TribCast: Is it high time to regulate or ban THC in Texas?
Will the House agree to ban consumable hemp products? If not, Lt. Gov. Patrick says he’ll THC us in a special session.
SCOOP: Trump ally Donalds showcases campaign cash surge since announcing Florida governor run
EXCLUSIVE – Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has enjoyed a fundraising frenzy since announcing his run for Florida governor in late February, in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds, who has represented Florida’s 19th Congressional District in the southwest part of the state for four years, raised roughly $12 million in the 35 days since he announced his candidacy, according to his political team. The fundraising included $540,000 in hard dollars for his gubernatorial campaign, and around $11.5 million for Friends of Byron Donalds, an aligned super PAC. The contributions for the campaign and the super PAC came from around 4,300 donors. The figures were shared first with Fox News on Tuesday. WHAT BYRON DONALDS TOLD FOX NEWS AS HE KICKED OFF HIS BID FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR Donalds, a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump, announced his candidacy during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” late last month, days after landing the president’s endorsement. “Byron Donalds has hit the ground running with President Trump’s endorsement and has amassed a $12 million war chest since announcing his bid for Governor just 35 days ago. We are grateful to the thousands of donors supporting Byron’s vision for Conservative leadership,” veteran Republican strategist Danielle Alvarez, who is helping Donalds, said in a statement. FIRST ON FOX: LEADING CONSERVATIVE GROUP BACKS DONALDS IN FLORIDA In a Fox News Digital interview on Friday, as he held his campaign kickoff in Bonita Springs, Donalds pledged that “we’re going to campaign hard and we’re going to take this to every part of Florida.” And pointing to the support from Trump, whose immense grip over the GOP is stronger than ever, he emphasized “having his endorsement, it’s a great thing to have, I’m glad I have it.” “And when he makes these choices, they tend to turn out well for his candidates,” Donalds noted. Donalds is currently the only major Republican to date to jump into the race. But Florida first lady Casey DeSantis has acknowledged she is considering a 2026 Republican gubernatorial run of her own, to succeed her husband in Tallahassee. She stoked speculation in February when asked by reporters if she would run. “To quote the late Yogi Berra,” DeSantis said as she reiterated a famous line from the late baseball legend. “If you see a fork in the road, take it.” The governor then quipped to reporters that “you guys can read into that what you will.” RON AND CASEY DESANTIS TEE OFF WITH TRUMP AS FLORIDA GOVERNOR’S RACE HEATS UP When asked last month at the National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, if she might launch a campaign, Casey DeSantis said, “We’ll see.” The governor has repeatedly touted his wife’s accomplishments as Florida first lady and framed her as a worthy successor. And sources confirmed in February to Fox News that the governor has been reaching out to donors on behalf of his wife. Asked about a possible face-off with Casey DeSantis, Donalds told Fox News Digital last week that “races take on a shape of their own, so we’ll see what actually happens.” “My mission is going to be focused on our future and the things that are necessary for Florida to go and to thrive and be prosperous for everybody. So that’s going to be my mission. We’ll see how the race shapes up,” he added. And Donalds said he aims to convey to voters that “I have a vision for their future and I think that when they hear it, they’re going to choose me.”
Vermont lawmaker defends call for ‘picking winners and losers’ as indictment of ‘rigged’ economy toward rich
A Vermont lawmaker stood firm behind comments made during a recent Ways & Means hearing about the government’s role in the economy that drew the attention of state Republicans. “Right now, our system is rigged against working people, our poorest neighbors, and the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said state Rep. Teddy Waszazak, D-Barre. Fox News Digital asked him about comments made during a discussion on property tax brackets and proverbially paying one’s fair share. “I feel very strongly about this — I feel the need to say this,” Waszazak interjected during a committee discussion last week that included a guest witness from the business-centered Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce organization. “The market picks winners and losers — it is the job of the government and tax code to right-size that,” Waszazak said. VT GOP PUSHES FOR PENALTIES AGAINST DEMS ACCUSED OF DISRUPTING ‘DETRANS’ EVENT The chamber official responded by saying that there may be a place for the government to “play referee,” but “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to be picking winners and losers [or] targeting specific classes of payers based off of likes and dislikes… that’s a slippery slope.” Another Democrat on the committee chimed in to say she did not believe Waszazak was seeking to divide taxation based on personal likes and dislikes. Vermont Republicans seized on video clips of the hearing, with Vermont GOP Chairman Paul Dame saying such commentary is par for the course in Montpelier, as talk of government control and “winners and losers” is often associated with socialist political thought. While Gov. Phil Scott is a Republican, the legislature has long been a site where far-left ideas are put to paper, Dame said. “Unfortunately, Representative Waszazak is expressing verbally what so many Vermont Democrats believe and how they’ve legislated,” he said. RNC FILES LAWSUIT OVER NONCITIZEN VOTING RIGHTS IN VERMONT’S LARGEST CITY “They believe it’s their job to tip the scales in the ways they see fit rather than letting Vermonters play on an equal playing field.” In his comments to Fox News Digital, Waszazak reaffirmed his assertion from the hearing, saying that the “rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.” He pointed to the increasing wealth of billionaires Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and Amazon/Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. Citing the discussion in the hearing, which revolved around funding affordable housing and divvying up Vermont breadwinners into as many as nine tax brackets, Waszazak said he would like to see a tax structure where the working-class benefits most. “[I’d like to see] teachers, construction workers, food service workers, truck drivers, veterans, children, and families [be] the winners,” he said. “That’s what I work for every day in Montpelier, and I’m proud of it.” Fox News Digital also reached out to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. — a self-described democratic socialist — for comment on his fellow Vermonter. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Sanders’ official website, a video featuring a then-21-year-old Waszazak showed the future lawmaker saying he believed the American Dream had faded. “I think a lot of my generation is growing up and realizing that this isn’t the country and the economy that we were promised we were going to have. We were just told as children that if you work hard, if you go to school, you will eventually be able to buy a house, have kids, and have whatever job you want to have… And I don’t think that’s true at all today.” On X, formerly Twitter, Waszazak appeared to be taking criticism in stride. When a critic posted the video clip and asked “is this a joke?” the Democrat reposted: “I’m Teddy Waszazak and I approve this message.”
Accused MS-13 leader nabbed by Patel’s FBI to remain in custody for now, judge rules
An accused MS-13 leader will remain in federal custody after a judge found probable cause to support the government’s case against him. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter of the Eastern District of Virginia made the ruling Tuesday during a detention hearing for Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national arrested last week in suburban Virginia. The FBI announced Santos’s arrest on March 27 in Woodbridge, just south of Washington, D.C. He has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The government did not announce any new charges against Santos on Tuesday, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel calling him the top MS-13 leader on the East Coast upon his arrest. Santos, who wore a green jumpsuit during the hearing, was represented by Valencia Roberts, a public defender. The defense was not seeking release. TOP MS-13 LEADER ARRESTED IN VIRGINIA Santos spoke through an interpreter during the hearing and told the judge that he understood that his lawyer was not seeking his release. Government lawyer Alexander Blanchard called ICE agent Jason Klepec to the stand to testify about Santos’ arrest, and establish probable cause that Santos committed the offenses he had been charged with. Blanchard showed government exhibits which contained photos of a Taurus 9 mm handgun that the prosecutor said was found in Santos’ bedroom. Another exhibit included pictures of two suppressors, also known as silencers. Santos’ attorney brought into question one of the suppressors, saying it was actually an Airsoft suppressor, or a BB gun accessory. The ICE agent said the suppressor was in ATF’s possession to be correctly identified. MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE CHARGES ICE AGENT WITH CONTEMPT OF COURT It is unclear when Santos will appear in court again. However, Porter said the matter will go before a grand jury in the following days. Santos’ attorney declined to comment further. Santos’ hearing comes shortly after court documents revealed the Trump administration had sent a Salvadoran man with protected legal status to El Salvador by mistake. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was removed from Maryland when the administration sent three planeloads of Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center” on March 15 for alleged gang affiliations. Vice President JD Vance referenced the court documents in a social media post in response to critics, writing, “you apparently didn’t read he was a convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right to be here.” Bondi, Patel, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove were all present during Santos’ arrest at a nearby tactical operations center. “They executed a clean, safe operation, and the bad guy’s in custody. And thanks to the FBI, we got one of the worst of the worst of the MS-13 off the streets this morning. Virginia and the country is a lot safer today,” Bondi told Fox News after the fact. Authorities found a 9mm handgun, three additional firearms, ammunition and two suppressors in Santos’ bedroom, according to court documents. President Donald Trump applauded the leadership on the operation, writing on social media, “Great job by Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!” Patel echoed Trump’s sentiment, saying, “This is what can happen when you put good cops in good places to take on bad guys. And America should be watching this. And we are proud to be here standing with these brave warriors.” Fox News’ David Spunt, Jake Gibson, and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pokes fun at Trump with official ‘South Park’ portrait in April Fools’ Day post
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis poked fun at President Donald Trump with an April Fools’ Day post seemingly aimed at the commander-in-chief’s anger regarding his official portrait at the state Capitol, which was eventually removed. “No one likes an unflattering photo or painting of themselves, which is why I went in a different direction for my official portrait,” Polis said in a post on X that featured an animated image of himself as a character in “South Park” on his official portrait. Polis, a Democrat, said he supports Colorado art and that “this portrait was an exciting opportunity to do exactly that while embedding my image into the fabric of Colorado’s history.” TRUMP PORTRAIT HE CLAIMED WAS ‘PURPOSEFULLY DISTORTED’ TO BE TAKEN DOWN FROM COLORADO CAPITOL South Park, which revolves around four friends, is set in Colorado. Last month, Trump demanded that his portrait be taken down from the state Capitol in Denver after he harshly criticized the painting and its artist. “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. Last week, state House Democrat said the oil painting, painted by artist Sarah Boardman during Trump’s first term, would be taken down at the request of Republican leaders in the state Legislature. Despite Trump’s criticism of Polis, the Democratic governor wasn’t in office when the portrait was commissioned in 2019. On March 16, Polis shared an image of himself in South Park, along with the comedy duo Terrance and Philip, who are also featured in the show, while touting Colorado’s relationship with Canada. “Our relationship with Canada brings vast benefits to Coloradans—from good-paying jobs to robust trade partnerships, tourists, and even prominent fictional characters in Colorado’s famous show, @SouthPark,” he wrote. “Ike Broflovski, Kyle Broflovski’s adopted brother, is from Canada. Don’t forget the comedy duo Terrance and Philip, beloved by our favorite fourth graders, and don’t “blame Canada!”
HHS downsizing begins amid RFK Jr. ‘Make America Healthy Again’ push: ‘Win-win for taxpayers’
Mass layoffs reportedly began Tuesday in Health and Human Services agencies as part of the department’s “restructuring” to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” as agencies undergo merges and significant downsizing. The restructuring is expected to bring down 82,000 federal health employees to 62,000. The department has been preparing to make major cuts in recent weeks across its health agencies, especially pertaining to administrative costs and DEI-related spending. RFK JR BACKS WV PUSH FOR SNAP WAIVERS, WORK MANDATES UNDER ‘MAHA’ According to the HHS, the layoffs “will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year” and “streamline” functions of the department while ensuring that essential services like Medicare and Medicaid continue without disruption. The announcement of the layoffs came last week. The HHS oversees several major agencies that will likely see some sort of restructuring: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Community Living (ACL), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). “We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer.” HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO The new plan will reduce the number of HHS divisions from 28 to 15. One of the key changes includes the creation of the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), which will combine several agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to “break down artificial divisions between similar programs.” In addition, HHS is reorganizing its regional offices, cutting them down from 10 to 5. Other changes, according to the HHS, include the creation of a new assistant secretary for enforcement to tackle fraud and abuse in federal health programs. Another major focus of the restructuring is addressing America’s growing “epidemic of chronic illness.” The plan focuses on clean food, water, and air, while working to eliminate environmental toxins that contribute to health problems. The CDC will also gain additional authority by absorbing the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which handles national disaster and public health emergencies. “Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants,” Kennedy said. “This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That’s the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again.” TRUMP ADMIN PLANNING TO CONSOLIDATE HIV PROGRAMS, SLASHING ‘OVERHEAD’ AND DEI: OFFICIAL The Associated Press reported Tuesday morning there were hundreds of federal health employees wrapped around the HHS building in two lines to find out whether they still had a job. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf wrote in a LinkedIn Post Tuesday morning that the “FDA as we’ve known it is finished,” adding that “most of the leaders with institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of product development and safety no longer employed.” “I believe that history will see this a huge mistake. I will be fad if I’m proven wrong, but even then there is no good reason to treat people this way. It will be interesting to hear from the new leadership how they plan to put ‘Humpty Dumpty’ back together again,” Califf wrote.
Election Day in Wisconsin, Florida: What to watch as conservatives face a statewide electoral test
Voters in two states are casting general election ballots for the first time since November, when they sent President Donald Trump back to the White House. Wisconsin will choose a new justice on the state Supreme Court, which has a 4-3 liberal-leaning majority. Florida is holding special elections in two deep-red districts last held by Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz. At stake: court decisions over abortion, unions and voting rights in Wisconsin, and the size of the Republican majority in the U.S. House. Democrats have been counting down to this moment. Off-year and special elections are typically low-turnout affairs, which, in the Trump era, has often given Democratic-leaning voters a louder voice. FIRST MAJOR SWING STATE ELECTION OF 2025 TURNS INTO REFRENDUM ON TRUMP, MUSK That could deliver liberals a win and an ongoing majority in Wisconsin, and/or a strong performance in the Florida races. Even so, Republicans are favored to win those two Florida races, and a cash injection from Elon Musk has kept the Wisconsin race competitive. Whatever happens, it is too early to draw conclusions about either party’s long-term prospects. The electorates that decide the midterms and beyond look different and won’t cast ballots for more than a year and a half. WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT REJECTS DEMOCRAT AG’S ATTEMPT TO BLOCK ELON MUSK’S $1M GIVEAWAY TO VOTERS Key race In the state Supreme Court race, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel look to replace outgoing Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, the court’s longest-serving member, who announced last April that she would not seek a fourth 10-year term. Wisconsin Supreme Court seats are officially nonpartisan, but voters as well as the state’s party establishments routinely rally behind certain candidates based on their judicial philosophies and records. Crawford has the backing of Democrats and progressives, including an endorsement this week from former President Barack Obama. Schimel has support from Republicans and conservatives, including Trump and Elon Musk. Why it matters This will be the first indication of the state’s political climate since Trump recaptured the White House. Liberal-leaning justices gained a 4-3 majority on the court in 2023 for the first time in 15 years after Justice Janet Protasiewicz won a seat previously held by a conservative jurist. Bradley’s retirement gives conservatives an opportunity to retake the majority ahead of high-profile cases on abortion, unions and voting rights. Turnout and early voting As of March 1, there were more than 3.8 million active registered voters in Wisconsin. Voters in the state do not register by party. About 1.8 million votes were cast in the 2023 spring election for state Supreme Court. That was 51% of registered voters and roughly 40% of the voting age population at the time. About 25% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day. As of Monday, more than 674,000 ballots had been cast before Election Day. Counties to watch In any statewide election in Wisconsin, Democrats tend to win by large margins in the populous counties of Milwaukee and Dane (home of Madison), while Republicans win by wide margins in the smaller, more rural counties that stretch across most of the state. Republican candidates also tend to rely on strong showings in the WOW counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington in suburban Milwaukee, which help counter Democratic advantages in urban areas. Results Expect first reported results shortly after 9 p.m. ET, when polls close. Election night tabulation ended at 2:30 a.m. ET in the 2023 spring election and at 5:47 a.m. ET in the November general election, both with more than 98% of the total vote counted. Recounts Recounts are not automatic in Wisconsin, but a trailing candidate may request one if the winning vote margin is less than a percentage point. Key races 6th Congressional District The 6th Congressional District sits on the Atlantic Coast and includes Daytona Beach. Republican presidential candidates have carried all six counties in the district for the last four presidential elections. In GOP Rep. Michael Waltz’s old district, the candidates are Republican state Sen. Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil, a public school educator in Osceola County. Fine represents a Brevard County-based state Senate district located outside the boundaries of the Palm Coast-area U.S. House seat he hopes to fill. He won a three-way primary on Jan. 28 with Trump’s endorsement. Trump carried the district in 2024 with 65% of the vote. Waltz received about 67% of the vote in his final House re-election bid. 1st Congressional District The 1st Congressional District borders Alabama on the Gulf Coast in the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle. It is home to both Naval Air Station Pensacola and Eglin Air Force Base. The district is among the most reliably Republican areas of the state. Republican Jimmy Patronis and Democrat Gay Valimont are running to replace Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from the House last year. Patronis is the state’s chief financial officer. He received Trump’s endorsement in a crowded primary. Valimont is a gun control activist. Trump received about 68% of the district vote in 2024, slightly outperforming the 66% Gaetz received in his re-election bid. Why they matter Control of the U.S. House is not at stake, but the outcome of the special elections could give congressional Republicans some breathing room in the narrowly divided chamber. Republicans hold 218 seats, the minimum needed for a majority in a fully seated House. Democrats hold 213 seats, with two additional vacant seats most recently held by Democratic lawmakers. Meanwhile, Democrats hope that strong fundraising in both districts is an indicator the races will be more competitive than they were in the last election just five months ago. Turnout and early voting Voter participation tends to be much higher in presidential general elections than in elections held at other times. As of today, about 205,000 ballots had been cast across the two districts, about 53% from Republicans and about 33% from Democrats. Counties to watch 6th Congressional District Trump and Waltz performed best in Putnam County,
Join us April 22 in Lubbock for a conversation on strengthening maternal health care in Texas
We’ll hear from those on the front lines about how we can work together to improve women’s health outcomes, and why doing so helps everyone
Trump agenda upended after GOP rebellion shuts down House floor
A normally sleepy procedural vote ended in drama for the House of Representatives after a rebellion by Republicans against their own party forced chamber proceedings to grind to a halt. It puts the future in question for two key bills backed by the Trump administration that were slated to get a vote this week. A mechanism known as a “rule vote,” which traditionally falls along party lines and is not an expression of support or opposition to specific legislation, failed on Tuesday when nine Republicans joined Democrats in an extraordinary rebuke of GOP leaders. It comes amid a weekslong battle over the ability to vote remotely for new parents in Congress. It’s an embarrassing setback for House Republican leadership, who put on a full court press for bills that would have limited district judges’ ability to levy nationwide injunctions and would have mandated proof of citizenship to register to vote, respectively. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has been leading a bipartisan push on legislation that would allow new parents in the House to vote remotely for 12 weeks surrounding their child’s birth. She attempted to force the bill onto the floor via a mechanism called a “discharge petition,” which would effectively end-run leaders to hold a House-wide vote on legislation, provided the petition gets support from a simple majority of the House. Lawmakers rarely, if ever, lead discharge petitions against their own party. This story is breaking and will be updated.
Tesla owner confronts Pennsylvania man accused of scratching swastika on SUV
An individual accused of defacing a Tesla with a swastika is facing charges and has reportedly apologized for the “misguided” behavior. Video footage shows the Tesla owner confronting the vandal, according to reports. In the video, the man says he used a crayon, not a key, and apologizes. “I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you,” he said. “Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk.” EXCLUSIVE: GOP FIREBRAND DARES DEMS TO CONDEMN ATTACKS ON ELON MUSK’S TESLA The man described his behavior “misguided.” Reports indicate the suspect is Chadd Ritenbaugh. “My client is a proud father, long-time resident, and is currently undergoing cancer treatment,” Ritenbaugh’s attorney Paul Lang said in a statement. “We will reserve further comment pending the outcome of the case.” In a post on bucks.crimewatchpa.com, the Central Bucks Regional Police Department indicated that after visiting the gym, the “Victim noticed fresh damage to their Tesla that appeared to be scratches in the shape of a swastika, when they arrived home.” TESLA OWNER IN DALLAS SUES VANDAL AFTER MODEL X SLASHED IN AIRPORT PARKING LOT The alleged vandalism was captured by the Tesla. The victim checked the recording and found someone scratching “into the side of the Tesla using an unknown object,” the police department’s post noted. Gym staff identified the suspect with his membership, according to authorities. “The video camera at 0924 hours on March 24, 2025, shows the suspect walking into Planet Fitness wearing the same clothes and carrying the same bag from the Tesla video camera footage. He scans his membership card with front desk staff and proceeds into the gym. Suspect was identified by both his gym membership identification card, and his Pennsylvania Driver’s License photo,” the post states. He faces charges of criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct, according to the department. Fox News Digital reached out to the police department on Tuesday, but no comment had been provided by the time of publication. TESLA CYBERTRUCK MENACE CHARGED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT CRIME CAUGHT ON CAMERA: POLICE CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The incident comes as a rash of Tesla facilities and vehicles have been targeted amid left-wing outrage over Elon Musk’s work to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.