DNC lawsuit accuses Trump administration of diverting $20M in federal funds for ‘propaganda’ ads
The Democratic National Committee is suing the Trump administration, alleging it illegally diverted $20 million in federal funds to produce and broadcast partisan political advertisements. The ad campaign was designed to boost Republican prospects in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections and shore up President Donald Trump’s approval ratings, a move the DNC argues constitutes unlawful “publicity or propaganda,” the lawsuit states. The lawsuit claims President Donald Trump personally directed the campaign, violating the longstanding statutory ban on using federal appropriations for “publicity or propaganda purposes.” REPUBLICAN PARTY TO HOST HISTORIC MIDTERM CONVENTION IN DALLAS, TRUMP ANNOUNCES ON TRUTH SOCIAL “President Trump’s political propaganda ads are an attempt to resuscitate his historically low approval ratings and avoid widespread Republican defeats in the 2026 midterm election,” the lawsuit states. “The President has nationalized the midterm election, made himself the center of a two-day ‘midterm convention,’ and repeatedly directed voters to ‘pretend that I am on the ballot.’” The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) transferred the funds from money authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to court filings. 2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN The OMB approved reallocating the funds into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection line item designated for “Commemorative Events,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also notes that congressional committee reports explicitly restricted that line item to line-of-duty death memorials, agency anniversaries and commendation ceremonies. The lawsuit highlights mounting pressure on Republicans, noting that polling numbers have dropped in traditional battlegrounds as well as in typically conservative states, which leaves Democrats “poised to take control of Congress, governor’s mansions, and state legislatures around the country.” MADURO CLAIMS IMMUNITY, ASKS JUDGE TO DISMISS DRUG-TRAFFICKING CHARGES AGAINST HIM AND HIS WIFE Among the ads flagged in the filing is one featuring President Trump touting the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In another spot, Trump directly addresses the audience: “With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the warmongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists; we will cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists.” A third ad explicitly asks viewers to “pretend I’m on the ballot” to drive turnout. The lawsuit also targets ads featuring high-ranking administration officials praising Trump, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. FOX NEWS POLL: AS ECONOMIC PAIN DEEPENS, DISAPPROVAL OF TRUMP HITS NEW HIGH “Donald Trump is misusing millions of taxpayer dollars to fund pure propaganda ads in a last-ditch attempt to save Republicans in November, so we’re suing him,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. “As gas and grocery costs rise and his approval numbers continue to crater, this president has stooped to taking money from a fund intended for memorials for Americans killed in the line of duty to promote his failed policies. “Americans deserve better than to have their hard-earned tax dollars used for Trump’s illegal schemes.” SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN LIMIT ON PARTY CAMPAIGN SPENDING IN COORDINATION WITH CANDIDATES The lawsuit asks the court to declare that the Trump administration and affected federal agencies unlawfully produced and aired the advertisements using congressionally appropriated funds and seeks an immediate injunction to block further use of taxpayer dollars for the campaign. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
100-shot Somali gang gun battle rocks Minnesota as sheriff warns ‘we’re in trouble’
Violence tied to Somali-American gangs in the Twin Cities metro erupted in recent days, with law enforcement recovering nearly 100 casings after a gunfight captured on a resident’s surveillance camera — as officials warn they need help to contain the problem before it escalates. The warning follows a burst of violence across several Twin Cities suburbs — including a Bloomington shootout that left nearly 100 shell casings and another shooting in Eden Prairie — as law enforcement says the incidents have entered a retaliation cycle and officials race to disrupt the groups before the violence evolves into more entrenched drug- and money-driven crime. “We have the opportunity to fix it,” Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said of a surge in Somali gang violence across the Twin Cities — but warned authorities could be facing a much more difficult problem if the groups escalate the resources they use. 3 DEAD, INCLUDING SUSPECTED GUNMAN, AND 3 OFFICERS INJURED IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING “It’s early. Once they evolve into drugs, we’re in trouble. Once they evolve into money, more money, we are in trouble,” said Fletcher, whose county is anchored by St. Paul and runs along the west bank of the Mississippi River. Fletcher estimated that about 300 juveniles are involved and said part of the problem lies in the Somali gangs’ relative novelty to local law enforcement and what he characterized as a reluctance to aggressively prosecute offenders across the river in Minneapolis. TRUMP’S LAW-AND-ORDER BLITZ MARKS ONE YEAR WITH EYE-POPPING HAUL OF SUSPECTS, GUNS IN BLUE CITY “We need more people focused on this problem. Because 50 kids in this 300 need to go to jail, 25 need to be prosecuted by the feds for RICO and and another 25 need to be prosecuted at the local level. Take 50 of the most active out of the mix, and we will see dramatic changes,” he said. He ascribed some of the reticence to neighboring Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, saying she has not been sufficiently “aggressive” in prosecuting such offenders. FEDERAL JUDGE REFERS PHILADELPHIA DA LARRY KRASNER TO DOJ FOR POSSIBLE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION “One of the misconceptions is that somehow when you prosecute people, put them in jail that you’re destituting them to some terrible life. This is how kids get corrected,” he said. Moriarty’s office pushed back on the assertion, with spokesman Daniel Borgertpoepping saying the neighboring communities are “looking for solutions” and that Moriarty’s prosecutors “communicate daily with law enforcement [and] will participate in any group that moves us toward sustainable public safety.” “The way we approach prosecution of violent crime is consistent regardless of the race or ethnicity of those involved,” Borgertpoepping said. Meanwhile, residents across the metro region expressed outrage to local officials over the violence and what they described as a growing threat to public safety. Jared Scribner, a resident of nearby Edina, criticized officials for calling the issue “gun violence” and demanded they “confront what is happening even when the facts are politically uncomfortable.” Scribner said violence associated with the gangs erupted at a local homecoming event and at a park. MEMPHIS MOM SAYS TRUMP BROUGHT PEACE TO STREETS AS DEMOCRATIC DA BATTLES TASK FORCE OVERSIGHT “We don’t need more virtue signaling, yard signs, DEI initiatives, or community conversations that lead to nowhere. We need competent government, accountability, and safe neighborhoods,” he said, also blaming Moriarty’s office for “refu[sing]” to properly address the issue. He also suggested officials have sometimes generalized the ethnicity of those involved, remarking that it “feels more comfortable for some people to say East African. I don’t even know that that’s a fair term, because 98% of these gang members are Somalians.” In nearby Bloomington, where about 100 casings were recovered from the scene of a late-night firefight that appeared to involve automatic weapons, Police Chief Booker Hodges took a confrontational tack toward the suspects who remained at large — while warning they do not fit the typical stereotype of gang members. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “They’re coming from two parent homes, living in apartment buildings with $3,500 a month rent, driving Beamers and Mercedes. They’re not dealing with money. There’s no drugs in the house. They’re purchasing legal firearms,” he said. “To those of you who did this shooting, you know that I know that you know that I that we know who you are. So my suggestion is: you turn yourself in. Let’s stop playing these games with you running around out here doing all this stuff,” Hodges warned — as the violence draws national attention.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife expected to face new charges related to alleged torture of Americans
Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife could face new charges Thursday tied to the alleged torture of Americans. The additional charges are expected to be announced in Manhattan federal court, according to Fox News’ David Spunt and Jake Paronich. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald is expected to speak after a 10:30 a.m. hearing. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, already face drug trafficking charges following their January capture by U.S. forces. Both have pleaded not guilty to those charges. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Unearthed clip exposes how far Talarico was willing to go on raising taxes during COVID era
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the Senate in Texas, once pressed Democrats to consider cuts to healthcare benefits a nonstarter — regardless of the consequences for the state’s finances. The remark came during a podcast interview in which Talarico discussed how Texas might balance its budget amid COVID-related shortfalls. He feared Republicans would look for savings in healthcare services. “I don’t care where you get the revenue. I don’t care what taxes you have to raise,” Talarico said in a 2020 appearance with Texas Rising, a progressive YouTube channel focused on political engagement among younger voters. The resurfaced moment adds to the pile of past statements dealing with gender, immigration and fiscal management, complicating the political calculus for Talarico as he aims to convince voters in Texas that he could represent a Republican-leaning constituency, even as a Democrat. TALARICO SAYS HE ‘MISSED THE MARK’ AS HE BACKTRACKS ON CONTROVERSIAL WOKE STATEMENTS At the time, Texas was facing a bleak financial outlook. The pandemic had crippled key sections of the state’s regular revenue streams. As oil demand crashed nationally, tax revenue that would normally come from hotels, bars and restaurants also faced steep reductions. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar projected a $4.6 billion shortfall. “The economic contraction associated with COVID-19 has resulted in revenue collection this fiscal year that is much lower than our earlier projections,” Hegar said in a statement. “This estimate also assumes that restrictions on businesses and individuals will be lifted before the end of this calendar year and that economic activity will strengthen.” As a part of the COVID response, Texas ordered most agencies to look for ways to cut their spending by 5% in the 2020 – 2021 budget. In a letter, Governor Greg Abbott largely shielded Health and Human Services (HHS) from the reductions, sparing the state’s Medicaid program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the foster care program and disability services, among others. Even so, $2.6 billion of HHS’s budget remained subject to cuts, according to the agency’s estimations. That left the Health and Human Services Commission with a target of $132,716,600 in cuts. ‘FAKE’ MODERATE TALARICO’S TEXAS SURGE TESTS PAXTON IN FIGHT TO HOLD CRUCIAL GOP SENATE SEAT Despite the reduced figure, Talarico blasted the idea of making spending reductions geared towards healthcare. “You’re not going to make our students and our teachers — you’re not going to make the sick and the elderly pay for this pandemic we are not going to balance our budget off of the most vulnerable people in this state,” Talarico said. He argued that Democrats should create a similar kind of stigma against cuts to HHS as the one surrounding raising taxes. “Sometimes you get the reaction in the capitol that’s an unreasonable position to take. But the other side of the aisle has already taken revenue increases off the table. They’ve done a good job of making certain options taboo, so I think our coalition, not just Democrats but progressives, and anybody with a functioning heart should be able to make cuts to health and education taboo and take them off the table,” Talarico said. The moment has brought on criticisms from at least one Republican onlooker. “High-tax Talarico never saw a tax hike he didn’t love in the Texas Legislature, and he is promising to continue that if elected to the Senate. James Talarico will raise taxes on every Texan to fund his radical agenda of taxpayer-funded sex changes for kids and free healthcare for illegal immigrants,” Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee said in a statement to Fox News Digital. As he wages his bid for U.S. Senate, Talarico has advocated for an expansion of U.S. health policy. On his website, Talarico has called for universal eligibility for Medicare, to regulate medical debt and expand veteran care. His views on Medicare, which overlap with many other progressives in the party, have prompted criticism from Republicans who believe such an expansion would cripple the federal budget with cost. Skeptics of the plan have argued for years that such an expansion is too expensive and does little to address existing inefficiencies in the American healthcare system. In 2019, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., took to the Senate floor to blast the idea, calling it a straitjacket solution that would undermine healthcare quality. “The [Congressional Budget Office] projects in its report on a single-payer plan that government spending on health care would increase substantially. They go on to say to cover the massive cost of government-run care, income taxes would have to at least double. Income taxes, American families — at least double,” Barrasso said. SHOCK POLL: TALARICO TIES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE, THREATENING GOP STRONGHOLD Talarico’s campaign did not address questions on whether his designs for healthcare are shaped by the national deficit, but noted that his plan includes increases in taxes on the country’s top earners. “James supports making billionaires pay their fair share so we can cut taxes for middle class Texans and fund healthcare for working families — which is why he has unveiled plans to end special tax handouts to corporations and billionaires to help fund healthcare, while proudly voting for the largest property tax cut in Texas history to make sure middle class families get a break,” the Talarico campaign told Fox News Digital. “Ken Paxton has worked to enrich himself and his billionaire mega-donors, amassed 15 properties on a taxpayer-funded salary, and was impeached by his own party for his corrupt abuse of office.” Having cleared the party primary, Talarico will face off against Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton in the state’s Nov. 3 general election.
Amy Klobuchar calls for major anti-terrorism investments after alleged Mall of America plot
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic nominee for Minnesota governor, praised law enforcement Wednesday after the FBI arrested an 18-year-old man accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America. “I’m grateful for the heroic work of law enforcement that prevented a mass shooting and terrorist attack at the Mall of America,” she said in a statement. “This shows why we continue to need major coordinated investments in anti-terrorism and local law enforcement to stop attacks like these. Our state must take terrorism and violent crime head on, working with our federal law enforcement and local police departments to keep Minnesotans safe.” Klobuchar, who has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007, is running against Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the November gubernatorial election. MALL OF AMERICA TERROR PLOT THWARTED, SUSPECTED ISIS SYMPATHIZER ARRESTED, FBI ANNOUNCES Her statement came after federal authorities announced the arrest of Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, who investigators say pledged allegiance to ISIS and discussed carrying out a mass shooting at the Mall of America. According to federal court documents, Mohamud allegedly spent months discussing plans for an attack before buying an AK-47-style rifle, four magazines and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI employee Tuesday. The rifle had been rendered inoperable, though the ammunition was live. FBI Director Kash Patel said Mohamud “allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans.” PENNSYLVANIA MAN ACCUSED OF PLOTTING ISIS ATTACK ARRESTED WITH RIFLE AND 190 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION: DOJ President Donald Trump also praised the FBI’s handling of the case while speaking to reporters Wednesday. “I did hear about it. And they did a great job. The FBI did a great job,” Trump said. Mohamud is charged with knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe they would be used to commit a felony and federal crime of terrorism. Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Florida GOP hopeful on backing Trump in Iran: ‘This is about ending a long war, not starting a war’
For GOP congressional candidate Dan Green, the military confrontation with Iran isn’t the start of a new war — it’s the long-overdue resolution of a conflict that began in 1979. Drawing on his own military tours in Iraq, the Navy veteran running in Florida’s 9th Congressional District argues that America is finally settling decades-long strife with Tehran, even as he faces a tough domestic battle over inflation, kitchen-table economics and a 10-year Democrat incumbent in the newly redrawn Orlando-based suburban district. “I think one thing to know about Iran is that they’ve been at war with us since the 1970s, when they seized our embassy in Tehran and they took our Americans hostage. So to me, this is about ending a long war, not starting a war. “Whether it’s the Marine Corps barracks in the ’80s when Iran bombed those, the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and also with my tours in Iraq, the Iranians were killing a lot of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. TOP DEM LEGAL BOOGEYMEN TEE UP ‘BATTLE ROYALE’ IN RED STATE’S REDISTRICTING CRUSADE “So, the question is, what’s the butcher’s bill you’re willing to tolerate of dead Americans? And we also know they plotted to kill and assassinate our president. “So, to me, this has been a long time coming, but I think what we really need to focus on is how do we get a successful termination of this conflict and stability back in the Middle East?” Green is running in a district that voted for President Donald Trump by a large margin in 2024, yet the Republicans face headwinds as inflation and energy prices remain a persistent preoccupation for voters. Yet, he remains confident in the appeal of the GOP brand, compared to the Democratic alternative. “I think the Democrats have a huge problem right now. I don’t think they know what they’re really about,” Green said. “As you know, they have a democratic socialist wing that is rising in power throughout their party, and a lot of moderate members are finding they have to make peace with that, or even liberal members as well.” He continued: “We’ve got a lot of members getting elected now across the country who are democratic socialists who believe in this radical ideology, who want to frankly destroy our Constitution in so many ways: they want to abolish the U.S. Senate, they want to bring back woke ideology, transgender ideology, and higher taxes. So I think in some ways we know what they are going to bring, but it’s not a good future.” GOP CHALLENGER TEARS INTO DEM’S ‘MODERATE’ IMAGE: ‘VOTES WITH THE SQUAD 90% OF THE TIME’ Florida’s 9th District, like much of the state, contains a large Latino population, which has been pivotal in shifting the state from purple to red. Green argues that while Republicans must appeal to voters on kitchen table economics, ultimately they need to be the party that upholds the rule of law. “I think Americans of all backgrounds, regardless of race or ethnicity, are concerned about the cost of living these days. What we’ve been campaigning on is making America affordable again,” Green said. “So these kind of kitchen table issues of grocery prices, gas prices, property insurance rates — they resonate irrespective of background, I would say. “But the cornerstone of our republic is the rule of law, making sure we adhere to it and we follow it. There are ways of being compassionate with how we do that. There are ways of implementing that law more effectively. At the end of the day, we’re either a nation of laws or we aren’t. And so we need to do what’s required to make sure the law is enforced.” The 9th District, which stretches from Orlando to the south, has a distinctly conservative bent, which Green argues will enable him to compete against the advantages of incumbency. FLORIDA GOP NOMINEE BLASTS 20-YEAR DEM INCUMBENT AS A ‘SOCIALIST’ RUBBER-STAMP WITH ’PRECIOUS LITTLE TO SHOW’ “My opponent is an incumbent and sometimes with that come some advantages; name ID, access to greater resources,” Green said. “But I think the district fundamentally is a conservative district and I think even non-party-affiliated members who aren’t Democrat or Republican tend to be conservative. “So I think we have a lot of great strength in this district for our campaign. I have worked in the military, I can put a plan together, and we’re executing a good campaign plan to take the seat back and flip it from blue to red.” Finally, Green said he believes Soto’s votes on economic policies will be key to building a contrasting vision for the voters of the 9th District. “Well, he’s been re-elected from a portion of our district, not the rest of the district. Most of the district has never voted for him or really seen him,” Green said. “To me, you’ve got a decade of not solving our district’s problems. “He has voted against eliminating taxes on Social Security. He’s voted against eliminating taxes [on] overtime. He’s voted against eliminating tax on tips. To me, when you have the sort of affordability issue right now, those are not the right votes to take for this district. His values are also not aligned with our voters, as well. “You know, he voted to not prohibit transgender care. He’s also not done anything to stop insider trading for 10 years… and also, frankly, the democratic socialists are taking over the Democratic Party. You know, a vote for him is a vote for them, and I think that’s not what this district wants.”
FIRST ON FOX: Elon Musk heads back to White House as Trump marks prestigious first of presidency
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump will award Elon Musk and other leading American innovators the nation’s highest honors for scientific and technological achievement Thursday, Fox News Digital has learned, marking Trump’s first time presenting the awards. “The Trump administration is grateful for the contributions of these incredible leaders in science and technology. These recipients are helping ensure America keeps leading the world in innovation,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Fox News Digital. The honorees, who will be recognized at the White House’s Science: A New Golden Age Summit, include some of the most powerful figures in American technology and mark Elon Musk’s latest return to Trump’s orbit after his high-profile departure from the administration and subsequent public rupture with the president. Trump will award the National Medal of Science to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su, while Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during the summit, Fox News Digital learned. TRUMP UNVEILS AMERICA.GOV AS AI-POWERED HUB FOR PASSPORTS, MEDICARE ENROLLMENT AND MORE The ceremony will mark the first time Trump has presented the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during either of his administrations. The summit will bring together leading scientists and tech innovators to discuss how super intelligence and private-sector investment can accelerate scientific breakthroughs and strengthen U.S. leadership in science and technology. NEW BOOK ON ELON MUSK EXAMINES THE BILLIONAIRE’S MIND, MOTIVATION AND MAKING LIFE MULTI-PLANETARY Musk’s expected award marks another step in his return to Trump’s orbit after their relationship ruptured last year. The split followed Musk’s departure from DOGE, when he blasted Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill as a “disgusting abomination,” setting off a personal feud that included Trump threatening his government contracts. The two have since renewed ties, with Musk again appearing alongside Trump at a recent technology leader lunch and was present during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. The Tesla CEO has also returned to an advisory role in the Trump administration, co-leading the Pentagon’s Project Meridian, which studies the future of warfare and the weapons and technologies the U.S. military will need to maintain its technological edge. Trump has a personal tie to the award. His uncle, John G. Trump, was posthumously awarded the National Medal of Science by President Ronald Reagan for his pioneering work involving ionizing radiation and its applications in medicine, industry and atomic physics.
Cost of Iran war explodes as toll on US air fleet nearly doubles
The U.S. military has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 aircraft during the war with Iran — nearly double the number identified five months ago, according to a new government analysis that warns replacing some of the critical vehicles could strain the military’s ability to meet demands elsewhere. The aircraft include some of the military’s most advanced fighters and critical support aircraft, as well as dozens of drones, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) noted in its report. The tally is nearly double the 42 aircraft CRS identified in May as lost or damaged, although the increase partly reflects additional information becoming publicly available and does not mean all 39 additional aircraft were lost or damaged since that assessment. ALARMING MISSILE REPORT DRAWS FORCEFUL RESPONSE FROM TRUMP AS IRAN WAR TESTS AMERICA’S ARSENAL CRS, a nonpartisan arm of the Library of Congress that provides research and analysis to lawmakers and congressional committees, identified 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, an F-35A Lightning II, seven KC-135 refueling tankers, an E-3 Sentry airborne warning-and-control aircraft and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones among those lost or damaged since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28, 2026. The body also warned that losses among aging, high-demand aircraft could create capability gaps or increase risk in other theaters, while production constraints and competing demands could affect how quickly the military rebuilds its capacity. The 81 aircraft were lost or damaged through a mix of Iranian attacks, enemy fire, friendly fire, accidents and aircraft deliberately destroyed during rescue operations — though some damaged aircraft have since returned to service. “We do not comment on reports from outside organizations or non-DOW battle damage assessments,” a Department of War official told Fox News Digital when reached for comment on the report. HOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY CRS cautioned that the tally could continue to change because of classification, ongoing combat operations and questions of attribution. The new accounting comes more than eight months into a war that has strained U.S. weapons stockpiles and raised broader questions about how quickly the defense industrial base can replenish what the military is using. A Pentagon inspector general report last month found that the U.S. had spent an estimated $22.3 billion on munitions through June alone and warned of “strategic inventory shortfalls.” The Congressional Budget Office estimated in September that replacing equipment lost through Aug. 1 could cost between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on the Department of War’s replacement plans. Drones account for more than half of the aircraft in the new tally. At least 45 MQ-9 Reapers have been lost in operations against Iran, according to CRS, along with three MQ-1 drones and an MQ-4C Triton. But while drones drive much of the raw number, the report also points to losses and damage among scarcer, harder-to-replace aircraft. An E-3 Sentry was damaged in an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in March and was later reported to have sustained a “direct hit.” CRS specifically flagged the aging and limited E-3 fleet as an example of how losses among high-demand aircraft could create capability gaps or increase risks for U.S. forces in other theaters. Iranian attacks have also inflicted damage on U.S. aircraft while they were on the ground at bases across the region. Five KC-135 tankers were reportedly damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base in March, while eight F-15Es sustained light damage during an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September. The eight fighters were returned to service. At least 18 U.S. service members have also died since the war began, though the Pentagon has divided those deaths between Operation Epic Fury and a separate category for the renewed fighting that began in July. PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION Other losses illustrate the dangers surrounding recovery operations. Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft were intentionally destroyed while supporting efforts to rescue the crew of a downed F-15E, while an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter was damaged during the same rescue effort. Four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters were later destroyed by U.S. forces during separate rescue operations, according to the Defense Department inspector general. Three F-15Es were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in the opening days of the war, while an F-35A was later damaged by Iranian ground fire over Iran. CRS said the losses could prompt Congress to examine whether the U.S. industrial base can replace aircraft quickly enough to meet military requirements. The report also pointed to a broader operational question: whether the losses reflect changes in Iran’s capabilities that require the U.S. to adjust its equipment, tactics or basing posture.
Israel amb torches Mamdani Oct 7 post: ‘Like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda’
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his message marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, comparing the mayor’s framing of the massacre to “turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists.” Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mamdani of trying to “hijack” the anniversary after the mayor commemorated the more than 1,100 Israelis killed by Hamas before pivoting to accusations of “genocide,” “occupation” and “apartheid” against Israel. “‘Mamdani-ism’ — an attempt to hijack the anniversary of October 7 and turn it into yet another propaganda attack against Israel,” Danon wrote on X in response to the mayor’s post. MAMDANI FACES GROWING 9/11 BACKLASH AS OLD POST RESURFACES AHEAD OF GROUND ZERO CEREMONY: ‘IS THIS REAL?’ “It is like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists,” he added. “We will not let this happen. We will remember those who were murdered, and we will never forget who was behind this massacre.” Mamdani’s post Wednesday began by calling the anniversary “profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers” and describing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack as “horrific war crimes.” “On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others,” Mamdani wrote. “We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss.” DANNY DANON: FROM OCT 7 TO FLIGHT 1073: THE RESILIENCE THAT KEEPS ISRAEL STANDING The mayor then turned much of his statement toward the war in Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a “devastating, ongoing genocide” and citing a Palestinian death toll of more than 74,000, including more than 21,000 children. “The suffering did not begin nor end that day,” Mamdani wrote. Mamdani accused Israel of bombing ambulances, targeting residential buildings and journalists with drone strikes and turning away food aid at border crossings. Israel has disputed allegations that it deliberately targets civilians, aid workers and journalists and has rejected accusations of genocide, noting flyers that the Israeli military has sent to Palestinian civilians warning them of attacks in advance and urging them to get to safety. The mayor also accused the U.S. government of complicity in Israeli “war crimes” through its military support. “Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment,” Mamdani wrote. “To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity.” MAMDANI FIRES BACK AT NETANYAHU, CALLS ISRAELI LEADER ‘ARCHITECT OF HORRIFIC GENOCIDE’ AHEAD OF UN VISIT Danon was not alone in objecting to Mamdani’s framing of the anniversary. “Yet even today, @NYCMayor cannot put aside his ideological obsession with Israel long enough to simply let Jews mourn. At a time of rising antisemitism, words matter, and rhetoric has real-world consequences,” Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote on X. “There are 364 other days for politics. Today, remember the victims. Condemn Hamas. Stand with the Jewish community.” “Disgusting and shameful to use October 7th as an excuse to repeat Hamas’ talking points. The terrorist enemies that seek to destroy us will not prevail. We stand with the Jewish people and we pray for the victims, their families and the survivors,” said Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “Shame on you for trying to blow a kiss and slap Israelis in the face at the same time,” posted former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. “On October 7, Hamas raped, burned, and murdered Israelis and Americans in front of their loved ones. They kidnapped others and tortured them for months. This is antisemitism, no matter how you try to put a bow on it. Israelis have every right to defend themselves. If this happened in the U.S., you can bet we would defend ourselves too.” “@NYCMayor, not once do you say ‘Jews.’ On Oct. 7, Hamas-led attackers murdered civilians, committed sexual violence, mutilated bodies and took hostages,” said Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “You are weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust to recycle your usual antizionist talking points. The city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel deserves a mayor who can honor the dead without exploiting them.” Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people in brutal fashion while livestreaming the atrocities online, and taking 251 hostages. Israelis marked the third anniversary Wednesday with memorials and vigils for those killed and abducted.
DHS unloads on teachers union boss over ‘dangerous rhetoric’ and anti-ICE activism
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten drew backlash Wednesday after filming a video from a field near Newark’s Delaney Hall migrant detention facility, where she decried alleged conditions inside. Weingarten’s video, filmed within view of the facility, comes as school-choice advocates have criticized her political activism while student academic performance remains below pre-pandemic levels — with one critic recently summing up the contrast as a desire to “dictate … policy on immigration while its own members’ students struggle with basic skills.” “Dangerous rhetoric from politicians and activists demonizing our brave ICE officers has led to the over 8,000% increase in threats against DHS law enforcement who are heroically performing their congressionally mandated mission to remove criminal illegal aliens from communities across the country,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about Weingarten’s visit. “Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention facilities is false,” the agency said. ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS CLASH WITH AGENTS OUTSIDE NEW JERSEY DETENTION CENTER AS GOV SHERRILL DENIED ENTRY Fox News Digital reached out to Weingarten through AFT for comment. In her video, Weingarten disputed DHS’ characterization of conditions at the facility: “This is one of the most despicable things that our current government does,” Weingarten said as she was filmed pointing and gesticulating toward Delaney Hall. “They put people — people have not committed any crimes — they are immigrants. They deport them, or they … detain them and deport them in conditions that are unimaginable.” Weingarten, who grew up about 40 miles north of New York City in Nyack, New York, said her grandparents came to the U.S. seeking a better life, drawing a comparison to migrants detained at Delaney Hall. “We saw families coming out [of Delaney] who had just visited their loved ones… They work hard. They play by the rules. They should not be detained or deported because we have a broken immigration system,” she claimed. “We should fix the immigration system, but the cruelty of this government right now is terrible.” DHS said in response to Weingarten that its mission remains “straightforward” — enforcing laws on the books and protecting America’s national security. “Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now,” the DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. INSPECTION OF DELANEY HALL ICE FACILITY CONTRADICTS CLAIMS IN NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL’S LAWSUIT School-choice advocate Corey DeAngelis responded to Weingarten’s video by arguing that the union leader wants more illegal immigrants enrolled in public schools because their enrollment increases taxpayer funding. “It’s time to overturn Plyler v Doe and stop forcing taxpayers to fund education for illegals,” DeAngelis tweeted, referencing a 1982 Supreme Court case wherein Eisenhower-appointed Justice William Brennan Jr. ruled for the majority that Texas could not deny undocumented school-age children access to free public education. A 2026 Annie E. Casey Foundation analysis found that 47 states fared worse on its education index in 2024 than in 2019, with national declines in math proficiency, reading proficiency and preschool attendance. Weingarten has led AFT since 2008. She previously led New York City’s UFT from 1998 to 2009. DeAngelis previously criticized Weingarten after she encouraged a boycott of Target over the Minnesota-based retailer’s response to ICE operations. DeAngelis wrote for the Heritage Foundation that AFT “wants to dictate corporate policy on immigration while its own members’ students struggle with basic skills. That mismatch should alarm every taxpayer and parent.” WATCH: WEINGARTEN GESTURES WILDLY DURING ANTI-TRUMP RANT, LATER SAYS HE DRIVES HER TO DRINK The clip of Weingarten drew criticism on X, including from users who argued that the teachers union leader was straying beyond education policy and into the immigration debate. Other critics shared photos of Weingarten promoting her book “Why Fascists Fear Teachers.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “This is wild. Randi Weingarten is bad enough in her education related field (power, indoctrination, control) but now she is expanding into immigration,” another wrote. The clash comes as Weingarten and AFT have become increasingly involved in immigration fights beyond the classroom, including pressuring Target over ICE operations. Critics have pointed to persistent academic setbacks as evidence the union’s leadership should be focused on education, while AFT describes political activism and broader civil-rights advocacy as part of its mission alongside public education. Fox News Digital also reached out to the Department of Education for comment.