Becoming a lawyer could get cheaper and faster under looming Trump admin shakeup
The Trump administration is expected to decide by late December whether to strip the American Bar Association’s (ABA) law school accrediting arm of federal recognition, a move that would not automatically end the ABA’s accreditation of law schools or change state bar-admission rules but could accelerate states’ efforts to approve alternative paths to becoming a lawyer. Two legal education experts told Fox News Digital that while most law students would be unlikely to lose access to federal loans if the ABA’s accrediting arm loses recognition, the decision could accelerate a broader shift away from the organization’s longstanding dominance over legal education, with states increasingly exploring alternative accreditation pathways that could change how law schools operate and who qualifies to practice law. “I think the biggest thing is, everyone should know that the federal recognition of the ABA is just the first step,” Adam Biggs, general counsel of the University of Austin, told Fox News Digital. “If they get knocked off their perch, that’s going to supercharge the conversations of these state supreme courts to create alternative pathways that are not just the ABA.” The looming decision follows a September vote by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), the federal panel that advises the Education Department on accreditation matters, which remained deadlocked over whether to recommend renewing the ABA’s federal accreditation recognition. Education Department staff have already recommended denying renewal, and now the decision rests in the hands of Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent to rule on whether the ABA’s accrediting arm can retain its federally recognized status, which it has held since 1952. AI BACKLASH REACHES MAJOR UNIVERSITY WITH BOLD BAN ON LAPTOPS AND PHONES FOR LAW STUDENTS The ABA has long served as the primary gatekeeper for legal education in the United States, with most states requiring graduates to have attended an ABA-accredited law school to qualify for the bar exam. Although losing federal recognition would not automatically end that arrangement, critics argue it could accelerate efforts already underway in some states to recognize alternative law school approval systems, potentially allowing institutions to experiment with cheaper, shorter programs outside the ABA’s traditional accreditation model. One such alternative is taking shape in Texas, where Biggs is helping develop a new law school at the University of Austin (UATX) that would operate without ABA accreditation. The university is considering a two-year law program or a model that combines undergraduate and legal studies. It plans to make tuition free and avoid federal funding altogether. The proposed school could also depart from traditional law school staffing models by relying more heavily on practicing attorneys and federal judges as adjunct instructors, rather than maintaining the extensive full-time faculty structure that Biggs says ABA accreditation standards require and that can pose a high bar for institutions. Biggs argued that the ABA’s longstanding influence over legal education has discouraged such experimentation by imposing what he described as a “one size fits all elitist model of education,” which he said drives up costs and limits schools’ ability to offer alternative approaches to training future lawyers. DUKE LAW’S ALLEGED RACE-BASED ADMISSIONS ACCUSED OF DEFYING SUPREME COURT RULING: DOJ “Right now, the model they force makes it impossible to cut overhead, and it’s going to be an expensive product,” Biggs said, criticizing the ABA’s accreditation requirements. “That makes the decision for you. Because you need to live in a big city to go work at a firm to pay off your massive amount of debt.” Biggs added that reducing the cost of legal education could help address attorney shortages in rural and underserved communities, where graduates carrying substantial student debt may struggle to pursue lower-paying legal work. Allowing law schools to operate with less overhead, he said, could give new attorneys greater flexibility to serve those communities and potentially make legal services more affordable. The ABA faculty requirements criticized by Biggs are also facing scrutiny from the Justice Department, which has threatened an antitrust investigation over restrictions on adjunct professors teaching core law school courses. In an Oct. 7 letter, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward gave the ABA 15 days to revise or justify its rules, arguing that the requirements restrict competition and contribute to higher tuition costs, The Wall Street Journal reported. The emergence of alternative accreditation pathways could offer aspiring lawyers new opportunities, but also introduce complications for graduates hoping to practice in states other than where they attended law school. While the federal government determines which accrediting agencies it recognizes for federal purposes, state supreme courts generally set their own bar-admission requirements. Many states currently require graduation from an ABA-accredited law school, a requirement that would not automatically disappear if the ABA loses its federal recognition. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACCUSES PRESTIGIOUS LAW SCHOOL OF FAVORING BLACK APPLICANTS OVER WHITE, ASIAN PEERS That means graduates of schools approved through alternative state-level processes, such as the one UATX hopes to pursue in Texas, could qualify for the bar in their home state but face additional hurdles elsewhere. Biggs predicted that as more states adopt alternative pathways, others could face pressure to reconsider their requirements. “Eventually there’s gonna be a very large group of states that are not ABA or nothing,” Biggs said, predicting that states such as New York and Illinois would eventually have to confront the issue. “They’re gonna have to come to the table and try to figure out how portability is gonna work.” Several states have already begun loosening the ABA’s longstanding hold over legal education. In January, Texas became the first state to end its exclusive reliance on ABA accreditation for bar eligibility, with the state Supreme Court assuming authority to approve qualifying law schools. Florida followed nine days later, adopting its own approach to recognizing law schools outside the traditional ABA system. The movement has since extended to other states. Ohio’s Supreme Court proposed changes in May to establish a state-run law school approval process, while courts in Tennessee, Alabama and Washington have also taken steps toward reducing
Liberal-city resident hesitates when pressed on beliefs: ‘I hadn’t really thought about socialism that way’
PORTLAND, Maine — Americans who were asked for their opinions of socialism by Fox News Digital offered sharply different interpretations of the ideology, with some embracing its promises of economic equality while others expressed strong reservations about government control over the means of production. Fox News Digital took to the streets of Maine’s largest city, a progressive bastion, to talk to residents about their definitions of socialism and how far they would be willing to go to embrace its ideals. The topic of socialism has featured prominently in campaign coverage during this midterm election cycle, as candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) scored high-profile victories over more centrist rivals in a slew of Democratic primaries this year. DSA’s outsized influence has been a driving force in the ballot box battle for the Democratic Party’s ideological future. LIBERAL HOTSPOT RESIDENTS CAN’T AGREE ON WHAT SOCIALISM MEANS A new Fox News national poll indicates 32% of voters have a favorable view of socialism, with 64% seeing it in an unfavorable way. But the favorable rating matches an all-time high, first reached five years ago, since Fox News first began asking the question in 2019. And a September Gallup poll found that 43% of Americans had a positive image of socialism, the highest level since the polling organization began tracking the question in 2010. Lewis, a retired Navy veteran, said socialism was a good thing because it “looks out for people’s needs…. and it’s not communism.” Socialism and communism both emphasize collective ownership of the means of production, such as factories, businesses and major industries. But socialism encompasses a range of approaches, including those that allow private enterprise, while communism traditionally envisions the abolition of private ownership of productive assets and, ultimately, a classless society. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL Lewis turned skeptical when Fox News Digital asked whether he would personally surrender private property to government or collective control. “I guess. I hadn’t really thought about socialism that way. I think about taking care of the needs of people, you know, things like… national health care, things like that,” he answered. “I don’t like government taking things away from you.” Nolan, who recently moved to Portland, told Fox News Digital “there’s a lot of wealth imbalance in America right now, and we could benefit from some sort of leveling system.” He said socialism exists to help “people who aren’t as, you know, benefiting in society.” Nolan added that “business owners should have their autonomy” and that “people deserve to earn their money.” “But there are a lot of really high-end… corporations that benefit so much… that really don’t need that much wealth… there’s so much exorbitant wealth at the top end that a lot of that could trickle down to people who are disadvantaged and don’t have homes,” Nolan stated. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Nola, another resident passing through Portland’s Monument Square, said socialism’s “a good thing. It means equity.” Asked about the takeover of businesses and means of production under socialism, Nola said she still “100%” supported socialism. “I’m the daughter of a small business owner. I’ve seen how tough it is to run a small business in this country and how easy it is for corporations to just do whatever they want,” she explained. “So if we gave actually back to small businesses and the government helped them out… and so much of the market that’s privatized actually became public, I think… with how big the U.S. has gotten, it’s only a good thing.” Ted disagreed. “Socialism overall, I think it’s a horrible idea,” he emphasized. “If we can learn from history, anything from history, we see that it’s gonna really give way too much power to the government institution. It’s gonna… make things that are harmful overall for everyone… it’s like it’s dictatorship.” Ted argued that “socialism just impoverishes. Capitalism, the free market economy is a good thing.” He added that while “some people are very wealthy and very greedy,” that overall capitalism “creates other wealth for other people.” The new Fox News poll found that 51% of voters had a favorable view of capitalism, compared with 32% who viewed socialism favorably. Another 46% had an unfavorable view of capitalism.
Michigan Democrat confirms sister-in-law’s terror watchlist lawsuit days before Obama campaign appearance
Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed acknowledged Saturday night that his sister-in-law was involved in a federal terrorist watchlist lawsuit during the Obama administration, just days before former President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign alongside him. El-Sayed was confronted by Fox News senior correspondent Mike Tobin about court documents identifying his sister-in-law, Mariam Jukaku, as a plaintiff in a 2016 lawsuit challenging her alleged placement on the federal Terrorism Screening Database, commonly known as the terrorist watchlist. “There’s reporting in a lawsuit that now backs it up. And documentation with the lawsuit that Mariam Jukaku, who’s your sister-in-law, that she was on the terrorist watch list?” Tobin asked. “Yeah,” El-Sayed responded. MICHIGAN SENATE DEBATE ERUPTS INTO PERSONAL ATTACKS AS ROGERS, EL-SAYED CLASH OVER ISRAEL, IRAN AND MORE El-Sayed then defended his sister-in-law, insisting she had committed no wrongdoing and turning his criticism toward Republican Senate rival Mike Rogers. “She did nothing wrong and was captured on that and then sued and got off,” El-Sayed said. “You’ve got this system where folks are guilty until proven innocent because they’ve got different kinds of names, because of the infrastructure that people like Mike Rogers set up.” The exchange comes as Obama prepares to campaign alongside El-Sayed in Michigan on Oct. 24, ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election. EL-SAYED ASKED IF HE BELIEVES AMERICA IS ‘READY FOR A MUSLIM PRESIDENT’ AHEAD OF SENATE RACE According to the 2016 complaint, Jukaku underwent additional airport screening in 2012, and alleged she was never told why she had been flagged. The filing said she was believed to have been removed from the watchlist by 2016. El-Sayed said she sued and won, but a federal appeals court overturned a ruling favoring the plaintiffs in 2021. A separate lawsuit seeking damages was dismissed in 2017. Despite El-Sayed’s claim that she sued and won, a federal appeals court overturned a ruling favoring the plaintiffs in 2021, while a separate lawsuit seeking damages was dismissed in 2017. TRUMP LINKS MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED TO MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD: ‘HE’S A CON MAN’ The FBI said it does not confirm or deny individuals’ watchlist status. “It is the U.S. government’s policy to neither confirm nor deny a person’s inclusion in the Terrorist Screening Dataset, commonly known as the terrorist watchlist,” the agency told Fox News. The exchange follows separate allegations about El-Sayed’s family’s purported Muslim Brotherhood connections, which his campaign called “racist and untrue.” Rogers called the allegations “disqualifying” Saturday. The watchlist lawsuit does not establish wrongdoing by Jukaku or El-Sayed.
Top takeaways from JD Vance town hall: Costly gas, DC corruption, immigration hot takes and the war
Vice President JD Vance faced questions from Michigan voters during a town hall in Flat Rock as the state emerges as a key battleground in the fight for Senate control in November’s midterms. The town hall hosted by CBS News came just weeks before the midterm elections as Republicans are fighting to keep their majorities in the House and Senate. Vying for the open Senate seat in Michigan is Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former member of the House of Representatives. Here are the top moments from the town hall: The first question Vance fielded Saturday came from a 43-year-old Detroit barber, who asked him why gas prices remain significantly higher than during Trump’s first term. Vance first pointed to Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping and the resulting disruption to global energy markets, but he also placed blame on the Biden administration. “That’s actually the biggest reason why gas prices are so high, because when Joe Biden was president, we had about 20% of American refining capacity that went offline,” Vance said. Vance said the Trump administration was using the Defense Production Act to help restore domestic refining capacity, but cautioned that rebuilding that infrastructure would take time. CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil pushed back on Vance’s attempts to blame Biden, noting that Trump and Vance have been in office for nearly two years while Americans continued to face high gas prices. MORNING GLORY: PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE AMERICAN MILITARY HAVE BEATEN IRAN Dokoupil shifted the conversation to government corruption, citing a Fox News poll showing that 60% of voters were extremely concerned about the issue. He asked Vance whether anything he had witnessed inside the Trump White House made him feel “squeamish.” “You certainly see evidence of corruption in Washington, D.C. Do I see evidence of corruption from the president of the United States, from the administration? No, Tony, I just don’t,” Vance said. The exchange came days after Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece amid allegations that she sought $100,000 from a donor seeking access to Trump administration officials. Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing. Dokoupil pressed Vance on the allegations involving Guilfoyle, along with concerns about restrictions on IRS scrutiny of Trump’s tax returns and the president’s cryptocurrency earnings. Vance said selling access to the White House would be “disgusting and despicable” and that anyone responsible should face consequences. Dokoupil then asked whether Vance would comply with subpoenas investigating alleged corruption if Democrats took control of Congress in January. “Of course, of course I will,” Vance said. “Look, we follow the law. I follow the law.” KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE FACES POTENTIAL SENATE PROBE OVER BOMBSHELL $100K ALLEGATION Vance was confronted over his immigration rhetoric by a naturalized U.S. citizen who said she voted for the vice president but questioned why the administration was “scapegoating immigrants.” The voter, who immigrated to the United States 20 years ago, challenged Vance over his characterization of certain H-1B visa workers as “foreign indentured servants.” “To the extent that my rhetoric has been imperfect here, that’s on me,” Vance said. But Vance defended his remarks, arguing that his criticism was aimed at companies exploiting foreign workers rather than immigrants themselves. He said the H-1B visa system gives employers too much power over foreign workers whose ability to remain in the country depends on their employment, while also allowing companies to replace American workers with visa holders. “That’s not a criticism of the H-1B visa holder. That’s a criticism of a company who brings a person in, who sometimes will literally lay off an American worker,” Vance said. Dokoupil pressed Vance on whether his rhetoric and that of the Trump administration dehumanized immigrants. “My goal here is not to dehumanize any immigrant. And in fact, I love a number of immigrants,” Vance said. But Vance argued that allowing too many immigrants into the country too quickly could undermine social cohesion and fundamentally change American communities. “I have neighbors, I have friends of mine who literally don’t know a single person in their neighborhood who speaks the language they do,” Vance said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable for an American citizen to want to share their community with people they have something in common with.” Though the town hall was pre-recorded, Vance took to X shortly after it aired to share footage from showing a burning building in France amid mass riots. He said what’s unfolding in France is a cautionary tale for the United States. “Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility,” Vance posted on X. “They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen. I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn,” Vance continued. Dokoupil pressed Vance on why the war with Iran had dragged on longer than the Trump administration anticipated, asking the vice president, “Why haven’t we won decisively?” Vance argued that the U.S. had “in some ways” already won the war, claiming that American military strikes had successfully destroyed Iran’s nuclear program, which he described as the central reason Trump launched the operation. “Have we destroyed the Iranian nuclear program? The answer is yes,” Vance said. But Vance said the administration was still working to secure a “long-term” and “verifiable” commitment from Iran that it would not rebuild its nuclear capabilities, while also preventing Tehran from disrupting global energy supplies. Vance said the Iranians responded by terrorizing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies and driving up gas prices. He claimed gas prices would be “three times as high” if it weren’t for the U.S. Navy protecting commercial shipping through the waterway. VANCE TAKES AIM AT SOFT-ON-CRIME DEMS AS GOP FACES UPHILL MIDTERM BATTLE: ‘LOST THEIR MINDS’ Vance was also urged by a Michigan voter to condemn antisemitism within his own political base, including rhetoric from
‘No Kings’ protesters spurn organizers’ rules: ‘This is as partisan as you can get’
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — On South Washington Street, 26-year-old environmental engineer Nayely Cruz Hernandez had a straightforward message for voters as she joined a phalanx of protesters lining the street for nationwide “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump: “Vote blue.” “We got to take the power away from Trump, from the Republicans,” Hernandez told Fox News Digital. “So we got to win the House, we got to win the Senate, not only in Virginia, but across the country.” Standing beside her boyfriend, Noah Schwarzott, 25, their 13-year-old Maltese-poodle, Maybellene, in her arms, Hernandez acknowledged that national No Kings organizers had their own rules for the protests to be “nonpartisan,” but she wasn’t following orders. ‘NO KINGS’ FOOT SOLDIERS IGNORE ORGANIZERS’ WARNING, GO ALL IN FOR DEMOCRATS “The No King … organizers can say whatever,” she said. “But I’m saying vote blue, because why are we here? Who’s in the House? Who’s in the Senate? Who is the President? It’s red, it’s Republicans, and it’s Trump.” A Fox News Digital investigation documented about 300 organizations with $2.5 billion in combined annual revenues behind the “No Kings” protest network, including Democratic-aligned advocacy groups, major labor unions and nonprofits including MoveOn, the American Federation of Teachers and the ACLU. Cruz Hernandez ended by introducing Maybellene and declaring that the dog was “telling you to vote for Don Beyer,” a Democratic member of Congress who represents Alexandria, Arlington and other Northern Virginia communities. The national organizers’ position is that the Oct. 17 events must be “nonpartisan.” That’s to comply with the federal laws that regulate the nonprofits that fund the No Kings protests. PARTY POOPERS’ FIGHT CARD: JANE FONDA, ‘NO KINGS,’ COMMUNISTS ROLL OUT RIVAL SPECTACLE TO TRUMP’S 250TH Her comments directly contradicted the written instructions of the national “No Kings” organization and its leaders at the Indivisible nonprofit, prohibiting calls to “vote Blue,” elect Democrats or endorse candidates and target individuals. Nearby, a man held a sign by a far-left group called “Refuse Fascism” with another message defying the organizers’ guidance: “TRUMP MUST GO NOW!” Another man held an inflatable balloon mocking Trump as a baby in a diaper. Another sign said “86 47,” the controversial message former FBI Director James Comey posted on social media and which federal prosecutors deemed an overt threat against Trump. As the young couple cheered honking cars, Eunic Epstein-Ortiz, national spokesperson for No Kings, called Fox News Digital to insist “No Kings” is a “nonpartisan, peaceful movement that has brought millions of Americans together to stand up for democracy, defend our freedoms, and reject authoritarianism.” DAVID MARCUS: AS DEMOCRATS PROTEST IN DALLAS, CONSERVATIVES ARE QUIET AND CAUTIOUS Told that a Fox News DIgital investigation found “No Kings” events from Maine to Oregon were clearly partisan, Epstein-Ortiz said, “We are aware of partisan events circulating online that are not affiliated with or officially organized by No Kings. Many people utilize the No Kings name as a rallying cry.” But, in this case, the protest on South Washington Street was an official “No Kings” event, advertised on the organizers’ official website. Among the demonstrators, one woman beamed while waving a sign that was explicit about the protest’s agenda: “THE USA Needs a Big Beautiful BLUE WAVE.” But hours after the Alexandria demonstration, Fox News Digital encountered another protester marching on H Street NW by the White House who openly rejected the nonpartisan description. She marched at an official “No Kings” event. Nadine Seiler, a self-described “professional protester” recently mentioned by Trump, was asked whether she agreed with organizers’ insistence that the demonstration was nonpartisan. “No, no, the people who agree with Trump are not out here,” Seiler responded from behind an inflatable costume. “So it’s never gonna be non-partisan if it’s a resistance to the fascist regime.” “They can pretend, but it’s not,” she added. Asked directly whether the event was partisan, Seiler answered: “Yes, this is a partisan protest.” She explained that participants were resisting what she described as illegal policies of the Trump administration. “Yeah, so this is as partisan as you can get,” she concluded. The exchanges offer a ground-level perspective on the political character of a movement whose organizers have gone to considerable lengths to insist its voter-mobilization activities are “nonpartisan.” FIRST ON FOX: ‘NO KINGS’ PROTEST NETWORK BEHIND FIGHT AGAINST AI DATA CENTERS AND FLOCK CAMERAS “No Kings” has distributed detailed election-law guidance prohibiting partisan slogans, campaign materials, candidate endorsements and coordination with political parties. Yet the movement’s own leadership has openly discussed its broader Democratic electoral objectives. During an Oct. 15 livestream, Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin contrasted the parties’ candidates. “Our candidates are quite good all around the country. Their candidates are quite trash all over the country,” Levin said. In an Oct. 9 webinar, Levin explained how activists could criticize Trump while avoiding explicit Democratic endorsements. “Uh, you’ve got to let people connect the dots on that one,” he said. Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg, meanwhile, described No Kings as a “nonpartisan coalition” intended to welcome participants across the political spectrum. The distinction matters legally. Individual protesters expressing partisan opinions don’t automatically establish that event organizers violated election law. Tax-exempt charities also face restrictions different from those governing political advocacy groups. In yet another sign, a protester again targeted Trump, writing, “EVERY DAY I HATE HIM MORE THAN I DID THE DAY BEFORE.” Another sign read: “NO CROWN FOR THE CLOWN.” From northern Virginia to the White House, participants were making no effort to conceal their political preferences. For Seiler, the description was simple: “This is as partisan as you can get.” Fox News Digital’s Reagan Schroeder and Tessa Hoyos contributed to this report.
Minnesota Senate race takes bizarre turn after dark family history uncovered
A dark chapter in the family history of Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan has made its way into the race, but it is unclear whether voters will hold the alleged sins of her long-dead grandfather against her. Earlier this week, Alpha News revealed the troubled mental health history of Flanagan’s grandfather, John Jacob Hartmann, supported by old newspaper accounts and court records. He spent decades in psychiatric custody, escaped twice and was suspected in multiple killings, though never charged. The reporting comes just weeks before the midterm elections, in which Flanagan, the state’s lieutenant governor, faces former television sports reporter Michelle Tafoya in a race to fill the seat of Democrat Tina Smith, who is retiring. Neither Flanagan nor Tafoya has commented publicly on the matter since the decades-old allegations resurfaced. But the bizarre development has generated a buzz on social media. Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet highlighted the “violent mental illness in Minnesota Democrat Peggy Flanagan’s family,” in an X post, followed by a photo of Flanagan wearing a shirt that says “Protect trans kids.” and Dustin Grage, a columnist with Town Hall, wrote the report “adds up.” Flanagan has frequently spoken about her upbringing, including being raised by a single mother who relied on SNAP benefits and housing assistance, and the influence of her indigenous father, a tribal land rights activist who helped inspire her own advocacy for Native American communities. But a lesser-known part of her family history involves Hartmann, who made headlines in Minneapolis newspapers throughout the 1970s and early 1980s for his time in psychiatric hospitals, his escapes and allegations linking him to at least four killings, which was dredged up by Minnesota-based outlet Alpha News. WARREN’S ANCESTRY SAGA ROARS BACK AFTER DEM ALLY TOUTS NATIVE SENATE FIRST: ‘ARROWS FIRED’ Flanagan was three years old when Hartmann died on Feb. 6, 1983. A Minnesota Star Tribune death notice listed Flanagan’s mother, Patricia Hartmann, and her three sisters — Kathleen, Mary and Margaret — as his surviving daughters. An obituary for Patricia, who died in 2022, listed her maiden name as Hartmann and identified her father as John. In an interview with Minnesota Women’s Press, Flanagan said both her mother and grandmother were single mothers. She described her grandmother as having raised four daughters “at a time when that didn’t happen a lot.” Flanagan’s mother eventually married Thomas Flanagan, who is identified as Peggy Flanagan’s stepfather in his obituary. In a Feb. 9, 1983 article announcing Hartmann’s death, the newspaper now known as The Minnesota Star Tribune stated that he was committed on Nov. 1, 1951 after his wife filed a petition claiming that he was “mentally ill and dangerous.” His commitment came after the body of a man named Theodore Foth was found burning in his room, although Hartmann was never charged in Foth’s death. The paper also named Hartmann as a suspect in a 1964 murder of a fellow patient at the Minnesota Security Hospital, but he was never charged. SLEEPER GOP CANDIDATE PUTS BLUE-LEANING STATE IN PLAY AS FRAUD SCANDAL SHADOWS DEMS Hartmann was transferred to Anoka State Hospital in 1970, but escaped to New Mexico, where the newspaper reported he was suspected in the deaths of a man and woman. However, a 1973 Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling does not mention the alleged murder allegations against Hartmann. Instead, the ruling stated New Mexico authorities picked up Hartmann from a warrant issued by Minnesota Probate Judge Melvin Peterson in September 1970. The authorities found that he was living in the state “without incident and without hiding his identity following his escape in Minnesota.” A special prosecutor later released Hartmann, finding that he was “sane and safe to be at large.” Hartmann was apprehended in Colorado for a misdemeanor charge the next year and brought back to Minnesota. In April 1979, Hartmann failed to return from a visit pass at the Minnesota Security Hospital and fled to Missouri, where he allegedly threatened U.S. District Judge Miles Welton Lord during a phone call. Lord presided over Hartmann’s earlier federal challenge to his involuntary return from Colorado to Minnesota and initially dismissed claims against several Minnesota officials. Hartmann was charged by federal authorities for the alleged threat, according to a 1979 Star Tribune article. Fox News Digital reached out to Flanagan’s campaign for comment.
California diners are cutting back as costs soar — but restaurant owner reveals one trend that’s booming
Happy hour is becoming the main event for some California diners as the state’s high cost of living pushes more customers to seek out discounted meals instead of paying full price for a night out. Chef Alex Carballo of Grand Restaurant Group told Fox News Digital that happy hour once accounted for an estimated 5% to 8% of his business. Now, that figure has climbed to nearly 30%, even as customers cut back on dining out. “My happy hour has increased a lot, so I think people are looking for deals and looking for options,” Carballo said. The shift reflects a broader affordability squeeze across California where residents told Fox News Digital that rising costs for housing, groceries and gasoline are forcing them to rethink everyday spending. California has the highest overall price levels in the nation, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, with prices running roughly 11% above the national average. But affordability pressures extend far beyond the Golden State, as Americans nationwide grapple with elevated costs for housing, groceries and other everyday necessities. NEWSOM UNDER FIRE AS CALIFORNIA GAS TAX HIKE SENDS PUMP PRICES EVEN HIGHER Carballo said customers are visiting his restaurants less frequently, with some scaling back how often they eat out. “They’re going out three times a week, where they were coming out to see me four or five [times]. And the people that used to see three times a week, they’re only coming out once,” he said. What was once a stop for drinks or appetizers before dinner is increasingly becoming the dinner itself, Carballo said. “Now it’s like, that’s where they’re going and they’re hitting those scenes,” he said. Customers can still enjoy the same food, service and atmosphere at lower prices, Carballo said, making happy-hour deals particularly appealing. But those discounts also create challenges for restaurant operators who are already grappling with rising expenses. “I’m still paying the same amount for food. I’m still paying the employees. My rent didn’t change. Nothing changed. Only thing I’m doing is trying to discount my product to gain people to come here,” Carballo said. AMERICANS SAY TIPPING PRACTICES ‘HAVE BECOME RIDICULOUS’ AS DIGITAL PROMPTS PUSH HIGHER GRATUITIES Fox News Digital also spoke with residents in Southern California who described making financial trade-offs that extend well beyond restaurants. Jonas, a Santa Monica resident who is planning a wedding with his fiancée, said he and his fiancée are reevaluating their budget as everyday expenses continue to add up. “Certainly gas is expensive, rent is high, and then grocery prices are pretty high as well,” Jonas said. He estimated that he spends approximately $100 a week on groceries and said rising costs are influencing their decisions about dining out and transportation. The couple is “eating out a little bit less,” Jonas said, adding that he has also started walking to work to “save money on gas as well.” “I think that people are just seeing prices go up everywhere, and feeling like they’re getting less than what they had four years ago maybe,” he said. “I think everybody’s really feeling that.” BELOVED RESTAURANT CHAIN DWINDLES FROM 850 LOCATIONS TO 87, BUT EXPERT SEES ‘A LOT OF LIFE LEFT’ For some Californians, the financial strain has gone beyond cutting back on restaurants. Justin, a California native from Glendora who moved to Las Vegas seven years ago, told Fox News Digital that the state’s high cost of living was one of the reasons he left. “Affordability is crazy,” Justin said while visiting Los Angeles for a Rams game. “I left seven years ago and I thought gas and you know rent was high then,” he said. “Here I am seven years later and it’s … one of the reasons why I’m in Vegas now. It’s just unaffordable.” Justin said many of his friends who remain in California are still struggling with housing costs. EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE LA’S HOMELESS HELLSCAPE — UNLIKELY CRITICS BLAST DEMS AS GOP HOPEFUL TOURS SKID ROW “90% of my friends are living with a roommate. It is really hard to live alone here,” he said. Housing remains another major affordability challenge in the Golden State. Just 19% of California households could afford the state’s median-priced home of $916,750 in the second quarter of 2026, according to the California Association of Realtors. In Venice, resident Tatiana described rising expenses across everything from gasoline to groceries and neighborhood restaurants. “Everything is more expensive, gas is more expensive, food,” she told Fox News Digital. “There’s really very few affordable restaurants left on Abbot Kinney. Even our local co-op prices have gone up at least 15%. Everything costs more.” “We’re not getting any breaks in California,” she said.
‘Moderate’ AG’s office turned to groups that spent years suing prisons for recruiting help, emails reveal
EXCLUSIVE — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office repeatedly sought recruiting help from two prominent left-wing legal groups that spent years suing the state’s corrections department alongside Mayes’ top deputy, internal emails obtained by Fox News Digital show. Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel Barr sought recommendations from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Berkeley-based Prison Law Office (PLO) for attorneys to handle Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) work inside the attorney general’s office and later for candidates to serve as ADCRR general counsel, according to the emails. Barr already had a long history with both groups before joining Mayes’ office. Prior to his position in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, he was a partner at Perkins Coie, where he spent years litigating alongside the ACLU and PLO in a federal case that ultimately resulted in a judge finding Arizona’s prison conditions to be constitutionally inadequate. ‘THRILL KILLER’ AND DESERT EXECUTIONER — MEET THE DOZENS OF CRIMINALS DEM AG BACKED FOR PAROLE: ‘NO BRAINER’ Both groups advocate substantial changes to incarceration policy. The ACLU has pursued a nationwide goal of cutting jail and prison populations by 50% through reforms, including decriminalization, bail reform, shorter sentences and clemency and has called for reductions in immigration detention. The PLO, meanwhile, says it works to reduce incarceration while also litigating on issues related to prison conditions, medical care, disability rights and solitary confinement. In November’s general election, Mayes is slated to face Arizona state Sen. Warren Petersen, a Republican, as she seeks to defend her role as the top law enforcement officer in the state. Mayes won her 2022 race by just 280 votes, one of the narrowest margins in state history. “Maybe FOX News should start with the facts: The ACLU has repeatedly sued Kris Mayes over issues where they disagreed with her,” Delaney Corcoran, the campaign manager for Mayes’ re-election campaign, told Fox News Digital when asked about the email correspondence. “Mayes has consistently fought for funding for Arizona police and cartel task forces and stands shoulder to shoulder with Arizona sheriffs and police. Together, Mayes and law enforcement have seized 27 million fentanyl pills off of our streets, more than any other attorney general in state history.” Mayes has defended Arizona against lawsuits from the ACLU challenging laws that allowed state and local police to arrest people illegally entering the country between ports of entry and restricted when people could film police officers. She later settled with the ACLU in the police filming case, agreeing to permanently prohibit the unconstitutional police recording law. Though Mayes describes herself as a “moderate” and sparred with liberal legal groups, Barr, one of her top aides, repeatedly sought candidate recommendations from the progressive ACLU and PLO for corrections-related legal roles. DRAG QUEENS, TRANS PASTOR, ABORTION RALLIES: INSIDE DEM GOVERNOR HOPEFUL’S PROGRESSIVE CHURCH “I am looking to bring as much ADCRR work back in-house as possible in the Arizona AG’s office. To do that, I need to hire attorneys to represent ADCRR in numerous capacities. If you know of anyone who may be interested in helping to turnaround things around here, please let me know,” Barr wrote to representatives of the ACLU and PLO in February 2023. In April of that year, Barr again turned to the groups, this time seeking possible candidates for ADCRR’s top legal position. “Let me know if you have any suggested candidates,” he wrote, forwarding an email to PLO and ACLU representatives soliciting applications for ADCRR general counsel. When his efforts to fill the role of ADCRR’s top lawyer bore no fruit, he again turned to the two groups. “Still no takers for the ADCRR general counsel job. If you have any suggestions, please let me know,” he wrote to them May 11, 2023. That same day, ACLU National Prison Project Director David Fathi responded, promising to “redouble” his efforts to find a candidate for Barr. Among the priorities of the ACLU National Prison Project are “substantially reducing the incarcerated population” and promoting a criminal justice system in which incarceration is used only as a “last resort.” Fathi has also criticized relying on police and prisons to address drug problems, stating in one social media post that “we will never solve drug problems with police and prisons.” Corene Kendrick, the deputy director of the National Prison Project, responded to Barr’s email that one of her possible recommendations was already “enjoying suing ADCRR in civil rights damages cases in her spare time of running her café in Carrizozo,” showing that at least one prospective candidate being floated to Barr had experience suing ADCRR in civil rights cases. SOCIALISTS SET SIGHTS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF GOVERNMENT AS GOP WARNS OF BIGGER PLAN UNFOLDING Fox News Digital only obtained email records, not call transcripts or in-person meeting minutes, so it’s unclear what further assistance, if any, the PLO and ACLU gave the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. ADCRR ultimately hired Ashley Oddo to serve as its general counsel. Before joining ADCRR, Oddo led Arizona State University’s Academy for Justice and backed several criminal justice positions associated with the left, including addressing systemic racism in policing and pardoning people convicted of nonviolent federal marijuana offenses. Oddo has no institutional affiliation with the ACLU or the PLO nor was her name mentioned by either organization in email communications with Barr. Other communications obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital show a cordial relationship between Barr and staffers working for the ACLU and PLO. Fathi, for instance, requested a phone conversation with Barr in February 2023, and Barr responded two minutes later. Fathi disclosed in another email that the director of ADCRR reached out to him “to schedule a call about working together on ADCRR issues.” Don Specter, a longtime PLO attorney, also reported having a “productive meeting” with the head of ADCRR in June 2023. To reduce incarceration, the PLO has pursued litigation that contributed to court-ordered reductions in California’s prison population, supported credit systems that can advance release or parole
From handyman to House history: HVAC mogul Joe Strada pushes trade schools, business mindset in Florida race
If Republican Joe Strada wins Florida’s eleventh congressional district in three weeks, he will likely be the wealthiest individual to ever hold a seat in the US House of Representatives. It’s an impressive trajectory for a man from humble beginnings who got his start fixing equipment in a bowling alley, but always had a zest for learning, building, and working with his hands. Strada, whose HVAC, electrical and plumbing company employs roughly 4,000 people across 13 states, told Fox News Digital that his journey from handyman to wealthy entrepreneur embodies the American Dream but that neither his fortune nor his business success defines him. PULLING BILLIONS FROM HARVARD TO FUND TRADE SCHOOLS? HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TRUMP’S LATEST MOVE “How about that? Just the kid, a handyman in a bowling alley, fixing things that break…and now I’m blessed to have a business that’s in 13 states, thousands of people that work for me. It’s been a blessing and, I’m able to live the American dream. “But it’s difficult. It was difficult with the headwinds and the rules and regulations that come out of Washington, D.C. And it was very challenging …It should be difficult, but not this challenging.” Strada wants everyone to be able to benefit from the American capitalist system that brought him great success: “You know, as a business owner, I realized and recognized all the problems that Washington, D.C. is causing. All the rules and regulations that are impacting families, small business owners all across the country. And I finally said, we need a different type of person in Washington, DC. “We have enough lobbyists, politicians and attorneys there. It’s time to have a business-minded person that knows how to fix things that could go to Washington, and solve problems for the real, you know, real problems for the American people.” Strada is on a nationwide mission to pitch young people on the value of the trades, and suggests it’s a worthy alternative to racking up massive student loans: “The word of trade is really starting to spread now. Trades people, young people just want to be successful. Sometimes they don’t know there’s an opportunity in the trades. You come to my company, you don’t know how to spell AC, you don’t know what end of the screwdriver to hold, but you’re paid the very first day. We train you. We give you a career that will support yourself and your family the rest of your life. “You don’t have a $250,000 student debt, and you’re able to be successful… And my objective, not just with my company, it’s across the country. I’m working with trade schools and high schools everywhere. I’m talking to young people all over our country to come into the trades because it’s a great opportunity to live your version of the American dream.” As Strada’s HVAC company was growing throughout the country, a labor shortage prompted a serious challenge, and a major shift in business strategy: “The most difficult challenge was we had the opportunity to grow, and we didn’t have enough labor. So I had to develop a program to teach people the trade. So we could grow, and we’ve been fortunate: we’re in 13 states now and 4,000 people that work with us. We never would have done that if we didn’t develop our own training program. “I couldn’t wait for the government to come and solve my problem. I’m a business guy who solves problems and I had to go develop a training program for young people.” Strada argues that people on government assistance should also take a serious look at the trades, suggesting we have a large untapped labor pool within our own borders: “The border had to be closed, and we did a great job keeping all the criminals out of our country. And as far as getting more workers, we have Americans that want to work. We have plenty of people sitting at home getting a government paycheck. Let’s get them to work. “Some of them are just lazy and don’t want to work, others just need the opportunity and the push to say, ‘this is easy, let’s get into a trade, let’s learn a business.’ TRUMP-BACKED GOP CANDIDATE WHO OUSTED SCANDAL-PLAGUED INCUMBENT WARNS AGAINST ‘NEVER-ENDING WAR’ WITH IRAN “I’ve have plenty of people that turned out to be an entrepreneur. They’ve opened their own business, and I’m very happy and gratified when I’m helping people.” Hard work is at the foundation of Strada’s success, and he argues an inherent part of that economic success is bringing others along: “You know, most people think when you’re successful, it was handed to you. I got to tell you, David, I’m proud of the hard work my father did, but it was tough growing up. We were fortunate, we had a swimming pool, but it was mainly, a lot of times it was green because we couldn’t afford chlorine. It was the best Marco Polo pool in the neighborhood. “I started with nothing. It’s just hard work. The passion and drive to want to be successful, to achieve goals. And it’s always about everybody wins. My employees have to win. My customers have to win, the company has to win and that’s the position I like to be in is to be able to help sit at a table, moderate those kinds of things and execute those results.” Ultimately, Strada downplays the importance of money, and emphasizes character, while revealing that his greatest motivation in life was born from a family tragedy: “I wake up every day the same person I was when I was 12 years old that I am today. I’ve been blessed to be wealthy. I worked hard. I don’t apologize for it…But you know, money is just a number. My perspective is everybody puts their head on the pillow at the end of the night. And when you put your head on your pillow, what do you stand for? What’s the
Ilhan Omar should be jailed, deported if citizenship fraud proven, Top House Republican says
EXCLUSIVE: The highest-ranking House lawmaker from Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home state is calling for the embattled progressive to be jailed and deported if it is found that she or her father lied on federal paperwork to get her U.S. citizenship. Omar, D-Minn., is under federal investigation over allegations that she or her father lied about her birth year on immigration paperwork in order to obtain her citizenship when her family fled Somalia in the late 1990s. She and other Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have denounced the probe as political persecution of one of President Donald Trump’s detractors weeks before a critical election. But Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the No. 3 leader in the House of Representatives, told Fox News Digital that “there have been rumors for years” about Omar and, if proven true, she should face consequences. “I would say first she should probably serve time in the gray bar motel and then get the hell out of here. She should go back to where she came from” if the allegations are proven to be true, Emmer said. “If it’s determined that she lied to gain citizenship, then absolutely, she should go back to the front of the line.” REP ILHAN OMAR’S IMMIGRATION HISTORY FACES NEW SCRUTINY AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA RELATIVES Omar is a member of the House “Squad,” a far-left clique that includes Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. FEDERAL AGENTS RAID ILHAN OMAR’S DC HOME AMID IMMIGRATION FRAUD INVESTIGATION Federal agents raided Omar’s Washington, D.C., home earlier this week and took her cellphone and other possessions. The allegations stem from her father becoming a U.S. citizen in 2000. Omar was believed to be 17 at the time, and as a minor was automatically qualified for citizenship under U.S. law along with him. HOMAN CONFIRMS ‘CRIMINAL’ INVESTIGATION INVOLVING ILHAN OMAR, SAYS HE KNOWS ‘THINGS ARE GOING ON’ But recently, it’s been alleged that she was actually 18 and would have needed to go through the process herself at that point. “I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” Omar posted on X after the raid. “I will not be silenced.” DEMOCRATS’ FURY OVER ILHAN OMAR RAID DRAWS STINGING GOP REMINDER ABOUT RAID FROM THE PAST: ‘SET THE PRECEDENT’ Omar’s allies and other critics of the probe have called it an unprecedented action with less than three weeks before Election Day on Nov. 3. Jeffries and his top deputies said in a joint statement that the raid was “deeply disturbing and raises serious questions about the continued corrupt weaponization of the federal government against Donald Trump’s adversaries.” Emmer argued it was not political. He said that the existence of a judicially authorized search warrant, which the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was being acted on, meant there was a reasonable basis to believe the allegations could be true. “That judge had to determine that there was probable cause that a federal crime has been committed. And I’ll tell you what, as long as it was Ilhan Omar, it was going to be scrutinized to the very detail,” Emmer said. “So the fact that they issued the warrant in the first place and then executed it, I mean maybe after all these years, someone is finally going to hold Ilhan Omar accountable.” Fox News Digital reached out to Omar’s congressional office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.