Missouri law requiring photo ID to vote remains intact: ‘Huge win for election security’
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said a state law requiring a photo ID to vote being upheld in court is a “huge win for election security.” “Missouri proved today how to handle radical activists that come into a state with secure elections and try to undermine them through the legal process,” Bailey said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. Bailey added that this was a huge victory for the Show Me State. “We went to court, we put on the evidence, and radical activists working to undermine our elections FAILED. This is a HUGE win for election security,” Bailey said in a post on X. COURT UPHOLDS RED STATE’S BAN ON TRANS SURGERIES, TREATMENTS FOR MINORS Elon Musk also shared his approval and praise for Missouri’s court ruling. “Congratulations AG Bailey! Now we need this nationwide,” Musk wrote in a post on X. The Missouri court’s decision to uphold the voter ID law came after heavy criticism from groups arguing that such requirements could disenfranchise voters. However, Bailey’s office successfully presented evidence supporting the law’s necessity and effectiveness in maintaining the integrity of the voting process. The court’s ruling confirmed that the voter ID law does not impose a burden on voters. Missouri also provides free non-driver’s licenses for voting for those who do not already have a driver’s license or have a current license. The health department’s Bureau of Vital Records provides free birth certificates to those seeking their first non-driver’s license in order to vote if the applicant does not have a current driver’s license. PENNSYLVANIA DEM GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO SIDES WITH STATE SUPREME COURT RULING NOT TO COUNT CERTAIN MAIL-IN BALLOTS “There is not a severe burden on the right to vote as the State has gone to great lengths to help voters obtain IDs,” Bailey wrote in a previous court brief. In October 2022, Cole County Presiding Judge Jon Beetem had already rejected a lawsuit brought by the Missouri League of Women Voters, NAACP and two voters challenging a law passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature making it mandatory that voters show photo identification to cast a regular ballot. Under the 2022 law, people with a valid government-issued photo ID are still able to submit provisional ballots, which will be counted if they return later that day with a photo ID or if election officials verify their signatures. Republicans said the goal of the 2022 law was to deter voter fraud, but the plaintiffs in the case argued the legislation placed unconstitutional hurdles on voting, suppressing turnout. Before the 2022 midterm elections, it was acceptable for Missourians to present a voter registration card, a student identification card, a bank statement or utility bill or a valid driver’s license to cast their ballots in the state. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 36 states request or require identification to vote, of which at least 20 ask for a photo ID. Other Republican-led states are moving in the same direction as Missouri, which could serve as the blueprint for national policy. “I’m proud that Missouri will continue to lead the nation in defense of election security,” Bailey said. Critics argue that such requirements are an overreaction that could disenfranchise eligible voters. Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Delhi pollution: No relief for Delhi-NCR as air quality remains ‘very poor’; schools to conduct classes in…
The air quality of Delhi’s areas like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, and Wazirpur among others saw slight improvement on Monday, however, it again plummeted to the ‘severe’ category.
President-elect Trump appoints three key positions in White House offices
President-elect Trump announced three key appointments to White House offices on Monday, including two who served during his first term. The announcement included the appointment of James Braid, who will return to the White House as the deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Legislative Affairs. Braid worked in legislative affairs at the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, and since then he has served as the lead policy staffer for Vice President-elect JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. Braid has also served as chief of staff for multiple members of Congress, and has taken on several other senior policy roles on Capitol Hill since 2015. GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP’S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR? Trump also announced Alex Latcham will return to the White House as the deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Liaison. Latcham previously served as special assistant to the president and deputy political director during Trump’s first term. For the past eight years, Latcham served Trump as a senior deputy political director for his campaign and for the Republican National Committee. TRUMP NOMINATES FORMER WISCONSIN REP. SEAN DUFFY FOR SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION The third person to be appointed is Matt Brasseaux, who will serve as deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Affairs. Brasseaux worked as a deputy political director for the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee in 2024. He also served as a regional political director for the Republican National Committee and campaign manager for now-Gov. Joe Lombardo in Nevada.
Fox News Politics: Prosecutorial Pass
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Trump begins endorsing replacements to replenish GOP majority in House as cabinet picks shrink lead -White House insists Biden, Harris have ‘one of most successful administrations in history’ despite 2024 loss -New study finds DEI initiatives creating ‘hostile attribution bias’ Special Counsel Jack Smith is asking a judge to drop all charges against President-elect Donald Trump stemming from Smith’s investigation into the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach, Fox News Digital has learned. Judge Tanya Chutkan will need to approve the request before the case is dismissed. Smith also filed a motion to drop his appeal in his classified records case against Trump–a case that was tossed in July by federal Judge Aileen Cannon. Cannon ruled Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. The moves come after Smith, earlier this month after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, signaled he would begin winding down his case against Trump. The filing went live on the Department of Justice docket on Monday afternoon…Read more VISCERAL CRIES: PETA protests Biden turkey pardon with ‘Hell on Wheels’ display with subliminal messaging meant to make people go vegan…Read more PARDONED: Biden does his final White House Thanksgiving turkey pardoning: ‘Last time to speak here as your president’…Read more AG PICK: Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general, praised as ‘loyal’ and ‘qualified’ for top US prosecutor role…Read more ‘UNLIKELY COALITION’: A criminal reform advocate sees opportunities in a second Trump term…Read more ‘STRONG’ ON ENERGY: Trump planning to lift Biden’s LNG pause, increase oil drilling during first days in office…Read more ‘FIRED UP’: ICE group praises Trump for Homan, Noem picks to lead immigration team: ‘Fired up’…Read more ‘NO NUCLEAR WEAPON’: Here’s how the US and Israel could thwart Iran’s nuclear efforts under a new Trump administration…Read more RAZOR-THIN MARGINS: Size of slim Republican House majority hangs on 3 uncalled races…Read more ‘TOTAL ENDORSEMENT’: Trump urges Florida Republican to mount congressional bid: ‘RUN, RANDY, RUN!’…Read more READY ON ‘DAY ONE’: Ohio congressman vying to replace JD Vance in the Senate says Trump’s agenda must be priority on ‘Day One’…Read more GAETZ SEAT: Fighter pilot, decorated combat veteran Jeff Witt announces bid to fill Florida House seat vacated by Gaetz…Read more NEW NEIGHBOR: Maryland governor defends $190K Trump-centric consulting contract as president-elect moves in next door…Read more THE ‘NEW JOE BIDEN’: NY Dem Rep. Ritchie Torres dubs Gov. Kathy Hochul ‘the new Joe Biden,’ warns of potential 2026 election loss…Read more ‘WE WILL INTERVENE’: Gavin Newsom threatens intervention if Trump kills Biden’s $7.5K EV tax credit…Read more GET OUT OF DENVER: Denver mayor says he’s prepared to go to jail over opposition to Trump deportations of illegal immigrants…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Court upholds red state’s ban on trans surgeries, treatments for minors
A Missouri state court on Monday upheld a state law banning child mutilation, following a brief two-week trial challenging the legislation. “The Court has left Missouri’s law banning child mutilation in place, a resounding victory for our children. We are the first state in the nation to successfully defend such a law at the trial court level,” state Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement. “I’m extremely proud of the thousands of hours my office put in to shine a light on the lack of evidence supporting these irreversible procedures. We will never stop fighting to ensure Missouri is the safest state in the nation for children.” CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OFFICIAL COMPARED ‘SAVE GIRLS SPORTS’ SHIRT TO SWASTIKA, REBUKED GIRLS WEARING IT: LAWSUIT The ruling in Cole County coincides with the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming review of U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case in Tennessee set to address the constitutionality of the state’s ban on transgender surgical procedures and medications for minors. The decision in this case could jeopardize the future of so-called “gender-affirming” care for minors nationwide. The Missouri court rejected the argument by the plaintiffs – Emily Noe on behalf of her minor child – stating that “Any person – including a minor – would be able to do anything from meth, to ecstasy, to abortion as long as a single medical professional was willing to recommend it.” The court also noted that such arguments have been routinely dismissed by courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The law, enacted in 2023, has been the subject of legal challenges from trans minors, their families and health care providers. It prevents medical providers from performing trans surgeries and administering hormone treatments such as puberty blockers to people under 18. TRANSGENDER WOMEN TO BE BANNED FROM CAPITOL HILL FEMALE BATHROOMS UNDER NEW HOUSE GOP PROPOSAL After Monday’s ruling, Missouri became the first state to uphold a ban on such procedures at the trial court level. President-elect Trump also vowed on the campaign trail last year to outlaw “gender-affirming” procedures on minors and allow medical providers to be prosecuted. There are currently 26 states that have enacted laws or policies that ban or restrict trans surgeries and treatments for minors, while 24 states and the District of Columbia allow it and/or have passed “shield” laws to protect access to it.
Congress has just weeks to avoid a partial government shutdown after Thanksgiving
After Congress returns from Thanksgiving break in December, they will have just weeks to approve continued government spending past the Dec. 20 deadline. In floor remarks last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said, “When the Senate returns after Thanksgiving, senators can expect a very busy few weeks to finish our work before the end of the year. “Both sides must continue working together to keep the government open beyond the Dec. 20 deadline.” SENATE GOP MOTIVATED TO RAPIDLY CONFIRM TRUMP NOMINATIONS AHEAD OF PARTY TRIFECTA IN WASHINGTON “Letting the government shut down just before Christmas would be asinine, plain and simple, and nobody wants that to happen,” he said. “Well, there may be a few in the other chamber who do, but they’re a distinct minority.” While nearly all the appropriations bills have passed through committee and are ready to be voted on, Schumer hasn’t brought any to the floor. His office has not answered questions from Fox News Digital about whether he will in the time that Congress has left. ‘CONVEYOR BELT OF RADICALS’: GOP SLAMMED OVER SENATE ABSENCES THAT HELPED BIDEN SCORE MORE JUDGES IN LAME DUCK House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has noted Schumer’s inaction on individual appropriations bills, suggesting its likely that lawmakers will ultimately put forward a short-term stopgap spending bill into next year. This would be preferable to some Republicans, who would like the GOP and the incoming Trump administration to contribute to a spending bill as soon as possible. If appropriations measures are passed during this Congress while Democrats control the Senate and President Joe Biden is still in office, Republicans will have much less leverage in influencing bills that will dictate the entire rest of the 2025 fiscal year. A short-term spending bill, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), would give Republicans much more authority much earlier. But it’s unclear whether Democrats will let this happen and those who have discussed the forthcoming deadline have expressed an expectation of a large appropriations bill known as an omnibus, or smaller groups of spending bills known as minibuses. DSCC HOPEFUL GILLIBRAND SAYS DEMS SHOULD HAVE PUT IMMIGRATION FIX ON TABLE ‘2 YEARS AGO’ However, some Republicans have vocally opposed this type of bill. In fact, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, penned an open letter to the American people recently, warning them that their representatives and senators are poised to push through a large, omnibus bill ahead of Christmas. He urged people to call lawmakers and urge them not to. If Congress does not pass some form of stopgap bill or appropriations package prior to Dec. 20, the government will enter into a partial shutdown until they do so.
Crypto miners must register with state and reveal power usage under new Texas rule
The Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted the rule amid surging demand for power across the state and a growing crypto mining industry in Texas.
DNC union launches GoFundMe to help former staffers hit by massive layoffs after election losses
The union representing members of the Democratic National Committee launched a GoFundMe to raise money for staffers who were abruptly laid off last week – prompting backlash from those still on the DNC payroll who have described the cuts as a “betrayal” of party values. The GoFundMe created by the DNC union seeks to raise $25,000 to assist staff impacted by the layoffs following their losses in the 2024 election. Members of the DNC staff union said on the fundraising page that the abrupt wave of layoffs had included two-thirds of DNC staffers, who were let go with little notice and with “no severance.” DNC OFFICIAL PREVIEWS ‘FINAL CASE’ AGAINST TRUMP AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY In a public statement, the union blasted DNC leadership for the layoffs, which they described as “callous” and “short-sighted” – and which they noted extended to employees who were previously told their positions at the DNC would be safe after Election Day. “We are heartbroken to see our colleagues – who dedicated countless hours to electing Democrats up and down the ballot – depart under these circumstances, and we are furious with DNC leadership for failing to provide severance to those affected,” DNC staff union organizer Jill Brownfield wrote on the GoFundMe page. GAETZ WITHDRAWS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE DNC union officials said the relief fund will “directly aid” staff members hit by the layoffs, including single parents and workers expecting children, and will be “distributed equally to any laid-off member who opts in to receive funds.” “We hope these funds can soften the economic blow for those impacted.” The fundraising effort comes less than a week after the DNC announced its wave of layoffs Wednesday night. The cuts were met with scathing criticism by current DNC employees and union members. “The DNC’s senior leadership has chosen to leave loyal staff scrambling to cover rent, medical expenses and childcare costs,” the union’s statement read. They also called on Democratic Party leadership to offer severance to every permanent employee who was laid off, and to address the remaining staff “honestly and transparently” about how to move forward. The DNC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment as to what, if any, efforts the DNC has made to respond to the union request or otherwise ease the transition process for some of the affected employees. As of this writing, the fund had raised $15,453 out of its total goal of $25,000.
Trump begins endorsing replacements to replenish GOP majority in House as Cabinet picks shrink lead
President-elect Trump began endorsing fellow Republicans this week to replace members of Congress who have vacated their seats to join his Cabinet. The endorsements come amid fears that the party’s razor-thin majority in the House – the size of which still remains undetermined – could be in jeopardy as a result of Trump’s selections from the lower chamber. Trump threw his support behind two Floridians, former GOP state Sen. Randy Fine and the current chief financial officer for the Sunshine State, Jimmy Patronis Jr., both of whom are considering runs for Congress, according to the president-elect. Fine would run in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, a seat that is currently held by Trump’s pick to be his next national security adviser, Rep. Michael Waltz. Patronis would run in Florida’s deep-red 1st District, previously held by former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Gaetz resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him to be attorney general, but allegations of sexual assault and other improprieties prompted Gaetz to withdraw his name from the running. He has denied any wrongdoing. SIZE OF SLIM REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY HANGS ON 3 UNCALLED RACES Trump, however, has not endorsed anyone to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the GOP House conference chair, whose solidly red seat in upstate New York will also be up for grabs if she is confirmed by the Senate to be the Trump administration’s ambassador to the United Nations. Republicans in the House of Representatives are on track to have somewhere between a one- and three-vote majority once the few outstanding races are called. There are three races remaining that still need to be called, two in California and one in Iowa. The balance of power in the House currently sits at 219 seats for Republicans and 213 for the Democrats. Republicans must hold 218 to retain their majority. While Waltz, Stefanik and Gaetz’s seats all sit in Republican strongholds, lawmakers have nonetheless signaled concern, particularly, because the ensuing special elections could likely occur within the first weeks or months of Trump’s term and potentially stymie Trump’s ambitions for his first 100 days in office. “I know he’s already pulled a few really talented people out of the House – hopefully no more for a little while until special elections come up, but it shows you the talent that we have and the ability we have,” Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said last week during a press conference. Scalise is House majority leader. INCUMBENT IOWA REPUBLICAN SAYS DEM HOUSE OPPONENT ‘WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY’ WITH RECOUNT Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., similarly said he did not believe Trump would pluck any more members from the House for his administration, adding that he and Trump broached the topic in discussions. “President Trump fully understands and appreciates the math here, and it’s just a numbers game. You know, we believe we’re going to have a larger majority than we had last time. It’s too early to handicap it, but we are optimistic about that,” Johnson said. “But every single vote will count, because if someone gets ill or has a car accident or a late flight on their plane, then it affects the votes on the floor. So, I think he and the administration are well attuned to that. I don’t expect that we will have more members leaving, but I’ll leave that up to him.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital that the president-elect “is 100% committed” to working with House leadership, including Speaker Johnson, “to maintain the House GOP majority and immediately get to work in January” to implement the policies that voters elected him on. Fox News Digital politics reporter Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Conservative satire outlet censored by Elon Musk-rival Bluesky: ‘Chilling reminder’
The conservative satire outlet the Babylon Bee is calling out X’s rival platform Bluesky for repeatedly censoring its posts and arbitrarily labeling them “intolerance.” Babylon Bee editor-in-chief Kyle Mann told Fox News Digital that Bluesky’s decision to censor their content is a “chilling reminder” of what the social media landscape would look like if Elon Musk had not bought Twitter. The Babylon Bee was suspended from Twitter in 2022 for posting a satirical article calling Adm. Rachel Levine, a Biden administration Cabinet member and a transgender woman, the “man of the year.” Twitter flagged the post as violating its rules regarding “hateful conduct” and suspended the Babylon Bee’s account until they deleted their tweet, which the outlet refused to do. The Babylon Bee’s account remained suspended by Twitter until Musk reinstated it after he gained control. JOE ROGAN ASKS TO TAKE RACHEL MADDOW’S JOB IF ELON MUSK BUYS MSNBC Now, two years later, the Babylon Bee is facing a similar dilemma on Bluesky, which was created by Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey and is widely seen as a direct competitor to X. Bluesky has a similar layout to X but operates on an “authenticated transfer protocol” that creators say allows users more control over what content they access than platforms that operate on a single algorithm. Bluesky’s website states that “our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see” and “on an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” The platform has seen a significant increase in users in the last several weeks, with 8 million people, many of whom are former X users, joining since Election Day. There are currently 22 million users on Bluesky, which is still considerably lower than X’s user base of over 500 million. ‘PATHETIC’: TOP 10 MEDIA MELTDOWNS FOLLOWING TRUMP’S ELECTION WIN, FROM ON-AIR TEARS TO CLAIMS OF ‘MISOGYNY’ The Babylon Bee made its first post on Bluesky on Nov. 18. It posted the same Rachel Levine article that had gotten them suspended in 2022. The post was quickly flagged and hidden by Bluesky’s moderation service, which labeled it “intolerance.” Users can still see the post by clicking past the intolerance label. The satire site’s creators have now tried reposting the article four times, with each attempt having a similar result. According to Bluesky’s community guidelines, the platform bans “gender identity-based harassment” and anything “promoting hate or extremist conduct that targets people or groups based on their race, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or sexual orientation.” Mann, however, said that “it’s ironic that the platform championing tolerance and freedom from Musk’s influence is itself so intolerant of differing views.” He explained that the outlet “thought it was only fitting to debut the Bee’s account on Bluesky with the article that famously got us banned from Twitter” and that the result highlights the need for Musk’s prioritization of free speech on X. “Bluesky’s censorship policies are eerily reminiscent of the status quo on Twitter before Elon Musk took over,” he said. “It’s chilling to think about what freedom of speech might look like right now in the United States if Musk hadn’t stepped up and freed us from the Twitter tyrants.”