Carney casts himself as NATO defender amid Trump beef, despite Canada missing key benchmark for decades
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his country’s NATO commitments after being pressed over alliance spending by President Donald Trump, insisting Ottawa meets the benchmark – even though Canada only reached the 2% defense target in 2025. Speaking recently at a press conference in Monteregie, Quebec, Carney said Iran remains a “grave threat” to the Middle East and beyond and argued Canada is meeting its obligations to the alliance. But Canada only reached NATO’s 2% defense spending benchmark in 2025, after spending years well below the target. Carney acknowledged Ottawa had not hit that mark since the Cold War, underscoring the vulnerability in his pushback to Trump. “I’ll underscore that just a few weeks ago that we’ve met for the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall our NATO commitments in terms of 2% defense spending,” Carney added. ECONOMIST EDITOR SAYS EUROPEAN LEADERS NOW FEAR A TRUE NATO ‘DIVORCE’ AFTER TRUMP PULLOUT THREAT Trump has blasted some NATO allies over what he sees as weak support during the Iran conflict, warning on Truth Social that the alliance “wasn’t there when we needed them and they won’t be there if we need them again.” When a reporter pressed that Trump threatened to punish NATO, including conflict-averse members Germany and Spain, Carney boasted that Canada “meet[s] its NATO commitments.” NATO’s 2014-2025 defense expenditure report estimated Canada’s defense spending at 1.01% of GDP in 2014, and below 1.5% through 2024 before reaching 2.01% in 2025. NATO CHIEF SAYS WORLD IS ‘ABSOLUTELY’ SAFER UNDER TRUMP Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has praised Trump for pushing allies to meet the 2% benchmark, as several Eastern Bloc nations have noticeably increased their tithes. Over the past decade, U.S. defense spending has averaged roughly 3.3% of GDP, compared with about 1.3% for Canada. The U.S. GDP is also a higher gross figure than all other NATO members in dollars. MORE KEY US ALLIES BLOCK MILITARY FLIGHTS AS IRAN WAR RIFT WIDENS WITH TRUMP Greece and the U.K. have been the top two countries consistently contributing to NATO’s funding, while Canada, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Hungary all sit in the lower tier on average. The only outlier below them is Luxembourg, which contributes an average 0.6% of GDP to NATO, according to calculations made from the report’s figures. TRUMP LASHES OUT AT ‘SICK’ IRANIAN LEADERS, CONFIRMS ESTIMATED TIMELINE FOR ENDING WAR Rutte previously made waves for appearing to refer to Trump as “daddy,” but said this week the Dutch-to-English translation was flawed and that he meant to refer to the president as a strong disciplinarian-like figure at a time when Trump was angry at both Israel and Iran. “In Dutch, you would say the translation of your father is ‘daddy’ and I would say hey, yeah, some time, Daddy has to be angry, so I wasn’t going to say [he’s my] daddy,” he said of a meeting between the two men in The Hague last June. Rutte issued the response after being pressed on whether he still viewed Trump as “Daddy” or an ally amid the president’s issues with some member-nations.
The states revealed as best to start a family amid cratering belief in the American Dream
For those chasing the American dream, a new study has some insightful information about what it takes to attain it – along with data that might determine the best states to set down roots. Declining marriages and broken families are crippling predominantly blue states, while red states thrive with better economic mobility, education and lower crime, according to a 2026 Family Structure Index released Tuesday by the Ohio-based Center for Christian Virtue. In partnership with the Institute for Family Studies, the report examined three core factors: marriage rates, family stability and fertility rates. It also tracked cost of living, religious participation, family instability and education levels, finding wide gaps across states that affect the “health and attainability of the American Dream.” “This report should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and community leaders across the country,” CCV President Aaron Baer told Fox News Digital. TAX AND RUN: HOW NY AND CALIFORNIA ARE BLEEDING PEOPLE AND PROSPERITY Baer added that government programs alone “can’t replace strong families.” “No amount of paid family leave, childcare subsidies or social experimentation will rebuild the foundation that families provide,” he said. “If those policies were enough, states like California and New York would be leading the way. The data show otherwise. If we’re serious about reducing poverty and expanding opportunity, we need to strengthen the institutions that have always made America strong: faith, family and economic freedom.” The report finds that only 1 in 3 Americans believe in the American Dream. The index clearly shows geographic divides. Red states like Utah rank first in family stability, while blue states like New Mexico trail behind. Rocky Mountain and Great Plains states generally have higher marriage and fertility rates, according to the report. Behind Utah, the rest of the top five states for family stability were Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The bottom five states: Vermont, Nevada, Louisiana, Rhode Island and New Mexico. These differences are now impacting where people choose to live, according to the report. South Carolina, for example, has seen marriage rates rise and its ranking on this list improve, while Hawaii has fallen as marriage rates decline and housing costs remain high. HERITAGE FOUNDATION WARNS AMERICA ‘DANGEROUSLY CLOSE’ TO FAMILY BREAKDOWN POINT OF NO RETURN As these pressures grow, more Americans are leaving high-cost blue states for more affordable red states. “Strong families are the foundation of a healthy society,” Baer said in a press release. “This report shows that when family structure weakens, the effects ripple outward to our schools, our communities and our economy. But it also makes clear that this is not inevitable. There is a solution and a path forward.” Notably, the report highlights a clear link between family structure and economic outcomes. States with more married parents saw lower child poverty rates, better educational outcomes, less crime and stronger economies, while those with higher shares of single-parent households face long-term challenges. Other contributing factors also emerged. States with higher religious participation saw higher birth rates, while expensive housing markets are tied to lower fertility rates, according to the report. Education also plays a role as more college-educated adults are more likely to form stable families due to economic security. Since 2000, the national index score has dropped from 100 to 87.3, signaling a decline in family structure, the report added. While marriage rates have stabilized in recent years, fertility rates continue to fall and pose lasting constraints for future generations. However, these trends do vary across both red and blue states, according to a CCV spokesperson, who said the report “also underscores that these trends are not confined to any one region or political ideology.” The findings have prompted calls for policy changes focusing on strengthening families and economic conditions. NEW POLL FINDS AMERICANS LIKELY TO SEE EACH OTHER AS ‘MORALLY BAD’ — BUT EXPERT SAYS STRONG FAMILIES CAN HELP “The lesson going forward is clear,” Baer said. “Red and blue states alike should advance policies that make housing more affordable, ensure good-paying jobs are within reach, keep taxes low and expand access to quality education.” Baer added this comes down to the impact of stable households. Stable two-parent homes are linked to higher college graduation rates and a better shot at reaching the middle class, the report said. Married adults are also about 80% less likely to live in poverty than single adults. “Family structure is one of the strongest predictors we have for whether children and communities are thriving,” Brad Wilcox, University of Virginia sociology professor and lead researcher, said in a press release. “States that are doing well in this area have markedly lower levels of child poverty, as well as higher rates of economic mobility and homeownership.” For many, economic realities have continued to fuel skepticism about the American Dream. Since 1980, fewer adults ages 25 to 54 have been able to buy homes, and only about 50% of those born in the 1980s earn more than their parents—down from 90% among those born in the 1940s. Marriage rates fell sharply from 2000 to 2010, followed by a 17% drop over the next decade, as “upward mobility has been cut nearly in half over two generations,” the report said. “This isn’t just about statistics,” Baer said. “It’s about real children and real futures. If we want to see our nation thrive, we have to be serious about strengthening marriage and supporting families in every community.”
Resurfaced clips from top Democrats echoing Trump on birthright citizenship spark online uproar: ‘Wow’
As birthright citizenship is debated in the Supreme Court, resurfaced videos of top Democrats echoing the argument of the Trump administration sparked a conservative uproar on social media. “If making it easy to be an illegal alien isn’t enough, how about offering a reward for being an illegal immigrant?” Sen. Harry Reid said on the Senate floor in 1993. “No sane country would do that. Right? Guess again. If you break our laws by entering this country without permission and give birth to a child, we reward that child with U.S. citizenship and [a] guarantee of full access to all public and social services this society provides — and that’s a lot of services.” Reid, who served in the Senate as a Democrat for 30 years and was Senate majority leader for eight years, was speaking about the Immigration Stabilization Act of 1993, which he introduced. The legislation was a broad immigration reform package that included a provision to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. to mothers who were neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents. CHINESE ELITES EXPLOITING US BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AT ‘INDUSTRIAL SCALE,’ EXPERT WARNS Reid, who died in 2021 at the age of 82, ultimately changed his tune on the legislation and said in 2018 that the bill was a “mistake.” Many on social media quickly pointed to Reid’s lofty stature within the Democratic Party and wondered aloud why he is not labeled “racist” the same way Republicans who oppose birthright citizenship often are. “WOW,” conservative influencer Libs of TikTok posted on X. “Senator Harry Reid, a DEMOCRAT, introduced a bill in 1993 to END birthright citizenship for illegal aliens .But if Trump wants to do it, Democrats call it ‘rAcIsT.’” WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT’S BLOCKBUSTER BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CASE “Lots of Democrats supported him,” actor Kevin Sorbo posted on X. “They change their minds to fit whatever narrative suits them. That’s why they can’t be trusted.” “Democrats once said ‘no sane country’ would give birthright citizenship to illegal aliens,” Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, posted on X. “Now, breaking our laws is rewarded with full US citizenship and access to every government benefit. SCOTUS should END this exploitation once and for all!” “Harry Reid was right,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X. Another Democrat, the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein from California, also became fodder on social media in recent days over similar comments on immigration that were viewed over 8 million times after being posted by MAZE, a conservative influencer account on X. “Should you have a system where people can come to this country, even if they’re well-to-do?” Feinstein said in 1993. “Get on Medicaid and give birth to a baby, then go back? The answer is no! And we know that Medicaid laws are being used and abused to do just this in the state of California. I’d like to see that stop.” The resurfaced posts come as the Trump administration argues at the Supreme Court in favor of an executive order signed on the president’s first day back in office that seeks to end automatic citizenship for nearly all persons born in the U.S. to undocumented parents, or to parents with temporary non-immigrant visas in the U.S. The high-stakes case brought into focus more than a century of executive branch action, Supreme Court precedent, and the text of the Constitution itself — or, more specifically, the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment — which the administration argues has been misinterpreted in the more than 100 years since its passage. Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
‘Christmas Vacation’ and Congress: ‘We’re all in misery’ amid the ongoing DHS shutdown
If you thought the congressional appropriations process couldn’t get any worse, I present you with 2026. And perhaps beyond. The Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, running on pocket lint, nickels lost between the couch cushions and faded S&H Green Stamps (look ‘em up, kids). Congress hasn’t funded DHS for two months. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., torqued himself into a political pretzel – opposing, then supporting, then not acting on – a Senate-approved package to fund most of DHS. As we always say, it’s about the math, and when it comes to DHS money, it appears that lawmakers have locked a box to which they lack the combination. There is apparently no sequence of votes in the House and Senate which can crack the DHS safe as a traditional, standalone appropriations bill. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: WHY TRUMP MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FORCE CONGRESS BACK OVER THE DHS SHUTDOWN Now, congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are turning to one of the few methods which might work to fund DHS – something called budget reconciliation. The congressional budget reconciliation process is not customarily used for appropriations bills – although lawmakers can plug the measure with money to spend on federal programs. However, reconciliation is inoculated from filibusters. Thus, Republicans don’t need 60 votes. They can – ostensibly – pass a DHS bill on its own without help from Democrats if they hold their narrow coalitions together in both the House and Senate. Congressional Republicans intend to stuff this reconciliation package with only money for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. Nothing for disaster aid. Nothing for farmers. Nothing about the SAVE America Act. The president agrees. The goal is to finish this by June 1 – months after the latest DHS funding lapse. But it’s more complicated than that. GOP INFIGHTING REPLACES CLASH WITH DEMS, DERAILS PATH TO END HISTORIC DHS SHUTDOWN The House and Senate must take a number of steps to approve a shell of a budget resolution in order to have the filibuster-proof reconciliation tool available to them. Republicans undertook a similar endeavor last winter and spring. It was absolutely harrowing and consumed months before finally approving the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, via reconciliation. Republicans don’t have that kind of time now. Then again, DHS has either been unfunded or held together by interim spending bills since last October. We haven’t even mentioned how Trump is using a somewhat dubious authority to pay TSA workers and others from other funds – without congressional approval. That leaves some to question why the administration didn’t do this to start with. But the bigger issue is an alarming pattern of Congress ceding its most precious prerogative – the power of the purse – to the executive branch. That’s to say nothing as to whether Trump’s gambit to pay workers is even constitutional. And, it establishes a precedent which may be hard to ignore during other funding impasses. However, here’s the bigger problem: the congressional paralysis to pass appropriations bills on a timely basis. That’s been an issue for years now. Historically, Congress has missed the Oct. 1 fiscal deadline, relying on “Continuing Resolutions” (CR’s) which simply renew all funding on a temporary basis. Or, lawmakers cobble together a set of the 12 annual spending bills in a “minibus” appropriations package. Lawmakers who might oppose an individual bill are willing to support a group of bills – because there’s something in there which they like or support. But turning to reconciliation as a way out of the appropriations box canyon is also another precedent which likely agitates congressional appropriators. Sure. They’ve done that before. And in this instance, it might finally get DHS funded. But what does this mean for the future? Which brings us to Oct. 1, 2026. That’s when the federal government pivots from Fiscal Year 2026 to start Fiscal Year 2027. Congress has struggled to fund the federal government since early 2025, when it began work on appropriations bills for this year. The FY ’26 funding crisis – which spawned the record-breaking, 43-day, government-wide shutdown in the fall, another partial government shutdown last winter and the current DHS stalemate – has been an issue since lawmakers were working on bills for this cycle around this time LAST spring. So how pray tell is Congress going to avoid a shutdown THIS autumn for FY ’27? In fact, few are even speaking about that possible peril – because no one can wrap their heads around the present appropriations saga. And it’s possible that this fall’s problems could be worse than last fall’s impasse. The reason? The midterm elections hit in November. It’s doubtful that either side will be willing to make much of a deal right before voters head to the polls. The scenarios are frightening to fathom, so people are just kind of ignoring them. SEE IT: LAWMAKERS CAUGHT ON VACATION AMID RECORD-BREAKING SHUTDOWN WHILE DHS WORKERS GO UNPAID We have entered a new period of semi-perpetual funding standoffs – exacerbated by mistrust between the sides, narrow congressional margins in both the House and Senate, parliamentary mathematical equations which don’t balance and an unwillingness by Trump to broker deals or even negotiate with Democrats. Yes. They have options to cover DHS into next year, but it’s the other 11 spending bills which could be problematic. Imagine trying to pass a defense spending bill which has a price tag 44% higher than the one last year? Or tacks a bunch of money on for the war in Iran? Where’s the vote combination to approve a CR, let alone an individual bill? Will Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., be willing to help Republicans hit the 60-vote threshold to fund things? Especially if he sees the possibility of emerging again as majority leader? Probably not. And let’s say Democrats win the House, Senate or both in the fall? Do you really think these spending standoffs get better over the final two years of Trump’s term? Back to Chevy
Eric Swalwell accused of paying nanny with campaign funds while she lacked work authorization
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is facing allegations he violated immigration and employment laws to keep a live-in nanny in the U.S., including claims he paid her with campaign funds while she lacked work authorization, according to two recently filed complaints. A complaint filed Tuesday with the Department of Labor alleges that Swalwell and his wife, Brittany Swalwell, lied to keep their babysitter, Amanda Barbosa, employed, according to The New York Post. In a separate complaint filed in February with the Department of Homeland Security by California filmmaker and political activist Joel Gilbert, first reported by The Post, Swalwell is accused of paying his nanny with campaign funds for roughly two years while she allegedly did not have valid work authorization. “Barbosa appears in numerous social media photos with the Swalwell family throughout 2023 and 2024, indicating continued close association and ongoing childcare responsibilities despite the absence of known lawful work authorization,” the DHS complaint states. MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS DOG SWALWELL AS DEM RIVALS SEIZE OPENING IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE Barbosa was first hired by Swalwell — who is running for California governor — in 2021 after coming to the U.S. from Brazil on an au pair visa, according to The Post. Barbosa was paid $3,914 in campaign funds in 2021 and received $46,930 in 2022, according to Federal Election Commission data. According to a labor certification application reviewed by The Post, Swalwell began the process of sponsoring Barbosa for a green card in December 2022 as her visa was set to expire. DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR ‘SMEAR’ OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL’S ACCUSERS: ‘VERY BAD LOOK’ Barbosa later enrolled at a community college and was not allowed to work off campus under student visa rules, The Post reported. However, social media photos appear to show her interacting with Swalwell’s children at family events throughout 2023 and 2024. FEC records reviewed by the outlet show that $52,262 in campaign expenses for “childcare” were reimbursed to Swalwell, which the complaint alleges was a workaround to keep Barbosa employed while she was not authorized to work in the U.S. The Department of Labor told The Post the labor certification was approved in 2024. In 2025, Barbosa received $38,905 in campaign funds from Swalwell, according to FEC data. SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ The complaints surfaced as Swalwell faces separate allegations of sexual assault. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported allegations from a former staffer, and three additional women later spoke to CNN with misconduct claims. Swalwell has denied the allegations and faced calls to drop his gubernatorial bid. SWALWELL THREATENS FBI WITH LEGAL ACTION AS PATEL REPORTEDLY WEIGHS ‘FANG FANG’ FILES RELEASE “A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual assault are flat-out false,” Swalwell said in a video posted Friday. “They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.” Fox News Digital has reached out to Swalwell’s congressional office for comment, as well as the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security and Federal Election Commission. Fox News Digital’s Madison Colombo contributed to this report.
Vance says US-Iran talks end without deal after 21 hours of negotiations
Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that high-stakes talks between the U.S. and Iran ended without a deal after Iranian officials refused to accept American terms. Speaking during a press conference from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Vance said Iran has “chosen not to accept our terms.” “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” Vance said. “And I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.” The vice president said talks with Iranian officials lasted 21 hours, describing them as “substantive discussions,” but adding the U.S. was unwilling to compromise on its “red lines.” VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL ‘FIND OUT’ TRUMP IS ‘NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND’ IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART “So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement. We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on,” Vance added. “And we’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms.” Fox News Digital’s Preston Mizell asked Vance if he had been in contact with President Donald Trump during the talks, and the vice president said he had been “consistently.” “I don’t know how many times we talked to him — a half dozen times, a dozen times over the past 21 hours,” Vance said, adding that the U.S. team was also communicating with other members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. GEN JACK KEANE ‘SKEPTICAL’ THAT IRAN CEASEFIRE WILL HOLD, WARNS TEHRAN WILL ‘DELAY AND OBFUSCATE’ “So, look, we were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith,” Vance said. “And we leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.” Vance arrived in Pakistan early Saturday to lead high-stakes negotiations with Iran aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire announced by Trump earlier this week and preventing a broader regional war. Vance was joined by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, as part of a senior delegation engaging Iranian officials in Islamabad. TRUMP AGREES TO 2-WEEK CEASEFIRE IF IRAN OPENS STRAIT OF HORMUZ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were negotiating for Iran. While Vance declined to elaborate on which terms Iran rejected, he said the U.S. sought assurances that Iran would not develop a nuclear weapon. “The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” Vance said. “That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.” The talks came over a month after the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. Fox News Digital’s Preston Mizell and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced Saturday she would be filing a motion to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., from Congress after former staffers accused the congressman of sexual assault and misconduct. “I am filing a motion to expel Eric Swalwell from Congress,” she wrote in a tweet Saturday morning. The move comes after at least four female former staffers of Swalwell’s accused him of sexual impropriety. One staffer accused him of sexual assault on multiple occasions. A former staffer told the San Francisco Chronicle that when she was 17 and Swalwell was 38, he began messaging her on the social media platform Snapchat, a messaging platform in which messages between users disappear. ‘USEFUL PUPPET’: ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS The woman, who the Chronicle did not identify, said Swalwell began sending her inappropriate pictures and requesting pictures of her naked body. She also claimed that, in 2024, she woke up alone in Swalwell’s hotel room after a night she did not remember with “vaginal bleeding,” according to the Chronicle. Swalwell, who is married with children, has denied the sexual assault allegations as “false and outrageous.” His lawyer also sent a cease and desist letter to the woman, the Chronicle reported. Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell’s and Luna’s offices but did not immediately receive a response. MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS DOG SWALWELL AS DEM RIVALS SEIZE OPENING IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE Running in the open primary to become California’s next governor, Swalwell was ahead of all other registered Democrats, trailing only Republican Steve Hilton in the latest polling average from Real Clear Politics. That may soon change though, as the allegations have prompted a wave of calls from prominent Democrats for Swalwell to bow out. Those calls have come from party bosses like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and from those closest to Swalwell, such as Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who retracted an earlier message of support to call for Swalwell to step down. Gallego, who Swalwell has referred to as a “dear friend,” initially faced backlash for defending Swalwell. While other party members like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pile on to the calls to drop out, few have gone as far as calling for Swalwell to vacate his congressional seat, a fact Luna highlighted in a morning appearance Saturday on “Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany.” “It is unacceptable for him to just index his, campaign for governor in California but still sit in the House of Representatives,” she told McEnany. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement Saturday, “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.” Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York City said it was investigating allegations against Swalwell. “We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373,” an office spokesperson said. “Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.” Luna also lambasted the Dems on X, writing, “So the Dems don’t want Swalwell to be governor of California, but he can stay a member of Congress? Are we running a halfway house for sexual predators in Congress now? No. He should not be allowed to stay in Congress.” Luna’s motion to expel Swalwell, should she get it to the House floor, would require a two-thirds majority vote from Congress to pass.
Trump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California
President Donald Trump slammed Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ahead of meetings in the state Saturday, warning her policies are triggering a tax base exodus similar to New York and California. Trump, in an early morning Truth Social post, said the Democratic governor had imposed a wave of taxes he argued were draining the state’s economic strength. “She is adding so many Taxes, a Food and Beverage Tax, Digital Services Tax, Utilities Tax, and more,” Trump wrote. “It has lost its Energy, Vitality, and Strength. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!” Trump’s comments come as Republicans have criticized Democrats in the state legislature over a slate of tax and revenue proposals, warning the measures could hurt Virginia’s business climate, though the governor has not publicly supported or signed the measures referenced by Trump. GLENN YOUNGKIN ACCUSES GOV SPANBERGER OF ‘ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ GERRYMANDERING IN VIRGINIA MAP FIGHT “New companies that signed to come into the Commonwealth under Governor Youngkin are now looking for ways to get out — Break their Deal,” he said. The president, who said he was heading to Virginia for meetings at Trump National Golf Club, drew comparisons to high-tax states like New York and California, which he has frequently criticized. “We have a similar situation in New York and, most of all, in California, where Rich, Job Producing people and companies are being forced to FLEE at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote. He added that California’s tax base was “literally disappearing” as wealthy individuals and corporations relocate, warning Virginia could face a similar trajectory. VA DEM REJECTS ‘POWER GRAB’ CLAIMS ON SPANBERGER REDISTRICTING AS GOP WARNS 10–1 MAP WOULD SPLIT RURAL VOTE “Remember, once people and companies leave, they are never coming back!” Trump said. Spanberger pushed back on the criticism in a post on X, arguing Trump and his allies were mischaracterizing her policies. “The president and his allies are talking about taxes that our state legislature never even voted on and I certainly didn’t sign,” she wrote. “Why? Because if they don’t flood the zone with fake news about fake taxes, people might hear about the bills I am signing to lower energy costs, strengthen our schools, make housing more affordable, and bring billions of dollars of business investment to Virginia.” Spanberger has supported a broader set of revenue measures since taking office, including proposals targeting digital services and business activity, as part of an effort to fund priorities such as education and health care. A spokesperson for Spanberger’s office also issued a statement criticizing Trump’s claims. “Virginians are tired of Donald Trump’s lies,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Governor Spanberger has signed dozens of bipartisan bills to contend with high housing, healthcare and energy costs for Virginians — and not any of the taxes President Trump and his allies are lying about.” The spokesperson added that businesses have announced “more than $500 million in new investment in the commonwealth since Governor Spanberger took office in January,” while accusing Trump of focusing on politics instead of economic stability. “The ballgame changed when the President — whose been busy raising costs for Virginians by starting a reckless war that has skyrocketed inflation and driven gas prices up to $4 — strong-armed states into drawing more Republican congressional seats that he asserted he was ‘entitled’ to before the midterms,” the governor’s spokesperson added. “As prices rise in Trump’s economy, Governor Spanberger will continue her work with both parties to address the high housing, healthcare, and energy costs that Virginians are feeling.” On Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson and former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also took aim at Spanberger as a state vote on redistricting approaches during a rally in Rockingham County opposing Democrats’ proposed 10-1 gerrymander ahead of the April 21 referendum election. “She talks like a moderate, and she governs like a Marxist,” Johnson said. “I mean, this is serious stuff.” Johnson also warned that the outcome in Virginia could have national implications, citing the GOP’s narrow House majority. Youngkin, meanwhile, accused Spanberger of weakening public safety policies in the state. “She says she’s going to stand for public safety, and she makes Virginia a sanctuary state after one of the most successful federal-state collaborations in the entire country,” Youngkin said. “We arrested thousands of violent criminals who are here illegally, and she put a stop to it.” Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in the 2025 gubernatorial race, securing a Democratic win. Youngkin was not eligible for re-election under state law. Spanberger campaigned on issues including health care and abortion rights, while positioning herself as a more moderate alternative despite GOP criticism of her voting record. Fox News Digital’s Preston Mizell contributed to this report.
ICE detains relatives of 1979 Iran hostage crisis figure after Rubio revokes their legal status
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he revoked the lawful permanent resident status of family members linked to Masoumeh Ebtekar, a spokeswoman for the Islamic terrorists who stormed the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 hostage crisis. Rubio said the individuals were placed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending removal from the United States. He said the Obama administration granted visas to Ebtekar’s son and his family in 2014, and later approved green cards for them through the Diversity Visa Program in 2016. IRAN HOSTAGE SURVIVOR SAYS TRUMP ‘ABSOLUTELY’ RIGHT TO LAUNCH OPERATION EPIC FURY, FINALLY CONFRONT REGIME “Masoumeh Ebtekar — also known as ‘Screaming Mary’ — was the spokeswoman for the Islamic terrorists who stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostages for 444 days — subjecting them to beatings, starvation, and mock executions,” Rubio wrote on X. Rubio said her family should never have been allowed to benefit from the extraordinary privilege of living in the United States. “America can never become home for anti-American terrorists or their families — and under the Trump administration, it never will,” Rubio said. Ebtekar also served in a formal role as vice president of Women and Family Affairs in Iran between 2017 and 2021. PBS’s “Frontline” dubbed her “one of the highest-ranking women in the Muslim world” during an interview with the Muslim leader in 2002. US DEPORTS 3 FORMER IRANIAN GUARD MEMBERS AMID RISING TENSIONS WITH TEHRAN Fox News Digital this week obtained photos of Ebtekar’s son, Seyed Eissa Hashemi, at what the New York Post described as a “fancy” gym in Los Angeles, where he reportedly brushed off a reporter’s questions. According to the New York Post, people have been protesting against Hashemi living in the United States for months. There are several petitions on Change.org calling on him to be investigated and deported, some of which have been put under review by the petition website, according to a Fox News Digital review. The Post added that records show Hashemi resides in Agoura Hills, Los Angeles County, with his fellow psychology professor, his wife, Maryam Tahmasebi. The move follows similar action against relatives of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who were also taken into custody in recent days. Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations ‘flat out false,’ says he will fight them ‘with everything’
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., released a video Friday evening strongly denying the allegations of sexual assault made against him, calling the accusations “flat out false” and “absolutely false.” Swalwell, who is the leading Democratic candidate in California’s gubernatorial race, was accused by a former female staffer of sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated on multiple occasions. The bombshell allegations, which included reports of sexual harassment against other female staffers, were reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday. The unnamed female accuser reportedly worked for Swalwell for about two years and said he pursued her shortly after she was hired as a 21-year-old staffer in his district office — despite him being married. “A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual assault are flat out false,” Swalwell said in a video on social media. “They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.” PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: ‘INDEFENSIBLE’ The alleged victim accused Swalwell of pressuring her to send naked pictures of herself, adding that he sent sexually explicit photos of himself to her. She also said he allegedly pulled out his private parts while driving in a car with her and asked her to perform oral sex on him. On multiple occasions, the young staffer said she blacked out from alcohol consumption before allegedly waking up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed with signs she had engaged in intercourse. Swalwell allegedly distanced himself after the incident and their relationship faded. The woman said they reunited when she no longer worked for him, and another incident allegedly took place. SWALWELL’S FORMER FEMALE STAFFER DROPS BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, EXPOSING HIMSELF: REPORT In the video, Swalwell said he is not “perfect” or a “saint,” but his past “mistakes in judgment” are between him and his wife. He then apologized for “putting [his wife] in this position.” He also apologized to his supporters for potentially causing them to doubt their support for him, but that apology was quickly followed with, “I think you know who I am.” “For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims, particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims,” Swalwell said. “That’s who I am and have always been.” The allegations have caused a handful of Swalwell’s top Democratic supporters to withdraw their endorsements of him for governor, some even encouraging him to drop out of the race entirely. As of Saturday morning, Swalwell remains a candidate in California’s gubernatorial race. Fox News Digital’s Alec Shemmel contributed to this report.