GOP gubernatorial candidate fighting to flip blue state unveils healthcare plan to lower costs, expand access
EXCLUSIVE: While Massachusetts boasts some of the premier hospitals in the world, it also suffers from some of the highest healthcare costs in America. GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue believes that is no coincidence. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the former longtime medical devices CEO says the commonwealth can boost access, cut costs and reduce regulation through innovation as opposed to government mandates. MIKE MINOGUE HEADS TO MASS GOP CONVENTION READY TO TAKE ON MAURA HEALEY: ‘SHE’S BANKRUPTING OUR STATE’ “I think the most important thing that can help health care is to have a ‘patients first mindset.’ When I was the CEO of Abiomed, everyone rallied around the patients-first culture, commitment and every action. “Every decision that we took really was focused on, ‘Does this improve the patient outcome? Does this help the physicians and the nurses make it easier to use? Does it help us save money for the system?’” He cited the weighty regulatory burden imposed on nurses and doctors as part of the problem. “We [must] have a focus that we’re really going through areas that allow for patients to get access to their physicians, their nurses, and also utilize innovation, things that are breakthrough and things that can minimize the burden on the physicians and the nurses with regulations and documentation. “I’m optimistic because I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve worked with healthcare systems all over the world. I specifically know how hard physicians and nurses work, and they’re the heart of that system. So, what we’re going to focus on is a patients-first health care plan that brings access to quality, affordable care.” Healthcare is a top concern for Bay State voters, and Minogue hopes to use the issue to his advantage in a tough battle to challenge incumbent Democrat Gov. Maura Healey. He notes that the often stark disparity between healthcare access and quality between the metro Boston area and the rest of the state is a perpetual problem that needs a remedy. “Right now, if you look at what’s happening around Massachusetts, we’re losing innovation and treatment in areas that do not now have opportunity for high-risk procedures, whether it’s maternity, cardiac or stroke. “We have areas now in communities that might have a 50-plus minute drive to get to the nearest area. An example is Norwood. The hospital closed. So, if you have a cardiac event in Norwood, you’re looking at a 55-minute-plus drive at best to get to Boston.” Minogue promises that, during his tenure, he will work to improve coverage and care statewide. “This is the role of the governor — to provide hub-and-spoke innovation in healthcare for the whole commonwealth, not just Boston.” COMBAT VETERAN TURNED CEO HAS A NEW MISSION: FLIP GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IN BLUE STATE Yet, Minogue argues, the current system poses not merely a geographic problem, but a fiscal one. “Our regulations strangle the rest of the commonwealth and almost mandate that all procedures are being done in Boston in the highest-cost environment. If you go to outpatient centers and surgery centers, you reduce the cost of procedures, you lower the overhead and it’s a much easier process than driving all the way into Boston. We have incredible hospitals here, but we also have some of the lowest numbers of outpatient clinics and surgery centers as a state. We need to improve that.” Given his business background, Minogue is intimately familiar with the economics of providing healthcare coverage for thousands of families. “As a CEO, I bought health insurance for 19 years for my employees. I never saw an increase that wasn’t double-digit every year. … We need to lower the costs. “We also have to minimize mandating every single treatment and procedure onto every healthcare plan. We need to allow people to have the ability to select what care they want.” FOX NEWS POLL: GOP DIVISIONS SHAPE TEXAS SENATE RACE Minogue believes patients should have more flexibility in choosing their coverage while ensuring families are protected from financially devastating medical emergencies. “We do need to cap the catastrophic. … At Abiomed, what we did every year is we paid the extra amount so that we would always cap what it would cost the patient. We combined that with a health savings account, which is a great way for people to take more control over their own healthcare plan. Everything that you do in a patient’s first mindset solves a lot of problems.” With a mental health crisis surging across the state, Minogue has a solution for matching patients and therapists. “We do have an extensive amount of counselors, but most of them are on private pay. … We don’t allow general practitioners or counselors to get paid outside of private pay, so that’s why most of these patients are going to the emergency rooms. “It would be simple and more efficient if we also allowed the subsidized government pay to allow those patients to see the same people in the clinics that private-pay people have access to.” Minogue’s plan has specific provisions for addressing an area where the mental health crisis has been particularly acute. “One of the areas that I’m most focused on for mental health or PTSD is our correctional facility officers in Massachusetts have some of the highest suicide rates in America. “We know veterans with PTSD also have high suicide rates. These people are all ending up in emergency rooms, and that’s not a very good solution.” Hands-on experience with frontline healthcare workers is what Minogue believes gives his plan the credibility to set the Bay State on the right track again. “I’ve been very fortunate because I have a network of physicians and nurses and counselors that have been working with me for months. “We’ve collaborated so that we can come up with this patients-first plan. “If you put the patient at the center of that, the treatment plans can be very specialized for better outcomes at lower cost.” Finally, Minogue has a specific plan to
WATCH: GOP holdout rejects Trump threat as AG nominee standoff explodes
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., brushed aside President Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination Thursday, arguing the White House must instead honor what he says was an earlier commitment to win his vote. “That’s his prerogative,” Tillis said of Trump’s threat to withdraw Blanche’s nomination. Tillis’ comments come after Trump called out both Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Truth Social Thursday morning for blocking the president’s efforts to make Blanche the nation’s top prosecutor. Trump then threatened to pull Blanche’s nomination until the two Republican senators leave office next year. Tillis is retiring, and Cornyn lost his primary in his run for re-election. TRUMP THREATENS TO YANK HIS OWN AG NOMINEE AS GOP REVOLT GROWS Tillis argued Trump cannot resolve this nomination standoff “unless we fulfill what we thought was the commitment from the administration.” The North Carolina senator has withheld his support for Blanche unless the administration agrees to permanently eliminate the nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund and rewrite Trump’s audit immunity language in a settlement agreement. Negotiations over those demands remain ongoing. “The best thing is, take the win, get Blanche confirmed and get this agreement out of the way,” Tillis told Fox News Digital. When asked what it would take to get Tillis to vote to confirm Blanche, he said, “exactly what Blanche committed to.” TRUMP ADMIN PUSHES BACK ON ‘SLUSH FUND’ ATTACKS AGAINST ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND AND LAYS OUT WHO QUALIFIES Tillis stressed that Blanche is not to blame for the impasse, saying he believes he “was honest” during his confirmation process and that he blames someone on Trump’s team. “This is not Blanche’s problem. It’s clear to me that Blanche was honest when he answered without hesitation, working with us to end this,” Tillis said. “I believe that one of the president’s advisors who were part of this agreement is the problem. And they need to own it.” Tillis also pointed out that there is no certainty that the Senate would be any more accepting of Blanche next year, particularly as Republicans have more seats in danger than Democrats in the Senate. “The best-case scenario is you come back with the same number of people next year, and our members are not going to be any more supportive of this than they are today.” TRUMP-TILLIS TIFF DEEPENS AS PRESIDENT SAYS HE ‘QUIT,’ CONCEDES FED FIGHT COULD DOOM NEW CHAIR CONFIRMATION Trump could still keep Blanche as acting attorney general for months even if he withdraws the nomination. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act allows acting officials to serve for 210 days, and withdrawing a pending nomination resets that clock. If Trump were to pull Blanche’s nomination Thursday, Blanche could remain in the role until late February. Despite Trump’s public threat, Tillis said negotiations with the administration remain ongoing and said he is “not a no” on Blanche. “In this place, nothing’s ever as good or as bad as it seems, so we’re continuing to negotiate,” Tillis said. Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller and Adam Pack contributed to this report.
Mamdani’s ‘this is only the beginning’ announcement cracking down on food delivery tips sparks outrage
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing fresh criticism after taking credit for a reported $104 million increase in delivery worker tips that critics say was made possible by legislation enacted before he took office and will likely only exacerbate cost of living issues in the city. The criticism comes after Mamdani declared at a press conference Wednesday and in a social media post, “We’ve put $104 million back in delivery workers’ pockets,” citing changes to Uber Eats’ and DoorDash’s apps that made tipping more prominent. “This is only the beginning,” Mamdani wrote. Those changes stem from a city law approved by the New York City Council before Mamdani became mayor. Former Mayor Eric Adams neither signed nor vetoed the measure, allowing it to become law after 30 days. The rules took effect in January under the Mamdani administration, which implemented and enforced the requirements. MAMDANI’S ‘RATION SHOP’ GROCERY PLAN FACES BLISTERING ECONOMIC CRITIQUE AS OPPONENTS BLAST SOCIALIST POLICY Before the law took effect, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found that Uber Eats and DoorDash had hidden tip buttons and set default tips below 10%, contributing to a 79% decline in tips for delivery workers. The law required the companies to make tipping more prominent, and city officials say the resulting changes have since generated an estimated $104 million in additional tips. Mamdani’s office rejected the criticism that the mayor was taking credit for someone else’s work, arguing that while the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection pushed for the reforms before he took office, the rules were implemented under his administration beginning Jan. 26. “A law is only as good as its implementation,” a spokesperson for Mamdani told Fox News Digital. “We have been intentional about enforcing the laws on the books so that we are putting money back into the pockets of working New Yorkers.” Conservatives and political commentators on social media quickly blasted Mamdani for the already high costs of goods and services in New York City, and some accused the mayor of taking credit for legislation that was born before his term. “This guy is a fantastic lying politician,” actor Michael Rapaport posted on X. “He had literally nothing to do with this. City Council passed the bill last August and 419 Eric Adams never signed it. 30 days the bill became law. It went into effect when Mamdani was in office. He just taking the credit.” MAMDANI’S RENT FREEZE, TAX HIKES A ‘ONE-TWO WEALTH DESTRUCTION PUNCH,’ ECONOMISTS WARN “In other words you are trying to say that you forced Uber and Doordash to make it that New Yorkers pay more for their food deliveries by having the default tip amount be a lot higher,” conservative influencer account Leftism posted on X. “Socialism 101 — have others pay for things and make as if it’s your accomplishment.” “Coming soon — $50 avocado toast,” Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine posted on X. “So you increased prices for your citizens?” National Review contributor Pradheep Shanker posted on X. “Congrats.” “What really happened,” finance podcaster Joseph Carlson posted on X. “They forced delivery drivers to be paid minimum wage of $22/hr. This wage is paid by higher fees passed on to DoorDash or Uber customer. Since the customer was already paying these higher fees, these apps made tipping optional. Then New York required them to also be tipped on top of the higher fees. “So now New York (residents) get to enjoy paying both a high base pay and a tip on top of it. The customer is double-paying for delivery. All of this cost is passed onto the New Yorker resident. They’re paying more than the market demands for a product and service because of market manipulation.”
Hamas agrees to complete disarmament under ‘historic’ Gaza agreement: Trump
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. The diplomatic breakthrough, brokered by his Board of Peace alongside mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, will pave the way for a new Palestinian government in Gaza, Trump said. “Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza. This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. HAMAS SAYS IT WILL DISSOLVE GAZA GOVERNMENT, BUT ISRAEL WARNS GROUP STILL SEEKS HEZBOLLAH-STYLE CONTROL The agreement represents a “major milestone” in implementing Trump’s 20-Point Plan, a framework introduced last year aimed at ending the war and rebuilding Gaza. The president said the multiphased disarmament agreement marks a “critical step” toward Gaza being governed by a new Palestinian government with the support of the Board of Peace. He added the city will no longer be used as “a base for terror attacks.” A new police force will also be established in Gaza with the support of the International Stabilization Force, keeping the region “safe for its residents and its neighbors.” ISRAEL’S MILITARY ELIMINATES HAMAS TERRORIST WHO HELPED ABDUCT AMERICAN-ISRAELI HOSTAGE, 3 OTHERS Israeli forces will withdraw from the region as the disarmament process moves forward through the structured phases. Trump praised the progress his administration has made since Hamas-led militants carried out a deadly assault on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip Oct. 7, 2023. “One year ago there was a violent raging war, humanitarian crisis and hostages kept in brutal captivity. We have made historic progress and there is still much work to do,” Trump said. “The threat that emerged from Gaza on October 7 will NOT be allowed to rebuild! “Under this agreement, Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that serves its PEOPLE.” Trump further thanked all the parties involved in the historic agreement. “I want to thank the mediators — Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye — for their important efforts, and especially my outstanding team, whose tireless work made this historic breakthrough possible.” Hours later, the Board of Peace released a statement saying the agreement holds significant “promise” for a better future across Gaza and Israel. “For the first time, Hamas officially has committed to an actionable plan for relinquishing all its weapons, which will be followed by Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It holds the promise of delivering significant benefits to the people of Gaza, who have waited for too long for a better future, and security to the people of Israel,” the Board of Peace said in a post on X. The Board of Peace said the next phase will focus on implementation, with Gaza beginning a phased transition toward “full authority,” while accelerating efforts to establish the rule of law, improve security and advance humanitarian conditions. “The agreement concludes months of intensive, good faith negotiations to advance President Donald J. Trump’s vision for establishing new governance, security, humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and economic recovery in Gaza as set out in the Comprehensive Peace Plan and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803.”
Schiff-backed candidate abruptly ends gubernatorial campaign amid rumblings of a damaging report
Mandela Barnes, who served as lieutenant governor of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2023, suspended his gubernatorial campaign Thursday, citing a lack of support to capture the Democratic Party nomination. “It’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be,” Barnes said in a video statement. “While I may be suspending my campaign, I’ll never give up my fight for Wisconsin.” WISCONSIN DEM SOCIALIST GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL DODGES WHETHER SHE STILL WANTS TO ‘ABOLISH POLICE’ Barnes, who was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., as the “kind of bold leader we need to take on the Trump administration,” did not name the candidate he believes will capture the party’s nomination later this month. His departure from the race comes as a surprise amid a crowded Democratic field to fill the empty seat of outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Barnes was considered a frontrunner in the race because of his proximity to Evers and his name recognition. It 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, which published its report shortly after Barnes’ video post. Barnes’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether his decision to suspend the campaign was in any way connected to the reporting. However, a Barnes spokesperson told Politico “there are no allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against Mandela.” With Barnes’ departure, the remaining major candidates include Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. TOP DEM HOPEFUL FLIPS SCRIPT AFTER YEARS IN SOCIALIST ORBIT WITH PUZZLING CLAIM Hong has received backing from a number of nationally recognized progressives, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. She had raised nearly $709,000 as of late June, according to state records. By comparison, Crowley has secured $250,000 and enjoys the support of a number of local organizations and figures. Evers, pointedly, endorsed Crowley over Barnes, citing Crowley’s experience. In his departure video, Barnes urged Democrats to unite against Republicans in the November general election. “Now, I said from the very beginning when I launched this campaign that the No. 1 goal was taking on and defeating Tom Tiffany to deliver big wins for Democrats up and down the ticket,” Barnes said, referring to the presumptive Republican nominee. “Now it’s our time to come together and focus our efforts on that one goal. We have to do everything to beat Tom Tiffany. This is life or death for Wisconsinites who are losing their healthcare under a Trump administration.” SCOTT WALKER: DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ARE COMING FOR MY STATE. THIS IS HOW WE BEAT THEM Barnes built his campaign on a platform of increasing taxes on the country’s top earners, freezing energy costs, providing universal childcare and lowering the cost of housing. The gubernatorial primary will take place Aug. 11.
Fox News Poll: GOP divisions shape Texas Senate race
President Donald Trump won the Lone Star state by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024, but a new Fox News Poll of Texas registered voters suggests this year’s Senate race is far less settled. Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton has yet to fully unify the GOP despite the president’s endorsement in the GOP primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. In addition, more voters are concerned Paxton lacks the character to serve than worry Democratic challenger James Talarico is too extreme, and more Democrats than Republicans are extremely motivated to vote (by 7 points) and extremely interested in the midterms (by 6). Those dynamics give Talarico a 3-point edge over Paxton (51% vs. 48%) in the Senate contest (within the survey’s margin of sampling error). Talarico’s advantage in the race grows to 6 points among both extremely motivated and extremely interested voters (53% vs. 47% in each group). FOX NEWS POLL: DEMOCRATIC ENTHUSIASM SHAPES NORTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE Most independents (68%) and virtually all Democrats support Talarico (98%), while fewer Republicans are unified behind Paxton (89%). In part, that’s because one quarter of non-MAGA Republicans back Talarico (24%). Paxton is the choice among White evangelical Christians, White men without a college degree, rural voters, regular worship attenders, men and voters ages 65 and older. Some of Talarico’s best groups are Black voters, moderates, voters under age 30, Hispanic voters, women and voters with a college degree. “Although Paxton dominated Cornyn in the GOP primary, that bruising contest left scars,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts Fox News polls with Democrat Chris Anderson. “He has considerable work to do with non-MAGA Republicans and independents, and that undoubtedly requires aggressively tying Talarico to the Democratic Party’s far left.” By a 12-point margin, more voters are concerned Paxton lacks the character to serve as a senator than believe Talarico is too extreme (59% vs. 47%). Twice as many Republicans are concerned about Paxton’s character as Democrats are that Talarico is too extreme (36% vs. 17%). FOX NEWS POLL: COOL YOUR SERVERS! VOTERS REJECT DATA CENTERS Still, about 8 in 10 Paxton and Talarico supporters say their backing is more about where the candidates stand on the issues than who they are as people. Trump received a 55% favorable vs. 44% unfavorable rating in the 2024 Texas Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA) election survey. Today, those numbers have flipped: 45% favorable vs. 54% unfavorable, for a minus-9 net negative rating. Paxton garners a minus-6 net personal rating, 45% favorable vs. 51% unfavorable, while Talarico is in positive territory by 6 points, 49% vs. 43%. Talarico is more popular than the Democratic Party while the GOP edges out Paxton. While both parties are viewed negatively, the GOP is underwater by only 2 points (48% favorable vs. 50% unfavorable), compared with the Democratic Party at minus-9 (45% vs. 54%). Despite Texas being a border state, nearly 4 in 10 say inflation will be the most important issue to their Senate vote, while 2 in 10 say immigration and 1 in 10 say healthcare, political divisions and unemployment. By more than a 2-to-1 margin, Texas voters say they are falling behind financially rather than getting ahead (35% vs. 16%). Half are holding steady. In the race for governor, incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is favored by 1 point over Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Part of Abbott’s edge comes from a touch more crossover support: 12% of Talarico supporters back Abbott, while 9% of Paxton supporters back Hinojosa. Hinojosa has the advantage among extremely motivated (+6) and extremely interested voters (+5). Abbott has a net positive personal rating by a single point (50% favorable vs. 49% unfavorable). Hinojosa is in positive territory by 11 points (45% vs. 34%), although nearly 1 in 5 are unable to rate her. Texas last elected a Democratic governor in 1990 (Ann Richards), a Democratic Senator in 1988 (Lloyd Bentsen), and a Democratic presidential candidate in 1976 (Jimmy Carter). A closer look at the Hispanic electorate Hispanic voters say their Senate pick will be driven by inflation, as roughly 4 in 10 say it will be the most important issue to their vote and another 4 in 10 say they’re falling behind financially. This mostly matches views among all Texas voters. And as is the case with voters overall, there is an enthusiasm gap, as more Hispanic Democrats than Hispanic Republicans are interested and motivated to vote in the midterms. Overall, Hispanic voters prefer Talarico by 18 points (59% vs. 41%). Some 9% of Hispanic GOP voters crossover to support Talarico while 5% of Hispanic Democrats favor Paxton. CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE In 2024, Trump topped former Vice President Kamala Harris among Hispanic voters in Texas by 1 point, according to the Texas FNVA survey (49% Harris vs. 50% Trump). By 20 points, more Hispanic voters are concerned that Paxton lacks the character to serve as senator than feel Talarico is too extreme (61% concerned vs. 41%). For the governor’s race, Hispanic voters back Hinojosa by 16 points in the new survey. By comparison, they preferred Beto O’Rourke over Abbott by 14 points in 2022. More than half of Hispanic voters view Talarico (57% favorable), Hinojosa (53%), and the Democratic Party (53%) positively, while more than half have negative views of Paxton (56% unfavorable), Abbott (56%), Trump (61%), and the Republican Party (59%). Conducted July 23-27, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,006 Texas registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (72) and cellphones (681) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (253). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. The survey includes an oversample of 296 Hispanic voters, bringing the sample size for that subgroup to 556 (±4). Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling errors, question
‘The irony’: Ketanji Brown Jackson roasted after stressing impartiality on Michelle Obama’s podcast
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is being mocked online over the “irony” of saying she is “very, very mindful and scrupulous” about being impartial during a guest appearance on former first lady Michelle Obama’s podcast, “IMO.” During an appearance of more than an hour on the podcast, Jackson, a Biden appointee to the Supreme Court, stressed the importance of being unbiased, saying, “You really have to be focused on that.” “There are lots of limits on what judges can do, and I try to be very, very mindful and scrupulous with respect to that because, as you say, our obligation is to be unbiased in our approach,” said Jackson. MICHELLE OBAMA ACCUSES MEDIA OF WEAPONIZING FASHION TO ‘DIMINISH’ HER AS A CAMPAIGN THREAT “And, so, you have to then navigate all the sources that could make for an appearance of partiality, which you want to avoid.” She added that “there are lots of things that I end up not accepting for that reason.” The former first lady asked Jackson about the practices she follows to remain unbiased. “You also have to watch your exposure to things, so that there isn’t a bias,” said Obama. “What does that mean for you in terms of reading the paper and listening to the news? And how do get your information and what do you have to be careful about? And how are you dealing with the potential conflicts so that you do stay above board?” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Jackson said there are employees in the court whose job is to be “assisting us in that way.” “When I get invitations to do things, I always have them screened by the legal office, the public information office, just to make sure that there are no ethical conflicts, that this is not a fundraiser, you know,” she told Obama. ALITO RIPS JACKSON’S ‘UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE’ SOLO DISSENT AS SUPREME COURT FIGHT SHAKES UP 2026 MAP Reactions poured in quickly. “Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown discusses the importance of being neutral while she is sitting on Michelle Obama’s podcast set!” Turning Point USA contributor John Amanchukwu wrote. “She doesn’t really expect anyone to believe that, does she?” conservative influencer Patricia Foster wrote. “Make it make sense,” commentator DeVory Darkins wrote. “Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson can’t be real. She says it is important to be neutral as a Supreme Court justice……..while she is literally on MAJOR leftist Michelle Obama’s podcast,” Darkins wrote. “We ALL know how impartial she is.” ‘WOKE’ SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT LIONIZES EMBATTLED FAUCI AMID CONSERVATIVE SCRUTINY OF MUSEUM’S MESSAGING Harris Rigby, a columnist for the Babylon Bee’s non-satirical site “Not the Bee,” wrote, “There isn’t a strong enough word for the irony in this video clip.” He ripped Jackson as “the most public, loud-mouthed, self-assured judge in the history of the United States,” adding that she now “wants to lecture us about the dignity of the courts.” Fox News Digital reached out to Obama and the Supreme Court for comment.
Trump promotes Freedom Haulers Initiative to fast-track military veterans into trucking jobs
President Donald Trump on Thursday formally kicked off an administration initiative designed to fast-track military veterans into trucking jobs while removing illegal immigrant commercial drivers from America’s roadways, arguing the effort will improve highway safety and create new employment opportunities for former service members. Speaking at the White House alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and trucking industry leaders, Trump promoted the “Freedom Haulers Initiative,” which streamlines the commercial driver’s license (CDL) process for veterans with heavy vehicle experience gained during military service. “Today, we’re taking action to get illegal alien truck drivers off the American roadways and replace them with proud American veterans,” Trump said. “It’s about time.” TRUMP TAPS VETERANS TO FIX ILLEGAL ALIEN TRUCKING PROBLEM PLAGUING US ROADWAYS Under the initiative, qualified veterans with heavy-vehicle experience gained during military service can apply to waive the CDL road-skills test, allowing them to avoid duplicating training they received in the military. Certain veterans in participating states may also qualify for a waiver of the written knowledge test. Veterans without military truck-driving experience will be eligible for expedited training that administration officials said could be completed in several weeks. Trump said 34 states have joined or are working to implement the Even Exchange Program, including Indiana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Maryland, and called on the remaining states to participate. The president paired the promotion with his administration’s ongoing crackdown on commercial drivers who do not meet federal English-language requirements or who were issued licenses while in the country illegally. OUT OF CONTROL, UNQUALIFIED ILLEGAL ALIEN TRUCKERS ENDANGERING KIDS ON US ROADS, INSIDER WARNS: ‘JUST MADNESS’ Trump said the administration has removed more than 24,000 non-English-speaking commercial drivers from behind the wheel and worked with states to cancel more than 28,000 commercial driver’s licenses he said were unlawfully issued to illegal immigrants. He also pointed to several fatal crashes allegedly involving illegal immigrants while arguing for the policy change. Duffy said the initiative eliminates unnecessary barriers for veterans transitioning into civilian careers while prioritizing highway safety. “These are great-paying jobs. They’re anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000-plus a year,” Duffy said. “…illegals are out. American patriots are in.” ILLEGAL TRUCKER CASES FUEL GOP PUSH TO CRACK DOWN ON CDL MILLS AS DEMS LARGELY SILENT Collins said the Department of Veterans Affairs will also expand access to CDL training by allowing eligible veterans to use GI Bill benefits and by accelerating enrollment in existing training programs. “Let’s put veterans in the seats, making jobs safer and better for all Americans,” Collins said, noting that roughly one in 10 truck drivers nationwide already are veterans. Werner Enterprises President Nathan Meisgeier announced his company will hire 1,400 veterans over the next year as part of the Freedom Haulers Initiative, calling military veterans a natural fit for the trucking industry. “This administration’s Freedom Haulers campaign will have a direct and powerful impact on our ability to bring even more veterans into our workforce,” Meisgeier said. Army veteran Ricky Washington, who transitioned into commercial trucking after serving for three decades in the Army and Army National Guard, said the profession offers former service members another opportunity to serve the country. “The trucking industry is more than just a sector of our economy — it’s the backbone of our commerce,” Washington said. “It is a place where service members, veterans [and] military spouses can find a purpose, a community and a way to continue keeping our great nation moving forward.”
House panel demands classified briefings on noncitizen voting, alleged Chinese election interference
The House committee charged with overseeing American elections is demanding more information on allegations of noncitizens voting in federal races. The Committee on House Administration is requesting classified briefings on foreign interference in U.S. elections after President Donald Trump raised such concerns during a speech earlier this month. “Reports of noncitizens casting illegal ballots continue to emerge, undermining election integrity and public confidence in American elections,” wrote Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis. “To inform potential legislative reforms, the Committee therefore requests a Member-level, classified briefing from DHS on the number of non-citizens registered to vote across the country and cyber vulnerabilities present in current voting systems. Please contact the Committee by August 13, 2026, to set up a briefing to be held in the month of September. The Committee also requests that any relevant documents be provided alongside the briefing.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS CONFRONT NJ GOVERNOR OVER 6,600 NON-CITIZENS REGISTERED TO VOTE IN ALLEGED SOFTWARE FAILURE The classified briefing requests were sent to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FBI Director Kash Patel and acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Bill Pulte. In the letters, Steil cited Trump’s claim that DHS discovered roughly 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote as well as recent revelations that New Jersey mistakenly added 6,600 noncitizens to its voter rolls in 2023 and 2024. TRUMP ACCUSED CHINA OF AN ‘ELECTION SECURITY NIGHTMARE’ BUT THEN UNDERCUT HIS OWN WARNING Steil also pointed to Trump’s comments in his speech on Chinese-led “cyberattacks on election infrastructure.” The committee’s release said there were “serious concerns about the security of American elections.” The briefing requests come less than 100 days before the November midterm elections, which will decide which party controls both houses of Congress for the latter half of Trump’s final term in the Oval Office. Republicans have long raised concerns about the security of American elections, which Democrats have argued are attempts to undermine people’s faith in those elections. It is already a federal crime to vote in elections as a noncitizen, but the GOP is pushing for further guardrails such as proof of citizenship in the voter registration process and a federal voter ID standard at the polls. To date, no evidence has been found that noncitizens have swayed the outcome of any federal election.
Dem senator swipes credit for bill he opposed amid heated re-election bid: ‘Disturbing pattern’
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is touting his advocacy for federal investment in Georgia military infrastructure despite having ultimately voted against the bill that secured the improvements. Most recently, Ossoff highlighted new construction for an elementary school at Fort Benning, improved conditions at Fort Stewart, pay raises for military personnel and improvements to Georgia’s foster care system — all a part of the annual military funding bill known as Military Construction and Veteran Affairs (MilCon-VA). At the time of its initial passage, Ossoff quickly released a press statement. FOX NEWS POLL: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE GEORGIA SENATE RACE “U.S. Senate passes Sen. Ossoff’s Bipartisan Bill that provides most funding for Georgia military construction in 15 years,” his website announced. When reconsidering it for final passage, Ossoff opposed the package. Notably, Ossoff, as the ranking member on the Senate Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veteran Affairs, voted in favor of the bill in committee and as a standalone bill but opposed its final passage later that year when it was bundled together with other government funding legislation. When asked about the voting record, his office reaffirmed the federal support secured in Georgia. “Let’s be clear: Georgia’s massive 2026 military construction budget, the highest in 15 years, is a direct and undeniable result of Senator Ossoff’s work as the senior Democrat on the Military Construction subcommittee,” an Ossoff campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Senator Ossoff makes no apology for having tried to stop Mike Collins from doubling premiums for more than a million Georgians and throwing 300,000 off their health insurance,” the spokesperson added. The spokesperson was referring to Ossoff’s Republican challenger, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., and caps on federal health subsidies Republicans had championed at the time of MilCon-VA’s passage. Like many Democrats, Ossoff has struggled to oppose legislation championed by President Donald Trump while at the same time making his case for re-election in one of the country’s most competitive Senate seats. Ossoff won in 2021 with a 50.6% to 49.4% victory over incumbent Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga. In the case of the elementary school, Ossoff said he had been calling for those investments for years. “I have been working for years now for a replacement for Dexter Elementary. That’s really important for those families down there in Columbus,” Ossoff said. “I’m just a bit concerned by the lack of attention in this year’s base budget, so we’ll work together on that.” Ossoff made similar remarks about improvements to Fort Stewart, citing concerns in press releases about lead exposure affecting newborns’ health on the base, mold contamination and flooded living areas. Ossoff released findings in a seven-page report about the base’s conditions. SEN BLUMENTHAL, REP. TAKANO: CONGRESS CAN FUND VETERANS’ CARE WITHOUT TAKING BENEFITS FROM DISABLED HEROES “Our military service members and their families make huge sacrifices for the country, and it’s a travesty how they’re being treated by privatized housing contractors in Georgia and nationwide,” Sen. Ossoff said. “The stories in this report should shock our conscience, and I will continue exposing the mistreatment of military families in privatized housing and working to protect them and improve conditions.” Notably, the package Ossoff ultimately voted against contained $8 million for Fort Stewart and $127.4 million to replace the Dexter Elementary School. A veteran lawmaker ripped Ossoff for highlighting wins he didn’t participate in. “Last year, he tried to take credit for my veterans housing bill, legislation he had absolutely nothing to do with. A politician who tries to erase a veteran’s work for political gain has forfeited the trust of the people he seeks to represent,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said in a statement, referring to a bill he introduced last year. Ossoff highlighted the bill on his website, calling it a “bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff” and announcing that “Sen. Ossoff brings Republicans and Democrats together to protect veterans from foreclosure.” Ossoff was not a sponsor of the bill and, because it passed unanimously in a voice vote, did not cast a vote for it either. DEM SENATOR ACCUSED OF BEING ‘NOWHERE TO BE FOUND’ ON CRUCIAL ISSUE IMPACTING KIDS IN SWING STATE “Ossoff’s disturbing pattern of taking credit for work he didn’t do and claiming victories he didn’t support demonstrates both gross incompetence and a complete lack of integrity,” Van Orden said.