GOP vows to stop lone activist judges from halting Trump agenda
Democratic lawmakers are claiming a D.C. circuit court judge’s ruling blocking the Trump administration’s deportation of suspected Tren de Aragua gang members is a rightful part of “separation of powers.” Republicans, however, say the judge overstepped his bounds and that they are moving to ensure such an occurrence does not happen again. This comes as the Trump administration has faced more than a dozen injunctions from various district court judges across the country on a range of policy decisions. On Wednesday, a federal appellate court declined to issue a stay on a ruling by Obama-appointed D.C. Federal District Judge James Boasberg, who issued a temporary restraining order last weekend blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals. In light of these developments, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing early next week looking into the issue of “activist judges.” Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital that in addition to the hearing, House GOP members are also considering a bill to address the issue. ALLOWING JUDGES TO IMPEDE TRUMP ON IMMIGRATION POSES NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT: EXPERT “I think the administration’s doing the right thing by fighting it legally,” he said. “There’s a good bill that we’re considering. So, we’ll be looking at that next week.” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., confirmed the GOP plans to take action, saying, “We’ll do everything that we can with our legislative toolkit to ensure that they are doing what’s right by the American people and then also following through on our constitutional obligations.” “Right before President Trump took office, the Democrats actually knowingly made admissions that they were appointing obstructionist justices in order to undermine what the president’s agenda was,” Luna told Fox News Digital. “Those judges are not elected to office to interpret or set foreign policy perspective. That is the entire job of the administration,” she said. TRUMP SOUNDS OFF AFTER ‘HIGHLY CONFLICTED’ OBAMA-NOMINATED JUDGE ASSIGNED SIGNAL CHAT LAWSUIT: ‘DISGRACEFUL’ Asked how a lone circuit court judge can overrule the president on foreign policy, Democrats responded by invoking the need for separation of powers and “due process.” “The issue before the court is due process, and one that I think the courts are going to chime in strongly on this as they have already, in many instances,” said Rep. Jesús García, D-Ill. “I believe in the separation of powers and the federal courts are an equal branch of government,” answered Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz. “I support the right to make a decision, and all branches of government, both executive and Congress, need to abide by federal court decisions.” Meanwhile, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., bashed President Donald Trump as “insane” for calling Boasberg a “radical left lunatic of a judge” who should be impeached. LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS “The judiciary has to be independent whether it goes for you or against you,” said Swalwell. “We can’t let politics invade judicial decisions, and wanting to impeach a judge is just insane.” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., asserted that Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act could be unwarranted because there has not been any war declared. “The Alien Enemies Act is a law. It’s a law that has to be followed. So, they’re not dictating foreign policy, they’re saying you have to actually follow the law, which is kind of a judge’s job if they are following the law,” said Smith. “But it’s a question to be asked and the Alien Enemies Act is pursuant to a declaration of war. There has not been a declaration of war. So, the law does need to be followed, and I think it’s appropriate to analyze that question.” GROUP OF DEI WORKERS SUE TO STOP TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are asking a very different question. “Who the hell do they think they are?” asked Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. “A district in the east, or whatever, to be able to do an injunction and apply it to the whole country, they shouldn’t have the ability to do that. They shouldn’t do it,” he said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Speaking with Fox News Digital on the steps of the Capitol, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Ohio, pointed to an inscription on the Supreme Court building, saying, “It says equal justice under the law. So, when you have jurists that are acting in an unconstitutional manner… they need to go, period.” “We’re coequal branches of government,” he went on, adding, “That dude, he’s not a king.” BLUE STATE SANCTUARY LAWS ENABLED ILLEGAL ‘ABOLISH ICE’ ACTIVIST TO EVADE CAPTURE, SAYS LOCAL DA Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, called the use of activist judges to override foreign policy “really scary.” “As far as the low-lying judges, it’s a little bit scary to think that they could actually stop the progression of a federal movement where you have the executive branch which should be the final say as far as that,” he said. “My party needs to be very methodical about how we fix it, and we have to codify law to make sure that we can prevent this from happening again,” he went on. “It’s probably not going to be the fastest movement,” he predicted. “But we’re going to try to do better with the laws, so this doesn’t happen again.” Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
US Naval Academy ends affirmative action in admissions: ‘Implementing all directives’
A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) can no longer consider race, ethnicity or sex in admissions to the Annapolis, Maryland, service institution, following orders from President Donald Trump. Vice Adm. Yvette Davids made the policy change Feb. 14, noting “neither race, ethnicity nor sex can be considered as a factor for admission at any point during the admissions process, including qualification and acceptance,” according to a court filing by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was made public Friday. Trump’s Jan. 27 executive order stated “every element of the Armed Forces should operate free from any preference based on race or sex” and directed the secretary of defense to conduct an internal review of the country’s service academies. The decision followed a December ruling in federal court allowing the Naval Academy to continue considering race in its admissions process. NAVAL ACADEMY CLOSING DEI OFFICES TO ALIGN WITH TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS: MEMO Academy attorneys in September argued that prioritizing diversity in the military “makes it stronger, more effective and more widely respected,” according to a report from The Associated Press. Judges in December found “military cohesion and other national security factors” meant the school should not be subjected to the same standards as civilian universities, according to the report. The appeal was brought by the group Students for Fair Admissions. The DOJ on Friday requested a suspension of the case as it looked over the change in USNA’s policy. “The parties require a reasonable amount of time to discuss the details of the Academy’s new policy and to consider the appropriate next steps for this litigation, including whether this litigation is now moot and, if so, whether the district court judgment should be vacated,” the DOJ wrote in the filing. Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, called the affirmative action policies “unfair and illegal” in a statement to the AP. TRIAL ON USING RACE-BASED ADMISSIONS IN THE NAVAL ACADEMY KICKS OFF IN CRUSADE AGAINST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION “Racial discrimination is wrong and racial classifications have no place at our nation’s military academies,” Blum wrote. Maryland Rep. Sarah Elfreth, a Democrat serving on USNA’s Board of Visitors, told the AP the decision was “disastrous” and “will have negative implications on our military’s recruitment and retention for decades to come.” “A Navy and Marine Corps that reflect the diversity of our country is our strongest Navy and Marine Corps,” Elfreth said. “Diversity and inclusion allow our academies to not just reflect how our country looks but are critical to mission readiness and strong national security.” In February, the academy said the school was taking steps to close all agency diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) offices and ending DEIA-related contracts in accordance with Trump’s executive orders. WEST POINT DISBANDS GENDER-BASED, RACE CLUBS IN TRUMP’S DEI SWEEP Though its DEI and DEIA offices were closed since at least the summer of 2024, Davids noted “concerns have been raised that some of these programs may have been modified in a way that obscures their DEIA objectives.” She said if any staff members were aware of changes to obscure the connection between a contract and DEIA or similar ideologies, they should report it to the Office of Personnel Management. “The U.S. Naval Academy did not have a DEI or DEIA office prior to the President’s executive order that mandated closure of all agency DEIA offices and the end of all DEIA-related contracts,” Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a Navy spokesperson, told Fox News. “The U.S. Naval Academy sent the Jan. 23 email internally to staff simply to inform its personnel that the executive order was issued and USNA would fully comply. “The Navy is executing and implementing all directives issued by the president with professionalism, efficiency and in full alignment with national security objectives.” Human resources officials also told staff USNA emails should not include gender-identifying pronouns on signature lines. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tesla Takedown: Anti-Musk protesters mobilize for Global Day of Protest at hundreds of Tesla locations
Amid a wave of violence against Tesla vehicles, showrooms and charging stations, anti-Musk protesters could see their biggest show of force yet as the decentralized movement known as Tesla Takedown is planning a “Global Day of Protest” targeting more than 500 Tesla locations worldwide. The protests slated for Saturday have been promoted by actors, filmmakers, congressional legislators, academics and activists who led a “mass mobilizing call” last week to drum up support. More than 275 Tesla locations in the U.S. and over 500 worldwide will be targeted as part of the effort. While the protests against Elon Musk and Tesla have lately involved destructive tactics, leaders who have been promoting Saturday’s event, such as progressive Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, have said the protests will be “nonviolent.” VANDAL STRIKES CYBERTRUCK, TESLA OWNER HITS BACK “We are fighting for our country,” Crockett said during the mass mobilization call last week. “We’re fighting for democracy. We’re fighting for our freedoms. And when I say fighting, I’m saying that figuratively. Obviously, everything that I am promoting is nonviolent.” The FBI announced the formation of a new task force Monday, established to “crack down on violent Tesla attacks” that the president and other members of the Trump administration have described as “domestic terrorism.” Violent incidents targeting Musk and Tesla have ranged from alleged Molotov cocktail attacks on Tesla properties in several states to attacks on individual citizens who own Teslas. A Las Vegas-area resident was arrested Wednesday for his alleged part in a Molotov cocktail attack on a Tesla property. The suspect is facing multiple felony charges, including three counts of arson, three counts of possession of an explosive device, five counts of shooting into a car and four counts of destroying personal property, according to local police. THE LOUDEST SILENCE: TOP DEMOCRATS REMAIN MUM AMID VIOLENT ATTACKS ON TESLA While there is no centralized group leading this mass protest event, local and national advocacy groups, such as Indivisible, a progressive anti-Trump advocacy group, are helping with organization efforts. “Indivisible groups are the folks holding peaceful protests on the sidewalk, not damaging cars, and they’re speaking up because they’re concerned for our country,” an Indivisible spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The group confirmed it was not directly involved with any funding or organization efforts but did confirm that local chapters were engaging with the event. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In response to the planned protests, pro-Trump supporters have reportedly begun mobilizing to counter the anti-Musk message. In New Jersey, Terry Beck, a pro-Trump organizer, is trying to rally a caravan of Trump supporters to counter one of the anti-Musk protests planned near Trenton on Saturday, according to NBC News. Posts on social media show others across the country are also attempting to mobilize counter-protesters.
Trump appoints Sara Carter as next drug czar, says she ‘will lead the charge to protect’ US
President Donald Trump appointed Sara Carter as the next Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). He made the announcement on Friday in a post on social media platform Truth Social. “As our next Drug Czar, Sara will lead the charge to protect our nation, and save our children from the scourge of drugs,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘ZOMBIE DRUG’ SMUGGLED ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER A GROWING THREAT TO AMERICANS, DOCTOR WARNS Carter re-posted Trump’s Truth Social post on X with a message thanking the president and expressing her excitement about joining the administration. “It is truly an honor to serve President Donald J. Trump and be part of an administration committed to putting America first,” Carter wrote. “America’s greatest resource is our people and it will be up to each and every one of us to do our part – I promise you I will never stop fighting.” As a journalist, Carter, who was a Fox News contributor, did extensive reporting on the border, particularly during the Biden administration when immigration policies were more lax. She called for stronger border policies due to the massive amount of drug and human trafficking occurring. NAVY DEPLOYS ADDITIONAL WARSHIP TO CURB ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, DRUG SMUGGLING AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., congratulated Carter in a post on X. Blackburn praised Carter’s work on the border, saying the new drug czar would “fight tirelessly” to keep Americans safe. Texas Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez also congratulated Carter and praised her appointment, saying it was “GREAT for the country.” “This is an excellent opportunity for you to effect change and help so many families who have lost loved ones due to deadly illicit drugs,” Olivarez wrote. Fox News Digital reached out to Carter for comment.
Trump releases powerful video highlighting US-Greenland bond after deadly Nazi attack
On the same day Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland, President Donald Trump posted a compelling video highlighting the strong historical bonds between the Arctic nation and the United States. The 90-second video touts past U.S. military efforts to defend and protect Greenland during World War II when the U.S. suffered hundreds of casualties after a Nazi U-boat torpedoed and sank the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester. The U-boat struck in the dead of night on Feb. 3, 1943, killing dozens instantly while hundreds more succumbed to the icy waters of the Atlantic, according to the Defense Department. The incident is remembered four Army chaplains giving up their lives to save others. TRUMP REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ODDS OF ACQUIRING GREENLAND: ‘I THINK IT’LL HAPPEN’ “In the cold silence of the tundra, a bond was born. Not from treaties or trade, but from blood and bravery,” the narrator of the clip says. “While Germany controlled Europe, the Nazis set their sights on the Arctic. Greenland became an unwitting combatant and the United States stepped in, not to conquer but to protect.” The video notes that nearly 1,000 service members, civilians and crew carried with them “hope, duty and a quiet fear” in a voyage they knew was rife with danger. But after the attack, the frigid waters of the North Atlantic “became a grave.” “Those four chaplains gave up their life vests, giving their lives so that others might live to protect America and Greenland,” the narrator says. “Their sacrifices helped win our freedom and we will never forget. Together, Americans and Greenlanders stood as sentinels at the top of the world.” In total, 672 people died during the deadly attack, according to the Defense Department. The video was created by Securing American Greatness a non-profit created during the 2024 presidential election to support then-candidate Trump. It also shows several clips from the war and landscape images of Greenland before going on to make the case why the U.S. needs to join forces with Greenland, arguing that Greenland faces new threats from Russia’s “aggression” and China’s “expansion.” PUTIN SAYS TRUMP PLANS FOR GREENLAND ‘HAS NOTHING TO DO’ WITH RUSSIA “Our shared legacy lives on in every joint mission, every Arctic patrol, every partnership forged in the shadow of melting ice and rising tensions, this is not just history,” the narrator says. “It is destiny. Now is the time to stand together again, for peace, for security, for the future. America stands with Greenland.” Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also shared the video on X. The video was posted by Trump as he doubled down Friday on his efforts to acquire Greenland as part of the U.S. for international security purposes Friday, Although the Danish territory has said it is seeking independence from Copenhagen and isn’t interested in becoming part of the U.S., Trump has repeatedly offered, dating back to his first administration, a desire to secure Greenland for the U.S. as Russian and Chinese presence grows in the Arctic. “If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we’re not going to be able to do that,” Trump told reporters Friday. “We’re not relying on Denmark or anybody to take care of that situation. And we’re not talking about peace for the United States, we’re talking about world peace, we’re talking about international security.” Vance echoed the commander and chief’s goals for Greenland on Friday during his visit to Pituffik Space Base, the Defense Department’s northernmost military installation. He said that Denmark has not done a good job at keeping Greenland safe. “What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark,” Vance explained in a more toned-down approach from Trump’s previous statements. “And then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.” The chaplains who died in the attack were George L. Fox, a Methodist minister, John P. Washington, a Catholic priest, Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister, and Alexander D. Goode, a rabbi. They were all awarded Purple Hearts and Distinguished Service Crosses for their actions that day. Congress additionally created a “Four Chaplains’ Medal,” which was presented to their survivors in 1961, according to the Defense Department. Fox News’ Diana Stancy Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
Top vaccine official allegedly pushed out of FDA: report
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) top vaccine official, who was part of the first Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, has reportedly been forced out of his position, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report. A Health and Human Services (HHS) allegedly gave Dr. Peter Marks a choice between resigning or being fired, the WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter. SENIOR MAHA ADVISOR SAYS FDA IS ‘ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL,’ HAS NO CLUE WHAT’S IN AMERICA’S FOOD “It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Marks allegedly wrote in his resignation letter. WSJ reports his resignation will go into effect on April 5. WSJ reported that people familiar with the matter said Marks’ stance on vaccines conflicted with that of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, an outspoken vaccine skeptic, was asked about the issue of immunizations during his confirmation hearing. However, he stressed that he was not “anti-vaccine” and defined himself as “pro-safety.” He also revealed during his hearing that “all of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.” ANYONE OVER 50 SHOULD BE GETTING THESE 5 VACCINES, DOCTORS SAY Recently, Kennedy’s stance on vaccines was put to the test as measles spread in Texas. He told Fox News’ senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel earlier this month that he was recommending measles vaccines to promote “community immunity.” Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA and HHS, but did not immediately receive responses, as the requests were sent outside business hours. In August 2020, Marks reportedly confirmed to Reuters that he threatened to resign if the COVID-19 vaccine was released before it was proven to be safe and effective. “You have to decide where your red line is, and that’s my red line,” Marks told Reuters in 2020. “I would feel obligated [to resign] because in doing so, I would indicate to the American public that there’s something wrong.”
Republican lawmaker confronted over Signal chat leak, responds sharply
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., had a quick response when someone attempted a “gotcha” question. In a viral video, a young man is seen running up to the congressman with a phone, presumably filming, before asking about the Signal chat leak that has rocked Washington, D.C., for the last week. The unidentified man asked the congressman whether he could “trust Trump’s national security team to keep our war plans top secret?” Rather than ignore the man or try to answer his question, the congressman hit him with a snappy response. “Do you trust your mother every night to fix your Hot Pockets and make sure your Game Boy is turned on?” he fired back. GOP REP. BURCHETT SLAMS FEDERAL JUDGES FOR HALTING DEPORTATION FLIGHTS Burchett’s retort seemed to shock the man, who stopped walking as the insult was hurled, while the congressman continued on. The Tennessee congressman posted a video of the exchange on X and got several responses supporting him and cheering on his response. Texas congressman Wesley Hunt, R, simply replied, “Savage brother.” TRUMP TEAM’S SIGNAL SNAFU SPARKS DEBATE OVER SECURE COMMS The video posted on Friday does not appear to be the congressman’s only interaction with the man behind the camera. On March 25, Burchett posted another video featuring a man who appeared to be the same person in Friday’s video. In Monday’s exchange, the man behind the phone camera asked the same question that he would later repeat on Friday: “Do you trust Trump’s national security team to keep our war plans secret?” The congressman replied, “I do — but I do not trust your wardrobe adviser.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP There are a number of videos on Burchett’s X account that feature someone who appears to be the same man who asked the congressman a question on Friday. Fox News Digital reached out to Burchett’s office to confirm if the videos feature the same person, but did not receive an immediate response, as it was outside office hours.
WATCH: Dems struggle to name the leader of the Democratic Party
Top voices in the Democratic Party, as well as average Democratic voters, have struggled to answer who the party’s leader is when asked during interviews. A video from the conservative opposition research organization, America Rising, highlighted comments from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin on the matter, including average Americans, almost all of whom struggled to give a clear answer. “People know me, I’m pretty straightforward. I don’t think it’s a secret that Democrats have been on their heels since Trump won the election. I don’t think that’s something hidden. And I think it’s on us to be clear about not only leadership, and there’s lot of leaders in both parties, but also a strategy, right?” Slotkin said in a “Meet the Press” interview earlier this month, which is in the clip. SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN TELLS ‘THE VIEW’ DEMOCRATS NEED TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM At the time, she added that the party is still “finding their footing.” Slotkin, who won her competitive Michigan seat in November, came into the national spotlight after responding to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress on March 4. “I think there’s a lot of discontent with the Democratic leadership, and I think with the entire Democratic Party,” Sanders said in an interview with CNN. Others asked in the video struggled to answer the question, except for one woman who said that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is the current leader of the party. BERNIE SANDERS GETS UP DURING INTERVIEW AFTER ‘NONSENSE’ QUESTION ABOUT AOC “Nobody. There isn’t one,” another person said in the video. The progressive “Squad” leader recently held numerous “Fighting Oligarchy” events in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada with Sanders in opposition to the Trump administration. However, the jury is still out as to who, if anyone, can emerge as a uniting voice for progressives and moderates in the party while still maintaining staunch opposition to the Trump White House. CHUCK SCHUMER FACING ‘UPHILL FIGHT’ AMID LEADERSHIP DOUBTS: ‘MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF’ Meanwhile, some in the clip outright objected to the notion that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who’s technically the highest-ranking Democrat in the United States, is the actual leader. Schumer has faced some calls to step down from his position after voting in favor of a continuing resolution backed by the Trump administration to avert a government shutdown – a move that many Democrats in his own caucus disagreed with. A recent CNN poll of 504 Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents muddies the water even more, with Ocasio-Cortez getting the highest percentage of being considered the leader at 10%, with former Vice President Kamala Harris at 9% and Sanders at 8%. The same poll showed a 29% favorability for the Democrats, compared with 54% viewing them unfavorably.
How Trump-blocking judges managed to get past Senate judiciary hawks
As federal judges exceed records with an onslaught of nationwide orders blocking President Donald Trump’s orders, some have revisited how each was confirmed, and whether Republicans could have foreseen their rulings or done anything more to block them. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital in an interview, “This is why I think I voted against every Biden judge.” He acknowledged that many of the judges in question were confirmed before his time, given he was first elected in 2018. SCOOP: TOP REPUBLICAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SETS PROMPT HEARING ON JUDGES BLOCKING TRUMP “People said to me, ‘Why don’t you ever vote for any of Biden’s judges?‘” he said. “This is why.” “Because if they’re not faithful to the rule of law, then you can bet they’ll just be looking for opportunities to intervene politically.” Since Trump entered office, he has faced a slew of nationwide injunctions to halt actions of his administration, which exponentially outweighs the number his predecessors saw. So far in his new term, the courts have hit him with roughly 15 wide-ranging orders, more than former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden received during their entire tenures. Some of those who have ordered the Trump administration to halt certain actions are U.S. District Judges James Boasberg, Amir Ali, Loren AliKhan, William Alsup, Deborah Boardman, John Coughenour, Paul A. Engelmayer, Amy Berman Jackson, Angel Kelley, Brendan A. Hurson, Royce Lamberth, Joseph Laplante, John McConnell and Leo Sorokin. There are 94 districts in the U.S. and at least one district court in each state. These courts are where cases are first heard before potentially being appealed to higher courts. SENATE CONFIRMS DR MARTY MAKARY AS TRUMP’S FDA CHIEF Several of these judges were confirmed in the Senate in a bipartisan manner, and some even prevailed with no opposition. There were others who were opposed by every Republican senator. One of the most controversial judges, Boasberg, known for blocking a key immigration action by the Trump administration, was confirmed by a roll call vote after being nominated by Obama in 2011. The vote was 96-0 and no Republicans opposed him. Former Trump attorney Jim Trusty told Fox News Digital, “I don’t think the Republicans ever expected quite the onslaught of lawfare that we’ve seen when President Trump is in office.” “The activist nature of some federal district court judges – issuing nationwide injunctions against the Executive Branch on a minute’s notice – is unfortunate and puts pressure on appellate courts, including SCOTUS, to fix these problems,” he explained. However, he said the real problem is “an army of lawyers” who he said are trying to “bend and twist legal principles.” “They are spending their days devoted to stopping President Trump’s agenda even if it means siding with Venezuelan gang members who illegally entered the US,” Trusty claimed. GOP SENATOR SAYS DR OZ IGNORED HIS QUESTIONS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES, ABORTION Andy McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney and a Fox News contributor, told Fox News Digital, “Republicans could have done a much better job blocking Biden’s judicial appointments.” He pointed to Biden’s recent time as a lame-duck president, specifically referring to nominees that “squeaked by” due to Republican absences. “Biden’s nominees were very radical and should have been opposed as vigorously as possible,” he said. “These are lifetime appointments and the progressives filling these slots will be a thorn in the nation’s side for decades.” However, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, made a point of saying, “There was no way to know how they would rule in future cases like these.” He argued that senators can conduct their due diligence to the best of their abilities, but they can’t see into the future. “The Senate has the right to reject nominees whom it thinks will interpret the Constitution incorrectly, but nominees also have an obligation not to promise how they might rule on cases once they join the bench,” Yoo said. Thomas Jipping, senior legal fellow with the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, noted to Fox News Digital that senators “can’t use the filibuster to defeat the judge,” which makes blocking controversial nominees even more difficult. “The only way to actually defeat someone’s confirmation is to have the majority of the votes,” he explained. “If Republicans are in the minority, there has to be at least a few Democrats voting against the Democratic nominee to defeat someone.” Fox News Digital reached out to former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to comment on how these judges were able to get confirmed. TOP DEM USED SAME APP USED IN ATLANTIC SCANDAL TO SET UP CONTACT WITH STEELE DOSSIER AUTHOR The senators were asked if they were still happy with how the judges were confirmed and their individual votes. They were also asked whether there was anything alarming in the judges’ records and if Republicans did enough to block certain confirmations. McConnell’s office pointed Fox News Digital to comments he made over the legislative recess at a press conference in Kentucky. “The way to look at all of these reorganization efforts by the Administration is what’s legal and what isn’t… they’ll be defined in the courts,” he told reporters in response to the legality of potentially shutting down the Department of Education. “I can understand the desire to reduce government spending. Every Administration – some not quite as bold as this one – have tried to do that in one way or another. This is a different approach… and the courts will ultimately decide whether the president has the authority to take these various steps. Some may have different outcomes, I’m just going to wait – like all of us in effect are going to wait, and see whether this is permissible or not.” Grassley’s office pointed to a previous statement from the senator’s spokesperson, Clare Slattery. “The recent surge of sweeping decisions
Border community reveals what Trump admin still needs to accomplish as crisis calms down: ‘Undue burdens’
It’s morning again in the border community of Yuma, Arizona, but there’s still work to be done to ensure long-term security and to clean up leftover challenges. Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines explained the challenges faced in the wake of a high influx of migrants into the community at times throughout the Biden administration. “Chaos first, and abandoned second,” Lines, a Republican, said of the border under former President Joe Biden, but said it is “controlled” under President Donald Trump. ICE NEARING HISTORIC DEAL WITH IRS TO AID IN DEPORTATIONS: REPORT In the Yuma sector alone, there were hundreds of thousands of migrant encounters during the Biden administration. In February, there were 8,326 illegal border crossings marked down by United States Customs and Border Protection. The number of people placed a strain on local resources in the area, including the local hospital. “The message is that we’d like our not-for-profit hospital to be reimbursed to the tune of about $32 million. That’s auditable costs… it caused undue burdens here in our local communities,” Lines said. Fox News Digital reported in 2023 that the Yuma Regional Medical Center had to deal with millions in unpaid medical costs given the number of illegal immigrants that came in for care. HUD ENDS FHA MORTGAGES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: ‘SHOULD BENEFIT AMERICANS WHO PLAY BY THE RULES’ “Our food bank was impacted, as well as kind of the medical community as a whole, just because of fentanyl,” Lines said. “We’ve seen a significant impact of fentanyl here in the community. One of my best friends just lost his oldest nephew two weeks ago. The pills are being sold for about $2.50. There needs to be serious consequences for the Chinese and for the cartels that are dealing and pushing this product into the United States,” he added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE In 2022, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey placed metal storage containers along some of the gaps in Yuma, which were eventually taken down because of legal action from the federal government. Now, construction of permanent border wall panels in gaps along the border in the area is underway, following a reversal of Biden’s policies once Trump retook office. COLOMBIA AGREES TO SHARE MIGRANT DATA WITH US AFTER ‘CANDID’ TALKS WITH KRISTI NOEM “As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction, we’re going to continue to make America safe again,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a video posted to X on March 16. The region became a key focal point for politicians on the 2024 campaign trail, with many stopping for visits despite not running in geographical border states themselves — a key indicator that border security and immigration were a top issue for American voters. “Every state has been impacted by the human trafficking as well as the trafficking of narcotics. For the last four years, as I’ve traveled throughout the United States, every single community leader or member of a community has approached me saying that they have never seen such an impact from narcotics and from illegal immigration in their communities, and that their resources to provide for the individuals in their community have been exhausted,” Lines said.