BSF Jawan, who accidentally crossed Indo-Pak border, detained by Pak rangers
A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, who accidentally crossed the Indo-Pak border located in Punjab’s Firozpur district, has been caught by Pak rangers.
Harvard’s endowment holds $7 million per student, still receives $550M from govt annually: report
FIRST ON FOX: Amid Harvard’s battle with the Trump administration, which has already pulled billions in federal funding from the university and floated taking even more, fiscal watchdog OpenTheBooks decided to take a peek at how much money the top-tier Ivy League school actually stands to lose. Harvard has received at least $4.4 billion in federal funding through grants, contracts, sub-grants and subcontracts since the first Trump administration in 2017, the watchdog found through open-source analysis of government spending records and other publicly available data. Meanwhile, based on these numbers, Harvard collected more in federal grants and contracts than they stood to gain through tuition, room and board in any given year. OpenTheBooks also unearthed that Harvard’s $53.2 billion endowment has grown by $14 billion, or $2 billion annually, since 2018. In total, the top-tier Ivy League school has more than $7 million per undergraduate student, the watchdog’s report indicated. TRUMP FROZE FUNDING FOR HARVARD. MONEY TO THESE UNIVERSITIES MAY ALSO BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK The analysis of Harvard’s finances from OpenTheBooks comes as the institution is suing the Trump administration over the freezing of its federal funds. After refusing to comply with President Trump’s executive directives on antisemitism, DEI, viewpoint diversity and more, the Trump administration pulled $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year government contracts. The Trump administration has indicated the potential for further cuts as well if the school does not fold to the president’s demands, and is also considering stripping Harvard’s tax-exempt status. TRUMP SIGNS EDUCATION-FOCUSED EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON AI, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, ACCREDITATION, FOREIGN GIFTS AND MORE Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration sets up a fight over higher education autonomy, with the university alleging in its suits against multiple federal agencies that the Trump administration’s demands infringe on the school’s right to educate and learn free of government coercion. Harvard University did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on this story. “America’s university system is still the envy of the world and maintaining that advantage is a matter of national security,” OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart told Fox News Digital. “Harvard can lead the way in that process by rejecting totalitarian progressive fundamentalism and reviving America’s commitment to classical liberalism, true free speech, true science over ‘the science’ and rigorous, open debate.” GREGG JARRETT: AMERICAN TAXPAYERS ‘SHOULDN’T PAY’ FOR HARVARD’S INDOCTRINATION, ANTISEMITISM In addition to Harvard’s failure to comply with the president’s executive orders, the Trump administration also accused Harvard of failing to report large foreign donations, as required by law, and has opened an investigation into the matter. On Wednesday, the president signed an executive order threatening to cut off federal funding from colleges and universities that fail to disclose their sources of foreign money. Using data that Harvard has reported to the government pertaining to its foreign donations, OpenTheBooks found that, since 2017, Harvard has accepted at least $1.1 billion in gifts or contracts from foreign sources. The top countries contributing to Harvard are England and China, which have each given over $100 billion to Harvard over the last eight years. Per federal law, universities are required to report payments that exceed $250,000 from foreign sources. EVEN BEFORE TRUMP’S ENGAGEMENT, HARVARD UNDERSTOOD IT HAD A REAL PROBLEM ON THE ANTISEMITISM SIDE, EXPERT SAYS “As a private university, they’re free to pursue any topic they like – as long as their campus stays within the confines of the Constitution – but that doesn’t automatically entitle them to our tax money,” Hart added in his comments to Fox News Digital about the Ivy League school’s finances. “Harvard can revive its commitment to academic freedom by explaining why it’s receiving millions from China, and potentially Iran proxies, and why it’s spending tax dollars on far-Left research and race-based identity politics.”
Chicago residents blast a possible Pritzker presidential run: ‘No chance to win’
Chicago residents spoke out Tuesday after reports indicated Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is heavily weighing a potential presidential run. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel empire is considering making a bid for the Democratic nomination in the next presidential election, citing sources from former Barack Obama advisors to local leaders. Residents agreed it seemed Illinois’ 43rd governor would make a play for the Oval Office. But the 60-year-old governor’s reputation among some constituents indicates the billionaire may face backlash from residents that could bleed into the national conversation. CRIME VENEZUELAN MIGRANT ARRESTED IN SANCTUARY CITY FOR 6TH TIME IN 13 MONTHS DAYS AFTER PROSECUTORS DROP CHARGES While crime, homelessness and a number of issues have plagued the city of Chicago and surrounding areas in the state, Pritzker’s sanctuary policies, paired with the influx of migrants during the Biden administration, were a key theme among residents. “A sanctuary city governor who provides more support to migrants than poor Illinois residents in need,” founder of Chicago Community Roundtable and Chicago resident Cata Truss told Fox News Digital. “Do we really want him representing this country?” Chicago, a sanctuary city, became a landing point when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bussed thousands of illegal migrants to the Illinois city after millions poured in at the southern border, and the cost of harboring noncitizens fell to the locals. A February audit by GOP lawmakers in the state unveiled that Illinois taxpayers have shelled out a staggering $1.6 billion to fund healthcare programs for illegal migrants since 2020. DEMOCRATS’ IDENTITY CRISIS: YOUTH REVOLT ROCKS PARTY AFTER TRUMP COMEBACK Pritzker has been called to testify before a May 15 House Oversight Committee hearing to address the shortcomings of the sanctuary state, as first reported by Fox News Digital. Though a major issue, immigration policy was not the only concern residents took up with the potential presidential candidate. “His policies put women and children at risk,” Chicago resident Patricia “P Rae” Easley told Fox News Digital. “He passed a law that states that little girls can get abortions without their parents’ consent, which gives abusers more power and made Illinois the abortion capital of the world.” “[Illinois] has the highest taxes in America, and people are fleeing the state like a sinking ship,” Easley added. There was also worry among residents that the governor may sideline the challenges Illinois faces should his focus be concentrated on running for higher office. CONGRESSWOMAN MARY MILLER CALLS FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO ILLINOIS OVER TRANS ATHLETES IN GIRLS’ SPORTS “I think the sentiment of a lot of people in Illinois and especially Chicago would be that [a presidential run] is very unfortunate,” Chicago pastor Corey Brooks told Fox News Digital. “We have so many issues that need to be focused on, so many problems that need to be focused on. The last thing we need is a governor who’s running for president.” When asked if Pritzker had a shot at the White House, Brooks said there was “no chance to win.” A Pritzker run wouldn’t only shake up the Democrats’ struggle to pin down a presidential candidate, it would also leave the door open for Republicans to have a shot at gaining momentum at the state level. Longtime U.S. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin announced his retirement Tuesday, and with that seat now on the market, an open governor role would shake things up even further. Richard Porter, a former Illinois RNC Committee member and Chicago resident, told Fox News Digital this era could be Republicans’ chance to “break through.” “The entire statewide slate on the Democratic side will be up for grabs, and that creates opportunities for Republicans to break through by riding the growing wave of disgust over failed Democrat policies in Chicago and the state,” Porter told Fox. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Illinois is a center-right state with the most extreme gerrymander in the nation. Republicans have a better shot running for statewide offices because that extreme Democrat gerrymandering isn’t in play,” Porter added. “Durbin is the first domino to fall. More to come – and we will be ready for the break.” Fox News Digital reached out to Pritzker’s office for comment.
Ahead of key Supreme Court arguments, here’s which states have passed school choice measures
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider the establishment of the nation’s first religious charter school next week, a case that could have key implications for school choice across the country. A huge majority of states have implemented some form of school choice in recent years, but only a little more than a dozen have adopted programs that make private school choice universally available to K-12 students. Here is the full list and a timeline of the school choice movement in recent years. TENNESSEE AG OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SCOTUS CASE AFTER ‘RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY’ REVERSAL IN LOWER COURT Alabama passed its CHOOSE Act in 2024, which establishes an education savings account (ESA) that will soon be open to all families in the state. Arizona became the first state to offer universal school choice for all families in 2022, launching an $800 million program that gives parents $7,000 to put toward their children’s tuition. Arkansas’s S.B. 294 established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. Florida’s H.B. 1, passed in 2023, established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. Idaho launched its first private school choice program through a refundable tax credit. Families can receive up to $5,000 per child for private educational expenses, with $7,500 available for students with disabilities. The program is capped at $50 million annually and prioritizes families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level (about $96,450 for a family of four). SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE IF FAMILIES CAN OPT OUT OF READING LGBTQ BOOKS IN THE CLASSROOM Iowa’s H.F. 68, passed in 2023, established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program grants a voucher to qualifying K-12 students that they can put toward private school tuition. In order to qualify, students must be residents of Indiana and a member of a household that makes an “annual income of not more than 400% of the amount to qualify for the federal free and reduced price lunch program.” Montana has two major school choice programs, but only one of them is universally available. The more restricted program is a standard ESA, but students must have special needs or have some other form of disability in order to qualify. The more expansive program is a statewide tax credit scholarship program that “allows individuals and corporations to claim a 100% tax credit for contributions to approved Student Scholarship Organizations,” according to EdChoice. The average scholarship value for participating students is $2,190. North Carolina has a major voucher program that is available to all students across the state, but is limited by a budget cap. Qualifying students will get an average voucher value of $5,701 to put toward private school tuition costs, transportation, equipment or other costs associated with attending school. After baseline qualifications are met, vouchers are granted based on household income. Ohio’s school choice program awards $6,166 for grades K–8 and $8,408 for grades 9-12 to qualifying students. Students must meet one of a series of qualifications in order to receive the award, and parents must submit their income information. Like Montana, Oklahoma employs a tax credit system to allow for school choice in the state. “The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit provides parents of students in private school with a refundable tax credit ranging from a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $7,500 per child to cover the cost of private school tuition and fees, or it provides parents of students in home school a refundable tax credit of $1,000 to cover the cost of unbundled educational expenses,” according to EdChoice. Tennessee passed the Education Freedom Act of 2025, creating a universal ESA program. Families receive $7,000 per student, which must first be used for tuition but can also cover other educational expenses. The program starts with 20,000 scholarships, with half reserved for students from families earning up to 300% of the free and reduced-price lunch threshold and students with disabilities. If at least 75% of scholarships are awarded, the cap will rise to 25,000 students in 2026. Utah’s H.B. 215, passed in 2023, established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. West Virginia employs an ESA program to allow universal school choice for private schools, and it also has “intra-district and inter-district public school choice via open enrollment,” according to EdChoice. The ESA program grants an average of $4,299 toward private school tuition costs. Wyoming passed HB 199 in 2025, expanding its ESA program by removing income restrictions and making it fully universal starting in 2025-26. Renamed the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship, the program will provide families with $7,000 and be funded through a $30 million appropriation. Participating students must be assessed on academic progress.
What did the Bush administration, 9/11 Commission say about REAL ID legislation?
In the years immediately following 9/11, Republican lawmakers successfully drafted and passed REAL ID legislation that was promoted as a tool to prevent a similar act of terror from unfolding again. Twenty years after President George W. Bush signed the legislation into law, it is set to take effect next month as the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) looks to bolster national security while also further cracking down on crime and illegal immigration in the U.S. Americans will need to obtain a REAL ID, which is a federally-compliant driver’s license or other identification that meets higher standards than state-issued licenses, in order to easily travel by air, DHS explains on its website. Only legal U.S. citizens or residents can obtain an identification card, while valid U.S. passports can also still be used instead of a REAL ID for domestic air travel. Ahead of the law taking effect on May 7, Fox News Digital took a look back on what top Republicans in 2005 had to say about the legislation and its passage — including the 9/11 Commission’s support of heightening standards for government-issued IDs. BLUE STATES RALLIED FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO OBTAIN DRIVER’S LICENSES AHEAD OF TRUMP’S REAL ID CRACKDOWN Former Wisconsin Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, while serving as House Judiciary Committee chair, introduced the REAL ID Act of 2005 in January of that year as an additional security measure to prevent “terrorist entry” to the U.S. Terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks used phony driver’s licenses to enroll in flight classes and board the planes on Sept. 11, 2001, according to the 9/11 Commission’s report. Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office has previously reported that “18 of the 19 hijackers had acquired some form of fraudulent ID, including 30 driver’s licenses from various states.” HOUSE REPUBLICAN’S BILL WOULD RIP FEDERAL FUNDS FROM STATES THAT GIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DRIVER’S LICENSES The REAL ID Act of 2005 passed both chambers of Congress in May of that year, with Bush signing it into law on May 11, 2005. The House passed the legislation by a 368-58 vote, while the Senate unanimously passed it. The legislation received widespread support from lawmakers, most notably Republicans, who controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House at the time. This was after the 9/11 Commission recommended the government set standards for forms of government-issued identification, such as driver’s licenses. “The federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” the commissioners wrote in their report, which was published in 2004. “Fraud in identification documents is no longer just a problem of theft. At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists.” PANDEMIC, PRICE TAGS AND PRIVACY CONCERNS: WHY IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO IMPLEMENT REAL ID The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States — better known as the 9/11 Commission — was established in 2002 to investigate the terror attacks on Sept. 11, including how to prevent such a tragedy in the future. The commission dissolved in 2004 after publishing its final report that year. The Bush administration was also supportive of the legislation ahead of its passage, arguing it would further protect the country against acts of terror. “The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 418, to strengthen the ability of the United States to protect against terrorist entry into and activities within the United States. In particular, the legislation tightens procedures for non-citizen entry into and presence in the United States, facilitates the building of physical barriers where appropriate to protect U.S. borders, and facilitates the strengthening by the States of the standards for the security and integrity of drivers’ licenses,” a Bush administration statement published on Feb. 9, 2005 stated. Sensenbrenner celebrated that the REAL ID Act would prevent terrorists from “hiding in plain sight” while on U.S. soil. ‘MASS SURVEILLANCE’: CONSERVATIVES SOUND ALARM OVER TRUMP ADMIN’S REAL ID ROLLOUT “By targeting terrorist travel, the REAL ID will assist in our War on Terror efforts to disrupt terrorist operations and help secure our borders,” Sensenbrenner said in a statement following its passage in Congress. Activist groups at the time of its passage railed against the legislation as an attack on immigrants and promoting “post-9/11 xenophobia,” NBC News reported at the time. Fox News Digital reached out to Bush’s office for comment on the measure and his support for the legislation in 2005, but did not immediately receive a response. Twenty years later, the Trump administration’s DHS is implementing REAL IDs after decades of setbacks, including some states initially refusing to comply, and delays during the coronavirus pandemic. “Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government ‘set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.’ The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards,” DHS states on its website, alongside a countdown clock to May 7. A DHS memo exclusively obtained by Fox Digital on April 15 outlined that part of the motivation for the Trump administration to enforce the REAL ID law is to prevent those in the country illegally from flying — unless they are looking to self-deport on an international flight. TOP TRUMP AGENCY REVEALS KEY REASON WHY REAL ID WILL BE ENFORCED “Under Biden, illegal aliens used non-compliant IDs from sanctuary cities to board flights, but REAL ID’s higher security standards make it nearly impossible to forge legitimate documents, ensuring only verified travelers can fly,” the memo states. “This closes the gaping vulnerabilities Biden’s policies created, preventing criminals and potential terrorists from exploiting our aviation system, as seen during 9/11 when fraudulent IDs enabled attacks,” the
‘India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers’: PM Modi’s rare English speech in Bihar’s Madhubani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has often spoken in Hindi even in international fora, made a rare switch to English in Bihar’s Madhubani to deliver a strong message to the world against terrorism.
Pahalgam attack: India suspends visa services to Pakistanis with immediate effect
All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025, MEA said.
Locals hail government’s decision to suspend Indus water treaty: ‘We give them water and they shed our blood’
In a significant development, the recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in wake of the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, has been met with widespread approval among locals and tourists visiting the Chenab River at the valley.
Top Dem denies ignoring constituent abducted by Maduro after being lambasted for Abrego Garcia advocacy
A top Democrat refuted claims she ignored correspondence from a constituent whose son was abducted by Venezuela’s military while she was publicly advocating for Salvadoran deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. — who, until Republicans retook the Senate, was third in line to the presidency — told Fox News Digital through a spokesperson on Monday they have no record of correspondence from Scott St. Clair asking for help for his imprisoned son. “Our office has no record of an inquiry from the St. Clair family; however, our staff is ready and willing to help support the return of Joseph however possible,” the Murray spokesperson said, after Fox News Digital asked about comments from St. Clair to KTTH radio host Jason Rantz, wherein the father said he received “nothing” in response from Murray. “We’ll be working to get in touch with the family directly,” the Murray spokesperson said, adding constituent service is a “top priority.” PATTY MURRAY WENT FROM A MOM IN TENNIS SHOES TO SECOND-IN-LINE FOR THE PRESIDENCY Joseph St. Clair, a four-tour Afghanistan War veteran from Hansville, Washington, first went missing in November while getting PTSD treatment in Colombia. In February, his father got a call from the Colombian consulate telling him neighboring Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s regime had taken him hostage. As for her Abrego Garcia advocacy, her office said Murray “is also committed to protecting the fundamental right to due process in America — and will not shy away from condemning the Trump administration’s dangerous efforts to undermine the rule of law.” On Thursday, Murray retweeted Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s, D-Md., photo with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, writing, “We’re with you, Senator Van Hollen.” “In America, we don’t send people to foreign prisons for life with no trial and no due process. We’ll keep fighting. This is about protecting our democracy,” she continued. She also released a video saying the Trump administration “abruptly ripped Garcia off the streets.” “They admitted that this deportation was a mistake. Now the president is trying to pretend that he has no power to bring him back from one of the most horrific prisons in the world. This is un-American. It is immoral. It is illegal. And it needs to stop,” Murray said. VENEZUELAN OPPO LEADER JOINS CUBAN-BORN GOP LAWMAKER PRAISING TRUMP FOR CANCELING BIDEN-MADURO OIL DEAL Rantz lambasted Murray’s tweet, saying that while she “pretends to care about an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, she’s ignoring the father of an American USAF vet who was kidnapped by the Maduro regime in Venezuela.” Another Seattle figure, Discovery Institute’s Jonathan Choe, recounted Murray’s comments on Abrego Garcia, and then the plight of the St. Claires, remarking on X, “Make it make sense.” Several other people slammed the senator on X over the situation, while a hostage aid group reprinted part of Rantz’s report on the matter. Scott St. Clair told Rantz that his son was held alongside several other Americans whom President Donald Trump envoy Ric Grenell was able to bring home during a Jan. 31 meeting with Maduro. Joseph St. Clair’s military credentials originally drew the Venezuelans’ attention, his father said. Another Trump envoy, Adam Boehler, reached out to the family to assist them, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially designated Joseph St. Clair “wrongfully detained.” Rantz shared apparent screenshots of Scott St. Clair’s purported attempts to contact Murray, before “a senator from another state would agree to intervene.” That lawmaker turned out to be Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., to whom Fox News Digital reached out for comment. Scott St. Clair appeared to reach out to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., by email, and Murray via Twitter direct message on March 23 after Rubio officially designated his son captive. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In one email from February shared with Rantz, Scott St. Clair wrote that “as a matter of record” he also sent a letter to Murray “via web form” and appeared to include text of the letter in a prior reply that was partially hidden. He also shared a screenshot of his X direct message to Murray where he shared a “Bring Joe Home” graphic and the message: “I am a Washingtonian and need advocacy to secure the release of our son from captivity in Venezuela. I sent your office an email and received no reply.” Scott St. Clair said he received some response from Cantwell but ultimately pivoted to Schmitt. “We need all the help we can get. Congress needs to demand that Maduro release our citizens held hostage as political pawns,” he wrote to Murray, according to one screenshot viewed by Fox News Digital. “We do not have our state’s backing from congressmen or senators,” Joseph’s mother Patty added in a Monday night interview on “Fox News @ Night.” “Thank God we do have some senators stepping up from other states to help us, but nothing at all from ours.” “We would welcome [Murray’s] advocacy, yes, but I don’t think it’s coming,” Scott St. Clair added.
GOP talks on millionaire tax hike come from party’s populist streak, strategists say
An aversion to tax increases has long been one of the Republican Party’s core pillars, but tradition was upended in recent weeks as discussions of a potential new millionaires’ tax hike hit Capitol Hill. It’s baffled some members of the GOP’s old guard, though Republican operatives who spoke with Fox News Digital were less surprised. They said those conversations were largely ushered in by the party’s growing populist wing. “I’m not sure if I’m surprised anymore, because the party has changed so much in just a short period of time. But it is noteworthy,” longtime GOP strategist Doug Heye told Fox News Digital. Heye recalled his time as a senior House leadership aide in 2012, when a Republican proposal for a uniform tax rate for people making under $1 million per year was blown up “by a rebellion within our own ranks” over raising taxes. WHITE HOUSE QUIETLY FLOATS MILLIONAIRE TAX HIKE PROPOSAL IN CONGRESS AS GOP LEADERS SIGNAL OPPOSITION “It all exploded in our faces,” he said. “And now this is what more and more of those Republicans who rejected the idea in 2012 want to do.” Sources told Fox News Digital this month that the White House was socializing a plan among Republicans to create a new 40% tax bracket for people making more than $1 million. Various reported plans floated among House Republicans included raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy to rates between 38% and 40%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been seeking to quash that this week, even posting a purported message from President Donald Trump himself on X that said, “If you can do without it, you’re probably better off trying to do so.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Wednesday morning for comment on Gingrich’s note, including the context of the message and why Trump described that he would “love” increasing taxes, but did not receive a reply. The top income tax rate is currently about 37% on $609,351 in earnings for a single person or $731,201 for married couples. It was lowered from just over 39% by Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “The politics are good for raising taxes on wealthy Americans,” said John Feehery, a partner at EFB Advocacy and veteran of House GOP leadership staff. “The downside is it does have an impact on economic growth. So if you want the cheap political score, that’s the way to go. On the other hand, if you want a solid economy where people are working, you want to be careful on how you do that.” Asked if the discussions caught him off guard, Feehery said, “I’m not surprised by it because Trump is such a populist, and he has a lot of folks who are populist.” He signaled the appeal of higher taxes for the wealthy was born from that shift. “If you look at the constituencies, the biggest constituency, it’s really interesting because the parties have kind of changed,” he continued. “It used to be the country-club Republicans and working-class Democrats; now it’s working-class Republicans and country-club Democrats.” Heye said when asked about the increase in tax hike talks, “I think it’s a mixture of Trump and populism.” “Raising taxes used to be an anathema to Republicans, and you know, when George Bush did it after saying ‘Read my lips,’ that was the beginning of the end of his presidency,” Heye said. “That world just doesn’t exist anymore.” House GOP leaders have publicly made clear that they’re opposed to raising taxes on anyone. But Republicans must find a way to pass Trump’s budget, including new tax policies eliminating duties on tipped and overtime wages, while meeting conservatives’ demand to cut at least $1.5 trillion in government spending to make up for it. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., previously signaled that he is open to the idea if spending cuts can’t be reached by other means. “What I’d like to do is, I’d actually like to find spending reductions elsewhere in the budget, but if we can’t get enough spending reductions, we’re going to have to pay for our tax cuts,” Harris told “Mornings with Maria” on FOX Business last week. SCOOP: PENCE URGES REPUBLICANS TO HOLD THE LINE ON TAX HIKES FOR THE RICH AS TRUMP WEIGHS OPTIONS “Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the highest tax bracket was 39.6%; it was less than $1 million. Ideally, what we could do – again, if we can’t find spending reductions – we say, ‘OK, let’s restore that higher bracket, let’s set it at maybe $2 million income and above’ to help pay for the rest of the president’s agenda.” Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., similarly floated raising the top tax bracket to 38.6%. He later told Fox News Digital in a statement, “I believe we must help the president deliver on his promise of a tax and regulatory plan that supports pro-American economic and manufacturing growth, and delivers for the vast majority of Americans – while creating savings and promoting fiscal responsibility. Any adjustments in taxes to accomplish these goals should be considered.” Both Meuser and Harris declined to provide more comment for this story. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who refers to the 2017 tax cuts as the “Trump-Pence tax cuts,” last week urged House Republicans to stand firm against raising taxes on the country’s top earners and to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent. One House GOP lawmaker told Fox News Digital last week that reaction among their colleagues to possible tax hikes was “mixed.” But a former Republican member was skeptical on Wednesday. “Raising taxes is a short-term high, which ultimately does more harm than good,” the former House Republican said. “This strategy is contrary to conservative values.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Meanwhile, Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said it was “healthy” that lawmakers are entertaining fiscal ideas outside their party norms. He was wary about the push for