Sherrill anti-ICE policy hammered after fleeing migrant driver injures Dem mayor’s wife
EXCLUSIVE: Sanctuary policies are leading to dangerous situations by making it harder for ICE to do its job, Republican critics argued after an illegal immigrant fled agents and crashed on a major New Jersey highway, injuring the wife of a Democratic mayor. The Wednesday crash is fueling a renewed fight over New Jersey’s limits on cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. Republicans are arguing Sherrill’s approval of the “Trust Directive” creates public-safety risks by limiting the ability of ICE to work with police officers. They also contend that Democrats are wrongheaded to respond to such incidents by calling for ICE’s abolition rather than stronger enforcement. “This is just the latest in a long line of traffic incidents and vehicular incidents that wouldn’t occur if New Jersey didn’t have our sanctuary status that got codified as soon as Gov. Sherrill came into office,” Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, R-Point Pleasant Beach, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Friday. DHS BOSS REVEALS OVAL OFFICE PLAN TO ‘WITHHOLD FUNDING’ FROM SANCTUARY CITIES AFTER AGGRESSIVE NEW YORK BUST “We all fought against it. We told them that this would create chaos, and it seems like Democrats are unable to take accountability for their own actions.” Kanitra said Sherrill and other Democrats have been unable to recognize the connection between their support for the “Trust Directive” sanctuary policy — signed into law by the governor this year — and incidents such as the one in Middlesex County this week. NJ TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR $12M MORE AS DEM GOVERNOR PROTECTS ILLEGAL ALIENS BATTLING DEPORTATION “Democrats seemingly have an inability to take accountability for their own actions here. They’re unable to even recognize the chaos that they’re creating, and they’re shouting and screaming at everybody else trying to find somebody to blame. It’s somewhat ridiculous,” Kanitra said. “You kind of reap what you sow,” he said, adding that at least two people in his district have been killed in incidents connected to illegal immigrants behind the wheel. DAD OF GIRL LEFT PERMANENTLY DISABLED IN CRASH WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RIPS DEMS: ‘I REJECT YOUR SYMPATHY’ Kanitra also pointed to a separate case in his county in which an illegal immigrant allegedly drove a vehicle into a family outside a kosher supermarket, killing an infant. “They got behind the wheel, and they wound up killing an innocent toddler in the process,” he said, calling the circumstances of the situation “absolutely abhorrent.” MAN FLEEING ICE OFFICERS IN FLORIDA IS STRUCK AND KILLED BY TRACTOR-TRAILER, POLICE SAY Wednesday’s crash saw an illegal immigrant flee a targeted ICE operation, the agency told Fox News Digital, and speed off. The suspect drove onto U.S. 130 — the heavily trafficked spine of the Trenton-Camden corridor — and collided with a Tesla in North Brunswick after running a stoplight. FLEEING SUSPECT IN NEW JERSEY STRIKES ICE AGENT, WHO OPENS FIRE One of the people injured in the other vehicle was the wife of East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen. Fox News Digital reached out to Cohen and North Brunswick Mayor Francis Womack III for comment. “After repeated verbal warnings and due to officer safety concerns, ICE officers relied on their training and attempted to safely remove the illegal alien [from their car]. The illegal alien then proceeded to flee at a high rate of speed and collided with other vehicles,” an ICE spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. HOCHUL BOASTS ‘I JUST BANNED IT’ AS NEW YORK OUTLAWS LOCAL POLICE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ICE Sen. Mike Testa, R-Vineland, said Cape May County, one of the counties in his district, along with Monmouth County, fought hard but unsuccessfully against Sherrill and others to be able to engage with ICE through 287(g) interagency cooperation agreements. The incident Wednesday showed why they are integral to keeping the public safe, he said. “I think it has only emboldened illegal aliens to engage in illegal behavior. This illegal alien was stopped lawfully by federal authorities, ran through a red light, fleeing federal authorities and unfortunately ran into the mayor of East Brunswick’s wife.” He said there has been little movement among Democratic leadership to address the troubling trend, but at least one member of the majority — Sen. Brian Stack, who is also the mayor of Union City — told him that, in an all-encompassing sense, laws on the books must be enforced. Watson Coleman, whose district includes the area where the crash occurred, responded differently. “Today, it appears an ICE involved car chase resulted in an accident involving the wife of the Mayor of East Brunswick. Abolish ICE,” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., tweeted. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Testa said that while Democrats’ “silence is deafening” writ-large, Watson Coleman’s call to abolish ICE shows that some Democrats are responding to the incident by targeting federal immigration enforcement rather than the driver. “This is just another example of lawlessness. And sadly, there’s been a stamp of approval from radical leftists like Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman saying ICE should be abolished rather than actually punishing the criminal that put multiple citizens’ lives at risk,” he said. Fox News Digital reached out to Watson Coleman and Sherrill for comment. As for his county’s wish to forge a 287(g) agreement with ICE one day, he said it shows there are parts of the state that still believe in law and order. “And we believe quite literally that citizenship should have its privileges. I’ve made this comment many times,” he said. Testa accused Watson Coleman and Sherrill of supporting policies that make it harder for federal authorities to arrest and remove illegal immigrants. “You know, I’m a child of the ’80s — and the old American Express commercial was ‘membership has its privileges’ — well, citizenship should have its privileges,” he said.
Sen Jim Justice finds way through Senate polarization to bring WWII hero memorial to DC
Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., found a way to get something passed unanimously, despite what he rebukes as “romper-room behavior” of political polarization in the Senate. In an interview Saturday with Fox News Digital, Justice detailed how he worked around the Senate’s bitter partisan divide to get a monument honoring late World War II Medal of Honor hero Hershel “Woody” Williams onto the National Mall. “I’ve never seen anything like this, never in my life seen anything to where it is, it is so preposterous,” Justice lamented. “You know, no one could make any sense out of what in the world is going on a lot of times.” “I don’t know why we don’t talk to one another,” he added. “I don’t know why we’re disrespectful to one other.” DEMOCRATS BLINK AS SCHUMER HELPS GOP CLEAR KEY SHUTDOWN HURDLE Using good, old-fashioned dialogue, Justice’s effort ultimately succeeded in getting his first Senate law passed for his late friend. The Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act directs the National Medal of Honor monument to a prominent location within the Reserve on the National Mall. The legislation is Justice’s first bill as a senator. It honors Williams, a West Virginia native who received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima and who was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient before his death in 2022 at age 98. The monument will honor Williams by name while commemorating Medal of Honor recipients as a whole. The House approved the measure on Aug. 31 after the Senate passed it unanimously in March. The legislation is now awaiting Trump’s signature. “We’re really hopeful he’s going to sign it this coming week,” Justice said. “There’s been a lot to make all that happen and everything, and I can’t be more proud.” Justice, describing the partisan fight in the interview, said the path to unanimous approval was anything but smooth. EXCLUSIVE: NEW AMERICA 250 MONUMENT LETS FAMILIES FIND MILITARY RELATIVES IN SECONDS: ‘I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES’ “I mean, we had it shot down,” he said, adding, but “I just wouldn’t turn it loose.” “And the reason I wouldn’t turn loose is because it was just real simple: I mean Woody’s unbelievable, or was unbelievable, that’s for sure. But all these Medal of Honor recipients and everything, the ones we’ve lost and all those that are still living, they are so deserving.” Justice described how the measure initially had become caught up in the same divisiveness that has locked up the Senate on a much broader range of issues. “All we managed to do is keep a food fight going to where – because it was a Republican thing or Republican Jim Justice introducing – well, I’m telling you, if I’m a Democrat, by God, we’re not gonna let that happen and everything,” he lamented. “And then it’s just, it’s the same thing on both sides. Way, way, way too much for a guy that’s got white hair and wants to try to get things done.” EXCAVATION SET TO BEGIN ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S 250-FOOT TRIUMPHAL ARCH AMID LEGAL BATTLE Justice said the breakthrough came just before he was preparing to take the matter to the Senate floor with four Medal of Honor recipients present. “I was about three feet from going into the Senate chambers,” Justice recalled. “And we sat down right there, you know, kind of on the steps and really just started talking.” The senator was Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. The two serve together on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Justice said he had developed a personal relationship with Heinrich over the years, including through Justice’s well-known bulldog, Babydog. SEN RICK SCOTT: AMERICANS WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, WHY CAN’T THE SENATE? “I said, Martin, I don’t understand. I mean, how in the world can we do this?” Justice said. “And I said, Martin, you know, I’m getting ready to go on the floor, and it’s not going to be good. It’s not gonna be good for you. It’s not going to good for a lot of folks and everything. A lot of people are going to be upset. A lot of people are going to be really sad.” Justice said he appealed directly to Heinrich to find a way forward. “And I just said, Martin, I don’t know any way to tell it other than just to tell you the truth. And you’re a good guy. And I don’t know why in the world we just can’t talk with one another.” Heinrich responded with a blunt explanation of the broader problem, Justice said. MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JAMES CAPERS JR. SAYS RECOGNITION IS BITTERSWEET AFTER LOSING ‘SO MUCH’ “And he looked right at me, and he said, you know, people here don’t talk to one another,” Justice said. “And I really appreciate you doing that, and I’m not going to object.” Justice said the measure then moved “in three minutes, boom, boom, boom, done.” “It was an amazing moment really, and like I said, Martin’s a good guy, and I just think that maybe we could all learn from that just a little bit,” he said. “Now we’re going to honor, you know, another great, unbelievable, courageous group of people, and it’s way, way, way overdue.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS DID WHAT VOTERS ASKED AND WE HAVE THE RECEIPTS. IT’S UP TO THE SENATE On other issues in the Senate still in gridlock, Justice urged dialogue like that above and for everyone to “grow up.” “Why in the world would you carry on with just childishness, and in all fairness, that’s what it is,” Justice said. “You can’t make sense of it. There’s no point in us trying to do that. This is Romper Room behavior. And if there’s anything in the world I could do, I wish to goodness that I could tell everybody, you know let’s grow up a lot. Let’s absolutely grow up and let’s behave.” Justice said
Israel’s ambassador says NYC’s Mamdani is ‘sowing chaos’ ahead of Netanyahu’s UN appearance
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told Fox News Digital that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is “sowing chaos” ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.N. General Assembly later this month. Danon made the remark after Mamdani called on New Yorkers in July to protest when Netanyahu arrives to speak at the general debate at U.N. headquarters on Sept. 24. “No one can ignore Mayor Mamdani, you know, instead of actually welcoming all world leaders and making sure that the city will function properly, he is doing exactly the opposite,” Danon said. “He is inciting, he is sowing chaos into the city. So this year, unfortunately, it will be harder for every New Yorker or every visitor because the mayor is actually calling for people to go out, to demonstrate and it will not deter us. The prime minister will come, will speak and will represent our nation,” the ambassador added. ISRAELI PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU VOWS TO VISIT NEW YORK DESPITE MAMDANI’S REPEATED CALLS FOR HIS ARREST “He is inciting, he is sowing chaos into the city. So this year, unfortunately, it will be harder for every New Yorker or every visitor because the mayor is actually calling for people to go out, to demonstrate and it will not deter us. The prime minister will come, will speak and will represent our nation,” the ambassador added. Mamdani’s office, when asked by Fox News Digital if he had any plans to meet with Netanyahu while he is in town, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I don’t think the prime minister wants to meet with him,” Danon said. Mamdani previously called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and “architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” The Democratic socialist also acknowledged that he can’t have Netanyahu arrested despite promising to do so during his mayoral campaign. When asked by a reporter in July about “What do you think that these people who are frustrated with Netanyahu should do when he arrives in New York City for the United Nations meeting,” Mamdani said, “One of the bedrocks of our city is protest.” “It is something that has been a part of what makes our city so special, that New Yorkers can express themselves whether they are in support or in opposition no matter on whatever topic,” the Democratic socialist mayor said during the press conference on July 22. “And I’ve always said that when we respect our Constitution, we also respect our First Amendment. And here in New York City it will always be a place where you can exercise that.” IRAN TRIED TO ASSASSINATE ONE OF NETANYAHU’S SONS, PRIME MINISTER SAYS Netanyahu told Fox News “Hannity” around a week later that, “I’m going to New York,” and, “I’m going to speak the truth in front of this hate-spewing elected official who’s pitting one group of New Yorkers against the others.” Danon told Fox News Digital that “we have been involved in a war, a difficult one, a long one, and I think now we have a lot of opportunities ahead of us.” “So the prime minister would also speak about what we achieved, but also about the opportunities,” he said. Danon also said Israel has to “finish the job” in Gaza. “Hamas is still there. They are supposed to disarm, according to the president’s plan. I hope it will take place. I hope that it will happen sooner than later because if it will not happen, we will have to do the job ourselves. But we cannot leave a terrorist organization in Gaza. There will be no future for the people of Gaza or for us if Hamas will stay in power,” he continued. “I think we can be very proud of our achievements. Israel is being criticized, but we walk very proud at the U.N. because we know that what we did, fighting evil, fighting Iran, fighting Hezbollah, fighting Hamas, it wasn’t only our fight. We fought for the Western societies, for the Western democracies,” Danon also said. “That’s why we feel proud on what we achieved this year.” Fox News Digital’s Nora Moriarty and Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
Trump appears to debut darker hair, sparking online buzz
President Donald Trump appeared to debut a darker hair color Friday, sparking widespread speculation online after stepping off Air Force One in New Jersey ahead of a weekend at his Bedminster golf club. Known for his signature blond hairstyle, Trump was photographed arriving at Morristown Municipal Airport with what appeared to be a noticeably darker, more brunette look —prompting a flood of reactions across social media. “Trump becoming a brunette was definitely not on my 2026 bingo card,” one user wrote on X. “This was Donald Trump yesterday while departing to New Jersey for the weekend! Look at the appearance of his hair! Is he getting a new hair color?” another user wrote. HOUSE DEMS PLOT TRUMP INVESTIGATION BLITZ IF THEY SEIZE MAJORITY “Seems brown is the new blonde …,” a third user added. “Trump is now a brunette!” another post read. Photos shared on Instagram by internet personality Michael Solakiewicz showed Trump golfing Saturday in a red hat that covered most of his hair, making it difficult to tell whether the darker look remained. TRUMP’S PENTAGON SHAKE-UP REVIVES A PRESIDENTIAL POWER PLAY WITH A LONG HISTORY The online speculation comes just days after Trump pushed back on allegations that he wears a wig, pointing to a windy 2024 campaign rally in Ohio, according to The Hill. “I don’t wear a wig. But that night, they found out I did not wear a wig because if you did, it was not going to be on your head very long,” Trump said Wednesday. Trump has rarely made noticeable changes to his appearance while in office. TRUMP NEGOTIATORS WITKOFF, KUSHNER MEET WITH PUTIN IN MOSCOW AS US PUSHES FOR END TO RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR In 2019, he sparked similar speculation after appearing with what looked like a slicked-back hairstyle during a surprise visit to a Virginia church. That hairstyle was short-lived. Trump spoke to reporters later in the day wearing his usual hairdo. The White House could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment. Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
Pistol-packing man knocks over fairgoers forcing his way toward Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton, police say
An armed man forced his way through a crowd toward Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, knocking over multiple fairgoers before troopers stopped him at the Canfield Fair, authorities said. Troopers assigned to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s executive protection unit intercepted Patrick M. Havas, 38, during the Sept. 6 incident, according to a statement provided by the Ohio Department of Public Safety to Fox News Digital. “Havas knocked multiple fairgoers over while trying to get towards Dr. Acton, and was found to be in possession of a taser and two pistols,” the highway patrol said. “Dr. Acton was unharmed during the incident.” Havas was turned over first to Canfield Fair Police and then to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office before being taken to the county jail, according to the statement. TRUMP’S DECADE OF ASSASSINATION THREATS RUNS FROM BUTLER SHOOTING TO LATEST GOLF CLUB BREACH He was booked on two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct. A jail record listed Havas as being held in pretrial custody. The highway patrol and sheriff’s office are investigating what led to the confrontation. No additional details were immediately available. Acton’s campaign initially said an armed individual had lunged at the candidate and injured multiple people. “While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people,” Acton campaign communications director Addie Bullock said in a statement. “Dr. Acton and Eric are grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured,” Bullock added. “This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another.” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine later confirmed that Acton was not hurt and said he and first lady Fran DeWine spoke with her following the incident. “Fran and I are thankful Dr. Amy Acton was not hurt, and we send our thoughts to those who were injured,” DeWine said. “We spoke to Dr. Acton this afternoon and she said to share with Ohioans that she is ok.” DeWine said a man “tried to forcefully push himself toward Dr. Acton” as she was speaking and injured other attendees at the Mahoning County Democratic booth. “We are grateful for the quick work of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement on the scene at the Canfield Fair today,” the governor said. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable,” DeWine added. “This case is now in the hands of law enforcement and will be investigated thoroughly.” The incident came as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that candidates and other public figures continue to face threats as campaign season kicks into high gear. “You’re never safe in the public eye,” Mullin told Fox News’ Peter Doocy during an interview on “The Sunday Briefing.” WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOTING LATEST IN YEARS OF ATTACKS TARGETING TRUMP, CONSERVATIVES Doocy asked Mullin whether candidates were safe heading into the traditional Labor Day weekend kickoff to campaign season, citing the political assassinations and assassination attempts that have rocked the country in recent years. “If you read any of the social media posts, which I choose not to, but you see the type of rhetoric and the hatefulness that’s out there,” Mullin said. DEM SENATE HOPEFULS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR ‘CHOKE THEM OUT’ RHETORIC AFTER TRUMP ATTACK SCARE “The threats to our elected officials, they don’t go away,” he continued. “We’ve got to bring down the temperature, but the temperature is not going to go down on itself.” Mullin said Americans must accept that political disagreements are part of the country’s system of government while drawing a firm line at violence. WEST VIRGINIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING VIOLENT THREATS AGAINST TRUMP, ICE “The American people have to realize that we do have a republic, and the republic has different opinions, and it’s OK to have different opinions,” he said. “When you cross a line and say that that different opinion needs to be silenced — it needs to be silenced through violence — that’s where Homeland comes into place,” Mullin added. “Free speech is something we all protect, but there’s a line that you can cross that goes from free speech to inciting dangerous behavior.” Mullin was speaking broadly about political threats and was not responding directly to the reported confrontation involving Acton. Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and his running mate, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, condemned the Canfield Fair incident. “Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence,” Ramaswamy campaign communications director Connie Luck said in a statement. “What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics, and we hope that no one was hurt,” she added. RAMASWAMY OUTLINES KEY CONTRASTS WITH DEM OPPONENT LESS THAN 100 DAYS OUT FROM KEY GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION Acton and Ramaswamy are facing off in November’s closely watched race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. Acton, a physician, became a household name in Ohio while serving as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Associated Press. She appeared alongside DeWine during televised briefings as the state imposed shutdowns and other public-health restrictions. Her handling of the pandemic has since become a central campaign issue, The AP reported. Ramaswamy and other Republicans have criticized Acton over the restrictions, while her campaign has defended her work with DeWine as necessary to protect Ohioans. Fox News Digital reached out to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office for additional information. Fox News’ Peter Doocy contributed to this report.
Hasan Piker brushes off Dems who see him as a liability, names his ’28 choice
Hasan Piker hears the growing chorus of Democrats condemning him for incendiary statements, and he has a message for the party: “My job is not to make the Democratic Party look good.” The far-left Twitch streamer has boosted socialist candidates even as he created headaches for the broader Democratic Party in a midterm election cycle where it hopes to make major gains. The 35-year-old Piker — whose polarizing stances range from defending communist Chinese dictator Mao Zedong to comparing Zionism to “Nazism” — is a darling of the Democratic Socialists of America, but a potential liability for mainstream Democrats as November approaches. Piker said Democratic Party officials have not reached out to coordinate a strategy. “I have not had a conversation with anyone from the DNC,” Piker said. “That would be very funny.” JAMES CARVILLE DECRIES ‘IDIOT’ HASAN PIKER, ORDERS DSA TO CHANGE ITS NAME In an exclusive interview at the 2026 Socialism Conference in Chicago, Piker told Fox News that, while he tries “to be as careful as possible” when it comes to choosing his words, his hours-long streams present his opponents with the “perfect opportunity to create viral media moments.” Some of those moments include intense backlash over Piker’s 2019 statement that America “deserved 9/11,” a comment which has been widely condemned by politicians on both sides of the aisle. HASAN PIKER CALLS REPUBLICAN PARTY THE ‘BIGGEST DOMESTIC TERRORIST’ IN THE COUNTRY Piker acknowledged that he should not have used the word “deserved,” but said his point was that “[America’s] meddling in the affairs in the Middle East actually transpired these horrifying events.” “It’s not a controversial thing [to argue],” Piker said. “It was the language that I used that was controversial.” HASAN PIKER CALLS HAMAS ‘FAR MORE MODERATE,’ DISMISSES TERROR GROUP’S BRUTAL RULE IN GAZA Piker’s brash commentary gives him credence with the far-left DSA, which pulled off a host of primary victories against more moderate Democrats, but party elders have disavowed him. “There’s two things that I know about Hasan Piker,” longtime Democratic Party consultant James Carville told Fox News Channel last week. “One, he’s an idiot, and two, he’s not a Democrat. So, I don’t answer for idiots, and I don’t answer for people who are not Democrats.” VAN JONES WARNS FAR-LEFT SOCIALIST AGENDA IS ‘REGRESSIVE’ THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY Key Democrat lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and several House members have condemned Piker’s past rhetoric. As he crosses the country, joining campaign rallies and canvass launches for liberal challengers to establishment-backed candidates, Piker acknowledged that even his allies have urged him to moderate his rhetoric for the sake of their electoral chances. DEMOCRATS’ CIVIL WAR HEADS TO MICHIGAN WHERE PROGRESSIVES FACE BIGGEST TEST YET IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE SHOWDOWN But Piker told Fox News the press is overstating his association with the progressive political candidates and wondered why the media had not “demanded condemnations from establishment Republicans for collaborating with Charlie Kirk or using him as a campaign surrogate.” Piker campaigned hard for Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Michigan Democratic Senate nominee who pulled off a major upset victory against the establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D- Mich., in August. While his active support for El-Sayed may have generated buzz among Piker’s base, it’s also led El-Sayed to face a barrage of questions and criticism about his association with Piker. GRETCHEN WHITMER ENDORSES MODERATE HALEY STEVENS IN TIGHT UPCOMING SENATE PRIMARY Piker said that while he is confident El-Sayed – who distanced himself from Piker in recent weeks – will win this fall, “if people want to blame me” in the event El-Sayed loses, “they can blame me,” adding, “I think that’s the goal.” Piker’s role in the midterms may prove to be a warmup for the 2028 presidential election, and he said he has no plans to moderate his stances or stay on the sidelines. He said he will back socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. if she launches a bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. WATCH: AOC WON’T RULE OUT WHITE HOUSE BID AFTER POLL NAMES HER DEMOCRATS’ TOP 2028 PICK “I think she’s great,” Piker said. “She would have some difficulties, of course, but hurdles can be climbed over, and I think she can do it.” Piker believes his influence will continue to grow, and predicted even Democrats now condemning him will “try to utilize the platform that I have” if they seek higher office in 2028. 2028 BATTLEGROUND POLL SCRAMBLES DEMOCRATS’ FUTURE AS INSURGENT SOCIALIST SEIZES LEAD “And I’m not talking about my ideological allies or people who are associated with me right now,” he added.
After ‘Lake America,’ Trump suggests a new name for the state of New Mexico
The White House on Sunday amplified President Donald Trump‘s call to rebrand New Mexico as “New America,” reposting an image from the president’s Truth Social account showing the state’s name crossed out and replaced with “America.” Trump’s original post featured a map of the Southwestern state with the word “Mexico” crossed out in bright red and replaced with “America,” effectively depicting it as “New America.” TRUMP RENAMES LAKE ONTARIO ‘LAKE AMERICA’ AMID INTENSIFYING US-CANADA TRADE DISPUTE The White House later shared the image on its verified X account. Neither post included an explanation or indicated whether it reflected an actual policy proposal. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told Fox News Digital that New Mexico’s name “isn’t up for debate — it’s been ours since before the United States existed.” “What is up for debate? Who’s showing up for working families,” she said, arguing that while the president “tries to distract Americans,” families are facing higher gas and grocery prices, losing access to health care and struggling to afford a home. “Under Democratic leadership here in New Mexico, we’re providing families with free childcare and college, protecting access to health care and investing in housing. While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work.” MAJORITY OF AMERICANS REJECT TRUMP’S RENAMING OF LAKE ONTARIO TO ‘LAKE AMERICA,’ POLL FINDS The post comes just days after Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” for U.S. federal use. The executive order followed a series of tariff disputes between Washington and Ottawa. Trump said he directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the department to update the Geographic Names Information System to reflect the name change. Google and Apple later updated their maps for U.S. users to reflect the change. Trump also signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” early in his second term. Unlike lakes and other geographic features that can be renamed for federal use through executive action, a president cannot unilaterally rename a U.S. state. Trump and the White House have not announced any formal effort to change New Mexico’s name. The name “New Mexico” predates the state by centuries. Spanish explorers began using “Nuevo México” in the late 1500s. The territory kept the name after becoming part of the United States in 1848 and later achieved statehood on Jan. 6, 1912. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Trump admin’s mail-in ballot fight lands back at Supreme Court
The Trump administration filed a new appeal with the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking to enforce restrictions on mail ballots, as the ballots begin entering states across the country ahead of the midterm elections. The filing asks the high court to stay a preliminary injunction issued Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani that prevents the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing several requirements for ballot mail in the November elections. “Ballots have already begun to be mailed in North Carolina, and more States will begin the mailing process as the injunction remains in place — including Alabama on September 9 and at least five States the week of September 13,” Solicitor General John Sauer wrote. FEDERAL JUDGE AGAIN BLOCKS TRUMP’S MAIL BALLOT ORDER JUST BEFORE MIDTERMS “Once those ballot envelopes enter the mailstream, there is no retrieving them,” he added. Sauer argued that allowing the injunction to remain in place risks “sowing confusion and chaos” as more states begin mailing ballots because preparations to comply with the Postal Service rule remain voluntary rather than mandatory. The administration maintains the rule is “a lawful and modest exercise of rulemaking authority delegated by Congress to the Postal Service” and “regulates the U.S. Mail, not federal elections.” The rule requires federal election ballots sent through the mail to use envelopes that include the official Election Mail logo, meet automation requirements and carry unique barcodes, according to the filing. State election officials would also have to submit envelope designs for review and provide the Postal Service with information about intended ballot recipients. The administration says the requirements are intended to improve the handling and delivery of ballot mail and protect the mail system from being used to facilitate voter fraud. MAIL-VOTING CRACKDOWN MOVES AHEAD AS TRUMP COURT WIN OPENS DOOR TO FEDERAL ACTION The rule would not give the Postal Service authority to determine who is eligible to vote by mail or whether ballots should be counted, responsibilities that would remain with state and local election officials. Democratic-led states and voting rights groups challenging the restrictions contend the changes are unconstitutional, while election officials have argued there is not enough time to revise their systems to comply before November. The administration disputes those arguments, saying Congress gave the Postal Service broad authority to regulate the handling and delivery of mail and that the rule does not dictate ballot content, determine voter eligibility, establish election deadlines or govern how ballots are counted. The filing marks the third time the administration has asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the dispute. The high court previously allowed the administration’s plan to move forward but has not ruled on whether the restrictions themselves are legal. The battle could have major ramifications for the November elections, when control of Congress is at stake. Nearly one-third of U.S. voters cast ballots by mail. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sanders pushes ‘death penalty’ for crucial US industry that could give advantage to foreign adversaries
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, introduced legislation Thursday seeking to hit American artificial intelligence developers with a “corporate death penalty” and up to 20 years in prison— a move critics warn will hand a crucial edge in the global AI arms race to Beijing and Moscow. The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act would temporarily halt advanced AI development and establish a Cabinet-level federal agency authorized to oversee the physical destruction of non-compliant tech systems, likening advanced AI creation to the unlawful development of nuclear weapons. The measure explicitly targets systems capable of matching or exceeding human cognitive performance—specifically outlawing any AI model that exhibits the capacity to subvert shutdown commands, execute unauthorized cyberattacks, or undermine the U.S. government. But while progressives frame the measure as an urgent check on “AI oligarchs,” experts are warning that imposing sweeping criminal penalties on U.S. firms will severely handicap domestic innovation, while foreign adversaries will be able to continue expanding their capabilities unchecked. FETTERMAN ALIGNS WITH TRUMP ON AI PUSH, WARNS CHINA BENEFITS FROM US ‘OVERREACTION’ “If the United States stops developing advanced AI, China is unlikely to follow. Surrendering the lead in a potentially transformative technology would carry serious economic and national security costs,” Daniel Castro, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a leading nonpartisan tech-innovation policy think tank, said in response to Sanders’ proposal. “A permanent, unilateral ban on all research into superhuman AI is too broad,” added Gary Marcus, an AI expert who has testified on the matter before the U.S. Senate. He added that the proposed law was “a guarantee” the U.S. would be left behind when it comes to artificial intelligence advancements, describing it as “not the right approach,” even though he said there were some aspects of the proposed bill that were “defensible.” REP. TED LIEU: AI IS ALREADY TOO POWERFUL. WE NEED A KILL SWITCH BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES Under the provisions of the legislation, the proposed criminal and corporate penalties are modeled directly after existing federal statutes governing the unlawful development of nuclear weapons. Tech companies found attempting to circumvent the federal prohibition would face a “corporate death penalty”—an unprecedented enforcement mechanism that strips a firm’s legal authority to conduct business in the United States. Individual software engineers, researchers or executives found in violation could face up to 20 years in federal prison. DEM SENATOR PRESSES OPENAI, ANTHROPIC FOR ANSWERS IN AI HACKING PROBE To enforce the ban, the legislation creates a new Cabinet-level federal AI agency tasked with monitoring frontier systems. The agency would be granted sweeping authority to intervene in tech operations, including physically supervising the removal of dangerous code and overseeing the physical destruction of non-compliant superintelligent hardware and infrastructure. The bill also establishes criteria for what constitutes a banned system, specifically outlawing any AI model capable of planning or executing the “disempowerment of humanity.” That includes software that exhibits the capacity to overthrow the U.S. government, carry out unauthorized cyberattacks or ignore human shutdown commands. CRACKDOWN ON CRITICAL TECH COULD OPEN AMERICANS TO A NEW NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT Industry advocates, however, argue that resorting to extreme criminal sanctions ignores the practical realities of tech infrastructure and risk management. “Knee-jerk policymaking is never a good thing, and I think that’s exactly what this proposal boils down to,” said Aden Hizkias, associate policy director at Chamber of Progress, a tech industry coalition. “AI is an incredible tool that can improve millions of lives, but as AI skepticism grows, it’s on companies to earn trust and prove they are good neighbors. That means transparent construction agreements, bringing their own power generation, and making sure they’re meeting environmental standards.” Fox News Digital reached out to Sanders’ office for comment regarding concerns that the legislation would hand an AI edge to foreign adversaries like China and Russia, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Mamdani under fire after symbolic 9/11 pen goes to former al Qaeda defense lawyer
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash after giving a ceremonial pen from a 9/11 remembrance ceremony to a top aide who once represented a convicted al Qaeda member whose brother-in-law hijacked the plane that struck the Pentagon. Mamdani signed executive orders Friday ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, designating the date a citywide day of remembrance and service and strengthening efforts to prevent future terrorist threats. After signing the final order, Mamdani handed the pen to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and asked her to pass it to chief counsel Ramzi Kassem. Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, who pleaded guilty to war-crime charges tied to al Qaeda plots against commercial ships and was the brother-in-law of Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon, killing 184. MAMDANI FACES GROWING 9/11 BACKLASH AS OLD POST RESURFACES AHEAD OF GROUND ZERO CEREMONY: ‘IS THIS REAL?’ The handoff drew criticism on social media, with users arguing on X that Kassem’s role in the ceremony distracted from an event meant to honor those killed in the attacks and the first responders who died trying to save them. “This is a slap in the face to victims ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11,” wrote podcaster Benny Johnson on X. FLASHBACK: MAMDANI TORCHED FOR RECYCLING 9/11 TRIBUTES AFTER YEARS OF NEAR-IDENTICAL POSTS “I sincerely hope the rest of the country understands just how hard it is to be in New York City with this mayor, and especially as we’re approaching this most serious and solemn day for NYC: 9/11,” wrote former New York state Senate candidate Maria Danzilo. Another user on X called it a “deliberate gesture by Mamdani that undermines 9 / 11 yet again with impunity.” ACCUSED 9/11 MASTERMIND KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED, 3 CO-DEFENDANTS SET FOR 2028 TRIAL City Hall told the New York Post that Kassem attended the ceremony because he and his team drafted both executive orders as part of his duties as chief counsel. That role has drawn scrutiny because Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a Guantánamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty to war-crime charges tied to al Qaeda plots against commercial ships, including the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker off Yemen’s coast. Al-Darbi’s sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the hijackers aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Kassem also founded a CUNY legal clinic that provides free representation to Muslims and represented Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.