New data reveals voters are shifting to this major political party ahead of heated 2024 rematch
America is split in political party affiliation heading into the 2024 presidential election, seeing one of the most evenly split electorates in the past two decades, resurfaced research reveals. A Pew Research Center analysis examined voter identification across different ages, races, religions and education levels, comparing how voters identified in 1996 to new data from 2023. Fifty-one percent of Americans said they identified with the Republican Party in 1994, while 47% identified as Democrats. The tables turned over the years, with 5% more of American voters identifying as Democrats over Republicans in 2020. However, the Pew results from 2023 reveal a significant shift in party affiliation this cycle, reporting that 49% of voters identify as Democrat or leaning Democrat, while 48% identify as Republican or leaning Republican. Additionally, about 33% of respondents said they identify as being conservative or moderate in 2023, while the other side of the aisle only sees 23% identifying as liberal Democrats or leaning liberal. BLACK GEORGIA VOTERS ABANDONING BIDEN SAY THEY’RE SENDING MESSAGES ON GAZA: ‘DEMOCRATS SHOULD LISTEN’ The poll found that while Democrats remain the party of choice for most Hispanic, Black and Asian voters, party support among non-Hispanic White Democratic voters has dropped 21 percentage points since 1996, falling from 77% to 56% in 2023. Recent polls have found that despite their advantage, Democratic support among minority voters is shrinking. A recent Gallup poll found that 19% of Black adults said they identify as lean Republican or Republican, while 66% identify as Democrat or lean Democrat, the “smallest Gallup has recorded in its polling, dating back to 1999.” UNDECIDED BATTLEGROUND VOTERS UNANIMOUSLY BLAST BIDEN ON ECONOMY: ‘ABSOLUTELY DISASTROUS’ Among different age groups, Democrats maintain their advantage among young voters, while the majority of older individuals are Republican affiliated. Republicans have gained ground among Hispanic voters in recent years, tripling affiliation with their base in the demographic over the past two decades from 3% to 9%. Rural voters also appear to be shifting towards the GOP, with the new poll showing the party holds a 25-point advantage over Democrats, 60% to 35%, after the parties were evenly split among voters in 2008. President Biden and former President Donald Trump are expected to compete in a presidential election rematch in November. While Biden won the 2020 election against Trump, Pew’s analysis reveals a potential shift in the political landscape that could be echoed on the ballot this fall. Pew Research Center conducted the surveys via telephone for the results dating 1994 to 2018, and via online surveys from 2019 to 2023 among registered voters.
Trump says he’ll testify at NYC hush money trial: ‘I tell the truth’
Former President Trump has said he will testify at his upcoming hush money trial in New York City. “I’m testifying. I tell the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth,” Trump told reporters at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. “And the truth is, that there’s no case.” He’s set to appear at the trial, which stemmed from accusations that he falsified business records to cover up a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election, on Monday. The ex-president and current 2024 White House candidate made the announcement alongside Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Fla., who was in Palm Beach to roll out a legislative package aimed at bolstering election integrity. Trump called his trial a “scam” and “witch hunt” when asked if he planned to testify at his upcoming trial. “What they have done is incredible. It’s election interference and it’s got to stop. It’s a third-world country. This country has never done it,” the former president said. The trial in New York City is the first of the election year for the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts. TRUMP FILES MOTION REQUESTING JUDGE IN HUSH MONEY TRIAL BE RECUSED AMID DAUGHTER’S DEMOCRAT-AFFILIATED WORK Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan is presiding over the trial. Trump’s legal team had filed a motion requesting Merchan be recused from the trial due to his daughter’s Democrat-affiliated political work and his alleged “hostility” against the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Bragg, last April, charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges are related to alleged hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bragg alleged that Trump “repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election.”
Maine sues biochemical giant Monsanto over PCB contamination
Maine is suing biochemical giant Monsanto for allegedly knowingly selling products containing harmful chemicals that have contributed to contamination in the state. The latest lawsuit targeting the company over the manufacture and sale of products with polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, was filed on Thursday in Cumberland County Superior Court. It alleges that Monsanto knew about the danger of PCBs years before they were banned but continued to make and sell products containing them. “We have evidence that Monsanto knew that its PCBs products were causing long-lasting harm and chose to continue to make money off poisoning Maine’s people and environment,” Attorney General Aaron Frey said in a statement Friday. “I am taking action to demand that Monsanto pay for the harm it knowingly caused our state.” GOVERNOR KILLS MAINE PROPOSAL TO END ‘THREE STRIKES’ LAW FOR PETTY THEFT Monsanto is now owned by Bayer, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. Monsanto, which said it discontinued production of PCBs five decades ago, described the lawsuit as “meritless” and said any sale of PCB-containing products would have come from third-party manufactures because it never manufactured or disposed of PCBs in Maine. Vermont was the first state to sue Monsanto last year over PCB contamination of natural resources, followed by dozens of school districts in the state. Bayer agreed to pay $698 million to Oregon to end a lawsuit over PCB pollution in 2022. PCBs are linked to numerous health concerns and are one of the chemicals responsible for fish consumption advisories in Maine. They were used in building materials and electrical equipment like transformers, capacitors and fluorescent lighting ballasts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned manufacturing and certain uses of them in 1979 over concerns they could cause cancer and other illnesses. Maine said it will be seeking damages for the costs of cleaning up, monitoring and mitigating 400 miles of Maine rivers and streams and 1.8 million ocean acres that are currently identified as impaired by PCBs.
McCarthy blames ouster on lawmaker who wanted to stop ethics complaint that he ‘slept with a 17-year-old’
Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy says he was ousted as speaker of the House by a member of Congress who “wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old.” McCarthy’s removal from the chamber came after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who is the subject of a House Ethics Committee probe for alleged sexual misconduct, filed a motion to vacate the seat in October 2023. “I’ll give you the truth why I’m not speaker. It’s because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old,” McCarthy said Tuesday, while speaking at Georgetown University. Noting that he was unsure whether the individual was guilty of sexual misconduct, McCarthy insisted the lawmaker he was referencing wanted him to step in and “influence” the investigation during his tenure as House Speaker. KEVIN MCCARTHY TAKES PARTING SHOT AT MATT GAETZ AS HE EXITS CONGRESS: ‘HE WAS PSYCHOTIC’ “An ethics complaint that started before I ever became speaker. And that’s illegal. And I’m not going to get in the middle,” the former California lawmaker added. “Did he do it or not? I don’t know. But ethics is looking at it. And there’s other people in jail because of it, and he wanted me to influence it.” McCarthy did not specifically name Gaetz as the individual he was talking about, but Gaetz was the member of Congress who introduced the motion to oust the former speaker. “Kevin is a liar. Which, actually, is why he isn’t Speaker,” Gaetz said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Just ask any of the 224 people who voted to remove him.” Gaetz, who has represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2017, has been under investigation for an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl he paid to travel with him. The Justice Department recently halted its probe into allegations of sex trafficking, but the House committee continues weighing the allegations. GAETZ SAYS MCCARTHY WOULD BE ‘TERRIFIC’ RNC CHAIR AFTER OUSTING HIM AS SPEAKER: ‘MATT SURE KNOWS HOW TO TROLL’ McCarthy has made similar comments regarding Gaetz, charging in November that the congressman “belongs in jail.” “You have a cross-section [of the delegation],” McCarthy told Politico when asked about the House’s Florida Republicans. “You have Gaetz, who belongs in jail, and you have serious members.” Gaetz hit back at McCarthy’s comment, saying “the only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.” Gaetz has a history of controversial allegations regarding his alleged behavior around women. Before the sex trafficking investigation was launched, it was previously reported Gaetz would brag about his sexual experiences to his colleagues in Congress and allegedly show fellow lawmakers nude photos of women he had slept with, CNN reported. Joel Greenberg, a former associate of Gaetz, is serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges related to a sex trafficking probe. Gaetz has continuously denied the allegations and any accusation of wrongdoing, with a spokesman saying Gaetz “never had sex with a minor and has never paid for sex.”
Biden Treasury Dept official testifies ‘any dollar’ Iran gets in aid will fund ‘violent’ activities
The Treasury Department this week admitted that any funds sent to Iran directly go toward funding “violent” activities of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps “before it’s ever used for their people and humanitarian aid.” Sen. Tim Scott is now demanding answers from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, after Deputy Secretary Adewale Adeyemo testified about Iran’s use of humanitarian aid before the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on Tuesday. Adeyemo testified in response to questions from Scott, R-S.C., about the “fungible nature of so-called humanitarian assistance.” “What we’ve seen time and time from the Iranian regime, is that they fail to feed their people and they put the IRGC first,” Adeyemo said. “Any dollar they have will go towards violent activity before they deal with their people.” IMMINENT ATTACK FROM IRAN KEEPS ISRAEL ON ALERT AS US ADMITS ‘CREDIBLE’ THREAT FROM TERROR STATE Adeyemo said that is “partially why almost none of the humanitarian money has been used for humanitarian purposes, because they don’t care about getting drugs and food for their people.” “In Iran, they’ve proven that any dollar they get, that they have direct access to in the country, will be used for the IRGC before it’s ever used for their people,” Adeyemo added. Fox News Digital obtained a letter Scott sent to Yellen following his testimony. “Treasury plays a critical role in ensuring the national security of our country through its toolkit to stop illicit financing and curb the flow of funds that support bad actors,” Scott said, adding that he still has “serious concerns with U.S.-enabled efforts that increase Iran’s access to sanctioned funds—funds that directly support Iran’s terror proxies throughout the Middle East.” Scott said Adeyemo’s testimony “has only elevated” his concerns, noting that Adeyemo made it “abundantly clear that the current sanctions relief and humanitarian assistance scheme provided to Iran are not viable solutions, and rather deteriorate U.S. national security interests.” “Alarmingly, under your watch, Iran has increased its oil exports, with China serving as the largest purchaser,” Scott wrote. “This increase has led to billions in additional revenue for the regime, which, as Treasury testified, will almost certainly go to fund violent terror activity.” BIDEN EXPECTS IRAN TO ATTACK ISRAEL ‘SOONER THAN LATER’ Scott said that given the “proven track-record Iran has on redirecting so-called humanitarian assistance to ‘violent activity,’ as characterized by Treasury, we must operate under the assumption that every dollar made available to Iran is another dollar that will be used to put U.S. servicemembers in harm’s way or threaten our allies, especially Israel.” “In light of this, I am requesting an accounting of all international high-value Iranian assets around the world that are currently blocked by U.S. sanctions as well as additional steps Treasury will now take to actively account for current funds that have already been released to Iran,” Scott wrote. “Not a single dollar, euro, or dinar, sanctioned by the United States should ever be released to Iran when this Administration actively recognizes that any money to Iran supports terrorism.” But the Treasury Department said there are two different types of funds — humanitarian aid, which they say are tied up in banks outside of Iran that would get sent into the country by third parties, and any money that is already inside Iran. A Treasury official pointed Fox News Digital to a separate section of Adeyemo’s testimony in which he says the humanitarian money is “tied up in financial institutions” and insisted that “none of that money will ever see its way to Iran.” As for the other type of funds, Adeyemo said that while in the U.S. “money is fungible, in Iran, they’ve proven that any dollar they get that they have direct access to in the country will be used for the IRGC before it’s ever used for their people.” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., asked Adeyemo if humanitarian aid could ever be used as money already held inside Iran, to which Adeyeo replied: “No. None of those dollars have gone to Iran. None of those dollars will go to Iran.”
Tennessee lawmakers pass bill criminalizing adults who help minors get transgender procedures
Tennessee lawmakers in the state’s Senate on Thursday passed a bill on a 25-4 vote that would make it a felony for adults to aid minors in seeking gender transition procedures. It now heads to the GOP-led House, where it is expected to get additional Republican support. State Sen. Janice Bowling, a Republican, sponsored SB 2782, which would penalize any “adult who recruits, harbors, or transports an unemancipated minor” in Tennessee “for the purpose of receiving a prohibited medical procedure that is for the purpose of enabling the minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identity, regardless of where the medical procedure is to be procured,” and make it classified as a felony. Adults who break the law could face prison time of three to 15 years and fines of up to $10,000 under the Class C felony that the bill allots. The bill also “authorizes a person who violates this amendment to be held liable in a civil action for such violation.” MAINE CONSIDERS BILL THAT WOULD ESTABLISH ‘LEGAL RIGHT’ TO ABORTION, TRANSGENDER SURGICAL PROCEDURES The legislation is similar to another bill that the Senate passed on Thursday, which would create penalties for adults who help minors obtain abortions without parental consent. Tennessee Democrats opposed both bills. “We’ve had two bills in two days regulate the types of conversations people can have with each other,” Democratic state Sen. Jeff Yarbro said before Thursday’s vote. “We shouldn’t be trying to violate constitutional rights, and that’s what this is trying to do.” Bowling refrained from debating about the bill on the floor, and instead read portions of the bill text when asked for clarity by a Democratic colleague, Sen. Heidi Campbell. GOP AGS WARN MAINE TO KILL ‘TOTALITARIAN’ BILL MAKING SANCTUARY STATE Campbell argued that children who experience gender dysphoria “find that their parents are people that they can talk to.” “While I absolutely applaud efforts to support parental rights, I also think we need to think about the different scenarios in which relationships with parents are not necessarily healthy,” she said. Currently, Idaho is the only other state in the U.S. that has a law to crack down on adults who help facilitate abortions for minors. But Tennessee could become the first that applies penalties to adults relating specifically to gender-transition procedures and treatments. Recently, Maine drew the attention of more than a dozen Republican attorneys general for a bill under consideration that would effectively establish Maine as a sanctuary state for both abortions and procedures like sex-change surgeries for minors — a move the AGs say is “totalitarian.” Providers would be shielded from so-called “hostile” lawsuits if the bill passes. Fox News’ Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.
Biden administration cracks down on lightbulbs as part of climate agenda
The Biden administration finalized energy efficiency regulations targeting common everyday lightbulbs late Friday as part of its sweeping climate agenda. The Department of Energy announced the new standards for general service lamps, which include the most common types of residential and commercial lightbulbs. The agency said the regulations will slash greenhouse gas pollution, ultimately cutting 70 million metric tons of dangerous carbon dioxide over the next three decades. “Making common household appliances more efficient is one of the most effective ways to slash energy costs and cut harmful carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “Under President Biden and as directed by Congress, DOE is following the lead of lightbulb manufacturers, helping American families flip the switch on massive energy savings through strengthened energy efficiency standards.” WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS STRICT HYDROGEN REGULATIONS IN VICTORY FOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS In addition to its projected emissions reductions, DOE said the new lightbulb efficiency standards will save American families $1.6 billion in household energy costs every year. Under the rules, which will be enacted beginning in mid-2028, manufacturers will be required to raise the efficiency level of most common lightbulbs from 45 lumens per watt to more than 120 lumens per watt, a nearly 170% increase. Only LED bulbs will be able to comply with the standards, not compact fluorescent bulbs. BIDEN ADMIN LAUNCHED AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TARGETING HOME APPLIANCES WITH ECO REGULATIONS IN 2023 While U.S. households have increasingly switched to LED light bulbs since 2015, fewer than half of households reported using mostly or exclusively LEDs, according to recent results from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Overall, 47% of households use mostly or only LEDs, 15% use mostly incandescent or halogens and 12% use mostly or all compact fluorescent, with another 26% reporting no predominant bulb type, the federal data showed. According to the survey data, LEDs are also far more popular in higher-income households, meaning the energy regulations will potentially impact lower-income Americans most. While 54% of households with an income of more than $100,000 per year used LEDs, just 39% of households with an income of $20,000 or less used LEDs. In addition, the DOE has taken aim at a broad range of popular home appliances, including stove tops, water heaters, furnaces, dishwashers, refrigerators and ceiling fans. “Ostensibly, these DOE efficiency standards are supposed to benefit consumers. That’s the way the law is written,” Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, previously told Fox News Digital. “But they’re clearly being done as part of the climate agenda, especially this agenda to electrify everything.” DOE, meanwhile, has pointed to its authority under the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which established a federal program consisting of test procedures, labeling and energy targets for consumer products. The 1987 National Appliance Energy Conservation Act then established minimum appliance efficiency standards and requires DOE to periodically update the standards.
Fox News Politics: Spy drama spreads
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? – House passes FISA authorization… – Military positions to counter potential Iranian threats… – Trump prepares for first criminal trial beginning Monday… The House voted to renew the contentious surveillance tool, without proposed conservative changes to the warrant process, and despite objections from former President Trump. The FISA reauthorization vote came after a measure to add warrant requirements for U.S. data failed in a tie vote. However, House Freedom Caucus conservatives and their allies have blocked the bill from heading to the Senate immediately. In the dramatic moments after its passage, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., raised a procedural measure objecting to the final vote count. But multiple House members had already departed the chamber, likely heading to the airport, so another vote could not be taken. Next, the House must vote on whether to reconsider passage of Section 702 on Monday, shortening the Senate’s timeline to consider the bill before the surveillance authority expires on April 19. ‘CREDIBLE’ THREATS: US moving more assets to Middle East amid Iran tensions, defense official says …Read more CHAOTIC ARREST: Video captures New York migrant shelter arrests as woman obstructs officers …Read more ‘WE SUPPORT YOU’: Woman who hugged Trump at Chick-fil-A slams media’s dishonesty about Black voters …Read more JUST SAY ‘NO’: Biden campaign asked if it wants votes of ‘Death to America’ chanters …Read more ‘NO COMPARISON’: DNC paid Biden’s legal bills in classified docs probe while campaign attacked Trump for the same …Read more ONGOING ISSUES: Speaker Johnson to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid speakership threat …Read more WAR CHEST: House GOP campaign arm rakes in over $33M in first 3 months of 2024 …Read more HASN’T COME UP: JD Vance has never spoken to Trump about VP possibilities despite rumors …Read more BACK IN CUSTODY: Afghan man on terror watchlist apprehended by ICE …Read more BROADENED HORIZONS: Mike Pence lands new gig after failed 2024 presidential bid …Read more ‘LAW AND ORDER’: Trump raises millions in Atlanta neighborhood that wants to secede from the high-crime city …Read more ‘THINK TWICE’: Pennsylvania rep introduces bill to combat illegal immigrant squatting …Read more STRESSED SENIORS: Inflation keeping older Americans up at night, AARP finds …Read more SHOCKING STUDY: California’s environmental policies harm Latino workers as White middle class flees state …Read more ‘POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’: Top conservative activist fires back at Senate Dems after being hit with subpoena …Read more ‘I DON’T TRUST YOU’: FBI director accused by Rep. Garcia of being ineffective at his job …Read more TIME IS NOW: House Republicans urge Biden for ‘expedient release’ of Hamas hostages …Read more DEEP CONSIDERATION: Economists weigh pros and cons of Trump plan for 60% tariff on China …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.
Alabama Ethics Commission member out over campaign donation claims
A member of the Alabama Ethics Commission has resigned after acknowledging that he might have broken a state law by making campaign contributions. Attorney Stan McDonald confirmed his resignation in a text message sent to The Associated Press late Thursday, several days after acknowledging he had made political contributions. Alabama law prohibits commission members from giving campaign donations to candidates or participating in other partisan political activity. McDonald issued a statement saying he was resigning after learning that some of his actions were “very possibly prohibited by law.” REPUBLICANS DEBATE AHEAD OF RUNOFF FOR ALABAMA CONGRESSIONAL SEAT “My breach was unintentional but I know it’s right to own my actions,” McDonald said earlier this week. “I’ve learned from learned folks over the years that sometimes when you mess up, that all you can do is make a better decision next time. It’s called doing the next right thing.” The Alabama Ethics Commission reviews ethics complaints against public officials and employees. The commission also issues guidance on what is allowed, and not allowed, under the state ethics law. McDonald, a Republican, had been critical of a proposed revamp of the state ethics law. During a radio interview, he expressed disappointment that other members of the party were pushing the proposal, and indicated that he had contributed to campaigns. Campaign finance records show that McDonald had made about $500 in contributions since joining the commission. The resignation will leave two vacancies on the five-member commission.
O.J. Simpson supported by Black community because ‘White people were killed,’ former Biden staffer hints
A top former Biden campaign aide, who is serving as a CNN commentator, was blasted on social media over a comment discussing the death of O.J. Simpson and what he “represented” to the “Black community.” “He wasn’t a social justice leader, but he represented something for the Black community in that moment in that trial, particularly because there were two White people killed,” Ashley Allison, who served as a senior policy adviser in the Obama White House and served as the national coalitions director for the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, said. “And the history around how Black people have been persecuted during slavery. There were just so many layers. “I guess I would just close with this. There was racial tension then, there is racial tension now. It might not be the backdrop of the Trump campaign, but until this country is ready to actually have an honest conversation about the racial dynamics from our origin story until today, we will always have moments like O.J. Simpson that manifest. And our country will always be divided if we don’t actually deal with the issue of race.” Allison was quickly criticized on social media over her remark. CAITLYN JENNER OFFERS BLUNT, TWO-WORD RESPONSE AFTER OJ SIMPSON’S DEATH “Not a single @CNN panelist pushes back on @ashleyrallison here when she admits it was ok that OJ murdered his wife and her friend because they were white,” Daily Caller columnist Mary Rooke posted on X. “Unbelievable.” “Insane!” Comedian Tim Young posted on X. “CNN commentator praises OJ Simpson… saying he “represented something” to the black community because he murdered white people… Flip the races and put this segment on Fox News, and there would be rioting.” OJ SIMPSON: NEW YORK TIMES SPARKS OUTCRY FOR SAYING ‘HIS WORLD WAS RUINED’ BY MURDER TRIAL “They’re continuing to say the quiet part out loud,” one X commenter wrote. “Absolutely unhinged racism,” said another user. CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Simpson died April 10 at the age of 76, his family announced Thursday. “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” the Simpson family posted on X. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.” Simpson was widely regarded as a legendary running back — and perhaps one of the best running backs of all time — but his fame was eclipsed by the double murder trial of his ex-wife and her friend. He became embroiled in a murder trial following a June 1994 arrest for the brutal slayings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman. Simpson was 46 years old at the time. His status as an accused double murderer rocked the country, and his courtroom trials captivated households. His fall from grace continued throughout the mid-’90s and early 2000s. Fox News Digital’s Lawrence Richard contributed to this report