Key Biden agency dropped $60K on overseas conference with DEI workshop: ‘Should never happen’
FIRST ON FOX: A government watchdog has uncovered that former President Joe Biden’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars sending top officials to a conference in Scotland that included diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) workshops. The Functional Government Initiative (FGI), via a FOIA request, discovered that the Biden FDA spent an estimated $60,000 on a dozen staffers, including Senior Advisor for Health Equity Dr. Charlene Le Fauve, to attend the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco’s (SRNT’s) conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 2024. While at the conference, members of the team attended a workshop that focused on the “stigma” facing LGBTQ+ people in the field of tobacco research. Topics included in that workshop, according to the FDA’s own report on the trip, included “how anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and discriminatory and stigmatizing environments toward LGBTQ+ populations impact tobacco use and tobacco control research” and “process to develop a community-based participatory research project to address smoking cessation among transgender individuals in Argentina.” WHITE HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS OVER $2B IN SAVINGS FROM DEI CUTS DURING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S FIRST 100 DAYS Another topic discussed was “the challenges of conducting research on tobacco use in the high-stigma environment of pregnancy in a post-Dobbs era.” Le Fauve justified the trip, in part, by claiming “the knowledge gained at the meeting is critical to attendees’ ability to understand emerging scientific issues that may impact their work and their ability to effectively move forward agency initiatives.” “The formal SRNT conference included many sessions where health equity was an identified focus and I attended several which were highly relevant, well done, and informative including the Presidential Symposium that included three presenters supporting the premise that in order to have a global impact on the tobacco smoking pandemic, nicotine and tobacco research must broaden its vision beyond wealthy countries to include research and researchers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the vast majority of the world’s people who smoke live,” Le Fauve added. ‘NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN’: STATE FINANCE LEADER RALLIES AROUND KEY TRUMP VICTORY SAVING ‘TAXPAYER DOLLARS’ Also present on the trip was Center for Tobacco Products Director Brian King, who was recently relieved of his duty by the Trump administration in a move that a former agency official told Fox News Digital was a result of the FDA straying from its core mission under the Biden administration and focusing on issues like DEI. “There were many, many failures in the key core missions for the center that needed dramatic change in new leadership,” David Oliveira, who recently left the FDA after six years, told Fox News Digital last month, explaining that the FDA was ceding responsibility to other departments and not doing enough to crackdown on China flooding the market with illicit vapes. FGI Communications Director Roderick Law told Fox News Digital in a statement that spending tens of thousands of dollars to send a dozen employees to a conference in Scotland is another example of the agency losing focus on its mission. “I, like anyone else in the world, would love to have a $60,000 vacation paid for by my employer,” Law said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Sadly, this dream became reality for 12 people on the taxpayer’s back. How can a group of government officials spend $60,000 on an LGBTQ+ workshop? How is it possible that this trip helped the agency stop illegal Chinese-made products or process applications for new products that could provide for harm reduction? This kind of waste should never happen again.” Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA for comment.
Targeted by Trump, well-known Democrat sparks 2028 speculation with stop in key state
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Pete Buttigieg returned Tuesday to Iowa, the state that boosted him from long shot to crucial contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Buttigieg’s trip, where he headlined a town hall with veterans, is sure to fuel speculation that he is seriously eyeing a 2028 presidential run. The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, 2020 White House contender and four-year Transportation secretary under former President Joe Biden, has remained a prominent figure in Democratic circles. “It feels really good to be back in Iowa. Anyone can come to Iowa just before an election is coming up,” Buttigieg said at the town hall, which was his first public political appearance since the end of the Biden administration. Pointing to his 2020 caucus victory, Buttigieg elicited loud cheers, saying, “I wanted to make sure I had a chance to talk with the people I got to know five or six years ago, and people I’m seeing for the very first time.” LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS INTO TRUMP’S SECOND TERM, DEMOCRATS ALREADY EYEING 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RACE Buttigieg did not bring up 2028 in his comments and was not asked about a potential second White House run as he took questions from the audience at the town hall, which was hosted by VoteVets, a progressive political organization that works to lift veterans and military families. The group told Fox News that roughly 1,800 people packed the event. Buttigieg told a Substack author in a live interview hours before the town hall that when it comes to 2028, he would consider “what I bring to the table.” During his 24 hours in the Hawkeye State, Buttigieg also gathered with staffers from his 2020 campaign and was followed around by a videographer from his political group Win the Era. A WORKING LIST OF WHICH DEMOCRATS MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028 When asked by Fox News if the trip to Iowa was the beginning of a 2028 assessment period, Buttigieg said, “right now, I’m not running for anything and part of what’s exciting and compelling about an opportunity like this is to be campaigning for values and for ideas rather than a specific electoral campaign. So that’s what I’m about.” A handful of those in the crowd interviewed by Fox News said they supported Buttigieg in the 2020 caucuses and would be interested in backing him again if he runs in 2028. “I’m here because I come from a long line of veterans. I have three family members who are currently working at the VA hospital in Iowa City. So, I’m here to show support,” said Faith Hunt of Cedar Rapids. “I loved Pete in 2020, and I’m excited to see that he’s campaigning and hope to see that he runs again.” Additionally, Chris Bzdill of Cedar Rapids said, “I really liked to hear what he had to say…It’s a very refreshing change. It seems logical and straightforward.” He added, “I’m kind of hoping that this progresses more, and we’ll see where it goes.” Buttigieg, pointing to those comments, said, “Of course it means a lot to hear that people who supported me then continue to believe in what I have to say.” The trip by Buttigieg to Iowa comes less than four months into President Donald Trump‘s second tour of duty in the White House. WHAT BUTTIGIEG SAID ABOUT BIDEN’S COGNITIVE ABILITIES DURING HIS FINAL YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE It comes as the Democratic Party’s favorable ratings in national polls have plummeted to all-time lows while an increasingly angry and energized party base is anxious to push back against Trump’s sweeping and controversial moves during his second administration. Democrats are already fixated on next year’s midterm elections, when the party hopes to win back majorities in the House and possibly the Senate from the Republicans. Additionally, Democrats are also already looking ahead to the 2028 presidential campaign and for potential contenders to start making early moves. While Iowa’s caucuses for half a century kicked off both major political parties’ presidential nominating calendars, the Democratic National Committee demoted the Hawkeye State on their 2024 schedule. However, Buttigieg’s visit, along with his announcement in March that he would pass on a 2026 run for a Democrat-controlled open Senate seat in battleground Michigan, his adopted home state, are seen as signals of his interest in a potential 2028 national run. Buttigieg, who, unlike many other top Democrats, often appeared on the Fox News Channel during his four years in the Biden administration, has spent the opening months of the second Trump administration making TV appearances and also joining highly visible podcasts. “We’re trying out several different formats — town halls, Q&As with different people on his social media, going out to podcasts and shows both political and non-political, and more — to try to reach people where they are, both in-person and online,” Buttigieg adviser Chris Meagher told Fox News ahead of the event. Buttigieg, during the town hall, noted that “there are all these sources of information that our friends who think differently than we do about politics are getting information from, that, frankly, are not subject to the editorial standards of a newspaper. And that makes it all the more important to get in there and present a different way of looking things.” Buttigieg is a veteran, having served six years in the Navy Reserves as an intelligence officer. During his time in the service, Buttigieg deployed for six months to the war in Afghanistan. “This was not your typical Democratic rally because of the audience we were able to build and the messenger we had. These were center-right military families and veterans who want to come home to the Democratic Party, VoteVets spokesman Matt Corridoni told Fox News. Pointing to Iowa, a one-time battleground state that has turned red over the past decade, Buttigieg acknowledged during the town hall that “Democrats do not have the best brand around here.” He told reporters that “I think it’s really important
Former NY Gov Cuomo holds double-digit lead in NYC mayoral race Democratic primary
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appears to be on his way to becoming the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Cuomo currently holds a double-digit lead over second-place candidate Zohran Mamdani in a Marist College survey obtained by Politico. In the first round of ranked-choice voting, the former governor has 44% versus Mamdani’s 22%, a lead that appears to hold throughout all six rounds. The survey shows Cuomo’s lead over Mamdani ranging from 20-24% overall. ANDREW CUOMO DENIED ALMOST $3 MILLION IN PUBLICLY MATCHING FUNDS FOR MAYORAL BID, CITES ‘SOFTWARE ERROR’ Marist College found just two other Democrats in the crowded primary who were able to garner double-digit percentages: City Council speaker Adrienne Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander. In the survey, Adams was knocked out of the race in round four and Lander in the fifth. The rest of the candidates were in the single digits with just two of them making it out of the first round, and by round three, all five were out. Despite his popularity in the Marist College poll, Cuomo’s campaign has faced several setbacks. The former governor has missed out on matching funds twice. In April, the New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB) indicated that at least 20% of Cuomo’s required disclosures contained documentation errors related to contributions. The NYCCFB also said that the Cuomo campaign failed to meet its required two-part threshold of total contributions, which must be at least 1,000 different individuals, and contributors, which must amount to at least $250,000, needed to obtain the publicly matched funds. The Cuomo campaign blamed a “technical software error” for the denial. CUOMO LANDS KEY ENDORSEMENT AS COMEBACK BID FOR NYC MAYOR HEATS UP On Monday, the Cuomo campaign was docked over $622,000 in matching funds for allegedly coordinating with a super PAC, according to New York 1, marking another financial setback for the former governor’s campaign. Cuomo’s opponents have also criticized him over his past controversies, including his 2021 resignation and handling of COVID-19. Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams has demanded that Cuomo “answer” questions about allegations surrounding COVID-related nursing home deaths. Mayor Adams said that the allegations should not “be an automatic disqualification,” but that those who lost loved ones want to know “exactly what happened.” Mayor Adams is running for re-election; however, he is doing so as an independent, not a Democrat. The Big Apple mayor won in the eighth round of voting in the 2021 election cycle. “I’m in the race to the end. I’m not running on the Democratic line. It’s just not realistic to turn around my numbers and to run a good campaign (from) where we are right now,” Adams told Politico in April.
Monsoon 2025 to arrive before-time on…, check state-wise list here
The Southwest Monsoon (SWM) is likely to advance into the South Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and some parts of southeast Bay of Bengal by May 13, 2025, as per the latest update from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
On ‘specific request’, centre provides two bulletproof cars to EAM S Jaishankar
Days after a “specific request” was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to strengthen the security cover of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, the centre has provided him two bulletproof cars as escort vehicles, reported The Indian Express.
Meet Dhruv Hemant Joshi, son of Pahalgam martyr who scored 80 per cent in SSC examination, aims to pursue…
It was a bittersweet moment for Dhruv Hemant Joshi, 16, as he discovered that he had scored an impressive 80 per cent marks in class 10th examination.
Trump asks Syria to join Abraham Accords, normalize ties with Israel in return for sanctions relief
President Donald Trump asked Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully normalize relations with Israel in exchange for sanctions relief. In a readout of the pivotal Wednesday meeting for Syria, Trump encouraged al-Sharaa to sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel, tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria, deport “Palestinian terrorists,” help the U.S. prevent the resurgence of ISIS and assume charge of ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria. Some 10,000 ISIS fighters are imprisoned in the region, where the U.S.-backed Kurdish militia, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, is charged with keeping them locked up. The U.S. has about 1,400 troops stationed in Syria to fight ISIS. Trump said Tuesday it was a “dream” for Saudi Arabia to join the accords, but predicted Riyadh would do so in its own time. The kingdom has long insisted it would not do so until there was a path for Palestinian statehood. Trump announced Tuesday he would lift sanctions on Syria and meet with its new leader, who once had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. TRUMP SAYS HE’LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS “In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that we must all hope will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” he said. “So I say good luck, Syria.” Al-Sharaa and his group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham led Bashar al-Assad’s ouster last year. His group was founded as an al Qaeda offshoot, before separating from the terrorist group in 2016. The breakthrough announcement came as Trump is traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, whose government leaders were widely expected to press Trump to release the sanctions to help Syria’s economy. “There is a new government that will hopefully succeed,” Trump said of Syria. “I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.” TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST TOUR BEGINS WITH SYRIA LOOMING AS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY Trump said both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan had encouraged him to lift the sanctions. “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump quipped. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who said he was inclined to support sanctions relief, warned Israel is still “extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria.”
State Department breaks down plan to deal with Columbia, Hamas, Rubio taking on NSA
As the Trump administration speeds past the 100-day mark, various conflicts around the globe are in a much different place than when the president took office. It has been nearly 600 days since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Not only did the act of terrorism launch a full-scale war in the Middle East, but it also facilitated a chaotic wave of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli clashes at home. “We’re guided by two principles that are guiding our approach to this conflict. The first is that we stand with Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself. And the second is that Hamas must release the hostages,” U.S. Department of State Deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital. “Those are the two guiding principles. And then we’re looking at the long-term here in terms of what this is going to look like as a long-term solution to this conflict. Hamas cannot continue to exist.” A New York Times opinion article ran last week, titled “This Israeli Government Is Not Our Ally,” just days before nearly 80 students were arrested during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in New York, illustrating that the strains between the two groups remain and the rise in antisemitism is still rampant. “When it comes to some of these protests, and I use that word even somewhat lightly in terms of I don’t even know if that’s the best way to describe them, the secretary has been clear, the president has been clear, there’s going to be zero tolerance for people that are here on visas that break our laws, that support or promote terrorism in the United States,” Pigott added. NETANYAHU PLEDGES ‘FULL FORCE’ TO ‘COMPLETE’ FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS IN COMING DAYS TRUMP OFFICIAL TARGETED IN BIDEN-ERA ‘DISINFORMATION’ DOSSIER STILL UNDER WRAPS DAYS AFTER RUBIO REVELATION “When you’re looking at that visa process, again, speaking from the State Department’s perspective, there’s a vetting process to enter the United States for a visa,” Pigott explained. “We’re constantly monitoring the fact of, are you actually abiding by that visa? Are you [a student] doing things that are breaking our laws? And if you do, your visa may be revoked.” Overseas, Hamas freed the last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, reportedly to appease President Donald Trump. Israel issued an evacuation warning for Yemeni ports after bombing the nation’s main airport last week. While the U.S. and the Houthis reached ceasefire agreements, Israel continues to punch back. Pigott made clear that the U.S.’ past and future decisions to attack the Houthis are heavily dependent on Islamist organizations’ actions. CHILDREN’S YOUTUBE STAR ‘MS. RACHEL’ TALKS TO ANTI-ISRAEL REPORTER ABOUT GAZA POSTS “The president’s been clear, the secretary has been clear that the bombing that we saw was about freedom of navigation, protecting American interests, making sure we can have ships going through that area,” Pigott explained. “The Houthis have capitulated, but this is about their actions.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s role as head of the agency got even more complicated after Mike Waltz left the National Security Administration (NSA) to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, and Trump assigned Rubio to fill the role. Despite the increase in workload and responsibility, the State Department’s deputy spokesperson says “the results speak for themselves.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Of that collaboration, of the fact that President Trump has that vision, is involved with the policy, is saying, we need to accomplish this, and Secretary Rubio helping to implement that vision,” Pigott added. “These are men and women that are dedicated on delivering results for the American people. I mean, this past 100-plus days have been the most successful 100 days, I would argue, in history from a president.”
Democrat defeats incumbent Republican Omaha mayor
Democrat challenger John Ewing defeated incumbent Republican Omaha mayor Jean Stothert in a victory that the Democratic Party is describing as an indictment against the Trump administration and the GOP. Ewing, who is currently the treasurer of Douglas County, will make history by becoming the first Black mayor of Nebraska’s largest city, while Stothert was denied a fourth term. “I called John Ewing and I congratulated him. John Ewing is inheriting tonight a great city, and we leave a strong foundation for the city that we all love. We are proud, are grateful and we are hopeful,” Stothert said in her concession speech. The race between Stothert and Ewing primarily revolved around local issues like street repairs and garbage service, but in the final stretch the campaign touched on more national, hot-button issues such as President Donald Trump’s administration and transgender rights. JAMES CARVILLE WARNS DEMOCRATS AGAINST USING ALIENATING LEFTIST WORDS LIKE ‘EQUITY’ AND ‘INTERSECTIONALITY’ Although the mayor’s office is nonpartisan, the candidates made it clear to voters that Stothert is a Republican and Ewing is a Democrat. One Stothert TV ad said “Ewing stands with radicals who want to allow boys in girls’ sports,” according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Ewing aired ads that connect Stothert to the Trump administration, showing the mayor on a split screen with Trump and saying “Let’s say no to the chaos and elect a mayor who will actually get things done.” In the latest results from WOWT, Ewing was leading Stothert in the vote count by 48,693 to 37,758. DAVID HOGG SLAMS ‘FAST-TRACK’ EFFORT TO OUST HIM AS DNC VICE CHAIR The Democratic Party said with Ewing’s win, “Democrats further extend a significant streak of overperformances and victories in elections in 2025. “From the school board to city council, and now to the mayor’s office, Nebraska voters are making their message heard loud and clear: They want strong Democratic leaders who will fight for them, protect their rights, and build opportunities within their communities. As Trump and his MAGA Republican allies continue to fail working families at every turn, voters are channeling their frustration into action at the voting booth,” the Democratic Party said in a statement. “After tonight, vulnerable House Republicans like Don Bacon are on notice,” added DNC Chair Ken Martin. “Voters are sick of cowardly Republicans willing to bend the knee to Trump at their expense. They want true leaders who will govern on behalf of working families and not billionaire donors, which is why Democrats like John Ewing Jr. are winning elections up and down the ballot.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump visits Qatar as country’s jet offer puts spotlight on nation’s growing influence in Washington
The deepening U.S. relationship with Qatar is drawing fresh scrutiny this week as President Donald Trump began a Middle East tour amid reports that he may accept a free jet from the Qatari royal family to replace his current plane as Air Force One. The prospect has drawn bipartisan pushback, which Trump has met with indifference. “Qatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally. I mean, they support Hamas. So what I’m worried about is the safety of the president,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told reporters on Tuesday. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Fox News, “I think it’s not worth the appearance of impropriety.” TRUMP DEFENDS QATAR JUMBO JET OFFER AS TROUBLED BOEING FAILS TO DELIVER NEW AIR FORCE ONE FLEET “[The Qataris] said to me, ‘we would like to, in effect, we would like to make a gift. You’ve done so many things. and we’d like to make you a gift to the Defense Department,’ which is where it’s going. and I said, ‘Well, that’s nice.’ Now, some people say, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t accept gifts for the country.’ My attitude is, why wouldn’t I accept the gift? We’re giving to everybody else, why wouldn’t I accept a gift?” Trump explained to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesdsay. U.S. relations with Doha have come a long way since 2017, when Trump accused Qatar of harboring terrorism: “The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level,” Trump said at the time. From there, Qatar became a major non-NATO ally to the U.S. in 2022 under President Biden and is home to Al Udeid Air Base, one of the U.S.’ largest Middle East bases and a key hub for U.S. Central Command operations. Qatar has been at the forefront of peace and hostage negotiations, especially in the war between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli delegation traveled to Doha on Tuesday to hash out a potential agreement on a hostage exchange and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. “Qatar is an indispensable security and energy partner to the United States. It’s a strategic partnership that has grown stronger and more expansive over time,” Ali Al-Ansari, media attaché at the Qatari embassy, told Fox News Digital. “His highness the Amir and President Trump have a longstanding relationship over many years, and both leaders have the shared goals of peace, security and stability.” “Qatar is working closely with the president and his team to advance these shared goals, whether in Gaza, Ukraine, Congo or other areas of instability.” TRUMP SAYS HE’LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS In March, weeks of negotiations led by U.S. and Qatari mediators led to the release of American George Glezmann, who had been imprisoned by the Taliban in Afghanistan for more than two years. Doha’s negotiators were also involved in the U.S.-Hamas deal to release the last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, on Monday. “They’re very smart at making themselves useful,” said Michael Makovsky, CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America. The Trump Organization has cinched a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country’s sovereign wealth fund. “Their financial connections to people in Trump’s orbit, their making themselves useful as our mediators, communicating that strategically, the Qataris have been very effective at making themselves important,” Makovsky added. And despite its relatively small population – less than 3 million – Qatar controls over 10% of the world’s natural gas reserves. “They have an enormous amount of influence as a result of the money they spend,” said Jonathan Schanzer, executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright praised Qatar as a “valued energy partner” – the second-largest producer of liquid natural gas in the world. “I look forward to building on this new era of U.S.-Qatari relations together,” he said. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has praised Qatar as a valued partner in negotiations. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kans., joined Trump officials in defending Qatar during a Senate hearing on campus antisemitism recently. As a witness described links between the Qataris donating billions to universities and antisemitic protests, Marshall shot back: “Qatar has been a great ally to America. So I don’t know why you’re attacking them.” But others are skeptical. “The Qataris have been sponsoring a wide range of terror groups for decades,” said Schanzer. “It’s been a bipartisan decision to turn a blind eye to the problem.” Israel supporters have long accused Qatar of funding Hamas. Prior to the outbreak of war after Oct. 7, 2023, Doha for years sent millions of dollars per month to the Gaza Strip to prop up Hamas’ governing structure there. They’ve also spent billions in the U.S., including an aggressive lobbying operation in Washington. “We have seen them invest billions of dollars into higher education. We know that they’re investing in K-12 education in this country,” said Schanzer. “They’re buying up parcels of valuable real estate. They are … spending massive amounts of money in states like Texas and South Carolina, where you have the defense industry and the energy industry.” “Over the last two decades or so they have spent a lot of money, expended a lot of effort, and it’s now paying dividends.” Schanzer said he was pleased the discussion over the Boeing plane had spurred a national conversation over Qatar’s influence in the U.S. “This is a longstanding problem that has gone unaddressed by Barack Obama, by Joe Biden, by George W. Bush and by Trump.”