Weather update: ‘Very heavy’ rains in Gujarat tomorrow; red alert in Karnataka amid Cyclone Asna scare
A unique meteorological occurrence in August is the cyclone that is developing over Gujarat’s Saurashtra-Kutch region.
Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violations
The request by the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to the Department of Justice follows a similar request by a Latino civil rights organization.
Fox News Politics: Another Spending Showdown?
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Here’s what’s happening… – Dem bill to protect inmates from abuse could set sex offenders out early, say critics… – Trump pledges universal coverage for IVF treatment for women… – Key moments from VP Harris’ first interview since becoming the Democratic nominee… Several Republican lawmakers have called on their colleagues to support attaching a bill that would safeguard elections and require proof of citizenship to vote on an upcoming stopgap spending measure due at the end of next month. Prominent conservative Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X this week pushing for the bill, which would require proof of citizenship before registering to vote in federal elections, to be tethered to a spending bill extension to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year. “There isn’t a good argument against attaching the SAVE Act to the September spending bill,” Lee said in one of several posts promoting the idea. …Read more ‘STILL A RADICAL’: Trump campaign slams Harris as ‘still a San Francisco radical’ after CNN interview …Read more NO REGRETS: Harris says she has no regrets about defending Biden’s fitness for office …Read more FAILING THE FACT CHECK: CNN fact-checker hits Harris for claiming she ‘made clear’ in 2020 she wouldn’t ban fracking …Read more HARD PRESS: NBC reporter calls out Harris for non-answer on her flip-flops …Read more ‘YIKES’: VP Harris shredded for claiming ‘my values have not changed’ amid policy flip-flops …Read more CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE: Harris lacked confidence, presidential demeanor in first TV interview: body language expert …Read more CLOCK IS TICKING: Trump asks federal court to take over Bragg case weeks before sentencing …Read more ‘ONE WEEK TO GO’: With 7 days until voting starts, ‘election season’ kicks off sooner than you think …Read more ‘WHAT HE DOES BEST’: Biden, who skipped Arlington event for vacation, trashed Trump in June for declining cemetery visit …Read more URGING CAUTION: In bruising battle with Trump, Harris urges supporters to not ‘pay too much attention to the polls’ …Read more ‘NEED MORE TIME’: Trump signals support for changing Florida heartbeat bill …Read more ‘GOBBLEDYGOOK’: Conservatives pounce on Kamala Harris for latest ‘word salad’ on climate change ‘deadlines’ …Read more ‘BETRAYAL’: Pro-lifers blast Trump ‘betrayal’ with shifting abortion stance, answer on Florida Amendment 4 …Read more WHY SO SECRET: Illegal immigrant suspect in Laken Riley murder case wants certain evidence hidden …Read more ‘HONEST MISTAKE’…: Rising Democratic star admits falsely claiming Bronze Star award …Read more ‘NOT IMAGINARY’: Colorado has ‘active investigations’ into suspected migrant gang violence, ‘real people’ being hurt: DA …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com. Please note we will not be publishing a newsletter on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. Our next edition will be published the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Half of Minnesota students not meeting standards for reading, math or science: state assessment
Minnesota students are not meeting testing standards in three core learning categories, according to newly released state assessment data. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on Thursday released new data that revealed that more than half of students in the state are not meeting standards in math, reading and science. The tests are administered by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) and the alternate assessment, the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS), which are statewide assessments that help districts measure student progress. The findings found that 60.4% of students in Minnesota are underperforming in the subject of science, with only 39.5% meeting the state standards. VERMONT URGES EVERYONE TO REPLACE ‘SON’ AND ‘DAUGHTER’ WITH ‘GENDER-NEUTRAL’ TERMS IN SCHOOLS The results also found that in math, 54.5% either do not meet or only partially meet requirements for the subject. FORMER TEACHER REVEALS WHICH STUDENTS SUFFERED ‘THE MOST’ UNDER WALZ’S PANDEMIC-ERA GUIDELINES The results reported that 45.5% of students do meet standards in math assessments. Additionally, 50.2% of students are either not meeting or only partially meeting standards for reading, while about 49.8% are meeting standards. “Another dismal MCA test score report from @GovTimWalz’s education department — an astonishing 53.5% of Minnesota 3rd Graders are not reading at grade level,” House Republicans posted on X after the new data was released. Calls placed to Gov. Tim Walz seeking comment were not returned by press time.
‘For election purposes’: Critics balk at Harris’ claim she will ‘enforce our laws’ at southern border
Vice President Kamala Harris made a 180-degree turn on her opinion about prosecuting illegal border crossings during her long-awaited first interview since becoming the Democratic Party’s official nominee for president. CNN anchor Dana Bash questioned Harris Thursday about whether she still believed illegal border crossings should be prosecuted, something Harris indicated she was against while running her 2019 campaign to become president. “I believe there should be consequence,” Harris told Bash. “We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally. … And let’s be clear, in this race, I’m the only person who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations who traffic in guns, drugs and human beings. I’m the only person in this race who actually served a border state as attorney general to enforce our laws. And I would enforce our laws as president going forward.” TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM KAMALA HARRIS’ FIRST INTERVIEW AS DEM NOMINEE: ‘I WILL NOT BAN FRACKING’ Harris’ comments Thursday contrasted with what she has said and done in the past regarding illegal immigration, particularly when it comes to illegal border crossings. Besides indicating during a nationally televised debate that she would not pursue people who have crossed the border illegally for prosecution, she told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2015 that “an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal.” She also posted the claim on social media. And in a riff with the late Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain’s daughter, Meghan, during a 2019 episode of “The View,” Harris reiterated her stance. “I would not make it a crime punishable by jail,” she said. “It should be a civil enforcement issue but not a criminal enforcement issue.” As a U.S. senator, Harris sought to strip funding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). And as California’s attorney general, she instructed local law enforcement not to adhere to ICE detainers when they request that someone who has committed a crime and crossed the border illegally be held until they can be taken into custody to initiate deportation procedures. Harris has also compared ICE to the Ku Klux Klan. KAMALA HARRIS OFFERS VAGUE ‘DAY 1’ OVAL OFFICE PLAN IN CNN INTERVIEW: ‘A NUMBER OF THINGS’ Fox News Digital spoke to two conservative immigration law experts who called her comments “insincere” and “for election purposes” only. “If someone cares about enforcing our laws as they pertain to the border, you would think that they would be a part of and lead an administration that prosecutes sufficient offenses related to crossing the border unlawfully,” said Gene Hamilton, the director of America First Legal, a right-wing legal group founded by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. “The Department of Justice’s prosecution for border-related offenses are at rock bottom. They are lower than even the Obama years, and that’s saying something.” Hamilton, who served as counselor to the attorney general at the Department of Justice under former President Trump, argued a key metric in determining how seriously an administration is taking border security is the number of illegal border crossings compared to the number of individuals deported. Last year, there were 2.4 million illegal border crossings, according to Department of Justice data, Hamilton said. Meanwhile, the Justice Department prosecuted around 20,000 of those violations. “You know, the numbers — the numbers speak for themselves,” Hamilton argued. He also pointed out that in 2019, under Trump, there were fewer illegal border crossings than the country faced in 2023, but the Trump administration still prosecuted more than five times the number of illegal border crossers than the Biden-Harris administration in 2023. “As she said last night in her interview, her values have not changed. She said that over and over again,” said Lora Ries, the director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center. “She is telling her base, ‘Look, don’t worry about what the campaign is saying right now. We just have to say that to try and get elected. But my values have not changed.’” NBC REPORTER CALLS OUT KAMALA HARRIS FOR SAYING HER ‘VALUES HAVEN’T CHANGED’: ‘HER POSITIONS HAVE CHANGED’ CNN’S KAMALA HARRIS, TIM WALZ INTERVIEW CAN BE SUMMED UP IN JUST TWO WORDS Ries slammed the Biden-Harris administration for “gaslighting” the American public but argued the Harris campaign “is taking it to another level” by denying Harris was tapped to be the border czar and pretending as if she is not in power and able to enact tougher measures at the border. “She’s in power right now. If she truly meant it, she would do it now, and she’s not. But to pretend like you’re not in power and not in office right now is a higher level of gaslighting,” said Ries. “I think this is just, you know, for election purposes.” Hamilton echoed that statement, calling Harris’ comments Thursday “insincere.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign repeatedly for comment but did not receive a response.
Illegal immigrant who pleaded guilty in fatal Colorado crash faces just one year behind bars
An illegal immigrant who pleaded guilty to causing a crash that killed a man in Colorado is facing a maximum of a year in jail when he is sentenced Friday, according to local reports. Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza was charged with misdemeanor traffic violations, including one count of careless driving resulting in death, and he pleaded guilty in July, 9News reported. He faces one year in jail and some fines as a result when sentenced. Fox reported earlier this year that Cruz-Mendoza was hauling a load of steel pipe on Hwy 285 when he lost control of the semi, sending it rolling onto its side as it veered off the road. SEMI DRIVER IN DEADLY COLORADO HIGHWAY CRASH IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO WAS DEPORTED FROM US MULTIPLE TIMES: ICE A load of pipe and angle iron spilled out of the semi and onto five other vehicles. One person was killed, and another was seriously injured, authorities said. A spokesperson for ICE confirmed that Cruz-Mendoza has a long history of removal to Mexico, stretching back more than two decades. ICE first became aware of Cruz-Mendoza in April 2002 when he was arrested on local charges in Jefferson County, Oregon, the ICE spokesperson said. An immigration judge ordered Cruz-Mendoza removed to Mexico on May 29, 2002. Since then, he has been removed from the U.S. or voluntarily returned to Mexico 16 times, ICE said. The widow of Scott Miller, the man killed in the crash, took aim at the district attorney for not bringing more charges. “I’m mad that I’m not going to get justice for my husband, mad because … the most this man can get is a year for murdering my husband because the DA refused to charge him with more charges,” Deann Miller told 9News. LAKEN RILEY MURDER: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT IN GEORGIA COLLEGE STUDENT SLAYING ASKS TO HIDE CERTAIN EVIDENCE “It makes me feel like they didn’t do their job,” Miller said. “They’re not doing their job. Who else is going to get these rogue truck drivers and these rogue trucking companies off the road if not the people we put in charge to make us safe?” 9News reported that the DA’s office was surprised that Cruz-Mendoza pleaded guilty in his arraignment on the misdemeanor, preventing further charges. The Jefferson County DA’s office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital but told 9News that they are looking into the trucking company involved in the crash. Fox News’ Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
Conservative beer company’s can showcasing Trump’s reaction to being shot brings in $1 million: ‘FIGHT’
FIRST ON FOX: The conservative beer company Ultra Right says that its newly unveiled can showcasing former President Trump’s fist pump after nearly being assassinated has surpassed $1 million in sales, prompting the company to donate to his campaign. “Just a month and a half ago, Former President Trump narrowly escaped death in an assassination attempt, a story the liberal media has already swept under the rug, we’re here to ensure this moment is not forgotten as we head into the most important election of our lifetime,” Seth Weathers, CEO of Conservative Dad’s™ Ultra Right Beer, said in a press release Friday announcing that the limited edition can has surpassed $1 million in sales. Weathers says he is donating $25,000 to the Trump campaign. “Our mission has always been twofold: to brew the best beer possible while also representing a movement,” Weathers said. BUD LIGHT STILL REELING FROM ‘UNFORCED ERROR’ AS MODELO ESPECIAL AND MICHELOB ULTRA BOTH SURPASSED IT “A movement of conservatives who are fed up with the woke agenda. Understanding the significance of this election, I’ve personally contributed $25,000 to President Trump’s campaign and its authorized re-election committee. I could not do this without the support of our loyal customers.” The “Conservative Dad’s™ FIGHT” limited-edition six-pack will only be available until September 15th, 11:59 PM EST, according to the press release. DOD PROVIDING SECRET SERVICE ‘ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE’ IN WAKE OF TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT “Our previous limited-edition Trump mugshot beer cans have fetched up to $1,000 per case on eBay, and I’m confident this latest release will become even more of a collector’s item,” Weathers said. Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right Beer released the limited-edition can in July, shortly after the failed assassination attempt that featured “President Trump’s iconic fist pump.” Ultra Right Beer was started in April 2023 during the conservative boycott of Bud Light following its partnership with a transgender influencer and immediately became an internet sensation. “The last year was a pretty wild ride by anyone’s definition for Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right Beer. We launched on April 12 of 2023, and it went just incredibly wild and went very viral online,” Weathers told Fox News Digital earlier this year.
DNA TV Show: Why did PM Modi apologize for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue collapse?
A 35-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the state’s Sindhudurg district collapsed on August 26.
Trump’s Florida allies oppose abortion amendment as former president decides how to vote
Allies of former President Trump in Florida are explaining which way they will vote on an abortion ballot question in the state’s November election after the Trump campaign’s clarification that he has yet to decide his position. A ballot initiative in Florida to amend the state constitution to enshrine the right to an abortion into law is known as Amendment 4. It states, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Additionally, it says, “This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.” GOP SENATORS LOOK TO TIE CRACKDOWN ON NONCITIZEN VOTING TO MUST-PASS SPENDING BILL Trump, a resident of Florida, was asked Thursday how he would vote by a reporter. “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,” he said in response. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, promptly responded with a statement, saying, “President Trump has consistently opposed abortions after five months of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would allow abortion past this point. Voting for Amendment 4 completely undermines his position. “We strongly support Florida’s current heartbeat law,” she added. “For anyone who believes in drawing a different line, they still must vote against Amendment 4, unless they don’t want a line at all. Amendment 4 would lock unlimited abortion into the state constitution, preventing the Florida legislature from enacting any changes.” HARRIS WAS ‘OPEN’ TO PACKING SUPREME COURT DURING 2019 PRESIDENTIAL BID Afterward, SBA corrected the statement to add that Dannenfelser spoke with Trump Thursday night. “He has not committed to how he will vote on Amendment 4,” she said. Trump’s campaign also issued a statement after his remark. “President Trump has not yet said how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida. He simply reiterated that he believes six weeks is too short,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s office told Fox News Digital he will be voting against the amendment, which would enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution. A spokesperson referred Fox News Digital to an April interview when the senator explained his stance. HARRIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER IGNORES PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTION AS VP HITS 33 DAYS WITHOUT ONE “My fundamental challenge, and that’s at the core of it, is I believe that the right from which all of the rights emanate is the right to live, the right of a human being to live. And that right to live when it comes to abortion is in conflict with a woman’s right to choose. And, so, we have to choose in public policy, what do we prioritize? The right to live or the right to choose in those circumstances. And it’s a tough choice for a lot of people, and I understand it. But, for me, I’m going to be on the side of life,” he said at the time. Another Trump ally, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital in a statement, “I do not believe abortion policy belongs in the constitution. This matter should be addressed by the state legislature.” Representatives for Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and representatives Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Byron Donalds, R-Fla., did not provide comment in time for publication when asked by Fox News Digital how they plan to vote. BIDEN-HARRIS HHS SECRETARY SIDESTEPS BACKING ANY LIMIT ON LATE-TERM ABORTION Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office did not provide comment but referred Fox News Digital to an outside campaign against the amendment, which is run by allies of the governor. Taryn Fenske, a representative for the Vote No On 4 Florida campaign, pointed Fox News Digital to her post on X in response to Trump. “Donald Trump has consistently stated that late-term abortions where a baby can feel pain should never be permitted, and he’s always stood up for parents’ rights,” she wrote. “Amendment 4 would allow late-term abortions, eliminate parental consent, and open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions. It’s extreme and must be defeated.” DeSantis has publicly opposed the amendment in the past. Opponents of the amendment have pointed to its vague language as an issue, noting it could be read to allow elective abortion throughout a woman’s pregnancy as deemed necessary by employees of abortion clinics, rather than solely doctors. The amendment also does not define viability, typically understood to be around 20-25 weeks, leaving more gray area to be interpreted. Another concern brought by the amendment is its language regarding minors getting abortions. The text says that the amendment would not change the legislature’s ability to require parents to be notified about a minor’s abortion. However, it leaves out the legislature’s authority to require parental consent for such a procedure. The amendment is understood by critics to overturn current parental consent laws. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Rising Democratic star admits falsely claiming Bronze Star award
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore falsely claimed to have received the Bronze Star medal earlier in his political career, according to reports. The specter of stolen valor has hovered over the Democratic governor since his campaign for the office in 2022, when two television interviewers introduced the politician as a Bronze Star recipient. Moore did not correct either interviewer, but his staff has been adamant that he never claimed to have gotten the reward. WES MOORE PRAISES WALZ FOR MILITARY SERVICE, COMPLETING ‘MISSION’ DESPITE RETIREMENT OUTRAGE A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the New York Times revealed Moore did, in fact, assert that he had received the Bronze Star, on an application for the White House fellowship in January 2006. “For my work, the 82nd Airborne Division have awarded me the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge,” Moore wrote. Moore later received the Combat Action Badge in May of that year but was not a recipient when he wrote the application. He was never awarded the Bronze Star. MARYLAND GOVERNOR SIGNS BIDEN-INSPIRED BILL ESTABLISHING ‘CENTER FOR FIREARM VIOLENCE PREVENTION’ Moore discussed the false claims in a conversation with the New York Times, telling the newspaper that it had been an “honest mistake” made because his commanding officer had told him to include the award on his application. Michael Fenzel, a current lieutenant general, was a lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan when he instructed Moore to include the award on his fellowship application. Fenzel believed that Moore had earned the Bronze Star and was initiating the approval process, expecting that it would be awarded before the fellowship began. However, the Bronze Star never materialized. “I made an honest mistake by including something because my commanding officer thought it was a good idea,” Moore said. “He thought that I earned it, and he was already going through the paperwork to process it.” Fenzel, who remains a close personal friend of Moore, told the New York Times that he was only made aware Moore had never received the medal this week. The general told the newspaper that he intended to re-initiate the process of securing Moore a Bronze Star. “I take full accountability,” Moore told Fox 5 DC Friday. “It was my application.”