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.
Trump says China ‘spies’ on US after report ties Chinese imagery to Iran strike
President Donald Trump said Sunday that China “spies on us” just as “we spy on them,” following a report that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite imagery before a deadly missile attack that killed three U.S. troops. While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about a Wall Street Journal report that Chinese entities allegedly supplied Iran with high-resolution satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan before Tehran’s July 17 missile attack. “They basically do what we do,” Trump said. TRUMP GIVES SMITHSONIAN DAYS TO REPLACE ‘STRANGE MODERNIST SCULPTURE’ WITH FOUNDING FATHER Asked whether he planned to raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visits the U.S., Trump said Xi has “behaved reasonably well,” and that “we behave reasonably well.” “You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you’re right, and we spy on them, too,” Trump said. TRUMP TELLS ZELENSKYY TO STOP DOING ‘ONE THING’ DURING ATTACKS ON RUSSIA According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials linked the imagery to Iran’s July 17 strike on the Jordanian base, which killed three U.S. troops. Officials described it as the clearest evidence to date that support from Chinese entities for Iran during the war has had deadly consequences for American forces, the outlet reported. TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD ‘LOVE’ TO SEE IRELAND UNIFIED AS ONE NATION The U.S. officials did not identify the Chinese entities involved or accuse Beijing of direct involvement in the attack. Xi is scheduled to visit Washington on Sept. 24 for a summit with Trump. The White House could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment. Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
Trump unloads on AOC, Mamdani for laughing during sacred 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero
President Donald Trump slammed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for appearing to laugh during the solemn reading of victims’ names at the 9/11 Memorial, calling their behavior “terrible” and “inappropriate.” “I think it’s terrible,” Trump said when asked about the video of the two Democrats. “It’s not a place to be laughing, especially in that case.” “I thought it was terrible,” he continued. “The fact that they were laughing together at a very important part of the ceremony was inappropriate.” The president’s condemnation came after video of Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani sharing what appeared to be a lighthearted exchange at Ground Zero sparked widespread criticism online. AOC, MAMDANI INTERACTION CAUGHT ON CAM AT 9/11 MEMORIAL SPARKS ONLINE FURY A television feed from Friday’s ceremony showed a young man overcome with emotion near the memorial before cutting to Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez smiling and appearing to laugh as they spoke. Their conversation could not be heard. 9/11 WIDOW TERRY STRADA ACCUSES US OF PROTECTING SAUDI ARABIA 25 YEARS AFTER TERROR ATTACKS, ADDRESSES VANCE The moment unfolded as mourners read aloud the names of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing during ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 2001 attacks. The video quickly spread across social media, where critics accused the pair of showing disrespect on one of the nation’s most solemn days. MAMDANI DRAWS FURY FROM 9/11 MOURNERS OVER GROUND ZERO APPEARANCE: ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ “As the names of Americans murdered on September 11th are read aloud at Ground Zero, AOC and Mamdani are laughing and smiling together,” Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, wrote on X. “There is a time and a place for politics. This isn’t it. Ground Zero is sacred ground,” Hunt added. “September 11 is not a photo op, it is not a networking event.” MAMDANI HEADS TO 9/11 MEMORIAL DESPITE 110,000-SIGNATURE PUSH FROM VICTIMS’ FAMILIES TO STAY AWAY Meghan McCain also reacted to the video, asking on X, “Why the f— are these two laughing?” New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Republican, similarly ripped the moment. ZOHRAN MAMDANI URGED TO SKIP NEW YORK CITY’S 9/11 MEMORIAL: ‘VILE ANTISEMITE’ “After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep,” Vernikov wrote. “This is NYC’s Mayor.” Mamdani had already faced opposition from some victims’ families ahead of the ceremony. A petition urging him to stay away from Ground Zero gathered more than 110,000 signatures, though Mamdani attended and remained for the ceremony. DE NIRO CALLS CONTROVERSIAL MAMDANI POLICE COMMENTS ‘RIDICULOUS’ AS HE DEFENDS MAYOR GOING TO 9/11 SERVICE However, Michael Ragusa, who has served as a member of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s entourage, disputed claims that Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez were joking about the ceremony. “The videos of [them] laughing are not true. I was standing next to them the whole time,” Ragusa wrote on X. MS RACHEL DEFENDS ‘AWESOME’ MAMDANI AMID 9/11 MEMORIAL CONTROVERSY, SAYS HE’S VICTIM OF ISLAMOPHOBIC ATTACKS “The camera just caught her greeting him hello,” he added. “Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me. Republicans and Democrats.” Mamdani was seen standing somberly at other points during the ceremony. It remains unclear what he and Ocasio-Cortez discussed during the brief exchange. Fox News Digital previously reached out to Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez for comment. Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
GOP gov candidate recounts miracle water landing as dispatch audio reveals desperate search for sinking plane
A desperate search unfolded across a dark Wisconsin lake after Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany’s powerless plane plunged into the water and disappeared beneath the surface with rescuers unsure where he and his pilot had gone. Dramatic dispatch audio captures crews calling for more ambulances, engines and boats as they raced to find the two men and tracked the last GPS location of a phone believed to be underwater. “We’re going to be in search for a down plane,” one responder warned. WISCONSIN GOP GOVERNOR CANDIDATE SWIMS FROM SINKING PLANE AFTER EMERGENCY LAKE LANDING Hours after leaving the hospital, Tiffany revealed Sunday that pilot Leonard “Len” Boltz had just seconds to react after the plane lost power on its final approach to Wausau Downtown Airport. “Len said to me, ‘We are going down. Pull your seatbelt tight,’” Tiffany recalled during a news conference. “And that’s exactly what I did. I gave it a yank and pulled it good and tight.” COAST GUARD PLANE WITH DHS SECRETARY MARKWAYNE MULLIN ON BOARD MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER ENGINE FAILURE “It was probably about 10 seconds later,” he added. “We hit the water.” The impact sent Tiffany’s head into the dashboard, leaving him with a gash above his right eye that required 12 stitches. Boltz received four stitches for one of his injuries, Tiffany said. PILOT’S BRAVERY ON DISPLAY IN STEERING CRIPPLED PLANE CLEAR OF TRAGEDY IN DRAMATIC WATER LANDING The two men checked on each other before escaping through the passenger-side door as the plane began filling with water. Tiffany searched the cockpit for his phone but could not find it. Boltz still had his phone and called 911. PILOT DECLARES MAYDAY BEFORE SEAPLANE COMES DOWN IN NEW YORK CITY’S EAST RIVER They climbed atop the slowly sinking plane and waited there for roughly 10 minutes as emergency lights appeared around the lake. As the aircraft slipped underwater beneath them, they began swimming toward the airport. They made it roughly 100 to 150 feet before Tiffany reached a high spot in the lake where the water was about five feet deep. MULTIPLE INJURED AFTER FLOATPLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING, CATCHES FIRE OFF WASHINGTON COAST “I said to Len, ‘Let’s just stay right here until help can come,’ because we could see the sirens,” Tiffany said. His voice cracked as the gravity of the ordeal appeared to catch up with him. “We are just really fortunate,” Tiffany said, pausing as he became emotional. “We’re really fortunate that God was looking after us last night.” The dispatch audio revealed the uncertainty confronting first responders as they raced toward different points along Lake Wausau. “Can you get another ambulance rolling this way and one more engine, please?” one responder said. “Also page SAFER mutual aid to Bluegill Park with a boat.” Another responder reported that a witness had seen the aircraft go down but could provide only a general search area. “I’m on scene with the reporting party,” the responder said. “He stated he did see [an] aircraft crash.” 4 FLORIDA FAMILY MEMBERS FOUND DEAD AFTER SMALL PLANE GOES DOWN OFF THE BAHAMAS Crews carried thermal-imaging equipment and used a phone’s last known GPS coordinates to narrow the search. A landowner also provided a boat for deputies to use, according to the radio traffic. “I was talking to the pilots,” a responder said. “It sounds like they may plan to swim to the nearest shore after it went under, and then I lost contact with them.” “I believe his phone is underwater,” he added. “They may be swimming south, I believe.” The tense search ended when rescuers announced that both men had been located. “We have two victims in the water,” a responder said. “We’re just pulling them out now.” Minutes later, a crew reported both were “alert, conscious” and confirmed everyone aboard the aircraft had been accounted for. Tiffany credited Boltz’s experience with keeping the emergency landing from becoming deadly. The former Air Force pilot trainer raised the plane’s landing gear before touching down, preventing it from potentially cartwheeling across the water. “He was savvy enough and quick enough to think about, ‘We’ve got to make sure and pull that landing gear up,’” Tiffany said. “He did that, and it might have saved us.” Tiffany estimated the plane was still traveling between 70 and 80 mph when it hit the lake, describing the impact as “a fast-moving car crash.” “We’re fortunate the plane didn’t flip,” he said. “I just take that to the skill of the pilot.” Wausau Mayor Doug Diny, a former military pilot, also praised Boltz for safely bringing the aircraft down at night. PILOT RESCUED AFTER WORLD WAR II-ERA PLANE CRASHES AT PENNSYLVANIA AIRPORT “The last thing anyone wants to do as a pilot is put the aircraft in the water at night,” Diny said. Tiffany and Boltz were taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital and released after treatment. Tiffany said a CT scan found no apparent concussion, though doctors instructed him to watch for possible symptoms and avoid flying for several days. Despite canceling a trip to Washington, D.C., Tiffany said he plans to return to the campaign trail Monday. “This will not deter me in my efforts that I started a year ago to become the next governor of the state of Wisconsin,” he said. The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza remained submerged Sunday. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what caused it to lose power. House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated Tiffany’s return following the close call. “Grateful to God no one was hurt in this accident and my good friend @TomTiffanyWI is safe and back on the trail!” Johnson wrote on X. Tiffany represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and is running against Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in November. Crowley said he was grateful Tiffany and the pilot survived and praised Boltz’s actions.