Experts warn leftist celebrations of Charlie Kirk’s death signal a dangerous mainstream shift in politics
After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in Utah last week, leftist and contrarian figures across the country reacted with open celebration, prompting widespread public condemnation. Fox News Digital spoke this week to several experts who analyzed whether the trend remains a fringe occurrence or if celebrations of political opponents’ deaths and injuries are becoming mainstream. Paul Sracic is a former politics professor at Youngstown State University and is currently an adjunct fellow at the domestic policy-focused Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. He said the answer depends on one’s definition of “fringe.” CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER THE LATEST IN INCREASING POLITICAL VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE, FROM PA GOVERNOR TO SCOTUS Sracic said recent surveys showed as many as one-fifth of self-identified liberals agreed that political violence is sometimes justified. “Presumably, most of these very liberal and liberal voters support Democrats. This should horrify Democratic leaders, but it’s arguably the inevitable outcome of Democrats either adopting or at most failing to push back against notions that words themselves can be a form of violence and therefore can make people feel “unsafe” if they are exposed to a political argument with which they disagree,” Sracic said. Democratic leaders, however they might personally think, also know that these more-energized voters must be attracted to the polls in the midterms, no matter the political environment, in order for the party to have a shot at winning back part of the federal government, he said. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who is also running for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s to-be-open Senate seat, offered another perspective – focusing on the increasing trend of political violence from the left against the right. He cited Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., nearly being assassinated at a Virginia ballfield, two attempts on President Donald Trump’s life, and Kirk’s murder. “Make no mistake—whether you stand with President Trump, support Israel, or believe in free-market capitalism, you are being targeted,” Barr said. “I will work with the Trump administration and provide every resource necessary to prevent these acts of domestic terrorism before they happen.” Democratic strategist and former congressional staff advisor Julian Epstein argued that multiple factors are driving the reaction to Kirk’s killing. RESEARCHERS WARN OF RISING ‘ASSASSINATION CULTURE’ AFTER MURDERS OF CHARLIE KIRK, BRIAN THOMPSON “The celebration of Kirk’s death on the far left, both on and offline, is far too common, and not sufficiently denounced,” he said. “The minimization of assassination by Democrat elites in arguing the both side-ism — and in the case of an ABC reporter, the moral relativism — is also too common.” Epstein warned that the indiscriminate use of historically charged terms like “fascism” is radicalizing political bases, and argued the left is failing to uphold Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights-era call to reject violence as a path to political change. “That failure occurred not only with the Kirk assassination, but also during the L.A. riots and the scourge of antisemitic violence on college campuses and elsewhere in the past few years,” he said. Link Lauren, former advisor to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and host of the podcast “Spot On,” said the trend is no longer fringe but increasingly mainstream: “They call us Nazis, fascists, and threats to democracy. In the wake of George Floyd, the left burned down cities and businesses,” Lauren said. “Since Charlie’s assassination, conservatives have gathered in churches and peaceful prayer. [That] tells you all you need to know.” At the Manhattan Institute, legal policy fellow Tal Fortgang added that political violence is “capacious.” “There is an increasingly mainstream view among progressives, gaining ground within the Democratic Party as its democratic socialist influence grows, that terrorism is justified if it evens out power disparities,” he said. “So you see prominent Democrats downplaying the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, on the grounds that Israel was the more powerful party in that fight.” Fortgang said New York Assemb. Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America have risen in prominence since the Hamas terror attacks. “And, as Mamdani’s star has risen, so has the premise that violence is justified if it’s someone “powerless” attacking someone ‘powerful.’” Fortgang also pointed to comments from Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts after the murder of a health care executive – a case in which the prime suspect has been treated like a celebrity outside his ongoing court hearings. Warren originally said that violence is “never the answer,” with the caveat that “people can only be pushed so far… if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change.” She later clarified her remarks, stating: “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Fortgang said suspect Luigi Mangione “struck a blow against capitalism,” and posited that Kirk’s suspected murderer Tyler Robinson may have been motivated by a desire to avenge transphobia. “Hamas fights settler-colonialism when they burn families alive. Systemic thinking is dehumanizing, but it became basically orthodoxy on the American left,” he said. “Even if it is not solely responsible for the uptick in political violence, or its widespread celebration, it helps sustain it. That’s what the Democratic Party needs to confront.”
58 House Dems vote against resolution honoring ‘life and legacy’ of Charlie Kirk
The House of Representatives adopted a resolution to honor the “life and legacy” of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday, just over a week after he was shot and killed during a college campus speaking event in Utah. The measure got bipartisan support in a 310-58 vote, with both Democrats and Republicans having quickly risen to condemn political violence in the wake of Kirk’s assassination. The vote divided Democrats, however, with 95 lawmakers voting to adopt the resolution, 58 voting against it and 22 not voting at all. Thirty-eight Democrats also voted “present” on the resolution. The top three House Democrats – Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. – all voted in favor of the measure. ABC REPORTER CALLS CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN’S TEXT MESSAGES WITH TRANSGENDER PARTNER ‘VERY TOUCHING’ House Democratic leadership did not expressly tell their caucus how to vote on the resolution but communicated that they would support it, according to two sources familiar with discussions. The measure to honor Kirk, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., lauded the Turning Point USA founder as “one of the most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding and strengthen the Republic.” It also said Kirk’s “commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum, and he worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction.” SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING It called his killing “a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society” and “calls upon all Americans—regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed—to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.” The resolution also invoked Kirk’s Christian faith, affirming that the House “honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty.” Despite lawmakers on both sides quickly coming out to condemn Kirk’s killing and political violence as a whole, subsequent days have seen partisan divisions skyrocket over the case. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was among the Democrats targeted by the right for her response to Kirk’s death, both in an interview on progressive outlet Zeteo News and in reposting a social media video that criticized Kirk’s allies’ responses to his killing. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., led a failed bid to censure Omar over her reaction, which was tabled when four Republicans, three of whom cited First Amendment protections, voted to block the measure.
House passes Trump-backed plan to avert government shutdown
The House passed a short-term federal funding bill backed by President Donald Trump on Friday morning, paving the way for averting a government shutdown if the Senate follows suit. The legislation is aimed at keeping the government funded at current levels through Nov. 21 with a measure known as a continuing resolution (CR), designed to give House and Senate appropriators more time to strike a deal on fiscal 2026 federal spending. It passed mostly along party lines in a 217-212 vote. Two Republicans, Reps. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against the measure. Just one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine., voted in favor. Fiscal 2025 is slated to end on Sept. 30, and Congress risks a partial shutdown if the CR does not make it to Trump’s desk for a signature by then. SENATE REPUBLICANS BRAND LOOMING CRISIS A ‘SCHUMER SHUTDOWN’ AS DEMOCRATS DIG IN In addition to keeping the government open until just before Thanksgiving, the legislation also includes an added $30 million to boost lawmaker security through a mutual aid fund for Capitol law enforcement and local police. That decision was made as concerns over political violence have skyrocketed in recent months, including after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah last week. The CR also honors a White House request for an additional $58 million in combined security funding for the judicial and executive branches, as well as $1 billion allocated for Washington, D.C.’s budget after Congress repealed that sum earlier this year. A shutdown could be politically costly for both Republicans and Democrats. Democratic leaders had threatened for days to oppose the bill, infuriated over being left out of CR negotiations and demanding increased funding for healthcare subsidies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was criticizing the CR as recently as Friday morning, less than an hour before the vote. TRUMP PRESSURES REPUBLICANS TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN “Today, there’s a choice before every single member of the House of Representatives: will we stand up for the healthcare of the American people, or will we bend the knee to Donald Trump and his continued efforts to gut healthcare for everyday Americans?” Jeffries asked. “We’re voting no on a partisan Republican spending bill, and we’ll continue to defend the healthcare of the American people.” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had precious little wiggle room going into the vote, affording to lose only two Republicans if all Democrats turned against it. But in the Senate, where at least several Democratic votes will be needed to meet the 60-vote threshold to advance the legislation, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is under significant pressure from his left flank to buck the GOP-led bill. Schumer angered progressives in March when he cast a key vote to help avert a government shutdown with another Republican-led bill. Republicans, meanwhile, have been readying to place the blame on a potential shutdown squarely on Democrats’ shoulders. Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday evening, “House Republicans are taking a very important Vote to pass a CLEAN TEMPORARY FUNDING BILL. The Leader of the Democrats, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, wants to shut the Government down.” “Republicans want the Government to stay open. Every House Republican should UNIFY, and VOTE YES!” Trump wrote. Democrats released their own alternative CR plan this week, but Johnson told Fox News’ “Special Report” that it was “filled with partisan wish lists and poison pills and demands.” The Senate is expected to consider both versions and could take a vote as early as Friday.
Russian jets violate Estonian airspace, foreign minister says
Three Russian jets violated Estonia’s airspace on Friday, according to the country’s foreign minister. The MiG-31 jets flew together, two NATO sources independently told Fox News Digital. The jets flew back and forth for over 12 minutes before Italian F-35s “pushed them out,” according to the sources. A NATO defense source initially said the jets were carrying high-speed, air-launched ballistic missiles called Kinzhals, but later clarified they were only capable of doing so. It is unclear if the jets were armed with Kinzhals. White House officials could not immediately be reached about the incursion. NATO WARNS RUSSIA AFTER POLAND SHOOTS DOWN ‘HUGE NUMBER’ OF DRONES THAT VIOLATED ITS AIRSPACE “Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen,” said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. “Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure.” Estonia is considering requesting Article 4 consultations. Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty allows any NATO member to request consultations with other allies when it feels its territorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat. It does not automatically trigger a military response, as Article 5 does, but it is often used as a serious diplomatic and security warning signal. The incident comes just days after Poland accused Russia of violating its airspace with more than a dozen drones during a major bombardment of Ukraine. Warsaw reported that at least 19 drones crossed into Polish territory from Belarus and Ukraine, forcing temporary airport closures and scrambling NATO air defenses. Poland shot down several of the drones and labeled the breach an “act of aggression.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk described it as an “unprecedented” violation, warning that the drones posed a direct threat. Poland invoked Article 4 consultations with NATO in response. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Trump calls antifa ‘terrorist group,’ fueling fight over free speech and limits of law enforcement
President Donald Trump’s declaration that antifa is a “major terrorist organization” has spurred questions about who falls under that category and what repercussions they could face from law enforcement. Trump’s announcement, made in a Truth Social post Wednesday, aims to punish antifa, described by the president as a dangerous “radical left disaster.” But some experts warn that antifa, shorthand for “antifascism,” is a catch-all term that ropes in law-abiding people and that, unlike foreign terrorist organizations, there is no legal designation for domestic terrorist organizations. Alex Nowrasteh, a vice president at the thinktank Cato Institute, told Fox News Digital Trump’s announcement carries little weight but that the White House could craft an executive order that transforms the president’s words into action. “It’s all social media vibes until there is an order from the president of some kind, and that’s going to be the dividing line,” Nowrasteh said. “That’s going to be what we need to really take a look at.” TRUMP TO DESIGNATE ANTIFA A ‘MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION’ A White House official told Fox News Digital the administration is examining ways to memorialize Trump’s call to action. “The White House is exploring a wide variety of options to put pen to paper to address left-wing political violence and the network of organizations that fuel and fund it,” the official said. “Specifics on what that looks like continue to be discussed.” Trump also said on Truth Social that those providing funds to antifa-affiliated groups should be investigated. Trump’s announcement came less than a week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a gunman who allegedly wrote gamer-inspired antifascist messaging on bullet casings and accused Kirk of spreading hate. Authorities are still working to develop a complete picture of suspect Tyler Robinson’s motive. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray described antifa as a decentralized “ideology.” The Congressional Research Service emphasizes that it is a broad term and that its members have a variety of radical views closely aligned with anarchism, communism or socialism. The first group known to adopt the term antifa was Rose City Antifa in Portland, Oregon, in 2007. On occasion, violent criminals have been cited in court as affiliating with antifa. TRUMP SIGNALING TO DOJ TO TAKE ANTIFA ‘SERIOUSLY,’ FORMER DHS OFFICIAL SAYS Former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf told Fox News Trump’s announcement could cause a shift in federal law enforcement priorities. Wolf said a crackdown on antifa, whose members often dress in all black and appear at political protests, was long overdue. The president first said antifa was a terrorist organization in 2020 amid protests and destructive riots related to George Floyd’s death. “I’m glad to see this. This needed to happen,” Wolf said. “It needed to happen in 2020, when not only was I in the middle of it, but I think most Americans saw what was going down not only in Portland but around the country, and we saw antifa being very violent.” Wolf noted that Trump’s social media announcement alone could spur the Department of Justice and the FBI to allocate resources toward investigating suspected antifa members and use their prosecutorial discretion to prioritize going after them. Domestic terrorism on both sides of the political aisle has long been a focus for federal law enforcement. Any antifa targets who face criminal charges could see prosecutors recommend tougher sentences that include a terrorism enhancement. Additionally, federal law enforcement could conduct surveillance of suspected domestic terrorists or place them on the no-fly list. DAVID MARCUS: DEMOCRATS MUST STOP THEIR DEADLY ANTI-FASCISM COSPLAY Some have expressed concerns that Trump’s announcement, and any subsequent actions the president takes related to it, could lead to constitutional violations against nonviolent people or groups on the left. “I hope he can first define what antifa is, because there is no antifa organization. … He’s using the Charlie Kirk murder as a pretext to go after people that he disagrees with,” Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., said. Nowrasteh said that peacefully adhering to some kind of antifascist ideology is “absolutely protected speech.” “You can believe and say, ‘hey, this terrorist organization. … I believe in what they’re doing. Their goals are great. Their beliefs are awesome.’ You could say that. That’s not a legal violation, because of the First Amendment.” The American Civil Liberties Union’s response to Trump’s announcement echoed similar constitutional concerns. “President Trump seems hellbent on targeting real or perceived political opponents based on their constitutionally protected beliefs and speech, and we should all be very clear that he is jeopardizing everyone’s First Amendment rights,” the ACLU’s Hina Shamsi said.
Soros drops massive donation into Newsom’s redistricting effort to counter Trump: report
Billionaire left-wing donor George Soros contributed $10 million to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ballot initiative to redistrict the state, The New York Times reported Friday. Soros, who has helped fund left-wing campaigns stretching from district attorneys to federal elections, contributed the single largest donation amount to Newsom’s effort to redraw the state’s congressional lines, according to the outlet, which cited two sources with direct knowledge. Soros is the founder of the Open Society Foundations, which is a massive $25 billion nonprofit. His son Alex succeeded him as chair of the board of directors of the Open Society Foundations in 2022. The donation has helped build Newsom’s war chest for a redistricting effort to roughly $70 million, according to the Times. Newsom launched the redistricting effort, Proposition 50, earlier in 2025 to counter the Trump administration’s promotion that Republicans in states such as Texas redistrict their own lines. OBAMA CALLS NEWSOM’S CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING MOVE A ‘RESPONSIBLE APPROACH’ TO GOP TACTICS “We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what’s happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,” Newsom said in August of Proposition 50. Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas in August for liberal bastions such as Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to prevent a quorum for a special session as Republican state lawmakers prepared to vote on a redrawn congressional map for the state ahead of the 2026 midterms. The Texas Legislature ultimately passed the measure in August, with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signing the new lines into law that same month. In response to the Republican efforts, Newsom launched his state’s initiative to counter red state redistricting. Proposition 50 will appear on California ballots for a special election Nov. 4. “We’ll pick up five seats with the consent of the people. And that’s the difference between the approach we’re taking and the approach they’re taking,” Newsom continued in his August press conference. “We’re doing it on a temporary basis. We’re doing it in a fully transparent way, and we’re doing it by asking the people of the state of California for their consent and support.” President Donald Trump had encouraged redistricting in Texas, including remarking in August that efforts to redistrict in Texas could lead to the GOP picking up five seats. NEWSOM-STYLE REDISTRICTING EFFORTS CRITIQUED BY CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS AS RECENTLY AS JULY, STATEMENTS SHOW “In California, it’s all gerrymandered,” Trump said during an interview with CNBC at the time. “And we have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor, and we have good people in Texas. And I won Texas. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are entitled to five more seats.” Trump also has repeatedly railed against Soros in public remarks over his donations to left-wing causes and candidates, including calling for investigations into George and Alex Soros. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS SUE TO STOP NEWSOM, DEMOCRATS FROM PUSHING REDISTRICTING PLAN “Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social in August. Fox News Digital reached out to the Open Society Foundations and Newsom’s office for comment but did not immediately receive replies. Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
Kamala Harris says she ‘had no idea’ she ‘pulled the pin on a hand grenade’ with ‘The View’ answer about Biden
Former Vice President Kamala Harris noted that she was unaware that she had “pulled the pin on a hand grenade” with her response to a question while appearing on “The View” ahead of the 2024 presidential election, according to an Associated Press report about the unsuccessful candidate’s forthcoming book about her whirlwind 2024 White House campaign. Asked whether she would have done anything differently than President Joe Biden, Harris replied by saying nothing “comes to mind” and adding that she had “been a part of … most of the decisions that have had impact.” “I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris wrote in her book, “107 Days,” which is slated for release on Tuesday, according to the AP — “my staff were besides themselves” regarding how she had handed a “gift to the Trump campaign,” she noted, according to the outlet. KAMALA HARRIS COMPLAINS ABOUT ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ LACK OF SUPPORT FROM BIDEN’S COMMS TEAM, INNER CIRCLE Harris explained in the book that she did not want to criticize the president or litigate matters on which they did not agree, according to the AP, but she did not grasp the extent to which her connection with Biden was holding back her presidential bid. President Donald Trump decisively defeated Harris in the 2024 election, winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote. HARRIS ADMITS SILENCE ON BIDEN’S 2024 RE-ELECTION BID WAS ‘RECKLESSNESS’ “I could barely breathe,” Harris wrote regarding her experience of learning that she had lost the White House contest to her Republican rival, the outlet reported. She kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?” Earlier this year, Harris announced that she had decided against mounting a 2026 California gubernatorial bid. HARRIS REVEALS ‘FIRST CHOICE’ FOR RUNNING MATE BUT SAYS AMERICA WASN’T READY FOR IT CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor,” she noted in a statement issued in late July. “But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
US universities training Chinese military scientists on taxpayer dime, committee warns
FIRST ON FOX: American universities are educating thousands of Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese military — the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to findings from a new China Committee report. Over 400 Chinese nationals at just one of the six universities they investigated were conducting federally funded research in sensitive fields like nuclear engineering and computer science. Meanwhile, the Biden administration failed to enforce an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in 2020 banning Chinese nationals engaged in military-linked research, the report claims. That order’s rationale was that Chinese authorities use postgraduate students as “non-traditional collectors” of intelligence information. MAJOR COLLEGES FACE HEAT OVER CHINESE SCHOLARSHIP TIES AS ESPIONAGE CONCERNS MOUNT At another university, information provided to the committee showed that half of Chinese nationals pursuing a Ph.D. on campus were involved in federally funded research projects. Every surveyed U.S. university — Maryland, Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carnegie Mellon, University of Southern California (USA), Purdue, Stanford — admitted students from China’s top military and defense research schools. These include the Seven Sons of National Defense, a group of elite institutions whose primary mission is to advance military research. Fox News Digital has contacted each American university listed in the report. “USC already maintains strong safeguards to protect national security — by requiring the disclosure of foreign financial interests and affiliations, strictly reviewing potential conflicts of interest, and prohibiting participation in restricted foreign talent programs — and we are always open to feedback on how our processes can be strengthened even further,” USC said in a statement on the report. “We cannot allow America’s taxpayer-funded research labs and classrooms to serve as staging grounds for Beijing’s military ambitions,” said House Select Committee on Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich. Those schools, including Beihang University, Harbin Institute of Technology and Northwestern Polytechnical University, maintain extensive defense laboratories and partnerships with state-owned weapons conglomerates. One example is Beihang University, which has been on the U.S. Entity List since 2001. It has nine major defense labs and “adheres to Xi Jinping Thought.” Beihang students were found at every U.S. university surveyed, according to the report. Harbin Engineering University, originally the PLA Military Engineering Institute, is represented at 83% of U.S. universities surveyed. At the University of Maryland, more than 25% of Chinese students in fall 2024 were involved in federally funded research, but the university admitted it does not track what research they conduct. MAJOR COLLEGES FACE HEAT OVER CHINESE SCHOLARSHIP TIES AS ESPIONAGE CONCERNS MOUNT The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ran a joint engineering institute with Zhejiang University, which has defense labs and ties to Chinese intelligence. Trump stirred controversy recently by saying he would allow 600,000 Chinese students into U.S. universities — a figure that exceeds current enrollment levels of Chinese nationals in the U.S. The number of Chinese students studying in the U.S. peaked at 372,532 in the 2019-2020 academic year, just as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. “I hear so many stories about ‘We are not going to allow their students,’ but we are going to allow their students to come in. We are going to allow it. It’s very important — 600,000 students,” he said during a White House meeting last month. The report also challenged universities’ frequent claim that foreign students help subsidize American classmates by paying higher tuition. At one school, Chinese nationals made up more than 20 percent of the Ph.D. population but contributed just 0.2 percent of tuition revenue, with most of their studies funded by federal grants, state subsidies or university assistantships. “American taxpayers are footing the bill,” the committee wrote, to provide STEM training and lab access for Chinese nationals — many of them with direct ties to the PLA. TRUMP’S CHINESE STUDENT VISA PUSH SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AMID RISING CCP ‘INFLUENCE’ IN US Faculty collaborations added another layer of risk, investigators found. The University of Maryland reported at least 89 faculty partnerships and 15 exchange agreements with Chinese entities, while Purdue University hosted 16 visiting faculty from Chinese universities in sensitive departments such as electrical engineering and computer science. Officials acknowledged the school does not fully distinguish between casual academic contact and long-term research ties, leaving oversight gaps. The committee also noted Purdue professors traveling in the other direction. The report said six Purdue faculty members were on sabbatical in China, including two at universities overseen by Beijing’s defense ministry and another at a State Key Laboratory — institutions described as “central nodes” in China’s military-civil fusion system. Purdue has since taken corrective action, adopting new safeguards to prevent foreign influence. The school banned foreign adversary funding, tightened research security and export controls, added new protections for intellectual property and restricted sabbaticals with Chinese institutions. The committee praised Purdue’s new approach as an example for other schools. At Illinois, faculty worked inside a joint institute with Zhejiang University — an institution tied to China’s defense establishment and intelligence services. But amid the investigation, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign announced it is terminating dozens of agreements with Chinese universities. That includes shutting down its flagship joint engineering institute with Zhejiang University — an institution with defense laboratories and documented ties to Chinese intelligence. UIUC also terminated all joint degree programs with Chinese universities, canceled six “priority admission” agreements that gave Chinese students easier entry to master’s programs and ended a summer faculty training program with Shanghai institutions. Lawmakers commended Illinois for “leading by example” by unwinding dozens of Chinese partnerships. Lawmakers recommended codifying Trump’s 2020 executive order into law, tightening visa screening, and barring Chinese nationals from participating in U.S. government-funded research labs. They also urged universities to disclose foreign student affiliations and funding sources to federal agencies. Without such reforms, the report warned, American higher education will continue training scientists and engineers “not for America’s benefit, but for the PLA.” Committee staff also pointed to recent actions by universities to unwind ties with the China Scholarship Council, a government-run student funding body they described as part of Beijing’s “technology transfer apparatus.” “We
Prosecutors to rest case in Trump assassination attempt trial, defense preps witnesses
Prosecutors are expected to rest their case Friday in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in September 2024. Routh, representing himself with standby counsel, is expected to begin presenting his own witnesses once the government completes closing arguments. On Thursday, jurors heard from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Destructive Device Examiner Randy Walters, who testified that the gray storage box linked to Routh contained improvised firing mechanisms and parts designed to deliver a .50 caliber round. PROSECUTORS TO WRAP TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT CASE AS DEFENSE READIES WITNESSES Walters said the homemade components, including rat traps, were spray-painted green. He testified that seven partially assembled devices were inside a bag in the box, saying the repetition showed “someone definitely attempting or tinkering with new ideas.” On cross-examination, Routh asked if the majority of the items were legal to own. Walters said they were not assembled, but that, “it is illegal for convicted felons to possess .50 caliber ammunition.” Jurors also heard from FBI Special Agent Nicholas Schnelle, introduced as an expert in sniper tradecraft. Schnelle described Routh’s alleged hideout found near the sixth hole of Trump International Golf Club as a “final firing point” with “multiple shooting lanes.” He said the fence provided support for the rifle, which he compared to “loophole shooting in combat operations.” He demonstrated the safety on the SKS rifle for the jury and said, “the gun is similar to an AK-47.” GUN SELLER TELLS RYAN ROUTH: ‘I HEARD OF YOU THREATENING PEOPLE’ IN TENSE COURTROOM EXCHANGE Cross-examining Schnelle, Routh asked if the sniper hideout was well-concealed. Schnelle answered, “Yes, sir.” Routh followed up, pointing to the red and blue bungee cords, and asked again. Schnelle replied, “Yes, sir. Those colors are in the natural environment.” Routh’s children, Sara and Adam, were in court watching closely. FBI PHONE EXTRACTIONS, DNA TESTIMONY HEADLINE DAY 7 OF RYAN ROUTH TRIAL Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, occasionally interrupted when Routh continued speaking after objections. She reminded the jury that Routh is only on trial for the listed charges. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The court is scheduled to break on Friday afternoon for a charge conference with counsel. Jurors could begin hearing from Routh’s witnesses — including a firearms expert and potential character witnesses — once the defense begins.
Former Republican senator on potential bid to flip swing state seat red: ‘this is a race I know I can win’
EXCLUSIVE — It’s been nearly two decades since former Sen. John E. Sununu’s name has been on the ballot, but if the New Hampshire Republican decides to launch a 2026 campaign for the swing state’s open Senate seat, he’s confident he can win. “I’m sure that if we put together a strong team, this is a race that can be won. This is a race I know I can win. And more importantly, it’s a role where I know I can make a difference for New Hampshire,” Sununu said, in his strongest comments to date, in an exclusive national interview with Fox News Digital. The former senator, who reiterated he’ll “make a decision in October” on whether to launch a Senate campaign in the expected competitive race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, said “it’s a winnable race for the right person who reflects our state’s values, not the values of Washington.” And despite calling President Donald Trump a “loser” in a newspaper opinion piece early last year, Sununu may land the president’s support if he runs. THUNE SPEAKS WITH SUNUNU ABOUT SENATE BID TO FLIP BLUE SEAT RED “President Trump appreciates winners and understands that John E. Sununu puts this race on the map for Republicans,” a national Republican familiar with the Senate race in New Hampshire told Fox News Digital. Sununu is a former three-term representative who defeated then-Gov. Shaheen in New Hampshire’s 2002 Senate election. But the senator lost to Shaheen in their 2008 rematch. RISING REPUBLICAN STAR ASHLEY HINSON LAUNCHES SENATE BID TO SUCCEED IOWA’S ERNST Shaheen announced earlier this year that she wouldn’t seek re-election in next year’s midterms, and Republicans are hoping to flip the seat as they aim to not only defend but expand their Senate majority. Four-term Rep. Chris Pappas is the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. After nearly two decades in the private sector, Sununu sounds like someone ready to hit the campaign trail. “This is an incredibly important race. It’s an incredibly important time for the country and I feel it might be the right time to step up,” Sununu told Fox News Digital. He said that “over the last few weeks, people in New Hampshire have reached out. They’ve encouraged me to run for Senate, because they know how important it is that New Hampshire has the right kind of voice in Washington, someone who will stand up for our state, someone who won’t just be a rubber stamp for anyone else, but will represent New Hampshire every single day.” But it’s not just New Hampshire voters who may be encouraging Sununu to run. Top national Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have held conversations with the former senator regarding a 2026 Senate campaign, a source told Fox News Digital two weeks ago. TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONS Also speaking with Sununu was former Sen. Cory Gardner, chair of the Senate Leadership Fund, which is the top super PAC supporting Senate Republicans. The source added that Thune and Gardner were cautiously optimistic that Sununu would launch a campaign. Sununu is a brand name in New Hampshire politics. The former senator’s father, John H. Sununu, is a former governor who later served as chief of staff in then-President George H.W. Bush’s White House. And one of his younger brothers is former Gov. Chris Sununu, who won election and re-election to four two-year terms steering the Granite State. But the Republican Party has dramatically changed since the former senator last ran for office 17 years ago. The GOP, under the firm control of President Donald Trump and his America First agenda and MAGA movement, has been transformed from a business-orientated platform into a more populist party. Asked if there’s still room for an old-school fiscal conservative in Trump’s GOP, Sununu said, “good decision-making, good leadership, never goes out of style. Standing up for your state, standing up for your neighbors and your friends, and the things that make New Hampshire strong never goes out of style. Being an effective voice never goes out of style.” FOUR KEY SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERM ELECTIONS But some of Sununu’s past criticisms of Trump could come back to hurt him if he joins a Republican primary that already includes former Sen. Scott Brown and state Sen. Dan Innis, who are both showcasing their support for the president. Sununu, along with then-Gov. Chris Sununu, endorsed former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, as she battled Trump for the nomination. And on the eve of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, the former senator wrote an opinion piece titled “Donald Trump is a loser,” that ran in the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state’s largest daily newspaper. “@JohnSununu was the original ‘Never Trumper,’” Brown charged in a social media post this month. “He’s going to have to explain that.” Brown endorsed Trump ahead of his 2016 New Hampshire primary victory, which launched him toward the GOP presidential nomination and ultimately the White House. Brown later served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during Trump’s first term. And Innis claims that he’s the most pro-Trump candidate in the race. Asked if he could win a Republican primary race that could turn into a Trump loyalty test, Sununu said “the real question is, can you be effective? Can you work with other members of Congress? Can you work with this White House? Can you provide the kind of leadership it takes to get things done? And I know I can do that.” “If there’s a primary, I’ve seen them before. I’ve been through them before,” he added. “I’m very comfortable with where we are today, and over the next few weeks, I’ll continue to get people’s perspective, put together a good team, make sure we have a winning message and make a decision in October.” Trump, whose endorsement in Republican primaries is extremely influential, has remained neutral