Tulsi Gabbard’s brother charged after allegedly trying to lure children to Waikīkī hotel room: police
The older brother of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been charged after Honolulu police say he allegedly tried to lure several children to his Waikīkī hotel room by offering them gum and money, as his family says he is continuing to receive psychiatric treatment. Batarti Gabbard, 55, was charged with second-degree custodial interference after the July 12 “stranger danger” incident at a Waikīkī hotel pool, according to police. Honolulu police allege Gabbard approached several children, including a 9-year-old boy, asked for their names, wrote them in a notebook and offered them money and gum if they would accompany him to his hotel room. EXCLUSIVE: TULSI GABBARD RESIGNS FROM TRUMP CABINET Fox News Digital obtained new comment from Gabbard’s father, Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who declined to discuss the allegations, but confirmed his son continues to receive medical and psychiatric treatment. “We love him, and asked him to follow the protocol at the hospital, which he says he will do,” Mike Gabbard told Fox News Digital. “We’re praying for his speedy recovery, and would appreciate the prayers of others.” Fox News Digital also reached out to Tulsi Gabbard through her public office and left a voicemail requesting comment. She did not immediately respond. GABBARD CLAIMS ‘COORDINATED EFFORT’ BY INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE NARRATIVE TO IMPEACH TRUMP Police said the incident occurred around 2 p.m. on July 12 at the pool area of an unnamed Waikīkī hotel, where Batarti Gabbard allegedly approached several children. According to police, the children refused and Gabbard walked away. A 42-year-old woman reported the incident to police. MIKE WALTZ, TIM TEBOW LAUNCH EFFORT TO COMBAT ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION: ‘IT’S HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKYARD’ According to KITV, Gabbard had also been arrested July 16 on charges of theft. He pleaded not guilty to the theft charge Friday morning, was released and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 14 in that case. KITV reported that no court date has yet been set on the custodial interference charge. Honolulu Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that Gabbard is no longer in custody.
Mamdani doubles down on democratic socialism while insisting Wall Street, business leaders can work with him
New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani is embracing his identity as a Democratic Socialist, arguing the movement represents a return to the Democratic Party’s New Deal roots even as he insists Wall Street and corporate leaders have nothing to fear from his administration. In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, Mamdani rejected the notion that his political label is a liability, instead characterizing Democratic Socialism as the modern embodiment of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vision for the Democratic Party. “So much of what makes me proud to be a Democrat is looking at what our party used to stand for. You think about the Four Freedoms, you think FDR, you think the New Deal,” Mamdani said. “Those are at the core of what our party’s identity is, and yet it feels like to experience it, you have to read about it. You can’t see it around you anymore. And that isn’t something that I’m willing to accept, and I know that many feel similarly.” DE BLASIO DEFENDS SOCIALIST ‘INSURGENCY’ INSIDE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SAYS TRUMP HAS BECOME ‘STATUS QUO’ The remarks come as Mamdani has emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent progressive voices following a string of successful endorsements of fellow Democratic Socialist candidates, who won their primary House races. Even as he doubled down on Democratic Socialism, Mamdani insisted his administration welcomed private investment and collaboration with Wall Street, finance and real estate leaders, despite continuing to push for higher taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents. “I think it’s important,” Mamdani said of the city’s relationship with private business leaders. “And what I have in common with leaders of those sectors — even amid disagreements, because I believe that we can raise taxes a little bit more on the wealthiest New Yorkers — what brings us together is both a belief in the city and a commitment to its continued vitality.” FAR-LEFT SURGE: MAMDANI-BACKED CANDIDATES OUST DEM ESTABLISHMENT INCUMBENTS Mamdani pointed to the recent announcement of American Express’ new headquarters at Two World Trade Center as evidence that major corporations continue investing in New York. “These business leaders, they’re not just making decisions on the basis of dollars and cents; they’re also making decisions on the basis of investing in the city and in what the city represents,” he said. The mayor also rejected the idea that Democratic Socialism is incompatible with economic growth after the interviewer remarked that he sounded in line with a “capitalist mayor.” NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF RICH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES ‘IMAGINED’ “I will always celebrate continued investment in this city,” Mamdani said. “And I’ll also look to ensure that more and more New Yorkers can be a part of those benefits.” But even as Mamdani boasts his support for corporate investments, an analysis by the Citizens Budget Commission found New York’s share of the nation’s millionaires fell from 12.7% in 2010 to 8.7% in 2022, the steepest decline of any state, costing an estimated $10.7 billion in personal income tax revenue in 2022 alone. The report points to New York’s high taxes and declining competitiveness relative to states like Florida and Texas as factors behind its shrinking share of the nation’s millionaires. Mamdani has made raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers a centerpiece of his economic agenda, arguing the city’s highest earners and most profitable corporations should shoulder more of the cost of funding public services. His interview comes as national Democrats debate the party’s future direction ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Mamdani argued that the victories of democratic socialist candidates signal that voters are embracing his vision for the party. “For too long, it has felt like our party, the Democratic Party, the only answer we have is to say that we are not the Republican Party,” Mamdani said. “But we also have to have a vision of what comes after this administration.”
Bernie Sanders dismisses Haley Stevens, says Michigan race is against the ‘billionaire class’
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took a swipe at Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., on Saturday, saying Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary isn’t about her, but about whether the “billionaire class” can stop progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Sanders — joined by progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., at the Detroit Opera House rally — delivered the remarks to voters alongside El-Sayed, who is set to face Stevens in Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary. “In all due respect to Haley Stevens, everybody knows that this is not an election between her and Abdul,” Sanders said. “This is an election between Abdul and the billionaire class. That is what this election is about.” BERNIE, AOC TO TEAM UP WITH EL-SAYED AS DEM CIVIL WAR MOVES TO MICHIGAN Sanders said wealthy donors and outside groups have poured unprecedented sums into the race to defeat El-Sayed, whom he has endorsed as one of the leading progressive candidates running for the Senate this cycle. “The billionaire class, which has already — and there are two weeks left to go in the election — has already spent $50 million against him,” Sanders said. “Now I want everybody here throughout the state, people turning on the TVs, and they see all these ads, I want you to ask yourself a simple question: Why are the richest people in the country spending tens and tens of millions of dollars to defeat Abdul El-Sayed?” Sanders claimed outside groups have outspent El-Sayed’s campaign by a margin of 12-to-1, portraying the flood of spending as evidence that powerful interests view the progressive candidate as a threat. According to AdImpact, super PACs backing Stevens are spending about $26.9 million on TV ads during the final five weeks of the primary, compared with roughly $2.1 million backing El-Sayed. DEM CIVIL WAR HITS PRIMARY DEBATE STAGE IN FIERY BATTLEGROUND SHOWDOWN: ‘WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?’ The Michigan Senate primary has emerged as one of the most closely watched Democratic contests of the 2026 cycle, highlighting the growing divide between the party’s progressive and establishment wings. El-Sayed has been endorsed by Sanders and other prominent progressives, including AOC, while Stevens has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and recently received the endorsement of retiring Sen. Gary Peters. Stevens has represented Michigan’s 11th Congressional District since 2019 after serving on the Obama administration’s auto industry task force. .SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS WITH MOCKERY AS DEM SENATE CANDIDATE’S PEP TALK GOES VIRAL: ‘IS THIS FOR REAL?’ The congresswoman attracted attention on the campaign trail in recent days after a couple of bizarre speeches went viral online. In one viral clip, Stevens was mocked online as critics compared her animated campaign speech to a classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch featuring Chris Farley’s “van down by the river” character. The viral moment also drew renewed attention to a 2020 House floor speech in which Stevens, wearing pink latex gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic, continued speaking after her allotted time expired as the speaker pro tempore repeatedly declared her “out of order” and struck the gavel. The Senate race tightened after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign earlier this month, leaving Stevens and El-Sayed in a head-to-head contest that many Democrats view as a proxy battle over the party’s future direction. The winner is expected to face Republican Mike Rogers in November.
Mamdani says NYC is exploring whether it can arrest Netanyahu if Israeli leader visits for UN General Assembly
Far-left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration is actively exploring whether the city has the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for this month’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), escalating one of his sharpest criticisms yet of the foreign leader. In remarks first reported by The New York Times, Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” who “belongs in the Hague” and said his administration is in an “active conversation” with the city’s Law Department over what legal authority New York City possesses should the Israeli prime minister travel to the Big Apple. The comments from self-described Democratic socialist Mamdani raises questions about the limits of a mayor’s authority over foreign affairs and whether New York City could take legal action against a visiting head of government. POTENTIAL 2028 DEM CONTENDER UNLOADS ON NETANYAHU, ADMITS US-ISRAEL TIES AT ‘CROSSROADS’ Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office asking whether Mamdani stands by calling Netanyahu a “war criminal,” whether City Hall is actively consulting with the Law Department regarding possible legal action against the Israeli leader, and whether the mayor would direct the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu if attorneys determined the city had legal authority. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz slammed Mamdani’s remarks as “pure political theater,” saying the mayor has no legal authority to arrest Netanyahu. In a post on X, Waltz argued that the U.S. is not party to the ICC’s founding treaty, the U.N. Headquarters Agreement protects visiting heads of government, head-of-state immunity applies and “federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes.” The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity tied to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. ISRAEL SIGNALS READINESS FOR ANOTHER IRAN STRIKE AS TRUMP DECLARES CEASEFIRE OVER Israel has rejected the allegations and disputes the court’s jurisdiction, while the U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The issue has become increasingly contentious as world leaders weigh whether they would act on the warrant if Netanyahu enters their countries. The United Nations General Assembly annually brings dozens of heads of state and government to New York, creating unique diplomatic and security considerations for the city. The comments are likely to intensify scrutiny of Mamdani’s foreign policy positions, particularly regarding Israel, which became a flashpoint during his mayoral campaign. Israeli officials have repeatedly rejected allegations that Netanyahu committed war crimes, arguing Israel is acting in self-defense following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. FETTERMAN WARNS MAMDANI RISKS ‘CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS’ BY VOWING TO DEFY SCOTUS IMMIGRATION RULING Mamdani’s office has not yet publicly detailed any legal analysis supporting the idea that New York City or the NYPD could independently execute an international arrest warrant against a visiting foreign head of government, though Fox News Digital has requested further details. Mamdani’s remarks are the latest example of his administration venturing into international affairs. Earlier this year, the State Department stepped in to halt a planned meeting between a senior Mamdani administration official and Iran’s U.N. ambassador, stressing the role of federal, not local government to conduct U.S. foreign policy. Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this reporting.
Liberal circuit judge blasts SCOTUS conservatives, says Hawaii will defy high court
A Hawaii Supreme Court justice used a ruling overturning a decades-old criminal conviction to deliver a blistering rebuke of Chief Justice John Roberts’ Supreme Court, accusing the nation’s highest court of weakening constitutional rights, damaging democracy and advancing a political agenda. Justice Todd Eddins authored the 91-page majority opinion Wednesday in State v. Granillo, a case involving a man convicted in 1990 of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman on Maui. The court ordered a new trial after concluding that hair and fiber evidence presented by an FBI expert relied on forensic science that has since been discredited. But in roughly eight pages of the opinion, Eddins argued Hawaii’s courts should not look to the Roberts court when interpreting the state constitution, using the case to deliver an unusually sharp critique of the nation’s highest court. LAWYER WHO BEAT HAWAII GUN LAW CALLS STATE’S RELIANCE ON BLACK CODE ‘DISGRACEFUL’ “When six justices walk away from those they are supposed to protect, state constitutions hold the line,” Eddins wrote, referring to the court’s six conservative justices. “That is not defiance. That is the design.” Eddins argued that Hawaii’s Constitution provides stronger protections than the federal Constitution as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court and said the court has abandoned landmark civil rights principles. “The Court that now defines federal due process does not honor the work of 1954,” Eddins wrote. “It revives the work of 1857. The work of 1896.” Eddins was referring to Brown v. Board of Education, ruled in 1954, which ended racial segregation in public schools, and Dred Scott v. Sandford, the infamous 1857 decision denying citizenship to Black Americans and Plessy v. Ferguson, the 1896 ruling that upheld racial segregation. Eddins argued that the Roberts court no longer reflects the constitutional principles established in Brown v. Board of Education. Instead, he argued the court’s originalist approach relies on the same type of constitutional interpretation in the discredited Dred Scott and Plessy decisions. “Today’s hubristic originalists use the same method to control modern life,” Eddins wrote. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN LIMIT ON PARTY CAMPAIGN SPENDING IN COORDINATION WITH CANDIDATES “The Court overrides what Congress passed,” Eddins continued. “It overrides what the people chose. All to serve its own ends. What this Court has done to constitutional rights, democratic institutions, and the rule of law explains why Hawaiʻi’s Constitution takes no instruction from it.” Throughout the opinion, Eddins pointed to many of the Roberts court’s most consequential decisions as evidence that constitutional protections have been weakened, including Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the federal constitutional right to abortion; Citizens United v. FEC on campaign finance; Rucho v. Common Cause on partisan gerrymandering; Trump v. United States on presidential immunity; and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which expanded Second Amendment protections. Eddins accused the Roberts court of adopting a “colorblind” approach to the equal protection clause that, in his view, ignores the amendment’s original purpose of protecting formerly enslaved Black Americans. “The Roberts Court sees only white,” he wrote. “It refuses to acknowledge who the Equal Protection Clause was written to protect.” He also suggested that recent Supreme Court decisions have repeatedly expanded the power of government officials and wealthy interests while reducing protections for individual rights. “A court that systematically dismantles democratic safeguards, steamrolls constitutional liberties, and tramples human dignity does not chart the course for the Hawaiʻi Constitution,” he wrote. THOMAS LEAVES NOTHING LEFT UNSAID ON RACIAL GERRYMANDERING DECISION: ‘GO FURTHER’ The opinion quickly drew criticism from legal observers who said it was highly unusual for a state supreme court opinion to devote so much space to criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court. “The Court issues an unhinged attack on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court,” Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan wrote on X. “I haven’t ever seen something like this. And it’s not good.” George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley similarly described the opinion as “devoid of judicial restraint and decorum.” “The Hawaii Supreme Court just issued a truly shocking opinion that unleashed a torrent of rage and recrimination against the majority of the United States Supreme Court, including suggesting that they are de facto racists,” Turley wrote on X. The opinion comes just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court handed Hawaii a major loss in Wolford v. Lopez, striking down the state’s so-called “vampire rule.” In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled Hawaii could not require gun owners to get a property owner’s permission before carrying a gun into businesses and other private property open to the public. Eddins has served on the Hawaii Supreme Court since 2020 after being appointed by former Democratic Gov. David Ige.
Stephen Miller says Trump administration is pursuing policy to debank illegal immigrants
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Friday that the Trump administration is seeking to debank illegal immigrants as an incentive for them to self-deport from the United States. Miller gave an update on the White House’s latest tactic to deter illegal immigration during an interview Friday on “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show.” “President Trump signed an executive order a few weeks ago saying that we are not going to allow illegal aliens to use banking services in this country,” Miller said. “Illegal aliens have credit cards, they have bank accounts and they’re paid with direct deposit. So, illegal aliens fully participate in the commercial systems, the financial systems of America. Shutting that down is a massive engine for deportation.” OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE TORPEDOES TRUMP‘S BID TO PROTECT US JOBS BY REFORMING CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION POLICY Miller was likely referring to an executive order Trump signed on May 19 that directed banks and federal regulators to increase scrutiny of accounts and credit applications involving immigrants without legal status or work authorization. The order did not explicitly instruct banks to deny credit cards or bank accounts to illegal immigrants, but compliance with it could make it more difficult for them to participate in the financial system. Federal agencies have already begun acting on Trump’s executive order. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ORDERS GREEN CARD APPLICANTS TO LEAVE THE US, APPLY FROM THEIR HOME COUNTRIES In early June, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, led by Russell Vought, issued guidance stating that lenders may — and in some cases must — consider applicants’ immigration status and work authorization when assessing their ability to repay loans. Miller also referenced guidance from three federal agencies issued on July 13, “reminding supervised financial institutions to apply existing safe-and-sound credit risk management practices when lending to borrowers who are not legally authorized to work in the United States.” Both advisories serve to tell banks that illegal immigrants could be higher-risk customers for loans. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
New Yorkers collected $2.6 billion in welfare cash payments last year, city data shows
New York City doled out more than $2.6 billion in cash assistance to city residents in 2025, a Fox News Digital review of city records showed. The money reached a record 864,999 people, a 30-year high not matched since before former Mayor Rudy Giuliani instituted major welfare reform in the early 2000s. The $2.6 billion figure represents a 71% increase from 2022’s $1.57 billion, data showed. MAYORS WANT TO KEEP HANDING OUT FREE CASH AFTER FEDERAL FUNDS DRIED UP When coupled with payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the city paid out more than $7 billion in welfare to residents in 2024, according to a Fox News analysis of data from the city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA). The rise in welfare payments comes as some of New York City’s wealthiest contemplate a Big Apple exodus due to what many have described as a policy environment unfriendly to businesses and moneymakers. NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF RICH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES ‘IMAGINED’ Billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin notably threatened to put a major Midtown renovation on hold for his Citadel offices after socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani targeted him by name in a video announcing a new tax on second homes in the city. “When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich. … Well, today we’re taxing the rich. This pied-à-terre tax is specifically designed for the richest of the rich,” Mamdani said while recording a video outside the building that houses Griffin’s penthouse. “This is an annual fee on luxury properties worth more than $5 million whose owners do not live full-time in the city — like this penthouse, which hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin bought for $238 million.” Griffin called the video “inappropriate” in critical comments. “What really upset me about the video was the fact that he put me in harm’s way. … And to put any citizen in harm’s way is just inappropriate for one of our political leaders,” Griffin said, also calling the video “creepy” and “frightening.” Though Mamdani inherited the state of his city’s welfare system from his predecessors, his policy decisions indicate a continuation of the upward rise in payments. The city’s new $126 billion budget that Mamdani and city councilors agreed to in June contains a $14.63 billion outlay for the HRA, which handles welfare and social services. The 2026 budget allocated $11.97 billion for the HRA, giving the 2027 budget a social services earmark over $2.6 billion more than the previous year’s. The $14.63 billion for 2026 represents 14% of the city’s total budget. Fox News Digital contacted the HRA and Mayor Mamdani’s office for further comment.
Two US service members killed in Iranian strikes on Jordan, CENTCOM says
Two U.S. service members were killed in action in Jordan during Iranian attacks on a U.S. base in Jordan on Friday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Saturday. “On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command … and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing,” CENTCOM wrote in a statement on X. “Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty. LEAKED IRAN REPORT FINDS RECORD PUBLIC ANGER AS REGIME FOCUSES ON HOLDING POWER “Out of respect for the families, CENTCOM will withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified,” the post concluded. War Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the news on X Saturday, saying, “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other elected officials were among numerous lawmakers who offered prayers and support for the fallen troops, their families and the service member who remains missing. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., said he was “heartbroken” by the loss of “two American soldiers who heroically defended our nation and partner forces against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan.” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., called the news “devastating” and urged Americans to pray for the missing service member and the troops’ families. Some Democrats also paired their condolences with criticism of U.S. policy toward Iran. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said his “heart is with the families” of the fallen service members before calling to bring American troops “out of harm’s way.” Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said the service members were killed in “a war that never should have happened in the first place.” IRANIANS SPEAK OUT OVER POSSIBLE TRUMP-REGIME DEAL The service members’ deaths mark the first U.S. deaths in the Iran war since fighting resumed in June after the collapse of a ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. Sixteen U.S. service members have died in the conflict since the war began in February. Iran’s strikes on Jordan come amid a wider wave of Iranian attacks on U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf. Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on Kuwait and Qatar in recent days as well. The attacks followed a six-day U.S. attack campaign in Iran in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Fox News Digital contacted the White House and CENTCOM for additional comment. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Kentucky governor says he received 2 calls from agencies indicating McConnell had ‘passed’
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said this week that he received two calls from agencies suggesting Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., died while he was in the hospital. In an interview with Katie Couric uploaded to YouTube on Thursday, Beshear, a Democrat, did not specify which agencies allegedly called him with the news or when the calls were made. “In fact, I’d gotten two calls from different agencies, not state agencies, suggesting he’d passed,” said Beshear, who has served as governor since December 2019. Fox News Digital reached out to Beshear and McConnell’s offices for comment. GOP SENATORS SPLIT AS TUBERVILLE DEMANDS MCCONNELL ANSWERS After nearly a month of being hospitalized, McConnell’s office released a lengthy statement on July 12 saying he was being treated for a fall he suffered in June. A picture of him in a hospital bed alongside his wife was also released. Prior to the announcement, there was speculation about what had happened to McConnell, given that his office did not reveal why he was in the hospital for weeks. Emergency dispatch audio from June 14, the day McConnell was hospitalized, revealed he was “unconscious” and may have suffered a heart attack. ‘THIS IS NOT NORMAL’: AOC UNLOADS ON MCCONNELL’S PROLONGED ABSENCE “My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion,” McConnell said in the statement last weekend. “I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages.” Two days before the longtime GOP leader shared more about his condition, Beshear posted on social media demanding that McConnell be more transparent. “I publicly and privately urged the last administration to address the public’s concerns with the former president’s health,” Beshear wrote, seemingly a reference to former President Joe Biden. “I’m calling on Sen. McConnell to do the same and provide voters an update on his own health.” Beshear ended the post by urging McConnell to “end the crazy speculation” and “just tell us what’s going on.” On July 8, Beshear also wrote a letter to the 84-year-old lawmaker requesting that he “fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health.” McConnell’s doctor said he “developed pneumonia” early in his hospitalization but “responded rapidly to antibiotic treatment.” McConnell said he intends to return to the Senate, but his office has given no timeline on when he’ll be able to do so.
Rep Ralph Norman enters South Carolina Senate race despite Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., will run for Senate in South Carolina following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, he revealed Saturday. “I’m here to announce that I will be a candidate for the Senate, I’ll be throwing my hat into the ring, and day one, Kayleigh, I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump’s America First” Norman said during an appearance on “Saturday In America with Kayleigh McEnany.” Norman then championed Trump’s SAVE America Act and said he would focus on eliminating the filibuster, saying Republicans need to “nuke” the procedure. Norman made the announcement just days after President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister who was appointed to finish the remainder of his term, to run for the seat fully when her term is up in January. CONSERVATIVES UNITE AROUND SAVE AMERICA ACT AFTER TRUMP DECLASSIFIES ‘SHOCKING’ ELECTION INTEL DARLINE GRAHAM IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR A FULL SENATE TERM, A REPORT SAID, AS MEMORIAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR HER LATE BROTHER LINDSEY GRAHAM. “I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, also writing “Run Darline Run.” Norman acknowledged Trump’s endorsement Saturday, telling McEnany he asked for Trump’s blessing. “He decided to go with Darline, who’s a nice person, and he decided to go with her and I respect that, but that doesn’t deter my plans. I’m in this to win,” he said. Norman will be running in the Aug. 11 special GOP primary election, revealing that he is in the process of filing the paperwork. Though not backed by Trump, Norman has received support from GOP Senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rick Scott, R-Fla., both of whom endorsed him. The pair, like Norman, are both vocal opponents of the filibuster. Norman will be entering a competitive primary, as at least two other candidates have declared their intentions to run with further challengers expected to enter the race. Businessman Mark Lynch, who ran against Lindsey Graham in the recent June primary, has announced his candidacy, as did attorney Duke Buckner. And though Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., hasn’t publicly announced an intention to run, state lawmakers are already eyeing his seat in the House should he decide to enter the fray, according to reporting from News From The States. Fox News Digital contacted Reps. Norman, Mace and Fry, along with Sen. Darline Graham for further comment.