Longtime GOP aide defects to Dem rising star as Texas Senate battle for Cornyn’s seat heats up
Following his bombshell primary defeat in May, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is facing another blow as his longtime aide is crossing the political aisle to work for the Democrat candidate running to replace him in the upper chamber. Former Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, backed by President Donald Trump, is running against Democrat state Rep. James Talarico in a crucial midterm election race that will decide the future of Cornyn’s seat and could determine control of the Senate. Jacob Smith, who worked for Cornyn for five years as a deputy legislative director and policy advisor, signed up to work on the Senate campaign for Talarico. The news was first reported by NOTUS and confirmed by Fox News Digital. WHAT OUR LATEST FOX NEWS POLL IN THE TEXAS SENATE SHOWDOWN REVEALS Cornyn lost his re-election bid in an expensive and bitter primary runoff against Paxton earlier this year. The clash between the two Texas titans shaped up as a fight between the Republican establishment versus Trump’s MAGA and America First supporters. The general election face-off in red-leaning Texas between Talarico and Paxton is one of roughly a dozen that will likely decide if Republicans hold the Senate majority or if Democrats win back control of the chamber. Instead of Smith opting to join the replacement Republican for Cornyn, he defected to back the Democrat running for the seat. “I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career, but this year I’m proud to be joining James Talarico’s campaign,” Smith wrote in a statement. “Instead of playing partisan politics, Talarico speaks to the needs of everyday people who day in and day out work too hard for too little.” Democrats haven’t won a Senate election in Texas in nearly four decades, but they view Paxton as vulnerable because of the slew of scandals and legal problems that have battered him over the past decade. And Paxton is dealing with a messy divorce, with his wife citing “biblical grounds” based on “recent discoveries” in filing last year to end their marriage. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE MIDTERM RACES And Smith took aim at Paxton in his decision to bolster Talarico’s campaign, charging that the former AG “is the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas who would sell their futures to the highest contributor just to hold onto power.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Paxton campaign for comment, but didn’t receive a response at time of publication. Cornyn has repeatedly noted since his runoff defeat that he would support the party’s nominee, saying, “I’ve always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election.” DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The cross-party switch by Smith is considered rare, and his addition to Talarico’s team may potentially help the Democratic nominee as he reaches out to Republicans who may not be thrilled with Paxton as their party’s nominee. The most recent Fox News poll in the Texas Senate showdown, conducted late last month, indicated Talarico holding a slight 51%-48% edge over Paxton among registered voters. The survey suggested that Paxton had yet to fully unite Republicans. While virtually all Democrats supported Talarico (98%), fewer Republicans were unified behind Paxton (89%). Meanwhile, the latest Fox News Power Rankings, released on Tuesday, shifted the Senate race in Texas from Lean Republican to toss-up.
Antisemitism fight explodes in Florida as voters head to the polls: ‘Political pogrom’
A Republican primary race in Florida has exploded over accusations of antisemitism as one far-right candidate espouses openly anti-Jewish tropes and references to Adolf Hitler. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., the lone Jewish Republican in Florida’s congressional delegation, is being targeted for his religion by a long-shot rival challenging him in the GOP primary for the Sunshine State’s 6th Congressional District. “This is an open Nazi who transported himself from Las Vegas to Florida in order to target me. This isn’t an organic campaign. It’s an organized pogrom against the Jews. It’s a political pogrom,” Fine told Fox News Digital of Dan Bilzerian’s campaign on Tuesday. TLAIB UNDER FIRE FOR WORKING TO UNSEAT TWO JEWISH HOUSE DEMOCRATS IN FLORIDA: ‘NO COINCIDENCE’ It comes as voters across Florida vote in primary elections that will set up key matchups between Democrats and Republicans ahead of the November midterms. Fine, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, has attracted multiple GOP challengers in his fight for his first full term in the House. But none have generated backlash like Bilzerian. “District 6 understands the Jewish problem,” he captioned one post on X that appeared to show a campaign gathering. Last week, he posted what appeared to be an AI-generated video to X that alluded to Hitler in a positive manner while depicting Fine with horns growing out of his head, another antisemitic trope that was infamously used in Nazi Germany to spur hatred of Jews. DEM CANDIDATE’S ZIONIST CASTRATION RANT SPARKS FIRESTORM AS PARTY LEADERS REWRITE NARRATIVE TO TARGET GOP Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., told Fox News Digital in response on Tuesday, “Dan Bilzerian is running for Congress on a Nazi platform. That’s not hyperbole. His own campaign ad celebrates Hitler, draws horns on Jews, and calls a sitting Jewish Member of Congress a problem to be solved. That’s absolutely insane, disgusting, and the clearest, textbook version of antisemitism.” “I don’t agree with Randy Fine on much, but that’s exactly the point. When someone runs for the United States Congress on Jew-hatred, every one of us, Democrat and Republican, has an obligation to say so out loud, no matter who’s on the other end of it,” Gottheimer said. Fine told Fox News Digital of Bilzerian’s campaign, “I’ll be honest, never in my wildest nightmares did I think I would start the week with a swastika painted on one of my yard signs and end the week with a video from a Republican congressional candidate with horns coming out of my head.” He also said, “They’ve spent, we believe, $6 or $7 million. And I think there’s a much bigger story that needs to be explored when this is all over about the influence of direct foreign investments in political campaigns. They’ve spent millions of dollars in the race of unreported money.” FORMER BERNIE SANDERS OFFICIAL ACCUSES SENATOR OF PUSHING MOST ANTISEMITIC CANDIDATES ‘IN A GENERATION’ There is no evidence as of now that foreign investors funded Bilzerian’s campaign. But the degree of antisemitism has drawn condemnation from both House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “The vile attack ads against Congressman Randy Fine in Florida’s 6th District are disgusting and should be condemned by all political leaders on the Right and Left,” Johnson said in a statement. Jeffries said, “The hateful campaign being run by Daniel Bilzerian in Florida is blatantly antisemitic and shocks the conscience. People of goodwill, regardless of political affiliation, must reject his vile attacks on the Jewish community.” Gottheimer was also part of a group of Jewish House Democrats who said that while they do not agree with Fine’s positions, Bilzerian’s “grotesque” video “has no place in America.” Fine is widely expected to win his primary on Tuesday and is favored to win his seat in November.
White House tears into Ossoff with brutal takedown after jab at key Trump aide: ‘Lightweight loser’
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is facing backlash from White House officials and conservatives after taking a personal shot at Trump aide Natalie Harp at a campaign rally, referring to her only by her first name. “Natalie Harp is one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump’s team. Jon Ossoff is a cringeworthy, feminine theatre kid cosplaying as Barack Obama. Nobody gives a s— what this lightweight loser says,” said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle to Fox News Digital. Ossoff took the jab at Harp during a re-election campaign rally in Atlanta, where he slammed President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war and accused the president of neglecting his duties to focus on construction of the White House ballroom and “travel with Natalie,” whom he did not identify by last name. DEM SENATOR SWIPES CREDIT FOR BILL HE OPPOSED AMID HEATED RE-ELECTION BID: ‘DISTURBING PATTERN’ “He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar,” Ossoff said. His jab sparked backlash from conservatives and Trump officials, who defended the 35-year-old aide as simply doing her job, called Ossoff’s attack sexist and demanded an apology. “I don’t think any woman would want to travel with Ossoff. Natalie is smart, professional and successful. Ossoff has to make a sexist remark,” wrote communications specialist and political commentator Mercedes Schlapp. “Jon J—— has to be the biggest c— loser in politics. Instead of denigrating hard working people serving their country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he’s a miserable person who hates this country. It’s because he’s a radical, extremist Dumocrat,” said White House communication director Steven Cheung. FOX NEWS POLL: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE GEORGIA SENATE RACE “@SenOssoff comments regarding Natalie Harp were both sexists and misogynistic. John, attractive women can be qualified, hard workers, and in positions of power. Your gross implication otherwise only highlights your own insecurity and guilty conscience. I feel bad for your staff if this is what you think of women,” wrote Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. “Natalie Harp is an incredibly hardworking, talented, principled, and loyal member of the Trump Admin who passionately wants to help our nation thrive. Every day, she brings drive and focus to her work serving our country. She’s truly a phenomenal member of POTUS’ team,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “Natalie Harp survived bone cancer because President Trump allowed her the ‘right to try.’ Now she’s an extremely hardworking and trusted assistant. Any other insinuation is vile,” wrote Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas. “Natalie Harp is a bone cancer survivor who only lived because Trump greenlit the right to try an experimental treatment when you were terminal. I met her back then. She went to work for him after recovery,” said conservative commentator Robby Starbuck. He added, “@Ossoff is a vile coward for insinuating they’re having an affair. He should apologize to Natalie for doing this. I don’t think any of us would want our daughters talked about like this.” TRUMP’S BEHIND-THE-SCENES ENFORCER PULLS BACK THE CURTAIN IN RARE PUBLIC MOVE Harp rose to prominence in 2019 after crediting Trump’s Right to Try Act with helping her access experimental cancer treatment. She later joined Trump’s 2020 campaign before being tapped as special assistant to the president. She has earned the nickname the “human printer” in Trump’s orbit, updating the president with printouts of news articles, emails, social-media posts and other material for him to read. Ossoff sought to clarify his remarks Monday. “[Trump] retreats into this bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket to make him feel good about himself, to reassure him that he’s doing a great job,” said Ossoff on “The Briefing with Jen Psaki.” He added, “I’ve heard this particular aide referred to as his security blanket. And I think we could say that about any number of the senior aides in the White House. They’re not telling him what he needs to hear. They’re telling him what he wants to hear.” Fox News Digital reached out to Harp and Ossoff for comment.
Minnesota ‘outstanding refugee’ honoree accused in fraud scheme tied to sex trafficking: ‘Can’t make this up’
An immigrant in Minnesota who once received an “outstanding refugee” award from the state government has been charged with Medicaid fraud, prompting strong backlash on social media. Salman Ahmed Elmi is facing three counts of aiding and abetting by swindle and five counts of aiding and abetting by false representation as part of an alleged scam to bill Medicaid for over $1 million in fraudulent services, Fox 9 Minneapolis reported. The charges also allege that two members involved in the fraud scheme were tied to a sex-trafficking ring involving brothels. In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, an agency deeply involved in the massive fraud scheme that has unfolded across the state in recent years, honored Elmi with the title “outstanding refugee” along with an Entrepreneurship Award. News of the charges quickly spread on social media via conservative influencer accounts like LibsofTikTok and End Wokeness. VICE PRESIDENT VANCE SAYS MIGRANT COMMUNITIES SHOW ‘CLEAR PATTERN’ IN FEDERAL FRAUD AS INVESTIGATIONS WIDEN “Fraud is so rampant in this demographic that it’s rewarded instead of punished,” ACT for America Founder Brigitte Gabriel posted on X. “When the system celebrates the looters, you have a culture problem.” “Deport,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. “This is the Minnesota Democrat officials created,” Republican National Committee member AK Kamara posted on X. “Endless depravity and taxpayer-funded fraud.” OMAR’S GOP CHALLENGER COMES OUT FIRING WITH VOW TO CLEAN UP ‘MESS’ IN DEEP BLUE DISTRICT: ‘PEOPLE ARE FED UP’ “You literally cannot make this up,” conservative pundit Eric Daugherty posted on X. “Get these people out of my country.” “The same agency that awarded Elmi is the SAME agency that gives out Medicaid payments,” conservative commentator Benny Johnson posted on X. “You can’t make this up.” Fox 9 Minneapolis also reported that Elmi was part of a startup that received financial backing from Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary. “I started a business to help inspire other people,” Elmi said in an archived post on the Minnesota DHS website. “No one owns businesses in my family; my entire family came here with the idea that the American dream was just getting a job and making it work, so shifting that mindset was difficult but important. Navigating those treacherous waters allowed me to provide for my family and work on my terms.” The Minnesota state government, led by Gov. Tim Walz since 2019, has been under the microscope over the past year as systemic fraud, largely involving the local Somali community, that prosecutors say could total more than $9 billion has been exposed throughout various departments and programs in the state. Critics have argued that the fraud, which was an open secret for years, was aided by the fear of publicly calling it out over fears of being labeled as “racist,” Fox News Digital reported last year. Walz was ultimately forced to drop his bid for re-election amid the fallout. Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Minnesota DHS spokesperson said the Outstanding Refugee Awards ended in 2024. “Salman Elmi’s alleged actions are disturbing and do not reflect the goal of the Outstanding Refugee Awards,” the spokesperson said. “They also do not represent Minnesota’s refugee community. We are surrounded by neighbors, coworkers, employees and friends with powerful stories of resilience in the face of difficult circumstances, who are showing leadership in small as well as large ways to improve their communities. The Outstanding Refugee Awards were a way to recognize some of the individuals who make Minnesota better for all of us.” The spokesperson added that recipients received a certificate and a plaque but no monetary award. “The value came from the opportunity to recognize the courage, resilience and entrepreneurship of refugees and their children, and to recognize their contributions to the state,” the spokesperson said. “Refugees and immigrants offer skills to a needed workforce, provide entrepreneurial innovation and expand worldwide networks – all of which benefit Minnesota.”
Trump’s affordability plan faces conservative pushback as pocketbook issues loom over midterms
FIRST ON FOX: As Americans grapple with soaring housing, food and energy costs, both parties are racing to convince voters they have the answer to the affordability crunch ahead of the high-stakes midterm elections. A new report from the conservative group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence lays out 10 proposals aimed at lowering costs by cutting red tape and expanding production across the economy. “Yes, there’s an unaffordability crisis and it’s the government’s fault,” Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom (AAF), told Fox News Digital. That argument is at the heart of the report, “10 Ways to Improve Affordability Now Across 10 Levels of the Economy,” which calls affordability the “No. 1 issue facing the American people” and targets costs associated with housing, energy and business, among others. THINK YOUR STATE IS EXPENSIVE? NEW DATA REVEALS WHERE AMERICANS FACE THE HIGHEST COST OF LIVING The reports’s proposals range from easing zoning restrictions and expanding oil and gas access to overhauling Social Security and SNAP eligibility, echoing parts of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda. But the conservative blueprint breaks with Trump on two key pocketbook issues: tariffs and credit card interest rates. On trade, the report argues Trump’s sweeping tariffs have come at a cost to American consumers and the broader economy by raising prices, straining U.S. alliances and resulting in nearly 900,000 fewer jobs than expected. The authors at AAF call for shifting more tariff authority back to Congress. TRUMP JUST EXPANDED HIS TARIFF PLAYBOOK WITH A POWERFUL TRADE WEAPON NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER USED If nothing else, Trump’s tariffs proved to be a windfall for Washington. In January alone, duties totaled $30.4 billion, that’s up about 242% from $8.9 billion a year earlier, according to Treasury data. The report also opposes Trump’s proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates, warning it could make lending to roughly 60% of Americans unprofitable. Stern framed the broader affordability debate as a question of whether Americans can still build a better future for their families as many see hopes of living the American dream slipping from their fingers. Housing and energy, he said, are two areas where rising costs have put “a sharper edge on this question of affordability.” Stern blamed zoning restrictions for pushing families farther from jobs and making homeownership harder for younger Americans. Those costs can be substantial. The National Association of Home Builders estimates government regulations account for about 26% of the price of a new single-family home. The report recommends limiting local zoning restrictions, streamlining approval for projects that meet existing rules and tying roughly $50 billion in annual federal housing aid to zoning reform. THE SURPRISING HIDDEN COST QUIETLY ADDING NEARLY $132K TO NEW HOME PRICES REVEALED On energy, the proposal calls for more oil and gas leasing and rejecting state fracking bans. Stern argued greater domestic production could lower costs throughout the economy because energy touches “every good we move, every service provided.” Stern warned that economic frustration can turn Americans against one another, toward “viewing each other as the enemy, and that’s what socialism is.” “I hope that people can take away from this, that it’s not businesses that are the problem,” he said. “It’s not entrepreneurs. It’s not other Americans. It’s government.”
Kushner touts unprecedented Iran contacts as Tehran denies Trump backchannel
Senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner confirmed that communications between the U.S. and Iran are “more robust” than ever, despite Iran’s denial of a backchannel between President Donald Trump and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Kushner made the statement in an interview with Fox News’ Trey Yingst on Monday after a series of meetings across the Middle East about the future of Gaza and Iran. Kushner emphasized that Trump remains committed to making a deal, but there remain severe roadblocks. Kushner emphasized that Iran needs to get serious about making a deal, saying Iranian officials have so far been trying to “trick” the U.S. with false concessions and trying to “hide certain cards.” It remains unclear who exactly the U.S. is communicating with through its so-called backchannel with the IRGC. The IRGC has been the most radical faction within Tehran’s government, frequently sabotaging past negotiations with attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and other efforts. IRAN REQUESTS TALKS WITH US AS WHITE HOUSE WARNS ‘VIOLENCE WILL BE MET WITH VIOLENCE’ Previous negotiations have been with members of the Iranian civilian government, such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and representatives of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, but reports from within Iran suggest the IRGC holds more influence in the country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio alluded to that earlier this year when he told reporters at the White House that Iran’s negotiators often don’t know what they are allowed to concede. “An offer will be made, and then it takes five or six days to get a response because you have to get it through the whole system. They have to find the supreme leader wherever he hides. They have to get him to sign off. And that’s their system,” Rubio said in May. TRUMP SAYS IRAN WILL PAY — WHAT IT TAKES TO END THE WAR REMAINS UNCLEAR Kushner said that Trump is open to making an economic deal with Iran that will allow the country to thrive, but first the nation must give up its efforts to build a nuclear weapon. “They have to want to be a real country,” Kushner said. “They can be one of the wealthiest countries in the world if they choose to pursue it. They have incredible people, incredible history, so they have so much potential.” Kushner said Iran has to want to “pursue that potential instead of… spreading revolution and causing instability throughout the region and the world.” As of Tuesday, a deal seems further away than ever, however, with the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Iran having expired on Monday. Iran is continuing to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian officials are even making threats against Trump’s life. TRUMP CALLS ON ARAB NATIONS TO SIGN ABRAHAM ACCORDS “I think, as we said, we continue to have communications, and when the deal is ready, the deal will be ready. Deals are hard. I mean, it’s funny, President Trump is always aiming for the impossible deals,” Kushner said. One possibility for enacting lasting change in the region would be to expand the Abraham Accords, which Kushner said the administration is still focused on accomplishing. “We have a very good active conversations going with countries, some obvious, some not obvious. And I think once we get this Gaza situation moving forward, I think that will hopefully de-escalate the tensions here,” Kushner said, adding that more concrete talks may have to wait until after the upcoming Israeli elections.
Family seeks $105 million from New York City after teen’s fatal Central Park carriage ride
The family of an 18-year-old tourist who died after a horse bolted during a carriage ride in Central Park is seeking $105 million from New York City, alleging that stray electrical voltage may have caused the animal to panic. Romanch Mahajan, who was visiting New York from India with his family, spending the day snapping photos around Manhattan, suffered fatal head injuries during the June 17 incident near Cherry Hill in Central Park. His family says the unsecured carriage horse, Sampson, suddenly took off while the driver stopped to take their picture. “This was an avoidable accident,” Sagar Chadha of Liakas Law, counsel for the Mahajan family, wrote in a statement. “The allegations set forth in the Notice of Claim describe a preventable tragedy that followed years of warnings, prior incidents and failures to implement basic safeguards.” “An 18-year-old young man came to New York City with his family and never made it back home,” the statement continued. “His family deserves answers, accountability and meaningful change so that no other family experiences what they have endured.” MAN KILLED AFTER HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE BOLTS AND FLIPS NEAR POPULAR NEW YORK CITY TOURIST DESTINATION The tragedy came just over two weeks after New York City horse-drawn carriages would have disappeared under an earlier proposed ban that failed last year. That bill, introduced in 2024, would have prohibited horse-drawn cab operations beginning June 1, 2026, but it was defeated by the City Council’s Health Committee in November 2025. “If the city had passed the law last year, our son would still be alive today,” Deepak Mahajan said in a recorded video statement that played at a July 17 New York City Council hearing, as he and Romanch’s mother wept. “The only measure that can prevent another death is a full and complete act. “Let his death not be in vain.” The effort was revived this year just days before Mahajan’s death: Council Member Christopher Marte introduced a new version of the ban June 11 — six days before the June 17 accident — that would phase out horse-drawn cabs by June 1, 2028. That bill is now being renamed “Romanch’s Law,” and has the backing of New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin. EAGLES FAN, 18, DIES AFTER FALL FROM LIGHT POLE DURING CELEBRATION “His death was heartbreaking, and it was preventable,” Menin wrote in a statement to support and rename the bill. “That tragedy is why I have decided to support Romanch’s Law, legislation that would begin the transition away from horse-drawn carriages as a tourist attraction in Central Park — for the safety of New Yorkers, visitors from around the world, and the horses themselves.” The family alleges in four notices of claim – documents that are generally required before someone can sue New York City – that “stray voltage and/or contact voltage” in the area “caused, precipitated, contributed to and/or was a substantial factor” in causing the horse to be “shocked, stimulated, startled, agitated, frightened and/or spooked, and to bolt and run away.” The filings filed Friday name the city, Con Edison and several municipal agencies, including the departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Consumer and Worker Protection. CARNIVAL RIDE PASSENGERS LEFT DANGLING IN CARRIAGE AFTER MALFUNCTION AT HIGH SCHOOL EVENT: VIDEO Mahajan’s father has said the family was inside the carriage, posing for a photo with the driver, when the horse abruptly bolted. As the carriage sped through the park, Romanch’s mother, Priya, fell out. Romanch then jumped from the moving carriage in an attempt to help her, according to his father. The teenager struck his head on the pavement and was later pronounced dead at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Other members of the family suffered minor injuries, with the four notices of claim totaling $105 million. FATAL NYC HELICOPTER CRASH PROMPTS GOP LAWMAKER TO CALL FOR ENDING POPULAR TOURIST FLIGHTS The family’s claims add a new dimension to the investigation by focusing on the possibility that electrical voltage in the park contributed to the horse’s behavior. Con Edison acknowledged that low levels of stray voltage were detected in the area on July 16 and July 23, weeks after the fatal incident, according to the filings. “These allegations demand a complete and transparent investigation,” Chadha said. “The family intends to determine not only why an occupied carriage was allegedly left unsecured, but whether dangerous electrical conditions existed in the very area where this horse suddenly became spooked and whether anyone knew or should have known about those conditions before Romanch was killed.”
FIRST ON FOX: Man found dead on street triggers ICE action after shocking hit-and-run
FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer against an illegal immigrant accused of a hit-and-run that left a North Carolina father dead in the street. Fox News Digital learned that ICE filed a detainer request for 21-year-old Honduran illegal immigrant Mauricio Josue Alberto Sarmiento, who is charged with hit-and-run resulting in death in Sylva, North Carolina. The Sylva Police Department said Sarmiento struck 51-year-old James Robert Bagley III with his car before leaving the scene early Aug. 2. Officers and first responders found Bagley unresponsive in the street. He died from his injuries. Five days later, the Sylva Police Department announced it had arrested Sarmiento and charged him with felony hit-and-run resulting in serious injury or death, no liability insurance, driving with a revoked license, exceeding safe speed and failure to reduce speed. He also had an outstanding arrest order in Jackson County, North Carolina. MAN CHARGED IN CRASH THAT KILLED MOTHER AND TWO YOUNG SONS HAS ICE DETAINER, PRIOR DWI CONVICTIONS The same day Sarmiento was arrested, ICE lodged a detainer with the Jackson County Jail. The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News Digital that Sarmiento entered the country illegally through Texas as an unaccompanied minor in October 2021. U.S. Border Patrol arrested him after his entry. DHS said he was “reunified” with an unrelated sponsor and released into the country under the Biden administration. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News Digital his agency is “asking officials in Jackson County to cooperate and not release this criminal from jail without notifying ICE.” Mullin said “if it weren’t for the Biden Administration’s disastrous open borders, James Bagley would still be alive.” Fox News Digital reached out to a representative of the former Biden administration for comment but did not receive a response. WATCH: DEM DEMANDS ‘ONE CASE’ WHERE SANCTUARY CITIES DIDN’T TURN OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS; DHS PROVIDES LIST Mullin said “by securing our border and deporting illegal aliens, we can save lives and prevent tragedies like this one from ever happening again.” After Sarmiento’s arrest, Sylva Police Chief Aimee Sumner said his arrest “represents a significant step forward in our investigation” but added that “while an arrest has been made, this case is not over, and we remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and ensuring that the facts are presented through the judicial process.” Sumner noted, “Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of James Bagley as they continue to cope with this tremendous loss.” The police chief confirmed the charges against Sarmiento to Fox News Digital. Sumner also confirmed that Sarmiento remains in custody at the Jackson County Detention Center, which the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office operates. ICE BOSTON ARRESTS BRAZILIAN ILLEGAL ALIEN WANTED FOR MURDER DAYS BEFORE GOV HEALY SIGNED PROTECT ACT SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Regarding the ICE detainer, Sumner said, “Our department was not involved in that process; you would need to speak with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.” Fox News Digital contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Fox News Power Rankings: As Democrats turn left, Black voters tap the brakes
President Trump’s return to office was made possible in part because of increasing support from three traditionally Democratic groups: Hispanic voters (41% supported Trump, a 6-point improvement from 2020), young voters (46%, up 10 points) and Black voters (15%, up 7 points). There isn’t much evidence that Democrats have figured out how to talk to these voters again, but for two of the three groups, Trump’s declining approval rating is doing the job for them. In a recent Marquette survey, two-thirds of young Americans said they disapproved of Trump, and 56% said they would support the Democratic candidate in their district. Hispanics were also unhappy with the president: 71% disapproved of his performance and 56% said they’ll support a Democrat this November. Black voters haven’t come all the way home yet. One in five Black Americans approves of Trump, but only 69% say they’ll support a Democrat in their district. That’s 21 points below Biden’s 2020 share of the Black vote, when he thanked those voters for delivering his victory. DSA BRAND ON TRIAL AS EL-SAYED STRUGGLES WHERE DEMS CAN LEAST AFFORD IT Democratic candidates in three battleground states are also staring at Black voter erosion, but they’ve found ways to stem the losses. In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff is running 10 points behind Biden’s 2020 support among Black voters. In North Carolina, it’s 7 points. In Texas, State Rep. James Talarico is running about even with Black voters over that period. It’s a different story in Michigan. According to a new Fox News poll, 75% of Black voters support newly minted Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. That’s down 18 points from their support for Biden. EL-SAYED ADMITS FREE HEALTHCARE MEANS PAYING ‘A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TAXES’ REGARDLESS OF INCOME El-Sayed’s far-left platform is probably playing a role in Black voters’ skepticism. In the Marquette survey, just 36% of Black Americans said they had a favorable view of the Democratic Socialists of America. (Bear in mind that because Black voters are a small group in most surveys, these results have large margins of error.) You can also see it in the maps from three recent Democratic primaries: El-Sayed did poorly in Black-majority areas like Detroit, while Wisconsin democratic socialist Francesca Hong underperformed in Milwaukee, another city with a high Black population. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a card-carrying member of the DSA, also struggled with Black voters in New York City last year. That might explain why he’s been on a “Black media blitz” to defend some of his most controversial ideas. It might be working: Mamdani’s favorability among New Yorkers sat at 69% in a Siena poll released last week. In any case, the clock is ticking for the far-left. Michigan starts absentee voting on September 24. The state’s Senate race moves to toss-up in this edition of the Fox News Power Rankings, along with another big-name state. Three gubernatorial races also just got more competitive. Senate: Two more states become toss-ups, giving both parties a chance at a landslide MEET THE DEMOCRAT WHO NARROWLY DEFEATED SOCIALIST RIVAL IN KEY SWING-STATE BATTLE OVER THE PARTY’S FUTURE The latest Senate forecast includes six states where neither Democrats nor Republicans have an edge. That could make for an extraordinary election night. In one scenario, the Democrats not only flip the Senate, but end up with 53 seats. In another, Republicans hold on to the Senate with no net loss of seats. The GOP has a better chance at flipping Michigan than it did a week ago. In last week’s Fox survey, former Rep. Mike Rogers had the support of 51% of voters to El-Sayed’s 47%, within the margin of error. Republicans are united in their support for Rogers, a strong and seasoned campaigner. With a quarter of Black voters not backing El-Sayed, his coalition isn’t complete. The fundamentals still favor the Democrats, but in what is certain to be a high-turnout election, El-Sayed will need every Democrat to show up. This race is now a toss-up. FOX NEWS POLL: A SENATE BATTLE LOOMS IN MICHIGAN At the same time, the national environment hasn’t changed. Trump’s overall approval rating is stuck in the 30s; his ratings on the economy and Iran are often lower. Gas prices have proven even tougher to sell: only 21% of Americans recently said they approved of Trump when asked specifically about that issue. That has benefited Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas, who has enjoyed some robust polling results this summer. He’s averaging 48% in three recent polls, hitting 51% in Fox’s survey, while his opponent, Ken Paxton, averages 46%. Paxton’s history of legal and personal issues is likely playing a role in that latter figure, and while Talarico must defend a history of “woke” comments, voters say they’re less worried about those. They could make the difference in an election year that’s already favorable to Democrats. Texas is also a toss-up. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer raised some eyebrows last week when he said Democrats were expanding the Senate map to include Kansas (Trump +16 in 2024) and Mississippi (Trump +23). The comment came shortly after El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan, and with parts of the party establishment balking at that win, Schumer may just be giving donors options. Still, Kansas wouldn’t be out of reach on an outstanding night for Democrats. Megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton is already a well-funded Democratic challenger; he faces incumbent GOP Sen. Roger Marshall. This race moves to Likely R. Governor: Texas, Alaska, and Minnesota are all in play Based on polls alone, Texas’ gubernatorial race looks remarkably similar to the Senate. In the same three polls this summer, incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott has the support of 49% of voters, with Democrat Gina Hinojosa sitting at 46%. There’s more to the story than that. When Republican voters show up in Texas, they easily outnumber Democrats, and while Paxton appears not to be helping this ticket, Abbott’s fundraising prowess and experience in close races should keep the candidates apart when the votes
Iran fails to strike deal with US as deadline passes and Trump calls for ‘white flag of surrender’
Iran failed to reach a final deal with the U.S. by Monday’s deadline, leaving disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz unresolved nearly six months into the war. Tehran instead announced an understanding with Oman on a new commercial transit route through the strait, but the plan cannot take effect without U.S. approval, and leaves unresolved Washington’s blockade, Iran’s nuclear program and the broader negotiations. Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil traverses, remained at the heart of the deadlock, leaving the two sides without a path to a broader agreement on ending the war or resolving the nuclear dispute. Iran insists it must retain authority over passage through the strait, while the United States has demanded unrestricted commercial navigation. President Donald Trump insisted on Monday that Tehran wants to strike a deal with Washington, but claims they are unwilling to accept necessary terms to end the stalemate. “They want to make a deal, but they’re not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” TRUMP WARNS IRAN FIGHTING ISN’T OVER AS HE VOWS US WILL ‘WIN’ AS TALKS FADE Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the two countries had reached “an understanding … regarding the map of the transit route” and were working to finalize a joint statement. Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, claimed Tuesday that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will maintain control over shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz until the United States agrees to its conditions. “Until the United States fulfills its commitments under the agreement, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military operations on all fronts, and implementing the other conditions to which it committed, the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen,” Qalibaf said, according to The Associated Press. Trump responded in a Fox News interview: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s— out of them.” The president also said Iran should surrender to end the war, telling Fox News, “They should put up the white flag of surrender.” He has maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the administration’s central objective. The 60-day window was established under a June memorandum of understanding (MOU) intended to halt hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide a framework for a broader agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions and regional security issues. The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the conclusion of the negotiating period with no deal reached. GULF COUNTRIES STRONGLY CONDEMN IRAN’S DRONE ATTACK ON BAHRAIN AS RISING TENSIONS THREATEN MOU Instead, the framework broke down as Iran and the United States accused each other of violating its terms and resumed military action. Iran has demanded sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the U.S. naval blockade, while maintaining that it must retain authority over passage through Hormuz. Washington has demanded unrestricted commercial navigation through the strait, which carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas before the war. The ceasefire arrangement was repeatedly tested by attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. retaliation inside Iran. Iran was blamed for a June 25 strike on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage sites and radar facilities, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Fighting escalated again in July after Iran struck three vessels in the waterway. CENTCOM said it struck more than 300 Iranian military targets over three nights, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communications networks and coastal surveillance positions. U.S. strikes continued through July 22, with CENTCOM saying the operations targeted Iran’s maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defense assets. The command did not release an updated cumulative target count. Most recently, two vessels operated by the UAE’s state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked while transiting the strait, Reuters reported. The UAE blamed Iran, which did not immediately comment. The threat to shipping has sharply reduced traffic through the narrow waterway and increased pressure on the Trump administration to end a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets. PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION The failure to secure a deal also comes as reports indicate the war has strained U.S. munitions inventories. Reuters reported earlier this month, citing sources familiar with the data, that the Army had used “virtually all” of its ATACMS and Precision Strike Missile stocks during the conflict and had expended just under half of its global Tomahawk inventory. Pentagon officials have pushed back on the contention that the drawdown has undermined U.S. readiness, while calling on defense companies to accelerate weapons production. An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that U.S. Patriot interceptor inventories had fallen by at least 65% from their prewar level. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the U.S. Navy could maintain its blockade of Iran indefinitely by rotating ships in and out of the region. With the deadline expired, no compromise over Hormuz and the nuclear dispute unresolved, the Trump administration now faces a choice between extending negotiations, escalating pressure on Tehran or continuing a war that has disrupted global energy markets and strained U.S. weapons inventories.