Cornyn counters Paxton with wave of GOP endorsements as party warns critical Texas seat at risk
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has received a slate of 19 new endorsements from Texas Republicans in the latest development in the bitter primary runoff between him and challenger state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas Republican Congressmen Randy Weber, Nathaniel Moran and Roger Williams, influential GOP state Rep. Matt Shaheen, and former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan are among the latest lawmakers to back Cornyn over Paxton. This primary has become increasingly bruising, with the rivals lobbing more personal attacks at each other after neither candidate achieved the 50% threshold needed to secure the GOP nomination in the March primary. Meanwhile, the stakes are high for the Republican Party, as Democrats believe candidate James Talarico, a state representative and rising star, has an opening to flip the seat for the first time in decades. Such an upset would be devastating for the GOP’s chances of retaining a majority in the upper chamber and could impact President Donald Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his term. Cornyn, a top Senate Republican who has held the seat since 2002, responded to the new endorsements by telling Fox News Digital, “I’m honored to have the endorsement of many longtime friends in Texas politics, whom I have gotten to know during our time in office and with whom I’ve been proud to work.” DEM PRIMARY TURNS UGLY: MILLS UNLEASHES BRUTAL ATTACK ON SANDERS-BACKED PLATNER IN CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN The senator said that he has “always worked hard to earn the trust of our elected officials, so we can roll up our sleeves and work together for the betterment of all Texans.” He added that he looks forward to “continuing our important work together upon my re-election to the United States Senate.” In total, 30 prominent Republican legislative leaders from Texas have publicly backed Cornyn, evidencing strong support for the incumbent among party leadership. He has received the support of more than 500 current and former Texas elected officials. Outside Texas, Cornyn has also received the backing of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Border Patrol Council. In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Weber said Cornyn “has been a tireless fighter for Texas energy, standing up for our oil and gas industry and working to unleash American energy dominance.” Weber said he is “proud” to support Cornyn “because he will continue fighting to protect our energy producers and keep Texas leading the way.” Shaheen emphasized the importance of the GOP not losing the Senate seat in November, writing, “As someone with a Democrat challenger this November, I understand how vital it is that John Cornyn be our U.S. Senate nominee, otherwise election losses for Republicans could be disastrous.” He emphasized that Cornyn “has never lost an election,” and said that “with him at the top of the ballot, he will defeat James Talarico and lift up Republicans in down-ballot races.” TRUMP WARNS HE WON’T ENDORSE LAWMAKERS WHO OPPOSE SAVE AMERICA ACT Meanwhile, Paxton, who has served as Texas attorney general since 2015, also has strong grassroots support. Last week, Paxton received a slate of 13 new state-level endorsements, including several prominent legislators. This brought his total number of endorsements from Texas Republican leaders to 250, a list that includes Congressmen Lance Gooden and Troy Nehls. He has been endorsed by Turning Point USA and the NRA Political Victory Fund. Fox News Digital reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comment. After receiving the new endorsements last week, Paxton told Fox News Digital that “the momentum behind our campaign continues to grow stronger every single day.” He said, “Texans are ready for a change and are ready to be represented by an America First warrior who is going to work tirelessly to help Texas and support President Trump,” adding, “That’s exactly what I’ve done as attorney general, and it’s what I’ll continue to do as our next United States senator.” Noticeably absent from the list of supporters for either candidate is Trump, who, despite saying he likes both, has not officially endorsed. He has hinted that he would endorse “soon.” He recently suggested that the SAVE America Act, a voting integrity bill being debated in the Senate, will play a role in his endorsement decision. “A lot has to do with the SAVE America Act,” Trump said, according to NBC News. “A lot is going to determine — Republicans have to get that passed, because that will secure voting in this country.” PRITZKER FLEXES POLITICAL MUSCLE IN ILLINOIS SENATE PRIMARY AS 2028 BUZZ BUILDS Cornyn, who co-sponsored an earlier version of the SAVE America Act, recently authored an opinion piece in The New York Post titled “Why the SAVE Act matters more than the filibuster.” In the piece, he advocated for passing the measure through “whatever changes to Senate rules may prove necessary.” This marks a break from his previous support for the filibuster, which many lawmakers consider a necessary guardrail against majoritarian rule. Cornyn argued that “the Senate rules will change eventually, whether Republicans like it or not,” and that “this leaves conservatives with two options. We can either unilaterally disarm, or we can stand and fight.” “We can let the Democrats keep obstructing today and then smash the rules the first chance they get, or we can act now and use the mandate the American people gave this president and this Congress to secure our elections, protect our homeland and bring back common sense,” wrote Cornyn, adding, “The answer is clear: We need to stand, fight and win.” “Democrats started this fight. Now Republicans should finish it,” said Cornyn.
America 250 organizers unveil sweeping plans for the country’s historic birthday celebration
Organizers for the America 250 celebration touted a slew of plans to commemorate the country’s historic anniversary on July 4, detailing the programs in the works and hinting that more information would become publicly available in the coming weeks. Rosie Rios, former U.S. Treasurer and chairwoman of America 250, said the festivities themselves would begin on July 3 and extend into July 4. “We are doing the first-ever ball drop in the history of Times Square outside of New Year’s Eve. This will happen on July 3,” Rios said. But Rios also described how America 250’s planning hoped to go farther than a single event, framing their efforts as a cultural moment that would reframe the traditions around Independence Day. PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER BRINGING INDYCAR RACE TO DC FOR AMERICA250 Among other smaller items, Rios announced organizers would compile “America’s soundtrack,” a combination of the country’s most iconic music put together by Emilio Estefan, a 19-time Grammy Awards winner. It would include a time capsule set to be opened in another 250 years. And it would attempt to foster a sense of generosity around July 4 that would extend to future years. “Over the past two years, we’ve already launched incredibly national, values-based programs that will extend long after the fireworks fade on July 4,” Rios said. For the July 4 events themselves, Rios said organizers hoped to pull off a kind of decentralized celebration. Organizers stressed the cultural and organic nature of their plans, outlining designs they hoped would be remembered for generations — but also a hope that those plans would meld with existing Independence Day celebrations across the country. America 250 is partnering with local events across the country to create American “block parties,” which will act as nodes for the celebration. “On July 4 is the launch of America’s Block Party. Think about this, I wouldn’t call them viewing parties because I don’t think that does it justice. These are interactive experiences all across the country,” Rios said. So far, the organization has announced two key partnerships: Milwaukee Summerfest, a music festival in Wisconsin, and the Fort Campbell Festival, an annual carnival-like event in Kentucky. $20M ‘ONE SMALL STEP’ CAMPAIGN AIMS TO REBUILD AMERICAN PRIDE AHEAD OF 250TH ANNIVERSARY The organizers said other cities had approached them about potentially being a part of the designs but did not detail what other locations or how many might participate. “I can’t tell you what it’s going to look like, but I know what it is going to feel like. It’s going to be organic,” Rios said. Rios explained that while America 250 is cooperating with plans for the event in Washington, D.C., the Trump Administration is spearheading efforts there for the parade and other festivities at the White House. More broadly, Rios said they hope to introduce a tradition of generosity and charity to the July 4 holiday. “We wanna make July Fourth the largest day of charitable contributions ever recorded in our country,” Rios said. “The point of this initiative that we’re calling Giving Forth is to make July 4th the new day for giving back.“ “We believe that this is possible.” And following July 4 itself, she described hopes that July 5 would also take on special meaning. RARE, HISTORIC US DOCUMENTS TRAVELING COUNTRY ON ‘FREEDOM PLANE’ AHEAD OF AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY “After the fireworks, this is where the rest of the work also begins. We’re calling Sunday, July 5, our Day of Reflection. The Day of Reflection can mean many different things to many different people,” Rios said. “For some people on that Sunday, July 5, it could be a day of prayer. For some others, for example, there are many states that are actually trying to plan community potlucks. I love that idea.”
Trump tells ‘strange’ Iranian negotiators to ‘get serious soon’ or ‘it won’t be pretty’
President Donald Trump challenged the “strange” Iranian negotiators to “get serious” about a deal to end the fighting Thursday. “The Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange,’” Trump wrote in a Thursday morning Truth Social post. “They are ‘begging’ us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they have been militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback, and yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal.’ “WRONG!!! They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!” The comments sharpened a threat delivered a day earlier by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said Trump was prepared to “unleash hell” if Iran refused to accept a deal. Leavitt said Iran had “already been defeated” and warned the regime not to “miscalculate again,” arguing that continued resistance would bring even heavier U.S. retaliation. TRUMP VOWS TO HIT IRAN ‘VERY HARD’ AFTER OBLITERATING NEARLY ’90 PERCENT’ OF REGIME MISSILES “President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell,” Leavitt said at the beginning of Wednesday’s White House press briefing. “Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force and their air defense system. “Any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime refused to understand they have already been defeated and refused to come to a deal.” Trump also lashed out at NATO, accusing alliance members of doing “absolutely nothing” to help confront Iran as the conflict entered its fourth week. “NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran,” Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post. “The U.S.A. needs nothing from NATO, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time!” DEFIANT IRAN VOWS TO FIGHT ‘UNTIL COMPLETE VICTORY,’ DESPITE HEAVY MILITARY LOSSES The back-to-back statements come as Trump’s five-day deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is coming by this weekend – as the administration tries to force Tehran to the table while projecting that U.S. military operations have badly weakened Iran’s leadership, air defenses and naval capacity. At a Union Station fundraiser for the National Congressional Committee on Wednesday night, Trump joked that he had to stop referring to the “military action” on Iran as a “war,” because the latter requires congressional approval. “I won’t use the word ‘war’ because they say if you use the word ‘war,’ that’s maybe not a good thing to do,” Trump told the crowd of GOP lawmakers at the fundraiser dinner that raised a record-breaking $36.8 million for the NRCC, which seeks to fund the midterms to help keep the narrow House GOP majority (217-214). WATCH LEAVITT’S WARNING TO IRAN: “They don’t like the word ‘war’ because you’re supposed to get approval. So, I’ll use the word ‘military operation’, which is really what it is. It’s a military decimation.”
Indicted Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces rare House ethics hearing
An embattled lawmaker facing five decades in prison will face the congressional spotlight Thursday during an ethics trial that could result in her expulsion from the House of Representatives. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., is expected to testify before the House Ethics Committee during a rare public hearing Thursday afternoon. The case is separate from a sprawling federal indictment accusing Cherfilus-McCormick of stealing more than $5 million in disaster relief funds to finance her inaugural congressional run in 2021 and purchase luxury items, including a large diamond ring. The Florida Democrat is also alleged to have participated in a straw donor scheme and conspired to file a false federal tax return. Cherfilus-McCormick has repeatedly sought to delay the hearing, citing the ongoing federal criminal case and losing her legal representation earlier in March. It is not clear whether the Florida Democrat will be represented by an attorney at the hearing. Cherfilus McCormick said in a statement sent to Fox News that she is “deeply disappointed” the bipartisan committee chose to proceed with a trial, alleging a violation of her due process rights. NANCY MACE TO FORCE VOTE TARGETING FELLOW GOP LAWMAKER ACCUSED OF AFFAIR WITH STAFFER “I urge the Committee to follow its own precedents and uphold fairness and not allow this process to be driven by politics or numbers,” Cherfilus-McCormick said. “I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight and challenge these inaccuracies, when I am legally able to do so.” Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing after being indicted in November 2025 and pleaded not guilty in federal court. She has repeatedly defied calls from Republicans to resign — a move that would have avoided the ethics hearing and possible expulsion. According to the indictment, Trinity Health Care Services, a company owned by Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, received $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overpayment from the state of Florida for a COVID-19 vaccine contract. Rather than return the money, federal prosecutors allege the duo laundered it through multiple bank accounts to hide its origin. The House Ethics Committee unveiled a 27-count “statement of alleged violations” against Cherfilus-McCormick that is expected to be presented during the hearing Thursday. The hearing itself is extremely rare. It will be the first time the eight-member panel will hold a public hearing against a lawmaker since 2010. MIKE JOHNSON ASKS EMBATTLED HOUSE REPUBLICAN TONY GONZALES TO DROP RE-ELECTION BID Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., has said he would move forward with a resolution seeking to expel Cherfilus-McCormick regardless of the trial’s outcome. Under House rules, two-thirds of lawmakers — meaning a swath of Democrats — would need to vote in the affirmative to expel the Florida Democrat. “You’re in a situation where you have a sitting member of Congress who’s allegedly stolen over $5 million in taxpayer funds,” Steube told reporters Tuesday. “She should immediately resign instead of going through this process. But she’s going to force us to do this.” Steube also said a possible recommendation of expulsion from the committee could force Democrats to support his resolution. “If the committee in a bipartisan manner, it recommends an expulsion that puts the Democratic caucus in a very tough position because you would be undermining your own members on the Ethics Committee.” But House Democratic leadership, who have largely defended Cherfilus-McCormick, has yet to say whether they would support an expulsion resolution following the hearing’s conclusion. Cherfilus-McCormick was among a group of Democrats who stood behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., when he gave remarks on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown outside the U.S. Capitol last week. He responded, “next question,” when asked by Fox News about the expulsion threat on Tuesday. “I’m not going to prejudge the outcome that they arrive to,” House Democratic Conference Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said Wednesday. “I respect the members of the ethics committee and the work that they have to do.” Democrats’ refusal so far to condemn Cherfilus-McCormick has prompted sharp criticism from Republicans. “So-called ‘Leader’ Hakeem Jeffries talks a big game on corruption, but when it’s one of his own, he suddenly loses his voice,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement. Some Republicans have also complained about a double standard with the chamber’s treatment of Cherfilus-McCormick by making comparisons to former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. The scandal-plagued lawmaker was expelled from Congress in 2023 before an ethics hearing or criminal conviction. “It seems like what happened to George was just like a runaway freight train up here,” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., said Wednesday. “They didn’t even give George an opportunity to get fully through ethics. And so this one’s been a little bit more deliberate.” “I think going forward, how this one’s been conducted is how it should go,” Donalds added, referring to the anticipated Cherfilus-McCormick hearing. “It should be deliberate before these kind of judgments just end up on the House floor.”
Epstein’s accountant and lawyer reveal DOJ never questioned them about disgraced financier’s crimes
A former accountant and lawyer for the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein both told the House Oversight Committee earlier this month that the Department of Justice had never interviewed them about Epstein’s crimes. “I’ve never been questioned by any government authority,” Epstein’s ex-accountant Richard Kahn said. He noted that he had received a grand jury subpoena from the Southern District of New York and from the U.S. Virgin Island’s Department of Justice for documents about Epstein’s property. “Both of the requests were for the same thing. They were asking for Epstein’s estate documents. They wanted to see his will and his 1953 trust,” Kahn said. HOUSE OVERSIGHT SUBPOENAS AG BONDI IN PROBE OF EPSTEIN CASE ‘MISMANAGEMENT’ Similarly, Darren Indyke said he had never been asked about Epstein’s dealings. “Personally, no,” Indyke told the Oversight Committee. “I don’t believe I have.” When asked if that surprised him, Indyke told investigators he believed it was consistent with the scope of his employment. “Given my role as a transactional attorney for Mr. Epstein, no,” Indyke said. Epstein, a former financier with a formidable social circle, died in 2019 while imprisoned on charges of sex trafficking minors. His death, which was ruled a suicide, left behind questions about whether Epstein had facilitated illegal sexual encounters for some of his contacts and prompted public demands for accountability for possible accomplices. Like many public figures, Kahn and Indyke both appear in the Epstein Files — troves of documents released by the DOJ in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALLS BILL GATES, LEON BLACK TO TESTIFY OVER JEFFREY EPSTEIN TIES Their communications in the files do not, on their own, implicate any wrongdoing, and neither does their appearance before the House Oversight Committee. Their depositions come among a series of other interviews from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Interviewers have called figures like former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, billionaire businessman Les Wexner and Epstein’s accomplice and romantic partner Ghislaine Maxwell to deliver testimony. So far, none of the subjects interviewed by the Oversight Committee has faced charges for their proximity to Epstein, except for Maxwell. She was convicted in 2022 on charges of exploiting underage girls. Indyke, the attorney, said he was aware of Epstein’s original 2008 plea deal in Florida, where he admitted to soliciting a minor for prostitution. “He was adamant that he had no idea that anyone involved was underage and personally assured me that he would never again let himself be in that position. I believed him, and I made the mistake of believing that Mr. Epstein would not again commit a crime,” Indyke said. GHISLAINE MAXWELL PLEADS FIFTH AMENDMENT, DODGES QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OVERSIGHT EPSTEIN PROBE Kahn, Epstein’s accountant, gave a similar statement. “Epstein told me his 2006 arrest was a mistake, that he did not know the woman was underage, and that nothing like that would happen again,” Kahn said. “I believed him at the time and never saw what appeared to be a minor in his presence. Had I learned of his horrific behavior, I would have quit work immediately,” Kahn added. Fox News Digital reached out to Kahn and Indyke for comment.
Uttar Pradesh: Rs 108 crore project set to revamp Meerut’s infrastructure with four-lane road, bridges, check details
Currently, the road’s width varies between 7 to 10 meters, which will be expanded to 14 meters, incorporating a central divider to ensure safer and more organized traffic movement.
LPC Crisis Escalates: Govt rolls out attractive offers for households for switching to PNG; From free gas worth Rs 500 to zero security deposit
Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing and Oil Refinery), emphasised the government’s push for PNG, citing the country’s high import dependency on LPG compared to PNG.
Andhra Pradesh Horror: 12 burnt alive, 18 others injured as bus collides with truck, details here
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred while the bus was negotiating a turn near the quarry stretch, when it was allegedly hit by a speeding tipper.
New Jersey Gov Sherrill signs law barring ICE agents from wearing face coverings to shield identities
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, signed legislation on Wednesday to limit the use of face coverings for law enforcement, including federal ICE agents, The law, which requires officers to present identification before detaining someone, comes as some federal agents have sought to hide their identities during immigration raids in communities across the country. Sherrill, who was sworn into office in January, said the mask restriction is part of an effort to ensure the safety of residents of the Garden State. “I can’t believe we have to say this, but in the United States of America, we’re not going to tolerate masked roving militias pretending, pretending to be well-trained law enforcement agents,” she said. NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR TO LAUNCH PORTAL FOR UPLOADING VIDEOS OF ICE TACTICS: ‘THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING’ The law is part of a package that the governor said will “protect people’s privacy and their rights” and “strengthen trust between law enforcement and our communities.” Democrats in Congress and in various state legislatures have sought for months to adopt measures that would ban immigration agents from wearing masks to hide their identities, arguing that such legislation is needed to ensure transparency. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, also signed a law earlier this month limiting face coverings for ICE agents. The Department of Homeland Security has criticized efforts to unmask ICE agents, including calling the new Washington state measure “irresponsible, reckless and dangerous.” BOSTON’S WU ORDERS RELEASE OF ICE SURVEILLANCE AND BODY CAM FOOTAGE, SAYS FED GOVERNMENT ‘HIDES BEHIND MASKS’ “To be crystal clear: we will not abide by this unconstitutional ban,” the department said at the time. Sherrill’s signature on Wednesday comes as she continues to target the Trump administration’s immigration raids. Earlier this year, she announced a portal to allow residents to upload photos and videos of ICE agents conducting immigration operations. “If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out, we want to know,” Sherrill said at the time. “They have not been forthcoming. They will pick people up, they will not tell us who they are, they will not tell us if they’re here legally, they won’t check. They’ll pick up American citizens. They picked up a five-year-old child. We want documentation, and we are going to make sure we get it.” “We saw people in the street with masks and no insignia. So not accountable at all, hiding from the population — and we saw again and again an undermining of what law enforcement should do to keep people safe,” she added. The Trump administration is also suing New Jersey over Sherrill’s executive order last month that prohibits federal immigration agents from making arrests in nonpublic areas of state property, including correctional facilities and courthouses. The order also blocks the use of state property as a staging or processing area for immigration enforcement. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump admin makes new criminal referrals to DOJ targeting New York AG Letitia James
The Trump administration has made new criminal referrals to the Department of Justice targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James, Fox News has confirmed. The referrals, submitted by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, allege potential insurance fraud tied to properties linked to James and have been sent to U.S. attorneys in Florida and, reportedly, Illinois for review. “The Department of Justice can confirm that referrals were received by our U.S. Attorney Offices,” a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News. One of the referrals obtained by Fox News alleged “suspected homeowners insurance fraud.” WATCHDOG GROUP HITS LETITIA JAMES WITH BAR COMPLAINT AFTER FEDERAL JUDGE TOSSES CASE The criminal referral was transmitted to Jason Quinones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, who will determine whether to move forward with a prosecution. His office would then need to seek a grand jury indictment. The referral comes after bank fraud charges against James were dismissed late last year by a Clinton-appointed judge, and a grand jury in Virginia later refused to re-indict her. The judge threw out the indictments against James and former FBI Director James Comey after finding they were illegitimate because they were brought by an unqualified U.S. attorney. FEDERAL JUDGE HITS DOJ FOR ‘INDICT FIRST, INVESTIGATE LATER’ APPROACH IN COURT HEARING In one of the criminal referrals, Pulte said it appears that James “may have falsified information on her homeowners insurance application” to a Fort Lauderdale-based company, Universal Property Insurance. The referral cites social media posts from Mike Davis, a longtime attorney and ally to President Donald Trump. Pulte stated that based on the post from Davis, the New York attorney general “may have made false representations that her property would be unoccupied five months out of the year.” According to the post, that information may be false, Pulte said. “The house was, in fact, occupied year-round by her niece,” he continued. “As such, it appears Ms. James may have defrauded the Florida-based insurance company,” Pulte added. Fox News Digital has reached out to James’ office and her attorney for comment.