Tension erupts during House midterm debate as Lawler fact-checks New York Democrat opponent on immigration
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., faced off against Democrat opponent Cait Conley Wednesday night in a one-hour debate filled with interruptions and fiery accusations less than three weeks before Election Day. Lawler is vying for a third term representing New York’s 17th Congressional District, a politically moderate area in the New York City suburbs that could decide the fate of who controls the House of Representatives for the final years of President Donald Trump’s term. Lawler called out Conley for misrepresenting his voting record, Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act and her own stance on immigration enforcement. Conley, meanwhile, tried to paint Lawler as a Trump acolyte who put the needs of Washington Republicans ahead of the people of his district. Their most heated clashes came on the immigration front, when the moderator referenced the recent shooting of an illegal immigrant by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last week in New York City while the man’s 5-year-old child was in the car. DEM CANDIDATE CLEARS CROWDED FIELD TO FACE TRUMP-BACKED INCUMBENT IN NY “I believe that border security is national security and that we do need immigration enforcement to ensure that violent criminals and drug cartels and human traffickers and terrorist organizations aren’t in our communities and that they are deported,” Conley said. “But what we are seeing right now with the conduct of ICE is posing a public safety hazard. To your point, last week, they shot into a car where there was a 5-year-old child. I’ll tell you, as a law enforcement officer, you’re not permitted to do that kind of stuff.” NEW YORK GOVERNOR DEBATE HEATS UP AS BLAKEMAN, HOCHUL SPAR OVER TRUMP, SANCTUARY STATUS, ICE SHOOTING Lawler, however, pointed out the man has a lengthy criminal rap sheet and was seen by some as a danger to his community. He also argued the shooting would never have happened had local law enforcement not been barred from handing him over to ICE by New York’s sanctuary laws. He said Conley “supports making New York a sanctuary state, prohibits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.” WATCH: LAWLER UNLOADS ON RASKIN AFTER FIERY IMMIGRATION HEARING: ‘GROW THE F— UP’ Lawler later pivoted the discussion to Sheridan Gorman, the college student from his district who was killed while out with her friends near her campus in Chicago earlier this year. The illegal immigrant accused of killing her was previously charged with shoplifting, but Chicago sanctuary laws prevent local law enforcement from handing him over to ICE. Conley called Gorman’s death “an atrocious crime” while repeatedly pointing out it took place in Chicago. Lawler attempted to intervene multiple times to call it “preventable,” to which an irate Conley responded, “Can I finish?” “And I do support federal agents and federal law enforcement, federal immigration enforcement, making sure that we deport violent citizens,” she said. DHS BOSS REVEALS OVAL OFFICE PLAN TO ‘WITHHOLD FUNDING’ FROM SANCTUARY CITIES AFTER AGGRESSIVE NEW YORK BUST Lawler then argued, however, that Conley’s support of sanctuary policies runs counter to that. “If you think he should have been deported when he was arrested for shoplifting, he should have been turned over to ICE. Under the new law that you support, he will not be turned over to ICE, and he will be released under cashless bail,” Lawler said. It prompted the moderator to step in, telling Lawler there was no “cross-examination round.” Elsewhere in the debate, Lawler accused Conley of having “literally just lied” that Lawler voted with Trump “100% of the time.” 10 DEMOCRAT-HELD HOUSE SEATS REPUBLICANS COULD FLIP TO SAVE THEIR MAJORITY “I’ve been rated the third most independent member of my conference. And I have taken on the president on numerous issues, including lifting the cap on SALT, including extending Haitian TPS, including passing an extension for the ACA enhanced premium tax credit despite his objections,” Lawler said. Earlier in the debate, Conley tried to accuse Lawler of supporting tax breaks for companies that build data centers as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Lawler shot back, “I know you just moved here from Virginia, so it’s hard for you to understand the local communities, but the fact is … the provision you referenced in the Working Families Tax Cut Act is $80 billion for 100% expensing for every business in America to expense plant, property and equipment. “Are you against our small businesses in the Hudson Valley being able to expense their plant, property and equipment and hire more people? Your attack on that rings hollow. You clearly don’t understand what’s actually in the tax bill. And part of the problem is you don’t pay property taxes.” Amid the drama were moments of civility. Both candidates shook hands after their spirited debate and thanked each other for appearing. Lawler also thanked Conley for her military service. The district is a pivotal one for control of the House next year. Lawler is one of three House Republicans who won a district that former Vice President Kamala Harris also won in 2024. And in an election that’s expected to be brutal for the GOP, both sides are pouring millions of dollars into the fight.
Trump torches Democrats at Arizona rally, warns they will ‘destroy our country’ ahead of midterms
President Donald Trump brought a blunt warning to Arizona voters Wednesday, declaring Democrats would “destroy our country” as he blasted their State of the Union conduct and urged supporters to turn the state red from top to bottom. With Election Day less than three weeks away, Trump rallied behind Rep. Andy Biggs, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and a slate of GOP candidates during a campaign stop in Bullhead City, taking aim at Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs and calling for a victory in honor of Charlie Kirk. “On election night, Arizona is going to prove that America does not belong to those who hate it,” Trump said. “America belongs to those who love, love, love, love — love it.” TRUMP CAMPAIGN INSIDER REVEALS STRATEGY BEHIND MIDTERM BLITZ THAT WHITE HOUSE HOPES PAYS OFF BIG Biggs joined Trump onstage and pointed back to the president’s February State of the Union address to Congress, accusing Democrats of refusing to stand when Trump challenged lawmakers about their commitment to Americans. “Vote Republican top to bottom,” Biggs told the crowd. “Let’s turn Arizona red.” TRUMP ISSUES BLUNT MIDTERM WARNING; VANCE GREETED WITH ‘48’ CHANTS: TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM GOP CONVENTION Trump seized on the criticism, shifting to lawmakers’ reactions to a veteran honored during the speech. “Not one Democrat smiled or clapped,” Trump said. “And that’s when I looked at them, and I said, ‘You people are crazy.’ JOHN FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP SUPPORTERS, CONDEMNS FELLOW DEMOCRATS’ ‘F— TRUMP’ STRATEGY “But that’s what we have,” he continued. “They’ll destroy our country.” Trump’s account combined separate moments from the Feb. 24 address. He awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, who was 100 at the time, as Trump recalled Wednesday. He also recognized World War II veteran George “Buddy” Taggart. MICHAEL MONSOOR HAD AN ESCAPE ROUTE; THE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT CHOSE TO SAVE HIS TEAMMATES INSTEAD The partisan stand-or-sit confrontation came when Trump asked lawmakers to affirm that the government’s first duty was to protect American citizens rather than illegal immigrants. Republicans rose while many Democrats remained seated. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania separately said he stood to recognize honored guests, including veterans. On Wednesday, Trump also aimed repeated personal attacks on Hobbs, who Biggs is seeking to unseat, calling her a “low IQ individual.” BATTLEGROUND DEM GOVERNOR TORCHED FOR ‘DRUNKEN SAILOR’ SPENDING GOP CRITIC SAYS IS SYMBOLIC OF BIGGER PROBLEM Trump praised Biggs’ running mate, former state Sen. Sine Kerr, who is seeking to become Arizona’s first lieutenant governor. Biggs selected Kerr in July for the newly created office. TRUMP FLEXES GOP MUSCLE IN ARIZONA PRIMARIES AS DEMS DODGE FAR-LEFT UPSET Trump also urged supporters to elect Republican secretary of state candidate Alex Kolodin, calling him “a warrior for election integrity” as he attacked Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes. “You look good. Central casting, actually,” Trump told Kolodin, joking that he looked “a little bit nerdy.” Trump gave shoutouts to Republican Reps. Paul Gosar, Abe Hamadeh and Eli Crane, describing Hamadeh and Crane as “warriors.” He also praised congressional candidate Mark Lamb, calling him “a friend of mine” and urging voters to send him to Washington to represent Arizona’s 5th Congressional District. The rally also included a tribute to Kirk, whom Trump remembered on what he said would have been the conservative activist’s 33rd birthday. “A great person, a great man, a great friend of mine,” Trump said as the crowd chanted, “Charlie! Charlie!” Trump offered support to Kirk’s widow, Erika, and their family before turning the remembrance into a call to vote. “In Charlie’s honor, we want you to go out and vote,” Trump said. “He’d be out there fighting like nobody else. So, let’s have a big victory in honor of Charlie Kirk.”
Federal agents seize phone of Rep Ilhan Omar in raid tied to immigration fraud probe
Federal authorities seized a cellphone belonging to Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., during a Monday raid on her Washington, D.C., home as part of a criminal fraud investigation into her immigration paperwork. Omar’s immigration history is facing renewed scrutiny, with investigators issuing more than a dozen subpoenas to her family members following the raid on her residence. Investigators are examining whether Omar’s family lied about her age when she immigrated to the United States in 1995. Omar became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000. The probe centers on whether the age listed on her application differed from her actual birth date. WATCH: ILHAN OMAR DENIES FEDS HAVE CONTACTED HER AFTER BORDER CZAR HOMAN CONFIRMS ‘CRIMINAL’ INVESTIGATION She was reported as 17 years old at the time she acquired citizenship, making her eligible to receive citizenship automatically through her father’s naturalization. Questions surrounding Omar’s age resurfaced after her congressional staff contacted a Minnesota public library months after she took office to request that her birth year in historical records be changed from 1981 to 1982. HOMAN CONFIRMS ‘CRIMINAL’ INVESTIGATION INVOLVING ILHAN OMAR, SAYS HE KNOWS ‘THINGS ARE GOING ON’ Omar’s husband, Tim Mynett, expressed confidence when asked about the investigation into his wife. “My wife came here when she was 12 years old as a child war refugee,” Mynett told Fox News Digital this week. “No concerns.” ILHAN OMAR’S EMBATTLED HUSBAND APPEARS AT SCENE OF HSI RAID IN MIDST OF CRIMINAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION Authorities are also examining paperwork submitted by Omar’s late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, regarding his application to enter the U.S., investigating whether statements on his filings were untruthful. Omar has denied any wrongdoing and accused the Trump administration of weaponizing federal law enforcement against political opponents. DEMOCRATS HAVE ‘DIRTY HANDS’ OVER COMPLAINTS ABOUT OMAR RAID WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION, EX-PROSECUTOR SAYS “For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back,” her office said in a statement. “Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid. The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong. No president should be able to use the power of the federal government to intimidate his political enemies.” In addition to the immigration probe, a separate inquiry is underway regarding Omar’s federal financial disclosures. Officials noted that financial disclosure review is unrelated to the raid on her home. Fox News Digital has reached out to Omar’s office. Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
DOJ threatens emergency legal action against California over suspected noncitizen voters
The Justice Department is threatening emergency legal action against California election officials unless they take steps to prevent suspected noncitizens from voting in November’s midterm elections, setting a Thursday deadline as state officials push back. In letters sent Tuesday, Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter demanded that California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan review a list of potentially ineligible voters within 48 hours. The DOJ instructed officials to segregate ballots from individuals whose citizenship cannot be verified and warned it would seek emergency legal relief if its demands were not met by noon Eastern on Oct. 15. A DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital that thousands of potential foreign nationals ineligible to vote have been identified on California’s voter rolls statewide, not just in Los Angeles County. MAP IT: DOJ ILLEGAL VOTING CRACKDOWN SWEEPS 17 STATES AS RAZOR-THIN ELECTIONS FACE SCRUTINY “This should not be controversial, as the criminal statute is clear: only American citizens may vote in federal elections. It is a federal crime for noncitizens to vote in U.S. elections, and the DOJ is asking California to ensure that is not occurring,” the spokesperson said. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, pushed back during a Wednesday news conference, accusing the Trump administration of attempting to intimidate voters and promoting false allegations of widespread voter fraud. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CHARGES 16 ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES WITH ALLEGED ILLEGAL VOTING, ELECTION CRIMES “There is no widespread voter preference, voter fraud problem. It doesn’t exist. It is a lie. It is a conspiracy theory,” Bonta said. Bonta said his office is working with the secretary of state and Los Angeles County officials to review their options. STATE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS SHARING PASSPORT RECORDS FOR VOTER CITIZENSHIP CHECKS Meanwhile, Logan said his office received a password-protected USB drive purportedly containing voter records but has not accessed it because of cybersecurity concerns. “We have not accessed the drive because doing so would conflict with established data privacy and information security protocols. We do not consider the device a secure medium. Additionally, the letter does not specify the number of individuals involved or describe the information contained in the records,” he said. The dispute comes as Californians are already casting ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, though the DOJ has not established that the individuals identified have cast illegal ballots.
Fox News Poll: Cost-of-living concerns weigh on GOP in midterms
When voters rate the economy and the president negatively just weeks before Election Day, the incumbent party is vulnerable, and that’s certainly the case in the latest Fox News survey. The economic landscape is stark. Six in 10 voters say the cost of living is their top economic worry, overshadowing government spending (15%), jobs and income inequality (7% each), tariffs (6%) and taxes (5%). Majorities rate the economy negatively (74%) and expect it to worsen next year (53%), while two-thirds are dissatisfied with how things are going in the country (66%). Few, 18%, say their family is better off compared to two years ago. Independents say they’re worse off (52%) and think the economy will get worse (70%). FOX NEWS POLL: IT’S A LONE STAR SENATE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TALARICO AND PAXTON A majority of voters, 55%, say inflation is “not at all” under control. That’s up from a low of 45% earlier this year, and includes 30% of Republicans. President Donald Trump’s lowest job rating is on inflation: 22% approve, a new low. Last summer, 36% approved. Four years ago, before the 2022 midterms, 29% approved of former President Joe Biden’s performance on inflation. Disapproval of the job Trump is doing has reached 77% on inflation, 70% on the economy, 69% on tariffs and 64% on foreign policy. A smaller share, but still a majority, disapprove of his handling of immigration (56% disapprove), while border security is the only issue that is close to positive (50% approve, 50% disapprove). Trump’s overall job approval is 36%, his lowest ever in a Fox News survey for either term. It had been holding steady at 39% since May. The decline is mainly driven by decreases among voters under age 45, those with annual household income below $50,000, non-White voters, and those without a college degree. FOX NEWS POLL: MICHIGAN VOTERS SPLIT BETWEEN EL-SAYED AND ROGERS Approval stands at a low of 76% among Republicans. That’s down 3 points since last month, 12 points since September 2025, and 16 points since early in his second term (March 2025). As in most midterms, voters are prone to punish the party in power: 7 in 10 say they will vote to send a message to Trump, with nearly twice as many expressing opposition (47%) as support (25%). If the election were today, 54% of voters say they would back the Democratic candidate in their House district and 45% would support the Republican. That is outside the margin of error and is a wider lead than last month when Democrats were ahead by 51%-44%. The race narrows among those saying they are certain to vote, with the Democratic candidate ahead by 52%-46%. The survey finds about the same number self-identify as Democrats (43%) and Republicans (41%), and both parties feel equally certain about voting (62% and 64% respectively), while more Democrats (61%) than Republicans (52%) say they are extremely interested in the election. Party loyalty is solid: 98% of Democrats support their party’s candidate, and 94% of Republicans back theirs. Independents favor the Democrats by 26 points. The Democratic candidate is the choice among Whites with a degree, those under age 45, women, union households and Hispanics. The Republican is ahead among Whites without a college degree (White men without a degree in particular), those 65 and over, voters who attend religious services regularly, military veterans and White evangelical Christians. While 43% of Hispanic voters supported Trump in the 2024 election, just 31% prefer the Republican candidate this year. “When the country is this closely divided in terms of partisanship, slight differences in defection and turnout rates can make all the difference,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps conduct the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “Republicans have time to close these apparent gaps, but it’s getting late.” Meanwhile, Democrats lead on 10 out of 13 issue concerns. The top five voter concerns are government corruption (60% extremely concerned), inflation (58%), gas prices (50%), government leadership (49%), and healthcare (48%). And double digits more trust the Democrats than the Republicans to handle each of those. Republicans retain the advantage on crime (by 10 points) and border security (R+8), while views are closely divided on immigration (R+3). The Democrats are seen as better on healthcare (D+22), inflation (D+16), gas prices (D+12), voting rights (D+12), election integrity (D+12), government leadership (D+11), what’s taught in public schools (D+11), artificial intelligence (D+10), government corruption (D+10) and foreign policy (D+9). Republicans have lost ground on key issues compared to four years ago, when more voters trusted them by 21 points on border security, 13 points on inflation and 9 points on foreign policy. Other issues that voters are extremely concerned about are the Iran war (42%), immigration (35%), crime (34%), voter suppression (32%), AI technology (32%), what’s taught in public schools (29%), voter fraud (28%) and border security (25%). While corruption in government and inflation are the top two worries about both parties, far more Democrats (72% and 70%) than Republicans (47% and 49%) are extremely concerned. The issue that helps explain the Democrats’ advantage isn’t an issue at all. By a 14-point margin, more voters think the Democrats will do a better job “fighting for people like you.” Majorities of White voters with a college degree (53%), men (52%), women (60%) and non-White voters (77%) think Democrats will fight for them. Whites without a college degree are split 49-49%. Despite their issue advantage, just 35% say Democrats have a clear plan for dealing with the country’s problems, and 33% say the same about the Republicans. That reverses the Republican advantage from July 2025, when 43% said the Republicans had a clear plan compared with 33% for the Democrats. There’s deep dissatisfaction with lawmakers: 15% approve of Congress, while 84% disapprove. Remarkably, that’s above the low of 9% approval in October 2013. Both parties are viewed negatively. The Democratic Party is underwater by 16 points (42% favorable, 58% unfavorable), while ratings of the GOP are net negative by 23
Expert calls California ‘Wild West’ for surrogacy after couple charged with abusing surrogate-born children
The case of a California couple recently accused of abusing children born to surrogates exposes the pitfalls of an industry one expert described as the “wild west.” Guojun Xuan, 66, and his wife, Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit child abuse. Authorities said the couple operated their own surrogacy agency out of their home in Arcadia, California. “I say it all the time. It’s the wild, Wild West,” Kallie Fell, executive director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, told Fox News Digital. SURROGATE WHO REFUSED ABORTION TAKES FIGHT TO SUPREME COURT AS BABY’S LIFE HANGS IN BALANCE Xuan and Zhang allegedly abused more than a dozen surrogate-born children — some as young as 2 months old — inside their multimillion-dollar Arcadia residence. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the alleged abuse “appalling and revolting.” OHIO MOM OF 16 CRADLES STOMACH IN COURT, PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN SEVERE ABUSE CASE INVOLVING OWN CHILDREN “This was not a home where these children were loved and nurtured,” Hochman said when announcing the charges. “This was a home where these young children were systematically beaten and punished if they did not do what they were told.” In addition to the alleged abuse, the couple operated Future Spring Surrogacy from their home, recruiting surrogates and paying them tens of thousands of dollars. At least eight surrogates reported aggressive tactics and false statements regarding the family’s living situation, officials said. SURROGATE WHO REFUSED ABORTION ASKS SCOTUS TO INTERVENE AS BABY COULD BE MOVED OUT OF TEXAS “The thing about the case is that I wish it was shocking for me,” said Fell, who opposes commercial surrogacy. “Because of the space I work in, I get to hear shocking stories around the globe — things that people don’t realize the surrogacy industry has grown into. It’s not just a place where couples who have been struggling with infertility go as a last resort to have a child.” “I mean, this has really turned into, if you have enough money to pay for it, then you can, by any means necessary, really have a child in California,” she added. SURROGATE, CALIFORNIA COUPLE CLASH IN COURT AS NEWBORN FIGHTS FOR LIFE AFTER HEART SURGERY Unlike in some states, a license is not required in California to open a surrogacy agency, and there is no comprehensive regulatory framework to oversee the industry across the state. Surrogacy is a billion-dollar global market used to help couples who are unable to conceive or carry a child. The issue, Fell noted, is that while the process is accessible to anyone who can afford it, there are no meaningful regulatory safeguards for the children born to surrogates. “I was a foster parent,” she said. “My husband and I went through gobs of courses, gobs of home studies, background checks, everything — really under a microscope. The same is not true for surrogacy. It doesn’t apply.” As the surrogacy boom has expanded, foreign nationals — many from China — have increasingly used American surrogates to have children, according to a 2024 report by the Heritage Foundation. Because commercial surrogacy is completely illegal inside China, wealthy Chinese individuals and couples frequently look abroad, primarily to the U.S., to grow their families. While banned or heavily restricted in several other countries, cross-border surrogacy is not regulated at the federal level in the U.S., opening the door for foreign clients to secure American birthright citizenship for the resulting children, according to the conservative think tank. “We absolutely need to close our borders to international surrogacy,” Fell said. “Why do we need folks from overseas coming, renting wombs here in the United States?”
Hochul dodges when pressed over victims of illegal immigrant crime: ‘Will you apologize?’
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declined to directly apologize to the families of people killed by illegal immigrants after Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman confronted her over the issue during Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate. Hochul instead turned the exchange toward Americans killed by federal immigration agents. Looking directly at Hochul as he brought up several victims, Blakeman asked what she had to say to families who will “never get to sit at another Thanksgiving dinner, never be able to open their presents on their Christmas tree. “Will you apologize to them, and will you please return Sheridan Gorman’s parents’ calls to talk to you about your sanctuary policy?” he said. NEW YORK GOVERNOR DEBATE HEATS UP AS BLAKEMAN, HOCHUL SPAR OVER TRUMP, SANCTUARY STATUS, ICE SHOOTING Jose Medina-Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, faces charges related to the fatal shooting of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student from Yorktown, New York, as she walked with friends near her campus late at night. Her death has fueled calls for change from her parents, who have taken aim at sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. Hochul responded by calling all crimes “heartbreaking,” adding, “I abhor all crimes, regardless of the perpetrator.” She went on to say her administration has spent billions to “help law enforcement do their jobs” and reduce crime across the state. SHERIDAN GORMAN’S MOM SCORCHES DEM LAWMAKERS SHE SAYS REFUSED TO HEAR FAMILIES OF SLAIN AMERICANS “We have driven down crime to historic lows, especially violent crimes like shootings and murders, and that didn’t come easy,” she said. “That took a lot of work. I’ve had to change laws. I’ve got to allocate more money.” Hochul did not directly answer Blakeman’s request for an apology or his question about returning Gorman’s parents’ calls. Instead, she brought up Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot and killed during separate confrontations with federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January. “When you’re talking about ICE, what I find so shocking is that when an American mother was murdered by ICE agents, you said that her killing was justified,” she fired back. MULLIN CALLS MAMDANI’S ANTI-ICE RHETORIC ‘DANGEROUS’ FOLLOWING NEW YORK SHOOTING She said Blakeman did not have an answer when asked whether Pretti’s death was “justified,” saying, “I find those answers just reprehensible, so you won’t apologize. I apologize for any pain that has happened to anyone.” The exchange set off a wave of social media scrutiny, with critics accusing Hochul of not caring about the victims. “INSANE! Kathy Hochul can’t even apologize to victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens – or promise to return their calls,” RNC Research posted on X. “She couldn’t care less,” radio host Brett Winterble posted on X. “Disgusting,” Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci posted on X. “NO APOLOGY. No ownership of the sanctuary policies,” Richard Sementa, executive producer of “The Mark Levin Show,” posted on X. “BOOM! Bruce Blakeman put Kathy Hochul’s immigration policies on trial, live. Bruce Blakeman: “What do you say to their families, Kathy?” Families of victims want answers, and Hochul still hasn’t given them one,” conservative influencer Gunther Eagleman posted on X. Voters will decide between Hochul and Blakeman in the upcoming November election to determine who will serve as New York governor.
Trump scores win from liberal-leaning 9th Circuit in ICE enforcement showdown
The Trump administration scored a victory at a liberal-leaning appeals court Wednesday, which temporarily blocked a section of a California law requiring plainclothes federal law enforcement agents to show their badges and identification when carrying out operations. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Trump administration was “certain to succeed” in its lawsuit against California, finding that the No Vigilantes Act’s identification requirement violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which says federal law takes priority when it conflicts with state law. “Section 10 explicitly overrides the federal government’s power to determine whether, how, and when to publicly identify its officers,” the panel wrote. The preliminary injunction comes from a federal appeals court that has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over some of its signature immigration policies, including blocking efforts to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities in 2018, restricting attempts to tighten asylum eligibility that same year and refusing to reinstate Trump’s travel ban targeting several predominantly Muslim countries in 2017. FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS NEWSOM’S BID TO SHACKLE ICE IN TRUMP IMMIGRATION WIN The ruling comes as a major blow to California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, widely viewed as a 2028 presidential hopeful. Newsom has positioned himself as a leading opponent of Trump’s immigration agenda, signing a series of laws aimed at protecting immigrant communities, restricting federal immigration enforcement operations and increasing oversight of federal agents in the state. The Trump administration sued California over provisions in the No Vigilantes Act and No Secret Police Act, which restricts law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings, in November 2025. Judge Christina Snyder, a Clinton-appointed judge, initially blocked the No Secret Police Act’s mask restriction for federal officers but declined to block the No Vigilantes Act’s identification requirement. The Trump administration appealed Snyder’s decision on the identification requirement, and the 9th Circuit temporarily blocked its enforcement in February before granting an injunction pending appeal in April. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS NEW YORK LAW BANNING ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS California argued that its identification requirement did not amount to an unconstitutional regulation of the federal government because a state law crosses that line only when it “impose[s] substantial burdens on federal operations.” But the appeals court ruled that the state never had the authority to directly regulate federal officials. “The burden of the regulation on federal operations, whether substantial or otherwise, is irrelevant,” the court wrote. The liberal appeals court ruling drew praise from Trump administration officials, including Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. DOJ WARNS FORMER RED STATE IS BECOMING THE NEXT CALIFORNIA AS GOVERNOR EMBRACES ICE LIMITS “The Ninth Circuit agrees that California cannot regulate federal law enforcement,” Schumate wrote on X. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “Today, the Ninth Circuit again affirms what common sense makes clear: California cannot regulate how Federal law enforcement officers carry out their jobs authorized by Congress,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, Jr. wrote on X. “Today’s decision is a huge WIN for protecting the safety of our Nation’s law enforcement officers and ensuring @POTUS ‘s promise to enforce our Nation’s immigration laws.” Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
Trump-backed GOP candidate who ousted scandal-plagued incumbent warns against ‘never-ending war’ with Iran
For 14 years, Ryan Elijah reported on Central Florida’s biggest stories from the television newsroom. Now, he is on a mission to represent the same community in Congress. Elijah stepped into a contentious GOP primary in which he warned that incumbent Cory Mills was at risk of losing the Republican-leaning district to the Democrats, following a series of personal and professional scandals. Elijah won a convincing victory in the August 18 Republican primary, receiving 47% of the vote to Mills’ 34%. Trump, who had originally endorsed Mills, later claimed that he had privately encouraged the embattled congressman to withdraw from the race. REP CORY MILLS DRAWS FIRST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER AS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS, EXPULSION THREAT MOUNT Recently, the veteran television journalist sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss his views on Iran, affordability, and immigration, while pledging to remain an independent voice in Congress, and a strong advocate for Volusia and Seminole counties. Elijah did not take the decision to leave working in media lightly, but felt a call to leadership: “I love my job. It’s something I could have retired from TV and been perfectly happy. But I think we all look for the time you’re asked to step up and lead. And for me, that was this time. When we saw how the primary was playing out, it just became clear that we were going to lose this election in November. “And I decided that we had the connections in this community to throw our hat in the ring. We had the trust from the community and the primary played out a lot like we thought it would, where people wanted a choice. I think that’s what primaries are all about in Seminole County and Volusia County spoke really loud. In that primary, and now I think they put us in a great spot to hold this seat in November.” Elijah pledges to put transparency and accountability front and center for the constituents of the seventh district: “Well, I think transparency and accountability are huge issues. I think when I talk to people, they don’t feel like they’re heard very much in Washington. And I think that you have to be transparent about whatever you can. And first of all, if you have nothing to hide, that’s the best way to be transparent because you can exactly show your business dealings and how your life dealings are. “And that’s something we’ve talked about a lot…and then in terms of accountability, no one is above the law. And that’s a message that Americans want to hear, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, there are laws for a reason, and we have to make sure those laws are upheld.” As the military engagement with Iran is rattling global energy markets and pinching Americans’ pocketbooks, Elijah concedes the need to thwart a nuclear Iran, but also is wary of another forever war: GOP RISING STAR HELPED TOPPLE TRUMP-BACKED INCUMBENT. NOW HE’S CAUGHT LEADERSHIP’S EYE “This is a decade-long issue and a conflict between Iran and its proxies, where they have targeted and they have killed Americans. So the U.S. military right now is trying to end that conflict. But as representatives, we have to listen to the American people. We have to listen to central Floridians. “And they have been very clear on this. They’re concerned about it. They are concerned this is going to be a never-ending war. They don’t want that. I don’t want that either. I share that belief, which is why I think we need to draw this conflict down. And we need to make sure that Iran is not a nuclear threat.” On the immigration issue, Elijah cites improvement under GOP leadership on the issue, but argues that enforcement focus should remain on criminals: “This is another issue where I think you have to look at where we’ve come from. When you let tens of millions of illegal people into this country, you’re going to have issues that take a long time to fix. And I think if you look at the way there has to be a federal, a local, and a state cooperation with immigration, that’s what it takes to work. Which is why when I talk to all the sheriffs in our district that are endorsing us, they’re handling immigration much better than other parts around the country because they have that cooperation. “We need to start with the criminals. We have got many criminals still here illegally in the United States. That’s what they focused on in central Florida. That’s what ICE needs to focus on, removing the criminals. And there’s a compassionate way to handle this as we’ve got an issue that is not going to be fixed in just six or 12 months.” Elijah consistently emphasizes that he will be an independent voice for the district, not a partisan rubber stamp: “Well, I’ve said a lot. Look, I ran in this primary without the president’s endorsement. I’ve been an independent voice in this and I’ve told a lot of people that ask me that question. “As you can imagine, I go to a lot of doors. That’s a question: ‘Will you support the president? Will you not support the president?’ And what I tell them is, if it’s a policy that supports our country and supports our district, I’m going to support that policy. “More often than not, I will because I’m a Republican. I like a lot of those policies. If there’s a policy I disagree with, we won’t. So in that situation, that’s where things are at.” Finally, Elijah acknowledges that affordability, while lacking a quick and easy fix, is the defining 2026 issue for much of the electorate: “I think the number one thing that we hear from people, and that’s affordability, and that’s not an easy fix, but I think what they want out of government is accountability. We talked about that before, that government is going to be accountable on its spending, on
WATCH: Georgia Senate debate erupts over white supremacy allegations, Epstein ties in fiery exchange
Georgia’s contentious U.S. Senate race erupted into a heated confrontation Tuesday night as Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., accused GOP challenger Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., of allowing the dissemination of “neo-Nazi propaganda” inside his own home, prompting Collins to fire back over Ossoff’s financial support from a billionaire with ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The exchange unfolded during the candidates’ second and final debate ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, which was hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and broadcast by Georgia Public Broadcasting network. During the debate, Ossoff sought to tie his GOP opponent to White nationalism and repeatedly demanded that Collins commit to stopping the dissemination of hateful rhetoric involving his campaign staff, in particular Collins’ son-in-law, which Ossoff alleged has continued despite blowback. Meanwhile, Collins accused his Democrat opponent of fueling threats against his family, refusing to return campaign support connected to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and questioned Ossoff over his support for candidates linked to controversial streamer Hasan Piker. DEM ‘EPSTEIN CLASS’ ATTACK BACKFIRES AS TOP CANDIDATES FUNDED BY EPSTEIN-TIED BILLIONAIRE “How weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate?” Ossoff asked, referencing reporting about his opponent’s son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, who was the subject of a CNN investigation about sharing Nazi propaganda imagery, promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and polling his online followers about whether he should produce a video titled “Why Gen-Z Doesn’t Hate Hitler.” “How about this, Mike? We can shake hands on it,” Ossoff continued to press. “Will you commit tonight that for the remainder of this campaign, it’s just three weeks, Mike, you won’t allow any more neo-Nazi propaganda to be produced from your house? Can you make that commitment?” Collins responded by accusing Ossoff of inflaming hostility toward his family, pointing to threats he said he and his son-in-law had received. “I’m a little tired of this, Jon,” Collins said. “There’s a crazy person in jail right now because of your rhetoric,” he alleged, before saying he had received another threat just the previous day. JON OSSOFF SILENT ON SPLC INDICTMENT AFTER TAKING MORE THAN $700K FROM AFFILIATE OF INDICTED GROUP “You have not denounced, you’ve not condemned Reid Hoffman, one of your largest donors out there, one that’s been supporting you with over $1 million,” Collins shot back. “Why don’t you denounce that? Why don’t you return that money?” Collins was referring to Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor whose past relationship with Epstein has drawn scrutiny. Hoffman has acknowledged meeting with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses and visiting his private island. Hoffman also contributed $7,000 directly to Ossoff’s campaign and $1 million to a political action committee supporting the Georgia Democrat, according to previously reported campaign finance records. Earlier in the debate, Collins went further, accusing Hoffman of sending Epstein ice cream with a message referencing girls, while again pressing Ossoff to reject his financial support. “Jon Ossoff, his number one donor, one of his largest donors, is Reid Hoffman, the same guy that’s in the same files, the same guy that sent ice cream, ice cream to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday and said, ‘This is for the girls,’” Collins said during an earlier exchange in the debate. THUNE-ALIGNED GROUPS UNLEASH HISTORIC WAR CHEST TO DEFEND SENATE MAJORITY: ‘WINNING MESSAGE’ The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Hoffman sent Epstein ice cream in 2014 with a message indicating it was intended for him or “for the girls.” Hoffman has apologized for his association with Epstein, which he said stemmed from fundraising activities involving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes. Ossoff rejected the Hoffman comparison, however, arguing that the allegations against Collins involved someone living in the congressman’s home rather than a political donor. “Mike, if any of these folks were based in my house, then I’d understand you to ask me to take responsibility for them,” Ossoff said. “What I asked you, Mike, was, can you commit for just three weeks to stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your home?” Earlier in the debate, Collins was directly questioned about concerns from Black Georgians over allegations of White-nationalist ties involving members of his political operation. “I condemn any sort of hate speech, antisemitism, hate of any kind. It’s abhorrent,” Collins responded, adding that he had fired staffers when controversies arose. Collins also sought to turn the accusations back on Ossoff by criticizing his support for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and invoking left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who Collins blasted for saying the U.S. deserved 9/11, and promoting anti-Semitism. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “He hangs his hat on this Abdul El-Sayed, you know, the guy that hates Israel — best friends with Hasan Piker, who said that America deserves 9/11,” Collins said Tuesday night. Ossoff has previously condemned Piker’s rhetoric, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through a spokesperson that he “unreservedly rejects reckless and dangerous rhetoric” suggesting political advocacy justifies violence against Jewish Americans or any other community.