Republican lawmakers propose legislation to dismantle Biden admin’s DEI programs
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and several other Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are proposing legislation that would dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs across federal government agencies. Vance announced the Dismantle DEI Act on Wednesday, which is intended to eliminate all federal DEI programs and funding for federal agencies, contractors, organizations and educational accreditation agencies. Vance introduced the bill to the Senate, while Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, introduced it to the House. Joining the lawmakers as cosponsors are Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; and Rick Scott, R-Florida, as well as 15 members of the House of Representatives. PRIDE MONTH TARGETED BY HOUSE GOP IN MUST-PASS DEFENSE BILL “The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division. It has no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society,” Vance said. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation, which would root out DEI from our federal bureaucracy by eliminating such programs and stripping funding for DEI policies anywhere it exists. Americans’ tax dollars should not be co-opted to spread this radical and divisive ideology — this bill would ensure they are not.” According to Vance, the proposed legislation would unwind DEI policies implemented by President Biden and his administration across every agency of the federal government. It would also rescind relevant executive orders, terminate chief diversity officers, close DEI offices, end DEI and critical race theory trainings, outlaw mandatory employee DEI pledges, and revoke all DEI funding at the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SAYS WITHOUT DEI OFFICES, THERE IS ‘NO ABILITY TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS’ “DEI practices have zero place in our federal government,” Cloud said. “These initiatives, presented as promoting fairness, have instead fostered division and racial bias within our institutions and culture — which is not conducive to serving taxpayers well. This bill is a necessary step to restore merit and equality, not equity, in America’s government institutions, and eliminate the DEI bureaucracy that sows division and wastes taxpayer money.” Along with unwinding policies implemented by the Biden administration, the legislation would also prevent entities that employ prohibited DEI practices from being awarded federal contracts. Vance said nearly $1 trillion worth of federal contracts were awarded last year to companies specializing in defense, construction, aerospace and other industries. FIRST ON FOX: CALLS FOR STATE DEPARTMENT TO ABANDON ‘OBSESSION’ WITH DEI AND ‘DEPOLITICIZE,’ NEW REPORT SAYS The proposed legislation, if passed, could also prevent federal grant recipients from employing DEI practices, as well as prevent educational accreditation agencies from leveraging their powers to advance and implement DEI policies at education institutions. Fox News Digital has reached out to Democratic Party leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on the proposed legislation. The legislation comes as House Republicans eye this year’s must-pass defense policy bill as a vehicle to combat left-wing Biden administration policies on diversity, LGBTQ representation and gender ideology. SCHOOLS ACROSS COUNTRY DISBANDING DEI PROGRAMS IN DROVES; EDUCATION EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY Over 1,300 amendments have been offered to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of fiscal year 2025, annual legislation mapping out the Pentagon’s priorities as well as national security-related measures in the Department of Energy. Among those amendments are at least 10 proposed amendments to DEI initiatives within the Pentagon. Several of them are aimed at eliminating the department’s two principal diversity offices; the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, as well as their staff. A measure proposed by Reps. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., and Jim Banks, R-Ind., would ban U.S. service academies from using federal funds to create any DEI offices. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., submitted a broad initiative blocking any funding allocated by the NDAA to go toward DEI programs, offices or personnel. The House’s current NDAA text includes a provision to block Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from establishing a DEI-related committee or group for Pentagon-funded schools. Notably, a Democrat-led amendment by Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, was introduced to block that policy. Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics: Gas on the fire
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening… – President suggests DOJ prosecution of his son was political – Trump gains edge over Biden in key battleground state – Liberal activist defends secret recording of Supreme Court Justice President Biden is facing heat from one swing state Democrat imploring him to take action on the high gas prices. Rep. Ruben Gallego, the likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Arizona, sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday, requesting he specifically moves to provide relief for Western states, as he did for states in the Northeast last month. “Arizona families and business owners should not have to pay almost a dollar more than people in other states to get to work and move through their communities,” Gallego wrote. “I therefore request that your administration take similar actions to address gas prices in the Western United States.” BIDEN BLAMED: Biden reportedly blames re-election bid for Hunter’s conviction: ‘He would have gotten the plea deal’ …Read more ‘INSURRECTIONIST SYMBOLOGY’: Pete Buttigieg warns SCOTUS has ‘no supervision’ amid Alito flag controversy …Read more WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE: Putin’s fleet of warships in Cuba is a direct warning to Biden, experts say …Read more ‘ENEMIES LIST’: Lawmakers call on Biden admin for answers surrounding Biden-linked Ukraine group’s list of ‘Trumpists’ …Read more ‘INHERENT CONTEMPT’: Rep Luna eyes backup plan for Garland’s arrest if DOJ doesn’t act on contempt vote …Read more TOO OLD TO RUN: Voters approve ballot measure setting state age limit on US congressional candidates …Read more ‘VITAL NATIONAL SECURITY IMPORTANCE’: ISIS border threat prompts urgent Senate classified briefing request …Read more PORK PROBLEMS: Congress blasted over annual earmark report’s findings …Read more ‘POLICIES OVER PERSONALITIES’: Governor argues voters in his swing state turning to Trump …Read more BATTLEGROUND EDGE: Trump with the edge over Biden in a key battleground state that may determine the 2024 election rematch …Read more GOP KINGMAKER: Trump’s grip on GOP remains firm after endorsed candidates win big in Republican primaries …Read more FANI’S DAY IN COURT: DA Willis notches legal win in Trump case after months of setbacks …Read more WAKE-UP CALL: Migrants arrested with ISIS ties prove border security a terrorism concern: senator …Read more BORDER THREAT: FBI warned of terror risk days before 8 ISIS suspects arrested across US …Read more ‘PURE CLICKBAIT’: Legal experts dismiss leaked audio recordings of Supreme Court justices as ‘unexceptional’ …Read more ‘ELICIT TRUTHS’: Liberal activist defends secretly recording Supreme Court justices …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Navy vet running to unseat Minnesota Democrat says ‘selfish’ opponent ‘not serious’ about protecting Americans
A Navy veteran seeking to represent Minnesota in the Senate says the silence from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., about a number of issues, particularly the southern border crisis and the economy, shows she is “selfish” and “not serious” about protecting Americans. “She’s been silent on the border issue. She’s been silent on bringing jobs to Minnesota when it comes to the Iron Range and our mining capabilities that we have out there. We’re sitting on billions of dollars worth of revenue and jobs, and she’s done nothing to help,” Joe Fraser, a Republican making his first run for public office, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “The national debt has tripled under her watch, and the border is less secure,” he added. “She ran on securing the border 18 years ago. She wanted to close the border and fix immigration. Now she’s all for open borders, no immigration policy. You won’t find that flip-flop from me.” The recent arrests by federal immigration authorities of eight Tajikistan nationals with ties to ISIS in three major cities, Fraser said, further adds to the notion that Klobuchar and other Democrats in Congress are “not serious about foreign policy and security or securing the nation and protecting American citizens.” AUTHORITIES NAB 8 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WITH TIES TO ISIS IN MULTI-CITY STING OPERATION The Tajikistan nationals, who are said to have crossed the U.S. southern border illegally, were busted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in conjunction with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a federal source told Fox News on Tuesday. The arrests took place in New York City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia in recent days. “They’re putting those ISIS members’ rights ahead of Minnesotans’ rights, they’re putting them ahead of Americans,” Fraser added. “They’re doing it for their own personal and selfish needs. They’re not doing it for the needs and the people and the needs of national security in this country.” Fraser insisted Klobuchar’s lackluster advocacy for “strong foreign policy” has also contributed to her inability to successfully represent Minnesota in the upper chamber. “She’s done nothing to advocate for strong foreign policy to keep radical nations like Iran in check. Her support for the Iran nuclear deal pretty much gave us what we’ve got right now going on in the Middle East, where U.S. Navy warships are being fired on a daily basis by Iranian weapons that were provided to the Houthi rebels.” Drawing a contrast between himself and Klobuchar, who first won election to the Senate in 2007 and is seeking a fourth term in office, Fraser said he has “no desire” to serve in the Senate for a prolonged period of time and vowed to serve no more than two terms. “I realize that I work for the people and I don’t work for the party,” he said. “I will be an advocate for the people of Minnesota and I won’t forget where I came from.” Before he can take on Klobuchar in the state’s general election on Nov. 5, Fraser will need to outperform his challengers in the Republican primary election, slated to take place Aug. 13. MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY ISSUES SURPRISING ENDORSEMENT OF BLM PROTEST LEADER SEEKING TO OUST DEM SENATOR More than half a dozen Republicans have already filed paperwork and are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge Klobuchar this fall, including former NBA player Royce White, a former Black Lives Matter protest leader who was endorsed last month by some members of the Minnesota Republican Party during a convention in St. Paul’s RiverCentre. White led Black Lives Matter protests in Minneapolis at the height of the controversy surrounding the death of George Floyd and has made several controversial remarks in the past, including one where he claimed to be a Christian and a “real Jew” while responding to a social media user. Additionally, amid Israel’s war with Hamas, White took to X in December and claimed, “Israel has a right to exist but not to be the lynchpin of New World Order.” When asked about the Minnesota GOP’s endorsement of White, Fraser, who considers himself the “only adult in the room” among a crowded field of GOP primary challengers, said he believes the state party made an “ill-informed decision” and “fumbled the ball” when it came to vetting White. “I think they made an ill-informed decision,” he said. “Keep in mind, it was a fraction of the percentage of people that cast a vote for the party. One of the reasons why I’m running in the primary is because I believe that Minnesotans deserve a choice, and they deserve a choice based off of what they know.” White unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination to challenge “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District during the 2022 election cycle, losing to fellow Republican Cicely Davis in the primary election by more than 1,000 votes. “I think the state party fumbled the ball when it came to doing the background checks and validation of the credibility and the electability of Mr. White. Now we’re seeing that. Every day there’s something new that comes out,” Fraser added. Fraser said he has been “very transparent” about his past and his experience, which includes a nearly 26-year stint in the Navy. “I’ve got a career of experience and exposure across the board, whether that’s small business or large business, as well as national security and foreign policy exposure and experience,” he said. “I’ve got experience with drafting requirements that go into the federal budget. I understand the federal budget process, I understand how laws are made. I’ve done everything but actually sit in the chamber. The other folks don’t have the level of experience or expertise that I have.” Klobuchar’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Hunter Biden case: White House won’t rule out president shortening son’s sentence after guilty verdict
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused Wednesday to rule out President Biden commuting whatever sentence his son Hunter receives after he was found guilty yesterday in a criminal trial focused on his purchase of a handgun in 2018. Jean-Pierre, responding to a reporter asking whether a commutation of Hunter’s sentence is “something that would be on the table,” said she hasn’t spoken to President Biden since the announcement of the verdict and that “sentencing hasn’t even been scheduled yet.” “He’s been very clear. We’ve been very clear. You know, he loves his son. And he and the first lady love their son and they support their son. I just don’t have anything, certainly anything beyond that,” she added, noting an interview Biden gave to ABC News last week in which the president said he would accept the verdict of the trial and rule out pardoning Hunter. “So you’re not ruling out he would commute the sentence?” another reporter then asked Jean-Pierre. PRESIDENT BIDEN REACTS TO SON HUNTER’S GUILTY VERDICT IN GUN TRIAL: ‘I AM ALSO A DAD’ “What I’m saying is he was asked about a pardon. He was asked about the trial specifically, and he answered it very clearly, very forthright,” she responded. “I don’t have anything beyond what the president said. He’s been very clear about this.” Hunter Biden was found guilty of making a false statement in the purchase of a gun, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. The president’s son faces a total maximum prison time of 25 years for the three charges. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release. But since Hunter Biden, is a first-time offender, it’s unlikely he will face maximum penalties when he is sentenced at a later date. BIDEN REPORTEDLY BLAMES RE-ELECTION BID FOR HUNTER’S CONVICTION “I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time,” Hunter Biden said in a statement following the verdict. Prosecutors worked to prove that Hunter Biden lied on a federal firearm form, known as ATF Form 4473, in October 2018 when he ticked a box labeled “No” when asked if he is an unlawful user of a firearm or addicted to controlled substances. Hunter Biden purchased the gun from a store called StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply in Wilmington. He pleaded not guilty in the case. “Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support,” President Biden said in a statement following the verdict. “Nothing will ever change that.” Fox News’ Emma Colton and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Migrants continue to stream into Boston airport as more than 100 sleep on the floor
More than 100 migrants are sleeping on the floors of Boston’s Logan International Airport as more continue to stream in and use the facility as a shelter. A police source confirmed to Fox News that the hundreds of people pictured lining the floors of Boston’s main air hub with makeshift beds and air mattresses are migrants that have been using the facility as a shelter. The number of migrants being housed at the airport has increased in recent weeks, according to a report from the New York Post, increasing from only a few dozen who were at the facility a few months ago. BIDEN ORDER TO BLOCK MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHEN CROSSINGS SURGE, AS ELECTION NEARS “We continue to see migrants at the airport. They come to Logan a number of ways. They also arrive at Logan at all hours,” a representative from MassPort said of the situation, according to the report. Compounding the issue is a lack of staff and resources at surrounding facilities, the representative said, causing migrants to be bussed to state welcome centers during the day, only to be transported back to the airport at night. Migrants staying at the airport have been living in poor conditions, the report notes, sleeping on hard and cold floors, facing up at lights that are always on, and being constantly awakened by airport announcements. HAITIAN KINGPIN ‘BARBEQUE’ RISES FROM THE ASHES OF RIVAL GANG’S ‘ROYAL FAMILY’ BUST BY US The migrants have been forced to stay at the airport after state shelters reached their maximum capacity of 7,500 families in November, with those at the airport sitting on a wait list for shelter room to open. While Massachusetts does not have any laws making the state a sanctuary jurisdiction, many local cities, including Boston, have some form of sanctuary laws on the books. Nevertheless, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has attempted to address the lack of room in state shelters, announcing in May that a former prison south of Boston would be converted into a shelter that could host 400 homeless families, including 150 migrant families. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
US Park Police investigate ‘criminal activity’ after anti-Israel protests at White House
U.S. Park Police say they are investigating “criminal activity” after anti-Israel agitators vandalized statues in Washington, D.C.’s Lafayette Square over the weekend. Thousands swarmed the area in front of the White House on Saturday to protest President Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, with many waving pro-Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine” as they marched around the nation’s capital. The protest descended into chaos after some demonstrators turned their attention to the statues in Lafayette Square just outside the White House and vandalized them with spray paint and graffiti. Other demonstrators turned their attention to park rangers working the area, shouting “F— you, fascist!” and “Piggy, piggy, oink, oink!” Water bottles were aggressively thrown at rangers. One man wearing a Hamas headband held up a bloody face mask that depicted Biden and shouted, “Down, down occupation!” Another demonstrator lit an American flag on fire. THOUSANDS OF ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE AS ISRAEL CONDUCTED HOSTAGE RESCUE MISSION “This investigation is ongoing and United States Park Police investigators are looking to identify anyone involved in criminal activity that occurred on Saturday,” the public information office for the National Park Service (NPS) told Fox News Digital. “The safety of our employees and our visitors is our top priority. National Park Service (NPS) managers, in conjunction with local officials, engage in event planning to provide for public safety during permitted demonstrations,” an NPS spokesperson said. “Unfortunately, Saturday’s permitted demonstration resulted in an assault of a park ranger, injuries to two U.S. Park Police officers, and significant damage to the park resources. NPS staff are currently undertaking extensive cleanup and repair efforts to address the damage,” the spokesperson said. GOP SENATOR CALLS FOR JAN 6 STYLE INVESTIGATION INTO DC ANTI-ISRAEL DEMONSTRATION “The NPS has long recognized freedom of speech, press, religion, and public assembly. National parks and other public lands are the embodiment of our democracy. First Amendment activities, such as demonstrations, are activities protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” the spokeperson said, adding that it adheres to a provision in the U.S. code “that enables parks to accommodate First Amendment activity at designated spaces within the park, while also protecting park resources and values and minimizing the impact on park visitors and park operations.” ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATOR IN HAMAS HEADBAND HOLDS UP BLOODIED BIDEN FACE MASK STEPS FROM WHITE HOUSE “NPS staff work every day across the country to protect and preserve park resources, educate visitors, and inspire stewardship of some of our nation’s most treasured places. Defacement or vandalism of natural or cultural resources in national parks is not allowed at any time,” NPS said. The protesters argued that Israel has crossed a “red line” of “genocide” in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel explained details of its weeks-long plans for Saturday’s hostage rescue mission, which saved the lives of four Israeli citizens who were captured during Hamas’ October 7 attack. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The intention is to draw a red line where Biden won’t draw one when it comes to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and say we as the people are drawing the red line today to say enough is enough,” Nas Issa, a protester from the Palestinian Youth Movement, told NBC News. “It’s time for an arms embargo, and it’s time to end this.” Another protester told the outlet that she regrets voting for Biden in 2020 and that she “will never vote for him again.” Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Dem senator reacts to ISIS terrorists crossing border by blaming Republicans
FOX Business’ Hillary Vaughn pressed Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., to respond to news of eight suspected ISIS terrorists entering the U.S. through the southern border on Wednesday. The eight suspects were arrested over the past week in three different cities. Padilla argued the incident is more evidence that Republicans should approve border legislation that was negotiated by a bipartisan group and includes some additional funding for the border. “I don’t think they’re being welcomed, but to me, that is just a reminder that Republicans need to stop opposing additional resources for more Border Patrol agents and, other DHS personnel to help continue to enforce the law,” Padilla said. “You don’t think President Biden has any responsibility for the fact that terrorists are being allowed into this country?” Vaughn asked. “The fact that they were identified and detained and we know where they are is them doing their job,” Padilla said of border agents. FBI DIRECTOR WARNS OF JIHADIST ATTACK IN US, SIMILAR TO RUSSIAN CONCERT HALL: ‘HEIGHTENED TERRORIST THREAT’ Vaughn later spoke to Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, and asked him about the same issue. “We should obviously, arrest and detain people, that commit terrorist acts. And so I think that, obviously, it’s really important for us to address the issues here,” Casar said. “At the same time, we should be making sure that we have both a secure and humane border policy. And I’ll continue to support the president in making sure we strike the right balance.” All eight individuals crossed the U.S. southern border illegally, and, according to a federal source familiar with the sting, no derogatory information was initially flagged by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or Homeland Security (DHS) during processing. Fox News’ source said after the suspected terrorists were released into the U.S., derogatory information was flagged with national security concerns, including the individuals’ ties to ISIS. When contacted about the report by Fox News, the FBI and DHS sent a joint statement: “Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities. The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. As the FBI and DHS have recently described in public and partner bulletins, the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment. The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security.”
Durbin looks to force Supreme Court ethics bill vote amid Alito controversy
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will attempt to force a vote Wednesday evening on a Supreme Court ethics bill backed by Democrats amid recent scrutiny of Justice Samuel Alito and renewed calls for the conservative justice to recuse from former President Trump’s immunity case. Durbin will lead fellow Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., in a request to bring the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act to the floor for a vote around 5:30 p.m. However, unanimous consent to consider the measure will not be granted, as Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will object, his office told Fox News Digital. LINDSEY GRAHAM REQUESTS FULL SENATE BRIEFING ON ISIS BORDER THREAT AFTER TERRORIST BUST If brought for a vote and passed, the bill would require the Supreme Court to create an ethics code that is publicly available. It would additionally allow for complaints to be lodged against justices and for a judicial investigation panel to then review them. The measure advanced out of the committee last year by a party line vote, with 11 Democrats in favor and all 10 Republicans opposed. BIDEN PUSHED TO REVOKE AL JAZEERA CREDENTIALS AFTER ISRAELI HOSTAGE REPORTEDLY FOUND IN JOURNALIST’S HOME Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised Judiciary Democrats for their work on the bill after it advanced, saying at the time, “I support Chairman Durbin, Senator Whitehouse, and the Judiciary Committee’s work on SCOTUS ethics reform, and I look forward to working with them to make progress on this legislation.” But since its advancement, the bill has remained in limbo. Schumer’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital regarding his plans for bringing it to the floor. DEMS CLAIM GOP ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES CRUMBLED’ AFTER HUNTER BIDEN GUILTY VERDICT Judiciary Democrats have made a renewed and concerted push to increase accountability for Supreme Court justices in the wake of the controversy surrounding Alito and his wife. The New York Times recently reported on an upside-down American flag that flew at their Virginia home in the weeks following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, as well as an “Appeal to Heaven” flag that was on display at a beach home belonging to the Alitos. Democratic critics have suggested that the flags were displays of support for those who rioted on Jan. 6. Alito has denied this. The reports prompted several letters to both Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts from Durbin, Whitehouse and Blumenthal, requesting a meeting with Roberts and Alito’s recusal from 2020 election-related cases. SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY BLASTS ‘SURREPTITIOUS’ RECORDING AS DEMS TARGET JUSTICE ALITO Alito has since refused to step back from such cases, which include the matter of Trump’s immunity claim in his federal election interference case, in which a decision from the court is expected this month. The unanimous consent request also comes in the wake of secret recordings that were taken by an undercover liberal filmmaker at the Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual dinner on June 3. The recordings feature Alito acknowledging that “there are differences on fundamental things that really can’t be compromised” when it comes to ideological differences. Alito additionally agreed with the activist’s statement suggesting the country should return to “godliness.” In an op-ed on Tuesday for The Wall Street Journal, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., slammed his Democratic colleagues’ attempt to pass the legislation. The Republican explained that the court is charged constitutionally with the power to govern itself. “Liberals complain that the court’s binding ethics rules lack an ‘enforcement mechanism’ to ensure recusal when they want it,” he wrote. “But this complaint would throw the Constitution out the window.” “The court rightly vests judicial power in its democratically legitimate members as the Constitution requires. Democrats instead want a bureaucracy to ‘administer’ it,” he said in a scathing rebuke of the Democratic effort.
Putin’s fleet of warships in Cuba is direct warning to Biden, experts say
A fleet of Russian warships entered Cuban waters on Wednesday as they prepare to hold military drills in the Caribbean. The deployment is likely a warning to President Biden after he gave approval for Ukrainian forces to strike some targets within Russia using U.S. weaponry, according to Rebekah Koffler, strategic intelligence analyst and author of “Putin’s Playbook.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is telling Washington, “we can touch you,” Koffler said. “Putin wants to be close to the U.S. homeland at this time when the Russia-Ukraine crisis is on a highly escalatory trajectory – given Biden’s authorization to Ukraine. If something goes wrong and Ukraine strikes critical targets in Russia close to major cities, the Russian military can enable the Cubans to strike targets inside the U.S. or strike U.S. interests,” she said. Three Russian warships arrived at Cuba’s Havana Bay on Wednesday, greeted by a 21-cannon salute. A nuclear-powered submarine was also expected to arrive after them. Russia has said the submarine, the Kazan, is not carrying nuclear weapons. BIDEN COMMEMORATES D-DAY AT NORMANDY, CALLING ON ALLIES TO REPEL ‘TYRANT’ PUTIN IN UKRAINE The arrival of the ships comes after Putin suggested he may authorize strikes on the U.S. via proxy countries, which he says is precisely what the U.S. is doing in Ukraine. BIDEN CLAIMS TO HAVE KNOWN PUTIN FOR ‘OVER 40 YEARS’ EVEN WHEN HE WORKED AS A KGB AGENT “Most of all, the warships are a reminder to Washington that it is unpleasant when an adversary meddles in your near abroad,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America program at the Washington-based Wilson Center think tank. “It also reminds Russia’s friends in the region, including U.S. antagonists Cuba and Venezuela, that Moscow is on their side.” Putin made a direct threat to supply weapons to nearby neighbors of the U.S. last week. ‘BACK IN TIME’: HOUSE LAWMAKERS PARACHUTING FROM WWII-ERA PLANE IN NORMANDY TO MARK D-DAY “If [the U.S.] considers it possible to deliver such weapons to the combat zone to launch strikes on our territory and create problems for us, why don’t we have the right to supply weapons of the same type to some regions of the world where they can be used to launch strikes on sensitive facilities of the countries that do it to Russia?” he asked. Biden approved Ukraine’s use of American missiles to hit targets on Russian soil at the end of May. Ukraine has suffered in the battle of attrition against Russian forces, failing to secure breakthroughs with counterattacks. Biden also approved Ukraine’s controversial Azov Battalion to use U.S.-provided weaponry. The battalion has neo-Nazi roots and has been central to Russian propaganda about Ukraine’s government. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Arrests of eight ISIS-tied migrants should be wake-up call for Biden on border crisis, senator says
EXCLUSIVE: The senator who warned in February about the potential for terrorists to slip into the country across the southern border is continuing to sound the alarm, telling Fox News Digital he hopes the arrests of eight suspects with ties to ISIS serve as a wake-up call for President Biden. “I’ve been sounding the alarm for months that Joe Biden’s wide-open southern border is leaving our homeland wide open to potential terrorists,” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., told Fox News Digital. “This news is not surprising – but if it’s not a wake-up call to Biden and the Democrats, I don’t know what will be.” The comments come after a joint U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sting resulted in the arrests of eight Tajikistan nationals with ties to the Islamic State in recent days. AUTHORITIES NAB 8 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WITH TIES TO ISIS IN MULTI-CITY STING OPERATION The arrests occurred in New York City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, but all eight suspects had originally crossed the U.S. southern border illegally, according to a federal source familiar with the sting. But Daines had been raising concerns about such a possibility for months, specifically pointing to Central Asia as a potential origin for many of the threats. During a February press conference, Daines told reporters that a “high-level individual” warned the senator that over 50,000 Central Asians had crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2023. The Montana senator expressed concern then that such individuals could be “part of sleeper cells for a possible terror attack on our soil.” That potential threat could have seemingly become reality, with the New York Post reporting that one of the eight arrested suspects was caught on a wiretap talking about making bombs. 1M ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COULD BE GIVEN ‘AMNESTY’ AS BIDEN FACES PRESSURE FROM LEFT WING “Remember the Boston marathon [bombing]? I’m afraid something like that might happen again or worse,” a source familiar with the arrests told the New York Post. The arrests come after FBI Director Christopher Wray warned a Senate Appropriations subcommittee last week of his increasing concern about the possibility of a coordinated attack in the U.S. similar to the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) attack at a Russian concert hall in March. The Montana Republican plans to echo that point at Wednesday’s 2 p.m. weekly leadership press conference, the first since news of the arrests were reported. Daines also argued that such a threat is made more likely by the lack of security at the border. “The pattern is clear and there is not a bigger national security threat facing our nation than Biden’s southern border crisis,” Daines said. The White House did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.