Trump says he’ll be ‘leading the pack’ to war with Iran if deal prospects whither away
President Donald Trump may prefer a diplomatic solution to stop Iran’s creep toward a nuclear weapon, but claimed he’ll be “leading the pack” to war with the regime if talks falter. “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” he told Time Magazine in an interview published Friday, while claiming that President Joe Biden had allowed Iran to “become rich.” Asked whether he was worried Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might drag him into a war with Iran, Trump said no. “By the way, he may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in.” “You asked if he’d drag me in, like I’d go in unwillingly. No, I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack,” the president explained. FETTERMAN CALLS FOR BOMBING IRANIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES: ‘WASTE THAT S—‘ Trump was asked about reports that he’d stopped Netanyahu from striking Iran after an Oval Office meeting earlier this month. “That’s not right,” he said. “I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack, because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped.” IRAN RAMPS UP STATE EXECUTIONS AMID NUCLEAR TALKS WITH US A team of U.S. officials will meet with Iranian counterparts in Oman on Saturday to continue negotiations aimed at stopping Tehran’s nuclear advancement. Trump has said that his red line is Iran having a nuclear weapon. Enriching uranium well beyond civilian-use levels to 60%, Iran is just shy of the 90% levels needed for a weapon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week Iran could use a specified amount of low-level enriched uranium for civil nuclear programs, but it would have to be imported. During a phone call on Tuesday, Netanyahu told Trump he “does not rule out” a diplomatic approach to Iran, but only one that would “leave no trace” of Iran’s nuclear program, according to Israeli media. Trump is set to travel to the Middle East next month, to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and expressed optimism that he could broker a normalization deal between Israel and the Saudi Kingdom. “I think Saudi Arabia will go into the Abraham Accords,” Trump said. “I think it will be full very quickly.”
Ex-GOP congressman George Santos faces up to 87 months in prison in federal fraud case
Former New York GOP Rep. George Santos faces up to 87 months in prison ahead of his sentencing in federal court Friday in connection with his wire fraud and identity theft case. The 36-year-old former representative served in Congress for close to a year before being ousted in 2023 by his House colleagues. Santos had not yet been convicted of a crime at that point, but had been indicted on 23 counts related to wire fraud, identity theft, falsification of records, credit card fraud and other charges. Santos pleaded guilty to federal fraud and identity theft charges in August as part of a plea deal. He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen individuals to fund his campaign. He further agreed to pay nearly $600,000 in penalties. EX-LAWMAKER GEORGE SANTOS FACES SEVEN-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR FEDERAL FRAUD, IDENTITY THEFT Federal prosecutors are seeking an 87-month custodial sentence, according to court filings. Santos’ legal team had previously asked the court for a two-year sentence in a court filing earlier this month. “I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances,” Santos told the Associated Press Thursday ahead of his sentencing. “I will be in court tomorrow, ready to face the music.” The government submitted a list of Santos’ recent social media posts in an April 17 filing ahead of his sentencing, with prosecutors arguing that “Santos’s recent behavior continues to demonstrate that he remains unrepentant for his crimes.” GEORGE SANTOS ENDS CONGRESSIONAL RUN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS INTO INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN The posts, pulled from his X account, included tweets saying, “No matter how hard the DOJ comes for me, they are mad because they will NEVER break my spirit.” Santos responded to the filing in a letter with the court filed on April 21, writing that he was “profoundly sorry for the criminal conduct” to which he had pleaded guilty and that he believes “that the Department of Justice’s demand for an 87-month sentence, and its effort to weaponize my speech as proof of incorrigibility, is an overreach that I have both a constitutional right and a civic duty to protest.” EX-LAWMAKER GEORGE SANTOS OFFERING CAMEO VIDEOS WITH HIS DRAG QUEEN ALTER EGO “True remorse isn’t mute; it is aware of itself, and it speaks up when the penalty scale jumps into the absurd,” Santos wrote. “This distinction seems lost on the prosecution, who would rather slap a “keep quiet or else” sticker on me and steam-press whatever spirit I’ve got left.” Santos was elected to Congress in 2022 after he flipped a district covering parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP. During his campaign, he made several false claims about his background, including that he had attended New York University and worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis during World War II. Santos attempted to relaunch his political career last year by running as an Independent in a neighboring district to re-enter the House. The Associated Press, Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Ex-GOP congressman George Santos sentenced to 87 months in prison in federal fraud case
Former New York GOP Rep. George Santos was sentenced to 87 months in federal court Friday in connection with his wire fraud and identity theft case. The 36-year-old former representative served in Congress for close to a year before being ousted in 2023 by his House colleagues. Santos had not yet been convicted of a crime at that point, but had been indicted on 23 counts related to wire fraud, identity theft, falsification of records, credit card fraud and other charges. Santos sobbed as he received his sentence, according to the Associated Press. U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert asked Santos during his sentencing, “Where is your remorse? Where do I see it?” EX-LAWMAKER GEORGE SANTOS FACES SEVEN-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR FEDERAL FRAUD, IDENTITY THEFT She continued on to say that he appears to feel that “it’s always someone else’s fault,” according to the outlet. Santos is expected to arrive at prison by July 26th, a source confirmed to Fox News. “Today, George Santos was finally held accountable for the mountain of lies, theft, and fraud he perpetrated,” John Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement released. “For the defendant, it was judgment day, and for his many victims including campaign donors, political parties, government agencies, elected bodies, his own family members, and his constituents, it is justice.” Santos pleaded guilty to federal fraud and identity theft charges in August as part of a plea deal. He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen individuals to fund his campaign. He further agreed to pay nearly $600,000 in penalties. Federal prosecutors were seeking an 87-month custodial sentence, according to court filings. Santos’ legal team had previously asked the court for a two-year sentence in a court filing earlier this month. “I’m doing as well as any human being would be doing given the circumstances,” Santos told the Associated Press Thursday ahead of his sentencing. “I will be in court tomorrow, ready to face the music.” The government submitted a list of Santos’ recent social media posts in an April 17 filing ahead of his sentencing, with prosecutors arguing that “Santos’s recent behavior continues to demonstrate that he remains unrepentant for his crimes.” GEORGE SANTOS ENDS CONGRESSIONAL RUN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS INTO INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN The posts, pulled from his X account, included tweets saying, “No matter how hard the DOJ comes for me, they are mad because they will NEVER break my spirit.” Santos responded to the filing in a letter with the court filed on April 21, writing that he was “profoundly sorry for the criminal conduct” to which he had pleaded guilty and that he believes “that the Department of Justice’s demand for an 87-month sentence, and its effort to weaponize my speech as proof of incorrigibility, is an overreach that I have both a constitutional right and a civic duty to protest.” EX-LAWMAKER GEORGE SANTOS OFFERING CAMEO VIDEOS WITH HIS DRAG QUEEN ALTER EGO “True remorse isn’t mute; it is aware of itself, and it speaks up when the penalty scale jumps into the absurd,” Santos wrote. “This distinction seems lost on the prosecution, who would rather slap a “keep quiet or else” sticker on me and steam-press whatever spirit I’ve got left.” Santos was elected to Congress in 2022 after he flipped a district covering parts of Queens and Long Island for the GOP. During his campaign, he made several false claims about his background, including that he had attended New York University and worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis during World War II. Santos attempted to relaunch his political career last year by running as an Independent in a neighboring district to re-enter the House. The Associated Press, Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Trump says China’s Xi called him amid ongoing confusion over trade talks
Did they or didn’t they? President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he has spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping “many times” but did not say if any of those communications took place since he imposed stiff tariffs on the communist nation. Asked for details about those communications, Trump responded by saying “I’ll let you know at the appropriate time.” TRUMP HINTS AT CUTTING CHINA TARIFFS ‘SUBSTANTIALLY’ FROM 145% Trump’s latest comments, which took place before he boarded Marine One to travel to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral, come after days of back and forth between the countries over whether they are in direct talks about reducing the tariffs – and whether Trump and Xi have spoken directly to one another since the tariffs were rolled out. Trump’s tariffs on China, which have rattled global stock markets and upended supply chains, have ballooned to 145% while China has responded by slapping a 125% tariff on its U.S. imports. In a newly published TIME article published Friday morning, Trump is quoted as saying that Xi personally called him to discuss trade matters. “He’s called. And I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness on his behalf,” Trump is quoted as saying, without providing specifics about the timing or content of the call. When asked what Xi said, Trump sidestepped his response by saying “We all want to make deals. But I am this giant store. It’s a giant, beautiful store, and everybody wants to go shopping there. And on behalf of the American people, I own the store, and I set prices, and I’ll say, if you want to shop here, this is what you have to pay.” CHINA ACCUSES US OF ‘BULLYING’ THE WORLD WITH TARIFFS AT UN MEETING “You have to understand, I’m dealing with all the companies, very friendly countries,” he said, when asked about trade adviser Peter Navarro, saying 90 deals in 90 days is possible. “We’re meeting with China. We’re doing fine with everybody. But ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.” The TIME interview took place on Tuesday, with Trump saying publicly on the same day that things were going “fine with China” and that the final tariff rate on Chinese exports would come down “substantially” from the current 145%. Trump also told reporters earlier in the week that “everything’s active” when asked if he was engaging with China, although his treasury secretary had said there were no formal negotiations. Those comments led to Beijing on Thursday denying any suggestion that it was in active negotiations with the administration. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said during a daily briefing on Thursday that, “For all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal.” “China’s position is consistent, and we are open to consultations and dialogues, but any form of consultations and negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and in an equal manner,” Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said. Asked Thursday about China denying there were any conversations ongoing with the United States, Trump said, “We may reveal it later, but they had meetings this morning, and we’ve been meeting with China,” before adding, “it doesn’t matter who they is.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump said Tuesday that the hefty tax rate of 145% Americans must currently pay for Chinese imports will likely be reduced significantly. While Trump said the rate “won’t be zero,” he expressed optimism over a potential trade deal with China. “One hundred forty-five percent is very high, and it won’t be that high,” Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office. “It will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.” Fox News’ Greg Norman, Bonny Chu and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Kashmiris unite against Pahalgam attack, but will India’s response squander their sympathy?
Protesting against the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 25 Hindu tourists and one local Muslim pony rider were killed, Kashmiris organised protests, candlelight vigils, and shutdowns to mourn victims and condemn the attack.
Texas lawmakers consider barring counties from mailing unsolicited voter registration forms
Voting rights advocates worry that legislation approved by House and Senate committees could make it harder to get more people on the rolls.
Durbin says elderly lawmakers should consider leaving politics ‘before they’re carried out’
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., suggested Thursday that more elderly lawmakers like himself should consider when they might want to exit politics and make way for a younger generation. “If you’re honest about yourself and your reputation, you want to leave when you can still walk out the front door and not be carried out the back door,” Durbin told MSNBC, in a similar tenor to how he addressed his retirement at age 80 in front of his Springfield home later that day. “And I’ve said whatever your interests may be, whatever issue you want to focus on in Congress, in the Senate if you stick around a couple terms, your minor is going to be aging. You can see it. You can observe it.” WHIP WATCH: DICK DURBIN GIVES TEARFUL GOODBYE AS DEM POWER PLAY BEGINS FOR NO 2 SENATE SPOT However, Durbin added that it is up to each lawmaker when it’s best to make the call to step away from the Capitol for good, further suggesting that age can also be just a number. He pointed to how Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who – while three years older than Durbin – continues to draw large crowds, particularly of younger progressive Democrats, at rallies against “oligarchy” and other concerns. Sanders is also reportedly considering re-election in 2030 at age 89, as the Federal Election Commission (FEC) recorded a filing from “Friends of Bernie Sanders” for that cycle. “I think it’s more complex,” Durbin said. “The bottom line is, are you competent? Can you still do the job? That’s the question the voters should ask.” “But should a new generation be interested in public service? You bet.” Speaking about the future of the Democratic Party as the proverbial old guard begins to depart, Durbin was asked about his onetime Illinois delegation colleague Barack Obama, and how he first ushered in a younger demographic in the 2000s to lead the Democratic Party. BIDEN EFFECT HITS THE SENATE: WAVE OF RETIREMENTS CLEARS PATH FOR YOUNGER DEMS “This is a different moment in history than I’ve read about or seen in my lifetime, for sure,” Durbin said. “This is the moment where there’s a threat to the Constitution of the United States and our constitutional democracy. That is fundamental, and it’s in front of every other decision of policy that we might make. We have to get it together. I will plead with my Republican friends. Stand up for the Constitution.” “That to me, I think, just supersedes all conversations about campaigns and even issues.” Durbin’s retirement was said to be somewhat attributed to the “Biden effect,” the recent trend of elderly lawmakers announcing retirements in the month since the octogenarian Delawarean stepped away from his 2024 re-election bid amid intraparty pressure after a disastrous debate with now-President Donald Trump. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Durbin and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., 78; Tina Smith, D-Minn., 67; and Gary Peters, D-Mich., 66, as well as Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., 83, all announced their exits in 2025. “You can see it, you can observe it,” Durbin said in general of politicians’ aging. “And you have to make that choice, that decision. I’ve made mine.”
Infamous late-term abortionist who wrote about ‘dismembering’ babies closes Colorado clinic
Famed late-term abortionist Dr. Warren Hern, long a target of pro-life protests, closed his Boulder clinic this week after 50 years, saying it’s time to pass on the “sacred commitment” of providing safe abortions to others. “It has been a privilege to do this work for almost 55 years,” Hern said in a statement on his website. “It has been a privilege to know the many exceptional people in this field who were and are devoted to the highest standards of medical care for women and who are dedicated to the fundamental principle of reproductive freedom for everyone.” Hern, who has detailed the gruesome procedure of “dismembering” fetuses during third-trimester abortions in his writings, said that although he loves his work, he has “wanted for years to be free from the operating room and the daily cares of a private medical practice.” DEFUND ‘BIG ABORTION’ INDUSTRY THAT THRIVED UNDER BIDEN, 150 PRO-LIFE GROUPS URGE CONGRESS “When I have a patient, I can’t do anything else. Her safety and well-being is my priority. Nothing else matters while her life is at stake,” he wrote. Hern added that performing abortions has given him and his colleagues “great satisfaction and meaning in our lives.” Hern’s clinic, the Boulder Abortion Clinic in Colorado, was one of the few that offered late-term abortions nationwide, even prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Hern would see visitors from all over the country. Colorado is one of nine states that has no restrictions on when abortions can take place in the course of the pregnancy. In his book, “Abortion Practice,” first published in 1984, Hern describes abortions in detail, including how “A long curved Mayo scissors may be necessary to decapitate and dismember the fetus.” DOGE MUST ‘DEFUND’ PLANNED PARENTHOOD, MIKE PENCE’S WATCHDOG GROUP URGES MUSK “The procedure changes significantly at 21 weeks because the fetal tissues become much more cohesive and difficult to dismember,” Hern wrote. “This problem is accentuated by the fact that the fetal pelvis may be as much as 5cm in width. The calvaria [head] is no longer the principal problem; it can be collapsed. Other structures, such as the pelvis, present more difficulty.” Hern has been a dominating voice for late-term abortions since the 1970s. He was featured in prominent media outlets over the decades, including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The Atlantic, among others. Hern also wrote a memoir recently, “Abortion in the Age of Unreason: A Doctor’s Account of Caring for Women Before and After Roe v. Wade.” Hern writes in that memoir about how, in the early days of his clinic, he had to personally prove that abortions were being conducted safely. Following a dilation-and-evacuation procedure, he would have to “empty the cotton sock in the suction bottle of its contents, spread the tissue out on a glass plate, and look at it carefully over a light box” to show that no parts of the baby were left inside the woman, The New Yorker reported in a 2024 profile of Hern. FEDS GAVE $700M TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD DURING YEAR OF RECORD ABORTIONS In his interview with The New Yorker, Hern also said that after the decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, the clinic was flooded with patients – and it would prioritize the late-term pregnancies over the earlier ones. “We couldn’t see patients who were earlier in their pregnancies, because we were just too busy taking care of the more difficult patients. We have seen some earlier patients now, but our special interest is in helping women who are having abortions later in pregnancy because they have the most difficult circumstances. They’re at the end of the line. They can’t find anyone else to do this,” he said. Later in the interview, Hern said, “The basic fact is that if you’re pregnant, you’re at risk of dying from that pregnancy,” and “All abortions are elective, and all abortions are therapeutic.”
Infamous late-term abortionist who wrote about ‘dismembering’ babies closes Colorado clinic
Famed late-term abortionist Dr. Warren Hern, long a target of pro-life protests, closed his Boulder clinic this week after 50 years, saying it’s time to pass on the “sacred commitment” of providing safe abortions to others. “It has been a privilege to do this work for almost 55 years,” Hern said in a statement on his website. “It has been a privilege to know the many exceptional people in this field who were and are devoted to the highest standards of medical care for women and who are dedicated to the fundamental principle of reproductive freedom for everyone.” Hern, who has detailed the gruesome procedure of “dismembering” fetuses during third-trimester abortions in his writings, said that although he loves his work, he has “wanted for years to be free from the operating room and the daily cares of a private medical practice.” DEFUND ‘BIG ABORTION’ INDUSTRY THAT THRIVED UNDER BIDEN, 150 PRO-LIFE GROUPS URGE CONGRESS “When I have a patient, I can’t do anything else. Her safety and well-being is my priority. Nothing else matters while her life is at stake,” he wrote. Hern added that performing abortions has given him and his colleagues “great satisfaction and meaning in our lives.” Hern’s clinic, the Boulder Abortion Clinic in Colorado, was one of the few that offered late-term abortions nationwide, even prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Hern would see visitors from all over the country. Colorado is one of nine states that has no restrictions on when abortions can take place in the course of the pregnancy. In his book, “Abortion Practice,” first published in 1984, Hern describes abortions in detail, including how “A long curved Mayo scissors may be necessary to decapitate and dismember the fetus.” DOGE MUST ‘DEFUND’ PLANNED PARENTHOOD, MIKE PENCE’S WATCHDOG GROUP URGES MUSK “The procedure changes significantly at 21 weeks because the fetal tissues become much more cohesive and difficult to dismember,” Hern wrote. “This problem is accentuated by the fact that the fetal pelvis may be as much as 5cm in width. The calvaria [head] is no longer the principal problem; it can be collapsed. Other structures, such as the pelvis, present more difficulty.” Hern has been a dominating voice for late-term abortions since the 1970s. He was featured in prominent media outlets over the decades, including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The Atlantic, among others. Hern also wrote a memoir recently, “Abortion in the Age of Unreason: A Doctor’s Account of Caring for Women Before and After Roe v. Wade.” Hern writes in that memoir about how, in the early days of his clinic, he had to personally prove that abortions were being conducted safely. Following a dilation-and-evacuation procedure, he would have to “empty the cotton sock in the suction bottle of its contents, spread the tissue out on a glass plate, and look at it carefully over a light box” to show that no parts of the baby were left inside the woman, The New Yorker reported in a 2024 profile of Hern. FEDS GAVE $700M TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD DURING YEAR OF RECORD ABORTIONS In his interview with The New Yorker, Hern also said that after the decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, the clinic was flooded with patients – and it would prioritize the late-term pregnancies over the earlier ones. “We couldn’t see patients who were earlier in their pregnancies, because we were just too busy taking care of the more difficult patients. We have seen some earlier patients now, but our special interest is in helping women who are having abortions later in pregnancy because they have the most difficult circumstances. They’re at the end of the line. They can’t find anyone else to do this,” he said. Later in the interview, Hern said, “The basic fact is that if you’re pregnant, you’re at risk of dying from that pregnancy,” and “All abortions are elective, and all abortions are therapeutic.”
Stacey Abrams considers 3rd run for Georgia governor despite back-to-back defeats
Democrat Stacey Abrams is seriously considering a third-straight run for Georgia governor in 2026, a source familiar confirmed to Fox News Digital. Abrams, a former Democratic Party leader in the Georgia state legislature and a nationally known voting-rights advocate, narrowly lost to now-Gov. Brian Kemp in the 2018 gubernatorial election. She lost the 2022 rematch to Kemp by nearly eight points. Kemp, the popular conservative governor, is term limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026. The Cook Political Report, a top nonpartisan political handicapper, ranked the race to succeed Kemp in the battleground state a “toss up” – teeing up a likely competitive race in the Peach State. Georgia has followed the national trend in the past three presidential elections, all with President Donald Trump at the top of the ticket. While Trump was triumphant in 2016 and 2024, former President Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020. GEORGIA REPUBLICANS DON’T RULE OUT SENATE BIDS AS POPULAR GOP GOVERNOR REMAINS UNDECIDED Republican Attorney General Chris Carr has already announced his gubernatorial campaign in November 2024. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is rumored to be mulling his own bid for the Republican nomination. Campaign filings reported by WABE earlier this year revealed that Jones raised $1.7 million for a leadership committee – about half a million behind Carr. TOP GOP RECRUIT IN CRUCIAL 2026 SENATE RACE HINTS WHEN HE WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT On the Democratic side, Georgia state senator Jason Esteves announced his campaign for governor earlier this week. Rep. Lucy McBath, who had launched an exploratory committee for her own gubernatorial run, announced she was suspending her bid to support her husband, following complications from a cancer diagnosis. Despite two consecutive gubernatorial losses to Kemp, Abrams has remained politically active in Georgia since 2022. In 2023, she was appointed the Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics of Howard University, one of the nation’s leading historically Black colleges. Abrams also served as a senior counsel for Rewiring America, a climate action nonprofit organization. She is the founder of Fair Fight Action, Fair Count and the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP) – organizations focused on voting rights in Georgia, economic power, community building and DEI initiatives. Abrams is an author, having published several novels under a pseudonym. Her most recent book, “Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back,” was published last year. She hosts a weekly podcast, “Assembly Required.” The news that Abrams is considering a third run for governor was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Abrams did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by deadline.