shailender – Page 39 – Texas Weekly Online

Mamdani, Letitia James sue to block Trump admin from refusing immigrants over welfare status

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is suing President Donald Trump’s administration over plans to expand federal authority to deny visa and green card applications based on welfare status. The lawsuit, filed jointly with NY Attorney General Letitia James, targets the Trump administration’s plan to expand the “public charge” rule, which allows the federal government to deny visa applications based on the likelihood that the applicant will receive public benefits. Trump’s administration seeks to expand the list of benefits that apply under the rule, with the change taking effect Sept. 18. “If you are a citizen, or an individual seeking humanitarian relief like asylum, these changes will not affect you,” Mamdani said at a press conference Monday. “The new public charge rule not only sweeps aside more than a century of established law, it is intentionally vague as a means of creating uncertainty and fear to isolate immigrant New Yorkers.” “Make no mistake, this is an undisguised effort to strip New Yorkers of the services they rely on, the public benefits they are entitled to,” he continued. Mamdani claimed that up to 4 million people could be forced to unenroll from their healthcare under the new rule out of fear their immigration applications could be denied. Several major cities and counties across the country are joining New York’s lawsuit, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County, Mamdani said. Meanwhile, James is launching a separate challenge to the rule, leading a coalition of 21 other states and the District of Columbia in asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to block the Trump administration’s rule. “Hardworking families should not be forced to go without the support they need because they fear asking for assistance will get them deported,” James said in a statement. “This rule preys on that fear and counts on families forfeiting the food assistance, health care coverage, and other public benefits to which they are legally entitled. My office fought this exact policy once before and won, and we are leading the nation to ensure the Trump administration cannot inflict this harm on families again,” she added. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.

Libertarian tech mogul to hit DSA with an eight-figure spending nuke

FIRST ON FOX — A wealthy tech investor is committing $40 million to help Republicans stem the tide of the Democratic Socialists of America in state-level races, Fox News Digital has learned. Scott Banister, a libertarian who was an early investor in PayPal, Uber and SpaceX, among others, cut the massive check to Make Liberty Win, a right-of-center political organization. The funding has already been partially deployed in nine states — Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Montana — with plans to expand the push to at least a dozen states. “Self-described socialists are running for office and winning in the Democratic Party, like recently elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani,” a press release obtained by Fox News Digital reads. “Make Liberty Win’s campaign will stem the tide of the far-left by mobilizing student and youth activists to knock on the doors of more than two million voters in key states.” SOCIALIST WINNING STREAK PUTS PRIZED DEMOCRATIC BATTLEGROUND AT RISK AS RADICAL LEFTISTS ADVANCE Banister’s cash injection comes at an opportune time for Republicans. Though Republicans enjoy a comfortable advantage at the national level, the Republican State Leadership Committee, the official GOP committee responsible for making sure the party wins at the state level, projected in late August that Democrats are slated to outspend Republicans in state races by a factor of three to one. Make Liberty Win’s spending could mitigate the liberals’ cash advantage. Democrats have previously disputed claims that their state apparatus is better funded than the GOP’s. NEW MIDTERM BATTLEGROUND TAKES SHAPE AS PARTIES BUILD ELECTION ARMIES Make Liberty Win is a Republican-aligned political organization with a distinctly libertarian bent, supporting a smaller federal government and returning power to state legislatures. It focuses on door knocking and phone banking on behalf of candidates, rather than giving money to them directly. MUSK PICKS HIS FIRST GOP WARRIORS AS A 2026 MONEY SURGE TAKES SHAPE Forty million is a massive amount of money for any level of politics, especially state legislative races. For context, the average U.S. House candidate spent $1.8 million on a campaign in 2024 — and federal races are almost always more expensive than their state equivalents. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The eight-figure spending total represents the floor of what Make Liberty Win could spend on this initiative, as Banister or other donors motivated by his push could tap in to provide even more cash. “Make Liberty Win will execute a comprehensive strategy to counter socialist Democrats and win at the state level, where political movements are built and every American can make a difference,” Make Liberty Win CEO Jeff Frazee said.

El-Sayed’s liberal agenda clashes with Muslim voters who back him anyway: ‘Male version’ of Ilhan Omar

DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, faces a striking disconnect among some Muslim voters who oppose his positions on abortion and LGBTQ issues yet say they plan to vote for him anyway. “He is a Democrat with a Muslim mask,” one attendee of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention, who requested anonymity to avoid social reprisals, told Fox News Digital. “Basically he’s like Ilhan Omar, but like a male version.” He went on to say that, while he takes objection to El-Sayed’s positions on abortion and LGBTQ rights, he “want[s] him to get elected” to improve his community’s “representation.” Fox News Digital was on the ground at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual conference in Detroit over Labor Day weekend, where El-Sayed delivered the marquee speech amid controversy over past remarks by some conference speakers. The episode has added scrutiny to El-Sayed’s ties to the organization and the political coalition surrounding his campaign. ‘DESTROYING THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE’: EL-SAYED’S POLITICAL ORBIT COMPLICATES EFFORT TO MODERATE HIS IMAGE In total, Fox News Digital spoke to about 10 attendees at the conference, some of whom requested anonymity or declined to be recorded but agreed to speak on background. Several described a tension between their personal views on social issues and their support for El-Sayed, particularly on abortion and LGBTQ issues. El-Sayed supports codifying Roe v. Wade into law, funding Planned Parenthood, establishing LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and allowing doctors to perform sex-change operations on children. Islamic theology generally takes a more restrictive view of abortion, gender and sexuality, though interpretations vary among Muslims. Another attendee, a Navy veteran, told Fox News Digital that he strongly opposes El-Sayed’s positions on issues like abortion and LGBTQ sex education, but feels like the Republican Party has let him down following the 2024 election. “I voted for Donald Trump. When it comes to values, I’m a Republican. But unfortunately they have betrayed us,” he said. He pointed to the Trump administration’s involvement in foreign wars and cost-of-living concerns as the issues pushing him to support El-Sayed despite the Democrat’s liberal beliefs. Multiple attendees who spoke to Fox News Digital at the conference, including some who declined to be interviewed on the record, said they voted for Trump in 2024 but were planning on supporting El-Sayed in the midterms. MICHIGAN SENATE RACE: EL-SAYED’S TIES TO EXTREMIST FUEL ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS AMONG JEWISH VOTERS “We’re concerned about where our tax dollars are going to. A lot of these tax dollars are going to support foreign wars, support countries that aren’t the United States,” Zubin, a longtime El-Sayed supporter, told Fox News Digital. “So I think these are the main issues that resonate not just with the Muslim voters but the everyday voter in all of Michigan.” Trump’s support for Israel and his military operations in Iran have become growing points of concern for some voters, with polls showing rising dissatisfaction over U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. Trump did uncharacteristically well for a Republican among Michigan Arab Americans in 2024. If support for the GOP slides heavily with that demographic in November, it could spell trouble for the party’s Senate prospects. Republicans, however, are seeking to pick off disaffected Jewish Democrats to gain an edge themselves. Some attendees who spoke with Fox News Digital were shocked to learn about El-Sayed’s support for abortion and LGBTQ rights. “Wait, he’s supporting LGBTQ?” one conference attendee, who requested to remain anonymous for social reasons, told Fox News Digital. “I don’t really think that’s good, especially because this is Islam and it prohibits LGBTQ and I do really think that people should abandon… abortion since they’re taking a life away.” DETROIT VOTERS CALL ON DEMOCRATS TO UNITE AROUND EL-SAYED AFTER STUNNING VICTORY OF FAR-LEFT PROGRESSIVE The attendee said he believes if El-Sayed’s social views were more widely known in the Islamic community, his support might decline. Others said they believe the importance of social views among Muslims is dependent on generation. “So yes, Abdul El-Sayed, maybe his views when it comes to these things, maybe more similar to mine as compared to our parents, our grandparents, yes, with those generations. There may be a little bit of friction, but this is natural,” Zubin said. “I do think, yes, these are probably going to be talking points within the Muslim community.” Some individuals who spoke to Fox News Digital acknowledged that the Islamic community has some deeply held conservative beliefs, but argued that the community will be able to look past that come November. “He’s gonna be great for education, and he’s gonna be great for medical,” Fauzi, who was attending the conference, told Fox News Digital. “5-10% of the issues, people may differ. But we have to look at the big picture [and] how he can be impactful for the state of Michigan, the country at large, and all of us here.” JEWISH DEM DEFECTIONS THREATEN EL-SAYED IN MICHIGAN SENATE RACE DECIDED BY RAZOR-THIN MARGINS A handful of attendees who spoke with Fox News Digital said their community would be excited if a Muslim Republican ran in their state, while others stressed that the party’s reputation could hamper its ability to appeal to Arab Americans. “Yes, if you’re a good person, a good politician and running for the Republican Party and you believe in your values and that you can do good, go ahead and run, and I’m sure you can win a lot of support from this community as well,” Zubin said. “I think it’s very difficult for a Muslim to run as a Republican because, frankly, a lot of Republican voters do tend to have a strong bias against us,” another attendee, who requested to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital. The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

Unearthed clip shows Talarico calling parents ‘abusive’ for denying children’s gender identity

James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, once described parents who refused to acknowledge their children’s gender identity as potentially engaging in “abusive” behavior. “I think there are some folks that would think that if you deny your child’s gender identity, that’s incredibly harmful. And whether or not we label it with the term abuse, it’s abusive for sure,” Talarico said while speaking at a committee hearing in the Texas Legislature in 2019. Talarico’s resurfaced comments add to a growing pile of past remarks that cut against his efforts to paint himself as a moderate on issues like gender, policing and border security as he attempts to win over Texas, a historically Republican-leaning state. TALARICO SAYS HE ‘MISSED THE MARK’ AS HE BACKTRACKS ON CONTROVERSIAL WOKE STATEMENTS In the clip, Talarico had been speaking about HB 1910. The legislation aimed to ensure that parents who refused to affirm their child’s gender identity would not be considered guilty of child abuse in cases deciding custody. “In determining whether to appoint a party as a sole or joint managing conservator of a child, the court may not consider evidence regarding whether the party demonstrates a history or pattern of acknowledging or declining to acknowledge the child’s gender identity or expression,” its text read. Talarico opposed the bill, arguing that he would not rule out an overlap: that, in some cases, the lack of acknowledgment could border on abuse. “My concern is ruling it out as not being abuse, I think, is dangerous and could certainly harm some of our most vulnerable kids in the state.” TALARICO CAMPAIGNS WITH SURGEON WHO OPERATED ON TRANSGENDER MINORS: ‘WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING’ “Some of us I think really do consider this abusive behavior… an unwillingness to identify, acknowledge a child’s gender identity. We consider that abusive to the child, abusive and destructive,” Talarico said. At least one Republican slammed Talarico’s stance. “Only perverts and pedophiles think about what is in little kids’ pants as much as James Talafreako. He is a truly sick individual for dedicating his life to pushing sex changes on other people’s kids,” Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC), said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Although that version of the bill died in committee, a later, stronger version of it eventually passed out of the Texas House in May 2025 and became law. EXCLUSIVE: HOUSE COMMITTEE PROBES CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER HIDING ‘GENDER AFFIRMATION’ FROM PARENTS Talarico also opposed that version — one of 59 nay votes on the matter. Notably, Talarico also voted in favor of an amendment to sunset the law in 2030 and in support of a separate amendment clarifying that, in the words of its author, “rejecting a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation is abuse” and “should be treated as such under Texas law.” When asked about the bill and his statements in committee, the Talarico campaign said he supported and respected parental decisions about their children. “James believes parents have the most important say in decisions about their children, which is why he sponsored a bill to protect parental rights and ensure parents are responsible for the upbringing of their own kids. While James has fought for Texas parents and families, Ken Paxton has endangered them by allowing pedophiles back on our streets,” JT Ennis, a spokesperson for the Talarico campaign, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

DSA-backed candidates are winning primaries and their vision for America is very different

The Democratic Socialists of America is seeking to reshape some of the most basic features of the U.S. economy — from who owns major corporations to how long Americans work and whether families pay for healthcare, college and housing. The agenda is drawing renewed scrutiny after DSA-backed candidates gained ground in the 2026 midterm primaries and progressive socialism became a central Republican target at the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. Below are some of the biggest economic proposals in the platform. DSA calls for public ownership of major corporations and essential industries, arguing public ownership would give Americans greater democratic control over the economy. Adam Lehodey, a policy expert at the Manhattan Institute, said nationalizing major corporations would cost billions of dollars and shift accountability from customers to government officials. ‘WASTEFUL DISTRACTION’: EXPERTS SLAM MAMDANI’S TAXPAYER-FUNDED STORES He argued nationalized industries have historically suffered from waste, corruption and lower productivity, adding that reducing regulations would be a better way to encourage competition. DSA also wants to establish a 32-hour workweek without reducing workers’ pay or benefits, effectively giving full-time employees an additional day away from work while preserving their compensation. The proposal is paired with a living minimum wage, paid family leave and stronger protections for workers to form unions and strike. TRUMP DANGLES $5,000 CHECKS AS DEBT SURGES — BUT ONLY IF GOP CAN CLEAR MAJOR MIDTERM HURDLE The agenda does not explain how a shorter workweek would be implemented across industries or how businesses would be expected to absorb the additional labor costs. Lehodey said a 32-hour workweek without higher productivity could increase labor costs and reduce economic output. Among DSA’s biggest proposals are universal healthcare, publicly owned social housing, free public education through college and cancellation of all student debt. Together, the proposals would shift a much larger share of healthcare, housing and education costs from individuals to the federal government. A Cato Institute analysis estimated that a “Medicare-for-all”-style healthcare system alone could increase federal spending by between $40 trillion and $75 trillion over a decade, though the estimate is not specific to DSA’s proposal. DSA says wealthy Americans and large corporations should shoulder more of the cost of its vision. The platform calls for “aggressive wealth taxes” on the richest individuals and corporations, with the proceeds directed toward public goods and infrastructure. Lehodey questioned whether wealthy taxpayers alone could finance the agenda, arguing a broader group of taxpayers would likely bear some of the cost. DSA’s platform does not estimate the total cost of its agenda or how much revenue its proposed tax increases would generate.

Trump touts White House renovations, says building was in ‘very bad condition’

President Donald Trump on Sunday touted new renovations to the White House, saying the building was a “dump” before the updates. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the White House was in “very bad condition” and that previous administrations failed to take proper care of it. “The White House was in very bad condition, both inside and out. Frankly, it was a ‘dump!’ Past Presidents did not take care of it,” Trump wrote. “I love renovating it during my spare time, which is not much.” TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION GETS ANOTHER LIFELINE FROM SCOTUS AMID HEATED LEGAL FIGHT He added that the Department of the Interior and various contractors are doing a “fantastic job” with the renovations. “The exterior ‘skin’ of the Building was practically falling off! It is now in better shape than when built in 1792. Such an Honor to have the privilege of saving this Great Structure!” Trump wrote. The president said that more time without a renovation would have “destroyed our beloved White House!” This comes amid several structural and aesthetic changes Trump has pursued at the White House that have drawn criticism from some preservationists and legal challenges, including fortifying the North Portico entrance, adding gold ornamentation to the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, paving over the historic Rose Garden and demolishing the East Wing to make room for a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The administration has also made major changes to other structures in Washington, including renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, proposing to repaint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and undertaking extensive renovations at the Kennedy Center. TOP TRUMP OFFICIAL TOUTS HOW DC MAKEOVER IS PROOF AMERICA IS REJECTING ‘DECLINE BY CHOICE’ Additionally, Trump has backed plans for a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a National Garden of American Heroes.

Federal judge rules Trump admin plan to cut FEMA workforce in half is unlawful

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration’s directive for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut its workforce in half was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston found on Friday that the Department of Homeland Security acted unlawfully by taking control of FEMA’s authority over its own personnel and pushing the agency to slash thousands of disaster-response jobs. Although FEMA is under DHS, a federal law adopted after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 states that the department “may not substantially or significantly reduce (FEMA’s) authorities, responsibilities, or functions.” Illston said the department violated the law last year when it sought to stop FEMA from renewing the temporary contracts of thousands of on-call reservists who respond to disasters. DHS PLANS COSTLY CRACKDOWN ON STATES THAT DON’T COOPERATE ON ELECTION SECURITY “There is no evidence in the record reflecting reasoned decision-making for this about-face or for the subsequent conditions DHS placed on FEMA’s renewal authority,” Illston wrote. Illston’s ruling did not include remedies or penalties, noting that those would be addressed in a separate ruling next month. The judge said the parties have until Oct. 9 to submit briefings on “what relief remains outstanding” in this case. The unions that sued argued that the planned cuts are unlawful because they would undermine FEMA’s core disaster‑response mission, were not approved by Congress and were ordered by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem instead of FEMA officials. The administration has contended that FEMA has considerable flexibility to determine proper staffing levels. President Donald Trump has suggested that FEMA should be eliminated and that states ⁠should handle their emergency preparedness. In June, Illston declined to immediately block the job cuts, ruling that FEMA had at least temporarily abandoned its planned layoffs. But on Friday, the judge wrote that FEMA appeared to be moving forward with the job cuts. She said FEMA projected its staffing levels for the upcoming fiscal year at 11,383 employees, or about half of previous levels, without any basis for picking that figure. DEM GOV LASHES OUT AS TRUMP HUD SCRUTINIZES NEARLY $2B IN DISASTER FUNDS OVER FRAUD CONCERNS Fox News Digital reached out to DHS and FEMA for comment but they did not immediately respond. “Under President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin’s leadership, DHS and FEMA are ready for the 2026 hurricane season,” a FEMA spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill. “FEMA continues to maintain a roster of experienced leadership and support staff across headquarters and regional offices. No position is without experienced leadership.” In a separate ruling, the judge also faulted FEMA and DHS officials for using the Signal messaging app on their personal cellphones to discuss staffing cuts and deleting the messages. Illston said the messages would have been relevant to the lawsuit and that she would now presume “that the lost Signal messages would have been unfavorable to Defendants because they would have been further evidence” of unlawful conduct. Reuters contributed to this report.

Author: shailender