Senate Republicans call on DOJ to appoint special counsel in Obama-Russia investigation
FIRST ON FOX: Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, are asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate newly declassified information about the Obama administration’s intelligence assessments about Russian interference in the 2016 election. Graham and Cornyn’s call for a special counsel, which Fox News Digital learned they are announcing Thursday morning, comes the day after the Department of Justice (DOJ) created a “strike force” to investigate the evidence, which was declassified by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard this month. Graham and Cornyn, both senior members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, did not address the strike force but indicated in a statement that special counsels, who are outside officials brought in to oversee politically sensitive cases, operate independently of the attorney general. Fox News reached out to the DOJ for comment on the special counsel request. DOJ FORMS RUSSIAGATE ‘STRIKE FORCE’ TO INVESTIGATE DECLASSIFIED OBAMA-ERA EVIDENCE “As we have supported in the past, appointing an independent special counsel would do the country a tremendous service in this case,” Graham and Cornyn said. Gabbard’s declassified intelligence shed new light on the Obama administration’s determination that Russia sought to help President Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Gabbard alleged Wednesday during a press briefing that Obama and his intelligence officials promoted a “contrived narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Trump win, selling it to the American people as though it were true. It wasn’t.” Graham, who previously served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the Senate’s inquiry into the FBI’s investigation into alleged Trump-Russia collusion and released a tranche of documents in 2020 suggesting the bureau had a flimsy basis for opening its investigation into Trump. RUSSIA SAT ON INTEL OF HILLARY CLINTON’S ALLEGED ‘HEAVY TRANQUILIZERS’ USE, NEW DOCS CLAIM “With every piece of information that gets released, it becomes more evident that the entire Russia collusion hoax was created by the Obama administration to subvert the will of the American people,” Graham and Cornyn said. Their remarks follow Trump accusing former President Barack Obama of “treason” this week and after the DOJ opened criminal investigations into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey. Critics say Gabbard’s claims have been contradicted by past congressional reviews, some of which were led by Republicans. Obama, meanwhile, issued a statement in response to the wave of headlines suggesting he attempted to hurt Trump’s election chances. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.” This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Trump stands by Alina Habba as DOJ clashes with judges over her replacement
President Donald Trump is doubling down on his nomination of Alina Habba after federal judges in New Jersey declined to extend her term as interim U.S. attorney, and instead chose to replace her with a different prosecutor, whom the DOJ subsequently fired. The unusual chain of events has led to confusion over who will become the next interim U.S. attorney in the District of New Jersey, as Habba’s 120-day term is set to expire this week. A White House spokesman said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that Trump supports Habba becoming the permanent U.S. attorney, a position that requires Senate confirmation. DOJ SWIFTLY FIRES HABBA’S COURT-APPOINTED REPLACEMENT FOR US ATTORNEY “President Trump has full confidence in Alina Habba, whose work as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the Garden State and the nation safer,” White House spokesman Harrison Fields said. “The Trump Administration looks forward to her final confirmation in the U.S. Senate and will work tirelessly to ensure the people of New Jersey are well represented.” But Habba’s vote in the Senate does not appear to be happening anytime soon, if at all. New Jersey’s two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, are currently blocking Habba’s nomination through the Senate’s “blue slip” tradition, and a person familiar with the process said the Senate has not received materials needed to vet her nomination in any case. In the meantime, arcane laws surrounding the authority to fill federal vacancies have become pertinent. Trump appointed Habba as the temporary U.S. attorney in March, but that term expires on Friday, according to the Department of Justice. Statutes indicate that federal judges have the authority to extend an interim U.S. attorney’s term or vote on replacing that person. The district court judges of New Jersey, most of whom were appointed by Democratic presidents, convened behind closed doors on Monday and chose to replace Habba with her top assistant, Desiree Grace, a career DOJ prosecutor since 2016. Grace rose through the ranks to become head of the criminal division in New Jersey before becoming Habba’s No. 2 in April. ALINA HABBA: WE MUST REFOCUS TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON IMPORTANT THINGS However, Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged that the judges infringed on Trump’s authority to appoint U.S. attorneys by voting to replace Habba. Bondi said she “removed” Grace in response to the judges’ actions. “[Habba] has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again,” Bondi said in a statement. “Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant. Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed.” Grace could not be reached for comment. An anonymous source with knowledge of the matter told the New York Times that Grace received an email Tuesday informing her that she was fired. WHITE HOUSE HITS BACK AT DEM MAYOR SUING US ATTORNEY AFTER ICE ARREST: ‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’ A Habba spokeswoman told Fox News Digital that Habba is still the interim U.S. attorney through Friday. But the tension between the DOJ and the judges leaves open the question of who will assume the role come Saturday. Booker said that firing a court-appointed U.S. attorney was part of a “pattern” of the DOJ flouting the law. “The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn’t agree with them and undermine judicial independence,” Booker wrote on X. Booker is among the critics who have deemed Habba unqualified for the job. Habba, who served as Trump’s legal spokeswoman and personal defense lawyer during his criminal prosecutions, had no experience as a prosecutor before Trump appointed her as lead prosecutor in New Jersey. Upon taking the job, Habba was accused of politicizing the role after she advocated turning New Jersey “red,” and she drew a rare rebuke from a judge for ordering Newark’s Democratic mayor arrested and then quickly dismissing the charges. But Trump and DOJ leadership are standing firmly by Habba. The Trump administration found a workaround in the Northern District of New York when John Sarcone’s term as U.S. attorney recently expired there, but it is unclear if a similar option is available for Habba. Anne Joseph O’Connell, a Stanford Law School professor, wrote on Bluesky that she believed Trump had the authority to fire Grace and possibly re-appoint Habba to serve out another temporary term. “The question now is, will they name Habba to a new 120-day interim US attorney appointment or will they turn to the Vacancies Act and name a different person as acting U.S. attorney,” O’Connell wrote.
‘Shirts and Skins’: How one Republican bridged the gap to pass Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
FIRST ON FOX: Passing President Donald Trump’s agenda was a team effort between the Senate and House, but one Senate Republican was key in smoothing over differences between the two chambers. “There’s an inherent mistrust between senators and representatives,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital in an interview. “There’s a deep, deep mistrust, and it’s like we’re playing shirts and skins with our own team.” “And trying to break down that barrier and let people know, ‘Hey, we’re all on the same team,’ is a little tougher than what people think,” he continued. SCHUMER, DEMOCRATS TRY TO SAVE FACE, BLAME GOP FOR POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN House Republicans were dead set on crafting one, colossal package, while Senate Republicans preferred splitting the bill into two — even three — pieces. Then there were disagreements over the depth of spending cuts, changes to Medicaid and carveouts to boost the cap on the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT). And while the House GOP worked to craft their version of the massive, $3.3 trillion tax cuts and spending package that eventually made its way to the Senate, Mullin was a crucial figure in bridging the roughly 100-yard gap between both sides of the Capitol. But it’s a job he never really wanted. Mullin, who has been in Washington for over a decade, got his start in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2021. He wanted to maintain “lifelong friendships” with his House colleagues, but becoming the de facto liaison between the chambers was more a decision of practicality than one he truly desired. “The first couple of deputy whip meetings we had when [Senate Majority Leader John Thune] was whip was discussing what the House is going to do, and no one knew,” Mullin said. “And I was like, ‘Man, it’s just down the hall, we can go walk and talk to them.’ So the first time I did that, I went to the [House GOP] conference and just talked.” ‘ALL THE OPTIONS’: GOP EYES CUTTING AUGUST RECESS TO MOVE DOZENS OF TRUMP NOMINEES STALLED BY DEMS “And then it just turned into me going to Thune and saying, ‘Hey, why don’t I just become a liaison between the two?’ So I didn’t, I never envisioned of doing that, other than just keeping a relationship, but it was a natural fit,” he continued. That role began when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who Mullin had a longstanding relationship with, led the House GOP, and has continued since House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., took the helm in 2023. And it paid dividends during the six-month slog to draft and pass Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, which required full buy-in from congressional Republicans to do so given that no Democrats were involved in the process. Markwayne said that before the bill even made it to the Senate in early June, he played a role in ensuring that House Republicans didn’t “dump a ton of stuff in there” that would be nixed by Senate rules. He effectively ping-ponged back and forth between the chambers, jetting from morning workouts to speak with lawmakers, meeting with House Republicans during their weekly conference confabs or holding smaller discussions with lawmakers, particularly blue state Republicans concerned about changes to SALT, to get everyone on roughly the same page. Much of it broke down to explaining how the Senate’s Byrd rule, which governs reconciliation and allows either party to skirt the Senate filibuster to pass legislation, worked. “I mean, even though I spent 12 or 10 years in the House, I never understood the Byrd rule, but why would I? I didn’t have to deal with it,” he said. “So really getting to understand that, and breaking down that barrier helped.” GOP SENATOR REVEALS THE ‘DIRTY’ SECRET TO TRUMP’S MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN MOVEMENT The flow of information wasn’t just one way, however. His discussions with House Republicans helped him better inform his colleagues in the upper chamber of their priorities, and what could and couldn’t be touched as Senate Republicans began putting their fingerprints on the bill. SALT was the main issue that he focused on, and one that most Senate Republicans didn’t care much for. Still, it was a make-or-break agreement to raise the caps, albeit temporarily, to $40,000 for single and joint filers for the next five years, that helped seal the deal for anxious blue state House Republicans. “Just keeping them informed through the process was very important,” he said. “But at the same time, talking to the House, and when we’re negotiating over here, I’d be like, ‘No guys, that’s a killer,’” he said. “We can’t do that if you, if you touch this, it’s dead over there for sure. Guaranteed, it’s dead.” Over time, his approach to the role has changed, an evolution he said was largely influenced by Thune. A self-described “bull in a China cabinet,” Mullin said that for a time his negotiating style was arguing with lawmakers to convince them “why you’re wrong.” But that style softened after watching Thune, he said, and saw him talking less and listening more. “I took his lead off of it to let people talk,” he said. “Sometimes you’re going to find out that they’re actually upset about something that had nothing to do with the bill, but they’re taking that, and they’re holding the bill hostage to be able to let this one point be heard.” “I don’t think it was a good indication that we were butting heads. Everybody was very passionate about this. I mean, they’ve been working for a long time. We looked at it as maybe a once in a generation opportunity for us to be able to get this done,” he continued. “We wanted to get it right, but everybody wanted to have their fingerprint on it and at the end of the day, we knew we [had] to bring it to the floor.”
RNC Chair Michael Whatley to seek open Republican-held Senate seat in battleground North Carolina: sources
Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley will run for the open GOP-held Senate seat in battleground North Carolina with the blessing of President Donald Trump, two sources familiar confirm to Fox News. This, after the president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, apparently decided not to seek the seat. The seat is currently held by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced late last month that he wouldn’t run for re-election in next year’s midterm elections. Whatley’s news, which was first reported by Politico Thursday morning, comes a day after Fox News confirmed that former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is expected to launch a Senate campaign in the North Carolina race. Cooper’s announcement could come as early as next week. TILLIS DENOUNCES TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ HOURS AFTER SURPRISE RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT The showdown in North Carolina is expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive Senate battles in the country. Cooper’s announcement could come as early as next week. National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina met with Whatley to discuss the North Carolina race, a GOP operative told Fox News. RNC CHAIR SAYS ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’ KEY TO GOP’S MESSAGING EFFORT HEADED INTO MIDTERMS The NRSC, since January, had been floating Whatley as a potential replacement for Tillis. Whatley, a North Carolina native, served as the state’s GOP chair for five years before he was elected RNC chair last March. Trump called Tillis’ announcement last month that he wouldn’t seek a third six-year term in the Senate “great news.” Tillis is a GOP critic of the president, and Trump torched the senator last month for not supporting his so-called “big, beautiful” spending and tax cut bill. With Tillis not seeking re-election, Trump is the kingmaker in selecting which Republican will be the party’s 2026 Senate nominee in North Carolina. RNC CHAIR CLAIMS MAMDANI ‘FACE OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY’ “It’s the president’s choice. The president and his team will have those conversations,” a Republican operative, pointing to Trump’s immense sway over the GOP, told Fox News last month. Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, who served last year alongside Whatley as an RNC co-chair, was at the top of the list. Trump, who grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University, is married to the president’s son, Eric. She stepped down from her post at the RNC late last year and currently hosts “My View with Lara Trump” on the Fox News Channel. But Trump apparently decided against seeking the Senate seat. Asked in an interview last week with Fox News Digital about the open seat in North Carolina, Whatley said, “I feel very good that we’re going to be able to hold on to that seat. You know, we’ve been winning in that Senate seat down there for decades. The President has won that state three times in a row.” “If Laura Trump decides to move forward, then I think the entire ecosystem would coalesce behind her, including myself, and if she’s not going to, then we will sit down with the President and figure out what the next steps are going to be,” he added. Whatley said the battle in North Carolina is “going to be the number one Senate race in the entire country, along with Georgia, just because of the number of media markets that we have, the spending that’s going to be there, the fact that you’ve got to hold the seat and you’ve got to pick up seat in Georgia.” “We also going to have a tough race up in Maine. We’re going to have an opportunity to pick up a seat in Michigan. So, you know, there are going to be a number of key races, but that’s going to be one of the marquee races in the country,” he added. Republicans currently control the Senate with a 53-47 majority.
House Republican introduces companion bill to end China’s buying of American farmland
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are taking direct aim at actors tied to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) growing grip on American farmland. In an exclusive to Fox News Digital, Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said she will introduce a House version of Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley’s “Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act” Thursday morning. The legislation is part of a growing GOP push to block the CCP from buying up U.S. farmland and homes. “Prized American land is not for sale to our enemies,” Miller said in a statement to Fox News Digital. HAWLEY MOVES TO BLOCK CHINA’S BUY-UP OF US FARMLAND AS TRUMP ADMIN SOUNDS ALARM “The Chinese Communist Party is the greatest threat to our national security, and their aggressive push to buy up our farmland and homes is a direct attack on our sovereignty. It’s long past time we take back control and put America’s food supply and communities back in American hands — where they belong,” she added. The bill comes amid rising concerns over Beijing’s growing footprint in American markets and real estate. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Chinese entities currently own roughly 265,000 acres of American agricultural land. That number has set off alarm bells for lawmakers and voters alike. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVES DECISIVELY TO BLOCK CHINA FROM ‘WEAPONIZING’ AMERICAN FARMLAND “For far too long, foreign adversaries have taken advantage of our farmland. While USDA doesn’t currently have the authority to prevent the purchase of farmland by foreign nationals, we are actively working to improve the accuracy of foreign-owned farmland reporting so that the public, Congress, and State governments have the relevant data needed to make informed policy decisions,” a USDA spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. “This is just one of the many actions outlined in our recent National Farm Security Action Plan to defend the homeland.” Miller’s bill is the companion to Hawley’s Senate version. The proposal would ban Chinese corporations and individuals affiliated with the CCP from acquiring or leasing any agricultural land in the U.S. “China’s ownership of U.S. farmland poses a direct threat to American interests,” Hawley said. “We should never let our nation’s greatest adversary have access to our vital resources, including our housing supply. That’s why I’m reintroducing legislation to protect American assets from the CCP once and for all.” It would also prohibit purchases of U.S. residential real estate by those same entities for two years, with an option for the president to extend the ban every two years. Entities that already hold such property would be required to divest within one year of the bill becoming law. To enforce compliance, the legislation imposes steep civil fines: $100 per acre per day for illegal agricultural holdings, and $1,000 per day for residential real estate violations. Criminal penalties include up to five years in prison. Land acquired in violation of the law would be subject to forfeiture and sold at public auction. The bill also nullifies non-compete agreements involving foreign agricultural employers and establishes compliance offices within the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee enforcement. The attorney general would have the authority to seize assets and seek court orders to stop violations. Miller’s push aligns with President Donald Trump’s newly launched “National Farm Security Action Plan,” led by Trump officials including Brooke Rollins, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem. The plan is aimed at protecting U.S. food systems and farmland from what Trump has called “foreign exploitation.” Miller’s bill will debut Thursday with a dozen Republican co-sponsors. According to Miller’s office, those backing the legislation include Reps. Pat Harrigan, Ralph Norman, Paul Gosar, Bob Onder, Marlin Stutzman, Tim Burchett, Randy Weber, Tom Tiffany, Andy Harris, Tony Wied, Michael Rulli and Eli Crane. The Senate version was introduced by Hawley last week. Like Miller’s House bill, it targets both farmland and residential properties, including homes, condos and land zoned for housing development. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Since taking office in 2021, Miller has made foreign land ownership a focus of her work in Congress. In January 2022, she and Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, introduced the “National Security Moratorium on Foreign Purchases of U.S. Land.”
House Republicans zero in on Biden autopen pardons after bombshell report
House Republicans are calling for more scrutiny on the roughly 1,500 commutation orders signed by President Joe Biden toward the end of his term after revelations that an autopen was used for a significant number of them. “Americans deserve accountability of their leaders. If an autopen was used to pardon hundreds of people, thousands of people, including the president’s son, who made that decision? Was it Joe Biden? Or was it some staffer that used an autopen?” Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., said in a brief interview with Fox News Digital. The New York Times reported earlier this month that autopen signatures were used on clemency orders in the last few months of Biden’s White House tenure. Biden told the outlet he made “every decision,” and the report details a meticulous process from Biden making his decision to that decision being recorded by aides and passed through a chain of email communication – suggesting the then-president had final signoff. COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ But the report notes, “The Times has not seen the full extent of the emails, so it is impossible to capture the totality of information they contain or what else they might show about Mr. Biden’s involvement in the pardon and clemency decisions.” Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., suggested pardon decisions carried out in the late hours of the day should be looked at in particular. “I think we need to highly scrutinize the use of autopen signatures that were initiated at 10.45 p.m., well beyond the president’s normal day of cognitive activity, need to be brought into question,” Messmer said. The report noted one instance where the final word on a particular set of clemency orders was sent just after 10:30 p.m. The Times had reported in July 2024, before he dropped out of the presidential race, that Biden said he would stop scheduling events after 8 p.m. due to the need for sleep. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, argued lawmakers need more information on who was in control of those signatures for public trust. “What people want is accountability. They want to know that what was done in the name of our president who was elected, that he actually bears responsibility for that,” Gill said. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP Another lawmaker suggested courts should even look at nullification. “Maybe some of the pardons and things like that can be rolled back,” Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., said. “We’ll leave it to the courts to figure that out.” Rep. Andrew Cylde, R-Ga., went a step further: “That has to be corrected. It has to be investigated. And those people, really, in my opinion, should be prosecuted for stepping outside the bounds of the Constitution.” The House Oversight Committee, led by Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is already investigating the Biden administration’s use of autopen and whether former top White House aides concealed evidence of the then-president’s mental decline. Ex-White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain is the latest person expected to appear before House investigators, with a voluntary transcribed interview scheduled for Thursday morning. Democratic allies of Biden have blasted the probe as a political spectacle rather than an honest fact-finding mission. But all the Republican lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital argued to at least some extent that Americans want accountability, though some suggested it would be beneficial to focus efforts on the future. “I have to balance my thoughts on this. I think that, you know, it’s good to know what happened, to keep it from happening…but on the other hand, I really want to be focused on the future,” said Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont. “But I will tell you, the speculation – although I obviously don’t know 100% what’s true or not – I think the speculation is very probable, just seeing who Biden was at the end of his tenure and knowing that that didn’t happen overnight.” Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, vice chair of the House GOP Conference, told Fox News Digital, “As far as the previous administration, what’s done is done, but it’s also good to highlight to the American people, okay, you were in some cases lied to.” Notably, autopen is a standard and legal practice that’s been used by officials in many past cases, including by President Donald Trump. House investigators are looking into whether Biden really made the final sign-off himself on key decisions, however. The office of former president Joe Biden was contacted for comment.
Dem governor criticizes Mamdani for not condemning ‘blatantly antisemitic’ rhetoric
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, slammed Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for not condemning “blatantly antisemitic” rhetoric while campaigning to lead New York City. “I’ll say this about Mamdani or any other leader,” Shapiro reportedly said in an interview with Jewish Insider. “If you want to lead New York, you want to lead Pennsylvania, you want to lead the United States of America, you’re a leader.” “I don’t care if you’re a Republican or Democratic leader or a democratic socialist leader,” the governor reportedly added. “You have to speak and act with moral clarity, and when supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can’t leave room for that to just sit there. You’ve got to condemn that.” MAMDANI TO TAKE EXTENDED AFRICA TRIP AMID CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR OF NEW YORK “He seemed to run a campaign that excited New Yorkers,” Shapiro, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, said of Mamdani’s economic proposals. “He also seemed to run a campaign where he left open far too much space for extremists to either use his words or for him to not condemn the words of extremists that said some blatantly antisemitic things.” Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for comment but did not immediately hear back. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who endorsed Mamdani after losing to him in the June Democratic primary, came to his defense. “Let’s be clear: Zohran Mamdani won the votes of a large majority of NYC Democrats, including thousands of proud Jews like me, inspired by his vision of a city everyone can afford and confident about his commitment to combating antisemitism and hate,” Lander said in a statement, according to Politico. “Josh Shapiro won’t help keep Jews safe in NYC or Pennsylvania by feeding Trump’s narrative about our Democratic nominee for mayor.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, both New York Democrats, have so far withheld endorsements of Mamdani, expressing concern over the mayoral hopeful’s comments on Israel. Mamdani drew backlash for refusing to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.” He has since backtracked while courting New York City business leaders, saying he would no longer use the phrase and would discourage his supporters from using it. Meanwhile, New York City college campuses, including Columbia University, have faced rising antisemitism and anti-Israel protests and encampments in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel. Mamdani has defended BDS, or Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, saying at a May town hall that the anti-Israel movement “is consistent with my core of my politics, which is nonviolence.” New York has been pivotal to controlling the House majority over the past three elections. CUOMO QUIPS ‘EVEN I WILL MOVE TO FLORIDA’ IF MAMDANI WINS NYC MAYORAL BID Democrats in battleground districts especially have attempted to distance themselves from Mamdani. That includes Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who said Mamdani’s primary win should be a “loud wake-up call for the Democratic Party.” Rep. Laura Gillen, another Democrat from a Long Island swing district, said that Mamdani, a socialist, “is too extreme to lead New York City,” accusing the mayoral hopeful of promoting “a deeply disturbing pattern of unacceptable antisemitic comments.” Punchbowl News reported last month that some New York Democratic members of Congress “literally ran away” from reporters asking about Mamdani’s candidacy. Meanwhile, progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have embraced Mamdani, now considered the front-runner ahead of the November general election. Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear – another two possible 2028 presidential contenders – have praised Mamdani’s primary victory as a lesson for Democrats. While Mamdani’s campaign attempted to appeal to working-class voters by stressing economic injustice and housing affordability, he is the Ugandan-born son of an acclaimed Indian filmmaker and a Columbia University professor. His proposals also echo socialist and communist principles, including government-run grocery stores, rent freezes and abolishing prisons. Mamdani defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo by more than 12 percentage points last month, securing the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. Mamdani still faces Cuomo, who formally declared his independent mayoral bid earlier this month. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is also running as an independent, as is former federal prosecutor Jim Walden. “Guardian Angels” founder Curtis Sliwa is the Republican mayoral candidate. At a Jewish heritage night in early July, Adams encouraged Jewish New Yorkers not to flee the city and slammed Mamdani for saying that he would look into increasing taxes in wealthier and “whiter” neighborhoods. “You have the right to be in this city and anywhere in this country,” Adams said, according to the Times of Israel. “Don’t live in fear, don’t live in anxiety. This city belongs to you as it belongs to every group that lives in this city.”
Sen. Hirono slammed after suggesting anti-DEI lawmakers doubt her trustworthiness because she is a minority
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, was slammed by a Republican colleague on Wednesday after suggesting that lawmakers who are critical of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives must inherently think her views are untrustworthy because she is a minority. The comments came during a Wednesday afternoon hearing about the state of DEI in the United States under the second Trump administration. The senator’s comments came after she got into a back-and-forth with a witness from an anti-DEI law group over whether the courts have ever opined on the constitutionality of DEI. “Okay, well, I’m out of time,” Hirono said, seemingly unsatisfied that the witness pushed back on her claims that the courts have never called diversity, equity and inclusion unconstitutional. “You can see that we are very – we are a very divergent group of people here.” HIRONO RIPPED FOR ‘DERANGED’ OPENING CONFIRMATION HEARING QUESTION TO BURGUM: ‘THIS LADY HAS ISSUES’ “Intellectually diverse!” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, quipped in response to Hirono. Hirono looked in Schmitt’s direction and smiled before saying: “You know, on the basis of the suspicion supposedly for people who are DEI, that would mean that you suspect me of something – I cannot be trusted. I hope that is not your view.” “I don’t know if you’re talking – hopefully you’re not talking about me, because that is a ridiculous accusation,” Schmitt shot back. HAWAII’S HIRONO ONLY SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON COLLINS, CONTINUING PARTISAN STREAK AT HEARINGS Hirono then turned back to Schmitt and said, “good, thank you.” “I wish everybody else would say the same thing – about those people in our country who happen to look different from the rest of us…” she continued before Schmitt interjected to adjourn the hearing. “Okay – your time has expired, senator. Thanks. Thanks so much.” Hirono has frequently criticized Republicans, President Donald Trump and his administration over the past few months, and she had an odd line of questioning for many of Trump’s nominations during the confirmation process. During his confirmation hearing to be defense secretary, Hirono accused then-nominee Pete Hegseth of being willing to shoot at lawful protesters. She was also the only lawmaker on the Senate’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee to oppose the confirmation of Trump’s nominee for Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary.
Trump secures $221M Columbia University settlement over alleged civil rights violations
President Donald Trump has secured a $221 million settlement with Columbia University to resolve multiple federal civil rights investigations. The deal includes $200 million over three years for alleged discriminatory practices and $21 million to settle claims of antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. The White House called it the largest antisemitism-related settlement in U.S. history; Columbia confirmed the dollar amounts, but did not characterize the deal that way. The agreement restores billions in federal research funding and imposes oversight through an independent monitor. Columbia has agreed to reform, including enhanced campus protest rules and changing disciplinary authority from faculty to administrators. “The Trump Administration’s deal with Columbia University is a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “For decades, the American public has watched in horror as our elite campuses have been overrun by anti-western teachings and a leftist groupthink that restricts speech and debate to push a one-sided view of our nation and the world. “These dangerous trends fueled the outbreak of violent antisemitism that paralyzed campuses after the October 7th massacre and was previously unthinkable in the United States of America.” COLUMBIA PROFESSORS DEMAND ANSWERS AS WHITE HOUSE FINALIZES NEGOTIATIONS WITH IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY Columbia confirmed that most of its suspended federal grants will be reinstated, including those from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services. The university noted that a portion of funding not restored reflects unrelated federal cuts in specific research areas. The agreement also codifies reforms Columbia announced earlier this year, including changes to campus safety, enhanced training programs, and new reporting mechanisms. It further includes the appointment of Title VI and Title VII coordinators, as well as additional commitments made in July, most notably, the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Columbia’s public statement does not acknowledge White House claims that the university will review international student admissions or Middle East programs or share admissions process data. The university’s Jewish student life organization, Columbia/Barnard Hillel, said the settlement represents a major step in the right direction. JEWISH STUDENT SETTLES RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST COLUMBIA “This announcement is an important recognition of what Jewish students and their families have expressed with increasing urgency: antisemitism at Columbia is real, and it has had a tangible impact on Jewish students’ sense of safety and belonging and, in turn, their civil rights,” Lavine Family Executive Director Brian Cohen said in a statement. “Acknowledging this fact is essential, and along with the new path laid out by the President and Trustees, I am hopeful that today’s agreement marks the beginning of real, sustained change. “In the months ahead, Columbia/Barnard Hillel will continue our work with the administration, faculty, students, and alumni to strengthen Jewish life at Columbia including making sure that the roadmap laid out in this agreement is followed.” Acting President Claire Shipman said the settlement safeguards academic independence and allows essential research to resume. Columbia admitted no wrongdoing but acknowledged the need for reform after “painful, unacceptable incidents” affecting Jewish students and faculty. Columbia’s public statement does not mention several claims made by the White House, including a mandated review of Middle East programming and new data-sharing requirements tied to international student admissions. “This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,” Shipman said. “The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track. Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The White House also cited provisions related to women’s sports and campus safety not mentioned in Columbia’s statement. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s additional request for comment. The full Columbia statement can be found here.
WATCH: Rioter who threw rocks at federal agents arrested at border: ‘We got him’
Elpidio Reyna, an alleged violent rioter who was captured on video throwing rocks at the windshields of moving Border Patrol vehicles in Los Angeles, was arrested on Wednesday at the U.S.-Mexico border. Video of the attack allegedly shows Reyna, who is wearing what appears to be a motorcycle helmet, picking up several large rocks on the side of the road and lobbing them at Border Patrol vehicles as they pass by. The alleged attack occurred in Paramount, California, on June 7, during the height of the Los Angeles anti-ICE riots. Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, released video of the alleged violent rioter being picked up at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego. One federal officer was injured as a result of the attack. According to Essayli, Reyna, whom he called a “dangerous felon,” surrendered to federal authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border to face a felony charge of assault on a federal officer. He was apprehended by a U.S. Border Patrol officer who was inside of the vehicles damaged by the attack and “could have been killed in last month’s dangerous and reckless attack.” ICE CHIEF WARNS AI TECHNOLOGY COULD LEAD TO SAFETY RISKS FOR AGENTS: ‘FRINGE ORGANIZATIONS’ Essayli said that Reyna will make his initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday afternoon. “To anyone who thinks they can attack federal officers and hide behind a mask or helmet, Reyna’s arrest today proves we can find and charge anyone who violates federal law,” he said, adding, “Don’t touch our officers.” Commenting on the arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI “will never tolerate violence against those who serve and protect this country.” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also chimed in, posting on X, “You may remember Elpidio Reyna, a subject who allegedly threw rocks at federal officers during immigration operations in California June 7. We got him.” GRIEVING MOM TESTIFIES ABOUT MARINE VET SON’S DEATH AT HANDS OF VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIENS “Those who attack America’s police officers can run but they can’t hide,” said Bongino. Violent and fiery riots erupted across Los Angeles for several days in response to ICE activity in the area. The Trump administration deployed 700 Marines and federalized roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles to quell the riots. The move was harshly criticized as unnecessary and illegal by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats. Newsom sued the Trump administration for deploying California National Guard troops despite his opposition. He argued that the National Guard troops were likely violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil. ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ARRESTED IN NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL-ALIEN CRACKDOWN: DHS The governor won an early victory in the case after a federal judge ruled the Guard deployment was illegal and exceeded Trump’s authority. An appeals court tossed that order, and control of the troops remained with the federal government. The federal court is set to hear arguments next month on whether the troops are violating the Posse Comitatus Act.