Newsom recalls seeing brazen theft, refuses photo and asks for manager when worker blames him: LEAKED VIDEO
Gov. Gavin Newsom recalled in leaked footage that a store worker blamed his own policies to his face as they both witnessed a brazen theft unfold in California. The video, first shared on X by a reporter with The San Francisco Standard, showed a portion of a Zoom meeting with Newsom and other elected California officials. The governor said that the exchange came while he was checking out a store and observed a man “just walking out” of the store without paying. “Why aren’t you stopping him,” Newsom said he asked the employee. ZERO CASH BAIL TO BLAME FOR ‘BRAZEN’ SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERIES IN LA, POLICE UNION SAYS Newsom explained that the store employee said they stopped pursuing shoplifters “because of the governor.” “We don’t stop them because of the governor,”’ Newsom said. “The governor lowered the threshold and there is no accountability.” After blaming Newsom for the crime, the worker allegedly gave Newsom a second glance and realized who she was speaking with. “And then she looks at me twice, and then she freaks out, calls everyone over. She wants to take a photo,” Newsom recalled to the other elected officials during the Zoom call. “And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not taking a photo, we’re having a conversation. Where is your manager?’” the governor recalled to the elected officials, who were seen laughing. “Why are you blaming the governor,” Newsom said. LOS ANGELES RECRUITS UP TO 6K VOLUNTEERS TO COUNT CITY’S HOMELESS POPULATION AS CRISIS WORSENS After the worker attributed the rise in brazen crime to Newsom lowering the “threshold” for serious crimes, the governor pushed back. “That’s just not true,” Newsom told the store’s employee. “We have the tenth toughest in America– look it up, no one gives a d—.” Following the exchange, Newsom asked why he had to pay for his goods while “everyone” could just “walk the h— right out” without facing consequences. BIDEN, DEMS PLANNED TO MAKE AMERICA LIKE CALIFORNIA; THEY SUCCEEDED IN KEY AREAS “I was like, why am I spending $380 and everyone can walk the h— right out,” Newsom said. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Newsom said that retail theft per capita in California is “17.0% lower than the average among states.” The governor’s office also touted Newsom’s $1.1 billion investment to “fight crime, hire more police, and improve public safety.” The location of the store and the date of the incident were not revealed on the Zoom call. Newsom’s office declined to provide further details on the incident to Fox News Digital. Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Weather update: Above-normal temperatures, rainfall expected in parts of India in February; check full IMD forecast
The Indian Meteorological Department said in a statement that above-normal maximum temperatures would likely prevail in parts of central and north India in February.
Ken Paxton sues five Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana
Voters in Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin and Denton approved the policies in 2022. The attorney general said the ordinances are inconsistent with laws enacted by the Texas Legislature.
Chinese communists ‘desperate to crush’ religion, ‘faith in God,’ Republican representative warns
FIRST ON FOX: House China Select Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher is expected to warn that the Chinese Communist Party is “desperate to crush religion,” and is using it “as a tool to control people’s minds,” while declaring that the “opposite of Communism is faith in God.” Gallagher, R-Wis., will speak at the National Prayer Breakfast opening dinner Wednesday night. Gallagher will share a story about a young graduate student from China who opposes the CCP. When asked why the student opposed it, the student answered: “I have faith,” according to Gallagher’s prepared remarks obtained by Fox News Digital. CHINA AIMS TO ‘DISPLACE’ THE US AS THE GLOBAL LEADER: REP. MIKE GALLAGHER That student told Gallagher the CCP is “hell bent on destroying faith.” “If they can stamp out our belief in anything greater, he said, life becomes about nothing more than the incentives the party can offer and the punishments it can deliver. This is the Chinese Communist Party’s goal,” Gallagher will say. Gallagher is expected to explain that the CCP has “the most powerful propaganda and censorship system in history to control everything that is read and said.” “And that is why, as this young Chinese man explained, the CCP is desperate to crush religion. Because the very concept of an individual with dignity and worth must be destroyed, and religion is its most vehement defender,” Gallagher is expected to recall. Gallagher is expected to point to the millions of Uyghurs and other religious minorities the CCP have sent to “re-education camps.” “The genocide against the Uyghur people includes the largest internment of an ethno-religious minority since the Holocaust,” Gallagher will say. Gallagher will say that Chinese President Xi Jinping “has no problem with the first commandment, just so long as he and the CCP are playing the role of God.” Meanwhile, Gallagher is expected to claim that the CCP has “managed, through a secret 2018 deal with the Pope, to control the nomination of Catholic bishops — in practice, tantamount to appointing them.” CHINESE HACKERS PREPARING TO ‘WREAK HAVOC’ ON AMERICAN CITIZENS, COMMUNITIES, FBI DIRECTOR WARNS “Avowedly atheist party members in Beijing notify the Vatican of their choices; Francis provides a rubber stamp — a shocking way to decide upon the consecrated successors to Jesus’ apostles,” Gallagher will say. Gallagher is expected to slam the Pope for “capitulation,” saying it has been “a disaster for other faiths in China.” The Vatican last year accused China of violating an international agreement and appointing a bishop in a diocese not recognized by the Holy See. “It was with surprise and regret that the Holy See learned of the news of the ‘installation ceremony’ that took place on 24 November in Nanchang, of H.E. Bishop Giovanni Peng Weizhao, Bishop of Yujiang (Jiangxi Province), as ‘Auxiliary Bishop of Jiangxi’, a diocese not recognized by the Holy See,” the Vatican said in a statement last year. The installation of the bishop would be one of the most serious violations of China’s pact with the Vatican, which was originally signed in 2018. VATICAN ACCUSES CHINA OF VIOLATING CONTENTIOUS AGREEMENT, EXPRESSES ‘SURPRISE AND REGRET’ The agreement has been roundly panned by international observers who have accused the Catholic Church of caving to China’s communist government. Despite those critiques, the Vatican renewed the deal with the Chinese Communist Party last month, inviting renewed backlash. But the Vatican also expressed a willingness to continue working with the Chinese government if the Chinese Communist Party sticks to the terms of the 2018 agreement. “The Holy See hopes that similar episodes will not be repeated, is awaiting the appropriate communication about the matter from the Authorities, and reaffirms its complete willingness to continue the respectful dialogue concerning all of the matters of common interest,” the statement said. But Gallagher is expected to discuss what the “opposite of communism” is. “Maybe the opposite of Communism isn’t a political-economic system at all, because Communism itself is not a political-economic system. It is a perverted, inverse religion, an all-consuming ideology imposed not by free belief but by force and indoctrination,” he is expected to say. “Its churches are the labor camps, the gulags, the reeducation centers. Its confession booths are torture chambers. Its priests are the censors, the propagandists, the secret police. “Maybe the opposite of Communism is faith in God.” Communism “seeks domination. Faith seeks love,” Gallagher will add. “Communism seeks the obliteration of the individual on the altar of the collective. Faith seeks the dignity of the individual, the respect due to each and every one of us as a child of God,” he’ll say. “Faith seeks the elevation of man’s soul. Communism seeks its abasement.” Gallagher is also expected to stress that the United States’ long-term “strategic competition” with the CCP is “not a test of different socio-economic systems. It is a struggle for souls.”
Dead, not on arrival: Where the bipartisan border deal stands in Congress before anyone has even seen it
Lawmakers often disparage reporters when they ask about hypotheticals. But Senate conservatives scorched the hypothetical bipartisan border security package. Even before they saw it. “This could cause as many problems as it solves,” predicted Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. But some on the right were out to kill the bill long before they even knew much about the bill. Frustrated, they complained about a lack of information dribbling out from the tightly held negotiations. “We’re asking the questions. We’re not getting the answers,” lamented Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. CONGRESS KEEPS GOING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON SPENDING, BORDER, SHUTDOWN FIGHTS Sen. John. Kennedy, R-La., said he wasn’t much of a soothsayer. But Kennedy seemed to know who might be clued in. “One of the gentlemen under the interstate living on a refrigerator box knows more about it than I do,” said Kennedy. Conservatives opposed the border bill – long before there was much to know about it. But they had particular enmity for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. They railed at McConnell for even fostering the talks and assigned motive to McConnell’s machinations. “Sadly, Mitch McConnell’s enemies are conservatives in the Senate and House Republican leadership,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., didn’t channel his inner, legislative shaman to divine what might be in the Senate bill. But Johnson warned last week that the border package was “dead on arrival.” During his maiden floor speech as Speaker, Johnson practically performed karaoke of Adele’s “Rumour Has it” as he blasted what he’s heard about the bill via the Congressional grapevine. Senate conservatives are trying to protect Johnson. They accused McConnell and other members of the GOP Senate brass of “waging war” on the Speaker and aligning instead with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “The Republican leadership is like Charlie Brown with Lucy and the football,” charged Cruz. “Over and over again, they run for the football. And over and over again. ‘Lucy Schumer’ pulls it away and Republican leadership lands on their ass.” SPEAKER JOHNSON GIVES HIS BLESSING TO BIPARTISAN DEAL: ‘PRO-GROWTH’ That’s one way of saying the GOP’s problems with the bill are behind them. Democrats abhorred pre-emptive maneuvers to kill the bill – before there is a bill. “Attempts to sabotage negotiations before they even finish must be shunned by the membership of this body,” warned Schumer. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., drew most of the ire since he’s the lead GOP negotiator in the talks. “I think James is smart. He’s hardworking. He knows the issue,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on FOX. “He’s on a suicide mission.” Nothing like a backhanded compliment instantaneously morphing into a left cross. That’s why Lankford needed backup. “For anybody to think that James Lankford from a ruby red state with the subject matter expertise that he has on the border is going to do something soft, it is beyond my comprehension,” said a bewildered Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. Lankford found himself explaining gossip that the bill might allow as many as 5,000 people to migrate illegally to the U.S. each day. CORI BUSH UNDER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OVER ALLEGED MISUSE OF SECURITY FUNDS “This is not about letting 5,000 people in a day. This is the most misunderstood section of this proposal,” said Lankford on FOX. “This bill focuses on getting us to zero illegal crossings a day. There’s no amnesty. It increases the number of border patrol agents. It increases asylum officers.” McConnell has been the most ardent backer in Congress of sending money to Ukraine. But after seeing pushback from Republicans about assisting Ukraine last fall, McConnell decided to condition money destined for Kyiv to an effort to secure the border. That launched the bipartisan talks which ran through the holidays. However, McConnell told GOP senators last week that the party was “in a quandary” over money for Ukraine and fixing the border. McConnell declared that the “politics on this have changed.” That briefly cast doubt as to whether the border bill – or for that matter, Ukraine funding – was on ice. But McConnell continued to back the border negotiations – even though many conservatives castigated the discussions. Yours truly asked McConnell if it was a mistake to marry Ukraine aid to the border negotiations. “I always thought it would be a challenge and it has been,” replied McConnell. “But it’s time for us to move something, hopefully, including the border agreement.” However, McConnell seemed to crack the door open to possibly breaking off international aid from the border plan. “I don’t know how it’s going to end up being presented,” said McConnell. Former President Trump condemned the border security effort, characterizing the measure as “horrific.” Some Trump loyalists expressed concern that passing a border bill might boost President Biden. So they protested against the legislation. That upset another group of Republicans. “The idea that, that someone running for president would say, ‘Please hurt the country, so I can blame my opponent and help my politics’ is a shocking development,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. When asked if he was doing Mr. Trump’s bidding and trying to kill the bill, Johnson called that “absurd.” Lankford lamented the topsy-turvy changes in the political landscape. “It’s interesting. Republicans, four months ago, would not give funding for Ukraine and Israel,” said the Oklahoma Republican on FOX. “So we locked arms together and said ‘We’re not going to give you money for this. We want to change the law.’ And now it’s interesting a few months later when we’re finally going to the end, they’re like ‘Oh, just kidding. I don’t want to change the law because it’s a presidential election year.’” There is still – still – no legislative text. One source close to the talks told FOX indicated the bill might grow more complicated as lawmakers need to add provisions to potentially respond to the attacks which killed U.S. troops in northeastern Jordan over the weekend. Some GOPers believe Democrats are desperate for a border
Lawyer closes funding gap in NC governor race, but Robinson still favorite for GOP nomination
Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson remained the top fundraiser in the GOP primary campaign for North Carolina governor entering 2024, but a recent rival has used his own personal fortune to compete with him monetarily. Robinson’s campaign said it raised close to $3.4 million for the second half of 2023, according to campaign finance reports due late last week at the State Board of Elections. Bill Graham, a Salisbury trial lawyer who announced his bid for the Republican nomination in October, loaned his campaign $2.8 million of the $2.9 million it had collected through Dec. 31, his campaign’s report said. Graham, whose personal loans have helped him run television advertising statewide, had said in October that he would invest “at least $5 million of his own resources” in the campaign. Graham, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2008, told The Associated Press in an interview in January that he was on track to spend that amount for the March 5 primaries. NORTH CAROLINA CHANGES SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION RULES AFTER FORMER PROCESS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL On the Democratic side, Attorney General Josh Stein’s gubernatorial campaign had an overwhelming monetary advantage over his four other primary rivals, including former state Supreme Court Associate Justice Mike Morgan, who announced his candidacy in September. Current Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is term-limited from running again this year and has endorsed Stein to succeed him. Stein’s campaign raised $5.7 million in the last six months of 2023 and had almost $11.5 million in cash entering January — large numbers aligned with what the Josh Stein for North Carolina organization announced a few weeks ago that it would report to the State Board of Elections. His campaign has taken in $16.9 million since early 2021. Morgan’s campaign report said it raised $119,300 during the second half of 2023 and had $32,100 in cash entering January. Robinson, a candidate popular within the GOP base and aligned with former President Donald Trump, highlighted in a news release the $9.9 million that his campaign reported raising since early 2021 and nearly $4.3 million in cash on hand. Graham’s campaign finance report said it had $161,600 in cash starting the new year. Robinson also reported more than 31,000 contributions from July through December. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who is also seeking the Republican nomination, reported raising $111,900 in the second half of 2023, his report said. He was sitting on almost $1.3 million in cash entering January, which came in large part from $1 million he loaned his campaign last June. Other Democratic candidates for governor — Gary Foxx, Marcus Williams and Chrelle Booker — reported minimal or no activity during the most recent reporting period. While finance campaign reports were due at the board Friday, several gubernatorial candidate filings weren’t posted online by the state elections board until this week. Robinson’s and Stein’s campaigns have largely focused on each other and a potential general election competition, should they both win their primaries. But Graham and Folwell have criticized Robinson, questioning his ability to win in a November matchup in light of harsh comments and social media postings addressing LGBTQ+ people and the role of women. Graham, who counts U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., among his supporters, has run TV advertisements citing past Robinson posts that discuss Jews and the Holocaust as evidence that he’s not suitable to serve as governor. Robinson’s campaign has pushed back, saying that his comments are being distorted and that he’s a strong supporter of Israel. Robinson, in turn, has attacked Graham in speeches about his lawsuits involving hog farm operations in eastern North Carolina. Graham rejected accusations from Robinson that local farmers were punished in the litigation.
Biden accuser Tara Reade sues DOJ, seeks millions in damages following alleged ‘FBI operation’ against her
Tara Reade, the woman who came forward in 2020 with a sexual assault allegation against then-candidate Joe Biden, is suing the Department of Justice over alleged misconduct. A lawyer for Reade filed a tort claim on Wednesday seeking $10 million “for infliction of emotional distress and anxiety” following what was described as an “FBI operation” that was conducted after she came forward with her accusation against Biden. The tort claim alleges Reade’s Fourth Amendment right was violated as well as violations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and state privacy laws. Included in the tort claim was a July 2020 grand jury subpoena issued to Twitter from the US District Court for the Eastern District of California demanding all records pertaining to Reade’s Twitter accounts. TARA READE FIRES BACK AFTER JEN PSAKI CLAIMS BIDEN ALLEGATIONS WERE ‘HEAVILY LITIGATED’ DURING ELECTION The tort claim outlines several allegations against the FBI, insisting it was behind suspicious occurrences like disruptions in her bank accounts and a manuscript of her book that had gone missing from a FedEx shipment in November 2020 that further detailed her claims against Biden. “The United States should not have a two-tiered justice system,” Reade’s attorney Jonathan Levy said in a statement. “If President Trump and Mr. Giuliani can be assessed tens of millions in damages for their words; a weaponized FBI that seeks to silence, intimidate and eliminate Joe Biden’s victim, Tara Reade, must also be held accountable; failing to do so means our justice and legal system has become an instrument of political oppression and suppression.” The DOJ declined to comment. Last month, Reade’s lawyer sent a letter to the DOJ Inspector General’s Office requesting the release of all FBI files it has on her and to expunge any cases. TARA READE RIPS NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNISTS FOR CLASSIFYING BIDEN ASSAULT CLAIM AS ‘SEX SCANDAL’ Reade came forward in 2020 alleging Biden had sexually assaulted her on Capitol Hill in 1993 while she served as his Senate staffer. Biden denied her claims. Last year, Reade made headlines when she revealed she had moved to Russia citing safety concerns.
Fox News Politics: Crowd cheers as Senate rips social media CEO
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? -Biden advisers jump ship over border moves -James Biden set to testify before Congress -E. Jean Caroll blasted over comments made on Rachel Maddow show Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — the founder Facebook — was the center of a dramatic Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday, where lawmakers and families of children harmed by sexual exploitation of children on social media took tech CEOs to task. “Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us. I know you don’t mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham at the start of the hearing. “You have a product that’s killing people.” Graham’s comments were applause from the gallery. WATCH In another stunning moment, Zuckerberg stood up and apologized. Sen. Josh Hawley pointed to Internal Meta studies showing a high percentages of young girls were exposed to unwanted nudity, sexual advances and self-harm content in just one week. Zuckerberg stood from his seat and spoke directly to the audience, where families of some victims had come to watch the proceedings: “I’m sorry for everything you’ve all been through. No one should have to go through the things that your families suffered.” WATCH FAMILIAR FACES: Biden taps former Hillary Clinton advisor for climate role …Read more CRISIS CLEANUP: WATCH: Biden admin. flip-flops on security of the border after years of claims …Read more ‘FEELING DISILLUSIONED’: Biden advisers departed over president’s border moves: Report …Read more ONE YEAR LATER: Biden finally set to go to East Palestine after Feb 2023 Ohio train derailment …Read more ‘SUICIDE MISSION’: Senate border deal won’t fix migrant crisis, GOP senator says …Read more ‘UNTHINKABLE CONSEQUENCES’: Yellen to urge Congress to ‘act quickly’ on Ukraine aid, warning of ‘unthinkable consequences’ to US security …Read more BIDEN’S BROTHER: James Biden to appear before House Republicans for transcribed interview …Read more REWRITING HISTORY: Freedom Caucus chair challenges Pentagon’s removal of Confederate history …Read more ON THE RUN: Suspect fleeing police crashed into vehicle carrying Joe Manchin’s wife …Read more TAX BREAK: Speaker Johnson gives his blessing to bipartisan tax deal: ‘Pro-growth’ …Read more ONE NEW POLL: President Biden holds a six-point lead over Trump in a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday. But his lead shrinks considerably in a multi-candidate general election field that also includes independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ONE ‘OLD’ AD: Haley launched an ad campaign inspired by the “Grumpy Old Men” movie of the 1990s, taking aim at both 77-year-old Trump and 81-year-old President Biden. NEW LBJ?: Author warns Biden is in trouble with young voters unhappy about his support for Israel: ‘Could reach LBJ in 1968 proportions’ …Read more BURNING BRIDGES: How Nikki Haley burned bridges in South Carolina–and still pulls punches against Trump …Read more ABANDON BIDEN: American Arabs, Muslims in key battleground state refuse to meet with president’s campaign director …Read more ‘DEEPLY DANGEROUS’: Former CIA directors say Chinese EV plants in US could be hub for espionage …Read more RED ALERT: Chinese cyber attack intended to ‘induce societal panic’ across America: security directors …Read more PROGRESSIVE INFLUENCE: California inspires progressive policies on national stage, despite increase in crime, taxation and homelessness …Read more VOTING CHANGES: North Carolina changes same-day voter registration rules after former process ruled unconstitutional …Read more ‘WREAK HAVOC’: Chinese hackers preparing attack on American citizens, communities: FBI …Read more MISSOURI FREEDOM: Missouri lawmakers grapple with Freedom Caucus disputes …Read more YANG ALERT: Yang sends dire warning about Trump’s election chances if Dems continue ‘stifling’ Democracy …Read more ‘MALIGN’ INFLUENCE OPERATIONS: New group sets sights on combating Chinese Communist Party influence in the US …Read more ‘BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY’: Georgia House asserts oversight of prosecutors like Willis …Read more ‘MAJOR WIN’ FOR KIDS: Gaines, detransitioner praise OH bill banning ‘gender-affirming care’ for children …Read more ‘DERANGED’: E. Jean Carroll blasted for Maddow comments …Read more ‘FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG’: Federal commissioner fires back at Mark Cuban for diversity claim, delivers dire warning about DEI …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.
El Salvador’s Bukele responds to Democratic lawmakers attacking him for human rights violations and more
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele clapped back at one U.S. lawmaker after she sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, highlighting human rights violations in the Central American country, as well as other concerns ahead of an election. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., along with Reps Joaquin Castro, D-Texas; Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz.; and Jesús G. “Chuy” García, D-Ill., sent the letter on Tuesday, calling on the Secretary to “send an unequivocal message on the importance of respecting constitutional and democratic norms to the Salvadoran government, both publicly and privately.” “We are writing to express our significant concerns regarding democratic backsliding and an increase in reports of human rights violations in El Salvador,” the U.S. lawmakers wrote. “These concerns are especially pressing with elections planned for early next month, in which the incumbent President Nayib Bukele is running for an unconstitutional second term.” Bukele saw the letter, which was shared by Omar on the social media platform X and responded. EL SALVADOR’S BUKELE, AN ANTI-GANG HARDLINER, TAKE REELECTION BID ABROAD “We are HONORED to receive your attacks, just days before OUR election,” he wrote on X. “I would be very worried if we had your support.” In another tweet, Bukele took one more dig at the U.S. “I think the United States should have free and fair elections,” the Salvadoran president wrote. SALVADORAN PRESIDENT BUKELE FILES FOR RE-ELECTION, RAISING CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS The Congressional members accused Bukele of providing a framework in the State of Exception in March 2022 that resulted in the arrests of tens of thousands without due process. Included in those arrested were U.S. citizens. The lawmakers also accused Bukele of overseeing the militarized harassment of the country’s legislature which eroded away judicial independence. As an election approaches, the lawmakers continued, Bukele’s actions have restricted multiparty democracy and has extended to the arrest warrants of political opponents like Salvadoran Ambassador to the U.S., Ruben Zamora. BIDEN TAKES GROWING HEAT FROM DEMOCRAT ALLIES, FAR-LEFT ‘SQUAD’ ON ISRAEL DECISION Omar and the other Democratic lawmakers also mentioned the numerous human rights violations reported in the State Department’s 2022 Country Reports. Included in the report are accusations against El Salvador since the State of Exception was put in place, including unlawful or arbitrary killings; forced disappearances; torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including censorship and threats to enforce criminal laws to limit expression; government corruption; significant barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services; and crimes involving violence against the LGBTQ community. RON DESANTIS CALLS FOR ILHAN OMAR’S DEPORTATION, EXPULSION FROM CONGRESS FOR ‘SOMALIA FIRST’ COMMENTS Blinken is also advised in the letter that the upcoming election in El Salvadore breaks the country’s constitutional norms with Bukele seeking reelection. El Salvador’s constitution prohibits consecutive presidential terms, but Bukele is able to run because of a judge’s appointment by lawmakers from his party after the removal of previous supreme court officials. “It is not the place of the United States government to determine who is eligible to run for President in a foreign country, nor to pick winners,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are nevertheless alarmed that some of the State Department’s public messaging on the elections has been overly credulous toward President Bukele’s re-election bid, and his governance.” The Democratic lawmakers then asked Blinken to “forcefully denounce the excess of the State of Exception, including human rights violations,” and consider other mechanisms that can allow for greater direct funding to vetted Salvadoran civil society and non-governmental parties in the country, rather than sending funds through intermediary or third-party partners, among other things.
Argentina lawmakers debate Milei’s ‘omnibus’ economic reform bill
Opposition has pledged to block the president’s mega-bill to reform the economy, politics and even some aspects of private life. Argentina’s lower house of Congress has begun what is expected to be a marathon debate on libertarian President Javier Milei’s mega-bill to reform the economy, politics and even some aspects of private life. The government raced to secure votes for the key “omnibus” reform bill on Wednesday, even as the left-leaning opposition pledged to block it. The bill initially contained 664 articles, but has lost almost half of these in tough negotiations with the opposition, which largely outnumbers Milei’s Libertad Avanza party that has just 38 of the 257 seats in the lower house of Congress. The bill is one the main planks in Milei’s reform push to tackle the South American country’s worst economic crisis in decades, with inflation over 200 percent and state coffers running dry. It marks the president’s first major test since the self-described “anarchocapitalist” took office in December after a shock election win in which he campaigned with a chainsaw pledging to slash spending and the size of the state. Milei, 53, faces a challenge to win over allies and push the bill through. His government yanked a divisive fiscal section from the bill last week to boost support. “Today, politicians have the chance to start reversing the damage they’ve caused the Argentine people,” Milei’s office said, urging lawmakers to support the bill. In a sign of the challenge ahead, the main Peronist opposition bloc Union por la Patria, which is the largest single grouping in the National Congress of Argentina, said it would reject the bill, posting a picture with a slogan: “No to the Omnibus bill” on X. “We reject the Omnibus bill because it puts fuel in Milei’s chainsaw to hurt the daily lives of Argentines,” wrote Peronist politician and former Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, a reference to his austerity plans to undo a deep fiscal deficit. Milei began his term in office by devaluing the peso by more than 50 percent, cutting state subsidies for fuel and transport, reducing the number of ministries by half, and scrapping hundreds of rules so as to deregulate the economy. His massive reform package touches on all areas of public and private life, from privatisations to cultural issues, the penal code, and divorce, to the status of football clubs. On Wednesday, outside the legislature, hundreds of protesters gathered to express their unhappiness with the reform bill, the AFP news agency reported. Moderate opposition lawmakers have warned they will seek further changes to the bill, in particular on the touchy issue of the delegation of special powers to the executive in an economic emergency, and on the scope and extent of privatisations. If the law is approved in the lower chamber – a debate that will likely extend beyond Wednesday – it would move next week to the Senate. Adblock test (Why?)