‘Suspicious’ mail with DSA-linked return address triggers FBI, Capitol Hill investigation
Senior Capitol Hill staff were warned that “multiple letters containing suspicious substances” were mailed out across the country and to multiple congressional offices on Thursday. An email notice obtained by Fox News Digital sent to chiefs of staff, administrative managers and state directors said the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police were “investigating multiple letters containing suspicious substances that were mailed to various addresses nationwide, including multiple Congressional offices.” “Law enforcement officials are working to intercept any additional letters before they are delivered, however, it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations,” the notice from the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms read. ARMED MAN ARRESTED AT US CAPITOL BARRICADE AS POLICE PROBE WHY HE DROVE ONTO RESTRICTED GROUNDS Fox News Digital reached out to each agency investigating the matter for comment on the nature of the suspicious substances, how many letters were sent and retrieved and how many congressional offices could be affected. The notice was first reported by Punchbowl News. Included in the notice was an image of one of the envelopes that included a return address in the top-left corner for the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) headquarters in New York City. DEPROGRAMMED: FORMER DSA INSIDER REVEALS ‘FRIGHTENING’ SOCIALIST AGENDA DROVE HIM FROM ‘EXTREME’ IDEOLOGY It is unclear whether the DSA had any involvement in sending the letters. Fox News Digital reached out to the DSA for comment but has not heard back. The notice warned that “all suspicious letters, packages, or substances should be treated as potentially hazardous.” Authorities have not publicly identified the substances or said whether they pose a danger. It comes on the 25-year anniversary when an anthrax-laced letter was opened by a staffer in then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s office on Oct. 15, 2001.
‘Big Condiment’ warning gets Warren roasted online over progressive’s economic priorities
A post made by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., this week quickly became a punchline online after she warned that a proposed $45 billion deal bringing some of America’s best-known condiment and food brands under one roof could drive up grocery prices even further. The merger would combine McCormick brands such as Cholula and Frank’s RedHot with Unilever Foods products including Hellmann’s and Knorr. Warren argues the deal could weaken competition and leave shoppers with fewer choices. Users online joked about Warren cautioning against “Big Condiment.” DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES ARE WINNING PRIMARIES AND THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT “One company could soon control them all,” Warren said of four popular condiments. “I have concerns that McCormick and Unilever’s $45 billion merger could increase YOUR grocery prices.” The post drew jokes from users who argued that housing, infrastructure and the national debt are bigger concerns than a potential rise in the prices of condiments. “Yes, a simultaneous increase in the prices of (checks notes) mayo and (checks notes again) hot sauce could bring the country to its knees,” one user on X wrote. “The only thing raising my grocery prices is federal deficit and the resulting inflation you all seem to be ok with,” another added. Venture capitalist Hank Medina sarcastically posted to his X account with 1.7 million followers, “The United States will crumble if big mayo merges with big hot sauce. SOUND THE ALARM FOLKS!!! We have no other condiment alternatives if this happens.” But the real impact of a food merger is no laughing matter. Consumer prices rose 3.7% in September from a year earlier, accelerating from 3.4% in August, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Prices climbed 0.6% in September alone, underscoring the persistent affordability pressures facing American households just weeks before the midterm elections. Narrowing in on grocery prices, they rose 1.8% from a year ago but dipped 0.1% in September, while overall food prices were up 2.5% annually. With an affordability crisis plaguing the U.S. heading into the midterms, any threat of further impacts on Americans’ pocketbooks is worth noting ahead of Election Day. Meanwhile, Warren has launched a broader campaign to challenge food-industry consolidation — not just against the recent condiment merger proposal. ECONOMIST CALLS OUT AMERICA’S SOCIALIST ELITE, SAYS THEY GOT RICH BASHING CAPITALISM In an Oct. 6 letter to the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission, she urged regulators to scrutinize the McCormick–Unilever deal alongside two other proposed food-industry mergers. The Massachusetts progressive argued the multibillion-dollar deal could reduce competition for shoppers’ grocery dollars and retailers’ shelf space across overlapping pantry staples, leaving consumers with fewer choices and higher prices. If the deal announced in March were approved, it would combine McCormick with Unilever’s foods business in a transaction valued at about $45 billion. The combined company would bring together brands such as Cholula, Frank’s RedHot, Hellmann’s and Knorr. It is expected to close by mid-2027, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
FIRST ON FOX: Dems’ affordability crusade collides with eye-popping price tag for socialist immigration plans
FIRST ON FOX: A new White House economic report warns that immigration policies backed by the Democratic Socialists of America could cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade, as the Trump administration sounds the alarm over the potential financial consequences of mass amnesty and expanded federal benefits. As President Donald Trump touts 16 consecutive months without illegal immigrant releases at the southern border, a Council of Economic Advisers report estimates that mass amnesty and expanded federal benefits under Democratic Socialists of America-backed immigration policies could cost taxpayers between $440 billion and $613 billion over the next decade. Socialist-aligned candidates have gained ground in 2026, winning key Democratic primaries and expanding their influence within the party. “President Trump … supercharged ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members and terrorists,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital. ‘SQUAD’ DEMOCRAT FORMALLY INTRODUCES BILL TO ABOLISH ICE, BORDER PATROL AND DISMANTLE DHS “Meanwhile, radical Democrats want to go back to their extreme open border policies and grant amnesty to the illegal aliens they released into our communities. Not only will these radical policies make America less safe, but they will cost the American taxpayer billions of dollars.” With the midterms approaching and Democrats campaigning heavily on affordability, the White House is casting the DSA’s immigration agenda as a potential financial and public safety threat — warning that its policies could compound the very cost-of-living pressures Democrats have used to hammer Republicans. DEMOCRATS SAY THEY’LL MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE. YOUR WALLET MAY DISAGREE The council’s findings go beyond the cost of mass amnesty, examining the potential impact of expanded federal benefits and reduced immigration enforcement, policies the White House warns could impose a significant financial burden on American families. The council estimates that the average illegal immigrant carries a lifetime net fiscal cost of $166,716, with the current illegal immigrant population projected to account for between $1.4 trillion and $1.9 trillion in taxpayer costs under its model — figures the administration is highlighting as the “true costs of extreme open borders [and] mass-amnesty socialist policies.” CALIFORNIA FACES UNLIKELY TAX REVOLT AMID BILLIONS IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HEALTHCARE COSTS The CEA’s estimated $166,716 lifetime taxpayer cost per illegal immigrant exceeds the roughly $124,000 it would cost to put a student through four years at an average in-state public university, including tuition, housing, food and other expenses, according to College Board’s 2025–26 figures — putting the figure in perspective as American families also grapple with college affordability. The Council added that while illegal immigrants are generally prohibited from federal benefit programs, some on the left want to reverse that standard and provide subsidized healthcare and programs like food stamps to those in the country unlawfully. SHOCKING PERCENTAGE OF DEMOCRATS IDENTIFY AS ‘DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS’ ACCORDING TO NEW POLL: ‘TOXIC POLICIES’ Beyond expanded federal benefits, the council estimates that ending Trump-backed immigration enforcement measures would wipe out between $227 billion and $287 billion in projected taxpayer savings, producing a net estimated cost of $79 billion to $139 billion over the next decade after accounting for reduced enforcement spending. An interactive White House webpage released alongside the report allows Americans to explore the projected costs of “socialism” across several policy areas, with the council estimating that the Democratic Socialists of America’s broader agenda could cost $49 trillion over ten years — roughly $355,000 per American household. That sweeping projection extends far beyond immigration, which the council separately estimates could cost between $440 billion and $613 billion over the next decade. DOJ THREATENS TO CUT BILLIONS IN WELFARE FUNDING FROM STATES FOR FAILING TO REPORT ILLEGAL MIGRANTS If the immigration policies examined in the report were implemented, the White House estimates that expanded eligibility for SNAP, federal housing assistance and Medicaid would add between $361 billion and $475 billion in federal spending over the next decade. The report estimated that expanding federal benefits under the proposed immigration policies would add $3.6 billion to $4.7 billion in annual food stamp costs, another $2.3 billion to $3 billion in federal housing assistance, and as much as $40 billion a year in additional Medicaid spending. US STATE DEPARTMENT HAS YANKED MORE THAN 175K VISAS UNDER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SO FAR Along with the report, the White House highlighted a 73% uptick in drug interdictions through August 2026 compared with the same period in fiscal year 2024, while separately pointing to declining fentanyl-related deaths as evidence of its broader border enforcement strategy. The administration also highlighted another key aspect of the immigration-cost paradigm that it changed — remarking that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain foreign-national groups “returned … to its original purpose: temporary.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SLASHES TIME REFUGEES HAVE TO CHALLENGE LOSS OF LEGAL STATUS The administration’s efforts to terminate TPS designations for certain countries have faced legal challenges, underscoring the ongoing dispute over the scope of federal immigration authority. The administration has also moved to end certain Temporary Protected Status designations and revoke more than 250,000 visas as part of its broader immigration crackdown, measures the White House has highlighted alongside its efforts to tighten enforcement and reduce what it says are substantial taxpayer costs. Fox News Digital reached out to the DSA for general comment on the costs associated with their immigration platform.
Maryland’s lone Republican House member calls woman ‘rude’ for laughing during debate
Maryland’s only Republican House member was heard telling a woman “you are rude” after she started laughing while he was speaking during a debate. The clash between Rep. Andy Harris and the audience member unfolded Tuesday in Cambridge as the Republican was talking about rising diesel prices during the U.S.-Iran war. “Let’s get the facts straight, the facts are that diesel is, the facts are that diesel prices have gone up, there is no question about it. Why has it gone up? Because the Democrats have environmental regulations…” Harris said before he was interrupted by a woman laughing in the audience. “Ma’am, I gotta tell you. This is the problem, you all say you believe there is a First Amendment, but only if you agree with you,” Harris told the crowd. “You should let me finish the sentence, ma’am. You are rude. You’re rude, OK?” AMERICA’S TRUCKERS ISSUE DIRE WARNING AS SOARING DIESEL COSTS THREATEN ‘DOMINO EFFECT’ Harris then turned to the debate moderator and said, “I’m sorry,” adding that if she wasn’t going tell the audience they were rude, he had to do it himself. “Let me finish the sentence why there is a shortage of diesel in the world and in the country,” Harris continued, before another audience member started talking. “You are rude too. So do you believe in the First Amendment? Do you believe in my First Amendment right to express myself? It’s my turn to express myself, not yours,” Harris said. PRESS FREEDOM GROUPS THAT BLASTED TRUMP TURN FIRE ON DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR OVER ALLEGED MEDIA RETALIATION Harris, who has represented Maryland’s 1st Congressional District since 2010, is running for re-election against Democrat challenger Dan Schwartz. The debate moderator then asked both candidates to speak to their supporters and ask them to be “polite and respectful” during the debate. “That is very important that you guys are able to hear from both of us tonight, so please if you don’t mind, let’s keep all reactions for later when you get home and let’s let the congressman speak,” Schwartz said. When it was Harris’ turn, he said, “You don’t need to hear it from me because my people aren’t interfering with Mr. Schwartz, it’s only one way.”
Trump rules out livestream for Nidal Hasan firing squad execution
President Donald Trump announced that the planned firing squad execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will not be livestreamed, reversing an earlier Pentagon announcement that the public would be able to watch the convicted mass killer’s final moments. Trump said in a Truth Social post that broadcasting the execution could serve as a powerful deterrent to terrorism but acknowledged that many Americans would rather not witness Hasan’s death. “He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” Trump wrote. AMERICANS DRAW THE LINE AT LIVESTREAMING ‘SPECTACLE’ OF FORT HOOD SHOOTER’S EXECUTION: ‘IT’S AN ABOMINATION’ Hasan’s execution is scheduled for Dec. 3. Trump said immediate family members of the 13 people killed in Hasan’s 2009 rampage will be permitted to attend in person if they choose. “They deserve to witness JUSTICE!” Trump wrote. The president’s announcement comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the execution would be made public, telling Real America’s Voice that Americans would be able to watch Hasan’s death. “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public,” Hegseth said at the time. Pentagon officials subsequently confirmed Thursday that the execution would be livestreamed, though additional details had not yet been released. Trump suggested in his Truth Social post that broadcasting the execution could have sent a message to would-be terrorists. “I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan,” Trump wrote. The president added that “many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device.” Hasan, a former Army major and psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others during a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009. FORT HOOD SURVIVOR SHOT IN HEAD VOWS TO WATCH TERRORIST FACE HISTORIC FIRING SQUAD He opened fire inside a medical processing building where soldiers were preparing for deployment, shouting “Allahu akbar” before shooting at service members with a handgun. Hasan was shot by law enforcement during the attack and left paralyzed from the waist down. During his 2013 military trial, Hasan acknowledged carrying out the shooting and represented himself after dismissing his attorneys. He was sentenced to death. The execution would mark the first military execution in more than 65 years. The last U.S. military execution took place in April 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was hanged. However, Hasan could still seek to delay his execution through a habeas corpus petition in civilian court, a legal challenge that experts say could significantly postpone the proceedings. Trump also used his Truth Social post to criticize the Obama administration’s handling of intelligence involving Hasan, pointing to electronic communications between the former Army officer and radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki that were intercepted by the FBI before the attack. The president claimed that investigators’ failure to identify the communications as a threat amounted to a major intelligence failure. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Collins insists socialist rival won’t beat her as Maine’s money machine: ‘You’ll lose big time’
BANGOR, Maine — Republican Sen. Susan Collins is warning that Maine could lose crucial federal funding if voters replace her with Democrat Troy Jackson, as a new poll shows the candidates statistically tied ahead of their final debate Thursday. Jackson, a one-time logger and former Maine Senate president, edged Collins 49%-47% in a Suffolk University poll conducted Oct. 8-11 and released on the eve of the final debate. Jackson’s two-point edge over Collins among likely voters was well within the survey’s margin of error, and the poll was the latest to indicate an extremely close contest. The face-off between Collins and Jackson in the blue-leaning Northern New England state is a top flip opportunity for the Democrats as they try to win back the Senate majority from the Republicans in the midterm elections. The Fox News Power Rankings rate the race in Maine as a toss up, as do leading nonpartisan political handicappers the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball. CAN A FORMER NFL SIDELINE REPORTER HELP REPUBLICANS FLIP A SENATE SEAT IN BLUE-LEANING MINNESOTA? “Maine voters lose out big time if Troy Jackson were to be elected,” Collins said in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview on Wednesday. Collins, who is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, has showcased her nearly three decades of Senate experience and her leadership role as Senate Appropriations Committee chair as integral to her ability “to get so much done for the people of Maine.” She warned that if Jackson replaced her, “he’ll be 100 in seniority, and all of that essential federal funding targeted for the state of Maine, virtually all of it will go away.” Jackson has argued that Collins has not used her Senate power to protect Maine families from soaring energy, food, and housing costs. “Sen. Collins has told us how powerful she is,” Jackson said during their first debate. “But power means nothing if you won’t use it when the people may need it.” Jackson and Democrats have also repeatedly aimed to anchor Collins to President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings in Maine and across the country are cratering ahead of the midterms. “That’s the choice on this stage — a senator who helps Donald Trump hurt Maine then tells us how concerned she is, or somebody who will stand up against him before another family in Maine has to pay the price,” Jackson said during Tuesday’s third debate. DEMS SEE NEW CHANCES TO FLIP SENATE SEATS BUT GOP’S MASSIVE CASH ADVANTAGE AN OBSTACLE Collins is known as a moderate Republican who at times has voted against the president. But Jackson and Democrats are targeting the senator over her comments that she didn’t regret her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose crucial vote four years later helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling. And following the fatal shooting in Maine this summer involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Democrats heavily criticized Collins for her support for ICE funding. But Collins has broken with Trump numerous times in recent months, criticizing his tariff war with neighboring Canada and voting against Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation. “Troy and Chuck Schumer and their allies run ads saying that I’m somehow a puppet of the president. Believe me, that would come as a huge surprise to President Trump,” Collins told Fox News Digital. Collins noted, “I opposed the deal that he made with Vladimir Putin to get a small amount of diesel, and in return lift the sanctions that we just passed into law, and the president is not following the law. I signed a bipartisan letter that urges the president to reconsider that. I opposed the president’s signature legislative accomplishment, the One Big Beautiful Bill, because it contained cuts in Medicaid that… I know would be harmful to Maine.” DEMOCRATS THINK A BLUE WAVE IS BUILDING – HERE ARE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD STOP IT The senator was interviewed in Bangor after landing the endorsement of the Maine chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. “I’ve secured funding for projects throughout Maine, $46 million to help our police and sheriff’s departments upgrade their equipment, facilities, and communications,” Collins told Fox News Digital. And she took aim at Jackson, who won a special nominating convention in late July to fill the party’s Senate nomination, which was left vacant after primary winner Graham Platner ended his campaign following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the report but dropped out. Jackson, who earlier this year unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, had campaigned alongside Platner during the primary campaign. “Troy was Graham Platner’s biggest supporter and stayed with him to the very end of Graham’s campaign, and Graham repeatedly denigrated law enforcement,” Collins said. “I never heard Troy publicly condemn those disrespectful and horrible comments.” Collins added, “During his gubernatorial campaign, Troy was endorsed and welcomed the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America. One of the key parts of the DSA platform is to defund the police.” The Jackson campaign, responding, pointed out that “Jackson is not a Democratic Socialist” and has repeatedly said he does not support defunding the police. The campaign added that Jackson called on Platner to drop out and “has been clear he will not accept a Platner endorsement.” “Susan Collins is lying about Troy’s record because she knows that Mainers are ready to retire her after she’s voted with Donald Trump 96% of the time to cut their healthcare, confirmed Brett Kavanaugh who overturned Roe v. Wade, enabled Trump’s war in Iran that’s raising energy costs, and failed to stop his reckless tariffs that are causing costs to skyrocket,” the Jackson campaign told Fox News Digital. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER But Collins disputed the 96% figure, saying that it came from a study that only covered a third of her Senate votes. “A study that looked at 90% of the votes
Fears of China spying on US military prompt GOP hawks to demand retaliation against the shipping giant
FIRST ON FOX: Three top House Republicans are demanding a Chinese shipping giant be stripped of special privileges at American ports over concerns the vessels are allegedly spying on U.S. military communications, according to a letter exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital. COSCO, a shipping and logistics company owned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and based in Shanghai, has received favorable treatment under a Coast Guard program designed to reward trusted commercial operators. But China hawks in Congress want to revoke those privileges following a September report that the vessels are being used to gather intelligence. In an Oct. 14 letter, three top Republican lawmakers identified that as of July 15, 2026, there were 11 COSCO vessels listed in the Coast Guard’s Quality Shipping for the 21st Century program, known as Qualship 21 — despite the Pentagon designating them as a Chinese military company. House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., and Rep. Carlos Gimenez, chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, are pressing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to revoke COSCO vessels’ enrollment in the Coast Guard’s program. It follows a September’s reporting that COSCO vessels used sophisticated, concealed equipment to intercept military communications and gather intelligence about encryption technologies off American coastlines. The Coast Guard program was created to allow vessels with strong safety and compliance records to undergo fewer routine inspections when entering U.S. ports. But the lawmakers argue in their letter that COSCO’s alleged espionage activities and ties to China’s military raise serious questions about why its ships have qualified for preferential treatment. CHINA ‘WIRETAPPED RED SEA’ WITH SPY HUB 6 MILES FROM US BASE: EX PENTAGON OFFICIAL WARNS The allegations, attributed to senior U.S. officials, have fueled concerns that Chinese commercial vessels could serve as intelligence-gathering platforms while operating near sensitive American military facilities. COSCO has denied the allegations, calling them unfounded and maintaining that its onboard communications and navigation equipment is used exclusively for legitimate commercial purposes. The company has said none of its equipment was used to intercept military communications or gather intelligence. COSCO is one of the world’s largest shipping companies and is owned by the Chinese government. Its sprawling commercial fleet operates along major global trade routes, including routes serving American ports. The Pentagon added COSCO to its Section 1260H list of Chinese military companies in January 2025, citing its ownership by a Chinese state agency, activities allegedly conducted on behalf of the People’s Liberation Army and contributions to Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy, which seeks to harness civilian industries and technologies for military purposes. WALL STREET BANKS HELPED CHINESE MILITARY-LINKED FIRM RAISE BILLIONS DESPITE RED FLAGS, LAWMAKERS FIND The designation does not automatically bar COSCO vessels from entering American ports. But the lawmakers are questioning why a company identified by the Pentagon as having ties to China’s military should continue benefiting from a Coast Guard program that reduces inspection frequency. The Coast Guard updated Qualship 21 eligibility rules earlier this year, expanding the circumstances under which vessels could be removed from the program, including certain associations with sanctioned entities. The lawmakers are now pressing DHS on whether Pentagon national security designations should also factor into eligibility decisions. In the letter first obtained by Fox News Digital, the lawmakers urged DHS to revoke COSCO vessels’ enrollment, refuse future renewals and increase scrutiny of other shipping companies with ties to the CCP and Chinese military. They are also demanding to know whether the Coast Guard received intelligence warnings about COSCO’s alleged surveillance operations before the allegations became public in September — and whether those warnings were considered when deciding if its vessels should retain their privileged status. The lawmakers specifically questioned whether the Coast Guard reviewed COSCO’s eligibility following its Pentagon designation and whether intelligence officials have identified similar risks involving other Chinese or Hong Kong-based shipping operators. Their concerns extend to what the Coast Guard is doing to detect potential espionage aboard commercial vessels already operating in American waters. The letter questions whether authorities have conducted additional boardings of COSCO ships, investigated crew members potentially involved in intelligence collection or examined historical shipping routes for unusual movements that could indicate surveillance activities. The lawmakers also questioned whether the Coast Guard has sufficient legal authority to counter suspected intelligence operations aboard foreign commercial ships, or whether additional coordination with other federal agencies is necessary. The inquiry reaches beyond COSCO. The lawmakers raised the possibility of removing Hong Kong from the Coast Guard’s list of qualified flag administrations, citing concerns about Beijing’s control over the territory. The letter was copied to the director of national intelligence and the Coast Guard commandant. Fox News Digital reached out to COSCO, DHS and the Coast Guard for comment but did not hear back at time of publication.
Obama’s billion-dollar baby: Chicago center’s price tag hits monumental milestone, tripling original estimate
FIRST ON FOX – The price tag for the beleaguered Obama Presidential Center is now projected to top $1 billion, nearly triple its original estimate, the foundation overseeing construction of the Chicago facility told Fox News Digital. Confirmation of the 10-figure cost marks another chapter in the troubled history of the much-delayed project, which opened five years behind schedule amid controversy over its use of public parkland and claims that subcontractors were stiffed out of millions of dollars. It comes as newly released financial records reviewed by Fox News Digital offer a fresh look at the finances of the Obama Foundation, the former president’s private nonprofit that oversaw construction of the billion-dollar project. The sprawling campus on the Windy City’s south side was originally expected to open in 2021, with construction costs estimated at $300 million to $350 million. But years of federal reviews, legal challenges and construction delays preceded its eventual opening in June 2026, by which time projected costs had skyrocketed to approximately $850 million. Hailed by Democrats and supporters as a historic investment in the community and a tribute to the former president’s legacy, the center was promoted as a catalyst for jobs, economic growth and new opportunities for underserved communities. BUREAUCRATS HIDE TRUE PRICE OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AS TAXPAYERS HIT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE BILL “While we continue to reconcile costs and plan ahead for additional capital improvements, we anticipate our total cost for constructing the campus is approximately $1 billion — again, all raised in private contributions,” Emily Bittner, the Obama Foundation’s vice president of communications, told Fox News Digital. “This includes investments in additional public art, insurance, scope changes in our Home Court, project management and exhibit installation, among other categories.” The campus serves as both a museum dedicated to Obama’s presidency and the headquarters of the Obama Foundation. It also features a public library branch and an athletic center, but unlike traditional presidential libraries, it does not house his original presidential records, although digital versions and artifacts are featured in its museum. The climb toward the $1 billion mark has seemed inevitable in recent years, with approximately $909 million in construction-related costs recorded by the end of 2025, when the project was about 80% complete, according to its newly released audited financial statements. The Obama Foundation’s newly released financial disclosures cover the nonprofit’s entire operation, not just the Chicago campus. It also runs leadership, education and community programs across the United States and around the world. The tax filings show donations and grants fell to approximately $151 million in 2025, down from $195 million in 2024. Fundraising has fluctuated sharply in recent years, falling from $311 million in 2022 to $129 million in 2023 before rebounding in 2024 and declining again last year. OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER SUBCONTRACTORS FILE FRESH PAYMENT CLAIMS TOTALING NEARLY $900K Total liabilities climbed to approximately $103.5 million in 2025, during the final stages of the center’s construction, up from $35 million in 2024 and $20 million in 2022. The Obama Foundation’s outstanding borrowing also rose from $15 million at the end of 2025 to approximately $63.5 million by July 2026, according to its audited financial statements. The nonprofit said it borrowed the money to cover short-term costs during the final stages of construction and that the loans were not secured against its rights to the property. Its money and investments available to cover everyday expenses also fell from approximately $265 million in 2024 to $101 million in 2025. Brian Mittendorf, a nonprofit accounting professor at the Ohio State University who reviewed the Obama Foundation’s tax filings and audited financial statements, said the nonprofit remains on solid financial footing, with more than $1.1 billion in net assets at the end of 2025. “In terms of the organization’s overall financial health, again, I would say financial health looks quite good,” Mittendorf told Fox News Digital. “They have a decent amount of cash, investments, liquidity, and so on. So it’s not like they’re in financial difficulty by any means.” However, he noted that much of the foundation’s wealth is tied up in the Presidential Center, rather than assets that could readily be converted into cash. “Bottom line to me: I don’t see a short-term financial distress here, but I do see an organization that has tied up a lot of its resources in its buildings, which means more costs to come and the need for more revenues to make this sustainable,” he said. OBAMA CENTER SUBCONTRACTOR SHUTS DOWN AMID $4M FIGHT, LAYS OFF 25 Mittendorf warned that raising money to maintain the sprawling campus could prove more challenging than funding its construction. “It’s much easier to raise money when it’s for building a building than it is for doing upkeep or paying for insurance or paying utilities,” he said. Obama Foundation officials said its operating costs are covered by revenue and private donations, although they did not provide a figure for the center’s annual operating and maintenance expenses. The Obama Presidential Center sits on 19.3 acres of historic public parkland in Jackson Park. It secured the site through a 99-year agreement with the city for a one-time payment of just $10. While the foundation funded construction, the land and buildings are legally owned by the City of Chicago. Critics have long raised concerns over the foundation’s failure to fully fund a proposed $470 million endowment — a financial safety net designed to generate income for the center’s upkeep and reduce the risk of taxpayers footing the bill if the project runs into trouble. A previous Fox News Digital investigation found that just $1 million had been set aside for years. Newly released financial statements show the Foundation’s overall endowment grew to approximately $14.2 million by the end of 2025, although it remains unclear how much of that money is specifically reserved for the Presidential Center. Obama Foundation officials said the agreement with the city of Chicago required them to establish an endowment, not fully fund it, before taking control of the site.
DOJ gives California 48 hours to review list of possible noncitizens on voter rolls
The Justice Department is threatening California with possible legal action after it says the state mailed ballots to noncitizens ahead of the midterm elections. The DOJ sent a letter on Tuesday to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber informing her that federal officials provided Los Angeles County election officials with a list of names of individuals who authorities believe to be noncitizens. Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney Trent McCotter warned that the state has 48 hours to confirm whether any of the individuals on the list were mailed ballots for the November 3 election. That deadline will expire later on Thursday. “If you cannot implement this process by then, given the ongoing federal election, the United States will have no choice but to seek emergency relief,” the letter states. MORE THAN A QUARTER-MILLION NONCITIZENS MAY BE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 4 KEY STATES, DHS ALLEGES Weber released a statement protesting the federal demands on Wednesday, connecting it to earlier efforts by the DOJ to expunge noncitizens from California’s voter rolls. DOJ GIVES NEW JERSEY 5 DAYS TO HAND OVER VOTER DATA AFTER NONCITIZEN REGISTRATION SCANDAL “In July of this year, President Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin made (still) unsubstantiated claims that California had 190,000 noncitizens on its voter rolls. Given the many high-profile examples of states purging U.S. citizens from their voter rolls based on DHS/SAVE data, SOS immediately requested written information about their methodology and data sources to back up their claims. They refused and provided California with nothing,” Weber said in a statement. “Now the USDOJ, under threat of ’emergency’ litigation, demands that California blindly trust this administration without any evidence or legal authority to justify its request,” she continued. WATCH: TRUMP DOJ VOWS TO PURSUE ‘EVERY SINGLE’ VOTING VIOLATION AFTER NJ ROLL SHOCKER “The USDOJ’s relentless efforts to unlawfully gain access to states’ protected voter data and purge voter rolls serve only to cause chaos and fuel public distrust in our elections,” Weber added. “California has robust state law requirements that only U.S. citizens can register to vote and that any non-eligible registrants are removed from the State’s voter rolls. My office and California election officials remain committed — as always — to ensuring a fair and smooth 2026 General Election.” President Donald Trump’s administration has heightened scrutiny on state voter rolls since gaining office, as part of the president’s wider interest in election integrity. TRUMP SCORES SUPREME COURT WIN IN ELECTION INTEGRITY FIGHT AS STATES GAIN NEW VOTER ROLL TOOL The administration received approval by the Supreme Court in late September to move forward with its massive voter verification system. The September 25 emergency order allowed states, for now, to use a Department of Homeland Security program called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) in their efforts to verify the eligibility of voters on their rolls, as the DOJ has done in the California case. TRUMP SCORES SUPREME COURT WIN ON MAIL-IN VOTING RESTRICTIONS BEFORE MIDTERMS The court’s order put on hold a federal judge’s June ruling that had deemed the Republican administration’s recently revamped version of SAVE illegal. U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan had blocked the use of the tool, saying it violated Americans’ privacy rights and could result in voters being wrongly removed from the rolls. The Trump administration moved to expand SAVE after the president signed an executive order directing the creation of a federal voter registration list and imposed new restrictions on eligibility for voting by mail as part of a broader effort to combat voter fraud. Fox News’ Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Talarico dismisses past comments about God and gender as ‘provocative’ while invoking Charlie Kirk
Texas’ Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico dismissed his past comments referring to God as “nonbinary” and using the Bible to justify his pro-choice stance on abortion during a Wednesday night CNN town hall. Participating in a “Jubilee”-style town hall in which voters confronted him one-on-one, Talarico met with a fellow Christian from Texas who pressed him on his past statements. “You’ve said some concerning things in the past kind of related to faith and social issues. Things such as God is nonbinary, questions about how many genders there really are and your justifications using the Bible for abortion,” Sarah Gardner, a small business owner, said to Talarico. TALARICO SAYS HE ‘HATES CHRISTIANITY’ IN UNEARTHED INTERVIEW WITH TRANSGENDER ‘LATINX’ THEOLOGIAN “And so, I think that’s led a lot of Christian voters to question the authenticity of your faith. And I wanted to ask you a very direct question. Do you believe that the Bible is the absolute source of truth and God’s final authoritative word, even when our culture says otherwise?” she asked. “Yes,” Talarico replied. “And I think it’s important to remember that even the early church, the disciples who actually knew Jesus of Nazareth, the early church, we often talk about as a singular body when, in reality, was more like early churches because there was a lot of disagreement, there was a lot of debate.” TED CRUZ, CONSERVATIVES RESPOND AFTER TALARICO CRITICIZES BIBLE-RELATED EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AS ‘PROPAGANDA’ Talarico then went on to explain his past comments as being “provocative,” drawing a parallel to his own interpretation of scripture to Charlie Kirk’s. “I actually want to clarify a few of the things that you said, because I know that this has been used in these attack ads all over the state,” he began. UNEARTHED CLIP SHOWS TALARICO CALLING PARENTS ‘ABUSIVE’ FOR DENYING CHILDREN’S GENDER IDENTITY “The first comment about God not being defined by gender, when I said that I was being provocative. And I want to admit that and come clean about that. But I think what I was saying is actually not controversial theologically. The idea that we can’t define God using human categories, not only did I say that, but the late Charlie Kirk said that, the late Pope Benedict said that. And so, yes, I was doing it, maybe in an annoying way, I can admit that,” he said. Talarico, a state senator in Texas, previously said, “God is both masculine and feminine, and everything in between. God is nonbinary. In Genesis 1:26, God speaks of God’s self in the plural, saying, ‘Let us make man in our image.’” EXPERT TEARS APART TALARICO’S VIRAL CLAIM HIS AGENDA IS BASED ON JESUS’S TEACHINGS: ‘BUTCHERING THE BIBLE’ He also dismissed the notion that the Bible refers to abortion. “The idea that there is a set Christian orthodoxy on the issue of abortion is just not rooted in Scripture,” he said during a 2025 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. Fox News Digital reached out to the Talarico campaign for further comment.