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House panel to probe Biden admin’s negotiations with eco groups trying to tear down key power source

House panel to probe Biden admin’s negotiations with eco groups trying to tear down key power source

FIRST ON FOX: A top House panel is probing the Biden administration’s negotiations with left-wing environmental groups seeking to remove four hydroelectric dams in Washington to protect salmon. The House Natural Resources Committee’s Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee will hold a hearing next week, on Dec. 12, where it will review efforts to effectively dismantle the dams — which are a key source of clean energy and which enable agricultural transport — and related litigation. Experts and industry groups will speak at the hearing about the importance of the four federally-managed dams. “Pacific Northwest residents should be extremely concerned,” Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., who chairs the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s exactly what we’ve been saying for years — that we have unelected folks, bureaucrats, especially in the [Council on Environmental Quality], dramatically exceeding their authority and basically stepping outside the description of what they have the power to do reflected in National Environmental Protection Act.” Bentz said that he hopes witnesses will be able to highlight how removing, or breaching, the dams will impact electricity rates consumers pay and farmers who transport hundreds of thousands of tons of food, especially wheat, aided by the dams. The four dams are located on the lower Snake River, which winds through Idaho and Washington before feeding into the Columbia River and then into the Pacific Ocean. MAJOR US POWER SOURCE FACING EXTINCTION THANKS TO RED TAPE, SPARKING CALLS FOR REFORM The hearing next week is set to feature Scott Simms, the CEO and executive director of the Public Power Council; Neil Maunu, the executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association; and Humaria Falkenberg, the power resources manager at the Pacific County Public Utility District in Raymond, Washington. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Richard Spinrad and White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairwoman Brenda Mallory both declined to attend the hearing. John Hairston, the administrator and CEO of the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, also declined to attend. BIDEN ADMIN PLAN TO RELEASE PREDATOR NEAR RURAL COMMUNITIES FACES WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION: ‘A HUGE THREAT’ The four dams on the lower Snake River have been thrust into the spotlight in recent months and years as environmental organizations and some Democrats have argued the dams have decimated salmon and Steelhead populations, According to Columbia Riverkeeper, an Oregon eco group, the dams transformed the river into “a series of warm, shallow lakes where predators, dam turbines and hot water kill too many migrating salmon.” In addition, such groups have filed litigation against the federal government in an effort to force the dams to be breached. In November, though, environmental plaintiffs agreed to pause litigation through mid-December after a mediation was crafted with federal defendants that states action must be taken to save fish in the Snake River. “We agree that business as usual — and the consequential disappearance of salmon and other native fish populations in the Columbia River Basin — is unacceptable,” the mediation, which was confidential until it was leaked last week, states. “And while there is still time to save these fish, there is no time to waste.” The mediation notes that Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., released recommendations last year to quickly deploy green energy in the region to account for lost power were the four dams to be torn down. The document later notes the region must account for power to replace energy services currently provided by the dams. “Instead of working with all interests, the U.S. Government chose for months to hold secret negotiations and refused to share any details with us, let alone allow our participation,” said the executive directors of Northwest RiverPartners, the Public Power Council, and the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, which collectively represent power utilities, ports, agriculture companies and other businesses dependent on the dams. LOCAL RESIDENTS EXPLODE AT BIDEN OFFICIALS OVER PLAN TO RELEASE GRIZZLY BEARS NEAR THEIR COMMUNITIES “It is not surprising, then, that this proposal turns its back on over three million electricity customers as well as the farming, transportation, navigation, and economic needs of the region,” they continued. “By purposely excluding our respective organizations from the negotiations, literally millions of Northwest residents were deprived of fair representation in this process.” The American Public Power Association and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association also blasted the leaked mediation last week, saying “it would jeopardize electric reliability and increase costs for millions of Americans throughout the Pacific Northwest.” After the mediation was leaked last week, the White House CEQ told Fox News Digital that breaching the lower Snake River dams would require congressional authorization “and is therefore not an action that could be agreed to through the mediation.” However, Bentz said while the federal government isn’t able to breach the dams without congressional action, it could “operationally neuter” the dams under a legal order.  “They’re not talking about breaching,” Bentz told Fox News Digital. “They’re talking about operating them in a fashion that doesn’t generate power and doesn’t allow navigation. They will just be a big block of concrete in the river, around which the water will run.” The dams were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers primarily to ensure the Snake River was passable for barge transportation. However, since then, the main benefit has been their reliable clean energy output. They still provide about 8% of the state’s electricity, enough to serve millions of residents, and have a large total capacity of 3,000 megawatts. Removing the dams would also likely chip away at U.S. climate goals since their energy production would likely need to be replaced by fossil fuel alternatives. According to federal data, replacing hydropower generated by the dams with natural gas generation would increase carbon emissions by up to 2.6 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of 421,000 passenger cars. In addition to the impacts on energy and climate ambitions, industry groups have argued that removing the four Snake River dams

Who were the winners and losers in the fourth Republican presidential debate? Pundits name their picks

Who were the winners and losers in the fourth Republican presidential debate? Pundits name their picks

Political pundits and other media figures took to social media Wednesday night to declare which Republican presidential candidate they thought won the fourth GOP presidential debate. Opinions were naturally split between Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley after they repeatedly clashed in heated exchanges throughout the debate, which was held on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. “Vivek won the debate and it wasn’t even close,” journalist Cassandra MacDonald wrote, while talk radio host Dom Giordano said the debate was “clearly won” by DeSantis. BIDEN TROLLS DESANTIS, HALEY, TRUMP WITH GIANT BILLBOARDS AHEAD OF FOURTH GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Radio host Dana Loesch agreed with Giordano, declaring, “DeSantis has won two debates two weeks in a row now. His biggest asset is his record.” The previous debate she referenced was the one between DeSantis and Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted by Fox News’ Sean Hannity last week. Columnist David Marcus declared Christie the winner, while Newsbusters managing editor Curtis Houck praised DeSantis by pointing to a specific exchange he had with Haley about the threat from China. DEMOCRATIC MEGA DONOR REID HOFFMAN GIVES $250,000 TO TOP NIKKI HALEY SUPER PAC “[DeSantis] wasn’t rattled and clearly won this exchange. To argue he’s not tough on China when he’s been saying for years the Chinese Communist Party is America’s biggest threat is ludicrous. Also, anytime you brag about having Wall Street donors is MAJOR cringe,” Houck wrote. Others declared one candidate the winner who chose not to attend the debate: Former President Donald Trump. X Strategies CEO Alex Bruesewitz wrote that Trump won, Ramaswamy came in second, and DeSantis and Haley tied for third, while former Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder posted a flattering drawing of Trump with the question, “The winner?” TRUMP CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING ‘EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE OPERATION’ IN FINAL STRETCH TO IOWA CAUCUSES “Trump won this debate,” Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Fla, simply wrote, as Fox News contributor Leo Terrell agreed, “President Trump won the debate!” The Iowa Republican Caucuses will be held on Jan. 15, 2024, and will be followed by the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub

Trump once again gets off the hook at the latest GOP presidential debate, despite one candidate’s best efforts

Trump once again gets off the hook at the latest GOP presidential debate, despite one candidate’s best efforts

The smallest debate stage to date in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race had some of the biggest fireworks. Much of the verbal crossfire at Wednesday’s showdown at the University of Alabama was directed at former ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has enjoyed plenty of momentum this autumn. But despite the best efforts of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who repeatedly chastised his rivals for failing to verbally confront former President Donald Trump — the commanding Republican 2024 front-runner came away from the fourth debate relatively unscathed as he once again skipped taking the stage. “We’re 17 minutes into this debate… we’ve had these three acting as if the race is between the four of us,” Christie said as he pointed to Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. RNC CHAIR MCDANIEL DEFENDS THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING GOP 2024 FIELD Trump made history earlier this year as the first former or current president to be indicted for a crime, but his four indictments — including in federal court in Washington, D.C., and in Fulton County court in Georgia on charges he tried to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss — have only fueled his support among Republican voters. Christie charged that it was “ridiculous” that his debate rivals wouldn’t discuss Trump. “I’m in this race because the truth needs to be spoken… He is unfit to be president.” But Christie’s jabs at Trump drew boos a couple of times during the debate, including in his closing comments when he predicted that Trump would be convicted and would be unable to vote for himself.  TRUMP CAMPAIGN PREVIEWS ‘EXTREMELY AGRESSIVE’ PUSH IN IOWA  “If we deny reality as a party we’re gonna have four more years of Joe Biden,” Christie warned. But Christie’s scolding of his rivals mostly fell on deaf ears, as they mostly avoided direct criticism of Trump even when the moderators asked a series of questions regarding the former president. While Trump stayed out of the crossfire, Haley wasn’t nearly as lucky. DeSantis repeatedly fired shots at Haley, including accusing her of not supporting a ban on gender-affirming procedures for transgender youth, which she denied.  And he claimed that Haley “caves anytime the left comes after her.” Haley fired back, arguing that “Ron continues to lie because he’s losing.” DESANTIS STOPS IN ALL OF IOWA’S 99 COUNTIES, BUT WILL IT HELP HIM CLOSE THE GAP WITH TRUMP? Ramaswamy renewed his attacks on Haley for her support from top dollar Wall Street donors and her service on the board of the Boeing Company. “It adds up to the fact that you are corrupt,” he charged as he held up a note pad. The words “Nikki = corrupt” were written on the pad. Given the chance by the moderators to respond, Haley emphasized “it is not worth my time responding to him.” Christie vehemently defended Haley from Ramaswamy’s broadsides — calling the first time candidate an “obnoxious blowhard.” But he also took aim at his fellow former Republican governor, telling reporters following the debate that “my criticism of Nikki is very clear. You can’t be everything to everybody.” GAME ON IN IOWA WITH THE CAUCUSES CLOSING IN  The debate, the last to be held this year, came with less than six weeks to go until the Jan 15. Iowa caucuses kick off the GOP presidential nominating calendar. Haley, who has risen in the polls in recent months, thanks in part to well-received performances in the first three GOP presidential primary debates, has leapfrogged DeSantis for second place in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary and votes second in the Republican nominating schedule, and her home state, which holds the first southern contest. She aims to make a fight of it in Iowa, where she is pulling even with DeSantis in some of the latest polls. “Nikki was drawing the most fire because she’s had the juice, the momentum,” noted longtime Republican strategist David Kochel. Kochel, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns and statewide campaigns in Iowa, said that “Trump is not central to these debates because what the candidates on the stage are trying to do is get an opportunity to take him on one-on-one.” And Kochel emphasized that the debate “clarified what the race is about. It’s about who’s going to face Trump, and it’s DeSantis or Haley…. Someone’s going to win that argument and when they do it’s going to be Trump versus that person.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Ramaswamy sparks social media firestorm over ‘Nikki = Corrupt’ sign at GOP debate

Ramaswamy sparks social media firestorm over ‘Nikki = Corrupt’ sign at GOP debate

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sparked a social media firestorm during the last primary debate on Wednesday when he held up a sign that said “Nikki=Corrupt” in reference to his opponent, Nikki Haley. “I don’t have a woman problem,” Ramaswamy told Haley as part of an attack criticizing her work in the military contracting sector after her time as ambassador. “You have a corruption problem and I think that that’s what people need to know. Nikki is corrupt.”  As Ramaswamy was saying that, he pulled out a sign that had been sitting on the podium that read, “Nikki=Corrupt.” RAMASWAMY’S NEW HAMPSHIRE-BASED POLITICAL DIRECTOR JOINS TRUMP CAMPAIGN “This is a woman who will send your kids to die so she can buy a bigger house,” Ramaswamy added. When asked by a moderator if she wanted to respond to Ramaswamy’s claim, Haley said, “No. It’s not worth my time to respond to him.” Social media quickly erupted with reactions with some seemingly in disbelief Ramaswamy attacked Haley in that way. “OMG,” Hot Air associate editor Karen Townsend posted on X. “Vivek holds up a paper that reads “Nikki is corrupt.” “Vivek just ended Nikki Haley,” Citizen Free Press posted on X. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk called the exchange “one of the most noteworthy moments of the night.” Others pointed out that Ramaswamy’s sign was likely to become a meme in the future. “Something tells me that when I wake up tomorrow, Vivek’s notepad will have been used in about 3,742 different memes,” radio host Larry O’Connor posted on X. “Please post your favorites here…” “Vivek is the only one who shows up to these debates ready to create a viral moment or meme,” chef Andrew Gruel posted on X. “A 4th primary debate isn’t going to change the numbers so why not go wild?” Not everyone on social media was amused by the viral moment including many who pointed out that some boos could be heard in the audience. RAMASWAMY CLASHES WITH CNN ANCHOR PRESSING HIM ON TRUMP’S ‘VERMIN’ COMMENTS: ‘GIVE ME A BREAK!’ “Vivek holds up pad saying Nikki Corrupt,” Fox News host Howard Kurtz posted on X. “Gets booed. Worst debate performance in a long time. Haley wisely declined to rebut him: Not worth my time.” “I cannot believe that Vivek Ramaswamy held up a little homemade sign accusing Nikki Haley of being corrupt,” journalist Maria Shriver posted on X. “So childish. Wow.” Ramaswamy responded to the boos in real time accusing those booing of being donor “puppet masters” for Haley.  Ramaswamy’s team stood by his move in a social media post shortly after he held up the sign with a list of jobs and income from Haley’s past along with the message: “The math doesn’t add up. Nikki Haley = Corrupt.” CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital reached out to the Haley campaign but did not immediately receive a response.

ICE arrests Romanian fugitive convicted of murder, released from custody after crossing southern border

ICE arrests Romanian fugitive convicted of murder, released from custody after crossing southern border

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last week arrested a Romanian fugitive who was released from custody in 2017, despite multiple criminal convictions in the U.S. and Europe, including murder.  Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested the foreign fugitive last Friday in Watertown, Massachusetts, about 10 miles outside of Boston. His identity was not released.  ICE said the man entered the U.S. near Hidalgo, Texas, in July 2017. Border officials at the time apprehended him and placed him in removal proceedings before he was released on his own recognizance.  Since then, he’s also been convicted of theft and armed robbery in the U.S. He also has multiple felony convictions in Europe, including bodily harm, aggravated theft, financial fraud, and even murder, for which he served prison time in Romania.  ERO Boston became aware last month of information leading them to believe the Romanian national was residing in their area of operations. Local authorities were already investigating the individual for a series of larceny scams across Massachusetts.  ANOTHER PANGA BOAT WASHES UP ON BEACH NEAR HOMES OF HOLLYWOOD STARS “This convicted criminal and financial scammer will no longer be able to victimize the residents of Massachusetts as a result of the courageous work of the ERO Boston team,” ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement.  Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for more information on why this individual was released on his own recognizance in 2017 despite having a prior murder conviction.  His arrest comes after a group of 20 Romanian nationals — including two with organized crime ties — were nabbed after illegally entering the U.S. from the Canadian border.