Fox News Politics Newsletter: Tonight’s elections are a Trump, Musk referendum
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -HHS downsizing begins amid RFK Jr. ‘Make America Healthy Again’ push: ‘Win-win for taxpayers’ –Trump agenda upended after GOP rebellion shuts down House floor -GOP firebrand dares Dems to condemn attacks on Elon Musk’s Tesla Voters in two states are casting general election ballots for the first time since November, when they sent President Donald Trump back to the White House. Wisconsin will choose a new justice on the state Supreme Court, which has a 4-3 liberal-leaning majority. Florida is holding special elections in two deep-red districts last held by Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz. At stake: court decisions over abortion, unions and voting rights in Wisconsin, and the size of the Republican majority in the U.S. House…Read more TRUMP CARD: Trump-backed bills targeting activist judges, non-citizens voting head for House-wide votes ‘JUDICIAL COUP D’ETAT’: Wave of court orders blocking Trump’s agenda are a ‘judicial coup d’etat,’ Gingrich says BAN DRAGS ON: Trump’s transgender military ban dealt legal blow after appeals court ruling ‘ELEMENT OF SURPRISE’: Trump pick for Joint Chiefs chair tells Senate ‘element of surprise’ should be guarded amid Signal chat leak ‘CLAWED BACK’: Trump Labor Department secures eye-popping sum to return to taxpayers amid DOGE push BOASBERG AND ME: Trump allies scrutinize Judge Boasberg’s DC connections as high-stakes legal battles escalate ‘FALL GUY’: Trump commutes prison sentence of Hunter Biden’s ‘fall guy’ Jason Galanis RED MUTINY: Anna Paulina Luna forces House leadership’s hand on proxy voting as GOP war escalates BOOKER STAFFER BOOKED: Cory Booker staffer arrested for allegedly carrying pistol without license at Capitol CONTEMPT: Judge Boasberg impeachment push gains support despite House GOP leaders’ resistance APRIL FOOLS: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pokes fun at Trump with official ‘South Park’ portrait in April Fools post BY THE NUMBERS: Election Day in Wisconsin, Florida: What to watch as conservatives face a statewide electoral test ‘PAID PUPPET’: Conservative economist funded by left wing orgs quietly leading anti-DOGE charge ‘STOLE 400,000 SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS’: Musk says Social Security scammer who allegedly ripped off 400k Americans facing imminent arrest ‘DISTURBING CASE’: Massachusetts judge charges ICE agent with contempt of court OFF THE HOOK: Second COVID nursing home death’s case against Cuomo tossed SUPREME POWER: SCOTUS rulings this term could strengthen religious rights protections, expert says ‘BETTER WAY’: Blue state sheriff vows to ‘eliminate’ major tax if elected governor: ‘We will work immediately’ Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
White House warns of Trump veto if Tim Kaine ‘stunt’ vote to cancel tariffs passes Senate
FIRST ON FOX: The White House is warning President Trump may veto a Democrat-led resolution that would undo his tariffs against Canada if it passes the Senate on Tuesday. In a statement of administrative policy obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, the Trump White House said that if the resolution came to his desk, “his advisors would recommend that he veto it.” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., led several other Democrats in introducing the privileged resolution, which would specifically roll back the tariffs that the Trump administration levied on Canada. The resolution would reverse the national emergency that Trump declared on Feb. 1 at the northern border. CORY BOOKER STAFFER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY CARRYING PISTOL WITHOUT LICENSE AT CAPITOL A White House official told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement, “President Trump promised to secure our borders and stop the scourge of fentanyl that’s poisoning our communities, and he’s delivering. Democrat Senator Tim Kaine is trying to undermine the President’s Emergency Declaration at our Northern Borders—a measure that prioritizes our national security—for reasons that defy logic.” “Under Joe Biden’s failed leadership, criminal networks, fentanyl, and terrorists ran rampant along the northern border. Today’s stunt by Tim Kaine proves once again how woefully out of touch the Democrat Party is with the American people as they use a matter of national security for political gamesmanship. The stakes are too high to reverse course; the declaration must stay in place.” Kaine responded with his own statement, telling Fox News Digital, “The Trump Administration’s own threat assessment report on fentanyl did not mention Canada—not even once. Trump’s order is a blatant abuse of his authority, and it is critical that Congress push back before he inflicts even more damage to our economy and to the relationship with one of our top trading partners and closest allies.” In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post, Kaine wrote, “The emergency powers Trump is invoking — based on provisions of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act — are intended for use in legitimate emergencies related to foreign threats and adversaries.” The senator claimed that “Trump’s rationale for an ‘emergency’ that justifies billions in taxes on American consumers doesn’t make sense in Canada’s case.” HAWLEY OFFICIALLY A YES ON DR. OZ AFTER SECURING COMMITMENTS ON TRANSGENDER, ABORTION ISSUES He also accused the president of making “spurious claims of a fentanyl crisis at the northern border on par with the drug situation at the southern border, but his numbers don’t add up.” According to the White House, since the emergency was declared, border crossings from the north have fallen by 65%. The White House also pointed to the significant increase in encounters along the northern border under former President Joe Biden, who saw a more than 420% increase in encounters at their peak. In 2024, the White House further claimed U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized enough fentanyl to kill nearly 10 million people. Trump took to Truth Social himself on Monday to rail against Kaine’s resolution: “Senator Tim Kaine, who ran against me with Crooked Hillary in 2016, is trying to halt our critical Tariffs on deadly Fentanyl coming in from Canada. We are making progress to end this terrible Fentanyl Crisis, but Republicans in the Senate MUST vote to keep the National Emergency in place, so we can finish the job, and end the scourge.” ‘BLINDSIDED’: HOW STEFANIK’S TRUMP NOMINATION AS UN AMBASSADOR IMPLODED “By their weakness, the Democrats have allowed Fentanyl to get out of hand. The Republicans and I have reversed that course, strongly and quickly. Major additional progress is being made. Don’t let the Democrats have a Victory. It would be devastating for the Republican Party and, far more importantly, for the United States. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he continued. Republican leadership is echoing Trump’s message in the Senate, with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., set to make similar arguments in a floor speech on Tuesday. In prepared remarks obtained by Fox News Digital exclusively, Barrasso will say, “For four years, America’s attention has been on the southern border. Meanwhile, the criminal cartels noticed how Joe Biden and the Democrats threw open the northern border.” He will note that Trump recognized its unique threats and “is taking bold, swift action to secure it.” HOW TRUMP-BLOCKING JUDGES MANAGED TO GET PAST SENATE JUDICIARY HAWKS “Why would we let up?” Barrasso will ask, also pointing to the facts that “Canada is making changes. Canada agreed to deploy to the border more technology and more law enforcement officers. Canada also created its first ever National Fentanyl Czar.” The resolution is expected to get a vote on Tuesday. However, it could be moved depending on the length of Sen. Cory Booker’s record-breaking floor speech, which is still ongoing. It will only require a simple 51-vote majority to be agreed to. This means there’s a significant chance that it advances, with some Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., having expressed concerns about the tariffs.
April Fools’ Day in politics: On April 1, lawmakers trade punchlines instead of policy
While private companies are taking advantage of April Fools’ Day to market their products, politicians are using it to take jabs at their enemies across the aisle. Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis used the day to poke fun at President Donald Trump over his recent self-portrait snafu, while Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer used it to take a jab at Hunter Biden’s painting skills. House GOP conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., chose to target all Democrats with her dig from the podium during a press conference Tuesday. Polis put out a press release early Tuesday morning announcing he had unveiled a new official gubernatorial portrait to be displayed in the State Capitol. The press release included an image of the new “portrait,” which was not actually a painting of the governor, but a caricature of himself. TIGER WOODS TROLLS MILLIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS WITH EPIC APRIL FOOLS’ PRANK: ‘READY TO PLAY’ “No one likes an unflattering photo or painting of themselves, which is why I went against the grain for my official portrait,” Polis said in his announcement. His timing was right on cue, since, earlier in the week, Trump demanded a portrait of himself be taken down because he did not like the way it made him look, calling it “purposefully distorted.” “I’m pleased with the final product and want to thank the artists for their vision, and feel that I have never looked better,” Polis said. The press release included a photo of the caricature, which looked like a character from “South Park,” along with various requirements he ostensibly gave to the artist who drew it. “The Governor must be depicted directly facing the viewer. The Governor’s well-known signature look, specifically his signature blue polo, must not be altered. The portrait must utilize the bright blue hue of the Governor’s iconic tennis shoes. The Governor must be smiling or smizing,” the list said. ‘GUTFELD!’ RUNS THROUGH THE WEEK’S LEFTOVER JOKES Republicans got into the action too, with Comer sharing a sarcastic post on X, commissioning Hunter Biden to do some artwork for him. “I heard Hunter Biden is facing financial hardship, so I decided to commission him to paint my official chairman portrait,” Comer wrote in an X post, which included what appeared to be an AI-generated image of Hunter Biden painting a portrait of Comer. “No favors from the Big Guy, I promise,” he added. Hunter Biden faced criticism during his father’s presidency — and amid an ongoing corruption scandal linked to his family — for allegedly leveraging his status to fetch high prices for his amateur artwork, with reported sales ranging from $75,000 to $500,000. At a GOP press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday, McClain got in on the action, too. However, her jab sought to target all Democrats, chiding them for lacking unity or a cohesive strategy for taking power back from Republicans. POLITICAL CARTOONS OF THE DAY “The Democrats, however, have found their vision,” McClain said as she blasted the party for disrupting GOP town halls across the country. “The Democrats have found their leader. And the Democrats – oh wait, no April Fools’. I forgot it was April Fools’ today. That was my attempt at an April Fools’ joke. We know the Democrats have no vision, no message and no leader.” At the local level and on social media, a state senator from Michigan threw shade at Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for “playing politics” with a special election in the state, and, in North Carolina, the state’s Republican Party created a graphic that referred to Democratic leaders in the state, including newly elected Gov. Josh Stein, as “April Fools.”
EXCLUSIVE: Emerging GOP leader backing Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act at Supreme Court
EXCLUSIVE – Freshman Congressman Brandon Gill, R-Texas, is teaming with pro-MAGA law firm America First Legal to file an amicus brief to the Supreme Court backing President Donald Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrant gang members. Gill, an outspoken conservative, was behind the effort to impeach the activist judge who halted the Trump administration’s deportation of members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua – a violent criminal group known by its acronym TdA. The brief was filed to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, just days after acting U.S. Solicitor General Sarah Harris petitioned the court to lift a temporary restraining order inhibiting the administration from carrying out its deportation agenda. In their brief, America First and Gill argue the president has “absolute authority” under the Alien Enemies Act to determine when an invasion has occurred, and that this decision is “not judicially reviewable.” RED STATE MOVES TO DEFUND COUNTY AFTER LEADER VOWS TO ‘INTERFERE AND INTERRUPT’ ICE DEPORTATIONS The brief argues that “the evidence is that TdA has invaded the United States at the direction of the Venezuelan government and continues to invade, attempt to invade, and threaten to invade the country; perpetrated irregular warfare within the country; and used drug trafficking as a weapon against American citizens.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, America First senior counsel James Rogers said, “The notion that a single unelected judge may take it upon himself to micromanage the defense of our nation is an unprecedented and complete corruption of the separation of powers, which is a bedrock feature of our Republic.” “AFL is proud to join with Rep. Brandon Gill to stand up for the rule of law and to protect our American citizens,” said Rogers. “The evidence is that TdA is tied to the Government of Venezuela; members of this violent gang clearly qualify as invading aliens under the Alien Enemies Act,” he added. “This law was passed more than 226 years ago, and courts have always held that they lack the power to interfere with the President’s authority as Commander in Chief to decide when to invoke the Act and expel aliens under its terms.” DISTURBING CONTENT WARNING: ILLEGAL ACCUSED OF KILLING GEORGIA GRANDMOTHER FACES NEW DISTURBING CHARGES “No plaintiff is entitled to use the courts to frustrate the president’s exercise of clear constitutional authority,” added America First Vice President Dan Epstein. “The Biden administration’s failures depict clear reasons why the United States must fight this visceral threat to American self-government and the rule of law,” he went on, adding, “The president declared that the United States is under invasion. The president has the power to make such a determination.” This comes after a 2-1 decision by a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld a ruling by D.C. federal Judge James Boasberg, a Biden appointee, further blocking the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement plans. At issue is the Trump administration’s authority to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law, to immediately deport Venezuelan nationals, including alleged members of Tren de Aragua, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump State Department. BLUE STATE SANCTUARY LAWS ENABLED ILLEGAL ‘ABOLISH ICE’ ACTIVIST TO EVADE CAPTURE, SAYS LOCAL DA Trump issued an executive order on March 15 titled “Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren De Aragua.” In the order, Trump stated that TdA is sponsored by Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro with the goal of “destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.” In response, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order immediately blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals. In his ruling, Boasberg cited the need to better consider the merits of the case, prompting the administration to file an emergency request for the U.S. appeals court to intervene. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE The Trump administration’s appeal described the restraining order as a “massive, unauthorized imposition on the Executive’s authority to remove dangerous aliens who pose threats to the American people.” SAN DIEGO BORDER PATROL CHIEF SAYS CALLING LOW CROSSING NUMBERS A ‘DRAMATIC CHANGE’ IS AN ‘UNDERSTATEMENT’ In the administration’s petition to the Supreme Court, Harris said this case “presents fundamental questions about who decides how to conduct sensitive national-security-related operations in this country – the president, through Article II, or the judiciary, through TROs [temporary restraining orders].” She said the Constitution “supplies a clear answer: the president,” adding, “The republic cannot afford a different choice.”
TribCast: Is it high time to regulate or ban THC in Texas?
Will the House agree to ban consumable hemp products? If not, Lt. Gov. Patrick says he’ll THC us in a special session.
SCOOP: Trump ally Donalds showcases campaign cash surge since announcing Florida governor run
EXCLUSIVE – Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has enjoyed a fundraising frenzy since announcing his run for Florida governor in late February, in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds, who has represented Florida’s 19th Congressional District in the southwest part of the state for four years, raised roughly $12 million in the 35 days since he announced his candidacy, according to his political team. The fundraising included $540,000 in hard dollars for his gubernatorial campaign, and around $11.5 million for Friends of Byron Donalds, an aligned super PAC. The contributions for the campaign and the super PAC came from around 4,300 donors. The figures were shared first with Fox News on Tuesday. WHAT BYRON DONALDS TOLD FOX NEWS AS HE KICKED OFF HIS BID FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR Donalds, a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump, announced his candidacy during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” late last month, days after landing the president’s endorsement. “Byron Donalds has hit the ground running with President Trump’s endorsement and has amassed a $12 million war chest since announcing his bid for Governor just 35 days ago. We are grateful to the thousands of donors supporting Byron’s vision for Conservative leadership,” veteran Republican strategist Danielle Alvarez, who is helping Donalds, said in a statement. FIRST ON FOX: LEADING CONSERVATIVE GROUP BACKS DONALDS IN FLORIDA In a Fox News Digital interview on Friday, as he held his campaign kickoff in Bonita Springs, Donalds pledged that “we’re going to campaign hard and we’re going to take this to every part of Florida.” And pointing to the support from Trump, whose immense grip over the GOP is stronger than ever, he emphasized “having his endorsement, it’s a great thing to have, I’m glad I have it.” “And when he makes these choices, they tend to turn out well for his candidates,” Donalds noted. Donalds is currently the only major Republican to date to jump into the race. But Florida first lady Casey DeSantis has acknowledged she is considering a 2026 Republican gubernatorial run of her own, to succeed her husband in Tallahassee. She stoked speculation in February when asked by reporters if she would run. “To quote the late Yogi Berra,” DeSantis said as she reiterated a famous line from the late baseball legend. “If you see a fork in the road, take it.” The governor then quipped to reporters that “you guys can read into that what you will.” RON AND CASEY DESANTIS TEE OFF WITH TRUMP AS FLORIDA GOVERNOR’S RACE HEATS UP When asked last month at the National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, if she might launch a campaign, Casey DeSantis said, “We’ll see.” The governor has repeatedly touted his wife’s accomplishments as Florida first lady and framed her as a worthy successor. And sources confirmed in February to Fox News that the governor has been reaching out to donors on behalf of his wife. Asked about a possible face-off with Casey DeSantis, Donalds told Fox News Digital last week that “races take on a shape of their own, so we’ll see what actually happens.” “My mission is going to be focused on our future and the things that are necessary for Florida to go and to thrive and be prosperous for everybody. So that’s going to be my mission. We’ll see how the race shapes up,” he added. And Donalds said he aims to convey to voters that “I have a vision for their future and I think that when they hear it, they’re going to choose me.”
Vermont lawmaker defends call for ‘picking winners and losers’ as indictment of ‘rigged’ economy toward rich
A Vermont lawmaker stood firm behind comments made during a recent Ways & Means hearing about the government’s role in the economy that drew the attention of state Republicans. “Right now, our system is rigged against working people, our poorest neighbors, and the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said state Rep. Teddy Waszazak, D-Barre. Fox News Digital asked him about comments made during a discussion on property tax brackets and proverbially paying one’s fair share. “I feel very strongly about this — I feel the need to say this,” Waszazak interjected during a committee discussion last week that included a guest witness from the business-centered Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce organization. “The market picks winners and losers — it is the job of the government and tax code to right-size that,” Waszazak said. VT GOP PUSHES FOR PENALTIES AGAINST DEMS ACCUSED OF DISRUPTING ‘DETRANS’ EVENT The chamber official responded by saying that there may be a place for the government to “play referee,” but “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to be picking winners and losers [or] targeting specific classes of payers based off of likes and dislikes… that’s a slippery slope.” Another Democrat on the committee chimed in to say she did not believe Waszazak was seeking to divide taxation based on personal likes and dislikes. Vermont Republicans seized on video clips of the hearing, with Vermont GOP Chairman Paul Dame saying such commentary is par for the course in Montpelier, as talk of government control and “winners and losers” is often associated with socialist political thought. While Gov. Phil Scott is a Republican, the legislature has long been a site where far-left ideas are put to paper, Dame said. “Unfortunately, Representative Waszazak is expressing verbally what so many Vermont Democrats believe and how they’ve legislated,” he said. RNC FILES LAWSUIT OVER NONCITIZEN VOTING RIGHTS IN VERMONT’S LARGEST CITY “They believe it’s their job to tip the scales in the ways they see fit rather than letting Vermonters play on an equal playing field.” In his comments to Fox News Digital, Waszazak reaffirmed his assertion from the hearing, saying that the “rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.” He pointed to the increasing wealth of billionaires Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and Amazon/Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. Citing the discussion in the hearing, which revolved around funding affordable housing and divvying up Vermont breadwinners into as many as nine tax brackets, Waszazak said he would like to see a tax structure where the working-class benefits most. “[I’d like to see] teachers, construction workers, food service workers, truck drivers, veterans, children, and families [be] the winners,” he said. “That’s what I work for every day in Montpelier, and I’m proud of it.” Fox News Digital also reached out to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. — a self-described democratic socialist — for comment on his fellow Vermonter. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Sanders’ official website, a video featuring a then-21-year-old Waszazak showed the future lawmaker saying he believed the American Dream had faded. “I think a lot of my generation is growing up and realizing that this isn’t the country and the economy that we were promised we were going to have. We were just told as children that if you work hard, if you go to school, you will eventually be able to buy a house, have kids, and have whatever job you want to have… And I don’t think that’s true at all today.” On X, formerly Twitter, Waszazak appeared to be taking criticism in stride. When a critic posted the video clip and asked “is this a joke?” the Democrat reposted: “I’m Teddy Waszazak and I approve this message.”
Accused MS-13 leader nabbed by Patel’s FBI to remain in custody for now, judge rules
An accused MS-13 leader will remain in federal custody after a judge found probable cause to support the government’s case against him. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter of the Eastern District of Virginia made the ruling Tuesday during a detention hearing for Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national arrested last week in suburban Virginia. The FBI announced Santos’s arrest on March 27 in Woodbridge, just south of Washington, D.C. He has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The government did not announce any new charges against Santos on Tuesday, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel calling him the top MS-13 leader on the East Coast upon his arrest. Santos, who wore a green jumpsuit during the hearing, was represented by Valencia Roberts, a public defender. The defense was not seeking release. TOP MS-13 LEADER ARRESTED IN VIRGINIA Santos spoke through an interpreter during the hearing and told the judge that he understood that his lawyer was not seeking his release. Government lawyer Alexander Blanchard called ICE agent Jason Klepec to the stand to testify about Santos’ arrest, and establish probable cause that Santos committed the offenses he had been charged with. Blanchard showed government exhibits which contained photos of a Taurus 9 mm handgun that the prosecutor said was found in Santos’ bedroom. Another exhibit included pictures of two suppressors, also known as silencers. Santos’ attorney brought into question one of the suppressors, saying it was actually an Airsoft suppressor, or a BB gun accessory. The ICE agent said the suppressor was in ATF’s possession to be correctly identified. MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE CHARGES ICE AGENT WITH CONTEMPT OF COURT It is unclear when Santos will appear in court again. However, Porter said the matter will go before a grand jury in the following days. Santos’ attorney declined to comment further. Santos’ hearing comes shortly after court documents revealed the Trump administration had sent a Salvadoran man with protected legal status to El Salvador by mistake. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was removed from Maryland when the administration sent three planeloads of Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center” on March 15 for alleged gang affiliations. Vice President JD Vance referenced the court documents in a social media post in response to critics, writing, “you apparently didn’t read he was a convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right to be here.” Bondi, Patel, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove were all present during Santos’ arrest at a nearby tactical operations center. “They executed a clean, safe operation, and the bad guy’s in custody. And thanks to the FBI, we got one of the worst of the worst of the MS-13 off the streets this morning. Virginia and the country is a lot safer today,” Bondi told Fox News after the fact. Authorities found a 9mm handgun, three additional firearms, ammunition and two suppressors in Santos’ bedroom, according to court documents. President Donald Trump applauded the leadership on the operation, writing on social media, “Great job by Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!” Patel echoed Trump’s sentiment, saying, “This is what can happen when you put good cops in good places to take on bad guys. And America should be watching this. And we are proud to be here standing with these brave warriors.” Fox News’ David Spunt, Jake Gibson, and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pokes fun at Trump with official ‘South Park’ portrait in April Fools’ Day post
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis poked fun at President Donald Trump with an April Fools’ Day post seemingly aimed at the commander-in-chief’s anger regarding his official portrait at the state Capitol, which was eventually removed. “No one likes an unflattering photo or painting of themselves, which is why I went in a different direction for my official portrait,” Polis said in a post on X that featured an animated image of himself as a character in “South Park” on his official portrait. Polis, a Democrat, said he supports Colorado art and that “this portrait was an exciting opportunity to do exactly that while embedding my image into the fabric of Colorado’s history.” TRUMP PORTRAIT HE CLAIMED WAS ‘PURPOSEFULLY DISTORTED’ TO BE TAKEN DOWN FROM COLORADO CAPITOL South Park, which revolves around four friends, is set in Colorado. Last month, Trump demanded that his portrait be taken down from the state Capitol in Denver after he harshly criticized the painting and its artist. “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. Last week, state House Democrat said the oil painting, painted by artist Sarah Boardman during Trump’s first term, would be taken down at the request of Republican leaders in the state Legislature. Despite Trump’s criticism of Polis, the Democratic governor wasn’t in office when the portrait was commissioned in 2019. On March 16, Polis shared an image of himself in South Park, along with the comedy duo Terrance and Philip, who are also featured in the show, while touting Colorado’s relationship with Canada. “Our relationship with Canada brings vast benefits to Coloradans—from good-paying jobs to robust trade partnerships, tourists, and even prominent fictional characters in Colorado’s famous show, @SouthPark,” he wrote. “Ike Broflovski, Kyle Broflovski’s adopted brother, is from Canada. Don’t forget the comedy duo Terrance and Philip, beloved by our favorite fourth graders, and don’t “blame Canada!”
HHS downsizing begins amid RFK Jr. ‘Make America Healthy Again’ push: ‘Win-win for taxpayers’
Mass layoffs reportedly began Tuesday in Health and Human Services agencies as part of the department’s “restructuring” to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” as agencies undergo merges and significant downsizing. The restructuring is expected to bring down 82,000 federal health employees to 62,000. The department has been preparing to make major cuts in recent weeks across its health agencies, especially pertaining to administrative costs and DEI-related spending. RFK JR BACKS WV PUSH FOR SNAP WAIVERS, WORK MANDATES UNDER ‘MAHA’ According to the HHS, the layoffs “will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year” and “streamline” functions of the department while ensuring that essential services like Medicare and Medicaid continue without disruption. The announcement of the layoffs came last week. The HHS oversees several major agencies that will likely see some sort of restructuring: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Community Living (ACL), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). “We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer.” HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO The new plan will reduce the number of HHS divisions from 28 to 15. One of the key changes includes the creation of the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), which will combine several agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to “break down artificial divisions between similar programs.” In addition, HHS is reorganizing its regional offices, cutting them down from 10 to 5. Other changes, according to the HHS, include the creation of a new assistant secretary for enforcement to tackle fraud and abuse in federal health programs. Another major focus of the restructuring is addressing America’s growing “epidemic of chronic illness.” The plan focuses on clean food, water, and air, while working to eliminate environmental toxins that contribute to health problems. The CDC will also gain additional authority by absorbing the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which handles national disaster and public health emergencies. “Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants,” Kennedy said. “This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again.” TRUMP ADMIN PLANNING TO CONSOLIDATE HIV PROGRAMS, SLASHING ‘OVERHEAD’ AND DEI: OFFICIAL The Associated Press reported Tuesday morning there were hundreds of federal health employees wrapped around the HHS building in two lines to find out whether they still had a job. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf wrote in a LinkedIn Post Tuesday morning that the “FDA as we’ve known it is finished,” adding that “most of the leaders with institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of product development and safety no longer employed.” “I believe that history will see this a huge mistake. I will be fad if I’m proven wrong, but even then there is no good reason to treat people this way. It will be interesting to hear from the new leadership how they plan to put ‘Humpty Dumpty’ back together again,” Califf wrote.