DNC chair ripped David Hogg over party infighting in leaked meeting audio: ‘Really frustrating’
Several Democratic National Committee officers are accusing DNC vice chair David Hogg of leaking an audio recording exposing infighting, as the 25-year-old progressive reformer faces possible ouster. Politico first obtained about two minutes of audio from a May 15 Zoom call in which Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin is heard accusing Hogg of impacting his ability to lead. Hogg, 25, was elected vice chair in February but is currently at risk of losing that role after stirring tensions with party leadership. A survivor of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, Hogg has been vocal about how his group, Leaders We Deserve, is planning to spend $20 million to support progressive – and primarily younger – candidates challenging incumbent Democrats in safe districts during the next election. “It has plenty of warts, and we’re all trying to change those, for sure, but the longer we continue this fight, the harder it is for us to actually do what we all want to do, which is make a difference in this country again,” Martin said in the recording, as the party is trying to regroup following Democrats’ 2024 election defeat. DAVID HOGG CLASHES WITH AN IRATE JAMES CARVILLE OVER DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY PLAN, CALLS ON HIM TO ‘WIN ELECTIONS’ About 10 people were on the call, including Hogg, other DNC officers and staff, according to Politico. “I deeply respect you, David. I, too, was looking forward to working with you, but this has created a situation, and I’ll be very honest with you, for the first time in my 100 days on this job,” Martin continued, “The other night I said to myself for the first time, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this anymore.’ And partly, not because of the stress and all the naysayers, right? I’m used to that. I spent 14 years as a chair. I’m used to getting beat up on.” “But you know, this is, this is really, everything you know from this election, this credentials report, how Malcom’s been treated in this to you know, the fact the election itself, how Shasti and Jeanna were treated in this,” Martin said. “I’m just quite frustrated to be in this position because what you’ve done, whether you like it or not, or know it or not, David, I’m trying to – no one knows who the hell I am, right? I’m trying to get my sea legs underneath of me and actually develop any amount of credibility, so I can go out there and raise the money and do the job I need to to put ourselves in a position to win.” “And again, I don’t think you intended this, but you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to,” Martin said. “So, it’s really frustrating.” Several party officers alleged in statements to Fox News Digital that Hogg was behind the audio leak. “Breaking news: a human being had a frustrating day at work. That’s all Ken expressed on that call – I was there,” DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta said. “For weeks, I’ve pointed out David’s causal relationship with the truth. He proves he has no relationship with integrity if he’s willing to record and leak private conversations.” DEMOCRATS’ VICE CHAIR GETS ULTIMATUM: STAY NEUTRAL IN PRIMARIES OR STEP DOWN FROM PARTY LEADERSHIP “The Democratic Party is not the past. The Democratic Party is what we do next. The endless, self-serving narratives – and the deliberate leaking of private conversations – by David Hogg and his allies must stop,” Jane Kleeb, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Instead of helping to rebuild the party he’s supposed to serve, he’s attacking it for personal gain,” Kleeb continued. “That might boost his PAC’s fundraising, but it erodes trust in the very institution we’re trying to reform and strengthen. I’m proud of Chair Martin and the reforms we’re advancing, which includes keeping the DNC out of primaries so voters decide on Democratic nominees. Just this past month, we made historic gains in traditional red states like Nebraska and Mississippi. People’s lives will be better. That’s the work that matters.” The Democratic National Committee is holding an electronic vote beginning Monday on whether to nullify the February elections of Hogg and Kenyatta as vice chairs. Oklahoma DNC member Kalyn Free filed a formal complaint with the DNC alleging that the February election of the two male vice chairs violated the DNC’s gender-balanced rules, yet Hogg has claimed the DNC is using the vote to push for his ouster as he tries to reform the party. Hogg responded to the leaked audio in a statement to X. “There’s a lot going on right now. Here’s what matters: Trump just nationalized California’s national guard in his latest step on his authoritarian march to stomp out dissent against mass deportations,” Hogg said, referring to the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement riots in Los Angeles. “Republicans want us turning on each other so they can continue getting away with this. While Chair Martin and I have had our disagreements we are both in this to build the strongest party possible.” “Our nation is in a moment of crisis and the people are looking for us to lead,” Hogg said. “This is a distraction that prevents us from doing that. Do not help the GOP.” Hogg also said that “a lot of people are accusing me of leaking this recording,” sharing messages from the Politico reporter seeking comment on the story. He did not affirm or deny whether he was behind the leak. “BS. It was you. Everyone knows it,” New York Democratic state Sen. James Skoufis responded on X. “Leaking audio of a private call with party leadership is a disgrace and shows how deeply unserious and uncommitted you are to building a better, stronger, more inclusive Democratic Party.” Martin, meanwhile, said in a statement that he’s “not going anywhere,” and he
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Axiom-4 mission launch carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS postponed to…
Maxine Waters taunts armed agents after feds slam door on her during LA riots: ‘You better shoot straight’
Rep. Maxine Waters had a federal building door slammed in her face during the L.A. migrant riots – and was caught on video taunting armed agents, asking if they planned to shoot her. Video shows Waters hurrying past graffiti-covered walls of a government building and up the steps to a plywood-shielded doorway where a small crowd had gathered. “Hello, hello, hello,” Waters, D-Calif., called out as she saw the California National Guard approaching the door, to enter. “I just came to use my congressional authority to check on David Huerta,” she said, referring to the SEIU union leader who was arrested during the weekend’s protests. MCCARTHY: MAXINE WATERS FINDS ‘VALUE IN VIOLENCE’ The last agent to enter turned to her and said, “Ma’am, our lobby is secure right now to all visitors.” But that did not deter the 86-year-old 18-term Democrat. “Excuse me, I need to get in,” she said, as the agent told her to “contact our public affairs office,” as he closed the door in her face. “I just want to see David Huerta!” she called out. Asked by nearby onlookers about the situation, Waters said she said Huerta was “targeted” but did not know why. “I don’t know whether they are going to deport him? I want to report back to my caucus what is happening,” she said. MAXINE WATERS, HOUSE DEMS RIPPED FOR ‘UNHINGED’ CLASH WITH SECURITY GUARD AT EDUCATION DEPT In a statement on the incident, Waters said she went to the Metropolitan Detention Center to visit Huerta – whom the SEIU said was “caught” in one of a series of ICE raids in Los Angeles County the union described as “a violent sweep.” Waters also alluded to another viral clip she produced, which showed her taunting armed agents standing in formation in another part of the city. “I pled [sic] with the National Guard, which was heavily armed, not to use their weapons against peaceful demonstrators who were simply exercising their rights to freedom of speech and protest,” Waters said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “All people deserve to be treated with dignity and due process under the law: Peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations are critical to protecting our constitutional rights.” “The President of the United States is a cruel, dishonorable human being,” she said, adding that he and others would “just as soon” like to see agents “shoot somebody down.” “But I don’t want that to happen. I want the elected officials to do everything that we can to dissuade them,” Waters later told reporters. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In the latter case, Waters was seen hollering at the agents, insisting they were letting themselves become unwitting pawns of President Donald Trump: “This is Trump and his outrageous attempt to not only target our sanctuary city, but to frighten us and intimidate us. This is wrong, and I hope that none of you will use those guns to shoot anybody… and allow them to make your service a service when you’re killing people,” she called out to the troops. Addressing assembled reporters at another opportunity, Waters claimed Trump wants to have an excuse to enact martial law and “goad us into a fight.” “This is about how they’re going to treat people of color in America… They have all the guns – we know they have all the guns.” In another clip, she is seen addressing more troops: “What are you going to do? You’re going to shoot some kid?” “You’re gonna shoot an elected official? If you shoot me, you better shoot straight.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Trump huddles with military brass at Camp David amid violent immigration protests in Los Angeles
President Donald Trump huddled with military leaders and top Cabinet officials at Camp David on Sunday as the administration reviews all options for tamping down anti-immigration enforcement riots in Los Angeles. “We’re going up to Camp David; we have meetings with various people about very major subjects,” Trump told reporters Sunday evening before boarding Air Force One. “We’ll be meeting with a lot of people, including generals, as you know, and admirals.” A White House official described the meeting as the first of “what will become a regular off-campus retreat of principals attended by the President and Vice President.” TRUMP’S 21ST WEEK BACK IN OFFICE SET TO INCLUDE CHINA TRADE TALKS, LA RIOT CONTROL, SWEEPING TRAVEL BAN “They will meet on a number of issues and topics.” In addition to Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined in on the talks. The meeting came as Trump and Hegseth consider whether to send in U.S. Marines to assist the National Guard in shutting down riots in Los Angeles. Activists are protesting the administration’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids. Trump has already deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city in an unusual arrangement that did not include sign-off from California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom. He left open the option to invoke the Insurrection Act and even send in the Marines. The military is generally barred from carrying out domestic law enforcement duties, but the Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy the military to suppress rebellions. JOHNSON SAYS HEGSETH POSSIBLY SENDING MARINES TO ANTI-ICE RIOTS NOT HEAVY-HANDED: ‘DETERRING EFFECT’ Trump said he had directed his Cabinet officials “to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots.” Camp David has been the executive retreat in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP However, the riots are not the only thing top of mind for White House crunch talks: trade negotiations with China kicked off on Monday and the president is feuding with billionaire and former top advisor Elon Musk. The Senate is weighing Trump’s signature spending legislation, the Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the White House is negotiating with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. After the weekend retreat, the president will speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid ongoing hostage and ceasefire talks with Hamas.
Viral Video: Indian student pinned to ground, handcuffed, deported from US
In a video that has gone viral on social media platforms, an Indian student can be seen getting handcuffed, pinned to the ground at an airport in the US and deported back to India.
Bengaluru shocker: Techie stabs 36-year-old married girlfriend 17 times, arrested
The incident occurred recently in an OYO hotel room located in Poornaprajna Layout.
Trump’s spending bill heads to Senate where Republicans plan strategic adjustments to key provisions
The “Big, Beautiful Bill” may face major changes when the Senate begins debate next week. Look for Senate Republicans to pare down state and local tax deductions—known as SALT—which are important to House Republicans from California and New York. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS STAND FIRM AGAINST MUSK’S ‘KILL THE BILL’ ASSAULT ON TRUMP’S AGENDA Almost no Senate Republicans care about SALT. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., says he’d oppose the bill if the Senate strips SALT. Fiscal hawks want further Medicaid changes to achieve additional savings, but Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Jim Justice, R-W.Va., represent states with high percentages of their constituents on Medicaid. HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR SPENDING CANCELLATIONS AS ELON MUSK AND CONSERVATIVES DEMAND DEEPER BUDGET CUTS Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., wants to alter the no-tax-on-tips provision, arguing it’s unfair to workers outside tipped industries. The Senate may also cut House provisions on AI and federal judges, as these policy issues don’t comply with special Senate budget rules.
Republican rep indicates he will be ‘a no’ on Trump-backed rescissions measure if AIDS relief cut
As the Trump administration and congressional Republicans eye passage of a rescission proposal, Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who doesn’t shy away from bucking President Donald Trump, has indicated that he won’t support it if it guts an AIDS relief program. The president’s proposed clawbacks include millions of dollars pertaining to global health programs. “I told them I’m a no,” the congressman said of the measure, according to the New York Times. “I just want to make sure we’re funding the medicine. We want to prevent AIDS, it’s a noble program, it’s George Bush’s legacy. I put the marker out there; we’ll see.” In a post on X last week, Bacon described “The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)” as “a noble program that America can be proud of funding.” But in a statement to Fox News Digital on Monday, Bacon said, “If PEPFAR is gutted, I am a no. But I’m told that only parts of the program will be cut. I’ll need more details,” The rescission package “proposes to rescind $400 million from the PEPFAR program, which is appropriated $4.4 billion annually to provide bilateral assistance to countries, many of which do not support American interests, such as South Africa,” a White House official told Fox News on Monday. HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR SPENDING CANCELLATIONS AS ELON MUSK AND CONSERVATIVES DEMAND DEEPER BUDGET CUTS “The $400 million rescission eliminates wasteful programming that does not serve the American taxpayer,” the official said, while maintaining that the “package does NOT rescind any life-saving assistance and in fact, continues to make available billions of resources to implement life-saving medicine, medical services, as well costs necessary to deliver these services to maintain all current individuals on treatment.” Bacon was the only House Republican to vote against a measure to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. “I thought it was dumb. That’s what people told me — they said, ‘It’s so dumb; just vote for it.’ That argument didn’t work on me,” he said, according to the Times. GOP LAWMAKER BLASTS ‘DUMB’ TRUMP COMMENT ON ZELENSKYY DESPITE ‘PERFECT’ CRITICISM OF PUTIN House leaders have pressed Bacon to keep more of his views to himself, telling him to, as the congressman put it, “quit kicking President Trump in the nuts,” the outlet reported. But the lawmaker indicated that he would only press back when he believes it is needed. “You can’t be anti-everything,” Bacon noted, according to the outlet. “I like what the president has done on the border, so I have no problem with that.” “I’d like to fight for the soul of our party,” he said, according to the Times. “I don’t want to be the guy who follows the flute player off the cliff. I think that’s what’s going on right now.” PRO-UKRAINE GOP REP. BACON DECLARES ‘REAL REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT PUTIN’S RUSSIA HATES THE WEST AND FREEDOM’ Bacon has served in the House of Representatives since 2017.
Republican rep indicates he’s ‘a no’ on Trump-backed rescissions measure
As the Trump administration and congressional Republicans eye passage of a rescission proposal, Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who doesn’t shy away from bucking President Donald Trump, has indicated that he does not support it. The president’s proposed clawbacks include millions of dollars pertaining to global health programs. “I told them I’m a no,” the congressman said of the measure, according to the New York Times. “I just want to make sure we’re funding the medicine. We want to prevent AIDS, it’s a noble program, it’s George Bush’s legacy. I put the marker out there; we’ll see.” In a post on X last week, Bacon described “The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)” as “a noble program that America can be proud of funding.” The rescission package “proposes to rescind $400 million from the PEPFAR program, which is appropriated $4.4 billion annually to provide bilateral assistance to countries, many of which do not support American interests, such as South Africa,” a White House official told Fox News on Monday. “The $400 million rescission eliminates wasteful programming that does not serve the American taxpayer,” the official said, while maintaining that the “package does NOT rescind any life-saving assistance and in fact, continues to make available billions of resources to implement life-saving medicine, medical services, as well costs necessary to deliver these services to maintain all current individuals on treatment.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR SPENDING CANCELLATIONS AS ELON MUSK AND CONSERVATIVES DEMAND DEEPER BUDGET CUTS Fox News Digital reached out to Bacon’s office to request comment from the lawmaker on Monday, but no comment had been provided by the time of publication. Bacon was the only House Republican to vote against a measure to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. “I thought it was dumb. That’s what people told me — they said, ‘It’s so dumb; just vote for it.’ That argument didn’t work on me,” he said, according to the Times. GOP LAWMAKER BLASTS ‘DUMB’ TRUMP COMMENT ON ZELENSKYY DESPITE ‘PERFECT’ CRITICISM OF PUTIN House leaders have pressed Bacon to keep more of his views to himself, telling him to, as the congressman put it, “quit kicking President Trump in the nuts,” the outlet reported. But the lawmaker indicated that he would only press back when he believes it is needed. “You can’t be anti-everything,” Bacon noted, according to the outlet. “I like what the president has done on the border, so I have no problem with that.” “I’d like to fight for the soul of our party,” he said, according to the Times. “I don’t want to be the guy who follows the flute player off the cliff. I think that’s what’s going on right now.” PRO-UKRAINE GOP REP. BACON DECLARES ‘REAL REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT PUTIN’S RUSSIA HATES THE WEST AND FREEDOM’ Bacon has served in the House of Representatives since 2017.
GOP leadership unleashes fury on Dem governor ahead of blockbuster congressional hearing
FIRST ON FOX: House Republican leadership slammed Democratic Gov. Tim Walz ahead of a blockbuster congressional hearing addressing sanctuary city policy this week. GOP Whip and Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer wished Walz “good luck” before the former vice presidential candidate is set to testify alongside Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Thursday. “From hurling outrageous insults against ICE agents to offering a multitude of taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens in Minnesota, Tim Walz’s immigration agenda can be summed up easily: pro-illegal alien, anti-Minnesotan,” GOP Whip Emmer told Fox News Digital. “If Tim Walz thinks he will be able to defend his abysmal record before Congress, then he’s even more of a buffoon than I thought. I only have one thing to say to Timmy as he heads to Washington this week: GOOD LUCK.” HANDFUL OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS JOIN REPUBLICANS IN SANCTUARY CITY CRACKDOWN Emmer paired his comments to Fox News Digital with a new video slamming Walz’s various immigration policies titled “Protecting Illegals, Not Minnesotans: That’s the Walz Way.” The three “sanctuary governors” will face a barrage of questions from members of the committee this week, as anti-ICE riots raged in Los Angeles over the weekend and the Trump administration continues to ramp up deportations across the country. Though the term “sanctuary city” is not legally defined, illegal immigrants will flock to the mainly Democrat-led regions to reduce the likelihood of deportation. Sanctuary cities often refuse Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests for information, like arrests or releases, and typically deny ICE detainer requests to hold jailed illegal migrants beyond their release date. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS SLAM NEWSOM, BASS FOR LETTING LA BURN WITH RIOTS AMID TRUMP IMMIGRATION BLITZ House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Kentucky, said in a media advisory for the upcoming hearing that “The governors of these states must explain why they are prioritizing the protection of criminal illegal aliens over the safety of U.S. citizens.” “Sanctuary policies only provide sanctuaries for criminal illegal aliens.” Comer explained. “Former President Biden created the worst border crisis in U.S. history and allowed criminal illegal aliens to flood our communities.” “The Trump Administration is taking decisive action to deport criminal illegal aliens from our nation but reckless sanctuary states like Illinois, Minnesota, and New York are actively seeking to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.” ‘SICK PUPPY’ TIM WALZ SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ON DEMS’ 2024 TICKET, TRUMP SAYS The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m. ET. Fox News Digital reached out to Walz but did not receive a response.