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EXCLUSIVE: Inside Republicans’ long game to confirm Trump FBI Director Kash Patel
FIRST ON FOX: Now-FBI Director Kash Patel worked hard to get the Senate support necessary for confirmation, studying the lawmakers, sitting for countless meetings and even enlisting the assistance of Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to prep for his hearing, Fox News Digital has learned. Patel met with 61 senators in his bid to take on the role that President Donald Trump nominated him for, a transition official told Fox News Digital. They noted this is significant for a position that is not even within the president’s Cabinet. GOP SENATOR SUFFERS SEIZURE, BRAIN BLEED AFTER FALLING ON ICE “He studied what was important to the FBI and everyone in these meetings,” they said, explaining how close to home the question of who directs the bureau hits for each senator. “You can touch and feel an FBI office in nearly every state.” Prominent Republicans Lee and Cruz were part of “murder board” sessions to critique and question Patel before his hearing. There were roughly 10 such meetings to prepare him. “I was happy to assist Director Patel through the confirmation process, because President Trump picked a man of great integrity and dedication to lead the FBI. America will be more free, fair, and safe with him at the Bureau,” Lee told Fox News Digital in a statement. A source familiar said the sessions consisted of a series of round-robin questions on hot-button issues. He was asked about some of the FBI controversies of recent memory, particularly former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who infamously exchanged anti-Trump text messages while investigating him for potential collusion with Russia. DEMS DEMAND TRUMP RESUME CASH FLOW AS THEY FINALLY GET LEVERAGE IN RACE TO PREVENT SHUTDOWN They also took turns grilling Patel over a group of individuals listed in his 2023 book who he considers deep-state actors. Democrats dubbed it an “enemies list,” which the then-nominee denied. According to the transition official, the enthusiasm was palpable upon Patel’s nomination. “There’s a cadre of senators that knew Kash before he was nominated,” they said, adding that they were excited. He was confirmed last week by a narrow margin of 51-49. This caught his team by surprise as they actually expected both Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to come down in favor of his nomination. During his meeting with Collins, a source familiar told Fox News Digital that Patel referenced the fact that she is the only elected Republican from Maine in Congress and is up for re-election in 2026. The then-nominee also told her that he understood if she was in a position in which she couldn’t vote for him. Collins’ office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication. Patel’s meetings with both Collins and Murkowski had been good, per the transition official. “Kash and Lisa had many conversations and talked a lot,” they explained. While she didn’t vote for him, the Alaska Republican did call Patel in the hours leading up to the vote, giving him a heads-up that she wasn’t going to be able to support him, a source familiar shared. Another significant vote was that of former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who opted to support Patel after opposing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP WARNS MAJOR DEM AGAINST MOVE THAT COULD COST VOTERS TRILLIONS Trump’s team leading Patel through the process had strategically worked on getting McConnell’s backing behind closed doors. Before Christmas, the then-nominee had already done 40 meetings with senators. This was on purpose; they wanted to get senators talking with each other, the source said. This early meeting blitz was specifically designed to lay the groundwork for Patel’s eventual discussions with McConnell, Murkowski and Collins, along with others who were potentially skeptical. When McConnell’s meeting came around, it appeared the strategy worked, with the seemingly open-minded Republican asking questions about Patel’s background experience in law and national security. McConnell also seemed particularly interested in Patel’s plans to increase transparency. Another key win for the now-FBI director was having Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., in his corner. The senator had previously hesitated on Hegseth’s confirmation, waiting until the last minute to announce his support. ETHICS WATCHDOG FLAGS SENATOR HELPING MAKE MILLIONS FOR WIFE’S GREEN NONPROFIT What truly sold Tillis on supporting Patel, with whom he was relatively unfamiliar, was the opinion of former South Carolina Republican congressman and current Fox News weekend host Trey Gowdy. Patel and Gowdy worked with one another when the former was a staffer for former Republican congressman Devin Nunes. The two were part of investigating the FBI’s probe into potential Russian interference in the 2016 election. Gowdy spoke with Fox News Digital, sharing that he received calls about his experience with Patel from “maybe a dozen” senators. He said he was happy to share his opinion but urged each of them to meet with the nominee themselves rather than just take his word for it. Tillis quickly became one of Patel’s biggest supporters, giving him advice as he met with other lawmakers. The North Carolina Republican even introduced Patel for his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, also creating a “K$H Bingo” game that included subjects Tillis expected to be brought up by Democrats during the hearing. The sheet included subjects such as “Deep State,” “Enemies List” and Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, among others.
SCOTUS to hear straight woman’s discrimination case that could reshape employment law
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case involving an Ohio woman who claims she was unfairly discriminated against for being straight, while she watched her less-qualified LGBT colleagues in Ohio’s youth corrections system climb the career ladder. Marlean Ames, the woman at the center of the case, argued she was discriminated against because of her heterosexuality at the Ohio Department of Youth Services and contends that her demotion and pay cut constitutes a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The decision of the case could have a significant impact on employment law. Ames’ case is before the Supreme Court after lower courts dismissed her claim in light of the precedent in the 1973 McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green decision. In that case, the high court created a three-step process for handling discrimination cases based on indirect evidence, with the first step being the key issue in the case. SCOTUS TURNS DOWN ABORTION CLINIC BUFFER ZONE CHALLENGE, THOMAS SLAMS ‘ABDICATION’ OF DUTY At this first step, plaintiffs in such cases must present enough evidence to make a basic case of discrimination. This requirement applies to all plaintiffs, whether they are from minority or majority groups. Thus, Ames is challenging the legal standard used by lower courts, which requires her to provide additional “background circumstances” to “support the suspicion that the defendant is that unusual employer who discriminates against the majority.” The majority in this case appears to be Ames, since she is straight. Ames’ attorney, Edward Gilbert, argued in a Feb. 7 court filing that this additional evidence burden is inappropriate and that discrimination should be assessed equally. “Judges must actually treat plaintiffs differently, by first separating them into majority and minority groups, and then imposing a ‘background circumstances’ requirement on the former but not the latter,” the filing read. “In other words, to enforce Title VII’s broad rule of workplace equality, courts must apply the law unequally.” Ames started working at the Ohio Department of Youth Services in 2004 as an executive secretary, which oversees the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. Since 2009, she was promoted several times, and by 2014, she was promoted to program administrator, according to the Supreme Court filing. In 2017, Ames began reporting to a new supervisor, Ginine Trim, who is openly gay. During her 2018 performance review, Trim rated Ames as meeting expectations in most areas and exceeding them in one. ‘THE PENDULUM IS SWINGING’: EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HISTORIC SCOTUS TRANSGENDER CASE AMID ORAL ARGUMENTS However, in 2019, after Ames applied for a bureau chief position and did not get it, she was removed from her program administrator role, the court filing states. The department’s assistant director and HR head, both of whom are straight, offered her the choice to return to her previous job with a pay cut. Ames chose to remain with the department and was later promoted to a different program administrator position. The department then hired a gay woman for the bureau chief role Ames had wanted, and a gay man for the program administrator position she previously held. After assuming Ames’ role, the co-worker “expressed to Ames an ‘impatient attitude towards climbing the ranks within the Department,’ ‘claim[ed] that he could manipulate people to get what he wanted on the basis of being a gay man,’ and ‘acknowledge[d]; that he had ’been angling for Ames’s position for some time, stating in front of their coworkers that he wanted the PREA Administrator position,’” according to the filing. In an amicus brief filed by Elizabeth Prelogar, the U.S. solicitor general under the Biden administration, the federal government supports Marlean Ames’ argument. Prelogar said the “background circumstances” requirement imposed by the lower court has no basis in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and goes against the Court’s past rulings, which allow all plaintiffs to be judged by the same standards, SCOTUS Blog reported. On the other hand, the Ohio Department of Youth Services disagrees with the idea that Ames was held to a higher standard because she is straight. The department argued that the “background circumstances” rule is not an additional burden on plaintiffs, but rather a “method of analysis” to examine cases like Ames’ without creating a new legal precedent. UNPACKING THE SUPREME COURT: WHY IT’S NOT JUST A MAGA STRONGHOLD, AND HOW THE JUSTICES REALLY VOTE The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case Wednesday morning, with a ruling expected by the end of June. The case’s hearing before the high court comes amid a second Trump administration that is working to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal sector while pressuring private sectors to do the same.
USAID instructions for fired employees gives them 15 minutes to gather belongings from shuttered DC building
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has posted detailed instructions on its website for the thousands of employees seeking to retrieve personal belongings from their offices inside the Ronald Reagan Building after being fired or placed on administrative leave. The agency is giving employees two days – Thursday, Feb. 27, and Friday, Feb. 28 – to enter the building during designated time slots if they have items they would like to bring home. While the slots range from 60 minutes to 90 minutes overall, employees will have approximately 15 minutes to collect personal belongings from their work spaces. “Staff will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete this retrieval and must be finished removing items within their time slot only,” the instructions stated. “Staff with a significant amount of personal belongings to retrieve must be cognizant of time; however, flexibility may be granted in select circumstances with the approval of the Office of Security.” They must also bring their own containers and supplies to remove and pack up their belongings. USAID WORKERS SEND MESSAGE TO TRUMP ON BOXES WHILE LEAVING OFFICE FOR LAST TIME Before leaving the building with their items, USAID said staff “will be required to acknowledge receipt of their personal belongings” in order to keep agencies from being liable for items left behind. They will also be required to confirm that they do not have any physical or electronic government records with them. USAID said Thursday and Friday are the only two days when retrieval will be allowed and employees must do it within the time slot that coordinates with their bureau. If staff members cannot make the time slot, only a designated alternate staff member can retrieve belongings as visitors, children and staff without proper credentials will not be allowed. General Services Administration will pack up personal items that were not retrieved and will send them to a warehouse to be collected at a later date, the instructions said. TRUMP ADMIN TO SLASH 1,600 USAID POSITIONS JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY There are 14 time slots for employees of 25 bureaus between the two retrieval days. Employees will also return all USAID-issued government-furnished equipment during their time in the building. On Sunday at midnight, the Trump administration placed nearly 1,600 USAID employees on administrative leave globally, excluding those working on mission-critical functions, core leadership or specially designated programs. The reduction-in-force call came after thousands of USAID employees were fired, leaving only around 300 staffers left at the agency. Trump decided to significantly cut down the agency after the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, determined that USAID wasted millions of dollars funding questionable programs and initiatives around the world. For instance, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, the Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman, recently published a list that included $20 million to produce a Sesame Street show in Iraq. Several more examples have been uncovered, such as more than $900,000 to a “Gaza-based terror charity” called Bayader Association for Environment and Development and a $1.5 million program slated to “advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.”
New Bengaluru-Mangaluru Expressway to reduce travel time by 7-8 hours; set to open…
the ministry said that the Bengaluru-Mangaluru expressway is likely to reduce the time travel between these two cities by 7 to 8 hours.
BSF troops shoot Pakistani intruder dead along international border at Pathankot in Punjab
The intruder was subsequently shot dead, and his identity is being ascertained, the officials said. A spokesperson of the BSF, Jammu frontier, said a strong protest will be lodged with Pakistan Rangers over the incident.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin offers support to federal workers fired by DOGE: ‘We care about you’
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin appears to be following through with a promise to help federal workers find new employment after their jobs were cut by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The Republican governor has announced a new website to assist them find employment in the Virginia government on virginiahasjobs.com. “We care about you,” Youngkin said at the Capital One Center in McLean. “And we have a support system in order to help you find that next great opportunity.” VIRGINIA GOV. YOUNGKIN CALLS FOR END TO TAXES ON TIPS AHEAD OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION The new website is described as a “federal workers support resource package.” Youngkin says the site was designed to help federal employees transition into new roles if they “experience job dislocation.” “We have openings in state government, and they will find a link on our website to go find those opportunities as well,” Youngkin. The site will connect those searching for employment to job sources and regions as well as listings on Indeed and LinkedIn. “Take advantage of the resources that will help you find your pathway to that career of your dreams,” adding: “I actually have extraordinary empathy for the fact that there are many workers in Virginia today, from our federal workforce, who are experiencing real concerns,” Youngkin added. DESANTIS ANNOUNCES FLORIDA ‘DOGE TASK FORCE’ Democrats in Virginia have made a note that they believe Youngkin is backing the president and not defending Virginians. House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, called the website “an insult.” “Glossy websites and slogans can’t cover up his political capitulation and a Governor who has turned his back on his constituents when they need it most,” Senate Majority Leader Scott A. Surovell, D-Fairfax, said in a statement. Youngkin has not denied that he is in support of recent DOGE cuts, stating that he believes they are essential. “We have a federal government that is inefficient, and we have an administration that’s taking on that challenge, rooting out waste, fraud and abuse and driving efficiency in our federal government,” and “It needs to happen,” he said. However, Youngkin does believe the “federal workforce is not at fault here.” “But the reality,” he said, “is that any CEO who steps into a position where there is an organization that has had such deep financial challenges is going to have to make change.” Virginia is home to one of the largest populations of federal employees with over 144,000, according to a December 2024 congressional report. That number rises significantly when you add in commuters working in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, rising to over 300,000.
Dolton, Illinois, mayor Tiffany Henyard projected to lose primary in landside
Dolton, Illinois, mayor Tiffany Henyard, a Democrat, is projected to lose in a landslide in the village’s mayoral primary held on Tuesday amid various scandals and allegations of corruption. The embattled mayor predicted earlier on Tuesday that she would win in a landslide, according to Fox 32, but challenger Jason House overwhelmingly defeated Henyard in convincing fashion, securing 3,896 votes to Henyard’s 536. House, a village trustee and former ally of Henyard, campaigned on transparency and reform, promising a “clean house” and to bring accountability back to Dolton government. DOLTON, ILLINOIS MAYOR TIFFANY HENYARD, OTHERS HIT WITH FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER FIGHT AT MEETING “Not only is Ms. Henyard depriving the public of what they deserve, it’s costing the village money,” he said on Election Day. “Day one, every record will be turned over.” Henyard, who assumed office in 2021, made headlines during her time as mayor over controversy surrounding her alleged financial mismanagement and other scandals. A federal subpoena issued in May of last year asked for Dolton’s financial records in an attempt to review the mayor’s expensive out-of-state trips. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, also a Democrat, was hired last year to investigate Henyard’s handling of Dolton’s funds. Lightfoot’s probe revealed that the village’s general fund had diminished from a $5.6 million surplus in 2022 to a $3.6 million deficit in 2024, raising concerns about questionable credit card purchases and a lack of financial accountability. Henyard was heavily criticized by residents ahead of the election over her various scandals. She has also been accused of civil rights violations, is facing numerous lawsuits over her alleged corruption and was involved in a brawl at a board meeting last month. DOLTON MAYOR TIFFANY HENYARD INVOLVED IN BOARD MEETING BRAWL BETWEEN BOYFRIEND, ACTIVIST CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The way that the present mayor has been doing things just hasn’t been sitting right with me,” voter Sharon Hunley told Fox 32. Another voter, Regan Lewis, said, “We’re kinda like a joke. It’s not a good thing, it’s embarrassing.”
Georgia bill passed in state Senate likened to ‘DOGE Lite’
The Georgia state Senate passed a bill on Monday that they are referring to as “DOGE lite.” Senate Bill 28, Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025, has the goal of reducing costs and increasing accountability for state agencies by having them review and update rules and regulations every four years. During the vote, Democrats were against the measure, accusing Republicans of trying to bring DOGE to Georgia. “DOGE” refers to the Department of Government of Efficiency, headed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and aimed at shrinking the federal government. WHITE HOUSE PUSHES BACK ON REPORT CLAIMING SOME CANCELED DOGE CONTRACTS WON’T SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY “This is a power grab. Plain and simple, this is DOGE coming to Georgia,” said state Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) during the debate. The bill is also aimed at small businesses and requires state agencies to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of rules and will solicit the public’s input regarding whether rules are justified and if the government can further reduce those costs. MEET THE FAR-LEFT GROUPS FUNDING ANTI-DOGE PROTESTS AT GOP OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY The vote was split between party lines, but the majority was Republican. “Now that Donald Trump is president, we need to feign outrage about a commonsense bill,” claimed Sen. Greg Dolezal following the vote. “That’s just the state of play in Georgia politics.” Dolezal says there has been some mischaracterization of the bill. He went on to say before President Trump was reelected that a similar bill passed with bipartisan support last year. Overall, Senate Democrats believe the bill will be effective in aggressive cost-cutting, much like at the federal level. The bill will now go to the House for consideration.
Musk blasts judges over Trump executive orders: ‘We do NOT have democracy, we have TYRANNY of the JUDICIARY’
DOGE leader Elon Musk suggested the United States has a “TYRANNY of the JUDICIARY” following a series of court rulings that have paused or blocked some of President Donald Trump’s executive orders, while also saying corrupt judges should be impeached and removed. In a post on X, Musk lamented judicial rulings that have blocked some of the Trump executive orders, many that have included slashing wasteful government spending and deporting illegal immigrants. “If ANY judge ANYWHERE can block EVERY Presidential order EVERYWHERE, we do NOT have democracy, we have TYRANNY of the JUDICIARY,” Musk wrote. ‘IF YOU DON’T ANSWER…YOU’RE FIRED’: TRUMP STANDS BEHIND MUSK’S DOGE PRODUCTIVITY EMAIL The post came hours after a federal judge blocked raids by immigration authorities targeting certain places of worship and another gave the Trump administration two days to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in payments for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects across the globe. On Monday, a federal judge also blocked Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal records at the Department of Education (ED) as part of their cost-cutting sweep. In response to Musk’s post, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said: “Corrupt judges should be impeached. And removed. Pass it on if you agree.” OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE BLOCKS ICE RAIDS AT CERTAIN PLACES OF WORSHIP, DEFYING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION “It’s the only way,” replied Musk. He cited the ousting of rivals to El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Parliamentary leaders in that country recently sacked supreme court judges and an attorney general. “The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges,” said Musk. “No one is above the law, including judges. That is what it took to fix El Salvador. Same applies to America.” “Unfortunately, as President Bukele eloquently articulates, there is no other option,” he added. “We must impeach to save democracy.” Bukele replied, saying that “if you don’t impeach the corrupt judges, you CANNOT fix the country.” “They will form a cartel, (a judicial dictatorship) and block all reforms, protecting the systemic corruption that put them in their seats,” he added.