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AOC may throw name in mix for top Dem spot on House Oversight Committee: report

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is considering a run to lead Democrats on the House Oversight Committee as younger members of the party seek to oust aging committee leaders.  The New York Democrat may be looking to replace Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., if he vacates his seat to challenge Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., for the top Democratic spot on the House Judiciary Committee, Politico reported.  Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., who ran against Raskin for the job in the last Congress, declared his bid for the Oversight role Tuesday. DEMOCRAT POL CHASED AWAY IN AOC’S ‘RED LIGHT’ DISTRICT AFTER BACKING POLICE CRACKDOWN ON OPEN-AIR PROSTITUTION The battle for Raskin’s seat could be one of several in which older House Democrats are facing challenges from junior colleagues.  “I’ll be making a decision shortly,” Ocasio-Cortez said, according to Axios.  Fox News Digital has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office.  AOC’S ‘RED LIGHT’ DISTRICT OVERRUN WITH PROSTITUTES AS LOCALS CALL OUT MIA ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER Representatives Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., are also considered potential candidates to succeed Raskin. Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., the top Democrat on the House Committee on Agriculture, is facing challenges from representatives Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Jim Costa, D-Calif. The House Oversight Committee is charged with ensuring efficiency and accountability within the federal government and its agencies. 

Fani Willis ordered to give watchdog all communications with special counsel Jack Smith

A Georgia judge ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Williams to hand over records related to her communications with special counsel Jack Smith and the U.S. House January 6 Committee after failing to comply with a request under the Open Records Act (ORA). The nonprofit group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Willis in March after her office claimed it did not have any documents and communications on file between Willis and Smith or Willis and the January 6th Committee. But it turned out her office did have communications, and on Monday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ordered Willis to produce them within five business days. McBurney also determined in his ruling that Willis violated Georgia’s open records act by failing to respond to Judicial Watch’s lawsuit. McBurney granted judgment by default after the DA did not make any ‘meritorious defense.’ Instead, Willis claimed she was not served properly. TRUMP’S LEGAL CASES LIKELY TO DIE OUT AMID IMPENDING WHITE HOUSE RETURN, EXPERTS SAY “Plaintiff is thus entitled to judgment by default as if every item and paragraph of the complaint were supported by proper and sufficient evidence,” McBurney wrote in his decision, while also ordering her to pay Judicial Watch’s attorney’s fees. “Here, this means Plaintiff has established that Defendant violated the ORA by failing to either turn over responsive records or else notify Plaintiff of her decision to withhold some or all such records.” A hearing on the attorney’s fees and costs is set to take place on Dec. 20, 2024 at 10 a.m. “Fani Willis is something else. We’ve been doing this work for 30 years, and this is the first time in our experience a government official has been found in default for not showing up in court to answer an open records lawsuit,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “Judicial Watch looks forward to getting any documents from the Fani Willis operation about collusion with the Biden administration and Nancy Pelosi’s Congress on her unprecedented and compromised ‘get-Trump’ prosecution.” The documents Judicial Watch sought to obtain stemmed from an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee into whether Willis coordinated with the House Jan. 6 Committee in their investigations. HOUSE JUDICIARY INVESTIGATING WHETHER FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ‘COORDINATED’ WITH JAN 6 COMMITTEE U.S. lawmakers had said Willis asked the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 to share evidence with her office. Last year, President-elect Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty to all charges in connection to a racketeering indictment for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Specifically, Willis charged Trump with one count of violation of the Georgia RICO Act, three counts of criminal solicitation, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing false documents and two counts of making false statements. TRUMP BOOKED AT FULTON COUNTY JAIL AFTER CHARGES STEMMING FROM 2020 ELECTION PROBE Four of the defendants who were charged alongside Trump took plea deals in exchange for testifying against the other defendants. Trump’s team and other defendants had previously asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to hold oral arguments to determine whether Willis could continue to prosecute the case. The charges against Trump have not officially been dropped, though the case is on pause as Trump and his co-defendants appeal a Fulton County judge’s decision to not disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case. The Court of Appeals canceled the arguments in November, which were initially scheduled for early December.  Fox News Digital’s Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.

Dems help pave way for Donald J. Trump Avenue in Miami-Dade County after historic election victory

It’s a sign of the times. Once a Democratic stronghold, Miami-Dade County, Florida, will honor President-elect Donald Trump by adding his name to a street after the Republican flipped the county by double digits in his historic 2024 election victory.  “President Donald J. Trump Avenue is official in Miami-Dade County!” District 6 Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin M. Cabrera wrote in a post on X. On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners for the city of Hialeah voted 9 to 1 to approve the street name. DNC CHAIR FRONTRUNNER OFFERS ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ ADVICE TO DEMOCRATS AFTER CRUSHING LOSS TO TRUMP “Today, we ratified the City of Hialeah’s initiative to honor President Trump’s legacy of championing freedom and opportunity by co-designating Palm Avenue—a vital artery in our community—as ‘President Donald J. Trump Avenue.’”  Democrats on the County Commission could have blocked Tuesday’s approval because Democratic commissioners hold seven of the officially nonpartisan board’s 13 seats, according to the Miami Herald. Only one member of the commission voted down the move because “they couldn’t assent given some of the former president’s derogatory comments on immigrants.” “I respect the fact that President Trump won the popular vote, the Electoral College and Miami-Dade County,” Democratic commission member Marleine Bastien said in a statement reported by the Miami Herald. “However, his victory does not erase the collective trauma that immigrants and citizens alike felt during this election cycle.” Four Democrats joined five Republican members of the commission to vote for the renaming of the street, according to the commission clerk.  FORMER LAWMAKER CALLS FOR COMPLETE ‘REBRAND’ OF ‘TOXIC’ DEMOCRATIC PARTY “Miami-Dade County strongly supported President Trump during the election, and this designation serves as a lasting tribute to his leadership and vision for our nation,” Cabrera said.  The city is allowed to hang “President Donald J. Trump Avenue” signs on county infrastructure, including under Miami-Dade traffic lights along the city-maintained roadway with the county vote’s approval, according to the local outlet. Last year, city council approved a proposal to rename the road for Trump after Hialeah Mayor Esteban “Steve” Bovo announced the move and presented Trump with a street sign at a campaign rally.  “Our city LOVES Donald Trump. The Cuban American community feels a sense of gratitude towards him,” Bovo said in a previous interview. LIBERALS DESPAIRING OVER TRUMP VICTORY ARE TURNING OFF THE NEWS: REPORT Trump won Hialeah by 53 points in November, which is about 75% of the vote in Hialeah in last month’s election. He also won Miami-Dade by more than 13%, the first time a Republican has won the county since 1988. “This renaming honors President Trump’s steadfast commitment to putting America first and prioritizing the needs of the American people. It is a tribute to his vision and efforts to uphold the values that resonate deeply with our community,” Bovo wrote in a statement on X.  Fox News Digital reached out to all the Democratic members of the commission but did not immediately receive a response. 

Appeals court rules US can deport illegal immigrants despite local objections in win for incoming Trump admin

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can continue using a Seattle airport for chartered deportation flights in a win for incoming President-elect Trump’s administration, a federal appeals court ruled. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling rejected a 2019 local executive order that sought to counter then-President Trump’s immigration policies, saying that King County, Washington violated its contract by prohibiting deportations at King County International Airport, which is also known as Boeing Field. The court ruled that the order was unlawful because it discriminated against ICE and targeted federal operations. In 2019, Trump used Boeing Fields to deport illegal migrants from the U.S. and the local county sought to block the president’s removal operations. MIGRANT ACCUSED OF VIOLENT CRIMES ARRESTED BY ICE AFTER MASSACHUSETTS COURT REFUSED TO HONOR DETAINER The order prompted ICE to begin using an airport in Yakima, Washington — a much longer drive from ICE’s Northwest detention center— for the deportation flights. “The relocation increased operational costs due to the greater distance from ICE detention facilities to the airport. It also led to increased security concerns,” the ruling noted. READ THE RULING – APP USERS CLICK HERE In response, a legal battle with King County ensued. The U.S. in 2020 sued the county, alleging that it violated the terms of a World War II-era contract that guarantees the federal government’s right to use the airport along with discriminating against ICE. DEM GOVERNOR THREATENS TO USE ‘EVERY TOOL’ TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP-ERA DEPORTATIONS In a ruling on Friday, Nov. 30, 9th Circuit Judge Daniel A. Bress upheld the court’s decision. In the ruling, obtained by Fox News Digital, he wrote that, “this is not a situation in which King County officials are being conscripted into carrying out federal immigration laws on the federal government’s behalf.” “Instead, the United States is asking King County, in its capacity as the owner of a public airport facility, to lift a discriminatory prohibition on private parties’ ability to engage in business with the federal government that supports federal immigration efforts,” the ruling states. The new order also calls for transparency around any deportation flights.  The airport now offers a conference room where the public can observe deportation flights on a video feed, and the county posts a log of deportation flights from the airport on its website. The ruling is a win for the incoming Trump administration. The president-elect has vowed to initiate deportation efforts on his first day back in office. His promise was cemented by his pick of “border czar,” Tom Homan.  “If you don’t want to work with us, then get the hell out all the way. We’re going to do it,’ Homan recently said. DENVER MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON SAYS TRUMP’S MASS MIGRANT DEPORTATIONS WILL CREATE ‘TIANANMEN SQUARE MOMENT’ Trump’s election has prompted blue city officials to voice their opposition against Trump’s deportation efforts. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said that he is prepared to go to jail in opposition to Trump’s plans. The governors of Illinois, Arizona and Massachusetts have said that they also won’t assist the administration in the operation.  In Illinois, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker promised to uphold sanctuary status, boldly declaring, “If you come for my people, you come through me.” Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said her state will not be helping in what she called a “misguided” plan.  “What I will unequivocally say is that, as governor, I will not tolerate efforts that are part of misguided policies that harm our communities, that threaten our communities, that terrorize our communities, and Arizona will not take part in those,” Hobbs said. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey insisted that Massachusetts state police would “absolutely not” help the Trump administration’s planned deportations. 

Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister withdraws as Trump’s nominee to lead DEA

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew his name for consideration as President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). “To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime,” Chronister wrote in a post on X. “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration. There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling,” Chronister continued.  “I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Chronister was appointed by then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott to head the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2017, and has been re-elected twice. 

Manchin delivers emotional final floor speech as West Virginia senator: ‘Honor of my life’

Departing Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., focused on unity in an emotional farewell address to his colleagues in the Senate, marking the final floor speech of his 14-year term after not seeking re-election this cycle.  “My friends and colleagues, today I rise with a full heart and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It’s been the honor of my life to represent my great state of West Virginia in this great country of ours,” Manchin opened his final remarks on Tuesday. “Now, as my time here comes to an end. I want you to know that my belief in the potential of this institution, and each and every one of you that represent it, remains as strong as ever.” In his speech, Manchin urged his colleagues to put their differences aside and work together in an effort to bridge political differences. The senator revealed that it “wasn’t exactly my plan to join the Senate” at first, but that he “saw an opportunity to serve more people and tackle bigger challenges.” SENATE DEMOCRATS NAME TOP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AFTER LOSING CHAMBER MAJORITY Manchin, focusing on the theme of unity, recalled being asked to help recruit Democratic candidates to run against Republicans when he first entered the Senate, but vowing not to work against his colleagues. “It didn’t take long for me to see that the divisions here run pretty deep,” he said. “I’m not going to raise money to attack my friends and colleagues just because they have an ‘R’ by their name. How do we expect to work together if I’m working against them when they’re in cycle?” KYRSTEN SINEMA RESPONDS TO DEMOCRATS ADMITTING FILIBUSTER WILL HELP THEM STOP TRUMP AGENDA: ‘SCHADENFREUDE In his final speech, Manchin took the opportunity to highlight accomplishments in his state of West Virginia such as on energy, infrastructure, and job growth. While Manchin is widely known for his memorable work in the senate, his career in West Virginia politics dates back decades. Manchin served as a state delegate in the early 1980s, before being elected as a state senator until the late 90s. Manchin served as Secretary of State for four years, and then was elected as governor of West Virginia in 2005.  Manchin was eventually elected to his longest held post of Democratic senator for West Virginia in 2010. Known for his moderate approach and bipartisan work on national issues, the senator left the Democratic Party to register as an independent in May 2024, but continued to caucus with Democrats in the months following his departure from the party.  Manchin ended his speech urging his colleagues to fix inflation and the southern border crisis, emphasizing that “when each side could take a little step to find common ground, powerful things happen.” “I’m not going anywhere, gang,” Manchin said, appearing to tear up as he thanked his staff and family for their support over the years. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., commended Manchin’s service in the senate ahead of his farewell address. “It fills me with great pleasure, and a little sadness, to say a few words here in his honor,” Schumer said. “So today, I wish to pay tribute to a very dear friend, one of my closest friends in the Senate – even when we disagreed we stayed friendly and stayed good friends – and of course a longtime colleague: Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.”

Fox News Politics: Tipping the Scales to the Left

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Hunter Biden’s pardon sets troubling precedent, risks politicizing Justice Department, critics say –Senate Democrats name top leadership positions after losing chamber majority -House Dem moves to force vote on releasing Gaetz ethics report The Senate GOP leader on Monday slammed decisions by two federal judges to reverse their announced retirements after Republican former President Trump won re-election in November. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., criticized the pair of “partisan Democrat district judges” after they announced plans to “unretire” after “the American people voted to fire Democrats last month.”  “Looking to history, only two judges have ever unretired after a presidential election. One Democrat in 2004 and one Republican in 2009. But now, in just a matter of weeks, Democrats have already met that all-time record. It’s hard to conclude that this is anything other than open partisanship,” McConnell said in remarks delivered on the Senate floor…Read more ‘IMPARTIAL INSTITUTION’: Hunter Biden’s ex-biz partner reveals Trump DOJ blueprint he would like to see after last-minute pardon…Read more GUNNING FOR JUSTICE: DOJ special counsel says Hunter Biden’s indictment should not be dismissed…Read more TRUMP TRUMPS BIDEN: Mar-a-Lago trumps White House as president-elect overshadows Biden on world stage…Read more HUNTER BIDEN SAGA: Hunter Biden gun case terminated after pardon, but Delaware judge stops short of full dismissal…Read more ‘MAJOR INCREASE’: John Bolton declares hiking US defense budget the ‘most important priority in foreign affairs today’…Read more ‘MOUTHPIECES FOR GOVERNMENT’: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy agree on ‘need to scrutinize’ US funding for NGOs…Read more ‘DEEP STATE’ FOE: FBI has long been accused of politicization ahead of Dem concern over Kash Patel nomination…Read more PARTING WORDS: Outgoing DNC chair defends party, says 2024 could have been worse for Democrats…Read more LEADERSHIP ELECTION: Senate Democrats to hold leadership elections after losing chamber majority…Read more ‘NO LONGER EMPLOYED’: House Democrat staff member fired following arrest by Capitol Police…Read more PROMOTED: General involved in Afghanistan withdrawal has promotion confirmed by Senate…Read more GETTING TESTY: Recently ousted Dem senator said he’s ‘getting the f*** out of here’ when asked about presidential pardon…Read more CROSSING THE AISLE: Dem lawmaker joins Republican-led DOGE caucus with push to remove Secret Service from DHS…Read more ‘FROM THE ASHES’: Conservative group’s roadmap calls for Congress to rebuild new US immigration system ‘from the ashes’…Read more ‘ABOVE THE LAW’: Dem Rep. Dean Phillips blasts Biden after Hunter pardon, says some people ‘are indeed above the law’…Read more ‘CHOOSE WORDS CAREFULLY’: Denver mayor criticized by hometown paper over vow to resist Trump deportations…Read more STACKING THE DECK: Daniel Penny prosecutor dangles race card again over defense objection despite no hate crime charges…Read more SHOOTER TO SHOP OWNER?”: Would-be Reagan assassin John Hinckley Jr. opening music store…Read more ‘COMMON SENSE’: Ohio Lt. Gov. touts state’s ‘common sense’ bathroom bill, hopes to see similar bills ‘across the country’…Read more RED LIGHTS: AOC’s ‘Red Light District’ plagued by crime as Democrat who helped her rise to power says she ‘disappeared’…Read more GANG EXECUTIONER?: Suspected Tren de Aragua gang member in Texas charged with murder, kidnapping…Read more FALLEN HEROES: Trump, DeSantis join thousands to mourn three Florida deputies killed in roadside crash…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

NYC mayor delivers blunt message to left-wing critics over desire to meet with Trump’s incoming border czar

New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed on Tuesday that he is open to meeting with incoming Trump border czar Tom Homan to develop solutions to take on illegal immigrant criminals — and dismissed criticism from the left, telling critics to “cancel me.” Adams was asked at a press conference about whether he will meet with Homan, who was picked by President-elect Trump to lead the mass deportation operation he intends to launch after he is sworn into office. Adams stressed the city’s openness to immigrants and emphasized the work being done on helping migrants apply for Temporary Protected Status and work authorization, as well as services including case management for migrants. He said it has now seen a 21-week decrease in migrant arrivals.  TRUMP BORDER CZAR HOMAN SAYS HE’LL MEET WITH NYC MAYOR ADAMS TO ADDRESS MIGRANT CRISIS: LETS ‘GET THIS DONE’  “But we cannot ignore, ignore the fact that the American people have communicated to us, loudly and clearly. We have a broken system. They want to fix, and we need to fix our immigration system,” he said. He said he has reached out to Homan and said he would like to speak to him: “I’m not going to be warring with this administration, I’m going to be working with this administration. President Trump is the president-elect. And whomever he chooses to run his agencies. I’m looking forward to sitting down and see how do we better New York,” he said. “I would like to speak with our border czar, and find out what his plans are. Where our common grounds are, we can work together. And I strongly believe, my history is sitting down with those across the aisle, with different ways of thinking, and sit down and share my ideas,” he said. “I believe I have some ideas that could deal with this issue, and we can reach what the American people have been saying to us — secure our borders, address the people who are committing violent acts in our country and make sure that… our citizens are going to be safe.” In another part of the press conference, he said that those who are in the country illegally who are otherwise law-abiding “should not be rounded up in the middle of the night.” But he said that it was different for criminal illegal immigrants. NYC ENDS TAXPAYER-FUNDED PREPAID DEBIT CARD PROGRAM FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “Those are the people I am talking about. And I would love to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on how are we going to address those who are harming our citizens.” As to his critics from the left on the issue, Adams pointed to past remarks by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, who he said had called for the deportation of criminal illegal immigrants, and brushed off what he said was “cancel culture.” “Well, cancel me, because I’m going to protect the people of this city, and if you come into this country, in this city, and think you’re going to harm innocent New Yorkers and innocent migrants and asylum seekers, this is not the mayor you want to be in a city under,” he said. Adams has been sounding the alarm about the impact that the border crisis has had on New York City, including the billions that it has cost the city. He has repeatedly called for additional support from the federal government. He said on Tuesday that the city has so far seen $6.4 billion spent on the migrant crisis. ‘TRUE!!’: TRUMP CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR MAJOR STEP IN MASS DEPORTATION PUSH TO ‘REVERSE THE BIDEN INVASION’ While New York City is a sanctuary city — meaning local police are not allowed to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests to hand over illegal immigrants after they are released from custody — Adams has increasingly backed away from that stance. He has called for changes that allow those suspected of major crimes to be turned over to ICE, something that is not currently allowed under the sanctuary policies. Homan, meanwhile, has also been open to a meeting with Adams. “I’m willing to meet with him, and I’m willing to meet with anybody to help make their communities safer,” Homan said Monday on “America’s Newsroom” after being contacted by the Adams administration.  “Prioritization out of the gate is public safety threats. Work with us on that. It makes your community safer. It keeps my officers safe. It keeps the community safe. Let’s work together and get this done.”  Fox News’ Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Facebook still silent after suddenly banning then reinstating this popular gun manufacturer

The popular American gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson says it is still being kept in the dark after its Facebook account was suddenly suspended last month. Though the account has since been reinstated, a representative for the company told Fox News Digital that “despite multiple attempts to reach Facebook to discuss the matter, to date we have not had direct communications with any of their staff members.” The gun company, which is headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee, said staff suddenly received a notification from Facebook on Nov. 22 stating that their official Smith & Wesson account had been “suspended indefinitely.” “No warnings of a page suspension were previously communicated by Facebook,” said the representative. BIDEN-HARRIS POLICIES MAY BE BEHIND SURGE IN REPUBLICAN WOMEN OWNING GUNS, CONCEALED CARRY ADVOCATE SAYS The representative said Facebook referenced five posts dating back to December 2023 that they “suggest did not follow their community guidelines.” “The posts in question included consumer promotional campaigns, charitable auctions, and product release announcements,” the Smith & Wesson representative explained. “While Facebook’s policies are ever-changing, which creates a burden for users to comply with, we do not believe this content violated any of Facebook’s policies or community guidelines, and similar posts have been published in the past without issue.”   Facebook’s commerce policy prohibits the promotion of buying, selling and trading of weapons, ammunition and explosives. However, according to Facebook’s parent company Meta’s website, there is an exception for legitimate brick-and-mortar and online retailers, though their content is still restricted for minors. ‘SMOKING-GUN DOCUMENTS’ PROVE FACEBOOK CENSORED AMERICANS ON BEHALF OF WHITE HOUSE, JIM JORDAN SAYS According to the representative, the page was reinstated on Nov. 27 after the gun manufacturer made a public statement about the incident on X. In the post, which has 3.1 million views, Smith & Wesson criticized Facebook and thanked Elon Musk and X for supporting free speech amid what it called ongoing attacks against the First and Second Amendments. The company encouraged its 1.6 million Facebook followers and fans to “seek out platforms” that represent the “shared values” of free speech and the right to bear arms. Despite the page eventually being reinstated, the representative told Fox News Digital that the company has still had no contact with Meta and “no rationale was given for the reinstatement beyond a comment on social media from a Facebook representative stating that the suspension had been ‘in error.’” That same Meta staffer, Andy Stone, also directed Fox News Digital to the X post positing that Smith & Wesson’s suspension was an accident. In the post, Stone said “the page was suspended in error and we’ve now restored it. We apologize that this happened.” TRUMP FCC PICK SAYS BRINGING ‘CENSORSHIP CARTEL’ TO HEEL WILL BE A ‘TOP’ PRIORITY: ‘IT’S GOT TO END’ Through it all, the Smith & Wesson representative said the manufacturer is “grateful to Elon Musk for having created a public square platform that respects the right for Americans to voice their opinions, ALL opinions, and not just those that coincide with one agenda or another – especially as it relates to our constitutional rights guaranteed under the 1st and 2nd Amendments.” The spokesperson said that since their account was suspended, they have become aware that many other social media users have been similarly silenced and de-platformed. “While we were encouraged by the reinstatement of our account, we were similarly disappointed by the number of other users reacting to our statement on X that commented that they have had very similar experiences with their accounts being de-platformed without warning,” said the representative. “While we obviously do not know the details of those instances, we encourage Meta to continue working towards a more inclusive platform which allows the freedom for respectful dialogue from all viewpoints, which is a hallmark of American society.” Founded in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1852, Smith & Wesson is one of the most recognized gun brands in America and reported $535.8 million in sales in the 2024 fiscal year.

Biden pledges $1B in aid to Africa as North Carolina residents continue to struggle after Helene

President Biden pledged $1 billion in humanitarian support to Africans displaced by historic droughts and food insecurity on Tuesday, as North Carolina residents continue to rebuild after the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. “The United States continues to be the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance. That’s going to increase, you know, that’s the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do,” Biden said while speaking in Angola. “Today I’m announcing over $1 billion in new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts and food insecurity. We know African leaders and citizens are seeking more than just aid. You seek investment. “So, the United States is expanding our relationship all across Africa from assistance to aid, investment to trade, moving from patrons to partners to help bridge the infrastructure gap,” he added. Biden’s visit to Angola this week marks the first time the president has stepped foot on African soil during his presidency, and it comes as people in North Carolina continue to face challenges after Hurricane Helene caused destruction and devastation in late September. BIDEN TRAVELS TO AFRICA WHERE POLICIES WERE ‘OVER-PROMISED AND UNDER-DELIVERED,’ AMID MASSIVE CHINA EXPANSION Last month, the White House requested $98 billion in additional disaster relief funding to help efforts in Helene-ravished areas. Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have pledged to act swiftly once they get a formal request from the Biden administration. On top of that, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters last month that her agency “will need additional funding of approximately $40 billion beyond its 2025 budget request to support the ongoing recovery efforts to these storms and meet our overall mission requirements through the end of the fiscal year.”  HOUSE REPUBLICANS EYE FEMA FUND OVERHAUL AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES HEARING ON HELENE RECOVERY Still, until these funds are in place, some continue to slam Biden’s legacy of putting foreign countries before his own, which was seen Tuesday as a video of Biden making the $1 billion announcement in Africa made the rounds on social media. “BREAKING: Joe Biden just announced a $1B aid package for AFRICAN nations that are rebuilding from natural disasters. What about North Carolina? This is DISGUSTING,” one user on X wrote. “This is by far the WORST President of all time,” another said on X. JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’ Still, one more user asked, “Can anyone please explain why Joe Biden hates America so much?” The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter. Helene ravaged part of the U.S. Southeast in late September, killing more than 100 people in North Carolina alone. It’s estimated to have caused billions of dollars worth of damage as well. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., previously told Fox News Digital that he believed it could be one of the most expensive storms in U.S. history.  Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.