Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues
In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the school’s prohibition on drag performances, finding students are likely to prove it violates the First Amendment.
Photos: Texas Democrats return to Austin as redistricting standoff ends
Texas Democrats return to Austin after a two week fight over GOP-drawn congressional maps
Texas Senate quickly passes several bills on second special session’s first day
Lawmakers focused first on flood-related bills Monday night and tackled other legislation including a THC ban, property taxes and deed fraud.
‘Slap in the face’: Major blue state governor signs bill opening financial aid to illegals
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a major Democratic leader and rumored presidential candidate, signed a bill into law opening student financial aid to all residents, regardless of immigration status, opening a pathway for illegal immigrants residing in the state to receive educational financial benefits. The move was slammed by conservative Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., as rewarding illegal immigrants and a “slap in the face” to Illinois families and students. The bill purports to establish “equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits” for all students in the state. The bill reads that “a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for financial aid and benefits.” ILLINOIS GOV CALLS FOR MASS PROTESTS AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN: GOP ‘CANNOT KNOW A MOMENT OF PEACE’ One of the bill’s sponsors, state Sen. Celina Villanueva, a Democrat, celebrated Pritzker signing the bill by saying in a statement that “this law is about making sure no student is left behind because of where they were born.” A statement by Villanueva’s office said that the measure “eliminates the patchwork of confusing and sometimes conflicting requirements that have excluded undocumented, DACAmented, and mixed-status students from critical aid.” The law pertains to any student residing in Illinois, making him or her eligible for financial aid programs funded or administered by the state, local governments, or public universities, according to the statement. The statement said that the law “builds upon Villanueva’s long-standing advocacy for immigrant and first-generation students by creating a more consistent and inclusive pathway to accessing support.” DEM GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER VOWS TO ‘DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROTECT OUR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS’ “If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers,” said Villanueva. “Illinois invests in all of our students, and we’re committed to helping them succeed.” Commenting on the legislation, Miller told Fox News Digital that “allowing taxpayer-funded financial aid for illegal aliens is a slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students.” “Our state is drowning in debt, yet JB Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals,” she said. “It’s absolutely shameful.” A spokesperson for the Illinois GOP also chimed in, telling Fox News Digital that “once again, Governor Pritzker proves that he is prioritizing illegal immigrants at the expense of Illinois families.” BLUE STATE REPUBLICAN CALLS ON COUNTY SHERIFFS TO DEFY SANCTUARY LAW, DEM GOVERNOR RUMORED FOR 2028 RUN “Illinois taxpayers should not have their hard-earned taxpayer dollars pay for benefits to illegal immigrants who shouldn’t be here in the first place,” added the spokesperson. Pritzker’s office declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Villanueva’s office had not replied to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Trump moves to broker Putin-Zelenskyy meeting following DC peace talks
President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, to begin coordinating next steps in the peace process aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The president posted on his Truth Social platform Monday evening saying that he had called Putin at the conclusion of a day of meetings to begin “the arrangements for a meeting” between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterpart. Trump’s call to Putin mirrored his decision to call Zelenskyy following Friday’s Alaska summit with Putin. “At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump confirmed, following media reports hinting at the call. TRUMP: ZELENSKYY MEETING NOT ‘END OF THE ROAD’ FOR US SUPPORT IN SECURING PEACE DEAL The president added that after the meeting between the two warring presidents, there would be a trilateral meeting with the United States as well. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” the president continued. “Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.” Yury Ushakov, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Trump and Putin were on the phone for about 40 minutes and held a “candid and very constructive” dialogue, according to CNN. Putin “expressed support for direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine,” Ushakov reportedly added. TRUMP SAYS CEASEFIRE NOT NECESSARY FOR PEACE DURING HIGH-STAKES MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY Officials familiar with Monday’s talks also reportedly said Trump’s call to Putin came in-between talks with the European leaders present at the White House. Meanwhile, one of those leaders, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reportedly said Putin agreed in the call with Trump to meet Zelenskyy in two weeks. Earlier in the day, Trump was caught in a hot-mic moment telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Putin wants to find a resolution to bring the war in Ukraine to an end for him. “I think [Putin] wants to make a deal,” Trump whispered to Macron in the East Room as they were preparing for Monday’s talks. “I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.” Following Monday’s talks, Zelenskyy thanked Trump and all the other leaders present in D.C. for their work in trying to bring peace to his country, noting that the talks were “long and detailed.” “Today, important negotiations took place in Washington. We discussed many issues with President Trump. It was a long and detailed conversation, including discussions about the situation on the battlefield and our steps to bring peace closer,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X Monday night. “We appreciate the important signal from the United States regarding its readiness to support and be part of these guarantees. A lot of attention today was given to the return of our children, to the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia. We agreed to work on this,” Zelenskyy continued. “The U.S. President also supported a meeting at the level of leaders. Such a meeting is necessary to resolve sensitive issues.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on this but did not receive a response.
With Texas Dems back, Trump urges Legislature: ‘Pass this Map, ASAP’
Following Texas Democratic lawmakers’ return on Monday after vacating the state for two weeks, President Donald Trump urged the state legislature to move quickly to pass a highly controversial redistricting bill, saying, “Please pass this Map, ASAP.” Amid a packed day meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump urged Texas leaders to act quickly, writing in a Truth Social post that the redistricting bill is “one of the most popular initiatives I have ever supported.” He thanked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state House Speaker Dustin Burrows and the Texas Legislature for their “GREAT work.” “Republican State Legislators in the Great State of Texas, which I love, and WON BIG three times, including with 6.4 Million Votes in 2024 (by far the most Votes in History!), just introduced a new Bill for ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL CONGRESSIONAL MAP!” wrote Trump. TEXAS DEMS END WEEKSLONG QUORUM STANDOFF IN REDISTRICTING FIGHT “It is wonderful to see Republicans everywhere standing up to Save our Country. It is one of the most popular initiatives I have ever supported,” he went on, adding, “Republicans love watching us fight for a Great Cause. Please pass this Map, ASAP. THANK YOU TEXAS — MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! This comes after a two-week-long standoff between Texas Republican leaders and dozens of members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus who fled the state in efforts to deny the legislature the quorum necessary to pass a Trump-backed redistricting bill, which would potentially give the GOP five additional congressional seats. After the Democrats fled, Abbott and other leaders vowed not to back down and threatened to remove them from office and have them arrested. For their part, the AWOL Democrats pledged not to return until another Democratic state moved to “nullify” Texas’ new Republican seats. The Democrats also vowed they would not return to Texas until the special legislative session, which the governor had called to pass the redistricting bill, as well as other priorities, had ended. OBAMA PRAISES DEMOCRATS WHO FLED TEXAS REDISTRICTING VOTE AS ‘INSPIRING’ The special session ended on Friday; however, Abbott called a second special session, which began immediately. The Texas Senate has already voted to pass the measure. Meanwhile, the California legislature is back in session in Sacramento, and Democrats in both chambers are expected to approve redistricting maps suggested by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee – which would create up to five more left-leaning congressional districts at the expense of the Republican minority – by the end of this week. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that California voters will get to vote in November on whether to overrule a state constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to move forward with its redistricting plans. CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS UNVEIL REDISTRICTING MAP TO WIPE OUT 5 GOP SEATS, COUNTER TEXAS PLAN During a press conference announcing the Democratic redistricting push, Newsom vowed to “meet fire with fire” in response to Trump’s support for the Texas redistricting effort.
Illegal immigrant truck driver accused in deadly Florida crash got Biden work permit after Trump denial: DHS
The illegal immigrant truck driver accused of causing a crash that killed three people in Florida was given a work permit under the Biden administration, officials said Monday. Harjinder Singh, who was arrested on Saturday in Stockton, California, on three counts of vehicle homicide, entered the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump administration on Sept. 14, 2020, said Tricia McLaughlin, the Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF KILLING 3 IN FLORIDA HIGHWAY CRASH CROSSED BORDER INTO CALIFORNIA IN 2018: DHS McLaughlin noted Singh’s work approval in response to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said the first Trump administration “confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements — YOU issued him a work permit (EAD).” “As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless,” Newsom’s press office wrote on X. McLaughlin noted that the federal government doesn’t issue commercial driver’s licenses. “False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020,” she wrote. “It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021. The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL. Sincerely, Genius.” Singh, who officials believe crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018, obtained his commercial driver’s license in California despite his illegal status in the U.S. ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF CAUSING FATAL SEMI TRUCK CRASH THAT KILLED 3 PEOPLE: ‘SHOCKING AND CRIMINAL’ He remains in custody on both state vehicular homicide charges as well as immigration violations. Singh was driving a commercial truck with a trailer on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce when he allegedly attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area. The move resulted in the trailer jackknifing and colliding with a minivan — leaving all three of the minivan’s passengers dead, according to officials. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the three deaths could have been avoided if California had followed federal immigration laws. “3 innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License,” she wrote Monday on X. “This gut wrenching tragedy should have never happened. My team at @DHSgov will work with @USDOT to root out and prevent illegal aliens from obtaining these licenses from sanctuary jurisdictions that put American drivers and passengers in danger.”
Bondi, Patel tap Missouri AG as additional FBI co-deputy director alongside Bongino
EXCLUSIVE: Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel are bringing on Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as an additional deputy director of the bureau, Fox News Digital has learned. Bailey will serve as a co-deputy director, alongside Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Fox News Digital has learned. “I am thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI,” Bondi told Fox News Digital. “He has served as a distinguished state attorney general and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service. His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump’s mission.” FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL BACKS TRUMP’S DC POLICE TAKEOVER: ‘WHEN YOU LET GOOD COPS BE COPS, THEY DELIVER’ “The FBI, as the leading investigative body of the federal government under the Department of Justice, will always bring the greatest talent this country has to offer in order to accomplish the goals set forth when an overwhelming majority of American people elected President Donald J. Trump again,” Patel told Fox News Digital, adding that Bailey will be an “integral part of this important mission” and said he looks forward to “the continued fight to save America together.” Bailey, as Missouri’s attorney general, launched an anti-human trafficking task force and addressed more than 1,100 reported incidents in Missouri. He also cleared the backlog of Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kits to improve prosecution of sexual assault cases. Bailey’s office also defended the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in civil litigation and has consistently advocated for law enforcement. Bailey was endorsed by the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police. TRUMP CLAIMS DC CRIMES TROUNCE STATS FROM NOTORIOUSLY VIOLENT CITIES WORLDWIDE Bailey’s office also reported a 133% increase in trial court-level criminal prosecutions. Bailey also has held public officials accountable during his time as attorney general. He demanded the resignation of a sheriff for financial mismanagement and misconduct, and, separately, announced a grand jury indictment against a St. Louis county executive for stealing and election law violations. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Co-Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Bailey told Fox News Digital. “I extend my deepest gratitude to President Trump, U.S. Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel for the privilege to join in their stated mission to Make America Safe Again.” TRUMP’S PLAN TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD IN DC SPARKS BACKLASH FROM RESIDENTS—BUT SOME WELCOME IT A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that President Donald Trump “wants to see bad guys prosecuted, illegals deported, and corrupt politicians held accountable.” “We need all hands on deck to accomplish all of these important goals,” the official said. “Andrew Bailey will serve as another set of credible, experienced hands to help Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel carry out the President’s mission.” The FBI, under Patel’s leadership, already has seen 19,000 arrests nationwide — that’s double the arrests made in all of 2024. Of those, 1,600 individuals have been arrested for violent crimes against children — including 270 arrests for human traffickers, according to the FBI. One thousand have been arrested from investigations of foreign terrorist organizations, and three of the “Top 10 Most Wanted” have been arrested in 2025. Patel’s FBI has rescued 4,000 child victims — a 33% increase from 2025; seized 1,500 kilos of fentanyl; and seized 6,300 kilos of methamphetamines. ‘BRAZENLY UNLAWFUL’: DC OFFICIALS ESCALATE FIGHT WITH TRUMP OVER POLICE TAKEOVER A senior official told Fox News Digital that the murder rate is currently on track to be the lowest ever recorded in history. “President Trump wants to see America quickly become the safest country in the world, and he has put together the best law and order focused team in the business to accomplish that goal,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital. The addition of Bailey comes amid the expanding nature of Trump’s law and order agenda. As for the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., Bondi is in charge, and the FBI is playing a large role. Bondi, on Friday, announced there have been nearly 200 arrests “and counting” in the nation’s capital, including those of murder suspects and illegal gun offenders, since the Trump administration federalized the city to tackle crime. Among those arrested were two homicide suspects, 17 suspected drug traffickers, 39 suspected illegal gun offenders and two sexual predators, according to Bondi. Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Comer, Crockett clash over Barr’s Epstein testimony as ex-Trump AG ends four-hour House grilling
Former Attorney General Bill Barr’s closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee wrapped after over four hours on Monday, and lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle had very different interpretations of how it went. Reps. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., who represented committee Democrats during the staff-led sit-down, said they were left with “more questions now” than before Barr’s deposition began. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., the lone Republican present, said Barr “shed a lot of light” on the Epstein case and said he “answered all the questions” presented to him. Both sides only spoke with reporters partway through Barr’s testimony, which began at 10 a.m. Monday. Fox News Digital witnessed him leaving roughly 30 minutes before 3 p.m. TRUMP DOJ HANDING EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS TO HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY AS SUBPOENA DEADLINE LOOMS “I think the Democratic side is doing most of the heavy lifting, and I don’t think we’re learning much from the questioning from the House Republicans,” Subramanyam said. “It doesn’t seem like this is something where they are truly caring about the victims and about trying to get to the bottom of what’s happening.” Crockett said, “It seems like they are going through the motions, and they want people to believe that they are digging in. But at the end of the day, I don’t think that we’ve learned anything through the Republican questioning that you couldn’t find in one of the articles that most likely your outlets have printed.” Comer told reporters later by contrast, “Our goal with this investigation is to be transparent.” He even lauded Democrats for taking the matter “seriously,” adding, “This is a bipartisan investigation, and hopefully, we’ll be able to get the answers the American people want and deserve.” When asked about the Democratic lawmakers’ attacks on Republicans’ line of questioning, however, Comer accused them of playing politics with the situation. “It’s unfortunate the Democrats are trying to, it seems to me, politicize this. When you look at the basis of this, horrific crimes against young girls, and, of course, the Democrats’ goal is to try to dig up some type of dirt on President Trump,” Comer said. He said Republican staff were “asking a lot of tough questions” and accused Democrats of operating on a double standard. “I don’t ever remember the Democrats subpoenaing a former Democrat attorney general for anything,” he said. Comer accused Democrats of trying to create a “false narrative” connecting Trump and Epstein, after Subramanyam floated the possibility of a “cover-up” by Trump and his allies. “This is a serious investigation. This is a sincere investigation. I hope this will be a bipartisan investigation. I would encourage my Democrat colleagues not to politicize this,” Comer said. BILL BARR TESTIFIES HE DIDN’T SEE INFO THAT WOULD ‘IMPLICATE’ TRUMP IN EPSTEIN CASE, COMER SAYS “I think General Barr answered a lot of questions that probably burst their bubble with respect to, he had never communicated with President Trump on a potential Epstein list or anything else. And he had never seen anything that would implicate President Trump.” Barr arrived on Capitol Hill nearly an hour before his scheduled deposition, only quipping that the “early bird gets the worm” in response to a flurry of reporter questions. He was similarly soft-spoken on his way out, even as Fox News Digital and others questioned what he told House investigators. Barr only said “absolutely” when asked if he had a good conversation Monday. A source familiar with his deposition told Fox News Digital that Barr “made clear that President Trump never provided any views or instructions related to the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein or his death, and that he never saw any evidence suggesting President Trump committed a crime.” “He further stated that he believed the Biden Department of Justice would have released any incriminating evidence against President Trump if such evidence existed,” said the source, who described Barr as “cooperative.” Barr is the first of several people who were subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight Committee after Republicans and Democrats voted to direct Comer to open the probe last month. Several other former attorneys general, ex-FBI directors, and even former First Couple Bill and Hillary Clinton were also subpoenaed. Fox News Digital reached out to Barr’s lawyer for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Trump hails US war tech as key to Ukraine’s defense in meeting with Zelenskyy
President Donald Trump, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, praised the strength of America’s military-industrial base and stressed that U.S. weapons are key to Kyiv’s resistance against Russia. “You mentioned the Patriots—how good are they?” Trump asked Zelenskyy, referencing Raytheon’s missile system. “They’re literally 100% fool-proof. It’s really like two bullets hitting each other in the air,” Trump said, describing the Patriot’s hit-to-kill technology. TRUMP SAYS US WILL SEND PATRIOT MISSILES TO UKRAINE, ADDS THAT PUTIN ‘TALKS NICE AND THEN HE BOMBS EVERYBODY’ Trump said that during his administration, U.S. policy has focused on selling military technology to European allies instead of directly financing weapons packages. He estimated that under former President Joe Biden, Washington supplied Kyiv with more than $300 billion in U.S. military equipment. “We’re not giving anything now,” Trump clarified when asked how much the U.S. will continue to give to Ukraine. “We’re selling weapons.” Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the opportunity to buy American-made defense equipment and noted that Europe and NATO allies have helped Ukraine cover the costs. “Nobody in Europe has air defense [systems] like Patriot, for example. We need it very much,” Zelenskyy said, referencing U.S. weapon production capability. America’s Patriot missile system, built and bred for war by Raytheon, has become the cornerstone of Ukraine’s air defense, particularly around Kyiv and other major cities. The Patriot system—short for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target—is designed to intercept incoming short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, making it well-suited to defend Ukraine against near-constant Russian strikes. Ukraine has received several Patriot missile batteries so far, with at least three from the U.S., two from Germany and another one from Romania. “The good news is that we make the best military equipment in the world by far,” Trump added. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the U.S. has provided nearly $67 billion in military assistance, according to the State Department. The U.S. has invoked the emergency Presidential Drawdown Authority 55 times since 2021, supplying Ukraine with about $31.7 billion in weapons and equipment drawn directly from Defense Department stockpiles.