Social media erupts over Mamdani’s silence after Brooklyn coffee shop bans Jewish congressman
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing swift backlash after declining to condemn a local coffee chain that told a Jewish congressman with pro-Israel views that he was not welcome. Mamdani has remained silent after the Williamsburg, Brooklyn-based Poetica coffee shop posted — and later deleted — a message on social media telling Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., not to return after he stopped by the shop with his daughter Monday. The mayor declined to comment through a spokesman when contacted by The New York Times on Monday. “Shameful,” Fox News Radio analyst Josh Kraushaar wrote on social media in response to a section of The Times story detailing that Mamdani declined to comment. “Well folks, we’ve reached the stage of antisemitism where Jews are being publicly barred from businesses,” the CEO and co-founder of the antisemitism-focused nonprofit Boundless Israel said on X. “A coffee shop in Mamdani’s New York City told Jewish Congressman Dan Goldman he wasn’t welcome in their store.” MAMDANI SKIPS ISRAEL DAY PARADE DESPITE JOINING OTHER CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS “The café is implementing Mamdani’s wishes,” journalist Melissa Braunstein said. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back. In a since-deleted social media post, Poetica Coffee said it would have declined to serve Goldman had staff recognized him in the store. Goldman has notably declined to characterize Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide and has received financial contributions from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, drawing criticism from some on the progressive left. “Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?” the post said. “See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between,” the post continued. “Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica.” The coffee chain has since deleted its Instagram page amid social media backlash. Mamdani’s silence comes as he is working to unseat Goldman, despite the incumbent lawmaker being a leading Trump critic and embracing an array of leftist legislative proposals. Goldman notably did not endorse Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, citing concerns about how his administration would approach Jewish New Yorkers. The mayor publicly backed former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander to represent Goldman’s district, which spans Lower Manhattan and deep-blue, wealthy pockets of Brooklyn. Democratic voters will decide whether to hand Goldman a third House term during the Empire State’s primary elections on Tuesday. NY DEM WOULDN’T BACK MAMDANI FOR MAYOR — NOW MAMDANI IS BACKING HIS CHALLENGER Since both men largely hold the same policy stances, the bruising primary battle has revolved around support for Israel — with Lander vowing to elevate the Palestinian cause if elected to the House. Goldman has notably supported military aid to Israel following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and distanced himself from inflammatory rhetoric used by some on the left to criticize Israel. Goldman offered a tempered response after the coffee chain effectively banned him from their storefronts. “I’m sorry to see this post,” he said. “The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and me—allowing her to use the bathroom even though we had not purchased anything. I made sure to buy a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved.” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said Tuesday her office has opened an investigation into the matter. “Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin,” Dhillon wrote. “These actions are not only reprehensible, they’re potentially illegal.”
Swalwell pal accused of using campaign cash to bankroll ‘luxury lifestyle’ — including Super Bowl tickets
Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona who was a key ally of disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell, used campaign cash to fund luxury trips with his family and to cover his childcare expenses, according to campaign finance filings and a source familiar with his finances. Gallego, through his leadership PAC, has paid for trips to the Caribbean island getaway of Saint Barthélemy, Disneyland, Disney World, Miami and Chicago, finance filings show. A source familiar with Gallego’s spending told Politico that the lawmaker would often bring his family along for the luxury jaunts, and use donor cash to pay for babysitting services. “He just spends his campaign account like it’s his personal slush fund,” the source said. “He’s using campaign cash to live a luxury lifestyle.” Campaign finance records show that Gallego’s leadership PAC and his campaign have collectively paid over $18,000 to cover childcare costs, including a $400 payment to his wife’s mother. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SPENDS EYE-POPPING AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CASH ON LUXURY HOTELS, ‘TOP-TIER’ LIMO SERVICES “This is not breaking news,” he told Politco of expenses for childcare and family travel. “With the rising costs of childcare and the burden it has on the budgets of American families, Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the White House alike regularly travel with their wives and children, as is permitted by the FEC.” In one campaign expense, Gallego and Swalwell established a joint fundraising committee that they then used to pay for tickets to watch Super Bowl LVII in 2023. The event, which cost over $37,000, was billed as a fundraising operation where they recruited donors to attend the game and have brunch with them in exchange for a sufficiently high campaign contribution. The duo of lawmakers each profited just under $8,000 from the event, effectively shuttering the joint committee after the game. A Gallego spokesperson told Politico that the “tickets were purchased at fair market value” and that “hosting donors and supporters at sporting events in their areas is a common, bipartisan practice.” SENATE HOPEFUL WITH DEEP DEM TIES HAS PAID FAMILY OVER $350K FROM HIS CAMPAIGN COFFERS The source familiar with Gallego’s finances told Politico that the trip to Saint Barthélemy was for his wife’s boss’ birthday and that the trip to Miami, where he racked up $9,000 in charges at a beachfront hotel, was to commemorate his wife’s birthday. A Gallego spokesperson explained to Politico that the travel to Saint Barthélemy was part of “a multi-stop political and fundraising swing — as senators regularly do,” and that on the Miami trip the senator and his wife “attended several widely attended political events and fundraisers.” Federal lawmakers are barred from using funds donated to their primary campaign committees for “personal use,” or expenses that are not related to their campaigns for office. Leadership PACs, however, are held to a looser standard wherein expenditures are allowed so long as they serve some kind of fundraising purpose. There is nothing that suggests any of Gallego’s leadership PAC expenditures were made unlawfully. TALARICO TOUTS TEXAS ROOTS AS OUT-OF-STATE CASH POWERS SENATE CAMPAIGN Gallego is far from the only legislator to use his leadership PAC in this way, with many lawmakers using their committees to fund pricey trips to exclusive locations. Transparency advocates have argued that the permissive spending rules surrounding how politicians can use funds donated by leadership PACs allow corporate interests to more easily accrue influence with lawmakers by contributing to what is effectively an account for their luxury expenses. About half of the donations to Gallego’s leadership PAC have come from corporate sources, according to campaign finance records. Gallego is reportedly exploring a 2028 presidential run, with many seeing him as a progressive with significant crossover appeal following his 2024 Arizona Senate victory. Some in the senator’s inner circle, however, have doubts that he could make it through vetting, according to the source who spoke with Politico. SWALWELL’S ‘BEST FRIEND’ IN CONGRESS TURNS ON HIM AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS TORPEDO HIS POLITICAL CAREER His longtime friendship with Swalwell, who suspended his campaign for California governor and resigned from Congress following multiple allegations of sexual assault, is seen as one potential vulnerability. Additionally, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has pressed the Senate to investigate Gallego over alleged sexual misconduct and campaign finance infractions. The senator has dismissed the allegations. IRS records show that he established a legal defense fund last month. “Any person close to Gallego would know that he is one of the most vetted candidates after his tough 2024 campaign where millions of dollars were spent against him,” Jacques Petit, Gallego’s communications director, told Politico. “Despite that, he overperformed the top of the ticket. Now he is focused on delivering for Arizonans and electing Democrats in 2026.” Gallego did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Trump backs both South Carolina GOP rivals as runoff tests his endorsement grip
PELZER, South Carolina — Both candidates in Tuesday’s Republican gubernatorial runoff election in this solidly red southeastern state have President Donald Trump’s blessing. Trump, seemingly aiming to cover his bases, made an 11th-hour endorsement ahead of the runoff and is now backing both contenders in the showdown to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster. The South Carolina runoff had been viewed as the latest test of Trump’s immense grip over the GOP and the power of his endorsements in Republican nominating contests. But on Friday, just three days after the candidate Trump was backing in neighboring Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial runoff lost, the president took to social media to say that he was supporting longtime state Attorney General Alan Wilson as well as Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the battle for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. TRUMP WINS TWO, LOSES ONE AS GEORGIA BILLIONAIRE DELIVERS RARE BLOW TO ENDORSEMENT MACHINE “I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!” Trump wrote, adding: “With either one you can’t go wrong.” The endorsement of Wilson appeared to be a move by Trump to hedge his bets, because Trump was already backing Evette, who is also supported by McMaster, a longtime top ally of the president. Trump’s decision to support both Evette and Wilson wasn’t the first time he’s made dual endorsements in the same Republican race. Most famously, Trump endorsed “ERIC” in the 2022 GOP Senate primary in Missouri, where the two major candidates were Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both candidates claimed the endorsement, with Schmitt ultimately winning the nomination. In South Carolina, Trump endorsed Evette late last month, a week and a half before the gubernatorial primary. Evette finished on top of a crowded field of contenders in the primary election, with Wilson second. The field also included Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and multimillionaire businessman Rom Reddy. Since no candidate won a majority of the vote, as the top two finishers, Evette and Wilson advanced to the June 23 runoff. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Mace and Norman endorsed Wilson after failing to advance to the runoff. And Wilson was also backed — and joined on the campaign trail on the eve of the runoff by Sen. Ted Cruz, the conservative firebrand from Texas. Mace, reacting to Trump’s endorsement of both Evette and Wilson, wrote on social media, “LMAO,” which is a common abbreviation for the phrase “laughing my a– off.” The runoff between Evette and Wilson turned combustible, and in last week’s final debate, both candidates launched personal attacks and accused each other of lying and misrepresenting their records. Wilson worked to contrast his tenure as attorney general with what he’s argued is Evette’s largely ceremonial role as lieutenant governor. And he has spotlighted his experience as a combat veteran, prosecutor and the state’s top law enforcement official. Evette showcased herself as an outsider and a Trump-endorsed businesswoman, while casting Wilson as a career politician. “The president had a lot of confidence in me when it was a crowded field, and I won it for him on June 9. I’m going to win it for him again on June 23,” Evette told Fox News Digital on the eve of the runoff. “I have always been very loyal to the president. I’ve traveled wherever he’s asked me to help stump for him, fundraise for him.” Wilson, campaigning with Cruz, pointed to Trump and said in a Fox News Digital interview, “I’ve been fighting and defending his agenda for the better part of a decade, and to have the president reflect that understanding in his endorsement a few days ago means so much to me.” Cruz, who endorsed Wilson a week ahead of Trump’s backing, told Fox News Digital, “I was very glad to see the president endorsing Alan Wilson… My philosophy, as you know, is that I support the strongest conservative who can win, and I think in the governor’s race that’s Alan Wilson.” The brute force of the president’s endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries over the past two months, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas that grabbed plenty of national attention. But Trump’s endorsement streak in statewide and congressional Republican primaries was snapped three weeks ago when his 11th-hour endorsement of Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds wasn’t enough to propel the three-term congressman to victory. Feenstra was narrowly edged by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and former political strategist who was backed by the political wings of MAHA — the acronym for the Make America Healthy Again movement aligned with Trump Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and Turning Point USA, the powerful conservative organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk. Trump rebounded two weeks ago, as Evette finished first and advanced to Tuesday’s runoff. Meanwhile, longtime Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham did win a majority of the vote in the Republican Senate primary, and avoided a runoff. Graham, who was endorsed by Trump, was facing primary challenges from five candidates, including conservative businessman Mark Lynch, who took aim at the senator over his support for the war in Iran. Lynch was backed by some MAGA leaders who have been critical of the president. Last week, Trump-backed candidates won two of the three top races. Rep. Barry Moore, a House Freedom Caucus member and longtime Trump supporter who was endorsed by the president, comfortably defeated rival Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper who was supported by some top names on the right, in solidly red Alabama’s GOP Senate runoff. In battleground Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff, an 11th-hour endorsement by Trump this past weekend helped boost Rep. Mike Collins, a MAGA champion, to victory over former college football coach Derek Dooley, who was backed by popular
US official says JD Vance made ‘great progress’ in Iran talks, calls snub reports ‘foreign propaganda’
FIRST ON FOX: A U.S. official involved with the U.S.-Iran peace negotiations said that Vice President JD Vance made “great progress” in the talks, adding that “foreign propaganda” spread a falsehood that the prime minister of Qatar snubbed Vance. The U.S. official told Fox News Digital that Iranian state media originated reports of Vance being snubbed by the Qatari prime minister and Iranian leadership threatening to walk away from the negotiating table. “The vice president and the U.S. delegation departed Switzerland today after making great progress and engaging in historic talks that lasted well into the late hours over the weekend,” a U.S. official present at the talks told Fox News Digital. “The negotiations set the framework for continued talks so that the unmatched efforts of the president can lead to a deal that’s best for the American people.” “Those parroting foreign propaganda serve no one except the bad faith actors that want to derail negotiations,” the official added. IRAN’S UNPRECEDENTED ‘WHOLE-REGIME’ DELEGATION AT US DEAL TALKS SIGNALS ONE GOAL: EXPERT As Vance and White House officials deliberated a peace agreement at the Bürgenstock resort on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, a CBS poll on Sunday showed that an overwhelming 78% of Americans say that the conflict between the U.S. and Iran should come to an end. Reports from Iranian state media created confusion about the progress of the peace talks in Switzerland, with critics alleging the Qataris snubbed Vance after Qatar’s prime minister and chief negotiator, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, walked past Vance and warmly greeted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instead. “The U.S. delegation had just spent hours with the Qataris and there was no need to re-greet someone having just spent hours with,” a U.S. official said. “The decision to give statements together before the meeting was done impromptu, which is why it wasn’t a staged greeting.” TRUMP AGAIN SAYS DEAL IS CLOSE, THEN CONFIRMS A LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT WITH IRAN, BUT DETAILS STILL SECRET In an interview today with Qatar’s official media outlet, Al Jazeera, Al Thani denied snubbing Vance, saying he had just spent hours with Vance and hadn’t yet greeted Sharif. He blamed the media for misrepresenting the encounter. “And they just made the issue too big,” he said. Prospects of a peace agreement have already shown signs of life in the U.S., even without a final deal. The New York Times reported oil prices dipping on Monday amid expectations Vance would secure peace during the talks in Switzerland. Critics of Vance have been vocal in the media about the vice president’s handling of the talks, echoing a sentiment among protesters that have been supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran since the onset of hostilities earlier this year. Some critics allege that Vance is surrendering to the Iranians and that the Iranians are getting more out of the peace deal than the U.S. FAR-LEFT NETWORK ACTIVATES TO FLY IRAN’S FLAG OVER AMERICA IN VICTORY AND WAGE A ‘SMOKELESS WAR’ ON THE US A Fox News Digital investigation found that a network of pro-communist groups funded by Neville Roy Singham, an American-born tech tycoon living in China, supporting the Chinese Communist Party and allies, like the Islamic Republic of Iran, has been behind most of the protests that have taken place. In April, nonprofits in Singham’s network mobilized to protest President Donald Trump’s “criminal war,” painting blood on their hands to symbolize what they called the “genocidal threats” the administration was making against Iran. The Party for Socialism and Liberation, a self-declared pro-China communist group, communicated to its followers through its propaganda platform, “Liberation News,” to “keep up the pressure” in combatting the war. VANCE SAYS US-IRAN TALKS END WITHOUT DEAL AFTER 21 HOURS OF NEGOTIATIONS In 2017, Singham married a co-founder of CodePink, Jodie Evans, and started pouring a documented $278 million into a network of groups that fuel anti-American protests in the United States, support the People’s Republic of China and now back the Islamic Republic of Iran, a strategic partner of China and a major source of its oil imports. Despite the coordinated propaganda defending Iran, the administration has maintained its intention to rid Iran of nuclear capabilities. For more than three months, U.S.-Israeli forces have been fighting Iranian forces, a conflict which Americans have expressed concerns about. Vance’s trip to Switzerland marks his second attempt to bring the conflict to an end. In April, he traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Special Peace Envoy Jared Kushner to negotiate peace. The talks failed and Vance returned home, but he has remained a key figure in finalizing a ceasefire. His involvement with the negotiations has also led to a surge in bettors placing wagers on the vice president winning the presidency in 2028. In March, Kalshi showed Vance being beaten out for president in 2028 by both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Since Vance has been facilitating the peace deal this month, he surged to the top spot for the next presidential election cycle.
Chicago priest tells Trump to ‘shut up’ and restore gun violence prevention funding after deadly weekend
A Chicago priest told President Donald Trump to “shut up” following his social media post about a violent Juneteenth weekend that saw at least six people killed and more than 30 others wounded across the city. Father Michael Pfleger scolded Trump as Chicago community leaders on Monday called for a city agency to tackle gun violence prevention following the weekend’s bloodshed. From 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Chicago had 24 shootings resulting in 39 victims, six of them fatal, according to the Chicago Police Department. On Sunday, Trump remarked on Chicago’s crime woes in a Truth Social post, suggesting that federal forces be sent into the city. 6 DEAD, 39 SHOT IN CHICAGO BLOODBATH AS TRUMP TOUTS DC-STYLE CLEANUP WHERE NATIONAL GUARD STEPPED IN “Lots of Killing going on in Chicago. 22 people shot, at least 4 Dead,” Trump wrote. “Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!! D.C. went from one of the worst, to one of the safest cities in the U.S. President DJT.” On Monday, Pfleger, a prominent South Side priest at St. Sabina Catholic Church, criticized Trump for highlighting the violence. “I hear this morning on the news that Donald Trump said he wants to send people,” he said. “He’ll solve the gun violence in a month. First of all, the man lies every day.” PRITZKER RAILS AGAINST ‘UN-AMERICAN’ POSSIBLE NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT BY TRUMP “The reflecting pool was good for 50 years,” Pfleger added. “And Iran was going to be solved in a month. Shut up, Donald. Just send money and restore the money you took away from gun violence prevention for the city of Chicago and across this country. Give the money back now.” In response to the violence, community groups, faith leaders, and city officials gathered Monday morning at City Hall to support creating a Department of Gun Violence Prevention. The proposed department would focus entirely on reducing gun violence and helping coordinate violence prevention programs across the city, FOX 32 reported. OUR LEADERS ABANDONED CHICAGO. TRUMP IS RIGHT: IT’S TIME TO CALL IN THE GUARD State and city leaders have opposed federal intervention, saying they prefer investments in community-level crime prevention programs. “President Trump’s bold actions in cities like D.C. and Memphis have dramatically reduced violent crime – local Democrat leaders in Chicago should see the President’s incredible results and be begging him to do the same in Chicago,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. “Chicago residents and visitors would benefit tremendously from the President’s successful efforts to drive down crime and make American cities safe again.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday said he wished that Trump would “follow Chicago’s lead and invest in Black America,” saying the administration has made cuts to agencies and programs that make communities safer, including slashing funding for education, housing, and health care. “It’s unfortunate that this president has worked overtime to literally defund the efforts that create safer communities,” Johnson said. “If you look at Donald Trump’s Black agenda, he promises to do all the things that I’m doing, but he’s failed to do it,” the mayor added, referring to the hiring of more young people, expanded mental health support services, and investing in more affordable homes.
Trump-backed housing overhaul targeting Wall Street investors clears Senate
The Senate advanced a massive, Trump-backed housing package that proponents say will prevent the U.S. from becoming a “nation of renters.” The upper chamber sent the 21st Century Road to Housing Act to the House on Monday after months of delay. After the heads of the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee reached a deal last week, the package is on a glide path to President Donald Trump’s desk. It’s the first major push by Congress to address housing regulations in decades, and one Trump has been calling on lawmakers to complete as the midterm elections near. TRUMP-BACKED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERHAUL CLEARS SENATE, WHILE HOUSE GOP RAISES RED FLAGS Loaded with nearly 60 different provisions, the package broadly tackles rolling back some permitting regulations, launches several pilot grant programs to build, repair and push affordable housing construction, and blocks investors from buying up housing stock — a key provision pushed by Trump. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one of the architects of the package, said the legislation was “not the federal government big footing local government,” but instead the federal government laying out tweaks to current programs and policies that “over time will make housing more affordable.” “This is a housing package that will help increase supply and bring down costs,” Warren said. “One way is by beating back private equity, so they won’t invade your neighborhood, buy up all the houses, and turn America into a nation of renters.” Warren said that among several things, the package increases access to manufactured housing by changing the federal definition to open up for more units to be constructed, pre-approved plan books for local governments to quickly approve new construction, and the waiving of some environmental review regulations for the construction of new homes. BIPARTISAN HOUSING PUSH ADVANCES, BUT TRUMP-BACKED INVESTOR BAN FACES RESISTANCE “It’s not just one piece that’s gonna solve a problem,” Warren said. ”It’s a whole lot of smaller pieces that push in the same direction that’s important.” The package also tries to turbocharge housing stock by tying federal grants and incentives sought by local governments to housing construction. And there are tweaks to mortgages, with a push for small-dollar mortgages at $100,000 and updates to lending standards for manufactured homes. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, whose provision to establish pre-approved housing designs to speed up home construction made it into the package, said the legislation “sends a signal to state and local communities, to say, ‘Hey, guys, you really have to drive down the cost of housing, and you do that by not torturing homebuilders.’” TRUMP CAN SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS, BUT HE NEEDS TO GET TOUGH WITH STATES While there are several moving parts to the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, it does not tackle every facet of housing costs. For instance, it does not allocate fresh federal funding for the issue, as Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., has lauded the package as being deficit neutral. Nor does it directly address rising costs of homeownership, given that much of the thrust is focused on building new homes and lowering the barrier of entry for Americans to get into a home. And for some, it does not go far enough to address permitting issues. Sen. Alan Armstrong, R-Okla., argued that the “legislation as drafted fails to meaningfully address” the issues of housing costs. “Instead, this legislation makes a half-hearted attempt to waive minor environmental laws while failing to address the need for permitting reform at large,” Armstrong said. “Our permitting process deserves its own committed effort, and attaching weak slivers of those reforms to unrelated legislation undermines the work currently being done to pass comprehensive, meaningful permitting reform,” he said.
DOJ investigating NYC coffee shop over hostile social post about pro-Israel politician
The Department of Justice (DOJ) says it has opened an investigation into a New York City coffee shop after it blasted Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., in a social media post, saying it should not have served him, and he should never come back due to his support of Israel. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ has opened an investigation into the Poetica Coffee Shop in Brooklyn. Dhillon says the department is aware of the “denial of service taunts” directed at Goldman and says federal law prohibits public accommodations, including coffee shops, from discriminating against patrons based on race, religion, or national origin. Dhillon says the alleged denial of service could violate federal anti-discrimination law and says enforcement action is possible. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Poetica Coffee said it issued a refund to Goldman after learning that he had stopped by the location with his young daughter. The shop added that it would have simply turned Goldman away if staff had recognized him at the time. SMOOTHIE KING FIRES EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSED TO SERVE CUSTOMERS OVER TRUMP SWEATSHIRT “Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?” the post stated, referring to Goldman’s support for Israel and accusations that the Jewish state has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza. “See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between,” the post continued. “Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica.” In a statement on social media, Goldman said he was disappointed by the shop’s remarks. “I’m sorry to see this post,” he said. “The barista could not have been nicer to my 7-year-old daughter and me—allowing her to use the bathroom even though we had not purchased anything. I made sure to buy a coffee in return for her kindness. I hope you at least make sure she gets the tip that she deserved.” In response, the shop said it was the barista’s idea to refund Goldman’s purchase. The poster added that they will be voting against Goldman, who faces a Democratic primary challenge from former city Comptroller Brad Lander. DEMOCRATIC REP FEARS PARTY TURNING ANTISEMITIC PROTESTERS INTO ‘MARTYRS’ IN BATTLE AGAINST TRUMP DEPORTATIONS Fox News Digital has reached out to Goldman and the coffee shop, as well as the offices of New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. “No comment. We stand against genocide,” a staffer told the New York Post. The shop’s social media post was quickly criticized online. Mark Treyger, the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said the incident warrants a review under city and state human rights laws. MAMDANI IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER FIRST VETO DERAILS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM: ‘DISAPPOINTED’ “Turning a cup of coffee into a Jewish identity litmus test is an affront to the law, our values, and every New Yorker who rejects discrimination,” he wrote on X. “If an identifiable Jewish customer walks into a coffee shop wearing a kippah or Magen David, are they expected to first disclose their views on Middle East policy before being served?” The incident appears to contradict the opening statement on Poetica Coffee’s website by its owner, Parviz Mukhamadkulov, an Uzbek immigrant who opened his first location in 2020. “In practice, it looks like a café where the door doesn’t close on anyone, where tea gets poured before anyone asks who you are,” the website states. “The guest is sacred because the act of welcoming is how a community keeps itself intact.” The shop also claims on its site that “whoever walks through the door is treated with unconditional dignity.” “Not as a customer. Not as a transaction. As someone who arrived and deserves to be welcomed,” the site reads.
Vance takes lead selling Trump’s Iran gamble as Rubio, Hegseth and Ratcliffe cede spotlight on fragile deal
Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland this week as the Trump administration’s most visible defender of a fragile Iran memorandum of understanding, even as officials moved to tamp down reports of internal concern over whether Tehran can be trusted to follow through on nuclear concessions. “If it doesn’t happen, I’m blaming JD Vance. If it does happen, I’m taking full credit,” joked President Donald Trump this month of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran. The MOU, signed last week, has not resolved the core dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, but instead opened a 60-day negotiating window aimed at turning broad commitments into enforceable terms — leaving Vance to defend a framework that supporters call a diplomatic opening for sustained stability in the region and skeptics fear could give Tehran room to stall. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe have been central to previous high-profile foreign policy missions, Vance spent last week as one of the administration’s chief public advocates for the Iran deal, repeatedly fielding questions about the negotiations during a media blitz for his new book. JD VANCE REVEALS DETAILS OF US-IRAN DEAL, ADDRESSES WHETHER TAXPAYER MONEY WILL GO TO TEHRAN A senior U.S. official told Fox News Digital earlier this month that there was a “split” inside the administration on support of the Iran MOU but wouldn’t say which officials did not support the decision. The talks have been fragile for weeks, with the MOU serving less as a breakthrough than a temporary framework while U.S. officials continue to wrestle with whether Iran can be trusted to follow through on nuclear commitments. CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly emerged as a key intelligence leader who expressed doubt about the intelligence behind the Iran deal to Trump and other senior officials, Axios reported. Rubio and Hegseth also reportedly held reservations, while Vance and other officials advocated for the MOU, according to the outlet. The CIA did not comment when asked by Fox News Digital if Ratcliffe was skeptical about the deal. A second senior U.S. official told Fox News Digital that Trump officials were all aligned in supporting the deal and viewed it as the appropriate path forward. While a White House official added that Vance emerged as a lead negotiator because Trump tasked him with the role from the outset, arguing his position as vice president gives him the stature to bring key players from countries such as Qatar and Pakistan to the negotiating table. When asked about the reports of an alleged “split,” the White House fired back that the MOU meets all the previous requirements expressed by the administration and the president would only sign a “good deal.” “President Trump listens to all opinions on any given issue — but everyone understands he is the final decisionmaker,” a White House official told Fox News Digital. RUBIO, RATCLIFFE TO DELIVER CLASSIFIED IRAN BRIEFING TO ‘GANG OF EIGHT’ AHEAD OF TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION While Ratcliffe has historically kept a more reserved role as CIA chief, Rubio and Hegseth have embraced the spotlight repeatedly during high-level missions, hosting press briefings and posting on social media – even sharing memes surrounding major policy wins. Rubio has publicly backed the MOU, but his support has been noticeably more restrained than his advocacy for past foreign policy efforts. The secretary has reposted clips of the deal signing and Vance’s media appearance discussing Iran, but has not directly made a statement. His latest post on X was congratulating Colombian President-Elect Abelardo De La Espriella on his victory. Rubio was also part of the president’s delegation in France at the G7, seen standing behind him during Trump’s sideline presser on the deal. Rubio did not make any comments during the press conference. Hegseth also has remained active on social media during the NATO summit, posting updates on alliance-related meetings and highlighting various War Department initiatives, while notably refraining from commenting directly on the Iran agreement. His last public remarks directly addressing U.S.-Iran relations came more than a month ago on May 5 during a Pentagon briefing alongside Caine. Hegseth discussed Project Freedom, which was a strike against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure – separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Since then, Hegseth’s public appearances have focused largely on NATO and defense diplomacy, including bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts and engagements with leaders from Italy, Singapore, South Korea and Ecuador. READ IT: THE FULL TEXT OF THE US-IRAN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING The framework has come under fire from conservatives and liberals alike who have drawn comparisons to former President Barack Obama’s JCPOA, a politically toxic benchmark for many Republicans that the president and Vance have rejected in public remarks. During an appearance on Fox News’ “The Five” last week, Vance argued the JCPOA comparison stems from a misconception because the proverbial carrot-and-stick positions from the Obama-era deal have been reversed. The Pentagon doubled down on their backing of the Iranian deal when asked by Fox News Digital if there were any doubts. “Of course, Secretary Hegseth supports the Peace Deal with Iran and all of President Trump’s objectives,” Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital when asked if there was any friction about the Iran agreement. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott offered Fox News Digital administration a similar statement backing the Iran deal. “Secretary Rubio and the entire administration is 100% in lockstep behind President Trump. The President has taken unprecedented action to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon, making the U.S. and the entire world safer,” Pigott said. Rubio is heading to Geneva Monday after Vance has already been engaged in discussions with Iranians alongside Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff since Sunday. HEGSETH ONCE WARNED AGAINST ENDLESS WARS. NOW HE’S LEADING TRUMP’S STRIKE-FIRST DOCTRINE Rubio, Hegseth and Ratcliffe have previously been at the center of some of the Trump administration’s most significant foreign policy engagements and achievements, from high-stakes talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska to G7 summits and
Fox News Poll: Voters embrace health agenda while rating RFK Jr negatively
When it comes to the U.S. food supply, more voters prioritize protecting public health than lowering food prices, according to the latest Fox News Poll. The survey, released Monday, also finds broad voter support for key elements of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, even as they give Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. negative job ratings. By a 16-point margin, voters prefer safeguarding public health (58%) more than lowering food prices (42%). FOX NEWS POLL: MOVE OVER BIG BROTHER, VOTERS SEE BIG TECH AS GREATER THREAT TO US That view crosses party lines, with majorities of Democrats (57%), Republicans (58%), and independents (62%) prioritizing health and well-being. MAHA was popularized by Kennedy during his 2024 presidential campaign and evolved into a national health-policy movement after he ended his bid and endorsed President Trump. Some of its goals include improving nutrition, eliminating harmful additives, and enhancing children’s health. Roughly 9 in 10 voters say it is extremely or very important for the government to focus on improving food safety (89% important), lowering food costs (88%), and expanding access to healthy foods (85%). About 8 in 10 consider limiting harmful additives (83% important) and increasing transparency in food labeling (81%) important. About 6 in 10 place the same emphasis on reducing vaping and nicotine use (63% important) or limiting screen time for children under age 16 (60%). FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS DOUBT NEW AGREEMENT WILL STOP IRAN FROM DEVELOPING NUKES Support for new food regulations is prevalent. More than 9 in 10 voters favor requiring clearer food labeling (91%), and almost as many (87%) support banning food additives that other countries have restricted because of health concerns. Smaller majorities support banning flavored nicotine products, including vapes and nicotine pouches (65% favor) and prohibiting children under 16 from using social media platforms (60%). Eliminating vaccine requirements is less popular, as fewer than 4 in 10 are in favor (36%) – although that number is up 10 points since December. Most policies enjoy widespread support across key demographics, except on vaccines where differences emerge. More Republicans (45%) than Democrats (25%) favor eliminating vaccine requirements in public schools by a 20-point margin (the only proposal where fewer than half of each group favor it), and more MAGA (53%) than non-MAGA Republicans (32%) support eliminating vaccines by 21 points. Men, Black voters, and voters under age 30 are more likely to favor eliminating vaccine requirements than women, White voters, and voters 65 and up. “If I were advising Republicans in state and local races in 2026, I would tell them to embrace key policy elements from the MAHA agenda,” says Republican pollster Daron Shaw who helps conduct the Fox News Poll alongside Democratic counterpart Chris Anderson. “Protecting Americans, especially children, from bad food, bad drugs, and bad apps is extremely popular, particularly with groups Republicans have struggled with lately.” CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE Despite support for many MAHA priorities, Kennedy’s job rating remains underwater: 45% approve of his performance, while 54% disapprove. Those numbers are largely unchanged since last September. About 9 in 10 MAGA Republicans (88%) approve of Kennedy, compared to 6 in 10 non-MAGA Republicans (58%). Fathers (54% approve) and voters under 30 (51%) also boost Kennedy’s ratings, with more than half approving of his job performance, higher than mothers (43% approve), non-parents (44%), and voters 65 and over (39%). A closer look at parents Mothers and fathers differ in food-policy priorities. More moms prioritize keeping food costs low by 2 points, while dads favor protecting public health by 16 points. Although parents and non-parents generally align on many MAHA-related issues, more dads than moms say it is important for the government to reduce screen time for children under 16 (68% vs. 47% important) and support banning children from social media platforms (67% vs. 59% favor). Dads are also more likely than moms to favor eliminating vaccine requirements (52% vs. 33% favor), and more parents support eliminating them than non-parents (42% vs. 34% favor). The generational divide Voters under age 30 favor prioritizing public health more than lower food costs by 8 points, but that gap widens to 44 points among voters 65 and over. On screen time, voters under 30 support banning children under 16 from social media by just 2 points, while that margin expands to 24 points among voters 65 and over. When it comes to vaccines, young voters oppose eliminating them by 10 points, compared to a large 57-point opposition among those 65 and up. Conducted June 12-15, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,002 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (101) and cellphones (644) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (257). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.
Olympian charged in Reflecting Pool vandalism tied to Dem fundraising giant
Records show former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was charged in the weekend vandalism of the Reflecting Pool, has ties to a major left-wing fundraising network as protesters descended on the National Mall and racked up multiple criminal charges. Hearn, 67, donated to Democratic fundraising apparatus ActBlue 10 times while also contributing to Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns five times, an administration official told Fox News Digital. Hearn was charged with a misdemeanor for destruction of government property Saturday after he reached into the water and allegedly grabbed a hose being used by a National Park Service worker, Fox News previously reported. The Reflecting Pool was drained and painted under President Donald Trump’s direction, sparking scrutiny over peeling paint and algae growth. ActBlue has funneled billions of dollars to Democratic candidates such as New York democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The group has also drawn scrutiny for its overseas donations that prompted federal probes into donor fraud. DEM FUNDRAISING GIANT ACTBLUE ROCKED BY ALLEGATIONS IT MISLED CONGRESS ABOUT FOREIGN DONATIONS The three-time summer Olympian and registered Democrat told The Associated Press he is a “curious citizen” and “reached down to see what it felt like.” He said it felt “very rubbery.” Hearn was previously arrested by U.S. Park Police in 1996 after he ignored an emergency closure of the Potomac River during a severe rainstorm and launched a canoe onto the river despite the restrictions. He was charged with failing to obey a lawful order, but the judge later cleared him of the charges. The $14.8 million restoration project has sparked outrage from Democratic lawmakers and Washington residents who have descended on the National Mall to inspect the pool. Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell said her constituents are “outraged” by the algae during an appearance on CNN. FORMER OLYMPIAN AMONG THOSE CHARGED WITH VANDALIZING REFLECTING POOL, TRUMP VOWS IMMEDIATE REPAIRS: REPORT An administration official told Fox News Digital that five people have been arrested on vandalism charges, while federal citations were issued to five additional individuals. There have been 14 police reports filed for vandalism, the official added. Among the reports was one involving a suspect accused of using a blade to slash nearly 300 feet of the pool’s liner, an incident President Donald Trump highlighted in a Truth Social post on Saturday. WATCH: TRUMP REVEALS FLASHY NEW COLOR FOR NATIONAL MALL’S REFLECTING POOL MAKEOVER “They took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete. They also poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the Pool,” wrote Trump. “The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened.” Trump said Friday that he believes vandals are damaging the grounds surrounding the Reflecting Pool and that chemicals were used to damage the pool’s newly installed surface, he wrote on Truth Social. Fox News Digital reached out to NPS for comment. Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.