States’ top cops gang up on Letitia James in crusade with potential nationwide consequences
FIRST ON FOX: Two dozen Republican state attorneys general are backing gun manufacturers in legal battles in New York, including in one case directly challenging New York Attorney General Letitia James’ role in attempting to expand liability against the manufacturers. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen led the states in filing amicus briefs Monday in lawsuits brought by Buffalo and Rochester, as well as one brought against James’ office, all of which center on New York’s effort to hold gun makers and sellers accountable for gun violence under a state public nuisance law. The AGs argued New York was infringing on a federal law that protects the firearms’ industry from liability and that the cases carry national implications. “These cases go far beyond New York,” Knudsen told Fox News Digital in a phone interview. “This is not just a New York thing by any stretch of the imagination. … It affects all of us.” Knudsen said blue states and liberal gun control advocates have repeatedly attempted to “get around” federal law and “go after and bankrupt firearms companies.” TRUMP ADMIN MAKES NEW CRIMINAL REFERRALS TO DOJ TARGETING NEW YORK AG LETITIA JAMES The lawsuits focus on the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which is designed to shield gun makers and sellers from liability when their products are used in crimes. The Republican attorneys general argued in one of the amicus briefs that New York was attempting to sidestep that law with a “vague nuisance statute that specifically targets the firearms industry.” Knudsen sharply criticized James, who is named in one of the cases, accusing her of pushing an activist agenda while disregarding the PLCAA. “This is an attorney general who should know better,” Knudsen said. “We should be able to read case law and follow it, but she doesn’t seem to want to do that. Instead, she wants to be an activist. She wants to blame what I would say is probably the most legally regulated industry in America for the poor policies that she’s got going on in her own state.” An amicus brief was filed with the Supreme Court in the case naming James, National Shooting Sports Foundation v. James, in which the attorneys general urged the high court to step in, warning that New York’s law could allow states across the country to circumvent the PLCAA by building liabilities for gun makers into state laws. James has previously defended New York’s 2021 law as a public safety measure and hailed lower court rulings in the case as victories for “the rule of law.” Knudsen emphasized the stakes of the case for Second Amendment advocates. “We don’t have a Second Amendment in this country if we don’t have firearms manufacturers,” he said. “This is trying to kill the firearms manufacturing industry in this country one lawsuit at a time.” A separate amicus brief was filed in district court opposing lawsuits brought by the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, which argued gun manufacturers failed to install sufficient guardrails to prevent gun crimes and that the cities were entitled to damages for those crimes. The attorneys general countered that the gun industry is already heavily regulated and should not be held responsible for crimes in the cities that were carried out with guns that were made and sold legally. REPUBLICANS PUSH CAMPUS CARRY LAWS IN NEARLY A DOZEN STATES AS COLLEGE SHOOTINGS REIGNITE DEBATE The Montana attorney general also warned that New York’s law reaches beyond the state’s borders and could allow New York to impose liability on gun manufacturers who are based out of state, raising constitutional concerns about interstate commerce. The Supreme Court could decide to intervene and address the New York law, in part because lower courts have been divided over how to interpret exceptions built into the PLCAA. Knudsen said he expects the justices to weigh in after they already addressed the law in Smith & Wesson Brands v. Mexico, a landmark case decided in favor of gun manufacturers last year. In that case, Mexico had argued that under the PLCAA, several major gun companies could be held responsible for illegal firearms trafficking and the gun violence that resulted from it. The justices found 9-0 that Mexico did not present enough evidence to make that claim. But the high court’s ruling did not address state laws that serve to counter the PLCAA, such as the one in New York. The Supreme Court brief focused on James was joined by 24 states: Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. The district court brief was joined by 23 states: Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. They mark the latest in a string of gun-related court interventions from Knudsen, who previously led red states in opposing Hawaii’s carry restrictions and a California magazine ban. Fox News Digital reached out to Letitia James’ office for comment, as well as an attorney in the Buffalo and Rochester case.
Trump’s proposed presidential library revealed as towering Miami skyscraper in striking new video
A newly released animated video shows renderings of President Donald Trump’s proposed presidential library in downtown Miami, featuring a soaring waterfront skyscraper and museum space. Trump shared the video on Truth Social early Tuesday, offering a first look at the proposed project, while his son, Eric Trump, posted it on X with additional details, describing the project as a “lasting testament” to his father and his legacy. “Over the past six months, I have poured my heart and soul into this project with my incredible team,” Eric Trump wrote, adding that the waterfront landmark would stand as a tribute to “an amazing man, an amazing developer, and the greatest President our Nation has ever known.” “These images have never been seen by the public — until today. Enjoy!” he added. Eric Trump has been leading the project’s development and serves as president of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation and is one of its trustees. BUREAUCRATS HIDE TRUE PRICE OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AS TAXPAYERS HIT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE BILL The video, set to dramatic orchestral music, opens with sweeping aerial shots of the proposed waterfront site, showing landscaped grounds with palm-lined walkways, fountains and green spaces before revealing the towering glass structure. It shows a tall glass tower topped with a spire, with Trump’s name displayed in gold lettering across the facade and a large American flag draped down the center. A presidential plane resembling Air Force One is showcased on the ground floor, alongside gold escalators reminiscent of Trump Tower in New York City. Additional renderings show military aircraft displayed inside the complex and a large auditorium-style space featuring a towering gold statue of Trump, a stage and large-scale digital displays. The design also includes replicas from Trump’s time in the White House, including the Oval Office, the West Colonnade and a planned ballroom. The presidential library is set to be designed by Miami-based architecture and engineering firm Bermello Ajamil and built on a roughly 2.6-acre waterfront site. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted in late September to transfer the Biscayne Boulevard parcel to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. VALERIE JARRETT EARNED $740K AS OBAMA INSIDERS FILLED TOP ROLES DURING $850M PRESIDENTIAL CENTER BUILD The proposed site, located near Trump National Doral, was briefly tied up in a legal battle after a federal judge paused the land transfer from Miami-Dade College before allowing it to proceed in December. The Miami site is currently used as an employee parking lot for Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson Campus and is adjacent to the historic Freedom Tower, which served as a resource center for hundreds of thousands of Cubans who fled communism in the 1960s and 1970s and sought asylum in the United States. The 100-year-old structure is considered a symbol of the city’s vibrant immigrant heritage. The site is surrounded by luxury high-rise apartment buildings and has waterfront views, facing directly toward the Kaseya Center, home to the NBA’s Miami Heat, as well as Dodge Island, where many of the world’s largest cruise liners dock. The parcel was appraised at more than $66 million, according to media reports, but it could sell for at least $360 million, The New York Times reported, citing a real estate consultant. President Donald Trump’s post also included a link inviting supporters to donate to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The Trump Presidential Library Foundation’s other trustees are Tiffany Trump’s husband Michael Boulos and Trump attorney James Kiley. Trump carried Miami-Dade County by 13 points, the first Republican to carry it since 1988. The unveiling comes as former President Barack Obama’s presidential center in Chicago is scheduled to open in June.
Scoop: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s allies unleash $10M campaign to spotlight Trump tax cuts
FIRST ON FOX – A leading conservative issue advocacy group aligned with House Speaker Mike Johnson is shelling out big bucks to highlight the tax cuts in the so-called “Working Families Tax Cuts Act.” The American Action Network (AAN) on Tuesday is launching what it says is a $10 million ad blitz that will run nationally through April 15, which is the tax filing deadline. The campaign, which was shared first with Fox News Digital, spotlights the tax cuts in the massive domestic policy measure, which was passed nearly entirely along party lines by the GOP-controlled House and Senate and signed into law by President Donald Trump last summer. The law is stuffed full of Trump’s 2024 campaign trail promises and second-term priorities, including extending the president’s signature 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay. FIRST ON FOX: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH MAGA MAJORITY PROGRAM IN MIDTERM BATTLE With tax filing season in full swing, Republicans are spotlighting the cuts, which they insist will give them a political bounce with voters as they aim to hold their fragile congressional majorities in this autumn’s midterm elections. “Republicans secured the largest tax cut in history and stood up for working families—a win that will be reflected in tax returns nationwide. American Action Network will continue to showcase the conservative policies that lower costs for the hardworking men and women across this country,” AAN President Chris Winkelman told Fox News Digital. TRUMP BOOSTS HOUSE GOP’S WARCHEST AS MIDTERMS IN BATTLE FOR CHAMBER’S MAJORITY And Winkelman added, “As Tax Day approaches, we are reminding Americans that every single Democrat voted to raise their taxes.” Highlighting the tax cuts has become a major part of the congressional Republicans’ messaging as the midterms heat up. “Hardworking families will see the LARGEST tax cuts in American history….putting more money in their pockets, thanks to Congressional Republicans and President Donald J. Trump Working Families Tax Cuts,” Johnson touted recently in a social media post. And National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Richard Hudson told Fox News Digital a month ago that “as we move into tax season…folks who work overtime, folks who work for tips, they’re going to see a lot more money in their pocket thanks to no tax on tips, no tax on overtime.” GOP lawmakers and the White House rebranded the measure, which was originally known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to emphasize the tax cut provisions in the law. HOUSE DEMOCRATS EXPAND REPUBLICAN TARGET LIST IN MIDTERM SHOWDOWN Republicans are battling stiff political headwinds as the party in power in the nation’s capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms. And they also face a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns over persistent inflation, an unpopular war with Iran and Trump’s underwater approval ratings. Democrats have repeatedly taken aim at the law, which they call the GOP’s “big ugly bill.” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene told Fox News Digital that “the policies that Republicans have prioritized have been favoring the wealthy and the well-connected, tax breaks for the wealthy and the well-connected, but hurting working families across the country. People are feeling that, and we’re going to continue to call that out and stand up against it.” And CJ Warnke, communications director for the House Majority PAC, argued that “House Republicans voted to give the elite a massive tax break — all while raising prices, cutting healthcare, and hiding the Epstein Files. Americans won’t forget their betrayal, and Democrats will take back the House in November.” AAN says its national ad campaign includes broadcast, digital advertising and streaming across 37 congressional districts. One of the spots will thank Republicans for passing the tax cuts. It will run in the districts of GOP Reps. Nick Begich of Alaska, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, David Valadao of California, Jeff Crank and Gabe Evans of Colorado, Anna Paulina Luna, Laurel Lee and Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn of Iowa, Bill Huizenga and Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brad Finstad of Minnesota, Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey, Nick LaLota and Mike Lawler of New York, Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Monica De La Cruz of Texas, Michael Baumgartner of Washington State, and Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin. A separate spot criticizes Democratic lawmakers for voting for what AAN calls “the largest tax hike in American history.” It will run in the districts of Democratic Reps. Adam Gray of California, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan, Dina Titus and Susie Lee of Nevada, Nellie Pou of New Jersey, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Riley of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez of Washington State.
Dem Senate candidate’s job listing invites applicants of any ‘citizenship status’ to apply for top role
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who is running in a crowded Democratic primary for Senate, posted a job listing for her campaign, encouraging applicants of “any … immigration” or “citizenship status” to apply. The position listed is for a political chief of staff position. Like many application portals, the listing notes that the campaign is an “equal opportunity employer,” encouraging applications from individuals of all educational backgrounds and from diverse racial, ethnic, religious and sexual orientation groups. INTERNET ERUPTS OVER ‘DISQUALIFYING’ LEAKED AUDIO FROM DEMOCRAT IN KEY SENATE RACE DISCUSSING KHAMENEI’S DEATH When asked if the office would consider hiring an illegal alien, a spokesperson for the campaign said they would follow U.S. law. “Haley’s campaign is happy to consider any applicants who are eligible to work in the United States,” the spokesperson said. Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, it is illegal for any “person or other entity” to hire an unauthorized alien. Violators can face civil and criminal penalties of up to $3,000 per unauthorized worker and up to six months of imprisonment. TOP DEMS BRUSH OFF TIES TO IMAM WHO HELD MEMORIAL FOR IRANIAN LEADER WHO VOWED ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ Those laws are enforced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It’s unclear if the Stevens campaign has used similar language in past job listings. Stevens, a four-term U.S. representative for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, is pursuing a bid to the U.S. Senate to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. She faces a crowded field as the race has drawn out notable challengers, including progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.
Pentagon denies that Hegseth’s broker sought investment before Iran war
US Department of Defense demands retraction of report alleging broker sought multimillion-dollar investment for Hegseth. Published On 31 Mar 202631 Mar 2026 The United States Department of Defense has demanded the retraction of a newspaper report alleging that a broker for defence chief Pete Hegseth attempted to make a large investment in weapons companies in the run-up to the war on Iran. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell demanded the “immediate” retraction on Monday after The Financial Times reported that a wealth manager for the defence secretary contacted BlackRock about making a multimillion-dollar investment in a defence-related fund in the weeks leading up to the war. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Hegseth’s broker at Morgan Stanley ultimately did not go ahead with the investment in the exchange-traded fund, whose holdings include Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, because it was not yet available for purchase at the time, The Financial Times reported, citing three unnamed sources. “This allegation is entirely false and fabricated. Neither Secretary Hegseth nor any of his representatives approached BlackRock about any such investment,” Parnell said in a post on social media. “This is yet another baseless, dishonest smear designed to mislead the public.” Hegseth and his department “remain unwavering in their commitment to the highest standards of ethics and strict adherence to all applicable laws and regulations,” Parnell said. Al Jazeera could not independently confirm the Financial Times report. The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of usual business hours. The Financial Times and Morgan Stanley also did not immediately respond to inquiries. Advertisement BlackRock declined to comment. The report comes amid scrutiny of well-timed trades in financial and prediction markets that have fuelled speculation that figures with insider knowledge may be profiting off of US President Donald Trump’s war plans. While The Financial Times reported that the attempted investment by Hesgeth’s broker did not go ahead, the defence chief would not have made money on such a purchase in the month since the war began. While the iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF has risen more than 25 percent over the past year, it has fallen nearly 13 percent since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Adblock test (Why?)
Activist Nerdeen Kiswani: ‘I feel more threatened than ever before’
NewsFeed Days after the FBI foiled an alleged assassination plot, Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani says she feels ‘more threatened than ever before’. But she’s vowed to continue her advocacy because the Palestinian ‘struggle for justice and liberation matters’. Published On 31 Mar 202631 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
What we learned from Al Jazeera’s interview with Marco Rubio
NewsFeed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Al Jazeera that the US war on Iran will be over in a matter of ‘weeks’, but some experts cast doubt on that timeframe along with other claims he made in our exclusive interview. Published On 31 Mar 202631 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Federal trial over air conditioning in Texas prisons starts with dispute over alleged heat-related deaths
The plaintiffs are asking for the entire Texas prison system to be air-conditioned by the end of 2029 in a trial that is expected to last two weeks.
Student shoots a teacher and then fatally shoots himself at a Texas high school, authorities say
No other injuries were reported in the Monday morning incident at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde.
Fugitive illegal alien convict on the run after attempting to strike ICE officer with vehicle: DHS
An illegal alien with a long criminal history remains on the run after he attempted to hit a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with his vehicle in California as authorities were trying to arrest him, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Monday. ICE was attempting to take Xa Lee, a fugitive and Laotian citizen, into custody on March 25 in Sacramento. Lee was driving when he was pulled over, according to DHS. LEAVITT CALLS ON CONGRESS TO END EASTER RECESS TO WORK ON DHS SHUTDOWN During the vehicle stop, Lee attempted to flee and tried to strike an ICE officer with his car. “The officer, thankfully, did not sustain injuries. During the incident, ICE officers deployed their tasers. He fled the scene and remains at large,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said. “This is just the latest in a disturbing trend of vehicle attacks.” COLLEGE STUDENT’S ALLEGED MURDER BY ILLEGAL WENT EXACTLY AS DEMS ‘INTENDED,’ HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS A federal immigration judge issued a deportation order for Lee in 2010. His criminal record includes convictions for vehicle theft, stolen property, conspiracy, petty theft, two DUIs, resisting an officer, battery, and felony possession of a firearm. DHS noted that Lee’s evasion of arrest came amid a history of webinars by Democratic elected officials who advised undocumented immigrants on how to evade ICE and report encounters with federal immigration authorities. The agency cited California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dan Goldman, both Democrats. All four politicians have repeatedly called for the Trump administration to halt its deportation campaign targeting criminal illegal immigrants. “DHS is once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement,” the agency said. DHS requests that if the public has any information about Lee’s whereabouts, contact the ICE tip line at 866-347-2423 or online.