Hegseth could face new impeachment push over Ukraine aid, lawmakers warn
FIRST ON FOX: Some House Democrats are leaving the door open to additional articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of military aid to Ukraine, according to lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital after a failed impeachment effort led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. But a conservative legal expert suggested the renewed impeachment push may be less about removing Hegseth from office than discouraging conservatives from serving in future Republican administrations. Massie, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital that while he could not substantiate allegations that Hegseth improperly withheld military assistance to Ukraine, he believes Democrats will investigate the matter and potentially introduce additional articles of impeachment when they take control of Congress in January. “I believe [Democrats] may use some of the same articles of impeachment when they’re in the majority, but I also believe there are gonna be some other articles of impeachment based on hearings and committees,” Massie told Fox News Digital. “I think the Democrats will do that.” DEMOCRATS RALLY BEHIND GOP LAWMAKER’S HEGSETH IMPEACHMENT PUSH, SIGNAL MORE TO COME IN JANUARY “I heard that as one of the complaints that wasn’t in my impeachment resolution,” Massie added. Massie acknowledged that another impeachment effort could be largely symbolic if the Senate fails to convict Hegseth, but argued that the proceedings could still pressure the war secretary to resign. While impeachment requires a simple majority in the House, conviction and removal from office require a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Massie said he hopes a Democratic-controlled Senate would hold a trial if the House impeaches Hegseth. “So there’s still a reason to proceed,” Massie said. His remarks came after the House rejected his effort Tuesday to impeach Hegseth over military operations against Iran and suspected drug smugglers in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without congressional authorization. The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, while the president, as commander in chief, has authority to direct military operations. The extent to which a president can initiate hostilities without congressional authorization remains legally disputed. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also called on the House Monday to impeach Hegseth and urged the Senate to hold a trial to remove him from office. Schumer did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Zach Smith, a legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, criticized Democrats’ plans to pursue impeachment and potential prosecution of Trump administration officials, calling the efforts an “unfortunate waste of time” given the two-thirds Senate majority required to convict and remove an impeached official. Smith argued, however, that Democrats are prioritizing impeachment proceedings to discourage conservatives from serving in future Republican administrations, not to actually remove Hegseth. He added that the efforts would also divert congressional attention from “the many very important issues that our country is facing today,” including concerns Democrats campaigned on ahead of the midterm elections, such as driving down the cost of living. “Not only does this mean that the House and the Senate will have to take time away from the legislative activities they should be focusing on, but it will also make it more difficult for members of the Trump administration to do their duties as well, because they’ll have to be dealing with these requests and other efforts by Congress,” Smith told Fox News Digital. Despite Smith’s concerns, Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., echoed Massie’s expectations, telling Fox News Digital that she anticipates congressional oversight committees will investigate Hegseth’s handling of military assistance to Ukraine. Grijalva said she expects congressional committees to hold hearings examining Hegseth’s handling of Ukraine funding. ‘LAWYER UP’: DEMS IMMEDIATELY PUT TRUMP ON NOTICE AMID REPUBLICANS’ MIDTERM BLOODBATH “This is an issue that will come up again, because once we have more information into how bad his handling has been, we will likely have more movement and possibly more articles of impeachment,” Grijalva told Fox News Digital. The Arizona Democrat, who described herself as “a big believer in process and getting the facts out,” argued that voters sent a clear message during the 2026 midterm elections. Grijalva said Americans spoke “very clearly” when they voted, signaling that “they want to put an end to the corruption.” Fox News Digital could not independently verify the allegation that Hegseth improperly withheld Ukraine funding or engaged in any wrongdoing related to the matter. Hegseth did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Rep.-elect Scott Wiener, D-Calif., told Fox News Digital that he had “no idea” whether additional impeachment articles would be introduced and was unaware of evidence supporting the allegations. However, he expressed support for removing Hegseth from office. “I will fully support impeaching him,” Wiener told Fox News Digital. “He’s a disaster to our military and our country.” Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democrats of pursuing politically motivated impeachment proceedings against Trump administration officials. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital following Tuesday’s vote that he was “not surprised” by Democrats’ interest in impeaching Hegseth. Mast argued that Democrats were determined to impeach “anyone who was appointed by the president,” regardless of whether evidence supported the allegations. The discussions come as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in January, giving the party greater power to launch investigations, hold hearings and pursue impeachment proceedings.
Ilhan Omar appears clueless on basis for federal probes: ‘You probably have more details on that’
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., told Fox News Digital on Tuesday she was never informed by federal agencies of the grounds on which she is being investigated — even claiming she isn’t sure how many probes into her there are. “No, no,” she said when asked if she had been told exactly the basis for the investigations. There are two known ongoing federal probes into the Somali-born congresswoman — the first, confirmed by sources to Fox News Digital, is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) looking into whether her immigration paperwork was fraudulently filled out by herself or her father; and the second is investigating her financial disclosures discrepancies and was confirmed publicly by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. ILHAN OMAR’S TURBULENT WEEK EXPLAINED: THE DUELING PROBES THAT THREW THE SOMALI-BORN PROGRESSIVE INTO CHAOS On Omar’s first day back on Capitol Hill following the investigations, she told Fox News Digital she doesn’t know if DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are each investigating her independently. “I’m not sure,” Omar said. “You probably have more details on that.” The congresswoman’s feigned innocence on the matter came after she had a two-hour meeting with her lawyers at her Capitol Hill office on Tuesday. The news of the federal investigations first gained steam after Fox News Digital first reported that agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were executing a federal raid on Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on Oct. 12. Sources confirmed the search was in relation to an investigation into Omar’s immigration paperwork. The Somali-born lawmaker arrived in the U.S. in 1995 as a refugee fleeing civil war after spending four years in a refugee camp in Kenya. ILHAN OMAR HUDDLES WITH HER DC-BASED LAWYERS DURING HER FIRST DAY BACK ON CAPITOL HILL AMID FEDERAL PROBES Federal agents reportedly seized the congresswoman’s cellphone, passport and computer. Fox News Digital also later confirmed that a sample of the congresswoman’s DNA was also obtained during the raid. Omar told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that “most” of the items seized during the raid have been returned to her possession. “I’ve gotten most of them back,” Omar said. More information continues to come to light as the investigations proceed, including a federal court filing identifying Omar by the name “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi,” which matches the last name of her ex-husband, whom reports have alleged is her brother. The marriage continues to draw scrutiny after the Daily Caller recently reported that her ex-husband Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, who is alleged to be her brother, described himself as a “gay man” in an academic paper that was published earlier this year. OBAMA ADMIN FIRST LAUNCHED THE INVESTIGATION INTO ILHAN OMAR’S ALLEGED BROTHER MARRIAGE Omar ignored Fox News Digital’s questioning about her ex-husband and rumored brother referring to himself as “gay” in Aug. 2026, just months before HSI raided her house and federal investigations got underway. The congresswoman is still under investigation as she returns to Capitol Hill after winning re-election to represent Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Her two high-profile lawyers, Amy Jeffress and Joshua Matz, were seen leaving her office in the Longworth House Office Building after a roughly two-hour meeting. Omar’s team did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Bernie Sanders says he won’t back Schumer as push for new leadership gains steam
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., says he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to serve as Senate majority leader once Democrats take control over the chamber next year. Sanders was complimentary of Schumer, but said at a news conference on Tuesday that he believes “the time is now” for change in Democratic leadership. “I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck. [There’s] nobody who works harder than Chuck Schumer. But in my view, the time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck to be re-elected as the Democratic leader,” Sanders said at a news conference. CHUCK SCHUMER AFTER SWEEPING DEMOCRATIC MIDTERM VICTORIES: ‘I’LL BE RE-ELECTED AS MAJORITY LEADER’ Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., joined Sanders at the Tuesday news conference and said she also will not be supporting Schumer. Neither has backed a specific candidate to replace Schumer, however. “I am not actively seeking this job. I am seeking change,” Slotkin said. “I’ve been very consistent for a very long time that we need a new generation of leadership … It’s important to demonstrate that we’ve heard what people want from this last election.” THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT ON CAPITOL HILL Sanders and Slotkin join many Senate newcomers in opposing Schumer’s re-election, including the likes of Sens.-elect Adam Hamilton and Troy Jackson. A number of the more left-wing Democrats favor Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., for the new leader. SCHUMER DUCKS QUESTION ON CAMPAIGNING WITH SOCIALIST CANDIDATE WHO REFUSES TO BACK HIM AS LEADER “I’ve said very clearly that we need to have a discussion in the Democratic caucus,” Van Hollen said during an appearance at Crooked Con over the weekend. “We need to understand what the Democrats are going to do with this new responsibility and these new powers,” he continued. “And that nobody should get a blank check without a full understanding from the caucus as to where we’re going to go.” And Van Hollen, who has previously said his focus was more on “kicking the tires” on a run for higher office in 2028, is reportedly mulling a bid for Schumer’s job, according to Politico. Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report.
Multiple Kennedy family members seek to join legal battle against Trump’s triumphal arch
Nine members of the Kennedy family sought on Tuesday to join litigation opposing President Donald Trump’s bid to build a triumphal arch in the nation’s capital. “President Donald J. Trump is attempting to unlawfully erect a massive arch that will permanently cast shadows over and damage historically significant sightlines to the existing gravesites and memorials established in the Kennedy family’s honor at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as to the memorials of hundreds of thousands of fallen American heroes,” their complaint asserted. FEDERAL JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS CONSTRUCTION OF TRUMP’S ARLINGTON TRIUMPHAL ARCH HOURS AFTER APPROVAL “The plaintiffs include Rory Kennedy, Maxwell Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Courtney Kennedy, the Hon. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and the Hon. Joseph P. Kennedy II, children of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy; the Hon. Joseph P. Kennedy III, a grandchild of Robert and Ethel Kennedy; and Edward M. Kennedy, Jr., son of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy,” according to a Democracy Defenders Fund press release. Rory and Maxwell Kennedy discussed the issue in a statement on the family’s behalf. “This action is about protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people. Our parents, Robert and Ethel Kennedy, and our uncles, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, are laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Our uncle Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who lost his life serving our country in World War II, is also memorialized there. They are among the more than 400,000 veterans and family members buried or honored on this hallowed ground. We believe Donald Trump has violated the laws and procedures established by Congress to protect this most sacred national memorial. In bringing this lawsuit, we stand for those who can not stand for themselves. LAWYER SAYS 250-FOOT TRUMP ARCH DISRUPTS HISTORIC SIGHTLINES CHERISHED BY VETERANS SEEKING BURIAL AT ARLINGTON “Americans from every corner of the country visit Arlington to honor those who served and sacrificed for our nation. A towering arch casting shadows across the graves of our father, mother, and uncles, as well as the graves of so many who have served our country, would also cast a shadow over our democratic principles, undermining the safeguards established by our elected representatives to protect this hallowed ground for generations to come. Our lawsuit asks the administration to respect the sanctity of Arlington National Cemetery, the laws established to protect it, and the rights of all Americans who come here to honor those who have served our country,” the family’s statement said. Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from breaking ground on the proposed triumphal arch, shortly after a federal planning commission approved the project. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day temporary restraining order halting construction. White House spokesman Davis Ingle issued this statement on Wednesday to Fox News Digital: “An activist district court has temporarily blocked the construction of the long-awaited Arch. It is unfortunate to see that some members of the Kennedy family have joined the litigation against the Arch as the project is intended to honor our heroes who rest in Arlington Cemetery. The judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation. We will continue making the case for this beautiful and fitting monument and are confident we will be fully vindicated as this litigation proceeds. We look forward to seeing the completion of this magnificent Arch—a tribute to 250 years of American greatness.” Trump has said the arch would be utilized for military purposes. TRUMP SAYS NEW ARCH WILL ALSO DEPLOY DRONES, POSITION SNIPERS AND STORE AMMO “At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch, planned since the Civil War Era many years ago, at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge, into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch, to house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage,” he said in a Sept. 20 Truth Social post. Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
‘He blamed the Jews’: GOP congressman levels explosive accusation against JD Vance over election postmortem
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said Vice President JD Vance’s election analysis posted online last week amounted to an attack on the Jewish people, leading him to swear off support for any presidential aspirations Vance might have for 2028. “I definitively will not be supporting the vice president in that nominating contest. I thought his message that he put out the day after the election was abhorrent and, frankly, smacked of the kind of thing you’d read in 1932 Germany,” Fine, who is himself Jewish, said in an interview with Fox Now. “He’s out in my book,” he added. “He blamed the Jews for losing the election.” VANCE COURTING DISGRUNTLED TRUMP VOTERS TO FORM ‘NEW RIGHT’ ALLIANCE AFTER REPUBLICAN BLOODBATH, SOURCES SAY Fine’s blistering attack on Vance comes as the GOP is working to understand the midterm election results, in which Republicans lost control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. It also underscores tensions in the GOP as the party wrestles with how to balance America-First principles with its alliance with Israel. In his breakdown, Vance cited polling that identified four key items disillusioned voters wanted to see from Republicans: ending the war in Iran, focusing on the cost of living, putting America first and changing the U.S.-Israel relationship. “Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats,” Vance wrote. Amid that mix, Vance especially singled out the first item, noting that Trump had himself identified the Iran conflict as a decisive factor in the midterms in interviews after the election. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance said. “The president himself said so last night.” But Fine had a different diagnosis. When asked about his comments by Fox News Digital, Fine doubled down on his characterization, arguing that the vice president had tacitly laid blame on “the Jews” in three of the four reasons he had identified. RUBIO’S DEFENSE OF TRUMP’S IRAN WAR DRAWS SHARP CONTRAST WITH VANCE’S MIDTERM BLAME “What does America First mean when you’ve said, ‘end the war’ and ‘change our relationship with Israel?’ Isn’t that saying the same thing? When you hear… talk about America First, are they saying, ‘let’s stop giving aid to Egypt?’ No, it’s always about Israel. So it’s three times out of four things,” Fine said. Although Vance’s election breakdown didn’t mention Jews specifically, Fine believes the connection between Israel as a state and the Jewish people is inseparable. “You can’t be Jewish if you don’t believe in Israel. It’s core to our identity and who we are,” Fine said. Fine also believes there is a distinction between Trump’s view of the war in Iran and the breakdown expressed by Vance. In particular, Fine highlighted comments from Trump in which the president said he would likely do the war over again if given the opportunity. “The president said it himself. He said, I would do it again knowing what I know now because they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Fine said. “I’m not sure JD Vance is bothered by the idea of Iran having a nuclear weapon,” he added. Vance’s office declined to respond to the characterization. ROBERT L MAGINNIS: IRAN WAR COST REPUBLICANS CONGRESS. WHAT WILL IT COST AMERICA? Fine has been one of Israel’s loudest supporters in the House of Representatives. He has introduced several pro-Israel pieces of legislation, such as the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025, argued that the U.S. should recognize the Muslim Brotherhood, a political-religious organization, as a terrorist organization, and urged the U.S. to officially designate the Palestinian-controlled West Bank with the Jewish historical names of “Judea and Samaria.” He encouraged Republicans to steer clear of seeing Israel as the reason why the GOP underperformed in the midterm elections. “If you don’t identify the true reasons for the failure, you will fail again, which is why JD Vance can’t be our nominee because he doesn’t understand the reason that we lost the election,” Fine said.
Moderate Dem governor-elect in hot seat after signaling one of her ‘top priorities’ in presser: ‘Resist’
Minnesota Governor-elect Amy Klobuchar, who has positioned herself as a moderate during her years in Congress, is facing blowback over comments made shortly after the election suggesting she will push for gun control when she takes office. “The gun safety bill is going to get passed, and I am so excited to be working with the leaders on this, and it certainly should be one of our top priorities,” Klobuchar said during a press conference. “I think that bill makes a lot of sense. I’m sure that we’ll make some changes … but the basics of that bill I hope will remain in place.” The bill Klobuchar referenced is SF 4067, an omnibus gun-control package that passed the Minnesota Senate 34-33 earlier this year but has not received a House vote. The measure would prohibit federally licensed firearms dealers from selling certain semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, including AR-15s, as well as large-capacity magazines capable of holding more than 17 rounds. The legislation would allow current owners to keep the covered firearms and magazines, but require them to obtain an ownership certification from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and renew that certification every three years. Knowingly possessing an uncertified weapon or magazine would be a gross misdemeanor, with a subsequent violation punishable as a felony. INSIDE TRUMP’S UNPRECEDENTED BATTLE PLAN TO EXPAND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS THROUGH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Klobuchar quickly faced criticism from conservatives and pro-Second Amendment groups on social media, accusing her of pushing a liberal gun control agenda on law-abiding Minnesotans, particularly in rural areas. “Democrats don’t care about affordability. They only care about taking away our Second Amendment rights,” conservative communicator Steve Guest posted on X. “Amy Klobuchar can’t contain her excitement as she goes after law-abiding gun owners.” “In one of her first acts as governor-elect, Sen. @amyklobuchar affirmed that she will go after Minnesotans’ firearms under the guise of ‘safety,’” the National Rifle Association (NRA) posted on X. “When Amy Klobuchar told you over and over she was going to do a top-to-bottom audit, she meant of your guns, not your tax dollars,” Minnesota attorney and former immigration judge Nathan Hansen posted on X. DEMOCRATS’ LATEST GUN-CONTROL PUSH RUNS INTO INCONVENIENT FACT ABOUT HOW SCHOOL KILLER WAS STOPPED “Why are you babbling about gun control?” Minnesota Miners, a pro-mining grassroots nonprofit in Minnesota, posted on X. “Instead you should be coming out with your plan to stop government fraud and lowering taxes. But you can’t do that you have to come out attacking & trying to violate lawful gun owners constitutional rights.” “We have a duty to our nation to not comply,” Minnesota Republican state Rep. Ben Davis posted on X. “Resist.” “AMY KLOBUCHAR ISN’T EVEN SWORN IN AND SHE’S ALREADY COMING FOR MINNESOTA’S RIFLES,” conservative influencer Gunther Eagleman posted on X. Fox News Digital reached out to Klobuchar’s team for comment on what aspects of the bill she does and does not support but did not receive a response. “I am committed as ever to moving our state forward, not moving our state to the left or to the right, but moving our state forward,” Klobuchar said during the press conference. Klobuchar, who has served as a Minnesota senator since 2007, defeated Minnesota Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth 13 points in the gubernatorial election earlier this month and will take office in January, replacing Gov. Tim Walz, who dropped his re-election bid in January amid fallout from a massive fraud scandal.
Drug ring busted, illegal aliens cuffed by Homeland Security Task Force in South Carolina: DOJ
The Department of Justice on Tuesday announced that dozens of people in South Carolina, including several illegal immigrants, have been arrested in relation to a drug bust and money laundering scheme. A Homeland Security Task Force investigation netted 36 arrests — and nine of the suspects are in the country illegally, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The bust resulted in the seizure of 346 kilograms of fentanyl, 23 kilograms of methamphetamine, 70 kilograms of cocaine, 34 pounds of marijuana and 43 firearms. “Nothing will stop the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting the American people from lethal drugs,” Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News Digital. DOJ ANNOUNCES 81 ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS INDICTED AFTER PUERTO RICO DRUG TRAFFICKING TAKEDOWN “Thanks to the work of the Homeland Security Task Force, the people of South Carolina are safer today than they were two years ago. The Department of Justice will continue dismantling drug trafficking networks and delivering justice for victims and their families,” he added. Investigators seized $2.8 million in cash and jewelry, 15 luxury vehicles — including two Rolls Royces, a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin — and 17 properties, which the DOJ said is worth $4 million. The drug running operation has been ongoing since at least 2021, and the drugs themselves originated in Mexico. The narcotics were trafficked across the U.S. southern border with Mexico and into South Carolina, according to the DOJ. DRUG CARTEL KINGPIN AMONG TARGETS IN SWEEPING TRUMP CRACKDOWN ON ALLEGED MEXICAN CORRUPTION NETWORK Notably, members of the ring had infiltrated the prison system in the Palmetto State. “The investigation identified that a Mexico-based drug trafficking and money laundering organization has been operating in South Carolina since at least 2011 and its members are active in Mexico, South Carolina, other states, as well as within the Bureau of Prisons and South Carolina Department of Corrections,” according to the DOJ. The Homeland Security Task Force was assembled under Executive Order 14159, dubbed “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” and is described as a “whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.” “Today’s indictment sends a clear message that law enforcement will continue pursuing those responsible for distributing dangerous drugs and fueling criminal activity in our communities,” said Michael J. Connolly, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation reflects the dedication and coordinated efforts of our federal, state, and local partners. We will not stop at the first arrest. We will continue following the evidence, identifying those involved, and holding them accountable.” FEDS DISMANTLE ALLEGED GUN TRAFFICKING RING THAT FUNNELED DOZENS OF FIREARMS FROM GEORGIA TO CHICAGO GANGS No fewer than 29 law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the DEA, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), state investigators in South Carolina and police departments in North and South Carolina.
New Texas governor-elect strikes conciliatory tone toward Musk after campaigning against SpaceX deal
Texas’ Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa is striking a more conciliatory tone toward Elon Musk after campaigning against a proposed SpaceX land deal, saying she can work with his companies if they operate “on our terms.” “As Governor, I’ll protect our land and our livelihoods – not sell out to the highest bidder – because Texans deserve a leader who puts the people first,” Hinojosa said in a campaign press release in October. But having won her election, her tone has shifted. TED CRUZ SAYS ‘BLUE TSUNAMI’ TOOK OVER TEXAS AFTER DEMOCRATS SWEPT STATEWIDE RACES The governor-elect has hinted that she might be rethinking her relationship with Musk, underscoring the shifting considerations many Democrats critical of business titans are making as they prepare to govern and secure growth and investments for their constituencies. “We can have a strong working relationship with Elon Musk and his companies,” Hinojosa said in an interview with CNN on Thursday, just two days after election night. “But it has to be on our terms. It cannot be just running over the people of Texas, and that’s what changes now that I will be governor.” Hinojosa’s public land concerns center on Boca Chica State Park, a coastal reserve spanning 1,000 acres at the southernmost point of Texas. The park sits just a short distance from SpaceX’s Starbase, one of its rocket launch sites. A possible land sale to Musk has been in the works for some time. A Cameron County Commission agenda notice from 2024 raised a prospect presented by SpaceX: a land swap. Texas would give 43 acres of Boca Chica to SpaceX in return for 477 acres in the nearby area so that the company could expand its launch facilities. In August 2025, the commission approved a separate proposal authorizing TPWD to sell SpaceX four noncontiguous tracts totaling about 1.9 acres. Last year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to approve that smaller deal. “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A and authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to dispose of four tracts totaling approximately 1.9 acres at Boca Chica State Park,” the commission wrote in its agenda records. MUSK ISSUES DIRE WARNING OVER 3 MOVES DEMS COULD MAKE IF THEY SWEEP WASHINGTON: ‘END OF DEMOCRACY’ During her first press conference after the election, Hinojosa didn’t rule out the project but noted that she had requested that the decision be stayed at least until she took office. “This morning I was pleased to talk to the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife to confirm that this issue was not on today’s agenda and to request that no action be taken out of respect for this transition,” Hinojosa said on Thursday. Notably, Hinojosa bashed outgoing Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for even considering the deal with SpaceX, framing it as a capitulation to America’s wealthiest business owner. “After 12 years of selling out Texas to his corporate donors and making working people foot the bill, Greg Abbott is handing over our land to the world’s only trillionaire. Let me be clear: Texas is not for sale,” Hinojosa wrote. “This is the One Fight that unites us all: Are we going to be a Texas by and for the people, or is this the billionaires’ world and the rest of us just live here?” Hinojosa’s transition team did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital on whether the governor-elect’s outlook had changed regarding SpaceX or its ongoing negotiations with Texas. It also did not respond to questions about what considerations might prevent Musk from securing the 1.9 acres. Even so, Hinojosa’s language surrounding the land sale seemed to spark blowback from Musk. In a cryptic post to social media, Musk noted that he had relocated his company to Texas because of the state’s commitment to pro-business policies. TEXAS OVERTAKES CALIFORNIA AS ‘AMERICA’S CENTER OF GRAVITY,’ CLAIMS TREASURY SEC BESSENT “SpaceX and Tesla have prospered in Texas, because we were not constantly operating under an oppressive and extractive state government,” Musk said in a post to X. “As California became increasingly difficult, due to extreme taxes and overregulation, we moved our major domestic expansions and HQ to Texas,” he added. Having secured her gubernatorial election win over Abbott, Hinojosa will take the oath of office on Jan. 19, 2027.
Bessent moved to military base as Iran threats exceed ‘advanced stage,’ official says
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been relocated from his home in Washington, D.C., to a military base amid Iranian assassination threats this week, a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News. Tehran has ramped up its efforts to target senior U.S. officials overseas, with White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also relocating to military or protected housing in recent weeks. The senior official told Fox that threats against Bessent had reached “more than an advanced stage.” The official declined to say when exactly Bessent was relocated. Bessent has played a central role in the economic battle against Iran, launching “Operation Economic Outcast” this summer in an effort to isolate Iran’s economy from the rest of the world. COULD IRAN’S REGIME COLLAPSE? EXPERTS ASSESS BESSENT’S BID TO SEVER FINANCIAL LIFELINES Bessent said the wave of sanctions would bring about the “asphyxiation” of Iran’s economy. The Treasury Department confirmed Bessent’s departure in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday, adding that the secretary refuses to “be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats.” The New York Times first reported Bessent’s relocation, citing three anonymous sources. IRAN HAS ‘SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED’ EFFORTS TO TARGET AMERICANS ABROAD, US INTELLIGENCE MEMO WARNS The move comes as President Donald Trump continues to seek to end the war via diplomatic means, leaning away from a return to full-scale war. Rubio himself downplayed the possibility of re-escalating the conflict on Tuesday. TRUMP MEETS KEY IRAN WAR MEDIATOR AS UAE REVEALS MAJOR OIL EXPORT SURGE DESPITE CONFLICT “We don’t need to conduct military strikes if we’re achieving the same objective through economic means and economic pressure,” Rubio told reporters. He rejected the suggestion that the U.S. and Iran were at a stalemate, arguing that sanctions, the naval blockade and other measures were steadily weakening Tehran. TRUMP BETS ECONOMIC PRESSURE CAN SQUEEZE IRAN AS REGIME’S OWN FAILURES DEEPEN THE PAIN “They’re bleeding. They’re bleeding economically,” Rubio said. “It is an increased pressure on Iran that continues to grow every day.” The push comes a week after an election in which the war proved a political liability for Republicans. The Iran war was a crucial factor in the House vote for 34% of voters, according to the Fox News Voter Poll, while about six in 10 said the U.S. had made the wrong decision to take military action against Iran. Fox News’ Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
FIRST ON FOX: Supreme Court justices confront what it will take to keep America’s founding freedoms alive
FIRST ON FOX: As America celebrates 250 years of independence this year, three conservative Supreme Court justices are warning that preserving the nation’s founding freedoms for future generations depends on Americans understanding their history, embracing civic education and actively participating in their system of government. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett each implored Americans to familiarize themselves with their system of government and the history behind it to ensure that the nation’s legacy is preserved. Though the three conservative justices were united in their call for civic education, they each approached the topic differently in a series of interviews filmed by the Federalist Society and obtained by Fox News Digital. The videos come ahead of the Federalist Society’s 2026 National Lawyers Convention this week, which spotlights “250 Years of American Exceptionalism.” Gorsuch, for instance, struck a distinctly religious tone. GORSUCH HIGHLIGHTS STAGGERING DECLINE IN CIVIC LITERACY THAT PROMPTED HIM TO AUTHOR NEW BOOK “I think it’s very easy to take the rights granted in our Constitution and the ideals expressed in the Declaration for granted,” he said. “They are, for us, a little bit like the air we breathe and the water a fish might swim in. They seem natural to us, but they weren’t in 1776. The ideas in the Declaration of Independence that all of us are created equal, that every one of us has God-given rights — they don’t come from government, they come from God.” Gorsuch, who was appointed to the court by President Donald Trump in 2017 following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, went on to describe the importance of historical study to the preservation of the American way of life. THE UNWINNABLE WAR AMERICA’S FOUNDING FATHERS FOUGHT AND WON CHANGED HUMAN HISTORY FOREVER “Our country is a blessing from God, and that we owe great thanks for it, and we have great responsibility for it,” he went on. “The reason why our Constitution and Declaration have survived is because people choose it anew in every generation. You need to know its history. You need to know what you’re preserving. Daniel Webster said it took 6,000 years for us to generate a system of government like this. Don’t expect that to happen easily or again.” Kavanaugh, similarly, emphasized the importance of education. “I think our education system is absolutely fundamental to ensuring that in the next 250 years, we preserve this republic and improve upon this republic. So, teaching American history, teaching the values of this country, the history of this country, why this country exists, how this country has been preserved, how this country has been improved over time, for example, by our constitutional amendment process and otherwise,” the justice, appointed to the bench following a tumultuous confirmation process in 2018, said. “And I think all of us should be constantly striving to ensure civics education, not only for our youth, but for all of us, and that we constantly are learning and participating in our system of government,” he continued. SPEAKER JOHNSON WARNS STUDENTS ARE ‘INDOCTRINATED’ TO SEE US THROUGH ‘WRONG LENSES’ AS NATION CELEBRATES 250TH The Federalist Society filmed its interviews ahead of its National Lawyers Convention, which will bring together minds from across the conservative legal movement to discuss matters deemed pressing. While not interviewed by the Federalist Society, Justice Sonia Sotomayor shared her thoughts on America’s 250th anniversary during an event at Mount Vernon’s Washington Library, taking a slightly darker tone than her conservative colleagues. During her talk, which centered primarily on civic engagement, Sotomayor argued that the United States is in a rough place at the moment and that it would take “some hard work” for it to get back on an “even keel.” “There are some norms we may have lost forever,” she said. “But I don’t think that we will fail as a democracy. But I think we’re going to have a hard patch figuring out what that means.” Barrett, meanwhile, focused on the Declaration of Independence and how she believes it should inspire civic participation today. “We’re not passive observers in the American project. We’re participants in it. It is our project,” she said. “I might suggest that people look at the last line of the Declaration of Independence. It ends with a mutual pledge in which the signatories to the document mutually pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the success of the American project. And they made good on that promise. Some lost their fortune, lost their property to loyalists … and they pledged with their honor not to deviate from the commitments that they had made in signing the Declaration of Independence.” “Surely that’s the kind of commitment that it takes to have it keep going forward,” said Barrett.