and share information when developing policies affecting our people and lands.” Harcharek, Patkotak, Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope Director of Natural Resources Doreen Leavitt, and Anaktuvuk Pass Mayor Lilian Stone participated in an event last month hosted by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, calling for the Biden administration to “hear our voices” and allow resource development in Alaska. BIDEN ADMIN POISED TO GREEN-LIGHT TRIBAL GAMBLING EXPANSION DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM NATIVE AMERICANS, DEMS In September, the DOI proposed regulations to “ensure maximum protection” for 13 million acres of land across the NPR and further ordered an additional 2.8 million of acres to be withdrawn from oil and gas leasing in the Beaufort Sea off the northern coast of Alaska. The agency separately ruled out any offshore oil and gas lease sales in Alaska through 2028. Additionally, Interior Secretary Haaland authorized the cancelation of seven leases issued in 2021 to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state agency. Those leases were purchased in January 2021 and span 365,775 acres across non-wilderness areas of ANWR. “Earlier this month, I hosted leaders of the Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation here in D.C. to elevate their voices and bring attention to their communities’ strong opposition to the Biden administration’s illegal cancelation of lawfully-issued leases in ANWR, and the NPR-A rule that will lock up their lands,” Sullivan told Fox News Digital on Thursday. “There is palpable anger and frustration among Alaskans about the Biden administration’s unrelenting assault on our economy and our ability to lawfully access our lands,” the Alaska senator added. “This is a grave injustice to the people who actually live on the North Slope.” “They have been disregarded entirely during this process and denied consultation as the Biden administration locks up their lands,” he said. “Alaska has a right to produce our own energy for the sake of quality economic opportunities and good-paying jobs, and for the energy security of the entire nation.” The other members of Alaska’s congressional delegation, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowksi and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, in addition to state leaders, have also criticized the Biden administration for its actions. The DOI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Henry Kissinger’s friends, former colleagues reflect on his legacy: ‘A titanic figure’
The late Henry Kissinger, an esteemed German-born diplomat and statesman known for his role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era, is described by former colleagues and friends as “a really brilliant negotiator.” Kissinger died at the age of 100 on Wednesday. His legacy included vilification as well as a Nobel Peace Prize. “And every negotiation, he understood that everybody has to learn something. You can’t have one side just completely eviscerate the other side,” KT McFarland, former President Trump’s deputy national security adviser, told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday. McFarland worked under Kissinger – her first boss – in the Nixon administration. He later became a mentor figure to her, she said. FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER DEAD AT 100 “When Trump was elected, Henry returned the favor and suggested to President-elect Trump to hire me as his deputy national security adviser,” McFarland said. “So, my time with Henry goes from the full circle, from the White House Situation Room to the White House Situation Room in 45 years.” As for the controversy surrounding his legacy, such as “secretly” opening the door to China relations, Mcfarland said, “Put him into the context of the times.” Robert Charles, who served as assistant secretary of state at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs from 2003 to 2005, called Kissinger “a titanic figure in every sense of that word.” “He was one of the largest political and diplomatic figures of the second half of the 20th century,” Charles told Fox News Digital. “He could manipulate and properly understand the motivations and help to create peaceful environments, using the pieces that were on the board.” But Kissinger’s controversial policy with China was a significant shift in U.S. foreign relations. He initiated secret negotiations with China while serving as national security adviser under Nixon, culminating in Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972. This laid the groundwork for the normalization of relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, effectively breaking the isolation that had existed between the two nations since 1949. The decision to recognize the People’s Republic of China as a legitimate government of China was a departure from the United States’ previous support for Taiwan. This move was criticized for abandoning a longtime ally in favor of establishing relations with a communist regime. “The thinking at the time was if you could open China economically to free markets or began to integrate them into the global market, that economic freedom would lead to political freedom,” Charles said. “He was in many ways wrong about that, as was Nixon.” Charles described Kissinger as “a great tactician.” He recalled seeing Kissinger “saunter down the hall with his thumbs in his belt loops” while working occasionally in the George H.W. Bush White House. Kissinger had “an incredibly deep reservoir of knowledge,” Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state from 2018 to 2021 and director of the CIA from 2017 to 2018, told Fox News Digital. The two conversed on occasion, and every time, Pompeo said, he would walk away having learned something new. “He was just enormously helpful to me during my four years in service, and I think there are many other American leaders of both political parties who turned to him for important data, history, wisdom and guidance,” he said. But “he did not view [China] as the malevolent actor that I do,” Pompeo said. “And it’s just a difference in judgment, so I don’t critique what he did in 1972. I think it made sense then, that set of policies and effort to get China to become more like us through engagement might even have made sense in 1982.” He added, “But by 2022, it’s no longer a viable foreign policy process, at least in my view.” KISSINGER SAYS IT WAS ‘GRAVE MISTAKE’ FOR GERMANY TO TAKE IN SO MANY MIGRANTS AMID PRO-HAMAS PROTESTS Foreign policy strategist, former public official and author of the bestselling book, “The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower,” Michael Pillsbury, told Fox News Digital that he worked under Kissinger during the Reagan campaign. “And I was one of the few people who knew about the China opening, having worked for Kissinger. And in those days, all of the negative, all of the scary things about China was suppressed by Kissinger,” said Pillsbury, who later served as assistant undersecretary of defense for policy planning during the Reagan administration. “The American policy toward China was based on a series of assumptions [that] turned out to be tragically inaccurate,” he said. CHINA LEANS ON KISSINGER GOODWILL, BUT INFLUENCE ‘DILUTED,’ EXPERT SAYS Kissinger, born in Germany in 1923, became a towering figure in American politics and diplomacy and was praised by supporters as a brilliant strategist and condemned by critics as a master political manipulator. He fled Nazi persecution with his family and settled in the United States in 1938. Educated at Harvard University, he went on to become an academic and a significant authority on international relations. He served as national security adviser and secretary of state under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, playing a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era. His policy of détente aimed to ease tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and engage China, altering the dynamics of international relations. He conducted the first “shuttle diplomacy” in the quest for Middle East peace. Kissinger played a crucial role in the Vietnam War, actively engaging in negotiations with North Vietnam and overseeing the Paris Peace Accords that facilitated the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. His strategies and choices during this period sparked controversy, drawing criticism for prolonged conflict and civilian casualties. In 1973, Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside North Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho for their efforts in negotiating the Vietnam ceasefire. However, Tho declined the prize, citing the absence of real peace.
Red vs Blue State Debate highlights: Top 5 moments from the DeSantis, Newsom slugfest
The Fox News debate between Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had several tense moments as the two governors clashed over policies related to abortion, crime, taxes and COVID-19. The first-of-its-kind showdown hosted by Fox News’ Sean Hannity put a spotlight on various areas of disagreement between Newsom and DeSantis. The two governors have sought to tackle key issues facing their states with divergent approaches. Here are five of the most memorable moments from the debate. DESANTIS VS NEWSOM DEBATE HEATS UP WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS INCLUDING TAXES, COVID-19 | LIVE UPDATES During an exchange about Florida’s laws prohibiting certain sexually-explicit books in schools, DeSantis defended his actions by showing Newsom images of one of the books banned. “This is a book that’s in some of the schools in California — in Florida, it’s not consistent with our standards — it’s called ‘Genderqueer.’ Some of it’s blacked out. You probably would not be able to put this on air,” DeSantis remarked. “This is pornography. It’s cartoons. It’s aimed at children and it’s wrong,” he continued. “So, this should not be in schools. When people on the left say that somehow you are ‘banning books’ by removing this from a young kid’s classroom — this is not age appropriate.” He added he would pursue a policy to outlaw such books from classrooms nationwide if elected president, explaining that some states shouldn’t be allowed to “trample on the rights of parents.” LIBERAL COLUMNIST PRAISES ‘PATRIOTIC’ NEWSOM FOR ‘SHADOW CAMPAIGN,’ SLAMS DEMOCRATS FOR BACKING BIDEN Newsom, though, accused DeSantis of waging a “cultural purge” of books. “You want to roll back hard-earned national rights on voting rights, on civil rights, and LGBTQ rights, on women’s rights, not just access to abortion, but also access to contraception. You want to weaponize grievance, you are focusing on false separateness. You in particular run on a banning binge, a cultural purge, intimidating and humiliating people,” Newsom said. “We actually require parental engagement on curriculum development, and we don’t completely lie. We don’t require K through 3rd grade sexual education. That doesn’t happen until middle school. What you’re doing is using education as a sword for your cultural purge,” Newsom added. NEWSOM, DESANTIS DEBATE GETS HEATED OVER COVID, TAX POLICES: ‘YOU DID A LOT OF DAMAGE’ DeSantis blasted Newsom during the debate for claiming that California, not Florida is the “freedom state.” He noted that while California had certain freedoms other states did not, they were freedoms such as the “freedom to defecate in public.” “Gavin Newsom at one point tried to say that California was the ‘freedom state,’” DeSantis remarked. “I just kind of laughed, like, you’re locking people down, you’re doing all this stuff. Then, I thought about it and California does have freedoms that other states don’t.” “You have the freedom to defecate in public in California,” he added. “You have the freedom to pitch a tent on Sunset Boulevard. You have the freedom to create a homeless encampment under a freeway and light it on fire. You have the freedom to have an open air drug market. You have the freedom that, if you’re an illegal alien, to get all these taxpayer benefits. “So those are freedoms,” the Florida governor concluded. “They’re not the freedoms our founding fathers envisioned, but they have contributed to the destruction of the quality of life in California. And the results speak for themselves.” Newsom then responded, saying he “loved the rant on freedom” and accused DeSantis of criminalizing teachers, doctors, librarians and women that “seek reproductive care.” “Spare me this notion of freedom,” Newsom said. “Ask the folks at Disney about freedom and free enterprise.” Later in the debate, to highlight the so-called “freedom to defecate,” DeSantis held up a map of San Francisco showing how human feces has been discovered in public in nearly every area of the city. CONFIDENCE IN US PRESIDENCY HITS LOWEST POINT EVER AS TRUMP LEADS BIDEN IN 2024 REMATCH: SURVEY During a discussion on school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Newsom forcefully interjected to scold DeSantis about how he pronounced Vice President Kamala Harris’ first name. “And by the way, it’s not Kamala Harris,” Newsom said. “Shame on you! It’s Kamala Harris, Ron. It’s Kamala Harris, Madame Vice President to you. Kamala Harris,” Newsom said. “Stop insulting,” he added. While Newsom attempted to correct DeSantis’ pronunciation, the Florida governor continued to argue that the long-term closures of schools during the pandemic has harmed children who were forced into remote learning. DeSantis ripped Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon — one of several left-wing prosecutors nationwide that have received campaign funding from liberal financier George Soros — for his handling of crime in Los Angeles. He said California’s rising crime rate is contributing to a growing number of residents fleeing the state. “Here’s the thing,” DeSantis said. “People are leaving California in droves because [Newsom] has failed to stand up for public safety. They are on an ideological joyride to let people out of prison early, to go easy on them. Heck, Gavin’s buddy in Los Angeles, Gascon, he doesn’t even prosecute.” “When I was in Southern California for the Reagan debate, I had a lot of women tell me they have to take off all their jewelry just to be able to go shopping because, otherwise, they’re going to get mugged,” he continued. “That is the reality that people are facing in California. Gavin can try to put lipstick on that pig, but the fact of the matter is he has failed the people of California.” The Florida governor later noted that he removed prosecutors in Florida who received funding from Soros. “They were endangering the public and I removed them from their posts,” he remarked. “And Gavin Newsom has not lifted a finger to rein in Gascon in L.A. — that that city has collapsed, that county has collapsed. He is not enforcing the law.” Newsom then responded, blasting DeSantis for criticizing “one of
House to attempt to expel George Santos for a third time, as Johnson says members will ‘vote their conscience’
The House of Representatives will try for the third time Friday to expel Rep. George Santos from Congress amid a slew of accusations against him, including alleged campaign finance abuses. But some are concerned a successful expulsion of Santos could set an unnecessary precedent. Santos, R-N.Y., survived the first two efforts to expel him from Congress, but the third time may be the charm for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who believe Santos is unfit to serve. HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE HEAD TO MOVE TO EXPEL GEORGE SANTOS AFTER RELEASE OF DAMNING REPORT “We’re going to allow people to vote their conscience,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said of the impending vote. Support for ousting the freshman congressman has grown after an investigation by the House Ethics Committee found that Santos “sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.” The committee found Santos “used campaign funds for personal purposes” including spa days and purchases at luxury stores. The committee also found he “engaged in fraudulent conduct,” and “engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House.” That includes $50,000 in campaign donations that were wired to Santos’ personal account on Oct. 21, 2022, and allegedly used to, among other things, “pay down personal credit card bills and other debt; make a $4,127.80 purchase at Hermes; and for smaller purchases at OnlyFans; Sephora; and for meals and for parking.” THIRD TIME THE CHARM: WILL GEORGE SANTOS SURVIVE THE LATEST MOVE TO OUST HIM FROM THE HOUSE? Santos also made a number of false statements, and lied about where he went to school and his employment history. Santos has denied wrongdoing and accused the committee of “bias,” but also announced upon the release of the report that he would not run for re-election. Santos was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in October for allegedly filing fraudulent fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission to obtain financial support for his campaign, among other accusations. Santos faces 23 federal charges: One count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), two counts of falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of access device fraud, in addition to the seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the United States House of Representatives. SANTOS BLASTS DEMS IN FIERY REMARKS AHEAD OF EXPULSION VOTE, TEASES CALL TO REMOVE PROGRESSIVE HOUSE MEMBER Santos has pleaded not guilty. Some Republicans have argued that Santos should have his day in court and enjoy due process before an expulsion vote occurs, which has been House precedent so far. Others believe that some of Santos’ alleged activity are “infractions against the House itself” and that he should be expelled. “And so what we’ve said as the leadership team is we’re going to allow people to vote their conscience I think is the only appropriate thing we can do,” Johnson said this week. “We’ve not whipped the vote and we wouldn’t. I trust that people will make that decision thoughtfully and in good faith.” He added, though, that he “personally” has “real reservations about doing this.” “I’m concerned about a precedent that may be set,” he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Conservatives praise DeSantis debate performance against Newsom on social media: ‘Whipped him’
Conservatives across social media celebrated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ debate performance against California Gov. Gavin Newsom and outlined why they thought he won the Fox News debate. “DeSantis is kicking Newsom’s ass,” conservative radio host Mark Levin posted on X. “In fact, Newsom is looking and sounding silly.” “DeSantis went up against the Democrat Party star and whipped him,” Levin added in another post. “It’s just that simple.” “I was 100% wrong on this debate. I thought Gavin Newsom would be likable and intelligent,” Outkick founder Clay Travis posted on X. “I was incorrect. This is a massacre. If this were a boxing match, Newsom’s corner would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. Complete and total win for DeSantis from open to close.” TRUMP CAMPAIGN CALLS DESANTIS ‘THIRSTY ONLYFANS WANNABE’ FOR DEBATING NEWSOM: ‘KISS OF DEATH’ “My daughter died in the Parkland mass shooting,” Andrew Pollack, father of Parkland victim Meadow Pollack, posted on X. “Ron DeSantis was not even Governor when it happened, but I’m sure as hell glad he became Governor shortly after. Governor DeSantis fired the incompetent people responsible, he didn’t demonize lawful gun owners. Newsom is trash!” “Holy cow,” conservative commentator Chris Loesch posted on X. “If you aren’t blind you are witnessing the dismantling of the California Governor. Hannity puts up the graphic of the facts and then Gavin says the opposite is true… DeSantis is destroying him with simple comparison of records!” LIBERAL COLUMNIST PRAISES ‘PATRIOTIC’ NEWSOM FOR ‘SHADOW CAMPAIGN,’ SLAMS DEMOCRATS FOR BACKING BIDEN “I’ve never see anything like this,” conservative commentator Dave Rubin posted on X. “Newsom literally can’t say one sentence that is true. DeSantis is calmly just laying out facts and reality. This disconnect from reality Newsom and the Left have is exactly what needed to be exposed. Is there anyone on Twitter dot com that thinks Newsom is a good job here?” “I think DeSantis just ended Newsom’s POTUS ambitions,” Substack publisher Jordan Schachtel posted on X. “Exposed him as a soulless lizard person. Landed haymakers all night. Best gov in the nation showed up in top form tonight.” A Newsom spokesperson directed Fox News Digital to social media posts from some conservatives who thought DeSantis lost the debate, including GOP strategist Mike Madrid who posted on X that Newsom was “bludgeoning” the Florida governor. Newsom took to social media after the debate and posted: “That was fun — I could have kept going!”
Trump campaign calls DeSantis ‘thirsty OnlyFans wannabe’ for debating Newsom: ‘Kiss of death’
Former President Donald Trump’s team went after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a scathing message on Truth Social on Thursday saying that his GOP opponent is “thirsty” like an “OnlyFans” model and debating California Gov. Gavin Newsom because he is “so desperate for attention.” “Ron DeSanctimonious is acting more like a thirsty, third-rate OnlyFans wannabe model than an actual presidential candidate. Instead of actually campaigning and trying to turn around his dismal poll numbers, DeSanctus is now so desperate for attention that he’s debating a Grade A loser like Gavin Newsom,” Trump Spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a press release titled “Kiss of Death” on the day DeSantis and Newsom were set to debate on Fox News. Cheung continued: “At the debate, Ron will flail his arms and bobble his head wildly, looking more like a San Francisco crackhead than the governor of Florida. This isn’t a prediction. It’s a spoiler.” “It’s never been clearer that Ron DeSanctus doesn’t have his eye on the ball. Despite falling to FIFTH PLACE in New Hampshire and failing to gain any ground in Iowa for months, DeSantis appears to already be auditioning for a career in reality television, with tonight’s circus with Gavin Newsom,” Cheung wrote. APPEALS COURT REINSTATES GAG ORDER IN TRUMP FRAUD CASE The Trump campaign has continued to spar with the DeSantis campaign in recent months as the Florida governor attempts to position himself as the most viable alternative to Trump. “Donald Trump is a high-risk proposition as a nominee because I think the chance of him getting elected is small, but it’s a low reward because he’s going to be a lame duck on day one – that even if he could get elected, he would not be able to attract the type of talent to work in his administration and he’d be saddled with all these distractions that it’d be virtually impossible to get the job done,” DeSantis said earlier this month. CONFIDENCE IN US PRESIDENCY HITS LOWEST POINT EVER AS TRUMP LEADS BIDEN IN 2024 REMATCH: SURVEY The super PAC backing Trump’s campaign revived attack ads against DeSantis last month, spending millions going after DeSantis in the past few weeks, which the DeSantis team pointed out on social media earlier this month as a public admission that DeSantis is “climbing in Iowa.” DeSantis was recently endorsed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and influential Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats who said “there’s definitely a shot that the former president can be beat here” despite Trump leading DeSantis by at least 30 points, according to the Real Clear Politics average, with just over six weeks until the Iowa caucus. “The good news for Ron DeSantis is he is the front-runner in Iowa if former President Trump was not competing to win Iowa,” David Avella, chairman of GOPAC and a veteran Republican strategist, told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “The bad news for Ron DeSantis is former President Trump is organizing to win Iowa. For DeSantis to win, he needs to get [there to] caucus those voters who are still keeping their options open and those voters who are only considering candidates other than Donald Trump. It is going to take him convincing voters with a clear, concise message that his ideas are the best solutions.”
Newsom, DeSantis debate gets heated over COVID, tax polices: ‘You did a lot of damage’
The Fox News debate between Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis quickly got heated Thursday evening as the two sparred about their respective track records. Newsom and DeSantis particularly traded jabs over their states’ different approaches to tax policy and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. “He has one of the most regressive tax rates in the United States, the number three most-regressive state in America,” Newsom remarked, referring to Florida. “And what that means is simply this: Who does he tax? He taxes low income workers more than we tax millionaires and billionaires in the state of California.” “The question is a simple one,” the Democratic governor continued. “Who, Ron, are you for? It’s a factual lie that — the state of California has the highest tax rate, but for whom? And it’s a foundational and fundamental difference.” DESANTIS VS NEWSOM DEBATE HEATS UP WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS INCLUDING TAXES, COVID-19 | LIVE UPDATES Fox News host Sean Hannity, though, showed a graphic citing Tax Foundation data which highlighted how Florida has a 0% income tax rate across all incomes while California has a graduated income tax between 1% to 13.3%. Florida also has a lower sales and gasoline tax compared to California. LIBERAL COLUMNIST PRAISES ‘PATRIOTIC’ NEWSOM FOR ‘SHADOW CAMPAIGN,’ SLAMS DEMOCRATS FOR BACKING BIDEN “How many people leave Florida to go to California because they pay less taxes? I’m not seeing that. Are people going from Florida to New York because they pay less taxes? Of course not,” DeSantis responded. “They come to Florida because they pay lower taxes. We don’t even have an income tax. And yet California has a higher sales tax than we do.” “Here’s the thing, and I’ll give — I’ll give Gavin credit. He did at least admit in his first answer, he’s joined at the hip with Biden and Harris,” he added. “He thinks Biden and Harris have done a great job. He thinks the economy is working because of their policies. What California represents is the Biden-Harris agenda on steroids. They would love nothing more than to get four more years to be able to take the California model nationally. That would be disastrous for working people.” The two governors then sparred about their handling of the pandemic with Newsom arguing DeSantis both locked down Florida before California shut down and that his lax policies led to a higher death rate in Florida. DeSantis, though, blasted Newsom for shutting down his state for an extended period of time and listening to the advice of teachers unions. “You were not following science. You were a lock-down governor,” DeSantis said. “You did a lot of damage to your people. You had more kids locked out of school for a longer period of time in California than anywhere else in the country. It was the working-class kids. It was the middle income kids — his kids were in private school, they were in class. He is owned by the teachers union.” “Let’s talk about your record on COVID,” Newsom responded. “You passed an emergency declaration before the state of California did. You closed down your beaches, your bars, your restaurants. It’s a fact. You had quarantines, checkpoints all over the state of Florida.” “You were promoting vaccines. You even wore a mask,” he added. “He did all of that until he decided to fall prey to the fringe of his party. And as a consequence of that, tens of thousands of people lost their lives, the equivalent of ten 9/11s.”
Democrats call for resignation of Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler amid sexual battery allegations
The Sarasota Police Department is currently running a criminal investigation over allegations of sexual battery against Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler. As of Thursday, police confirmed that investigators have not charged Ziegler with any crimes yet. Police released a heavily redacted report, obscuring details about the accusations, but claiming it involved a rape allegation against Ziegler. The complaint was filed Oct. 4, and stated that the alleged sexual battery occurred inside a woman’s Sarasota home on Oct. 2, according to the report. Among words not redacted in the report are “rape” and “sexual assault complaint.” TWO ARIZONA REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS IN RURAL BORDER COUNTY CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH DELAYING 2022 ELECTION RESULTS Earlier on Thursday, Ziegler’s attorney, Derek Byrd, released a statement to FOX 13 Tampa Bay acknowledging the reports of the investigation, saying that Ziegler has fully cooperated with the police requests. “We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated,” Byrd said in a statement. The Republican Party of Sarasota County also released a statement Thursday: “We are shocked and disappointed to hear of the reports concerning Republican Party of Florida Chair and Sarasota County State Committeeman Christian Ziegler, and his wife, Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler. The Republican Party takes all such allegations of potential criminal conduct very seriously and will fully cooperate with investigators.” TOP DESANTIS BACKER RESIGNS FROM SUPER PAC AMID INTERNAL TURMOIL: ‘UNTENABLE’ ENVIRONMENT The Florida Democratic Party has also called on Ziegler to step down as the GOP chairman. “This is serious. We demand his immediate resignation,” Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, posted on X. Ziegler is the head of the Florida GOP and the husband of Sarasota school board member Bridget Ziegler, who is also a co-founder of Moms for Liberty. DESANTIS TROLLS NIKKI HALEY WITH NEW CAMPAIGN MERCH MOCKING HER COMMENTS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA VERIFICATION “Bridget was an original founder of Moms for Liberty, but she stepped back from the organization’s board in 2021. We have learned long ago to not believe everything we read online, and we are confident she will get to tell her side of things to those who are interested in more than clickbait,” Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich, Moms for Liberty Founders told Fox News Digital. According to the Florida Center for Government Accountability, Christian Ziegler has deep-rooted ties to both Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Trump, who called out Ziegler’s name in a recent speech earlier this month during the “Florida Freedom Summit” in Kissimmee, and said he was doing a “fantastic job.”
Jeffrey Epstein flight log subpoena request denied by Democrat-led Senate Judiciary Committee, Blackburn says
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., criticized Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for allegedly blocking her request to file a subpoena for Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs. “@SenatorDurbin BLOCKED my request to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs. What are Democrats trying to hide?,” Blackburn posted on X. Blackburn called Durbin’s actions a “sad day in the history of the prestigious Judiciary Committee.” “Senate Democrats have long been trying to undermine the Supreme Court and Justice Clarence Thomas, but want to ignore Justice Sotomayor allegedly using her taxpayer-funded staff to coordinate speaking engagements in exchange for selling and promoting thousands of her books. They also don’t want to have a conversation about the estate of Jeffrey Epstein to find out the names of every person who participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s human trafficking ring,” Blackburn said in a statement. GOP SENATOR MOVES TO FORCE RELEASE OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN FLIGHT LOGS, IDENTIFY PERPETRATORS IN ‘HORRIFIC CONDUCT’ She first moved for the flight records to be subpoenaed in early November. “Since we’re in the business of issuing subpoenas now, here are a few more that I’ve filed,” Blackburn told the committee during a meeting in early November discussing possible subpoenas related to a Supreme Court ethics probe. “A subpoena to Jeffrey Epstein’s estate to provide the flight logs for his private plane. Given the numerous allegations of human trafficking and abuse surrounding Mr. Epstein, we’ve got to identify everyone who could have participated in his horrific conduct,” Blackburn said. GHISLAINE MAXWELL IS ‘DANGEROUS PREDATOR’ WHO ‘SERVED UP’ MINORS FOR JEFFREY EPSTEIN TO ABUSE, PROSECUTORS SAY Some in the media dubbed Epstein’s plane as “The Lolita Express,” which was allegedly used to fly underage girls to his private Caribbean island in addition to other locations around the world. Epstein pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy in July 2019 in a New York court. He was later found dead in his jail cell located in Mahattan. Fox News Digital reached out to Blackburn and Durbin’s office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
Liberal columnist praises ‘patriotic’ Newsom for ‘shadow campaign,’ slams Democrats for backing Biden
A liberal columnist posted a column in the Washington Post calling California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s alleged “shadow campaign” a “patriotic” move and slammed the Democratic Party for the “reckless gamble” of moving forward with President Biden in 2024. “Here’s the reality: Whether you like Biden or not (I do, and I’m pretty sure Newsom does, too), the Democratic Party right now is taking a shockingly reckless gamble with the country’s future,” journalist Matt Bai wrote in the Washington Post on Wednesday, the day before the highly anticipated debate between Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bai outlines the recent prominent moves made by Newsom that have led to accusations from many on both sides of the aisle that Newsom is running a “shadow campaign” to step in for Biden as questions continue to grow about his age. Bai then slams Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman, who publicly defended Biden’s re-election and dismissed Newsom’s potential challenge. Fetterman said earlier this year that Newsom doesn’t have the “guts” to admit he’s running and said anyone going against Biden is writing a “check for Trump.” WHAT DESANTIS, NEWSOM AIM TO GAIN OUT OF PRIME-TIME DEBATE CLASH ON FOX NEWS’ ‘HANNITY’ “Because, apparently, having guts in the Democrat Party right now means mindlessly cheerleading for the president and hoping, despite all available data and the ominous mood, that everything is going to work out just fine,” Bai wrote. Bai continued: “The oldest president in history is about to become an even older nominee, backstopped by a vice president whom barely a third of the country likes. For the next year, we will all be one major health issue, or one small slip on the stairs, from inviting a lying autocrat back to the White House.” JOE ROGAN WARNS DEMOCRATS ON 2024, SAYING THEY HAVE ‘NO CARDS’ LEFT OTHER THAN ‘PARTY LOYALTY’ Bai wrote that the “Democratic answer” to this problem has been “some version” of “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.” “Which might sound familiar to you, since it’s precisely what Hillary Clinton’s strategists told everyone in 2016, when they tried, mostly with success, to shut down support for anyone who dared to run against her,” Bai wrote. “That worked out great.” Bai wrote that Democrats should watch the Fox News debate between the two governors and “assess Newsom’s skills and his command of the issues, just in case they should wake up one day and find themselves in the market for an alternative to Biden who isn’t named Harris.” “That’s not me being mean or ghoulish. That’s being practical, and even patriotic.” Bai said that viewers will see Newsom as a “polished politician” who can be “too slick” but can “articulate” a “next-generation agenda without pretending “everything will be OK” if the party is loyal to Biden. “In Democratic politics at the moment, that’s about as brave as it gets,” Bai wrote. A Monmouth University poll released earlier this month showed that 76% of voters agreed Biden, 80, was “too old” to serve another term, compared to just 48% who said the same about Trump, 77. Newsom has denied he’s running for president multiple times, and when asked, he told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo in September that he’s “not worthy of that conversation” and that Biden “deserves it.” At the start of the Fox News debate on “Hannity” Thursday night, Newsom again denied running a shadow campaign. “The one thing we have in common is neither of us will be our party’s nominee in 2024,” Newsom told DeSantis. Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.