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California AG sues hospital that ended gender transition treatment for minors to comply with Trump policies

California AG sues hospital that ended gender transition treatment for minors to comply with Trump policies

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against a San Diego hospital over its move to end gender transition treatment for minors to comply with the Trump administration’s demands. Bonta is arguing that Rady Children’s Hospital violated the terms of its merger agreement with Children’s Hospital of Orange County by halting transgender-related treatment for people under 18-years-old, according to KCRA3. Rady said the issue began when the federal government threatened to strip funding and shut down the hospital for offering gender transition treatment to children, the outlet reported. MAJOR CALIFORNIA HEALTH SYSTEM ENDING TRANSGENDER PROCEDURES FOR MINORS ACROSS ITS NETWORK The hospital agreed to the Trump administration’s demands and announced the closure of its gender transition care center, prompting California’s legal challenge, according to the report. Bonta’s lawsuit alleges that the hospital violated the terms of its merger agreement, which included a commitment to continue making gender transition care available to minors. “The recent changes to our gender-affirming care services reflect a very difficult decision,” the hospital said in a statement to KCRA3. “That decision was guided by our responsibilities as a nonprofit pediatric healthcare system to continue serving all children and families,” the statement continued. This comes as the Trump administration continues to target facilities that offer transgender-related treatment to people under 18 after President Donald Trump’s executive order a year ago calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to protect children from “chemical and surgical mutilation.” Last year, California was part of a group of 19 Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C., that filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a declaration that seeks to restrict gender transition treatment for minors. NEARLY 20 STATES SUE HHS OVER DECLARATION TO RESTRICT GENDER TRANSITION TREATMENT FOR MINORS That declaration from HHS described treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender transition surgeries as unsafe and ineffective for children experiencing gender dysphoria. It also warned doctors they could be excluded from federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, if they provide these treatments to minors.

Trump backs former critic Sununu in high-stakes swing state Senate race

Trump backs former critic Sununu in high-stakes swing state Senate race

President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed former Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire, a longtime GOP Trump critic, over one of his first-term ambassadors, former Sen. Scott Brown, in a crucial Senate race that’s one of a handful that may determine the Senate majority in the midterm elections. Sununu, who was praised by Trump as an “America First Patriot” who “will work tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda,” is seen by top Senate Republicans as the strongest candidate to flip the seat held by longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring at the end of this year rather than seek re-election to a fourth six-year term. “John E. Sununu has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN — ELECT JOHN E. SUNUNU,” Trump emphasized, in a post on social media. Sununu is a former three-term representative who defeated then-Gov. Shaheen in New Hampshire’s 2002 Senate election. But the senator lost to Shaheen in their 2008 rematch. DEMOCRATS EYE NARROW PATH TO CAPTURE SENATE MAJORITY, BUT ONE WRONG MOVE COULD SINK THEM “I want to thank the President for his support and thank the thousands of Granite Staters who are supporting me,” Sununu said after landing Trump’s endorsement. The endorsement will further boost Sununu, who enjoys a polling and fundraising advantage over Brown. After Trump’s endorsement, the Senate Leadership Fund, which is aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said on X that “John Sununu is the clear choice to be New Hampshire‘s next US Senator, and President Trump’s critical endorsement has put an end to the primary.” TIM SCOTT TELLS MAGA VOTERS TRUMP ‘IS ON THE BALLOT’ AS GOP FIGHTS TO GROW SENATE MAJORITY IN 2026 But Brown, as of now, has no intentions of dropping out. “I’ve always believed that the people of New Hampshire are the ultimate authority on our future, and they deserve a choice between candidates seeking to earn their support,” he said in a statement. And apparently questioning Sununu’s MAGA credentials, he added, “I am running to ensure our America First agenda is led by someone who views this mission not as a career path, but as a continuation of a lifelong commitment to service.” Brown emphasized, “My priorities for New Hampshire remain clear: a stronger economy, a secure border, reliable and affordable energy and better health care for our veterans. This mission has always been about you, not me. Let’s keep working!” Sununu is a brand name in New Hampshire politics. His father, John H. Sununu, is a former governor who later served as chief of staff in then-President George H.W. Bush’s White House. And one of his younger brothers is former Gov. Chris Sununu, who won election and re-election to four two-year terms steering the Granite State. FIRST ON FOX: SUNUNU LAUNCHES BID TO RETURN TO SENATE  But Sununu has a long history of backing Trump rivals. He served as national co-chair on the 2016 Republican presidential campaign of then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who declined to support Trump as the party’s nominee. And Sununu, along with then-Gov. Chris Sununu, endorsed former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, as she battled Trump for the nomination.  And on the eve of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, the former senator wrote an opinion piece titled “Donald Trump is a loser,” that ran in the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state’s largest daily newspaper. Brown endorsed Trump ahead of his 2016 New Hampshire primary victory, which launched him toward the GOP presidential nomination and ultimately the White House. Brown later served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during Trump’s first term. Some in New Hampshire’s MAGA base immediately rejected the president’s endorsement of Sununu, calling it a “slap in the face to grassroots supporters” who have long backed Trump. “The Sununu family openly mocked, degraded, and worked against the America First movement, the President himself, and the policies that energized New Hampshire voters,” a group of MAGA activists posted on X. “We will continue and intensify our campaign opposition to the Sununu operation.” Brown formally launched his Senate campaign in June, after over six months of reaching out to grassroots supporters in the state. He raised roughly $1 million during his first three months as a candidate. Sununu jumped into the race in late October, with the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the Senate GOP’s campaign arm. FIRST ON FOX: BROWN SHOWCASES HEALTHY FUNDRAISING HAUL NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott said at the time that Senate Republicans were “all-in” for Sununu. Since then, Sununu has landed the backing of a majority of the Republicans in the Senate, as well as from GOP leaders in New Hampshire. The seat in New Hampshire, along with an open Democrat-held seat in Michigan are two of the NRSC’s top targets this year as they aim to expand their 53-47 majority in the chamber. Georgia, where the GOP views Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff as very vulnerable, is the NRSC’s other top target. Sununu more than doubled Brown’s fundraising haul during the past three months, and the latest public opinion polls in New Hampshire indicate Sununu with a double-digit lead over Brown in the GOP primary, which won’t be held until September. Pappas, a four-term congressman who represents the eastern half of the state, outraised both Sununu and Brown combined during the 4th quarter of 2025 fundraising. And the latest polls indicate Pappas topping Sununu by single digits and Brown by double digits in hypothetical general election matchups. Pappas is the clear front-runner for his party’s nomination, in a race that also includes Karishma Manzur, a member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s rules committee.

Resurfaced photo links Mamdani to Epstein-connected publicist at New York City event

Resurfaced photo links Mamdani to Epstein-connected publicist at New York City event

A photo showing Zohran Mamdani at a high-profile luncheon tied to longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Peggy Siegal has emerged following the release of newly unsealed Justice Department records that also reference his mother, Mira Nair. The photo, taken Nov. 15, 2017, shows the now-New York City mayor smiling at the Universal Pictures “Get Out” Peggy Siegal luncheon at Lincoln Ristorante in Manhattan. The event was hosted by Siegal, a once-powerful Hollywood publicist who later faced industry backlash over her deep social ties to Epstein.  Siegal was never charged with a crime. EPSTEIN FILE RELEASE FEATURES PHOTOS OF MICK JAGGER, MICHAEL JACKSON, DIANA ROSS AND MORE STARS The image surfaced days after filmmaker Nair was named in a newly released tranche of documents connected to Epstein and his convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The records, made public Jan. 30, 2026, are part of a broader release of millions of pages detailing Epstein’s social and professional network. The documents do not allege criminal wrongdoing by those mentioned. In a 2009 email included in the release, Siegal wrote to Epstein about an after-party for the film Amelia, which Nair had directed. The message states the gathering took place at Maxwell’s Manhattan townhouse and lists attendees including former President Bill Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Nair.  The correspondence documents attendance only and does not allege misconduct by those named. NEW EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS INCLUDE PHOTOS OF BILL CLINTON TOPLESS IN HOT TUB, SOCIALIZING WITH MICHAEL JACKSON In the 2017 luncheon photo, Mamdani appears alongside actor Daniel Kaluuya, filmmaker Shimit Amin and Nair as they celebrated Jordan Peele’s movie, “Get Out,” which won the Academy Award for best original screenplay. A second image from the same event shows Peele, producer Jason Blum, Allison Williams and Siegal, highlighting the luncheon’s prominence during Hollywood’s awards season. Another photo from December 2016 also shows Nair attending a private-residence film event with Siegal for “Queen of Katwe.” CLINTON TEAM DEMANDS TRUMP DOJ RELEASE ‘ANY REMAINING’ DOCS RELATED TO FORMER PRESIDENT, EPSTEIN At the time, Siegal was a dominant figure in entertainment publicity, known for her access to major studios, A-list talent and industry power brokers. In 2019, following reporting that detailed her association with Epstein, multiple Hollywood studios, including Netflix, FX and Annapurna Pictures, cut ties with her, according to Variety. Epstein was first arrested in Florida in 2006 on charges of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. GIANTS CO-OWNER STEVE TISCH RESPONDS AFTER EMAILS BETWEEN HIM AND JEFFREY EPSTEIN INCLUDED IN LATEST DOJ DROP He later pleaded guilty, served 13 months in jail with work release and registered as a sex offender.  He died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence following her conviction for sex trafficking. Nair, an internationally respected director known for films including Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake and Queen of Katwe, has long been a fixture in elite film circles, especially in Manhattan. She is married to academic Mahmood Mamdani. Fox News Digital has reached out to Zohran Mamdani’s office and Peggy Siegal for comment.

Trump announces two-year closure of Trump Kennedy Center for major renovations

Trump announces two-year closure of Trump Kennedy Center for major renovations

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the Trump Kennedy Center will close later this year for a two-year period to undergo renovations. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the complex will close on July 4, coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary, at which point construction will begin on what he described as a “new and spectacular entertainment complex.” TRUMP REVEALS ARC DE TRIOMPHE-STYLE MONUMENT FOR AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY Trump said the decision followed a yearlong review involving contractors, arts experts and other advisers. He added that the temporary closure would allow the renovations to be completed faster and at a higher quality than if construction were carried out while performances continued. Trump said the approach would be “the fastest way” to elevate the center, adding that the planned grand reopening would surpass previous versions of the venue. The Trump Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.  TRUMP GAVE THE OVAL OFFICE A GILDED MAKEOVER – AND COVERED THE COST HIMSELF Trump said the funds to carry out the renovation were already in place, though he did not provide an estimated cost or explain whether the project would be financed through federal funding, private contributions, or a combination of both. The Trump Kennedy Center hosts hundreds of performances each year and is home to several resident companies. It was not immediately clear whether those events would be postponed or moved to other venues. Since his return to office, Trump has undertaken a series of changes aimed at reshaping the look and feel of the White House and other iconic Washington landmarks. SPRAWLING NEW $200M WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM TO BE PAID FOR BY TRUMP AND DONORS In October, Trump unveiled a new monument dubbed the “Arc de Trump,” which is planned to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary next year. He has previously said that the large arch, a near twin of Paris’s iconic Arc de Triomphe, will welcome visitors crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the heart of the nation’s capital. Trump’s taste for opulence is evident in the Oval Office, where gold accents now line the ceiling and doorway trim, reflecting his personal style. Beyond the Oval Office, the administration has unveiled the “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a series of portraits of past presidents displayed along the West Wing colonnade. Among the largest projects underway is a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom designed to accommodate roughly 650 seated guests.  The administration has said the sprawling ballroom will adhere to the classical architectural style of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.