Alaska senator literally shreds Biden’s energy orders, boosts WH efforts to leverage Arctic gas pipeline
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, literally tore up a list of 70 orders former President Joe Biden enacted that he said stymied the Last Frontier’s energy capabilities, and spoke Thursday about a bright future for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Sullivan described the Trump administration’s openness to building an 800-mile LNG pipeline to power the U.S. and trade with Asia. The pipeline would run from Prudhoe Bay – on the Arctic Ocean – to the Kenai Peninsula near Homer. Currently, essentially the only way to transport liquefied natural gas on the North Slope is via the AK-11 Dalton Highway of “Ice Road Trucker” fame, which is considered very inefficient and dangerous. “This is a huge project, very geostrategically important — and, of course, it’s important to Alaskans to get us the gas we need… but also to get our allies: [South] Korea, Japan, Taiwan, energy that they need.” AK CAN BE ‘CURE TO THE NATION’S ILLS’ WITH HELP FROM TRUMP ADMIN: GOV DUNLEAVY Sullivan said Japan is still buying oil and gas from Russia – while a source familiar with the pipeline plans noted an Alaska-to-Asia trade route does not include any diplomatic or geographic pinch points like those that exist in the Mideast and elsewhere. “Korea and Taiwan are getting their LNG from Qatar. None of that makes sense. Alaska is really close – We were the first place anywhere in the world to start exporting LNG in the late 1960s,” he said. “We did that to Japan for over 50 years.” In his Joint Address to Congress, President Donald Trump flagged the pipeline plan, saying he is working on a “gigantic” project in Alaska. Amid tariff and trade news, Sullivan said building the pipeline and supplying both North America and Asia with LNG obtained through the U.S.’ environmentally conscious means could reduce the West-to-East trade deficit by up to $10 billion per year. Plus, the pipeline itself could “revitalize” the domestic steel industry and employ thousands of Americans. He also sought to dispel a “fallacy” often touted on the left, that Native communities in and around the LNG territory are opposed to such development. “Most of the media gets it wrong,” he said. “The Alaska Native people … want this resource development done. This is how you help them with regard, not only to their economy, but their health, their pride, right? The best social program in the world is a good job.” IN THE ONLY US STATE BORDERING RUSSIA, GOV SAYS DEFENSES ARE STRONG Instead, he said, the Biden administration fought Juneau’s efforts to expand its energy production at every turn. “Eight times [the Biden Interior Department] told [Natives visiting Washington] to go pound sand. They would never meet with them to develop their resources.” When it comes to politicians in other states allegedly trying to dictate energy policy in Alaska, whether on environmental or other grounds, Sullivan quipped, “we don’t appreciate the lower 48 radical environmentalists coming up telling us what to do. And I really don’t appreciate what my Senate colleagues who try to do that, too.” “You may have seen I gave a speech last week on the Senate floor ripping the hell out of one of them just because he needed it, right.” As for talks with Trump, he said Secretaries Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum have been very open and supportive. Procuring financing is the next major battle, along with reciprocal trade agreements with target countries. “Then you can finance these projects and start to build them. We’re talking about laying pipe as early as the end of this year or the beginning of next year. And think about the jobs that would come with that.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Turning to Biden, Sullivan held up a sheet listing 70 executive orders and actions the administration took to “shut [Alaska] down.” “The left-wing media never cries about the jobs that were killed by Biden: Good union jobs; 70 EOs. The good news is this is now history,” he said, ripping up the list of orders and presenting instead a singular Trump order seeking to advance Alaska’s comprehensive LNG project. The project is the only West Coast venture to secure federal permits and $26 million in loan guarantees. It would utilize more than 500,000 tons of steel and 5 million cubic yards of concrete. In remarks to Fox News Digital, Energy Department spokesman Ben Dietderich said Alaskan LNG “has massive potential.” “Accessing over 100 trillion cubic feet of North Slope natural gas will provide enormous energy security to the United States and its allies, thousands of high-paying jobs, and is estimated to reduce the United States trade deficit by $10 billion annually,” Dietderich said. “While the previous administration openly discouraged investment in American LNG, President Trump and Secretary Wright are committed to expanding American energy at home and abroad.” “Potential large scale investments and partnerships in U.S. LNG projects, including Alaska LNG, were discussed in the Secretary’s meetings with UAE officials yesterday and the Secretary intends to also raise these in Saudi Arabia in the coming days as well.”
SCOOP: Republicans demand RFK Jr reverse Biden-era ‘public health crisis’ on guns
FIRST ON FOX: A group of House Republicans is asking Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to crack down on any remaining gun control efforts within his department, which they argue is in “direct violation of federal law.” “We write to you today to urge you to protect the Second Amendment from attacks by a partisan and weaponized Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH)—which became a dangerous threat to gun ownership under the Biden Administration,” the letter led by Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., read. Harshbarger’s letter also demanded that Kennedy reverse a Biden-era policy declaring gun violence a “public health crisis.” “Treating firearm-related violent crime as a public health issue may start with a study about gun control but ends with tyranny,” it said. NRA LEGISLATIVE EXPERT SAYS GUN RIGHTS COULD SEE ‘MOST MONUMENTAL’ WIN IN CONGRESS SINCE 2005 Congress banned federal funding from being used to advocate for gun control in a 1996 spending bill, a measure called the Dickey Amendment. A 2018 spending bill softened that language somewhat, allowing for the CDC to research the causes of gun violence. But the letter, which was signed by 15 House GOP lawmakers total, argued that the Biden administration went beyond what was allowable. “[T]he Biden White House and gun control advocates censored self-defense statistics from the CDC website, statistics that would have helped explain the importance of the Second Amendment to our citizens,” they wrote. “Meanwhile, the Biden Administration also weaponized millions of dollars of research funding appropriated by Congress in good faith for ‘Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research’ to promote gun control.” The letter went on to point out several initiatives on gun control by the Biden administration’s Health Department, including $428,000 to study “episodic crime reports” and depictions of violence that lead to victim blaming and “racist stereotypes.” It also highlighted $1.1 million to examine ties between “lawful gun ownership and risk,” and hundreds of thousands of dollars targeting gun confiscation and other firearm policies in states like Michigan and California. “Congress intended for the CDC and NIH to conduct research on medical procedures, practices, treatments, medicines, and therapies related to firearm injuries and recovery,” the lawmakers wrote. “Instead, this funding has been weaponized to promote and advocate gun control in direct violation of federal law.” SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS BIDEN ADMIN ‘GHOST GUN’ REGULATION They urged Kennedy to end any remaining funding that could be in violation of the Dickey Amendment and restore “censored” statistics on self-defense on the CDC website. The lawmakers also asked for a series of new studies, including on the effects of gun-free zones, the effects of a lack of widespread sound suppression technology, and “the current media coverage practices concerning mass public shootings, which a growing body of evidence suggests may increase the likelihood of future mass public murders.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) for a response.
Trump says Congress should push ‘for more Daylight at the end of a day’
President Donald Trump is weighing in on a national debate, apparently calling on Congress to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. “The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day. Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!” the president declared Friday morning in a post on Truth Social. Senators debated the annual changes between Daylight Saving Time and Standard time during a hearing Thursday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Delhi-NCR weather: Delhiites witness strong, dusty storms for second day in a row, temperature dips to…
For a second day in row, Delhiites witnessed strong, dusty winds hitting the national capital on Friday evening, i.e., April 11.
Federal judge blocks Trump admin from revoking temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from revoking temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Cubans and Haitians who were initially granted parole. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said on Thursday the Department of Homeland Security incorrectly read the law when it made a decision to end a two-year parole given to them by the Biden administration. Talwani, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said the revocation of temporary legal status would open up around 450,000 individuals to an expedited deportation process. “What you’re prioritizing is not people coming over the border but the people who followed the rules,” Talwani said. TRUMP ADMIN PULLING LEGAL STATUS FOR MORE THAN 530K MIGRANTS Justice Department lawyer Brian Ward argued during a Thursday hearing that parole programs were always discretionary. “The nub of the problem here is that the secretary, in cutting short the parole period afforded to these individuals, has to have a reasoned decision,” Talwani said, according to Time magazine. “There was a deal and now that deal has been undercut.” Immigration advocacy groups initially sued the Trump administration for its plan to end the parole program which began under the Biden administration. SANCTUARY GOVERNORS WALZ, PRITZKER, HOCHUL CALLED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS The Trump administration attempted to revoke the temporary legal status of migrants from the four countries on March 25. They flew to the United States after submitting their application under a Biden-era policy that was closed by Trump when he took office for a second time. The program let migrants and their immediate family members fly to the United States as long as they had sponsors in America, then they would be placed on parole for two years. Fox News’ Landon Mion and Reuters contributed to this report.
Colorado Democratic senator announces run for governor
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., launched a gubernatorial campaign on Friday, becoming the second Democrat to jump into the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis. Phil Weiser, Colorado’s Democratic attorney general, has already announced a bid. Weiser has emerged as a high-profile opponent of President Donald Trump’s administration, joining with other state attorneys general to file lawsuits over a series of policies and executive orders. But Bennet, a former Denver Public Schools superintendent, immediately becomes the defacto front-runner in blue-leaning Colorado’s gubernatorial contest. “From expanding the Child Tax Credit to securing $7B for Colorado’s infrastructure, we’ve made real progress together,” Bennet said on X. “Now, it’s time to keep building a future in Colorado that works for all of us.” DEM SENATOR SAYS PARTY BRAND IS ‘REALLY PROBLEMATIC’ AND LED TO THE LOSS OF TRUST OF WORKING-CLASS VOTERS Bennet has served in the Senate more than 16 years. The senator won re-election in 2022, so if elected governor next year, he would vacate his Senate seat before the end of his current six-year term. RFK JR’S CONFIRMATION HEARING GOES OFF RAILS AMID MULTIPLE CLASHES WITH DEM SENATORS: ‘REPEATEDLY DEBUNKED’ Colorado was once a key general election battleground state, but it hasn’t elected a Republican as governor since 2002. Bennet in 2019 launched a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He ran as a moderate candidate, and his campaign failed to catch fire. After failing to qualify for most of the primary debates, he dropped out of the race. COLORADO DEMS RAM ABORTION, TRANSGENDER BILLS THROUGH ON LIMITED SUNDAY SESSION DEBATE: ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ His announcement on Friday makes Bennet the latest Senate Democrat planning to move on from Congress at the end of next year. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan, and Tina Smith of Minnesota announced earlier this year that they wouldn’t seek re-election in the 2026 midterms. In a statement announcing his launch, Bennett emphasized that “the best solutions to our challenges will not come from Washington’s broken politics. They will come from us. Bennet was endorsed by fellow Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, a former two-term governor. “Michael will build on this work to shield Colorado from Trump’s corruption, create economic opportunity for every Coloradan and protect the environment,” Sen. Hickenlooper said. “I think Michael has the potential to be a truly great governor- I wholeheartedly endorse his campaign.” Bennet served as Hickenlooper’s chief of staff during Hickenlooper’s tenure as Denver mayor. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Weiser released a statement following Bennet’s news, highlighting his commitment to Colorado and emphasizing the need for keeping the state’s experienced leaders in Washington. “Two years ago, the voters sent Senator Bennet back to DC because we believed he would be there for us no matter what – especially in historically dangerous moments like the one we currently face. Now more than ever, we need experienced Democratic leaders in Washington,” Weiser argued.
Lawmakers in deep blue state demand audit over skyrocketing healthcare costs: ‘Alarming nature’
A group of California Republican lawmakers is asking for a formal audit of the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, after its costs have gone up significantly after a law went into effect last year allowing illegal immigrants to enroll. The Medi-Cal program is $2.8 billion over budget, as it was originally expected to cost $6 billion this fiscal year. Since then, the governor’s office has requested $6.2 billion in two separate loans. “On March 12, 2025, the Governor informed the legislature that Medi-Cal was insolvent and could not continue to pay all of its obligations to healthcare providers,” the letter states. NEWSOM ASKS FOR NEARLY ANOTHER $3B FOR STATE HEALTH PROGRAM OVERWHELMED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “Despite the alarming nature of this problem, the Governor has failed to provide an explanation for why Medi-Cal costs are far greater than what was budgeted. Many are concerned that continued growth in the cost of Medi-Cal benefits for undocumented immigrants is a major driver of the cost overruns,” the letter continues. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Specifically, the letter asks what the “future estimates for enrollment of undocumented immigrants” are in the program, as well as “cost containment strategies” to make sure that it does not harm Californian’s healthcare access. ‘NEEDS TO RESIGN’: BLUE STATE BLASTED FOR ASKING FOR LOAN AMID SKYROCKETING IMMIGRANT HEALTHCARE COSTS The lawmakers are also seeking answers about why the forecast of the cost was incorrect. The letter was led by Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, who went viral for questioning a state budget official amplifying the spending issue earlier this year. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher and Republican Reps. Kate Sanchez, Leticia Castillo, Stan Ellis, Tom Lackey, Phillip Chen, Heath Flora and David Tangipa. BLUE STATE GOP LAWMAKER GOES VIRAL FOR EXPOSING STATE’S SPENDING PROPOSALS: ‘PEOPLE WERE APPALLED’ Gov. Gavin Newsom previously said illegal immigrants being allowed to enroll in Medi-Cal is a “partial” part of the problem, but his office argues that overall rising healthcare costs led to higher than expected Medicaid program costs in other states as well. “With tough fiscal choices ahead, Governor Newsom, jointly with Pro Tem McGuire and Speaker Rivas, will evaluate proposals to rein in long-term spending — including in Medi-Cal — while working to protect the core health and social services Californians rely on,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Fox News Digital in a statement last month. Newsom’s office was not immediately available for comment.
Blue-state Republican aims to evict Dems from 20-year occupation of governor’s mansion
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler’s opinion of Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York is crystal clear. “I think Kathy Hochul is the most feckless, incompetent governor in America,” Lawler said in an interview with Fox News Digital. Lawler, who’s in his second term representing the state’s 17th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of New York City’s northern suburbs, is mulling a 2026 GOP run for governor. “I’ll make a decision at some point – middle of the year. Obviously, you know if we’re going to do it, you got to get out there, and you got to campaign hard,” Lawler said. LAWLER SOUNDS ALARM OVER DEMOCRATS ‘INCITING FAR-LEFT ACTIVISTS’ He added, “I haven’t made a decision yet. I think, obviously, there’s a number of factors in play, but you know, we’re working through that right now.” Lawler is one of three Republicans mulling a gubernatorial run. So are Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman and longtime Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. It’s been 23 years since a Republican won a gubernatorial election in heavily blue New York. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. George Pataki’s second re-election victory in 2002. KATHY HOCHUL’S POLLING PROBLEMS? But Hochul’s approval ratings and favorable ratings remain underwater, giving Republicans hope the losing streak will come to an end next year. The governor also faces potential, longshot, primary challenges from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York City. “There’s a reason New York leads the nation in out-migration. It has nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the high cost of living and the declining quality of life from the migrant crisis to the crime epidemic in New York to the overall cost of living,” Lawler said. And the former political strategist and adviser-turned-politician said “people can’t afford to live in New York. They want balance and common sense, and I think that’s where there is an opportunity, if you articulate the vision to New Yorkers. They’re pragmatic, they’re commonsense, and they understand the need for change.” Democrats disagree. “Whether it’s working to lower costs for families or protecting fundamental rights, Governor Hochul is a fighter for all New Yorkers with a record of getting results,” Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe told Fox News. And Donohoe argued that “while Governor Hochul is laser focused on delivering on the priorities that matter to her state, New York Republicans every day are supporting Donald Trump’s agenda that is hurting the Empire State. By spending their time currying favor with Trump, Republicans are setting themselves up for a messy and chaotic primary that will leave whoever emerges as the nominee badly damaged.” In 2022, then-Rep. Lee Zeldin had the best performance by a GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York since Pataki’s 2002 victory. Zeldin, who now steers the Environmental Protection Agency in President Donald Trump’s second administration, lost to Hochul by less than six and a half points. And Trump lost the state to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in last November’s presidential election, but that was a 10-point improvement from his loss margin to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS ELECTION BATTLE PLAN While Republicans have been more competitive statewide in New York the last two cycles, Lawler said next year’s elections will “be determined by a few things.” “No. 1, does the economy take off?” he said. “And with the tax bill, with energy production increases, you know, if the economy takes off, then I think people are going to be very willing and open to change in New York.” “Obviously, what we’re doing at the border matters,” Lawler said. “New York has borne the brunt of some of the disastrous decisions of the Biden administration and Kathy Hochul, spending billions of dollars of taxpayer money on free housing, clothing, food, education and health care for illegals.” And Lawler pointed to his push to raise the cap on the state and local tax deduction, known by its acronym SALT, which is a pressing issue for many New Yorkers. “Do I deliver on things like SALT and lifting the cap on SALT? And so, if we get these things done, and you know, things are looking up, I think New Yorkers can be very open to a change,” he said. Lawler grabbed attention in 2022 by narrowly defeating incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney, the then-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. But he’s currently one of only three House Republicans who represent districts carried by Harris in November. Asked if he needs to keep his distance from the president if he seeks statewide office in New York, Lawler told Fox News, “Look, he’s the president of the United States, and [I] certainly would welcome his support.” MAJORITY IN NEW YORK WANT CHALLENGER TO DEMOCRATIC GOV KATHY HOCHUL: POLL But he also said “New Yorkers will make a determination, though, based on the choice before them” rather than on Trump. “If you present a viable alternative vision to New Yorkers and explain how you’re going to deal with housing, how you’re going to deal with infrastructure, how you’re going to deal with crime, how you’re going to deal with the fact that Wall Street is leaving New York in droves, these are significant issues that we have to tackle,” Lawler said. “And it requires leadership. It requires a plan. And I think if that is presented to New Yorkers, they’ll make a determination based on that.”
NRCC launches ad campaign targeting dozens of vulnerable Dems who voted against key Trump proposal
FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans passed a key hurdle to move forward President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax agenda on Thursday without the support of a single Democrat, prompting the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) to launch ads against over a dozen vulnerable Democrat incumbents. “The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a paid digital advertising campaign targeting 25 vulnerable House Democrats for voting against the budget resolution, leading to higher taxes for Americans by slashing the child tax credit in half and making families pay thousands more,” the NRCC said in a press release on Friday morning. The paid digital ad campaign will target 25 House Democrats identified as vulnerable heading into next year’s midterms. The list of Democrats targeted includes: (CA-09) Josh Harder, (CA-13) Adam Gray, (CA-27) George Whitesides, (CA-45) Derek Tran, (CA-47) Dave Min, (FL-09) Darren Soto, (FL-23) Jared Moskowitz, (IN-01) Frank Mrvan, (ME-02) Jared Golden, (MI-08) Kristen McDonald Rivet, (NC-01) Don Davis, (NJ-09) Nellie Pou, (NM-02) Gabe Vasquez, (NV-01) Dina Titus, (NV-03) Susie Lee, (NV-04) Steven Horsford, (NY-03) Tom Suozzi, (NY-04) Laura Gillen, (NY-19) Josh Riley, (OH-09) Marcy Kaptur, (OH-13) Emilia Sykes, (TX-28) Henry Cuellar, (TX-34) Vicente Gonzalez, (VA-07) Eugene Vindman and (WA-03) Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. “Once again, House Democrats made their priorities crystal clear: They’re taking a wrecking ball to America’s economy and sticking the working class with higher taxes just to ram their radical agenda down the throats of all Americans,” NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital. ‘A GREAT TRIBUTE’: TRUMP TOUTS ‘RECORD’ FUNDRAISING FROM NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE “Voters will consistently be reminded of this betrayal all the way through next Fall.” The NRCC ad campaign makes the case that by voting against the resolution, Democrats are supporting raising taxes on Americans at every income level and supporting the lowering of key tax credits. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesperson Viet Shelton said, “This is what happens when the same people who want to eliminate the Department of Education write political ads.” “If they actually read the bill, they would realize their budget takes away health care, cuts off food assistance, and raises costs to pay for massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy while sticking working families with the bill. The Republican budget is exhibit A of their failure to make life affordable for Americans.” While the party in power, which clearly is the Republicans, traditionally faces serious political headwinds in the midterm elections, the NRCC chair told Fox News last month he is optimistic. TRUMP HAULS IN MILLIONS FOR HOUSE GOP 2026 WAR CHEST AS DEMS TAUNT THEY ARE ‘RUNNING SCARED’ Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., emphasized in an interview on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” that 13 of the 26 House Democrats they are targeting are in districts that “were carried by President Donald Trump in the last election.” Hudson characterized the upcoming midterms as an “opportunity election for House Republicans.” Additionally, Hudson, who is steering the House GOP’s campaign arm for a second straight cycle, added, “We are bullish. Republicans are on offense thanks to Donald Trump.” The Cook Political Report unveiled its first rankings for the next midterm elections in February and listed 10 Democrat-held seats and eight Republican-controlled seats as toss-ups. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Courtney Rice, communications director for the rival DCCC, emphasized that “voters will hold House Republicans accountable for failing to lower costs while fostering a culture of corruption that benefits their billionaire backers.” “The political environment is in Democrats’ favor heading into 2026 — and with stellar candidates who are focused on delivering for their districts, House Democrats are poised to take back the majority in 2026,” Rice predicted. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
PM Modi’s old statement from 2011 goes viral after Tahawwur Rana’s extradition: ‘Raised a new question’
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key plotter of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, was successfully extradited to India from the US on Thursday, i.e., April 10. Earlier today, Rana was produced before a Delhi court which granted him 18 days of NIA custody.