Nancy Mace’s effort to ban transgender Delaware Democrat from Capitol women’s restrooms gains support
Delaware set off a firestorm this month after it elected the first transgender woman to Congress, leading some Republicans to demand the new lawmaker be barred from women’s bathrooms. Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, currently a Democrat state senator for President Biden’s hometown of Claymont, Delaware, defeated retired Delaware State Trooper John Whalen III, 58%-42%. McBride succeeds Rep. Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del., who won the retiring Tom Carper’s open U.S. Senate seat. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., led the charge against allowing McBride from using the women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill. McBride is a biological male who identifies and presents as a woman. Mace said Tuesday she is now receiving death threats, adding that she is the one being “unfairly targeted.” Mace drafted resolution H.R. 1579 on Monday which would prohibit members, officers and employees of the House from using facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex. MACE FACES BACKLASH OVER EFFORT TO BAN TRANSGENDER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM WOMEN’S BATHROOMS As of Tuesday afternoon, it had been referred to the House Administration Committee currently chaired by Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., but did not appear to have come to a vote yet. The bill would direct House Sergeant-at-Arms William McFarland to enforce the new provision. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told reporters she supports Mace’s resolution and called McBride “mentally ill.” “Sarah McBride, as he calls himself, formerly Tim McBride, is a biological man, and he should not be using any of our restrooms in the Capitol and those in our office buildings,” Greene said. “Nancy Mace’s resolution doesn’t go far enough. Her resolution is just a statement by Congress saying that Congress disagrees with something. We need something more binding.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R–La., a noted social conservative, said he’s “not going to get into this.” “We welcome all new members with open arms who are duly elected representatives of the people. I believe it’s a command that we treat all persons with dignity and respect, that we will. And I’m not going to engage in silly debates about this.” Johnson added that the issue of gender identity in locker rooms and bathrooms is not something Congress has had to address before and thus deserves honest deliberation and “member consensus.” “And we will accommodate the needs of every single person,” the speaker added. Greene said the situation reminds her of how student-athletes were forced to compete against biological males who are physiologically stronger as a baseline. “There is a volleyball player that has brain damage today because of a biological male spiking a ball into her head.” In that regard, former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who was forced to compete against a transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer, slammed McBride’s pointed response to criticisms. “And even after his temper tantrum, he’s still a man,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Gaines is an OutKick.com contributor and the host of the “Gaines for Girls” podcast. In a 2015 story in American’s college magazine, McBride said, “My father said to me that he was not losing a son but gaining a daughter. That was one of the most profound moments in my transition. It was a major relief when it was clear that both my parents saw me as who I am.” In earlier comments about her resolution, Mace said she is a rape survivor and still has PTSD from her abuse at the hands of a man. Later Tuesday, Mace said the issue is protecting women and girls and making sure Congress acts in accordance. “[McBride] doesn’t get a say. This is about real women and women’s rights and the far-left radical left. They want to erase women and women’s rights, and I’m not going to let them,” she said. “Here’s the deal: Biological men shouldn’t be in women’s private spaces, period, end of story,” she said. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., defended McBride on Tuesday, telling reporters he was “sick to his stomach” by Mace’s resolution. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a statement, McBride called the situation “a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing.” “Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible and that’s what I’m focused on.” Fox News Digital reached out to McBride’s campaign and Dover office for additional comment on the new criticisms and was provided with an initial statement. Fox News’ Daniel Scully, Tyler Olson and Ryan Schmelz contributed to this report.
‘Anti-Trump activist’: Conservative groups rip former Romney adviser’s attempt to influence MAGA agenda
A prominent economist trying to influence the incoming Trump administration’s economic policies is facing criticism from conservative groups over his organization’s liberal donors and past criticism of President-elect Trump’s agenda. Oren Cass, who previously worked on both of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns, is the founder and chief economist of American Compass, a conservative think tank that has made inroads with multiple prominent Republican lawmakers in Congress. Over the past year, Cass’ philosophy has reportedly gained traction in some pro-Trump circles, but several conservatives have taken issue with his increased influence and worry his policies will undermine the Trump agenda based on his past anti-Trump comments. During a May 2021 interview, Cass likened Trump to “an earthquake” because he believed Trump was a “disaster in many ways.” “Self-proclaimed ‘conservative’ Oren Cass and his American Compass is not, and will never be, viewed as a legitimate voice in Republican policy circles. CNBC’s Joe Kernen got it right when he called them ‘bonkers, walking quacking uniparty progressivism.’ And their funding only proves that,” Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital. TRUMP’S TREASURY SECRETARY PICK: WHO ARE THE CONTENDERS? “As American Compass continues to stay in business thanks to generous donations from radical left-wing organizations like the Hewlett Foundation and the Omidyar Network, Club for Growth is proud to stand with President Trump and the overwhelming majority of Republican voters who support actual conservative policies, like the proposals described in our Foundation’s recent “Freedom Forward Policy Handbook,” including: tax cuts, spending cuts to reduce the deficit, deregulation to boost American manufacturing, American-first energy policies, school choice and worker freedom,” he continued. A significant chunk of American Compass’ funding comes from a handful of foundations tied to liberal causes, including almost $2 million from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Omidyar Network, which has provided 11% of American Compass’ funding and is led by a founder described as “notable for funding liberal-in-conservative clothing groups that target former president Donald Trump and his supporters.” American Compass is also associated with the “Reimagining Capitalism Partners” fund, which includes the Center for American Progress, Sixteen Thirty Fund-linked Groundwork Action, Progressive Caucus Action Fund, Tides Advocacy and Demos, a socialist think tank. TRUMP NAMING CABINET OFFICIALS AT ‘WARP SPEED,’ FAR HEAD OF FIRST TERM PACE Cass’ group has also received over $200,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation, a multibillion-dollar foundation that has bankrolled several left-wing causes, including radical environmental groups and “Imagining America,” a “coalition of colleges engaged in left-wing curriculum development,” according to the Capital Research Center. The San Francisco Foundation, which has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to far-left groups, gave $100,000 to American Compass. When Fox News Digital pressed Cass on his organization’s funding and criticism from rival conservative groups, he blasted the “anti-tax zealots” criticizing his organization. “American Compass advocates for limited government and a commitment to paying for the government that we have rather than leaving the bill to our children,” Cass told Fox News Digital. “Anti-tax zealots can lobby for larger deficits if they want, but conservatives are under no obligation to follow them into the fiscal ditch.” In addition to the money that American Compass has received from left-wing groups, its advisory board includes multiple Democrats, including Ganesh Sitaraman, who served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and has been a longtime adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., dating back to her 2012 Senate campaign. Matt Stoller, the research director at the American Economic Liberties Project, which received at least $500,000 from George Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society and at least $230,000 from the Omidyar Network Fund, is also on the advisory board and has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democrats. Tom Hebert, the director of competition and regulatory policy at Americans for Tax Reform, blasted Cass as an “anti-Trump activist” in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The American people returned Donald Trump to the White House with a strong economic mandate: cut taxes, slash job-killing regulations and promote worker freedom. Oren Cass founded American Compass as a ‘post-Trump’ organization and opposes the Trump economic agenda at every level, even calling the landmark Trump tax cuts an ‘expensive failure,’” Hebert said. “Cass is not a conservative. He’s an anti-Trump activist that MSNBC has on speed dial to undermine Trump’s second-term agenda.” In addition to Hebert’s quote, Americans for Tax Reform published a piece in July with the headline, “Who Said It, Oren or Warren?” The piece pointed to the tax plans of Sen. Warren and Cass’ American Compass, which were both published a month earlier and include multiple quotes from Warren and Cass, asking readers to identify the source of each quote. “Warren’s plan calls on Democrats to reject extending the Trump tax cuts,” the piece says. “The proposed budget released by Oren Cass’ American Compass, which describes itself as ‘the flagship for a healthier and more responsive post-Trump conservative movement,’ calls for the full expiration of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, would increase the corporate rate to the Biden-preferred level of 28%, and backs Warren’s call for a financial transaction tax.” Americans for Tax Reform went on to call American Compass “left-wing” and said Cass was the “leader of the tax-hiking American Compass” in a separate post from earlier this year due to his opposition to Trump’s tax cuts. Cass was mocked earlier this year after he went on CNBC and suggested that lowering taxes and the corporate tax rate is not “conservative,” adding, “There is nothing conservative about that … absolute radical nonsensical notion.” The clip prompted Richard Stern, who serves as the director of the Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, to sound off on Cass, saying, “[Cass on] CNBC this morning defending the uniparty’s attempt to steal your money and put it in their hands — and to stop capital from flowing to new and small businesses. With ‘friends’ like this, who needs socialists.” During a C-SPAN interview over the weekend, Cass praised some
Fox News Politics: Trump case may be on hold until 2029
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… – GOP lawmaker launches caucus to help Elon Musk take on ‘Crazytown’ – Massive groups of illegal immigrants caught at border amid fears of pre-Trump border surge – Size of slim Republican House majority hangs on 5 uncalled races New York prosecutors are requesting a stay until at least 2029 in New York v. Trump, as the president’s defense attorneys prepare to move to dismiss the case entirely. Prosecutors wrote a letter to Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday, who agreed last week to grant a stay on all deadlines associated with the conviction proceedings against Trump in the final months before he takes office. Merchan granted the request, which issues a stay on all deadlines, including the Nov. 26 sentencing date, to consider the effect of his election as president. Prosecutors had asked for the pause in proceedings, which they said would allow them to better evaluate the impact of Trump’s new status as president-elect…Read more DEFYING DEATH: Pro-Trump prison warden asks Biden to commute all death sentences before leaving…Read more ‘LOGISTICAL ISSUES’: Biden misses G-20 family photo, White House blames ‘logistical’ issues…Read more ‘BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE’: Biden Interior Dept puts together handbook to apply ‘indigenous knowledge’ into agency practices…Read more ‘CHAMPION FOR CONSERVATION’: Environmental groups present differing opinions of Trump’s energy and environment appointees…Read more QUICKER CABINET: Trump naming Cabinet officials at ‘warp speed,’ far head of first term pace…Read more LOYALTY MATTERS: Why Trump is sticking with Gaetz, Hegseth despite new accusations – and his ‘Morning Joe’ meeting…Read more REPORT CARD: House Ethics Committee to meet Wednesday after postponing Gaetz investigation meeting…Read more FACT CHECK: Are Pete Hegseth’s tattoos symbols of ‘Christian nationalism’?…Read more ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS’: Former Trump education secretary lays out ‘unfinished business’ for new admin on school reforms…Read more BUREAU STONEWALLING: Trump assassination attempt task force subpoenas 2 ATF employees, alleging stonewalling…Read more WON’T BACK DOWN: Mace faces backlash over resolution to keep new transgender member of Congress out of women’s bathrooms…Read more NOT ENOUGH: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wants men banned from women’s spaces in ‘all taxpayer-funded facilities’…Read more SENATE PROTEST: Anti-Israel protesters arrested in Senate office building…Read more EYE OF THE STORM: House Republicans eye FEMA fund overhaul ahead of high-stakes hearing on Helene recovery…Read more SENATE STAND OFF: Senate GOP initiates Thune-engineered slow down as Schumer looks to stack judicial votes…Read more FISCAL FIGHT: Speaker Johnson’s government funding play hits the rocks within House GOP…Read more DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY: Growing field in race to chair the DNC…Read more ‘RULE OF LAW MATTERS’: Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro side with state supreme court ruling not to count certain mail-in ballots…Read more HEALTH CARE DECISIONS: Wyoming judge strikes down state abortion laws, ruling them unconstitutional…Read more HOMELESS RIGHTS: Washington state Democrat pushes to make homelessness a civil right…Read more SQUATTERS BEWARE: Squatters meet resistance with red state push to protect homeowners…Read more TO FREE OR NOT TO FREE: Gov. Newsom announces decision in Menendez brothers case…Read more WINDY CITY WORRY: Proposed Chicago police resource cuts could land city in court, top officials warn…Read more ‘NO MORALS’: College plan to use ‘creative ideas’ to pay undocumented students blasted by GOP leader…Read more BORDER BATTLE: Border state governor vows to defy Trump’s ‘misguided’ mass deportation push…Read more HOME INSPECTION: FEMA director vows to request IG investigation into order to avoid Trump supporters’ houses…Read more ‘CANADIAN PROMISE’: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada ‘could have acted quicker’ on reining in immigration…Read more END FAVORED NATION STATUS: Bipartisan panel urges Congress to toss out decades of trade policy they say China has been exploiting…Read more 1,000 DAYS: Ukraine war hits milestone as tensions rise over potential Russian escalation…Read more ‘GO IT ALONE’: Netanyahu says he ignored Biden’s war counsel — and threats that Israel would be ‘left alone’ without US help…Read more MISSILE BARRAGE: Ukraine fires first barrage of US-made long-range missiles into Russia, Kremlin says…Read more RUSSIA’S ‘HYBRID’ WARFARE?: US allies accuse Russia of ‘escalating hybrid activities’ against NATO, EU nations after data cables severed…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
FEMA must be ‘completely revamped,’ House Republican from hurricane-battered district tells agency chief
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., took aim at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), arguing that its recent response to multiple deadly storms shows the agency needs to be “completely revamped.” “The No. 1 thing that hurts FEMA’s reputation is the fact that so many citizens are denied when they apply the first time they come through the FEMA portal. And if they have to go through congressional offices to get help… if that is going to be the protocol for our citizens to get help, from the emergency management agency, then it needs to be completely revamped,” Donalds said during a House Oversight Committee hearing on FEMA Tuesday. Donalds’ comments came during questioning of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who was peppered by Republican members of the Oversight Committee to provide answers on FEMA’s response to recent storms and accusations that the agency discriminated against supporters of President-elect Trump. HOUSE REPUBLICANS EYE FEMA FUND OVERHAUL AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES HEARING ON HELENE RECOVERY FEMA has been under fire over the agency’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which earlier this year made landfall in the southeastern U.S. and caused widespread destruction across multiple states. While the agency’s overall performance during the response to the two storms has been the center of controversy, members of the Oversight Committee repeatedly asked Criswell to answer to potential “systemic bias” against Trump supporters in its response. The questions come after now-fired FEMA employee Marn’i Washington told relief workers to skip houses that had signs supporting Trump during the agency’s cleanup and recovery effort after Hurricane Milton, an incident Criswell insisted was isolated in multiple responses during the hearing. FEMA OFFICIAL SAID TO AVOID HOMES WITH TRUMP SIGNS: ‘TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED WOULD BE A LIE’ “There is nothing in any of our policies, our training, or our information sent out to field workers, to avoid any home for whatever reason, especially not because of a political affiliation,” Criswell said in response to questioning from Donalds. “The actions of this one individual are not representative of the work that we do at FEMA.” But Donalds, whose district was hit hard by Milton, said he had “an issue” with the answer, pointing to a New York Post report that featured an anonymous FEMA employee who claimed that such discrimination on the basis of political affiliation is an “open secret” at FEMA. Criswell argued that the incident in question was investigated by FEMA and that an investigation into if such issues are more widespread is still ongoing, prompting even more fierce pushback from Donalds. “You told me at the beginning of this questioning that there is nothing in your policies that would dictate that this is to occur, yet you have one official who was fired, who said it does occur. You have another official under your purview… talking to the press, that it does occur, but you can’t verify to this committee that these practices do or do not occur,” Donalds said. FEMA did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
‘100% on board’: Border state offers Trump massive plot of land to aid mass deportation operation
EXCLUSIVE: Texas is offering the incoming Trump administration a tract of more than 1,400 acres on which to stage its mass deportation operation when it enters office in January, as the transition team begins to make preparations for the ambitious project. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has written to President-elect Donald Trump offering him the land in Starr County, which the state purchased from a ranch owner in October. The 1,402 acres are in the Rio Grande Valley sector near the border. Her letter to Trump, obtained by Fox News Digital, says her office is “fully prepared to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the United States Border Patrol to allow a facility to be built for the processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation’s history.” ‘SHUT IT DOWN’: RED STATE MAKES MASSIVE LAND BUY TO RAMP UP BORDER WALL EFFORTS AMID MIGRANT SURGE “What I care about is that we have safe communities, and there is no doubt that we are losing too many of our children to these violent criminals that are coming across the border,” Buckingham told Fox News Digital in an interview on Tuesday. “I am 100% on board with the Trump administration’s pledge to get these criminals out of our country, and we are more than happy to offer our resources to facilitate those deportations of these violent criminals.” The Texas General Land Office purchased the land in October to facilitate the construction of additional border wall, a project that the Biden administration stopped. The area, which was a ranch before Texas bought it, had seen drug smuggling and human trafficking, officials said. BATTLEGROUND STATE RANCHER ‘OUTRAGED’ BY BIDEN STOPPING WALL CONSTRUCTION AS MIGRANTS POUR INTO US In light of Trump’s election victory this month, Buckingham said she was brainstorming with her team and decided to make the offer to the incoming administration. “Right now, it’s essentially farmland, so it’s flat, it’s easy to build on. We could very easily put a detention center on there, a holding place as we get these criminals out of our country,” she said. “It’s accessible to international airports as well as a major crossing over the river. And so we’re just happy to get help, do anything we can to get these violent criminals off of our soil.” ‘SANCTUARY’ CITY MAYOR VOWS SHE WILL DEFY TRUMP’S MASS DEPORTATION PUSH: ‘CAUSING WIDESPREAD FEAR’ Trump repeatedly promised throughout his 2024 presidential campaign to launch a historic mass deportation operation. In the days since the election, those plans have been put into motion, with officials looking at where they could build additional detention space. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Buckingham said the election proves that Trump’s approach to border security and illegal immigration is the one backed by the American people and that the Biden administration’s approach had been rejected. “This election was a resounding referendum on the fact that Americans want safe communities. We want people to immigrate legally and legally only and that the administration’s policies over the last four years have failed every American citizen,” she said. The Trump plan is likely to face opposition in other states, including Arizona, Illinois and Massachusetts, where governors have indicated they will oppose deportation efforts by the Trump administration. But that is unlikely to stop the incoming administration from conducting its operation. Fox News’ Emma Woodhead contributed to this report.
DePaul University student assaulted by anti-Israel agitator seeks legal action: ‘I will never apologize’
After responding to Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, former-Israeli Defense Forces soldier Max Long went to the U.S. to attend DePaul University where he was later assaulted while holding a sign that read, “Come talk about Israel with an IDF Soldier.” Now, Long is working to sue the school so that something like that never happens again. Long was a leading advocate for Israel on DePaul’s Chicago-area campus, where he held discussions about Jewish civil rights and Israel’s work to defend itself from Hamas’ terror attack on Oct. 7. That day, Long was deployed by the IDF, as he was serving as a reservist with the Israeli military. As a result, Long said he became the target of disgruntled protesters who harassed him and launched threats against his physical safety. Eventually, Long was beaten unconscious by an anti-Israel agitator on campus, leading to a concussion and other injuries. Now, roughly two weeks later, a top Jewish civil rights law firm, The Lawfare Project, indicated Tuesday that Long had retained them to assist him in defending his civil rights and explore potential legal challenges against the school, including but not limited to Title VI, contract and tort claims. They will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon at DePaul’s student center. The firm also defended a Jewish student at Columbia University earlier this year in a Title VI suit, and shortly after they took legal action, Columbia amended its policies related to campus protesting. That case is still ongoing. VETERANS DAY SUPPORTERS COMBAT IVY LEAGUE PROTESTERS WHINING ABOUT ‘ISRAEL-US WAR MACHINE’ “Colleges and universities across the United States are turning into literal battlegrounds where Jewish students are being singled out, discriminated against and beaten for their identity,” said Brooke Goldstein, founder and executive director of The Lawfare Project. “No student — let alone one like Max who served in the IDF and went on the frontlines to destroy Hamas terrorists — should be subjected to physical, verbal or mental abuse for expressing their Jewish identity. DePaul failed Max and needs to be held accountable for its abject failure to protect Jewish students.” Meanwhile, Long added that he “will never apologize” for standing up for his Jewish identity and hopes no one at DePaul falls victim to the same sort of violence he experienced. “I am in incredible pain with bruises all over my face, but I am grateful for the support I have received from the Jewish community at large and The Lawfare Project, specifically, and will continue to work to enforce my civil rights and against the hatred that has consumed American campuses,” Long said Tuesday. CHICAGO JEWISH MOTHER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST RESPONSE TO ALLEGED HATE CRIME: ‘TERRORISM ON MY PROPERTY’ Anti-Israel campus protests that began last year at Columbia University and spread to campuses across the country have continued this year, with Long’s assault being one of the latest examples. The assault against Long came when he and fellow Jewish student Michael Kaminsky stood on a sidewalk near DePaul’s student union holding a sign that read, “Come talk about Israel with an IDF soldier.” At a certain point, Long began engaging in a conversation with an individual. During the slightly contentious, yet calm back-and-forth, a masked accomplice came from behind and knocked out Long. Kaminsky, who broke his wrist, helped fend off the attack before both suspects fled. ATTACKED JEWISH STUDENTS IN CHICAGO SPEAK OUT ABOUT ‘WAR ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES’ Chicago police ultimately responded and determined what occurred was a hate crime. The suspects remain at-large, however. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In addition to threatening the school with legal action, the Lawfare Project said that it will also work to ensure Long’s attackers are brought to justice and penalized appropriately to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. DePaul University spokesperson Russell Dorn said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the school’s president, Robert L. Manuel, is “outraged this hate crime occurred.” “The university condemns in the strongest possible terms the antisemitic targeting of these two Jewish students, and the lasting fear and anger that the act has inflicted on our Jewish and broader communities,” Dorn added. “First and foremost, our concerns are for the two victims in this situation.” Dorn indicated that DePaul had reached out to Long and Kaminsky “to offer care and resources” and are actively working with Chicago police to help identify their perpetrators.
Trump Cabinet picks increase odds Edward Snowden could see life of freedom in the US
If President-elect Donald Trump has his way, Tulsi Gabbard will be at the helm of U.S. intelligence and Matt Gaetz will be leading the Justice Department, giving whistle-blower Edward Snowden his best chance yet at a life of freedom in the U.S. Both Gabbard, a former Hawaii House Democrat, and Gaetz, a former House Republican from Florida, will have to be confirmed by the Senate — an uphill battle that may be made more difficult by their anti-establishment beliefs that Snowden should not be punished for revealing information about classified surveillance programs. As members of Congress, both Gabbard and Gaetz co-sponsored legislation that called on the federal government to drop all charges against Snowden. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Gabbard promised to protect Snowden and people like him, if elected. “If it wasn’t for Snowden, the American people would never have learned the NSA was collecting phone records and spying on Americans,” she said on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast at the time. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ SPARKS BACKLASH FOR CLAIMING TULSI GABBARD IS A RUSSIAN ASSET “As president, I will protect whistle-blowers who expose threats to our freedom and liberty,” Gabbard added. On Sept. 3, 2020, Gaetz posted to X: “Pardon @Snowden.” In 2013, Snowden was working as an IT contractor for the National Security Agency when he traveled to Hong Kong to meet with three journalists and transferred them thousands of pages of classified documents about the U.S. government’s surveillance of its citizens. He then traveled to Russia and planned to head on to Ecuador, but federal authorities canceled his passport before he could get there — and indicted him for espionage. He attempted to gain asylum elsewhere, but ultimately remained in Russia and became a naturalized citizen in 2022. The documents he made public revealed previously classified intelligence-gathering programs run by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.K.’s intelligence organization, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), that were conducting surveillance on their own citizens. TULSI GABBARD SAYS TRUMP ‘LISTENS’ AND ‘RECOGNIZES’ CHALLENGES AMERICANS FACE In 2019, Snowden told NPR the U.S. government was “collecting [data] on everyone, everywhere, all of the time, just in case, because you never know what’s going to be interesting… And so what happened was every time we wrote an email, every time you typed something into that Google search box, every time your phone moved, you sent a text message, you made a phone call… the boundaries of the Fourth Amendment were being changed.” At the time of the leak, the NSA claimed mass surveillance stopped terrorist attacks. Sue Gordon, deputy director of national intelligence during the first Trump administration, issued a warning about Gabbard’s push for Snowden to be pardoned on CBS this week. “Unauthorized disclosures of intelligence are always bad. Don’t go with the good or bad, any good outcome or whether he was right or wrong. He had no authority, and he had different paths, and he harmed America,” she said. “He not only harmed intelligence, he harmed our allies and partners, and he harmed our businesses by what it allowed China to assume about that. There is nothing justifiable about what he’s done. None. And so if they vacate it, what they’re basically saying is all those rules you follow in order to be able to serve America, they don’t matter anymore.” In 2013, Trump was asked about Snowden. “This guy is a bad guy and there is still a thing called execution!” he said. But on the campaign trail in 2020, he struck a more sympathetic tone, saying he’d “look at” giving Snowden a pardon. Snowden, in 2019, said he is not searching for a pardon, but rather a fair trial in order to return to the U.S. “One of the big topics in Europe right now is — should Germany and France invite me in to get asylum?… And of course, I would like to return to the United States. That is the ultimate goal,” he said. “But if I’m going to spend the rest of my life in prison, the one bottom-line demand that we all have to agree to is that at least I get a fair trial. And that’s the one thing the government has refused to guarantee because they won’t provide access to what’s called a public interest defense,” the whistleblower said. “I’m not asking for a parade. I’m not asking for a pardon. I’m not asking for a pass. What I’m asking for is a fair trial. And this is the bottom-line that any American should require.”
White House yet to release visitor logs for month Biden dropped out of race
The White House has still not released its visitor logs for July, the month President Biden gave up his re-election bid, leaving questions about who was seeing and advising the president before he made the historic decision to drop out. Despite consistently releasing visitor records at the beginning of each month throughout Biden’s term, the White House as of mid-November is far past its usual timeline for releasing guest records. It released its most recent logs on Oct. 4. These records covered visits to the White House until June 26. PRESIDENT BIDEN ADMITS PRESSURE FROM DEMOCRATS CONTRIBUTED TO DECISION TO DROP OUT At the beginning of Biden’s presidency, media outlets praised the Biden administration for resuming the release of visitor logs after the Trump administration stopped the practice during his term. The New York Times spoke highly of the practice as “part of an effort to restore transparency to government.” This practice revealed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a top Parkinsons disease expert, made several visits to the White House in 2024, increasing anxieties about the 81-year-old president’s health and physical fitness. After Biden’s poor debate performance on June 27, pressure for him to resign quickly mounted. But Biden did not drop out of the race until July 21. White House visitor logs would reveal who was close to the president in that critical month. DEMOCRATS’ FUROR OVER ‘UNQUALIFIED’ TRUMP NOMINEES PUTS BIDEN’S STAFFING DECISIONS BACK IN SPOTLIGHT This has led some, such as Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of the right-leaning government watchdog group Americans for Public Trust, to question the Biden administration’s reason for delaying publishing its records. Sutherland criticized the Biden administration for failing to deliver on its promise and leaving the American people in the dark. “The American people still don’t know who was coming and going from the seat of power in the lead-up to Joe Biden’s ouster and Kamala’s coronation,” Sutherland told Fox News Digital. “At the outset, the Biden-Harris administration promised truth and transparency,” she added. “Now, in the dwindling days of their term, their refusal to release White House visitor logs from such a tumultuous period illustrates just how hollow that promise was.” Andrew Bates, a White House representative, responded to these criticisms by calling Americans for Public Trust a “dark money group” and pointing to the fact that the Trump administration did not publish any of its visitor records for the entirety of his term. “It’s intriguing that this right-wing dark money group was silent for years as the Trump administration stopped sharing White House visitor logs with the public, but they have now abruptly developed an interest in transparency about records that we’ll be releasing in the near future,” he said. “We appreciate them inadvertently highlighting that Joe Biden leads the most transparent administration in American history.” Bates did not comment on when the White House plans on releasing its July visitor records or what has been the cause of the delay.
Incoming GOP senator rallies behind Gaetz, Trump’s Cabinet picks: ‘Republican majority must unite’
FIRST ON FOX: Republican Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno issued a statement in defense of Donald Trump’s Cabinet appointments, including attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, arguing that the president-elect has a “mandate” from the American people. “The American people delivered President Trump a mandate, and it is crucial that Senate Republicans confirm his nominees quickly,” Moreno said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Our Republican majority must unite and deliver a strong cabinet so we can begin implementing the American First agenda as soon as possible.” Moreno also issued a statement in defense of Gaetz, becoming the first freshman GOP senator to do so. “Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Justice has been weaponized against President Trump and other Republicans,” Moreno said. “Matt Gaetz is exactly the type of leader to clean up the corruption and return the DOJ to following the rule of law.” WHY TRUMP IS STICKING WITH GAETZ, HEGSETH DESPITE NEW ACCUSATIONS – AND HIS ‘MORNING JOE’ MEETING Trump nominated Gaetz for attorney general last Wednesday, coming as a surprise to both conservatives and liberals alike. Democrats have notably slammed the choice, citing the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz’s alleged sexual misconduct with a minor. Gaetz has long denied any wrongdoing, and the Trump transition team said they are confident the Senate will confirm Gaetz. “I know Matt personally. He is a great person. He’s a man of integrity. He also is a brilliant litigator. He served on the House Judiciary Committee for eight years. Anyone who has watched him in those hearings knows that he’s incredibly impressive,” Karoline Leavitt, the transition team’s spokesperson and Trump’s recently announced pick for press secretary, said on Fox News last week. TRUMP NAMING CABINET OFFICIALS AT ‘WARP SPEED,’ FAR HEAD OF FIRST TERM PACE Many Democrats and media pundits have issued blistering critiques of many of Trump’s appointments, including Gaetz, Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, HHS secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard. “President Trump made a brilliant pick in Tulsi Gabbard, a fierce voice who has been brave in speaking out against corruption,” Moreno said. “Tulsi’s military experience and commitment to our Constitution make her a fantastic pick to lead as the Director of National Intelligence.” Moreno also told Fox News Digital that Kennedy is the right choice at Health and Human Services. “After Americans have been misled for years by the ‘experts’ who are beholden to Big Pharma, RFK Jr. will put the health interests of the American people first. HHS desperately needs new leadership, and I am confident that President Trump nominated the right man for the job.” Moreno, who defeated longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown earlier this month, touted Hegseth’s record and ability to push back against bureaucracy at the Pentagon. “Pete Hegseth is a decorated war hero who dedicated 20 years of his life to protecting our nation,” Moreno said. “Pete is exactly the type of leader who is needed at the Pentagon to shrink bureaucracy, eliminate woke ideology from our military, and put an end to endless wars.” Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report
How Trump and Speaker Johnson could force the Senate to adjourn, allow recess appointments
Some Capitol Hill Republicans are already starting to deliberate whether President-elect Trump has a constitutional pathway to adjourn Congress himself in order to clear any possible resistance to his Cabinet appointments. Trump argued earlier this month in a post on Truth Social that “recess appointments” would enable his new administration “to get people confirmed in a timely manner.” The Constitution grants the president authority to appoint Cabinet officials when the Senate is out of session, a period of time known as “recess,” bypassing the traditional Senate confirmation process. Trump allies are exploring whether a constitutional clause would enable House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to work with Trump to shut down Congress even if the Senate objects – clearing the way for his recess appointments. MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN AFTER TRUMP ENDORSEMENT The passage in question would allow the commander in chief to “on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper.” If Johnson proposes to take the House and Senate out of session and the Senate resists, then there is “disagreement,” the theory goes, and Trump could send everyone home for as long as he wants. “We’re still looking at that,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, told Fox News Digital. “I’m actually talking to a bunch of folks who have been a part of litigating this in the past… reviewing it to kind of figure out the history and the contours of that particular provision, because that’s kind of in the zip code of unprecedented.” He said there was “zero question that the House and Senate can choose to adjourn,” at which point Trump could make his recess appointments. “We just kind of gotta work through what is the position of the House and the Senate on adjourning and then figure out… that specific question,” Roy said. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., told Fox News Digital, “I have heard that there were some discussions about that, whether it is already currently allowed or procedurally correct, but not that much.” MATT GAETZ FACES GOP SENATE OPPOSITION AFTER TRUMP SELECTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL “I think basically, what we’re really, really talking about is, should the president be able to have the people confirmed that he has selected to help him pursue and pass his agenda?” Rosendale said. “I think that he should be allowed to have the people confirmed that are going to help him pass his agenda… I do also believe that we have to be very careful of breaking norms, because we saw [ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.] do that on many occasions, and it does hurt the institutions.” There’s currently disagreement among legal experts over whether the move is even possible. REPUBLICANS PROJECTED TO KEEP CONTROL OF HOUSE AS TRUMP PREPARES TO IMPLEMENT AGENDA “The whole idea that a president could conspire with the House to eviscerate the Senate’s advice and consent for a nomination is outrageous,” Edward Whelan, a distinguished senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, told Fox News Digital. “The mechanism that they have in mind to do that would not work… the House of Representatives has no authority to try to prevent that same thing in session. And its objection to the Senate doing so cannot plausibly create the sort of disagreement that would trigger a presidential authority to adjourn both houses.” Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project and a former senior aide to the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital he believed the clause was there specifically for such a time. “The Senate’s job is to provide advice and consent. The American people overwhelmingly elected President Trump in a landslide victory. The American people expect the Senate to confirm all of President Trump’s qualified nominees,” Davis said. “If the Senate refuses to do that, the Constitution provides a mechanism for the president and the executive brand to [sidestep] them.” The idea has struck some within the House GOP as preposterous – particularly in relation to former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s nomination by Trump for attorney general. “The speaker should not do that. And my hope is that the Senate president will have more of a backbone,” one Republican lawmaker told Fox News Digital when granted anonymity to speak freely. JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’ “If he wanted recess appointments, nominating Matt Gaetz was the worst thing he possibly could have done… when you throw him in there, you just kill it easily because you just scared the crap out of, I don’t know, probably 30 or 40 Republican senators.” But Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who told Fox News Digital she’s heard “multiple strategies” for helping the president-elect get recess appointments through, said, “Yes, we’re going to get the appointments done,” even if Senate Republicans don’t fully comply. “I’ll just tell you this. If these senators oppose President Trump’s appointments, they are openly declaring war on President Trump and his incoming administration,” Greene said. “They need to sit down and get out of the way, because it’s not going to be tolerated.” Johnson himself appeared to leave the door open to such a strategy during an interview with “Fox News Sunday” when asked about the constitutional theory. “I wish the Senate would simply do its job of advice and consent and allow the president to put the persons in his Cabinet of his choosing. But if this thing bogs down, it would be a great detriment to the country, to the American people,” Johnson said. “They have sent the message that America First policies should be the rule of the day… So we’ll evaluate all that at the appropriate time and we’ll make the appropriate decision. There may be a function for that, and we’ll have to see