Hasan Piker says UK has barred him, trashes ‘unbelievable…power’ of pro-Israel groups
It hasn’t been a great last few days for Marxist political influencer Hasan Piker. First, as Fox News Digital reported exclusively last week, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) sent Piker an administrative subpoena seeking financial, logistical and communications records related to his March trip to Cuba as part of an investigation into whether he violated U.S. sanctions laws against doing business with the communist regime running the island nation. Then last night, during protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark, N.J., hecklers confronted Piker, calling him a “f—ing fraud, ” “fake-a– grifter” and “dog abuser,” telling him, “Go back to the desktop.” (Piker has denied allegations he trained his dog, Kaya, with a shock collar.) Now, Piker told his loyal following on the gaming platform Twitch that British authorities denied his Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, preventing him from traveling to the United Kingdom for a series of scheduled appearances, including events at SXSW London and the Oxford Union. Approved U.S. travelers to the UK can enter the country with a simple Electronic Travel Authorization, which is easier to get then a formal visa. “I’ve been banned from the UK,” Piker told viewers. “I’ve been to the UK on numerous occasions, and all of the things they’re complaining about now are things I’ve said before.” He went on to say, “It’s f—ing ridiculous.” HASAN PIKER DEFENDS PRO-COMMUNIST, ANTI-ICE SINGHAM NETWORK ACTIVISTS AS ‘WONDERFUL PEOPLE’ Although Fox News Digital could not confirm Piker’s claim, such a move by the UK would be significant because it would mark a potential red line that a Western government has drawn regarding the importation of extremist ideas and ideological movements that officials believe may contribute to social unrest, extremism or political violence. At the tail end of a long livestream, Piker said he was denied entry for alleged antisemitism, which he denied, and then proceeded to lash out at Jewish organizations that he said had campaigned against his visit, claiming they wielded excessive influence over British policy. “Israel advocacy organizations have unbelievable amounts of power over what even the United Kingdom has to say and do,” Piker said. “If you’re an avowed anti-Zionist, your travel will be restricted.” Piker accused the UK government of bowing to pressure from pro-Israel advocacy groups and described the decision as evidence of a growing crackdown on political dissent across Western democracies. The comments came weeks after several British Jewish organizations publicly urged the government to block Piker’s entry into the country, citing remarks they described as antisemitic and supportive of extremist groups. Piker has said he believed the U.S. deserved the 9/11 attack as “backlash” for its foreign policy decisions. The Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust argued that Piker’s presence in Britain would not be “conducive to the public good,” pointing to his comments about Hamas, Hezbollah, Zionism and Orthodox Jews. Labour MP David Taylor also called on the Home Office to revoke Piker’s visa ahead of scheduled appearances at SXSW London, arguing that his rhetoric had contributed to concerns within Britain’s Jewish community. Punctuating his commentary about the UK decision with deep sighs, cursing and rage at suggestions from his followers, Piker repeatedly rejected accusations of antisemitism, saying criticism of Israel was being conflated with hatred of Jews. He said the decision reflected a broader trend in which governments are suppressing anti-Israel voices. “This is straight-up fascism,” Piker said. “Being critical of Israel while combating antisemitism is not a good enough reason to bar someone entry into the country.” HOW A RHODES SCHOLAR WITH TIES TO CUBA’S PRESIDENT ORGANIZED THE CONVOY THAT BROUGHT HASAN PIKER TO HAVANA The streamer said he had planned a week-long trip that included appearances alongside former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, a live podcast recording and an event at Oxford Union. Varoufakis is the co-founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, Progressive International, which Piker credits with getting him to Cuba for a March aid convoy that may have violated U.S. laws. A Fox News Digital investigation chronicled how Progressive International and its co-founder David Adler have allegedly been a critical part of a foreign influence operation by the Communist Party of Cuba. Progressive International and Adler didn’t respond to a request for comment. The U.K. government didn’t respond to a request for comment. However, in recent weeks, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, a critic of Israeli policies, recently revoked the travel authorization of Piker’s uncle, Cenk Uygur, founder of “The Young Turks,” after concluding his presence would not be “conducive to the public good.” During the livestream, Piker warned that the alleged UK decision could set a precedent for other Western countries, including Australia and Canada, potentially restricting his future travel. HASAN PIKER NAMES PRO-CCP TYCOON SINGHAM AS FINANCIER OF ‘POLITICAL MOVEMENTS’ DESPITE NONPROFIT VENEER “I genuinely did not think this would happen,” he said. “We’re moving into a very different timeline.” Piker said he and his team were exploring whether he could apply for a standard visa despite the denial of the Electronic Travel Authorization, though he acknowledged it was a long shot. Piker’s case intersects with a broader inquiry into the influence of transnational activist networks operating in the United States. During a livestream this week, Piker said that the Treasury Department’s investigation into his Cuba trip may ultimately be focused on Neville Roy Singham, an American Marxist businessman living in Shanghai who has funded a network of nonprofit organizations and activist groups that have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and administration officials. Among the organizations funded by Singham is CodePink, which also received a Treasury Department administrative subpoena related to its participation in the March convoy to Cuba, as well as groups such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the ANSWER Coalition. All three organizations openly identify with socialist or communist political traditions and have been prominent organizers of anti-Israel demonstrations across the United States since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas against Israel. Critics argue that some of
Left-wing streamer blasts New Jersey governor over state police response at ICE facility protests
Marxist political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker blasted New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill during a livestream Sunday, accusing the Democratic governor of aiding the Trump administration’s immigration agenda through her response to anti-ICE protests outside a Newark detention facility. Piker’s criticism came after Sherrill defended the deployment of state police around demonstrations outside Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, saying she would not allow unrest to provide a pretext for expanded federal immigration operations in New Jersey. “I refuse to let that happen in New Jersey. I will not give ICE a pretext,” Sherrill said in remarks aired during a news segment Piker was reacting to on stream. Piker quickly mocked the governor’s explanation. GOV. SHERRILL BLAMES ICE, DEFENDS RIOTERS AFTER DEPLOYING TROOPERS TO QUELL VIOLENT MOB “Yeah, I won’t give ICE a pretext. So I’m going to ensure that they don’t have to do anything because I’m going to do it myself,” Piker said. “That’s basically what the meta is here for this blue state and its new blue governor.” The political commentator then broadened his criticism beyond Sherrill’s handling of the protests. “This is the centrist wing of the Democratic Party, ladies and gentlemen. This is what happens,” Piker said. ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS CLASH WITH AGENTS OUTSIDE NEW JERSEY DETENTION CENTER AS GOV. SHERRILL DENIED ENTRY The comments came as anti-ICE demonstrations continued outside Delaney Hall, where activists have alleged detainees are being held in poor conditions and not receiving adequate food. The Department of Homeland Security has disputed those claims. Later in the stream, Piker accused Sherrill of helping advance President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. “The story is not the far-left activists continuing to rage at ICE in New Jersey,” Piker said. “The real story is the horrifying conditions inside of this facility … and the governor acting as though she’s powerless to put a stop to it, and using what power she does have to basically work alongside the MAGA movement alongside the Trump administration, because these are state troopers in anti-riot gear on horseback.” FEDERAL AGENTS IN NEW JERSEY BEAT BACK ANTI-ICE AGITATORS IN CHAOS OUTSIDE DELANEY HALL DETENTION FACILITY “These are state troopers that are brutalizing New Jerseyans,” he added. Piker further accused authorities of mistreating journalists covering the demonstrations. “They’re doing Israeli occupying force s—. It’s disgusting,” he said while discussing reports that an Associated Press photographer was injured while covering the protests. WATCH: POLICE ABSENT FROM DELANEY HALL CHAOS AS AGITATORS BLOCK ICE VEHICLES AND AGENTS USE PEPPER SPRAY The streamer also used the broadcast to criticize Democratic lawmakers over immigration policy. “Democrats have absolutely participated in this process,” Piker said, arguing that some members of the party have supported legislation and funding measures related to immigration enforcement. “I want to change that system,” he later added. “Part of that also revolves around getting people elected who will make a big fuss.” NJ DEMOCRATS PUSH ‘F—ICE ACT’ TO LET RESIDENTS SUE OVER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT Later in the stream, Piker told viewers, “That’s what I’m trying to f—ing change.” In recent months, Piker has crisscrossed the country canvassing for candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. During Sunday’s livestream, he also voiced support for billionaire gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer and quoted Mao Zedong, the founder of the Chinese Communist Party. Piker has previously drawn scrutiny for his support of progressive candidates and activism surrounding immigration policy. Earlier this year, he campaigned in New Jersey for congressional candidate Adam Hamamy, a Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate whom Piker publicly defended following media scrutiny over his background. Sherrill’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Trump warns judge against sacrificing national security by blocking White House ballroom, drone base
President Donald Trump is warning against obstruction of the $400 million White House ballroom and rooftop drone base, directly calling out U.S. District Judge Richard Leon for giving in to a “serial plaintiff” and a “ridiculous lawsuit” putting U.S. national security at risk. “The DronePort at the White House Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World!” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. “It will safeguard our Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C., long into the future. “Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America’s Security!” Trump urged Leon to dismiss the lawsuit from a person he described as a “highly litigious woman,” warning the judge would be “held responsible” if an attack hits the White House. FEDERAL JUDGE QUESTIONS TRUMP AUTHORITY ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT “If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country,” Trump added. “He has already created enough problems by allowing ‘Top Secret’ information to be released and exposed based on a ridiculous lawsuit started by a highly litigious woman (serial plaintiff!) whose ‘strolling,’ in her opinion, will be disturbed by the new, desperately needed structure – In any event, a woman who has absolutely no STANDING! “With the advent of highly sophisticated, and powerful, modern day weaponry, we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols, alone. This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump added. The post came as the Justice Department again pressed Leon to lift an injunction that has held up parts of the project, arguing in a court filing that a shooting outside a White House checkpoint earlier this month underscored the need for stronger security measures at the executive mansion. TRUMP PULLS BACK CURTAIN ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM’S FORTRESS-LIKE DEFENSES ABOVE AND DEEP BELOW “In light of the recent attacks against President Trump’s life — including two attempts in less than a month — the injunction entered by this Court for the benefit of a strolling woman, who filed suit against the East Wing Project long before she knew what was going to be built (This is a woman who is a known serial plaintiff throughout Washington, D.C.), and who has absolutely no standing, must be immediately vacated, and this suit, which is a complete embarrassment to our Country, must be dismissed,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in the five-page filing. “This is a terrible, tremendously harmful case to the United States of America, and all it stands for!” . The gunman who opened fire at the White House checkpoint was shot by officers and later died at a hospital. APPEALS COURT LETS TRUMP RESUME WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION, SEEKS LOWER COURT CLARITY Leon ruled in April that Trump lacked the legal authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval. He issued an injunction halting “above-ground construction of the planned ballroom,” though an appeals court quickly put that order on hold, allowing construction to continue until June. The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization. The group has said it would not drop the case, even after the Justice Department cited a foiled attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April as a reason to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the lawsuit. Trump previously disclosed that the ballroom project would include a rooftop drone base and a six-story underground military complex with a hospital and research facilities. During a tour with reporters , Trump said the ballroom’s roof would be built for military use and designed to withstand a direct attack. “The entire roof is built for military,” Trump said. “They have a massive drone capacity. Not only is it drone-proof, if a drone hits it, it bounces off, it won’t have any impact. But it’s also meant as a drone port that would protect all of Washington.” The proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom would dwarf the historic White House complex and has become a flashpoint in a broader fight over presidential authority, security spending and the preservation of historic federal buildings. WHITE HOUSE SAYS EAST WING DEMOLITION WAS NECESSARY DUE TO STRUCTURAL ISSUES Trump has argued that the ballroom is necessary to host large events of up to 1,000 people in a secure location, saying current White House entertainment spaces are too small. The White House has said the project’s security features include titanium fencing, hardened roofing, thick special glass and underground facilities. Trump told reporters the roof would be made of “impenetrable steel,” and said the fencing was strong enough that “a bulldozer cannot knock it over.” Leon has not yet ruled on the Justice Department’s latest request to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the case. Reuters contributed to this report.
Why NATO’s defense spending imbalance lasted for decades
This is part five of a series examining the challenges confronting the NATO alliance. For more than three decades, the U.S. carried the largest share of NATO’s military burden while many European allies spent far less on defense than Washington wanted. The imbalance survived the Cold War, multiple U.S. administrations and repeated debates over burden sharing. Only in recent years — following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and renewed pressure from President Donald Trump — have many NATO members begun significantly increasing defense spending. So why did the gap persist for so long? Defense analysts say the answer lies in a combination of post-Cold War optimism, domestic political priorities and an American defense umbrella that convinced much of Europe it could safely spend less on defense without sacrificing its security. GLOBAL SYSTEM TOOK ADVANTAGE OF AMERICA ON TRADE AND DEFENSE. THAT FREE RIDE IS OVER “For much of the post–Cold War period, it is fair to say that Europeans underinvested in defense, partly because threats were low, and partly because a series of U.S. presidents did everything they could to convince Europeans that we would stay there forever,” Barry Posen, a professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told Fox News Digital. The collapse of the Soviet Union reinforced that mindset. With the primary threat NATO had been created to deter suddenly gone, governments across Europe moved to collect a so-called “peace dividend,” redirecting resources toward domestic priorities and away from their militaries. Between 1992 and 1999, defense spending among European NATO members fell 22%, helping establish a pattern of underinvestment that would persist for decades even as the United States maintained troops in Europe and continued serving as NATO’s ultimate security backstop. GERMANY UNVEILS NEW INCENTIVES TO BOOST MILITARY RECRUITMENT AMID GROWING RUSSIA THREAT As defense spending declined, many European governments expanded or maintained social welfare systems that consumed a growing share of public budgets. Programs such as healthcare, pensions and higher education became deeply embedded in domestic politics, often making them harder to cut than military spending. With the U.S. continuing to provide the bulk of NATO’s military power, many governments faced little immediate pressure to reverse course. Critics of the alliance’s spending imbalance argued that American taxpayers were effectively subsidizing Europe’s security, allowing allies to devote a larger share of public resources to domestic priorities. The result was what some defense analysts describe as a “moral hazard” problem: because the U.S. commitment to NATO was viewed as ironclad, allies could spend less on their own militaries without facing the full consequences of those decisions. NATO CHIEF WARNS EUROPE CAN’T DEFEND ITSELF WITHOUT US AS TENSIONS RISE OVER GREENLAND Over time, that dynamic became self-reinforcing. As European militaries shrank, many allies grew increasingly dependent on American capabilities ranging from logistics and intelligence to missile defense, strategic airlift and nuclear deterrence. “We are still having a strong, conventional U.S. presence in Europe,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said earlier in 2026, “and, of course, the nuclear umbrella as our ultimate guarantor.” American frustration over burden sharing is nearly as old as NATO itself. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned European allies that “the American well can run dry” and pressed them to assume a larger share of the alliance’s defense burden. The issue resurfaced repeatedly over the following decades as successive administrations sought greater European contributions to collective defense. The concern persisted long after the Cold War. In a blunt 2011 farewell speech in Brussels, then-War Secretary Robert Gates warned of a “dim if not dismal future” for NATO if European governments continued underinvesting in their militaries. Gates cautioned that there would be “dwindling appetite and patience” among American lawmakers and taxpayers to bear a disproportionate share of the alliance’s defense costs. Yet despite decades of warnings, the underlying incentives changed little. Washington repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to NATO and maintained a large military presence on the continent, reducing pressure on allies to rapidly increase defense spending. “Every administration has been pushing allies to spend more money on their own defense,” former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Jim Townsend told Fox News Digital. The issue gained renewed urgency after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, when NATO established a benchmark for members to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. While spending gradually increased, progress remained uneven across the alliance. “Nations slowly began going to that. But it’s been slow,” Townsend said. For years, burden-sharing disputes followed a familiar pattern: American officials urged allies to spend more, European leaders promised improvements and NATO continued to rely heavily on American military power. What finally broke that cycle, Townsend said, was the combination of Russia’s growing aggression and Trump’s willingness to challenge assumptions that had shaped the alliance for decades. “What really woke everyone up were two things,” Townsend said. “One was the 2022 invasion by Putin the second time. And then the second was Trump.” Unlike previous presidents, Trump openly questioned whether the United States should defend allies that failed to meet defense spending commitments. During his first term and again during his return to office, Trump argued that NATO members were taking advantage of American taxpayers and suggested U.S. protection should not be unconditional. Whether European leaders viewed Trump’s approach as pressure, a warning or a negotiating tactic, it altered assumptions that had shaped the alliance since the end of the Cold War and accelerated a debate that had simmered for decades. The shift culminated at NATO’s summit in The Hague, where allies agreed to a new goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense and defense-related investments by 2035. The agreement marked a dramatic leap from NATO’s long-standing 2% benchmark and reflected a growing consensus that the alliance faced a far more dangerous security environment than the one that emerged after the Soviet Union’s collapse. The agreement also signaled that many allies had come to the same conclusion American presidents had voiced for decades: the post-Cold War era of
Trump expands Turkey ambassador’s diplomatic role, adding Iraq, Syria amid Middle East tensions
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack is getting expanded duties from President Donald Trump to serve as special envoy to Syria and Iraq as the administration tries to forge lasting peace in the Middle East. “I am pleased to announce that United States Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, who has done an outstanding job, will be named Special Presidential Envoy to Syria and, likewise, Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq, as we advance our strategic cooperation with the Governments of Syria and Iraq, our relationship with them continues to grow,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Sunday. Syria, a longtime Iranian terrorist proxy battleground, has moved to make peace with the Trump administration and Israel in recent years. It has largely been moved in that direction with the guidance of Turkey, the northern neighbor of Iraq and Syria. “Tom will remain Ambassador to Türkiye, and operate with the full backing of the United States Department of State,” Trump’s post continued. “We greatly appreciate the work that Tom Barrack has done, and his continued willingness to serve our Country.” US AMBASSADOR BARRACK NAMED SPECIAL ENVOY TO SYRIA AMID SANCTIONS RELIEF PLAN The announcement came as Washington remains locked in high-stakes negotiations with Iran and as Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards launched new attacks on separatist groups in northern Iraq, according to Reuters. Barrack’s expanded assignment places him at the center of several overlapping pressure points in the region: the future of U.S. engagement with Syria, the stability of Iraq, Turkey’s role as a regional power broker and the broader fallout from the U.S.-Iran conflict. The move also follows earlier reporting that Barrack had already been playing a major role in Syria policy, including discussions involving Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the administration’s approach to Damascus. TRUMP TENTATIVELY MAKING PEACE WITH IRAN, BUT POTENTIAL FUTURE STRIKES REMAIN AS LEVERAGE Trump’s announcement landed during a tense weekend for U.S. diplomacy. The president has not announced a final decision on a proposed Iran agreement, and recent reports said he requested changes to a draft deal negotiated by his envoys, including tougher provisions related to Iran’s nuclear materials. Trump said in a Fox News interview that he was “in no hurry” to finalize a deal with Tehran, while warning the U.S. could resume military action if negotiations fail. War Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the U.S. military remained poised to resume strikes against Iran. The administration’s core peace demands have centered on preventing Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and securing terms that Trump has described as tougher than earlier proposals. The Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of contention because of its importance to global energy shipments. The northern Iraq strikes underscored the risk that the conflict could continue to spill across borders even as diplomacy continues. Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, accusing them of threatening Iran’s security. Those attacks have placed additional pressure on Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government while complicating U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq. Barrack, a longtime Trump ally and businessman, is now expected to help manage U.S. relationships with three countries that sit at the heart of the administration’s Middle East strategy.
Graham Platner’s wife campaign video statement responding to infidelity allegations widely panned by critics
Graham Platner’s wife Amy Gertner came out to defend her husband’s Senate campaign Saturday, but X reactions to the five-minute video are rebuking it as damage control that did not dispute recent allegations against the Maine Democrat. “So it makes me really angry, disappointed, and I find it really shameful that there’s a group of media outlets and people who are willing to spread gossip, instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on — like healthcare and education and childcare,” Gertner said hours after the Wall Street Journal reported that Platner exchanged sexual text messages with several women after he and Gertner were married. “Being newly married is hard. Being newly married and going through infertility is hard. Being newly married, going through infertility, and a Senate campaign is hard.” The wife speaking for her husband after the surfacing of allegations against him – and not the candidate himself – was seized on by critics and social media users replying to the video post. SPURNED SPOUSES CASH IN AS NORTH CAROLINA’S ‘HOMEWRECKER’ LAW TURNS CHEATING INTO A COURTROOM JACKPOT “Graham Platner admitted to sexually explicit text messages with over a dozen women and having an account on a ‘predator paradise’ child exploitation app, then had his wife – a victim of his deviant actions – defend it,” National Republican Senatorial Committee press secretary Samantha Cantrell told Fox News Digital on Sunday. Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s campaign for a response but they did not immediately respond. “It looks and sounds like a hostage video,” one X user responded to the video. “Blink twice if you need rescuing, Amy.” The controversy comes as Platner, a progressive oyster farmer and military veteran running to unseat moderate incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has drawn support from national Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who previously praised him by saying, “That’s my kind of man.” TOP OFF-THE-WALL REDDIT POSTS HAUNTING GRAHAM PLATNER’S MAINE SENATE BID “I don’t even know if I have the right words to describe what we’ve been going through, but our marriage counselor helps, my personal counselor helps, Graham’s personal counselor helps, and we work on our mental health every day,” Gertner added. “No marriage is perfect, and I don’t want a perfect marriage. I want my marriage, and I want to be married to Graham.” But X users rebuked the use of the wife to defend the Senate campaign. “It’s not your wife’s job to defend your infidelity, creep,” writer Emily Zanotti wrote on X. “The big problem here is that this story only covers what exists out there: potentially dozens of emails, text messages, and videos Platner sent to who-knows-how-many women, which the campaign is now praying aren’t next to be leaked,” she added in another post. TOP OFF-THE-WALL REDDIT POSTS HAUNTING GRAHAM PLATNER’S MAINE SENATE BID Another X user, who is a self-proclaimed 2028 Kamala Harris for president supporter, denounced the fact a campaign “has forced his wife to make a #hostage video,” urging “Amy, please reach out to .@MEStatePolice so they can remove his firearms from your home.” “Shame on Graham for putting her in this position,” another poster wrote on X. Despite the blowback, Gertner did stress they have “a great marriage.” But critics note the video did little to answer allegations surrounding the Democrat Senate hopeful, particularly with the admission of mental health and infidelity struggles in a still-new marriage. “I have incredible empathy for a woman who’s just had a miscarriage having to make a video defending her husband’s infidelities,” Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts wrote on X. “But a man so damaged by combat – according to him and his family – that he’s said and done destructive things for decades needs to recover, not run for Senate.” GISELE FETTERMAN LAMBASTS ‘TERRIBLE’ MEDIA, SAYS JOURNALISTS BOMBARDED HER WHEN HUSBAND WAS SICK Gertner’s video statement confirmed the mental health questions and notably did not deny the reporting. “I knew the man that I married is wonderful and dynamic and probably a genius,” Gertner said. “I knew the man that I married had been through an immense amount of violent active combat. He’s been in therapy for years. I just I admire the f— out of him. “So when there are news articles about our marriage, it’s just extra sh—-. Can I say that online? I hope I can.” Earlier Saturday, Platner’s campaign confirmed the controversial text exchanges to Politico following a report from The Wall Street Journal that noted a former campaign aide seeking to get ahead of opposition research leaked the damning allegations. DEMOCRATS ‘SELLING THEIR SOUL’ TO EMBRACE PLATNER ARE IN FOR RUDE AWAKENING WITH MAINE VOTERS: GOP LAWMAKER “They’re trying to make this woman a scapegoat when she was clearly the canary in a coal mine,” Watts added in another X post, sharing a Facebook message from alleged whistleblower Genevieve McDonald, who rebuked those defending Platner’s campaign: “We cannot be this painfully stupid.” “So I think I’m feeling angry today, and I don’t normally make public statements, but it’s really important for me to tell all of you out there — especially people who are voting in Maine — that I think it’s shameful behavior to spend time and energy and resources on negative ads and negative stories on Graham when all he’s trying to do is improve the lives of people who work for a living,” Gertner added. The irony of rebuking “attacks” was not lost on critics. “Have you read your husband’s campaign attacks, press releases and X posts?” former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell wrote on X, replying to the campaign video post. “You think you all get a free ride to brutally attack others and not get criticized yourself?” SUSAN COLLINS SHRUGS OFF ATTACKS BY DEMOCRATS AND TRUMP, SAYS MAINE VOTERS ‘DON’T VOTE PARTY LINE’ “Put on your big girl pants – he’s running for 1 of the 100 Senate seats,” he added. Among the “attack” posts noted
Platner controversies fuel speculation about little-known Maine ballot replacement provision
As controversy surrounding Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner continues to mount, attention is turning to a little-known provision of Maine law that could allow Democrats to replace him on the general election ballot after the primary. The question has taken on new significance because Maine election law provides a mechanism for replacing a nominee who withdraws after winning a primary. Under Maine law, a candidate who wins the June 9 primary and subsequently withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13 may be replaced by a nominee selected by party officials. Any replacement candidate must be chosen no later than 5 p.m. on July 27. The timeline would give Democrats just 14 days to settle on a replacement candidate and prepare for the general election campaign. GRAHAM PLATNER VOWS TO ‘COME AFTER’ BEZOS AS SENATE HOPEFUL ESCALATES BILLIONAIRE TAX FIGHT While there is no public indication that Democrats are pursuing such a strategy, the provision has fueled speculation about what options the party would have if concerns about Platner’s candidacy continue to grow. The scrutiny comes as Platner has faced a series of controversies in recent weeks, including criticism over a tattoo with links to Nazi imagery, resurfaced Reddit posts in which he made inflammatory comments about veterans, sexual assault and political opponents and reports about sexually explicit messages exchanged with other women during his marriage. Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, has defended himself against the criticism and retained the support of prominent Democrats, including Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Still, some party figures have questioned whether the allegations could complicate Democrats’ efforts to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races. BERNIE SANDERS DEFENDS MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE UNDER FIRE FOR REDDIT COMMENTS Among the Democrats who have publicly criticized Platner is Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., who described the candidate’s tattoo controversy as “personally disqualifying.” Former Maine state Rep. Genevieve McDonald, who previously served as Platner’s political director, resigned from the campaign and has publicly questioned his viability, reportedly describing him as unelectable. Although Maine law provides a post-primary window for Democrats to replace Platner on the general election ballot if he voluntarily withdraws, any such effort would face significant political hurdles. Platner remains the overwhelming favorite to win the June 9 primary, and there is currently no public evidence that party leaders are organizing a campaign to force him from the race. But the political reality may be more important than the procedural one. Following former Gov. Janet Mills‘ decision not to run, much of the Democratic establishment has consolidated behind Platner, and national Democratic figures have continued to support his candidacy despite the controversies. For now, the question remains largely hypothetical. While Maine law provides a mechanism for replacing a nominee under certain circumstances, Democrats have shown little public appetite for revisiting the race absent a major new development.
Arizona school board member gets backlash after mocking board president with Nazi salute
An Arizona school board member is facing calls to resign after appearing to make a Nazi salute during a contentious public meeting before later comparing the board president to a dictator and saying, “All I could think of tonight was Hitler.” Video from a May 26 Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board meeting appears to show board member Kimberly Fisher raising her right arm and saying, “Heil, heil” during a dispute with board President Paul Carver Jr. The exchange occurred near the end of the meeting during a disagreement over scheduling a community study session related to district boundary discussions. According to video of the meeting, Fisher objected to holding the session during the afternoon, arguing that community members would have difficulty attending. NJ COUNCILWOMAN CONDEMNS ‘IGNORANCE’ OF COMPARING ICE AGENTS TO NAZIS DURING HEATED MEETING “The whole point of having a study session with our community is that we can get their input and they can hear our discussions,” Fisher said during the meeting. Carver later said he moved to adjourn the meeting because the discussion involved an item that was not on the posted agenda and could have raised concerns under Arizona’s Open Meeting Law. “The reason for calling for the adjournment was simply that, as the question turned into discussion concerning an item that was not on the agenda, the board was moving into an area that could have been considered a violation of Arizona’s Open Meeting Law,” Carver said in a Facebook video posted after the meeting. BYRON DONALDS REBUKES ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER OVER ‘FASCIST’ SLUR: ‘DO I LOOK LIKE A MEMBER OF THE THIRD REICH?’ Carver said Fisher made the gesture and comment after the motion to adjourn. “The point behind this post is that there’s a lot of noise being made that she may have been justified in making that statement because she felt like I was being a dictator,” Carver said. “I was simply following the rules of the state of Arizona.” He added that “it is never okay to make those gestures and make that statement with those gestures in any environment.” MARYLAND TEACHER FACES CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OVER CONTROVERSIAL CHARLIE KIRK MEME The incident prompted condemnation from district officials, who said Fisher was acting independently and did not represent the views of the district. “The District does not condone, support, or endorse gestures or language associated with hate, discrimination, intimidation or violence in any form,” Deer Valley Unified School District said in a statement. “Such actions do not reflect the mission or vision of Deer Valley Unified School District.” The district added that Fisher’s “views and actions do not reflect and should not be attributed to other board members, staff, other members of the school community or the District.” TENNESSEE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CENSURED AFTER CALLING STUDENT ‘HOT’ AT MEETING The Deer Valley Educators Association also condemned Fisher’s conduct and called for her resignation. “DVEA was horrified and disgusted to see DVUSD Governing Board Member Kimberly Fisher deliver a Nazi salute during the Tuesday, May 26, 2026, board meeting,” association president Kelley Fisher said in a statement. “Any leader who uses a Nazi salute during a School Board meeting is unfit for public service. There is no justification for this behavior. Kimberly Fisher should resign before she does more harm to our students and the community at large.” WOMAN DISROBES AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN PROTEST OF LOCKER ROOM POLICIES Hours after the meeting, Fisher posted a Facebook livestream in which she doubled down on her criticism of Carver, repeatedly describing his leadership as dictatorial. “We have been living or operating under virtually a dictatorship for a long time,” Fisher said. She also accused Carver of acting like “a dictator” and urged voters not to support him in future elections. DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN HURLS PROFANITY-LACED MESSAGE AT STEPHEN MILLER Near the end of the livestream, Fisher appeared to connect her thinking during the meeting to historical dictators. “What was it? Pol Pot, you know, was the most egregious dictator I’ve heard of,” Fisher said. “All I could think of tonight was Hitler.” Fisher did not directly address the gesture or comment from the meeting during the livestream. VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SUED FOR ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLING $175K FOR STRIP CLUBS, VACATIONS, CAMPAIGN EXPENSES In a separate video posted to social media, Carver said community members had asked why the board was not taking action against Fisher. He argued Arizona law limits the ability of school boards to discipline elected members. “I need the community to understand that in the state of Arizona, the school district and the board do not have the ability to discipline board members,” Carver said. Carver called Fisher’s behavior “rampant and repetitive” and said her actions were “totally unacceptable and unprofessional.” Deer Valley Unified School District serves more than 33,000 students across northern Maricopa County, including communities in north Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Cave Creek and New River, according to the district. Fox News Digital reached out to Fisher for comment.
Trump calls on all future candidates to take cognitive exam, noting perfect score during latest physical
President Donald Trump fired back at critics of his health and cognitive abilities just two weeks before his 80th birthday, repeating his new favorite moniker for his Democrat critics, calling out the “Dumocrats.” “All people running for President and Vice President should be forced to take high difficulty Cognitive Tests,” Trump wrote in an overnight Truth Social post. “Congress, and the Dumocrats, should demand it!” Trump is set to become only the second president to serve at the advanced age of 80 after former President Joe Biden. TRUMP LASHES OUT AT CROCKETT, RENEWS CALL FOR COGNITIVE TEST “The results of my Physical Examination, taken at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, and just released, were extremely good,” Trump’s post began. “Unlike other U.S. Presidents, none of whom have ever taken an approved, high difficulty, Cognitive Test, I scored a perfect 30 out of 30, considered ‘extreme intelligence.’ “Are the Dumocrats really surprised?” Trump has long touted his cognitive test scores, using it as one of his campaign rally staples in contrast to his predecessor Biden, who was the oldest U.S. president in history at 82 when he left office in January 2025. TRUMP DECLARED IN ‘EXCELLENT OVERALL HEALTH’ BY DOCTOR AFTER WALTER REED VISIT The White House released a memorandum Friday night from Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the physician to the president, detailing Trump’s May 26 annual medical examination. The memo said the evaluation included diagnostic studies, laboratory testing conducted over the past year and consultations with 22 specialty providers. The physician’s summary said Trump “remains in excellent health,” with “strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.” It also said his cognitive and physical performance were “excellent” and that he is “fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.” “His demanding daily schedule, including multiple high-level meetings, public engagements, and regular physical activity, continues to support his overall well-being,” Barbabella wrote. TRUMP CLAIMS WHITE HOUSE DOCTORS REPORT HIM IN ‘PERFECT HEALTH,’ SAYS HE ‘ACED’ THIRD STRAIGHT COGNITIVE EXAM The memo said Trump’s neurological exam showed normal mental status, cranial nerves, motor strength, sensation, reflexes, gait and balance. It said he completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, known as the MoCA, and scored 30 out of 30. “In fact, this is my fourth such test, all PERFECT or, 120 correct answers out of 120 questions asked!” Trump added in his post. “It is very rare that anyone gets a Perfect Score, especially when achieved four times in a row.” Screenings for depression and anxiety were also listed as normal, but the report noted slight lower leg swelling, improved from last year, and bruising on the backs of his hands, which the physician attributed to minor soft tissue irritation from “frequent handshaking” while taking aspirin for cardiovascular prevention. The bruising is “common and benign,” according to the physician. Trump’s lab results were listed largely within normal ranges. His total cholesterol was 143, LDL cholesterol was 53, HDL cholesterol was 70 and triglycerides were 104. His fasting glucose was 83.2, hemoglobin A1c was 5.3 and PSA was 1.0. The memo also listed normal kidney, liver, thyroid and cardiac-related markers. Trump’s current medications include rosuvastatin and ezetimibe for cholesterol control and aspirin for cardiac prevention.
America’s next economic powerhouse may be rising in red-state territory
DALLAS — Texas has emerged as the biggest winner in corporate America’s flight from high-tax blue states, attracting a wave of headquarters relocations as companies increasingly abandon costly coastal hubs for lower-tax Republican strongholds. The relocation wave is reshaping the balance of economic power in America, boosting red-state economies while raising fresh questions about whether high taxes and regulation are driving companies out of blue-state strongholds. Dallas-Fort Worth led the nation with 111 headquarters relocations between 2018 and 2025, according to a CBRE report, while Austin added 88 and Houston gained 31. Together, the three Texas hubs have became one of the nation’s biggest magnets for corporate relocations. THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND CBRE found 725 companies relocated headquarters during that seven-year period, with many citing growth opportunities, lower operating costs and lighter regulation as key reasons for moving. Florida, particularly Miami, also emerged as a major beneficiary. Over the past year alone, six companies moved operations to Miami from costly hubs like Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Boston, drawn by Florida’s lower taxes, growing tech sector and access to East Coast markets. Companies told CBRE that Miami’s expanding startup scene and growing pool of finance and tech talent are making the city increasingly attractive. International firms are also flocking to South Florida for its strong tourism, travel and beauty industries. Meanwhile, California suffered the nation’s steepest corporate losses. CALIFORNIA’S LOOMING CAPITAL FLIGHT PROBLEM COULD RESHAPE STATE IN 3 KEY AREAS The San Francisco Bay Area posted a net loss of 163 headquarters during the same period Texas posted gains. Companies leaving California frequently cited taxes, labor rules and soaring living costs as reasons for relocating elsewhere, CBRE found. The migration is also becoming increasingly political. Economic performance often shapes midterm messaging, and corporate relocations are poised to play a larger role in debates over taxes, regulation and the broader business climate. THIS STATE ISN’T JUST GROWING — ITS ECONOMY IS GETTING RICHER PER RESIDENT The issue is drawing even more attention as Democrats in several blue states push billionaire taxes and other progressive policies that critics warn could accelerate the exodus of companies and wealthy residents. Whether the trend endures remains unclear. But for now, the corporate migration is reinforcing a growing reality: Taxes, regulation and cost of living are increasingly determining where businesses invest, where jobs move and which states gain or lose economic power.