Trump admin taunts left for ‘praying’ for World Cup disaster as DOT touts record numbers
EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is claiming victory over the left after a successful FIFA World Cup tournament that saw record-shattering numbers of fans moving through the U.S. Several million FIFA fans flocked to American stadiums this year, putting an enormous strain on federal, state and local transportation networks. However, aided in part by a more than a $100 million DOT infrastructure investment to World Cup host cities, the tournament went off without any major incidents, prompting Duffy to taunt doomsayers who predicted the country would fall on its face. “The Left was praying for an American transit disaster as we hosted the most important international sporting event in modern history,” Duffy told Fox News Digital. “They were wrong, and President Trump was right.” FBI BOSS KASH PATEL DETAILS HOW AGENCY AND PARTNERS SECURED RECORD-SHATTERING FIFA WORLD CUP Among the naysayers was Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who in April accused the Trump administration of endangering FIFA fans by “systematically dismantling security agencies, delaying critical security assistance, and initiating a war with Iran.” All this, Gallego said, made the country’s top security agency, the Department of Homeland Security, “woefully unprepared to accomplish its mission.” Gallego remarked that “if state and local officials do not trust that federal employees will coordinate in lockstep and operate as partners, they will be unable to protect their communities—increasing threat risk and compromising Americans’ safety in the process.” He added that “this self-imposed chaos extends to the Trump administration’s management of federal departments and agencies.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., took a similar tone, asserting ahead of the tournament that “Trump cares more about being on international TV at midfield on match day than actually hosting successful games.” In May, The Atlantic published a piece titled “Another Way America Will Choke at the World Cup,” in which the author predicted that “in the coming months, America’s patchwork railway system will be similarly challenged—and its weaknesses exposed—across all 11 U.S. sites of World Cup matches.” Nathaniel Sizemore, a spokesperson for the agency, told Fox News Digital that it was “the Left’s TDS [Trump derangement syndrome]” that “put them in the absurd position of praying for an American transit disaster.” PRESIDENT TRUMP STEALS PART OF SPOTLIGHT AS SPAIN CELEBRATES WORLD CUP TITLE OVER ARGENTINA However, with the World Cup officially concluded, the results are in and, according to DOT, they are conclusive. The department said that, aided by its $100.3 million in federal funding to host cities, local transit systems accommodated record-breaking numbers. During the World Cup, Atlanta saw more than 2 million riders use public transit to get to matches, fan fests, and other events, with match-day ridership reaching up to three times the typical average. In Seattle, DOT said that more than 1.1 million combined riders used city public transit during the first two matches alone. On July 6, the city’s light rail system accommodated 309,000 riders, blowing well past the system’s single-day record of 220,000 riders. Meanwhile, Philadelphia, which also hosted this year’s MLB All-Star Game, saw an average of 27,000 riders using public transit per match. The city’s PHLASH bus service recorded a 500 percent increase in ridership. Even cities not previously known for their public transit systems accommodated record numbers. Kansas City saw a one-day record for streetcar riders at 48,260 on June 27. Los Angeles saw a 598 percent increase in rider taps on World Cup match day compared to a typical Friday. To put it further in perspective, DOT said that in San Francisco, an average of more than 38,000 fans moved to and from World Cup matches using public transit, exceeding Super Bowl LX’s numbers by nearly 8,000. DOT is not the only one that noticed the U.S. public transit system performing. At the start of the tournament, Vox ran a piece titled “The World Cup has a Trump problem.” In the piece, the outlet accused Trump of “actively hindering” the World Cup and other sporting events, especially through the president’s “hostility to all immigrants … especially to non-white ones.” Yet, ahead of the final match, Vox wrote that “the nation’s widely expected World Cup public transit meltdown has simply not materialized.” RILEY GAINES: WORLD CUP VISITORS ARE REMINDING AMERICANS WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTRY GREAT The outlet said that “to the surprise of pretty much everyone, US cities have managed to absorb the influx of fans with relative ease, even under the pressure of record ridership en route to stadiums, watch parties, and fan zones.” Duffy, however, was not surprised. “Whether they flew, took passenger rail, hopped on public transit, or hit the open road, Americans and visitors alike saw the best of our nation over the last month,” he told Fox News Digital. He added that “from the FTA’s investment into local public transit to the FAA’s work keeping our skies safe, we were proud to help FIFA fans get to the games safely and on time.” Fox News Digital reached out to Gallego, Schumer, The Atlantic and Vox for comment.
Retired Lt. Col. running for Congress backs Trump Iran strategy: ‘He’s ending a 47-year conflict’
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Flippo knows a thing or two about winning a fight. During his military career he deployed around the world, including serving as a maintenance and logistics officer in Iraq during the lead up to the 2003 invasion. Currently, he’s locked in a tough battle in a Republican-leaning open swing district comprising an enormous chunk of northern Nevada. Nevada may be the best bellwether state west of the Mississippi. It’s a hotly contested state with a booming economy and an exploding population marked by a familiar theme in politics: a stark divide between its rural and urban populations. JOE LOMBARDO CRUISES PAST SIX GOP CHALLENGERS TO SECURE NEVADA REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION Trump won Nevada by a modest margin in 2024, and Governor Joe Lombardo defeated a Democrat incumbent in 2022. Yet three of its four congressional districts are blue, as are both of its Senate seats. The Democrats hold both chambers of the state legislature by large margins. Flippo won the Republican nomination despite having a well-known establishment-backed primary opponent in the Nevada legislature: “Well, up in the north, it’s an R+7 district, and Trump won that district by 14. It’s a conservative district. And running against the establishment versus a conservative candidate who had been endorsed by Turning Point, Club for Growth, President Trump endorsed me. Obviously, the conservative people in the northern Nevada area wanted a conservative in this seat.” Having never held elected office, Flippo presents his newcomer status as an advantage, rather than a liability: “I beat the establishment. I think people are tired of the establishment politicians, the politicians that…are there just to be a moderate, be that middle ground. I think we need fighters in Congress. “I think we need people in Congress that are ready to stand up, stand up for the American people, and here in Nevada, stand up for Nevadans.” Flippo spent much of his military career in the Middle East. He argues that Trump’s Iran policy is ending a war, not starting one: “What President Trump is doing with the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, this has been a 47-year conflict. Some in the media have been saying that Trump is starting a forever war, but in my opinion, he’s ending it. “Most all of my career was in the Middle East, fighting because of Iran and what they’re doing with Israel and with Hezbollah and Hamas and the Houthis. What Iran has done is over, and things are going to change, and President Trump sees that. “I fully support what President Trump is doing. We need to open up the strait, it needs to be a clear waterway. We need the flow of oil to start again.” The voters of northern Nevada want a constitutional conservative, Flippo argues, and he is prepared to deliver results on budgetary issues, as the exploding national debt approaches $40 trillion. “We have to get to a balanced budget. We have to get this deficit under control. What are we, $39 trillion in debt now and it keeps climbing? Something has to be done. We have to stop spending money that we don’t have. “We need to stop expanding government. And that’s what’s been happening over the years. We just keep expanding and expanding. You know, I’m a constitutional conservative: government has four purposes and if you go beyond those four purposes, it belongs to the states. “And the government has taken on so much now that we just keep getting more and more in debt. And it’s time that we have representatives in Congress that are ready to stop that.” Illegal immigration is a signature issue for Flippo, who paints the problem in economic terms, and is concerned about its impact on a variety of pressing public policy issues. “lllegal immigration is a problem in the United States. And if you look at what’s happened in the last six years under Biden and the open borders policies and the 20 to 30 million people that were allowed to come in, what has that done? It’s caused housing costs to go up. NEVADA LT GOV: ELON MUSK COULD MAKE SPACE TOURISM STATE’S NEXT BIG INDUSTRY “That’s a supply and demand issue. 20 million people. That’s 20 cities the size of Las Vegas, right? What does that mean? That means all those schools, the police departments, the fire departments, all those social service programs. All that has to be paid for by tax dollars, by taxpayers. 20 cities the size of Las Vegas, 40 cities the size of Reno. That’s a lot. That’s a lot to ask for the taxpayers to come in all at once.” While the district leans Republican, the Democrats believe they have fielded a formidable candidate in former Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson. Flippo is not taking anything for granted, but believes the contrast between his conservative outlook and her left-wing voting record will play to his advantage. “She’s a big government [supporter], big spender. She’s voted to raise taxes 12 times here in Nevada. She voted for the largest tax increase in Nevada’s history. She voted for Planned Parenthood funding. She voted for drivers licenses for illegals. I mean, she has a voting record that she says she’s very proud of. And I don’t believe that’s something to be proud of.” Finally, Flippo believes that Trump’s support is a net asset in his district, and believes that support, along with the backing of Gov. Lombardo, will carry a lot of weight. “My district in northern Nevada, District 2, is an R+7 that Trump won by 14. So Trump obviously carries some weight in northern Nevada. It’s a conservative part of this state, which is different than the southern part. “Getting on a team with the governor being united, getting the vote out is going to be critical. And having Trump on my side up in the north is going to be a huge factor in winning this.”
New York Times torched for ‘FALSE’ reporting on ICE investigations, outlet fires back
The Department of Homeland Security and The New York Times are going toe-to-toe after the agency accused the outlet of “false” reporting alleging that federal agents across the country were told that the FBI would not be investigating confrontations with ICE officers. “This is FALSE,” DHS posted on social media. The agency said that “the relationship between DHS and [the Justice Department] in investigating assault on federal officer cases has NOT changed, and [the FBI] will continue to investigate in accordance with agency policy.” “This administration has been clear, anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” DHS added. In response, Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for The New York Times, said the outlet stands by its reporting, telling Fox News Digital, “We’re confident in the accuracy of our reporting, which revealed that Federal agents around the country were told in recent days that the F.B.I. would no longer investigate confrontations with immigration agents.” TRUMP BLASTS NEW YORK TIMES, CNN FOR ‘SEDITIOUS’ COVERAGE OF IRAN WAR Rhoades Ha pointed out that the story “included a joint statement from the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security denying that such a change would be enacted.” The outlet reported that federal agents around the country were told in recent days that the FBI would no longer investigate confrontations with immigration agents, cases that The New York Times wrote, “Sometimes yield evidence that could be used to prosecute Department of Homeland Security agents implicated in violent encounters.” The Times wrote that if such a policy were enacted it would “sharply limit law enforcement scrutiny of immigration agents” and be “effectively leaving the agency to investigate itself.” FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL, NEW YORK TIMES CLASH OVER PAPER’S CLAIM ITS REPORTER WAS ‘INVESTIGATED’ The outlet added that this comes as the Trump administration “draws mounting criticism over killings at the hands of federal officers.” ICE officers were involved in two fatal shootings this month in Maine and Texas. This has led to renewed protests against immigration enforcement operations. DHS, meanwhile, has called attention to significantly increased attacks on federal law enforcement officers in the line of duty. In response to The New York Times, DHS and DOJ doubled down that the report is categorically false and that the relationship between the two agencies has not changed. HARRIS CALLS FOR ICE PROBE AFTER MAINE SHOOTING AMID RENEWED ‘BORDER CZAR’ CRITICISM In a joint DHS-DOJ statement shared with Fox News Digital, the agencies reaffirmed they are “partners in addressing crime and upholding the rule of law, while securing the safety and security of American communities.”
Warren’s latest ‘kiss of death’ endorsement sparks mockery over disastrous political picks
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is drawing conservative criticism over several recent endorsements after backing progressive Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed ahead of the state’s August Democratic primary. “After Graham Platner’s implosion, Warren’s endorsement should be viewed as a kiss of death by any Democrat who actually wants to win. Pocahontas clearly has not learned her lesson with toxic socialist candidates and by shamelessly endorsing El-Sayed continues to drag her party straight into electoral oblivion,” RNC National Press Secretary Natalie Baldassarre told Fox News Digital. Warren, one of the Senate’s most progressive Democrats, has long championed policies favored by the party’s left flank as socialist and democratic socialist ideas gain traction among some Democratic voters. WARREN DEFIES SCHUMER AS DEM CIVIL WAR EXPLODES OVER MUST-WIN SENATE RACE The Massachusetts Democrat had previously endorsed Platner, calling him her “kind of man” from the campaign trail. He later withdrew from the race after a rape allegation, which he denied, and also faced criticism over a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi-era symbol that he apologized for and covered. “Abdul is the only candidate in this race not taking corporate money, and he’s fighting to get money out of politics altogether. Abdul’s studied to be a doctor, and he is fighting for every single American to have affordable, high-quality healthcare,” said Warren on X. Critics swiftly seized on Warren’s endorsement record while attacking El-Sayed over his views on Israel and support for socialist policies. Among Warren’s endorsements this cycle were Katie Porter in California’s gubernatorial race, Mallory McMorrow in Michigan’s Senate race and Zach Wahls in Iowa’s Senate race. Porter and Wahls lost their respective primaries, while McMorrow suspended her campaign before Michigan voters cast primary ballots. MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED DODGES QUESTION ON WHETHER HE STILL SUPPORTS DEFUNDING THE POLICE “From the same person who said Nazi Tattoo-wearing Graham Platner was ‘My kind of man’ before dropping out in disgrace,” wrote the Republican Jewish Coalition. “Elizabeth Warren is a complete and total joke.” “The hate America Red/Green alliance, embodied,” wrote Fox News Contributor Paul Mauro. “The kiss of death. Now he’s doomed,” said conservative commentator Robby Soave. MICHIGAN SENATE RACE: EL-SAYED’S TIES TO EXTREMIST FUEL ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS AMONG JEWISH VOTERS “You say that taking ‘corporate money; is forbidden but you are OK with him taking Super PAC contributions from radical Islamists,” wrote former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. “I would simply not listen to any of the people who spent nearly a year ignoring Graham Platner’s red flags,” wrote one X user. Fox News Digital reached out to Warren’s office on Monday.
Illegal immigrant who murdered Michigan woman sues Trump, demands $75M, public apology, US citizenship
An illegal immigrant serving a lengthy prison sentence for the murder of a Michigan woman is suing President Donald Trump, alleging he faced humiliation when his case was used as a political talking point, and is demanding $75 million, a public apology, and U.S. citizenship. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 27, who was previously deported from the United States, is serving a sentence of 39 to 102 years in prison for killing Ruby Garcia in March 2024. Garcia’s body had several gunshot wounds and was found dumped along a road in Grand Rapids. The pair were in a romantic relationship and were engaged in an argument at the time of the slaying. EXCLUSIVE: DHS SEEKS CUSTODY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER TRUMP DEPORTATION, BIDEN RELEASE In a handwritten complaint filed in federal court, Ortiz-Vite named Trump and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Steven Cheung as defendants. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House. Ortiz-Vite’s case garnered national attention and was highlighted when Trump, who made combating illegal immigration a large part of his campaign, visited Grand Rapids in 2024. During his remarks, Trump labeled Ortiz-Vite as “America’s problem.” FAMILY SHATTERED AFTER 3-TIME DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ALLEGEDLY BLEW THROUGH STOP SIGN, ROILING HOUSE RACE He also featured Ortiz-Vite’s mugshot in commercials as an example of the “murderers, rapists , and drug traffickers” who resided illegally in the United States, The Midwesterner reported. He was mocked by prison staff and other inmates, he said. “I was put into a category. Who I was as a person no longer mattered! What only mattered was my race,” Ortiz-Vite wrote. “My case and immigration status! Once again, it belittled me, shattered my dignity and what I was as a person.” “The shame it brought to my family name is a reality I have to live with now,” he added. “I took full responsibility for my actions but for them to use my case for political gain on TV was unjust. Humiliating. When I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. I was center stage in front of a nation, public scrutiny at its finest!” Ortiz-Vite, who acted as his own attorney, said his case came under intense media coverage, resulting in him living in a “nightmare”. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS NEW ICE HOLDING FACILITY NEAR LOUISIANA DEPORTATION FLIGHT HUB “It all became clear to me when I first met with my court-appointed attorneys. They explained how my case had now gotten blown out of proportion and was now a high-profile case!” he wrote. “The shock in their eyes and the tears from mine were a reaction to my realization that I was living everyone’s worst nightmare! To be publicly infamous—a target! To the United States of America, from here everything went downhill. I was now labeled a cold-blooded murderer in the eyes of the people of this nation.” “The anxiety and despair I felt compares to no other,” he added. Matthew Borgula, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, said the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed, citing a range of factors, including presidential immunity. “Federal law requires courts to screen prisoner suits before anyone is served. This complaint will likely not survive that screening,” Borgula told Fox News Digital. “Also, Presidential immunity covers official acts, and campaign statements can fall outside it — but this suit fails for more basic reasons.” Borgula noted that Trump’s statements on the Ortiz-Vite’s case were “substantially true, and being publicly embarrassed by a politician isn’t a constitutional violation. This case should end before it begins.” Tudor Dixon, a former Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate, called the lawsuit an example of arrogance and entitlement. “As long as we have Democrats jetting to other countries to coddle criminal illegal aliens over margaritas, this level of arrogance and entitlement from convicted murderers will continue,” Dixon told Fox News Digital. “It’s time lawmakers stand with the Ruby Garcias of the world instead of her killer.” After entering the U.S. illegally, Ortiz-Vite remained under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until his status expired on May 10, 2019, MLive.com reported. He was deported following a 2020 arrest for driving while intoxicated. It was unclear when he re-entered the U.S. illegally. The complaint didn’t cite any legal violations, instead blaming Trump for labeling him as an example of the Biden administration’s border policies. Ortiz-Vite eventually said he “stood tall” and took responsibility for his actions. “Because I was remorseful for my actions on the 26th, I turned myself in and confessed to the murder of my partner at the time,” he wrote. “Knowing the consequences it would bring, I stood tall and was respectful when asked about the actions that took place on the night of March 24th, 2024.” He is seeking $75 million, a public apology, and “naturalization to this beautiful country.” Despite its lack of merit, Borgula, the lawyer, noted that the lawsuit appears to be a window into what it’s like to become a talking point in a national campaign. “While the plaintiff may feel aggrieved, I don’t see that a federal court can offer a remedy,” he said. “He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Once you’ve done that, absent overturning the conviction, I don’t see a legal avenue for collecting damages on a theory that your conviction was unfair.”
One six-pack of beer could significantly alter how the Constitution regulates law enforcement
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an Alaska man’s challenge to the state’s effort to confiscate his plane over a six-pack of beer, setting the stage for a case that could upend the ability of law enforcement to impose asset forfeiture. Kenneth Jouppi, now 82, was operating a one-man air taxi service using his personally-owned 1969 Cessna plane in 2012 when Alaska state troopers executed a search warrant on his plane and found alcohol on board, including one six-pack that they said was plainly visible. At the time, Jouppi was on a runway in Fairbanks preparing to take a customer and her groceries to the remote village of Beaver near the center of the state. Having beer on board wasn’t illegal on its own. However, since Beaver had banned the possession or sale of alcohol within its limits, Jouppi was convicted of alcohol importation, a misdemeanor. The Alaska Supreme Court held that, under the alcohol importation ban, the state was required to confiscate Jouppi’s Cessna. GOP LAWMAKERS URGE SUPREME COURT TO STRENGTHEN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS FOR STREET PREACHERS Jouppi has since argued in court that the state’s seizure of his plane, valued at $95,000, runs afoul of the 8th Amendment’s ban on excessive fines. Now, the Supreme Court will weigh in on whether he’s right. When ruling on Jouppi’s case, the court will have the opportunity to seriously rein in the ability of state and local governments to impose asset forfeiture — a longtime goal of civil libertarians. “For centuries, English common law took into account the characteristics of the defendant and his or her specific violation in determining excessiveness,” a trio of scholars working for the libertarian Cato Institute wrote of the case. “When courts lose touch with the original understanding of a fundamental right, they risk watering down the constitutional protections that must be afforded to everyday people. Such dilution of rights is especially dangerous today as governments generate billions of dollars in revenue through civil and criminal asset forfeiture.” SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY LIMITS USE OF GUN LAW USED TO PROSECUTE HUNTER BIDEN “This case gives the Supreme Court the opportunity to ensure that the people are afforded the protection that the Eighth Amendment promises them,” they added. Alaska, however, argues that confiscating the planes of those who facilitate illegal imports is the only way the state can meaningfully prevent the problems caused by alcoholism in its remote regions. DOJ SUES DENVER OVER BAN ON ‘ASSAULT WEAPONS’ AS CITY’S DEM MAYOR SAYS IT ‘WILL NOT BE BULLIED’ “Alcohol abuse is a serious problem in rural Alaska, and airplanes are sometimes the only realistic means to commit the crime of alcohol importation,” a legal brief from the state reads. “Jouppi was convicted for his own knowing and intentional misconduct, and forfeiture removes the business asset that was the means used to commit the offense.” Some villages in Alaska are not connected to major road networks, making them primarily accessible by small planes, such as the one owned by Jouppi. A trial court in 2018 ruled that the state taking Jouppi’s plane would be an excessive fine under the Constitution, though the Alaska Supreme Court ultimately decided otherwise in 2025, leaving the United States Supreme Court as the one-time pilot’s only remaining outlet for recourse. Oral arguments in Jouppi’s case are likely to take place either later this year or early next year, with a decision expected to come down by next summer.
Reporter’s Notebook: The Republican-led vote that revealed Democrats’ new divide on Israel
Things sometimes evolve slowly in politics. There’s a perception, axiom or maxim which is agreed upon in politics. But over time, it changes. Sometimes the change is subterranean. The tectonic political plates move. But no one is quite aware of what’s happening until one event crystallizes the shift. Such is the case with support in the Democratic Party for Israel. HOUSE DEMOCRATS FRACTURE BADLY OVER MASSIE AMENDMENT TO CUT $3.3B IN U.S. AID TO ISRAEL The politics of supporting Israel have moved for several years now. Especially after Israel’s response to the deadly attacks by Hamas and pro-Palestinian groups on October 7, 2023. But then there’s that one moment which seems to change everything. That was certainly on display in the House of Representatives during a single roll call vote last week. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., engineered an amendment to a State Department funding bill to cut off $3 billion in aid to Israel. Some Democrats viewed this as a political effort to cleave the party. Whether it was political or not remains to be seen. But Massie’s amendment split Democrats nearly down the middle. The House defeated Massie’s effort, 314 to 104. Massie was the only Republican who voted in favor of slashing aid to Israel. But 103 Democrats joined Massie to also suspend the assistance. Ten Democrats voted “present,” only 98 Democrats voted to reject Massie’s effort. The Democratic divide over Israel has widened for a while now. It used to be rare to have more than a few Democrats who wouldn’t stand beside Israel. But that House roll call vote truly underscored where the party is now. It exposed deepening internal fissures. “This is an important moment because nothing will be the same on this issue ever again,” observed Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, chair of the House Progressive Caucus. “It used to be that just a small number of House Democrats would vote against sending taxpayer dollars and weapons for the Israeli military. Then, two years ago, 37 House Democrats voted to not send billions of dollars to the Israeli military.” Casar added that this was “not the end. This is a new beginning” for Democrats. “Democrats here in the House have finally decided to do what the people, our voters, the constituents we represent, have been asking us to do,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. “I am proud that they have finally decided to lead with their morals.” The left says the party is simply reflecting where its core voters stand. NEW YORK TIMES RAISES EYEBROWS BY REFERRING TO AIPAC AS ‘HARD-RIGHT’ PRO-ISRAEL GROUP “You’re seeing a shift. The American people are growing weary of this war and what’s happening,” said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., argued the vote wasn’t “a litmus test” for the party. But said the vote addressed another phenomena. “Americans of all backgrounds are deeply frustrated that our needs are not being met at home. But our resources are being sent abroad in a way that is not representative of our values and not representative of who we are,” said Ocasio-Cortez. Former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is retiring from his seat early next year. Few lawmakers from either party have been as vocal as Hoyer in supporting Israel over the past four decades. “This amendment would embolden the enemies of peace, those pursuing the complete elimination of Israel and those who seek the death of Jews,” said Hoyer. “It’s a vote against American security.” Hoyer stepped back from the House Democratic leadership in early 2023. But today’s Democratic leaders concede the party currently views Israel through a different lens. “It’s not lost on me that the actions the (Israeli) Prime Minister has taken has not made it easier for us to be supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-CA. Even Democrats who voted in favor of the aid say there are shifts in Israel which prompted Democrats to recalibrate their views. “I think a lot of people are concerned about Netanyahu and are concerned about some of the activities over the past couple of years,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., voted against cutting off money for Israel. Bell is a freshman who defeated progressive former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., in the primary two years ago. He then won the general election that fall. Bush is a skeptic of Israel. She is challenging Bell in next month’s primary. “It’s important that we do stand with our allies because our sworn enemies are not going away,” said Bell. It’s unclear if Bell’s vote – pitted against Bush’s more progressive stance – could dictate who wins the primary. But it’s worth watching. Pro-Israel Republicans worry about the anti-Israel tide shift on the Democratic side of the aisle. “I think they’ve been captured by crazies. You can see it in their elections by people who hate Jews.” Said Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla. But the new positioning by the Democratic party concerns Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., He’s a staunch ally of Isreal. Fetterman is threatening to desert Democrats if the party deserts Israel. “That’s my red line in the Democratic party,” said Fetterman. “Look at the people that are winning these primaries right now. They’re not just ‘I’m just pro-Palestinian. I am deeply anti-anti-Israel.’” SEN JOHN FETTERMAN PLEDGES TO BE ‘LAST MAN STANDING’ IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL Notably Fetterman did not say that he would necessarily become a Republican. But Democrats need Fetterman in their fold. Republicans hold a 53-45 advantage over the Democrats. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Angus King, I-Maine, caucus with the Democrats. That gets you to 47 senators who align with the Democrats. So Democrats need a net win of four seats to seize control of the Senate next year. Democrats hope to hold Michigan, Georgia and New Hampshire. But they are also looking to flip seats in Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Iowa and Alaska. Any combination of four seats scores
EXCLUSIVE: Ousted DHS counterterrorism chief sues millionaire ex over alleged sugar daddy smear campaign
FIRST ON FOX: A former high-ranking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official who was publicly sidelined in a “sugar daddy” media firestorm is fighting back with a major defamation lawsuit, accusing her wealthy ex-boyfriend of weaponizing her gender to destroy her counterterrorism career after she rejected a marriage ultimatum. Julia Varvaro, the 29-year-old former DHS deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism, filed a federal complaint Monday in the Eastern District of Virginia, alleging defamation per se and defamation by implication against Robert “Bob” Bianchi, multimillionaire CEO of federal contractor SDVO Solutions. The lawsuit accuses Bianchi, 57, of fabricating a DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) complaint that falsely claimed Varvaro’s college education was funded by “sugar daddies” and her jewelry consisted of “trophies.” He then leaked the confidential complaint, private photos and text messages to The Daily Mail to ignite a tabloid scandal, according to the suit. NAVY VETERAN WHO BEAT CNN IN COURT SAYS CIA WANTS HIM TO DELETE, BURN BOOK MANUSCRIPT: ‘THAT’S CENSORSHIP’ The lawsuit specifically targets “defamation by implication,” accusing Bianchi of strategically manipulating intimate text messages to frame their age-gap relationship as a transactional “sugar baby” arrangement. Attorneys argue a leaked text message exchange where Bianchi teased, “Don’t f— with Daddy on fashion,” and Varvaro replied, “Daddy knows all,” was lighthearted banter about their age difference — not evidence of sex work. The lawsuit also addresses Apple Cash transfers that Bianchi framed as “consideration for sex,” noting the payments were standard financial flows of a committed relationship. In one private text exchange, when Bianchi suffered from kidney stones in Europe and Varvaro allegedly covered his emergency medical bills, screenshots included in the suit show he texted her, “I’m sorry lover … Thanks for your help today. I was struggling,” to which Varvaro replied, “It’s okay lover as long as you are good is the only thing that matters … Whatever you need I will figure out as long as you’re good.” BLAKE LIVELY ALLEGES ‘MEAN GIRL’ SMEAR CAMPAIGN DAMAGED HER CAREER, SEEKS UP TO $296M Later, after she drove him through snowy roads, screenshots show Bianchi messaged her: “I love you Julia. Thanks for being You,” and gave her his home keycode, texting, “I’m yours lover… you are always welcome, any time or day.” Bianchi also frequently messaged her support, writing, “I’m proud of the work you do. You’re making a difference,” and expressed his gratitude after introducing her to his children: “Thanks for a nice evening. I appreciate you meeting all my kids… I love you.” However, attorneys claim the tone shifted during a historic 76-day government shutdown in February, when Varvaro was furloughed. The lawsuit alleges that when she planned to take a temporary bartending job to pay rent, Bianchi insisted she come to him for the funds instead. But when she accepted, Bianchi used her financial vulnerability as leverage for control. In another exchange, he purportedly texted her: “I told you I am not paying your bills until we are engaged.” Varvaro said she refused the ultimatum, ended the relationship, and told him she did not need “an ATM.” In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Varvaro’s attorney, Vel Freedman, described the fallout of the subsequent media controversy as “devastating.” NY TIMES COLUMNIST KRISTOF SAYS NO PLANS TO SEEK OFFICE AGAIN AMID DISCLOSURE ISSUES, QUERIES ON UNUSED FUNDS Freedman revealed Varvaro has been “terribly” impacted, suffering public humiliation, losing her position and seeking therapy under the care of physicians. He also highlighted the unique weaponization of gender in the alleged smear campaign, noting that Bianchi’s allegations were tailored to be “extraordinarily devastating to her career and her reputation… in a way that is sort of unique to being a woman.” The legal battle flips the narrative from April 22, when the media initially reported she was ousted. An anonymous complainant, now identified as Bianchi, told The Daily Mail he spent $40,000 on Varvaro, that she used drugs, and had a dating profile on Seeking — a website that markets itself as “a space where love and luxury meet.” Varvaro maintains she met Bianchi on Hinge, a separate dating app that uses a Nobel-Prize-winning algorithm to learn users’ “type,” according to the company. Once his identity was unmasked by the press, however, attorneys said Bianchi recanted, telling People Magazine their relationship was actually “brief and personal” and “not a ‘sugar’ relationship.” Despite his retraction, Varvaro was terminated from DHS and had her employment offer as a CIA targeting officer rescinded. It is unclear what specific concerns or infractions prompted Varvaro’s dismissal. The CIA, DHS, Hinge and Seeking did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Bianchi could not immediately be reached for comment.
Johnson has three-word answer on whether House will leave early
With the House facing a jam-packed final week before August recess, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is making clear lawmakers won’t leave Washington until they finish their work. Asked by Fox News on Monday whether he would send the House home early if GOP leaders failed to win a critical vote slated for Tuesday afternoon that would tee up consideration of several major bills, Johnson had a quick three-word response. “I will not,” he said. The speaker’s comments come as he attempts this week to put a GOP-authored stock trading ban on the floor along with a stopgap spending measure funding the government through the midterm elections, while bringing a must-pass annual defense policy bill up for a second time. GOP’S $95B DEFENSE PACKAGE SURVIVES CRITICAL HURDLE AMID FISCAL HAWK REVOLT GOP leaders are also racing to pass a $95 billion budget framework providing for $73 billion in defense and intelligence funding as the Iran war drags on while also funding agriculture and election integrity priorities. The Trump-endorsed blueprint has spurred criticism from fiscal conservatives, who argue it lacks spending offsets. The first test comes Monday evening when the House Rules Committee is expected to report out a rule setting up a chamber-wide procedural vote on the legislative items Tuesday. Given House Republicans’ slim margins, Johnson can afford to lose just three GOP defections if all members are present and voting. House conservatives have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to vote down party-line procedural votes this year over various concerns, including frustration over the SAVE America Act stalling in the Senate. “The fact that there is no payfor and no language defunding Planned Parenthood is enough for me to vote no,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., a fiscal hawk, told Fox News Digital on Monday, regarding the budget framework. Trump urged Republicans in a Truth Social post Monday to support the budget plan, arguing it would include as much of the election measure “as possible.” GOP CIVIL WAR ERUPTS OVER TRUMP’S LATEST AGENDA PUSH AS KEY REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO SINK MEGABILL Burlison has voiced concern about getting elements of the SAVE America Act through the Senate’s stringent budget reconciliation requirements — a process in which the Senate parliamentarian plays an outsize role. “I am open to a dialogue with the administration on how we can ensure that the SAVE language is solid and what we might be able to do with stopping abortions by mail,” he told Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Monday that Congress should stay in Washington until a short-term funding package and the SAVE America Act reach Trump’s desk. “After this week, the House and Senate won’t be in session at the same time again until SEPTEMBER 14 if we keep the current schedule,” he wrote on social media. “That’s insane. We STILL need to pass the SAVE America Act and prevent Democrats from shutting down the government in October.” “This would NOT fly in the business world. We need to stay here until we get ALL our work done. That’s what the American people expect of us,” he continued.
Birth tourism fight shifts to US ‘tropical maternity ward’ with history of Chinese exploitation
The congressional fight over birthright citizenship shifted to the U.S. territories this week after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s effort to deny citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., said a Senate proposal as well as the overall birthright citizenship debate leaves untouched the five inhabited U.S. territories, where citizenship at birth was established by federal law rather than directly under the Fourteenth Amendment. “The ‘Barbara’ decision leaves open the door for Congressional action on citizenship in the American territories,” Griffith said in introducing the End Birthright Citizenship for Territories Act, referring to the Supreme Court’s recent birthright citizenship ruling. BIRTH TOURISM CRACKDOWN EXPANDS AS HOUSE CHAIRMAN RAISES CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY CASE “Because of the current birthright laws in place in the territories, any child born in a U.S. territory minus American Samoa, regardless of a parent’s nationality, accesses U.S. citizenship automatically.” Four of the five U.S. territories – the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) would be covered by Griffith’s bill. American Samoans are not automatically conferred U.S. citizenship upon birth. “This bill should stop the so-called ‘birth tourism’ that is taking place in the American territories,” Griffith said. SEN ERIC SCHMITT SEEKS TO END BIRTH TOURISM, REVOKE CITIZENSHIP FOR BABIES OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS Congress established birthright citizenship in most territories by statute, and Griffith argues it therefore has the authority to revise those laws. “Accordingly, I am leading the charge in Congress to rectify this problem, clarify U.S. citizenship laws in the territories and combat foreign nationals who are exploiting loopholes in our citizenship laws to take advantage of U.S. generosity.” After the federal government assumed control of CNMI immigration in 2009, DHS used parole authority to permit eligible Chinese and Russian visitors to enter the islands without visas — a policy critics say facilitated birth tourism. ‘IT’S INSANE’: GOP SENATOR SAYS SUPREME COURT BIRTHRIGHT RULING HANDS CHINA A CITIZENSHIP LOOPHOLE That change led CNMI to be “flooded with so-called birth tourists” in what a New York Post report described as a “tropical maternity ward” of citizens ripe to reach voting age around 2030. Residents of the five inhabited territories cannot vote in the presidential general election while living there, though they participate in party presidential nominating contests. Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and CNMI elect House delegates, while Puerto Rico elects a resident commissioner. None may vote on final passage of legislation on the House floor. Federal prosecutors shut down one of the CNMI’s largest commercial birth-tourism operations during the first Trump administration. Prosecutors said one individual, Sen Sun, operated a lucrative birth-tourism business on Saipan that “illegally employed dozens of caretakers… all Chinese nationals… without work authorization,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Guam and CNMI. Sun pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens. Griffith’s bill relies partly on the Insular Cases, a group of early-20th-century Supreme Court decisions addressing how constitutional protections apply in U.S. territories. Lower courts later applied that territorial framework in citizenship cases, including the D.C. Circuit’s 2015 decision in Tuaua v. United States, which held that the Citizenship Clause does not confer birthright citizenship on people born in American Samoa. Asked about Griffith’s bill and the recent reports on birth tourism in her territory, Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds, R-CNMI, said she supports securing U.S. borders and stopping anyone who “tries to abuse America’s immigration laws.” “If someone is exploiting our immigration system, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I have zero tolerance for fraud or abuse,” King-Hinds said. However, she claimed Griffith’s bill is targeting the wrong people – noting the 2009 shift in territorial immigration authority to the federal government. King-Hinds said that with people admitted to CNMI under federal oversight, Congress should strengthen enforcement rather than “single-out” Americans living there. King-Hinds said CNMI has a unique relationship with the mainland through what is called its “Covenant” – a negotiated agreement she said deserves “careful consideration” before Congress adjusts rights granted to people born there. “I am also deeply concerned about creating one standard of citizenship for Americans born in the fifty states and another for Americans born in the territories. The people of the CNMI have disproportionately and proudly served in our Armed Forces, contributed to this nation, and lived as loyal Americans for generations. They should not become the testing ground for policies that Congress cannot or will not apply elsewhere.” “I stand ready to work with my colleagues to accomplish those goals, but I will always fight to protect the rights of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands,” she said. Fox News Digital also reached out to Dels. Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., Pablo Jose Fernandez, D-P.R., and James Moylan, R-Guam, for comment. In the 2022 case United States v. Vaello Madero, the Supreme Court upheld Congress’ exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from the Supplemental Security Income program. Justice Neil Gorsuch agreed with the judgment but wrote separately to argue that the Insular Cases should be overruled. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “A century ago in the Insular Cases, this court held that the federal government could rule Puerto Rico and other territories largely without regard to the Constitution. It is past time to acknowledge the gravity of this error and admit what we know to be true,” Gorsuch wrote – potentially setting up another court battle, should Griffith’s bill gain further steam. Other critics have countered that if territorial residents want full rights, they should actively pursue statehood as Alaska and Hawaii did in the modern era. Griffith’s proposal could force Congress and the courts to confront how much authority lawmakers retain over citizenship rules in the territories. Fox News Digital’s Robert Schmad contributed to this report.