Rubio introduces bill to safeguard tax-exempt groups from federal regulations
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will introduce a bill Wednesday that aims to protect the independence of tax-exempt organizations from being subject to erroneous federal regulations. The bill, called the Safeguarding Charity Act, comes after two recent court decisions ruled private organizations are subject to federal restrictions simply due to their tax-exempt status. “Civic organizations like churches, schools, and charities are crucial to our communities,” Rubio said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “I remain concerned by recent court decisions that could subject these organizations to burdensome federal regulations simply because they are tax-exempt.” The bill “would protect these organizations from the government’s politicized battles,” Rubio said. Rubio’s bill comes as recent federal court decisions assert that private institutions, based on their tax-exempt status, could face federal restrictions. This poses a risk of penalties for private schools, churches and nonprofit charities that fail to comply with onerous and politically charged regulations. RUBIO BECOMES 2ND FLORIDA SENATOR TO ENDORSE TRUMP OVER DESANTIS The courts deemed tax-exempt status as a form of “federal financial assistance,” as seen in the cases of Buettner-Hartsoe v. Baltimore Lutheran High School in 2021 and E.H. v. Valley Christian Academy in 2022. These court decisions have the potential to affect a range of tax-exempt organizations that are not currently receiving federal financial assistance, according to Rubio’s office. This includes private K-12 schools, certain higher education institutions, houses of worship, charitable organizations, private foundations, labor unions, social welfare organizations, homeowners associations, volunteer fire companies, credit unions, chambers of commerce, boards of trade and veterans organizations. The recent rulings could threaten single-sex private schools, churches and charities. For example, a private Catholic all-girls school would not be able to deny a biological male who identifies as a transgender female from attending. RUBIO DEMANDS USA BOXING REVERSE COURSE ON TRANS POLICY: ‘ALLOWING MEN TO HIT WOMEN IS REPREHENSIBLE’ “If the reasoning of these decisions is more widely embraced, hundreds of thousands of tax-exempt organizations will be unexpectedly subject to burdensome federal statutes and regulations for the first time,” the bill text analysis reads. “They will incur substantial compliance costs and could potentially lose their tax-exempt status if they are found to have violated any of the relevant statutes.” Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., are co-sponsoring the legislation, and House Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., introduced companion legislation in the House. “Due to multiple, radical judicial decisions targeting religious schools, Congress must now codify that an organization holding tax-exempt status is not to be considered as a recipient of federal financial assistance,” Steube said in a statement.
Jamie Dimon says Trump ‘wasn’t wrong’ about critical issues, warns Biden campaign on MAGA label
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon praised former President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy, immigration, China and other issues in an interview this week. Dimon made the comments defending “MAGA” voters during an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday. “When people say ‘MAGA,’ they’re actually looking at people voting for Trump, and they think they’re voting — they’re basically scapegoating them, that you are like him. But I don’t think they’re voting for Trump because of his family values,” Dimon said of the former president. AMERICANS AREN’T HAPPIER ABOUT BIDEN ECONOMY DESPITE MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS TELLING THEM HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT Dimon hesitated from fully endorsing Trump’s rhetoric on sensitive topics, but said it was clear many voters found value in his first term as president. “I don’t like how he said things about Mexico […] but he wasn’t wrong about some of these critical issues, and that’s why they’re voting for him,” Dimon told CNBC. “I think people should be a little more respectful of our fellow citizens.” JPMORGAN CHASE CEO BACKING OF HALEY AS TRUMP ALTERNATIVE DRAWS FIRE FROM GOP RIVALS “I mean, really, can we just stop that stuff and actually grow up and treat other people with respect and listen to them a little bit?” he continued. “I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Biden’s election campaign.” It is only the latest commentary Dimon has offered on economic issues facing citizens across the country. Dimon said earlier this month that he is not convinced the Federal Reserve can achieve a soft landing as a result of their most aggressive rate hike campaign since the 1980s. During an exclusive interview on “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday, Dimon warned about the possibility of a looming recession, while comparing the financial state to the turbulent period of 50 years ago when the nation endured a decade of high inflation. “I look at a lot of things, and forget just economic models for a second, $2 trillion of fiscal deficit, the infrastructure and IRA act, the green economy, the re-militarization of the world, the restructuring of trade are all inflationary,” he told host Maria Bartiromo. “And that looks a little more like the 1970s to me.” Fox News Digital’s Kristen Altus contributed to this report.
Guinness World Records reviews evidence related to ‘oldest dog’ title
GWR originally said the canine lived for 31 years and 165 days, breaking a record held since 1939. Guinness World Records (GWR) says it is conducting a formal review of the “world’s oldest dog” title it gave to a Portuguese canine named Bobi, who died last year. The move follows complaints by veterinarians who raised doubts over his age. Bobi was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo who spent his life in a village in central Portugal. The GWR originally said the creature lived for 31 years and 165 days, breaking a record held since 1939 by an Australian cattle dog that died at 29 years and five months. Bobi, who died in October, was declared the world’s oldest dog in February. Dogs of Bobi’s breed, traditionally used as sheepdogs, usually live 12 to 14 years. A spokesperson for the GWR said the review into Bobi’s record was ongoing and it included looking over evidence again, seeking new evidence and reaching out to experts and those linked to the original application. “While our review is ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause applications on both the record titles for oldest dog living and [oldest dog] ever until all of our findings are in place and have been communicated,” the spokesperson said. Bobi’s owner, Leonel Costa, said in a statement on Tuesday that after his dog’s death, “an elite within the veterinary world … tried to give people the idea that Bobi’s life story was not true.” According to Costa, some veterinarians were upset because he attributed Bobi’s longevity to factors including a steady diet of “human food” rather than pet food, which he said was often recommended by those in the sector. “Everything would be different if we had said he [Bobi] ate pet food for three decades,” Costa said, adding that all requirements requested by the GWR were met. Costa said the GWR has not reached out to him. No action has yet been taken regarding any record holders, the GWR said. It added that any action would be determined by the review’s outcome. Before his death, Bobi still loved walks but had become less adventurous, Costa previously told the Reuters news agency. His fur was thinning, his eyesight had worsened and he needed to rest more than in earlier years, Costa said. Adblock test (Why?)
Violent protests over jailing of activist in Russia’s Bashkortostan
NewsFeed Police clashed with thousands of people gathered to protest the jailing of Indigenous rights activist Fail Alsynov in Russia’s far eastern region of Bashkortostan. The Indigenous rights activist was convicted of inciting ethnic hatred and sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony. Published On 17 Jan 202417 Jan 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Palestinians’ tents in Gaza offer no shelter from Israeli bombardment
NewsFeed “It’s a tent. I came to find my family in pieces.” A Palestinian father recalls an Israeli attack on his family’s tent in central Gaza that killed three of his children after they were displaced from the north. Published On 17 Jan 202417 Jan 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Judge threatens to bar Trump from courtroom over interjections during E. Jean Carroll trial
A judge threatened to bar former President Trump from his civil trial in New York City on Wednesday over his loud reactions to E. Jean Carroll’s testimony claiming he ruined her reputation after she accused him of sexual abuse. Judge Lewis Kaplan admonished Trump for his audible reactions to Carroll’s testimony in front of the jury, threatening that the former president could be barred from the trial if he continues. Trump was heard saying “that’s not true,” “it’s a witch hunt” and “it really is a con job” during Carroll’s testimony. After the jury was excused for lunch, Kaplan told Trump that his right to be present during the trial could be forfeited if he is disruptive. TRUMP CANNOT ASSERT PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY IN E JEAN CARROLL DEFAMATION LAWSUIT, APPEALS COURT RULES “Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial,” Kaplan said in an exchange after the jury was excused for lunch, adding: “I understand you’re probably eager for me to do that.” “I would love it,” Trump responded from the defense table. “I know you would like it. You just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently,” Kaplan said. “You can’t either,” Trump muttered before walking out. EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP TO APPEAL VERDICT IN E JEAN CARROLL CIVIL CASE, SAYS HE HAS ‘ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA’ WHO SHE IS The judge attempted to crack down on Trump speaking loudly while conferring with his lawyers after Carroll’s lawyer complained about the remarks for a second time. Carroll testified about the various threats she has received since she accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s, including death threats and threats of rape. When asked if she regretted her decision, Carroll said, “Only momentarily. I’m very glad I came forward.” Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Virginia Democrats uphold state’s EV mandate despite growing opposition: ‘Defy common sense’
Democrats in the Virginia state Senate voted to kill a Republican bill that would have repealed a 2021 law that tethers the state’s air standards to those set in California and, therefore, adopts a 2035 electric vehicle (EV) mandate. In a party-line 8-6 vote Tuesday, the Virginia state Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee voted against the Republican-sponsored Senate Bill 3. The vote came during a public hearing in which both Republican lawmakers and private residents voiced their support for the bill and opposition to the state’s California-inspired EV mandate regulations. “I know people are passionate about this, I know people want clean air and clean water, as do I,” GOP state Sen. Richard Stuart, a lead sponsor of Senate Bill 3, said during the hearing. “But sometimes we have to deal with the reality of the situation that we’re in and the reality of the situation that we’re in is we simply cannot mandate Virginians to buy an electric vehicle. The goal is absolutely impossible.” “I call the bill – it’s a bill to un-California Virginia,” added fellow Republican state Sen. John McGuire. “I think most Virginians would agree that we should set our own policy. Legislators in California, we did not elect, and we did not vote for this policy in Virginia. And I think that sets a dangerous precedent in many areas. The electric car vehicle program is just not working.” HOUSE JOINS SENATE, STRIKES DOWN BIDEN EV CHARGER RULE PROTECTING CHINESE COMPANIES Supporters of the legislation, including Stuart and McGuire, expressed concern that the state doesn’t have sufficient charging infrastructure for EVs, that EVs are far more expensive than gas-powered alternatives, that EV manufacturing is heavily reliant on Chinese supply chains, and that the U.S. EV sector is heavily reliant on raw material supplies sourced from foreign nations. During the hearing Tuesday, both supporters and opponents of Senate Bill 3 each had a total of five minutes to speak, leaving several residents without the ability to voice concerns about the EV mandate. After Committee Chairman state Sen. Dave Marsden, a Democrat who later acknowledged there are problems with the EV mandate, asked supporters of the legislation to stand up, the vast majority of attendees rose. MAINE FORCED TO DELAY VOTE ON EV MANDATE AMID WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES “I feel like we have conceded our sovereignty to California,” said Chris Holmes, a Virginia resident. “We need to repeal this bill, bring back our own rule of law, represent those who you represent with your laws. Do not allow California representatives to enforce laws in Virginia.” “I think electric vehicles are great – I drive one. But I think now is the wrong time to force consumers to buy EVs. I don’t believe the government should be telling us what we can or can’t be buying,” added fellow resident Duke Truong, noting his high electricity bills and cost of replacing parts on his EV. Opponents of the Republican bill mainly included clean energy advocacy and environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and Southern Environmental Law Center. Democrats on the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, meanwhile, have repeatedly swatted down attempts to repeal the state law tying air standards to those set in California. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, though, has made repealing the law and the EV mandate a priority, saying in his recent State of the Commonwealth address that Virginians should “decide what car they drive.” BEIJING-BACKED GREEN ENERGY FIRM IS EXPANDING IN US, POSING SERIOUS NATIONAL SECURITY RISK: REPORT “It’s disappointing that when given the option to choose their constituents in Virginia or California bureaucrats, Democrats in Richmond continue to side with bureaucrats 3,000 miles away,” Youngkin spokesperson Christian Martinez told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Government mandates like this for electric vehicles, which defy common sense, will hold Virginians hostage to higher costs and fewer choices.” “Governor Youngkin believes we should be empowering Virginians to make their own choice over the car they drive and will continue to work to lower costs and put power where it belongs – with the people,” he continued. In March 2021, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed the legislation – the so-called Clean Cars bill – in an effort to bolster Virginia’s clean energy transition and boost the number of electric vehicles sold throughout the state. State Republicans opposed the legislation at the time Northam signed it into law and again expressed their ire in August 2022 when a California environmental agency moved forward with a rule requiring all new vehicle sales to be electric – and banning new gas-powered car sales – beginning in 2035. In addition, more than 10 states, including Virginia, have laws in place that tether their vehicle emissions standards to those set in California, meaning the EV mandate would impact tens of millions of Americans nationwide. Overall, it is estimated that the states adopting California’s 2035 rule represent more than 40% of total U.S. car purchases. “We know as a society that we have a problem with pollution,” Democratic state Sen. Barbara Favola said at the end of the hearing. “We know that we have not honored the commitment to keep our Earth green and to pass on to our children an environment that is really worthy of their future.”
Sanders resolution that would freeze aid to Israel goes down in flames
The Senate rejected a resolution on Tuesday put forward by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would have potentially frozen U.S. aid to Israel. Sanders forced a vote on the measure, which would have required the State Department to complete a report within 30 days on whether Israel has used weapons provided by the U.S. to commit human rights violations in Gaza. Failure to do so would have halted further aid to Israel amid the war against Hamas. However, the Senate voted down Sanders’ legislation, which was opposed by the Biden administration, in an overwhelming 72-11 vote. A majority of Democrats sided with Republicans against the effort, but a handful of progressives who have been increasingly critical of President Biden’s policy towards Israel supported Sanders. “While there is no question in my mind that Israel has the right to defend itself and go to war against Hamas, who started this terrible situation, Israel does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people and innocent men, women, and children in Gaza,” Sanders said in remarks delivered on the Senate floor. “Tragically, that is what we’re seeing.” BERNIE SANDERS TO FORCE SENATE VOTE ON RESOLUTION THAT COULD FREEZE AID TO ISRAEL Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, sparked by the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, has prompted unprecedented destruction in the tiny coastal enclave and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe that has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population and pushed more than a quarter into starvation, according to the U.N. Sanders cited death toll figures published by the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, which estimates that more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 60,000 wounded by Israeli airstrikes. That data cannot be independently verified, and Hamas does not distinguish between civilian and military casualties. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS ADMITS IT’S ‘VERY HARD’ FOR AMERICANS TO BE EXCITED WHEN PRESSED ON BIDEN ISRAEL STANCE Israel blames Hamas for the high death toll, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. After Hamas’ attack on Israel, 1,200 people were killed and around 250 people were taken hostage. As of this month, Israel believes more than 130 hostages are still in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Though President Biden has stood firmly behind Israel’s right to self-defense, the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led to calls from the international community for a ceasefire. Biden has publicly called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and earlier this month said he is “quietly working” to pressure Israel into reducing its troop presence in Gaza. SENATORS URGE BERNIE SANDERS TO HOLD A HEARING ON THE SCOPE OF ANTISEMITISM AT COLLEGE CAMPUSES In the meantime, Biden has asked Congress to pass an additional $60 billion in aid to Israel, on top of the $3.8 billion in annual aid for military defense approved under the Obama administration. While the president’s position has been harshly criticized by the far-left, several Democratic senators expressed opposition to threatening U.S. aid to Israel. “While I do believe the United States Congress should be fully informed of the nature of Israel’s war in Gaza while we continue to support our ally, I am concerned that the resolution could potentially cut off all aid to Israel and send a message that invites other adversaries in the region to expand the current conflict,” said Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in a statement. Republicans have remained united behind Israel. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., ripped the Sanders resolution as an attempt at “tying the hands of a close ally locked in a necessary battle against savage terrorists,” in remarks delivered on the Senate floor. Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Arizona judge says No Labels can block candidates from running under its banner
No Labels, the group preparing for a possible third-party presidential campaign, can prohibit members from using its ballot line to run for office in Arizona, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. The decision protects the group’s efforts to maintain control and secrecy around its operations and finances as Donald Trump critics warn that No Labels could help return Trump to the White House by siphoning voters who might otherwise vote for President Joe Biden. A judge blocked Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes from recognizing candidates wanting to run for office under the No Labels banner aside from the party’s yet-to-be-chosen ticket for president and vice president. NO LABELS REACHES OUT TO CHRIS CHRISTIE REGARDING A POTENTIAL THIRD PARTY, BIPARTISAN PRESIDENTIAL TICKET Fontes, a Democrat, called the ruling “dead wrong” and vowed to appeal. He warned that the ruling could keep the nearly 19,000 No Labels party members from voting in a primary, and the precedent could allow party bosses to decide who can run for office from any party. “This current decision will disenfranchise almost 19,000 registered Arizona voters, and if it stands, it could potentially derail the entire candidate nomination process,” Fontes said in a statement. No Labels officials said the ruling “strongly vindicates our constitutional rights.” “Our ballot line cannot be hijacked. Our movement will not be stopped,” Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., a No Labels national co-chair, and former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, the group’s director of ballot integrity, said in a statement. No Labels has drawn increasing scrutiny as it spends tens of millions of dollars to secure ballot access in all 50 states by Election Day. The group’s critics have pushed for transparency around its donors, whom No Labels leaders have refused to name, and had hoped that state campaign finance laws could help pry information loose. But the Arizona ruling could support the No Labels argument that it doesn’t have to file campaign finance disclosures under Arizona law because it is not supporting any candidates for state office. Arizona, likely to be among the closest battlegrounds in November, is among 13 states where No Labels has already secured its place on the ballot. Biden won the state by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2020 with a coalition that included conservative independents and moderate Republicans, prompting worry among Democrats that a No Labels candidate could tip the state to Trump even with a tiny showing in a state with more than 3 million voters. Judge John Tuchi, a Barack Obama appointee, ruled that No Labels has a First Amendment right to determine whom it wants to associate with. Fontes had argued that he’s obligated to accept filings from candidates even if party leaders reject them. Tuchi agreed, but said that requirement was trumped by the need to protect No Labels’ constitutional rights. Richard Grayson, one of five No Labels members who have filed to run for office in Arizona, said he was hopeful appellate courts would see the issue differently. Trump, the clear leader of the Republican Party, can’t tell candidates he doesn’t like that they can’t run for state Legislature, he said. “There’s a lot of people in the various parties that the parties don’t want them to run, and that’s always been true,” Grayson said Tuesday. Grayson, who likens his perennial losing campaigns to performance art, is a No Labels critic who thinks the party should disclose its donors. He changed his party affiliation to draw attention to what he views as a top-down operation that’s doomed to failure.
Daughter of New Mexico’s last Republican senator running for father’s old seat
The daughter of the last Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate for New Mexico has launched a campaign to take her father’s old seat. Nella Domenici, the daughter of the late Sen. Pete Domenici, formally announced her candidacy on Wednesday. “I’m officially running for U.S. Senate in New Mexico! Our state is amazing, but our leaders have failed us. Costs for families are up, crime is rampant, the border is wide open, and our kids are being left behind. We can and must do better!” she wrote on X. Politico first reported about the planned announcement. She already filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Nella Domenici, a former chief financial officer of Bridgewater Associates, has entered a field of Republicans vying to replace Democratic incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich. NRA PREPARES FOR BATTLES AGAINST BLUE STATE GOVERNOR ‘TORCHING THE CONSTITUTION’ WITH GUN CONTROL In a state President Biden won by 10 percentage points in 2020, conservative Latino activist Ben Luna and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales had already declared in the U.S. Senate race before Domenici, as well as failed 2020 state Senate candidate John Thomas Roberts. Both filed paperwork on Tuesday to compete in the June 4 GOP primary. “Our state is blessed with abundant natural resources, cultural diversity, rich traditions, hard-working people, and leading national laboratories and military installations. But sadly, our leaders in Washington and Santa Fe have failed us. The cost of living is up, we have a crime and drug crisis, the border is wide open, and our public education system is leaving our kids behind,” Nella Domenici wrote on her campaign’s Facebook page. “We can and must do better!” she continued. “I am uniquely prepared and ready to fight for a significantly improved New Mexican economy. My professional experience and education enables me to deeply understand inflation, taxation, setting and managing huge budgets and creating incentives and benefits that serve employees, and attract new businesses and entrepreneurs. And like my father and mother, I have been a warrior for those who most need an advocate: for women competing in academics or business, for families dealing with mental illness, and for those without access to quality healthcare or education.” As New Mexico has grown increasingly blue in the past decade, Domenici is hoping to capitalize on the reputation of her father, who left office 15 years ago. He died in 2017 at age 85. After first being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, the same year as Biden, Pete Domenici served six terms before leaving office in 2009 after deciding not to run for re-election, making him the longest serving senator in New Mexico’s history. For decades, he was influential in the GOP at the national and state level, serving as chairman or ranking member of the powerful Senate Budget Committee for many years. He was also known for his energy policy and as a strong advocate for New Mexico’s national laboratories, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Combined with her own decades in the finance industry, Nella Domenici added a powerful name to the race against Heinrich, who won his last re-election in 2018 by more than 30 points. NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS CALL FOR DEM GOV. GRISHAM’S IMPEACHMENT AFTER GUN ORDER: ‘SHE’S ROGUE’ In a released statement, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines, R-Mont., championed, “Nella’s experience at the highest levels of business, commitment to securing our border, and passion for improving education make her a strong candidate to flip this seat.” Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Jessica Velasquez, however, had doubts about the seat flipping from blue to red. “If Nella Domenici survives the dogfight, her close ties to Wall Street and her work for a mega-hedge fund that laid off American workers while investing in China will all face extensive scrutiny as Republicans’ primary intensifies,” Velasquez said, according to Politico. Though New Mexico would be a welcome pickup for the GOP, it is not considered close to a swing state, and Republicans are more heavily vying to flip Senate seats this year in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana, all states former President Trump won in 2020. Other main targets include Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona, according to Politico. It remains to be seen, however, if Domenici’s candidacy will prompt Democrats to spend more in the state this year. As an initial investment, Domenici contributed $500,000 to her campaign. Heinrich, who could soon become the next top Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee, had already raised $3.2 million by the end of last quarter, according to Politico.