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Pence group blasts Trump’s drug pricing plan as ‘socialist’ in new ad campaign

Pence group blasts Trump’s drug pricing plan as ‘socialist’ in new ad campaign

FIRST ON FOX: A conservative group founded by ex-Vice President Mike Pence is taking aim at a key policy being used by President Donald Trump’s White House. Advancing American Freedom (AAF) is rolling out a six-figure digital ad campaign Monday criticizing Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) drug pricing as “socialist price controls,” according to AAF President Tim Chapman. The 30-second advertisement begins, “China is America’s biggest economic competitor. They want, and often steal, what America has — our innovations, our manufacturing capabilities, our high-skilled, high-wage jobs.” “If politicians in Washington start to place price controls on our most innovative products, like prescription drugs, we’ll be handing over American jobs and life-saving research to China on a silver platter,” the ad continued. WATCH: PARODY DRUG AD SPOTLIGHTS RFK’S CRACKDOWN ON MISLEADING PHARMACEUTICAL MARKETING It ended with a call to action: “Tell Congress to say ‘no’ to China by saying ‘no’ to MFN price controls.” And while pressuring the GOP majority on Capitol Hill is the campaign’s main goal, it appears to be a response to Trump rolling out such a policy several times in recent months. Earlier this month, Trump unveiled agreements between the federal government and two top drug companies aimed at lowering the cost of popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, among others. TRUMP-ALIGNED LEGAL GROUP PROBES BIDEN-ERA ORGAN TRANSPLANT PROGRAM OVER ETHICAL CONCERNS The partnership with Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk will make prices for drugs aimed at helping Americans with obesity, diabetes and heart disease fall by hundreds of dollars, Trump said. It would also lower prices for Medicare and Medicaid patients who rely on such drugs. A White House fact sheet said MFN drug pricing would also apply to “all new medicines that they bring to market.” It’s one of several similar announcements by Trump in recent months that are aimed at lowering the soaring costs of prescription drugs in the U.S. DR. MAKARY, DR OZ: PEOPLE TALK ABOUT LOWERING HEALTHCARE COSTS, BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING IT The new lower prices will be available at a website called TrumpRx. Most health insurance plans already help Americans pay less than the list price of prescriptions, but many do not cover the aforementioned drugs — including when used solely for weight loss. The president called the move “a triumph for American patients that will save lives and improve the health of millions and millions of Americans” in an announcement at the White House. But a memo released by AAF in September warned that Trump’s drug policies could “mean significant reductions in American research and development” in the pharmaceutical sphere. Chapman told Fox News Digital of the latest ad buy, “More regulations and red tape will result in fewer cures and life-saving drugs coming to market, ultimately costing American lives.” “Advancing American Freedom strongly supports the power of free markets. To deliver lower prices for Americans, we need fewer government regulations, not more,” he said. It’s not the first time this year that Pence’s group has broken from Trump. AAF also criticized Trump’s use of tariffs as well as his more recent call to end the filibuster in the Senate. The White House pushed back on AAF’s characterization when reached by Fox News Digital. “Anyone calling President Trump’s historic drug pricing deals ‘price controls’ is either too stupid or dishonest to be taken seriously. Despite being just four percent of the world’s population, Americans have covered nearly 75 percent of global pharmaceutical research costs by paying several times more for drugs than our peers in other wealthy countries pay,” White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital. “President Trump’s deals are equalizing this burden by making other wealthy countries shoulder their fair share for the pharmaceutical innovation that’s saving lives — thereby restoring the free market principles that Mike Pence supposedly supports.”

Maine Rep Laurel Libby won’t seek re-election, partners with Sentinel Action Fund in $4M boost for Sen Collins

Maine Rep Laurel Libby won’t seek re-election, partners with Sentinel Action Fund in M boost for Sen Collins

EXCLUSIVE: Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican, announced on Monday she will not seek re-election in 2026, instead partnering with The Sentinel Action Fund, a conservative super PAC, to support U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and other Republicans in the state as part of the launch of a new network of organizations. “From Fort Kent to Wells, there’s no doubt that Maine is a uniquely beautiful state — but its true strength is its people who are hardworking, independent, and full of grit,” Libby told FOX News Digital. “Everywhere I go, Mainers tell me they’re frustrated with the challenges our state faces but uncertain how to make a difference. I’m launching Lead Maine to help bridge that gap and empower more Mainers with the tools to shape our state’s direction and ensure we have strong leaders at all levels of government, from the Senate with Susan Collins down to the state and local levels.” Libby’s organizations will aim to educate and mobilize grassroots Maine residents and push for the state to be more conservative in which residents, families and businesses can thrive, according to the lawmaker’s press release obtained by FOX News Digital. Among the organizations will be a 501(c)4 nonprofit and a state PAC, with an overarching communication network, according to the release. Each organization will be dedicated to a different part of the political process to ensure conservatives can use various tools to engage and mobilize Maine residents. MAINE REP LAUREL LIBBY OPENS UP ON FIGHTING ‘CIVIL RIGHTS’ SUPREME COURT CASE AMID TRANS ATHLETE BATTLE “Maine needs a long-term, durable campaign infrastructure that grows our conservative grassroots movement and sets Republicans up for success in 2026 and beyond,” Libby told FOX News Digital. “Lead Maine and its affiliated organizations are committed to building exactly that by educating and mobilizing citizens to drive meaningful societal and electoral change at both the state and national levels.” Libby is also partnering with The Sentinel Action Fund to create the Lead Maine Committee, a federal super PAC in which a conservative grassroots network will be used to reach voters in an effort to turn out support for Collins’ re-election next year, as well as other Republicans in future elections. The partnership will invest more than $4 million to support Collins’ re-election, according to a press release from The Sentinel Action Fund that was obtained by FOX News Digital. The Sentinel Action Fund’s backing of Collins represents the group’s first endorsement for the 2026 midterm election cycle. In 2024, the super PAC endorsed and supported U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, in their races. “2024 showed us the power and importance of a strong ground game and GOTV operation that communicates with voters early and often,” Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson told FOX News Digital. “With the midterm elections only 350 days away, we’re hitting the ground running in Maine as we announce Sentinel Action Fund’s new partnership with Laurel Libby and the Lead Maine Committee. We are thrilled to work alongside Laurel Libby, who has proven her dedication to standing up to Janet Mills and the radicalized Maine Democrats. She is a true leader for Mainers, and we look forward to a strong partnership to ensure Senator Susan Collins is re-elected in 2026.” Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, announced last month she would challenge Collins for her Senate seat. DELETED POSTS URGING VIOLENCE HAUNT DEMOCRATIC SENATE HOPEFUL IN MAINE RACE “Maine deserves to have common-sense representation in Congress, and with a strong candidate, effective ground game operation, and an energized grassroots network, we can build and turnout the coalition of voters needed to win,” Anderson continued. “Sentinel Action Fund is pleased to announce our endorsement of Senator Susan Collins, and with it this important partnership with Laurel Libby and the Lead Maine Committee which will support Senator Collins’s re-election. Laurel’s grassroots experience and leadership in the state will make her an invaluable partner to our efforts to turn out voters early and on Election Day.” Anderson said the partnership and investment come ahead of a “pivotal midterm election cycle” and that Maine’s Senate seat will “play a critical role in securing and expanding the Republican Senate majority and protecting it is an essential step toward achieving a 60-seat majority,” adding that she looks forward to ensuring Collins retains her seat in the Senate. Libby added that Mainers “have a powerful voice, and with a strong network of support, we can work together to uphold the common-sense values and policies that will protect liberty and foster economic prosperity for generations to come.” “I’m excited to build a team that will empower Mainers to take part in shaping the future of our state,” she said. “A key part of this effort will be the Lead Maine Committee’s partnership with The Sentinel Action Fund to mobilize voters and ensure Senator Susan Collins is re-elected in 2026. Defending this seat, and expanding conservative influence in the Maine Legislature, are critical to protecting our values from the far-Left policies of Janet Mills and her accomplices.” Libby, a critic of policies allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports, made headlines earlier this year when she made a social media post on her government account that identified a transgender high school athlete by publishing the individual’s name and photos. The Maine House of Representatives censured her over the post, leading Libby to file a lawsuit against House leadership, arguing the censure was a violation of her First Amendment rights and disenfranchised her constituents. VETERAN WHO SERVED IN MIDDLE EASTERN WARS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEN. SUSAN COLLINS Lower courts initially denied her requests for an injunction, but the U.S. Supreme Court later ordered the restoration of her voting privileges while her lawsuit made its way through the appeals court. The Maine House in June fully restored Libby’s speaking and voting rights for the remainder of the legislative session. “I understand firsthand just how radical Maine Democrats have become,” Libby told FOX News Digital. “Protecting

Trump set to host Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince at the White House this week

Trump set to host Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince at the White House this week

President Donald Trump is set to host Saudi Arabia’s ambitious and influential Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House this week for high-level talks aimed at deepening economic and defense ties. “We’re more than meeting,” Trump said on Friday en route to Florida for the weekend. “We’re honoring Saudi Arabia, the crown prince.” While not formally a state visit, the plans include a welcome ceremony with military bands, a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office and a black-tie dinner in the evening. TRUMP’S GRAND PEACE STRATEGY IS BEARING FRUIT, IN MIDDLE EAST AND AROUND THE WORLD Prince Mohammed bin Salman serves as the kingdom’s powerful understudy to his 89-year-old father, King Salman. Widely regarded as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, he manages nearly all daily affairs of state and frequently represents the kingdom in international summits and diplomatic meetings. Tuesday’s meetings will mark Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to the White House in more than seven years. Trump said last week that he plans to discuss strengthening ties with the Saudi leader and hopes the kingdom will move toward formally recognizing Israel. “The Abraham Accords will be a part we’re going to be discussing,” Trump told reporters Friday. “I hope that Saudi Arabia will be joining the Abraham Accords fairly soon.” Such a move would build on Trump’s signature foreign-policy initiative, the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations during his presidency. The crown prince last visited the White House in 2018, just months before Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident journalist and critic of the kingdom, was murdered at a Saudi consulate in Turkey.  WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIES JAMAL KHASHOGGI REPORT BLAMING SAUDI CROWN PRINCE FOR JOURNALIST’S DEATH A subsequent CIA assessment concluded the prince had likely ordered the killing, though he has consistently denied involvement. Even so, Trump’s relationship with the crown prince appeared largely undeterred during his first term. Trump last met the crown prince during his first state visit of his second term to Riyadh in May, where he was welcomed with a fighter jet escort, an honor guard wielding golden swords and a parade of Arabian horses flanking his limousine. The Trump administration is also expected to finalize an agreement with bin Salman to allow Riyadh to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing a White House official. The two leaders are expected to sign several other economic and defense agreements during the crown prince’s visit to the White House on Tuesday, the report added.