Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust Meet: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra’s resignation accepted, new interim Gen Secretary appointed
The Ram temple trust accepted the resignations of Champat Rai as its general secretary and member Anil Mishra and appointed Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary of the temple trust.
Who is Krishna Mohan? Ex-IFS officer appointed Ram Mandir trust chief after Champat Rai’s resignation
Earlier in the day, the temple trust announced that it had accepted the resignations of its former chief Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. The developments come amid an investigation into alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto threatens to attack India over Indus Water Treaty, says ‘Ready on all fronts’
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari threatened to attack India on Monday claiming that Pakistan was prepared to fight “on all fronts”.
As Democrats eye South Texas upset, Bobby Pulido faces scrutiny over ex-bandmate’s child sex offense
The Tejano musician has been dogged by a series of headlines regarding his former accordionist, a registered sex offender. Pulido has insisted he did not know about the man’s rap sheet.
Four years after Dobbs, Texas abortion-rights advocates struggle to break through in Washington
Just 2% of Texas voters call abortion the state’s most pressing problem. Advocates are reframing the issue as one of reproductive healthcare that affects families’ pocketbooks.
Rising healthcare costs are straining Texas businesses as the Legislature seeks solutions
Lawmakers and experts pin the blame for rising insurance costs on health companies consolidating and creating less competition.
Brown Jackson’s latest spotlight moment fuels accusations she’s forgetting her day job: ‘Not celebrities’
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared on the cover of the most recent issue of Essence magazine, spurring critics to argue that she is seeking publicity in ways that are inappropriate for a member of the Supreme Court. “Supreme Court Justices are not celebrities and should not be treated like celebrities,” Andrew Fleischman, a Georgia trial and appeal lawyer, wrote of the cover. The magazine’s cover features a picture of Jackson wearing a purple coat and smiling directly at the reader. Underneath Jackson’s photo is a caption that reads “the people’s champion.” TRUMP BLASTS KETANJI BROWN JACKSON AS ‘LOW IQ PERSON’ IN SUPREME COURT TIRADE Essence Magazine describes itself as the “premiere lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazine for African-American women.” “As America celebrates its 250th birthday, ESSENCE is honored to unveil the first magazine cover of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic career,” Essence tweeted on the 4th of July, accompanied by a photo of the cover. “As the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, there is no better moment to celebrate her extraordinary legacy. Ketanji Brown Jackson represents the American Dream and serves as a powerful voice for those simply seeking the God-given birthrights promised to every American,” the tweet continued. Jackson’s public appearances outside the court have drawn periodic criticism from some conservatives and legal observers, who argue that events such as the Grammy Awards, Broadway appearances and a Vogue photoshoot risk blurring the line between judicial service and celebrity. “Ketanji Brown Jackson isn’t supposed to be ‘the people’s champion,’” Billy Binion, a reporter for a libertarian magazine, wrote on X. “She’s not a politician. She’s supposed to interpret the law, not make it. This kind of thing is why so many people misunderstand how our government works at a basic level.” SUPREME COURT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES REVEAL CONCERT TICKETS FROM BAD BUNNY’S LABEL, MILLIONS IN BOOK PAYMENTS “Supreme Court justices shouldn’t be celebrities,” Laura Powell, a civil liberties attorney, wrote of the cover. “They don’t have to run for office and don’t need political slogans like ‘The People’s Champion.’ They should simply do their job of interpreting the law according to constitutional principles.” Jackson is not the only justice whose outside activities have drawn scrutiny. Other members of the court have reported book income, teaching payments, travel reimbursements and gifts in annual financial disclosures. Sitting Supreme Court Justices have previously appeared on magazine covers, including the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2015 and Sonia Sotomayor in 2009. Michelle Zier, an adjunct professor at Concordia University Chicago, pointed out that Alexander Hamilton explicitly warned that the judges would need to avoid the temptation to be seen as champions of the people. “But it is easy to see that it would require an uncommon portion of fortitude in the judges to do their duty as faithful guardians of the Constitution, where legislative invasions of it had been instigated by the major voice of the community,” Hamilton wrote in Federalist 78. HARRIS’ ‘NO BAD IDEA BRAINSTORM’ FOR DEMS INCLUDES PACKING SCOTUS, ELIMINATING ELECTORAL COLLEGE Even some on the left took issue with Jackson’s magazine cover. “Obviously, nowhere near the worst or weirdest thing is sitting justice has done but yeah we really need that SCOTUS code of ethics,” Sam Weinberg, who runs a progressive advocacy group, wrote of the cover. Responding to criticism over her attendance at the Grammy Awards, Jackson argued that part of her job is “public outreach and education.” “When the justices are on recess — which is what we are doing right now — we really have an opportunity to go out into the community in various different ways,” she told The View in February. Fox News Digital reached out to the Supreme Court and Essence magazine on Monday.
Socialist House hopeful under fire for pro-Palestinian July 4 message
New York Assembly member Claire Valdez’s Fourth of July social media post featuring a pro-Palestinian message sparked backlash over the weekend, with commentators across the political spectrum blasting her priorities. Valdez, a socialist poised to represent a deep-blue New York City congressional district in Congress, made the comments Saturday as Americans nationwide celebrated the country’s 250th birthday. The Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate’s post did not appear to praise any aspect of the United States or pay tribute to the country’s founding. Valdez wrote that she would continue to “fight for liberation from Palestine to Puerto Rico, for a Green New Deal, for the world we deserve,” on the social media platform X. MAMDANI BLASTS ICE AGENTS, ELON MUSK AND ‘SUPREMACY’ IN AMERICA 250 SPEECH AHEAD OF JULY 4 WEEKEND “Actually, the Fourth of July isn’t about Palestine,” commentator Stephen Miller griped at Valdez in response. “Modern Democratic Party: The Fourth of July is a fight to free Palestine,” Salem Radio Network host Scott Jennings observed. “These people have no idea what the Declaration is for no[r] any understanding of the purpose of our government,” journalist Brianna Lyman wrote. Valdez won a Democratic primary election in June for an open House seat spanning Brooklyn and Queens, with the backing of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Given the progressive bastion’s heavily Democratic tilt, the House hopeful is expected to face little competition in November’s general election. She is one of several socialists who trounced establishment-aligned Democrats in the Empire State’s primaries, marking a major victory for the far-left wing of the party. Valdez and the other Democratic nominees — former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier — have called for ending military aid to Israel, enacting Green New Deal-style legislation and Medicare for All, which would create a government-run single-payer system. The trio is likely to push Democrats to support tax hikes on the highest earners if elected to Congress and have frequently argued that the wealthy and big corporations are responsible for the country’s problems. JOSH SHAPIRO WARNS DEMOCRATS FACE ‘BATTLE OVER WHAT WE BELIEVE IN’ AFTER SOCIALIST’S UPSET PRIMARY VICTORIES “Freedom is only possible when we have the conditions for the good life — healthcare, housing, education, and dignity on the job,” Valdez also wrote on social media Saturday. “But the system is rigged and our planet poisoned by billionaires, bosses, and war profiteers.” Commentators hammered Valdez for focusing on what she viewed as the country’s flaws on Independence Day, while blasting her socialist policies. “The commitment some people have to being absolutely insufferable and miserable is almost admirable,” former Biden White House press office Chief of Staff Yemisi Egbewole wrote on social media. “It’s the Fourth of July. Eat a hot dog. Watch fireworks. Call your family. Love the country that gave you the freedom to post this nonsense. “Claire Valdez won her district’s rich precincts and high-education ones 64 to 27. She lost low-income areas by 32 points and Black ones by 50 points,” NewsNation’s Batya Ungar-Sargon observed. “This anti-America claptrap is trust fund socialism — vanity morals of the elite that operate as a smokescreen for their privilege.” Valdez’s post echoed Mamdani’s Fourth of July message, in which he sharply criticized the wealthiest Americans — and the capitalism that made their affluence possible — while railing against various chapters of American history. “We see the wealthiest country in the history of the world, one where children go to sleep hungry while the world’s first trillionaire hungers for more,” Mamdani said in his remarks, referencing SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk without naming him. “We see monopolies that dominate every industry, and oligarchs who buy elections,” Mamdani continued. Fox News Digital reached out to Valdez’s campaign for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Trump says he ‘immediately overturned’ decision to cancel July 4 festivities in DC
President Donald Trump said in a Sunday Truth Social post that he “overturned” a decision to cancel festivities in Washington, D.C., on Saturday due to weather. “The Crowd at 7:05 in the evening was 422,000 people! All were forced to leave because of the weather, the event was cancelled, and everyone was gone because of lightning. When I heard that it was cancelled, I immediately overturned that decision, and waited a while for people to come back. Incredibly, at least 150,000 people returned, and it was an even more spectacular evening than it would have been as normalized! It showed work under pressure,” Trump declared in the post. “Congratulations to the Secret Service and Law Enforcement on being able to get so many people back into the Arena in such rapid fashion! It was an amazing evening made even more spectacular by the fact that, immediately after the Great Fireworks ended, the rains came down, full blast!” he added. TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM TRUMP’S LATE NIGHT JULY 4 ADDRESS: ‘NO DREAM IN HISTORY IS BIGGER’ People flocked to attend Independence Day festivities in D.C. as Americans around the nation celebrated the country’s 250th anniversary, but attendees were asked to evacuate and take shelter on Saturday evening. “Due to approaching severe storms, Freedom 250, United States Secret Service, United States Park Police, National Park Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and all public safety partners are asking all guests to evacuate event grounds and seek temporary shelter in a nearby building,” Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez noted in part of a Saturday evening statement. TRUMP SHARES NEWS OF ‘CRYSTAL CLEAR’ REFLECTING POOL, CALLS FOR VANDALISM SUSPECT’S ARREST But in another post on X later that night, Freedom 250 declared, “At President Donald J. Trump’s direction, gates to the National Mall will reopen at 9:45 PM.” Trump ultimately delivered a speech later on Saturday night, which was followed shortly thereafter by a massive fireworks show that began at about midnight. AMERICA 250 KICKS OFF IN NATION’S CAPITAL AS AMERICANS BRAVE WEATHER TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY “I would like to congratulate Freedom 250, a Great White House Commission, and Pyrotecnico, on producing the Most Spectacular Fireworks Show I have ever seen, and I’ve seen them all. Congratulations on a job well done!” Trump declared in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History promotes ‘extreme political activism,’ WH report alleges
A sweeping new White House report concluded that the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) has become a taxpayer-backed institution of “ideological capture” and “extreme political activism.” “The report concludes that the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Museum of American History in particular, under its current leadership and current interpretive ideology, cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly and in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic,” the White House Domestic Policy Council wrote in its July 4 report following up on President Donald Trump’s March 27 executive order. “By the intention and at the direction of current Museum and Smithsonian leadership, NMAH has become subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of the great country we know and love.” According to the 162-page “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” report, delivered on America’s 250th birthday, NMAH treats the American story as a political tool rather than a shared national inheritance. “At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, visitors young and old should encounter the story of the United States told with honesty, seriousness, and pride,” the report’s executive summary began. “In particular, it should help the American people understand where America came from, what makes it distinctive, and why it is worth preserving.” TOP HIGHLIGHTS FROM TRUMP’S LATE-NIGHT JULY 4 ADDRESS: ‘NO DREAM IN HISTORY IS BIGGER’ Instead, the museum has moved “away from straightforward historical education and scholarship” and toward activism, the report found. “Anthea Hartig, NMAH’s director since 2019, has explicitly stated that she sees history as a ‘prime tool of social justice’ and one of her roles as connecting ‘research and scholarship to activism and advocacy,’” the summary noted. TRUMP’S MOUNT RUSHMORE ADDRESS FEATURES 28 MINUTES OF ICONIC WORDS, 23 MINUTES OF DAZZLING LIGHT, FIREWORKS “Hartig has also stated that ‘we work to reframe the traditional celebratory narrative of U.S. history for visitors.’ She claims to have had a personal head start ‘propped up as I was and I am by the cushions of whiteness and the pillows of the bourgeoisie,’” the report said. “These are not the words of an objective historian, but rather those of an activist advancing an ideological agenda contradictory to the Museum’s founding purpose of fostering patriotism.” THE REVOLUTIONARY LANDMARKS WHERE WASHINGTON, ADAMS AND JEFFERSON CHANGED AMERICA The report made five key conclusions about the museum: “One of the most significant findings in this report concerns what is missing,” the report stated. “A visitor to the Museum today will find no major exhibit dedicated to America’s Founding era, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, other Founding Fathers, the Continental Congress, the Pilgrims, the Puritans, or major moments of the American Revolution, such as Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. “Instead, visitors will find Founders, such as Benjamin Franklin, introduced chiefly through their connection to slavery while their decisive roles in building the Republic and their anti-slavery efforts are minimized or ignored.” TRUMP HAILS AMERICA AS ‘MOST EXCEPTIONAL NATION EVER TO EXIST’ IN MOUNT RUSHMORE SPEECH The NMAH presented revisionist history, using terms that exist now but not then, including “a popular term-of-art to ‘Critical Social Justice,’” the report found. “The Museum is not merely neglecting America’s central story,” it stated. “It is intentionally withholding and subverting it.” Noted was the political revision of “its mission statement under current leadership, which replaced the phrases ‘infinite richness’ and ‘American history’ with language about empowering people to create ‘a more just and compassionate future’ by exploring ‘the complexity of our past.’” “The Museum has shifted from scholarship to activism,” the report read, “pointing to Museum leadership’s own public statements tying ‘research and scholarship to activism and advocacy,’ dismantling inherited narratives, using history as a ‘prime tool of social justice,’ calling for American history to be ‘reframed,’ and describing museum work in terms of ‘reparations,’ ‘restorative history,’ ‘systemic intervention, ‘decolonization, ‘social justice.’” The report also criticizes the museum’s approach to race, immigration, gender and sexuality, alleging that exhibits and programming have been shaped by modern activist priorities rather than neutral historical scholarship. The Smithsonian Institution receives more than $1 billion annually in taxpayer support and its ideology does not comport with Trump’s executive order and initiatives to remove political influence in government entities, according to the Domestic Policy Council. “As this report shows, confirmed in the words of Museum leadership, this ideological capture has moved the Museum’s mission away from straightforward historical education and scholarship toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country,” it wrote.