GOP lawmakers move to roll back Biden-era energy programs
Lawmakers on Tuesday approved portions of a bill that would massively roll back Biden-era energy programs. The House Energy and Commerce Committee met to discuss the Republican-backed legislation that would initiate billions of dollars in spending cuts. The money would come from unspent funds from the Democrats’ 2022 climate law, Politico reported. NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS: ALASKA’S ENERGY, SECURITY POLICIES ARE THE GUIDE FEDS NEEDS AMID TRANSITION, GROUP SAYS Democrats pushed back on provisions they said would raise energy prices by repealing Inflation Reduction Act programs and allow heavy polluting industries to skip portions of the federal permitting process, the news outlet reported. “We’re considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers and elevates expensive, outdated and inefficient sources like coal over cheap, American-made energy like solar, wind and storage,” said Democratic California Rep. Scott Peters. BIDEN GREEN ENERGY PROJECT HALTED BY TRUMP ADMIN RELIED ON RUSHED, BAD SCIENCE, STUDY FINDS On Sunday, House lawmakers laid out plans to phase out key clean energy tax credits, slashing billions in spending related to electric vehicles and renewable energy and fast-track gas exports as part of a GOP push to pass a multitrillion-dollar budget to carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda, Reuters reported. The bill would repeal Environmental Protection Agency rules, including one that would slash allowed emissions for light- and medium-duty vehicles starting with 2027 models. Also included are measures to speed permitting for liquified natural gas exports and directing $2 billion for the Energy Department to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Four months into Trump’s second term, Democrats remain deeply pessimistic about their party
Democrats remain pessimistic about the future of their party, six months after they suffered setbacks up and down the ballot at the hands of now-President Donald Trump and Republicans. That’s a key finding in a newly released national poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. According to the survey, only about one-third of Democrats are very or somewhat optimistic about the future of the Democratic Party. That’s a steep decline from last July, when around six in 10 Democrats said they were optimistic. The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since last November’s elections, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. And Republicans made gains among Black and Hispanic voters as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party’s base. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING The survey, conducted May 1-5, points to an increase in optimism among Republicans, with 55% more optimistic about the future of the GOP, up from 47% last summer. Since Trump’s return to power, an increasingly energized base of Democrats is urging party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against the president’s sweeping and controversial agenda during the opening months of his second administration. And their anger is directed not only at Republicans but also at Democrats they feel aren’t vocal enough in their opposition to Trump. And that’s fueled the plunge in the Democratic Party’s favorable ratings, which have hit all-time lows in several new polls so far this year. According to the AP-NORC survey, only around a third of all respondents have a positive view of the party. The GOP didn’t fare much better, with only around four in 10 adults holding a favorable view of the Republican Party. KAMALA HARRIS TAKES NEXT STEP IN RETURN TO POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT Some top Democrats were sampled in the poll. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the longtime progressive champion and 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential nomination runner-up, was viewed positively by roughly four in 10 Americans. But around three-quarters of self-described Democrats questioned held a favorable view of Sanders. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the progressive firebrand who has teamed up with Sanders this year for a series of large rallies across the country, was viewed positively by only three out of 10 adults. Around half of Democrats held a favorable opinion of the four-term representative, who is seen as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender. There are also suggestions that Ocasio-Cortez may primary challenge longtime Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York when he’s up for re-election in 2028. POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS 15 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND PRESIDENCY Only 21% of adults view Schumer favorably. A third of self-described Democrats said they view him positively, but that’s a dramatic drop from December, when half of Democrats questioned held a favorable opinion of the 74-year-old senator. Many Democrats heavily criticized Schumer earlier this year for his support of a GOP-crafted funding bill that kept the federal government from shutting down. The AP-NORC poll is the latest survey to spell trouble for the Democratic Party. The Democrats’ ratings stood underwater in the most recent Fox News national poll at 41% favorable and 56% unfavorable in a survey conducted April 18-21. That’s an all-time low for the Democrats in Fox News polling. And for the first time in a decade, the party’s standing was lower than that of the GOP, which stood at 44% favorable and 54% unfavorable. The figures were reversed last summer, when Fox News last asked the party favorability question in one of its surveys. The Democratic Party’s favorable ratings were well in negative territory in a Pew Research national survey – 38% favorable, 60% unfavorable – conducted in early April and at 36% favorable, 60% unfavorable in a Wall Street Journal poll in the field a couple of weeks earlier. And national polls conducted in February by Quinnipiac University and March by CNN and by NBC News also indicated the favorable ratings for the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows. But there’s more. Confidence in the Democratic Party’s congressional leadership sunk to an all-time low, according to a Gallup poll conducted early last month. The confidence rating for Democrats’ leadership in Congress stood at 25% in the survey, which was nine points below the previous low of 34% recorded in 2023. And the semi-annual Harvard Youth Poll, which was released late last month, indicated that approval ratings for Democrats in Congress among Americans aged 18-29 nosedived. An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted in mid-April indicated that more respondents trusted Trump (40%) than Democrats in Congress (32%) to handle the nation’s main problems. The results came even as Trump’s approval ratings have slid into negative territory since returning to the White House. And a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted late last month suggested Republicans hold a significant advantage over Democrats on two top issues: the economy and immigration.
Blue state GOP leader reveals who is benefiting after Dems clash with ICE
NEWARK, N.J. – A top Republican official in New Jersey told Fox News Digital that Democrats are putting greater focus on illegal immigrants as opposed to American citizens following Friday’s Delaney Hall incident. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested during a protest last week in front of Delaney Hall, a privately operated Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, while Democratic Reps. Bonnie Coleman Watson, Robert Menendez Jr. and LaMonica McIver were visiting the detention center. Tensions rose significantly, which ultimately led to Baraka’s arrest, and now U.S. Attorney Alina Habba is investigating the incident. Baraka is slated to appear in court on Thursday for his trespassing charge. “I think it’s a very sad event, what happened, you know, the fact that Democrat Congress members, when Washington is in disarray, as well as the mayor of a city like Newark, which is nationally recognized for high crime, for violence, for so many things, that they would take time out of their days, out of their taxpayer-funded salaries, to come here and visit illegal immigrants when they should be focused on American citizens,” New Jersey Republican State Committee Executive Director Kennith Gonzalez told Fox News Digital. WATCH: NEWARK MAYOR COMPARES SELF TO BIBLICAL HERO IN WAKE OF ICE PROTEST ARREST: ‘THIS IS OUR DAVID MOMENT’ “It’s very sad, but it is great for the Republican Party. Simply because the majority of voters here in New Jersey understand that the Democrat Party is not America first, is not New Jersey first, and we have an election this November,” he added. Immigration and border security was one of the top motivating issues for voters last November, and polling indicated support for deportation of illegal immigrants both before the election and into Trump’s presidency. “Last year, we saw President Trump come so close to victory here in New Jersey because the Hispanic community despised Joe Biden’s border policies and his illegal immigration shenanigans, and they voted for President Trump because the Hispanic community, ourselves, wanted stronger borders. We wanted, you know, safer communities,” he said. Trump won nearly 46% of the vote in New Jersey in November despite it not being traditionally considered a swing state. WHO IS THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AT AN ICE DETENTION CENTER? However, he said he would not be surprised if Baraka is the Democratic nominee for governor this November, given his recent arrest, which Democrats have said was the result of instigation from authorities, but federal officials maintain that he was not following the law. Meanwhile, Baraka has held firm in his stance. “When the congressman came to the gate and was like, ‘Mayor, they said they’re going to arrest you.’ That was a David moment,” Baraka said Tuesday. “I could have gotten in the car and ran. I could have said, ‘I’m getting out of here, maybe they’ll arrest me at work or at home or whatever.’ But I froze. I froze – not even actively or deliberately – my body froze. My body – my body froze, like, ‘This is it, you’re supposed to be here. Whatever they going to do, they going to do it.’” Gonzalez said the “theatrics” may play well with primary voters, but it will likely not be appealing to a broader electorate. NEWARK MAYOR ARRESTED AS DEM CONGRESS MEMBERS STORM NEW JERSEY ICE PRISON TO CONDUCT ‘OVERSIGHT VISIT’ “I wouldn’t be surprised if they vote for him in the Democratic primary, and Ras Baraka is the candidate this November. But when it comes to the majority of New Jerseyans, including the Hispanic community, we understand. Illegal immigrants who have committed crimes in these United States do not deserve to be here,” Gonzalez continued. “Mayor Ras Baraka is a candidate for governor, and although it looks now that he’s going to win the Democrat primary based on these liberal radical policies, the voters in November aren’t going to buy him,” he said. Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Business tax breaks closer to reality after Texas Senate approves compromise
The Texas House must approve changes to the proposal that were brokered by party leaders. It’s part of a package of bills to bring down property taxes statewide.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Bondi Backs the Blue
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Pete Buttigieg says Biden running for a second term was ‘maybe’ a mistake –Pope Leo XIV makes first social media post, calling for peace -DHS announces 200% increase in Secret Service applications since President Donald Trump took office The Justice Department (DOJ) is moving funds formerly granted to groups supporting transgender ideology and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to law enforcement, Fox News Digital has confirmed. A Justice Department official told Fox News Digital that the DOJ, under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s watch, will “not waste” funds on DEI. “The Department of Justice under Pam Bondi will not waste discretionary funds on DEI passion projects that do not make Americans safer,” the official told Fox News Digital. “We will use our money to get criminals off the streets, seize drugs, and in some cases, fund programs that deliver a tangible impact for victims of crime.”…READ MORE DOLLAR DIPLOMACY: Trump visits Qatar as country’s jet offer puts spotlight on nation’s growing influence in Washington ‘BLOODTHIRSTY CRIMINAL’: Vance sears US leaders turning cops into ‘enemies’ ‘ANOTHER LEVEL’ OF COOPERATION: Trump signs agreements with Qatar on defense and Boeing purchases ‘LOST HIS CONFIDENCE’: Trump says ‘there’s something wrong’ with top Democrat he’s known ‘a long time’ TENSE TALKS: Trump teases possible appearance at Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as world awaits to see if Putin will show UNDER FIRE: UN revisits ‘killer robot’ regulations as concerns about AI-controlled weapons grow ‘RACIST ATTACKS’: Dem lawmaker seethes RFK’s ‘legitimacy’ as HHS secretary has ‘expired’ in heated exchange REACTOR FACTOR: Republicans urge Trump to follow through on his plan to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities FLYING HIGH: Dems condemn Trump’s jet deal, call $400 million gift ‘unconstitutional’ ‘GROSS VIOLATIONS’: House Republicans take one step closer to banning congressional stock trading ‘WON’T RESPOND’: AOC says DOJ ‘won’t respond’ to her inquiry on potential probe ‘DEFUNCT’: ‘DOGE caucus is dead,’ House Democrat declares TRUMP TRAIN: House GOP moves Trump’s agenda forward after all-night committee debate 2028 SPECULATION: Targeted by Trump, well-known Democrat sparks 2028 speculation with stop in key state FOR SALE: State Department approves sale of $1.4B worth of helicopters, F-16 parts to UAE ahead of Trump’s visit ‘I WANT TO GO FOR JIHAD’: Former Michigan Army National Guard member charged with plotting mass shooting at Army base on behalf of ISIS PRISON TIME?: Milwaukee judge indicted for helping immigrant evade ICE faces up to 6 years in prison Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Swing state judge strikes down 24-hour abortion waiting period as unconstitutional
A Michigan judge ruled on Tuesday that the state’s 24-hour waiting period and informed consent rules restricting abortion were unconstitutional. The waiting period, which allows abortion-seekers to consider their options before the procedure, was voted into the state constitution by Michigan voters in 2022, before being challenged in a 2024 lawsuit filed by abortion rights groups. “The mandatory delay exacerbates the burdens that patients experience seeking abortion care, including by increasing costs, prolonging wait times, increasing the risk that a patient will have to disclose their decision to others, and potentially forcing the patient to forgo a medication abortion for a more invasive procedure,” state Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel wrote in her opinion. SCOOP: REPUBLICANS DISCUSS DEFUNDING ‘BIG ABORTION’ LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN TRUMP AGENDA BILL Patel also ruled it was unconstitutional to ban nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants from performing abortions. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a post on X that she was “overjoyed” with the decision. “I’m overjoyed to say that the Michigan Court of Claims has seen these restrictive provisions for what they are: an unconstitutional overreach that infringes on our constitutional right to make our own reproductive health decisions,” Whitmer wrote. “Today’s ruling reaffirms what we already know: reproductive health decisions belong between a patient and their doctor, not the government. I’m proud to know that this Women’s Health Week, we can celebrate by protecting and expanding women’s fundamental rights and freedoms.” TRUMP FOE LETITIA JAMES LEADING CHARGE ON NEW MULTISTATE LAWSUIT OVER HHS CUTS Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul Long said the intent of the proposal was to grant constitutional protections to “an industry that places itself above the health and safety of women and the lives of pre-born children.” “This decision is a tragic reminder that the normalization of abortion in Michigan exists to the detriment of some 31,000 children every year who will never have the opportunity to experience the gift and blessings of life,” Long wrote in a statement. “Now, more than ever, we encourage others to envision a world where human life at every stage – from conception to a natural end – is truly cherished and protected, where expecting mothers are supported with love and care and have access to maternal needs, regardless of the circumstance of the pregnancy.” ‘GENDER-AFFIRMING’ TREATMENTS DON’T BENEFIT YOUTH, SAYS PEDIATRICIANS GROUP: ‘IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES’ The court upheld a rule that requires abortion providers to screen for signs of coercion. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP If the decision is appealed, the case would be elevated to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
WATCH: RFK Jr Senate hearing disrupted by screaming protesters: ‘RFK kills people with hate’
Angry protesters disrupted a Tuesday hearing on Capitol Hill during which Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified about how the agency’s 2026 budget aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda. Kennedy did not even finish his opening statement when multiple protesters disrupted his testimony, yelling that the HHS secretary is killing people “with hate.” “RFK kills people with hate!” a protester blurted out, startling Kennedy, who quickly turned behind him to see where the commotion was coming from. “RFK kills people with hate!” the chant continued, with more voices joining in. “RFK kills people with hate!” DEM LAWMAKER SEETHES RFK JR’S ‘LEGITIMACY’ AS HHS SECRETARY HAS ‘EXPIRED’ IN HEATED EXCHANGE Multiple people were eventually escorted out of the room, during which the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., paused the hearing. “Members of the audience are reminded disruptions will not be permitted while the committee conducts its business. Capitol Police are asked to remove the individuals from the hearing room,” Cassidy said amid the commotion. “That was a made-for-C-SPAN moment,” Cassidy quipped after things settled down. FDA’S LATEST MAHA MOVE WOULD WIPE OUT KIDS’ FLUORIDE PRESCRIPTIONS AS HEALTH RISK EVIDENCE MOUNTS The Wednesday hearing with the Senate HELP Committee came a few weeks after HHS released its budget for fiscal year 2026. Kennedy was testifying to share how the budget aligns with Trump’s priorities. “When my team and I took the helm at HHS we set out with clear goals,” Kennedy said shortly before he was interrupted. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “First, we aim to make America healthy again with a special focus on the chronic disease epidemic. Second, we committed to delivering more efficient, responsive, and effective service to over 100 million Americans who rely on Medicare, Medicaid and other programs. Third, we focus on achieving these goals by cutting costs for taxpayers and intend to do more – a lot more – with less.”
SCOOP: GOP plans investigation into ICE threats after Dems’ ‘storming’ of facility
FIRST ON FOX: House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is opening an investigation into threats facing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, Fox News Digital was told. It comes as fallout continues over three House Democrats accused of “storming” a detention center in New Jersey. Fox News Digital was told that Jordan is expected to schedule a hearing for next Tuesday, with former ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials expected among the witness panel. The hearing will cover threats against ICE operations, likely including Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey. NEWARK MAYOR ARRESTED AS DEM CONGRESS MEMBERS STORM NEW JERSEY ICE PRISON TO CONDUCT ‘OVERSIGHT VISIT’ It’s also expected to cover the Trump administration’s advancements in cracking down on illegal immigration and threats to national security, Fox News Digital was told. The hearing will likely be led not by Jordan’s full committee, but by the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on oversight – a panel that’s led by Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, where the Delaney Hall incident took place. The planned move is a significant development in the situation led by one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in the House of Representatives. Republicans have been discussing what, if any, consequences could be in store for the three Democratic lawmakers who protested Trump’s immigration policies at the Newark ICE facility late last week. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., Rob Menendez, D-N.J., and LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other protesters outside the detention center, and apparently rushed in when the gates opened to let in a bus carrying detainees inside its walls. Democrats have contended that they had a right to enter the facility as federal officials. But Republicans, including DHS, have accused those Democrats of “storming” in and endangering both law enforcement and detainees in a bid to score political points. Both sides have also accused the other of assault. WHITE HOUSE BLASTS DEMS ‘CROSSING THE LINE’ BY STORMING ICE FACILITY GOP lawmakers and officials have suggested punishments ranging from censure to criminal charges, both of which House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., suggested were a “red line.” Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., introduced a resolution to strip those Democrats of their committees earlier this week. The three Democrats said in a joint statement in response to Carter, “As we all know, Members of Congress have a legal right to conduct oversight at any DHS detention facility without prior notice, and that’s exactly what we were doing last week. This week, we’re back in Washington doing exactly what New Jerseyans sent us here to do: delivering for them.”
Qatar Airways inks 96B Boeing jet deal during Trump visit
State-owned airline Qatar Airways has signed an agreement to buy 210 aircraft from United States manufacturer Boeing, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar as part of his tour of the Gulf region. Trump and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, witnessed the signing ceremony in Doha on Wednesday. The White House said that the deal for the Boeing 777X and 787 planes with GE Aerospace engines was worth $96bn. Trump said Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who signed the deal with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer next to Trump and the emir, told him: “It’s the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing. That’s good.” Trump had initially said that the deal was worth more than $200bn and was for 160 planes, before the White House issued updated numbers after his comments. The White House also said that agreements signed by the US and Qatar would “generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion”. The sale is also a boost for Boeing and its biggest engine supplier at a time when large versions of rival Airbus’ A350, powered by Rolls-Royce engines, have struggled with maintenance problems from operating in the world’s hottest climates, including the Gulf region. Advertisement Boeing shares rose 0.9 percent in New York, while GE Aerospace stock edged up 0.1 percent. For the 787s, Qatar opted for GE Aerospace’s GEnx engines rather than Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000, according to the administration. GE Aerospace’s GE9X is the only engine option for the 777X. It is the largest widebody engine deal for GE Aerospace, the company’s CEO Larry Culp said in a statement. Faisal al-Mudahka, editor-in-chief of the Gulf Times, said the Qatar Airways purchase of Boeing aircraft is a “win-win”. As one of the world’s top airlines with a growing market, Qatar Airways has more demand than supply at the moment and will need the fleet, he said. “I think Donald Trump and Qatar know how to package things to make political gains and economic gains.” Trump’s Qatar visit is the second destination of his Gulf tour, after an initial stop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he made a surprise announcement about lifting sanctions on Syria and then met the country’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Trump is to land on a third and final stop in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for a one-day visit. No mention of Gaza The Qatari emir said the two leaders had a “great” few hours of discussion covering a range of issues. “I think after signing these documents, we are going to another level of relations,” he said. Trump thanked the emir and said it had been a “very interesting couple of hours” discussing topics including the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran and trade relations. However, Israel’s war on Gaza was not mentioned by either leader. Advertisement Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, said the fact that Gaza wasn’t mentioned led him to believe the discussion is “ongoing”. “When it comes to Gaza, you have the Israelis there as well. On the issue of a ceasefire, Trump can put pressure on the Israelis, … but you still have the Israelis there making decisions. This is going to be a little bit more difficult to work out,” he told Al Jazeera. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who was also in Doha, said “we’re making progress” in response to a question by Al Jazeera Diplomatic Editor James Bays on whether discussions on Gaza were ongoing. “His tone was pretty telling. He was very positive,” Bays said. “When I asked him whether that was regarding aid deliveries or a ceasefire, he said, ‘We’re making progress on all fronts.’” “He said he hopes there would be a positive announcement ‘soon’, but we have no indication of what that might mean,” Bays added. Adblock test (Why?)
What does the PKK’s disarming mean for its regional allies?
When Abdullah Ocalan said his Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, should lay down its arms and disband after more than four decades of conflict with the Turkish state and tens of thousands of deaths, there was an instant look across the border to Syria. Syria’s northeast is largely controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led military force Turkiye has repeatedly fought against over the past decade. The SDF is led by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Turkiye views as a “terrorist” group and the Syrian branch of the PKK. The United States, however, has backed the YPG in Syria to fight against ISIL (ISIS). Since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, the SDF has been negotiating with the new Turkish-allied government in Damascus over what its future role in a newly unified Syria and as a military force will be and what kind of governance will extend to the northeast of the country. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan said the group should disband and disarm, ending decades of violence [Umit Bektas/Reuters] No laying down of arms The removal of the PKK from the equation will likely facilitate the SDF’s integration with Damascus, analysts told Al Jazeera. “For the SDF, it makes it much easier to talk with the government in Damascus and also to de-escalate their relations with Turkey,” said Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics based in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. While the SDF rejects Turkiye’s assertions that it is the Syrian arm of the PKK, analysts said the groups have strong links. Advertisement While the PKK’s announcement that it would heed Ocalan’s call and disarm was welcomed by SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, he said his group would not disarm and Ocalan’s decision did not extend to Syria. Ahmed al-Sharaa, right, and SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi sign an agreement, to integrate the SDF into state institutions in Damascus on March 10, 2025 [SANA via AFP] But this could give the group further incentives to bring its fighting force and governing structure – called the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (AANES) – under the umbrella of the new government in Damascus. When reached for comment on Monday, an AANES spokesperson told Al Jazeera: “The autonomous administration is not concerned with the internal affairs of other countries.” The SDF has clashed with Turkish-backed Syrian factions, including in the immediate days after the fall of al-Assad’s regime, and sustained attacks from Turkiye’s air force. In December, the US negotiated a ceasefire between the SDF and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, which has since been incorporated into Syria’s new armed forces. Abdi has been in discussions with the new Syrian government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, over how best to integrate the SDF into the post-Baathist Party security forces and govern Syria’s northeast. Increased pressure to negotiate The SDF has engaged in the talks with the pressure of an impending US troop withdrawal from northeast Syria. Without a US presence and support, the SDF has feared it might be vulnerable to attacks from Turkiye or Turkish-backed factions in Syria. But should the PKK’s decision to disarm bring a feeling of security to Turkiye along its border with Syria, analysts said the relations between the SDF and Turkiye would also likely improve. Advertisement “We know that Turkey’s hardline stance towards the SDF was very much linked to concerns over the PKK and not so much about the SDF being Kurdish-dominated,” Thomas Pierret, a Syria specialist and senior researcher at the Institute of Research and Study on the Arab and Islamic Worlds, told Al Jazeera. SDF members flash victory signs while departing the city of Aleppo on April 9, 2025, as part of an agreement with the Syrian government [Ahmad Fallah/EPA] This is evident by Turkiye’s relations with Masoud Barzani and his Kurdish Democratic Party in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region, Pierret said. Of course, this new reality “doesn’t mean it will be easy”, according to Pierret. Under the agreement between Turkiye and the PKK, some fighters could be relocated to third countries – essentially sent into exile. There’s also the possibility some fighters may decide to make their way to northeast Syria, in which case, Pierret said, Turkiye could see the SDF as a haven for PKK fighters. So Turkiye will keep a close eye on the SDF in Syria and the SDF’s negotiations with Damascus. In the past, the Turkish military has launched drones, fired artillery and carried out air strikes against Kurdish fighters, including the SDF. And analysts said military options may still be on the table going forward. “For now, they seem to be letting negotiations take their course,” Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International with a focus on Syria, told Al Jazeera. “And that’s probably related both to events in Syria but also to the PKK process.” Advertisement Beyond Syria The PKK’s affiliates and allies are spread across regions of the Middle East where Kurds live. Historically, the PKK has operated in Turkiye as well as northern Iraq. And their allies have operated in places where Kurds live in Syria and Iran. Their struggles have often opposed the national authorities in those places or sought self-determination or federalism. One example is the Kurdistan Free Life Party, or PJAK, in Iran, which says its goal is to declare an autonomous Kurdish region in Iran. “It’s unclear what will happen with the … PJAK because they also have a number of Iranian Kurdish fighters inside the PKK,” van Wildenburg said. “It’s possible that they will continue as a political party and not as an armed group because they are already not doing much fighting against the Iranian state anyway.” Analysts agree it is unclear whether the PKK’s allies will follow Ocalan’s lead and lay down their arms or, as is the case with the SDF in Syria, if they will view their own struggles as independent and make decisions on their own. Fighters display the SDF