GOP plans to grind Senate to a halt if Democrats table Mayorkas impeachment trial
EXCLUSIVE: Republican senators are gearing up to prevent all legislative business in the Senate from going forward if they don’t get a full trial into the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Five sources told Fox News Digital that roughly a dozen GOP senators have been planning for more than a week to obstruct legislative proceedings and regular business in the Senate if, at a minimum, points of order are not agreed to in the impeachment trial of Mayorkas when the House impeachment managers deliver the articles to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “The Senate runs on unanimous consent,” a Senate Republican aide familiar with the talks told Fox News Digital. “Any one senator can do that.” READ MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE FROM FOX NEWS DIGITAL The aide revealed that the conversation has been ongoing since last week. A second Senate Republican aide also confirmed that several senators are voicing support for slowing or even stopping legislative business if impeachment is tabled. GOP SENATORS CONVINCE SPEAKER JOHNSON TO DELAY MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLE DELIVERY Schumer’s office did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. A top Senate Republican source shared that this type of holdup is always possible in the upper chamber, noting that one senator can choose to object at any time. However, they said a halt of this nature was going to be more likely if the articles were delivered this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., decided to wait until next week to deliver the articles to the Senate after facing pressure from GOP senators who did not want the impeachment trial to take place ahead of a weekend when most of the body would be preparing to fly back to their states. But, the source noted, if Schumer and the Democrats seek to table the impeachment trial next week, there would be nothing stopping Republican senators from objecting to basic procedural measures. The entire conference’s appetite for such acts of protest isn’t clear. SCOOP: SEN. TED CRUZ HAULS IN NEARLY $10 MILLION IN PAST THREE MONTHS AS HE BATTLES FOR RE-ELECTION IN TEXAS A source familiar with a Republican Senate lunch at the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Tuesday told Fox News Digital the discussion also took place there. It had the support of numerous senators, the source said, and no one dismissed the idea. The Senate Republican aide gave examples of what such a Senate standstill would look like, pointing to motions to adjourn, recess and proceed to executive business, as well as objections to regular business such as wrapups, forcing the Senate to go through lengthy procedural actions such as reading from the journal and recapping the previous day’s business. The senators could also object to various requests to move forward on items with unanimous consent, including legislation, schedule items and adjourning. DEM SENATORS VOICE CONCERNS OVER ISRAEL WAR STATUS AS BIDEN ATTEMPTS ‘CHALLENGING’ BALANCE WITH PROGRESSIVES The plan from conservative Republicans would be meant as a mechanism to bring Schumer and Democrats to the negotiating table on the Mayorkas impeachment trial. The White House Counsel’s office did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. DHS referred Fox News Digital to a previous statement following the House’s passage of the impeachment articles. “Without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country. Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe,” DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said at the time.
Jaipur Lok Sabha constituency, Rajasthan: Polling date, candidates list, past results and more
BJP won the Jaipur constituency twice in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.
Exclusive Fox video shows illegal immigrants, smugglers swarming New Mexico hotspot: ‘It’s theirs’
EXCLUSIVE: Fox News video from the southern border shows a flood of illegal migrant activity in New Mexico, while elsewhere along the border agents are catching sex offenders and other criminals attempting to enter the United States. Footage taken by Fox’s team in New Mexico showed men walking around the border wall in Sunland, New Mexico, before one takes off into the United States. Elsewhere, coyotes and scouts could be seen monitoring Fox’s crew and Border Patrol agents. Separate footage showed Border Patrol busting migrants in the desert after they crossed into the United States. One Border Patrol agent told Fox Border Patrol has lost control of nearby Mt. Cristo Rey to human smugglers, “It’s not ours. … It’s theirs,” the agent said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS The U.S. is now in the fourth year of a historic migrant crisis at the southern border, which has shown few signs of slowing. Migrant traffic frequently moves, and New Mexico is becoming a top destination for those seeking to get into the U.S. In Nogales, Arizona, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized multiple weapons and cash in ten separate incidents, including one man with a gun strapped onto his chest. Things are much quieter in Eagle Pass, Texas, where migrant flows have reduced since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doubled down on border security measures at the key crossing point, including the seizure of a staging area in January. CAUGHT ON CAMERA: CROWDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CUT RAZOR WIRE, RUSH ACROSS BORDER INTO TEXAS In El Paso, however, there have been a number of surges toward the border, including multiple instances in which migrants have cut razor wire before surging toward the wall. Also in the El Paso Sector, which includes parts of Texas and New Mexico, 29 migrants were found in a human smuggling stash house. Meanwhile, in the Del Rio Sector, agents arrested two confirmed sex offenders, including one with a conviction for child sex offenses, this week. The border remains a top political issue heading into the 2024 election. The Biden administration has said it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and trying to implement consequences for illegal crossings while expanding “lawful migration pathways.” It has said it needs more funding from Congress and immigration reform to fix what it says is a “broken” system. It has appealed for the passage of a bipartisan Senate bill to do just that. But Republicans have argued the crisis is caused by the rolling back of Trump-era policies and Biden-era moves to expand “catch-and-release” and reduce interior enforcement. CBP SEIZES MULTIPLE WEAPONS HEADED FOR MEXICO, INCLUDING AK-STYLE RIFLE TAPED TO MIGRANT’S BARE CHEST The battle over that policy is seen in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott is entangled in multiple legal battles with the administration, including over the establishment of razor wire and a Texas law to grant power to police to arrest illegal immigrants. Amid that battle, Abbott has touted the state’s efforts to reinforce the barrier, including adding extra concertina wire. “Texas will exercise our sovereign authority to protect our southern border — and our nation — because President Biden refuses to enforce federal immigration laws,” Abbott said this week. Fox News’ Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.
Trump lashes out at former VP Pence who criticized his lukewarm abortion statement
Former President Trump lashed out at his former vice president in the wee hours of Wednesday over disagreement on abortion policy. Trump published on his proprietary social media site, Truth Social, a furious tirade against former Vice President Mike Pence. “Former Vice President (thank you President Trump!) Mike Pence has been doing a lot of talking about Abortion lately. He never felt I would be able to kill Roe v Wade and bring it back to the States where, according to all legal scholars, it belongs,” Trump wrote. PENCE BLASTS TRUMP’S ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’ ANNOUNCEMENT ON KEY ISSUE FOR CHRISTIAN VOTERS “He started at no abortion for any reason, and then allowing abortions for up to 6 weeks, then up to 15 weeks, and then, who knows?” the former president asserted. The comment appears to be a reference to various pro-life bills proposed or backed by Pence that sought to restrict abortion at the state or national level. The former vice president has been a consistent pro-life advocate since his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. He has maintained for his entire political career that the termination of an embryo is morally unacceptable at any stage. The criticism also seems to use recycled language from a previous post attacking Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom he said “wanted no Abortions under any circumstances, then he was up to 6 weeks, where you’re allowed Abortion, now he’s up to 15 weeks.” TRUMP SAYS ABORTION SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE STATES, ‘WILL OF THE PEOPLE’ “But it doesn’t matter because the Radical Left Democrats will never approve anything on this issue, and Republicans don’t have anywhere close to the number of Senators necessary to make it matter,” Trump continued in his late night criticism. “Mike has been getting very bad advice from Mark Long, & others. That’s why he’s polling at 1%. With better advice, he would be polling at a solid 2%, and maybe even more!!!” The “Mark Long” referenced in the post is most likely a nickname for Marc Short, Pence’s former chief of staff while he was vice president. Short is now the chairman of Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom. “Everyone must ask Democrats if they would allow abortions in the 7th, 8th, or 9th month, or allow the execution of a baby after birth, as was suggested by the former Democrat Governor of Virginia,” Trump concluded. “They are the Radicals, not the Republicans!” The sudden and scattershot criticism of Pence is most likely due to the former vice president speaking out against Trump’s abortion policy plan. PRO-LIFE CONSERVATIVES ARE ‘DISAPPOINTED’ IN TRUMP’S NEW ABORTION POLICY, BUT STICK BY HIM: ‘ONLY ONE OPTION’ Pence charged on Monday that Trump’s decision not to support a federal ban on abortion is a “retreat on the Right to Life” and “a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans.” The former vice president’s statement came a few hours after Trump took credit for the decision two years ago by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court that overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which had legalized abortion nationwide. However, Trump declined to support the push by social conservatives to ban abortion at the federal level and emphasized his support for states determining their own laws for abortion so long as there are exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. In a statement on social media, Pence argued, “President Trump’s retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020. By nominating and standing by the confirmation of conservative justices, the Trump-Pence Administration helped send Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history where it belongs and gave the pro-life movement the opportunity to compassionately support women and unborn children.” The former vice president lamented that “too many Republican politicians are all too ready to wash their hands of the battle for life.” Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
New FCC rules require internet providers to be more transparent about pricing and fees
Much like nutritional labels on food products, “broadband labels” for internet packages will soon tell you just what is going into the pricing of your service, thanks to new rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission this week. “If you’ve ever shopped for home or mobile internet, you can understand how hard it can be to understand what you’re actually paying for,” said Jon Donenberg, Deputy Director of the White House National Economic Council, on a call with reporters. “The broadband nutrition label is a tool that can help consumers make sure they have a clear, straightforward explanation of home and mobile services before signing up for anything.” Following the design of FDA food labels, these broadband labels will provide easy-to-understand, accurate information about the cost and performance of high-speed internet service to help consumers avoid junk fees, price hikes, and other unexpected costs. FCC INVESTIGATES SECURITY RISK OF US MOBILE DEVICES USING RUSSIAN, CHINESE SATELLITE SYSTEMS Internet service providers selling home access or mobile broadband plans will be required to have a label for each plan beginning April 10. The labels will be mandated to appear at any point of sale, including online and in stores, and they will be required to disclose all pricing information — including introductory rates, data allowances, and speeds. The labels will also include links to information about network management practices and privacy policies. Here’s what you need to know. Hidden fees and unexpected rate hikes have dogged consumers shopping for internet service for years, and the Biden administration has been cracking down on “junk fees” (opaque and misleading fee structures) across industries — including banking, hotel and airline pricing, and utility and phone services — for the past several years. On a call Tuesday, a spokesperson for the FCC clarified that the labels “cannot be buried in multiple clicks” or hidden in a way that a consumer might miss. “Fees can make it hard to understand the true cost of an internet plan,” said Donenberg, adding that the agency is “committed to rooting out surprise junk fees that some companies pile on to your bills.” A glossary is available to help consumers better understand the information displayed on the label. If a provider does not display their labels or posts inaccurate information about its fees or service plans, consumers can file a complaint with the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. While many providers will begin displaying their labels in April, some firms with less than 100,000 subscribers will have until Oct. 10, 2024, to comply with the FCC rules.
Judge in Trump classified docs case grants Jack Smith request to redact witness names
U.S. District Court Judge Aileen M. Cannon on Tuesday relented to special counsel Jack Smith in a long-running dispute over the names of government witnesses in the classified documents case against former President Trump, agreeing to shield their identities from the public eye. Cannon only partially granted prosecutors’ request in agreeing to keep the names of FBI agents, Secret Service agents and other potential witnesses in the case under seal. In a 24-page order, the judge refused to categorically block witness statements from being disclosed, saying there was no basis for such a “sweeping” and “blanket” restriction on their inclusion in pretrial motions. Cannon rejected a request by Smith’s team to seal from pretrial motions the substance of all witness statements, except for information that could be used to identify witnesses. “As for legal authority, the cases cited in the Special Counsel’s papers do not lend support to this sweeping request; nor do they appear to have been offered as such,” Cannon wrote. “And based on the Court’s independent research, granting this request would be unprecedented: the Court cannot locate any case — high-profile or otherwise — in which a court has authorized anything remotely similar to the sweeping relief sought here.” FEDERAL JUDGE DENIES TRUMP MOTION TO DISMISS CLASSIFIED RECORDS CASE BASED ON PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT The disagreement between Smith’s team and lawyers for Trump, which had been pending for weeks, was one of many that had piled up before Cannon and had slowed the pace of the case against Trump. Tuesday’s order was the second time this month that Cannon was critical of Justice Department prosecutors, yet the judge still ruled mostly in their favor, The Washington Post reported. The case remains without a firm trial date, though both sides have said they could be ready this summer. Cannon, who earlier decided to grant Trump’s request for an independent arbiter to review documents obtained during an FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, made clear her continued skepticism of the DOJ theory of prosecution, saying Tuesday that the case raised “still-developing and somewhat muddled questions.” In reconsidering an earlier order and siding with prosecutors on the protection of witness identities, Cannon likely averted a dramatic exacerbation of tensions with Smith’s team, which last week called a separate order from the judge “fundamentally flawed,” according to The Associated Press. TRUMP FLORIDA JUDGE CANNON DENIES TRUMP DISMISSAL ON ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL VAGUENESS’ The issue surfaced in January when defense lawyers filed in partially redacted form a motion that sought to require prosecutors to turn over a trove of documents that they said would bolster their claim that the Biden administration had sought to “weaponize” the government in charging Trump. Defense lawyers asked permission to file the motion, which included as attachments information that they had obtained from prosecutors, in mostly unredacted form. However, prosecutors objected to unsealing the motion to the extent that it would reveal the identity of any potential government witness. Cannon then granted the defense’s request for the motion and its exhibits to be filed in unredacted form as long as the personal identifying information of witnesses remained sealed. Smith’s team asked her to reconsider, saying that witnesses could be exposed to threats and harassments if publicly identified. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In agreeing on Tuesday for the witness names to remain redacted, she wrote, “Although the record is clear that the Special Counsel could have, and should have, raised its current arguments previously, the Court elects, upon a full review of those newly raised arguments, to reconsider its prior Order.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Biden, Harris announce new campaign push for LGBTQ support, call members ‘a force to be reckoned with’
President Biden and Vice President Harris’ re-election campaign has announced a new push to win over a group of voters that it claims is “a force to be reckoned with.” The initiative comes just seven months ahead of the president’s rematch with presumptive Republican nominee, former President Trump. As Biden seeks to win another term in the White House despite facing historic low approval ratings, Team Biden-Harris announced the launch of “Out for Biden-Harris.” The campaign describes the program as a national effort to mobilize LGBTQ+ voters and community members across the country. In a statement, Biden-Harris 2024 campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said, “LGBTQ+ voters are a force to be reckoned with.” “They were critical to our victory in 2020, and they will be critical to winning again this November,” Chavez Rodriguez added. “That’s why we’re thrilled to launch Out for Biden-Harris, which will harness the LGBTQ+ community’s organizing prowess to reelect President Biden and Vice President Harris this November.” 3 MONTHS AND 28 DAYS: LGBTQ EVENTS CLOG CALENDAR AS WHITE HOUSE FACES BACKLASH OVER EASTER ANNOUNCEMENT In a campaign video that accompanied the announcement, Vice President Harris said, “Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard. And because you made your voices heard, marriages are more secure.” “We will do what we have always done in this movement, in this community, which is collectively, we will continue to build unity. We will continue to build coalition. We will always be fueled by knowing we have so much more in common than what separates us. We will be fueled by knowing we are all in this together,” Harris said. MELANIA TRUMP RETURNS TO CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH PRO-LGBT REPUBLICAN EVENT APPEARANCE: REPORT The campaign statement boasted the Biden-Harris administration is “the most pro-LGBTQ+ in history” and identified LGBTQ+ voters as “a key part” of the re-election strategy. The campaign has picked up endorsements from LGBTQ+ organizations across the country, including Equality North Carolina PAC, Fair Wisconsin, Delaware Stonewall PAC, the Center for Black Equity Political Action Fund, Equality California, Silver State Equality, the Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Trans Equality Action Fund, and Equality PAC. “Collectively, these groups represent more than 3.8 million members who will use their resources to mobilize equality voters across every battleground state,” the campaign said. BIDEN SLAMMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER ANNOUNCING TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY ON EASTER SUNDAY In the statement, Rodriguez added: “LGBTQ+ Americans couldn’t have more at stake this election.” “LGBTQ+ Americans deserve leaders who will fight for every American’s freedom and dignity,” she said. “There has never been a more critical time to protect the rights of all Americans, no matter who you love or how you identify, and Out for Biden-Harris will be critical to not just safeguarding, but strengthening the rights and voice of every single American.” The new program will kick off a series of events in the coming weeks, including virtual organizing calls, virtual training sessions and a series of “Out For Biden-Harris” house parties and community events. AMERICANS AREN’T BUYING BIDEN’S ‘DEVOUT CATHOLIC’ LABEL, POLL FINDS These events will be held in Phoenix; Ferndale, Michigan; Milwaukee; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Las Vegas. The Biden administration has openly LGBTQ+ members, including Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, Undersecretary of Defense Shawn Skelly, Ambassador to Switzerland Scott Miller, and others. It also held the Pride Month celebration at the White House in Washington, D.C., last year. “It’s wonderful to welcome all of you — and over a thousand Americans from all across the country,” he said at the June 2023 event. “We’re gathered here today to honor the extraordinary the extraordinary courage and contributions of the LGBTQ community, to celebrate their legacy and their progress. And we welcome the largest Pride Month celebration ever held at the White House. But just the beginning.” “Jill and I, Kamala and Doug [second gentleman Douglas Emhoff], the entire administration are doing everything we can to advance equality for the LGBTQ community in our nation — the entire nation,” he added. In January, Biden’s approval rating plummeted to just 31%, a 15-year low. Nearly 4 in 10 voters (38%) approve of the job Biden is doing on the economy, his best rating in a year. He fares worse on inflation (34% approve) and immigration (30%). Overall, 41% approve of the job Biden is doing while 58% disapprove. Fox News’ Kaitlin Sprague and Victoria Balara contributed to this report.
Biden hints at possible executive order to effectively shut down the border
President Biden hinted in a new interview that aired Tuesday night that he is planning a possible executive order to effectively shut down the border by the end of the month. Univision’s Enrique Acevedo asked the president if he had decided whether to issue an executive order, and Biden indicated that it may be on the table. “Well, it’s suggested that we’re examining whether or not I have that power,” Biden replied. “I would have that power under the legislation when – when the border has over five, 500,000 people, 25,000 people a day trying to cross the border because you can’t manage it, slow it up. There’s no — there’s no guarantee that I have that power all by myself without legislation. And some have suggested I should just go ahead and try it. And if I get shut down by the court, I get shut down by the court. But we’re trying to work that work through that right now.” This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
Tripura West Lok Sabha Election 2024: Check important dates, candidates, past results and more
The final dates for the voting and result of the Tripura constituency were released by EC on 16th March. The date of voting for the Tripura Constituency is on 13 May ( Phase 4 ). The date of counting and results is on 4th June.
Biden’s former chief of staff gets heated in leaked audio over White House ignoring inflation: report
Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain blasted his former boss, President Biden, for not focusing on key issues like inflation and grocery prices in leaked audio, according to a new report. The audio reveals Klain getting heated about Biden’s focus on infrastructure, saying there is “too much talking about bridges” and not enough about “eggs and milk,” Politico reported. “I think the president is out there too much talking about bridges,” Klain reportedly says in the audio. “He does two or three events a week where he’s cutting a ribbon on a bridge. And here’s a bridge. Like I tell you, if you go into the grocery store, you go to the grocery store and, you know, eggs and milk are expensive, the fact that there’s a f—ing bridge is not [inaudible].” “He’s not a congressman. He’s not running for Congress,” Klain continued. “I think it’s kind of a fool’s errand. I think that [it] also doesn’t get covered that much because, look, it’s a f—ing bridge. Like it’s a bridge, and how interesting is the bridge? It’s a little interesting but it’s not a lot interesting.” UNDECIDED BATTLEGROUND VOTERS UNANIMOUSLY BLAST BIDEN ON ECONOMY: ‘ABSOLUTELY DISASTROUS’ The audio was recorded at a private event hosted by the publication “Democracy: A Journal of Ideas,” at which Klain was a speaker. Klain served as White House chief of staff from Biden’s inauguration until early February 2023. BIDEN-TRUMP SEQUEL UNDERWAY IN HISTORY-MAKING FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REMATCH SINCE 1956 Klain elaborated on his statement in a subsequent interview with Politico, but he did not walk back on the substance of the criticism. “The president’s most effective economic message is contrast around whose side are you on, and compassion for the [pinch] of family budgets, and his agenda to bring down costs and raise incomes — and that lauding achievements — especially ones with abstract benefits — is less persuasive with voters,” Klain told the outlet. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates addressed Klain’s remarks. “Like Ron says, President Biden is crisscrossing the country building on his State of the Union message, highlighting that he is fighting to grow the middle class and lower costs like prescription drugs while blocking the trickle-down agenda Republican officials have proposed on behalf of rich special interests, including Medicare cuts and tax giveaways to big corporations,” Bates told Politico. Biden put a heavy focus on infrastructure in March, going on a multiday tour of Wisconsin and Michigan to announce $3.3 billion for infrastructure projects in disadvantaged communities. “We’re rebuilding the roads, we’re filling in the cracks in the sidewalk, we’re creating spaces to live and work and play safely, and to breathe clean air, and to shop at a nearby grocery stocked with fresh and healthy food,” he said at an event in Milwaukee at the time. “You’ve lived and felt decisions made decades ago,” Biden said. “Today, today, we’re making decisions to transform your lives for decades to come.” MAJORITY OF BLACK PANELISTS IN NORTH CAROLINA AGREE THAT BIDEN ECONOMY IS HURTING: ‘LIVING CHECK-TO-CHECK’ The $3.3 billion in grants announced at the event covered 132 total projects, including in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, as well as Birmingham, Alabama; Syracuse, New York; and Toledo, Ohio. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that some of the projects are relatively modest and can be completed in “short order,” while others are “massive and ambitious undertakings that will take many years.”