Republicans torch anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests, say Dems fear angering leftists in shutdown fight
Republican lawmakers have spent the week sharpening their attacks on Saturday’s nationwide day of protests against President Donald Trump, which many GOP leaders dismissed as “Hate America” rallies. Cities across the country are expected to see hundreds of thousands of people come out for the “No Kings” movement, and several congressional Democrats have even said they will attend. Republicans have seized on the protests as a product of far-left activism, while at the same time arguing Democrats have held firm against the GOP’s plan to end the government shutdown in a bid to please that far-left base. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox Business Network he hoped that Democratic leaders who attended would be more willing to accept the GOP’s plan after the demonstrations were over — but he did not sound overly optimistic. SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES “It’ll be a collection of wild leftist policy priorities, and that’ll be on display for the whole country. After that’s over, I hope there’s a few Democrats over here who will come to their senses and return to governing the country,” Johnson said. “Right now, I don’t think — it’s my assumption and all of ours that they would not make that concession before that rally’s over because they don’t want to face the angry mob. I mean it’s sad, but that’s where we are.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., dodged a question on whether he would attend one of the rallies on Friday, telling reporters, “I haven’t finalized my schedule for the weekend given, you know, the sensitivities around the government shutdown. I’m still very hopeful that Republicans will decide to show up for work so we can get the government back open.” “But I support the right of every single American to participate in the rallies that are going to take place this week and showing up to express dissent against an out-of-control administration,” he said. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he would attend one of the protests, as did House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, predicted more top Democratic figures would go but, like Johnson, signaled hope that they would acquiesce to Republicans’ demands when it was over. “My guess is if they don’t want a primary from the left, they’ll probably find a way to sneak it into their schedule. The real question that’s going to be is, do they have the fortitude after Saturday to come back and open up the government?” Nunn told Fox News Digital earlier this week. 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK “They should be doing it today. But if they feel like they’ve got to appease their base, then they better come to Jesus on Sunday and figure out a way to help them get back to the business of taking care of the American people.” House GOP leaders also criticized the rallies at nearly every one of their daily shutdown press conferences this week. Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said Friday that Schumer was “more concerned” with “impressing the ‘Hate America’ rally crowd that’s coming up here tomorrow than he is about not solving all of our problems tomorrow.” And House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Tuesday of the rallies’ place in the shutdown fight, “The rumor is that they can’t end the shutdown beforehand, because a small but very violent and vocal group is the only one that’s happy about this.” “If they shut it down beforehand, then they’ve got to deal with that group beforehand. If they make it through that, then at least they’ve made it through their Hate America rally, and then they can get this thing done,” Emmer said. The House passed a bill to keep the federal government funded at current levels through Nov. 21, called a continuing resolution (CR), mostly along party lines last month. It’s since failed 10 times in the Senate, with a majority of Democrats rejecting any spending deal that does not also include an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that will expire at the end of this year without congressional action.
Poisoned promises: Camp Lejeune families still wait for justice decades after toxic water scandal
Decades after Marines and families at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune bathed and drank in poisoned water, the law meant to bring them justice has stalled. The 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act — intended to finally allow victims their day in court — has instead become mired in legal backlogs and procedural fights. As medical bills mount from lifetimes of chronic illness and loved ones pass away, families say Washington’s delays have turned a promise of justice into yet another bureaucratic waiting game. They’re now calling on Congress to pass the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, which would guarantee victims the right to trial and ensure their claims are heard. BANNED CHEMICALS FOUND IN AMERICAN SHAMPOO, SUNSCREEN AND TAMPONS ACROSS MAJOR BRANDS Donna Harris was born and spent her early childhood on the North Carolina Marine Corps base. She believes she’s been paying for it ever since. After years of drinking and bathing in contaminated water, Harris has battled asthma and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) — a rare blood disorder — lost her left kidney and faced both breast and uterine cancer. “I’m just wondering where the next cancer is going to come,” she said. “That’s how I live every day.” Her mother, who lived on base in the 1960s, suffered four miscarriages. Her sister later died from kidney disease. From the 1950s through the late 1980s, drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with toxic chemicals — including trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride — leaked from fuel tanks and improper waste disposal. Estimates from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) suggest that up to one million Marines, civilian workers and their families were exposed over decades. Although contamination was first detected in the early 1980s, the most polluted wells weren’t shut down until 1985. Veterans and families spent years reporting high rates of rare cancers, birth defects and chronic diseases, only to face a long fight for recognition and care. Federal investigations later found that military and health officials were slow to act, even after learning the water was unsafe. When the contamination first became public in the mid-1980s, Marine officials blamed a nearby dry-cleaning shop for leaking chemicals into the groundwater. But federal investigations later found multiple sources, including leaking fuel tanks, chemical dumps and industrial solvent disposal across the base. Bob Quinter, a fighter pilot who survived being shot down five times during the Vietnam War, never imagined that the greatest danger he faced would come from his own base. After being stationed at Camp Lejeune for eight years in the 1970s and ’80s, Quinter was diagnosed with recurring kidney cancer in 2011. “No one had any idea of the toxic exposure,” he said. Still, strange smells loomed in the air on base from time to time. Quinter recalled a friend who served as the base adjutant warning him in the early ’80s that “a major issue on base would soon come to light — and its reach would prove devastating.” “It’s sort of like a betrayal from the Corps,” Quinter said. HIGHER CANCER RATES LINKED TO WWII RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN MIDWESTERN CREEK Both of his daughters have suffered multiple miscarriages, and at least half a dozen fellow Marines from his time on base later developed serious illnesses they believe are tied to their exposure. “Marines, by their nature, tend to be positive and not worry about the bad parts of their service,” Quinter added. “So it’s something that comes up sort of off the cuff, and then we move on to some old sea story that everybody would rather hear.” Originally, injury claims related to Camp Lejeune had a filing deadline of 1997 — long before many victims even knew about the contamination. When Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2022, victims felt a wave of relief. Harris learned that her breast cancer qualified as a covered condition and filed a claim to help pay for radiation and surgery. “I reached out and was approved for any out-of-pocket medical costs,” she said. She meticulously submitted every receipt and record. “That was in April of 2022,” Harris said. “And I’ve not seen a dime. They care until they don’t.” Her 93-year-old father, who will soon attend the Marine Corps Ball in his dress blues, appears to have escaped the illnesses that ravaged others in the family. “I asked him, I said, ‘Daddy, why didn’t you get sick?’ He said, ‘I never drank the water.’” It’s believed that the water on site affected up to one million people before authorities cut off the poisoned supply. Now, victims and families are urging Congress to ensure that the Camp Lejeune law actually opens the door to jury trials or fair mediation rather than leaving claims stalled in administrative limbo. The most important goal, they say, is simply to get into court — to have their cases move forward rather than remain buried in procedural bottlenecks. They’re also asking lawmakers to expand the capacity of the court system so that more cases can be heard and resolved efficiently. Beyond compensation, they want acknowledgment: public recognition that the government knew what was happening and failed to act, and an honest accounting of how that negligence destroyed lives. By law, Camp Lejeune claims are first handled by the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG), which must review each case before victims are allowed to sue in federal court. The Navy JAG office and the Department of Justice could not be reached for comment. There is growing bipartisan support behind new legislation to fix the system. More than 60 members of the House of Representatives and over 10 senators now back the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, introduced by North Carolina Republicans Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rep. Greg Murphy — but the bill has not yet been scheduled for a vote. Michelle James, whose husband died in 2019 after years of illness she believes was
Bill Ackman jumps into NYC mayoral fight, says Sliwa must drop or ‘we are toast’
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is escalating his commentary on the New York City mayoral race, claiming Republican Curtis Sliwa’s refusal to exit has pushed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to a 90% chance of victory, according to prediction market data. Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital, argued that Sliwa staying in the race is helping Mamdani secure the win. On Friday, Ackman posted new Polymarket odds on X showing Mamdani near 90%, well ahead of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sliwa. “It was not Zohran Mamdani’s debate performance. It was Curtis Sliwa’s statement after the debate that he is not leaving that has tipped the odds to 90% for Mamdani,” Ackman wrote on X. Sliwa had said he would not drop out after the most recent debate. FINAL STRETCH: MAMDANI’S LARGE LEAD SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC MAYORAL RACE Ackman’s remarks mark a rare public foray by a high-profile investor into a local election. A spokesperson for Pershing Square told Fox News Digital there was “no additional comment beyond Ackman’s posts.” Ackman has supported Cuomo’s independent bid and earlier in the week urged Sliwa to exit the race to give Cuomo “a better shot.” Sliwa is not backing down. His campaign, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, rejected the idea that Ackman or any donor should influence the race. “Billionaires aren’t going to decide the outcome — it’s the voters. It’s the people. Let the people decide,” said Maria Sliwa, the candidate’s spokeswoman. “Cuomo lost the primary as a Democrat. He’s running as an independent. Curtis is on a major party line just like Mamdani. If anything, Cuomo should drop out, not Curtis.” She said Sliwa has always planned to stay in the race to give Republicans a choice. “This race won’t be decided by millionaires, billionaires or professional politicians. It will be decided by the voters on Nov. 4.” Sliwa’s refusal to exit has become a flashpoint in the campaign. Ackman and others say a one-on-one matchup between Cuomo and Mamdani would be more competitive. NEW POLL REVEALS MAMDANI’S LEAD IS SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC SHOWDOWN Some polls suggest Cuomo could close the gap without Sliwa in the race. But Sliwa’s team and several analysts question whether his voters would support Cuomo. Appearing Friday morning on “Sid & Friends in the Morning” on WABC radio, Cuomo accused Sliwa of playing spoiler and warned Republicans that staying loyal to Sliwa could hand the election to Mamdani. “Curtis cannot win,” Cuomo said. “No Republican voted to put Curtis on the ballot. No Democrat voted to put Curtis on the ballot. He was put on by the party bosses — the Republican county chairs — because he is a spoiler. And they want Mamdani to win.” Cuomo argued that GOP leaders are backing Sliwa for strategic reasons, not to win City Hall. “They’ll take Mamdani and run him around the country saying, ‘Look at how crazy this Democratic Party is — they elected a 33-year-old socialist who’s anti-cop, anti-business, antisemitic.’ It’ll help them politically, but it’ll kill the city,” Cuomo said. He added that voters who support Sliwa are effectively helping Mamdani. “You vote for Curtis, just save yourself the time and vote for Mamdani,” Cuomo said. “He’s the candidate of the Republican Party chairs. And what Republicans are going to have to decide is whether partisan loyalty is more important than loyalty to the city.” FOX NEWS POLL: UNHAPPY WITH NYC’S DIRECTION, VOTERS FAVOR MAMDANI FOR MAYOR BY A WIDE MARGIN Cuomo also attacked Mamdani’s public safety policies, warning, “You defund the police, you close Rikers — he’s talking about releasing 7,000 people from Rikers when it closes. There are no new jails. There will be a mass exodus from this city. It will never be the same.” The 2025 NYC mayoral race has drawn national attention. Mamdani, 33, is a socialist state assemblyman from Queens who upset Cuomo in the Democratic primary. If elected, he would be the city’s first Muslim mayor, and he has the backing of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Cuomo, 65, is running as an independent four years after resigning as governor. He is trying to frame himself as a centrist who can beat Mamdani. Since Mayor Eric Adams dropped out, Cuomo has gained ground in polling. Sliwa, 69, is best known for founding the Guardian Angels patrol group and has built his campaign around crime and quality-of-life issues. He won 27% of the vote in the 2021 mayoral race. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ackman’s involvement has sparked renewed interest in Polymarket, a prediction site where users bet on political outcomes. The contract for the NYC mayoral race has already passed $190 million in trading volume, one of the largest for a local U.S. election. Ackman’s posts have fueled speculation and a surge in trading activity. Voters head to the polls Nov. 4. Polymarket did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
President Donald Trump commutes former New York GOP Rep. George Santos’ prison sentence
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Friday that he commuted the sentence of disgraced former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., after several campaign finance violations. “George Santos was somewhat of a ‘rogue,’ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison,” Trump wrote. “I started to think about George when the subject of Democrat Senator Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal came up again…. This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” President Trump added. “George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated. Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY.” FORMER CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS DELIVERS ‘GLAMOROUS’ FAREWELL BEFORE GOING TO PRISON: ‘THE CURTAIN FALLS’ Santos had reported to serve his sentence in federal prison at the end of July earlier this year, with a theatrical X post in which he wrote, “Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed.” The former representative pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos was assessed the maximum sentence in April by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert. Seybert also ordered Santos to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and forfeit more than $205,000 in fraud proceeds. Santos “traded in his integrity for designer clothes and a luxury lifestyle,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said in a statement at the time. The former representative and his campaign treasurer had doctored donor reports to qualify for national Republican Party funding, including falsely reporting a $500,000 loan from Santos when he had under $8,000 cumulatively in his accounts. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE URGES TRUMP TO COMMUTE GEORGE SANTOS’ FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE: ‘FAR WORSE OFFENSES’ According to the DOJ, Santos made unauthorized charges to fund both campaign and personal expenses from stolen donor credit card information, including those from “victims he knew were elderly persons suffering from cognitive impairment or decline.” He also used a fake political fundraising company to solicit tens of thousands of dollars which he spent on “designer clothing.” Santos flipped New York’s third congressional district in 2022 for the GOP despite falsifying his biography, including claiming his family had ties to 9/11 and the Holocaust that were debunked at the time. Santos was expelled by the House of Representatives in December 2023, after a scathing ethics report, making him the sixth member of Congress in history to have been removed. In Santos’ July X post, he added, “I may be leaving the stage (for now), but trust me legends never truly exit.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Good luck George, have a great life!” the President concluded.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Bolton pleads not guilty
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -FBI arrests alleged pro-Hamas Oct. 7 attacker living in Louisiana -Millions expected to flood streets at ‘No Kings’ protests targeting Trump across all 50 states –Thune slams Schumer’s ‘kingmaker’ politics, refuses to ‘kiss the ring’ in shutdown talks Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton pleaded not guilty Friday to all 18 counts related to the improper handling of classified materials after surrendering to federal authorities in Maryland. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan explained the charges to Bolton and asked if he understood them and the potential penalties of up to 10 years per count and a maximum fine of $250,000 per count. “I do your honor,” Bolton said during his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Md…Read more RATE AND SEE: Fed’s Miran downplays impact of Trump’s tariffs on growth, inflation F-BOMB: Trump says Venezuela’s Maduro doesn’t want to ‘f*** around’ with the US ‘BAD BLOOD’: Trump says ‘tremendous bad blood’ between Zelenskyy, Putin delaying peace deal despite Middle East momentum BLUE SLIP BLUES: Trump rips ‘stupid and outdated’ Senate tradition blocking US attorney nominees WEAPONS SWAP DEAL: Zelenskyy pitches Trump on Ukraine drone-for-Tomahawk missile exchange as president weighs escalation concerns TRUMP CARD: EXCLUSIVE: Karoline Leavitt slams Hakeem Jeffries as ‘stone-cold loser’ after he attacks her as ‘demented’ DIGITAL DAMAGE: Deleted posts urging violence haunt Democratic Senate hopeful in Maine race RIGHTS IN LIMBO: Government shutdown is putting gun owners rights at risk, House Republicans warn AG SPEAKS OUT: Jason Miyares touts record on crime, fentanyl as Jones scandal roils Virginia race SENATE SABOTAGE: Trump’s US attorneys in blue states face legal challenges that could upend key prosecutions SPACE RACE REDUX: Musk ally Jared Isaacman makes comeback bid for NASA administrator role after May withdrawal: report VIOLENCE EXPOSED: Lawyers guild’s alleged ties to Antifa spark call for DOJ probe NO ‘CHAOS’ ALLOWED: Abbott orders Texas National Guard to Austin in advance of ‘Antifa-linked protest’ FOLLOW THE MONEY: Soros foundation helping fund anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests nationwide MILLIONS EXPECTED: ‘No Kings’ movement and what it wants: Inside the message driving Saturday’s nationwide protests POLITICAL VIOLENCE: Democrats’ ‘unity’ dinner draws backlash over anti-Trump ‘86 47’ sign linking MAGA to Nazis RULES FOR ME: Hochul’s office silent when pressed if she sticks by ‘no one is above the law’ belief amid AG’s indictment TRUST DEFICIT: Mamdani ripped by rivals for unpopular stance during fiery NYC debate YOUR HONOR: Who is Judge Chuang, the Obama appointee assigned to John Bolton’s case? Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Dem judge in hot seat after DHS exposes ‘whole new level’ of activism, sheltering illegal immigrant
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump Department of Homeland Security is criticizing a Democratic judge for taking “activism to a whole new level” by harboring an illegal gang member who just pled guilty to illegally possessing firearms and destroying evidence. Federal authorities arrested Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national who illegally entered the country in 2023 during the Biden administration, in February at the home of former Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose Luis “Joel” Cano, 67, and his wife Nancy Ann Cano, 68. Based on his tattoos and social media activity showing firearms as well as distinctive hand signs and clothing, the Justice Department believes Ortega-Lopez is a member of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan transnational criminal group recently designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. This month, Ortega-Lopez pled guilty to illegally possessing firearms and conspiracy to destroy evidence. DHS FLIPS SCRIPT ON MEDIA NARRATIVE WITH NEW DETAILS ABOUT ILLEGAL TEEN ARRESTED BY ICE: ‘SAFETY THREAT’ Commenting on the plea, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the judge’s action is part of a wider pattern of “sanctuary politicians” subverting U.S. law to harbor criminal illegal immigrants. “Time and time again, we see sanctuary politicians and activist judges like Jose Cano shield criminal illegal aliens – in this case, a suspected GANG MEMBER, from arrest and removal from the country,” McLaughlin wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. She added that “Judge Cano, a magistrate judge, takes activist judge to a whole new level—having this criminal illegal alien live in his home with him.” “Ortega-Lopez, a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member who pled guilty to illegally possessing firearms and conspiracy to destroy evidence, should never have been released into the country by the Biden Administration,” she said. “This disgusting behavior is wildly unacceptable and is no longer tolerated under the Trump Administration. We are putting the safety of the American people first.” TRUMP’S WAR ON CARTELS ENTERS NEW PHASE AS EXPERTS PREDICT WHAT’S NEXT A senior DHS official also told Fox News Digital that the agency “will not let the Democrats’ government shutdown prevent our law enforcement officers from executing the critical mission of securing our nation from the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” Federal agents received a tip in January that Ortega-Lopez was living with other illegal immigrants on a property belonging to Cano, who was still a judge at the time, and his wife. Authorities seized four guns during a Feb. 28 search of the property. The four guns, along with three cellphones belonging to Ortega-Lopez, were seized, and he was arrested. During the search, Ortega-Lopez was allowed to make a phone call before being taken to the Doña Ana County Detention Center (DACDC). He told the agents that the phone he wanted to use was not among the devices recovered. Video calls from DACDC later showed Nancy Cano holding a black iPhone believed to be Ortega’s fourth phone, prosecutors said. ‘LIVING LABORATORY’: TRUMP ADMIN URGED TO LOOK TO SOUTH AMERICA FOR LESSONS ON FIGHTING MIGRANT GANGS During a March 7 call with Ortega-Lopez, Nancy Cano allegedly used the device to contact someone named “Michelle” via WhatsApp before facilitating a FaceTime call between Michelle and Ortega-Lopez using her personal phone. In an April 20 call, Nancy Cano and Ortega-Lopez discussed deleting his Facebook account, which he allegedly used to share incriminating content, including gang affiliations and images with guns. On April 24, federal agents searched the Cano home to locate Ortega-Lopez’s missing phone. During questioning, Judge Cano admitted smashing the device with a hammer five weeks earlier because he believed it contained incriminating photos and videos of Ortega-Lopez with guns and throwing it into a dumpster, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. APPEALS COURT BLOCKS TRUMP FROM DEPORTING MEMBERS OF TREN DE ARAGUA GANG A forensic analysis of the recovered phones revealed messages linked to Ortega’s alleged criminal activities, including links with the Tren de Aragua gang and images of him with guns, authorities said. Judge Cano resigned his position in March, and he and his wife were arrested on April 24. They were released on $10,000 bonds and are facing up to 15 years in prison each for evidence tampering and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. Fox News Digital reached out to the Canos’ attorney for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Mamdani sparks online frenzy over response to whether he endorses NY Gov Hochul: ‘Humiliating’
NEW YORK, N.Y. – New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani sparked a political firestorm on Thursday night when he declined to endorse Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul on a debate stage despite her previously endorsing him. “It’s a decision that should be made after this general election,” Mamdani said during a debate with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa when candidates were asked to raise their hand if they supported the governor. “So my focus is on November,” Mamdani told reporters on Friday when asked about his non-endorsement. “I am less than three weeks away from the election that we have been building this campaign towards for more than a year, and that’s why I haven’t made any endorsements beyond November.” TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’ The comment from Mamdani came as a surprise to some given the fact that Hochul endorsed Mamdani last month after facing pressure from many within her party to get on board with the leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race. “New York City deserves a mayor who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable for New Yorkers,” Hochul said during her endorsement announcement. “That’s @ZohranKMamdani.” Mamdani’s comment on the debate stage drew a strong rebuke from the Republican running against Hochul along with many who chimed in on social media suggesting that Hochul made a miscalculation endorsing Mamdani. “Degrading and humiliating,” GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik, widely expected to run against Hochul for governor, said about Mamdani’s decision not to publicly endorse Hochul. NYC COUNCILWOMAN WHO GREW UP UNDER COMMUNISM SOUNDS ALARM ON KEY MAMDANI POSITIONS: ‘DANGEROUS SITUATION’ “Jihadist and terrorist sympathizer Commie Mamdani’s team threatened @kathyhochul with a primary if she didn’t bend the knee and endorse him,” Stefanik continued. “Hochul quickly caved, and now wears his Defund the Police, Antisemitic, Communist platform.” “New Yorkers know how politically weak Hochul is. Mamdani confirmed it last night by refusing to endorse her,” Stefanik added. In a press release, Stefanik referred to Hochul as the “biggest loser” in the debate, given that none of the three candidates said they support her. “Zohran Mamdani REFUSES to endorse Kathy Hochul for reelection even after she endorsed him,” a Republican National Committee account posted on X, along with a clown emoji. “LMAO,” GOP Congressman Mike Lawler posted on X. “No one believes @GovKathyHochul should be reelected.” Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul’s campaign for comment.
Senators see momentum on Russia sanctions even as Trump questions timing
Comments by Senate leadership have renewed expectations among lawmakers that the chamber will soon entertain sanctions on Russia — even as questions remain about whether President Donald Trump would support them. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Thursday that he thought the Senate could consider sanctions introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., “in the next 30 days.” Trump, in contrast, told reporters on Thursday that “it may not be perfect timing” to impose sanctions on Russia. The sanctions, which have been in the works for months, may have newfound momentum in Congress amid the Trump administration’s increased support for Ukraine in recent weeks — and as Zelenskyy returned to the U.S. this week to press his case for a more aggressive stance against Moscow. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle believe the sanctions bill is ripe for consideration. Senators like Blumenthal said those sanctions could be a missing component to ending the three-year conflict that has so far frustrated attempts at meaningful resolution. “Leader Thune is right. It’s time to bring the Graham-Blumenthal Russian Sanctions bill to the floor,” Blumenthal told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Passing it would show unity across our government in support of confronting Putin’s bloody atrocities against Ukraine. A vote on our bone-crushing sanctions bill within the next 30 days is imperative to bring Putin’s war machine to a grinding halt,” Blumenthal added. In its current form, the measure would allow the President of the United States enhanced powers to block energy sales, block visas, halt investment listings, impose tariffs of up to 500%, and more — if the president determines that Russia isn’t engaging in good-faith efforts to end the war. The bill creates some exceptions for humanitarian reasons. Despite Trump’s hesitations on Thursday, he’s signaled openness to sanctions before. Graham, the sponsor of the legislation, said it equips the president with an expanded negotiating arsenal. “Yeah, I hope so. It’s a tool available for the president,” Graham said of the legislation, “It empowers him. It’s up to him how to use it.” SENATE SIGNALS READINESS TO HIT RUSSIA WITH HARD SANCTIONS IF PEACE DEAL FAILS In addition to its 84 cosponsors in the Senate, the bill has 113 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. Despite its broad support, Thune warned there are still aspects of the legislation that need to be addressed before it can be put to a vote. “There are technical issues that are being worked out between the White House and Senator Graham, obviously, who’s the lead sponsor of the bill,” Thune told reporters on Thursday. He didn’t expand on what areas might need a second look. Thune added that to put the kind of pressure on Putin that lawmakers have in mind, the bill would also need the support of the international community. “We also need to have it amplified by the Europeans. And that’s one of the things the administration is working on. It doesn’t do any good to have the United States unilaterally going to all these countries and sanctioning them, and then having the Europeans buying energy from them,” Thune said. EU PREPARING 19TH ROUND OF RUSSIA SANCTIONS AS ZELENSKYY MEETS TRUMP Renewed expectations about the bill come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House on Friday, making the case that additional striking capabilities are needed to bring Putin to the negotiating table. DEMOCRATS DOUBTED TRUMP WOULD SECURE UKRAINE CEASE-FIRE IN ALASKA SUMMIT WITH PUTIN Its sponsor in the House, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., called the bill another way to ramp up the pressure to negotiate. “There are moments in history when hesitation carries a cost too great to bear. This is one of them. Bipartisan support for this bill is overwhelming, and every day of delay is a gift to Putin.” “We must give the president every tool to end this war and secure peace through strength. That’s how America leads. That’s how freedom prevails. I’m grateful to Leader Thune for recognizing the urgency of this moment, and I encourage Speaker Johnson to continue his leadership on this issue by scheduling a vote as soon as possible,” Fitzpatrick said. The Senate has recessed for the weekend and will return to Washington, D.C., on Monday.
‘Democrat shutdown’ will next jeopardize US nuclear stockpile with imminent furloughs: White House
FIRST ON FOX: The White House railed against the “Democrat shutdown” for “jeopardizing national security” because 80% of the federal agency charged with protecting the U.S. nuclear stockpile will be furloughed in the coming days, the administration told Fox News Digital. “The Democrat shutdown is now jeopardizing our national security,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital Friday afternoon. “By refusing to pass the clean, bipartisan funding extension, the Democrats are causing funds to run out for critical programs, resulting in furloughs of personnel at the National Nuclear Security Administration who manage our nuclear stockpile. “This is reckless and could be completely avoided if the Democrats simply voted to reopen the government and stopped holding the American people hostage.” WHITE HOUSE SAYS FEDERAL LAYOFFS COULD HIT ‘THOUSANDS’ AHEAD OF TRUMP, VOUGHT MEETING An administration official confirmed to Fox Digital that 80% of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s staff will be furloughed because available funds will soon be expended. The National Nuclear Security Administration operates within the U.S. Department of Energy, maintains the nation’s nuclear stockpile and works to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons in foreign nations. The agency will next enter minimum safe operations, meaning remaining employees will focus on maintaining physical security, cybersecurity, nuclear safety and emergency management, according to an administration official. KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS DEMOCRATS FACE ‘VERY REAL’ CONSEQUENCES IF SHUTDOWN STANDOFF DRAGS ON “We have not furloughed anyone yet, but we will be out of funds by tomorrow or early next week,” Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Bloomberg News Friday of the upcoming furloughs. “So, we will be forced to do that if this shutdown continues. “We’ve been paying them to date, but, starting tomorrow, Monday at the latest, we’re not going to be able to pay those workers. If that continues on for long, they may get other jobs,” Wright told Bloomberg, putting “the sovereignty of the country,” at stake. HERE’S WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE SHUTDOWN The administration official told Fox News Digital at there will be significant impacts on the agency’s nuclear deterrence mission as various offices shutter during the shutdown, and consequences of the shutdown are expected to last beyond the eventual reopening of the government. “As our adversaries build more silos and weapons, we will be turning off the lights,” the administration official said. Republican lawmakers also have sounded off on the upcoming furloughs, including Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers during a House news conference on Friday. “We were just informed last night the National Nuclear Security Administration, the group that handles the nuclear stockpile, that the carryover funding they’ve been using is about to run out,” he said. “These are not employees that you want to go home. They are managing and handling a very important strategic asset for us. They need to be at work and being paid.” The U.S. government has been in the midst of an ongoing shutdown since Oct. 1, when Senate lawmakers failed to pass funding legislation for 2026. The Trump administration and Republicans have since pinned blame for the shutdown on Democrats, claiming they sought taxpayer-funded medical benefits for illegal immigrants. Democrats have denied they want to fund healthcare for illegal immigrants and instead have blamed Republicans for the shutdown. “Every day that Republicans refuse to negotiate to end this shutdown, the worse it gets for Americans — and the clearer it becomes who’s fighting for them,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Fox Digital earlier in October of the shutdown. “Each day our case to fix healthcare and end this shutdown gets better and better, stronger and stronger because families are opening their letters showing how high their premiums will climb if Republicans get their way.”
Ohio lawmaker pushes bill to defund sanctuary cities, boost ICE cooperation
An Ohio state legislator is looking to penalize sanctuary cities and push law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities amid President Donald Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown. Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican running for U.S. House, is introducing the Protecting Ohio Communities Act, known as House Bill 26, which includes a 10% cut in funds from the state for areas deemed to be “sanctuary jurisdictions.” “We’ve seen Columbus and Cleveland mayors come out and openly say they’re going to defy this legislation within their city limits because we have home rule authority here in the state of Ohio,” Williams told Fox News Digital. TRUMP ADMIN BLOCKED FROM SLASHING FUNDING FROM DOZENS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OVER ‘SANCTUARY’ POLICIES Under Ohio’s constitution, home rule authority gives municipalities the “authority to exercise all powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits such local police, sanitary and other similar regulations, as are not in conflict with general laws.” “If you want to have these sanctuary policies, we’re going to defund you,” he added. Williams said he hopes the Trump administration will follow suit and apply “conditional funding to our states who are refusing to cooperate and even sometimes obstructing our enforcement efforts.” In the Midwest, one governor in particular has gone toe-to-toe with Trump on immigration enforcement: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Williams accused Pritzker of acting out of anger over Trump’s re-election, and he said it was important for states to back federal policies that Americans voted for. “The majority of the voters, through a popular vote, elected Donald Trump, and he campaigned on the idea of undergoing the largest immigration enforcement in our nation’s history to remove the millions of illegal immigrants that came across the border during the Biden administration. And we need to support him at every single level to make that happen,” Williams told Fox News Digital. REPUBLICAN BILL WOULD PUT ‘ANARCHIST JURISDICTIONS’ ON NOTICE, THREATEN FEDERAL FUNDING Williams also slammed Pritzker and Democratic governors like him for “defying and obstructing federal enforcement efforts” in their states. “Unfortunately, we have out of touch liberals that are able to afford to live in communities [where] they can avoid the chaos that their policies are creating,” Williams told Fox News Digital. “But the average working family in America can’t afford that.” Williams, whose hometown is Toledo, cited his own experience living in a poor community and what it means to rely on law enforcement for safety and security. “When I called 911, I expected law enforcement to respond,” he said. Williams added that law enforcement needs to be able to rely on local partners and know that their counterparts won’t “leave them hanging” because they’re working to enforce federal immigration policies. The Protecting Ohio Communities Act has a long way to go before it becomes state law. The Ohio legislature’s website shows the bill is in House committee as of Oct. 16. TOM HOMAN PUTS SANCTUARY CITIES ‘ON NOTICE’ AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CRACKS DOWN ON IMMIGRATION Williams said he believes Ohio has become the “epicenter of national politics,” making it a crucial piece of the Trump administration’s work to crack down on illegal immigration. “We do have a Buckeye in the White House,” Williams said, referring to Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native who represented the state in the U.S. Senate before being tapped as Trump’s running mate. “I think you’re gonna continue to see Ohio be a spotlight for change here for the nation,” he added. Williams is looking to take his fight against sanctuary cities beyond Ohio as he campaigns for Congress. Cracking down on illegal immigration is a major part of his U.S. House campaign platform. Williams’ campaign website lists his priorities as defunding sanctuary cities and states, finishing the border wall, deporting criminal illegal immigrants and supporting law enforcement’s immigration efforts. “It’s critical we empower our brave law enforcement officers to enforce the laws already on the books as well as give them the resources and authority they need to keep our nation safe,” Williams’ campaign website reads.