Rev. Al Sharpton urges Cuomo to step aside in NYC mayoral race: ‘What is best for New York’
MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton has called on Andrew Cuomo to drop out of the New York City mayoral race, urging the former governor to consider what would be in the best interest of New York City residents. “I think Andrew Cuomo should look at what is best for the city and let them have a one-on-one race,” Sharpton said on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ on Wednesday. SCANDAL-PLAGUED FORMER GOV ANDREW CUOMO AIMS TO PULL OFF POLITICAL COMEBACK IN THE NATION’S BIGGEST CITY Sharpton, adding that he had previously reached out to the Cuomo camp to encourage the former governor to drop out, said that Cuomo removing his name from the NYC mayoral ballot this fall would also be in “the best interest” of the legacy of the 56th Governor of New York. “He can endorse one or the other and let them have a battle over what is best for New York,” Sharpton said. In response to a question about Sharpton’s comments, a spokesperson for Cuomo’s campaign told Fox News Digital in an email that “everyone is entitled to their own political opinion.” CUOMO’S LEAD SHRINKS WITH UNDER ONE WEEK UNTIL NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL PRIMARY: POLL “We understand President Trump supports Eric Adams, and do not believe socialism is the answer,” the spokesperson said. “Most New Yorkers are not Trumpers, and most New Yorkers are not socialists — the majority lies in the middle. We will continue to assess the current situation in the best interest of the people of the City of New York.” Also on Wednesday, President Donald Trump vowed to “save New York City” from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani has faced criticism from conservatives and even some Democrats over his socialist policies and refusal to condemn terrorism-linked rhetoric. CUOMO TEAM DENIES AOC’S CLAIM HE’S USING NYC MAYOR RUN AS A SPRINGBOARD TO THE WHITE HOUSE “As President of the United States, I’m not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Rest assured, I hold all the levers, and have all the cards. I’ll save New York City, and make it ‘Hot’ and ‘Great’ again, just like I did with the Good Ol’ USA!” In a victory over Cuomo and nine other candidates, Mamdani on Tuesday was officially declared the winner of New York City’s Democratic Party primary for mayor. The New York City Board of Elections posted the official results of three rounds of the ranked choice voting from last week’s mayoral primary, and Mamdani grabbed a majority in the third round, with 56% of the vote. Eric Adams and Zohran Mamdani did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
‘Crisis brewing’ in Trump Country as hospitals shutter at alarming rate, top ER doc warns
There is a healthcare crisis brewing in the nation’s heartland, as evidenced by a landmark study conducted by the RAND Corporation in conjunction with top national emergency physicians. The study from the Arlington nonprofit research institute found that emergency rooms (ERs) are no longer the safety net but the proverbial “front door” to the U.S. healthcare system, particularly after a 1986 law passed requiring ERs to stabilize patients or deliver babies from women in labor regardless of their ability to pay. That has led to instability and hospital closures across the heartland, including in states where a dozen or more have closed, like Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. States like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas and Alabama have also been affected. “This RAND study is the first ever that points to this crisis, which is that the emergency departments and the care that patients receive in them usually is so critical that, especially for time-sensitive conditions that patients can have, just the fact that you have to travel as far as you might have to, or that even in some cases if a hospital is close to you, but it still doesn’t have the resources to operate efficiently,” said Dr. Randy Pilgrim, an ER doctor and chief medical officer for emergency room services company SCP Health in Atlanta. BLISTERING REPORT CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO 5 ‘WOKE’ HOSPITALS PUSHING ‘RADICAL’ AGENDA WITH TAXPAYER MONEY “[I]n emergency medicine, we do time-sensitive, high-quality care as long as we have the resources to do it. And this study shows that we really have a crisis brewing here.” Nearly $5.9 billion in emergency services go unpaid every year, the study found. Overcrowding and spates of violence towards staff have exacerbated the problem. EMTALA, the aforementioned law, is essentially an unfunded mandate in many cases, and lack of funding for hospitals that treat a large proportion of that uncompensated care — which tends to fall in rural areas or poor neighborhoods in cities — leads to the dual issue of higher patient volumes and more uninsured patients being seen. Many hospitals outside of cities cannot fully account for the funding gap, Pilgrim said. “The economics of reimbursement for physician care play a huge role. … We need more physicians generally in America, and we need physicians to feel like they can and will go to where they’re needed,” he said. “Physicians won’t go where they are needed if there’s not enough resources or reimbursement to attract them.” Rural hospitals characteristically pay less than higher-end urban hospitals and have fewer local resources. With hospital demand “higher than ever,” all of the above factors mean help is needed now. Pilgrim said he has met with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and other top officials at the agency, to discuss the issue — and hopes Washington can help. “Secretary Kennedy… did a beautiful job of listening to what we were saying about the impending crisis that would probably happen during this administration,” Pilgrim said. TEXAS HOSPITALS HIT WITH $122 MILLION BILL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS’ CARE IN SINGLE MONTH “And he was concerned about it because he could tell that you can’t make patients healthy unless you have a healthy healthcare system for them to engage. So I’m very encouraged about what Secretary Kennedy and his staff are doing to try to make a difference on the pieces that they control.” He also said Congress must act, particularly as 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day and are therefore eligible for Medicare, which presents a different environment than separate Medicaid. “That’s where we see more volume of patients, more complexity, and much more clinical demand. But if the reimbursement in Medicare doesn’t keep pace with that demand, once again, you’re in this vicious cycle where emergency departments will be at greater risk, starting with the rural and underserved areas and moving forward from there.” Some in Congress have banded together to advocate for healthcare-related issues, including members of the bicameral “Doctors Caucus.” One member, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., is a urologist from Greenville who previously served as chief of staff at a Level-I trauma center. “Congress cannot leave rural America behind,” he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The most important thing Congress can do is to fix dwindling Medicare reimbursements for rural providers and ensure health insurance companies don’t play games with denied care and denied payments,” he said, pinning the decrease at 33% since 2001 if adjusted for inflation,” Murphy told Fox News Digital. The lawmaker added that many hospitals in his area do not have commercial payers as part of their funding sources to help offset losses from Medicare and Medicaid disbursement amounts — and that all hospitals must root out waste as well. Pilgrim was also asked why Americans outside the heartland with more reliable emergency care should be supportive of added funding or resources miles away from them. “In a large city like Atlanta, if rural healthcare is not healthy and patients have to go somewhere else, they will eventually end up in your hospital… So spending a dollar somewhere else besides in your own hospital if you’re in a better place makes a lot of sense for you…” he said.
Dominating ‘space economy’ a key priority for Trump’s FCC chief
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, delivered his first major speech in his new role with the Trump administration, announcing six priorities he plans to focus on during his tenure, including pushing the United States to dominate the “space economy.” “Continuing to move vertically from the ground to the airwaves. Next up is space,” Carr said during a speech in South Dakota Wednesday afternoon. “The Build America agenda will expand America’s space economy. The Final Frontier is home to an emerging constellation of satellites that have become an essential part of America’s economic and geopolitical strategy. So I want to see U.S. companies dominate in orbit. “Our efforts on this front will be driven by a few key guiding principles: speed, simplicity, security and satellite spectrum abundance,” Carr continued. Carr served as an FCC commissioner since 2017, before Trump tapped him to serve as the agency’s chair as of Trump’s inauguration in January. Carr traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Wednesday to deliver his speech at the headquarters of a telecommunications infrastructure construction company called VIKOR. TRUMP-APPOINTED FCC CHAIRMAN PROBES BIDEN CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM OVER CHINA CONCERNS The speech was dubbed the “Build America Agenda” and outlined six priorities the Federal Communications Commission will tackle under Carr’s leadership. On the topic of dominating the space economy, Carr said the FCC is already making progress. The FCC is “clearing backlogs of applications for satellite systems,” he said. “And this type of acceleration is certainly needed. In fact, if you look back over the past couple of years, it actually took a faster amount of time for America’s innovators and entrepreneurs to build and launch satellite constellations, than it would take for federal agencies in Washington to process the paperwork necessary to approve those launches. But that ends here.” TRUMP SIGNS NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS INTENDED TO MAKE FLYING CARS A REALITY, SLASH FLIGHT TIMES “The Build America agenda will inject rocket fuel into our licensing process by standardizing our reviews through more objective metrics, protecting America’s orbital advantage for years to come,” he said. Carr outlined that the other five priorities include: unleashing high-speed infrastructure builds, restoring America’s leadership in wireless, cutting red tape and modernizing FCC operations, advancing national security and public safety and strengthening America’s workforce. The FCC chief remarked that the FCC still has rules on the books related to the use of telegraphs and “rabbit ear broadcast TV receivers” and that his leadership will clear the agency of outdated guidance and focus on the future. FCC COMMISSIONER SIMINGTON EXPECTED TO ABRUPTLY LEAVE AGENCY, POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT REVEALED “The FCC right now still has rules on the books regulating telegraph service, rabbit ear broadcast TV receivers and phone booths,” he said. “Starting next month, that will change, and doing so in eliminating those outdated rules, the FCC will move directly to delete 40 rules or requirements, and over 7,000 words from the Code of Federal Regulations. A good step forward.” Carr said that he and President Donald Trump are focused on keeping America as a tech leader, including broadening its 5G capabilities and beating China in the artificial intelligence race. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “One of the very first actions that I took when I became chairman of the FCC was to establish a new council on National Security within the agency,” he said. “Our Build Agenda will ensure that the U.S. extends its lead over China in the race for critical technologies. Whether it’s 5G, 6G or AI, we’re going to do so by making sure that U.S. businesses and the standards they set continue to be the gold standard for businesses all across the world.”
Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ stalls in House amid conservative mutiny threats
President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda temporarily ground to a halt in the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon. Plans for an early afternoon vote to begin debate on Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” slipped away as both conservative concerns and weather delays led to issues in passing two procedural votes ahead of the critical measure. It’s not clear if the key vote will proceed today at this point. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., one of the bill’s biggest critics, told reporters a vote was still “possible.” “No, not yet,” he said when asked if he was getting what he needed from the White House to support the measure. “But the evening is so young.” THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP House GOP leaders had hoped to vote to begin debate on the vast tax and immigration bill, a maneuver known as a “rule vote,” with the goal of teeing up a vote on the legislation’s final passage by late Wednesday or early Thursday at the latest. The president has directed Republicans to get a bill to his desk for a signature by the Fourth of July, though he’s suggested in some recent comments he would not mind a delay of a few days. The rule vote was meant to be the third in an early afternoon series of three votes. As of early evening Wednesday, that vote is still being held open, and the House floor is effectively paralyzed. Lawmakers who expected a vote were told to return to their offices to await further instructions. Multiple House Freedom Caucus members who left a meeting next to the House floor declined to comment on what they discussed, but several have made clear in recent days that they have serious issues with the Senate’s version of Trump’s agenda bill. The mammoth piece of legislation includes Trump’s agenda on taxes, the border, energy, defense and the national debt. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was seen briefly entering and exiting the room where the fiscal hawks were gathered. He said little to reporters other than announcing they were “making good progress” on his way out of the room. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, suggested that conservatives were speaking with the Trump administration about how Republicans could make up for what they saw as deficiencies in the current version of the bill. Fiscal hawks were angered by last-minute moves made to placate Senate GOP moderates who were uneasy about the bill’s near-immediate phase-out of most green energy tax subsidies in former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). SENATE PASSES TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ AFTER MARATHON VOTE-A-RAMA They’ve also argued the Senate’s bill would add more to the federal deficit than the House’s earlier version, though Senate Republicans have pushed back. “We were not happy with what the Senate produced. We thought there was a path forward as of late last week, even though I had concerns in public about them. But then they jammed it through at the last minute in a way that, you know, we’re not overly excited about,” Roy said. “So, now we’re trying to understand what our options are from this point.” Other representatives, like Keith Self, R-Texas, and Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., declined to comment about the meeting to reporters. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who is not a member of the Freedom Caucus but had some concerns about the bill, told reporters when leaving the meeting, “I’m just waiting to see what’s going on honestly. Everybody’s just discussing what’s going on and trying to get to some [resolution].” Burchett told reporters earlier he was leaning in favor of voting to debate the bill. But Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can afford just three defections to still pass the bill along party lines. “We’re going to get there tonight,” Johnson told reporters.
Former FBI Director Comey’s daughter suffers high-profile loss as prosecutor in Diddy trial
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey played a leading role on the eight-member team that prosecuted rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in a sex trafficking and racketeering trial that came to a close Wednesday with mixed results. The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, Maurene Comey faced a setback when the jury found the performer not guilty of some of the most serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. However, the jury did side with prosecutors on two counts, finding Combs guilty of violating the Mann Act of 1910 by transporting women across state lines for prostitution. MISSING KEY WITNESS CRIPPLES DIDDY PROSECUTION AS TRIAL HITS ROADBLOCKS BEFORE IT BEGINS: EXPERT Maurene Comey was a prosecutor in the Jeffrey Epstein trial prior to his death in prison and also had a lead role in Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial. She leads the violent and organized crime unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). DIDDY JURORS FACE ‘BATTLEGROUND’ AS DELIBERATIONS BEGIN IN RAPPER’S FEDERAL TRIAL: EXPERT SDNY is the same stepping stone her father, James Comey, used to catapult himself to national prominence. The ex-FBI director and prominent Trump foe worked similarly as a federal prosecutor there in the 1980s, when noted Trump ally Rudolph Giuliani was the Reagan-appointed U.S. attorney. He returned to Manhattan in the 2000s after former President George W. Bush appointed him to the role once held by “America’s Mayor.” Lately, the elder Comey received blowback for posting a photo of stones on a beach in the shape of “86 47,” which many observers considered to be a wish for President Donald Trump’s death – with “86” being a cipher for “kill” and “47” denoting Trump as the 47th president. DIDDY PROSECUTORS ARGUE RAPPER USED INNER CIRCLE, MONEY TO COVER UP ALLEGED SEX CRIMES IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS In court, Maurene Comey offered the prosecution’s rebuttal prior to the jury being sent off to deliberate the charges against Combs. Maurene Comey argued from the dais that Combs “never thought the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them,” and suggested the rapper believed he was “untouchable.” She also offered arguments that Combs had been involved in firebombing a Porsche owned by rapper Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, according to TMZ. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP At the close of the trial, Maurene Comey argued to Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs should be denied the bond requested by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo. “There is serious relevant conduct here that will merit a lengthy period of incarceration,” she said, according to the New York Post. While occupationally a proverbial chip off the old block, Maurene Comey has remained largely silent during James Comey’s recurring controversies, from his “86 47” post that drew demands for investigation by the Secret Service to his rhetorical battles with Trump.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Inside Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
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… – Trump to begin enforcing birthright citizenship order as early as this month, DOJ says – Trump could arm Israel with US’ most effective weapons against Iran’s nuclear threat under new proposal – Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans ‘Project 2029‘ while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primary President Donald Trump on Tuesday visited “Alligator Alcatraz” — the newest illegal immigrant detention facility in the nation that’s located in the Florida Everglades and surrounded by swamplands teeming with alligators and pythons. “It’s known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,” Trump said Tuesday during his tour. “But very soon this facility will have some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet.” “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” the president added. “And a lot of these people are self-deporting back to their country where they came from…” READ MORE. CLOCK STARTS NOW: Trump to begin enforcing birthright citizenship order as early as this month, DOJ says ‘LOT OF RESPECT’: Trump says his relationship with one-time rival DeSantis now a ‘9.9’ EXCEEDS AUTHORITY: Judge strikes down Trump order preventing asylum requests, protections for illegal immigrants ‘TRADECRAFT CONCERNS’: Ex-Obama intel boss wanted anti-Trump dossier included in ‘atypical’ 2016 assessment despite pushback ‘CREDIT IS DUE’: Elon takes a break from slamming BBB, doles out praise for Trump amid Israel ceasefire announcement NUCLEAR DETERRENCE: Trump could arm Israel with US’ most effective weapons against Iran’s nuclear threat under new proposal GREEN LIGHT: Pentagon’s weapons pause to Ukraine could ‘encourage’ and ‘escalate’ Putin’s war ambitions: security experts ‘DANGEROUS PRECEDENT’: Bernie Sanders blasts Paramount, says lawsuit settlement will further embolden Trump to attack media ‘ENCOURAGING’: Blue state GOP lawmaker says major sanctuary city lawsuit is ‘encouraging,’ but urges further crackdown ‘GO HOME’: ICE flips script on Los Angeles mayor after telling authorities to ‘go home’ $100M DECISION: Wisconsin Supreme Court decides abortion case that prompted most expensive judicial election in US history WHITE HOUSE APPROVED: Colorado Capitol replaces ‘distorted’ Trump portrait following monthslong backlash POTUS PROMISE: Trump vows to ‘save New York City’ from Zohran Mamdani: ‘I hold all the levers’ DEMOLITION PLAN: Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans ‘Project 2029’ while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primary POWER PLAY ESCALATES: New York Democrats unite in defense of socialist NYC mayoral nominee after Trump threatened his arrest ‘READY TO SWEEP?’: ‘Don’t Maryland my Virginia’: Youngkin, 2025 GOP ticket rallies together for first time ahead of key election Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Ex-Obama intel boss wanted anti-Trump dossier included in ‘atypical’ 2016 assessment despite pushback
Former CIA Director John Brennan, who served under former President Barack Obama, pushed for the so-called “Steele dossier,” which featured salacious material and unfounded allegations about President Donald Trump’s connections to Russia, to be included in an assessment evaluating Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to a review declassified Wednesday. The CIA, FBI and National Security Agency’s Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) evaluating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election diverted from intelligence standards and featured some “procedural anomalies,” according to a new lessons-learned review of the assessment that CIA Director John Ratcliffe ordered for declassification Wednesday. The lessons-learned review determined that the “decision by agency heads to include the Steele Dossier in the ICA ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment.” TRUMP ‘MISREPRESENTED’ HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP LETTER, JOHN BRENNAN COMPLAINS AFTER LOSING SECURITY CLEARANCE Specifically, the new review found that the CIA’s deputy director for analysis said in a December 2016 email to Brennan that including the dossier in any capacity jeopardized “the credibility of the entire paper.” “Despite these objections, Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness,” the new review stated. “When confronted with specific flaws in the Dossier by the two mission center leaders—one with extensive operational experience and the other with a strong analytic background—he appeared more swayed by the Dossier’s general conformity with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns. Brennan ultimately formalized his position in writing, stating that ‘my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.’” Brennan served as director of the CIA from March 2013 to January 2017 under the Obama administration. The dossier originated after law firm Perkins Coie hired opposition research firm Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research into then-presidential candidate Trump in April 2016 on behalf of Trump’s opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee. Fusion GPS hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who composed the so-called “Steele dossier.” The document included scandalous and mostly unverified allegations, including details that Trump engaged in sex acts with Russian prostitutes. Trump has denied the allegations included in the dossier. DNI DECLASSIFIES BRENNAN NOTES, CIA MEMO ON HILLARY CLINTON ‘STIRRING UP’ SCANDAL BETWEEN TRUMP, RUSSIA Brennan could not be reached for comment by Fox News Digital. The lessons-learned review also found fault with other tradecraft employed while drafting the ICA, including a rushed timeline and atypical involvement of agency heads while compiling the assessment. “While agency heads sometimes review controversial analytic assessments before publication, their direct engagement in the ICA’s development was highly unusual in both scope and intensity,” the review said. “This exceptional level of senior involvement likely influenced participants, altered normal review processes, and ultimately compromised analytic rigor.” Additionally, the review said that Brennan sent a note to intelligence community analysts one day before their only session coordinating on the ICA that he had met with then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and then-FBI Director James Comey. The review said that Brennan told the CIA workforce that “there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our recent Presidential election.” COMEY SAYS NEW INFORMATION THAT HILLARY CLINTON DRUMMED UP RUSSIA CONTROVERSY TO VILIFY TRUMP ‘DOESN’T RING A BELL’ “While officers involved in drafting the ICA consistently said they did not feel pressured to reach specific conclusions, Brennan’s premature signaling that agency heads had already reached consensus before the ICA was even coordinated risked stifling analytic debate,” the review said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ratcliffe ordered the “lessons-learned” review of the ICA earlier in 2025 specifically focused on the ICA’s assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin “aspired” to assist Trump win the 2016 election, and declassified the results Wednesday in an attempt to promote transparency, according to a CIA news release. “Agency heads at the time created a politically charged environment that triggered an atypical analytic process around an issue essential to our democracy,” Ratcliffe said in a Wednesday statement. “Under my watch, I am committed to ensuring that our analysts have the ability to deliver unvarnished assessments that are free from political influence.”
Wisconsin Supreme Court decides abortion case that prompted most expensive judicial election in US history
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s newly elected liberal majority on Wednesday voted to strike down a near-total state abortion ban, voting 4-3 to overturn the stringent, 176-year-old law. The decision reflected a deeply partisan split, with all four liberal justices voting to invalidate the 1849 abortion law and the three conservative justices dissenting. It also crystallized the impact of the state’s Supreme Court election earlier this year that raked in millions of dollars in donations, the highest amount in U.S. history for a judicial race. It included involvement from then-Trump ally Elon Musk, former President Barack Obama and others. Writing for the majority, Justice Rebecca Dallet said the law had been superseded by more recent precedent, including a 1985 statute that allowed for abortions up to the point of fetal viability, or around the 20-week mark. AFTER STINGING ELECTION DEFEATS, DNC EYES RURAL VOTERS AS KEY TO 2026 MIDTERM SUCCESS “We conclude that comprehensive legislation enacted over the last 50 years regulating in detail the ‘who, what, where, when, and how’ of abortion so thoroughly covers the entire subject of abortion that it was meant as a substitute for the 19th century near-total ban on abortion,” Dallet wrote. “Accordingly, we hold that the legislature impliedly repealed [the 1849 ban] to abortion, and that [that law] therefore does not ban abortion in the State of Wisconsin.” Conservative Justice Annette Ziegler, in a dissent, described the ruling as “a jaw-dropping exercise of judicial will” and charged that the liberal justices ruled on the matter based on their personal preferences. The 1849 law, and efforts to revive it, came to the fore in Wisconsin in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade — effectively snapping back into place the state law that had been dormant for decades. JUDGES V, TRUMP: HERE ARE THE KEY COURT BATTLES HALTING THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDA The Wisconsin law made it a felony for individuals in Wisconsin to perform abortions, including when the health of the woman was at risk, and without exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Though the law was not enforced by the state in recent years, at least some Republicans had urged the state Supreme Court to keep it in place, prompting opponents to push more urgently for it to be struck down. The 4-3 decision puts to rest the possibility that it could be revived. NINTH CIRCUIT REJECTS TRUMP’S BID TO REINSTATE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER It’s also the clearest sign to date of the impact that liberals on the bench could have after they regained the court majority in 2023 for the first time in 15 years. The closely watched state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin was the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, attracting more than $100 million in donations and far eclipsing the $56 million spent on the state Supreme Court race just two years earlier, according to figures compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice. Susan Crawford ultimately beat out conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who was backed by President Donald Trump and Musk. Musk personally donated $3 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party earlier this year, while his two super PACs spent more than $17 million on Schimel’s behalf. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers praised the state Supreme Court decision Wednesday, describing it as a win “for women and families” and healthcare professionals in the state. “Three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upended five decades of precedent and threw reproductive freedom in Wisconsin and across our country into chaos,” Evers said in a statement. “I promised then to fight like hell to ensure every Wisconsinite has the freedom to consult their family, their faith and their doctor and make the reproductive healthcare decision that is right for them, and I’ve never stopped. “Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld that basic freedom.”
Trump says his relationship with one-time rival DeSantis now a ‘9.9’
They were bitter Republican rivals a year and a half ago, but President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were all smiles this week, as the two appeared side-by-side for the opening of a new migrant detention center in the Everglades. “The relationship between the governor and the president is fantastic,” DeSantis communications director Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital. Griffin spoke with Fox News Digital the day after Trump and DeSantis, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, toured what’s being called “Alligator Alacatraz,” a detention center quickly constructed on a remote airstrip that’s surrounded by alligator-infested swamps. DeSantis, the two-term conservative governor who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, used emergency powers to seize the land and speed construction of the facility, with encouragement from Trump and his administration. TRUMP TOUTS ONLY WAY OUT OF ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ IS DEPORTATION “Ron worked beautifully with Kristi (Noem) and all of the people at Homeland Security and got it done in how many days, Ron?” Trump said as he turned to the governor while answering reporters’ questions. “Eight days, a new facility was up and running,” DeSantis responded. FOX NEWS TAKES YOU INSIDE ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ Following his 2022 gubernatorial re-election landslide, DeSantis moved toward running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and formally launched his White House bid in the spring of 2023. But even before he announced his candidacy, DeSantis was repeatedly attacked by Trump and his political allies. The long-term targeting of the governor proved successful. DeSantis was considered Trump’s top threat among the field of Republican White House hopefuls. But the governor saw his support deteriorate, and he ended his presidential bid in January of last year, after a disappointing second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, far behind Trump. DeSantis immediately endorsed Trump, helped raise money for the then-former president’s general election campaign, and gave a well-received speech last summer at the Republican National Convention in Milwuakee, Wisconsin. Asked about his relationship with DeSantis, Trump told reporters, “I would say it’s a 10. I think it’s a 10,” before adding “maybe 9.9 because, you know, might be a couple of little wounds.” DESANTIS TAKES VICTORY LAP ON FLORIDA’S ‘MOMENTOUS IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION DeSantis has been extremely aggressive in assisting Trump in his sweeping immigration crackdown. The governor signed stiff immigration measures into law earlier this year, after a compromise with the Republican leaders of the Florida legislature was brokered, which brought to an end a weekslong standoff over dueling bills. “This is going to be a force multiplier,” DeSantis told Fox News late last week. “We’re happy to work with the federal government to satisfy President Trump’s mandate.” And the governor, during his Fox News interview, suggested that the president visit the facility. “An invitation from me: We can land Air Force One right there no problem,” DeSantis said. “I think the president would be impressed with what the guys are doing out here.” Trump, at the event, highlighted that “Ron and I have had a really great relationship for a long period of time. We had a little off period for a couple of days, but it didn’t last long.” The president added that he and the governor have a “lot of respect for each other.” DeSantis returned the praise, noting that “you can call him [Trump] anytime and he wants to be helpful for governors.” But some top figures in Trump’s political orbit, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, may still hold unflattering opinions of the governor. Wiles was once a top DeSantis political advisor before a very bitter falling out. And in a sign of political friction, Trump-ally Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida also attended Tuesday’s event. Donalds earlier this year launched a bid to succeed the term-limited DeSantis in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial election, and he landed Trump’s endorsement even before he announced his candidacy. DeSantis’ wife, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, has been mulling a run for governor of her own, and her husband earlier this year said she would be a worthy successor. Asked by reporters if Casey DeSantis should run for governor, the president would only say “we get along great.” Ron DeSantis quickly interjected, noting that “I endorsed him immediately, in January 2024. I raised one of his PACs millions and millions of dollars.”
Colorado Capitol replaces ‘distorted’ Trump portrait following monthslong backlash
After facing several months of backlash, the Colorado state Capitol has replaced a controversial portrait of President Donald Trump, which he claimed was “purposely distorted” by the artist. A new presidential portrait, recently donated by the White House, was installed last week at the Denver Capitol, the Colorado Capitol Building Advisory Committee told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. It replaces Colorado artist Sarah Boardman’s painting, which had hung since 2019. Despite the previous portrait’s six-year run on display, Trump took to social media last spring to criticize the artwork, saying Boardman “must have lost her talent as she got older” and had “purposely distorted” his image. The Colorado Springs artist denied the claims. While Boardman’s painting depicted a much younger Trump, the latest display by Arizona artist Vanessa Horabuena mirrors Trump’s intense official presidential photo. TRUMP’S FRESH WHITE HOUSE PORTRAIT SPARKS INTEREST AMID CONTROVERSY OVER NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY LEADERSHIP COLORADO TO TAKE DOWN TRUMP PAINTING AT STATE CAPITOL “Thank you to the Highly Talented Artist, Vanessa Horabuena, and the incredible people of Colorado,” Trump said Tuesday on Truth Social. Horabuena is a “Christian worship artist” who has done several other depictions of Trump as well as Abraham Lincoln, Mount Rushmore and Jesus Christ, according to her website. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Boardman told Fox News Digital she had no comment on the new painting. TRUMP WANTS ‘DISTORTED’ PORTRAIT OF HIMSELF REMOVED FROM COLORADO CAPITOL, SLAMS GOV. POLIS: ‘TRULY THE WORST’ The Horabuena portrait was installed as a temporary display following a Thursday decision by the advisory committee, which oversees art displays at the Capitol. “The Capitol Building Advisory Committee has agreed at the committee’s meeting on June 26, 2025, to temporarily display this donated portrait and will consider the disposition of the full presidential portrait collection at a future meeting,” the committee told Fox News Digital. “The new portrait is installed in the third floor gallery of the Colorado Capitol.” Lois Court, a former state lawmaker who chairs the committee, told the Associated Press that installing the donated artwork was the right move. “There was a blank on the wall,” Court said. “It seemed inappropriate. We knew that the White House had sent us this replacement and it simply made sense to put it up.” Boardman’s portrait was removed from the Capitol’s presidential gallery wall in April, according to the committee, after Colorado Democrats – who control the legislature – agreed to take it down at the request of local Republican leaders. “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump said in March on Truth Social. “The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one of me is truly the worst. She must have lost her talent as she got older.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.