Spending showdown: Republicans will need to corral votes – but they haven’t asked, yet
In about six weeks, there could be another scramble to avert a government shutdown. One of the biggest untold stories in Washington right now is that bipartisan, bicameral Congressional leaders, plus top appropriators, have yet to forge an agreement on a “topline” spending number for the rest of fiscal year 2025 – which runs until October 1. The House tackled five of the 12 spending bills last year – but none so far this year. The Senate has spent its time burning through confirmations. Floor time is at a premium. Senate Democrats put zero appropriations bills on the floor when they ran the place. And none so far this year with the GOP in majority. So the new day in Washington is the old day when it comes to Congressional spending. The new deadline to avoid a government shutdown is March 14. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House. It’s unclear precisely what President Trump wants with the spending bills. Of course, it wasn’t clear what he wanted in December – until he made it clear at the last minute. THE POLITICAL FIRESTORM THAT’S ABOUT TO SINGE CAPITOL HILL In September, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., punted the spending battle until Christmas. And then Johnson released a massive, 1,500-page bill which the President, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and other conservatives excoriated. At the last minute, President Trump demanded a debt ceiling increase. He also advocated for a government shutdown along the way. Johnson had to yank that spending package off the floor just hours before a vote and start all over, finally passing a lean bill just before the December 20 deadline. And so, here we go again. “I think we’re looking at a CR,” lamented one veteran House Republican close to the spending process. To the uninitiated, a “CR,” is Congress-speak for a “continuing resolution.” It is a stopgap bill to fund the government at present levels – without initiating any new programs or spending. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., got into trouble with conservatives for approving a CR to avert a shutdown in September 2023. Johnson seized the gavel in the fall of 2023, promising to do individual spending bills. But Johnson’s struggled to do that, too. SPEAKER JOHNSON INVITES TRUMP TO ADDRESS CONGRESS AMID BUSY FIRST 100-DAY SPRINT Some members of the Freedom Caucus oppose voting for any interim spending bills like a CR. So what are House Republicans to do? Multiple rank-and-file Republicans observed that the House could have tried to knock out a few bills since Congress returned to session in early January. But that hasn’t happened. This comes as House Republicans huddle at President Trump’s golf club in Doral, Fla. The focus of the meeting is to figure out concrete plans for the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” to cut taxes and slash government spending. But because of so much attention on that measure, some Republicans fret the appropriations clashes have been all but forgotten. Until they aren’t. And, as an aside, should the “big, beautiful bill” get a moniker? Should we call it the BBB? Of course, former President Biden’s initial try on a social spending and climate package was called “Build Back Better” in 2021. Official Washington sometimes referred to it as the BBB. That is until former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., made the BBB DOA. The 118th Congress – running from January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2025 – was stocked with drama. The House stumbled to elect a Speaker. Then ousted McCarthy a few months later. The House dithered for three weeks before electing Johnson. Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., found himself in legal trouble after he yanked a false fire alarm during a vote – ironically enough to avert a government shutdown. There was the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. And yes, multiple flirtations with government shutdowns and even a debt ceiling crisis. But amid all the pandemonium, the only thing that didn’t happen over the previous two years was a shutdown. Can they keep the streak alive? USER’S MANUAL: WHY SOME TRUMP NOMINEES COULD BE CONFIRMED WITH A VOICE VOTE – AND WHY SOME COULD NOT The only reason the government never shuttered during the last Congress was because House Democrats – in the minority – were willing to bail out Republicans – who had the majority. Democrats were willing to play ball and “do the right thing” in the last Congress to avert a fiscal calamity. But Democratic patience with Republicans has worn thin. It was one thing to help out when Democrats controlled the Senate and former President Biden occupied the White House. House Democrats may not be as charitable under the second administration of President Trump and GOP control of Congress. Yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., about what pound of flesh they might request from Republicans if they help avoid a government shutdown – or prevent the nation from a collision with the debt ceiling. One possible request: re-upping Obamacare tax credits due to expire next year. A failure to do so would trigger major premium hikes for more than 20 million Americans. But Jeffries played it cool. “Republicans have not opened up any line of communication with us. And they’ve made clear to America that they have a big, massive, beautiful mandate, which presumably means to us that they intend to pass a spending agreement on their own to avoid a government shutdown on their own and to raise the debt ceiling on their own,” said Jeffries. “It’s not hard to find me. They know where I’m at. They know my number. I haven’t received a single call about a single one of these issues.” The GOP is trained on the BBB and not on government funding. Even some GOP members suggested Republicans should have remained in session in Washington rather than heading to southern Florida for their retreat and a meeting with President Trump. JOHNSON REVEALS TRUMP’S WISHES ON DELIVERING HUGE POLICY OVERHAUL
Health experts prep Dem lawmakers on anti-vaccine arguments ahead of RFK Jr’s confirmation hearings
A group of Democratic senators previewed several anti-vaccine arguments during a roundtable discussion, including a claim that vaccines cause autism, several days before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s scheduled confirmation hearings later this week. Even though Kennedy’s name was “not supposed” to come up during the hearing, according to at least one of the health experts present at the discussion, his nomination to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was invoked frequently by lawmakers seeking answers about how to combat anti-vaccine claims and so-called “misinformation,” including arguments about vaccines that Kennedy has promoted in the past. One claim the senators asked the public health experts at the roundtable about was whether vaccines cause autism, a claim Kennedy has discussed publicly in interviews. “This is something that I hear a concern about quite a lot,” Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., asked the panel. “What, if any information, can you give us to help us push back against that?” RFK IS THE LEAST ‘SCARY’ THING HAPPENING TO THE US HEALTH SYSTEM, DR MAKARY WARNS The doctors on the panel explained the lack of robust studies proving this link while highlighting the wide breadth of studies that have shown no links between vaccines and autism. “Academic researchers, pediatricians, scientists took that concern seriously enough to spend tens of millions of dollars to answer the question,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician with an expertise in virology and immunology. “The more impactful part of your question is how do you get that information out there, because frankly, once you’ve scared people it’s hard to unscare them.” Offitt added that since there is no clear cause of autism, it makes it harder to refute claims from Kennedy and others. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of Johns Hopkins pointed lawmakers to preeminent medical authorities within the U.S., such as the National Academy of Sciences, as places they could go for evidence that vaccines do not cause autism. TULSI GABBARD, RFK JR EXPECTED TO FACE OPPOSITION IN SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS The Democratic group of lawmakers, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats, asked questions about, and learned ways to refute, other anti-vaccine claims, such as whether vaccine manufacturers are immune from being held accountable for vaccine injuries. The experts pointed out the presence of a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program that allows certain vaccine injury victims to receive compensation from the government, but they suggested that if Kennedy upended the current system and opened up more companies to liability, it could potentially put vaccine manufacturers out of business. TRUMP’S REINSTATEMENT OF TROOPS BOOTED OVER COVID VACCINE HAILED AS WIN FOR FREEDOM: ‘GREAT DAY FOR PATRIOTS’ “Am I right that the HHS secretary has some discretion about removing vaccines from that list [and opening them up to civil litigation] if they were to choose?” asked Sen. Time Kaine, D-Va. “Because if that were the case, I would obviously worry about – that would be one worry I would have and a set of questions I might like to ask people nominated for positions within HHS.” Other questions from lawmakers that the health experts helped answer included queries about how to distinguish between vaccine side effects versus vaccine complications, how to combat claims that vaccines are not studied enough, questions about how the government monitors the safety of vaccines, questions about how undermining vaccine efficacy can impact public health and more. DIET AND NUTRITION EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HOW RFK JR’S NOMINATION COULD IMPACT HOW WE EAT Kennedy will face tough questions about his stance on vaccines this week during his confirmation hearings in front of both the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). The chair of the Senate’s HELP committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called Kennedy “wrong” on vaccines during an interview earlier this month. Democrats, meanwhile, have been more pointed about their criticism. During the roundtable discussion with public health experts, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., called Kennedy “dangerous” and “unqualified” for the position of HHS secretary. “The bird flu, if it explodes, we’re going to need to have some confidence, especially in those people who should be vaccinated, that they can trust the government when they say that it’s safe, they can trust the medical community, and I’m just very afraid of Robert F. Kennedy’s candidacy,” Markey said. “Say goodbye to your smile and say hello to polio,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said after news of Kennedy’s nomination to head HHS. “This is a man who wants to stop kids from getting their polio and measles shots. He’s actually welcoming a return to polio, a disease we nearly eradicated.”
‘One bill, two bills, I don’t care’: Trump promises to get large reconciliation bill passed either way
President Donald Trump promised House Republicans they would secure the U.S. border through a reconciliation package at a House GOP issues conference Monday at Trump National Doral, his golf course and resort near Miami. Trump also said Congress would figure out whether his large policy overhaul will fit into one bill or two bills — an issue splitting Republicans in the House and Senate. “In the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to working with Congress on a reconciliation bill that financially takes care of our plan to totally and permanently restore the sovereign border of the United States once and for all,” Trump said. “This should include full funding for a record increase in border security personnel and retention bonuses for ICE and border patrol.” TIM SCOTT EMPHASIZES ‘RESULTS’ OVER RECONCILIATION PROCESS AS HE STAYS OUT OF DEBATE Trump also vowed to work with members of Congress on the “largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history.” Many of the reforms included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Trump passed during his first term are set to expire in 2025, and Trump’s new economic plan calls for extending such cuts. Meanwhile, Republicans remain divided about how they will move to advance their legislative priorities. While Republicans in the Senate are pushing for two bills under the budget reconciliation process to speed up enacting new policies, Trump and Republicans in the House historically have called for advancing one massive bill instead. However, Trump said Monday it doesn’t matter whether the legislative branch pushes one or two bills. “We don’t want to get hung up on the budget process … whether it’s one bill, two bills, I don’t care,” Trump said. “They’re going to work it out one way or the other. But the bottom line, the end result, is going to be the same.” Under the rules of the budget reconciliation process, passage only requires a 51-seat simple majority rather than the usual 60 seats. Even so, the use of the reconciliation process is sparse and must not include anything that could be considered “extraneous provisions.” Trump met with House and Senate GOP leaders on Tuesday, and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital after the meeting that he remained “agnostic about the process” of employing one bill versus two bills. REPUBLICAN LEADERS STILL AT ODDS ON RECONCILIATION DEBATE AFTER TRUMP MEETING “I think for us, results are more important than process,” Scott told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. “And if that requires us to have border security, tax reform, deportation — whatever we can get into a package or multiple packages — we have to produce results for the people,” he said. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
Trump’s transportation secretary nominee advances to final Senate vote
Sean Duffy, the president’s pick to lead the Department of Transportation, has advanced to the final round of the Senate confirmation process that will decide whether he assumes a top Cabinet position in President Donald Trump’s administration. Duffy was tapped by Trump to head the transportation agency for the next four years, undergoing a confirmation hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, which advanced his candidacy with bipartisan support. The Senate held a cloture vote for Duffy on Monday, which passed unanimously. TULSI GABBARD, RFK JR. EXPECTED TO FACE OPPOSITION IN SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS SENATE CONFIRMS KRISTI NOEM AS TRUMP’S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY The cloture vote came just minutes after the Senate voted to confirm Scott Bessent to serve as the secretary of the treasury. The Senate’s final vote on whether to confirm Duffy, a former Republican congressman, to the Cabinet post is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Texas Republicans in Congress propose bills to codify Trump executive orders
Ending birthright citizenship, increasing oil drilling, and leaving WHO are just a few bills the state’s Republicans pushed in Congress this month.
State AGs warn retail giant Costco for doubling down on ‘discriminatory’ DEI
Attorneys general in 19 states are warning Costco “to end all unlawful discrimination imposed by the company through diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies to reflect President Donald Trump’s recent executive order booting DEI out of federal agencies and warning private sectors to do the same. “Racial discrimination is both immoral and illegal. Race-based employment hiring violates state and federal law, and as the chief law enforcement officer of Kansas, I intend to enforce the law vigorously,” Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach told Fox News Digital in a statement. Trump’s executive order, signed during his first week in office, will task the attorneys general with rooting out sectors and organizations that allegedly engage in discriminatory DEI practices. Recommendations will be made for potential lawsuits against violators. REPUBLICAN STATE AGS AWAIT TRUMP-BROKERED TIKTOK DEAL, REMAIN SKEPTICAL ON APP SAFETY The order encourages private-sector entities to align with federal civil rights laws and discontinue “discriminatory” practices. Publicly traded companies, large nonprofits, foundations with significant assets, bar and medical associations and higher education institutions with substantial endowments are potential targets for DEI investigations. Trump also dissolved all DEI within the federal government. While big companies like Target, McDonald’s and Walmart backed off from their DEI policies, Costco shareholders voted last week to reject an anti-DEI proposal brought by activist shareholder group National Center for Public Policy Research. The measure would have required the wholesale grocery chain to issue a report on the risks associated with their DEI policies. The Costco board said its “commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary. The report requested by this proposal would not provide meaningful additional information,” according to reports. TRUMP’S CRACKDOWN ON TRANS TROOPS: NEW ORDER NIXES PREFERRED PRONOUNS AND RESTRICTS FACILITY USE “It’s time to ditch DEI. While other companies right the ship and abandon their illegal, woke policies, Costco has doubled down,” Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird told Fox News Digital in a statement. “I’m putting Costco on notice to do the right thing and eliminate discriminatory DEI. No American should be denied an opportunity because they don’t fit the woke mold.” The Rev. Al Sharpton led a “buy in” at the Harlem Costco in support of the company rejecting a bid that challenged their corporate DEI policies. The MSNBC host said that he and 100 members of his National Action Network shopped at the store Sunday. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAYS ‘NO MORE DEI AT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE’: ‘NO EXCEPTIONS’ “Race-neutral practices, on the other hand, honor the founding ideals of this country,” reads the letter sent to Costco CEO Ron Vachris by the 19 attorneys general. “Now, the federal government is also focusing on ensuring invidious racebased discrimination no longer finds a home in woke corporations.” The attorneys general want a response within the next 30 days to “either notify us that Costco has repealed its DEI policies or explain why Costco has failed to do so.” CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota also signed the letter. Fox News Digital reached out to Costco but did not hear back by the time of publication. Fox News Digital’s David Spector contributed to this report.
A victory for Trump’s ‘FAFO’: How the White House strong-armed one-time close ally Colombia over immigration
Colombia did an about-face at lightning-fast speed on accepting deportation flights in what President Donald Trump hailed as a victory for his “f— around and find out” [FAFO]-style of governing. One of the first diplomatic spats of the new administration, Colombia’s stunt put on full display a souring of relations with what was until recently one of the U.S.’ strongest allies in Latin America. But the U.S. strong-arming has already had reverberations across the globe: China announced it would be accepting its own nationals who unlawfully crossed into the U.S. and get deported under the new administration, faced with a campaign trail threat of up to 60% tariffs. PUTIN REPORTEDLY CONCERNED OVER RUSSIA’S ECONOMY AHEAD OF POSSIBLE TRUMP TARIFFS After President Gustavo Petro refused two flights full of Colombian migrants deported from the U.S., Trump immediately wrote in a Truth Social post he was imposing 25% tariffs on all goods from Colombia, a travel ban on Colombian government officials and other steep financial sanctions. He said the tariffs would reach as high as 50% by next week. At first, Petro retaliated with his own 25% tariffs on U.S. goods coming from Colombia. But amid intense political pressure from within his own government, the former Marxist guerrilla fighter acquiesced to all U.S. demands. After the debacle, Trump posted a celebratory AI-generated image of himself dressed as a mobster next to a sign that read “FAFO.” Experts say the Colombian leader was taken by surprise at the economic and diplomatic force by the U.S. “The Biden administration was doing very little to push back on some of the really disruptive actions by the Petro government… including on security cooperation and countering drug trafficking,” said Andres Martinez-Fernandez, Latin America analyst at the Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center. “The Biden White House was giving them carte blanche in terms of not pushing back. That’s important to note for why the Colombian government felt so bold.” COLOMBIAN LEADER QUICKLY CAVES AFTER TRUMP THREATS, OFFERS PRESIDENTIAL PLANE FOR DEPORTATION FLIGHTS “He was taking a shot, probably not expecting the U.S. to come down as hard as it did, when it did, because I imagine he wanted to draw this out,” said Joseph Humire, executive director at the Center for a Secure Free Society, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. “If Petro was left to his own devices, I think he would have gone through with it. I don’t think he cared about the Colombian economy.” “His own ministers, other sectors of the government, and obviously the private sector, probably pressured him a lot… and he relented.” Former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris had often urged migrants not to come to the U.S. – but illegal immigration figures remain stubbornly high. “I can say quite clearly: Don’t come,” Biden told ABC in an interview in 2021. But he continued: “We’re in the process of getting set up. Don’t leave your town or city or community.” Harris told Guatemalans that same year: “I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come. Do not come.” But annual net migration – the number of people coming into the U.S. minus the number leaving – reached an all-time record average of 2.4 million population growth between 2021 and 2023. Petro took on Trump over the weekend when he insisted he would not accept the return of migrants who were not treated with “dignity and respect” and who had arrived shackled or on military planes. But after steep tariff threats “panicked” Colombia’s government and business leaders, the White House later announced Colombia had agreed to all U.S. conditions, including accepting migrants on military planes. AOC ROASTED OVER POST ABOUT COLOMBIA TARIFFS AND COFFEE PRICES THAT ‘AGED LIKE HOT MILK’ Petro accepted 126 deportation flights last year, often with immigrants in shackles to prevent aviation emergencies, given that there are far more deportees than officers charged with accompanying them. “It’s not the first time this has happened, and I think that was complete BS on [Petro’s] part,” said Humire. “It was a pretty, I would say, poorly conceived effort by the Colombians on this front, and for numerous reasons, but, but in particular, because the Colombian economy and society and its security apparatus, defense apparatus, they’re also deeply integrated with the U.S. and dependent on the U.S.,” said Martinez-Fernandez. Colombia is one of the top recipients of U.S. aid in the world due to a security partnership. Since 2000, Colombia has received more than $13 billion in foreign assistance from the U.S. Departments of Defense and State and from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), largely focused on counternarcotics efforts, continued implementation of the government’s 2016 peace accord with the FARC rebel group, integration of Venezuelan migrants and refugees, and environmental programs. For years, Colombia had grown closer to the U.S., becoming a major non-NATO ally in 2022. But under Petro, relations between the two nations took a turn. Now, Colombia is intent on shrugging off U.S. influence and aligning itself with China, Russia and Iran, and deepening ties with Venezuela, which finds itself at odds with the U.S. under President Nicolas Maduro. “Petro’s intent is clear: he is legitimizing the dictatorship in Venezuela and Cuba, taking Colombia into a different geopolitical orbit,” Humire said. The spat caused a massive rift between Petro and his foreign minister, Luis Murillo, Colombian media outlets reported. Murillo, who’s reportedly been in contact with Trump special envoy Ric Grenell on the matter, spent the weekend phoning Republican U.S. lawmakers and plans to travel to the U.S. to smooth over relations with Colombia’s biggest trading partner. The U.S. accounts for 34% of Colombia’s total trade.
Trump White House rolls out social media account to hold ‘fake news accountable’
FIRST ON FOX: The White House on Monday afternoon rolled out a new social media account aimed to hold “fake news accountable.” “Welcome to the official Rapid Response account of the Trump 47 White House. We will be supporting President Donald J. Trump’s America First agenda and holding the Fake News accountable for their lies. Let’s Make America Great Again!” the newly formed X account, Rapid Response 47, posted in its first message. President Donald Trump’s first administration included labeling certain news outlets as “fake news” for reporting what the president claimed was biased content intended to undermine his leadership. Trump continued his fiery relationship with media outlets across his 2024 campaign. A senior GOP strategist celebrated that the new account “is bad news for the fake news media.” TRUMP ADMIN TOUTS PURGING ‘WORST’ ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS FROM US STREETS: ‘WORKING TIRELESSLY’ “President Trump won the 2024 election in part due to the irreverent and swift nature of their pushback against fake narratives and amplification of the facts,” the strategist said. “A Trump Rapid Response account is bad news for the fake news media and good news for the American people.” ‘FLOODING THE ZONE’: TRUMP HITS WARP SPEED IN FIRST WEEK BACK IN OFFICE Trump frequently has sparred with reporters over promoting what he says is “fake news,” including earlier in January when the 47th president slammed the Washington Post for claiming his tariff policy would be “pared down.” He hit back on his Truth Social platform that the outlet was pushing “fake news.” Trump’s first administration also had a Rapid Response X account, but the account focused on breaking news and updates rather than spotlighting what the administration views as “lies” promoted by the media. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The new social media account comes just one week after Trump was sworn in as the nation’s 47th president.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Hegseth at the Helm
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Senate slated to vote on Trump’s Treasury Department nominee, Scott Bessent -Trump’s most vulnerable nominees RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard get back-to-back hearings -After raucous first week in office, Donald Trump to keep his foot on the gas Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived for his first day at the Pentagon on Monday with a message regarding the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) mission. Greeted by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and a gaggle of reporters, Hegseth said it was “an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the country,” adding, “The warfighters are ready to go.” Hegseth quickly turned to the border crisis, acknowledging how President Donald Trump was “hitting the ground running” with executive orders declaring an emergency at the southern border and designating cartels foreign terrorist organizations. Hegseth said the DOD “snapped to” last week in sending more troops to aid in erecting barriers along the southern border, as well as to “ensure mass deportations,” adding: “That is something the Defense Department absolutely will continue to do.”…Read more ‘NO LOYALTY’: Trump order ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants is constitutional, expert says…Read more RIGHTING WRONGS: Trump to reinstate service members discharged for not getting COVID-19 vaccine…Read more ‘TRADITIONAL CONSERVATISM’: How Mike Pence is taking aim at Trump 2.0…Read more ‘READINESS AND LETHALITY’: New Trump order nixes preferred pronouns and restricts transgender facility use…Read more BIDEN’S PARDONS: Biden’s controversial pardons shine new light on power, as PA lawmakers take next step to strip Joe’s name…Read more ‘STRUCTURAL CHANGES’: Trump signs executive order aimed at ‘drastically’ improving FEMA efficacy, priorities, competence…Read more SECOND THOUGHTS: Trump open to considering re-entry into World Health Organization: ‘They’d have to clean it up’…Read more ‘NO FEDERAL FUNDS’: Trump looks to enforce trans inmate crackdown as new acting federal prisons chief tapped…Read more ‘CATASTROPHIC THREAT’: Conservative group’s roadmap shows how Trump can use military to thwart cartels…Read more FURTHER THE MISSION: Rubio pauses foreign aid from State Dept. and USAID to ensure it puts ‘America First’…Read more ‘DON’T HATE, LOVE’: Intl. Holocaust Remembrance Day: Survivor recounts how mother saved her life, reveals message to UN…Read more BELARUS: Belarus’ President Lukashenko extends rule after election rejected by opposition, EU…Read more ‘UNILATERALLY RELEASED’: Secretary of State Rubio hails release of US prisoner in Belarus as controversy hangs over nation’s election…Read more ‘I LOVE IT’: Ky. Republican says he loves teenage Boy Scout’s policy proposal: Zero tax for workers under 18…Read more SUNNY FLORIDA: House Republicans fly down to Trump’s backyard for annual working retreat…Read more NOT BUYING IT: AOC roasted over post about Colombia tariffs, coffee prices that ‘aged like hot milk’…Read more ‘HE’S GONNA DO SOMETHING’: Trump’s visit to small-town North Carolina brings hope to hurricane survivors who lost everything…Read more TN BILL: Tennessee lawmaker reintroduces bill to allow veterans, retired cops to work as School Resource Officers…Read more ‘CALIFORNIA IS BROKEN’: Gavin Newsom’s Bay Area ravaged by surging crime as LA burns: ‘It’s a war zone!’…Read more TRYING AGAIN?: DAs may try to charge Jan. 6 participants granted clemency by Trump with new crimes on state, local levels…Read more UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT: Cali Rep. Chu says ‘wildfires have no political affiliations’ after Trump floated conditions for federal aid…Read more SHUTTING IT DOWN: ICE arrests nearly 1,000 illegal aliens during sixth day of Trump administration…Read more NOT FORGOTTEN: JD Vance ‘fulfilling his promise’ with first trip as vice president to hurricane-damaged Virginia town…Read more ‘MALICIOUS COMPLIANCE’: Air Force reinstates Tuskegee Airmen training following backlash from Pete Hegseth and Katie Britt…Read more VANCE POWER PLAY: Top JD Vance political advisors to steer Ramaswamy run for Ohio governor…Read more SINALOA CARTEL ARREST: Member arrested by ICE in Texas…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Johnson considering Trump’s call to condition California wildfire aid on voter ID crackdown
DORAL, Fla. — Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., suggested Monday that he is open to conditioning California wildfire aid on forcing the state to embrace voter ID laws. President Donald Trump floated the idea on Friday, the same day he visited flame-ravaged Los Angeles. Johnson said he had not spoken with Trump personally about the issue yet but criticized the progressive stronghold’s handling of elections and other policy decisions that led to the fire. TRUMP’S FEDERAL DEI PURGE PUTS HUNDREDS ON LEAVE, NIXES $420M IN CONTRACTS “Listen, there are a lot of issues going on in California, and we have been lamenting the lack of voter security there for some time,” Johnson said. He then referenced three seats in California that Republicans lost in close House races this past November – though there have been no reports or instances of fraud detected in any of those matchups. “We saw three of our seats, frankly, slip away from us in the weeks that it took to continue counting ballots in California, when seemingly every other state in the nation, in America, can get it done. It’s inexcusable,” Johnson said. “[California Gov. Gavin Newsom] provides, I think, such a lack of leadership there in so many ways, and it was highlighted by the disaster with the fires.” Democrats, including Newsom, have widely panned Republican suggestions of conditioning wildfire aid to California. Several have noted in their attacks that Johnson’s home state of Louisiana has been a recipient of federal aid through multiple hurricane seasons. But Johnson said the discussions were “a common sense notion that is supported by the vast majority of the American people who do not want to subsidize crazy California leftist policies.” “Now, what the terms are and the details of that, we will be working it out. But entwined in all of that is the concern about election security in California. And voter ID is a matter that, again, comports with common sense, that most American people see the value in,” Johnson said. ‘NO BETTER DEALMAKER’: TRUMP REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ‘SAVE’ TIKTOK Johnson and other House GOP leaders held a press conference to kick off their annual issues conference at Trump’s golf course near Miami, Florida. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP They will be in South Florida through Wednesday discussing how to carry out Trump’s vision for an active first 100 days of his new administration. Johnson also suggested that conditioning wildfire aid to California will be a topic of discussion when Trump meets with House Republicans during their retreat on Monday evening. Newsom told reporters when asked about Trump’s suggestion, “I have all the confidence in the world we’ll work that out.”