Lone Maryland GOP congressman warns redistricting could cut White House ties for entire state
The lone House Republican in Maryland’s congressional delegation is warning that his state could lose its main connection to the White House if Democrats there made good on threats to redraw district lines. “Right now, as the sole Republican representative, I’m the liaison between the state and the executive branch and the legislative branch, and that would be lost if they went to single-party representation,” Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital. “I don’t think Marylanders are going to put up with that.” Maryland is one of the latest states threatening to jump into the growing redistricting war that’s taking over U.S. politics. Texas Republicans are moving to change the Lone Star State’s congressional map with a proposal that could give the GOP as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives. GOP GOVERNOR NOMINEE PUSHES REDISTRICTING TO OUST STATE’S LONE HOUSE DEM Democratic strongholds California and New York have threatened to make their own changes in response, which would sidestep independent redistricting commissions in both states. Since then, the fight has spilled over to a number of other states, particularly those with lopsided congressional representation, like Maryland. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office told Fox News Digital that the Democratic leader “will continue to evaluate all options as states around the country make decisions regarding redistricting,” while blasting Texas’ move as a “power grab.” “Look, the governor talks a lot about bipartisanship. Obviously, that would not be a bipartisan bill, to attempt to make it a single-party delegation,” Harris told Fox News Digital. “And, you know, an attempt at that in 2022 failed in the courts. I think an attempt to that this time might fail again.” GOP LAWMAKERS CLASH OVER STRATEGY TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CRISIS Harris was wary of a wider redistricting fight across the country, but accused Democrats – not Texas Republicans – of starting the battle. “I think that we should probably shy away from mid-cycle redistricting,” Harris said. He added, however, “Look, the Democrats started it. I’m not surprised that Texas wants to do what they want to do.” Harris pointed to states like Alabama, where a lengthy court battle led to the ruby-red state drawing in a second Democrat-leaning district ahead of the 2024 elections. Voting rights groups had argued that an existing map by Republicans unfairly violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by suppressing Black voters’ representation in the state. It resulted in Alabama adopting a court-approved map with two majority-Black districts, both of which are currently represented by Democrats. “The bottom line is that the Democrats started the discussion about whether or not redistricting would be accomplished mid-cycle,” Harris argued. And despite his wariness of the practice now, Harris praised President Donald Trump’s call for a snap census that would exclude anyone in the U.S. illegally. “I think Americans should realize that if we weren’t counting illegal aliens in our census, there would be 10 to 12, maybe 15 fewer Democrats in the House of Representatives,” Harris said.
Inside NASA’s fast-track plans for lunar nuclear power and new space stations to outpace global rivals
Amid significant budget cuts, NASA is fast-tracking the development of nuclear reactors on the moon and next-generation space stations with one clear objective: beating U.S. adversaries in the new space race. Two new memos signed by interim NASA chief and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outline a bold strategy to secure strategic ground on the moon. The centerpiece of this effort is a lunar nuclear reactor, a renewable and stable power source to support long-term exploration. “The goal is to power everything,” a senior NASA official told Fox News Digital. “Our systems, habitats, rovers, robotic equipment, even future mining operations — everything we want to do on the moon depends on this.” The moon’s environment makes this a necessity. Its month-long day cycle — two weeks of daylight followed by two weeks of darknessc — renders solar power unreliable. A reactor would allow missions to function around the clock. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DUFFY TO ANNOUNCE NUCLEAR REACTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE MOON NASA officials warn that China and Russia have publicly announced plans for a joint lunar nuclear project by the mid-2030s. If they succeed first, they could establish exclusive control over the moon’s most valuable areas, locations with the most light and access to water and ice. “They could set up a ‘keep-out zone’ in the prime locations,” the NASA official cautioned. Despite financial constraints, Duffy’s leadership signals a renewed priority to lunar and Martian exploration. “China has already landed on the far side of the moon. We never have,” the official added. “They’re moving on a steady path to dominate this domain.” The new directive solicits proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor — enough to power about 80 homes — with a target launch date of 2030. It also requires NASA to appoint a dedicated program leader. Today, many robotic spacecraft operate at just a few watts, the equivalent of a couple of light bulbs, which severely limits scientific capabilities. While the ISS uses solar panels, that model doesn’t work on the moon or Mars, where sunlight is too weak or unreliable. The second memo shifts focus to replacing the aging and leaking International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled to be retired in 2030. Without a successor, China would become the only country with a permanently crewed station in orbit. NASA now plans to select two commercial partners within six months of issuing new requests for proposals. Under Duffy’s direction, the agency is moving away from traditional fixed-price contracts and will instead use flexible Space Act Agreements, which give companies more freedom in how they build stations while saving time and money. CHINESE SATELLITES COMPLETE GROUNDBREAKING MISSION 22,000 MILES ABOVE EARTH “We’re telling companies what we need,” a senior NASA official said. “But we’re not prescribing how they must do it. That flexibility saves us both time and resources.” NASA wants the new station to be cheaper and easier to maintain than the ISS. Originally, it envisioned a platform that could host two astronauts for six months. But, under the revised plan, the minimum requirement is four astronauts for just one month. NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) initiative, launched in 2021, was structured in two phases: Duffy’s directive calls for skipping fixed-price contracts in Phase 2 and continuing with Space Act Agreements, in line with tightening budget constraints. According to the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal, NASA’s overall budget would drop from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion, a 25% cut. The Science Mission Directorate, which oversees research in planetary science, astrophysics, Earth observation and heliophysics, would face a nearly 50% reduction. However, human spaceflight programs are slated for increased funding. NASA has also confirmed that nearly 4,000 employees — about 20% of its workforce — have taken voluntary buyouts in recent months. Despite these setbacks, agency officials remain optimistic. “Multiple companies tell us they can deliver a station within two years,” one senior official said. “Timelines are always challenging, but we believe we can meet these goals — even on a leaner budget.”
Trump and Putin’s relationship turns sour as president pushes for resolution with Ukraine
While President Donald Trump previously refrained from speaking ill of Russian President Vladimir Putin, those days are over. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has changed the nature of their dynamic. Although the two appeared to get along, at least publicly, during Trump’s first administration, their relationship has unraveled as the more recent conflict persists. In recent weeks, Trump has refused to mince his words when asked about Putin. Trump said during a Cabinet meeting July 8 he was fed up with Putin and said he was eyeing potentially imposing new sanctions on Russia. “We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” TRUMP MOVES NUCLEAR SUBMARINES WEEKS AFTER PRAISING SUB’S POWER IN IRAN STRIKES John Hardie, Russia program deputy director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Russia started to attract ire from Trump dating back to March after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. But Russia has failed to get on board with a ceasefire. “Really, since then, I think Trump has come to view the Russians as the main impediment to a deal,” Hardie told Fox News Digital Thursday. Additionally, Hardie said that Trump has also grown frustrated that Russia will launch drone and missile attacks against Ukraine, even after directly speaking with Putin. “What he’s sort of latched on to are these Russian drone and missile barrages,” Hardie said. “That really seems to resonate with him.” Tensions only have continued to escalate between the U.S. and Russia since the July Cabinet meeting. Trump announced July 14 that he would sign off on “severe tariffs” against Russia if Moscow failed to agree to a peace deal within 50 days. He then dramatically reduced the deadline to only 10–12 days — which ends Friday. The decision to reduce the timeline prompted former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to caution that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war.” TRUMP LIFTS VEIL ON US SUBMARINES IN WARNING SHOT TO KREMLIN IN ‘CLEVER’ REPOSITIONING MOVE In addition to economic sanctions, Trump responded to Medvedev and issued a rare statement disclosing that two U.S. Navy submarines would be moved in response to escalating threats from Russia. “I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump said Aug. 1. Trump’s disclosure of the submarine presence puts additional pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table, according to Bryan Clark, a retired submarine officer and director of the Hudson Institute think tank’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. “We have used very sparingly submarines to try to influence adversary behavior before, but this is pretty unusual, to do it against a nuclear-powered adversary like Russia in response to a nuclear threat by Russia,” Clark told Fox News Digital Monday. “So I think this is trying to essentially push back on Russia’s frequent and long-standing threats to use nuclear weapons in part of the Ukraine conflict.” Momentum is picking up on negotiations though, and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin Wednesday. Trump said in a post on Truth Social afterward that “great progress” was made during the meeting. And now, Trump and Putin are expected to meet face to face imminently in an attempt to finally advance negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Still, Hardie said he is skeptical that the meeting between Putin and Trump will result in meaningful progress. “I don’t expect a summit to produce much,” Hardie said. “And I think Putin could try to use the summit to placate Trump and kind of buy more time continues assault on Ukraine, but I think his goal is he’d love to be able to enlist Trump in his effort to impose these harsh terms on Ukraine.” Russia has pushed for concessions in a peace deal that include barring Ukraine from joining NATO, preventing foreign peacekeeper troops from deploying to Ukraine after the conflict, and adjusting some of the borders that previously were Ukraine’s. It’s unclear if Trump plans to announce any additional economic burdens upon Russia Friday in accordance with the deadline that he imposed demanding that Russia signal willingness to end the conflict. But according to Trump, the ball is in Putin’s court. “It’s going to be up to him,” Trump told reporters Thursday. “We’re going to see what he has to say. It’s going to be up to him. Very disappointed.” The White House did not disclose any details regarding potential Friday sanctions, but said that Trump wants to meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Putin to resolve the conflict. “The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to this meeting,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “President Trump would like to meet with both President Putin and President Zelensky because he wants this brutal war to end. The White House is working through the details of these potential meetings and details will be provided at the appropriate time.”
Teachers unions lose, parents win under major policy move says red state schools chief
FIRST ON FOX: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is eliminating statewide standardized end-of-year testing for several subjects as part of an effort to give “local control back to school districts.” OSDE stated that the changes will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year and will impact math and English courses in grades three through eight. In place of the standardized tests, Oklahoma will allow districts to use approved benchmark assessments that are already in use to report on students’ academic achievement and growth. It said the change will reduce the overall testing burden on students and teachers as well as allow teachers to focus on classroom instruction rather than test preparation. OSDE noted that the benchmark assessments will continue to comply with federal and state protections for students with disabilities. OSDE is also “exploring” future options to eliminate standardized testing for science and history in the same grades. TRANS BATHROOM POLICIES HAVE 10 DAYS TO GO, TRUMP EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WARNS 5 VIRGINIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS This follows President Donald Trump dramatically reducing the scope of the federal Department of Education as part of an effort to eventually eliminate it entirely. After railing against the Department of Education during the 2024 campaign for being filled with “radicals, zealots and Marxists,” Trump signed an executive order in March directing that the department be dismantled and its functions “returned to the States.” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said during a gathering of Republican and Democratic governors that returning education to the states “is really a nonpartisan issue” and “just means giving them back the part that is now provided by the federal government, and they’re anxious for it.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, OSDE explained its decision to eliminate standardized testing, calling it “a move to take power over performance from liberal teacher unions and undo a burden that has been placed on students and teachers.” TRUMP DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO ABSORB SOME EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The department said it surveyed Oklahoma parents on the issue and found that 86% of the 15,349 respondents expressed that standardized testing was not necessary for evaluating student learning. “For far too long, the teachers unions have used standardized testing to keep states in line with their woke standards,” the department said. Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, a Republican, told Fox News Digital, “President Trump is returning power back to the states so we can return power back to hard-working Oklahoma families.” RED STATE WILL REQUIRE NEW TEACHERS PASS PRAGERU ‘AMERICA FIRST’ TEST TO KEEP LICENSE “The teachers-union-approach is failing our kids,” said Walters. “By moving away from outdated state tests and empowering local districts, we’re reducing the burden on students, parents, and teachers while ensuring high-quality education that is no longer driven by bureaucrats or outside groups.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the Oklahoma Education Association, Professional Oklahoma Educators and the American Federation of Teachers – Oklahoma for comment.
California Democrat drops out of governor’s race to run for a different role
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who launched a gubernatorial bid more than two years ago, is dropping out and running for state treasurer instead. “At this moment, I believe I can make the greatest impact by focusing on California’s financial future,” the Democrat noted in a statement. Fox News Digital emailed Kounalakis’ campaign early on Friday morning to request comment from the lieutenant governor. GOP CONGRESSMAN VOWS ‘ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE’ TO STOP US-WIDE REDISTRICTING WAR Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced in a statement last week that she had “given serious thought to” seeking the governorship, but decided not to do so “in this election.” The 2026 gubernatorial contest is wide open since current Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is serving his second term, cannot run again due to the state’s two-term limit. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WILL NOT RUN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR “No Governor may serve more than 2 terms,” the state constitution stipulates. Newsom, who took office in 2019, survived a gubernatorial recall election in 2021, and then went on to win election to a second term in 2022. SCHWARZENEGGER PUSHING BACK AGAINST NEWSOM REDISTRICTING BID IN CALIFORNIA Democrats running to succeed Newsom include former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and others.
President Trump increases federal law enforcement presence in DC following violent crime surge
President Donald Trump has directed federal law enforcement to increase its presence throughout Washington, D.C., following a concerning surge in violent crime, including an incident in which a former DOGE worker nicknamed “Big Balls” was brutally beaten in the streets this week. Trump signed an executive order in March establishing the “Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force.” Now the administration is taking a whole-of-government approach by deploying additional law enforcement to increase presence and improve overall public safety in the nation’s capital city, according to a source familiar with the plans. The operation, which will use both local and federal law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, DEA and others, begins at midnight on Thursday and will initially last for seven days with the option to extend “as needed.” Law enforcement will focus on improving safety in high-traffic tourist areas and other known hotspots. TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CELEBRATES LATEST CHAPTER OF WINS AT 200-DAY MARK In a statement to Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced “there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C.” beginning on Thursday night. “Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,” Leavitt said. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C.” She added, “President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s capital safer for its residents, lawmakers, and visitors from all around the world.” The source familiar with the plans noted that stamping out the “out-of-control violent crime plaguing DC” has been an “ongoing priority” for the president and that the move is him delivering on his campaign promise to restore the capital city. TRUMP THREATENS TO FEDERALIZE DC AFTER EX-DOGE EMPLOYEE ‘BIG BALLS’ VIOLENTLY BEATEN Among the priorities laid out in Trump’s executive order, he directed the task force to deploy a more robust federal law enforcement presence and coordinate with local law enforcement in the District of Columbia, including the National Mall and Memorial Parks, museums, monuments, Lafayette Park, Union Station, Rock Creek Park, Anacostia Park, the George Washington Memorial Parkway, the Suitland Parkway, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The order also instructs the task force to review and, if needed, revise federal prosecutorial policies on pretrial detention of criminal defendants to ensure individuals who pose a threat to public safety are detained to the maximum extent permitted by law. Additionally, the order instructs the task force to direct maximum enforcement of federal immigration law, redirecting federal, state or local law enforcement resources to apprehend and deport illegals throughout the area. WATCH: TRUMP HINTS HE WILL FEDERALIZE DC SOON, BRING IN NATIONAL GUARD AFTER ‘BIG BALLS’ ATTACK The source said the additional law enforcement will be devoted to protecting D.C. residents and visitors from the “scourge of violent crime plaguing” the city. “President Trump promised to Make DC Safe Again on the campaign trail – this is another promise kept,” they said.
Nancy Pelosi says sex changes for trans kids is something she’s working for ‘at the national level’
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that sex changes for transgender children is something she’s working for “at the national level.” Earlier in the day, Pelosi toured the San Francisco VA Medical Center to review health-system upgrades, research initiatives and—according to a press release from her staff—the threat that House Republicans might slash core veterans’ services. While speaking with reporters, she was asked how her office was responding to pauses to “gender-affirming care” in California. “That is something I’m working for at the national level, and we are hoping we can have gender-affirming care for our trans kids,” Pelosi said. “It’s a sad thing for us… I don’t know what effect we can have nationally with what we have going on in the White House and in Congress.” DEMOCRATIC STATES SUE TRUMP ADMIN OVER ENDING SEX CHANGE SURGERIES FOR MINORS She called the situation “really sad, adding that a transgender-pride flag—five horizontal stripes of light blue, pink and white—hangs outside her office. Pelosi also said several colleagues display the same flag. She acknowledged that many Republicans on Capitol Hill oppose medical transition for transgender youth. Still, she is not alone in her stance on sex changes for kids. CHILDREN’S NATIONAL HOSPITAL IN DC TO END GENDER TRANSITION MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS Earlier this month, over a dozen officials from Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from blocking access to sex change procedures and treatments for people under the age of 19. The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argues that the Trump administration wants to impose a nationwide ban on sex change procedures by threatening providers with “baseless criminal charges” and investigations. The lawsuit names President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department as defendants. It challenges Trump’s Jan. 28 executive order barring government support for sex change operations and treatments and two memos by Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. Pelosi’s office told Fox News Digital the Democrat was referring to this lawsuit when she spoke about supporting sex changes for children. TRUMP’S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TARGETS DOCTORS, CLINICS WHO PROVIDE SEX CHANGE PROCEDURES TO MINORS Bondi’s memo directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and prosecute those who offer sex-change treatments to minors. Shumate’s memo directs prosecutors to prioritize investigations against doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies that perform such procedures. In July, Kaiser Permanente announced that it would pause sex change surgeries for patients under 19 beginning Aug. 29 in response to the Trump administration’s efforts on the matter. The same month, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shuttered its Center for Trans Youth Health and Development, one of the nation’s largest clinics for transgender young people. The Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., also announced that it will no longer provide gender transition-related medical interventions. Many states have laws restricting or banning sex change surgeries for children. The states named in the lawsuit – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. – allow such procedures. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Pentagon announces massive migrant detention facility at Fort Bliss in Texas with 5,000 beds
The Department of Defense plans to build the largest federal migrant detention facility in the U.S. to date, at Fort Bliss in Texas, which is expected to have up to 5,000 beds for illegal aliens. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson announced the project during a press briefing Thursday, stating that construction began in July. “Since then, work has begun for initial detainment capacity of 1,000 illegal aliens with initial operating capacity likely to be achieved by mid to late August,” Wilson said. “Once DOD achieves initial stand up, we will finish construction for up to 5,000 beds in the weeks and months ahead.” Wilson said the facility will become the largest of its kind in U.S. history, serving what she called “this critical mission: the deportation of illegal aliens.” TRUMP ADMIN OFFERS $608M FOR STATES TO BUILD MIGRANT CAMPS MODELED AFTER ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ The new facility is being established to support President Donald Trump’s executive order to protect Americans against an invasion. The announcement follows Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s recent statement that the state will build a facility dubbed the “Speedway Slammer” at the Miami Correctional Center, located between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Named in reference to Indiana’s racing heritage, including the Indianapolis 500, the “Speedway Slammer” will house up to 1,000 migrants once operational. SELF-DEPORT OR END UP IN ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ,’ NOEM WARNS MIGRANTS DURING TRUMP VISIT “We are proud to work with President Trump and Secretary Noem as they remove the worst of the worst with this innovative partnership,” Braun said in a statement on Tuesday. “Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states.” Funding for the project comes from a reconciliation bill signed by Trump last month, which he referred to as the “one big, beautiful bill.” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the legislation funds the 287(g) program, which facilitates cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local authorities, as well as 80,000 ICE detention beds. The Trump administration has continued deportation operations while encouraging undocumented immigrants without additional criminal records to self-deport. TRUMP TO VISIT ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ FOR GRAND OPENING OF SWAMPY EVERGLADES DETENTION CENTER FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS According to DHS, individuals who voluntarily leave the country are eligible for a $1,000 incentive and free travel, potentially allowing for legal reentry in the future. Another facility, informally known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” opened this summer under the supervision of federal officials and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. It serves as a staging center for deportations. Initially funded by the state, the facility will also receive support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It currently holds 2,000 people, with capacity expected to double. Deportation flights began late last month. The facility was converted from a decommissioned airport in the Everglades. A second center may follow, according to WJHL. State officials have faced criticism from immigration and environmental advocacy groups over the facility’s location and purpose. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Hegseth considers reversing Army ban on aggressive ‘shark attack’ training
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering reversing a ban on the “shark attack,” the time-honored aggressive practice used by drill sergeants to train U.S. Army recruits in basic training. The practice was usually employed at the beginning of training by having several drill sergeants swarming trainees and yelling in their faces at the top of their lungs. “It starts at basic training. It starts at our military academies,” Hegseth said Thursday during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show.” “We are going back to basics. Drill sergeants will be drill sergeants with knife hands who ensure, who maintain good order and discipline and train up great recruits who will make great formations. Just like we need military officers with that same rigorous discipline and background. So, we’re going back to the basics, and it’s bearing fruit.” HEGSETH VOWS TO RESTORE WARRIOR MENTALITY AND RAISE STANDARDS IN SWEEPING MILITARY TRANSFORMATION The Army began phasing out the shark attack in recent years and largely ended it in 2020. It was replaced by the ‘First 100 Yards,’ a more structured training exercise designed to build camaraderie and encourage teamwork under stress. “‘The First 100 Yards’ is a U.S. Army trainee’s first exposure to their Basic Training (BCT), Drill Sergeants, and their first opportunity to begin their transformation as members of the world’s most potent and lethal fighting force,” the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training posted on Facebook. “‘The First 100 Yards,’ a homage to their lineage of closing the last 100 yards of the fight, incorporates teamwork into a competition that features mental and physical challenges on the day they arrive to their basic training company.” HEGSETH SPARS WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS OVER MARINE DEPLOYMENT TO LA ANTI-ICE RIOTS: ‘NOT ABOUT LETHALITY’ The act of replacing the shark attack grew out of deliberations at the Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Senior leaders believed the practice was outdated but stressed at the time that the Army was not going soft despite the absence of the in-your-face pile-on trainees were subjected to. Supporters of the shark attack said it helps trainees transition from civilian to military life and prepares them for the chaotic environment some will experience on the battlefield. “The secretary is very excited to be making basic training great,” Defense Department press secretary Kingsley Wilson said Thursday. “Again, I can confirm that he’s going to be looking at basic training and making sure that the standards are where they should be. “We want our warfighters to be strong, and that starts in basic training, and we want to make sure we really, again, go back to basics. And shark attacks are going to be something that he is looking at reinstating.” One Army unit recently reversed a ban on “tossing bays,” another traditional practice in which drill sergeants overturn bunks and mattresses, wall lockers, garbage cans and other items in the bays where enlisted trainees sleep, forcing them to clean the area. A July 31 memo by Col. Christopher J.C. Hallows, commander of the 197th Infantry Brigade, which trains infantry soldiers, announced that bay tossing was “strictly prohibited.” “Drill sergeants will not ‘toss’ the bay to include flipping mattresses, knocking over wall lockers, touching and/or damaging Trainee personal items or equipment,” the memo states. “Drill sergeants will not use bay ‘tossing’ for any reason to include methods of corrective action.” On Sunday, Hallows issued another memo reversing the ban. On Thursday, Hegseth noted that bay tossing and the shark attack have been part of basic training for decades. “It’s the basic stuff that anyone who went through any form of basic training for decades understood as a recruit, you were going into a crucible,” he said. “You were going to be forged. You were gonna be challenged. You were to be scared, nervous and anxious. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “And by coming through that, you are gonna be forged an American warrior. A shark attack is when drill sergeants surround one particular enlistee, right?” he added. “Creating a stressful situation that they have to figure out how to manage. Bed tossing inside barracks after you’ve had a long day doing map out on the range or walk in patrol — this is basic stuff. This is not beyond what’s been done. This is a restoration.”
AG Bondi offers $50M for arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Justice Department and State Department announced the reward, up from $25 million. The United States has accused Maduro of aiding drug cartels and street gangs, as well as operating a corrupt and repressive regime. “Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like TdA (Tren de Aragua), Sinaloa and Cartel of the Suns (Cartel de Soles) to bring deadly violence to our country,” Bondi said in a video message. “He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.” US ACCUSES VENEZUELAN REGIME OF NARCO-TERRORISM OVER ALLIANCES WITH TREN DE ARAGUA, SINALOA CARTEL Cartel of the Suns is a Venezuelan drug-trafficking organization comprised of high-ranking Venezuelan officials. In March 2020, Maduro was charged in a federal indictment with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. To date, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, Bondi said. The drugs are a primary source of income for Mexican and Venezuelan-based cartels, she said. Bondi noted that cocaine is often laced with fentanyl, resulting in thousands of American lives lost. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has frequently criticized Maduro, whom he said is not the South American nation’s legitimate leader following a disputed 2024 election victory. “One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro defied the will of the Venezuelan people by baselessly declaring himself the winner, the United States remains firm in its unwavering support to Venezuela’s restoration of democratic order and justice,” Rubio said last month. “Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government.” RUBIO RIPS VENEZUELA’S MADURO AS ‘NARCO-TERRORIST’ LEADER THREATENING US ONE YEAR AFTER DISPUTED ELECTION “Maduro is the leader of the designated narco-terrorist organization Cartel de Los Soles, and he is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe,” Rubio continued. “Maduro, currently indicted by our nation, has corrupted Venezuela’s institutions to assist the cartel’s criminal narco-trafficking scheme into the United States.” In January, the State Department announced a $25 million reward for Muduro’s arrest. The agency said Muduro has participated in a violent narco-terrorism conspiracy with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a designated foreign terrorist organization. In addition, Maduro negotiated multi-ton shipments of FARC-produced cocaine; directed the Cartel of the Suns to provide military-grade weapons to the FARC; coordinated with drug traffickers in Honduras and other countries to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking; and solicited assistance from FARC leadership in training an unsanctioned militia group that functioned, in essence, as an armed forces unit for the Cartel of the Suns. In addition to the charges against him, the Justice Department has seized more than $700 million of assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets and nine vehicles, Bondi said.