FIRST ON FOX: Red state investigating M&Ms and Skittles manufacturer for ‘deceptive’ practices
Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching an investigation into M&Ms and Skittles manufacturer Mars for alleged “deceptive and illegal practices” regarding the company’s use of artificial dyes in its candies. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Paxton’s office tied the investigation to the attorney general’s effort to be a “nationwide leader in fighting alongside” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump’s Make America Healthy Again initiative to “help Americans get healthier by holding accountable big food companies who violate the law and deceive consumers about their ingredients.” Paxton’s office is asserting that Mars’ alleged misrepresentation of artificial dyes in some of its candies, including M&Ms and Skittles, constitutes deceptive trade practices that run afoul of Texas consumers’ rights. The attorney general further pointed out that while Mars continues to use artificial colors in its products in the U.S., it has stopped doing so in Europe. AMERICA’S DAIRY FARMERS AND ICE CREAM PRODUCERS AGREE TO QUIT USING ARTIFICIAL COLORS “While we do not comment on active proceedings, all Mars Wrigley ingredients are manufactured in compliance with strict quality and safety regulations established by food safety authorities, including the FDA,” a Mars spokesperson told Fox News Digital. In 2016, Mars committed to removing all artificial colors from all its human food products, which at the time it said was “part of a commitment to meet evolving consumer preferences.” The company said that though it believed “artificial colors pose no known risks to human health or safety,” it was making the change because “consumers today are calling on food manufacturers to use more natural ingredients in their products.” Mars said that “against this backdrop, Mars will work closely with its suppliers to find alternatives that not only meet its strict quality and safety standards, but also maintain the vibrant, fun colors consumers have come to expect from the company’s beloved brands.” In a later update, however, Mars said it had found that “many of our consumers across the world do not, in fact, find artificial colors to be ingredients of concern” and “for that reason, we will continue to prioritize our efforts to remove artificial colors in Europe — where consumers have expressed this preference — but will not be removing all artificial colors from our Mars Snacking portfolio in other markets.” FDA COMMISSIONER BACKS MAHA PUSH TO IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY In Paxton’s statement, his office said that “Mars also falsely claimed that ‘artificial colors pose no known risks to human health or safety,’ which could not be further from the truth as these dyes have been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, and even cancer.” The statement said that Paxton has issued a Civil Investigative Demand to obtain documents from Mars as part of the investigation. “Mars must remove toxic artificial dyes from its U.S. food products not only to honor its public commitment and ensure that it stays on the right side of the law, but also because it’s the right thing to do,” Paxton said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. “It’s clear that the movement to remove artificial colorings from our food supply is making incredible progress, and it’s time for Mars to follow the lead of other companies like Nestle and Hershey by removing synthetic dyes from its products,” he went on, adding, “For the health of Texans and all Americans, Mars must fulfill its 2016 pledge to get rid of these toxic ingredients.” WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO REPORTS OF MARS INC PUSHING BACK ON ELIMINATING FOOD DYES White House Senior Advisor on Make America Healthy Again Calley Means has slammed Mars for refusing to remove artificial colors from its products, saying, “this is commonsense” and “these are petroleum-based dyes that have no nutritional value.” This follows Paxton launching a similar investigation into General Mills, after which the company committed to removing artificial dyes from its products. The Texas attorney general has also targeted Kellogg’s for allegedly violating the state’s consumer protection laws by claiming to have removed dyes in its foods. Paxton is currently running to unseat Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Last week, Paxton’s wife of 38-years, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, announced that she had filed for divorce on “biblical grounds.”
Federal housing official submitted Schiff criminal referral to DOJ over mortgage documents
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has been referred to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution regarding mortgage documents. The director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in May citing alleged misconduct by Schiff, who owns homes in California and Maryland. “Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003-2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property,” FHFA Director William Pulte wrote in the letter, which Fox News obtained on Wednesday. “As regulator of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, we take very seriously allegations of mortgage fraud or other criminal activity. Such misconduct jeopardizes the safety and soundness of FHFA’s regulated entities and the security and stability of the U.S. mortgage market.” On Monday, Pulte received a memo from the Fannie Mae financial crimes investigations concluding that Schiff allegedly engaged in “a sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation” on five Fannie Mae loans, Fox News has learned. SCHIFF RESPONDS TO TRUMP ACCUSATIONS, CALLS FOR HIS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE It is unclear if the Justice Department is pursing action against Schiff at this time, but earlier this week, President Donald Trump did demand his longtime foe be brought to justice for the alleged mortgage fraud scheme. Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department for more information, but they did not immediately respond. Schiff and his wife purchased a home in Potomac, Maryland, in 2003 for $870,000, according to the letter. They entered into a Fannie Mae-backed mortgage agreement for $610,000 at a rate of 5.625% over a term of 30 years, asserting the property would be their primary and principal residence. The letter said they reaffirmed that the Maryland home was their primary residence in mortgage refinancing filings in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, despite Schiff being an elected official representing the state of California at the same time. Fox News obtained a copy of the 2011 affidavit showing Schiff signed certifying that the Maryland house is his primary residence. Pulte said Schiff and his wife did not list the Maryland home as their secondary residence until 2020. Over the same time frame, Schiff took a homeowner’s tax exemption on a condo that he owns in Burbank, California, also claiming that home as his primary residence for a $7,000 reduction off of the 1% property tax, Pulte wrote, citing media reports. In 2023, the letter notes, a spokesperson for Schiff asserted that “Adam’s primary residence is Burbank, California, and will remain so when he wins the Senate seat.” “Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages,” the letter said. “Lenders view secondary residence mortgages as significantly riskier, as a borrower is more likely to continue paying off a primary residence mortgage during any financial hardship. Interest rates on secondary residence mortgages are typically between 0.25-0.50% higher than their primary residence counterparts; however, this gap can widen depending on the lender.” TRUMP ACCUSES ‘SCAM ARTIST’ SCHIFF OF LYING ABOUT MARYLAND HOME TO COMMIT MORTGAGE FRAUD The federal housing official wrote that he believes Schiff’s alleged misconduct could be violations of federal criminal codes banning wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud and false statements to financial institutions. Schiff “appears to have falsified records in order to receive favorable loan terms, and also appears to have been aware of the financial benefits of a primary residence mortgage when compared to a secondary residence mortgage,” Pulte wrote. According to the letter, a spokesperson for Schiff in 2023 told CNN that, “Adam’s California and Maryland addresses have been listed as primary residences for loan purposes because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property.” Last year, the letter notes, a federal jury convicted Marilyn Mosby of making false statements on a mortgage application for a Florida condominium when she was the Baltimore City state’s attorney. The letter also cited how a St. Louis man pleaded guilty last month to fraudulently obtaining home mortgages “after the hard work of our agency’s IG and the DOJ.” “There are unfortunately too many examples of individuals who commit fraud or mortgage fraud,” Pulte wrote. “As always, we look forward to cooperating with the Department of Justice to support any actions that the Department of Justice finds appropriate. U.S. Federal Housing FHFA appreciates the Department of Justice’s support in ensuring the protection of American homebuyers and taxpayers from mortgage fraud and other financial misconduct.” Trump took to social media on Tuesday demanding Schiff be held accountable. “I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist. And now I learn that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division have concluded that Adam Schiff has engaged in a sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud,” Trump wrote in part on TRUTH Social. “Mortgage Fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice.” Schiff, a congressman until his 2024 election to the upper chamber, spearheaded the House Intelligence Committee impeachment inquiry into Trump for requesting that Ukraine investigate Joe Biden, whose son Hunter held a lucrative gig at a Ukrainian natural gas company during his vice presidency. Schiff also issued multiple subpoenas and held multiple hearings alleging Trump “colluded” with Russia. Schiff released a video statement Tuesday reacting to the mortgage fraud claims, saying Trump has long threatened to prosecute him. “He’s accused me of treason, he’s also accused me of leaking classified information, he’s accused me of fraud, it’s been basically one thing after another, all baseless, all without merit,” Schiff said. “It’s nothing new – but his attacks on the rule of law are more dangerous than ever.”
RNC chair says ‘big, beautiful bill’ key part of GOP’s strategy to win seats in midterm elections
EXCLUSIVE – As he looks ahead to next year’s midterm elections, when the GOP will be defending its House and Senate majorities, Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Whatley is spotlighting the so-called “big beautiful bill.” “It’s our agenda,” Whatley said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, as he pointed to the sweeping Republican-crafted domestic policy bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4. Looking back to last year’s elections, when the GOP won back the White House and control of the Senate and held onto their razor-thin House majority, Whatley said, “We won in 2024 because President Trump said that he was going to rebuild our economy. He’s going to restore our southern border. He’s going to keep our kids in our community safe, and he’s going to make America the strongest country on the planet.” “This bill is the embodiment of that agenda,” he highlighted. FIRST ON FOX: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH FIRST ADS TOUTING ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ And Whatley said the tax cuts and spending measure, which narrowly passed the House and Senate two weeks ago along near-party lines, will be the “cornerstone” of RNC messaging going forward. The measure is stuffed full of Trump’s 2024 campaign trail promises and second-term priorities on tax cuts, immigration, defense, energy and the debt limit. It includes extending the president’s signature 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay. By making his first-term tax rates permanent – they were set to expire later this year – the bill will cut taxes by nearly $4.4 trillion over the next decade, according to analysis by the Congressional Budget Office and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. POLITICAL FIGHT OVER ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’ IS FRONT-AND-CENTER IN KEY SENATE RACE The measure also provides billions for border security and codifies the president’s controversial immigration crackdown. And the new law also restructures Medicaid – the almost 60-year-old federal program that provides health coverage to roughly 71 million low-income Americans. The changes to Medicaid, as well as cuts to food stamps, another one of the nation’s major safety net programs, were drafted in part as an offset to pay for extending Trump’s tax cuts. The measure includes a slew of new rules and regulations, including work requirements for many of those seeking Medicaid coverage. The $3.4 trillion legislative package is also projected to surge the national debt by $4 trillion over the next decade. Democrats, for months, have repeatedly blasted Republicans over the social safety net changes. And they spotlighted a slew of national polls conducted last month, before the measure was passed into law, that indicate the bill’s popularity in negative territory. “Michael Whatley is spewing complete BS,” Democratic National Committee vice chair Malcolm Kenyatta charged in a statement to Fox News. “Whatley continues to be blatantly dishonest.” Kenyatta noted that “the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects Trump’s bill will kick 17 million Americans off of their health care. Period, end of story. So if you’re not a billionaire, you’re getting screwed over.” And Kenyatta argued that “this betrayal has Republicans running scared and will be the reason why they lose their majority in the midterms.” WHAT’S ACTUALLY IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’ The party in power, currently the Republicans, traditionally faces stiff political headwinds in midterm elections. But Whatley says Republicans are not resting on their laurels following the passage of the domestic policy package. “We’re not just going to take this bill and say, ‘Hey, we’re done.’ We’re not going to pat ourselves on the back or do a victory lap.” He spotlighted the president’s efforts on tariffs and added that “we need regulatory relief at every federal department and agency that is ongoing every single day, and we’re already going to see additional legislation that’s coming out of Congress that’s going to help rein in spending and make sure that we have the rescissions that we need to have as well.” Whatley predicted that “when the American voters can see that President Trump and the Republicans in the House and the Senate are delivering on the promises that they made, and they won with in 2024, that’s going to give us the ability to swim upstream and make sure that we’re going to expand those majorities in the House and the Senate in ’26.” The RNC chair also touted that “we’re seeing very healthy fundraising.” But Whatley reiterated his long-standing caution that “the Democrats are going to raise a ton of money as well. They always outspend the Republicans.” And he touted, “We’re going to win because of the environment. We’re going to win because we’re going to have better candidates running better races.”
Speaker Johnson reveals Musk left MAGA ally’s lengthy text hanging in ‘the ether’ after Trump blowup
House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that a lengthy text he sent Elon Musk amid his feud with President Donald Trump earlier in 2025 was delivered “into the ether” after the tech billionaire allegedly changed his cellphone number after spatting with the president. “I sent him a long text message, and then his phone number changed, because after the blow-up, something happened with his …” Johnson, R-La., told New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on her podcast published Wednesday before trailing off that he realized the number was no longer a direct line to Musk. “I got the number later and realized I was sending it out into the ether somewhere and he never read it,” he continued. “So I look forward to meeting with him in person. We got to make that right. I’ve got nothing against Elon, obviously. I’ve got great respect for what he’s done.” High-profile individuals such as celebrities and billionaires are known to frequently change their cell phone numbers out of privacy and security concerns. Johnson said that before the spat, he had met with and sent other “long text messages” to keep Musk in the loop on the big, beautiful bill. MIKE JOHNSON SAYS HE HOPES TRUMP, MUSK ‘RECONCILE’ AMID ONGOING FEUD Musk and Trump’s previously tight relationship fell to tatters in May, as Trump promoted the passage of his One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. Musk served as the public leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, which works to strip the federal government of overspending, corruption and mismanagement, as a special government employee — a job position that permits an individual to work for the federal government for “no more than 130 days in a 365-day period.” Musk’s tenure ran dry at the end of May, and was shortly followed by the tech billionaire behind massive companies such as SpaceX and Tesla launching a campaign on X in an attempt to rally Republican lawmakers to vote against the legislation, slamming it for increasing the U.S. debt ceiling by $5 trillion. FLASHBACK: MUSK ACCUSED TRUMP, GOP LEADERS OF NOT WANTING TO CUT SPENDING — HERE’S WHERE THEY SAID THEY WOULD Trump argued Musk publicly condemning the legislation was actually rooted in the president axing electric vehicle mandates and subsidies, which impacts Musk’s Tesla company. On June 12, Trump signed a trio of congressional resolutions ending California’s restrictive rules for diesel engines and mandates on electric vehicle sales, with Trump celebrating that his signature “will kill the California mandates forever.” Musk has since said he intends to launch a new political party to counter Republicans and Democrats. Johnson continued in his interview on Devine’s podcast that he did get a response back from Musk through a third-party after realizing the tech billionaire had seemingly changed his phone number. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS STAND FIRM AGAINST MUSK’S ‘KILL THE BILL’ ASSAULT ON TRUMP’S AGENDA Johnson said “a multitude of factors” likely caused the rift, but that Musk was aware of the contents in the big, beautiful bill before its final stages this spring and summer after months of lawmakers ironing out provisions in the legislation. HERE’S THE MONEY PEOPLE IN EACH STATE COULD POCKET UNDER TRUMP’S ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’ SAVINGS “But clearly, (Musk) got unhappy in a very short period of time,” Johnson said. “I mean, he generally knew what we were doing, and we talked about it. I mean, he knew for months, many months we worked on this, and I was keeping him apprised of it.” “But I’ll let other people judge that,” he added. “I’ve got to keep my eyes on the prize and keep going forward, and I’m trying to be a peacemaker in all of it.” Trump signed the legislation into law on the Fourth of July, touting that its tax cuts will make the U.S. economy similar to a “rocket ship” as Americans begin feeling its effects. Fox News Digital attempted to reach Musk, as well as emailed Johnson’s office, for additional comment on the matter, but did not immediately receive replies.
Bondi should release ‘credible’ Epstein files, Trump says
President Donald Trump fielded questions about late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case on Tuesday, saying at one point that he supported Attorney General Pam Bondi releasing “credible” files from it. “She’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her, whatever she thinks is credible she should release,” Trump told reporters. Trump claimed former FBI Director James Comey, former President Barack Obama and former President Joe Biden “made up” some of the files, but no evidence has surfaced that supports that accusation. The president’s remarks came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI’s decision to close their review of Eptsein’s case without disclosing any new information about it to the public sparked fury among the MAGA base. 10 REASONS THE DOJ AND FBI FACE BACKLASH OVER EPSTEIN FILES FLOP When she first took office in February, Bondi told Fox News she had a “truckload” of information about the case and did nothing to address conspiracies about a supposed nonpublic list of sexual predators associated with Epstein. However, the DOJ and FBI shared a memo last week saying the agencies found no list and uncovered no new people whom they could bring charges against. The revelation was met with intense backlash from a faction of Trump supporters, which Trump and DOJ leadership have since been struggling to quell. Later on Tuesday, Trump told reporters no credible information was left to release to the public. BONDI UNDER SIEGE AFTER DOJ REVEALS NO EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST “He’s dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is. I really don’t, and the credible information’s been given,” Trump said of Epstein’s case files. Trump added, “It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring.” Bondi also faced numerous questions from reporters on Tuesday during an event about fentanyl. The attorney general repeatedly said she did not want to address off-topic questions but at one point did say she stood by the DOJ and FBI memo. “Today our memo speaks for itself, and we will get back to you about anything else,” Bondi said. She also declined to talk about “personnel matters” when asked about FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s status. Bongino was “enraged” by the memo rollout and was considering resigning, sources told Fox News Digital last week.
Jill Biden ‘work husband’ pleads Fifth Amendment, dodges House GOP cover-up probe questions
A top aide to former first lady Jill Biden refused to answer GOP investigators’ questions on Wednesday as the House Oversight Committee probes whether senior ex-White House aides covered up signs of former President Joe Biden’s mental decline. Anthony Bernal, former assistant to the president and senior advisor to the first lady, was compelled for a July 16 closed-door deposition after missing a previously agreed-upon interview date late last month. His scheduled sit-down came and went quickly, however. Bernal apparently pleaded the Fifth Amendment to the questions asked by House staffers, a source familiar told Fox News Digital. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., quickly confirmed Bernal invoked his right against self-incrimination in comments to reporters alongside committee member Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was also present. COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ Both criticized Bernal and his lawyer for arguing the Fifth Amendment was not an admission of guilt, and Comer told reporters “all options are on the table” when asked whether the former president himself should be brought in. “We’re gonna continue our investigation. I think that the American people are concerned,” Comer said. A follow-up statement by Comer said, “During his deposition today, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when asked if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his health.” While the deposition was meant to be staff-led, several lawmakers were seen entering the room – Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, and Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, both members of the committee, both made appearances. Crockett said the deposition was “fine” in response to a question by Fox News Digital. “They’re still losers,” she added. Donalds, however, called for House investigators to aggressively pursue their leads. “The chairman is being nice. I don’t have to be. This is corruption at the highest level, because if you cannot, say, answer a simple question about Joe Biden’s capabilities, then that further demonstrates that he was not in charge of his administration,” Donalds said. “And if he was not in charge of his administration, then every order, every bill that was signed, every memorandum, as far as I’m concerned, are null and void.” Comer is investigating allegations that Biden’s former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president’s full knowledge. Biden allies have pushed back against those claims. In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, Biden affirmed he “made every decision” on his own. “Original Sin,” a book by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson, positions Bernal as a fiercely protective aide who was dubbed the leader of the “loyalty police” by other former Biden staffers. His LinkedIn page lists him as currently working as Jill Biden’s chief of staff in the Transition Office of Former President Joe Biden. Bernal was originally slated to appear last month for a voluntary transcribed interview, but he and his lawyers backtracked after the Trump administration announced it was waiving executive privilege rights for him and several other former White House staffers. “Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it’s abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal – Jill Biden’s so-called ‘work husband’ – never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up,” Comer said in late June. He’s now the second former Biden administration staffer to invoke the Fifth Amendment after ex-White House physician Kevin O’Connor did so last week. O’Connor’s deposition lasted less than 30 minutes, with the doctor refusing to answer any questions after his name. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP But O’Connor’s lawyers argued at the time that it was not an admission of guilt. Rather, they were concerned the scope of the committee’s questioning could force him to violate patient-doctor confidentiality, risking his standing as a physician. A House Oversight Committee aide pushed back: “Doctor-patient objection would have meant he would have stayed and answered questions that didn’t implicate such privilege. Instead, he took the Fifth to all and any potential questions.” Two other former Biden White House staffers appeared for voluntary transcribed interviews already. Another, former deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, was also subpoenaed to appear this Friday.
Senate to debate Trump’s $9B clawback bill after dramatic late-night votes
Late-night dramatics and surprise defections capped off the push to advance President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar clawback package through procedural hurdles. But Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package is not over the finish line yet, as lawmakers are set to begin an hourslong stretch of debate over the bill Wednesday morning. Both sides of the aisle will be allotted five hours of debate, but Republicans are likely to use little of their time compared to Democrats, who will try to drag out the process as long as possible. SENATE GOP BLOWS THROUGH 2ND HURDLE OF THE NIGHT, TEEING UP TRUMP’S CLAWBACK BILL FOR HOURSLONG DEBATE At stake are clawbacks that would yank back congressionally approved funding for foreign aid programs and public broadcasting, which Senate Democrats, and some Republicans, have admonished. The president’s rescissions package proposed cutting just shy of $8 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and over $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the government-backed funding arm for NPR and PBS. Republicans have broadly lauded the targets, arguing that they are scraping back funding for “woke” programs that do little more than to gird the government’s spending addiction. TRUMP’S $9 BILLION CLAWBACK PASSES FIRST SENATE TEST, WHILE MORE HURDLES AWAIT Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., charged that the cuts in question were “just a piece of a larger Republican puzzle.” He said the goal was using more rescissions packages, the president’s impoundment authority and smaller, pocket rescissions “that will pave the way for deeper and more serious spending cuts on things like healthcare, food assistance, energy, and so many other areas – and other democratic safeguards will no longer be around.” “They are eliminating Democrats from the process – there’s no discussion, no argument, and there’s no safeguards to help the average American,” he said. “It’s just the billionaires running rampant, and we’re getting what they want.” Before the vote, Senate Republican leaders agreed to carve out $400 million in cuts in global HIV and AIDS prevention funding that leaders hoped would win over holdouts. But it didn’t work for all. A trio of Senate Republicans defected – Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. – forcing Vice President JD Vance to cast his sixth and seventh tie-breaking votes of the year to keep the package alive. He will likely be needed again later Wednesday to pass the bill, once lawmakers complete another vote-a-rama, where both sides of the aisle can offer unlimited amendments to the bill. SENATE GOP AGREE TO STRIP CUTS TO HIV, AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM FROM TRUMP’S CLAWBACK BILL Murkowski argued on the Senate floor that the rescissions package was effectively usurping Congress’ duty to legislate. “We’re lawmakers, we should be legislating,” she said. “What we’re getting now is a direction from the White House and being told, ‘This is the priority we want you to execute on it. We’ll be back with you with another round.’ I don’t accept that.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Collins contended that lawmakers actually knew little about how or where the clawbacks would come from, and accused the Office of Management and Budget of not painting a clearer picture on the issue. “I recognize the need to reduce excessive spending and I have supported rescissions in our appropriations bills many times, including the 70 rescissions that were included in the year-long funding bill that we are currently operating under,” she said in a statement. “But to carry out our constitutional responsibility, we should know exactly what programs are affected and the consequences of rescissions.”
Trump’s controversial plan to fire federal workers finds favor with Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily allow mass layoffs at the Education Department marked the latest in a string of rulings from the high court green-lighting the president’s plans to scale down the size of the federal workforce. Permitting the termination of about 1,400 Education Department employees is one of several instances of the Supreme Court showing significant deference to Trump’s power over the executive branch. In other cases, the high court has preliminarily approved of Trump’s executive order calling for sweeping federal job cuts and shown an openness to the president diminishing the independence of some agencies. Often these decisions, issued on an emergency basis at the request of the Trump administration, have come with little explanation. The high court did not, for example, spell out why it allowed Trump to carry out mass layoffs at the Education Department. But the move advances the president’s long-term efforts to dismantle the department, for now. South Texas College law professor Joshua Blackman said the plaintiffs’ argument that Congress needs to approve such a drastic change to an agency did not appear persuasive to the high court. SUPREME COURT RULES ON TRUMP’S MASS LAYOFFS AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT “I think they’re basically saying, ‘We don’t think this is trying to restructure the agency,’” Blackman told Fox News Digital. “Justices Jackson and Sotomayor sort of made that point in the dissent, but I don’t think it’s resonating with the majority.” Blackman noted that even though these shadow docket decisions are temporary while the lawsuits proceed in the lower courts, they have lasting power. Litigation can take two or three years, and employees who lose their jobs are likely not waiting around for that long to return to the government, he said. He also said those employees are not “in theory, at least,” suffering irreparable harm because “reinstatements with back pay is an option.” Irreparable harm is a criterion judges consider before issuing emergency orders. Last week, the Supreme Court temporarily reversed Judge Susan Illston’s order blocking the administration from acting on Trump’s executive order to reduce the workforce. “The President has the authority to seek changes to executive branch agencies, but he must do so in lawful ways and, in the case of large-scale reorganizations, with the cooperation of the legislative branch,” Illston, a Clinton-appointed judge based in California, wrote. ‘IT WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY’: STATE DEPT POISED TO ACT AFTER SUPREME COURT GREEN-LIGHTS AGENCY LAYOFFS Trump signed an executive order after he took office announcing a sweeping “reduction in force” initiative. To carry out Trump’s order, the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management sent a directive to the heads of government agencies in February to craft plans to eliminate jobs. “Agencies should focus on the maximum elimination of functions that are not statutorily mandated while driving the highest-quality, most efficient delivery of their statutorily required functions,” the memo said. A group of labor organizations and nonprofits sued, arguing a mass reorganization of government required congressional approval. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 against them by pausing Illston’s injunction. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan sided with the conservative majority, which found that the executive order and memo are lawful. The majority noted that the decision is not a reflection of the justices’ opinions on agency-specific firings and that those should be examined as a separate matter. Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, told “Fox & Friends” the high court was sending a “clear” message about judicial overreach. “This is another shot across the bow to lower courts that they’ve got to knock this off,” Turley said. “They’ve got to stop with these injunctions. This is six months of delay. It could’ve been much longer, and the court is signaling, ‘We’re going to be on you very quickly if you continue to do these types of orders.’” The decision empowered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lay off more than 1,300 State Department workers. Since Trump took office, tens of thousands of federal employees have accepted buyout offers from the administration or been let go. But many other layoffs are still wrapped up in lawsuits. Some firing decisions remain pending because of district court judges’ orders. In some cases, the Trump administration has argued that the Supreme Court’s recent move to do away with universal injunctions is reason enough for those judges to reverse course. In one lawsuit, Democratic-led states sued over Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.’s move to terminate about 10,000 employees. Judge Melissa DuBose, a Biden appointee based in Rhode Island, sided with the states and blocked the terminations. The judge must now decide if her injunction is at odds with the Supreme Court’s new ruling on universal injunctions. The government downsizing coincides with the president’s controversial decision to fire several watchdogs and members of independent agencies without cause. In May, the Supreme Court sided with Trump on two of the firings, fueling speculation that the high court is aiming to overturn a 90-year precedent set in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States. That decision found that President Franklin D. Roosevelt could not fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission without a reason, such as neglect of job duties or malfeasance, because it conflicted with a law Congress passed that established the commission. SUPREME COURT LETS TRUMP’S ‘WRECKING BALL’ FEDERAL JOB CUTS PROCEED WHILE LEGAL FIGHT CONTINUES In Trump’s case, the Supreme Court temporarily approved two firings involving the heads of the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board. The high court’s order was unsigned but indicated that the three liberal justices dissented. “Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President… he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents,” the order read. The Supreme Court’s decision was a boon to Trump’s implementation of the unitary executive theory, a legal concept that emphasizes presidential control. However, the order included a cautionary note that the
Bipartisan bill would grant legal status to certain illegal immigrant workers
Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, introduced legislation on Tuesday to reform the U.S. immigration system, including offering legal status for certain illegal immigrants to continue working in the country amid President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies. The Dignity Act of 2025 would allow illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. since before 2021 the opportunity to apply for up to seven years of legal status with work authorization. The immigrants would pay restitution and check in regularly with the Department of Homeland Security, and their legal status could be renewed based on good conduct and restitution. The bill would offer a path to permanent residency, but the legal status afforded to the immigrants would not allow for any federal benefits or a path to U.S. citizenship. “The Dignity Act of 2025 is a revolutionary bill that offers the solution to our immigration crisis: secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and provide an earned opportunity for long-term immigrants to stay here and work,” Salazar said in a statement. “No amnesty. No handouts. No citizenship. Just accountability and a path to stability for our economy and our future.” MLBPA CHIEF SAYS FOREIGN PLAYERS TOLD TO CARRY DOCUMENTATION TO ‘KEEP THEIR JOB’ The bill would be fully funded through restitution payments and application fees made by immigrants, meaning it will not rely on any taxpayer money. The measure would also aim to end catch-and-release and further bolster security at the Southern Border as well as require employers across the country to use E-Verify, the government system for checking the legal status of workers. It would also expand training, apprenticeships, and education for American workers. The legislation seeks to address the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which has heavily affected farms and food service providers and included raids targeting migrant workers at local businesses, sparking protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere across the U.S. against the president’s mass deportation agenda. A recent raid on two cannabis facilities in Southern California led to a few hundred migrant arrests and clashes between federal immigration agents and protesters. One person died after the raids and others were critically injured. HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY VOTES TO MEMORIALIZE TEXAS GIRL ALLEGEDLY SLAIN BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of our broken immigration system, and as a member of Congress, I take seriously my obligation to propose a solution. Realistic, common-sense compromise is achievable, and is especially important given the urgency of this moment. I consider the Dignity Act of 2025 a critical first step to overhauling this broken system,” Escobar said. “Immigrants – especially those who have been in the United States for decades – make up a critical component of our communities and also of the American workforce and economy,” she continued. “The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents; and, most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find bipartisan reforms. We can enact legislation that incorporates both humanity and security, and the Dignity Act of 2025 offers a balanced approach that restores dignity to people who have tried to navigate a broken system for far too long.” Congress has worked in the past on comprehensive immigration reform, but Salazar and Escobar are optimistic their bill could lead to significant bipartisan support. A bipartisan group of 20 other House members have already signed onto the bill. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “In conversations across NY-17, I’ve heard a lot of frustration, both from employers struggling to fill jobs and families looking to reunite with their loved ones,” Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said. “We must do this by fixing our broken legal immigration system, securing our borders, and creating a fair, earned process for those who are already here and contributing. The Dignity Act honors America’s legacy of being a nation of immigrants and that’s why I’m proud to support it.” The administration has already begun working to provide some protection for certain migrant workers, and Trump said last month he was considering a way for some migrant workers to remain in the U.S. “We’re working on it right now. We’re going to work it so that some kind of a temporary pass where people pay taxes, where the farmer can have a little control, as opposed to you walk in and take everybody away. What we’re going to do is we’re going to do something for farmers, where we can let the farmer sort of be in charge. The farmer knows. He’s not going to hire a murderer,” Trump said during a June 29 interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Arizona Republicans choose nominee to replace late rep in deep-blue border district
Arizona Republicans nominated contractor and small business owner Daniel Butierez in the special primary election to represent Arizona’s 7th congressional district on Tuesday night. Because the district spans hundreds of miles along the U.S. border with Mexico, all three Republican candidates made border security a central issue in their campaigns and vowed to carry out President Donald Trump’s robust crackdown on illegal immigration. The Republican nominee will challenge the Democrat’s Tuesday night winner, former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, in the race to replace her father, the late Democratic Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, this November. Grijalva died of lung cancer-related complications in March. His more than two decades representing Arizona in the House of Representatives made him one of the state’s longest-serving U.S. representatives. TOP DEMOCRATS ADMIT ‘FAILURE,’ FECKLESSNESS ON BORDER IN SCATHING NY TIMES REPORT His vacancy queued up a competitive Democratic primary, including his daughter, who had endorsements from prominent Democrats, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. DEM’S IMMIGRATION REFORM PLAN ADDS BORDER PATROL AGENTS, OFFERS SELECT MIGRANTS PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP Also competing in the Democratic primary was social media influencer and progressive activist Deja Foxx, who picked up an endorsement from Leaders We Deserve, David Hogg’s super PAC that stirred up intraparty fighting this year when the former DNC vice chair unveiled his plan to spend $20 million to primary older incumbent Democrats in safe blue districts. Former Arizona representative Daniel Hernandez, progressive businessman Patrick Harris Sr. and environmental justice scholar José Malvido Jr., also vied for the Democratic endorsement. In a reliably blue district along the U.S. border with Mexico, representing parts of Tuscon, Yuma and Nogales, Butierez is likely to face an uphill battle in the special election this September. Grijalva won his re-election by 27 points in 2024, despite Trump defeating former Vice President Kamala Harris by more than five points statewide in Arizona last year. Butierez, a contractor and small business owner, received about 37% of the vote as the Republican nominee against Grijalva in 2024. Running again in the special election this year, he has vowed to “fight to keep our border secure, slash taxes where appropriate, and crush the fentanyl crisis destroying Arizona families.” Also competing in the Republican primary was Jorge Rivas, a Salvadoran-born restaurant owner based in Tucson. Rivas picked up national attention when Trump tweeted a photo of him wearing a “Latinos Love Trump” cowboy hat at a rally in Phoenix during the 2020 presidential election, according to KAWC. He briefly launched a gubernatorial bid in 2022. Finally, general contractor and business owner Jimmy Rodriguez ran with a mission “to secure our borders, boost our economy, and empower families across CD7.”