House small business panel releases year-end report on ‘partisan’ Biden agency electioneering allegations
EXCLUSIVE: The House Small Business Committee is releasing its year-end interim report on what it found to be the “weaponizing [of] federal resources” for political purposes within the Small Business Administration. Earlier this year, Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, committee chair, issued a rare subpoena to Small Business Administration officials over their work in connection with an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forged with the Michigan Department of State. The MOU was in accordance with President Biden’s 2021 executive order “14019: Promoting Access to Voting.” However, the committee alleged the SBA had been involved in partisan voter registration outreach in a key swing state – rather than simply aiding voters across the board. The committee report, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, found Biden’s executive order to be an “improper use of executive authority” and that SBA actions in accordance with it thereby “pose unnecessary risks to the integrity of U.S. elections.” LAWMAKERS SLAM SBA ‘STONEWALLING’ OVER MICHIGAN VOTER MEMO AS ELECTIONEERING CLAIMS SURFACE “The SBA’s MOU with the State of Michigan and travel patterns of senior SBA officials indicate the conflation of official duty and partisan political activities,” the committee found. “Either intentionally or negligently, the SBA has failed to refute concerns of this MOU’s partisan nature.” The committee’s report also found the SBA “strayed from its core mission” in working with Michigan under the voter registration MOU, and that it “engaged in a protracted campaign to obscure the makeup of its implementation of E.O. 14019 and obfuscate the truth of alleged political activities at the SBA to the committee.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised the work of the committee and its interim report, saying it rightly exposed “not only the improper use of executive authority but also significant concerns about actions taken by an agency that may jeopardize the integrity of U.S. elections.” WATCHDOG GROUP SUES FEDS FOR RECORDS AS LAWMAKER CALLS VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS A ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’ “The stark contrast between the SBA’s core mission and its involvement in voter registration activities highlights the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability,” Johnson said. Johnson added he and the GOP caucus are looking forward to working with President-elect Trump to end such “abuses.” The 47-page report further alleged the SBA exceeded the requirements of state and federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the Anti-Deficiency Act, and the Hatch Act, which prohibits government officials from politicking in their official capacity. In May, Williams and his committee, along with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, demanded travel schedules, official calendars and other documents from the SBA. In addition, at least one Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit was separately launched by the right-leaning Oversight Project for some of the same documents as Congress was being purportedly “stonewalled.” Williams initially accused the SBA and Administrator Isabel Casillas-Guzman of shirking her responsibility to help “Main Street” and instead focusing on registering voters in heavily Democratic parts of Michigan like Detroit and Saginaw – while ignoring committee oversight demands. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., chair of the House Administration Committee – whose panel has oversight over legislative matters relating to elections – said that while elections are partisan affairs, election administration should not be. “The Biden-Harris administration partnering with the Michigan Department of State to use your taxpayer dollars for a partisan purpose should never be allowed,” he said. KEY BIDEN AGENCY SLAPPED WITH HISTORIC SUBPOENAS OVER ‘IMPROPER’ SWING-STATE VOTER REGISTRATION PUSH Digging into the executive order that the SBA’s actions aimed to align with, Williams’ report found it changed the way the executive branch enforces the National Voter Registration Act, and uniquely requires agency officials to work with the White House to find ways to support federal employees who wish to volunteer as election workers or watchers. The report added that the choice of Michigan as the petri dish for the SBA’s work under the executive order caught the committee’s attention early, due to its routine status as a swing state and the fact its top officials were “sympath[etic]” to the Biden-Harris campaign. “This interim report illustrates how the MOU blurs the line between personal political beliefs and the official duties of SBA and Michigan state employees,” the document reads. The report also included copies of email chains between the White House, SBA and/or outside advocacy organizations. “The committee discovered that many senior SBA employees have relationships with these left-leaning organizations,” it read. “Notably, the Biden-Harris Administration ‘warmly welcomed’ these relationships between nonpartisan agencies and left-leaning organizations.” In summing up and reacting to the report, Williams said the SBA was created to “aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.” In previous remarks to Fox News Digital, the top Democrat on Williams’ committee expressed dismay at the subpoenas and investigatory practices by Williams in probing the MOU. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a statement, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said the committee had long prided itself on “bipartisan cooperation to help American entrepreneurs.” “Unfortunately, with [these] subpoenas, Republicans have rejected these principles to pursue a partisan inquiry,” Velazquez said. Representatives for the SBA have repeatedly denied the allegations made by Congress’ investigation. In October, a spokesperson for Guzman said the explicit allegations of “stonewalling” the committee’s work were “demonstrably false.” A spokesperson for the SBA told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that any allegations of “stonewalling” are “demonstrably false.” “For nearly two years, the SBA has cooperated with the committee’s inquiry, testifying at multiple hearings, providing the committee staff with briefings, making agency officials available for transcribed interviews, and producing thousands of pages of documents responsive to their inquiry,” the spokesperson said, calling the allegations “baseless.”
Patel ‘ready to serve’ as FBI director, seeks ‘smooth transition’ after Wray resignation news
FIRST ON FOX: President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, said Wednesday that he’s seeking a “smooth transition” to replace Christopher Wray, who had announced just moments earlier that he plans to step down from his post leading the bureau at the end of the Biden administration. “I look forward to a smooth transition,” Patel told Fox News Digital on Wednesday in response to the announcement from Wray. “I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” Trump, during his first term as president, had tapped Wray to replace James Comey. Trump fired Comey in 2017, fewer than four years into his tenure. Trump said earlier this month that he planned to replace Wray with Patel, a close ally of the president-elect. Patel served in the first Trump administration, both as a deputy assistant and as the senior director for counterterrorism. In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump praised the news of Wray’s resignation, describing it as a “great day for America” and a departure that would end what Trump has repeatedly criticized as the “Weaponization” of the Justice Department. “Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency’s History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon,” Trump added. The remarks from Patel and Trump came shortly after Wray told FBI employees on Wednesday he planned to step down from his position as FBI director at the end of President Joe Biden’s tenure. “After weeks of careful thought, I’ve decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down,” Wray told FBI employees, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” This is a breaking news story. Check back shortly for updates.
Republicans looking for new ways to force through China crackdowns left out of yearly defense bill
After a number of key legislative priorities related to cracking down on China failed to make it into the yearly defense bill, Republicans are working on ways to get them signed into law before the end of the year. On Wednesday, the House will vote on the sprawling 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets policy plans for the Pentagon’s $895 billion budget. That legislation was negotiated between Republican and Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate and typically enjoys wide bipartisan support. And while the package will not advance legislation aimed at cracking down on U.S. dollars flowing toward Chinese Communist Party-affiliated companies, Republicans will push to include those provisions, which are a key priority for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in other must-pass legislation. With a government funding deadline in 10 days, those measures could be included in a continuing resolution (CR), which would punt the funding deadline down the road and keep budgets at FY 2024 levels, multiple sources familiar with negotiations confirmed to Fox News Digital. “During the course of negotiations on the annual defense bill, significant progress was made towards achieving consensus on provisions to counter China and strengthen our economic security. That momentum remains and more time is needed to get that important work done with the goal of passage before the end of the year,” Johnson said in a statement. One provision that was left out would prevent the U.S. from investing in the development of military technologies, a way to codify a rule put forward by President Biden’s Treasury Department. The rule prohibits U.S. financing of some China-based ventures and requires Americans to notify the government of their involvement in others. BIDEN FINALIZES CRACKDOWN ON US MILITARY TECH INVESTMENTS IN CHINA WITH ONE WEEK TO LAME DUCK SESSION It restricts and monitors U.S. investments in artificial intelligence, computer chips and quantum computing, all of which have a dual use in the defense and commercial sectors. The rule seeks to limit the access “countries of concern,” like China, including Hong Kong and Macao, have to U.S. dollars to fund the development of high-level technologies like next-generation missile systems and fighter jets they could then utilize for their own military. It’s set to take effect Jan. 2. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., demanded that outbound investments piece not be included in the negotiated NDAA, three sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed. Some mused that Democrats put up a fight over China provisions because they were frustrated with another provision Republicans insisted on including: a ban on military health care providers from paying for transgender operations like sex changes for dependent minors if it would leave them sterile. Politico was first to report about the back-and-forth. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he would not vote for the legislation – which includes big pay raises for junior troops – over the transgender provision. And in a relief for Chinese biotechnology companies, the Biosecure Act, which prohibits the U.S. government from contracting with companies that do business with a “biotechnology company of concern,” has been left out of the NDAA. Three sources familiar with the negotiations told Fox News Digital that Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., stood in the way of the legislation’s inclusion in the negotiated defense bill. Raskin could not be reached for comment on his opposition. McGovern opposed the bill when it came up for a stand-alone vote in the House. “The Biosecure Act, is a weak bill, and as written, it could actually make the problem even worse,” he said in a statement. “First, naming specific companies will create a ‘whack-a-mole’ situation where entities can change their name and reincorporate to evade sanctions,” he went on. “Second, it’s totally wrong to call out specific companies without any formal investigation or interagency process – that might be how they do things in the [People’s Republic of China], but this is the United States of America where we ought to have a thorough, independent investigation.” CHINESE MILITARY COMPANY’S MACHINERY IN USE AT NATION’S TOP SECRET RESEARCH LAB, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SAYS In September, Fox News Digital reported that lawmakers were aware of a machine operated by a Chinese military company in use at the nation’s most secretive government laboratories. The machine operated by Chinese biotech company BGI is in use at the Los Alamos lab in New Mexico. BGI, among other companies, is included in a ban in the Biosecure Act. Also among them is WuXi Biologics, a company that planned to build a $300 million biomedical plant in McGovern’s district. Attaching the China outbound investment provision and the Biosecure Act to must-pass legislation would ensure it doesn’t die in the Democratic-led Senate the way House GOP-led bills often do.
Democrat slammed for saying he’s tired of hearing about migrant crime from law enforcement: ‘Partisan hack’
Democratic New York Rep. Dan Goldman is being ripped for comments he made during a House hearing on illegal immigration about Nassau County law enforcement, saying he is looking forward to not having to hear from Nassau police officers again. Nassau County Police Commissioner Pat Ryder, who testified during the hearing, told Fox News Digital he was “taken aback” by Goldman’s comments, which he said were “disrespectful” to him and all men and women in law enforcement. The incident occurred during a House Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology hearing titled “Given the Green Light: Open Border Policies and Threats to Law Enforcement.” After being recognized by subcommittee Chairman Anthony D’Esposito, Goldman, who represents portions of Manhattan and Brooklyn, launched into a rant in which he said he was shocked to have to sit through another hearing about the illegal immigration crisis and indicated he was especially tired of hearing from Nassau County, New York, law enforcement officials. BORDER PATROL CHIEF THRILLED WITH TRUMP BORDER CZAR PICK AFTER ‘EXHAUSTING’ BIDEN-ERA CRISIS: ‘I’M EXCITED’ “It is quite shocking that we are having another hearing about this same topic. We have certainly exhausted it,” Goldman said. “I think we’ve probably had every single law enforcement official from Nassau County before this subcommittee. Can’t say I’m going to miss that when the chairman is not going to be with us next term.” Goldman proceeded to repeatedly cut off some of the law enforcement officials testifying during his questioning. In one instance, Goldman shouted, “It’s my time sir,” when Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association, attempted to finish answering a question. D’Esposito, who represents Nassau County in Congress, pointed out during the hearing that Goldman, who has a net worth of $253 million and is heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. jeans company, owns a summer home in the county and is one of the residents kept safe by Nassau officers. DEM REP CONFRONTED WITH CLIP OF HIMSELF CLAIMING BIDEN WOULDN’T PARDON HUNTER: ‘WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?’ “Commissioner Ryder, I’m sure Mr. Goldman means no absolute disrespect to the people of Nassau County as he appreciates you keeping his summer home safe each year,” D’Esposito said immediately after Goldman’s time talking had expired. “Unfortunately, it’s as expected from a partisan hack like Dan Goldman,” the chairman told Fox News Digital. “These are the men and women that hold the line between good and evil. And the idea that Congressman Goldman had to talk about the fact that he was looking forward to not having to hear from Nassau County police officials, well, he should take inspiration from the work that’s been done here in Nassau County,” said D’Esposito. ‘GAME ON’: TRUMP BORDER CZAR FIRES BACK AFTER HOUSE DEM PROMISES ‘RESISTANCE’ TO DEPORTATIONS Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, told Fox News Digital Goldman “uniformly winds up on the wrong side of the issue” whenever he speaks out about public safety issues. “Thus, it isn’t very surprising that he doesn’t want to hear from the men and women who are actually out on the streets trying to protect our communities. He’s just playing to form and doesn’t know it. That’s all,” said Johnson. Ryder told Fox News Digital he was struck by the unprofessionalism displayed by Goldman during the hearing. “I take time out of my schedule to prepare a statement, present the PowerPoint and I send it all in. I fly down here yesterday morning at 4 a.m. I get in front of Congress … and before he even got into asking me a question, which he never did, he makes that blanket statement like I’m offending him by being there And then, [regarding] law enforcement, he’s tired of hearing from the Nassau County Police Department,” said Ryder. It was Ryder’s first time testifying before Congress. He said he was eager to share his expertise on the challenges law enforcement faces responding to the migrant crisis and migrant crime in his community. Ryder had no idea why Goldman seemed to be personally bothered by his presence. “We have to do what we have to do for our residents in Nassau County. He’s got to do what he’s got to do for his residents in New York City. But to be disrespectful at a public hearing like that for no reason — I didn’t do any attacks on him — I was really taken aback. And I thought it to be quite unfair that he would attack somebody who is a citizen coming there to do the right thing and give up my opinion and my statistical data in support of our migrant crime issue,” he said. While he believes his message was received on the right side of the aisle, he said, “I don’t believe it was received by everyone on the left side of the aisle, especially not Congressman Goldman. “He got up right after he made his statement and left, he just walked out,” added Ryder. “I thought that was also disrespectful, the hearings were not over.” Ryder said he believes Goldman and many other politicians who have criticized law enforcement for doing their jobs could learn a lesson from the officers of Nassau County. “The men and women in law enforcement, law professionals, they will go out and do their job no matter what the law is, no matter what the challenges. We don’t question it. We just go and do it. … We have a very proactive approach towards dealing with the migrant issues, but we are respectful and fair,” he said. “They can all take a little bit of a lesson on that professionalism.”
Trump says Wray resignation ‘great day for America,’ touts Kash Patel as ‘most qualified’ to lead FBI
FIRST ON FOX: President-elect Trump said Christopher Wray’s resignation is a “great day for America,” telling Fox News Digital it “will end the weaponization” of the FBI, while touting his nominee Kash Patel as the “most qualified” to lead the bureau. Wray announced Wednesday afternoon his plans to resign in January 2025. HERE’S WHAT KASH PATEL’S FORMER COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING ABOUT HIM “The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I just don’t know what happened to him.” Trump said his administration “will now restore the rule of law for all Americans.” “Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them.” The president-elect looked ahead to his nominee to lead the bureau, Kash Patel. “Kash Patel is the most qualified nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency’s History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon,” Trump said. “As everyone knows, I have great respect for the rank-and-file of the FBI, and they have great respect for me. They want to see these changes every bit as much as I do but, more importantly, the American People are demanding a strong, but fair, system of justice.” “We want our FBI back, and that will now happen,” he continued. “I look forward to Kash Patel’s confirmation, so that the process of Making the FBI Great Again can begin.” During a town hall Wednesday, Wray announced his plans to resign next month. “After weeks of careful thought, I’ve decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,” Wray said during the town hall. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The FBI director said the decision was not easy for him, adding he loves the FBI, its mission and people. Wray is seven years into his 10-year term. Trump appointed Wray in 2017 after he fired former Director James Comey from the post. Trump nominated Kash Patel to serve as FBI director earlier this month, giving Wray the option to leave on his own or be fired. TRUMP FBI DIRECTOR PICK KASH PATEL ‘INSTRUMENTAL IN UNRAVELING’ RUSSIA COLLUSION HOAX, FORMER CHAIR SAYS While Wray’s last day is still undecided, it is expected to be in January before Trump’s inauguration. The moment Wray leaves, Deputy Director Paul Abbate will become acting director until the new director is in place. Abbate is a career official who is eligible to retire from the bureau soon. He planned months ago to retire in the new year. Meanwhile, Patel has been meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week and has received warm reception. Patel’s experience ranges from personally carrying out dangerous missions in the Middle East in an effort to bring home U.S. hostages to implementing counterterrorism strategies against America’s most-wanted terrorists. Current and former U.S. national security officials and lawmakers say that when looking at his résumé “objectively,” he is “one of the most experienced people ever to be nominated” to lead the bureau. FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION During the first Trump administration, Patel served as a deputy assistant to Trump and as senior director for counterterrorism. In that role, Patel was involved in presidential missions aimed at decimating Al-Qaeda senior leadership and ISIS command and control. Patel was involved in the planning of the mission to take out Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, among others. Patel also was involved in efforts to bring some of the most-wanted terrorists to the U.S. for prosecution, and worked on Trump administration efforts to return dozens of U.S. hostages back home. Beyond his counterterrorism work, Patel was heavily involved in U.S. strategy to counter Chinese, Russian, Iranian and North Korean efforts against U.S. interests. He also worked on the implementation of multimillion-dollar sanctions against foreign adversaries. Prior to working as a deputy to Trump and in the NSC, Patel worked in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as the principal deputy to the acting DNI Ric Grenell and helped former Director John Ratcliffe transition into the role. Trump nominated Ratcliffe last month to serve as the director of the CIA. At ODNI, Patel also worked to focus intelligence collection against counter narcotic and transnational threats.
Mast blasts Blinken over ‘tens of billions’ of US taxpayer dollars sent to Taliban post-Afghanistan withdrawal
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., excoriated Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the estimated “tens of billions” of U.S. taxpayer dollars he says have been sent to the Taliban since U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan. Mast, who was selected a day earlier to become the new chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee next month, grilled Blinken over the Biden administration’s handling of the chaotic August 2021 withdrawal. The current committee chair, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, issued multiple subpoenas in September for Blinken to testify. Under threat of a contempt of Congress vote, he finally agreed. Mast asked the U.S.’ top diplomat if he had been in Afghanistan since the killing of 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians by a suicide bombing attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate, and Blinken responded that he had not. Noting that the United States no longer has control of the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan, Mast said, “yet we are still giving the Taliban tens of billions of dollars.” “There’s an American citizen out there, literally woke up this morning losing 30% of their paycheck. And a good percentage of that is going to the Taliban or other programs abroad,” Mast said. “And this is something that we all need to think about, and we will be thinking about deeply for the next two years. There’s a joke that’s made often out there about kids going to college to learn basket weaving, and what a joke that would be. But the United States right now is literally sending tens of millions of dollars to the Taliban. 14.9 million, to be exact, to teach Afghans how to do carpet weaving.” GENERAL INVOLVED IN AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL HAS PROMOTION CONFIRMED BY SENATE “We are giving $280 million to the United Nations to do cash transfers for food in Afghanistan,” Mast continued. “Yet we’re not sending an ear of corn from Iowa, a sack of potatoes from Idaho, or a cucumber or an orange from Florida. And that discounts the fact that there’s no American tonnage going through our ports to send those things out of here, either. It’s just cash transfers.” Citing reports by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which tracks the status of U.S. funds appropriated for reconstruction efforts, Mast said another $75 million has been sent to teach women to become farmers. “I don’t believe that we spend $30 million in the United States of America to teach women to be farmers,” Mast said. Earlier, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., stressed how since Afghanistan fell to the Taliban “women have effectively been banished from public life, unable to speak in public or holding a job, including nursing.” “My colleague Mr. Wilson brought up that they can’t even dance in the streets or speak to one another or go to school. I’m not sure that we can trust that that $75 million is being used to teach them agriculture,” Mast said. “And as you pointed out, we don’t have any diplomats on the ground to confirm the validity of these programs.” Mast also asked Blinken to explain the $3.5 billion transferred to the Afghan fund “that is tended to protect the macro financial stability on behalf of the Afghan people.” TALIBAN BANS WOMEN ‘HEARING OTHER WOMEN’S VOICES’ IN LATEST DECREE “What the hell does that mean? Can you tell me? I don’t know, that’s a bunch of gibberish to me,” Mast pressed. “Even worse, by the numbers, we spent $9 billion to resettle 90,000 roughly Afghan refugees here since the fall of Afghanistan. My simple Army math tells me that’s about $100,000 a person. That’s absurd. So my question for you. We do not even have an embassy in Afghanistan. We have no diplomats there. What are we doing giving them $1?” Blinken’s response centered on how the money the United States and other countries provide is implemented through partners, such as United Nations agencies and NGOs. “Yes, we could say that about all the State Department dollars, foreign NGOs, foreign countries, foreign companies, and in this case, foreign adversaries,” Mast interjected. “Mr. Secretary, you know for a fact that people literally, especially outside of this country, they directly lied to us,” Mast said. “Your people had to come back and correct. Hey, it turns out we were, in fact, spending half a million dollars to expand atheism in Nepal. through the third party implementer of Humanist International. They were lying to us. They didn’t show us the exact slide show that they put together for half a million dollars. And all this, they lied to us. We have no eyes on the ground. And I would simply close with this. We again, we do not even have an embassy there. We have no business putting one dollar into that place.” Mast was referencing how a two-year investigation by House Republicans forced the State Department to admit that a $500,000 grant intended to promote “humanism and secularism” in Nepal may have been misused. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In response, Blinken said he respectfully disagreed with Mast’s opposition to the Afghan funds, saying, “The work we have done through these partners, and many other countries have done, has saved many, many lives in an incredibly difficult situation.”
Hakeem Jeffries says he’s ‘prepared to find common ground’ with Trump next year
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pledged to try to find agreement with President-elect Trump when the Republican takes power next year. “Democrats have consistently made clear that we are ready, willing and able, to find bipartisan common ground with the incoming administration on any issue,” Jeffries said during his weekly press conference on Wednesday. One issue he held up in particular was finding bipartisan ways to tackle the cost of living crisis that’s putting a strain on millions of Americans. He later reasserted that promise when asked by a reporter about how he anticipates navigating a relationship with Trump. DANIEL PENNY TO BE TAPPED FOR CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL BY HOUSE GOP LAWMAKER “We are prepared to find common ground with the incoming administration on any issue, particularly as it relates to the most decisive ones to emerge from this election, which, in our view, is to deal with the high cost of living,” Jeffries said. “The American people are correct that the deck has been stacked against everyday Americans for decades in ways that undermine the ability for far too many Americans to access the American Dream.” The Democratic leader said he has not spoken with Trump yet since his election but anticipated a conversation “in the next few weeks.” REPUBLICANS GIVE DETAILS FROM CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS WITH DOGE’S MUSK, RAMASWAMY Jeffries will be among the figures to watch next year as lawmakers navigate another Trump-held Washington. He is the only one of the four congressional leaders next year to not have any kind of relationship with Trump. His predecessor, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had a famously combative relationship with the president-elect. MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a close ally of Trump’s, will almost certainly need to have buy-in from Jeffries on critical legislation next year. With several Republicans expected to leave the House for Trump administration roles, the likely margin for at least the first few months in Congress will be 217-215 – meaning Republicans must vote in lock-step to pass any bills without Democratic support.
Manchin, Sinema tank Schumer lame-duck effort to secure Dem majority on top labor board
In a lame duck effort, President Biden and Senate Democrats tried to re-confirm National Labor Relations Board Chair Lauren McFerran, a Democrat, to another five-year term, and thereby solidify a Democrat majority on the board until well into President-elect Donald Trump’s term. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., failed to handicap Trump’s impact on labor and unions for the first two years of his term with the vote, which took place on Wednesday afternoon. Outgoing Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., dealt their caucus blows, voting down the test vote. MCCONNELL’S SENATE MONEY MACHINE MAKES TRANSITION TO THUNE AS NEW ERA BEGINS McFerran was not re-confirmed on the floor, despite the Democrats’ effort. Her nomination has been waiting to be considered since August when Democrats advanced her out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). The Democrats notably have a razor-thin majority of only 51 and making sure all senators are there to vote can often be tricky. Senators voted 49 to 50 against ending debate and proceeding to a vote on her re-confirmation. Schumer said in a statement following the failed cloture vote: “It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes.” A point of frustration for Republicans was the fact that HELP Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., denied a request from his counterpart Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, R-La., to hold a public hearing on McFerran before advancing her. ‘EXCEPTIONALLY QUALIFIED’: TRUMP TRANSITION ROLLS OUT VIDEO HYPING HEGSETH AMID CAPITOL HILL MEETINGS “This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern,” Cassidy said in a statement. “I am glad the Senate rejected Democrats’ partisan attempt to deny President Trump the opportunity to choose his own nominees and enact a pro-America, pro-worker agenda with the mandate he has from the American people.” Schumer filed cloture on her nomination on Monday, setting up a vote on Wednesday. In floor remarks, the New York Democrat did not acknowledge the lame-duck nature of the vote, telling his colleagues, “If you truly care about working families, if you care about fixing income inequality in America, then you should be in favor of advancing today’s NLRB nominees. You can’t say you are for working families, then go and vote no today, because the NLRB protects workers from mistreatment on the job, and from overreaching employers.” RACHEL MORIN’S MOM PLEADS SENATORS ‘HEAR OUR CRIES FOR HELP’ IN MASS DEPORTATIONS HEARING TESTIMONY In his own remarks, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said, “The NLRB member who’s held primary responsibility for executing on the Biden-Big Labor agenda is its chair, Lauren McFerran. And she’s up for confirmation to another term.” GOP SENATOR QUESTIONS FBI OVER REPORTED IRANIAN HACK ATTEMPT OF TRUMP PICK KASH PATEL He added, “This is to say nothing of the fact that her confirmation would give a lame-duck President control of an independent board well into his successor’s term!” Since McFerran was not re-confirmed, the position will be Trump’s to fill during his term. Trump’s transition team did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk sounded the alarm bell on Schumer and Biden’s effort on Monday, writing on X, “EMERGENCY: Chuck Schumer is trying to ram through Dem activist Lauren McFerran for another term chairing the National Labor Relations Board—a very big deal. If successful, we will have a Dem Chair of the NLRB for the first 2 YEARS of Trump’s Presidency. We need every GOP Senator to show up and block her!”
FBI Director Christopher Wray announces resignation
FBI Director Christopher Wray is expected to announce his resignation any moment, to step down from his post. Fox News learned Wray will make the announcement during an FBI town hall in Washington, D.C., during which thousands of FBI employees are expected to join virtually across the country. Wray was 7 years into his 10-year term. GRASSLEY RIPS WRAY’S ‘FAILED’ LEADERSHIP AT FBI WITH 11 PAGES OF EXAMPLES IN BLISTERING ‘NO CONFIDENCE’ LETTER The Republican lawyer in D.C. was hired by then President Trump in 2017 after he fired former Director James Comey. Since being re-elected to a second term in the Oval Office, Trump has nominated Kash Patel to succeed Wray, giving the current director two options: leave on his own or be fired. While Wray’s last day is still undecided, it is expected to be in January before Trump’s inauguration. The moment Wray officially leaves, Deputy Director Paul Abbate will become acting director until a new director – Patel if confirmed – is in place. Abbate is a career official who is eligible to retire from the bureau very soon. He planned months ago to retire in the new year.
Red state AG slams Biden admin’s attempt to ‘rewrite’ immigration law: ‘Alice in Wonderland stuff’
A federal judge in North Dakota blocked a Biden administration rule that allowed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to apply for ObamaCare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who led the lawsuit against the Biden administration, called the judge’s ruling on Monday “not surprising,” in an interview with Fox News Digital. “In this case, it was argued before the election, and we definitely got the impression at the hearing that the judge was going to rule the way he did,” Kobach told Fox News Digital. “And similarly, there are a bunch of other cases where Republican states brought challenges to Biden administration policies, where again, the Biden administration was just torturing the English language and changing the meaning of statutes.” “And so what the Biden administration attempted to do was to say, ‘Well, we will just define these categories of illegal aliens as lawfully present, even though they’re not,’” Kobach said. “It’s Alice in Wonderland stuff.” TRUMP CLAIMS GOP ‘VERY OPEN’ TO KEEPING ‘DREAMERS’ IN US, TAKES SHOT AT ‘VERY DIFFICULT’ DEMS In the preliminary injunction issued Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor – appointed by President Trump during his first term – sided with 19 state attorneys general who filed a lawsuit against Biden’s rule in August. The state attorneys general argued it violates a law that bars ObamaCare benefits to illegal immigrants. Biden’s regulation will now not be enforced in those states. “The Court concludes, through a common-sense inference, that the powerful incentive of health care will encourage aliens who may otherwise vacate the Plaintiff States to remain,” Traynor wrote. The Biden administration’s executive action aimed to redefine illegal aliens as lawfully present. The states opposing the ruling were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. If Biden’s ruling remained in place, it would have resulted in over 100,000 uninsured illegal immigrants accessing health insurance. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule would have also allowed DACA recipients to apply for coverage through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces. The rule would have done so by making what HHS calls “technical modifications” to the definition of “lawfully present” used to determine eligibility. FIREBRAND GOP LAWMAKERS DEMANDS MAYORKAS PRESERVE BORDER CRISIS RECORDS FOR TRUMP ADMIN: ‘UNDO THE DAMAGE DONE’ President Obama announced the DACA program on June 15, 2012, as an executive action to address the situation of young illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. The program was not passed through Congress but was implemented via a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memorandum. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Trump’s first-term administration tried to end DACA, but the Supreme Court blocked it in 2020. “The impact on federal taxpayers, if this Biden regulation had gone through, would have been immense, because the benefit of getting the ObamaCare subsidy in any given year might be $4,000 or so,” Kobach said. “But if you multiply that times the hundreds of dreamers who would have gotten this benefit, and they would have gotten year after year… that would have included basically any illegal alien who’s got work authorization, and they number in the thousands. So the total impact, the total financial impact on taxpayers would certainly have been in the millions, possibly in the hundreds of millions.” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) said in statement to media it is reviewing a lawsuit but does not comment on ongoing litigation. Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.