Rising Democrat star James Talarico jumps into key Senate race in Texas
James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker from Texas with a surging national profile, on Tuesday jumped into the Lone Star State’s high-profile and combustible Senate race. Talarico, a state representative, former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian who is considered a rising star among Democrats, becomes the second major contender from his party to launch a campaign in the race for the seat currently held by longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Democrats believe they have a shot of flipping the seat as Cornyn trails scandal-scarred Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in most of the latest GOP Senate primary polls. “The biggest divide in our country is not left vs right — it’s top vs bottom. Billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians have taken over our state and our country, rigging the system for themselves,” Talarico said in a statement shared with Fox News as he announced his candidacy. “I’m running for the U.S. Senate to bring people together and take power back for working Texans.” TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONS Talarico painted himself as an underdog, saying he’s “going up against the political establishment, and we’re going up against a lot of money. Big Money is powerful, but it’s nothing compared to people power.” FOUR KEY SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERM ELECTIONS Former Democratic Rep. Colin Allred launched a Senate campaign in July. Allred, a former college football star who later played in the National Football League, was the 2024 Democratic Senate nominee in Texas, losing to conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz by eight points. Former astronaut Terry Virts is also running for the Democratic Senate nomination. And former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who came close to defeating Cruz in 2018 before running unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and Texas governor in 2022, hasn’t ruled out a Senate bid. Democrats have long aimed to turn red-state Texas purple but have repeatedly fallen short in statewide elections. SENATE DEMOCRATS RECRUITING TOP CANDIDATES IN PUSH TO WIN BACK MAJORITY Along with Cruz’s comfortable re-election last year, President Donald Trump carried Texas by over 13 percentage points, besting his single-digit victory margins in the state in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. But Democrats see a pathway to victory in the 2026 general election if Paxton, who enjoys strong support among the GOP’s MAGA base, ousts Cornyn in the Republican primary next March. Talarico, who speaks openly about his faith and how it shapes his progressive policy agenda, has garnered national attention through a slew of social media appearances that went viral. Also boosting his profile are his TikTok videos, which have grabbed millions of views, and his appearance in July on Joe Rogan’s top-rated podcast. Rogan suggested during the interview that Talarico should run for president. Earlier this summer, Talarico was a regular on the cable news networks, conducting dozens of national media interviews, as he and dozens of his fellow Democrats in the Texas House fled the state for weeks, to delay the eventual Trump-led redistricting push in Texas to create up to five more right-leaning congressional seats. Talarico, 36, will kick off his campaign with a rally Tuesday evening in his hometown of Round Rock, Texas, which is located north of Austin. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, targeted Talarico as “an out-of-touch Harvard liberal,” as it pointed to the candidate’s master’s degree. Fox News’ Kellianne Jones contributed to this report
Why Trump broke with RFK to defend the importance of vaccines
If there’s one thing that Donald Trump absolutely, positively despises, it’s bad publicity. And after RFK Jr. got absolutely hammered at that hearing the other day–including by a member of the leadership, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso–he realized that he had to cut his losses. What was he going to do, say ignore those Republican senators, like Bill Cassidy, who’s a doctor, like Barrasso, when he says that vaccines work and he’s deeply concerned that Kennedy misled the Hill during his confirmation hearings? So after months of letting him “go wild,” in his words, Donald has broken with Bobby. REPUBLICAN DOCTORS CLASH WITH RFK JR OVER VACCINES IN TENSE SENATE SHOWDOWN “You have some vaccines that are so incredible. I think you have to be very careful when you say some people don’t have to be vaccinated…,” the president said. “Look, you have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work. They’re not controversial at all, and I think those vaccines should be used, otherwise some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people,” The president has had enough. What’s more, Kennedy’s family–including his sister Kerry and former congressman Joe Kennedy III–demanded he resign, along with every Democrat on the Senate committee. There’s some chatter that Kennedy may be let go after a decent interval. Trump really likes him, and the magic of the Kennedy name, but let’s face it, he’s damaged goods right now. He also was poorly briefed, or didn’t do his homework. Remember that he cut a deal in exchange for dropping out of the presidential race, and offered the same arrangement to Kamala Harris. When asked how many Americans had died of COVID, I instantly knew it was 1.2 million. RFK said he didn’t know. Asked whether the COVID vaccine had been helpful, he mumbled that he’d have to look at the data. There’s plenty of data available. And that’s the problem. The greatest achievement of Trump’s first term, as even his detractors admit, was Operation War Speed, bringing the COVID vaccine to market at the height of the pandemic. JOE KENNEDY III BLASTS RFK JR. AFTER FIERY SENATE HEARING, FUELING KENNEDY FAMILY INFIGHTING: ‘HE MUST RESIGN’ But Kennedy is the same anti-vaccine crusader he’s always been. He has called COVID “the most dangerous vaccine” ever. He’s insisted that vaccines cause autism, completely debunked by mainstream science. CDC performed miserably during the pandemic, but Kennedy fired CDC chief Susan Monarez just one month after praising her appointment, and then called her a liar for supposedly admitting she was not trustworthy. So RFK was in effect denigrating Trump’s huge accomplishment by firing the mainstream members of a vaccine panel and replacing them with vaccine skeptics or outright anti-vaxxers. Kennedy’s view is that everyone else is conflicted because of ties to Big Pharma and that only he is pure. But his actions speak louder than his words. INTO THE ARENA: HOSTILE DEMOCRATS, SKEPTICAL REPUBLICANS TEAR INTO KENNEDY ON THE HILL Meanwhile, the president won a double victory at the Supreme Court. The justices, in what Politico says were 6-3 rulings, gave ICE the ability to carry out “roving” arrests and raids in California against those believed to be illegal immigrants. SCOTUS also said the president can fire FTC member Rebecca Slaughter, one of two Democratic commissioners he dismissed in March at the supposedly independent agency. Then Trump checks the conservative media. The Wall Street Journal editorial page, in a piece titled “Operation Warped Speed,” asks whether RFK is suffering from long COVID. The usually supportive New York Post called RFK a “paranoid kook” with a “tinfoil hat” that is “blocking out all sense.” So Trump got mostly booed at the U.S. Open, along with some cheers. Big deal. He’s endured far worse. But having the nation’s highest court on your side is worth its weight in gold, Trump’s favorite decorating glitter. Footnote: The Wall Street Journal has obtained Trump’s birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein, which he repeatedly insisted he never sent, prompting him to sue the paper. Against the backdrop of a sketch of a naked woman–with Trump’s signature in the pubic area–there is this exchange:Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.Jeffrey: Yes we do, come to think of it.Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?Jeffrey: As a matter of face, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday–and may every day be another wonderful secret. By itself, I don’t think it’s that big a deal. Lots of friends and acquaintances were solicited to send messages for Epstein’s 50th birthday. He could have owned it. But Trump *still* insists it’s fake. By vehemently insisting it wasn’t conceivable that he sent such a message, Trump now has a mess on his hands.
Senate GOP leader moves to lower filibuster threshold for Trump nominees through nuclear option
Late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) detonated the first Senate “nuclear option” in 2013, curbing the filibuster to confirm executive branch nominees – except for the Supreme Court. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) ignited the second “nuclear option” in 2017 to confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, and lower the filibuster bar for nominations to the High Court. THUNE LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR NUCLEAR OPTION IN SENATE FIGHT OVER TRUMP NOMINEES Now, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is likely to detonate the parliamentary equivalent of a “suitcase nuke” later this week. Thune will follow the playbook established by Reid and McConnell to alter the Senate precedent (not a rules change) to expedite the confirmation of lower-level nominees in groups. This plan will not include judges nor cabinet secretaries. Thune sets his gambit into motion tonight by introducing a resolution to speed up a slate of about 40 nominees. By rule, the Senate will take a procedural vote to break a filibuster on his resolution to confirm the batch of nominees on Thursday. That needs 60 yeas. The Senate won’t get 60 yeas. But this is EXACTLY the scenario that Thune wants. TRUMP NOMINEES PILE UP AS GOP WEIGHS RULE SHIFT ONCE FLOATED BY DEMOCRATS The coin of the realm in the Senate is unlimited debate. But the only time it CAN’T DEBATE SOMETHING is when an issue fails. So a FAILED vote to break the filibuster backs the Senate into the exact parliamentary cul-de-sac which Thune wants. At the end of the roll call vote, Thune will likely switch his vote from yes to no on breaking the filibuster. That’s because Senate rules allow a senator to demand a re-vote if they are on the prevailing side of the issue. In this case, Thune is suddenly with the “noes,” even though he initially voted yes to break the filibuster. By doing so, Thune can then order a revote on the failed vote. And since the Senate is in this unique posture of not allowing any debate, Democrats are paralyzed. They can’t do anything to stop Thune from what he plans next. Thune will then make a point of order. Thune will assert that on a resolution like the one he drafted, a bloc of lower-level nominees (e.g. – the ones now before the Senate) does not need 60 votes to break a filibuster. The chair – potentially Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) or even Vice President Vance, who is the President of the Senate – will rule that Thune is wrong. Senate rules and precedent DO require 60 votes to break a filibuster on this type of resolution. COMER VOWS ‘ACCOUNTABILITY,’ TRUMP RIPS ‘SCANDAL’ AFTER BOMBSHELL REPORT ON BIDEN AUTOPEN PARDONS Thune will then demand a vote OVERTURNING what the the chair ruled. He will assert that a simple majority is necessary for this type of resolution – even though that’s never been the case before. The Senate will vote. And if 51 senators vote in favor of ruling against the chair, the Senate will have established a new precedent for lowering the threshold from 60 to 51 on this type of resolution – quickly moving a batch of nominees all at once. Once the Senate does that, Thune will need to set up ANOTHER procedural vote under the NEW provisions to break a filibuster on Monday, September 15. That would enable the Senate to confirm all of the nominees in question – in one fell swoop – on Wednesday, September 17.
Trump says Democrats have ‘blood on their hands’ after deadly Charlotte train stabbing
President Donald Trump said that “blood is on the hands of the Democrats” after the brutal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte, North Carolina, who was attacked and killed on a light rail train by a man with a lengthy criminal history last month. Social media exploded over the weekend after surveillance footage, released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), showed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska boarding a Lynx Blue line last month before a man pulled out a knife and began stabbing Zarutska three times, including at least once in the neck. “The blood of this innocent woman can literally be seen dripping from the killer’s knife, and now her blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail, including Former Disgraced Governor and ‘Wannabe Senator’ Roy Cooper,” Trump said on Truth Social. “North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it! Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy? VOTE FOR MICHAEL WHATLEY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE, HE WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!” GOFUNDME PULLS FUNDRAISERS FOR FELON ACCUSED OF KILLING COMMUTER IN RANDOM CHARLOTTE TRAIN ATTACK Earlier in the day, the White House posted reaction from Trump on X.com, saying, “The perpetrator was a well known career criminal, who had been previously arrested and released on CASHLESS BAIL in January, a total of 14 TIMES. What the hell was he doing riding the train, and walking the streets? Criminals like this need to be LOCKED UP.” The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown, was arrested shortly after the stabbing and hospitalized before being arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. Records obtained by The New York Post showed that Brown has a history of arrests going back more than a decade, including charges of felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and communicating threats. Police said Brown did not know Zarutska and the attack was random. By taking aim at the Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Trump directly injected the tragedy into the center of the upcoming U.S. senate race in North Carolina, slated for next year. Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley are the two major front-runners. On Monday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) echoed Trump’s argument, insisting Cooper’s policies “kept violent criminals like this on the streets instead of in jail where they belong.” Meanwhile, Whatley said in a X post on Monday that “a vote for Roy Cooper is a vote for more crime, more violence, more criminals.” REPUBLICAN WANTS JUDGES HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY RELEASE REPEAT VIOLENT CRIMINALS WHO STRIKE AGAIN He followed up later in the day after Trump’s Truth Social post, adding that the president was “spot on” with his assessment of Democrats. “My far-left opponent Roy Cooper’s spineless, soft-on-crime policies have unleashed predators like Decarlos Brown Jr. and countless other violent thugs who unleash hell on innocent people because they know they’ll face no real justice,” Whatley said. A spokesperson for Cooper’s campaign, when reached for comment, accused Whately of “lying again” because “he knows his support for federal policies that cut local and state law enforcement funding is wrong for North Carolina.” “This was a heartbreaking, despicable act of evil and Iryna Zarutska’s family and loved ones are in our prayers,” the spokesperson continued in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Roy Cooper knows North Carolinians need to be safe in their communities; he spent his career prosecuting violent criminals and drug dealers, increasing the penalties for violence against law enforcement, and keeping thousands of criminals off the streets and behind bars.” North Carolina’s Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, was slammed over the weekend, when the video of the stabbing was first released, for not speaking out earlier. He ultimately commented on the matter Monday morning. “I am heartbroken for the family of Iryna Zarutska, who lost their loved one to this senseless act of violence, and I am appalled by the footage of her murder. We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe,” Stein posted on X. “That’s why my budget calls for more funding to hire more well-trained police officers. I call upon the legislature to pass my law enforcement recruitment and retention package to address vacancies in our state and local agencies so they can stop these horrific crimes and hold violent criminals accountable.” During a tour of the Museum of the Bible in the nation’s capital on Monday, Trump weighed in on the event once again after the video of the attack surfaced over the weekend. “We’re all people of religion, but there are evil people,” Trump said. “And we have to confront that.”
Bill Clinton letter in Epstein ‘birthday book’ among new files released by House Oversight Committee
The House Oversight Committee has released another tranche of files related to Jeffrey Epstein on Monday night, which includes a message from former President Bill Clinton in the late pedophile’s infamous “birthday book.” The surprise document dump by the GOP-led panel came hours after Epstein’s estate turned materials over to House investigators, pursuant to a congressional subpoena. Among the documents released by the committee is the reported book compiled by Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for the late pedophile’s 50th birthday. What appears to be an entry by Clinton praises Epstein’s “childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference, and the [illegible] of friends.” HOUSE MOVES TO EXPOSE EPSTEIN FILES, AUTHORIZES OVERSIGHT PROBE The book also appears to include entries by former Epstein attorney Alan Dershowitz and President Donald Trump, though the White House and the president himself have vehemently denied its veracity on multiple occasions. “As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X, specifically in reference to a Wall Street Journal story that first mentioned allegations of Trump writing in the book. Fox News Digital also reached out to Clinton’s office for comment. Epstein and Clinton were known to have a cordial relationship, and Clinton is known to have flown on Epstein’s plane on numerous occasions. Neither he nor Trump have been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, however. The birthday book included a letter from Epstein’s mother, Pauline Stolofsky Epstein, who wrote that she’d been “very busy reminiscing since Ghislaine asked me to write about you.” “Jeff[,] you have been a good son since day one and we have been proud of you ever since,” Epstein’s mother wrote. She continued, detailing fond childhood memories of Epstein’s life, from his early childhood to his young adult years. “I recall you refused to sleep unless I read a story from Grandma’s Golden Book that she bought for 25c,” she wrote. “At PTA meetings I begged your teachers to improve your handwriting.” EPSTEIN ESTATE HIT WITH NEW HOUSE SUBPOENA FOR ‘CLIENT LIST,’ CALL LOGS “At age 21 Cosmopolitan magazine featured you as ‘Bachelor of the Month,” she added. “Today you still hold that title.” Stolofsky also referenced nachus, or the Yiddish word for joy, in relation to Epstein’s deceased father. “Jeff, I’m so sorry that Dad can’t share the nachus we have regarding your achievements,” she wrote. “He would have been overjoyed reading the article about you in the New York Magazine.” The birthday book also includes a picture of Epstein holding up a large, fake check for $22,500, with what appears to be Trump’s signature. Beneath the photo, the book reads, “Jeffrey showing early talents with money +women! Sells ‘fully dedicated’ <redacted text> to Donald Trump for $22,500. Showed early ‘people skills’ too. Even though I handled the deal I didn’t get any of the money or the girl!” The book features hundreds of photos, including pictures of Epstein as a child and a teenager, as well as formal school photos and pictures of him hanging out with friends. TRUMP DOJ HANDING EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS TO HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY AS SUBPOENA DEADLINE LOOMS The book also contains pictures of Epstein shirtless, Epstein embracing women and what appears to be a redacted photo of him and Maxwell laughing in a pool. The photo is censored around her body, implying that she was swimming topless. Among the suggestive photos are pictures of mating lions and zebras, along with photos of women in revealing bikinis. A picture of a woman in a bikini is also included with the caption, “Visiting you down in Palm Beach. Can’t get a second of privacy with you and a camera around ha ha!” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters when asked about Trump’s entry in the book, “I’m told that it’s fake.” The entry under Dershowitz’s name references a news article that he took credit for influencing, perhaps in a joking manner, changing the focus from Epstein to Clinton. COMER SUBPOENAS THE CLINTONS, TRUMP’S DOJ IN HOUSE OVERSIGHT’S EPSTEIN PROBE “Dear Jeffrey, as a birthday gift to you, I managed to obtain an early version of the Vanity Unfair article. I talked them into changing the focus from you to Bill Clinton, as you will see from the enclosed excerpt. Happy birthday and best regards,” the entry said. Dershowitz has also consistently denied wrongdoing as it relates to Epstein. A cartoon drawn underneath, that was not attributed to anyone, shows a man at a bar with the caption, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I should be thinking less about money and more about naked women, and biomathematical research.” Other entries in the “birthday book” appear to be Epstein during various stages of his life. Another entry appeared to make a joke about Epstein being a U.S. intelligence asset. Below a photo of Epstein next to a woman with her face redacted reads a note, “He is the boyfriend of [redacted]…We think he works for the CIA.” A photo on another page shows a young Epstein in front of what appears to be a store counter, with the accompanying caption, “Are you sure this will make my ‘winkie’ grow?” The tranche of documents released by the House Oversight Committee also includes details of Epstein’s last will and testament, what appears to be an address book of contacts, and details of his 2007-2008 non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Southern Florida. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RELEASES THOUSANDS OF EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS In a statement upon the files’ release, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., criticized Democrats for earlier releasing only the portion of the files that included Trump’s name – and asserted that the president was not implicated in any wrongdoing. “It’s appalling Democrats on the Oversight Committee are cherry-picking documents and politicizing information received from the Epstein Estate today. Oversight Committee Republicans are focused
Barrett says justices ‘wear black, not red or blue’ in response to partisan critics in Fox News interview
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett pushed back against partisan portrayals of the Supreme Court, telling Fox News’ Bret Baier that justices “wear black, not red or blue” and follow the Constitution, not politics. She appeared on Fox to promote her new book, “Listening to the Law,” and to address public perceptions of the Court’s work and independence. Barrett stressed that the Court is not divided into partisan teams. She also defended its approach to presidential power, clarified misconceptions about the Dobbs decision, and reflected on her originalist judicial philosophy. Her book touches on details such as assigned seating, courtroom traditions, and the gap between outside perception and inside reality. AMY CONEY BARRETT DETAILS BATTLE BETWEEN HER OWN PERSONAL VIEWS AND THE LAW IN NEW BOOK “You know, we don’t wear red and blue, we all wear black because judges are nonpartisan. And the idea is that we are all listening to the law. We’re all trying to get it right. We’re not playing for a team,” she told Baier. “We don’t sit on specific sides of the bench, left and right. You know, we sit in order of seniority.” Barrett underscored the disconnect between public perception and the Court’s inner workings, noting: “I often ask new law clerks what surprised you most when you started? And one of the most common answers is the difference between what’s happening on the inside and what people think is happening on the inside.” JUSTICE BARRETT OPENS UP ABOUT ‘AWKWARD’ START ON SCOTUS, SHADOW DOCKET AND MORE IN FORTHCOMING MEMOIR Critics on the left argue the Court is shielding former President Donald Trump, a view reflected in headlines from outlets such as The New York Times and NBC. Barrett responded by placing the Court’s work in historical context, stressing that cases on presidential power extend beyond any one occupant of the office. “We’re not deciding cases just for today, and we’re not deciding cases based on the president,” Barrett said. “As the current occupant of the office, we’re deciding cases about the presidency. So we’re taking each case, and we’re looking at the question of presidential power as it comes. And the cases that we decide today are going to matter. JUSTICE BARRETT DEFENDS JACKSON JABS AS ‘WARRANTED’ IN RARE PUBLIC APPEARANCE “Four presidencies from now, six presidencies from now, and so on. Each of these cases that we’re getting, you know, well, I mean, some of them overlap, but many present different constitutional issues,” she added. She stressed the Court rules on the presidency as an institution, with decisions that resonate across administrations. Turning to the Dobbs decision, Barrett said the ruling did not outlaw abortion but returned the issue to the political process—a point she argued has been widely misunderstood. “Dobbs did not say that abortion is illegal. Dobbs said it belongs to the political process,” Barrett said. Barrett acknowledged growing threats to judges, stressing violence should not be “the cost of public service.” Returning to public perception, she said the Court must follow the law even when rulings are unpopular, stressing integrity over public opinion. “The court… can’t take into account public opinion in making individual decisions… you have to follow the law where it leads, even if it leads in a place where the majority of people don’t want you to go,” she said.
Meet the ex-Biden appointee who could be major force against Trump’s AI agenda: ‘Doomsayer’
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s push to establish “America’s global AI dominance” could run into friction from an unlikely source: the “effective altruism” movement, a small but influential group that has a darker outlook on artificial intelligence. Trump signed an executive order earlier this year titled, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.” This week he met with top technology industry leaders, including Mark Zuckerburg, Bill Gates and others, for meetings at the White House in which AI loomed large in the discussions. However, not all the industry’s leaders share the president’s vision for American AI dominance. Jason Matheny, a former senior Biden official who currently serves as the CEO of the RAND Corporation, is a leader in the effective altruism movement, which, among other priorities, seeks to regulate the development of artificial intelligence with the goal of reducing its risks. Effective altruism is a philanthropic social movement where proponents claim to be aiming to maximize the good they can do in the world and give to what they calculate are the most effective charities and interventions. Part of this movement includes powerful donors from across many sectors, including technology, where funds are poured into fighting against what the group sees as existential threats, including artificial intelligence. NEW AI APPS HELP RENTAL DRIVERS AVOID FAKE DAMAGE FEES Some in the movement have also pledged to give away a portion of their income, while others have argued about the morality of earning as much money as possible in order to give it away. A former Defense Department official familiar with the industry’s leaders told Fox News Digital that since a 2017 speech at an effective altruism forum in which he laid out his vision, Matheny has “been very deliberate about inserting personnel who share his AI-doomerism worldview” into government and government contractor roles. “Since then, he has made good on every single one of his calls to action to explicitly infiltrate think tanks, in-government decision makers, and trusted government contractors with this effective altruism, AI kind of doomsayer philosophy,” the official continued. A RAND Corporation spokesperson pushed back against this label and said that Matheny “believes a wide range of views and backgrounds are essential to analyzing and informing sound public policy. His interest is in encouraging talented young people to embrace public service.” The spokesperson added that AI being an “existential threat” is “not the lens” through which the company approaches AI, but said, “Our researchers are taking a broad look at the many ways AI is and will impact society – including both opportunities and threats.” In his 2017 speech, Matheny discussed his vision of influencing the government from the inside and outside to advance effective altruistic goals. “The work that I’ve done at IARPA (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity) has convinced me that there’s a lot of low-hanging fruit within government positions that we should be picking as effective altruists. There are many different roles that effective altruists can have within government organizations,” Matheny told an effective altruism forum in 2017, before going on to explain how even “fairly junior positions” can “wield incredible influence.” GOOGLE CEO, MAJOR TECH LEADERS JOIN FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE AI MEETING Matheny went on to explain the need for “influence” on the “outside” in the form of contractors working for government agencies specialized in fields like biology and chemistry along with experts at various think tanks. “That’s another way you can have an influence on the government,” Matheny said. Matheny advanced the philosophy’s ideals in the Biden White House in his roles as deputy assistant to the president for technology and national security, deputy director for national security in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and coordinator for technology and national security at the National Security Council. According to reporting by Politico, RAND officials were involved in writing former President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” The order mirrored many effective altruist goals regarding AI, such as the idea that “harnessing AI for good and realizing its myriad benefits requires mitigating its substantial risks.” However, a RAND spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Matheny had “no role” crafting the Biden EO, but said its “researchers did provide technical expertise and analysis to inform the EO in response to requests from policymakers.” The order read that “responsible AI use has the potential to help solve urgent challenges while making our world more prosperous, productive, innovative, and secure. At the same time, irresponsible use could exacerbate societal harms such as fraud, discrimination, bias, and disinformation; displace and disempower workers; stifle competition; and pose risks to national security.” Its solution was to increase regulations on the development of AI and add new government reporting requirements for companies developing the technology. For many in the industry, this was seen as an example of government overreach that stifled innovation and hurt the U.S.’s ability to compete with countries like China. The order has since been revoked by Trump’s AI order, which was signed in the first few days of his second administration. However, as head of RAND, a public policy and research advising group, Matheny and RAND have continued to push their vision for AI regulation and warn about the potential pitfalls. RAND has posted on social media in recent months warning that AI will “fundamentally reshape the economics of cybersecurity” and that the “growing use of AI chatbots for mental health support means society is ‘deploying pseudo-therapists at an unprecedented scale.’” Semafor reported earlier this year that the Trump administration was butting heads with Anthropic, a top artificial intelligence company with ties to the EA movement and the Biden administration, on AI policy. “It’s hard to tell a clean story of every single actor involved, but at the heart, the Doomerism community that Jason’s really at the heart of, what they are really concerned with is they truly believe about a runaway super-intelligent model that takes over the world like a
Fox News Politics Newsletter: LAPD pulls Harris security after union backlash
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -SCOTUS temporarily greenlights firing of Biden-appointed FTC commissioner -Trump condemns ‘lunatic’ in Charlotte stabbing: ‘If we don’t handle evil, we don’t have a country’ –Rand Paul rips JD Vance’s assertion that executing cartel members is the ‘best use of our military’ A specialized unit with the Los Angeles Police Department is no longer providing former Vice President Kamala Harris security, according to a new report. Officers with LAPD’s Metropolitan Division, which falls under the police department’s special operations group, stepped in to provide Harris with security after President Donald Trump yanked Harris’ security detail in August, The New York Times reported. But that protection ended on Saturday following backlash from the LAPD’s union, The Los Angeles Police Protective League. The union called the arrangement “nuts,” arguing that “LA taxpayers should not be footing the bill for this ridiculousness.”…READ MORE. DEADLY OBSESSION: Ryan Routh trial: Jury selection begins in Trump assassination attempt case COURT WIN FOR TRUMP: Supreme Court allows Trump ICE raids to resume in California VERDICT STANDS: Federal appeals court upholds $83.3M E. Jean Carroll judgment against Trump ‘RIGHTS VIOLATIONS’: ‘The View’ co-host urges people to take videos of ICE agents ‘TREMENDOUS ASSET’: New FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey begins transition to FBI role alongside Bongino FOREIGN WORKER FALLOUT: ICE raids Georgia Hyundai battery plant, sparking firestorm with South Korea – what to know INSIDE THE FILES: Epstein estate hands over ‘birthday book,’ contact list to House investigators PUSHING TO THE RIGHT: From ‘legislative terrorists’ to center of Trump’s DC revolution: Where key conservative caucus is now PARTY CIVIL WAR: Bernie Sanders rips Dem leaders for snubbing Mamdani in mayoral race: ‘This is our guy!’ DROPPING THE HAMMER: Republican wants judges held accountable if they release repeat violent criminals who strike again SANCTUARY SHOWDOWN: DHS confirms probe of former ‘undocumented’ Boston lawmaker sentenced in corruption case DEFYING TRUMP: Chicago cops struggle to staff streets as Trump presses on crime ‘SHIFT THE BLAME’: Dem governor breaks silence on murder of Ukrainian refugee after social media backlash Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Dems flood defense bill with far-left amendments aimed at Trump
The House is preparing to take up its annual defense policy bill this week, with Democrats filing hundreds of amendments — many aimed at rebuking President Donald Trump’s administration and current GOP priorities. Lawmakers submitted roughly 450 proposed amendments to the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Among them are measures dealing with diversity, Israel funding and Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The House Rules Committee will review the bill Monday afternoon and set parameters for debate, paving the way for a floor vote later this week. Most of the progressive amendments are unlikely to survive, underscoring their symbolic nature. Still, Democrats are using the traditionally bipartisan defense package to spotlight opposition to the White House and Republican leadership. HOUSE MOVES TO EXPOSE EPSTEIN FILES, AUTHORIZES OVERSIGHT PROBE Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, filed several amendments, including one to strike the NDAA’s prohibition on using defense funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Similarly, Reps. Luz Rivas, D-Calif., and Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, offered an amendment to block a ban on DEI programs at the Pentagon. Crockett also introduced language aimed at halting construction of migrant detention facilities on military installations, directly challenging Trump administration policy. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., put forward an amendment barring Defense Department funds from supporting migrant processing and detention operations. The Pentagon announced last month it is building the country’s largest federal migrant detention center in Fort Bliss, Texas. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., filed two amendments targeting Trump-era immigration policies. One would prohibit funding for family separation, while another “prohibits funds from being used to transfer non-citizens to foreign prisons, except under treaties and extradition laws,” according to the Rules Committee website. The latter proposal would effectively block deportations to El Salvador. Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., introduced measures aimed at limiting U.S. support for Israel. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP Tlaib’s amendment would ban U.S. arms sales to countries whose governments include officials with outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants. The ICC issued warrants in late 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials. Omar’s proposal seeks to repeal Israel’s emergency access to a U.S.-managed weapons stockpile located in the country. The NDAA is a bill passed every fiscal year that sets national security and defense policy for the U.S. government. More than 1,000 total amendments have been introduced to this year’s bill.
California illegal immigrant with 49 prior arrests tops ICE’s latest ‘worst-of-the-worst’ list
In its latest operations targeting the “worst of the worst” illegal immigrants residing in the U.S., ICE officials told Fox News Digital one particular suspect was found to have an astounding rap sheet. ICE has arrested tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with additional criminal records since Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took over for Alejandro Mayorkas in January. Miguel Barrera-Corona, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was living in California when he was arrested over the weekend. Barrera-Corona has 49 prior criminal arrests, according to law enforcement. ICE HAULS IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF CHILD CRIMES IN NATIONWIDE WEDNESDAY SWEEP: ‘CLEAR MESSAGE’ His convictions include burglary, vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats to terrorize, DUI, carrying a loaded firearm in public, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, shoplifting, trespassing, property damage, petty theft, carrying a concealed dagger, and vandalism – and Trump administration officials blame sanctuary state policies for allowing him to roam free. “Over the weekend, ICE arrested drug traffickers, human traffickers, child predators, and sex offenders. One of the criminal illegal aliens was previously arrested 49 times,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. DHS ARRESTS FIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING MURDER AND CHILD ABUSE “Sanctuary politicians allowed this serial criminal to terrorize American citizens. President Trump and Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to arrest the worst of the worst and get these criminal illegal aliens out of our country.” Other illegal immigrant suspects arrested included convicted pedophiles, drug dealers and human traffickers. “Carlos Guzman-Santiago, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of second-degree forcible sex offense,” read one mugshot description. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Another captured illegal immigrant, Dominican national Juan Carlos Jimenez, had a sexual assault conviction relating to “intercourse with kindred.” Carlos Sipriano Moreno-Pineda of Honduras had been convicted of abusing a spouse or cohabitant, while Glenda Molina-Sorto of El Salvador was convicted of child abuse and drug offenses. Benigno Carrillo-Hernandez, Mauricio Barrios-Satay, Miguel Perez-Herrera, Jorge Carmona-Martinez and Karen Hernandez-Medrano, were also captured in the latest operations. “ICE will continue to enforce U.S. immigration laws to ensure criminal illegal aliens are identified, arrested, and removed, safeguarding communities across the nation,” DHS said in a statement.