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Day: March 27, 2024

Should Biden pay the Mexican president’s $20 billion demand or get tougher on immigration? Americans weigh in

Should Biden pay the Mexican president’s billion demand or get tougher on immigration? Americans weigh in

Americans shared whether President Biden should give in to the Mexican president’s demand for $20 billion a year for Latin American countries in exchange for help combating the illegal immigration crisis, with many telling Fox News that complying with a foreign nation’s ultimatum would make the U.S. look weak.  “I don’t think we should pay their demands,” Andy told Fox News on Music City’s famous Broadway street. “It’s our issue they’re coming over, but it’s their issue for letting them come over. It would be like we are submitting to them.” But a Nashville local, Chris, disagreed. He said the U.S. and Mexico need to work together to solve the immigration crisis.  “It helps us, too. It benefits us, too,” he said. “We spend money everywhere else, so why not?” WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in a “60 Minutes” interview Sunday that the surge of migrants crossing into the U.S. will continue unless Biden and his administration comply with his demands. Obrador had called on the U.S. to send $20 billion a year to Latin American countries, lift sanctions on Venezuela, end the Cuban embargo and legalize millions of Hispanics who have worked and lived in the U.S. for at least a decade. Mexican officials said complying would help the U.S. show it wanted to address the root causes of migration, NBC reported. “I think we can do it ourselves,” Gary told Fox News. “We can control it ourselves if we get off our butts and do it.”  Tony similarly said the U.S. shouldn’t comply, but questioned whether Biden would give into Mexican demands. “There’s a border crossing for a reason,” Tony said. “Biden’s weak. Bottom line.”  ‘SPINELESS’: TEXAS RANCHER SAYS LEADERS MAKING US A ‘LAUGHINGSTOCK’ AS BORDER RESIDENTS LIVE IN FEAR The U.S. has faced an ongoing migrant surge at the southern border under Biden’s watch, reaching a record 2.4 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023, a sharp uptick from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to Customs and Border Protection data. In December, migrant encounters hit a record 302,000 for the month. CBP also recorded the highest number of migrant encounters in the month of February this year at 189,922 encounters, a 21% increase from the year prior, the data show. Border officials also encountered 69 people on the FBI terror watchlist between ports of entry at the southern border in the first five months of this fiscal year — significantly more than the combined 26 caught from 2017 to 2021.  “I don’t think they should help at all,” Nol said of the U.S. government. “It would make us look weak.” Chris agreed. He said the U.S. needs to get tougher on illegal immigration.  “Make them come through properly,” he said. “I think we have everything in place.” But Gerald said Biden should comply to address the escalating border crisis.  “Anything they can do to stop it,” he said. “We can’t even sustain our own people with homeless … now we have the illegals coming across. It’s unsafe.”  “Whether we gotta pay or complete the wall … it’s dangerous,” Gerald said. “I would definitely help out.” 

Maryland’s rising star Dem governor faces first national test after Baltimore bridge collapse

Maryland’s rising star Dem governor faces first national test after Baltimore bridge collapse

Maryland’s newly elected Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who many believe has ambitions for higher office, was thrust into the national spotlight on Tuesday and reacted to the first catastrophic event on his watch when a container ship toppled a bridge causing several deaths. “This morning, our state is in shock and I want to take this moment to speak directly to the people of our state,” Moore, who took office in January of last year, said during a press conference on Tuesday morning. “To our first responders. I’m in awe of you. I’m in awe of all of your courage and all of your strength. I’m in awe of everything you do for each and every one of us. You saw a crisis and you said, what can I do to help? And our response teams are doing everything in our power to rescue and recover the victims of this collapse, literally, as we speak, people who, as we speak, are out there, our divers, our air assets. People right now working to save lives and are doing it because the state asked and we will update the public as the work continues.” Moore was reacting to news and video of a large container ship slamming into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Baltimore harbor on Monday night sending the bridge crashing into the water. SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR AT LEAST 6 ONGOING AFTER BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE The crew of the cargo ship, originating out of India, issued a mayday in the moments before the disaster in time for authorities to stop traffic from entering the bridge, limiting the number of vehicles involved in what officials have called a “mass casualty event.” “We’re thankful that between the mayday and the collapse that we had officials who were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not on the bridge,” Moore said.  BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE: RAVENS ‘GRATEFUL’ FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ON SCENE AMID ‘SHOCKING’ INCIDENT Authorities said a crew of eight construction workers were on the bridge, in addition to any traffic at the time of the collapse. It is unclear exactly how many people were killed in the accident but at least 6 people are unaccounted for after 2 were rescued from the water. The catastrophe represents the first test where Moore’s leadership will be thrust into the national spotlight a little over a year after he won the Maryland gubernatorial primary with President Biden’s help on the campaign trail and then defeated Republican Dan Cox by over 30 points. BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE TO BRING TRADE AND TRAFFIC CHAOS Moore is widely considered a potential presidential candidate in the future and the Washington Post recently reported on his “national buzz” and soaring popularity during his successful gubernatorial campaign that made him the first Black governor of the state.  Moore, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and a Rhodes scholar, served as a captain in the United States Army before spending time as an investment banker and has labeled himself a “social moderate and strong fiscal conservative.” In a post on X on Tuesday, Moore said, “We are Maryland tough. We are Baltimore strong. In the face of danger, we hold out. In the face of heartbreak, we come together, and we come back stronger. That is what we’ve always done. That’s what we will continue to do.” The bridge collapse shut down traffic in the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the country, which is expected to cause significant supply chain issues going forward as the wreckage is removed from the scene and the bridge is rebuilt.  The I-695, which ran through the Francis Scott Key Bridge, is also a critical link for trucking and motor vehicles linking Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York and the disaster comes ahead of the upcoming Easter Weekend. “I’m grateful to call each and every one of you not just colleagues, but I’m grateful to call you friends,” Moore said during the press conference. “And to the people of Baltimore, and each and every one of the 6.3 million Marylanders who call our state home, I recognize that many of us are hurting right now. I recognize that many of us are scared right now and so I want to be very clear about where everything stands.” Moore continued, “We are still investigating what happened, but we are quickly gathering details. The preliminary investigation points to an accident. We haven’t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack. Our administration is working closely with leaders from all levels, government and society to respond to this crisis and not by just by addressing the immediate aftermath, but also by building a state that is more resilient and a state that’s more safe. That is our pledge and that’s our commitment, and we’re going to keep that commitment.”

Whale of a lawsuit threatens to swallow up Biden green energy agenda

Whale of a lawsuit threatens to swallow up Biden green energy agenda

A federal lawsuit pits green energy against saving endangered whales, as three conservative groups are suing the Biden administration to stop what they say would be the largest wind energy project in the world.  The Virginia Offshore Wind project could cause significant harm to the North Atlantic right whale, according to the 61-page complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia filed by the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), the Heartland Institute and the National Legal and Policy Center against federal agencies as well as Dominion Energy.  The lawsuit names the Interior Department, the Commerce Department, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the National Marine Fisheries Service, top officials at those agencies and the Virginia-based energy company Dominion, which plans to start construction of the project on May 1.  “On one hand, the Biden administration says you have to have renewable energy, but in the process, the windmills have an environmental impact, not only on whales but on birds that get chopped up by the windmills,” Paul Kamenar, counsel for the National Legal and Policy Center, told Fox News Digital. “Our position is that it’s a larger issue than the environment, but relying on windmills is also an economic issue that will cost consumers and make energy less reliable.” MULTIPLE OBSTACLES IMPEDE THE UN’S GOAL TO TRIPLE RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2030 The lawsuit aims to cause Dominion to halt construction on the project until the ocean management agency develops a new “biological opinion” that covers verifiable protection against potential harm to the North Atlantic right whale. The lawsuit claims the agencies illegally approved Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project by ignoring procedural errors that would subject the endangered whales to grave harm. The lawsuit has no merit, according to Dominion spokesperson Jeremy Slayton.  “The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has done an extraordinarily thorough environmental review of the project and carefully considered potential impacts to marine wildlife and the environment,” Slayton told Fox News Digital. “The overwhelming consensus of federal agencies and scientific organizations is that offshore wind does not adversely impact marine life. We’ve put in place strong environmental protections for this project, and are confident the North Atlantic right whale will be protected.” Dominion contends it will be staffed with protected species observers to detect and avoid marine mammals and that its vessels will adhere to strict speed restrictions designed to avoid collisions with marine mammals. Spokespersons for both the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Marine Fisheries Service responded to Fox News Digital that they do not comment on pending litigation.  The plaintiffs note that 55 dead whales have washed ashore in other regions of the Atlantic coast since 2017, adding that experts say only about 350 North Atlantic right whales remain with only 70 females capable of producing newborns. Heartland Institute President James Taylor said in a public statement, “Playing politics with such an iconic species as the right whale is a truly pathetic example of the Biden administration’s allegiance to climate alarmism.” The litigation asserts that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s “biological opinion” in September 2023 did not evaluate the harm the turbines would cause to the whales. CFACT President Craig Rucker said in a public statement the agency’s analysis “is a textbook violation of the Endangered Species Act.” LITHIUM DEMAND AND DEVELOPMENT SWELL, BUT US LAWS LAG BEHIND The Virginia Offshore Wind project will span 25 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, and consists of 176 wind turbines with towers taller than the Washington Monument and turbine blades longer than a football field, according to the plaintiffs. On Jan. 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order to act on climate change, and the administration has approved dozens of wind projects along the East Coast.  The plaintiffs say these whales could be forced to navigate 32 separate federally leased areas from waters in Georgia to Maine.  The complaint accuses the National Marine Fisheries Service of having a “biological opinion” from September 2023 that only looked at how the wind projects would individually affect the North Atlantic right whale. The plaintiffs say the agency should have done a comprehensive analysis looking at the combined impact of the projects. “The agencies haven’t taken into account the cumulative effect up and down the coast,” said Kamenar of the National Legal and Policy Center.  

‘Moderate’ senator in battleground state voted with Biden almost 100% of the time: ‘Can’t run from his record’

‘Moderate’ senator in battleground state voted with Biden almost 100% of the time: ‘Can’t run from his record’

Longtime Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who many refer to as a “moderate” Democrat that often works across the aisle, has a voting record in lock step with President Biden nearly 100% of the time, sparking allegations of hypocrisy from his opponents. Brown, who began serving in the U.S. Senate in 2007, is often referred to in media publications as a practical “moderate” in touch with blue-collar workers in the Buckeye State and as recently as this week campaigned on “standing up for people and fighting for Ohio.” A review of his voting record since Biden took office using VoteView, a database maintained by political scientists from UCLA, shows that Brown voted with Biden 99% of the time from 2021-2023 and 97% of the time since 2023 while representing a state Trump carried by 8 points in 2020. Brown’s allegiance to Democrats did drop during the Trump years, as he voted with Democrats 91% of the time from 2019-2021 and 95% of the time from 2017-2019. During the eight years of the Obama administration, Brown voted with Democrats 95%-98% of the time. VULNERABLE DEM SENATOR BLASTED OVER VOTING RECORD AFTER AD TOUTS STRENGTH ON IMMIGRATION: ‘WON’T BE FOOLED’ The Ohio Democrat has also been a reliable vote for Biden when it comes to confirming nominees to high-profile positions. During the Biden presidency, Brown has voted to confirm Biden nominees over 99% of the time compared to 33% in the Trump administration. During the Obama administration, Brown voted for 100% of the nominees before the Senate. Brown’s adherence to Biden’s policies is expected to become a major issue on the campaign trail against his GOP challenger, businessman Bernie Moreno, who was propelled to a commanding victory in the primary by Trump’s endorsement, given that Biden is facing historically low approval numbers and is underwater on several key issues. Additionally, most political experts believe that courting independent voters and perhaps moderate Republicans will be key to Brown’s success in November. Brown’s critics tell Fox News Digital that Brown’s voting record shows he is anything but “moderate.” TRUMP-BACKED SENATE CANDIDATE BERNIE MORENO VOWS TO ‘FINALLY RETIRE’ DEMOCRAT SHERROD BROWN “Sherrod Brown parades around Ohio telling voters that he is a moderate, while he votes with Joe Biden 99% of the time and consistently sells out Ohio workers,” Reagan McCarthy, Communications Director for the Moreno campaign, told Fox News Digital.  “Brown has supported every single reckless spending package that has resulted in rampant inflation, voted for Biden’s attacks on American energy in favor of green energy schemes, and enabled Biden’s open-border invasion. We look forward to exposing his left-wing record and sending him packing in November.” Philip Letsou, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Fox News Digital that Brown “can’t run from his record.” “He’s a far-left liberal who has spent 50 years rubber-stamping the Democrat agenda,” Letsou said. “As Joe Biden has crushed working Americans with an open border and out of control inflation, Sherrod Brown has been there for him every step of the way.”  Brown has managed to win multiple re-elections in Ohio despite the state’s shift toward the GOP in recent years by appealing to Republican and Independent voters. Brown told Politico last month that he is going to “run my own race” and “my own brand” while at the same time is “not going to run away from Biden.” “He’s also delivered more than any president in recent history.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, Brown campaign spokesperson Reeves Oyster said, “Sherrod works for Ohio, which is why he’s stood up to presidents of both parties to block bad trade deals, worked with Republicans to make sure border patrol agents and law enforcement officers have the resources they need, and demanded the Biden Administration crack down on Chinese solar products that undercut Ohio manufacturers.”  The Friends of Sherrod Brown campaign pointed Fox News Digital to examples of Brown standing up to the Biden administration several times, including on trade issues involving China and on the issue of immigration when Biden overturned Title 42. The campaign also pointed to Brown’s opposition to the nomination of Nelson Cunningham for Deputy U.S. Trade Representative due to his lobbying for foreign union-busting companies and his vocal opposition to Biden EPA emissions rules that negatively affected Ohio.