Trump commutes sentence for former Philadelphia union official, attorney says
President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, a former union business manager, according to Dougherty’s lawyer George Bochetto. Bochetto confirmed to Fox News Digital during a Friday morning phone call that the president had inked the commutation on Thursday. He said that Dougherty would be “released any hour now.” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the lawyer indicated the move will also release Dougherty from needing to pay around $1.6 million for restitution, and that the man will not face monitoring or house arrest, but will be “a free man.” Regarding those details, Bochetto confirmed to Fox News Digital, “It’s all true.” COLORADO GOVERNOR COMMUTES TINA PETERS’ SENTENCE AS TRUMP POSTS ‘FREE TINA!’ He said the “compassionate release” was “remarkable in its humanity,” indicating that it was “equally as remarkable” that a Republican president granted it to the Democratic political figure. He said that it demonstrates that “doing the right thing” can be an endeavor that is “bipartisan,” noting that he is “so proud” of Trump. Bochetto added that he is “so happy for John, and particularly” for Dougherty’s “gravely ill wife, who will now have her husband by her side.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Friday. Dougherty, a former business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, was sentenced in 2024 to six years in prison. The U.S. Justice Department said at the time that Dougherty had been sentenced in connection with embezzling funds from the union as well as in connection with payouts provided to a Philadelphia City Council member. NATION’S LARGEST TEACHERS UNION UNDER FIRE AS CONTROVERSIAL AGENDA PUTS CENTURY-OLD FEDERAL CHARTER AT RISK “John Dougherty held himself out as Local 98’s biggest booster,” then-U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero said in a statement. “But while he was backslapping his electricians with one hand, he was ripping them off with the other. He cheated Philadelphians, too, through his corrupt quid pro quo with Bobby Henon.” “Our city and its workers deserve so much better than union bosses and politicians whose true priority is looking out for number one,” Romero, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, added at the time. “I want to thank all of the investigators, analysts, prosecutors, and staff who partnered on this case, and, in doing so, stood up for integrity and the rule of law in Philadelphia.”
Former Trump Cabinet official had ‘inappropriately close’ relationship with bodyguard, IG finds
Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with her bodyguard and created a hostile work environment for her subordinates, according to a Thursday report from the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The report cites one incident in which Chavez-DeRemer allegedly ordered a member of her security detail to throw cash at a stripper. Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned her position in April, had been under investigation after the OIG received an anonymous complaint in January. That complaint alleged Chavez-DeRemer’s inappropriate relationship with the assistant special agent-in-charge (ASAIC) of her department’s Division of Protective Operations (DPO), who the report did not name. TRUMP TAPS ACTING LABOR SECRETARY KEITH SONDERLING FOR PERMANENT ROLE PENDING SENATE CONFIRMATION The complaint also alleged that Chavez-DeRemer, her chief of staff, Jihun Han, and deputy chief of staff, Rebecca Wright, created a hostile work environment and regularly drank alcohol on DOL property and during work hours. The OIG interviewed 38 witnesses who described the DOL work environment as “toxic, intimidating and humiliating.” The witnesses reported that Chavez-DeRemer, Han and Wright “openly discussed employee performance matters in the presence of other staff, including details of performance-related meetings and whether those employees had cried during the meetings.” HIGH-RANKING DHS OFFICIAL SIDELINED OVER ALLEGATIONS OF ‘SUGAR DADDY’ RELATIONSHIP, LUXE GIFTS AND DRUG USE Witnesses also told the OIG that Chavez-DeRemer’s alleged relationship with the ASAIC also contributed to the hostile work environment. During an April trip to Oregon, the ASAIC complied with Chavez-DeRemer’s request to make an unplanned, off-the-record stop at “an establishment that was determined upon entry to feature partially nude dancers,” according to the report. The ASAIC assigned Chavez-DeRemer’s driver to enter the establishment with her, and, according to the report, she handed the driver a stack of cash and instructed him to give it to one of the dancers. When the driver refused, the ASAIC instructed him to comply. “Chavez-DeRemer then took additional money from her purse and asked the agent to drop the bills one by one onto the partially nude woman. The agent again hesitated and sought intervention from ASAIC 1, who told him to follow Chavez-DeRemer’s instructions,” according to the report. The complaint and subsequent investigation also determined that the ASAIC’s alleged inappropriate relationship with the former labor secretary, who is married, affected his job performance. “ASAIC 1 allegedly focused on his interactions with Chavez-DeRemer, monitored her interactions with other agents, and reduced the presence of other DPO personnel to create opportunities to be alone with her, resulting in reduced protective coverage for the Secretary,” the report read. COURT FILINGS REVEAL KYRSTEN SINEMA HAD SEX MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MARRIED BODYGUARD WHILE SERVING AS SENATOR The pair reportedly grew immediately close upon Chavez-DeRemer’s arrival at the department in March 2025, communicating often through the encrypted messaging app Signal in off-duty hours and about non-operational subjects. Another witness described observing Chavez-DeRemer massaging the ASAIC’s shoulders in a car after he had finished a driving shift. When she asked if he was tired, he allegedly responded that he was “solid as a rock,” and the pair both laughed. “The witness interpreted the comment as sexual innuendo,” the report read. MARRIED FEDERAL JUDGE REPEATEDLY HAD COURTHOUSE SEX WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, COMPLAINT ALLEGES Other witnesses described the pair walking arm in arm after leaving an event at Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ home. After opening the investigation, the OIG surveilled Chavez-Deremer’s Washington, D.C., home and found the ASAIC entering her residence through a back door on repeated occasions. FEDERAL JUDGE WHO HAD SEX IN CHAMBERS APOLOGIZES TO FORMER CLERK AS IMPEACHMENT PUSH RAMPS UP After reports that the ASAIC was breaking chain-of-command protocol by attending meetings with Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff and deputy chief of staff without his Special Agent in Charge’s (SAIC) knowledge, the SAIC recommended he take a leave of absence. However, the SAIC did not escalate beyond this recommendation for fear she herself would be terminated. “ASAIC 1 declined the suggestion to take leave and agreed that the SAIC taking action to limit his travel with Chavez-DeRemer could result in the SAIC’s removal,” the report read. TWO TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS RESIGN AFTER INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THEY SLEPT WITH A 911 DISPATCHER ON DUTY When the SAIC told ASAIC in a text message that she would reassign him to another team he replied, “lol. Don’t do that.” The ASAIC was put on paid administrative leave in January and then on unpaid investigative leave in February. He resigned in March, according to the report. Fox News Digital contacted the Department of Labor, the department’s OIG and the White House for additional comment.
Top DHS lawyer turns tables on 128 ex-judges after Bar declines ‘Worst of the Worst’ complaint
EXCLUSIVE: DHS General Counsel James Percival is turning a complaint from 128 former judges back on its signers, calling on the Florida Bar to scrutinize those among them who are Bar members after it declined to investigate him. The Bar said it does not investigate or prosecute sitting officers appointed under the U.S. Constitution while they are in office, a position Percival argued the complainants should have known before challenging his “Worst of the Worst Judges” series. Percival accused the Florida Bar members who joined the complaint of potentially abusing the disciplinary process for political purposes, arguing their filing was frivolous and dubbing the tactic “Bar-fare.” “The 128 former judges are sort of an example of a tactic the left has used for a long time,” Percival told Fox News Digital, comparing their appeal to professional authority to the 2020 controversy involving 51 former intelligence officials and Hunter Biden’s laptop. DHS EVISCERATES MEDIA FOR ‘ABSOLUTE ABSURDITY’ OVER CONCERN ABOUT ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ACTIVIST JUDGES LIST Percival pointed to the Florida Bar’s previous handling of a complaint involving former Attorney General Pam Bondi, arguing that they already signaled refusal to probe sitting presidential appointees. “[W]hat these 128 former judges did was frivolous, and they were on notice that it was frivolous because the Florida Bar is very clear about this. So, it’s ‘Bar-fare’,” he said, playing on the term “lawfare.” LIBERAL LAW PROFESSOR BREAKS WITH OBAMA JUDGE OVER TRUMP LAWYER CRACKDOWN: ‘I REFUSE TO TEACH’ IT Percival said the same tactic has been used elsewhere, including the Hunter Biden laptop controversy and the way dissent over COVID-era restrictions was met with echoes of “trust the experts.” “The left has just like often hid behind this veneer, this prestige [of expertise] and they’ve gotten people who carry weight to carry their water for them. And I really think the emperor has no clothes on this, but we have to call it out and expose it.” When the political left does not want to publicly debate the merits of their assertion, they get figures who appear authoritative to shut down dissent, he said. The comments came after rule-of-law groups Democracy Defenders Fund, Lawyers Defending American Democracy and 128 former federal and state judges filed a 24-page complaint accusing Percival of violating Florida’s rules governing statements about judges. The complaint alleged that Percival, a licensed Florida attorney, violated ethics rules through “public attacks on sitting judges.” “His statements mischaracterized the judges’ rulings and assailed their character and integrity. The ethics rules exist for a reason: Baseless attacks on judges by lawyers and public officials can undermine confidence in the courts and heighten the risk of physical threats against judges,” Democracy Defenders Fund said in a statement after the Bar declined to investigate the complaint. Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince, an appointee of Democratic ex-Gov. Lawton Chiles, led the judges’ consortium. The complaint focuses on four judges featured in Percival’s “Worst of the Worst” posts, whom he accused of actions including “open defiance of the Supreme Court,” “judicial sabotage” and “judicial micromanagement.” SUPREME COURT WEIGHS TRUMP EFFORT TO TERMINATE TEMPORARY PROTECTIONS FOR HAITIAN, SYRIAN MIGRANTS The cases involved disputes over Temporary Protected Status, the government’s handling of Kilmar Ábrego García and DHS use-of-force policies. The complaint also referenced an article written by Percival condemning former President Joe Biden and a Rhode Island judge he appointed after an illegal immigrant whom DHS said had an international warrant for homicide was ordered released. Percival said the activist judges themselves are the ones who are being a “disservice to the judiciary.” He argued that judges know their district court rulings can delay executive action when they cannot be immediately appealed. As for the complainants, Percival said those who are themselves members of the Florida Bar should face scrutiny over whether they abused the complaint process for political purposes. The Bar provided Fox News Digital a copy of its response sent to the Framingham, Massachusetts, address listed for the collective complainants. Bar Counsel Christopher Wackes wrote his group does not investigate or prosecute “sitting officers appointed under the U.S. Constitution while they are in office.” Wackes said any action could “encroach on the authority of the federal government.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER He quipped situations like the bar complaint show he is over the proverbial target: “[I]f people are this upset about what I’m doing, it must be having an effect that they don’t like, which really just encourages me to keep going,” he said, pressing conservatives to fight for their causes despite the knowledge the left will “try to ruin your life.” Fox News Digital’s Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.
Ted Cruz names ‘most powerful Democrat’ as he warns socialist rise has paralyzed bipartisanship
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, believes that fear of a rising wave of progressives is paralyzing possible bipartisan work on permitting reform that would otherwise create fertile ground for collaboration. “That dynamic is dangerous right now because they are terrified of the extreme left. Finding a middle ground on ideological issues right now is … the prospects for success, particularly between now and election day, are not high,” Cruz said at an energy summit hosted by Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures on Thursday. “Schumer is truly terrified right now,” he added, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Cruz’s political assessment underscores what progressive momentum in the 2026 midterms means for more establishment figures in the Democratic Party — and especially the ones already in Congress — and the policy areas that legislators may still want to address before the November midterm elections. CRUZ SAYS MAMDANI, AOC, PLATNER SHOW DEMOCRATS’ LEFTWARD SHIFT: ‘THAT’S WHERE THE ENERGY IS’ “They’re in the middle of a revolution,” Cruz said. “Their problem is that they’re very driven by their interest groups. They’re captured by their activists.” His remarks came as he delivered an address at an energy affordability summit hosted by the Club for Growth, a free-market group that advocates for limited government. In particular, the event centered on permitting reform, an area where Democrats and Republicans have found some overlap. Although differences remain about just how far to scale back regulations or how far to push legislative changes, lawmakers at the event stressed that bipartisan work on cutting back red tape could meaningfully expand American access to energy projects domestically. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted how regulatory bodies had prevented the expansion of nuclear energy — a source of power that is uniting Republicans and Democrats as a new frontier in a space apart from fossil fuels. “We have built three new nuclear reactors in like the last 40 years. It went quickly from: we didn’t even know about the technology, to 20% of U.S. electric generation from nuclear reactors,” Wright said. 100 DAY SPRINT TO THE MIDTERMS KICKS OFF AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CLASH FOR CONTROL ACROSS THE COUNTRY “We created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission… in the name of safety, no malintent. But since that creation, we’ve built almost no reactors in the United States since. If it’s so uncertain and so long to permit something, it’s just not worth investing in. That’s awful! Nuclear is just an awesome energy technology.” Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio., stressed that many of the discussions around reform have come down to a matter of practical details. “There’s a lot of conversations going on not about who’s going to fight with whom or who is going to take credit for it, but rather what is the mechanics of getting it done,” Moreno said at the Club for Growth event. “When it comes to permitting reform, if we can actually pull this off, Scott, what does it mean? It means lower energy prices for all Americans, us taking better care of our environment, being good stewards for the next generation. Those are worthy goals that should unite all of us, and I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” Moreno said, speaking to conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, a moderator at the event. Despite a sense of optimism among several speakers — and even from Cruz himself — Cruz warned listeners that progressives already have a very real presence inside the Capitol that casts a shadow on permitting reform and other areas. “It is not the case that every Senate Democrat is a Marxist or Islamist. What is the case is that every Senate Democrat is terrified of the Marxists and Islamists. Because that’s where the energy is in their party, that’s where the power is, that’s where the money is; it’s where the young people are. I think Mamdani is the single most powerful Democrat in the country,” Cruz said, referring to the socialist mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. Since Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, came to power earlier this year, a series of progressive candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have won key primary races and even toppled veteran incumbents. A few notable races include New York’s socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier and her victory over incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., the veteran chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Along those lines, Melat Kiros, another socialist in Colorado, unseated 30-year incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo. SCHUMER DODGES QUESTION ON WHETHER DSA BELONGS IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY With pressures like that, Cruz argued that it’s difficult to find legislators who are willing to separate themselves from progressives. He believes there isn’t leadership to push back against that progressive momentum. “Look, Schumer is known for a lot of things but acts of principle and courage are not among them,” Cruz said.
Maryland sheriff torches Democrats over law he says puts illegal immigrants first
A Maryland sheriff is warning that the state’s new sanctuary law could put dangerous illegal immigrants back on the streets and leave more American families mourning crimes he says could have been prevented. “It’s just a matter of time,” Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler told Fox News Digital, warning that the restrictions will lead to more crime and more victims. Gahler delivered the blunt warning after testifying before a House Judiciary subcommittee about Maryland’s restrictions on cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. He is also leading 16 fellow sheriffs, representing two-thirds of the state, in a lawsuit challenging the Community Trust Act. The 40-year law enforcement veteran said his greatest fear is that the law will force correctional officers to release an illegal immigrant from jail even after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has flagged that person as a public safety or national security threat. MARYLAND SHERIFFS SHOULD NOT BE HANDCUFFED BY RECKLESS SANCTUARY POLITICS Gahler said the law could force jail officials to release an inmate who is otherwise eligible to leave local custody instead of transferring that person directly to ICE. HUNDREDS OF JAILED ILLEGAL ALIENS RELEASED BACK ONTO BLUE-STATE STREETS DESPITE ICE DETAINERS, RECORDS SHOW “I don’t want to have to open the jail door and say, ‘Welcome back to Harford County. Go victimize. Let’s create some more victims,’” he said. “That is insane.” If someone released under the law commits another crime, Gahler said responsibility would rest with the elected officials who imposed the restrictions. ANGEL MOM WARNS DEMOCRATS ‘WE’RE NOT GOING TO STOP’ AFTER EMOTIONAL HOUSE HEARING ON SANCTUARY POLICIES “So whose hands is it on?” he said. “The politicians.” Gahler said he testified to give lawmakers a view from the front lines after years of warnings from law enforcement leaders. He accused state officials of understanding the risks but choosing politics over public safety. SPANBERGER’S ICE RESTRICTIONS DEALT MAJOR SETBACK AS JUDGE WARNS OTHER BLUE STATES “I think they understand. I think they don’t care,” Gahler said. “Those who are on the side of the issue supporting criminal illegal immigration, who voted for this nonsense of ending our agreements and coming up with the Community Trust Act … they do not care.” “We have a criminal-friendly legislature,” he added. “It’s all pro-criminal.” Gahler pointed to two families in his county whose lives were shattered by illegal immigrant killers. EXCLUSIVE: ANGEL DAD FINDS ‘NEW PURPOSE’ WITH ICE AFTER DAUGHTER’S KILLING TURNED HIS WORLD UPSIDE DOWN Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was raped and murdered on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air in August 2023. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old autistic woman, was raped and strangled inside her Aberdeen home in July 2022. Walter Javier Martinez, a suspected MS-13 member from El Salvador who entered the U.S. illegally as an unaccompanied minor, was sentenced to life in prison, with all but 70 years suspended. Gahler said neither woman should be reduced to a political talking point and accused supporters of Maryland’s immigration restrictions of failing to show genuine concern for their families. “No one called Patty Morin” after Rachel’s murder, Gahler said. He added that no one contacted Kayla’s mother, Tammy Nobles, to express condolences or promise to fight for the two Harford County victims. HOCHUL ICE POLICY ‘WRITTEN IN THE BLOOD OF VICTIMS,’ OPPONENT SAYS AS SHERIFFS SUE “I simply think that there are those in Annapolis and those in Washington who do not care,” he added. “It’s politics over public safety.” The Community Trust Act limits when Maryland authorities can question people about their immigration status, hold them over suspected civil violations or notify ICE that they are in custody. Gov. Wes Moore allowed the measure to become law without his signature. “Maryland will never be a sanctuary for criminals under Governor Moore,” Rhyan Lake, Senior Communications Strategist for Moore, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “In fact, since Governor Moore took office, Maryland is seeing some of the largest drops in violent crime in the country.” “We will always work with the federal administration when it comes to making our communities safer, but untrained, unqualified, and unaccountable ICE agents arresting five-year-olds and ripping mothers from their families does not make anyone safer,” Lake continued. “In Maryland, we’ll continue holding violent offenders accountable and protecting Marylanders’ constitutional rights and basic dignity.” Gahler and the other sheriffs argue that the restrictions dismantled a safe, jail-based partnership with ICE under the federal 287(g) program. He stressed that his deputies were not conducting immigration raids or doing the work of federal agents. “We do not do ICE’s job for them,” Gahler said. “We work with our federal partners. We don’t replace our federal partners.” He said the program applied to people already jailed on criminal allegations and allowed ICE transfers to occur inside the secure facility instead of through potentially more dangerous arrests after their release. “Our 287(g) program identified those people who were here committing criminal offenses against our citizens and are in the country illegally,” Gahler said. “Then we turned them over safely in the security and safety of our jail after they were already in custody.” “Anytime we don’t have to do a raid in law enforcement, it’s safer,” he added. “You have the person secured. Turn them over to ICE because ICE says they pose a threat to public safety or national security.” SANCTUARY COUNTY REFUSED 615 ICE TRANSFER REQUESTS, TURNED OVER JUST 11 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, RECORDS SHOW Gahler said opposition to the program has ebbed and flowed with the political climate. He noted that Harford County joined under President Barack Obama, but said Maryland critics renewed their opposition when President Donald Trump returned to the White House. “They’re doing it for purely political reasons and not public safety,” Gahler said. “That’s complete nonsense.” He compared Maryland with California, saying the two Democrat-led states appeared to be
Blue state school district accused of defying Supreme Court, hiding gender transitions from parents
A New Jersey school district is being sued over a policy allowing students to change their name and gender identity at school without notifying their parents. Under the School District of the Chathams’ policy, students are able to change their name in official school records, use the bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, and the school guidance counselor decides “whether, and to what extent” parents are involved in the decision. The school’s policy flies in the face of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Mirabelli v. Bonta in March, which granted an injunction against California over state policies that keep students’ gender identities confidential from parents while the issue works its way through the lower courts, according to Christopher Ferrara, senior counsel for the Thomas More Society, who filed the lawsuit. “Well, the court has made clear in the Mirabelli case, and the Third Circuit has a decision along the same lines, that parents have standing to challenge a policy like this, which would hide a gender transition from the parents, whether or not the child is actually transitioning,” Ferrara told Fox News Digital. “And the Supreme Court indicated that the reason parents have standing is that the parents are the objects of this policy.” “The policy provides that this information will be hidden from them, so they have the right to object to it, whether or not their particular child or children is at that moment being transitioned. And there’s always a risk, of course, that the child under peer pressure, or the influence of teachers, or social media, will go along with this ridiculous trend and decide that his gender is not the biological one that parents believe is God-given and immutable, but some other gender.” Ferrara noted that the policy could have major consequences for students who aren’t seeking to transition their gender because they could be forced to share locker rooms and bathrooms with members of the opposite sex. Moms for Liberty CEO and founder Tina Descovich, whose organization is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, also alleged that students who refuse to use other students’ preferred pronouns could face disciplinary action under the school’s code of conduct. “They have a policy in the school district that will actually punish children that don’t use the demanded new gender identity pronoun and name of another student,” Descovich told Fox News Digital. “They can do that just one time on accident, and they can be punished up to suspension just for using the wrong pronoun or the wrong name of someone that is identifying as something other than they actually are.” Fox News Digital reached out to the School District of the Chathams for comment. Along with Moms for Liberty, two anonymous parents of elementary school-aged daughters are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 24. The plaintiffs accuse the school of violating the parents’ and students’ First Amendment rights to free speech and religious liberty, as well as the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. The school district is also accused of violating parental rights that were affirmed in the Supreme Court’s ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which determined that parents can opt their children out of LGBT-centered lessons. WASHINGTON MOTHER PULLS CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL AFTER PRIDE LESSON SHOWN IN MUSIC CLASS WITHOUT NOTICE “The Supreme Court has ruled twice on these issues,” Descovich said. “We know that parents have to have a right to opt out of things that violate their religious beliefs.” The lawsuit follows a June 15, 2026, school board meeting in which Ann Ciccarelli, president of the Chatham School District Board of Education, said the district was not legally bound by the Mirabelli decision and instead was required to follow the New Jersey Department of Education’s 2018 guidance on transgender students. DAD OF THIRD-GRADE GIRL IN MASSACHUSETTS ALLEGEDLY BARGED IN ON BY TRANS STUDENT IN BATHROOM CALLS FOR ACTION SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER But New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin acknowledged that Policy 5756 is not mandatory, according to NJ Spotlight News. “The guidance violates both Maribel and it violates Mahmood and, so you know there’s a lot of crossover and confusion here, but what it comes down to is the school board. The school has a duty and responsibility to protect constitutional rights of the citizens in its community of its employees of its students of its families, and it is not doing that,” Descovich said. Ferrara told Fox News Digital that since parents began speaking out against the policy, they have been subjected to threats and intimidation. He said that one family has had police security outside their homes. “This is what happens when you oppose these policies,” Ferrara told Fox News Digital. “You basically are going to be subjected to a vicious public backlash by ideologues who are totally intolerant of basically the normal point of view on this issue.”
Trump administration proposes stripping tax-exempt status from schools using race-based programs
The Trump administration proposed new regulations on Thursday to revoke the tax-exempt status of private schools and colleges if they use race in admissions, scholarships or other school-administered programs, the latest effort by the federal government to root out diversity initiatives in education. The rules, proposed by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, aim to end what administration officials argue is discrimination against white students in favor of students of color. “Schools rebranding race-based preferences as equitable, inclusive, or diversity-enhancing does not change their discriminatory nature,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. The proposal follows the Supreme Court’s 2023 Students for Fair Admissions decisions, which prohibited most race-conscious admissions policies at colleges and universities. DOJ OPENS PROBE INTO PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGE OVER ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION FAVORING MINORITY STUDENTS Admissions, educational policies, scholarships and loans, athletics and “every other school-administered or school-supported program” would be covered by the Treasury’s proposal. It would apply to any program that considers race, color, or national or ethnic origin “for any purpose,” including efforts to address past racial discrimination. The Treasury estimated that the rules could impact as many as 18,000 schools at all education levels and 750,000 students who could be affected because they may qualify for race-based scholarships. The proposal would not prevent private schools from having a religious mission, curriculum or program. Religious schools could continue to choose students based on religious affiliation, according to the Treasury. The Treasury also said the proposal would not prohibit schools from helping disadvantaged students using race-neutral criteria, including income, geography or first-generation status. The new proposal is subject to a public comment period and would likely spark legal challenges if adopted. The American Association of University Professors, which advocates for academic freedom and has sued the administration to block funding cuts in the past, said it is considering legal action against the proposal. “This is not neutral enforcement of civil-rights law. It is an affirmative attempt to turn civil-rights law against the very people it was enacted to protect,” AAUP President Todd Wolfson said in a statement. “For half a century, federal policy recognized that measures intended to dismantle entrenched racial exclusion are not equivalent to policies designed to preserve it.” DOJ OPENS PROBE INTO HARVARD’S FINANCIAL AID FOR ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AMERICAN STUDENTS The administration has sought to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies in K-12 schools and higher education since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. In addition to DEI, the administration has targeted educational institutions across the nation for issues such as race-based admissions and scholarships and alleged antisemitism on campus. Trump has singled out Harvard University in particular for federal funding cuts, investigations and threats to the institution’s tax-exempt status. Reuters contributed to this report.
US military took down approximately 100 suspected cartel drones at southern border in August
EXCLUSIVE – The U.S. military provided rare insight into its operations at the southern border Thursday, revealing that it took down “approximately 100” suspected cartel drones in August alone, a senior War Department official confirmed to Fox News. The disclosure marks the first time the Pentagon has revealed how frequently counter-drone technology, including sophisticated laser systems, is being used at the southern border to stop suspected cartel drones from entering the U.S. According to a senior War Department official, Task Force–Southern Border carried out the drone takedowns using specialized counter-drone equipment provided and integrated by other military units. Each operation was planned and closely coordinated with the Mexican military and border authorities to prevent interference or unintended conflicts between forces operating on either side of the border, the official said. INSIDE AMERICA’S LASER REVOLUTION AS THE MILITARY NEARS BIG BATTLEFIELD BREAKTHROUGH The operations are part of a broader effort to rapidly deploy defenses against drones, combining multiple technologies with trained personnel and updated military authorities. The official emphasized that the military is not relying on a single “silver bullet” system to counter the threat. The Pentagon told Fox News that the U.S. has been using counter-drone technology to assist with security operations at the border. “The United States is employing defensive counter-drone technology to protect our personnel and border security operations from cartel-linked drone threats,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said. TRUMP ADMIN MARKS 15 STRAIGHT MONTHS WITH ZERO BORDER RELEASES AS APPREHENSIONS PLUNGE 94% “These actions are closely coordinated with Mexican military and border authorities to ensure safety and deconfliction on both sides of the border,” Wilson added. The revelation comes as the Trump administration continues to use military force against cartels across the Western Hemisphere, including lethal strikes against alleged drug traffickers. Earlier this week, senior administration officials touted President Donald Trump’s use of military force during a press call. “So, the president directed, the Department of War executed, the first ever plan and strategy to use direct military force to defend the homeland from this threat,” one official said. “The effects have been spectacular, and we’ve seen the largest and steepest reduction in U.S. casualties inflicted by the cartels in American history,” the official added. Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Missouri high court blocks GOP-backed congressional maps ahead of midterms; Trump blasts ‘ridiculous’ ruling
The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously blocked newly enacted Republican-backed congressional districts from being used in November’s midterm elections, ruling that voters must first approve the map in a statewide referendum. The ruling marks a rare setback for Republicans in a national redistricting battle. The GOP had aimed to use Missouri’s new congressional map to help them win an additional seat and hold onto its slim House majority. The court ruled that the referendum petition, filed in December after opponents submitted more than 300,000 signatures, prevented the new districts from taking effect unless approved by voters. DEMS DERIDED TRUMP’S MIDTERM GAMBLE — UNTIL HE ENDED UP WINNING BIG Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins waited until primary Election Day last month to reject the petition, arguing that the referendum process cannot be used for congressional redistricting. A lower court sided with Hoskins, but the state Supreme Court overturned his decision. “The referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise,” the court said in its ruling. The measure with the new districts “did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters.” Now, the congressional map adopted after the 2020 census “remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election,” the court said. Once considered a swing state, Missouri has dramatically shifted to the right over the past two decades. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a Republican, plans to immediately appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election. This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis,” Hanaway said in a statement. “We are confident that the federal courts will not allow every Missouri voter to be disenfranchised, which is what today’s decision does.” President Donald Trump called Thursday’s ruling “ridiculous” and argued it was unconstitutional, saying there will not be enough time to change the map before November’s elections. “The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago,” he wrote on Truth Social. “It’s called, Ancient History! The problem is, according to Legal Scholars, that not only was the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional, but there won’t be enough time to change the map back with the Election coming up in a very short period of time. “The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America! Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect just a couple of months ago, in the Primary. This is a Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!” Missouri’s new districts were used in the primaries last month, but the state Supreme Court said they cannot be used again unless voters first uphold the new districts passed by the GOP-controlled legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe last September. Kehoe said he is “extremely disappointed in today’s decision by unelected judges and their lack of respect for the legislative process.” “Holding a primary election under one congressional map and a general election under another is unprecedented and creates uncertainty for Missouri voters,” he said on X. “Today’s ruling does not change our belief in the Missouri First Map or the principles behind it, and we will continue to stand behind it as the legal process moves forward.” Five of the seven current justices on the Missouri Supreme Court, including the chief justice, were appointed by Republican governors. The new map targeted longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-area district by shifting it eastward to include rural right-leaning voters. The map was intended to make Cleaver’s district more favorable to Republicans, who hoped it would produce a 7-1 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. SUPREME COURT ALLOWS ALABAMA GOP-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL MAP FOR MIDTERMS Cleaver responded to the ruling by saying, “The people fought back and won.” “More than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say in who will represent them in the halls of Congress,” he wrote on X. “Despite the cynical and deeply shameful attempt to silence many of our neighbors, the people fought back and won. This reaffirms that the people should choose their politicians, not the other way around. Democracy prevails.” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin also called it a “big win for democracy and the people of Missouri.” “Democrats will continue fighting to end the Republican gerrymandering sham and ensure all voters can make their voices heard,” he wrote on X. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Excavation set to begin on Trump administration’s 250-foot triumphal arch amid legal battle
Excavation work will begin over the next two weeks on a site where the Trump administration plans to build a tall memorial arch in Washington, D.C., a project that faces a lawsuit from opponents who argue the project will disrupt nearby historic sight lines. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Thursday that work would start on the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck, which will be located on Columbia Island, standing between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. “This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture, honoring the history and significance of Arlington Cemetery and befitting the most powerful Capital in the World,” Burgum wrote on X, along with mock-ups of the towering 250-foot arch. LEAVITT SHOWS OFF US TRIUMPHAL ARCH, WITH PLANS TO BE RELEASED THURSDAY The images showed a white arch with gold detail, with “ONE NATION UNDER GOD” written on top. A gold Lady Liberty-like figure with wings and a torch stands above, as well as gold eagles with their wings spread outward. The project faces opposition from three veterans and an architectural historian who argued that “congressional authorization is necessary and lacking for this project,” said Nicolas Sansone, an attorney with the Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the plaintiffs. WHITE HOUSE TOUTS TRUMP’S ‘BOLD VISION’ FOR TOWERING INDEPENDENCE ARCH FOR AMERICA 250 “We believe that construction cannot and should not proceed apace, and we are prepared to inform the court that it needs to, at this juncture, step in,” Sansone told The Associated Press. A 24-page report released last month by the National Park Service backs the idea for the arch. However, the report noted that the project would have “direct and indirect adverse effects on the sight lines of historic properties.” TRUMP’S PLAN FOR TRIUMPHAL ARCH MOVES STEP CLOSER TO REALITY In a series of posts on X, Burgum defended the project, saying the idea for a monument goes back decades. He cited attempts by past Congresses and old reports about discussions of the construction of a memorial. The secretary noted that more than 70 cities, including Athens, London, Madrid, New Delhi, Paris and Rome showcase arches. “Interestingly, Washington, DC, is the only major Western capital without an arch,” Burgum wrote. “Now after 125 years of waiting, the most powerful capital in the world will be the home of the most spectacular and beautiful arch of them all!” TRUMP’S DC BEAUTIFICATION PUSH WINS RARE DEM PRAISE AS PRESIDENT SNAPS LANDMARKS BACK TO LIFE Fox News Digital has reached out to the Interior Department and the Public Citizen Litigation Group. The arch is one of several projects undertaken by the Trump administration, including the renaming of the Kennedy Center, a new White House ballroom and the refurbishing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Associated Press contributed to this report.