AG Pam Bondi puts ex-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on notice over her vow to ‘unmask’ ICE agents
Attorney General Pam Bondi put former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on notice Thursday night over her vow to “unmask” ICE agents. During an interview on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Bondi reacted to a clip of Lightfoot talking about how she wants to create a real-time portal to track “purported criminal actions of ICE and CBP agents” and “unmask” them. “This is the first time I’ve seen the Lori Lightfoot video was just now on your show,” she told host Jesse Watters. “She will be getting a letter from us tomorrow to preserve anything she has done as well, to make sure that she’s not violating the law. It appears she is. You cannot disclose the identity of a federal agent — where they live, anything that could harm them.” Lightfoot made the comments on FOX32 Chicago’s “Chicago Report.” She said she and other attorneys are creating a nonprofit called “The ICE Accountability Project.” BOSTON’S WU FIRES BACK AT BONDI, CITING REVOLUTION, AS OTHER CITIES SLAM FEDS OVER ‘SANCTUARY’ WARNINGS Lightfoot said it would be a “centralized archive of all the purported criminal actions of ICE and CBP agents” that would spit out real-time updates to the public. “We start the process of unmasking the agents,” she said. She claimed she has a constitutional right to document what’s happening because they are on public property. Bondi said it’s not just Lightfoot she’s looking into. SANCTUARY CITIES DEFY BONDI’S DEADLINE TO COOPERATE: ‘NO INTENTION OF CHANGING’ “Pritzker, same ball game. Nancy Pelosi got a letter today from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, so did Brooke Jenkins – that D.A. in San Francisco,” she said. “We told them: ‘preserve your emails, preserve everything you have on this topic.’ Because if you are telling people to arrest our ICE officers, our federal agents, you cannot do that. You are impeding an investigation, and we will charge them.” The letter Bondi referenced cites several federal statutes that criminalize assaulting, impeding or conspiring against federal officers. It also notes that the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates state officials cannot prosecute federal agents for actions taken in the course of their duties. Blanche directed California leaders to “preserve all written and electronic communications and records related to any attempts or efforts to impede or obstruct federal law enforcement officials,” forewarning that the Department of Justice will investigate and prosecute any official who violates federal statutes. Bondi doubled down on the vow to charge them during her interview with Watters, saying: “If they think I won’t, they have not met me.” Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
DOJ warns California officials to ‘stand down or face prosecution’ after threats to arrest ICE agents
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal letter to top California officials Thursday, warning them against any attempts to arrest or impede federal law enforcement officers enforcing immigration laws. The letter, addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom; state Attorney General Rob Bonta; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, stressed that federal agents and officers are carrying out lawful duties, and any interference by state or local officials is both “illegal and futile.” The letter was sent after Pelosi, the former House Speaker, and Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., issued a statement Wednesday threatening to arrest federal agents if they break California law. If convicted, the Democrats noted, President Donald Trump cannot pardon agents. NANCY PELOSI ERUPTS WHEN ASKED BY CNN’S JAKE TAPPER ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF INSIDER TRADING “Reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the Bay Area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” Pelosi and Mullin wrote in the statement. “While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. … The people of San Francisco will continue to stand with the patriotic immigrants who are the constant reinvigoration of America.” Blanche shared his response in an X post, writing, “We just sent them a letter: Stand down or face prosecution. No one threatens our agents. No one will stop us from Making America Safe Again.” PELOSI DODGES WHEN ASKED IF VIRGINIA AG CANDIDATE WHO FANTASIZED ABOUT SHOOTING REPUBLICAN SHOULD DROP OUT The letter cites several federal statutes that criminalize assaulting, impeding or conspiring against federal officers, and notes the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates state officials cannot prosecute federal agents for actions taken in the course of their duties. Blanche directed California leaders to “preserve all written and electronic communications and records related to any attempts or efforts to impede or obstruct federal law enforcement officials,” forewarning that the Department of Justice will investigate and prosecute any official who violates federal statutes. “We urge you and other California officials to publicly abandon this apparent criminal conspiracy, to stop threatening law enforcement, and to prioritize the safety of your citizens,” Blanche wrote. Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Virginia Lt. Gov. candidate enlists AI to represent Dem opponent after she rejected debate offers
Conservative businessman and broadcaster John Reid enlisted the help of artificial intelligence to represent Democratic challenger Ghazala Hashmi in a mock debate for the 2025 lieutenant governor’s race. Reid, the Republican nominee from Richmond, challenged Hashmi, a state senator from Chesterfield, to a series of regional debates around Virginia. Reid noted Hashmi is the only candidate of the six running for statewide office to decline a debate. A representative for Reid ensured that the AI only envisaged Hashmi’s likeness and voice — and that of the moderator – and the responses given by the representation of Hashmi were based on her prior quotes or publicized policy positions. Hashmi’s campaign called the video a “deepfake” and told The Washington Post it was a “desperate move straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook.” YOUNGKIN UNLEASHES CUTTING-EDGE AI TECHNOLOGY IN EFFORT TO SLASH VIRGINIA’S GOVERNMENT RED TAPE “While we appreciate that ‘AI Ghazala’ did share her vision, like her commitment to public education and reproductive rights, it’s pretty clear Reid only cares about shoddy gimmicks and not governing,” the campaign added. The AI debate differed from other recent artificially created videos, where the words and representations of lawmakers were made to be cartoonish in some cases. President Donald Trump shared a viral AI video earlier this month showing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wearing a sombrero as “La Cucaracha” played in the background and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., referred to his party as “woke pieces of s—.” Schumer never said that in real life. GOOGLE CEO, MAJOR TECH LEADERS JOIN FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE AI MEETING For her opening statement in the debate, the “AI Hashmi” said she is running because Virginians need “someone who has the experience, knowledge and ability to fight for Virginians.” “I have a track record with regard to the issues Virginians care about — education, health care, housing and opportunity. I am ready to make policy that will make Virginia an example for other states.” In response, Reid — in real life — noted that Hashmi would not appear for a real debate. HOLLYWOOD TURNS TO AI TOOLS TO REWIRE MOVIE MAGIC “If she’s not willing to engage in her own campaign for lieutenant governor, I don’t know why anybody thinks she would be able to fight for anything,” he said. Reid said Hashmi supported keeping Virginia schools closed an extra year after the coronavirus pandemic and has “push[ed] for boys in girl sports… higher taxes [and] releasing criminals early.” “Everything that we would ID as a problem in the state of Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi has pushed,” he said. In this regard, Reid said his work in communications in Congress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and radio help him understand what businesses need from state government if they choose to operate in Virginia. The lieutenant governorship is “not just gaveling in the Senate,” Reid said. “[It is] working for the state of Virginia.”
Trump reacts to report of B-1 bombers near Venezuela while threatening drug traffickers during WH roundtable
Fox News has learned two B-1 bombers took off from Dyess Air Base in Texas Thursday morning, flying toward Venezuela as seen on open source flight trackers, according to senior U.S. official sources. During a White House roundtable on immigration and crime crackdowns Thursday, President Donald Trump denied the report, which was first published by The Wall Street Journal. “No, it’s not accurate. It’s false,” Trump said. “But we’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons, drugs being one of them. But, also, they’ve been sending their prisoners into our country. … Nobody can do that.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth did not correct the president during the Q&A with reporters. IS TRUMP’S ‘HEAT’ ON VENEZUELA THE START OF A WIDER CAMPAIGN FOR REGIME CHANGE? During the roundtable with law enforcement and administration officials to discuss the successes of Homeland Security task forces, Trump honed in on the ongoing efforts to curb illegal drug smuggling into the U.S., noting he believes the cartels will begin infiltrating the U.S. by land. “Now they’re coming in by land,” Trump said. “Even the land is concerned, because I told them … the land is going to be next. We may go to the Senate, we may go to Congress and tell them about it. But I can’t imagine they’d have any problem with it.” TRUMP UNLEASHES US MILITARY POWER ON CARTELS. IS A WIDER WAR LOOMING? “Between that and my discussion with [Chinese] President Xi, I think we have never made progress like we’ve made,” Trump added. “The sea drugs are almost dead, and they can’t come in that fast from the land. And the land drugs are much more dangerous for them. It’s going to be much more dangerous. You’ll be seeing that soon. So, that’s the way it is.” Hours earlier, Hegseth confirmed the U.S. military carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel Wednesday, killing three suspects. TRUMP SAYS ‘WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS’ WHEN ASKED ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF STRIKING VENEZUELA AMID RISING TENSIONS The attack marked the ninth vessel strike since September and the second strike reported in the Eastern Pacific. A total of 37 people have reportedly been killed, with two survivors later repatriating to their home countries. When asked by reporters why he is not asking Congress to approve a declaration of war against the cartels, the president said he did not think it was needed. “I don’t think we’re going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war,” Trump said. “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. … They’re going to be, like, dead.”
Doctors on key US health task force accused of prioritizing DEI over evidence-based medicine
An “independent” advisory panel of non-federal experts determining which preventative healthcare services insurers must cover is accused of being staffed with doctors who have shown a propensity to prioritize “woke” left-wing diversity, equity and inclusion ideals in their work, as opposed to evidence-based science. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), an all-volunteer panel of doctors who serve four-year terms appointed by the Secretary of Health, is made up of experts in preventative medicine, which includes services like screening tests, immunizations, behavioral counseling, and medications that can prevent the development or worsening of health conditions. One of the task force’s primary functions is to weigh the efficacy and cost-benefit of such preventative care services, recommendations for which are then used to shape what preventative care services insurance providers must cover. The task force’s ability to make these healthcare recommendations, coupled with what appears to be a membership largely made up of left-wing, DEI proponents, has raised concerns about how the task force could be impacting healthcare. The Wall Street Journal reported in July that sources with knowledge of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s thinking said he was planning to dismiss all 16 members of the USPSTF for being too “woke.” NEW MEDICAL POLICY CENTER COMBATS WOKENESS IN MEDICINE, LAUNCHING LANDMARK RANKING OF TOP SCHOOLS “HHS has been made aware of the ideological issues with members of the USPSTF raised by letters from Senate Republicans, members of the GOP Doctors Caucus, and a large group of physicians including Associations of American Physicians and Surgeons, America’s Frontline Doctors, and the Pennsylvania Direct Primary Care Association. HHS is troubled by these allegations and is investigating further,” Emily Hilliard, a Health and Human Services Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about Kennedy’s plans for the future of the current USPSTF. Meanwhile, others, including the GOP Doctors Caucus and major physician groups including the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, have also raised alarm bells about potential left-wing bias at the USPSTF. One group that has also raised alarm bells about the USPSTF is the conservative watchdog group known as the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), which just released a new report claiming the USPSTF “has been thoroughly hijacked by left-wing partisans for the purpose of weaponizing science to spread leftist ideology.” The AAF report points to Dr. Michael Silverstein, the task force’s current chairman, who, in 2023, said that USPSTF is “dedicated to … addressing critical issues of health equity” after he was re-appointed to the task force’s leadership team under the Biden administration. As Vice Chair of the task force in 2023, Silverstein co-authored an annual report to Congress highlighting a new partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) aimed at helping the task force be more “inclusive.” The partnership, according to the report to Congress, was meant to help develop “new recommendations on screening for anxiety disorders, and other conditions that affect LGBTQ+ communities to enhance the health, wellness, and quality of life of their patients.” Other recommendations from the USPSTF that have come down in the last several years include a 2022 recommendation denoting the need for physicians to consider race when screening for anxiety in children and adolescents. A more recent recommendation, published in April, said that doctors should pay special attention to breastfeeding in black mothers due to the “lasting psychological impact and stigma of enslaved Black women being forced to act as wet nurses.” I’M A GENDER DETRANSITIONER. I TOLD THE FTC HOW DOCTORS ABUSED THEIR POWER OVER ME Meanwhile, a 2021 report from the USPSTF, on addressing sex and gender when making preventative healthcare recommendations, included an analysis of how gender-specific terminology, as opposed to “gender-neutral” terminology, could play a role in addressing the needs of “diverse populations.” Think “pregnant people” versus “pregnant mother,” a switch that eventually became part of the task force’s official guidelines. “To advance its methods, the USPSTF reviewed its past recommendations that included the use of sex and gender terms, reviewed the approaches of other guideline-making bodies, and pilot tested strategies to address sex and gender diversity,” the report states. “Based on the findings, the USPSTF intends to use an inclusive approach to identify issues related to sex and gender at the start of the guideline development process; assess the applicability, variability, and quality of evidence as a function of sex and gender; ensure clarity in the use of language regarding sex and gender; and identify evidence gaps related to sex and gender.” Another major achievement towards the task force’s mission to advance “health equity” was the release of a 2024 “Health Equity Framework” aimed at embedding gender theory and other left-wing ideologies into its operations. HOW UNIVERSITY INDOCTRINATION TURNED DEADLY, AND WHY ONE SCHOLAR SAYS IT’S ONLY GETTING WORSE In addition to the work the task force has done, its members also have an extensive history of publishing research that focuses on “health equity” and other DEI components, such as how race impacts certain health outcomes, or how to address sex and gender when making recommendations for clinical preventative services. “National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Achieving Health Equity in Preventive Services,” is the title of a scientific research report co-authored by task force rank-and-file member, Dr. Sandra Millon Underwood. “Further Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Into Medical Education Research,” and “Health Equity Starts with Us: Recommendations from the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Racial Justice and Health Equity Task Force,” were also reports co-authored by members of the USPSTF. “Antiracist initiatives, such as incorporating community-support persons (e.g., lay doulas) into maternity care for Black people, can reduce disparities in outcomes by addressing both interpersonal racism and the lack of workforce diversity caused by structural racism,” stated a May 2024 research paper co-authored by USPSTF rank-and-file member Dr. Alicia Fernandez. Members of the supposedly “independent” USPSTF have also used their positions of expertise to fight Trump administration priorities as well, such as those around abortion and research funding reforms. For example, Dr. David Chelmow, another
Dems silent on progressive candidate’s Nazi-style tattoo after knocking Hegseth for Christian symbol
Prominent Democrats who were highly critical of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s tattoos with crusader symbolism are now keeping silent on a progressive Senate candidate who had a Nazi-style symbol tattooed to his chest. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., criticized Hegseth for his tattoos, one of which is a Jerusalem cross and another with the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” (God wills it), both of which are associated with the crusades and ancient Christian symbolism. Following their comments against Hegseth, Fox News Digital reached out to Warren and Duckworth for comment on the ongoing controversy over Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner having a “Totenkopf,” Nazi “death’s head” symbol tattooed to his chest. Warren has previously expressed enthusiasm for Platner’s candidacy, telling Politico, “I’m excited to see new people enter the race for the Senate … particularly those who have a strong voice they’re willing to use on behalf of people who are often ignored in the U.S. Senate.” ARE PETE HEGSETH’S TATTOOS SYMBOLS OF ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM’? Fox News Digital asked whether Warren and Duckworth condemn Platner because of the tattoo and whether they believe he should drop out of the race. Neither immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. During Hegseth’s confirmation hearings, Warren sent him an extensive letter, in which, among other issues, she expressed concern about his “Deus Vult” tattoo. “You were also removed from President Biden’s inauguration because of concerns that you were an insider threat after reports that your ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo ‘was a Christian expression associated with right-wing extremism,’” Warren wrote. “We cannot have a Defense Secretary whose fellow servicemembers feel concerned enough about to report as a potential insider threat.” Democrats have continued to give Hegseth a hard time over the tattoos. During a hearing in June, Duckworth accused Hegseth of “blowing through money like my fellow cadets and I did in our first liberty after basic camp. Luckily, I didn’t end up with a questionable tattoo.” ‘MAINE’S MAMDANI’: MAINE GOP CHIEF ISSUES WARNING ABOUT NEW CHALLENGER LOOKING TO OUST SUSAN COLLINS Platner, a Marine veteran and progressive endorsed by the likes of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has garnered widespread criticism over a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest that strongly resembles the Totenkopf symbol used by Hitler’s SS forces. After the controversy erupted, Platner said he got the tattoo in 2007 during a “night of drinking” while on leave in Croatia in the Marine Corps and claimed he did not know its historical associations at the time. He has since covered the image with another tattoo of dogs. In a video posted to Instagram Wednesday afternoon, Platner elaborated that the design was chosen from a flash tattoo wall while “carousing” with fellow Marines in Split, Croatia. “We thought it looked cool,” he said. MAINE DEM SENATE HOPEFUL BACKED BY BERNIE SANDERS APOLOGIZES FOR NAZI-STYLE TATTOO, VOWS TO STAY IN RACE He claimed he had “lived a life dedicated to anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-Nazism” and was “appalled” to learn it resembled a hate symbol. A spokesperson for Sanders shared an Axios interview with the senator in which he said, “I’m not overly impressed by a squad of media running around saying, ‘What do you think about the tattoo on Graham Platner’s chest’” and “between you and me there might be one or two more important issues.” The spokesperson also shared another statement from Sanders in which he said of Platner, “I personally think he is an excellent candidate. I’m going to support him, and I look forward to him becoming the next senator in the state of Maine” Fox News Digital also reached out to Sanders and Platner’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Adams to back Cuomo in NYC mayoral race
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… –Red state university student caught on video threatening lives of Charlie Kirk supporters: ‘Watch your neck’ -Curtis Sliwa vows to be Zohran Mamdani’s ‘worst nightmare’ if the Democratic socialist wins NYC mayoral race -Undercover video exposes what Spanberger’s campaign organizer really thinks of her: ‘What the f—‘ New York City Mayor Eric Adams will endorse former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral race as he faces off against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. “As spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams, I can confirm that the Mayor will endorse former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for mayor and intends to campaign alongside him,” Adams’ spokesman, Todd Shapiro, said in a statement to Fox News. “The time and locations for their joint appearances are currently being finalized.” Adams declined to answer questions about Cuomo at an unrelated press conference Thursday morning…READ MORE. HOMEGROWN POWER: Apple building American-made AI servers ahead of schedule in new Houston facility, answering Trump call NEW DETAILS: SCOOP: Trump’s Memphis crime crackdown locates dozens of missing kids, removes 109 gangbangers from streets NO PEACE TALKS: Trump ‘not interested’ in de-escalation with ‘unhinged’ leader of Colombia, White House says ON PAUSE: Trump freezes out Putin for lack of ‘enough action’ toward peace — future talks uncertain BLUNT DIPLOMACY: Inside Trump’s ultimatum that forced Netanyahu to the table: ‘You can’t fight the world’ SKY VIOLATIONS: Russia violates NATO airspace in Lithuania amid Putin warning on long-range missiles ‘AMAZING BLESSING’: Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, resurrected amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire NO MORE GAMES: After waffling between Russia and Ukraine, Trump slaps Kremlin with oil sanctions SNAP OUT OF IT: Democrats under fire as food stamp funds run dry: 42 million Americans caught in shutdown fight NO PAY FOR YOU: Essential workers left unpaid after Senate Democrats kill pay bill HOSTAGE POLITICS: Top Republican slams Katherine Clark for admitting suffering families are “leverage” in shutdown battle SOCIAL-IST STANDING: Bernie Sanders defends Maine Senate candidate under fire for wild Reddit comments HALF IN, HALF OUT: Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race — but also kept Youngkin at arm’s length MIXED BAG: New poll in key showdown for Virginia governor indicates single-digit race FOOD FIGHT: Youngkin declares state of emergency over “Democrat Shutdown” depleting food stamp benefits for nearly 1M Virginians AI ATTACK: Andrew Cuomo campaign walks back controversial attack ad targeting Mamdani voters CAMPAIGN CLASH: Social media erupts after Cuomo, Mamdani rip each other during final debate: ‘Unmasked’ ‘CALL TO ACTION’: NYC rabbis sound off on “unprecedented risk” Mamdani poses as hundreds of leaders sign “call to action” SECOND GUESSING: NYC socialist mayoral candidate Mamdani’s 911 plan called “worst idea” by former NYPD sergeant Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Winsome Sears blasts Virginia Dems’ surprise redistricting session as a ‘stunt’ to pull her off the trail
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears lambasted Virginia Democrats after they signaled a plan to suddenly call the legislature back in a last-minute special session to address potential redistricting before the election. Virginia’s state redistricting commission is statutorily charged with crafting new congressional maps after every decennial census, but state Democrats appear poised to try to do an end-round around that process, potentially via the constitutional amendment process. “In a desperate political stunt, Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly are calling for a special session to drag Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears off the campaign trail,” the Earle-Sears campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital. NEW POLL IN KEY SHOWDOWN FOR VIRGINIA GOVERNOR INDICATES SINGLE-DIGIT RACE As lieutenant governor, Earle-Sears is the presiding officer over the otherwise Democratic-majority state Senate. “The same politicians who marched in ‘No Kings’ protests are now trying to crown themselves as the rulers of Virginia politics, abusing their offices to rig the calendar because they can’t win on ideas,” the campaign said. Earle-Sears spokesperson Peyton Vogel said the activity is “what panic looks like” for a party that is out of fresh ideas and is relying on such “stunts,” and suggested Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger – a former congresswoman – was in some way involved in the plan. “[S]he’s leading the charge on cheap political stunts to slow down Winsome Earle-Sears’ momentum. It’s pathetic. Voters see through it. They know Winsome Earle-Sears is a Marine, a mom, and a fighter for Virginia every day — while Abigail Spanberger is a career politician using Washington-style dirty tricks to protect her power and her friends,” Vogel said. EARLE-SEARS COMES OUT SWINGING IN HEATED DEBATE AS SPANBERGER DODGES JAY JONES QUESTIONS A Suffolk University poll released Thursday showed Earle-Sears trailing Spanberger by about eight percentage points, while her downballot-mates John Reid and Jason Miyares were either tied or just ahead of their Democratic opponents. Democrats are hoping to expand their two-seat majority in the House of Delegates, targeting several districts in the suburbs and exurbs of Hampton Roads and Washington, D.C., where Republicans sit on a statistical knife’s edge. No state Senate seats are up until 2027. The upper chamber also has a two-seat Democratic majority. House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon, did not respond to requests for comment. However, Surovell told the New York Times that plans to reconvene the legislature in Richmond next week are intended to counter President Donald Trump’s push to pressure Republican-led states on redistricting. Those states, like Texas, see their efforts as blunting California Democrats’ likely-successful shoehorning of a mid-decade redistricting plan through Sacramento. VIRGINIA VOTERS SUE TO BOOT DEMOCRAT OFF BALLOT IN DISTRICT THAT COULD DECIDE STATE HOUSE MAJORITY “We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,” Surovell told the Times. On the federal level, Democrats hold six of the 11 House seats in Virginia. Some of those held by Republicans are often considered “swing” seats that volley back and forth regularly – like that of Rep. Jennifer Kiggans in Cape Charles and Hampton Roads. Loudoun County – once reliably Republican – has trended far to the left in the past decade, and there is no longer any Republican congressperson within about 50 miles of Washington. Rep. Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, D-Va., twin brother of Alexander Vindman, holds a once-swing district in Prince William County and the D.C. exurbs that has been another long-term loss for the GOP. WINSOME EARLE-SEARS REBUKES SPANBERGER PLAN TO UNDO VIRGINIA’S ICE PACT: ‘THIS IS NOT HARD’ By contrast, Rep. Morgan Griffith’s, R-Va., district in the far southwestern end of Virginia is solidly Republican. The way neighboring Rep. Ben Cline’s district is drawn – hugging Interstate 81 and the Blue Ridge Mountains – also remains so. But Cline’s district could be one targeted by Democrats’ redraw – as slicing up the slender district and the top of Republican John McGuire’s confines and affixing the pieces to the increasingly blue center of the state could create several new seats designed in Democrats’ favor. Toying with the shapes of other districts like Vindman’s along I-95 and Republican Rep. Rob Wittman in the Northern Neck could also bear fruit for Democrats. Democrats were the ones to primarily spearhead the original constitutional amendment in 2020 that birthed the commission they now want to circumvent, as it had been introduced by then-Sen. George Barker of Fairfax. Some Republicans were listed as co-signers for the resolution as well. SPANBERGER DEFENDS ABORTION AD CRITICIZING SEARS AFTER BERNIE WARNS AGAINST HIGHLIGHTING ISSUE The amendment was later approved by about two-thirds of Virginia voters, according to reports. If they go the constitutional amendment route, passage before November’s election would count as one session, so Democrats – betting on holding or increasing their numbers in the legislature – would have to pass it once more in the 2026 session before it made the ballot after passage. Whether Earle-Sears or Spanberger wins, the governor is constitutionally precluded from intervening in the process. Working through the regular legislative process would, by contrast, allow a governor to intervene; with the outgoing Youngkin primed to veto their initial attempt. Pennsylvania Republicans led by 2022 gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano enlisted the same process to circumvent then-Gov. Tom Wolf and end his onerous coronavirus lockdown orders, so the process has seen recent success. The Virginia amendment would not likely create a new map, but instead authorize a new process to commence redistricting outside the current system with the decennial commission. Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger for comment on Earle-Sears’ claim.
Fired Trump prosecutors launch new Washington firm they say will battle government corruption
Two federal prosecutors fired by President Donald Trump after working on special counsel Jack Smith’s legal team investigating the commander in chief have founded a new law firm to battle corruption. Molly Gaston and J.P. Cooney have formed a boutique firm in Washington, D.C., to do much of what they did for the Justice Department — but now in private practice. “We will offer a unique combination of services, including public integrity counseling to state and local governments, strategic representation at every stage of congressional and criminal investigations, and trial-ready representation in criminal and civil cases,” Cooney wrote in a LinkedIn blog post. DOJ SEEKS REMOVAL OF COMEY’S DEFENSE LAWYER, CITING CONFLICT OF INTEREST “We are thrilled to join the emerging market of boutique firms offering independent representation and zealous advocacy,” he added. The pair were part of Smith’s legal team looking into potential election interference and allegations that Trump moved classified documents to his Mar-a-Lago residence. The cases against Trump were dropped when he took office in January. They were then fired, along with several others who worked on Smith’s prosecutions, with termination letters saying they couldn’t be trusted to “faithfully implement” the president’s agenda, The Wall Street Journal reported. TRUMP’S US ATTORNEYS IN BLUE STATES FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT COULD UPEND KEY PROSECUTIONS “We conducted a thorough and efficient investigation under very difficult circumstances. The simple fact is that we ran out of time,” Cooney told the newspaper. “That is unfortunate because it would have been good for the country to resolve these cases in court.” The new law firm will take on corruption and civil rights cases. “In the wake of the federal government’s decision to greatly reduce its enforcement of public corruption and civil rights laws, we help state and local governments fill the void,” a fact sheet on the firm’s website states. Smith recently stood by his 2023 decision to subpoena several Republican lawmakers’ phone records, calling the move “entirely proper” and consistent with Justice Department policy. In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Snith said through his lawyers that the subpoenaed data, known as toll records, belonging to eight senators and one House member were carefully targeted to support his investigation into Trump’s alleged subversion of the 2020 election. “As described by various Senators, the toll data collection was narrowly tailored and limited to the four days from January 4, 2021 to January 7, 2021, with a focus on telephonic activity during the period immediately surrounding the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol,” Smith’s lawyers wrote Tuesday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Fox News Digital has reached out to the law firm for comment. Fox News Digital’s Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.
Irish presidential election: Who is running and what’s at stake?
Voters in Ireland will head to the polls on Friday to elect a new president for a seven-year term. While the Irish presidency is a mostly ceremonial role, this election takes place amid a historic shift towards a more polarised political system, Barry Colfer, director of research at Dublin’s Institute of International and European Affairs, told Al Jazeera. Since the establishment of the Irish Free State in December 1922 and the subsequent end of the Irish Civil War in May 1923, Irish politics, unlike in other European countries, have not been drawn along left-right lines, he said. “What we’re seeing today for the first time in Irish history is a presidential election between objectively left-wing and right-wing candidates.” This change has become more apparent in recent years. In the 2020 general election, left-wing nationalist party Sinn Fein – the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army – won the most first-preference votes for the first time since the country’s founding, bringing an end to the traditional two-party dominance of the centre-right parties Fianna Fail (FF) and Fine Gael (FG). By the end of the voting process, Sinn Fein had 37 seats, finishing close to neck-and-neck with FF at 38 and FG at 35. There are 174 seats in Dail Eireann (Irish for Ireland’s lower house of parliament) in total, with 88 needed to form a government. The two previously dominant parties’ origins date back to the Irish Civil War and its aftermath, with FG’s forerunner supporting the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which granted the country partial independence, and FF opposing it. Advertisement For the first time in their history, FF and FG were forced to enter into a formal coalition government with the Green Party in 2020 to be able to form a government. Following the 2024 election, they partnered with independents instead of the Greens. President Michael D Higgins at the Irish National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Ireland, September 16, 2025 [Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters] Who serves as president of Ireland, and what do they do? The presidency has a relatively limited political role, comparable to that of monarchs in other countries, said Gail McElroy, a professor of political science at Trinity College Dublin. It is “seen as a unifying role beyond politics”. The president represents Ireland abroad and hosts visiting heads of state and other dignitaries at the official presidential residence, Aras an Uachtarain, in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. The president is, above all, responsible for ensuring that the Irish Constitution is followed. After the presidency was established in 1938, one year after the current Bunreacht na hEireann (Irish constitution) was adopted, it was generally held by a statesman with a long affiliation to one of the two main political parties. For instance, Eamon de Valera, one of the leading political figures during Ireland’s War for Independence and founder of FF, served as taoiseach (prime minister) from 1937 to 1948, 1951 to 1954 and from 1957 to 1959, and then as the country’s third president from 1959 to 1973. The election of Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female president, in 1990 “marked a watershed moment”, McElroy told Al Jazeera. The election of Robinson, who had been nominated by the Labour Party and the Workers’ Party, and also received official support from the Green Party, transformed the presidency from a largely symbolic, conservative office into one with more significant diplomatic influence. Her presidential campaign had included a commitment to expand the role of the president into a more active one focused on social issues and to foster an image of a “new Ireland”. Before becoming president, she had served as a senator in Seanad Eireann (Irish senate) from 1969 to 1989, and been a member of the Dublin City Council from 1979 to 1983. During her time in office, she signed two significant bills that she had fought for throughout her political career: a 1992 bill to fully liberalise the law on the availability of contraceptives, and a 1993 bill fully decriminalising homosexuality. She also signed the legalisation of divorce into law in 1996. Advertisement As president, Robinson also took significant steps to foster an atmosphere of reconciliation between Ireland and the United Kingdom. She made history by being the first Irish president to meet a British monarch, then Queen Elizabeth II, in an official capacity. She also controversially met and shook hands with Gerry Adams, then the leader of Sinn Fein, a significant move towards dialogue at a critical time in the Northern Ireland peace process. And finally, Robinson used her presidential platform to advocate for human rights worldwide, notably becoming the first head of state to visit Somalia in 1992 following the civil war and famine, drawing international attention to the country’s humanitarian crisis. Mary McAleese, the first person born in Northern Ireland to serve as president, held the office from 1997 to 2011 – like Robinson, during pivotal years for the Northern Ireland peace process that culminated in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement ending the three-decade conflict that had begun in the late 1960s in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles. Her emphasis on reconciliation culminated in a historic state visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II. Michael D Higgins, president since 2011, has stretched the conventions of his office with, at times, strong criticism of government policy on both domestic and foreign policy issues, particularly regarding the country’s housing crisis and longstanding policy of military neutrality. Higgins has also been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, in line with the overwhelming majority of the Irish public, and has been unequivocal in calling for a permanent ceasefire since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza. The Irish government has been one of the most critical voices of Israel within the European Union, supporting South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Higgins has described Israel’s war on Gaza as the “incredible destruction of an entire people” and echoed the Irish government in calling it a breach of international law. At times, Higgins has