Inside Trump’s urgent meeting with House GOP to pass the ‘big, beautiful bill’
President Donald Trump rallied House Republicans behind closed doors to pass his “one big, beautiful bill” as soon as possible – and to quickly resolve their interparty disagreements in the process. Trump made a rare visit to Capitol Hill just days before the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a massive bill advancing his agenda on tax, immigration, defense, energy and the debt limit. It is a reflection of the high stakes that congressional Republicans and the White House are facing, with just razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate. Trump warned House Republicans to not “f— around” with Medicaid and state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps, two significant points of contention for warring GOP factions, two people in the room told Fox News Digital. MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE Two people said Trump targeted Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., on SALT specifically. Lawler, one of just three Republicans in districts Trump lost in 2024, has been one of the most vocal proponents of a higher SALT deduction cap. “I know your district better than you do. If you lose because of SALT, you were going to lose anyway,” Trump said during his remarks, the sources told Fox News Digital. When asked about those comments by reporters after the meeting, Lawler said, “The issue of SALT is one of the biggest issues impacting my district. It’s the reason I won.” “I made very clear when I ran for office back in ’22 that I would never support a tax bill that does not adequately lift the cap on SALT,” Lawler said. Meanwhile, three sources in the room said Trump also targeted Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has frustrated both the president and House GOP leaders in the past by bucking the party line. Trump had called Massie a “grandstander” in public comments to reporters minutes before the meeting. Massie told reporters when asked for his response, “It would be ironic if one of you guys who stopped me, wants to report that I’m a grandstander. Because you are the ones who are performing this, standing. I would be walking.” “I don’t think he wants to talk about cutting spending,” Massie said of Trump. SALT deduction caps and Medicaid remain two of the biggest sticking points in Republican negotiations. SALT deduction caps primarily benefit people living in high-cost-of-living areas like New York City, Los Angeles and their surrounding suburbs. Republicans representing those areas have argued that raising the SALT deduction cap is a critical issue and that a failure to address it could cost the GOP the House majority in the 2026 midterms. Republicans in redder, lower-tax areas have said in response that SALT deductions favor wealthy people living in Democrat-controlled states and that such deductions reward progressive high-tax policies. It was Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that first instituted caps on SALT deductions – setting the maximum at $10,000 for both married couples and single filers. HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANOTHER DEM OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF BLOCKING ICE AMID DELANEY HALL FALLOUT SALT Caucus members like Lawler have rejected House Republican leaders’ offer to increase that to $30,000, but Trump told those Republicans to accept what offer was on the table, according to people in the room. Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, meanwhile, are pushing for the bill to be more aggressive in cutting waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system, including a faster timeline for implementing work requirements for able-bodied recipients. Currently, the legislation has work requirements kicking in 2029. They also want to restructure Medicaid cost-sharing to put a bigger burden on the states. Moderates, meanwhile, have been wary of making significant cuts to the program. A White House official said Trump stressed he wanted complete unity on the bill, and “made it clear he’s losing patience with all holdout factions of the House Republican Conference, including the SALT Caucus and the House Freedom Caucus.” He also urged Republicans to debate SALT “later” while warning, “Don’t touch Medicaid except for eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, including booting off illegal immigrants and common-sense work requirements,” the White House official said. However, lawmakers leaving the meeting appear to have taken away very different conclusions. “He’s just like, listen. I think where we’re at with the bill is good, and to keep pushing for more will be difficult,” Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., said of Trump’s Medicaid comments. House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., similarly said, “I think he’s referring to members who want to change the approach that the Energy & Commerce Committee has taken.” “He thinks they’ve taken a good, balanced approach to preserve the program, enhance the program, while narrowing the scope and hunting out waste, fraud, and abuse,” Hill said. Meanwhile, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital, “I think the president will not mind changes that…decrease waste, fraud, and abuse in the bill.” However, it is unclear how much Trump’s message moved Republicans who were skeptical of the bill previously. Harris came out of the meeting insisting the House-wide vote should be delayed, so House Republicans could take more time to negotiate the bill. Additionally, SALT Caucus Republicans like Lawler, as well as Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino of New York, indicated to reporters they would oppose the bill as currently written. Some last-minute changes are expected to be made to the legislation before a 1 a.m. House Rules Committee meeting to advance the bill. The powerful panel acts as the final gatekeeper to most legislation before a House-wide vote. However, it is unclear now if changes will be made to SALT deduction caps or Medicaid after Trump urged Republicans to clear up both fights. Republicans are working to pass Trump’s policies on tax, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt all in one massive bill via the budget reconciliation process. Budget reconciliation lowers the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, thereby allowing
Trump supporters find unlikely common ground with blue state congressman at town hall: ‘I love it’
ALLENTOWN, PA – President Donald Trump supporters and Americans for Prosperity (AFP) protesters lined the streets outside Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna’s town hall in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday night. However, three pro-Trump protesters who wandered inside the half-empty town hall found unlikely common ground with the Silicon Valley Democrat, who is considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Before taking the stage for his remarks, Khanna listened to the Trump supporters’ concerns and told them about the legislation he proposed last week to codify Trump’s executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. Khanna has secured three co-sponsors for his bill, including GOP Reps. Paulina Luna and Andy Biggs. While some Democrat attendees looked on disapprovingly at the polite political debate breaking out at the back of the town hall, Khanna encouraged the Trump supporters to pull up a seat and stick around for his remarks. The Trump supporters did just that. BLUE STATE CONGRESSMAN DITCHES DEM PLAYBOOK, SEEKS TO CODIFY TRUMP’S LATEST EXECUTIVE ORDER “I love it,” Khanna told Fox News Digital ahead of his speech. “I love the First Amendment. They’re peaceful. I walked by them. They were very civil. That’s democracy, and they’re welcome to come in.” GOP REPS, ADVOCACY GROUP TO TARGET COMPETITIVE HOUSE DISTRICTS IN TRUMP TAX-CUT PUSH When Khanna took the stage, he thanked the Trump supporters for their conversation and spotlighted how Americans can find common ground on lowering prescription drug prices amid persistent political violence in the United States. Khanna said he was appreciative of the conversation in light of a terrorist attack on a fertility clinic in California earlier that day, the arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home last month and the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania last year. Khanna’s Allentown event was the first of two “Benefits Over Billionaires” town halls hosted in Republican-held congressional districts in swing state Pennsylvania this weekend. While Khanna was a long way from his home district, he was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Bucks County. Republican Reps. Ryan Mackenzie and Brian Fitzpatrick, both likely to face competitive challenges to hold their House seats in 2026, represent the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County districts Khanna visited this weekend. “He should be back home in his own district doing a town hall with his constituents, but I think he’s campaigning for president most likely, so he’s trying to get his name ID out there all across the country,” Mackenzie told Fox News Digital before knocking on doors with AFP on Saturday. Mackenzie accused Khanna of “going around, mugging for the cameras, trying to get clicks on social media and trying to boost [his] own profile,” as he defended his own accessibility to his Pennsylvania constituents. However, Khanna deflected Mackenzie’s accusation about posturing for a political future when pressed by Fox News Digital. “This is about saving the jobs at the Mack plant. This is about making sure we don’t cut Medicaid. This is about making sure people aren’t getting hurt in this community and around the country,” Khanna said. Democrats have railed against proposed Medicaid reform as a key component of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” but Mackenzie said his constituents are more concerned about eliminating waste, fraud and abuse from the program. The California congressman, who spoke with members of the United Auto Workers union ahead of his town hall, called on Mackenzie and Trump to save at least 250 Pennsylvanians’ jobs at Mack Trucks in the Lehigh Valley. “The president’s trying to bring back manufacturing. How about we just stop manufacturing from leaving? We need action here, and I wanted to highlight that,” Khanna said, explaining his trip to Mackenzie’s district. While Khanna took aim at Mackenzie for the Mack Truck layoffs, an AFP digital ad truck outside the event spotlighted Mackenzie’s support for extending Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as activists doubled down on support for their elected Republican leaders.
RFK Jr. slams Democrat in fiery hearing, says senator presided ‘over the destruction’ of US health for decades
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed Washington Sen. Patty Murray during a Tuesday Senate hearing for allegedly “presiding over the destruction” of Americans’ health across her more than 30 years in the upper chamber. “You’ve presided here, I think, for 32 years. You presided over the destruction of the health of the American people. Our people are now the sickest people in the world,” Kennedy said to Murray during a tense back and forth Tuesday morning. Murray began her tenure in the Senate in 1993. “Seriously?” Murray interjected. WATCH: RFK JR. REBUKES DEM SENATOR FOR PLAYING POLITICS WITH CANCER-STRICKEN CONSTITUENT: ‘YOU DON’T CARE’ “What have you done about it? Kennedy shot back. What have you done about the epidemic of chronic disease?” As the two continued talking over one another, the subcommittee chair, Republican West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, asked Kennedy to “hold back and let the senator ask the questions.” “Mr. Secretary, I’m asking you a question about child care,” Murray continued. “I’m asking you who made the decision to withhold child care and development block grant funding?” “That was made by my department,” Kennedy responded. BEN & JERRY’S CO-FOUNDER ARRESTED PROTESTING SENATE HEARING: ‘RFK KILLS PEOPLE WITH HATE’ Kennedy appeared before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday morning to answer questions related to HHS’ budget proposal for fiscal year 2026. The hearing comes just after Kennedy joined lawmakers in both a Senate hearing and a House hearing, both of which included fiery exchanges between Kennedy and Democrat lawmakers. Murray continued in her questioning that the HHS was making vast cuts to scientists at the agency, which Kennedy dismissed, citing that he does not “trust” Murray’s information. “And you said last week, quote, ‘we were not cutting thousands of scientists,” Murray continued. “We are not cutting clinical trials.’ But I want you to know, in the last four months, you fired or pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH staff and terminated more than 1,600 NIH grants. That includes more than 240 clinical trials across the country. So whose decision was it to fire scientists and terminate these NIH grants and the clinical trial?” DEM LAWMAKER SEETHES RFK JR’S ‘LEGITIMACY’ AS HHS SECRETARY HAS ‘EXPIRED’ IN HEATED EXCHANGE “Senator, I don’t trust your information with all due respect,” Kennedy responded, continuing that Murray’s previous remarks in a recent hearing were not correct. “You told me what, three days ago or four days ago, that we had cut a clinical trial in your state and … what you said turned out to be completely untrue. And you knew it was untrue because you corresponded with (Director of the National Institutes of Health) Jay Bhattacharya before that.” “You came here to argue with me,” Murray added. “I came here to ask you questions about your budget request. Your budget request is asking us to cut dramatically. But I am also making the point that Senator Baldwin made, that what you are doing right now is enacting your budget, that Congress has not passed, by cutting critical funding across the board.” The Washington Democrat previously exchanged barbs with Kennedy Wednesday, when Murray accused Kennedy and the Trump administration of delaying critical cancer care for one of her constituents. “Mr. Secretary, one of my constituents … she’s a mom of two from Bainbridge Island in Washington state,” Murray said in her opening line of questioning Wednesday. “She has been fighting aggressive stage four colorectal cancer for nearly five years now. Her best hope now is a clinical trial she’s participating in at the [National Institutes of Health’s] Clinical Center.” FDA’S LATEST MAHA MOVE WOULD WIPE OUT KIDS’ FLUORIDE PRESCRIPTIONS AS HEALTH RISK EVIDENCE MOUNTS “But because of the thoughtless mass firing of thousands of critical employees across NIH and HHS that you carried out, Natalie’s doctors at that clinical center have told her they have no choice but to delay her treatment by an additional four weeks.” “I can’t tell you that now, Sen. Murray,” Kennedy responded. “What I can tell you is that if you contact my office tomorrow, I’ll look specifically into that.” However, that answer from Kennedy was “not acceptable” to the senator. “That is not acceptable,” Murray shot back, eventually demanding Kennedy provide her an update on Natalie’s case within 24 hours. “I want an answer.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kennedy added during Tuesday’s hearing that Murray’s constituent had qualified for the clinical trial “this week,” adding that “we shouldn’t be talking about patients’ private information,” with Murray agreeing. Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this article.
Alina Habba drops federal trespassing charge against Dem mayor, offers ICE facility tour: ‘Nothing to hide’
Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka is no longer facing a federal trespassing charge over an incident earlier this month at Delaney Hall, a privately operated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in his city. “After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward,” acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba said in a statement on Monday evening. “In the spirit of public interest, I have invited the mayor to tour Delaney Hall. The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor so he can see that firsthand,” she continued. DHS SAYS ‘ARRESTS ARE STILL ON THE TABLE’ AFTER NEW JERSEY HOUSE DEMS CAUGHT ON CAMERA ‘STORMING’ ICE FACILITY However, Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged for allegedly “assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement.” Fox News has learned that McIver must turn herself in as soon as possible, though it is up to the magistrate on the specifics of when she must turn herself in and how. “I am glad that the U.S. Attorney has agreed that this case should be dismissed,” he said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “I have had strong relationships with prior U.S. Attorneys, and I plan to speak with the current U.S. Attorney about issues on which we can cooperate. As to Delaney Hall, I will continue to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees, and I will continue to press the facility to ensure that it is compliant with City of Newark codes and regulations.” NEWARK MAYOR ARRESTED AT ICE FACILITY CLAIMS HE WAS ‘TARGETED’ AFTER COURT HEARING “I understand that the U.S. Attorney has chosen to charge Congresswoman LaMonica McIver with assaulting law enforcement,” Baraka continued. “Congresswoman McIver is a daughter of Newark, past Newark Council President, a former student of mine, and a dear friend. I want to be clear: I stand with LaMonica, and I fully expect her to be vindicated.” Baraka and three congressional lawmakers – McIver, Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman – were outside the ICE facility earlier this month with a group of protesters when the gates opened to allow an ICE bus in. All four officials then allegedly rushed through the gates past security, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “If it was a typical U.S. citizen, and they tried to storm into a detention facility that’s housing dangerous criminals or any person at all, they would be arrested,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told “Fox News Live” host Kevin Corke earlier this month. “Just because you are a member of Congress or just because you’re a public official, does not mean you are above the law.” BLUE STATE POLITICAL BATTLE INTENSIFIES AFTER DEM MAYOR’S ARREST AT ICE FACILITY: ‘OUTRAGED’ Baraka’s arrest triggered a local political firestorm, as he is also in the Democratic primary for governor. He appeared in court last Thursday for a status conference, where the case was expected to proceed to trial at the time for the class C misdemeanor charge. The court appearance led supporters of Baraka to rally outside the Newark federal courtroom, and Habba personally showed up to the conference. Fox News’ Greg Wehner and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report.
Nebraska becomes first state approved to ban soda purchases with food stamps
Nebraska is the first state to receive a federal waiver to ban the purchase of soda and energy drinks under the benefit program for low-income Americans long known as food stamps. The move, announced Monday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, would affect about 152,000 people in Nebraska enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps families pay for groceries. “There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks,” Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement. “SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver.” ARKANSAS MOVES TO BAN ‘JUNK FOOD’ FROM SNAP PROGRAM: ‘DEFINITION OF CRAZY’ Six other states — Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa and West Virginia — have also submitted requests for waivers banning certain foods and drinks or, in some cases, expanding access to hot foods for participants, according to the USDA. The push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the SNAP program has been a key focus of Rollins and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Rollins called Monday’s move “a historic step to Make America Healthy again.” MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN: TIMELINE OF THE MAHA MOVEMENT Details of Nebraska’s waiver, which takes effect Jan. 1, weren’t immediately available. Anti-hunger advocates criticized it, saying it adds costs, boosts administrative burdens and increases stigma for people already facing food insecurity. The waiver “ignores decades of evidence showing that incentive-based approaches — not punitive restrictions — are the most effective, dignified path to improving nutrition and reducing hunger,” said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research & Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group. SNAP is a roughly $100 billion program that serves about 42 million Americans and is run by the U.S. Agriculture Department and administered through states. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The program is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says SNAP benefits can be used “for any food or food product intended for human consumption,” except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption. Over the past 20 years, lawmakers in several states have proposed stopping SNAP from paying for everything from bottled water and soda to chips, ice cream and “luxury meats” like steak. Until now, USDA rejected the waivers, saying there were no clear standards to define certain foods as good or bad. In addition, the agency had said restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated and costly, and would not necessarily change recipients’ food purchases or reduce health problems such as obesity.
Trump admin hits bullseye with first US mine for key mineral used in military ammo, night-vision, Big Tech
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration has helped launch the first-ever U.S. mine for a critical mineral largely dominated by China, which controls about half of global production, Fox News Digital has learned. The Idaho operation will extract and smelt antimony – a metalloid that is key to the U.S. defense and technology sectors – and reduce reliance on malign actors like the CCP – from which about half the world’s stock is currently produced. Antimony has a myriad of national security uses – including in military tools like night-vision goggles, explosives, flame-retardants, tracers, lasers, nuclear weapons production, military clothing and ammunition. It also plays a role in the bloodless AI arms race, as a component in semiconductors and infrared technology, as well as its use increasing the hardness of alloys like lead and copper. CHINESE SOLAR TECH POSES CHILLING THREAT TO US ELECTRIC GRID, LAWMAKERS WARN While not technically considered a rare earth element because of its placement on the periodic table, antimony is considered critical and less common than other elements. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum played a leading role in the groundbreaking effort to boost U.S. energy dominance and self-reliance in terms of critical minerals and natural resources. The antimony stibnite mine will be used to mine for gold as well, Fox News Digital has learned. The mine’s opening is another example of a critical global supply chain shifting stateside, as Burgum and other officials aim to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign suppliers for national security and economic stability. The National Energy Dominance Council, an executive branch advisory group founded in February by executive order and led by Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, was a key player in the opening of the mine. Burgum issued the mine’s 404 permit – which governs dredging and discharge into American waters — on Thursday to Boise-based Perpetua Resources. TRUMP ENERGY CHIEF RECOUNTS EVOLUTION OF US ENVIRONS OVER 56 EARTH DAYS: A HANDILY-ENERGIZED SOCIETY WORKS Perpetua President Jon Cherry called the achievement the culmination of eight years of study, refinement and “lots of hard work.” “We are immensely proud to achieve this milestone. It’s time to move forward and take the Stibnite Gold Project into a new and exciting phase of development,” Cherry said in a statement. “We believe this [Trump] administration’s commitment to boosting efficiency without compromising rigorous environmental standards can have a transformational impact on American mining,” he added. The project will also create 550 jobs and, on the gold front, is primed to produce more than 400,000 ounces of the precious metal annually over the next four years. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The antimony stores therein are estimated at 148 million pounds and are the only identified such reserve in the U.S. – and the largest outside China. It is expected to cut foreign reliance on that critical mineral by one-third.
More polling problems for this blue state Democrat governor facing re-election next year
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul‘s approval ratings are holding slightly in positive territory, but a new poll indicates a majority of New Yorkers would still prefer someone else to win the 2026 election for governor in the Empire State. A Siena College poll released on Tuesday also suggests that Rep. Elise Stefanik is the polling frontrunner among three major Republicans considering runs for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, in the race to challenge Hochul next year. According to the poll, which was conducted May 12-15, 36% of registered voters in New York state said they would vote to re-elect Hochul to a second four-year term, with a majority (55%) saying they wanted someone else. It is a 10-point negative movement for Hochul compared to Siena’s April survey, when 39% of those questioned said they were prepared to vote to re-elect the governor and 48% who wanted someone else. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING, ANALYSIS, AND OPINION ON NEW YORK GOV. KATHY HOCHUL Fifty-one percent of Democrats surveyed in the new poll said at this early point in the 2026 election cycle they are prepared to re-elect Hochul, with 38% of Democrats saying they want “someone else.” The percentage of voters who prefer another candidate jumps to 64% among independents and 82% among Republicans in blue state New York. “Even more Republicans – 82% up from 68% last month – and independents – 64% up from 55% – prefer ‘someone else’ to be the next governor, while a small majority of Democrats, 51%, say they are prepared to reelect her,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. Hochul, who at the time was the state’s lieutenant governor, in August 2021 was sworn in as New York’s first female governor, after three-term Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace amid multiple scandals. REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS ELECTION BATTLE PLAN She defeated then-Rep. Lee Zeldin by just over six points in 2022 to win a full four-year term steering New York. Zeldin’s showing was the best by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in blue-state New York since then-GOP Gov. George Pataki won re-election to a third term in 2002. In July of last year, Hochul announced her intention to run for re-election in 2026. The governor’s approval ratings in the new poll are slightly above water, at 50% approval and 46% disapproval, while her favorable rating is just underwater, at 44% favorable and 46% unfavorable. The poll was conducted after the governor and the legislature reached final agreement on a $254 billion budget, which includes provisions for tax cuts, increased benefits and investments in various areas like education and healthcare. When asked whether issues the governor touted in the budget – inflation rebate checks, middle-class tax cuts, free public school meals, and increasing the child tax credit – will make New York more affordable, the poll indicates 52% said a lot or somewhat, with 43% saying not very much or not at all. THIS BLUE STATE REPUBLICAN AIMS TO END THE GOP’S 20-YEAR LOSING STREAK FOR GOVERNOR The poll indicates Hochul continues to hold a wide lead over her two potential Democratic primary challengers. Forty-six percent of Democrats say they would support Hochul for their party’s gubernatorial nomination, compared to 12% for Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and 10% for Rep. Ritchie Torres. “Two potential Hochul rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor next year – Delgado and Torres –remain largely unknown to a majority of voters and a majority of Democrats,” Greenberg said. In the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, 35% of Republican voters said they would support Stefanik, the six-term GOP representative from upstate New York. Stefanik, who is part of the House Republican leadership and a strong supporter and ally of President Donald Trump, has said she is seriously considering a run for governor. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents a swing congressional district in suburban New York City and who is also eyeing a campaign for governor, grabbed 22% support in the poll. Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, another major Trump ally and potential gubernatorial candidate, was at 11%. Trump stands at 40% approval and 57% disapproval among New York State voters, according to the poll, with his favorable rating at 38%-59%. Greenberg noted that “81% of Democrats disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president, while 82% of Republicans approve, and independents are closely divided.” The survey had an overall sampling error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces Georgia governor bid, slams Trump in campaign video
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launched a Georgia gubernatorial bid on Tuesday, slamming President Donald Trump in a campaign video. “Donald Trump is a disaster for our economy and our country. From his failure to address rising prices to giving an un-elected billionaire the power to cut Medicare and Social Security. It’s one terrible thing after another,” she asserts in the video, later declaring, “Georgia families deserve far better than what Donald Trump and Republicans are giving us.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response. TRUMP ALLY MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE SAYS SHE WON’T RUN FOR SENATE WHILE BLASTING DEMS AND FELLOW REPUBLICANS Bottoms said in the video that “expanding Medicaid” would be her “top priority” as the state’s governor, and that she would “work to eliminate state income taxes for teachers.” She worked for President Joe Biden during a portion of his White House tenure. In 2022 she was announced as Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement, and then in 2023 Bottoms was selected to serve on the President’s Export Council. POPULAR GOP GOV BRIAN KEMP ANNOUNCES WHETHER HE’LL RUN FOR SENATE IN BATTLEGROUND GEORGIA Current Peach State Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican who is now serving his second consecutive term, is not eligible to seek re-election in 2026. BIDEN’S FORMER SENIOR ADVISER KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS REJOINING WHITE HOUSE IN NEW ROLE In addition to Bottoms, Republican state Attorney General Chris Carr and Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves, are both also running for the job. Olu Brown — who previously “served as the Founding and Lead Pastor of Impact United Methodist Church,” according to olubrown.com — is also seeking the governorship.
Trump, Hegseth to announce ‘golden dome’ missile defense plan, US official says
President Donald Trump will make an announcement on the Golden Dome missile defense system at 3 p.m. ET this afternoon alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Space Force Vice Chief of Operations, General Michael Guetlein, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News. The Pentagon’s recommendations for the multibillion-dollar project will be announced, including the drafted architecture and implementation plan for the complex satellite system, the official added. A total of $25 billion has been carved out of next year’s defense budget for this system, but the Congressional Budget office estimates it could cost as much as $500 billion over the next 20 years. Officials told Reuters that Guetlein will likely be named as the lead program manager for the Golden Dome project. SPACEX AND ITS PARTNERS EMERGE AS FRONTRUNNERS TO BUILD PART OF TRUMP’S GOLDEN DOME PROJECT Last month, Reuters reported that Elon Musk’s SpaceX and two of its partners have emerged as frontrunners to build part of the missile defense system. SpaceX is teaming up with software maker Palantir and defense technology company Anduril for a joint bid, with all three of the companies having met with top officials in the Trump administration and the Pentagon to pitch their proposal, sources told Reuters at the time. Their plan is to build and launch 400 to up to more than 1,000 satellites to track the movement of missiles around the globe, the sources said. A fleet of 200 attack satellites armed with missiles or lasers would then eliminate enemy projectiles, but the SpaceX group is not anticipated to play a role in the weaponization of those satellites, the sources added. ‘GOLDEN DOME’ WILL NEED MANHATTAN PROJECT-SCALE WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT EFFORT, SPACE FORCE GENERAL SAYS Trump has ordered the construction of an advanced, next-generation missile defense shield to protect the U.S. from an aerial attack. In January, he signed an executive order that tasks Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth with drawing up plans to build an “Iron Dome for America” that will protect Americans from the threat of missiles launched by a foreign enemy. The Pentagon has received interest from more than 180 companies to help build the project, a U.S. official told Reuters. Fox News’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
THIS Indian state scripts history, becomes first to achieve full literacy, its literacy rate stands at…
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has declared his state as the country’s first fully literate. Lalduhoma announced this in the presence of Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary at a function at Mizoram University. Read on to know more about this.