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Gov. Newsom signs bill to resume harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies in California

Gov. Newsom signs bill to resume harsh penalties for smash-and-grab robberies in California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday that reinstates tough criminal penalties for those who conduct large-scale theft schemes and smash-and-grab robberies that continue to frustrate voters across the state. Under the new law, prosecutors are required to begin imposing harsher sentences on those who damage or destroy property with a value of more than $50,000 while committing a felony. In 2018, a similar law expired, though the new law will sunset by 2030. “California already has some of the strictest retail and property crime laws in the nation, and we have made them even stronger with our recent legislation,” Newsom said in a statement. “We can be tough on crime while also being smart on crime. We don’t need to go back to broken policies of the last century.” SACRAMENTO CITY ATTORNEY REPORTEDLY THREATENED TO FINE TARGET STORE FOR REPORTING THEFT CRIMES Newsom’s decision to bring back tough penalties comes as Democratic lawmakers try to convince voters they are tough on crime. At the same time, the same lawmakers are working to convince voters to reject a ballot measure that would bring even harsher sentences for repeat offenders on shoplifting and drug charges. In California, shoplifting has been a growing problem, though large-scale smash-and-grab thefts have become a crisis, not just in the Golden State, but across the country. Smash-and-grab thefts are typically done by groups who rush into stores and snatch merchandise sitting in plain sight. The crimes are oftentimes caught on video and posted to social media, bringing attention to the problem of retail theft in the state. SACRAMENTO MASS SHOOTING SUSPECT FOUND DEAD IN JAIL CELL WHILE AWAITING TRIAL Newsom’s new law is part of a bipartisan legislative package of about a dozen bills aimed at cracking down on thefts. The bills also make it easier for prosecutors to go after repeat shoplifters and auto thieves while increasing penalties for those running professional reselling schemes. “Violent ‘sledgehammer crimes’ and flash-mob attacks by organized gangs must stop now,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who authored the bill, said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. “Our business owners and workers should not have to live in fear that these crimes will come to their doorstep.” The California Retailers Association also supports the measure and said the new penalties would serve as “a deterrent against ‘smash-and-grabs’ and retail crime.” NEWSOM PROPOSES DEFUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRISONS, PUBLIC SAFETY AS CALIFORNIA FACES MASSIVE DEFICIT Opponents of the bill, which include public defenders and criminal justice advocates, claim the new legislation will result in more people in prison for non-retail theft crimes. Under the bill, the opponents said, prison time would increase for a wide range of felony charges. For example, a person who damages vehicles while driving under the influence could be handed a harsher sentence under the new law. Opponents also said the new law is modeled after a proposed tougher-on-crime ballot initiative Newsom and Democratic legislators spent months criticizing, ultimately losing efforts to keep the measure off the ballot. “If we’re opposed to it being permanent, why aren’t we opposed to it being temporary?” Taina Vargas, executive director of Initiate Justice Action, told the wire service about the new law. “This makes it apparent that, you know, certain individuals in the Legislature and the governor just want to give off the impression of doing something.” Newsom’s administration has spent $267 million to help dozens of local law enforcement agencies increase patrols, buy surveillance equipment and prosecute more criminals.  Law enforcement across the state has arrested 6,900 people for retail theft crimes in the first six months of the operation, Newsom’s office said Thursday. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump promises to end taxation of overtime pay: ‘Your overtime hours will be tax-free’

Trump promises to end taxation of overtime pay: ‘Your overtime hours will be tax-free’

Former President Trump promises to eliminate taxes on overtime pay as part of a series of proposed cuts he said would mean more disposable income for workers. “That gives people more of an incentive to work. It gives the companies a lot,” Trump told a crowd Thursday at a campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona.  “The people who work overtime are among the hardest-working citizens in our country. And for too long, no one in Washington has been looking out for them. TRUMP PLEDGES TO ELIMINATE TAXES ON TIPS FOR SERVICE WORKERS DURING LAS VEGAS RALLY “Those are the people, they really work. They’re police officers, nurses, factory workers, construction workers, truck drivers and machine operators.” The pitch came as Trump seeks to turn Arizona, a state President Biden won by just a few thousand votes in 2020, red again.  REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN ADMIN OVER PLAN TO CRACK DOWN ON WAITERS’ TIPS “So, that’s why we will be saying that if you’re an overtime worker when you’re passed 40 hours a week, think of that,” he added. “Your overtime hours will be tax-free.” Trump has also promised to get rid of taxes on Social Security benefits and the taxation of tips for service workers, a pledge Vice President Kamala Harris has made, as well as raising the minimum wage.  The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that eliminating taxes on tip income, as well as increasing the minimum wage, could add between $100 billion and $200 billion to the nation’s deficits over a 10-year window. 

Fox News Politics: Trump Shooting Interim Report

Fox News Politics: Trump Shooting Interim Report

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail.  Here’s what’s happening… – House GOP blasts Harris’ 2019 position on transgender migrants… – Gavin Newsom’s wife’s relatives hosting Trump fundraiser… – Nikki Haley slams PAC using her name… Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., predicted that Americans will be “shocked” and “appalled” when lawmakers release their interim report on the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the security failures of those involved in protecting the GOP presidential nominee.  Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe provided senators with an update Thursday on the investigation into the failed assassination in a closed-door meeting.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., predicted that Americans will be “shocked” and “appalled” when lawmakers release their interim report on the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the security failures of those involved in protecting the GOP presidential nominee.  Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe provided senators with an update Thursday on the investigation into the failed assassination in a closed-door meeting.…Read more PLAN FOR DELAYS: Biden admin pushes to put off enforcement of ID rules for boarding planes, entering federal buildings after 9/11 anniversary …Read more COLD SHOULDERS: Slain jogger’s mom calls out Biden-Harris for ignoring them after migrant murder …Read more ‘TERROR AND MISERY’: Harris’ support for Palestinian state rewards terrorism, experts warn …Read more ‘STOP WEIRD’: House GOP knocks Harris’ controversial 2019 position on transgender migrants …Read more ‘FAILED POLICIES’: James Comer ratchets up pressure on Harris with weeks until Election Day …Read more AMERICA FIRST: GOP bill targeting critical ‘loophole’ helping top US adversary passes after clash with Dems …Read more RIOT CONTROL: Secret Service to ramp up security on Jan. 6, 2025, to avoid another riot at the Capitol …Read more ORGANIZED CRIME: More than 75 lawmakers press DHS on organized retail theft …Read more FOLLOW THE LEADER?: Rep. Jared Moskowitz says Trump should consider dropping out of race following debate …Read more FAMILY TIES: Newsom’s wife’s relatives reportedly hosting Trump fundraiser in California …Read more ‘TIRED’ LINE OF ATTACK: Democrats brush off concerns of Kamala Harris’ policy flip-flops, call criticisms ‘overblown’ …Read more FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: Trump loses his edge as we brace again for post-debate impact …Read more BUSH AG FOR HARRIS: Alberto Gonzales becomes latest Bush alum to endorse Harris …Read more TESTER TUMBLES: Top handicapper gives GOP candidate Tim Sheehy edge against Sen. Jon Tester in Montana …Read more MOVING NUMBERS: Over 330,000 people clicked Taylor Swift’s voter registration link after her Kamala Harris endorsement …Read more ‘DECEPTIVE AND WRONG’: Nikki Haley slams PAC using her name to support Harris in swing states …Read more ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’: Flashback: In 2019 Harris boasted of helping ‘every’ trans inmate in California get access to gender surgery …Read more ‘NO EATING DOGS OR CATS’: President Biden drew laughs from Pa. crowd while donning Trump hat, cracking odd joke …Read more FLIP-FLOP: Border wall spotlighted in Texas Dem’s Senate ad after he called it a ‘racist wall’ …Read more NEXT STOPS: After the presidential debate, here’s where Trump and Harris are campaigning next …Read more SIZE MATTERS: Harris campaign and Democrats aim to tweak Trump again over crowd size …Read more HAND OUTS: CA commission to vote on giving phone subsidies to illegal immigrants …Read more ‘RADICAL TRANS AGENDA’: Riley Gaines stars in new Hawley ad against Dem opponent …Read more NEW QUESTIONS ARISE: Virginia Democrat’s military resume under scrutiny amid concerns over his campaign finances …Read more UNRELIABLE: Majority of Americans don’t trust AI election info: poll …Read more ‘COMPLETELY LEFT OUT’: 9/11 survivors say federal gov should do more to reach out to victims …Read more TRACKED DOWN: Illegal immigrant charged with several crimes was released at US border last year …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Biden admin faces mounting pressure to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US missiles

Biden admin faces mounting pressure to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US missiles

President Biden is facing mounting pressure to lift the ban on Ukraine using U.S. weapons to strike deep inside Russia and appeared to admit on Tuesday that his administration is moving in that direction.  “We’re working that out right now,” he said when asked by reporters whether he would allow Ukraine to use the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to target sites inside Russia. Support for lifting the ban has come from all sides. A group of high-level House Republicans wrote to the president this week arguing that such restrictions “have hampered Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia’s war of aggression and have given the Kremlin’s forces a sanctuary from which it can attack Ukraine with impunity.” RUSSIA, CHINA HOLD BIGGEST WARGAMES SINCE SOVIET ERA The House GOP letter was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, House Intelligence Committee Chair Michael Turner, House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers and other committee leaders. It critiques the Biden administration but contrasts statements from top Republicans like Donald Trump, who have suggested he could bring a diplomatic end to the war.  On Wednesday, a group of liberal and progressive former high-level national security officials authored a letter calling on the U.S. and U.K. to allow unrestricted use of their weapons to strike Russian territory.  A bipartisan group of House and Senate members sent another letter arguing that with the ban, Russia “is far too comfortable in its ability to focus on its offensive operations rather than defending itself.” “Easing the restrictions on Western weapons will not cause Moscow to escalate,” they wrote. “We urge you to listen to your partners in Kyiv this week and allow Ukraine to strike all legitimate targets in Russia with the weapons the U.S. and U.K. have provided. Let Ukraine defend itself.” ROMANIA AND LATVIA CONFIRM RUSSIAN INCURSIONS INTO NATO TERRITORY  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has implored U.S. officials to lift the ban they placed to avoid escalation of U.S. involvement in the war. Washington in recent months has partially done so, allowing Ukraine to use U.S. weapons for defensive strikes “within sovereign Ukraine territory.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and were expected to gather information on how such long-range strikes would factor into Ukraine’s broader battlefield strategy. The U.K. is also considering whether to allow Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russia with its own long-range system, the Storm Shadow. Asked about the “green light” to target inside Russia on Thursday, Blinken did not indicate any change in policy but restated a desire to keep adapting to Russia’s aggression. Blinken said he expects Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the topic when they meet Friday in Washington. Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pushed back on the notion that lifting restrictions and allowing Ukraine to hit deeper into Russia would change the tides of the war.  “There’s no one capability that will, in and of itself, be decisive in this campaign.” “There are a lot of targets in Russia, a big country, obviously,” Austin said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on Friday. “And there’s a lot of capability that Ukraine has in terms of (unmanned aerial vehicles) and other things to address those targets.” The debate about whether to remove the restrictions comes amid the worrying beginning of transfers of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. Some worry the U.S. has a limited number of ATACMS to offer Ukraine without affecting U.S. readiness and that using the weapons to strike deep into Russia could deplete their supply for other parts of the military campaign, like inside Crimea. But advocates of lifting the ban argue Ukraine is already using ATACMS on territory that Russia sees as its own in Crimea.

Dems run on border bill Republicans say ‘was never designed to solve the problem’

Dems run on border bill Republicans say ‘was never designed to solve the problem’

The immigration bill being used by vulnerable Democrats as evidence of their commitment to border security has been trashed by Republican senators, who claim the measure would have actually exacerbated the crisis at the southern border.  “That bill was awful. It killed itself,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital on Thursday of the bill that was negotiated by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and James Lankford, R-Okla.  “I’m not aware of anybody that Trump called,” he added, with another GOP senator seconding this.  After former President Donald Trump himself came out against the measure, Democrats accused him of being responsible for its ultimate demise, and he further welcomed their blame. But several Republican senators said the bill was essentially dead on arrival, with or without Trump’s input.  TOP HANDICAPPER GIVES GOP’S TIM SHEEHY EDGE AGAINST DEMOCRAT JON TESTER IN MONTANA RACE SHIFT Republican senators prompted by Fox News Digital in the spring about Trump’s involvement in lobbying against the border bill also denied that the former president was making calls.  On Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital the bill was terrible. “Chuck Schumer drafted it. He drafted it with the objective of keeping the current open borders open in perpetuity,” he claimed. Cruz listed concerns with the measure, including that it “codified catch and release. The bill provided immediate work permits to illegal aliens when they came here. The bill provided taxpayer-funded attorneys to illegal aliens. The bill gave billions of dollars to sanctuary cities and NGOs that are aiding with human-traffickers and the bill normalized 5,000 illegal immigrants a day.”  “It was never designed to solve the problem,” he said. As the Texas senator referenced, the bill would have expanded what are known as alternatives to detention (ATD) for those who enter the country illegally, make work permits immediately available for those who pass initial asylum screenings, provide funding for attorneys to represent some unaccompanied minors, and would have established a threshold of an average of 5,000 border crossings a day for one week before ushering in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emergency authority that would bar illegal immigrants from entering the country between ports of entry.  He also pointed to the fact that chief Democrat negotiator, Murphy, wrote of the bill on X that, “The border never closes, but claims must be processed at the ports.” TEXAS DEM’S SENATE AD FEATURES BORDER WALL HE ONCE BLASTED AS ‘RACIST’ Murphy didn’t respond to Republican suggestions that his bill would have made the border worse and said it was false that it would have codified catch and release or that it would not actually ever shut down the border. “Those are not true,” he told Fox News Digital on Thursday. The bill faced its first procedural vote in February as part of a supplemental spending deal that also included funding for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The vote was 49-50, failing to garner the necessary 60 votes to move forward. A supplemental foreign aid package ultimately passed without the border measure.  “There were a lot of good things in that bill, but in the end, we did not address the one thing that I think is a legitimate argument: That’s trust in this administration to implement it,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told reporters on Thursday.  ROGERS ADDRESSES ABORTION AMID SLOTKIN ATTACKS: ‘MICHIGAN VOTERS HAVE ALREADY DECIDED’ Lankford, along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, were the only Republicans to vote in favor of the negotiated bill in February.  Senate Democrats revived the bill for a second procedural vote in May, which failed again by a worse margin. Two of the three negotiators, Sinema and Lankford, voted against it in the ultimate 43-50 vote. Both Romney and Collins also voted against advancing it in the second vote. Collins told Fox News Digital on Thursday, “I don’t think it was the be all and end all, but I think it would have helped.” Democrats running for Senate have panned their Republican counterparts for coming out against the negotiated bill, and have used their support for it during their respective campaigns to demonstrate that they will work to address the border.  For example, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who is embroiled in what is considered one of the most competitive races in the country, referenced his support of the measure in an April ad that said, “Jon Tester worked with Republicans, fighting to shut down the border, target fentanyl traffickers, and add hundreds of new border patrol agents.” Democrats in Senate races are not the only ones using this bill to their advantage. Vice President Kamala Harris is campaigning on signing the bill into law if she is elected president in November.  As for whether Democrats’ advocacy for the bill will resonate with voters, Collins told Fox News Digital it won’t. “The president did absolutely nothing by way of executive orders or of really pushing that bill for years. He created the crisis,” she said of President Biden.  TOP 5 MOMENTS DURING TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: ‘I’M TALKING NOW’ Tillis noted that Biden and Harris “conveniently leave out how they haven’t enforced existing laws.” He characterized Republican discussions regarding the negotiated bill, explaining, “There were people that were saying, ‘I don’t mind the policy. I just don’t think you’ll execute.’”  Romney reiterated his disagreement with some of his conference members on the measure, suggesting they are doing their “best to provide an excuse for a very unfortunate vote.” According to him, Trump was “of course” responsible for its failure.  Lankford’s office declined to provide comment to Fox News Digital.  Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.