Philadelphia DA goes into tirade about ‘fascist’ Trump, ‘Hitler’ when confronted at park in viral video
Progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner launched into a rant when confronted by a young Republican activist in a local park in a video that has since gone viral. “Donald Trump is a fascist,” Krasner said during the confrontation. When prompted to elaborate on what he meant by the remark, Krasner instead deflected and continued his tirade. “You’re un-American, Frank. You’re un-American,” Krasner repeated in the video. “You’re anti-American.” Frank Scales, the man behind the camera, responded, “I’m a resident of this city who cares about public safety. Why are you calling me un-American?” SOROS-LINKED DA WARNS TRUMP AFTER DC CRIME CRACKDOWN: ‘BETTER NOT TRY IT IN PHILLY’ “Because you support people who support hate,” Krasner replied. “You don’t understand what it means to be a fascist, what people like Adolf Hitler do, how spreading hate, which is something that, frankly, the people you admire do, gets us closer to that.” Krasner then got personal, saying that Scales was “a 22-year-old who knows nothing [about what] he’s talking about” and called Scales’ outlet, Surge Philly, a “fake, non-existent paper.” “[We] went with the goal of talking to Krasner (an incumbent public servant) about why we weren’t allowed in his town hall and to understand why he calls Republicans ‘fascist.’ The idea was to have a civil conversation with Larry in a public space, but he is incapable of civil discourse,” Surge Philly said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “If there’s anything about Larry Krasner we’d like others to know, it’s that he’s a progressive district attorney funded by out-of-state billionaires to advance an agenda not in the interest of the people he serves.” During the encounter, Krasner referenced an incident in which Scales disrupted a meeting in the city. On Sept. 16, Scales participated in what the outlet WCAU described as a “brief disruption” during a town hall that Krasner was holding at the Salt & Life Church. This was part of a series of talks the district attorney planned to discuss with the public the possibility of President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard to Philadelphia as he had in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, WPVI-TV reported. The Trump administration has yet to announce plans to deploy the National Guard to Philadelphia. However, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said earlier this month that the state is “prepared” to respond if Trump were to send troops. “I can tell you that we are prepared,” Shapiro said, according to WPVI. “We are prepared should they try to deploy the National Guard against my will in any community across Pennsylvania.” SHAPIRO CHIDES TRUMP OVER RESPONSE TO CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION “Fascists are going to be fascists. What can I say?” Krasner said at the town hall, according to WCAU. He then went on to trash the “Pennsylvania Legislature and its MAGA members,” according to the outlet. “The fundamental premise of the United States is supposed to be that all people are created equal. It’s a deep belief in equality,” Krasner reportedly added. “These people don’t believe in equality at all. They don’t believe in equality of folks. They don’t believe in gender equality. They’re absolutely just as hateful towards women as they are on the issue of race. These are people who agree with Adolf Hitler.” At that moment, Scales stood up and yelled, “Lie!” He then added, “People like you are responsible for the death of Charlie Kirk. Stop calling them fascists,” according to WCAU. BYRON DONALDS REBUKES ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER OVER ‘FASCIST’ SLUR: ‘DO I LOOK LIKE A MEMBER OF THE THIRD REICH?’ Scales spoke about the incident in a video on X, saying he did not attend the meeting with the intention of disrupting the district attorney. It was only after he was told that questions at the town hall had to be written on cards “so they can be vetted and read by a moderator” that he determined the event was no more than a “publicity stunt.” Two days later, on Sept. 18, Scales attempted to attend another one of Krasner’s town halls but was allegedly denied entry. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Krasner, a vocal Trump critic, on Thursday urged officials to condemn the alleged politicization of the Justice Department, comparing it to Watergate. “Justice requires evenhandedness and impartiality in order to function effectively. Sadly, Trump’s actions this week are another example of his toxic assault on constitutional norms,” Krasner said in a statement. “I invite other elected officials to speak up, especially local and state prosecutors, against this egregious politicization of the Justice Department. The ongoing assault on our democracy by the Trump administration is not normal and must be called out at every opportunity.” Fox News Digital reached out to Scales and Krasner for comment.
Trump administration presses Supreme Court on executive order restricting birthright citizenship
The Trump administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship, a move that could redefine what has become known as a bedrock constitutional guarantee. The request comes as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and allied groups filed a class action in federal court in New Hampshire, escalating a legal clash that reaches back to the Reconstruction era. At stake is whether the U.S. will continue to recognize nearly all children born on its soil as citizens, a principle the Supreme Court decided in “United States v. Wong Kim Ark” (1898). The outcome could reshape the 14th Amendment‘s Citizenship Clause, which has long been understood to guarantee citizenship to virtually every child born on U.S. soil regardless of parents’ status. FEDERAL APPEALS COURT WEIGHS TRUMP BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER AS ADMIN OUTLINES ENFORCEMENT DETAILS Trump’s order seeks to narrow that interpretation to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. If upheld, it could deny automatic citizenship to many children born in the U.S. each year. In “Wong Kim Ark,” the Court ruled that a San Francisco-born man whose Chinese parents were barred from naturalization was nonetheless an American citizen under the 14th Amendment. That decision cemented “jus soli,” or citizenship by birth on American soil, with narrow exceptions for children of diplomats, foreign occupiers and sovereign tribal nations. Critics of the executive order argue that the text and history are clear. UC Berkeley law professor John Yoo has written that the Framers borrowed British “jus soli” traditions and that Reconstruction lawmakers expanded citizenship to ensure formerly enslaved people and their descendants were fully included. TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP BLOCKED BY ANOTHER FEDERAL APPEALS JUDGE IN LATEST RULING “It is simply beyond doubt that the Framers operated by borrowing and adopting common law principles … to adopt an interpretation that rejects that meaning, we would want to see historical evidence that the Framers had adopted a radically new interpretation,” Yoo wrote. Supporters of the order counter that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” requires full and lawful political allegiance, not simply being born on U.S. soil. John Eastman, who advised on drafting the policy, has argued that the Constitution requires both birth on U.S. soil and “complete” jurisdiction. “Complete” means allegiance to the U.S., not to another sovereign. The order has already faced multiple challenges. Federal courts initially blocked it with broad injunctions, though the Supreme Court later narrowed those rulings. In a recent dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor suggested class actions could provide a way forward for challengers, writing that “parents of children covered by the Citizenship Order would be well advised to file promptly class action suits … and lower courts would be wise to act swiftly.” The ACLU’s new lawsuit in New Hampshire reflects that strategy. “Every court to have looked at this cruel order agrees that it is unconstitutional … we are fighting to make sure President Trump cannot trample on the citizenship rights of a single child,” said Cody Wofsy, an attorney with the ACLU. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “This executive order directly opposes our Constitution, values, and history, and it would create a permanent, multigenerational subclass,” added Devon Chaffee, executive director of ACLU-NH. Karla McKanders of the Legal Defense Fund called the order “an unlawful attempt to entrench racial hierarchies,” saying, “Citizenship is a right afforded to us by birth, not by privilege.” Fox News Digital has requested comment from the White House and the ACLU and its partner organizations.
Vice President JD Vance calls out ‘left-wing radicals’ for inciting political violence in social media post
Vice President JD Vance fired back on social media on Friday after being tagged in a video that appeared to mock Trump supporters over their response to the 2023 Bud Light controversy. The clip, which was posted to X, showed a man shooting Bud Light cans seemingly in protest of the brand’s 2023 partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The user then took aim at Vance, telling him not to complain about “violent rhetoric from the left.” VANCE PAUSES NORTH CAROLINA SPEECH FOR BOY WHO SAID HE ‘SKIPPED SCHOOL’ TO ASK FOR A SELFIE “This is how MAGA responded after Bud Lite had the audacity to feature a trans influencer in their ads,” the X user said. “So spare us your b——- about violent rhetoric from the left, [JD Vance].” Vance replied to the post, writing, “I call upon all of our supporters to stop the violence against innocent beer cans. And I call upon all left-wing radicals to stop inciting violence against innocent people.” AFTER DALLAS ICE SHOOTING, VANCE SAYS THOSE WHO DENIGRATE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ‘GO STRAIGHT TO HELL’ Earlier in the week, Vance said those who denigrate law enforcement are encouraging “crazy people to go and commit violence” after a shooter opened fire at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility Wednesday in Dallas. “You don’t have to agree with my immigration policies. You don’t have to agree with Donald Trump’s immigration policies. But if your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement, you can go straight to hell,” Vance said Wednesday during a trip to North Carolina. “And you have no place in the political conversation of the United States of America. JIMMY KIMMEL CALLS OUT JD VANCE FOR POINTING FINGER AT THE LEFT AFTER CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION “If you want to stop political violence, stop attacking our law enforcement as the Gestapo. If you want to stop political violence, stop telling your supporters that everybody who disagrees with you is a Nazi. If you want to stop political violence, look in the mirror. That’s the way that we stop political violence in this country.” Vance has also blamed the death of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at Utah Valley University earlier this month, on “left-wing political radicalization.” “They tried to silence our dear friend Charlie Kirk,” JD Vance said at Kirk’s memorial. “And, tonight, we speak with Charlie and for Charlie, louder than ever.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Bud Light controversy in 2023 sparked massive backlash against both transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney and the beer brand. Mulvaney came under fire after posting a video in April 2023 revealing the beer company sent packs of Bud Light with the influencer’s face as part of a new ad campaign and to celebrate Mulvaney’s full year of transitioning to “girlhood.”
Trump administration official physically assaulted at UNGA by ‘deranged leftist,’ White House says
EXCLUSIVE: A Trump administration official was physically assaulted by a “deranged leftist” inside the United Nations Thursday afternoon during the gathering of the UN General Assembly, Fox News Digital has learned. An official working in international relations for the Department of Health and Human Services was in New York City serving in a support role for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the department’s leadership team at UNGA. “An HHS official was followed into a bathroom, recorded, physically assaulted and verbally accosted by a deranged leftist at the UN who somehow entered the venue past multiple layers of security,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital. “Thankfully, the official is safe, and the lunatic was arrested, but this is part of a disturbing and dangerous set of failures by the UN after their sabotage of President Trump ahead of and during his speech.” TRUMP SLAMS UN FOR ‘CREATING NEW PROBLEMS,’ QUESTIONS ITS ROLE IN FIERY UNGA SPEECH Kelly told Fox News Digital that the U.S. Secret Service will investigate “how this violent protester was admitted into a major national security event.” A source familiar told Fox News Digital that the individual has been charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon. The individual was released from custody at 7:30 p.m. Friday night, the source said. The individual is expected in court next on Nov. 13. “The UN must answer why these highly concerning incidents continue to happen against the president and his staff,” Kelly said. “We are outraged that a member of the U.S. delegation was physically assaulted inside of UN Headquarters the afternoon of September 25,” a U.S. UN spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “This attack must be addressed swiftly, and consequences must be felt.” The spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “the UN itself recognizes that it has lost its way.” WALTZ TO ROOT OUT ANTISEMITISM, ELIMINATE ‘WOKE’ PROGRAMS, GET ‘BACK TO BASICS’ AT THE UNITED NATIONS “Now, it has devolved into an arena where an American delegation member is harassed and assaulted,” the spokesperson said. “If you can’t keep people safe in your own building, how can you claim to be the world’s diplomatic center?” The spokesperson called the incident “unacceptable,” and told Fox News Digital that the United Nations “will use every available resource to support the U.S. Secret Service into their investigation of this incident.” “We know the UN needs dramatic reform and now must also immediately implement a thorough review of the UN’s security operations,” the spokesperson said. “The UN’s failures are evident worldwide, and now in its own halls.” The U.S. UN spokesperson added: “Enough is enough.” The official recounted her experience of being followed, harassed, and physically assaulted inside the United Nations in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. The official told Fox News Digital that she was walking down the hallway at the UN when a woman began berating her and shining a bright light in her face. “It was very disorienting,” the official said. “Once I took a step back and regained my footing, it didn’t stop. I realized what was happening. I realized I was being yelled at and that the light was also a recording device.” The official tried to get away from the woman who was screaming derogatory and pro-Palestinian comments at her as she followed closely behind. OUSTED DIRECTOR SAYS AMERICA250 LEADERS ‘HATE TRUMP MORE THAN THEY LOVE AMERICA’ AFTER FIRING FOR KIRK POST The official said the woman called her a “fascist” and a “Nazi.” “The insults changed to specific insults,” the official said, telling Fox News Digital that she went into the women’s bathroom to get away, but that the woman kept following her. “Her yelling turned into screaming—hyper-aggressive insults,” the official said. The official tried to hide in a bathroom stall, but told Fox News Digital that the woman was pushing and trying to get into the stall. Once the official was able to close the door, the woman put the camera over the door of the bathroom stall to continue filming the official and screaming. The official waited for the screaming to stop, and exited the stall, hoping the woman had left, but the woman was waiting for her at the door, and continued to follow her into the hallway, continuing to yell at her and shine the light in her face. Eventually, the official was able to get away. The official told Fox News Digital the incident lasted approximately 10 minutes. “It felt very political in nature,” she said. “Secretary Kennedy gets a tremendous number of bows and arrows and threats that he deals with, but it seems that it’s not enough, and it is trickling down.” She added: “That’s a scary thing for the team. But we’re more empowered, and we have amazing leadership.” Fox News Digital has learned that the woman was arrested by the New York City Police Department. It is unclear whether she is still in custody. The NYPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The United Nations did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Major pro-life group demands investigation into abortion pill billboards in Florida
FIRST ON FOX: A major pro-life organization is calling on Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to investigate a nonprofit it accuses of running “deceptive and misleading” abortion pill ads across the state. In a Sept. 19 letter obtained by Fox News Digital, 40 Days for Life urged Uthmeier to take action against Mayday Health, a New York-based nonprofit that has placed billboards around Florida promoting the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol. “Those pictures are not [artificial intelligence],” Shawn Carney, president and CEO of 40 Days For Life, told Fox News Digital on Friday. “Those are actual pictures of boats floating in front of tourists — trying to get a tan, trying to enjoy their time off of work — and yet they’re having abortion pills shoved in their face. It’s out of touch, and it could be illegal.” MORE THAN 20 GOP ATTORNEYS GENERAL CALL ON RFK JR, FDA TO REINSTATE SAFEGUARDS FOR ABORTION DRUGS The pro-life group argues the ads fail to disclose critical information, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) black box warnings about risks like hemorrhage and infection, while also omitting federally required safety protocols and potential legal consequences for Floridians. “It shows once again how out of touch abortion advocates are in a post-Roe America where they have no sense of mission,” Carney said. “They cannot read the room at all, and now they can’t read the law.” Carney and other members of 40 Days for Life have called on Florida’s top prosecutor to launch an investigation and possibly pursue prosecution. TEXAS MAN SUES CALIFORNIA DOCTOR IN UNPRECEDENTED ABORTION PILL CASE OVER UNBORN CHILD’S ALLEGED ‘MURDER’ “I think that they need to be investigated and possibly prosecuted because this definitely seems like a violation of Florida’s deceptive advertising law,” Carney told Fox News Digital. Florida bans most abortions after six weeks, making it one of the strictest states in the nation. Carney said the grassroots structure of 40 Days for Life — which has more than 1 million participants across 1,800 cities globally — allows the group to spot local problems first. “When things like this happen at the local level, we’re the first to see it,” Carney said. “So, when we see these new ad campaigns for abortion pills or whether we see doctors doing illegal abortions, we’re going to look into it and report it and take legal action.” PRO-LIFE GROUP ‘ELATED’ AFTER PLANNED PARENTHOOD SHUTTERS HOUSTON FACILITIES: ‘TREMENDOUS VICTORY’ Carney also argued that the overturning of Roe v. Wade has forced abortion advocates to defend positions he described as extreme. “Gen Z has turned against abortion because they’re the first generation in our country to ever have a photo of their own ultrasound,” he said. “And that’s why they are the most pro-life generation ever at their age.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Mayday Health did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump vows to order declassification of all Amelia Earhart files after nearly 90-year aviation mystery
President Donald Trump on Friday said he will declassify files related to Amelia Earhart, the aviation trailblazer who became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the U.S. and who famously disappeared nearly 90 years ago. In a Truth Social post, Trump said he’s been asked about Earhart and her final flight. “Amelia made it almost three-quarters of the way around the world before she suddenly, and without notice, vanished—never to be seen again,” he wrote. “Her disappearance, almost 90 years ago, has captivated millions. I am ordering my Administration to declassify and release all government records related to Amelia Earhart, her final trip, and everything else about her.” REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: MILITARY WHISTLEBLOWERS TESTIFY TO CONGRESS ABOUT UNEXPLAINED UFO ENCOUNTERS Researchers have long searched for answers about Earhart’s 1937 disappearance over the Pacific Ocean during her fateful attempt to fly around the globe. The disappearance has been the subject of many conspiracy theories. In his post, Trump called her an “aviation pioneer, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and [someone who] achieved many other aviation ‘firsts’.” In July, Kimberlyn King-Hinds, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ delegate to the House of Representatives, wrote to Trump asking him to declassify documents related to Earhart. 7 DETAILS REVEALED IN NEWLY RELEASED MLK FILES “In pursuing clarity for my constituents, I have become aware that the U.S. government may still hold documents or records related to Earhart’s journey and final whereabouts that have not yet been made public,” King-Hinds wrote. “Should such records exist, their release would contribute meaningfully to our understanding of one of America’s most revered aviators and could finally shed light on the final chapter of her remarkable life. “A national icon, Amelia Earhart embodied America’s courage, determination, and pioneering spirit,” she added. “Yet the mystery surrounding her final flight continues to generate debate and speculation nearly ninety years later.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Since taking office, Trump has declassified documents related to the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Massive cheating scandal involving Democratic governor candidate also involved husband: report
A massive cheating scandal that rocked the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 and involved New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill also involved her husband, Jason Hedberg, according to reporting by the New York Post. This follows the improper release of bombshell private military records by the National Archives and Records Administration, which revealed that Sherrill was not allowed to walk with her graduating class at the Naval Academy and that her name was not included in the commencement program due to her involvement in the scandal. Sherrill, a congresswoman representing New Jersey, has not been accused of cheating at the Naval Academy but rather of failing to report those who had cheated on an exam. The Post reported that Hedberg was also caught up in the scandal. The outlet said Hedberg was one of nearly 50 midshipmen who sued the Naval Academy, the Navy and the Pentagon to block an honor board at the school from deciding whether they should be dismissed. NJ GOVERNOR’S RACE ESCALATES AS GOP CONTENDER THREATENS LEGAL ACTION AMID DEM LEAK CLAIMS The suit alleged that each named plaintiff was denied due process by the academy and ordered by their superiors to make incriminating statements, according to the outlet. The complaint stated that “in compliance with the orders of their superior military officers, each named plaintiff was compelled to make inculpatory statements to Navy Inspector General investigators.” While Sherrill did not walk in her commencement ceremony, Hedberg’s name is included in the 1994 commencement program, indicating he was cleared to take part in the ceremony, which took place three months after the suit was filed. Sherrill is locked in a tight race against Republican Jack Ciattarelli to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Sean Higgins, a spokesperson for Sherrill’s campaign, responded to the development by telling Fox News Digital that “the fact Jack Ciattarelli and MAGA Republicans are going after Mikie’s family is sick and desperate. “Jason graduated, served honorably as a Naval Officer and the illegal disclosure of Mikie’s unredacted personal military records, including her Social Security number and the unlawful dissemination of those records by the Ciattarelli campaign is a disgrace and must be investigated.” While investigating Sherrill’s suspected involvement in the 1994 cheating scandal, Ciattarelli’s campaign also submitted its own FOIA request, which confirmed her name was not on the U.S. Naval Academy graduation program that year. The revelations have rocked the already tight race in blue-leaning New Jersey. CIATTARELLI DEMANDS SHERRILL ‘COME CLEAN’ AFTER NAVAL ACADEMY CHEATING SCANDAL RESURFACES The Ciattarelli campaign said Nicholas De Gregorio, a friend who is not directly involved in the campaign, “submitted a lawful FOIA request” about Sherrill’s military background of his own accord. A spokesperson for the National Archives and Records Administration stated that the technician who responded to De Gregorio’s request about Sherrill’s military record “should NOT have released the entire record,” which included private information such as her Social Security number. The National Archives apologized for the breach of privacy and has committed to holding its staff accountable for the blunder. In response, Sherrill has accused Ciattarelli of illegally obtaining the records. “To have a guy I’m running against, it will stop at nothing, it will stop at nothing, who will illegally obtain records. It’s just beyond the pale,” Sherrill charged Thursday night on the campaign trail in Plainfield, New Jersey. REPUBLICAN AIMING TO FLIP BLUE STATE RIPS DEM RIVAL FOR BLAMING ‘EVERYTHING ON TRUMP’ “I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor,” Sherrill told the Globe when confronted with the commencement program. She defended not releasing any disciplinary records from her time at the academy. Sherrill has also accused the Trump administration of colluding with Ciattarelli’s campaign. “This is an illegal and dangerous weaponization of the federal government,” Sherrill said in a statement Thursday as she criticized Ciattarelli and the Trump administration for “breaking the law and exposing private records for political gain.” On Thursday, Higgins accused the Trump administration of “targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign.” NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR FACES NET WORTH QUESTIONS AS VIRAL CLIP RESURFACES For his part, Ciattarelli is calling on Sherrill to release her records to prove why she was blocked from attending her graduation ceremony. In a letter sent to Sherrill’s lawyers, a lawyer representing the Ciattarelli campaign said that any claim that Ciattarelli for Governor (CFG) was “part of a conspiracy to smear [Sherrill] with ill-gotten documents is completely false. In fact, it is defamatory and if [Sherrill] and her campaign continue to push this false narrative and allege that CFG and/or [campaign strategist Chris] Russell acted illegally, we will pursue defamation claims.” Sherrill’s campaign did not immediately provide a response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on her husband’s involvement in the scandal.
Supreme Court extends Trump administration’s $5 billion foreign aid freeze amid ongoing legal challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday extended an earlier order that allows the Trump administration to continue blocking nearly $5 billion in congressionally appropriated foreign funds. The U.S. Department of Justice had reached out to the high court for an emergency appeal after a district court judge ruled the administration’s decision to hold the aid was likely illegal, adding that Congress would need to approve the withholding of funds. “This case raises questions of immense legal and practical importance, including whether there is any avenue to test the executive branch’s decision not to spend congressionally appropriated funds,” District Judge Amir Ali said at the time. Friday’s ruling was 6 to 3, with the three liberal justices dissenting. TRUMP CANCELS $4.9B FOREIGN AID, PUSHES DC DEATH PENALTY, TOUTS KIM TIES President Donald Trump last month sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, explaining he was using a pocket rescission, which allows a president to submit a request to Congress to hold approved funds near the end of the fiscal year. Under federal law, Congress has to approve the rescission within 45 days or the money must be spent. But the budget year will end before the 45-day window closes, and, in this situation, the White House is asserting that congressional inaction allows it not to spend the money. It was the first use of a pocket rescission in 50 years. Friday’s ruling extends a temporary block put on the lower court ruling by Chief Justice John Roberts on Sept. 9. The conservative justices in the majority Friday said that Trump’s authority on foreign policy weighed in the decision but cautioned that it wasn’t a final ruling on the matter. WHITE HOUSE MOVE TO CANCEL $4.9B FOREIGN AID WITH ‘POCKET RESCISSION’ BLASTED AS ILLEGAL Reductions in foreign aid have become a hallmark of the Trump administration’s America First agenda. In her dissenting opinion, Justice Elena Kagan, joined by justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, said, “The effect is to prevent the funds from reaching their intended recipients — not just now but (because of their impending expiration) for all time.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The administration called the funds, which would have been used as foreign aid, for United Nations peacekeeping efforts and to promote democracy in other countries, “contrary to U.S. foreign policy.” The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Appeals court hears Medicaid fraud case that could cost Planned Parenthood $1.8 billion
An appellate court is poised to decide a case that supporters and opponents of abortion access are closely watching because the decision could put Planned Parenthood, a prolific abortion vendor, on the hook for up to $1.8 billion. A full panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard oral arguments Thursday in the years-long case, which centers on Planned Parenthood’s use of Medicaid funds in Texas and Louisiana. Jennie Bradley Lichter, president of March for Life, told Fox News Digital the “stakes couldn’t be higher” and that the lawsuit could bankrupt Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit with hundreds of clinics across the country. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM DEFUNDING SOME PLANNED PARENTHOOD FACILITIES “Planned Parenthood is facing a repayment obligation of close to $2 billion because it continued to fill its coffers with taxpayers’ money even after two states had already disqualified it,” Lichter said. “If that obligation stands, it will strike a serious — even existential — blow to Planned Parenthood’s national operations and potentially change the abortion landscape in this country forever.” The case comes after Texas and Louisiana stripped Planned Parenthood affiliates of their Medicaid qualifications in response to activist David Daleiden releasing video footage showing Planned Parenthood staff discussing selling aborted fetal tissue. Daleiden faced a lawsuit and prosecution for illegally recording the staff, but his footage set off a firestorm in the pro-life movement and caused it to ramp up its efforts to weaken the nonprofit. Planned Parenthood, however, sued Texas and Louisiana and initially won an injunction that allowed it to keep receiving the Medicaid reimbursements. But the decision was reversed on appeal years later. SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN MEDICAID FUNDING DISPUTE An anonymous litigant then brought a new lawsuit on behalf of the two states seeking to claw back the millions of dollars Planned Parenthood had collected while the injunction had been in place. Court papers indicate that the potential money Planned Parenthood could now owe — reimbursement of the Medicaid dollars it collected plus various multipliers — could add up to $1.8 billion. The exact dollar amount would be determined by a jury in the lower court. But Planned Parenthood and the anonymous litigant, named in court papers as “Alex Doe,” are now waiting to see where the conservative 5th Circuit will land. The issue before the 5th Circuit’s en banc panel is about whether Planned Parenthood had immunity when it collected the four years’ worth of Medicaid dollars. Planned Parenthood has argued it has immunity because its counsel advised it to collect the payments during the injunction period. Thursday’s oral arguments came after a three-judge panel for the 5th Circuit comprising two Republican-appointed judges and one Democrat-appointed judge sided with Planned Parenthood. Susan Manning, general counsel for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, blasted the Texas and Louisiana lawsuit as a “politically-motivated” attempt to put the nonprofit out of business. “This baseless case has only one goal: to shut down Planned Parenthood and deny patients access to sexual and reproductive health care,” Manning said in a statement this year. “Planned Parenthood health centers are nonprofits that provide essential, high-quality health care to more than 2 million people nationwide every year.” Separately, pro-life activists made progress in their mission to defund Planned Parenthood this year when Congress voted to strip the nonprofit of Medicaid funding at the federal level for a one-year period. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit sided against Planned Parenthood in a lawsuit over the measure.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Loeffler warns Mamdani threatens NYC business
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Sinclair ends Jimmy Kimmel ban after sidelining host amid Charlie Kirk controversy -Who is the Biden-appointed judge taking James Comey’s perjury case? -Top gubernatorial race rocked by allegations of leaks and dirty tricks amid improper military records release EXCLUSIVE: As New York City considers the potential election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler is warning that the city’s economic foundation is already under strain from inflation, high taxes and regulation. Loeffler told Fox News Digital that small business owners in New York City fear socialist policies could accelerate population loss and drive even more jobs and investment to red states. She said New York City’s more than 100,000 small businesses employ nearly 1 million people, making them the powerful pulse of the city’s economic heartbeat. “New York is the capital of capitalism and small businesses,” Loeffler said on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where she addressed the economic downside of progressive politics…READ MORE. FEAR FACTOR: New poll reveals majority of voters believe U.S. is experiencing a political crisis after Kirk assassination ‘RECKLESS DISREGARD’: Trump admin cracks down on truckers’ licenses for foreign drivers after deadly Florida crash ‘HE GOT CAUGHT’: Trump answers whether Comey indictment is about justice or revenge REGIME REJECTED: Iranian president slams U.S. at UN, but protesters outside say regime ‘does not represent us’ LIVESTREAM DIPLOMACY: Netanyahu broadcasts United Nations message into Gaza accusing world leaders of appeasing ‘evil’ SEARCH IS OVER: Convicted cop killer Assata Shakur, an FBI Most Wanted terrorist, dead in Cuba, communist regime says FLIP FLOP: Schumer, Democrats face heat for shifting stance on government shutdown threat COP VS. SWAMP: Mark Warner faces GOP challenge from Airborne Ranger-turned-lawmaker Bryce Reeves UN-FAIRFAX: ‘Nonsense’: Earle-Sears blasts Fairfax transgender bathroom rules in fiery campaign stop ANOTHER POL TARGETED: Top Virginia delegate latest victim of post-Kirk political violence after death-threat suspect arrested CHAOS NEAR CHICAGO: Chicago anti-ICE protesters block vehicles, get hit with tear gas and pepper balls CLASS DISMISSED: Oklahoma state superintendent Ryan Walters leaving for new job where he will wage war against teachers unions ‘TRULY DISTURBING’: Dallas ICE shooting triggers heightened security at facilities nationwide: ‘Truly disturbing’ Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.