Maine Democrats crown Troy Jackson as Platner replacement as fresh scrutiny clouds Senate reset
BANGOR, Maine – Maine Democrats on Saturday quickly coronated Troy Jackson as their party’s Senate nominee — following this month’s spectacular implosion of ex-candidate Graham Platner — in the high-stakes Senate showdown with longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Jackson, a former state Senate president, was elected in a landslide at the Maine Democratic Party’s nominating convention in Bangor. He was on a glide path to the nomination after winning the vast majority of the voting delegates chosen last weekend by Democrats in the northern New England state’s 16 counties. Jackson’s top rivals in the race to replace Platner backed him after dropping out of the race the past few days, leaving only one long-shot candidate for delegates to also consider at the convention. He defeated Saundra Pelletier, a pharmaceutical company CEO, by a 566-5 margin in Saturday’s vote. The Senate race in Maine, where Collins is the only GOP incumbent running for re-election in a state President Donald Trump lost in the 2024 election, is one of roughly a dozen midterm showdowns across the country that will determine if Republicans hold onto their slim majority or if the Democrats win back control of the chamber. WHO’S UP AND WHO’S DOWN: CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS “Are you ready to defeat Susan Collins? Well, then let’s unite this party. Let’s build the largest working class movement Maine has ever seen. And let’s win this fight,” Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from the remote northern tip of Maine and a one-time conservative Republican who became a Democrat over two decades ago, said in convention speech just ahead of the delegate vote. While Jackson quickly raised over $1 million for his burgeoning Senate campaign and coalesced party support, there are some potential warning signs. Following reports this past week digging into Jackson’s alleged temper and workplace conduct, reported claims of mortgage improprieties as well as other potential liabilities including his past strict anti-abortion stance, there are concerns by some in the party that following the Platner implosion, Democrats have landed another unvetted nominee. “This is a bit of a rocket vetting process,” a Democratic strategist who works on Senate races, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, told Fox News Digital. “Maine Democrats have seemingly made their choice and they’re just going to have to ride with it.” A veteran Democratic consultant who also asked for anonymity said that “it’s very clear that Democrats should not be looking to Maine to flip the Senate.” “The good news is that we have upset opportunities in places like Texas, Iowa, and Alaska,” added the consultant, who works with centrist Democratic Senate candidates. Platner, a military combat veteran and oyster farmer who was backed by progressive champion and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont soon after he launched his bid last August, saw his campaign quickly catch fire. Two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who was heavily recruited by longtime Democratic Senate leader Sen. Chuck Schumer to run for the Senate, suspended her campaign this spring after trailing Platner in fundraising and in the polls. FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TROY JACKSON, WHO’S ABOUT TO REPLACE GRAHAM PLATNER AS THE DEMOCRATS’ SENATE NOMINEE But even as Platner steamrolled the Democratic establishment and crushed the competition last month in Maine’s primary to capture the nomination, he had already been forced on defense in the wake of a slew of scandals. Platner dropped out earlier this month, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the report but stepped aside. Jackson, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, campaigned alongside Platner during the primary. And he quickly made the case that he was the best equipped candidate to grab the mantle of the progressive and populist movement that had backed Platner. Similar to Platner, Jackson is running on a platform aimed at working-class voters. He backs raising taxes on billionaires, the universal healthcare system known as “Medicare-for-all,” abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and he opposes military aid to Israel at a time that Democrats are increasingly divided on support for America’s longtime Middle East ally. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Jackson, who also had Sanders’ support as he ran for governor, is currently backed in his Senate campaign by Our Revolution, the group born in 2016 out of Sanders’ first presidential campaign. Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a leading progressive in the House and a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, was a top Platner backer. Khanna quickly moved his support to Jackson in this month’s sprint to succeed Platner. And Jackson enjoys strong support from labor unions in Maine. The labor backing, along with support from Platner’s former allies, helped Jackson capture the overwhelming majority of county-selected delegates last weekend. The 500 delegates chosen last weekend, along with 101 selected by the state party, voted in Saturday’s convention. Republicans argued that Democrats stacked the deck to back Jackson as Platner’s replacement. “This coronation is proof that Democrats are willing to shove socialism down the throats of Maine voters, even if it means spitting in the face of Democracy to do it. Troy Jackson is a Platner apologist, a radical Bernie Bro, and a walking red flag displaying all the warning signs of the early days of the Platner campaign,” Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci charged in a statement to Fox News Digital. Cianci called Collins “a proven leader with unimpeachable character.” Collins, as she runs for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, is facing a rough political climate for Republicans, amid GOP President Donald Trump’s underwater approval ratings, persistent inflation and what polls indicate is an unpopular war with Iran. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The senator, known as a moderate Republican who at times has voted against Trump, last month received
Letitia James faces scrutiny after New York City spends $81,700 per homeless person amid shelter scandals
New York Attorney General candidate Saritha Komatireddy is accusing Letitia James of failing to hold New York’s nonprofit homeless shelter providers accountable despite years of audits, investigations and scandals involving billions of taxpayer dollars. The criticism comes as a New York State Comptroller report in March found New York City spent roughly $81,700 per unsheltered homeless person in fiscal year 2025, with spending on street homelessness more than tripling since 2019 as the city’s homeless population climbed 78%. Komatireddy described the situation as a crisis, arguing that government spending has surged while outcomes have deteriorated. NY AG HOPEFUL BLASTS LETITIA JAMES AS MEDICAID FRAUD RECOVERIES COLLAPSE: ‘SHE’S NOT DOING THE JOB’ “So there really are questions about what has happened to that money and why that’s happening,” Komatireddy told Fox News Digital. “The person who should be asking those questions, the person who should be investigating, is the attorney general. But Letitia James has totally failed New Yorkers when it comes to holding homeless shelter nonprofits accountable so that they actually help the homeless.” Her criticism follows years of investigations by the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Comptroller and federal prosecutors that uncovered allegations of fraud, self-dealing, kickbacks, conflicts of interest, excessive executive compensation and weak financial oversight at organizations operating city-funded homeless shelters. Among the highest-profile cases was that of Bronx Parent Housing Network CEO Victor Rivera, who was accused by at least 10 women in a 2021 New York Times investigation of sexual assault or unwanted sexual conduct while they lived in shelters operated by his nonprofit. Weeks later, Rivera was federally indicted on conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering charges tied to an alleged kickback scheme. He pleaded not guilty. SPLC INDICTMENT BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR BESSENT’S TREASURY TO PROBE PARTISAN NONPROFITS A 2024 Department of Investigation review found nepotism, lack of competitive bidding and exorbitant salaries were issues among 51 city-funded shelter providers, including executives earning salaries approaching or exceeding $1 million. The report specifically noted that the attorney general has authority under New York law to challenge improper transactions involving nonprofit organizations. State Comptroller audits also identified millions of dollars in unsupported or improper costs at several nonprofit shelter providers, including CAMBA, Westhab, the Institute for Community Living and Samaritan Daytop Village, with follow-up audits finding that many recommendations remained unimplemented. Komatireddy argued those repeated findings should have prompted broader action by the attorney general’s Charities Bureau, which is responsible for overseeing nonprofit organizations in New York. “The amount of money that’s being spent is really shocking,” she said. “We know that at least one homeless shelter CEO received a million dollars in compensation. Meanwhile, New Yorkers are sleeping on the streets.” “It’s the attorney general’s job to audit and investigate the homeless shelter nonprofits,” she continued. “We have a Charities Bureau in the attorney general’s office whose responsibility is to oversee and supervise all nonprofits in the state, but Letitia James has not been doing that job.” James’ office has publicly announced only a handful of enforcement actions involving nonprofit homeless shelter providers during her tenure. Among them were a 2022 settlement with HELP USA requiring governance reforms following a Charities Bureau investigation into conflict-of-interest issues involving former CEO Alan Altheide and a 2023 lawsuit seeking to dissolve Housing Bridge Inc., alleging its executives diverted charitable assets for personal benefit. JACOB FREY PRAISES SOMALI COMMUNITY AS MINNESOTA FACES RENEWED SCRUTINY OVER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS Komatireddy called for audits of every homeless shelter nonprofit that receives taxpayer funding. “We need to audit and investigate every homeless shelter nonprofit in New York,” she said. “Make sure the people who are doing a good job are supported, the people doing a bad job are cut off from taxpayer money, and the people committing crimes are prosecuted and put in jail.” The homeless shelter criticism is the latest in a broader campaign argument from Komatireddy that James has failed to aggressively police taxpayer-funded fraud. Earlier this year, Komatireddy criticized James’ oversight of New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit after federal officials suspended its funding, alleging the attorney general had adopted “a deliberate leadership choice” to pursue fewer criminal fraud cases and allow investigations to languish. James’ campaign rejected the criticism. “Saritha Komatireddy’s latest line of attack is as hollow as her record of public service,” a campaign spokesperson said. “While Saritha is busy playing politics, New York Attorney General Letitia James has spent over two decades working hand-in-hand with government partners across New York City and state to protect homeless New Yorkers and hold bad actors accountable.”
Hawaii’s Democratic lieutenant governor indicted in state corruption investigation
Democratic Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was indicted by a grand jury on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and falsifying candidate committee reports stemming from a bribe she allegedly took as a state lawmaker in 2022. The indictment alleges that local businessman and lobbyist Tobi Solidum offered Luke a $35,000 bribe connected to a COVID-19 testing contract a company he recommended had with the state. Solidum was also indicted as part of the state attorney general’s probe, along with former state representative Ryan Yamane, Hawaii’s Transportation Department official Ford Fuchigami, and Leo Asunción, a former official for Hawaii’s public utilities commission. DEM SENATOR FACES DOJ PROBE AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF SPENDING CAMPAIGN FUNDS ON LUXURY LIFESTYLE All five defendants were swept up as part of state Attorney General Anne Lopez’s January investigation, which was an offshoot of a federal bribery probe. Solidum represented the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, which had contracts with the state to provide COVID-19 testing sites. In January 2022, with his client’s contracts set to expire soon, Solidum met with Luke at a steakhouse and allegedly gave her two $5,000 checks made out to her campaign committee Friends of Sylvia Luke, according to prosecutors. NEWSOM ADMIN FACES QUESTIONS OVER $6.2M DIAPER CONTRACT AFTER TOUTING ‘COMPETITIVE’ PROCESS “By next week, we’ll have 35, so it will be halfway to our 70,” Solidum allegedly told Luke, promising to give her $70,000, according to the indictment. “Oh wow,” Luke allegedly replied, adding, “That’s terrific,” according to the documents. Luke admitted to accepting the two $5,000 checks, but denied taking more than that and also denied any money influencing her lawmaking. MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN ADMITS TO SUFFICIENT FACTS IN JUNE DRUNKEN DRIVING CASE “I never granted special favors to a contributor,” she said in a social media post, adding that she “prized integrity and honesty above all throughout her career.” The indictment also argues that Solidum appeared to be attempting to leverage Luke’s upcoming run for lieutenant governor. Speaking about Luke to another state representative, Solidum said, “All I gotta do is give her more money now,” the indictment alleges. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green called for Luke to resign hours after the indictment. “The lieutenant governor needs to consider formally resigning to address this matter and so that the state of Hawaiʻi can move forward,” Green told local outlet Maui Now on Friday. Fox News Digital contacted the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices for further comment.
GOP’s freshman firebrand goes viral targeting ‘utterly intellectually indefensible’ DEI policies
Texas Republican Brandon Gill has emerged as one of the House GOP’s most effective digital communicators, turning pointed committee questioning into viral moments that reach millions at a time when commanding attention online has become nearly as valuable as controlling the House floor. The 32-year-old freshman lawmaker’s talents have quickly elevated his profile within the Republican conference, earning praise from colleagues who view him as a rising conservative voice and potential future leader while helping him build an audience far beyond Capitol Hill. “You can go in there and I can yell and scream at a witness. I can give a massive soliloquy about whatever political views happen to be at the front of my mind that day — but whenever you have a witness on the other side of the witness stand who is sworn in, they can’t lie to you, or they’re not supposed to, it’s a huge opportunity to be able to just ask probing questions about what they believe, what they’re doing with our tax dollars, about ideologies that they are pushing or that the left has been pushing,” Gill said of his strategy. “I think that so much of what the left believes in…is utterly intellectually indefensible. So what I try to do is to ask probing questions that really get to the heart of whatever issue — we can take DEI as an example — try to ask probing questions that strike at the heart of what the left is actually advocating for.” WATCH: BRANDON GILL CORNERS LAW SCHOOL GATEKEEPER WITH DEI QUESTION SHE WON’T ANSWER And Gill’s supporters have lauded him for doing just that. As chairman of the House Oversight Committee’s new Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses, he’s already grilled the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the president of the American Bar Association. During one notable moment, Gill clashed with the museum director over an exhibit arguing that Mickey Mouse’s creation was rooted in racism. “The left has weaponized DEI, I think, to politicize American institutions like the Smithsonian or like law schools. And that’s a problem. We’re a country that believes you should receive your just desserts. You should receive what you deserve regardless of the color of your skin. And that is something that everybody ought to be able to get behind,” Gill said. Critics argue Gill’s rapid-fire questioning prioritizes viral moments over nuanced policy discussions. Shaun Harper, a University of Southern California professor who clashed with Gill during a House hearing on DEI, later wrote that the congressman repeatedly interrupted his attempts to provide context, insisting on yes-or-no answers. Supporters, meanwhile, say Gill’s pointed questioning exposes the ideological underpinnings of progressive policies. The Republican millennial grew up on a cattle ranch in West Texas, and currently lives in the town of Flower Mound with his wife and two young children while representing the northern part of the state. DEMOCRATS LURE ‘POLITICALLY HOMELESS’ GEN Z TOWARD SOCIALISM — A COUNTERATTACK IS TAKING SHAPE He’s also one of the most recognizable faces in a wave of young people who are changing the face of the GOP, which had long been known as the party of old age. Gill argued it comes down to the left’s growing number of cultural landmines. “So you have the left forcing, you know, children in high school to believe that men can get pregnant, or telling, you know, college students, who just want to like live a normal life and have a good time that they’re racist, or they have implicit transphobia,” Gill said. “And then you look at the other side of the aisle and Republicans, by and large, are much more laid back. They’re much more nice. They’re not going around calling everybody they see racist or sexist. They’re just normal people.” He continued, “We’re not the party who’s going to deride you and to slander you. We’re the party that I think has much more open arms towards young people.” And among many of his House GOP colleagues, that does indeed seem to be how Gill comes across. Fellow Republicans have called Gill low-key and easy to talk to in person — a far cry from his intense persona in the hearing room. Several have also said they see Gill having a bright future on Capitol Hill. REP GILL CHALLENGES ‘GENUINELY INSANE AND OBJECTIVELY OFFENSIVE’ DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS AFTER VIRAL HEARING One House Republican, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told Fox News Digital, “He is a pretty humble guy. I always enjoy talking with him on the [House floor].” “He clearly does his homework and a great job preparing questions and exposing the left in committee,” that Republican said. “I can see him as the next US senator from Texas.” Another GOP lawmaker also complimented Gill’s readiness, and said he would style him as a “future Jim Jordan,” referencing the House Judiciary Committee chair who’s been a leader of the conservative movement for years. Jordan, R-Ohio, also happens to be one of the House Republicans Gill said he looks up to the most. “I would say there’s a few members that I particularly look up to. One of them is Jim Jordan, who’s the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. I think he does a brilliant job of exposing the left, and he’s somebody who just never misses. He always makes his point very clearly and succinctly. Somebody else I look up a lot is Byron Donalds, who is going to be the next governor of Florida, a brilliant guy,” Gill said. Jordan told Fox News Digital that Gill was “an excellent addition to both the Judiciary and Oversight Committees and to our conference.” “He’s got a remarkable ability to relay our message to the American people,” Jordan said. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, of which Gill is a part, praised the young congressman as a “rising star.” “He’s putting the Left in the hot seat, exposing Democrat
GOP lawmaker demands answers after Smithsonian chief urged moving beyond ‘America First mentality’
Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, grilled Smithsonian leadership at a hearing on Wednesday on why the National Museum of American History (NMAH) had dropped mention of “American history” from its mission statement in “You explained that the museum removed the phrase ‘American history’ from the mission statement in order to help people ‘to get out of the America-first mentality,’ Carey said, posing his question to Anthea Hartig, NMAH administrator. “What did you mean by America-first?” he asked. Carey’s line of questioning, made during a Committee on House Administration hearing on Wednesday, comes as Republicans in Congress have made preserving America’s heritage a proxy for larger struggles over national identity and cultural values. ‘THE VIEW’ CO-HOST WHINES SMITHSONIAN HEARINGS ARE ABOUT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOT WANTING TO PAY REPARATIONS Progressive thinkers, such as Hartig, have argued that keeping the darker parts of American history in view should inform an understanding of the country’s past — and help set its policy direction in the present. In response, many Republican lawmakers have voiced deep unrest over efforts to characterize the U.S. as marked by oppression or slavery — such as the New York Times’ 1619 Project. Many conservatives have argued that the American ideals, laid out in documents like the Declaration of Independence, transcend even the country’s most blatant failures to live up to those aspirations; that they are anything but definitive of the American experience. The conversation has also taken on a new focus in President Donald Trump’s second term as the administration has pulled out all the stops in celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary. With calls to “Make America great again” and put “America first,” the administration released a report called “Saving America’s Story.” That report highlighted the American History Museum’s decision to change its mission statement and called out Hartig specifically. SPEAKER JOHNSON WARNS STUDENTS ARE ‘INDOCTRINATED’ TO SEE US THROUGH ‘WRONG LENSES’ AS NATION CELEBRATES 250TH “That shift from history to activism is clearly documented in this report. Anthea Hartig, NMAH’s director since 2019, has explicitly stated that she sees history as a ‘prime tool of social justice’ and one of her roles as connecting ‘research and scholarship to activism and advocacy,’” the report stated. The report also details how Hartig had explained the change to NMAH’s mission statement in a 2024 presentation to a group of undergraduate and graduate history students. “It’s hard to get out of the ‘America First’ mentality …It’s just that, and why we changed our mission when I first came,” Hartig said. “I think it’s a big challenge, especially going into 2026, which will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the 25th year since 9/11, the fifth year since January 6th.” Speaking before the committee on Wednesday, Hartig defended her view, claiming that she had not tried to make history a matter of activism through her leadership at NMAH. “The museum does not take sides in America’s political debates. We preserve and document the evidence of American life in all its breadth, so that the public can encounter the past and draw their own conclusions,” she stated. “When historians talk about reframing a traditional narrative, we do not mean erasing it. We mean adding the evidence, voices and objects that earlier tellings left out, so that more Americans can see themselves in the national story. Examining the harder chapters of our history is not the same as hostility toward America.” But Carey, alongside other Republicans, appeared unconvinced. “‘The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.’” Carey cautioned, quoting George Orwell’s cautionary book on authoritarianism, 1984. JOHNSON WARNS AMERICA IS IN ‘BATTLE’ AGAINST MARXISM, CALLS FOR RENEWED FOCUS ON NATION’S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES “Let me get back to my original question — why do you think that ‘American history’ should be erased from the American History museum?” Carey added. Hartig, pressed for time, did not give a response.
Far-left victories rip mask off Democrats as top conservative sounds alarm party is ‘way beyond socialism’
A top conservative leader in the House GOP is arguing that supporters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are pushing Democrats further left than even they are letting on. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital he’s still hopeful that Republicans have a chance of retaining their razor-thin majority in the lower chamber of Congress because Democrats’ left flank will make American voters nervous come November. “The Democrat party is now being infiltrated with truly communist elements. I think Americans are going to realize that the Democrats are truly the crazy party now, and the country can’t tolerate that,” Harris said. “So I think that improves our chances in November.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO TURN DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR INTO MIDTERM WEAPON Republicans are facing an uphill battle to retain control of the House of Representatives as the midterm elections creep closer. House lawmakers raced out of Washington on Thursday back to their home districts, where they will spend the next five weeks making the case to their constituents as to why the GOP should keep control for the latter half of President Donald Trump’s final term. One line that is already popping up frequently on the campaign trail references the recent slate of victories for DSA-backed candidates in Democratic primaries across the country. In New York City, for example, two House candidates backed by Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated incumbent progressive lawmakers and will likely sail to victory in the November general election. A third open House race saw a Mamdani-backed candidate defeat an establishment-backed Democrat BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS “I think Mr. Mamdani in New York says exactly where the party is. He wants government-run everything. That’s called communism. That’s way beyond socialism. That’s communism,” Harris said. When you want to control – for instance, you want have the grocery stores run by the government – that’s the way it is in Russia. That’s is the way is in China. That’s it the way in communist-controlled countries. And anybody who’s interested in that, ought to look back at history and see how that works out.” Harris himself is in a safe red seat after Maryland Democrats thwarted an effort by their own party to redraw congressional lines there ahead of November.
Defeated progressive ‘Squad’ lawmaker in hot seat for non-profit’s missing paper trail
Months before losing re-election, former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., touted the work of her non-profit to donors even though records indicate the organization may have never been registered as a tax-exempt organization. Bush described Poltivist Power Inc. as “a new 501(c)(4) organization uniting grassroots organizing with political strategy to fight oppression,” in a fundraising email. “My team and I are on the ground, and we could use your support. Can we count on you to donate to our tornado fund today so we can continue our relief efforts?” Bush wrote. STACEY ABRAMS HIT WITH SUBPOENA IN ALLEGED CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS SAGA: ‘NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW’ Bush made the same characterization in a second fundraising email sent weeks later. But Fox News Digital could not identify any IRS record showing Poltivist Power had obtained or claimed tax-exempt status. While not proof of wrongdoing, the lack of a paper trail for Bush’s organization raises questions about whether the former “Squad” member misled donors during her time in office. Without reporting, it’s unclear how much the group fundraised. Bush, who first arrived to Congress in 2021, was known for her progressive stances that grouped her with fellow Democrats like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Among them, Bush began taking a critical view of the U.S. relationship with Israel amid its protracted war with Hamas in Gaza. Her criticisms became a centerpiece topic in her 2024 primary against Democratic challenger Wesley Bell — a race she lost. Now out of office, Bush has remained involved in progressive politics in her local scene. When approached about Poltivist Power Inc., Bush did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital on whether Poltivist Power had received donations, on why it hadn’t yet reported a 990 and about the nature of its activities. The organization’s domain, Poltivistpower.com, was first purchased on April 1, 2025, records show. Bush announced the creation of the group shortly after a tornado struck the St. Louis area, killing at least four people and causing widespread damage. ‘SQUAD’ DEM DISMISSES FRAUD PROBE SPECULATION AFTER $29M NET-WORTH DROP “The Politivist team is on the ground, providing supplies, checking on families, and showing up for those who’ve been left behind,” Bush said. Since then, in addition to not having a filing recorded with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the group seem to have wrongly filed paperwork with Delaware’s Department of State and with ActBlue Civics, a fundraising site for Democratic groups. In its March 2025 Delaware incorporation filing, Poltivist Power was registered as an “exempt” corporation, a designation Delaware says is reserved for entities that meet the requirements of Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. In both cases, the application requires tax-exempt status with the IRS. The organization is still listed on ActBlue Civics. Notably, Bush’s fundraising emails, in which she highlighted the organization, also included a disclaimer clarifying that “Contributions to Politivist Power are not affiliated with Politivist Action PAC and are not political donations.” The note distinguishes the non-profit from a dedicated fundraising group by the same name. Despite Bush’s departure from Congress, enough anomalies about Politivist Power have surfaced to catch the attention of Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway earlier this month. She announced her office would look into whether Bush had personally benefited from her fundraising efforts during the tornado recovery and the work that Politivist allegedly did at the time. “The investigation started when a local news station reported that people had reported to it that contributions they had made for a tornado relief fund had actually gone to her political activity,” Hanaway said in a statement about the investigation. FIRST ON FOX: ACTBLUE BOARD MEMBERS IN HOT SEAT AS GOP PROBES ‘SERIOUS’ MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS “We do not have our own evidence of that, but that is what we are investigating,” she added. Bush has not been formally charged with any wrongdoing.
Obama Presidential Center subcontractors file fresh payment claims totaling nearly $900K
Three more subcontractors that worked on the Obama Presidential Center have filed legal claims saying they are owed nearly $900,000, adding to a growing list of payment disputes surrounding the project. The companies each filed mechanics liens against the Obama Presidential Center property, a routine legal tool used on construction projects to recover unpaid construction costs. The subcontractors claim they are owed money for structural steel, excavation and concrete, and gymnasium flooring work performed on Home Court, the Center’s 60,000-square-foot basketball and events facility. Structural steel subcontractor Area Erectors is seeking nearly $620,000, excavation and concrete subcontractor CSI 3000 — the only Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) of the three — claims it is owed about $236,000, and gymnasium flooring specialist Floors Incorporated says it is owed nearly $25,000. Unlike previous payment disputes reported by Fox News Digital, which largely involved work across the main campus, these claims relate specifically to Home Court, which was built under a separate construction contract. It comes as Home Court is hosting several high-profile WNBA All-Star Weekend events this week which the former president attended. The Home Court claims are the latest in a series of subcontractor payment disputes previously reported by Fox News Digital involving the broader Obama Presidential Center project, located in Chicago’s historic Jackson Park. The disputes add to a growing list of challenges during construction, including the project’s ballooning cost — from an initial estimate of about $350 million to more than $1 billion — and legal challenges over contracting practices and diversity requirements. OBAMA CENTER SUBCONTRACTOR SHUTS DOWN AMID $4M FIGHT, LAYS OFF 25 The Home Court is located at the southern end of the campus and features a regulation-size NBA basketball court, training space and multipurpose meeting and event rooms. The basketball court is decorated with phrases associated with former President Barack Obama, including “Yes we can” and “No one does big things alone.” The Obama Foundation, Obama’s private nonprofit organization, oversees construction of the Obama Presidential Center. It hired Lakeside Alliance as the primary construction manager for most of the campus. Home Court, however, was built under a separate contract by Elevate Design Builders, a joint venture led by minority-owned BOWA Construction that served as construction manager for the facility. Although the mechanics liens are filed against the Obama Presidential Center property, they do not determine which entity is legally responsible for the disputed payments. The newly identified liens were recorded around the time of the Obama Presidential Center’s June 19 opening. The Cook County Clerk’s Office told Fox News Digital there is typically a four-to-six-week delay before recorded documents appear in its online property records database, meaning they only recently became searchable online. Elevate and the Obama Foundation did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the three subcontractors. SUBCONTRACTORS SAY THEY’RE OWED MILLIONS, FACE FINANCIAL RUIN, AFTER HELPING BUILD OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER Fox News Digital also identified an additional three previously unreported mechanics liens totaling about $557,000 involving other portions of the Obama Presidential Center project. Unlike the Home Court claims, which stem from work performed under contracts managed by Elevate Design Builders, the additional liens involve subcontractors, suppliers and benefit funds seeking payment further down the project’s contracting chain. For instance, O’Leary’s Contractors Equipment & Supply is seeking about $184,000 in allegedly unpaid equipment rental invoices. The Cement Masons’ Union Trust Funds alleges more than $326,000 in unpaid fringe benefit contributions, while Intek Construction Products is seeking about $47,000 for labor and materials it says it supplied to the project. Jeffrey Molchan, whose company Intek Construction Products filed one of the liens, told Fox News Digital the company was seeking payment on its final invoice from another contractor and that “the project did not go as well as we anticipated in terms of the timeliness of the payment.” The additional liens involve portions of the project managed by Lakeside Alliance. In a statement, Lakeside said the Obama Presidential Center involved multiple structures, hundreds of trade partners and community businesses, and that contractual closeout continues after the center’s opening. The joint venture said it remains committed to working through outstanding matters. Fox News Digital previously reported that Black subcontractors alleged they were owed millions of dollars for work on the project, while Concrete Collective filed a mechanics lien seeking more than $40 million. The lien was later replaced by a court-approved surety bond while the underlying dispute continues in court. Adamson Plumbing also said it suspended operations and laid off workers after claiming it was left nearly $4 million in the red. Fox News Digital also previously reported that at least four other companies filed mechanics liens during construction, while two subcontractors — Glass Management Services and Vision Painting & Decorating Services — later sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court records do not establish that the Obama Presidential Center caused those bankruptcies. Since that reporting, two of the previously identified mechanics lien claims have been withdrawn, including one after the claimant said it recovered the amount sought through the lien, though the owner told Fox News Digital the company still lost about $200,000 on the project overall. One previously reported lien remains unresolved. WATCH: Black subcontractors at Obama Presidential Center still seeking payment as Juneteenth opening nears, advocate says
From locker rooms to Congress: Jay Feely latest athlete seeking to take lessons in leadership to Capitol Hill
Former NFL placekicker Jay Feely is the latest professional athlete poised to transition to a congressional career, where leadership, performing under pressure and handling public scrutiny are essential in both arenas. Fox News Digital reached out to Feely, who spent time with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals before becoming an “NFL on CBS” commentator, for his take on why professional sports prepared him for public life as he seeks the seat of retiring Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. “Especially as a kicker — to be a successful kicker in the NFL, you have to be able to handle pressure, and you have be able handle failure. And I think those two attributes are very tangible attributes that will help you as you try to navigate the political field and try to be effective,” Feely said Friday in an interview with Fox News Digital. He said the NFL also exposed him to teammates from different backgrounds and viewpoints, helping prepare him to represent a diverse constituency. STATE OF PLAY: DEMS BATTLE FOR SHOT AT CRUCIAL ARIZONA HOUSE SEAT AMID GOP’S RAZOR-THIN MAJORITY “[T]he greatest advantage of being an NFL player was to be in those locker rooms where racial walls were broken down and conversations happened and you got to know people which otherwise you might not ever get to know.” He recalled rooming with LeVar Arrington and Brandon Short while with the Giants in East Rutherford, sharing stories about their different life experiences and personal views as they played chess and other games. NFL GREAT PATRICK PETERSON SAYS LOCKER ROOM POLITICAL DISCOURSE WAS ‘UNNECESSARY,’ MOST PLAYERS ARE UNINFORMED “Your job is to represent everybody and i think those experiences certainly are an asset,” Feely said. He also mentioned a trip to the infamously unfriendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field to play the Philadelphia Eagles right after the “worst game of [his] career” against the Seahawks. The prior night he had been “spoofed” on “Saturday Night Live,” and while preparing for what was a game-winning kick after an apparent icing timeout, Philadelphia played a montage of his Seattle misses on the Jumbotron to mock him. HALL OF FAMER TONY DUNGY ENDORSES MICHELE TAFOYA IN CROWDED MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR U.S. SENATE “They tried to deter me, but I made the kick and my career goes on for another nine years – you learn a lot through those processes,” Feely said. Feely added that he got to know another athlete-turned-public official through their time with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). “There’s so many different correlations with the people in sports, and a lot of the best people I know that I met in sports have thought about getting into politics,” he said, reflecting on his time working with HUD Secretary Scott Turner, a former Washington Redskin. He said he also hopes to see other athletes regardless of viewpoint who have acted on issues close to them, like former New Orleans Saints Drew Brees and Benjamin Watson. Feely will face former state Rep. Amish Shah, D-Phoenix, who also worked for about two years as the New York Jets’ team doctor. Just over two decades ago, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner was on the NFL gridiron, playing cornerback for the Washington Redskins and then-San Diego Chargers. The skills and lessons learned on the field helped Turner grow into his new role at HUD, which was also preceded by a stint in the Texas House of Representatives. “The Lord used football to change the course of my life, and through the game,” Turner told Fox News Digital. “He taught me lessons that continue to guide me every day in public service: discipline, teamwork, perseverance, humility, and working toward a mission bigger than yourself.” “Those values inform how I served in the Texas state legislature and how I lead HUD today. My experience on football teams shaped how I lead, how I serve, and the example I hope to set for the next generation.” Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., had a successful mixed martial arts career before shifting from dodging fists to political blows on Capitol Hill. Davids, who tried out for “The Ultimate Fighter,” compiled a 5-1 amateur record before a brief professional MMA career in 2013, when she went 1-1. “Turns out getting punched in the face is pretty good preparation for Congress,” Davids told Fox News Digital on Friday. She first left the octagon to support Native American communities, focusing on community development and expanding economic opportunities for Native people. Davids later won her 2018 congressional bid in an upset against Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kan., in the largely red state. “But really, fighting professionally taught me that you don’t solve every challenge by throwing punches. You have to stay disciplined, work hard, respect your opponent, and keep moving forward — and that’s how I approach this job, too,” she told Fox News Digital. Former Auburn Tigers Coach Tommy Tuberville transitioned to the U.S. Senate in 2021 after compiling a slew of outstanding stats as a head coach. The Republican — now running for governor of Alabama — declined comment for this story but spoke in 2020 about the parallels between success in athletics and government. Asked about his then-11-month campaign against incumbent Democrat Sen. Doug Jones, Tuberville told the Alabama Daily News he had to approach it at “full speed” just like a football coach. “We put together a good, good team. And a lot of people told me when I first got started they said, coach, this is just like being a head coach. You’re only as good as the team around you,” he said. One of the most recognizable Republican figures of the last century was former HUD Secretary and former Congressman Jack Kemp. Kemp’s political peak came in 1996 when he was the vice presidential running mate of Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., against President Bill Clinton. Prior to that, Kemp led the same agency Turner did under the first Bush administration, and previously represented western New York
Here’s what you missed from Trump’s first WHCA Dinner as president: 5 takeaways from his night with the press
President Donald Trump attended the annual White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) Dinner Friday night for the first time in either of his two presidential terms. The event was rescheduled from its original April 25 date after a crazed gunman allegedly tried to assassinate the 47th president, bull rushing security with several weapons and firing a shot before he was taken into custody. Here are five top highlights from the dinner: TRUMP HEADS BACK TO CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER MONTHS AFTER GUNFIRE FORCED EVACUATION Trump and the press typically find themselves at odds, and while Friday night had its share of uncomfortable moments, both sides were able to find some common ground — especially after sharing a scary moment at the originally scheduled dinner in April. Before presenting one of the many awards of the night, ABC’s Jon Karl thanked the president for his attendance. “Mr. President, I want to say it matters that you came here tonight,” said Karl. “For more than 100 years, presidents have chosen to sit in a room of reporters who asked tough and often uncomfortable questions, and who report without fear or favor. It’s important. Thank you for being here.” TRUMP PRAISES PRESS AFTER WHCD SHOOTING, SAYS UNITY AT DINNER WAS ‘BEAUTIFUL’ WHCA outgoing President and the dinner’s emcee Weijia Jiang also had kind words for the president, just before she introduced him to speak and after discussing the importance of the First Amendment. “President Trump, I’ve covered you for a long time, and so have many reporters in this room. When we ask questions, you push back, you give us answers and we push back,” she said. “You have always been a deal guy. Well, that’s the deal. And the First Amendment is a done deal. And that’s what we toast tonight. The freedoms that brought us back together even after they were threatened.” “So let’s raise a glass to what makes ours a beautiful country.” Later in the night, Trump concluded his speech with a warm message for the press delivered in his own style. JOURNALISTS DEMAND WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ ASSOCIATION ‘SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER’ IN NEW DINNER WITH TRUMP “I just want to say, this room — I have tremendous respect for the people in this room,” Trump said. “Sometimes I don’t feel you treat me fair, maybe you do, I don’t know,” he continued. “I don’t feel that. But sometimes you treat me fairly, and I have a lot of respect for your profession. It’s amazing. And I just want to thank you for having me, and it’s been fun.” Trump made a series of jokes throughout his speech, some targeting the press, and others targeting people he appointed to positions of power. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on the receiving end of a quip from the 47th president after Trump told attendees he hoped they enjoyed their beef tenderloin dinner. “I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy, who’s right here, personally ran over the cow with his car,” he jabbed. “And he cut it up and he brought it here for you to eat tonight.” Kennedy is well known for his eccentric history with animals, including once saying he captured a raccoon and cut its genitals off, viral videos of him catching dangerous snakes and once using a chainsaw to remove the head of a dead whale that washed up on Cape Cod. “Bobby also suggested an appetizer featuring his favorite cut of male raccoon roadkill. But we drew the line at that,” the president went on. “We said, ‘No, we’re not doing that.’” Kennedy is also known for pushing a more red-meat centric diet and has embraced the push for restaurants to use beef tallow to fry their food instead of seed oils. Trump also joked about the shooting at the first WHCA dinner earlier this year, which pro-MAGA rapper Nikki Minaj attended. “But after hearing the gunshots, many people yelled, ‘get down, get down!’ Which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking, do you believe? Get down! She’s the only one that really understood what that meant,” Trump joked, earning laughter from the tough crowd. Throughout his speech, he repeatedly used one of his famous phrases — referring to the press as “fake news,” but took some direct shots at certain outlets and figures. He unexpectedly flipped the script in a misdirection from what seemed like an update on the Iran war. “A once feared and powerful regime that relentlessly attacked America has finally been toppled,” he said. “Their former leaders have been removed and they’re now being run by a gay dictator facing internal divisions. But I, for one, wish Bari Weiss all the best at CBS News.” Trump’s nemesis, Kaitlan Collins of CNN, was also on the receiving end of a brutal blow. “I thought Kaitlan Collins had really made it big with a major new sponsorship, but then I informed her that it wasn’t her on the Bud Light can, it was Dylan Mulvaney,” he said, referencing the beer brand’s failed marketing campaign featuring a transgender influencer. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is currently in the confirmation process to take on the job full-time, became part of mentalist Oz Pearlman’s routine to close out the night. In a convoluted bit, Oz asked Blanche to make up an amount of money he had in his wallet. Blanche said $130, but Oz guessed the correct amount — $85. Then, Oz asked a man sitting next to Blanche to choose a single bill from Blanche’s wallet, and then had Blanche sign it. Blanche signed it, and was instructed to sit on it. For the remainder of the act, Oz asked members of the crowd to stand — including Fox News’ Kevin Corke — and dream up a person dead or alive who they wished they could interview. He guessed several of interview subjects’ names correctly, and even enlisted the help of a member of the crowd, who also made correct guesses. After