Spending bill to fund State Department agency accused of censoring, blacklisting Americans
A State Department agency – which has been chided by conservatives for its alleged blacklisting of Americans and news outlets – is set to be refunded in the continuing resolution (CR) bill currently being hammered out among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The Global Engagement Center has been included in page 139 of the CR. Although it doesn’t specify its budget allocation, a previous Inspector General report shows the agency’s FY 2020 budget totaled $74.26 million, of which $60 million was appropriated by Congress. The provision in the CR can be found under “Foreign Affairs Section 301. Global Engagement Center Extension,” and comes despite the State Department saying in response to a lawsuit that it intended to shut down the agency by next week. OBAMA-ERA INTERAGENCY ORGANIZATION ‘BLACKLISTED’ AMERICANS IN ATTEMPT TO CURB ‘FOREIGN DISINFORMATION’: REPORT The GEC, according to reporter Matt Taibbi, “funded a secret list of subcontractors and helped pioneer and insidious—and idiotic—new form of blacklisting” during the pandemic. Taibbi wrote last year when exposing the Twitter Files that the GEC “flagged accounts as ‘Russian personas and proxies’ based on criteria like, ‘Describing the Coronavirus as an engineered bioweapon,’ blaming ‘research conducted at the Wuhan institute,’ and ‘attributing the appearance of the virus to the CIA.’” “State also flagged accounts that retweeted news that Twitter banned the popular U.S. website ZeroHedge, claiming it ‘led to another flurry of disinformation narratives.’” ZeroHedge had made reports speculating that the virus had a lab origin. Elon Musk previously described the GEC as being the “worst offender in US government censorship & media manipulation.” “They are a threat to our democracy,” Musk wrote in a subsequent tweet. The GEC is part of the State Department but also partners with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Special Operations Command and the Department of Homeland Security. The GEC also funds the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab). Taibbi offered various instances in which the DFRLab and the GEC sent Twitter a list of accounts they believed were engaged in “state-backed coordinated manipulation.” However, a quick glance from Twitter employees determined that the list was shoddy and included the accounts of multiple American citizens with seemingly no connection to the foreign entity in question. STATE DEPARTMENT FUNDS ‘DISINFORMATION’ INDEX TARGETING NON-LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE NEWS OUTLETS: REPORT DFRLab Director Graham Brookie previously denied the claim that they use tax money to track Americans, saying its GEC grants have “an exclusively international focus.” A 2024 report from the Republican-led House Small Business Committee criticized the GEC for awarding grants to organizations whose work includes tracking domestic as well as foreign misinformation and rating the credibility of U.S.-based publishers, according to the Washington Post. The State Department, in response to a lawsuit, said it intended to shut down the agency on Dec. 23. But the CR provision means, if passed, it will continue to operate. The lawsuit was brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Daily Wire and the Federalist, who sued the State Department, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other government officials earlier this month for “engaging in a conspiracy to censor, deplatform and demonetize American media outlets disfavored by the federal government.” The lawsuit stated that the GEC was used as a tool for the defendants to carry out its censorship. “Congress authorized the creation of the Global Engagement Center expressly to counter foreign propaganda and misinformation,” the Texas Attorney General’s Office said in a press release. “Instead, the agency weaponized this authority to violate the First Amendment and suppress Americans’ constitutionally-protected speech. The complaint describes the State Department’s project as “one of the most egregious government operations to censor the American press in the history of the nation.’” The lawsuit argued that The Daily Wire, The Federalist, and other conservative news organizations were branded “unreliable” or “risky” by the agency, “starving them of advertising revenue and reducing the circulation of their reporting and speech—all as a direct result of [the State Department’s] unlawful censorship scheme.” Meanwhile, America First Legal, headed up by Stephen Miller, President-elect Trump’s pick for deputy chief of staff for policy, revealed that the GEC used taxpayer dollars to create a video game called “Cat Park” to “Inoculate Youth Against Disinformation” abroad. The game “inoculates players … by showing how sensational headlines, memes, and manipulated media can be used to advance conspiracy theories and incite real-world violence,” according to a memo obtained by America First Legal. Mike Benz, the executive director at the Foundation For Freedom Online, said the game was “anti-populist” and pushed certain political beliefs instead of protecting Americans from foreign disinformation, per the Tennessee Star. Fox News Digital reached out to the GEC for comment on its potential refunding but did not immediately receive a response. Fox News Nikolas Lanum and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024: Hindi poet Gagan Gill, English writer Easterine Kire among 21 recipients; check full list
Hindi poet Gagan Gill won the award for her poetry book Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar. English author Easterine Kire was recognised for her novel Spirit Nights.
Justice Jackson’s role in ‘queer’ Broadway show ‘really reckless’ as court weighs trans case: legal expert
Just days after Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared in a “queer” Broadway spinoff of “Romeo and Juliet,” critics are questioning whether her involvement could compromise her impartiality as the court considers a landmark case about banning transgender surgical procedures for minors. “I think it’s a huge mistake for federal judges, especially Supreme Court justices, to engage in activities that clearly put the stamp of approval on an ideological position regarding issues that could come before the court, which is practically the definition of a threat to their impartiality, the appearance of impropriety,” Heritage Foundation senior legal counsel Thomas Jipping told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s unusual for judges to do this sort of thing under any circumstances. But I suppose if this was ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ if this was some recognized, established classic or something, it might be different. But this is obviously an advocacy production, so for a Supreme Court justice to participate in advocacy on an issue that is currently in the courts, and at least broadly speaking, before her, I think it’s a huge mistake,” he said. LIBERAL SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MAKES ‘CRINGE’ CAMEO PERFORMANCE ON BROADWAY The musical, called “& Juliet,” features prominent LGBTQ+ themes and nonbinary characters. The musical begins where Shakespeare’s original ends. Instead of dying by suicide for love, Juliet chooses to forge her own path, challenging traditional gender roles. On its website, “& Juliet” is described as a “hilarious new musical” that “flips the script on the greatest love story ever told.” Juliet’s best friend, May, is a nonbinary character whose queer relationship is prominently featured and explored throughout the musical. Jackson joined the Broadway cast, which includes TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and other Broadway performers, for a one-time performance at New York’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Saturday night, becoming the first Supreme Court justice to perform on Broadway. “& Juliet” was written by David West Read, best known for his work as a writer and producer on the TV show “Schitt’s Creek.” The musical premiered in November 2019, at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End. Its Broadway debut followed in November 2022, at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City. LEFT-LEANING JUSTICES COMPARE SEX CHANGES FOR KIDS TO TAKING ASPIRIN DURING SCOTUS ARGUMENTS Liberals have criticized several conservative Supreme Court justices in recent years over ethical concerns, fueling calls for stricter oversight. Justice Clarence Thomas has faced scrutiny over his wife’s political activism. Justice Samuel Alito has been criticized for failing to disclose luxury trips funded by wealthy donors with business before the court, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett has drawn attention for her ties to religious groups and their potential influence on cases involving LGBTQ+ issues and abortion. Justice Brett Kavanaugh has also faced criticism over his confirmation process and past financial disclosures. “For two, three years now, liberals have been complaining about actions by Supreme Court justices that they say undermine the public’s confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary,” Jipping said. “Liberals in Congress want an enforceable code of conduct. I wonder what they say about this.” “Participating in an advocacy, in an exercise of advocacy, for a position on issues that come before the Supreme Court is an egregious violation of that principle in the code of conduct regarding impartiality. I don’t think there’s any question about that,” he said. Jackson wore jeans and an all-blue costume with a corset and a flowery hat. In one clip of the performance posted by the production’s social media account, her character excitedly exclaims, “Female empowerment, sick!,” and in another, she sings the Backstreet Boys’ “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.” The “& Juliet” marketing team said in an Instagram post announcing the cameo that Jackson’s performance fulfilled a lifelong fantasy of her “becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.” ‘THE PENDULUM IS SWINGING’: EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HISTORIC SCOTUS TRANSGENDER CASE AMID ORAL ARGUMENTS “She should stay on her side of the bench, and judges should protect their impartiality and the appearance of impartiality more, not less. And this, this was really reckless, in my view,” Jipping added. This isn’t the first time a Supreme Court justice has stepped into the spotlight of the performing arts. In 1994, Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared as supernumeraries – non-speaking, background roles – in a Washington National Opera production of “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The two, known for their ideological differences but close personal friendship, shared a love of opera. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Earlier this month, SCOTUS heard oral arguments in the U.S. v. Skrmetti case. The court’s decision could have sweeping implications, potentially shaping future legal battles over transgender issues, such as access to bathrooms and school sports participation. The court will resume arguments in January and a decision is expected by July 2025. The Supreme Court’s press office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request by press deadline. Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.
Senate passes annual defense policy bill with transgender care restrictions and pay boost for junior troops
The Senate voted to pass the $895 billion annual defense policy bill, that includes a pay raise for U.S. troops and a provision that restricts transgender care. The bill passed 85 to 14, and now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. The legislation scored a more bipartisan vote in the Senate than it did in the House, where more Democrats voted no on the legislation in protests of the transgender provisions. The bill prohibits military health care provider Tricare from paying for transgender care “that could result in sterilization” for children under 18. The legislation passed the House last week 281-140, with 16 Republicans voting “no.” Only 81 Democrats voted yes – 124 voting no – a much larger margin than in years passed when the legislation typically enjoyed bipartisan support. The 1,800-page bill details how $895.2 billion allocated toward defense and national security will be spent. It will be voted on more than two months after the start of the fiscal year. The $895.2 billion represents a 1% increase over last year’s budget, a smaller number than some defense hawks would have liked. And while the NDAA outlines policy, a separate spending bill will actually fund the programs it lays out. That spending legislation will be voted on in the next Congress, when Republicans will have a narrow majority in both chambers. A significant portion of the legislation focused on quality-of-life improvements for service members amid record recruitment issues, a focus of much bipartisan discussion over the last year. That includes a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted troops and increasing access to child care for service members while also providing job support to military spouses. The measure authorizes a 4.5% across-the-board pay raise for all service members starting Jan. 1, and a 2% increase for civilian personnel within the Department of Defense (DoD). It also puts more restrictions on Chinese-made drones, fearing their use in the U.S. could be for foreign surveillance. It specifically targets China-based DJI and Autel Robotoics. The NDAA mandates that a national security agency must determine within one year if drones from DJI or Autel Robotics pose unacceptable national security risks. If no agency completes the study, the companies would automatically be added to the FCC’s “covered lists,” preventing them from operating in the U.S. DJI is the world’s largest drone manufacturer and sells more than half of all U.S. commercial drones. The bill recommends a $20 million increase in counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Advanced Development budget and requires the Defense Secretary to establish a ‘C-UAS task force’ within 30 days and provide a report to congressional defense committees on the military’s latest counter-drone training efforts within four months. PENTAGON ANNOUNCES NEW COUNTER-DRONE STRATEGY AS UNMANNED ATTACKS ON US INTERESTS SKYROCKET Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., had led a group of 21 Democratic senators demanding an amendment to remove the transgender care restrictions from the NDAA. That amendment was not included as it would have forced the bill back to the House. Congressional leaders spent months conferencing to find agreement between the chambers and the parties on the yearly must-pass legislation. “Let’s be clear: we’re talking about parents who are in uniform serving our country who have earned the right to make the best decisions for their families,” Baldwin said in a statement. “I trust our servicemembers and their doctors to make the best health care decisions for their kids, not politicians.” The amendment will affect care for 7,000 children, according to Baldwin, who said she would support the NDAA if not for the provision. Other Democrats said they had objections to the provision, but the bill’s provisions to strengthen U.S. defenses against China, raise pay for troops, invest in new military technologies and replenish weapons stockpiles. CONGRESS UNVEILS BILL TO AVERT FRIDAY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WITH OVER $100B IN DISASTER AID “Of course, the NDAA is not perfect. It doesn’t have everything either side would like … But of course, you need bipartisanship to get this through the finish line,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters Tuesday he shares his colleagues’ “frustration” with House Speaker Mike Johnson’s “extreme, misguided provision,” but said Democrats during the negotiation process were able to strip out “the vast majority of very far right provisions that had passed in the House bill.” Provisions like a blanket ban on funding for gender transition surgeries for adults, did not make their way into the bill. Neither did a ban on requiring masks to prevent the spread of diseases. The bill also supports deploying the National Guard to the southern border to help with illegal immigrant apprehensions and drug flow. Another provision opens the door to allowing airmen and Space Force personnel to grow facial hair; it directs the secretary of the Air Force to brief lawmakers on “the feasibility and advisability” of establishing a pilot program to test out allowing beards. Democrats are also upset the bill did not include a provision expanding access to IVF for service members. Currently, military health care only covers IVF for troops whose infertility is linked to service-related illness or injury. But the bill did not include an amendment to walk back a provision allowing the Pentagon to reimburse service members who have to travel out of state to get an abortion. The bill extends a hiring freeze on DEI-related roles and stops all such recruitment until “an investigation of the Pentagon’s DEI programs” can be completed. Johnson, meanwhile, touted $31 billion in savings in the legislation that would come from cutting “inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and bloated Pentagon bureaucracy.”
Fetterman meets with Trump nominees, pledges ‘open-mind and an informed opinion’ for confirmation votes
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has suggested that it is his duty to meet with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees, noting that his decision about whether to vote to confirm the candidates will stem from an open mind and informed perspective. “I believe that it’s appropriate and the responsibility of a U.S. Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees. That’s why I met with Elise Stefanik and Pete Hegseth, just wrapped with Tulsi Gabbard, and look forward to my meetings with others soon,” Fetterman declared in a post on X. “My votes will come from an open-mind and an informed opinion after having a conversation with them. That’s not controversial, it’s my job,” he continued. FETTERMAN SLAMS LEGAL CASES AGAINST TRUMP, HUNTER BIDEN IN FIRST TRUTH SOCIAL POST: ‘CASES WERE BOTH BULLS—’ Trump has tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for the role of director of national intelligence. While Fetterman has previously noted that he plans to support Stefanik, it is unclear whether he will ultimately back Hegseth and Gabbard for confirmation. Fox News Digital reached out to request comment from the senator, but a spokesperson did not provide any additional insight into Fetterman’s voting plans regarding Hegseth and Gabbard. FETTERMAN STILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTIVE OF STEFANIK FOR US AMBASSADOR TO UN: ‘ALWAYS WAS A HARD YES’ Fetterman has been unflinching in his staunch support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against the U.S. ally. “Always was a hard YES for @EliseStefanik but it was a pleasure to have a conversation. I support defunding UNRWA for its documented Hamas infiltration and fully look forward to her holding the @UN accountable for its endemic antisemitism and blatant anti-Israel views,” Fetterman declared in a post earlier this month. He has also pledged to support Sen. Marco Rubio’s confirmation to serve as secretary of state. FETTERMAN HAILS RUBIO AS ‘STRONG CHOICE’ FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, SAYS HE WILL VOTE TO CONFIRM HIM “Unsurprisingly, the other team’s pick will have political differences than my own,” Fetterman noted in a post on X last month. “That being said, my colleague @SenMarcoRubio is a strong choice and I look forward to voting for his confirmation.”
Senator says RFK Jr told him he agrees with Trump on abortion, will have light touch regulating farmers
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been on Capitol Hill this week in an attempt to drum up support for his nomination to be the next leader of the Department of Health and Human Services. According to one senator he spoke to, Kennedy is aligning himself with President-elect Donald Trump’s stance on abortion and has signaled that he will exercise restraint when it comes to regulating the agricultural industry. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R–Ala., said following his meeting with Kennedy that his view on abortion is “whatever Trump decides” and that Kennedy will “back him 100%.” Trump has repeatedly said he wants to let the states decide the matter for themselves and is against a national abortion ban. He has also expressed support for certain limited exceptions to abortion restrictions, such as when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. Tuberville also said he spoke to Kennedy about not going “overboard” when it comes to regulating farmers. The senator told reporters that Kennedy is “very on board” with protecting their livelihoods and “understands our farmers are in trouble, and we want to make sure that we have farmers that can make a living.” RFK JR SET TO FACE ABORTION, VACCINE SCRUTINY IN SIT-DOWNS WITH SENATORS ON CAPITOL HILL Kennedy’s nomination has drawn skepticism from both pro-life groups and those in the agriculture sector. Pro-life groups have expressed concern over Kennedy’s past statements that extol a liberal position on reproductive rights, while people in the agricultural sector have expressed concern over Kennedy’s crusade against processed foods and pesticides. The fears from those in the agriculture sector were bolstered after Trump said he wants to let Kennedy “go wild on health and dramatically shake things up.” However, according to Tuberville, Kennedy understands the need to strike a balance when it comes to regulating the food industry, and he confirmed his views on abortion have evolved to be in line with Trump’s. “We talked about abortion and the big thing about abortion is he’s telling everybody, ‘Listen whatever president Trump [supports] I’m going back him 100%,’” Tuberville told reporters following his meeting with Kennedy. Tuberville highlighted how Trump has expressed support for three main exceptions to abortion restrictions, which include instances when the life of the mother is in jeopardy, or when either rape or incest was the cause of a woman’s pregnancy. “I just asked him, ‘In the past you’ve been pro-abortion,’ and he said, well, it’s basically, he and President Trump have sat down and talked about it, and both of them came to an agreement, ‘Hey, Roe-Wade is gone, it’s gone to the states, let the people vote on it,’” Tuberville said. Tuberville added that he also agrees with Trump’s stance on abortion, telling reporters that while he is pro-life, he is also “glad the American citizens have a chance to vote in their state,” adding that Kennedy feels the same. DR. MARC SIEGEL SAYS RFK JR. POLICY POSITIONS WILL ‘LEAD TO A LOT OF PUSHBACK’ While recounting his conversation with Kennedy to reporters, Tuberville also shared that the two discussed how Kennedy would approach the agriculture industry, considering his fervent belief that the American food system is deeply flawed. Republicans who hail from states where agriculture is a major industry have expressed concern about Kennedy restricting modern farming techniques. Meanwhile, a Michigan soybean and corn farmer called Kennedy’s nomination a “danger” to the agriculture industry. Tuberville echoed the concerns of his fellow GOP lawmakers following his meeting with Kennedy, telling reporters that while his constituents are “very concerned” about food safety, they do not want regulations to be so stringent that it puts farmers out of a job. “I can understand that,” Tuberville said of his constituents’ concerns, “and he’s very on board. He understands our farmers are in trouble, and we want to make sure that we have farmers that can make a living, and we don’t lose our our family farms.” Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for the potential future HHS secretary but did not receive a response by press time.
Navy speedboat collides with Mumbai ferry: 5 points
The Neelkamal ferry was on its way to Elephanta Islands, a popular tourist destination near Mumbai.
‘Wrong-headed’: Energy industry leaders blast Biden admin report on natural gas exports
The Biden administration released a draft report on Tuesday warning of potentially negative impacts to Americans should the president’s moratorium on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports be lifted. The report, which concludes that growth in LNG exports could cause U.S. energy prices to climb by as much as 30% in coming years while contributing to carbon emissions, was quickly met with pushback by energy industry officials dismissing it as a “politically motivated” appeal to environmentalists. Meanwhile, one environmental group panned the same report as “weak and half-hearted.” The study comes weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is to take office and follows on President Biden’s decision in January to pause all new U.S. LNG exports to non-Free Trade Agreement countries, citing the need to better consider climate and economic impacts of such “sizeable” growth in sales of LNG to buyers in Asia and Europe. President-elect Trump vowed on the campaign trail to quickly reverse Biden’s moratorium once he’s in office. The draft report analysis, which is now open for a 60-day comment period, found that U.S. LNG growth could cause prices to rise for U.S. consumers by as much as 30% in the near-term. Additionally, while it stopped short of recommending a full ban on LNG exports — in recognition of near-term demand from other countries — it also focused largely on the negative impacts for U.S. consumers, who Energy Department officials said could see energy prices rise by roughly $100 by 2050 as a result of the tighter demand. LEAVE THE OIL TO ME: TRUMP VOWS TO UNLEASH US ENERGY, UNDO KEY BIDEN RULES IN 2ND TERM The analysis noted that boosting U.S. LNG exports beyond currently authorized levels could cause as much as 1.5 gigatons of CO2 equivalent emissions into the atmosphere by 2050, or roughly 25% of the nation’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. However, industry groups have pushed back on this assertion. One senior industry official told Fox News Digital that that data set models for a scenario that assumes the growth in LNG exports does not substitute any other forms of energy consumption, such as coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. In reality, this person noted, LNG is expected to help offset emissions from coal use in the EU and elsewhere by as much as 50-60%, according to estimates from the International Energy Agency. While the analysis found that increasing exports would result in a roughly 0.2% rise in U.S. GDP, Energy Department officials told reporters Tuesday that the increase in GDP “does not necessarily correlate with a positive effect on broader public and consumer welfare.” In a statement released alongside the report, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm noted that increasing LNG exports would “generate wealth for the owners of export facilities and create jobs across the natural gas supply chain,” but she suggested that the domestic price of natural gas would increase. The study comes as U.S. sales of the chilled natural gas have boomed. The U.S. rose in 2023 to become the world’s No. 1 exporter of LNG, and current capacity is already slated to double by the end of the decade on the backs of current projects, according to estimates from the Energy Information Administration. It also comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine has sparked new demand from U.S. allies in Europe, who have scrambled to purchase LNG to offset lost Russian piped gas, and Japan, an import-dependent nation that receives as much as 90% of its energy from outside suppliers. The report, released just weeks before Trump assumes office on Jan. 20, sparked backlash from natural gas advocates. TRUMP VOWS AT PENNSYLVANIA RALLY TO SLASH ENERGY COSTS, LIFT LNG PAUSE AND ‘FRACK, FRACK, FRACK’ “Today’s report from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is clearly a politically motivated document designed for an audience who believes no form of carbon-based energy is acceptable,” National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) CEO and President Jay Timmons said in a statement. “LNG exports play a crucial role in reducing emissions by providing cleaner energy alternatives to countries reliant on higher emission sources.” For its part, NAM conducted a study on the ban that found nearly 1 million jobs would be threatened by the LNG pause over the next two decades if the restriction remains in place, Fox News Digital previously reported. American Gas Association CEO and President Karen Harbert described the report as a “clear and inexplicable attempt to justify their grave policy error.” “America’s allies are suffering from the weaponization of natural gas and energy deprivation and any limitations on supplying life essential energy is absolutely wrong-headed,” Harbert said in a statement, adding, “The Biden Administration’s pause on American LNG exports was a mistake that resulted in uncertainty for the market, for investors, and for America’s allies around the world.” The report is not without its critics from the left, however. The environmental group, Food & Water Watch, also slammed the Biden administration for the “weak” report cautioning LNG exports. “This study mirrors the Biden administration’s entire four-year approach to advancing a clean energy future: weak and half-hearted,” Jim Walsh, Food & Water Watch policy director, said in a statement. “We cannot continue to be victimized by the profit-driven agenda of fossil fuel corporations. President Biden must listen to the warnings of his own government by banning further LNG exports and rejecting pending LNG permits before he leaves office.” President-elect Trump, for his part, has also repeatedly pledged to undo the LNG pause upon taking office and to “unleash” U.S. energy exports, blaming high costs and supply issues on the outgoing Biden administration. In October, he vowed at a campaign rally that U.S. residents would see their energy prices cut “in half” within one year of his inauguration. Most recently, he vowed to “go strong on the issue” by moving to immediately lift Biden’s LNG pause to allow for new LNG exports after his inauguration, sources familiar with the transition plans told Reuters.
Appeals court shuts down Texas doctors suing Biden admin over transgender policy
A federal appeals court ruled against Texas doctors who had tried to sue President Biden’s administration over its transgender policies this week. The three judges making up the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals did not rule on the merits of the case, but instead unanimously found that the doctors did not have standing to sue. The court’s Monday decision asserted that the doctors had not violated the policy, nor did they face any threat of enforcement. The Biden policy bans discrimination against transgender people in health care. Monday’s ruling overturns a previous favorable decision for the doctors handed down by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. Biden’s Health and Human Services Department announced a rule change in 2021, choosing to interpret a section of the Affordable Care Act that banned discrimination on the basis of sex to also apply to transgender people. The three Texas doctors argued that interpretation goes beyond the text of the law. SUPREME COURT CAN TAKE MASSIVE STEP IN PREVENTING TRANS ATHLETES IN GIRLS’ SPORTS WITH HISTORIC HEARING The doctors further argued that the policy could force them to administer treatments they do not support. They cited examples like prostate cancer in a transgender woman, which would require treatment based on the individual’s biological sex. The ruling comes just weeks after the Supreme Court heard arguments in its own case on transgender policy, one relating to whether the Constitution allows for state bans on transgender surgeries for minors. TRUMP’S AG PICK HAS ‘HISTORY OF CONSENSUS BUILDING’ Conservative justices on the Supreme Court appeared reluctant in oral arguments to overturn the Tennessee law in question in the case. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested that state legislatures, rather than courts, are best equipped to regulate medical procedures. The Constitution leaves such questions “to the people’s representatives,” Roberts noted during arguments, rather than to nine justices on the Supreme Court, “none of whom is a doctor.” Justice Samuel Alito, however, cited “overwhelming evidence” from certain medical studies listing the negative consequences for adolescents that underwent gender transition treatments. Should the justices rule along party lines to uphold the lower court’s decision, it will have sweeping implications for more than 20 U.S. states that have moved to implement similar laws. Petitioners in the case were represented by the Biden administration and the ACLU, which sued to overturn the Tennessee law on behalf of the parents of three transgender adolescents and a Memphis-based doctor. At issue during Wednesday’s oral arguments was the level of scrutiny that courts should use to evaluate the constitutionality of state bans on transgender medical treatment for minors, such as SB1, and whether these laws are considered discriminating on the basis of sex or against a “quasi-suspect class,” thus warranting a higher level of scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Fox News’ Breanne Deppisch and Reuters contributed to this report.
Renewal of counter-drone authority, China crackdowns in last-minute government funding extension
Congress is set to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown that will reauthorize the government’s ability to intercept and track unauthorized drones and crack down on U.S. investment in China. The 1,500+ page continuing resolution (CR), which will fund the government until March 14, includes a provision reauthorizing a Department of Homeland Security program allowing agencies to coordinate and counter threats from drones. That authority, passed in 2018, was set to expire Friday – at a time when concerns about drone incursions are at an all-time high. However, it is a simple reauthorization of a program many drone experts say is outdated. Congress has not hashed out legislation that would grant the government greater detection capabilities and give state and local law enforcement authorities to deal with unauthorized drones. “The security industry wants folks to know the technology is out there to identify and socially mitigate these drones,” Brett Fedderson, chair of the Security Industry Association’s Counter-UAS Working Group, told Fox News Digital. “Congress is not enabling state and local law enforcement to actually do the work that is needed on the front lines, regardless of the fact that the FBI, DHS, DOJ have all come to Congress several times and said they cannot do the job effectively, that they need to be able to be supported by state and local law enforcement.” PLANES, STARS AND HOBBYISTS: LAWMAKERS INSIST NOTHING ‘NEFARIOUS’ IS HAPPENING IN NJ SKIES “We are worried that a drone catastrophe is going to be the motivation for them to sit down at the table and actually vote on something to push the authorities out.” A drone phenomenon that started in New Jersey a month ago has since led to 6,000 tips being called in to the FBI. Umanned aerial systems (UAS) have since been reported flying near military bases like Picatinny Arsenal. “The idea of drone detection needs to be reformed,” said Ryan Gury, CEO of military drone manufacturer PDW. “We need radar instead of listening to radio waves… an active approach where we have radar stations and camera stations set up like cell towers to detect things like drones.” “There’s no stopping the power of small drones. We need to be ready. This is just a small glimpse into our future.” Also included in the CR is a provision that was left out of the NDAA and would prevent the U.S. from investing in the development of military technologies. The rule prohibits U.S. financing of some China-based ventures and requires Americans to notify the government of their involvement in others. 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. NJ DRONE INCIDENTS SPUR GOVERNMENT PUSH FOR MORE COUNTER-DRONE POWERS AS CURRENT AUTHORITIES SET TO EXPIRE The rule seeks to limit the access “countries of concern,” like China, including the Hong Kong and Macao regions, have to U.S. dollars to fund the development of high-level technologies like next-generation missile systems and fighter jets they could then use for their own military. It is set to take effect Jan. 2. Lawmakers have criticized financial institutions for pouring billions of dollars from U.S. investors into Chinese stocks of companies the U.S. believes the CCP is using to build up China’s military. The legislation codifies a recent Treasury Department rule restricting outbound investment in China and expands on it, including a requirement to investigate the national security risks posed by Chinese-made consumer routers and modems and implement reviews of Chinese real estate purchases near sensitive sites like military installations. It would also require the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish every company that holds an FCC license and is owned or partially owned by adversarial governments like China. The CR, released Tuesday night, is a short-term extension of government funding at 2024 levels intended to give lawmakers more time to agree on funding for the rest of 2025. It is the second such extension since FY 2024 ended on Sept. 30. It must pass the GOP-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate by Friday and hit President Biden’s desk by midnight that day to avoid a partial government shutdown. It is expected to pass both chambers, despite grumblings from both chambers, particularly among conservatives who want to cut costs in the 2025 budget. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.