US intel community agreed before war ‘Iran wasn’t developing a nuclear weapon’: ex-counterterrorism chief
Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent asserted in a post on X that prior to the start of the Iran war, the U.S. intelligence community agreed that the Islamic Republic was not developing a nuclear weapon. “One of the many tragedies of this war is that before the war began the U.S. Intel Community, including CIA, was in agreement that Iran wasn’t developing a nuclear weapon & that Iran would target U.S. bases in the region & shut down the Strait of Hormuz if they were attacked by Israel & the U.S.,” Kent wrote in a post on Thursday. “The IC also properly assessed that targeting the Iranian leadership would strengthen the regime and embolden the hardliners. Despite the professionalism & accuracy of the IC, the narrative & agenda spun by a foreign government- Israel, won the argument & forced us into this war,” he continued. EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF SAYS TRUMP MUST RESTRAIN ISRAEL BEFORE HE CAN DECLARE VICTORY IN IRAN “We need to understand exactly how this happened to ensure we are never put in this position again,” he concluded. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Friday for a response to Kent’s comments. Kent resigned from the National Counterterrorism Center director role back in March. WHAT ISRAEL WANTS FROM AN IRAN PEACE DEAL: NO ENRICHMENT, MISSILE LIMITS AND STRICT ENFORCEMENT “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” he wrote in his resignation letter. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” In an April Truth Social post, President Donald Trump slapped down the notion that Israel convinced him to enter the war against Iran. TRUMP PUSHES BACK AGAINST PUNDITS, SAYS ISRAEL DID NOT TALK HIM INTO THE IRAN WAR “Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did,” the president wrote in part of the post, referring to the heinous Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack perpetrated against Israel.
California county finds nearly 600 unopened ballots months after Newsom-backed redistricting measure passed
Nearly 600 unopened ballots were discovered in a California county months after voters approved a statewide Democratic redistricting measure, with local election officials admitting they failed voters. The Humboldt County Office of Elections said in a Wednesday press release that the 596 sealed but uncounted ballots did not impact the outcome of the Nov. 4 statewide special election, which centered on Proposition 50, a redistricting ballot measure pushed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats. The ballots were found Monday inside a locked drop box, prompting county officials to say they had not been tampered with because the box was locked, and the ballots remained sealed. Officials said the error stemmed from a miscommunication over whether the drop box had been fully emptied before certification. “While the mistake occurred after an election worker did not follow proper procedures, the responsibility for what happened ultimately sits with me. I did not have strong enough controls in place to prevent this, but we do now,” Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Juan Pablo Cervantes said in the news release. “We have taken corrective action and already updated our protocols. A new lock out, tag out procedure has been implemented for every ballot drop box to ensure each box is physically verified as empty and secured before election results are finalized.” SUPREME COURT SHUTS DOWN CALIFORNIA GOP BID TO BLOCK NEWSOM’S NEW MAP While the ballots will not change the outcome of the November election, Humboldt County officials said they are still endeavoring to ensure all ballots get counted, apologizing to voters that they “fell short” of their duties. “I promise you that we are taking this seriously,” Cervantes added. “We will strengthen our processes and continue pushing toward the standard our community expects and deserves.” Proposition 50, championed by Newsom and California Democrats, allowed the state to temporarily use legislature-drawn congressional maps for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections instead of maps created by California’s independent redistricting commission. REDISTRICTING BATTLES BREWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS PARTIES COMPETE FOR POWER AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS The measure came amid a national mid-decade redistricting fight, with Newsom and California Democrats arguing the state needed to counter GOP-led map changes in states such as Texas. California’s normal redistricting process is handled by an independent commission, but Prop 50 created a temporary voter-approved exception allowing the state to use legislature-drawn congressional maps through 2030. After the Supreme Court last week narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a Louisiana redistricting case, a ruling that could open the door for Republican-led states to pursue new maps that undercut Democratic redistricting gains in California and potential gains in states such as Virginia, California Democrats have faced pressure to consider going even further in response. However, The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that despite this urging for additional action, even after voters approved Prop 50, California Democrats have no intention of making an attempt to redraw the maps again before the midterms. California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks pointed out Democrats need to win the seats created under the state’s existing Prop 50 map they redrew last year. “We have yet to fully win the seats in the map that was drawn in 2025. It seems a step too far to say we’re going to go back to the drawing board and redraw the map,” Hicks said, according to The Los Angeles Times. “You all should pick up some seats. Let’s all do this together, because California cannot do it alone, it will take the rest of the country,” Hicks added, referring to pressure on Democratic-led states to counter Republican redistricting efforts nationwide.
Top Dem legal boogeymen tee up ‘battle royale’ in red state’s redistricting crusade
Democrat-aligned legal heavyweights moved swiftly this week to block Florida’s congressional map after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the redistricting plan into law on Monday, setting up new high-stakes court fights following the Supreme Court’s landmark Voting Rights Act decision clearing the way for red states to reconfigure their lines. Prominent election lawyer Marc Elias and vocal anti-Trump lawyer Norm Eisen were among those spearheading a trio of lawsuits challenging the map, designed to give Republicans four new seats on President Donald Trump’s home turf. Elias is best known for leading high-profile election lawsuits on behalf of Democrats, while Eisen led House Democrats’ first impeachment probe into Trump. One conservative election expert said their new lawsuits might be successful in state court. “If they can delay, even if they eventually get the injunction overturned, by then it’ll probably be too late for these new districts to be put in place,” Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital. DESANTIS SIGNS FLORIDA REDISTRICTING MAP TO POTENTIALLY FLIP 4 HOUSE SEATS RED The fast-moving litigation, brought in Leon County, alleges that the 24-4 map violated a unique provision of the state constitution called the Fair Districts Amendment, which bans partisan gerrymandering. The Supreme Court’s decision involving Louisiana’s map found that congressional lines should not typically be drawn based on racial demographics. DeSantis has signaled that the decision bolstered Florida’s mid-cycle redistricting plan. The Democrat-led lawsuits in Florida, meanwhile, were unable to make race-based claims because of the high court ruling, von Spakovsky said, noting the legal challenges all rested on claims that the newly drawn districts were unfairly crafted to suit Republicans’ political needs. “I think they’re going to have a battle royale in court,” von Spakovsky predicted. “All of the different groups that filed these Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, all of them talk to each other, and they don’t work in isolation, and I can tell you, the reason they filed three different lawsuits is that they’re hoping they’ll get at least one of the three judges to issue an injunction, even if they ultimately lose the case,” von Spakovsky said. “The whole point of these lawsuits is to impose delay.” Republicans are up against the clock to defend the map as Florida’s candidate qualifying period begins in early June, while the state’s congressional primaries are scheduled for Aug. 18. A spokesperson for Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd told Fox News Digital the office could not comment on pending litigation. MEDIA OUTRAGE OVER SUPREME COURT’S VOTING RIGHTS ACT DECISION COLLIDES WITH REALITY One of the lawsuits was brought by Eisen and others on behalf of voting rights groups including Common Cause and the League of Women Voters. Another was brought by Elias on behalf of the Equal Ground Education Fund and several individual Florida voters, and the third was brought by the Campaign Legal Center and the UCLA Voting Rights Project. Florida is among several red, southern states hoping to rework their maps in time for the midterms. The stakes in Florida, an increasingly red state where Trump lives when not in D.C., are highest with four seats up for grabs, while Tennessee is aiming to break up its one Memphis-based majority-Black district and Alabama has only two Democratic-leaning districts. When reached for comment, a spokesman for Elias pointed to his firm’s statement calling Florida’s map “one of the most extreme partisan gerrymanders ever recorded.” “This new map would have one of the largest pro-Republican skews ever recorded,” the statement read, noting that Florida voters “sent a clear message” when they approved the state constitutional amendment banning partisan gerrymandering in 2010. The lawsuits in Florida also come against the backdrop of a broader pre-existing war over mid-cycle redistricting that began with California and Texas. The Supreme Court has greenlit both states’ maps, which gave five new seats to Democrats and Republicans, respectively. In Virginia, Democrats secured a 10-1 advantage in a state that typically leans slightly blue. The state Supreme Court is now examining that map after Republicans alleged in multiple lawsuits that a ballot measure approving the map originated from an illegal special legislative session and that the ballot language was deceiving. BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING IGNITES REDISTRICTING WAR ACROSS SOUTHERN STATES Asked about his redistricting efforts and whether it was a coordinated effort to reverse DeSantis’ plan, Eisen told Fox News Digital DeSantis improperly leveraged the 6-3 Supreme Court decision. The high court’s decision came down on April 29, and DeSantis signed into law the state-legislature-approved map the following Monday, May 4. “Gov. DeSantis has used the excuse of [Louisiana v. Callais], really within hours of that decision coming down from the Roberts court, to do a plainly partisan redistricting in Florida,” Eisen said. “We and the coalition of civil rights and democracy groups and clients have filed a lawsuit to stop that. We cannot see the Callais decision, which itself is wrong, being further abused to drive additional illegal behavior.” DeSantis told Fox & Friends the Supreme Court ruling supported Florida’s new congressional lines both because they dismantled an illegal racial gerrymander and because they reflected population growth. “We actually had a racial gerrymander that the Supreme Court just said is unconstitutional,” DeSantis said. “I knew that was going to happen, so we called the special session back in January for April. … The other thing is, the Florida today is not the same Florida of 2020. We’ve netted two million people. … It does reflect that we have had explosive growth in parts of our state.” Fox News Digital reached out to DeSantis’ office for comment, as well as lawyers for the Campaign Legal Center.
Trump praises Susie Wiles’ cancer fight in surprise gala video: ‘Winning it decisively’
President Donald Trump praised White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as “winning it decisively” in her battle with cancer after she revealed she was diagnosed nine weeks ago while accepting a major award Thursday night. “It’s been especially inspiring to see her courage and toughness in recent weeks, and she’s been winning a battle with cancer and winning it decisively,” Trump said in a pre-recorded video message. “It was an early diagnosis, so she’s going to be in great shape.” Wiles said during an onstage conversation that she would continue to work following the diagnosis. “I come to work every day. I do my job, I don’t complain, and I think that sets an example, too, for the people I work with,” Wiles said. WH CHIEF OF STAFF SUSIE WILES DIAGNOSED WITH EARLY STAGE BREAST CANCER, PROGNOSIS ‘EXCELLENT,’ TRUMP SAYS Trump surprised Wiles with the video as she accepted the Independent Women’s Forum Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor Award at a gala in Washington, D.C. He praised her as “the first female chief of staff in American history” and “one of the best White House chiefs of staff ever in history.” “I say the best, actually,” Trump said, adding that he was “tremendously grateful” for her “friendship, loyalty and support every single day.” TRUMP CHIEF OF STAFF PLEDGES NO ‘DRAMA’ OR SECOND-GUESSING IN WHITE HOUSE Wiles said she did not know the video was intended for the gala, despite briefly walking in while Trump was recording it. “I walked in when he was filming it, but I didn’t know what it was for, and I kind of ducked out the back door,” she said. Trump credited Wiles with playing a key role in each of his presidential campaigns, “especially in 2024,” and said his administration’s accomplishments have come with “her help and her leadership.” TRUMP CHIEF OF STAFF SUSIE WILES RECOUNTS BUTLER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, THOUGHT PRESIDENT WAS DEAD AT FIRST “Susie, we have a problem. I say go to Susie,” Trump said. “We owe her a tremendous debt and what she’s done is just incredible for our country.” Wiles, who described herself as a lifelong Republican, said her decision to back Trump in 2016 was one of the biggest risks of her career. “I wanted a disrupter,” Wiles said. “I looked around at the disrupters in the field and said, I think Donald Trump’s the one.” Asked about her role now, Wiles said, “This is the path God chose for me. And I’m here, and I’m doing the best I can every day.” The gala was held Thursday at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C. Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this reporting.
Trump takes motorcade into Reflecting Pool, blasts past ‘$38M disaster’ fix under Obama
President Donald Trump visited the National Mall on Thursday, driving his motorcade through the drained Reflecting Pool to inspect a restoration project he said is correcting a “disaster” left by the Obama administration. Standing on the pool’s floor, the president touted a $1.8 million overhaul of the landmark, contrasting it with the $38 million spent under former President Barack Obama on a project Trump described as a “construction nightmare” that leaked immediately upon completion. The Reflecting Pool, which stretches more than 2,000 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, is one of the most visited landmarks in the nation’s capital, drawing millions of tourists each year and serving as the backdrop for historic events and presidential ceremonies. Trump was joined by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to review the application of a new, industrial-strength sealant. Trump revealed he personally selected the color for the new surface: “American Flag Blue.” TRUMP WORKING TO CLEAN ‘FILTHY’ LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL, BLAMES BIDEN FOR MAINTENANCE DELAYS “The color was never good because basically it had a gray stone underneath,” the president told reporters. “Now it’s going to have the great color. It’s going to last a long time and you’ll have no leak—guaranteed.” While previous estimates to fix the 2,400-foot-long pool reached as high as $355 million over a multi-year timeline, according to prior National Park Service planning documents, Trump said his team is completing the work in two weeks for a fraction of the cost. The National Park Service previously oversaw a major rehabilitation of the Reflecting Pool that was completed in 2012 at a cost of roughly $30 million, addressing structural issues and chronic leaking that had plagued the site for years. WATCH: TRUMP REVEALS FLASHY NEW COLOR FOR NATIONAL MALL’S REFLECTING POOL MAKEOVER The inspection was part of a broader “beautification” push for the nation’s capital. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the Department of the Interior has cleared more than 1,000 graffiti sites and 82 homeless camps in recent months under Trump’s direction to make the city “safe and beautiful.” “We’ve never had a president who has cared more, invested more, or put more time and attention into everything about the Mall,” Burgum said. The president also previewed several upcoming projects, including improvements to the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft and a proposed Triumphal Arc, though details on timelines, funding, and final approvals were not immediately released.
Trump surprises famously low-profile power player with tribute as she steps out for rare public appearance
FIRST ON FOX: Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff, received the Independent Women’s Forum’s valor award on Thursday night as the president honored his longtime aide with a surprise video tribute. “The woman of valor, that is Susie, come to think of it. Not only is Susie the first female chief of staff in American history, she’s also one of the best White House chiefs of staff ever in history, I say the best, actually. I’m tremendously grateful for her friendship, loyalty, and support every single day. She’s a real professional,” said Trump in the video message, which was shared with Fox News Digital, to Wiles on Thursday evening during the ceremony. The award honors the legacy of Independent Women Forum founder Barbara K. Olson, who was killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, and recognizes women who demonstrate the commitment and courage to advance economic liberty, personal responsibility and political freedom. Trump spotlighted Wiles making history as the first female White House chief of staff, following a long career in Republican politics and key roles in Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. TRUMP NAMES SUSIE WILES AS FIRST FEMALE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF IN HISTORY “I am deeply honored to receive the Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor Award. Her strength, courage, and deep love of our country are inspiring to so many. I have the privilege of serving President Trump, our administration and my dedicated colleagues who fight every day to protect liberty, expand opportunity, and strengthen the lives of American families,” Wiles told Fox News Digital in a statement. “This award is not just a personal honor but a reflection of that shared mission, and I am grateful, humbled, and more committed than ever to continuing that work,” Wiles added. Trump continued in his surprise message during Thursday’s gala that she has been an inspiration while battling cancer. “It’s been especially inspiring to see her courage and toughness in recent weeks as she’s been winning a battle with cancer, winning it decisively. It was an early diagnosis, so she’s going to be in great shape. Susie played a key role in every one of my campaigns for president, but especially in 2024 or when she helped lead us to perhaps the most consequential election victory in modern times,” said Trump. IDAHO REPUBLICANS RALLY BEHIND DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUE WITH CANCER, SHAVE THEIR HEADS IN SOLIDARITY “Everything we have done here in the White House has been with her help and her leadership. She’s respected by everybody. Every one of these people, they respect Susie. We have a problem. I say go to Susie, we owe her tremendous debt and what she’s done is just incredible for our country. Thank you to Susie and congratulations,” he added. In March, Wiles announced she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer upon early detection and received a strong prognosis. She said she now joins the many women who have breast cancer and still continue to raise their children, go to work, and serve their communities. Wiles has been dubbed the “Ice Maiden” by Trump, which he noted in his 2024 victory speech, for her hard-nosed approach to handling politics. Wiles famously avoids the public spotlight, instead working as Trump’s behind-the-scenes enforcer from within the White House. Carrie Lukas, president of Independent Women, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that Wiles is an inspiration and a “powerhouse of getting work done,” making her a force in making “America’s future days bright.” TRUMP CHIEF OF STAFF SUSIE WILES ONCE HELPED NFL BROADCAST LEGEND FATHER PAT SUMMERALL BEAT ALCOHOLISM “Wiles was instrumental in securing President Trump’s victory and continues to keep the administration laser-focused on delivering results. Her impact is enormous—even if she rarely seeks the credit—and that’s exactly why it’s so meaningful to honor her,” said Lukas. Wiles is the 19th honoree of the award joining the previous recipients including Miranda Devine, Kimberley Strassel, Janice Dean, Maria Bartiromo, Betsy DeVos, Nikki Haley, Kellyanne Conway, Carly Fiorina, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Condoleezza Rice. She had a show of support from Trump’s administration with several cabinet members in attendance. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and FBI Director Kash Patel were all in attendance. Independent Women’s Forum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 1992, presenting itself as an alternative to mainstream feminist groups.
Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech’s legal immunity that can shield social media companies
It was the mid-1990s. And the world was online. No doomscrolling for hours through Instagram and X. But people were plowing through GeoCities. There were Hotbot searches – before the days of Google and AI. There was even Ask Jeeves, long before Grok. Congress was on the precipice of adopting a landmark telecommunications law which would dictate the digital landscape for decades. When signing the Telecommunications Act of 1996 into law, former President Clinton declared how the measure would plow “a superhighway to serve both the private sector and the public interest.” RAND PAUL SAYS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT PLATFORM LIABILITY Yup. Back then, some still referred to the internet as “The Information Superhighway.” The 1990s were heady. Full of optimism and possibility. The. U.S. won the Cold War. The economy boomed and was “new.” The internet linked the world. But there was a serious debate about free speech. Who should regulate what was online? Should the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) address what was proper to post, the same way it oversaw the TV and radio airwaves? In the early ‘90s, the National Security Agency (NSA) used a cryptographic backdoor to intercept phone calls called the “clipper chip.” That raised questions about government surveillance. Would that carry over to what the government “watched” when people posted content online? Congress ultimately decided to give the internet a lot of leeway – in the interest of free speech. Telecommunications firms persuaded lawmakers to grant them a legal shelter. “Carriers” weren’t responsible if “customers” posted questionable or offensive material. “We said that the FCC would not regulate either the content or the character of the internet,” said then- Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.) during a 1995 floor debate. “We can’t have the government in the interest of uniformity coming up with standards to regulate this industry.” Cox was a key player behind shaping policy in that 1996 telecommunications law. So was then-Rep. and now Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “The internet is the shining star of the information age,” proclaimed Wyden in 1996. RULING AGAINST META AND GOOGLE COULD SET THE STAGE FOR CHANGES IN HANDLING HATE CONTENT But the Oregon Democrat fretted about some of the filth which was already permeating the internet in its earliest renditions. “My wife and I have seen our kids find their way into these chat rooms which make their middle age parents cringe,” said Wyden. But like Cox, Wyden feared that “censorship could really spoil much of its promise.” So they fought to keep some government regulation out of the telecommunications law. And they inoculated internet providers with something called “Section 230” of that law. Section 230 shielded telecom firms with immunity from lawsuits and criminal charges based on what customers posted on their forums. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) described the logic behind Section 230 and the role of service providers: “If you, as a public service, put up a billboard in a hall and someone puts something on the billboard that says, ‘Congressman Obernolte beats his wife,’ the owner of the billboard is not responsible for the content of that message,” said the California Republican. But lots of people and entities post all sorts of things on today’s worldwide “billboard.” That’s why some lawmakers want to fundamentally alter social media as we know it by paring back Section 230. “Section 230 is absolute liability protection, immunity for the largest social media companies in the world. It’s driving people to suicide. It is ruining our society,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the most ardent advocates for changing the law. “If you buy a bad car, you can sue. Every product you buy, the company has to stand behind it. This is the only area of the law I know where the largest companies in the world have absolute legal immunity.” Graham went as far to suggest that what is available online – and how people use social media – is “as dangerous as drinking.” WHY META AND GOOGLE ARE LOSING COURT BATTLES FOR DAMAGING KIDS BY TRYING TO GET THEM ADDICTED “It’s putting profits over people,” chimed in Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “(Social media) should not have this absolute shield when it is destroying the lives of young people by driving toxic content at them through its algorithms.” Bipartisan lawmakers are boiling about what social media firms allow users to post without legal consequences – even though Congress is partially responsible for creating this problem three decades ago. “As long as these companies believe they’re immune from liability, they’re going to tell all of us to go to hell,” said Graham. UNDER OATH, META’S ZUCKERBERG SHOWED WHY BIG TECH CAN’T POLICE ITSELF Some lawmakers want to strip legal immunity from Big Tech for what winds up on their platforms. “What we ought to do is start by allowing victims of child porn and other child abuse material and sexual abuse material to sue these companies,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) Lawmakers believed that enhanced opportunities for voices and speech would enable the internet to flourish. They argued that the free market would create a rich environment online. So they sidelined their instincts to overregulate. “Government is going to get out of the way and let parents and individuals control it rather than government doing that job for us,” said Cox in 1995. But lofty hopes for a lush “marketplace of ideas” online are dashed by some of the digital slop – and addictive nature of “phones” today. “You talk to people and they’re scared to death of social media. They’re scared to death of AI,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). That’s why lawmakers demand changes to Section 230. One lawmaker says free speech safeguards are crucial for the people deciding what users see online. But not the technology behind it. Today, the technology makes many of those decisions about what we see and hear on our phones. “If you just have an algorithm spewing all this information..” sighed Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). “The
FIRST ON FOX: Top Republicans take abortion pill fight to Supreme Court, citing coercion and safety risks
FIRST ON FOX: More than 100 Republican lawmakers are urging the Supreme Court to reinstate abortion pill restrictions, warning current policy allowing mifepristone to be mailed without in-person oversight has led to cases of women being coerced — and in some instances allegedly forced — to take the drug. The amicus brief, led by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., backs Louisiana’s legal fight to restore an in-person dispensing requirement for the drug. At the center of the filing are allegations that loosened federal rules have enabled coercion, with lawmakers arguing the Biden-era policy “increases the risk of coercion,” referring to changes to the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that removed the in-person requirement. The brief points to several alleged cases in which abortion pills were obtained online or administered without a woman’s consent, including plaintiff Rosalie Markezich, who says her boyfriend ordered mifepristone from a California doctor and coerced her into taking it. ABORTION PILL MIFEPRISTONE SPARKS NEW PRO-LIFE DEBATE AS SOME DOCTORS STRESS SAFETY CONCERNS “Had she visited a doctor in person, her boyfriend would never have been able to obtain the drugs he made [her] take,” the brief says. Lawmakers also cite additional reported incidents, including a case in which a Louisiana mother allegedly obtained abortion pills online for her teenage daughter, leading to a medical emergency, as well as another case involving a man accused of administering the drugs to a pregnant woman without her knowledge. Lawmakers argue such cases are more likely under a system that allows abortion pills to be prescribed online and shipped without face-to-face medical screening. ‘ABORTION PILL’ FOUND TO HAVE ‘SEVERE ADVERSE EFFECTS’ FOR 1 IN 10 WOMEN, STUDY FINDS They say the policy not only weakens safeguards but puts women at risk while removing protections designed to prevent abuse. Cassidy said those safeguards should be restored immediately. “Chemical abortion drugs kill innocent children and put mothers’ lives at risk,” Cassidy said. “Safeguards protecting against coercion, such as the in-person dispensing requirement, must be reinstated immediately. The Fifth Circuit got this right, and I urge the Supreme Court to affirm that decision.” ABORTION PILL FIGHT HEADS TO SUPREME COURT AS MANUFACTURER WARNS OF ‘CHAOS’ AFTER RULING The filing comes after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Louisiana and reinstated the in-person dispensing requirement while litigation continues. Lawmakers argue the FDA “overstepped its authority” by allowing abortion drugs to be distributed through the mail, saying the policy conflicts with the Comstock Act, which prohibits mailing items “designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion.” Smith also argued the drug poses serious risks, citing claims that more than one in 10 women experience complications such as infection or hemorrhaging. They also contend the agency relied on insufficient safety data when it removed the in-person requirement, weakening adverse-event reporting standards and then using limited data to justify expanded access. NEW YORK GOV. HOCHUL SIGNS LAW PROTECTING ABORTION PILL PRESCRIBERS AFTER DOCTOR INDICTED IN LOUISIANA The brief further argues that eliminating in-person visits prevents doctors from screening for serious medical conditions, including ectopic pregnancies, and makes it more difficult to detect coercion or abuse. The legal fight intensified over the weekend when mifepristone manufacturers Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro filed emergency appeals to the Supreme Court, warning the lower court ruling is already causing “immediate confusion and upheaval” across the country. Danco argued the decision is disrupting access and forcing providers, pharmacies and patients to navigate rapidly changing rules, while GenBioPro said the order effectively eliminates mail-order access and upends a system relied on for years. The companies are asking the justices to block the ruling while litigation continues, setting up a high-stakes legal battle that could reshape how the abortion drug is distributed nationwide. The Supreme Court is now weighing emergency requests from the manufacturers, which are seeking to pause the 5th Circuit’s order while the case proceeds. The outcome could reshape access to abortion pills nationwide, determining whether they remain widely available by mail or are once again restricted to in-person medical oversight. “There are legitimate concerns about these drugs putting women and girls at significant risk,” said Leader Thune. “I urge the Supreme Court to reinstate the safety guardrails that were in place before the Biden administration while the Department of Health and Human Services reviews these drugs.”
Future of Ron DeSantis’ controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ ICE holding facility revealed
Governor Ron DeSantis‘ famed “Alligator Alcatraz” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facility in the Florida swamp will “return to the Everglades” after it is no longer needed, a senior Florida government official has told Fox News. The New York Times reported Thursday that Florida is in talks with the Trump administration to shut the facility down, citing massive operational costs amounting to hundreds of millions. The outlet also reported that the Department of Homeland Security determined the facility was too expensive to continue operating. Though calling Alligator Alcatraz a “massive success,” the Florida official emphasized that the facility’s purpose was “to provide Florida and the Trump administration with a rapid, temporary solution to four years of Biden’s open border invasion.” “President Trump secured record funding from Congress to set up permanent sites for detaining and deporting illegal aliens,” the official noted, explaining, “As those sites come online, the need for Alligator Alcatraz as a holding area will wane.” DESANTIS HITS OBAMA WITH BRUTAL ONE-LINE RESPONSE TO DOJ POLITICIZATION ACCUSATION: ‘WOULD LIKE A WORD’ The official said Florida “is glad to see DHS rebuilt” under President Donald Trump. “We continue to fully support the mission,” they said. “And when it’s no longer required, Alligator Alcatraz will return to the Everglades with Florida’s commitment that it will never be developed.” That said, the official said the facility’s 2.5-mile runway will remain available for large flights from neighboring ICE facilities. Regarding the operational costs, the official said, “We also appreciate the federal government’s commitment to reimbursing Florida for its immediate efforts to step in and help with this mission.” FLORIDA OFFICIALS REVEAL CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS OF MIGRANTS HELD AT ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ The official said that “since its inception, Alligator Alcatraz has processed over 21,000 illegal aliens for deportation.” “Needless to say, Alligator Alcatraz was a massive success,” they added. This comes shortly after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Florida’s favor that Alligator Alcatraz could remain open, following a judge’s order for the facility to wind down operations for failing to comply with federal environmental law. In a 2-1 decision, the majority on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals found the state-run facility was not under federal control and was not subject to federal law requiring an environmental impact review. WATCH: CHAOS ERUPTS AS FLORIDA DEM IN PINK JUMPSUIT GRABS BULLHORN MID-VOTE: ‘IT’S ILLEGAL!’ “Florida, not federal, officials constructed the facility,” the majority wrote. “They control the land and ‘entirely’ built the facility at state expense.” The facility is located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport site, an area surrounded by protected wetlands within the Everglades ecosystem, according to court filings. The New York Times reported that Florida has been spending more than $1 million a day to run the center. Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Tennessee passes new congressional map likely to flip final Dem seat as protests erupt inside Capitol
Tennessee lawmakers passed a new congressional map Thursday that sets up a potential flip of the state’s final Democratic seat. The push to redraw Tennessee’s congressional lines could erase the state’s final Democratic foothold in Washington, cementing a 9-0 Republican delegation and raising concerns about the future of Black voter representation in Memphis. Despite vocal disruptions from Democratic lawmakers, the Republican-controlled legislature passed the map, advancing the measure to Gov. Bill Lee for his expected signature. The new map targets the 9th Congressional District—the state’s sole majority-Black district and its last remaining Democratic stronghold. Republican lawmakers argue the shifts reflect the state’s overall political identity. Tennessee has trended increasingly red over the past several election cycles, and the new lines align with the state’s conservative lean. REDISTRICTING HELPS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS FLIP HOUSE SEATS The legislative session was marked by high tension and protest tactics from the minority party. As the vote neared, Democratic lawmakers in the House linked arms and used air horns to drown out the proceedings. The unrest extended to the galleries, where Tennessee State Troopers were called in to maintain order. Law enforcement held back protesters who attempted to reach the chamber floor as the vote took place. Democrats characterized the move as a direct assault on minority representation. State Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, criticized the redistricting, framing the decision as a “political monopoly.” NAACP ACCUSES TEXAS OF ‘RACIALLY MOTIVATED’ REDISTRICTING MOVE IN NEW LAWSUIT Lamar told the chamber that while the GOP may have the votes to pass the map, they lack the “moral authority” to do so. She called the move an “insult” to the Black community and the city of Memphis, warning that the decision has “awakened a sleeping giant.” State Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, echoed these sentiments, claiming the state’s political landscape is manufactured. “Tennessee is not a red state,” Oliver argued. “Tennessee is a gerrymandered state. We are a suppressed state.” The map was first presented Wednesday as part of a broader redistricting push backed by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who is the favored candidate to replace Lee. TENNESSEE SEN. MARSHA BLACKBURN LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR “I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis,” Blackburn previously wrote on X, sharing an image of the new Tennessee map. “It’s essential to cement @realDonaldTrump’s agenda and the Golden Age of America.” “I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I’ll do everything I can to make this map a reality.” Legal challenges are already underway, including a lawsuit filed by the NAACP’s Tennessee chapter on Thursday arguing the map dilutes Black voting power and targets the state’s only majority-Black district. Fox News Digital’s Eric Mack contributed to this report.