Vulnerable GOP senator breaks with Trump on 2 key issues as Vance makes stop without her
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican seeking re-election in a blue-leaning state, is not joining Vice President JD Vance on Monday as he stops in her home state of Maine. Collins, who at times has opposed President Donald Trump’s legislative priorities, is a top target for Democrats this year as she runs in a midterm race that’s among roughly a dozen that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority. Vance’s stop in Maine comes as Collins opposes Trump’s move this past weekend to impose 50% tariffs on a range of goods from Canada, which shares a long border with Maine. And the senator is also opposed to new U.S. Postal Service rules that, if implemented, could rein in mail-in voting. The vice president on Monday delivers remarks in Brewer, Maine, at Compotech, a defense technology manufacturer. It’s the second stop this year by Vance in Maine and the second time that Collins has not teamed up with the vice president. SUSAN COLLINS DROPS BRUTAL REMINDER OF DEMOCRAT CHALLENGER ROCKED BY ACCUSATIONS “I am already scheduled on Monday, so I will not be able to join the vice president,” Collins told reporters on Saturday. The Senate was in session when Vance held an event in Bangor, Maine, in May, and Collins stayed in Washington. The senator holds a historic attendance record of casting over 10,000 consecutive roll call votes in the Senate dating back three decades. But Collins, speaking to reporters as she marched in the annual Madison-Anson Days parade, her seventh parade this summer, highlighted that she teamed up last week with Energy Secretary Chris Wright when he stopped in Maine to tour a federally funded battery storage project in Lincoln built on the site of a closed paper mill. “I really appreciated Secretary Wright’s presence,” Collins said. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL IN MAINE’S CRUCIAL SENATE RACE SHOWS Collins, who was one of a small group of Republicans who voted to convict Trump in a 2021 Senate trial after the House impeached him following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, has at times voted against the Trump administration’s wishes. “I still think imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake,” Collins said on Saturday. Collins also referred to the proposed U.S. Post Office rule to implement a Trump executive order to rein in mail-in voting by refusing to deliver absentee ballots in states that have not turned over their raw voter rolls to the Justice Department or Department of Homeland Security. “Mail-in ballots are very important to the people of Maine,” Collins said. “I do no support restrictions that make it more difficult for seniors to cast votes on Election Day via the mail.” WHO’S UP AND WHO’S DOWN: CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS Collins says she supports the House version of the federal SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which mandates documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID for federal elections. But she joined three other Republicans and all Democrats to vote against advancing a Senate version of the bill, which is a top Trump priority. Collins has also taken issue with the Trump administration over its crackdown on illegal immigration, and its aggressive deportation efforts. The administration received backlash following the fatal shootings by federal enforcement agents of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota who were protesting immigration operations. And the issue flared again this summer, after a fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford, Maine. Democrats, including her Senate challenger, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, have repeatedly linked her to Trump, and heavily criticized her for her past funding for ICE. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election in a state then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 election. And highlighting her differences with the president and his administration may be beneficial to Collins as she woos independent voters and even some Democrats. Vance, during his May stop in Maine, said, “Sometimes I get frustrated with Susan Collins.” “I almost wish that she was more partisan. But the thing I love about Susan is she is independent, because Maine is an independent state. And, frankly, if she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was, she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine,” Vance continued. Vance added, “Let’s give a shoutout to Susan Collins, who’s doing a great job.” Jackson’s campaign, in a social media post ahead of Vance’s visit, called the vice president “Susan’s pal.” “I’m sure JD Vance loves her because she’s doing everything.. that he wants for her, but she’s not doing it for Maine people,” Jackson argued in an accompanying video. The vice president’s office did not offer a statement regarding Collins ahead of his Monday stop in Maine. Vance will be joined in Brewer by former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who is the GOP nominee in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The most rural district, the largest in the eastern U.S., is a top flip opportunity for the GOP, with moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Golden declining to seek re-election this year.
Alaska Senate race’s absurd name problem gets even harder to untangle
Former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan is taking sides in Alaska’s unusual same-name Senate fight, endorsing incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan over a third Dan Sullivan, whose candidacy has already triggered legal challenges and allegations of an effort to confuse voters. The intervention from Dan A. Sullivan adds another twist to a potentially competitive race in which Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and his Republican allies have accused teacher Dan J. Sullivan of running as a GOP candidate to siphon votes from the incumbent. Dan J. Sullivan has denied those accusations and says he is a legitimate moderate Republican challenger. “As the OG Dan Sullivan, I urge Alaskans to vote for Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. He’s been great for Alaska,” the former mayor wrote on social media. DAN SULLIVAN ACCUSES SAME-NAME CHALLENGER OF TRYING TO ‘RIG’ ALASKA SENATE RACE Republicans have attempted to use legal mechanisms to remove Dan J. Sullivan, who is himself running as a Republican, from the ballot. They point to the fact that he has worked with a Democratic-aligned consultant as evidence that he is part of a liberal plot to mislead voters. Dan J. Sullivan has defended himself from the accusations by arguing that he is genuinely a moderate Republican that has real dissatisfactions with Dan S. Sullivan’s representation of the state. It is unclear how many Dan Sullivans live in Alaska. Alaska has a unique electoral system, something Republicans have argued could further contribute to confusion when voters head to the polls in November. GOP SENATOR, EX-HOUSE DEM EMERGE FROM ALASKA’S ‘JUNGLE PRIMARY’ DESPITE FAR-LEFT MEDDLING The state holds a nonpartisan primary where the top four vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of their party affiliation. Once the four candidates are chosen and Election Day arrives, Alaskans use ranked-choice voting. Under the system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. When their first choice is eliminated, their support passes to their next choice and so on until one candidate is victorious. Advocates of the system argue that it gives voters greater control over who ultimately wins office as well as more options to choose from. Critics, meanwhile, argue the system could cause confusion in November. Dan S. Sullivan and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola have advanced to the general election, though it is unclear whether Dan J. Sullivan will join them as votes are still being counted, according to the Associated Press. JUDGE RULES REPUBLICAN WITH SAME NAME AS SEN DAN SULLIVAN CAN STAY ON ALASKA PRIMARY BALLOT Following a Republican legal challenge, the Alaska Supreme Court held last month that Dan J. Sullivan could remain on the ballot after he was initially removed by the state’s Division of Elections. Now, federal and state prosecutors are reportedly investigating whether he is part of a conspiracy to confuse voters. The Sullivan campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Fla Dem Sen-nominee Angie Nixon backed abolishing Electoral College, ranked-choice voting in resurfaced clips
Resurfaced clips show Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon supporting abolishing the Electoral College, embracing ranked-choice voting and allowing voters to register on Election Day in a series of comments Republicans are seizing on as the democratic socialist begins her general-election campaign. In one March 14 clip with the Clay County Speaks podcast, Nixon was asked about eliminating the Electoral College. “Abolish the Electoral College, I’m fine with that,” Nixon said. “I believe one vote, one person. We would have a different country right now if that was the case.” She then supported abolishing the Senate filibuster, which gives the minority party a block on the majority’s agenda. 5 TAKEAWAYS FROM FLORIDA SENATE PRIMARY: GOP SEN ASHLEY MOODY WILL FACE DSA’S NIXON Nixon also rejected nonparty voters participating in Democratic primary elections, saying it “marginalizes” the voter’s voice — echoing a rationale historically advanced for the Electoral College’s protecting smaller states from being drowned out by more populous ones. Asked separately about ranked-choice voting, Nixon responded, “I’m totally fine with that.” Nixon expressed the same positions publicly during a June online question-and-answer session with voters. WATCH: DEMOCRATS ADMIT WHEN THEY’D ELIMINATE THE FILIBUSTER AS SAVE ACT FIGHT HEATS UP On the same Clay County Speaks podcast, Nixon also advocated same-day voter registration. “I also believe that,” she said, “you can register same day and vote that day.” Florida currently closes voter registration ahead of Election Day rather than permitting voters to register at the polls. WHO IS ANGIE NIXON? BULLHORN-WIELDING SOCIALIST UPSETS ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE IN SUNSHINE STATE STUNNER “Far-left socialist Angie Nixon isn’t running to protect our elections — she’s running to dismantle them,” RNC Election Integrity Communications Director Ally Triolo told Fox News Digital in a statement. “From abolishing the Electoral College and embracing ranked-choice voting to attacking voter ID and commonsense election safeguards, Nixon’s radical agenda is a direct threat to American election security. Anyone determined to tear down this sacred pillar of our nation is unfit for public office.” Fox News Digital reached out to Nixon’s Florida state representative’s office and her campaign for comments and an interview, but they did not immediately respond. Nixon, a Florida state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, stunned the Democratic establishment last week when she defeated heavily funded former national security official Alexander Vindman for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination. She will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., in November. The RNC is rebuking Nixon’s views about how elections should be run as the Jacksonville Democrat makes the jump from the state legislature to a campaign that is expected to draw national attention and potentially big dollars from Democrats in a bid to flip the Senate majority this November. CARVILLE TELLS DEMOCRATS TO ‘JUST QUIT FIGHTING’ AGAINST VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS, WARNS IT POLLS AT 75% Nixon has also sharply criticized election integrity measures enacted by Florida Republicans under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. A 2021 law signed by DeSantis shortened the duration of standing vote-by-mail requests, required voters to provide additional identifying information when requesting ballots and placed new restrictions on ballot drop boxes and third-party ballot collection. Republicans enacted additional mail-voting requirements in 2023. The fight comes as voter identification requirements continue to draw overwhelming support nationally, despite the Senate failing to move the Save America Act that requires voter ID nationwide. A Fox News poll conducted July 17–20 found 83% of registered voters supported requiring photo identification to register to vote, while 77% backed requiring photo ID to cast a ballot. Support crossed party lines, including 72% of Democrats who supported an ID requirement for registration and 62% who supported one for voting. FOX NEWS POLL: SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR BOTH VOTER ID LAWS AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS Nixon’s rhetoric has extended beyond election rules to Republican officials and the state’s judicial system. “What it’s going to take is voting these fascists out of office,” Nixon said, repeatedly applying that label to Florida DeSantis. “We have a governor that continually cheats,” Nixon told a podcast in 2024. “At the end of the day, he’s a fascist, he’s a dictator.” Nixon also accused Florida courts of protecting DeSantis and his political allies because of the governor’s role in judicial appointments. DAVID MARCUS: WHY DEMOCRATS’ HAREBRAINED POPULAR VOTE SCHEME MIGHT BACKFIRE “When you have courts that have been chosen by a fascist, of course they’re gonna look out for the fascists,” she told that same podcast. Nixon now faces Moody in the Nov. 3 special election for the Senate seat formerly held by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Birth tourism scams draw sweeping crackdown as visa revocations climb
The State Department is cracking down on a popular form of visa fraud through a sophisticated worldwide operation that has already revoked hundreds of visas. The department’s spokesman, Tommy Pigott, told Fox News Digital that under the direction of President Donald Trump, the American government is partnering with agencies across the globe to halt the practice of birth tourism. Birth tourism refers to travel to the United States for the primary purpose of giving birth so a child can obtain U.S. citizenship. The practice has been linked to visa-fraud schemes in which applicants conceal or misrepresent the purpose of their travel, often while seeking entry on visitor visas. A U.S.-citizen child may also create future immigration options for family members, including the ability to petition for a parent after turning 21. TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, BIRTH TOURISM AFTER SUPREME COURT SETBACK It has also become a for-profit industry, where facilitators of the fraud market their services for helping women break America’s laws through “birth in the U.S.” services, including arranging visa scams to get women into the country. “The first step in that is identifying them,” Pigott said. “We have consular officers around the world that work with international partners, that work for law enforcement officials to identify patterns that indicate a birth tourism network, and then when that is identified, we take actions such as revoking their visas, which was the recent announcement that we made, to make sure that we’re dismantling those networks.” ABBOTT ORDERS PROBE AFTER TEXAS HOSPITAL ADVERTISES ‘BIRTH PACKAGES’ IN MEXICO: ‘CITIZENSHIP IS NOT FOR SALE’ Earlier this month, the State Department announced that it was launching a Birth Tourism and Prevention Task Force. “We’re making adjustments because it’s very unfair,” Trump said. “They’re building businesses around birthright citizenship. That’s not the way it was supposed to work. It’s a disgrace. They’re buying their way in, and we’re not going to let it happen.” Through the task force, government officials are now analyzing in real time travel trends by visa holders around the world that are indicative of the practice. TEXAS GOV ABBOTT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CRACKING DOWN ON ‘BIRTH TOURISM,’ SAYS US CITIZENSHIP NOT FOR SALE In one recent case, a woman who came to the United States on a tourist visa under the impetus of a weeks-long vacation, continuously received visits from her partner, who lived outside the country. That pattern raised officials’ suspicions, who understood the partner’s movements as visits to the United States to support the woman in the latter stages of her pregnancy and possibly present in the country during the child’s birth. “That was an indication that this was actually a birth tourism effort here, and we were able to take action to revoke those visas,” said Pigott. “So we’re able to analyze those travel patterns, analyze those instances that indicate fraud, look into those, and the task force we have allows us to take that action. Pigott provided some examples of the blatant fraud. BIRTH TOURISM COULD SOON CARRY A SEVERE NEW CONSEQUENCE FEW WOULD RISK: ‘EXISTENTIAL CRISIS’ “There were some advertisements that were being published talking about a world without borders or automatic guaranteed citizenship in their advertisements while they were pretending to offer health care services,” he said. “In reality, that is fraud, and the fraud actually doesn’t just end when it has to do with the birth tourism example of lying to the consular officer.” “These networks are set up in the United States and then further coach these individuals on how to not pay their medical bills,” he continued. “So you have fraud when you enter the United States and then the American taxpayer is left footing the bill. It comes down to the fundamental principle: we’re gonna protect the sacred privilege of American citizenship and not allow this fraud to happen.” TRUMP DOJ UNLEASHES LARGEST DENATURALIZATION EFFORT IN DEPARTMENT HISTORY — AND SAYS IT’S ‘ONLY THE BEGINNING’ The task force, officially launched on Aug. 12, has already revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth-tourism activity. The State Department expects that number to increase dramatically in a very short period of time. Pigott added that under the Trump administration, visa security is an important part of a much broader overall effort to secure the border, adding that the Biden administration, “did everything they could to allow for the abuse of our legal immigration system and allowed for the unprecedented border crisis that we saw.” Under President Joe Biden, an estimated 10 million people crossed the border into the United States illegally.
US kills two ‘narco-terrorists’ in strike 2 months since last announced anti-‘narco-trafficking’ attack
The U.S. military conducted a deadly attack against a vessel on Sunday, killing two people that it described as “narco-terrorists.” Video footage shows the explosive strike on the low-profile vessel. “On August 23, under the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan’s direction, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific,” an Aug. 24 news release stated. DEM SENATOR ACCUSES PENTAGON OF MURDER WITH BOAT STRIKES TARGETING DRUG TRAFFICKERS “Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel’s active involvement in narco-trafficking. The operation killed two narco-terrorists,” the release noted. The military has executed dozens of strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels during President Donald Trump’s second term in office, a policy that has been controversial. US MILITARY CONDUCTS STRIKE ON ANOTHER VESSEL CARRYING ALLEGED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, KILLING 2 The last time U.S. Southern Command announced such a strike was just over two months ago on June 21 — that strike killed two, but there were six survivors. “When I ordered the establishment of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, it was precisely for this purpose: to accelerate, synchronize, and execute lethal actions against these destabilizing narco-terrorist networks,” Donovan said, according to the Monday announcement about the strike carried out on Sunday. “We are committed to imposing total systemic friction on narco-terrorists — disrupting their operations, dismantling their leadership, and eliminating cartel terror across the region.” HORMUZ CRISIS HIDES A DEEPER OIL THREAT THAT COULD OUTLAST THE WAR “Let me be clear, we will not permit narco-terrorists to operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere, nor will we allow their deadly poison to reach American communities. This operation is a powerful demonstration of our lethal precision, overwhelming capability, and absolute resolve to protect the U.S. homeland,” he said.
Dem House candidate’s 2013 arrest resurfaces in pivotal race for control of Congress
A far-left candidate running for the House of Representatives in Michigan was arrested for resisting police during a 2013 protest. William Lawrence, co-founder of the progressive Sunrise Movement, is challenging Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., in one of the most closely-watched elections in the country. With so few congressional seats still expected to be up in the air, a victory there could be decisive for whichever party wins control in November. Fox News Digital obtained documents that show Lawrence was among a group of people arrested in 2013 during a demonstration against the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, a 645-mile piece of infrastructure running crude oil and natural gas between Wisconsin and Ontario — with Michigan in between. SUNRISE MOVEMENT CO-FOUNDER DEFEATS ESTABLISHMENT-BACKED DEMS IN PIVOTAL MICHIGAN RACE He and others chained themselves to machinery in protest of the pipeline, which helps the U.S. meet critical energy needs but has also been a subject of pushback by environmental groups and indigenous tribes whose land the pipeline partially runs through. The defendants were charged with trespassing, as well as resisting and obstructing a police officer. The documents stated that Lawrence and three others had to be cut off of the equipment but were then arrested without incident. DSA CANDIDATE PUSHES FEDERAL AI DATA CENTER MORATORIUM WITH MICHIGAN EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY Lawrence himself previously posted on X, “Defund the Police!” in May 2020. A tweet the following month called to defund the Lansing, Michigan, police, specifically. He told Fox News Digital in a statement this weekend, “I don’t support defunding the police. I follow the lead of first responders and gun violence prevention advocates I have met with here in the district, who support increased funding for youth programs, mental health resources, and community violence intervention, working in collaboration with law enforcement.” His campaign also pointed out the conviction was expunged under Michigan state law. He’s also since addressed the arrest himself on Instagram. He said in a video earlier this year that he “took a stand” against energy company Enbridge, adding, “Was it righteous? Absolutely. Was it wise? Perhaps not.” “The fact is, they were back operating that afternoon, while my collaborators and I faced legal consequences for years,” he said. “I wouldn’t advise you do what I did, but my conviction remains, and you can always count on me to fight for pure Michigan and our water.” DEMOCRATIC GROUP LAUNCHES $15M WAR ON DSA AFTER SOCIALIST PRIMARY WINS: ‘MORTAL DANGER’ While Lawrence was backed by progressive groups in his primary election, he has since said he’s left the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as his general race begins to heat up. But it did not stop House Republicans’ campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), from tying him to the far-left. “Socialist felon William Lawrence is a radical far-left liberal who puts his extreme climate agenda ahead of common sense and the priorities of hardworking Michiganders. Lawrence’s extreme agenda makes one thing clear: he is far too radical for Mid-Michigan and can’t be trusted to put Michigan families first,” NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon said. Republicans are facing an uphill battle to keep control of the House this year, with the party in power traditionally facing significant losses during the midterms. But the far-left insurgency that’s gripped the Democratic Party has given the right new hope that they could buck historic political trends. Lawrence’s upstart primary campaign saw him defeat establishment-backed candidates Matt Maasdam and Bridget Brink, the latter of whom formerly served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.
Thune-aligned groups unleash historic war chest to defend Senate majority: ‘Winning message’
The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a top GOP campaign group aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced that it and other allies have raised over $500 million ahead of the 2026 U.S. Senate elections, setting new records as they look to defend a Republican majority in the upcoming midterms. Despite a historical precedent that sets long odds for the president’s party in the midterms, Republicans have built a war chest in recent months to put Democrats on the defensive in the House and Senate. “Thanks to Leader John Thune and our generous investors, Senate Leadership Fund and its affiliated groups have raised more resources than any other Senate effort in history,” SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham said in a statement to Fox News Digital. NRCC REPORTING RECORD $47.1 MILLION QUARTER, RECORD $28.1 MILLION RAISED IN MARCH “However, we cannot slow down as Chuck Schumer and Radical Democrats seek to take our nation back to open borders, rampant crime and crushing inflation.” It’s those elements the group hopes to put front and center. In many of their materials, SLF looks to pin Democrats over their opposition to many pieces of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and past support for far-left policies. Across races in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina, they are using ad campaigns to highlight elements like violence caused by soft-on-crime policies, opposition to wage hikes for veterans and past scandals that have followed some of the Democratic candidates. HOW DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP SANK $40 MILLION MEANT TO DEFEND KEY SEATS ON A GAMBLE THAT BACKFIRED “Logan was a casualty of an agenda,” one featured interviewee said, recounting how his daughter had been killed by Alexander Dickey, a repeat criminal who had faced nearly 40 criminal charges. In another ad, SLF reminded voters in Iowa how Josh Turek, a Senate hopeful who had won gold for the U.S. in the Paralympic Games, had missed over 50% of his votes while running his campaign. “We expect our lawmakers to show up, yet liberal politician Josh Turek missed 58% of his votes in the Iowa legislature — votes to help veterans and fund schools, yet still collected his full taxpayer-funded paycheck,” the ad states. DEM SENATE HOPEFUL RIPPED AS ‘ABSENTEE LEGISLATOR’ AFTER MISSING NEARLY 60% OF VOTES Latcham said he anticipates SLF’s layered strategy of messaging — and the resources needed to bring that message to voters — combined with the GOP’s candidate strengths will deliver wins in November. “With incredible candidates, a winning message and record funding, we are confident that Senate Republicans will maintain their majority this November and continue to deliver for the American people,” Latcham said.
AI’s massive appetite for power, water ignites fight in high-stakes Texas Senate race
FIRST ON FOX: There’s an ugly political fight brewing in the Lone Star State over data centers, and both candidates running for Senate are racing each other to unveil their plans to slow the AI boom in Texas. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is rolling out his own plan to address what has become a political pressure point in Texas politics during this midterm cycle: how to add guardrails to the explosion of data centers across the state as voters’ concerns rise about skyrocketing power and water costs. The four-point plan, first obtained by Fox News Digital, details steps at the federal and state levels on the issue and comes in the waning weeks of a closely watched contest for power in the Senate between Paxton and state Sen. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee. LONGTIME GOP AIDE DEFECTS TO DEM RISING STAR AS TEXAS SENATE BATTLE FOR CORNYN’S SEAT HEATS UP “There’s no doubt in my mind that the United States will beat the Chinese Communist Party in the AI race,” Paxton said in a statement. “This plan will ensure that happens while putting Texas First, protecting our culture and land, and safeguarding our families and communities. My plan will also work to ensure that data centers are not utilized to power AI platforms that endanger our children.” His plan comes after Talarico, who has used the issue of data centers as a political cudgel against Paxton, convened bipartisan roundtables and hit the Republican nominee for taking in nearly $500,000 in campaign donations to a variety of political action committees (PACs) that support him. “Ken Paxton took nearly half a million dollars from data center companies and has ignored Texans in Hood County who asked him to help block a data center development in their community,” Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis told Fox News Digital. “While Ken Paxton funnels data center money into his campaign, James is fighting to hold data centers accountable. Texans can’t afford a Senator who’s bought by big data center companies,” he continued. “Texans can’t afford Ken Paxton’s corruption.” A SOUTHERN STATE JUST TOOK THE TOP SPOT IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S FASTEST-GROWING INDUSTRIES He’s also not scot-free from receiving data center-adjacent money, either. Talarico’s political operation, through his Lone Star Rising PAC, has received about $10 million from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, an advocate for data centers who has argued about the value that they present in the AI arms race against China. “While James Talarico and his campaign infrastructure accept millions of dollars from data center-affiliated donors and put their interests first, I will lead with Texans at the forefront. That’s exactly why I am proud to release my 4-Point Plan that will put Texans First and protect our communities,” Paxton said. The first three pillars of Paxton’s plan address actions against data centers at the federal level. They would see Paxton author two bills in the Senate to prevent Chinese technology from powering data centers or being used in American infrastructure and creating criminal liabilities for data center companies if the centers empower AI chatbots that undermine children’s safety. ONE MONTHLY BILL AMERICANS CAN’T AVOID IS QUIETLY SURGING THANKS TO EMERGING INDUSTRY: DATA He would also join as a co-sponsor on the DATA Act, a bill from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., that would create a new federal category for data centers to produce their own independent power away from preexisting power grids. Talarico’s offering would repeal state tax exemptions for data centers, mandate that data centers cover 100% of grid connection costs, and require closed-loop water recycling systems. It would also give local governments the power to veto project developments. Paxton similarly wants to undo sales tax exemptions for data centers, something he notably supported over a decade ago while in the state legislature. Back in 2013, when he was serving as a freshman state senator in the Texas Legislature, Paxton voted in favor of 100% sales tax exemptions for data centers, which passed on a nearly unanimous vote out of the state Senate. While that exemption required a hefty ground-floor investment of $200 million and employment requirements to receive, it also sparked the present-day boom in data centers. Meanwhile, at the state level, Paxton would also push Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s new directive unveiled earlier this month to effectively freeze the data center explosion. Abbott touted earlier this week that his directive has so far halted roughly 1,800 data center projects in the Lone Star State. It requires data centers to disclose how much power they’re using and whether they will produce independent power, their water consumption, financial incentives they’ve received, a plan to lower the impact on local communities and documented ownership of the center. “These guidelines are now the universally applied standard in Texas,” Abbott said on X.
Trump’s Bedminster turf could make or break his last two years in the White House
WASHINGTON, N.J. — Washington, D.C., is undoubtedly the center of gravity in American politics, but another Washington over 100 miles away could help decide the fate of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump’s term. It’s a small town in New Jersey where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged GOP supporters to help get Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., re-elected to the House in November. Kean is seeking a third term representing the Garden State’s 7th Congressional District, which is notably home to Trump’s Bedminster golf course where he spends a significant amount of time. “We consider this a top three race, not just a top 10. That’s how important it is to us. It has a target on its back,” Johnson told the room at Hawke Point Golf Club, Fox News Digital heard. “They’re investing tons of money to try to take [Kean] down, but they are not going to be successful.” The district happens to be one of the most critical battlegrounds in the country this year. Trump narrowly won the area by two points in 2024, though it flipped for Democrat Gov. Mikie Sherrill by the same margin in 2025. HOW ONE NYC SUBURB COULD DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE HOUSE Democrats are now betting they have a real opportunity to score another victory in November by sending former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett to the House. And with such a small number of House seats still considered politically neutral, it could prove decisive for which party controls the House next year. Kean’s morning fundraiser saw key figures in New Jersey Republican politics having breakfast as the congressman and speaker made the case for why he needs another term. Attendees included members of the Republican National Committee, local elected officials, and former Rep. Leonard Lance, the last Republican to represent Kean’s district. DEMS PICK CHALLENGER FOR GOP CONGRESSMAN WHO VANISHED FROM PUBLIC VIEW AMID HEALTH MYSTERY If Republicans win, that means enacting Trump’s agenda for another two years. Johnson told Fox News Digital the GOP has “aggressive” plans to tackle government waste and excessive spending. But if Democrats win the district — and potentially the House — Trump’s goals could grind to a halt. Kean, for his part, told Fox News Digital that he’s confident he can win again. “I’ve been a really effective legislator who’s brought things back to the district, who’s listened to my constituents on their needs and their concerns, in contrast to my opponent, who has really been a very abject partisan,” Kean said on the sidelines of his event. “She’s actually stopped going to church because there are Republicans [there]. So when you think about that contrast — a person can’t even go to religious services with people of the other party — she’ll never work across the aisle. She’ll be always in the far-left corner of whoever is in her caucus and whoever is in her leadership. And that’s not what this district needs.” ANTI-SOCIALISM PUSH CAN FLIP BATTLEGROUNDS, REPUBLICAN LEADER BETS AS PARTY FIGHTS TO HOLD HOUSE Bennett spokesperson Carly Jones hit back at Kean’s accusation, “Rebecca is an active member of her local church and talks openly on the campaign trail about her faith, which inspired her to serve her country in uniform and run for office. She is proudly building a coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans to flip this seat in November.” Kean noted he’s seen legislative success under both the Biden and Trump administrations, and his bipartisan efforts were on display — by what was not on display. The congressman’s name appeared throughout the event, but without mention of “GOP” or “Republican.” A sign outside the door only said “Tom Kean for Congress.” Conventional wisdom dictates that the party in power faces significant losses in Congress during the midterms. Critics of whoever is president generally turn out in droves to vote for the other side, in this case, Democrats. Kean noted that he’s had legislation signed into law by former President Joe Biden, but also insisted he backed Trump “fully.” SOCIALIST VICTORIES SHOW DEMS’ DESCENT DOWN ‘DEADLY PATH OF COMMUNISM,’ JOHNSON WARNS “He’s done great things for this country and will continue to do great things for this country. He has been a very effective leader,” Kean said of the current president. And Johnson deployed a pinch-hitter to help gin up enthusiasm on Friday: All-Star professional baseball player Mark Teixeira, who posed for photos with excited attendees. Teixeira is running his own campaign for Congress and is likely to win a safe red seat in Texas. Republican leaders are also seizing on the far-left insurgency that’s toppled establishment Democrats in recent months as evidence that they should not get control of the House. “It’s very effective because people see what’s happening. This isn’t campaign rhetoric. They give us new illustrations every day,” Johnson told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s a challenge to the very foundational principles of America, and that is increasingly what the Democrat Party represents… The Marxist-communist element is taking over that party, sadly, and it’s really alarming for our country.” Kean was notably absent from the campaign trail and the halls of Congress from March through June this year, with few knowing the circumstances until the congressman publicly admitted he was being treated for depression. Upon his return, he introduced legislation aimed at making it easier for people to pay for mental healthcare. Bennett did not criticize the reason for his absence but has previously accused him of continuing to trade stocks during that time. She similarly told Fox News Digital in a written statement that Kean made millions from the stock market. “I spent 15 years serving our country in the military, and I felt called to serve once again because I can’t sit on the sidelines while Washington corruption, rising costs, and devastating healthcare cuts crush New Jersey families. Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has failed to show up for our community while trading more than $3 million
Linda McMahon vows crackdown on teachers sexually harassing students: ‘Must end’
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Sunday said the federal government is committed to “cracking down” on sexual misconduct involving teachers, staff and other adults in positions of authority in schools across the country. In an interview, McMahon denounced what she described as school districts reassigning, rather than firing, teachers accused of misconduct involving students. “And it’s not part of their record or anything, so we have really been cracking down on that as well,” she said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” McMahon, citing a 2004 Education Department literature review, said about one in 10 eighth- through 11th-grade students reported sexual misconduct by an educator. The review used a broad definition that included physical, verbal and visual conduct; the department cautioned that sexual misconduct should not be equated with the narrower legal definition of sexual abuse. TRUMP EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROBES SCHOOL AFTER TEACHER ALLEGEDLY REQUIRED SAME-SEX STUDENTS TO KISS California officials at the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing did not revoke the licenses of at least 67 educators after school districts determined they committed sexual misconduct against students from 2019 through 2025, according to ProPublica and KQED. At least 14 of those educators were later hired by other school districts and at least 12 of those were still working in education as of May, according to the reports. Separately, the Department of Education in May opened a Title IX investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District. “Our schools must protect America’s children. Parents should never have to wonder whether their kids’ school employs and protects sexual predators,” McMahon said in a previous statement. “Schools that receive federal funding have a duty to protect students, report sexual misconduct honestly, and follow the law.” The department said it was investigating an agreement with the United Teachers of Los Angeles that it said appeared to require teachers credibly accused of certain misconduct to be reassigned, rather than terminated or immediately removed from student-facing roles, while officials investigated allegations they engaged in conduct including having a sexual or romantic relationship with a student, creating child pornography or failing to report suspected child abuse. LAUSD and UTLA disputed the department’s characterization, saying reassignment means an employee is sent home and kept away from students while an investigation proceeds, not transferred to another classroom or school. They said termination remains possible when allegations are substantiated. COLORADO TEACHER FIRED AFTER STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED TO KISS CLASSMATES IN SKITS McMahon said in the letter that schools that fail to comply with federal requirements under Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act risk enforcement action, including the potential termination of applicable federal assistance, pledging a nationwide effort to “crack down” on sexual misconduct by adults in positions of authority. “Make no mistake, the Department will fully enforce federal law and employ every resource at its disposal to protect children from sexual predators,” she wrote at the time. “Those schools that allow sexual misconduct to occur risk the termination of applicable federal assistance provided by the federal government.” “This epidemic of nationwide sexual abuse in our schools must end,” McMahon added.