Repeat offender sucker-punches woman in city where Ukrainian refugee was stabbed by career criminal
A repeat offender has been arrested in Charlotte after a disturbing social media video showed him recording himself screaming at a woman and punching her in the same city where Iryna Zarutska was stabbed last year, according to police. The man, Di-Quan Schafar Hunt, 32, has a long record of arrests, including being arrested nine times in the last three years. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Hunt punched a woman on the street during the July 30 assault before running away. Police said the woman was taken to a hospital with “serious but non-life-threatening” injuries after the attack. Hannah Goetz, a reporter for local outlet WSOC, posted video of the incident on X showing Hunt yelling, “Don’t wave at me” to a woman passing by on the street. The video then shows him sucker-punching her to the ground. He then stands over her, points his finger in her face and slaps her, yelling, “You still talking? July 21st. Say Elijah, say, Elijah.” CHARLOTTE TRAIN STABBING SUSPECT DODGES POTENTIAL DEATH PENALTY FOR NOW AFTER HE’S RULED INCOMPETENT Police are also investigating Hunt in connection with several similar assaults on women that authorities say he recorded himself committing. Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office records show he has been arrested nine times in the last three years on charges including trespassing, simple assault, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer, violating a protective order, contempt of court, breaking or entering and probation violations. According to Goetz, Hunt was convicted in 2020 of shooting into an occupied building or vehicle. He was arrested in December after authorities accused him of threatening a man with a knife near a Charlotte public transit line. Another video said to have been recorded by Hunt shows him chasing a woman who runs into the street and hides behind a car. RALEIGH MAYOR CONSIDERS YOUTH CURFEW FOLLOWING TEEN TAKEOVER, VIOLENT JULY 4TH WEEKEND The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers arrested Hunt on Thursday evening and took him to a medical facility for treatment but did not specify why. Once Hunt is released, he will be transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, police said. Asked why Hunt had been repeatedly released despite his history of arrests, a department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “We don’t have an answer for you for that question because it’s not our jurisdiction.” Asked how many other women Hunt may have assaulted, the spokesperson said that “based on the other videos that are out there, we anticipate there could be other cases, but at this time we don’t have any other information to share regarding that.” The spokesperson said, “we have put out a call to the public if they have any information to report that to us whether it is reporting to a detective or reporting anonymously through Crimestoppers.” Hunt’s arrest comes just under a year after Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee living in Charlotte, was stabbed on a public transit train. Authorities accused Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, in the attack. Like Hunt, Brown had previously been arrested 14 times, including on violent assault charges. DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CALLED FOR MASS RELEASE OF CRIMINALS DURING PRISON ABOLITION WEBINAR SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The stabbing drew national attention because of its apparently random nature and Brown’s history of repeated arrests and releases. Fox News Digital also reached out to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
El-Sayed dares GOP rival to no-pads football showdown as Senate feud turns personal
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed recently escalated his feud with Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who is more than 20 years older than El-Sayed, challenging the former FBI agent to a bout of tackle football after accusing Rogers of being “too afraid” to debate him. “Since you’re too afraid to debate me, how about you ‘hold me accountable’ on a football field instead,” El-Sayed posted to X on Wednesday. “Tackle, no pads like we used to play when we were kids. I’d be happy to show you [how] much I love football.” Rogers is 63, and El-Sayed is 41. The unusual challenge comes as Rogers seeks to turn El-Sayed’s past criticism of football culture into a campaign liability, while El-Sayed has increasingly leaned into sports, fitness and a defense of masculinity as he courts male voters. The exchange quickly became personal, with Rogers’ campaign mocking El-Sayed’s height rather than accepting the challenge. MICHIGAN DEM SENATE NOMINEE COMES UNDER FIRE OVER RESURFACED BLOG POST LINKING FOOTBALL TO ‘TOXIC MASCULINITY’ El-Sayed’s X post was in response to a clip of Rogers criticizing him for past comments he made on topics such as football and the 4th of July. “This guy spent hours hating on what most Michiganders would enjoy in their pastimes, and he should be held to account for that,” Rogers said on Fox News. “These are views that he held, that he was pretty strong about, but he knew that he had to delete them all. … If people really knew who he was, they wouldn’t vote for him.” In an October 2021 essay, El-Sayed wrote that “the toxic masculinity at the heart of America’s most popular sport — and men’s sports culture more generally — is way deeper than a few emails or a Jay-Z turnaround.” EL-SAYED’S THREAT AGAINST GOP RIVAL BACKFIRES AS CONSERVATIVES BRING RECEIPTS: ‘IS DUBAI IN FLORIDA?’ Though some have argued that this is evidence of El-Sayed hating football, the Democratic Senate hopeful played football growing up and was the captain of his high school team. He called sports his “lifeline.” While El-Sayed has sharply criticized toxic elements of male sports culture, he has also defended masculinity and chided Democrats for talking down to men, often posting fitness-related content as part of his strategy to appeal to male voters. Rogers’ campaign fired back at El-Sayed’s post by mocking his height. “That’s an awfully tall threat coming from down there,” the Mike Rogers War Room X account posted. ‘DOCTOR’ EL-SAYED’S BIZARRE HEALTH HUSTLE RAISES CAMPAIGN HEADACHE: ‘MOON JUICE BRAIN DUST’ Rogers’ official campaign account posted a GIF of Will Ferrell saying “he’s an angry elf” in response to El-Sayed’s challenge. El-Sayed was listed at 5 feet, 9 inches during his University of Michigan lacrosse career. A 2008 news story, however, listed him at 5 feet, 8 inches. The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital Wednesday.
Tlaib under fire for working to unseat two Jewish House Democrats in Florida: ‘No coincidence’
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., is being criticized by Florida’s lone Jewish Republican in Congress as she works to unseat two fellow House Democrats. Tlaib is appearing at a rally in Fort Lauderdale Friday held by left-wing groups in support of three congressional candidates, according to a flier posted on Instagram, including two socialists running to unseat Reps. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. “I think that it’s no coincidence that she’s coming to target two of the remaining Jewish Democrats,” Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. JEFFRIES DECLINES TO BACK WASSERMAN SCHULTZ AS BLACK LEADERS REVOLT OVER DISTRICT SWITCH “It won’t be well received in Florida,” he continued. “How it’s received in a Democratic primary — look, the Democrats are lost. But I’m going to hope that Florida Democrats are smarter than national Democrats because the Jew hatred side of the Democratic Party is not good for America.” Tlaib has been a power player on the far left so far this election cycle as candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) dominate establishment Democrats in key elections across the country. But DSA-linked candidates have also been accused of criticism against Israel that approaches antisemitism, according to the group’s opponents, while being sympathetic to terror groups like Hamas. Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman in Congress, has faced bipartisan criticism for her comments on Israel and Jewish people. The Michigan congresswoman has denied accusations of antisemitism. FORMER BERNIE SANDERS OFFICIAL ACCUSES SENATOR OF PUSHING MOST ANTISEMITIC CANDIDATES ‘IN A GENERATION’ But Fine said Tlaib was a “vocal supporter of Hamas” and said the far left was making Jews in America feel unsafe. “I think the Democratic Party is lost, and I think it’s dangerous. I don’t know that it’s lost and dangerous in Fort Lauderdale or Florida, but nationally, the kinds of people that the Democrats are nominating, these are people who do not love America,” Fine said of the far-left surge. “They hate it. They are here to destroy it, and no one embodies that better than Rashida Tlaib.” DSA-linked candidates have already toppled House Democrats in New York, Colorado and Michigan. Also in Michigan, socialist politician Abdul El-Sayed defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens for the party’s nomination for Senate. DEMS’ LEFTWARD LURCH GETS LEGS AS EL-SAYED’S MICHIGAN SENATE VICTORY SPARKS PARTY DEBATE Tlaib campaigned with El-Sayed and other DSA candidates across the U.S. Friday’s rally is called Chomp the Oligarchy and is being hosted by progressive groups like Gen Z For Change and Florida Youth Justice Coalition. Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz’s campaigns did not respond to requests for comment on Tlaib’s appearance. Tlaib’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Fine’s remarks. Tlaib and other Democrats have previously accused Fine of anti-Muslim racism. Moskowitz, who represents Florida’s 23rd Congressional District, is running for re-election in the 25th Congressional District, which was recently redrawn to give Republicans a better shot in the general race. Wasserman Schultz is running in the newly redrawn 20th Congressional District, a majority-Black district that leans heavily Democratic, sparking backlash for potentially impacting the area’s historically Black representation.
Trump says Karoline Leavitt will leave White House press secretary role, become outside advisor
President Donald Trump announced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of the month to spend more time with her family. Leavitt confirmed her departure in a lengthy post on X, saying she made the “bittersweet decision” after concluding she could not balance the demands of serving as press secretary with being the mother she wants to be to her two young children. “Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime,” Leavitt wrote. Leavitt thanked Trump for giving her the opportunity to work in the West Wing, travel and represent his administration from the White House briefing room. LEAVITT VOWS TRUMP WILL DELIVER ‘ENTERTAINING’ SPEECH AT HIS RETURN TO WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER “Most of all, I am thankful to the President for entrusting me with the distinct privilege of speaking on his behalf at the White House podium. I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes.” Leavitt said becoming a mother again while holding one of the White House’s most demanding public-facing jobs ultimately drove her decision to leave. “Being a mother and welcoming a new baby while working in one of the most demanding jobs in the world has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least. The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life.” LEAVITT RIPS BLUE STATE’S EXPLOSIVE NONCITIZEN VOTER-ROLL ADMISSION: ‘NOT A COINCIDENCE’ Leavitt said she will remain involved with Trump and Republican politics after leaving the White House. “President Trump has asked me to continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside, and I will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party.” She also made clear that she plans to remain politically active. “My fight is entering a new phase, but it is far from over.” KAROLINE LEAVITT ANNOUNCES BIRTH OF SECOND CHILD, A GIRL Leavitt, 28, became the youngest White House press secretary in history when Trump returned to office in January 2025. She previously served as national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and worked in the White House press office during his first administration. Leavitt recently returned to the White House after taking leave following the birth of her second child, a daughter, in May. Trump separately praised Leavitt in announcing her departure, calling her one of his most trusted aides and saying she would become one of his top outside advisors. “Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!” Trump said. “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.” Trump praised Leavitt’s work in the White House and on his political campaigns. “Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024. Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office. Thank you, Karoline, for a job well done!” Vice President JD Vance also praised Leavitt following the announcement, pointing to both her effectiveness as press secretary and the demands of the job for a young parent. “Karoline Leavitt has one of the hardest jobs in the Administration — dealing with the relentless attacks from the fake news media. She did the job with grace, wit and a smile on her face. She’s been one of the most effective voices in articulating and defending the President’s agenda, and I’m incredibly grateful to her.” Vance said he understood the challenges Leavitt faced balancing the position with raising a family. “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Karoline over the past few years, and I know how difficult yet rewarding a constant job like this can be for a young parent. We’re sad to see her go, but I know she’ll continue to do great things.” White House chief of staff Susie Wiles called Leavitt “nothing short of extraordinary” and praised her ability to balance her professional and family responsibilities. “You have taken on one of the toughest jobs in Washington with confidence, discipline, grace and an unmatched ability to deliver the President’s message. Simply put, you are the greatest @PressSec.” Wiles also praised Leavitt as a wife and mother and said she was “excited to see what your next chapter looks like.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio also wished Leavitt and her family well following the announcement. “Karoline has been a critical part of President Trump’s team and has played a pivotal role in the historic accomplishments of the most transparent administration in American history. Wishing her and her family nothing but the best in their next chapter!” FBI Director Kash Patel also praised Leavitt and pointed to her next chapter. “Thank you, Karoline. A true friend and one of the greatest to ever stand at that podium,” he wrote on X. “You handled the job with strength and clarity. Grateful for everything you gave this fight. Excited for what’s next. -DKP” Erika Kirk also congratulated Leavitt on her tenure, praising
Former SPLC official arrested as feds expand case over alleged $4M scheme involving extremist groups
A former top Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) official was arrested on charges Wednesday as federal prosecutors unveiled sweeping new allegations that donated money was allegedly secretly funneled to extremists and used for activities including recruiting members, staging rallies and buying materials for Ku Klux Klan robes and cross burnings. Heidi Beirich, 59, of Palm Springs, California, was charged alongside the SPLC with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank. The second superseding indictment also charges Beirich with a conspiracy to commit concealed money laundering. Beirich was served with an arrest warrant Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the arrest during a news conference Wednesday in Washington, D.C., and said the federal investigation remains ongoing. FIRST ON FOX: SPLC’S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS UNDER THREAT AFTER FIERY CAPITOL HILL HEARING “I think, as alleged in the indictment, this individual participated in the scheme as alleged,” Blanche said. “I believe she was part of the effort to open bank accounts and complete fictitious companies names and make payments that to individuals for reasons that were not, that were not accurate as described.” FBI Director Kash Patel also weighed in on the news via X, writing that Beirich was at the “center” of the bureau’s ongoing investigation. “As alleged, Heidi Beirich was at the center of our ongoing investigation into SPLC and their previously alleged criminal activity – where SPLC knowingly misled donors, who believed their money was being used to dismantle violent extremist organizations – when in fact, part of those donations were instead being used to pay senior leadership within those extremist groups,” Patel wrote. The 26-page indictment obtained by Fox News Digital alleges the SPLC secretly funneled at least $4.1 million in tax-exempt donor funds between 2007 and 2023 through bank accounts supposedly belonging to businesses unaffiliated with the organization. Prosecutors allege the money paid “field sources” who were leading or affiliated with violent extremist organizations. Prosecutors allege donor money was used to attend and host extremist rallies, recruit members, grow and create extremist chapters, publish extremist literature and buy materials for KKK robes, hoods and cross burnings. The indictment also alleges two KKK members who wanted out of the movement were encouraged by the SPLC to remain and offered monthly payments and expenses. One of the most explosive allegations centers on a source identified as “F-9,” whom prosecutors say infiltrated the neo-Nazi National Alliance and received more than $1.2 million from the SPLC during the period covered by the indictment. Prosecutors allege Beirich oversaw payments to F-9 while also having a romantic relationship with him, with the pair sharing a home and two bank accounts. FIRST ON FOX: SPLC’S LEGAL WOES GROW AS JIM JORDAN FIRES LATEST SALVO AT LEFT-WING GROUP Between 2015 and 2021, approximately $140,000 in donor money flowed from the SPLC’s operating account through a “Tech Writers” account and ultimately into joint bank accounts held by Beirich and F-9, prosecutors allege. The indictment says the money accounted for approximately 66% of all funds deposited into their joint accounts and alleges Beirich used donor money to pay the couple’s personal living expenses. The indictment also alleges F-9 broke into an extremist organization’s headquarters in 2014 and stole approximately 25 boxes of documents. Prosecutors allege that, with Beirich’s knowledge, donor money was used to copy the stolen material before it was returned and that Beirich used the copies as the basis for an SPLC “Hatewatch” story. The indictment alleges Beirich later paid another source approximately $6,000 in donor money to then falsely take responsibility for the burglary. “The indictment unsealed today reflects the continued work of federal investigators and prosecutors in examining this alleged scheme,” U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan said. “We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the judicial process to determine the facts and the defendants’ responsibility for the alleged crimes.” Beirich is expected in federal court in Riverside, Calif., Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. PT, sources tell Fox News. The SPLC has previously denied wrongdoing and moved to dismiss the federal case. An indictment contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. “Taking on violent hate and extremist groups is among the most dangerous work there is, and we believe it is also among the most important work we do. The actions taken by the DOJ will not shake our resolve,” the SPLC said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We remain steadfast in our fight for justice and in our commitment to ensuring the promise of the Civil Rights movement becomes a reality for all. We are confident in our position and look forward to presenting the evidence and making our case in court.” Fox News Digital’s Asra Nomani, and Fox News’ David Spunt and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
Illegal immigrant charged with brutal slaying one day after California judge released him
A California judge in the Bay Area released an illegal immigrant who had been in custody on burglary charges one day before prosecutors say he murdered a 68-year-old retiree in his Martinez neighborhood. Marcos Iriarte-Valdez had a prior criminal record and was facing burglary charges stemming from at least two incidents elsewhere in Contra Costa County, just east of San Francisco, when a judge in the Democratic-majority county ordered him released. The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News Digital it placed an immigration detainer on Iriarte-Valdez Sept. 23, 2025. The DHS said that Valdez was from Venezuela with citizenship in Spain. “Valdez is charged with murder, inflicting corporal injury on spouse, three counts of burglary, receiving known stolen property, trespassing, entering non-commercial dwelling, loitering, as well as convicted of violation of court ordered protective order,” the department said in a statement. Prosecutors also added three enhancements against Valdez: a special circumstance that the murder occurred during or immediately after a burglary, personal use of a deadly weapon — a knife — and committing the offense while released on bail or his own recognizance. FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MOVES TO IMPEACH JUDGE WHO ORDERED CONVICTED CUBAN PLANE HIJACKER FREED FROM ICE “CA Governor [Gavin Newsom] must not release this murderer from jail and turn him over to us so we can REMOVE him from our nation,” the department later tweeted about Iriarte-Valdez, who is from Venezuela but reported to have Spanish citizenship. “Sanctuary politicians must stop putting politics above public safety. This type of insanity leads to more crimes and more innocent victims,” DHS said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief deputy director of communications, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, told Fox News Digital: “This individual should face justice for his alleged crime. California takes public safety seriously, and nothing in California law prevents federal authorities from enforcing federal immigration law. The federal government has billions of dollars and substantial resources to enforce federal law—they do their job instead of blaming California for ICE’s enforcement failures.” Iriarte-Valdez is accused of murdering 68-year-old Todd Stewart of Martinez, who had lived on his quiet street for about 40 years, during an attempted burglary, prosecutors said. Contra Costa prosecutors previously charged Iriarte-Valdez in connection with burglaries at occupied residences in April. He was on pretrial release in that case when he was arrested Tuesday for allegedly violating a home detention condition, then ordered released on his own recognizance on Wednesday, one day before Stewart was killed. Prosecutors said Iriarte-Valdez tried to run from Stewart’s residence after Stewart encountered him in a garage, then stabbed and killed him. Fox News Digital reached out to the Martinez Police Department, Contra Costa Superior Court and District Attorney Diana Becton’s office for comment. WATCH: DEM DEMANDS ‘ONE CASE’ WHERE SANCTUARY CITIES DIDN’T TURN OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS; DHS PROVIDES LIST DHS said Iriarte-Valdez was legally admitted to the U.S. during the George W. Bush administration but has since been classified as an “illegal alien.” “The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers. Because sanctuary cities refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes. Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE,” a DHS spokesperson said, adding that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin continues to target the “worst of the worst.” A homeowner targeted by Iriarte-Valdez in his April alleged burglary spree expressed shock that the man had been released. FEDS ADMIT FAILURE TO DISCLOSE MURDER WARRANT TO JUDGE WHO ORDERED RELEASE OF DOMINICAN MIGRANT The homeowner told FOX’s San Francisco affiliate his 83-year-old wife saw Iriarte-Valdez’s reflection and screamed, “and I think he took off.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “The judge uses his discretion or her discretion. I don’t know who the judge was, so, you know, who am I to argue?” the man said of the unnamed judge who released Iriarte-Valdez last week. READ THE CHARGING DOCUMENTS: Iriarte-Valdez is being held without bail. Valdez pleaded not guilty Wednesday. He is due back in court on Tuesday, September 1. The judge could not be reached for comment. Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
Tim Scott goes scorched earth on El-Sayed: ‘He’s for Hamas, but he’s against America’
FIRST ON FOX: The Senate GOP’s elections chief said Michigan voters have a clear-cut choice: pick a Trump-backed Republican or support an insurgent progressive who is “for Hamas.” “By going with [Dr. Abdul] El-Sayed, you’re talking about socialism, Marxism, communism, and someone who seems to just not like America,” Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital. “The only thing he’s not against, Hamas. He’s for Hamas, but he’s against America.” Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), and Republicans are ramping up their rhetoric against El-Sayed, who eked out a win to secure the Democratic nomination for Senate in Michigan last week against the more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. PEGGY FLANAGAN WAS MINNESOTA’S NO 2 OFFICIAL AS MASSIVE FRAUD SCANDAL EXPLODED UNDER STATE’S WATCH They’re pouncing on unearthed hot takes he’s made in the past and his proximity to Twitch streamer Hasan Piker in their quest to paint El-Sayed as a far-left candidate with extremist ties. Republicans believe that they have a real shot at flipping Michigan’s open seat after Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., opted to retire. Scott and company view former Rep. Mike Rogers, who was the GOP nominee in 2024, as the man to secure the seat. “I always believe that the wind’s at my back, and I always believed that momentum’s on our side,” Scott said. “And there’s no doubt about it when you look at the underlying conditions that you’d much, much, much rather be Mike Rogers than El-Sayed.” REPUBLICANS GET THE DEMOCRAT THEY WANTED AS SOCIALIST ABDUL EL-SAYED WINS MICHIGAN SENATE PRIMARY For starters, Rogers has President Donald Trump’s backing in a state that he won by just over 1 point in 2024, a roughly 4-point swing from 2020, when former President Joe Biden nabbed the state. Rogers also hasn’t had to deal with a messy primary like his previous run against Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who eked out a victory over the former House Intelligence Committee chair by just over 20,000 votes. “Two years ago, it was a slog for Mike Rogers. He had a very expensive primary in August, and then essentially a 60-day sprint to the finish line,” Scott said. “This time he has more cash than ever, a better ground game than ever.” “He is a strong, powerful, positive candidate. He is well known in Michigan. And so what we’re going to see as we head towards the finish line is Michiganders will make the right decision for their future, for America’s future, and it will be Mike Rogers,” he continued. “I will say on the other side, it is not going to the past, it’s going to a different, an alternate universe.” WATCH: SCHUMER’S ANTI-CORRUPTION SPEECH DERAILED AFTER HECKLER BRANDS HIM ‘GENOCIDAL MANIAC’ El-Sayed, meanwhile, has dealt with the inverse. He’s just over a week out from a bitter primary fight against Stevens and Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who eventually dropped out roughly a month before the primary election. He emerged victorious despite being vastly outspent in one of the most expensive primaries ever, and after running a campaign that pushed further left than the Democratic establishment and against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Shortly after his victory, Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who leads Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, went about stitching together the wounds from the primary bloodbath. “Democrats are united by a common purpose: putting a check on Donald Trump by defeating his Republican enablers and taking back the Senate,” they said in a joint statement. “We look forward to working with Abdul and Democrats across Michigan to win this seat in November.” Though Schumer and the Democratic establishment didn’t back El-Sayed, Scott contended that his rise was emblematic of the Democratic Party’s lurch to the left, particularly as moderate Democrats have been felled by progressive challengers throughout this midterm election cycle across the country. “There’s no doubt Abdul El-Sayed represents the worst part of the Democrat Party, which is becoming, unfortunately, the most consistent voice coming out of the Democratic Party,” Scott said. El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mamdani’s team said NYPD would accompany his wife on Middle East vacation — cops say that’s not true
The New York Police Department (NYPD) will not provide a security detail to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife during her upcoming vacation to two terror hotspots in the Middle East, despite the mayor’s office claiming otherwise. “The NYPD does not send officers to countries with level 4 travel advisories for discretionary reasons such as personal travel,” a spokesperson for the law enforcement agency told Fox News. Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, is planning to travel to Syria and Lebanon to visit family in September, according to the New York Post. Both of those countries are on the State Department’s “Do Not Travel” list due to terrorism concerns. MAMDANI’S WIFE CO-HOSTS LUXE MUSLIM RETREAT CASTING VIRGIN MARY AS ‘PALESTINIAN WOMAN’ UNDER OCCUPATION The mayor’s office had previously confirmed that Duwaji would have an NYPD security detail on the trip. “Upon the strong recommendation of the NYPD, the first lady’s security detail will be joining her when she travels to visit family in Syria and Lebanon,” Mamdani’s spokeswoman Dora Pekec reportedly said. But later, as it became clear that the NYPD would not be making the overseas trek, the mayor chalked the confusion up to a staff “miscommunication” when asked about it by news outlet PIX11 on Tuesday. NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA) President Scott Munro furiously slammed the implication that NYPD detectives would accompany the city’s First Lady to the Middle East. MAMDANI CLASHES WITH DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS’ PUSH TO ABOLISH POLICE AND PRISONS “Our detectives put themselves in harm’s way every day protecting New Yorkers,” said Munro. “The DEA would never remain silent if our members were asked to travel to a dangerous, off-limits foreign country for anything other than a legitimate law-enforcement or intelligence operation.” “Our detectives are needed here in New York City protecting residents and fighting crime,” he added. Mamdani has a long history of trashing the very police department he thought would accompany and provide security for his wife to the dangerous Middle Eastern countries on New York City taxpayer’s dime. “There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence,” Mamdani said in reference to the NYPD in a viral 2020 post on X. “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety,” he said in another 2020 post, adding in a follow-up: “What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD.” JON STEWART PRESSES MAMDANI ON WHERE HE BREAKS WITH FELLOW DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ON PRISONS AND BORDERS “Queer liberation means defund the police,” he said in yet another post. The mayor, who has also faced scrutiny for his anti-Israel views and recently called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” while calling for his arrest, derogatorily linked the NYPD to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF,” Mamdani, who was a keynote speaker, said during a panel discussion at the Democratic Socialists of America’s 2023 national convention. During his campaign for mayor of the most populated U.S. city, Mamdani said the exact opposite, explicitly stating that he did not want to defund the police. SEE IT: MAMDANI BOOED OFF STAGE AT NEW YORK CITY PRO-POLICE CELEBRATION: ‘WALKED OFF IN SHAME’ Still, it appears there is no love lost between Mamdani and the NYPD. Just last week, he was booed offstage when he tried to speak at a pro-police event in Staten Island. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment.
Dem in key swing race missed nearly half her state House votes while taking taxpayer salary: ‘No show’
FIRST ON FOX: Former Democratic state Rep. Christina Bohannan missed nearly half of her votes in Iowa’s House of Representatives during her final year in office as she campaigned for a congressional seat in the battleground district, records show. In 2022, Bohannan missed 348 of 773 floor votes, or about 45% of all votes, according to the legislature’s records, despite stressing the importance “for leaders to show up” three years later. Bohannan is running for Congress in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, a race the Cook Political Report ranks as a “toss up” in November as Republicans attempt to preserve their razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. Some of the skipped votes involved bills addressing protections for sexual abuse victims, volunteer firefighters and first responders, Iowa’s dairy industry, agricultural programs, emergency 911 services and juvenile justice reform. IOWA DEM WHO TOUTED ‘STRONG WORK ETHIC’ MISSES MORE THAN HALF OF HER HOUSE VOTES “Liberal Christina Bohannan says leaders should ‘show up’ and then is a no-show herself,” Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Missing half your job while collecting your taxpayer-funded paycheck isn’t leadership worthy of a promotion. It’s the kind of performance that would get you fired anywhere else.” The absences stand in contrast with Bohannan’s past comments. In an Oct. 6, 2025, post on X, she wrote that she had the “honor of speaking” with more than 100 voters at a candidate forum representing five Iowa counties. “At a time when so much is uncertain, it’s more important than ever for leaders to show up and talk directly with Iowans,” she added. Similarly, in a 2021 interview with Bleeding Heartland, an Iowa politics blog, Bohannan was described as planning to spend “a lot of time on legislative work during the 2022 session” with the rest of her efforts focused on her congressional campaign. Bohannan served one term in the Iowa House from 2021 to 2023 before launching her first campaign for Congress. BATTLEGROUND DEM CALLED PATRIOTISM ‘SENSITIVE AND CONTROVERSIAL’ DURING DEBATE OVER THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE She is challenging incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, for a third time in the 1st Congressional District, which includes Davenport and Iowa City, after losing by about seven points in 2022 and roughly 800 votes following a recount in 2024. But Bohannan remained on the state’s legislative payroll during that period. According to state legislative records, Iowa lawmakers earned a $25,000 annual salary in 2022, plus $175 per day per diem for up to 100 days, or $17,500. The Democratic lawmaker has also faced mounting criticism for her past comments and middle-class messaging on the campaign trail. ‘QUEEN OF DEI’ RUNNING FOR CONGRESS RIPPED HER RURAL STATE AS ‘BACKWARDS’ ON PODCAST Fox News Digital previously reported that Bohannan warned Iowa could be seen as “backwards” over limits on diversity training at public schools and universities and “look like a backwater” over restrictions on transgender athletes. Other reports revealed that Bohannan and her husband owned a waterfront Sarasota, Florida, condo valued between $500,001 and $1 million, in addition to a $1.55 million Iowa City home while campaigning as a hard-working, middle-class advocate who understands what it’s like “to still struggle to put food on the table.” Fox News Digital reached out to Bohannan’s campaign for comment.
Tafoya makes ‘common sense’ pitch to disaffected Democrats as she vows to fight Minnesota’s ‘socialist lurch’
EDINA, MN – As socialist candidates continue to score victories across the country and take more control of the Democratic Party, Minnesota GOP Senate nominee Michele Tafoya is making her pitch to voters from all parties who still believe in “common sense.” “We do not want to see a socialist lurch anywhere in this country, and in particular in Minnesota, so I will do whatever I can to stand up against this movement toward Democrat socialism,” Tafoya told Fox News Digital on Tuesday shortly after voting in a suburb outside Minneapolis. “Socialism does not work.” “There is absolutely a home for every voter in Minnesota that wants common sense, that wants a return to sanity, that wants to see kids learn in school again, that wants accountability for this fraud, who wants the fraud never repeat itself, who wants crime rates to go down again,” Tafoya told Fox News Digital. “There is room for you. We are the common sense candidacy and we’re gonna represent a lot more than just conservatives in this state.” Hours later, Tafoya went from Republican Senate candidate to Republican Senate nominee as she convincingly won her primary and moves on to face Minnesota Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in the general election in November. MINNESOTA HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH WINS GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY TO REPLACE TIM WALZ IN NOVEMBER When reached by phone after her victory, Tafoya reiterated her commitment to crossing party lines to reach disaffected Democrats. “Our state has been going in the wrong direction at the speed of sound and people who love Minnesota are brokenhearted, and we see that this has happened under the watch of career politicians single-party rule, for many years now they’ve brought us to this place it’s time for change and I think we’re going to appeal to voters across the political spectrum to stand up and say we’re not going to continue to re-elect the people that got us to this place to begin with,” Tafoya told Fox News Digital. FAILED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WINS DEM PRIMARY FOR MIDWEST GOVERNOR AMID FRAUD SCANDAL FALLOUT Tafoya is aiming to become the first Republican to win statewide office in Minnesota since 2006. Tafoya’s opponent in November, progressive Minnesota Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, has drawn criticism over the massive fraud scandal in the state that forced Gov. Tim Walz to drop his re-election bid, given that she has served alongside him since 2019, as well as her far-left positions that include abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “It is time to hold them accountable, and we’re going to do that by firing them,” Tafoya said. “And we’re gonna hire people who are outsiders, who are willing to come in and fix this with new ideas and not just bend to party politics as the establishment always does.” Tafoya, whose message to disaffected Democrat voters is similar to the pitch Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers made last week in his race against his opponent Abdul El-Sayed, told Fox News Digital she is looking forward to speaking to Democrats and independents in the coming months. “When you run in a primary, you’re talking to mostly your own voters,” Tafoya said. “Now I’m excited to reach out to those disaffected Democrats who feel that the party has left them, who feel like they’re homeless politically. We’re gonna open the doors to them and I can’t wait to talk to all those independents and share their ideas. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.”