Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, says pollution costs should be added to tariffs
President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Canada for smoke from ongoing wildfires that has drifted into the United States, accusing the country of “willful negligence” in forest management and suggesting the economic costs of the pollution should be added to tariffs on Canadian imports. “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. Trump said he planned to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later Friday to discuss the issue. TRUMP SHOULD EXPAND HIS BORDER CRACKDOWN. TIMING IS PERFECT TO REIN IN CANADA AND MEXICO “I will call the Prime Minister during the day to find out what they are going to do about it,” Trump wrote. The president argued Canada had refused to engage in “basic Forest Management and Debris Removal,” despite knowing such practices could help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires. “Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result,” Trump wrote. “This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.” CALIFORNIA SUES TRUMP EPA OVER MOVE TO SUBJECT STATE VEHICLE EMISSIONS WAIVERS TO CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW Trump did not say how such costs would be incorporated into existing tariffs or whether he intended to pursue formal trade action tied to the wildfire smoke. The comments come as smoke from nearly 850 active wildfires across Canada — including more than 180 in Ontario — has drifted into the United States, prompting air quality alerts in more than 20 states from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast, according to NASA. Health officials have warned that wildfire smoke can pose health risks, particularly for people with underlying heart or lung conditions, and have advised residents in affected areas to monitor local air quality and limit outdoor activity when conditions worsen. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office and Natural Resources Canada for comment.
Maine Dems rally behind Platner’s far-left platform in scramble to court his followers: ‘Beyond furious’
Democrats competing to replace disgraced Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner embraced key parts of his progressive platform during Thursday’s debate, including abolishing ICE, Medicare for all, economic populism and criticism of Israel. The debate showed that Platner’s withdrawal following a rape allegation he denies has not produced a corresponding break from the agenda that powered him to a landslide primary victory. Democrats now have eight days to select a replacement to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins. All the candidates vying to replace the now-disgraced Platner called for eliminating ICE during the debate, which was held three days after the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old father in Biddeford, Maine. “Nobody deserves to get shot and killed in the streets when their three-year-old daughter is still in her pajamas,” said Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Nirav Shah, who was the runner-up in last month’s gubernatorial caucus, said: “I am beyond furious about the murder that happened in our streets.” TRANSGENDER MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE SPARKS ONLINE FRENZY OVER RESPONSE TO DEBATE QUESTION: ‘CAN’T BE SERIOUS’ The Department of Homeland Security said the driver attempted to flee and that an officer fired while fearing for public safety. The shooting is being investigated by Maine’s attorney general, the FBI and the DHS inspector general. The man who was killed was not the target of the enforcement action, according to information provided to Maine lawmakers. Shah, who directed the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2023 and later served as principal deputy director of the federal CDC, pointed to what he called “the president’s goons” and emphasized, “I don’t think this agency can be reformed. The rot has gone to the core and that’s why we must abolish it.” Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate president who also ran unsuccessfully for the gubernatorial nomination, said, “I support law enforcement, but ICE is not law enforcement. It’s a rogue agency.” Jordan Wood, a former congressional staffer for then-Rep. Katie Porter of California, unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination this year in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, a crucial swing seat, also called for abolishing ICE. “We need a new law enforcement agency that has the trust of the people,” he said. Dan Kleban, a co-founder of the Maine Beer Company who briefly ran for the Democratic Senate nomination before dropping out, said: “ICE needs to be abolished. It is rotten to the core, and it’s irredeemable.” David Costello, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2024 and this year, claimed ICE was a “political instrument” of the Trump administration and joined the chorus, saying “it should absolutely be abolished.” HARRIS CALLS FOR ICE PROBE AFTER MAINE SHOOTING AMID RENEWED ‘BORDER CZAR’ CRITICISM The shooting in Biddeford, which is located about 15 miles southwest of Portland, was the second fatal ICE shooting in a week, following a traffic stop incident in Houston, Texas. Four of the Democratic Senate candidates huddled with protesters in Biddeford hours after the incident, and Shah held a news conference the following day outside a Collins field office located just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting. “How many more people must die at the hands of Donald Trump’s masked marauders before we finally agree that now is the time to abolish ICE? Now, rather than abolishing it, what Susan Collins has decided to do in recent years is increase the budget,” Shah argued. Platner’s economic populism and critique of the “oligarchy” was also a common theme on the debate stage, as was criticizing Israel and the foreign aid that the country receives. The candidates were asked point-blank during the debate what ideas from Platner they intend to campaign on. “I think that’s pretty clear. I mean, what Graham talked about is something that I’ve been fighting for since I got into politics, healthcare, Medicare for all,” Jackson responded. “I mean, people in this country deserve to have healthcare. We deserve to have people in government that are not giving tax cuts to the ultra wealthy in this country on the backs of health care. This is something I believe strongly in.” Shah said there are “a lot of areas where Graham’s policies and mine overlap” and pointed to ICE as the main area of agreement. Wood pointed to “human rights work” and the need for “Palestinian statehood.” Bellows responded by saying, “The single idea from Graham Platner that spoke most deeply to me is that he’s right, the democracy that we thought we had has been deeply corrupted by those in power in Washington, the billionaires and the massive corporations.” Platner, a populist Democrat who was backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, won the early June Democratic primary in a landslide. A combat veteran and oyster farmer whose campaign caught fire, Platner steamrolled the Democratic establishment. But even as he crushed the competition to capture the nomination, Platner had already been forced on defense in the wake of a slew of scandals. Platner dropped out earlier this month, amid calls from top Democrats in Maine and across the country to immediately exit the race following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the claim. Facing a July 27 deadline to certify Platner’s replacement, the Maine Democratic Party will hold a July 25 nominating convention in Bangor, where 601 delegates will select the nominee. Thirteen candidates filed with the state party by Wednesday to seek the nomination, although one quickly dropped out. The candidates still need to collect the signatures of registered Maine Democrats by July 25 to qualify.
Trump DHS threatens federal funding cutoff for states that refuse voter-roll security push
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Friday that states refusing to comply with the Trump administration’s election-security requirements could lose federal funding, while warning that election officials who disregard information provided by DHS could face fines, penalties or even prison time. “If the election officials, once we gave them the information they need to secure their elections and they chose not to, then those individuals can also be held accountable by fines, by penalties, and even depending on how far it goes, prison time,” said Mullin. Mullin held a press conference following President Donald Trump’s address to the nation Thursday evening on “free and fair” elections. Mullin did not identify what law election officials would violate or what charges could be brought if they declined to act on information provided by DHS. Trump announced the declassification of intelligence that he alleged reveals “shocking vulnerabilities” related to “hacking, exploitation and foreign interference.” ‘SHADOW GOVERNMENT’: TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING Twenty-three states are participating in DHS’ expanded SAVE program, which allows election officials to compare voter records against federal immigration data. Mullin separately said CISA would release an updated election-infrastructure plan within 30 days. Several Republican-led states, including Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia, are not currently participating in the partnership. “Every state that’s not participating with us should be asked the hard question why not? What are you afraid of? If they’re not willing to do it … it should raise serious questions. It’s not that hard. This isn’t a partisan issue,” said Mullin. DHS has announced election-security conditions for recipients of FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program. Mullin also said he was working with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on security requirements. DHS PLANS COSTLY CRACKDOWN ON STATES THAT DON’T COOPERATE ON ELECTION SECURITY Mullin said DHS identified 250,000 voter-registration records in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania that the department believes belong to noncitizens. Mullin urged all states to join DHS’ election security program so officials can compare voter rolls against federal immigration and other databases to identify potentially ineligible registrations. WATCH: ELISSA SLOTKIN SAYS SAVE AMERICA ACT WOULD MAKE IT ‘HARD FOR ANY DEMOCRAT’ TO WIN AN ELECTION “States must do their part to secure our election system, and we stand by to help,” said Mullin. During the press conference, Mullin urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act,, which includes provisions requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and photo identification at the polls. “I think the Save Act should be passed tomorrow. I think it should have already been passed,” said Mullin. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has cast doubt on the bill’s path forward, saying Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and DHS for comment.
Pelosi staffer pumps the brakes when pressed on husband’s hit-and-run: ‘That’s enough’
House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declined to answer repeated questions Friday about her husband’s hit-and-run case before a staffer abruptly stepped-un to put an end to the exchange. “Ok, that’s enough. That’s enough!” the staffer raised her voice after Fox News Digital asked the lawmaker about the latest drama with her husband, Paul Pelosi. The brief exchange came nearly two weeks after California authorities recommended that Paul face a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge stemming from a July 3 crash in Yountville, California. FORMER US ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH FELONY HIT-AND-RUN AFTER HOUSTON CRASH, POLICE SAY Napa County Sheriff’s Office investigators said the 86-year-old was driving a convertible when it collided with a legally parked Tesla, which was unoccupied. The impact caused substantial damage to both vehicles, and witnesses told deputies the car briefly stopped before leaving the area. However, Paul did not call the police. He was later located about a quarter-mile from the crash site. Authorities said his vehicle had substantial front-end damage consistent with the collision. Paul reportedly told deputies he knew he had struck something but said he did not know exactly what he had hit. After completing its investigation, the sheriff’s office recommended that the Napa County District Attorney’s Office charge him with misdemeanor hit-and-run for allegedly leaving the scene of a property-damage collision. Pelosi was not arrested. Prosecutors will make the final determination on whether to file criminal charges. BODYCAM SHOWS NANTUCKET OFFICIAL SLURRING, SWAYING DURING DUI STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO SIGN: POLICE Authorities emphasized that alcohol was not believed to have played a role in the incident. A preliminary alcohol screening test found no alcohol in Paul’s system, and no injuries were reported. The sheriff’s office also referred him to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a driving capability evaluation, describing the referral as standard procedure for elderly drivers involved in similar crashes. The crash is the latest traffic-related incident involving Pelosi’s husband. In 2022, Paul pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence after a Napa County crash that injured the other driver. He was sentenced to three years of probation, ordered to pay more than $6,000 in restitution and fines, complete a three-month DUI education program and install an ignition interlock device in his vehicle for one year. Later that year, he made headlines again after being seriously injured when an intruder broke into the San Francisco home he and struck him multiple times with a hammer. The attacker, David DePape, was later convicted in both federal and state court on charges stemming from the assault. Fox News Digital reached out to Pelosi’s office for comment but did not hear back by time of publication. The congresswoman and former House Speaker is set to retire at the end of the current Congress in January after nearly four decades in office.
Rubio’s call to combat global funders of far-left terrorism could put Singham in crosshairs
Secretary Marco Rubio’s call for global cooperation to combat far-left political terrorism could implicate Neville Roy Singham, a Marxist nonprofit financier who is currently facing a federal grand jury probe in New York. Singham, a 72-year-old American who sold his tech company for $785 million in 2017 and now lives in Shanghai, is known to fund pro-Chinese Communist Party groups that operate in the U.S. He has funneled $278 million into the broad network of nonprofits since 2017, according to a Fox News Digital investigation. These groups regularly organize and participate in anti-ICE, anti-Israel and pro-Iran demonstrations. At a State Department summit held in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Rubio urged more than 60 countries to treat far-left global terrorism as a counterterrorism priority. DOJ LAUNCHES GRAND JURY PROBE INTO MARXIST MOGUL NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM’S FUNDING OF LEFTIST GROUPS “For far too long, however, our counterterrorism doctrine has had a blind spot – a blind spot when it comes to extremist violence from the political left, Rubio said. “Even today, the very idea that far-left terrorism could be a serious threat is treated as a right-wing fever dream, or worse, as a dangerous fascist conspiracy.” Rubio noted that networks are coordinating across multiple countries, providing training instructions and using encrypted communication to facilitate unrest. He said that international cooperation is critical to disrupting the financing of dangerous organizations, and that some are working with hostile foreign states. Rubio did not mention Singham by name and State Department officials did not respond to a request for comment. Singham’s web of nonprofits are known to promote communist and Marxist ideals on social media platforms and on the ground at demonstrations across the country. Code Pink, which was co-founded by Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, regularly protests in the U.S. Capitol, confronting lawmakers and openly admits that “China is Not Our Enemy.” RUBIO PUTS ENTIRE WORLD ON NOTICE AGAINST RISE OF ‘POISONOUS’ FAR-LEFT TERROR ‘MASKED AS EQUALITY’ Rubio mentioned the dangerous influence Marxist beliefs can have when tied to acts of terrorism. He said the left often seems to excuse violence carried out by its own extremists. “A bomb planted by a neo-Nazi group was a nefarious and murderous act of evil,” Rubio said. “But a bomb planted by a Marxist revolutionary – well, that’s just merely a tragic excess of idealism. Perhaps its means were misplaced or overzealous, but its ends were virtuous and just. That’s the implication of how they treat it.” Congress has also taken note of Singham’s activities. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., launched an investigation into the Singham nonprofit network last year, and members in the upper chamber are also sounding the alarm on Singham’s ties to China. “Chinese-funded, anti-American billionaires like Neville Roy Singham are instigating far-left chaos across our country,” Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital. “This needs to stop, and Secretary Rubio is rightly taking action to confront this transnational scourge head-on.” INTEL EXPERT SAYS SINGHAM NETWORK IS MORE THAN A NONPROFIT SCANDAL—IT’S A SECURITY THREAT Last month, Fox News Digital reported that the Department of Justice has launched a grand jury investigation into alleged financial crimes. Singham hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment from Fox News Digital. According to sources familiar with the matter, the grand jury in Manhattan has issued subpoenas as part of a probe launched by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, one of the country’s most powerful districts for federal prosecutions. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the investigation as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes in the multibillion-dollar nonprofit industry. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met privately with Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon in New York earlier this year, where, according to sources familiar with the discussion, he warned that the firm could come under scrutiny over its alleged role in the movement of funds tied to Singham. During the meeting, Bessent encouraged Solomon to fully cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation, telling him that Goldman Sachs’ handling of the Singham-linked funds could become part of the federal probe should they choose not to cooperate. A source with knowledge of the conversation told Fox News Digital that the exchange was cordial, and that Solomon indicated Goldman Sachs would aid investigators. “All distributions from Mr. Singham’s donor-advised fund were made to legal nonprofits, as determined by the IRS,” a Treasury spokesperson said. “There have been no distributions from the account since August 2023, and it was closed in early 2024.”
Darline Graham considering running for full a Senate term as memorial services set for Lindsey Graham: report
Darline Graham has privately expressed interest in running for a full Senate term, a report said, as memorial services have been announced for her late brother Lindsey Graham. Three people familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press that Darline Graham has started having conversations about a potential campaign. She was appointed to fulfill the remainder of her brother’s term on Monday by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and was sworn in on Tuesday. The filing period for a special primary runs from July 21 to July 28, and the primary is scheduled for Aug. 11. Several other noteworthy politicians — including Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, as well as Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette — have been eyeing a run, the AP also reported. LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER CARRIES ON LATE SENATOR’S WORK, BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA’S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR Meanwhile, the late Graham’s communications director said Friday that the late senator’s “life and legacy” will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 28, in Washington, D.C., and on Wednesday, July 29, in Columbia and Pickens County, South Carolina. Darline Graham is the first female senator from the Palmetto State and the first sister ever appointed to the upper chamber. LINDSEY GRAHAM’S FINAL ACT REVERBERATES IN SENATE AS SISTER IS URGED TO ‘KEEP PEDALING’ “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” Darline Graham said during her appointment ceremony this week. “My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man.” She is expected to act as a caretaker for the seat, finishing off the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s term through January. Lindsey Graham died Saturday at age 71. A statement released by Graham’s office on Sunday cited preliminary findings from the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, identifying the cause of death as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy, Alex Miller and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
White House dishes out new election security jab over Olive Garden’s pasta pass ID policy
After a popular Italian restaurant chain dished out an online response to a curious diner about its new unlimited pasta pass, politically-minded social media users, including those at the top of the food chain, are taking a stand. Olive Garden took to X on Wednesday to promote its new deal, which offers customers the chance purchase a “Never Ending Pasta Pass” for $100 plus tax, giving the first 10,000 people to purchase their pass 13 weeks of unlimited pasta. A user posed a question to the iconic American restaurant chain, asking whether they could purchase the unlimited pasta pass and share it with their family. WATCH: ELISSA SLOTKIN SAYS SAVE AMERICA ACT WOULD MAKE IT ‘HARD FOR ANY DEMOCRAT’ TO WIN AN ELECTION “No. The Never-Ending Pasta Pass is only for use by the Passholder whose name is printed on the Pass,” Olive Garden replied. “Passes are personalized and non-transferable.” “Passholders must present a valid photo I.D. along with the Pass at the time of ordering,” the chain instructed from its X account. Immediately, the political right seized the opportunity to prove a point — that Olive Garden appears more strict about its unlimited pasta promotion than Democrat-run states are about voting. The timely post comes as Trump continues to push for what would be a signature legislative victory — the SAVE Act — which, if passed, would require photo identification to vote. It has faced fierce pushback from the left-wing, who have argued against requiring proof of identity to cast a ballot in elections. “Olive Garden takes their Pasta Pass security more seriously than Democrats take election security,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. “It’s sad but true.” “The SAVE America Act is a commonsense police, supported by the vast majority of Americans, that will secure our elections for generations to come. The only people opposed seem to be Democrats in Congress… I wonder why?” she added. WATCH: MCCARTHY SAYS TRUMP WILL USE ‘EVERYTHING HE CAN’ TO FORCE SENATE ACTION ON SAVE AMERICA ACT The social media post quickly caused an online feeding frenzy. “PUT OLIVE GARDEN IN CHARGE OF OUR ELECTIONS!!!” one popular X account quipped. “I hope you understand that this is extremely discriminatory towards minorities and married women,” one user said, parroting talking points that the political left has used in opposition of the SAVE Act. MEMPHIS PIZZA JOINT SPARKS BACKLASH AFTER OWNER REFUSES TO SERVE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS Another user also mockingly used the common parlance of the political left in response to Olive Garden’s strict policy. “I’m sorry, but this sounds incredibly racist to me, a requirement ID and some sort of proof of being a passholder will negatively affect marginalized communities ability to access Olive Garden,” wrote the sarcastic user. “Do better Olive Garden.” “Are you saying that if photo ID is not presented, it could lead to cheating the system?” another social media user asked. “Good grief, Olive Garden is more secure than our elections,” said yet another. Since Republicans in the House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act in February, the bill has faced major obstruction by Democrats in the Senate, as the conservative lawmakers don’t have the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. Earlier this week, SAVE Act language was attached to a State Department appropriations bill in a creative attempt to pass the law.
WATCH: Minnesota fraud scandal takes absurd new twist as veteran blows whistle
EXCLUSIVE: Navy veteran and GOP Senate candidate Adam Schwarze is blowing the whistle on new voter fraud evidence uncovered in the state of Minnesota. What tipped him off? The state says that he voted in person at the polls in the 2012 presidential election. The only problem is that Schwarze says that “it was physically impossible for that to occur.” Schwarze said that at the time he was nearly 2,000 miles away in the California mountains attending BUD/S, the Navy’s elite training course for SEALs. In fact, Schwarze recalled “I got my a– beat” specifically for not voting. “All the instructors, the morning after the election, we woke up, Obama won the election, and they said, ‘Who didn’t do their absentee voting?’ And of course it was like a gotcha, none of the SEAL candidates had gone to do their absentee voting. We were all in SEAL training, right? So, they beat the snot out of us for three hours.” TRUMP ELECTION INTEGRITY PUSH EXPOSES MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DEAD PEOPLE ON NORTH CAROLINA VOTER ROLLS Despite this, Minnesota state records reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate Schwarze voted in 2012. The records, however, do not say who he supposedly cast a ballot for. This has led Schwarze to raise serious voter fraud questions in the already-scandal-ridden state and ask if it happened to him, how many others have “voted” without knowing it. Minnesota does not require ID to vote, something that Schwarze believes would have made it easy to vote under his name in 2012. He was completely oblivious to this fraud against him until he launched his Senate campaign. After a reporter fact-checked him for saying he had only ever voted for President Donald Trump, he was shocked to find that records on the Minnesota Department of State’s website indeed indicate he voted in person in 2012. Further, records indicate an unknown person registered him to vote the day of the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral election, which was the city’s first election using ranked choice voting. His voter registration became active the day after the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral election. In response to Fox News Digital’s request for clarification on Schwarze’s voting record, a spokesperson for the office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon simply said that “Minnesota’s election system is governed by extensive state and federal laws to ensure it is honest, secure, and accurate.” “Minnesotans fundamentally trust our election system, which is why we are consistently number one in voter turnout,” the spokesperson said, adding that “In 2026, Minnesota ranked #1 by Election Data and Science Lab at the MIT on the Election Performance Index is a non-partisan, biennial survey and analysis comparing election administration policy and performance across the country.” The spokesperson encouraged “anyone who wants to learn more about the election security measures in Minnesota” to visit the state’s election security webpage. The website also asserts that “Minnesota elections are the envy of the nation,” and states, “We are proud of our strong voter turnout, laws that ensure access to the ballot, robust security measures, and the transparency that’s an essential part of maintaining trust in the system.” Meanwhile, Schwarze believes that this shows that “just like the fraud goes back decades, so does the voter integrity issues.” Schwarze commissioned as a Navy officer in May 2012. He was sent to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for training the next month. Fox News Digital reviewed a copy of Schwarze’s BUD/S orders, which show his report date for the roughly six-month course as June 12, putting his graduation from the course in December. VANCE REFERS TIM WALZ, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DOJ FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OVER STATE’S ALLEGED FRAUD Come November, when the presidential election took place, Schwarze said: “I was on a mountain in Mount Laguna, California.” “It was physically impossible for that [vote] to occur,” he said. This comes after Minnesota has been rocked by a widespread Medicaid fraud scandal that was uncovered earlier this year and potentially amounted to billions of stolen tax dollars. Minnesota’s top leaders, including Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also running for the U.S. Senate, have been criticized nationwide for having allowed the fraud to spiral out of control during their watch. To Schwarze, the tax and election fraud go hand in hand. “The fraud of your tax dollars is not happening in a vacuum. It’s connected to other forms of fraud, like election integrity,” he said. “Just like the fraud is an iceberg, the tax fraud, once we start rolling that iceberg over, we don’t know how big it gets until we fully investigate it.” “We just don’t know how deep this goes,” he continued. EXPOSED DOCS REVEAL WHY TIM WALZ BOARD AWARDED REPEAT CHILD RAPIST PARDON: ‘NO FUTURE’ Since he discovered his mysterious vote, Schwarze said that his requests to state officials for more information have yet to be fulfilled. He said he does not even know who he is marked as having voted for. “This clearly shows that we have an election integrity issue in our state,” he said. “So, let’s solve the problem. Let’s open up the voting log: [Minnesota Secretary of State] Steve Simon, Tim Walz, Peggy Flanagan, Keith Ellison. Let’s have same-day voting in person with paper … with an ID; the American citizens want that as well. That’s my plea.” “I’ve fought my entire life for the United States of America. I fought for democracy all over the world,” he continued. “And one of the pillars and foundational principles of democracy is free, fair and transparent elections, and we don’t have any of those things right now in the United States of America.” Fox News Digital reached out to Walz, Flanagan, Simon and Ellison for comment.
Olive Garden becomes unlikely face of voter ID fight after restaurant’s policy goes viral
Olive Garden’s Never-Ending Pasta Pass sparked an unlikely political firestorm after conservatives applauded the restaurant’s photo ID requirement, arguing the policy is stricter than voting laws in some Democrat-led states. “Olive Garden requires ID to use their never ending pasta pass but most Democrat run states don’t require your ID to vote. So in America, our pasta deals are literally more secure than our elections. Maddening and hilarious at the same time,” one conservative commentator, Robby Starbuck, wrote on X. Olive Garden’s Never-Ending Pasta Pass gives customers unlimited meals, but the restaurant requires passholders to present a valid photo ID matching the name printed on the pass when ordering. Conservatives swiftly shared the restaurant’s X post announcing the policy, praising it and drawing comparisons to the broader debate over voter ID requirements. “The Never-Ending Pasta Pass is only for use by the Passholder whose name is printed on the Pass. Passes are personalized and non-transferable. Passholders must present a valid photo I.D. along with the Pass at the time of ordering,” the restaurant posted to X on Thursday. GOP CIVIL WAR ERUPTS OVER TRUMP’S LATEST AGENDA PUSH AS KEY REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO SINK MEGABILL “Olive Garden takes their Pasta Pass security more seriously than Democrats take election security,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. “It’s sad but true.” “The SAVE America Act is a commonsense police, supported by the vast majority of Americans, that will secure our elections for generations to come. The only people opposed seem to be Democrats in Congress… I wonder why?” she added. Fourteen states and Washington, D.C., do not require most voters to present identification when voting in person. The SAVE Act includes President Donald Trump’s long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification guardrails — which Republicans say is key to ensuring elections are safe and secure. “We really live in a nation where Olive Garden’s Never-Ending Pasta Pass is more secure than our elections! Make it make sense. Pass the SAVE America Act,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita wrote on X. “American elections should not be less secure than Olive Garden’s endless pasta. Pass the SAVE America Act,” wrote Utah Sen. Mike Lee on X. WATCH: HAWLEY FUMES AFTER 4 GOP SENATORS HELP SINK TRUMP-BACKED VOTER ID LAW “Only in America do you need a photo ID for bottomless pasta at Olive Garden, but not to vote,” said conservative influencer Isabel Brown. “If you have to show ID to eat pasta at Olive Garden, you should have to show ID to vote,” posted the official RNC Election Integrity account. “Olive Garden’s never-ending pasta pass is more secure than our federal elections. Make sense to anyone? Pass the SAVE America Act,” wrote Arizona Rep. Eli Crane. REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP’S TOP ELECTION PRIORITY ‘DEAD’ IN SENATE AS GOP FRACTURES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS President Donald Trump addressed the nation Thursday evening on “free and fair” elections urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act. “I ask you to pick up your phone tomorrow, call your representatives and the House and Senate, and demand that they pass the Save America Act without delay. Together, we will restore faith and confidence in our country, and we will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” said Trump. Trump has tried to attach the stalled election legislation to defense spending, holding housing legislation hostage and playing Senate primary politics. Republicans are running against the clock to pass the stalled elections bill before the party’s midterm window narrows.
Battleground Democrat said traditionally White outdoor spaces ‘will no longer be White’
A vulnerable Democrat seeking re-election in a battleground district repeatedly complained that outdoor recreation has long been dominated by White males and called for “equitable access” to those spaces, according to unearthed podcast appearances reviewed by Fox News Digital. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., who previously referred to New Mexico as “stolen land,” praised national conservation organizations during a June 2020 appearance on the “Mountain & Prairie” podcast for adopting what he described as more “equitable” policies aimed at expanding access to the outdoors for people of color. “People of color are getting outdoors,” Vasquez said in remarks first reported by The Daily Wire. “There’s amazing organizations out there that are just promoting diversity amongst the outdoors and big national organizations that are slowly and finally starting to get it and actually promote policies that create more equitable access and opportunities.” “Spaces that have been traditionally White will no longer be White,” Vasquez continued. “Secret spots will no longer be secret. And hunters and anglers and hikers and everybody in between will look different. And so, not only should you be OK with that, not only should you tolerate that, but you should embrace that.” IOWA DEM ADMITS BEING ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ WITH WHITENESS AS SHE SEEKS TO FLIP COMPETITIVE HOUSE SEAT “It’s up to us to be the change that we want to see,” he said. Later in the interview, the New Mexico Democrat criticized conservation groups that he said lacked diversity. “Today, I think every single executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation up until today has been a White male,” he said. “There’s no cultural connection, there’s no authentic desire to communicate or connect with Hispanic communities.” Vasquez in 2017 co-founded Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, a left-leaning organization devoted to making the outdoors more “equitable” and advancing environmental justice. He first won election to the House in 2022. The remarks come as Republicans have pointed to Vasquez’s comments on race and previous criticism of law enforcement to cast him as out of step with his majority-Hispanic district, which President Donald Trump carried by two points in 2024. Earlier this year, Vasquez voted against a GOP-authored resolution honoring law enforcement during National Police Week. The measure notably contained language criticizing the Defund the Police movement and sanctuary city policies. “This DEI-fueled racism is the exact woke nonsense New Mexico’s Second District rejected in 2024 when it elected President Donald Trump, and it will cost Vasquez at the ballot box in November as voters choose common sense over crazy,” Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital reached out to the Vasquez campaign for comment. In a 2020 interview, Vasquez argued that racism was ingrained into “just about every part of life,” Fox News Digital previously reported. In the same interview, Vasquez, who was then serving as a Las Cruces city councilmember, voiced openness to licensed psychologists taking over some of the police’s responsibilities. He also sharply criticized “White rich men” in a June 2020 tweet shortly after the death of George Floyd. “Black lives matter. Until we deconstruct and rebuild the systems of oppression that keep Black people in perpetual harm, justice will not be served,” he wrote. “That includes law enforcement, the economy, and the disgusting wealth inequality that keeps white rich men in power.” Vasquez also appeared to back rioting during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 in a since-deleted tweet, CNN’s KFile first reported. UNEARTHED CLIP EXPOSES MORE ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AS EL-SAYED GETS GRILLED FOR DELETING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS His focus on race also extended into conversations about outdoor recreation. In a June 2022 interview with “The Trail Ahead” podcast, Vasquez described Nuestra Tierra as “being led by people of color with an all-people-of-color board.” He told an anecdote where he claimed to have experienced racism and claimed White people received special treatment in conservation on the podcast. “I have missed out on a whole lot of opportunities just because I’ve asked for compensation, and it shouldn’t have to be that way,” he said. “Because if I was a White consultant working with a major brand or a major nonprofit, and they were seeking a solution they would pay me for my services. They would pay me for my advice.” “But it’s not the same the other way around,” he added. “People just expect people of color … what you have to say and what your thoughts are not of monetary value.” Vasquez will face Republican Greg Cunningham, a Marine veteran and retired police officer, in November’s general election. Cunningham is part of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s flagship MAGA Majority program, which backs top recruits seeking to flip Democratic-held seats. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race in Vasquez’s favor from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat” in January, citing Trump’s declining poll numbers and Democrats’ election wins in 2025.