From handyman to House history: HVAC mogul Joe Strada pushes trade schools, business mindset in Florida race
If Republican Joe Strada wins Florida’s eleventh congressional district in three weeks, he will likely be the wealthiest individual to ever hold a seat in the US House of Representatives. It’s an impressive trajectory for a man from humble beginnings who got his start fixing equipment in a bowling alley, but always had a zest for learning, building, and working with his hands. Strada, whose HVAC, electrical and plumbing company employs roughly 4,000 people across 13 states, told Fox News Digital that his journey from handyman to wealthy entrepreneur embodies the American Dream but that neither his fortune nor his business success defines him. PULLING BILLIONS FROM HARVARD TO FUND TRADE SCHOOLS? HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TRUMP’S LATEST MOVE “How about that? Just the kid, a handyman in a bowling alley, fixing things that break…and now I’m blessed to have a business that’s in 13 states, thousands of people that work for me. It’s been a blessing and, I’m able to live the American dream. “But it’s difficult. It was difficult with the headwinds and the rules and regulations that come out of Washington, D.C. And it was very challenging …It should be difficult, but not this challenging.” Strada wants everyone to be able to benefit from the American capitalist system that brought him great success: “You know, as a business owner, I realized and recognized all the problems that Washington, D.C. is causing. All the rules and regulations that are impacting families, small business owners all across the country. And I finally said, we need a different type of person in Washington, DC. “We have enough lobbyists, politicians and attorneys there. It’s time to have a business-minded person that knows how to fix things that could go to Washington, and solve problems for the real, you know, real problems for the American people.” Strada is on a nationwide mission to pitch young people on the value of the trades, and suggests it’s a worthy alternative to racking up massive student loans: “The word of trade is really starting to spread now. Trades people, young people just want to be successful. Sometimes they don’t know there’s an opportunity in the trades. You come to my company, you don’t know how to spell AC, you don’t know what end of the screwdriver to hold, but you’re paid the very first day. We train you. We give you a career that will support yourself and your family the rest of your life. “You don’t have a $250,000 student debt, and you’re able to be successful… And my objective, not just with my company, it’s across the country. I’m working with trade schools and high schools everywhere. I’m talking to young people all over our country to come into the trades because it’s a great opportunity to live your version of the American dream.” As Strada’s HVAC company was growing throughout the country, a labor shortage prompted a serious challenge, and a major shift in business strategy: “The most difficult challenge was we had the opportunity to grow, and we didn’t have enough labor. So I had to develop a program to teach people the trade. So we could grow, and we’ve been fortunate: we’re in 13 states now and 4,000 people that work with us. We never would have done that if we didn’t develop our own training program. “I couldn’t wait for the government to come and solve my problem. I’m a business guy who solves problems and I had to go develop a training program for young people.” Strada argues that people on government assistance should also take a serious look at the trades, suggesting we have a large untapped labor pool within our own borders: “The border had to be closed, and we did a great job keeping all the criminals out of our country. And as far as getting more workers, we have Americans that want to work. We have plenty of people sitting at home getting a government paycheck. Let’s get them to work. “Some of them are just lazy and don’t want to work, others just need the opportunity and the push to say, ‘this is easy, let’s get into a trade, let’s learn a business.’ TRUMP-BACKED GOP CANDIDATE WHO OUSTED SCANDAL-PLAGUED INCUMBENT WARNS AGAINST ‘NEVER-ENDING WAR’ WITH IRAN “I’ve have plenty of people that turned out to be an entrepreneur. They’ve opened their own business, and I’m very happy and gratified when I’m helping people.” Hard work is at the foundation of Strada’s success, and he argues an inherent part of that economic success is bringing others along: “You know, most people think when you’re successful, it was handed to you. I got to tell you, David, I’m proud of the hard work my father did, but it was tough growing up. We were fortunate, we had a swimming pool, but it was mainly, a lot of times it was green because we couldn’t afford chlorine. It was the best Marco Polo pool in the neighborhood. “I started with nothing. It’s just hard work. The passion and drive to want to be successful, to achieve goals. And it’s always about everybody wins. My employees have to win. My customers have to win, the company has to win and that’s the position I like to be in is to be able to help sit at a table, moderate those kinds of things and execute those results.” Ultimately, Strada downplays the importance of money, and emphasizes character, while revealing that his greatest motivation in life was born from a family tragedy: “I wake up every day the same person I was when I was 12 years old that I am today. I’ve been blessed to be wealthy. I worked hard. I don’t apologize for it…But you know, money is just a number. My perspective is everybody puts their head on the pillow at the end of the night. And when you put your head on your pillow, what do you stand for? What’s the
Ilhan Omar should be jailed, deported if citizenship fraud proven, Top House Republican says
EXCLUSIVE: The highest-ranking House lawmaker from Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home state is calling for the embattled progressive to be jailed and deported if it is found that she or her father lied on federal paperwork to get her U.S. citizenship. Omar, D-Minn., is under federal investigation over allegations that she or her father lied about her birth year on immigration paperwork in order to obtain her citizenship when her family fled Somalia in the late 1990s. She and other Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have denounced the probe as political persecution of one of President Donald Trump’s detractors weeks before a critical election. But Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the No. 3 leader in the House of Representatives, told Fox News Digital that “there have been rumors for years” about Omar and, if proven true, she should face consequences. “I would say first she should probably serve time in the gray bar motel and then get the hell out of here. She should go back to where she came from” if the allegations are proven to be true, Emmer said. “If it’s determined that she lied to gain citizenship, then absolutely, she should go back to the front of the line.” REP ILHAN OMAR’S IMMIGRATION HISTORY FACES NEW SCRUTINY AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA RELATIVES Omar is a member of the House “Squad,” a far-left clique that includes Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. FEDERAL AGENTS RAID ILHAN OMAR’S DC HOME AMID IMMIGRATION FRAUD INVESTIGATION Federal agents raided Omar’s Washington, D.C., home earlier this week and took her cellphone and other possessions. The allegations stem from her father becoming a U.S. citizen in 2000. Omar was believed to be 17 at the time, and as a minor was automatically qualified for citizenship under U.S. law along with him. HOMAN CONFIRMS ‘CRIMINAL’ INVESTIGATION INVOLVING ILHAN OMAR, SAYS HE KNOWS ‘THINGS ARE GOING ON’ But recently, it’s been alleged that she was actually 18 and would have needed to go through the process herself at that point. “I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” Omar posted on X after the raid. “I will not be silenced.” DEMOCRATS’ FURY OVER ILHAN OMAR RAID DRAWS STINGING GOP REMINDER ABOUT RAID FROM THE PAST: ‘SET THE PRECEDENT’ Omar’s allies and other critics of the probe have called it an unprecedented action with less than three weeks before Election Day on Nov. 3. Jeffries and his top deputies said in a joint statement that the raid was “deeply disturbing and raises serious questions about the continued corrupt weaponization of the federal government against Donald Trump’s adversaries.” Emmer argued it was not political. He said that the existence of a judicially authorized search warrant, which the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was being acted on, meant there was a reasonable basis to believe the allegations could be true. “That judge had to determine that there was probable cause that a federal crime has been committed. And I’ll tell you what, as long as it was Ilhan Omar, it was going to be scrutinized to the very detail,” Emmer said. “So the fact that they issued the warrant in the first place and then executed it, I mean maybe after all these years, someone is finally going to hold Ilhan Omar accountable.” Fox News Digital reached out to Omar’s congressional office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
Your bumper sticker could help Flock cameras track where you go — new bill aims to stop it
FIRST ON FOX: Americans are sounding the alarm over privacy concerns surrounding Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that can snap photos of cars and track locations, and one GOP lawmaker is moving to close the gaps. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., introduced a bill Thursday that would ban ALPR searches targeting political or religious messages on vehicles, require warrants for most searches, mandate that records be deleted within 24 hours and prohibit vendors from selling or sharing location data. “When you consider that these systems track everything that you do, where you work, where your kids go to school, where you even go to church, I think it’s pretty easy to understand why people are concerned,” Harrigan told Fox News Digital. “So that’s an extraordinary amount of information about somebody that the government has that has never committed a crime.” POWERFUL CRIME-FIGHTING SURVEILLANCE GROWTH SPURS LAWMAKERS TO ISSUE WARNING: ‘ORWELLIAN’ Flock cameras and other ALPRs have drawn widespread debate. Law enforcement uses them in criminal investigations to collect searchable license plate, location and other vehicle data that allow officers to search by location and identify vehicles matching a suspect’s vehicle description. Critics believe they raise constitutional concerns by tracking drivers without consent, while supporters say they are needed for crime prevention. President Donald Trump has voiced support for Flock cameras, telling reporters on Sept. 13 that he “sort of” likes them because of their use by law enforcement despite some people calling them “an infringement.” Harrigan’s bill would impose restrictions on all ALPR systems, including prohibiting government agencies from categorizing vehicles by “expressive attributes” like political or religious bumper stickers, flags or decals. HAWLEY RIPS FLOCK’S SPRAWLING SURVEILLANCE WEB AS TEXAS CITIES CUT CAMERAS OVER PRIVACY AND DATA FEARS “At the end of the day, they have nothing to do with whether you committed a crime or not,” Harrigan said. “As all of this data comes in and is vacuumed in by the government, it becomes searchable, particularly with the new technologies that we have surrounding artificial intelligence.” That means messages ranging from “Back the Blue” to “Jesus Saves” or “Black Lives Matter” could not be turned into searchable data. The bill would also block ALPR searches targeting political or religious activity, civil immigration violations, parking or non-moving traffic violations, debts and other civil penalties. As ALPR technology expands, Flock Safety says its systems can detect bumper stickers but cannot identify their type, “like a political party or a house of worship.” However, its AI-powered FreeForm search allows users to search vehicle characteristics “in plain terms,” raising questions about how bumper stickers and other markings could be used to identify vehicles. The company said safeguards are designed to block searches for vehicles based on political or religious bumper stickers and symbols. The bill would require law enforcement to have a probable cause warrant in most searches, with exceptions for immediate threats to someone’s life or safety. Records would have to be deleted within 24 hours, with exceptions for warrants, emergencies and court orders. It would also require agencies to log ALPR searches, publish annual reports and undergo audits. States without qualifying protections could lose 10% of certain federal criminal justice funding. Additionally, vendors would be prohibited from selling ALPR data or using it to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. And for Americans worried about their Fourth Amendment rights, the bill would offer legal protections, allowing people to sue over illegal searches for at least $1,000 per violation and keep illegally obtained evidence out of court. TEXAS GOV. GREG ABBOTT MOVES TO CUT STATE FUNDING FOR AI-POWERED FLOCK CAMERAS AMID PRIVACY CONCERNS In August, The Washington Post found that at least 50 officers had been accused or charged with misusing license plate readers. Some reportedly used them to spy on romantic partners, exes or other women, with Flock’s system used in 46 cases. Harrigan said the bill would not stop the technology from being used as an investigative tool and would instead place limits on how far law enforcement can go. “Simultaneously, when we have technology that can benefit humanity and our experience here as Americans and make America safer, we should leverage that. But we have to strike the right balance,” he said. He said he believes lawmakers can get behind the bill “regardless of your political philosophy.” “Protecting Americans from criminals and protecting their constitutional rights, to me, those are two core responsibilities of government,” he said. “And I think that that’s something that members on both sides of the aisle can get behind.” Fox News Digital reached out to Flock Safety for comment but did not hear back before publication.
Ilhan Omar’s turbulent week explained: The dueling probes that threw the Somali-born progressive into chaos
It was a week of legal turmoil for one of America’s most recognizable members of Congress. Early Monday morning, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the chief investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), executed a search warrant on the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. The raid was part of an ongoing criminal probe into Omar’s immigration status, with sources telling Fox News Digital that authorities are scrutinizing whether she or her father committed fraud when filling out paperwork for her to become a U.S. citizen. A day later, U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro, announced her office was investigating Omar’s financial disclosures, which had previously been subject to public scrutiny and congressional oversight, but never by authorities. FEDERAL AGENTS RAID ILHAN OMAR’S DC HOME AMID IMMIGRATION FRAUD INVESTIGATION Fox News Digital breaks down what we know so far about each investigation: In May 2025, Omar filed financial disclosure forms for the year 2024, a requirement for every member of Congress to complete every year. It showed that she had between $6 million and $30 million in assets connected to two businesses run by her husband, Tim Mynett. One was a venture capital firm, and the other was a California winery. Her financial disclosures from the year prior, covering 2023, said those assets were only valued at between $15,000 and $51,000 total. The now-defunct winery, eStCru LLC, saw its reported valuation jump from between $15,000 and $50,000 in 2023 to between $1 million and $5 million in 2024. Rose Lake Capital LLC showed an even sharper increase, rising from a reported value of between $1 and $1,000 in 2023 to between $5 million and $25 million the following year. The massive reported spike in net worth over the one-year span raised eyebrows, leading a watchdog group called the National Legal and Policy Center to file a complaint with the Office of Congressional Conduct in February of this year. ‘SQUAD’ DEM DISMISSES FRAUD PROBE SPECULATION AFTER $29M NET-WORTH DROP Less than a month after the complaint was filed, Omar amended her 2025 disclosure form. The new filing reduced the couple’s combined reported assets to between $18,004 and $95,000 and said the businesses had zero value after accounting for liabilities. ILHAN OMAR’S OFFICE SAYS SHE’S ‘NOT A MILLIONAIRE’ AFTER $30M FILING REVISED DOWN TO UNDER $100K: REPORT Omar blamed an accounting error and has since repeatedly insisted that she is not a millionaire. In September, the Office of Congressional Conduct voted 5-1 to recommend that the House Ethics Committee dismiss misconduct allegations stemming from the financial disclosures. But the hubbub caught the eye of Pirro, who confirmed on Fox News’ “America Reports” Tuesday that her office is investigating the discrepancies. Further details about the investigation have not yet been released. Monday’s judicially authorized raid of Omar’s Washington, D.C., home sent shock waves through the political world, with many critics calling it politically motivated because it occurred three weeks before November’s general elections. The Trump administration has denied those accusations. DEMOCRATS’ FURY OVER ILHAN OMAR RAID DRAWS STINGING GOP REMINDER ABOUT RAID FROM THE PAST: ‘SET THE PRECEDENT’ HSI agents spent several hours at Omar’s home, and The Wall Street Journal reported that the lawmaker’s personal cell phone, computers and passport were seized during the search. She has not been seen publicly since before the raid. Sources told Fox News Digital that investigators are scrutinizing whether Omar or her father fraudulently filled out immigration paperwork when Omar became a U.S. citizen decades ago. The Journal also reported that the goal of the probe is to strip Omar of her citizenship. A dozen people, including family members, were subpoenaed in relation to the investigation. FEDERAL AGENTS SEIZE PHONE OF REP ILHAN OMAR IN RAID TIED TO IMMIGRATION FRAUD PROBE “Well, I understand they’re looking at her very carefully,” President Donald Trump said Monday of the raid. “I’ve always found her to be totally crooked, personally, but that has nothing to do with me.” “I think she’s a terrible person. Just a complainer. She comes from a country that is … a non-country, and then she comes over here, and she complains about our Constitution,” he continued. “I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ. I have nothing to do with it.” On Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital after rallying for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Tyler, Texas, Vice President JD Vance echoed a similar sentiment. “We don’t want to be like the Biden administration. We never want to be like that — where they would allow the law to go after their political opponents,” Vance said. “We really want to let the law, the facts drive this. And if justice requires something else be done, then, of course, we’ll take a step when we have to.” ILHAN OMAR’S EMBATTLED HUSBAND APPEARS AT SCENE OF HSI RAID IN MIDST OF CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION Vance made it clear that taking that unprecedented step of denaturalizing a sitting member of Congress is possible, but only if the law requires it based on the facts of the case. “And to the question of it being unprecedented, I mean, what I’d say is that Ilhan Omar herself is a very unprecedented person,” Vance said. “We have very rarely had a person in Congress who seems to have such disdain and such rage at the country that gave her a better life,” Vance said. “Now, that’s not a crime.” “But we’re going to see whether she did commit a crime. And if she did, we’re obviously going to follow the law.” A spokesperson for Omar did not return multiple requests for comment throughout the week. However, Omar has responded on social media. “This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies,” she said. “For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted
Income inequality at Obama Foundation, as brass thrives and rank and file seeks union
FIRST ON FOX: The beleaguered Obama Foundation has an income inequality problem: While half of its employees earn six-figure salaries, led by CEO Valerie Jarrett at $771,000, dozens at the other end of the scale are fighting for union representation. The workplace disparity comes to light just as Fox News Digital reported that the long-delayed Obama Presidential Center’s price tag hit $1 billion — nearly triple the original estimate for the Chicago facility. The Obama Foundation, former President Barack Obama’s private nonprofit, reported 172 employees receiving more than $100,000 in salary in its 2025 tax filing — roughly half its 342 reported employees. Jarrett, one of former President Barack Obama’s closest advisors and a former senior White House official, has led the Obama Foundation since 2021, overseeing the final years of construction of the Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side. OBAMA’S BILLION-DOLLAR BABY: CHICAGO CENTER’S PRICE TAG HITS MONUMENTAL MILESTONE, TRIPLING ORIGINAL ESTIMATE Her total pay rose by around $15,500 from 2024 and she is one of at least four of the nonprofit’s 10 highest-paid executives with previous ties to the Obama White House or campaign. “The Foundation pays our employees rates that are competitive with the market,” Emily Bittner, the Obama Foundation’s vice president of communications, told Fox News Digital. “We have more than 500 employees worldwide, roughly 300 of whom are based at the Center.” The current workforce of more than 500 is substantially larger than the 342 employees reported in the Obama Foundation’s 2025 tax filing, which covers the year ending nearly six months before the Presidential Center opened in June. The nonprofit did not provide an updated payroll breakdown. The Obama Foundation saw its annual payroll and benefits bill come in at $50.4 million in 2025, soaring from $18.5 million in 2018. The nonprofit brought in approximately $159 million in revenue last year, of which nearly $151 million consisted of contributions and grants. The spending surge came as the Obama Foundation expanded its leadership and civic programs at home and abroad while racing to finish the beleaguered Presidential Center. The sprawling 19.3-acre campus sits on publicly owned parkland in Chicago’s Jackson Park. Brian Mittendorf, an accounting professor at Ohio State University who specializes in nonprofit finances, said the proportion of Obama Foundation employees earning more than $100,000 stood out compared with a typical nonprofit, but noted that the organization relies heavily on specialized staff. “That’s clearly higher percentage than your average nonprofit,” Mittendorf told Fox News Digital. “But here we’re dealing with a nonprofit that’s probably very expertise heavy. It’s very heavy on like the think tank side. And as you look at a think tank, it would look very differently than say a local food bank.” Mittendorf said the Obama Foundation’s employees likely possess specialized skills that could command substantial pay elsewhere. “So it does reflect that a lot of their employees are ones that they would consider having an outside opportunity that would justify them getting paid at that level,” he said. “Like I said, it is atypical for a standard nonprofit, but probably not that unusual for a nonprofit of its type.” The Obama Foundation also reported a higher proportion of employees receiving more than $100,000 than five other presidential nonprofits examined by Fox News Digital. Roughly half its reported workforce exceeded that threshold in 2025, compared with 37% at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, 29% at the Carter Center, 23% at the Clinton Foundation, 13% at the Reagan Foundation and 10% at the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, according to their respective 2024 tax filings, the most recent available for the review. OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER’S $470M SAFETY NET UNDER SCRUTINY AS SUBCONTRACTORS SAY THEY’RE OWED MILLIONS Jarrett’s salary rose from approximately $581,000 when she took over as CEO in 2021 to $740,000 in 2022, remaining at that level through 2024 before climbing to nearly $755,000 in 2025. For comparison, Fox News Digital reviewed the latest available tax filings from five other major presidential foundations, all of which reported lower CEO salaries than Jarrett’s $771,000 in 2025. The Reagan Foundation paid its CEO approximately $735,000 and the Carter Center $531,000 for fiscal years ending in 2025, while the George W. Bush Presidential Center paid its top officer $661,000, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation $426,600 and the Clinton Foundation $425,000 for 2024. Beyond Jarrett, several former Obama administration officials continued to collect hefty six-figure paychecks at the Obama Foundation. Christina Tchen, former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama, received approximately $431,000 in salary in 2025, while Michael Strautmanis, a former Obama campaign and White House aide, collected approximately $404,000. Laura Lucas Magnuson, a former White House communications official, received approximately $396,000. Other top earners included Robbin Cohen, who received approximately $666,000. Cohen previously led Pritzker Realty Group, founded by billionaire Democratic donor and former Obama commerce secretary Penny Pritzker, a cousin of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Former Cook County chief financial officer Ammar Rizki received approximately $400,000. The Obama Foundation defended its executive salary practices. “The Board of Directors uses comparability data and a compensation consultant to review and approve the compensation of the CEO, officers and key employees on an annual basis,” Bittner told Fox News Digital. OBAMA CENTER SUBCONTRACTOR SHUTS DOWN AMID $4M FIGHT, LAYS OFF 25 The nonprofit also pointed to higher pay for top executives at other major charitable institutions, including approximately $2 million for the Getty Trust’s president and CEO, $1.7 million for the Rockefeller Foundation’s president and $1.5 million for the Mellon Foundation’s president, citing figures from their recent tax filings. The Getty Trust, however, operates on a vastly different financial scale, with a multibillion-dollar endowment compared with the Obama Foundation’s approximately $14.2 million in reported endowment funds at the end of 2025. Asked whether Jarrett’s pay was excessive, Mittendorf said the answer was subjective, particularly given the Obama Foundation’s size and financial resources. “This is not an unusual amount that to see for a highest paid employee for a director or a
‘No Kings’ foot soldiers ignore organizers’ warning, go all in for Democrats
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the high-level organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrations seek to turn their operation into a nationwide get-out-the-vote rally Saturday, their warning to steer clear of partisan messaging that could violate their own rules is falling on deaf ears. A Fox News Digital investigation reveals that, on the ground, the political activation is in fact highly partisan, led by the center-left Indivisible nonprofit that has received millions of dollars of funding from Democratic mega-donor George Soros. “No Kings” organizers didn’t respond to a request for comment. The partisan nature of the day’s events is important because political experts say the “No Kings” operation reveals a sophisticated electoral strategy: transform the crowds assembled for anti-Trump protests into a durable voter bloc that participates in elections and turns out a “Blue Tsunami” of votes in political battles. But federal election law bars nonprofits, many of which fund the “No Kings” operation, from advocating for particular candidates. Behind today’s action, Fox News Digital has identified a sprawling network of 300 progressive advocacy organizations, labor unions, Democratic political operatives and tax-exempt nonprofits with an estimated $2.5 billion in annual revenues, transforming the “No Kings” protest movement into a nationwide voter-mobilization operation of an estimated 3,000 events for Democrats. A review of digital advertisements for Saturday’s “No Kings: Vote Early” demonstrations and their organizing rhetoric identifies multiple instances of organizers promoting the very language the coalition’s national rulebook forbids in its attempt to create the illusion of nonpartisanship. In Newark, Delaware, Democratic activists from the local Indivisible chapter are encouraging voters to “wear blue” to their 2 p.m. demonstration at the corner of S. College Avenue and W. Main Street, and their “Sign Ideas” include: “Vote Blue Nov. 3,” “Vote Early, Vote Blue” and “Time for a Blue Tsunami.” NEW MIDTERM BATTLEGROUND TAKES SHAPE AS PARTIES BUILD ELECTION ARMIES Their announcement reads: “💙 Wear blue to signify the blue tsunami we are hoping we will see in Nov!” Some 3,000 miles away, in Roseburg, Ore., Indivisible Douglas County activists are advertising their own “No Kings” rally with suggested signs reading “DOUGLAS COUNTY VOTES BLUE!,” “REPUBLICANS HAD THEIR CHANCE!” and “VOTE EARLY. VOTE THEM OUT!” “Be bold. Be direct. Don’t hold back,” the Oregon organizers tell participants. Those are precisely the kinds of partisan political messages the national “No Kings” coalition has explicitly prohibited. On a Thursday night webinar promoting the protests, a member of Indivisible Colorado Springs told Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin that the group’s event is struggling to attract media attention without focusing on President Donald Trump. Levin replied: “By all means, make it about Trump. Y’all make it about Trump. Create some conflict. Use some strong language. There’s nothing about No Kings that says you can’t focus on the fascists in the White House.” SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN LIMIT ON PARTY CAMPAIGN SPENDING IN COORDINATION WITH CANDIDATES Under “Event Prohibitions,” a “Host Toolkit” warns: “Events must not be partisan in nature or make references to preferred election outcomes.” It bars “candidate campaign activity,” “any political party or political committee attending or helping coordinate the event.” The “Event Prohibitions” list bars events from being held at “overtly partisan organizations, or held at campaign offices, political party headquarters, or other locations principally associated with candidate or party political activity.” The prohibitions explicitly state: “Events should not be jointly branded with partisan organizations,’ and provides as “Examples: Democratic clubs, ‘the Lincoln County Democratic Party.’” Yet, in Roseville, Calif., the Placer County Democratic Party in California is explicit in its connection to the “No Kings” voter drive, advertising a canvassing operation specifically tied to Saturday’s “No Kings” rally at the Roseville Galleria. The party’s website invites activists to attend a morning canvassing session at Harry Crabb Park, saying voters will be gathered at the rally at the Galleria and promising materials to help participants “support our endorsed candidates.” On their Democratic Party website, the local party activists describe the “No Kings” rally as “a day of nonpartisan voter participation.” ACTBLUE SCRUTINY FUELS NEW GOP BILLS TO TIGHTEN ELECTION DONATION RULES The advertisement raises questions about the relationship between the Democratic Party’s candidate-support operation and an event whose national organizers expressly prohibit political parties, political committees and candidate campaigns from coordinating activities. In Springfield, Pa., an event listed on the Women’s March organizing platform advertises a one-hour “No Kings FOUR” demonstration at 1200 Baltimore Pike. The event calls for voter participation and, in another direct conflict with the national coalition’s ban on “vote Blue” appeals, also declares: “Vote Blue. Vote. Make Your Voice Count.” FIRST ON FOX: ‘NO KINGS’ PROTEST NETWORK BEHIND FIGHT AGAINST AI DATA CENTERS AND FLOCK CAMERAS The coalition’s own documents leave little ambiguity about its official standards. In a five-page “Talking Points + Messaging” guide, organizers instruct participants not to use partisan political language, including telling participants to “vote for Democrats up and down the ballot” or saying, “we can get a Democratic Congress elected in 2026 to resist Trump.” It bars any “speaker expressing bias for or against any candidate for office,” the guide states. It prohibits candidate campaign activities, including campaign literature, fundraising and coordination with campaign staff. Political parties and political committees are also barred from helping coordinate events. The instructions go beyond conventional warnings against endorsements. Organizers specifically prohibit references to “MAGA politicians” and calls to elect a Democratic Congress. Even urging participants to register as Democrats ahead of the midterms is explicitly forbidden. Another document, “Event Prohibitions + Things to Note,” specifically prohibits “vote them out” and “vote Blue” messaging, campaign fundraising and political party coordination. Still, in Kingstowne, Va., Indivisible of Franconia is promoting its Oct. 17 rally at South Van Dorn Street and Kingstowne Village Parkway with the statement: “We vote for leaders to represent our interests—and if they don’t, we need to vote them out.” The coalition also prohibits events hosted or co-sponsored by overtly partisan organizations, including Democratic clubs. Its “Election Law FAQs” and “Resources” go further, warning
From ‘Third Reich’ to ‘not that informed’: Senate debates deliver fireworks before midterms
With control of the U.S. Senate hanging in the balance this November, candidates across the country have been trading blows on debate stages, delivering everything from explosive personal accusations to embarrassing gaffes and unexpected admissions. The heated exchanges have unfolded in closely watched general-election contests and contentious primaries alike, offering voters a glimpse of the personalities and policy differences shaping the battle for Washington. Some confrontations have drawn national headlines, while others produced memorable moments that quickly spread across social media. 12 RACES SCRAMBLE SENATE BATTLEFIELD AS DEMOCRATS EYE COMEBACK Here are five standout moments from Senate debates leading up to the 2026 midterm elections: The first head-to-head debate between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed took an unusually combative turn on Oct. 8, with the candidates repeatedly interrupting each other and trading personal attacks. The confrontation became so heated that the arguing reportedly continued even after the televised debate went to a commercial break. “In 30 years of doing debates, I’ve never seen it continue during the commercial. But it did,” moderator Rick Albin remarked when the broadcast resumed. The arguing got so bad Albin had to get stern with the candidates. “Look, here’s the situation. We’ve got dozens of questions we want to get to. You can’t litigate all of these with 14 different rebuttals,” he told them at one point. EL-SAYED REFUSES TO ANSWER WHETHER IRAN OR ISRAEL IS MORE DANGEROUS Throughout the hourlong showdown, Rogers questioned El-Sayed’s medical credentials, accused him of misleading voters and repeatedly attacked his political ideology. The candidates also sparred over their respective property holdings, including Rogers’ Florida home and El-Sayed’s overseas investments. El-Sayed, meanwhile, accused Rogers of enriching himself through corporate relationships after leaving Congress and criticized his support for President Donald Trump. Rogers described his Democratic opponent as a “con man” during Thursday night’s debate, while El-Sayed accused the Republican of being “weak” and “cowardly.” “I’d like to be part of the debate, too,” Albin interjected during one particularly contentious exchange. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., unleashed a series of accusations against Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., during their first head-to-head debate Oct. 8, accusing the congressman of associating with white nationalists and employing individuals with extremist ties. “Mike Collins has brought dishonor to our state through his personal bigotry and his widely documented ties to white nationalists,” Ossoff declared in his opening statement. The Democrat later escalated his attacks while questioning Collins about his support for tax incentives benefiting data center developers. “It’s not just that you’ve hired half the Third Reich to staff your congressional office and you have promoted neo-Nazi content online,” Ossoff charged. The accusations followed reporting about Collins’ former congressional staffers and son-in-law, whose social media activity and alleged associations with white nationalists have drawn scrutiny. Collins rejected the characterization, insisting he has consistently condemned extremist rhetoric. TOP ELECTION SCHEMES ROILING KEY MIDTERM RACES AS BOTH PARTIES ACCUSE RIVALS OF TRICKERY “I’ve condemned racism, anti-Semitism, hate. I don’t care where the source is. And I tell him that too” Collins said. “It’s wrong. We have no place in this world for that.” Ossoff also invoked the late civil rights leader John Lewis, declaring that if Lewis were marching from Selma to Montgomery today, Collins “would be grabbing a billy club.” Collins countered by portraying Ossoff as a radical liberal who was out of touch with Georgia voters, accusing him of supporting extremist policies and criticizing his connections to progressive political figures. A South Carolina Republican Senate primary debate produced an unexpected admission when Sen. Darline Graham acknowledged that she wasn’t very familiar with foreign policy. Graham, who was appointed to the Senate following the death of her brother, longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, faced Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., during an Aug. 18 debate ahead of the state’s Republican primary runoff. Asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea represented national security concerns for the United States, Graham struggled to provide a substantive answer. “I’m just going to be honest here,” Graham said. “I’m not that informed on national security.” Graham went on to emphasize her support for the military, pointing to her late brother Lindsey Graham’s 33 years of service in the Air Force and her father’s service in the Army, while acknowledging that she was “not a polished politician.” DEMOCRATS ARE CHANGING THEIR TRANSGENDER MESSAGE. REPUBLICANS SAY THEY’RE JUST FLIP-FLOPPING “National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military,” she said. The admission prompted audible reactions from the audience and a subsequent frenzy on social media. Among Graham’s critics was former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who endorsed Graham’s Republican primary opponent, Norman. In a post on X following the debate, Haley argued that national security expertise was not something Graham could inherit from her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, emphasizing its importance for serving in the U.S. Senate. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, demanded an apology from Democratic challenger Troy Jackson during an Oct. 8 debate after he accused her and her husband of financially benefiting from the ongoing war in Iran. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, argued that Collins had failed to use her influence in Washington to stop the conflict because of her family’s financial interests. “Sen. Collins and her husband are making money off this war,” Jackson charged, suggesting that financial interests were helping prolong the fighting. Collins immediately rejected the accusation and called the allegations against her “absolutely false.” DEM SENATE NOMINEE APOLOGIZES TO JEWISH VOTERS AFTER ‘GENOCIDE’ REMARK SPARKED BACKLASH “That is absolutely outrageous, and you owe me an apology,” the Republican senator shot back at Jackson. But Jackson refused to back down, responding, “You owe me an apology.” Daffron owns stock in two U.S. defense contractors, Boeing and RTX. According to the couple’s 2025 financial disclosure, filed in May 2026, Daffron held between $15,001 and $50,000 in stock in each company. A Collins spokesperson previously told the Maine Independent the investments were managed by a third
Inside the family business that turned a famous fair food into an American tradition
DALLAS — Every fall, millions flock to the Lone Star State for one of America’s largest and most iconic state fairs, where towering midway rides, blue-ribbon livestock and the latest deep-fried creations compete for attention. But while each year’s newest culinary creation may dominate social media, the State Fair of Texas has long been defined by the long-held traditions that keep generations of families coming back for more. Few are more recognizable than Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs. “What started as a simple idea has turned into now an 84-year Texas tradition for fairgoers,” Amber Fletcher, a third-generation owner of Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, told Fox News Digital as the fair kicked off this year. MEET THE VOTERS WHO COULD BREAK THE GOP’S DECADESLONG GRIP ON A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD Her grandfather, Neil Fletcher, and his brother Carl say they invented the corny dog in Dallas in the late 1930s before introducing it at the State Fair of Texas in 1942. More than eight decades later, that simple creation has grown into a massive family operation. During the fair’s 24-day run, Fletcher’s sells roughly 550,000 corny dogs, going through about 60,000 pounds of hot dogs, 1,500 gallons of mustard and 800 gallons of ketchup. “I don’t remember the oil, but it is a lot,” Amber Fletcher joked after listing the other metrics. Yet even as the operation has grown, the family has largely resisted changing the product that made it famous. “We’ve never changed our recipe. We haven’t even tinkered a little bit,” she said. “It is the same method and recipe my grandfather started with.” TEXAS VOTERS HAVE PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT WHETHER LONE STAR STATE COULD TURN BLUE That stalwart mindset includes resisting shortcuts, too. “There’s a lot of things we could do to speed up the process,” Fletcher acknowledged. “We could get our hot dogs pre-stuck, but no. Each corny dog is hand-stuck. Everything is hand-dipped, fried, made to order.” For Aaron Fletcher, also a third-generation owner, consistency helps explain why the old-fashioned corny dog continues to hold its own against the over-the-top creations that debut at the fair each year. “The viral stuff is cool, but people know what they’re going to get when they come to Fletcher’s,” Aaron told Fox News Digital. “They get excited about it. They look forward to it all year.” Being rooted in tradition doesn’t mean the menu was also frozen in time. Over the years, Fletcher’s has added jalapeño cheese, turkey and veggie corny dogs. This year, the family even ventured into dessert with a chocolate corny dog, earning one of the fair’s most coveted awards for the creation. Pulling it all off requires months of preparation, seven locations across Fair Park and roughly 200 seasonal workers. Running an operation that produces more than half a million corny dogs also means navigating rising food and operating costs while trying to keep the fair tradition affordable for families. “You do have to adjust for pricing as you go along,” Aaron said. “We try our best to be fair in that we are a family-owned business, so we appreciate the importance of being able to take your family to the fair.” Sometimes, that means absorbing higher costs rather than passing them along to customers. “I know a lot of business owners won’t say this — we eat it. We eat the price sometimes,” Aaron said. “There’s only so much you can do before people are going to look at it and be like, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’” “If we don’t have to, we aren’t raising prices,” Aaron added. After 84 years, the challenge for Fletcher’s is balancing what changes with what doesn’t — keeping up with the cost of doing business without losing what has kept generations of fairgoers coming back.
ICE arrests more than 100 alleged gang members in single week, including violent MS-13, TdA suspects: DHS
In the last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested more than 100 suspected gang members in the country illegally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) exclusively told Fox News Digital. Agents arrested 131 gang-affiliated people between Oct. 4 and 10, including 22 affiliated with MS-13, and 13 with Tren de Aragua (TdA). ICE has made 12,018 gang-related arrests since President Donald Trump took office again in 2025, DHS said. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYS FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED MORE THAN 10,000 SUSPECTED GANG MEMBERS “In less than a week, the brave patriots of ICE have arrested more than 100 gang members across the country, including members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. “The best that America has to offer are on the frontlines every day to ensure that the worst of humanity cannot threaten or harm innocent Americans.” Mullin praised Trump’s leadership for helping ICE to smash the “gangs and cartels, making it impossible for them to do business in America, and removing their members from our country. Arresting and deporting illegal aliens, especially gang members, is how we make America safe again.” MULLIN TELLS RUTHLESS PODCAST THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS APPREHENDED 2,210 TERRORISTS Among the arrestees was Gustavo Adolfo Flores-Ramirez, a Salvadoran national who DHS said is an MS-13 member. Arrested in Las Vegas, on Wednesday, he’s wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide, aggravated femicide, rape of a minor or incapacitated person, illegal or irresponsible handling, carrying, or possession of firearms, illicit grouping, and crimes involving public peace. It’s not known when he first illegally entered the country, but he was arrested in the U.S. in September 2021 and deported to Mexico. He then illegally entered again, which is considered a felony, at an unknown time. ICE-LED FLORIDA OPERATION NETS 500 — INCLUDING ILLEGAL ALIENS ACCUSED OF MURDER, CHILD ABUSE, CARTEL TIES Jose Luis Perez-Arrias, a Venezuelan national and TdA member, was arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday, DHS said. Perez-Arrias is a suspected hitman for TdA. He illegally entered the country in Oct. 2023, while former President Joe Biden was in office and was arrested by Border Patrol agents and released into the country. MORE THAN 25 CHARGED IN NATIONWIDE TREN DE ARAGUA CRACKDOWN INVOLVING GUNS, DRUGS AND CASH Emerson Jossiel Calderon-Hernandez, a Salvadoran national and suspected MS-13 member, was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. He illegally entered the country in August 2012, while former President Barack Obama was in office, and was released into the country. Calderon-Hernandez has been arrested for second-degree assault, attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, armed robbery, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and false imprisonment. DOJ CHARGES 8 ALLEGED TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBERS IN TEXAS, ILLINOIS MURDER AND KIDNAPPING CASES An unnamed 14-year-old from Venezuela facing charges of first-degree murder — criminal attempt with extreme indifference was arrested in Denver on Tuesday. The 14-year-old is associated with the Los Piratas Gang, a faction of TdA, according to DHS and was illegally carrying a Glock 48 pistol at the time of his arrest. He also faces charges of first-degree assault with extreme indifference, first-degree kidnapping, aggravated criminal extortion, illegal discharge of a weapon, and conspiracy.
Meet the 22-year-old candidate eyeing history in key swing state as Gen Z embraces conservatism: ‘Step up’
From delivering pizzas to running for an Iowa House seat, 22-year-old Dillon Fillion hopes to make history in his swing district and inspire Gen Z to embrace conservatism, which he says he’s already seeing on the ground. Fillion, believed to be the youngest candidate ever to seek office in Scott County, spoke to Fox News Digital about his ambitions to cut property taxes, boost police funding, give parents more say in their children’s education and draw Gen Z to the polls. “I think people are very excited that a young person is running because they see a lot of these old people running for office, no offense to them, but people wanna see some fresh new faces and I think it’s time for my generation to step up,” Fillion said. Before launching his bid for the Iowa House, Fillion decided to take a gap year from Scott Community College, where he is pursuing a criminal justice degree. He currently works as a Domino’s delivery driver while hitting the campaign trail, which he described as juggling “two full-time jobs.” MEDIA NARRATIVE PREDICTING BLUE WAVE IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE NOT MESHING WITH LOCAL REPUBLICANS: ‘FIRED UP’ “Basically, I do a full-time job as well as campaigning,” he said. But campaigning wasn’t always Fillion’s vision. A lifelong hockey fan, he said his initial dream was to play professionally before stepping into politics. Fillion said he became interested in politics in 2019 after seeing Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of colluding with Russia, saying he found it “weird” they were “calling our president a lot of weird, untrue things.” From there, he said he went down a “rabbit hole” researching what he described as corruption within the Democratic Party, which he found “baffling and shocking.” “I just couldn’t stand back and just watch all this stuff happen, and I decided to get involved,” he said. “Keep Iowa Great!” is the slogan Fillion has plastered across campaign signs and merchandise as he works to win over Iowa voters. One of three siblings, Fillion had an upbringing “grounded in Christian family values, a strong work ethic, and the perseverance to stand by his principles no matter the challenge,” according to his campaign website. Fillion credited Charlie Kirk with helping young men like him “find a purpose” and turn to conservative principles. “The men in my generation are really conservative. They admire conservative principles. I think Charlie Kirk really helped with the young men in my generation in regard to finding a purpose in life. And I think that’s really helped a lot of men in my generation,” Fillion said. “I do think my generation is going in the right direction in regard to conservatism. It’s just, I think my generation needs to turn out more in our elections.” LIZ PEEK: HASAN PIKER EXPOSES DEMOCRATS’ DESPERATION TO WIN BACK YOUNG MEN Fillion will challenge incumbent Democratic state Rep. Daniel Gosa for a seat representing Iowa’s 81st House District. Fillion says he finally has the opportunity to “carry the ball down the field” in his district and is calling for a leadership overhaul. “I wouldn’t be in this race if I didn’t think I could win it,” he said. “However, my Democrat opponent does not stand up for the things that this district cares about.” Among Fillion’s most high-profile endorsements are Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, according to his campaign website. DEMOCRATS SAY THEY’LL MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE. YOUR WALLET MAY DISAGREE One of Fillion’s top priorities is eliminating property taxes completely. His campaign website said if that isn’t “immediately achievable,” Fillion will work to lower taxes as much as possible. “I wanna keep Iowa number one in affordability,” he said. Crime and education are also on Fillion’s mind, and he told Fox News Digital those will be two of his top priorities if elected in November. “When I get into that legislature, I will be introducing a constitutional amendment for the Back the Blue Act to make sure our police are protected so they can do their job correctly,” Fillion said. “And I will continue to empower parents and teachers in our kids’ education, because parents should be the forefront of your kids’ education, not the government.” He said his ultimate goal is to make Iowa “the number one state to live, work, and raise a family.” With voters preparing to head to the polls in November, Fillion said his campaign aims to spread more optimism and show people that Gen Z wants to make the world a better place. “I just want our country to know that there are people in my generation that are doing everything they can to try and save this country,” he said.