Armed man arrested at Trump golf course allegedly had first lady’s schedule, notes on Secret Service: reports
An armed man arrested Aug. 2 at President Donald Trump‘s California golf course allegedly had first lady Melania Trump’s schedule and detailed information about U.S. Secret Service (USSS) personnel, according to reports. Jeanine John Taele, 38, had more than 200 pages of writings that included schedules for the first lady and members of the president’s USSS detail, The Associated Press reported, citing information revealed during a Los Angeles County court hearing Wednesday. The New York Post reported that prosecutors said Taele had seven notebooks containing 208 pages of drawings and sketches of Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, lists of USSS schedules, details about individual security personnel and copies of Melania Trump‘s schedule. MAN ARRESTED AT TRUMP GOLF COURSE AHEAD OF PRESIDENT’S VISIT ALLEGEDLY HAD WEAPONS CACHE The writings also included detailed lists about surviving “off the grid,” according to the AP. Los Angeles County Judge John Lonergan Jr. called the allegations “alarming” during Wednesday’s hearing. “This case itself is alarming in this day and age with the violence that is creeping into our everyday lives, especially with our partisanship in the political environment” ahead of the midterms, Lonergan said, according to the AP. The judge suspended criminal proceedings after a pretrial evaluation indicated Taele was not mentally fit to stand trial and sent the case to a mental health court, the AP reported. TRUMP’S DECADE OF ASSASSINATION THREATS RUNS FROM BUTLER SHOOTING TO LATEST GOLF CLUB BREACH Taele was arrested earlier this month after plainclothes federal agents spotted him walking the grounds of the golf club, taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities ahead of Trump’s visit, Fox News Digital previously reported. Deputies who detained Taele allegedly found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in his pants pocket, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities searched his vehicle and recovered a loaded pistol with a round in the chamber and another magazine containing hollow-point ammunition. RECORDS REVEAL THE MASSIVE ARSENAL OHIO MAN ALLEGEDLY BUILT TO ATTACK WHITE HOUSE UFC EVENT Taele claimed he worked for the State Department and was at the golf course for a security detail. Investigators later searched Taele’s Downey home and recovered an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk ammunition, radio signal devices and multiple notebooks containing what authorities described at the time as “concerning statements.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, USSS and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have been investigating the case. SECRET SERVICE MISSED ‘MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES’ TO PREVENT TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: WATCHDOG Taele, a Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will remain jailed until a Sept. 9 hearing at Hollywood Mental Health Court, according to the AP. Taele’s public defender, A.J. Bayne, cautioned against drawing conclusions about his client’s motives. “He’s a veteran, he served our country, and I don’t know enough right now, but he has a family that loves him, that has huge support for him,” Bayne told the AP, adding that “people assume too much” about Taele’s motives. The USSS previously told Fox News Digital that it does not comment on specific protective intelligence matters, but “thoroughly investigates any information or activity that may reasonably be perceived as a protective intelligence concern or indicate a potential threat or directed interest toward any individual under Secret Service protection.” VIRGINIA MAN ACQUITTED BY INSANITY IN KILLING FLEES US DURING 48-HOUR MENTAL HOSPITAL PASS Trump addressed the arrest earlier this month. “Well, the only thing I get a little solace from is, they say only consequential presidents. And I am definitely consequential,” Trump said during an appearance on “Fox News @ Night.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the Office of the First Lady for comment. Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price and Landon Mion contributed to this reporting.
Hawley rips Flock’s sprawling surveillance web as Texas cities cut cameras over privacy and data fears
Sen. Josh Hawley is demanding answers from Flock Safety over whether its rapidly expanding network of AI-powered cameras has helped create a searchable national database of Americans’ movements as communities across the country pull the plug on the technology amid mounting privacy concerns. “Flock has assembled an unprecedented national surveillance network,” Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. “They boast more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states and more than 20 billion vehicle scans every month.” “I’m investigating Flock cameras to determine who has access to hundreds of millions of Americans’ data and what they’re doing with it,” he added. “Americans deserve answers.” POWERFUL CRIME-FIGHTING SURVEILLANCE GROWTH SPURS LAWMAKERS TO ISSUE WARNING: ‘ORWELLIAN’ Robert Frommer, director of the Institute for Justice’s Project on the Fourth Amendment, told Fox News Digital the core concern is not simply the use of cameras, but police being able to search a person’s past movements without first getting approval from a judge. “The No. 1 reform that I think is needed here is a warrant,” Frommer said. “Go to a judge, explain to the judge why you should be able to use this tool.” FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS NEED CONSTITUTIONAL GUARDRAILS BEFORE FURTHER DEPLOYMENT, TENNESSEE MAYOR ARGUES Frommer said police should still be able to act immediately in genuine emergencies, including cases involving imminent danger or missing people, but should be required to justify the search afterward if there was no time to obtain a warrant. “Most law enforcement searches are things that happen within a few days of the crime,” he said. “You don’t need to be keeping this gigantic database on everybody’s movements.” FLOCK SURVEILLANCE SPREADS ACROSS THE SOUTH AS RED STATE LAWMAKERS SEEK TO AX ‘1984’-STYLE TRACKING TOOLS Hawley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, launched the investigation Wednesday in a letter to Flock CEO Garrett Langley. The Missouri Republican said Flock’s camera network goes far beyond the discrete, local investigations for which law enforcement surveillance tools are traditionally used. LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS AT HOME DEPOT AND LOWE’S SPARK PRIVACY FEARS “Instead of serving discrete local investigations, as contemplated by our constitutional processes and safeguards, these camera networks harness artificial intelligence to pool what they capture into a national database that customers can search,” Hawley wrote. Flock’s automated license plate reader cameras capture passing vehicles and can log details, including a vehicle’s license plate, description, location and time. The Atlanta-based company markets its technology to law enforcement agencies, businesses and homeowners associations. ‘DARTH VADER’ USES DARK SIDE TO MOCK CONTROVERSIAL SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS: ‘THE EMPEROR IS A FAN OF FLOCK’ In a statement to Fox News Digital, Flock Safety spokesperson Paris Lewbel said the company had received Hawley’s letter and would respond directly to the subcommittee’s questions. “We look forward to working with Senator Hawley and the Subcommittee to provide additional context about how our technology works, the safeguards built into our platform and how law enforcement agencies use Flock to solve crime and find missing people,” Lewbel said. Hawley said law enforcement needs tools to catch offenders and keep communities safe but argued Americans should not have to surrender their privacy while carrying out everyday routines. DAVID MARCUS: CHINA TRIP A GLIMPSE INTO THE SURVEILLANCE STATE AMERICA MUST NEVER BECOME “Americans do not surrender their privacy rights when they drive to work, drop their kids off at school, or go to church,” Hawley wrote. “The Supreme Court has recognized that a comprehensive, retrospective record of a person’s movements is different in kind from ordinary observation in public.” Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, echoed Hawley’s concerns in a post Wednesday on X, arguing the Fourth Amendment “is not up for ‘compromise.’” “Our Founders did not risk their lives so a CEO could trade our rights for profit and perceived ‘safety,’” Self wrote, invoking Benjamin Franklin’s warning against giving up essential liberty for temporary safety. Axios first reported Hawley’s investigation. Frommer said Flock’s position that agencies control their own data-sharing settings does not resolve the privacy issue when those agencies can be connected to far broader networks than they realize. “The fact that they technically control the data is a false promise when reality has shown that these things are often spread much further than agencies expected,” he said. The scrutiny comes as a growing number of cities and counties reconsider their relationships with Flock, citing concerns over data sharing, privacy and the potential for misuse. On Tuesday, the Pflugerville City Council voted unanimously to end the Texas city’s agreement with Flock. City staff will turn off all 28 automated license plate reader cameras covered by the contract and disable access to the system, according to the city. “Public safety and public trust have to go hand in hand, and recent revelations about the Flock system have fueled concerns throughout the community; we can’t engage with organizations we can’t trust,” Pflugerville Mayor Doug Weiss said in a statement. Pflugerville police had used Flock cameras since 2020. The city had considered a new two-year agreement that included updated privacy, security and data policies, but officials said they lost confidence in the company’s ability to meet the city’s standards. FOREIGN ENEMIES HAVE A SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE WAY TO TRACK US TROOPS OVERSEAS, LAWMAKERS WARN “ALPR technology is a valuable investigative tool, and we have seen firsthand its ability to help protect our community during critical incidents,” Pflugerville Police Chief Willie Richards said. “But as useful as this tool is, we must have confidence that the safeguards and settings we put in place function exactly as intended. Unfortunately, we’ve lost confidence in the current system and the vendor’s ability to meet our data and privacy standards.” Lewbel said Flock respects Pflugerville’s decision and said the city had participated in Texas’ statewide sharing network, which she described as distinct from one-to-one sharing between agencies. “Statewide sharing allows participating Texas agencies to search across the network using a full license plate,” Lewbel said. “Agencies control their sharing settings and can change or revoke them at any time.” Lewbel
Justice Thomas recalls why he wasn’t friends with Alito in law school: ‘Clarence, you were scary’
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently recalled a funny conversation with Justice Samuel Alito about why they weren’t friends during their time at Yale Law School. When asked why they were never friends at the Ivy League institution, Alito told Thomas he was “scary.” Thomas sat down with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for a rare interview in which the pair discussed race, politics and a variety of other issues on an episode of the “Verdict with Ted Cruz” podcast, which aired Wednesday. CLARENCE THOMAS SCORCHES RACIAL LITMUS TESTS POLICING THOUGHT: ‘STAY BLACK AND DIE’ Thomas was talking about his Supreme Court colleagues when he noted that Alito attended Yale a year behind him. “He was a year behind you. But you didn’t know each other,” Cruz said. “He’s a funny guy. He’s brilliant. He was always nerdy. Princeton guy like you, right?” Thomas replied. Thomas then recalled asking Alito about their time at the university. “So I said, ‘Sam, how come we were there two years together? Why weren’t we friends?’” Thomas recalled. JUSTICE THOMAS REVEALS THIS ELITE INSTITUTION IS ‘OFF LIMITS’ TO HIM: ‘THAT’S THE WORLD WE’RE IN’ “‘Clarence, you were scary,’” Thomas said Alito told him. The justice explained that he wore bib overalls and combat boots throughout law school. “I’m so glad they didn’t have these phones where you could take a lot of pictures,” he added. During an appearance Wednesday on “The Will Cain Show,” Cruz noted that Thomas was a “left-wing radical” in college before eventually embracing conservatism. “He journeyed to become an extraordinary thinker,” Cruz said. “No other justice has overcome so much adversity to reach the very pinnacle of American law.”
Trump’s lawyers put Dem AG on notice for targeting his family in NY fraud fight: ‘Cannot stand’
On Wednesday, representatives of President Donald Trump filed a brief in the New York Court of Appeals, arguing the court should throw out his liability finding in a $464 million civil fraud case that centered on Trump’s real estate valuations. The reply, made in response to an appeal from New York Attorney General Lititia James’ efforts to resurrect those penalties after a lower court tossed them out, argues the case had several legal flaws that should have prevented it from being heard in the first place. “This case should have never been brought, and the judgment cannot stand,” the appeal states. “This case is extremely unusual; it involves not only reams of improper statements targeting President Trump, his family, and his businesses, but also a decision to apply [New York law] against those targets in a completely unprecedented and unlawful way.” The response is the latest instance of President Donald Trump pushing back against what he has characterized as politically charged lawfare that he endured between his two administrations. It also gives Trump a renewed opportunity to push back against some of the penalties that still apply to him from that verdict. LETITIA JAMES HAMMERED AFTER NY MEDICAID FRAUD UNIT FUNDING FROZEN OVER INEFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT In 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump, alleging 200 instances of fraud. Specifically, her office alleged that Trump had routinely overvalued properties in New York City to secure favorable loans or insurance rates in violation of New York Executive Law § 63(12). The provision instructs the attorney general to prosecute cases of repeated fraudulent or illegal acts. The law defines fraud as “any device, scheme or artifice to defraud and any deception, misrepresentation, concealment, suppression, false pretense, false promise or unconscionable contractual provision.” Trump was found liable in 2023. As a result, Trump was required to pay $355 million plus interest in damages and was banned from serving as an officer or director of any New York company for two years. He was also banned from applying for loans from any New York bank or financial institution for three years. Although an intermediate appeals court later vacated the monetary award, Trump’s lawyers argue the underlying liability finding and the remaining restrictions should also be overturned. APOLOGIES AND CASH HEADED TO ALLEGED ‘WEAPONIZATION’ VICTIMS IN BILLION-DOLLAR TRUMP SETTLEMENT The appeal filed Wednesday argues against the verdict along five key lines. The document argues that Attorney General James lacked the authority to bring the case, noting that the case involves private commercial transactions rather than harm to the public. It also contends that Trump’s valuations reflected subjective estimates that lenders independently evaluated rather than fraudulent misrepresentations. “The only supposed ‘victims’ here are a handful of ultrasophisticated banks and insurers that have never claimed to be injured, were eager to do business with President Trump and his family, and made over $100 million from these transactions,” the appeal states. The appeal further argues that the prosecution’s premise of overvaluation is based on the misguided idea that real estate has one objective value and that deviations from that value must be fraud. “Under that breathtakingly broad theory, NYAG can second-guess any business transaction in this State on almost any imagined grounds,” the filing states. And, on the penalties, the appeal argues that the $450 million disgorgement is excessive, unlawful and even unconstitutional. Finally, the appeal argues that the politically charged nature of the case, on its own, should have been enough to halt its consideration. “NYAG cannot point to a single Section 63(12) enforcement action against similarly situated developers (or any other type of defendant) based on practices comparable to those alleged here,” the filing states. TRUMP PICKS JAMES MCDONALD TO LEAD POWERFUL SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AFTER JAY CLAYTON’S DEPARTURE “Ms. James repeatedly called President Trump a ‘criminal’; promised to ‘investigate President Trump and his business transactions,’ ‘review … Trump-related real estate transactions,’ and ‘take on … his business in New York’; and threatened President Trump’s ‘family’ and ‘anyone in his orbit,” the document states. James’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Hegseth upgrades Abbey Gate Marines’ valor awards after 5-year delay: ‘Those days are over’
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth upgraded valor awards Wednesday for three Marines who risked their lives to save others during the deadly Abbey Gate bombing, saying their original award submissions were “inappropriately” downgraded after one of the darkest days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “For half a decade, this building allowed bureaucratic caution, or maybe politics, to stand in the way of proper recognition,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon ceremony marking exactly five years since the Aug. 26, 2021, terrorist attack. “Today, on this milestone anniversary, we declare that those days are over.” WOUNDED MARINES RELIVE THE HARROWING KABUL AIRPORT ATTACK IN EXPLOSIVE NEW FOX NATION DOCUMENTARY Hegseth presented upgraded Bronze Star Medals with “V” devices for valor to Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby and Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston. Cpl. Michael Gretzon received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a “V” device for valor. “For too long, leadership in this capital city failed to match that frontline courage with administrative backbone, inappropriately downgrading the original award submissions that these men rightfully deserved,” Hegseth said. MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JAMES CAPERS JR. SAYS RECOGNITION IS BITTERSWEET AFTER LOSING ‘SO MUCH’ Eby, then a staff sergeant, was screening evacuees from an exposed position when the suicide bomber struck. With his platoon commander and half his platoon wounded or killed, Eby took command, rallied his remaining Marines to establish security and helped evacuate the wounded, according to his award citation. His actions “undoubtedly saved the lives of many,” the citation said. Houston was roughly 32 feet from the blast and knocked unconscious. He awoke with shrapnel wounds but remained in an exposed position to cover fellow Marines and provide lifesaving treatment to those more seriously wounded, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said. Houston concealed his injuries because he feared being taken out of the fight and later removed shrapnel from his own body before receiving medical treatment. “I don’t know where we find such men, but I’m not sure we deserve them,” Commandant Gen. Smith said. Gretzon was also struck by shrapnel, suffering an arm wound severe enough that he applied his own tourniquet. After medical personnel bandaged him, he immediately returned to his squad and continued helping until his platoon sergeant personally ordered him to the casualty collection point, Smith said. ARMY VET LAWMAKER MARKS ABBEY GATE ANNIVERSARY WITH BLISTERING MESSAGE FOR BIDEN-HARRIS: ‘ABJECT FAILURE’ The ISIS-K suicide bombing killed 13 American service members as U.S. forces carried out the final evacuation from Afghanistan. The fallen were Marine Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui; Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak; and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss. REMEMBERING THE COLLEAGUES WE LOST: A VETERAN’S MEMORIAL DAY REFLECTION “Today our hearts remain anchored to the memory of the 13 warriors who gave their last measure of devotion on August 26th of 2021,” the ceremony’s chaplain said, asking for continued comfort for their Gold Star families. The award upgrades come as the War Department’s Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel continues examining the attack and withdrawal. AMERICA’S PROMISE TO OUR AFGHAN ALLIES IS STILL UNFINISHED FIVE YEARS LATER Sean Parnell, who chairs the panel, said Wednesday that investigators recently recovered “highly relevant classified documents,” material he said should have been disclosed but was “stashed and hidden away in safes where they would not be found.” After investigators examined the material, Parnell said, “it became clear why someone tried to hide them.” MOSCOW, TALIBAN FORGE MILITARY ALLIANCE IN POWER GRAB AFTER US AFGHANISTAN EXIT: REPORTS Parnell did not disclose the documents’ contents because they are classified, and the War Department has not publicly identified who allegedly concealed them. Hegseth said the broader Afghanistan review is ongoing and that the department expects to have a full report to provide by the end of the calendar year. “Marines, on this fifth anniversary, your valor is now officially, permanently and properly recognized,” Hegseth said. “You represent the very heart of peace through strength.” The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
NFL owner’s prostitution arrest puts top Dem committee on defense: ‘So desperate for cash’
Jed York, the owner of the San Francisco 49ers, donated thousands of dollars to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) before authorities arrested him Monday in a trailer park for allegedly attempting to solicit prostitution. York was arrested on one charge of “engaging in prostitution” and another for “possessing criminal tools,” according to court documents. York reportedly tried to solicit prostitution for $140. 49ERS OWNER JED YORK ARRESTED FOR ‘ENGAGING IN PROSTITUTION’ IN OHIO, PLEADS NO CONTEST TO LESSER CHARGES The engaging in prostitution charge was later downgraded to a “disorderly conduct” charge, according to court filings. York, who grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced to one day in a Columbiana County jail for the two charges and paid a $1,285 criminal fine. Despite the unflattering details, it’s unclear if the DCCC plans to give back a $2,500 donation, which was made last June. The group did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. “We all know that the DCCC is broke, but apparently they’re so desperate for cash they’ll cling to $2,500 through a prostitution scandal,” Mike Marinella, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. For his own part, York has a long history of donating to prominent Democrats going back to 2012, including contributions to Kamala Harris’ Senate campaign in 2015, Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid in 2016 and Rep. Ro Khanna’s, D-Calif., re-election bid in 2024. KHANNA TORCHES DEMOCRATS FOR RUNNING ‘STATUS QUO’ CANDIDATES, ADMITS WORKING-CLASS VOTERS WERE ‘SHAFTED’ In total, York has donated over $40,000 to Democratic candidates. York turned heads in 2016 when he made it the San Francisco 49ers’ official stance to oppose gender-consistent bathroom legislation in North Carolina. “The San Francisco 49ers are deeply concerned about North Carolina’s recently enacted House Bill 2, which overturned protections for LGBT people and sanctioned discrimination across the state. HB 2 does not reflect the values of our organization, of our country or the majority of North Carolinians,” York said in a statement. York also donated $75,000 to efforts to repeal the bathroom bill. When asked about his political leanings in a 2017 interview over controversies about NFL players protesting the national anthem, York pushed back on characterizations that put him in the camp of far-left figures. “I’m not the most left-wing person in the world. I realize people are trying to sort of paint me as that. That’s not my background politically and how I grew up. But I think a lot of these things are common sense issues. When you actually sit down and talk with people, and you know where people come from, it’s hard not to be sympathetic and empathetic,” York told local media. MORE DETAILS ABOUT JED YORK’S ARREST IN A PROSTITUTION STING COME TO LIGHT AND BEGS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 49ERS His single largest donation was a $5,000 contribution to the America 2.0 PAC, a group established by former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, in March 2021. York later donated to Ryan on several other occasions, totaling $19,400. York did not respond to inquiries about his political donations and whether the DCCC would reimburse his contribution. Khanna also did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiry.
America’s heartland comes face-to-face with 9/11 history as 25th anniversary nears
A nearly 17,000-pound piece of steel from the World Trade Center’s South Tower made its way to Cincinnati, giving people hundreds of miles from Ground Zero a rare chance to stand face-to-face with a piece of 9/11 history. “Never forgetting the sacrifice and bravery of our nation’s heroes, as well as our lost loved ones, is a generational promise that every American can help keep,” Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller told Fox News Digital. The 21-foot steel beam is making its way across the country as part of Tunnel to Towers’ Steel Across America tour, a traveling memorial marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Former Marine infantryman Scott Nokes, a Tunnel to Towers ambassador and employee, joined local firefighters, FDNY members, veterans, first responders and community members in bringing the beam to the Cincinnati Fire Museum Saturday. TUNNEL TO TOWERS ANNOUNCES STEEL ACROSS AMERICA TOUR TO MARK 25 YEARS SINCE 9/11 ATTACKS “I know firsthand what it means to have the Tunnel to Towers Foundation show up for you when you need it most,” Nokes said at the event. “This foundation changes lives. It changed mine. When I stand before this steel and think about the men and women we lost on September 11, I feel an obligation to make sure their story keeps being told. I am honored to be here today as part of this journey.” MASSIVE PIECE OF 9/11 HISTORY MAKES STUNNING 10,500-MILE JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA New Jersey native Nokes was deployed twice to Afghanistan before leaving the service to pursue firefighting. In 2016, he went into septic shock, and life-saving treatment left him a double below-the-knee amputee and legally blind. Through Tunnel to Towers’ Smart Home Program, Nokes received a custom, mortgage-free smart home in December 2019 designed to help him live more independently. In addition to working and representing T2T, Nokes mentors for Neptune Emergency Services. The stop gave community members, first responders, veterans and residents a chance to see the artifact in person during a ceremony featuring a color guard, bagpipes, the national anthem, a blessing of the beam, a moment of silence, remarks from fire and city leaders and a steel flag presentation. AS AMERICAN PRIDE HITS A 25-YEAR LOW, A NEW 9/11 EDUCATION PLATFORM URGES THE NATION TO NEVER FORGET The steel beam has served as a traveling memorial to the victims and first responders of 9/11, offering pop-up events across 21 different states leading up to the anniversary of the tragic day. After Cincinnati, the tour heads into its final stretch, with stops scheduled at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Sept. 1, the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston Sept. 3 and the White House on Sept. 8 before returning to New York City. The foundation provides mortgage-free, fully accessible smart homes for catastrophically injured U.S. veterans and first responders. The foundation is honoring the 343 FDNY firefighters who died on 9/11 by delivering 343 mortgage-free homes this year.
2028 Dem hopeful slaps Trump administration with lawsuit over mail-in voting after major SCOTUS victory
With the November midterms approaching, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is joining attorneys general from 23 states and Washington, D.C., in suing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) over a Trump-backed mail-in ballot rule that would impose new federal requirements on how states prepare and send mail ballots. “I’m suing the Trump Administration to stop their unconstitutional attempt to change the rules and restrict mail-in voting. I’ll remind the President of my track record going up against him in court — and winning — to protect Pennsylvania’s free, fair, safe, and secure elections. I’m prepared to do so again,” Shapiro wrote on X. “Nothing about voting by mail has changed here in Pennsylvania. You can still vote safely and securely by mail. “While Donald Trump may try to inject chaos into our elections, the Constitution is clear: the authority to set election rules belongs to the states — not the federal government.” The two-dozen state coalition returned to court two days after the Supreme Court stayed an earlier injunction issued by a Massachusetts federal judge against key parts of Trump’s mail-voting executive order, finding the states’ initial challenge premature because USPS had not yet issued a final rule when they filed suit. TRUMP SCORES SUPREME COURT WIN ON MAIL-IN VOTING RESTRICTIONS BEFORE MIDTERMS “The Supreme Court ruling was a major win for the security of American elections. Radical Democrats continue to oppose commonsense measures that protect the security of mail-in ballots and ensure only Americans are electing American leaders,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The Trump administration will continue to lawfully enact the agenda President Trump was elected on, which includes the safety and security of our elections.” At issue is USPS’s newly finalized “Ballot Mail for Federal Elections” rule, which went into effect last week and was published Wednesday. It would require state and local election officials to submit information on intended mail-in ballot recipients to a USPS portal, where the agency would compile state-specific lists of enrolled mail voters. It would also require certain mail-in ballot design requirements, such as trackable barcodes, and require officials to submit ballot-envelope designs to USPS for pre-approval. In their 53-page complaint, the states argue that the rule improperly gives USPS a new role in running elections, forcing election officials to adopt new procedures, share ballot recipient information and potentially replace already-purchased envelopes as the midterms draw closer. They also argue that Congress, not the president or Postal Service, has the authority to alter election rules and that USPS skipped a review process for major nationwide changes to postal services or operations. NEWSOM PROMISES NEW LEGAL FIGHT AFTER TRUMP GETS SUPREME COURT VICTORY ON MAIL-IN VOTING The coalition is asking the court to block the rule while the lawsuit proceeds and ultimately throw it out, arguing that their new challenge answers the Supreme Court’s timing concern. A separate Massachusetts injunction had temporarily blocked the USPS from putting the requirements in place for the November midterms, but the judge lifted that order Wednesday after the Supreme Court’s ruling. “This Court held that ‘no law enacted by Congress delegates authority to control mail-in voting to USPS,’ and that the President’s directives to USPS were ultra vires,” the states wrote in their complaint. “The Supreme Court subsequently stayed the injunction — not because Plaintiff States’ claims lacked merit, but because the States ‘lack[ed] standing to bring’ their claims as to the [Executive Order]. “As the Court explained, USPS had not yet implemented the EO, but if USPS ultimately adopts a final rule that ‘harms the States, they may challenge that rule.’ USPS then published its final rule two days later.” The USPS did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment in time for publication.
Dem senator turns ‘leader of the free world’ title on its head with Zelenskyy remarks
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons is facing backlash after declaring that the United States is “no longer” the leader of the free world and pointing instead to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the national leader putting his country “on the line for freedom.” “I would say we are no longer the leaders of the free world. In fact, if anything, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the primary national leader who is putting his country’s men and women on the line for freedom,” Coons said during a town hall earlier this month. “We need to earn our place back as leader in the free world in the future.” Coons’ remarks underscore his long-running alignment with Kyiv at a moment when President Donald Trump is pressing for an end to the war and putting a renewed emphasis on American power and national pride. TRUMP HAILS AMERICA AS ‘MOST EXCEPTIONAL NATION EVER TO EXIST’ IN MOUNT RUSHMORE SPEECH The Delaware Democrat has been one of Congress’ more outspoken supporters of Ukraine, repeatedly backing military aid, tougher sanctions on Russia and continued U.S. engagement with Zelenskyy’s government. Coons spoke with Dover, Delaware, Councilman Andre Boggerty alongside Rep. Sarah McBride in a virtual town hall Tuesday hosted by the Kent County Democratic Committee focused on local issues. Coons has been a vocal advocate for sustained U.S. support for Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, repeatedly pressing for military assistance and tougher sanctions on Moscow. Coons visited Kyiv in 2022 to meet with Zelenskyy and visited Odesa with Senate Foreign Relations Committee members in February to reiterate “the ironclad, bipartisan support” for Ukraine, according to a press release. Nick Adams, special presidential envoy for American tourism, exceptionalism and values, told Fox News Digital Coons’ comments are “the essence of America last.” “The United States is today, has been since 1776, and with God’s grace, always will be the leader of the free world. To suggest otherwise is to ignore our Constitution and the bloodshed by our heroes who made sure that our Declaration of Independence would not just be a theoretical document but the beginning of a new era in the history of humanity,” Adams said. Adams added that no other nation can hold a candle to America, pointing to its constitutional freedoms, founding principles of liberty and belief that natural rights transcend government authority. WORLD LEADERS, DIGNITARIES PAY TRIBUTE TO AMERICA ON HISTORIC 250TH BIRTHDAY “To say otherwise is to reveal an unbelievable ignorance as to what our nation is, where we came from and how our destiny will always be shaped by the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Adams added. Conservative critics seized on Coons’ remarks, accusing him of being “anti-American.” “Wow! This is truly sick behavior. Sen. Chris Coons — a Democrat who nobody has ever heard of, but nonetheless a U.S. Senator — says the U.S. is ‘no longer the leaders of the free world’ because ‘Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the primary national leader,’” the White House’s Rapid Response account wrote on X. “Imagine asserting this. What an absolute clown,” one user wrote. “Chris Coons has always been an anti-American fraud. He’s a total coward,” another person said. ZELENSKYY PRESSURES US AND EUROPE FOR MORE ‘AIR DEFENSE’ ASSISTANCE AMID ONGOING WAR WITH RUSSIA “What an embarrassment he is — Ukraine hasn’t held elections since 2019,” a user commented. The Russia-Ukraine war has dragged on for more than four years, with Kyiv holding off a larger Russian force while facing manpower shortages and relying heavily on continued Western weapons. Zelenskyy met with Trump in the Oval Office July 28, and the two discussed licensing Ukraine to produce Patriot missile interceptors as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its air defenses. Coons’ office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s press inquiry.
Democrats condemning Hasan Piker as backlash spreads through party
Prominent Democrats are lining up to condemn far-left streamer Hasan Piker after he warned that American Jews could face violence if they continue to be seen as strongly supporting Israel. The backlash follows a stream last week in which Piker displayed an image of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss, who is Jewish and the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District. Moss has said a fake audio clip is being circulated that falsely portrays him as saying he ran for Congress solely to ensure continued U.S. support for Israel. “If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone is going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews,” Piker said. PIKER DEMANDS DEMOCRATS DEFEND HIM FROM ATTACKS, CLAIMS HE’S NO ‘TOXIC RADICAL FORCE’ Piker’s comments drew criticism from top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and DNC Chair Ken Martin, as well as lawmakers who have criticized him before. Others who have appeared with Piker or defended engaging with him are now pushing back on his remarks. Here are the Democrats speaking out: Jeffries joined the backlash Monday, initially without mentioning Piker by name. The House Democratic leader called the claim that American Jews were inviting violence against themselves “dangerous and antisemitic.” Asked on CNN the following day whether he was referring to Piker, Jeffries said yes. “Those comments were dangerous, malicious and antisemitic and should not be tolerated by anyone in the public square,” Jeffries said. Schneider was one of the first Democratic lawmakers to publicly take on Piker, calling him an “unapologetic antisemite” in March and warning fellow Democrats against giving a platform to people who espouse hate. PIKER DEMANDS DEMOCRATS DEFEND HIM FROM ATTACKS, CLAIMS HE’S NO ‘TOXIC RADICAL FORCE’ Schneider renewed that criticism Tuesday, saying Piker’s latest remarks were consistent with his “history of antisemitic statements.” “Hasan Piker’s hateful ideas and antisemitic remarks have no place in America or our nation’s politics,” Schneider said. Slotkin, who had previously criticized Piker and his involvement in Michigan Democratic politics, spoke out again after his latest comments. “No community should face the threat [of] violence for their political views,” Slotkin said, rejecting the idea that Jewish Americans should be blamed for antisemitism directed at them. Stevens criticized Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed earlier this year for campaigning with Piker and made clear she would not do the same. Piker was the “exact opposite” of someone she would campaign with, Stevens said. She later said she believed Piker should be condemned. Booker’s team had already kept its distance from Piker, turning down an appearance with the streamer over his past comments. Booker went further this week, directly condemning Piker’s rhetoric about Jewish Americans and saying it has no place in public discourse. In April, McMorrow criticized Piker’s role in Michigan Democratic politics and his inflammatory style. She compared Piker’s approach to that of far-right commentator Nick Fuentes, arguing that both use inflammatory rhetoric to attract attention. Gottheimer has been among Piker’s most persistent Democratic critics. In April, he joined Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York in introducing a bipartisan House resolution condemning antisemitic rhetoric from Piker and Candace Owens. In an interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” Gottheimer praised Jeffries pushback against Piker, calling the streamer’s comments something “right out of the Nazi playbook,” emphasizing them as “a call for violence against Jews.” Gottheimer on Tuesday also called on House leaders to bring the resolution up for a vote. He also told CNN in an interview that anyone who does not condemn Piker’s comments is “complicit.” HASAN PIKER CALLS FOR DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSE ABDUL EL-SAYED TO BE ‘PUNISHED’ Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville drew a line between himself and part of the Democratic Party embracing Piker earlier this month. Carville said he would leave the party if Piker’s wing took control, arguing there was no room for both of them under the same political tent. He later told Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” he is not concerned about socialists taking over the Democratic Party, dismissing the party’s socialist flank as a “pack of fools” and “a bunch of silly people.” Fetterman earlier this month took aim at El-Sayed over his ties to Piker during Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. “I dare you to continue to campaign with people like Hasan Piker,” Fetterman said. Fetterman’s comments were aimed primarily at Democrats associating with Piker rather than a direct response to the streamer’s latest remarks. Moskowitz distanced himself from Piker last week after defeating a Democratic primary challenger who had Piker’s backing. The Florida Democrat made clear after the race that he wanted no association with Piker or his politics. Auchincloss rejected Piker’s politics during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” drawing a clear distinction between the streamer and the Democratic Party. “The Democratic Party does not stand for what Hasan Piker stands for,” Auchincloss said. HASAN PIKER STANDS BY ‘INTENTIONALLY PROVOCATIVE’ CLAIMS THAT HAMAS IS ‘A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER’ THAN ISRAEL Scholten issued one of the sharpest responses after Piker’s comments about American Jews and Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss. “Hasan Piker’s talk of violence against American Jews and directly naming a Michigan elected official and future member of Congress, Jeremy Moss, is unacceptable. Full stop,” Scholten said Monday. She also called Piker a “hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe” and said his rhetoric had no place in Michigan or the country. Moss, who was directly discussed during Piker’s stream, on Monday pushed back after Piker displayed his image while talking about American Jews and Israel. Moss said there was “no room for extremism in Michigan.” Khanna’s response was notable because he has appeared on Piker’s show and previously defended his decision to engage with the streamer. But on Monday, Khanna rejected Piker’s latest argument, saying antisemitism should be condemned unequivocally and that Jewish people and supporters of Israel are not responsible for antisemitism directed at them.