India-US trade deal in final stages, Jaishankar says ‘last mile’ poses challenges
S Jaishankar says the India-US trade deal is in its final stages, as Donald Trump and Marco Rubio signal progress. Jaishankar will also visit Azerbaijan on October 23.
RTI Revelation: Two Election Commissioners complained against election officer, govt did not act
RTI reveals Cabinet Secretariat declined action on Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Vivek Joshi complaints against Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg over work allocation, says letters in individual capacity not official EC communication.
‘I basically snapped’: New Jersey mayor charges at resident during chaotic council meeting
A New Jersey Republican mayor charged toward a resident during a chaotic township council meeting this week and had to be physically restrained as he shouted threats at the man, dramatic video shows. Pemberton Township Mayor Matthew Bianchini, a Republican, rushed toward the resident during Wednesday night’s meeting before several people intervened and pulled him away. The resident, Michael Sawka, is a vocal critic of the mayor, according to WPVI-TV. “I’m getting you,” Bianchini can be heard shouting. FORMER GAMBINO ASSOCIATE TURNED NEW JERSEY COUNCILMAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING LOANSHARKING RING WHILE IN OFFICE Video of the meeting shows Bianchini lunging toward Sawka before being restrained by others in attendance. As he was removed, Bianchini could be heard shouting additional threats at Sawka, including profanity. Following the meeting, Bianchini admitted that he lost his temper. “I just basically snapped,” Bianchini told WPVI. “I hate to put it this way, but it’s a long time coming.” The mayor acknowledged that his conduct was inappropriate. SLAIN NEW JERSEY MOM’S AUTOPSY REPORT RELEASED MONTHS AFTER STABBING DEATH AT HOME “I should not have said that,” he told the station. “That was wrong. It was in the heat of the moment. I’m not gonna get anybody.” The confrontation happened while a recently fired township employee was addressing the council. Bianchini and members of his family told WPVI that Sawka and another resident made rude comments toward the mayor’s wife and daughter, who were seated in the room. Sawka can be seen gesturing toward the back of the room before making an obscene gesture toward Bianchini, shortly before the mayor charged at him. “Was it wrong? Absolutely. Was it justified? Absolutely. And I would do it again if I had to,” Bianchini said. DEMOCRATS FURIOUS AFTER POLLSTER BOOSTING FAR-LEFT CANDIDATES ADMITS FABRICATING SURVEYS: ‘ABSOLUTE SCUMBAGS’ He added, “Don’t attack my family.” Sawka denied making comments directed at Bianchini’s family and said he remained seated during the confrontation. “I’m just sitting there. I never got up. I sat there the whole time. I was calm the whole time,” he told WPVI. Sawka filed a municipal court complaint Thursday seeking assault and terroristic threats charges against Bianchini, according to WPVI. Police have not said whether they will pursue charges. Fox News Digital has reached out to Pemberton Township police for comment. The Pemberton Township Democratic Club responded to the confrontation by saying the township deserves leaders who can “stay composed and professional” and urged residents to participate in the upcoming election, in which Bianchini is seeking to retain his position. Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
NYC votes to end nearly 170-year-old horse carriage tradition as Trump blasts ban, drivers threaten lawsuit
The New York City Council voted Thursday to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028, moving to end a nearly 170-year tradition after the death of a teenager in Central Park and prompting threats of legal action from carriage drivers. The council voted 40-7, with two abstentions, to approve Romanch’s Law, named after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park. The legislation would phase out the industry by June 1, 2028, while requiring Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to develop a transition program for more than 150 active carriage drivers and other workers. The plan would include job training, career counseling and employment referrals, although financial compensation is not guaranteed. MAMDANI PRAISED OVER MOVE TO DISMANTLE CONTROVERSIAL NYC INDUSTRY — BUT INSIDERS SAY THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY President Donald Trump weighed in on the decision Thursday, criticizing the move to eliminate one of New York City’s longtime tourist attractions. “The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!” he wrote on Truth Social. The Transport Workers Union (TWU), which represents carriage industry workers, threatened to challenge the ban in federal court and seek a temporary restraining order. Union representatives accused City Council Speaker Julie Menin of failing to adequately consult drivers whose livelihoods are at stake. MAN KILLED AFTER HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE BOLTS AND FLIPS NEAR POPULAR NEW YORK CITY TOURIST DESTINATION Opponents argued the city had failed to establish a concrete financial plan for drivers and carriage owners. An effort to delay the phaseout until January 2030 failed before the final vote. Menin defended the legislation Thursday, saying the council had strengthened worker protections and was prepared for a legal fight. “We’re very confident in the legislation. That’s why we took the time to work over the summer on the legislation,” she said at a news conference. “We made changes to legislation to beef up worker protection. We are very confident in defending this law and will vigorously defend it. I’ve already talked to Steve Banks about it and our team, and we will vigorously defend this law.” Animal rights group PETA also celebrated the vote, pledging $50,000 to help carriage horses retire as the industry winds down. The Central Park Conservancy celebrated the decision, arguing that horse-drawn carriages pose growing safety risks in a park that welcomes roughly 40 million visits annually. MAMDANI, CITY COUNCIL MOVE TO END ICONIC NYC HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY AS WORKERS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE “In the modern era, carriages pose a serious — and even fatal — safety risk to park visitors, carriage drivers and the horses themselves. Our hearts break for the family of Romanch Mahajan, who stepped into a carriage earlier this summer and never thought he might lose his life,” the organization wrote in a press release. The Conservancy said Mahajan’s death was the ninth carriage-related incident in just over a year. The legislation also includes protections intended to prevent retired carriage horses from being sold for slaughter, while allowing owners to keep their animals. The bill now heads to Mamdani, who has expressed support for ending the industry. If signed, it would bring an end to a decades-long political battle over one of New York City’s most recognizable tourist attractions.
DOJ opens investigation into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski
The Justice Department (DOJ) has launched an investigation into longtime Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News. The probe stems from a criminal referral sent to the Justice Department by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, marking a legal escalation for the high-profile political figure. Asked about the inquiry by reporters outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had “heard something about it.” “All I know is I want my people to be honest,” Trump said. TRUMP’S NEW PRESS SECRETARY OUT OF A JOB JUST DAYS AFTER ROCKY DEBUT “If they’re not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted,” Trump warned, adding that dishonesty amounts to “stealing from me as president.” “They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they’re not honest, I’ll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do.” OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE AT CENTER OF TRUMP’S ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND CASE HIT WITH MISCONDUCT CLAIM Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, said his client has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies any wrongdoing. “Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity,” Trigg said in a statement posted on Lewandowski’s X account. Lewandowski is a longtime political ally of Trump who previously served as an advisor to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He also served as Trump’s first campaign manager during the 2016 presidential race before being fired that June. ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ JUDGES ARE SABOTAGING TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AGENDA, TOP DHS OFFICIAL SAYS Lewandowski stayed close to Trump, also serving as a senior advisor during his 2020 and 2024 campaigns. After The Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice was reviewing allegations of corruption and personal financial gain involving Corey Lewandowski, he said on X that the report was “another example of the kind of anonymous-source, politically driven reporting that Americans have seen time and again.” Lewandowski added he was proud of his work as a volunteer in “advancing this administration’s agenda and (remains) confident that the facts and not anonymous accusations will ultimately speak for themselves.”
Fox News Poll: Nail-biter in Maine Senate race
Maine voters are in a negative mood this election season. Only 12% say their family is better off financially compared to two years ago, and more than 6 in 10 disapprove of President Donald Trump’s job performance, including 2 in 10 Republicans. FOX NEWS POLL: TEXAS SENATE RACE GALLOPING TOWARD A PHOTO FINISH A Fox News survey of Maine likely voters finds that mood weighs on Republican Sen. Susan Collins, as 53% are concerned she votes with Trump too much. By contrast, 46% are concerned Democratic challenger Troy Jackson is too liberal. FOX NEWS POLL: GENDER GAP AND POCKETBOOK PAIN SHAPE OHIO SENATE RACE Despite those views, the horse race shows the candidates tied, with Jackson and Collins at 49% apiece. All survey interviews were completed after the candidates’ Oct. 15 debate. Collins, who first won her seat about three decades ago, is seeking a sixth term. She’s the only GOP senator running for re-election this year from a state Trump lost in 2024 (by 7 points). In 2020, Collins won by nearly 9 points. Democrats view Maine as a must-win seat in their effort to take control of the Senate. When voters are asked about control of the U.S. Senate, 53% prefer a Democratic-led Senate vs. 45% who want the Republicans to remain in charge. While almost all Jackson supporters want Democratic control (96%), Collins supporters are more divided: 89% want a GOP-led chamber, but 9% prefer Democratic leadership. Collins will need to overcome the energy on the left, as far more Democrats (79%) than Republicans (61%) say they are extremely interested in the election, which explains why Jackson is ahead by 16 points among that group. He’s up by 4 points among those who say they are “certain” to vote, and also carries the one in five Mainers who have already cast a ballot by a decisive 40 points. On the other hand, a slim majority plans to vote on Election Day, and they favor Collins by 12 points. “Collins is no stranger to outrunning her party, but Democrats hold an 18-point enthusiasm advantage,” says Mikaela Linder of Beacon Research, a Democratic polling firm that conducts the Fox News Poll with Republican Daron Shaw. “Trump’s job rating is 25 points underwater, and a majority strongly disapproves of him. Jackson has an opening if he can carry that momentum beyond his base and across the finish line.” Views of the president’s performance are a problem for GOP candidates in Maine. Currently, 37% of voters approve of the job Trump is doing as president, while 62% disapprove, including 54% who strongly disapprove. The candidates’ personal favorability ratings are both underwater. Views of Jackson are negative by 2 points (47% favorable, 49% unfavorable), and by 4 points for Collins (47%-51%). Partisan vote choice varies distinctly across key groups. Voters under 45 favor Collins by 6 points, while those ages 45 and older prefer Jackson by 3. Women support Jackson by 5 points, while men back Collins by 4. The sharpest divide is education: Mainers with a college degree pick Jackson by 23 points, while Collins leads among those without a degree by 16. Collins is ahead among those living in rural areas by 7 points, while Jackson is the pick of the smaller number of suburban voters by 18 points. For comparison, in 2020, Collins won both the voters living in rural areas and those without a college degree by 18 points each. “Republicans appear to be struggling with White rural voters this cycle, and Maine is no exception,” Shaw said. “GOP candidates desperately need these voters to show up, and need something like a 65-35 vote to overcome Democratic strength in urban areas.” Party loyalty is roughly even as 9 in 10 of each candidate’s party faithful back them, and the small subgroup of independents favors Collins by 13 points. Both Jackson (92%) and Collins (90%) supporters have a high degree of vote certainty. In Maine’s gubernatorial race, Democrat Hannah Pingree leads Republican Bobby Charles by 10 points, 49% to 39%, while independent candidate Rick Bennett takes 9%. CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Unlike Jackson, whose coalition backs Pingree almost unanimously (only 8% defect), nearly one in five Collins supporters (19%) peel off to either Bennett (11%) or Pingree (8%). Conducted October 16-20, 2026, under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,689 Maine registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (226) and cellphones (1,035) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (428). Results based on the registered voter sample have a margin of sampling error of ±2 percentage points and for the subsample of 1,514 likely voters it is ±2.5 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Likely voters are based on a probabilistic statistical model that relies on past vote history, interest in the current election, intention to vote, age, education, race, ethnicity, and marital status. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.
Trump rally exposes surprising cracks in MAGA base as Republicans face midterm test
President Donald Trump’s rally in South Carolina Wednesday revealed mixed feelings among his supporters as frustrations over the economy, immigration and the war with Iran collide with the stakes of November’s midterm elections. While some rallygoers urged fellow Republicans to look past their frustrations and turn out in November, one Clemson University student who once proudly wore a Trump hat said he was considering voting Democratic. “I was a big Trump supporter,” Grant Frady explained. “But, recently, I didn’t support him for the 2024 election. I feel like there’s too many special interests involved. I feel like what he said to the public was that he was anti-war. He was wanting to boost the economy. He said that he was just going to put America first, and I just feel like we haven’t.” Trump traveled to South Carolina to rally support for Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who faces an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews in a state that has long favored Republicans. TRUMP REAFFIRMS ICE ARREST POLICY AFTER CONFUSING GUIDANCE SPARKS ALARM AMONG AGENTS “And he also, he said he was going to deport all the illegal immigrants. We haven’t seen enough to really say that. I feel like he’s just overstating. I feel he’s causing too many problems for what he’s really benefiting. We haven’t gotten that many illegal immigrants out, and look how much problems we have with ICE.” The economic concerns come as Americans continue to grapple with the cost of living, while the conflict with Iran has added pressure to energy markets and heightened uncertainty about the economy. A recent Fox News survey found that six in 10 voters say the cost of living is their top economic concern, followed by government spending (15%), jobs and income inequality (7% each), tariffs (6%) and taxes (5%). FOX NEWS POLL: ECONOMIC GLOOM, TRUMP RATINGS SIGNAL TOUGH GOP MIDTERM PATH Frady wasn’t the only Clemson student who arrived at the rally with mixed feelings about the president’s record. James, another Clemson student, said he had supported Trump in the past but was frustrated with aspects of the administration’s foreign and immigration policies. “I’ve supported him [Trump] in the past, but some things have went off the edge,” James stated. “I definitely think foreign policy should be enforced a little better than we’ve just been letting it go. And, also, I feel like he hasn’t been doing enough for illegal immigrants getting in this country. So, that’s also a standpoint I like. “I think you should be more aggressive than not joining in with these [foreign] countries,” he continued. “‘Cause I don’t think that’s America first, and it’s causing us to have a lot of debt.” Frady said doubts about Graham’s conservative credentials have prompted him to consider voting for Andrews, a Democratic pediatrician, while other rallygoers argued that frustrations with Trump’s record were not enough to justify sitting out November’s election. REPUBLICANS FACE TICKING MIDTERM CLOCK AS IRAN FALLOUT KEEPS PRESSURE ON GAS PRICES “You may not be thrilled with Trump, but you’ll get the alternative,” Mike Korb of Greenville told Fox News Digital, warning that Democrats would also reverse the administration’s immigration-enforcement policies if they regained power. Korb argued that Trump’s rally could help energize Republican voters, though he expressed doubts about the GOP’s prospects of retaining the House. Summer Frost of Aiken argued that Americans should be willing to endure higher energy prices tied to the conflict with Iran, describing the economic burden as “short-term pain for long term gain.” She wasn’t alone in viewing Iran as a long-term threat to America that had to finally be dealt with. Scott Hines, a military veteran from Greenwood, recalled serving during the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, an attack that shaped his views on confronting Iran. “I was in the military when they bombed the Marine barracks. And we should have already hit Iran,” Hines told Fox News Digital. Hines and wife Margaret live not far from the Georgia line, where student Laken Riley was murdered by an illegal immigrant while jogging in February 2024. “Nobody wanted a young girl … who couldn’t jog on her own college campus to end up like that. I mean, that’s for any college campus, just not for someplace close to home,” Margaret said about the tragedy, which occurred in nearby Athens, Georgia. The president’s rally also faced repeated disruptions from protesters, several of whom were escorted from the venue. During one disturbance, an attendee reportedly punched a protester, drawing praise from Trump, who compared the person who threw the blow to former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield. The local sheriff’s office said Thursday that an assault report had been filed after the altercation. A deputy observed minor bruising on the person who reported being assaulted, according to the report. The case remained under investigation, with no suspect publicly identified. The disruptions underscored the tensions surrounding Trump’s visit just 13 days before the midterm elections, when Republicans will be looking to mobilize voters in a state where a Senate seat once considered safely Republican has become more competitive. For Republican voters interviewed at the rally, the question was whether frustrations over Trump’s record would ultimately change their votes or whether the prospect of Democratic victories would be enough to keep them behind the GOP.
Singham-linked nonprofits defy House ultimatum, blast ‘MAGA-led witch hunt’
Two nonprofits linked to Marxist tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham have rejected a congressional ultimatum to turn over financial records, accusing lawmakers of using a foreign-influence investigation to target their political views and violate their First Amendment rights. The People’s Forum Inc., a New York City-based activist hub, and BreakThrough News, a far-left nonprofit media outlet, fired back in letters to Tuesday the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which threatened to depose their leaders — and Singham personally — if the organizations failed to comply with earlier subpoenas for financial records. The People’s Forum blasted the latest congressional crackdown as a “MAGA-led witch hunt.” BreakThrough News and its supporters accuse the committee of targeting the outlet over its coverage of Israel and immigration enforcement, while lawmakers maintain the probe concerns the organizations’ finances and structure. HOUSE PANEL WARNS SINGHAM-LINKED NONPROFITS: COMPLY WITH SUBPOENAS OR FACE CONGRESS The showdown comes as the Republican-led committee, headed by Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., investigates whether millions of dollars flowing through Singham’s network of tax-exempt nonprofits are being used to advance Chinese Communist Party interests in the United States. “This approach is tantamount to holding the staff of BreakThrough News hostage,” attorneys for BreakThrough News wrote in their Oct. 20 response, accusing the committee of threatening seven newsroom employees with depositions unless the outlet abandons its constitutional objections. The attorneys also challenged the committee’s foreign influence allegations, pointing to its reference to Singham, who lives in Shanghai, alongside foreign principals. “Mr. Singham is a U.S. citizen,” the attorneys wrote. The standoff raises the prospect of Singham being personally deposed by congressional investigators after the committee identified him among 21 potential witnesses, including nonprofit executives, activists and journalists associated with the two organizations and Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, a Massachusetts-based Marxist think tank that has not publicly released a response to the latest demands. The People’s Forum similarly condemned the committee’s latest demands in its Oct. 20 response, accusing lawmakers of using the threat of depositions against eight staff members as retaliation for asserting its First Amendment rights. The committee did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. SUBPOENAED PRO-CHINA OUTLET DEFENDS ITSELF ON DEMOCRACY NOW!, WHICH PAID SINGHAM-FOUNDED COMPANY MILLIONS On their websites, BreakThrough News and The People’s Forum also urged supporters to donate to help fund their legal defenses against the probe. “This is an escalation of the same MAGA-led witch-hunt,” The People’s Forum wrote in an Oct. 21 statement beneath a black graphic declaring, “We won’t surrender our First Amendment rights.” Both organizations also accused the committee of repeatedly changing its rationale and ignoring their legal objections but said they remained open to narrower requests. The responses come as BreakThrough News has also been accused of sympathetically amplifying recent protests and unrest across Europe, including demonstrations in France that descended into violent riots, with protesters torching cars and clashing with police. The Singham-funded outlet advertised an online discussion, “Europe’s Youth Uprising,” declaring that “a rebellion is sweeping Europe” and portraying the demonstrations as a youth uprising against rising living costs, austerity and military spending, according to a Fox News Digital report. Ten press freedom and civil liberties organizations, including PEN America, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Society of Professional Journalists, have also backed BreakThrough News, accusing the committee of targeting its political views and warning that forcing journalists to testify could threaten press freedom. “Rep. Smith’s shameless targeting of BreakThrough News for editorial viewpoints that he dislikes shows a complete disregard of the First Amendment,” Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a statement published by BreakThrough News. In their Oct. 20 letter, the groups called on the committee to abandon its investigation into the outlet and refrain from issuing further subpoenas. ‘MCCARTHY TRIALS’: HASAN PIKER, FAR-LEFT FIGURES ERUPT OVER SUBPOENAS IN $39M SINGHAM PROBE The committee alleges that Singham routed money through shell companies and donor-advised funds, obscuring the original source of contributions to the three nonprofits. Singham, an American-born Marxist tech tycoon who now lives in Shanghai, sold his software company, ThoughtWorks, for an estimated $785 million in 2017. A previous Fox News Digital investigation traced at least $278 million from Singham into six core U.S. nonprofits that served as funding hubs within a broader international network of activist groups, media organizations and think tanks promoting socialist, communist and pro-China causes. Of that funding, $22.44 million flowed to The People’s Forum, $16.76 million to Tricontinental and $1.098 million to BreakThrough BT Media Inc., the parent organization of BreakThrough News. The three received approximately $40.3 million combined, according to Fox News Digital’s investigation, which the committee cited in its earlier correspondence. The committee said it is examining whether existing tax laws adequately protect against foreign influence in the nonprofit sector and whether Congress should strengthen those laws. “Shanghai Singham has poured millions of dollars into these groups to take advantage of America’s nonprofit sector and promote Chinese Communist Party propaganda. That much is public. What these groups are fighting to keep hidden is even more concerning,” Smith said in an Oct. 13 statement. “Either these organizations turn over the documents, or their leaders will answer the Committee’s questions under oath.” The committee has not publicly identified evidence showing the organizations are concealing information related to foreign influence. Fox News Digital sought an update from the committee following the Oct. 20 deadline but had not received a response as of publication.
Hegseth unleashes Trump’s ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ with warning to defense giants
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth put weapons manufacturers on notice Thursday as the Trump administration pushes to cut Pentagon red tape, expand competition and accelerate American weapons production as part of its “Arsenal of Freedom” initiative. In a video shared on X, Hegseth highlighted Washington’s drive to overhaul defense procurement, expand private-sector competition and speed up production of advanced weapons systems. “The Arsenal of Freedom has been UNLEASHED,” Hegseth posted. AMERICA FACES A CRISIS IN OUR MILITARY ARSENAL THAT TRUMP IS RACING TO FIX The video features missile launches, naval weapons systems firing, ammunition production lines and workers signing munitions for U.S. forces. Hegseth also stressed that performance, not a contractor’s name, should determine which companies supply America’s military. “I don’t care what company is on the side of the rocket. Don’t care. The only thing we ask ourselves is, is it the best?” Hegseth said in the video. “The technology that you build for our missiles, interceptors and hypersonic weapons is what allows the War Department to achieve peace through strength,” Hegseth continued. “And that mission comes with a non-negotiable mandate straight from the Resolute Desk and President Trump: build more and build faster.” MORE THAN HALF OF SOME US WEAPONS STOCKPILES USED IN IRAN WAR, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA THREAT Hegseth framed the manufacturing push as central to strengthening American military readiness and deterring foreign adversaries. “When we unleash industry—when we at long last unleash the raw, competitive, and patriotic spirit—the United States of America always wins,” he said. “When we compete, we win. When we innovate, we win. When we go fast, we win. We’re equipping our warriors for the future right here and right now, made in the United States of America, and we’re doing it at light speed.” The “Arsenal of Freedom” campaign echoes America’s World War II-era “Arsenal of Democracy,” when U.S. factories dramatically expanded weapons production to supply American and Allied forces. TRUMP TURNS TO EMERGING TECH GIANT IN MULTI-BILLION BID TO RAMP UP US SUBMARINE PRODUCTION The administration’s defense industrial strategy is to streamline Pentagon procurement, reduce bureaucratic barriers and bring more private companies and technology startups into the military supply chain. The effort emphasizes commercial technology, faster production and greater competition among defense contractors and manufacturers. Hegseth launched the nationwide tour earlier this year with a stop at a shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, and has since visited defense manufacturing facilities across the country. On Oct. 20, Hegseth toured Riverside Machine and Engineering in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, alongside Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and local lawmakers. KEY AMERICAN INDUSTRY SEEING BLUE-COLLAR JOBS BOOM AS TRUMP’S RE-SHORING POLICIES PAY OFF There, he touted what he called a “golden age of American manufacturing,” highlighting domestic supply chains and defense industry jobs. The manufacturing push comes as the Pentagon seeks to strengthen U.S. weapons stockpiles and sustain military readiness amid threats from adversaries, including the almost eight-month war with Iran. Following visits to U.S. Central Command operations in the Middle East, Hegseth emphasized the importance of expanding production of precision missiles, air defense interceptors and other critical weapons systems. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pentagon for further comment.
DOJ moves to boot two federal judges from immigration cases over remarks to media: ‘Extraordinarily imprudent’
Two Minnesota federal judges who took the unusual step of publicly criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown to the New York Times are now fighting the administration’s efforts to disqualify them from cases involving immigration enforcement. One of those judges, Patrick Schiltz, is overseeing the Justice Department’s effort to strip U. S. citizenship from Salah Osman Ahmed, a Somali-born man who pleaded guilty in 2009 to providing material support to terrorists after joining al- Shabaab. The other, John Tunheim, is presiding over the prosecution of a South African national accused of falsely claiming U. S. citizenship and illegally voting in the 2024 election. The Justice Department filed separate motions asking Schiltz and Tunheim to recuse themselves, arguing that their participation in the New York Times report criticizing President Donald Trump’s Operation Metro Surge has raised questions about whether they can fairly preside over the cases. “Impartiality is imperative to ensuring public trust in our Nation’s judiciary,” the Justice Department said in a statement posted to X this week. “Judge Schiltz’s and Judge Tunheim’s on-the-record participation in a recent highly partisan New York Times Article, along with Judge Schiltz’s subsequent public comments, unquestionably calls into doubt whether they can be impartial in these cases.” OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE AT CENTER OF TRUMP’S ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND CASE HIT WITH MISCONDUCT CLAIM The Justice Department’s formal recusal demand follows reporting by Fox News Digital last month detailing unusual behind-the-scenes coordination among Minnesota’s federal bench as judges confronted a massive influx of immigration cases stemming from the administration’s enforcement operation. The report came after Schiltz and Tunheim were among seven Minnesota federal judges who spoke with the Times in September about Operation Metro Surge. Schiltz sat for a roughly 90- minute interview during which he described the administration’s handling of the operation as having created a “grave threat to the rule of law,” while Tunheim suggested to the Times that agents carrying out the administration’s immigration crackdown were not primarily apprehending dangerous criminals. DOJ had already raised the prospect that judges who publicly discussed the administration’s immigration cases might need to step aside when the Times report was released in September. Last month, DOJ filed a judicial misconduct complaint against Schiltz, Tunheim and other Minnesota judges who participated in the Times report, accusing them of violating judicial ethics rules and asking the Eighth Circuit to investigate. Attorney General Todd Blanche said their conduct had “undermined public confidence in an impartial judiciary in Minnesota.” “It is remarkable that sitting federal judges are giving on-the-record interviews attacking this Administration’s policies rather than ruling from the bench,” a Justice Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital in September. “Judges who have made public comments on pending or related matters should consider whether recusal is warranted going forward.” ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ JUDGES ARE SABOTAGING TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AGENDA, TOP DHS OFFICIAL SAYS The Times report in question revealed that Schiltz, Tunheim and the other Minnesota judges handling the flood of Operation Metro Surge cases regularly met, communicated through running email threads and used an informal spreadsheet created by court clerks to identify judges to consult about recurring legal questions. Chief Judge Eric Tostrud previously told Fox News Digital that the judges nevertheless independently decided every case assigned to them. “The bottom line is that each of us made an independent decision with respect to the merits of each and every petition we were assigned,” Tostrud said at the time. The Justice Department, however, has accused Schiltz and the other judges of “publicly” taking sides in the ongoing battle over Trump’s deportation agenda. “A judge who has publicly taken sides on the political issue of immigration enforcement cannot then preside over a case concerning one of the Justice Department’s key immigration initiatives: pursuing the largest denaturalization effort in Department history to restore trust and integrity in U.S. citizenship,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward wrote. Schiltz declined to comment on the Justice Department’s new effort to disqualify him when reached by Fox News Digital this week. But when Fox News Digital asked him about the possibility of recusal in September, Schiltz argued there was no basis for him to step aside — and pointed to the fact that DOJ had not asked him to do so. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION PUSH FUELS ICE’S BIGGEST ARREST MONTH IN AGENCY HISTORY “I have seen suggestions from the Administration that I might have to recuse in immigration cases, but no one has yet identified any basis for my recusal, which is presumably why the Justice Department has not asked me to recuse,” Schiltz said at the time. “Neither in the New York Times article nor anywhere else have I commented on the merits of a particular case,” he continued. “Instead, I have spoken in defense of the rule of law, a component of which is compliance with court orders. That is not a cause for recusal.” Tunheim did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Charles “Cully” Stimson, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation who previously served as a federal prosecutor and military judge, told Fox News Digital that judges ordinarily avoid publicly commenting on matters that could intersect with cases before them. “These judges did something extraordinarily imprudent, and that is to talk to any newspaper, much less the New York Times,” Stimson said. “That was a big no-no.” STATE’S LARGEST MOSQUE LEADER’S DEPORTATION FIGHT TAKES DRAMATIC TURN AS TRUMP ADMIN SCORES MAJOR WIN Asked what he would do if the New York Times interviews were the only facts at issue, Stimson said he would step aside. “If we were to just go off of the New York Times interview … I would recuse myself,” Stimson said, noting the recusal would only be from the particular case at issue as opposed to all future cases adjudicating the same principles. Stimson cautioned, however, that recusal motions put judges in the unusual position of effectively judging their own impartiality and said it would be inappropriate to predict how either motion should ultimately be resolved