Trump admin sought redactions on key China war game report warning of US military readiness gaps
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration asked for redactions to a sweeping new Heritage Foundation report modeling a potential US–China war over Taiwan, even though the analysis relied entirely on publicly available, unclassified data, according to the report’s authors. The redacted report, TIDALWAVE, warns that the United States could reach a breaking point within weeks of a high‑intensity conflict with China — conclusions that the authors say prompted senior national security officials to seek redactions over concerns adversaries could exploit the findings or use them to identify U.S. and allied military vulnerabilities. Those conclusions include warnings that U.S. forces would culminate far sooner than China, suffer catastrophic losses to aircraft and sustainment infrastructure in the Pacific, and still fail to prevent a global economic shock estimated at roughly $10 trillion, nearly a tenth of global GDP. SKIES AT STAKE: INSIDE THE US-CHINA RACE FOR AIR DOMINANCE According to the authors, the AI‑enabled model drew exclusively on open‑source government, academic, industry and commercial information. An unredacted version of the report was provided to authorized U.S. government recipients for internal use. Unlike traditional tabletop war games, TIDALWAVE employs an AI‑enabled model that runs thousands of iterations, tracking how losses in platforms, munitions, and fuel compound over time and drive cascading operational failure early in the conflict. According to a Heritage spokesperson, the report had been shown to “high-level national security officials” who requested some of the specifics be crossed out in black ink before its release to the public. The report still details how quickly U.S. forces could reach a breaking point and why the conflict would carry global consequences. “Redactions were made at the request of the U.S. government to prevent disclosure of information that could reasonably enable an adversary to (1) re mediate or ‘close’ critical vulnerabilities that the United States and its allies could otherwise exploit, or (2) identify or exploit U.S. and allied vulnerabilities in ways that could degrade operational endurance, resilience, or deterrence,” the report said. A Department of War spokesperson declined to comment on discussions surrounding TIDALWAVE’s publication, but added: “The Department of War does not endorse, validate, or adjudicate third-party analyses, nor do we engage publicly on hypothetical conflict modeling. As a general matter, we take seriously the protection of information that, if aggregated or contextualized, could have implications for operational security.” The White House could not be reached for comment. According to the report’s redacted findings, the U.S. would culminate in less than half the time required for the People’s Republic of China in a high-intensity conflict. Culmination is defined as the point at which a force becomes incapable of continuing operations due to the loss of platforms, ammunition and/or fuel. The report is explicit that the first 30 days to 60 days of a U.S.-China war determine its long-term shape and outcome, as early losses in aircraft, ships, fuel throughput and munitions rapidly compound and cannot be recovered on operationally relevant timelines. The report concludes that the U.S. is not equipped nor arrayed to protect and sustain the Joint Force in a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific. Rapid platform attrition, brittle logistics, concentrated basing and insufficient industrial surge capacity combine to force an early operational breaking point for American forces. The report warns that U.S. reliance on a small number of large, concentrated forward bases — particularly in Japan and Guam — leaves American airpower dangerously exposed to Chinese missile forces. In multiple scenarios, up to 90% of U.S. and allied aircraft positioned at major forward bases are destroyed on the ground during the opening phase of the conflict, as runways, fuel depots, command facilities and parked aircraft are hit simultaneously. The report finds that critical U.S. precision‑guided munitions — including long‑range anti‑ship missiles, air‑to‑air interceptors and missile‑defense systems — begin to be unavailable within five to seven days of major combat operations. Across most scenarios, those critical munitions are completely exhausted within 35 days to 40 days, leaving U.S. forces unable to sustain high‑tempo combat. Fuel emerges as the most decisive vulnerability of all. The report makes a critical distinction: the U.S. does not run out of fuel in most scenarios — it loses the ability to move fuel under fire. CHINA’S MISSILE SURGE PUTS EVERY US BASE IN THE PACIFIC AT RISK — AND THE WINDOW TO RESPOND IS CLOSING Chinese doctrine explicitly prioritizes attacks on logistics vessels, ports, pipelines and replenishment tankers. Even limited tanker losses, port disruptions or pipeline severance are sufficient to drive fuel throughput below survivable levels, forcing commanders to sharply curtail air and naval operations despite fuel remaining in aggregate stockpiles. By contrast, China is assessed as capable of sustaining high‑intensity combat operations for months longer under the modeled assumptions. Chinese ammunition stockpiles of critical munitions begin to be depleted after approximately 20 days to 30 days of major combat operations. However, substitution effects extend China’s ability to sustain combat operations out to months — well beyond the point at which U.S. forces culminate. The consequences extend far beyond the battlefield. The redacted report concludes the U.S. is highly unlikely to prevent massive global economic fallout once a Taiwan conflict begins. Disruption of shipping lanes, destruction of critical infrastructure and the collapse of Taiwan’s semiconductor production would trigger a global economic shock estimated at roughly $10 trillion, with enduring ripple effects across financial markets, manufacturing, and global trade. The report comes amid years of concern over US military readiness and industrial capacity, as China rapidly expands its naval forces and shipbuilding base. The U.S. Navy operates a smaller fleet than planned, while American shipyards face workforce shortages, aging infrastructure and chronic delays — even as China, the world’s largest shipbuilder, continues to outpace the U.S. in producing new naval hulls. War Secretary Pete Hegseth and other military leaders have vowed to put the Pentagon on a wartime footing for industrial capacity. Perhaps most alarming, TIDALWAVE warns that the scale of losses in the Indo‑Pacific would leave the U.S. unable to deter or respond effectively to a
Gun rights on private property debated at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority raised tough questions Tuesday over a state law that requires a property owner’s explicit permission before lawful gun owners can bring their firearms into private businesses generally open to the public, like shopping malls. In spirited courtroom oral arguments, the question came down to whether property rights trumped gun rights, and how those rights interact. At issue is a challenge to a Hawaii statute — similar to four other states — that requires those with a concealed-carry license get express approval — verbally or through an openly displayed sign — before bringing a gun into public spaces like stores, hotels, and gas stations. SUPREME COURT WILL CONSIDER CASE ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF DRUG USERS A group of gun owners in Maui are challenging those default rules, arguing the law improperly makes it a crime to bear arms even where the owner of property accessible to the public is merely silent. They refer to these laws as “vampire rules,” a nod to the Dracula legend, who could not enter a room without being invited. But Hawaii officials told the high court the restrictions balance gun and property rights, citing a long tradition in the Aloha State of limiting all kinds of dangerous weapons, dating back to when it was a monarchy. The government said a gun-free environment should be the default presumption for Hawaii businesses, and no constitutional right exists to assume every invitation to enter private property includes an invitation to bring a gun. Those conflicting positions on “implied consent” in retail establishments brought strong comments from the bench. “You’re just relegating the Second Amendment to second-class status,” said Justice Samuel Alito. “I don’t see how you can get away from that.” But Justice Sonia Sotomayor countered, “Is there a constitutional right to enter private property with a gun without an owner’s express or implicit consent? The answer has to be simply no.” NRA SUES CALIFORNIA OVER BAN ON GLOCK-STYLE FIREARMS: ‘VIOLATES THE SECOND AMENDMENT’ Those in violation of the Hawaii law would face a year in prison, if convicted. But the restrictions do not include public property like parks and government buildings, which are subject to different rules. It was passed by the state legislature just after a landmark 2022 Supreme Court decision that to be constitutional, gun regulations must be consistent with the nation’s historical regulatory tradition. That decision expanded Second Amendment rights to bear arms outside the home for self-protection. In the current dispute, the justices chose not to review separate state regulations on guns in other so-called “sensitive places” like parks, beaches, and restaurants that serve alcohol. California, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York have similar property owner consent regulations. Hawaii has among the strictest gun control laws in the country. Legal briefs filed by the state showed less than one-percent of the population have concealed-carry handgun permits, or about 2,200 licenses since 2022. The Trump administration is strongly supporting the gun owners, arguing the law treats one class of people — gun owners — different from the rest. In arguments, several justices explored hypotheticals on the limits of such regulations. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested property interests should prevail when confronted with gun possession rights. “When we’re in that world, what Second Amendment right is being infringed when the property owner says no or when the state says the property owner’s consent has to be expressed.” US APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN CALIFORNIA’S OPEN-CARRY BAN IN MAJOR SECOND AMENDMENT RULING “There’s been a number of church shootings recently,” said Sotomayor. “Does the state — or the federal government, does it bar from saying you can’t go into a church with a gun without the church owner’s permission? Is that illegal?” But Chief Justice Josh Roberts questioned how the Second Amendment should be treated when First Amendment rights of speech are also involved. “It is a very clear constitutional right under the First Amendment if I, for example, as a candidate for office, want to walk up to your door on private property and knock on the door and say, here, you know, give me your vote, that’s exercising a First Amendment right. But you say that it’s different when it comes to the Second Amendment, that you when the candidate wants to walk up [and talk] and he’s carrying a gun — what exactly is the basis for the distinction?” Gun rights have become a major focus at the Supreme Court this term. The justices in March will hear arguments in a challenge to federal limits on illegal drug users possessing firearms. Hunter Biden, the former president’s son, had been convicted under that law, but was later pardoned by his father. And there are several separate pending appeals over federal bans on convicted non-violent felons owning guns, and state bans on high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic weapons like AR-15s. The Hawaii petition is Wolford v. Lopez (HI AG) (24-1046). A ruling is expected by early summer.
Ilhan Omar accuses Noem of ‘lies and propaganda’ on Minnesota arrests
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Tuesday accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of spreading “lies and propaganda” regarding ICE arrests in Minnesota. Omar was responding to Noem’s X post stating that federal officials have “arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis,” including “3,000 criminal illegal aliens” in the last six weeks. Under Noem’s post, the secretary shared dozens of photos of who she described as criminal illegal aliens. “This would be amazing if it wasn’t full of lies and propaganda,” Omar wrote. “The only reason she has photos of these criminals in prison is because they were already in prison. Stop terrorizing people with your fake PR about criminals in Minneapolis because the only people on the streets of Minneapolis you are arresting are law abiding citizens.” NOEM HAMMERS WALZ, FREY FOR IGNORING 1,360 ICE DETAINERS FOR CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment but did not immediately hear back. Omar, who was born in Somalia and whose district covers much of Minneapolis, has been outspoken against the Trump administration and its deployment of ICE agents amid crackdowns on illegal immigration and fraud in the city and state. TRUMP ASSERTS ILHAN OMAR SHOULD BE JAILED OR BOOTED TO SOMALIA With the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent as a flash point, critics say ICE agents are engaging in strong-arm tactics meant to intimidate the populace. Minneapolis and St. Paul are already hosting some 3,000 federal agents deployed there after a massive fraud scandal rocked the state late last year. President Donald Trump has floated invoking the Insurrection Act to quell unrest in the state, although he appeared to back off the idea on Friday. Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Trump explains why he posted Macron, Rutte private text messages on social media
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he shared private text messages from French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on social media because they “made my point.” “It just made my point. They’re saying, ‘Oh gee, let’s have dinner, let’s do this, let’s do that.’ It just made my point,” Trump said in an interview with The New York Post. The president posted screenshots of text messages from Macron and Rutte on his Truth Social platform that praised him for his work in Syria, Gaza and Ukraine. TRUMP CONFIRMS HE INVITED PUTIN TO JOIN HIS BOARD OF PEACE: ‘HE’S BEEN INVITED’ Macron offered to set up a G7 meeting in Paris after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and have dinner with Trump before he heads back to the White House. A White House official told Fox News that Trump has no plans to travel to Paris at this time. Rutte said he was “committed to finding a way forward on Greenland” amid the commander in chief’s threats to annex the Arctic territory, while Macron wrote that he did not understand Trump’s approach. Both messages addressed Trump warmly, opening with “my friend” and “dear Donald.” TRUMP ISSUES STERN WARNING TO NATO AHEAD OF VANCE’S HIGH-STAKES GREENLAND MEETING Trump is expected to meet with several world leaders at the 56th annual World Economic Forum in Davos this week, where his administration is seeking to stage a signing ceremony for the Gaza Board of Peace. It’s unclear how many countries will ultimately sign on to the agreement amid reports there’s a $1 billion permanent membership fee. When questioned on Tuesday about French President Emmanuel Macron seemingly signaling reluctance to accept the invitation, Trump said, “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon. So, you know, that’s alright.” “What I’ll do is if they feel like hostile, I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and he’ll join,” Trump said. “But, he doesn’t have to join.” Fox News’ Patrick Ward contributed to this report.
Trump urges DHS, ICE to publicize arrests, says crackdown is ‘saving many innocent lives’
President Donald Trump is calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to do more to highlight the arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal records. “The Department of Homeland Security and ICE must start talking about the murderers and other criminals that they are capturing and taking out of the system. They are saving many innocent lives! There are thousands of vicious animals in Minnesota alone, which is why the crime stats are, nationwide, the BEST EVER RECORDED!” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Show the numbers, names, and faces of the violent criminals, and show them NOW. The people will start supporting the patriots of ICE, instead of the highly paid troublemakers, anarchists, and agitators! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” DHS regularly announces the arrest of illegal immigrants and will often publish the alleged offenders’ names, mugshots and criminal history. ILLEGAL ALIEN WITH 24 CONVICTIONS AMONG ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ARRESTED IN MINNESOTA ICE OPERATION: DHS In response to a request for comment, DHS referred Fox News Digital to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s X post. “We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals. In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals,” Noem wrote. “A HUGE victory for public safety. There is MASSIVE Fraud in Minneapolis, at least $19 billion and that’s just the tip of iceberg. Our Homeland Security Investigators are on the ground in Minneapolis conducting wide-scale investigations to get justice for the American people who have been robbed blind.” On Tuesday, the department published a video of agents in Minnesota arresting Samuel Eduardo Arevalo-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. DHS claimed that Cottonwood County, Minnesota, ignored the detainer for Arevalo-Hernandez, who was charged with two counts of third-degree penetration of a child involving victims ages 14 and 15. The president’s urgent call to DHS and ICE comes as the administration’s immigration crackdown faces intense backlash after the fatal ICE-involved shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Good was shot Jan. 7 during a confrontation with an ICE agent that turned deadly. The incident sparked protests across Minnesota and the country, with agitators demanding immigration enforcement leave their communities. On Sunday, anti-ICE agitators stormed the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., claiming the pastor was affiliated with immigration enforcement. Video of the incident shows agitators chanting “Justice for Renee Good” and “Who needs justice, we need justice,” as they stood inside the church during the service. DHS DEMANDS MN LEADERS HONOR ICE DETAINERS, ALLEGES HUNDREDS OF CRIMINAL ALIENS HAVE BEEN RELEASED UNDER WALZ Trump said on Truth Social that he saw footage of the demonstration and accused the agitators of being paid “professionals.” “They are troublemakers who should be thrown in jail, or thrown out of the country,” the president said. ICE reposted a video of the demonstration and said, “Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.” The agency blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for “whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant.” “We won’t be deterred. ICE isn’t going anywhere,” the agency said. After Good was fatally shot, Walz and Frey spoke out against federal immigration enforcement, with the mayor demanding that ICE “get the f— out of Minneapolis.” While DHS has said that the officer who allegedly shot Good was acting in self-defense, many Democrats have rejected that claim. Frey dismissed the self-defense claim as “garbage.” Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment.
Noem digs at agitators, sanctuary politicians in touting ICE mission continues 1 year into Trump’s second term
FIRST ON FOX: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to arrest criminal illegal immigrants across the country, despite what she described as the “complete lack of cooperation” from sanctuary politicians and agitators she accused of attempting to obstruct law enforcement. “In one year, President [Donald] Trump has made great strides, delivering on the mandate from the American people to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets despite the complete lack of cooperation from sanctuary politicians and agitators who attempt to obstruct law enforcement — a felony and a federal crime,” Noem wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. She noted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed more than 670,000 illegal immigrants, including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members and terrorists, within the last year. “Just yesterday, ICE arrested pedophiles, domestic abusers and drug traffickers,” Noem wrote. “The more arrests DHS makes, the more self-deportations we see, of which we have seen north of 2 million. This is just the beginning of the golden age of America.” DHS DEMANDS MN LEADERS HONOR ICE DETAINERS, ALLEGES HUNDREDS OF CRIMINAL ALIENS HAVE BEEN RELEASED UNDER WALZ Along with Noem’s message, she announced a new wave of arrests made by ICE on Monday, including those convicted of heinous crimes including indecent liberties with a child, domestic violence and distribution of cocaine. Uriel Hernandez-Betancourt, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested by ICE and was previously convicted of indecent liberties with child in Moore County, North Carolina. Parede Zuniga, a criminal illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was also nabbed by federal agents and was previously convicted of distribution of cocaine in Fairfax County, Virginia. DHS SLAMS DEMS FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAW: ‘IT IS QUITE LITERALLY THEIR JOB TO CHANGE IT’ Lucio Valdovinos, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was previously convicted of domestic violence in Los Angeles, Calif., and had multiple convictions for driving under the influence and disorderly conduct across California. Lorenzo Aviles-Macedo, another criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was previously convicted of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, and driving under the influence in Los Angeles. While Democrats have continued to criticize the Trump administration for allegedly arresting migrants without a criminal record, DHS told Fox News Digital on Friday that 70% of illegal immigrants arrested by ICE had criminal convictions or pending charges in the U.S. Of the 30% of illegal immigrants arrested by ICE who did not have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges in the U.S., DHS said it is unclear how many were wanted for crimes in their country of origin, other countries or by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). During a recent appearance on Fox News’ “Special Report”, however, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., alleged records show 75% of migrants arrested by ICE in Virginia have no criminal record. “They may have come across illegally into our country, but 75% of the people to have been arrested have no further criminal record,” Warner said. “Let’s potentially work on those who have criminal records, but that is different than what’s happening right now, and the Biden administration screwed up the border, I’ll be the first to acknowledge that, but the idea of masked ICE agents picking up moms dropping off their kids, folks going to work and, as we’ve seen at least in the circumstance in Minnesota, sometimes where kids are being left in the car after their parents that may or may not have been actually criminals are being picked up.”
Tax committee Republicans press for Treasury crackdown on nonprofits promoting fraud, ‘anti-American’ hate
FIRST ON FOX: House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith and all 25 Republican members of the committee are urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to crack down on nonprofits accused of exploiting the tax code to operate tax-free while promoting “anti-American and/or pro-terrorist ideals” and committing fraud at taxpayers’ expense. The request marks one of the most aggressive congressional pushes in memory to revoke tax-exempt status, expand audits and rein in what lawmakers describe as systemic failures in policing the nonprofit sector. In the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, Smith and the Republican lawmakers wrote to Bessent, who is acting IRS commissioner, and Frank Bisignano, who is the CEO at the IRS, and warned of a growing pattern of tax-exempt organizations pursuing activity that falls outside legitimate charitable purposes. Smith and the lawmakers said they were writing to “express concern” over “significant fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars” and urged the IRS to “transition from the laissez-faire approach implemented under the Biden administration and utilize a more hands-on approach” when overseeing nonprofits. COMER VOWS MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE WILL EXPAND TO OTHER STATES AMID MOUNTING SCRUTINY They cited the massive fraud scandal in Minnesota, in which officials at the nonprofit Feeding Our Future were prosecuted and convicted for stealing an estimated $250 million from federal social welfare programs intended to feed low-income children. The case has resulted in dozens of indictments and criminal convictions. Amid the widening scandal, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz chose not to run for a third term. Bessent announced last month that he was opening an investigation into allegations that some of the stolen funds may have been routed to regions of Somalia where they could have ended up benefiting Al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. The case, Smith and the lawmakers wrote, “calls into question the current safeguards in place to protect taxpayer dollars.” “It is unconscionable that the Biden Administration’s failure to hold the United States’s non-profit sector accountable has not only resulted in the theft of billions of American taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars, but the potential enrichment of foreign terrorist organizations overseas,” Smith told Fox News Digital Tuesday. “As the Ways and Means Committee continues to investigate every corner of the tax-exempt sector to root out this waste, fraud, abuse and illegal activity, it is now abundantly clear the system is in desperate need of an overhaul.” “I applaud President Trump’s bold move to hold bad actors in the Minnesota Somali fraud scheme accountable and look forward to working with his Administration to ensure this rampant fraud is ended once and for all,” Smith added. Along with Smith, the other 25 Republican lawmakers from the Ways and Means Committee who signed the letter are: Reps. Jodey Arrington, Aaron Bean, Vern Buchanan, Mike Carey, Ron Estes, Randy Feenstra, Michelle Fischbach, Brian Fitzpatrick, Kevin Hern, Darin LaHood, Mike Kelly, David Kustoff, Max Miller, Nicole Malliotakis, Carol Miller, Blake Moore, Nathaniel Moran, Greg Murphy, Adrian Smith, Lloyd Smucker, David Schweikert, W. Gregory Steube, Claudia Tenney, Beth Van Duyne and Rudy Yakym. The House Ways and Means Committee has referred 11 nonprofits to the Treasury Department for investigation and revocation of their tax-exempt benefits, citing allegations of antisemitism, illegal activity, terrorism ties and foreign influence. The organizations have denied wrongdoing. They include The People’s Forum, a New York-based nonprofit that has organized nationwide anti-ICE protests over the past two weeks with its related organization, the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The People’s Forum is under scrutiny for alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party through its funding networks. Its primary donor has been Neville Roy Singham, an American-born tech entrepreneur living in Shanghai who has publicly embraced Marxism and promoted China’s political and economic model. The People’s Forum has organized a national day of protests Tuesday with other organizations, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, in their efforts to dismantle U.S. “imperialism.” In the letter, Smith and the Republican lawmakers said the committee is “actively investigating American non-profits operating as extensions of the Chinese Communist Party.” Earlier this month, Smith referred the Council on American-Islamic Relations-California for investigation and potential revocation of its tax-exempt status, alleging it may have “materially supported unlawful conduct, including endorsing and assisting disruptive and illegal campus encampments that led to hundreds of arrests across California.” He also raised questions about the group’s “reported involvement in overtly political activity and protests that devolved into chaos, violence and law breaking” in “conduct that may violate longstanding restrictions on tax-exempt organizations.” Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code was enacted as part of the Revenue Act of 1913 to encourage and formalize charitable, civic, labor and other public-interest activities by granting tax-exempt status to qualifying organizations, and today it contains 29 categories of tax-exempt entities, including 501(c)(3) charities, 501(c)(4) social-welfare groups, 501(c)(5) labor unions, 501(c)(6) trade associations and other specialized nonprofit organizations. There are an estimated 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States, according to the IRS, with an estimated $1.4 trillion in annual revenues, making tougher oversight potentially far-reaching. An organization applies for the special status, and, if they qualify, they are exempt from paying federal income taxes on money they receive that is related to their mission, such as donations, grants and program revenue. In addition, contributions made to these nonprofit organizations are also tax-deductible for donors, making the status especially valuable. CONGRESS OPENS ‘INDUSTRIAL-SCALE FRAUD’ PROBE IN MINNESOTA, WARNS WALZ DEMANDS ARE ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’ Last week, Bessent announced the launch of IRS audits of financial institutions that “facilitated the laundering of Minnesota funds,” along with the creation of a task force focused on fraud and abuse involving 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. In their letter, Smith and Republican lawmakers urged Bessent to “use your authority at the IRS to hold tax-exempt organizations accountable” and to ensure that schemes like Feeding Our Future “cannot happen again.” Together, they said, the cases illustrate a systemic failure to police the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit organizations drew particular scrutiny after they led anti-Israel protests following the
Biden push to revive Ted Kennedy-era law now haunts Democrats as charges loom in Minnesota church riot
The Biden administration resurrected a 1994 law against obstructing abortion clinics or religious worship to prosecute protesters, but now conservatives are seeking that the same policy be applied after leftist agitators crashed a Minneapolis church service. The FACE Act, drafted by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., a noted Catholic, and signed by former President Bill Clinton, prohibits intentionally injuring or intimidating people seeking “reproductive care” services, and also has a section protecting people “exercising … religious freedom at a place of religious worship.” Clinton also used his remarks signing the law to introduce his oft-cited view that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” “Enacting this bill to provide freedom of access to clinics has been a priority because protecting the freedoms of our citizens is surely chief among the responsibilities of the President of the United States,” Clinton added at the time. “This bill is designed to eliminate violence and coercion. It is not a strike against the First Amendment; far from it.” NYT SLAMMED OVER REPORT SAYING PROTEST AT MINNESOTA CHURCH SERVICE ‘ADDS TO TENSIONS OVER ICE TACTICS’ The Biden Justice Department pursued FACE Act charges against dozens of people, which was seen as an uptick over prior administrations that all utilized the law. Alliance Defending Freedom’s Erin Hawley testified before the House Judiciary Committee during that time saying: “Instead of applying the FACE Act in an even-handed way, the Biden DOJ has weaponized the Act to target pro-life advocates.” The most-reported case was that of Mark Houck, a pro-life supporter from Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, who was arrested outside a Philadelphia abortion clinic following a run-in with an activist. ST PAUL PASTOR DENOUNCES ANTI-ICE AGITATORS WHO DISRUPTED CHURCH SERVICE, SAYS ‘WE’RE HERE TO WORSHIP JESUS’ Houck often publicly prayed and tried to counsel people outside the center, and on that day in 2021, he was reportedly confronted by Bruce Love, an escort for an abortion patient. According to a recounting by the Heritage Foundation’s Cully Stimson, Love previously encountered Houck multiple times and expressed vulgar slurs to him, when Houck “defended” his 12-year-old son from one of Love’s advances and the man fell. Stimson noted that the case was “so weak” that Philadelphia County District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, declined to file any charges against Houck. DON LEMON CLAIMS SOME RELIGIOUS GROUPS HAVE ‘ENTITLEMENT’ FROM WHITE SUPREMACY AFTER ANTI-ICE CHURCH PROTEST But, the FBI later raided Houck’s home, frightening his children, and he faced 11 years in prison and a $350,000 fine. Houck was ultimately acquitted. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of FACE Act convicts, including a priest and an 89-year-old Soviet concentration camp survivor arrested during a “blockade” of a Michigan center. The pendulum has swung so far to the other side of the issue that conservatives are now citing the Biden administration’s use of the FACE Act against agitators who disrupted a Minneapolis church service, reportedly because one of the reverends is connected with a local ICE office. PROMINENT CATHOLIC BISHOP SLAMS ANTI-ICE AGITATORS WHO DISRUPTED MN CHURCH SERVICE: ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ The Trump DOJ promptly opened an investigation into the incident, with Civil Rights Division chief Harmeet Dhillon citing the FACE Act and saying she is reviewing “potential violations [of it] by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.” “Any violation of federal law will be prosecuted,” added Attorney General Pam Bondi. West Coast Baptist College president Paul Chappell called out a former CNN host who was featured among the protests, and called for the law to be enforced. ANTI-ICE AGITATOR WHO STORMED MINNESOTA CHURCH SERVICE ALSO HARASSED CONGREGANTS AT PETE HEGSETH’S CHURCH “We condemn the actions of Don Lemon and the group of activists who stormed Cities Church today in St. Paul, Minnesota, in clear violation of the FACE Act,” Chappell said in a statement. “Christians everywhere should demand that the Department of Justice arrest those who participated. We must protect religious liberty in this country.” Lemon later hosted anti-Trump actor D.L. Hughley and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on his podcast, where Ellison claimed the law was designed to “protect the rights of people seeking their reproductive rights to be protected …” and that the law was being “stretched” in the church case. Meanwhile, in March, Reps. Sean Casten, D-Ill., Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., urged Bondi to enforce the FACE Act in earnest, albeit citing the abortion services provision. In response, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz condemned the agitators, with a spokesperson telling Fox News: “The governor has repeatedly and unequivocally urged protesters to do so peacefully. While people have a right to speak out, he in no way supports interrupting a place of worship.”
Trump appears at White House briefing one year after inauguration
President Donald Trump made a special appearance Tuesday at the White House press briefing on the one-year anniversary of his second term’s start. The president highlighted crime and fraud in Minnesota at the top of his remarks. Trump was inaugurated one year ago today for his second term as president. The last time he appeared at a White House press briefing was on June 27, 2025. “We have a book that I’m not going to read to you, but these are the accomplishments of what we’ve produced,” Trump said, holding up a packet of papers. TRUMP WARNS US CAN NO LONGER THINK ‘PURELY OF PEACE’ AS HE PUSHES FOR GREENLAND CONTROL “All page after page after page, individual things. I could stand here and read it for a week, and we wouldn’t be finished. But we’ve done more than any other administration has done by far in terms of military, in terms of ending wars, in terms of completing wars. Nobody’s really seen very much like it.” The president said, “They’re apprehending murderers and drug dealers and a lot of bad people” in Minnesota. He then held up photos of suspects in Minnesota who have been taken into custody. TRUMP TO HEAD TO DAVOS AS GREENLAND DISPUTE SPARKS RISING TENSIONS WITH NATO ALLIES “Boy, these are rough characters. These are all criminal illegal aliens that, in many cases, they’re murderers. They’re drug lords, drug dealers,” Trump said. “These are just in Minnesota. “Minnesota, the crime is incredible, the financial crimes are incredible.” Prior to the briefing, Leavitt wrote on X, “In just one year, President Trump has accomplished more than many presidents do in eight.” “We’ve never had a president fight harder to deliver on the promises he made to the American people than President Trump,” she said, adding, “A very special guest will be joining me at the podium today.” The White House also released a list Tuesday of “365 wins” from the first full year of Trump’s second term. “One year ago today, President Donald Trump returned to office with a resounding mandate to restore prosperity, secure the border, rebuild American strength and put the American people first. In just 365 days, President Trump has delivered truly transformative results with the most accomplished first year of any presidential term in modern history,” it said.
Nashville artists praise Trump’s no-tax-on-tips policy one year into presidency
FIRST ON FOX: Artists, bartenders and concertgoers in Nashville praised the work of President Donald Trump on the anniversary of his first year back in office, thanking the administration in a video released by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., on Tuesday. “President Trump is the servers’ president, the singer-songwriters’ president, and… Tennessee’s president. Promises made, promises kept,” Ogles said. Ogles’ office interviewed several artists at venues in Music City who applauded the administration’s achievements, compiled in a video first obtained by Fox News Digital. ONE YEAR BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE, TRUMP WHITE HOUSE SAYS EVERY MAJOR CAMPAIGN PROMISE DELIVERED “We want to give a shout-out to Donald Trump, our great president, for eliminating taxes on tips in this country, because this is how we make most of our living. It’s off our tips, man,” a musician named Thomas Friel said. Trump returned to power one year ago today on Jan. 20, 2025, with a flurry of executive actions ranging from immigration and border security to reversing Biden-era regulatory restrictions. But the administration’s crowning legislative achievement came in July when Congress passed Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a tax and border package. Of the president’s wins highlighted by artists in Ogles’ video, none received more praise than his no-tax-on-tips provision. “My name is Andrew Thompson. I make a full-time living out here on Broadway. And what the president’s doing about not taxing our tip dollars is great because that’s how I make a living, and that’s [how] everybody else that’s on the street makes a living,” Thompson said. TRUMP HAS SET THE STAGE FOR AN AMERICAN COMEBACK AFTER BIDEN’S DISMAL ECONOMY Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tip earners may make up to $25,000 in tax-deductible income from 2025 through 2028, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank that studies tax policy. When asked how they would use their additional income, artists like Maddie Wonky said the provision would help them focus on the things that mattered to them. “I’m from Cleveland, Ohio, and I moved here to chase a dream. Tonight, I just played 6 to 10 p.m. on the main stage, and it was so much fun. This is everything that I’ve ever wanted to do,” Wonky said. “This is me chasing my dream. That’s what I did tonight. A big thank you to President Trump. Because you passed this bill, I can put my money toward releasing music and following my dream. This changes my life completely. Thank you so much,” she added. THE ECONOMIC POLICIES SHAPING TRUMP’S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE Ogles similarly described the new policy as transformative. “The heart of live music is in my district. People from around the world come to Nashville to hear the greatest live performances on Earth. Many of these performers are my constituents, earning their living through tips and gig wages. Removing onerous taxes on this income will be transformative,” Ogles said.