UEFA Nations League: Germany-Portugal – Start, team news, lineups, Ronaldo
Who: Germany vs PortugalWhat: UEFA Nations League semifinalWhen: WednesdayWhere: Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 6pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport. Hosts Germany and Portugal, the winners of the 2019 inaugural edition, face off in the first of the UEFA Nations League semifinals. Holders Spain and France play in the other tie on Thursday with their match being played in Stuttgart. Al Jazeera Sport looks at the first of the games and where the tournament itself ranks: What is the UEFA Nations League? The competition was formed to give more meaning to international matches played outside the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championships. Instead of a flow of international friendlies, which had become devalued by players and fans alike, nations now compete in a structured format that ends in a country being crowned Nations League champions. Does Nations League success bring World Cup qualification? The teams that finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups in Europe will automatically progress to the FIFA World Cup. Advertisement The four highest placed teams from the Nations League that did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups are then given an extra shot at reaching the global game’s showpiece event. It is an added incentive to all teams as a back-up plan should their official World Cup qualifying campaign fall flat. How is the Nations League structured? There are four groups in League A of the Nations League, four in League B and four in League C. The top two teams from each of the League A groups qualify for the knockout stages of the competition, which begins at the quarterfinals stage. Leagues B and C try to gain promotion to League A to incentivise all teams in their international match-ups and to offer the chance of reaching the final and lifting the trophy to all. Cristiano Ronaldo aiming for a second #NationsLeague title 🇵🇹🏆 pic.twitter.com/VMzf5JFEMA — UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 3, 2025 Who did Germany and Portugal beat in the quarterfinals? Germany, who finished top of Group 3 in League A, beat Italy 5-4 in their last-eight encounter over two legs. Portugal, who finished top of Group 1, beat Denmark 5-3 on aggregate in their quarterfinal. Both sides were unbeaten in the six-match group stage, which concluded in November. What is the latest on Ronaldo? Cristiano Ronaldo is to start the semifinal for Portugal despite the mystery surrounding his immediate club future – which looks likely to result in an appearance at FIFA’s Club World Cup this month. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star posted on social media on the final day of the Saudi Pro League that his time with Saudi Arabian top-flight team Al Nassr had come to an end. Advertisement FIFA President Gianni Infantino had already revealed that talks were under way for a loan for Ronaldo to play for one of the teams competing at the competition being staged in the United States. A star performance by the 40-year-old in the semifinal and potential final of the Nations League would significantly up the stakes for his next move – and his potential late arrival as a headline act at the Club World Cup. Who did Portugal beat in the inaugural final? Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2019 final. The match itself was played on home soil for the Portuguese at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, where Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates celebrate winning the UEFA Nations League final in 2019 [File: Carl Recine/Reuters] What the managers said before the semifinal? Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach: “The goal is to win the Nations League title. We want to perform, deliver results and win titles, and for us as a group, it’s very important. Spain proved how important this tournament can be when they won it before triumphing at Euro 2024. When I look at the faces of our players, I see motivation and excitement. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere in the stadium.” Roberto Martinez, Portugal coach: “There aren’t many opportunities in international football to win trophies, and there is nothing better than doing so. The important thing is that we are here, and the final four is where we have to be. This team have shown significant resilience over these two and a half years, and facing teams like Germany, followed by maybe Spain or France, are perfect challenges to continue preparing the team for the World Cup.” Advertisement Head-to-head This will be the 12th time that the two nations have met. Germany has won on seven occasions, and Portugal has recorded just one win. The Germans have won the last five encounters, which had all been at either FIFA World Cups or UEFA European Championships. Portugal’s last win came in the group stage of Euro 2000 with Sergio Conceicao scoring all the goals in a 3-0 victory against the then-holders, who were eliminated. The Germans have since exacted a heavy revenge on the Portuguese, including a 4-2 group stage win in their last encounter in 2021 at the delayed Euro 2020 championships. Germany’s Kai Havertz, left, scored the last time Germany played Portugal at Euro 2020 in Munich, Germany on June 19, 2021. Germany won the group match 4-2 [Federico Gambarini/Picture alliance via Getty Images] Where will the Nations League final be staged? The Allianz Arena, which is also hosting the first semifinal, will also stage the final on Sunday. Germany team news Out: Amiri, Bisseck, Havertz, Henrichs, Kleindienst, Musiala, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Stiller Germany have a string of injuries but do welcome back long-term absentee Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal. Who replaces Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala in midfield will be one of the key questions, but the absences of Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and Arsenal forward Kai Harvertz will also be heavily felt. Portugal team news Out: Cancelo
Syria says Israeli attack on Deraa causes ‘significant’ losses
Israeli military says it shelled targets in Syria in response to a pair of projectile launches. Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned an Israeli strike on the Syrian province of Deraa, saying that it caused “significant human and material losses”, the state news agency SANA reports. The strike came after the Israeli military said that two projectiles had crossed from Syria towards Israel on Tuesday, and fell in open areas in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, though the Syrian Foreign Ministry said these were “reports that have not been verified yet”. The ministry reiterated that Syria has not and would not pose a threat to any party in the region. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the projectiles. “We believe that there are many parties that may seek to destabilise the region to achieve their own interests,” the ministry added. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he held Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible for the projectiles. “We consider the president of Syria directly responsible for any threat and fire towards the State of Israel, and a full response will come soon,” Katz said. Advertisement Syria and Israel have recently engaged in indirect talks to ease tensions, a significant development in relations between states that have been on opposite sides of the conflict in the Middle East for decades. Several Arab and Palestinian media outlets circulated a claim of responsibility from a little-known group named the Muhammad Deif Brigades, an apparent reference to Hamas’s military leader who was killed in an Israeli strike in 2024. The statement from the group could not be independently verified. The Israeli army said it attacked southern Syria with artillery fire after the projectiles launched at Israel. Residents said that Israeli mortars were striking the Wadi Yarmouk area, west of Deraa province, near the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The area has witnessed increased tensions in recent weeks, including reported Israeli military incursions into nearby villages, where residents have reportedly been barred from sowing their crops. Israel has waged a campaign of aerial bombardment that has destroyed much of Syria’s military infrastructure. It has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and taken more territory in the aftermath of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s removal in December, citing lingering concerns over the past of the country’s new government. Around the same time that Israel reported the projectiles from Syria, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile from Yemen. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said they targeted Israel’s Jaffa with a ballistic missile. The group has been launching attacks against Israel in what they say is in support of Palestinians during the Israeli war in Gaza. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Who is Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s new president?
Lee Jae-myung’s hardscrabble path to the South Korean presidency mirrors his country’s stratospheric rise from grinding poverty to one of the world’s leading economies. When Lee, a scandal-prone school dropout-turned-lawyer who was elected in a landslide on Tuesday, was born in 1963, South Korea’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was comparable with sub-Saharan African nations. South Korea was so poor, in fact, that Lee’s exact birthday is a mystery – his parents, like many families alert to the sky-high infant mortality of the era, took about a year to register his birth. Yet even by the standards of the day, Lee’s early years were marked by deprivation and adversity, including stints as an underage factory labourer. Known for his populist and outspoken style, Lee, the standard bearer for the left-leaning Democratic Party, has often credited his humble beginnings with moulding his progressive beliefs. “Poverty is not a sin, but I was always particularly sensitive to the injustices I experienced because of poverty,” Lee said in a speech in 2022. Advertisement “The reason I am in politics now is to help those still suffering in the pit of poverty and despair that I managed to escape, by building a fair society and a world with hope.” The fifth of seven children, Lee dropped out of school in his early teens to move to Seongnam, a satellite city of Seoul, and take up employment to support his family. At age 15, Lee was injured in an accident at a factory making baseball gloves, leaving him permanently unable to straighten his left arm. Despite missing years of formal education, Lee graduated from middle and high school by studying for the exams outside of work hours. A TV screen at Seoul Station in Seoul, South Korea, shows a video of Lee Jae-myung’s announcement of his presidential bid in April, 2025 [EPA-EFE/Yonhap] In 1982, he gained admission to Chung-Ang University in Seoul to study law and went on to pass the bar exam four years later. During his law career, Lee was known for championing the rights of the underdog, including victims of industrial accidents and residents facing eviction due to urban redevelopment projects. In 2006, Lee made his first foray into politics with an unsuccessful bid for the mayorship of Seongnam, which he followed two years later with a failed run for a parliamentary seat in the city. In 2010, he finally broke into politics by winning Seongnam’s mayoral election on his second attempt and went on to earn re-election four years later. From 2018 to 2021, Lee served as governor of Gyeonggi, the country’s most populous province, which surrounds Seoul. Advertisement Both as mayor and governor, Lee attracted attention beyond his immediate electorate by rolling out a series of populist-flavoured economic policies, including a limited form of universal basic income. After stepping down as governor, Lee entered the national stage as the Democratic Party candidate in the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to Yoon Suk-yeol by 0.73 percent of the vote – the narrowest margin in South Korean history. Despite facing a slew of political and personal scandals, culminating in at least five legal cases, Lee led the Democratic Party to one of its best results in last year’s parliamentary elections, delivering it 173 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly. After Yoon’s impeachment and removal from the presidential office following his short-lived declaration of martial law in December, Lee earned his party’s nomination without serious challenge, garnering nearly 90 percent of the primary vote. “His communication style is direct and straightforward, and he is astute at recognising social and political trends, which is a rare quality among politicians of his generation in Korea,” Lee Myung-hee, an expert on South Korean politics at Michigan State University, told Al Jazeera. “However, this direct communication style can sometimes hinder his political advancement, as it may easily offend his opponents.” During his election campaign, Lee played down his progressive credentials in favour of a more pragmatic persona and a milder iteration of the populist economic agenda that powered his rise to national prominence. Advertisement In the weeks leading to the vote, Lee’s victory was rarely in doubt, with his closest competitor, Kim Moon-soo, of the conservative People Power Party, often trailing the candidate by more than 20 points in opinion polls. ‘A progressive pragmatist’ As president, Lee has pledged to prioritise the economy, proposing, among other things, a major boost in investment in artificial intelligence, the introduction of a four-and-a-half-day work week, and tax deductions for parents in proportion to the number of children they have. On foreign affairs, he has promised to mend relations with North Korea while pushing for its ultimate denuclearisation – in keeping with the traditional stance of his Democratic Party – and maintain the US-Korea security alliance without alienating China and Russia. “I would call him a progressive pragmatist. I don’t think he will stick to any consistent progressive lines or even conservative lines,” Yong-chool Ha, director of the Center for Korea Studies at the University of Washington, told Al Jazeera. “Critics call him a kind of manipulator; his supporters call him flexible,” Ha said. “I would say he is a survivor.” While Lee will enter office with the backing of a commanding majority in the National Assembly, he will take stewardship of a country that is deeply polarised and racked by divisions following Yoon’s impeachment. “The Korean political landscape remains highly polarised and confrontational, and his ability to navigate this environment will be crucial to his success,” said Lee, the Michigan State University professor. Advertisement Lee will also have to navigate a volatile international environment shaped by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, great power rivalries, and United States President Donald Trump’s shake-up of international trade. [From left] South Korea’s presidential candidates Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party, Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party and Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, pose for a photograph ahead of a televised
Dem who wanted Elon Musk ‘taken down’ launches bid for House Oversight leadership position
Rising Democratic Party star Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who sparked controversy earlier this year with remarks about Elon Musk and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, formally launched her bid for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee Tuesday. “These are not normal times — and this cannot be a business-as-usual moment,” Crockett said in a post on X. The House Oversight Committee is responsible for holding the executive branch of the federal government and President Donald Trump accountable in Congress. The committee’s last ranking member, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., died May 21 after battling cancer. He was elected to the position in 2023. “Since the start of the 119th Congress, the late ranking member, Gerry Connolly, led Oversight Democrats in the fight to hold the Trump Administration accountable and it was my distinct privilege and absolute honor to serve alongside him as the Vice Ranking Member,” Crockett said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues. JASMINE CROCKETT AGREES DURING TOWN HALL THAT ‘REPUBLICANS WANT POOR PEOPLE TO DIE’ Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday a special election to replace Connolly in the House. His death May 21 also left a leadership gap on the House Oversight Committee, and House Democrats are now tasked with electing a new leader to challenge Trump. Connolly designated Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., as interim ranking member, and the race is on among House Democrats for the open leadership position. Democratic representatives Robert Garcia of California and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland have announced their own bids to lead the committee. Crockett had signaled her intention to run for ranking member, and the Texas congresswoman’s letter to Democrats Tuesday made her bid official. JASMINE CROCKETT SHARES BIZARRE SONG CLIP CALLING HERSELF ‘LEADER OF THE FUTURE’ “In this moment, Americans are demanding a more strategic, aggressive, and energetic fight,” Crockett said. “Understanding that fierce urgency, I formally announce my candidacy for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — with a focus on standing up for American families, defending the Constitution and the rule of law, and ensuring the government serves the people, not the privileged few.” Crockett has risen to the national stage for her viral moments in the House, building name recognition among Democrats and a reputation among Republicans. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Crockett of “threatening lives” and said she should apologize for her rhetoric against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for saying, “All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down.” Crockett said she was referring to “nonviolent” resistance. Crockett was also criticized this year for calling Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, who is in a wheelchair, “Governor Hot Wheels.” She walked back the comments after her remarks went viral, calling the outrage a “distraction.” And the Texas congresswoman dominated headlines last year when her campaign trademarked the phrase “bleach blonde, bad built, butch body” after a verbal dispute with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Her viral moments have even caught the attention of Trump, who called Crockett a “low I.Q. person.” “Our country is in an existential crisis driven by an out-of-control Executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic,” Crockett said in her letter to House Democrats. “The Administration has refused to respect congressional authority, abide by lawful judicial orders, or respond to public outrage.” “The magnitude of these unprecedented times warrants a resistance and tactics never before seen. We must pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0 and translate our findings to the American people in a way they can digest,” Crockett added. In the letter, Crockett praised President Joe Biden, touted her own achievements during her first two terms in the House and asked for her colleagues’ support. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., another rising Democratic Party star, said earlier this year she would not seek the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee. “It’s actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe I’ll be staying put at Energy and Commerce,” Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement first reported by NBC. Ocasio-Cortez lost her House Oversight bid to Connolly late last year. Connolly had announced his plan to step back as ranking member of the Oversight Committee after just four months on the job due to the resurgence of his esophageal cancer.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Baraka Sues Trump-appointed Prosecutor
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… Newark Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ras Baraka filed a lawsuit Tuesday against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, accusing her of false arrest and malicious prosecution in connection with his May 9 arrest and charges outside a federal immigration center. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, accuses Habba of acting politically in Baraka’s May 9 arrest outside the Delaney Hall detention center, near Newark Liberty International Airport. Baraka was arrested during a protest outside the facility, after being accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings from law enforcement officials to leave. He was held in custody for several hours before being released. The U.S. attorney’s office said 13 days after it brought charges against Baraka that it was dismissing the case “for the sake of moving forward.” The civil lawsuit filed by Baraka’s attorneys seeks damages for what they described as his “false arrest and malicious prosecution,” as well as the allegedly defamatory remarks Habba made about his case, including on social media. The lawsuit includes screenshots of Habba’s social media posts in question…READ MORE SIGNATURE ISSUE: Trump DOJ investigating Biden pardons to family, death row inmates ‘REALLY SAD’: Boulder terror attack witness describes ‘horrific’ scene at pro-Israel rally LOOKING BACK: Lawmakers, officials warned about terrorist attacks from foreign nationals long before Colorado TERROR UNLEASHED: Mohamed Soliman planned Molotov cocktail attack after gun purchase denial GROWING THREAT: Boulder terror attack suspect showed signs of growing ‘lone-wolf’ radicalization, says former FBI supervisor SERVE AND PROTECT: Boulder antisemitic terror attack spurs response from major cities WARTIME READY: Challenges posed by Trump and Putin push UK to adopt new NATO first defense policy HOMELAND ON EDGE: After Ukraine’s surprise drone assault on Russia, new attention drawn to sensitive sites stateside CRIMEA CHAOS: Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows DIVINE PRESENCE: Huckabee condemns efforts to erase Jewish history to the Holy Land as ‘absurd’ ‘BETRAYAL’: US citizen who fought for ISIS in Syria sentenced to 10 years in prison ATOMIC IMPASSE: Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows A NATION ON EDGE: After Ukraine’s surprise drone assault on Russia, new attention drawn to sensitive sites stateside ‘AGGRESSIVE AFFRONT’: House Dems urge GOP to condemn DHS for handcuffing Rep Nadler staffer, order Noem to testify ‘PART OF THE DESIGN’: Jasmine Crockett agrees during town hall that ‘Republicans want poor people to die’ FISCAL SHOWDOWN: Rand Paul says $5 trillion debt increase in ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ a deal-breaker ‘HELPING OUT DHS’: Patel’s immigration push at FBI yields 10,000 arrests since January PAPER TRAIL: Liberal city mayor hit with ethics complaint over alleged lavish gifts TAXPAYER WASTE: HHS ends Biden-era COVID-19 testing program that bled taxpayers years after pandemic HOPE UNDER FIRE: DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens ‘lawfare’ to attacks on Trump and nominees PROTECTING CHILDREN: FBI urges public to provide tips on mutilation of children with ‘gender-affirming’ surgeries CAMPUS DECEPTION: Red state dean ousted after admitting on hidden cam she was secretly pushing DEI Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Booker, Cruz spar over threats to US judges in fiery Senate spat
Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas., sparred Tuesday over the uptick in threats made to federal court judges during President Donald Trump’s second term. Their heated standoff comes as federal judges have issued a record number of injunctions against the flurry of executive actions by the president. The testy exchange took place during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing titled “The Supposedly Least Dangerous Branch: District Judges v. Trump.” Cruz, the subcommittee chair, used his remarks at the outset of the hearing to take aim at Democrats on the subcommittee, who he said were “utterly silent” about judicial threats under the Biden administration, including after threats were made against conservative Supreme Court justices. TRUMP TARIFF PLAN FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS COURT BATTLES INTENSIFY Cruz took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for “unleashing” protesters who gathered outside the homes of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh prior to their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – the landmark ruling that overturned a 50-year-old abortion rights precedent – which he later said was ironic given the current “pearl-clutching” stance of Democrats on the panel. His remarks sparked a quick rebuke from Booker, who said, “Something you said is actually dangerous, and it needs to be addressed.” “This implication that there was silence [from Democrats on the panel] at a time there were threats on people’s houses is absolutely absurd,” he continued. “I remember the rhetoric and the comments, the concern from [Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.],” Booker said. “I actually distinctly remember you, chairman, on more than one occasion, condemning those attacks on Republican-appointed jurists.” TRUMP NOMINATES FORMER DEFENSE ATTORNEY EMIL BOVE FOR FEDERAL APPEALS COURT VACANCY “To say things like that just feeds the partisanship in this institution, and it feeds the fiery rhetoric. And it’s just plain not true,” Booker added. In response, Cruz argued the “angry mobs” that appeared outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices prior to their decision in Dobbs were in violation of U.S.C. Section 1507. That law prohibits picketing outside the homes of judges or justices’ homes in a way that could influence their decision or otherwise obstruct justice. Despite the protests, Cruz said, the Biden-led Justice Department “prosecuted nobody.” “I really appreciate that you have now shifted the accusation you made earlier,” Booker shot back. “Your accusation was that we were silent in the face of protests at Supreme Court justices’ homes. Again, we joined together in a bipartisan way, not only to condemn that but to pass legislation to extend round-the-clock security protection. So if you’re saying we didn’t criticize –” he started before Cruz interjected. “Did the Biden DOJ go out and arrest a single person under this law?” the Texas lawmaker asked. Booker attempted to respond before Cruz interrupted again, “Did the Biden DOJ arrest even one [person]? Again, the answer is no.” 100 DAYS OF INJUNCTIONS, TRIALS AND ‘TEFLON DON’: TRUMP 2ND TERM MEETS ITS BIGGEST TESTS IN COURT Booker attempted once more to respond before Cruz interrupted again, prompting Booker to raise his voice. “I did not interrupt you, sir, I would appreciate it if you would let me finish,” he told Cruz. “I am sick and tired of hearing the kind of heated partisan rhetoric, which is one of the reasons why we have such divisions in this country,” Booker continued, prompting Cruz to laugh openly in response. “The attacks we see from the president of the United States of America, trolling and dragging judges through is what we should be talking about,” Booker said. “I’m simply taking issue with the claim that you made at the top, that people on the Democratic side of the aisle do not care about the safety and the security of judges and said nothing,” he continued, adding that the notion that his Democrat colleagues said nothing in the face of Supreme Court justice threats “is a patent lie.” WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S DEPORTATION EFFORTS? The two continued arguing before Cruz said, “Let the record reflect that Spartacus did not answer the question and did not tell us whether the criminal law” under U.S.C. Section 1507 should be enforced, “because he knows the answer is yes.” The hearing comes as the number of threats against federal judges has spiked during Trump’s second term, which has seen hundreds of federal lawsuits filed in courts across the country seeking to either pause or halt the flurry of sweeping executive orders and actions taken by the president. Trump has repeatedly criticized what he called “activist judges,” prompting Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a rare public warning. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The U.S. Marshals Service said last week that it has investigated more than 370 threats against federal judges since Trump’s inauguration in January, which is a sharp rise from 2024, when 509 people were investigated during the entire year. Democrats on the panel used Tuesday’s hearing to renew requests for the Justice Department and FBI to investigate an uptick in anonymous “pizza deliveries” sent to federal judges, which can be used as a threat or warning to let judges know their home address is known.
Dem governor ripped as ‘total disgrace’ after vetoing bill limiting Chinese land ownership near military bases
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is up for reelection this year, garnered backlash Tuesday after vetoing a bill aimed at preventing China from buying up land next to strategic assets, such as military bases. Arizona state Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp said the “politically motivated veto” was “utterly insane,” blaming Hobbs for being “an obstructionist against safeguarding our citizens from threats.” However, Hobbs said the bill, S.B. 1109, was “ineffective at counter-espionage” and did not “directly protect” American military assets in the state. TEXAS PUSHES BACK AGAINST FOREIGN LAND GRAB WITH ‘STRONGEST BILL IN THE NATION’ AGAINST CHINA, IRAN, RUSSIA Chinese investment in land near military bases has become an increasing concern for national security hawks. Shamp, in her efforts to get the now-vetoed bill passed, cited recent Chinese attempts to lease buildings alongside Arizona’s Luke Air Force Base, where the military trains fighter pilots. “Governor Hobbs’s veto of SB 1109 hangs an ‘Open for the CCP’ sign on Arizona’s front door, allowing Communist China to buy up American land near critical assets like Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde nuclear power plant, and Taiwan Semiconductor’s growing fabrication footprint,” said Michael Lucci, the CEO and founder of State Armor Action, a conservative group with a mission to develop and enact state-level solutions to global security threats. “Allowing Communist China to buy up land near our critical assets is a national security risk, plain and simple, and Governor Hobbs is substantively and completely wrong when she says that SB 1109 ‘is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets,’” Lucci added. Lucci pointed to Ukraine’s recent drone attacks that destroyed significant numbers of Russian military aircraft, noting that “proximity produces peril in asymmetric warfare.” AFTER UKRAINE’S SURPRISE DRONE ASSAULT ON RUSSIA, NEW ATTENTION DRAWN TO SENSITIVE SITES STATESIDE S.B. 1109, which can still pass if the Arizona legislature overrides Hobbs’ veto, would have prohibited the People’s Republic of China from having a 30%, or more, stake in Arizona property. Hobbs, in her defense of the veto, added that in addition to being ineffective at countering Chinese espionage efforts, the bill lacked “clear implementation criteria,” which opened the door for “arbitrary enforcement.” However, the bill went through a bipartisan amendment process in an effort to assuage those concerns that the legislation might lead to discrimination in land sales, according to local outlet the AZ Mirror. The initial version of the bill banned certain people and entities deemed to be national security threats from buying up land in Arizona, but following subsequent amendments the bill only sought to ban Chinese government-linked entities and its subsidiaries. In addition to Arizona, other states have proposed or passed legislation aimed at curtailing Chinese land grabs in the United States. Congress has also taken steps in an effort to effectuate change through national policy. As of March 17, according to the China-focused nonprofit Committee of 100, 27 states are currently considering 84 bills aimed at restricting foreign property ownership in some way, while Congress is currently considering seven separate bills addressing the issue. So far, the committee indicated, 22 states have passed bills restricting foreign property ownership, 17 of which were passed into law in 2024.
White House hits back at Dem mayor suing US attorney after ICE arrest: ‘Desperate attempt’
The White House is pushing back against Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka, who has hit interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba with a lawsuit this week after he was arrested and briefly charged with criminal trespassing last month outside an ICE facility. Baraka, who is one of the leading Democratic candidates for New Jersey governor, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Habba, accusing her of “false arrest and malicious prosecution” in connection with his May 9 arrest and charges outside a federal immigration center. He was one of several public officials, including Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, from the New Jersey congressional delegation, all of whom had massed outside the facility in protest. The U.S. attorney’s office said 13 days after it brought charges against Baraka that it was dismissing the case against him “for the sake of moving forward.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, accuses Habba of acting politically in Baraka’s May 9 arrest outside the Delaney Hall detention center, near Newark Liberty International Airport. Baraka was arrested during a protest outside the facility after being accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings from law enforcement officials to leave. He was held in custody for several hours before being released. BUMPY WEATHER OVER NEWARK: HOUSE DEMOCRATS COULD FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR DELANEY HALL INCIDENT The civil lawsuit filed by Baraka’s attorneys seeks damages for what they described as his “false arrest and malicious prosecution,” as well as the allegedly defamatory remarks Habba made about his case, including on social media. In the lawsuit, Baraka’s lawyers accused Habba of acting as “a political operative, outside of any function intimately related to the judicial process, and in her individual personal capacity.” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, responded to Baraka’s move by calling it a “meritless lawsuit” and a “desperate attempt” to stay relevant. BOULDER TERROR ATTACK RESULT OF ‘RECKLESS BIDEN POLICIES,’ WHITE HOUSE SAYS “Much like Mr. Bakara’s last stunt – storming a federal detention facility in defense of criminal illegal aliens – this meritless lawsuit is just his latest desperate attempt to try and stay relevant among the far-left Democrat base,” said Jackson. Habba, meanwhile, dismissed Baraka’s lawsuit and mocked it as “shocking.” “My advice to the mayor – feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey,” Habba said in an X post on Monday night. HOMELAND SECURITY REMOVES ‘SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS’ LIST FROM ITS WEBSITE CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Baraka’s team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
GOP senators express ‘concerns,’ ‘skepticism’ over Trump’s spending bill after Musk rant
A cohort of Senate Republicans already troubled by the House GOP’s version of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” found a common ally in Elon Musk, who again trashed the legislation on Tuesday. Musk, who just exited his tenure as Trump’s efficiency bloodhound leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week, doubled down on his position that the House’s reconciliation package was an “abomination.” WHITE HOUSE STANDS BY TAX BILL AFTER MUSK CALLS IT A ‘DISGUSTING ABOMINATION’ “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk said on X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.” “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,” he continued. “You know it.” Senate Republicans have already vowed to make changes to the colossal bill, which includes the president’s desires on tax, energy, immigration, defense and national debt policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., lauded Musk for his work with DOGE, but noted that the Senate GOP and the tech-billionaire had “a difference of opinion.” ELON MUSK CRITICISM OF TRUMP TAX BILL FRUSTRATES SOME REPUBLICANS: ‘NO PLACE IN CONGRESS’ He didn’t believe that Musk’s comments would derail the bill entirely in the upper chamber, either. Thune has pledged to get the bill to the president’s desk by Independence Day. “The legislation, as passed by the House, can be approved here in the Senate, can be strengthened in the Senate, in a number of ways,” Thune said. “We intend to do that, but when it’s all said and done, we’ll send it back to the House and hope that they can pass it and put it on the president’s desk.” Still, fractures have emerged among lawmakers, with some viewing the bill through the same lens as Musk. “Well, he has some of the same skepticism I have, you know, towards the big, beautiful bill,” said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. TRUMP CRITICIZES RAND PAUL OVER TAX BILL OPPOSITION: ‘VOTES NO ON EVERYTHING’ Paul has vowed not to support the bill as is without a serious overhaul to the legislation that would nix a $5 trillion increase to the nation’s debt ceiling — a stance that has gotten him into hot water with Trump. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has similarly pledged not to support the bill unless much steeper spending cuts are achieved. The House’s product includes $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade, but Johnson would like to see a return to pre-pandemic spending levels, which would effectively amount to a roughly $6 trillion cut in spending. “I share his concerns,” Johnson said of Musk. “I also appreciate what he and President Trump did with his DOGE effort.” And Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a fiscal hawk whose views are closely aligned with Johnson’s, argued in response to the tech billionaire’s social media post that “federal spending has become excessive.” “The resulting inflation harms Americans and weaponizes government,” Lee said on X. “The Senate can make this bill better. It must now do so.” Other Senate Republicans, including those with outstanding concerns with the current legislation, were much less receptive to Musk’s tirade against the bill. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has remained steadfast in his position that he would not support the current Medicaid proposals in the House’s bill, especially if they cut benefits to his constituents and people across the country. When asked his reaction to Musk’s rant, he shrugged, “Well, he’s entitled to his opinion, it’s a free country.” Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., who has expressed reservations on the contents of the megabill, was more blunt. “My reaction to that is just simply this — and y’all may like this or not like this — but you know, Donald Trump is our president, not Elon Musk,” he said.
TribCast: Did lawmakers improve Texas’ infrastructure?
Will Texas be able to keep the lights on and water flowing til the next legislative session?