Mamdani not called to speak at NYC funeral of Army sergeant killed in Iranian attack: report
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was reportedly denied the opportunity to speak Friday during the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad in Queens, one of three U.S. service members killed in Jordan during an Iranian attack on July 17. Mamdani attended the service at a church in Ozone Park but did not deliver remarks honoring Rampersad. According to the New York Post, Mamdani appeared to review prepared remarks on an iPad as other dignitaries spoke, but his name was never called. A source familiar with the funeral told the New York Post that Rampersad’s family chose not to have Mamdani speak in an effort to avoid any “political distractions.” 9/11 FAMILIES PUSH TO BAN MAMDANI FROM 25TH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE OVER ‘HOSTILE’ RECORD The mayor’s office later released his prepared remarks. “It is often said that our fallen ‘gave their tomorrows for our today,’” Mamdani planned to say. “Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected.” TRUMP GIVES EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO FALLEN ARMY LT TYLER FEEHAN AFTER FLYING GRIEVING FAMILY ON AIR FORCE ONE New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, delivered remarks during the service. “I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,” Hochul said. The Department of War said Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was killed in action during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. ARMY IDS 2 VICTIMS KILLED IN JORDAN AIR BASE ATTACK; TRUMP: IRAN WILL PAY ‘MANY TIMES OVER’ According to U.S. Central Command, Rampersad and two other U.S. service members were killed while CENTCOM and partner forces “defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.” The other two service members killed were identified as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. They were deployed to Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Rampersad was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany. She served as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist, according to the Department of War. Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.
ICE lodges detainer on Salvadoran national, 18, accused of 2 fatal shootings in Houston
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had lodged a detainer asking Texas to not release an El Salvadoran national, who is accused of murder in two fatal shootings and is in the country illegally, without notifying the agency. Jefferson Adonay Velasquez-Torres, 18, was charged this week with murder for an April 27 shooting outside a Houston nightclub in which Noah Ramirez, 27, died. Two others were injured in the shooting, according to a report from affiliate FOX 26 Houston. ICE ARRESTS MORE THAN 900 SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKERS DURING FIFA WORLD CUP, RESCUES 180 VICTIMS: DHS Velasquez-Torres was previously charged in June with murder for his alleged involvement in a shooting at a Houston house party last August that left Angel Garcia, 17, dead. A second suspect, Enrique Aguilar, 19, was also arrested in connection with Garcia’s death, FOX 26 reported. TWICE-DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF FIRING TOWARD TEXAS HOMES DURING NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTE Velasquez-Torres also faces charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and aggravated robbery. The 18-year-old came into the U.S. illegally as a minor in 2014 during former President Barack Obama’s second term and was released into the country. “This criminal illegal alien has been charged with TWO counts of murder after two fatal shootings in Houston,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. VIDEO SHOWS ICE OFFICERS ARRESTING ALLEGED MS-13 GANG MEMBER, A ‘KNOWN SUSPECTED TERRORIST’ IN FLORIDA She continued, “He would not be in our country if it weren’t for the reckless open-border policies of the Obama Administration. ICE asked officials in Texas to not release this heinous murderer from jail without notifying ICE. Thankfully, Texas cooperates with us and together we will ensure this public safety threat will never be loose on our streets.” Velasquez-Torres is being held in the Harry County Jail after being denied bond for charges related to the second shooting.
Socialist frontrunner in the hot seat after ‘Cancel Thanksgiving’ post emerges online
Francesca Hong, the likely Democratic nominee for governor in Wisconsin backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, once argued that Americans should not celebrate Thanksgiving. “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621,” Hong wrote in a now-deleted post to X. “If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it,” she added, referring to the spread of smallpox that killed many indigenous Americans. WISCONSIN DEM SOCIALIST GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL DODGES WHETHER SHE STILL WANTS TO ‘ABOLISH POLICE’ The post, which was originally made in November 2020, sheds more light on Hong’s progressive thinking as she emerges as a frontrunner in the Wisconsin gubernatorial contest and drew mockery online. “‘Folx,’” Stephen Miller, a conservative podcaster, posted to X, noting the term used to signal inclusivity of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups. “Francesca Hong is all but certain to be the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin. She also wants to ‘Cancel Thanksgiving,’ according to a since-deleted tweet. What is going on in Wisconsin??” another observer wrote. Hong has leaned into her socialist record in her campaign, describing it as ensuring that “working-class people have their fair share.” Hong shares policy positions with other notable progressives like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another self-proclaimed socialist. Among other platform positions, Hong is championing race-based grants for social workers, publicly funded grocery stores and a state-run bank. The stances seem to have paid off as Hong has gained momentum in recent months, and, with under two weeks to go until the primary, looks poised to capture the Democratic nomination. ‘FREE BEER’ FOR TRUMP DEATH DEM ACTIVIST RUNNING FOR WISCONSIN GOV: ‘I WILL WIN’ IF THEY SILENCE ME Hong also started getting mocked Friday for a resurfaced 2019 post where she said, “I ate two bites of my kid’s cheeseburger at a Culver’s in black river falls and told him they ran out of ice cream. Mostly just wanted to leave bc I was on the verge of a anxiety attack…to (sic) many old white people who didn’t think we spoke english.” “Omg English ***TOO **AN,” she replied. “Bold choice for Democrats in Wisconsin running someone statewide who gets a panic attack at Culver’s at the sight of ‘old white people,’” Former White House Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer wrote on X. “The only way this post could be worse for someone running for office in Wisconsin is if she had complained that Culver’s uses too much butter,” Chuck Ross, an investigative reporter at the Washington Free Beacon, wrote on X. “One of the democrats running for Governor of Wisconsin doesn’t know that Culver’s serves only fresh frozen custard. She thinks they serve ice cream. Disqualifying,” Brick Suit, an online MAGA personality, wrote on X. The race was shaken up on Thursday when Mandela Barnes, the state’s former lieutenant governor, dropped out of the race. Barnes was considered a frontrunner in the race because of his proximity to outgoing Gov. Tony Evers and his name recognition. His exit also coincides with rumblings that Barnes may have abused his position in the past to make sexual advances toward women in the workplace, an allegation currently under investigation by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. With his departure, Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley were left as the two main contenders. Hong has received backing from a number of nationally recognized progressives, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. She has raised nearly $709,000 as of late June, according to state records. SCHIFF-BACKED CANDIDATE ABRUPTLY ENDS GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN AMID RUMBLINGS OF A DAMAGING REPORT By comparison, Crowley has secured $250,000 and enjoys the support of a number of local organizations and figures. Gov. Evers has endorsed Crowley , citing his experience.The gubernatorial primary will take place Aug. 11. Fox News Digital has reached out to Hong’s campaign for comment.
Trump warns Iran fighting isn’t over as he vows US will ‘win’ as talks fade
President Donald Trump said Friday that Americans should be prepared for the fighting with Iran to continue, predicting Tehran would eventually “peter out” as U.S. strikes steadily weaken its ability to retaliate. Asked whether the back-and-forth attacks could continue until Iran was no longer capable of striking back, Trump said, “Yeah, sure, I think so. I’d be foolish to say no. You know, you always have to keep your guard up.” “They’ll get weaker. They’ll get a little stronger, maybe. But they’ll get weaker, and then they peter out,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Maryland. ARMY IDS 2 VICTIMS KILLED IN JORDAN AIR BASE ATTACK; TRUMP: IRAN WILL PAY ‘MANY TIMES OVER’ The remarks amounted to an acknowledgment that the five-month conflict could drag on, despite Trump’s claims that the U.S. has decimated Iran’s military and his optimism just days ago that renewed negotiations could produce a deal. “I think we just want to win,” Trump said. “We’re doing very well. We’re trying to be nice — as nice as you can be in a situation like that — but they’re being decimated.” “They have no navy. They have no air force. They have no anti-aircraft,” he added. “It doesn’t mean they don’t have any capability. They have some, but very little.” The latest fighting also complicates the administration’s earlier declarations that it had eliminated Iran’s ability to project military power. The White House said in April that U.S. forces had achieved the objectives of Operation Epic Fury, including destroying Iran’s Navy and its ballistic missile and drone capabilities. Iran has nevertheless continued launching missiles and drones at U.S. bases and threatening commercial shipping. TRUMP SAYS IRAN DEAL ‘LARGELY NEGOTIATED’ AS 84-DAY WAR NEARS POSSIBLE END Trump also said he was “losing faith” in the prospect of reaching a deal with Iran, accusing Tehran of lying about its negotiations with the U.S. “They do lie, and they do misrepresent,” Trump said. “All they do is make me angry.” The renewed fighting has left no clear end to the conflict as the U.S. approaches the November midterm elections, placing greater political pressure on Trump to explain how and when the war will end. Trump’s remarks came two days after the U.S. launched a heavy wave of strikes against Iranian military sites in response to missile attacks targeting American forces in the region. U.S. Central Command said the strikes hit dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets, including command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal defenses and maritime capabilities. The renewed exchange followed the collapse of an agreement Washington and Iran reached in June that was intended to end the fighting and restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Hostilities resumed in July after Iran attacked vessels transiting the strategically vital waterway. Trump’s pessimism marked a sharp shift from earlier in the week, when he said the United States was engaged in “very friendly negotiations” with Iran and saw “a good chance” of reaching an agreement. Iran denied that direct talks were taking place but acknowledged that mediators were relaying messages between the two sides. Oman, Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt have sought to revive the June agreement that was intended to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Those efforts have stalled over control of the critical waterway, sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear program, while a new exchange of attacks has further dimmed the prospects of a deal.
FIRST ON FOX: DHS points to ‘common sense’ reason for collapsing crime: ‘No surprise’
FIRST ON FOX: As the White House touts “collapsing” violent crime rates in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security is pointing to the deportation of violent criminal illegal immigrants as the “common sense” reason. A new analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) released this month reported that homicides will “likely” reach a “new historic low” in the U.S. as most crime rates continue to decline mid-year. CCJ reported that homicides in a sample group of large U.S. cities are down 18% from the previous year, which is on pace for the lowest level since 1900. Additionally, carjackings are down 47%; motor vehicle thefts are down 20%; robberies are down 17% and residential burglaries are down 13%. The White House touted the report as evidencing “extraordinary progress” in “delivering on one of President Trump’s core promises to restore law and order.” Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital, “It is common sense. When you remove criminals from the country, crime rates fall.” ICE LODGES DETAINER FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF TRYING TO DISARM VIRGINIA POLICE OFFICER The agency shared exclusively with Fox News Digital some of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants who have been deported just in the last few weeks. Recent deportees include foreign nationals convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, aggravated assault, carjacking and other crimes, in addition to multiple with illegal re-entries into the country. Among those deported was a member of the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua, a Honduran national named Jared Adonay Cruz-Rivera, according to DHS. He was deported on July 18 following a previous conviction for robbery and an arrest on charges of drug possession. DHS said that one deportee, Olegario Ramirez, a Mexican national and Paisas gang member, has a criminal history including convictions for homicide and illegal re-entry into the U.S. He was deported on July 27. Another Mexican national deported the same day was Bulmaro Rendon-Ramos, a Surenos gang member, who had convictions for robbery, burglary and four counts of driving under the influence of liquor. ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ILLINOIS TEACHER LINKED TO TREN DE ARAGUA MASS SHOOTING Nammoun Khampanya, a Crips gang member from Laos, was deported on July 28 following convictions for cocaine possession, possession of a weapon, obstructing police and fraud. A Cuban national, Omar Loaces Gonzalez, was deported on July 17. His criminal history includes convictions for vehicle theft and wire fraud. Additionally, Haitian national Marc James Guerrier Pinard was deported on July 16 following his convictions for three counts of armed carjacking and an arrest on charges of burglary. NEW YORK TIMES TORCHED FOR ‘FALSE’ REPORTING ON ICE INVESTIGATIONS, OUTLET FIRES BACK Commenting on the deportations, Bis told Fox News Digital that “President Trump promised to make America safe again, and he has done just that.” “Crime has fallen to record lows under the Trump administration, including murders on pace to drop to the lowest level in 126 years. It’s no surprise that this drop in crime coincides with deportations of dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” she said.
The biggest threat in America’s race with China isn’t Beijing, tech executive warns
America’s biggest obstacle in the technology race with China may not be Beijing, but growing resistance to new data centers and the power needed to run them, according to Palantir’s chief technology officer. “The proximate issues are definitely going to be power and backlash against data centers,” Shyam Sankar said in an interview with Fox News Digital at Palantir’s American Builder Summit. Sankar, whose company builds software for the Pentagon, intelligence agencies and major manufacturers, argued the U.S. risks slowing its own technological progress more than falling behind Beijing. “The only threat to AI generating prosperity for America is suicide, not homicide.” LEADING ECONOMIST WARNS OF RISE OF ‘GEN Z AFFORDABILITY SOCIALISM’ The U.S. and China are pouring billions into the race to dominate artificial intelligence, viewing the technology as central to economic growth, military power and geopolitical influence. Winning that race depends on an enormous buildout of data centers, power generation and transmission infrastructure to support increasingly capable systems. But those projects have drawn growing resistance from communities worried about electricity demand, water use and whether the benefits will outweigh the costs. Companies have raced to build new data centers to support a wave of new computing infrastructure, fueling a nationwide expansion that also has sparked growing local opposition. The issue has spilled into the 2026 midterm campaigns, with candidates in battleground states such as Pennsylvania running ads focused on the economic and environmental effects of the projects. Residents have raised concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, noise, traffic and whether utility customers will ultimately bear the cost of expanding the power grid. Some projects have been delayed or canceled, while lawmakers in several states have proposed restrictions or moratoriums on new facilities. THE WAR ON DATA CENTERS JEOPARDIZES OUR ECONOMY AND NATIONAL SECURITY Some developers have responded by pairing new data centers with dedicated power generation rather than relying entirely on the electric grid. Sankar argues those debates risk slowing the industrial gains the technology can already deliver. He pointed to one submarine-parts manufacturer that cut production planning from two weeks to less than an hour, freeing enough capacity to add a third shift. “There is no one on that shift who thinks, ‘Hey, I got my job because of AI,’ but that’s actually what happened,” he said. The summit itself appeared designed to counter one of the AI industry’s biggest public relations challenges: fears that technology will replace jobs. Rather than showcasing increasingly capable AI models, Palantir filled the stage with factory workers, healthcare workers and military personnel demonstrating software they had built to solve problems in their own workplaces. Sankar argued the AI industry has become overly focused on pursuing artificial general intelligence, or AGI, rather than deploying today’s AI systems across the economy. Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, refers to a still-theoretical system capable of performing a broad range of intellectual tasks at or beyond human level, rather than excelling mainly at narrower tasks such as writing, coding or image analysis. He compared the current moment to the early days of electricity, arguing that while technology already exists, businesses have yet to reorganize themselves around it. “The AI we have is powerful enough that it should have created more prosperity and value,” he said. “The only reason it hasn’t yet is not a failing of the technology, it’s a lack of our national will to push and invest in diffusing the technology through our economy.” “We shouldn’t lose the plot in pining away for a machine god,” he added. The summit brought together a cohort of Palantir’s American Tech Fellowship, where workers from industries including manufacturing, healthcare and defense demonstrated AI applications they had built for use in their jobs. The demonstrations were intended to illustrate Sankar’s contention: that AI will make workers more productive than ever rather than replace them. That runs against much of the public sentiment, where workers across industries have begun to wonder how long until their jobs will be done by a machine. FOX NEWS POLL: MOVE OVER BIG BROTHER, VOTERS SEE BIG TECH AS GREATER THREAT TO US “How many people have actually, at the front line, have experienced AI and how it’s changed their job versus how many people are imbibing the fear-mongering from the social media feed, which is partially a Chinese psyop as well.”
Late-term abortion takes front seat as blue state rushes to expand access before session ends
Massachusetts is poised to dramatically expand access to abortions access up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in a mad dash by Democrat lawmakers to pass the measure before the legislative session ends Friday. The Prioritizing Patients’ Access to Care Act is on a fast track to clear the Massachusetts Legislature after passing the House 119-33 last week. It marks the latest effort by Democratic-led states to expand abortion protections after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision returned abortion policy to the states. Supporters say the New England state bill removes barriers to medically necessary care, while opponents contend it would make Massachusetts one of the nation’s least restrictive states for abortions later in pregnancy. MAMDANI AND HOCHUL ANNOUNCE CASH INFUSION FOR NEW YORK CITY ABORTION ACCESS HUB EXPANSION If enacted, the bill would remove current legal requirements limiting abortions after 24 weeks to four specific circumstances — protecting the patient’s life, physical health, mental health, or cases involving a lethal fetal anomaly or a grave fetal diagnosis. Instead, the bill would allow licensed physicians to decide whether an abortion after 24 weeks is appropriate based on their own medical judgment. It would also prevent third-party medical reviewers from overruling decisions made by a patient and their doctor. The proposal mirrors a law Maine enacted in 2023 that similarly allows late-term abortions based on a physician’s judgment. “The goal of passing this legislation is simple. Medical decisions should be made by a patient and their doctor,” bill sponsor Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa, D-Northampton, said in a statement. “Massachusetts has one of the best health care systems in the country, and patients should be able to rely on their providers to deliver medically appropriate care without restrictions that can fail to account for the complexity of individual medical circumstances.” “By removing those barriers, we can ensure that no one has to leave Massachusetts to receive the care they need.” Supporters of the bill argue that existing statutory exceptions are too narrow to account for every serious pregnancy complication. NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS ADVANCE BILL CRIMINALIZING INTERFERENCE WITH ABORTION, TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE Claire Teylouni, interim co-executive director of Reproductive Equity Now, told the New York Times about a 2021 case in which a woman had to leave Massachusetts for an abortion after her fetus suffered a stroke at 33 weeks because providers did not believe the case fit within the state’s existing legal exceptions. “She was shocked that she had to leave Massachusetts to get this care,” Teylouni told The New York Times. “Providers say they want to be able to use their professional expertise to make decisions — that’s how we treat almost every other area of health care.” Opponents say the current law already includes broad exceptions and argue the bill would remove existing limits on abortions after 24 weeks. “The current law that exists in Massachusetts allows abortion up until 24 weeks, and it already has exceptions,” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Communications Direct Kelsey Pritchard told Fox News Digital. “It has health and life exceptions for the mother, but it even has exceptions that allow for so-called fetal anomaly abortion, so if the baby has a life-limiting diagnosis, if the baby has a disability diagnosis, already in Massachusetts you can abort those babies seemingly at any point. “And so what this new bill would do is allow abortion throughout the second and third trimesters if you have an abortionist who has a medical degree who can sign off on that for you, so essentially they’re opening the door to elective abortion at any point in pregnancy,” Pritchard said. FIRST ON FOX: TRUMP DOJ REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH PRO-LIFE PROTESTER TARGETED BY BIDEN ADMIN Pritchard also criticized the legislative process, saying Democratic leaders moved quickly to pass the measure before lawmakers adjourn. “There’s really no justification for them to make their law this extreme,” she said. “It’s something that they’ve been doing in secret. They kind of tried to fly under the radar when they passed this bill in the House. And then they bypassed the full Senate committee process to fast-track this and get this done before their legislative session ends on July 31.” Republicans in the legislature also questioned both the substance of the bill and how quickly it advanced. Republican state Rep. Kelly Pease told WWLP that he was caught off guard by the proposal. “I think most of our caucus was. It’s like, where did this come from?” Pease said. “I don’t see how I’m going to be in favor of a bill that allows babies over six months to be terminated when they’re probably viable outside the womb, unless there’s extenuating circumstances, and this kind of just takes away some of the safeguards that were in place before.” Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey has made expanding abortion access one of the defining priorities of her administration. Since taking office in 2023, she has called Massachusetts a “beacon of reproductive freedom” for abortion access in the post-Dobbs era, having directed state agencies to shield abortion providers and patients from out-of-state legal action and ordered the state to stockpile mifepristone after a federal court challenged the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill. She has not publicly weighed in on this bill. Fox News Digital reached out to Healey for comment.
Inside the lavish lifestyle of ultra-wealthy Dem endorsed by top Bernie Sanders group
A Democratic House nominee in California, who has made affordability a key issue in his campaign and is backed by a top Bernie Sanders group, is worth up to tens of millions of dollars. Eric Jones, who is running in California’s 4th Congressional District, reported between $18 and $86 million in assets, according to campaign finance disclosures. Along with other holdings, Jones owns a $4.6 million Napa home, which includes a pool, with furnishings and artwork estimated at between $393,000 to $578,000, a Fox News Digital review found. His evaluation contrasts sharply with his populist campaign platform, where he has painted himself as a relatable figure who has also grappled with concerns about affordability. TOP DEM HOPEFUL FLIPS SCRIPT AFTER YEARS IN SOCIALIST ORBIT WITH PUZZLING CLAIM “The cost of living continues to rise,” Jones said in an April campaign video. “I’m running for Congress because I know what it feels like to do everything right and still struggle… I will never take a dollar from a corporate PAC, I will never take a dime from a lobbyist, and I will never trade a stock while I serve you in Congress.” Throughout his campaign, Jones has highlighted his family’s struggle with financial stability. He grew up in a military family and had a disabled father. According to Jones, the family also struggled to overcome medical debt, relying on Medicaid and food stamps. On his website, Jones has listed three main priorities: ending corruption, lowering the cost of living and resource sustainability in government. His stances have attracted endorsements from progressive groups like Indivisible and Our Revolution, organizations with ties to progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has repeatedly attacked millionaires and billionaires throughout his career despite being a millionaire himself. “A Congress of millionaires will legislate for their corporate investments. A Congress from the working class will legislate for the people,” Our Revolution posted on X in 2022. In a 2025 post, Our Revolution shared a graphic attacking the number of millionaires in Congress. Despite several posts against millionaires and the wealthy, the group gave him a glowing endorsement. “Our Revolution believes in leaders who fight for working people with integrity and courage,” the endorsement said. “Eric Jones is one of those leaders — and we’re proud to stand with him as he brings a people-powered movement to Congress in 2026.” Jones’ wealth came from his career in investing. Shortly after graduating from Yale, he joined Dragoneer Investment Group in San Francisco in 2013. The group is a venture capital group that invests in technology and high-growth companies like ByteDance and Alibaba, a pair of Chinese businesses with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party. By the age of 27 in 2017, Jones had become the group’s first non-founding partner. During his 12 years with the group, Dragoneer exploded in value, going from managing $180 million in assets to $24 billion. ‘SQUAD’ DEM DISMISSES FRAUD PROBE SPECULATION AFTER $29M NET-WORTH DROP Jones listed an $8 million salary with the group from last year in his campaign financial disclosure. The extravagances of his roughly 3,000-square-foot home were featured by Architectural Digest in a June 9 home tour as part of a profile piece on his wife, who works for an architecture firm as a designer. Among his many assets, Jones’ furnishing collection includes a wall-hung ceramic sculpture worth up to $60,000, a “Polly chair” estimated at somewhere between $10,000 and $25,000 and a column coffee table worth $6,000. Now, as a candidate, Jones has campaigned against corporate influence in politics and a system that he argues is rigged in favor of larger corporations. He has identified that kind of structure as a key part of his plan to address affordability. “Rent, groceries, utilities, health care, childcare — everything costs more while giant corporations post record profits and pay little or nothing in taxes,” Jones states on his website. “That’s not an accident. It’s a system rigged to work for the people at the top.” DEM CIVIL WAR HITS PRIMARY DEBATE STAGE IN FIERY BATTLEGROUND SHOWDOWN: ‘WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?’ When approached about his personal wealth, Jones said he doesn’t believe his personal wealth clashes with a message of affordability. “I grew up poor in rural America with a veteran father fighting medical debt and opioid addiction. I built businesses, created jobs and achieved the American Dream – I’m lucky that this country gave me that opportunity, and I’ll never forget where I came from. We should have leaders who’ve built something and know what medical debt feels like, not career politicians who’ve gotten rich serving Big Pharma and the insurance lobby. Every family in this district deserves that same shot at the American Dream, that’s why I’m running,” Jones said in a statement. Having placed in the top two candidates in the primary, Jones will face off against incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., in the state’s Nov. 3 general election.
Jack Smith’s Senate phone records probe turns to Verizon’s handling of subpoenas
EXCLUSIVE: The Senate investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s “Arctic Frost” probe is widening, as Republican lawmakers question Verizon’s handling of subpoenas for senators’ phone records after the telecom giant failed to disclose one during an earlier congressional records search. As part of Operation Arctic Frost — the codename for the FBI’s Trump-election-interference probe with Smith placed at the helm — prosecutors subpoenaed Verizon and other phone carriers for toll records tied to members of Congress and other Republican figures. Several conservative entities were swept up in the probe, including the late Charlie Kirk. Verizon later acknowledged omitting Smith’s subpoena from its congressional record search. The dispute centers less on Verizon’s compliance with the subpoena than on what the company knew afterward, whether it should have notified Congress and why it failed to disclose the subpoena during an earlier records search. BIDEN SPECIAL COUNSEL’S ‘RUNAWAY TRAIN’ SCOOPED UP SENSITIVE LAWMAKER INFO: ‘ABUSE OF POWER’ Smith’s investigation has faced increased scrutiny in recent months, and now Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa — whose records were among those obtained — and a slew of his colleagues want to know what Verizon knew, when it knew it and whether the company should have notified affected members of Congress after turning over their phone records to Smith’s team. “Jack Smith oversaw a sweeping and unprecedented investigation that swept-up records from hundreds of Republican entities, including the phone toll records and text messages from myself and dozens of my colleagues,” Grassley told Fox News Digital Friday. Toll records are essentially the metadata of a telephone call — and exclude the contents of the conversation. They often include the phone numbers involved, date, time, duration and often the operative cell-tower location. MAJOR PHONE CARRIERS REVEAL JACK SMITH’S SUBPOENAS FOR REPUBLICAN SENATORS’ RECORDS “Congress deserves to know the full picture of how Smith carried out Arctic Frost so it never happens again.” “As part of our investigation, we need to fully understand what Verizon knew about Smith’s subpoenas, when they became aware members were impacted and why the company didn’t inform members like they were supposed to,” he said. In a Thursday letter to Verizon CEO Daniel Schulman, Grassley, Senate Investigations Subcommittee chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and more than a dozen senators said they remain concerned not only by the alleged “abuse of power by federal government actors… but also with Verizon’s disclosures of (m)embers’ phone records pursuant to a May 25, 2023, subpoena (and) its failure to disclose this information to affected Members.” JACK SMITH THRUST BACK INTO SPOTLIGHT AT BLANCHE HEARING OVER EXPOSED SENATORS’ MESSAGES’ Of the signatories, Sens. Bill Hagerty IV and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Rick Scott, R-Fla., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., also had their phone toll records or text messages swept up by Smith. Their inquiry noted he asked Verizon in October 2023 to identify Justice Department or other federal law enforcement requests involving Senate devices used by his staff dating back to 2016. The senator wrote that the subpoena was not disclosed in Verizon’s initial response, and Grassley said Congress did not learn of it until Verizon acknowledged in 2025 that “human error” had caused its omission. In its original October 2023 response to Grassley, Verizon wrote that it often limits retention of legal processes received to a period of four years, and attested it had no records to produce prior to October 2019. “This raises questions as to whether Verizon discovered legal process from DOJ for Senate devices and lines, including the May 2023 Arctic Frost subpoena, in its search from October 1, 2019, to October 27, 2023, for responsive records to Chairman Grassley’s request,” Grassley wrote in his new letter. Therefore, Grassley and 15 other senators are demanding Verizon brass explain when they first learned Smith’s subpoena sought phone records that included members of Congress and when they discovered it had provided “tolling data” connected to those members and transmitted it to Smith. Fox News Digital reached out to Verizon for comment. Grassley’s new letter suggests the October 2023 exchange may be the key to determining whether Verizon merely missed the subpoena or discovered it and failed to disclose it. “On what date were Daniel Schulman, Vandana Venkatesh, Hans Vestberg, and Craig Silliman first informed about the May 25, 2023, subpoena?” they asked of Verizon’s front office. The senators also asked that Verizon explain its “human error” revelation in more specificity and produce internal records from May 2023 to October 2025 that discuss whether the company believed it was obligated to notify the implicated members of Congress or the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (SAA). The “human error” explanation also left unanswered why Smith’s May 25, 2023, “Arctic Frost” subpoena was omitted from Verizon’s review of legal process involving SAA phone lines, even though the company acknowledged that two SAA numbers were included in the subpoena. In 2025, documents provided to Grassley revealed Verizon complied with Smith while AT&T resisted the requests. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER However, both subpoenas were accompanied by gag orders signed by Obama-appointed District of Columbia federal Judge James Boasberg, a frequent foil of President Donald Trump’s. Boasberg directed Verizon and AT&T not to disclose the subpoenas to lawmakers for a period of one year. The DOJ has issued subpoenas for lawmakers’ information in the past, but former inspector general Michael Horowitz cautioned against it except in limited circumstances in a report published in 2025, saying that doing so “risks chilling Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch.” Grassley’s letter gives Verizon until Aug. 13 to explain when it knew senators’ records were involved, who inside the company was informed and why the May 2023 subpoena did not surface in its earlier response to Congress. Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans have branded Smith’s “Arctic Frost” as “worse than Watergate.” Fox News Digital reached out to counsel for Smith for comment.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson names Andre Sayles as interim police chief after Barnes resignation
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a new interim police chief on Friday following the resignation of Police Chief Shon Barnes after a deadly shooting at a food festival over the weekend. “I do not take lightly what it means to make decisions that affect people’s safety and their lives,” Wilson said in a Friday morning news conference before announcing she had selected Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim police chief. She added, “I chose Andre Sayles because he has done this job before and can hit the ground running. He served as chief of police in Wisconsin, where he led with a community-focused approach that strengthened both public safety and community trust. He has earned the respect of our police force in his time here, and that is exactly what we need right now.” SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF SNAPS OVER CHICAGO HOME QUESTIONS, ABSENCE FROM CITY AFTER MASS SHOOTING Barnes had come under criticism after two people died and four others were shot at the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center on Sunday. Barnes described the shooting as “targeted” and “gang-related” but said the victims were “not related to the suspects in any way.” One arrest has been made, and one person believed to have been involved in the shooting has died. THIRD SUSPECT EMERGES IN DEADLY SEATTLE MASS SHOOTING, ONE ALLEGED GUNMAN FOUND DEAD Sayles said on Friday that the department is continuing to investigate and looking for any other possible suspects involved in the shooting. Barnes resigned on Thursday, saying in a statement through his attorney that Wilson had requested his resignation on Wednesday, and he “believes this is the best path forward for the city, which is still reeling from the shock and pain caused by the tragic events at the Seattle Center.” In an earlier statement, Wilson said: “Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service. The courage and professionalism that the officers of the Seattle Police Department showed deserves to be honored.” GUNFIRE ERUPTS NEAR SEATTLE MAYOR’S EVENT AS FAMILIES, CHILDREN GATHER She added, “I share Chief Barnes’ hope that we can return our focus to addressing youth gun violence and ensuring that every family can feel safe in their neighborhood and across the city.” Sayles acknowledged that this week has been “difficult, but I also know what this department and city are capable of. When we come together with a common goal of keeping our community safe.” He committed to uniting a department “grounded in service, pride and dedication.” “The ongoing investigation into the Seattle Center shooting remains a top priority,” he added. “The men and women of the department continue working tirelessly to identify and arrest anyone responsible. In light of the tragic incident, the Seattle Police Department has heard from our community about safety concerns at public gatherings and events.” Sayles said the department will be increasing staff at all remaining major summer events. Wilson added that she is also searching for Barnes’ permanent replacement as police chief, saying it “will focus on someone who drives operational excellence and leads organizational change.” She said the “people of Seattle deserve a voice in this selection,” explaining that a search committee will be formed that is representative of different communities in the city. “I will be looking for someone who can be an effective leader of our police department, from top to bottom,” she said. “In particular, that means listening to and building relationships with the people standing behind me, the experienced and dedicated people who are leading our officers on the ground in neighborhoods across our city every single day.” Wilson added that she was also looking for someone who could earn the respect of the police force, “while also leading needed changes to culture and protocol in a way that is firm and fair. I will be looking for someone who can practice clear communication in stressful situations.”