Vulnerable Dem senator touts border wall in new ad despite previously dismissing it: ‘Waste of money’
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is facing criticism from his Republican opponent for images in a campaign ad that show the border wall as his campaign touts his efforts to secure the southern border despite his past opposition to wall construction, which Casey has called “a waste of money.” A recent ad by Casey says he has “voted repeatedly to secure the border” and has voted “25 times to secure the border.” During the spot, the backdrop on the screen shows the border wall and what appears to be Trump-era wall construction. The move is similar to moves by the Harris campaign, which has also shown images of the border wall in its ads despite shutting down most wall construction. TEXAS DEM’S SENATE AD FEATURES BORDER WALL HE ONCE BLASTED AS ‘RACIST’ But the vulnerable Democratic senator has a history of mostly opposition rather than support for the wall. In 2019, he said “building a wall is a waste of money” and that the U.S. should be “investing in border infrastructure and security technology at ports of entry, where most illegal smuggling happens.” “President Trump doesn’t seem to get it. He’s not getting a concrete or steel wall along the width of the border — never, ever, ever, ever,” Casey said on X. “If President Trump is serious about stopping illegal drugs, then he should stop talking about building an ineffective wall and start talking about hiring more people and beginning 24-hour surveillance of vehicle screenings,” Casey said in an interview the same year. Casey also voted against a border security deal that would have combined permanent status for young illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children in exchange for border wall funding. The Biden administration halted border wall construction in early 2021 after entering office. Casey’s votes suggest support for that move. He repeatedly voted against measures introduced by Republicans that blocked the cancellation of wall contracts. He has also voted against the House GOP border security bill, which included border wall funding, and against an amendment in 2022 to replace funding for a chief readiness support officer with $500 million for border wall construction. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Fox News Digital has previously reported that Casey supported a border fence in 2006 but later voted against a number of fence-related funding amendments in the years after that. This year, Casey has thrown his support behind a bipartisan border security measure that would have increased funding to the border and would limit asylum entries into the U.S. It has found support with the Biden administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris. The bill includes a limited amount of border wall funding, but only a fraction of the billions that had been requested by former President Trump. Dave McCormick, the Republican challenging Casey for his Senate seat, accused him of lying about his record in the ads. “Bob Casey is yet again lying to the commonwealth. He’s weak and desperate to cover up his extreme record of opposing a wall, supporting open borders and enabling the flood of fentanyl pouring into the country,” McCormick said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Pennsylvanians are sick of the liberal hypocrisy and ready for a strong leader who will fight every day to finish the wall, secure the border and protect our communities.” The Casey campaign defended his record on the border, pointing to his support of a bipartisan 2013 immigration reform bill by the ‘’Gang of Eight” that included adding 700 miles of fencing to the border along with other measures, including a pathway to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. HARRIS DOUBLES DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR LEFT-WING BENEFIT FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: ‘SMART SOLUTIONS’ It also pointed to broader border security votes Casey has made, including voting for electronic verification systems, emergency funding for security and Border Patrol hiring, a 2023 appropriations bill that included $10.7 billion in border security funding and a 2021 amendment to create a deficit-neutral reserve for immigration enforcement. “Sen. Casey has voted more than 25 times to secure our border, working with Republicans to add physical barriers, hire more Border Patrol agents and invest in border security technology to stop the illegal flow of fentanyl and keep Pennsylvanians safe,” spokesperson Kate Smart said. The campaign also noted McCormick’s opposition to the bipartisan bill introduced this year. McCormick called that legislation a “capitulation” and said it would solidify high levels of illegal immigration. “David McCormick opposed the toughest border security bill in modern history that was backed by Border Patrol agents and written by members of his own party because he cares more about playing petty politics than keeping Pennsylvanians safe,” Smart said. The ad is not the only wall-related ad controversy in the Senate race. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, featured the southern border wall in a recent Senate campaign ad despite having previously claimed the wall proposed by former President Trump was “racist.” Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Top senators briefed on ‘major errors’ leading up to Trump assassination attempt
A handful of leading senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) were briefed Thursday by Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe on the investigation into the July assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. “I think the American people are going to be shocked, astonished and appalled by what we will report to them about the failures by the Secret Service in this assassination attempt on the former president,” HSGAC Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Chairman Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Fox News Digital following the briefing. The senator refused to go into details about what he had heard in the meeting, however. DEMS RUN ON BORDER BILL REPUBLICANS SAY ‘WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM’ Rowe briefed Blumenthal, PSI Ranking Member Ron Johnson, R-Wis., HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., and HSGAC Ranking Member Rand Paul, R-Ky., before venturing to the House of Representatives to similarly brief the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump. “I do think that the director is attempting to try to make sure this doesn’t happen again. And so I do appreciate that he’s trying,” Paul said after exiting the briefing. TOP HANDICAPPER GIVES GOP’S TIM SHEEHY EDGE AGAINST DEMOCRAT JON TESTER IN MONTANA RACE SHIFT He added that “major errors” had occurred on July 13 when Trump was shot in the ear at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and one attendee was killed, while two others were critically injured. He detailed that the committee’s bipartisan interim report on the assassination attempt would be coming out in a few days. “I think it’s going to identify very specific errors that were made in this,” Paul said. TEXAS DEM’S SENATE AD FEATURES BORDER WALL HE ONCE BLASTED AS ‘RACIST’ Peters emphasized that the forthcoming report will “only be an interim report, because there’s a lot more information that we need to find.” “We hope once this report comes out, and we can get the additional information necessary to have a complete report of what happened, as well as steps of what we need to do in the future to make sure that this never happens,” he told Fox News. ROGERS ADDRESSES ABORTION AMID SLOTKIN ATTACKS: ‘MICHIGAN VOTERS HAVE ALREADY DECIDED’ Paul additionally told reporters that he had not learned any new information about the shooter’s motive or anything else. The Secret Service provided senators with an initial briefing just days after the assassination attempt, which left many senators unsatisfied. At the time, Johnson said “virtually no information” was shared, and the discussion was primarily meant to “check the box.” A Peters aide told Fox News Digital one day after the shooting that the committee would be launching an investigation into the assassination attempt, also revealing that the chairman had been scheduled to speak with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas that weekend.
Trump, in California, rips Harris for giving ‘one of the dumbest answers’ at the presidential debate
Former President Trump told reporters in California on Friday that Vice President Kamala Harris gave “one of the dumbest answers” at this week’s presidential debate when she was asked at the beginning to speak about the impact of inflation. “The first question she was given at the debate. Gave one of the dumbest answers. They were asking about pricing and would you be better off today or four years ago?” Trump said in Rancho Palos Verdes during a visit to Harris’ home state. “Prices have gone up at numbers that nobody’s ever seen before, and just the concept of being better off, she didn’t, she didn’t give the answer. She talked about when she grew up. Nobody knew what the hell she was talking about,” Trump said. As for his own performance, Trump said, “I thought the debate was great,” and “I thought I did very well, but I was fighting three people.” KAMALA HARRIS PRESSED BY SOME ALLIES TO DO MORE INTERVIEWS “I was fighting the crazy left radical lunatics at ABC. I think, considered the worst by me, considered the worst broadcaster out there,” he declared. Trump also said, “I’m here today in California with a very simple message for the American people — we cannot allow Comrade Kamala Harris and the Communist left to do to America what they did to California.” “The state of California is a mess, with people leaving and nothing’s going to stop them. They going to other states. Some are going to other countries. But what they’ve done, [Gov.] Gavin Newsom and Kamala and I want to say Kamala moreso — she destroyed San Francisco and she destroyed the state,” he added. “When you look at the kind of destruction that’s taking place, it’s all man-made or woman-made destruction, too. It’s things that should have never happened,” Trump said. “But we’re not going to let that happen with four more years of her in the White House.” TRUMP ADVISER HITS CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO ATTRACT ARAB AMERICAN SUPPORT IN SWING STATE MICHIGAN Trump said, “San Francisco can be brought back, just like our country can be brought back, because we’re a nation in decline. The decline of this whole state is one of the sad chapters in what’s gone on with the radical left lunatics that we have to put up with.” He also called Harris, during her time as San Francisco’s district attorney, the “godmother of sanctuary cities” who was “right out there at the forefront and also the movement of defunding the police, she was there right at the beginning.” “Kamala refused to seek the death penalty for a gang member who murdered San Francisco Police Officer Isaac Espinoza during a traffic stop, very innocent traffic stop. She didn’t have the decency to call his family, never did, to explain her decision. Why would you do this? Why would you give such leniency to somebody that just killed the police officer?” Trump said. “This was a major reason why the San Francisco Police Officers Association has refused to endorse her in every single race since she became district attorney. The police don’t endorse her, and she’s got virtually no endorsements now,” he added.
Putin threatens war with NATO as Russian military aircraft spotted off Alaska
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that his country will be “at war” with NATO if the West lifts restrictions on its missiles in Ukraine. His announcement comes on the heels of Russian military aircraft being spotted flying off the coast of Alaska. President Biden – among other western nations’ leaders – has come under intense pressure to lift the U.S. ban on Ukraine using American long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia. “This will mean that NATO countries – the United States and European countries – are at war with Russia. And if this is the case, then, bearing in mind the change in the essence of the conflict, we will make appropriate decisions in response to the threats that will be posed to us,” Putin told reporters on Thursday. Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Washington, D.C., on Friday for talks with Biden that are expected to largely center on the use of western weapons to strike inside Russia. BIDEN ADMIN FACING MOUNTING PRESSURE TO ALLOW RUSSIA TO STRIKE INSIDE UKRAINE WITH US MISSILES The U.S. scrambled Russian fighter jets it had detected flying in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Thursday. In a post to X, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it detected and intercepted the planes, but they did not violate American or Canadian airspace. “This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence.” LATVIA AND ROMANIA CONFIRM RUSSIAN INCURSIONS INTO NATO TERRITORY Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sowed doubts that allowing free rein with U.S.-provided Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles would change the tide of the war. “I find that relationship between what the Pentagon is advising the president based on intelligence versus the international pressure to be the really interesting part of the story,” Seth Krummich, a retired Army colonel and vice president at international security firm Global Guardian, told Fox News Digital. Ahead of the discussions, Moscow said it revoked accreditation for six British diplomats in Russia, accusing them of spying. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Putin on Thursday raised doubts about whether Ukraine could even use long-range missiles for offensive strikes alone without the help of western intelligence in targeting. “The Ukrainian army is not capable of using cutting-edge high-precision long-range systems supplied by the West” without NATO assistance in targeting,” Putin warned. “The real risk here is either a manufactured event by Russia with disinformation or no kidding, a mistake happening using Western or NATO-provided long-range missiles that could trigger a war or a significant escalation,” Krummich said.
Johnson faces major leadership test as GOP wars over government shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing his last critical leadership test of this year as congressional lawmakers grapple with a looming government shutdown deadline at the end of this month. The House Republican Conference is at odds over how to proceed with funding the government in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. A growing contingent of GOP lawmakers are resigned to a short-term spending patch called a continuing resolution (CR) until December to give negotiators more time to work out next year’s federal spending. Conservatives on Johnson’s right flank, however, want him to keep fighting for a six-month CR attached to a bill that would require proof of citizenship in the voter registration process – which the Democrat-controlled White House and Senate have called a nonstarter. Johnson was forced to delay a planned vote on that bill last week amid a wave of Republican defections from lawmakers who saw it as a “messaging” tactic without a sufficient plan to get the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act enacted. CLUB FOR GROWTH POURS $5M INTO TIGHT HOUSE RACES AS GOP BRACES FOR TOUGH ELECTION How he navigates the political quagmire could be pivotal for the Louisiana Republican in the House GOP’s December leadership decisions. A majority of GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital saw little appetite for a coup – particularly so close to the election – but several did acknowledge that Johnson would face backlash if he fully acquiesced to Democrats on spending. “If there’s an omnibus, I think he’ll likely get challenged for speaker,” one GOP lawmaker told Fox News Digital, noting the challenge would be significant. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, admitted there was room for blowback but did not see any imminent threat to Johnson. JOHNSON UNVEILS TRUMP-BACKED HOUSE GOP PLAN TO AVOID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, SETS UP BATTLE WITH SCHUMER “If he really flubs this, and people feel like they were deceived – but I don’t see that he’s on that path now,” Burlison said. Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., noted he was close to Johnson personally but said broadly, “I think if we get jammed with an omni it will be a significant factor in any kind of leadership elections across the board.” He said it was “not really a topic of conversation at this point” but added that it “could be part of the calculus” for others. Meanwhile, Reps. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, and Cory Mills, R-Fla., who have not shied away from criticizing the speaker, suggested it was inevitable that he would face some sort of rival. “I think in order for Mike Johnson to remain speaker, in my humble opinion, it’s going to require some Democrats to help him,” Nehls told Fox News Digital, adding that House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, would be a “great” candidate. Jordan was one of several Republican leaders who ran for speaker after the ouster of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., over McCarthy’s own handling of government spending last fall. Jordan’s bid was derailed by opposition from moderates, however. Mills, who came out against Johnson’s CR plan, said, “I think he’s gonna have a significant leadership challenge regardless.” MCCARTHY’S ‘FINAL STRUGGLES’ THREATEN TO HAUNT JOHNSON’S GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FIGHT “I don’t think this is going to be that pivotal moment where it’s a make or break, but what I will say is, is that the one guarantee that I continue to try and sound the alarm on or beat the drums on, is…we’re heading towards economic collapse,” Mills said. Meanwhile, another conservative lawmaker who spoke with Fox News Digital anonymously was emphatic that, unlike his predecessor, Johnson is safe from a political coup. “I think just what little conversations I’ve had with him last weekend, what little conversations I’ve had with him and staff, I think they are genuine in wanting to make sure we don’t end up with an omnibus,” that conservative said. In addition to pressure from within his own conference, Johnson is also having to navigate government funding talks while the Republicans’ 2024 nominee, former President Donald Trump, is actively calling for a partial shutdown if election security legislation cannot be passed. Johnson, for his part, has told reporters that he is still sticking firmly to his course and would work through the weekend on the issue. “We’re going to continue to work on this. Whip is going to do the hard work to build consensus, we’re going to work through the weekend on that. And I want any member of Congress in either party to explain to the American people why we should not ensure that only U.S. citizens are voting in U.S. elections,” Johnson said earlier this week. If Republicans lose the majority, Johnson will only need a majority vote of his conference to remain its leader. A Speaker of the House, however, needs a majority of the entire chamber – meaning the GOP would likely need to be in lock-step for him to win.
University of Mumbai launches IRM’s Global Level 1 Enterprise Risk as 2-credit open elective course under NEP
University of Mumbai Affiliated College Deans / Faculty / Programme Coordinators / HODs interested in offering this international course under NEP.
4 Indian Army personnel injured in gunfight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar
Earlier today, two terrorists were killed in an encounter at J&K’s Khandara, Kathua, by security forces.
Bengaluru family immerses Rs 4 lakh gold chain with Ganesha idol; here’s what happened next
Along with adorning the idol with flowers and jewellery, the couple presented a 60-gram gold chain, estimated to be worth about Rs 4 lakh, to the deity.
‘Respect our warriors’: House GOP veteran proposes key benefit to aid deployed service members
EXCLUSIVE: An Army veteran and House Foreign Affairs member on Thursday introduced a bill to eliminate taxes for all U.S. service members deployed overseas. Rep. Warren Davidson’s, R-Ohio, bill, the BRAVE Act, would amend the IRS code to expand that exemption to include not just designated combat zones, but all non-permanently deployed service members operating abroad. Currently, those deployed to combat zones do not pay taxes on their salary. “When our soldiers deploy for combat, they don’t pay taxes. When they deploy around the world to promote peace and deter war, they pay taxes. The Brave Act makes it clear: reward both of these deployments—respect our warriors,” Davidson said. Combat zones where service members’ pay is tax-exempt are decided on an ad hoc basis by executive order. Currently, roughly a dozen countries and regions qualify as such, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Somali and the Sinai. US, IRAQI OFFICIALS NEARING PLAN TO REMOVE US TROOPS AS SOON AS NEXT YEAR However, U.S. service members are deployed to roughly 175 countries. Service members deployed to places like Chad or the Indo-Pacific pay full taxes. “The ‘Brave Act’ ensures that those serving in foreign deployments receive the full tax relief they deserve, maintaining fairness for all service members,” Davidson continued. U.S. forces have struggled with recruitment numbers for years, in part due to concerns that service member pay does not keep pace with inflation or with the private sector. AIR FORCE F-35S MAKE HISTORIC LANDING ON HIGHWAY IN FINDLAND The House-passed National Defense Authorization Act included a 4.5% increase for all service members and a 15% boost for junior enlisted troops. That bill must now be negotiated with the Senate before final passage. In 2023, recruiting shortfalls left the Army, Navy and Air Force 41,000 enlistees short of their recruiting goal. The Marines and Space Force met their recruiting targets. The Army reportedly finished the 2023 fiscal year with 452,000 active-duty soldiers, the smallest the force has been since before World War II.
Trump adviser Alina Habba hits campaign trail to attract Arab American support in swing state Michigan
Former President Donald Trump’s senior adviser, Alina Habba, has hit the campaign trail to attract Arab support in the key swing state of Michigan. Habba, who also is an attorney on Trump’s legal team, is a first generation American. Both of Habba’s parents are from Iraq. Habba has been crisscrossing Michigan since Thursday, participating in nearly a dozen events and engaging in meetings in Arab American communities — including with Indian Americans and Chaldean Americans. “As someone who understands how tight-knit and faith-driven these communities are, I’m incredibly proud to be here with the Arab American communities in Michigan,” Habba told Fox News Digital. “Many of us have roots in countries where we left behind persecution for the freedom that we now cherish.” ALINA HABBA TAKES ON MAJOR ROLE IN TRUMP CAMPAIGN Habba told Fox News Digital it is “vital that we speak up to protect that freedom here in the United States.” “We cannot allow our country to go down the same dangerous path,” Habba added. “Donald Trump is the only option to ensure our values and way of life are safeguarded.” Metro Detroit has the world’s largest population of Iraqis outside of Iraq, with an estimated 187,000 people. On Friday, Habba toured the Chaldean Foundation and the community. Habba also spoke to children at a school in the community and spoke to local leaders. THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS “The Chaldean community is driven by its faith and close-knit family ties,” Habba told Fox News Digital, adding that Trump’s policies are attractive to them, and “resonating with independents, moderates, and traditional Republicans, especially here in battleground states like Michigan.” Also on Friday, Habba is participating in a “Trump 47 Agenda Policy Tour” event with Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Tim Walberg, Tudor Dixon and others in Farmington Hills. “The Trump 47 Policy Tour is working, and we’re seeing results in key areas like Oakland County,” Habba said. “The Chaldean community, with its 10 Catholic churches in Metro-Detroit, is a strong, faith-based force, and we stand united behind President Trump.” According to the latest Fox News Power Rankings, key swing states like North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada are listed as “toss-ups.” Michigan, though, is listed as “lean Democrat.”